Hua Liuli closed her mouth halfway and took a step back silently.
"Yes, Young Lady Lin is a rare beauty even without any embellishments, unlike us who, despite our careful grooming, can only be ordinary and vulgar," Jiamin Junzhu said in a sarcastic tone, "Young Lady Lin is an elegant person untouched by worldly affairs, someone beyond our reach."
After speaking, Jiamin Junzhu rolled her eyes at Lin Wan and walked past her with large strides.
Yao Wenyin and Tian Shan have been good friends with Jiamin Junzhu since childhood, so when they saw Jiamin getting angry, they quickly followed her.
Jiamin Junzhu always speaks ill of others. Lin Wan was naturally beautiful, with more grace than beauty, yet Jiamin Junzhu insisted on calling her a rare beauty. What else could it be if not sarcasm?
Lin Wan's face looked extremely unpleasant as she coldly watched Jiamin Junzhu's departing figure.
Cough, cough, cough. Hua Liuli covered her mouth with a handkerchief, pretending to cough weakly and unable to move, standing in place.
Seeing this, her maidservants including Yuan Yi and Yurong, quickly gathered around her, showing concern and offering pills and honeyed dew, taking care of her for a while.
"Junzhu," Tian Shan, who had already walked ahead, saw the situation and hurriedly came back, instructing the maidservants around her to take care of Hua Liuli along with the Hua family's maidservants, "Are you alright?"
"It's nothing, just out of breath. My chest feels a bit tight," Hua Liuli smiled gratefully at Tian Shan, nodded friendly towards Lin Wan, who was standing by the side, and continued walking forward with the maidservants surrounding her.
Jiamin Junzhu stood still with a stern face, waiting for Hua Liuli to catch up. She looked at her with some confusion. Could it be that she was mistaken and Hua Liuli really had health problems?
"Sister Jiamin, why are you staring at me?" Hua Liuli shyly smiled at Jiamin and even blinked her eyes coquettishly.
Feeling disgusted by Hua Liuli's coquettish expression, Jiamin Junzhu took two steps back, "Speak properly."
"Oh," Hua Liuli lowered her eyelids, looking somewhat dejected.
"Cough," Yao Wenyin cleared her throat, "Sister Jiamin, the Second Princess is still waiting for us on the mountain."
This year's Flower Goddess ceremony was led by the Second Princess. Although she was not born of the same mother as Ying Wang, she had spent two years under the care of Consort Xian and had a close relationship with her.
Considering Consort Xian and Ying Wang's face, they couldn't be too late. Moreover, Hua Liuli looked downcast, it was hard not to feel sorry for her.
With the interruption caused by Hua Liuli's incident, Yao Jiamin and the others forgot about what Lin Wan had said earlier. After they arrived on the mountain and met with the Second Princess, they no longer deliberately troubled Lin Wan.
Among the mountains, apricot blossoms and pear blossoms were just beginning to bloom. When the spring breeze blew, a faint fragrance filled the air. Although Hua Liuli was not very familiar with the noblewomen of the capital, people occasionally took the initiative to greet her.
After nearly half an hour of liveliness, it seemed that everyone knew about Hua Liuli's poor health and didn't dare to disturb her too much. They each sat around the table, enjoying the performance of the Second Princess's palace dancers.
"Junzhu," Yuan Yi bowed down to her and whispered in Hua Liuli's ear, "Young Lady Lin has been frequently stealing glances at you."
Lin Wan, as the future Ying Wangfei, was seated in a carefully arranged position, just slightly to the right of Hua Liuli. Her simple appearance stood in contrast to the luxurious and dazzling noblewomen on both sides.
"What can I do? Other people can't help but look at me, I can't do anything about it," Hua Liuli picked up a few fruits from the table and handed them to Yuan Yi, "I can't let others stop looking at me, can I?"
Yuan Yi happily took the fruits and distributed them among the other maidservants. She continued in a low voice, "Young Lady Lin didn't seem too friendly in her gaze. Why did you defend her just now?"
"Miss Lin is known for her integrity and uprightness. She is the beloved daughter of Lin Daren, a good official loved by the people. There are many noble ladies present today. If they find out that his daughter has lost face, rumors will spread, and Lin Daren will also feel upset," Hua Liuli covered her mouth with a handkerchief and whispered, "As for Miss Yao, she may not have bad intentions, but she is simply not good with words. If she spoke more tactfully, she wouldn't have provoked others. There is no feud between them, so it wouldn't be good for either side to make a scene."
Moreover, with Yao Jiamin, Yao Wenyin, and herself, who knows who would end up worse off if they really started quarreling? She couldn't just stand by and watch them quarrel, could she?
Enjoying a spectacle also requires choosing the right occasion.
"The embroidery on Young Lady Lin's skirt is really beautiful, it looks like a living creature."
"It's nothing," Lin Wan smiled lightly, "It's not even half as beautiful as the brocade on Xianzhu."
"What I have is nothing special, but Young Lady Lin is like a secluded orchid in a valley..."
Listening to the praises from the people around her, Lin Wan slowly felt a difficult-to-express sense of satisfaction. She knew why these people praised her, because she was the future Ying Wangfei, and they couldn't afford to offend her.
Power and status.
She felt somewhat disdainful deep down. These pampered noblewomen, when they praised others, weren't much different from ordinary people.
She looked down on them and yet enjoyed their current admiration of her.
Taking a sip of tea, her gaze fell on the stage opposite. The women who could sit here and enjoy the dance today were all of extraordinary status. Among them, Hua Liuli definitely had a stronger presence.
Although she had poor health and did not participate in activities such as appreciating poetry and composing, she still inadvertently drew people's attention toward her.
Following Hua Liuli were her four maidservants. Lin Wan didn't know what she said to them, but the maidservants smiled and took out some dried fruits, placing them in her hands.
