Princess Anya turned her head slightly to look at Ling Jingshu beside her, and after a moment of thought said with a smile, “I remember you—your given name is Ling Jingshu, isn’t it?”
The young ladies who had come to the banquet today were all talented and beautiful. Yet among them, Ling Jingshu still stood out, dazzling and especially eye-catching.
Ling Jingshu pressed her lips together and smiled. “Your Highness has such a good memory—you only heard it once, yet you remembered my given name.”
“You’re so beautiful—how could I not remember?” Princess Anya blinked, looking rather playful and cute.
Ling Jingshu smiled faintly. “Your Highness flatters me too much. In a couple of years, once you’ve grown into your full figure, who knows what kind of unparalleled beauty and outstanding grace you’ll possess!”
No one dislikes being praised by others. And when the one offering the praise is a beauty whose looks could captivate a city, and speaks with genuine sincerity, it makes one feel all the more pleased.
Princess Anya’s smile carried a touch of delight and shyness. “You really do know how to talk.” She paused, then smiled again. “Are you genuinely not skilled at the zither, or did you come especially to keep me company?”
Ling Jingshu answered without changing expression. “I won’t hide it from Your Highness—I’ve studied the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting since childhood, and I’ve touched on all of them, though I’m not particularly skilled in any. The zither especially requires exceptional talent as well as long hours of daily practice. My interest doesn’t lie there, and I’ve neglected practicing it, so I simply chose not to embarrass myself in front of everyone.”
In truth, although Ling Jingshu wasn’t especially fond of the zither, she had put in some effort, and playing a piece in front of everyone would have posed no problem at all.
But earlier, watching Princess Anya admit she wasn’t skilled at the zither and then being “punished” with picking lotuses, the words had simply slipped out somehow.
Hearing this, Princess Anya felt a strong sense of agreement, and a feeling of closeness immediately arose in her. She sighed softly, “Normally in the palace, I also have to learn everything. My days are packed full, with not even time to rest. Unfortunately, I’m mediocre at everything I learn. Fortunately, Consort Mother doesn’t demand much of me and lets me be. Otherwise, my days would be truly hard to endure.”
Being a princess wasn’t nearly as carefree and unrestrained as outsiders imagined!
Ling Jingshu felt a curiosity rise about this Consort Wei she’d heard so much about, and ventured to say, “I’ve heard that Lady Wei is the foremost beauty of the harem—it’s just a pity I have no chance to see her.”
Once one enters the palace gates, it’s as deep as the sea! As a consort in the harem, only those of high rank who enjoyed great imperial favor had the chance to see their family once a year, during the New Year.
As for leaving the palace to visit one’s family home, that honor belonged only to the Empress herself.
Speaking of which, Consort Wei was rather fortunate. Imperial Physician Wei came and went from the palace every day, so the siblings often saw each other—who knew how many consorts secretly envied this.
“Consort Mother has never left the palace—I don’t know how the title of the harem’s foremost beauty got around.” Princess Anya was still young after all; though her words were modest, pride flashed in her eyes. She naturally promised, “If you ever have the chance to enter the palace in the future, I’ll take you to meet Consort Mother.”
Ling Jingshu quickly smiled and said, “With my standing, what chance would I have to enter the palace? I was only speaking in jest—Your Highness needn’t take it to heart.”
Indeed! Only titled ladies of the third rank or above could enter the palace to pay respects to the Empress on the first day of the New Year. Ling Daye was merely a fourth-rank official, so the women of his household had no qualification to enter the palace.
Princess Anya smiled and said nothing more, turning her head again to observe the lake’s surface.
Ling Jingshu also fell silent, looking together with Princess Anya at the lotus blossoms filling the pond.
The young ladies of prominent families gathered there were each, indeed, remarkable in their own way.
After Jiang Rongyue played a piece called “High Mountains and Flowing Water,” Su Ying began playing the bamboo flute.
The flute’s melody was melodious and lingering, quite cheerful, drawing constant praise from everyone present.
Amid the lilting, cheerful flute music, Princess Anya finally settled on a white lotus flower. Its petals were enormous, larger than the rim of a bowl, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.
Princess Anya and Princess Changping weren’t especially close on a daily basis, but she knew Princess Changping’s preferences nonetheless. Princess Changping had no fondness for buds about to bloom—she preferred flowers in full, radiant bloom.
Princess Anya, catering to her tastes, had specially chosen this particular bloom.
Ling Jingshu followed Princess Anya’s gaze and said with a smile, “Your Highness truly has a good eye—that lotus has indeed bloomed beautifully.”
It happened to be near the pleasure boat too, within reach if one stretched out a hand.
Princess Anya said with great enthusiasm, “You think it’s good too? I searched for ages before settling on that one. Once the boat gets closer, I’ll pick that lotus myself.”
Once the boat drew nearer, however, they discovered some practical difficulties.
There was quite a gap between the estimated distance and the actual one. What’s more, Princess Anya was small with short arms, and try as she might while seated on the boat, she simply couldn’t reach it.
Princess Anya stretched her arm out as far as it would go, but still couldn’t reach, her small face flushing red with the effort.
Ling Jingshu found it both amusing and pitiable to watch, and said softly, “Your Highness, let me pick it for you.”
But Princess Anya turned stubborn. “No need. I promised to pick a lotus myself—how could I let you do it instead?”
And yet, she truly couldn’t reach it…
“Let’s do this—help me with something.” Princess Anya’s eyes rolled as an idea struck her, and she whispered a few words into Ling Jingshu’s ear.
Ling Jingshu instinctively frowned in objection. “That’s rather dangerous. Your Highness’s precious body must absolutely not risk it.”
What if she accidentally fell into the water?
In the palace, Princess Anya usually behaved properly and was quiet and reserved, but outside the palace she showed the mischievous, playful side typical of an eleven- or twelve-year-old girl. Once she had an idea, she insisted on carrying it out no matter what. “If you won’t help me, then I’ll call someone else.”
Unable to overcome the stubborn princess, Ling Jingshu had no choice but to agree.
Princess Anya leaned half her body over the railing, stretching her right hand out with effort to pick the lotus. Ling Jingshu gripped her left arm tightly, feeling an unusual surge of tension.
At that moment, Su Ying’s bamboo flute had reached the most stirring climax of the piece, and almost everyone on the pleasure boat was listening, utterly absorbed—for a moment, no one noticed what Princess Anya and Ling Jingshu were doing.
Jiang Rongyue, who was outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds with Su Ying, was probably the only one listening with distracted attention.
Jiang Rongyue’s gaze drifted idly around, and upon seeing Princess Anya leaning over the railing reaching for the lotus, she couldn’t help but startle, crying out without thinking, “Princess Anya! Watch out!”
Everyone was drawn by this sudden cry and turned their heads sharply to look.
At that very moment, Princess Anya’s small, fair, tender hand had just reached the lotus and was pulling at it with effort. Suddenly hearing the sharp cry, she was startled.
Her right hand involuntarily exerted too much force, and her body slipped right off the railing.
Ling Jingshu wasn’t exactly frail, but she didn’t have much strength either, and had already been straining to hold onto Princess Anya. Now that the princess’s entire body was slipping down, she simply couldn’t hold on.
With a splash, Princess Anya fell into the water.
Everyone was stunned with fright, and Princess Changping’s expression changed abruptly.