Chapter 83, "Traveling Around," was first published on Jinjiang Literature City.
That afternoon, the young women came out of the palace, and the results of the selection spread throughout the capital.
All the officials in the capital suddenly realized that the seemingly quiet fourth prince had become the biggest winner of this selection, while the fifth prince, who was rumored to be very popular with the emperor, did not even get a concubine. The sixth prince was even worse off, as his originally chosen princess was snatched away by his own brother.
Suddenly, countless eyes were drawn to the Chu Prince's residence, and many people couldn't help but wonder if the Fourth Prince had also gained the Emperor's favor and was about to launch a counterattack.
Suddenly, the Chu Prince's mansion became lively, while the Jin Prince's mansion, which had previously been bustling with people, became deserted.
Fu Mingzi came to the Prince of Jin's residence to see Zhou Xiaoyan again that day. Seeing his cold and aloof appearance, she couldn't help but laugh and said, "Your Highness is not as popular as before. I came in today and didn't see a single person. It's really a cold and indifferent feeling."
Zhou Xiaoyan remained calm, seemingly unconcerned, and casually remarked, "It's better that these opportunistic weather vanes are gone."
Fu Mingzi couldn't help but laugh: "Your Highness is quite composed. If it were anyone else, they would probably be getting anxious by now."
Zhou Xiaoyan paused upon hearing this. In fact, Fu Mingzi wasn't wrong. Ordinary people would inevitably feel anxious when faced with such a disparity, just like in his previous life. Because of the sudden change, he felt restless and uneasy. Later, he made many efforts to gain the emperor's favor.
Thinking back to himself back then, Zhou Xiaoyan could only sneer. How pathetic...
Seeing Zhou Xiaoyan's expression turn cold, Fu Mingzi knew that he had thought of something else again. It seemed that ever since they had talked it out, Zhou Xiaoyan had become more and more absent-minded in front of her. His eyes would often flash with sadness or deep emotion, which made Fu Mingzi feel a sense of alienation from him. To be honest, she didn't like Zhou Xiaoyan like this.
"Your Highness!" Fu Mingzi interrupted Zhou Xiaoyan's recollection: "Let's go for a walk today, the weather is very nice outside."
This was just a sudden thought of Fu Mingzi's, intended only to bring Zhou Xiaoyan back to his senses.
Zhou Xiaoyan was taken aback. He looked at Fu Mingzi and saw the faint blush on his face and the panic in his eyes. For some reason, he suddenly smiled and said, "Okay." His gentle smile added a touch of beauty to his originally aloof face.
As Fu Mingzi looked at his handsome face, her heart pounded wildly, pounding as if it were about to burst out of her chest.
"Where should we go?" Zhou Xiaoyan tilted his head and looked out the window. "How about we go to Huguo Temple? I heard the peach blossoms behind the temple are in bloom."
Fu Mingzi immediately recalled the withered peach grove and Miss Yang's bitter smile. He wanted to refuse, but when he saw Zhou Xiaoyan's expectant eyes, he swallowed his refusal and instead said, "Okay."
A hint of excitement flashed in Zhou Xiaoyan's eyes. In his previous life, before leaving the capital, he had never seen the beauty of this world. After leaving the capital, although he had seen the desert flower sea, he had long lost the mood to appreciate it. Now, he was going to see flowers with Fu Mingzi. Even though it was just a small peach grove behind Huguo Temple, it made him very excited.
"Let's go now." Zhou Xiaoyan looked eager.
Seeing his excited expression, Fu Mingzi couldn't help but feel a little soft-hearted. He had been trapped in the palace for so long and probably hadn't seen the vast world outside. It was surprising that he was so happy to see peach blossoms.
Thinking of this, Fu Mingzi smiled tolerantly: "Okay, let's go now."
Although that's what she said, she couldn't just leave like that. Fu Mingzi coaxed Zhou Xiaoyan to change into his travel clothes before discussing and preparing some things for the trip with Wei Baocheng.
Wei Baocheng originally wanted to go along, but Zhou Xiaoyan refused.
“We’re just going out for a stroll. What’s the point of you coming along? Besides, you can’t ride a horse, so it won’t delay our journey. The two of us, Young Master Fu and I, are enough,” Zhou Xiaoyan said while adjusting his sleeve.
Seeing his clumsy movements, Fu Mingzi couldn't help but step forward to help him adjust his sleeves, and said with a smile, "That's fine, we don't have much stuff anyway, we don't need anyone to serve us."
Upon hearing that the two had reached a consensus, Wei Baocheng knew he had no chance of going along, and could only nod somewhat dejectedly: "Then Your Highness must be careful. This servant has heard that the roads outside are not as smooth as those in the capital. Please be careful when riding your horse."
Zhou Xiaoyan couldn't help but laugh out loud: "You dog servant, you worry about so much. Don't worry, nothing happened when I went horseback riding with Father Emperor during the spring hunt. This time we're just going to Huguo Temple in the suburbs of the capital. What could possibly happen?"
Wei Baocheng nodded, gave a few more instructions, and then saw Fu Mingzi and Zhou Xiaoyan out the door.
The two of them went out, but instead of rushing to ride their horses, they led them slowly out of the city before mounting their horses and galloping towards Huguo Temple.
The two rode slowly, and along the way, Fu Mingzi introduced the surroundings to Zhou Xiaoyan.
Zhou Xiaoyan listened with great interest, and his gaze toward Fu Mingzi grew increasingly deep: "How do you know so much?" he couldn't help but ask.
Fu Mingzi smiled and said, "When I was little, my father sent my second brother to learn horsemanship and martial arts around here. My second brother was very strict. I explored almost the entire area in order to get some food. Later, my second brother trained hard, and I had to rack my brains with him to escape."
