Young man, please stay

Chapter 305 The Princess Comes to Her Mind

Laifengtai is located between the Jinluan Palace and the Taihua Palace. It faces a large square that goes straight out of Xuanhao Gate and continues to the North Street of the capital.

This piece of land was used exclusively for the emperor to review military parades and perform martial arts in the previous dynasty.

Later, in order to mock it, Emperor Taizu of the Great Zhou Dynasty specially converted this place into a large banquet venue for festivals. It was one of the few places dedicated to literature and music in the entire Great Zhou Palace.

"Qin Lang, Qin Lang, today is your first day in the palace. Don't run around and embarrass me later. Do you hear me?"

"..."

As I said, entering the palace or something like that sounded like something related to being a eunuch to Qin Lang.

But to be honest, Qin Lang did gain some experience on this trip.

By that time the sun had already set, and Laifengtai, including the square, was ablaze with lanterns, colorful candles, and fireworks. Although it wasn't as bright as day, it was bright enough to set off the red walls and golden tiles.

Qin Lang and his party passed by the front of Laifeng Terrace. When they looked down at the square below, they saw solemn Yulin Guards lined up everywhere. Groups of palace maids were busy like ants, constantly serving a dazzling variety of wines and drinks to the dozens of large rosewood round tables covered with brocade.

The various court officials, ministers, princes and their families had basically taken their seats by now. Listening to the clamor, they were all greeting each other and talking. Occasionally, some of them looked up and saw Qin Lang and his party from afar. They were all obviously curious and kept asking the people around them what they were talking about.

Qin Lang frowned immediately. Although he understood these people's thoughts, he still felt uncomfortable being "watched" like this.

"Hey, Junior Brother, do you think they can tell you are a man from below?"

"I don't know... Will this have any impact on Yu Pan?"

"That's not necessary. You are not the only one traveling with Junior Sister today. I am still here, right? Su Yupan has never had a concubine since he ascended the throne. Everyone knows this. Even if they see that you are a man, they will not immediately associate you with her."

But even so, there is still a problem that Qin Lang is also concerned about.

That is, the Emperor and Princess Qingli were clearly on Laifeng Terrace, but the people below dared to visit them at will. Isn't this too rude?

Qin Lang thought so, but when he turned around, he found that it was not the case.

Because the empress, the princess, and Gu Jin were no longer here at some point in time.

"Where's Sumire?"

"Sir, Lord Qianshou has been ordered to go on a secret patrol."

"What about the jade plate and the silver bottle?"

"They went to Taihua Palace."

Taihua Palace is the empress's bedroom. The two of them went there at this time just to change clothes.

After all, this is a more formal occasion.

So Qin Lang waited patiently for a while.

Then, about half an incense stick later, Qin Lang was surprised to see Su Yinping and Su Yinping walking towards him side by side, surrounded by two rows of palace maids.

At this moment, perhaps in the eyes of others, these are the two most powerful figures in the Great Zhou.

But in Qin Lang's eyes, they are two peerless beauties who could be considered the source of disaster.

Empress Su Yupan wore a red dragon robe with golden pattern and water cloud sleeves, and a nine-feathered crown on her head. Princess Qingli Su Yinping beside her was also wearing a red palace dress, but it was embroidered with silver pythons instead of golden dragons. On her head she wore the only eight-feathered crown unique to the dynasty.

Apart from the different attire, the two sisters are almost identical in their pretty faces, the details of their figures hidden under their palace robes, and even their dignified and majestic temperaments. They are both indescribably beautiful and graceful.

"Tsk, are you still looking, idiot? Hurry up and make way. How dare you block the way of these two?"

"Eh? Oh..."

If Zhuo Beibei hadn't pulled Qin Lang over, Qin Lang would really have just stood there and watched endlessly.

His current appearance amused many of the palace maids who were accompanying him.

They only thought that Qin Lang was a handsome young man who had never seen the world, but they didn't know that although Qin Lang had never seen the empress and the princess in formal attire, he had seen other unknown aspects of the sisters that many people would never have the chance to see in their lifetime.

Then, as the empress and the princess appeared on Laifeng Terrace, the majestic imperial aura that Qin Lang had not felt for a long time also centered on Su Yupan, and in an instant it enveloped the entire area like clouds and mist. The noisy square below suddenly became quiet, and those who were looking at Qin Lang on Laifeng Terrace from afar just now suddenly lowered their heads and stood where they were respectfully.

"Your Majesty has arrived——"

Qin Lang didn't see clearly which palace maid shouted this, but her voice was deep and powerful. It was obviously a female voice but it was very penetrating. As soon as the voice fell, the whole square was reverberating with the voices of civil and military officials:
“Long live my emperor, long live long live—”

"No gift..."

On the Laifeng stage, Su Yupan raised his hands flatly:

“…Stand up.”

Then someone started reading out Dragon Boat Festival greetings and the like. This was obviously the first time Qin Lang had seen such occasions, but at this moment, it was difficult for him to be interested in anyone or anything other than the domineering woman on the stage and her sister.

The two sisters in front of Qin Lang felt very unfamiliar, but not in a bad way.

