Suddenly, a woman's surprised voice rang out, "You! What are you doing here?!"
The three of them looked up and saw that the speaker was Zhang Jiawang's daughter, Zhang Lanlan, following behind two young women, her face heavily made up.
One of the women was the white-clothed maiden they had met at the rouge shop yesterday, but today she wore a smoky-colored silk skirt and was also heavily made up.
The other girl, walking at the very front, wore a gauze skirt with a red base and white flowers. Her appearance bore a resemblance to the county magistrate from yesterday.
The gazes of these two girls fell upon Lu Ye's face in unison, lingering for a moment.
"Why can't we be here?" Bai Sheng asked with a graceful smile, spreading her hands.
Zhang Lanlan snorted and walked to the side of the girl at the front, saying with particular deference, "Sister Kexin, these people must have snuck into the county magistrate's mansion. They are not qualified to attend the county magistrate's birthday banquet. If you don't believe me, we can check the invitations."
At the nearby tables, someone was about to remind Zhang Lanlan that these people were brought by His Highness Prince Yu, but was immediately stopped by the person next to them. They didn't know this richly dressed girl, so why should they remind her? Besides, why wouldn't they watch a good show?
Therefore, although people at the nearby tables heard Zhang Lanlan's questioning of Bai Sheng and the other two, none of them spoke out, quietly watching her escalate the situation.
"Go and check with the master of ceremonies to see if they have invitations," Guo Kexin instructed Zhang Lanlan in a soft voice.
Zhang Lanlan replied, glanced back at Bai Sheng and the other two with arrogance, and then quickly walked in the direction indicated by the master of ceremonies.
Bai Sheng and the other two remained seated, leisurely sipping tea, completely unconcerned by Zhang Lanlan's doubts and attempts to drive them away.
Not long after, Zhang Lanlan ran back and said to Guo Kexin, "Sister Kexin, the master of ceremonies doesn't have any invitations for them. They've just snuck in to freeload!"
"This is too shameless, daring to freeload at the county magistrate's mansion!" Shen Shiqing exclaimed in surprise. If that handsome man were not married, she might have spoken up for him. But since he already had a wife and concubine, she saw no need to waste her feelings.
Zhang Lanlan pointed at Bai Sheng with haughty arrogance and said, "Why don't you get out of here quickly! Don't force us to have the guards escort you out; it won't just be a simple reprimand then."
Bai Sheng raised her eyes, swept her gaze coldly over the three women, then gave Zhang Lanlan a wicked smile, "Miss Zhang Lanlan, are you sure? Do you really want to drive us out?"
"Of course! This is my home, and your names are not on any invitation. If you don't leave, I'll have my father arrest you and throw you in jail!" Guo Kexin scolded righteously.
Seeing Miss Guo backing her up, Zhang Lanlan felt even more confident. She sneered, "Take a look at this place. It's not a place for commoners to enter."
Bai Sheng and Lu Ye exchanged glances, then met Ji Chenghe's gaze. Their eyes met, and they all understood each other's intentions.
"Fine, we'll leave immediately. However, you three should not regret this. There's no medicine to sell for regret in this world," Bai Sheng said with a smile and stood up.
At the same time, Lu Ye and Ji Chenghe also stood up.
The people at the neighboring tables were stunned by the spectacle. A kind-hearted person once again wanted to remind Zhang Lanlan and the others, but was once again suppressed by the crowd. The good show was about to reach its climax, and they didn't want to miss the chance to watch.
Zhang Lanlan's face showed a sense of superiority, feeling that the humiliation she had suffered in front of these two people could finally be repaid.
Just as Bai Sheng and the other two turned around, Prince Yu appeared. He shouted loudly, "Who is trying to drive away the people I brought?"
What? These three were... were brought by Prince Yu?
This... how is this possible?!
The three women froze on the spot.
