chapter 15

The wind roared at the raised altar. The empress dowager’s expression proved solemn and respectful to the extreme, and Hua Liuli was… very cold.

She supported the empress dowager to Emperor Changlong’s side. Then he supported the empress dowager. Hua Liuli performed a curtsy toward them. This was her first time seeing the emperor. He looked like a handsome uncle, and the corners of the crown prince’s eyes and tips of his brows appeared slightly similar to Emperor Changlong’s.

Emperor Changlong took note of the young girl by the empress dowager’s side. Her large, dark eyes held not a trace of timidity, yet showed quick-wittedness. However, she seemed fragile.

This girl was very good. Lovable, pretty, and adorable. With his eldest son’s willful temperament, he needed to be paired with such a young lady in order to know how to care for others. Emperor Changlong’s eldest son had been fond of military and martial arts since young. As such, he thought that should the Hua clan’s daughter marry him, she would be more accustomed to such a life than other young ladies would. Never had he imagined that his eldest son and Consort Xian would be unwilling.

Originally, he was somewhat angry about that. But for this kind of matter, it was very important that both parties were in mutual agreement. If he forced his son into this marriage, and his son then treated this young lady poorly, it would wrong her.

In three generations, the Hua clan was only able to produce one maiden. So if his eldest son treated her poorly, he would be too ashamed to face Yingting.

Emperor Changlong nodded in an amicable manner toward Hua Liuli, before continuing to support the empress dowager up the steps.

Bowing, Hua Liuli retreated three steps. Then she turned around to leave. The entire area was extremely silent. She sensed many gazes upon her. Yet, when she looked up, she could only see the court officials and the honored ladies standing in a respectful manner, heads lowered.

The gazes of those in the capital truly proved all-powerful, even more difficult to deal with than those of the archers in the barracks.

She turned her head. Caught sight of the dressed-to-the-nines crown prince preparing to ascend the steps to the raised altar. And she stopped in her tracks and retreated to the side.

When the crown prince passed by her, he slightly paused. Then he slipped a palm-sized thing in her hand.

Her palm warmed up, the warmth then spreading through her whole body. It was a small and exquisite handheld brazier. The Hua Liuli who almost froze from the morning’s cold wind gripped it in her hands. She raised her head and looked at the crown prince’s back figure.

Yeah, it seemed at this very moment, the crown prince’s back was especially large.

Once she had fully descended the stairs, an official from the Ministry of Rites guided her to where the honored ladies stood. Although she was young, her status was high. Thus, it was very suitable for her to stay there. After she noticed that the person to her left was Commandery Princess Jiamin, her smile grew more brilliant. “Commandery Princess, we truly are brought together by fate.”

Such words rendered Jiamin speechless.

No, I did not want to see you.

With the handheld brazier, her hands that had grown ice-cold by the wind gradually warmed. Seeing Commander Princess Jiamin’s appearance, which practically said “don’t get close to me,” Hua Liuli did not grow angry. Instead, she held the handheld brazier in a leisurely manner, waiting for the ceremony to begin.

The skies gradually brightened. Emperor Changlong read a page of a ceremonial text for the ceremony. Then he let the crown prince read a page as well.

At first, Hua Liuli thought this was normal procedure. But then she discovered that as the crown prince read, shock painted the expressions of all the honored ladies around. In particular, that of Commandery Princess Jiamin: there was both surprise and unwillingness on her face.

“Kneel!”

The toll of a bell spread throughout the land. Hua Liuli’s state of mind grew solemn and respectful. She stuffed the handheld brazier into her sleeve, dropping to a kneel in a deferential manner.

They worshiped the Heavens, praying for the common folk of the world to live in peace and happiness, praying that there would be great weather for farming.

“Kneel once more.”

Following the completion of three bows and nine kowtows, there were still many things left to do. Listening to the monks and taoist priests reciting Buddhist scriptures, Hua Liuli untied the silk brocade bag by her waist, sneaking a piece of milk cookie into her mouth.

It was unknown how the chefs in the Eastern Palace made it, but the milk cookie was sweet yet not greasy. Once in the mouth, the scent of milk would envelope one’s teeth and lips, and one’s entire mood would improve.

