SBCEJM -Chapter 38 Attending the Autumn Blossom Banquet

A few days later, the autumn air was crisp and refreshing.

The Empress hosted the Autumn Blossom Banquet in the imperial garden, and nearly every eligible young master and young lady from the noble families in the capital received an invitation.

Everyone understood perfectly well that although the banquet was supposedly for flower appreciation, it was actually a matchmaking event.

The Feng residence received an invitation as well. Written clearly on the card were the names Feng Zekai and Feng Zexuan.

Before leaving the house, Madam Li once again tied up her daughter’s masculine jade crown properly, then carefully adjusted the feminine shawl draped over her son seated in the wheelchair.

To outsiders, “Feng Zexuan’s” injured leg was said to have been caused by a sprained ankle that damaged the bone, requiring a hundred days of rest in a wheelchair.

“There will be many eyes in the palace today. Be careful in all things. Speak less, look less, move less,” Feng Huai’an warned.

Feng Zexuan nodded obediently, but inwardly grumbled.

【Sigh… finally got a day off, and I still have to work overtime socializing…】

【Hehe, Host! This Autumn Blossom Banquet hosted by the Empress is basically the ancient version of a blind date event! You’re already eighteen! Time to seriously look for a partner!】

Madam Li also realized it was time to start finding a suitable marriage match for her daughter.

With a gentle smile, she said, “Xuan’er, you’re at the age to marry now. At the banquet later, take a good look around and see if there are any young masters you fancy.”

“Yes, and if you spot someone decent, don’t show it too obviously first. Come back and tell your father, and I’ll help investigate his background!”

Feng Zexuan replied perfunctorily, “Father, Mother, don’t worry! I’ll definitely look carefully!”

Inside, however, she was complaining:

【I’m scared if I stare too long, people will think I’m into men! It’d be best if I don’t run into any handsome guys! I seriously might not be able to stop drooling!!】

Everyone: …

That was an entirely unnecessary worry.

Pushing the wheelchair, the siblings boarded the carriage heading toward the imperial palace together.

Inside the imperial garden, elegant fragrances filled the air and jade ornaments chimed softly.

The noble ladies swept across the ground in flowing skirts while the young masters carried feather fans, chatting and laughing in small groups.

The moment the Feng siblings appeared, they attracted countless gazes.

The third-place scholar “Feng Zekai” was astonishingly handsome. His dark green brocade robe made him appear refined as jade, cold and aloof like an immortal descended from heaven.

Meanwhile, the “younger sister” beside him, though seated in a wheelchair, possessed beauty capable of toppling kingdoms. Especially striking was the fragile yet ethereal aura emanating from her bones, enough to make hearts ache.

“So that’s this year’s third-place scholar, Feng Zekai? Truly handsome!”

“Exactly! And his sister is breathtaking too!”

Feng Zexuan pushed her “sister” toward an inconspicuous corner to avoid too much attention.

Yet just as she settled down, a fiery red figure strode directly toward her.

The newcomer wore a dazzling crimson palace dress. Golden phoenix hairpins swayed with her movements, and her graceful figure radiated confidence and boldness.

The woman was none other than the Third Princess, Xiao Mingyue.

“So you’re this year’s third-place scholar, Feng Zekai?”

Stopping before Feng Zexuan, Xiao Mingyue’s phoenix eyes shone like stars as she openly looked her up and down.

Her gaze was bold and direct, completely lacking the shyness expected of ordinary young ladies.

Feng Zexuan stood and cupped her fists in greeting.

“This subject, Feng Zekai, greets Third Princess.”

【Wooow! What a gorgeous beauty! That figure! That spicy, elegant aura! She’s literally my exact type!!! I’m in love already!!!】

Feng Zexuan absolutely adored women with this kind of dazzling and confident beauty.

It was her first time meeting someone this stunning in real life, and she was inwardly ecstatic.

Just as Xiao Mingyue was about to speak, she froze slightly at the sudden scream in her mind.

If she saw correctly, Scholar Feng hadn’t opened his mouth at all.