Bai Sheng immediately turned around, pointed at Zhang Lanlan, and said with a wronged expression, "Your Highness Prince Yu, it was Miss Zhang Lanlan from Huangsha Village in Tianshui Town who wanted to drive us away. She said that none of us had invitations and that we were freeloading, and she was going to have soldiers arrest us!"
Prince Yu's gaze, filled with anger, bore down on Zhang Lanlan, "Is it you, dirty and smelly ugly monster, who wants to drive away the people I brought?"
Zhang Lanlan was so terrified that she collapsed to the ground, almost losing control of herself. She wanted to say that it wasn't just her, but Shen Shiqing and Guo Kexin as well, but she didn't dare. She could only bear it alone, "Please, Your Highness Prince Yu, spare my life. This commoner... this commoner did not know they were brought by Your Highness Prince Yu. Since they had no invitations, this commoner mistakenly thought they were freeloading."
Prince Yu smiled, "I don't have an invitation either, so am I also here to freeload?"
"No, no, this commoner didn't mean that," Zhang Lanlan trembled on the ground.
Xue Zhubu from Tianshui Town also turned pale with fright and broke out in a cold sweat. This troublesome girl was truly not easy to deal with. He regretted bringing her along. If he offended Prince Yu today, he would surely offend the county magistrate as well. Alas, it was best not to take the blame and to escape if possible.
He glanced at the county magistrate and indeed saw that the county magistrate's face was very unpleasant, as if he wished he could slap his daughter to death.
Prince Yu sneered and turned to County Magistrate Guo, "County Magistrate Guo, is this woman your family's daughter?"
County Magistrate Guo immediately knelt on the ground and bowed, "Replying to Your Highness, this woman is not my subordinate's daughter; she is the maternal cousin brought by Xue Zhubu of Tianshui Town."
"Oh, so that's how it is. Since she is not County Magistrate Guo's daughter, nor the mistress of this house, then what right do you have to drive away guests?" Prince Yu's gaze towards Zhang Lanlan was extremely sharp.
A mere vulgar woman dared to show off in front of his people. She was truly tired of living!
"This... this..." Zhang Lanlan wanted to say that she did it with Sister Kexin's permission, but she glanced at Guo Kexin and found her staring at her with venomous eyes, so she... she didn't dare to say it.
What Zhang Lanlan didn't know was that Guo Kexin had dressed up today precisely to stand out before Prince Yu. She never expected that she would almost offend Prince Yu thoroughly.
Zhang Lanlan was introduced to Guo Kexin by Shen Shiqing. Guo Kexin glared at Shen Shiqing and also resented her.
Who could Shen Shiqing blame? She only regretted her poor judgment in recognizing Zhang Lanlan, this calamity, and vowed never to interact with this shallow person again.
County Magistrate Guo suddenly looked up and angrily shouted at Xue Zhubu, "Xue Zhubu, why are you hiding there! Why don't you come out quickly and apologize to His Highness Prince Yu! Where did you bring such a vulgar woman from to dare to openly drive away Prince Yu's people at my banquet!"
Xue Zhubu scrambled over and prostrated himself before Prince Yu, begging for forgiveness. He said that he would discipline his maternal cousin strictly when he returned, and then, not forgetting, he slapped Zhang Lanlan twice.
Tears streamed down Zhang Lanlan's face. She had never been so humiliated in her life.
Prince Yu didn't even spare Xue Zhubu a glance. Instead, he coldly asked County Magistrate Guo, "Today, this woman was very disrespectful to me. How does County Magistrate Guo think she should be dealt with?"
County Magistrate Guo immediately bowed, "Twenty planks, and she's to be thrown out immediately!"
Prince Yu sighed lightly, "Considering she is a woman and has not seen much of the world, I will spare her life. We will proceed as County Magistrate Guo suggested."
"Yes, yes," County Magistrate Guo nodded repeatedly. "Guards! Quickly drag this woman away and give her twenty planks, then throw her out of the mansion. Xue Zhubu is held responsible for his failure to vet people!"