Liang Wan nodded. "I haven't seen her despite waiting for a long time. She must have been held up somewhere. Let's head to the Waterside Pavilion first!"
Hearing this, Mrs. Zhang turned back to look toward the Waterside Pavilion. "The Princess is hosting the banquet, so she is undoubtedly busy entertaining the guests!"
Qing Yue was her close friend and the daughter of Princess Lanling. However, the Princess favored her male companions and had a strained relationship with Marquis Tangyi, which led to Qing Yue also falling out of the Princess's favor. To make matters worse, Marquis Tangyi did not live a long life and passed away from illness in his prime. Qing Yue held the empty title of a pampered young lady of the Marquis Mansion, yet she was forced to take up the tedious chores of managing the household's internal affairs at an early age. In some ways, they were indeed quite similar.
"The Grand Commandant—" Someone whispered, yet the words pierced the air with absolute clarity.
Liang Wan looked toward the end of the corridor. She saw Lu Xiu wearing a gauze crown, his complexion as fair as powdered jade, and his hair as dark as a raven's wing. Dressed in loose, snow-white robes with wide sleeves, he moved with a languid, unbridled grace amidst the slanting drizzle and gentle breeze. His narrow, slanted eyes held a cold, piercing gaze brimming with mockery. Among the crowd of arrogant and extravagant aristocratic talents, he stood entirely apart.
Mrs. Zhang gripped Liang Jiao's hand tightly, her trembling voice unable to hide her urgency. "Ajiao, make sure you take a good look." The Daqi Imperial Family was known for producing handsome men, but Lu Xiu was the most breathtaking of them all.
Liang Wan lowered her eyes, suppressing the urge to laugh. If she hadn't experienced it firsthand, how could she have ever believed what kind of wild, ruthless heart was hidden beneath such an elegant and magnificent exterior? Yet now, she was calculating how to run with the wolves. Didn't that make her even crazier than him?
"Awan, you must find a chance to introduce us later!" Mrs. Zhang nudged her with an elbow as she watched Lu Xiu and his entourage head toward the Waterside Pavilion.
To ensure Liang Jiao could successfully meet Lu Xiu, Mrs. Zhang had spent days pleading with Liang Wan's mother to lift her grounding early. Unlike Mrs. Zhang, who was desperate for quick results, Liang Jiao seemed somewhat distracted, her gaze wandering aimlessly around the garden. She wasn't wearing that fairy-tailored dress, but her makeup was immaculate and her attire meticulous, exuding a natural charm and elegance.
Taking this all in, Liang Wan asked casually, "Where is Zhang?"
"Him? He's been cooped up in the mansion for days and was itching to get out. As soon as he stepped off the carriage, he took off like a wild horse slipping its reins. There was no holding him back! He vanished in the blink of an eye, taking any chance he gets to loaf around and stir up trouble with his shady friends!" At the mention of Zhang, even the usually amiable Mrs. Zhang couldn't suppress the anger flaring up in her chest. "Don't even bring him up! It just gives me a headache!"
Three people had come together, yet they carried far more than three diverging agendas. Liang Wan's lips curled into a faint smile. Without further ado, the group made their way to the Waterside Pavilion.
The Waterside Pavilion was built over the river, connected to the shore by a winding wooden bridge. Liang Jiao supported Mrs. Zhang as they walked in front, while Liang Wan followed absentmindedly behind them. She wondered if the people from the Ministry of Justice had gone to find Lu Xiu yet. Even if it wasn't for Liang Jiao's sake, she genuinely needed to find a suitable opportunity to invite Lu Xiu out for a private meeting. If she approached him recklessly and he turned hostile, or worse, exposed her identity as a murderer, she would truly be doomed. The closer they got to the Waterside Pavilion, the more uneasy she felt.
"Why hasn't Chun'er returned from fetching things at the carriage yet?"
Up ahead, Mrs. Zhang abruptly turned around, startling Liang Wan. She steadied herself and raised her eyes. "This place is huge. Perhaps she got lost." When they alighted from the carriage, she had deliberately left Lu Xiu's cloak behind and sent Chun'er to retrieve it so that she could meet Qing Yue privately for an intimate conversation.
Mrs. Zhang's expression darkened with extreme dissatisfaction. "How can this be? If I had known that maid was so unreliable, I never would have listened to you and brought her along. I had to say so many good words to your mother just to get her released!"
