Chapter 398 I'm sorry
Lianye helped her young mistress up and quickly took a round fan from the carriage and handed it to Jiang Fenghua, whispering, "Miss, please cover your eyes too!" She would call her "Miss" once they left the palace.
Jiang Fenghua took the tap on her forehead and smiled slightly, "I only have my eyes showing." Actually, it's because this dress is too eye-catching, even though it's not that flamboyant.
She was tall and slender with a waist as thin as a willow, and the dress fit her figure perfectly. Her eyes were especially beautiful. Before going out to meet Xie Shang, she had made up her makeup meticulously, which made her even more eye-catching.
Jiang Fenghua calmed down, thinking that with so many people on the street, they would stop looking after a while.
They wandered around for a while, but found it uninteresting. The onlookers dispersed, and she felt more at ease.
Lianye also picked out some small items for her from the vendors, and Aoxue offered her suggestions as well. The group was quite casual and free-spirited.
As they swam to Hundred Flowers Lake, flower boats drifted by, and the sounds of music and singing filled the air. She thought of two years ago when Xie Shang first established a good image here, which was a good start.
Just then, a flower boat gradually approached them. On the boat, a glamorous woman in a red dress, her face veiled, was dancing gracefully at the bow. Her movements were fluid and her figure supple. Suddenly, she lifted a corner of her veil with her fingers, and in her other hand, she was holding a wine pot and pouring a mouthful of wine into her red lips.
Meanwhile, more and more people gathered around Baihua Lake, crowding onto the bridge to wave at the flower boats. "It's Xiangxiang, the most beautiful courtesan from Xiangnuanlou! Wow! She's so pretty!"
Someone else shouted towards the flower boat, "Fragrant girl, I like you so much."
"Xiangxiang is so pretty!"
The fragrant girl on the flower boat naturally waved to everyone around her.
Jiang Fenghua felt that nothing had changed, it was the same every year. They had used these tricks before, just creating hype to select a courtesan and then using her influence to bring profits to the brothel. There was nothing to see.
"Let's go! Let's wander around somewhere else and then go back," she said to the two of them, knowing that Xie Shang probably wouldn't be coming at this point.
Just as she turned around, she saw another tall, large, and extremely luxurious cruise ship appear on the lake. Curtains hung around the cabin, and it seemed that a man was sitting inside, making it impossible to see clearly what was inside. A gentle breeze blew, and then it became clear that the person inside was wearing a mask. He was dressed in a black brocade robe, and his dashing and romantic appearance instantly caused a sensation among the crowd. There were also countless people serving around the ship, discussing who this person was.
When the courtesan Xiangxiang saw another boat appear on the lake and steal the limelight from their Xiangnuan Pavilion, they also looked at the man in black. "When did such a distinguished person arrive in our Shengjing City? Renting this boat for a night cruise must cost tens of thousands of taels of silver!"
As soon as Jiang Fenghua stepped off the Hundred Flowers Bridge, a group of uniformly dressed guards approached her and bowed respectfully. "The Fifth Young Master is waiting for Madam on the boat. Please come in, Madam."
Jiang Fenghua followed the gaze and immediately understood. Xie Shang did not like to show off. Even though he was a prince or a nobleman, he was not like other young masters from noble families who liked to flaunt their wealth. What was he doing making a show of rowing a large boat to Baihua Lake today?
With guards clearing the way, everyone was drawn to Jiang Fenghua. No one knew her identity, and no one dared to speak about her. They only knew that she must be of extremely high status.
Everyone knew one thing: the man on the ship was the fifth son in his family, so he was called the Fifth Young Master, and the woman in front of them was called the Fifth Madam, so she must be his wife without a doubt.
Jiang Fenghua slowly walked towards the ship. At this moment, the masked man in the ship came out of the cabin. He was tall and elegant, with a noble and extraordinary aura. One side of his face was covered by a mask, but his cheeks were well-defined and his thin lips were slightly curved in a smile.
Only when Jiang Fenghua approached did he extend his jade-like fingers. Jiang Fenghua glanced at him, placed her hand in his palm, and he held it tightly, helping her onto the boat. Lianye and Aoxue were also invited onto the boat.
Immediately afterwards, the guards boarded the ship one after another. Jiang Fenghua thought that Xie Shang would take her shopping like those young masters and ladies who were just beginning to experience love.
I never expected him to appear before me dressed like this. Is this the way someone who wants to be emperor does things? Not wanting to keep a low profile, yet not wanting to reveal their true identity.
She remembered the only time Xie Shang took her shopping. He led her straight to their destination, bought a bunch of clothes and jewelry, and then they had a meal together.
At that time, he did all this because Su Tingwan had no scruples about using her name to buy debts. He did it to let people know that it wasn't her who owed the money. He was always so direct and decisive.
Once inside the cabin, the curtains around the perimeter were drawn, followed by bamboo curtains that blocked all views from the outside.
The interior is very spacious, easily accommodating thirty or forty people. Where did Xie Shang get such a flamboyant boat? It outshines even the pleasure boats of the Xiangnuanlou across the street.
Jiang Fenghua played with a round fan in her hand, her veil still on her face, her eyelids slightly lowered, sitting obediently to one side.
Xie Shang did not remove the mask from his face; it was the same mask he wore when he left the palace disguised as a guard. He thought that if she saw him like this, she would recognize him, even though he had changed into a gorgeous dress that matched her colors.
He would never waste time on things like boating on the lake or admiring the flowers.
When he saw Jiang Fenghua's figure appear on the street, she was walking aimlessly. He knew she was waiting for him. He wanted to go up to her and tell her that Zhu Zhenzhen meant nothing to him, and that he only loved Jiang Fenghua.
Reason told him that he was the crown prince, the heir apparent. His father's teachings still echoed in his ears. He could not have a harem with only her, nor would he make such a promise. For the royal family to prosper, it was necessary to continue the imperial lineage. This was the heavy responsibility he bore as the crown prince. An emperor who was only concerned with love and affection could not be a good emperor.
He asked his father if he had ever loved his mother. His father just smiled; he had always been restrained.
However, Jiang Fenghua never got caught up in such petty romances; on the contrary, he was overly sensitive.
He might be domineering, or he might demand that she have him in her heart. He was just angry that Jiang Fenghua lived like her father, that she had become like her father, which was why her father valued her so much.
He didn't even know why Jiang Fenghua saw things so clearly.
He would live that same cold and aloof life from now on, so thinking about it this way, what wrong had Jiang Fenghua done? It was enough that she was by his side.
They both said in unison, "I'm sorry..."
For a moment, both of them froze. One was wearing a mask, and the other was wearing a veil, so neither could see the other's expression. The masks and veils also concealed their awkwardness.
Jiang Fenghua twirled the round fan in her hand, her eyes clear and bright, and said softly, "It was Ruan Ruan who deliberately angered His Highness, so I apologize."
Xie Shang knew the list of men she was referring to for sleeping with him.
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