banquet
Then Jiang Chaoyu turned to face Zeng Chenhua, taking an extra step to the side to create distance between them. The fish in the pond also swam further away, swaying gently.
At this moment, Zeng Chenhua was leaning on his jade cane, wearing a dark purple narrow-sleeved brocade robe, with the same jade pendant hanging from his waist.
"What a coincidence." Zeng Chenhua greeted Jiang Chaoyu with a smile, but Jiang Chaoyu's face turned cold. She looked around but didn't see anyone. She was still a young woman who hadn't left her home yet, and if others saw her, her reputation would be ruined.
Zeng Chenhua smiled as he watched Jiang Chaoyu's nervousness, then said, "Miss Jiang, rest assured, I have already sent Yun Qi to keep watch at the door. He will definitely not ruin Miss Jiang's reputation."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chaoyu immediately regretted it. How could he have forgotten that he could read his mind?
Zeng Chenhua found it extremely amusing to see Jiang Chaoyu's alternating expressions of laughter and regret in front of him, much like the face-changing performances in the city.
But in Jiang Chaoyu's eyes, Zeng Chenhua was mocking her. She glared at Zeng Chenhua with her round eyes and said disdainfully, "So, the Second Prince is protecting a young woman who hasn't left her maiden home when he's alone with her!"
Jiang Chaoyu took a few steps back, looking at Zeng Chenhua warily, without saying a word.
Zeng Chenhua maintained his smile throughout, and upon seeing Jiang Chaoyu's actions, he simply stood quietly in place.
“I think Miss Jiang has misunderstood. I just happened to come here after I finished offering incense.”
Zeng Chenhua broke off a pear blossom and held it to his nose to smell it.
"In the blink of an eye, the flowers have bloomed."
Jiang Chaoyu saw Zeng Chenhua holding flowers in one hand and leaning on his jade cane with the other.
There is no other way to get to this courtyard except through the path we came from.
Thus, Jiang Chaoyu also believed what Zeng Chenhua said.
"What wish did the Second Prince make?" He recalled how he had accidentally extinguished the incense when he prayed. He wondered if his wish was too grand, or simply unrealistic.
"And what about you?"
Zeng Chenhua did not answer Jiang Chaoyu's question directly. Instead, he looked down at the pear blossom branch in his hand and casually asked Jiang Chaoyu.
Jiang Chaoyu was stunned for a moment after being asked the question. What should she say? Should she say that she wanted to go back to her home in the other world? If she did, people would probably think she was crazy.
"Second Prince, I asked you first."
Upon hearing this, Zeng Chenhua looked at Jiang Chaoyu, his gaze seemingly trying to see right through her.
"I don't believe in these things." Because he didn't believe, he chose not to worship. But because he believed that Jiang Chaoyu believed, he came here and indeed saw her.
"I've finished answering, what about you?" This was as if he were answering Jiang Chaoyu's previous question.
"I don't believe in these things either."
Jiang Chaoyu is a capricious person; she may believe or not. Today, she failed to perform the ritual because of the headdress, so she doesn't believe.
It was as if they saw each other in each other's eyes.
Zeng Chenhua walked towards Jiang Chaoyu step by step, but Jiang Chaoyu was very vigilant. When she saw him walking towards her, she continued to retreat.
She retreated to the back and turned to the side, only to find there was no way to turn back, but she hadn't brought her soft sword with her today.
Although she hoped Zeng Chenhua would propose in the morning, it didn't mean she would trust him now.
Holding a pear blossom branch, Zeng Chenhua walked step by step toward Jiang Chaoyu until he had her cornered. He then placed his hand on Jiang Chaoyu's headdress, and in that instant, Jiang Chaoyu felt a relief on her neck.
His pupils contracted slightly, and he felt a pang of emotion. He realized that he had just noticed the weight of his headdress.
She bent down slightly and held the pear blossom branch in front of Jiang Chaoyu. "This is for you."
The atmosphere was filled with ambiguity. Jiang Chaoyu saw herself reflected in Zeng Chenhua's eyes, but instead of being charming, she said something that ruined the mood: "Killing is not allowed in temples."
It's no wonder Jiang Chaoyu ruined the atmosphere; she was so stunned that she blurted out those words.
Zeng Chenhua's gaze shifted from Jiang Chaoyu's face to the pear blossom branch. He looked at Jiang Chaoyu again, blinked, and for a moment didn't know what to say, but he was amused.
Then a soft, muffled laugh escaped from his chest, and he laughed even more heartily in front of Jiang Chaoyu.
Jiang Chaoyu just blinked awkwardly, watching Zeng Chenhua smile happily in front of her, not knowing what to say. To cover up her embarrassment, she took the pear blossom branch from Zeng Chenhua's hand and then covered her increasingly red face.
Hearing the laughter, Jiang Chaoyu's face flushed red, her ears felt hot, and she looked away.
"Is it really that funny?" Jiang Chaoyu said weakly. She had said it suddenly and hadn't expected it at all.
