Chapter 74: I have to keep a close eye on you when enjoying the flowers, to prevent you from being abducted. …
The morning light was dim, the air was misty, and the branches of flowers hanging outside the window were stained with fresh dew.
Shen Xingwan had just finished dressing up when Yan Jinghuan came over from behind the screen, picked up the jade hairpin on her dressing table and played with it, then asked her nonchalantly, "The cherry blossoms in the suburbs are in full bloom. The weather is great today. Shall I take you to see them?"
His tone was flat, as if he mentioned it casually, but his eyes were slightly lowered, hiding a bit of expectation.
Shen Xingwan was lowering her head to adjust her sleeves. Upon hearing this, she raised her eyes and smiled, her eyebrows curved.
"Although the cherry blossoms in the suburbs are beautiful, it's a pity that I have an appointment today and there are better flowers to see."
Yan Jinghuan paused his movements and his eyes fell on the smiling curve of her red lips.
"......"
He pursed his lips for a while, then asked casually, "Who are you going to go flower viewing with?"
Shen Xingwan blinked and did not answer directly. Instead, she leaned into his arms, raised her head and cried coquettishly: "Prince..."
Yan Jinghuan raised his eyebrows slightly, his eyes slightly cold: "Hmm?"
Shen Xingwan put her arms around his waist, her voice soft and sweet.
"I have a humble request..."
Yan Jinghuan chuckled, his expression softened, and he raised his hand to touch her fair cheek, "Speak."
"Then I'll tell you..."
"Um."
"Can you...find a way to lift Wei Zilin's house arrest?"
Yan Jinghuan's eyes suddenly darkened.
There was a sudden chill in his eyes as he stared at her coldly.
"What?" He pushed her back onto the couch, pressed her down, narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "My flowers are not pretty, do you want to see Wei Zilin's flowers?"
The sour feeling from gnashing teeth was so strong that Shen Xingwan could hardly open his eyes.
Shen Xingwan was suppressed by him, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Just as she was about to explain, Feiyun's voice suddenly came from outside: "My Lord, Miss, Concubine De sent someone to deliver the invitation."
Shen Xingwan's eyes lit up, and she took the opportunity to break free from his suppression, trotted to the outer room, opened the door, took the post from Feiyun, and unfolded it impatiently.
After reading it, she returned to Yan Jinghuan with the invitation in her hands and smiled, and presented it to him with both hands: "Your Majesty, please take a look."
Yan Jinghuan took it and glanced at it.
It was Concubine De who was going to host a spring banquet and had sent out invitations to everyone to come to the palace to enjoy the flowers.
Seeing that he was still frowning, Shen Xingwan took the initiative to hug his waist and said coquettishly: "Hey, don't be angry, I'll treat you to a good show, okay?"
There was a cunning look in her eyes, like a little fox. Yan Jinghuan looked at her high-spirited appearance and finally couldn't bear to brush her off. He raised his eyebrows lazily: "You just rely on the fact that I love you."
Shen Xingwan smiled brightly, hugged his waist and shook him, "Please... please..."
Yan Jinghuan was helpless, sighed softly, reached out and stroked her hair, finally let her go, straightened his clothes, and said lightly: "Let's talk about it later."
After Shen Xingwan saw him off with a smile, she stopped smiling and went back to her room to have breakfast.
Unexpectedly, before he finished his breakfast, he heard news from the palace that the emperor had issued an oral order to lift the prince's house arrest.
The corners of Shen Xingwan's lips curled up slightly, and a sweet smile appeared in her eyes.
She put down her chopsticks and immediately told Feiyun: "Go and bring Xiaochun over."
Not long after, Xiaochun hurried in. Shen Xingwan dismissed everyone else and whispered a few words in her ear.
After listening to this, Xiaochun nodded repeatedly and promised respectfully: "I will do my best."
Shen Xingwan looked at her with satisfaction and called Feiyun: "Send Xiaochun to Changchun Palace."
Feiyun nodded and quietly sent Xiaochun away.
Shen Xingwan gently stroked his sleeves, looked out the window at the bright sunshine, and the smile in his eyes deepened.
This spring banquet tonight is probably more beautiful than the cherry blossoms.
When Feiyun came back, Shen Xingwan was sitting in front of her dressing table, with the maids carefully putting on her makeup.
Her brows were calm, her slender fingers resting on the dressing table. When she saw Feiyun coming in, she raised her fingertips slightly and waved away all the maids.
