Chapter 1 – Coincidence

In the winter of the thirtieth year of the Changlong era, the people of the Jin
Dynasty were immersed in joy. After years of conflict with the neighboring
Kingdom of Jinpo, the Great General not only defeated Jinpo but also
captured their brave and skilled Second Prince on the battlefield. As a
result, Jinpo had to cede cities and territories, bow down in submission, and
acknowledge the sovereignty of the Jin Dynasty. This victory filled the
entire Jin Dynasty with pride and confidence, making everyone walk with a
sense of accomplishment.

For a time, the Great General became known among the common people as
the Martial Deity Descended to Earth. His three sons were also believed to
be the reincarnations of heavenly soldiers and generals. Due to the wisdom
and martial prowess of the current Emperor, who was regarded as a rare and
exceptional Enlightened Monarch seen once in a century, they deliberately
descended to assist the Emperor, helping the Jin Dynasty thrive and prosper.
People from all directions flocked to pay their respects.

Regardless of everything, it was undeniable that the Emperor was

exceptionally wise, and the Hua Family1The Great General's family, of
course was also formidable.

At this moment, several hundred li21 li is 0.311 miles. away from the
capital city, at a relay station, the Station Master hung two red lanterns at
the entrance gate to celebrate the great victory of the Jìn Dynasty. However,
in recent days, heavy snow had been falling, and with no officials passing
through this area, his intentions went unnoticed.

The Station Master held a plate of fried beans, squatting at the door and
gazing absentmindedly at the accumulated snow in the courtyard. The cold
wind blew his disheveled beard askew.
"Sigh." The Patrol Inspector walked up to the Station Master's side with a
bitter face and said, "I wonder when those visitors staying here will depart."

It was said that the prisoners being escorted here were high-ranking
officials who had committed crimes in the capital. Even before their arrival,
someone had come to inform the relay station that they were of great
importance and must not be taken lightly. As the Patrol Inspector of the
relay station, he had to remain here every day to prevent any mishaps
involving these high-ranking officials.

These high-ranking officials would be exiled this year but reinstated to their
positions the next year. Some people sought revenge, while others sought
protection for them. The unlucky ones were the underlings like him, who
couldn't afford to offend anyone.

"They are already imprisoned, yet they still want to put on airs. I don't like
serving them," the Station Master spat, tossing the bean husks from his
mouth onto the snowy ground, "No peace at all."

As soon as he finished speaking, he noticed a carriage approaching from the

end of the official road. Even from a distance, he could tell that it carried
someone of great importance.

The Station Master quickly handed the plate of fried beans to the Patrol
Inspector, patted his somewhat worn-out coat, and went forward with a
smiling face.

The Patrol Inspector rolled his eyes; he says don't like serving people but
will turn into a dog as soon as he sees an influential person.

The horses pulling the carriage were extraordinary. Even when traversing
through the snow, their hooves remained steady and powerful. The armed
guards surrounded the carriage, their eyes sharp and different from the
stationed soldiers in the city. They seemed like seasoned warriors who had
been on the battlefield and seen bloodshed.

The Patrol Inspector realized that these travelers held significant status, so
he quickly placed the plate of fried beans on the windowsill and approached
them, displaying a similar fawning smile.

On the second floor, a wooden door slowly opened, revealing a pair of eyes
concealed in the darkness.

"The Hua Family has arrived."

"We can... begin."

As soon as the carriage stopped outside the relay station, the Station Master,
with a full face of smiles, respectfully approached and greeted, "This
official is the Station Master of this place. May I inquire from where the
distinguished guests have come?"

"We have come from Qinghan Prefecture," the leading military officer said,
presenting a clearance document, "We are escorting the family members of
the Great General back to the capital."

"So, they are the family members of the Great General?!" The Station
Master respectfully returned the document to the military officer and said,
"Distinguished guests, please come in quickly."

The curtain of the foremost carriage moved slightly, and the Station Master
lowered his head, not daring to directly gaze at the distinguished guests'
countenance.

The edge of the curtain was lifted, and a pair of deer boots, almost
untouched by dust, stepped out. The bright red cloak swayed on the
carriage, faintly revealing a snow-colored embroidered red plum skirt
within the cloak.

Hua Liuli stepped out of the carriage and looked at the dilapidated relay
station ahead. After a moment of silence, she turned her head and sat back,
saying, "I think it's better to continue the journey."

The Momo3"Mómo" in Chinese refers to a nanny or a caregiver who takes

care of children. It is often used to refer to a female caregiver or nursemaid
who looks after the upbringing and well-being of a child, especially in
wealthy or noble families, who was accustomed to her picky temperament,
calmly advised, "Xianzhu4"County Princess" in Chinese pinyin is "xiàn
zhǔ" (县主). In ancient China, the title "County Princess" referred to a woman
who held a position of authority and leadership as the ruler or lord of a
county. She was typically a member of the imperial family or from a
prominent noble lineage. The County Princess was responsible for
overseeing the governance and welfare of the county under her jurisdiction.,
the next relay station is nearly a hundred li away. The road is covered in
snow with no place left to take a bath. Please think twice."

Hua Liuli furrowed her beautiful brows. She thought about closing the
curtains and leaving but turned her head to see the soldiers with red noses
from the freezing wind. With a serious expression, she said, "We will rest
here for the night and continue tomorrow."

The Momo immediately threw a few pieces of silver to the Station Master
and said, "Prepare hot water."

"Alright." The Station Master smiled and agreed. He liked generous

benefactors like her; they were much easier to deal with than the
imprisoned officials upstairs.

"Younger sister, be careful," said Hua Changkong, who had just dismounted
from his horse. He hurriedly approached his little sister, who had a tense
expression and was about to jump down from the carriage. "Take it slow.
The snow on the ground is so thick. Should I carry you inside?"

The Momo watched the scene with a calm expression. Behind every
pampered Young Master or Miss, there were countless doting parents. The
Hua family was good in every aspect, except for spoiling their only
daughter excessively.

They were afraid she would get tired from walking a few steps, afraid she
would catch a chill from a gust of wind, they even hesitated to speak
harshly at her, fearing it would scare their daughter. This young lady, born
into a prestigious military family, turned out to be delicate and picky.
"No need," Hua Liuli shook her head. She adjusted her cloak and held onto
Hua Changkong's arm, walking through the gate of the relay station. This
place was not affluent, so they couldn't spare much money for renovating
the station. The lighting inside the rooms was also very dim. She was
somewhat worried that the heavy snow might crush this decrepit relay
station.

"Please have a seat, esteemed guests." The Station Master wiped the bench
with his sleeve and looked up, smiling to please the two distinguished
guests. However, he was stunned upon seeing them.

It turned out that the people from the Great General's family were so good-
looking, especially this delicate and charming young lady who seemed like
a celestial being.

Hua Liuli glanced at the dull-colored wooden bench and chose not to sit on
it. She removed her cape's hood and looked up towards the staircase.

On the staircase, a thin, elderly man wearing shackles slowly descended.

His hair and beard were white, giving him the appearance of being in his
fifties or sixties. His face reflected bitterness and unwillingness. Although
the yamen constables behind him were overseeing him, their respect for the
old man was evident.

As the old man descended the stairs, the chains on his feet made a clanging
sound.

Noticing the presence of others in the relay station, the old man paused for a
moment, scanning them with his gaze before retracting it slowly.

Several yamen constables, unaware of the identities of the Hua siblings, still
nodded respectfully towards them, so as not to offend important figures.

"What crime has this gentleman committed to be wearing such heavy

shackles?" Hua Liuli shifted her gaze away from the old man and asked.

The leading yamen constable, observing the natural demeanor with which
the Noble Young Lady made her inquiry, as if not considering the
possibility of them refusing to answer, hesitated for a moment before
speaking, "This official accused the Grand General of indulging in
extravagant military spending and the border generals of being bloodthirsty,
which angered the Emperor. As a result, he was sentenced to exile. If the
Noble Young Lady desires, we can replace his shackles with a lighter
pair..."

"No need," Hua Liuli quickly interjected, "I think it's fine this way. It would
be even better if you could replace them with heavier shackles."

The yamen constable: "..."

The old man turned to look at Hua Liuli, his tone icy as he said, "At such a
young age, your heart is already so malicious. Today, I, an unfortunate soul,
have finally witnessed the fickleness of human relationships and the
coldness of the world."

"It's alright. Not only will you witness more, but you will also grow
accustomed to it," Hua Liuli smiled. "After all, people like you who stab
soldiers in the back will not have a good ending."

For the border generals who sacrifice their lives to defend Great Jin, hearing
such words from a civil official would undoubtedly leave them
disheartened.

"As a loyal subject, I must be loyal to the court and plead for the people.
Hua Yingting's constant military campaigns have exhausted the wealth of
the common people..."

"The Great General guards the border for the sake of the people of Great
Jin. He has achieved great victories over Jinpo. But in your words, it
becomes extravagant military spending," Hua Liuli raised an eyebrow, "Are
you out of your mind? Jinpo constantly provokes our borders. Should we
just let them be arrogant? You live in the prosperous capital and naturally
know nothing about the suffering caused by Jinpo's bandits looting and
harassing our border. You speak of pleading for the people, but you don't
consider the border residents as people. What does that make you..."
"This is called talking about benevolence, righteousness, and morality while
harboring thieves and prostitutes, indulging in pleasure," Hua Changkong
smiled slyly, taking over the conversation. "A hypocrite."

"You, you..." The old man was mocked by two young people, leaving him
with a flushed and darkened face, struggling to catch his breath, "You
ignorant youngsters, spouting nonsense."

"You, you old fool, your eyesight is failing, and you're completely
confused," retorted the guards following the Hua siblings. Their Young
Miss and Young Master personally didn't need to engage in this verbal
exchange.

The commotion downstairs reached the upper floor. The person in the room
wore a satisfied smile. He turned his head to look at the person who
climbed in through the window and asked, "Has it been administered?"

"It has. Colorless and tasteless, fatal when ingested, ensuring that the cause
of death cannot be detected."

The man chuckled, "After the impeachment of the civil official who
criticized the Hua family, he quarreled with the descendants of the Hua
family, then mysteriously met his demise. I wonder how the civil officials
of Great Jin will react to this."

"When the flying birds are gone, a good bow is hidden. The Hua family has
made such great military achievements. I'm afraid it's not the civil officials
of Great Jin they would have to deal with, but..."

Throughout history, there have been numerous military generals who faced
suspicion from the Imperial Ones, the Hua family will just be one of many.

Although scholars wield their pens skillfully, when it comes to the art of
verbal insult, they are no match for soldiers who have been on the
battlefield. After a few exchanges, the old civil official was left fuming and
could only mutter about ignorant and reckless men.
"Is it time for dinner?" The cook came out carrying the prepared dishes and
shrank back upon seeing the tense atmosphere in the hall.

"Dinner?" Hua Liuli glanced at the dishes the cook was carrying, which
included meat and vegetables. It seemed that this impeached official who
had spoken against her father was being treated quite well, much better than
the soldiers guarding the borders.

She immediately covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, taking a
step back with a pretentious expression. "Oh my, I have a terrible headache.
Yuan Yi, I can't stand the smell of meat. Knock it over quickly."

"Yes, Xianzhu," a maid who followed behind Hua Liuli stepped forward
without hesitation and kicked over the dishes. Her movements were smooth
and graceful.

The food spilled onto the floor, filling the room with the aroma of the meal.

"That's more like it," Hua Liuli expressed her satisfaction and gave the cook
a small silver coin, "Prepare another meal for this official. Remember, no
trace of meat."

"Of course, honored guest," the cook took the silver coin and hurried back
to the kitchen. When someone gives you money, you agree to anything.

The Station Master silently swept away the spilled food on the floor,
dumping it outside in the snowy area, pretending not to notice this act of
malicious retaliation.

"What do you mean by this?" The old man's hands trembled with anger.

"You're taking advantage of your position and being treacherous," Hua Liuli
smiled sweetly, "You're wearing a criminal's mark, yet you still want to eat
meat? The common people on the border can't even afford to eat meat twice
a month. As an official, you should share their hardships and suffering."

The poor old civil official couldn't take it anymore and fainted from anger.
Upstairs, the man heard no sound for a while, and the smile on his face
gradually disappeared, "What's going on? Lin Huizhi isn't dead yet?"

"That... that poisoned bowl was kicked over by a maid from the Hua
family."

"What... did you say?"

They had gone through countless calculations and arranged numerous

seemingly coincidental obstacles just to ensure their encounter at this relay
station. And now he was being told that everything they had done
beforehand was in vain?!

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 2 – Impossible!

After a moment of silence, the man who had administered poison in the
kitchen spoke cautiously, "That daughter of the Hua family is spoiled and
willful, lacking the generous spirit of a martial family. I never expected... I
never expected that she would resort to such shameless means to bully
people."

What's this about feeling dizzy at the smell of meat? Why doesn't she say
she was raised on dew?

She's simply shameless!

The room fell silent again, and suddenly hurried footsteps were heard from
outside. The man who had administered poison adjusted his clothes and
opened the door slightly, showing a concerned expression.

Soon, he saw several yamen constables carrying the unconscious Lin

Huizhi, completely unaware of what had happened. He couldn't help but
think that if those two brats from the Hua family could infuriate Lin Huizhi
to death, it would save them a lot of trouble.

Unfortunately, Lin Huizhi was a stubborn civil official, a resilient one. Even
when unconscious and being carried by the yamen constables, he was still
muttering about benevolence, righteousness, and morality.

But being carried around like this as a civil official was quite embarrassing.

"Daren1大人, translates to "Sir" or "Lord", what should we do now?" the man

asked, closing the door and turning to the man sitting by the window.

"What else can we do? We need to leave quickly," the man replied.
"Leave?"

"If we don't leave, do you think we can stay here without arousing
suspicion?!" The man's face grew serious. He considered himself a master
strategist, but he never expected to fail here.

Hua Liuli had a restless night. The bed in the relay station was old and
narrow, and even with a silk quilt on top, she still felt uncomfortable.

After tossing and turning for half the night, when she finally felt a bit
sleepy, she suddenly heard a scream from downstairs. Annoyed, she threw
off the covers, put on her outer robe and cloak, and went downstairs.

"Making such a fuss early in the morning, what's going on?" Even the
yamen constables were awakened by the scream and were about to scold
people, but when they saw Hua Liuli in the corridor, they quickly held their
tongues.

Hua Changkong, upon seeing his sister with her unbound black hair
standing in the corridor, hurriedly approached her and helped her put on her
cloak and hat, asking in a low voice, "What happened?"

"There... there are many dead sparrows outside," the Station Master said
with a pale face. "Yesterday, this official poured the overturned meal in the
yard..."

Hua Changkong's eyes darkened as he quickly walked outside. He saw the

yard filled with many dead sparrows and there were some frozen leftovers
covered in snow on the ground.

The poisoned food that his sister had knocked over yesterday.

"It wasn't me, it has nothing to do with me," the cook who had followed
them out said, looking at the scene in shock, "I've been a cook at this relay
station for over ten years, my family has a good reputation, I would never
do such things."
"This... this..." The Patrol Inspector's legs went weak when he saw the
scene. If that official really lost his life here, the entire relay station would
be in deep trouble.

"Third Brother, what happened?" Hua Liuli followed behind.

Hua Changkong quickly stood up, shielding Hua Liuli from the sight,
"Don't look, so you won't lose your appetite later."

"That's really scary," Hua Liuli patted her chest, looking fragile, and turned
back, saying, "I'm most afraid of these filthy things."

Hua Changkong adjusted her cloak and said, "Go back to your room and let
Yuan Yi help you tie up your hair. I'll have someone clean up the yard."

"Okay." Hua Liuli had hurried out and was dressed lightly, feeling a bit
cold. She returned to her room, lingered in bed for a while, and was then
attended by her maid to change and freshen up.

When she went downstairs again, most of the others had already finished
their breakfast. She sat at the table, picking and choosing from the food.

"The filling of the steamed buns is too greasy."

"The porridge is not cooked well."

"The pastries are not delicate enough."

She had barely taken a few bites of her meal, yet she found numerous faults
with it. However, despite her exaggerated complaints, Lin Huizhi, sitting in
the corner, remained silent.

Suppressing her disdain, she finished her breakfast. Unable to hold back her
curiosity, Hua Liuli wondered if she had driven this corrupt official crazy.
She had been sitting there for half the morning, but he hadn't found fault
with her behavior?

This old man, though advanced in age, had a small-minded disposition. He

shouldn't miss such a good opportunity to make trouble for her.
Just as she was thinking this, Hua Liuli saw the old civil official standing up
and walking towards her. His eyebrows slightly raised as he beckoned to the
guards stationed in the hall, asking them to follow behind him.

When it comes to quarrels, the most important thing is to have more people
and a strong presence.

Lin Huizhi was in a complex mood. It was difficult for him to walk with his
shackles, taking two steps and then pausing, gasping for breath. But he
managed to walk up to Hua Liuli.

Without waiting for Hua Liuli to speak, he suddenly performed a grand

gesture of respect towards her.

Hua Liuli's face changed drastically. What was this old man trying to do?
Was he intentionally showing such respect to make her feel indebted?

If he couldn't win an argument against her, was he prepared to use such

despicable means?

"Thank you, Young Lady, for saving my life," he said. Being a high-ranking
official in the court, he had his own selfish motives and positions, but he
wasn't a fool.

When he woke up in the morning and learned that someone had attempted
to poison him and that it happened after the descendants of the Hua family
appeared in the same relay station he was staying in, Lin Huizhi sensed the
hidden conspiracy behind it all.

If he were to die, the initially simple disagreement in the court could turn
into a blood feud. As an arrogant scholar, Hua Yingting's victory over the
Kingdom of Jinpo gained him great prestige among the people. If a conflict
broke out between the two sides, it would surely cause a major disturbance
in the court and ultimately impact the entire Great Jin Dynasty.

It was a clever plan, killing two birds with one stone—a conspiracy devised
by evil individuals from enemy nations.
The incident yesterday evening, when the descendant of the Hua family
accidentally knocked over his food, not only saved him but also saved
others who could have been implicated.

Although Lin Huizhi was not a fan of confrontations, it didn't mean he

wasn't without gratitude. Looking at Hua Liuli again, he thought that this
young girl, despite her spoiled nature, sharp tongue, bad temper, and picky
behavior, still had her merits.

For example...

Lin Huizhi pondered for a moment. For example, she's pretty?

When scholars want to praise someone, they can always find words of
praise. So, despite having numerous complaints about Hua Liuli, his savior,
Lin Huizhi couldn't help but express his gratitude and admiration.

Hua Liuli: "..."

Impressive, the civil official was truly impressive. He managed to turn her
deliberate provocations into keen observations, astute actions, and saving
someone in a time of danger. She almost believed it herself.

"You can say as many pleasing words as you want, but it won't get you any
meat," Hua Liuli gently wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief,
"It's useless."

Lin Huizhi paused, his expression slightly rigid, "I have no such intention."

"If you have no such intention, then there's no need to say more," Hua Liuli
turned her head and signaled a few guards, "Escort this official along with
us. Remember, you must take good care of his meals."

He must not even have a trace of meat, let him crave for it.

Hua Liuli's actions left Lin Huizhi dumbfounded. After a while, he bowed
to Hua Liuli once again, "Young Lady, your righteousness surpasses mine."
Hua Liuli glanced at him and subtly took a step to the side, then stood up
and said to Hua Changkong, "Third brother, it's time for us to leave."

If they didn't leave soon, this old man would become even more insane.

"Alright." Hua Changkong, sitting beside her, smiled and nodded,

expressing no objections to Hua Liuli's actions. He even thought that
although Lin Huizhi was worthless, he still had some merits in praising his
sister.

After boarding the carriage, Hua Liuli glanced at the Station Master who
bowed and sent them off by the roadside, as well as the shabby relay station
behind him. She casually grabbed a pouch filled with gold pearls from the
carriage box and threw it to the Station Master, "This relay station is the
most rundown relay station within a few hundred miles. Take this and
renovate it properly."

"Thank you, Noble Young Lady! Thank you, Noble Young Lady!" In just
one night, such a big incident occurred, and the Station Master was already
terrified. He thought this discerning young lady would cause trouble for
him, but she didn't say anything and even gave him money to renovate the
relay station. This was no ordinary noble young lady; she was clearly a
goddess descended from heaven.

After the Hua siblings left, Lin Huizhi asked one of the yamen constables to
bring paper and a pen. He wrote a letter and entrusted it to the yamen
courier to be sent to the capital as soon as possible.

The Hua siblings displayed great righteousness. Although he had accused

General Hua Yingting and held grudges against him, when Lin Huizhi was
in mortal danger, they put aside their past conflicts and sent troops to escort
him to his place of exile. Such magnanimity made him feel ashamed.

Could it be... that he was biased against the Hua family? Was he wrong?

Hua Liuli was fussy all the way, stopping and going. Surprisingly, Lin
Huizhi's letter reached the capital before they did.
In the Ministry of Revenue residence, Cao Jinbo, the Minister of Revenue,
was discussing official matters with Zuo Yunde, the Deputy Minister of
Revenue when a servant informed them that a letter from a good friend had
arrived, so he asked the servant to bring it over.

"Ah," Cao Jinbo took the letter and didn't open it immediately. Instead, he
smiled bitterly and said, "This time, I had a disagreement with Lin Huizhi
over our political views, and things didn't go smoothly."

He even felt a little afraid to open this letter.

Lin Huizhi insisted that General Hua's defeat of the Jinpo army and the
capture of their Kingdom was an excessive use of force, while Cao Jinbo
agreed with General Hua's actions. So, Lin Huizhi had been trying to
persuade him and they even had a heated argument in the court over this
matter.

Perhaps this letter doesn't contain the sentiments of an old friend.

"Daren, you've been going around trying to help Lin Daren by interceding
for him. If Lin Daren knew about all this, he would understand your
intentions," Zuo Yunde consoled him, "You and Lin Daren have been
friends for decades, this small matter won't affect your relationship."

"You know Lin Huizhi's temperament. He's stubborn and rigid. Once he sets
his mind on something, it's impossible to change it," Cao Jinbo sighed and
finally began to open the letter slowly.

Zuo Yunde knew about their recent disagreement over political views, and
knowing Lin Daren's temperament, this letter was probably going to be a
scolding directed at Minister Cao. So, within a few moments, he had
already thought of several ways to console Minister Cao's emotions.

He waited for a while but didn't hear any response from Minister Cao.
Looking at his expression, which seemed surprised and doubtful, as if the
letter contained something extreme absurdity.
"Daren?" Zuo Yunde thought, could it be that Lin Daren's letter has
confused him?

"Yunde," Cao Jinbo put down the letter with a conflicted expression on his
face, "What do you think, given Lin Huizhi's personality, if he were being
threatened, would he say things that go against his own heart?"

"Daren, what do you mean?" Zuo Yunde was completely puzzled.

"For example, praising the children of someone he dislikes?"

Upon hearing this, Zuo Yunde forced a dry smile, "That probably depends
on who it is."

"For example, General Hua's children?"

"Absolutely impossible!" After saying this, Zuo Yunde felt that his denial
was too direct and quick, which might make it seem like Lin Daren was
someone petty. So he tactfully added a few more words, "General Hua's
children were raised on the border and personally educated by General Hua.
They must have inherited his ways. Considering Lin Daren's temperament, I
don't think he would appreciate them."

Praising them was impossible, absolutely impossible. Criticizing them from

head to toe would be normal. With Lin Daren's personality, he would rather
die than say anything good about the Hua family.

OceanofPDF.com
Chapter 3 – Judging A Horse by Its
Appearance

At the same time, a confidential letter regarding the attempted assassination

of Lin Huizhi found its way onto the Emperor's desk.

Emperor Changlong read the letter with a serious expression and remained
silent. The eunuch serving him kept his head down, afraid of displeasing the
Emperor.

The room fell into a deathly silence, with no one daring to break it.

Just then, footsteps could be heard approaching from outside the hall, light
and brisk.

"Father Emperor," a voice called out, instantly putting the palace attendants
at ease.

The young man who entered was dressed in luxurious garments, tall and
handsome, with extraordinary looks. His presence seemed to illuminate the
entire grand hall.

The palace attendants all bowed respectfully, "Greetings to Your Royal

Highness, the Crown Prince."

The Crown Prince walked up to the Emperor, looking somewhat lazy. He

greeted Emperor Changlong with a nod, "Has someone in the court angered
Your Majesty again?"

"No one can provoke as much trouble as you," Emperor Changlong

remarked with disdain, placing the confidential letter aside and looking up
at the Crown Prince, "Did you go to the establishment with your Eldest
Brother yesterday?"

"Eldest Brother insisted on toasting Erchen1The term "Erchen" (儿臣) was

commonly used by princes in ancient China when addressing themselves in
the presence of their father, the Emperor. "Erchen" translates to "Your Son"
or "Your Child" and was a humble and respectful way for the prince to refer
to himself. It signified the prince's acknowledgment of his filial relationship
to the Emperor and his subordinate position within the imperial family. in
front of everyone. Erchen couldn't possibly let him lose face," the Crown
Prince lazily took a seat on a chair, "If rumors of discord between us were
to spread, it would only cause distress to Father Emperor, wouldn't it?"

Emperor Changlong looked at his son, unimpressed by his lack of

enthusiasm. He wanted to reprimand him, but hesitated and instead said,
"Lin Huizhi encountered an assassination attempt at the Huanghuai relay
station."

The Crown Prince observed Emperor Changlong, waiting for him to

continue speaking.

"Fortunately, the situation took an unexpected turn, and he managed to

escape unharmed."

"Oh," the Crown Prince lowered his eyelids, seemingly somewhat

disappointed.

"From the way you look, it seems like you're still quite disappointed?"
Emperor Changlong remarked.

"He always exaggerates his praises for Eldest Brother in front of Your
Majesty and constantly points out Erchen's flaws. He even wants to drag
Erchen down from the position of the Crown Prince and give Erchen's
position to Eldest Brother," the Crown Prince slowly spoke, "As Father
Emperor knows, Erchen may have no other flaws, but Erchen does hold
grudges."
"If he truly dies, the trouble will be yours," Emperor Changlong sighed,
"The entire court knows that you don't favor Lin Huizhi. If his death is
suspicious, even if no one dares to say it, they will surely suspect you."

The Crown Prince chuckled lightly. He enjoyed the discomfort of those

who disliked him but dared not speak up.

In his position, even if he did nothing, countless people would find fault
with him.

Seeing his demeanor, Emperor Changlong knew that his son relied on his
support and had never considered these issues, "You, oh you…"

As the father and son were conversing, a eunuch entered to seek permission
and informed them that Consort Xian wished to see them.

Emperor Changlong had been considering marriage for his eldest son and
allowed Consort Xian to enter. As she entered, he casually closed the
confidential letter on the table.

"Your Majesty, greetings," Consort Xian, who was nearing forty but still
had a striking appearance, bowed gracefully to Emperor Changlong, with a
kind smile directed towards the Crown Prince.

Unfortunately, the Crown Prince did not sense her warmth. He merely
arched his hand and leaned back in his chair, unmoving.

Consort Xian: "..."

This Crown Prince truly lacked tact. When she is discussing matters with
His Majesty, anyone who understands the rules and is considerate would
automatically take leave. But he, look at him -- not only does he not leave,
he even set himself in a comfortable posture to sit in. Does he really not
regard her highly?!

Noticing the earnest gaze of Consort Xian, the Crown Prince's eyelids
flickered. But is he the kind of person who is good at understanding others?

