NoGift 118 HAPPENINGS AT THE PLUM GARDEN

The number of young people attending was not that much, probably only two dozens. The teenage girls and boys had separate areas to mingle. On the left side were the young ladies, trying their best to appear graceful. While on the right side were the young men, acting all dignified and noble. There was a long table filled with different savory dishes, sweets, and drinks. There were palace maids around serving the guests. There were seats where these young guests could sit and talk with each other.

The one facilitating all these was Concubine Hong. She's the mother of the third prince. The only woman alive, other than the Empress, who bore a son for the Emperor. She's not a great beauty but her clean and gentle temperament made up for what she's lacking. She was there to act as a guardian for the young ladies present. A banquet like this with unmarried young men and women needed an authority figure to watch over them so as not to ruin the young ladies' reputation.

Aurum was sitting alone, quietly drinking her tea and observing her surroundings. No one was talking to her. The other young ladies treated her like she was air. Probably due to the instigation of the sixth princess. Aurum didn't really mind. This was better than faking being friendly with these brats. Despite that, she could still feel a lot of eyes on her. Some were hateful and some were admiring. She ignored all of those. Her attention was focused on a certain young man with feminine features. The fifth prince of Xing - Li Ren.

Aurum already expected him to be here. After all, the Empress' plan wouldn't work if he's not present. A cold glint flashed in her amber eyes when she remembered what she read in the sixth princess' mind. The plan was to inadvertently make her and the fifth prince drink spring medicine and then put them into an empty room. And just let nature took its course. Then the people here would 'accidentaly' discover them. Because of that, she would have no choice but to marry the fifth prince. Or so they thought.

Aurum snorted. Spring medicine, really? She's young, yes. But she's not so ignorant that she didn't even know what the effects of that medicine were. Could the Empress be any more original? This was just the sort of cliche one would read in those stories in [Quill&Ink]. Maybe the Empress found inspiration in one of those. If she was a naive and simple 14 year old girl, then maybe there's a chance that she would fall for this trick. But sadly for them, she's not.

Now, just how should she deal with this situation?

"Aurum, Black also wants cake," Black said. He was currently standing beside her seat, doing his part as her little maid.

Aurum raised her head to look at the kid. Black was wearing a pink dress, his hair was combed into two buns. He looked absolutely adorable. She thought he went back with Madame Lin. She didn't expect he would run after her. Despite his constant complaining, he was still dedicated in his job as her little maid.

"A little maid can't eat cake at a banquet like this," Aurum said.

Black pouted. "Being a little maid sucks."

She looked back at the direction of the fifth prince. In order to have a proper plan, she needed to know first if the fifth prince was really gay. If he was, then this would be a lot easier. While observing the prince, she noticed something. He had been talking to the same young man since earlier. If she remembered correctly, the young man arrived later than the rest. But since his arrival, the smile on the fifth prince's face hadn't subsided.

The young man was tall and lean with a sunny temperament. He was wearing a blue robe with a floating cloud embroidery. His long black hair was pinned atop his head with a jade crown. His smile was infectious. Just looking at him and one could not help but also smile. He might not be the most handsome young man here, but he was certainly the most charming. And from the fifth prince's demeanor, he was most definitely charmed by the young man.

But could that be enough proof that he really was gay?

Just then, Aurum felt someone sitting beside her. She turned and was slightly surprised when she saw Concubine Hong smiling at her.

"Concubine Hong," she greeted.

"I've noticed you've been sitting here alone. Are you alright?" the concubine asked worriedly.

"Yes. Thank you for your concern," Aurum answered politely.

"If the other girls are treating you badly, then please don't hesitate to tell me. Her Majesty asked me to take good care of you. I couldn't just let you be bullied, now, could I?"

She looked so concerned that Aurum almost believed her. If she remembered correctly, Concubine Hong and her son - the third prince - was on the crown prince's faction. She might just only be showing concern just so she could please the Empress. Just to make certain if this woman knew something about the Empress' plan for her, Aurum decided to read her mind.

Her Mana easily entered Concubine Hong's. Ah, Aurum really loved it when there's no barrier stopping her Gift. And then, she couldn't help but feel shocked when she finished reading the concubine's mind. Not because of something related to her but because of an entirely different matter. Good thing she was a good actress or her surprised might have already shown on her face.

