The room was bustling with noise, and in front of us, a small paper boat floated on the canal, drifting gently with the current.
Seeing Gu Yaoniang's curiosity, Wang Zhilan explained to her, "When you weren't here, the princess ordered people to prepare sealed paper slips, each person folded a small paper boat, wrote their name inside, and then launched it down the stream from the high platform."
She gestured with her chin and pointed to a bend downstream. Two young maids were already standing there, intently watching the small boat slowly approach in the flowing water.
"Look, the princess has ordered that prizes be prepared. The first three boats to arrive there will each receive a prize. The first one will even receive an extra favor from the princess."
Gu Yaoniang couldn't help but find it novel and began to watch intently as well.
The boats on the flowing water are of all shapes and sizes, some folded up very realistically, and some even have a small sail.
Unfortunately, it lost its balance in the water and, after being blown around by the wind, started spinning in place.
As they approached the two maids downstream, everyone present became excited. They disregarded social conventions and etiquette, with some even standing up to watch.
When the first small boat was picked up by the maid, cheers erupted from the crowd.
A boy anxiously asked, "Who is it? Who is it?"
This drew a burst of laughter from the guests.
The maid carefully loaded the small boat onto a tray and delivered it to Princess Ruining's desk.
Princess Ruining opened the first small boat and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my! It's our third-ranked scholar!"
Zhang Wushan's mind wasn't on the paper boat at the moment. He was focused on eating the pastries on his plate.
The snacks prepared at the princess's residence were exquisite. The one he held in his hand was a lotus-shaped pastry, perfect for summer.
The pastry has layers of flaky crust and a soft, fragrant, and sweet but not greasy red bean paste filling. Although it doesn't have lotus flowers, it is shaped like one.
The crust is so crispy that it can easily fall onto the front of your clothes, which looks quite unseemly.
Zhang Wushan was focused on eating when he suddenly heard Princess Ruining calling him. He was caught off guard, unsure of what to do with his food, and then put it down, unsure of where to put it. He seemed a little flustered.
Everyone at the table was looking at him, and Zhang Wushan felt that the half of the lotus flower pastry in his hand was burning hot.
The crowd burst into good-natured laughter.
Seeing his helplessness, Princess Ruining smiled and gestured for the maid behind him to come forward, take the half lotus flower pastry from his hand with a small plate, and then offer him a towel to wash his hands.
Zhang Wushan felt as if he had been granted a pardon and thanked Princess Ruining.
Princess Ruining asked him, "What is your wish?"
Zhang Wushan, no longer flustered, said solemnly, "Thank you, Princess. I do have a small request."
Princess Ruining gestured for him to continue, showing interest.
He said very sincerely, "Princess, the pastries in your residence are truly delicious. I would like to ask Your Highness to grant me a box of pastries to take home."
Boos rose from the surroundings, and someone shouted:
"Brother Wushan, with such a wonderful opportunity presented by the princess's grace, why don't you ask for a box of pastries?"
Zhang Wushan remained silent, meeting Princess Ruining's gaze openly.
Princess Ruining couldn't hide her surprise: "Have you thought this through? It's just a box of pastries?"
Zhang Wushan nodded and said, "Your subject enjoys sweets, and your wife even more so. Your subject wishes to bring this delicacy to your wife so that she may also taste it."
Princess Ruining nodded with admiration in her eyes. She then instructed her maid to send the prize money and snacks to Zhang Wushan.
Many people joked about Zhang Wushan's deep affection for his wife, but a woman's voice scoffed, "Look at that poor fellow, treating a few snacks like treasures."
He had a golden opportunity to curry favor with his cousin, the princess, but he deliberately put on airs and squandered it.
Yao Niang looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was the same woman in the apricot-yellow dress who always spoke with a sharp tongue that morning.
Gu Yaoniang vaguely remembered that her surname should be Guo.
When she saw Yao Niang looking at her, she glared at Yao Niang fiercely.
Yao Niang felt completely bewildered, wondering where she had offended her.
Wang Zhilan had obviously seen it too, and advised Yao Niang, "Guo Yunwei is the most beloved granddaughter of the Empress's uncle, Grand Commandant Guo. She's always been like this, not very likable. Don't take it to heart."
Gu Yaoniang naturally didn't intend to hold it against her. She was just a spoiled little girl; she would simply avoid her in the future.
Surprisingly, Guo Yunwei and Lu Jingan took second and third place in the paper boat race.
The two of them clearly didn't get along. When they heard each other's names, they both gave a cold snort, like children arguing.
Guo Yunwei, having won the prize, looked triumphantly at Gu Yaoniang, only to find that Yaoniang didn't care about her at all and didn't even glance at her. Guo Yunwei felt a surge of frustration.
Yao Niang was feeling puzzled. She had clearly seen Lu Jing'an and Lu Zhao'an together when she left, so why was Lu Jing'an back at the table, while Lu Zhao'an was nowhere to be seen?
Everyone had received their prizes, and the banquet was drawing to a close. Princess Ruining didn't linger, announcing that everyone was free to leave, and then departed.
During the banquet, everyone walked together, led by maids, either strolling in the garden or heading directly to the carriages outside the mansion gate.
Yao Niang was about to say goodbye to Wang Zhilan and leave the princess's residence.
Unexpectedly, Linlang, the maid who had brought her into the mansion today, appeared behind her and said that the princess invited her over.
Wang Zhilan asked, "Did the princess allow me to go with her?"
Linlang shook her head and said, "The princess only instructed me to take Lady Gu to the flower hall to talk."
Wang Zhilan's regard for Gu Yaoniang increased even further.
This Gu Yaoniang truly won Princess Ruining's favor.
Yao Niang then bid farewell to Wang Zhilan and followed Lin Lang to the flower hall of the princess's residence.
After leaving Jingyuan, we stepped onto the long gallery we had come from.
As dusk settles, ram-horn lanterns hang everywhere in the princess's residence, making its outline even more distinct than during the day.
The illustrations on the gallery's brackets were somewhat indistinct under the overlapping light and shadow.
The path was brightly lit, and Linlang still carried an octagonal glass palace lantern to lead the way, thoughtfully illuminating the ground beneath Yaoniang's feet.
Under the cover of night, the princess's palace was bathed in a dim, yellowish light, with the covered walkways stretching forward as if the road ahead would never end.
Gu Yaoniang tentatively asked, "Miss Linlang, may I ask what business the princess has with me?"
Linlang smiled and replied respectfully, "This servant does not know."
Gu Yaoniang then asked, "Does the princess usually keep people to talk to her?"
"If the princess meets a woman she gets along with, she will stay and chat for a while."
Linlang's answer was flawless.
Seeing that Linlang's tone was appropriate, her attitude was no different from during the day, and her actions were still very meticulous and thoughtful, Gu Yaoniang knew that it couldn't be anything bad.
She stopped talking and simply followed quietly behind Linlang.
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