At noon on the twenty-third day of the eleventh month.
The Crown Princess stood hidden behind the Moon Gate, gazing into the distance. She saw her father moving cheerfully among the various wine tables, with Sun Shaozong and Sun Zhaolin following close behind him on either side.
Naturally, with Sun Shaozong, the Vice Minister of Dali Temple, there to overshadow him, Sun Zhaolin's presence had been reduced to almost nothing—after making a full circuit, he had only received two remarks of "Like father, like son."
By contrast, there were as many people fishing for information about the relationship between Sun Shaozong and Sun Tao as carp crossing a river.
Actually...
According to current custom, the person who ought to have accompanied her father to offer toasts should have been her husband.
But given the Crown Prince's status, if he did not raise the matter himself, who would dare trouble him to attend?
Thinking of this, the Crown Princess felt an inexplicable melancholy. She unconsciously studied Sun Shaozong a few more times, countless thoughts passing through her mind, before finally giving a quiet order. "Go summon Zhao Lin to the flower hall. Tell him I have something to instruct him about."
Having helped Sun Shaozong block several cups of wine for their father, Sun Zhaolin's face had already turned bright red, and he was far more talkative than usual.
When the maid came looking for him, he was pestering Sun Shaozong for details of Lin Qisheng's case. Upon hearing that his sister had summoned him, he naturally did not dare delay in the slightest and hurried after the maid toward the West Flower Hall.
Blown by the cold wind along the way, the alcohol rushed to his head even more fiercely.
By the time he reached the flower hall, he