Chapter 12 Flower Festival 1

"Master, His Highness has sent a set of folk clothing. I will help you dress up now."

Miaoxia stood respectfully aside, directing the palace maids to carefully bring in the dress.

Su Jingyao nodded slightly, stood up gracefully, and then slowly walked to the dressing table and sat down.

Miaoxue stood behind Su Jingyao, fiddling with her hair deftly, and said, "Master, His Highness said that he would take you and the Crown Princess to Zuixiaolou for dinner tonight. After dinner, we will go for a stroll in Fanhua."

"Although this street is very busy, the young master would take you out every year, but this street is decorated very creatively every year, so it is still worth a visit."

Su Jingyao stared at herself in the mirror quietly, with a calm expression in her flawless and pure eyes.

She opened her lips slightly and spoke in a calm tone.

"During the Flower Festival every year, the street in the prosperous area is indeed the busiest and most beautifully decorated, with hundreds of flowers on both sides of the street. But after so many years, I am tired of it. Instead, the small things on Linlang Street attract me more."

Miaoxia sighed softly, feeling a little regretful.

"Yes, Linlang Street has all kinds of snacks and jewelry, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has to accompany the Crown Princess to visit the prosperous area, so I'm afraid the master won't have the opportunity to go to Linlang Street."

"The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess are out for fun, why should I go with them?"

Su Jingyao was selecting jewellery nonchalantly. Her slender and fair fingers moved lightly among the jewellery, as if she was playing a silent piece of music.

Then he ordered: "After leaving the palace, let Li Jing wait for me at Mo Feng Tower on Linlang Street. I will go to see him in the evening."

Miaoxue looked worried, "Master, what if the prince finds out?"

Su Jingyao smiled slightly, with a hint of disdain in her smile.

"The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess are having fun in the bustling city, so they don't have time to care about me. Don't worry."

Su Jingyao doesn't have the habit of being a third wheel between two lovers, nor does she like to watch others being affectionate.

Didn’t Jun Zechen say that she wouldn’t affect him and Ling Yue?

It's better this way.

After about a quarter of an hour, Su Jingyao changed her dress.

She was wearing a mint green dress, the color of which was like the tender buds that sprouted in early spring, fresh and full of vitality. Her figure was as light as a swallow, and every movement she made was charming and lively, which made people's eyes light up.

She is like a fairy walking out of a painting, beautiful, charming, fresh and pleasant.

Afterwards, Su Jingyao walked gracefully to the main gate of the East Palace.

At this time, Ling Yue had already dressed up and was standing there.

It’s just that Jun Zechen hasn’t come back yet, but according to the time calculation, he should be back soon.

Su Jingyao walked forward, bowed slightly and saluted.

"I pay my respects to my sister."

A gentle and pure smile bloomed on her face, like the warm sunshine in spring, which made people feel extremely warm.

Su Jingyao's eyes were also full of affection for Ling Yue, as if Ling Yue was the closest person to her in the East Palace.

"Sister, get up." Ling Yue's voice was soft and kind.

Ling Yue has complicated feelings towards Su Jingyao. She knows that Su Jingyao is kind and sensible, and a very good woman. Since Su Jingyao entered the East Palace, she has never taken the initiative to seduce Jun Zechen, and even because of her, she is actively avoiding Jun Zechen.

Su Jingyao also often came to her Qiluan Palace. When Jun Zechen was not around, the two of them got along like close friends.

Su Jingyao treated her as her sister and was willing to tell her everything. Even when the empress drugged her, Su Jingyao sent someone to call her over, wanting her to take Jun Zechen away.

Ling Yue sometimes felt guilty in front of Su Jingyao, because in the process of getting along with Su Jingyao, she never really loved Su Jingyao.

She has always been on guard against Su Jingyao, fearing that Jun Zechen would fall in love with her.

Obviously, it was Su Jingyao who intruded into her and Jun Zechen's relationship, but Su Jingyao was too frank between them, which made Ling Yue feel that she was not broad-minded enough.

After Su Jingyao stood up, she slowly walked to Ling Yue, leaned over intimately, and said coquettishly: "Sister, after I leave the palace today, I will definitely not disturb your sweet time with His Highness."

Her voice rang in Ling Yue's ears, it was so soft that only Ling Yue could hear it clearly.

