Within Ci'en Temple, beside the Release Pond, a large crowd had already gathered—a sea of dark figures—because the Son of Heaven and the Heir Apparent were present.
Apart from the monks and ministers, there was also a group of young ladies dressed in bright, resplendent attire. Whether with restraint or subtlety, they cast glances at this noble father-and-son pair, their eyes all concealing the same unspoken ambition.
A longing for the position of Crown Princess.
A quick sweep revealed that nearly half of the noble daughters of the capital were gathered here, craning their necks in hope, yearning for even a sliver of favor.
Especially those young ladies from less prominent families, who clung to the faint dream of rising from obscurity to become phoenixes perched upon high branches.
By the Release Pond, set against the backdrop of bald-headed monks and stern-faced, aging ministers, that cluster of bright and beautiful young ladies was indeed quite eye-catching.
Emperor Ningde cast a red koi into the water and said with a smile to his son beside him, who was gripping a fish by its gills with a look of irritation on his face: "My son is eighteen this year—old enough to discuss marriage and take a wife. Look at these young ladies; they've all come for you. Is there not a single one who catches your eye?"
There was none of the usual imperial formality between ruler and subject—just a father and son, as ordinary as could be, speaking in private whispers.
Hearing this, the Crown Prince once again swept his gaze covertly over the group of young ladies. Finding nothing, his expression remained sullen and wooden as he said flatly: "Not at the moment."
It was strange. He had investigated. His spies had clearly reported that she had come to Ci'en Temple for the Bathing Buddha Festival today. So why couldn't he see her?
Could she have been delayed on the road?
Or was something detaining her within the temple?
With that thought, Xiao Heng shot a glance at Su Lin, signaling him to go and investigate.
All these little maneuvers were casually noted by Emperor Ningde, who wore a smile that said he saw through it all but chose not to speak.
Indeed, the child had grown up and now carried worries in his heart, learning to hide and conceal things—unlike before, when he would tell his imperial father everything.
But that was fine. Everything left traces, and the boy's thoughts could not be hidden for long.
Emperor Ningde's gaze also swept over the cluster of young ladies, and understanding dawned on his face.
Indeed, that little girl was not among them.
He did not quite remember her features, but she seemed to be a fair-skinned, quiet little thing.
Before long, Su Lin returned from gathering information. Xiao Heng used the excuse of washing his hands to obtain what he wanted.
"Where did she go?"
On the surface, his tone sounded perfectly even, but Su Lin, familiar with his master's temperament, precisely caught the thread of restlessness in the Crown Prince's emotions.
"Your Highness, she went to the eastern field. She's watching the polo match."
Splash.
The handkerchief was tossed back into the bronze basin with a hint of irritation, sending up a few droplets of water. The shattered reflection on the water's surface mirrored the young man's clearly displeased face.
"They're all a bunch of young men gathered in a huddle playing ball—dust flying everywhere, drenched in sweat. What's there to see!"
Su Lin offered an appeasing smile but dared not speak, afraid of worsening the Crown Prince's already foul mood.
After all, this matter could not be examined too closely. When the majority of young ladies were clustered around the Release Pond, a lady who would go to watch polo could only fall into one of two categories.
First, she genuinely enjoyed playing polo, or watching polo.
Clearly, based on investigation, Miss Liu did not play such an intense sport, nor did she often attend polo matches.
Second, there was a young man in that polo match she wanted to see.
That would be quite troublesome.
Su Lin had barely let out a mental sigh when he saw his master storm off to seek the Emperor.
"Father, if you have the time, why not go to the eastern field to watch some polo? I hear it's quite lively."
Emperor Ningde smiled faintly, guessing something of the matter but not exposing it. He simply went along: "Very well."
And so, the imperial father and son led their entourage in a grand procession toward the eastern field.
…
Before they even reached the polo grounds, Liu Yun had already endured a full earful of praise from Zhenzhen along the way.
Praise for Feiyun—which was, naturally, praise for her.
"Dear sister, thank goodness you bought me a copy. Otherwise, I never would have been able to snatch one from those she-wolves of sisters."
