Cheng Simian, usually dignified and composed, couldn't help but show a look of surprise and astonishment to the Crown Prince.
What did the Crown Prince just call her?
Mianmian?
When did they become so intimate?
She was extremely confused and felt that the Crown Prince's attitude towards her today was particularly different.
In the past, he was neither cold nor warm, with a hint of suspicion and scrutiny.
Today, not only was he especially kind, but the look in his eyes when he looked at her also had an indescribable affection.
But Cheng Simian was sensible enough to know that she couldn't show her confusion in such a situation.
She gave the Crown Prince a faint smile. "The painting was done on Huizhou rice paper. It's afraid of insect damage, so it was fumigated with fruit wood fragrance to repel insects. Other than that, no further preservation is needed."
The Crown Prince nodded gently at her.
He seemed very warm. In the bright sunshine, Cheng Simian thought that his gentle appearance was more human - like than his usual cold and solemn look.
Although the Crown Prince was in a high - ranking and powerful position, he was still a human being who had to eat three meals a day and had emotions.
Cheng Simian looked at his handsome and smiling eyes, and her heart skipped a few beats almost imperceptibly.
But it soon returned to normal.
This familiar and ordinary interaction between the two, in Lu Siming's eyes, seemed more like a silent exchange of affection.
His expression became unpredictable. "I thought big brother focused on state affairs and didn't like to indulge in elegant pursuits. It turns out that you've already had an encounter with Miss Cheng. Miss Cheng was willing to give you the painting. I suppose it's a special bond."
These words sounded like a light - hearted joke, but they actually concealed a hidden edge.
It was insinuating that there was an ambiguous relationship between the Crown Prince and Cheng Simian.
If Cheng Simian were to refute, not only would she lose her maidenly reserve, but it would also seem like she was trying to cover up something.
With the Crown Prince's noble status, it was even more impossible for him to argue with his younger brother about such a matter involving the relationship between a man and a woman.
With elders like Lady Rong and the old lady around, it was even less possible for them to argue with Lu Siming, a prince.
With their status, they were not qualified to lecture Lu Siming, a prince.
Although Little Anzi was smart, his status was even less qualified to refute Lu Siming.
Seeing the Crown Prince's eyes dim slightly, Lu Siming gently raised the corner of his lips.
Song Wanchu smiled. "I heard from Mianmian that the paintings she did when she was thirteen or fourteen were about the interests of the boudoir. With the Crown Prince's ambition and aspiration, he can better understand the Picture of the Vast River and Mountains. Only a noble person like the Crown Prince can ensure that Mianmian's painstaking effort won't be wasted."
Among those present, only Song Wanchu could speak up to refute Lu Siming and clear the name of the Crown Prince and Cheng Simian.
Mianmian had offended the princess for her sake. Now that Mianmian was in trouble, Song Wanchu took it as her responsibility.
As soon as she spoke, she easily turned the situation around.
Lu Siming was implicitly suggesting that the Crown Prince and Cheng Simian had a vulgar relationship of secretly giving and receiving things.
But Song Wanchu's words clearly told everyone that Cheng Simian had an open mind, was extremely talented, and loved the mountains and rivers of the Great Zhou. The Crown Prince could understand her painting and the meaning behind it.
When Cheng Simian gave the painting, she gave it to the right person.
The Crown Prince would surely be in charge of the vast land in the future.
And the Crown Prince didn't misunderstand Cheng Simian's intention.
The relationship between them was pure, noble, and like that between bosom friends.
The corner of Lu Siming's lips that had been raised quietly dropped.
Cheng Simian and Song Wanchu exchanged a look, and they both saw a sly smile in each other's eyes.
The Crown Prince walked past them with a brisk step.
Even his back showed a sense of pleasure.
Lu Siming followed closely behind, his eyes fixed on the bright yellow brocade robe that only the Crown Prince could wear, his gaze dark.
After everyone had seen off the Crown Prince, they continued to enter the palace in an orderly manner.
Song Wanchu let out a sigh of relief.
They had only just reached the palace gate, and they had already encountered so many undercurrents.
Once the banquet started, how many unknown dangers would there be?
