Chapter 421

"Huanglan Garden", Tongyun Hall is situated on extremely high ground; facing the open doors, one can see the distant, endless imperial capital city, myriad household lights and brilliant radiance.

Moreover, countless sounds of joy and laughter, along with firecrackers and fireworks, come from afar.

In this situation, with family keeping company and enjoying the New Year's feast, even the Son of Heaven, the Emperor himself, cannot help but be in high spirits, drinking heartily.

Heng Xian, accompanied by Ji Yaoyue's thoughtful attentiveness, unconsciously drank a few more cups and ate his fill of delicious food.

The entire Tongyun Hall was filled with harmonious joy.

At this moment, Heng Xian inexplicably sensed a gaze fixed on him; he instinctively looked over and happened to meet the crown princess's eyes.

The crown princess did not avert her gaze; she continued to stare at him intently, her eyes filled with an indescribable meaning—half resentment, half hatred.

No ordinary person could possess such a gaze.

Since the crown princess entered with the crown prince, her presence had been low-key, and Heng Xian had not noticed her; upon seeing her now, he broke out in a cold sweat, wondering what it meant.

At this moment, Ji Yaoyue raised her head, glanced over in surprise, and the crown princess immediately shifted her gaze to the crown prince, adopting a faintly smiling, dignified and graceful demeanor.

"What's wrong?" Ji Yaoyue asked.

Heng Xian thought for a moment, then realized the crown princess looked somewhat familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere before, and he whispered: "Where is the crown princess from? What is her name?"

Ji Yaoyue gave him a strange look and whispered: "Four years ago, His Majesty selected concubines for the Crown Prince; at that time, Liang annexed Kezi State, and the great Yang clan of Kezi offered a daughter, while Liang also presented Qi Jing. This woman underwent layers of selection and eventually became the Crown Prince's principal consort!

She seems to be called Yang Lan'er; she gave birth to the eldest imperial grandson Ji Huan the year before last, and last year to the eldest imperial granddaughter Ji Qing, and is greatly favored by the Crown Prince.

Her brother Yang Shu serves as a Tiger Roar General in the Western Guard Tiger Roar Army under the Crown Prince's command, and her senior fellow disciple Wu Xingyuan holds the posts of Censor-in-Chief and Left Vice Minister of Works in the court!

How is it? Could you possibly know her?

Heng Xian froze for a moment.

More than just knowing her! Isn't she the daughter of Old Man Yang Jia, whom I encountered on the road while being pursued by the Fourteen Sects a few years ago?

The small drum magic treasure in my Storage Bag was even taken from their house!

This… is the Crown Princess of the Great Zhou Empire?

Could the Censor-in-Chief and Left Vice Minister of Works, Wu Xingyuan, possibly be that timid Wu Sheng who feared ghosts and monsters back then?

I haven't run into him at all during this period!

The Yang father and daughter and Wu Sheng initially went back on their word, and I dealt with them; I recall that when they finally left…

I spouted nonsense, saying I wanted to marry into the Yang family; in the end Miss Yang Lan'er let me have my way with her, even serving as my "tool" to pull off a cicada's shell escape and run away!

"Brother Yan, are you sincere?"

"Brother Yan is handsome and a cultivator; Lan'er is willing ten thousand times, only hoping Brother Yan will dote on Lan'er in the future!"

Heng Xian simply couldn't reconcile the memory of that weak, bullyable, shy Yang family girl with the dignified, graceful Crown Princess before him, whose every frown and smile showed perfect etiquette!

"Your gaze is very strange!" Ji Yaoyue said.

Heng Xian came to, laughing: "I just feel a bit familiar!"

Ji Yaoyue glanced at him, saying: "Finding pretty women familiar is a man's usual style; aren't you afraid the Crown Prince will target you?"

Heng Xian shook his head: "Petty? I'm not that kind of person!"

Ji Yaoyue pursed her lips and lightly laughed: "I doubt you'd dare!"

At this moment the Crown Prince suddenly raised his cup and looked over: "Brother-in-law, you're called the Poetry Sage; can you improvise a poem?"

The Crown Princess also looked over, her expression showing nothing unusual, like a completely unfamiliar woman, wearing an intelligent, gentle smile on her face.

His Majesty the Emperor, the Empress, all the consorts, the concubines, the princes, the princesses, and the Grand Eunuchs and Senior Lady Officials filling the hall all looked over.

