Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Prince Pei, did you come here for someone else?
Pei Huaiguang's hands were itching, and he habitually reached for the quiver at his waist, but he only felt a cold black iron belt.
"What are you doing!" The deputy envoy of Youwei Guard, who was leading the team, noticed his little action. He didn't know where this young man came from. The person from above only said that he was hired by grace, but was vague about his family background and was unwilling to explain it clearly. The deputy envoy saw that Pei Huaiguang was taciturn and the occasional words he spoke did not sound like a Jinling accent, so he knew that he was a country bumpkin and didn't know where he got the opportunity to join Youwei Guard.
After being interrupted by him, when Pei Huaiguang looked again, she was no longer among the pavilions on the mountain.
Seeing that Pei Huaiguang didn't reply, the deputy envoy raised his head and looked up at the mountain. He snorted, "Don't be a toad dreaming of eating swan meat! Who are those people up there? They are all the princess's guests. They are all rich or noble. How can a poor boy like you dream of them? Today, the Queen Mother has ordered us to guard Biyou Manor. If anyone messes up this job, I will definitely teach him a lesson! Do you understand?"
Everyone responded in unison.
Pei Huaiguang said nothing, but withdrew his gaze and glanced coldly at the deputy envoy.
Deputy Envoy: ...If you don't know, you'd think that guy is the deputy envoy! Look at his impressive demeanor!
After they left, Cuiping came around from the pillar and said, "My lady, they're gone."
But she didn't understand: "Why should we run?"
She still has the nerve to say that.
Wu Jingxun gave her a slight glare and whispered, "Don't be so abrupt in the future. It's not good to offend others."
Was a few glances an offense? He was a tall and strong man, so how could he be frightened by her glances?
Cui Ping muttered, "Isn't it that I have seen it? Oh, my lady, please don't say it, my heart is still pounding with fear."
That person's eyes were indeed sharp.
Wu Jingxun couldn't say that his heart was a little tense now, so he just lowered his eyes and said, "Okay, let's go in. If Shunhua can't find us later, she will be worried."
Cuiping responded and took Wu Jingxun's hand and walked into the flower hall.
The flower hall built on the hill is also different from the usual house style in Jinling City. From the outside, there is a winding corridor surrounded by water and winding around the mountain. After passing through the triple-layered hanging flower gate, a clear spring is drawn in from somewhere. Crystal lamps are gurgling inside, and koi are playing in it. Crossing the small wooden bridge above, you can see the curtains woven with moon-shaped gauze swaying in the wind, revealing the soft jokes of the noble ladies and guests like a moon harp.
Wu Jingxun didn't want to attract attention, so after entering, he found a slightly quieter place to sit down.
Xue Tingwan is waiting for her!
She nodded slightly to the maid beside her. The maid in white and green lowered her head in understanding, but then she heard Xue Tingwan say angrily, "You, go and pour all the tea on that tray over that girl in primrose-colored clothes! After you do it, I'll give you three taels of gold!"
Three taels of gold was a lot for a maid who could only do servant work.
So Xue Tingwan was a little surprised when he saw the maid shaking her head in refusal: "It's just a 'mistake'. With her hypocritical nature, she definitely won't embarrass you in person."
The maid just smiled and reminded her: "Dear guest, this is Biyou Manor."
They are the people of Princess Changyi, so how could they be so narrow-minded as to get involved in other people's grievances for a few gold and silver?
Seeing Xue Tingwan's face flushed and turned pale, the maid smiled and held the tray over her head: "If the distinguished guest has no other instructions, I will withdraw first."
Xue Tingwan resisted the urge to stretch out his leg and trip her.
If she really did that, Wu Er would probably take the opportunity to say that she had a leg disease!
Xue Tingwan looked at Wu Jingxun in the corner with hatred. Just wait and see. She didn't believe that there would be no chance to teach her a lesson today!
Perhaps Xue Tingwan's telekinesis worked, and soon the maids invited all the distinguished guests to Huayang Terrace where the banquet was to be held today.
The host of this banquet, Princess Changyi, after chatting and laughing with the others as usual, looked lazily in one direction and said, "I heard that there's a guest here today. She's the one that even my grandmother praised for her chastity, gentleness, and kindness, a rare person in this world."
The crowd that was originally talking and laughing suddenly fell silent.
