Chapter 22: The Jade Prince

Chapter 22: The Jade-Like Crown Prince

Once she steadied herself, Liu Yun regained her composure and started paying attention to the other people around her.

Take Young Marquis Ye, for example.

He was one of the only male guests invited today.

But it wasn't because County Princess Jinning had any shameful relationship with him—the truth was that the two families were related.

The Princess of Xi was a Ye by birth, being Young Marquis Ye's own aunt, so he'd come with his sisters to offer his congratulations.

He knew exactly how to charm the ladies, and with that handsome face of his, he had plenty of pretty ladies laughing in no time.

Flirty and charming, but never sleazy.

Liu Yun watched for a bit, then quietly looked away.

If she had a husband like Young Marquis Ye, she'd probably be happy every single day.

Off in the distance, Xiao Hang's brow furrowed slightly as he also looked over at Ye Qingliu, who was laughing and chatting with the women.

"No sense of restraint, no proper decorum at all."

A man who went around courting attention like that not only tarnished his own name but also ruined the reputations of the women around him.

He didn't see what was so great about him, what was worth a second look.

Xiao Hang grumbled to himself, his face giving nothing away.

Since the banquet was held at Lotus Garden, County Princess Jinning had a special chilled treat on the menu—iced lotus seed custard with jade.

Lotus seeds were ground into a paste, mixed with honey and crushed lotus petals, then frozen and shaved into fine ice crystals. It was drizzled with sweet syrup and served with tender lotus seeds—refreshing and perfect for beating the heat.

Just about every lady at the banquet loved this dessert, and Liu Yun absolutely loved it, wishing she could have another bowl.

Too bad each person only got one.

She could've asked for another and the County Princess wouldn't have said no, but Liu Yun was too embarrassed to ask for more in front of everyone.

It would make her look like such a pig.

Halfway through the banquet, County Princess Jinning got bored and started a game of pass the flower—basically hot potato with a drum.

There happened to be musicians right there, and a pretty young woman was quickly picked to be the drummer.

The rule was simple: when the drum stopped, whoever was holding the flower had to draw a lot and take whatever penalty was written on it.

Liu Yun hated these kinds of games, silently praying to every god she could think of that the flower wouldn't land on her.

The heavens heard her prayer—and decided to ignore it.

More than a dozen rounds went by, and Liu Yun escaped every single one. But wouldn't you know it—she got caught on the last round, the one County Princess Jinning had called.

Amid all the noise and teasing, Liu Yun reluctantly drew a lot, and when she read what was written on it, her heart sank.

"All the jade-like gentlemen fill the hall—so who among them is the finest of all?"

The bowl of iced lotus custard she'd just eaten might as well have evaporated from the heat of her frustration.

How was she supposed to answer that?!

County Princess Jinning was the first to see the lot. She burst out laughing, then generously announced it to everyone, beaming as she urged Liu Yun to answer quickly, like she'd just found the best entertainment ever.

"Yunniang, don't be shy! It's just a joke—saying it won't hurt. No one's going to laugh at you. Come on, tell us~"

The County Princess even came down from her seat, grinning and urging her on.

Liu Yun felt enormous pressure, but she couldn't refuse to answer—the County Princess had said before the last round that backing out by drinking wasn't allowed.

She had absolutely no way out.

With that in mind, Liu Yun swept her gaze over the gentlemen in the room, looking troubled.

Honestly, the answer was pretty obvious. Even though Liu Yun personally preferred Young Marquis Ye's dashing, handsome looks, she had to admit that Crown Prince Xiao Hang had a face so stunning it seemed to make even heaven jealous.

But her instincts told her it was best not to offend the Crown Prince.

But...

After looking around the room, Liu Yun realized she had no choice.

If she named Young Marquis Ye—an unmarried, handsome young man—people would inevitably think she had some schoolgirl crush.

Marquis Wen was married and devoted to his wife, so Liu Yun didn't feel comfortable mentioning him either.

As for Young General Li Yan—well, County Princess Jinning hated him so much that Liu Yun had no desire to bring up his name and upset her.

So after going around in circles, she was left with only one option: Crown Prince Xiao Hang.

Then she thought again: complimenting the Crown Prince was only natural.

Besides, His Highness really did have a face that outshone everyone else's. Her answer would just be an honest observation, nothing more.

So Liu Yun took a deep breath and, with a shy, ingratiating smile, said: "Naturally, it's His Highness the Crown Prince—dragon-like in bearing, with a face like the sun and sky, unrivaled by anyone."