"As expected of a book by Feiyun—it's so beautifully written! Take the male lead, for instance…"
Chen Wei chattered on and on, and Liu Yun responded to every word, her face flushed as she replied, her heart brimming with joy.
Though it was not the first time she had heard Zhenzhen praise her, it never failed to please her.
"I stayed up all night and finished it in one sitting—it's just not enough! I wonder when Feiyun's next volume will come out. I want to read another one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight more!"
Even though she loved hearing Zhenzhen praise her, Liu Yun still grew embarrassed. She searched for something to say: "Then, Zhenzhen, do you think there's anything that could be improved?"
She, too, needed to keep improving.
Chen Wei thought for a long moment, then shook her head: "Not really, except…"
"Except what?"
Catching that trailing note, Liu Yun immediately pressed, her gaze sharp.
Chen Wei let out a sigh, leaned in close, and said with a slightly bashful expression: "It's not that I think anything's wrong—it's my sister-in-law. She always says Feiyun never writes any intimate scenes between the leads, and it drives her crazy!"
Not noticing her friend's slightly stunned expression, Chen Wei continued: "She just loves reading that spicy stuff. Every time she reads Feiyun's books, she always sighs and says things like, 'heheh~'"
Turning around, Chen Wei finally noticed her friend's unusual state. She nudged Liu Yun's shoulder and asked with concern, "Shanshan, what's wrong? Why are you so dazed?"
Only then did Liu Yun snap back to reality, her smile awkward as she hesitated, "Is the intimate scene between husband and wife really that important?"
Chen Wei said with a smile, "Not entirely sure. At least my sisters-in-law who've already married off can't help but grumble about it. As for me…"
Liu Yun perked up her ears again, listening intently.
She saw Chen Wei's face flush slightly as she said bashfully, "If there were more of that, it'd be better. It wouldn't violate national law to secretly watch something a bit risqué in the privacy of one's chambers, would it?"
"Doesn't Shanshan like it?"
Chen Wei raised an eyebrow at Liu Yun, teasing her with a playful question.
Liu Yun's heart had already been floating and sinking, and she was immediately asked into a deep blush, stammering for a long while without managing to say anything coherent.
How could anyone possibly answer that!
Fortunately, Chen Wei knew her friend had always been thin-skinned. The moment she saw Liu Yun's face turn bright red, she immediately backed off.
The two continued chatting idly as they hurried toward the polo field.
But after that conversation, doubts began to brew in Liu Yun's mind.
How should she write about intimacy between husband and wife?
She wasn't married yet—she truly didn't know how!
As she was thinking, they arrived at the polo field. A group of vigorous young men were galloping their horses in pursuit of a colorful ball rolling across the lush green grass, the thunderous beat of hooves surging like rolling thunder.
The moment they reached the polo field, Liu Yun saw her friend's gaze follow a young man.
He wore a robe of precious blue brocade, tall and lean of figure, with a clear and handsome countenance—a young man whose very presence was refreshing to behold.
This was also why Zhenzhen had suggested coming to the polo field.
Her family was about to arrange a marriage for her. The prospective match was the second son of the Vice Minister of the Grand Court. Zhenzhen had heard that Ling Erlang would also be coming to Ci'en Temple, so she'd wanted to come and take a look.
It was true that in matters of marriage, one followed one's parents' wishes and the matchmaker's words—but it wasn't to the point of blind marriage without ever seeing each other.
Any respectable family that truly loved their children would respect their child's wishes and allow both parties to have a look at each other.
If both sides took a liking to one another, the marriage would be settled, and the matchmaker would receive her reward money.
If not, they would seek another suitable match.
For the Chen family, forming a marriage alliance with the Ling family was a good choice—one could even say it was the best option.
Chen Wei thought so too, though the specifics still required seeing with her own eyes.
Seeming afraid of being spotted by Ling Erlang, Chen Wei hid behind Liu Yun, carefully observing Ling Erlang as he galloped across the field.
