Is it enjoyable?
Surprise followed, as Ye Youqing’s mouth opened in shock, but she ultimately swallowed her words.
“Why are you so clumsy like this?” Just as the man next to her was about to erupt in anger, Ye Youqing suddenly coughed, interrupting his words.
“It’s just an accident, no need to make things difficult for the girl.” Ye Youqing stared into Ci Ke’s eyes, speaking lightly.
With his hand burnt red, the Wei Yanei wore a look of resignation, whether from pain or anger, finally managing to force a smile.
“Miss Ye’s words are reasonable,” he sat heavily, reaching out his hand. The maid quickly handed over a white handkerchief to wipe the tea clean.
“Miss Ye, the dishes at Zhaixing Tower are top-notch in Bianjing City, claimed to rival those in the imperial kitchen. When the dishes arrive shortly, you must try them.” Wei Yanei said, moving a teacup in front of Ye Youqing with seemingly meticulous care, “However, after we are married, if you ever wish to taste the imperial kitchen’s cuisine, it will be just a matter of a word from you.”
Ye Youqing remained silent, lowering her head to sip her tea.
The scent of incense lingered in the beams above, blending with the aroma of food wafting in from outside, creating a sense of intoxicating luxury. The dancers who had been performing earlier had retreated, and the music had switched to the melodic sound of a guqin, playing a melancholic tune.
Ci Ke had also stepped aside, dressed in a pale green silk skirt like the other serving women in the tower, her face veiled, making her features indistinct.
How did she end up here? Ye Youqing’s mind was suddenly filled with confusion.
In a moment of contemplation, the door to the room swung open, and the aroma of the dishes wafted in. A dozen women, all dressed in pale green silk skirts, filed into the room in a graceful and ethereal manner, resembling celestial beings floating on clouds. They moved as if in a dance, gently placing the dishes on the table.
“Try this dish called ‘Fireworks in March,’ it’s quite special and can’t be found elsewhere.” Wei Yanei presented the dish with a look of offering, one hand holding his sleeve and the other holding the plate, placing it in front of Ye Youqing.
The so-called “Fireworks in March” turned out to be three slices of boiled duck meat sprinkled with chopped green onions and chili, appearing plain and tasteless.
Ye Youqing furrowed her brows as she picked up a piece and placed it on her tongue, then swallowed with a frown. Indeed, it was very bland.
Nowhere near as delicious as the Jiangnan cuisine prepared by Ah Gou.
“Try this, it’s very nourishing.” Wei Yanei picked up a piece of fatty pork and tried to put it in Ye Youqing’s bowl. This time, Ye Youqing didn’t even want to reach out for the chopsticks.
Seeing Ye Youqing push the chopsticks aside, Wei Yanei clicked his tongue and began to speak persuasively, “Lately, many in the capital admire the delicate beauty of weak willows in the breeze, but I prefer the ladies of the former dynasty. They possessed a fuller figure, which I find most appealing. You women don’t understand the beauty of a full figure. How will you bear children in the future with such slimness?”
Ye Youqing listened to his endless chatter with a thin mouth, her brows furrowing deeper and her fist tightening gradually.
If she did not want the Emperor to be more wary of her, she wouldn’t have pretended to accept the marriage proposal and go watch lanterns with him.
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“Wei Yanei.” Ye Youqing interrupted him, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and spoke coldly, “My father taught me that a gentleman should not speak while eating or lie while sleeping.”
Wei Yanei, who had been pompously talking about how he admired full figures, finally fell silent and began to chuckle.
Ye Youqing also finally found a moment of peace, picked at some dishes she could still stomach, and ate them haphazardly.
After nearly half an hour, the dishes were finally removed, replaced with some delicate desserts and a pot of non-intoxicating floral wine. The room was instantly filled with a sweet fragrance, intoxicating the senses. Outside, the lights became more dazzling and eye-catching, with lanterns floating in the sky at some point, shining brighter than the stars.
In contrast, the night sky seemed dim.
“What day is it tonight?” Ye Youqing couldn’t help but stand up and look out the window. Children’s songs echoed on the streets below, nearly everyone carrying lanterns. From a high building’s perspective, the streets all around resembled a flowing galaxy of lights and shadows.
“You really don’t know? This is an old tradition of the Qi Kingdom. At the end of the first month of entering summer each year, it is the Day of Continuous Illumination, aimed at keeping the lights burning all night, originally meant to pray for no drought. It has evolved into a auspicious day for lovers to enjoy lanterns together.”
As he spoke, Wei Yanei stood up along with her and positioned himself beside her, smiling as he looked down at the crowd below. “Qingqing, shall we go down and join the fun? I have my painted boat by the river, with pleasant scenery and a sea of river lanterns. It used to be the most crowded place in town.”
After having dinner, the address changed from Miss Ye to Qingqing? Ye Youqing raised an eyebrow subtly.
“No, I’m feeling unwell. I’ll head back to the mansion first,” Ye Youqing politely refused, not wanting to engage in further pretense with him.
“How can that be?” Unexpectedly, Wei Yanei’s expression briefly showed displeasure as he reached out to stop her. “I’ve been preparing for tonight for a long time, inviting many friends from the capital to be guests, all to elicit a smile from a beauty like you. If you leave now, where does that leave me?”
“You only mentioned inviting me here, but didn’t inform me in advance about others. How can I save face for you?” Ye Youqing stood tall and looked even more resolute than the man in front of her, her eyes cold and indifferent, causing Wei Yanei to lose his air of authority.
Wei Yanei had never encountered such a tough woman before. Dealing with women usually involved sweet-talking or using his power to assert dominance. But now, facing Ye Youqing, he found himself at a loss, his face turning a shade of green.