But it seemed that she still felt it was not enough. She grabbed the maidservant closest to her and took off the pouch from her waist, causing all four maidservants to try and stop her.
Her clothes were very beautiful - it was said that they were carefully tailored by the Empress Dowager - making her fair skin appear even more delicate. Among her jet-black hair, every hair accessory shone brightly. Even the simplest hairpin was more valuable than her entire outfit.
The most captivating was her exquisitely embroidered shoes, made through countless processes to achieve such beauty.
"Young Miss," Lin Wan's maidservant noticed her looking at Hua Liuli and whispered, "Nubi heard that Fushou Junzhu received her first noble title when she was only one year old. Not only does she have a fief and fertile land, but she also receives many rewards every year. After His Majesty bestowed upon her the title of a Junzhu, she was granted a Junzhu's Estate, a countryside estate, and fertile land. People outside say that His Majesty greatly favors her. Her status is no different from that of a first-ranked prince's legitimate daughter."
"Yes, His Majesty has always valued the Hua family," Lin Wan withdrew her gaze and spoke in an indifferent tone, "If it weren't for her poor health, she might have been the Ying Wangfei."
The maidservant was startled and quickly reminded her in a low voice, "Young Miss, you shouldn't say such things here."
If someone with ill intentions heard it, they might think that she was mocking Hua Liuli's poor health, which would be troublesome.
Lin Wan pursed her lips and remained silent.
At the Qingting Pavilion, the talented young gentlemen had been composing poetry for an hour and were getting tired. But for some reason, the Crown Prince, who used to say a few words and leave as he did in previous years, seemed particularly enthusiastic this year. He not only sat through the entire event but also helped with the critique.
Some young gentlemen whose poetry skills were not impressive were drenched in sweat under the Crown Prince's critique and regretted why they had to feign elegance and participate in such a flower-themed poetry gathering, humiliating themselves.
To make matters worse, since the Crown Prince did not leave, the other princes and imperial princes also remained seated, causing the pavilion to be crowded inside and out.
"After an hour of composing poetry, Benwang noticed that everyone is a bit tired," the Fifth Prince seemed to hear the inner call of these young gentlemen and bravely stood up.
The young gentlemen's eyes brightened. There was hope.
However, some scholars from humble backgrounds who had participated in the imperial examinations and did not yet know their rankings felt a bit disappointed. They had hoped for more opportunities to showcase their talents in front of the Crown Prince.
People's joys and sorrows are often incomprehensible to others, so some laughed while others felt regret.
The Crown Prince hadn't expected his usually obedient Fifth Brother to stand up and speak. He glanced at the path leading to the Qingting Pavilion absentmindedly and said, "What suggestions do you have, Fifth Brother?"
"We've already composed poetry, so why don't we paint together?" the Fifth Prince's eyes sparkled, "It's a festive occasion, with flowers blooming and talented individuals all around. If we don't leave behind a few paintings, it would be lacking some color."
Ying Wang, Ning Wang, and the Fourth Prince, all of them who looked at the Fifth Prince with shining eyes, had their expressions changed subtly.
"Fifth Brother's suggestion is interesting," the Crown Prince nodded slightly, "Benwang will leave it to you, Fifth Brother."
Ying Wang, Ning Wang, the Fourth Prince: "..."
After speaking, the Crown Prince slowly stood up, "You all take your time with the paintings. Benwang will go around and enjoy the scenery."
"Farewell, Your Royal Highness." Hearing that the Crown Prince was leaving, the scholars felt a bit regretful but didn't dare to ask him to stay. They respectfully bowed and saw off the Crown Prince.
Seeing the Crown Prince preparing to leave, Ying Wang also didn't hesitate and found an excuse to slip away. He walked a little ahead and saw the Crown Prince standing still at a fork in the road. Thinking that the scenery there was unique, he approached to take a look, but there was nothing particularly special.
"What are you looking at, Eldest Brother?" the Crown Prince placed his hands behind his back; his brocade robes swayed gently in the breeze, displaying endless grace.
"Nothing, just admiring the scenery," Ning Wang felt that the Crown Prince was acting strangely today. Normally, he despised being crowded by a group of people, but today, he seemed rooted in place, not leaving even when they reached the mountains.
And now, he was standing at the fork in the road, putting on a melancholic noble son's appearance, just like a peacock showing off its colorful feathers to attract the attention of a peahen.
There must be something wrong. Definitely.
"Eldest Brother, is there something else?" the Crown Prince raised an eyebrow when he saw Ying Wang standing beside him without leaving.
"Your Royal Highness, your status is precious. Benwang can't rest assured leaving you alone here," Ying Wang smiled warmly, "Benwang will accompany you."
The attendants and guards behind the Crown Prince: "..."
Fine, as servants, they could be invisible. The orders of Ying Wang determined everything.
"Oh," the Crown Prince lifted his chin slightly. "Then, Benwang will trouble you, Eldest Brother."
"Yuan Yi, what time is it now?" Hua Liuli asked.
"It's almost," Yuan Yi replied, "Are you going look for the Crown Prince, Junzhu?"
"I promised to find him before noon. I can't break my word," Hua Liuli looked up at the sky. The weather was a bit gloomy. Hopefully, it wouldn't rain later.
She got up and walked over to the Second Princess, "Your Highness, this is my first time participating in the Flower Festival in the capital. I would like to go out to explore and enjoy the scenery."
"The mountain winds are strong. Junzhu, please take care not to catch a cold," faced with Hua Liuli, the Second Princess couldn't help but be a bit more cautious. She gave some careful instructions before letting her maidservant escort Hua Liuli away from the gathering.
