Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 622: Meeting at the Banquet (4)

"Empress, we have arrived at the Warm Pavilion." Through the curtain, Lan Lengyun spoke softly.

"Mm."

In the Warm Pavilion, young mistresses and masters from various households caught sight of the Empress’s procession through the glazed large windows and hurriedly ran out to greet the Empress.

"May the Empress be safe and well."

Lan Lengyun assisted the Empress out of her palanquin and saw a crowd of people kneeling on the ground. With a smile in her eyes, she said, "Rise."

"Thank you, Empress."

Feng Xuxu walked in front, followed by a dozen Palace Maids. After the maids finished passing, the crowd dared to move forward. After entering the Warm Pavilion and shedding their cloaks, they turned around looking very nervous. Feng Xuxu, however, smiled gently and said, "Everyone, there’s no need to be tense. The invitation made it clear that today you’re all here to enjoy tea and admire flowers, so relax."

"Yes, Empress."

"I have posed three couplets. In the afternoon, if any of you can answer them correctly, then any treasure from within this Warm Pavilion is yours to take. If you answer incorrectly, how about leaving behind a set of brush and ink?"

"Ha ha ha, Sister-in-law, this idea is marvelous." A hearty laugh came from behind.

Feng Xuxu looked up and smiled, "Why doesn’t Emperor Lou also join in the fun?"

"Indeed, I had that in mind. Then, Sister-in-law, please display these three couplets so that everyone can have a look." Lou Qianyu said with a gentle smile, his peripheral gaze scanning the crowd for someone.

"They’re in the greenhouse, follow me." Upon reaching the greenhouse, a long table had been placed on the side, with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone arranged upon it. The couplets were pasted on glass strips, hidden from view by objects and thus unclear.

Lan Lengyun, catching the Empress’s glance, stepped forward to reveal the first couplet, which read, "Nanyue Peak, upon the peak, maple trees. The wind blows, maples sway, but the peak stands firm."

At this, a murmur spread through the crowd.

Then the second couplet was unveiled: "The sky is a chessboard, the stars the pieces. Who dares to make a move?"

Finally, the third couplet was revealed, "One Da Qiao, two Xiao Qiao, three-inch golden lotuses, four-inch waist, five boxes, six cases, rainbow hues abound, on an eight-point nine-point scale, beauty’s promise made."

"My goodness, each one is more difficult than the last," a man in the crowd exclaimed in astonishment.

"Indeed, the first one might be solvable, but the next two are certainly more challenging."

"True, especially the last one, which uses numbers. It must be countered with numbers as well – truly difficult."

After reading them, Lou Qianyu exclaimed, "Ingenious, truly ingenious."

Feng Xuxu smiled faintly, "I hear Emperor Lou is considered the greatest talent in Luo Kingdom. I wonder how many of these absolute couplets can you solve today?"

"Sister-in-law flatters me. I dare not claim to be the greatest talent, but I am somewhat proficient. Yes, let me answer the first one." After a pause, he looked up and said, "North Sea Bridge, by the bridge, a lumberjack embraces his wood, departing from the bridge but not from the wood."

After a moment, applause broke out in the Warm Pavilion, igniting the enthusiasm of some scholars inside: "Let me respond with ’White Sand Road, by the road, the egret perch, dew falls, egret chills, and the road likewise chills’."

After listening, Feng Xuxu nodded approvingly. Seeing that everyone was eager to try, she quietly turned and left.

Lou Qianyu, disappointed at not spotting the beauty in the crowd, turned to see the Empress leaving the greenhouse and quietly followed with his guard in tow.

"Sister-in-law, I have something to ask you."

"What is it?" Feng Xuxu, sitting on a soft couch, picked up her tea and looked at him as she spoke.

"Empress, Miss Xiao has arrived." Just as she took a sip, she heard that her cousin had come, followed by Lan Lengyun’s report.

"Oh! Where is she, quickly, invite her in." After speaking, she put down her teacup and looked at him, "What did you want to ask?"

At that moment, Lou Qianyu gazed outside at the figure through the glass. She had grown taller since he last saw her and became even more beautiful, bloomed fully.

Feng Xuxu followed his gaze outwards and caught sight of her cousin. Her eyes shifted slightly, and she coughed a bit louder than before, "Emperor Lou, what was it you wanted to ask?"

"Ah, oh, uh, no... nothing," Lou Qianyu replied, retracting his gaze with an embarrassed smile.

Feng Xuxu raised an eyebrow, but remained silent.

"This servant pays respects to the Empress." Xiao Jiazhen, seeing that there were others around, accordingly performed the proper greeting.

Feng Xuxu pulled her up, "I’ve told you to call me cousin-in-law, not ’Empress’ all the time."

Jiazhen smiled shyly, "Cousin-in-law."

"Cousin, this is Emperor Lou Qianyu from Sunset Kingdom." To confirm a suspicion in her heart, she took the initiative to introduce Jiazhen.

"Hello, do you remember me?" Before Xiao Jiazhen could offer a greeting, Lou Qianyu asked eagerly.

Xiao Jiazhen looked up, puzzled, to see a handsome man with a gentle presence unlike her cousin’s devilish and rigid air: "Is it you?" she exclaimed with surprise.