Huan Xuan subconsciously stood in front of Sui Sui, then came to his senses and felt puzzled. What was he afraid of
He was not afraid of Ruan Yuewei finding out, and he did not try to hide the matter. Chang'an City was a small place, and sooner or later it would reach Ruan Yuewei's ears.
He was not afraid of being found out by Lu. All the servants in Shanchiyuan knew that she was just a substitute, so he didn't even bother to hide it from her.
He was not a man who could not keep his cool. If he had been so easily startled and lost his composure on a normal day, he might have died in the desert and snow of the northwest.
But the instantaneous reaction cannot deceive people, the instantaneous palpitation, panic, and even fear. What is he afraid of
Before he could figure it out, the prince, who was talking to Mu Ke, turned around and noticed them.
The smile on his lips froze for a moment, then returned to normal, and he walked towards them with his wife.
Both of them were dressed in men's clothes, dressed like the sons of wealthy families. The prince wore a blue brocade robe with silver weave, while Ruan Yuewei wore a light green brocade robe with wave patterns, a man's jade crown, light makeup, and narrow shoulders. At first glance, she was dressed like a woman.
Ruan Yuewei's gaze slid across Huan Xuan's face and then fell behind him, apparently looking for something.
Huan Xuan's heart sank slightly.
In fact, not only Ruan Yuewei discovered Sui Sui, Sui Sui also saw her at first sight.
Anyone who sees someone who looks similar to themselves will notice it immediately.
She couldn't see Huan Xuan's face and didn't know what expression he had at the moment.
But based on her understanding of Huan Xuan, he probably doesn't want Ruan Yuewei to see the substitute he found. Although he has a bad temper, he is proud and would not use such means to provoke his sweetheart.
She also didn't want to attract the attention of the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. The Crown Prince was fine, but Ruan Yuewei was her aunt's cousin, and the blood connection between them was indescribable. If she accidentally aroused her suspicion, it would be troublesome after all.
While Huan Xuan was greeting the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, Sui Sui calmly stepped back two steps and blended in with the attendants of the palace.
The prince was traveling incognito, so his entourage did not have to perform grand formalities, but basic etiquette was still required. The guards all lowered their heads, which gave her the opportunity to get away with it.
Fortunately, the prince was talking to Mu Ke at the beginning, and Sui Sui had already lowered his head when he noticed them.
The prince did not notice anything unusual. He exchanged greetings with Huan Xuan and said, "Since we have caught you here, we cannot let you go tonight. You must drink three hundred cups with me."
Huan Xuan turned his head and glanced at Sui Sui, only to see that she had retreated among the other guards at some point with her head lowered.
He should be relieved that she was so tactful and smart, but for some reason, he felt inexplicably unhappy.
He looked away and said to his attendant, "We don't need so many people to serve here. You and Song Jiu can stay here, and the rest of you can go sit in the restaurant next door."
Sui Sui was about to leave among the guards when Ruan Yuewei suddenly said, "Wait."
The prince looked at his wife in surprise and his face darkened slightly. Although they were traveling incognito, it was really undignified for her, a princess, to speak to the guards of the palace.
Ruan Yuewei also realized that she had lost her composure, and quickly calmed herself down, and said with a generous smile: "The servants have been loyal to their duties for a whole year. Today is the Lantern Festival, why don't you give them a table downstairs to have fun?"
When she mentioned the word "servant", her eyes fell on Sui Sui's face, just like a dragonfly skimming the water.
The woman was actually looking at her, her expression calm, her amber eyes were unperturbed, and there was only a hint of curiosity. Even that curiosity was very plain, as if she was looking at something new and strange that she had never seen before.
Doesn't she know that she is just a fake
Even if she didn't know it before, she should have known it when she saw her. Doesn't she feel humiliated
I guess she wouldn't, and she might even be complacent. There is a huge gap between her and the King of Qi. If it weren't for this opportunity, how could she possibly get close to him
At this point, Ruan Yuewei felt that she shouldn't bother with such a person, as it would be tantamount to lowering her own status.
She raised her chin slightly and stopped looking at the woman.
After listening to his wife's advice, the prince's frown relaxed a little. Ruan Yuewei was the same when she was in the Eastern Palace. She often rewarded and helped the servants. Not long after she married into the Eastern Palace, she had already gained a reputation as a virtuous person.
Moreover, when they ate out, every dish had to be tested for poison by the guards before it was served, and it would be nice if more than one person could do the testing.
He nodded and said, "You are very thoughtful."
