The Flower - Hunting Festival.
It was extremely grand.
As soon as Zhao Shuning got on the sedan chair and left the Jing Hall, the streets along the way were lined with the people of the Cangwu Kingdom.
"She's coming! She's coming!"
At this moment, the sky brightened.
People on both sides of the road all cast envious glances at the woman on the sedan chair.
Zhao Shuning smiled and nodded in greeting. She picked up the flower basket on the sedan chair and scattered flowers below.
"I somehow feel that this year's Flower Fairy seems taller than in previous years?"
"I thought I was seeing things. I feel the same way."
"Exactly! Look at the figure of this year's Flower Fairy. Just a glimpse from afar makes it all worth it."
"I wonder who this year's Flower Fairy is?"
"Is it still Miss Qi Yue from the Duke's Mansion like last year?"
"Who knows?"
"Anyway, the title of Flower Fairy never falls to us common folks. It's always snatched up by the nobles in the palace."
Everyone burst into laughter.
But it couldn't dampen their love for the Flower Fairy.
"This year's Flower Fairy is really special."
"Indeed. I've been coming to greet the fairy on time every year during the Flower - Hunting Festival. Only this year, she's wearing a veil. I wonder if there's some taboo?"
"Who knows? But the veil makes me even more interested."
"Me too. Hahaha—"
Zhao Shuning walked all the way with a smile on her face.
When passing by a building, a wisp of cyan suddenly flashed before her eyes.
She couldn't help but look back.
But there was no sign of the cyan - robed figure on the building.
Was it Master?
Or was she just seeing things?
Zhao Shuning's heart was in a flutter. By this time, she had already reached the side of the king and the queen.
The king said, "This year's Flower Fairy seems a bit different."
Qin Anxin said, "What? Is there anyone who can outshine Concubine Xiao when she was the Flower Fairy that year?"
The king lowered his head awkwardly.
Zhao Shuning was helped off the sedan chair.
She curtsied.
"Greetings to the queen."
Her etiquette was impeccable, and her posture was graceful, leaving no room for criticism.
"Don't stand on ceremony. Rise."
Zhao Shuning got up.
"Lift your head. Let this palace take a look at you."
Zhao Shuning lifted her head.
At the first sight of her, Qin Anxin lost her balance and took a step back.
"You, you are—"
The maids quickly supported Qin Anxin.
Seeing this, King Gu Yuan quickly looked at Zhao Shuning.
Zhao Shuning was also full of doubts. But when Gu Yuan saw Zhao Shuning's eyes, he was also stunned.
"Qingqing?"
Zhao Shuning frowned. Qingqing?
Who was Qingqing?
"Your Majesty, Your Highness the Queen, this humble girl has never known the person you mentioned. If there's anything that has offended Your Majesty and Your Highness, please forgive me."
At this time, Qin Anxin came to her senses.
She stood up.
Gu Qingqing was already dead. She had even attended her memorial service in person. The girl in front of her just had eyes that resembled hers a bit. She couldn't be Gu Qingqing.
Zhao Shuning noticed that when Gu Yuan called out the name Qingqing, Concubine Xiao's face looked unnatural, and even Gu Hanxun's eyes turned a bit cold for a moment.
"People may look alike. It's this palace being overly suspicious."
Zhao Shuning nodded.
Next, it was time to present the laurel crown.
Zhao Shuning, standing very close to Qin Anxin, used her spiritual power to try to find out where she had hidden the key.
Was it in her chest?
Just as Zhao Shuning was about to reach out her hand, she was hit back by a powerful spiritual force.
Was it that familiar power again?
It was this power that had seriously injured her in Changle Town before.
Zhao Shuning felt a sharp pain in her chest but didn't dare to show it.
Gu Hanxun noticed Zhao Shuning's discomfort at a glance but didn't step forward.
Zhao Shuning endured the discomfort and received the laurel crown.
What should she do?
This was a rare opportunity.
Qin Anxin was on high alert. If she couldn't get the secret key this time, it would be even more difficult to get close to her next time.
Moreover, there seemed to be an extremely powerful force protecting her.
Zhao Shuning's face turned pale.
When Gu Hanxun knew that they had to give up this time, he saw Zhao Shuning suddenly widen her eyes and fall to the side.
He wanted to stand up and support her, but his legs wouldn't obey him.
When Zhao Shuning fell, she grabbed Qin Anxin's clothes.
"Presumptuous!"
Qin Anxin pulled Zhao Shuning back.
When Zhao Shuning had placed her hand on the secret key earlier, she had already memorized its shape. The moment she was helped up, she immediately knelt down.
"Your Highness the Queen, please forgive me. I just lost my balance and almost hurt Your Highness."
In front of the subjects, Qin Anxin couldn't get angry.
She turned around and said, "This time, the Second Prince has really chosen a different Flower Fairy."
With that, she flicked her sleeve, distanced herself from Zhao Shuning, and sat back on the throne.
Zhao Shuning, wearing the flower crown, knelt in front of the statue of the goddess of the Cangwu Kingdom to pray for the people of the Cangwu Kingdom.
"May the goddess protect the people of the Cangwu Kingdom for generations to come, prosperous and immortal, with the people living and working in peace and contentment, and free from war forever."
Zhao Shuning kowtowed very devoutly.
Countless people knelt down and worshiped with her.
When Zhao Shuning knelt down, she peeked at Gu Hanxun through her fingers. Oh no, Gu Hanxun's face was as gloomy as coal at this moment.
She had had no other choice just now. She didn't have much time to waste.
She had resorted to a last - ditch plan.
Qin Anxin would surely not let Gu Hanxun off.
She just didn't know what method she would use to take revenge on Gu Hanxun.
After the sacrificial ceremony, the prayer ceremony, and the flower - related ceremony were all over, Zhao Shuning was about to retreat behind the scenes, change into her regular clothes, and meet the crowd.
Most of the day had passed.
"The Flower Fairy retires—"
Zhao Shuning got up.
Her legs were numb from kneeling.
Finally, she could go back. The powerful spiritual force earlier had made her feel very unwell.
Her chest felt stuffy, and there was a clot of blood gathering there.
Qi Yue came to support Zhao Shuning.
But then, a voice slowly came from behind.
"Wait—"
It was Qin Anxin.
Zhao Shuning looked back.
Was the retribution coming so soon?
"This palace didn't expect that the Second Prince would add such a detail to the Flower - Hunting Festival this year, changing the previous rules."
Zhao Shuning clenched her fists.
Sure enough.
"Everyone knows that the Flower - Hunting Festival is the grandest festival in our Cangwu Kingdom. No one dares to play tricks on it, right, Second Prince?"
"Your Majesty, yes."
Qin Anxin waved her sleeve.
She said, "Since that's the case, this palace will also change the previous rules. The Flower Fairy doesn't need to return to the palace to change into regular clothes. During this period, the people are really bored. You shall dance a dance in this set of colorful clothes. Also, take off your veil so that everyone can have a look."
Dance?
Gu Hanxun's heart skipped a beat.
The shadow beside him also looked panicked.
They had never seen the Second Princess Consort dance. Judging from her carefree appearance, she didn't seem like someone who could dance.
Moreover, if they skipped the step of returning to the palace to change clothes and take off the veil, what should they do?
The Second Princess Consort's face was far from being beautiful, not even "decent".
The crime of deceiving the king and the crime of desecrating the gods of the Cangwu Kingdom.
If she committed either of these crimes, even if Gu Hanxun was the son of Concubine Xiao, he might end up in prison.