The crown prince had probably worried she would find the milk cookie greasy, so prepared pieces of jerky as well. From time to time, she would eat one, and the boring event did not seem as hard to endure anymore.

The moment she reached for another milk cookie, she noticed Commandery Princess Jiamin sneaking a peek at her. After a moment of hesitation, Hua Liuli took out five pieces from her silk brocade bag. She thought for a moment, then threw two pieces back inside. Then she handed over the rest to Jiamin. “Want to eat some?”

“I’m not—”

As soon as she had heard the word “not,” Hua Liuli stuffed the cookies back in her bag.

Jiamin was speechless.

She knew that cheap thing wasn’t so generous.

Standing in the crowd, Hua Liuli noticed many interesting things. In the first row, there was an imperial princess who, while possessing a dignified bearing, secretly ate something she had hidden in her sleeve. She was calmer than anyone else in sneaking food.

To the left of Hua Liuli, a commandery princess pretended to lightly cough, yet during such an action, she would stuff food into her mouth.

It was to the point where the faint fragrance of tea drifted toward her from behind. But when she looked back, Hua Liuli could not catch any indication of someone drinking tea.

People truly had it hard in the capital. They had to frequently participate in these important gatherings, and in order to not go hungry during those, they had to come up with many ways to sneak food.

Finished with sighing in emotion, she found the crown prince to be a beautiful person with a kind heart. If it weren’t for him, she would be a pitiful little thing, hungry and shivering in the cold wind.

Time gradually passed. And Jiamin stared at the Hua Liuli by her side who secretly ate from time to time. Her hunger grew all the more difficult to bear. But she just had to try leaving a good impression before Consort Xian, so did not sneak any food.

Hua Liuli clearly knew she was hungry, yet could eat so happily. She truly wasn’t a person!

With the period of Wu approaching, the ceremony finally came to its last step. The scriptures the monks and taoist priests had read and the texts the imperial princes and court officials had written would all be burned, presenting them to the Heavens.

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Hua Liulo gazed at the smoke that slowly ascended to the skies. Touched the empty silk brocade bag. If the ceremony still had not concluded, then she would have finished all her snacks.

During the two times she had to salute, Hua Liuli had swayed, appearing as if she were too weak to stay standing.

Fortunately, the young commandery princess by her side had supported her.

“Thank you for the trouble.” Hua Liuli smiled in a grateful manner toward that commandery princess.

“No need to be so polite,” said the commandery princess, her face round and her smile warm and affable.

With the ceremony over, Hua Liuli prepared to follow the other honored ladies away. However, the empress dowager’s female officials told her to return with them.

“An’ning, don’t look.” Commandery Princess Jiamin shot a glance at the round-faced commandery princess. “She’s a daughter of an official. Even if she’s been conferred the title of commandery princess, how could she compare to us proper imperial clan members?

“Also,” said Jiamin, sneering, “with Hua Liuli’s status, should you really be socializing with her?”

The eyelids of Commandery Princess An’ning trembled. Then she looked away from Hua Liuli’s back figure.

As Hua Liuli followed the female officials, the crown prince noticed the empty two silk brocade bags by her waist. Light laughter spilled from his lips. Prince Ying, who stood next to him, hatefully thought, Imperial Father also let me read the ceremonial texts. What’s he so proud about?

“Yuansu,” said Emperor Changlong after turning to the crown prince. “Come to Us.”

Watching as the emperor and crown prince boarded the imperial sedan together, Prince Ying nearly rolled his eyes out his eye sockets. But once he caught sight of the approaching Hua Liuli, he rolled his eyes back into place.

No matter what, she was still a woman who had almost become his princess consort. So he ought to give her some face.

“This official’s daughter greets His Majesty the emperor, Her Majesty the empress dowager, His Highness the crown prince, and the other princes.” Hua Liuli saluted everyone, sweeping her gaze through them. At long last, she had the chance to see the fourth prince.

Although it’s rumored that the fourth prince’s birth mother had a humble status, he was quite legendary: he had a maternal uncle who ranked first on the highest stage of the imperial examinations. Not only that, the fourth prince’s abilities were outstanding. The emperor quite trusted him.

