Perhaps his presence was so remarkable that, amidst the bevy of young ladies in all their finery, he stood out like a stately pine tree, effortlessly stealing everyone's attention.
His gaze swept over and landed on her face, carrying a hint of warmth. Cheng Simian couldn't help but raise her eyes.
At the moment their eyes met, looking into his face with a gentle smile, Cheng Simian's heart skipped a beat for some reason.
On normal days, he often wore purple, jet - black, or the bright yellow that symbolized his status as the crown prince, which made his handsome face appear cold and profound.
But today he was dressed in sky - blue robes, looking as if he had stepped out of the clouds on the horizon, serene and aloof.
Without the imperial dignity, he seemed to have a touch more of the earthly charm.
All the noble ladies quickly knelt down to pay their respects, each uttering "May the Crown Prince enjoy good fortune" in a melodious voice.
The crown prince told them to rise. His eyes remained fixed on Cheng Simian's face, his expression calm.
Qin Xuanyan seemed to be deliberately competing with Cheng Simian and stood very close to her.
When the crown prince's gaze swept over, Qin Xuanyan had the illusion that she was being stared at and noticed.
Overjoyed, when she got up, she cast a disdainful glance at Cheng Simian, her expression becoming even more arrogant.
The phoenix hairpin on her head seemed to carry even more weight.
The queen beamed and motioned for the crown prince to sit beside her.
"Aren't you supposed to be busy with state affairs and discussing the spring plowing plan with your father? "
She knew full well that the crown prince had come for Cheng Simian, fearing that she might be wronged and missing her so much that he couldn't wait to see her. But she deliberately asked, "Could it be that there's a young lady here that you have your eye on and you just can't wait to come and take a look?"
The queen's joking tone made every noble lady look attentive, nervously anticipating.
The crown prince smiled meaningfully. "Since you know, Mother, why do you tease me?"
His words sounded casual, but they confirmed that there really was someone he fancied at this banquet.
It was like a small stone being thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples to spread far and wide.
The noble ladies couldn't help but whisper to each other, their eyes shining with excitement. Their fair and delicate faces were tinged with a blush, looking like the gorgeous evening glow on the horizon.
Cheng Simian also felt curious.
The crown prince didn't seem to be just making things up.
Besides Wan Chu, was there really someone else he liked?
Qin Xuanyan, who had just been complimented by the queen, was feeling elated. Naturally, she thought that she was the one who attracted the crown prince the most.
She boldly took two steps forward and stood right in front of the crown prince.
"I, Qin Xuanyan, pay my respects to the Crown Prince. I'm honored to catch a glimpse of your grace at the palace banquet every year. Before I entered the palace, my father specifically told me to pay my respects to Her Majesty the Queen and Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Everyone present could tell that Qin Xuanyan was deliberately showing off her status.
To be able to attend the palace banquet every year and meet the royal family, one had to be from a noble family like the four dukes and eight marquises in the capital.
By emphasizing her father, she was also subtly hinting that her father had a close relationship with the crown prince and was loyal to him.
But the crown prince only gave Qin Xuanyan a cursory glance without looking closely, not even saying a word.
She didn't receive the praise she expected. The entire Fengqi Pavilion fell silent, and the atmosphere became a bit tense.
The queen smiled to smooth things over. "Hong'er, don't you remember Yan Yan? She's the eldest daughter of the Duke of Rongxiang."
Qin Feng, the Duke of Rongxiang, currently served as the head of the Secretariat, a high - ranking official of the second rank, and was a crucial minister to the emperor.
The queen was very satisfied with Cheng Simian and thought she would be a good candidate for the crown princess.
Although Qin Xuanyan was inferior to Cheng Simian in terms of appearance, bearing, and character, she came from a noble family and her father was a close minister to the emperor. So there should be a place for her in the Eastern Palace.
Therefore, the queen was also willing to give Qin Xuanyan some face.
The crown prince gave Qin Xuanyan another cold look, seemingly having no impression of her.
