Chapter 89 Spring Banquet

The second day is Cold Food Festival and Shangsi Festival.

It is customary not to cook during the Cold Food Festival, so the mansion prepared various kinds of pastries with colorful patterns and sent them to the flowing spring in the backyard.

Under the pear tree beside the spring, the gentlemen had already set up a few tables. When they saw Qiandeng coming, they all went forward to greet him.

After a night, Shangluo's hands and feet recovered a little. Although they were still not flexible, he could move a few inches. His feet could not walk yet, but his hands could already hold a wine glass.

Jin Tang came to Qian Deng holding a tray and said, "County Lady, these are flowers prepared for you."

Wearing flowers in hairpins became popular during the Shangsi Festival, and the noble ladies in Chang'an competed with each other to wear exotic flowers and plants, as if they were participating in a flower competition.

As the wealthiest family in Chang'an, the Jin family naturally stood out. On the tray was a newly opened peony, the "Qi Liuli" variety. Its crimson petals were so vibrant that, in the spring sunlight, they shone with a faint luster like glass.

"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Jin." The flower had been cut, and Qiandeng did not go against his wishes. She took down the original Duisha Palace flower and replaced it with this peony.

This rare and famous flower was worn on her hair, and the flower and her person complemented each other. Under the clear pear blossoms and the snow-covered jade trees, she was like a fairy from another world, her brilliance captivating.

Qian Deng and a group of young men drank to celebrate the east wind. Flower petals fell without wind and scattered in their cups and on their hair, like a fine spring snow.

Qiandeng put down his wine cup and looked at each of the gentlemen in front of him.

The scene was similar to the small banquet at the manor house last year, with her at the head, and the candidates for fiancé sitting in rows below. However, as if by tacit agreement, each wore the gilded silver sachets she had given them, each adorned with auspicious animals that complemented the other men beautifully.

The spring scenery is so beautiful, and the house is full of splendor.

People just come and go, and things have changed.

Gone were the old Su Yunzhong, Nanyu, Yu Guangling, and Shi Jingning; in came the new Ling Tianshui and Mingjiu, along with the fleeting appearances of Jian Anting and Yang Huaijiang. Even Cui Fufeng, who had always been there, had changed his role, from helping her select, to becoming a candidate.

After drinking two glasses of wine to warm themselves, everyone broke off willow branches, washed their hands by the clear spring, dipped the willow branches in the water, and splashed them on each other to ward off evil spirits.

Their thin spring clothes were wet by the splashing water, and the sound of the clear spring was accompanied by their laughter as they splashed water on each other.

After the Princess Gao case came to an end, the shadow that had shrouded them was finally swept away. The spring sun was warm and the spring water was rippling. On such a warm and sunny spring day, everyone seemed very happy.

Even Qian Deng temporarily came out of the haze that weighed on her heart and became a real seventeen-year-old girl, waving willow branches to sprinkle spring water on each young man, and laughingly dodging the water droplets sprinkled on her by each young man.

Her cheeks and the glassy hair were splashed with crystal water droplets, which were so dazzling in the sunlight that one could not look directly at them.

Looking back, she saw Shangluo sitting under the pear tree. Qiandeng pulled up her skirt and broke free from the crowd of gentlemen surrounding the spring. She sprinkled the water from the willow branches on him and said, "Come, Shangluo, let me help you ward off evil spirits and avoid disasters!"

The gentlemen behind him also followed and sprinkled water on Shangluo.

Shangluo's hands were not flexible enough to hold his head, so he could only shake it from side to side and scream, "Just wait, next year I'm going to pour a bucket of water on each of you!"

"I'm waiting, so get well soon!"

Amidst the laughter of the crowd, Qian Deng turned around and looked at Ling Tianshui, wanting to see if in such a cheerful atmosphere he would reveal the fleeting smile that he had shown that night.

But what she met were only those eyes that were as sharp as ever, and the expression was still cold, which was out of tune with such a lively scene.

However, the water droplets she sprinkled on his cheeks sparkled in the sunlight, making the lines of his face slightly softer and finally diluting the intimidating and awe-inspiring aura.

