Chapter 17 The Riddle is Hard to Solve, and Many Troubles Arise at Pei Xu's Door
The phrase “旭日东升照京华” means that the character “日” is on top and “京” is below. “影落三山” means that the character “景” is missing the three strokes on the right side. The character that is suitable for painting is the character “景”.
The riddle isn't hard to solve; the difficulty lies in saying it aloud.
Meng Lingyao clearly remembered that the Third Prince's name was the character "Jing".
If she guesses correctly, it would not only be suspected of prying into the imperial family's names, but also give Princess Suxin an opportunity to make a fuss.
If you can't guess correctly, you'll seem incredibly stupid.
In a flash, she pursed her lips and made up her mind.
“Your Majesty,” Meng Lingyao bowed respectfully to the heavens, “this riddle is beyond my ability to answer. I would like to devise a clever solution, and I humbly request Your Majesty’s permission.”
The emperor had already accepted the riddle presented by the eunuch. He saw through his little daughter's trick at a glance and had no interest in distinguishing whether one side was scheming against the other or whether the two were working together to show off. He said listlessly, "Tell me about it."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Meng Lingyao stood in the hall, her voice clear and melodious. "'The sun hangs over the capital gate, illuminating all directions; I stand briefly before the painting, gazing intently. Beauty always lies in unexpected places; mountains and rivers meet, hidden in poetry.'"
"The solution to the riddle of Princess Suxin lies in this poem."
Having said that, without waiting for anyone to react, she kowtowed again to plead guilty, “Your Majesty, according to the rules, I should not have spoken words related to the prince’s name. My father holds the position of Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and as his children, they cannot disobey his teachings and do anything that violates the rules of propriety. I am not very learned and have no choice but to resort to this tactic. I hope Your Majesty will forgive my rudeness.”
In the four lines of poetry, not a single word mentions "scenery," yet every single word speaks of "scenery." The emperor also realized that it was his good niece who was plotting against him.
Like her father, she was not respectable.
A glint flashed in his eyes, and he clapped his hands and laughed, "Excellent! Minister Meng has done a good job of educating your daughter! The Court of Imperial Sacrifices is in charge of rites and sacrifices. Like father, like daughter. Miss Meng is indeed well-versed in etiquette."
Princess Suxin's expression changed slightly, and she immediately apologized, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. It was my oversight. This riddle was originally prepared by my servants, but they chose an overstepping word. I am also at fault for not properly supervising it."
"Su Xin's ability to admit her mistakes and correct them is truly commendable," the emperor said calmly, though his gaze turned cold.
Princess Suxin gritted her teeth and said, "I almost offended Miss Meng just now. Miss Meng is so intelligent, why don't you choose someone to continue the riddle-guessing game to keep the fun going?"
Meng Lingyao was surprised that this person was still persistent. Just as she was frowning, the Princess suddenly chuckled, "I find riddles quite interesting. Your Majesty, why don't we let everyone enjoy it together? The palace has prepared many lanterns for the New Year, and various mansions have also presented quite a few. Wouldn't it be better to have the palace servants attach the riddles to the lanterns and let these young people enjoy the lanterns and solve the riddles together? It would also save them from being confined to the palace."
The Emperor glanced at the Princess, wondering why she was involved, but it was such a trivial matter that he wouldn't offend her. He immediately made the decision, "The Princess's suggestion is excellent! Let's do it that way."
"Thank you for your permission, Your Majesty."
The eldest princess excused herself to change her clothes and left her seat, intending to find Pei Xu and ask him to look after Meng Lingyao for a while, but her seat was already empty.
Where is your young master?
Qingzhou replied, "Young master also went to the garden to admire the lanterns."
"Oh?" The princess raised an eyebrow and gave a meaningful smile. "I imagine the lanterns in the palace this year will be extraordinary."
The palace lanterns in the Imperial Garden were like a tapestry, illuminating the area as if it were daytime.
A palace maid pointed the way from a distance, and Meng Lingyao and Xie Chengyu followed behind for a tour.
Xie Chengyu took her arm and whispered, "Luckily you reacted quickly."
Meng Lingyao sighed softly, "Fortunately, I often played with my father when I was young by making up riddles with hidden words."
