chapter 16

The officials in the capital discovered that Prince Ying, who had kept a low profile for half a month, recently had some movements. Not only did he give the emperor something very auspicious, he also found a composer to write a song extolling the emperor. Reportedly, each time Prince Ying heard this song, he would cover his face as tears flowed down, sighing with emotion about the emperor’s glorious achievements, wisdom, and benevolent integrity.

After Emperor Changlong, the person involved, heard about this, a sigh left his lips. He bestowed Prince Ying some things, and conveniently informed with tact never to have a singer perform this song again.

“Why would Imperial Father do this?” Prince Ying looked at the decorations in the room that had been bestowed, thoughtful. “Could it be that Imperial Father feels the song wasn’t good enough?”

It seemed he should find that composer and have them write a new song.

After the ceremony offering sacrifices to the heavens concluded, Hua Liuli stayed at the empress dowager’s palace again for a few days, the other party reluctant to part with her. As such, the empress dowager packed a few chests of clothes and jewelry for her, yet still found it lacking a few sets of beautiful clothes.

Knowing that the empress dowager truly hated to part with her, Hua Liuli felt reluctant to part from her as well. Early in the morning, after she had gotten out of bed, Hua Liuli accompanied the empress dowager, talking to her to make her feel happy.

“After calculating the days, this grieving one thinks your parents should be almost reaching the capital.” The empress dowager checked the color of the sky for the time. “It’s nearly midday. After having your noon meal, you should leave.”

Head lowered as she looked at the hand the empress dowager lightly held, Hua Liuli nodded. “Alright.”

“You grew up at the border station, and after you just returned to the capital, this grieving one brought you into the palace. Perhaps there are many matters you are still unclear of.” The empress dowager sighed. “The capital is our Great Jin’s most flourishing place, yet also the most complicated. Don’t trust anyone easily, but don’t abandon your true self due to other things.”

“Empress Dowager.” Hua Liuli’s heart trembled slightly. Never had she imagined that the empress dowager would say such things to her.

“This grieving one said this not to make you timid or afraid. Rather, it’s just to inform you of some things. You are a commandery princess whose rank and title the emperor personally conferred. Your father is a general of indomitable spirit. Your mother is a heroine. You do not have to change for anyone.” The empress dowager patted the back of her hand in a solemn manner. “You are still young, and a person’s life is very long.”

Hua Liuli’s eyes grew faintly red. She nodded with much force. “Empress Dowager, this official’s daughter will remember these words.”

“Come, accompany this grieving one to dine.” A gentle smile spread across the empress dowager’s lips, as though she did not find the words she had just said to be universally shocking.

After their meal, even if the empress dowager could not bear to part with Hua Liuli, she could only have the servants send her back home.

With one less member of the younger generation around, Shoukang Palace grew more peaceful at once. The empress dowager lay in bed, yet was not at all sleepy. Her personal attendant whispered, “Your Majesty the empress dowager, are you not tired?”

“This grieving one worries for that little girl.” The empress dowager sat up with the help of that female official. “The people of the capital are not as simple as those by the border station.”

“Empress Dowager truly cares about Commandery Princess Fushou.” The female official lifted the curtain, supporting the empress dowager to sit by the side of the window.

“That child’s eyes are beautiful.” The empress dowager smiled. “And she has a sincere heart.”

Noticing that the empress dowager was in the mood to talk, the female official summoned some courage to ask, “What do these words mean?”

“Every time she and this grieving one go out, she would always position her arm to prepare to protect me.” The empress dowager entered the imperial palace at fifteen. Now, she was over sixty, and had experienced many things, looked at many people. She considered herself able to see thirty percent of a person’s heart.

“Apparently, the assassination attempts in the palace caused her to think that dangers lurked in every corner of the palace. That an assassin could strike at any time.” The empress dowager broke into laughter. “Her arms and legs are so thin. It worries me.”

“Your Majesty the empress dowager has such discerning eyes. This slave did not notice anything at all.”