Ruan Yue secretly breathed a sigh of relief, glanced at Huan Xuan, and then met his eyes unexpectedly. He frowned slightly, and his eyes were more unfamiliar than ever before.
Ruan Yuewei's heart skipped a beat and she clenched her sleeves nervously.
The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess presented the meal, and the guards of Prince Qi's Palace had to come forward to express their gratitude, so Sui Sui had no choice but to follow suit and pay their respects.
It would have been a good thing that the prince didn't notice it at first, but now he casually swept his eyes across the row of people and saw Sui Sui at a glance.
There is no other reason, it's just that this face is too eye-catching.
The prince had never seen such a beauty before, it was hard to tell whether she was androgynous, but she was extremely charming and beautiful.
He originally thought that Ruan Yuewei was already stunningly beautiful, but when compared to others, she pales in comparison.
A thought suddenly flashed through the prince's mind, and he instantly realized that this was probably the concubine kept by Huan Xuan, the peerless beauty mentioned by Huan Minggui.
No wonder Huan Minggui was drooling over this girl, the prince thought to himself.
He preferred a charming woman like Ruan Yuewei. All the concubines in the Eastern Palace were delicate, gentle and graceful. However, anyone who saw such a radiant and incomparable beauty would inevitably be distracted.
But that was all. He was not Huan Minggui. No matter how beautiful a beauty was, she was just a plaything to him. He had competed with Huan Xuan for Ruan Yuewei because her appearance, family background, and talent were all top-notch among the noble ladies in Kyoto, not to mention that she was the sweetheart that Huan Xuan had always dreamed of.
The prince glanced at Ruan Yuewei indifferently. Her cautiousness naturally did not escape his eyes.
He smiled calmly at Huan Xuan and said, "Sanlang, let's go upstairs."
Huan Xuan bowed and said, "Brother and sister-in-law, you are so kind, I would be disrespectful to refuse your kindness."
He followed the prince upstairs. Halfway up the stairs, he glanced at Sui Sui casually, but saw that she looked normal, and was looking at Hu Ji, who was dancing on the platform, with her amber eyes.
Huan Xuan's face darkened, he turned his head and quickly went upstairs.
Qionglin Pavilion is an exquisite two-story wooden pavilion. The upper floor is hollow and surrounded by red railings. Carved wooden partitions separate the wing rooms and are covered with screens. From the upstairs room, you can overlook the singing and dancing on the high platform below.
The Crown Prince and the King of Qi took their seats one by one. Ruan Yue was a little hesitant, and the Crown Prince said to her, "Third brother is not an outsider. There are no such rules outside the palace. There is no need to separate the seats."
Ruan Yue lowered her eyebrows slightly and said "yes", a hint of joy flashed across her eyes. She secretly glanced at Huan Xuan, but saw that he was looking out the railing absent-mindedly.
After a while, the wine and food came up.
The prince personally held the pot and poured a glass of wine for his brother and said with a smile: "Third brother, you are in a good mood today. I remember that you didn't like to join in the fun before, and you had a stern face from beginning to end."
Huan Xuan nodded: "When I was a kid, I didn't care about it every year, but after three years at the border, I actually miss the hustle and bustle of the capital."
The prince said, "I didn't like crowds when I was alone, but now I like crowds. I don't know why."
As he said this, he turned to look at his wife, his eyes full of tenderness and affection.
Ruan Yue blushed slightly, lowered her head and said: "My dear, please don't make fun of me..."
The prince said: "How can it be a joke? It is clear that every word comes from the heart."
After that, he looked at Huan Xuan again: "A while ago, Aye mentioned to me that he wanted to find you a princess, and asked me to keep an eye out for you. He also asked if Aruan's family had any suitable sisters. Aruan's third uncle has a daughter who is about your age and has good character and appearance."
Ruan Yuewei felt sour and bitter in her heart, but she naturally couldn't say anything bad about her own sisters, so she said, "Sixth Lady's character, appearance, and talent are far superior to mine, and she is also an extraordinary person. The elders in the family are afraid that her husband is not worthy of her, so they haven't arranged a marriage until now. She and Third Brother are a perfect match made in heaven."
Huan Xuan said, "I went to the Hot Spring Palace last time, and Aye mentioned this matter."
Ruan Yuewei asked nervously, "What do you think, Third Brother?"
Huan Xuan said calmly: "I have no intention of getting married for the time being, so I'd better not delay your sister."
