The carriage slowly stopped outside the manor, and soon a servant hurried forward.
The curtain opened, and a graceful figure slowly walked out of the carriage.
She wore a white and blue skirt and a mink gown. Her figure was light and graceful. Her face was not made up, but she was stunningly beautiful.
As soon as he got off the carriage, he immediately attracted everyone's attention.
"Ms. Jiang?!"
The originally noisy sounds around them subsided slightly, and everyone's eyes fell on this woman.
For a moment, the whole audience was stunned!
Jiang Yuxiang.
Everyone present was familiar with this name.
The fourth daughter of the Jiang family in Jiangnan, although not the father's biological daughter, was better than his own. Jiang Yuxiang's deeds in Jiangnan were also known in Beijing.
What made Miss Jiang famous in the capital was probably her stunning beauty, which overwhelmed the rich daughters and young ladies in the capital. There were many beautiful women in the capital, but few could match Jiang Yuxiang's stunning appearance and extraordinary temperament.
In addition to her identity as the fourth daughter of the Jiang family in Jiangnan, and her close relationship with the current empress in the palace, these identities have made Jiang Yuxiang a hot object of admiration in the eyes of countless people in the capital.
It is difficult to meet her on ordinary days, and today this Miss Jiang appeared in everyone's sight, so naturally it attracted a lot of attention.
And there is an even more important reason for our greatest concern.
This Jiang Yuxiang is the nominal aunt of Prince Lin!
There have been rumors in the capital recently that the Prince of Lin is still alive and is currently in the Jiang Mansion.
Therefore, as soon as Jiang Yuxiang appeared, countless eyes were directed at her. They fell on Jiang Yuxiang and the servants who followed her, and those sharp and scorching eyes seemed to want to see the truth.
The servants outside the manor had already hurried forward and respectfully welcomed Jiang Yuxiang into the manor. Inside the manor, the owner had been waiting for a long time.
"Miss Jiang, it's a great honor to have you at my son's wedding today!"
In the main hall, a sturdy middle-aged man walked quickly towards them with a smile on his face, and a hearty laugh came from him.
This person was the current Minister of Personnel, Lu Fusheng.
"Mr. Lu is getting married today, so I've prepared a small gift to congratulate Minister Lu on his happy occasion!"
Jiang Yuxiang smiled and spoke softly.
"Haha, Miss Jiang is here because she's doing me, Lu, a favor!"
Lu Fusheng laughed heartily twice, his eyes fell on Jiang Yuxiang, and he glanced at her side casually, then retracted his gaze and said with a smile: "I wonder if Mr. Jiang is in good health?"
Jiang Yuxiang chuckled: "Thank you Secretary Lu Shang for hanging up. The old man is doing well. He was thinking about Lu Shangshu a while ago and said that he hadn't seen Lu Shangshu for a long time!"
"Yeah, it's been almost ten years since we last met!"
Lu Fusheng sighed a bit, then seemed to remember something: "Look at me, I'm almost neglecting Miss Jiang. Come on, Miss Jiang, please come in!"
The servants in the mansion welcomed Jiang Yuxiang as she entered the manor. Lu Fusheng stared at Jiang Yuxiang's back, and the smile on his face gradually disappeared.
"Did you find anything?"
The butler beside him shook his head slightly: "Master, I didn't find anything unusual."
"That's good."
Lu Fusheng breathed a sigh of relief, then said in a deep voice, "Today is a great day for my Lu family, and I don't want any trouble to happen."
"Don't worry, Master!"
“…”
Inside the manor.
The wedding between the Lu and Tao families was truly grand.
Firecrackers were set off from early morning to noon, with hazy smoke floating in the sky. The wedding procession marched all the way from the west to the east of the capital, almost alarming the entire capital and attracting countless people to join in the fun.
Almost half of the six ministries were present, and the remaining officials, both large and small, had countless family connections. Even the aristocratic families, rarely seen on ordinary days, showed up one after another.