The fourth prince wasn’t as good-looking as the crown prince, but he was still very handsome. It’s just that he was reticent and cold. Extremely hard to get close to.

“Come,” said the empress dowager, leading Hua Liuli along by the hand. Noticing that said hand had warmed up, she felt relieved. “Let’s go. Follow this grieving one back.”

The crown prince approached them. Supported the empress dowager. “Imperial Grandmother, watch your step.”

“Alright, alright, alright.” The empress dowager really liked her grandson being so affectionate. Then she said to the crown prince, “You’ve been tossed about all day, so you should also be tired. Return to your residence and have a proper rest.”

“Imperial Grandmother is still this energetic. Even if Grandson is tired, I would be too embarrassed to say it in front of an elderly lady such as yourself.” A sigh escaped the crown prince’s lips. “Grandson still wants to keep some face.”

Such words amused the empress dowager. “This grieving one sees you acting all shameless.”

Like theirs, the corners of Hua Liuli’s lips also rose. Previously, she thought the imperial household had to abide by protocol for every aspect of their lives. But after she had lived in Shoukang Palace for a string of days, she discovered that the imperial family were people too. In private, they also were affectionate and joked with each other.

“Little Girl Hua, why are you smiling?” asked the crown prince.

Hua Liuli shook her head in an innocent manner. “Your Highness, this official’s daughter thought that after the new year, Great Jin would have great weather for farming, and could not help but feel joy.”

As the crown prince stared at her, Hua Liuli gazed back with wide eyes.

“Your Majesty, look at the crown prince,” said Consort Xian, making her way to Emperor Changlong’s side. A smile on her lips. “He’s smiling so happily.”

Delighted, Emperor Changlong nodded. “Yuansu lost his mother at a very young age. Thus, he has always been very close to the empress dowager.”

Consort Xian was speechless.

This wasn’t what she wanted to talk about.

Your Majesty, do you not see how close the crown prince and Hua Liuli are? Do you not suspect that these two share feelings for each other?

Consort Xian really wanted to grab Emperor Changlong and shake him a few times. Then have him bestow a marriage between the crown prince and Hua Liuli, those two bad things.

She didn’t believe that after the crown prince married the Hua clan’s daughter, the emperor would still trust him completely.

“That’s right. Not only is the crown prince in good spirits, Commandery Princess Fushou and Empress Dowager are as well,” said Consort Xian. “The crown prince is very close with them.” I can still muster some courage to continue on this topic.

“Mm.” Emperor Changlong smiled. “Liuli, this child, is pure and benevolent. It’s great that she and Empress Dowager are close. Empress Dowager treats her as her own granddaughter.”

Again, Consort Xian was speechless.

This man’s eyes definitely had some problems.

“Right.” Emperor Changlong’s smile vanished. “Before the attempted poisoning case at Lincui Palace is solved, you should not approach Commandery Princess Fushou often. That child has a frail body, and cannot bear being frightened.”

Such words struck her speechless once more.

“Mm?” Since Consort Xian did not respond, Emperor Changlong frowned a hint, turning his head to look at her.

“Your Majesty is right. This concubine also cares deeply about Commandery Princess Fushou’s health,” said Consort Xian, an appreciative expression on her face. “However, since Your Majesty is willing to believe this concubine is innocent, this concubine… is truly moved.”

“We know you could not have done such a crime.” Emperor Changlong cut an indifferent figure. With Consort Xian’s intelligence, she could not have thought of using Three Breaths Death, this banned drug of the palace. He was very certain of this.

After the empress dowager and the emperor left, Prince Ying approached Consort Xian. “Consort-Mother.”

Once mother and son reached their sedan, Consort Xian could not hold back the excitement in her heart. “My son, we still have a chance.”

Prince Ying noticed the happiness on his mother’s face, and whispered, “What did you and Imperial Father speak of a moment ago?”

“His Majesty never suspected me in Hua Liuli’s attempted poisoning. I could feel that His Majesty always trusted us.” Consort Xian patted Prince Ying’s arm. “My son, you must work hard.”

“Son understands.” I’m different from the crown prince.

The crown prince’s mother died prematurely. So he did not have anyone from his mother’s family that could help him.

But he was different from the crown prince.

He still had many opportunities.