Chapter 92: Folding Flowers
"Qiong'er is here." King Wei greeted Qi Qiong with a smile, speaking for the first time since entering the garden.
Qi Qiong concealed his surprise and responded appropriately, "I saw this cluster of green chrysanthemums in full bloom, so I came to admire them. Cousin, are you here to visit Concubine Jing?"
"Yes, I haven't seen mother for some time. I heard from the palace people that mother and Concubine Zhuang were enjoying the flowers in Cui Jinxuan, so I came here." King Wei said, looking at the Lin sisters beside Qi Qiong calmly.
The first person he noticed was Lin Hao.
When they were at Qinglu Temple, Lin Hao's words "It might rain later" aroused his curiosity. Later, when it really rained, he felt that this girl was even more mysterious.
The King of Wei would inevitably pay attention to people who aroused his curiosity.
It was early winter, and Lin Hao was wearing an apricot-colored jacket and a smoky green pleated skirt. A pair of transparent emerald green teardrop-shaped earrings playfully touched her fair cheeks, adding a bit of liveliness to the beautiful girl.
What caught King Wei's attention was not these things, but the other party's eyes.
There was inquiry and curiosity in those bright eyes.
The King of Wei found it somewhat amusing. It turned out that while he thought Miss Lin Er was peculiar, Miss Lin Er was also curious about him.
This is a rare different emotion he has shown along the way.
Observing King Wei closely, Lin Hao was somewhat surprised to find that King Wei was actually thinner than when he was in Qinglu Temple.
How long has it been since then and you've lost weight?
In people's eyes, the King of Wei still resembled a blown-up ball. With his weight, even a ten-pound loss wouldn't be noticeable. But Lin Hao had seen the King of Wei lose weight. Knowing he would, and curious about how someone who had been fat all his life could transform from a squashed, deformed ball into a handsome young man, he was naturally more perceptive than others about the King's weight.
King Wei's eyes fell on Lin Chan and he was slightly stunned.
He saw curiosity in the eyes of Miss Lin Er, and calmness in the eyes of Miss Lin Da.
There was a calmness to him that was no different than looking at anyone else.
She didn't force herself to please him just because he was a prince, nor did she despise him because of his obesity.
This made the King of Wei suddenly feel indescribable.
Qi Qiong became very alert.
The King of Wei was so close to her, wouldn't he have seen all the beauty of Sister Chan and Ah Hao?
That won't work.
"Then go quickly, cousin. Concubine Jing will surely be very happy to see you."
"Then you go ahead and have fun. I'll be leaving." King Wei nodded slightly, turned around and left.
The purpose of his appearance in the garden was self-evident. It was inappropriate to chat with his cousin for too long.
The King of Wei walked slowly towards Cui Jin Xuan. Whenever he met an exceptionally beautiful lady, he would smile, making her pale.
King Wei's heart was cold, but he walked into Cui Jin Xuan with a smile on his face.
The ladies stopped talking and laughing.
The ball is coming!
The moment they saw the King of Wei, several ladies who valued their own interests more than their daughters' happiness almost wavered.
He is really too fat, especially when looking at his son-in-law!
The King of Wei was somewhat interested in teasing and intimidating noble ladies, but he didn't even bother to glance at the ladies who wanted to be his mother-in-law but disliked his fatness.
He moved in front of Concubine Jing and Concubine Zhuang to greet them.
Concubine Jing looked at her son and said in surprise, "I haven't seen him for a while. He has lost weight."
The King of Wei was deeply moved.
It must be because his mother loves him that she observes him so carefully.
He has indeed lost weight.
He had tried dieting before, but it had no effect except making him feel dizzy from hunger. Unexpectedly, he decided to give it a try and took the medicine according to the prescription provided by Yang Zhuangyuan. Finally, his stubborn weight changed.
If it weren't for the troublesome matter of choosing a concubine, the King of Wei would actually be in a very good mood recently.
He glanced at the speechless expressions of the ladies and sneered secretly.
Those who complain that he is fat now will regret it sooner or later.
