"Why are there so many people?" Despite all the worries on her mind, Princess Xinping was startled by the sight before her and asked in surprise.
In the lane before Prince Dai's Residence, ox carts rolled in one after another. They were all official carriages painted with red lacquer and tung oil. Some were even more luxurious, followed by guards whose swords clinked as they walked, with gold curtains edged in blue—only officials of Third Rank and above could ride in such carriages. Their occupants had to be nobles.
On the open ground not far from the lane stood reed shelters specially erected for the ox carts, where they could be parked and fed fodder. The space had originally been quite broad, but the carts kept pouring in until it was nearly jammed full. As for the guests coming and going, there were even more of them.
Before coming, she had prepared herself for Prince Dai's Residence to be neither deserted nor particularly lively, but the reality was completely different from what she had expected.
Hadn't everyone said Prince Dai's circumstances were unclear, and that people wished to avoid suspicion?
The female official had left for a short while. She now hurried back and explained in a low voice, "Princess, this servant has asked around. His Majesty has just bestowed rewards upon Prince Dai and said he would also come to see the young heir, which is why all these people have arrived."
Among these guests, there were surely some who had not intended to come. But with the Emperor lavishly rewarding Prince Dai and even personally visiting him, making his importance abundantly clear, following the wind and steering the sail was these people's instinct. Even those who had not wanted to come would have rushed here in a panic.