Instead of receiving praise, Tianyun was met with a fierce kiss from His Highness! Her chin was gently yet forcefully held by him, conquering her without giving her a chance to retreat.
After the kiss, the woman's fair cheeks flushed red, reaching the corners of her eyes, making her appear even more delicate and charming.
Xiao Ziwu smiled faintly and couldn't help but lightly tap her slightly swollen lips twice more.
Tianyun was dizzy from the kiss, but thankfully she didn't forget the important matter: "Has Your Highness received the invitation to the Winter Plum Poetry Gathering?"
"received."
The current Xiao Ziwu is no longer the Xiao Ziwu who was once neglected by the emperor. There are very few people in the capital who dare to disrespect him.
Will His Highness go?
“If my darling goes, I’ll go.”
Xiao Ziwu answered her question without hesitation, because he suspected that the Winter Plum Banquet was also orchestrated by Lin Ruhong. It was very similar to the farewell banquet at Lan Garden; both were attempts to use Mu Yaozhi to harm Guaibao!
So he had to go along.
Tianyun said worriedly, "What if His Highness has urgent military business that day?"
He's incredibly busy right now, with war looming at the border, he's spinning like a top every day.
"Not as important as you." His Highness's calm voice warmed Tianyun's heart. Then he heard him say with concern, "This time you mustn't put yourself in danger again. If anything happens, just tell me, and I'll handle it." He didn't want to experience the same fright as last time!
I was really terrified by her audacity last time.
She was in the wrong last time, and now that he brought it up again, Tianyun was afraid he would get angry again, so she naturally nodded obediently.
This time, she prepared a lot of antidotes and silver needles soaked in sleeping potions, just in case.
We'll meet force with force and water with earth; we're not going to learn our lesson from this again!
Xiao Ziwu was relieved and helped her lie down on the bed, tucking her in and saying, "Sleep, I'll stay with you."
His Highness's deep voice echoed in his ears, as if by magic. Tianyun obediently lay down, his eyelids growing heavier and heavier, and soon he really fell asleep.
※※※※
The Winter Plum Banquet was scheduled for a poetry society in the eastern suburbs of Beijing, where there happened to be a courtyard full of blooming red plum blossoms, which was quite fitting for the occasion.
The warm sunlight drifted down from the clouds, casting a soft glow on the bluestone path by the lake and the clusters of red and white wildflowers along the path. The morning breeze swept across the shimmering lake water, carrying the unique, cool fragrance of winter plum blossoms.
Tianyun handed over the invitation and entered the garden, followed by Lingqi and Shi Que, who wore a veil. She closed her eyes slightly and took a deep breath; the faint, cool fragrance was very similar to His Highness's scent.
She smiled contentedly, her moist lips curving upwards, and stepped inside.
She remembered that when she first transmigrated, she had also attended Mu Yaozhi's banquet. However, at that time, she was unknown and hid in a corner so that no one could notice her.
But now, attending this Feast at Hongmen again is a completely different story.
The women's and men's seating areas are located in two adjacent courtyards, namely the Winter Appreciation Garden and the Spring Retention Garden.
As soon as Tianyun entered the gate of Shangdong Courtyard, countless noble ladies' eyes were drawn to her.
Some had ill intentions, some feigned friendliness, and of course, there were also genuinely friendly gazes directed at her, but such gazes were so few that they could be almost ignored.
Tianyun didn't seem to care much. He nodded slightly to them with a perfectly measured smile, neither ostentatious nor impolite.
As soon as Xie Wuyun saw her come in, she flashed a lovely smile, affectionately came forward, and took her hand to lead her inside.
Xie Wuyun pouted and complained, "Why are you so late? I told you I was going to pick you up, but you wouldn't let me."
Tianyun said softly, "The Xie residence is close to here. If you go to pick me up, wouldn't you have to take a long detour? Why go through all that trouble?"
"That's alright." Xie Wuyun shrugged indifferently, then suddenly grabbed her and stopped her from leaving, saying indignantly, "You have no idea what they just said about you, it was so awful! I even started to doubt whether they had ever actually attended a private school and were truly well-educated and sensible young ladies!"
I don't know who started the rumor, but they actually portrayed Tianyun as a vixen who is good at bewitching men! They even said that she was two-timing, and that she was promiscuous and shameless, making up all sorts of vivid and colorful stories.
The crowd stopped abruptly when Shangguan Tianyun entered.
The silence created an awkward moment.
Tianyun lowered her eyes. "People can say whatever they want, and I can't stop them from saying what they want." Just ignore it and don't make yourself suffer.
Mu Yaozhi is dressed up in her finest today, with the most fashionable hairpins and jewelry on her head, all in an effort to outshine Shangguan Tianyun!
Therefore, from the moment Tianyun entered the garden, she stared at him without blinking, scanning him from head to toe.
She was wearing a moon-white dress with begonia patterns and violet patterns. Her fair face was without makeup, yet she possessed a delicate and alluring charm. Her exquisite hair was decorated with only a red ribbon, adding a touch of bewitching beauty to her simple elegance.
Among the garden full of red plum blossoms, it stands out as a unique and exquisite beauty.
The meticulously dressed Mu Yaozhi was like punching cotton, but she was so easily overwhelmed that she suffered internal injuries.
She angrily averted her gaze, cursing inwardly. What a vixen!
After a long pause, as if she had thought of something wonderful, Mu Yaozhi's expression softened slightly. So what if she's beautiful? She's still being discarded like trash by Brother Ziyan, who's going to send her to Huyan Hongxue's bed!
Fortunately, Brother Ziyan was clear-headed and didn't fall for that vixen's charms!
※※※※
Liuchun Garden, on the men's side.
Hu Yanhongxue drank his wine in a sullen mood. A figure sat down next to him. He lazily glanced to the side and saw Xiao Ziyan smiling gently as he said to him, "The little prince has graced us with his presence, yet he is here drinking alone in silence. It is truly my fault as the host."
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