Chapter 13 Flower Festival 2
Su Jingyao, wearing a veil, walked slowly on the busy and lively street.
She has a graceful figure and walks lightly. This time, Miaoyun and Miaoxue followed closely beside her, while in front of her were Jun Zechen and Ling Yue. The two of them were in an intimate posture, and they were a close couple shopping leisurely.
It's just that Jun Zechen would always look back at Su Jingyao from time to time while walking around, but the streets were crowded with people.
At a certain corner, Su Jingyao took advantage of the crowd and quietly disappeared into the crowd.
Although Jun Zechen brought a lot of secret guards with him when he went out, the main responsibility of these secret guards was to protect the safety of the prince, so how could they keep a close eye on Su Jingyao all the time?
After she left quietly, she deftly made several turns and finally came to a remote corner.
There was a carriage parked there that looked ordinary on the outside but was actually extremely luxurious on the inside.
The carriage was covered with gorgeous and expensive carpets, and the table was laid with fresh seasonal fruits, exuding an alluring aroma.
Li Jing saw her come in, slowly stood up, and then sat aside.
Su Jingyao glanced at Li Jing indifferently, and then lazily half-lay on the soft couch in the middle. Her posture was relaxed and casual, yet revealed an indescribable elegance.
"Master, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess will probably be strolling around for a while. It will take some time for them to find you and send someone to look for you. I will send someone to keep a close eye on their movements. Master, why don't you go to Mofeng Tower and have a rest first?" Li Jing said softly.
"Um."
Su Jingyao nodded slightly, and then said calmly: "Send someone to closely monitor the movements of the Marquis of Wu'an."
"Yes, master." Li Jing replied.
Li Jing's gaze fell on Su Jingyao, filled with complicated emotions.
He really didn't understand. His mistress was obviously the daughter of the noble Su family. If she didn't want to be the prince's concubine, there must be a way to solve it.
However, the master took the initiative to step into the turbulent harem and became the prince's concubine.
Obviously, the master could choose to be the legitimate wife of a noble family. Even if he is the crown prince, so what? The master is qualified enough to be the crown princess, or even the queen of the monarchy.
But according to the information he had received, ever since his master married into the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince had not shown much affection for her, but was deeply in love with the Crown Princess.
Even on such an important day as the Flower Festival, the Crown Prince accompanied the Crown Princess throughout the entire process.
Now the master is probably missing and the prince may not have noticed it yet.
Li Jing was once an orphan with a tragic fate. Su Jingyao saved him by chance.
At that time, Li Jing was taken in by someone with bad intentions, and his body was covered with scars. Those who took him in wanted to win the sympathy of some wealthy families in the capital, so they let him be covered with wounds in exchange for some meager rewards.
However, all the pitiful reward money was ruthlessly taken away by the people who took him in.
It was purely an accident that Su Jingyao saved him. Since she saved him, she couldn't save him in vain. She had to make him useful to her.
Therefore, Su Jingyao spent some money to hire a special teacher to teach Li Jing.
Li Jing showed a strong interest in business and medicine, and Su Jingyao later spared no effort to buy him many books on these subjects.
These books are not easily purchased in the monarchy with money. Fortunately, her father is the head of the civil officials in the monarchy. With her father's power and status, she naturally found various precious books for Li Jing easily.
He even secretly invited many knowledgeable teachers to teach him knowledge.
Li Jing was indeed extremely intelligent. He showed extraordinary talent in business, and studying medicine was his passion. He was also diligent and hardworking, and did quite well in both.
Su Jingyao trusted him enough to employ him without any scruples.
When they arrived at Mo Feng Tower, Li Jing took Su Jingyao through a path he had secretly opened, which led directly to the third floor of Mo Feng Tower.
Su Jingyao stepped into her exclusive box in Mofenglou. The room was decorated exquisitely and luxuriously, and every detail was extraordinary.
The landscape paintings hanging on the walls are lifelike, and the three-dimensional pictures made with top-grade embroidery techniques are even more ingenious, adding a touch of elegance to this private room.
