Chapter 454: Chapter 452: The Empress and Young Master Guan, Pure as Ice and Jade
When Lu Ying left the side hall, it was already near dusk.
The evening banquet was held at Chen’an Hall by the banks of Lishui. Thousands of lanterns illuminated the scene, casting a resplendent and lively glow.
Lu Ying had little appetite, and his gaze often swept toward Shen Yinning, who was sitting in the corner with Xue Mianmian.
The two seemed to have endless things to talk about, laughing softly behind raised hands from the start of the banquet until its conclusion. Who knew what amusing topics they were discussing?
Lu Ying withdrew his gaze, a complex emotion flashing through his narrowed eyes.
When Shen Zhaozhao was with him, she had never spoken so much.
Thinking of how the other girls in the Capital also loved to share private talks with their close friends, his jealousy eased slightly.
After the evening meal, a "Lantern Pairing Treasure Hunt" game was planned by the banks of Lishui.
This spring banquet was not only to celebrate the great victory at the border and the success of the new scholars but also to provide an opportunity for the noble sons and daughters of the court to meet and mingle. As such, the palace had prepared over a thousand lanterns, with each lantern inscribed with a line of poetry. Should one find the lantern with the corresponding second line, it was considered a fateful match.
The jagged rocks and secluded paths by the water hid some "treasures." By the time the moon reached its zenith, whoever found the most treasures would be granted a wish by the Emperor.
The young people delighted in such lively games and eagerly took their lanterns, strolling by the water not only to hunt for treasure but also to see who might hold the matching lantern to their own.
Looking at her lantern, Xue Mianmian frowned in mild frustration. "’The world is cold, and human feelings cruel.’ My second line should be ’The rain ushers in dusk; flowers easily fall.’ I don’t know who has that one. How unlucky! Of all the verses for a festive spring banquet, I end up with this melancholic line. Zhaozhao, what’s the poem on your lantern?"
"’If the two hearts are meant to last.’" Shen Yinning answered. She didn’t seem to care much about it. "If you dislike yours for being inauspicious, we can trade."
"Forget it, forget it!" Xue Mianmian dodged her hand. "I’m married, after all. You, on the other hand, still need a ’good match.’ I can’t trade with you!"
The two strolled along the banks of Lishui, occasionally passing by young men and women.
"Mianmian!"
Out of nowhere, Guan Songyuan appeared, carrying a lantern in his hand.
He scolded, "Where did you run off to? After the evening meal, you disappeared! Didn’t you agree to let me take you to meet my colleagues? They ended up waiting in vain!"
Noticing Shen Yinning beside her, he quickly restrained his anger and courteously said, "Princess Zhaoning."
Shen Yinning did not return the courtesy, her expression cold.
Guan Songyuan’s face darkened slightly as he turned to reprimand Xue Mianmian. "I’m speaking to you; are your ears not working?!"
"I already told you, back then, that I didn’t want to meet them..." Xue Mianmian argued.
Those new scholars were all hot-blooded young men. As a woman, what place did she have in such a gathering?
Instead of dealing with unfamiliar men, she’d rather spend time getting closer to Zhaozhao.
Guan Songyuan urgently pointed to his own face. "Do you realize that by not going, you’re embarrassing me?! We’re husband and wife, yet I can’t even persuade you to do this small thing. What do you think they’ll think of me?! They’ll surely believe I lack the ability to manage my household, not even my own wife!"
"I—"
Xue Mianmian was at a loss for words, deer-like eyes brimming with grievance.
A flicker of icy coldness passed through Shen Yinning’s eyes. Without a word, she grabbed Xue Mianmian’s hand and changed the subject. "Young Master Guan, your lantern’s poem is quite interesting."
Through her tears, Xue Mianmian glanced at the lantern—"My heart longs for you, yet you know it not."
Though they were husband and wife, their lanterns did not match.
It was just a game, but somehow, the grievance in her heart deepened.
Guan Songyuan dismissed it carelessly. "Who even came up with such a trivial pastime, using lanterns to pair people?"
