Chapter 026: The Crown Prince and the Minister’s Wife
When news of the Crown Prince’s arrival reached her, Qin Chanyue was in the garden inspecting the seating arrangements for the guests.
Lady Qin was dressed more splendidly than usual for today’s banquet. She wore a deep green cross-collar water-sleeved long dress, layered over a snowy silk white inner skirt. Her dark hair was adorned with pure gold hair ornaments, and a vibrant green Qing’e flower was pinned among them. A golden floral hairpin graced her forehead, creating a dazzling impression at first glance.
Though she was of a certain age, she was at the peak of a woman’s allure. Plump and full-figured, she possessed a radiance that surpassed ordinary young ladies by threefold. The years had endowed her with the charm of a mature woman, and every gesture captivated the eye.
At that moment, Lady Qin was surveying the garden’s floral scenery and seating arrangements.
Some flowers that had bloomed beautifully yesterday were now fading and needed to be trimmed to avoid displeasing the host. The seating, however, was even more important than the flowers.
Arranging seats for a banquet was always a complex art. If the guest seats were placed in the front hall, the seats of honor should be positioned opposite the main entrance, following the tradition of respecting the left and honoring the east. If arranged in the garden, the placement became far more challenging.
The garden was spacious, offering various floral views to admire, and its interconnected paths led in all directions. By simply shifting a few floral arrangements, one could create entirely different spaces. Thus, it was difficult to find a spot like an indoor wall from which one could oversee everyone. Instead, seats had to be arranged according to each guest’s status, with the most prominent positions placed at the forefront. The garden also featured various poetry flower tables—these were not fixed seating for guests but long tables set beside flowering trees or scenic spots, covered with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Passersby could sit behind these tables to compose poetry or engage in literary exchanges, adding an air of elegance.
Beyond status, other considerations had to be weighed: which families had disputes, which were connected by marriage, which were negotiating betrothals, and which were linked as in-laws or sisters-in-law. All required careful arrangement to avoid conflicts during the banquet.
A banquet reflected the host’s reputation. A poorly managed banquet would bring shame upon the host. High-ranking households like the Houfu and Prince’s mansions prized their dignity above all, while scholars and refined gentlemen would even risk their lives for their reputations. Thus, whenever a banquet was held, the host would treat it as a formidable challenge, meticulously attending to every detail.
Such intricate matters could only be handled by a principal wife who had been immersed in Chang’an’s social circles for many years. If one’s status was not high enough or their backing not solid, they wouldn’t even be able to host a banquet, let alone be invited to one. Without knowing who was who, understanding the intricate web of relationships was impossible.
Ordinary young ladies from noble families could only learn some of these intricacies from their mothers, but that was no substitute for firsthand experience. A new bride entering a household would need several years before she could manage a banquet on her own. Even someone as capable as Qin Chanyue had endured considerable hardship in her time.
If she had struggled, how much more so for someone as foolish as Liu Yandai? If thrown into the circles of women in the capital, Liu Yandai would fall into every trap laid for her. Thus, Qin Chanyue had no intention of seeking Liu Yandai’s assistance. Instead, she personally checked for oversights and filled gaps before the banquet began.
When a maid hurried through the flower beds to announce the Crown Prince’s arrival, Qin Chanyue was momentarily taken aback.
She had not invited the Crown Prince to this banquet—although both the Qin family and the Zhongyi Hou Mansion belonged to the Crown Prince’s faction, on the surface, the Crown Prince never interacted with them excessively, nor had he ever taken the initiative to show closeness. If it were Zhennan Wang hosting a banquet, it would be normal for the Crown Prince to grace the occasion. But now, it was merely Zhou Yuanting hosting a small gathering, not even a formal promotion in noble rank. At most, the Crown Prince would have someone deliver a gift. Why would he come in person?
Though suspicious in her heart, she dared not delay outwardly and hurriedly made her way out along the corridor from the garden.
Just as she reached the middle section of the corridor, she caught sight of the Crown Prince from a distance.
