Chapter 392: Chapter 388: A Private Rendezvous at the Banquet

On the afternoon of Duanyang, amidst the sound of cicadas, Tang Xiaobai and Li Mu walked out of the Duke Yan Mansion hand in hand.

As usual, Tang Xiaobai boarded the carriage with the Crown Prince’s assistance and sat down steadily, only to see him sit across from her.

Tang Xiaobai was momentarily stunned.

Every time they rode the carriage, this little brat would always sit next to her. Why today…

Could it be that he’s upset she didn’t sit beside him just now?

That’s simple!

Tang Xiaobai immediately moved to the Crown Prince’s side, hugged his arm, and smiled sweetly as she snuggled up.

He lowered his eyes to look at her, cold and reserved: “Brother Li?”

Tang Xiaobai: ???

He heard all that?

And remembered for more than half an hour?

Even though they talked about serious matters for so long, he didn’t forget?

“Who is Brother Li?” Seeing her not respond, Li Mu pressed further.

Tang Xiaobai, amused and annoyed: “Childish!”

The little brat’s expression visibly darkened.

Tang Xiaobai giggled, pulled down his neck, and planted a firm kiss on his cheek: “It’s Brother Li Mu!”

The little brat’s expression brightened visibly again.

Perhaps he thought he was too easy to appease, so he gave a cold hum, indicating his dissatisfaction.

Tang Xiaobai snuggled closer into his embrace, giggling: “I was just talking nonsense! I used to be accustomed to calling him Princely Heir, but now calling him Marquis Luquan feels like I’m calling him old.”

“He is old,” the young and handsome Crown Prince said.

Tang Xiaobai laughed: “Don’t say that, he’s going to be your brother-in-law too!”

Only then did the Crown Prince’s face relax: “Regarding the Turks, since Li Xingyuan has it under control, there’s no need to worry for now. Hengyang’s biological mother is still in the palace; if there is any real disorder in the future, it will be an opportunity for Li Xingyuan to take command.”

Princess Hengyang’s biological mother is Wang Zhaoyi.

Wang Zhaoyi comes from a very distant branch of the Wang Family.

Since there is already an Empress Dowager Wang in the palace, and the current emperor is not close to the Wang Family, they only chose an insignificant Wang Family woman to enter the palace.

After twenty years in the palace and having a princess, she remained just a Beauty.

It wasn’t until Princess Hengyang was sent for marriage that she was promoted to Zhaoyi.

Tang Xiaobai privately thought that this promotion was also not unrelated to the decline of the Wang Family.

Without Wang Maozhao, the emperor could confidently and boldly show his kindness to the Wang Family.

Although this Wang Zhaoyi seemed to be lacking in talent, the malice she directed at Princess Hengyang the day she left the capital left a deep impression on Tang Xiaobai.

“A few days from now, at the Empress’s birthday banquet, I will meet Wang Zhaoyi,” Tang Xiaobai said.

…

At the Empress’s birthday banquet, all the ladies of rank and title came to pay homage and attend the feast.

The palace banquet was set in the pavilion by Shanshui Pool.

As the Crown Princess Consort, Tang Xiaobai held an exalted position, just beneath the Empress.

Thus, from her vantage point, she could see the elegance and charm of the ladies, all in her view.

Including Wang Zhaoyi among them.

She quietly sat at her place, lowered her eyes, and did not interact with those around her.

Amidst the flickering lights on the table, her position was half in the shadows, making her expression appear even colder.

Perhaps due to this cold demeanor, or perhaps because she had recently offended Beauty Shu and was reprimanded and confined by the emperor, no one around spoke to her.

Tang Xiaobai lingered her gaze on her for a moment, just as she was about to look away, Wang Zhaoyi suddenly looked up and stared directly at her.

As their gazes met, Wang Zhaoyi curled her lips into a superficial smile. Her eyes reflected the chaotic lights of the hall, betraying no emotion.

Tang Xiaobai returned a similarly superficial smile, then averted her gaze and asked Empress Yuan, “Which one is Beauty Shu? I haven’t seen her yet!”

Empress Yuan’s composed smile instantly stiffened, somewhat awkwardly turning to ask the lady-in-waiting beside her: “Where is Beauty Shu?”

This question confirmed that Beauty Shu was not present.

“Someone has already been sent to inquire,” the lady-in-waiting replied.

Empress Yuan turned back to Tang Xiaobai, speaking softly: “The Shu Family is always like this, even Your Majesty often cannot summon her!”

Though she said “always like this,” Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help but feel odd.

This Beauty Shu had been in the palace for some time, yet she hadn’t met her once until now.

What a coincidence.

It’s usually arranged in books that two people who have never met are likely acquaintances.

