Shoutout to Tachibanaswife for the commission!
On New Year’s Eve, the Emperor had already hosted a grand state banquet in Daming Palace attended by the civil and military officials. Tonight’s banquet at Yanchun Pavilion was considered a family feast within the palace.
Outside Yanchun Pavilion, Qi Sheng stopped and slowly turned back toward me, extending a hand. This time he only held out one hand so it probably wasn’t about changing clothes. After a moment’s thought, I suddenly realized: he wanted to put on a show of marital affection in public and enter hand in hand!
Suppressing the goosebumps rising all over me, I reached out and placed my hand in his.
The attendant at the door craned his neck and shouted at the top of his lungs, “His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Crown Princess have arrived—”
Holding my hand, Qi Sheng led me slowly into the main hall of Yanchun Pavilion.
The Emperor, the Empress, and the Empress Dowager, the true big bosses, had not yet arrived. Present were various princes and princess consorts, royal in-laws, and distant relatives like commandery princes and princesses. Even so, the hall was packed. The royal family’s reproductive ability was truly formidable!
As Qi Sheng led me in, everyone rose to salute us. While following his lead perfunctorily, I secretly surveyed the hall, the many beauties, and the different expressions on their faces. Zhao Wangfei, Lady Jiang, still wore a plain white dress, standing gracefully beside Zhao Wang.
I couldn’t help sighing inwardly: If you want to look delicate, wear white like mourning; if you want to look beautiful, show a little leg!
Lady Jiang’s gaze skimmed over me briefly before settling on Qi Sheng.
I turned my head, sure enough, Qi Sheng was staring intensely at Lady Jiang. Brother, as a fellow man, I understand and even sympathize. But could you at least spare a thought for your brother Zhao Wang’s dignity? That’s his wife, after all! Even if you’re going to cuckold someone, must you be so blatant?
Zhao Wang clearly noticed the overly heated exchange of glances between his wife and his brother. After looking at Qi Sheng, he suddenly turned his gaze toward me.
Brother, I understand that look. But she’s your wife, not mine. Not my responsibility! What? You want me to rein in Qi Sheng beside me? He’s not flirting with my wife, why should I interfere?
So I calmly met Zhao Wang’s gaze.
It was an odd tableau: Qi Sheng and Lady Jiang staring passionately at one another, while Zhao Wang and I calmly stared at each other…
Suddenly someone spoke beside us. “Third Brother, Fifth Brother, Royal Father and Royal Mother are about to arrive. Let’s go out to receive them.”
I turned at the sound and saw a handsome young gentleman smiling gently. He looked vaguely familiar. After a closer look, I nearly lost my composure.
Lord Toilet! Oh Lord Toilet! Please let it be that the restroom was dimly lit that day and that you were too drunk to clearly see my face…
As I prayed inwardly, Lord Toilet looked over and calmly greeted, “Third Sister-in-law.”
Then he slightly turned and addressed Lady Jiang as “Fifth Sister-in-law.”
Seeing nothing unusual in his expression, I relaxed, only to hear him add politely, “Third Sister-in-law, I’ve located the Sanliu tune you asked about that day. I’ll have it delivered to you soon.”
I froze. Sanliu tune? What Sanliu tune? Looking at his composed gaze, I suddenly understood, three times six is eighteen. He meant “Eighteen Touches”!
Ha! This guy wasn’t just calm, he was devious!
Unfortunately, I wasn’t easy prey either. My face lit up with delight as I feigned gratitude. “Many thanks, Ninth Brother.”
He replied courteously, “You’re too kind, Third Sister-in-law.”
While we exchanged polite thanks, the others looked confused. Qi Sheng kept a cold face and said nothing, but Zhao Wang asked, “What tune is Ninth Brother referring to?”
Lord Toilet finally smiled faintly and glanced at me before answering, “Oh, just some folk ballads. Third Sister-in-law happened to hear them and asked me to look for them.”
He said it solemnly. I felt speechless. Technically he wasn’t wrong—“Eighteen Touches” was indeed a folk ballad.
Qi Sheng, who had remained silent, shot me a cold glance.
At that moment, Lady Jiang, who had been quiet and mournful, suddenly spoke softly, “What tunes are they? Ninth Brother, could you provide me a copy as well?”
