"Imperial Sister, are you feeling better now?" Zheng Congyuan glanced at Zheng Tianxin. He never tried to guess her actions because they were unpredictable—she acted impulsively, never using her mind to think things through.
She ca and went as she pleased, like now, taking a boat to board his, perhaps on a whim, utterly without a thod to follow.
"You don’t have to pretend to care if you’re not interested, Fu Xun. What are you looking at?" Zheng Tianxin sensed that the mont he had walked in, Zheng Congyuan’s mood seed different.
Zheng Congyuan turned around with an unpredictable expression, not caring what Zheng Tianxin was looking at, and fiddled with the brush and ink spread on the table.
Zheng Tianxin glanced at the boat of Zheng Haoyuan, which was half the size of Zheng Congyuan’s. Only when she saw Zheng Nianru standing at the bow did she feel relieved. Indeed, he had co, and Zheng Haoyuan had moved quickly.
"Fu Xun, won’t you take a look at your future Crown Princess Consort?" after seeing this, Zheng Tianxin casually looked back at the boat behind her and asked Zheng Congyuan.
Zheng Congyuan remained silent; the rumor, with the arrival of the Aristocratic Families from Outside the Capital, had flared up again. All his efforts over the years to quash it had been in vain and had only grown more intense.
Zheng Congyuan couldn’t help but wonder, had she heard sothing? Although she was at Qishun Building and wouldn’t receive much news, she always paid attention to news about him, and there were always people speaking recklessly in the palace.
So, was that why she had been so agitated that night?
"Your Highness, the first round’s topics have arrived." Qi Ling respectfully handed over a scroll note, and similarly, dozens of scroll notes were delivered to various painted boats at the sa ti.
Zheng Congyuan opened the scroll and glanced at the topic.
Because the Crown Prince was participating, to demonstrate fairness and show the scene of the Crown Prince enjoying himself with the people, this poetry session was temporarily hosted by Ju Nanyi.
Lan Xing stood silently beside Zheng Tianxin, oblivious to everything else.
Zheng Tianxin suddenly stood up and looked towards the back of the painted boat. Since it was sumr, all the sides of the painted boat were open, and Zheng Tianxin could clearly see the boat behind her.
"Fu Xun, is that the mage from the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family behind us?" Zheng Tianxin asked.
"Yes," Zheng Congyuan spoke as Zheng Tianxin was very interested in these matters. From a young age, she had encountered such things and had even mistakenly saved a person with special abilities—Lan Xing, who now stayed with her all the ti.
Zheng Congyuan wasn’t dismissive of people from Qiandao Temple and had witnessed so bizarre incidents. However, in the entirety of Nanzheng, there were only about thirty people at Qiandao Temple, to be precise, only around eleven or twelve with such special abilities.
Of course, there were a few undiscovered ones like Lan Xing; after so many years, the only addition had been Master Yin He, who was once with Fu Xin.
Zheng Tianxin was curious to see this man from Nanzheng State, known as the Holy Child, so she stood up and walked towards the stern.
Zong Yunqian’s servant was startled to see a woman appear on the prince’s boat and quickly went to wake his young master, who had been sleeping since boarding the boat; Zong Yunqian turned over impatiently.
"You two fools, the people on the prince’s boat are looking at soone, it’s clearly not . Command them to move the boat towards the center of the lake; don’t block the way of others."
Gu Dao and Xi Feng thought it made sense; after all, the boat behind them had the future Crown Princess Consort.
They hurriedly gave orders to the boatn to change direction. With fewer people on board, the lighter boat moved toward the center of the lake in a short while, taking Zheng Tianxin by surprise. She was about to order her boat to follow when Lan Xing tugged at her sleeve.
"Princess, we still have things to attend to." Lan Xing glanced at a boat now approaching the one belonging to Princess Chao Ren and whispered a reminder.
Zheng Tianxin sneered, that’s right, what could be more important than catching Master Yin He? If they were any later, the Wen Family might have succeeded. Just look how closely the Wen Family’s boats are following.
