Chapter Twenty-Five: Bustling Yangzhou

  The grand Peach Blossom Festival in Yangzhou has begun. Although Emperor Kangxi has claimed to be traveling incognito, people from all walks of life have gathered in Yangzhou, and many have rushed over from the capital city under the cover of night. Judging by the complexions of the young ladies attending the festival, it's clear that they haven't had a good rest in days. However, each of them wears an air of confidence on their faces, hoping to outdo others and catch the emperor's eye, or perhaps even one of the princes'. After all, the Fourth Prince has yet to take a primary wife, and neither have the younger princes. Becoming their secondary wives would be a good outcome too. The young ladies from aristocratic families are strutting about in the peach orchard, but they're unaware that the true nature of peach blossoms is not showy. Under the soft, beautiful light of the peach blossoms, they look like jesters.

  Daiyu and Lin Ruhai followed behind Kangxi, wearing casual clothes as they entered the meeting hall.

  Kangxi looked around and nodded, "Although it's not bad, things have changed and people are gone, I couldn't find the feeling of the past." Kangxi's voice was filled with melancholy.

  "The gentle beauty of peach blossoms, the fierce passion of peach blossoms, how could these so-called noble ladies understand? Ai Ye didn't have the mood either. It was only natural." Daiyu coldly gazed at the women who were fluttering about in the peach blossom forest like butterflies, didn't they know that they were just like the lowest song girls in a brothel? But thinking about this era, women were all accessories, no matter what situation, they would be treated as gifts to be given to each other. Daiyu's eyes grew increasingly icy, Lin Ruhai who was standing beside her furrowed his brow."

  "Yu'er, are you uncomfortable? Do you want to go back?" Lin Ruhai broke the silence and looked at Daiyu.

  "Auntie, I'm fine, maybe it was just the wind earlier." Daiyu's eyes softened a bit as she gave Lin Ruhai a reassuring glance. Although Daiyu's voice wasn't loud, her sudden appearance with Kangxi had already attracted too many gazes, and her words had offended everyone present.

  "This young lady is quite wrong." Finally, someone couldn't help but jump out and accuse Daiyu, "What does the young lady think peach blossoms should be like? Yangzhou celebrates Peach Blossom Festival every year, and it's always been this way. Is the young lady an outsider?" A round-faced girl provocatively stared at Daiyu.

  Daiyu followed the sound and looked over, it was just a shrewish woman, not worth bothering with. She turned her head towards Kangxi, "Aiye, let's move on, don't let that mad barking dog affect our mood."

  Kangxi nodded, and Daiyu's reaction was within his expectations. Over the past few days, he had discovered that Daiyu didn't care about things around her, except for matters related to Ruhai. As long as it involved Ruhai, she would become like a startled tiger, tearing apart anyone who invaded her territory. As for the life and death of others, if she were to kill Zixuan herself, she probably wouldn't even bat an eyelid. Ah, yes, that Zixuan... Kangxi's gaze fixed on Daiyu. Last time, she had followed Yineng, and then Yineng was assassinated. Later, he himself was also attacked, so he had put the matter aside. It seemed that it still needed to be investigated.

  Daiyu noticed the spark in Kangxi's eyes and sighed, letting him be, whatever he wanted to do was fine.

  The round-faced girl saw that no one was paying attention to her, and the large group of people continued walking forward. She couldn't help but abandon her dignity and shouted out loud, "Hey, stop right there! Are you just going to leave like this? Are you afraid of me?"

  One sentence made the temperature around her drop instantly, she saw the cold eyes gathering around, and some were stunned. Immediately after clearing her head, oh my god, what was she saying? She knew very well about that girl's identity, jumping out to find trouble with her was to get those brothers' attention, but how could she not control her own mouth, and even offend her to death.

  "What did you say?" Daiyu's mouth corners rose with a scornful smile. Originally, she didn't put this small role in her heart, but in the midst of a large crowd, knowing her own identity and still daring to come provoke her, was he tired of living?

  "You're just afraid of me, aren't you? So what? You're just a county princess, relying on the title given to you by your ancestors. What's so capable about that?" The round-faced girl had finally let loose, shouting loudly. It turned out she was a distant niece of Suo Ertu, named Huiya. Suo Ertu had sent her to bother Lin Ruhai, but if he knew Huiya was such an ignorant woman who didn't live up to her name, he probably wouldn't have used her.

  "Are you saying that I am a tyrannical ruler?" Kangxi's face turned cold. This girl had seen through their identities and still dared to provoke them, her courage was not small, and her purpose was very clear. However, daring to say such words meant she had to be prepared to bear the brunt of his anger.

  "The commoner girl is accompanying the Emperor, the commoner girl... doesn't mean... that." Huīyǎ stuttered, herself getting anxious, how could she have forgotten that this county princess had come with the Emperor. Huīyǎ's eyes welled up with tears as she looked up at Kangxi's imperial son, trying to gain sympathy, but unexpectedly saw only disdain and indifference, except for Yìnzhēn who was enraged, this woman herself had also seen before, looking quite good, didn't expect her to be such a foolish person.

  With Huiya's words, Kangxi also declared himself, and a large piece of people knelt down, originally their eyes were all focused here, so they all counted as kneeling in the first time.

  "Everyone, get up. I'm here in plain clothes to celebrate the festival." Kangxi frowned, he knew Lin Ruhai was unwilling, but under such circumstances, what's the point of strolling around? It would be better to go back directly, but looking at the situation, going back is not realistic either, so they can only sit on the stage for a while.

  "The common people are the main investors this time, I dare to ask Your Majesty to be a judge." A flattering voice sounded, and a middle-aged man with a fat head and big ears walked over. His name was Wang Shuxi, the richest man in Jiangnan, who made his fortune by selling private salt. Lin Ruhai had often troubled him for this reason. Seeing him, Lin Ruhai frowned, not expecting that this year's private investor would be this pig.

  Daiyu's eyes took on a hint of amusement - this pig was the richest man in Jiangnan, wasn't that an image problem?

  "All right, I will enjoy myself with the people today." Kangxi turned and walked up to the platform that had been set up, while Yin Zhen, who was standing beside him, had already understood what to do with Huiya. Publicly offending the princess and insulting the emperor were not minor crimes. Yin Zhen also secretly harbored anger in his heart, and when he saw Huiya causing trouble for Daiyu, he became enraged. He didn't even know what was wrong with himself - could it be that he had really taken an interest in a seven-year-old girl? Yin Zhen shook his head, pushed Huiya down and handed her over to the guards, then returned to Kangxi's side without mentioning anything.