The King of Wei had all sorts of thoughts in his mind, but he didn't show any of them on his face. He chatted and laughed with the two ladies for a long time.
At this time, all the noble ladies who were admiring the flowers in the garden received chrysanthemums given by the second concubine.
The chrysanthemums were handed to the ladies personally by the palace maids. Each of the forty-nine noble ladies received one, and they were either of different varieties or colors, with no two flowers alike.
Lin Hao got a purple chrysanthemum, Lin Chan got a crimson lip flower, and the little princess Qi Qiong also got a pink lotus.
Qi Qiong was immediately relieved.
The second concubine gave chrysanthemums to the noble lady, which must be related to the King of Wei's selection of a concubine.
Although she did not understand the specific circumstances, she could infer that the noble ladies of rare breeds were favored by the second concubine, suggesting that the King of Wei choose from among these noble ladies.
Lin Hao and Lin Chan only received ordinary chrysanthemums, which were obviously not considered by the two concubines.
Fortunately, fortunately, Sister Chan and Ah Hao are safe.
The little princess relaxed.
At the reminder of the palace maids, the noble ladies put chrysanthemums in their hair and returned to Cui Jin Xuan.
Concubine Zhuang smiled when she saw her: "Youth is good, people are more beautiful than flowers."
Lin Hao thought of the huge chrysanthemum on his head, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.
How did Empress Zhuang say "people are more beautiful than flowers" without changing her expression?
Fortunately, she was able to guess the royal family's goal through the reward of chrysanthemum. She and her sister only needed to hold on to the big chrysanthemum for a while longer and they would be able to leave the palace safely.
Lin Hao was a welcoming person, lowering his eyes and pretending to be invisible.
While Concubine Zhuang was praising the noble ladies, the King of Wei silently glanced at the large chrysanthemums on the ladies' heads.
It had been agreed long ago that four ladies would be selected from among the dozens of noble ladies for today's chrysanthemum viewing banquet, and the emperor would then make the final decision. Just now, while no one was paying attention, Concubine Jing slipped a small note into the hands of the King of Wei. On the note were written the names of ten chrysanthemums. The noble lady wearing the corresponding chrysanthemum would be Concubine Jing's preferred candidate.
Of the forty-nine noble ladies, several were invited, like the young princess, who couldn't be disinvited. A dozen or so were just fillers, like the Lin Hao sisters. The remaining thirty or so were those the Second Consort thought were suitable for the position of Wei's Consort. Consort Jing observed the reactions of the ladies and girls from the various mansions with a cold eye, then selected ten from the thirty-plus.
Green clothes and red skirts, phoenix feathers, snow-white plum blossoms... There are ten noble ladies wearing famous items. All the King of Wei has to do is to choose four who suit his eyes from these ten people, which also gives the King of Wei a certain degree of freedom.
The King of Wei looked at the noble ladies wearing the famous chrysanthemums seriously, but he didn't remember any of them.
There's nothing much to remember. Do you want to make things difficult for him by choosing a wife who despises him but wants to get close to him?
Concubine Zhuang was still speaking politely, and Concubine Jing felt that was enough and glanced at King Wei.
King Wei nodded slightly.
Concubine Jing couldn't help but raise the corner of her lips, knowing that her son was optimistic.
"Seeing the little girls wearing flowers in their hair so beautifully, I feel a little envious." Concubine Jing said with a smile.
Concubine Zhuang got the hint and looked at the King of Wei with a smile: "Your Highness, did you hear that? Hurry and pick some flowers for your mother."
The King of Wei got up and went to the garden, where he stopped and picked a chrysanthemum.
The palace maid following behind King Wei had a strange look on her face.
The chrysanthemums that King Wei picked were not among those ten chrysanthemums!
Because it is so ordinary, I can't even remember which noble lady wore it.
The King of Wei looked calm and quickly picked four chrysanthemums.
The palace maids' faces changed: "Your Majesty——"
The King of Wei glanced at the palace maid and said coldly, "Don't talk too much."
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