At Chenshi (7 - 9 a.m.), the morning court in the palace ended.
Ning Yuwan met Yan Zhao and they went together to the Palace of Gathered Elegance to pay respects to the emperor and the empress.
"Good, good, good!"
Emperor Chu and Empress Chu smiled kindly. "This is the first time I've seen the eldest daughter of Marquis Yongning. She's truly as beautiful as he always boasts!"
"Indeed. Such a lovely girl makes one happy just by looking at her a few more times. Come to the palace more often to keep me company in the future!"
Empress Chu took an immediate fancy to Ning Yuwan when she first saw her. She took off the jade bracelet on her wrist and presented it to Ning Yuwan.
Ning Yuwan bowed politely to express her gratitude. She wanted to decline the empress's kindness at first, but since the empress was so insistent, she had no choice but to accept it.
Emperor Chu asked a few more questions and then waved his hand. "There's a flower - viewing banquet in the palace today. You two young lovebirds should go and have some fun. Ziyan, take your new wife to meet your brothers and sisters."
Ziyan?
Ning Yuwan blinked. A warm hand reached over to hold her right palm, and it seemed as if a fingertip gently traced across her palm.
Her body involuntarily trembled slightly, resisting yet yearning for that warmth.
She also received his message in her mind. The "tiny words" traced on her palm were his way of communication.
So Ziyan was his childhood name.
"Yes!"
In front of Emperor Chu and Empress Chu, Yan Zhao took Ning Yuwan's hand and successfully earned the kind smiles of the two behind them.
After leaving the Palace of Gathered Elegance, Ning Yuwan raised her eyebrows and called him, "Ziyan?"
His eyelashes fluttered slightly, and his ears quivered. They seemed to be slowly turning pink again.
Ning Yuwan knew when to stop. Yan Zhao's good looks were only for her to appreciate. She couldn't let others see.
For example, there were several scrutinizing gazes in the imperial garden ahead.
"Ziyan, you're late!"
A magnificent - looking man with big white teeth grinned and came closer. He took a few more glances at Ning Yuwan. "No wonder. With a beauty in your arms, it's no wonder you walked slowly!"
"Second Prince!"
This was the eldest son of Emperor Chu and Empress Chu, Chu Heyao.
Yan Zhao blocked his gaze. "Wanwan is shy. Don't scare her."
The two seemed to have a good relationship. Although Yan Zhao was still cold - looking, his overall aura had softened a bit.
"Stingy!"
Chu Heyao muttered. He casually took a jade pendant from his waist and threw it to Ning Yuwan. "A meeting gift. Sister - in - law, just call me Second Brother like Ziyan in the future."
Empress Chu and Yan Zhao's father were siblings of the same mother. Strictly speaking, Emperor Chu was Yan Zhao's uncle - by - marriage, and Chu Heyao, who was one year older than Yan Zhao, was his cousin!
"Etiquette cannot be neglected. The Second Prince is kind - hearted. I, Yuwan, cannot be ignorant of the rules!"
Ning Yuwan took the jade pendant. Seeing that Yan Zhao didn't object, she asked Lianzi to put it away.
Chu Heyao stroked his chin and nodded. He nudged Yan Zhao with his shoulder. "You've really found a treasure, buddy. Sister - in - law is much better than the rumors."
"Wanwan is really wonderful!"
"I also think Miss Ning is really wonderful!"
Another person approached them. At first glance, he looked gentle and elegant, but on closer inspection, there was a hint of evilness about him.
He was wearing a python - patterned robe similar to Chu Heyao's, but one was snow - blue and the other was purple - red.
"Third Prince!"
Yan Zhao was a bit colder towards him. "Wanwan is already married. It's a bit inappropriate to call her Miss Ning."
Chu Heye was completely unaffected by his coldness. He smiled and pretended to slap his mouth. "I made a mistake. Later, A Zhao, watch me punish myself with a cup of wine."
He then changed the subject. "But A Zhao is late. He has to be punished with three cups later. Our new princess of the heir apparent shouldn't feel too bad for him."
His eyes lingered on Ning Yuwan meaningfully all the time.
"Cough, cough."
