Entering the Chrysanthemum Garden, Nian Jiaojiao and Nan Qing saw more chrysanthemums than they had ever seen in their lives.
The garden was filled with chrysanthemums of every variety, red like fire, yellow like gold, green like grass, orange like tangerine, pink like silk... These chrysanthemums bloomed defiantly in the frost, colorful and in a myriad of poses.
At this moment, hundreds of square tables were arranged in the center of the garden, with cushions below to allow everyone to sit on the ground.
The surrounding vast expanse of chrysanthemums enveloped the garden's center, giving one the feeling of being immersed in a sea of flowers.
As they arrived early, there were not many people present.
Nian Jiaojiao led Nan Qing to a corner seat by the chrysanthemums.
Since they shared a table, they wouldn't feel awkward sitting with unfamiliar people during the upcoming banquet.
Wine pots and cups were already laid out on the table, and the attendants filed out in a long line, placing food and pastries on the tables one by one.
Nian Jiaojiao leaned against the flower bushes. Occasionally, a gentle autumn breeze would pass, scattering a faint fragrance into the air, truly refreshing.
She first poured a cup of wine for herself and tasted it. Feeling the alcohol content was not high, she asked the person beside her:
"Nan Qing, do you want a drink?"
Nan Qing picked up the wine pot and poured a cup for herself:
"I'll do it myself."
Seeing that although Nan Qing was not drinking quickly, she kept taking sip after sip, Nian Jiaojiao advised:
"If you drink too much, and the after-effects hit, don't expect me to carry you back."
Nan Qing looked over, her cheeks already flushed a faint red.
She saw the glistening light in her eyes at that moment.
Her heart felt a tug.
"Ahem."
Nian Jiaojiao turned her face away, coughed twice, and suppressed the strange feeling that arose.
"Wife, don't worry, Nan Qing knows her limits."
Nan Qing put down her wine cup and chuckled.
"Hmm, I'm going to admire the scenery. Do you want to come?"
Nian Jiaojiao suddenly stood up and said.
"Okay."
The two of them walked out of the garden's center and began strolling along the long corridor.
...
"Xu'er, you must understand that not everyone can enter the chrysanthemum garden's poetry gathering."
"This is the most famous poetry gathering in Qingzhou!"
"It's your good fortune to be able to come in with me!"
"How is it? Isn't it nice?"
As they approached a turn, Nian Jiaojiao and Nan Qing overheard a woman boasting loudly.
At the corner.
The woman pointed at the garden full of chrysanthemums, looking as if she held the world in her hands.
The man did not retort, merely watching the woman's exaggerated performance quietly.
At this moment, Nian Jiaojiao and Nan Qing rounded the corner and saw the faces of the two people clearly.
Nan Qing showed no reaction, but Nian Jiaojiao was somewhat surprised.
The man in front of them was none other than Cheng Xu, the son of Magistrate Cheng of Shanshui Town.
Cheng Xu also saw Nian Jiaojiao at this moment. He recognized her at first glance. The woman beside him was still chattering incessantly, and a flicker of embarrassment crossed his face.
Since the Full Moon Poetry Gathering, her ethereal and detached demeanor had haunted his dreams every night.
When he found his mother and expressed his willingness to marry her.
However, his mother sighed and said that while it might have been possible before, it was no longer feasible.
Six months later, he married his cousin, the woman currently beside him.
Cheng Xu's cousin was twenty-six years old and had already taken three husbands.
His cousin was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations and came from a scholarly family.
Judging by the conditions alone, it was good.
But her emaciated appearance, squinting eyes, and face full of moles were the reasons he had been unwilling to marry her before.
Seeing Cheng Xu avoiding her gaze, Nian Jiaojiao knew he intended to pretend not to know her. She said to Nan Qing beside her:
"We've walked quite a bit. Let's head back to our seats."
Nan Qing, naturally perceptive of the man's gaze towards Nian Jiaojiao, subtly blocked his line of sight as they turned away.
Cheng Xu watched their retreating backs, a hint of melancholy in his eyes.
"Xu'er? What's wrong? Do you know those two?"
Cheng Xu shook his head and forced a smile:
"No."
...
The Chrysanthemum Garden Poetry Gathering began.
At this time, the tables were adorned with beef, fried chicken, bird's nest soup, chrysanthemum cakes, and sliced lotus root, along with other vegetarian dishes.
This poetry gathering was not about competing for dominance; instead, as people ate and drank, inspiration would strike, and a few casual lines would elicit applause from everyone.
The atmosphere was excellent, and everyone gradually became acquainted.
At this moment, Huang Batian, as the host, stood up with his wine cup to give a speech.
"Thank you all for gracing us with your presence. Our Huang family's Chrysanthemum Garden Poetry Gathering, of course, would also like to thank our Mingxuan for diligently organizing this banquet."
Huang Mingxuan, sitting in his seat, looked at his elder sister and said:
"Elder sister, you flatter me. Father is unwell, and as his children, we should share the burden."
The guests below began to praise him.
"Young Master Mingxuan of the Huang family truly has the demeanor of a noble son."
"Yes, indeed."
At this moment, Nian Jiaojiao stared blankly at the elegant young man.
Young Master Mingxuan of the Huang family...
Isn't his name Huang Mingxuan!
The name Huang Mingxuan immediately made Nian Jiaojiao realize who he was.
He was not the male protagonist in the book, but one of Nian Zhenzhen's consorts.
Rather, he was a supporting character!
When Nian Jiaojiao first started reading the book, she had thought he was one of the male protagonists. It was only when he turned to villainy and his entire family was executed that Nian Jiaojiao realized this man, who had such a significant presence early on, was actually a supporting character!
Nian Jiaojiao recalled the plot of the book.
In the beginning, this supporting character, Huang Mingxuan, provided Nian Zhenzhen with a lot of help.
It could be said that without his assistance, Nian Zhenzhen would not have had the opportunities and chances she had later, and the other consorts might not have even noticed the female protagonist when they met her.
And the female protagonist Nian Zhenzhen had indeed liked this supporting character Huang Mingxuan, promising to marry him as soon as she passed the imperial examination.
But unexpectedly, the female protagonist met her first consort by chance and married him.
Initially, Nian Zhenzhen still intended to fulfill her promise and take Huang Mingxuan as her second consort.
However, Huang Mingxuan inexplicably became fixated, believing that the female protagonist had previously promised to make him the primary consort and that she had betrayed him by breaking her promise.
Thus, the supporting character Huang Mingxuan turned to villainy and continuously caused trouble for the female protagonist.
The female protagonist's primary consort was the son of the Prince of Qingzhou, who would not tolerate such behavior. Furthermore, the Prince intended to weaken the power of these powerful families in Qingzhou.
Therefore, he made an example of the Huang family.
Ultimately, the entire Huang family was executed, and all their wealth fell into the hands of the Prince.
The female protagonist, who had contributed the most to this action, received a reward of 100,000 taels of silver, which further paved her way to eventual success.
Looking at the elegant young man gracefully handling everyone's interactions, Nian Jiaojiao found it difficult to reconcile him with the man described in the book.
However, in a way, they were in the same boat.
Both were pushed towards the executioner's platform by the female protagonist.
At his last moment, he lifted his head, stared intensely at Nian Zhenzhen, and said word for word:
"If there is a next life, I would rather have never known you!"
Thinking of this, Nian Jiaojiao's gaze was filled with sympathy.