Could she really hear his thoughts?!

What shocked her even more was the content.

Such exaggerated and straightforward praise was something she had never heard in her life.

So… Scholar Feng had fallen in love with her at first sight too!

Meeting “Feng Zekai’s” bright eyes, Xiao Mingyue’s ears unconsciously flushed pink.

The scrutiny in her gaze transformed into a burning determination.

Good. Very good.

This man…

She was absolutely going to have him.

Clearing her throat while maintaining her princess-like composure, she asked,

“Scholar Feng, how old are you? Are you engaged? Do you have someone you admire?”

Since the other party was a woman, Feng Zexuan didn’t overthink things and replied with a grin, “I’m eighteen years old, single, and don’t have anyone I like!”

Then, following the principle of courtesy, she asked back: “What about Your Highness?”

The smile in Xiao Mingyue’s eyes could no longer be hidden. Rarely bashful, she answered softly, “This princess is the same age as you, and I also have no one I admire.”

By now, Feng Zexuan had already automatically placed the Third Princess onto her “good sisters” list.

Who didn’t love beautiful women?

“Being single is great! Single life is wonderful! Hehe, Princess, please take care of me from now on!”

Xiao Mingyue had never expected this seemingly cold and proper handsome man to possess such a passionate inner self.

It was truly…

Very interesting.

The real Feng Zekai had been completely ignored at the side, practically invisible.

Not wanting to interrupt Xuan’er from making friends, he quietly wheeled himself away to stroll around alone.

Feng Zexuan noticed none of this.

Seeing the Third Princess and the third-place scholar clearly hitting it off, and recalling “Feng Zekai’s” bizarre inner thoughts, the surrounding nobles all developed complicated feelings.

Some sighed in regret, hating themselves for hesitating too long.

Others twisted their handkerchiefs in jealousy.

Why him?!

Only then did Feng Zexuan realize her brother had disappeared. Worried something might happen, she quickly excused herself from the princess and hurried off to search for him.

Meanwhile, Feng Zekai, seated in his wheelchair, had already been surrounded by several self-proclaimed charming young masters who eagerly struck up conversations and showered him with attention.

“Miss Feng, I am Wang Zhiyao, the legitimate second son of the Minister of Revenue. I’ve long admired your reputation. Might I have the honor of sharing a drink with you?”

“Miss Feng, ignore him. I have newly imported grape wine from the Western Regions here…”

Feng Zekai only found them noisy. He merely shook his head slightly in response.

His cold temperament naturally kept others at arm’s length.

Not far away, several noble ladies hid behind round fans while their sour remarks drifted over clearly.

“Hmph! A cripple, yet so many men surround her. She’s really good at pretending!”

“Exactly. What’s with acting so aloof? She’s probably secretly delighted, otherwise why would she intentionally wander into a crowd of men?”

“Those young masters are only playing around. With those legs of hers, what respectable family would want a cripple as their main wife?!”

Feng Zexuan’s ears twitched, and her expression instantly turned cold.

Were they talking about her brother?

No.

They were talking about her.

Hmph. Finding her brother could wait.

Since they were already here, she might as well use them to earn some gossip points.

If she didn’t expose every dirty secret they had today, then her name wasn’t Feng Zexuan!

Her gaze locked onto a girl in a goose-yellow dress who was gossiping most enthusiastically.

【Good grief, that mouth sure is vicious. System, dig up her gossip for me! I want the juiciest one!】

The system immediately responded.

【Ding! Here comes the gossip!】

【This girl is Zhang Qian, the legitimate daughter of the Assistant Minister of Rites. She appears pure and innocent like a white lotus on the surface, but she’s actually been secretly involved with the stable groom in her residence for a long time!】

【To stay together forever, she even shaved off the groom’s beard and disguised him as her personal maid “Chuntao” to keep him by her side.】

Feng Zexuan instantly became interested.

She looked toward the maid standing beside Zhang Qian.

Sure enough, “she” was far sturdier than an ordinary woman.