Amidst the congratulations, the smile on the face of Minister of Personnel Lu Fusheng almost never ceased, and the place where the gifts were piled up in the manor almost formed a small mountain.
Inside and outside the manor, there were lights and decorations, and people were constantly coming and going. Figures in gorgeous clothes of all kinds were interweaving and gathering together, making it very lively.
Amidst such a lively wedding, in an unnoticed corner of the inner courtyard, Lin Jiangnian lazily leaned on a chair under the eaves of the pavilion, casually glancing at the people passing by not far away while stuffing his mouth with delicious pastries.
It has to be said that the Lu family spent a lot of money on this wedding. Not only were the decorations luxurious and the scene grand, but there was also all kinds of delicious food prepared in the manor.
It’s free, why not take advantage of it?
Lin Jiangnian enjoyed the free food with a clear conscience while casually scanning the courtyard, memorizing every face in his mind.
Many important figures attended the wedding, which presented a good opportunity for Lin Jiangnian. He memorized their faces and compared them with the identities described in the intelligence he had in his memory.
At the same time, he scanned the area for a familiar figure.
He and Jiang Yuxiang arrived at the manor together, but they didn't plan to show up immediately. While Jiang Yuxiang was out and attracting most of the attention, Lin Jiangnian hid his identity and quietly sneaked into the manor.
I heard that the third prince will also come?
Lin Jiangnian narrowed his eyes, as if thinking about something.
“Brother Lin?!”
At this moment, an unexpected sound suddenly came from outside the pavilion.
Lin Jiangnian turned his head and saw a familiar face outside the pavilion, looking at him with joy.
"Brother Xu?"
Lin Jiangnian quickly recognized the other person's identity.
The Brother Xu I met in the teahouse last time?
Xu Zhongshan?
"It's really you!"
Xu Zhongshan walked into the pavilion in surprise and joy: "Brother Lin Kong, are you here too?"
"Are you here to attend the Lu family's wedding too?"
Just as he finished speaking, Xu Zhongshan slapped his head again: "Oh, look at my brain, what else can I do here if not to attend the wedding?"
As he spoke, he chuckled twice more: "I didn't expect to see Brother Lin Kong here, what a surprise!"
Lin Jiangnian had a good impression of Xu Zhongshan in front of him. This man had a generous personality, upright features, and a bit of the heroic spirit of the underworld.
After we parted at the teahouse last time, I didn’t expect to meet again.
"Yeah, I didn't expect Brother Xu to be here too?"
Xu Zhongshan sighed: "I didn't want to come, but my father asked me to come, so I had to participate..."
At this point, Xu Zhongshan waved his hand again, somewhat surprised, "Brother Lin Kong has only just arrived in the capital. How come he's here too? Could it be that Brother Lin Kong is related to the Lu family?"
"This is complicated..."
Lin Jiang shook his head without explaining too much.
Xu Zhongshan did not ask any further questions. Everyone has their own secret purpose, and it doesn't matter if they don't want to tell.
Sitting down nearby, Xu Zhongshan also picked up some cakes from the table and stuffed them into his mouth. "Brother Lin, aren't you going to the front yard to watch the wedding? I heard the wedding is about to start!"
"What's so good about it?" Lin Jiangnian was not interested in the wedding.
"Yeah, there's really nothing to see."
Xu Zhongshan sighed softly: "However, quite a lot of people came this time, including those family members who we don't usually see!"
"This Minister Lu is well-known in the capital. I heard that Prime Minister Zhao sent people. I've never heard of Prime Minister Zhao sending people to anyone's wedding before..."
"And the Third Prince, I heard he's here too!"
Hearing this, Lin Jiangnian glanced sideways and asked casually, "Is the Third Prince here too?"
"I heard it was, but I didn't see it!"
