Chapter 71: A Grand Banquet at the Huafu Residence (4)

She sat alone on the couch; her sister’s seat should have been next to her, but Dugu Mingyue was not there. Seeing Li Qing’an smiling and nodding at her, Dugu Mingzhu felt delighted and quietly slipped over to sit beside him.
“Just now, my sister said you came too. I was about to look for you! I didn’t expect you to be sitting right in front of me.”
Li Qing’an liked this little girl as well. He smiled slightly and said, “Why aren’t you wearing that blood-red makeup today?”
“I wanted to, but Grandfather forbade it, saying such makeup isn’t allowed in formal occasions.”
Dugu Mingzhu pouted. “He said I shouldn’t come at all if I wanted to wear it!”
Li Qing’an nodded and laughed. “Actually, you look pretty like this too. At least now I know what you really look like.”
Dugu Mingzhu pulled out her voice in displeasure. “Hey! That’s an exaggeration! Did you only realize what I look like today?”
“Hehe! I was just joking with you. By the way, where’s your sister?”
“She’s off being delusional.”
Dugu Mingzhu pouted, pointing in the distance. “Can’t you see over there?”
Li Qing’an looked up and saw, about thirty steps away, five or six girls surrounding a young and handsome man—the same boy he had seen by the wooden bridge earlier. He was in high spirits, chatting animatedly with the girls.
Dugu Mingyue, however, was not among them. She was sitting on an empty couch about ten feet away, chatting casually with another girl.
“Who is that young man? Your sister seems interested in him.”
“So you noticed too. Sigh!” Dugu Mingzhu sighed. “My sister likes him, but he doesn’t seem to like her at all. It’s like the falling flowers have feelings, while the flowing water remains heartless.”
“Tell me first—who is he?”
“He? He’s the eldest grandson of the current emperor, the eldest son of the Crown Prince—Princess Guangping, Li Chu.”
“Oh, so that’s him.” Li Qing’an nodded. He knew this man was later to become Emperor Daizong of the Tang Dynasty, Li Yu.
“If he doesn’t like your sister, then who does he like?” Li Qing’an asked curiously.
“Who knows?” Dugu Mingzhu curled her lips. “It doesn’t matter who he likes. The old emperor decides who he must marry. Even if it’s a fierce woman, it’s his fate.”
Her tone revealed clear dissatisfaction toward Princess Guangping. It wasn’t surprising—her sister had fallen in love with this young prince at the Qujiang Poetry Festival a year ago and had pined after him for a year. Yet the prince seemed to not understand her feelings. It might have been better for her to marry Li Qing’an instead.

Thinking of this, she secretly glanced at Li Qing’an again, comparing him silently with Li Chu. The two were not much different in age, with Li Qing’an being a few years older, but their temperaments were entirely different. Li Qing’an was mature and firm, possessing a unique charm, especially with that scar on his face, which gave him a manly air and made people feel they could rely on him. Meanwhile, Li Chu was gentle and refined, with a delicate appearance. He was well-educated and carried an air of elegance in every move, but all of these were just masks; no one knew his true self. If Du Gu Mingzhu had to choose, she would prefer her sister to marry Li Qing’an—after all, he was quite interesting—but her sister favored the eloquent Prince Guangping. Du Gu Mingzhu sighed. She could make her sister do anything except in matters like this. Just then, a eunuch hurried over to Li Qing’an and whispered, “My lady asks General Li to come over.” “Okay!” Li Qing’an stood up and smiled at Mingzhu, saying, “I’ll be right back.” “Strange, why would Yang Huahua want to see him?” Du Gu Mingzhu murmured to herself as she watched Li Qing’an’s retreating figure. Li Qing’an left through a side door and, following the eunuch through several doors, arrived at a large house. The eunuch respectfully reported, “Lady, General Li has arrived.” The door opened, and Yang Huahua stepped out with a sweet smile. It was her birthday, so she was dressed especially gorgeously, wearing a palace dress made of bright Shu brocade, with gauze draped around her. Even from a distance, she still looked as usual, with lightly applied makeup on her eyebrows. Though unmade up, her natural beauty, combined with her magnificent attire, made her appear even more exquisite, like a fairy with delicate bones. “Qilang, I thought you wouldn’t come today!” “How could I miss my third sister’s birthday?” Li Qing’an glanced at Yang Huahua and smiled again, saying, “You’re as beautiful as peach blossoms in spring and as pure as chrysanthemums in autumn. Truly, you have a unique and elegant beauty.” “Really? Don’t tease me!” Flattered by the compliment, Yang Huahua tilted slightly to the side and pointed to an emerald hairpin in her bun, smiling coquettishly, “What do you think? Is it pretty?” That emerald hairpin was Li Qing’an’s birthday gift, which she had put on specifically for him to see. “I thought you might not like the gift I gave you! Let me make it clear—those thousand strings of coins were given on my behalf by Gao Weng; I don’t have that much money.” “I know!” Yang Huahua said coquettishly, “Even if it were your money, I wouldn’t take it. As long as you come to eat with me and give me this hairpin, I’ll be perfectly satisfied.”

