Wang Feifei’s waist was very slender, forming a stark contrast with the fullness above and below it, easily encompassed in a single arm.
“Young Miss?”
Wang Feifei hadn’t expected Di Lingwei to just embrace her like this. She spoke subconsciously, but then strangely felt there was nothing wrong with it. After all, their relationship had reached a very good level over these days. What was a mere hug between them?
Thinking this, Wang Feifei even subconsciously leaned her head over to rest on Di Lingwei’s shoulder.
The moment she leaned over, Wang Feifei felt her action was very improper. No matter how good their relationship was, the person beside her was still Her Majesty the Empress. How could she be so casual?
So Wang Feifei lifted her head again.
But what Wang Feifei hadn’t expected was that just as her head rose, it was pressed back down by Di Lingwei’s reaching hand, resting once more on her shoulder.
“Your Majesty, is it truly alright to do this?”
“Of course it is. And did you forget the form of address again?”
“I’m sorry, Young Miss.”
“No need to say sorry. Just rest well.”
“Mm, mm.”
The two sat inside the boat’s canopy as the vessel drifted freely along the gently rippling lake water.
…
Mist and haze shrouded the area; the sky was hazy and dim.
Unknowingly, the boat had drifted to the location of Peach Blossom Island.
Looking out from the boat, Di Lingwei could see the moderately sized island, lush with abundant vegetation, verdant and glistening. Peach blossom trees grew there, rustling noisily in the wind. From time to time, blossoms left their branches, fluttering down like rain in a riot of colors.
Many boats had stopped around Peach Blossom Island, and many people had entered the island itself. It looked extremely lively.
The Phoenix Capital Poetry Gathering had effectively begun. The gathering was mainly divided into two parts.
One was the official part, and the other was the social part.
The latter was organized by everyone themselves. Acquaintances could tour the lake together, compose poems, and exchange related content.
For the former, the officials would periodically release a topic, asking everyone to compose poems based on it and submit them to the officials. The outstanding ones were said to receive many rewards, which was also a reason why people were drawn here.
Today was the first day of the Phoenix Capital Poetry Gathering. The topic had already been announced, so people coming to Peach Blossom Island naturally had to hand their poems over to the officials. The officials were located on Peach Blossom Island.
Because this was a poetry gathering organized by the Ministry of Rites, and its very first iteration, the Ministry of Rites placed great importance on it. Therefore, the person responsible for receiving everyone this time was a Vice Minister from the Ministry of Rites named Chang Hong.
Once all the poems on the topic were submitted, they would then be reviewed by the entire Ministry of Rites.
Thinking of this, Di Lingwei took out a red veil and put it on, concealing her features. She then handed an identical veil to Wang Feifei.
“Young Miss, we are…” Wang Feifei took the veil with some curiosity.
“We’re going up to Peach Blossom Island to look around, but I don’t want to be recognized,” Di Lingwei said as she rose and walked out of the boat canopy.
Wang Feifei nodded in understanding. There were so many people from the Ministry of Rites on Peach Blossom Island; they might indeed recognize Di Lingwei. Covering their faces was necessary. But would they really not be recognized just like this?
Wang Feifei felt that if it were her, she would definitely be able to recognize Di Lingwei even with the veil.
As the boat docked and stopped, Di Lingwei stepped onto the land of Peach Blossom Island. Wang Feifei, after securing the boat, hurriedly followed.
The island bustled with people coming and going. Acquaintances chatted loudly with each other, full of high spirits.
Everyone was discussing the poetry gathering: someone had composed an exceptionally brilliant poem, likely to attain a good ranking; some celebrity had appeared; there were even mentions of many women from brothels showing up.
Since ancient times, poetry and the pleasure quarters have been difficult to separate. Who knows how many poems passed down through the ages were composed within those very establishments? Perhaps it was only with beautiful women around, feelings lingering, and under the influence of alcohol, that inspiration came more easily.
“Feifei, do you know what the topic for today’s poetry gathering is?” Di Lingwei swept her gaze over the people on the island, then asked Wang Feifei.
Wang Feifei tilted her head and thought, then said helplessly, “I don’t remember. I seem to have heard someone mention it on the way, but I wasn’t paying attention and have already forgotten.”
Di Lingwei chuckled lightly. “No matter. Let’s walk around and see.”
They walked forward, passing through a peach forest where petals fluttered down.
There were quite a few people here. Di Lingwei looked left and right, then casually stopped someone and asked, “Miss, may I ask what the topic for today’s poetry gathering is?”
It was a slightly strange-looking young woman. She wore a white dress, her hair was elaborately braided, and her face was covered by a veil. Only her forehead, as smooth and fair as porcelain, and a pair of bright peach blossom eyes beneath elegant brows were visible.
The reason she seemed odd was that she appeared to be evading someone’s pursuit, glancing around furtively from time to time with a sneaky demeanor.
When Di Lingwei called out to her, she was badly startled. But after getting a clear look at Di Lingwei and Wang Feifei, she breathed a sigh of relief. Although the two in front of her wore veils just like her, she knew they weren’t looking for her.
“The topic? Today’s topic is Peach Blossoms,” the girl then gave her answer.
Peach Blossoms?
Di Lingwei nodded in understanding, feeling that such a topic was indeed quite fitting for the current time and place.
“Thank you for the information, Miss. Feifei, let’s go.” Di Lingwei thanked the girl in the white dress and prepared to continue on her way.
Seeing this, the girl in the white dress rolled her eyes and said, “Wait, you two seem like you’re not very familiar with things here. Why don’t we travel together?”
Hearing this, Wang Feifei immediately became alert. She stepped forward, staring fixedly at the girl in the white dress.
That gaze instantly made the girl flustered and confused. She didn’t understand why Wang Feifei’s eyes were so intimidating, and she subconsciously stepped back two paces.
“What are you doing? If you don’t want to, then don’t. Why glare at me like that?” the girl in the white dress replied, looking very aggrieved.
Wang Feifei didn’t speak. As a competent Commander of the Imperial Guard, she had to take any person trying to get close to Di Lingwei seriously.
Di Lingwei glanced at the girl in the white dress and employed her Mystic Left Eye.
Name: Ning Xiaoxian.
Identity: Top Courtesan of the Golden Butterfly Pavilion.
Top Courtesan?
Di Lingwei couldn’t help but find this interesting. The Golden Butterfly Pavilion was a brothel; she had also visited it once back when she was trying to win over Wang Feifei. The person before her was the top courtesan of that brothel?
A top courtesan was clearly very important to a brothel, yet here she was, appearing out alone. It seemed quite peculiar.
“What’s your name?” Di Lingwei asked Ning Xiaoxian with a smile.
“Me? I’m Ningning. You?” Ning Xiaoxian clearly wasn’t telling the truth, but she still gave an answer, feeling that Di Lingwei was much easier to get along with than Wang Feifei.
“I’m Weiwei.” Di Lingwei didn’t tell the truth either.
