They entered the garden. With the flowers and trees illuminated by the lanterns and the phosphorescent path shining, it was like a maze at night. If one was unfamiliar with the path, it would not be easy to enjoy the scenery alone and return as Wang Yan Hui had suggested. Falling behind everyone would lead to one making a fool of themselves.
Ah Luo looked around as she walked and after a while, she saw that there was a palace maid waiting at the fork in the path. Eldest Mistress went over to pull out a lantern riddle and after looking at it, Qing Lei gave an answer. The palace maid curtsied and handed them a part of the map which Eldest Mistress carefully put away, then they moved on. After passing another two or three intersections, Ah Luo noticed that there were quite a few young ladies who had turned back and were no longer proceeding forward. She thought to herself that they must be afraid to return late, so they gave up after obtaining just several pieces of the map.
Eldest Mistress also noticed this and glanced at Qing Lei who smiled and said, “Eldest Madam, you can’t catch a tiger’s cubs without venturing into the tiger’s den. If we want to surpass everyone else, we can only keep going.”
Eldest Mistress also replied, “I believe both the daughters of the Gu and Wang families are like this too. If you give up halfway, the Crown Prince will think little of you.”
The four of them continued forward, reaching a place where they were unable to solve the lantern riddle. Once again, the palace maid curtsied and said, “Madam and young misses are the first to arrive here.” This implied that they were already winners.
Eldest Mistress smiled and said, “All right, let’s turn around.”
However, the four of them were stumped at the next fork in the path on their return route. When they came, the maps only indicated which path to take and the palace maids only directed them down the path that led to the next intersection. No other roads had been drawn on the maps. Eldest Mistress’ footsteps travelled the paths that she felt they had travelled.
Ah Luo only knew that the location was at the bird’s head, although she was unable to find it even after walking all over the bird’s body and wings. The four of them wandered around for a while, yet still couldn’t find their way out.
Four paths lay in front of them. Eldest Mistress decided at once that they would each go down a different path. Qing Lei opposed this, “If we become separated and still can’t find it, what will we do?”
Eldest Mistress stared at her, “If you see a palace maid or female official, just ask them to lead the way.”
Like this, the four of them dispersed.
Ah Luo raised her head and looked at the stars in the sky, seeing the Big Dipper shining brilliantly and the moonlight flowing like water. The flowers and trees were lush and dense as their fragrance floated around, like a fairyland. She began to think back to her position when they came, then looked again at the stars, estimated her position, and started walking. Just as she turned a corner, she saw a person standing further ahead.
Ah Luo lowered her head and spun around to go back. Then she heard Liu Jue ask, “Are you lost?”
Ah Luo dared not respond and hurried away. A gust of wind blew past her ears and a figure appeared in front of her. Ah Luo lowered her head even more, only to hear Liu Jue ask again, “Which family’s daughter are you, have you been separated from them?”
Ah Luo forced a ‘mhmm’ out of her throat. Liu Jue said, “Follow me. The way you’re headed is wrong.”
Ah Luo thought that he probably believed she was shy. She hoarsely spoke again, “It’s not convenient for a man and woman to be alone. Young Master can just point the way.”
She heard Liu Jue give an ‘oh’ and then say, “Follow the path that I came from and turn right at every intersection. Head straight after the third one and there should be people there.”
Ah Luo quickly curtsied and thanked him in a mosquito-like voice. She hurried in the direction that he had pointed in, fearing that Liu Jue would recognise her. After a moment, just when she was about to sigh in relief, she heard Liu Jue call out to her, “Young Lady, please wait.”
Ah Luo felt like crying yet was unable to do so, halting her steps with her head still lowered. Liu Jue said, “You, have you seen Miss Gu on your way?”
Ah Luo shook her head and seemed to have heard Liu Jue sigh disappointedly, then she continued to walk forward. This time, Liu Jue didn’t follow. Hearing no movement behind her, Ah Luo carefully turned back to look and saw that there was no one. She instantly slumped onto the ground, having almost been scared to death just then. Liu Jue came to find Gu Tian Lin? Had she not returned yet? Was Liu Jue interested in Gu Tian Lin? Ah Luo recalled that he had sent flowers to Gu Tian Lin. However, she was in a hurry to go back right now, not knowing whether Eldest Mistress and the others had gone back yet.
