7. Trevi Fountain
"Just want to be happy with each other."
Four years ago, Yuming Temple.
Jiang Yan stood outside the temple with her arms folded. She was already extremely beautiful, and today she got up early and dressed up, making her look even more heroic.
All the men passing by Yuming Temple turned their heads to look at her, and many young men whispered shyly, but she didn't care at all and waited attentively.
Jiang Yan would occasionally casually cast his gaze on the long steps, looking for Cui Huaifeng in the crowd.
Cui Huaifeng was unparalleled in his handsomeness, but he wasn't exactly stunningly beautiful. She'd met countless handsome men, but none had ever made her yearn for him so much, or made her care about him so much.
In the past, she knew that she was good-looking, but that was all. She would not dress up deliberately. On weekdays, she could not help but think about what kind of wife she hoped to have.
Just as he was thinking, he saw a familiar figure in front of the temple gate. Jiang Yan's eyes lit up and he immediately stepped forward and called out, "Master Cui!"
When Cui Huaifeng heard the familiar voice, he froze.
He has "accidentally met" Jiang Yan many times recently. At first, he didn't take it seriously and just thought it was a coincidence. But after it happened many times, he realized something.
"Sixth Prince." Cui Huaifeng nodded slightly with a cold expression.
Jiang Yan stared at him intently, "Mr. Cui, the blue woven silver bamboo robe you are wearing today complements your elegance. You are truly a truly stunning man."
Cui Huaifeng didn't know how to respond to Jiang Yan's praise, so he could only say, "Your Highness, Sixth Prince, you are too kind. Your Highness, I will go and pay my respects to the Buddha first."
Before Jiang Yan could say anything more, Cui Huaifeng had already walked quickly into the temple gate. Zheng Pu, who followed behind him, hurriedly bowed to Jiang Yan and also entered the temple.
Jiang Yan stared at his back, debating whether to stay or leave. Ever since that day, when he'd taken shelter under the eaves, Jiang Yan had sent people to find out his itinerary, creating opportunities for them to meet, hoping to deepen his impression. Each time they met, he'd offer a lukewarm greeting and then hurried off.
At first, just seeing him filled Jiang Yan with joy. But gradually, she became dissatisfied with the status quo and wanted to take things a step further. She thought that just meeting him and exchanging pleasantries wasn't enough; she needed to gradually increase the time she spent with him.
Jiang Yanfang was about to catch up when she suddenly heard someone calling her name. She turned around and saw the person coming and asked suspiciously, "Gui Fan?"
The purple-clad woman before him was the eldest daughter of the Minister of Personnel. When they were young, she had been his study companion, and when they were older, they had served together in the Ministry of War. They had a deep bond and had been close friends for many years.
"What happened just now?" Ye Guifan looked excited.
"Um?"
"Just now, at the bottom of the stairs, I saw it all clearly. We've known each other for many years, and I've never seen you so eager and proactive towards any other man. Are you attracted to him?"
Jiang Yan didn't say anything, which meant he agreed.
"Alas, everyone says that you, Jiang Yan Liuxu, are talented and kind-hearted, and all the men of marriageable age in Beijing want to marry you. Why do you fall for him?" Ye Guifan put his arm on her shoulder and shook his head regretfully.
"What are you talking about?" Jiang Yan was displeased with her evaluation of her lover and reached out to knock her arm away.
Ye Guifan chuckled, stood up straight, raised his brows, and thought carefully before saying, "Oh, you may not know, Cui Huaifeng and I are cousins within the fifth degree of mourning. My great-grandmother and Cui Huaifeng's great-grandmother were sisters. Although the two families are not close, they are more or less familiar with each other. He is probably the coldest and most difficult man in the capital.
There are some aloof and arrogant people around, but most of them are indifferent to strangers and close to their relatives and friends. But Cui Huaifeng is different. He has been an ice cube since he was a child. He is cold to everyone and treats everyone the same way. He is always distant and indifferent, and never speaks to anyone. Sometimes you can't tell whether it is his temperament that is cold or his heart that is cold. If you like him, you may not get a response. There are many good men in the world, so why not just forget it.
Jiang Yan didn't care. She knew Cui Huaifeng's personality to some extent. "I just like him. Even if he is as cold as the ice of Tianshan Mountain, I will warm him up."
"Okay, okay." His friend had made up his mind, so Ye Guifan could only give up.
Ye Guifan suddenly thought of something and changed the subject, "Tell me, which family do you want to marry? Tell His Majesty or Lord Feng. Even a prince from outside the Great Wall can marry you. Why go to so much trouble to please him?"
Before the current Empress enthroned Feng Jun, she was a playboy and amorous. However, after she enthroned Feng Jun, there were no new concubines in the harem, and no children were born. Feng Jun had been the exclusive favorite for over twenty years, and his favor never waned. The Empress was particularly partial to his children.
