Chapter 035: Your Highness, Where Do You Wish to Sit?

Wu Qingqiong was confined in Yunlan Pavilion, and the Meng family, for now, kept quiet, busying themselves with replacing the servants in the household. Early the next morning, the old lady sent Wu Qingqiong’s birth characters to the Palace of Zhengyang.

Empress Jiang, perhaps still feeling some guilt over the incident with Wu Tan, was exceptionally warm, inviting her to stay for lunch. The old lady could hardly refuse and thus gratefully accepted, lingering in Zhengyang Palace until the afternoon before finally departing.

Huo Wenshan had requested extended leave, and the emperor was selecting a new tutor for Xiao Yun. These days, Xiao Yun practiced riding and archery at the drill grounds each morning. At noon, he returned to the Eastern Palace to wash off the sweat and, thinking it had been two days since he’d paid respects to his mother, headed over—just in time to see Aunt Fang personally escorting the old lady out.

Xiao Yun recognized her from afar and frowned, “Is that the old lady from the Dingyuan Marquis household? Why is she in the palace again?”

His attendant, Xiao Youzi, always sharp and well-informed, glanced at his expression and rolled his eyes before speaking slowly, “It’s that Wu family girl you dislike. I heard the Imperial Astrologer checked your birth characters and hers—they really don’t match. Today… it seems the Empress invited Wu’s old lady to bring another young lady’s birth characters…”

Xiao Youzi spoke softly and deliberately, as if savoring the moment. Sure enough, before he finished, his prince’s face had already darkened.

Then—

He turned and walked away! Didn’t even bother seeing his mother!

Xiao Youzi shrugged helplessly—

See? Mention the Wu girl and he grimaces; even their birth characters are utterly incompatible.

“Your Highness! Wait for me!”

*

Upon returning from the palace, the old lady handed Wu Qingqiong’s birth characters to Empress Jiang. Since Xiao Yun’s main consort had yet to be decided, it was inappropriate to settle anything immediately, so the Wu family received no further news for the time being.

For Wu Tan, the matter was over. She nested peacefully in Mirror Spring Studio for three or five days, waiting for the silk shop to finish her new clothes at record speed. On the fifteenth day of the third month, she took advantage of Wu Qinglin’s early visit to pay respects to the old lady, sneaking over to play her tricks.

“I’ve been rejected and despised—can’t my brother take me out to lift my spirits? I won’t do anything naughty, and the temple fair has so many delicious treats…” Every fifteenth day of the month, the street before the Kitchen God Temple in the west of the city hosted a fair. Normally, with Wu Qinglin away, Wu Tan obeyed the rules, mindful of being a proper young lady and not venturing out. But now, cunningly, she first charmed the old lady, then clung to Wu Qinglin, coaxing and pestering him, occasionally casting flirtatious glances at her third brother.

“Alright, alright!” Before Wu Qinglin could answer, Wu Qingrui, round and plump and seated beside the old lady stuffing pastries in his mouth, cried out enthusiastically.

He brushed off the crumbs and ran over, tugging Wu Qinglin’s sleeve, expertly whining, “Let’s take Second Sister out to play!”

He was small and wobbled adorably as he walked. Wu Tan laughed, scooped him up, and pinched his cheek. “Good boy! Second Sister will buy you sweet cakes!”

“Okay!” Wu Qingrui grinned, fawning and loud. Watching the pair embrace, they looked more like true siblings.

One was the most obedient granddaughter, the other the cleverest youngest grandson, both raised since childhood at the old lady’s side, cherished especially by her.

She was initially reluctant to let Wu Tan go out, but Wu Qingrui’s antics delighted her. She waved her hand, “Fine, fine. You’re rarely home this month—take them out. They’re making my head ache with all their noise.”

Wu Tan instantly beamed, exchanging a knowing look with Wu Qingrui.

He was a little genius, immediately running over and smacking a kiss on the old lady’s cheek, covering her face with pastry crumbs, laughing loudly, “Good grandmother!”

“Heh…” The old lady couldn’t help but laugh, then purposely scolded him, “You’re a boy; don’t imitate your second sister’s tricks and spoiled ways!”

She then looked up to instruct Wu Qinglin, “There’ll be crowds at the temple fair. Take two more people, keep an eye on them, and don’t let them get separated. Just look around, don’t let her get wild.”

“Yes, grandmother, I know. Don’t worry!” Wu Qinglin nodded, resigned, and picked up Wu Qingrui, striding out the door.

Wu Tan, thrilled by her success, dashed out without even saying goodbye.

Ever since she borrowed Xiao Lingzi’s clothes last time, she hadn’t been content. Taking advantage of persuading the old lady to get her spring clothes, she had the tailor make two sets of fitted robes, wearing one that morning. The old lady grumbled about her lack of decorum, but she doted too much to forbid her.

Wu Qinglin ordered the carriage, brought along Mu Song, and picked four guards to accompany them as they left with Wu Tan and Wu Qingrui.

The west street’s temple fair teemed with people on that day. The carriage couldn’t proceed, so near the archway, Wu Qinglin had them disembark.

Wu Tan, wild at the sight of excitement, couldn’t be trusted to go alone; Wu Qinglin held Wu Qingrui in one arm and gripped Wu Tan’s collar with the other. Mu Song followed closely, responsible for paying whenever Wu Tan or Wu Qingrui saw something they wanted, while the four guards followed a dozen paces behind.

Wu Qingrui loved food and wasn’t picky.

By the time the group had traversed the street, his little belly was already round and full.

Wu Qinglin dared not let him eat more and was scolding him when Wu Qingrui suddenly pointed ahead and shouted, “Sugar gourd…”

Drool already dripped onto Wu Qinglin’s sleeve as he clamored excitedly.

Candied hawthorn was rare this season, but it aided digestion. Seeing Wu Tan squatting in front of a mask vendor, picking intently, Wu Qinglin had Mu Song keep watch and took Wu Qingrui to buy the treat. But in that brief moment, returning, Wu Tan had vanished.

Mu Song and the four guards were gone too.

Though he knew Mu Song was with her and it was unlikely anything would happen in such a bustling place, Wu Qinglin was anxious and retraced his steps with Wu Qingrui in his arms.

In fact, Wu Tan was only a few steps away, hidden behind a display of masks. She’d originally circled around to pick a mask but discovered that the alley led to another street, less lively but with a few vendors.

As Wu Qinglin hurried back, Wu Tan was cheerfully sprawled across an old fortune-teller’s table, having her palm read.

The old man was gaunt, his hair and beard a mass of white, clad in a patched and threadbare Taoist robe, yet he looked spirited.

Mu Song stood nearby, expression stern, listening as the old mystic spun tales, charming their Second Miss into fits of laughter. “Little girl, I’ve read palms for decades, and yours is only the second of such fortune I’ve seen. Let me tell you, this line here—wealth and prosperity. Yours is a palm rare as one in ten thousand, destined for riches all your life…”

“Really? I always thought I was lucky…” Wu Tan was delighted, fishing out a finely crafted two-tael gold ingot from her pouch, about to hand it over—

When suddenly, with a bang, someone slammed a gold ingot at least twenty times larger onto the table, glittering brilliantly.

Wu Tan jumped, her little ingot dropping onto the table.

At that moment, someone sat down beside her on the short bench, rolled up his sleeve, and extended his hand. The voice was maddeningly familiar, “I’ve heard your palm readings are accurate, Taoist. Would you care to read mine for this prince?”

—— Extra tidbit ——

After a month of effort, the lead characters finally meet again. Praise me!

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