Hearing this, Zhou Xiaoyan couldn't help but feel sorry for him: "Is the training very hard?"
Looking into his eyes, Fu Mingzi felt a sweet warmth in her heart and couldn't help but lean in and whisper, "If Your Highness kisses me, I won't have to go through all that trouble."
Upon hearing him utter such lewd remarks again, Zhou Xiaoyan couldn't help but blush and whispered, "Don't be ridiculous!"
Fu Mingzi loved his cute little face the most, and couldn't help but laugh out loud. Then, taking advantage of his inattention, she leaned over and kissed him. After the kiss, she immediately laughed and rode away, acting like a complete lecher.
Zhou Xiaoyan blushed crimson and chased after him through gritted teeth.
The two chased and fled, playfully fighting, and soon arrived at the gate of Huguo Temple.
This time, they came for serious business, so naturally they wouldn't use the back door again. The two of them led their horses and walked up through the mountain gate openly and honestly.
Zhou Xiaoyan was still angry about what had happened before. Fu Mingzi tried her best to reason with him, but he ignored her. Seeing that she had offended him badly, Fu Mingzi quickly tried to appease him: "Your Highness, please don't be angry with me. It was my fault. I shouldn't have offended Your Highness."
Zhou Xiaoyan glanced at him sideways, snorted, and shook off his hand that was tugging at his sleeve.
Although Fu Mingzi was shaken off, she was not discouraged at all and pressed on again.
"Your Highness, please spare this humble subject. I've almost run out of jokes to tell. If you still don't forgive me, I'll carry Your Highness up the mountain to atone for my sins." Without waiting for Zhou Xiaoyan's reaction, he raised his hand to hug him.
Zhou Xiaoyan blushed and took two or three steps back: "You're still being ridiculous!"
Seeing that he had finally spoken to him, Fu Mingzi lowered his hand, which he had pretended to raise, and said with a grin, "If Your Highness forgives me, I will never fool around with you again."
Although he knew there was probably no guarantee whatsoever, seeing Fu Mingzi's expression, Zhou Xiaoyan could only nod in agreement. He knew that Fu Mingzi was a scoundrel who was capable of anything.
If she really managed to hug him on the mountain path, the whole capital would know by tomorrow.
Seeing Zhou Xiaoyan breathe a sigh of relief, Fu Mingzi became even more audacious, smiling as he leaned closer to Zhou Xiaoyan and whispered, "I will never kiss Your Highness in public again..." He smiled slyly, "I will kiss you at home, and I will not let anyone else see it."
Zhou Xiaoyan blushed so much he was practically steaming. When it came to these tactics, he was no match for the seasoned Fu Mingzi.
"Shut up and let's go upstairs quickly," Zhou Xiaoyan said in a low voice.
Fu Mingzi didn't dare to push him too far, so she smiled and agreed, following Zhou Xiaoyan up the mountain.
There were quite a few worshippers at Huguo Temple today. I had seen many people traveling by car and sedan chair on the mountain road, and once I entered the gate, the area in front of the Mahavira Hall was bustling with people.
Fu Mingzi and Zhou Xiaoyan each lit an incense stick and put some money into the donation box before slowly heading towards the peach blossom forest behind the mountain.
Huguo Temple was converted from Tianlong Temple of the previous dynasty. When the current dynasty was founded, Emperor Taizu took refuge here and escaped the enemy's search. Therefore, after the establishment of the Great Wei Dynasty, Tianlong Temple was converted into Huguo Temple.
For this reason, the buildings in Huguo Temple are quite historical, and their style has inherited many aspects of the previous dynasty. Their journey was quite interesting, especially for Zhou Xiaoyan, as this was his first time visiting Huguo Temple.
The two strolled leisurely to the back of the mountain, only to discover that they were not the only ones there. Many pilgrims came to enjoy the scenery, but there were fewer people than in the temple, so they didn't stand out too much.
As Fu Mingzi walked upstream along the stream, he was filled with emotion. When he met Miss Yang here before, this peach grove was desolate and barren. He never expected that the peach blossoms would be so beautiful and vibrant now, and even the stream seemed to have come alive.
We walked all the way upstream and came to a valley. In the valley, large swathes of peach blossoms were as bright as rosy clouds, and we could faintly hear laughter and music.
Fu Mingzi asked with some doubt, "Are people having a banquet up ahead?" "They seem to be in quite a good mood," Fu Mingzi remarked.
Zhou Xiaoyan's expression shifted slightly, as if he had remembered something, and he said in a low voice, "If I am not mistaken, it should be the Peach Blossom Banquet, which is quite famous among scholars in the capital."
As soon as you mention the Peach Blossom Banquet, you'll know who Fu Mingzi is. After all, he was once the most famous playboy in the capital. He was always involved in all the entertainment events of the wealthy young men in the capital, but this Peach Blossom Banquet was an exception.
It is said that this Peach Blossom Banquet was organized by Prince Anle, but those who could attend this banquet had to be at least scholars. The attendees were all learned men, and a playboy like Fu Mingzi wouldn't even be allowed to enter.
Therefore, Fu Mingzi had only heard of the Peach Blossom Banquet. It was said that at each banquet, Prince Anle would have his family's singers and dancers perform. Scholars wrote many poems praising the talents of these singers and dancers, which aroused the imagination of countless people.
Therefore, the Peach Blossom Banquet is the most famous banquet in the capital.
"It's actually a peach blossom banquet." Fu Mingzi couldn't help but laugh. "I've always been curious and wanted to come and see it, but I didn't dare to embarrass myself. Now that I'm with Your Highness, I might have the good fortune to feast my eyes on it."
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