No, he is not.
So he not only chose a comfortable sitting position but also had a palace
servant bring him a cup of hot tea, wearing a smile that seemed to say: You
can chat with His Majesty at your leisure; I just want to join in the fun.

Consort Xian took a deep breath and turned to Emperor Changlong, saying,
"Your Majesty, Chenqie2In ancient China, the term "chenqie" (臣妾) was used
by women, particularly consorts or concubines, to refer to themselves when
speaking to the emperor. It is a humble and self-deprecating way of
addressing oneself, emphasizing subservience and inferiority to the
emperor. "Chenqie" can be translated as "your servant" or "your humble
concubine" and is used to show respect and humility towards the emperor's
authority. It reflects the hierarchical structure and etiquette observed in the
imperial court during that time. came today to discuss Hao’er's marriage.
Hao’er, this child, is always diligent and focused on self-improvement, but
he neglects his own marriage. As elders, we can only worry about it more."

"He is already twenty-one this year, and indeed, the marriage matter cannot
be further delayed," Emperor Changlong nodded. "Minghao is skilled in
martial arts and enjoys military strategy. How about finding a Wangfei
3"Wángfēi" (王妃)- refers to Princess Consort, the main wife of a Prince. who
shares his interests?"

"Your Majesty, what do you mean?" Consort Xian showed no signs of joy
on her face.

"The Grand General has a beloved daughter, who is outstanding in

appearance and is of marriageable age. She would be a suitable match for
Minghao. If you have no objections, Zhen4In ancient China, the term
"zhen" (朕) was used by the emperor to refer to himself in the first person. It
was a unique pronoun reserved exclusively for the emperor and denoted his
supreme status and authority. The term "zhen" was used to signify the
imperial presence and to differentiate the emperor from ordinary
individuals. It can be translated as "I" or "we" in English, but it carries a
specific regal connotation. Using "zhen" allowed the emperor to assert his
sovereignty and establish his role as the ruler of the empire. will propose
this marriage to the Grand General."
Upon hearing this, Consort Xian's heart trembled. Indeed, Emperor
Changlong had such thoughts. Given the Grand General's current status,
marrying his daughter would be a good thing, but...

In history, how many renowned generals have been suspected by their

emperors? Especially someone like Hua Yingting, who could easily become
implicated in a catastrophe. Emperor Changlong was in his prime and
undoubtedly had reservations about the Hua family. Otherwise, why would
he want a daughter of the Hua family to become a Wangfei?

Marrying the Hua family's daughter would only bring temporary glory. In
the long run, it would be disadvantageous. Once Emperor Changlong
becomes increasingly dissatisfied with the Hua family, he would also
develop a deep aversion towards the son who married the Hua family's
daughter.

The familial affection in the Imperial household was so cold and thin.

"Your Majesty, the daughter of the Hua family is undoubtedly an

exceptional choice," Consort Xian said with a forced smile, "However,
Hao’er's temperament is too rigid. If he marries a daughter from a military
family, Chenqie is afraid they will clash in the future. It would be better to
choose a woman who is knowledgeable, reasonable, and gentle. Their
personalities can complement each other, resulting in a harmonious union."

Upon hearing Consort Xian's rejection, Emperor Changlong glanced deeply

at her, making her feel uneasy. Only then did he retract his gaze and calmly
said, "In that case, I will follow your wishes..."

"Father Emperor, Erchen won't further disturb your conversation with

Consort Xian. Erchen will take leave," the Crown Prince yawned as he
lazily stood up. After bowing to the Emperor, he prepared to leave.

"Wait," Emperor Changlong called out to him, "It's cold outside. Put on
Zhen's cloak before you go."

The Chief Eunuch held the cloak and personally helped the Crown Prince
put it on before seeing him out of the hall.
"Your Highness, take care," Zhao Sancai, the Chief Eunuch, watched the
Crown Prince walk away. Only after the Crown Prince's carriage was no
longer visible did he brush off the snow from his body and change into a
clean pair of shoes before returning to the inner hall to attend to his duties.

After Consort Xian left, Emperor Changlong asked Zhao Sancai, "Did the
Crown Prince mention any needs or wants before he left?"

Shaking his head, Zhao Sancai replied, "Before His Highness left, he only
expressed to take good care of His Majesty and did not mention anything
else."

"Yesterday, Zhen bestowed many gifts upon Ying Wang5Wang, in this case,
translates to Prince of First Rank on the establishment of his mansion..."
Emperor Changlong contemplated for a while, "Ying Wang has some things
that the Crown Prince doesn't have. Wouldn't it be seen as favoritism?"

"Go to Zhen's private vault and pick some things that the Crown Prince
would like, and dispatch them to him," Emperor Changlong thought for a
moment, "Also, select a few of the imperial horses that were recently
presented as a tribute and send them to the Eastern Palace6The Crown
Prince's estate."

"Yes," Zhao Sancai smiled and withdrew.

As the Crown Prince left the Chenyang Palace, he encountered his Eldest
Brother, Ying Wang. The Crown Prince, who was sitting in a carriage,
lazily nodded his head in greeting.

Ying Wang got off his horse with a stern face and returned the greeting.

The Crown Prince, being the heir to the throne, displayed a level of
etiquette that the other Princes couldn't match.

"I wonder where the Crown Prince is coming from?" Ying Wang asked with
a half-smiling face.
The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow and casually adjusted his sleeve, "I
went to sit with Father Emperor for a while."

Ying Wang forced a smile and suddenly said, "Yesterday, the Crown Prince
took a liking to the steeds at my residence. I should have graciously offered
them, but those horses were bestowed by Father Emperor, so I couldn't
easily give them away to others."

"Oh?" The Crown Prince drawled, "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have
forgotten."

He raised an eyebrow and looked at the expression on Ying Wang's face,

"No matter, I actually prefer horses with a purer color. The tails of your
horses are a bit mixed. If it were really sent to the Eastern Palace, it would
be overshadowed by the other superior horses."

Ying Wang took a deep breath, reminding himself not to get angry, "Crown
Prince, the horses bestowed by Father Emperor are exceptional steeds from
a thousand miles away. What does it matter if there are a few strands of
mixed-colored hair on their tails?"

The Crown Prince's gaze fell upon the face of Ying Wang, and after a
moment, he said calmly, "Perhaps it's because I judge both people and
horses based on their appearances."

Ying Wang: "..."

When the Crown Prince mentioned judging people by their appearances, he

stared at Ying Wang's face. Despicable Crown Prince, what did he mean by
that?!

Within two days, many officials in the capital city learned about the
Emperor giving several tribute horses to the Crown Prince. It caused a lot of
discussion and sympathy. Among the Imperial Princes, the Emperor was
most fond of the Crown Prince.

After all, the Crown Prince had been raised by the Emperor himself, and
their relationship was different from that of the other Princes.
When the Crown Prince was young, he was weak and frail. A
knowledgeable person had said that the Crown Prince had a peculiar fate,
ordinary people wouldn't be able to raise him. The Emperor thought that if
ordinary people couldn't raise him, as the true dragon, the Emperor, he
naturally wasn't an ordinary person, so he decided to personally raise him.

Coincidentally, after the Crown Prince was brought to the Emperor's palace,
he quickly grew healthier and was able to eat, run, and jump. His physical
health improved significantly.

It was because of this that the Crown Prince lived in the Chenyang Palace
under the Emperor's care until the age of twelve, before moving to the
Eastern Palace.

History proved that the previous Crown Princes who had received such
favoritism from the Emperors were ultimately exiled to a cold and harsh
place by the Emperors who had loved them, and they couldn't return to the
capital until their death.

One wondered if the fate of this Crown Prince would turn out better?

When the Hua siblings arrived in the capital city, it was already half a
month later. As soon as they entered the city gates, they heard the sound of
horses' hooves, occasionally accompanied by the screams of passersby.

Hua Liuli lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked outside. Several well-
dressed young nobles were riding on horseback, paying no attention to the
terrified onlookers.

These young nobles, full of spirit, were galloping on the street, about to go
to a restaurant for a drink, but they were intercepted by several armored
soldiers.

"Who do you think you are, daring to block the way of this Young Master?"

"Gentlemen, according to the laws of Great Jin, riding horses in the busy
streets is prohibited. Our Young Miss is delicate and can't withstand being
startled. She is now almost fainting from the sound of your horses' hooves.
You should give us an explanation." The soldiers' eyes were intense,
gripping their sword hilts, indicating that they wouldn't let them go without
a clear explanation.

"What?" The young nobles looked at the horse carriage, which was still
dozens of steps away from them. Frightened? Almost fainting?

Were they intentionally picking a fight?

Before they could voice their doubts, a commotion came from the carriage.
Several maidservants were running back and forth, seemingly discussing
something about "medicine", "young miss", and "physician".

Could it be that the Young Lady was genuinely frightened to the point of
falling ill?

In the capital city, which family's Young Lady was so delicate and frail?

If something really happened, would they be beaten to death when they

returned home?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 4 – The Frail Young Lady

The idle and prodigal young nobles were frightened by the situation before
them. When they saw the soldiers with fierce expressions and sharp
weapons, they became even more apprehensive and obediently dismounted
from their horses.

In the capital city, many prominent families liked to display their family
emblems on their carriages, but from these carriages, they couldn't guess
which family's members were inside. The strict regulations of the carriage
structure and the presence of the soldier guards were not the treatment
ordinary noble families would receive.

They anxiously waited, but apart from the surrounding soldiers, no one in
authority came forward to speak with them. The only thing they could do
was keep their heads down and pray that nothing would happen to this
young lady.

After a while, a man of extraordinary demeanor approached them. A

strange sense of relief arose in their hearts, despite his visibly displeased
expression. As he drew closer, they promptly apologized, hoping to find out
his identity.

"Please rest assured, I am not an unreasonable person. Please go ahead," he

said.

The prodigal young nobles couldn't help but feel puzzled. They were just
surrounded by an imposing force moments ago, but now they were being let
go so easily?

"Really?" one of the young gentlemen looked at Hua Changkong

skeptically, "I wonder..."
"Naturally, yes," Hua Changkong sighed. "Gentlemen, you are young and
impulsive. How could I bother with you?"

The prodigal young nobles breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that this
person truly had no intention of pursuing the matter further.

"Therefore, once my younger sister recovers from her illness, I will

personally visit each of your residences."

The prodigal young nobles: "..."

Was he planning to tattle to their parents of their misdeeds?

It was too cruel, excessively so. How could there be such a sinister person
in the world? They weren't afraid of compensating with silver or medicinal
materials; what they feared was the trouble reaching their families. If that
happened, they would no longer have peaceful days.

"Rest assured, in front of your elders, I will only state the facts truthfully,
without exaggeration," Hua Changkong arched his hand toward the several
pale-faced prodigal, "Gentlemen, please leave."

With the words spoken to this extent, who would dare to leave?

"What has happened?" Just as the prodigal young nobles were apologizing,
a man dressed in a black silk robe, riding a spirited horse, arrived slowly.

Hua Changkong glanced at the spirited horse beneath the man in the black
robe but remained silent.

"Greetings, Your Highness Ying Wang," Upon seeing Ying Wang, the
prodigal young nobles seemed to regain their composure and hurriedly
bowed.

"Ruidong, what are you all doing here?" Ji Minghao, noticing some
commotion on the street, came over and found his cousin and a few noble
prodigals looking dejected, surrounded by soldiers.
"Your Highness," Tian Ruidong appeared somewhat embarrassed,
especially when he saw the Prince riding without anyone leading the horse.

This matter, whether big or small, would be troublesome if it implicated

Ying Wang in the "galloping through the market" incident.

Seeing his cousin hesitant to speak, Ying Wang turned his gaze to Hua
Changkong, "May Benwang1In ancient China, the term "benwang" (本王) was
used by princes or imperial sons to refer to themselves. It can be translated
as "this prince" or "this imperial son" in English. The term "benwang"
indicated their royal status and distinguished them from other individuals.
Princes were typically addressed as "benwang" in official and formal
contexts, especially when speaking to individuals of lower rank or when
referring to themselves in the third person in the presence of the emperor.
know the identity of this young gentleman? This is not a suitable place for
conversation with people coming and going. Could you, for Benwang's
sake, have these soldiers withdraw first?"

"Your Highness, you have misunderstood. This subordinate has no intention

of preventing these young gentlemen from leaving," Hua Changkong
smiled. "It is these young gentlemen who insist on staying to apologize to
me, which puts me in a difficult position."

The prodigal young gentlemen: "He is right. It is our insistence to stay and
apologize."

If we don't apologize, he will come to our estates and complain. Who can
tolerate that?

Ying Wang frowned. He knew well what kind of person his cousin was on
regular days. Would he really take the initiative to apologize to someone?

"Third Young Master, something bad has happened! Xianzhu is coughing

up blood!"

"Your Highness, my younger sister is seriously ill. Please forgive this

subordinate's impoliteness," Hua Changkong turned and returned to the
carriage, "We must return to the estate immediately."
As he let down the curtain of the carriage, Hua Changkong turned his head
and glanced at Ying Wang on horseback, quickly withdrawing his gaze
expressionlessly.

Upon hearing about the critically ill Xianzhu inside the carriage, even Ying
Wang had to retreat to the side and let the carriages pass.

After the carriages had gone far, Ying Wang wondered in confusion, who
could this person be?

"Did you get a good look at the countenance of Ying Wang?" Hua
Changkong sat cross-legged on the blanket inside the carriage and asked
Hua Liuli, who was leaning on a cushion, enjoying the service of a maid.

"En," Hua Liuli didn't even flinch.

“What do you think?”

"His looks are not even half as good as Third Brother's," Hua Liuli
pretended to cover her chest, "The water and soil in the capital city are truly
terrible. I suddenly feel dizzy and short of breath. I feel so uncomfortable
that I might faint."

"In the recent letter that His Majesty wrote to Father, it seemed like His
Majesty was trying to matchmake you with the Eldest Prince..."

Hua Liuli immediately sat up straight, "Third Brother, Ying Wang is not
handsome, and he can't distinguish right from wrong. Marrying such a man
would make one age quickly."

Before understanding the whole situation, he wanted people to give him

face, unknowingly offending people. It's not just that he doesn't look good,
he isn't smart either.

Hua Changkong agreed with his sister's 'judging people by their looks',
"Being with a man who is not handsome all day long would indeed be a
hardship for you. Even if you weren't sick, you would feel suffocated. So
rest assured, our family will not let you marry Ying Wang."
Upon hearing this, Hua Liuli lazily lay back down, "I suddenly don't feel
dizzy anymore, and my chest isn't as tight. I can have some light
refreshments now."

This time, Hua Changkong brought his sister back to the capital city ahead
of schedule. One reason was that he needed to participate in the imperial
examination after the beginning of spring. The other reason was to let his
sister become familiar with the environment of the capital city early on.

Soon, his father, mother, and second brother will return to the capital. He
wants to help gauge the situation in the city.

Looking at his pampered little sister, Hua Changkong didn't tell her that the
family never intended for her to marry into the royal family. Among the
men of the royal family, who could have only one Wangfei? Today they
take a concubine, tomorrow they fight for the throne, They would even
have a list of virtuous requirements for the Wangfei.

Why should his little sister, whom the Hua family cherishes, suffer in the
royal family? It would be much better for her to live comfortably as a
Xianzhu, marrying a suitable man if there is one, or enjoy the company of
handsome men if not. How great would that be?

The Hua family had achieved remarkable military merits, and the Emperor
bestowed them with an estate in the capital. Perhaps to avoid any
misunderstandings, the Emperor did not bestow them with servants but
rewarded them with a wealth of gold, silver, and jade artifacts. The Ministry
of Works even renovated the entire estate.

The Hua family had already sent people in advance to decorate and furnish
the estate, so the siblings only needed to move in.

On that day, the main gate of the Hua estate was wide open, adorned with
red lanterns. Within a couple of hours, many officials in the capital learned
that someone from the Hua family had returned, although they were
unaware of who it was.
The next morning, the officials living next to the Hua estate saw the palace
sending carriages to pick up the Hua family and bring them to the palace.

To show respect for the great hero, Emperor Changlong not only wanted to
personally meet Hua Changkong but also invited the most noble woman in
the palace, the Empress Dowager, to receive the Hua family's only daughter.

The Empress Dowager was the Emperor's birth mother, with a kind and
generous nature. Understanding the Emperor's intention to give face to the
Great General, she happily agreed and even had several high-ranking
concubines accompany her.

"The young girl is sensitive, so when the guests arrive, you all should be
friendly towards her and not frighten her," the Empress Dowager worried
that these concubines, who were usually engaged in palace intrigue, might
cause trouble. She specifically instructed them, "The Great General has put
his head in line and shed blood for our Great Jin. We must not let his
children suffer in the capital."

"Empress Dowager, please rest assured. Chenqie does not have a daughter
of her own and have always envied those who do," Consort Xian quickly
responded. "When the Young Lady from Hua family arrives, Chenqie will
treat her as Chenqie's own daughter."

The other concubines secretly rolled their eyes. This woman who kept
saying she wanted a daughter was the same person who had always been
proud of giving birth to the Eldest Prince.

Everyone having played the game of palace intrigue, who would be fooled
by such words?

However, what no one expected was that the daughter of the Great General
did not enter the palace because she fell ill.

"She's sick? Could it be due to the hardships of the journey and the cold
weather?" The Empress Dowager couldn't help but feel somewhat worried.
"Although Xianzhu has a delicate constitution, she was in good spirits
throughout the journey. However, yesterday when we entered the capital,
she encountered some trouble caused by a few young nobles riding
recklessly in the city, which frightened her. In addition..." The person
delivering the news appeared somewhat hesitant.

"What else?" The Empress Dowager's expression turned serious.

"The Hua family’s Third Young Master witnessed those young nobles
riding recklessly in the city, which violated the laws of Great Jin, so he
stepped forward to dissuade them. Unexpectedly, His Highness Ying Wang
happened to come by," As the person delivering the news spoke, he quickly
knelt down, "This matter has nothing to do with Ying Wang. However, due
to Xianzhu's naturally timid nature, she thought she had offended Ying
Wang, and in her anxious state, she coughed up some blood. Since then,
upon returning to the estate, she had been bedridden."

"Who are those young nobles?" Although this matter involved Ying Wang,
the Empress Dowager didn't give up on pursuing further information. It
seemed she had made up her mind to seek justice for the young lady from
the Hua family.

"Apparently, it was the Second Young Master of the Tian family and his
friends."

Those present were extremely smart and skilled. Soon they reconstructed
the whole scene in their minds.

The noble paternal family members of Consort Xian caused a disturbance

by riding recklessly in the city, scaring the young lady who had just arrived
in the capital. The Hua family's Third Young Master, who was her older
brother, couldn't bear to see his own sister being wronged, so he stepped
forward to reason with the young nobles. However, Ying Wang came to
assist the members of his maternal family, which led to the young lady
coughing up blood due to anxiety.

The concubines and consorts all turned their heads to look at Consort Xian.
She had just claimed that she would treat the young lady as her own
daughter, but now her daughter had been wronged. Why wasn't she
immediately seeking justice for her?

Consort Xian: "..."

The disgraced Consort Xian returned to her chambers and was so angry that
she broke a jade hairpin.

"Your Highness, how can someone be so delicate? Could it be that the

daughter of the Hua family deliberately pretended to be ill to frame Ying
Wang?" A palace maid whispered softly, "Otherwise, how could such a
coincidental thing happen?"

"She's an unmarried girl. Pretending to be weak and sick brings no benefit

unless she doesn't want to marry. If news of her delicate constitution
spreads, which young man in the capital would dare to marry her?" Despite
her extreme anger, Consort Xian still had her wits about her, "Go to the
Tian estate and make sure they discipline their younger generation
properly."

It's truly remarkable. The Hua family's daughter was perfectly fine, but she
fell ill due to her own family's actions upon entering the capital. How could
she face others after this?

Inside the Hua residence, Hua Liuli leaned against the window, reclining
slightly as she caught a few snowflakes that drifted in. With a sigh, she said,
"I was scared by those reckless young nobles yesterday. My chest still feels
a bit tight."

"You're right, those reckless young nobles truly deserve a lesson. Young
Miss, as precious as you are, how could you withstand such impudent and
frightening behavior?" Yuan Yi skillfully continued the conversation.

Hua Liuli looked up at the sky again, her face filled with melancholy as she
sighed softly, "I remember back in Qinghan Prefecture, whenever it
snowed, Father would personally go out hunting..."
"Nubi2"Nubi" (奴婢) is a term used in ancient China to refer to a servant or a
maidservant. It is a humble and respectful way for a servant to refer to
themselves when addressing someone of higher status. understands," Yuan
Yi turned and walked to the outer room, speaking to the maid, "Third
Young Master wants to have hot pot. Instruct the kitchen to prepare it
earlier."

Since their Xianzhu had a delicate and weak constitution and had no
appetite due to missing her loved ones, it must be the Third Young Master
who wanted to have hot pot.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 5 – Bearing The Thorn
And Apologizing

Compared to the awkward atmosphere in the harem, Emperor Changlong

felt much better after meeting Hua Changkong.

As the son of a renowned general, Hua Changkong possessed a literary

temperament, handsome appearance, and most importantly... he was
extremely eloquent, just like his father.

Unlike other military commanders who were brash and direct in their
speech, or civil officials who were subtle and reserved, Hua Changkong's
praises were sincere and heartfelt. His eyes were filled with gratitude and
admiration for the Emperor.

"When this subordinate's father was seriously injured during the attack on
Ke'er City, just when the soldiers thought we were doomed to fail, Your
Majesty sent reinforcements and supplies," Hua Changkong's eyes welled
up with tears, "Your Majesty's actions not only determined the victory of
our army in the battle against Jinpo but also gave this subordinate's severely
wounded father hope to persevere."

At this point, Hua Changkong almost shed tears. He bowed deeply to

Emperor Changlong, without saying much, but the Emperor could feel his
deep gratitude.

"Zhen has known Yingting since we were young, like brothers. He has
defended the border for Great Jin and guarded our borders. When Zhen
heard that he was seriously injured, Zhen couldn't sleep or eat. Fortunately,
he is safe and sound, which finally put Zhen's mind at ease," Emperor
Changlong said, with a tinge of regret in his heart. Hua Yingting's abilities
in leading troops and fighting battles were rare in a century. It was a pity
that he couldn't return to the battlefield after this injury.

But it was also for the best. Yingting had been guarding the border of the
Great Jin for many years, bearing numerous old wounds. It was time for
him to enjoy his life in retirement. Fortunately, his eldest son was brave and
skilled in battle, inheriting his father's spirit. With him assisting Yingting in
defending Great Jin's territory, the Emperor could rest assured.

Emperor Changlong talked to Hua Changkong for a long time, even

inviting him to have a meal in the imperial palace. Hua Changkong's
enthusiastic yet not obsequious flattery made the Emperor feel refreshed.
He kept him for an hour before allowing Chief Eunuch Zhao Sancai to
personally escort Hua Changkong out.

"Third Young Master Hua, please watch your step on the stairs," Zhao
Sancai bowed and escorted Hua Changkong out of the Chenyang Palace.
Hua Changkong bowed to him and said, "Chief Eunuch Zhao, please stay."

"Third Young Master Hua, there's no need to be so polite. This old servant
hasn't seen the Great General for many years. Today, this old servant has the
honor of accompanying the Third Young Master Hua. If there's anything
Third Young Master Hua needs or are unfamiliar with, please let this old
servant know," Zhao Sancai smiled and said, "His Majesty has always been
concerned about the Great General. Now that the Third Young Master Hua
has returned to the capital, if there's anything Third Young Master Hua
needs, don't hesitate to tell this old servant."

Hua Changkong knew that Zhao Sancai was expressing his closeness on
behalf of the Emperor. He quickly expressed his gratitude and treated Zhao
Sancai as his own.

Ji Minghao saw the Chief Eunuch, who was his father's most trusted aide,
smiling and talking with someone. When he approached and took a closer
look, he fell silent.

Isn't this the person who made Tian Ruidong and the other young nobles
apologize yesterday?
"Your Highness Yang Wang..."

“This gentleman is…”

"Your Highness," Zhao Sancai, courteous but lacking familiarity,

introduced, "This is Hua Changkong, the third son of the Great General."

Who?

Who is this person that Zhao Sancai is talking about?

The son of the Great General?!

Could it be that Xianzhu who vomited blood in the carriage yesterday... is

she the only daughter of the Hua family?

Ji Minghao felt some regret. If he had known that Tian Ruidong had
offended the son and daughter of the Great General, he would have avoided
getting involved and definitely wouldn't have meddled.

After causing such a commotion, there was no need for his mother, Consort
Xian, to worry about how to dispel the Emperor's intention of marrying the
daughter of the Hua family to him. The Hua family themselves would not
agree to it.

But even though he had no intention of forming an alliance with the Hua
family, it didn't mean he had the guts to offend them now!

At this moment, Ying Wang's heart was helpless and on the verge of
collapse. Looking at Hua Changkong's pleasant smile, he felt a hidden
malice within it.

After learning the identities of the Hua siblings, Ying Wang had a sense of
foreboding. And in the end, reality proved that his intuition was correct.

In just one day, rumors spread throughout the capital that Ying Wang and
his cousin had angered the daughter of the Great General, causing her to
vomit blood. The rumors grew more and more widespread, eventually
turning into a claim that Ying Wang had intentionally bullied the Hua
siblings upon their arrival in the capital, in order to prove his superior
military capabilities compared to the Great General.

Ying Wang felt wronged. He simply enjoyed hunting, how did it turn into
jealousy towards the Great General's abilities? Even if he did feel jealous,
there was no need for him to intentionally bully the Hua siblings. He wasn't
foolish.

However, common people don't consider such logic. They simply believed
that while the Great General fought for the people of Great Jin on the
battlefield, his children were being bullied by a Prince. How saddened
would the Great General be if he found out?

For a period of time, many rumors related to Ying Wang started circulating
in the streets:

He couldn't walk straight when he saw a beautiful woman.

All the utensils in his house were made of gold.

He cursed a seventy-year-old woman and stole candy from a three-year-old

child.

The rumors were endless and they portrayed him as completely worthless.

The rumors spread so widely that even the servants from Ying Wang's
mansion dared not mention which estate they were from when they went
out for errands, fearing they would encounter angry commoners ready to
attack them.

After hearing the rumors circulating in the capital, Hua Liuli extended her
fair and delicate fingers and gently opened the letter written by her father
and brothers, "These people in the capital are truly despicable. They
deliberately incite rumors, causing difficulties for us, the Hua family, and
the Eldest Prince. I'm afraid of having to deal with these people in the
future."
"The Emperor is in good health, but these Princes in the capital have to use
every means possible to suppress the competition," Hua Changkong put
down his brush and left the letter aside to dry, "This good knife that is our
family just happened to be used against Eldest Prince."

"Why are these Princes causing such a fuss? The Crown Prince is living
well in the Eastern Palace. Is it their turn to flutter around like chickens and
ducks?" Hua Liuli looked up at the sky again, her expression filled with
sorrow, "For the sake of power, they disregard blood ties. It's truly
regrettable and heartbreaking."

"The competition between the Princes has nothing to do with us," Hua
Changkong added deliberately, "You don't have to worry about it."

"As a military family, we don’t need to beat around the bush before we act,"
Hua Changkong smiled mysteriously.

"If we want to defeat the enemy, we need to trap them in our own rules and
then use our rich experience to outmaneuver them," Hua Liuli sighed. "For
a delicate young lady like me, besides using these methods, what other
options do I have?"

"Indeed, my sister is the most intelligent person in our family," Hua

Changkong praised sincerely, "Walk our own path and let others go their
own way."