The corridor stretched over the lotus pond, long and winding, requiring a thousand steps to traverse. At the twists and turns, an octagonal pavilion for viewing the scenery was erected, furnished with stone stools and a stone table, upon which tea sets were placed for enjoying the view.
However, the Crown Prince seemed uninterested in lingering there for tea. Instead, he strolled leisurely along the corridor’s edge. As the Crown Prince held the highest status, he walked at the forefront, while Zhou Yuanting followed diligently behind, a step behind, speaking to the Crown Prince with great enthusiasm, essentially trying every way to flatter him.
Liu Yandai trailed behind the two men, two steps further back, maintaining a slight distance from them.
Her daughter-in-law, unseen for a few days, appeared even plumper and fairer, clearly well-nourished in the Prince’s mansion.
Qin Chanyue’s gaze swept over the three of them briefly before returning to the dark cyan figure at the front.
Crown Prince Chen Feng bore a striking resemblance to the Late Empress, with sharp and fierce features, deep-set eyes, and a pair of phoenix eyes that were keen and cold. His steps were steady as he walked, having practiced martial arts since childhood.
At the sight of the Crown Prince, Qin Chanyue felt a faint tension in her heart, and her mind involuntarily drifted to speculations about the imperial court.
The Crown Prince held a high position of power, having been raised in the imperial palace since childhood. In earlier years, he navigated between the Late Empress Dowager, the Emperor, the Late Empress, and the Imperial Consort. Both the Late Empress Dowager and the Late Empress were surnamed Li, belonging to an influential and prestigious family of the time. However, the Li family’s male descendants grew increasingly incompetent, leading to their gradual decline. They could only rely on the Late Empress Dowager bringing female relatives into the palace and conferring them as Empress to maintain their dignity.
The Late Empress was the blood niece of the Late Empress Dowager, while Madam Qin—Qin Chanyue’s mother—also shared the surname Li and was another niece of the Late Empress Dowager. However, Qin Chanyue’s mother and the Late Empress’s mother belonged to the same clan but different branches. In other words, Qin Chanyue was also a niece of the Empress. That was why, after the entire Qin family perished, the Late Empress Dowager took her in to raise.
By this account, Qin Chanyue and the Crown Prince shared a distant blood relation, though she dared not flaunt this connection to assert authority.
This was also why the Qin family had been part of the Crown Prince’s faction from the very beginning. This lineage had started from the generation of the Late Empress Dowager, and the children born afterward had no choice but to align with the factions of their fathers and mothers.
In reality, however, the Emperor did not favor the Late Empress. The person the Emperor truly loved was Imperial Consort Wan. It was only because the Late Empress Dowager insisted on upholding the glory of her maternal clan, and under the pressure of maternal authority, that the Empress was forced to be conferred as Empress. Later, after both the Late Empress Dowager and the Late Empress passed away, the Emperor no longer wished to pass the future throne to the current Eastern Palace. He had been devising ways to pull the Crown Prince down and instead bestow the throne upon the Second Prince, the son of Imperial Consort Wan.
The favor of an ordinary man might be as simple as a bowl of porridge, a meal, or a few coins. But the Emperor’s favor was a matter of life and death.
The Crown Prince was well aware that he was not favored by his father, the Emperor. But as the Crown Prince, once deposed, he would face certain death. Thus, he had no choice but to fight. In the beginning, with the support of his mother and the Empress Dowager, things were manageable. However, after the passing of the Late Empress Dowager and the Late Empress, the Crown Prince’s days grew increasingly difficult.
His maternal clan was weak, and a few years ago, the Li family—his mother’s kin—was demoted and exiled by the Emperor on a fabricated pretext, leaving only the Crown Prince to grit his teeth and endure alone.
The palace was like a prison, and the path to the throne was a massive grinding stone. The Crown Prince had his edges worn away, cultivating a temperament that revealed neither joy nor anger. Although Qin Chanyue had never witnessed it firsthand, she could imagine that the Crown Prince’s life was far from easy—beneath the surface of splendor lay a cauldron of simmering oil.