“Miss Ye, we are betrothed by imperial decree. Once you are brought into the Wei residence, you must follow the virtues of a woman, being kind and respectful to your husband. How can you disrespect me in front of others and ruin my reputation?” Wei Yanei sighed, still speaking with concern, as if trying to advise Ye Youqing who was seemingly ignorant.
Ye Youqing listened to his words, smiling instead of getting angry.
She suddenly felt curious, curious about what this man could still do.
“If that’s the case, then please lead the way, Yanei.” Ye Youqing’s red lips curled up as she strode past him and out the door.
Before leaving, she glanced in the direction where Ci Ke had been standing earlier, only to find it empty, with no one present.
Ye Youqing shook her head, thinking that Ci Ke was probably busy assisting Zhou Ziqiu again, without dwelling on it further.
Indeed, Wei Yanei was not wrong about the river lanterns. The further they walked towards the outskirts of the city, the more young men and women were wandering around, carrying various types of lanterns – rabbits, tigers, lotus flowers, and more.
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Wei Yanei dismissed the other servants, leaving only the two of them.
The night breeze was gentle, and the river water flowed slowly, carrying the river lanterns from upstream, gathering at a corner of the river. From afar, it looked as if the river was ablaze, with the firelight illuminating the sky.
The painted boat was indeed adorned with gold carvings and jade inlays, with brocade curtains covering half of the interior, the large boat swaying along the riverbank. The lights on the boat poured out like molten gold, scattering and shimmering on the lake’s surface, creating a dazzling display of light.
Truly luxurious and extravagant.
“Qingqing, please.” Wei Yanei reached out with a satisfied smile, offering his hand to help Ye Youqing onto the boat, only to be completely ignored by her.
“Wei Yanei.” Ye Youqing looked at him and said, “You do realize that I have no intention towards you, right?”
“Unmarried women are all like this. You will be satisfied after we are married,” Wei Yanei said lightly, not moved by Ye Youqing’s reaction, still extending his hand.
Without much change in expression, Ye Youqing glanced at the painted boat, took a step forward with her long legs, and boarded.
The painted boat was spacious, with three cabins at the front and rear, each cabin covered by brocade curtains on four pillars. A row of seats circled around like a pavilion, providing a clear view of the night scenery and offering a semi-private space.
In the middle of the boat, red cloth was laid out, and dancing girls in long-sleeved water sleeves leaped and twirled on it, their red sleeves spinning as they danced gracefully.
“Qingqing, over here.” Wei Yanei pointed to an empty “pavilion,” where fruits and refreshments were already set on the table. As Ye Youqing sat down, she peered through the dancing girl’s attire in front of her and saw many people bustling and chatting on the opposite side, creating a lively atmosphere.
The night breeze blew by, and sitting on the open side of the boat, surrounded by emptiness, Ye Youqing felt a slight chill.
“Qingqing, ever since I first saw you at the palace, I knew you were a rare and intelligent woman in this world. When the Emperor bestowed our marriage, I was thrilled beyond words…”
He rambled on about something, but Ye Youqing didn’t even bother listening, instead becoming entranced by the dancing girl. She admired how each of the girl’s movements perfectly synchronized with the drumbeats, captivating her.
Unconsciously, she began tapping her fingertips along to the graceful movements.
At that moment, the previously quiet painted boat suddenly became noisy. Ye Youqing sensed something was amiss and looked up alertly, only to see several seductive women in flowing robes walking towards the boat from the shore, behaving as if they were the hostesses, swaggering onto the boat.
Beside her, Wei Yanei suddenly tensed up as if scalded, leaping up and attempting to block the entrance to the pavilion where the women were heading, aggressively shushing them.
“Who dares to intrude?! Leave at once!”
To their surprise, the women chuckled mischievously, showing no fear but instead clamoring and playfully hitting Wei Yanei’s chest.
“Yanei, it’s been so long since you last visited. Have you forgotten about me? You take advantage of the festival to invite me. How thoughtful!” The woman with the heaviest rouge on her face lifted her pinky finger and flirtatiously caressed Wei Yanei’s face, making his face flush red.
“Get away!” Despite his anger, he seemed quite uncomfortable, repeatedly glancing back at Ye Youqing. However, the women paid no heed to him. Instead, they not only refused to leave but each took hold of a corner of his garment, pushing him to sit down on the seat.
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Initially surprised, Ye Youqing quickly recognized where these women were from and couldn’t help but smile. The annoyance of the night was swept away, and she even picked up a slice of sweet melon from the table, taking a bite and watching the situation unfold with amusement.
The night breeze suddenly became sultry, and the women, dressed lightly with a strong scent of cosmetics, surrounded Wei Yanei, clamoring noisily and pushing Ye Youqing into a corner.
Rarely experiencing such a lively and colorful scene, Ye Youqing immediately lost interest in the dancing girls and instead focused on the drama unfolding before her.
“Is it enjoyable?” someone beside her suddenly whispered softly, their tone gentle.
Ye Youqing was about to nod her head when she suddenly felt a sense of familiarity, so she looked up and saw a woman dressed similarly, except that the same flowing robe on her exuded a more charming rather than seductive aura.
The woman leaned in, her robe slipping off one shoulder, and a much fresher scent, different from the heavy perfumes of the other women, lingered around. The taste of the sweet melon in Ye Youqing’s mouth suddenly disappeared.
With her cherry-red lips tightly pressed together and a dark expression in her eyes, Ci Ke shifted her body and sat beside Ye Youqing in the midst of the chaos, seemingly leaning in like the other women, and took the leftover sweet melon from her hand.
“Is it enjoyable?” she asked again.
