Feathered robes and moonbeams traced the flow of light.
This was Zhong Li's first impression at the palace banquet two days later.
The Emperor seemed to place great importance on this banquet to welcome the envoy from Yingzhou. The dancers twisting in the ballroom and the ministers clinking their cups around them were like a perfect painting of the imperial palace in the jade-like night, captivating the senses.
"Li'er, you're still as averse to mingling as ever." – Kai Shu Ge
Zhong Li, seated at her place and savoring the clear wine in her hand, heard a familiar voice by her ear.
She turned her head. Lan Heng was sitting right beside her.
"Aren't you too, Lord Lan?" Zhong Li raised her wine cup and tapped it against Lan Heng's.
Lan Heng chuckled, gazing past the dancers before him towards the circle of court officials not far away, led by his teacher, Fu Chong.
"I used to always follow behind my teacher, exchanging pleasantries with people I barely knew. It felt awkward then; it wasn't what I wanted. After the incident at Lingshan, it was fortunate, in a way, that you saved me..."
As he spoke, he shifted his gaze back to Zhong Li.
Zhong Li raised her delicate eyebrows, subtly evading his look.
Lan Heng let out a soft laugh and continued, "My relationship with my teacher completely broke down after that. Others might find it a pity, but I don't. I've never been one for pretense or sycophancy. Even if my career stagnates, living more at ease is far better than nightly nightmares."
"You used to have nightmares often, Lord?" Zhong Li inquired, suddenly recalling someone she met who also suffered from nightly nightmares. She wondered how they were now.
Lost in thought, her gaze unconsciously scanned the lively crowd opposite them. As she expected, he was always the focus of the court officials.
"Yes, when I was with my teacher, I could never sleep well and was always mentally tense. I'm much better now." Lan Heng said, noticing Zhong Li's distraction. He followed her gaze, and after a moment, couldn't help but ask,
"I heard from people at the Dali Temple that the Heir Apparent hasn't come to see you for several days?"
Zhong Li paused, her wine cup halfway to her lips. She swallowed the remaining clear wine and nodded. "Yes."
"Why?" Lan Heng frowned.
"We're no longer involved, Lord. Please don't ask." Zhong Li said, draining her wine cup.
Lan Heng's thin lips parted for a long moment. He wanted to persuade her of something, but found he couldn't utter a single word that would bring Zhong Li joy. He knew he wasn't the cause of her lingering sorrow, so speaking more would be in vain.
"Do you know?" he changed the subject. "When I just heard you say you had no further dealings with the Heir Apparent, for a moment, I was filled with joy."
Zhong Li turned her head to look at Lan Heng.
Lan Heng offered a wry smile and said, "I used to fervently wish he would leave you, so I could take advantage of the situation. It's a despicable thought, isn't it?"
"No, people are selfish, especially in matters of the heart. You can't mix anything else into it," Zhong Li replied, her words carrying a hidden meaning.
"But when I couldn't pick up on your cues, when I realized I couldn't comfort you, I knew I probably couldn't enter your heart for the time being," Lan Heng finished Zhong Li's thought.
Zhong Li shook her head. She didn't know how to explain to Lan Heng.
"Li'er," Lan Heng took a deep breath, as if making a momentous decision. "If you'd allow it, I can wait. I waited three years ago; another three years won't make a difference."
Zhong Li froze, staring at Lan Heng.
After a good while, she regained her senses, her gaze passing through the man before her to Hua Yao, who was playfully coquettish with her own brother in the ladies' section not far away.
How could Lan Heng not see that young girl who softened everyone's heart upon meeting her?
"Lord," Zhong Li exhaled a breath. "Is your heart truly with me, or is it still entangled with the unresolved feelings from three years ago?"
"What do you mean by that, Li'er?" Lan Heng asked.
"I mean, Lord, you deserve someone better. You need to clarify what you truly want," Zhong Li said. She then shifted her gaze back to the swaying figures on the dance floor, intending to end the conversation.
Lan Heng sighed and also looked at the singing and dancing before them.
The itinerary for the banquet receiving foreign envoys was planned in advance.
Shen Tu Jue presented several treasures from Yingzhou as a gesture of sincerity during the banquet, which briefly propelled the atmosphere to its climax.
Zhong Li found it rather unremarkable. After all, she had seen models of tuna and delicacies in her modern life. It was the princes, lords, and ministers who looked like 'curious babies', marveling repeatedly.
After Shen Tu Jue finished presenting his treasures, Empress Shen Nong, seated beside Lu Jing'an, whispered a few words into his ear with a smile.
Lu Jing'an's expression initially darkened, and he was about to retort. Seeing this, Shen Nong leaned in and said a few more words. His expression softened slightly, and he finally nodded.
Shen Nong smiled and gave a signal to Zi Pei beside her. As Zi Pei began to walk down the seats, Shen Nong raised her hand and announced, "Esteemed ministers and foreign envoys, this consort sees everyone is in high spirits at this moment. I have invited my niece to present a song, the 'Red Scarf Dance' of Nanyue Kingdom, to further liven the mood."
As her voice fell, a woman emerged from the outer seats. Her waist was like a swaying willow, and her posture graceful, exuding the bearing of a noble lady. A half-veil adorning her face lent her a mysterious beauty.
"This humble girl, Shen Ying, greets His Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress." Shen Ying said, slowly kneeling on the ground, appearing humble and demonstrating perfect etiquette.
As her voice faded, the surrounding ministers all praised her beautiful name. Indeed, "When crowds fly towards the eaves, a bright moon shines, making this woman appear even more unique."
However, no one noticed that as one person heard the name, the hand holding the wine cup tightened so much it nearly shattered.
Empress Shen Nong gazed at Shen Ying with a smile, her eyes full of pride and affection. She glanced at the Emperor beside her, and Lu Jing'an stroked his sparse beard, nodding with satisfaction.
"Ying'er, at this hour, why are you still covering your face? Quickly, take it off."
Shen Ying nodded. Her slender fingers, smooth and without visible joints, slowly slid down the fine veil. With a gust of warm breeze, a face that astonished everyone with its unexpectedness was revealed.
"How can this be?"
"This... no, this person..."
...
As they murmured, many gazes fell upon Lu Wu Xie.
Zhong Li had no intention of getting involved or discussing beauties until her gaze inadvertently fell upon Shen Ying's face, causing her pupils to contract slightly.
Tian Lian Xue?
Her initial assessment of Shen Ying's appearance was that name, but she quickly dismissed it.
Indeed, Shen Ying possessed a face remarkably similar to Tian Lian Xue's, but she knew that the person standing in the center of the dance floor was Shen Ying, not Tian Lian Xue.
The reason was simple, based on her experience investigating Xie Xiao Yun's case: one's temperament, no matter how disguised, could never deceive those with a keen sixth sense. If Tian Lian Xue was a narcissus blooming in water, then Shen Ying was a pure orchid, delicate and refreshingly refined.
She looked at Shen Ying, then slowly raised her eyes to Lu Wu Xie, who was lowering his head and drinking his clear wine not far away. With Shen Ying's appearance, was he also anticipating this?