Chapter 30: The Splendid Country Part 1

Inside the hall, bright lanterns hung everywhere, the candlelight making the whole palace as bright as day. Young noble ladies, dressed gorgeously, entered the banquet in groups, chatting and laughing cheerfully.

“Sister Li, your dress today is especially beautiful.”

“Younger Sister Yun’s headpiece looks nice too, I’ve never seen you wear it before.”

“I heard the Imperial Noble Consort also invited His Highness Prince Heng. Ah… just thinking that I’ll see the Prince soon makes me so excited. If only the Prince would glance at me.”

“Don’t dream. Why would the Prince take a liking to you? Even our capital’s number one beauty, isn’t the Prince not interested in her either?”

As she spoke, that young lady glanced at Liu Qingying’s seat. Liu Qingying wore a white dress, a white hibiscus flower pinned in her hair, looking pure and lovely.

She truly lived up to the title of the capital’s top beauty, but anyone could see that Liu Qingying’s expression wasn’t good.

Hearing their words, Liu Qingying unconsciously bit her lip, feeling down and helpless.

Originally, her plan for tonight was to invite Xia Wuheng to a restaurant, spike his wine with medicine, light incense, and then smoothly spend a romantic night with the Prince…

But all her plans were disrupted by tonight’s banquet.

The Imperial Noble Consort sent invitations to all the noble ladies; she had no reason to refuse, and she heard the Prince was invited too.

Forget it, she could still see the Prince at the banquet. After the banquet ended, she’d find a way to carry out her plan. By tonight, she must become the Prince’s woman!

Liu Qingying swore to herself.

After entering the hall and taking her seat, she inadvertently spotted a familiar figure. Wasn’t that Lin Qiao’er, whom she had been trying to poison and kill?

This damned servant girl, not only did she survive, but she even became a first-rank palace maid by Imperial Noble Consort Xiao’s side.

Liu Qingying hated so much that she nearly broke her nails. That sinister gaze was so intense that Lin Qiao’er could feel it even with her back turned, so she turned her head to glance at Liu Qingying, her eyes showing confusion.

Why was this young lady looking at her like that?

But she seemed to have a bit of an impression of Liu Qingying. Once, after talking with Xia Wuheng, she had run into Liu Qingying. At that time, Liu Qingying’s eyes were a bit shocked, and her gaze held a faint hostility.

Lin Qiao’er instantly understood: Liu Qingying was jealous of her because of her connection with Xia Wuheng.

She found it somewhat amusing. She hadn’t expected Xia Wuheng to have so many female confidants, all outstanding young ladies from prominent families. Then he would find her even less to his taste. So, Xia Wuheng had never liked her, only used her, right?

In that moment, she figured it out, and her last trace of affection for Xia Wuheng vanished completely.

“The Imperial Noble Consort arrives—” The eunuch’s thin voice came from outside, silencing all the young ladies in the hall. They all turned their gazes toward the door.

A Daoist said that Princess Xiao was a fox spirit reincarnated; as soon as she entered the palace, she bewitched Her Majesty, receiving favor night after night, nearly draining Her Majesty’s yang energy.

Many ladies had heard such rumors; they scoffed at them, but their hearts were extremely curious about Xiao Luo.

“Jingle—” A light bell sound rang out, drawing near.

The candle flames in the hall flickered slightly, and then a lavishly dressed woman slowly walked in.

Her face was gorgeous, her lips a deep red, a peach blossom drawn on her forehead adding a touch of allure. The golden phoenix hairpin with dangling ornaments trembled gently with her steps, like fluttering butterfly wings. Her amorous peach blossom eyes swept around, seeming to hold boundless passion.

All the young ladies stared in astonishment, thinking that Imperial Noble Consort Xiao truly was a spirit reincarnated, just as the rumors said.

Otherwise, how could one glance from her make their hearts race and faces flush?

Ah, could they have been bewitched too? The ladies all lowered their heads, not daring to look anymore.

Only after Xiao Luo took her seat did she smile and say, “Everyone, please don’t be formal. This is my first time being Imperial Noble Consort, and I find palace life a bit boring, so I wanted to chat with my sisters to relieve my boredom.”

“Yes, Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort.”

Then the ministers’ daughters adjusted their attitudes and began presenting gifts to Xiao Luo.

“Imperial Noble Consort, this is a South Sea pearl my grandfather obtained last year.”

“Imperial Noble Consort, this is a thousand-year ginseng treasured by our family.”

“Coral wood…”

“Western rug…”

“Jadeite crown…”

The noble ladies came one after another, presenting all kinds of precious gifts. Xiao Luo’s smile grew numb from receiving so many, and she kept racking her brain for words of praise.

Finally, when the gift-giving was over, Miss Li from the Ministry of Revenue spoke up: “Miss Liu, everyone has given gifts to the Imperial Noble Consort. Why did you come empty-handed?”

Liu Qingying’s expression turned unsightly. She truly hadn’t prepared anything, but she hadn’t expected to be the only one without a gift. Wouldn’t this make her a target?

Xiao Luo spoke up: “It’s no matter. Gifts aren’t important; what matters is the thought. I have already felt everyone’s goodwill. Miss Liu, don’t worry about it.”

As she said this, she lowered her eyes and smiled slightly at Liu Qingying.

“Thank you, Imperial Noble Consort.” Liu Qingying, who hadn’t felt much before, now felt somewhat embarrassed.

She had originally thought the Imperial Noble Consort was overbearing and would definitely be displeased, but unexpectedly she was so magnanimous.

“All my sisters, please have some tea. Soon we will have a talent show…”

Before Xiao Luo could finish, the eunuch at the door announced: “Prince Heng arrives—”

Perhaps the male lead, Xia Wuheng, believed that the protagonist should always make a grand entrance, so he liked to show off by arriving late. Not only that, before he even appeared, he said casually, “This Prince is late. Imperial Noble Consort, you don’t mind, do you?”

Then Xia Wuheng appeared before the ladies, wearing a white robe, a half-mask on his face, and waving a fan with dashing charm.

The ladies’ eyes lit up, their gazes sticking to him obsessively, unable to look away.

Feeling their gazes, Xia Wuheng couldn’t help but feel a surge of smugness.

Hmph, just a bunch of vulgar painted ladies. All of them together aren’t worth one of Qingying’s fingers.

He found Liu Qingying among the women and gave her a deep look. Liu Qingying felt a little better in her heart, and she gazed back at him with affection.

Xiao Luo saw this scene, the corner of her mouth curving up slightly, and said, “Your Highness Prince Heng, please take a seat.”

Xia Wuheng then shifted his gaze to Xiao Luo. Seeing her meticulously dressed, he was slightly dazed.

Beautiful, truly too beautiful! But this beauty didn’t belong to him; she had been snatched away by Xia Lingyu first.

A burning desire rose in Xia Wuheng’s heart. When he ascended the throne, he would definitely snatch Xiao Luo and enjoy her beneath him. That feeling would surely be ecstasy, right?

But a cold voice reminded him: “Your Highness Prince Heng, Her Highness asked you to take a seat. What are you still standing for?”

He furrowed his brows and turned to look. It was actually Lin Qiao’er, who hadn’t contacted him for days. How was she here?! And speaking to him in such a tone.

Perhaps he had just lost his composure, and Qiao’er was merely reminding him. Xia Wuheng suppressed his doubts, turned, and found his seat to sit down.

“I have heard that His Highness Prince Heng is a famous talent in the capital.”

Xia Wuheng smiled. “Your Highness flatters me.”

He said he was flattered, but his expression was extremely arrogant; he felt the title was well-deserved.

Xiao Luo’s lips curved further. “All the young ladies here are also renowned talented women of the capital. How about we play a fun game? I will set a topic for the ladies to compose poems, and the Prince will be blindfolded as the judge.”

One young lady said excitedly, “Imperial Noble Consort, is there a good prize for winning first place?”

Xiao Luo smiled. “Of course.”

She beckoned to Chuntao. Chuntao stepped forward and said, “The first place in this poetry competition will receive a banner personally inscribed by the Imperial Noble Consort with the title ‘Capital’s Number One Talented Lady’ and a pair of marriage signs bestowed by Her Majesty! Second and third place will each receive one thousand taels of gold and one thousand taels of silver.”

The women buzzed. This banquet truly had some substance. First place meant being the capital’s top talented lady, and that marriage sign meant she could marry whoever she fancied?

So they all cast shy glances at Xia Wuheng. Of course, when marrying, one should marry a prince.

Liu Qingying was also eager. In terms of talent, she was unquestionably number one and would certainly not lose to anyone. Only she could marry the Prince.

Xia Wuheng found it somewhat interesting, so he said nonchalantly, “This Prince is ready. Come on.”

He took the black cloth delivered by the palace maid and blindfolded himself.

Xiao Luo casually picked a theme: “Wind.”

Then she watched as the talented ladies below began writing poems. After they finished, Lin Qiao’er collected their papers, stood in front of Xia Wuheng, and read each one aloud, letting him choose the best.

As he drank tea, Xia Wuheng selected the top three. The first place winner was the poem composed by Liu Qingying.

Liu Qingying was overjoyed. But the poetry contest wasn’t over yet. Xiao Luo followed up with another theme: “Flower.”

The noble ladies continued composing poems, and Liu Qingying again got first place.

Xiao Luo: “Snow.”

Liu Qingying was still first place.

Before Xiao Luo even said the last theme, the ladies began composing. No need to guess, the last word was definitely “Moon.” Sure enough, Xiao Luo said, “Moon.”

The blindfolded Xia Wuheng felt uncomfortable in his stomach. He felt a ball of gas ramming through his intestines, finally making its way to the exit below.

He was a dignified, handsome, and dashing prince. How could he release such a thing in public? So he held it in…

He barely held it until the last theme.

Xiao Luo seemed to notice something off and kindly asked, “Prince Heng, what’s wrong? Are you unwell?”

Xia Wuheng: “…”

How could he say he wanted to fart and go to the toilet?

“This Prince is fine.” Xia Wuheng persevered. After all, it would end soon, and he couldn’t lose his gentlemanly demeanor.

He took another sip of tea to ease it. After a moment, he felt even more bloated, his face turning purple from holding it in. Even his breathing was cautious, afraid that any movement would make him explode like a punctured balloon.

By now, it was time for judging again. Lin Qiao’er finished reciting the poems, and he endured the pain to select the top three.