Heng Xian fell silent for a moment, feeling a bit embarrassed; the little poems and verses he'd plagiarized in his past life were fine to write in secret, but to recite them publicly was a hurdle he couldn't get over. He shook his head and said: "My feelings are stirred, I recall the splendor of Qijing, I'm grateful for the Emperor and Princess's benevolent recognition—... but right now I have no poetic inspiration!"

The concubines, full of anticipation, couldn't help but be greatly disappointed.

The Crown Prince said: "The Poetry Sage can't compose a poem? Is it that you don't want to or won't?"

"May you be a cuckold king! May I have your wife in my arms in bed!"

Heng Xian uttered a slanderous remark, too lazy to answer.

Ji Yaoyue laughed: "Just now when Heng Xian arrived, he composed a poem; even the Poetry Sage couldn't possibly keep composing nonstop, right?"

"Oh?" the Crown Prince laughed: "Recite it!"

Ji Yaoyue recited: "Amid the sound of firecrackers, the year departs; the spring breeze brings warmth into the tusu."

"In every household, the sun rises bright and round; we always replace the old charms with new peach-wood talismans."

After everyone listened, they hummed a few lines softly; just then fireworks burst outside, filling the sky with color, truly fitting the occasion.

"Good!" His Majesty the Emperor first laughed: "The poetry fits the occasion, the rhythm and rhyme match, it sounds beautiful!"

"The poetry is excellent!" the Crown Prince laughed: "I just don't know what tusu is."

Heng Xian said: "It's a fine liquor from my hometown, only nobles can drink it!"

"Very fitting!" the Crown Prince nodded.

For a moment, praises rang out.

The King of Wu proposed: "The old year has passed; may the Great Zhou dynasty last for thousands of generations!"

A group of people raised their cups together.

Afterwards everyone chatted among themselves; the Emperor didn't put on airs, and everyone relaxed.

Ji Yaoyue was invited by a few sisters to come over, discussing marriage matters.

The King of Wu also half-seriously, half-jokingly expressed brotherly feelings to the Crown Prince, while the Crown Princess stood to the side smiling softly.

Heng Xian, idle and bored, watched the conversation between the Emperor, the Empress, and Consort De, feeling great interest, not knowing how this emperor's love triangle was proceeding…

The Emperor noticed, and gave him a glance.

If it were anyone else, they'd surely blame him for disrespect; toward Heng Xian they just glared.

Heng Xian simply rubbed his nose and shifted his gaze.

At this moment, two more prince consorts, drunk, walked over: "Heng Xian, we don't accept you, just you brat, what right do you have to be the Prince of Donglan..."

Bullshit, get lost!

Heng Xian couldn't be bothered, muttered a curse, and simply got up and went out for a stroll.

Uh!

The two prince consorts were instantly sobered by the scolding: "Shī Shèng cursed our grandpa?"

The rear gate of the main hall was on the right; the few Tàijiān on guard saw Heng Xian approach and immediately bowed: "My lord, please take it slow!"

My lord?

Heng Xian shook his head, truly deserving of professional attendants—sweet‑mouthed, he casually tossed a few medium‑grade spirit crystals over.

It's spirit crystals! Thank you, my lord!

The Tàijiān were beside themselves with excitement.

Leaving the palace, behind lay a pleasant corridor and the city's mountain scenery; the corridor was hung with large red lanterns, the light very bright.

Every three to five meters stood a palace maid or a Tàijiān.

Heng Xian stretched lazily and walked at a leisurely pace.

Just as he reached a small pavilion by the lake, a clear, cold voice sounded from behind: "Shī Shèng truly has refined taste!"

Heng Xian turned his head and saw the crown princess.

She stood there, dignified and handsome, her crown princess robes splendid and lovely, swaying slightly in the breeze; her eyes were deeper than the lake beside her, completely free of the youthful awkwardness of years past.

Heng Xian fell silent for a moment, then clasped his hands in salute: "Greetings, crown princess; the hall is too dull, I came out for a walk—nothing refined about it!"

The crown princess stepped forward slowly, stood to one side, and gazed at the lake: "Should I call you Yan Chixia, or Heng Xian?"

Heng Xian laughed: "As you wish!"

The crown princess looked at him: "These past years I have never forgotten you!"

(End of chapter)