freenovelworld Chapter 319 Towards the Golden Palace (23)
Chapter 319 Towards the Golden Palace (23)
In a short while, large red lanterns and red silk were hung at the entrance of the Cao residence.
Yan Zhen changed into some light clothes and went out with Wang Xiaocui, A Bao, the housekeeper, and others to join in the fun, standing guard on the route that the top scholar would take through the streets.
The annual parade of the top three scholars, held every three years, is a grand event in the capital. The streets are packed with people, and Yan Zhen was so squeezed that his bones felt like they were about to fall apart before the sound of gongs and drums finally came from afar.
From a distance, she saw Xue Lin riding at the very front, adorned with red flowers, head held high, surrounded by a procession of drummers and musicians, exuding confidence and high spirits.
The spring breeze is proud of horseshoe disease, seeing Chang'an flowers in one day.
As the procession passed Yan Zhen, Xue Lin, who was riding a horse, seemed to sense something and turned his head to meet Yan Zhen's gaze.
He paused, and then, in the next moment, he did something that caught everyone present completely off guard—
He removed the silver hairpin from his official hat, which symbolized his status as the top scholar, and tossed it to Yan Zhen from a distance.
Yan Zhen caught it with quick eyes and hands.
Because of this action, all the people around looked at Yan Zhen.
Yan Zhen, who was forced to endure countless stares, was speechless.
Xue Lin seemed quite satisfied with the result, and at the urging of the master of ceremonies, he rode away.
After parading through the streets, Xue Lin attended a banquet in the palace. When he returned, it was already 9 PM.
He was so drunk that he could barely walk. The steward and two servants had to hold him down and take him back to the courtyard.
Yan Zhen had someone prepare a hangover soup and send it over. A little while later, the butler came to report that Xue Lin was making a scene and wanted to see her.
Yan Zhen could only carry the lantern and walk through the winding corridors to Xue Lin's courtyard.
When she went in, Xue Lin was sitting on the threshold, still wearing his clothes, and refused to go back inside no matter how the servant tried to persuade him.
Seeing Yan Zhen come over, he leaned on the door frame and stood up unsteadily, grinning at her: "Sister, I... I passed the exam with top honors."
"Yes, you did a good job," Yan Zhen said. "Let's go inside and talk, it's chilly outside."
Xue Lin turned to look at his room, then at Yan Zhen, and shook his head: "No, I am a man and you are a woman. It's so late, and you're coming into my bedroom. This is not proper."
Fortunately, although I drank too much, my brain and basic cognition were still intact.
"Didn't you have something to say to me?" Yan Zhen said. "Go ahead, I'm listening."
She was mentally prepared that Xue Lin would make some outrageous demands after passing the imperial examination, and she even thought about how to refuse him.
Upon hearing this, Xue Lin straightened up slightly and said solemnly, "Sister, three days from now, the *** will be hosting a banquet at Wanlin Garden to invite all the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations). You may bring your family members... Xie Zhao will also be attending."
Yan Zhen paused for a moment.
"Sister, do you want to go?" Xue Lin asked. "Do you want to...see him?"
Yan Zhen made the decision almost immediately: "Go."
It's time to meet Xie Zhao.
-
Three days later, Yan Zhen, accompanied by Xue Lin, went out to Wanlin Garden.
Wanlin Garden was a royal garden, and apart from the Mid-Autumn Festival each year, it was only used to host banquets for people other than the royal family after the imperial examinations held once every three years.
Upon entering Wanlin Garden, a maidservant stepped forward to lead them to their designated seats within the garden.
Xue Lin was the top scholar and had a seat near the front, so Yan Zhen also benefited from this and got a seat near the front.
She sat next to Xue Lin, keeping her eyes down and obediently playing the role of the top scholar's "female companion".
Before long, the banquet began.
Those invited to the banquet tonight include not only the recent graduates but also many high-ranking officials. The person in charge, ***, made a few perfunctory remarks and then announced that everyone was free to dine and drink.
The top three were undoubtedly the focus of attention tonight, and Xue Lin was soon surrounded by people toasting him, chatting with him like a star being fawned over.
Yan Zhen sat there for a while, his gaze sweeping across the field before quickly locking onto Xie Zhao not far away.
He didn't bring his family and sat alone at the table, drinking silently. His colleagues would occasionally say a few words to him, but his expression remained indifferent.
Six years later, Xie Zhao was not much different from the handsome and dashing figure in the original owner's memory. Because of his official position, he had also developed a more composed and refined demeanor.
He is indeed a very handsome man.
Yan Zhen narrowed his eyes, finished his drink, picked up Xue Lin's glass, poured himself a glass of low-alcohol sweet wine, stood up and walked to Xue Lin, who was surrounded by people, and gently advised, "Drink less strong liquor."
Many people on the field were already focused on Xue Lin, and Yan Zhen's slightly intimate gesture immediately drew attention to her.
One of them was particularly intense.
Xue Lin took the wine glass and replied, "Okay."
Someone asked, "Lord Xue, who is this?"
Xue Lin's eyes flickered, and he replied vaguely, "Family members."
The person who asked the question wisely didn't continue the topic, and the others also showed knowing expressions.
After achieving his goal, Yan Zhen turned around and returned to his seat.
The burning gaze that clung to her did not disappear; it remained fixed on her every move.
Yan Zhen pretended not to notice. After a while, she called her maid to accompany her and got up to leave the banquet.
Wanlin Garden boasts beautiful scenery, with a new view every three steps. It's already getting dark, and all sorts of glass lanterns are hanging throughout the garden, making it a feast for the eyes.
Yan Zhen stepped into the winding corridor and walked into the artificial hill, and soon heard slightly hurried footsteps behind him.
Xie Zhao's voice came through: "Yunniang?"
Yan Zhen pretended not to hear, and didn't even pause in his steps.
Xie Zhao was not giving up and quickly took a few steps to block her path: "Yunniang!"
Yan Zhen feigned surprise: "You are..."
"How did you get here?" Xie Zhao stared at her warily and suspiciously, his eyes filled with disbelief, his voice low, "You're still alive!"
Yan Zhen took a few steps back, and the maid beside her immediately stepped in front of her: "My lord, you have mistaken me for someone else. My lady is not called Yunniang."
"Impossible! Even if you were reduced to ashes, I would still recognize you. You are Yunniang!" Xie Zhao said with certainty, taking a step forward. "What are you doing here?"
Yan Zhen frowned slightly: "My lord, are you drunk? Do you need me to call someone to help you back?"
"Don't play dumb! Your appearance, your figure, your voice... you are Yunniang!" Xie Zhao's breathing became rapid. "What is your relationship with Xue Lin? Why..."
"Lord Xie!" Xue Lin's voice suddenly broke in, interrupting Xie Zhao.
Yan Zhen and Xie Zhao turned around at the same time.
Xue Lin arrived at some point. He walked to Yan Zhen's side, put his arm around her shoulder, and looked at Xie Zhao with a hint of displeasure, but spoke very politely: "Lord Xie, did my wife accidentally offend you?"
"Wife?" Xie Zhao's voice rose slightly.
“Yes.” Xue Lin ignored Yan Zhen’s hand that pinched his waist hard, his expression remained unchanged, and he even had a smile on his face. “Just now I heard Lord Xie calling my wife Yunniang repeatedly. Did you mistake her for someone else? My wife’s surname is Cao and her given name is He. She is not Yunniang.”