Chapter 113 A Sudden Flutter of the Heart (Part 1)
"Since that's the case, I grant you permission to leave." Su Li waved his hand, not intending to continue speaking or make things difficult for Yan Jue, who had shown extreme disgust in his eyes.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. This humble subject will take his leave." When the two were in public, Yan Jue changed his address and, unusually, did not call him Ninth Prince.
Yan Jue looked up at the group of officials' daughters with their makeup on, then immediately fled the stage and headed towards the lotus pond in the backyard of the palace.
Because of this year's Spring Banquet, the palace ministers all learned, to varying degrees, that the Emperor intended to select a suitable daughter of an official to be his empress at the banquet.
So they all instructed their youngest daughters to behave well in front of the Emperor, and their attention was all on Su Li, so they did not notice Yan Jue's departure.
Spring banquets are usually held in the palace halls, pavilions, and terraces within the imperial palace, where hundreds of flowers bloom in the imperial gardens, vying for beauty. The lotus pond, located in a more secluded area, is far from the crowds and has clear water.
Yan Jue looked around at the empty surroundings, and his tense body finally relaxed.
The only scents that fill the air are floral fragrance and fresh, natural aromas; there's no artificial, powdery smell, just a sense of relaxation.
Yan Jue found a place to sit down and looked at the flowers and plants around him with a bored expression.
But then, Yan Jue suddenly heard a sigh.
He was somewhat surprised and looked in the direction from which the sigh came.
The girl, dressed in a light pink brocade dress, gently stroked her dark hair with her delicate white hands, her brows furrowed and her gaze full of affection.
Her rosy lips curved slightly, her face like a peach blossom, especially her pair of watery eyes, which shone with an innocent luster. Her gaze was fixed on the lotus pond, and she took small, delicate steps to the railing, her posture showing a hint of sorrow.
Yan Jue was already annoyed by the incessant chatter of the noble ladies. But this girl was like a peach blossom in spring—beautiful yet elegant, especially her delicate figure, which made him unable to look away.
It turns out there really are beautiful women in the capital.
Yan Jue sighed inwardly, his gaze following the woman's as she looked away. When he saw the handkerchief floating in the lotus pond, he understood.
It turned out that the handkerchief had fallen into the lotus pond.
Yan Jue smiled slightly, a mischievous glint in his eyes, wanting to see what the girl would do.
Shen Pingjin had no idea that there was a man secretly watching her make a fool of herself, and she was so anxious that she was about to cry.
Father said that this year's Spring Banquet is the first Spring Banquet after the new emperor's ascension to the throne, and many daughters of officials must attend. She has only just arrived at the lotus pond and doesn't know if she has been discovered. She wonders if the new emperor will blame her.
Thinking this way, Shen Pingjin became even more anxious.
Perhaps we should just get rid of this handkerchief?
But that won't do either. This handkerchief is hers. If she throws it into the lotus pond and someone sees it, they'll know she's late.
This won't work, that won't work either. Shen Pingjin looked at the pale yellow handkerchief floating in the lotus pond, gritted her teeth, and decided to go into the water herself to retrieve it.
But the moment her bare feet touched the lake water, Shen Pingjin had second thoughts.
With no one around, what if she fell into the lotus pond? Wouldn't she die instantly?
Chen Pingjin sighed, wondering what to do next.
In spring, before the lotus flowers bloomed, tender green lotus leaves floated in the middle, surrounded by duckweed. Her current appearance was quite different from what Yan Jue, who was secretly watching her, saw.
The girl carefully walked to the lotus pond. Her pair of fair and delicate feet touched the water, but she hesitated and withdrew because she was worried about something.
A thoughtful look flashed across her rosy cheeks, and her brows furrowed slightly.
Yan Jue wanted to laugh. After confirming that the girl couldn't see him, but he could see her, the corners of his mouth curved upwards more and more uncontrollably.
At the same time, I was also wondering whether I should help her.
Let's observe it again.
Yan Jue shook his head, and when he looked at the girl again, he saw a scene he would never forget in his life.
The girl seemed troubled; a look of frustration flashed across her face. She turned her head to look around, and after confirming that no one was nearby, she casually tossed her water-soaked pantyhose aside and stood on tiptoe.
Her voice was like a passionate call in summer, or the babbling of a babbling brook in winter—delicate, clear, and sweet, making one feel as if they had eaten honey.
She waved her sleeves, her rosy lips parted slightly, and she sang.
"The oars stir the lotus blossoms, and I return alone to the distant green hills."
Lotus leaves entwine around the wrist, water chestnuts tug at the clothes in the distance—
Her delicate, white feet moved freely across the muddy ground, her sleeves fluttering and the pink hem of her dress swaying in the wind. Her porcelain-white face was bathed in the warm sunlight, the golden afterglow casting a golden glow upon it.
Looking at the beautiful scenery beside the lotus pond, Shen Pingjin couldn't help but hum a song and then dance gracefully.
Anyway, there was no one around, and no one knew that she was being so unrestrained here.
Shen Pingjin had no idea that in the corner, Yan Jue was staring blankly at her figure, completely dumbfounded.
The heart was beating like a drum in the left atrium, and the frequency of the beating was even increasing, as if it was about to jump out of the chest cavity.
A tingling sensation spread from his limbs to his heart, as if he had been electrocuted. In his thirteen years of life, Yan Jue had never experienced such a feeling before.
The girl's figure was slender, and under the slanting sunlight, she looked as graceful as a lotus fairy.
Yan Jue was still deeply moved, but the girl had already put on her shoes and socks, which were soaked by the lake water, and walked towards Yan Jue as she put on her embroidered shoes with a look of discomfort on her face.
Her voice was complaining, as if she was using vulgar language because no one was around.
"I don't need this handkerchief, but the lotus pond in the palace is indeed a nice place."
Enduring the sticky feeling under her feet, Chen Pingjin looked at the lotus pond and couldn't help but recite: "A river of misty water reflects the clear sky, houses on both banks connect with painted eaves, and a patch of water lilies is bathed in the pale autumn light."
"Although there are no houses in either place, and it's not autumn yet, what does it matter?"
Chen Pingjin glanced at the brightly colored flowers blooming beside the lotus pond, then looked at the pale yellow handkerchief drifting further and further away in the lotus pond, and sighed.
Fine, she'll take this chance. If the people in the palace bring the handkerchief back and ask if it's hers, she'll just deny it to the death.
Anyway, all that was on that handkerchief was the character "锦" (jin, meaning brocade) that she had embroidered.
Thinking of this, Shen Pingjin felt a little better and hurried toward the Imperial Garden.
While Yan Jue was still in a daze, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching. He trembled and, feeling guilty, used his lightness skill to climb onto the roof.
But this inevitably made a sound. Shen Pingjin looked at the corner ahead in confusion. "Huh, that's strange. It seems like there was some noise coming from here just now?"
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