Feiyun walked up quickly, picked up the silver comb and continued to do Shen Xingwan's makeup, and replied softly: "Miss, don't worry, everything has been arranged. Xiaochun has been successfully sent to Changchun Palace."
Shen Xingwan nodded slightly, gently stroking the mother-of-pearl pattern on the dressing table with her fingertips, and a slight smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
"Okay." She said softly, and then ordered, "Please help me to dress up. Use moon white. Wei Zilin likes moon white the most."
Feiyun agreed, and with light movements of her hands, she had applied exquisite makeup for her in a short while. She also picked out a moon-white gauze dress with wide sleeves as thin as cicada wings. The cuffs had a tree of cherry blossoms embroidered with gold thread, and a light ribbon inlaid with moonstone tied around her waist. Her every move was radiant and colorful, like a fairy under the moon.
Shen Xingwan took a closer look, then stood up with satisfaction, his eyes as calm as water.
"Come on, let's go to the banquet."
Deep in the royal garden, the night banquet has begun.
The garden is full of cherry blossoms, which are in full bloom at this moment.
In the hazy night, cherry blossoms flutter in the breeze, and the glazed palace lanterns are lit one by one, like broken stars falling into the world, illuminating the entire garden beautifully, as if it were a fairyland in the sky.
In previous years, such evening banquets were hosted by the Imperial Concubine herself.
But things are different now. The Imperial Noble Consort has long been demoted to Concubine Zhang and is confined to the palace.
The Queen Mother also claimed to be ill and refused to show up, so the important task of hosting the Spring Festival Banquet finally fell on the shoulders of Concubine De, who was in charge of the six palaces.
Originally, Concubine De became ill due to worry about Princess Guang'an marrying far away, and even intended to let other concubines host the night banquet. But for some reason, she suddenly changed her mind yesterday and decided to host the night banquet herself.
Now, almost all the royal family members are present in this royal garden.
All the princes and princesses, dukes and ministers, and noble ladies gathered together, drinking and chatting happily, fully demonstrating the grace of the royal family.
The only ones absent were the long-missing Fourteenth Prince Wei Zihui, and Princess Guang'an Wei Liyue, who was married off to a distant place.
Shen Xingwan walked slowly into the garden, her skirt fluttering as she moved, like a fairy under the moon.
She smiled gently, her eyes moving, and she saw from afar the Crown Prince Wei Zilin and the Crown Princess Tang Lin'er sitting at the chief seat.
I haven't seen Wei Zilin for a long time. He has lost a lot of weight.
Perhaps it was because he had been confined to his room for too long and had not seen the sun, his skin color had become paler, and his brows were covered with a thick layer of haze.
Although he was dressed luxuriously, the scarlet robe with gold-rimmed dragon patterns on it not only failed to highlight his nobleness, but instead made him look even more haggard and decadent.
He held the wine glass, his slender knuckles slightly tightened, the amber wine rippled in the glass, but he never finished drinking it.
His eyes fell heavily on Shen Xingwan, deep and dark, as if carrying thousands of words, yet so depressing that it was suffocating.
On the contrary, Tang Lin'er beside him had changed from her usual forbearance and docility. She looked radiant, with delicate and gorgeous makeup, and her eyes were full of pride and smugness.
She looked as if she had already secured the throne of the Eastern Palace and was the mother of the country. Even though she had not yet been crowned as queen, she had already acted like one.
She glanced at Shen Xingwan coldly with disdain in her eyes, snorted, turned around, took Wei Zilin's arm, and greeted others with a sweet smile.
Shen Xingwan didn't care and turned a blind eye to her provocation. She lifted her skirt and was about to walk inside when suddenly an arm firmly wrapped around her waist.
She was slightly startled, and looked back in surprise, only to meet Yan Jinghuan's eyes as deep as the sea.
He actually came too.
He was not wearing a dragon robe today, but a dark brocade robe with cloud patterns. The lapels were embroidered with low-key dark patterns in gold thread, which made him look cold and noble. His whole body exuded a sharp aura that kept strangers away.
But at this moment, he just hugged her waist, his movements were intimate and domineering, full of predatory possessiveness.
Shen Xingwan couldn't help but smile playfully and whispered teasingly: "Aren't you very busy? Why are you rushing over here?"
Yan Jinghuan sneered, "I have to keep a close eye on you to prevent you from being kidnapped."
