Chapter 0207: Overly Bewitching Beauty, Dreaming Back to the First Meeting Day
Hanshan Temple, situated in the southern part of Jingcheng, rests atop a mountain named Hanshan. From the foot of the mountain, one can look up and see the ancient and solemn temple gate at the summit. The blend of vermilion and gray-black hues gives the temple a distant and chilly aura. Within the temple, buildings are arranged in an orderly manner, with monks and devotees moving about, praying to the enshrined Buddha for their wishes.
Outside Hanshan Temple, along the bluestone path and the peach groves planted by the temple, the trees have endured the cold spell and welcomed the warming weather, blooming ahead of time. The blossoms, interspersed in pink and white, resemble a delicate and gentle ink wash painting, softly unfurling within the springtime scroll of flowers, attracting scholars to come and admire them, each composing a poem in response.
Someone, caught up in the excitement, set up a Peach Blossom Banquet here. However, the Peach Blossom Banquet is far more than just a surface-level feast for appreciating peach blossoms. In Jian’an, the Peach Blossom Banquet also serves as an unconventional matchmaking event. Young men and women use the pretext of visiting the temple to pray for peace and smoothness to meet here, exchanging thoughts and feelings with one another. Inviting scholars from various regions is equivalent to bringing in a group of high-quality candidates for the banquet, attracting talented and beautiful women from Jingcheng to grace the event with their presence.
When Xie Chengze and the others arrived at Hanshan Mountain, the bluestone path up the mountain was already crowded with commoners ascending or descending. Vendors had set up stalls along the way, all having been cooped up at home during the snowbound winter and now eagerly venturing out for a spring outing as soon as the season turned.
The peach groves on the mountain were in full bloom, with layers of delicate, petite petals swaying gently in the breeze, like shy young maidens whispering and giggling, their delicate shoulders trembling slightly. The scene was both reserved and captivating. Occasional birdsongs, clear and melodious, added a touch of vitality and harmony.
“Your Highness, wait a moment.” Just as Xie Chengze was about to rise and exit the carriage, Shen Yuan suddenly raised a hand to stop him. “I’ll be right back.”
Xie Chengze gave him a puzzled look, watching as Shen Yuan got off the carriage and walked over to a vendor’s stall. He handed over a handful of copper coins and returned with a white veil hat.
“Wear this,” Shen Yuan said, passing the hat into the carriage.
Xie Chengze raised an eyebrow, his lips curling playfully. “Is my appearance too bewitching, likely to distract the scholars and commoners and disrupt the atmosphere of the Peach Blossom Banquet?”
Ahem, ahem. Shen Yuan covered his mouth with a light cough, a faint blush crossing his face. “Your Highness truly holds a grudge.”
These were the exact words he had spoken during his first meeting with Xie Chengze, now being thrown back at him.
“Hmph.” Xie Chengze put on the veil hat and stood up, lifting the carriage curtain.
Today, he was not wearing his usual red attire but a light, elegant pink peach-colored robe. A pale green jade belt accentuated his slender and graceful waist. As he leaned forward to step out of the carriage, the thin veil hat fluttered lightly in the mountain breeze, offering a fleeting glimpse of the peerless beauty beneath.
The handsome man beside the carriage extended his hand, and the young man’s fair, slender fingers lightly rested on his arm as he gracefully descended from the carriage. His demeanor was elegant and pleasing to the eye, like a pampered young nobleman unacquainted with the world, out for an excursion. He instantly caught the attention of nearby passersby, who longed to lift the obstructive veil and catch a glimpse of his handsome face.
“Are you here for the Peach Blossom Banquet?”
Just as Xie Chengze and the others were about to ascend the mountain, someone approached with a smile and said, “I am Gong Daoqi, a scholar from Jizhou.”
He sized up the group. Their attire and bearing were extraordinary, clearly not ordinary people. They all surrounded the woman in peach-colored clothes, likely young masters accompanying the daughter of some high official or noble family for an outing. Their visit to Hanshan Temple was probably for the Peach Blossom Banquet rather than praying to gods or Buddhas.