Xu Zhongshan shook his head and sighed, "It's hard to imagine. The Third Prince rarely shows up in public. Even if he were to attend a wedding, he probably wouldn't show up easily."
Lin Jiangnian remained calm: "Why would he attend a wedding if he doesn't show up?"
"You don't understand this."
Xu Zhongshan glanced at Lin Jiangnian and asked, "Do you really think everyone is here for the Lu family's wedding?"
"What else?"
"Brother Lin, you are still too young..."
As he spoke, Xu Zhongshan looked around and made sure that no one was around before he spoke softly, "Attending the wedding is one thing, but on the other hand, this is also a signal sent by the Lu family to the capital, showing their Lu family's attitude!"
"manner?"
"Don't underestimate Lu Fusheng's glory. In fact, his life is not easy. Now the court..."
Xu Zhongshan stopped talking at this point, then shook his head and sighed: "Forget it, forget it, let's not discuss politics anymore..."
As he spoke, he sighed, "The Third Prince's attendance at the Lu family's wedding is a tacit agreement. After this wedding, the Lu family's position will be firmly established, which also means that the Lu family is completely tied to the Third Prince..."
Xu Zhongshan did not say more, but he had already revealed a lot of information.
Lin Jiangnian seemed to be lost in thought.
"Forget it, forget it. It's rare to see Brother Lin again today. I think there's a lot of fate between you and me. Let me toast to you!"
Xu Zhongshan picked up the wine on the table and raised his glass to Lin Jiangnian.
Lin Jiangnian also raised his glass: "Cheers, Brother Xu!"
When the two met, they got along very well, like old friends.
Putting down his wine glass, Xu Zhongshan sighed, "Although the Third Prince is unlikely to show up, it's the Lu family's wedding after all. I think he should show up during the ceremony. I wonder... Hey, Brother Lin, where are you going?"
Just as Xu Zhongshan was sighing, he saw Lin Jiangnian suddenly stand up and walk towards the front yard.
"I'm free anyway, so I might as well go and join in the fun at the wedding!" Lin Jiangnian didn't even turn his head.
"Then I'll go too!"
Xu Zhongshan stood up and followed.
…
Manor, front yard.
A wedding that gathered all the major officials and families in the capital as witnesses slowly began.
The wedding process was extremely complicated, yet grand and joyous. In the front hall, the bride and groom, dressed in bright red robes, could be vaguely seen performing their wedding ceremony.
"That person is Lu Fusheng's only son, Lu Xuan. Next to him is the Tao family's legitimate daughter. No one has ever seen her before, and no one knows what she looks like..."
Not far away, Lin Jiangnian and Xu Zhongshan watched this scene from afar. Xu Zhongshan looked at the newlyweds while explaining something to Lin Jiangnian.
Lin Jiangnian's gaze shifted from the newlyweds to the middle-aged man sitting in front of the hall.
Lu Fusheng!
Then he followed his gaze and scanned everyone present, scanning them one by one, searching for a familiar face. As his gaze swept across the room, Lin Jiangnian quickly spotted the graceful figure in a long gown not far away.
Jiang Yuxiang!
She sat quietly at the guest table, with a cool and beautiful temperament, seeming out of place with her surroundings and attracting attention.
His eyes seemed to glance casually, and met Lin Jiangnian's gaze in the air. Their eyes intertwined briefly, and everything was said without words.
Jiang Yuxiang glanced slightly, as if reminding someone of something.
Lin Jiangnian followed the direction of her gaze and landed in the direction of the inner courtyard attic not far away. Faintly, he could see a figure through the thin door curtain.
So?
Lin Jiangnian seemed to be lost in thought.
"Brother Lin, what are you looking at?"
Xu Zhongshan's puzzled voice came to his ears, as if he noticed Lin Jiangnian's abnormality.
Lin Jiang laughed young: "Didn't you say that the Third Prince is here? I want to see him!"
