When Qingying was five years old, she had met Princess Yongning once, but eight years later, they were strangers when they met again.
Princess Yongning had been raised by the Empress Dowager's side for many years, so she was naturally very noble. The fabrics used for her clothes and the gold and silver jewelry she wore were mostly imperial gifts. As the saying goes, clothes make the man, and in addition, the princess was also a first-class beauty. She could easily outshine all the beauties when she stood in a crowd.
Qingying was dressed rather modestly today, and sat inconspicuously at the table. The people around her were busy currying favor with the princess and did not bother her anymore, so she was happy to have some peace and quiet.
Unfortunately, her position was too close to the princess, making it difficult for her not to attract attention.
Sure enough, the princess took the initiative to strike up a conversation with her: "This must be Miss Liu from the General's Mansion. We met once when we were young, but many years have passed in the blink of an eye, and so much has changed that we don't even recognize each other now."
I never expected that she would still remember this.
Qingying sat upright on the seat, her smile sweet. "I have been in poor health since childhood and rarely go out, but I am not a frog in a well. I have heard of the Princess's outstanding beauty even though I was at home. Today, seeing you feels like meeting an old friend again, and I feel very close to you."
"Miss Liu, you truly live up to your noble lineage; your words are so pleasant to hear. Your aunt has raised you exceptionally well."
She almost forgot that the late Princess Xianqin and Madam Pan were cousins, so she should naturally address Madam Pan as her cousin aunt.
The powerful families in the capital were like branches growing on a large tree. Even if they branched out, they were still connected by the same root. They were all related in some way.
"You flatter me, Princess."
She was racking her brains trying to figure out what to say to the princess so that the conversation wouldn't sound too awkward.
Suddenly someone chimed in: "I just heard that someone on the boat across the street composed an excellent poem, which even the Grand Tutor of Jin praised highly."
Everyone knew that the princess cherished talent, so upon hearing this, she stood up and said with great interest, "Where is that poem? Bring it here for me to see."
Soon a servant brought the poem to her. Qingying, who was eating a plate of osmanthus cake, glanced at it and thought the person's handwriting was quite beautiful. As for the content of the poem...
Looking at the amazed expressions on everyone's faces, she thought to herself, "It must be very good."
Although she wasn't an illiterate village girl, she certainly lacked the ability to appreciate poetry. Compared to ornate and pedantic poems, she preferred reading popular and easy-to-understand storybooks with diverse content.
"Where is the poet?" Princess Yongning asked.
A maidservant replied, "He is on the boat across the wall, with Grand Tutor Jin."
Qingying hadn't originally intended to go, but upon hearing the name of this Grand Tutor of Jin, she suddenly became interested.
Grand Tutor Jin Heng, who is twenty-five years old this year, became the top scholar in the imperial examination at the age of seventeen. He is the youngest Grand Tutor since the founding of the Eastern Lin Kingdom, which shows his talent.
This person, whom she had only heard rumors about but never seen, truly aroused her curiosity.
So Qingying followed the group heading to the boat across the river.
The pleasure boat was mostly filled with men, but the people of Donglin are very open-minded, and men and women can sit together and go on trips together. Their presence was not considered a violation of the rules.
They quickly found the poet, a young man who was unknown in the capital. They learned that he had come from Qingzhou to participate in this year's autumn imperial examination.
Qingying was puzzled: "Can't the autumn examinations be held in Qingzhou? Why bother coming all the way to Pandu?"
Xie Jiaoying, the eldest daughter of the Xie family who had spoken to her earlier, explained to her: "His parents in Qingzhou have passed away, and he came to the capital to seek refuge with relatives."
"I see..." Qingying noticed that the scholar was quite handsome, but his clothes were too plain, making him seem out of place among the group of elegantly dressed noble ladies and gentlemen.
"But how could a commoner like him be qualified to attend Princess Yongning's poetry gathering?" Someone nearby asked, voicing another layer of confusion in Qingying's mind.
She immediately perked up her ears.
Xie Jiaoying said, "Of course someone brought him here."
Who is it?
“Here.” Xie Jiaoying raised her chin.
Qingying looked in the direction and was immediately stunned. She saw a man sitting behind a table, dressed in a snow-white robe with dark cloud embroidery. His long black brocade hair cascaded down his shoulders, adorned with a white jade hairpin, exuding nobility and elegance. His face was as smooth and lustrous as white jade, with clear and cold eyes, star-like eyes, and cherry-like lips. He was like a celestial being depicted in a painting, with unparalleled charm.
She couldn't help but swallow hard and asked, "Who is he?"
Xie Jiaoying said, "Naturally, it is Grand Tutor Jin, and that scholar is his student."
Qingying finally understood. When her brother mentioned this person before, he used the phrase "peerless beauty" to describe him, which she thought was an exaggeration. But after seeing him today, she couldn't help but sigh that rumors are just rumors, and they are not nearly as shocking as seeing them with one's own eyes.
What kind of stunningly beautiful woman could possibly be a match for such a man?
"Grand Tutor Jin is not young anymore, why is he still unmarried?"
Xie Jiaoying was known for being a gossip. In the aristocratic families of Pandu City, it was impossible to keep any secrets, but she always managed to find out everything clearly. Because of this, Madam Pan specifically instructed Qingying to befriend her.
She was pulled to a corner by Xie Jiaoying, and the two squatted down together, whispering to each other with their heads close together.
"The Grand Tutor of Jin had a marriage contract in his early years. I heard that the woman was just a concubine's daughter from a poor family, but she was born with a beautiful face, just like a fairy from heaven."
Qingying clicked her tongue in amazement: "A celestial being paired with a celestial maiden... Where is that woman now? I've never heard of her."
Seeing her excited expression and sparkling eyes, Xie Jiaoying felt as if she had found a kindred spirit and began to recount the whole story.
"It is said that the Grand Tutor of Jin and his fiancée were childhood sweethearts and deeply in love. Unfortunately, the girl fell ill with a serious illness in her teens. Countless famous doctors could not cure her, and the final diagnosis was that she would not live past that winter. The Grand Tutor of Jin loved his fiancée deeply and wanted to marry her before she died. He took care of everything from the betrothal gifts to the banquet. However, the woman also loved him deeply and did not want to be a burden to him anymore. She did not want him to be labeled a widower for no reason. So she hanged herself in her room before the wedding, wearing the wedding dress she had sewn herself before she died."
Qingying said with regret, "This is too tragic. No wonder he is still unmarried."
“Who says otherwise?” Xie Jiaoying sighed and said, “They say you shouldn’t meet someone too amazing when you’re young, or you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a voice suddenly came from behind her: "What are you two whispering about here? What regrets?"
The two cats, already feeling a bit guilty for chatting, were startled by the sudden questioning. They both shuddered and stiffly turned around to see Lu Xingli, then breathed a sigh of relief.
Xie Jiaoying patted her chest and complained, "Why do you walk so quietly?"
Lu Xingli and she had always been close friends, like sisters. Seeing her like this, what else could she not understand?
"Whose secrets are you talking about now? Don't lead Sister Liu astray."
"Sister Liu, you like listening to this, don't you?" She turned to look at Qingying.
The latter immediately nodded like a chick pecking at rice, "Sister Xie's words are interesting. I'm just listening, I won't go around spreading rumors."
Seeing this, Lu Xingli didn't dare to blame her anymore, but warned, "You'd better be more careful under the princess's watchful eye."
Xie Jiaoying smiled and nodded. "I understand."
Their eyes met, as if they were communicating silently.
Qingying understood perfectly well, but continued to pretend to be confused.
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