"But," she frowned, not understanding why things had turned out this way, "what brings Princess Suxin here?"
To many uninformed people, it would seem that she deliberately joined forces with Princess Suxin in an attempt to establish a relationship with the Third Prince.
"Who knows what's wrong with her?" Xie Chengyu thought for a moment and said, "I only know that she seems to have been in love with Pei Xu for many years."
“Then you’ve leaked the news,” Meng Lingyao said, feigning indifference. “Only you saw Pei Xu escorting me back to the estate.”
"Your Honor—" Xie Chengyu cried out in protest, "I instructed everyone in the manor early on not to utter a single extra word."
She retorted, "You'd better confess honestly. When did you secretly meet with Pei Xu behind my back and someone saw it?"
"..."
Meng Lingyao recalled that Pei Xu had helped her out of a predicament at Jin Cui Xuan a few days ago, and that they had indeed ridden in a carriage together for a while afterward. Although there weren't many people on that stretch of road, it was still impossible to guarantee that no one would see them.
She fell silent for a moment.
Xie Chengyu had only made a casual accusation; she was always known for her outspokenness. She hadn't expected her friend to fall silent. She stared at Meng Lingyao in disbelief. "Yaoyao, tell me the truth—"
Meng Lingyao coughed lightly, casually glossing over the matter of that day, thus saving them from the argument in the car.
She appeared calm and composed, and her tone was relaxed and casual.
But Xie Chengyu only needed to glance at her ears to know that she was like a ripe peach that would burst open at the slightest touch.
Although it's a sweet trouble, she's just been through a round of scheming, so it's best not to provoke her.
Xie Chengyu then skipped over the subject with a hint of regret and said instead, "You mentioned that Zhao Ruxuan's maid mentioned that Lin Yunshu was waiting for her at Zuixianlou. Perhaps Princess Suxin is also there."
She drew a few lines in the air with her finger. "Judging from the location, the private rooms on the second floor of Zuixianlou have a view of the entrance to Linlangge. She most likely saw you." When it comes to the entertainment districts of the capital, she knows much more about them.
"Perhaps." Meng Lingyao turned her head away, her eyebrows and eyes drooping.
She and Pei Xu were truly incompatible; even such a brief encounter could stir up trouble.
Men are always prone to trouble.
Men like Pei Xu are even more numerous.
Throughout history, it has always been men who fight over her, never her.
outrageous.
As the two were talking, a palace maid suddenly came up from behind and ran straight to Xie Chengyu. "Fifth Miss, Consort Jing heard that you entered the palace today and wishes to see you."
The Consort Jing mentioned by the palace maid was Xie Chengyu's cousin who was selected to enter the palace.
Xie Chengyu recognized the palace maid as the one who often followed her cousin. She quickly agreed and turned to Meng Lingyao, saying, "Yaoyao, I'm going now." She gently patted her hand and whispered, "Be careful."
Meng Lingyao nodded. "You too."
Xie Chengyu smiled and left with the palace maid.
Meng Lingyao continued walking. Not far away, there were bright lights and faint voices coming from a waterside pavilion.
The palace maid who was guiding the way explained that there were lanterns presented by various mansions, and asked Meng Lingyao if she would like to go and take a look.
She nodded, and after taking a few steps forward, a small eunuch carrying a lantern appeared in a secluded path in the garden. Behind him was the central figure of today's topic—the Third Prince.
Meng Lingyao sensed something was wrong, but her face showed no sign of reluctance. She bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Your Highness the Third Prince."
"Miss Meng, no need for formalities." The Third Prince seemed somewhat surprised as well. "What a coincidence to meet Miss Meng here."
Meng Lingyao lowered her eyes and said, "It is Your Highness who has disturbed your enjoyment of the lanterns."
“Miss Meng, there’s no need for such formalities.” The Third Prince paused slightly, as if he understood what Meng Lingyao was thinking, and said gently, “Riddles are meant to be fun; it’s just that Princess Suxin is taking it too seriously.”
From this perspective, the prince is not an unreasonable person; however, he is a person in the palace, and no matter how harmless he may seem, he should not be underestimated.
