Cui Buqu seldom appeared in banquets or formal events, regardless whether they are organized by members of royalty or famed figures, even for national banquets organized by the Imperial Court, he almost never showed himself.
Compared to Feng Xiao's bombastic theatrics, he was more like the shadow of a tree in the light. When he was not needed, he could fully vanish, rendering his presence completely surreal.
So let alone Yan Yun, even Gao Yin has never seen him before.
He did not have that glower of handsomeness like Feng Xiao when others looked at him, neither was he an ethereal figure that emerged from dust and sand. On the contrary, his complexion brought a hint of being ill, and his gaze was plain and empty.
However, he still attracted the gazes of those two young women.
It was nothing related to looks.
Not only Gao Yin and Yan Yun, but many gazes also fell upon Cui Buqu.
Yet he looked as if he did not notice them, lightly treading in the direction of the banquet.
One wave of breeze came after the last, and the faint smell of medicine floated into Yan Yun's nose. She could not help but mustered the courage to speak:
"My Lord, there is an empty seat here..."
Before she could finish, Prince Jin had already sent someone to invite him to his table.
A lot of people were interested in Cui Buqu, and there are even more people who knew nothing of his identity. They only found it unbelievable that the proud Prince Jin who was loved and spoiled often, would clasp his hands and bowed to the other, full of politeness, with the both of them looking incredibly close. It elevated their curiosity even more.
Yan Yun could not help it and asked Gao Yin, "Who is he?"
Gao Yin shook her head and replied hesitantly, "I have not seen him before. Perhaps someone from a noble house?"
"He is the Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau, his name is Cui Buqu." Someone next to them answered her question.
Both of them turned around and immediately stood up to bow.
"Yuwen Xuanzhu!"
Yuwen Eying was only thirteen to fourteen this year, the perfect youthful age when one blooms into a teenager. Although her background was a little awkward, she grew up under her mother's protection ever since she was little. The hatred sowed between countries was far away from her, and she was like a normal young girl from a noble house, without a care or worry over her, even her face did not carry any sign of being ambitious.
Yet it was because a teenage young girl such as her, she would not have posed a threat to the Sui Empire's current Emperor. The Emperor was also willing to grant his daughter's wishes, often rewarding this granddaughter of his.
"Rise!"
Yuwen Eying was more familiar with Gao Yin, so she reached both her hands out to help her up and smiled towards both of them, "Just now I was talking to Lady Fang and the others. Why did both of you not come with us? No wonder they said they could not find either of you—you were here sneaking glances at handsome young lords!"
Gao Yin laughed, "How can this be called sneaking? We were simply making use of Xuanzhu's birthday banquet to glare at them proudly!"
Yuwen Eying blinked, "Then did anyone catch your eyes? Don't tell me it's Feng Xiao. He's already belonged to my Fifth Aunt. I cannot help you if it was him. As for my Second Little Uncle...He already has a wife. With both your backgrounds, you should not be concubines. Other than that, perhaps I may be able to help."
The way she spoke was dauntless, even Gao Yin could not help but quickly said, "Not at all. Don't guess blindly. Everyone holds the heart for admiration of beauty, we are only simply looking. Other than Lord Feng, there are a lot of gentlemen of quality, perhaps I could even find another gentleman whom is worshipped and admired by young maidens!"
Yan Yun said in a small voice, "Dare I ask Xuanzhu, what is the background of the Lord currently speaking with Prince Jin?"
Yuwen Eying turned her head to look, "Oh, that is Cui. Marquis Cui."
Yan Yun was waiting for the rest of her words, but despite all the things Yunwe Eying said just now, right now she seemed to be stuck.
The three of them stare at each other.
Gao Yin said curiously, "Marquis Cui? Was he the one who escorted the Göktürk Khan into the Imperial Court?"
Yuwen Eying, "Yes. Because of that, he was knighted as a Marquis. Now he also leads the Zuoyue Bureau, his rank is equivalent to that of the Six Ministries."
As they spoke, Yan Yun couldn't help but turned her gaze towards Cui Buqu once more.
The other's back was faced towards her, and the light of a thousand lanterns in the garden reflected on his back, giving off a contour of gentleness.
However, looking at the silhouette of that back from behind, it seemed to be a little forlorn and cold.
He was young and he held such a high rank, but from the looks of it, it seems that his body wasn't quite in a prime state.
Yan Yun counted the seconds in her heart and remembered the name 'Cui Buqu'.
Cui Buqu did not care how many people were looking at him, nor did he care whether these gazes were kind or nefarious. After Prince Jin spoke two sentences, he covered his mouth as he began to cough.