This was also why the Crown Prince had never been granted an arranged marriage.
The Emperor had no intention of providing the Crown Prince with a powerful wife’s clan. Meanwhile, the Imperial Consort continuously sent beautiful palace maids into the Crown Prince’s quarters, hoping he would stumble over matters of desire. Yet, the Crown Prince possessed remarkable patience. At twenty-two, he remained without a single woman, enduring steadfastly as he continued to hold his ground against these schemes.
The imperial court had long been deadlocked. The Emperor clung to life, intent on replacing the Crown Prince, while the Crown Prince remained cautious and meticulous, avoiding any misstep. The Second Prince watched eagerly from the shadows, creating trouble for the Crown Prince in his bid for the throne. Neither side could gain the upper hand.
That is, until recently, when Zhennan Wang returned to Chang’an.
Zhennan Wang brought back evidence of the Second Prince’s treachery against loyal officials for the sake of seizing power, forcing the Emperor to take action against the Second Prince. Now, Chang’an City stood on the brink of a storm.
These matters should not have concerned Qin Chanyue. She was not an official in the imperial court, nor did she understand the depths of its intrigues. She had no business probing into them. Yet, upon seeing the Crown Prince, the thoughts she had suppressed began to stir and resurface, compelling her to ponder them again and again.
In their previous life, they had lost. In this life, could they win?
If the Crown Prince failed, how would she and her adoptive brother survive?
These chaotic thoughts, carried by the summer breeze, swept over her, leaving her momentarily bewildered. But soon, that confusion dissipated.
She was pulled back to the corridor of the Houfu, where she came face-to-face with the approaching Crown Prince.
Qin Chanyue took a few steps forward from a distance, bowed slowly, and performed a respectful salute. Her strikingly beautiful face wore an expression of perfect deference as she lowered herself and said, “This subject’s wife pays her respects to the Crown Prince.”
The Crown Prince’s gaze swept over Qin Chanyue before he nodded, his expression calm. “No need for formalities. Rise—I have come merely for a stroll.”
Though young, the Crown Prince possessed a mind as deep as the sea. What he truly pondered in his heart was beyond Qin Chanyue’s guess, so she chose not to speculate and simply welcomed him.
After all, the Qin family was the vessel beneath the Crown Prince’s feet. If the Qin family fell, the Crown Prince would sink with it. Thus, the Crown Prince would not harm the Qin family.
The Crown Prince’s arrival added a dramatic flourish to the banquet. Not only was the layout of the Qin Mansion’s garden rearranged, but the number of guests also suddenly swelled.
These ordinary guests typically had no means of currying favor with the Crown Prince—neither had Qin Chanyue before. She did not know why the Crown Prince had come without reason, but regardless, he was here.
Seeing the Crown Prince arrive, many immediately sought ways to curry favor with the most esteemed figure in Dachen. In their eyes, as long as they could establish even the slightest connection with the Crown Prince, they could walk with their backs straighter in the future.
A few years earlier, a scholar had composed a poem during a banquet. Later, when the Crown Prince saw the poem, he praised it with a single word: “Not bad.” After this spread, the scholar’s reputation soared, and he eventually passed the imperial examinations and entered the imperial court as an official.
In the eyes of the world, the Crown Prince was an auspicious sign, a golden scale, a true dragon radiating noble purple energy—something everyone flocked to. This was also why, despite his maternal clan’s lack of influence, the Crown Prince had managed to endure until now.
Dachen valued those born of the principal wife. The more noble the bloodline, the less it could be tainted. A true dragon had to be genuine; those born of a concubine were worthless. The Second Prince had failed precisely because of this.
Thus, once news spread that the Crown Prince had come to the Houfu, many who were originally not on the invitation list began to scheme.
The Qin Mansion had already sent out numerous invitation cards, inviting Madams from various households. Through various channels, people approached these Madams, asking if they could bring one or two extra guests.
There had always been a custom of “bringing guests” when sending invitations. When a host invited guests, if a guest felt there was no familiar company at the host’s place, they could bring one or two friends along as companions. The host would never take offense; instead, they would treat the companion as a guest as well. Once they became acquainted, the host could also send an invitation to the companion for future gatherings.
Some of these Madams had planned to bring guests, while others had not. But with the Crown Prince’s arrival, they all brought someone along.
As a result, the Houfu was unprecedentedly crowded with guests of all kinds. At this moment, Qin Chanyue was grateful that the banquet was being held in the garden—if it had been in the front hall, she would have just seated the most distinguished guests at the front when, moments later, an even more distinguished guest arrived. How could she possibly arrange the seating then?
Fortunately, the garden was spacious. Guests were seated in scattered arrangements, with flower scenery to admire, so no one felt slighted.
Since the number of guests far exceeded Qin Chanyue’s expectations, she was so busy she barely had time to catch her breath, not even pausing to drink a sip of water. Guests arrived in waves, and she hardly had time to turn around and escort them to their seats.
On such occasions, it was always the principal wife who was busy. Concubines from the household could not come out to entertain guests. In Dachen, concubines were mere playthings—in the eyes of their masters, they were only slightly more respectable than maidservants. At most, they could stand by to serve tea and water. Only Qin Chanyue and Liu Yandai could engage in conversation and socialize with the Madams and ladies from other households, sitting together to drink wine or tea.
Qin Chanyue had no choice but to bring Liu Yandai along, asking her to help settle some of the guests.
Liu Yandai had learned a great deal during her time in the Houfu and the Prince’s mansion, though she was still somewhat inexperienced in handling such situations. When faced with groups of Madams arriving together, she occasionally forgot their names and could only awkwardly address them as “Madam.”
Fortunately, these Madams were all gentle and amiable, never deliberately making things difficult for her. Occasionally, when they noticed Liu Yandai overlooking something, they would kindly offer guidance, allowing her to complete the tasks assigned by her Pomu quite smoothly.
One Madam even praised her: “Shizi Furen is so clever and diligent. If only my new bride were as hardworking as you.”
Liu Yandai had never been praised like this before?
She was too shy to speak, her delicate cheeks flushing crimson. The lady who saw her like this was somewhat surprised. All the ladies in Chang’an had heard that Qin Chanyue’s daughter-in-law came from the Southern Border Army. They had assumed this daughter-in-law would be as sharp-tongued and difficult as Qin Chanyue herself. They never expected this young lady to be so thin-skinned, blushing from just a few words of praise.
Seeing this, the lady found the young Shizi Furen quite adorable and praised her a few more times.
Liu Yandai felt as if she had drunk several cups of strong liquor on the spot, becoming a bit lightheaded. No wonder people spoke of “sweet words”—they were truly intoxicating! With a dizzy head and unsteady feet, Liu Yandai managed a few polite words of modesty, barely maintaining her composure as she turned to leave. But once she turned around, she couldn’t hold back any longer. Her rosy lips nearly stretched to her ears as she clutched her small handkerchief, happily skipping toward the courtyard gate.
This was incredible! Yandai had been praised!
Aside from her Pomu and the matrons within the Houfu, this was the first time anyone had ever praised her!
For a moment, Liu Yandai felt a surge of accomplishment, lifting her head proudly like a little hen, clucking and bouncing forward—it took great restraint not to jump in circles and fly right then and there!
Immersed in her own joy, Liu Yandai was completely unaware that someone was watching her from across the banquet.
—
The banquet was crowded and lively, with music playing from the nearby pavilion, the sounds of string and wind instruments drifting through the air. Zhongyi Marquis Zhou Ziheng mingled among the guests, while Zhou Yuanting stayed close to the Crown Prince, attending to him. It was a bustling scene.
Not all the guests had arrived yet. Lady Qin was still outside greeting newcomers, and the banquet hadn’t officially begun. Only Zhongyi Marquis was chatting and laughing with everyone. The guests didn’t have to sit idly either; they were free to stroll around and enjoy themselves.