The Xin Family’s boat cleared just in ti to see the Eldest Princess standing at the stern.
Xin Yuyan imdiately led in kneeling down to pay respects, and the entire boat fell silent.
"Rise, no need for excessive courtesy today." Zheng Tianxin waved at Xin Yuyan’s boat, who, flattered by the attention, wondered if the abrupt departure of the boat ahead was instigated by the Eldest Princess.
Xin Yuyan’s cheeks flushed, understanding that she couldn’t disregard the Eldest Princess’s favor, so she instructed the boatman to row faster. However, others were quicker still. Seizing the opportunity, the Zhang Family of Hejian propelled their boat forward with full force, surpassing the Xin family’s boat and heading straight towards the Crown Prince’s vessel.
"Eldest Princess—" Miss Zhang from the boat shouted excitedly, waving towards Zheng Tianxin.
Zheng Tianxin and Miss Zhang had hit it off quite well, having played together at a palace banquet and ford a childhood friendship.
Feeling spirited, Zheng Tianxin, seeing that it was still early, nodded slightly toward Miss Zhang Linghui.
"This servant greets the Eldest Princess. It’s been two years, and the Eldest Princess has beco even more beautiful," said Zhang Linghui sincerely. Her own less refined deanor made her words all the more convincing.
"Bring the boat over, I’d like to catch up with you..." With her interest piqued, Zheng Tianxin beckoned to Zhang Linghui, and imdiately, the Zhang’s boat brazenly moved closer.
Lan Xing quickly assisted Zheng Tianxin, carefully walking her up the temporary ramp.
"Miss, look at them, it’s too much to bear." The ladies from the Xin family, having witnessed the scene, were visibly indignant. The Eldest Princess was supposed to converse with them, yet the Zhang family had boldly intercepted.
"Silence," Xin Yuyan imdiately ordered her maid in a low, stern voice. Other voices that began to complain quieted instantly, and silence fell.
Xin Yuyan continued to wait respectfully until Zheng Tianxin had boarded the boat, then stood up with her sisters.
Xin Yuyan then looked towards the nearby Crown Prince’s boat, considering the interaction. rely an Eldest Princess, her na carried such weight, and becoming entangled with her was unwise.
And the person she cared about was on that very boat.
...
"Eldest Princess, please co inside—" Zhang Linghui personally guided the Eldest Princess towards the cabin, but as Zheng Tianxin turned her head, she caught a glimpse of a figure on Zheng Haoyuan’s boat, and an idea struck her.
"Linghui, I see a woman’s figure on my fourth brother’s boat that looks unfamiliar. Take a look, who might that be?" Zheng Tianxin did not enter but stood on the wide, clean wooden deck of the boat.
Zhang Linghui paused, took a look, and so did the Misses Zhang and those from the Aristocratic Families from Outside the Capital behind her. No one could recognize her initially.
Lan Xing glanced at her princess montarily puzzled by what her princess was attempting, as this was not part of the plan, but clearly, things were about to get awkward, as these families were unlikely to know the Commandery Princess Chao Ren.
Just then, a young lady from the Fu Feng Aristocratic Family suddenly exclaid, drawing everyone’s attention to her.
The young lady suddenly felt afraid, thinking fast. She realized swiftly that this hidden story could not be known only to her—why weren’t the others speaking?
But now, she had no choice but to speak.
"Reporting to the Eldest Princess, while I was at the stern just now, I faintly heard soone say that she might be the Commandery Princess Chao Ren of Prince Duan," she hesitantly disclosed.
Zheng Tianxin feigned a sudden realization.
"Ah, I rember now, the daughter of that pretend princess. Her mother certainly had a way of enchanting my Imperial Uncle like that."
Imdiately, none of the young ladies on the boat dared to chi in, knowing full well that this was not a matter to be trifled with, yet they couldn’t help but be curious—this was the Princess of Nann State who was rumored to have dazzled the entirety of Nanzheng State.
Apparently, her real identity was that of a courtesan.
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