"Young Lady Lin," the Second Princess noticed Lin Wan staring in the direction Hua Liuli had left and said, "If Young Lady Lin also wants to go out and explore, let the maidservants by my side accompany you. They are more familiar with the roads on this side of the mountain."
Though there were heavy guards present today, many men and women were coming and going. Lin Wan only brought one maidservant with her, which might not be convenient.
Upon hearing the Second Princess's words, Lin Wan couldn't exactly say that she had just been looking at Hua Liuli in curiosity. So she agreed.
The Second Princess assigned two maidservants to accompany Lin Wan and spoke a few caring words in a gentle tone. This was her future sister-in-law, even if they couldn't become close, she couldn't afford to offend her.
After leaving the gathering place, Lin Wan felt a bit lost. Where could she go?
"Young Lady Lin, there is a place called the Qingting Pavilion in the mountains that many talented individuals like to visit to compose poetry and appreciate paintings. If you don't know where to go, you can go there," one of the attendants arranged by the Second Princess was skilled at observing words and expressions. Seeing Lin Wan's expression, she quickly made a suggestion.
"Then let's go there and take a look," Lin Wan's father was the top scholar in the imperial examinations, so she also had some interest in poetry. Upon hearing the maidservant's words, her curiosity was piqued.
They walked for a while and saw Hua Liuli and the others ahead. The maidservant sent by the Second Princess said, "What a coincidence, it turns out that Fushou Junzhu is also going to the Qingting Pavilion."
Lin Wan smiled lightly, "I didn't expect Fushou Junzhu to be fond of poetry as well."
"Nubi heard that the Third Young Master Hua participated in this year's Spring Examinations. Perhaps Fushou Junzhu is going to find the Third Young Master Hua," Lin Wan's maidservant said, "Who knows, maybe our young master is also there."
Neither of the maidservants sent by the Second Princess said anything. Several young men from prominent families participated in this year's Spring Examinations and they couldn't discern whose talent was outstanding. But when speaking, they mustn't offend anyone and bring trouble to their masters.
Lin Wan smiled, "My brother spends all his time buried in books at home. It would be good for him to come out more."
She looked at Hua Liuli's graceful figure ahead, and her gaze suddenly changed.
Standing at the fork in the road ahead were the Crown Prince and Ying Wang. Did Hua Liuli come out specifically to find them?
Hua Liuli had already noticed Lin Wan following behind her, but she didn't pay much attention. When she saw the Crown Prince waiting for her ahead, she quickly stepped forward and greeted him and Ying Wang, "This humble servant pays my respects to the Crown Prince and Ying Wang."
The Crown Prince casually glanced at the ground near Hua Liuli's feet and smiled before speaking, "There's no need for such formalities, Junzhu."
"This humble servant apologizes for my late arrival which made you wait, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli followed suit and smiled, "Blame it on the beautiful pear blossoms in the mountains that made me lose track of time."
"We agreed to meet before noon, it's still well before noon now. Junzhu, you're not late; in fact, you've come early," a drizzle began to fall in the mountains, and a eunuch opened an umbrella and approached.
The Crown Prince took the umbrella, waved his hand to dismiss the eunuch, and held the umbrella over Hua Liuli's head, "Enjoying the pear blossoms in the light rain brings a different kind of charm. Is Junzhu interested?"
Hua Liuli looked at the Crown Prince's handsome face and nodded in agreement.
Beauty often makes people disregard their principles.
"Wait a moment," the Crown Prince noticed that Hua Liuli wasn't wearing a cloak, so he had an embroidered peach blossom cloak brought over, "Junzhu, please hold the umbrella while Benwang helps you put on the cloak."
Hua Liuli held the umbrella and lowered her head, catching herself staring at his fair and clean fingers in a daze.
"Junzhu?" The Crown Prince tried to take the umbrella from Hua Liuli's hand but couldn't. He couldn't help but chuckle and took another umbrella from the eunuch, standing side by side with Hua Liuli, "Let's go."
It was a pity that given their current relationship, they couldn't even share an umbrella in the rain.
"Alright," Hua Liuli nodded.
Passing by Ying Wang, the Crown Prince stopped and said, "Eldest Brother, Benwang will accompany Junzhu for a stroll. You can do as you please."
Ying Wang: "..."
Just a patch of pear blossom forest, what's there to see?
Ying Wang dismissed the attendant who was holding the umbrella for him and stared at Hua Liuli walking alongside the Crown Prince. He took the umbrella for himself and prepared to join them.
"Your Highness."
Ying Wang turned his head displeasedly. Who was calling him?
The face seemed somewhat familiar?
Oh, it was his betrothed.
Ying Wang furrowed his brows slightly and stopped walking, "What's the matter?"
"Your Highness, when I came out, I forgot to bring an umbrella," Lin Wan gently wiped the raindrops off her face, not exerting too much force for fear of smudging her makeup.
"Oh," Ying Wang looked at the umbrella in his hand, "Benwang only has one."
A stiff smile appeared on Lin Wan's face.
"You," Ying Wang turned to his eunuch attendant, "Go find an umbrella for Young Lady Lin."
"Where is Your Highness going?" Feeling Ying Wang's coldness towards her, Lin Wan felt a bit uneasy. Considering the two maidservants arranged by the Second Princess behind her, she didn't want anyone to perceive the awkwardness between her and Ying Wang, "If it's convenient, may I accompany you?"
Ying Wang was about to refuse, but then he thought again. A grown man like him running off to see pear blossoms didn't seem dignified. It would be more appropriate to have his betrothed with him.
He nodded, "Alright, you can come along."
If they didn't catch up now, the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli would disappear.
"Does Your Royal Highness and the other princes come to the mountains every year?" Hua Liuli held a few apricot blossoms in her hands as she descended the stone steps.