“Naturally, since you have never met Liuli’s mother. Back then, when Liuli’s mother protected this grieving one, she had used this posture as well.” The empress dowager smiled again. “This grieving one had asked her why at the time. And she responded saying that in that posture, it was the easiest to discover the enemy. And the easiest to hide this grieving one behind her.”

Following that, the empress dowager could not help but burst into laughter. “At this point in this grieving one’s life, there has never been a lack of people who meticulously tried to curry favor. But this grieving one has rarely seen a child like this, who sincerely wants to help me yet does not say it aloud.”

After she heard the empress dowager’s words, the female official’s tone inevitably carried much regret as she said, “What a pity Commandery Princess is frail. Otherwise, she could be a heroine like Mistress Hua.”

“The younger generation will do all right on their own. Who said that sons and daughters must walk the same paths as their parents?” Actually, the empress dowager was open minded. “We can’t control everything.”

The female official softly massaged the empress dowager’s legs with her fists. “Empress Dowager is right. This slave merely feels heartbroken about Commandery Princess’ health.”

The empress dowager nodded and sighed. “You’re right. She’s frail yet is still a picky eater. Once her parents return, I’ll have them make sure she eats properly.”

The female official thought, Commandery Princess has lived with her parents at the border for fifteen years, but still did not correct that bad habit. Perhaps she won’t fix it her whole life.

Not too long after the carriage had left from Shoukang Palace, Hua Liuli heard someone call out to her, “Commandery Princess Fushou, please wait.”

Hua Liuli opened the door curtain and saw a woman dressed in light-colored palace attire with a palace maid supporting her. She wore a smile as she looked at Hua Liuli.

“Greetings Your Highness Consort Shu.” Hua Liuli disembarked from the carriage and saluted Consort Shu. Consort Shu was the birth mother of Fifth Prince. It was said that she was born from a scholarly family, so it’s not surprising that Fifth Prince was raised into such a gentleman.

“Commandery Princess need not be so polite.” Consort Shu reached out and beckoned for her to her stand. “Are you leaving the palace?”

She looked at the few horse-drawn carriages behind Hua Liuli, and knew that they carried the bestowments of the empress dowager, the emperor, and the crown prince. She took a treasure box from a palace maid behind her. “I didn’t know that Commandery Princess was leaving today. Originally, I was going to Shoukang Palace to look for you. Word has it that Commandery Princess is afraid of the cold. This piece of warm jade is good for the body. If you don’t dislike it, then take it.”

“How could I accept this…”

“It will be useful for Commandery Princess, since it’s a piece of warm jade. In my possession, it would only be a useless stone. For it to bring you joy is it’s greatest use.” Consort Shu was a gentle woman. Every word and every action of hers made others very comfortable.

After Hua Liuli had accepted the warm jade and bid farewell to Consort Shu, she encountered Prince Ning’s mother, Consort Rong, and Prince Ying’s mother, Consort Xian, on the road. And they all sent her a gift.

“If Fourth Prince’s mother, Consort Lin, also came, then I’d truly be impressive today.” Hua Liuli stacked the three boxes of gifts on top of each other. A sigh left her lips.

“The people in the palace truly have complicated minds.” Yuanwei stored the gift boxes under the cushions of the carriage. Then she placed a bag of jerky in Hua Liuli’s hand.

Ever since the crown prince had discovered that she liked this kind of jerky, he had people send her it every day. This bag was an unfinished bag from yesterday.

Hua Liuli snickered. These three high-ranking imperial concubines didn’t have it easy. They obviously didn’t like her, yet had to act like they thought of Hua Liuli as their own daughter. And they even had to trouble themselves a lot in preparing a gift for her.

“Commandery Princess Fushou, please wait.”

Master and servant shared a look. Hua Liuli stuffed the bag of jerky back into Yuanwei’s hands. Then she rubbed her own clean. “It has finally come.”

She lifted the curtain to look outside. The carriage had finally reached the palace gates. On top of a fine white steed, the crown prince smiled at her, the smile not quite reaching his eyes.

