Chapter 47: Quite Entertaining

“Hm? Greetings to the Fifth Prince.”
Fifth Prince Yuan Zaifeng had always been someone who cared little for others, so for Qiao Qingyun, it was best to have minimal interactions.
That was how others described the Fifth Prince, yet in truth, Yuan Zaifeng was quite approachable. It was only because of those siblings that he had to pretend to be aloof.
“Ninth Sister-in-law, I noticed your complexion at the banquet wasn’t very good. Have you drunk too much?”
“Yes, Qingyun cannot hold her liquor well. Forgive me for making you laugh, Fifth Prince.”
Perhaps it was because she was sobering up, but when Qiao Qingyun looked at Yuan Zaifeng, all she felt was caution.
No one in the palace was truly trustworthy—not even Yuan Zaichun, and Yuan Rou only became close after much initial wariness.
“Is that so?”
Yuan Zaifeng wasn’t pleased with such a proper answer. From the moment he saw Qiao Qingyun rescue the Seventh Prince, he had been captivated by her.
Who would have thought that she would soon marry the Crown Prince?
Yuan Zaichun never spoke of Qiao Qingyun, but even when the marriage was decreed, had he not wanted it, Qingyun would not be living as comfortably as she did now.
Each event showed that Yuan Zaichun truly cared for Qiao Qingyun.
“Fifth Prince, isn’t it a bit improper for you to be out here at this hour?”
Qiao Qingyun frowned, deliberately keeping her distance, uneasy with a sense of foreboding.
“Yes, it’s a bit against protocol, but I drank too much and needed to sober up.”
“Then, I’ll let you sober up here. Qingyun takes her leave.”
With that, Qiao Qingyun turned to go, but Yuan Zaifeng, whether truly drunk or not, suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
“Fifth Prince, what are you trying to do?”
Qingluo quickly stepped in front of Qiao Qingyun, watching Yuan Zaifeng with caution.
“I merely wish to speak with the Crown Princess. Besides, my brother has someone he cares for as well. Even if I chat with the Crown Princess, there’s no harm.”
His words made Qiao Qingyun want to scold him; she had never seen anyone so shameless.
“Forgive me, Your Highness, but His Highness is waiting for me. I must return to the banquet.”
“Really? Do you honestly believe the Crown Prince cares for you? You—”
“Brother.”
With a single word, Yuan Zaichun appeared before Qiao Qingyun, shielding her behind him.
“My lord?”
Qiao Qingyun, tipsy and hazy, looked at Yuan Zaichun.
He nodded, affectionately ruffling her hair. “Were you frightened?”
“Yes.”
Qiao Qingyun nodded, feeling aggrieved as tears fell, tightening Yuan Zaichun’s heart.
What had happened?
“Fifth Brother, keeping my Crown Princess here doesn’t seem right. She’s timid, and if you frighten her, will you come to apologize?”
Yuan Zaichun made his point clear, his gaze resting on Qiao Qingyun’s small face.
Yuan Zaifeng understood; no matter how much he wanted to linger, it was time to let her go.
“Haha, Ninth Brother, what are you saying? I was simply curious. Look how anxious you are.”
“It’s not anxiety, merely concern that Qingyun would be frightened.”
After exchanging a few words, Yuan Zaichun led Qiao Qingyun away, Qingluo hastily following.
Before they reached the banquet entrance, Yuan Zaichun spoke with some displeasure, “Qingluo, when the Crown Princess leaves, shouldn’t you check if anyone follows?”
“Your Highness… I…”
“It’s not Qingluo’s fault.”
Drunk, Qiao Qingyun seemed to have a loose thread in her mind; unexpectedly, she took Yuan Zaichun’s hand.
Her face was flushed, the alcohol’s effects faded, yet she still looked pitiful.
“It’s just that I can’t handle my liquor. Don’t be angry, my lord.”
Such cautious words made Yuan Zaichun uncomfortable. Was he really so frightening to her?
Back at the banquet, Yuan Rou had noticed Qiao Qingyun’s absence. Now that Yuan Zaichun had brought her back, she finally felt relieved.
As for Yun Jian, she had someone investigate, but it was as if he had vanished. Those who had interacted with him said Yun Jian was elusive, appearing and disappearing like a mythical dragon, and had now left.
She had no way to pursue further.
Even if she had wanted to say farewell face-to-face, she had not managed it.
“Today is the Hundred Flowers Banquet. I join you, my beloved ministers, to admire the blooms, so that we may set aside the distinction of ruler and subject for a while.”
“Yes.”
The ministers immediately responded, leaving no doubt about the emperor’s words.
“How are you feeling now, Your Highness?”
Qingluo had managed to find a bowl of sour plum soup. After Qiao Qingyun drank it, her gaze finally cleared.
“Much better.”
She turned to look at Yuan Zaichun beside her. Wasn’t it he who had come to her rescue just now?
Thinking it over, her expression grew more earnest, making Yuan Zaichun uncomfortable. “What are you looking at?”
“I wanted to confirm if it was you who brought me back just now.”
“Who else could it have been?”
Yuan Zaichun replied arrogantly, as if he were hard to approach.
Qiao Qingyun burst out laughing, surprised that this man was not as intimidating as she had imagined.
He was rather amusing, in fact.
With that thought, the corners of her lips curved upward. It seemed she no longer needed to hide anything; they could simply interact as normal.
When the banquet ended, Qiao Qingyun followed Yuan Zaichun to the door, only to be approached by a young girl running after them.
“Sister-in-law!”
Hearing the call, Qiao Qingyun turned around—sure enough, it was Yuan Rou.
“Princess? Why are you here?”
“We’re going to admire the flowers, aren’t we? Brother, can I borrow Sister-in-law for a while?”
Yuan Rou looked at Yuan Zaichun with high spirits, a scene that only deepened his confusion.
It proved that relationships between women were truly mysterious.
“Go on, go on. If I refused, you’d only make a fuss anyway.”
“Brother, you always tease me.”
Yuan Rou smiled helplessly, pulling Qiao Qingyun toward the lotus pond.
“Sister-in-law, after that day, I had someone search for Young Master Yun, but there’s been no word at all?”
Qiao Qingyun paused, quickly responding, “In such a vast sea of people, finding one person is no easy task.”