"When I sneak away, sister, can you help me cover for me?"

After all, she blinked at Ling Yue, looking playful and cute, making people want to love her.

Ling Yue couldn't help feeling happy when he heard her say that.

She was a little unhappy that Jun Zechen brought Su Jingyao along, but Su Jingyao was also a little girl, and on a day like the Flower Festival, how could he leave her alone in the East Palace?

So when Jun Zechen brought it up, Ling Yue didn't object.

She suppressed her joy and said in a worried tone, "Sister, it's dangerous outside the palace. You'd better stay with me and His Highness and don't run around randomly."

"Sister, the capital is under the rule of the emperor, nothing will happen. Besides, I will bring Miaoyun and Miaoxue with me. They both know some kung fu, so nothing will happen." Su Jingyao said nonchalantly.

After that, Su Jingyao held Ling Yue's hand affectionately and continued to tease, "Sister, don't you want to spend some time alone with His Highness?"

There was a hint of shyness in Ling Yue's eyes. Of course she was thinking about it.

Afterwards, with Su Jingyao's constant coquettish words, Ling Yue finally nodded in agreement.

After Su Jingyao succeeded, her smile gradually faded. She straightened her body, lowered her head slightly, and waited quietly for Jun Zechen's arrival.

After a while, Jun Zechen arrived leisurely.

His eyes turned and he immediately saw the woman in a mint green dress standing at the door.

Su Jingyao's delicate face is like a finely crafted work of art, which makes people unable to help but take a few more glances.

With a graceful figure, light and graceful, no matter where she stands, she seems to be the focus of everyone's attention, attracting everyone's gaze.

The dress that Su Jingyao is wearing was specially made by him using Yunjin fabric selected from his private library.

The first time, Jun Zechen just asked An Shun to send an ordinary folk dress over.

An Shun reported that when the clothes were delivered, it was Miaoyun who was beside her who took them over. When Miaoyun touched the texture of the clothes, she frowned slightly and said that Su Jingyao's skin was too delicate and she couldn't wear such rough clothes.

In fact, the clothes that Anshun sent were not rough in texture. They were ordinary clothes that young ladies in Beijing would buy and wear.

However, Su Jingyao always wore dresses made of brocade, so Miaoyun cleverly declined on her master's behalf.

When An Shun went to report to the prince, he found it a little hard to accept.

After much hesitation, he finally gritted his teeth and told the whole story, which was roughly that the dress sent was of poor quality and Concubine Su could not wear it.

Jun Zechen naturally also experienced the petite and soft body of a young woman.

At that time, he frowned slightly and fell into deep thought. I wonder if the little woman would think that he, a prince, was stingy and the dress he sent was not as good as her lady's dress.

After spending some time together, he had a deeper understanding of the luxurious life of the daughter of the Su family.

So later, Jun Zechen specially asked someone to use the Yunjin in his private storehouse to make a folk-style dress, which is the one Su Jingyao is wearing today.

When Ling Yue saw Jun Zechen coming, she hurriedly stepped forward with a smile. She bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Your Highness, I am your concubine."

Her voice was clear and pleasant, ringing in Jun Zechen's ears, and his thoughts were slightly withdrawn.

When Ling Yue is outside, she will be more polite in addressing Jun Zechen.

Today, Ling Yue is wearing a red skirt. The bright color makes her look more energetic.

Every time she was taken out of the palace, she preferred to wear these eye-catching colors.

Su Jingyao followed behind Ling Yue. She also walked forward slowly, bowed slightly, and performed a shallow salute.

"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."

"Get up."

Jun Zechen took Ling Yue and Su Jingyao onto the carriage at a leisurely pace. He sat calmly in the middle, with an upright posture, exuding a majestic aura.

Ling Yue and Su Jingyao sat on either side of him.

Su Jingyao sat quietly aside, her eyes clear and peaceful, quiet and without excessive movements.

Ling Yue seemed particularly lively. Her words poured out like a string of cannonballs, with a smile on her face and her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"Aze, I heard there will be many wonderful performances during today's event, including float parades, flower fairs, red viewing, etc. It's really exciting!"

After that, she turned to look at Su Jingyao and asked with a smile: "Sister stays in the capital all year round, do you participate in the Flower Festival every year?"

Su Jingyao smiled and said, "Yes, every year during the Flower Festival, my brother would take me out for fun."

