Chapter 17 Flying Flower Order: No reason is the best reason
Today's "Flying Flowers" game uses the word "round" as the starting point. Each woman takes turns saying a line of poetry, and they are not allowed to repeat the same line. If they cannot say a line, they are eliminated and must pick up the wine cup in front of them and drink a cup as punishment. If there is no winner after one round, they will take turns speaking again until a winner is determined.
After the rules were explained, Yao Shufei announced the start. There were musicians in the room, so there was no need for everyone to play the game of passing the drum. With a series of rhythmic and crisp taps, the first round officially began.
Whether they were princesses, imperial concubines, or women of official families, they were all educated to some extent. The higher the social standing of a family, the less they believed that a woman's virtue lay in her lack of talent. Therefore, they did not fail to answer any questions in the first round, and the second round quickly followed.
Because there were quite a few women in the room, after the first round, all the more popular poems had been recited. The second round eliminated nearly half of the women, leaving only a dozen or so people in the room. The Flying Flower Order game then entered its third round.
The third round didn't go so smoothly. Several noble ladies were eliminated because they exceeded the time limit. But when Shen Yujiao saw that they were all positioned around Princess Yongjia, she secretly guessed that they were paving the way for Princess Yongjia.
By the time the fourth round began, there weren't many people left in the arena. Only Princess Huan, Princess Han, Shen Yujiao, Princess Yongxian, Princess Yongjia, and Princess Yongxin remained. Everyone looked calm, and it was impossible to tell who was about to be eliminated.
The first to be eliminated in a surprise was Princess Huan. After Princess Yongjia finished speaking, it was her turn to speak. Everyone saw her smile generously, then raise her wine cup and drink it all in one gulp, her demeanor dignified and proper.
After she was eliminated, Princess Yongxian and Princess Yongxin were also eliminated soon after, leaving only Princess Han, Shen Yujiao, and Princess Yongjia in the room.
Shen Yujiao smiled and looked at the opposite side. Princess Han also smiled and nodded to her. Because they had always spent New Year's together before, she knew that Princess Han was well-read and had made it to this round. She was not surprised. But Princess Yongjia... Her gaze swept over Princess Huan and the other two princesses without saying a word.
The three who remained had plenty of material to offer, and they kept talking non-stop, making for a very exciting scene, comparable to a debate among scholars. The emperor, sitting at the head of the table, even applauded them. After what seemed like the umpteenth round, the usually composed Princess Han suddenly stopped, a faint blush crossing her face. She then raised her cup to toast Shen Yujiao.
"What I just thought of was exactly what Sister Yongjia said. I couldn't think of anything else for the time being. I was wrong after all."
As soon as she said this, voices of comfort rose throughout the hall. Everyone said that it was already difficult enough to hold on until now. The emperor even said that no matter who won or lost, the top three would all receive lanterns. In this way, the three of them would save face and gain respect.
Originally, Shen Yujiao was holding back her anger. Today, with the Empress absent, Consort Yao and Princess Yongjia used "family reunion" to start this flying flower game. She had been thinking that she must do her best in the competition, but now that she saw Princess Han withdraw and the Emperor said such things, she lost her anger.
After all, it's not a big deal for a sister-in-law to always try to win against her younger sister. Thinking this, she said the last sentence: the other person has a question bank, so she won't argue with her.
But as soon as she finished speaking, Princess Yongjia's face suddenly froze. After a moment, it looked rather ugly. She opened and closed her mouth, struggling back and forth several times. Seeing that the time was about to exceed twice the limit, the musician could no longer hold back. With a "thump," Shen Yujiao's victory was declared.
No? What's going on? You have a question bank, how could you possibly get second place?
Shen Yujiao's smile froze on her lips. Now it seemed as if she had deliberately sought the limelight. She inwardly sighed at Princess Yongjia's lack of self-control, then said softly with an apologetic expression, "This is also my last sentence. I didn't expect... how about this lantern—"
“No need!” Princess Yongjia interrupted, her face showing some embarrassment, but she still managed to maintain her composure: “Losing is losing, it’s just a lantern.”
Hearing her say that, Shen Yujiao changed the subject she was about to say: "Yongjia is truly generous, Father. What I mean is that although Mother is unable to attend today's Lantern Festival, she is thinking of the family. The flowers and the full moon on the lanterns are auspicious, and I would like to give the lanterns to Mother."
"Very well, since the Crown Princess has such filial piety, I will grant your wish. Someone, take this lantern to Kunyi Palace."
Shen Yujiao rose with a smile and curtsied, then nodded to Princess Han, saying, "This is the real opponent. I'm honored."
Sitting in the carriage on the way back to the East Palace, Jiang Chen couldn't help but laugh when he thought of that scene. He looked at Shen Yujiao and said, "It's not shameful for them to lose to the champion of the provincial poetry competition."
"I was really thinking of just letting it go at the time, but who would have thought that she wouldn't even memorize a few more lines before cheating?" Shen Yujiao said helplessly.
Jiang Chen originally wanted to chat a bit more, but when he glanced at her, he saw the fatigue on her face. He slowly suppressed his smile, patted Shen Yujiao's shoulder, and said, "You've had a hard time these past few days."
"You too." Shen Yujiao's smile was extremely forced. Only when they truly faced their respective identities did they realize how heavy the burden on their shoulders really was.
