The flower-admiring banquet arrived in a few days.
The furens of the Imperial House brought their daughters into the palace to attend the banquet of the Empress.
The banquet was held in the Imperial Garden. Because it was a family banquet, the atmosphere was harmonious.
After all the womenfolk had taken their seats, the Empress walked to the main seat surrounded by her maids.
"Since today is a family banquet, there is no need to be reserved," the Empress said softly. Her gaze swept over Kuang Lu, who was sitting below, and there was satisfaction in her eyes, "Enjoy the flowers, drink tea and recite poetry."
All the furens knew that this was a flower-admiring banquet on the surface, but in reality, it was for the Imperial Crown Prince to take in a fei. They all pushed their daughters to perform in front of the palace.
If it wasn't the daughter of a general's wife who performed a sword dance, it was the daughter of a minister's wife who sang poetry. There were also those who played the qin, danced, sang, painted … … there were all kinds of martial arts.
After the woman who wrote poetry left, the Empress looked at Kuang Lu and said, "What talent does the daughter of Marquis Of Pingchang, Kuang Lu, have?"
Everyone's gazes turned to Kuang Lu.
Kuang Lu had been thinking about finding a moment when no one was paying attention to go find Xufeng. She hadn't thought that the Empress' words would expose her in front of everyone.
Also, she didn't think that she had any rare talent.
The young misses of official families had only studied the qin, go, calligraphy, painting, poetry and songs since young. Those young misses and girls had all been exposed. Even if she repeated them, it wouldn't be much.
Kuang Lu sighed inside. She stood and bowed to the Empress. Just as she was about to speak, she heard an attendant announce, "The Imperial Crown Prince has arrived — —!"
All the women present had joy on their faces as they imperceptibly arranged their hair accessories and clothing.
Xufeng walked in large strides along the small path with two attendants following behind him.
"Greetings to Your Highness the Imperial Crown Prince." A woman was the first to bow, "Many blessings to Your Highness."
Xufeng looked at her and then walked straight forward.
The woman's expression turned ugly as she took a few steps back and returned to her seat.
"My son, why are you only here now?" The Empress beckoned him forward.
Xufeng bowed before walking forward and sitting down on the stool beside the Empress.
"Son has an appointment with someone to race horses in the suburbs today," Xufeng said. "If it weren't for Muhou repeatedly sending people to urge me, son wouldn't have come."
The Empress smiled and said, "Today, Imperial Mother is hosting this Flower Admiring Banquet. Even if you are unwilling, you can still come and take a look."
How could Xufeng not know that this flower-admiring banquet was actually for him to take a consort? Immediately, he said: "Son has already come, the flowers have also been rewarded." Picking up the teacup on the table, he took a sip, "The tea has also been tasted. Muhou, son will take his leave."
"Hey, Xufeng." The Empress got up and called out to him.
Xufeng walked down the stairs. Just as he walked two steps, he saw Kuang Lu sitting on the right. His face lit up. He walked forward and said, "I was just thinking about how to invite you to ride horses in the suburbs on such a good spring day. Who would have thought that I would meet you here. This is fate."
The Empress swallowed the words that had reached her mouth. She reached out to stop the attendants beside her so that they could not disturb Xufeng and Kuang Lu.
"Ride horses in the suburbs?" Kuang Lu also liked it when she heard this.
She felt like she was sitting on pins and needles here. In a moment, she had to perform. Just as she was having a headache, hearing that she could "ride horses in the suburbs" to escape this place, how could she not be willing?
Also, she wanted to use Xufeng to find Run Yu, so she agreed.
"Then we leave now?" Xufeng asked.
"En." Kuang Lu walked forward a few steps and suddenly remembered that the Empress was still here. She hurriedly bowed to her.
"Muhou," Xufeng walked forward and said to the Empress with a smile, "Son and Kuang Lu are old friends. There are many people accompanying Muhou at this flower appreciation banquet, so son invited Kuang Lu to ride horses in the spring."
Finishing, he pulled Kuang Lu and turned to leave.
"The Eldest Imperial Prince has arrived — —!"
As the attendant's announcement sounded, Run Yu, dressed in imperial robes, appeared from the other side of the path. He walked with steady steps towards the Empress.
Kuang Lu stared with wide eyes at Run Yu. She hadn't thought that she would meet him here and now.
She had longed to see him again, but it was definitely not in this kind of setting.
Kuang Lu unconsciously wanted to break free of Xufeng's hand, but he tightened his grip on her wrist. He said in a low voice, "Muhou is still here."
Kuang Lu instantly didn't dare to move. She could only watch as Run Yu slowly walked towards her.
Run Yu's gaze landed on Kuang Lu's body. Then his gaze moved down to her wrist that was being held by Xufeng. His eyes flashed slightly.
Run Yu … …
Kuang Lu silently called him.
Xufeng pulled her forward to leave. Kuang Lu brushed past Run Yu. Seeing Run Yu walk straight past, she couldn't help but turn back to look at him.
Run Yu's hands, which were covered by his wide sleeves, clenched into fists. When he walked to the front of the Empress' seat, he loosened his fists and saluted, "Erchen Run Yu has received imperial father and muhou's grace to return to the palace. I have specially come to thank muhou."
Xufeng pulled Kuang Lu out of the Imperial Garden. Only when they were out of the garden and approaching the palace gates did Kuang Lu, with a depressed expression, break free of his hand.
Xufeng let go and turned around. He smiled and said, "Kuang Lu, I have prepared a suitable horse for you. Today's scenery in the suburbs is pleasant. It is a good weather for riding."
"But I … …"
"Kuang Lu," Xufeng interrupted her words of refusal, "You left the banquet with me in full view of everyone. Now you are leaving alone. If muhou learns of this, what will muhou think? "
Seeing that Kuang Lu was silent, Xufeng said softly, "Are you blaming me for hiding my identity at the Cold Mountain Temple? In fact, I didn't mean to hide it. It was just that the situation was special. It was inconvenient for me to tell you directly. If you are angry, Xufeng apologizes to you. "After he finished speaking, he bowed to her cautiously.
"Imperial Crown Prince is too serious." Kuang Lu moved sideways to avoid him. Her expression improved, "You will inherit the throne in the future. I am just a commoner girl. How can I blame you?"
When Xu Feng heard her words, she knew that her mood had turned for the better. She also smiled and joked, "If you marry this person who is going to inherit the throne, you will no longer be a 'commoner'."
"You!" Kuang Lu was stunned speechless by his words. She didn't know how to respond to him. She could only fly into a rage out of humiliation and wanted to hit him with her fist, "You are the Imperial Crown Prince. How can you speak so frivolously?"
Xufeng hurriedly held her fist and said, "Xufeng's words come from the bottom of my heart. If Kuang Lu doesn't believe me, then forget it. Don't accuse me of frivolous and impudent words."
"You're still talking!" Kuang Lu snatched her hand back and said with dissatisfaction, "In the future, don't talk nonsense and let others misunderstand."
After thinking about it, she felt that it was better to make things clear, so she said, "Xufeng, whether you are sincere or not, Kuang Lu only has gratitude in her heart. There is no other meaning. The person that Kuang Lu likes is … … "
"Older brother!" Xufeng suddenly interrupted Kuang Lu.
Kuang Lu looked back and saw Run Yu walking over.
"Run Yu." A smile appeared on Kuang Lu's face. Xufeng watched from the side and felt all the feelings in his heart turn into sadness.
"Kuang Lu." Run Yu stepped forward and smiled gently at her, "A few days ago, Run Yu promised you that we would meet again after returning to the capital. I didn't expect to see you again so soon."
"I also didn't expect." Kuang Lu didn't want to say that she already knew their identities. She only smiled and said, "I didn't expect you to be the Great Imperial Prince and the Imperial Crown Prince. Your identities are so noble."
