345: Princess's Mansion

"You still won't admit it!" Zhang Bai's face was flushed with anxiety as he shouted, "The Xun Luoyuan sent someone to the Inn to find you, saying she's hosting a banquet at the Commandery Princesss Mansion tonight specifically for you. If you hadn't been fawning over her in private, why would she only invite you?"

Feng Ming was taken aback for a moment, but then a look of wild joy crossed his face, and his eyes lit up. He grabbed Zhang Bai's arm and asked, "What did you say? The Xun Luoyuan sent someone to the Inn for me? She's hosting a banquet specifically for me tonight?"

It was truly a case of getting exactly what one wished for—like being handed a pillow just as one was getting sleepy!

"I'm not talking to you anymore; I need to get back to the Inn and prepare!" Feng Ming didn't bother arguing with Zhang Bai any longer. He let go, grabbed Feng Da, and ran quickly toward the Inn.

Seeing this, Zhang Bai hurriedly followed, shouting at Feng Ming's back as he ran, "Feng Ming, you bastard! You still say you don't want to hit on the Xun Luoyuan? Look at that joyful face of yours—you're practically drooling! Stop right there and explain yourself!"

Feng Ming's mind was entirely on the banquet that evening. He couldn't hear Zhang Bai's shouting at all. His pace quickened; he only wanted to return to the Inn and prepare for the banquet. After all, this was his best chance to see Xun Luoyuan and advance his plan.

The Inn.

Feng Ming returned with Feng Da and immediately saw guards in armor sitting and chatting with Jiang Bing and the others.

Zhang Bai also caught up, panting. He pointed at the guard and questioned with certainty, "The person is right there. Let's see how you'll make excuses this time!"

Feng Ming didn't bother with his antics and walked straight toward the guard.

The guard happened to look up and see him. He immediately stood to greet him and handed over a storage ring.

"What is this?" Feng Ming asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It is a small token of the Xun Luoyuan's gratitude for your assistance that day," the guard said in a steady voice. "Not just for you; the others' gifts have also been delivered. Additionally, the Xun Luoyuan asked me to pass on a message: she is hosting a banquet at her manor tonight and is inviting you alone."

After a slight pause, he added, "The Xun Luoyuan also said that given the current situation, whether or not you go depends on your courage."

Having finished, the guard bowed decisively. Without waiting for Feng Ming's response, he turned and strode away without the slightest hesitation.

Feng Ming watched his departing figure and nodded inwardly. The guard's sense of propriety—leaving immediately after delivering the message—was very pleasing. He didn't ask questions or overstep; he followed his master's orders perfectly. This was what a qualified guard looked like.

Feng Ming knew very well that if the guard had forced him to make a decision on the spot, the news of whether he was going or not would have spread instantly, which would not be good for him.

Moreover, Zhang Bai was watching like a hawk. If he had accepted on the spot, the guy would be even more convinced of his involvement with the Xun Luoyuan.

Sure enough, as soon as the guard stepped out of the Inn, Zhang Bai approached with a look of having "caught him red-handed." "Now, what else do you have to say for yourself?"

"Say for himself about what?" Lu Qianqian walked over, looking confused.

Seeing that she hadn't noticed anything amiss, Zhang Bai said anxiously, "Aren't you women supposed to be the most sensitive? The Xun Luoyuan is inviting Feng Ming alone—is there really nothing wrong with that?"

"What's wrong with it?" Lu Qianqian countered. "She's the Xun Luoyuan; it's her freedom to invite whoever she wants. What's the problem?"

Zhang Bai was momentarily speechless. He patiently explained, "A private invitation! That means it's just Feng Ming and her, and it's at night. A man and a woman alone in a room—haven't you thought about what might happen?"

Lu Qianqian immediately understood his concern, but she wasn't angry at all. Instead, she laughed. "So that's what you're talking about. You're overthinking it. She's a high-born Xun Luoyuan; how could she possibly take an interest in my brother-in-law?"

"But what if she does?" Zhang Bai wouldn't give up.

"Then that would be a wonderful thing!" Lu Qianqian's eyes lit up.

This statement not only stunned Zhang Bai but even Feng Ming, standing nearby, was dazed.

"Think about it," Lu Qianqian said, counting on her fingers. "If the Xun Luoyuan takes an interest in my brother-in-law, then he'll be the Prince Consort. In the future, wouldn't I be able to throw my weight around a bit when I go out?"

"You!" Zhang Bai was rendered speechless by her logic.

Lu Qianqian laughed at his reaction. "Alright, I'm just teasing you. My brother-in-law isn't that kind of person. Besides, didn't you hear the guard? The Xun Luoyuan only sent an invitation; whether to go or not is entirely up to my brother-in-law."

"Also, that part about 'depending on courage'—brother-in-law, what does that actually mean?"

As she finished, Zhang Bai also looked at Feng Ming with curiosity. Even Jiang Bing and the others stopped their chatting and turned their gazes toward him, full of confusion.

Feng Ming sighed and rubbed his forehead. "You two have been chatting for so long, and you finally remembered me, the person this is actually about? You've been doing all this blind analysis, and not one of you hit the mark. Everyone, come sit down, and I'll explain the intricacies of this situation."

Hearing this, everyone hurriedly gathered around, holding their breath as they waited to listen.

Feng Ming glanced at the group and asked, "First, tell me: why would the Xun Luoyuan's guard say that going or not depends on my courage? And why did she only invite me and not all of you?"

"We don't know," Jiang Bing and the others shook their heads in unison.

Only Zhang Bai muttered, "Inviting only you and not us... it must be because you've been secretly hooking up with the Xun Luoyuan behind our backs!"

"Hooking up with your grandfather!" Feng Ming retorted crossly. "You can't even see the Xun Luoyuan if you wanted to; where would I get the chance to hook up with her?"

"Exactly. The Xun Luoyuan is so noble; is she someone you can just see whenever you want? Zhang Bai, stop interrupting and listen to Feng Ming," Jiang Bing added, backing him up.

Zhang Bai sullenly shut his mouth, and Feng Ming continued, "First, think about the Xun Luoyuan's current situation."

Everyone looked at each other. After a moment, someone whispered, "In the palace, several princes are fighting for the throne."

"Correct," Feng Ming nodded. "The Crown Prince is infatuated with the Xun Luoyuan, which is something the whole capital knows. At this critical juncture, if the Xun Luoyuan were to host a grand banquet for all of us, what would the Second Prince think? What would the other princes think?"

Everyone was stunned. Zhang Bai said hesitantly, "It wouldn't go that far, would it? Would they actually suspect us of trying to steal the Xun Luoyuan from the Crown Prince? We don't have the guts for that."

Jiang Bing and the others also waved their hands hurriedly. "Exactly, how would we dare get involved in the struggle for the throne, let alone steal someone from the Crown Prince?"

Feng Ming gave a light chuckle, his gaze falling on Zhang Bai. "Was the Crown Prince wrong to be worried? Zhang Bai, haven't you thought about pursuing the Xun Luoyuan in your heart?"

Zhang Bai's face instantly turned bright red, and he stammered, "I... I just thought about it. What if the Xun Luoyuan doesn't like the Crown Prince? Of course, if the Crown Prince is determined to marry her, I would naturally give them my blessings. After all, my life is more important!"

"So you know your life is important," Feng Ming said calmly. "Then think about it: what good could come from going to the Commandery Princesss Mansion at a time like this? If things go wrong, you'd be walking right into the Crown Prince's line of fire and offending him for no reason."

He paused and then added, "The Xun Luoyuan didn't let you go for your own good. She didn't want you to be swept into this whirlpool of the succession struggle. Do you understand?"