In the end, Wang Shijing decided to follow his good friend’s lead, setting down his brush and joining him in eating and drinking.
So throughout the entire banquet, while others recited poetry to invite the moon, Chen Jiao and Wang Shijing were savoring the freshest perch; when others compared verses and guessed riddles, they were sipping osmanthus wine; when the crowd laughed silently at riddles, Chen Jiao was summoning the servants to ask for another perch.
Everyone else was left speechless: …you two are truly outrageous.
But they were enjoying it so much. All this time, the others had been debating poetry, yet hadn’t even had a chance to taste the salmon—these delicacies were freshly procured at great expense.
Still, this group of scholars couldn’t abandon their airs of refinement. The essence of a spring outing poetry gathering was cultivating a sense of elegance and displaying one’s noble character. Indulging in eating and drinking here would be utterly disgraceful if word got out.
So eating was forbidden—they couldn’t indulge, and naturally, Chen Jiao couldn’t either! That was the only fair way.
The crowd instantly fell silent, gazing at Chen Jiao in an attempt to stop her with their eyes.
The atmosphere quieted, the only sound being the rustling of willow leaves. The young Wang was the first to sense something was amiss; he looked up at the many staring eyes, forgetting to chew the fish in his mouth.
Chen Jiao was nudged on the arm. She lifted a piece of perch, looked at everyone with a puzzled expression, and arched her brow. “What’s the matter, gentlemen?”
Her tone was surprised: “Go ahead, continue. Without your chattering, eating is no fun at all.”
Everyone: …do you think we were invited here just to entertain you?!!
Not even hungry, yet your chopsticks move faster than anyone else’s, eating two bowls already and still not full?!
Seeing the other young masters fuming, Wang Shijing gently nudged Chen Jiao’s arm and cautiously asked, “Are we being too much?”
Chen Jiao blinked in surprise. “We only had a bit to eat. Does that count as too much?”
The young master Wang was indeed hungry and nodded, “That’s true.” Being accustomed to being fawned upon due to his status, he hadn’t bothered keeping it to himself.
The poetry banquet ended rather abruptly. Under the lead of this unconventional Chen Jiao, the famished guests had no interest in continuing to compose poems and instead began to eat along with her.
After returning from the banquet, elders in everyone’s homes naturally asked about the day’s events. These wealthy sons, raised under the care of high-ranking officials, had never encountered anyone like Chen Jiao.
They immediately complained, from Chen Jiao’s behavior during the day to the fact that she not only ate but did so with particular relish.
“Half a roast duck, a whole fish, plus three layers of walnut crisps!! And a bowl of white rice!”
Chen Jiao looked small and frail, yet she could eat so much!
Only then did the sons realize that this Chen Jiao they were criticizing, though the same age as them, was the Chen heir their fathers had instructed them to befriend.
Awkwardly, they fell silent, nervously awaiting their fathers’ reprimand.
Unexpectedly, with a single sound, their father immediately expressed furious agreement: “Chen Jiao, that child! She’s right!”
“She’s just too shameless! No manners at all!”
Harboring a mix of old grudges and fresh indignation toward Chen Jiao’s eccentricity, many vented their frustrations well into the night, paradoxically deepening the father-son bond.
Chen Jiao remained unaware that she had, in her own way, fostered harmony in numerous households. Had she known, she would likely have merely smiled and moved on.
The life of a dandy was not as easy as imagined. Traveling between places took several hours. Though Chen Jiao now longed to return home for a deep sleep, she still had to report to the Crown Prince.
After spending some time together, Chen Jiao thought she had hidden her habits well, yet the Crown Prince had nearly seen through her. He knew her little tricks, like working on odd-numbered days and resting at home on even-numbered ones, and recognized her penchant for laziness.
So when Xie Xianqing learned that Chen Jiao would attend the poetry banquet today, he assumed she wouldn’t come. Yet in the evening, while reviewing official documents, an attendant reported that Chen Jiao requested an audience.
At the Crown Prince’s residence.
The lake water was clear, fish swimming beneath the surface. The Crown Prince stood quietly at the shore, pinching fish food between his fingers and sprinkling it into the water, asking softly, “The poetry gathering has dispersed, why not return home to rest?”
Chen Jiao carefully set down the items she had carried all the way, scampered toward the Crown Prince, and flashed a guileless smile. “The green plum wine from the Yijia household in Jingzhao has a unique flavor. I tasted a few sips and liked it very much. It reminded me of Your Highness, so I specially brought a jar for you.”
She did not state it outright, but her words revealed her thoughts, keeping the Crown Prince in mind even while attending the banquet, and going out of her way to bring him a gift afterward.
Thus, the wine she brought was not just ordinary green plum wine, but a token of devotion from a junior who always placed his leader first.
Chen Jiao understood that being a loyal junior meant being considerate, always keeping her seniors in mind. When you hold your senior in your heart, the senior keeps you close to theirs.
At that moment, Chen Jiao could not have imagined the extent of her plan’s success. In the future, the Crown Prince would indeed keep her close, albeit differently than she had imagined.
At present, she simply saw herself as a loyal junior, striving to please the Crown Prince for her own future.
Chen Jiao placed the jar on the stone table with care. The carriage ride had been bumpy, and she feared the jar might break. To avoid attendants taking credit, she refused to hand it over to anyone else, carrying it personally into the residence.
Though not heavy, the jar still weighed something. Chen Jiao, not particularly strong, felt her arms grow sore. After setting it down, she rubbed her aching arms hidden in her sleeves.
Her movements were subtle, unintentional, yet Xie Xianqing caught the motion in his peripheral vision, feeling a complex mix of emotions.
