“Even a man is fine, as long as you like him. A few days from now, the lotus banquet at Biling Lake will arrive, and I will vet him for you then,” Tang Kuilan said with a blink.
“Vet what?”
She unceremoniously poked him in the head. “Tsk, you foolish boy. You have feelings for someone, but that person might not necessarily have feelings for you.”
Xiao Quanchuan was dazed for a moment, furrowing his brow as if reviewing his expression from just a moment ago.
“My eyes are a standard of measurement. Ah, the empress position is within reach! I should be free soon, you brat. Your mother has worried until her hair turned white.” She had already begun daydreaming about how wonderful her life would be after laying down the power of the six palaces.
“Hey, what do you like about him?” She still could not resist gossiping.
Xiao Quanchuan did not think he had reached the point of liking him yet and did not really want to entertain the question, but still could not help saying, “He is very foolish, very clean.”
Unlike himself, who was black and dirty from head to toe, from the inside out.
He had gone to great lengths to fight for fame, fortune, and power, all to prove his ability and retaliate against those who once looked down on him, whereas Jiang Wangnan was different.
When that person uttered the four words “protect others,” he admitted that for a moment, he was deeply shaken and felt inferior by comparison.
In this chaotic and turbid world full of filth, how could such a pure existence be tolerated?
“What is the matter?” Qiu Ruo, being attentive, noticed that Jiang Wangnan’s thoughts were off. “Your Ladyship, are you alright?”
Jiang Wangnan said, “Haha, I am too happy! I am thinking about how to celebrate!”
Luo Jing was the first to join in the excitement. “Your Ladyship, why don’t we go to Biling Lake to fly kites! The lotus flowers over there bloom exceptionally beautifully this year!”
“Wonderful, wonderful! Let us go, let us go, let us all go.”
Qiu Ruo’s expression turned hesitant. “Your Ladyship, I hear that there are quite a few outsiders coming and going around the Zhuxuan Pavilion by the lake. Your Ladyship should think twice, in case malicious people spread rumors.”
Jiang Wangnan said dismissively, “I am a man. How many cut-sleeves could there possibly be in this world? Besides, I am now His Majesty’s person. Who would dare to harbor ideas about me?”
However, the clothes he was wearing were overly opulent, with heavy fabric that was not suited for walking around the countryside. He opened his fully packed wardrobe and began picking and choosing.
Ever since Xiao Quanchuan punished the steward eunuch last time, the Imperial Household Department had not dared to shortchange Xiying Palace in the slightest. The materials and workmanship of the garments showed no slackness.
Before long, Jiang Wangnan changed into an aquamarine outfit dotted with silver sequins and yellow embroidery. It was layered with inner solidness and outer sheerness, making it light and breathable.
He stood before the mirror, looking left and right as if dissatisfied with something.
“Although Your Ladyship is fair and tender, this clothing is even more striking, which does not quite complement you,” Qiu Ruo hit the nail on the head.
“Right! Looking at it this way, my complexion looks a bit dull.”
“Should Your Ladyship change into a plain-colored piece?” Qiu Ruo suggested.
“No, I like these bright colors. Wearing them puts me in a good mood. I know what to do!”
Jiang Wangnan went to the vanity table, pulled open a drawer, and rummaged through boxes. Finding not a single piece of cosmetics, he instructed Luo Jing to run an errand: “Go to the Imperial Household Department and get some rouge and powder, every single color.”
Before long, Luo Jing hauled back large and small boxes, arranging them jar by jar on the vanity table. They were more vibrant and diverse than a rainbow, completely packed and magnificent to the extreme.
Qiu Ruo was startled. “Oh my, Your Ladyship, this is like painting clown faces.”
Jiang Wangnan patted his chest. “Hehe, I know what I am doing.”
“Also, Luo Jing, go find an iron rod and heat it to around 170 degrees. Remember to leave a handle unheated.”
Luo Jing scratched his head, looking completely puzzled as he hurried out.
Seeing him wash his face clean with mung bean flour, Qiu Ruo watched as he picked up the jasmine powder puff and patted it vigorously until it made popping sounds. Qiu Ruo wore a worried expression, afraid he would beat his face to pieces.