Liu Yun swore this was the most sycophantic moment of her entire life. After saying it, she was so embarrassed she couldn't even raise her head.

As her words fell, Liu Yun lowered her head. The atmosphere around her went quiet for a moment, then came a soft chuckle.

"Heh~"

It was light and airy, like a cloud you couldn't predict—even more untouchable than that.

Liu Yun's heart pounded nervously, afraid that the next moment would bring a cold sneer from the Crown Prince, followed by a scolding delivered with all his imperial authority.

Even though everything she'd said was complimentary, who knew what someone like the Crown Prince was thinking?

Just as Liu Yun was trembling with anxiety, the Crown Prince spoke from his seat up above—a light laugh tinged with pleasure.

"You've got a sweet tongue."

Hearing this, Liu Yun felt she was in the clear and hastily curtsied, replying: "Your Highness flatters me."

The moment those words reached his ears, Xiao Hang unconsciously glanced at those full, rosy lips, wondering if he should test whether the praise was really warranted.

But the expression he showed everyone remained proper and composed, not betraying a hint of lust.

After that little incident, it took Liu Yun quite a while to calm back down.

Fortunately, nothing else went awry after that, and the meal passed without incident.

Zhen Zhen had a delicate stomach and shouldn't have eaten that bowl of lotus seed chilled treat, but she couldn't resist the temptation and indulged anyway.

Once the banquet dispersed, Zhen Zhen's stomach began to act up, and as her friend, Liu Yun accompanied her.

But relieving herself had to be done alone, so Liu Yun waited nearby with Jin He a little ways off, admiring the endless green lotus leaves stretching to the horizon.

A sweltering summer breeze blew, rippling the emerald water and occasionally revealing the delicate pink lotuses beneath.

Liu Yun was captivated, her heart stirred as she walked toward the lotus pond, wanting to touch the nearest bloom at the edge.

As she approached, another wave of heat swept by, and amid the fluttering lotus leaves, Liu Yun spotted a figure lying on a blue stone beneath the rippling water.

A young man in a striking red robe was reclining there, with his eyes half shut as he looked at her.

"Ah!"

Startled by the sudden appearance, Liu Yun stumbled back two steps, clutching her chest in shock.

"Hey, don't be alarmed, it's only me, Ye!"

Seeing he had startled the lovely young lady, Ye Qingliu smiled reassuringly, a tipsy smile at the corners of his mouth.

He had drunk quite a bit and wasn't fully sober, but he still vaguely recognized the girl before him.

"Oh, it's Miss Liu!"

His smiling eyes rested on her round, delicate almond-shaped eyes, and Ye Qingliu found her dazed look endearing.

Liu Yun snapped back to her senses and curtsied in greeting: "Greetings, Young Marquis."

Ye Qingliu waved his hand, indicating there was no need for such formalities, and sat up on the stone with a chuckle: "What brings Miss Liu to this place?"

Liu Yun couldn't very well say she was waiting while Zhen Zhen used the privy, so she casually replied: "Just taking a stroll. I didn't expect to disturb your nap here, Young Marquis. Sorry for the disturbance."

As he emerged from under the lotus leaves, the daylight was somewhat glaring, and Ye Qingliu squinted with a smile: "No disturbance at all. I enjoy talking with a girl like you, Miss Liu; it's a real pleasure."

Liu Yun was well aware of Young Marquis Ye's nature—he spoke flirtatiously and without restraint, and he loved to tease young ladies.

But when she became one of those targets, she found it completely off-putting.

She'd rather never speak to Young Marquis Ye again than have this happen.

Not knowing how to respond, Liu Yun noticed the hem of Young Marquis Ye's robe soaking in the pond water and gently reminded him: "Young Marquis, be careful—your robe has fallen into the water."

Ye Qingliu turned to look, unhurriedly lifting the water-soaked fabric, and said lightly: "No matter, what's the harm if it gets all wet?"

He radiated a carefree, unrestrained spirit that made you want to look twice.

There was no point in staying longer, and thinking Zhen Zhen might be done soon, Liu Yun quietly took her leave: "Since all is well, I'll take my leave then."

But just as she turned, Young Marquis Ye called out behind her.

"Miss Liu, wait a moment!"

Liu Yun was always polite, so she naturally responded when he called.

"Is there something else, Young Marquis?"