Being thought of by someone else was a feeling unlike any other; it was impossible not to be touched.
Even if Chen Jiao had some small self-interest, the Crown Prince would likely overlook it.
He glanced at the attendant beside him, and shortly, someone knelt with a tray holding two wine cups.
The wine was poured, and Xie Xianqing tasted it, murmuring softly, “Excellent.”
Indeed, it was fine wine. Burdened with official duties and constantly contending with troublesome imperial brothers in court, it had been a long time since he could enjoy such a relaxed sip.
Chen Jiao watched his expression closely, and upon seeing his satisfaction, she breathed a sigh of relief and smiled triumphantly. “See? My grandfather loves wine, and I’ve tasted hundreds of kinds with him. Young Master Zhou’s family may be dull, but their wine is truly fine.”
If the wine were inferior, she would never have wasted the Crown Prince’s time.
The cups were crafted from precious jade, thumb-sized. Xie Xianqing, knowing overindulgence could lead to mistakes, sipped lightly before setting the cup down.
With the leader done, Chen Jiao dared not drink more, fearing she might act foolishly or speak inappropriately.
Under the soft moonlight, the two enjoyed the breeze by the lake, conversing leisurely.
Only now did they realize they were close. The evening wind carried a subtle, sweet osmanthus fragrance.
Xie Xianqing’s expression flickered slightly. Chen Jiao, though young, likely favored this scent, explaining why she wore it despite the implicit restrictions of the Crown Prince’s residence.
Yet she was male; enjoying scents like ambergris or sandalwood was common, but why this delicate love for osmanthus, akin to a young lady?
Xie Xianqing cleared his throat, shifting the topic. “Chen Jiao, when attending the poetry gathering, were you only concerned with the taste of wine?”
Chen Jiao paused, instinctively replying, “The roast duck tasted good too, but it couldn’t be packed.”
From the villa to Chang’an took an hour by carriage. Even if she had the cook prepare it, the duck would be cold upon arrival. Delivering wine seemed far more poetic; sending a fully cooked duck would appear foolish.
Chen Jiao had her own reasoning. Xie Xianqing raised an eyebrow at her response.
He had intended to hint that she should have humbly learned from the scholars, yet this little fool cared only for food and drink.
Unaware of her slip, Chen Jiao casually recounted the events of the poetry banquet.
Hearing how she ate and drank with Wang Shijing and encouraged others to continue composing poems, the Crown Prince could only laugh and groan.
Though he had not witnessed it firsthand, he could already imagine how her behavior would leave a lasting impression on the other attendees. Where Chen Jiao went, lively scenes always followed.
Xie Xianqing, for once intrigued, sighed, “Such an interesting scene… it’s a pity I wasn’t there.”
He had not received an invitation; as heir busy with affairs of state, none of the powerful sons dared disturb him with such trifles. Even during the Right Chancellor’s birthday banquet, many officials could not dine with the Crown Prince—how could these youths hope to sit with him?
Chen Jiao waved him off, saying, “What’s the point of going? The food was fine, but it was hardly entertaining. Your Highness, your time is precious; don’t waste it.”
Recalling the four-hour round-trip for the poetry gathering, she clenched her fists and vowed, “If anyone asks me to attend such gatherings again, I won’t go.”
Xie Xianqing hesitated, “That is unfortunate… In a few days, I plan to visit the Daming Temple in the outskirts of the capital. I had hoped to invite you, Chen Jiao, to accompany me. But now, I seem to be forcing the matter…”
Before he could finish, Chen Jiao’s eyes widened and she immediately changed her tone. “Your Highness, how can you say such a thing? In my heart, you are extraordinarily talented and cannot be compared to anyone else.”
Even Xie Xianqing, knowing Chen Jiao spoke nonsense, could not help but be amused. He teased, “Am I not an outsider?”
Chen Jiao fixed him with bright, clear eyes, replying earnestly, “Forgive me for reaching too high, but in my heart, Your Highness is no different from a blood relative, supremely important. Even if it’s just accompanying you to a temple, I would risk life and limb for you!”
Chen Jiao possessed a unique trait: she could make flattery sound heartfelt and sincere. Words that might embarrass others when spoken came from her as entirely reasonable, believable statements.
See, merely visiting a temple, yet she elevates it to risking knife and fire. In a chaotic world, such words from this mouth could easily deceive a maiden’s heart.
Xie Xianqing chuckled softly, warning her, “Do not speak nonsense again.”
Chen Jiao accepted the mild scolding without complaint, responding with a slow “Oh.” She shrank her neck and murmured, “I’m not speaking nonsense. You are very important to me.”
A provider of livelihood—surely that counted for something. Her family’s lives and fortunes were pledged to him, which made him all the more important.
The young figure was delicate, with clear eyes, moonlit fair skin, and refined features. Her earnest, uncomplaining tone carried genuine sincerity.
Xie Xianqing suddenly thought of a phrase: adorable and pitiful, his heart softened.
Who wouldn’t enjoy sincere praise? Even the most accomplished heir was no exception.
Before meeting Chen Jiao, Xie Xianqing prided himself on fairness, fulfilling his duties, favoring the wise, and keeping distance from flatterers.
Yet after meeting her, he realized he was merely human, delighting unconsciously despite knowing her intent to curry favor, granting her subtle partiality.
At Chen Jiao’s age, few had such clear goals and dedication. Her decisiveness and keen judgment already set her far ahead of others.
While reflecting, Xie Xianqing also marveled at her youthful spirit. Her absurd statements flowed freely; if she fancied a girl, her words alone could likely win the maiden’s heart.