Mid-February is the beginning of the year. After a long winter of slumber, as all things revive, Kyoto also becomes lively. The first thing that brings Kyoto back to life is naturally the Lantern Festival, followed by the Spring Examination.
The Spring Examination is held in February, the results are announced in March, and the Palace Examination is held in April. During these two months, Kyoto is filled with scholars from all over the world, all of whom are eager to take advantage of this opportunity to make a splash and change their status.
When the spring examination came to an end, on the first day of March, the Queen Mother held a spring banquet in the hibiscus garden where flowers were in full bloom. Not only the princes and nobles, the aristocratic families, men and women gathered together, but also talented and famous children from poor families who were recommended or had connections with royal relatives and got invitations from the palace. Looking at it, it was much more lively than last year's chrysanthemum viewing banquet.
Originally, Shen Xihe didn't need to go to such a banquet as she was already engaged and she didn't like such crowded occasions. However, she had to do something today so she had to come.
However, Shen Xihe gained a lot from this trip. She saw several avatars of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince: Xiao Fuxing, Guo Daoyi, and that... Miss Qin.
Qin Zijie stood out from the crowd. Her height was much taller than that of an ordinary man. Therefore, anyone passing by her couldn't help but take a second look at her. She sat upright and calm, ignoring all these glances.
It was not until she saw Shen Xihe that she walked towards him with her maid.
"Princess Zhaoning." Qin Zijie took the initiative to bow and greet Shen Xihe.
Shen Xihe also returned the greeting as an equal: "Miss Qin."
"Princess, may I have a word with you?" Qin Zijie spoke directly.
Shen Xihe raised his eyebrows slightly, guessing that she wanted to explain to him what happened last time, so he nodded in agreement and followed her to a quiet place. Qin Zijie ordered her maid to guard the place, and Shen Xihe also winked at Zhenzhu and Ziyu.
Only Qin Zijie and Shen Xihe entered the Moon Gate alone. The small courtyard was not even as big as Shen Xihe's bedroom and could be seen at a glance.
"Princess, I am not familiar with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Qin Zijie's face was calm and his eyes were clear. "On the day of the Fourth Prince's wife's birthday banquet, I was not in the mansion. I originally planned to send someone to bring a generous gift to congratulate him, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince went to the Taifu Mansion and asked my grandfather to agree.
I am speaking to Princess Xun today on orders from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Qin Zijie was shocked when she found out. She had never thought that the Crown Prince would pretend to be her in order to get close to Princess Zhaoning and the Fourth Prince's wife at their birthday party! It was her fault that she usually kept to herself and didn't hear anything about the outside world. She didn't know about it until today.
As expected of a girl from the Taifu family, she behaves in a methodical manner, just like the Taifu's way of teaching.
"It's hard for Miss Qin." Shen Xihe laughed softly.
Qin Zijie's brows were filled with suppressed anger. She probably was still mad at Xiao Huayong for pretending to be her. But because of the relationship between the monarch and his subject, she had to obey Xiao Huayong's orders, so she had to keep a straight face.
It has to be said that although Xiao Huayong was not familiar with Qin Zijie, he managed to act out an 80% resemblance to Qin Zijie.
I never thought Shen Xihe would say this. It is said that Shen Xihe is aloof and difficult to approach. Qin Zijie has already prepared himself to be treated coldly by Shen Xihe. But now he feels that Shen Xihe is quite approachable and the rumors cannot be fully believed.