Chapter 35 The Birthday Banquet: Double robes gleam in the morning light, clear breezes scatter the autumn moon. ...
At the start of the morning, the boudoir of Princess Qingping was already bustling with activity, yet orderly.
Su Jinxiu embroidered a skirt back, a long skirt with wide sleeves, and a yu zai robe for the county princess. The robes were displayed on a clothes rack, their colors bright and their stitches fine.
Several nannies were gathered behind the screen, carefully dressing Cen Wanying, while Su Jinxiu also came to lend a hand.
On the dressing table, a crown, a hairpin, and a nine-phoenix crown each sit on a tray, all covered with a plain cloth. The jewelry box is open, filled with dazzling pearls and jade, waiting to be presented one by one on the special occasion.
The maids moved about quietly, and a faint fragrance filled the air, creating a serene and solemn atmosphere.
As the coming-of-age ceremony began, Su Jinxiu stood in a corner to watch, her gaze fixed on Cen Wanying, who was surrounded by the crowd. The young woman was dressed in a magnificent gown and wore a nine-phoenix crown, making her the center of attention and basking in the favor and glory.
Looking back at myself at the age of marriage, I should still be struggling to make ends meet.
These hands can embroider elaborate and beautiful garments for others, worth a fortune, but no matter how many fortunes they weave, they will not have the fortune to wear them themselves.
Su Jinxiu was still in a daze when she suddenly heard the rustling of clothes beside her, and a person was already standing leisurely beside her.
She turned her head and saw Ying Bumei.
The two had parted on bad terms earlier, and now that they had met again, Su Jinxiu felt a tightness in her chest. If she couldn't afford to offend them, she could at least avoid them.
Without a word, she turned to slip away, but he suddenly grabbed her wrist with such force that she was dragged back two steps and fell back to her original spot.
"Let go." Su Jinxiu was both angry and anxious, and raised her hand to pry his knuckles open.
Ying Bumei not only didn't loosen his grip, but instead pulled her wrist to his side, whispering in her ear, "There are only maids and servants from the manor behind you. Are you going to cause a scene at the county princess's coming-of-age ceremony?"
His question, which twisted the truth, stunned Su Jinxiu. She took a deep breath, suppressing the anger rising in her throat, and glared at him, her voice urgent and low: "Who's causing trouble? You were the one who stopped me first!"
At this moment, the King of Jing rose and bestowed a name upon his son, his voice booming: "My son, your given name is Chaoguang."
Then the one who held the crown solemnly addressed the assembly: "Gathering on this auspicious day, at the perfect time, we proclaim your name, so that your virtue may be appropriate, and that you may forever retain your goodness. Your name shall be Chaoguang."
Morning light.
Her eyebrows were like delicate ink, her skin like ice and snow. Her double robes shone with the morning light, her clear, bright hair scattering like the autumn moon.
Su Jinxiu momentarily forgot to struggle, only to sigh inwardly, "Reincarnation is indeed an art."
Ying Bumei lowered his eyes, taking in the undisguised envy and disappointment in her eyes. He leaned down slightly and whispered in her ear in a voice only the two of them could hear, "I have never undergone the coming-of-age ceremony either."
Upon hearing this, Su Jinxiu looked up at him in confusion.
What did he mean by that? Was he trying to gain her sympathy, or to prevent her from feeling disappointed and embarrassed? In any case, she didn't want to accept this sudden display of empathy. So, she coldly replied, "What's it to me?"
Some people are born into privilege, getting whatever they want, destined to enjoy all the world's honors and privileges. Others, however, are merely a thread in the tapestry of fate, spending their entire lives exhausting their own brilliance for the prosperity of others.
Suddenly, a servant hurried to Ying Bumei's side and whispered a few words in his ear. Ying Bumei's eyes darkened slightly, then he nodded and strode away.
Su Jinxiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that the surrounding air was much fresher.
After the three rites were completed, it was already past noon.
As the sun began to set, its golden rays bathed the palace's carved beams, painted rafters, and exotic flowers and plants in a warm glow.
Su Jinxiu wanted to return to Huayun Pavilion, but the Jing Prince's mansion was vast and the paths were winding and circuitous. Without anyone to guide her, she wandered around for a long time and lost her way.
Reaching a pavilion, she saw the doors and windows ajar and was about to ask for directions. Just as she approached the window, the King of Jing's calm voice came from inside: "Aheng, what do you intend to do about this?"
Su Jinxiu felt a chill run down her spine, realizing that she had inadvertently overheard someone's private conversation. If she were discovered, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Just as she was about to quietly retreat, Ying Bumei's slightly solemn voice came from inside the room: "That secret document is in Zhang Mingxu's hands, and I am currently under his control. However, there are many opportunities for him to take advantage of his trip to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of the autumn tax."
