Chapter 121: The Banquet

Lin Miaomiao’s bubble tea shop in the capital was completed without a hitch. Unfortunately, the rains had continued without letup during this period, and the situation in Jiangnan was even worse.

Before long, news reached the capital that Li Zheng had disappeared in Jiangnan. Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongchang’s expression darkened terribly, and he ordered officials at every level in Jiangnan to spare no effort in the search.

The Fifth Prince, Li Anping, had likewise been assassinated because he had become entangled in the interests of certain powerful nobles.

The next time Lin Miaomiao saw the Fifth Prince, Li Anping was covered in blood. The imperial physicians said that his heart meridians had been injured, and that he would be crippled for the rest of his life.

The Seventh Prince was the only prince in the entire empire who had not yet been granted a princely title. At that moment, the Seventh Prince, Li Yankang, stood to one side, coldly watching the Fifth Prince, Li Anping.

In an instant, the Seventh Prince, Li Yankang, came to dominate the entire court. None of the other factions had any way to stand against him.

At last, Li Yanhe was also sent to Jiangnan, while Lin Miaomiao remained in the capital. As Li Yanhe departed, Lin Miaomiao gazed from afar at his retreating back and could not help letting out a heavy sigh.

The Fifth Prince, Li Anping, remained in poor health, his condition fluctuating repeatedly. Princess Changan, Li Anyi, also came to visit Lin Miaomiao frequently during this period, and while the two chatted idly, the subject of the Fifth Prince naturally arose.

After learning of his condition, Lin Miaomiao could not help sighing. Princess Changan, Li Anyi, noticed the expression on her face and asked in puzzlement, “Why are you making that expression?”

Lin Miaomiao tilted her head and glanced at Princess Changan. Then she raised her head and slowly asked, “What is the princess’s greatest wish?”

Princess Changan was stunned when she heard this. Then she smiled and replied, “I suppose my greatest wish is to marry a good husband.”

Lin Miaomiao shook her head. “A princess has no way to choose whom she will marry.

“So at times like this, a princess must learn to be broad-minded. That is how life is as well—we must all learn to be broad-minded.”

Princess Changan froze when she heard these words, then asked blankly, “Second Sister-in-Law, what do you mean?”

Lin Miaomiao looked straight at her. “I think you understand what I mean. Since you understand, why pretend not to?”

A bitter smile appeared at the corner of Princess Changan’s lips. She shook her head and said nothing.

How could Princess Changan not understand what Lin Miaomiao meant? She was truly dissatisfied with her marriage.

In truth, Princess Changan did not want to marry him at all. She did not want to marry that son of an aristocratic family. But what choice did she have?

Princess Changan suddenly felt envious of Lin Miaomiao. Then she remembered that her birthday was only a few days away and looked up at her.

“My birthday is in a few days. I’m holding a small banquet at my residence. You must come.”

Lin Miaomiao nodded when she heard this.

Soon, Princess Changan’s birthday arrived. Lin Miaomiao dressed rather plainly and went to the princess’s residence.

When Lin Miaomiao arrived by carriage, she encountered the former Commandery Princess Lin’an. By now, she was no longer a commandery princess.

Lin Miaomiao and Sun Xirui stood facing each other at the entrance. Zhao, who was standing beside Lin Miaomiao, gave a cold laugh and said, “Miss of the Duke’s Residence, you truly have no sense of propriety. You have encountered a princess consort and do not even know to pay your respects.”

When Sun Xirui heard this, a suspicious blush first appeared on her face. Then she replied coldly, “Although I am a daughter of the Duke’s Residence, I am also the daughter of a second-rank official. You are merely a servant…”

Before Sun Xirui could finish, Lin Miaomiao glanced at her and said, “There is no need for you to reprimand Nanny Zhao. If someone must be blamed, the fault lies with you.”

Having heard this, Sun Xirui could only bow to Lin Miaomiao. Lin Miaomiao glanced at her without saying anything, then turned and entered Princess Changan’s residence.

The Seventh Prince, Li Yankang, had naturally witnessed the entire farce. The Fourth Prince, Li Deren, walked over to Lin Miaomiao and said with a smile, “So you can lose your temper after all?”

When Lin Miaomiao heard this, she raised her head and glanced at him. “Whenever someone provokes me, I comfort myself with the same thought.”

The Fourth Prince was startled, then smiled and asked, “And what thought is that?”

Lin Miaomiao raised her head, a sly smile appearing at the corners of her lips. She said slowly, “I tell myself that if a dog bites me, I cannot bite the dog in return.”

She glanced at the Fourth Prince and continued, “But if that dog keeps barking at me until it becomes unbearable, I might throw a stone at it. Though I may end up looking rather disheveled myself.”

The Fourth Prince shook his head with a smile. Just then, he saw the Fifth Prince, Li Anping, walking toward them.

Lin Miaomiao heard the Fourth Prince say disdainfully, “He’s nothing but a petty man. All he knows is how to use despicable methods to win Father Emperor’s sympathy.”