Ah Luo patted her backside and stood up, walking the way that Li Jue had told her. Sure enough, she saw a palace maid after walking for a while. Ah Luo quickly told her that Madam Gu, Qing Lei, and Qing Fei might still be in the garden. The palace maid smiled lightly and said, “Don’t worry Young Miss, someone has already led them out of the garden.”
Returning to her seat, Ah Luo saw that Eldest Mistress, Qing Lei, and Qing Fei were talking as she walked over. Eldest Mistress was also happy to see that she was back, having been afraid that she might have become lost and had something happen to her. After a long while, Ah Luo saw Gu Tian Lin return as well, although Liu Jue wasn’t with her. She wondered whether she had met Liu Jue.
One after another, the palace maids led people back. After a while, the female official said, “The winner of this garden maze game is Madam Li and her daughters.”
The Empress smiled and said, “Madam Li and her daughters are very clever. Come up and receive your reward.”
Pleasantly surprised, Eldest Mistress brought Qing Lei, Qing Fei, and Qing Luo forward to curtsy and receive their rewards. The Empress then asked, “I have heard that Young Miss Qing Lei is skilled in playing the zither and Second Young Miss Qing Fei is good at painting and calligraphy. However, I have never heard of Third Young Miss.
Eldest Mistress hurriedly replied, “Qing Luo is still young and not as clever as her two sisters. This is her first time entering the palace.”
The Empress smiled and said, “Raise your head and let me see.”
Kneeling on the ground, Ah Luo slowly and obediently raised her head. The Empress could only see half of her small face and her pointed chin. Although she was not as delicate as Qing Lei and Qing Fei, she was still a beauty at first sight. She asked with a smile, “What skills has Qing Luo learnt at home?”
Ah Luo could only reply, “I have just learnt the flute for a few days, so I am not yet skilled at it.”
As soon as Qing Luo raised her head to speak, someone in the shadows behind Emperor Ning made a sound of surprise.
The Empress pondered to herself, what should she do with the Li Family? Yan Hui’s suggestion during today’s banquet was well-received by Emperor Ning and he had a great time, but the one in first place was Li Qing Lei. Hearing Ah Luo say that she had only been learning the flute for a few days, and having never heard of this Third Miss of the Li Family before, she curiously said, “Rise and play a song for me.”
Ah Luo agreed in a soft voice, yet felt anxious in her heart. Should she play it well or play it not so well? At this moment, Eldest Mistress and the others began to return to their seats as a servant went to fetch a flute. Ah Luo stood up and Eldest Mistress whispered to her as she passed by, “Don’t make the Li Family lose face.” She thought that it would be best to play it neither too well nor too bad, just passable would be fine.
After a while, she played a song rather flatly, then stood with the flute in her hands. The Empress said lightly, “Seems like not all of Li Xiang’s daughters are the embodiment of both charm and talent. You may leave.” Ah Luo busily kowtowed and retreated. Eldest Mistress glared at her and whispered, “Why didn’t you play it well?! I’ll settle this with you when we return home!”
Settle it then, since she couldn’t stand out anyway! Ah Luo thought this inwardly.
The talent show for today’s banquet had ended. Palace musicians struck up a melody and they danced. The female official took advantage of this time to collect the flower markers and hand them in. After a short while, Emperor Ning waved his hand to halt the music and dancing, then said with a smile, “The flower markers have been counted. The top three positions are the daughters of Minister Gu, Minister Li, and the imperial lieutenant. The rewards will be sent to your residences.”
The three girls hurriedly left their seats to show their gratitude. Eldest Mistress’ expression turned bright and a smile blossomed on her face.
After sitting for a while, watching the singing and dancing, Qing Lei suddenly blushed and quietly whispered a few words to Eldest Mistress. Eldest Mistress smiled and said, “Tell Ah Luo to accompany you.”
