Chapter 213: Selecting the Goddess
Shangguan Beiming treated Feng Xiyao as his princess. Everyone in the palace knew that the prince wanted to marry her, and they were particularly respectful to her.
Of course, apart from not being able to leave the house, no one dared to stop her from doing anything.
Feng Xiyao thought Shangguan Beiming was easy to fool, but after fooling her for such a long time, he still refused to let her leave.
Except for attending court, she acted like nothing happened every day, sticking to him tightly and impossible to get rid of.
"I really can't marry you, can't you just let me go?"
Shangguan Beiming couldn't hear anything.
"No, I've already told my mother. She asked me to bring you to the palace in two days for her to see. If it's okay, she will ask my father to grant us a marriage."
Feng Xiyao pushed him angrily.
"Are you stupid? I told you I don't want to marry you, why are you so shameless? You are a prince after all, why do you have to hold me back?"
“…”
Shangguan Beiming fell silent, looked at her quietly for a while, and suddenly curled his lips into a smile.
"Wife, mother always says I'm shameless. How come you know me so well in just a few days? And you still say you don't like me? You're obviously secretly observing me!"
“…”
Feng Xiyao gritted his teeth and reached out to poke him in the chest.
"Don't flatter yourself. I mean, no one wants you, but you keep holding on to me. Is this something you, a prince, can do?"
Shangguan Beiming raised his eyebrows: "Yes, yes, you are right..."
Seeing that he was about to mention his mother again, Feng Xiyao quickly stopped him.
"Shut up and don't talk."
“…”
Shangguan Beiming looked at her with innocent eyes and really said nothing.
Feng Xiyao was speechless. It seemed impossible to get him to let her go. She had to escape.
She looked up to the sky and sighed, wondering how unlucky she was. She had just escaped from the tiger's den and fell into a wolf's lair. She had never succeeded in escaping.
Seeing her staring at the sky in a daze, Shangguan Beiming also looked up with her.
"Wife, what's so beautiful about the sky in broad daylight? Today is the God's Day, and there will be fireworks in the evening. I can take you out to play."
Hearing this, Feng Xiyao's eyes lit up: there was a chance to escape.
"Okay, since you're so sincere, I'll go out and play with you!"
Seeing that she was finally happy, Shangguan Beiming also started smiling.
…
Mo Cangyan came to Yudu of Zheng State alone without anyone by his side.
Looking at the bustling crowds on the streets, everyone seemed to be preparing for something. I thought there might be some festival to be held in the evening.
He asked around along the way and found out where Shangguan Beiyuan's mansion was, so he sneaked in.
After searching for a long time but not seeing the person he was thinking about, Mo Cangyan frowned deeply.
The letter was sent by Shangguan Beiyuan, so the person should be in his residence.
Seeing that he couldn't find the person, he could only grab a maid and threaten her with a dagger.
"Did your Highness bring back a beautiful woman?"
The little maidservant looked at the dagger so close to her and her eyes widened in fear.
"Your Highness...Your Highness did bring back a...a very beautiful girl...but that girl suddenly disappeared a few days ago...Your Highness has been looking for her..."
After getting the information he wanted, Mo Cangyan knocked the little maid unconscious with a palm, then quickly turned around and left.
After leaving Prince Yuan's Mansion, Mo Cangyan began to search aimlessly.
He had no idea where Feng Xiyao would go.
Looking up, he saw a man cleaning a large boat by the river, so he walked up to him and asked.
"Brother, is there any important festival going to be held tonight?"
The man in his thirties turned around and said, "You are not a local, you don't even know about such a lively festival."
"Today is the God-Welcoming Festival. There will be fireworks and a goddess selection in the evening. It's going to be very lively!"
"The boat we are cleaning now is prepared for the goddess. After the goddess is selected, she will stand on the boat and dance, praying for good weather and good harvests in the summer."
Mo Cangyan nodded: "Okay, thank you, brother!"
God's Day!
Thinking of Feng Xiyao's love of watching the hustle and bustle, Mo Cangyan's mouth corners slightly raised.
It's such a lively festival, she will definitely come out.
…
That night.
Shangguan Beiming prepared a light blue dress for Feng Xiyao, which he specially brought out from the palace.
After handing it to her, I urged her to change into...
When Feng Xiyao came out wearing her clothes, his eyes widened and he looked at her foolishly.
She was wearing a light blue dress with intricate patterns embroidered on it. Her long black hair was tied behind her head, revealing her delicate face and a pair of charming peach blossom eyes that were slightly tilted upwards...
Shangguan Beiming came back to his senses and clapped his hands: "It's so beautiful, I said this dress suits you!"
Feng Xiyao folded her arms impatiently: "Is it necessary for me to dress so fancy just to watch the fireworks?"
"Very much. You are my future princess, so you should wear the best."
Not wanting to continue talking to this man, Feng Xiyao raised her foot and said, "Let's go!"
…
On the street.
At this time, there were many pedestrians on the street, and everyone was ready to see the goddess, hoping to receive her blessing.
Shangguan Beiming and Feng Xiyao were alone together and did not allow anyone to follow them.
Looking at the bustling street, Feng Xiyao frowned.
"How do you choose this goddess? Are there any standards?"
Shangguan Beiming: "Of course, the goddess is not someone that ordinary people can attend."
"We need unmarried girls. They must be proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and they must also be good at singing and dancing and have beautiful looks. In the end, two girls will be selected, and then the holy grail will be thrown. Whoever is chosen will be the goddess and will represent the State of Zheng to pray to the heavens for good weather and peace for the country and the people."
"And those chosen goddesses are respected by everyone."
Feng Xiyao nodded, not quite understanding.
She didn't understand, but she respected.
"Is it starting now? If it is, let's go and watch it. I also want to see what the goddess looks like."
Seeing that she liked it, Shangguan Beiming took her to the place where the goddess was selected.
There were quite a lot of divine women participating, hundreds of them, but in the end only twenty were selected.
They were all on the boat, and the others could only stand on the shore and watch.
Shangguan Beiming was worried that Feng Xiyao would be squeezed out, so he paid for a private room upstairs and took her upstairs.
There were only two of them in the elegant pavilion, and directly opposite was the large ship carrying the selected goddesses. Standing on it, one could clearly see the appearance of several goddesses.
They were all pretty and beautiful. Feng Xiyao noticed a woman in red who had a cool and elegant temperament.
"Wow, who is that girl? She looks like a goddess!"
Shangguan Beiming took a sip of tea and said, "She is the eldest daughter of the Liu Yushi family. I have seen her in the palace before!"
Feng Xiyao nodded: "No wonder he has such a good temperament."
As he was speaking, there was a sudden loud noise in the sky, and in an instant the entire sky was lit up by fireworks.
"It's time to select the goddess."
Feng Xiyao lay on the window, fireworks blooming in her eyes. She stretched out her hands and waved happily.
“…”
The man in the distance noticed her at a glance, his eyes showing joy, his fingers trembling with excitement...