ebookland Chapter 334: Mo Yu Yun Tian (38)
Chapter 334: Mo Yu Yun Tian (38)
Chapter 334: Ink Rain and Clouds (38)
The next morning, sunlight filtered through the window lattice and fell onto the exquisite dressing table.
Su Luo slowly stood up, stretched, and called softly, "Songlan."
"Your Highness, you're awake." Song Lan pushed the door open and walked in, holding a basin of warm water in her hand and a gentle smile on her face.
"Yeah." Su Luo nodded, walked to the bronze mirror and sat down, letting Song Lan comb her hair. "Is there any news from Mingyi Academy?"
Song Lan carefully combed her hair while answering, "I've already inquired about it this morning. Everything is fine at Mingyi Academy, and the girls' school is also developing well, but..."
"Just what?" Su Luo looked at Songlan in the mirror and asked.
"However, compared to your request, Princess, it's still far from enough," Song Lan answered truthfully. "Don't you hope that women can graduate from Mingyi Academy and serve as officials in the court, thus elevating the status of women? At present, it seems difficult."
Su Luo sighed softly, she knew that this would not happen overnight.
"Take it easy, there will always be hope." She comforted Songlan and also comforted herself.
"By the way, are there any interesting things happening in Kyoto these two days?" Su Luo changed the subject, not wanting to make the atmosphere too heavy.
"Interesting things?" Song Lan thought for a moment and said with a smile, "The most exciting thing is undoubtedly the Palace Examination. I heard that today is the day when the number one scholar, chosen by the Emperor, will be paraded through the streets on horseback. The whole capital is in an uproar."
"Oh?" Su Luo raised his eyebrows. "The parade of the top scholar is indeed lively."
"Princess, do you want to go and take a look?" Song Lan asked tentatively.
Su Luo shook his head: "No, there are so many people watching. If I go, won't I steal the limelight from the new top three? That would be bad."
"The princess is right." Song Lan nodded in agreement.
"By the way, Princess, His Majesty also asked me to tell you that he hopes you can attend the Qionglin Banquet tomorrow night." Song Lan suddenly remembered something important.
Su Luo couldn't help but smile when he heard this.
"Royal brother, you still haven't given up the idea of arranging a marriage for me." She shook her head helplessly.
"Princess, then you..." Song Lan looked at her with some concern.
"Forget it, let's go and take a look." Su Luo sighed softly, "Go and report to the eunuchs and tell them that I will attend the Qionglin Banquet on time."
"Yes, I'll go right away." Song Lan replied.
Su Luo looked at Song Lan's departing back, with a lot of thoughts in his mind.
She knew that the banquet arranged by her brother was probably not just a celebration for the newly-minted scholars.
But she also understood that some things could not be avoided.
"I hope I can see Xiao Heng tonight..." Su Luo murmured to himself, with a hint of anticipation in his heart.
"I haven't heard from him for several days..." She felt a little lost.
As night falls, the lights are on.
The carriage from the Princess's Mansion slowly drove out and headed towards the Imperial Palace.
Su Luo sat in the carriage and let Song Lan dress her up carefully.
"Your Highness, you look so beautiful today." Song Lan looked at Su Luo in her gorgeous dress in the mirror and exclaimed sincerely.
Su Luo smiled faintly and said nothing.
She knew that tonight she was not only the eldest princess of Yan State, but also a chess piece in the hands of her royal brother.
The carriage stopped at the gate of the palace, and Su Luo slowly got off the carriage with the help of Song Lan.
She looked up and saw the towering palace, brightly lit, and a scene of prosperity and joy.
Su Luo took a deep breath and stepped into the magnificent palace.
The Qionglin Banquet was held in the Imperial Garden, which was already full of guests and very lively.
Su Luo's arrival caused a commotion.
"Her Royal Highness the Princess has arrived!" The eunuch's shrill voice sounded.
Everyone's eyes turned to Su Luo.
"Greetings to Her Royal Highness the Princess!" The officials stood up and saluted.
Su Luo nodded slightly, indicating that everyone didn't need to be polite.
Led by the eunuch, she came to her seat.
"Imperial sister, you are here." The emperor sat on the main seat and looked at Su Luo with a smile.
"Royal brother." Su Luo bowed to the emperor.
"Please sit down." The emperor pointed to the seat next to him.
Su Luo sat down as she was told and looked around, but did not see the person she wanted to see.
"Is Xiao Heng not here yet?" she muttered to herself.
The banquet began with singing and dancing, and clinking of glasses.
The officials toasted the emperor and spoke flattering words.
Su Luo just sat there quietly, occasionally responding with a few words, seeming a little absent-minded.
"These officials all want to curry favor with the eldest princess..." Song Lan whispered aside.
Su Luo nodded slightly to show his understanding.
The sound of stringed instruments at the banquet gradually became noisier, and Su Luo felt dizzy. The ministers' speeches when they toasted were all flowery, but they were nothing but clichés, which made her ears callused.
"Your Highness, are you okay?" Song Lan asked with concern when she saw Su Luo looked unhappy.
"It's okay, I'm just a little tired." Su Luo rubbed his brows. These officials, each of them wanted to have the word "fawning" written on their faces. Did they really think she was a fool who couldn't see it?
"The number one scholar has arrived!" The eunuch's voice rang out again, breaking the suffocating atmosphere.
Su Luo looked up and saw Shen Yurong in a red robe, walking towards her surrounded by a group of people. She looked quite decent, but her smug look made her feel a little dazzling.
"Your servant Shen Yurong pays homage to Your Majesty and Her Royal Highness the Princess!" Shen Yurong walked forward and saluted in a loud voice.
"Lord Shen, please stand up." The emperor said with a smile, pointing at Su Luo, "Lord Shen, why don't you toast the princess?"
Shen Yurong immediately turned to Su Luo and raised her glass with both hands: "I toast to Her Royal Highness the Princess!"
Su Luo looked at him, her mind clear as a mirror. This wasn't a banquet given by the emperor, it was clearly a matchmaking. She raised her wine glass indifferently, gently touched the rim of Shen Yurong's glass, and took a small sip with a hint of meaning.
"Your Highness the Princess has a great appetite." Shen Yurong saw this and thought that Su Luo admired him. He felt proud and drank the wine in the glass in one gulp.
"The number one scholar is truly gifted and handsome, a rare breed." Su Luo put down his wine glass and gave him a light compliment. It was just a polite remark, who wouldn't say a few? But the compliment felt perfunctory.
Shen Yurong, however, seemed to have received great praise, with a big smile on her face, and wanted to say something more.
But Su Luo didn't want to deal with him anymore. She held her forehead and let out a soft "ouch".
"Princess, what's wrong with you?" Song Lan immediately became nervous.
"I'm a little drunk and feel very dizzy." Su Luo frowned, his voice a little weak, "Brother Emperor, I will take my leave first."
The emperor saw this and didn't want to force her to stay, so he said, "In that case, the imperial sister should go back and rest early."
"Thank you, Royal Brother." Su Luo stood up and, with the support of Song Lan, slowly left the imperial garden.
Shen Yurong watched Su Luo's departing figure, a flicker of disappointment flashing across her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by excitement. The eldest princess praised him! It seemed that his days of rapid success were not far off!
After leaving the palace, Su Luo breathed a sigh of relief, finally getting rid of that group of evil people.
"Princess, are you really okay?" Song Lan asked worriedly.
"It's okay, I'm just pretending." Su Luo smiled slyly, "If I stay any longer, I'm afraid they'll get me drunk like a barrel."
Song Lan burst out laughing: "Princess, you are too mean. However, Shen Yurong seems to have taken it seriously."