After the Empress's wedding, Feng Jun bore the Empress three children: the Fourth Princess, now the Crown Princess; the Fifth Prince; and the Sixth Princess. Jiang Yan was the youngest of the princes and princesses, and crucially, the daughter of Feng Jun, making her the most favored. Furthermore, unlike the Crown Princess, who faced numerous considerations and restrictions regarding marriage, Jiang Yan could obtain whatever she desired.
"Be careful with your words." Jiang Yan reminded Ye Guifan in a low voice.
After a while, Jiang Yan's expression softened, her eyes were pious and passionate, and she said softly: "I don't want to force you, but I hope that you two will be happy."
"Okay." Ye Guifan looked helpless.
"No more talking," Jiang Yan ignored Ye Guifan's confusion and looked in the direction where Cui Huaifeng had just left. "I'm leaving first. We'll talk another day. I'm afraid if I'm any later, he'll leave."
After Jiang Yan finished speaking, he turned and walked towards the temple.
Ye Guifan originally wanted to go and pay his respects to the Buddha first, but then he changed his mind and thought that he might see some good shows later, so he hurriedly caught up with Jiang An and walked side by side with her, "Wait for me! I'll go with you!"
————
Inside the temple.
After Cui Huaifeng finished worshiping Buddha, he walked out of the temple and passed by the crowded wishing pool. His pace gradually slowed down.
The wishing pond at Yuming Temple is renowned in Beijing for its magical power. Visitors often throw coins, or more generously, gold beads. It's said that if you toss your most precious object into the pond, your wish will be granted.
The sun-like pool was crowded with people. The bottom of the clear water was covered with densely packed copper coins, with scattered silver and gold. A few fallen petals floated on the surface, overlapping and reflecting the withering flowers and trees on both sides, creating a poignant beauty.
Cui Huaifeng thought that he had nothing to ask for, so he called Zheng Pu behind him and prepared to leave, but was interrupted by someone.
"Cousin Huaifeng." Among the two people coming towards them, Ye Guifan was the first to call out to Cui Huaifeng.
Cui Huaifeng said calmly, "Cousin Guifan, the Sixth Prince."
The three stood there in silence for a moment. Ye Guifan glanced at Jiang Yan, then at Cui Huaifeng. She wanted to help Jiang Yan, so she smiled and said to Cui Huaifeng, "Cousin Huaifeng, why are you in such a hurry to leave? It's still early. Besides, we haven't seen each other for a long time. It's a rare opportunity to meet today. Why don't we go and take a look at the wishing fountain together?"
After Ye Guifan said this, Cui Huaifeng had no choice but to agree.
The three of them stood by the pool, Cui Huaifeng remained silent while Jiang Yan and Ye Guifan chatted. During their conversation, her gaze was fixed on the wishing pool from beginning to end.
After a while, Jiang Yan seemed to have an idea and took off the jade finger on his hand.
Ye Guifan looked at the material of the jade finger and thought it looked familiar. "This jade finger...isn't this the piece of Hetian jade that was sent as tribute from the Western Regions a few years ago? I remember that the next day, Feng Jun asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to make several pieces of jewelry for you. Are you going to make a wish with such precious jewelry? Don't you think about it?"
Cui Huaifeng couldn't help but feel curious when he heard this. He turned his head to look at the jade finger. The material was indeed excellent. After reading it, he looked away, without any emotion in his heart.
Jiang Yan stared at the jade-like fingers in his palm and replied, "No need, the jewelry will always be rewarded by my mother, the emperor, and my father, the empress."
When Ye Guifan heard this, he sighed enviously.
Then Jiang Yan added: "But this is my favorite one."
After saying this, Jiang Yan clasped her hands together, pinched her jade fingers with her palms, lowered her head, closed her eyes, and made a wish. After a moment, she opened her eyes.
Ye Guifan poked his head out curiously and asked Jiang Yan, "What wish did you make?"
Cui Huaifeng couldn't help but wonder what wish Jiang Yan wanted to fulfill with such an important ring.
Jiang Yan looked at Cui Huaifeng, his figure reflected in his star-like eyes, and said with a smile: "Secret."
Cui Huaifeng paused.
Jiang Yan gently threw her jade finger into the center of the pool, and ripples appeared on the surface of the pool, fallen flowers floated, and branches and leaves broke.
The water in the pond remained restless for a long time, just like Cui Huaifeng's heart.
【Author’s words】
Happy New Year! Wishing you all great fortune! Happy every day! Ten consecutive withdrawals! Passed the postgraduate entrance exam, civil service exam, and civil service exam! Successful retests! Offers pouring in! Salary increases with no overtime! All your wishes come true!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
