The First Princess and her honour guard left in a cloud of awkwardness. The rest of the guests pretended not to be on tenterhooks over this, but groups of them had none too subtly, started drifting towards the open doors leading to the courtyard.
If anyone expended more than ten minutes thinking, they would realise that it was a huge waste for the reception room to be heated, no doubt burning through a lot of coal and costing the Second Prince's estate several gold taels, only for the doors to be open, letting all the heat escape.
It was almost as if Chu Yun wanted them to watch the show.
He was glad the First Prince had showed up. His alternative plans in case he hadn't weren't nearly as entertaining.
Chu Yun and Xiao Zai were speaking with the elderly Minister of Agriculture and his daughter, both of whom were valiantly trying to listen as Chu Yun explained Xin agricultural practices, while outside the First Prince was screaming something about:
