cold clothes

"I didn't expect Xia Hua to come too."

Xia Hua walked up to the crowd and smiled slightly: "I begged my mother to let me come. I really admire the sisters' stage presence and wanted to see it for myself."

"You're so sweet-talking. Alright, let's go out now, so we don't disturb the courtesans' preparations any longer," Madam Hu said with a smile to Xia Hua, taking Xia Hua's hand as they went out.

Hu's mother's favoritism towards Xia Hua was evident everywhere.

Liu Xia felt a pang of sadness in her heart. "Mom and Xia Hua are just like a real mother and daughter."

“They’re family, unlike us who were just picked up—” tools. Yunqiu didn’t say the word “tool” out loud, but she knew that even if she was a tool, she was a tool for her own revenge.

Wang Yiqing, the second son of the Duke's family, was her target.

On the shore of Xiuyun Lake, a large crowd gathered. Suddenly, a huge procession appeared in the midst of this sea of ​​people, with brocade banners and golden carriages, arriving with great fanfare.

"The Third Prince and the Fifth Prince have arrived!"

Immediately, the people on the street knelt down in worship.

A hand reached out from the carriage, and a clear, cold voice reached the attendants beside him: "Tell the people not to kneel. We are here to share in their joy, not to spoil their happiness."

Even though the economy was booming and entertainment venues were everywhere, members of the royal family were not allowed to visit the streets to seek pleasure. However, Liang Shuyun, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, proposed at the morning court that members of the royal family should enjoy themselves with the people and watch the grand song and dance performances on the Double Ninth Festival together. The emperor agreed and sent the third and fifth princes to attend.

The Third Prince's order was relayed throughout the entire shore of Xiuyun Lake by numerous attendants. The people were overjoyed and shouted, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince!" The festive atmosphere became lively again, and the people followed the imperial carriage, eager to catch a glimpse of the prince.

The carriage stopped at the dock, and the attendants lifted the curtains on both sides, allowing the Third Prince Zhao Qun to emerge. Adorned with a headband and jade pendants, and dressed in brocade robes and a jade belt, he possessed an imposing presence despite being only thirteen years old, exuding an innate regal air. Following behind the Third Prince was a boy in a fox-fur cloak, half a head shorter than him, with a face as pale as paper and a weak, feeble aura. The cloak was larger than the boy's frame, seemingly suffocating him. So young and frail, everyone immediately recognized this boy as the legendary Fifth Prince Zhao Yin, who had lost his mother at a young age and was afflicted with a rare poison.

The difference in bearing and demeanor between the two princes was immediately apparent, and the people's eyes all fell on the third prince.

The Duke's Mansion chartered the largest yacht, and many ministers and their sons respectfully welcomed the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince aboard. As a prominent figure in the world of pleasure, Wang Yiqing, the Duke's second son by a concubine, enthusiastically introduced the most beautiful courtesans in the capital's major brothels to the Third Prince, speaking fluently and eloquently, like a top scholar reciting the eight-legged essay backwards.

"In my opinion, Qingchun, the most beautiful and talented courtesan of Fengxiang Pavilion, is proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She will be performing tonight, so please look forward to it, Your Highness." Wang Yiqing's tone was slightly proud when he spoke of Qingchun.

Zhao Qun became interested in Qingchun. "Oh? It sounds like you admire this woman, Qingchun. Is she your confidante?"

"Ah, no," Wang Yiqing hurriedly denied, "She's just a courtesan for people to enjoy, how could she be considered a confidante?" As he spoke, he secretly glanced at his elder brother, the Crown Prince. For a noble family like the Duke's mansion to welcome a courtesan into their home was a great disgrace, and it wouldn't be good if the Third Prince said something indiscreet, so he quickly changed the subject.

The grand song and dance performance is about to begin. Suddenly, flowers fly all over the stage, and singers take the stage with pipa in hand, playing songs of peace and prosperity.

Zhao Qun had actually grown up listening to the palace's string and wind instruments, and he preferred riding and archery to singing and dancing. Therefore, he listened somewhat absentmindedly, only maintaining a facade of joy. Meanwhile, the people around him were eager for everyone to talk to him, which annoyed him greatly. These hereditary good-for-nothings were nothing but parasites that gnawed at the family's wealth.

He seized a moment while chatting and laughing with a young master from a prominent family and nudged Zhao Yin, who was standing silently beside him: "Fifth brother, what do you think of this music?" He specifically suggested that his fifth brother accompany him in order to deal with this situation. Fifth brother, come quickly and share the burden with your third brother.

Zhao Yin smiled slightly: "Third brother, I've always preferred peace and quiet. It's too noisy here, I..."

Zhao Qun quickly interrupted, "Hey, I see you've been cooped up in the manor outside the city for years and your illness hasn't gotten much better. You should come out and get some fresh air. We're here on behalf of our father to share joy with the people; there's no point in you staying alone."

Zhao Yin: "..."

Thanks to Zhao Qun, the surrounding ministers and young noblemen noticed the Fifth Prince, who had just been deliberately ignored. To avoid awkwardness, some of them began to greet the Fifth Prince. Zhao Yin politely returned their greetings one by one.

With fewer people around to bother him, Zhao Qun felt much more relaxed. He tried to enjoy the song and dance performance, but then he suddenly noticed a gaze fixed on him.

This year's Double Ninth Festival celebration was unusual because of the prince's arrival. Normally, all the audience's attention would be focused on the stage, but now most of the people's attention was drawn to the prince. The small flower boats near the prince's yacht were crowded with young girls who wanted to catch a glimpse of the prince's handsome appearance.

"Having met the prince in this lifetime, I have no regrets!"

"The Third Prince is only thirteen years old, and I am already seventeen... Alas, there is no hope."

"He's already this handsome at thirteen! I must try my best to have a daughter who will marry the Third Prince in the future!"

"Where can't we see the Fifth Prince? Where is the Fifth Prince...?"

Xia Hua was among this group of noble ladies.

Her purpose in coming out was not to watch Liu Xia and Yun Qiu's performance, but like those women, to see the Third Prince. However, she didn't come to see the prince's majestic appearance, but to find out what her enemy looked like.

The woman saw the Third Prince with a look of longing and admiration, but she stared intently at him, wishing she could imprint his face in her mind and witness the day he turned to ashes.

Suddenly, the Third Prince looked in their direction, instantly causing the girls to scream. Only Xia Hua felt panicked and quickly put on her veil and fled.

Zhao Qun spotted Xia Hua at a glance, only noticing that she was a very short girl whose gaze seemed ominous. Just as he was about to take a closer look, Zhao Yin beside him called out, "Third brother, I feel the wind on the lake is getting colder and colder, and I can't stand it. I beg you to allow me to rest in the cabin."

"Then you may go," Zhao Qun replied casually, then looked back at the little flower boat, but the little girl was no longer there.

Xia Hua rode a small boat through dozens of painted boats back to the stage in the center of the lake. Just as she returned to the small room specially set aside for her, an unnatural gust of wind came from behind her. Startled, she turned around and the first thing she saw was a pair of familiar black eyes.

The boy said softly, "Cousin Xia Hua, it's me."