Hua Liuli showed a modest smile.

"It's all because of your intelligence which has burdened your body, making
you so frail," Hua Changkong shook his head with emotion, "Thinking of
how frail you are, it feels like a knife twisting in my heart. Let's roast
venison tonight."

"Okay," Hua Liuli nodded, "Also, bring some well-marbled wild boar meat.
It will taste even better."

The two siblings looked at each other and smiled with satisfaction.
Just two days after the rumors of Ying Wang oppressing the Hua siblings
spread, Consort Xian, Ying Wang's mother, sent a generous gift to the Hua
family. Along with these gifts came Tian Ruidong, who was bound with
rattan strips on his back.

Tian Ruidong deeply regretted it. He regretted it very much. If he had

known that he would get involved in such a situation that day... why did he
drink alcohol? No, he shouldn't have gone out at all!

He told his grandfather and father that he never even encountered the Hua
family's Young Lady, but due to his history of lying too much, no one in his
family believed him. They even said that even if the Hua family's Young
Lady wasn't frightened by them, it was still his own fault for being an idle
young master.

What's wrong with being an idle young master? Even if he idled away all
day, indulged in pleasure, galloped through the bustling streets, or even
knocked over someone's stall, he was still an esteemed and distinguished
idle young master.

Idle young masters also have dignity, idle young master also have their
principles, and they cannot bear such injustice.

But... he had to consider his father and grandfather, who had higher status
and position than him, not to mention that this incident also implicated the
Eldest Prince. Besides humbly going to the Hua family to apologize, what
better solution could he have?

He had heard that the Emperor valued the Hua family, but he didn't expect it
to be to this extent. As soon as Tian Ruidong stepped into the gates of the
Hua family's estate, he was attracted by the magnificent architecture. It was
truly picturesque, far surpassing his own family's estate in beauty.

The Tian family is not lacking in wealth. But his aunt is a consort in the
palace and gave birth to the Eldest Prince, putting her status and position
different from other ordinary consorts and concubines. As the maternal
family of Consort Xian, they naturally couldn't hinder her and the Eldest
Prince.
Entering the main hall, Tian Ruidong saw the man -- who recently
threatened to report his misdeeds to his family -- approaching with a
harmless smile.

"Brother Tian, what are you doing?" Hua Changkong personally untied the
rattan strips from Tian Ruidong's back and threw them aside, helping him to
sit down, "It was just a joke when I said I would visit your estate that day.
Brother Tian, you must not take it seriously."

Tian Ruidong forced a bitter smile, unable to express his grievances in his
heart. He didn't report the matter to his family, but what happened was even
more terrifying than just reporting to his family; now even the Emperor and
the Empress Dowager knew about it.

He didn't dare to take Hua Changkong's words seriously and insisted on

apologizing to the Hua family's Young Lady.

In Great Jin, where customs were open-minded, there were no strict

restrictions on interactions between men and women. With Hua Changkong
present, Tian Ruidong wanted to personally apologize to the Hua family's
Young Lady as a sign of respect.

"Brother Tian, how can you be so polite?" Hua Changkong sighed and
turned his head to a maid outside the door, "Go and bring Young Miss
here," He glanced at the anxious and restless Tian Ruidong, picked up the
hot tea, and moistened his lips.

Very well, after this incident, there should be many idle young masters who
wouldn't dare to gallop through the bustling streets and knock over
someone's stall.

Tian Ruidong anxiously waited for a while when he finally heard the voice
of a maid outside the door.

"Xianzhu has arrived."

Tian Ruidong couldn't help but be curious. What does this frail and delicate
Xianzhu, who can't withstand fright, look like?
He turned his head to look outside the door and saw several maids escorting
a girl wearing a white cloak. Her skin was whiter than the snow in the
courtyard. Her jet-black hair was tied up in a simple bun, and the crimson
tassel lightly swayed between her eyebrows, causing one's heart to flutter
along with its movement.

Before reaching the doorway, the girl's steps swayed lightly a few times.
She covered her mouth and coughed softly, with a mist of water in her eyes.

Looking at this delicate girl in front of him, Tian Ruidong couldn't help but
think bitterly that those beasts actually frightened such a celestial-like
woman. They were truly despicable!

At this moment, he decided to selectively forget that he was also one of

those beasts.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 6 – Accumulating
Blessings And Virtues

Tian Ruidong stared blankly as Hua Liuli entered the room. Upon hearing
Hua Changkong's dry cough, he quickly came to his senses and greeted Hua
Liuli with a bow.

Hua Liuli gestured to return the greeting, but Tian Ruidong quickly waved
his hand and said, "This subordinate one dare not accept Xianzhu's
courtesy. Please, take a seat quickly."

He couldn't bear to let such a fragile woman go through the trouble of

returning his greeting.

Upon hearing that Tian Ruidong didn't require a return greeting, Hua Liuli
didn't hesitate and turned around to sit down. Occasionally, she would cover
her chest and cough, causing Tian Ruidong to be cautious with his
breathing, afraid that he might blow her away with a single breath.

When he came, he was still full of anger, but when he actually faced the
Hua family's daughter, his anger vanished, leaving him a bit at a loss. "A
few days ago, this subordinate caused a disturbance to Xianzhu, which
caused this subordinate to feel extremely uneasy. Today, this subordinate
specially came to apologize to Xianzhu."

"Young Noble Tian, you're being too polite," Hua Liuli spoke weakly, "It
was my own timidity. It has nothing to do with you, Young Noble Tian. You
need not blame yourself."

Hearing these words, Tian Ruidong was moved. His grandfather and father
both believed that everything was his fault, but here was the victim, Hua
Xianzhu, who didn't hold him responsible. What a kind little fairy she was!

The more she said so, the more embarrassed he felt. Thinking about how
reluctant he was when he came to apologize earlier, Tian Ruidong felt even
more ashamed.

Such a gentle and kind girl must be a celestial fairy descended from the
immortal realm.

Hua Liuli smiled gently as she listened to Tian Ruidong's various words of
remorse and thoughtfully had her maid serve him tea.

When the other party finished speaking, Hua Liuli lowered her eyelids. Her
beautiful eyebrows and eyes resembled the soft moonlight, making people
unable to help but be enchanted. "Young Noble Tian, please don't worry. I
hold no blame against you."

Upon hearing that Xianzhu didn't hold him responsible, Tian Ruidong was
deeply moved and presented the prepared gift list.

Hua Liuli placed the gift list on the tea table. "Young Noble Tian, you are
too polite."

The female official who came with Tian Ruidong was a senior palace maid
from Consort Xian's Palace. Since entering, she hadn't spoken a word.

She half-lowered her eyes, maintaining the posture of a lowly person, but
her peripheral vision carefully observed Hua Liuli from head to toe. After
Hua Liuli accepted the gift list from the Tian Residence, the female official
presented a prepared invitation.

It was an invitation handwritten by Consort Xian herself. The floral imprint

on the paper emitted a faint fragrance.

"The plum blossoms in the palace are blooming. Her Highness is concerned
that Xianzhu may not be accustomed to the capital since her recent arrival.
She wishes to invite your honored self to the palace to enjoy the flowers,"
the female official performed a deep courtesy, "May Xianzhu do us the
honor of participating.."

Hua Liuli wasn't surprised by Consort Xian's invitation. Rumors about the
Eldest Prince had been circulating in the capital, and all those rumors
stemmed from her.

If she refused Consort Xian's invitation, the rumors about the Eldest Prince
in the capital would only intensify, greatly affecting his future reputation.

For the ambitious Consort Xian, this was unacceptable.

Sigh.

Who asked her to be a softhearted and kind person?

Closing the invitation, Hua Liuli smiled shyly at the expectant female
official, her eyes filled with anticipation, "Many thanks to Her Highness for
the invitation. Official's daughter will definitely attend. However, Official's
daughter has some health issues and many restrictions on what can be eaten
and used. Will it be too much trouble for Her Highness?"

"How could it be a trouble? Before this slave came here, Her Highness said
that Her Highness and the Greate General's wife were good friends in their
youth. Although Her Highness has never met your honored self, Her
Highness already regards your honored self as her own niece in her heart."
The female official breathed a sigh of relief. If Hua Xianzhu was willing to
come, that was a good thing. Even if she had to drink the morning dew of
three months, Her Highness would find a way to get it for her.

"Then... Official's daughter will trouble Her Highness," Hua Liuli said, her
mouth curling up.

She thought only some vain men liked to call anyone they conversed with
"good friends", but she didn't expect Consort Xian to have the same hobby.

Her mother has told her long ago that due to her fierce and independent
nature when she was young, she had hardly any close friends. If anyone
claimed to be her good friends in the capital, she must not believe them; it
would all be lies to deceive her and Third Brother.

As he reluctantly left, Tian Ruidong turned his head to take one last look at
the delicate Hua Xianzhu. When he saw her smiling at him, he quickly said,
"Please rest assured, this subordinate will no longer cause a commotion in
the city."

Once outside the gates of the Hua family's estate, the cold wind brought
Tian Ruidong back to his senses. What did he just say?

Never cause a commotion in the city again?!

Can he pretend that those words were never spoken?

"Your Royal Highness, Consort Xian wishes to hold a plum blossom

banquet in the palace and has sent an invitation," The eunuch presented the
gold-stamped invitation to the Crown Prince.

"On such a freezing day, why bother with plum blossoms?" The Crown
Prince declined the invitation, "Gu1"孤" (gū) is a pronoun used by the Crown
Prince to refer to himself. It also carries the meaning of "solitary," or
"alone" and represents the concept of solitude, loneliness, or being without
companionship. won't go."

The eunuch took the invitation back.

"Consort Xian hastily organized the plum blossom banquet to invite the
Great General's daughter." The Crown Prince tapped the table with his fair
fingers. "She doesn't want her to be her son's Wangfei, but she wants to use
the other's identity to quell the rumors. This mother and son duo are quite
remarkable."

The eunuch dared not respond.

"Forget it," The Crown Prince stood up, "Consort Xian has already given
birth to a foolish son. Gu shouldn't say too much about her."
His brothers all hoped that the Emperor would depose him from the
position of Crown Prince. He couldn't help but feel sorry for them when he
saw the foolish methods they used. They were all sons of the Emperor, so
how did they end up so foolish?

"Prepare a generous gift and send it over during Consort Xian's plum
blossom banquet."

"To Consort Xian?" The eunuch was surprised. When did the Crown Prince
become so considerate? Although he didn't attend the banquet, he still
prepared a gift for Consort Xian, which would be giving her face.

"To the daughter of the Great General."

The eunuch sighed with relief. The Crown Prince was still in his right mind.

"Your Royal Highness, the Fifth Prince has come to pay his respects," A
female official from the Eastern Palace entered and whispered, "Would
Your Royal Highness like to see him?"

"Let him in," The Crown Prince's expression was indifferent, showing no
particular closeness to the visitor.

Before long, a man as graceful as jade walked in. He respectfully saluted

the Crown Prince, "This younger brother pays respects to the Crown
Prince."

The Crown Prince leaned back in his chair, his expression emotionless as he
watched his brother, who was as beautiful and talented as the moon, "En,
have a seat."

His cold attitude didn't affect the Fifth Prince. After respectfully exchanging
pleasantries, he didn't mention anything else and simply took his leave.

Among his brothers, there were those who showed respect, defiance, and
even flattery. But none of them did it as perfectly as the Fifth Prince,
flawless in every aspect.
Unfortunately, no matter what means they employed, as long as he, the
Crown Prince, remained standing, they would always be just Princes.

It truly evoked great sympathy.

On the day she entered the palace, Hua Liuli didn't go directly to Consort
Xian's Lincui Palace; instead, she first went to pay her respects to the
Empress Dowager in the Shoukang Palace.

The Empress Dowager was a kind and benevolent old lady. She was very
fond of Hua Liuli and when heard that she was going to the Lincui Palace to
admire the plum blossoms, she specifically gave Hua Liuli a red fox cape.

"This cape is vibrant in color. This Grieving One is too old to wear it, but it
suits you perfectly," When Hua Liuli put on the cape, the Empress Dowager
smiled and said, "This Grieving One has always said that this cape would
look beautiful on a charming young girl like you."

Upon hearing this, the female attendant beside the Empress Dowager
wanted to smile yet dared not.

A few days ago, a younger relative from the Empress Dowager's paternal
family wanted this cape, but the Empress Dowager didn't give it to her
because she didn't find her attractive enough.

Hua Liuli covered her mouth with a handkerchief and chuckled lightly. Her
eyes curved slightly, charming enough to make people forget about her
illness, "Many thanks to Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, for the
praise."

"This Grieving One likes young girls like you the most. Come to this
Grieving One's palace more often when spring arrives," The Empress
Dowager gently held Hua Liuli's hand and patted her, saying, "This
Grieving One has plenty of fabric in my private collection. Tomorrow, let's
have the embroiderer make some clothes for you according to your
measurements."
Hua Liuli nodded with a smile. In the Empress Dowager's eyes, she could
sense a kind of enthusiasm.

As soon as Hua Liuli left, the Empress Dowager exclaimed with joy, "It's
been a long time since this Grieving One encountered such a remarkable
young girl. Finally, those fabrics in the private collection will serve a
purpose."

The Empress Dowager's hobby was to see beautiful young girls wearing
beautiful clothes. If she hadn't entered the palace and become the Empress
back then, she might have become the most talented female fashion
designer in Great Jin.

Alas, her great ideals were buried by the harem struggles.

After leaving the Shoukang Palace, Hua Liuli coughed a few times and
weakly caught her breath. Palace servants hurriedly approached her with a
sedan chair. She perfunctorily uttered, “This does not abide by protocol",
but she still sat on the sedan chair.

Although the palace roads were regularly cleaned by eunuchs, snowflakes

continued to fall. How could she, a delicate woman, walk in such harsh
weather?

Once seated, she even managed to adopt an extremely delicate posture. She
could guarantee that not even the swaying little white flowers in the wind
could match her current pitiful appearance.

To reach the Lincui Palace from the Shoukang Palace, they had to pass
through the back of the Chenyang Palace. As she looked at the wide palace
road behind the Chenyang Palace, she realized that while this palace was
filled with people, it was quieter than the Hua family's estate, which had
fewer people.

The snow grew heavier when Hua Liuli saw palace servants carrying a
sedan chair embroidered with golden patterns coming in her direction.
"The... the Crown Prince?" The eunuch who was carrying the sedan chair
sounded somewhat panicked and quietly reminded Hua Liuli, "Hua
Xianzhu, that is the Crown Prince's procession."

All the palace attendants around Hua Liuli stopped in their tracks and
respectfully retreated to the side of the wall. Hua Liuli held onto the iris and
descended from the sedan chair, quietly watching as the Crown Prince's
procession approached.

When the procession was right in front of her, Hua Liuli uncovered her cape
hood and bowed her head in a gesture of respect.

The cold wind, carrying snowflakes, struck her face, making her feel the
chills.

As the wind lifted the curtain of the sedan chair, the Crown Prince caught
sight of a touch of red in the snowy background.

Just as the curtain was about to close, he extended his fair hand and lifted it.

"Official's daughter offers greetings to Your Highness," Hua Liuli raised her
head and saw the handsome face behind the curtain.

No wonder there were rumors that the Emperor favored the Crown Prince.
With such a face, who wouldn't be partial?

Cough cough. Hua Liuli covered her mouth with a handkerchief and
coughed a few times. Regardless of the time or place, she would never
forget that she was a delicate and helpless young woman.

Just as she finished coughing, the Crown Prince let down the curtain, and
she tactfully took a step back.

Suddenly, a hand reached out from behind the curtain, holding an

exquisitely crafted hand warmer.

"Take it," the curtain lifted once again, and the Crown Prince lazily looked
at her. "You are... the Young Lady from the Hua family?"
"Thank you, Your Royal Highness. I am indeed the daughter of the Hua
family," Hua Liuli reached out to receive the hand warmer and held it with
both hands. It felt quite warm.

"It's snowing heavily. Be careful on the road," the Crown Prince looked at
her with smiling eyes and calmly let down the curtain.

Fortunately, the Eldest Prince had no intention of marrying this Young Lady
from the Hua family. Otherwise, with his appearance and intellect, he
would probably have mistreated the poor girl.

Consort Xian, who had been in the harem for so long, finally did a good
deed; not allowing flowers to be stuck in her son's pile of dung.

Indeed, this was accumulating blessings and virtues.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 7 – Poison In The Wine

At first glance, Consort Xian did not like Hua Liuli, but she thought that the
other party couldn't become her daughter-in-law anyway, so she calmed
down mentally.

She warmly greeted Hua Liuli to take a seat. There were not many women
present, except for a few Royal Princesses and Consort Xian's relatives.

In the plum forest, there were also several young gentlemen dressed in
splendid clothes, composing poems and painting. Hua Liuli glanced at the
snowflakes floating in the air and held the hand warmer tighter. It was
really difficult for the young gentlemen in the capital to write and paint in
such cold weather.

"Your Highness, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince went to the large
camp in the suburbs today. Although he can't come back now, he sent a lot
of things for you," Consort Xian's personal palace maid whispered to
Consort Xian, "Prince Ning and the Fifth Prince replied and said they will
come over later."

Consort Xian nodded slightly to indicate her understanding. She looked

towards Hua Liuli, who was sitting not far away, with a slightly furrowed
brow.

It's better if Hao'er doesn't come. This girl from the Hua family has some
beauty. If Hao'er falls for her beauty and wants to marry her as a Wangfei, it
will be troublesome.

The table in front of Hua Liuli was filled with fruits and pastries, but she
only took a sip of tea from the cup, while the fruits and pastries remained
untouched.
"Xianzhu, is the pastry not to your liking?" The Second Princess, who was
sitting next to Hua Liuli, noticed and looked at her with concern, "If you
don't like it, I can have the chef make something else for you."

Since her birth mother passed away and she didn't have any biological
siblings, she deliberately showed her closeness to Consort Xian and Ying
Wang, whom Consort Xian raised for two years in their childhood, to avoid
appearing weak to others.

She showed goodwill towards Hua Liuli, which also represented the attitude
of Consort Xian.

"The pastries are all good. It's just that this humble servant has a weak
constitution and should not indulge in tea or food," Hua Liuli smiled,
"Thank you, Princess, for your kind offer."

The Second Princess didn't expect Hua Liuli's health to be so weak. She felt
it was regretful that Hua Liuli's parents and brothers were all valiant figures,
but Hua Liuli herself, with her outstanding appearance, was not suitable to
be a Wangfei due to her weak physique.

"I heard that the Hua family is full of brave warriors who can single-
handedly take on hundreds of enemies. How did Hua Xianzhu end up with
such a frail body?" A girl in a pink palace dress, Jiamin Junzhu1It means
Commandery Princess, her rank is just above Hua Luili, but is below the
Second Princess (Since the Second Princess is the Emperor's daughter.
That's why I am not addressing Junzhu and Xian Zhu as Princesses to avoid
any confusion). Hua Luili is only a Xian Zhu, which means County
Princess, asked in a straightforward manner, seemingly unaware that her
words might be inappropriate.

"This is Jiamin Junzhu, the youngest daughter of Princess Shunan. She has
a straightforward personality and doesn't speak with ill intent. Hua Xianzhu,
please don't take it to heart," The Second Princess explained quickly, afraid
that Hua Liuli might misunderstand. Princess Shunan doted on Jiamin
Junzhu in particular, allowing her to develop a carefree character.
Sometimes she would unknowingly hurt others with her words.
As they were all relatives of the imperial family, coupled with the fact that
Jiamin Junzhu didn't mean any harm, they would pretend not to hear if they
heard something unpleasant on ordinary days.

"Thank you, Jiamin Junzhu, for your praise of this humble servant's
family," Hua Liuli pretended to be strong and smiled, "When this humble
servant was born, there was a group of bandits disguised as merchants who
infiltrated the city."

As she spoke, tears welled up in Hua Liuli's eyes, and she choked up,
"Fortunately, my mother discovered it early and saved the people from
disaster. But at that time, my mother was pregnant with me and almost
suffered a miscarriage after confronting the bandits. She endured great pain
and torment when giving birth to me, almost losing her life due to difficult
labor."

"I burdened my mother even before I was born, which is truly unfilial. If the
people suffered because of this, I would have been a sinner before I even
came into the world." Speaking of this, Hua Liuli, overwhelmed by sadness,
covered her chest and almost couldn't catch her breath.

"Xianzhu, the physician has already said that you must not be emotionally
agitated. Please take care of your health." Yuan Yi took out a small
medicine bottle, took two pills from it, and fed them to Hua Liuli before
gently patting her chest.

"Y-You..." Jiamin Junzhu was taken aback by Hua Liuli's sudden illness.
After a long while, she complained, "I didn't say anything. Who are you
trying to impress with this act?"

"Jiamin Junzhu is right, it's all my fault," Hua Liuli leaned against Yuan Yi,
her voice extremely weak.

Jiamin Junzhu, who had a straightforward personality, felt a sense of

frustration for the first time. When she heard Hua Liuli say, "Jiamin Junzhu
is right, it's all my fault," she felt an inexplicable anger rise within her, but
she had nothing to say.
"Jiamin Junzhu, the Great General's wife is as capable as any man and has
made great contributions to the protection of our Great Jin's people. It's very
impolite for you to say such things," Consort Xian's face grew serious, "You
are the daughter of Princess Shunan. I, as a Consort, should not be lecturing
you. But as our Great Jin's Junzhu, even if you speak without a filter, you
should understand what you shouldn't say."

Not to mention that it was Jiamin Junzhu's fault today, even if it wasn't,
Consort Xian would still stand on the side of the Hua family's girl.
Otherwise, rumors like "Consort Xian mistreated General Hua's daughter
when she brought her into the palace" would spread tomorrow.

"Please, Your Highness, don't blame Jiamin Junzhu. She is not wrong. I am
indeed the most useless descendant of the Hua family," Hua Liuli raised her
head, revealing a weak yet resilient smile, "Fortunately, my father, brothers,
and mother treat me very well. They did not despise me because of my
weakness. They are my pride, as they protect and defend Great Jin."

Indeed, everyone in her family is protecting and defending the country,

even to the extent of getting into premature labor due to protecting the
people. And now, someone dares to ask this pitiful child why her whole
family is so capable, while she was the only one dragging them down?

How despicable and narrow-minded one must be to say such words?

The people present looked at Jiamin Junzhu with strange expressions. The
noble gentlemen who composed poetry and recited verses in the plum forest
also couldn't help but feel sympathy for the delicate and kind-hearted
Xianzhu.

Jiamin Junzhu felt so frustrated that she almost spat blood. In the past, if
someone argued with her, others would think that person had a narrow
mind. But today, this Xianzhu kept saying "It's not her fault", so why does
she feel like she suffered a great loss?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She pushed the tea
snacks on the table and walked towards the plum forest.
This undoubtedly made Consort Xian lose face. She didn't show it on her
face but casually remarked, "Jiamin Junzhu has grown up, but her
temperament has become more resolute than when she was a child."

Hua Liuli smiled and remained silent. She enjoyed engaging in friendly
conversations with straightforward and well-meant girls.

"Your Highness, Prince Ning and the Fifth Prince have arrived."

In this somewhat awkward atmosphere, the arrival of Prince Ning and the
Fifth Prince was like a timely rain.

Prince Ning had a slightly chubby figure and a somewhat simple and honest
smile. Compared to him, the Prince standing beside him was like the bright
moon in the sky, a precious jade in a rock. He appeared as if he was a
painting even in casual standing.

Hua Liuli felt that many women's eyes in the room lit up, including those
who were already married.

The Fifth Prince seemed unaware of the gazes of the womenfolk. He

walked up to Hua Liuli and elegantly bowed to her, "This must be General
Hua's beloved daughter?"

Hua Liuli, supported by Yuan Yi, stood up and returned the courtesy, "I
greet Prince Ning and the Fifth Prince."

"No need for excessive courtesy," Prince Ning walked over, smiling at
Consort Xian, "Your Highness, with talented scholars and beauties present
today, you should make the feast more sumptuous."

"I know you enjoy good food. I have already prepared everything," Consort
Xian smiled and exchanged a few words, instructing the palace attendants
to prepare the feast.

The feast was arranged in a warm pavilion on the upper floor, allowing
guests to enjoy the scenery without being chilled by the wind. Consort Xian
was afraid that Hua Liuli would fall ill from a slight breeze, so she
specifically arranged a place sheltered from the wind for her.

The dishes prepared by the palace chefs are exquisitely presented. Even the
names are carefully chosen and filled with poetic and artistic sentiments.

"This bottle of plum blossom wine, also known as

Zhanluxiang2"Zhānlùxiāng" (沾露香) is a term used in the given context to
describe a type of plum blossom wine. The literal translation of the term is
"fragrance touched by dew." It refers to the process of brewing the wine
using the accumulated snow on the plum blossom buds, resulting in a
delicate and aromatic flavor., is brewed from the accumulated snow on the
plum blossom buds. It carries a gentle fragrance that is not intoxicating,"
explained Consort Xian. She then turned to a palace maid and said,
"Xianzhu shouldn't drink too much alcohol. Bring me the delicately crafted
Linglong Night Glow Cup."

"The Linglong Cup was brought as a tribute by a diplomat from a small

country. It not only has exquisite craftsmanship but also has the amazing
effect of alleviating intoxication," Consort Xian smiled at Hua Liuli and
said, "Considering your weak constitution, just taste it."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Hua Liuli watched as a palace maid replaced
her wine cup and poured in half a cup of wine. She lifted the cup and caught
a whiff of a delicate plum fragrance.

"Give it a try," Consort Xian was confident in the plum blossom wine she
personally brewed that even the Emperor couldn't stop praising it.

Just as Hua Liuliu raised her wine cup, several eunuchs carrying boxes
approached from outside. She didn't know who these eunuchs were, but she
noticed that the smile on the Imperial Consort's face faded upon their
arrival.

"Greetings, Your Highness," the leading eunuch bowed to Consort Xian,

"We, servants, have come on the orders of the Crown Prince to deliver gifts
to Hua Xianzhu."
Hua Liuli raised an eyebrow. They were looking for her?

She set her wine cup aside and looked at the eunuchs who were bowing to
her. "May I ask who...?"

"Hua Xianzhu, we are palace servants serving in the Eastern Palace. The
Crown Prince greatly admires the valiant and extraordinary Great General,
and upon hearing that Hua Xianzhu is visiting the palace to appreciate the
plum blossoms, he specially ordered us to deliver some gifts as a gesture of
first meeting," The eunuchs from the Eastern Palace seemed to forget that
this was Consort Xian's residence and openly handed over the list of gifts
and several boxes to Hua Liuliu's attendant, "The Crown Prince also said
that if anyone purposely causes you trouble, feel free to send someone to
look for him. He will help you vent your anger," The leading eunuch made
a bow, "We won't disturb the distinguished guests' mealtime any further. We
take our leave."

If it were any other man sending gifts to an unmarried woman, onlookers

would definitely assume he had romantic intentions. But if the person doing
it was the Crown Prince, no one in the room would suspect such motives.

Because the Crown Prince was not a normal man.

They even suspected that the Crown Prince intentionally sent gifts at this
time, claiming to help Hua Xianzhu vent her anger, all to deliberately cause
trouble to Consort Xian.

"Please convey my gratitude to the Crown Prince," Hua Liuliu pretended

not to be aware of the conflicts between the Princes and sincerely expressed
her thanks.

If a Consort who gave birth to the Emperor's Eldest Son was not the Crown
Prince's mother, both parties would never get along.