Su Jingyao walked to the side of the box and picked up a collection of poems.
This collection of poems contains all the poems related to flowers in the country, thanks to her father, the Minister of the Court.
She had carefully copied the book from her father's study.
In the kingdom, unless one came from a family with a deep foundation, it would be extremely difficult to read and study. Some precious books were even worth as much as gold.
The reason why Su Jingyao took out this poetry collection to kill time was naturally because she was going to participate in the traditional program of the Flower Festival, the Flower Order, later.
After all, this was part of her plan.
Su Jingyao lazily lay on the beauty couch, holding a collection of poems in her hands and reading them carefully.
Although it was dark at night, the room was brightly lit with candles, and every corner was brightly illuminated, so it didn't feel dark at all.
Li Jing sat quietly aside, with a thousand words in his mind, but hesitant and hesitant.
Ever since his master married the prince, he has always had doubts in his heart, but he has never had the right opportunity to ask for clarification.
Today, the master was finally able to leave the palace, and there was no one else around him.
Li Jing thought for a moment, then slowly stood up and walked towards Su Jingyao.
Su Jingyao was immersed in the world of the book, without even raising her eyes, she said: "You are blocking my light."
In front of people who don't need to pretend, she acts completely free and easy.
Li Jing was slightly stunned when he heard it, and then he knelt directly in front of her, moved his body to let the light through, and no longer blocked her from reading.
Su Jingyao seemed accustomed to his actions. She didn't even lift her eyelids and continued to read the book in her hands.
"Why did the master want to marry the prince?"
Li Jing finally plucked up the courage to ask the question that had been on his mind for a long time.
Su Jingyao paused for a moment when she heard this. She flipped the pages of the paper lightly and asked nonchalantly, "Who do you think I should marry?"
"As a mistress, even if you don't marry the prince, you can still be the legitimate wife of a king, a prince, a general or a minister. Why would you marry the prince and be his concubine?"
There was a subtle urgency in Li Jing's voice. In his heart, Su Jingyao was the most important person.
She married the prince as a concubine, but the prince did not cherish her! Because of this reason, Li Jing's hatred for the prince became stronger.
If his master is willing, he would be willing to kill the prince even at the cost of his own life in exchange for his master's freedom.
Su Jingyao slowly closed the book, sat up, and looked at Li Jing with indifferent eyes.
Su Jingyao raised her slender hand and gently stroked Li Jing's handsome face with the back of her hand, her movements were gentle and intimate.
Li Jing's body trembled slightly, and an indescribable throbbing surged in his heart.
"Li Jing, put away your unrealistic fantasies."
When Li Jing heard his master's merciless words, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, and all the blood in his body seemed to have solidified.
It turns out that the master knew everything, knew the desire deep in his heart that he never dared to express.
Li Jing lowered his eyes slightly to hide the loss and pain in his eyes, "Master, Li Jing doesn't dare to have any illusions about you. Li Jing just wants you to live a smooth, peaceful and happy life."
Even if he wasn't the one by her side, that didn't matter.
He only wanted her to be happy, even if this happiness had nothing to do with him.
"Li Jing, what I want is not an ordinary life. What I want is to reach the top, to become an empress, or a queen mother."
"I don't care whether Jun Zechen has a lover or not. I only care whether he is the crown prince or the future emperor."
Su Jingyao's voice was as calm as a pool of autumn water, without any ripples, but her eyes revealed determination and persistence.
People always have to have a goal in life. A simple and happy life may be the dream of many people, but it is not what Su Jingyao yearns for. She is ambitious and just wants to reach out to grab the bright moon and hold the nebula.
Li Jing slowly raised his head and his eyes fell on Su Jingyao's face.
Su Jingyao looked at him and smiled, "Will Li Jing help me?"
Her face was harmless, pure and flawless, as if it was a perfect work of art carefully carved by God. However, Li Jing knew that beneath this beautiful appearance, there was a heart full of calculations and ambitions.
