Choosing a Consort 1

After the ceremony to formally acknowledge his master ended, Xiao Jinyi handed Shen Shixu an invitation. "Shixu, the palace is holding a banquet in a couple of days. Here's your invitation."

Shen Shixu took it, looking puzzled. "The weather is still rather cold, and the flowers have only just begun to bud. There aren't any festivals coming up, either. Why would the palace hold a banquet now?"

Before Xiao Jinyi could explain, Princess Kangning launched into the subject. "Oh, it's all because of the crown princess. The girl my sister-in-law had chosen turned out to have problems. Her character was lacking. How could a woman with such moral failings become the future mother of our Great Qian?

"So now they have to choose a new crown princess, and that's what this banquet is for. As for inviting the rest of you, my sister-in-law figured that since she was finding a match for the crown prince anyway, she might as well invite all the unmarried men and women of the imperial clan, along with the other promising young talents of Great Qian.

"Young and accomplished as you are, Junior Official Shen, naturally you'd be on the guest list."

Only then did Shen Shixu understand why a banquet was suddenly being held. The imperial family must have discovered that the previous candidate for crown princess had had an affair and borne another man's child.

"So that's what happened. Still, I have no plans to marry. Going there to eat and drink sounds quite nice, though. The palace cuisine is famous throughout the realm, so the trip won't be wasted." Shen Shixu planned to stay quietly in one spot eating pastries once he entered the palace. He certainly wouldn't get involved.

Hearing that he still had no desire to marry, Xiao Jinyi could barely contain his delight. "I'll be going too. Since I don't want to marry either, we can keep each other company and find somewhere quiet to hide."

Officials of Great Qian received two days off for every ten days they attended court. As it happened, the day after Shen Shixu's leave ended was precisely the day of the palace banquet.

After morning court, Shen Shixu first went to the Court of Judicial Review to request leave, then returned to his little courtyard to change before boarding the carriage Xiao Jinyi had arranged.

Xiao Jinyi had been waiting inside well before Shen Shixu came out. He took a bowl of shredded pork noodles from the food carrier he had been keeping warm with his internal energy and pushed it toward Shen Shixu.

"You must be tired after morning court. Have something to eat first to tide you over."

Shen Shixu stood on no ceremony with him. He picked up the bowl and began eating. The cook at Prince Jing's Residence was skilled, and this bowl of shredded pork noodles was excellent.

The noodles were as fine as silver threads, and the pork had been cut into equally thin strips. Even the broth was chicken stock simmered over a low flame. A sprinkling of chopped scallions made the dish appetizing at a glance.

Shen Shixu ate without even lifting his head. Only after drinking the last mouthful of broth did he put down the bowl.

"Your Highness, the cook at your residence really knows his craft!"

Seeing how much he enjoyed the meal, Xiao Jinyi felt that the trouble he had taken to bring the noodles had been well worth it.

"If you like it, come straight to my residence next time. I'll have the cook prepare some of his specialties for you. His grilled lamb chops are superb." Xiao Jinyi seized the opportunity to invite Shen Shixu to his residence.

Shen Shixu agreed without thinking much of it. "All right. I'll come over for a feast on my next days off."

With the crown prince choosing a consort today, the palace gates were bustling. Carriages of every description stopped at Xuanwu Gate, and young ladies from prominent families stepped out in magnificent clothes of every color.

The weather was still somewhat chilly, and the young ladies were delicate, so they all wore cloaks matching their outfits. Those who knew one another gathered hand in hand, exchanged greetings, then entered the palace laughing and chatting.

The atmosphere was lively, but the moment the carriage from Prince Jing's Residence stopped, the bustle outside Xuanwu Gate abruptly fell silent.

The young ladies covered their mouths with handkerchiefs and cautiously watched the carriage from Prince Jing's Residence, anticipation in their eyes.

When they saw the two men step out, they wondered why this year's Top Scholar had arrived in the same carriage as Prince Jing. Yet with two such strikingly handsome men appearing together, their surroundings seemed to brighten all at once.

"We pay our respects to Your Highness Prince Jing and Junior Official Shen!" The noble young ladies all bowed to them.

Xiao Jinyi ignored the young ladies paying their respects and led Shen Shixu past them with long strides. Shen Shixu, however, smiled and nodded to them.

Xiao Jinyi caught this out of the corner of his eye. Once they had passed the group, he could not help asking, "Is there someone you like among those young ladies?"

Shen Shixu detected a note of jealousy in Xiao Jinyi's voice. Puzzled, he nonetheless answered, "No. But they all bowed to me. I couldn't just leave them standing there, could I? That would be terribly discourteous. Besides, their fathers might even be my superiors. Wouldn't slighting them amount to slighting my own superiors?

"That's a serious taboo in the workplace. All I did was acknowledge them. It's a small matter, and there's no need to make myself a target over something so trivial."

Hearing that Shen Shixu liked none of them, Xiao Jinyi could not stop the corners of his mouth from lifting. As for Shen Shixu's concerns, he declared firmly, "You don't need to worry about all that. From now on, just do as you please. If anyone wants to give you trouble, send them to me."

At those commanding words, Shen Shixu could not resist teasing him. "Well, well, I have someone backing me now. If I get a little presumptuous in the future, don't go finding me a nuisance."

"How could I? I'll never find you a nuisance for as long as I live." Xiao Jinyi spoke so softly that only he could hear himself.

Shen Shixu thought he heard him say something but could not make it out. "What did you just say? I didn't catch it. Could you say it again?"

"Nothing. Be as presumptuous as you like from now on. I'll shield you."

Talking and laughing, the two arrived at Penglai Hall, where the men's banquet was being held. The women's banquet was in the Green Lotus Pavilion opposite it, with a bridge between the two halls connecting them.

From Penglai Hall, one could see across to the Green Lotus Pavilion. This kept the men and women from mingling directly while still allowing them to see one another clearly. Considerable thought had plainly gone into the arrangement.

Xiao Yuanqi had already arrived and was chatting with the others. When he saw Xiao Jinyi, he quickly escaped the flatterers around him and walked over to Xiao Jinyi and Shen Shixu.

Seeing the crown prince approach, Shen Shixu hurriedly bowed. "This humble subject pays his respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Highness enjoy blessings, longevity, health, and peace!"

Xiao Jinyi also lowered his head in a bow. "Your younger brother pays his respects, Imperial Brother!"

Xiao Yuanqi reached out to help them both up, indicating that they could dispense with the formalities, then invited them to sit. "You're finally here. Those people have been pestering me with so much flattery that my ears are about to grow calluses.

"I'd like to leave, but Mother gave strict orders that I'm not allowed to go until the banquet ends. Ah, what a headache."

Seeing Xiao Yuanqi's reluctance, Xiao Jinyi suggested, "Since you don't want to stay long, Imperial Brother, why not choose your crown princess early? Then not only can you leave sooner, but the two of us can leave the palace sooner too."