“Come! Follow me, and I’ll give you something too.”
Yang Huahua smiled enchantingly, took Li Qing’an by the hand, and led him into the room. Feeling her delicate, boneless hands, Li Qing’an’s heart suddenly started pounding.
The outer room was empty, with just a few wooden beds, but Yang Huahua led him straight into the inner room.
“Creak!” Yang Huahua closed the door and said mysteriously, “Take a look. Is there anything you like?”
Li Qing’an’s gaze was drawn there. The room resembled a weapons exhibition hall, with dozens of weapons lined up against the walls. Most of them were exquisitely crafted, clearly the work of master artisans.
“I found these while cleaning the warehouse basement half a month ago. They must have been left behind by Princess Taiping. People say they were her treasures, but I thought these old pieces of metal were just taking up space. I planned to throw them all away, but then I felt it would be a shame. I heard some of them are quite valuable. I intend to sell them to the emperor. If you like any of them, feel free to take them.”
At that moment, Li Qing’an walked up to a bow—it was a long bow almost as tall as him, entirely black, hanging on the snow-white wall, emitting a faintly mysterious glow.
Yang Huahua smiled proudly behind him. She knew Li Qing’an would notice this bow; she had specially had a master craftsman repair and adjust it.
Li Qing’an picked up the huge bow and held it carefully in his hands. It was heavy, with a completely black and shiny bowstring. Various rituals of court archery were painted on it in exquisite detail, clearly the work of a master. In the center of the bowstring were two white seal characters: “She Jin”.
Li Qing’an burst into laughter. The name was indeed powerful.
He took out a jade ring and put it on his thumb. Holding the bowstring with his left hand, he gently pulled the string with his right. It was also a seven-stone bow, but its power was greater than his Bai Shou Bow. The feel was excellent. He switched to using his left hand to draw the bow and strung it a few times. The string made a buzzing sound. Li Qing’an immediately fell in love with this long bow—the name was great too.
He turned around and said with a smile, “Third sister, I want this bow.”
“I’ll have someone deliver this bow to your residence. Qi Lang, I’m glad you’re willing to accept it.”
Yang Huahua took out a leather bow case and handed it to Li Qing’an. The moment Li Qing’an took the case, Yang Huahua suddenly grabbed his hand.
“Qi Lang!”

She placed her hands on his shoulders and gazed at him with deep, passionate eyes that also held a questioning look. She examined this young and handsome officer as if he were a precious treasure; she had fallen for him the first time she met him outside the city. It was as if she had returned to her youth, filled with a shy joy that intoxicated her. She liked the man before her, and at that moment, she felt that even the finest treasure she could obtain that day could not compare to him.
Just then, the sound of bells came from afar, signaling that it was time to dine. Yang Huahua quickly arranged her hair and cast him a flirtatious glance, saying, “Qilang, it’s time to eat. We should go.”