Ruan Yue was stunned for a moment. Among all her cousins, Liu Niang was the most like her. The similarities were not in her features, but in her temperament, expression and spirit.
He refused her so categorically that she was secretly happy that she was not replaced, but at the same time she felt as if she was rejected.
She stole a glance at Huan Xuan's expression, but saw that he was holding a wine glass and looking down the railing, seemingly watching a dance. She followed his gaze and saw a large dining table beside the high platform - it was where the guards of the Prince of Qi's palace sat.
It was obvious who he was looking at.
Ruan Yuewei's face turned pale instantly.
The prince glanced at his wife out of the corner of his eye, taking in her expression, and curled the corners of his mouth.
He drank the remaining wine in the cup and said to Huan Xuan, "I will go change my clothes. Please sit down and relax."
Then he said to Ruan Yuewei: "Ah Ruan, take good care of my third brother. I will be there in a moment."
This was really an unexpected surprise. Ruan Yuewei never thought that they would have the opportunity to be alone. They didn't feel rare to be together every day before, but now they miss each other so much but never have the chance to meet.
The prince's footsteps went away down the stairs and gradually disappeared.
Ruan Yuewei lowered her head and hesitated for a while, but finally made up her mind and raised her head and said, "The guard just now..."
Huan Xuan withdrew his gaze from the railing and looked at Ruan Yuewei in surprise: "What do you mean, sister-in-law?"
Ruan Yue blushed slightly, bit her lip and said, "I know I have no right to say this, and I have no right to intervene in your affairs. I just... I just..."
Her eyes were soon filled with tears: "You are hanging out with a woman like that. Even if the whole Chang'an makes fun of me for this, I don't care. I just can't bear to see you sink to this level. Do you know how guilty and uncomfortable I am..."
"This matter has nothing to do with you, sister-in-law, don't feel guilty," Huan Xuan interrupted her and said, "Sister-in-law has a small tolerance, so it's better for you to drink less."
He stood up and said, "It's a bit stuffy in the room, I'll go out for a walk for a while. Excuse me."
After saying that, he walked out of the room, leaned on the railing and looked downstairs.
Ruan Yuewei stared at his back in disbelief. She was stunned for a long time before two lines of tears finally slid down her cheeks.
She knew she had lost her composure and that this was tantamount to playing with fire, but she couldn't control herself.
When she saw the beautiful woman from outside the house, she felt as if her heart was stung by a poisonous bee.
What made her most heartbroken was that the two of them walked into the restaurant shoulder to shoulder.
Even if she was the Crown Princess of the current dynasty, she would always be one step behind him when traveling incognito with her husband. Why could a lowly woman from outside the palace stand shoulder to shoulder with Huan Xuan? Was it just because of this face that slightly resembled hers
Of course it was because of this face. Since this woman was dressed like a servant, she must not be the daughter of a good family. With such a humble background, let alone talent and knowledge, she might not even be able to read and write. Just because she had a face similar to hers, she could travel together with Huan Xuan.
And all this should have been hers. If it had been so... now it should be her who is standing shoulder to shoulder with Huan Xuan.
Regret, regret, and sadness came like an overwhelming tide.
…
Next to the high platform downstairs, Sui Sui and the guards were sitting around a large dining table. Besides them, there was also one of the prince's personal followers.
The palace maids of the East Palace sat on the other side opposite the high platform.
As soon as this face appeared, it naturally attracted everyone's attention.
Ruan Yuewei's maids Shuzhu and Yinglan sat not far from her. They turned their heads to look at her frequently and then whispered to each other.
Sui Sui pretended not to see anything about it all. When the wine and food came, she drank and ate like the other guards, without any sign of discomfort on her face.
Huan Xuan's followers saw her everywhere, because she was the woman of the King of Qi and a great beauty. The guards were inevitably a little reserved at first, but after a few drinks, they found that Lady Lu had a good temper, was good at chatting, and even her appetite was almost the same as theirs, so they became familiar with her in a short while.
Shuzhu and Yingyue glanced at Suisui from time to time, rolling their eyes so much that they almost reached the sky.
"I don't know where this lewd woman came from," Shu Zhu curled his lips and lowered his voice, "Looking at the way she flirts with the man, maybe she is... that..."
Yingyue agreed: "With such a beautiful lady before him, how could that man get involved with such a thing."
Shu Zhu said: "All men in the world are like this. Women of this kind are thick-skinned and can do anything. How can they compare to the ladies and daughters of respectable families? I thought that girl was different, but who knew..."