Meng Lingyao composed herself and bowed respectfully, "Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness. I suppose Princess Suxin's actions were unintentional."
"That's exactly right."
There was only one path leading to the waterside pavilion ahead, and the two walked together, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far.
Before long, an exquisite "Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Auspiciousness" lantern gradually appeared in the waterside pavilion, with a group of people standing under it. The lantern was about six feet tall, made of fine nanmu wood, and painted with dragons and phoenixes intertwined. Inside was a glass candlestick, which shone brightly.
"Your Highness! Miss Meng!" Princess Suxin, standing under the lamp, called out loudly, "Come and see this 'Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Auspiciousness' lamp! 'Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Auspiciousness' is the most auspicious. If you make a wish under the lamp, everything will go smoothly and you will have a happy marriage!"
Her voice immediately drew the attention of the young men and women nearby.
Princess Suxin was overjoyed. She had thought she would gain nothing today, but unexpectedly, Meng Lingyao had ended up with the Third Prince.
That little vixen, putting on such an aloof act in front of the Emperor, not even daring to utter the Third Prince's name, yet she still managed to slip up in private.
She knew that this person was extremely vain and would never let go of the Third Prince, such a lucrative prize.
Upon hearing her voice, Meng Lingyao's face turned cold.
If it weren't for the fact that it was directed at her, she would have applauded Princess Suxin's persistence. No wonder she had admired Pei Xu for so many years; such perseverance was truly rare in this world.
Today she and the Third Prince stood under the lamp symbolizing marriage; tomorrow, rumors would spread throughout the capital.
We must not sit idly by and wait for our demise.
“Princess Suxin, you are mistaken,” Meng Lingyao said neither humbly nor arrogantly. “According to the etiquette and sacrificial rules of the palace, the first day of the Lunar New Year is the day to worship the gods. The palace has already set up a blessing ceremony. Whether it is this cup of ‘Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Auspiciousness’ or that cup of ‘Auspicious Clouds and Snow,’ they are all used to pray for the gods to bestow blessings upon our dynasty. For the princess to presume to discuss personal feelings between children in the context of the ceremony for worshipping the gods, is that not disrespectful?”
“Miss Meng is absolutely right.” A solemn voice came from under the corridor.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Pei Xu standing under the lamp, dressed in black robes with a cold expression.
"The first day of the Lunar New Year is the beginning of the year, and the sacrificial rites in the palace are especially solemn. Today we should pray devoutly for national peace and prosperity."
Princess Suxin's face turned extremely ugly in an instant. She did not expect Meng Lingyao to be so eloquent and flattering, and she never expected that Pei Xu would appear to help her out of the predicament.
"Young Master Pei," the Third Prince nodded in greeting.
Pei Xu returned the greeting, "Your Highness, Third Prince."
After the ceremony, he turned his gaze slightly and met Meng Lingyao's eyes a few steps away.
The girl's eyes were dark, reflecting the lights of the courtyard. A hint of surprise lingered in them, and then, almost imperceptibly, she glared at him.
"..."
Pei Xu pursed his thin lips and lowered his eyes.
“You two are right.” The Third Prince turned to Princess Suxin. “Suxin, what you said today was indeed inappropriate. You should be more careful in the future.”
Princess Suxin swayed precariously, her lips almost bleeding from being bitten. It was only with the help of her maid that she managed to curtsy, "This subject... understands."
“Yes.” Princess Yong’an smiled warmly. “However, it is common for Sister Suxin to be unfamiliar with palace etiquette as she has lived outside the palace for so long.”
These words, seemingly intended to defuse the situation, actually placed Princess Suxin in a position of being utterly impolite. Princess Suxin's face turned deathly pale, and she stammered, "I...I was just joking..."
Suddenly a sharp shout rang out—
"presumptuous!"
A note from the author:
----------------------
I'm a little embarrassed to mention that my idea came from Aunt Qiong Yao's "Don't Hit the Poem," the part where Ziwei persuades Hua Ma not to hit Rong Momo [shy]. Later, I looked it up and found that the original work, "Don't Hit the Poem," was written by Zhu Shuzhen, a talented woman from the Song Dynasty.
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