The Crown Prince held the umbrella with one hand and extended the other in front of Hua Liuli, "The stone steps become slippery when it rains, with moss growing on them. Please be careful, Junzhu."
Hua Liuli extended her hand over to the Crown Prince and stepped onto the stone steps covered in flower petals, "Thank you, Your Royal Highness."
"Benwang has arranged for a pavilion ahead. We will have our midday meal there later," the Crown Prince held Hua Liuli's hand, "Normally, Benwang doesn't have many opportunities to leave the palace. In previous Flower Festival celebrations, Benwang would only show up briefly in front of scholars and students."
"But it's different this year." The Crown Prince smiled gently at Hua Liuli. "Since Benwang promised to accompany Junzhu at the Flower Festival, Benwang can't break my word."
Hua Liuli smiled, her eyes and brows curved, "Thank you, Your Royal Highness."
"If you truly want to thank me, then please eat more during our meal later," the Crown Prince continued walking while glancing back at Hua Liuli, whose hand he held, "Benwang doesn't want to see the Second Young Master Hua scolding you again because of your picky eating."
Amused by the Crown Prince's words once again, Hua Liuli responded, "Being picky eaters is just a trivial flaw. Your Royal Highness doesn't need to pay too much attention to it."
"Let me tell you a secret," The Crown Prince stopped walking and wore a mysterious expression on his face.
Hua Liuli quickly looked around, noticing passersby from time to time. She wanted to remind the Crown Prince to lower his voice and not speak up, but hesitated, "Your Royal Highness..."
The Crown Prince spoke earnestly, "Actually, Benwang is a picky eater too."
Hua Liuli: "Ah?"
Hua Liuli is confused if should she try to persuade the Crown Prince not to be picky, or should she speak up and say how amazing it was that they were the same?
"So, as Junzhu said, being picky eaters is just a trivial flaw," the Crown Prince chuckled quietly, "Since we share this common flaw, let's not mind each other, shall we?"
Hua Liuli nodded thoughtfully, "You make a valid point. We can consider ourselves... kindred spirits?"
Laughter and chatter could be heard ahead, but the atmosphere between Ying Wang and Lin Wan, who were walking behind, was quite cold. Lin Wan had tried to initiate conversations with Ying Wang several times, but he responded with mere "mhm" and "ahh". She didn't want to continue making herself look foolish.
Not knowing what she stepped on, Lin Wan suddenly slipped and fell forward.
Ying Wang, who was walking ahead of her, heard the noise and quickly stepped aside, watching as Lin Wan fell. Fortunately, the eunuch attendant beside Ying Wang reacted quickly and, together with Lin Wan's maidservant, helped her up.
Ying Wang glanced at Lin Wan with a complicated expression, "Be careful with your steps, Young Lady Lin."
Ever since he turned fifteen, there were always two palace maids who pretended to stumble in front of him every year, to the extent that he would instinctively try to keep his distance whenever he saw a young lady about to fall.
He hadn't expected Lin Zhou, who had been raised to be upright and virtuous, to teach his daughter such methods. If he married Wangfei like her, would it affect the intelligence of their future children?
Lin Wan didn't expect Ying Wang to not only reach out to help her but even dodged aside when she was almost falling. Was she really that repulsive?
Pale-faced, she forced a smile and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness. I will be more careful."
She looked at Hua Liuli ahead, who was chatting with the Crown Prince, and a ludicrous idea suddenly popped into her mind. If it were Hua Liuli standing here, would Ying Wang behave in the same way?
She knew she shouldn't think like this, but she couldn't control her thoughts. She repeatedly reminded herself that she couldn't show her dissatisfaction in front of Ying Wang, let alone let her father know about Ying Wang's indifference towards her.
Knowing her father's character, if he found out how Ying Wang treated her, he might go to the Emperor and find a way to break off the marriage arrangement.
But she wanted to be the noble and revered Wangfei.
She wanted to have countless jewels, luxurious fabrics, and numerous servants like those girls born into noble families.
"With so many apricot and pear blossoms, I wonder how many fruits they will bear," Hua Liuli said, "I heard from Tian Shan that there's a peach grove on the north side of the mountain, but unfortunately, it hasn't blossomed yet."
"When it blooms, Benwang will bring you there to see," the Crown Prince handed the umbrella to the eunuch attendant and pointed to a pavilion ahead, "We'll have our midday meal there. How does Junzhu feel about it?"
The pavilion was surrounded by flowers and trees, like a fairyland.
"Eating in such a place would surely whet one's appetite," Hua Liuli descended the last step and was about to let go of the Crown Prince's hand when an elderly couple, arm in arm, approached. She pulled the Crown Prince to the side to give way.
"The shoes on the little girl's feet are so beautiful," the old lady, seeing Hua Liuli voluntarily giving way, smiled and glanced at Hua Liuli, then at the Crown Prince, her smile carrying a hint of flirtation, "Very nice."
The Crown Prince smiled, while Hua Liuli responded, "Thank you for the compliment, Grandma."
The old man huffed, "You old woman, I had someone make new shoes for you. Aren't they beautiful enough?"
"Beautiful, beautiful," the old lady coaxed the old man, "Why compare yourself to the little girl and the young lad?"
The old man looked at the Crown Prince and stroked his beard, "I had the same charm in my younger days."
The Crown Prince smiled amiably and didn't take offense at the old man's words.
The two elderly people exchanged words as they slowly walked away, displaying their deep affection.
Hua Liuli lifted her foot and glanced down, "Your Royal Highness, many people have already complimented these shoes today."
"As long as you like them."
The Crown Prince gave Hua Liuli a gentle smile and reached out to pluck a pear blossom petal from her hair, tossing it aside.
Pear blossoms had an unfavorable connotation and should not be left on Liuli's body.