At this, I nearly lost my composure again. “Cannot give—” I almost blurted, catching myself at the last syllable. Composing my face, I asked lightly, “Can or can’t you give?”
Lord Toilet’s smile deepened. “Naturally I can. I’ll have an extra copy transcribed and sent to Fifth Sister-in-law.”
Lady Jiang nodded and smiled gently. My thoughts immediately strayed to less-than-pure territory. With that fair little face, what would it sound like if she sang “Eighteen Touches”?
Perhaps I stared too intently, because Lady Jiang quickly averted her gaze and lightly tugged at Zhao Wang’s sleeve.
Zhao Wang smiled reassuringly and took her hand.
That did it. Qi Sheng’s expression darkened instantly. His oppressive aura gave me a headache. Really, Qi Sheng, can’t you control yourself? You’re the Crown Prince. Is it worth losing composure in public over a woman? When you become Emperor, not just one woman, all the women under heaven will be yours!
Ah, the Crown Prince is still young. We must allow young people to make mistakes. Mistakes aren’t scary as long as they correct them, they’re still good comrades. With the noble goal of healing and saving others, I grit my teeth and reached out, grabbing Qi Sheng’s sleeve. In a tone so sweet it disgusted even me, I said gently, “Your Highness, it’s time to go greet Royal Father and Royal Mother.”
Thankfully, Qi Sheng wasn’t deranged enough to shake off my hand in front of the entire royal clan. He merely said, “Very well,” and turned away without another glance at Lady Jiang.
As he moved, my hand fell empty. I calmly adjusted my sleeve and followed behind him. By chance I glanced sideways and caught Lord Toilet watching me with a half-smile.
I froze. Then understanding dawned.
You… you… you wouldn’t be trying to flirt with me, would you? -_-|||
Still uncertain, I stole another look. That expression was all too familiar. I had practiced it countless times before a mirror, the beloved half-smile.
The ultimate move for charming women: the half-smile. Not quite smiling, not quite not. Too much and it becomes a foolish grin; too little and it looks like facial spasms. Few master it. Many go astray and end up with a fake smile.
But clearly, Lord Toilet had mastered it.
Too bad, you’ve chosen the wrong target. I’ve never heard of a Crown Princess successfully job-hopping. Do you have a temple large enough to house this Buddha? Better save your efforts.
So I ignored him and followed Qi Sheng to greet the Emperor and Empress. Just as we reached the entrance, the attendant announced their arrival. The Emperor and Empress supported the Empress Dowager between them, followed by a crowd of colorfully dressed concubines.
Qi Sheng knelt first, and the entire hall followed suit. The Empress Dowager seemed pleased to see so many royal descendants and quickly told everyone to rise.
As I stood, the Empress Dowager summoned me. Though she appeared kind, I knew she was sharp and formidable. I approached carefully.
She took my hand gently. “Is your health much improved?”
Like a timid quail, I nodded. “It has. Thank you for your concern, Royal Grandmother.”
She smiled and took Qi Sheng’s hand, placing it over mine. “A husband and wife should love each other dearly. From now on, don’t ever let go.”
My skin crawled, but I dared not shake his hand away. I lowered my head shyly.
After patting our joined hands, she released us and returned to her seat. I let out a long breath. Back at my place, I grabbed Luli’s hand and squeezed it repeatedly until the crawling sensation faded.
A royal banquet was nothing but eating, drinking, singing, and dancing. I didn’t dare eat freely; I certainly didn’t dare drink again, one mistake was enough. I didn’t understand the songs, and the dancers were so bundled up I couldn’t even enjoy the view. So I passed the time admiring the beauties in the hall.
Before I’d finished surveying them, someone tugged lightly at my sleeve. Turning, I saw that Qi Sheng’s seat had been taken by a young beauty of about fifteen or sixteen. Lively and adorable, she smiled brightly and tugged at me. “Sister-in-law.”
If only she had said “Older Brother,” I sighed inwardly. Luli wasn’t nearby, and I didn’t know who this girl was. Since she called me sister-in-law, she was likely some princess.
She tugged again, leaning close to whisper, “Good sister-in-law, I’m bored here. Will you come outside with me to see the lanterns?”
