The spring banquet was held in the royal garden, with men and women seated separately, divided by a wall.
After parting from Yu Huanchen, Yu Lingxi went to the women’s section and found an inconspicuous corner to sit down.
At the same time, Crown Prince Ning Dan ascended the Qiongyu Tower with his hands behind his back, followed by a young eunuch dressed in an ochre robe with a jade belt.
“That charred body of a young man found in the arena indeed had a scar from a dagger wound on his chest. It must have been the Seventh Prince.”
The eunuch, pale-faced and beardless, possessed an androgynous quality that transcended age and gender. He continued slowly, “No one in this world can threaten Your Highness’s position. Why worry?”
Hearing this, Ning Dan snorted: “It better be so. If I discover that bastard is still alive, your castrated head will roll too.”
Upon hearing the words “castrated man,” the young eunuch narrowed his slender eyes, his smile unchanged: “I wouldn’t dare.”
After a pause, he added: “Also, the Empress has instructed this servant to inform Your Highness that all unmarried noble ladies of the capital are present at today’s spring banquet. Your Highness may take this opportunity to choose a new Crown Princess. The Empress also mentioned that General Yu’s legitimate daughter would be quite suitable…”
“I will never take a woman from the Yu family as my wife. Tell Mother to give up on this idea.”
Ning Dan reached the top floor of Qiongyu Tower and stood by the window, overlooking the seats of the female guests at the spring banquet. He watched the heavily made-up, gorgeously dressed women with disinterest.
His face showed irritation: “I’ve seen that Yu Xinyi before. Her looks are merely above average, and she’s so unrefined without any feminine charm.”
“The Yu family controls military power. Either eliminate them or if they cannot be brought under Your Highness’s command, they remain a threat.”
As he spoke, the eunuch’s gaze turned toward a certain corner, narrowing his eyes: “I hear the Yu family has a younger daughter.”
Ning Dan followed his line of sight and replied disdainfully: “If the elder daughter looks like that, how good could the younger one be? Girls raised by rough military men must be equally crude…”
His complaint stopped abruptly as his gaze fell on the westernmost corner of the banquet. His pupils dilated, and he stared in a daze.
If not for Cui An, this eunuch’s reminder, he would have almost overlooked her.
Now looking carefully, he saw that as the breeze passed by, creating dappled shadows of flowers, the glimpse of the young lady’s jawline was exquisitely delicate.
Her hand resting on the table was as slender and white as if formed from ice and snow.
True beauty lies in the bones, not the skin. With Ning Dan’s experienced eye, he could tell such a woman must be a peerless beauty.
The eunuch took note of Ning Dan’s fascination and remarked casually: “That is the very lady Your Highness just referred to as a girl raised by rough military men.”
Ning Dan’s throat suddenly felt dry, and he gave the eunuch a knowing look.
The young eunuch immediately understood and bowed: “This servant will make arrangements right away.”
Yu Lingxi was completely unaware of what was happening in Qiongyu Tower, quietly playing the role of background among the chattering female guests.
Midway through, the Empress and an elderly Imperial Dowager Consort made an appearance, representing the royal family in exchanging pleasantries with the noble women and ladies.
During this time, the Empress’s eyes searched around and swept over Yu Lingxi in the corner.
Yu Lingxi quickly lowered her head, pretending to drink, avoiding eye contact.
After the formalities, the Empress escorted the Dowager Consort away. The female guests secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and the banquet returned to its initial relaxed and lively atmosphere.
“Sui Sui, why are you hiding here? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
Tang Buli had extraordinarily applied makeup today and wore a lilac-colored robe reminiscent of sunset clouds, with a silk shawl casually draped over her arms. She looked Yu Lingxi up and down and asked, “Why are you dressed like this?”
“Is something wrong with how I look?”
Yu Lingxi smiled, resting her chin on her palm, “Should I dress like a celestial fairy as you have, hoping to catch a prince as a golden husband?”
“Heartless Sui Sui, you’re teasing me! It was Grandmother who forced me to dress like this. It’s cumbersome; I can barely move my arms and legs.”
Saying this, Tang Buli sat next to Yu Lingxi, smiling as she leaned close to whisper, “Let’s talk about your golden husband instead. I just passed by the neighboring garden and saw Young Master Xue searching everywhere for you.”
This girl was good in every way except for her inability to control her mouth and her love of matchmaking.
Yu Lingxi sighed helplessly: “I can’t handle much alcohol. I should leave.”
“Let’s go together.” Tang Buli was feeling bored anyway, so she rose with Yu Lingxi to depart.
Yu Lingxi waited for a while on the painted bridge but did not see Yu Huanchen. Instead, she encountered Xue Cen.
Today, Xue Cen wore a moon-white brocade robe with his hair secured by a white jade crown. At first glance, he looked as clear and bright as jade, with an air reminiscent of the Wei and Jin dynasties, quite striking.
“Lady of Qingping County.”
He first bowed politely to Tang Buli, then looked toward Yu Lingxi. His eyes contained a faint, restrained smile as he said warmly, “Earlier, His Highness the Crown Prince summoned Brother Chen. Fearing he might not finish soon, he asked me to escort Second Sister home.”
Tang Buli’s eyes darted between the two, and she smiled: “You two chat. I’ll go ahead.”
With that, she ignored Yu Lingxi’s meaningful glances and quickly disappeared.
Yu Lingxi had no choice but to nod: “Then, I trouble Brother Cen.”
Xue Cen rode alongside Yu Lingxi’s carriage, occasionally looking back.
He had deliberately waited at the bridge.
Ever since hearing from Tang Buli that Yu Lingxi had personally made him a pair of boots from the deerskin she had hunted during the spring hunt, he had been in a daze throughout the banquet. His heart nearly pierced through the palace walls, yearning to fly to Yu Lingxi’s side.
Xue Cen felt that there was no better woman in the world than Yu Lingxi, and nothing luckier than mutual affection.
The carriage stopped at the main gate of the Yu residence. Yu Lingxi stepped down from the footboard and casually said: “If Brother Cen doesn’t mind, please come in for a simple cup of tea.”
Xue Cen guessed she probably wanted to find an opportunity to give him the boots, which was why she invited him. He responded eagerly: “Gladly.”
Yu Lingxi was somewhat surprised.