She Holds the World After Being Reborn-Chapter 25: The Marriage Fate of the Crown Prince, Within the Great Hall
Chapter 25: Chapter 25: The Marriage Fate of the Crown Prince, Within the Great Hall
At the banquet, all the ladies felt somewhat puzzled, as today the Empress was particularly warm towards the Crown Prince.
This warmth manifested itself in her ceaselessly introducing the ladies to the Crown Prince, complimenting one on her lovely eyes, another on her beautiful nose, and yet another on her mastery of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, or her complete proficiency in poetry and prose. She praised each girl as if they were descending fairies from heaven, causing them both surprise and delight.
However, the Crown Prince did not seem very interested today, remaining cool and mostly silent, drinking one cup of wine after another. This made the girls who managed to get close to him even more reserved, fearful that a single misstep might ruin their chance to enter the Eastern Palace.
Xiao Pingfeng was well aware of what the Empress was plotting. With a smile that was not quite a smile, he arched an eyebrow and finally let his gaze settle upon the monk at the end, still draped in his kasaya.
"I’ve heard that Abbot Xun Wu of Southern Mountain Temple is skilled at divining matrimonial prospects. It’s a rare opportunity to see the Abbot today, so I too, would like to join in the fun and ask about my own prospects for marriage."
He raised his cup to Xun Wu, who slowly stood up in response, revealing his true countenance.
With a high nose bridge and deep-set eyes, his skin was pale, almost devoid of color, but paradoxically, he had lips as red as if they’d been touched with rouge, and large earlobes. His entire appearance was exceptionally gentle yet indescribably handsome, provoking gasps of amazement from the crowd of young women.
Yan Wanqing was startled for a moment, but then it made sense to her.
Of course he had to be handsome; otherwise, how would he make a living?
The banquet was not held within a temple, but rather in the Traveling Palace, close to the mountain’s peak. This was a place previously used by the Emperor and Empress for leisure stays during their visits to Southern Mountain. It was the first time for many children of various families to enter, and the palace was splendidly and magnificently built.
At the moment, inside the great hall were young men and women, seated in orderly rows, accommodating well over thirty individuals.
Yan Wanqing took a nonchalant and detached approach, sipping on the grape wine at hand. Its blood-like color swirled in the cup, making her somewhat nostalgic for those days spent in the North of the Pass.
While Abbot Xun Wu and the Crown Prince were discussing matrimonial prospects at a distance, she found nowhere to rest her gaze and started to survey her surroundings. Over the years, Capital City had seen the emergence of many young faces.
But most of them appeared to be slick and powdered, fat and flabby, losing their charm.
A few handsome ones were indeed present, yet all of them seemed to indulge in the frivolous pleasures of life.
Yan Wanqing surveyed each one, her eyes finally lighting up as they fell upon a lean young man with an exquisitely delicate appearance.
His skin was fair, and his bright eyes, like two dark, purple grapes, glittered brilliantly as if they contained thousands of stars. His lips were full and red, his nose was small and dainty, and he had an overall effeminate air. However, a stern countenance overshadowed the femininity, setting him apart.
Contradictory.
That was Yan Wanqing’s first impression.
The man seemed to sense he was being observed and looked up. Yan Wanqing did not back down and returned his gaze directly.
He appeared surprised at first, then curved his lips into a smile and lifted his wine cup slightly.
Yan Wanqing also raised her cup in acknowledgment, and the two of them drank separately, embodying a carefree spirit often seen among young men and women.
This must be the eldest legitimate son of the Northern Border Marquis, Huai Yu, that her mother had mentioned before.
Yan Wanqing narrowed her cold eyes slightly, feeling that something about this young Marquis from the Northern Border was strangely off.
As she pondered, she heard a gentle voice, tinged with a touch of deliberate intent, say, "Why doesn’t the Abbot speak of my prospects with Princess Anping as well?"
Yan Wanqing: "?"
What nonsense was she hearing?
Yan Wanqing widened her eyes to look at the Crown Prince, who sat there with an audacity thicker than a camel’s foot skin from the Northern Border, pressing Abbot Xun Wu about his prospects for marriage, deeply puzzled.
Could it be that Dawei had nothing else this gentleman cared about?
"Crown Prince, are you asking about your combined prospects with the Commandery Princess, or your own individual prospects and the Commandery Princess’s individual prospects?" Xun Wu’s serene voice rang out, reminiscent of a hollow and spiritual bell, revitalizing the listeners.
