Chapter 109

Chapter 109: The Flower Viewing Banquet

Chun Zhi was new to the Capital and had not yet dealt with those imperial relatives and high nobles. A few days ago Empress Wang had summoned her into the palace. She had handled herself well enough, but the impression that she did not listen to advice must have sunk in. When dealing with others, Chun Zhi needed to be extra careful.

Huo Zheng only asked whether Chun Zhi wanted to go; he did not tell her whether she should go.

Chun Zhi said: “If this were before, I surely would not go. But I am already your wife, and I will have to meet your relatives sooner or later. Since the Princess Royal of Anyang has already sent me a card, I have no reason to avoid her.”

If she did not go, would that not let others laugh at Huo Zheng for marrying a princess consort who could not show her face?

“Chun Zhi…” Huo Zheng drew her into his arms and sighed softly by her ear as he said: “You do not have to force yourself like this.”

Chun Zhi said: “This does not count as forcing myself.”

Before, she had feared that Huo Zheng would treat her like a plaything and force her to be a concubine, so she had wanted to leave. Now Huo Zheng had put in so much effort just to marry her as his wife. As his wife, she could not let him lose face.

Chun Zhi said: “I am not so ugly that I cannot be seen… By the way, who is the Princess Royal of Anyang to you?”

“She is my aunt,” Huo Zheng said, and he told Chun Zhi about this Princess Royal of Anyang. His aunt had married twice. The first prince consort had rebelled and was executed along with his entire clan. The Princess Royal of Anyang cut ties for the greater good, and not only was she not implicated, she was also promoted in rank. Her second husband was a general who died in battle a few years back. The Princess Royal of Anyang had not remarried. She held a high position in the Capital and could speak directly to the emperor.

Because she had married twice and had no children, her ways were very open. In her Princess Manor she kept several favored men and loved lively scenes, hosting banquets every few days. In truth, Aunt Anyang cared least about family rank.

However, Huo Zheng had been a proper boy from a young age, and the Princess Royal of Anyang had liked teasing him most. The older he grew, the more he kept his distance from this aunt who never acted by the book. He had not expected that the first person in the Capital to send a card to the future Princess Consort of Chang’an would be her.

Thinking it over, Chun Zhi said: “In that case, I should go to this Princess Royal of Anyang’s flower-viewing banquet.”

Huo Zheng said: “In three days I still have a major case to handle. I am afraid I cannot accompany you to the banquet.”

Chun Zhi said: “Do your work. You cannot accompany me every time.”

Even in a normal household, there were many social ties to manage, with weddings, funerals, birthdays, and all kinds of events. A household’s leading wife had to handle those things. As Princess Consort of Chang’an, there would be countless banquets to attend. Huo Zheng had official duties and could not always go with her.

Huo Zheng raised a brow and said: “Do you truly want to go?”

Not putting on a brave face, Chun Zhi said: “I am a little nervous. But everything has a first time. If I go to more of these banquets, I will get used to it.”

Huo Zheng could not help but smile as he said: “Then after I finish the case, I will come early to Princess Royal Anyang Manor to pick you up.”

Chun Zhi said: “That would be best.”

She had not even gone to the Princess Royal Anyang Manor yet and was already looking forward to Huo Zheng coming to pick her up.

Huo Zheng stayed in the small courtyard to eat dinner with Chun Zhi and told her what to watch out for at banquets in the Capital. Only when it grew late did he leave Song Manor.

As usual, Chun Zhi walked him to the gate.

A mild spring wind blew under the bright moon. Inside the wall, the peach blossoms were in full bloom, their branches spilling over the wall.

Holding Chun Zhi’s hand, Huo Zheng walked with her beneath the flowered branches, and when it was time to part, he still could not bear to let her hand go.

In a low voice, Huo Zheng said: “I wish we could marry tomorrow.”

Chun Zhi smiled and said: “It is already March, and the wedding is not far off. Now we spend a little time together each day and you still feel it is not enough. After we are truly married and face each other day and night, I fear we will get tired soon.”

Huo Zheng looked at Chun Zhi and said: “No. As long as it is you, I will never get tired of looking at you.”

When feelings run deep, sweet words come easily.

Chun Zhi smiled and said: “Alright, it is late. You have official work tomorrow. Go back early.”

Huo Zheng said: “You go in first. I will watch you walk.”

Chun Zhi did not know why Huo Zheng was so set on it. Every time he had to watch until her back disappeared before he would leave. She did not ask. Under Huo Zheng’s gaze, she walked back slowly.

Moonlight covered the ground and flower shadows crossed and layered. In the drifting scent, Chun Zhi’s skirt hem and sleeves fluttered in the wind like those of a fairy consort.

Huo Zheng stood there watching for a long time. Only when she entered the covered corridor and her figure was completely hidden by the flower shadows did he turn to go.

The next day, Chun Zhi and Song Wan’er began choosing what to wear to the banquet. Song An Lan specially found a dresser for them, who helped them pick the latest clothes and jewelry popular in the Capital.

Soon it was March nineteenth, the day of the Princess Royal of Anyang’s flower-viewing banquet.

Song Wan’er and Chun Zhi went together to the Princess Royal Manor to attend, with Qing Ye, Jin Shu, Luo Shang, and other maids accompanying them.

Before they left, Song An Lan again and again warned Song Wan’er not to show off their wealth in public and not to try to do everything with money.

“Yes, yes,” Song Wan’er said as she adjusted the gold hairpin by her temple, then could not help adding: “Elder brother, you have said it so much that my ears are getting calluses.”

Knowing his sister’s nature well, Song An Lan could only ask Chun Zhi to keep an eye on Song Wan’er.

Chun Zhi was always calm and confident and handled people well. Song An Lan never worried about her, only that Song Wan’er might cause her trouble.

Song Wan’er made a zipping motion and said: “Once we arrive at the Princess Royal Manor, I will stand quietly by sister’s side. When sister bows, I will bow. When sister talks, I will keep my mouth shut. I will just be a pretty little mute. That should work, right?”

Lifting his hand, Song An Lan tapped Song Wan’er’s nose and said: “You.”

Chun Zhi smiled and said: “Elder brother, rest easy. Song Wan’er has always been well-behaved and sensible. She will not cause you trouble.”

“She is well-behaved and sensible,” Song An Lan said with a brief smile as he added: “If only that were so. It is getting late; you should go.”

Song Wan’er said: “Elder brother, don’t worry. At the banquet, sister and I will keep an eye out for noble ladies in the Capital. If we meet one who is beautiful and virtuous, we will bring her back to be your wife.”

Song An Lan paused, about to speak, but Song Wan’er had already led Chun Zhi out the door at a quick pace.

The two of them climbed into the carriage and headed for Princess Royal Anyang Manor.

There were especially many guests going to the Princess Royal Manor today. Because many had heard that the future Princess Consort of Chang’an would attend, even those who had not received the Princess Royal’s invitation came along with people who had, just to join the fun.

In front of the Princess Royal Manor gate, carriages came and went like a stream.

Madams and noble ladies arrived one after another. Their hair was piled high and their faces were bright, all of them very beautiful.

From time to time Song Wan’er lifted the carriage curtain to look out. One moment she praised how pretty someone’s dress was; the next she said another person’s pearl hairpin looked even finer.

Just as the Song Manor carriage was about to pull up to the front gate, a carriage beside them suddenly cut in and stopped right in front of them…