Liang Wan nodded. "I've waited a long time and still haven't seen her. She must be held up somewhere. Let's go to the Waterside Pavilion first!"
Hearing this, Mrs. Zhang turned back to look toward the Waterside Pavilion. "The Princess is hosting the banquet; she must be busy entertaining guests!"
Qing Yue was her close friend and the daughter of Princess Lanling. However, the Princess favored male companions and did not have a harmonious relationship with Marquis Tangyi. As a result, Qing Yue was not favored by her mother either.
As if that weren't enough, Marquis Tangyi did not live a long life, passing away from illness in his prime. Qing Yue bore the empty title of a pampered lady of the Marquis Mansion, yet had long been burdened with managing the estate's trivial affairs.
In some ways, they were indeed very similar.
"The Grand Commandant—"
Someone whispered the title, but the sound was perfectly clear.
Liang Wan looked toward the end of the long corridor and saw Lu Xiu. He wore a gauze cap, his face as fair as if dusted with powder, his temples framed by hair as black as a raven's wing. Dressed in wide-sleeved robes, white as snow, he exuded a languid, unrestrained air amidst the fine rain and slanting wind.
But his slender eyes, which slanted up toward his temples, were cold and disdainful, filled with undisguised mockery. He stood aloof, a world apart from the arrogant and extravagant young nobles around him.
Mrs. Zhang gripped Liang Jiao's hand tightly, her trembling words unable to hide her urgency. "Ajiao, did you get a good look?"
The Daqi Royal Family was known for producing handsome men, and Lu Xiu was the most handsome of them all.
Liang Wan lowered her eyes, fighting the urge to laugh. 'If I hadn't experienced it firsthand, who would ever believe what a wild and cruel heart was wrapped beneath that dapper, elegant facade?'
'But here I am, plotting how to dance with the wolf. Doesn't that make me even crazier than he is?'
"Aweng, you have to find a chance to introduce us later!"
Seeing Lu Xiu and his group head toward the Waterside Pavilion, Mrs. Zhang nudged her with her elbow.
To ensure Liang Jiao could meet Lu Xiu, Mrs. Zhang had started persuading Mother to lift my confinement several days ago.
Liang Jiao, unlike Mrs. Zhang, didn't seem so desperate to make the connection. She was rather distracted, her gaze wandering around Yulin Garden.
She—wasn't wearing that special skirt, but her makeup was exquisite and her attire elegant, lending her a natural charm.
Liang Wan took it all in and asked casually, "Where's Brother?"
"Him? He's been cooped up in the mansion for days, going absolutely stir-crazy. The moment he stepped out of the carriage, he was off like a wild horse that had broken its reins. How could anyone keep an eye on him? He vanished in an instant. He'll take any chance he gets to fool around with those scoundrel friends of his and stir up trouble!"
At the mention of Liang Zhang, even the normally pleasant-faced Mrs. Zhang couldn't suppress the anger flaring in her chest. "Let's not talk about him. It's too frustrating!"
Three people had come together, but they carried more than three different intentions.
Liang Wan's lips curled slightly.
With that, they stopped lingering and made their way to the Waterside Pavilion.
The Waterside Pavilion was built over the river, connected to the bank by a winding wooden bridge.
Liang Jiao supported Mrs. Zhang as they walked ahead. Liang Wan followed distractedly, 'wondering if the men from the Ministry of Justice had found Lu Xiu yet.'
'Even setting Liang Jiao aside, I must find the right opportunity to meet with Lu Xiu alone. If I approach him rashly and he pretends not to know me, or worse, exposes me as a murderer, there will be no escape for me.'
The closer she got to the Waterside Pavilion, the more uneasy she felt.
"Why isn't Chun'er back from the carriage yet?"
Mrs. Zhang, walking ahead, suddenly turned back, making Liang Wan jump. Composing herself, Liang Wan looked up. "This place is huge. She probably got lost."
'When they got out of the carriage, she had deliberately left Lu Xiu's cloak behind and sent Chun'er to get it. This way, she could meet with Qing Yue alone for a private talk.'
But Mrs. Zhang's expression soured with displeasure. "How could this happen? I knew that maid was unreliable! I never should have listened to you and brought her. And after I put in so many good words with your mother to get her out of confinement!"