"County Lady," Xue Xiyang tugged at her sleeve, his voice soft and gentle, "Let's take our seats."

After the commotion, everyone felt thirsty, so the maids poured them golden orange drinks and served them various kinds of flower cakes.

Qiandeng was eating peach blossom pastry when she suddenly thought of Shi Jingning and remembered the various flower pastries he had made for her.

Her eyes unconsciously fell on Yan Penglai. This man, who usually had a wandering mind, seemed to be affected by today's atmosphere. There was a faint smile on his lips and his eyes were looking at Shangluo.

As if he had noticed something, he turned his gaze and met Qiandeng squarely.

His face was indifferent, covered with a rare smile, and a few strands of wet black hair were winding and sticking to his cheeks, just like the plum blossoms in the Yaochi Lake three thousand realms away, with a distant and fairy-like appearance and a brilliant light, dazzling and extraordinary.

With unspeakable emotions in his heart, Qiandeng nodded slightly to him, calmed himself down, turned back to his desk and sat down, motioning everyone to take a seat.

"We are gathered here today, firstly to spend Shangsi Festival together, and secondly to bid farewell to Shangluo. In this mundane world, amidst the vast sea of ​​humanity, the fact that we have met and known each other is naturally the result of fate cultivated in past lives. Now that we are about to part, we should drink one more glass of wine."

Qiandeng filled another glass of wine and raised it to greet everyone. His gaze shifted from Shangluo to Yan Penglai. "Shangluo was in an accident and is now being taken home by his family to recuperate. And because of some matters, the court has allowed Mr. Yan to be dismissed and leave the capital."

Everyone knew about Shangluo's situation, and there was a look of pity on their faces, while Yan Penglai's departure made many people secretly happy.

The departure of the most handsome young man in the county lady's backyard is a good thing as a strong competitor disappears.

Yan Penglai raised his glass and stood up, gazing at the thousand lights. The hazy smile on his face was three parts relieved, three parts regretful, and the rest was an indistinct, subtle gloom. "County Lady, Penglai really has to say goodbye this time."

He bowed deeply to Qiandeng, his drooping eyelashes trembling slightly, trying to hide all the emotions in his eyes.

Qiandeng looked at him for a long time, but did not speak.

Everyone looked at her and then at Yan Penglai in surprise, wondering whether she wanted to keep Yan Penglai or let him go. Suddenly, Aunt Xuanji came over with someone, smiling broadly, "County Lady, Doctor Liao is here. Coincidentally, she ran into Young Master Shang's father and grandfather who were coming to pick him up, so they came together."

Qiandeng stood up to greet him. She had invited Doctor Liao to treat Shangluo. Her family had been military doctors for generations, making her more suitable for diagnosing injuries than Doctor Jiang.

Shang Jia and his son waited by the side, waiting for Doctor Liao to take Shang Luo's pulse.

After taking Shangluo's pulse, Doctor Liao frowned and pondered for a moment, then gestured for Shangluo to be moved into the house. After undressing him, she carefully examined his limbs and massaged his joints and tendons.

Shangluo leaned back in the chair, moving his hands and feet with difficulty. Seeing that Doctor Liao still had a sullen face, his heart began to pound and he stared at her nervously and fearfully.

Seeing him like this, Doctor Liao patted his shoulder gently and covered his hands and feet: "Don't worry, take good care of yourself, you will be fine."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and Shangluo nodded vigorously: "Yes! I will definitely be obedient. It's so uncomfortable to have my hands and feet not obeying me!"

Doctor Liao told Shangluo to get some rest, then gestured for Qiandeng and Shang family to follow her outside. The forced smile on her face immediately vanished. "I'm afraid that young master Shang's brother is not doing well."

Qian Deng heard her serious tone and felt an ominous premonition in his heart: "What do you mean?"

"The young man is in the growth spurt, and his hands and feet have been tied up for so many days. His blood circulation is blocked, and he's been trapped in a narrow place for so long. I'm afraid his foundation has been damaged, and it could have life-long consequences."

Qiandeng was stunned and subconsciously turned to look inside the room. She saw Shangluo lying on the bed, chatting with Aunt Xuanji, with an unconscious smile on his face.