Hua Liuli closed her mouth halfway and took a step back silently.
"Yes, Young Lady Lin is a rare beauty even without any embellishments, unlike us who, despite our careful grooming, can only be ordinary and vulgar," Jiamin Junzhu said in a sarcastic tone, "Young Lady Lin is an elegant person untouched by worldly affairs, someone beyond our reach."
After speaking, Jiamin Junzhu rolled her eyes at Lin Wan and walked past her with large strides.
Yao Wenyin and Tian Shan have been good friends with Jiamin Junzhu since childhood, so when they saw Jiamin getting angry, they quickly followed her.
Jiamin Junzhu always speaks ill of others. Lin Wan was naturally beautiful, with more grace than beauty, yet Jiamin Junzhu insisted on calling her a rare beauty. What else could it be if not sarcasm?
Lin Wan's face looked extremely unpleasant as she coldly watched Jiamin Junzhu's departing figure.
Cough, cough, cough. Hua Liuli covered her mouth with a handkerchief, pretending to cough weakly and unable to move, standing in place.
Seeing this, her maidservants including Yuan Yi and Yurong, quickly gathered around her, showing concern and offering pills and honeyed dew, taking care of her for a while.
"Junzhu," Tian Shan, who had already walked ahead, saw the situation and hurriedly came back, instructing the maidservants around her to take care of Hua Liuli along with the Hua family's maidservants, "Are you alright?"
"It's nothing, just out of breath. My chest feels a bit tight," Hua Liuli smiled gratefully at Tian Shan, nodded friendly towards Lin Wan, who was standing by the side, and continued walking forward with the maidservants surrounding her.
Jiamin Junzhu stood still with a stern face, waiting for Hua Liuli to catch up. She looked at her with some confusion. Could it be that she was mistaken and Hua Liuli really had health problems?
"Sister Jiamin, why are you staring at me?" Hua Liuli shyly smiled at Jiamin and even blinked her eyes coquettishly.
Feeling disgusted by Hua Liuli's coquettish expression, Jiamin Junzhu took two steps back, "Speak properly."
"Oh," Hua Liuli lowered her eyelids, looking somewhat dejected.
"Cough," Yao Wenyin cleared her throat, "Sister Jiamin, the Second Princess is still waiting for us on the mountain."
This year's Flower Goddess ceremony was led by the Second Princess. Although she was not born of the same mother as Ying Wang, she had spent two years under the care of Consort Xian and had a close relationship with her.
Considering Consort Xian and Ying Wang's face, they couldn't be too late. Moreover, Hua Liuli looked downcast, it was hard not to feel sorry for her.
With the interruption caused by Hua Liuli's incident, Yao Jiamin and the others forgot about what Lin Wan had said earlier. After they arrived on the mountain and met with the Second Princess, they no longer deliberately troubled Lin Wan.
Among the mountains, apricot blossoms and pear blossoms were just beginning to bloom. When the spring breeze blew, a faint fragrance filled the air. Although Hua Liuli was not very familiar with the noblewomen of the capital, people occasionally took the initiative to greet her.
After nearly half an hour of liveliness, it seemed that everyone knew about Hua Liuli's poor health and didn't dare to disturb her too much. They each sat around the table, enjoying the performance of the Second Princess's palace dancers.
"Junzhu," Yuan Yi bowed down to her and whispered in Hua Liuli's ear, "Young Lady Lin has been frequently stealing glances at you."
Lin Wan, as the future Ying Wangfei, was seated in a carefully arranged position, just slightly to the right of Hua Liuli. Her simple appearance stood in contrast to the luxurious and dazzling noblewomen on both sides.
"What can I do? Other people can't help but look at me, I can't do anything about it," Hua Liuli picked up a few fruits from the table and handed them to Yuan Yi, "I can't let others stop looking at me, can I?"
Yuan Yi happily took the fruits and distributed them among the other maidservants. She continued in a low voice, "Young Lady Lin didn't seem too friendly in her gaze. Why did you defend her just now?"
"Miss Lin is known for her integrity and uprightness. She is the beloved daughter of Lin Daren, a good official loved by the people. There are many noble ladies present today. If they find out that his daughter has lost face, rumors will spread, and Lin Daren will also feel upset," Hua Liuli covered her mouth with a handkerchief and whispered, "As for Miss Yao, she may not have bad intentions, but she is simply not good with words. If she spoke more tactfully, she wouldn't have provoked others. There is no feud between them, so it wouldn't be good for either side to make a scene."
Moreover, with Yao Jiamin, Yao Wenyin, and herself, who knows who would end up worse off if they really started quarreling? She couldn't just stand by and watch them quarrel, could she?
Enjoying a spectacle also requires choosing the right occasion.
"The embroidery on Young Lady Lin's skirt is really beautiful, it looks like a living creature."
"It's nothing," Lin Wan smiled lightly, "It's not even half as beautiful as the brocade on Xianzhu."
"What I have is nothing special, but Young Lady Lin is like a secluded orchid in a valley..."
Listening to the praises from the people around her, Lin Wan slowly felt a difficult-to-express sense of satisfaction. She knew why these people praised her, because she was the future Ying Wangfei, and they couldn't afford to offend her.
Power and status.
She felt somewhat disdainful deep down. These pampered noblewomen, when they praised others, weren't much different from ordinary people.
She looked down on them and yet enjoyed their current admiration of her.
Taking a sip of tea, her gaze fell on the stage opposite. The women who could sit here and enjoy the dance today were all of extraordinary status. Among them, Hua Liuli definitely had a stronger presence.
Although she had poor health and did not participate in activities such as appreciating poetry and composing, she still inadvertently drew people's attention toward her.
Following Hua Liuli were her four maidservants. Lin Wan didn't know what she said to them, but the maidservants smiled and took out some dried fruits, placing them in her hands.
