Moisture seeped through the surface of his shoes, and a chill gradually spread across the tops of his feet.
Ling Yanhuai stood beneath the corridor. The glazed lantern’s glow fell on him, its shimmering light faintly brushing his shoulders.
“Prince Ruining.” Upon seeing Ling Yanhuai, a eunuch hurried over and bowed respectfully. “Her Majesty the Empress requests your presence.”
The eunuch’s manners were impeccable, beyond the slightest criticism, and even carried a trace of cautious apprehension. Ever since both the Emperor and the Empress severely punished the palace servant who had once disrespected the First Prince, no one had dared behave improperly in his presence again.
The eunuch had assumed that the First Prince would refuse the Empress’s summons. After waiting for a moment, however, he was surprised to see the prince nod in agreement.
Before Ling Yanhuai even stepped through the doorway, Prince Luo’s laughter reached his ears. “Mother, I met a particularly beautiful young lady in the Imperial Garden. The only problem is that she’s a bit shallow and ignorant.”
“You should have seen the way she stared at that glazed lantern. It was exactly like Bai Xue staring at a meaty bone. She didn’t look very bright at all.”
Ling Yanhuai’s hand rested on the doorframe, producing a faint sound.
“How can you compare a young lady from a respectable family to the dog you raise…” The Empress broke off mid-sentence when she noticed Ling Yanhuai standing outside the door.
“Huai’er.” The Empress immediately rose to greet her eldest son, then realized her reaction might be somewhat inappropriate.
“Have you eaten? I had some nourishing soup prepared for you.”
The laughter and easy atmosphere inside the hall came to an abrupt halt with his arrival.
Faced with the Empress’s cautious gaze, Ling Yanhuai gave a slight nod.
The moment she saw him nod, the Empress visibly relaxed and immediately instructed the palace attendants to bring over the nourishing soup.
“Greetings, Elder Brother.” Prince Luo stepped over to stand beside the Empress, a bright smile on his face.
“You didn’t show yourself at all today. Your younger brother thought you might not come because you dislike lively gatherings.”
Ling Yanhuai merely inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment. Without speaking, he lifted a foot and stepped into the hall.
“How did your shoe get wet?” Under the hall’s bright candlelight, the Empress immediately noticed a patch of dampness on the upper of her eldest son’s right shoe.
As though confronted by a major crisis, she hurriedly ordered attendants to fetch a fresh pair of shoes and socks.
Palace servants bustled around Ling Yanhuai in a panic, as if a little water on his shoe might cost him his life.
Standing to one side, Prince Luo’s gaze swept over the shoes and socks the Empress’s personal maid brought. They were a pair the Empress had sewn herself some days earlier.
“Your son is unharmed.”
“How can it be nothing? The imperial physicians have said many times that you must not be exposed to cold.”
The Empress kept staring at the wet patch on his shoe. Only after Ling Yanhuai had changed into dry shoes and socks did the tension in her expression gradually ease. She looked around the hall, fury rising at once.
“Where have the attendants serving the First Prince gone? How could they not notice that His Highness’s shoes and socks were wet?!”
Seeing the Empress’s anger, none of the attendants dared even breathe loudly.
After all, only the Empress’s and the Second Prince’s personal attendants were present in the hall. None of the First Prince’s own people were there.
“Mother, your son prefers peace and quiet. I don’t like having people follow me around,” Ling Yanhuai said, easing the tense atmosphere in the hall. “I got so absorbed in admiring the lanterns that I accidentally got my shoe wet.”
The Empress looked at him with something close to delight. It had been a long time since she had heard him say so many words at once. “You liked today’s lanterns?” she asked. Taking the bowl of nourishing soup from a maidservant, she scooped up a spoonful with evident pleasure and held it to his lips. “If there’s any lantern you like, I’ll have the attendants take it down and send it to your residence.”
The soup was a little hot. After swallowing a spoonful, Ling Yanhuai took the spoon from the Empress’s hand. “Thank you, Mother. I can do it myself.”
The Empress paused briefly, then quickly resumed her smile. “All right.”
The years lost between mother and son were like a tear filled with rushing wind. No matter how desperately she tried to mend it, she could never pretend it had not existed.
“Mother.” Seated on the other side, Prince Luo wore his usual bold, carefree smile. “What kind of princess consort are you planning to choose for me? I’d like someone beautiful.”
“Maoqiang and Liji were considered beauties by men, yet fish sank beneath the water at their sight and birds flew away from them,” the Empress chided with a smile. “I truly don’t know what sort of woman could qualify as a beauty in your eyes.”