Just as Shen Yinning was about to say something, an excited voice suddenly rang out, "Princess Zhaoning!"
It was Huo Mingxu.
He hurried over with a lantern in hand, and upon seeing the poem on Shen Yinning’s lantern, his face lit up with joy. "My poem matches the Princess’s!"
Shen Yinning looked over. Indeed, the poem on the young man’s lantern read, "How could day-to-day meetings compare?"
If the two hearts are meant to last, how could day-to-day meetings compare?
Xue Mianmian was also surprised. "What a coincidence..."
Huo Mingxu blushed slightly, covering his mouth with a fist as he gave a soft cough. He asked shyly, "Where is the Princess planning to go? May I accompany you?"
Guan Songyuan, seeing his expression, immediately understood the boy’s intentions as one man to another.
Shen Yinning tilted her head slightly, also perceiving the young man’s thoughts.
Remembering how his sister, Huo Mingyan, had humiliated her earlier that day, Shen Yinning’s lips slowly curved into a smile. Within her almond-shaped eyes, a flicker of malice flashed. "I plan to search for tonight’s treasures. They say the one who finds the most treasures can make a wish to the Emperor. But it’s so dark that it’s hard to navigate, let alone find anything. Young Master Huo, could you assist me?"
Huo Mingxu was flattered and excited. "Of course! I grew up outside the border and have excellent night vision. I’ll make sure the Princess finds the most treasures!"
Shen Yinning turned and gently smiled at Xue Mianmian. "Mianmian, we’ll go on ahead."
Xue Mianmian stood there, wide-eyed, watching them leave.
Guan Songyuan’s eyes darted, and he suddenly said, "Mianmian, I just remembered I have something to do. You go on your own for now."
With that, he also hurried off.
...
At a secluded waterside pavilion.
Here, it was quiet, with only Huo Mingyan sitting alone, lost in sadness.
Han Sang lifted the drooping bamboo curtain and led Guan Songyuan inside, bowing respectfully. "Your Majesty, Young Master Guan requests an audience."
Huo Mingyan propped up her face, holding a wine cup, her eyes faintly intoxicated.
She said coldly, "What is it?"
"Your Majesty the Empress!" Guan Songyuan bowed deeply. "This humble servant just saw Young Master Huo following Princess Zhaoning, saying he would help her search for the treasures of the night. The Princess’s lantern bears the line, ’If the two hearts are meant to last,’ while Young Master Huo’s lantern reads, ’How could day-to-day meetings compare?’ You didn’t witness it yourself, but the expression on her face at the time was incredibly suggestive!"
He chattered endlessly, embellishing the story with every detail he could think of.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed Huo Mingyan’s gradually darkening expression, and the resentment he held for Shen Yinning finally began to dissipate.
After all, she was merely a plaything summoned and dismissed at the Emperor’s whim, without even a proper title. What did she have to be so arrogant about?
He, a legitimate son of a prestigious family and a newly appointed scholar, had countless people vying for his favor.
Yet Shen Yinning treated him with disdain, returning his gifts and never showing him the slightest courtesy!
Huo Mingyan said coldly, "What a shameless harlot!"
Han Sang echoed with indignation, "Your Majesty clearly warned her today to stay away from Young Master Huo, but this wretch acts as if she doesn’t understand human speech! She must have set her sights on Young Master Huo’s youth, handsomeness, and bright future and deliberately seduced him! Perhaps she even picked her lantern on purpose, just to ensure her pairing with Young Master Huo!"
At the mention of the lanterns, Huo Mingyan and Han Sang simultaneously glanced at Guan Songyuan’s lantern.
Guan Songyuan instinctively looked at the lantern resting on Huo Mingyan’s desk.
As fate would have it, Huo Mingyan’s lantern bore the line, "The mountain has trees, and the trees have branches," while Guan Songyuan’s lantern read, "My heart longs for you, yet you know it not." These, too, were a matching pair.
The pavilion fell into silence for a moment. Then Han Sang smiled and said, "Your Majesty and Young Master Guan are pure and upright; naturally, your connection is different from others’!"