"I grew up in the outskirts of the Great Wall. I missed the Flower Festival the first year I came back. Last year was the first time I attended it. It was the first time I felt such a lively festival in the capital."

As Ling Yue spoke, she shook her body unconsciously, and the hairpin on her head swayed slightly as she shook.

After Su Jingyao heard this, a hint of longing flashed in her eyes.

"I have seen the prosperity of the capital, but I have never seen the frontiers that my sister talked about. I have only seen the scenery of the frontiers in books, 'the sky and the earth are so lonely, and the horse is riding in the west wind'. I often sigh at the tragic heroism of the heroes in the frontiers, because it is their protection that makes the capital prosperous."

Ling Yue has loved swordplay since she was young, and has not had much exposure to poetry, so she was not clear about the specific meaning of the poem that Su Jingyao mentioned.

Although she lived outside the Great Wall, as a woman and her father was a general guarding the frontier, she herself had never actually been on the battlefield.

To her, the frontier was a place where she could ride freely without being bound by complicated rules and regulations. It was exactly what her heart desired.

But for the soldiers at the border, the area beyond the Great Wall is a place they have to bear and defend.

Ling Yue said casually: "I will tell you in detail about the scenery outside the Great Wall later. How can the book describe such magnificent scenery?"

Su Jingyao smiled happily, "Yes, reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. I really envy you for your broad knowledge."

"Hahaha, I will prepare some fine wine from outside the Great Wall for my sister to drink."

"Thank you, sister."

Jun Zechen listened to their conversation quietly and was very pleased that they got along so well. They were both kind-hearted and pure.

He didn't want the two of them to be on opposite sides, and it was best for them to live in harmony like they are now.

It was only from the conversation between the two that Jun Zechen realized how one-sided his previous understanding was.

He once thought that the noble ladies who lived a life of luxury in the capital would never know the sadness and desolation of the border.

But now it seems that even Ling Yue, who grew up outside the Great Wall, cannot really empathize with the hardships faced by the warriors.

If possible, no one would yearn for the frontier. What the soldiers desire most is always the warmth of home, the familiar land and the embrace of their loved ones.

Jun Zechen realized these things only after he actually went to the battlefield.

Jun Zechen's gaze fell on Su Jingyao, with complex emotions intertwined in his eyes.

He had to admit that the Su family's teaching of Su Jingyao was extremely successful.

She is like a blooming flower, beautiful and elegant. Her every move reveals the demeanor of a lady from a noble family, and her manners are impeccable.

She has an open mind and can tolerate everything, allowing her to be happy in any environment. Even when she came to the East Palace and was suppressed and rejected by him, she was still strong.

Her carefreeness is not just a superficial ease, but comes from her rich and substantial spiritual world.

Although Su Jingyao's daily life is luxurious, she can empathize with the suffering of the lower-class people. Her kindness and compassion can be seen from the fact that she has been donating money to the people since she was a child.

Jun Zechen knew all this because he sent people to check on Su Jingyao ever since he knew he wanted to marry her.

As soon as the carriage drove out of the palace gate, Ling Yue couldn't wait to reach out and open the curtain.

Then she leaned her head out of the car, closed her eyes, took a deep breath of the outside air, an expression of enjoyment on her face, and felt the hard-earned breath of freedom to her heart's content.

And Su Jingyao always sat there upright, with an elegant posture and a straight back.

Her expression was as calm as water, her eyes were clear and indifferent, and she seemed to care nothing about the scenery outside, nor did she show the slightest interest.

She just sat there quietly, like a fine statue.

For Su Jingyao, the life outside the palace really had no appeal to her. She had been to almost every corner of the capital with her brother since she was a child. On the contrary, life in the palace was much more exciting to her.

Jun Zechen was also used to Ling Yue's erratic behavior after leaving the palace. He looked at her with gentle eyes and shook his head gently.

As time passed, the carriage soon stopped in front of Zuixiaolou.

The shopkeeper of Zuixiaolou had been waiting at the door for a long time, looking into the distance from time to time, appearing a little anxious.

When he saw Jun Zechen leading two beautiful women out of the carriage, his eyes suddenly widened and he stared at them intently.

Especially when he saw the woman in the green dress, he was stunned.