Yingyue said: "Don't say these things in front of my wife. My wife hates these dirty things the most. Don't pollute her ears."
"I don't need to," Shu Zhu said, "I just feel sorry for my wife."
They both sighed.
Yingyue asked, "How are the chilblains on your feet? Are you okay with walking so much tonight?"
Shu Zhu said, "How can it not hurt? It feels like a knife cutting me when I walk. But what can I do? Every time my wife goes to the front yard to deliver soup, she has to wait in the study for more than an hour. I can only stand in the courtyard and wait. It's okay when it snows, but it's really cold when the snow melts. My shoes are full of water, and my skin is almost soaked..."
"Go talk to my wife and let her take a look at the injury."
"No, my wife can't stand this. She'll find it disgusting."
As they talked, the two of them seemed less aggrieved for the Crown Princess.
After three rounds of drinks, someone suggested playing gambling. Everyone agreed. They asked the waiter for backgammon and poker sets and started gambling.
Sui Sui did not participate, but just sat aside, drinking and eating, and watching the gambling with interest.
Huan Xuan's bodyguard Ma Zhongshun was a little tipsy. He turned to her and said, "Brother Lu, why don't you come and try to improve your temperament?"
Sui Sui smiled and said, "If I get off the court, you won't have to play anymore."
Ma Zhongshun asked, "Brother Lu also knows this?"
Sui Sui said, "I've been in the barracks for half a year, so I've learned a lot." The Dayong army did not ban gambling, but they could not gamble with money. This was the same for the Heshuo and Shenyi armies, so people in the barracks usually used dried meat and roasted knives as stakes.
Sui Sui was playing mahjong and backgammon before she even knew how to learn. When she was six years old, she could win a lot of dried meat for her grandfather.
The guards urged her to gamble.
Sui Sui said helplessly to Ma Zhongshun: "I'll just gamble with Brother Ma. Don't cry to me if you lose everything."
Ma Zhongshun said: "Don't cry, don't cry. Losing to Brother Lu is a blessing for me."
Sui Sui took the five wooden throwing stones with a smile, examined them carefully one by one, and weighed them in her palm. Everyone was getting a little impatient waiting, but suddenly they saw her throwing them into the air.
The first throw was a valuable lottery, the next throw was another valuable lottery, and the next throw was a valuable lottery. He kept winning all the levels, and Ma Zhongshun lost before he even touched the dice.
Everyone was stunned and came to praise her for her tricks and asked her for advice.
Sui Sui smiled and said, "I can't teach you this. When I was short of money, I still relied on this skill to make money."
As he said this, he took the silver coins he had won and stuffed them into his sleeve, then sat back down and stopped playing.
The way the guards looked at her suddenly changed. The guards of the Eastern Palace had no idea of her background, and were not even sure whether she was a man or a woman. But with this miraculous gambling skill, it was enough to inspire awe among men and women alike.
The guards from the palace were fine, but the guards from the Eastern Palace also came to her with wine glasses in hand to talk to her.
Sui Sui could chat with anyone, and soon several East Palace guards became her friends.
These guards are carefully selected, and even if they are drunk, they will not say anything they shouldn't.
But the more she talked, the more useful things she could get out of them. For example, by comparing their recent vacations and duties with the information she had, she could find out whether the prince had secretly transferred people to do something shady.
She is like a gold digger who can easily dig out gold from the sand.
Huan Xuan leaned on the railing and looked at the hunter girl. In the short time since he came out, three guards from the Eastern Palace had already approached her to talk to her. She actually accepted all of them and chatted with them enthusiastically, like a fish in water.
This was unfair to Sui Sui. In fact, her attitude was far from enthusiastic, even her smile was faint, and most of the time she just listened quietly, occasionally saying a word or two.
She was wearing guard uniform, and her appearance was androgynous. Her voice was deep to begin with, and after deliberately lowering it, it was even harder to tell whether she was a man or a woman. It was no surprise that the guards of the Eastern Palace mistook her for a guard of the royal palace, as they did not know her background.
Huan Xuan understood this, but his face became increasingly gloomy.
He had made up his mind to say goodbye as soon as the prince came, and there was no need to visit Qujiang and release lanterns. He just wanted to drag the village girl home and give her a good lesson.
At this moment, a familiar figure in a jade-colored brocade robe walked into the building with an attendant. He looked around and walked straight towards the guards.
Huan Xuan's face was so gloomy that water seemed to drip from it.
Why is this scoundrel everywhere