In the attic overlooking the water, two long rows of mahogany tables were lined up, filled with a dazzling array of fine wines and delicious dishes.
The perch was plump, the wild rice shoots were crisp. The tender purple camel hump meat was boiling in a bronze pot, and the delicious fish slices were served on jade plates.
Just looking at them made one's mouth water.
The fragrant smell of lotus wafted over the lake, and the gentle breeze caressed one's face, making one feel as if in a fairyland.
Li Wanming had just taken a couple of bites when a young girl in a bright red dress said, "What's the fun in just eating? We should think of something to liven things up... How about playing the Flying Flower Rhyme game?"
Another person said, "The last poetry gathering at your place was also about the Flying Flower Rhyme game. Let's play the domino game this time?"
Yet another person chimed in, "It's always either the Flying Flower Rhyme game or the domino game. It's getting boring. Today is the princess's flower - viewing banquet. We should come up with something new."
Lü Songyuan put down her ivory chopsticks and said, "Since it's the princess's flower - viewing banquet, how about we take flowers as the theme? Regardless of the form, each of us comes up with an idea as a return gift for the princess?"
After she said this, everyone thought it was novel and interesting and readily agreed.
Wang Gongling also stepped forward and said, "The princess appreciates all the young ladies' good intentions. You are all allowed to pick the flowers in the garden. You have one hour. Let's see who can come up with the most interesting and innovative idea."
As soon as the words were out, more than half of the people at the table left.
All the girls got up and walked towards the yard in groups of threes and fives, giggling and chatting, to pick flowers.
Li Wanming looked at the barely - touched dishes in front of her. Her chopsticks hung in the air. She didn't know whether to continue eating or stop.
Lü Songyuan stood up. When she passed by Li Wanming, the corner of her lips curled into a faint smile.
"Miss Cheng is good at brewing wine. You're not going to be lazy this time and use fresh flowers to make wine again, are you? If so, it will be a bit disappointing..."
Li Wanming already knew that Lü Songyuan was deliberately picking on her today. She immediately decided to continue eating!
She picked up a piece of beef with her chopsticks and chewed it vigorously, as if she hadn't heard a thing.
Lü Songyuan's face changed, but she finally managed to hold back. She just left with a gloomy face, flicking her sleeves.
Fang Zhi pulled Xiao Yingchu over and said cheerfully, "Don't be afraid. She's just like that. She wishes everyone in the capital were inferior to her! But with Sister Xiao here, we're definitely going to beat her!"
Xiao Yingchu blushed and quickly said, "No, Sister Fang, don't say that... Sister Lü is both talented and beautiful, with a kind and gentle heart..."
"Why do you always boost others' morale and undermine our own?" Fang Zhi pouted her little mouth. "I was thinking of asking you to draw a picture for me later. Will you do it?"
Xiao Yingchu lowered her head. "If my sister asks, of course I'll draw, but..."
Fang Zhi became happy again. "Then let's go quickly! I must pick the biggest and most beautiful flower in the garden and ask you to draw it, just to anger that Lü Songyuan!"
With that, she pulled Xiao Yingchu and ran away like the wind. Before leaving the attic, she didn't forget to call Li Wanming, "Miss Cheng, come quickly too!"
Li Wanming's cheeks were puffed out. She waved at Fang Zhi and said indistinctly, "Coming, coming..."
Why pick flowers?
Is picking flowers more enjoyable than eating?
When you're all gone, I can eat more freely.
Mmm, the goose breast in the princess's mansion is really delicious. The goose breast with a fruity flavor that Xiao Jingnan mentioned should taste like this, right?
I wonder if the princess allows taking away the leftovers. If so, I can take some out for them...
Hey, Chuntao is in the kitchen. I can give her some first.
Li Wanming secretly unfolded a handkerchief under the table and picked up two pieces of hibiscus cake and goose breast.
"Aren't you going yet?"
A voice suddenly came from behind, startling her.
She turned around and saw it was Guo Xinyue.
Li Wanming quickly hid the handkerchief under the table. "Oh, I'll go later. You guys go first."
Guo Xinyue looked at her suspiciously for a while and said, "Hurry up. There are many flowers in this garden, but the most precious ones are the Yao Huang, Wei Zi, and Yu Lou Chun peonies. If you go late, they'll be picked by others."
Li Wanming nodded. After seeing Guo Xinyue walk away, she let out a sigh of relief and continued to eat and drink while secretly packing the leftovers.
However, the handkerchief was too small to hold many pieces.
Li Wanming patted her stomach and stood up. She felt full and satisfied after the meal.
The attic was already empty, and she was the only one left.
Li Wanming looked at the almost untouched dishes on the side table and couldn't help but feel heart - broken.
What a waste of good food...
These women really don't know what's good!
The lotus leaves by the shore swayed gently, looking lush and green.
She suddenly had an idea. She could use the lotus leaves to pack all these dishes and take them back!
Anyway, they won't eat them, and it's just a waste to leave them here.
This shouldn't count as stealing...
No, it doesn't!
Saving food can't be considered stealing!
Li Wanming carefully walked down the shore on the bluestones, stretched out her arms, and picked several of the biggest lotus leaves.
No wonder! The lotus leaves in the princess's mansion grow so well. Each one is almost big enough to pack a whole table of food.
Li Wanming busied herself for a long time and finally packed five bulging portions of leftovers. She happily carried them in her arms and walked towards the kitchen.
The banquet wasn't over yet, so she couldn't leave the princess's mansion. But she could ask Chuntao to take these out first.
On her way back from the kitchen, she walked through the flowers and willows all the way. When she passed through the Rose Garden and climbed up the small hill, Li Wanming was already out of breath.
Just as she was about to sit down and rest under the flower trellis, she suddenly heard someone call her:
"Li Wanming, why haven't you gone to pick flowers yet? The time is almost up!"
She turned around and saw it was actually Pei Yanqi!
Li Wanming was stunned. "Why are you here?"
Pei Yanqi said, "I was invited by the princess to attend the flower - viewing banquet. Of course I'm here!"
"Ah? The princess also invited you?"
Pei Yanqi was unhappy when he heard this. "What do you mean 'also invited me'? I'm this year's new top scholar. It's only natural for the princess to invite me!"
Li Wanming quickly shook her head. "I didn't mean that... I thought this kind of banquet only invited girls."
"Most of the guests are girls, but there are also some young talents." Pei Yanqi puffed out his chest proudly. "Coincidentally, I'm one of them."
"However, you were in the attic, and we were in the corridor on the mountainside, facing each other across the water."
He raised his hand and pointed to a corridor that extended along the ridge of the hill.
"You were by the water, and we were on the mountain. So we could see you, but you couldn't see us."
After saying this, his eyes showed undisguised disdain. "Also, what's wrong with you? Attending the princess Chengping's banquet and even taking away the leftovers?"
Li Wanming felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Her mind was buzzing.
— It wasn't because of Pei Yanqi's disdain, but...
If what he said was true, wouldn't all the young talents of the Great Sheng Dynasty have seen her actions clearly?
Oh my god!
Won't the whole capital be talking about how she stole the leftovers at the princess Chengping's mansion tomorrow?