Lihoumen

Chapter 13 He said not to be afraid

The palace banquet was held at Yuhuatai. It was summer, and the lights on the platform were bright and colorful. Palace maids with cloud-like hair were holding fine wines and serving at the banquet. It was like a fairyland.

Qingqing had never seen such a scene before. Her heart was beating wildly. Her sweaty hands subconsciously grabbed Shen Han beside her. When their fingers touched, Shen Han, who was as steady as a rock, trembled slightly, then turned his head and whispered to Qingqing, "It's okay, don't be afraid."

His voice was very soft when he said this, and to Qingqing's ears, it sounded a little gentle.

She looked at him with clear eyes and nodded vigorously.

As soon as the two of them sat down, a handsome young man in a red brocade robe with a dragon pattern embroidered on it walked straight towards Shen Han, smiling and calling out, "Cousin, why are you here so late?"

This young man is the seventh prince born to the current emperor's favorite concubine, named Jing Zhao. He is the emperor's youngest son and is deeply loved by the saint.

Shen Han turned around when he heard the voice. When he saw the person coming, he smiled and said, "You are free today? You don't need to study in the upper study room?"

"Today is my cousin's celebration banquet. I specifically begged my father to allow me to attend the banquet to congratulate my cousin." As he spoke, the young man smiled and leaned close to Shen Han's ear and said, "Actually, congratulations are just an excuse. I haven't seen my cousin for three years. I miss him very much."

Shen Han looked at the boy with a smile on his face, then raised his hand and patted his shoulder, saying, "I haven't seen you for a few years, Zhao has grown a lot stronger."

The young man grinned, revealing his white teeth: "I am learning Kung Fu from a martial arts master every day. When my cousin is free someday, I would like you to give me some pointers. My cousin's Shen family spear skills are superb. I was really fascinated when I saw them last time. I hope my cousin will be generous in teaching me."

After saying this, without waiting for Shen Han's agreement, his eyes swept across Qingqing, then stopped on her, and asked in surprise: "Is this my cousin's new bride?"

Shen Han's eyes swept over Qingqing, and then he nodded. Jing Zhao glanced at Shen Han, then politely saluted Qingqing with his fists clasped, and said, "Jing Zhao greets cousin's wife."

After Qingqing returned the greeting to Jingzhao, Shen Han pointed to a seat on one side and said to Qingqing: "You take a seat first. I will talk to Zhao for a few words and then come over."

After Qingqing left, Jing Zhao glanced at her figure and said to Shen Han with a smile, "My cousin's wife is very different from the noble ladies in the capital."

The young man pondered for a while, but couldn't find a suitable word to describe it. After thinking for a long time, he blurted out: "Only the phrase 'Water lilies emerge from clear water, naturally without any decoration' can describe the grace of my cousin's wife."

Shen Han frowned slightly when he heard this, and his eyes turned cold when he looked at Jing Zhao: "Don't judge me, Zhao, you are being rude!"

Seeing this, Jing Zhao hurriedly apologized, "I grew up in the deep palace, and I have never seen a woman as different as my cousin's wife. But I just said it casually, cousin, please don't take it as an offense."

The dignitaries and their wives who were ordered to attend the banquet came in one after another. The palace banquet had not yet begun. While Shen Han was standing there talking to Jing Zhao, a palace maid came up to pour tea for Qing Qing who was sitting at the table. Unexpectedly, the palace maid's hand shook and the whole cup of tea spilled on Qing Qing's embroidered shoes. Qing Qing subconsciously cried out softly, and the palace maid hurriedly apologized, "It's all my fault. I hope Madam will forgive me."

Seeing that the palace maid was so frightened that her face turned pale, Qingqing said, "It's okay." Then she took out her handkerchief and wiped the water stains on her embroidered shoes.

Seeing this, the maid apologized, "Madam's shoes have been made so dirty by me. Before the palace banquet begins, I will take you to the side hall to change into a pair." Qingqing didn't know the rules of the palace. She looked up at the maid and asked in confusion, "Are there any shoes that can be changed in the side hall?"

The maid smiled and said, "There are many women at the palace banquet today. Every time there is a banquet like this, there are people changing clothes in the side hall." Then she said sincerely, "Madam, please rest assured and follow me."

The palace maid's attitude was humble and sincere, which put people off guard at all. Upon hearing her words, Qingqing stood up and followed her.

Unexpectedly, the palace maid took Qingqing on a winding journey for a long time. There were layers of palaces and pavilions in the palace. When Qingqing followed her around a rockery, the palace maid disappeared.

Qingqing stood there and called out for a long time but no one responded. She looked around the area but still couldn't see anyone. The palace was huge, and after walking all the way, Qingqing could no longer remember the way back. She was anxious and wanted to find someone to ask for directions, but there was no one in sight. Just as she was getting anxious, a little boy of seven or eight years old, wearing a red brocade suit, came towards her with a large group of guards.

The little boy walked in front, shouting to the people beside him as he walked, "Search carefully for me. If you can find the spy, I will go to the Empress Dowager tomorrow to ask for credit."

Qingqing didn't know who the person was. She was about to turn around to avoid him, but the boy spotted her and shouted, "Who's that person in front of you? Stop!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several guards stepped forward to block Qingqing's way. The child came over and looked her up and down, then asked, "Where are you from?"

Qingqing replied truthfully: "I am the wife of General Shen of Xuanping Marquis's Mansion. Today, I followed my husband to the palace for a banquet and accidentally got lost."

"Are you General Shen's wife?" The child looked Qingqing up and down, then laughed out loud: "Look at the way you are dressed. You don't even have a hairpin on, and you don't wear fancy clothes. And you say you are the general's wife? Humph! You are lying."

Qingqing frowned and said, "I am not lying. I am General Shen's wife."

"Shut up!" The little boy interrupted Qingqing and snorted coldly, saying, "Aunt Chaoyang said that there would be an assassin in the palace today, so I brought the guards to catch him. I saw you were sneaking around, and I can tell at a glance that you are not a good person."

As he said this, he waved his hand at the guard beside him and ordered, "Catch her for me."

The eunuch who followed the child stepped forward and whispered: "Prince Ding, I heard that General Shen's wife is indeed a commoner."

"Shut up, my king." Before the eunuch could finish his words, the child kicked him angrily, and then ordered the hungry guards beside him: "Tie this person up for me, and whip her ten times first. If she still refuses to confess, burn her with a branding iron."

Such a young child is so domineering and vicious!
When Qingqing heard the eunuch calling him "Prince Ding", she suddenly remembered that at the beginning of the year, her elder sister-in-law Li brought her daughter, the eldest sister, into the palace. The precious eldest sister had her face scratched in the palace. This incident caused quite a stir in the palace. Qingqing heard that it was caused by Prince Ding.

This child was the only son of Empress Dowager Lu's youngest son, Prince Lian. After Prince Lian died of an illness a few years ago, Empress Dowager Lu brought this little grandson into the palace to take care of him. Because of Empress Dowager Lu's doting, this child became a little bully that no one in the palace dared to provoke. Even the beloved eldest daughter of the eldest sister-in-law, Li, was harmed by him. Although Li was angry, she could do nothing about it.

"What are you still standing there for? Tie this man up right now and I will torture him severely!" Seeing that the guards were hesitating, Prince Ding was so angry that he jumped up and down and shouted.

(End of this chapter)