People sat scattered in small groups, chatting, and once conversations started, noise was inevitable. Some were composing poetry, with narrow rhymes and long wine cups. Others were playing pitch-pot, the pot arrows flying busily amidst swaying flower branches. Maidservants came and went, carrying ice vats to place beside tables and under trees, gently fanning them with round fans to send cool breezes toward the guests.
Through the overlapping layers of gauzy sleeves, past hairpins and floral shadows, the Crown Prince, seated in the most prominent position, held his wine cup and cast an extremely subtle glance toward Liu Yandai.
In that glance, he saw Liu Yandai fluttering through the crowd like a cheerful little butterfly, heading toward the mansion gate to greet guests.
The Crown Prince’s gaze swept over the gently swaying ornaments on her hairpin, lingered briefly on her fair face, then slid downward. Below was her full chest, and further down, her loose skirt. The skirt was corseted but not waist-cinching, concealing the curves beneath and making it hard to see the full shape. Yet the Crown Prince knew that waist was soft and supple—if one were to grasp it with a hand, the flesh would envelop the fingers, offering a most comfortable, tender sensation.
Originally, the Crown Prince had intended only a fleeting glance. But for some reason, once his eyes landed on her, he found it difficult to look away.
He had to admit, he felt a somewhat irrepressible curiosity toward this woman, Liu Yandai.
Ever since he first heard her say “I have eight male favorites,” he had been curious about her. With each meeting, his curiosity grew stronger.
Such a licentious and chaotic woman, yet she appeared as a proper and courteous Shizi Furen. She had such a soft waist, such rosy lips, yet in front of others, she presented an extremely delicate and timid demeanor. The stark contrast between her inner and outer selves made her seem like two different people. Apart from him, perhaps no one would believe she was an adulteress.
The Crown Prince harbored a desire to spy on her.
No matter what Liu Yandai did, his gaze would inevitably fall upon her, fixedly watching her for a while, speculating about her actions. Today, he should not have been at the Houfu but at the Prince’s mansion instead.
He had indeed gone to the Prince’s mansion but did not see Liu Yandai there. After asking others, he learned that she had returned to the Houfu to attend a banquet.
Thus, the Crown Prince’s carriage meandered its way to the Houfu.
He found it difficult to articulate the emotions he felt when his carriage arrived at the entrance of the Houfu, and as he stepped down, he happened to see Zhou Yuanting and Liu Yandai standing intimately together.
For a moment, his heart felt stifled, but he refused to admit that it was his own displeasure. He thought he was merely upset on behalf of Zhou Yuanting.
Zhou Yuanting seemed to adore his wife so much, yet she was secretly indulging with others behind his back—this was improper and against propriety.
If Liu Yandai were willing to repent in the future and live faithfully with her husband for the rest of her life—for some reason, the Crown Prince felt even more stifled.
As these fleeting fragments flashed through the Crown Prince’s mind, Liu Yandai was lifting her skirt to pass by a cluster of flowering trees.
The trees were adorned with hanging pink roses, large blossoms dotted among the green vines. As Liu Yandai brushed past them, she appeared even more tender than the pink roses above.
The Crown Prince’s thoughts inexplicably wavered for a moment. He forgot about Liu Yandai’s eight male companions, forgot that she was already a married woman, forgot her laziness and indulgence, forgot her love for pleasure and enjoyment, remembering only the soft touch of her waist.
In this dazed moment, Zhou Yuanting, standing nearby, cheerfully presented a plate of “fruits” to the Crown Prince.
These “fruits” were not real fruits but pastries shaped like them. Glutinous rice was molded into lychee shapes, while pink dough was shaped into peach branches, each no larger than a fingertip. Steamed and arranged on a plate, they were freshly served, still steaming hot. As the plate was brought before him, a faint fragrance wafted through the air.
The pristine white color and the enticing aroma inexplicably reminded the Crown Prince of Liu Yandai.
