Chapter 16: Entering the Palace for a Banquet
The fourth day of November.
Tomorrow is Bai Feiye's birthday, and it is also the day Ling Ling enters the palace. Bai Feiye has been going out early and returning late every day for the past few days, and he has never seen anyone.
Although Ling Ling couldn't see Bai Feiye these days, there was always an inexplicable feeling in her heart from time to time, but she always stayed in Luo Rujin Courtyard during the day, preparing that talent just in case she didn't embarrass her, but she didn't care about it.
On this day, she left Luo Rujin's courtyard a little tired, and she was distracted along the way.
Tomorrow is the day she enters the palace for a banquet, although she is not worried about being afraid of giving birth or anything, but in modern times, she has never liked this kind of big occasion, it is just a matter of having a meal, and there are so many links. I don't know if something will happen tomorrow, after listening to her grandmother's words that day, she always feels that after entering the palace, she will not be as she expected.
Originally, Ling Ling had thought that she could be the same as before, and mingle in a corner without saying a word. But now that she is sick and amnesiac, I am afraid that some people have already known, such as Murong Xue who she saw in the restaurant on the day she went out.
So far, Ling Ling hadn't thought of a good way to keep her from participating in the concubine selection ceremony, and now she really hopes that no one will make a fuss about her tomorrow!
Thinking as he walked, Ling Ling only felt that he had bumped into something large and sturdy, and a faint smell of ambergris came to his nose.
She rubbed her head and looked up to see a tall, straight white figure standing in front of her, a handsome face just a fist away.
Ling Ling immediately took a step back, his heart beating faster.
"See the prince!" She hurriedly saluted.
"Grandma's teaching is all in vain? What are the rules for walking? There was a magnetic and pleasant voice in my ears, and I couldn't hear half of the emotion.
"It's me who suddenly wandered and didn't look at the road! bumped into the prince, and asked the prince to forgive him! ”
Someone she hadn't seen for a few days suddenly appeared in front of her, and she didn't know what was wrong with her, her mind was blank, and she couldn't think of anything to talk about, so she had to use the most basic tone.
Seeing this, Bai Feiye raised his eyebrows slightly, did not speak, and looked at her with dark eyes as dark as night with a hint of inquiry.
Ling Ling lowered his head, only feeling that Bai Feiye's gaze above his head was compelling, but he didn't say a word, what did this mean? Do you have to make the atmosphere so awkward? Ling Ling took a deep breath and clenched his hands into fists.
"Since the prince has nothing else to do, then I will retire first!"
Thirty-six plans, go for the top plan! She won't deal with this embarrassing situation, so she simply won't deal with it. She saluted, straightened up, passed by Bai Feiye, and walked in the direction of the bamboo forest.
"Enter the palace tomorrow,"
Ling Ling hadn't taken a few steps, and Bai Feiye's nice voice suddenly came from behind her, she paused her feet, didn't look back, and stood in place.
"Don't lose your dignity, this king has ordered someone to make a set of clothes for you. Although you don't want to attract attention, you are the only daughter of Prime Minister Xiahou, and you can't let people gossip. ”
With that, the corners of his mouth hooked slightly, and he raised his foot to leave.
Ling Ling stood in place, motionless, only to hear Bai Feiye's footsteps getting farther and farther behind him.
The winter wind was a little cold, blowing across Ling Ling's somewhat reddened face, and he didn't feel the slightest feeling.
The next day, Jin Rong was taken into the Xuening Pavilion by Qingliu early.
A pair of dexterous hands dressed Ling Ling up carefully. The clothes that Bai Feiye gave her were pear blossom white cloud brocade pleated satin skirts, pale pink brocade bandeau, lining her delicate collarbones just right, and the same blouse, embroidered with faint pink embroidery, looked like a touch of clouds in the daytime, making her fresh and refined, like a person in a painting.
Jinrong put on exquisite makeup for her, although it was light, but it was moving.
Ling Ling looked at herself in the bronze mirror and was stunned for a moment, this is what she has imagined to be how many times! If she uses her current appearance to film, then she will not be popular for half the sky!
The grease-coated lips said lightly, "Light makeup and heavy makeup are always appropriate......"
Jin Rong looked proudly at the young lady who was in a daze in the mirror, and took her hand, "Miss, let's go!" It's not too early, we can't keep the prince waiting! ”
With that, he carried a small burden and pulled Ling Ling out of the Snow Ning Pavilion.
The two carriages set off from King Jing's Mansion to the palace, and the one in front was the carriage that Bai Feiye was riding, he sat in the carriage and closed his eyes to recuperate, and Qingfeng quietly stood aside.
Walking behind was the carriage that Ling Ling was riding, because Bai Fei was busy with affairs after entering the palace at night, Ling Ling was a guest in his house, and he arranged Jinrong and Qingliu to accompany her into the palace together.
The carriage had been going for about half an hour, and the sounds around it were sometimes quiet, and sometimes there was a neat salute. Qingliu said that they had already entered the palace.
Ling Ling didn't see Bai Feiye from getting on the carriage to getting off the carriage, as soon as he entered the palace, his carriage drove in the direction of the emperor's palace, and Ling Ling's carriage also went directly to the palace banquet venue.
