Chapter 149 Flowers are similar, people are similar

The tea aroma in the pavilion was stagnant. Xiao Nanyan paused in stroking the teacup. His dark phoenix eyes swept across Xie Zhan's suddenly pale face, and the knife-like arc of his eyebrows raised slightly.

There was a hint of suspicion in Helian Feng's eyes, but he introduced himself with a smile:

"Second Prince, do you know this girl? She is a maid in the Regent's Palace, her name is Xiyan."

"Xiyan?"

Xie Zhan stared at Xiyan's drooping hair, his Adam's apple rolling violently.

The sunlight in the mountains bathed her fair profile, the curve of her nose, her slightly pursed lips. Every contour accurately struck deep into his memory, stinging his pupils.

After a long while, he turned his eyes away and sighed softly:

"Miss Xiyan looks like an old acquaintance of mine. She looks like him, but she's not him!"

"So that's how it is. Flowers resemble each other, and so do people. The Second Prince must be someone who remembers old friendships!"

Helian Feng smiled and came to the rescue. He caught a glimpse of Xiao Nanyue from the corner of his eye, but saw that he was sipping tea leisurely, and there was nothing unusual about him.

The aroma of tea wafted in the air, and guards were adding tea and pouring water from time to time. Everyone sat around the stone table and chatted, but the atmosphere seemed to be covered with a layer of gauze.

Fu Yunqing waved his folding fan and made jokes, Helian Feng responded with a smile, and Chu Jin had a gloomy face from beginning to end and did not say a word.

Xiao Nanyue, on the other hand, seemed to be in a good mood. He chatted with Xie Zhan and talked about the customs and culture of Nanzhao.

However, whenever he finished speaking, the table would always fall into a subtle silence.

Xiyan lowered her delicate head, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt.

Xie Zhan's vague gaze made her feel uneasy, Helian Feng's burning gaze seemed to penetrate her, and even Xiao Nanyue's occasional glance made her heart tremble.

At this moment, the sound of a pleasure boat breaking through the waves came from far away. Helian Feng stood up, glanced at the lake, turned around and said with a smile:

"Nan Yan, Second Prince, the wine and food are ready on the pleasure boat. It's the perfect time for a spring feast! Let's go! Rowing on the blue waves, sipping wine and composing poetry, wouldn't that be a pleasure?"

"Yes, please!"

"please!"

Several people placed their teacups on the stone table and left the pavilion one after another.

The crowd walked down the winding bluestone path, their footsteps intertwined with the mountain breeze.

Xiyan followed closely behind Xiao Nanyan. Listening to Xie Zhan's deliberately slowed footsteps behind him, her heartbeat became more and more disordered. She thought to herself:

What's wrong with this guy? He doesn't look like a lecher, but why is his gaze towards her so intense? Furthermore, it's not a sexual desire, but rather a gaze through her face, like he's looking at someone else.

Being stared at like that, she felt a surge of irritation and inexplicable dissatisfaction churning in her chest.

However, she had to admit that there was always a feeling in this guy's eyes that she couldn't describe, a familiar feeling that she couldn't quite put her finger on...

When we reached the lakeside, we saw a spacious and luxurious pleasure boat quietly moored.

Helian Feng was the first to board the boat, followed by Xiao Nanyan. When Xiyan stepped onto the plank, Helian Feng reached out to help her, but was separated by Xiao Nanyan without a trace.

Everyone filed in along the gangway.

When Xiyan raised her eyes, she was shocked by the grandeur of the pleasure boat.

The entire pleasure boat is decorated with carved beams and painted buildings, and the red lacquered and gilded columns support the banquet hall which is three meters square and spacious enough to accommodate a hundred people to dance.

On the central long sandalwood table, jade plates of delicacies are stacked layer by layer, and the sweet aroma of osmanthus wine mixed with the aroma of roasted meat hits you in the face, making you intoxicated.

Before everyone sat down, they suddenly heard the clear sound of rings and bracelets colliding from the inner cabin.

The moment the bead curtain was hung by the silver hook, the rich fragrance of peony poured out along with the woman's sweet laughter.

Then, four palace maidens stood on both sides, holding round fans in their hands. Surrounded by them, two young women walked out gracefully.

Helian Shu on the left wears a filigree gold phoenix hairpin on her head, and her dark purple palace dress is embroidered with lotus patterns. Her carefully drawn eyebrows make her eyes look charming. Su Wan on the right wears a goose yellow skirt, and her pearl hairpins sway with her steps. A gentle smile hangs on the corners of her mouth, and the coral bracelet on her wrist and the golden shoes on her feet make a crackling sound when they step on the golden carpet.

When Helian Feng saw that it was the two of them, his expression instantly darkened:

"Shu'er, why didn't you come here uninvited?"

Helian Shu smiled sweetly and walked forward gracefully, the golden hairpins in her hair jingling as she moved:

"Brother Huang, Brother Yan, you're so cruel to leave Shu'er and Wan'er behind for such a fun boat trip!"

Although she spoke in a scolding tone, her voice was sickeningly sweet.

Su Wan looked shy and called out softly, "Brother Feng!"

Helian Feng snorted, his gaze not lingering on her.

"Since you are here, please take a seat!" Helian Feng suppressed a trace of anger on his face.

"That's right. Now that we're here, how can you send us back?"

Helian Shu pulled Su Wan to sit down. She sat next to Xiao Nanyue, while Su Wan was pressed beside Helian Feng.

As she spoke, Helian Shu glanced casually at Xiyan behind Xiao Nanyue with a bit of scrutiny and contempt.

Xiyan noticed something, her eyebrows trembled slightly, and she sighed in her heart:

It seems that with these two women here, there will be no peace today!