But it seemed that she still felt it was not enough. She grabbed the maidservant closest to her and took off the pouch from her waist, causing all four maidservants to try and stop her.
Her clothes were very beautiful - it was said that they were carefully tailored by the Empress Dowager - making her fair skin appear even more delicate. Among her jet-black hair, every hair accessory shone brightly. Even the simplest hairpin was more valuable than her entire outfit.
The most captivating was her exquisitely embroidered shoes, made through countless processes to achieve such beauty.
"Young Miss," Lin Wan's maidservant noticed her looking at Hua Liuli and whispered, "Nubi heard that Fushou Junzhu received her first noble title when she was only one year old. Not only does she have a fief and fertile land, but she also receives many rewards every year. After His Majesty bestowed upon her the title of a Junzhu, she was granted a Junzhu's Estate, a countryside estate, and fertile land. People outside say that His Majesty greatly favors her. Her status is no different from that of a first-ranked prince's legitimate daughter."
"Yes, His Majesty has always valued the Hua family," Lin Wan withdrew her gaze and spoke in an indifferent tone, "If it weren't for her poor health, she might have been the Ying Wangfei."
The maidservant was startled and quickly reminded her in a low voice, "Young Miss, you shouldn't say such things here."
If someone with ill intentions heard it, they might think that she was mocking Hua Liuli's poor health, which would be troublesome.
Lin Wan pursed her lips and remained silent.
At the Qingting Pavilion, the talented young gentlemen had been composing poetry for an hour and were getting tired. But for some reason, the Crown Prince, who used to say a few words and leave as he did in previous years, seemed particularly enthusiastic this year. He not only sat through the entire event but also helped with the critique.
Some young gentlemen whose poetry skills were not impressive were drenched in sweat under the Crown Prince's critique and regretted why they had to feign elegance and participate in such a flower-themed poetry gathering, humiliating themselves.
To make matters worse, since the Crown Prince did not leave, the other princes and imperial princes also remained seated, causing the pavilion to be crowded inside and out.
"After an hour of composing poetry, Benwang noticed that everyone is a bit tired," the Fifth Prince seemed to hear the inner call of these young gentlemen and bravely stood up.
The young gentlemen's eyes brightened. There was hope.
However, some scholars from humble backgrounds who had participated in the imperial examinations and did not yet know their rankings felt a bit disappointed. They had hoped for more opportunities to showcase their talents in front of the Crown Prince.
People's joys and sorrows are often incomprehensible to others, so some laughed while others felt regret.
The Crown Prince hadn't expected his usually obedient Fifth Brother to stand up and speak. He glanced at the path leading to the Qingting Pavilion absentmindedly and said, "What suggestions do you have, Fifth Brother?"
"We've already composed poetry, so why don't we paint together?" the Fifth Prince's eyes sparkled, "It's a festive occasion, with flowers blooming and talented individuals all around. If we don't leave behind a few paintings, it would be lacking some color."
Ying Wang, Ning Wang, and the Fourth Prince, all of them who looked at the Fifth Prince with shining eyes, had their expressions changed subtly.
"Fifth Brother's suggestion is interesting," the Crown Prince nodded slightly, "Benwang will leave it to you, Fifth Brother."
Ying Wang, Ning Wang, the Fourth Prince: "..."
After speaking, the Crown Prince slowly stood up, "You all take your time with the paintings. Benwang will go around and enjoy the scenery."
"Farewell, Your Royal Highness." Hearing that the Crown Prince was leaving, the scholars felt a bit regretful but didn't dare to ask him to stay. They respectfully bowed and saw off the Crown Prince.
Seeing the Crown Prince preparing to leave, Ying Wang also didn't hesitate and found an excuse to slip away. He walked a little ahead and saw the Crown Prince standing still at a fork in the road. Thinking that the scenery there was unique, he approached to take a look, but there was nothing particularly special.
"What are you looking at, Eldest Brother?" the Crown Prince placed his hands behind his back; his brocade robes swayed gently in the breeze, displaying endless grace.
"Nothing, just admiring the scenery," Ning Wang felt that the Crown Prince was acting strangely today. Normally, he despised being crowded by a group of people, but today, he seemed rooted in place, not leaving even when they reached the mountains.
And now, he was standing at the fork in the road, putting on a melancholic noble son's appearance, just like a peacock showing off its colorful feathers to attract the attention of a peahen.
There must be something wrong. Definitely.
"Eldest Brother, is there something else?" the Crown Prince raised an eyebrow when he saw Ying Wang standing beside him without leaving.
"Your Royal Highness, your status is precious. Benwang can't rest assured leaving you alone here," Ying Wang smiled warmly, "Benwang will accompany you."
The attendants and guards behind the Crown Prince: "..."
Fine, as servants, they could be invisible. The orders of Ying Wang determined everything.
"Oh," the Crown Prince lifted his chin slightly. "Then, Benwang will trouble you, Eldest Brother."
"Yuan Yi, what time is it now?" Hua Liuli asked.
"It's almost," Yuan Yi replied, "Are you going look for the Crown Prince, Junzhu?"
"I promised to find him before noon. I can't break my word," Hua Liuli looked up at the sky. The weather was a bit gloomy. Hopefully, it wouldn't rain later.
She got up and walked over to the Second Princess, "Your Highness, this is my first time participating in the Flower Festival in the capital. I would like to go out to explore and enjoy the scenery."
"The mountain winds are strong. Junzhu, please take care not to catch a cold," faced with Hua Liuli, the Second Princess couldn't help but be a bit more cautious. She gave some careful instructions before letting her maidservant escort Hua Liuli away from the gathering.
