Only this green, not disappointing the spring

The palace had been busy preparing for the Hundred Flowers Banquet for several days, and Concubine Jing had put a lot of thought into it. But on the day before the banquet, she fell ill due to overwork.

After drinking the medicine for five days, she finally regained some energy. The Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, and she had to hold the banquet before the reunion festival.

As luck would have it, at this time, Shangguan Qingyue returned to Beijing.

Shangguan Chong was a fourth-rank official in the Imperial College, and his daughter had just turned thirteen, so it was natural that he received an invitation from the palace.

Over the years, the Shangguan family has never given up on finding their daughter, and even the palace has heard about it. Therefore, many families are curious about Shangguan Qingyue.

Coupled with the rumors that were circulating as soon as she returned to Beijing, people were even more eager to meet her.

Baili Nanqing attached great importance to this matter and called Caiyi, her maid who was best at dressing up, to come to Panguiyuan together, bringing a lot of things in large and small bags.

"Yuer, your mother has prepared clothes and jewelry for you to wear when you enter the palace. Caiyi is the best at dressing people up, so let her try on your makeup today.

Your father is a low-ranking official, so we don’t have many opportunities to enter the palace. You must be more careful this time, and don’t let people look down on my precious daughter!"

Shangguan Qingyue was curled up on the sofa, drawing on the drawing board with a charcoal pencil. She was so focused that she didn't even realize that her hands and face were covered with charcoal black.

She looked up in confusion and asked:

"Why do you want to enter the palace?"

Zhang Da Niu, oh no, now she was called Xiang Xue, who stood there for who knows how long with a wet towel in her hand. She had wanted to wipe her young lady's hands and face for a long time, but she was too focused and she couldn't bear to disturb her.

Baili Nanqing smiled and took the wet towel from her hand, patiently wiping her little daughter's hands and face. Gently repeating:

"Of course it's to attend the Hundred Flowers Banquet hosted by the Imperial Concubine tomorrow. You've been staying in your room all day since you came home. You're so bored, what can I do?

Today I will go out shopping with my mother. I will buy whatever I like. Your mother is a good moneymaker, so you don’t have to save money for me!

Oh, the Hundred Flowers Banquet, Shangguan Qingyue finally remembered it. I wonder where the imperial concubine got all these flowers and plants in this autumn.

"Mother, have you forgotten what this Hundred Flowers Banquet is for? I, your daughter, do not have the lofty ambition of flying up to the tree and becoming a phoenix.

So, all these fancy things you brought are of no use at all!"

After his daughter reminded him, Baili Nanqing realized that he had almost made things worse.

"Good boy, you are thoughtful. Our family will never sell our daughters for fame, and your father is not an ambitious person. The royal family may seem glorious, but only they themselves know the grievances and hardships behind it.

Let’s hide as far away as we can.”

At this time Caiyi suggested:

"Madam, even so, we can't be careless. There is a way to dress low-key, otherwise it would be bad if the nobles in the palace think that we don't respect the royal family and despise the imperial power."

The hat was too big, and Shangguan Qingyue, who had never seen the world, had no choice but to compromise and let Caiyi smear and paint on her face. The jade pendants jingled, and she even changed her clothes three or four times.

It took nearly an hour to finish the whole thing.

There really are no ugly women, only lazy ones. Sitting in front of the bronze mirror and looking at the girl in the mirror, Shangguan Qingyue was a little absent-minded.

It was an indisputable fact that her looks were average at best.

I didn't expect Caiyi to have the ability to 'turn decay into magic'! With her superb makeup skills, although the color didn't change much, the elegant temperament was highlighted to the extreme.

Baili Nanqing leaned in front of the mirror and smiled with her eyes curved.

"As expected of my daughter Baili Nanqing, your aura is unmatched! Caiyi, your craftsmanship has improved again! There is a reward!"

Caiyi bowed respectfully.

"Thank you, Madam. Madam, you are too kind. Miss Qingyue is pure and unworldly. I am at most the icing on the cake."

Shangguan Qingyue almost thought she was a fairy after being praised by the two. Fortunately, she had self-awareness and stopped her conceited thoughts in time.

The atmosphere in Pan Gui Courtyard was just right, but the Third Prince's Mansion was once again like an icy cave.

Xuanyuan Yan was playing with something in his hand, which made a rustling sound. Qing Yi, who was standing beside him, was already sweating profusely.

"What did you just say?" The cold voice echoed in the study, like raindrops hitting bluestone, and every word made the listener's heart tremble.

"I just received news that Miss Qingyue has also received an invitation from the palace. She will attend the Hundred Flowers Banquet tomorrow."

This Hundred Flowers Banquet was specially held by Concubine Jing for the Fifth Prince, and its purpose was well known to everyone. When Xuanyuan Yan first heard the news, he began to feel inexplicably angry.

But he had no way to vent his anger, and he seemed to have no reason to be angry. The key point was that this was what made him most angry!

"Mother is really so hungry that she actually let a little girl who just turned thirteen attend a blind date banquet! Humph, in her mind, whoever is obedient and easy to control is her good son?"

Qing Yi couldn't help but mutter in his heart: What blind date party? What His Highness said is too harsh.

In fact, most of the noble ladies went there for the talent competition, which was a rare opportunity to gain fame. After all, there was only one consort to the Fifth Prince, and if she could make a splash at the banquet and be noticed by some noble lady...

Well, okay, it's really just a blind date. I have to admit that what the master said is very appropriate.

After a long silence, Xuanyuan Yan spoke again.

"Just back off."

The thing in his hand rustled as he rubbed it. Qing Yi couldn't help but take a glance at it before bowing and leaving.

Xuanyuan Yan looked down at his right hand and found that it was covered with black ash. He wanted to throw the thing in his hand to the ground in disgust, but finally he held back.

I didn't expect the fried melon seeds this girl sent would fade in color! If I eat them as she wrote in the letter, wouldn't my mouth be covered in black ash?

How can this be eaten?

Although he refused in his mind, his hands were honest. He picked up one and put it in his mouth and bit it with his upper and lower teeth. However, he didn't control the strength well and bit the melon seed in half.

He could only spit it into his hand, peeled the skin with his hands, and put the kernel into his mouth again to chew. He couldn't taste it very well, so he simply peeled several kernels with his bare hands and put them into his mouth at the same time. Soon, the rich salty fragrance spread throughout his mouth.

good to eat!

He tried the small bag of light-colored melon seeds again, ate just one and never touched it again.

Xuanyuan Yan himself had only recently discovered that he preferred foods with stronger flavors, and then sweets. He hated those bland soups and teas that were so bitter that they made his tongue numb!

However, Shangguan Qingyue seemed to know his taste preferences very easily, which was what touched him the most...

He casually pulled out a sunflower from the vase on the desk, rolled the flower stem with his fingers, stared at the corolla intently, trying to smell the fragrance of the flower from it. This was something he liked to do recently.

Xuanyuan Yan murmured, "A Hundred Flowers Banquet? If there are no flowers..."