Chapter 275 His Highness Wants to See You
It was a sunny and blue day, a perfect day.
The peonies in Yongning Pavilion were already in bloom, swaying gently in the breeze. Their light, rich fragrance filled the courtyard, and the sight was a riot of colour, so beautiful beyond words.
Qiao Wanyan did not sleep well last night and woke up around noon today. She was wearing only a plain white dress with her long hair draped behind her, and she was lazily lying on a rocking chair in the yard, basking in the sun.
I closed my eyes and basked in the warm sunshine, my bones felt numb and weak.
"Miss, Miss Guo is here."
Qiao Wanyan slowly opened her eyes and half-closed them to look at Guo Licheng. Seeing her, she walked closer with a smile and asked, "Why are you here today?"
Guo Licheng smiled and said, "My mother was not feeling well these days so I stayed at home to take care of her. Now that she is getting better I am free to come out. I haven't seen the Second Miss for a long time. How come her skin looks smoother and whiter than last time?"
Qiao Wanyan snorted inwardly, isn't that nonsense?
She takes beauty soup every night, grinds the butterfly grass she gets from Pharmacist Valley into powder and applies it on her face, and eats light food without greasy food. How can her skin be bad?
But on the surface, she said nonchalantly: "It has always been like this, what's the big deal? It doesn't take much thought to say it, it's just that it was born this way."
Guo Licheng still had a humble smile on his face when he heard this, but in his heart he felt like an arrow was stabbed in the chest.
"The Second Miss is naturally beautiful, and is truly enviable. By the way, this is a gift my aunt brought me from my hometown. I thought I was unworthy of such a good thing, so I gave it to the Second Miss."
As Guo Licheng spoke, he took the long box from the maid beside him, opened it and put it within Qiao Wanyan's sight.
Qiao Wanyan was not very interested. What good things had she not seen in the capital?
He lazily took out the round fan from inside, and looked at it carefully with a slight movement of his eyes.
Is it a round fan with double-sided embroidery, or double-sided embroidery with different colors.
The peony cluster has the same outline on both sides but completely different colors.
Qiao Wanyan was used to seeing good things, but she had to admit that this embroidery craftsman had superb skills and good aesthetics.
I could smell a light and unique fragrance even before I fanned it in my hand.
Guo Licheng's smile deepened as he looked at her rather satisfied expression. Miss Qiao had seen all kinds of good things, so if he wanted to give her something, it had to be the best of the best.
My aunt came to Beijing this time and wanted to foster my cousin at home, so she specially prepared such a precious gift. It was just right for her to give it to the second young lady, which was also considered presentable.
It would be a lie for Guo Licheng to say that he didn't feel sorry for it. If he kept such a good thing for himself, he would probably treat it like a treasure every day.
"I noticed that the second young lady likes peonies. This fan happens to be embroidered with peonies. Do you like it?"
Qiao Wanyan nodded slightly, "The fragrance of this fan is very unique, what is it?"
"My aunt said that the fan is made of Baizhuxiang, which has a very good fragrance retention effect. Even after half a year, the fragrance will still remain the same."
Qiao Wanyan was very satisfied and said, "Please take a seat."
A maidservant brought over a chair, and Guo Licheng smiled and sat down.
"Second Miss, when I came here today, I ran into someone from Prince Xiling at the door. He said he wanted to give you a banquet invitation. I thought I happened to come in, so I took it."
As she spoke, she took out the post from her sleeve and handed it to her.
Qiao Wanyan glanced at him, "Birthday banquet? Chen Che's birthday is in three days?"
Guo Licheng said: "I heard that the prince invited many people to the banquet. I guess this birthday banquet will be very lively. My family has also received the invitation to the banquet. I was thinking of going there with the second young lady when the time comes!"
Qiao Wanyan raised her eyebrows slightly, subtly and implicitly. She remembered that Yun Yao had mentioned to her when they were having dinner the day before yesterday that she had recently developed a poison.
It is not fatal, but after taking it, your body will feel weak, limp and itchy instantly.
That kind of tingling is not on the skin, but an itch in the bones, a heart-wrenching discomfort.
"Okay, we'll go together then. Baozhu has been very busy with the restaurant's affairs recently, and I don't know if she has received the invitation to the banquet and will be able to go there in time."
Guo Licheng was considerate and said, "If the Second Miss doesn't mind, I can go to the Princess's Mansion and ask for her."
Qiao Wanyan was in a good mood, "Thank you for your hard work."
Since a family as prominent as Guo Licheng's has sent an invitation to the banquet, this birthday banquet must be very grand.
Although Chen Che was a hostage, all the arrangements in the capital were made as for distinguished guests, which was enough to show that the emperor also treated the hostage with courtesy.
There must have been a lot of people who attended the banquet in the past.
How fun is it to make a fool of yourself in public?
Didn't he want to skin himself alive? Didn't he knock himself out in Shanglin Paddock last time?
If she can't kill this madman, can't she torture him?
A maid came closer and said, "Miss, the master sent someone to say that the second master of the second house is here, and said that if you are free, you can go over to have lunch with him."
Guo Licheng's expression was slightly agitated, "Is it this year's number one scholar?"
The maid nodded slightly, "That's right."
Qiao Wanyan: "After he became the top scholar, he would often visit daddy. Daddy also thinks highly of him and would give him more support in the court."
After Qiao Wanyan finished speaking, she looked into Guo Licheng's eyes and said, "I heard that Daddy has been arranging a marriage for Qiao Jibai recently, and he has set his eyes on the daughter of the Left Vice-Minister of the Imperial Censorate, the daughter of the Feng family."
Such matters should have been taken care of by my second uncle and second aunt, but unfortunately, my second uncle and second aunt had been hiding under my father's wings all their lives, and they knew those people in Beijing but were not familiar with them.
What's more, if there was a good marriage, Qiao Congshan would be proposed first. How could it be Qiao Jibai's turn?
Therefore, my father is more concerned about Qiao Jibai's marriage.
A trace of disappointment flashed across Guo Licheng's eyes. She wanted to find a rich husband and would marry him even if she had to swallow needles.
Qiao Jibai was not considered a noble son-in-law at first, but now that he has won the top spot in the imperial examination, he has great potential. With Minister Qiao to protect him, he will surely have a bright future.
If I could marry such a person, I might be granted an imperial title in the future.
But the daughter of the Left Vice-Minister of the Imperial Censorate......
I am far from having such a family background.
Qiao Wanyan looked at her subtle expression and immediately understood that Guo Licheng was interested in Qiao Jibai.
But, this has nothing to do with me.
"The Minister asked the Second Miss to come over for dinner. Do you want to go?" Guo Licheng was a little nervous, hoping that she would take him with her.
Qiao Wanyan waved the round fan in her hand, and her nose was filled with elegant fragrance.
"I'm not that hungry now. Go back and tell Dad that I can't go."
The maid nodded and left.
There was a flash of disappointment in Guo Licheng's eyes.
Zi Yuan hurried in and said, "Miss, someone from the East Palace has come and said that the prince wants to see you for something important. Please go to the East Palace."
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