"Hey," Jin Xianghuan suddenly asked, "Your cousin is about the same age as the Second Prince. Haven't your uncle and aunt arranged a match for him?"
Fu Zhen suddenly came back to her senses. Arranging a match for Chen Tingfeng?
A polite yet awkward smile appeared on her face. "The family... isn't in a hurry."
Chen Xuan and Lady Bai were both kind and gentle people. They didn't control and scold their children like other families did. Previously, when Chen Tingfeng said he didn't want to get married, they put the matter aside. No matter who came to talk about it, they always held the same attitude.
And now that the two of them were together, they didn't even mention it once.
However... Fu Zhen's gaze drifted towards the area where the male guests were sitting. Coincidentally, she met Chen Tingfeng's eyes.
She immediately lowered her head.
The movement was so big that it caught Jin Xianghuan's attention. "Zhenzhen?"
Fu Zhen bit her lip. "It's okay."
She lowered her head and played with her fingers. She could still vaguely feel Chen Tingfeng's gaze on her, as if it were going to bore through her.
But she didn't want to pay attention to him.
Suddenly, there was a commotion in the front. Jin Xianghuan lowered her voice and exclaimed, "Why is she here?"
Huh? Fu Zhen came back to her senses and looked up. A woman in a green dress was sitting expressionlessly under the willow branches by the pool. The light and shadow fell on her smooth eyebrows, making her skin look as white as jade.
She looked a bit frail.
The moment she truly saw the woman's eyebrows and eyes clearly, Fu Zhen's expression froze, and she slowly frowned.
Why is it her?
Just as her thoughts were racing, the Empress and her entourage arrived late.
Although this banquet was organized by the Eldest Princess, it couldn't have been done without the help of the Empress and Concubine Rou. Moreover, since today was originally for choosing concubines for their sons, they naturally had to attend.
After Fu Zhen bowed with the others, her gaze slid over them one by one and finally landed on the unfamiliar Eldest Princess.
In her previous life, she had sat alone in a corner at this banquet. Due to her nervousness, she hadn't even seen the Eldest Princess's face clearly.
Now that she took a look, the Eldest Princess was truly a beauty of national renown.
The Eldest Princess wasn't extremely beautiful, but her aura was so strong that one could tell at a glance that she was a noble lady raised in an extremely wealthy family. There was a proper smile on her face, and the occasional glance she gave was as gentle as water. Only when her eyes flitted did a bit of shrewdness leak out.
Fu Zhen began to understand why Chen Tingfeng had once told her that if the Eldest Princess were a man, her achievements would never be inferior to Xie Yan's.
She sat below and sized up the Eldest Princess, not knowing that the Eldest Princess was also observing her secretly.
After she returned to the capital, she had heard many widespread rumors. Recently, the most talked - about one was the cousin of the Marquis of Wu'an's Mansion, a woman whose mother had eloped with someone and whose father was unknown.
Leaving aside how people ridiculed and ignored her, Xie Lingyun herself didn't have much ill - feeling towards this cousin. A woman who could openly move her mother's grave and didn't even mind staining her own reputation couldn't be that bad.
Such courage wasn't something everyone had, especially in this era when a woman's chastity was regarded as more important than anything else.
Xie Lingyun didn't dislike her; she was just curious.
Now that she saw her in person, the woman didn't look as valiant and heroic as she had imagined. Instead, she looked a bit weak, but she was quite charming. However, the occasional glance the woman gave made Xie Lingyun smile knowingly. No matter how weak she pretended to be, a bit of her true nature would always leak out from the corners of her eyes and eyebrows.
Soft on the outside but strong on the inside? Not bad.
She gently waved the feather fan in her hand. Seeing the other woman look away, she simply stared at her without blinking.
Unexpectedly, the more she looked, the more familiar the other woman's face seemed.
Especially when Fu Zhen lowered her head, she looked seven - tenths like that old acquaintance.
Xie Lingyun's hand holding the folding fan suddenly tightened a bit, and a look of disbelief flashed in her eyes.
How could it be? Could it be...
Since the Empress had come, this banquet officially began.
There were banquets arranged in the imperial garden for the flowing - cup game. The male and female guests were seated separately. After the exquisitely prepared dishes were served, someone proposed that they perform some talents to liven up the atmosphere. It didn't matter what it was as long as it could make the occasion lively.
Since the two princes were present among the male guests, everyone knew what the nature of this performance was. Some who couldn't hold back had already blushed slightly, looking excited.
Before long, someone brought a zither and, with a bit of shyness and pride, began to play in the middle.
Fu Zhen was still deep in thought, while Jin Xianghuan beside her had already started eating.
"The food in the palace may not be as novel as that outside, but the chefs are very skilled. Zhenzhen, try this duck. It's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It's delicious," Jin Xianghuan said, constantly moving her chopsticks and even taking the time to pick up a piece for Fu Zhen.
The attention of the people at the banquet wasn't on the food. They would occasionally pick up a few chopsticks of food. Jin Xianghuan ate quickly but gracefully, so she didn't attract much attention.
Fu Zhen smiled softly and poured her a cup of tea. "Eating too much meat can be greasy. Have a cup of tea."
Jin Xianghuan chuckled. "What's the fun in tea? We should drink wine on such an occasion!"
Saying that, she picked up the wine cup on her table and clinked it with Fu Zhen's. "This is grape wine. My father brought back a pot when he did business in the Western Regions. It tastes really good! The wine in the palace is all tribute, so it must taste even better. Try it quickly!"
Fu Zhen had never drunk alcohol in this life and didn't know her alcohol tolerance. If she got drunk on such an occasion, it would be extremely embarrassing. She looked at the ruby - red grape wine in her hand and hesitated.
However... the wine was truly as Jin Xianghuan had said. It had a strong aroma, and just the smell made one feel intoxicated. It must taste much better than ordinary wine.
Such wine was rarely available.
Jin Xianghuan had already finished a cup. After some hesitation, Fu Zhen brought the cup to her lips and took a small sip.
The wine slid down her throat like silk. At first, it tasted slightly sour and bitter, and then it suddenly became sweet. The taste of the wine and the sweetness filled her mouth and nose, and even her brain seemed to be surrounded by the aroma of the wine.
Fu Zhen's eyes lit up slightly. She heard Jin Xianghuan asking the maid to pour another cup, but the next second, a picture flashed through her mind at high speed. In an instant, her face changed drastically, and she suddenly looked towards Chen Tingfeng.
But she saw an empty seat.
He was gone.
She suddenly stood up. Jin Xianghuan was startled by her. Seeing that everyone around was looking over, she quickly pulled her to sit down. "Zhenzhen, what's wrong with you?"
Fu Zhen gritted her teeth and said quickly, "Xianghuan, I suddenly have a stomachache. If anyone asks you, please cover for me. I'll be back soon."
After saying that, she looked around as if trying to identify the direction, and then left the banquet quietly but quickly.
She asked a maid beside her where the dressing room was. The maid wanted to lead her there, but she refused. The maid had to point out a small path.
Fu Zhen looked back at the empty seat where Chen Tingfeng had been. Her heart sank to the bottom.
Chen Tingfeng, you've been smart all your life. I hope you don't mess up today.