Chapter 41: Do Not Ask! Asking Means the Princess Is Extremely Gorgeous!

With the completion of the poem, Empress Ma was instantly captivated by Qin Feng's exceptional talent.
What a brilliant line: "To leave true innocence untarnished in the mortal world!"
Let alone Empress Ma, this single poem even left old Zhu completely stunned.
He could not figure out whether Qin Feng had composed the poem himself or simply recited a masterpiece from future generations.
Yet, the verses seemed to echo the very depths of Qin Feng's soul!
The mood of the poem felt as though Qin Feng was engaged in a fierce struggle against corrupt and venal officials, bearing a quality that rose from the mud unstained, washing clean without a hint of seduction.

After listening, Zhu Biao took the lead in applauding, and everyone present at the family banquet was deeply moved by Qin Feng's poem.
"Though bones be crushed and bodies shattered, we fear it not, / To leave true innocence untarnished in the mortal world."
Hiding in a corner and observing Qin Feng closely, Zhu Yingrao repeatedly savored the underlying meaning of those lines.
Clearly, Qin Feng was using the inspiration of poetry to express his innermost aspirations, wasn't he?
"He really is quite different from the rumors."

At the banquet, Empress Ma let out a hearty laugh and warmly beckoned to Qin Feng, saying, "Come sit over here, my prospective son-in-law."
Seeing the Empress's enthusiastic greeting, Qin Feng let out a quiet sigh of relief inwardly.
The implication was obvious enough, wasn't it?
His prospective mother-in-law had given her approval!
After all, with a man as outstanding as himself, how could she possibly not be charmed?

Qin Feng smiled and took a seat beside Zhu Biao, who leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Sir, before long I shall have to address you as brother-in-law."
"Greetings, eldest brother-in-law! Your Highness the Crown Prince, could you describe the Princess's appearance to me in detail?"
Zhu Biao chuckled and replied, "Sir, my younger sister possesses the looks of a falling goose and a closing moon, a countenance that puts flowers to shame and eclipses the blossoms! Father knew you favored beauty, so he specifically selected his fairest daughter to be your bride."

Was she truly the most beautiful?
Why did he still feel a lingering sense of foreboding in his heart?
Given old Zhu's facial features, he didn't even reach the passing mark for a handsome man in Qin Feng's eyes.
They always said daughters resembled their fathers; what if the Princess turned out to be a female version of old Zhu? In that case, he truly wouldn't be able to bring himself to consummate the marriage!

Throughout the family banquet, everyone chatted and laughed while dining, but Qin Feng could not muster a shred of joy.
The ancient marital and romantic system was simply too much for him to accept.
He far preferred the free love of later eras, yet his own lifelong commitment had been decided just like that with a single stroke by old Zhu.
If he dared to refuse this match, he would lose a vital pillar of support for his survival in the Great Ming dynasty.
Thinking of this, Qin Feng had no choice but to compromise with resignation.
If the Princess turned out to be pretty, then it would be fine—becoming an imperial son-in-law meant he had struck a massive profit.
But if the Princess turned out to be hideously ugly, then this matrimonial alliance with old Zhu would be nothing less than a naked political marriage.

Qin Feng drank his wine in frustration, maintaining a stern and humorless expression throughout the feast.

Though he had secured the Empress's approval, he was expected to marry a woman he had never even laid eyes on, and his heart was filled with uncertainty!

After three rounds of drinks, the family banquet dispersed.
Qin Feng walked aimlessly through the imperial palace, feeling like a withered leaf drifting in the wind.
As he reached the imperial garden, he suddenly collided squarely with a woman, and both of them tumbled to the ground.

The person knocked to the ground was none other than Zhu Yingrao, whose stomach was rumbling with hunger and who had managed to steal some food from the imperial kitchen.
With an "ouch," a pile of snacks tumbled out all over her.
She rubbed her sore backside, looked up, and found herself staring into a familiar face.
Oh?
Isn't this the prospective husband who had just been tested by the Empress at the banquet?
Why not pretend to be a palace maid and have some fun teasing him?