“Your Highness, please enjoy these—they were prepared by the head chef our mansion specially invited from Jiangbei, who excels in making such desserts,” Zhou Yuanting said with fervent enthusiasm to the Crown Prince, ignoring the other guests at the banquet and focusing solely on attending to the Crown Prince.
Although he had not yet entered officialdom, he was very familiar with this Crown Prince—after all, as part of the Crown Prince’s faction, it was only natural to understand the Crown Prince first.
The Crown Prince was young but resolute. In the past, he had even personally gone to areas afflicted by the gu epidemic to provide disaster relief, earning widespread acclaim in the court. To serve the Crown Prince was an honor for him.
If he could align himself with the Crown Prince, and in the future, the Crown Prince became an emperor for the ages while he served as prime minister to assist him, wouldn’t that be a tale for the ages?
Zhou Yuanting’s eyes gleamed brightly, burning with fierce ambition as he stared intently at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince saw that intense gaze.
But he acted as if he hadn’t noticed, his eyes calmly sweeping past Zhou Yuanting before he raised his hand to pick up a glutinous rice lychee and slowly savor it.
The taste was quite good.
Seeing the Crown Prince’s apparent delight, Zhou Yuanting eagerly launched into a stream of praise for the delicacies—how exquisite they were, how meticulously the kitchen staff had prepared them. He spun such an elaborate tale that he failed to notice how the Crown Prince’s gaze repeatedly drifted past him, toward the distance.
Though the Crown Prince stood there in body, his spirit had long since wandered elsewhere. Yet Zhou Yuanting, mistaking his own lengthy monologue for something that genuinely pleased the Prince, was already pondering whether to send more pastries to the Eastern Palace later.
Zhou Yuanting was playing the lute to a cow, but the cow, harboring ulterior motives, endured the performance with patience. At a glance, the scene appeared quite harmonious.
As the two were speaking, a figure in water-blue suddenly approached from not far away, holding a round fan that half-covered her face. She stood before the Crown Prince’s table, performed a delicate and graceful curtsy, and said softly, “Greetings, Crown Prince Brother.”
Zhou Yuanting paused mid-sentence and looked up to see a delicate beauty standing before him. She had an oval face, a slender figure, and a pair of dewy almond-shaped eyes that seemed to speak—lustrous as jade, charming as cherry blossoms leaning against a fan.
After a moment of surprise, he quickly rose to return the greeting, saying, “Greetings, Miss Wu.”
This Miss Wu, named Wanqing, was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Wu family. Her father served as the Prefect of Jiangbei, a high-ranking third-tier official. She had been raised in the capital since childhood, a young lady from a noble family. Her aunt was none other than the currently most favored Imperial Consort Wan, making her status exceptionally noble. With such a background, she was destined either to enter the palace as a consort or marry into a Houfu or Prince’s mansion, ensuring a lifetime of glory and wealth. She was not someone to offend lightly.
After returning Zhou Yuanting’s greeting with a slow curtsy, Wu Wanqing turned her gaze to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince’s expression remained cold, and he did not speak.
This Wu Wanqing, Miss Wu, was the niece of Imperial Consort Wan. Given her identity, the Crown Prince had always been highly wary of her.
Yet, Wu Wanqing seemed oblivious to the Crown Prince’s cold demeanor. Whenever she encountered him, she would cling to him persistently. Even in the palace, she had done the same since childhood, calling him “Crown Prince Brother” and continuing to do so to this day. Now, at this banquet, she remained unchanged.
Wu Wanqing had sent numerous overt and covert signals, but the Crown Prince firmly rejected such advances. He would not associate with anyone connected to Imperial Consort Wan, so he did not even bother to lift his head.
But Wu Wanqing acted as if she did not notice the Crown Prince’s indifference and continued, “The garden of this Houfu is truly exquisite. I noticed a flowering tree nearby that is particularly striking. Would Crown Prince Brother care to go and admire it?”
The Crown Prince cast a cold glance at Zhou Yuanting beside him, his eyes carrying a hint of frost.