"Don't worry, Aunt," Liang Wan said in a soothing, soft voice, though a smile touched her eyes. "Even without the cloak, I'll find another way to approach the Grand Commandant."
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 confident demeanor, however, eased her worries somewhat.
The Peach Blossom Banquet was about to start, so the group quickened their pace. On the bridge, some people were hurrying toward them, calling out as they went:
"Hey, hey, did you hear? Someone fell into the water over there!"
"Really? The drinking hasn't even started, and someone's already drunk?"
"It's true! Luckily, they were found just in time. Any later and they would've been a goner!"
...
The speakers quickly hurried past them.
Mrs. Zhang turned back again. "Did they just say someone fell in the water?"
Liang Wan nodded. Mrs. Zhang clicked her tongue and shook her head.
But just as they were speaking, they saw Chun'er hurrying to catch up.
Mrs. Zhang finally breathed a sigh of relief. She pulled Liang Jiao into the Waterside Pavilion, while Liang Wan waited for Chun'er. Taking the bundle from the maid's hands, she said, "It's stuffy inside, and there are plenty of servants. Just rest out here. I'll call if I need you."
A look of joy appeared on Chun'er's face. Liang Wan remained expressionless.
Upon entering the Waterside Pavilion, it was clear that things were very different from previous years. The layout and decorations had been mostly redone, making it look even more extravagant and luxurious.
The guests included not only the wives of the Imperial Family and scholarly families but also the young masters and ladies of the great houses.
This Peach Blossom Banquet was less a pleasant spring outing and more an opportunity for the various families to scout for marriage prospects.
Liang Wan followed a maid's guidance to her seat. Every year, Qing Yue arranged for her to sit nearby, and this time was no exception. As a result, she was not seated with Mrs. Zhang and Liang Jiao.
However, more and more people arrived, but there was still no sign of Qing Yue. Liang Wan glanced around; none of the important people were present!
'Then there's no point in me just sitting here waiting!'
Liang Wan beckoned. A maidservant came forward and bowed respectfully. "What are your orders, my lady?"
"Where is Lady Feng?"
The maid glanced left and right before whispering, "Someone fell into the water. My lady was worried something might happen, so she went to check on them."
Liang Wan nodded slightly, signaling for the maid to withdraw.
'That makes sense. If Cui Hao were to actually drown and die, Princess Lanling would never forgive Qing Yue. After all, the Peach Blossom Banquet wasn't just born from Princess Lanling's birthday celebration; it had evolved into an opportunity for the Imperial Family and powerful nobles to form alliances.'
Liang Wan considered this for a moment. Since not all the guests had arrived yet, she stood and headed out of the Waterside Pavilion. When she looked for Chun'er, the maid was nowhere to be seen.
'When it came to Yulin Garden, she couldn't be more familiar with it. Others might come once a year, but whenever she was free, she would meet Qing Yue here.'
'Fortunately, they always used Princess Lanling's name as a pretext, or Uncle wouldn't have agreed. As for Mother, she naturally disapproved. After all, everyone knew Princess Lanling kept many male companions.'
'What does someone who's caught a chill need?'
An enigmatic smile touched Liang Wan's lips. She hadn't expected to run into Qing Yue right after leaving the kitchens.
'The woman before her slowly overlapped with the woman in her memories. She distinctly remembered the day Cui Hao married Qing Yue. In the bridal chamber, Qing Yue had grabbed her hands and apologized over and over, crying uncontrollably.'
'When it came to marriage, they had never been masters of their own fate.'
'If the Emperor commanded her to marry, she had to obey!'
'Wasn't it the same for me?'
'Liang Wan's heart felt as though it was being stabbed, over and over, until it was dripping with blood. All this time, what she had thought was her own righteous forbearance was nothing but a trap, a long-premeditated scheme designed by others!'
'Hatred! The hatred was overwhelming!'
"Aweng?"
Feng Qingyue waved a hand in front of her face, her phoenix eyes full of confusion. "What's wrong? It's only been a few days. Don't you recognize me anymore?"
Liang Wan snapped back to reality and smiled, pressing her lips together. 'A reunion with an old friend. How could I possibly not recognize her?'