So, is Beauty Shu really Lady Zhen? Or could she be someone I know?

These two questions clashed in her mind, and Tang Xiaobai was so curious it almost made her restless.

She lifted her wine cup, raised her sleeve to cover her eyes, concealing her deep thoughts.

Since she’s here, why not find a way to meet Beauty Shu today?

…

After several rounds of drinks, with music and singing in full swing, Beauty Shu was still late to arrive.

As she rose to change her clothes, the Empress’s expression showed obvious displeasure.

Tang Xiaobai thought for a moment, also intending to rise and chat with the Empress about Beauty Shu.

Just as she raised her wide sleeve, a small paper ball rolled out from the elaborate, layered garments.

Tang Xiaobai’s expression tightened slightly. She sat back down, seemingly brushing her hand nonchalantly, catching the paper in her palm and unfolding it beneath the table.

The paper contained only a few words:

Meet in the northwest pavilion, important matter to discuss.

Tang Xiaobai crumpled the note back into a ball, holding it in her palm.

Raising her head again, she directly met the gaze of Wang Zhaoji.

This time it was no longer a superficial smile, but a look full of indescribable depth, as if saying: I have a secret, come and ask me!

Tang Xiaobai smiled, stood up again, and gracefully walked outside.

When she looked at the note earlier, the attendants Tao Zi and Cheng Zi had both seen it too.

After leaving the Water Pavilion, Tao Zi couldn’t help but speak, “Why conduct such secretive affairs, I wonder what intentions are at play!”

Tang Xiaobai nodded, “Yes, I also wonder about her intentions.”

“Then just don’t—” Tao Zi hastily stopped herself midway, changing her words, “Crown Princess Consort, think thrice.”

Tang Xiaobai suppressed a laugh, nodding, “Alright, I will think thrice!”

Saying “think thrice,” her feet showed no hesitation as she headed westward.

Tao Zi was about to persuade further when Cheng Zi tugged at her sleeve.

Upon looking again, Tang Crown Princess Consort had turned south instead.

The note suggested the northwest of Water Pavilion, yet the Crown Princess Consort took the southwest long corridor.

Turns out she had no intention of keeping the appointment!

Tao Zi then happily caught up.

Under the night sky, the young lady leaned by the water against the railing, her ornate dress shimmering, as if bathed in moonlight. Her smile was dazzling like stars, capturing Tao Zi’s gaze.

“I wonder why Wang Zhaoji arranged to meet with the Crown Princess?” Cheng Zi whispered.

“What meeting?” Tang Xiaobai lazily drawled.

The breeze carried the scent of water, refreshing and pleasant, prompting her to half-close her eyes in contentment, her tone increasingly leisurely: “A note without a head or tail, can it be counted as an appointment? It didn’t even mention a name; maybe it wasn’t meant for me?”

Tao Zi returned to her senses, indifferent: “There’s no one else around, if not for the Crown Princess, the aim of that paper ball would be too poor!”

Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help but laugh.

Indeed, she also felt it was for her.

But the issue was, a private appointment at a large banquet was unlikely to bring anything good.

Could she fall for such a trap?

Tang Xiaobai admired the lotus and moon for a while before glancing northward.

The spot she chose happened to have a view of the northwest of the Water Pavilion.

Due to the night, visibility wasn’t very clear, but it was sufficient.

In the northwest of the Water Pavilion, there was already another person now, with a slender and gloomy profile.

It was indeed Wang Zhaoji who had arranged the meeting.

Tang Xiaobai leaned on the railing, pondering.

What did Wang Zhaoji want from her? What matter did they have to discuss?

It couldn’t possibly relate to Turkic affairs?

Tang Xiaobai mused for a while before shaking her head, “Let’s go!”

She was only there to confirm who had arranged to meet her, planning afterward to seek out Empress Yuan and see if there might be a chance to meet Beauty Shu.

After taking just two steps, Tang Xiaobai halted.

In the northwest of the Water Pavilion, a second figure appeared, slowly approaching Wang Zhaoji.

With hair like piled clouds and a scarf ready to fly.

It was clearly a woman.

Moreover, a beauty.

Although too distant to discern her features, even just her silhouette exuded a misty and delicate allure.

Yet within that delicate allure was a hint of coldness and resilience.

The complex and contradictory aura of beauty wasn’t what distracted Tang Xiaobai; she looked at that figure as though she had seen her somewhere before?

Where was it?

Tang Xiaobai was frowning, searching her memory, when the unexpected occurred.

The two figures in the northwest corner of the Water Pavilion suddenly collided, and then one of them abruptly fell backward.

Behind was the vast expanse of Shanshui Pool—

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep