If one were to ask Li Ruoyan who she despised most in this family, aside from Li Jin, it was Li Siyuan. However, unlike the jealousy and fear she felt towards Li Jin, Li Ruoyan's feelings towards Li Siyuan were overt contempt and disdain.
Li Ruoyan simply could not understand why she had such a cowardly and incompetent twin brother.
Li Siyuan and Li Ruoyan were twins. But unfortunately, Li Siyuan was a shuang'er. The status of shuang'er was the lowest in the Da Xia Dynasty. Therefore, from the moment they were born, Li Siyuan was naturally neglected. Over time, he developed this timid and meek character.
Wei Shiwan had naturally noticed the change in Li Siyuan's temperament, but she almost without a second thought abandoned the idea of correcting his character back, because Li Siyuan simply was not as valuable as Li Ruoyan. Wei Shiwan saw no reason to waste any effort on him.
Shouted at like this by Li Ruoyan, Li Siyuan trembled timidly. "I... I saw that Third Brother seemed to like these pastries, so I... I just..."
"Seductive vixen."
Li Ruoyan cast a disdainful glance at Li Siyuan.
A trash like him actually thinking of currying favor with that low-born Li Jin.
"Yan'er."
Wei Shiwan signaled for Li Ruoyan to be quiet.
If this were in private, Wei Shiwan would not bother with such matters, and might even tell Li Siyuan to be more tolerant. But now, with Li Jin present, Li Ruoyan's actions would only give Li Jin something to laugh about.
"Hmph."
Li Ruoyan heeded Wei Shiwan's words, turned her head away displeased, and did not continue the topic.
Li Siyuan, just you wait. How dare you scheme against me, making me get scolded by Mother in front of Li Jin. See how I get back at you later.
Li Ruoyan unreasonably blamed Li Siyuan for her being scolded and glared viciously at him.
Li Siyuan hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to meet Li Ruoyan's gaze.
Wei Shiwan, as if changing faces, quickly resumed her virtuous appearance and said, "Jin'er, since Siyuan is giving his pastries to you, you mustn't refuse, or Siyuan will be sad."
"I will finish them."
Li Jin nodded towards Li Siyuan and calmly picked up a pastry and took a bite.
"It's good that Third Brother likes them," Li Siyuan replied softly.
"Mother, I just finished a painting... Oh? Third Brother, you're here too?" Li Yanchen walked into the courtyard holding a recently completed painting and noticed Li Jin.
"Yes, Eldest Brother."
Li Jin nodded to Li Yanchen as a greeting.
Li Yanchen returned the courtesy, then sat down after being attended to by a maid. "Third Brother, you haven't told your 'Eldest Brother' why you suddenly came to Mother's place?"
Li Yanchen deliberately emphasized the words 'Eldest Brother', seeming to want to subtly compete with Li Jin.
At the same time.
The resentment in Li Yanchen's eyes did not diminish but instead increased.
Li Jin, consider yourself lucky you returned safely this time. Next time, you won't be so fortunate.
Recalling how the people he sent to deal with Li Jin were knocked out and tied to a tree by someone unknown, Li Yanchen was nearly furious to death. Afterwards, Li Yanchen asked those tied to the trees who did it, but they had been knocked out before seeing the person's face, so how could they answer Li Yanchen's question?
Li Jin smiled calmly. "The Successor Princess Consort said she had made some new pastries and invited me to taste them together, so I came."
"Third Brother, you really are quite leisurely," Li Yanchen said with a false smile. "By the way, I heard that soon, Third Brother will be going to Zhuzhou with the Seventh Prince. Don't you need to prepare properly? Ah, if Third Brother is too busy, your eldest brother can help you pack."
"No need to trouble Eldest Brother. Ping'an has already taken care of the packing."
"That won't do. Ping'an is a man, after all, and is inevitably careless and rough," Li Yanchen shook his head and seized the opportunity to add, "How about this, Third Brother, take the maid Hexing from my side with you. Hexing is always very meticulous. If she goes with you, she will definitely be a great help."
"Greetings to Your Highness."
Hearing Li Yanchen's words, Hexing immediately stepped forward and gave a winsome smile to Li Jin, then slightly blushed and turned her head away, not daring to meet Li Jin's gaze.
"Hexing is indeed very good. Jin'er, just let Hexing accompany you," Wei Shiwan added from the side.
"Exactly, having such a beauty follow you is your good fortune," Li Ruoyan said, perhaps because her anger from earlier hadn't fully subsided, she didn't miss the chance to verbally overpower Li Jin.
"Thank you for your kind intention, Eldest Brother." Li Jin ignored Li Ruoyan and looked apologetically at Li Yanchen. "But I can only decline. This time, because the Seventh Prince is also going, all accompanying personnel need the approval of His Majesty the Empress. I dare not agree privately."
"Uh..."
Wei Shiwan was stumped, having never expected that Gu Rushuang would bother with such trivial matters.
Does His Majesty the Empress have nothing better to do?
Seeing this plan fail, Li Yanchen decisively gave up and said regretfully, "If that's the case, then forget it."
"It's good that Eldest Brother understands." Li Jin suddenly stood up and took his leave. "By the way, His Majesty the Empress sent some books over. I wish to go look at them, so I will not disturb you further."
With that.
Li Jin bowed to Wei Shiwan and Li Yanchen, then turned and left.
