In the end, Duan Changchuan still couldn’t figure out what this dream was.

However, if Fang Moyan went to find Senior Huang, then there shouldn’t be too much to worry about. Senior Huang was experienced and knowledgeable, so he’d definitely solve their confusion.

The eighth day of the fourth month was the height of spring. Flowers and plants were in full bloom, and the green willows were already shaded.

The princes and nobles of the capital had organized a grand Flower Appreciation Gathering, and the location was set at the prime minister’s residence. The branches of the imperial family, the high-ranking ministers in the capital, and the generals in the army were all invited.

Of course, such a large gathering of ministers wasn’t allowed. Anyone who participated had to be young men and women who hadn’t been married yet. It was a way for the young masters and ladies of the upper circle to accumulate connections.

Duan Changchuan looked at the invitation list for the Flower Appreciation Gathering in front of him … The Golden Zhuang Yuan, Lin Qing, second place^[1]榜眼 Bǎng Yǎn – candidate who came second in the Han-lin examination Shu Ze, third place^[2]探花 Tàn Huā – candidate who came third in the Han-lin examination Guang Sui, Bai Family’s legitimate daughter Bai Jinzhi, and the Regent’s eldest son Duan Xuyuan.

As for the other men and women, their fathers were either loyal to the Regent or were Prime Minister Bai’s disciples.

In other words, the entire flower appreciation party, except for Lin Qing and Shu Ze, belonged to Prime Minister Bai and the Prince Regent’s faction.

The purpose of this banquet was obvious at a glance.

“Prime Minister Bai’s Flower Appreciation Gathering? It’s quite lively this year.” Bai Su glanced at the list and said lightly, “There weren’t so many people in previous years.”

Only when he heard her words, Duan Changchuan remembered that Bai Su came from the prime minister’s residence. Naturally, she was only a concubine’s daughter, but she knew more than outsiders like them.

“Have you participated in the Flower Appreciation Gatherings in previous years?” He tilted his head and asked.

“Me?” Bai Su pointed at herself and chuckled, “I’m not very well-liked in the prime minister’s residence. How could they invite me to this kind of gathering? Not only did they not invite me, but they also had to send someone to watch over me in the courtyard. They’re afraid I’ll embarrass the prime minister’s residence with my poor and unruly appearance.”

Duan Changchuan silently withdrew his gaze. He remembered that when they first met, he seemed to have said something like “she didn’t understand the etiquette of the palace” to her. He also often felt that her behavior was vulgar and didn’t know propriety.

Now, the two had been married for more than two months. This woman, who he originally felt was “vulgar”, had helped him out of trouble and spoke up for him again and again.

When he was sick and weak, she had always taken care of him. He, on the other hand, seemed to have always owed her an apology. At the very least, he shouldn’t have reprimanded her like that.

Thinking of this … The young man who was sitting at the table with his back straight turned to look at her.

His dark eyes reflected the woman’s bright red clothes, “I … didn’t mean to criticize you back then.” He chose his words carefully.

She didn’t know the rules and etiquette, it was obviously not her fault … In the end, she was the one who had to bear so much scolding.

And the initiator of all this was still happily holding their Flower Appreciation Gathering outside the palace.

It was too much.

They and himself had gone too far.

Just as he was reprimanding himself, someone suddenly grabbed his hand …

He lowered his head and saw a pair of slender and beautiful hands gently caressing the agarwood bead on his wrist.

“It doesn’t matter. You didn’t cause it.” She said … There was a hint of a smile in her soft voice.

The young man looked down at her fingertips and let her hold his wrist.

He said softly, “But I still feel very sorry. When Father was alive, he once told us that what we see with our eyes is not necessarily the truth. We have to look at everything that is buried behind it. I have to think about the root cause, the process, and the result. Have to see far and wide to see it clearly … But I didn’t do it.”

Duan Changchuan was only six years old when the late emperor was alive.

If it were in the modern world, many children would still cry and shout for their mothers because they had to go to kindergarten.

But the little crown prince, the heir to the throne, had already begun to learn the strategy of governing the country under his father’s influence.

“The more a crown you have, the heavier it will be”. In the past eighteen years, the young man had vividly interpreted these words.

Bai Su couldn’t help but lower her head and kiss his fingertips, “Your Majesty has already done very well. In this concubine’s heart, whether it’s the Regent or Prime Minister Bai, they are not better than Your Majesty in terms of breadth of mind, talent, and virtue.”

The young man was in a high position and heard hundreds of praises every day. But when he suddenly heard such words, he couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

“I … didn’t.”

“I haven’t fought with them until now … I am not as good as you say.”

The young man stammered …

Bai Su smiled. Her palm gently landed on the top of his head, “Your Majesty is the best in this concubine’s heart.”

Duan Changchuan was embarrassed by the compliment. After a long silence, he realized that his wrist was still being held.

He hurriedly retracted his hand and coughed out of habit before asking, “Do you want to go to the Flower Appreciation Gathering at the Prime Minister’s manor? Yun Xie and Aunt Feng Yao have already gotten an invitation letter from Prime Minister Bai. If we disguise ourselves, we can pretend to be their disciples and sneak in together.”

Fearing that Bai Su would think too much about it, he hurriedly explained, “The prime minister’s residence is hosting a fun banquet. I can’t attend it as the emperor. It would seem… a little degrading. So, for the time being, I can’t let you return to the Prime Minister’s manor grandly as the Empress … … Without me by your side, if you go back alone as the Empress, I’m afraid the Prime Minister’s manor will make things difficult for you.”

