Once all the family members gathered, Concubine Xu led the group towards Donghua Gate.
The Inner City River surrounded the inner and outer palace walls of King Yan’s Mansion. On the side close to the inner city wall, many pavilions were constructed. Weeping willow trees lined the bank, and lotus leaves adorned the water. It was originally designed for protection during wartime but was usually a scenic spot.
The arch bridge outside the Donghua Gate separated the eastern section of the inner city into two. On that day, women and children watched the event from the pavilion on the right side of the bridge, while King Yan, Wei Yang, and the invited officials sat on the bridge. In the gazebo on the left, men and women did not disturb each other.
The morning sun was already quite intense, and Ji Xianxian, who led the way in front of Yin Hui, used a round fan to shield herself from the sun.
Yin Hui enjoyed the view of the water, content with her surroundings. Although the inner city river was part of the palace’s landscape, only King Yan could freely wander along the riverbanks outside the inner city. Yin Hui only had the opportunity to venture that far when she left the mansion each month.
Concubine Xu entered the Qingbo Pavilion with several officials and their wives.
While Concubine Li, Concubine Guo, Mrs. Wen, and Mrs. Cui went to Liuyun Pavilion.
The sisters-in-law of Yin Hui and some young wives of officials occupied half of the waterside pavilion in Shushi Pavilion, while Wei Shan and Wei Ying entertained several officials’ ladies on the other half.
As for Xiao Heng and his younger brothers, they were all with Princess Xu, under the watchful eyes of their wet nurses.
The dazzling sunlight was shielded by the pavilion’s roof, and the gentle breeze carried the refreshing mist from the water, making it a pleasant atmosphere.
Yin Hui waved her round fan and took her seat on Xu Qingwan’s left with a smile.
Some of the officials and their wives flattered Xu Qingwan, and some did the same to Ji Xianxian, but Yin Hui’s side remained relatively empty. However, she didn’t mind at all.
Wei Ying suddenly brought a young girl over, greeted Xu Qingwan, and then approached Yin Hui with a smile. She introduced the girl, saying, “Sister-in-law, this is my cousin Guo Suying. She mentioned that she has met you before.”
Everyone present knew that Guo Suying was the only daughter of General Guo, and she was dearly loved by her father.
Guo Suying was in her prime, tall and slender, with light honey-colored skin from her martial arts practice with her elder brother at home.
The Guo family was a prominent family in Pingcheng, second only to King Yan’s Mansion and Yin Hui had heard of Guo Suying for a long time, though she couldn’t remember when they had met.
Seeing Yin Hui’s puzzled expression, Guo Suying smiled and said, “I met the Third Madam at the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival three years ago. You were with Mr.Yin and didn’t pay much attention to me.”
“It’s impressive that Miss Guo remembers it so clearly.”
Guo Suying gave her a brief glance without providing any further explanation. It wasn’t convenient to divulge the details to others, including her cousin Wei Ying.
At the Lantern Festival that year, Guo Suying and her three elder brothers were strolling together. They were engaged in lighthearted conversation and banter when suddenly, all three brothers stopped in their tracks and stared intently at the other side. Guo Suying followed their gaze and saw a beauty who left an indelible impression on her for a long time.
The beauty walked away, arm in arm with an elderly man.
Guo Suying’s second and third brothers both inquired about the identity of the beauty, and the eldest brother recognized Mr. Yin, as he had met him before. This led to the speculation that the captivating beauty was Yin Hui, the second young lady of the Yin family, whom Mr. Yin cherished like a pearl.
Guo Suying even speculated that if her elder brothers hadn’t gone to the battlefield and the Yin family wasn’t bound by her duties to King Yan, one of her three elder brothers would have surely sought to marry Yin Hui when they returned.
Yin Hui sensed the kindness behind Guo Suying’s enigmatic smile, so when the latter asked if she could stay and watch the race with her, Yin Hui readily agreed.
As men began to cross the arch bridge in the middle of the river, most of them were unfamiliar to Yin Hui. Wei Ying, noticing her curiosity, smiled and provided introductions, saying, “These three handsome men are my three cousins, Guo Liao, Guo Yuan, and Guo Jin.”
Yin Hui nodded in acknowledgment. The three cousins were all tall and robust, and their presence was even more imposing when they stood together.
Guo Suying added, “And these three are the commanders of the three guards of the Yan Palace: Gao Zhen, Feng Su, and Yang Jingzhong, followed by their young masters.”
Yin Hui recognized Commander Feng from her previous life, remembering his unfortunate fate due to the martial arts competition with Wei Luo. Yin Hui felt a sense of pride when she observed that the commander carried himself as gallantly as the third son of the Guo family. She believed that her actions had played a role in saving the father and son.
Not long after the generals arrived, another group of individuals crossed the bridge, readily identifiable as civil servants by their attire and bearing.
Yin Hui was aware that many of these people would likely be promoted to nobility due to their meritorious service during the Dragon Boat Festival, so she couldn’t tear her gaze away from them. However, while Wei Ying and Guo Suying were not well-acquainted with the civil servants of Pingcheng, the young wives accompanying Xu Qingwan and Ji Xianxian were able to provide introductions.
The women’s voices, soft and full of laughter, filled the waterside pavilion. Suddenly, as another figure appeared on the stone bridge, all the female relatives in Shushi Pavilion fell silent, their attention wholly captivated by the newcomer.
The person in question was a young man dressed in a green shirt and a cloth towel, appearing to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old. He was tall and slender, with a handsome and gentle countenance.
If Wei Luo was akin to a peerless, renowned sword exuding a chilling aura, this man could be likened to a gentle and flawless jade in the world.
It wasn’t until the man walked down the stone bridge and continued toward the other side that Yin Hui overheard someone behind her saying, “Could it be that he is Madam Cui’s younger brother, Cui Yu?”
“He should be.”
Yin Hui was taken aback. She had heard of the name Cui Yu before and had a strong impression of it. However, her knowledge of him had nothing to do with his status as Madam Cui’s younger brother, who was a concubine of King Yan. Instead, she remembered him due to the fact that, after King Yan had ascended to the throne and declared himself Emperor, Cui Yu had been his number one counselor. Strangely, Cui Yu had abruptly abandoned his political role and left Beijing, rumored to be a homosexual.
It was said that King Yan had reacted with great sorrow, lamenting this situation. He had arrested those responsible for spreading rumors and ordered the execution of dozens of people.
Yin Hui contemplated whether such a graceful and delicate young man was truly homosexual.
Suddenly, a white butterfly fluttered by, capturing her attention. When she turned to observe the butterfly, she noticed Wei Ying, who had been sitting beside her, following closely in the wake of Cui Yu. The girl, known for her openness and laughter, now gazed at him with infatuation in her eyes.