Chapter 21 "The one who married out of the palace that day was..."
Chapter Twenty-One: Birthday Banquet ==
The Crown Prince arrived with his Crown Princess Lin Ruohan, and everyone hurriedly greeted them, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince and Your Highness the Crown Princess."
"No need for formalities." Xiao Ruofei raised his hand, his gaze landing precisely on Xiao Yu and his wife. He smiled and beckoned the eunuch behind him to step forward, "Third brother, look what gift I've brought you."
The gifts sent by the Crown Prince every year were extremely valuable. Everyone knew how valuable they were without even having to guess. Then, in front of everyone, the Crown Prince's eunuch opened the lacquer box, which contained a bound scroll.
Calligraphy and paintings are common birthday gifts, but the fact that His Highness the Crown Prince announced to Prince Cheng in such a grand manner that he had given him such a big gift made everyone feel that this calligraphy and painting was not ordinary.
Xiao Ruofei glanced around and was very satisfied with everyone's performance. He raised his hand, and the eunuch unfolded the scroll as ordered. It was a painting of a vast landscape. The brushwork was exquisite and the colors were very distinctive. It was clearly the work of a master. If it were just that, it would be fine. But the painting had an imperial seal stamped in the lower right corner.
This painting was created by an emperor.
The main courtyard was deathly silent; no one could have imagined that the Crown Prince would present this to Prince Cheng as a congratulatory gift.
The Crown Prince has always been a courteous and humble gentleman in public. Why would he suddenly challenge the Prince on his birthday? The old lady of the Marquis of Yiyong's mansion also looked rather displeased. There are countless birthday gifts, and countless paintings and calligraphy works by famous artists. His Highness the Crown Prince just happened to bring out this painting. Whether it was to show off or to test him, the situation was not going to end well.
Xiao Yu, the person involved, remained composed and his expression remained unchanged. However, Su Wanyue felt a chill in her heart. No matter what the Crown Prince's intentions were in presenting this painting today, they could not accept it. Otherwise, wouldn't it be considered disloyal?
Su Wanyue subconsciously glanced at the Crown Princess beside the Crown Prince. The Crown Princess was still dressed in a long, flowing red peony gown, with a beautiful flower ornament on her forehead, exuding charm and beauty. When she met Su Wanyue's gaze, her eyes darted away for a moment. It was at this moment that Su Wanyue gracefully curtsied to the Crown Prince and softly asked, "May I ask Your Highness, who is the master who created this 'Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains' painting?"
Xiao Ruofei's slightly scrutinizing gaze fell on Su Wanyue. "This painting was a gift from my father to me. As for which master it was created, I have no idea. Why, is Princess Consort interested in this painting?"
Su Wanyue's eyes were bright and her face showed a gentle and beautiful smile. "I think this painting is very precious. Your Highness should keep it safe. If you accidentally lose it, it may cause unnecessary trouble."
"You..." This was the first time Xiao Ruofei had been insulted so indirectly, and his face immediately turned ugly.
If it were Xiao Yu speaking to him in this tone today, Xiao Ruofei would definitely retaliate. But the person speaking to him today is just a woman. If the Crown Prince continues to be so persistent, it would be unreasonable, not to mention that the Crown Prince wants to win over the woman in front of him to the Eastern Palace camp. So he cannot get angry or lose his temper at this moment, otherwise everything will be ruined.
Just as the rumors say, the two were a loving couple, deeply devoted to each other. Before he even did anything, she eagerly came to protect her husband, Xiao Yu.
The Crown Prince stared intently at Su Wanyue. Xiao Yu subtly shielded Su Wanyue behind him, his deep, cold gaze meeting Xiao Ruofei's directly. "Since this calligraphy and painting is a gift from Father, Second Brother must keep it safe. If you accidentally lose it, no one else can bear the responsibility."
The couple's back-and-forth banter left the Crown Prince in a dilemma: whether to give him the painting or not. Xiao Ruofei had even forgotten his original purpose in presenting the painting. When the commotion subsided, the Crown Princess coughed, covering her mouth.
"My third brother and sister-in-law reminded me that since it was a gift from Father, I should keep it carefully."
The Crown Prince's smiling tone seemed to be telling everyone that some things are not for others to covet.
The scene became even stranger. Lin Ruohan stepped forward at just the right moment, smiling sweetly and gracefully, "Didn't Your Highness prepare a generous gift?"
Xiao Ruofei gave Lin Ruohan an approving look. The original calligraphy and paintings were put away. The Crown Prince pointed to the Flowing Cloud Sword in the eunuch's hand, "This Flowing Cloud Sword is a tribute from the Southern Frontier. Its blade is sharp and its shadow is like clouds when it is used in battle, hence the name 'Flowing Cloud Sword'. I think that my third brother is both scholarly and martial, and this gift is just right. I hope my third brother will like this gift."
"Thank you, Second Brother." Xiao Yu's expression was indifferent. He gave Qingyi a look, and Qingyi obediently accepted the Flowing Cloud Sword.
At this point, the situation wasn't so bad anymore, and the atmosphere eased a little.
"Your Highness, please come in. Your Highness, please come in."
At today's banquet, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, being of the highest status, were seated at the head of the table. In front of everyone, the Crown Prince was very considerate to Crown Princess Lin Ruohan, holding her hand as they sat down. Xiao Ruofei looked around and found the scenery pleasant, with the wind chimes overhead jingling melodiously. He couldn't help but comment, "This year's banquet is quite unique."