His gaze fell on her hairpin.
The phoenix hairpin was extremely eye - catching.
Then the crown prince glanced at Cheng Simian's hair.
His face darkened a bit.
Qin Xuanyan caught the crown prince's glance and thought that the crown prince was paying special attention to her and noticed the phoenix hairpin on her head.
Before the queen could speak, she curtsied, her face glowing with pride. "I haven't thanked Her Majesty the Queen for her reward and compliment."
The crown prince should understand what she meant, right?
The queen had only rewarded her with the phoenix hairpin, which meant she was favored and complimented.
She was the most perfect candidate for the crown princess in the queen's eyes.
But she still didn't receive the crown prince's praise.
Instead, the crown prince looked at Cheng Simian and smiled. "I think the jade bracelet on Miss Cheng's wrist looks very familiar. Did Mother also give it to you?"
The queen was quite surprised. "You still remember that bracelet?"
Cheng Simian looked at her wrist. The bracelet was made of high - quality jadeite, clear and green, with a pattern of intertwined peach blossoms engraved on it.
Could this bracelet have some special origin?
The crown prince's handsome face relaxed. His eyes seemed to lose focus as he was immersed in a tender memory.
"Even though I was only five years old at that time, I still remember it clearly. When Father ascended the throne and named Mother the queen, right after the coronation ceremony, Father put this bracelet on Mother's wrist and said that since you were born in the season when the peach blossoms were in full bloom, the beauty of the peach blossoms should stay with you and accompany you through your youth. Your love for each other should be as splendid and long - lasting as the peach blossoms."
His gaze on Cheng Simian softened even more. He couldn't bear to look away for even a moment. "Mianmian, you're very lucky."
Everyone was astonished. It turned out that this seemingly ordinary bracelet actually had extraordinary significance.
And this bracelet, which symbolized the love between the emperor and the queen, was now on Cheng Simian's wrist.
The noble ladies' looks turned envious. They regretted that they hadn't been more discerning when choosing their gifts and had let Cheng Simian get such a good one.
Cheng Simian also didn't expect that a casual gift would carry such a beautiful and profound memory.
Moreover, it seemed that the crown prince had deliberately mentioned the coronation ceremony.
The most annoyed and regretful one was Qin Xuanyan.
Suddenly, she felt that the phoenix hairpin on her head was nothing special.
The one bestowed by the queen was good, but it couldn't compare to the significance of that bracelet.
The emperor gave it to the queen on the day of her coronation. Did it mean that whoever wore that bracelet could become the future queen?
She bit her lips angrily, and waves of heat rushed to her face.
She had been showing off in front of the crown prince for a long time, but the crown prince didn't even look at her, yet he treated Cheng Simian differently.
Mianmian! The crown prince actually called her Mianmian!
This vixen, when did she seduce the crown prince?
She was the daughter of a criminal official, of a humble origin. How could she be worthy of being the crown princess?
Her eyes towards Cheng Simian became even more venomous.
Cheng Simian bowed to the queen to express her gratitude. "I'm honored to be born in the same month as Her Majesty the Queen. I'm extremely grateful for the fortune bestowed by Your Majesty."
She didn't talk much and only said what was appropriate for her status.
She was neither over - bearing nor humble, yet her words sounded sincere.
The queen liked her calm and reserved nature.
Unlike Qin Xuanyan, who was impatient, got carried away when complimented, and was jealous and resentful when at a disadvantage.
"I'm glad you like it. I thought the peach blossom pattern on this bracelet was more suitable for you young ladies."
She glanced at the crown prince and smiled.
The crown prince really knew how to get to the point.
Actually, on the day of the coronation, the emperor had bestowed many gifts, and this bracelet was just an unremarkable one.
She was indeed born in March when the peach blossoms were in full bloom, but the emperor had never said such a touching love - letter.
The crown prince was using the emperor's words as a guise to whisper sweet nothings to Cheng Simian.