As he spoke, he took her to sit next to the seat of Crown Prince Wei Zilin, holding her hand but never letting go, as if declaring his sovereignty, with a domineering and ostentatious attitude.
Wei Zilin's knuckles turned white as he held the wine glass. He looked at everything in front of him in silence, with the emotions in his eyes fluctuating and complex.
Shen Xingwan could clearly feel his gaze. The light in his eyes was hot and oppressive, as if it had substance, as if it could penetrate her skin and brand itself into her bones and blood.
Wei Zilin did not hide his gaze, nor did he conceal the emotions in his eyes. He just stared at her straight, not wanting to let her go even once.
In those eyes, there was regret, pain, resentment, and an obsession that could not be explained.
Shen Xingwan never looked back, as if she hadn't noticed anything. She just lowered her eyes and smiled softly, her fingertips casually circling the lines on Yan Jinghuan's sleeves, and whispered, "If Your Majesty hugs me like this, will others gossip?"
Yan Jinghuan's eyes dimmed. He leaned over to her ear and suddenly kissed her round earlobe. "Who dares?"
Shen Xingwan couldn't help but chuckle, and poked his palm with her fingertips neither lightly nor heavily, as if teasing him mischievously, which made him unable to help but grab her hand and kiss it again.
On the other side, Wei Zilin looked at their intimate and sweet appearance, the darkness in his eyes became deeper and deeper, his knuckles turned blue, but he finally raised his head and drank the wine in the glass.
Tang Lin'er had been paying close attention to Wei Zilin's expression.
Ever since Shen Xingwan came to the table, he had been absent-minded and had hardly talked to her.
Even when she took the initiative to bring up the topic, he just said "hmm" lightly and said nothing more.
At this moment, he was holding an empty wine glass, staring at Shen Xingwan with a serious look, and he didn't even notice that the glass was empty.
A trace of gloom flashed across Tang Lin'er's eyes, but she still maintained a dignified smile on her face and said softly, "Your Highness's wine glass is empty. I will fill it up for you."
Her voice was soft, charming and quite flattering.
She brushed aside the little palace maid serving wine, picked up the red gold wine pot on the table with her delicate hands, leaned forward slightly, and poured wine for Wei Zilin herself.
But her flattery did not elicit a gentle response from Wei Zilin.
Wei Zilin's eyes never left Shen Xingwan. He didn't even notice who was pouring wine for him. He just felt someone approaching, and he became annoyed. He raised his hand impatiently and said coldly, "Get lost."
His move came without warning and without mercy. Tang Lin'er had no time to react, and was pushed by his casual wave, causing her body to lose stability and stumble backwards.
She screamed and the wine jug in her hand fell out of her hand, spilling amber wine all over her body, soaking her luxurious brocade palace dress. The rich aroma of wine spread and splashed on her sleeves and hem, making her look messy.
The table suddenly fell silent, and many people's attention was drawn to this scene.
Wei Zilin then realized that something was wrong. He turned around and glanced at Tang Lin'er, frowning slightly and speaking in a cold tone.
"Go down and change clothes."
There was no concern or apology in this brief order.
It was as if the person falling in front of him was just an insignificant palace maid, and not his wife.
Tang Lin'er froze in place, clutching her sleeves tightly with her red fingertips, somewhat incredulous.
She is the Crown Princess! She is the woman in the harem who has the greatest hope of becoming the queen!
She put a lot of thought and planning into every step, and finally got this position.
Seeing that she would be able to enjoy all the glory from now on, with her means, she was fully confident that she could become Wei Zilin's only woman.
But he thought even looking at her was too much, and would rather stare at Shen Xingwan infatuatedly than give her a good look.
Her chest suddenly felt sore and painful, her fingers trembled slightly, her eyes became red, and she almost cried.
But after all, she is no longer the Tang Lin'er who was easily manipulated by others.
She took a deep breath, suppressed the humiliation in her heart, suppressed the tears in her eyes, bit her lip and bowed: "Yes, I'll take my leave."
However, the moment she stood up and turned around, all her grievances turned into resentment and hatred, and she looked up at Shen Xingwan.
It's her.
It’s all because of her!
If Shen Xingwan hadn't come to join in the fun, how could Wei Zilin ignore her like this and let her be humiliated in front of everyone?
She quietly tightened the fingers in her sleeves, gradually clenched them into fists, and pinched her palms with the tips of her nails. With surging hatred, she hurriedly retreated.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