Zeng Chenhua nodded, but then shook his head instantly, leaning closer to Jiang Chaoyu. Looking at Jiang Chaoyu, whose face was hidden by pear blossom branches, he couldn't see her flushed face, but he could see her hot ears.
Gently pinching her fingers, Zeng Chenhua felt warmth through his fingers; this was the first time he had seen Jiang Chaoyu like this.
Jiang Chaoyu felt Zeng Chenhua pinching her ear and quickly moved to the side to avoid his hand. "Second Prince, there is a difference between men and women."
The sensation in his fingers disappeared, Zeng Chenhua clenched his fist, coughed casually, and looked away.
"I'm sorry." Although he said that, Zeng Chenhua couldn't help but say it.
Recalling the feel of her fingers, she slightly curled the corners of her lips and took a step back.
"I won't kill animals in the temple again, Second Miss, goodbye!"
Upon hearing this, Zeng Chenhua walked out of the courtyard, and Jiang Chaoyu, seeing Zeng Chenhua's departing figure, gently sniffed the pear blossoms next to her nose.
She lowered her head as if thinking of something, her smile gentle, like ripples spreading across the pond water disturbed by pear petals. When Jiang Chaoyu stepped out of the courtyard, she found Jiang Yuyao had already finished and was waiting for her nearby.
He looked up and saw Jiang Chaoyu walking over. He noticed she had a pear blossom in her hand. Without saying anything, he turned and left after Jiang Chaoyu reached him.
"Sister!" Jiang Chaoyu seemed to be in a good mood, and rarely called out to Jiang Yuyao. This call of "sister" made Jiang Yuyao stop in her tracks and turn around to look at Jiang Chaoyu. Seeing this, Jiang Chaoyu handed the pear blossom in her hand to Jiang Yuyao, as if to ask for praise, and said, "Smell it, the scent of spring."
Jiang Yuyao just stared at Jiang Chaoyu's face, as if that sound was just her hallucination. Then she saw Jiang Chaoyu walk up to her, and pear blossoms were offered to her. But Jiang Chaoyu didn't know that Jiang Yuyao disliked pear blossoms, so she didn't even glance at them.
"I saw the willow tree next to me."
The wind rustled the drooping willow branches, which flowed with the wind, seemingly to the east and perhaps to the west, flowing freely.
Jiang Chaoyu looked to the side and saw that the leaves on the willow tree were indeed growing extremely fast, with many new buds sprouting in the blink of an eye.
"Let's go."
No longer glancing at the willow tree beside her, Jiang Yuyao turned and continued walking towards the carriage.
After getting into the carriage, Jiang Chaoyu's neck could finally rest for a while, and Cui Cui was there to support her.
Jiang Chaoyu handed the pear blossom to Cuicui and asked, "Cuicui, do you think this pear blossom is pretty?"
Cui Cui looked closely and praised, "Miss, this pear blossom is the best one I've ever seen."
Upon hearing the answer, Jiang Chaoyu was overjoyed and brought the pear blossom closer to her eyes for a closer look. Seeing her young mistress beaming with delight without even realizing it, Cuicui was also happy for her.
"Cui Cui, let's go back and keep it in a bottle, even though it will wither soon."
"good."
For some reason, the more Jiang Chaoyu looked at the pear blossom, the happier she became.
However, the rumbling of her stomach soon brought Jiang Chaoyu back to her senses, and the sound also reached Cui Cui's ears.
"Is Miss hungry?"
Jiang Chaoyu intended to nod, but the headdress on her head was too heavy, making it difficult to nod. So she blinked at Cui Cui to indicate that she was really hungry.
However, Cui Cui's next words extinguished the small flame in Jiang Chaoyu's heart, "Miss, Cui Cui didn't bring any food either."
Jiang Chaoyu deflated like a frostbitten eggplant.
"Okay." He could only helplessly rub his stomach, hoping that this would stop him from being hungry, but his stomach didn't cooperate and instead growled even louder.
Looking at the pear blossom in her hand, Jiang Chaoyu had an absurd idea: to eat the pear blossom!
However, this idea was too absurd, just like the words she had just said. Jiang Chaoyu put the pear blossom aside and tried to sleep to cover up her sleepiness.
The bumpy road affected Jiang Chaoyu, causing her head to bump to the left and then to the right.
This angered Jiang Chaoyu so much that she sat up straight in the carriage, and Cui Cui, seeing this, changed direction and continued to support her.
"Cuicui, do you think all women have to suffer like this?"
Jiang Chaoyu felt as if she were carrying a heavy weight on her head.
Cui Cui covered Jiang Chaoyu's mouth and whispered in her ear, "Miss, please don't say such things. If someone hears you, it's a capital offense."
Execution?!
What do you mean by beheading?
Jiang Chaoyu didn't understand their headdresses, but surely it wasn't enough to warrant a beheading for criticizing them.
Jiang Chaoyu's mouth was still covered. She winked at Cui Cui and looked down at her own mouth, signaling Cui Cui to stop covering her mouth. Cui Cui followed Jiang Chaoyu's gaze and realized that she was covering her young mistress's mouth. She quickly let go and took out a handkerchief to wipe Jiang Chaoyu's lips.
