Female martial arts fanatics only love to fight, while men fight for their lives.

She accompanied the emperor in the palace for three consecutive days, and the empress gave her enough face.

Although she only accompanied the empress to review memorials and stroll around the garden, and had no involvement in any important court affairs, others didn't know about it!

On the day off that she had finally fought for, she lay in the courtyard of Yushengju and daydreamed, just like she used to do in her own small manor.

She had sent the maids and servants away long ago. If there was nothing to do, she didn't like having a bunch of people around her. She felt uncomfortable.

Jiubai walked over steadily, holding the cakes sent from the kitchen, with an invitation underneath.

Putting it on Lou Xiao's left hand, she handed the invitation to Lou Xiao, "You promised the invitation from the Li Mansion yesterday, don't forget it, Miss."

"What Li family..." She picked up the exquisitely crafted invitation with two fingers. It was wrapped in white silk and painted with dark orchids. It really had the style of a big family.

That Li family.

It is a century-old aristocratic family that has produced several Taifu (Grand Tutors) and famous scholars, and whose students are all over the world. The family has produced many talented people and has a very high status in the hearts of scholars.

It has never declined despite the changes of dynasties.

It’s not like the Duke Zhenguo Mansion, which has experienced ups and downs and almost disappeared in the capital.

The Li family currently has only one branch descendant named Li Yanfan in the court, who is the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and is highly respected.

Now, of course, it was the post she handed over.

"A flower viewing party?"

"The peach blossoms are in full bloom in the Li Mansion. This is also the tacit agreement of a blind date banquet in the capital."

Lou Hong was in charge of the household affairs in the mansion. He brought a dozen servants with him, carrying gorgeous clothes and a newly made hair crown, and urged her, "You still have time to dress up now."

"I'm not planning on getting married, so why would I go there for a date? I'm not going." Lou Xiao threw the invitation back, ignoring Lou Hong's anxiety.

"Didn't you agree yesterday? How can you go back on your word? All the eligible men and women in the capital who are well-known will be present at the banquet," Lou Hong frowned and listed the interpersonal relationships in the capital to her.

“This is the first step into the social circle of Beijing.”

She stood up dejectedly, and Lou Hong waved his hand for the maids to follow.

Everyone filed in, and in front of the dressing table, they only put on a light layer of powder and lipstick for her before being stopped by her.

The cloth awarded by the palace was made into clothes by the embroiderers in the palace overnight. The dark red cloth was faintly glimmering with gold.

The material that even the nobles in the palace didn't get was now worn by her. She looked luxurious and gorgeous, and with the golden crown on her head, she looked extremely wealthy.

Such a majestic and gorgeous outfit suits her very well.

She attracted countless eyes at the gate of Li's mansion. She was followed by the servants assigned by Lou Hong and led into the mansion by Li Yanfan himself.

Li Yanfan is a woman in her late 40s. She is tall and wears a blue-gray dress. She is very excited about Lou Xiao's arrival.

Everyone knew that this was the first time the new Duke of Zhenguo attended a banquet.

Now, among the young men and women in the palace and the old hands who are observing secretly, who is not curious about the favorite person in front of His Majesty?

"I heard that the peach blossoms in the mansion are in full bloom. It's already April, but I didn't expect there are still some." Lou Xiao thought that peach blossoms only bloom in March.

When Li Yanfan smiled, there were fine lines at the corners of his eyes, and he looked amiable. "It's all false praise. I just found an excuse to drink and write poetry for young people."

"Write a poem?" They had already arrived at Yihua Courtyard while walking. Everyone in the courtyard, regardless of age, standing or sitting, cast their eyes over to her, seeing her face for the first time.

Lou Xiao acted like an elder, his eyes sweeping over the men and women under the bright peach trees in the courtyard, "They are all young people, I won't join in the fun."

She said to Li Yanfan seriously, "I can't write poetry. Please give me a more secluded seat. I'll just watch you guys having fun."