Yan Wanqing noticed Xiao Pingfeng looking her way, quickly signaling with her eyes.
She implored him not to speak rashly, warning that a single slip could create untold ripples in the future.
In a place where there were many women, gossip was plentiful. Yan Wanqing did not fancy becoming the thorn in the side of so many women.
The Crown Prince was a sought-after figure, but she, Yan Wanqing, had neither wants nor desires. To her, handsome men were nothing but obstacles in the path of her quest for vengeance.
Perhaps the threat took effect, as the man with a seemingly amicable smile replied, "Of course, I’m asking about my own prospects, as well as those of the Commandery Princess. Everyone else has asked, only I and the Commandery Princess have not, so I thought to inquire alongside."
Xun Wu nodded his head. He slowly rose from his seat and first approached Yan Wanqing, "Would the Commandery Princess allow me to read her palm?"
"Left hand or right hand?"
"The left hand will do."
Yan Wanqing extended her left hand, upon which Abbot Xun Wu scrutinized it carefully, his pupils suddenly contracting.
"What’s the matter, Abbot?" Yan Wanqing did not miss the change in his demeanor, "There’s no need to be nervous, Abbot. When it comes to marriage, what will be will be; this Commandery Princess is quite open-minded about it."
She had no interest in romantic affairs. Any marriage that hindered her quest for vengeance would be cut down, one after another.
Abbot Xun Wu had already regained his composure, smiling lightly, "The wind toys with the bamboo, mistaking it for the jangle of golden ornaments; the moon shifts over the flowers, as if a jade figure approaches. Commandery Princess, there’s no need to be so disheartened and indifferent."
Having said that, he turned his head towards Xiao Pingfeng.
Seeing that it was the Crown Prince’s turn, everyone’s hearts tightened, all waiting for the Abbot to deliver his verdict.
The Crown Prince himself extended his right hand, only for the Abbot to press it down, "The left hand."
"The left hand for men as well?" The Crown Prince was doubtful.
Abbot Xun Wu looked at him surprised, "Your Highness also believes in the nonsensical notion of left for women and right for men? That’s merely hearsay; the left hand is sufficient."
At these words, Xiao Pingfeng stretched out his own left hand.
The hand of an emperor’s son is naturally extraordinary, and Abbot Xun Wu observed it longer than anyone else’s. During this time, Xiao Pingfeng just stared straight at Yan Wanqing, until she felt uncomfortable and averted her gaze.
Only then did he slightly curl the corner of his lips, with a touch of emotion, and then glanced at the other men seated in the same row.
Who was she just looking at?
At this moment, Princess Qin Wu of Qin State clearly became impatient. Although she had been rejected by Xiao Pingfeng, she still couldn’t accept it and so she asked, "Abbot, how does it look?"
The other ladies, although not as impatient as Qin Wu, also pricked up their ears to listen.
Abbot Xun Wu looked around, causing the ladies to hold their breaths, before he started speaking slowly.
His first words were astonishing.
"... The marriage partner for the Crown Prince is within this hall."
Implicit yet profound.
The choice of the Crown Princess Consort of Dawei was among the women in the hall, one of these dozen or so!
How thrilling.
The slightly tipsy Empress Zhang Lanyi was instantly invigorated.
"Oh, to be found within the hall, the Crown Prince is truly a paragon among men. It’s uncertain which lucky girl will receive this blessing."
Hearing the Empress’s teasing words, the cheeks of the girls flushed.
Only Qin Wu pursed her lips, showing no such joy.
She had been plainly rejected by Xiao Pingfeng.
Not one in those ten-plus chances.
His Crown Princess, his Empress, could never have anything to do with her.
Thinking of the news she had received before the banquet, her eyes dimmed further.
Her brothers had already started taking action. She didn’t have much time left in Dawei; after tonight she would have to request to leave from the Empress.
Qin Wu twisted her dress, her whole being shrouded in gloom.
Unfortunately, nobody noticed this scene; everyone was drawn into the mirth of a new round of songs and dances.
Just then, a servant girl came up from behind Qin Wu and whispered a few words into her ear.
Qin Wu stiffened, her gaze snapping towards the Crown Prince across the room, the fervor in her eyes no longer concealable!