With that thought, Zhu Yingrao adopted a wonderfully mischievous look of panic and cried out anxiously, "I'm sorry, I bumped into you by accident. Are you alright?"
Qin Feng got up, wincing in pain, and was just about to start cursing when he realized the person who had collided with him was a woman.
Glancing down beside her, he saw a pile of scattered food.
So this young miss was actually stealing food within the palace—she must certainly be an habitual offender!

"You've stolen so much food! If the palace guards find out, you'll be in terrible trouble!"
Zhu Yingrao blinked her pitiful, large eyes and begged Qin Feng for mercy, saying, "My lord, spare this humble maid! This maid will never dare do it again."

Qin Feng chuckled softly, never expecting that he could actually boss around a little palace maid.
He looked up, and his breath was instantly stolen away by the maid's breathtaking looks!
Was this the sort of appearance a mere palace maid was supposed to have?
What if old Zhu caught sight of such a gorgeous maid and decided to take her for himself? What a terrible waste that would be!
No!
A maid with a nine-out-of-ten beauty score like this had to be smuggled out of the palace before old Zhu discovered her.

Qin Feng said with a solemn expression, "How about this, I'll find a way to get you out of the palace? Follow me!"
Seeing Qin Feng's sincere expression, Zhu Yingrao sneered inwardly: *Hmph! He's nothing more than a lecherous scoundrel trying to spirit a palace maid away in secret!*

Zhu Yingrao feigned nervousness and said, "I can't, my lord! I... I am a maid serving the Grand Princess. If the Grand Princess finds out, she'll beat me to death."

Qin Feng was secretly shocked.
He hadn't expected this unseen fiancée of his to be so tyrannical that even a little palace maid was this terrified of her.
It was clear that the Princess must be an ugly, foul-tempered harpy.
At this thought, Qin Feng couldn't help shivering.
What a terrifying, shrewish Princess!
Could he back out of the marriage now?

"My lord, I can't implicate you!"
If this pretty maid with nine-out-of-ten looks went back, she would undoubtedly suffer endless torment at the hands of the shrewish Princess.
What if the girl's pretty face got ruined? What a tragedy that would be!
Qin Feng suddenly grabbed Zhu Yingrao's delicate little hand, preparing to haul her out of the imperial palace then and there.
"My lord, what are you doing? Where are you taking me?"
"If you go back now, won't your mistress beat you to death?"

Zhu Yingrao said, "B-But I don't even know you. What if my lord harbors ill intentions toward me?"
Qin Feng's mouth twitched.
It seemed this little palace maid wasn't so easily fooled after all!
Qin Feng said, "I at least hold some status within the palace, and I can enter and leave the imperial grounds freely. Aren't you planning to come away with me and escape this sea of bitterness?"
Zhu Yingrao replied, "My lord and I are complete strangers, yet the Grand Princess has shown me a measure of kindness. I think I'd better go back."

"Wait a moment before you go back. Can I ask you something?"
Zhu Yingrao blinked and asked, "Since you're so kind-hearted, aren't you going to report me for stealing food?"
"If you can answer my question, I promise not to report you."
"Go ahead and ask, then."
"What does the Princess look like?"

Zhu Yingrao watched Qin Feng's deadpan, serious expression.
Goodness!
This prospective husband of hers cared so much about her appearance?
He must be an unmitigated womanizer.
Zhu Yingrao gave a silent internal huff and said, "We servants would never dare casually comment on the Princess's appearance. Don't ask me—if you must know, the Princess is exceptionally beautiful."

"..."
Qin Feng was utterly bewildered.
Everyone around him described the Princess as good-looking.
Well, she was a Princess after all; could anyone possibly dare say she was ugly?
It seemed asking about her looks was a dead end!
Qin Feng tried again: "Then what is the Princess's temper like?"