Chapter 332: A Flower and the Entire Back Garden

At the banquet, wine cups were exchanged, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

Princess Qingya was a bit reserved at first, but gradually she opened up, speaking one moment about interesting things at the Academy, and the next about interesting things outside the palace she had heard from others, her large eyes clear as water, her face full of innocent and artless smiles.

Chen Fei and Ningfei also smiled and chimed in.

The Queen spoke a few words occasionally, also with a smile on her face and a kind attitude; although she still maintained the dignity of a Queen, she made this little princess no longer as anxious as before.

Before coming here, her mother, the Queen Dowager, had given her repeated instructions to be careful and cautious, and not to provoke this terrifying Queen.

Of course, she had also heard that this Queen killed people like hemp and had confiscated the homes of many great families.

She naturally also understood that the entire Great Liang Dynasty was now run by this Queen, who was only a few years older than her.

Although her mother was a Queen Dowager and a generation older than this Queen, it was actually of no use at all.

Let alone a mere Queen Dowager, it was said that even the dignified Empress Dowager had been forcibly placed under house arrest by this Queen, and no one dared to say a word.

Therefore, she spoke very carefully, trying her best to only talk about things at the Academy and outside the palace, and was also extremely respectful and cautious toward this Queen.

"By the way, Young Master Luo, if you pass the exam for Provincial Graduate this year, will you go to study at our Academy? Everyone says that with Young Master Luo's talent, you will surely pass the imperial examination this year."

After Princess Qingya finished telling an interesting story, she suddenly turned her head and looked at the youth beside her, asking.

Luo Zijun was sitting very close to the table, his entire chest almost pressed against the edge of the table, and he was lowering his head to eat; hearing this, he paused, then said: "I probably... won't go."

Princess Qingya blinked her large eyes and looked at him with concern, saying: "What is wrong with you? Why is your face so red, your breathing so rapid, and your voice strange too? Are you sick?"

The Queen at the side said with a smile: "Luo Qing is excited to see you."

Princess Qingya looked puzzled.

The other, Chen Fei, smiled and said: "Young Master Luo has long heard of your famous name, Qingya. I heard that you are not only proficient in poetry, books, and painting, but also as beautiful as a celestial being, and pure and cute as well, so Young Master Luo has always wanted to see you. Now that he has finally seen you today, he is naturally very excited."

Princess Qingya's fair face was instantly covered in a blush, her long eyelashes blinked a few times, and she stole a few more glances at the youth beside her, then lowered her head slightly, her small hands pinching her skirt, and she said shyly: "I... I am not like a celestial being at all."

Ningfei smiled and said: "You are not like a celestial being, but you are even more beautiful and cute than one."

As she spoke, she looked at Luo Zijun, who was lowering his head to eat, and smiled: "Young Master Luo, what do you say?"

Princess Qingya became even more shy and embarrassed, keeping her head down and not daring to speak anymore, yet her two small ears were pricked up.

Who doesn't like to hear others praise themselves?

Luo Zijun kept his head down and said indistinctly: "Mm... mmm..."

Princess Qingya raised her eyes and stole another glance at him with a flushed face, only to see his body suddenly stiffen, and the chicken leg in his mouth dropped onto the table.

She thought to herself: Is Young Master Luo really this excited to see me?

Thus, the little maiden's heart thumped wildly, her small face shy as peach blossoms, becoming even more delicate and cute.

She lowered her head and hurriedly reached for her wine cup, wanting to hide her agitation, but accidentally failed to hold it steady.

"Clang..."

The wine cup suddenly fell to the ground, and the spilled fruit wine splashed up, splattering onto her skirt, as well as the snow-white silk stockings under the hem of her skirt, and her spotless, beautiful embroidered shoes.

"I... I'm sorry..."

She apologized hurriedly and wanted to bend down to pick it up.

Luo Zijun, however, bent down a step earlier, helped her pick it up, and handed it to her.

Princess Qingya took it shyly and thanked him softly.

The Queen glanced under the table and smiled: "Qingya, your skirt, shoes, and socks are all wet; go to the inner room and take them off to change."

Princess Qingya hurriedly said: "No... no need."

Chen Fei smiled: "It's such a cold day, it's not good to wear wet clothes; hurry to the inner room and change. Don't worry, Young Master Luo won't see you."

Princess Qingya was instantly flushed, and just as she was about to refuse, the Queen had already ordered toward the outside: "Qing'er, go get a set of clothes, shoes, and socks."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

A voice answered from outside, and footsteps departed.

Seeing this, Princess Qingya dared not say more, so she had to stand up, lower her head, bow to express her thanks, and then, with a flushed little face, went to the inner room.

As she stood up, the Queen's gaze looked at her pale yellow dress and the embroidered shoes under the hem, and she smiled: "This fruit wine is brewed quite richly, with fragrance overflowing."

Princess Qingya pushed aside the bead curtain, entered the inner room, hesitated for a moment, and then unhooked the curtains on both sides, completely cutting off the view from outside.

Before long, Qing'er came in carrying a set of clothes, shoes, and socks, sent them into the inner room, and said respectfully: "Second Princess, this servant will attend to you while you change."

Every time Princess Qingya changed clothes, she was attended to by a maid, so she did not refuse.

Qing'er helped her untie the sash at her slender waist and smiled: "The Second Princess's waist is truly thin, just as the books say, like a willow."

Princess Qingya was blushing, looking shyly and nervously through the concealing curtains and bead curtain at the blurred figure outside, her heart in a flutter, and she did not hear her words.

Soon, the pale yellow dress was removed, revealing a snow-white body wrapped in a bodice.

Qing'er said: "Second Princess, sit on the bed, and this servant will help you take off your shoes and socks."

Princess Qingya came back to her senses, walked to the bed inside and sat down, looked down, and discovered that her embroidered shoes and the snow-white stockings with lace trim were all soaked by the wine, sticky and wet.

"Eh..."