But even so, as long as she wanted it and asked, he would help her without hesitation.
"Master, whatever you want, Li Jing will help you with."
Li Jing's voice was as firm as iron, and his eyes were full of loyalty and protection.
From the moment he was picked up by five-year-old Su Jingyao, Li Jing had already decided that his whole life would belong only to Su Jingyao.
Hearing Li Jing's answer, Su Jingyao's lips curled up into a wanton smile, like a poppy blooming in the dark night, beautiful yet dangerous.
"Li Jing is so nice."
Her voice was as gentle as a breeze, but it made Li Jing's heart skip a beat.
Su Jingyao lazily lay back on the beauty couch and continued to read the book.
"Go out and come back after you get news about the son of Marquis Wu'an." Her tone returned to normal.
"yes."
Li Jing responded softly, then turned and left the room.
Just after the middle of the night, Li Jing hurried in and said, "Master, Wu'an Marquis's son Si Nanyu is now on Linlang Street."
Su Jingyao put down the book in her hand, Miaoyun hurried forward to help her up, and then tidied her dress.
"Let's go to Linlang Street."
There was a subtle hint of expectation in Su Jingyao's voice. She was really looking forward to Jun Zechen seeing her with another man.
Men are just mean. If someone steals something, even if it's a pile of shit, it will smell good.
At this time, Si Nanyu was strolling aimlessly on Linlang Street with a few young men and women. The soft light of lanterns sprinkled on the street, reflecting a prosperous scene.
君國的男女大防沒有那般嚴苛，在花朝節這一天，男女之間是可以定情相愛的。
而今日司南裕出來，也是因為這些公子小姐們都是家中長輩撮合着他們一起出來的，長輩們都希望他們能互相看上眼。
畢竟都是世家大族，不論和誰結親，都是好的。