Zhu Xiaobiao stepped forward and struck up a familiar conversation, “I am Zhu Bubiao. Are you also here for the Peach Blossom Banquet, brother?”
“Of course! I heard the number one beauty of Jingcheng will also attend the banquet!” Gong Daoqi laughed. “I thought I’d wait here—perhaps I might catch an early glimpse of her beauty. You all seem to be from Jingcheng; you must have already witnessed the splendor of the number one beauty, right?”
After speaking, he discreetly glanced at Xie Chengze again. Through the thin, translucent veil, he could vaguely glimpse her striking beauty, privately speculating whether she might be the renowned number one beauty of Jingcheng.
The number one beauty should indeed possess such looks!
“Heh heh, I’ve actually had the honor of seeing her!” Zhu Xiaobiao smoothly continued the conversation. “There are many beauties in this world, each with their own charm, yet none compare to even half a strand of the number one beauty’s hair. It’s a pity that despite my vast knowledge, I can’t find a single word to describe her flower-like countenance and moon-like beauty. Shameful, truly shameful!”
Xie Chengze lifted her eyes and glanced suspiciously at Zhu Xiaobiao.
When had he ever seen Sheng Yiren’s true appearance?
Zhu Xiaobiao returned a look: When traveling abroad, identities are what we claim for ourselves. Anyway, the other party hasn’t seen her, so no fear of being exposed~
Little did they know, their exchanged glances were completely noticed by Gong Daoqi.
Seeing their subtle interactions, Gong Daoqi couldn’t help but feel even more convinced that the identity of the woman in peach clothes was extraordinary—she might truly be Sheng Yiren, the number one beauty of Jingcheng.
After all, she was the daughter of the current Minister of Rites, so it was normal for her not to want to reveal her identity. Gong Daoqi rolled his eyes and said to Zhu Xiaobiao, “The Peach Blossom Banquet is about to begin. I won’t wait any longer. How about we go up the mountain together? I can show you the way.”
Zhu Xiaobiao looked at Xie Chengze, who nodded slightly.
Gong Daoqi took it all in. It seemed this group was led by the woman in peach clothes.
Gong Daoqi was clearly a chatterbox. On the way up the mountain, his mouth never stopped as he chatted about everything with Zhu Xiaobiao. Whether intentional or not, he glanced at Shen Yuan, who was dressed in white and had an extraordinary aura, and brought up another topic. “I also heard that the number one beauty of Jingcheng has quite a connection with the currently highly favored Lord Shen. I wonder if Lord Shen will also come to the Peach Blossom Banquet? I’d like to have a few words with him!”
Hearing this, everyone raised their eyebrows slightly.
Shen Yuan’s gaze fell on Gong Daoqi. Noticing this scrutiny, Gong Daoqi also looked at Shen Yuan and smiled without arrogance or humility.
Shen Yuan chuckled thoughtfully.
It seemed Gong Daoqi had misunderstood something.
But by sheer coincidence, he had guessed his identity correctly.
Zhu Xiaobiao’s mind worked quickly, skillfully changing the subject and countering, “I heard Lord Shen also has quite a connection with the current Prince Regent. Do you think the Prince Regent might also attend the banquet?”
“Prince Regent?” Gong Daoqi paused for a moment. “Oh, you mean the Second Prince! He probably won’t come.”
“Oh?” Zhu Xiaobiao said in surprise. “Why do you say that?”
“Well…” Gong Daoqi couldn’t help but glance at Shen Yuan, coughing lightly. “It’s hard to say, very hard to say.”
What if this person really is Shen Shilang? How could we gossip right in front of the person being discussed…
“What’s the problem with talking about it?” Zhu Xiaobiao laughed. “Scholars are free to discuss matters. Both the Prince Regent and Lord Shen are broad-minded individuals. Not to mention they can’t hear us—even if they did, they wouldn’t punish anyone for it.”
Shen Yuan then spoke up, showing an interested expression. “Why not share the story? I’m also quite curious. Since Shen Shilang and the Prince Regent are close, why wouldn’t they attend the Peach Blossom Banquet together?”
Xie Chengze looked at the two gossip-filled faces and shook his head helplessly.