The Spring Welcome Banquet was held in the main hall of the palace.
The fruits, pastries, and tea for the banquet had already been set out.
The men and women were seated separately, with the men on the left and the women on the right.
On each side, the seats were arranged in order of official rank and title.
The most noble in the Great Zhou were the old princes and princesses.
Next were the four dukes and eight marquises.
Among the four dukes, Duke Jinning, Liang Xuguang, was the most noble.
It was a pity that he hadn't fully recovered from his illness and couldn't attend the banquet.
On the women's side, the old lady, accompanied by the Princess Jiahe and Song Wanchu, sat in the seat below an old princess.
This seat was very close to the queen's main seat.
As soon as Song Wanchu sat down, she met two icy looks.
It was Princess Lingyang.
Clearly, just a year ago, she was still a lively, spoiled, but bright and charming young girl.
But the woman in front of her, in her teens, had a gloomy face, venomous eyes, as if she had accumulated countless grudges in her body.
Even her full set of pearls and jewels couldn't hide her viciousness.
It seemed that her hatred for Song Wanchu was no less than that of the princess.
The old lady moved forward a bit, blocking Princess Lingyang's sight.
She patted Song Wanchu's hand. Her voice was warm and firm. "Don't be afraid of her. Not to mention that in today's occasion, His Majesty, Her Majesty the Queen, and His Highness the Crown Prince won't allow her to misbehave. Even if she goes all out to oppose you, Taoist Qingzhou will surely come to your rescue."
After the banquet started, the emperor and the queen first raised their wine glasses to toast the heaven and earth.
Everyone followed suit.
Sixty - eight officials in auspicious robes pushed five Tianyuan cauldrons into the venue.
The five cauldrons were filled with the five grains respectively.
The officials of the Ministry of Rites, wearing red ceremonial robes with wheat ears in their hats, led the recitation of the Ode to Good Weather to pray for a smooth spring plowing.
After the ceremony, the Taoist priests and Buddhist monks entered from the left and right respectively, forming two columns, and circled around the five cauldrons to offer blessings.
Among the sixteen Taoist priests in cyan robes, there was a face that was particularly eye - catching.
Handsome, mysterious, and yet extremely familiar to everyone present.
Once upon a time, who in the capital hadn't been amazed by the elegant and refined Second Young Master Liang?
Even the emperor and the queen were surprised.
"It's Second Young Master Liang... He's actually back in the capital?"
As soon as the blessing ceremony ended and the Buddhist monks and Taoist priests hadn't left yet, the princess laughed loudly. "Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Queen, look! We've seen some new faces today!"
The emperor looked at the men's side, and the queen looked at the women's side.
The queen glanced at the emperor, and the emperor nodded his chin without saying a word.
The queen smiled. "There are indeed two new faces. There's a new granddaughter beside the old lady of the Duke Jinguo's Mansion, and a new daughter beside the Lady of the Marquis Wude."
She was gentle and generous, and there was no malice in her tone or eyes.
The queen knew Song Wanchu.
The Crown Prince had once been high - spirited and then dejected because of her.
The queen admired Song Wanchu and had supported the Crown Prince to marry her as a concubine in the past.
It was just that Liang Yuzhou had taken the lead.
It was quite strange. In the past, when Song Wanchu was Liang Yuzhou's concubine, she wasn't qualified to attend such a formal palace banquet.
Now that she was the adopted granddaughter of the old lady, she could attend it openly.
It was just unknown what kind of stories had happened between her and Liang Yuzhou in the past year.
The princess's eyes were filled with venom. She squinted at Song Wanchu and let out a sneer. "The queen's vision is really sharp. But a woman like Song Wanchu, who is shameless, fickle, and has no merits, has no grace of a noble lady from a prominent family. She's quite good at playing with men's feelings. For such a person to appear at this solemn and grand Spring Welcome Banquet is really a disgrace to our Great Zhou!"
"May I ask the princess, which man's feelings has Miss Song played with? As a member of the royal family, every word and deed of yours represents the national dignity of the Great Zhou. Slandering Miss Song maliciously out of thin air, isn't that also a disgrace to the Great Zhou?"