But Zhou Yuanting did not understand. He only heard Miss Wu praising their garden and eagerly nodded, saying, “Miss Wu is absolutely right. Your Highness, why not come and take a look? The garden in my humble residence is truly splendid. Your Highness should come and admire it.”
The Crown Prince withdrew his gaze and thought, With such poor judgment, he deserves to be a pimp.
“Since both of you are fond of it, why don’t the two of you go and admire it?” The Crown Prince slowly picked up another lychee and brought it to his lips, his tone indifferent. “I have no interest in flowers.”
Wu Wanqing’s face paled, and tears welled up in her eyes.
She could not understand why the Crown Prince had always been so cold to her. In their childhood, he had treated her with courtesy. After all, she had specifically begged her mother to bring her here upon hearing that the Crown Prince would attend.
Her mother, Lady Wan, had never gotten along with Qin Chanyue and had no intention of attending this banquet. It was only after Wu Wanqing pleaded repeatedly that her mother reluctantly agreed.
Having finally managed to see the Crown Prince, he still treated her with such coldness, making Wu Wanqing’s heart ache—the sorrows of a young maiden are always tangled, like a knot of lilac blossoms that cannot be undone.
Seeing the Crown Prince’s demeanor, Zhou Yuanting’s expression stiffened. He thought to himself, Oh no, it seems I’ve praised the wrong thing. The Crown Prince does not wish to accompany this Miss Wu.
But after Miss Wu stood here, people around them had been glancing over intentionally or unintentionally. With the Crown Prince’s refusal, Miss Wu could no longer save face!
Such a noble young lady could not possibly come alone, face everyone’s stares, be rejected, and then return alone!
Zhou Yuanting could only stand up, steeling himself as he said, “In that case, I shall accompany Miss Wu to admire the flowers.”
For the sake of her own dignity, Miss Wu had no choice but to walk alongside him.
Only after the two had left did the Crown Prince have a moment to glance at the floral shadows from earlier.
Liu Yandai had long since vanished without a trace.
—
Meanwhile, Liu Yandai had already made her way through the crowd and arrived at the entrance of the Houfu, continuing to greet guests on behalf of her Pomu.
It was now approaching the hour of the Sheep, and the entrance was deserted, with no more carriages arriving. The bright sun overhead shone down on the clean, smooth bluestone pavement in front of the gate. Qin Chanyue stood at the entrance, checking the time.
With the banquet about to begin, it was unlikely any more guests would arrive—those who were coming had already arrived, and the entire garden was packed to the brim.
So when Liu Yandai arrived, Qin Chanyue was just about to turn back to attend the banquet.
Just as she turned around, the sound of a carriage came from not far beyond the entrance.
Who could be arriving right at this moment?
Anyone in Chang’an with a bit of news knew the Crown Prince was at the banquet and that he was the most distinguished guest, so naturally, everyone else had arrived early.
According to banquet etiquette, the more distinguished the guest, the later they typically arrived. Since the Crown Prince had come early, others had to follow suit. Who would dare delay until the banquet began, forcing the host to welcome them in and draw the attention of everyone present?
That would clearly be an affront to the Crown Prince.
As Qin Chanyue turned, she caught sight of an extravagantly luxurious five-horse carriage of golden-threaded nanmu wood slowly approaching from the distance. The five majestic horses wore golden-threaded jade forehead bands and silk ribbons around their ankles. From afar, their approach was a dazzling sight of gold and splendor.
At the sight of this carriage, Qin Chanyue’s heart skipped a beat.
She thought to herself that she now finally knew who had come to cause trouble for the Crown Prince.
In Dachen, the regulations for carriages had always been: “The Son of Heaven drives six horses, feudal lords drive four,” meaning that when the Son of Heaven traveled by carriage, it was drawn by six horses, while feudal lords used four. The Crown Prince, however, drove five.
But aside from the Crown Prince, there was one other person in Dachen who could use five horses.
That was the Second Prince.
Because Emperor Yongchang favored the Second Prince, he had bestowed upon him many privileges that exceeded the norms. Many things reserved for the Crown Prince could also be used by the Second Prince.