Princess Changyi's appearance did not resemble the obese Prince Rong, but more like the Princess Rong who died young. Because of this, Prince Rong doted on her very much, which also fostered her arrogant and domineering character.
She raised her chin and said, "Come forward and let me take a look."
Why do you want to see that wooden Buddha for no reason?
Wu Shunhua felt a little panicked. She pulled Wu Jingxun's sleeve and wanted to stand up with her, but then she heard someone sitting next to her whisper, "I've heard that Princess Changyi is interested in the son of the Marquis of Pingning as her husband. What a pity, the son of the Marquis of Pingning has already been engaged to the one from the Wu family. Well, from what I see today, they can be considered a perfect match. What a pity..."
Wu Shunhua almost jumped up when he heard this.
What a pity! She also despised the Prince of Pingning who went out to fight every other day, and she might end up being a widow like a wooden Buddha.
Her hand that was pressing on the lilac sleeve was gently pushed away.
Wu Shunhua looked over in a daze. She had originally thought that the wooden Buddha would be panicked and have tears in his eyes, but now his expression was very calm, and he even had the mind to smile at her gently.
"Your humble servant greets the princess. May the princess be well and safe."
It was a beautiful spring day, and as soon as she appeared, it seemed as if all the spiritual energy was gathered in herself.
Princess Changyi narrowed her eyes slightly and looked at the slender mauve figure.
She can indeed be described as 'of good appearance'.
"I've seen so many vulgar things, but seeing the eldest lady of the Wu family for the first time makes me feel a little brightened." Princess Changyi spoke calmly. This was nothing, but the compliments spoken in such a plain tone sounded strange no matter how you listened to them.
"Grandmother, you are old and have a broader vision. Unlike me, I can only see the beautiful appearance of the Wu family's eldest lady, but it is difficult to glimpse her inner beauty." Princess Changyi smiled and said, "I wonder if the Wu family's eldest lady could show you your strengths?"
Wu Shunhua clenched his fists in impatience.
Everyone's eyes with complicated meanings fell on Wu Jingxun, who was still half-bowed.
Princess Changyi had not called her yet, so she naturally did not dare to get up without permission.
The princess is a noble, yet she is making things difficult for a mere servant girl - but who would directly say that this is a demeaning thing?
Everyone was muttering to themselves, when Xue Tingwan suddenly burst into laughter.
Okay, okay, please be louder!
"My lady, I am ashamed of the praise the Empress Dowager gave me earlier. I have only learned a few books of poetry and literature. I only caught the Empress Dowager's eye by chance, and that is how I gained some false reputation." Wu Jingxun bowed her head meekly, her back straighter than the bamboos under the Shanse Pavilion. "My lady, the Princess, was personally raised by the Empress Dowager. Her talents, learning, and virtues are all her true inheritance. Whatever I display before her is but a sword-fighting display before Guan Gong."
This was a well-spoken statement, but Princess Changyi was unwilling to let it go easily. "Oh? The Wu family's eldest lady rarely goes out. I don't know if you are just good at talking, or if you have some real talent. Everyone is watching, the Wu family's eldest lady, don't be reserved, just perform."
As soon as the words "perform" came out, everyone who was originally confused sighed.
Well, it really is because of the trouble-making Prince Pingning!
If she had asked Wu Jingxun to demonstrate her talent earlier, it could have been because Princess Changyi was curious about her title, which had been praised by the Empress Dowager. However, the word "showing her talent" clearly carried a hint of contempt.
Are they treating the wooden Buddha as their own musical instrument and dancer?
Wu Shunhua clenched his fists tightly, but Cuiping behind him silently pulled them back.
We can’t let the second lady run out like a monkey and cause trouble for me!
Faced with the Changyi Princess's almost undisguised malice, Wu Jingxun's expression remained unwavering. She simply said, "The Queen Mother and the Princess share the same natural nobility. I am truly fortunate to have earned a few words of praise from the Queen Mother. The Princess is a rising star, and I imagine her tastes and tastes are similar to those of the Queen Mother. Why should I further embarrass myself in front of the Princess and ruin everyone's enjoyment of the banquet?"
Her voice was melodious and sweet, like pearls falling on a jade plate, but it sounded quite harsh to Princess Changyi.