A cold gust of wind blew in from outside the window, carrying a few plum
blossoms, twirling in the air, and falling into the night-illuminating cup in
front of Hua Liuliu.
Then she saw the white plum petals turn into an unattractive brownish-
green color in the wine.

Oh no, something's wrong! There's poison in the wine!

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 8 – Compassion

Consort Xian was extremely frustrated. As a high-ranking Consort in the

imperial harem who had also given birth to the Eldest Prince, hardly anyone
dared to disrespect her.

Well, except for the Crown Prince, who didn't give face to anyone in the
imperial harem excluding the Empress Dowager and the Emperor himself.
Naturally, she fell under the category of "anyone" as well.

Although she secretly wished she could strangle the Crown Prince, she had
to maintain the most gentle smile in front of everyone. There was no other
choice. After all, she was the birth mother of the Eldest Prince, and
countless pairs of eyes in the capital were watching her every move.

Reciting silently in her heart, "I am Consort Xian. I am tolerant and

magnanimous. I won't get angry," she repeated these words ten times. Just
as she was about to express her affection towards Hua Liuli, she suddenly
heard a low exclamation from one of Hua Liuli's maidservants by her side,
"Ladies, please refrain from drinking the wine. This servant suspects that it
is poisoned."

As soon as these words were spoken, people's faces changed, and someone
accidentally dropped their cup.

"Poisoned?!" Prince Ning, who had always been timid, immediately threw
the wine flask away. The flask fell onto the dishes, making a crisp sound.

The smile on Consort Xian's face gradually stiffened. She tightly gripped
her wine cup and said slowly, emphasizing each word, "What do you mean
by that? This wine was brewed by me personally. Are you suggesting that I
poisoned Hua Xianzhu?"
"This servant dares not," Yuan Yi knelt down but not showing any
weakness and pleaded for forgiveness.

"Your Highness, this maid has been with this lowly lady since childhood.
Because this lowly lady was frequently ill, this maid learned some
knowledge of medicine from the physician," Hua Liuli stood up from her
seat, but due to the abrupt movement, her body swayed. With the support of
a palace maid, she barely steadied herself, "This lowly lady's discipline has
been lacking, please forgive me, Your Highness."

"You two have a deep bond. Your maid is overly concerned, which leads to
chaos. Bengong1"Bengong" is a term commonly used in historical Chinese
fiction and dramas. It is a respectful and formal way for a noble or high-
ranking woman to refer to herself when speaking in the third person. The
term is typically used by imperial consorts, princesses, or noble ladies to
denote their status and emphasize their authority or superiority. It is similar
to saying "this palace" or "this humble self" in English translations,
conveying a sense of regality and dignity. believes that she has no ill
intentions," Consort Xian had no other choice but to forgive her. However,
in order to prove that she had no intention of harming Hua Liuli, Consort
Xian ordered three imperial physicians to be summoned to the palace and
asked them to verify that the wine was safe.

Having spent many years in the palace, Consort Xian had witnessed
numerous conspiracies. Even if she wanted to harm someone, she wouldn't
be foolish enough to do it in her own territory.

The excessive nervousness displayed by the master and servant duo

indicated that they held some grudge against her.

The three imperial physicians, upon hearing that there was a suspected
poisoning incident in the palace, hurriedly grabbed their tools and rushed to
Lincui Palace.

When they arrived, Consort Xian waved her hand to dismiss their
formalities, "Please examine the wine in Hua Xianzhu's cup."

"Yes."
As the imperial physicians approached, Consort Xian felt a sense of relief.
Once the physicians confirm that her wine was not poisoned and that she
had been wrongfully accused, the rumors about her son Hao'er mistreating
the Hua siblings would surely be debunked.

"This is..."

"This is Sanxi San, an extremely poisonous substance that causes death by

asphyxiation."

Consort Xian trembled, her voice quivered along with her words,
"Gentlemen, what do you mean by this?"

At this moment, the three imperial physicians noticed that Consort Xian's
gaze had become somewhat abnormal. It seemed that they were not the only
ones who had heard the rumors, "There was a poison called Sanxi San in
Hua Xianzhu's wine cup. Once consumed, death occurs within three
breaths. This kind of poison was passed down from the previous dynasty's
imperial harem. Even in the present dynasty, some imperial concubines that
have committed severe crimes would be punished to drink this."

How could such a secret palace medicine be present in Consort Xian's

palace?

"San... Sanxi San?" Prince Ning, who had already consumed half a cup of
wine, covered his throat and his face turned pale, "I... I've already drunk
half a cup. Save me, quickly!"

The imperial physicians' expressions changed drastically. Then they said,

"No, if Your Highness had consumed Sanxi San before we arrived, likely
already..."

He would likely already be dead.

They examined the wine cups of other guests and discovered that besides
Hua Xianzhu's cup, none of the others were poisoned.
The officials' expressions became even more subtle. Although they all knew
that among all the Princes, besides the Crown Prince, Ying Wang, as the
eldest son of the emperor, held the highest honor. However, His Majesty
was still in his prime and the Crown Prince was doing well. Consort Xian
couldn't wait to get rid of people she didn't like. Isn't this a bit aggressive?

This is the daughter of the Hua family. Her biological father has just made
remarkable military achievements that will be recorded in history. How dare
you bring her into the palace and attempt to poison her? What courage is
this?!

"The poison is not in the wine, but on the cup," One of the imperial
physicians put on gloves and had another imperial physician bring a
wooden box over. Then they quickly locked the poisoned wine cup in the
wooden box.

As an imperial physician, preserving evidence of poisoning was his

unquestionable responsibility.

Consort Xian noticed the subtle movements of the imperial physicians: "..."

Upon hearing that the poison was on the cup, countless thoughts surged
through Consort Xian's mind, eventually turning into panic, anger, and fear.
Who exactly wanted to harm her and her child?!

If Hua Liuli were to die here today, not only would she be finished, but
Hao'er would be finished as well. The entire Tian family would be
implicated. How could the Hua family, which controlled hundreds of
thousands of troops, simply let it go? Entire Great Jin would be affected.

Such a sinister and vicious scheme. She tightly gripped the armrest of the
chair, took two deep breaths, and trembled as she spoke, "Someone, seal off
the scene and have the Ministry of Justice send people over."

"Also, arrange for someone to report this matter to His Majesty and the
Eldest Prince," After saying these words, Consort Xian seemed to have
expended much of her strength. Her gaze swept over the people present,
seemingly trying to find something suspicious about them.
As the victim, Hua Liuli leaned heavily against a palace maid, looking on
the verge of collapse. It was only after hearing Consort Xian instruct
someone to report to the Ministry of Justice that she spoke in disbelief, "H-
How could someone want to kill me?"

She lowered her head and looked at Yuan Yi kneeling on the ground, gently
touching her forehead with her delicate hand, before softly falling down.

"Xianzhu!" Yuan Yi cried out in anguish, catching the collapsing Hua Liuli,
"Xianzhu, are you okay?!"

"Quickly, take Xianzhu to the sleeping hall," Consort Xian's heart was
hanging in the balance. She saw Hua Liuli fainting and her complexion
becoming even paler and more unsightly. Considering that Xianzhu had a
weak constitution and was easily frightened, if she fainted here, she might
not be able to get up. What would she say to His Majesty?

The crowd carefully escorted Hua Liuli to the bed, and an imperial
physician reached out to check her pulse, furrowing his brows even more
tightly. "Xianzhu's pulse is chaotic, indicating an underlying condition.
Coupled with the shock she experienced, she needs to be gradually treated."

The others present thought that anyone who found themselves circling the
gates of the underworld would be shocked.

Poor Hua Xianzhu, she was frightened by the indulgent behavior of the
Eldest Prince as soon as she arrived in the capital, and just when she had
finally recovered her health, Consort Xian rewarded her with a plum wine
and nearly made her drink poisoned wine.

She was already in poor health, struggling to survive, and now she had to
face so many unfortunate events. Could it be that Consort Xian and the
Eldest Prince were incompatible with her?

"Your Highness," the Fifth Prince walked to Consort Xian, who seemed lost
in thought and gently comforted her, "You don't have to worry. Hua
Xianzhu will be fine."
Consort Xian forced a smile that looked unpleasant, "Thank you for your
kind words."

"Your benevolence is well-known. Hua Xianzhu will surely believe that it is

not you who wants to harm her," The Fifth Prince stood outside, looking at
the figures coming and going within the curtain of mist, "The Ministry of
Justice will definitely uncover the true mastermind."

Consort Xian bitterly smiled. By this point, she understood that this was a
conspiracy targeting her and Hao'er.

The Eastern Palace.

The Crown Prince listened expressionlessly as a few officials from the

Crown Prince's residence chattered on, absentmindedly sketching a cute
little dog on the paper with his brush.

"Your Royal Highness, the officials believe that we should find a way to
replace the Prefect of Yongzhou."

"Why? Is this Prefect not doing a good job?" The Crown Prince threw down
his brush, took the handkerchief handed over by a palace maid to wipe his
hands, and didn't look at the speaking official.

"Your Highness, it's not that he's doing a bad job, but rather, he's doing too
well," The official said, "This person is very capable in governing the
region. Yongzhou has fertile land and is a good place. However, the Prefect
of Yongzhou is from the Fourth Prince's maternal family."

"Father has five sons and three daughters. According to your logic, should I
be on guard against any officials associated with the other Princes and
Princesses?" The Crown Prince became a little impatient, "In my eyes, a
good official is one who benefits the region."

"Your Highness, the Princes and Princesses are watching each other closely.
You must not soften your heart..."
"I have never softened my heart," The Crown Prince looked at the official
speaking, "But remember, I am the Crown Prince of Great Jin."

"But if the Prefect of Yongzhou wholeheartedly supports the Fourth Prince,

it will be detrimental to us."

"Between me and the Fourth Prince, who is stronger?"

"Your Highness is wise and virtuous, far superior to the Fourth Prince."

"As a good official who cares for the people, how could he lack self-
awareness?" The Crown Prince said lightly, "If he truly lacks it, then I can
only express my regret."

The officials of the Crown Prince's residence fell silent. The corrupt official
who received the Crown Prince's expression of "regret" last time met a very
tragic end, so tragic that the behavior of the officials in the capital who
accepted gifts from subordinates decreased.

They dared not persuade any further, fearing that if they continued, the
Crown Prince would express "deep regret" towards them.

"Your Highness," A eunuch from the Eastern Palace hurriedly entered and
paused upon seeing the officials from the Crown Prince's residence.

The Crown Prince waved his hand, asking the officials to leave.

"Speak. What happened?"

"Somebody poisoned a wine cup at Consort Xian's Lincui Palace, Hua

Xianzhu was almost killed."

The Crown Prince's eyelids twitched slightly. "Is Hua Xianzhu alright?"

"Fortunately, the maid standing by Hua Xianzhu's side has some medical
knowledge and noticed something amiss. Hua Xianzhu narrowly escaped.
She is resting in Lincui Palace."
"Let's go. Let's go to Lincui Palace," The Crown Prince placed his hands
behind his back and walked out of the hall.

By the time the Crown Prince arrived at Lincui Palace, the officials from
the Ministry of Justice had already arrived. The guests who attended the
plum blossom appreciation feast had not yet left.

Ignoring the people who saluted him, the Crown Prince walked up to
Consort Xian, whose face was pale, "Your Highness, how is Hua Xianzhu?"

With such a significant incident happening, Consort Xian was already

exhausted, but she had to maintain her composure in front of the Crown
Prince, "Please rest assured, Your Royal Highness. After taking the
medicine, Xianzhu fell asleep."

"En," The Crown Prince nodded slightly, "Are you certain that the medicine
given to Hua Xianzhu earlier had no issues?"

Consort Xian: "..."

What did he mean by that? Who was he insulting?

Consort Xian was very angry, but she still had to force a smile.

"Please rest assured, Your Highness. The medicine is fine."

"That's good then," The Crown Prince clapped his hands, and a few palace
maids and eunuchs carried a well-wrapped Hua Liuli and placed her on a
soft couch.

"Where is the Crown Prince taking Hua Xianzhu?" Consort Xian was afraid
that if Hua Liuli died inexplicably, she wouldn't be able to explain it even if
she had a hundred mouths. She quickly stopped the Crown Prince, "The
imperial physician said that Hua Xianzhu has a weak body and should not
be moved easily."

"Your Highness, are you certain that you want Hua Xianzhu to stay in
Lincui Palace?" The Crown Prince slightly lowered his eyelids. He showed
no expression, but it felt as if there was a hint of mockery.
Consort Xian: "..."

She dared not be certain. She was currently in a state of fear that anyone in
the world could harm her.

Ha.

The Crown Prince withdrew his gaze from Consort Xian.

If someone's intellect was lacking, it was likely hereditary. If his Eldest

Brother continued to act foolish like his mother, he would try to say fewer
things to him.

They were all brothers, after all, showing sympathy was still necessary.

OceanofPDF.com
Chapter 9 – A Conflict With Poison

After leaving the Lincui Palace, the Crown Prince looked at the little girl
lying motionless on the soft couch, with only half of her face exposed.
Several strong female officials were about to lift her and place her in a
sedan chair.

"Let me handle this. Sisters, there's no need to trouble you," Yuan Yi gently
lifted Hua Liuili and placed her horizontally in the sedan chair, ensuring her
stability.

The female officials: "..."

Even the maids in the Hua family's estate possessed extraordinary strength.
No wonder the Great General managed to defeat the Jinpo Kingdom and
obtain their surrender.

After the sedan curtain was lowered, Hua Liuili, who was unconscious,
adjusted her posture slowly and gently without even the slightest movement
of her eyelids.

This sedan chair is really comfortable, fragrant, and soft, making one feel as
if they are in the clouds.

"Your Highness, where should we arrange for Xianzhu?" When they

snatched her away from the Lincui Palace, the palace attendants of the
Eastern Palace were swift and efficient. However, it wouldn't be appropriate
to directly send her back to the Eastern Palace. There would be suspicions
of royal involvement in causing trouble but shirking responsibility.

"Imperial Grandmother is very fond of the girl from the Hua family. Now
that she has had a close call, the Empress Dowager insists on showing her
concern and wants her to recuperate in the Shoukang Palace for a few
days," The Crown Prince turned his head and glanced at the sedan chair,
"Let's go. I'll accompany you to send Hua Liuili to the Shoukang Palace."

The Empress Dowager was the most revered woman in the harem. By
arranging for the girl from the Hua family to stay with the Imperial
Grandmother, it would further demonstrate the royal family's concern for
this matter.

Consort Xian wanted to keep the girl in the Lincui Palace to prove her
innocence to the world, that she wasn't the one behind the attempted
poisoning of the Hua family girl. However, she had not considered that the
culprit might be lurking within the Lincui Palace, and it would be
dangerous to keep the girl there.

If there were a competition related to intelligence in the harem, he would

definitely ask his father to award Consort Xian the Best Sympathy Award.

Upon receiving the news sent in advance by the Crown Prince's people, the
Empress Dowager, accompanied by eunuchs, palace maids, and imperial
physicians, surrounded the sedan chair and brought Hua Liuili to a side hall
in the Shoukang Palace.

Just as the Crown Prince was about to approach the Empress Dowager to
speak, he saw the Empress Dowager, with a face full of concern, following
behind the imperial physician and entering the side hall. He silently
retracted his steps.

He sat in the front hall for about two cups of tea's time before the Empress
Dowager returned from the side hall. She said to the Crown Prince, who
was leisurely drinking tea, "Yuansu, fortunately, you brought Liuili over.
This Grieving One couldn't rest assured if she was left with Consort Xian."

"Liuili?" The Crown Prince quickly realized that this was the given name of
the girl from the Hua family. Despite being a member of a family of martial
generals, she was given such a delicate name, indicating how highly her
family valued and cherished her.

If she were to be poisoned within the palace...

The Crown Prince lightly tapped the tabletop with his index finger. It was
evident that the mastermind behind this held deep resentment towards
Consort Xian and even harbored ill intentions towards Great Jin.

However, the Empress Dowager didn't care about what the Crown Prince
was thinking. She didn't ask or say much, only had palace servants bring
some of the Crown Prince's favorite snacks, "Yuansu, have something to
eat."

"Thank you, Imperial Grandmother," The Crown Prince washed his hands
in the basin and used silver chopsticks to pick up the snacks and put them
into his mouth.

"You're a good child. You're just a bit thin," The Empress Dowager
remembered the Crown Prince's poor health in his early years and the
suffering he endured. Without blaming him for not taking care of himself
properly, she was already filled with concern, "You'll have dinner here at
your Imperial Grandmother's place. I'll have them make some delicious
dishes for you."

Helpless, the Crown Prince complied. Anyway, if being thin made the
Empress Dowager worry about him, all he could do was eat well and not
argue.

Half an hour later, Hua Liuili woke up from her unconscious state.
Supporting her forehead, she slowly sat up and asked, "Where is this?"

"Xianzhu, you're awake? This is the Shoukang Palace. Since you're not
feeling well, please lie down and rest for a while," The palace maids
showed joy on their faces when they saw Hua Liuili wake up.

"This is such a small matter. It's not worth troubling the Empress Dowager,"
Hua Liuili wanted to get up but weakly sat back down.

"Xianzhu, please rest quickly."

"The imperial physician has arrived."

"Quickly inform the Empress Dowager."

Under the reassurance of the palace maids, Hua Liuili eventually settled
quietly at the head of the bed. When she heard footsteps outside the door,
she looked up and smiled obediently.

The first person to enter was the Empress Dowager, followed by the Crown
Prince and Hua Changkong.

After receiving the news, Hua Changkong rushed to the palace as quickly as
possible. When he heard that the Empress Dowager wanted to keep his
sister in the palace for a few days to recuperate, he earnestly declined.
However, the Empress Dowager's attitude was firm. She had made up her
mind to keep his sister here.

He sympathetically glanced at his well-behaved younger sister and guiltily

lowered his head.

Little Sister, Third Brother has already tried his best. You should take good
care of yourself in the palace.

Noticing an unusual expression on Hua Changkong's face, Hua Liuli

weakly leaned against the bedside and said, "I am guilty of causing worry to
the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince."

"As long as you're safe, nothing else matters," The Empress Dowager
adjusted Hua Liuli's blanket with a gentle tone, "The two of you are young
and living alone in your family's estate. You don't know how to take care of
yourselves properly. This Grieving One wants to keep you in the palace for
a few days. However, Changkong won't allow it. You're in such a weak
state now. If you return to the Hua estate, this Grieving One won't feel at
ease."

Fearing that the siblings might overthink the situation, the Empress
Dowager added a few more words, "Stay for three to five days until you
regain some strength, then this Grieving One will personally arrange for
someone to send you back."
Worried that she hadn't made herself clear and that others might interpret it
as the royal family distrusting the Hua family, the Empress Dowager kept
Hua Liuli in the palace as a hostage. The original good intention was
twisted by others with malicious intent.

The Empress Dowager worried that her words were not clear enough. She
feared that in other people’s eyes, it was the imperial family distrusting the
Hua family, and therefore, keeping the Hua family’s daughter in the palace
as a hostage. Those people would warp the original goodwill into an ulterior
motive.

"Wouldn't that be too much of a disturbance for Your Majesty?" Hua Liuli's
cheeks turned red, "Actually, I have some chronic health issues, so it's
really not worth Your Majesty's trouble."

"At such a young age, how would you know what's worth it or not? Taking
good care of your health is the most worthwhile thing," After the Empress
Dowager finished speaking, she turned her head to look at the Crown Prince
outside the curtain, "Yuansu, don't you agree?"

"Imperial Grandmother is right," the Crown Prince, who was alone outside
the curtain, answered cooperatively.

Both the imperial family and the Hua family were afraid that the other side
would suspect them, and both wanted to convince the other that they
sincerely cared for each other. The Hua family was loyal to the imperial
family, there was no doubt about that.

So, with both sides holding beautiful expectations, Hua Liuli was left in the
Shoukang Palace, living a life of consuming nourishing food.

The Empress Dowager's concerns were well-founded. After news of Hua

Liuli being left in the palace spread, it sparked various speculations.

The imperial family is keeping the daughter of a general in the palace for no
apparent reason, doesn't this strategy sound familiar?
Wasn't it the same tactic used by the young Emperor of the previous
dynasty when he overthrew a general who acted as a regent?

It also seemed similar to what the previous Emperor did when dealing with
powerful regional lords who were loyal to their own armies.

Their guesses were indeed correct. His Majesty had become wary of the
Hua family.

"Once the birds have flown away, it's useless to keep the bow hidden." How
many heroes and talents had fallen because of this saying?

At this moment, in a certain room, a man angrily overturned the teacups on

the table with a grim expression, "I don't believe this Hua Liuli has nine
lives and can't be killed by poison!"

The subordinate kneeling in front of him silently wondered why they had to
resort to poisoning when there were so many ways to kill someone. Perhaps
this daughter of the Hua family was incompatible with poison?

Three days later, Hua Liuli stood in the courtyard of Shoukang Palace,
looking up at the sparrows chirping on the branches. Her fingertips were
starting to itch.

After abstaining from certain foods for a long time, even seeing sparrows
made her mouth water.

"Do you find sparrows beautiful?" The Crown Prince stood five steps
behind Hua Liuli, "If you like birds, I can have the palace attendants send
two mynah birds to entertain you."

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli turned around and bowed to the Crown
Prince, seemingly surprised by his sudden appearance behind her, her
expression somewhat dazed.

"If you don't like mynah birds, parrots are also an option," The Crown
Prince placed his hands behind his back and took two steps forward.
"Imperial Grandmother is kind-hearted. When you're here, treat it as your
own home."

Hua Liuli smiled but remained silent, sighing inwardly.

At home, she could lie down, read novels, and snack on goodies while
having her beautiful maids massage her shoulders from time to time. She
couldn't experience such happiness in Shoukang Palace.

Anyway, they were just being polite. There was no need to take it too
seriously.

"Gu heard that Xianzhu once saved Lin Daren at the relay station in
Huanghuai County?"

Hua Liuli: No, I didn't want to save him.

"Everything was accidental. I dare not take credit for it."

"Xianzhu, don't belittle yourself. Lin Daren encountered several

assassination attempts on the way, but thanks to the soldiers you arranged
for his protection, he was able to arrive safely," The Crown Prince paused in
his tone, "However, Gu didn't bring up these matters to praise you."

Hua Liuli: "..."

Oh no, it felt like there was a lump in her chest. She felt like she might
faint.

"Gu suspects that the person who poisoned the cup at Lincui Palace and the
one who wanted to assassinate Lin Daren are from the same faction," The
Crown Prince looked at the girl in front of him, who had her head lowered
and a blurry expression, "You disrupted their plans, so they want to retaliate
against you."

And while at it, tidy up the Empress Dowager and her son, the Emperor, as
well.

Hua Liuli: "Ah?"

She just wanted to deliberately tease that old man a little bit. Everything
else was just a side effect.

"Forget it, talking to you about this will only make you more afraid," The
Crown Prince said, "Stay in the palace for a few more days. Once the
culprits are found, you can go back."

So they wanted her to stay in the palace because it was safer than outside?

She thanked him readily.

The Crown Prince looked at her young face, pale and lacking energy after
being sick for a few days, "The plum blossom banquet a few days ago didn't
end successfully due to an accident. How about Gu take you to the plum
garden today?"

Hua Liuli tugged at her cloak. Going to enjoy plum blossoms while hungry
in such cold weather?

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness..." Before she could finish her words,
Hua Liuli covered her mouth with a handkerchief and started coughing.

The coughing became severe, and Hua Liuli turned pale, staggering as she
was about to collapse.

Plum blossoms, what plum blossoms?

The maid by her side swiftly caught her as if she were a gust of wind.

"Your Royal Highness, please excuse us."

The Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli and her maid, his expression
momentarily frozen. How many times had she fainted for the maid to
skillfully and steadily catch her like this?

"Your Royal Highness's kindness, I can only disappoint today."

If he insisted any further, she would faint right in front of him.

After all, she didn't have to marry into the imperial family, so she could
lower her standards a bit. When she could pretend to be sick and lazy, she
absolutely wouldn't take one more step.

She, Hua Liuli, the only daughter of the Hua family, would never admit
defeat.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 10 – Can You Shut Up?

Hua Liuli couldn't really go to enjoy the plum blossoms. The Crown Prince
didn't insist anymore, "These past few days have been unusually cold. It's
better for Xianzhu to stay indoors."

In fact, on such freezing days, he had no desire to see those wretched plum
blossoms.

With heavy snow and strong winds, every step into the snowy ground was
like stepping into a pit. Yet, they still had to engage in elegant pursuits like
reciting poetry and painting. It was truly an exercise in finding trouble when
one had nothing better to do.

Thus, both of them felt relieved.

In an instant, Hua Liuli thought that the Crown Prince wasn't bad. She just
hoped he wouldn't mention anything about needing to go out for a slow
walk or something of the sort. She glanced at the sky, which was gloomy
and seemed to indicate more snowfall, "Your Royal Highness, the Empress
Dowager is still performing her Buddhist rituals. We should go inside the
palace and sit for a while."

"Alright," The Crown Prince saw the anticipation in Hua Liuli's eyes. Being
a young girl confined to Shoukang Palace, unable to run, jump, or play, her
days were indeed quite boring.

Seeing the Crown Prince agree, Hua Liuli was also pleased. Even her frail
steps became steadier, and she had a smile on her face as she said, "Yuan
Yi, ask the palace maid to prepare some delicious fruits and pastries."

Seeing Hua Liuli's bright smile, the Crown Prince, who had initially
planned to leave after a stick of incense, softened his heart slightly,
"Xianzhu, there's no need to be so polite."

"I insist, I insist," Hua Liuli followed the Crown Prince into the palace and
took a seat as a guest, "Your Royal Highness, a few days ago, you
personally brought me from Consort Xian's place. I haven't properly
thanked you yet."

"No need for excessive formalities. The Great General was a great hero
whom Gu admired since childhood. When Gu was young, the Great
General personally made a wooden sword for Gu and taught Gu
swordsmanship and archery. We share a teacher-student bond," The Crown
Prince lazily leaned back in his chair. He wasn't someone who would
compromise himself for the sake of others' opinions, "Unfortunately, you
weren't born at that time, otherwise, Gu could have given you a hundred-
day gift."

Sixteen years ago, just when he heard that the General's wife was several
months pregnant, news of the Jinpo Kingdom's invasion of the border
arrived. Three days later, the General and his wife led the army to the
battlefield.

He held the General's wife's hand and asked if she was afraid for their child
in her womb and if she could avoid going to the border.

The General's wife didn't dismiss him due to his young age but earnestly
replied.

"Thank you for your concern, Third Prince, but the General and I have been
studying military arts since childhood to protect and defend our homeland,
so that the people won't suffer from the oppression of foreign enemies.
That's why I must go."

The Hua family didn't have the custom of taking concubines for several
generations, yet they were not lacking in offsprings. What was strange,
however, was that there had been no daughters in the Hua family for nearly
three generations. So, when Madam Hua accompanied her husband to the
frontier while pregnant, everyone thought she was expecting another son.
Unexpectedly, she gave birth to a delicate and fragile daughter this time.
Due to her daughter's weak health, General Hua shamelessly requested a
title for his daughter from the Emperor after her first birthday.

If a child died at an early age, they couldn't have a tombstone or ancestral

rites. But a child with a title was different. Even if they died early, they
could still enjoy posthumous honors.

Hua Yingting rarely made improper requests to the Emperor. This was the
only time.

