Chapter 176: Banquet at Linjiang Tower
Song Lingyi didn't expect this. She thought that since she had just returned to Kyoto, everything would have to wait for a while before getting back on track. This imperial edict came too suddenly.
Catching a glimpse of her cousin's shy smile, Lu Yu smacked her lips and said, "Cousin, I envy you so much. These betrothed men are all more outstanding than each other. Wenxuan and I have an appointment to host a banquet at Linjiang Tower tomorrow to welcome you. When you do, you must tell us everything that happened in Huaizhou City."
"What's the point of telling you?"
Wang looked at Lu Yu and sighed, "I've been looking for men for you lately, but you don't like any of them. It's like talking to a cow if I tell you."
Neither of the two children is worry-free.
Lu Yu pouted her red lips and said, "My brother has gone to Youzhou, so what's wrong with me staying with mother and serving her for a few more years? Besides, a good man is hard to find."
"You also know that chance encounters are rare. The young master of the Zhao family is from a family of scholars and has a good appearance and good character, but you teamed up with Yizhou to play a trick on him..."
Seeing that her mother started to bring up the past again, Lu Yu immediately covered her ears and went back to the backyard.
The old lady was mixed with joy and sorrow about her granddaughter marrying into the Eastern Palace. That night, she called Song Lingyi to her side and talked to her about many intimate matters. It was not until the moon was at its highest point and the nanny came to urge her that she decided to let her go.
The main house was brightly lit. The old lady sat on the couch. After giving instructions on a series of trivial matters, she took Song Lingyi's hand and patted it, "Don't worry, grandma will never let your dowry be inferior to any other noble lady in Kyoto."
Twenty years ago, when the Lu and Pei families were engaged, the old lady prepared thirty miles of red dowry for the youngest daughter. Later, the youngest daughter broke off the engagement and married Song Zhao, so the thirty miles of red dowry was never used. Twenty years later, when the granddaughter got married, the thirty miles of red dowry was used to make up for the regret of that year.
Song Lingyi's nose felt sore, and she lowered her head and leaned on the old lady's knees, "Thank you, grandma."
It is said that 'blessings often come before misfortunes, and misfortunes often lie beneath blessings'. When she first came to Dayuan, she felt that she was unlucky in every way. The Song family was in decline, and she had even entered a 'den of thieves'. But after arriving in Beijing, the Lu family treated her kindly, and her grandmother loved her as much as her grandmother did. Now she was going to get married, and her son-in-law was the most noble man in the world.
"Why thank you? Grandma is happy to see you get married." The old lady's eyes were red as she stroked Song Lingyi's soft hair lovingly. "It's getting late. Go back and get some rest."
Song Lingyi nodded gently, jumped up, and said with a faint smile, "Good night, grandma."
The moonlight is shallow and the courtyard is quiet.
The maidservant was holding a lantern in front. As they passed by Lu Qian's Mingzhu Garden, Song Lingyi paused for a moment, looking at the thick iron chain wrapped around the gate. There was no candlelight inside, and she felt disappointed.
…
A banquet was held at Linjiang Tower the next day.
In addition to Huo Wenxuan, there were also Pei Ling and several familiar noble ladies. The atmosphere at the banquet was harmonious. Song Lingyi was so happy that she drank a few more glasses of wine. Before the banquet was half over, she was already drunk with flushed cheeks.
After three rounds of drinks, the noble ladies grew bolder. Huo Wenxuan stood up shakily, smiling mysteriously, "Lingyi, do you know why the banquet is held in Linjiang Tower?"
Song Lingyi's eyes were blurred with drunkenness, and she held her snow-white cheeks and shook her head.
Snap——
Huo Wenxuan clapped her hands twice, and the door of the elegant room opened. A group of handsome and tall men came in one after another, some holding guqins, and some holding flutes.
"Linjiang Tower is a famous gathering place for courtesans. The musicians and courtesans in the tower are not only young and handsome, but they can also recite poems, compose essays, and play the piano and flute." Huo Wenxuan raised his eyebrows.