After a moment of contemplation, the Prince of Jing slowly said, "The Emperor has always been wary of you. Although that decree was left by the late Emperor to protect you, it has become a thorn in the Emperor's side. If you cannot retrieve the decree, you will have no choice but to accept whatever the Emperor decides to do to you, whether it be thunder or rain."
After a moment of silence, Ying Bumei's low laughter, filled with helplessness, rang out.
"There's nothing I can do; after all, I share the surname Cen."
Su Jinxiu held her breath, her heart trembling.
He also has the surname Cen?
Ah Heng, Cen Heng!
The name instantly reminded her of the Fifth Prince recorded in the miscellaneous records. The records said that the Fifth Prince, Cen Heng, was handsome and intelligent, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and was the most beloved son of the late emperor, whose favor even surpassed that of the current emperor.
But according to the notes, didn't he die of illness long ago?
Su Jinxiu had no intention of getting involved in such royal secrets and only wanted to leave as quickly as possible. She lifted her skirt, tiptoed, and warned herself not to reveal her secret at the crucial moment, like in the stories. She tiptoed away, step by step, afraid of bumping into something.
Just as they were about to pass the pavilion and descend the stairs, Nongzhu's voice suddenly came from behind: "Lady Jinxiu, so you're here! Our young lady invites you to her boudoir for a chat."
Su Jinxiu abruptly closed her eyes, sighing inwardly, "What I feared has come to pass."
She was then "invited" to the pavilion.
The Prince of Jing personally poured her a cup of tea, but Su Jinxiu froze on the spot, not daring to take it. If nothing unexpected happened, this cup of tea would likely bring something unexpected.
At this moment, the person she could trust most was Ying Bumei.
“Brother, there’s no need to go this far,” Ying Bumei said at the opportune moment.
The King of Jing said in a deep voice, "Aheng, haven't you suffered enough at the hands of those around you? Lady Jinxiu, blame your bad luck today. Don't worry, after you drink this cup of tea, if you have family, we will take good care of them."
"I...I'll keep my mouth shut!" Su Jinxiu's voice trembled with anxiety.
Ying Bumei paused for a moment, then stepped forward, took the cup of tea from the Prince of Jing, and slowly walked towards Su Jinxiu: "Indeed, your Huayun Pavilion has many nobles and dignitaries coming and going, their backgrounds are complex. What if one day..."
Su Jinxiu was so frightened that she backed away repeatedly, her voice trembling with tears: "I...I know! What I heard doesn't harm you! Who can I tell?...I don't know a single person here!"
Ying Bumei walked up to her and held the teacup closer. To the Prince of Jing, their overlapping figures and close proximity appeared extremely intimate. Just when Su Jinxiu thought she was doomed, she heard Ying Bumei whisper something in her ear, a sound only the two of them could hear.
Su Jinxiu was stunned for a moment, then made up her mind, grabbed Ying Bumei's arm, raised her tearful eyes to look at the Prince of Jing, and stammered, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I... Ah Heng and I have already pledged our lives to each other!"
King Jing: "..."
He recalled the incident with the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars scroll. He had originally intended to punish Su Jinxiu, but Aheng had rushed to protect her. He had never seen Aheng care so much about anyone before, so it seemed that the talk of their secret engagement might not be entirely false.
The King of Jing finally waved his hand and said, "Go out."
After being led out of the attic by Ying Bumei, Su Jinxiu took a deep breath of the cool air, clutched her chest, and was instantly overwhelmed with a sense of relief at surviving the ordeal.
Ying Bumei was still holding the cup of tea in his hand, and then, right in front of her, he slowly and deliberately took a sip.
"You stinking Taoist priest! You tricked me again! You played me for a fool!"
She was so angry that she jumped up and down, pointing her finger at his nose and cursing him, unleashing the most vicious words she could think of.
However, Ying Bumei simply leaned lazily against the pillar, sipping her tea, as if her angry scolding was not a rebuke, but rather a delicious accompaniment to the tea, her expression one of extraordinary contentment.
Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Su Jinxiu was so angry she felt like her lungs were about to explode, and she raised her foot to stomp on him.
Ying Bumei swayed and nimbly dodged, then wrapped his arm around her waist and fed her a sip of tea without saying a word.
"Pah!" Su Jinxiu spat out, about to lash out, when she heard him say slowly, "Still stepping on it? If you ruin your husband, who will be your betrothed?"
Su Jinxiu was so angry at his shameless behavior that she almost fainted.
