The Crown Prince's sixteenth birthday was celebrated with the same annual ceremony, and Noble Consort Shen Mingye was already tired of it.
He could even predict the exact time the fireworks would be set off behind the Taihe Hall, sneaking away from the banquet each year to take Meng Yixuan to watch the dazzling display.
Jiang Xinyue watched her son and future daughter-in-law, hand in hand, rushing toward the exit, her face beaming with maternal warmth.
Beside her, the Emperor, now in his forties, had been focusing on self-cultivation in recent years, paying less attention to court affairs. Surprisingly, he seemed more energetic than ever.
Historically, diligent and benevolent emperors did not live long, as their constant toil and worries took a toll on their health.
When the Emperor realized that Jiang Xinyue's insights and perspectives on governance were no less astute than his own—and that she even proposed innovative ideas—he decided to prioritize his health, hoping to live longer.
This way, he could spend more time with his children and with Jiang Xinyue.
To Jiang Xinyue, he now resembled a handsome, mature gentleman.
"Has the little rascal run off again?"
The Emperor glanced around, noticing Noble Consort Shen Mingye's absence, and cursed with a grin, "That little brat! We’re here working hard for his celebration, and he runs off with Meng Yixuan every year before the fireworks even start, forgetting all about his parents."
Jiang Xinyue covered her mouth, laughing. "Your Majesty, why do you think he sneaks away with her before the fireworks every year?"
Wasn’t it to find the best spot to enjoy the romantic moment together before the display began?
"Bang!"
"Bang, bang, bang…"
Colorful fireworks burst across the sky, their magnificent blooms captivating the ladies present. No one noticed that the Emperor had also taken Jiang Xinyue by the hand and slipped away.
Behind the Taihe Hall, the artificial pond was filled with well-fed koi fish, plump and glistening. Scattering a handful of fish food, the chubby koi swam over in an orderly fashion, ready for their feast.
Noble Consort Shen Mingye and Meng Yixuan were about to approach when they noticed someone on the rockery. "Isn’t that Yan Qingqing? What’s she doing here alone?"
"Qing…"
Meng Yixuan raised her hand, about to call out, but Noble Consort Shen Mingye quickly pulled her aside. On the flat top of the rockery, someone seemed to be lying down.
Yan Qingqing said something, and the person sat up. As the fireworks lit up the sky, illuminating the lakeside as bright as day, the sharp features of the Fifth Prince came into clear view for Noble Consort Shen Mingye and Meng Yixuan.
"Fifth Brother?"
Meng Yixuan had grown up with them and referred to his brothers as her own.
Noble Consort Shen Mingye chuckled softly. "No wonder he looked so sour earlier today when the Empress mentioned marrying Yan Qingqing to Third Brother. Turns out he likes her."
"Then why didn’t he just tell the Empress? If she knew they liked each other, she wouldn’t stand in their way."
The Empress was like a matchmaker, always eager to help lovers confess their feelings and tie the knot.
She would never tear apart a pair of lovebirds.
On the rockery—
Yan Qingqing’s face was flushed, her expression timid. "You… why have you been avoiding me?"
The Fifth Prince leaned casually against the rock, his usually cold eyes softened by the colorful reflections of the fireworks.
Yet his words remained as icy as ever. "Who do you think you are? Why would I avoid you?"
His words drained the color from Yan Qingqing’s face.
She bit her lip, her courage shattered. "Then… why did you run away when I called you earlier?"
She had chased after him, even twisting her ankle in the process. It hurt so much…
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Seeing her on the verge of crying, the Fifth Prince felt both pity and irritation. "Can’t you just…"
He wanted to snap at her, but seeing her fragile state, the words "stay away from me" stuck in his throat.
Overwhelmed by frustration, he turned and jumped off the rockery, deciding it was better to leave than to deal with the situation.
"Hey!"
Yan Qingqing suddenly had an idea. She stepped on her injured foot and feigned a fall. "It hurts so much!"
The Fifth Prince, who had just landed, instantly reappeared by her side. Without a word, he scooped her up and sat her down.
"What are you doing?"
As the Fifth Prince reached for her shoe, Yan Qingqing secretly observed his expression and teased, "My father said no man unrelated to me should touch me."
So, if you want to touch me, you have to be related to me.
"Slap!"
"Ow!"
The Fifth Prince swatted her hand away. "I’m your Fifth Brother."
"A brother without blood ties can only be a husband. My mother often calls my father 'Third Brother.'"
Third Yan was the third son in his family, so Jiang Xinyan often called him "Third Brother."
Yan Qingqing might not excel in much, but she was full of clever, if unconventional, logic.
It was a mystery how the well-mannered Jiang Xinyan and the resourceful Third Yan had raised such a mischievous daughter.
The Fifth Prince took her foot, not removing her shoe but gently massaging her ankle through the fabric. "Yan Qingqing, don’t like me. I won’t marry you."
"Ah!"
"Be gentle!"
"It hurts…"
Her voice was thick with tears, whether from the pain in her ankle or her heart, it was hard to tell.
The Fifth Prince kept his gaze down, not daring to look at her. He carefully, tenderly massaged her ankle.
He couldn’t—he couldn’t reveal his true feelings.
The Zhu family was a complicated web. His uncle’s faction supported the Crown Prince, while other branches of the family schemed to put him on the throne.
If they found out that the granddaughter of the Grand Marshal of the Army and the daughter of Third Yan, the greatest strategist of Great Yan, loved him and wanted to marry him, they would surely exploit Yan Qingqing to pressure the Yan Family into helping them plot against the Crown Prince.
Sometimes, circumstances left no choice. He didn’t want Yan Qingqing dragged into such a quagmire.
She would be better off marrying Prince Zhao than being with him.
"Why is Yan Qingqing crying?"
"She twisted her ankle. The Fifth Prince is massaging it, so it must hurt a lot."
They didn’t notice that the Emperor and Jiang Xinyue stood behind them, also taking advantage of the fireworks' loud booms to converse. "The Fifth Prince’s expression isn’t right. It doesn’t seem like the reaction of someone being confessed to by the person they love."
He seemed conflicted, torn, and more than anything, pained by his inability to reciprocate her feelings.
"Her Majesty doesn’t think Yan Qingqing is the type to cry so easily. Did the Fifth Prince say something he shouldn’t have?"
Jiang Xinyue stroked her chin. "This is a matter I must resolve. My reputation as the ultimate matchmaker can’t be tarnished by the Fifth Prince."
If the Fifth Prince and Yan Qingqing ended up together, she’d never hear the end of it.
Such a perfect pair had been right under her nose, and she hadn’t even noticed.