"Mother, look how arrogant he is. It's truly disgusting," Li Ruoyan couldn't help but mock again, watching Li Jin's retreating figure.
"Yan'er, your eldest brother is still here. What kind of talk is that?" Wei Shiwan scolded again, though this scolding was much softer than the previous one, almost like a mere formality.
"It's alright, I won't spread it," Li Yanchen said with a slight smile.
"Mother, you hear that?"
"Fine, fine, you're the one who always causes trouble," Wei Shiwan shook her head helplessly. "But just this once. Next time, at the Longevity Banquet, you must not be so unruly, otherwise..."
"Mother, you can rest assured, I won't."
Li Ruoyan's greatest ambition was to marry Ying Ziheng. How could she possibly let him see her behaving so disgracefully?
"As long as you know what's appropriate." Wei Shiwan nodded, then turned her gaze to Li Yanchen. "By the way, Chen'er, you haven't told me what is painted in this scroll."
"It's a landscape painting that Father likes."
Li Yanchen immediately unrolled the painting for Wei Shiwan to see.
The painting Li Yanchen had done was very lifelike, and the color matching was just right, making one unable to help but linger over it.
Wei Shiwan couldn't help but praise, "A good painting, truly a good painting. Chen'er, your painting skills are improving more and more. When the Prince returns to the mansion next time and sees this, he will be extremely pleased."
"It is also because Mother taught me well."
"Li Siyuan, come with me now." Seeing Wei Shiwan and Li Yanchen talking happily, Li Ruoyan grabbed Li Siyuan's hand and forcibly made him follow her.
Li Siyuan gulped nervously, not daring to resist, and resignedly followed behind Li Ruoyan, a bitter smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
____
Time flowed past as quickly as flowing water. The eagerly anticipated Longevity Banquet had arrived.
On the day of the Longevity Banquet, the Emperor would receive congratulations and gifts from the princes, dukes, and ministers at court. The streets of the capital were also decorated magnificently, with peace and prosperity everywhere, full of song and dance.
"Let's go."
With Wei Rong's command, Wei Shiwan led her three children, along with Li Yanchen, onto the carriage to attend the palace Longevity Banquet. As for Li Jin, he had already been picked up earlier by a carriage sent from the palace.
"Shen'er, are you feeling better? Perhaps you should stay in the mansion to rest," Wei Shiwan suggested, looking at Li Yanshen's increasingly pale complexion.
In the past, Wei Shiwan would definitely not have said such a thing.
But times were different now.Li Yanshen's health was visibly deteriorating day by day. How could Wei Shiwan not worry?
Wei Rong also chimed in with concern, "Yes, Shiwan is right. Shen'er, you should go rest. If anything were to happen, what would your grandmother and your mother do?"
Li Yanshen shook his head and smiled wryly. "Grandmother, Mother, today is His Majesty's Longevity Banquet. If I don't go, how will others view our Prince of Dingbei's Mansion?"
"Alright then. But Shen'er, if you feel unwell, you must speak up. You must not hide it, understand?"
Involving the mansion's reputation, Wei Shiwan compromised.
"Naturally."
Li Yanshen nodded.
Having received Li Yanshen's assurance, Wei Shiwan turned her attention to Li Yanchen and instructed, "Chen'er, later at the Longevity Banquet, I entrust Shen'er to your care."
Originally, Wei Shiwan had not planned to bring Li Yanchen to the Longevity Banquet. However, Li Yanshen's health was truly unwell, and Wei Shiwan had decided to act tonight to secure the position of Crown Princess for Li Ruoyan. She would have no time to look after Li Yanshen's condition, so she had to bring Li Yanchen along to prevent any unfortunate incidents.
"Yes, Mother."
Li Yanchen nodded and naturally supported Li Yanshen.
"Mother, why did you bring him along too?" Li Ruoyan pointed discontentedly at Li Siyuan sitting opposite, not concealing the disgust in her eyes, almost telling Li Siyuan directly to get lost.
Wei Shiwan gently patted the back of Li Ruoyan's right hand and soothed her, "Yan'er, don't be unreasonable. Siyuan is also a legitimate child, he should go with us."
"He is legitimate, that's true, but he's too cowardly! If he embarrasses himself at the banquet, we will be embarrassed too."
"I... I won't embarrass anyone," Li Siyuan replied in a trembling, small voice.
"Shiwan, Yan'er is right. It's not that I'm criticizing you, but why did you bring him out?" Wei Rong also disliked Li Siyuan and naturally sided with Li Ruoyan.
"Mother, Siyuan is already here. We'll just have him be careful," Wei Shiwan responded helplessly.
"It seems we can only do that." Having said that, Wei Rong looked coldly at Li Siyuan and said, word by word, "You remember this, at the Longevity Banquet, you must not do anything to disgrace the Prince of Dingbei's Mansion. Otherwise, I will definitely not let you off."
"Yes, Grandmother."
Li Siyuan did not dare to refute. He lowered his head and responded timidly.
"Hmph, useless thing."
Wei Rong snorted coldly and couldn't be bothered with Li Siyuan anymore, turning instead to continue inquiring after Li Yanshen's well-being.
However, everyone on the carriage, chatting happily and ignoring Li Siyuan completely, did not see Li Siyuan's clenched fists.
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