The flower banquet was an official occasion for nobles and high - ranking officials to communicate openly with each other. It was also an unspoken matchmaking event for the children of noble families.
As late autumn approached, chrysanthemums from all over the country were sent to the capital, so this flower banquet was naturally called the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet.
The annual flower banquet was usually held in the Prince's Residence. The current emperor, Gu Weifeng, was a young and capable man. He ascended the throne before reaching the age of twenty and was now only twenty - five. He had very few concubines in his harem, almost none, as he was extremely dedicated to state affairs. Therefore, he had no heirs yet.
The Prince's Residence had been vacant for several years.
The Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet was in full swing, and people hardly noticed the passage of time.
However, Yi Zhici was an exception. Amidst the ladies and young misses who were complimenting and being modest to each other, Yi Zhici, who was silently having her meal, seemed out of place.
At this time, the emperor and the ministers were discussing state affairs in the Hall of Diligent Government and had not yet come to the banquet. So the venue had become a beauty - contest for the ladies and young misses, with endless compliments. But in her heart, Yi Zhici thought that except for Qu Wan'er from the Qu Censor's family, no one else really deserved all these endless praises.
After having her fill, she felt annoyed by the scene and got up to leave her seat.
The scenery in the back garden was quite nice. There was a large expanse of poppies, surrounded by some purple orchids. It was really beautiful. Not far away in the woods, there were also many oleanders and statice, as if one had strayed into a fairyland on earth.
At this time, the emperor, accompanied by ministers and young gentlemen, came over in a grand procession.
The emperor, Gu Weifeng, was handsome and imposing even without showing anger. Yi Junshi, the Marquis of Jing, followed beside Gu Weifeng, looking like an otherworldly immortal, so elegant that he outshone everyone else.
After this grand group passed by, there were many young gentlemen following. Suddenly, Yi Zhici saw a familiar face.
"Wei Yuansi!"
The young gentleman at the end stopped and looked around for a long time. He murmured to the servant behind him, "There's no one I know here..."
Yi Zhici quickly ran up, "Wei Yuansi, it's me. Do you still remember me?"
Wei Yuansi's big eyes were filled with disbelief. His long eyelashes fluttered. After reacting for a while, he stammered, "Yi, Yi, Yi... Brother Yi?"
Yi Zhici showed a big smile, and the small dimples on her face appeared, as if filled with aged wine. "Brother Wei, how have you been?"
Wei Yuansi's mouth opened wide in a circle and could hardly close. His folding fan dropped to the ground with a thud. "You, you... You're actually a girl? My goodness! I've never seen someone as bold as you... Which family's young miss are you?"
"What, are you going to report me?" Yi Zhici tilted her head playfully. "I should have guessed. Wei Yuansi, the youngest son of the right prime minister, Wei Xing, with the courtesy name Yuansi."
Not far away, He Weining watched this pleasant scene and nodded in relief.
"It's not fair," Wei Xing picked up the folding fan on the ground. Apparently, he had accepted this fact. "You should at least tell me which family's young miss you are."
Instead of answering, Yi Zhici asked, "What about the two who were with you that day? Didn't they come today?"
"Ah, the second brother came, but the third brother didn't," Wei Xing didn't forget about this. "But you still haven't told me which family's young miss you are?"
Yi Zhici smiled shyly. "My father is the Marquis of Jing. My name is Yi Zhici, the Princess of Yuyang."
Just now, he was shocked by Yi Zhici's gender. Now, he was shocked by her identity. The poor folding fan fell to the ground again, slipping out of his hand.
Yi Zhici felt a bit sad. She was happy when she saw Wei Xing at first. Since Wei Xing had the status to be here, it meant that his friends must also have high status.
But she had just forgotten that Young Master Lin had bought the "Life - and - Death Bond," which meant he had someone he loved in his heart. How could he come to the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet? Yi Zhici gave a bitter smile.
Wei Xing's mouth was so wide open that it could almost fit a fist. "The mysterious Princess of Yuyang. No wonder I didn't recognize you. It's my great honor, my great honor."
"You're too kind," Yi Zhici forced a bitter smile. "Brother Wei, I'll take my leave first. See you if we're fated."
She felt that the banquet had become even more boring, even though she had made a new acquaintance.
Watching Yi Zhici's slightly thin back gradually fade away, Wei Xing seemed to make up his mind. He said to the servant behind him, "Go to the Lin Mansion and tell General Lin that the woman he's been looking for is at the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet. Oh, right. If he's not in the Lin Mansion, then go to Jinyu Mantang."
The servant replied yes and retreated.