If it was the kind of frivolous teasing he used on young ladies, Liu Yun wanted nothing to do with it.

But she was wrong—Ye Qingliu simply sat up, plucked a delicate pink lotus beside him, and offered it to her with a smile: "This lotus is for you, Miss Liu, as an apology for scaring you earlier."

Liu Yun naturally loved lotuses, but it wasn't right for a guest to pick flowers in someone else's garden without permission.

Young Marquis Ye was related to County Princess Jinning, so plucking one was no big deal.

She hesitated, mindful of the propriety between men and women, not wanting to casually accept a flower from a man she wasn't related to, even though everyone in Yanjing knew Young Marquis Ye's temperament and wouldn't think he was in love with her.

But Ye Qingliu's next words cheered her up.

"Take it, Miss Liu. This flower looks like you, and it suits you well."

Looking at Liu Yun again—her lotus-root pink robe and emerald skirt—she truly looked like a pink lotus cradled by green waves.

Being praised as looking like a lotus naturally pleased Liu Yun, and she shyly accepted the flower.

"Thank you, Young Marquis."

She had just brushed the petals a couple of times when Ye Qingliu's next words left her stunned.

"Miss Liu has an adorable personality, but it's a pity your looks are plain. If you had a beauty's face, I'd surely marry you."

He said this with a smile, his tone light and gentle, like a lover whispering.

But it felt like a bucket of cold water dumped over her head—not freezing, but leaving her drenched and miserable.

Liu Yun desperately wanted to throw the pink lotus on the ground in front of him and walk away.

But she had always been a composed lady, and even in the most awkward situations, she couldn't act rashly or lose her composure.

So, with a blank expression, Liu Yun curtsied deeply and said: "Young Marquis, please don't talk nonsense. I'll take my leave now."

With that, she didn't wait for him to say anything more and hurried away.

She didn't want to hear anything more.

Even if she truly wasn't pretty, wasn't a beauty,

she didn't want to hear Ye Qingliu say it to her face like that.

Perhaps because Ye Qingliu meant something a little different to her than other men.

It was like how she loved flowers, but her favorite was the apricot flower.

The apricot blossom might not be the best, but it was the most beautiful in her eyes.

Away from the lotus pond, Liu Yun held back the heat welling in her eyes and tightened her grip on the pink lotus.

"Miss, don't listen to that Ye guy's nonsense. You're the most beautiful and lovely lady in the world, not what he said. If you don't believe me, ask the master and the madam!"

Jin He had grown up by her side as her personal maid. Hearing Young Marquis Ye drunkenly say those words about her mistress made her blood boil.

Even though her mistress appeared calm and composed, without showing anger, after years of service, Jin He knew exactly how she felt.

She must be upset.

At that moment, Jin He only regretted being clumsy with words, unable to comfort her mistress with a few simple words.

Liu Yun, seeing Jin He's expression, smiled first and said gently, "Alright, I know what I look like myself, and I'm fine."

Besides, whether it was her parents or Jin He, it was only because they truly loved her that they thought she was the most beautiful and adorable woman in the world.

Outsiders wouldn't think that way.

In her early teens, just blossoming into young womanhood, Liu Yun had once fretted over not being as pretty as many other young women.

Her parents had comforted her the same way back then.

Back then, Liu Yun had shot back at her parents, saying, "Father and Mother think this way because you love me dearly, but others won't see it that way."

Faced with her stubbornness, Liu Yun still recalled her parents' reply.

"Then as long as our Shanshan finds a husband who truly loves her in the future, he will naturally think she is the most beautiful lady in the world."

Liu Yun thought there was some truth to that, but finding a husband like that was no easy task.

She wondered whether Brother Xiuyuan was that person.

Lost in thought, Liu Yun made her way to find Zhen Zhen.

When she looked up again, Liu Yun bumped straight into someone, her eyes widening in shock.

His hair was secured with a golden crown, and a dark purple riding outfit hugged his lean, powerful frame. He looked strikingly handsome, like a drawn arrow poised to strike.

Even just walking, he carried an imposing aura that set him apart from others.

It was probably because of his status.

Liu Yun thought so, until a shadow fell over her, forcing her to stop in her tracks.

"Your Highness, may you be blessed."

Author's note:

New chapter is up!

The next chapter will be VIP. I hope my dear readers will support me once it goes VIP, because this greatly determines how well this book performs. If the numbers are good, I'll pull all-nighters for it; if they're bad, I'll really lose the drive to keep writing.