The current Empress Dowager was the Imperial Concubine of the previous dynasty and had no children. The Emperor was once the son of a maid in the laundry department. It was because he was raised by the Imperial Concubine that he had the opportunity to ascend the throne.
Prince Rong is not the Queen Mother's biological son, but the eldest lady of the Wu family insists that she and the Queen Mother are of the same blood and should have the same vision. By saying this, isn't she secretly stabbing Princess Changyi in the heart?
Some people who are familiar with Princess Changyi are already silently waiting for her to get angry.
But after a while, the lazy voice of Princess Changyi could be heard: "Yes, the Empress Dowager once tested you. Today is a beautiful spring day, so we shouldn't waste another moment."
"Look at me, I was so lost in the beauty of the spring in the garden that I forgot to wake you up." Princess Changyi's voice finally had a hint of laughter in it. "In Biyou Manor, the spring mountains are smiling, the flowers are shining, the willows are shimmering. Madam Wu, please return to your seat and enjoy it with everyone."
After bowing for so long, it was inevitable that her body would feel stiff and sore, but Wu Jingxun had been used to being punished by Madam Tong since she was a child, so she didn't think it was a big deal. When she met Wu Shunhua's worried and unhappy eyes, she still had the mind to smile: "The spring scenery here is really beautiful, isn't it?"
How could she care about the beauty of spring!
Wu Shunhua sat aside with a sullen look, while Wu Jingxun lowered her eyes. Everyone's eyes fell on her for a while, and seeing that she was silent again, not as eloquent as before, they couldn't help but feel bored and turned their eyes away to talk about other things.
But the guests at this banquet today have bad intentions.
"The fifteenth of next month is the annual Flower Goddess Festival in our Jin Dynasty. The Empress has entrusted this matter to me. This is my first time undertaking such a major event, and I'm nervous. Is there anyone here who can share my worries?"
Princess Changyi stood up, and the blue phoenix pattern embroidered with golden threads on her body slowly unfolded with her movements. Under the scorching skylight, it looked more and more magnificent, as if it was about to spread its wings and fly.
She glanced around and said with a smile, "Everyone here today is one of the best ladies in Jinling City. I don't think it will be difficult to form twelve flower goddesses for me."
In previous years, there would be twelve flower gods at the Flower God Festival, each holding a flower of the twelve months, riding on sedan chairs and receiving cheers and congratulations from the people of Jinling.
In the past, the people who played the Twelve Flower Gods were all chosen from noble ladies of aristocratic families, but the ceremonies were always hosted by the Queen. Why was this task given to Princess Changyi this year?
Could it be true, as the rumors say, that His Majesty's health is deteriorating and he intends to formally appoint Prince Rong as the Crown Prince?
Seeing Princess Changyi like this, I knew that she also wanted to get this matter done.
Everyone's minds were cunning and changeable. After a brief thought, they made up their minds and said with laughter, "If the princess doesn't mind, just give us orders."
Princess Changyi was very satisfied. She glanced at Wu Jingxun, who was sitting in the corner. "Others are fine, but today I met a fairy-like figure like the eldest lady of the Wu family. Asking her to play the role of the Twelve Flower Goddesses is perfect. What do you think?"
It would be fine if they were just other things...how did they become other things?
Everyone felt a little uncomfortable, but still kept smiling.
Wu Jingxun closed her eyes, and she knew that it would not be so easy to calm down today.
Pretend to be the flower god and pray for blessings...
Wu Jingxun had never done this before, and had never even been to the streets to watch the excitement of the Flower Goddess Festival.
Princess Changyi had spoken, and she had no choice but to agree.
The young men here were chatting and laughing, and the eunuchs guarding outside Biyou Manor saw a gorgeous chestnut horse from afar.
Those with sharp eyes have already recognized the tall figure in the red and purple official uniform.
"Then, isn't that the Prince of Pingning? Why is he here?"
Could it be that he was grateful for their princess's infatuation and came to visit her on his own initiative?
The author has something to say:
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Today's Diary Theatre——
Wu Banban: I feel like I've talked a bit too much this time. Let's make some white jade loquat paste tomorrow.
Pei Da: Erlang is on duty for the first time, I have to act like an older brother, buy some food and take him home together.
Pei Er: It seems that I am on duty now, and it is not so boring anymore.
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