After a few light showers, the flowers and trees in the courtyard grew with more and more vigour. In a flash, it was the day of the spring banquet held at the Prime Minister's residence.
Since Li Zhongqian was about to leave for war, Li Yaoying was too busy organizing his baggage to go to the banquet.
The Prime Minister's residence burned incense and hung hanging scrolls, the residence full of distinguished guests.
The young ladies of each family were in gorgeous makeup, dressed in bright and splendid clothing. When they heard that the Seventh Princess was not coming, their faces showed regret, but secretly they were relieved: If the Seventh Princess had come, who would have any mind to look at them?
Li Zhongqian remembered that he promised Yaoying last year that they'd go together to Qujiang to race horses. After taking care of military affairs, the two siblings only brought a few attendants and hid their identities, riding to Qujiang to run a few laps.
The day before the expedition, Li Zhongqian entered the palace to visit Noble Consort Xie.
Noble Consort Xie sat in front of the banister to watch the palace maids have fun on the swing.
Fragrant grass grew around the steps and the sunlight was pleasantly warm. She did not wear makeup. In a plain dress, talking to the palace maids with a smile, she looked peaceful.
Li Zhongqian approached her.
Just in time to hear the Noble Consort Xie beckon a young chamberlain: "Erlang, your hair is messy. Come here, Aniang will comb your hair."
The young chamberlain smiled and answered. When he reached the corridor, he bumped into the gloomy Li Zhongqian, and his face turned white. He took a few steps back and fell to his knees.
"Your Highness, forgive me!"
The young chamberlain did not dare to raise his head, trembling.
Noble Consort Xie often misidentified people, always identifying the palace maid Ah Wei as the Seventh Princess and the young chamberlain as the teenage Second Prince. When they did not respond to her, Noble Consort Xie would panic and be alarmed.
Later, the chief steward asked the young chamberlain and Ah Wei to follow along with Noble Consort Xie, pretending that they were the young imperial princess and prince. The seventh princess also told them to be at ease, saying that they would not be blamed, so his humble self dared to answer Noble Consort Xie's call of "erlang".
Li Zhongqian did not say a word.
Noble Consort Xie waited for a while. Not seeing the little chamberlain, she looked over with a puzzled face.
Li Zhongqian and his mother looked at each other for a moment.
Noble Consort Xie looked at a loss.
Li Zhongqian withdrew his gaze and said indifferently, "No matter. Noble Consort is calling you, go ahead."
The young chamberlain let out a long breath, got up and ran away in a flash.
Noble Consort Xie smiled and called out to him, "Erlang, walk slowly, don't fall."
Li Zhongqian stood in the corner for a long time, then turned around and left.
Ah Wei saw him out of the palace gate, and seeing that he looked cold, she couldn't help but explain: "Your Highness, you shouldn't blame Her Ladyship the Noble Consort...."
Li Zhongqian calmly interrupted her, "I don't blame Aniang."
He understood that Aniang was like this because she was ill.
YOU ARE READING
Thousand Miles of Bright Moonlight
Romance"Thousand Miles Bright Moonlight" will be adapted to chinese drama soon. Yaoying transmigrated into a novel. In the chaotic and troubled times, many nations were at war. Her father happened to be the most powerful of those vying for supremacy, her...
