The guard hesitated, "But this young master claims that the Prince invited him."
Granny Liu burst into laughter and shook her head. "The Prince is occupied with state affairs—how could he possibly invite a country bumpkin to the mansion? Drive him away at once! If you provoke the Prince or the Princess Consort, you'll face dire consequences."
Granny Liu, confined to the inner quarters, was oblivious to the fact that Shen Xiuming had just earned the title of second-ranked scholar in the imperial examinations.
Shen Xiuming seethed with anger.
Prince Yan had specifically sent an invitation for him to attend a banquet at the mansion. Shen Xiuming had brought his mother along, hoping to lend support to his sister, only to be barred at the gates.
"The Prince invited me as a guest. How dare you obstruct me?" Shen Xiuming's indignation grew.
