"Your highness, the eldest prince and his wife, please rest for a while. I’ll carry you out," Prince An offered.
"No, fifth brother, you've only just recovered. I can’t let you overexert yourself," Prince Shou immediately refused.
"Yes, fifth brother, you’ve only just recovered. Leave carrying eldest brother to me," Prince Ji said, patting his chest.
He then bent down, hoisted Prince Shou onto his back, and started walking out.
Prince An could only let Prince Ji carry him, then turned his gaze to little Chang Le, who was standing obediently beside Princess Shou.
"Chang Le, does fifth uncle need to carry you?"
Upon hearing this, little Chang Le sweetly and softly replied to Prince An, "Thank you, fifth uncle. Chang Le can walk by herself."
"Alright, then fifth uncle will walk with you." Seeing such a well-behaved child, Prince An was greatly pleased. He took Chang Le’s little hand and walked towards the main gate of Prince Ning’s mansion.
Princess Shou was very happy to see that Prince Shou had brothers who truly cared for him. Such brotherly affection was rare in the royal family.
As they exited Prince Ning’s mansion, they saw the entire Xia family and Leng Jinyu waiting for them. Most other officials and their families had already left. Only a few officials who were usually close to Prince Ning were staring at Prince Ning’s mansion with troubled expressions.
"Father, maternal grandfather, maternal grandmother, why haven't you left yet?"
Leng Ruo Li’s face immediately lit up with a smile as bright as fresh flowers upon seeing her father and the Xia family.
"Li'er, we were waiting for you all to have lunch together. We originally came to Prince Ning's for the wedding banquet, but with such a dramatic turn of events, our planned feast has been ruined. It’s already past noon, and our stomachs are all rumbling," Grand Tutor Xia said jokingly.
"Then let’s choose a large restaurant in the capital and have a big meal!" Leng Ruo Li immediately suggested.
"Okay! Okay! Where should we go to eat now?" Xia Ling Xuan whispered.
"Why even think about it? Let’s go to the Drunken Immortal Tower, which is owned by Prince Leng," Leng Ruo Li’s second uncle's wife, Madam Jiang, said, slapping her husband’s hand.
"Alright, anywhere you all want to go is fine with me and His Highness," Leng Ruo Li said with a smile to the Xia family. Leng Jinyu and Leng Ruo Li’s eldest maternal uncle and his son had remained silent throughout.
Afterward, Leng Ruo Li turned to the Prince Shou couple, Prince An, and Prince Ji.
"Eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, and my two imperial brothers, since you didn't get to eat the wedding banquet, why don't you join us for a meal at the Drunken Immortal Tower?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Prince Ji quickly replied, fearing Prince An would refuse.
"Okay! Second sister-in-law, the weather is so hot today, and my energy is almost depleted. If I don't eat and fill my stomach soon, I’m afraid I won’t have the strength to walk later."
Upon hearing Prince Ji’s words, Prince An rolled his eyes at him.
This fellow had just carried eldest brother and was still walking with vigor, so why was he suddenly unable to walk? Only he would come up with such a flimsy excuse.
Although Prince An knew Prince Ji was saying it deliberately, Prince Shou believed him.
"Sixth brother, your body is so exhausted. Did carrying me earlier…?" Prince Shou asked with a face full of guilt.
"Alas, eldest brother, when I was carrying you, I was filled with strength. I was just telling second sister-in-law that."
Hearing this, Prince Ji immediately reached out and tugged at Prince Shou's sleeve, signaling him.
Since Prince Ji had carried Prince Shou out of Prince Ning’s mansion earlier, they were standing very close after Prince Shou was put down. Thus, Prince Ji’s subtle tug on Prince Shou’s sleeve went unnoticed.
Prince Shou quickly understood his sixth brother’s little scheme; he simply wanted to go to the Drunken Immortal Tower to eat with the second prince and the others.
"Then let’s go together! Eldest brother, what about your family of three?" Leng Ruo Li then asked Prince Shou.
"Second sister-in-law, I’m not feeling well, so I won’t join the fun," Prince Shou refused politely with a gentle smile.
"Eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, it’s rare to see you out today. Please join us for a meal," Leng Ruo Li persuaded Prince Shou and Princess Shou.
"But my health…" Prince Shou continued to refuse.
"Eldest brother, you should go out more. It would be beneficial for your health," Leng Ruo Li, guessing Prince Shou’s reservations, suggested.
At this moment, little Chang Le suddenly said with a pouting expression, "Father, I really want to go out and eat with second imperial aunt and the others. We haven’t been out since great-grandmother’s birthday banquet. Chang Le hasn’t even seen the streets of the capital."
"This…"
Prince Shou hesitated for a long time, not knowing what to say. He felt very guilty towards Chang Le.
However, Leng Ruo Li didn’t care whether Prince Shou went or not. She immediately picked up little Chang Le and walked towards her carriage with Leng Wang, instructing everyone to get into their own carriages and head to the Drunken Immortal Tower.
Prince An and Prince Ji were stunned for a moment and immediately got into their carriages to follow.
This left the Prince Shou couple bewildered.
"Your Highness, shall we go?" Princess Shou looked at Prince Shou.
"Let's go. The child has been taken away; can we not go? Help me into the carriage!" Prince Shou nodded.
Immediately, the Prince Shou family’s carriage followed the other carriages to the entrance of the Drunken Immortal Tower.
The shopkeeper, Yan Yu, who was standing at the entrance to greet guests, was stunned.
Wasn't today Prince Ning and Miss Qin Jia's wedding day?
Shouldn't their prince, princess, and the Xia family be at Prince Ning’s mansion for the wedding banquet?
Why had they all ended up at the Drunken Immortal Tower?
This left her very confused, but she quickly went to greet them.
"Your Highness, Princess, aren't you going to Prince Ning's mansion for the wedding banquet today?"
"Oh, that wedding banquet cannot be had, because the bride and groom have been thrown into prison by the Emperor," Leng Ruo Li said with a slight smile.
Then, she nimbly jumped off the carriage. Afterward, she also helped little Chang Le off the carriage. Then, she took Chang Le's hand and swaggered into the Drunken Immortal Tower, followed by several princes and the Xia family.
"Princess, are we still eating on the second floor today?" This was the first time Yan Yu had seen Leng Ruo Li bring so many people to the restaurant, and each of them had a high status.
"Let’s go up to the second floor and split into two tables," Leng Ruo Li replied directly.
It was lunchtime, and guests were gradually entering the restaurant. If this group of people ate in the main hall on the first floor, other guests might be too intimidated to enter the Drunken Immortal Tower.
"Yes, Princess!" Yan Yu said with a smile.
Subsequently, Leng Ruo Li led the large group upstairs to their usual spot.