CHAPTER 29 PART2
CHAPTER 29 PART2
As soon as Crown Prince Tang Yueze left, the round-faced palace maid relaxed. She smiled at both Princess Ning Shu and Xiao Yanfei. “Your Highness, Second Miss Xiao, please follow me. I will take you to the waterside pavilion for a rest.”
The round-faced maid led the two young ladies eastward.
Qinghui Palace, the royal retreat, was magnificent, with its grand layout. The garden was adorned with pavilions, towers, corridors, stone paths, and lush flowers, all blending together in beautiful harmony.
April was the best time in the capital. Peonies, paeonies, wisteria, roses, pomegranates, and other flowers were in full bloom, filling the air with a refreshing fragrance. The garden was alive with vibrant colors and scents.
Soon, they arrived at a vibrant flower corridor, full of colors.
The round-faced palace maid pointed to the corridor. “Your Highness, Second Miss Xiao, not only are there real flowers in this corridor, but many silk flowers have also been hung up. Each silk flower hides a note. You two can pick whichever one you like.”
She stopped there, not continuing further.
This was interesting. Princess Ning Shu’s eyes instantly brightened, and with light steps, she took Xiao Yanfei by the hand and entered the flower corridor.
As the wind blew, the thousands of flowers in the corridor trembled gently, making it nearly impossible to distinguish which were real and which were artificial at a glance.
Princess Ning Shu, full of enthusiasm, strolled through the flower-lined path, her eyes scanning for the silk flowers hidden among the real ones. With a smile, she said, “Yanyan, these silk flowers were made by the Needlework Bureau under the Empress’s orders. They’re so lifelike, aren’t they beautiful?”
“They’re beautiful!” Xiao Yanfei nodded eagerly, her eyes equally captivated by the flower corridor.
The person who designed this flower corridor truly put a lot of thought into it. There were at least a dozen types of flowers here, abundant yet not chaotic, dense yet not cluttered, forming a vibrant and stunning display.
“Yanyan,” Princess Ning Shu whispered mysteriously into Xiao Yanfei’s ear, “how about we set up a game later?”
The words “set up a game” echoed in Xiao Yanfei’s mind for a moment before she realized: the young princess wants to be the dealer and set up a gambling game?
Princess Ning Shu continued confidently, “The Empress must have other plans, as it has always been with the Qianfang Banquet since the late emperor’s reign. Last year, it was a game of throwing pots, and the year before that, it was about hammering balls…”
“I’ve heard that the Emperor and the Empress met during the Qianfang Banquet. Back then, the Empress had the chance to perform in front of the late emperor, and her performance of ‘Guangling San’ became famous throughout the capital.”
“Today, since the Empress has asked us to wear Hufu and riding attire, I suspect it will most likely be archery or polo.”
Xiao Yanfei: “…”
“Yanyan,” Princess Ning Shu smiled sweetly, as charming and coquettish as could be, playfully swinging Xiao Yanfei’s arm, “Since there’s a competition, of course there will be winners and losers.”
“Don’t worry, the dealer can never lose!” The young princess beamed with pride.
Xiao Yanfei: “…”
Suddenly, Xiao Yanfei remembered the time when Princess Ning Shu played leaf poker and lost it all, wiping out an entire box of silk flowers.
Truly, a princess with a strong gambling spirit!
“Ah!” Princess Ning Shu’s gaze landed just above Xiao Yanfei’s head, and she smiled brightly, “I’ve found it!”
She tiptoed and plucked a large red silk flower from the corridor.
“I found one too!” Xiao Yanfei casually plucked a wisteria silk flower, shaking it lightly. The clusters of purple flowers resembled tiny wind chimes, delicate and beautiful.
The two of them each unfolded the note hidden in their silk flowers. As they read, both found the same character written: “B.”
“Congratulations, young ladies,” the round-faced palace maid smiled broadly as she approached, offering her congratulations. “The Empress has arranged a polo match, and only those who drew ‘A’ or ‘B’ can participate.”
“There are only eighteen spots available.”
“You two are really lucky!”
As she spoke, the round-faced palace maid led them through the flower corridor, continuing east.
“Of course!” Princess Ning Shu was absolutely delighted. She raised the note in her hand and, with a sweet smile, linked her arm with Xiao Yanfei’s, continuing forward. “We both drew ‘B,’ so we must be a team. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you during the match. Just listen to me, and we’ll be fine.”
Princess Ning Shu was so happy she might as well have had her tail wagging.