"Previously at Cold Mountain Temple, Run Yu didn't think that one day he would be able to leave the mountain." Run Yu smiled slightly, but there was loneliness hidden in it, "Thus, I didn't dare to say too much about my identity as a 'prince.' I didn't deliberately hide it. "
Naturally, he didn't dare to say too much, but it wasn't because he couldn't leave the mountain.
Although he had been on the mountain for many years, he had never given up on leaving the mountain. He had always been secretly cultivating his power and waiting for an opportunity to act.
"Kuang Lu didn't blame you." Kuang Lu said, "Your Highness the Great Imperial Prince doesn't need to take it to heart."
"Since you didn't blame me," Run Yu said, "then just like before, you can call me by my name."
Seeing that the two were about to leave the palace, he asked, "Xufeng, where are you going?"
"We invited Kuang Lu to ride a horse in the suburbs." Xufeng smiled and said, "Does Elder Brother want to come with us?"
Run Yu looked at Kuang Lu. Seeing her looking at him with eyes full of expectation, he said, "I've been on the mountain for many years and rarely rode a horse. Xufeng, you have to let me ride a little."
Hearing this, Xufeng and Kuang Lu were very happy that he agreed.
The three of them led a group of attendants to the suburbs.
It was a good day with a gentle breeze. The pasture was covered in green shade. The sun shone on the leaves, reflecting a green luster.
Although Kuang Lu rarely rode a horse, she wasn't afraid.
Moreover, the horse that Xufeng had chosen for her was small and thin, suitable for a woman. After she mounted and sat on the horse's back, she felt a light breeze on her face and her field of vision widened.
"Let's race!" Kuang Lu hit the horse's butt with a short whip. The horse took the lead and galloped out.
Xufeng and Run Yu looked at each other and smiled. Xufeng shook his head and said, "This temperament is very impatient."
"Kuang Lu's temperament is frank and can't hide her thoughts." Run Yu said, "This is also one of the things that makes her cute."
Xufeng's hand holding the reins slightly tightened. He said carelessly, "It seems that elder brother has a good impression of Kuang Lu."
"Kuang Lu and I met when we were young. We felt like old friends at first sight." Run Yu said lightly, "Kuang Lu's temperament is simple and straightforward. I think there are very few people who don't like her."
"Elder brother is right." Xufeng's eyes flashed. After a moment of silence, he smiled and said, "Kuang Lu's temperament is too naive and kind. If she doesn't have a good person to protect her, I'm afraid that she will suffer some losses."
"She won't." Run Yu said.
"What?" Xufeng looked at him with a questioning gaze.
"I said," Run Yu turned his head and met his gaze. He said seriously, "I will protect her and won't let her suffer the slightest bit."
Xufeng's breathing tightened. He felt very uncomfortable in his heart. He couldn't be bothered to speak more with Run Yu. He urged his horse to gallop forward.
Run Yu looked at Xufeng's back. The corner of his mouth hooked in a light smile.
Several days passed after the Flower Appreciating Banquet.
On this day, Kuang Lu was sitting idly in the fu. She heard the servants say that the First Imperial Prince had received the Emperor's favor and had been given a residence outside the palace to live in.
Kuang Lu knew when she heard this. On the surface, it was the Emperor's favor that had given him a residence. In reality, the Empress was using this as an excuse to have him leave the palace and not live in the palace.
Although the Emperor had summoned him back to the palace to regain his status as an Imperial Prince, he still lived outside the palace. This wasn't much different than when he had lived in the Cold Mountain Temple.
On the surface, it was favor, but in reality, it was indulgence.
Kuang Lu sent people to prepare a carriage. They traveled all the way to Zhu Que Avenue in the south of the city. On a side street some distance from the main street, they saw the "Emperor's" residence.
Standing in front of the large and empty door, Kuang Lu couldn't help but sigh.
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