“Really? I haven’t heard about it yet. What did he write?” Princess Jinse’s eyes lit up at once.
“An ode to chrysanthemums. I hear it’s exceptionally good—better even than his Ode to Snow.” Fang Ruoyun’s praise was perfectly measured.
Shen Yuetang listened from the side, twisting the handkerchief in her hands tighter and tighter.
She knew Shi Huai had written a new poem, too, but she hadn’t dared mention it. She was afraid the princess would only become more interested in him.
And then Fang Ruoyun, shameless as ever, had brought it up herself.
“Youlan, when you go home, ask your younger brother if he could have a copy of the poem made for me to read.”
Princess Jinse turned to Shi Youlan, a hint of undisguised anticipation in her voice.
Shi Youlan hesitated before nodding. “Since Your Highness would like to read it, I’ll ask my brother when I return.”
Shen Yuetang took a deep breath, then put her smile back on. Her voice was so gentle it seemed sweet enough to melt.
“Master Shi’s poetry truly is excellent. My father has praised him as well, saying that among the young scholars in the capital, no one can compare.”
Fang Ruoyun glanced at Shen Yuetang, thinking, Since when has her father ever praised Shi Huai? The last time, he said Shi Huai’s poetry was too ornate and lacked simplicity.
But she didn’t expose her. After all, she had praised him herself—and far more extravagantly than Shen Yuetang had.
This scene was turning out even more entertaining than she had expected.
Princess Jinse lifted her teacup and took a sip. When she set it down, her gaze drifted toward the flowerbeds in the distance.
“Father is holding a poetry gathering in the palace next month. All the talented young scholars in the capital will be there. Do you think Master Shi will attend?”
Shen Yuetang’s fingers paused around her handkerchief. “He probably will. His talent is undeniable.”
Fang Ruoyun lowered her voice. “I hear His Majesty intends to select a few of the most talented scholars from this gathering as potential husbands for the princesses.”
The moment those words left her mouth, it felt as though half the air had been sucked from the pavilion.
Shen Yuetang’s face paled slightly, and her fingers clenched around the hem of her skirt beneath the table.
The round fan in Lin Wanqing’s hand stopped in midair, its peonies conveniently hiding the corners of her mouth.
Shi Youlan looked up at Fang Ruoyun. Her lips moved faintly, as though she wanted to say something, but in the end she swallowed the words.
Princess Jinse’s hand remained perfectly steady around her teacup, and the smile on her face did not waver in the slightest.
“Is that so? Then I’ll have to take a good look.”
Seeing that the princess had not objected, Fang Ruoyun had her answer.
She began calculating secretly. She had to hurry home and have her mother go to the Shi family to secure Huai-lang for her.
Shen Yuetang had no idea what Fang Ruoyun was thinking. She was still reeling from the news.
Without realizing it, she picked up the teacup in front of her and gulped down a large mouthful.
The tea was scalding hot, burning her eyes until they reddened.
Yet Shen Yuetang forced herself not to spit it out and swallowed it hard. Her throat burned fiercely.
Lin Wanqing’s expression remained flawless, but inside, her thoughts were already in turmoil.
Prince consort. Shi Huai. Princess.
Those three words circled through her mind again and again until she grew dizzy.
After all, besides Princess Jinse, the emperor’s eldest daughter, His Majesty had three other princesses.
And even Princess Zhaoning, the youngest of the four, was only three years younger than Huai-lang.
If they truly meant to choose a prince consort, then Huai-lang’s prospects would ultimately come down to one of those four princesses...
After all, there was no woman in the world who could resist Huai-lang.
What could she do to keep Huai-lang from becoming a prince consort?
“Why has everyone gone quiet? Weren’t you all chatting so lively just now?”
Fang Ruoyun was the first to recover.
The smile returned to her face, carrying just the right touch of lightheartedness.
“Princess, you jest. I was only wondering whether this poetry gathering will be livelier than the last.”
Shen Yuetang finally swallowed the mouthful of tea. The burning sensation in her throat had not yet completely faded, leaving her voice slightly hoarse.
“It certainly will be. With all the talented young men of the capital gathered in one place, it’s bound to be quite a spectacle.”
“I heard that some talented scholars from Jiangnan have also come to the capital. They’re supposed to be attending this poetry gathering as well.”
Lin Wanqing spoke up too.
“From Jiangnan?” Princess Jinse paused. “Who told you that?”
“My father heard it at court yesterday. Apparently, the Jiangnan education commissioner recommended three young prodigies. They’re all well-known in their home region.”
Lin Wanqing lowered her head slightly.
Princess Jinse gave an indifferent little “Oh.”
“That does sound interesting. The capital’s talented scholars finally have some competition. It will keep them from thinking they’re the best in the world.”
At those words, the corners of Shen Yuetang’s lips lifted ever so slightly before she quickly suppressed the smile.
Fang Ruoyun raised her teacup and took a sip, using the motion to conceal the hint of amusement at the corners of her mouth.
Lin Wanqing began waving her round fan again. The peonies painted across its surface trembled lightly in the breeze, as if nodding in agreement with the princess.
Shi Youlan remained silent from beginning to end, her head bowed as she gazed at the sprig of crabapple blossoms in her hand, which had already begun to wilt.
By the time the flower-viewing gathering ended, it was already afternoon.
The young ladies left the Imperial Garden in twos and threes. Some went off together, while others departed alone.
Their maids came forward to meet them.
Some offered cloaks, some held umbrellas, and others took the things from their mistresses’ hands...
Princess Jinse stood at the entrance to the Imperial Garden, seeing the guests off.
She held on to Shi Youlan’s hand and spoke a few more words to her, lowering her voice so much that the people nearby could only see her lips moving and could not hear a thing.
When Fang Ruoyun passed by, she slowed her steps slightly, angling her ear toward the princess and Shi Youlan.
But she heard nothing.
She only saw Shi Youlan nod, then turn and walk toward the palace gate.
Shen Yuetang walked even more slowly.
She deliberately lingered behind, and when Shi Youlan passed her, she naturally fell into step beside her, her voice carrying just the right amount of warmth.
“Sister Youlan, let’s walk together.”
Shi Youlan glanced at her without speaking, then nodded.
The two of them walked side by side along the palace road, their respective maids following behind.
After a few steps, Shen Yuetang turned her head toward Shi Youlan, a smile playing at her lips.
“Sister Youlan, what did the princess say to you just now? She was being so mysterious, and wouldn’t let anyone else hear.”
Shi Youlan’s fingers tapped lightly twice against the handle of her round fan.
“The princess said that next month is the Empress’s birthday and asked me to prepare a birthday gift.”
Shen Yuetang’s footsteps faltered for a moment before returning to their normal rhythm. Her smile deepened.
“I see. Then you’ll have to prepare carefully, Sister Youlan. The Empress has very discerning tastes.”
Shi Youlan nodded without saying anything more, quickening her pace slightly.
Shen Yuetang could hardly chase after her to ask, so all she could do was watch Shi Youlan's figure recede into the distance.
She stood where she was, her fingers tightening inside her sleeves as the smile slowly faded from her lips.
The maidservant behind her stepped forward and asked cautiously, “Miss, shall we go?”