Lin Ruohan: "Your Majesty, I also feel that this place is like a paradise, very unique. Only a young lady could have such thoughts."
Xiao Ruofei smiled, picked up the wine cup, and said, "I toast to my third brother and his wife."
Xiao Yu and Su Wanyue raised their wine cups at the same time and clinked them together with the Crown Prince's wine cups from a distance. Seeing this, the other court officials first toasted the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, and then toasted the Prince and Princess Cheng.
Seeing this, Xiao Ruofei was overjoyed. He finally had a chance to thoroughly outmaneuver Xiao Yu. In his good mood, he inevitably drank a little too much, and Lin Ruohan hurriedly advised him to stop.
Not long after the banquet began, the butler quietly approached Xiao Yu and Su Wanyue and said, "Your Highness, Your Highness, Lord Zhou has arrived."
This Lord Zhou is none other than Zhou Heng, the envoy who led troops to garrison Beili, and also the former Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review in Nanqiong. When the Prince of Xiang left the capital, he took two deputy envoys with him, while the chief envoy naturally stayed in Beili to protect Princess Weiyang. Hearing that today is the birthday of the Prince of Cheng, he came here to offer his congratulations.
Xiao Yu's eyebrows were like ink paintings, and a faint smile played on his lips. "Please invite Lord Zhou in."
The moment the man finished speaking, Su Wanyue straightened her back, and a hint of tension flashed across her eyes.
The next moment, Zhou Heng, who had just turned twenty, entered from outside and calmly gave a bow.
"No need for formalities." Xiao Ruofei was extremely polite to the people from Nanqiong. "Lord Zhou, please have a seat."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Zhou Heng raised his androgynous face, his gaze quickly sweeping over the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, then from Prince Cheng to the woman beside him. With just one glance, Zhou Heng's heart skipped a beat, and he almost thought he was hallucinating.
He suddenly remembered a Lantern Festival a few years ago.
That year, on the night of the Lantern Festival, Zhou Heng, who had just arrived in the capital to report on his duties, accompanied the Crown Prince to drink tea and chat on a painted boat. Standing by the window, the Crown Prince had a handsome face and an otherworldly air, like a piece of jade that had been carved for a hundred years. Zhou Heng, on the other hand, had a feminine appearance, with red lips and white teeth. He was wearing a long red robe with cloud patterns, making him look like a demon. Most of the people who came out to play on the Lantern Festival were young ladies from their boudoirs, and quite a few bold girls were already throwing flirtatious glances at them.
The Crown Prince kept his eyes lowered, as if deep in thought, like a banished immortal, while Zhou Heng gazed idly at the silvery moonlight on the horizon, until the Crown Prince's attendant exclaimed in surprise, "Eh, Your Highness, isn't that the Princess?"
Zhou Heng followed the Crown Prince and looked up. He saw a graceful and gentle-looking girl standing where the boat was docked. She was wearing a pink fox fur cloak and holding a carp lantern. She was talking to the little maid beside her. When she looked up, her smile was as bright as the moonlight.
"Why did this girl run out all by herself?" the Crown Prince scolded in a low voice, but his tone was gentle.
Zhou Heng guessed who the girl was from his tone: the only daughter of the Prince of Nan, the current Princess Zilu.
The Crown Prince sent a guard to invite the girl over. Following the direction the guard pointed, the girl looked over in surprise. Her almond-shaped eyes were as lively as a rabbit's, and her skin was as white as snow, like a blooming peony.
Soon, the painted boat docked, and the girl came aboard carrying a carp lantern. She took small, quick steps and approached the prince, saying, "Brother Prince."
"Why did you come out alone? You didn't even bring more guards." The Crown Prince had a refined smile on his face and an elegant demeanor. He introduced her, "This is Zhou Heng, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review."
The young girl greeted Zhou Heng in a light and melodious voice, "Greetings, Lord Zhou."
Zhou Heng lowered his brows slightly, held his folding fan, and bowed to the girl, saying, "I greet Princess Zilu."
The girl wasn't familiar with Zhou Heng, only speaking to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince, being good-natured, would occasionally respond with a few words. Then, a black figure slipped into the painted boat. He first bowed to the Crown Prince, then whispered something to the girl. The girl smiled and asked cheerfully, "Second Brother is here?"
Immediately afterwards, the girl bid farewell to the prince. The prince gently tapped the girl's forehead with his bamboo fan, telling her to be careful at night and not to wander off.
The young girl smiled faintly and, like a butterfly, left with her personal maid.
Zhou Heng had not been in the capital for long and was not very clear about the situation in Nanqiong. He only knew that the Princess Consort of Nan had died early and that the Prince of Nan had only one daughter. Could the "second brother" mentioned by the girl be... the Prince of Xiang?
Before Zhou Heng could figure it out, the Crown Prince turned to look at him, his tone meaningful, "Wanwan and Lu Er are childhood sweethearts. If nothing unexpected happens, the two families will be united in marriage in the future."
Lu Er, Lu Qingchen, the second son of Prime Minister Lu.
The girl in his memory overlapped with the bright and gentle woman before him. Zhou Heng clenched his fists and fell silent.
The woman who was married off from the palace that day...
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