Next, using his fingertips, he blended multi-colored pastes, dabbing them under his eyes, beside his nose, and around his lips with practiced movements. Then he traced his eyebrows one by one with black kohl and pressed his slightly damp rouge paper together.
Qiu Ruo knew he was putting on makeup, but some of the steps were inevitably too bizarre.
The strangest part was that after applying the rouge, he used the kohl to draw a short upward stroke at the corners of his lips, extending the red with his pinky finger. Was that not like the bloody-mouthed female ghosts in theatrical tales?
About half an hour passed. The cosmetics on the vanity table were scattered about like a battlefield. In the bronze mirror, Jiang Wangnan had skin like lard, distant mountain-like eyebrows, and cheeks flushed like wine stains with twin peach blossoms, looking several times healthier than before.
“How is this makeup?” Jiang Wangnan turned around and asked.
Qiu Ruo looked astonished, blurting out, “Too beautiful.”
Observing for a moment, she added, “How should I put it? Your Ladyship seems made up, yet also seems bare-faced. The most special part is this lip makeup, looking both fake and real, smiling yet unsmiling. The red creates a sense of detachment while still exuding friendliness, making your entire temperament look as gentle as water.”
“Mm! I love drawing it this way.” Jiang Wangnan’s mood was exceptionally high.
“Your Ladyship is truly multi-talented,” Qiu Ruo praised.
“It is alright. I used to work in this line of work, but things are different now. I cannot get out.” A faint sorrow welled up in Jiang Wangnan’s heart.
“Your Ladyship, Your Ladyship, the iron rod is here! Hurry, it is losing heat!” Luo Jing barged in excitedly.
“Hold steady, give it to me!” Jiang Wangnan took the piping hot rod, grabbed a lock of his naturally bestowed hair, and wrapped it around in circles.
Qiu Ruo: “…”
Luo Jing: “…”
At the hour of You, Lingxi Lake.
The sun hid behind the clouds, yielding soft light and occasional breezes. It was wonderful weather for flying kites.
Lotus flowers stretched as far as the eye could see, exuding a fresh and pleasant fragrance. Tender pink and densely packed, they swayed continuously as if laughing aloud. The emerald lotus leaves and lake water reflected each other, and at a glance, it was somewhat hard to tell which side was reality and which was the mirror image.
Before Jiang Wangnan even reached the lakeside, he saw a crowd gathered in the distance. Orioles and swallows fluttered about; some were playing the pipa, some were vocalizing, some were reciting poetry, and some were painting. It looked just like a chaotic training ground, extremely lively.
Jiang Wangnan asked curiously, “What are they doing?”
Qiu Ruo said, “These consorts are preparing for the lotus banquet three days from now.”
“Do we have to perform programs at the lotus banquet?” He felt a sense of dread reminiscent of being dominated by elementary school New Year’s galas.
“Yes, Your Ladyship. Everyone participates voluntarily, but this year the number of people is a bit too large.”
“Fortunately, fortunately.” He let out a sigh of relief, feeling like someone in a general education group project who encounters teammates voluntarily stepping up to present the PowerPoint.
Luo Jing, having picked up gossip from somewhere else, said in a muffled voice, “Word has it that this banquet will definitely be attended by the Empress Dowager, seemingly to select an empress for His Majesty. Everyone is spreading this rumor.”
Qiu Ruo murmured, “No wonder.”
Jiang Wangnan said, “Never mind that. I am not participating. Come on, let us go fly kites.”
Lingxi Lake was very vast. The group of martial arts practitioners all gathered near the Zhuxuan Pavilion on the western side, while Jiang Wangnan stayed on the lawn to the east, out of everyone’s way.
“Wow, it is flying so high!”
Jiang Wangnan ran in the opposite direction while letting out the string. His waist-length curls danced in the wind like floating seaweed, and his aquamarine skirt fluttered about like a butterfly.
Luo Jing stood aside holding a small pinwheel to measure wind direction and speed. “Your Ladyship, the wind is coming! Let out more line, higher!”
“Alright, coming!”
Qiu Ruo kept her heart in her throat, constantly reminding him, “Your Ladyship, watch out for the stone behind you. Do not let out too much line, there is a big tree below that will tangle it.”
Luo Jing, giving in to his childish playful streak, flashed a mouthful of big white teeth. “Higher, higher! The wind is strong, we are not afraid!”