Aurum smiled. "No one's bullying me. Everyone has been very kind."

"That's good then," Concubine Hong said, also giving her a smile. "Do you want to go around this plum garden? I could ask the fifth prince to accompany you."

Yes, that's not very subtle at all. "Thank you Concubine Hong, but no. I don't want to disturb His Highness. Especially since he seems to be having a rather fun conversation with that young man."

The concubine turned towards the direction of the fifth prince. When she saw the way the prince was acting, a flash of disgust crossed her face. It was only for a moment but it didn't escape Aurum's notice.

"May I ask who's the young man the prince is talking to? They seem to be very good friends," she asked before Concubine Hong insisted she walked around the garden with the fifth prince.

"He's Zhao Shang, the oldest son of the Left Prime Minister. He was the study partner of the crown prince. So the three of them all grew up really closely. The fifth prince treats him like an older brother."

Just a brother? Why did Aurum feel like it's not just that?

The two of them talked a bit more before Concubine Hong left her. Then Aurum noticed that the young man - Zhao Shang - seemed to be about to leave. The fifth prince also stood up and walked with Zhao Shang.

Aurum smiled michievously and then she also stood up. "Come, my little maid. We're going to snoop."

"Eh? But snooping is bad," Black said.

"Did my brother ever tell you that it's bad?"

"No."

"Then it's not. Come, we're going to lose them."

She walked towards the direction where the prince and Zhao Shang went. Black followed her. Aurum walked at a distance, so no one would notice she was following the fifth prince. When she noticed that the prince and Zhao Shang stopped near a lotus pond, she also stopped and hid behind a tall tree. She motioned for Black to not talk then she listened to the conversation of the two.

"Brother Shang, do you really need to leave so fast?" the fifth prince asked with a spoiled tone while holding on to the sleeve of Zhao Shang. "I haven't seen you for a month. Could you not stay a bit longer?"

Zhao Shang smiled helplessly at the teenage boy. "I'm sorry, Ah Ren. I really need to be somewhere right now. And besides, this banquet was supposed to be for young people your age. I'm not qualified to attend. I only came because you asked me."

Li Ren looked down, sadness evident on his feminine face. "I understand."

"Don't be sad. I'll make sure to visit you again sometime soon. Okay?" Zhao Shang said while stroking the prince's long black hair.

A touch of red suddenly appeared on the prince's delicate white cheeks. "Okay," he said, shyly. But then he seemed to remember something and then he became gloomy again. "Are you going to the Wei Household?"

"Yes."

"Are you really going to marry the fourth miss of the Wei family?"

"My family and theirs are still in talk. But most likely, yes."

Li Ren's gaze darken. He clenched his fists and tried his best to not show on his face all the negative emotions he was feeling. He raised his head and smiled at Zhao Shang. "Then I won't delay you anymore, Brother Shang."

Zhao Shang smiled and walked away from there.

Aurum who was hiding behind a tree witnessed all that. She didn't need to read the fifth prince's mind to know what he was thinking. Because it all showed on his face. Anger, despair, pain, and the most unexpected, love. Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

She went out from where she was hiding and walked towards the prince. "You look terrible."

The prince turned sharply towards her. "You- how long have you been there?" he asked angrily.

"Long enough."

His face suddenly contorted with anger. "How dare you--"

"Stop," she said before he continued whatever curses he was about to say. "Do you want to be with that guy? I could help you."

Li Ren's whole body turned stiff and then he looked incredulously at the golden haired foreign girl in front of him. "How could you possibly help me? Just don't tell anyone what you saw today. If you do, then I won't hesitate to have you killed."

He was about to leave when Aurum spoke again. "Won't you even listen to my proposal?"

Li Ren stopped and looked irritably at the girl. "What's your problem?"

"My problem is that your good mother is planning to make the two of us drink spring medicine and have us relieve each other. Then she'll force us to marry." The prince looked like he was striked by lightning when he heard what Aurum said. "Now, are you willing to hear me out?"

Li Ren let out a long sigh then he glared at Aurum. "Talk. But if you waste my time, you're dead."

Aurum snorted. "Don't worry, you're the only one who will have the biggest gain at the end of this."

Chapter end