When Ling Ling arrived at the palace banquet hall, many officials and official ladies had already arrived, and Qing Liu arranged Ling Ling in an inconspicuous corner by the door according to Bai Feiye's instructions. She tried her best to restrain her aura, to make her presence low, and as she had imagined, none of the people who came and went in front of her noticed her.
"Sister Xiahou?"
Just as Ling Ling was glad that he hadn't been noticed by anyone, a nice voice came from the position beside him.
Ling Ling turned her head and saw that a sixteen or seventeen-year-old woman was sitting beside her, the woman was wearing a long embroidered dress with smoky gray and blue cloud brocade and gold silk, which made her noble and elegant, her facial features were atmospheric and exquisite, and there was a hint of indifference between her eyebrows, a pair of good-looking phoenix eyes were bright and moving, the corners of her mouth were slightly raised, and her eyes looked at Ling Ling with a smile.
Ling Ling looked at the beauty in front of her who took the initiative to greet her with a strange expression, the woman saw this, smiled softly, and said, "I heard that Sister Xiahou had an illness some time ago, and she lost her memory after waking up, I thought who was making rumors, but when I saw it today, I didn't expect it to be the case." She said softly, "I am Nangong Lingyu, the daughter of Nangong Hai, the general of Zhenbei. ”
Nangong Lingyu behaved generously, gently and decently, giving Ling Ling a natural and comfortable feeling when she spoke, she slowly let go of her inner guard, and the corners of her mouth, which were naturally raised, opened a good-looking arc.
Ling Ling nodded slightly and said, "Fortunately, Sister Nangong." ”
Nangong Lingyu saw Ling Ling's kind attitude, and suddenly had a good impression of this Xiahou sister in her heart, at the palace banquet before, she didn't see Xiahou Ling, but she always sat alone in the corner, silent, as if she was isolated from others, making people afraid to approach.
Today she came with her father, her father sat in the official seat arranged by the emperor, and she herself did not want to sit in front of the other young ladies to compete for beauty, so she wanted to find a corner to sit down, but as soon as she found a position, she saw Xiahou Ling sitting in the corner as always. It's just that today, she didn't feel the sense of distance from the world in the past, looking at that Xiahou Ling's bright eyes, she mustered up the courage to say hello to her.
"I am very sorry to hear the bad news about my sister's family, I wonder if my sister is okay?" Nangong Lingyu's tone was as gentle as water, and she asked with concern.
"Thank you sister for your concern! My sister is doing well. Ling Ling felt that her personality was like water, generous and decent, maybe it was intuition, the same greeting was very unnatural to Murong Xue, but on Nangong Lingyu, she felt very comfortable.
Nangong Lingyu smiled after hearing this, "That's the best." Today's King Jing's birthday, my sister is a guest in King Jing's mansion, sitting in the corner, if she is seen by someone with a heart, I am afraid that she will have to say something bad. ”
Ling Ling naturally heard the reminder in Nangong Lingyu's tone, she looked at Nangong Lingyu lightly with a smile in her eyes, "Today's birthday of King Jing, my sister, as the daughter of the general of Zhenbei, is also sitting in the corner, could it be that my sister will be afraid of gossip from people with hearts?" Ling Ling quipped.
Nangong Lingyu listened to Ling Ling's words, her eyes were clear, and she smiled softly, "Today's palace banquet, I don't know if my sister would like to sit in the corner at the next table with me?" ”
Ling Ling raised her eyebrows, "Isn't it now?" ”
The two understood their hearts and smiled at each other.
"The emperor has arrived, His Royal Highness King Jing has arrived!"
The father-in-law in front of the hall let out a long sigh, and everyone in the hall sat silently, and all eyes looked outside the hall.
Bai Yixiu is dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, the golden crown binds half of his green silk, his facial features are handsome and exquisite, and there is a faint resemblance between his eyebrows and Bai Feiye, unlike Bai Feiye, Bai Yixiu exudes an elegant atmosphere from the inside out, although he has the emperor's domineering, but his gestures are gentle and elegant, which makes people can't help but want to get closer.
With Bai Yixiu entering the hall together, of course, there is Bai Feiye, who celebrates his birthday today, he is the same as ever, dressed in white clothes with gold threads, spotless, with a gold-edged jade crown tied up half of his hair, deep and bright eyes are cold, and there is no expression on his handsome face. He was in stark contrast to Bai Yixiu beside him, and every step he took exuded indifference that made people dare not approach.
Ling Ling and Nangong Lingyu, who were sitting in the corner, like the other official ladies in the main hall, couldn't help but look at the two people who slowly entered the hall. Bai Feiye walked in front of her, there was a trace of ambergris in the air, and Ling Ling's gaze unconsciously followed his tall figure.
Nangong Lingyu's hands hidden in the cuffs began to clench the moment she saw Bai Yixiu, although her face did not show half a point, but she knew that only when she saw him, her palms would sweat inexplicably, and her heart would beat uncontrollably faster.
After the two of them were seated, the palace banquet was announced.