────

Li Huaiqing had heard people talking about this Duke of Zhenguo.

All they said was that she was extremely beautiful and was an illegitimate daughter that the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion had found in the countryside.

It is said that the emperor liked it very much and accompanied him in the upper study, and gave him countless rewards every day.

At the flower-viewing banquet, when he was immersed in his poem, Qu Shubai beside him quietly called him, "Zi Yan, the Duke of Zhenguo is here!"

He continued to flip through the manuscript with amusement, "It's here, why are you so excited?"

He looked in the direction his friend was looking and saw the Minister of Revenue, Li Yanfan, personally leading a beautiful lady.

Different from the light and delicate clothes in spring, and also different from the simple and elegant dress of celebrities,

The Duke of Zhenguo was dressed in gorgeous and complicated attire, and his beauty was bold and passionate.

She was like the sudden scorching sun in the light ink painting, so dazzling that Li Huaiqing felt uncomfortable.

"Why am I so excited? The Duke of Zhenguo is indeed good-looking." Qu Shubai exclaimed, "No wonder His Majesty likes her. If he had a beauty like this, he would have to eat a few more bowls of rice."

He leaned in closer to see Li Huaiqing's expressionless face, and laughed softly, "How is it? Is he worthy of your first son?"

"Don't joke. She is the daughter of a duke who has inherited the title, and I am just an idle person with no achievements." Li Huaiqing said modestly.

While everyone was whispering to each other and even standing up to see more clearly, he sat upright as usual, taking it all in stride.

All they knew was that she ignored the expectant gazes of many people and was led into the Yuxiu Pavilion high up in the rockery, while they could only vaguely see her figure through the gaps between the peach blossoms.

"Beauty is like a flower in the clouds," said the third daughter of the Anding Marquis family with a smile, "Come, let's continue. Qu Shubai, if you can't write a poem, you must drink the wine."

"Why are you in such a hurry?" He wrote as fast as a dragon. After finishing writing, he blew gently on the ink and let his servant take it away, full of confidence.

For a moment, the atmosphere among the boys and girls under the peach tree became lively again, as usual.

But there are always people who, intentionally or unintentionally, look up at Yuxiu Pavilion, but no one dares to come forward to disturb them.

Lou Xiao leaned one hand on the railing of the pavilion, admiring the peach blossoms while looking down at the youth of the young people in the capital.

The dim sum at the Li residence was delicious, and she couldn’t help but eat a few more plates.

Suddenly, everyone's eyes focused on one place. Li Huaiqing asked his servant to stand up with his manuscript and went to Yuxiu Pavilion.

The most famous young master of the Li family in the capital is about to meet alone with the most beautiful and high-ranking Duke Zhenguo, which has attracted a crowd of people looking forward to it.

"Miss, Master Li is here."

Lou Xiao brushed off the snack crumbs in her hands and took the handkerchief handed to her by the maid to wipe her hands.

"Is this the first young master that Lou Hong mentioned? The jewel of the Li family?" She vaguely heard a little bit of it and only said that he was almost the one who became Feng Jun.

The entourage led the way, and a man with a gentle temperament, handsome eyes and noble features walked slowly towards them.

His hair was tied up with black jade, and he was wearing a white robe with a silver cloud pattern and a collar with a matching orchid. He held a folding fan in his hand and had a slight smile on his face. He was truly a gentleman like jade.

The peach blossoms outside the Yuxiu Pavilion were enchanting, and when Li Huaiqing raised his eyes, she happened to look at him sideways.

Under her gaze, he lifted the corner of his robe and stepped up the stairs step by step.

When the two people looked at each other, one of them already wanted to pick up a pen to paint this beautiful picture.

Peach blossom, beauty, gentleman.

It’s a pity that this beautiful first encounter was ruined by Lou Xiao’s opening her mouth.

"It seems like a bug fell just now. I wonder if it's on your head."