Ducking a flying embroidered shoe coming from who knows where, Xue Qian quickly said, urging his horse forward.
Muttering: "This is just too much. They’ve even started to throw their shoes. What won’t they throw?"
"That’s what I want to say."
Su Ke swung a punch to deflect a bunch of flowers nearly smashing into his forehead: "Look at these won... Didn’t they say that the necessity for n and won not to be too close is strict nowadays? So, what’s all this about!"
"Who can stop this when it’s the top scholar’s Horse Riding Parade? Such a refined event, taking place in public, who would bother about propriety? Move along!"
The people behind them all urged them to continue.
Su Ke quickly spurred his horse to catch up, but there was a disturbance up ahead. A richly dressed woman was holding a flower, offering it to the top scholar. And, to everyone’s surprise, he accepted her gift, and even took the flower and pinned it onto his crown.
This "flower-pinning custom" had a long tradition and yet never ceased to amuse.
And it completely set the atmosphere ablaze on Imperial Street!
Countless young won threw their flowers at the n without any hesitation.
Su Ke found himself subrged in a sea of flowers, making a disheveled escape.
But the horses they were riding were led forward by handlers from the start, to prevent startling them. Now, flowers cascaded down on them, and they had no choice but to take the impact.
In no ti, all of the newly qualified Jinshi scholars on the Horse Riding Parade were covered in flower petals, on their heads and clothes, looking particularly comical.
Su Ke was no exception!
Really, these people were too wild!
"Su Ke, look over there. Do those few people seem to recognize you?"
"Where?"
Su Ke glanced back unconsciously, scanning around, but didn’t see the persons Xue Qian was referring to.
"Not there, over there!"
Xue Qian urgently corrected him and pulled on Su Ke: "See, isn’t that Miss Hani from Wentao Pavilion? Why would she co out instead of staying back at Wentao Pavilion?"
Miss Hani from Wentao Pavilion?
Su Ke instantly recalled the top courtesan from Lui’s Tavern, and quickly looked around, indeed catching sight of her in the crowd.
Miss Hani truly lived up to her reputation as the prominent courtesan unmatched in beauty as, even among the crowd, she stood out like a crane amongst chickens, serene and untainted amidst the plain folk.
Seeing him look her way, she waved at him.
Then she bead with a smile: "Master Su!"
Such beauty in her smile rippled through the surroundings, drawing everyone’s eyes out as if they yearned to claim that smile for themselves.
Su Ke was montarily stunned, then replied with a smile, urging his horse closer, and inexplicably bowed to her.
"Miss Hani, what brings you here?"
Miss Hani appeared surprised by his question, opened her mouth slightly, then grinned.
"I am here particularly to wait for Master Su."
Her spirited gaze shining, she gracefully picked up a bunch of blooming lilies and tossed them his way: "Master Su, catch!"
Su Ke subconsciously caught it.
The bouquet of lilies was in full bloom, radiating beauty, and Su Ke was completely enraptured.
But as soon as the flowers landed in his hands, they imdiately drew the envious gazes of countless onlookers.
Even Feng Jiu and Lu Da fixed their gaze on him, full of curiosity. People have a natural inclination to pursue beautiful things. Miss Hani’s beauty was beyond words, and her re presence instantly drew the eyes of many. Such a beauty, renowned for her na, had not chosen to gift flowers to the top scholar, second place, or third-place scholars, but instead, she had chosen Su Ke, who ranked just before the first class, and the implications made everyone think.
Su Ke also felt sowhat embarrassed, worried that his impulsive action might give the wrong impression.
He coughed softly, "Thank you, Miss Hani, for the gift of flowers."
"Why speak of thanks between us? I have yet to express my gratitude for the painting Master Su previously gave. These flowers are a gift I especially prepared for Master Su. It is proper to reciprocate, and I hope Master Su likes it. It wasn’t a waste of my effort," she said, bending her knee slightly towards him.
"I do like it, very much. The flowers are bright, and they’re nice to hold... heh heh..."
Su Ke laughed awkwardly.
He had painted that picture on a whim, and gifting it was really done without much forethought.
Now, to receive such a grateful acknowledgnt from Miss Hani truly made him feel undeserving!
"There’s no need to worry about such trifles, Miss Hani. It’s just a painting, after all. Moreover, at that ti..."
"To you, Master Su, it may be just a painting, but to Hani, its significance is profound. It’s far more than the painting itself, and no amount of grateful words from Hani would be too much. Therefore, this bouquet doesn’t compare to what Master Su has given Hani. Please feel reassured to accept it!" she stated.
With the conversation reaching this point, Su Ke lifted the bouquet in his hand, "Even so... thank you."
Miss Hani did not say more, only bowed towards him.
Su Ke bid farewell and urged his horse forward.
Xue Qian clicked his tongue beside him, "I never imagined, Brother Su, that you would have such good fortune! That’s the most sought-after Miss Hani from Wentao Pavilion. Countless gentlen have spent fortunes for a smile from her, yet here you are, honored with her presenting you flowers in person. Just on this account alone, enough sons of nobility would despise you."
"Don’t talk nonsense, it’s just a bunch of flowers."
Su Ke insisted stiffly without saying much more and turned his head to look at Su Ke before continuing forward.
"It’s just a bouquet of flowers."
Xue Qian mimicked, then spurred his horse to catch up, "If it’s rely a bouquet of flowers, why not give it to your foolish brother? I wouldn’t mind," he said, making a grab for it.
"Are you talking nonsense, didn’t you hear her? She said the flowers were for ."
Su Ke naturally had no reason to let go.
Perhaps stimulated by Miss Hani giving him the bouquet, there were now many young ladies and wives tossing flowers at Su Ke from both sides of the road.
Su Ke didn’t turn any away; instead, he easily caught many and held them in his hands.
This amused the two newly qualified Jinshi scholars.
"One should enjoy life’s pleasures while young! Brother Xue, to covet another’s beloved is your mistake."
"Exactly! If Miss Hani, such a beauty, were to give flowers, I couldn’t bear to let them go, haha..."
"No way!"
Xue Qian hastily laughed it off, "I’m just envious of Brother Su, even securing a beauty like Miss Hani."
The group jested with each other as they walked, and so accepted the kindness of others, pinning fresh flowers onto their crown hats one after another.
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