As I pulled Zhang Zhirou away, Shen Chuan attempted to follow, but a sharp glare from Shu He made him stop in his tracks. Zhang Zhirou was already fuming; did he really want to walk straight into the line of fire?
The banquet in the front courtyard was already set. Since this Spring Breeze Banquet was hosted by the Fifth Princess of Beidi, the guests were exclusively young nobles of the Capital; the elders had excused themselves due to their status. The front courtyard of Shanghe Mansion was vast, its garden filled with tables separated by various blooming flowers. Though it was called the Spring Breeze Banquet, it might as well have been a spring flower banquet. The people of Tianqi were liberal in their customs, so while men and women were seated separately, the tables faced each other at a close distance, allowing acquaintances to exchange greetings.
By the time Shu He and Zhang Zhirou arrived, most of the young men and women had taken their seats, leaving only two empty spots in the corner. As the host had yet to appear, the guests were clustered together, chatting.
Chapter 342