Ah Luo had been sitting restlessly as she found this kind of singing and dancing to be really dull. She stood up and accompanied Qing Lei to the bathroom. A palace maid came to lead the way. They walked through a moon gate and the maid pointed to a small hut. Ah Luo stood outside to wait for Qing Lei. Some time passed and Qing Lei came out, then the two of them turned around to head back to the banquet. After walking for a while, they saw the Crown Prince waiting on the side of the path. Qing Lei looked at Ah Luo. The Crown Prince also looked at Ah Luo. Ah Luo thought, had she become a lightbulb? She smiled and said, “Eldest Sister, I’ll go back first.”
Qing Lei hurriedly called out to her, “We left together.”
Ah Luo thought, why was she so unlucky, unable to return first so where was she supposed to go? She could only answer, “I’ll go over there to view the moon. Call me when you’re ready.”
Qing Lei blushed and nodded. Ah Luo took a detour onto a small path and saw a bench, so she walked over and sat down. In her mind, she hoped that the lover’s prattle between the two would finish quickly, and that the banquet would end soon. She had never seen such a banquet like this, and now that she had, she never wanted to attend another one.
Just as she was thinking this, her body suddenly felt numb and leaned against a pillar, unable to move. She opened her mouth yet couldn’t make a sound. She thought to herself, what was happening? Could this really be an acupressure attack?
A person came into view and it turned out to be Liu Jue. He sat down in front of Qing Luo in high spirits. “So you’re the Third Miss of the Li Family. I’ve finally found you.”
Ah Luo stared at him, thinking to herself that she was truly unlucky. Even if she could hide at the first time, she could never escape.
Liu Jue clicked his tongue and said, “It’s precisely this pair of eyes.” Then he said bitterly, “Telling me to find you! Hmph, daring to attack this Young Master, do you dare to fight me again?”
Ah Luo panicked as she stared at him, unable to say anything. Liu Jue said, “You want to talk, right? However, let me warn you first, don’t yell or scream. It would be a terrible thing to alarm His Majesty.” When he finished speaking, he reached out slightly.
Ah Luo opened her mouth, “What do you want?”
Liu Jue tilted his head and thought about it for a while, “How about leaving you here for four hours, letting you go when the acupressure points are relieved?”
Ah Luo said urgently “Not today, this is the palace. I was wrong last time, okay? Great men are magnanimous, won’t you have mercy?”
Liu Jue smiled, “Why should I? Knocking me out then stealing my money, what a cheap move!”
At this moment, Ah Luo heard Qing Lei calling her and hurriedly replied, “Eldest Sister, I’m coming.” Seeing that Liu Jue still wouldn’t relieve her acupressure points, she cried anxiously, “If I don’t return, causing trouble, my father will beat me to death! You’re no hero for plotting against me in secret. How about we fight again some other day?”
Liu Jue saw that her face was flushed red in panic. After searching for half a year and finally finding out who she was, most of the anger in his heart had dissipated. Thinking of her as a little girl, he decided not to make things difficult and relieved Ah Luo’s acupressure points. Then he said, “At noon tomorrow, I’ll wait for you by the river south of the city.”
Ah Luo jumped up and fled towards Qing Lei. She thought to herself that she would worry about tomorrow’s issues when they came; she must return home safely today.
Looking at Ah Luo’s retreating back, Liu Jue was in an incomparably happy mood. How should he deal with her tomorrow?
Qing Lei was already waiting anxiously and when she saw Ah Luo running over, she stared at her and said, “Don’t tell anyone about what happened today! Otherwise, the Crown Prince would be unhappy.”
By the time the two of them returned to the banquet, it had already ended. This time, Eldest Mistress happily took the three of them home.
Ah Luo told Seventh Mistress about the banquet, however, she didn’t mention that Liu Jue had recognised her, afraid of making her worry. She lay on her bed and pondered alone. She definitely had to go tomorrow. It would be best if she could resolve Liu Jue’s resentment, so as to avoid him coming to cause trouble in the future.