"Why?" Jiang Chaoyu was very puzzled and looked at Cuicui with curiosity, while also feeling that this rule was simply too strange.
"Because His Majesty the present emperor likes it."
Cui Cui's voice was so low that even the buzzing of mosquitoes was louder than her, and Jiang Chaoyu really couldn't hear what Cui Cui was saying.
"ah?"
His pupils contracted, and a hint of confusion flashed in his eyes.
Seeing that her mistress hadn't heard her clearly, Cui Cui raised her voice and said, "That's right, the current emperor really likes this kind of headdress for women, and he especially likes to adorn it with gold and silver, so all the jewelry shops in the capital sell this kind."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chaoyu was even more puzzled. Why like this instead of the other way around, causing women to suffer more?
Upon hearing Cui Cui's words, Jiang Chaoyu's impression of the emperor soured. At this moment, the carriage was heading towards the palace. The most important purpose of this Spring Festival celebration was for the royal family to arrange marriages, which was why her father valued her so much, and that's why she had to suffer this ordeal.
Before long, the carriage was moving back to the city faster than it was leaving, so it arrived at the palace gates, right under the emperor's nose.
You can't take a carriage to enter the palace; you have to walk there step by step.
Jiang Chaoyu got out of the car, feeling utterly hopeless, and followed the daughters of other officials inside. Looking at the endless road ahead, she knew her neck would be especially sore today, and she couldn't even hold her headdress.
Every step felt like it was stepping on my neck, causing me excruciating pain.
Jiang Chaoyu bit her lower lip, trying to encourage herself. Seeing the calm and collected Jiang Yuyao beside her, she felt even more admiration. She wondered how many times Jiang Yuyao had carried her and how much suffering she had endured to get used to it. She herself would never have liked it at all.
He quickly walked to the banquet and first paid his respects to the emperor.
The person seated in the very center exuded an air of utter disdain. His bright yellow robe was embroidered with a design of two dragons playing with a pearl. His sleeves billowed high in the wind. His long, gray hair was tied back, and his face showed signs of fatigue, with prominent wrinkles around his eyes and slightly pursed lips. To Jiang Chaoyu, he possessed an air of absolute authority.
However, it is said that the emperor is already fifty years old, but in Jiang Chaoyu's eyes he looks like a man in his sixties, and he appears even more tired.
"kneel!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chaoyu, along with the others, knelt before the emperor. Having learned her lesson earlier, she was now able to maintain her composure.
Jiang Chaoyu stood up when the head eunuch called again.
No one dared to look directly at the emperor's face. Jiang Chaoyu had only glanced at him casually earlier and didn't remember it very clearly.
After being offered a seat, they sat on the left side of the banquet table, while the men sat on the right.
Jiang Chaoyu looked around and realized that her father was already sitting in his seat. When she looked to the side, she was met with a pair of mocking eyes, who was raising an eyebrow at her. It was Zeng Chenhua.
Seeing this, Jiang Chaoyu quickly looked away, but those eyes lingered in her heart, making it pound. It must be said, Zeng Chenhua was quite handsome; upon closer inspection, he was very good-looking.
Jiang Chaoyu touched her chest, feeling that it was beating quite fast, and picked up the tea on the table and drank it all in one gulp.
The performance began only after everyone was seated.
Jiang Chaoyu had been starving for some time. Seeing that no one was watching her, she picked up some pastries from the table and began to eat. Having learned her lesson from last time, Jiang Chaoyu didn't share with Cuicui and enjoyed the delicious pastries by herself.
The first bite was delicate and silky, melting instantly in my mouth, and the taste of peach blossoms swept over my palate. It was absolutely delicious.
Looking at the peach blossom-shaped pastries, Jiang Chaoyu didn't know what they were, but they looked so delicious! They were much better than the green rice dumplings she had eaten on the high platform last time.
As expected of royal items, these are the things that so many people strive for their entire lives.
It turns out that the differences and enjoyments between people are truly vast. Many people expend a great deal of effort just to be born, not to mention the social class they are born into. Sometimes, being born into the right family is a kind of luck, as Jiang Chaoyu observed.
Jiang Chaoyu noticed that the other women around her were only sipping their tea lightly, unlike herself, and she was probably afraid of being looked down upon.
But so what? Her stomach was the priority, and Jiang Chaoyu continued eating with a clear conscience.
Seeing that Jiang Yuyao hadn't moved at all, she whispered to her, "Sister, this pastry is delicious, you should try it."
Seeing this, Jiang Yuyao rolled her eyes at Jiang Chaoyu and said, "Stupid, if you eat it, it means you accept the marriage arrangement."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chaoyu's pastry instantly lost its appeal. She stopped chewing and swallowed it whole, wiping her mouth with a handkerchief. She quickly put it back; no wonder she noticed no one else had touched the pastry.
She silently put the half-eaten pastry back down, and said with tears welling up in her eyes, "Sister, why didn't you remind me!"
It's not that I'm blaming Jiang Yuyao, it's just that she really doesn't know anything about these rules!
Jiang Chaoyu was filled with a thousand regrets!
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