然而，司南裕的心情卻一直郁郁寡歡，沒有一絲愉悅。
自從蘇婧瑤被陛下賜婚給太子殿下，他的內心就仿佛被撕裂了一般，始終無法釋懷，明明蘇婧瑤是他早就心儀的女子，是他早就看好的媳婦兒。
若不是武安侯夫人，也就是他的母親遲遲沒有去提親，蘇婧瑤又怎會嫁給太子為妾呢？
她本該是他明媒正娶的世子妃啊！
回憶如潮水般湧上心頭，當初也是在花朝節，他對蘇婧瑤一見鐘情，驚鴻一瞥，讓他的心從此為她沉淪。
此後，他更是想方設法地想要見到蘇婧瑤，哪怕只有一面也好。
可是蘇家家規森嚴，蘇婧瑤從不會單獨見外男。
所以，他只能苦苦等待着每年的花朝節，期待能與她偶遇。
即使蘇婧瑤的身邊總是有她哥哥蘇靖軒，他也厚着臉皮留下來，只為能多靠近她一些。
原本，他還滿心期待着蘇婧瑤今年及笄之禮一過，就去提親。
可如今，一切都成了泡影，他的心中滿是苦澀與無奈。
司南裕失落地擡眸，不經意間望向某個方向，一個絕美的背影突然闖入他的眼簾。
那背影婀娜多姿，仿佛帶着一種神秘的吸引力，他揉了揉眼睛，不敢相信自己的眼睛，心中疑惑是不是自己看花了眼。
然而，當女子突然擡頭的那一刻，他看清了女子的側顏，盡管她戴着面紗，但他卻能清晰地認出，那就是他心心念念的蘇婧瑤。
司南裕身旁的一個公子察覺到他的異樣，關切地問道：“世子，你怎麽了？”
司南裕如夢初醒，回過神來，“無事，本世子今日有事，不作陪了，你們逛吧。”
說完，他也不顧周圍公子小姐們的反應，徑直朝着蘇婧瑤的方向追去。
他的眼神緊緊地追随着她，生怕在擁擠的人流中失去她的蹤跡。
蘇婧瑤心裏清楚魚兒已經上鈎，于是她帶着妙雲妙雪不緊不慢地往前走去。
婀娜的身姿在人群中格外引人注目，仿佛周圍的一切都成了她的陪襯。
琳琅街的末尾有一棵歷經上百年風雨的菩提樹，每逢花朝節，都會有許多人将五色紙箋挂在樹枝上，這被稱為賞紅。
而要想在琳琅街的菩提樹上賞紅，就必須行花令，只有勝者才能獲得賞紅的資格。
蘇婧瑤不疾不徐地朝着目的地前行，她的步伐輕盈而穩定，既不讓司南裕覺得她是在故意引他上鈎，又巧妙地控制着與他之間的距離，以免他跟丢了她。
她來到菩提樹下時，那裏已經聚集了不少人。
菩提樹下的中間有一個臺子，要想在菩提樹上賞紅，就需要上臺行花令，兩兩對決，只有連續勝利三輪才算成功。
蘇婧瑤站在人群中，期待的眼神緊緊地盯着臺上，目光中閃爍着一絲憧憬和渴望。
就在這時，司南裕撥開人群悄然出現在她身後，“蘇小姐，你怎麽在這裏？”
蘇婧瑤聽到熟悉的男子聲音，心中微微一顫，她緩緩轉過頭來，看到司南裕時，她的臉上露出一絲驚訝的神情。
美眸中閃過一絲慌亂，但很快就恢複了平靜，“司公子？”
“蘇小姐為何能夠出來？”司南裕的語氣中帶着關切，同時也透露出一絲疑惑。
蘇婧瑤自然明白他話中的意思，他們的身份都不宜暴露，所以她說話也比較隐晦，“我和夫君一起出來的。”
她低下頭，長長的睫毛微微顫動，掩下了心中的失落。
“那為何蘇小姐獨自一人？”
司南裕看到她的失落，心中不由得一陣鈍痛，他繼續輕聲問道。
“夫君在陪姐姐，我不想打擾他們，就自己出來了。”
蘇婧瑤的聲音很小，帶着一絲黯然，仿佛心中有着無盡的委屈。
但随即她就擡起頭來，看着臺上，臉上又恢複了之前的期待。
“每年哥哥都會帶我來菩提樹下賞紅，今年我還是要挂上紙箋，為爹爹娘親哥哥祈福。”
她的臉上帶着真誠的笑容，仿佛那些煩惱和憂愁都已經離她遠去。
但在司南裕看來，如今的她卻讓人更加心疼。
嫁入皇宮，本就是個吃人不吐骨頭的地方，還不得夫君疼愛。
在花朝節這麽重要的日子裏，太子竟然撇下她一人，與太子妃雙宿雙栖。
“蘇小姐雖然如今身份不同，但是我與你哥哥本就是至交好友，今日便陪着蘇小姐行花令，完成賞紅如何？”
司南裕看着蘇婧瑤，眼中充滿了期待和關切。
蘇婧瑤的眼神有些猶豫，她看了看司南裕，又看了看臺上，心中有些糾結，但還是回絕了。
“司公子，不必了，我獨自上臺行花令即可，現在我身份不同，還是不要為司公子增添麻煩為好。”
這個花令，兩兩對決，也可以說是兩隊之間對決，不過一方最多兩人，這個規則本就是為了一些有情人設置的。