However, although Ling Erlang's polo skills were excellent, the most dazzling figure on the field at that moment was someone else entirely.
Clad in a striking crimson robe, a brocade band across his forehead, with a brilliant smile—he was utterly unrestrained and free-spirited.
The Young Marquis of the Dingyuan Marquisate, Ye Shu, styled Ye Qingliu.
His father was a first-rank marquis, his mother a Grand Princess—born to privilege and extravagance, living a life of wanton elegance.
A young lord raised in luxury, a fierce warrior on the polo field.
Whenever Young Marquis Ye took the field, there was no need to guess the outcome.
Today was no different. Watch as Young Marquis Ye wielded his moon-staff, driving left and right, striking or intercepting the colorful ball time and again, earning waves of cheers and applause.
Liu Yun also turned her head to look at him.
Perhaps because she herself was reserved and subdued, Liu Yun instead yearned for boldness and flair—like this Young Marquis Ye.
She admired his flamboyant and unrestrained nature, his warm and radiant smile, his light and cheerful tone of voice.
Every time she saw him, Liu Yun would unconsciously be drawn in, her gaze following him of its own accord.
Liu Yun wasn't sure what kind of feeling this was. She only felt that someone like him was extremely dazzling, making her unable to resist wanting to look at him more.
At this very moment, it was the same. Liu Yun watched with rapt attention, like a young lady utterly obsessed with polo.
From afar, Xiao Heng caught sight of this scene.
The young woman's gaze was fixed intently on the field, not blinking at all, as if she were deeply enamored.
"His Majesty the Emperor and the Crown Prince have arrived~"
At the eunuch's announcement, both the players on the field and the spectators outside it all prostrated themselves in greeting.
"We pay our respects to His Majesty and the Crown Prince."
Liu Yun suddenly snapped back to attention and followed the crowd in bowing.
On the north side of the polo field stood a row of pavilions for watching the game. The main pavilion had originally been occupied by the Changle Marquis's family, but since His Majesty arrived with the Crown Prince, the Changle Marquis immediately vacated the spot with the utmost deference.
Liu Yun stood at the periphery, far from the pavilions and blocked by the bobbing crowd. She could only vaguely make out His Majesty and the Crown Prince entering the main pavilion, and couldn't quite hear what was said.
She only knew that moments later, the Crown Prince descended onto the field in black-and-gold riding attire, mounted on that pitch-black steed.
Moon-staff in hand, narrow sleeves and thin garments—clearly he was about to take the field for a game.
The lineup was quickly arranged, divided into black and crimson teams of six players each, led respectively by the Crown Prince and Young Marquis Ye.
Because of His Majesty and the Crown Prince's arrival, more and more people gathered at the eastern field—both officials and commoners hoping to catch a glimpse of imperial splendor—so much so that the Golden Guard were run ragged trying to maintain order.
With the Crown Prince taking the field, the excitement reached its peak. The entire field was packed tight, with everyone whispering about which team would win.
As everyone knew, Young Marquis Ye's skill was unmatched by few—he was the perennial champion of the polo field.
And the Crown Prince…
Although he rarely played polo in public, the entire capital of Yan had heard of the Crown Prince's dazzling feat at fifteen, when he defeated the Uighur polo team that had come to provoke Great Yan with only four men.
Though three years had passed since then, and the people of Yan rarely heard of the Crown Prince dominating the polo field, no one dared to assume that His Highness would lose to Young Marquis Ye.
Thus, the entire audience waited eagerly to watch this exciting polo match.
Liu Yun was among them, though she wasn't looking forward to watching polo at all.
In Liu Yun's view, polo was both dangerous and filthy. If she were on the field, she'd probably end up with countless bumps from being hit by that colored ball, not to mention eating a mouthful of sand and dust.
She was simply watching the Young Marquis Ye, whom she found dazzling.
Lost in her thoughts, the polo match had already begun, boiling over like water and bringing the entire arena to a fever pitch.
Liu Yun's gaze followed that striking figure in red, and suddenly a spark of inspiration struck her.
For her next book, she knew what story to write!