“At the very least, she can’t be any less beautiful than the young lady I met beneath the corridor today.” Prince Luo tugged at the Empress’s sleeve in a spoiled manner. “Mother, please agree. Find me a beautiful one.”
The Empress raised a hand, and a lady official presented several portrait miniatures. “These young ladies are all suitable to be your princess consort, whether in status, character, or talent.”
Prince Luo flipped through them casually. The young woman who had been staring greedily at the glazed lantern was not among them. Setting the portraits aside, he complained, “These paintings all have two eyes and one mouth. I can’t tell whether they’re beautiful or not.”
“If one actually had three eyes and two mouths, you’d be unhappy about that too,” the Empress replied, half-joking and half-serious. “Besides, you’ve met all of these young ladies before. Every one of them is an outstanding girl. Any of them would be more than worthy of you.”
Prince Luo continued tugging on the Empress’s sleeve, joking and bantering without ever saying whom he actually wanted as his princess consort. His chatter filled the hall with lively noise.
After finishing the bowl of nourishing soup, Ling Yanhuai set it down and let his gaze drift to the lanterns hanging outside the hall.
The lanterns swayed gently in the cold night wind, bright and beautiful against the darkness.
When the palace banquet finally ended, Yun Qiya had seen all the lantern displays she wished to see. Thoroughly satisfied, she followed her grandmother and eldest aunt out of the palace.
The marquis estate’s carriage was not permitted inside the palace gates, so Yun Qiya supported her grandmother as they walked through the Fuxian Gate. Once outside, she spotted He Lu waiting for her with two servants.
“Grandmother?” Yun Qiya asked in confusion. “Why is He Lu here?”
“Today is the Lantern Festival.” The old madam’s eyes were full of affection and pity for her granddaughter. “You left the capital with your parents when you were only seven. It’s rare for such a lively occasion to come around. Enjoy yourself in the capital tonight. There’s no need to hurry home.” She handed Yun Qiya two banknotes.
“Have a good time.”
“Thank you, Grandmother. You’re the very best grandmother in all of Great An!”
Yun Qiya threw her arms around the old madam and planted a loud kiss on her cheek before tucking away the banknotes and skipping happily toward Helu.
“Oh, my.” Touching the spot where she’d been kissed, the old madam beamed with delight. “That temperament must come from her father. Not a bit proper.”
The Eldest Madam joined in the laughter. “Mother, Yaya is simply innocent by nature. She’s only showing how close she feels to you.”
Her younger brother-in-law really was somewhat unreliable, but what did that have to do with Yaya?
“Miss, the Lantern Festival in the capital is so lively!” He Lu said.
In one hand she carried the rabbit lantern Yun Qiya had bought for her, while the other remained protectively outstretched beside Yun Qiya to shield her from the jostling crowd.
“Helu, you look like a little duck right now.” Yun Qiya took hold of her outstretched hand. “Holding your arms out all the time must be tiring. Come on, I’ll take you to eat something delicious.”
On the bustling street, a handsome young nobleman rode toward them on a white horse. Bathed in brilliant lantern light, he looked down upon the crowds below from his saddle.
“You!” He urged his horse forward until he stopped before Yun Qiya, then lowered his head to look at her.
“We meet again. So many people are on the streets. What’s the point of squeezing through this crowd? Don’t tell me the lanterns outside the palace are better than the ones inside?”
To him, these common folk amusements were hardly worth noticing.
“Prince Luo.” Yun Qiya took several steps back, putting a safer distance between herself and the horse.
“The palace lanterns display unmatched craftsmanship, while the lanterns outside the palace are full of creativity and charm. I like them both very much.”
“Tsk.” Prince Luo chuckled and leaned forward slightly from his elevated position. “I forgot to ask earlier. Which family do you belong to?”
“Your Highness,” one of Prince Luo’s attendants reminded him quietly, “the First Prince’s carriage is approaching.”
Prince Luo slowly straightened in the saddle. As the distant carriage drew nearer and nearer, the smile on his face gradually faded away. Only when the carriage had drawn almost level with him did Prince Luo swing down from his horse and yield the way.
Yun Qiya had a deep impression of this magnificent carriage. Her eyes could not help drifting toward the jade bells and gemstones adorning it. So beautiful. So extravagant.
“Prince Luo.” One of the guards escorting the carriage approached Prince Luo and saluted with clasped fists.
“My prince says that the streets are crowded tonight. It is not appropriate for Your Highness to ride at speed through the city.”
“Many thanks to Imperial Brother for the reminder.” Prince Luo glanced at the carriage, whose curtains had not even been lifted, then tossed his riding whip to an attendant.