The Crown Prince remembered that after the Emperor received General
Hua's letter, he sat in the study all night. The next day, he granted a title to
General Hua's daughter - she was made a Xianzhu.

Shortly after, he, the Third Prince, was proclaimed the Crown Prince.

Recalling the past, when the Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli, his eyes
carried a hint of pity.

Being so weak and timid, and spending fifteen years on the frontier, could
she have been frightened in her mother's womb?

At this time, she was stretching out her hand as she secretly reached for the
pastries on the table. Hua Liuli noticed the Crown Prince's gaze as her fair
hand paused for a moment, but eventually, with strength and fearlessness,
she reached for the pastries.

As long as her tea-drinking was graceful and her pace of eating the pastries
was slow enough, others would surely not notice that she actually wanted to
eat.

She held the pastry between her fingertips and smiled lightly, "Although I
didn't receive the hundred-day gift, I received the little wooden horse that
Your Highness sent."

The Crown Prince didn't expect her to still remember that incident. At that
time, he was young, and upon hearing that the Great General's daughter was
not in good health, he sent his favorite little wooden horse with a eunuch to
deliver it.

Among the various rewards the Emperor gave to the Hua family, the little
wooden horse wasn't anything special, but back then, he didn't comprehend.
Later, when he could comprehend, he had already passed the age of holding
onto such matters. What surprised him was that the young girl who received
the gift still remembered that little wooden horse.

He was slightly stunned but soon smiled. He was about to speak when a
palace maid walked in.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince," The palace maid kneeled and paid her
respects to the Crown Prince, "Ying Wang has brought gifts to apologize to
Xianzhu."

"Apologies?" The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow, "The incident in the

bustling street happened ten days ago, and the poisoning at the Lincui
Palace happened three days ago. And today, he comes to apologize? His
actions are indeed very swift. It seems he is quite sincere."

Hua Liuli lifted the cup and drank some rose dew, pretending not to notice
the sarcasm in the Crown Prince's words.

"Do you want to see him?" the Crown Prince turned to ask Hua Liuli.

Hua Liuli replied, "This is the Empress Dowager's resting palace, and with
Your Royal Highness present, Ying Wang's visit at this time might be to
clarify the misunderstanding."

The Crown Prince raised his teacup and lightly touched his lips, "Then let
him in."

Initially, Ying Wang didn't take the incident of Hua Liuli nearly being
poisoned to heart. In his view, his mother was also an innocent victim, and
moreover, the daughter of the Hua family didn't die.
Under the heavens, there is no land that is not ruled by the imperial family.
Both he and his mother were members of the imperial family. Even if they
didn't want to offend the Hua family, there was no need to bow down and
apologize to a little girl.

However, he soon realized that something was amiss. During court, not
only did the military officials look at him with strange eyes, but many civil
officials also had grievances against him.

Even those civil officials who had a good relationship with Lin Huizhi
started accusing him and his mother.

This puzzled him greatly. Weren't these civil officials against Hua Yingting?
Now that something almost happened to the daughter of the Hua family,
they were more agitated than the military officials. It made him suspect
whether those who had criticized Hua Yingting for warmongering weren't
actually them.

Did they forget that their friend Lin Huizhi had praised him, the Eldest
Prince, in the court?

They say a woman's mind is hard to fathom, but the thoughts of these civil
officials are even harder to understand than those of women.

For the past three days, he had been stared at by the military officials with
strange eyes and provoked by the civil officials with indirect words. He was
filled with anger, and after being pursuaded by his mother for half an hour
in the morning, he reluctantly brought gifts and came to Shoukang Palace.

When he entered the room and saw the Crown Prince sitting at the head, his
fake expression of guilt instantly twisted.

How could he be here?

"Eldest Brother, what a coincidence," The Crown Prince lazily raised his
hand, "Take a seat."
Ying Wang gritted his teeth, "Greetings to Your Royal Highness, the Crown
Prince."

"Between brothers, there's no need for such formalities," the Crown Prince
glanced at the eunuchs who came in with Ying Wang, carrying gift boxes,
"Just come as you are, why bring so many gifts?"

Ying Wang thought, this is Shoukang Palace, not your Eastern Palace. Why
are you putting on airs?

"Benwang heard that Xianzhu had a close call at Mother Consort's palace
three days ago. Mother Consort feels deeply guilty. Benwang also regrets
not being present that day to discover the vicious methods of the culprit.
Please forgive Benwang, Xianzhu," Ying Wang hadn't looked at Hua Liuli
properly since he entered. After finishing his speech, he finally raised his
gaze to her.

He had initially thought she was a sickly girl without much charm, but he
didn't expect her to be such an endearing woman. For a moment, he was
stunned, and most of his resentment from before dissipated.

Can a military general's family raise such a tender and lovely girl?

Upon hearing Ying Wang's words, the Crown Prince raised an eyebrow. He
spoke as if the culprit wouldn't have poisoned her if he had been present.
Where did this blind confidence come from?

Hua Liuli had already noticed Ying Wang's inner dissatisfaction when he
entered. But so what? These Princes all had their eyes on the throne of the
Emperor. Even if they held grudges against her, they couldn't openly show
it.

Moreover, she was the victim, while Ying Wang and his mother were the
suspected ones.

Upon hearing Ying Wang's words, Hua Liuli couldn't help but turn her head
to look at the Crown Prince. Although she had only intended to touch the
wine cup and then put it down, if the cup had been poisoned, she could have
been poisoned even by just touching it. If it hadn't been for the sudden
arrival of the Crown Prince's people with gifts, she would have been dead
on the spot.

Seeing Hua Liuli looking at him with watery eyes, the Crown Prince
thought she didn't know how to talk to Ying Wang. He was originally
reluctant to speak, but he turned his gaze to Ying Wang and said, "Eldest
Brother, has the Ministry of Justice discovered anything?"

Upon hearing the Crown Prince's annoying voice, Ying Wang immediately
snapped out of his stupor, "The Ministry of Justice is still investigating.
Please rest assured, Xianzhu. Benwang will definitely find the culprit and
seek justice for you."

Hua Liuli: But the expression you had when you entered just now didn't
mean that.

"If they're still investigating, it means there hasn't been much progress in
the case," the Crown Prince lightly tapped the table with his index finger,
irritatingly, one after another.

It was annoying to listen to. Ying Wang really wanted to retort, "What's it to
you?" but he didn't dare.

As long as Ji Yuansu was still the Crown Prince, everything in the world
could be related to him.

"Many thanks for the Crown Prince's concern," Ying Wang thanked stiffly.

I beg you, please shut up.

But when did the Crown Prince ever follow Ying Wang's intentions? The
Crown Prince continued, "The harem is filled with all sorts of people. It's
indeed not an easy task to thoroughly investigate the case."

Ying Wang looked at the Crown Prince suspiciously. These words sounded
so nice and considerate, there must be a problem somewhere.
"Bengwang knows that there is someone else behind the culprit of this case,
but until the case is solved, Eldest Brother, please try not to get too close to
Xianzhu," the Crown Prince raised an eyebrow as he looked at Ying Wang,
"The young girl doesn't have a strong heart and hasn't fully recovered since
the fright she experienced. Bengwang is afraid she will be reminded of the
incident when she sees you. Eldest Brother, you are older, so please be more
understanding."

Understand your mother! He knew this bastard wouldn't say anything nice!

However, all the palace maids serving in the main hall felt that the Crown
Prince's words made sense.

Xianzhu, who was weak and had a poor appetite, had been trembling and
stuffing pastries into her mouth to conceal her fear ever since Ying Wang
appeared. Her face even turned paler. What had she been frightened into?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 11 – Examining Before
Selecting

Hua Liuli, enveloped by sympathetic gazes, adapted with grace. From a

young age, she had grown accustomed to being regarded in such a manner
by countless people.

Before she arrived in the capital, her mother had mentioned certain rumors
circulating within the palace. Around twenty-one years ago, three
concubines in the palace became pregnant within the same month. At some
point, a baseless rumor emerged in the harem, proclaiming that if any of
them were to give birth to the Emperor's firstborn son, the Emperor would
bestow upon him the title of the Crown Prince.

It remained unclear whether these three concubines believed in such

unfounded rumors. After all, Ying Wang and Ning Wang were born on the
same day and at the same hour, while the Crown Prince was born seven
days later.

Hua Liuli found such rumors highly dubious and anyone with a discerning
mind would not believe them. The current Emperor was not a feeble-
minded ruler who would hastily declare a newborn infant as the Crown
Prince.

In less than five minutes, she could discern that the two brothers did not
share a harmonious relationship. Ying Wang, unwilling yet restraining
himself, resembled a sparrow yearning to challenge an eagle.

Ambitious but lacking in ability, desiring to strike down the eagle with a
single claw.
She stopped reaching for the pastries. Eating too much made her feel a bit
stuffed.

In the eyes of others, it seemed as though the Crown Prince's intervention

had alleviated Hua Xianzhu's fear, hence her decision not to partake in the
pastries.

"Xianzhu, have some water," Yuan Yi anxiously handed a cup of lukewarm

water to Hua Liuli. The two of them, master and servant, appeared as pitiful
souls being mistreated, daring to be indignant yet unable to voice their
grievances.

Ying Wang: "..."

Although he had done nothing, why did he appear to be an irredeemable

villain in the presence of these two?

"Xianzhu, please do not misunderstand. Benwang came here today solely to

offer my apologies," Ying Wang's inherently bad temper dissipated entirely
as he looked at Hua Liuli's timid eyes, "Please take care of yourself. Once
the Ministry of Justice punishes the culprit, Benwang shall visit you again."

With that, he turned to the Crown Prince, "Crown Prince, I have urgent
matters to attend to. Farewell."

The Crown Prince made no attempt to detain him, "Oh, take your leave."

"Where are you going?" The Empress Dowager said as she entered,
accompanied by several palace maids bearing trays, "Since you're already
here, stay and partake in a meal with me."

Hua Liuli rose from her seat and supported the Empress Dowager as they
walked inward.

"This Grieving One had just instructed someone to summon you to the side
hall, yet unexpectedly, here you are," the Empress Dowager grasped Hua
Liuli's hand. "Xiuniang has just delivered the clothes I had her make. They
are all for you. Go and try one on."
Ying Wang observed the brightly colored garments carried by the palace
maids and an inexplicable headache befell him. However, in the presence of
the Empress Dowager, he had to be cautious and appeasing, thus he stood
by her side with a forced smile, pretending not to be impatient.

"This set in light water pink is splendid. Pair it with a white cape, and Hua
Xianzhu shall be the most resplendent young lady in the entire harem," the
Crown Prince glanced over the array of clothes, "Imperial Grandmother,
why are there none for me this time?"

"What do you lack in your Eastern Palace?" The Empress Dowager held
onto Hua Liuli, "Furthermore, you boys are not as endearing as the young
girls. Using these fabrics on you is merely a waste."

"Liuli, don't you agree?" After berating her grandson, the Empress Dowager
sought an alliance.

"You are correct," Hua Liuli swiftly took her position, joining the Empress
Dowager's faction without hesitation.

At this moment, she caught sight of the plate of pastries on the tea table, of
which she had devoured more than half.

Suddenly, she covered her stomach, making her smile even paler and her
demeanor even weaker. It was crucial to convey an aura of "though I am
frail, I will strive to be strong".

Ying Wang noticed Hua Liuli's actions and suddenly felt a pang of regret. If
she wasn't Hua Yingting's daughter, it seemed that marrying her wouldn't be
such a bad idea.

"Come, choose one to change into first, and this Grieving One will have the
maids deliver the others to your chambers," The Empress Dowager was
adamant about dressing up Hua Liuli. In Shoukang Palace, she changed her
attire twice a day, and the Empress Dowager still felt it wasn't enough.

Hua Liuli gladly accompanied the Empress Dowager in her indulgence and
began selecting her garments.
After examining all the clothes, she chose the one mentioned by the Crown
Prince. Although she held little hope for a man's taste, at times like this, she
still had to preserve the Crown Prince's dignity.

It's probably because she doesn't like Ying Wang very much, and
Ying Wang doesn't get along well with the Crown Prince. The mentality of
"the enemy of my enemy is my friend" doesn't require rational evaluation.

Seeing Hua Liuli carefully go through the clothes over and over, yet finally
settling on the one he had mentioned, the Crown Prince felt a subtle sense
of accomplishment. This little girl from the Hua family is truly likable.

Ying Wang thought that the ugliest among the pile of clothes was the light
water-pink dress. It didn't have beautiful embroidered flowers or
embellishments of pearls and jade, and even the color wasn't vibrant
enough.

He glanced at the Crown Prince and thought: Why did you suggest if your
taste is bad?

However, when Hua Liuli came out after changing her clothes, Ying Wang
thought again that the Hua family's daughter was truly beautiful. Even in
such an ugly dress, she still looked so good in it.

But if she could change into a dress embroidered with hundreds of flowers,
she would definitely look even more beautiful.

In terms of aesthetics, Ying Wang had always had confidence in his own
taste.

With the Empress Dowager present, Ying Wang and the Crown Prince
managed to maintain a friendly brotherly atmosphere and finished their
meal. However, after that day, Hua Liuli never saw the Crown Prince or
Ying Wang again.

The princes would visit the Empress Dowager to pay their respects every
three to five days before attending court. But at that time, she was still
"recuperating" in bed. By the time she got out of bed, the princes had
already gone to court.

She felt that the reason the Empress Dowager took a nap every afternoon
was because she had to wake up early in the morning every day to receive
their respects.

Being an Empress Dowager was not easy. Even as the most respected
woman in the palace, she had rules to abide by and couldn't violate them.

In the blink of an eye, Hua Liuli had spent more than ten days in Shoukang
Palace. The Empress Dowager was worried that she would be confined to
Shoukang Palace every day and might have health issues, so she let her go
out for a walk on a sunny day.

"After a meal, take a hundred steps to live to a ripe old age," The Empress
Dowager lectured Hua Liuli with a smiling face, then turned around and
contentedly lay down on the phoenix bed for a nap.

Hua Liuli: "..."

When the imperial family displays double standards, they are not at all
subtle.

The winter sun had little warmth on her body. As Hua Liuli walked on the
palace path, she looked up at the tall palace walls and stopped in her tracks.

"Xianzhu, what are you looking at?" Yuan Yi hurriedly approached when
Hua Liuli stopped and stood beside her.

"I'm looking at how high the walls are."

"No matter how high the walls are on the inside, they're useless," Yuan Yi
whispered in her ear, "I've seen them before. Although these walls look
high, they're not thick enough. They can be pierced with heavy crossbows."

"The sturdiest walls are the ones outside the palace. They can't be broken
through by external force. To attack, someone inside and outside must
collaborate," Yuan Yi explained seriously, "And attacking through the main
gate is useless. There's an escape passage on the northwest side. It's risky,
and regardless of success or failure, it's bad for reputation."

Hua Liuli pondered with her hand on her chin. After a while, she turned to
Yuan Yi, "If someone overhears our conversation, will they think we have
ulterior motives against the palace?"

Yuan Yi: "..."

Wasn’t this habit learned from following Xianzhu as they protected the
border?

"Ahem," Hua Liuli dry coughed, clutching her chest, and said, "Today is
still a weak day for me."

"Xianzhu, you're weak. Let me support you," The master and servant
withdrew their gaze from the city wall, pretending that their conversation
never happened.

"Hua Xianzhu, stop."

Hua Liuli looked at Yuan Yi: This voice sounds somewhat familiar?

Yuan Yi shook her head: Just by the tone, it doesn't seem friendly.

Both of them turned around simultaneously and looked at Jiamin Junzhu

who was walking briskly towards them.

"Greetings, Jiamin Junzhu," Hua Liuli smiled at the other party, "I wonder
why Junzhu requested me to stop. What important matter is there?"

Jiamin Junzhu: "..."

When did she "request" her to stop?

Jiamin Junzhu was skilled in archery and had a fiery temperament. She
quickly walked up to Hua Liuli, leaving her poor maidservants panting
behind, too exhausted to complain even a bit.
"Just how much did we walk?" Jiamin Junzhu heard the maidservants
panting and said dissatisfiedly, "Why are you so useless?"

Hua Liuli: Wow, this straightforward Junzhu has learned how to scold
someone indirectly. She's making progress!

The little maidservants dared not speak and lowered their heads, letting
Jiamin Junzhu scold them.

"Go back and practice horseback archery. It infuriates me to see you all like
this," Jiamin Junzhu scolded the maidservants and then turned to Hua Liuli,
saying, "Hua Xianzhu, I didn't mean to offend you."

Hua Liuli showed a gentle smile as if saying, "I understand."

"I came to see you today to give you a few words of advice," Jiamin Junzhu
got straight to the point, "Empress Dowager will never let you marry Ying
Wang. Don't have any illusions."

Hua Liuli's expression froze for a moment, and she asked, "What
does Junzhu mean?"

Among the four princes she had met; the Crown Prince was the most
handsome of them all; the Fifth Prince had a gentle demeanor. But why did
this Junzhu set her sights on the not-so-good-looking Ying Wang?

Even if it's a matter of personal preference, it doesn't concern her much, and
she doesn't like to meddle in other people's business. But as for her
marriage with Ying Wang, it didn't even pass the discussion stage. Just who
was she insulting by saying that she wanted to marry Ying Wang?

She thought the other party came to find her to settle the score for the
embarrassing incident at the plum banquet. She didn't expect it to be about
stealing a man.

Poor thing. Such a pretty girl, she not only lacks intelligence but also has
poor taste. She's really living a difficult life.
"I'm straightforward and don't like hiding things. I'll just say what I have to
say," Jiamin Junzhu said, "A delicate and useless woman like you is not
worthy of Ying Wang."

"Has Junzhu ever met the Emperor?" Hua Liuli asked in response.

"What do you mean? My mother is Princess Shunan, the Emperor's sister.

Naturally, I often meet the Emperor," Jiamin Junzhu said somewhat
proudly.

"In that case, the Emperor treats you with great magnanimity," Hua Liuli
smiled sweetly, "Junzhu, you speak so bluntly and act without scruples, yet
you never offended the Emperor. It's truly rare to see such a wise ruler."

"You're talking nonsense! Our entire family is loyal to the Emperor and
would never show any disrespect."

"I've misunderstood then," Hua Liuli smiled, her eyes bending, "So Junzhu
is not someone who lacks manners," Saying that she's straightforward was
just an excuse for being bossy and bullying the weak.

How can a weak woman like her bear it?

"Are you deliberately mocking me?!" Jiamin Junzhu was enraged.

Hua Liuli widened her eyes in disbelief, "Junzhu, how could you think
that?"

"I'm young and have had poor health since I was little. I rarely have a
chance to interact with outsiders. If I said something wrong, please don't
take it to heart," Hua Liuli covered her mouth and chuckled, "I heard that
Ying Wang is straightforward and imposing. He must also like girls who are
as straightforward as him, right?"

"Hua Liuli, don't think I won't hit a woman!" Jiamin Junzhu, who never
liked weak and fragile women who would fall with a gentle breeze, never
expected that there could be someone as annoying as Hua Liuli in the
world. Every word, every action, and even a smile could provoke her fiery
temper.

She felt like the words "If you have the ability, come and hit me" were
written all over the other person's body, making her head buzz with
irritation.

"What are you doing?" Ying Wang walked in from a side door of the palace.

Jiamin Junzhu, who didn't have time to conceal her anger, looked at Ying
Wang and then looked at Hua Liuli, who had an "I'm innocent, but I won't
say it" look on her face. For the first time, she realized what a truly
despicable person Hua Xianzhu was.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 12 – Those With Tacky
Names Live Longer

Ying Wang actually doesn't like to meddle in other people's affairs,

especially after getting involved in Tian Ruidong's matter last time. Now,
whenever he sees people arguing, he just wants to walk away.

He initially planned to do the same today, but after hearing Jiamin Junzhu's
angry voice, he had to turn back. His mother intended to win over Princess
Shunan, and if news of him turning away today reached Princess Shunan's
ears, it would be very unfavorable for him. Jiamin Junzhu, his cousin, was
direct in speech, careless in actions, and had a bad temper. It was
troublesome whenever she got into trouble or when someone offended her.

Walking out from behind the door, Ying Wang frowned when he saw that it
was Hua Liuli who was being cornered by Jiamin Junzhu, "Jiamin Junzhu,
Hua Xianzhu has a weak constitution, and it's windy here. If you have
something to say, find a sheltered place and talk slowly."

This statement wasn't meant to accuse Jiamin Junzhu of bullying Hua Liuli,
but Jiamin Junzhu was somewhat unhappy, "She came over by herself; it's
not like I asked her out."

With Jiamin Junzhu mocking him, Ying Wang's expression darkened,

especially with other people present. He couldn't tolerate someone of lower
status having opinions about him. "Jiamin Junzhu!"

Seeing Ying Wang getting angry, although Jiamin Junzhu felt resentful, she
didn't dare to say anything more. She turned her head and glared at Hua
Liuli with hatred. She couldn't understand why men liked to protect women
who appeared gentle and weak but had many hidden motives.
Receiving Jiamin Junzhu's angry glare, Hua Liuli blossomed an innocent
and naive smile.

"Your Highness, Junzhu, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave,"

Although she didn't like these two people very much, Hua Liuli felt that
they were a good match. This way, they wouldn't go out and cause trouble
for others.

They were simply a perfect match, destined by heaven and earth.

"Xianzhu, why did you only bring one maid with you?" Ying Wang looked
at Hua Liuli's fair cheeks and slender waist, worrying that she might
encounter problems on her way back. If something happened to her and the
Emperor's people investigated, it would be problematic as he was seen with
Jiamin Junzhu before the incident.

"No need, Shoukang Palace is not far from here," Hua Liuli really didn't
want to disturb them, to separate these two perfectly matched people. Her
conscience wouldn't allow it.

"Xianzhu is staying temporarily in the palace, as a guest of our imperial

family, I..."

"Then let Gu accompany her."

The three of them turned their heads together and saw the Crown Prince
sitting on a sedan chair. The winter sunlight shone on his cloak embroidered
with golden threads, making him appear radiant.

The eunuchs put down the sedan chair, and the Crown Prince stepped down
slowly, walking towards the three of them. His gaze briefly passed over
Jiamin Junzhu, who was saluting him, and he said to Hua Liuli, "Come."

Hua Liuli respectfully saluted and followed behind him. When they reached
the side of the sedan chair, the Crown Prince stopped and looked at Hua
Liuli.

Hua Liuli blinked.

"Forget it," the Crown Prince sighed, "Gu is five years older than you, so
Gu will give you the sedan chair to sit in."

"How can that be?" Hua Liuli shook her head in refusal. "Your imperial
Highness, I appreciate your kindness, but I can't sit in the sedan chair while
you walk."

The Crown Prince chuckled lightly, "What Gu meant was for you to sit first
and wait for another sedan chair to be brought over by the eunuchs."

"In that case, thank you, Your imperial Highness," Hua Liuli smiled with
curved eyebrows and sat down on the sedan chair. There was a faint
fragrance on the sedan chair; she looked up at the tall and upright Crown
Prince, recalling some memories from her childhood.

When she was young and reluctant to take medicine, her mother would
mention the Crown Prince who had given her a wooden horse. She would
say that he used to be very sick as a child and had to drink ten bowls of
bitter medicine every day to improve his health.

"Then what happened?" she, young and naive, would ask.

"Then his illness gradually improved," her mother would hold her down and
make her swallow the bitter medicine, then give her a piece of candy, "He is
not only intelligent and studious but also skilled in archery and
swordsmanship."

In her tender childhood, she truly believed that there was a pitiful little boy
in the imperial family who drank ten bowls of medicine every day and
studied, wrote, and practiced swordsmanship, all for the sake of improving
his health. So she sympathized with him deeply in her heart and carefully
kept the wooden horse he had sent.

Compared to this pitiful boy, she, who only drank one bowl of medicine a
day, was indeed very lucky.

But as she grew older, and no longer needed to drink the bitter medicine,
she understood that a child couldn't possibly drink ten bowls of medicine
every day. The Crown Prince, as the second most noble person in the world,
couldn't be the pitiful little boy she had imagined.

Adults shouldn't casually lie to children, who tend to believe everything

they're told.

Seeing the Crown Prince giving up his seat on the sedan chair for Hua Liuli,
Jiamin Junzhu rolled her eyes inwardly. These men were truly blind, falling
for such tricks.

Not long after, a few eunuchs carrying the sedan chair hurriedly
approached. Hua Liuli stood up from the sedan chair, "Thank you, Your
imperial Highness."

The Crown Prince lazily sat back on his own sedan chair and said to Hua
Liuli, "Let's go, Gu will accompany you back."

Hua Liuli stayed in the palace for ten days. Although she wanted to leave
the palace, she understood that she couldn't do so until the culprit was found
by the Ministry of Justice.

This was not the imperial family making things difficult for her; instead, it
was them intentionally giving face to the Hua family.

But... life in the palace was truly miserable.

Seeing the Crown Prince leave on his sedan, Ying Wang's face grew cold as
he sneered, "As the Crown Prince, he only knows how to indulge in
luxury."

It's just a few steps away, yet he insists on taking a sedan chair, clearly
deliberately showing off in front of his brothers.

"Don't worry, Your Highness," Knowing that she had displeased Ying Wang
earlier, Jiamin Junzhu tried to please him now, "The closer the Crown
Prince gets to Hua Xianzhu, the more disadvantageous it is for him."

Ying Wang remained silent for a moment and then smiled, "You're right."
As an Emperor, the Father Emperor could not tolerate the Crown Prince
getting too close to the Hua family. The Hua family holds hundreds of
thousands of troops in their hands, and any prince with a close relationship
with the Hua family would arouse the suspicions of the Father Emperor,
especially the Crown Prince.

A Crown Prince who lost the Emperor's favor was like a toothless tiger, no
longer posing any threat.

...

"Zhen heard that you let Hua Liuli sit in the sedan chair yesterday?" In the
study room, Emperor Changlong put aside the documents he had reviewed
and saw the Crown Prince leisurely drinking tea and eating snacks. He
couldn't help but say, "Yuansu, Zhen asked you to come here to learn how
to govern, not to come here and drink tea and be lazy."

"Father Emperor, you are still young."

"What does that mean?"

"So Father Emperor shouldn't expect too much from your child, Erchen is
still young."

"Young?!" Emperor Changlong threw a document in front of the Crown

Prince, "Someone from the imperial clan submitted this document, asking
me to strip Yingting of his military power. What do you think?"

"Father Emperor already called General Hua Yingting by his name, so why
should Erchen bother looking at this?" The Crown Prince glanced at the
documents, not even bothering to flip through them, "Take back the military
power and hand it over to these imperial family members to manage?"

"These people can't be relied upon for real matters, they're only good at
daydreaming." The Crown Prince pushed the document away from himself,
"Instead of making Erchen look at these, it's better to let Erchen go to
Shoukang Palace and talk to the Empress Dowager for a while."
"You spoiled child!" Emperor Changlong couldn't help but laugh at the
Crown Prince. Amongst his five sons, the Crown Prince was the most
intelligent and the one who pleased him the most. But this child, no matter
how good he was, was spoiled by him. He had lived in the palace since he
was young, yet he had no sense of palace intrigue.

Unlike when he was young, he had racked his brains and gone to great
lengths to inherit the throne.

The other princes respected and kept a distance from the Hua family, but
only the Crown Prince acted according to his own preferences, recklessly.

"Well, it was Father Emperor who spoiled Erchen," The Crown Prince
lazily raised his eyelids, "Since Father Emperor insists on having Erchen
express Erchen's opinion, then Erchen can only say that more than half of
these memorials are nonsense. The whole Great Jin prospered under Father
Emperor's governance and since there can't be major events happening
every day, these people write memorials even duller than dragon farts,
which indicates a problem with their own abilities."