Ying Bumei was startled when she saw her bending over to pat her back to calm herself down. She reached out to pinch her philtrum, saying, "Hey, hey, don't get angry. You'll hurt yourself."
Su Jinxiu, having nowhere to vent her anger, seized the opportunity to bite his finger hard, drawing blood from between her teeth. Just as she held on, the door creaked open, and the two of them froze in shock.
Prince Jing pushed open the door and immediately saw Ying Bumei embracing Su Jinxiu, with his finger still in her mouth. This scene further convinced Prince Jing that Su Jinxiu was now Ying Bumei's woman.
His expression softened slightly, but then became somewhat unnatural. He sighed inwardly at the young man's reckless behavior and said to Ying Bumei in a deep voice, "Aheng, you should be more mindful of your behavior when you're out in public."
Ying Bumei nodded repeatedly and explained in a serious tone, "Your Majesty, you may not know this, but she couldn't control herself when she saw me. Please take care, Your Majesty."
Upon hearing this, Su Jinxiu trembled with anger.
Being intimidated, mocked, and having one's reputation ruined—could there be anything worse than this?
When Ying Bumei saw that the person in his arms had red eyes, he realized that his joke had gone a bit too far and quickly let go. He groped in his sleeve, wanting to take out something he had prepared beforehand, but when he looked up, Su Jinxiu had already run far away, leaving him standing there, clutching the brocade box.
As soon as Su Jinxiu turned the corner, she bumped into Nongzhu.
"Oh dear, my wife, you've finally come out! Come with me to the county magistrate's courtyard."
She immediately noticed Su Jinxiu's unusual behavior and asked with concern, "What's wrong, my lady? Why are you crying?"
"It's alright, it's alright," Su Jinxiu quickly wiped her eyes, trying to appear calm, "The sand got in my eyes."
Nongzhu didn't ask any more questions and simply led the way. As soon as they entered, they heard Cen Wanying complain, "Granny, take it off quickly! My head is about to fall off, this phoenix crown is weighing me down..."
As soon as Su Jinxiu entered, she saw that Cen Wanting's nine-phoenix crown had been removed, and two red marks were clearly imprinted on her forehead, adding to her pitiful and charming appearance.
Before Su Jinxiu could speak, Cen Wanying had already stepped forward gracefully, lifting her skirt and gently grasping her wrist with her slender hand: "Sister Jinxiu, you've come at just the right time. The dress you embroidered is truly exquisite. I am so radiant today thanks to your skillful hands. From now on, all the clothes in my room will depend on your embroidery workshop."
Su Jinxiu readily agreed.
After laughing, Cen Wanying turned to tidy up her jewelry box. Suddenly remembering something, she picked up the unfolded letter from the table, folded it, and put it back in the box. The handwriting on the letter was dense, but even in a short while, Su Jinxiu could see it clearly.
The handwriting was strong yet elegant. It had reminded her to eat on time, reminded her to wear warm clothes and bring an umbrella, and frequently appeared in letters expressing her longing for her.
She might misread all the words in the world, but she would never misread this piece of paper.
That was Wen Shiqin's courtesy name.
Su Jinxiu was momentarily lost in thought, a thousand thoughts rushing through her mind.
For someone as adept at flattery and sycophancy as him, writing two copies by hand, each with its own sentiment, should not have been difficult.
Does one have to specifically instruct each time a letter is sent: "This one is to be sent to Huayun Pavilion for the embroiderer; that one is to be sent to the Prince of Jing's residence for the esteemed county princess?"
It must have been really tough on him.
He was so dashing and unrestrained, and he knew exactly how to please people... Perhaps there were many more reasons why he needed to be reminded of these things one by one?
In the midst of her confusion, she realized she shouldn't think that way. They were of one mind, and after spending so much time together, she knew perfectly well how he treated her, despite his fickle nature towards others.
She didn't want to believe he was that kind of person.
So she stepped forward and stopped Cen Wanying's hand as she was about to close the jewelry box.
Cen Wanying looked up, her eyes filled with confusion.
Su Jinxiu spoke with difficulty: "...Princess, the handwriting on that letter..."
Upon hearing this, Cen Wanting blushed slightly, then lowered her head and smiled shyly, "It's my beloved's handwriting... Isn't it beautiful?"
Su Jinxiu's breathing became heavier, as if she would drown in this sudden suffocation if she didn't inhale more air.
"Beautiful. Beautiful."
Author's Note: OMG, the kiss scene in the next chapter is locked... I'm trying my best to fix it...
Let's enjoy it while it lasts... I didn't write much anyway... [helpless][helpless]
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