Hearing this, Xu Zhongshan also glanced around: "I really didn't see him... It seems he has no intention of showing up!"
"Since I can't see it, that's fine!"
Lin Jiangnian withdrew his gaze and said casually, "I'm going out for some fresh air."
Seeing Lin Jiangnian leave, Xu Zhongshan also felt that this wedding was boring: "Brother Lin, I'll go with you!"
Lin Jiangnian had originally wanted to take the opportunity to sneak into the inner courtyard to find out what was going on, but he hadn't expected Xu Zhongshan to follow him. Just as he was trying to find a reason to send him away, a voice with a hint of irony suddenly came through.
"Hey, isn't this Xu Zhongshan? You're here too?"
Xu Zhongshan stopped and turned his head. Two young men in brocade clothes appeared in the corridor not far away.
Xu Zhongshan stopped and glanced at the two of them. The smile on his face immediately disappeared: "Zhou Huiguang? Gao Wenyang, is there something wrong with you two?"
"It's nothing, it's been a while since we last met, so I'm just saying hello to you."
Zhou Huiguang raised his eyebrows with a half-smile: "I heard that your sister is coming to Beijing? When do you plan to introduce her to us?"
As soon as these words came out, Xu Zhongshan's face suddenly darkened: "Zhou Huiguang, watch your mouth!"
"Did I say anything?"
Zhou Huiguang's smile seemed to grow even more smug as he waved his hand, "Don't be so angry or so reckless... We're just curious and want to see your sister!"
Although he said this, his tone was unscrupulous.
Seeing Xu Zhongshan's extremely grim expression, Zhou Huiguang's smile widened. He had always been at odds with Xu Zhongshan and looked down on this reckless man.
His gaze shifted from Xu Zhongshan to Lin Jiangnian standing beside him. He glanced at him and raised his eyebrows slightly, "Xu Zhongshan, when did you meet a new friend? Why don't you introduce them?"
He was saying this as an introduction, but his tone was full of ridicule and disdain.
Xu Zhongshan snorted coldly, his face darkening. He had always been at odds with Zhou Huiguang, and they often clashed. But Zhou Huiguang had considerable influence behind him, and he was also forming factions. If a conflict arose, Xu Zhongshan wouldn't gain any advantage.
In addition to the Lu family's wedding today, Xu Zhongshan didn't want to cause trouble. He turned his head to look at Lin Jiangnian with a somewhat apologetic look on his face: "Brother Lin, let's go, ignore them!"
Lin Jiangnian nodded, not intending to join in. Just as he was about to leave, Zhou Huiguang suddenly appeared in front of them, his eyes questioning, "Did I let you go?"
Xu Zhongshan was annoyed and glared: "Zhou Huiguang, what do you want to do?!"
Zhou Huiguang took a step back and raised his eyebrows: "Want to fight? Xu Zhongshan, don't you see where we are?"
Xu Zhongshan's face flushed red as he glared at Zhou Huiguang.
Today was the Lu family's wedding, and no matter how reckless he was, he couldn't act recklessly here. The Xu family's influence in Beijing was already weak, so they couldn't afford to cause trouble.
"who is he?"
Lin Jiangnian glanced at Xu Zhongshan.
Xu Zhongshan gritted his teeth and said, "His name is Zhou Huiguang, the son of the current Ministry of Personnel, and he has some grudges against me."
"Is the position of Langzhong in the Ministry of Personnel a very high one?" Lin Jiangnian was surprised. How could the son of a small Langzhong in the Ministry of Personnel dare to be so arrogant?
"Although his father's official position is not high, the power behind him is not small... The one next to him is called Gao Wenyang, the son of the Minister of Personnel. Among them is also a man named Li Qianlin, who is a favorite of the Third Prince in the capital..."
"etc……"
"Li Qianlin?"
Lin Jiangnian turned his head to look at Xu Zhongshan, his expression gradually becoming strange.
This name sounds familiar!