An Eight-year-old Princess

Lord Hua Guo smiled as if he knew what Prince Jing was thinking. He said, "I come here today for no other purpose than to find someone to drink with. You know, the seventh Prince is not well, and I dare not invite him to drink, so I come to you."

Prince Jing smiled at his words and said, "Obedience is better than politeness. My mansion is desolate, but very quiet. Let's drink here." Then Prince Jing turned to a servant and said, "Prepare the wine, and take it to the pavilion by the lake."

When Prince Jing took Lord Hua Guo to the pavilion, the wine was ready and there were a few food dishes as well. Lord Hua Guo smiled and poured a bowl of wine without saying a word. Then he toasted to Prince Jing. Prince Jing took his bowl of wine and they drained their bowls.

Lord Hua Guo did not speak anymore about the war, not even about the State of Xia and the State of Ning. Instead, he asked Prince Jing some questions as if they were in a casual conversation. He asked, "I heard that you are the sworn son of the former Emperor. Then where is your hometown, Your Highness?" He also inquired, "Your Highness, you are now in a high status. Have you ever looked for your parents?"

Prince Jing answered his questions one by one. "I don't know where my real hometown is. I grew up in the southern city of Jingning, but it wasn't necessarily my hometown, because it wasn't my biological parents who brought me up. Later, Jingning was flooded, and my sworn parents died. I was adopted by the former Emperor who came to aid the disaster relief in Jingning." As for the investigation into the identity of his biological parents... Prince Jing shook his head. He never thought of looking for his biological parents because he never cared about them.

Lord Hua Guo sighed, "Heroes don't care about their family background." After that, Lord Hua Guo did not ask more. He only spoke with Prince Jing about the conditions and customs of the State of Xia. They were congenial.

The next morning, Yun Shang took the official dress to Prince Jing's Mansion. Prince Jing felt the dress and found that the fabric was still the same, but it seemed a little different. Though he knew Yun Shang must have done something to it, he trusted her and put on the dress without any questions.

Official dresses were always grand. Their official dress was scarlet in color and looked very festive. Added to that the hair ornament of their respective grades, and their radiance caught everyone's attention.

When they arrived at the Flower Show Banquet in their carriage, many people had already gathered. All the officials of the court were seated in their positions, and at the front were Emperor Ning and the envoys of the other two countries. Behind the officials, large numbers of common people from the Imperial City had come to watch. They crowded around the platform and the road was clogged.

his head on the back of his chair, and stared at them for a long while before he grinned and teased, "I didn't expect Qingyan to be so handsome in this official dress. Look

loose-lipped Jinhuan. Jinhuan laughed and added, "Tut, tut, you are so consistent

very serious and his wife who was quite gentle and virtuous, could have

to the top to prepare." A eunuch came up to them and spoke. Prince

As she glanced over the crowd, she noticed some incongruous men among the people. They had sharp eyes, and she knew at

Shang left the window with a frown, and said, "My father leaves the Palace once in a blue moon. There must be some malicious people who don't want to miss

faint voice in the distance, "It's time to

Shang to the platform. The platform had an altar. They stood before the

maid next to her. Then she proceeded to light the incense before placing it respectfully on the altar.

at the people around the platform. Prince Jing, with a poker face, said, "The Flower Show Banquet, begins..."

add, "The Flower Show Banquet, begins. Women who are going to present flowers,

Prince Jing stood on one side of the platform and silently watched the women climb to the platform with flowers in their hands. All the women wore pink dresses,

long table had been placed on the platform, and

Shang walked from one end of the table to the other, holding a jade bottle from which they sprinkled some water

the flowers they had brought.