"Young Lady Lin," the Second Princess noticed Lin Wan staring in the direction Hua Liuli had left and said, "If Young Lady Lin also wants to go out and explore, let the maidservants by my side accompany you. They are more familiar with the roads on this side of the mountain."
Though there were heavy guards present today, many men and women were coming and going. Lin Wan only brought one maidservant with her, which might not be convenient.
Upon hearing the Second Princess's words, Lin Wan couldn't exactly say that she had just been looking at Hua Liuli in curiosity. So she agreed.
The Second Princess assigned two maidservants to accompany Lin Wan and spoke a few caring words in a gentle tone. This was her future sister-in-law, even if they couldn't become close, she couldn't afford to offend her.
After leaving the gathering place, Lin Wan felt a bit lost. Where could she go?
"Young Lady Lin, there is a place called the Qingting Pavilion in the mountains that many talented individuals like to visit to compose poetry and appreciate paintings. If you don't know where to go, you can go there," one of the attendants arranged by the Second Princess was skilled at observing words and expressions. Seeing Lin Wan's expression, she quickly made a suggestion.
"Then let's go there and take a look," Lin Wan's father was the top scholar in the imperial examinations, so she also had some interest in poetry. Upon hearing the maidservant's words, her curiosity was piqued.
They walked for a while and saw Hua Liuli and the others ahead. The maidservant sent by the Second Princess said, "What a coincidence, it turns out that Fushou Junzhu is also going to the Qingting Pavilion."
Lin Wan smiled lightly, "I didn't expect Fushou Junzhu to be fond of poetry as well."
"Nubi heard that the Third Young Master Hua participated in this year's Spring Examinations. Perhaps Fushou Junzhu is going to find the Third Young Master Hua," Lin Wan's maidservant said, "Who knows, maybe our young master is also there."
Neither of the maidservants sent by the Second Princess said anything. Several young men from prominent families participated in this year's Spring Examinations and they couldn't discern whose talent was outstanding. But when speaking, they mustn't offend anyone and bring trouble to their masters.
Lin Wan smiled, "My brother spends all his time buried in books at home. It would be good for him to come out more."
She looked at Hua Liuli's graceful figure ahead, and her gaze suddenly changed.
Standing at the fork in the road ahead were the Crown Prince and Ying Wang. Did Hua Liuli come out specifically to find them?
Hua Liuli had already noticed Lin Wan following behind her, but she didn't pay much attention. When she saw the Crown Prince waiting for her ahead, she quickly stepped forward and greeted him and Ying Wang, "This humble servant pays my respects to the Crown Prince and Ying Wang."
The Crown Prince casually glanced at the ground near Hua Liuli's feet and smiled before speaking, "There's no need for such formalities, Junzhu."
"This humble servant apologizes for my late arrival which made you wait, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli followed suit and smiled, "Blame it on the beautiful pear blossoms in the mountains that made me lose track of time."
"We agreed to meet before noon, it's still well before noon now. Junzhu, you're not late; in fact, you've come early," a drizzle began to fall in the mountains, and a eunuch opened an umbrella and approached.
The Crown Prince took the umbrella, waved his hand to dismiss the eunuch, and held the umbrella over Hua Liuli's head, "Enjoying the pear blossoms in the light rain brings a different kind of charm. Is Junzhu interested?"
Hua Liuli looked at the Crown Prince's handsome face and nodded in agreement.
Beauty often makes people disregard their principles.
"Wait a moment," the Crown Prince noticed that Hua Liuli wasn't wearing a cloak, so he had an embroidered peach blossom cloak brought over, "Junzhu, please hold the umbrella while Benwang helps you put on the cloak."
Hua Liuli held the umbrella and lowered her head, catching herself staring at his fair and clean fingers in a daze.
"Junzhu?" The Crown Prince tried to take the umbrella from Hua Liuli's hand but couldn't. He couldn't help but chuckle and took another umbrella from the eunuch, standing side by side with Hua Liuli, "Let's go."
It was a pity that given their current relationship, they couldn't even share an umbrella in the rain.
"Alright," Hua Liuli nodded.
Passing by Ying Wang, the Crown Prince stopped and said, "Eldest Brother, Benwang will accompany Junzhu for a stroll. You can do as you please."
Ying Wang: "..."
Just a patch of pear blossom forest, what's there to see?
Ying Wang dismissed the attendant who was holding the umbrella for him and stared at Hua Liuli walking alongside the Crown Prince. He took the umbrella for himself and prepared to join them.
"Your Highness."
Ying Wang turned his head displeasedly. Who was calling him?
The face seemed somewhat familiar?
Oh, it was his betrothed.
Ying Wang furrowed his brows slightly and stopped walking, "What's the matter?"
"Your Highness, when I came out, I forgot to bring an umbrella," Lin Wan gently wiped the raindrops off her face, not exerting too much force for fear of smudging her makeup.
"Oh," Ying Wang looked at the umbrella in his hand, "Benwang only has one."
A stiff smile appeared on Lin Wan's face.
"You," Ying Wang turned to his eunuch attendant, "Go find an umbrella for Young Lady Lin."
"Where is Your Highness going?" Feeling Ying Wang's coldness towards her, Lin Wan felt a bit uneasy. Considering the two maidservants arranged by the Second Princess behind her, she didn't want anyone to perceive the awkwardness between her and Ying Wang, "If it's convenient, may I accompany you?"
Ying Wang was about to refuse, but then he thought again. A grown man like him running off to see pear blossoms didn't seem dignified. It would be more appropriate to have his betrothed with him.
He nodded, "Alright, you can come along."
If they didn't catch up now, the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli would disappear.
"Does Your Royal Highness and the other princes come to the mountains every year?" Hua Liuli held a few apricot blossoms in her hands as she descended the stone steps.
