Helian Yue... the Prince of Qi, was the ninth son of the late emperor. Except for those other princes who were enfeoffed outside the capital, because he was the biological son of the Empress Dowager, even though he was made a prince, he was allowed to stay in the palace for a long time.
It was said that he was always decisive and ruthless in his actions, but on the surface, he looked like a gentleman.
Although his appearance was rather ordinary, his status and position added a certain nobility to him.
In short, Cheng Xiran didn't take a fancy to him. As for the current emperor, he clearly looked young and timid.
She didn't inquire much about the affairs of the royal family and knew little about them. After all, it involved a wide range of things. It wasn't that she could find out what she wanted just by looking into it. She needed connections.
However, she wasn't really interested in these things... except for Helian Duo's health.
Cheng Xiran looked around. A faint fragrance filled her nostrils. It was the scent of plum blossoms.
Was there really plum blossoms at this time?
She carefully searched for the beautiful figure of the plum blossoms, but no matter how she looked around, she couldn't see them. She couldn't help but sigh at the unique location of the Snow - Refreshing Pavilion. They were now in a small high - rise building in the very center of the pavilion. Looking back, there was a lotus pond, which had withered. There was a quiet and narrow path on the pond leading straight here.
Surrounded by water on all sides, for some reason, a thin mist gradually rose. The rockeries loomed in the mist. Presumably, the plum blossoms were hidden among them.
"It's not the most beautiful time of the Snow - Refreshing Pavilion yet. When winter comes and the place is covered in snow, it will be the most beautiful."
The Empress Dowager said with a faint smile. Cheng Xiran couldn't help but glance at her and found that she looked kind - faced, not as bad as Helian Duo had described.
A group of maids brought out all kinds of delicate pastries and hot tea from behind the curtain. They were novel in style, bright in color, and cute in shape. Cheng Xiran didn't know where to start. Someone was carefully explaining the name and origin of each plate of pastries, but she wasn't in the mood to listen. She quietly picked up a piece and took a bite. It was soft, sweet but not cloying, a taste she had never had outside the palace.
She calmly drank her tea until she heard her own name from somewhere. Looking in the direction of the sound, she found it was Xiao Qi.
This woman. She hadn't had enough of a lesson last time and now she came to cause trouble again?
"Empress Dowager, this commoner has an impertinent request..." Xiao Qi stood up. After getting the approval of the Empress Dowager, she continued, "Miss Cheng Xiran of the Cheng family is well - known far and wide. People outside are all saying that she is highly knowledgeable and her articles are wonderful. Today, in front of everyone, I really want to see for myself."
Helian Duo frowned slightly and subconsciously looked at Cheng Xiran. But this girl was actually smiling.
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager slowly nodded in agreement, "I've read the draft you wrote for the Hundred - Flower Banquet a few days ago. The writing is beautiful but not flashy. It's really not easy for someone of your age to reach such a state."
Cheng Xiran quickly stood up and bowed, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, you're over - praising me. This commoner just reads a few more books on weekdays."
The Empress Dowager said calmly, "Since Miss Xiao has said so, you might as well compose a poem on the spot. It can also be the start of this Hundred - Flower Banquet for everyone to comment on."
A series of poems she had read suddenly flashed through Cheng Xiran's mind.
Helian Duo's right hand hanging by his side clenched into a fist... Maybe he should have let Cheng Xiran prepare earlier, otherwise she wouldn't be so caught off - guard.
Xiao Qi, he remembered her.
But Cheng Xiran looked confident, "I'm honored to be invited to this Hundred - Flower Banquet today and enjoy myself in such a fairyland. This place is famous for its snow scenery, and just now I smelled the fragrance of plum blossoms. So this commoner will compose a poem to express my feelings. If there are any inappropriate parts, I hope Your Majesty the Emperor and the Empress Dowager will forgive me."
Cheng Zhiyue snorted and secretly began to curse Cheng Xiran in her heart.
The others were all watching the show, only Helian Duo and Chu Liyin were really worried about her.
After pondering for a moment, Cheng Xiran slowly said, "Amid ice and snow, she stands alone, not mingling with peach and plum in the fragrant dust. Suddenly, one night, her fragrance spreads, filling the whole world with spring."
Actually, this poem was from Wang Mian's "White Plum Blossoms". She just remembered it and used it.
Murmurs of discussion rose. Cheng Xiran didn't have much time to distinguish them. She just looked confident and didn't notice the surprise in Helian Duo's eyes.
"There are indeed a few plum trees that I've always loved in the Snow - Refreshing Pavilion..." The Empress Dowager looked at her appreciatively. After a pause, she continued, "Your nose is very sharp, and this poem is also well - written. I love plum blossoms for their nobility. These ordinary peach and plum flowers really can't compare with plum blossoms."
But Xiao Qi openly pointed out, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager carefully raises these plum blossoms so that the plum blossoms that usually bloom in winter can bloom in early autumn. But the second half of Miss Cheng's poem is about the New Year. This seems a bit far - fetched."
Just as Cheng Xiran was about to retort, she heard Chu Liyin stand up and confront her, "I don't think there's anything wrong with my elder sister. The whole year's work depends on a good start in spring, and all things begin in spring. My elder sister uses plum blossoms to express her expectation for spring. What's wrong with that?"
Xiao Qi was left speechless.
Helian Duo let out a sigh of relief, but then fell into deep thought... This girl could actually write poems?
Moreover, the words she used didn't seem to be something she could come up with just by reading a few more books. Also, how could a young girl like her have such a state of mind? All these things bothered Helian Duo and made him suspect Cheng Xiran's identity again.
Cheng Xiran didn't notice. She was just immersed in the joy of her first victory.
Then she heard the emperor order, "Come here, give a reward!"
She got fifty taels of silver for nothing. Cheng Xiran was extremely happy. She even secretly winked at Helian Duo, hoping for praise, but he ignored her completely.
She couldn't help but feel a bit distressed... It was clearly he who told her to act according to the situation. Did she do something wrong again?
Then there was a scene of singing and dancing. She wasn't very interested, but she had to keep her eyes open. She almost fell asleep.
After the performance, it was time for the talented young ladies from various families to show their skills. The eldest daughter of the Minister of Revenue's mansion painted a landscape painting. The third daughter of the General's mansion was good at carving. She carved a delicate ball out of a carrot on the spot. The youngest daughter of the Assistant Minister of Rites was even more amazing. She could embroider with her eyes blindfolded, and the butterflies she embroidered were so lifelike that they seemed to be flying.
Cheng Xiran was dazzled.
Xiao Qi, known as the most talented young lady in the capital, also composed a poem, but the Empress Dowager commented on the spot that it was not as good as Cheng Xiran's.
Cheng Xiran also felt it was awkward. The first half of the poem praised the beautiful scenery, while the second half praised the peace. It was like a mismatch. It didn't sound good at all.
Cheng Zhiyue was smart. She danced a conservative dance.
No wonder she had been practicing water - sleeves in the yard since last month. It turned out it was for today.
"Xiran."
The Empress Dowager suddenly called out Cheng Xiran's name, and Cheng Xiran almost choked on the pastry in her mouth.
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
She quickly stood up and bowed. To be honest, she was really tired of this kind of formality.
She had to bow and kneel all the time. She said that if it went on like this, her body wouldn't be able to take it.
"I really like your talent. I wonder if you would like to stay in the palace as a civil official or marry into the palace. Then I can often find you and listen to your poems and articles."
Cheng Xiran's mind suddenly went blank. She originally thought she would face Helian Duo's selection of concubines, but unexpectedly, she was the first one.
Marry into the palace... It seemed that she had no chance with Helian Duo.
She knelt down with a thud. While lowering her head in thought, she heard Helian Yue joking beside her, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager may not know. People all over the capital are saying that she is quite close to the Regent. Don't make wrong matches."
"Really? Is that true?" The Empress Dowager looked at Helian Duo, who was expressionless, as if considering.