Having been in Zuixiaolou for more than ten years, he had seen all kinds of beauties in the capital, but this lady's appearance still made him feel extremely stunning. That kind of beauty could not be described in words.

The noble man in front of him is so lucky, as both of his wives are so beautiful.

He hurried forward and in a few steps he was in front of Jun Zechen and the others. He bowed slightly and said respectfully, "My lords, I will take you to the No. 1 private room you reserved."

"Lead the way." Jun Zechen said lightly.

"yes."

The shopkeeper responded, then turned around and led the way, his steps seeming a little hurried.

Although he didn't know the identity of the distinguished guest, the owner of Zuixiaolou had repeatedly instructed him to serve this distinguished guest well tonight.

Naturally, the shopkeeper dared not slack off in the slightest.

Zuixiaolou was extremely lively today, almost packed, and every table of guests had reserved their seats early.

Even ordinary customers who can come to Zuixiaolou to consume have a certain status or strong assets.

They looked at him with some curiosity, as they had never seen anyone who could be greeted so respectfully by the owner of Zuixiaolou.

A series of vague and scrutinizing glances, like fine silk threads, woven around them.

Jun Zechen was already accustomed to these gazes. He followed the shopkeeper without looking around, with firm and calm steps, all the way to the top box.

In the private room, a sumptuous feast of drinks and dishes had already been prepared.

After Su Jingyao and the others were seated, the shopkeeper said with a smile on his face, "Sir, these dishes were ordered by you in advance. If you need anything else, please call me anytime. I will leave now."

These carefully prepared dishes were naturally arranged smoothly.

Jun Zechen waved his hand lightly, and the shopkeeper and a group of employees retreated respectfully, leaving only the three of them, as well as Anshun, Miaoyun and other maids.

Su Jingyao looked at the dishes in front of her and raised her eyebrows slightly. It seemed that Jun Zechen still kept her preferences in mind.

There were many flower dishes and some beauty-enhancing soups on the table.

Ling Yue looked at the meals with a hint of confusion on her face.

"Aze, why did you order so many fancy dishes? Don't you dislike these light and sweet foods?"

"Today is the Flower Festival. These flower dishes have been improved. They are not too sweet but fresh and delicious. Yue'er can try them."

Jun Zechen naturally didn't want to say that he ordered it just for Su Jingyao, for fear that Ling Yue would misunderstand him.

He was worried that Su Jingyao was not used to eating out, so he asked Miaoyue for the recipe of the flower meal in advance, and then asked the chef of Zuixiaolou to prepare and serve it carefully.

Su Jingyao naturally understood that these fancy meals were obviously prepared by Jun Zechen specially for her. She looked at Jun Zechen quietly with her watery eyes, and her eyes happened to meet Jun Zechen's.

She suddenly looked away in panic, a blush spreading across her face, as gorgeous as the clouds in the sky.

Jun Zechen's gaze suddenly became profound. Looking at her little daughter's expression, he recalled her delicate and tender face with blushing ears on the bed.

Ling Yuesi was completely unaware of the subtle atmosphere between the two of them and was immersed in tasting the flower meal.

She chewed it carefully and sighed in admiration.

"Aze, this flower meal is indeed as delicious as you said. But I still prefer those meat dishes, they taste better!"

Having said that, she did not care whether Jun Zechen had started eating or not, and began to enjoy the food, savoring the satisfaction brought by the delicious fish and meat. When she was outside the Great Wall, she liked to drink fine wine with all kinds of delicious food, which was wonderful.

Ling Yue seemed extremely casual in her words and actions outside the palace. While eating, she did not forget to pick up food for Jun Zechen, with a happy smile on her face.

Jun Zechen was already accustomed to her affectionate actions, and he just smiled and let her do what she wanted.

At the same time, Su Jingyao savored the flower meal slowly and leisurely, and every subtle movement revealed a noble temperament.

She would not touch any food that was high in oil and salt. She just focused on the flower dishes and some beauty-enhancing soups in front of her, savoring their beauty.

After the meal, the lights outside the restaurant were bright, just like daytime.

Lanterns were hung high on both sides of the street, lighting up the entire street.

The busy streets were crowded with people, men and women were all wearing new clothes, their faces were filled with happy smiles.

They were strolling in groups of three or five on the streets, or stopping to admire the lanterns, or selecting their favorite items at the stalls. It was a very lively scene.