"Rest assured, Mrs. Zhang. Even without the cloak, I will find another opportunity to approach the Grand Commandant," Liang Wan comforted her softly, a smile in her eyes.
Mrs. Zhang had no other choice. Yulin Garden was vast; if Chun'er was truly lost, she wouldn't be found anytime soon. Seeing Liang Wan's confidence, Mrs. Zhang let out a breath of relief.
The Peach Blossom Banquet was about to begin, and the group quickened their pace. Someone was hurrying across the bridge toward them, calling out as they ran.
"Hey, did you hear? Someone fell into the water over there!"
"Really? They haven't even had anything to drink yet. Are they already drunk and confused?"
"Not at all! Luckily they were found in time. A little later, and they would have been gone!"
The people behind them quickly passed by. Mrs. Zhang turned around again. "Did they just say someone fell into the water?"
Liang Wan nodded. Mrs. Zhang clicked her tongue and shook her head repeatedly.
Unexpectedly, right as they were speaking, they saw Chun'er rushing to catch up with them. Mrs. Zhang's heart finally settled back into her chest. She took Liang Jiao by the hand and led her into the Waterside Pavilion first. Liang Wan waited a moment, took the bundle from Chun'er's hands, and said, "It's stuffy inside, and there are already servants waiting on us. Just rest out here. I'll call you if I need anything."
A look of joy washed over Chun'er's face, while Liang Wan remained entirely impassive.
Upon entering the Waterside Pavilion, it felt noticeably different from previous years. The layout and decorations had been largely altered, making it look far more extravagant and luxurious. The attendees of the banquet included not only the wives of the Imperial Family and scholarly families, but also the young masters and ladies of their households. Rather than calling the Peach Blossom Banquet a good destination for a spring outing, it was more accurate to say that it was an opportunity for families to scout potential marriage matches.
Guided by a maid, Liang Wan took her seat. Every year, Qing Yue arranged for her to sit by her side, and this year was no exception. Consequently, she was not seated with Mrs. Zhang and Liang Jiao. However, as the pavilion filled with more and more people, Qing Yue was still nowhere to be seen. Liang Wan glanced around and realized that not a single important figure was present! Sitting there waiting idly was entirely pointless!
Liang Wan waved her hand, and a maid stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "What is your command, Miss?"
"Where is Lady Feng?"
The maid glanced left and right before whispering, "Someone fell into the water. Lady Feng was worried something might happen, so she went to check on the situation."
Liang Wan nodded slightly, gesturing for the maid to retreat. It made sense. If Cui Hao had truly drowned in the river and lost his life, Princess Lanling definitely wouldn't forgive Qing Yue. After all, the Peach Blossom Banquet was not merely a celebration of Princess Lanling's birthday; it had evolved into an opportunity for the Imperial Family and the elite to form cliques and alliances.
Liang Wan pondered for a moment. Taking advantage of the fact that not everyone had arrived yet, she stood up and walked out of the Waterside Pavilion. She looked around for Chun'er, but the maid was nowhere to be found.
When it came to Yulin Garden, she couldn't be more familiar with it! Others might visit once a year, but whenever she had free time, she would meet Qing Yue here. Fortunately, they had always borrowed Princess Lanling's name; otherwise, her uncle would never have agreed. As for her mother, she naturally despised it. After all, everyone knew that Princess Lanling kept many male companions.
What did a person who caught a cold need? An enigmatic smile played on Liang Wan's lips. Unexpectedly, right as she stepped out of the kitchens, she bumped into Qing Yue.
The person standing before her slowly overlapped with the one in her memories. She clearly remembered the day Cui Hao married Qing Yue; in the bridal chamber, Qing Yue had clung to her hand, apologizing profusely while crying uncontrollably. When it came to the major life event of marriage, they had always been completely powerless, unable to make their own choices. If the Emperor ordered her to marry, she had no choice but to marry! Wasn't it the exact same for herself?
Liang Wan felt as if her heart was being stabbed over and over, dripping with fresh blood. For so long, the humiliation and heavy burdens she thought she was bearing were nothing more than a premeditated scheme arranged by others! Hatred! She felt an absolute, all-consuming hatred!
"Awan?" Feng Qingyue waved a hand in front of her face, her phoenix eyes brimming with confusion. "What's wrong? You don't recognize me after just a few days apart?"
Liang Wan snapped back to reality and pursed her lips into a smile. Reunited with an old friend, how could she possibly not recognize her?