Yan Zhao coughed in time. Ning Yuwan gently patted his back. "Forgive me, Third Prince. The heir apparent drank medicine today and is not suitable for drinking."
Chu Heye was rebuffed twice but still didn't get angry. "If he can't drink, isn't there still the princess of the heir apparent?"
"Alright. Ziyan is here today to introduce his new wife to everyone. If you bully them, this guy might hold it in and complain to Father Emperor."
Chu Heyao smoothed things over and led the three of them towards the center of the imperial garden.
For some reason, although Chu Heye and Chu Heyao could have walked together, he slowly fell behind and even got closer to Ning Yuwan. The smile on his lips was both confusing and repulsive.
The fragrance he used was a rather strong ambergris, and the smell kept wafting around Ning Yuwan, making her feel uncomfortable.
The darkness flashed in Ning Yuwan's eyes. The bell on her wrist jingled softly, and the sound was clear and alluring.
Chu Heye only felt dizzy. Even with his eyes wide open, everything seemed blurred.
He frowned and looked into the distance. At the end of the three people in front of him, under the roots of the colorful flowers in the imperial garden, there were several white bones buried.
The sun was shining brightly overhead, but Chu Heye's forehead was covered in cold sweat.
He closed his eyes and opened them again. The white bones were still there. He even saw a swollen corpse at the bottom of the nearby lake, with its eyes wide open in death.
Chu Heye couldn't help but swallow hard. He clenched his fists and rubbed his eyes vigorously. In front of him were again the delicate and charming flowers, and there seemed to be a sweet smell of grass in the air.
But after being so frightened, he felt as if there was still a smell of blood lingering around.
Ning Yuwan thought: Scare him to death!
"Third Brother, what are you doing?"
Everyone had reached the small pavilion in the imperial garden and was discussing going boating on the lake some other day.
Only Chu Heye was still standing there stupidly.
"I'm coming."
Chu Heye hid his slightly out - of - control emotions and walked towards them.
Everyone was laughing and joking in front of him. The warmth of the sun shining down dispelled his last trace of fear. What had happened to him just now?
"Prince Yan, although you're newly married, you can't hold your wife in your arms all the time. The ladies are in the next pavilion."
Someone in the crowd joked.
Yan Zhao had already introduced Ning Yuwan to everyone. She remembered that this person was He Mengchang, the grandson of the prime minister.
Yan Zhao had wanted to leave after introducing her, but unexpectedly, Chu Heye and the others clearly wouldn't let him go.
"Why are you acting like a jealous woman, Mengchang? Newly - wedded couples should be sticky. Do you expect them to drink bitter wine like you, a single man?"
Chu Heyao protected his cousin. As he had the highest status among them at the moment, as soon as he spoke, everyone burst into laughter and agreed.
He Mengchang also laughed and bypassed the topic. "Yes, yes, yes. It's just that we're all envious!"
" Nian'an is also in the next flower pavilion. Why don't we let the new princess of the heir apparent go and keep her company."
Chu Heye said. "Otherwise, with the princess here, we men don't even dare to speak freely."
He looked handsome and his words seemed proper, but Ning Yuwan could sense that he was up to no good!
Just then, from afar, Chu Nian'an led a few delicate girls over. "I heard Third Brother speaking ill of me behind my back!"
"Who would dare to speak ill of you, the arrogant princess? This is your cousin's wife and also your sister - in - law. Take her to the next flower pavilion and sit down!"
Chu Nian'an carefully sized up the person in front of her. At first glance, she was extremely beautiful, and at the second glance, she was still charming and graceful!
She secretly glanced at her close friend An Xingzhi and made a comparison in her heart. It seemed that the title of the most beautiful woman in the capital this year might change hands.
But she always knew that An Xingzhi liked Cousin Zhao. It was a pity that Father Emperor had made an arbitrary match, making it difficult for the "lovers" to get married.
Although she was surprised by Ning Yuwan's beauty, she couldn't bring herself to like Ning Yuwan.
The dislike only lasted for a moment, but Ning Yuwan was sharp - eyed and caught that moment.
She put her hands on Ning Yuwan's arms and rolled her smart and cunning eyes. "Men's gatherings are really boring. Sister - in - law, come with Nian'an to the flower pavilion."