Chapter 336: In the Pavilion

Chapter 336: In the Pavilion

She looks so much like him.

Everyone who saw Xin You for the first time thought the same thing.

"This way, Your Highness."

Small tables lined both sides of the long pavilion, and at the end, two tables were placed side by side—one for Emperor Xingyuan and the other for the Empress Dowager. Both tables were still empty; Emperor Xingyuan and the Empress Dowager hadn’t arrived yet.

The palace attendant escorted Princess Royale Zhaoyang inside, stopping at the first small table below the Empress Dowager: "Please have a seat, Your Highness."

Princess Royale Zhaoyang took her seat gracefully. Kong Fu, being young, sat beside her mother instead of having her own seat.

Prince Xiu was already seated at the second table on the left, while the first table was taken by the third prince’s mother, who managed the imperial harem. She sat directly across from Princess Royale Zhaoyang.

The eleven-year-old third prince had his own table, and Kong Rui sat between Prince Xiu and the third prince, a sign of Emperor Xingyuan’s favor toward his only nephew. The other princes and imperial princesses, including Princess Xuan, sat with their mothers. The favored concubines without children were seated even farther back.

"Please have a seat, Miss Xin."

When the palace attendant seated Xin You beside Princess Royale Zhaoyang, the crowd’s expressions shifted slightly.

By unwritten rule, the higher one’s status, the later they arrived at the banquet. With the favored concubine already there, the others had arrived early. Though many had guessed about the second table below the Empress Dowager, seeing Xin You seated there was still hard to swallow.

After all, banquet seating reflects one’s status. Miss Xin, not yet in the imperial family tree, was seated opposite the eldest prince, who had already been granted the title of prince. Seeing Princess Xuan still seated with her mother, many were even more astonished. Though Miss Xin was the same age as Princess Xuan, her standing in the emperor’s heart was worlds apart.

Princess Xuan soon caught everyone’s attention. Normally, Princess Xuan would be bothered by the attention, but now she was fixated on Xin You.

She looks so much like the emperor, she thought. Last year at the Eldest Princess’s Residence, she’d thought "Miss Kou" looked like her aunt. They said Miss Xin was older, and the title of eldest princess should have been hers.

Thinking of this, Princess Xuan suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable, her hand holding the teacup tightening again and again.

Concubine Li gently patted her daughter’s hand under the table.

Princess Xuan withdrew her gaze, lowering her eyes to reduce her presence.

In the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Xingyuan asked Sun Yan, "Has the Princess Royale arrived?"

Sun Yan knew clearly that the emperor was ostensibly asking about the Princess Royale, but in reality, he was asking about Xin You, and quickly replied, "Her Highness the Princess Royale has just arrived."

Emperor Xingyuan's expression relaxed: "Then let's go over."

At this moment, a eunuch came in to report: "Your Majesty, someone from the Cining Palace has arrived."

"Let them in."

Soon, a palace attendant from the Empress Dowager’s side came in, saluted, and said, "The Empress Dowager is not feeling well and has ordered me to report to Your Majesty that she will not attend today's palace banquet."

Upon hearing this, although Emperor Xingyuan suspected that the Empress Dowager's discomfort was just an excuse, he had to go to the Cining Palace.

"Mother, where are you feeling unwell? Have you summoned the imperial physician?"

The Empress Dowager reclined on the chaise longue and said indifferently, "It's just the old headache acting up, no need to summon the imperial physician."

"It’s best to have the imperial physician check to be safe."

"Another look won’t make a difference; it’s just to soothe my mind and ease my worries."

Emperor Xingyuan smiled, "Mother, you really should worry less."

The Empress Dowager glanced at Emperor Xingyuan, "I’d like to worry less too, but this past year has been one thing after another."

After listening to the Empress Dowager for a while, Emperor Xingyuan finally heard her say, "Isn’t it time for the banquet? The Emperor shouldn’t stay here with me; go ahead."

"Rest well, Mother. I’ll come back to see you after the banquet."

The son’s thoughtfulness eased the Empress Dowager’s mood somewhat, "No need. You have so much to do. After the banquet, go back to your palace and rest."

At the long pavilion, the absence of Emperor Xingyuan and the Empress Dowager slowly made the atmosphere tense.

Princess Zhaoyang didn’t mingle much with the imperial concubines, so at events like this, she only exchanged a few words with the Virtuous Consort.

The concubines, who had been sitting quietly, started whispering, occasionally glancing at Xin You.

"Ayou."

Xin You looked up, meeting the gaze of Prince Xiu, "Does His Highness have something to say?"

The whispers stopped, and all eyes turned to them.

Prince Xiu, seemingly oblivious to the attention, held a delicate white porcelain teacup in his slender, jade-like hand, speaking gently, "Are you back living at the Xin residence now?"

"Yes."

"Then after the banquet, I’ll take you back. It’ll be a good chance to see the place."

Xin You looked at Prince Xiu for a moment, his eyes holding a faint smile, neither too warm nor too cold, as soothing as a spring breeze.

Under the watchful eyes of many, Xin You didn’t hesitate to refuse, "After the banquet, I need to go back to Qingsong Bookstore. I’ll invite His Highness to my place another day."

Prince Xiu didn’t seem embarrassed by the refusal, "Alright, I’ll wait for my sister’s invitation."

Prince Xiu calling her 'sister' in public surprised many.

If it were still Young Master Xin, Prince Xiu’s open friendliness might have made some suspect hidden motives, but now fewer people thought that. The reason was simple: Young Master Xin had become Miss Xin, and she posed no threat to Prince Xiu.

It seems the rumors are true—after the southern journey, the eldest prince has accepted her as his sister.

However, it seems Miss Xin’s attitude toward the eldest prince is somewhat indifferent.

As everyone was lost in thought, a voice still carrying a childlike tone spoke up, "Is that the bookstore that published 'Journey to the West'?"

Xin You turned to look.

It was the third prince who had spoken.

The third prince still had the appearance of a child, small and sitting alone at a table, with red lips and white teeth, his features somewhat resembling Emperor Xingyuan.

Xin You’s expression stayed calm, but her eyes narrowed.

In the vision, the third prince picked something from the fruit plate and put it in his mouth, soon looking pained as he stood up, knocking over the dishes on the table, and then many people gathered around him.

The vision vanished, leaving the third prince’s fate unknown.

Xin You's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she smiled at the curious Third Prince, "Yes, it's the Qingsong Bookstore that released 'Journey to the West.' Do you also like 'Journey to the West'?"

"Yes, Sun Wukong is my favorite—"

The Virtuous Consort spoke up, interrupting her son's excitement, "You'er."

The Third Prince had no choice but to fall silent.

"You'er still has a childlike nature. I hope Miss Xin isn’t bothered."

"Not at all, it makes me especially happy when someone appreciates Mr. Songling’s stories."

Hearing this, the Third Prince looked at Xin You with even more friendliness.

Meanwhile, Xin You quickly pondered: What exactly was wrong with the Third Prince? Was the food poisoned? Did he suddenly fall ill? Or did he choke on something he ate?

At that moment, a loud announcement rang out, "The Emperor has arrived—"

Everyone in the pavilion immediately stood up and bowed, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Emperor Xingyuan walked over and took his seat, his gaze sweeping around before settling on Xin You, "Rise and take your seats, everyone."