When Lin Miaomiao heard this, a beautiful smile appeared at the corners of her lips. She said to the Fourth Prince, “For you to say something like that is truly…”

For some reason, his words suddenly reminded Lin Miaomiao of when she had still been in high school.

She, too, had gone through the turbulence of adolescence. Back then, she had often found gentle, delicate girls irritating for no particular reason, and she had said similar things to the Fourth Prince.

At that age, whenever Lin Miaomiao disliked someone or disapproved of what they did, she would say hurtful things.

Seeing that Lin Miaomiao had fallen silent, the Fourth Prince asked in puzzlement, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Lin Miaomiao withdrew from her thoughts and looked up at him. “It’s nothing. I just suddenly remembered something from the past.”

The Fourth Prince nodded. “All right. I thought you were unhappy because of what I said just now.”

Lin Miaomiao shook her head after a moment of surprise. “It’s nothing. When people are young, they tend to be reckless and arrogant, looking down on the thoughts and actions of others.

“But as they grow older, they gradually come to understand that some things cannot succeed simply because one is willing to do them.

“Most of the time, the choices people make and the things they do are all for the sake of survival. And for the sake of survival, people will exhaust every ounce of their strength.”

The Fourth Prince nodded at her words and did not continue the conversation.

The Fifth Prince, Li Anping, had also noticed Lin Miaomiao. He saw her speaking with the Fourth Prince, though he could not hear what they were saying. Then he saw his Fourth Brother nod and shake his head in turn, and for some reason, a faint discomfort stirred in his heart.

Soon, the banquet began. Lin Miaomiao sat quietly by herself. She had no desire to converse with the wives and young ladies around her.

Princess Changan was busy receiving the guests, while Lin Miaomiao stood in the garden, silently drinking her tea and admiring the scenery.

Before long, she noticed someone standing beside her. Lin Miaomiao looked up and saw that it was the Fifth Prince, Li Anping.

She was startled at first, then smiled and nodded at him.

“Second Sister-in-Law,” the Fifth Prince called.

Lin Miaomiao nodded in reply. Seeing her sitting there alone, the Fifth Prince asked in puzzlement, “Second Sister-in-Law, why aren’t you chatting with the other ladies?”

Lin Miaomiao paused, then smiled. “No. I don’t like forcing myself into other people’s circles.”

The Fifth Prince was momentarily stunned, then shook his head.

Lin Miaomiao glanced at him. “I heard you were injured. Are you feeling any better?”

The Fifth Prince nodded. “Naturally, I’m better now. But thank you for your concern, Second Sister-in-Law.”

Lin Miaomiao nodded as well, and the atmosphere immediately became awkward. Neither of them said anything more.

The Fifth Prince sighed and said, “I’m a cripple now. I don’t even know how I’m supposed to live the days ahead.”

The hand holding Lin Miaomiao’s teacup paused. She then looked at him with utmost seriousness.

“Every path we choose comes with a price.

“If you do not regard yourself as a cripple, then you are not one. Life is the same. No matter what choice we make or what road we take, we must still devote ourselves to managing our own lives.”

The Fifth Prince fell silent after hearing this. After a long while, he held his teacup and gazed at the flowers in the garden without saying a word.

The Fourth Prince and the Crown Prince approached together. Lin Miaomiao rose and bowed to Crown Prince Li Hanwen.

“It has been a long time since I last saw Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

The Crown Prince nodded. Lin Miaomiao glanced at the Fourth Prince, who responded with a charming smile.

Lin Miaomiao’s place suddenly became crowded with princes. After the Crown Prince arrived, the Seventh Prince, Li Yankang, came over as well.

The Seventh Prince smiled at Lin Miaomiao. “I wasn’t able to attend your wedding, Commandery Princess. I suppose I missed the chance to share in your happiness.”

Lin Miaomiao smiled without replying, but then she noticed the dispirited Ninth Prince, Li Yonghe, and his princess consort.

Looking at the princes seated around her, Lin Miaomiao could not help shaking her head with amused exasperation at their covert struggles and open rivalry.

She began to feel irritated, so she rose and said to the Crown Prince, “I’ll go see whether Princess Changan needs any help.”

With that, she stood and prepared to leave. The Crown Prince said nothing. After Lin Miaomiao had gone, the Fourth Prince quietly slipped away as well.

The Fourth Prince followed only a moment after her. When Lin Miaomiao saw him behind her, she asked in puzzlement, “Why did you come out?”

The Fourth Prince glanced at her. “Why do you seem unhappy?”

Lin Miaomiao sighed. “I’m not familiar with them, and I don’t like that atmosphere.”

The Fourth Prince was startled by her answer. Then he left.

After he had gone, Nanny Zhao looked at Lin Miaomiao and began, “Miss, you…”

Lin Miaomiao turned around and ran straight into the Crown Prince, Li Hanwen. She bowed to him.

The Crown Prince looked at her and said, “I could have you punished for what you just said.”

Lin Miaomiao froze for a moment, then smiled and shook her head.