“Alright, I’ll listen to you,” Xiao Yanfei agreed obediently.
The Marquis’ family was of military lineage, so even though the original owner wasn’t favored, she had still learned to ride horses alongside the other girls from a young age. She was quite skilled at it.
Ancient polo, huh? This was going to be so interesting!
Suddenly, Xiao Yanfei felt a wave of anticipation.
“Princess, Second Miss Xiao, we’ve arrived at the Tianyi Pavilion.” After turning down a side corridor, the round-faced palace maid smiled warmly and gestured in a direction.
Ahead, there was a shimmering lake, with a nine-curve bridge arching over it, connecting a pavilion in the middle of the lake to a water pavilion with flying eaves and upturned corners.
Three sides of the pavilion were draped with translucent, light fabric, and the sky-blue gauze fluttered gently in the breeze.
Xiao Yanfei and Princess Ning Shu arrived at the pavilion at just the right time. Many people were already inside. Looking around, it was bustling with activity—elegant jewelry gleamed in the light, and a group of twenty or thirty young men and women, all around the same age, were chatting and laughing. Some raised their glasses to toast, others exchanged pleasantries, while some admired the flowers or fed the fish… The air was filled with cheerful voices.
Princess Ning Shu, aware that Xiao Yanfei wasn’t familiar with most of the people there, warmly began introducing them: “That girl in green who looks a bit like Third Madam Lu is my cousin, the second daughter of General Zhao’s family. The one feeding the fish in pink is the fifth daughter of Prince Jing’s household. And outside, the newly arrived girl in purple is Miss Cheng Mingyue from the Duke of Ying’s family…”
As they were chatting and laughing, a graceful figure approached the pavilion.
Xiao Luanfei, in a stunning red dress was looking slender and elegant making her beauty dazzling.
As soon as she entered the pavilion, a soft female voice called out to her, “Miss Xiao.”
Xiao Luanfei turned toward the voice and saw Cheng Mingyue, standing by the eastern window, smiling brightly at her.
“Miss Cheng,” Xiao Luanfei said, stepping toward her with a graceful pace, her smile gentle. “I wonder if you drew your lot? I’m in Group A.”
Her smile was gentle and warm, exuding the elegance of someone skilled in graceful gestures.
Third Miss Lu couldn’t help but recall some recent rumors. She subtly tugged at Princess Ning Shu’s sleeve and whispered, “I heard that today the Empress will choose a wife for the Crown Prince, and that Cheng Mingyue and Yan Yinxia are the top contenders… Is that true?”
The pavilion fell silent for a moment.
Several of the girls around them subtly perked up, straining to listen.
Most of them had heard the rumors, that the Empress was particularly interested in Miss Cheng Mingyue from the Duke of Ying’s household and Miss Yan Yinxia from the Duke of Yan’s family as potential wives for the Crown Prince.
“I didn’t draw,” Cheng Mingyue said with a smile, shaking her head, her demeanor poised and graceful.
“That’s truly unfortunate,” Xiao Luanfei sighed, her lips curling into a polite smile, as if she didn’t care at all that Cheng Mingyue was the Empress’s top pick for the Crown Prince’s bride.
“The Emperor is arriving! The Empress is arriving!”
Outside the pavilion, a young eunuch raised his voice and loudly announced, “The Emperor is arriving! The Empress is arriving!”
Instantly, the soft murmurs and chatter around them ceased, and the pavilion fell into a hushed silence.
Everyone’s attention was immediately drawn, and eyes shifted toward the entrance of the pavilion.
A bright yellow canopy swayed through the air, fluttering in the spring breeze.
Beneath the canopy, the emperor, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, and the Empress, wearing a ceremonial gown of Yanju crown attire, walked side by side, flanked by attendants, slowly making their way toward the pavilion.
The emperor appeared to be in his forties, with thick eyebrows and long eyes, his slightly sunken eye sockets and rosy cheeks lending a youthful vitality to his face. A short beard adorned his philtrum and chin, and his features bore a resemblance to the Crown Prince’s—about four or five parts alike.
Although his frame was somewhat slender, he stood tall and straight like a pine tree, exuding the regal dignity of an emperor as he walked with measured steps.
The Emperor and Empress spoke and laughed together, their atmosphere warm and harmonious.
Everyone inside the pavilion rose to their feet and made their way outside to respectfully greet the Imperial procession. At the back, someone whispered quietly, “Why is Gu Rakshasa here too…?”
