Sui Sui dragged me to the Moon Dissolving Palace to try on her new clothes. She tried on seven or eight outfits, each looking quite good, but she always managed to find something unsatisfactory.
This little imp loved good food and fun. While she enjoyed looking beautiful, she had never spent so much thought on dressing up before.
I stared at her suspiciously for a long time before suddenly understanding.
With envoys from the Northern Frontier arriving in the capital, even if the Grand Commandant of Dinghai Pass didn't return, he should at least send someone of sufficient standing to accompany them. I snapped my fingers, "Is it the Grand Commandant's heir who is returning?"
Grand Commandant Ouyang Wen had guarded Dinghai Pass for many years with his family. However, when his eldest son, Ouyang Yun, was six, he sent him back to the capital. Ouyang Yun lived in the imperial palace until two years ago before heading to the border. Those with keen eyes speculated that the Emperor, not trusting the Grand Commandant, had kept his heir as a hostage to prevent him from colluding with the Northern Frontier. However, the truth was that the Grand Commandant felt the tutors at the border were not as good as the great scholars in the palace.
He had specifically sent Ouyang Yun back to study. kuAiδugg
Perhaps it was because Ouyang Yun was handsome, but Sui Sui had always loved trailing after him since she was little.
Like a little shadow, and she always liked to bring me along.
Upon hearing this, Sui Sui's face indeed flushed red. "We haven't seen each other for two years. I wonder if Brother Yun still remembers me?"
"Don't you two write to each other usually?"
"We do. I received a letter just last month."
She wrote last month, yet she was asking if he remembered her? Wasn't that pure nonsense?
I was utterly speechless.
Sui Sui, however, opened the floodgates of memory and pulled me into reminiscing about the past for a long time. She spoke of many things with a touch of emotion, but I...
I remembered, yet felt absolutely nothing.
One could only say that whatever a loved one did, no matter how small, would be infinitely magnified.
Speaking of which, Sui Sui was also nearing her coming-of-age ceremony. Young girls in love, the vague feelings of the past had now become clear and apparent. I recalled Ouyang Yun's appearance. Two years ago, the young man had not yet fully matured, but as long as he didn't turn out poorly, he shouldn't be too bad. He would be quite a good match for Sui Sui.
The Flower Appreciation Banquet passed uneventfully.
Because Sui Sui had pulled me into reminiscing about the past, neither of us watched the performances of the noble ladies. I heard that the highest prize was won by the daughter of Prince Jing, who had come to join the fun. She was only twelve years old this year.
Song Shuxian played the harp, but her condition was poor, and she performed far below her usual standard.
It was said that not long after she left the palace, the Song family hastily summoned a physician, as her mother seemed to be ill.
A Xiu whispered, "Master Song had a big argument with her before leaving the capital, likely angering her then. But thinking that Miss Song was about to participate in the Flower Appreciation Banquet, she endured it and didn't call for a doctor."
When a mother is ill, it is only natural for a daughter to be at home attending to her. How could she dress up so splendidly to attend a palace banquet? However, neither Madam Song nor Song Shuxian could bear to give up the chance for the position of Crown Princess, which was why Madam Song suppressed her illness and insisted that Song Shuxian participate in the Flower Appreciation Banquet.
Tsk, that was the downside of being out of the loop.
I wondered what their reactions would be if they knew the truth behind this Flower Appreciation Banquet.
After the Flower Appreciation Banquet, the selection of the Crown Princess became a hot topic of discussion. Gambling houses even opened odds on which lady would be chosen.
Originally, Song Shuxian had high odds. But after the dispute at Jinlu Pavilion and the subsequent punishment of Master Song, people were not so sure. Conversely, because the Empress showed me her usual closeness that day, many people felt that I might follow in the Empress's footsteps – becoming the Crown Princess as the daughter of a merchant.
Of course, several other noble ladies were also strong contenders.
A Xiu bet all her savings on me.
When my mother found out, she took a sum of money and gave it to Aunt Ruyi, also placing a bet. In her words: "Free money, why not take it?"
Days flew by at an astonishing speed. The nine days of examinations ended.
Our entire family went out to the examination grounds to pick up my brother and An Yishi, who were almost completely drained. My brother's face was pale, and his steps were unsteady. He collapsed as soon as he got into the carriage. An Yishi was relatively better, but only slightly. The first thing they did upon returning home was to bathe, and then they slept like the dead, not even eating.
They said they had no appetite.
My mother looked at her elder son, who had become extremely thin, and tears streamed down her face. She was heartbroken.