Unless the Feng family held something that threatened the Ninth Prince or the Duke of Wei, they would not have framed them like this!
Thinking of this, Feng Jin Yao's eyes were filled with coldness. It would be best to find this thing first, so as to gain the upper hand and set a good trap for the Wen family.
Feng Jin Yao was deep in thought when she was suddenly shaken awake by a strong force and came to her senses.
"A Yao, what's wrong? You seem distracted."
"Nothing, perhaps I didn't sleep well last night. Cousin, do you want to go to Qin Xiang Yuan first?"
"Yes, some sisters from the Duke of Zheng's family have also arrived. Let's take them there to play for a while."
Feng Jin Yao nodded, then left a maid to lead the way for Wei Lan Xuan and her party, and first took the other ladies and young ladies to Qin Xiang Yuan.
A waterside pavilion connected Shou Kang Yuan and Qin Xiang Yuan.
In the summer, it would be quite cool and refreshing here, but in winter, it was very chilling.
The group arrived by the waterside pavilion, chatting and laughing without paying much attention.
It was Feng Jin Yao who, by chance, looked towards the waterside pavilion and unexpectedly saw her imperial uncle, Xiao Ting Yi.
Even from more than ten paces away, one could feel his undeniable presence.
The youngest son of the late emperor, the seventeenth brother of the current emperor, was truly a young talent with a majestic demeanor.
"A Yao, what are you looking at?"
Bai Si Ruo had walked a few steps ahead with Xu Ming Yue. Seeing that Feng Jin Yao hadn't followed, she curiously looked back and found that she was frozen.
From her angle, a rockery blocked the view, so she hadn't seen her imperial uncle, Xiao Ting Yi.
She took a few steps forward and saw the person. The smile that had been on her lips suddenly stiffened.
The moment their eyes met, Bai Si Ruo was a little surprised.
She really didn't know how she would encounter this imperial uncle here, but it was not good to turn and leave immediately, so she had to brace herself and step forward to pay her respects.
"Greetings, Imperial Uncle."
Xiao Ting Yi nodded slightly, which was his reply.
The winter was cold, and he was already afraid of the cold, so his dark cloak firmly blocked the wind and snow. Although his complexion was a little pale, his eyes were unexpectedly calm, like a spring, clear to the bottom on the surface, but without anger or joy, not a trace of emotion could be detected.
For some reason, Feng Jin Yao felt a sense of crisis, as if her secret had been discovered. She lowered her head guiltily and also called out "Imperial Uncle" with Bai Si Ruo.
"Sorry to disturb you, Imperial Uncle. I still need to take the sisters-in-law and sisters from the Duke of Zheng's family to the front. I won't delay you from enjoying the scenery here."
After bowing, she immediately pulled Feng Jin Yao and hurried away.
As they walked, she lowered her voice and said to her, "My dear sister, you are truly bold to stare at him. Do you know how tragic the fate of the last person who stared at him was?"
In the cold weather, Bai Si Ruo's forehead was covered with a thin layer of sweat. Xu Ming Yue, who was walking quickly beside her, also looked displeased, but unlike Bai Si Ruo, she was not as if facing a formidable enemy and was still relatively normal.
Feng Jin Yao frowned. In her previous life, she had very little impression of this mysterious Prince Ding.
"He is Prince Ding? I've never seen him before."
Bai Si Ruo's look of "you are truly audacious" amused Feng Jin Yao.
"He's not a fierce beast, why are you so scared when you see him?"
"What do you know? The seventeenth imperial uncle was the late emperor's most favored prince in his early years. If it weren't for the current emperor being much older than him, and if he hadn't been fully grown when the late emperor passed away, who knows who would be sitting on the throne now?"
After saying this, she looked around vigilantly. These were imperial secrets and should not be told to outsiders.
However, seeing Feng Jin Yao's bewildered look, Bai Si Ruo was afraid that she would accidentally offend this powerful figure, and her future days would be difficult. Therefore, she spoke to remind her.
She lowered her voice again and quietly told her.
"The court situation is complex and chaotic. The emperor's most beloved Ninth Prince and the eldest prince, born of the Empress, have been in opposition for many years. It is said that both sides have extended olive branches to the seventeenth imperial uncle, all for the bargaining chip of the Southwest Ding Wang Army in his hands. Unfortunately, after so many years, no one has ever heard of him showing particular favor to anyone. Therefore, his thoughts are too deep for you and me to fathom, do you understand?"
Feng Jin Yao nodded solemnly, "Thank you, cousin, for the reminder. I understand. I will avoid him if I see him in the future."
Feng Jin Yao had no intention of provoking such a person, nor could she afford to provoke him.
So she put away her thoughts, tidied her emotions, and followed Bai Si Ruo to the banquet venue.
The waterside pavilion was quiet, and for now, there was no one within thirty paces.
The charcoal fire was burning well, warming the surroundings.
The attendant Yang Zhao stood quietly behind Xiao Ting Yi, not making a sound. On the other hand, Xiao Ting Yi, who was sitting, seemed more curious.
Cough, cough, cough.
His cough was a lingering illness from a battlefield ten years ago. If it weren't for the expensive medicinal herbs he used to sustain himself, he would have long since met the King of Hell.
In winter, his cough was even more severe than usual. The faint bloodstains on his handkerchief, if seen by others, would likely make them sigh, lamenting that heaven envied talent, wasting such a handsome face and noble spirit.
Xiao Ting Yi had not intended to join the fun today, but due to the repeated invitations from Elder Xu and Prime Minister Bai, and thinking that he had not shown himself in public for over a year, he had no choice but to agree to come.
However, he still lacked the strength to mingle with the young gentlemen in the front courtyard, so he had taken his attendant and hidden in this waterside pavilion.
Unexpectedly, he ran into her!
Was he mistaken?
He heard that the eldest granddaughter of the Bai family had not yet reached her maidenhood. How could a young girl possess such a terrifying aura?
Although her face showed the demeanor of a noble lady, the faint aura of ferocity on her body had not escaped him.
He was a man who had fought on battlefields with swords, spears, and sabers, and was most sensitive to such auras. Even though she still appeared respectful and gentle on the surface, she could not hide it from Xiao Ting Yi. The Eastern Capital was truly full of hidden talents.
A trace of color appeared on his pale face, and a slight smile curved his lips. It seemed there was more excitement to watch.
In Qin Xiang Yuan, Bai Si Ruo led the group of female guests to find everything ready.
"Sisters-in-law and sisters, today is my grandmother's birthday. My aunt specially prepared some ingenious small gifts as tokens of appreciation. However, these gifts cannot be taken away casually; you must guess the lantern riddles correctly to receive them."
After speaking, she signaled the maids behind her to bring out four colored bracelets: white, red, yellow, and purple.
Everyone looked strangely at this. Guessing lantern riddles was not strange, but what were these four colored bracelets for?
"Si Ruo, what are these bracelets for?" One curious person had already spoken, and the others also looked at Bai Si Ruo.
She was not stage-frightened and explained generously.
"Just guessing lantern riddles seems a bit boring. Since there's still some time before the banquet, why don't we all play a game? You can form teams with friends or relatives and select four groups to compete. Let's see which sister with which colored bracelet can win first place. Not only will you receive this small gift, but there are even greater rewards to come."
After speaking, she gestured to the maid, who immediately brought a brocade box.