“My imperial brother loves the people; so do I. Tonight, I shall walk home.” He turned and strode away, leaving his handsome white horse where it stood.
The carriage remained completely silent. But the guards from Prince Ruining’s residence moved. One of them took hold of the white horse’s reins and led it away. The attendants from Prince Luo’s household stared blankly and hurried after him.
The guard said, “My prince has spoken. A horse separated from its master is pitiful. Prince Ruining’s residence is willing to adopt it.”
The attendants from Prince Luo’s household: “…”
Not a single sound came from the carriage. When exactly had their prince spoken?
The attendant was full of questions, but he dared not voice them. He could only watch helplessly as the people from Prince Ruining’s residence led away property belonging to Prince Luo’s household.
Having witnessed the entire spectacle, Yun Qiya lowered her head and secretly laughed.
Prince Ruining had made the annoying Prince Luo suffer a setback.
Prince Ruining: good.
Prince Ruining also had a beautiful grand carriage.
Prince Ruining: even better.
“Miss, the lanterns are especially wonderful during the Lantern Festival. I hope you enjoy yourself tonight.” The guard bowed to Yun Qiya, then led the horse back toward the carriage.
Yun Qiya nodded with a beaming smile. The people around Prince Ruining were courteous to her.
Prince Ruining: even better than before.
That made three good points.
After the carriage from Prince Ruining’s residence departed, Yun Qiya grabbed He Lu’s hand and plunged into the crowd.
“He Lu, come with me!”
The two girls, their hands loaded with purchases, laughed and hurried after them.
“Yun Qiya!” A voice called from an upper-floor railing. Lu Mingzhu waved at her. “Come up here quickly!”
“Elder Sister Mingzhu?” Yun Qiya had not expected to find Lu Mingzhu here. She went upstairs and sat beside her. “There was a banquet at the palace today. Why didn’t you attend?”
Lu Mingzhu pushed a cup of tea toward her. “Don’t tell me you don’t know. I never attend palace banquets.”
“Why?” Yun Qiya suddenly remembered that Lu Mingzhu had also been absent from the banquet held at Princess Rongshan’s estate a few days earlier. The two of them had only happened to meet in the garden.
Lu Mingzhu let out a soft laugh. “It’s nothing. A fortune-teller once examined my fate and said that my destiny is not particularly auspicious. Before I turn twenty, I’m not supposed to attend banquets or occupy positions of high status.”
A few years ago, her grandparents had intended to ask her mother to petition for her to be granted the title of County Lady. But as soon as the idea was raised, her father fell gravely ill and passed away.
From that point on, members of the Lu clan intentionally or unintentionally kept their distance from her, and the noble young ladies of the capital rarely associated with her either.
She glanced at Yun Qiya. Probably only a country bumpkin like Yun Qiya, who had only recently returned to the capital and knew nothing of these matters, would dare be so close to her.
“You’re the daughter of a princess and His Majesty’s own niece,” Yun Qiya said firmly, shaking her head as she held her teacup. “How could your fate possibly be bad? That fortune-teller must have been a fraud.”
“And haven’t you heard what people say? That my father was worked to death by my ill-fated destiny?” Lu Mingzhu said with a smile that was not quite a smile and a sadness that was not quite sadness, her tone filled with melancholy.
“Elder Sister Mingzhu, forgive me for saying something disrespectful.” Yun Qiya poked the back of Lu Mingzhu’s hand. “You’re closest to Princess Rongshan. Judging from the Princess’s features, she has the face of someone blessed with great fortune and a long life.”
“Don’t tell me you know how to read faces, too?”
Yun Qiya’s absurd confidence instantly chased away the trace of melancholy in Lu Mingzhu’s heart.
Looking at her, Lu Mingzhu found not the slightest hint of fear or avoidance on her face.
“I know a little.” Yun Qiya lifted her chin proudly. “During the two years I lived in Guozhou, our home was very close to the God of Wealth Temple. There was an old fortune-telling granny there, and I spent a lot of time with her. She said I had a real talent for it.”
“How about I read your fortune?” Yun Qiya asked eagerly.
He Lu opened her mouth as if to speak, then stopped herself.
Miss, that’s only because you’re so pretty. Whenever you were around, the fortune-telling granny’s business was especially good. That’s why she fed you those lines. But seeing her young mistress’s utterly confident expression, Helu silently lowered her head and kept her thoughts to herself. After all, whenever Miss told someone’s fortune, she only ever said pleasant things. Even if her predictions were wrong, nobody would resent her for it.