“Your Highness?” Never had Hua Liuli expected that the person who came wasn’t Consort Lin but the crown prince. She disembarked from the carriage, waiting for the crown prince to slowly ride his horse over. She couldn’t help but give a few more glances at the white horse. Such a beautiful horse.

“Do you like it?” he asked.

Hua Liuli lightly nodded.

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The crown prince climbed off his horse. He placed the reins onto Hua Liuli’s fair palm. “If you like it, then you can have it.”

“Oh?” Hua Liuli was startled. Just this casually?

“What’s wrong?” asked the crown prince, noticing her staring at him blankly. “What did I do wrong today?”

“Today, Your Highness is as incomparably handsome as always.” Hua Liuli shook her head. Reached out to stroke the top of the horse’s head. Since the horse did not resist, she could not help but smile. “This horse is an impressive and fine steed. This official’s daughter is not of good health, and would not have much of an opportunity to ride a horse every day. So to leave it by my side is… wasting it.

“A good horse matches a gentleman.” Hua Liuli looked at its large, clear eyes. A smile in her eyes. “This official’s daughter truly loves this horse, but it will be more useful by Your Highness’ side.”

The crown prince looked at the smile in her eyes. Fell silent for a moment. “I understand. I will raise this horse for you. Once spring starts and your health recovers completely, I will send it to you.”

Hua Liuli placed the reins back into the crown prince’s hand. “This official’s daughter thanks Your Highness in advance.”

“Once your return home, don’t be picky with your food. Children have to eat properly in order to grow taller.” The crow prince had a eunuch give a box that was half an arm’s length to servants that would return with Hua Liuli. “New Year’s eve will arrive in ten days. At that time, a feast will be held in the imperial palace. Eat something to pad your belly before you come.”

Hua Liuli was speechless.

“Those things look good but aren’t actually that delicious.” The crown prince really wanted to pat her head. But once he recalled that he wasn’t actually her brother, he withdrew his hand. “Alright, you should go now. I have to return to the palace as well.”

“Your Highness, take care.” Hua Liuli waved, all smiles.

The crown prince climbed up his horse, leaned over and said to Hua Liuli, “Right, I still haven’t properly thanked you for saving my life. Many thanks, Commandery Princess, for that day.”

Hua Liuli recalled the assassination attempt the crown prince just mentioned. She pressed a hand to her chest, face pale. “This official’s daughter cannot accept Your Highness’ thanks. It was only a coincidence, and definitely not my meritorious deed.”

“Since you did it by coincidence, it’s still considered your contribution.” The crown prince smiled. “Otherwise, why didn’t other people coincidentally do this?”

“Your Highness has forgotten. You have also saved this official’s daughter.” Hua Liuli raised her head, looking at the crown prince who was atop a horse. “That day in Lincui Palace, if it weren’t for the fact that Your Highness sent those things over, this official’s daughter would already have drank that cup of poisoned wine.”

In Hua Liuli’s eyes, the crown prince could see the clear reflection of someone. It was himself.

He no longer held himself back, reaching out to poke the top of her head with his index finger. “Return home. Careful on the road.”

Following that, he urged the horse by patting its bottom. The horse traveled through the palace gates, its hooves click clacking along the way.

Once Hua Liuli returned inside the carriage, she opened the large box that the crown prince had given her. In a flash, she beamed.

Inside were many types of delicious snacks separated by lattices. Each of the sections were filled to the brim, the scents drifting out and attracting others.

“Yuanwei, I think the most handsome prince out of the five is the crown prince.” Hua Liuli picked up the brief note inside the box, which read “don’t eat too much of these and have your meals on time,” and placed it to the side. She tasted snacks from each of the sections. Eyes half-mast, she sighed with emotion. “Especially today, he was very handsome. Peerlessly so.”

Yuanwei smiled. “Are you praising the crown prince? More like you’re praising the crown prince who’s willing to send you delicacies.”

“No, am I such a shallow person?” Hua Liuli shook her head.

She was praising the crown prince who, after dismounting from his horse, placed the reins in her hands.

So handsome!