Qiu Ruo slapped him lightly and scolded playfully, “You are always leading Your Ladyship astray!”
Just as she raised her head, the two of them saw Jiang Wangnan’s foot twist as he fell backward, shouting frantically, “Your Ladyship!”
Before the two of them could take two steps, an unfamiliar man suddenly lunged out from the flower bushes, catching Jiang Wangnan securely with lightning speed.
To be honest, it would have been fine if he had not caught him; at worst, he would have landed on his bottom and applied some ointment later. But with an outsider catching him, things became complicated.
The man was extraordinarily handsome with a gentle appearance, dressed in dark blue robes. He looked like someone from the Imperial Hospital.
With concubines and consorts from other palaces right across the way, Jiang Wangnan actually lay in an outsider’s arms and flashed him a radiant smile. “Thanks.”
Qiu Ruo nearly passed away on the spot and hurried over. “Your Ladyship, let us leave. Many thanks to you for catching my mistress. Luo Jing, pack up the things, we are returning to the palace.”
“Why the rush to go back? We have not played enough yet,” Jiang Wangnan said.
“Oh, my dear Ladyship,” Qiu Ruo whispered into his ear, “this person is an outsider. According to harem rules, one must maintain distance from them.”
“It does not matter, I am a man too. Besides, he saved me, and he does not look like a bad person.”
With that, Jiang Wangnan walked up to the man. “Thank you. Would you like to fly kites together?”
The man lowered his head, not daring to look at him, and spoke with utmost respect, “This humble subject did not know and offended Your Ladyship. Please forgive me.”
“It is nothing. What are you doing here?”
“This humble subject is newly arrived at the Imperial Hospital, named Liu Boshen. Having just entered the palace, I do not know the way and accidentally wandered into the inner palace quarters, feeling quite terrified,” the man said.
“Are you headed to the Imperial Hospital? Easy enough. Luo Jing, lead the way,” Jiang Wangnan said.
“Many thanks, Your Ladyship, many thanks, little brother. This humble subject takes his leave.”
Liu Boshen’s figure brushed past Jiang Wangnan’s side. Jiang Wangnan did not think much of it until something was suddenly shoved into his palm. He widened his eyes slightly.
Holy crap, this person.
Liu Boshen turned back to look, his gaze shifting with a hint of sorrow before quickly turning away, leaving behind a desolate and lonely back view.
This person, damn it!
He remembered!
At that time, the Yue State captive in the prison had told him before dying that his young master had also sneaked into the palace, hiding in the Imperial Hospital, ready at any moment to escort him away.
To his surprise, his young master was Liu Boshen. No, that was a false name.
This person should be called Ji Han, the second male lead of the original book, the chief imperial physician of Yue State, the original host’s cousin, and also his fiancé.
Seeing him dazed as if spellbound, Qiu Ruo asked, “Your Ladyship? What is wrong? Were you frightened just now?”
Coming back to his senses, he smoothly tucked the note in his palm away. “Oh, no, I am fine.”
At that moment, Luo Jing screamed suddenly, “The kite! The kite string snapped!”
Looking up, the dragonfly-like kite fell out of balance, swaying left and right as it drifted lower and lower.
A gust of wind blew from the side, tilting its body and gently drifting it across the water surface to the opposite side.
A group of people happened to approach from the south, led by someone in red robes adorned with expensive hairpins. With every step she took, something flashed. Jiang Wangnan had to squint his eyes just to look across the lake.
Who could it be if not Gao Shuman?
The kite struck unceremoniously, knocking askew her largest and most dazzling hairpin.
“Ah!” Gao Shuman was so startled she almost twisted her ankle, yet she did not forget to steady her heavy head as she spat out angrily, “Whose lousy kite is this!”
Jiang Wangnan felt a wave of internal dismay. Great, I just peed on a tiger’s head.
Miaojuan stepped out, pointing in their direction and muttering something. Needless to say, no ivory came out of a dog’s mouth.
A moment later, Gao Shuman glared across with eyes like sharp arrows.
Before long, Miaojuan walked over from the opposite side, rolling her eyes without bowing or offering greetings, and simply stated that Consort Jiang was requested to sit at the Zhuxuan Pavilion for a chat.