Behind the Emperor and Empress, several attendants followed, but all eyes were drawn to a figure in a vibrant red dragon robe—Gu Feichi.
He wore a half-black mask on his face, and behind it, his fox-like eyes were beautifully shaped, their ink-black pupils gleaming with a sharp, fierce intensity.
The enchanting sunlight bathed his striking red robe, casting a glow that made his pale, flawless skin appear smooth and radiant. He possessed an almost mesmerizing beauty, his presence commanding attention like no other.
Gu Feichi smiled faintly, walking gracefully behind the emperor, his stature as imposing as a high mountain or flowing river. His presence was as sharp and unyielding as a cold blade, exuding an unstoppable force that demanded attention, making it impossible for anyone to ignore him.
Standing next to Gu Feichi was the Crown Prince, Tang Yueze, who seemed overshadowed by the man’s striking presence, his brilliance completely eclipsed.
Tang Yueze stood with his hands behind his back, his brows furrowed, scanning the surroundings absentmindedly. His once bright and energetic demeanor had faded, replaced by a more distant air.
But when his gaze landed on Xiao Luanfei at the back of the crowd, his eyes suddenly lit up.
Luan’er!
Tang Yueze wanted to step forward but paused, his gaze fixed intently on Xiao Luanfei’s graceful figure. His eyes were so fiery, so focused, it seemed as though she was the only one in his sight.
But Xiao Luanfei quickly turned her face away, deliberately avoiding his gaze.
Many in the crowd noticed the subtle tension between them.
Those with sharp eyes could tell at a glance: the Crown Prince’s feelings for Xiao Luanfei were deep and sincere, while she remained distant and cold toward him, seemingly making an effort to avoid any closeness.
Tang Yueze’s lips parted slightly, his body rigid with tension.
He had specifically left the palace to pick Xiao Luanfei up, but she had turned him down, choosing instead to wait outside for nearly half an hour.
She had said, “Your Highness, let’s forget it.”
“Do you know, Zheng momo visited the Marquis’ residence a few days ago and said that the Empress favors the daughters of the Duke of Ying and the Duke of Yan more. She also mentioned that if my mother were to send my second sister to Lord Gao, Lord Gao would speak on my behalf to the emperor…”
“Your Highness, my family is fallen and doesn’t deserve to be connected with the noble Crown Prince. But please, don’t degrade me like this! That’s my sister we’re talking about!”
“Now, my mother blames me… and my second sister, too. She’s angry with me, and we’ve fallen out.”
Xiao Luanfei’s anguished expression, as if on the verge of tears, vividly appeared in Tang Yueze’s mind, making him feel as though his heart was being struck heavily, as if it were being twisted with pain.
He knew, deep down, that his Luan’er didn’t truly wish to reject him, but she had to consider the well-being of her family.
Tang Yueze’s face remained expressionless as he followed the Emperor and Empress into the Danbi Pavilion next to the Tianyi Pavilion. After greetings were exchanged, he took a seat beside the Emperor and Empress.
His burning gaze remained fixed on Xiao Luanfei, not wavering for a moment.
As the tea was being served, Empress Liu smiled gracefully, smoothing her sleeve, and then turned to ask Zheng momo, “Where is Mingyue?”
“Your Majesty, Miss Cheng is over there,” Zheng momo replied, pointing to the Tianyi Pavilion on the other side. “I’ll go fetch her now.” With that, she immediately left to summon Cheng Mingyue.
Empress Liu pressed her lips together, her red lips curling slightly before she leaned in to whisper to the emperor, “Your Majesty, Mingyue is Cheng Shao’s eldest granddaughter…”
Cheng Shao was the current Duke of Ying, and Cheng Mingyue was the legitimate granddaughter of the Duke and Princess Anhui, making her an eligible candidate to be the Crown Prince’s consort.
Empress Liu subtly guided the emperor’s gaze towards the pavilion, where Zheng momo was leading Cheng Mingyue in their direction.
The whispered conversation between the Emperor and Empress was clearly audible to Tang Yueze, and in that moment, his resolve was set.
He suddenly stood up, and as Cheng Mingyue was approaching the water pavilion, he declared in a loud, clear voice, “Father, I have already found someone I wish to marry. I ask for your blessing to wed her!”
Tang Yueze bowed deeply to the emperor, his voice ringing clearly across the pavilion, and the surrounding guests heard every word.
He would never give up on Luan’er!
***