The Crown Prince held the umbrella with one hand and extended the other in front of Hua Liuli, "The stone steps become slippery when it rains, with moss growing on them. Please be careful, Junzhu."
Hua Liuli extended her hand over to the Crown Prince and stepped onto the stone steps covered in flower petals, "Thank you, Your Royal Highness."
"Benwang has arranged for a pavilion ahead. We will have our midday meal there later," the Crown Prince held Hua Liuli's hand, "Normally, Benwang doesn't have many opportunities to leave the palace. In previous Flower Festival celebrations, Benwang would only show up briefly in front of scholars and students."
"But it's different this year." The Crown Prince smiled gently at Hua Liuli. "Since Benwang promised to accompany Junzhu at the Flower Festival, Benwang can't break my word."
Hua Liuli smiled, her eyes and brows curved, "Thank you, Your Royal Highness."
"If you truly want to thank me, then please eat more during our meal later," the Crown Prince continued walking while glancing back at Hua Liuli, whose hand he held, "Benwang doesn't want to see the Second Young Master Hua scolding you again because of your picky eating."
Amused by the Crown Prince's words once again, Hua Liuli responded, "Being picky eaters is just a trivial flaw. Your Royal Highness doesn't need to pay too much attention to it."
"Let me tell you a secret," The Crown Prince stopped walking and wore a mysterious expression on his face.
Hua Liuli quickly looked around, noticing passersby from time to time. She wanted to remind the Crown Prince to lower his voice and not speak up, but hesitated, "Your Royal Highness..."
The Crown Prince spoke earnestly, "Actually, Benwang is a picky eater too."
Hua Liuli: "Ah?"
Hua Liuli is confused if should she try to persuade the Crown Prince not to be picky, or should she speak up and say how amazing it was that they were the same?
"So, as Junzhu said, being picky eaters is just a trivial flaw," the Crown Prince chuckled quietly, "Since we share this common flaw, let's not mind each other, shall we?"
Hua Liuli nodded thoughtfully, "You make a valid point. We can consider ourselves... kindred spirits?"
Laughter and chatter could be heard ahead, but the atmosphere between Ying Wang and Lin Wan, who were walking behind, was quite cold. Lin Wan had tried to initiate conversations with Ying Wang several times, but he responded with mere "mhm" and "ahh". She didn't want to continue making herself look foolish.
Not knowing what she stepped on, Lin Wan suddenly slipped and fell forward.
Ying Wang, who was walking ahead of her, heard the noise and quickly stepped aside, watching as Lin Wan fell. Fortunately, the eunuch attendant beside Ying Wang reacted quickly and, together with Lin Wan's maidservant, helped her up.
Ying Wang glanced at Lin Wan with a complicated expression, "Be careful with your steps, Young Lady Lin."
Ever since he turned fifteen, there were always two palace maids who pretended to stumble in front of him every year, to the extent that he would instinctively try to keep his distance whenever he saw a young lady about to fall.
He hadn't expected Lin Zhou, who had been raised to be upright and virtuous, to teach his daughter such methods. If he married Wangfei like her, would it affect the intelligence of their future children?
Lin Wan didn't expect Ying Wang to not only reach out to help her but even dodged aside when she was almost falling. Was she really that repulsive?
Pale-faced, she forced a smile and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness. I will be more careful."
She looked at Hua Liuli ahead, who was chatting with the Crown Prince, and a ludicrous idea suddenly popped into her mind. If it were Hua Liuli standing here, would Ying Wang behave in the same way?
She knew she shouldn't think like this, but she couldn't control her thoughts. She repeatedly reminded herself that she couldn't show her dissatisfaction in front of Ying Wang, let alone let her father know about Ying Wang's indifference towards her.
Knowing her father's character, if he found out how Ying Wang treated her, he might go to the Emperor and find a way to break off the marriage arrangement.
But she wanted to be the noble and revered Wangfei.
She wanted to have countless jewels, luxurious fabrics, and numerous servants like those girls born into noble families.
"With so many apricot and pear blossoms, I wonder how many fruits they will bear," Hua Liuli said, "I heard from Tian Shan that there's a peach grove on the north side of the mountain, but unfortunately, it hasn't blossomed yet."
"When it blooms, Benwang will bring you there to see," the Crown Prince handed the umbrella to the eunuch attendant and pointed to a pavilion ahead, "We'll have our midday meal there. How does Junzhu feel about it?"
The pavilion was surrounded by flowers and trees, like a fairyland.
"Eating in such a place would surely whet one's appetite," Hua Liuli descended the last step and was about to let go of the Crown Prince's hand when an elderly couple, arm in arm, approached. She pulled the Crown Prince to the side to give way.
"The shoes on the little girl's feet are so beautiful," the old lady, seeing Hua Liuli voluntarily giving way, smiled and glanced at Hua Liuli, then at the Crown Prince, her smile carrying a hint of flirtation, "Very nice."
The Crown Prince smiled, while Hua Liuli responded, "Thank you for the compliment, Grandma."
The old man huffed, "You old woman, I had someone make new shoes for you. Aren't they beautiful enough?"
"Beautiful, beautiful," the old lady coaxed the old man, "Why compare yourself to the little girl and the young lad?"
The old man looked at the Crown Prince and stroked his beard, "I had the same charm in my younger days."
The Crown Prince smiled amiably and didn't take offense at the old man's words.
The two elderly people exchanged words as they slowly walked away, displaying their deep affection.
Hua Liuli lifted her foot and glanced down, "Your Royal Highness, many people have already complimented these shoes today."
"As long as you like them."
The Crown Prince gave Hua Liuli a gentle smile and reached out to pluck a pear blossom petal from her hair, tossing it aside.
Pear blossoms had an unfavorable connotation and should not be left on Liuli's body.