In other words, not only had the Crown Prince attended this modest banquet, but the Second Prince had also come. With two such formidable figures of Dachen present, there was already potential for trouble—and to make matters worse, she herself had orchestrated a grand spectacle.
It seemed all the auspicious days had converged into one.
Watching the carriage slowly approach, Qin Chanyue’s heart began to pound wildly.
At the same time, the carriage came to a gentle stop in front of the Houfu entrance.
Qin Chanyue hurried forward a few steps and saw a refined and handsome nobleman step out of the carriage first. He wore snow-white silk embroidered with golden bamboo patterns, his hair tied up with a jade hairpin.
The gentleman was dignified, with gentle, elongated eyebrows and warm, kind eyes. His movements were graceful, his hands tucked into his sleeves. At first glance, he looked like a nobleman who had stepped out of a painting.
His mere presence seemed to lend an air of elegance and prestige to the bluestone pavement at the entrance of the Houfu.
This was none other than the Second Prince, Chen Ding.
Imperial Consort Wan was elegant and beautiful, and the Second Prince had inherited her refined appearance—tall and slender like bamboo, graceful as a jade tree, with a smile as gentle and radiant as the moon.
Judging by appearance alone, the Second Prince appeared much gentler than the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince carried an oppressive aura, spoke little with others, and had practiced martial arts since childhood, giving the impression of a warrior who could conquer territories. In contrast, the Second Prince always wore a smile on his face and conducted himself with refined elegance.
Qin Chanyue looked at him and thought, appearances truly can be deceiving. In her past life, it was this very same seemingly upright and refined young master who, for the sake of the throne and political struggles, secretly harmed loyal ministers of Dachen.
“Your humble subject’s wife pays her respects to the Second Prince.” While inwardly criticizing him, Qin Chanyue maintained a flawless demeanor as she performed the formal greeting.
Liu Yandai, who followed behind her, was a step slower but hurriedly followed suit with her own greeting. However, as she bowed her head, she caught a glimpse of the maid standing behind the Second Prince.
The maid immediately lowered her head.
Liu Yandai also lowered her head at that moment, but as she did so, she vaguely felt that the maid looked somewhat familiar—somewhat like—
Like who?
“Marquise, Shizi Furen, please rise.” The Second Prince’s voice was bright and clear as he spoke. “It was my sudden arrival without prior notice that was improper. I beg your forgiveness.”
While ordinary princes could refer to themselves as “this palace,” the Second Prince was gentle and humble, referring to himself as “I” when speaking with anyone.
Qin Chanyue quickly declined the apology, and as Liu Yandai rose following the Second Prince’s words, she glanced once more at the maid.
The maid had already hidden behind the Second Prince, concealing her face so that Liu Yandai could see nothing. Yet, the sense of familiarity grew stronger.
After racking her brains for a moment, it suddenly dawned on her—wasn’t that Bai Yuning?
Although Bai Yuning had changed out of her usual elegant dresses and was now wearing a maid’s attire, her facial features and contours remained unchanged. Anyone familiar with her would recognize her at a glance.
Liu Yandai wondered: Hadn’t Bai Yuning been driven out of the Houfu by Pomu? How had she become the Second Prince’s maid?
Shocked as she was, she remembered Pomu’s words: one must not let emotions show on their face. She quickly lowered her head, pretending she hadn’t noticed anything.
Meanwhile, Qin Chanyue had already invited the Second Prince into the residence.
Liu Yandai watched helplessly as the maid, head bowed, followed behind the Second Prince and boldly entered the Houfu!
This simply wouldn’t do!
After all the wicked deeds Bai Yuning had committed, how could she be allowed back into the Houfu?
Liu Yandai felt as if the sound of a charging horn was echoing in her ears. She wanted to remind Pomu several times, but Pomu was engaged in cheerful conversation with the Second Prince and didn’t glance her way at all.
Anxious, Liu Yandai twisted the handkerchief in her hands.
And at the moment they stepped through the gates, this long-prepared, incident-filled banquet finally slowly began.