To Qin Lang, this was simply a different side of them, which made Qin Lang feel somewhat fresh.

The more he contrasted it with this freshness, especially when he looked at the crowd of court ministers in the square, who were bowing their heads and being respectful, the more Qin Lang felt how lucky and even happy he was to be able to deal with them as they were normally.

clang--!
clang--!
Finally, after an unknown amount of time, gongs rang one after another, starting from Laifengtai and spreading along the perimeter of the square to the farther Xuanhao Gate. Then came the sound of bells and chimes, drums and drums, and the harmony of zithers. Amid the colorful fireworks rising in the night sky, the palace maids of the Jiaofangsi danced gracefully in the center of the square, and the Dragon Boat Festival banquet officially began.

Whether it is a dance performance or fireworks, Laifengtai is undoubtedly the best viewing spot.

"Damn, this table is too big...Hey, Tao'er, help me get a bowl of Tremella soup. And that...the one next to Su Yupan, your name is Xing'er, right? Come and pour me some wine..."

Different time, same virtue.

A certain little girl didn't care and sat at the luxurious big table on the Laifeng Terrace, shouting and yelling, making the palace maids around her look at each other in bewilderment, but no one dared to say anything.

After all, this is a guest brought by the emperor, who knows who he is?
Su Yupan and Su Yinping naturally turned a blind eye to this, because she was the third senior sister. ...

"Your Majesty, what piece of music is being played now?"

"Oh? Qin Aiqing also studies music theory?"

"No, no, no, I just thought it sounded nice."

"But I...I really don't know the name of this song, even though I listen to it every year. Silver Bottle, do you know it?"

"I... I seem to know it. I heard someone mention it last year. It was called something like "The Grand Joy of the Shrine"..."

……

On Laifeng Terrace, several people were actually eating, drinking, talking and laughing just like they did at noon, but due to the occasion, everyone except Zhuo Beibei was somewhat restrained and could not be as comfortable as they were in the Princess's Mansion during the day.

Fortunately, the wonderful fireworks and singing and dancing performances can make up for some of this shortcoming.

After watching for a long time, Qin Lang even caught some details from a distance:
"Huh? Why do those dancing palace maids occasionally flash under their skirts?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

As expected, these words immediately attracted several unfriendly looks. Qin Lang immediately explained awkwardly:

"I didn't look at it on purpose, I just have a very good eye and am usually good at observing, so I accidentally..."

"Humph…"

The empress snorted barely audibly, and then said calmly:

"Can't you recognize something Qin Aiqing invented himself?"

"?"

I invented it?

Qin Lang thought about it, and then suddenly realized.

It turned out to be the case.

It’s stockings, the palace maids are wearing stockings!
Qin Lang then remembered that the empress took advantage of the Dragon Boat Festival to vigorously promote stockings, a high-tech luxury product. It will surely not be long after the Dragon Boat Festival before these stockings become popular in the capital, and every woman in the capital will want a pair by then.

OK, OK.

Good things should be promoted in this way!
Qin Lang was very pleased, but soon, just like at noon, he noticed a hint of loneliness that flashed across the empress's face from time to time.

And this situation seemed to become more and more obvious after three rounds of drinks.

Finally, as the performances and fireworks in the square changed one after another and the wine jugs on the Laifeng Terrace were replaced one after another, the empress, who was already a little drunk, suddenly stood up, holding a jug of wine, and disappeared quietly.

"Your Majesty?"

Qin Lang was startled and frowned as he looked directly at the empress's personal maid Xing'er.

"Qin... Young Master Qin, don't be anxious."

Xing Er hurriedly comforted this legendary empress's concubine:

"Your Majesty rarely drinks. If he accidentally drinks too much, he will go find a place to calm down."

"where to?"

"Uh...under the maple tree in the garden behind Taihua Palace."

Qin Lang heard this and looked at the other people at the table. Su Yinping obviously knew her sister's habit. She pursed her lips helplessly and nodded to Qin Lang.

So Qin Lang also got up and left.

"Hey, is this really okay? Just let him go find the drunk junior sister... Hey? Su Yinping, how much did you drink?"

"..."

After Qin Lang left, Zhuo Beibei, who had a mouth full of snacks, discovered that Su Yinping had quietly drunk several cups of Zui Hua Yin tonight, and her face was even more flushed than that of the empress just now.

"Third Senior Sister... I've come to my senses..."

"?"

Zhuo Beibei was stunned:

"Let it go? Let it go of what?"

"Ever since that night... after I used the golden cicada that my senior sister gave me, I thought about it carefully these past two days... and then... and then I finally came to my senses!"

Miss Su seemed to have mustered up some courage, her little face flushed and her slightly misty and drunken eyes sparkling.

Gulu…

Zhuo Beibei swallowed the snack in his mouth thoughtfully, then ate another piece of mung bean cake. Finally, he understood the meaning of these words and patted Su Yinping's shoulder with a look of relief:

"Very good! Don't worry! I support you. Anyway, Qin Lang must have figured it out a long time ago! I'm just waiting for you to come to your senses~"

(End of this chapter)