“You … wait a little longer. Wait until I take back this country. I will definitely let you return in glory.”

After a few sentences, he didn’t hear the woman’s reply.

When he raised his head, he realized the other party was staring at him without blinking.

Her eyes were burning … There was a smile on her face.

“Are you done talking?” The woman spoke in an incomparably indulgent tone.

“Ah… yes, I’m done.” He replied.

In the next moment, the fragrance of peony mixed with the faint smell of rouge entered his nose.

His chin was slightly raised, and a soft and gentle touch fell from the corner of his lips.

“I understand. On the eighth day of this month, Your Majesty, remember to come to the secret passage to receive this concubine.” She said.

The young man unconsciously licked the corner of his lips with the tip of his tongue. Later on, he realized that this action was too ambiguous. He hurriedly pursed his lips with red ears.

After a while, he found his voice and said, “Ok … Okay.”

–

On the 8th day of the 4th month, in the afternoon.

Duan Changchuan and Bai Su, dressed in pure white robes, disguised themselves as ordinary people and followed Feng Yao and Yun Xie into the Prime Minister’s manor.

In the manor, the young masters of the various families were dressed beautifully and elegantly. Only four of them, from top to bottom, were dressed in plain clothes and seemed out of place.

Strictly speaking, it was the three of them … Because the elegant young master who was walking at the front and holding a folding fan in his hand was clearly dressed in the same white robe, but he very carefully added a gold-inlaid belt and several delicate golden flowers were also embroidered on his lapel.

If one were to say that he was gorgeous, he was dressed in plain white; but if one were to say that he was low-key, with this kind of dressing and his handsome face, he really stood out from the crowd.

Moreover, almost all the people in this courtyard were the Prime Minister and the Regent, and they …

Who didn’t know that the Imperial Astronomical Bureau had always been on the Emperor’s side?

Therefore, from the moment they entered the manor, they attracted the attention of all parties. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at the four of them.

The Prime Minister’s wife had long known they would come and welcome them along the way.

“Greetings, Madam. The last time we met was at the Flower Appreciation Gathering last year. In the blink of an eye, a year has passed. This banquet seems to have become more lively. The Prime Minister’s manor is flourishing.”

Yun Xie put away the folding fan in his hand and gave her a shallow greeting.

Feng Yao nodded slightly and coldly said, “Madam of Prime Minister, long time no see.”

“Both of you are distinguished guests, please come in. Today, the manor has prepared tea and snacks, so everyone can enjoy the flowers and drink tea together. Jinzhi has recently reared a few little rabbits in the east Huayin Pavilion. You can also go and join in the fun.”

Bai Jinzhi was the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s manor.

It was rumored that at a young age, she was astonishingly talented and was a famous talented girl in the capital.

Duan Changchuan followed the direction of her finger and saw that there was indeed a group of girls in the small pavilion, at the outermost position … a tall woman dressed in a lake-green brocade stood under a huge Huai tree, her clothes fluttering in the wind. The temperament of a noble lady was obvious.

As they spoke, they heard an announcement outside, “Zhuang Yuan, Lin Daren, has arrived! The second place, Lang Shu Daren, has arrived! The third place, Guang Daren, has arrived!”

The people they wanted to win over were here. Madam of Prime Minister quickly excused herself and hurried over to welcome them.

As soon as Madam Bai left, Yun Xie immediately put away his serious attitude and rolled his eyes at the woman’s back. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Once she heard that the Zhuang Yuan was here, she immediately went to welcome him. Prime Minister Bai, that sly old fox, didn’t tell his wife what they did back then?”

“They’re already in this state and they’re still trying to win over Lin Qing? Lin Qing is already giving them face by not making enemies with them. We could say that one has to rely on being shameless to obtain money and power.”

His words, in other people’s ears, were meaningless. However, the four people present were as clear as a mirror in their hearts.

“Yun’er, be careful with your words.” Feng Yao chided softly.

Then she glanced at the three people who had just entered and said, “Let’s wait and see first. If Lin Qing is a hot-blooded person, he definitely won’t be won over.”

As they spoke, they found a secluded place to sit down. However, they didn’t expect that the wind wouldn’t stop …

They originally wanted to quietly drink tea and eat snacks and stop Lin Qing from befriending the Prime Minister’s manor at the same time. However, they didn’t expect that not long after they sat down, a group of people came from afar.

They took a closer look …

Good heavens, the outstanding scholar and his classmate, the second place, were actually heading straight for this place.

“May I ask if there’s an empty seat here for this scholar to sit?”

The scholar bowed nearly ninety degrees to them, polite and without losing his poise. On the other hand, Madam Bai, who was standing behind them, had a gloomy expression.

Duan Changchuan’s body stiffened, and he subconsciously wanted to assume the bearing of an emperor. After all, everyone knew that the first reaction of a male when faced with a love rival was to spread his tail.

Fortunately, he was held down by the people beside him. Only then did the spikes on his body reluctantly close.

Yun Xie was even more eager to watch the show. He opened his folding fan with a “pa” and let out a sound that was neither loud nor soft, “Oh?”

He directly made an inviting gesture and said, “There’s no harm in sitting.”

Thus, His Majesty, who originally wanted to come over and play with Bai Su, watched helplessly as his love rival directly sat next to Bai Su without even asking.

That pair of eyes seemed to be glued to her body and couldn’t move at all.

The little flame in Duan Changchuan’s heart immediately jumped up to the height of a three-story building.

However, the instigator was waving his lousy fan and even winking at him???