Emperor Changlong: "..."

Alright, it was his own son, whom he had spoiled rotten, what could he do?
He could only pretend not to see it.

"Father Emperor, you mentioned that girl from the Hua family just now, and
Erchen remembered something," The Crown Prince looked up at Emperor
Changlong, "Father Emperor wanted to grant the title of Duke to the Great
General, but he refused. How about raising the status of his daughter?"

Emperor Changlong had intended to grant Hua Yingting the title of Duke,
but he refused, so Emperor Changlong had no choice but to confer him as
Marquis Zhongyong and appoint his eldest son as the heir. As for the other
two sons of the Hua family, Emperor Changlong also wanted to find an
opportunity to grant them some titles.

Since ancient times, famous generals meet wise rulers. Emperor Changlong
felt that Hua Yingting was a rare general in a hundred years, while he
himself was a wise ruler in a thousand years.

"It seems that you really like that girl from the Hua family," Emperor
Changlong pondered, "Could it be..."

"Father Emperor, please don't overthink," Seeing Emperor Changlong's

expression, the Crown Prince knew he had misunderstood, "That little girl
is the daughter of the Great General, she's cute, so it's inevitable for Erchen
to be close to her. But in Erchen's heart, Erchen only sees her as a younger
sister. How can an older brother have romantic feelings for his younger
sister? Erchen is not a beast."

"Then, let's go with your opinion and give her a title."

"Not just a title, but also a rank."

"Then..."

"Erchen has a good title here, what do you think of 'Fushou'1It means
Blessed Longevity?"

"It's a bit tacky," Emperor Changlong frowned, not too satisfied with this
title.

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow, "A humble name is easy to maintain
and brings good fortune and long life. It's auspicious, so it's fine if it's a bit
tacky."

The Crown Prince, who usually didn't like to handle matters, unexpectedly
felt a sense of satisfaction in granting titles and ranks to Hua Liuli.

Could this be the joy of giving?

Choosing a title was not the same as choosing a name, so why mention a
humble name that was easy to maintain? But thinking about Hua Liuli's
delicate health, the words "Blessed Longevity" were actually quite suitable
for her, so Emperor Changlong reluctantly nodded, "Fine."
Since his son treated her as a younger sister, it was more or less like having
an adopted daughter for himself.

That would be it then.

"Hiss," Hua Liuli suddenly covered her left eye, "My eyelid is twitching so
fast."

"Is it the left eye or the right eye?" Yuan Yi asked excitedly, handing a hot
towel to Hua Liuli.

"The left eye," Hua Liuli put the towel on her eyes and lay back on the bed,
not moving.

"Twitching in the left eye is a good sign," Yuan Yi smiled, "Xianzhu,

something good is definitely going to happen."

Hua Liuli pulled the towel off her face and sat up, looking expressionless at
Yuan Yi, "Last time you said the same thing, my mother found out that I
secretly read novels, and then I was punished to copy books for a month."

Yuan Yi whispered, "That's because the book you secretly read was called
'The Domineering General and the Charming Lady's Extraordinary
Romance'."

Hua Liuli: "..."

That book always described the general's wife smiling through tears and
weeping with a covered face, completely the opposite of her mother's
character. How was she supposed to know that it was making up stories
about her parents?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 13 – Garbage

"Xianzhu, I heard footsteps outside," Yuan Yi turned around to assist

Hualiuli, who was lying on the bed, but Hua Liuli was quicker than her and
sat up on her own.

"Miss Yuan Yi," a palace maid stood outside without entering. She saw
Yuan Yi coming out and asked in a low voice, "Is Xianzhu's attire in order?
The Emperor has sent an imperial edict. Please prepare yourself to receive
it."

"Thank you, sister. I will inform Xianzhu immediately," Yuan Yi replied

with gratitude to the palace maid. She then turned around and hurried back
to the inner chamber.

"Xianzhu..."

Hua Liuli sat in front of the mirror and adjusted her hairpins and
accessories, "I heard it."

Yuan Yi helped smooth her skirt and doubted herself, saying, "When the left
eye twitches, it signifies wealth, and when the right eye twitches, it signifies
misfortune. I hope I didn't remember it wrong?"

"No, you remembered correctly," Hua Liuli stood up and held Yuan Yi's
hand, "Take care of Xianzhu, who has a weak constitution. Let's go."

As Yuan Yi held Hua Liuli's delicate hand, her heart instantly calmed.

"Wait," Hua Liuli suddenly released Yuan Yi's hand, turned around, and put
on the amulet hidden under the pillow.

Yuan Yi: ...

Xianzhu appears calm on the surface, but her actions are honest.

"Xianzhu, didn't you say you don't believe in these things?" Yuan Yi asked
softly.

"You still don't know what kind of person I am?" Hua Liuli confidently
replied, "When have I ever kept my word?"

Yuan Yi said, "Praying to Gods and Buddhas is effective when done with
sincerity."

"Nonsense, Gods and Buddhas are very forgiving. Even if I'm not devout
enough in my daily life, they will still bless me in critical moments," Hua
Liuli touched the amulet hidden under her clothes, feeling an inexplicable
confidence in her good luck.

The moment they stepped out of the inner chamber, Yuan Yi's smile became
respectful, while Hua Liuli's footsteps slowed down. The master and
servant always had an unparalleled understanding in front of others.

The palace maid originally wanted to help Yuan Yi support Xianzhu, but
she felt that doing so would be interfering too much. She glanced at Yuan
Yi with some envy; being trusted by one's master to such an extent was a
stroke of luck that many servants longed for.

As they entered the main hall, Hua Liuli saw the Crown Prince holding the
imperial edict. She also saw her elegantly dressed Third Brother and several
unfamiliar officials.

When the Crown Prince saw Hua Liuli, he opened the imperial edict, "Hua
Xianzhu, this is an imperial edict for you. Receive it."

Hua Liuli knelt on the prepared cushion. Hua Changkong also lifted his
robe corner and knelt beside her. The two siblings exchanged a casual
glance, but confusion filled their eyes.

According to reason, since she arrived in the capital, she had been eager to
let everyone in the capital know that she was a fragile vase. The Empress
Dowager and the Emperor should not want her to become a Wangfei or The
Crown Princess.

Moreover, a marriage alliance was not the same as an act of enmity. The
Hua family had made significant contributions to the Great Jin Dynasty for
generations. Even if the Emperor truly wished for her to become his
imperial daughter-in-law, he would have discussed it with her parents in
advance before formally issuing the imperial edict. It couldn't be so casual
for her to marry anyone.

Seeing the young girl clutching her sleeves nervously, the Crown Prince
unfolded the imperial edict, reading it at a faster pace.

Hua Liuli: Oh no, it started with all praises for her father. Something doesn't
seem right.

"As the daughter of Yingting, she is like half a daughter to Zhen..."

Hua Liuli covered her chest, feeling like she was about to cough up blood.
She was getting seriously ill, on the verge of life and death.

"She shall be honored as a Junzhu and bestowed with fine horses, an estate,
and fertile fields."

Hua Liuli: They are raising her noble rank to the standards of the legitimate
eldest daughter of a prince. It's not an empty title either, but it also comes
with an estate and fields?

What is happening? Why are they suddenly giving her the title of a Junzhu?
Did her father accidentally conquer the kingdom of Daimao next to the
Golden Pearl?

"She shall be granted the honorary title of 'Fushou'. From here onwards,
you shall be addressed as Fushou Junzhu."

What on earth is this?

Hua Liuli could hardly believe her ears. How could they give her, a delicate
and weak beauty, such a title? They could have used something like
"Shu'an1"淑安" (Shū'ān): It is a title that combines the characters "淑" (shū),
meaning virtuous or gentle, and "安" (ān), meaning peaceful or tranquil. "淑安"
represents a lady of noble character who embodies elegance, grace, and
inner peace. " or "Rouyi2"柔仪" (Róuyí): This title consists of the characters
"柔" (róu), meaning gentle or soft, and "仪" (yí), meaning demeanor or
bearing. "柔仪" describes someone with a gentle and demure disposition,
displaying a refined and graceful manner. ". What is this "Fushou3"福寿"
(Fúshòu) can be translated as "blessed longevity" or "fortune and long life".
"福" (Fú): It means blessings, good fortune, or happiness. It represents the
presence of positive and auspicious energy in one's life. It encompasses
various aspects of well-being, including prosperity, luck, and harmony. "寿"
(Shòu): It refers to longevity or long life. It represents the wish for a person
to live a healthy and fulfilling life, free from illness or adversity. It is
associated with the concept of vitality, endurance, and the ability to enjoy a
long and prosperous existence." supposed to be?

It's not like she's a watchdog in a military camp.

"Honorable daughter is not talented. I thank His Majesty for His grace,"
Hua Liuli raised both hands above her head and continued, "Upon hearing
this joyous news, I, your humble servant, am overwhelmed with fear and
trepidation. In the future, I will remain true to my heart and live up to His
Majesty's high expectations."

The Crown Prince placed the imperial edict in Hua Liuli's hand and
instructed the palace maidens to assist her. He said, "The Junzhu's estate is
not yet renovated. If Junzhu has any ideas, you can submit the plans to the
Ministry of Works and let them take care of it."

Afterward, he turned to the officials from the Ministry of Rites who

accompanied him to deliver the edict and said, "Fushou Junzhu's health is
not good, so we can skip the remaining procedures. Gentlemen, copy the
content of the imperial edict and store it with a seal."

The officials from the Ministry of Rites were aware of Hua Liuli's delicate
health condition. They bid farewell promptly, demonstrating that the Crown
Prince's words carried weight in their presence.
After dismissing the irrelevant palace attendants, the Crown Prince noticed
that Hua's siblings seemed to be still in a daze. He smiled and said, "The
loyalty of the Hua family has always been observed and remembered by the
Emperor."

Hua Changkong bowed and said, "His Majesty's generosity is deeply

appreciated by our humble family."

"Little girl," the Crown Prince raised his chin and looked at Hua Liuli, "Are
you still lost in thought?"

"Please forgive me, Your Royal Highness. This humble girl has not yet
recovered from the joy. Especially the words 'Fushou', which embody His
Majesty's beautiful blessings and wishes. It fills me with excitement and
heartfelt gratitude," Hua Liuli replied.

"In matters of great customs, there is great elegance. Benwag also thinks
this title is very good," the Crown Prince expressed his satisfaction.

Hua Liuli: "..."

Alright then, you're the Crown Prince. Whatever you say goes.

Hua Changkong silently glanced at Hua Liuli and slowly withdrew his
gaze. Fortunately, his little sister had been staying in the palace lately,
otherwise, he might not have been able to console her.

"I have prepared a banquet in the Eastern Palace. Would you two honor me
with your presence?" the Crown Prince invited.

Hua Changkong lowered his eyelids and noticed a subtle gesture from his
little sister's hand below her sleeve.

"Thank you, Your Highness. We won't trouble you then."

The Eastern Palace had its own independent courtyard, horse stable, martial
arts training ground, and even a guard force. It was like a small palace
within the imperial palace.
As they walked from the main gate to the inner hall, Hua Liuli saw several
officials from the Crown Prince's residence eagerly trying to please him. No
wonder the imperial princes all aspired to become the Crown Prince; the
allure of this elevated position was immense.

"Junzhu, please have some tea," A cup of steaming tea was placed next to
Hua Liuli.

Hua Liuli covered her mouth and coughed lightly, "I apologize, I cannot
drink tea at the moment."

"Please forgive me, Junzhu. Nubi will go and fetch another one."

Hua Liuli reached out and gently held the wrist of the palace maid. Her
fingers were delicate and fair, lightly resting without any strength, "No need
to trouble yourself, I'm not thirsty."

The Crown Prince looked at the palace maid with a cold expression,
"Guards!"

"Please forgive me, Your Highness," The palace maid suddenly knelt down,
causing Hua Liuli, who had her hand on her, to fall to the ground and hit her
arm.

A hidden sleeve dart fell out from the palace maid's sleeve.

As her true identity was revealed, the palace maid's face turned cold. She
swiftly rose and drew a soft sword from her waist, leaping towards the
Crown Prince.

Her eyes were cold and her movements were as swift as a shadow. She was
a top-level killer. She knew that if she made a move today, she would have
no chance of surviving, but she had no regrets.

"Assassin!" The guards, eager to protect the Crown Prince, wished they
could intercept the assassin's strike. However, the assassin's movements
were too fast, and they were unable to stop her in time.

Swish!
The sound of fabric tearing echoed in the hall. Hua Liuli, who was lying on
the ground, clutched the pieces of fabric in her hand. Her face was pale as
she watched the assassin, who looked handsome as she flew out but fell in a
disheveled manner. Hua Liuli's hand trembled as she held the fabric, like a
small white flower swaying in the wind.

The secret to a top-level assassin's success was speed, but that advantage
was broken by Hua Liuli. In order to get close to the Crown Prince, the
assassin had disguised herself as a palace maid and had been lurking in the
Eastern Palace for nearly half a year. Finally, she had the opportunity to get
close to the Crown Prince, only to be foiled by a little girl who didn't want
to drink tea.

She glared at Hua Liuli with hatred, wishing she could take a bite out of her
flesh.

"If I said that I didn't mean to hold you back, would you believe me?" Hua
Liuli hurriedly threw away the fabric in her hand, clutching her chest and
gasping for breath. When Hua Changkong approached, she feigned
weakness and collapsed to the ground.

She was too tired, she didn't even have a chance to eat in the Eastern Palace.

"Younger sister, younger sister," Hua Changkong quickly lifted his sister
from the cold ground. He was about to shout, "Summon the imperial
physician," but the Crown Prince spoke first, "Send the imperial physician
here immediately."

The Crown Prince didn't pay any attention to the subdued assassin. He
walked quickly to Hua Changkong's side, his gaze fixed on Hua Liuli, "Gu
will arrange the best imperial physician to treat the Princess."

"This humble servant apologizes for the misconduct. Please forgive this
humble servant, Your Highness," Hua Changkong said, "This humble
servant's younger sister is timid and can't handle fright. This humble servant
does not want to trouble Your Highness too much. In fact, this is just her old
problem. She'll be fine after resting for a day or two."
"First, send Junzhu to the side hall to rest," the Crown Prince said, looking
at Hua Liuli, who was peacefully leaning against Hua Changkong's
embrace, "Deploy a strong guard force. Don't let anyone suspicious get
close to Junzhu."

The Imperial Guards quickly took their orders. The fact that such an
assassination attempt had occurred in the Eastern Palace was their
negligence. They couldn't imagine the turmoil it would cause if something
happened to the Crown Prince.

"Ji Yuansu, do you think that by escaping today, you can rest easy?" The
assassin's eyes turned bloodshot, "His Highness, Ying Wang, is the true
future ruler of Great Jin."

After speaking, she bit the poison sac hidden in her teeth and waited for
death to come.

"Ying Wang?" The Crown Prince looked at the assassin, who was
continuously spitting blood, "If you can't even succeed as an assassin, do
you think you're capable of sowing discord? It requires a brain, something
you clearly lack."

The assassin widened her eyes, making a "hehe" sound. She wasn't afraid of
death, but she couldn't tolerate others denying her status in the world of
assassins. It was a matter of her dignity!

"Do you think Gu would be curious about the mastermind behind you?"
The Crown Prince wiped his fingers with a handkerchief, his expression
calm, "Relying on a useless assassin to achieve something? He should be no
different from garbage."

The assassin sprayed out her last mouthful of blood and stared with wide
eyes, breathless.

No one knew whether she died from anger or poison.

With the assassin dead and the Crown Prince's hands cleaned, he turned and
walked towards the side hall.
Hua Changkong placed Hua Liuli on the bed and sighed softly. The capital
city was truly a bottomless quagmire. He didn't know if the assassin
intentionally struck while they were present or if it was just a coincidence.

The Emperor favored the Crown Prince the most. If the Crown Prince were
assassinated in front of them, the Emperor would definitely direct his anger
towards the Hua family.

The conflict between the monarch and his loyal subjects was a major taboo
in the court, but now there were people hoping for chaos in the court of
Great Jin.

Although the princes had their ambitions, they shouldn't engage in activities
that would only please enemy nations.

So, which insignificant neighboring country was behind all this?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 14 – Breathtaking Beauty

"Third Young Master Hua, how is your younger sister doing?" the Crown
Prince entered the side hall and saw Hua Changkong sitting calmly on a
chair. Most of his worries dissipated. It seemed that Hua Liuli wasn't in any
serious trouble.

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Changkong stood up and bowed to the Crown
Prince, "The imperial physician has already examined her, my younger
sister is fine. She just needs a few days of rest."

"Fortunately, Junzhu intercepted the assassin today, or else Gu might have

been in trouble," the Crown Prince looked at the gently swaying curtains in
the room, "The palace guards are strict. Anyone who can enter the imperial
palace has been thoroughly investigated for several generations."

However, within just a month, two assassination attempts had occurred.

Hua Changkong's expression flickered, but he remained silent.

"There are people in the palace who hold power and collude with
outsiders," the Crown Prince glanced towards the inner chamber, "In a few
days, there will be a grand ceremony to worship the heavens. Junzhu will
stay in the palace for a few more days to recuperate before returning to your
estate after the ceremony. What do you think, Third Young Master Hua?"

The bed curtains moved slightly.

Hua Changkong pretended not to notice and bowed to the Crown Prince,
"This humble servant will follow Your Royal Highness's wishes."

Perhaps he had held the princes in too high regard. Maybe there indeed was
a foolish prince among them who disregarded the country's peace for
immediate gains.

Such a person, even if capable of scheming against the world, could never
become a wise ruler.

"I heard that Third Young Master is planning to participate in the imperial
examination after spring," the Crown Prince didn't want to discuss his
disappointing brothers and changed the topic, "In my palace, there are two
officials who ranked among the top three in the previous examination. If
Third Young Master doesn't mind, you can often come visit."

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness. I..."

"Junzhu, are you awake?" A voice filled with surprise came from inside the
room.

Hua Changkong lifted the curtain and walked into the inner chamber,
meeting Hua Liuli's gaze.

Hua Liuli silently turned her head away.

Hua Changkong cleared his throat, "Little sister, I'll come to pick you up in
a few days."

"Thank you, Third Brother," Hua Liuli reached out and straightened Hua
Changkong's clothes, "The weather has gotten colder, don't forget to keep
warm, Third Brother," Her fair fingers lightly twisted on Hua Changkong's
arm, "You must take care of your own health."

Hua Changkong's smile stiffened, and he whispered, "The Crown Prince is

still outside. Give me some face."

Withdrawing her hand, Hua Liuli smiled brightly, "Third Brother,

everything is fine for me in the palace. Don't worry about me."

"Jiamin Junzhu, the daughter of Princess Shunan, fancies the Eldest

Prince," Hua Liuli whispered softly. "Princess Shunan's family is getting
close to Consort Xian."
If they didn't have a close relationship, Jiamin Junzhu wouldn't have known
about the Emperor's intention to match her, Hua Liuli, with the Eldest
Prince.

"Take care of yourself," Hua Changkong raised his voice, "Don't worry,
Third Brother will study hard at home. Maybe next year, you'll have a top-
ranking scholar as your older brother."

"Third Brother, you're so confident. I'll write a letter to inform our parents
later," Hua Liuli rubbed her belly.

"You're already hungry."

"I'm not hungry."

"Even if you're not hungry, you still need to eat something. Otherwise, how
can your body hold up? Be good and listen to me."

"Then..."

"Are you thinking of just having some plain congee? That won't do. Yuan
Yi, bring some meat porridge for Junzhu and prepare a few side dishes as
well."

Hua Liuli blinked at Hua Changkong: Third Brother, you're my true brother.

Hua Changkong lightly tapped her forehead with his finger, then stood up
and went outside to accompany the Crown Prince in conversation.

When Yuan Yi and a palace maid brought the food, Hua Changkong stood
up and went to see Hua Liuli.

The Crown Prince took a sip of tea and heard Hua Changkong's voice from
the inner chambers, "Why are you only eating so little? Take a few more
bites."

"If you finish this bowl of rice, I'll buy you the pearl hairpin that you liked."
"Eating so little every day, how can your body be healthy? And the
vegetables, you must eat them. Don't think that just because you are in the
palace and I can't see that you can be picky and not eat properly!"

"Third Brother..."

"Pouting won't work. Yuan Yi, from now on, you must keep a close eye on
Junzhu during meals. You can't let her have her own way."

"Your Royal Highness, please forgive this humble servant," After sternly
coaxing his sister to eat, Hua Changkong walked out and said to the Crown
Prince, "My sister is still young and ignorant. Since she was young, she has
always been picky about eating and would bother others, There's nothing
this humble servant can do about it."

"There are young princesses that are very picky about food. It's normal," the
Crown Prince smiled, "Gu also has many things Gu doesn't like to eat."

After a while, the palace maid brought out the empty bowl. The Crown
Prince glanced at the empty bowl and plate. It seemed that her older
brother's coaxing was still effective. The young girl obediently finished all
the food.

After the physician finished examining Hua Liuli's pulse and confirmed that
she had no problems with eating so much food, the Crown Prince heard
Hua Changkong reprimanding Hua Liuli for being picky in the inner
chamber. He spoke up, "Third Young Master Hua, Junzhu is still young,
there's no need to be so strict. In the next few days, Gu will personally
ensure that Junzhu eats her meals."

"Your Royal Highness is right," Hua Liuli quickly added.

Behind the curtain, the Crown Prince couldn't see Hua Liuli's expression,
but he could sense something from her tone.

Indeed, she was still a child who became arrogant once she had someone to
rely on.
To avoid panic in the palace, the news of the assassination attempt in the
Eastern Palace was blocked and did not spread.

Although the Crown Prince was unharmed, Emperor Changlong was

furious. He not only investigated all the palace guards responsible for
guarding the palace but also increased the number of guards in the Eastern
Palace.

Some officials in charge of palace affairs were also greatly affected by this
incident. Although the people in the palace didn't know what had happened,
they became much more cautious in their duties.

The only one who was unaffected was probably Hua Liuli. After returning
from the Eastern Palace, she started living a leisurely life. It was unknown
what the Crown Prince said to Empress Dowager, but since then, the
Empress Dowager had developed a new hobby of watching her finish her
meals.

"In the past, this Grieving One found it troublesome to see old women
coaxing children to eat, but now this Grieving One finds it somewhat
interesting," the Empress Dowager said to a nearby court lady, "Liuli is
obedient and clever. Even the way she eats is cuter than other girls."

The court lady smiled and replied, "Your Majesty is right."

You haven't experienced the power of mischievous children, so you find it

interesting to coax them to eat. If Fushou Junzhu wasn't pretty but cried and
threw tantrums...

After finishing her meal, Hua Liuli was once again chased out by the
Empress Dowager to take a stroll. It was unclear where she heard the rumor,
but Empress Dowager said to her, "If you encounter someone with a bad
temper, even if there's a conflict, you won't lose if you have more people
with you."

Hua Liuli felt that Empress Dowager's words were implying, "If someone
dares to lay a hand on you, and you can't win, let the palace maids fight
back."
She thought that the Empress Dowager, having gone through various palace
intrigues, would speak in a more tactful and subtle manner, but she turned
out to be very straightforward.

"Little girl, have you been chased out for a walk by the Empress Dowager
again?" The Crown Prince spotted the slowly walking Hua Liuli from a
distance, "How much did you eat for lunch?"

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli looked up at the Crown Prince sitting in
the sedan chair, "Have you had your meal?"

"Gu just had it in the Chenyang Palace," the Crown Prince got off the sedan
chair and handed two boxes to Hua Liuli.

"What is this?" Hua Liuli took the boxes and smelled a faint aroma of food.

"There will be a grand ritual to the heavens tomorrow," the Crown Prince
whispered, "It will start before dawn and continue until noon."

Hua Liuli turned her head and looked at the eunuchs and palace maids
bowing their heads behind her. She whispered, "Your Royal Highness, is it
appropriate to eat secretly during the ritual...?"

"What's wrong with that? Children need to nourish their bodies when
they're growing up and can't bear hunger," the Crown Prince placed his
hands behind his back, sounding confident. "Heavens bless the people and
is inclusive of all things. Heavens won't pay attention to such a small
matter. Don't worry."

Hua Liuli: "..."

She was just a fifteen-year-old child?

The next morning, before dawn, Hua Liuli was pulled out of bed by Yuan
Yi and a few palace maids and put into a sedan chair after helping her get
ready.

"Junzhu, the Crown Prince sent you some snacks. They are packed in a
brocade pouch," Yuan Yi said.
"En," Hua Liuli nodded drowsily.

"Junzhu is weak, the palace attendants dare not let you tire yourself.
However, Nubi heard that it might be inconvenient to change clothes after
the ritual starts, so Junzhu should drink less water today."

"Alright," Hua Liuli leaned against the window of the sedan chair and
yawned a few times.

The imperial palace was still a long distance from the altar for the ritual, but
along the way, Hua Liuli didn't hear any conversation besides the sound of
footsteps.

She was awakened by the morning chill, so she lifted the curtain of the
sedan chair and glanced outside. The road was adorned with beautiful
palace lanterns and the entire path leading to the ritual altar was illuminated
as if it were daytime.

Underneath the altar, there was a large open space already filled with
people. Hua Liuli carefully observed and found that the court officials and
the noblewomen were all present, but they were divided into separate
groups on the left and right, not standing together.

The sedan chair silently touched the ground, and a palace maid lifted the
curtain, "Junzhu, please disembark."

Hua Liuli stepped out of the sedan chair and saw the Empress Dowager
beckoning to her after descending from the phoenix carriage, "Liuli, come,
support me."

The several concubines who had been waiting on the side felt somewhat
uneasy upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words. In the absence of an
heir in the palace, it was considered an honor for the concubines to stand by
the Empress Dowager during the ritual. In previous years, the Empress
Dowager would choose one of the concubines who had given birth to a
prince to accompany her, but unexpectedly this year, an outsider was
chosen to accompany her.
The smiles on the concubines' faces remained unchanged. On the contrary,
they calmly took a step back, displaying a peculiar sense of calmness.

Perhaps the result of "neither me nor you" was something they could
accept.

Hua Liuli held the Empress Dowager's soft hand and walked past the
solemn court officials and noblewomen, finally stepping onto the stairs
leading to the altar.

The court officials and the noblewomen were secretly curious, as they
wondered if the young girl supporting the Empress Dowager was from the
Hua family.

Was the imperial family giving face to the Hua family?

No, something was off. The Hua family had just achieved a victory, so the
imperial family would definitely bestow them with all possible honors.
However, when the time came to suppress the Hua family, it would be done
ruthlessly.

Ah, accompanying a monarch was like accompanying a tiger. The imperial

family was destined to be so merciless.

After expressing their sentiments in their hearts, the officials couldn't help
but cast glances at Hua Liuli.

How come they were not the ones in such a glorious position?

If it were them, they would never suffer the same fate as the Hua family in
the future.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 15 – Different

The wind at the Altar of Heaven was noisy, the Empress Dowager's
expression was solemn, while Hua Liuli was... feeling cold.

She supported the Empress Dowager and walked to Emperor Changlong's

side. Emperor Changlong supported the Empress Dowager when Hua Liuli
bowed to the two of them. This was her first time seeing Emperor
Changlong, a handsome uncle. The corners of the Crown Prince's eyes and
eyebrows bore some resemblance to him.