The two remained silent as the carriage traveled along.
Returning to the East Palace after many days, Shen Yujiao felt a sense of belonging as she looked at the familiar furnishings in her bedchamber. After Mu Jin and Mu Nan helped her wash and change, the lights in the East Palace bedchamber were turned off.
In the stillness of the night, beneath layers of bed curtains, Jiang Chen and Shen Yujiao each draped a quilt over themselves, and in low voices recounted the events that had occurred inside and outside the palace over the past few days.
"So...you mean you suspect Consort Yao?" Shen Yu frowned slightly. "But...even if her family members offer persimmons every year, the number of guests Kunyi Palace hosts during the New Year doesn't necessarily mean they are all tributes."
"Why does it have to be from her family?" Jiang Chen shook his head. "There are many taboos regarding the consumption of persimmons. Although the inappropriateness of eating them with goose meat is not common knowledge in Daxia, it is impossible for her not to know it."
"But this is...too..." Shen Yujiao was conflicted. It was like solving a case where every clue pointed to the same person. It was just too obvious. "It's something we all know, how could others not know? Why would she take so much suspicion upon herself?"
“Because, as you said, everyone thinks so.” Jiang Chen looked into Shen Yujiao’s eyes and said, word by word, “It’s because everyone feels that she doesn’t have to do this. Her ‘no reason’ becomes the ‘biggest reason’ when she is accused.”
Shen Yujiao was speechless for a moment. Although she felt that what he said made sense, she also felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't figure it out for the moment. So she turned to ask about something else: "You just mentioned the Two-Tax System?"
“Yes, the Ministry of Revenue has already begun to implement it,” Jiang Chen said after a moment’s thought. “The Emperor summoned me this morning to discuss this matter. Also…”
Jiang Chen paused halfway through his sentence, looking quite hesitant.
"say what?"
Jiang Chen turned his head away and quickly said, "They also mentioned the Northern Frontier Camp before the New Year. They said that the generals had made meritorious contributions in resisting the invasion of foreign enemies, and the camp generals will return to the capital next month to report on their duties."
"Really?" Shen Yujiao's tired eyes shone with light. She reached out and grabbed Jiang Chen's arm, and the blanket slid down. "Then does that mean Brother Zhiju is going back to the capital too?"
"Is it really necessary?" Jiang Chen replied indifferently, then reached out to tuck the blanket back in for her. Seeing the girl's inexplicable excitement, he suddenly lost the desire to chat.
Go to bed early.
"What are you doing? Don't sleep. I haven't finished asking yet. Do you know exactly when they'll be back?" Seeing Jiang Chen lie down, Shen Yujiao pulled him again.
"Sigh," Jiang Chen sighed and turned to look at her. Seeing her so interested, he opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing. "I don't know, I'm sleepy."
"You—" Shen Yujiao pursed her lips and stared at him for a long time. Jiang Chen noticed her gaze, then turned over, leaving her sitting there sulking.
In the darkness, Shen Yujiao bit her lip and waved her hands in the air a few times. Seeing that Jiang Chen seemed to be really tired and had fallen asleep, she also felt a little bored. After lying down, she soon fell asleep.
Noticing that the breathing of the person beside him was gradually stabilizing, Jiang Chen slowly opened his eyes. The faint light from the outer hall illuminated the embroidery on the bed curtains. He looked at it for a long time, but he couldn't fall asleep again.
But that night, Shen Yujiao slept soundly, which was a rare treat.
Having slept until she naturally woke up after a long time, Shen Yujiao felt a lazy sense of satisfaction. She turned around and hugged the soft quilt to her chest. The quilt, now cold, made Shen Yujiao shiver. She slowly opened her eyes and stared blankly at the empty room.
"That's really...quite strange..."
When they were little, they always lived together and basically slept in the same bed. She didn't feel anything a few days ago in the palace, but now it felt like Jiang Chen had gone to school and left her at home.
"Mu Jin," Shen Yujiao called out in a hoarse voice. Seeing Mu Jin come towards her, she propped herself up and asked, "How long has the Crown Prince been gone?"
"His Highness the Crown Prince left at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), and it has been more than two hours since he left."
"Leaving so early," Shen Yujiao murmured, blinking. "Has any news come from the palace?"
"Aunt Zhiyuan sent word that His Highness need not enter the palace today, but should rest well in the East Palace," Mu Jin said, lowering her voice even further, "The Duchess of Xiangguo entered the palace this morning."
The Empress's maternal family... Is the Empress preparing to make a move? Shen Yujiao lowered her eyes in thought, then shook her head after a moment. She only wanted to protect herself now. She didn't want to get too involved in palace affairs. She just wanted to have a place in the Eastern Palace.
"Let's go to the study. His Majesty bestowed some writing materials upon me yesterday. Go and fetch a pen; I need to write a letter to my mother."
Mu Jin paused slightly as she helped Chen Yujiao put on her clothes upon hearing this, then immediately replied, "Yes."
Jiang Chen's words from last night lingered in Shen Yujiao's mind. The generals of the Northern Frontier Camp were returning to the capital to report on their duties, and it was highly likely that He Zhiju would be among them. As long as he entered the capital, Shen Yujiao would find a way to meet him, and then she would know whether this young master of the He family was Zhiju's brother.
But now, due to his current status, the real problem is how to meet him.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