"The wind here is huge. Let us sit while we speak!" Prince Jin invited all of them to sit, before raising wine cups and honoured both of them, "Today, it's a pleasant coincidence that Commander Feng is also here, so I can borrow the wine of my elder sister to thank both of you for exposing Yu Xiu's true identity, to prevent me from nursing a wolf in my house."
While he spoke, he did not forget to say, "Master Cui's body is unwell, so it wouldn't be good for him to drink. I will drink mine, but the rest of you may make yourselves at home."
After he drank, Cui Buqu really did only raise the wine cup to touch his lips before putting it back down.
"Your Highness praised us too highly."
Prince Jin smiled and said, "I have already borrowed Furong Garden from his Majesty and was prepared to organize a Furong Banquet after ten days. Perhaps both of you could find the time to attend?"
Of all the five princes, sons of the current Empress, the one who received the most doting wasn't the eldest, nor was it the youngest, but it was the second prince, Prince Jin. Ever since he was little, his journey had been smooth. Whether it was his parents that were above him, or his subject that were beneath him, it was very seldom that someone rejects his requests.
Naturally, Prince Jin also seldom acts like this, where he invites others to his own parties personally.
Had it been anyone else, they might have accepted the invitation on the spot, but Cui Buqu said plainly, "Many thanks to Prince Jin's good intentions, but I fear I do not have the time to attend."
The servant behind Prince Jin was sweating furiously for Cui Buqu's condition, but Prince Jin's expression did not change, he even nodded his head, "Your Lordship is of course burdened by many duties. I understand. It's because of people like you that this empire can stand as stable as it is today."
"Er Lang!" Princess Leping and a bunch of noble women came over, waving at Prince Jin from afar.
Prince Jin rose to his feet, "I shall take my leave and not disturb both of you."
He clasped his hands together to both of them, before turning his body towards Princess Leping and left. In the middle of his journey there, someone else leaped out and bowed to Prince Jin. Prince Jin recognized the other as a random officer he met before in the Imperial Court, so he nodded his head.
The other smiled, "I heard that his Highness wishes to organize a Furong Banquet, I am skilled in poetry, perhaps I could request for an invitation?"
Prince Jin replied unenthusiastically, "We can discuss this later."
Then he walked forward and did not even look back at him.
Feng Xiao watched this scenario from the beginning to the end, then turned towards Cui Buqu, "What drug did you give Prince Jin? Why is his attitude towards you so different from others?"
"How was it different?" Cui Buqu replied in a non-committal way, before picking up a mandarin and started peeling its skin.
Feng Xiao took his fan and pointed at the little officer that was left behind by Prince Jin, "Didn't you see? Prince Jin's performance just now was his true colours. Although he was also polite towards me, it's different to how he behaves with you—careful and wary, as if he's afraid of provoking you?"
Cui Buqu, "So?"
Feng Xiao, "So, Prince Jin's affections for you are one-sided, and he cannot stand not having you on?"
Cui Buqu snorted a laugh, "After not seeing you for half a month, Commander Feng, is your brain now all overgrown with wild grass?"
Feng Xiao laughed, "Haha! It's fine if you hadn't mentioned it, but now that you did, I want to ask you: Why are you avoiding me in the past half month?"
Cui Buqu's expression did not change, "Since when was I avoiding you?"
Feng Xiao raised a hand and began to count, "From the audience with the Emperor, every time I dispatch a man to the Zuoyue Bureau, they either say you were sick in bed or that you have gone out. After that, I visited personally, and you dared to hide yourself refusing to see me. Why? Master Taoist Cui, how cold you are. We were married as a couple, we've hugged. Now you want to burn the bridge after crossing the river?"
Cui Buqu laughed a cold laugh, "So it was because of that you harassed the Zuoyue Bureau with every moment you have. Three days ago, you complained that our tea is too salty, and our desserts are not delicious enough, that our maidservants are too ugly. Two days ago, you broke all the flower pots in the front hall of the Zuoyue Bureau. You even let in a few stray cats to create chaos. Yesterday, you picked a fight with Zhangsun. So tomorrow, are you going to gather a group of homeless people to crash the gate in front of the Zuoyue Bureau?"
Feng Xiao closed his fan with a slap, "Good idea! Then I'll just add with a 'Cui Buqu is a heartless, cold, and traitorous husband, so his pregnant wife is here in the capital looking for him!' How does that sound?"
Is your brain now all overgrown with wild grass: Full of nonsense.
Burn the bridge after crossing the river (过河拆桥): Ignoring or disposing of someone once they're no longer of use.