Emperor Changlong noticed the little girl beside the Empress Dowager. Her
big eyes showed no timidity and were agile and bright, but her posture
seemed a bit weak.

This little girl was so good, lovely, and cute. With the Crown Prince's
careless personality, he should be matched with such a girl who knows how
to be gentle and caring. He had originally thought that the Eldest Prince had
always been interested in military arts and would be more accustomed to
the Hua family's girl if she married him. Unexpectedly, Consort Xian and
the Eldest Prince themselves were unwilling.

He was somewhat angry at first, but such matters depended on mutual

willingness. If he forced the Eldest Prince into this marriage and the Eldest
Prince treated the girl poorly, it would harm her.

The Hua family had only produced such a daughter for three generations
and he would be ashamed to face the court in the future.

Emperor Changlong nodded amiably at Hua Liuli before continuing to

support the Empress Dowager and walk forward.
Hua Liuli took three steps back and turned around before walking away.
The entire open space fell into a profound silence. She felt many gazes on
her, but when she looked up, all she saw were the respectful court officials
and noblewomen.

The people in the capital were truly remarkable. Their gazes were as
flexible as the archers in the military camp, if not more formidable.

She turned her head and saw the Crown Prince, dressed in ceremonial attire,
preparing to ascend the Altar of Heaven. She stopped in her tracks and took
a step to the side.

When the Crown Prince passed by her, his footsteps paused briefly, and he
handed her a palm-sized object.

Warmth flowed through her limbs as she held the delicate and exquisite
hand warmer. Hua Liuli, whose hands had been chilled by the cold wind in
the morning, covered the hand warmer and looked at the Crown Prince's
figure.

Ah, at this moment, the Crown Prince's figure appeared exceptionally tall
and majestic.

After descending the steps, a Ministry of Rites official led her to join the
noblewomen. Although she was young, her noble title was high, so she
stood in a prominent position. When she saw the person standing on her
right side was Jiamin Junzhu, her smile became even brighter, "Junzhu, we
are truly fated."

Jiamin Junzhu: "..."

No, I don't want to see you.

With the hand warmer, her cold hands gradually warmed up. Seeing the
expression "Don't come near me" on Jiamin Junzhu's face, Hua Liuli didn't
get angry either. She leisurely held the hand warmer and waited for the
ceremony to begin.
As the sky gradually brightened, Emperor Changlong recited a sacrificial
text and also had the Crown Prince recite one.

Hua Liuli thought this was a normal procedure, but she noticed that the
expressions of the noblewomen around her became somewhat shocked
when the Crown Prince went to recite the sacrificial text, especially Jiamin
Junzhu, whose face showed both surprise and unwillingness.

"Kneel!"

"Dong!" The sound of the chimes spread throughout the entire open space,
enveloping Hua Liuli in solemnity. She tucked the hand warmer into her
sleeve and respectfully knelt down.

They offered sacrifices to the heavens, praying for the peace and prosperity
of the people, as well as favorable weather.

"Kneel again."

After performing the Three Kowtows and Nine Prostrations ceremony,

there were still many more procedures to follow. As she listened to the
chanting of scriptures by the monks and Taoists, Hua Liuli opened the
brocade pouch at her waist and secretly ate a piece of milk candy.

She didn't know how the Eastern Palace's chefs made it, but this milk candy
was sweet and fragrant without being greasy. After it entered her mouth, the
fragrance of milk and fruit surrounded her lips and teeth, improving her
mood.

The Crown Prince was probably worried that she would get tired of just
eating milk candy, so he also prepared a portion of dried meat for her. She
occasionally ate a piece and felt that this tedious occasion was not so
difficult to endure.

When she picked up another piece of milk candy, she noticed that Jiamin
Junzhu was secretly watching her. After hesitating for a moment, she took
out five pieces from the brocade pouch, thought for a moment, threw back
two pieces, and then handed them to Jiamin Junzhu, "Want some?"
"I don't..." Jiamin Junzhu began to say.

Upon hearing the "don't, Hua Liuli immediately retracted her hand.

Jiamin Junzhu: "..."

She knew this wretched person wouldn't be so generous.

Hua Liuli stood among the crowd and noticed many interesting things. A
certain princess in the front row maintained a dignified posture, and when
she secretly ate something hidden in her sleeve, she appeared more
composed than the others.

The princess on her left pretended to cough lightly, but she was actually
stuffing something into her mouth.

She even caught a faint scent of tea behind her but couldn't figure out its
source.

People in the capital were truly extraordinary. They frequently attended

important gatherings and had developed such rich experiences in discreetly
eating to avoid going hungry.

After reflecting on this, she thought that the Crown Prince was truly kind-
hearted and handsome. If it weren't for him, she would have been a pitiful
soul starving in the cold wind.

As time passed, Jiamin Junzhu stared at Hua Liuli -- who was occasionally
sneaking a bite -- and felt her hunger intensify. Unfortunately, she wanted to
leave a good impression in front of Consort Xian, so she couldn't resort to
sneaking food and hadn't prepared anything to eat.

Knowing that she was hungry and yet seeing Hua Liuli eat so happily, it
was unbearable!

As noon approached, the celestial ritual finally reached its last step. The
scriptures recited by the monks and Taoists, as well as the sacrificial texts
written by the princes and court officials, were all to be burned as offerings
to the heavens.
Hua Liuli watched as the blue smoke slowly rose into the sky. She touched
the empty sachet in her hand and realized that if the ceremony didn't end
soon, she would run out of snacks.

When she bowed again, Hua Liuli swayed slightly, showing signs of
exhaustion.

Fortunately, a young Junzhu standing beside her supported her.

"Thank you," Hua Liuli smiled gratefully at the young Junzhu.

"No need to be polite," the young Junzhu, with a round face, smiled
warmly.

After the ceremonial offering to the heavens concluded, Hua Liuli prepared
to leave with the noble ladies, but she was called back by a court lady
beside the empress dowager.

"Anning, don't bother," Jiamin Junzhu glanced at the round-faced Junzhu,

"She's just an outsider's daughter. Even if she's titled as a Junzhu, how can
she compare to us legitimate imperial relatives?"

"Furthermore," Jiamin Junzhu sneered, "Considering Hua Liuli's status, can

you afford to associate yourself with her?"

Anning Junzhu's eyelids twitched as she withdrew her gaze from Hua
Liuli's departing figure.

When Hua Liuli approached them with the court lady, the Crown Prince
noticed that the two sachets at her waist were empty, and he chuckled
lightly. Ying Wang, standing beside him, thought bitterly: So what if the
Emperor asked him to recite the sacrificial texts? There was nothing to
show off.

"Yuansu," Emperor Changlong turned to the Crown Prince and said, "Come
with me."

Seeing the Emperor and the Crown Prince get on the sedan chair, Ying
Wang almost rolled his eyes, but when he saw Hua Liuli approaching, he
quickly retracted his gaze.

After all, she was a woman who almost became his Wangfei. Appearance
still mattered.

"I greet Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, Crown Prince, and all the princes
and princesses," Hua Liuli bowed to everyone. Her gaze swept over the
crowd and landed on the Fourth Prince, whom she had never had a chance
to meet.

It was rumored that the birth mother of the Fourth Prince had a relatively
low status, but what was more legendary was that he had an uncle who had
achieved the top-ranked scholar position and was highly trusted by the
Emperor.

The Fourth Prince's appearance didn't dazzle as much as the Crown

Prince's, but he could still be described as handsome, with remarkable
elegance. However, he seemed somewhat silent and difficult to get along
with, displaying a cold and indifferent demeanor.

"Come," the Empress Dowager held Hua Liuli's hand. As she felt warmth in
Hua Liuli's she felt relieved, "Come, accompany this Grieving One back to
the palace."

The Crown Prince came forward to support the Empress Dowager,

"Imperial Grandmother, be careful on the steps."

"Alright, alright," the Empress Dowager liked her grandson's closeness and
said to the Crown Prince, "You've been through a lot today, you must be
tired. Go back and rest well."

"Imperial Grandmother, even if I'm tired, I wouldn't dare to say it in front of

you," the Crown Prince sighed, "I still have some face to maintain."

The Empress Dowager was amused by her grandson, "Look at you, you
have no shame or scruples."
Hua Liuli smiled, realizing that she had previously thought that the imperial
family followed rules and regulations in every aspect. However, after living
in Shoukang Palace for a while, she discovered that the imperial family
members were also human beings who shared intimate jokes in private.

"Little Hua, why are you smiling?" the Crown Prince noticed Hua Liuli's
smile.

Hua Liuli innocently shook her head, "Your Royal Highness, this humble
servant couldn't help but feel happy thinking about the prosperous year
ahead for Great Jin."

The Crown Prince stared at Hua Liuli; Hua Liuli stared back with wide
eyes.

"Your Majesty, look at the Crown Prince," Consort Xian approached

Emperor Changlong and smiled, "He looks genuinely happy."

Emperor Changlong nodded with satisfaction, "Yuansu's mother passed

away early, so he has always been close to the Empress Dowager."

Consort Xian thought, is that what he noticed?

Had the Emperor not seen the intimacy between the Crown Prince and Hua
Liuli? Did he never suspect that these two had a secret relationship?

Consort Xian wanted to grab Emperor Changlong and shake him

vigorously, then point at the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli and ask him to
arrange their marriage to get rid of these two troublemakers.

She couldn't believe that if the Crown Prince married Hua Liuli, Emperor
Changlong would still trust him without any reservations.

"Yes, not only is the Crown Prince happy, but Fushou Junzhu also gets
along well with the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince," Consort Xian
thought she could bravely salvage this topic.

"Yes," Emperor Changlong smiled, "Liuli is a good child with pure and
kind nature. She gets along very well with the Empress Dowager, who
treats her like a granddaughter."

Consort Xian thought, there's definitely something wrong with this man's
judgment.

"By the way," Emperor Changlong's smile disappeared, "Until the

poisoning incident in Lincui Palace is fully investigated, don't get too close
to Fushou Junzhu. She has a weak constitution and can't handle any
shocks."

Consort Xian remained silent.

"Hmm?" Seeing Consort Xian's silence, Emperor Changlong furrowed his

brow slightly and turned to look at her.

"Your Majesty is right. Chenqie is also concerned about Fushou Junzhu's

health," Consort Xian expressed gratitude, "But Chenqie is deeply moved
that Your Majesty believes that Chenqie is not responsible for the
poisoning."

"Zhen knows you wouldn't do such a thing," Emperor Changlong's

expression was indifferent. With Consort Xian's intellect, she wouldn't be
able to obtain Sanxi San, a forbidden medicine in the palace. He was well
aware of that.

After the Empress Dowager left, Ying Wang stepped forward to support
Consort Xian, "Mother."

When the mother and son arrived at their sedans, Consort Xian couldn't
contain her excitement and said, "My son, we still have a chance."

Ying Wang, seeing his mother's joyful expression, asked in a low voice,
"What did Father Emperor say to you just now?"

"The Emperor never doubted that your Mother Consort poisoned Hua Liuli,
which means he has always trusted us," Consort Xian patted her son's arm,
"My son, you have to work harder."
"Mother, I understand," Ying Wang thought to himself that he was different
from the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince's mother passed away early and he doesn't even have any
influential maternal relatives to rely on.

But he was different from the Crown Prince.

He still had many opportunities.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 16 – A Good Horse
Matches a Gentleman

Officials in the capital have noticed that the low-key Ying Wang, who had
been quiet for half a month, has become active again in recent days. Not
only did he present auspicious signs to the Emperor, but he also had
musicians compose a song praising the Emperor. It is said that every time
Ying Wang listens to this song, he covers his face with tears, deeply moved
by the Emperor's great achievements, wisdom, and virtue.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Changlong sighed and rewarded Ying Wang
with some gifts while gently reminding him not to have the musicians sing
this song again.

"What does Father Emperor mean by this?" Ying Wang looked at the gifts
placed in the room, pondering, "Does Father Emperor think the song wasn't
good enough?"

It seemed that he should have the musicians rearrange it.

After the grand ceremony ended, Hua Liuli was kept by the Empress
Dowager for a few more days before being reluctantly released. Several
large boxes were filled with clothes and jewelry, yet the Empress Dowager
still felt that there were a few more sets of beautiful clothes missing.

Aware that the Empress Dowager genuinely cared for her, Hua Liuli also
developed a sense of attachment. She stayed by the Empress Dowager's
side, keeping her company and making her happy.

"Let's calculate the days. Your parents will soon return to the capital," the
Empress Dowager glanced at the sky and said, "It's close to noon. Have
your lunch before leaving."

Lowering her head to look at the Empress Dowager's hand gently holding
hers, Hua Liuli nodded, "Alright."

"You grew up on the border, and as soon as you returned to the capital, you
were brought into the palace by me. Perhaps there are many things that you
still don't understand," the Empress Dowager sighed, "This is the most
prosperous and complex place in Great Jin. Don't easily trust anyone, but
also don't abandon your true self for others."

"Your Majesty," Hua Liuli's heart trembled slightly. She hadn't expected the
Empress Dowager to go so far for her.

"This Grieving One is not saying this to make you timid or afraid, but to tell
you that you are a Junzhu personally bestowed by the Emperor, your father
is a great general, and your mother is a heroic woman. You don't need to
change for anyone," the Empress Dowager solemnly patted Hua Liuli's
hand, "You are still young, and a person's life is long."

Hua Liuli's eyes turned slightly red, and she nodded earnestly, "Empress
Dowager, I will remember."

"Come, let's have lunch together," the Empress Dowager smiled gently.

After having their meal, even if the Empress Dowager was reluctant, she
could only arrange for palace maids to escort Hua Liuli out of the palace.

With the absence of the younger generation, Shoukang Palace suddenly

became quiet. The Empress Dowager lay on the phoenix bed, unable to
sleep at all. Her personal attendant asked softly, "Empress Dowager, are you
feeling tired?"

"This Grieving One is worried about that girl," the Empress Dowager had
the attendant help her sit up, "The people in the capital are not as simple as
those on the border."
"Empress Dowager, you treated Fushou Junzhu exceptionally well," the
female attendant gathered the curtains and assisted the Empress Dowager to
sit by the window.

"That child has beautiful eyes," the Empress Dowager smiled, "and a
sincere heart."

"What does that mean?" the attendant took the opportunity to ask a few
more questions, sensing the Empress Dowager's interest.

"Every time she goes out with this Grieving One, her arms are always in a
protective position around me," the Empress Dowager, who entered the
palace at the age of fifteen and had now passed her prime, had experienced
many things and encountered many people. She believed she could
understand people's intentions to some extent.

"It seems that the assassination incident in the palace made her believe that
danger is everywhere and that an assassin could emerge at any moment,"
the Empress Dowager chuckled, "Her delicate arms and legs make me
worry."

"Empress Dowager, you have a discerning eye. Nubi didn't notice

anything," the attendant said with some regret in her tone.

"That's because you haven't seen Liuli's mother. When Liuli's mother
protected this Grieving One back then, she had the same posture," the
Empress Dowager smiled, "When this Grieving One asked her why, she
said that this posture is the easiest way to detect enemies and also the best
way to shield me."

At this point, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but laugh, "At my age,
there is no shortage of people who deliberately try to please me, but
children like her, who are sincere but do not express it, are rare."

The attendant couldn't help but express a hint of regret in her voice, "It's a
pity that Junzhu is physically weak; otherwise, she could become a heroic
woman like the general's wife."
"Each generation has its own blessings. Who says that children must live
the same way as their parents?" the Empress Dowager had a broad-minded
view, "Not everything can be forced."

The attendant gently massaged the Empress Dowager's legs, "Empress

Dowager, you're right. Nubi just feels sorry for Junzhu's health."

The Empress Dowager nodded and sighed, "Indeed, she has poor health and
is a picky eater. When her parents return to the capital, this Grieving One
will have them take good care of her."

The attendant thought to herself that even after spending fifteen years with
her parents on the border, Junzhu had not changed her ways. It seemed
unlikely that she would change in this lifetime.

Not long after the carriage came out of Shoukang Palace, Hua Liuli heard
someone calling for her.

"Fushou Junzhu, please wait."

Hua Liuli lifted the curtain and saw a woman dressed in light palace attire
being supported by palace maids, smiling at her.

"Greetings to Your Highness, Consort Shu," Hua Liuli got off the carriage
and greeted Consort Shu. Consort Shu was the birth mother of the Fifth
Prince and was said to come from a scholarly family. It's no wonder she
raised the Fifth Prince to be such a refined gentleman.

"Junzhu, there's no need for formalities," Consort Shu extended her hand to
help Hua Liuli up, saying, "Are you leaving the palace?"

Consort Shu glanced at the several carriages behind her, knowing that they
were filled with rewards from the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the
Crown Prince for her. She took out a precious box from the hands of a
palace maid and said, "Bengong had planned to visit Shoukang Palace to
see you, however, you're leaving the palace today. Bengong heard that you
are physically weak and sensitive to cold; this warming jade has a
nourishing effect. If you don't mind, please accept it."
"How could this humble servant accept such a gracious gift..." Hua Liuli
hesitated.

"It's beneficial for you, so it's not just an ordinary jade. If it stays with
Bengong, it's just a useless stone. It's most useful if you like it," Consort
Shu spoke gently. Every word and action she made was comforting.

Finally, Hua Liuli accepted the warming jade. After bidding farewell to
Consort Shu, she encountered the birth mothers of the Eldest Prince and the
Second Prince, Consort Xian and Consort Rong respectively, along the way,
and each of them presented her with a generous gift.

"If the birth mother of the Fourth Prince, Consort Lin, also comes, then I'll
be really something today," Hua Liuli placed the three gift boxes together
and sighed.

"People in the palace have complicated thoughts," Yaun Yi, her maid,
placed the gift boxes under the cushion of the carriage and handed a bag of
dried meat to Hua Liuli.

Since the Crown Prince discovered that Hua Liuli liked to eat this kind of
dried meat, he had the palace servants send it to her every day. This bag was
from yesterday.

Hua Liuli chuckled. These women of the imperial harem were not easy.
Although they didn't particularly like her, they still acted as if she were their
own daughter and took an effort to prepare gifts for her.

"Fushou Junzhu, please wait."

The mistress and servant exchanged glances. Hua Liuli handed the dried
meat back to Yuan Yi and cleaned her hands, "She's finally here."

She lifted the curtain and looked outside. Surprisingly, the carriage had
already arrived at the palace gate. The Crown Prince was riding a snow-
white steed, looking at her with a smile.
"Your Royal Highness?" Hua Liuli didn't expect the person who came to be
the Crown Prince instead of Consort Lin. She got off the carriage and
waited as the Crown Prince slowly approached on his horse. Unable to help
herself, she cast a few more glances at the horse—it was so beautiful.

"Do you like it?" the Crown Prince asked.

Hua Liuli nodded slightly.

The Crown Prince dismounted and placed the reins in Hua Liuli's fair palm,
"If you like it, it's yours."

"Ah?" Hua Liuli was stunned. Was it really that casual?

"What's wrong?" The Crown Prince saw Hua Liuli staring at him blankly.
"Is there something wrong with Gu today?"

"Your Royal Highness, you are still as handsome as ever today," Hua Liuli
shook her head, reached out, and touched the horse's head. Seeing that the
horse didn't resist her touch, she couldn't help but smile, "This horse is a
divine steed. I don't have many opportunities to ride horses due to my poor
health. It would be wasted if it stayed with me."

"A good horse matches a gentleman," Hua Liuli looked into the clear eyes
of the horse, and there was a smile in the corners of her eyes, "I really like
it, but it would be more useful if it stayed with Your Royal Highness."

The Crown Prince looked at the smile in Hua Liuli's eyes and remained
silent for a moment. "Gu understands. Gu will keep this horse for you. After
you recover from your illness in the spring, Gu will send it to you."

Hua Liuli returned the reins to the Crown Prince, "Thank you, Your Royal
Highness."

"After returning home, don't be picky with your food. Children should eat
well to grow tall," The Crown Prince asked a eunuch to hand a long box to
the palace maid who was accompanying Hua Liuli back home, "In ten days,
it will be New Year's Eve, and the palace will hold a banquet. Eat
something to fill your stomach before you come."

Hua Liuli: "..."

"Those things may look good, but they don't taste that great," The Crown
Prince really wanted to pat Hua Liuli's head but stopped himself, realizing
that he wasn't her biological brother, so he withdrew his hand. "Alright, go
back early. Gu should return to the palace as well."

"Your Royal Highness, take care," Hua Liuli waved her hand with a smile.

The Crown Prince mounted his horse, leaned down, and said to Hua Liuli,
"By the way, Gu didn't properly thank you for saving my life. Thank you,
Junzhu."

Hua Liuli remembered that the Crown Prince was referring to the
assassination attempt in the Eastern Palace. She covered her chest and
paled, "I can't bear Your Royal Highness's gratitude. It was just a
coincidence, not my accomplishment."

"The coincidence happened to you, so it's your accomplishment," The

Crown Prince smiled, "Otherwise, why didn't others encounter it?"

"Your Royal Highness, you forgot that you also saved me," Hua Liuli
looked up at the Crown Prince on the horse's back, "In Lincui Palace that
day, if it weren't for Your Royal Highness sending someone to deliver gifts,
I would have died from drinking from the poisoned cup."

The Crown Prince saw a clear figure in Hua Liuli's eyes—that figure was
himself.

He couldn't hold back anymore and lightly tapped her head with his index
finger, "Go back and take care on the way."

After saying that, he urged his horse forward, and the horse trotted into the
palace gate.
Hua Liuli returned to the carriage and opened the large box the Crown
Prince had given her. After seeing what's inside, she instantly revealed a
smiling expression.

Inside were various delicious snacks neatly divided into compartments,

each compartment filled to the brim, emitting an enticing aroma.

"Yuan Yi, I think amongst all the princes, the Crown Prince is the most
handsome," Hua Liuli put aside the note that said "Do not overeat, eat on
time", and tasted each snack in every compartment. With narrowed eyes,
she sighed, "Especially today, he looks exceptionally handsome,
incomparable to anyone else, peerless in the world."

Yuan Yi laughed. "Are you praising the Crown Prince? Or are you praising
the only prince who is willing to send you delicious food?"

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

She was praising the Crown Prince who dismounted and handed her the
reins.

He looked so good!

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 17 – Cuju Match

Recently, the chefs at the Hua Estate have been particularly busy because
the Third Young Master's tastes suddenly became picky. Today, he wants to
eat this type of fish, tomorrow he wants to eat that type of crab, and the day
after tomorrow he wants to eat some chicken. His preferences change twice
a day—he wants to eat the local flavors of the capital at noon, but in the
evening, he wants to eat the flavors from the south.

"I heard that scholars are under a lot of pressure. There was a scholar on the
west street who went mad a few days ago," said the maid washing
vegetables with a worried tone, full of emotion.

The head chef simmered the chicken soup until it was thick and poured it
over the greens. When the dish was taken away by a servant, he took off his
apron and said, "That's nothing. Every time the imperial examination
approaches, there are always a few who go mad at the examination hall. Do
you know the son of a high-ranking official in charge of education at
Imperial Academy? His family is considered a scholarly family. A few
years ago, their only son participated in the imperial examination, but he
was carried out. If the palace didn't send imperial physicians and various
good medicines to take care of him, he would have died long ago."

"Is it that terrible?" The kitchen maids and old ladies in the kitchen started
to worry. If the son of a scholarly family was like this, how much pressure
must the Third Young Master of the Hua family be carrying?

"Old Du, make more nourishing dishes in the next few months," The
kitchen maids and old ladies surrounded the chefs, with one suggesting a
certain soup for nourishment and another mentioning another soup that is
good for the body. The chefs were left dizzy, wishing they could make ten
different soups right there to shut them up.
Since the grand ceremony, there have been frequent invitations for Hua
Changkong to participate in various poetry and tea gatherings, but he
always declined, using the excuse of wanting to study at home.

Soon, news spread in the capital that the Third Son of the Grand General
was actually planning to pursue the civil official route and participate in the
imperial examination.

When this news reached the ears of the civil officials, they had mixed
feelings. The allure of poetry and literature had even made the son of a
military official want to become a civil official. They also felt that their own
circle was about to be infiltrated by outsiders, encroaching on their territory.

In the end, they reconciled themselves. The Hua family had been a family
of military officials for generations, so let Hua Changkong take the
examination. Only when he experienced it would the military officials
understand how difficult it was for scholars who had spent decades
studying.

They should let the military officials see and understand that the scholars
relied not only on their eloquence to stand firm in court but also on the trust
and high regard given to them by the Emperor.

However, what surprised everyone, even more, was that after a few civil
officials learned of Hua Changkong's intention to participate in the imperial
examination, they actually sent a lot of examination materials as if they
were treating him as their own nephew.

The other civil officials found it strange. Had there been traitors among
them?

"These materials are quite comprehensive," Hua Liuli flipped through the
examination materials sent by the Minister of Revenue, "Our family has a
deep relationship with the Cao family? Why haven't Father or Mother
mentioned this?"

"Cao Jinbo and Lin Huizhi have been good friends for many years..."
"What?!" Hua Liuli tossed the materials onto the table, "Could it be that he
wants to avenge Lin Huizhi?"

She knew that good things didn't just fall from the sky.

Lin Huizhi had criticized her father so harshly in court just because her
father wouldn't let him have his way. She didn't expect the old man to hold
a grudge and actually write to his good friend to complain.

"It doesn't seem likely," Hua Changkong shook his head, "You can tell that
these things were carefully prepared, not done perfunctorily."

Hua Liuli stared at Hua Changkong for a long time, contemplating, "Could
it be that they want to cultivate an ally who finds fault with everything
related to their own family?"

"Don't overthink it," Hua Changkong handed Hua Liuli an opened letter,
"Father and Mother have sent a letter. They should be able to come to the
capital in a month at most. Eldest Brother and Second Brother will stay at
the border to prevent any surprise attacks or retaliation from the
neighboring Jinpo Kingdom, protecting the people on the frontier."

"What about Eldest Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law?"

"They will also stay at the border," Seeing the melancholy on his younger
sister's face, Hua Changkong reached out and ruffled her hair, "Even
renowned generals have their old age. Our Hua family has never been
suspected by emperors throughout the generations. What matters is
knowing when to advance and retreat. You don't need to think too much."

"I understand," Hua Liuli sat cross-legged on the chair cushioned with a
soft pad, "I just can't help but feel reluctant for Eldest Brother and Second
Brother's families."

"The Jinpo Kingdom has surrendered, and the other neighboring small
countries dare not act rashly. There won't be any wars in the next few years.
When Eldest Brother and Second Brother have accumulated enough
experience, they can return to the capital," Hua Changkong placed a plate of
pastries in Hua Liuli's hand, "Children don't need to worry about adult
matters."

"Third Young Master, the Crown Prince has sent a gift with someone."

Hua Changkong personally escorted the Crown Prince's envoy out and
opened the gift. Inside the box were books—books titled "Compilation of
Thirty Years of Imperial Examinations", "Ten Must-Haves and Ten Must-
Nots for the Imperial Examination", "Precautions for Meals Before the
Imperial Examination", and others such as "Fashion Tips for the Day of the
Imperial Examination" and "Interesting Stories of the Top Scholars". It was
a combination of knowledge and gossip, providing both learning and
entertainment.

Hua Changkong gave all the books related to gossip to his sister. And since
then, he would occasionally hear his sister giggling.

Who knows who compiled these books—they practically wrote down all
the embarrassing moments of famous civil officials in the court.

Did the Crown Prince know what was written in these books when he
prepared them?