蘇婧瑤自然不會大庭廣衆下和外男這般親密地上臺。
而君澤辰這邊，他和淩悅漫步在繁華裏熱鬧非凡的花市中。
淩悅的眼睛亮晶晶的，充滿喜愛地看着那些被剪裁包裝得極為精美的一束束鮮花，安順則緊緊跟在兩人身後，時不時地買下一些淩悅看上的花束。
君澤辰在百無聊賴之際，不經意地往身後張望了一下，卻并沒有發現蘇婧瑤的身影，他的眉頭微微皺起，流露出一絲擔憂。
“安順，二夫人呢？”
君澤辰的聲音中帶着一絲急切。
安順聽到君澤辰的問話，心裏“咯噔”一下，頓時緊張起來。
側妃剛剛不是一直跟在身後嗎？怎麽突然不見了？
“爺，我派人去找找。”安順的聲音有些顫抖。
君澤辰正準備發火，淩悅的臉色微微一變，随即上前露出一抹笑容，說道：“阿澤，妹妹說她累了，先回醉霄樓了，我們再逛逛吧。”
淩悅心裏清楚，蘇婧瑤定然是不想打擾他們，所以才偷偷離開的。
她心中有些開心，畢竟蘇婧瑤在身後時，君澤辰總是時不時地往後看去，這讓她心裏有些不是滋味。
“她何時與你說的？”君澤辰的聲音依然帶着一絲疑慮。
“剛剛人多，妹妹身邊的妙雲來禀報的，阿澤就不要過于憂慮了，我們繼續逛吧，我想去試試前面花市售賣的花仙子裙裝，以前從來沒見過呢。”
花仙子裙裝整體設計非常靈動飄逸，每一種花的設計都獨具特色，唯美又仙氣。
君澤辰看着這些裙裝，心中卻始終惦記着蘇婧瑤，勉強相信了淩悅的話，陪着她繼續逛。
不過半個時辰的時間，君澤辰就覺得有些疲憊了，“悅兒，回醉霄樓休息會兒，然後我們啓程回去。”
淩悅其實還沒逛夠，花朝節整個夜市會持續到寅時，可現在戌時不過過了一半。
但她也看出君澤辰有些累了，繁華裏這條街也确實逛得差不多了。
現在回去就回去吧，回宮洗漱一番，然後休息，時間也差不多了。
醉霄樓。
君澤辰的臉色陰沉得可怕，整個醉霄樓仿佛都被一層寒冰籠罩着。
“悅兒，你不是說她早早回了醉霄樓嗎？她人呢？”
君澤辰的聲音冰冷得讓人不寒而栗。
淩悅還是第一次看到君澤辰這麽難看的臉色，她只知道蘇婧瑤讓她打掩護，可并不知道她去了哪裏。
之所以說蘇婧瑤回了醉霄樓，也不過是因為淩悅覺得她和太子回來時，蘇婧瑤也定然在。
不然她還能去哪呢？
“阿澤，妹妹說她不想打擾我們二人，這才獨自離開，只是我不知道她沒有回醉霄樓.....”
淩悅的聲音中帶着一絲委屈。
君澤辰粗暴地打斷了她的話：“所以他一個女子，身邊沒有任何侍衛，獨自在外面待了大半個時辰？”
淩悅被君澤辰的話吓了一跳，她不知道君澤辰為何如此生氣，如此擔心蘇婧瑤，京城是天子腳下，能有什麽危險？
“阿澤，妹妹身邊帶着兩個丫鬟，妹妹說那兩個丫鬟有些拳腳功夫在身上，想來不會有什麽危險的。”
淩悅試圖解釋。
君澤辰面色陰沉，一股強大的壓迫感撲面而來，尤其是安順，感受得最為真切。
太子的怒火已經快要爆發，若今日出現這種錯誤的不是太子妃，想來早就被太子處置了。
“安順，帶人去找。”君澤辰的聲音仿佛從牙縫中擠出來一般。
“是。”
安順不敢有絲毫怠慢，連忙出去帶着暗衛以及太子府的侍衛開始尋找。
君澤辰平複了一下心中的怒氣，對淩悅說道：“悅兒，你先回宮吧，孤命人送你回去。”
"No, Aze, I'm waiting for your news in Lingxiao Tower. I won't be able to rest easy if my sister doesn't come back safely." Ling Yue said firmly.
Jun Zechen nodded, then walked out without saying a word.
Ling Yue looked at Jun Zechen's back, a little dazed. She had never seen such a terrifying side of Jun Zechen before, as if he wanted to eat people.
Is he so worried about Su Jingyao?