Young and versatile, courtesans were highly skilled at coaxing people, something men of higher status couldn't do, hence their popularity in the capital. Dayuan's open-minded customs meant many high-ranking women kept male favorites. For example, Princess Biyang, who divorced her husband the previous year, kept numerous male favorites in her mansion.
Song Lingyi's jaw dropped in shock. She nudged her cousin with her elbow and whispered softly, "Aren't Wenxuan and Master Xiaochu very close?"
"Hmm~" Lu Yu took a bite of the nectar cake and said nonchalantly, "You've known Wenxuan's carefree personality for a long time. How can Master Xiaochu control her?"
"……"Too.
Song Lingyi guessed that General Huo knew his youngest daughter's temperament well, so he chose such a son-in-law for her, who was elegant and good-tempered.
"But Sister Song has just gotten engaged. It's not a good idea for her to have fun with a prostitute, right?"
Pei Ling had just finished speaking when a hand suddenly fell on her shoulder, frightening her so much that her heart skipped a beat.
"That's wrong!"
Huo Wenxuan held Pei Ling in one hand and Song Lingyi in the other.
"You two are too dull. Who says that only men can seek pleasure? They are just prostitutes. There are many noble ladies in Kyoto who come here for entertainment, not just us. Besides, Lingyi is getting married soon. She will live in the palace from now on, and will only be able to take care of her cousin. And her cousin has never understood the world of romance and can't say a single sweet word. Today I am welcoming you, so I want to let you experience the extravagance of Kyoto."
"Don't worry, the maids and guards are guarding the courtyard, no one will come in."
Pei Ling and Song Lingyi looked at each other.
"But I think..."
Before Pei Ling could finish her words, Huo Wenxuan raised her hand and interrupted her, "Play music!"
The sound of stringed instruments and orchestras rang out, making Song Lingyi's eardrums bulge. She opened her hazy and drunken eyes and wanted to get up to go to the toilet to change clothes, but Huo Wenxuan forcibly held her down and forced her to drink two more glasses of wine.
The atmosphere in the room was lively and full of laughter.
…
Imperial City, Mingde Hall.
After a long day of handling government affairs, Xiao Mingyi finally had a chance to take a breath. He lowered his head and took a sip of tea. He casually asked, "Have the cakes I ordered to be sent to the Duke's Mansion arrived today?"
When passing by Yuanzhou on the way back, he saw that Song Lingyi liked to eat the local periwinkle crisps, so he asked the imperial kitchen to make some and send it to the Duke's Mansion.
Feng Tong, who was standing by the desk, bowed and replied, "Your Highness, it has been delivered."
Xiao Mingyi said nothing, his narrow eyes slanting as he glanced at him, his gaze seemed to say, "And then?"
"When the palace maid went to deliver cakes to the Duke's Mansion, Miss Song had already left for the banquet."
"A banquet?" Xiao Mingyi leaned back against the gold-woven satin backrest, the subtle anticipation in his eyes fading a little. "Which banquet?"
"The palace servants investigated carefully and learned that Madam Chu held a welcoming banquet for Miss Song at Linjiang Tower, and the guests were all noble ladies from Kyoto who were friends with Miss Song." The more he asked, the more Feng Tong felt sweating.
The courtesans of Linjiang Tower were well-known in Kyoto, and even Xiao Mingyi had heard of them. He frowned, put down the teacup in his hand, and knocked it against the table with a slight "click" sound.
Feng Tong immediately lowered his head.
There was a sudden silence in the hall.
"Prepare the carriage, I need to leave the palace."
"Your Highness, it's so late. Why don't you ask the people from the Palace Front Department to pick up Miss Song?" Feng Tong was surprised.
Xiao Mingyi gave him a sidelong glance, his eyes clearly saying "You also know it's getting late?", then he stood up and strode out of the hall.
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