As New Year's Eve approached, it was the first time Hua Liuli wasn't with
her parents for the celebration. She couldn't help but feel a bit down, even
the gossip books couldn't cheer her up anymore.

She leaned against the window sill, watching the trees in the courtyard
shedding their leaves, and let out a sigh.

"Junzhu, if you're bored, you can take a stroll in the capital city," Yuan Yi
suggested, handing her a cloak, "Or perhaps attend an interesting gathering
from one of those invitations?"

"No, I don't want to go," Hua Liuli replied without hesitation, "I have a
delicate constitution and it's not suitable for me to go out."

"How about Nubi prepare some delicious food for you?"

"I don't feel like eating," Hua Liuli shook her head.

Yuan Yi became somewhat worried. If even good food couldn't entice

Junzhu, it seemed her mood was truly not good. Junzhu had been spoiled by
the general and his wife since childhood and everyone in the family
indulged her without limits. Although life at the border was tough
compared to the capital, it had never been this desolate.

"Younger sister," Hua Changkong walked into the courtyard from outside
and saw Hua Liuli lazily leaning against the window sill. He smiled and
waved at her, "Come on, let your big brother take you to watch cuju."

Hua Liuli sat up, "Who's playing against whom?"

"Ying Wang and Ning Wang have each formed a team. They're having a
match today and all the young gentlemen and ladies in the capital have gone
to watch the spectacle," Hua Changkong walked to the window and ruffled
Hua Liuli's hair, "Let's go and join the fun."

"Don't you have books to read?"

"Even reading books requires a balance of relaxing," Hua Changkong

gestured to Hua Liuli with his hand, "Are you going or not?"

"I'm going!" Hua Liuli replied and immediately started crawling out of the
window. Halfway through, she hurriedly turned around and rushed out
through the main gate.

Ying Wang and Ning Wang were half-brothers, born on the same day of the
same month. They should have been competitors, but Ning Wang was lazy
and afraid of death. Nevertheless, the resolute Ning Wang didn't give up his
hobby of cuju. Despite his terrible skills, he formed a cuju team and
occasionally held matches, providing entertainment for the people and
nobles in the capital.

When Hua Liuli and Hua Changkong arrived, the match hadn't started yet.
Upon learning of their arrival, Ning Wang specially reserved two good seats
for them. After the siblings took their seats, Ning Wang sat down next to
Hua Changkong, "Third Young Master Hua, Benwang heard that the
military camp at the borders also held cuju matches to cultivate the soldiers'
interests?"

Hua Changkong nodded, "That's true."

Life at the border was dull, and if the soldiers were kept in confinement for
too long, problems would arise. So, in addition to training, activities were
arranged to help the soldiers relieve stress. Cuju was nothing compared to
the sewing competition they had organized.

"That must be exciting!" Ning Wang looked somewhat envious.

Hua Changkong's expression briefly turned blank. It was indeed exciting, to

the point where they almost knocked down the camp gates. Since then, they
no longer held cuju matches in the military camp and instead switched to
sewing competitions and cooking contests.

In any case, friendship came first, and competition second.

Once the match officially began, Hua Liuli was instantly surrounded by
various cheers and shouts.

"Run! Take the ball in!" a lady from the imperial family shouted, her anger
evident. Hua Liuli saw her yank off a hairpin from her hair and threw it
towards the cuju field.

Quietly, she pulled the hood of her cloak over her head. She was afraid that
these excited spectators might throw something at her head.

With her delicate and fragile body, she couldn't withstand such things.

After the game ended, the raging lady from the imperial family turned back
into a gentle lady, and the enraged young men returned to their elegant
selves.

However, there were still a few spoiled young masters causing a ruckus on
the street, arguing over the cuju teams they supported.
Not knowing if they were arguing too intensely, Hua Liuli saw from the
carriage that the two attendants on either side were about to start fighting.

On the teahouse across the street, someone watched this scene coldly.

"Master, as long as they start fighting, our people can take advantage and
kill Tian Ruidong."

Upstairs in the teahouse, a man held a teacup and sneered.

"Hmm," The man nodded in satisfaction, then suddenly noticed a carriage

turning from the corner of the street. This carriage reminded him of some
unpleasant memories, "Are you sure you won't fail this time?"

"I guarantee it with my life. There won't be any mistakes," the subordinate
replied. He had placed an undercover servant on one of the young masters'
side for nearly four years. There was absolutely no possibility of any
accidents happening.

The people from Ning Wang's maternal family killing those from Ying
Wang's maternal family would make for a lively scene.

"If it weren't for your side's players faking injuries, our side would have
lost, right?" Tian Ruidong rolled up his sleeves, ready to confront his
opponent.

"So, you believe they were faking?" The other party didn't back down
either. If it hadn't been for Consort Xian intentionally letting Ying Wang be
born first, the current Eldest Prince would have been Ning Wang.

"You can see it clearly with your own eyes, can't you?!"

"Some people have eyes but can't see."

"Hey, I'm a straightforward person..." Tian Ruidong hadn't finished his

harsh words when he suddenly noticed a slowly approaching carriage on the
street.
Hua Liuli pulled aside the curtain of the carriage and smiled gently,
"Second Young Master Tian?"

Isn't this the fairy-like young lady from the Hua family?

Tian Ruidong straightened his sleeves, adjusted his clothes, and swung his
legs as if he were about to run a race. He rushed toward Hua Liuli's
carriage.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 18 – Assassins

Tian Ruidong hurriedly slowed down his pace and straightened his clothes
when he was close to the carriage. He approached and bowed, "Is Junzhu
ready to return home?"

"Indeed," Hua Liuli glanced at the restless young masters and servants in
the corner, pretending not to notice their intention to fight, "Are all the
young masters here for leisure?"

Tian Ruidong wanted to nod in agreement, but when he thought about the
famous Liu Lane on the adjacent street, he quickly shook his head, "We just
happened to pass by. We were about to go home to study."

He had heard that the Third Young Master of the Hua family was preparing
to participate in the imperial examination. Fushou Junzhu should prefer a
young man who enjoys studying.

"I see," Hua Liuli covered her mouth and chuckled softly, "Even in
studying, one should maintain a balance between studying and
entertainment. Second Young Master Tian shouldn't overexert himself."

Tian Ruidong was a bit dizzy. Was Fushou Junzhu genuinely concerned
about his well-being? Thinking back to when he had frightened this young
lady and made her fall ill... yet she still cared about his health? What a kind-
hearted girl she was.

"You're right, Junzhu, you're absolutely right," At this moment, even if Hua
Liuli pointed at a burly man by the roadside and said that he looked
handsome, Tian Ruidong would only applaud and say, "Junzhu has
excellent taste".
Seeing Tian Ruidong's innocent and hearty smile, Hua Liuli's smile became
even gentler, "In two days, His Majesty will hold a palace banquet. Will
Second Young Master Tian attend?"

"I will, I will," His aunt was an esteemed consort and his family had a long
history of serving in the government. He still had enough face to join in the
festivities.

"It's wonderful that you can come, as my brother and I have been stationed
on the frontier for many years, we are not familiar with the young masters
and ladies in the capital. My brother is not good at drinking, so I hope
Second Young Master Tian can take care of him at the palace banquet," Hua
Liuli turned her head and coughed a few times before continuing, "If it's too
much trouble for Second Young Master Tian..."

"How could it be a trouble?" Tian Ruidong said, "The Third Young Master
of the Hua family is both talented in literature and martial arts and has a
dignified appearance. Even without me, countless young masters would
want to befriend him. I am grateful that Junzhu gave me this responsibility.
I will take care of the Third Young Master along with my friends, so that no
one will force him to drink."

"Thank you, Second Young Master Tian," Hua Liuli thanked Tian Ruidong.

Suddenly, a young master exclaimed in surprise. Hua Liuli raised her head
and looked over. Several servants were pinning down a servant boy dressed
in gray.

"What's going on?" Tian Ruidong felt somewhat uneasy. He had just told
Fushou Junzhu that he was passing by, but now they started fighting. By
doing this, weren't they clearly telling Fushou Junzhu that he had lied?

"This servant had a weapon on him," Tian Ruidong's personal servant

gritted his teeth, "Nubi noticed earlier that he kept trying to get close to
Young Master, but Nubi never expected him to have this idea."

"Chen Wei, what do you mean by this?" Tian Ruidong realized that this
servant boy actually wanted to kill him!
The laws of the Great Jin had long stipulated that common people were not
allowed to carry weapons freely on the streets. All blades and weapons in
each household had to be registered, otherwise, it would be a grave offense
of "illegally possessing weapons".

"This... this..." Upon hearing Tian Ruidong's question, the young master
named Chen Wei looked bewilderedly at the servant boy who was being
pressed on the ground.

He had witnessed the dagger falling out of the servant boy's body. In front
of everyone's eyes, he couldn't even say that it was Tian Ruidong who
framed and set him up.

"Your Highness, Tian Ruidong seems to have had a dispute with someone.
Shouldn't we go and see?" On the other side of the street, a eunuch noticed
Tian Ruidong, who was surrounded by the crowd.

Ying Wang, sitting in the carriage, heard the commotion and quickly
lowered the raised curtain. "Don't look, hurry back to the estate."

If he meddled any further, he would be a fool.

"Detain the person first," Tian Ruidong apologized to Hua Liuli, then
walked up to Chen Wei, "Chen Wei, although we usually don't see eye to
eye, it hasn't come to the point of drawing knives between us. What's the
meaning of this?"

He extended his foot, intending to stylishly kick the dagger on the ground,
but his foot slipped and missed the target, nearly causing him to stumble.

Awkwardly adjusting his posture, Tian Ruidong pretended not to notice the
dagger on the ground, "If you don't explain this matter clearly, we will have
to report it to the authorities."

Quarrels among younger masters were considered mere play. If it escalated

to reporting to the authorities, it would become a conflict between families.
Chen Wei also understood the seriousness of the situation. Although he
disliked Tian Ruidong's dogged and unyielding appearance, he still
suppressed his anger, "This matter has nothing to do with me. I didn't know
he had a weapon on him."

"This servant has been by your side for so long and has always been loyal
to you. Who do you think you can deceive by claiming ignorance?" A
dandy young master who was friendly with Tian Ruidong retorted
sarcastically, "Who knows what you're plotting in your mind."

Tian Ruidong furrowed his brows. Recently, the Emperor had bestowed
many rewards upon Ying Wang, while Ning Wang had received nothing.
The Chen family must have felt envious. Did Chen Wei come to vent his
frustration by stabbing him?

"If I really wanted to retaliate against him, I would find a place with fewer
people to beat him up with a bag. Is it worth it to let my servant stab him in
broad daylight?" Chen Wei argued, "I'm not a fool to even attempt this."

They were all high-status and influential dandies in the capital. The reason
why he didn't like to associate with Tian Ruidong and his group was simply
that they were too foolish. He was afraid that if he stood with them, others
would think he was as foolish as them.

After speaking, he bent down to pick up the dagger from the ground, hoping
to find some clues on it.

"Wait."

A gentle breeze blew by, carrying a faint fragrance. Chen Wei looked up
and saw a girl wearing a white fox cloak approaching slowly. His bending
motion came to a halt.

"Young Master Chen, be careful, the dagger is poisoned," Hua Liuli stood
five steps away from Chen Wei and turned her head to look at Hua
Changkong, who had come with her, "Third Brother."
Hua Changkong squatted down and glanced at the dagger on the ground
before standing up, "Report this to the authorities. This dagger is coated
with a highly toxic poison that can seal the throat with a drop of blood," He
turned his head to look at Tian Ruidong, considering him lucky. This kind
of poison was sometimes used on arrows to assassinate enemy generals.
Due to its complicated manufacturing process, there were very few people
in the world who could produce such a poison, making it worth a fortune.

If Tian Ruidong died from this dagger, it would be considered a precious

death.

"Report it to the authorities, immediately," Chen Wei's expression darkened

as he turned to the other servants behind him, "Return to the estate and
investigate who this young servant is close to, where he usually frequents,
and if he has any connections with people outside the estate."

This servant had been in the mansion for three or four years and had been
his personal servant for the past two years. He had never imagined that this
seemingly insignificant person could have almost harmed his entire family.

In the Department of Ministry of Justice, the Minister of Justice touched his

increasingly sparse hair and let out a long sigh. The department had a
number of pending cases; Ying Wang had been closely following up on the
case of the poisoning attempt on Fushou Junzhu, while the Emperor had
ordered the Minister of Justice to investigate the attempted assassination
case in the Eastern Palace. He hadn't slept well for many days in a row.

"Daren."

Seeing the hurried appearance of his subordinate, the Minister of Justice

knew for sure that another difficult case from the capital had been pushed to
the Ministry of Justice.

"What case is it this time?" the Minister of Justice touched his thinning hair
and sighed again.

"Young Master Chen sent someone to report a case, saying there was an
assassin who lurked around him. They claim that this assassin pretended to
be his servant and attempted to assassinate the Second Young Master Tian."

"Which Chen family? Which Tian family?" The Minister of Justice hoped
that it wasn't the two families he was thinking of.

"It's... the maternal family of Consort Rong and the maternal family of
Consort Xian."

The Minister of Justice's hand trembled, pulling out a few fragile hairs.

Trembling, he looked at the hairs in his palm and angrily said, "What's been
happening recently? Even the assassins are getting a boom in business now?
Within a short month, several assassination attempts have occurred?"

"Daren, please calm down," the Deputy Minister of Justice walked in,
calmly saying, "Let's try to think positively."

"What positive things are there even to think about?" the Minister of Justice
threw his beloved hair on the ground, put on his official hat, and jealously
glanced at the Deputy Minister of Justice's thick hair, "Nothing good has
been happening recently."

"For us, the fact that several assassination attempts involving noble figures
have failed is already the best outcome," the Deputy Minister of Justice, Pei
Jihuai, saw his superior staring at his hair with envy and knew that his old
habit of being unable to stand other people having good hair had resurfaced.
He made a double entendre, saying, "Try to take it easy."

"The person who is being relentlessly questioned about the progress of the
case by Ning Wang is not you. Of course, you can take it easy," the Minister
of Justice sighed and wiped his face, feeling melancholic, "I get a headache
every time I see someone related to Ning Wang. Jihuai, today, handle this
case for me. You go and deal with it."

Pei Jihuai remained silent.

The Minister of Justice held his hat, covering the top of his head, and
looked at him without saying a word.
Pei Jihuai helplessly bowed, "I'll comply with the orders, Daren."

The Minister of Justice was satisfied. Those with more hair should bear
more responsibility.

Pei Jihuai hurried to the crime scene and saw a young lady standing beside
Tian Ruidong and the other dandies. His first thought was how smooth and
thick her hair looked.

"I heard a major case has occurred here?" A pleasant yet imposing voice
sounded behind him. He turned around and noticed a carriage that had
stopped behind him, surrounded by guards.

The curtain of the carriage swayed slightly, and a fair hand lifted the
curtain, revealing the person sitting inside the carriage.

"This humble servant pays my respects to Your Royal Highness, the Crown
Prince," Pei Jihuai quickly saluted.

"You don't need to be so formal outside, Deputy Minister Pei," The Crown
Prince got off the carriage. "Gu just came casually to take a look," He
turned his head towards the group of dandies, raising an eyebrow, "So many
people, quite lively."

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli saw the Crown Prince and extended her
hand from under the cloak, giving a distant greeting.

"Why is this little girl here too?" The Crown Prince walked towards Hua
Liuli, reaching out to touch the fox fur on the edge of her cloak, "Did you
also go to watch the cuju match today?"

"Third Brother took me to join in the fun. Your Royal Highness, were you
here earlier?" Hua Liuli pulled the cloak's hood down, covering her face,
"This humble servant didn't see you."

"No," the Crown Prince placed his hand behind his back, "One of the retired
court officials fell ill, so Gu represented the Emperor in visiting him."
"Deputy Minister Pei," the Crown Prince turned to the respectful Pei Jihuai
standing by his side, "Go investigate the case. Don't mind Gu."

"Yes, Your Royal Highness," Pei Jihuai thought to himself, with a Crown
Prince standing beside him, who could truly not mind him?

Across the street, in a teahouse, a man smashed a teacup on the head of one
of his subordinates.

"Never make mistakes? Huh?!"

"Please, spare me, Young Master."

"If I spare you, then how will you explain to our master?!" the man stood up
and kicked his subordinate's shoulder, "The last useless person who told me
he wouldn't make mistakes, his corpse is buried in Huanghuai County, and
grass has already grown on his grave."

"Please, Young Master, give this subordinate another chance," the

subordinate, with his head bleeding from the impact, dared not speak.

"I don't want to hear those words again," the man's eyes turned bloodshot
with anger.

"Then... then let me rephrase it," the subordinate hurriedly said, "This
subordinate will definitely handle the matter beautifully."

"Heh," The man sneered, wanting to drink some tea to calm himself, but he
remembered that he had used the teacup to hit someone. Unable to hold
back, he kicked his subordinate again, "No matter what methods you use,
capture that Junzhu of the Hua family."

He wouldn't let that little girl, who had disrupted his plans three times, die
too easily.

"Yes, I understand, Young Master."

After the young master left, the subordinate squinted his eyes, trying to see
clearly across the street. He wanted to improve his vision.
Originally, his assassination skills and qinggong1Qinggong is a martial arts
skill that focuses on lightness and agility. It involves techniques and
training methods to enhance one's speed, balance, jumping ability, and
overall mobility. Practitioners of Qinggong are able to move swiftly and
lightly, exhibiting extraordinary acrobatic and aerial skills. This skill is
often depicted in Chinese martial arts fiction and movies, where characters
can effortlessly leap across rooftops, scale walls, and perform gravity-
defying stunts. Qinggong requires a combination of physical conditioning,
body control, and proper technique to achieve mastery. techniques were the
best among killers, but due to his poor eyesight, he could only rank third.

The physician said it was because he only ate meat and not vegetables when
he was young.

In his opinion, that physician was just talking nonsense. Don't rabbits eat
grass every day but their sight is still good?

"Big Brother," Another subordinate approached, whispering, "Young

Master deceived you. The grave of the previous person who failed in his
mission hasn't grown any grass."

"He hasn't died yet?" the subordinate felt a glimmer of hope.

"That's not it," the other subordinate shook his head, "It's winter, no grass
can grow on a grave."

"Get lost."

"Huh?" Hua Liuli suddenly felt a bit cold, so she put the hood of her cloak
back on.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 19 – Don’t Even Think
About It

Noticing that Hua Liuli was feeling cold, the Crown Prince smiled and said,
"It's cold outside, so go back with your Third Brother earlier," After
speaking, he glanced back at the dagger that was taken away by the officials
from the Ministry of Justice, his eyes gradually turning cold.

"Your Royal Highness, this humble servant bids farewell along with my
younger sister," Hua Changkong didn't want to get involved in the struggle
for the throne. He turned his head and signaled to his younger sister not to
linger and to leave quickly.

Hua Liuli gave a slight bow to the Crown Prince and followed Hua
Changkong towards the carriage.

"Junzhu," Tian Ruidong saw that Hua Liuli was about to leave and
hurriedly caught up, "Junzhu, I have some medicinal herbs in my residence
that can help nourish and strengthen the body. Shall I have someone send
them to your residence tomorrow?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Second Young Master Tian, but my body has
been suffering from chronic ailments for many years. It requires gradual
recuperation," Hua Liuli smiled softly, "There is a saying that all medicine
has its drawbacks. With my condition..."

She sighed and smiled again, "Forget about it, let's not talk about these
trivial matters. Second Young Master Tian, I bid you farewell."

Tian Ruidong watched the siblings from the Hua family leave with a trance-
like gaze. It took him a while to reluctantly return to the crime scene and
ask, "What about the servant who wanted to kill me?"

The Crown Prince sighed when he saw Tian Ruidong's foolish expression.
The Tian family really had a hereditary mental deficiency. He almost lost
his life, yet he still didn't forget to show his attentiveness to the young lady.

The Hua family had a long-standing reputation for producing talented

generals. Those who could lead troops into battle were all intelligent
individuals, but the descendants of these two families were not suitable for
each other.

Their backgrounds didn't match and their intellects didn't align.

"Tian Ruidong," the Crown Prince spoke, "Don't go out unless necessary.
The next time Gu sees you, let's hope it's not in the morgue of the Ministry
of Justice."

Tian Ruidong trembled. He suddenly realized that if it weren't for Fushou

Junzhu calling out to him just now, then he...

Thinking of this, Tian Ruidong broke out in a cold sweat and touched his
own neck, tremblingly bowing to the Crown Prince, "Thank you for the
reminder, Your Royal Highness."

"Your Royal Highness," Pei Jihuai whispered to the Crown Prince, "The
poison on the dagger is a priceless lethal poison. It was applied on the
arrowhead when the Great General shot and killed the enemy's top general a
year ago."

The turning point that determined the outcome of the battle between Great
Jin and the Kingdom of Jinpo was when the Great General released an
arrow and killed Tuka, the renowned general of the Kingdom of Jinpo.
Since then, the Kingdom of Jinpo had been retreating. Eventually, Jinpo's
Second Prince, who was leading the troops was captured.

On the battlefield, releasing an arrow and killing the enemy's leader was the
best way to boost the morale of soldiers. However, Tuka, as the finest
general of the Kingdom of Jinpo, was fully armored from head to toe, with
almost no skin exposed.

Except for his eyes.

In the midst of a huge battle, Hua Yingting was able to release an arrow and
kill him with a single strike. What extraordinary archery skills!

Unfortunately, this formidable general was seriously injured during the

siege of Kel City and couldn't return to the battlefield. The Crown Prince
looked at the dagger enclosed in a wooden box with a cold tone, "The
mastermind behind the scenes not only wants to provoke conflicts between
Ying Wang and Ning Wang but also wants to make people suspicious of the
Hua family?"

Pei Jihuai didn't dare to say whether it was true or not. He was just an
investigator, all he could do was find the killer. He didn't dare to speculate
recklessly.

One day later, various departments in the capital suddenly became tense.
Pickpockets and thieves on the streets were apprehended. Even the streets
and alleys of the Hua district were subjected to the strictest investigation.

"Young Master, please calm down."

"Calm down?" The man covered his chest and almost spat out blood, "In
just one day, most of our people embedded in the capital were wiped out. If
it weren't for you useless people repeatedly making mistakes and leaking
traces, how could we have suffered so many losses?"

"Young Master, the people in the capital are very cunning. Half of our
people were exposed by their denunciations," his subordinate advised,
"Young Master, the situation is not favorable to us. Let's leave first."

Finally, the man couldn't hold back and vomited out the blood from his
heart. No matter how he planned, he couldn't predict the unpredictable
actions of the people in the capital. They smiled in front of others but
secretly reported to the authorities. He couldn't even predict the unexpected
occurrences in his plans.

In this place, the capital of the Great Jin, not only the imperial court
officials but even the common people were adept at scheming, with hidden
knives beneath their smiles, showing different faces.

"Send a message to all the undercover agents. Find an opportunity to leave

the capital without arousing suspicion," the man wiped the bloodstains from
the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief and looked at the man standing
in the corner. "Wu San."

"Young Master?" The subordinate who was called looked up at the man.

"Do you remember my command from yesterday?" The man's face turned
serious, "You stay in the capital and find a way, by any means necessary, to
capture that Junzhu of the Hua family for me."

If it weren't for this person, he wouldn't have failed multiple times in a row.

At this point, only by handing her over to the Master could they appease his
anger.

"Yes," Wu San replied, "Please rest assured, I have already made

preparations."

Upon hearing the words "rest assured," the man spat out another mouthful
of blood. When was the last time he felt at ease in the past month?

"The people in the capital, they eat well and have too much free time. They
always come up with conspiracies and tricks when they have nothing to
do," Yuan Yi arranged the phoenix hairpin in Hua Liuli's hair, "Junzhu, be
careful when attending the palace banquet today."

"It's alright. I am a delicate and weak person. Whatever others say, I will
take it as it is. I won't argue with them," Hua Liuli touched the hairpin on
her brow and accepted the silver-threaded noodles brought by her maid,
finishing them, "Did Third Brother eat already?"
"Junzhu can rest assured, Third Young Master knows what to do," Yuan Yi
helped Hua Liuli touch up her makeup, "It's getting late, Junzhu. We should
leave."

What they could eat at the palace banquet was not important; what mattered
was if they could attend. It represented status and position. Some fallen
imperial relatives and nobles try every means necessary to have their names
included in the invitation list to maintain their superficial glory.

The road leading to the palace had already been cleaned with clear water.
The Imperial Guards were neatly arranged on both sides of the road,
ensuring the safety of everyone entering the palace.

This was Hua Liuli's first time attending the palace's New Year's Eve
banquet, so she felt a little curious and excited inside.

Carriages of officials were not allowed to travel within the palace. After
entering the palace, Hua Liuli got off the carriage. She looked up at the
colorful lanterns around her, her eyes filled with admiration.

"Watch your step," Hua Changkong reached out to help her down from the
carriage. A eunuch came to guide them to the main hall where the banquet
was being held.

On ordinary days, Hua Liuli didn't feel the grandeur of the palace, but
tonight, she experienced the hazy beauty of the night. Exotic flowers and
plants were faintly visible in the candlelight, and graceful palace maids
carrying palace lanterns moved around, occasionally accompanied by the
sound of string and woodwind instruments, creating a surreal atmosphere.

"Your Highness, it seems that Third Young Master Hua and Fushou Junzhu
are ahead," a palace attendant noticed someone up ahead and carefully
identified them before informing Ying Wang, "Your Highness, should I call
them?"

Upon hearing the commotion behind them, Hua Liuli turned her head and
saw Ying Wang and the Fifth Prince. She smiled politely at them.
A gust of wind blew, swaying the lanterns hanging from the nearby tree
branches. The flickering light added a touch of ethereal charm to the young
girl beneath it.

Ying Wang stared blankly at the scene as a literary phrase flashed through
his mind --

-- Suddenly looking back, the person had disappeared into the dim light of
the lanterns.

Before he could regain his senses, he found himself standing in front of the
Hua siblings.

"Greetings to Your Highness Ying Wang; Greetings to Your Highness the

Fifth Prince," they greeted respectfully.

"No need for formalities," Ying Wang snapped back to reality, noticing the
intertwined floral embroidery on Hua Liuli's cloak. Though not as dazzling
as peonies or roses, it possessed a gentle and captivating beauty.

In the past, he had found such embroidery patterns too plain.

"Since we happened to meet, let's walk together," Ying Wang invited the
two siblings to join him, occasionally asking about the lives of soldiers in
the camp to show his closeness and concern.

The Fifth Prince followed behind Ying Wang with a smile, displaying
elegance and grace, as beautiful as jade and moonlight.

On the way, they encountered the calm and reserved Fourth Prince and
Ning Wang. The four princes gathered together and had a significant
presence.

At first glance, Hua Liuli couldn't tell what each of these four princes was
thinking. Even the hot-tempered and impulsive Ying Wang had a
considerate and brotherly appearance.

Passing through the palace path, Hua Liuli saw a spacious area outside the
main hall. In the distance, a group of palace attendants carrying palace
lanterns and sedan chairs were heading towards the entrance of the main
hall.

In the entire palace, only three people could ride in a sedan chair without
any reservations: the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Crown
Prince.

Hua Liuli glanced sideways at the four princes. Their expressions were
indifferent, and in their gazes towards the approaching group, there was an
emotion she couldn't understand and didn't want to understand.

Oh my, who would have thought that these princes would form small
cliques and engage in such exclusionary behavior?

The four of them gathered together but didn't interact with the Crown
Prince. Now, when they saw the person, they had expressions that seemed
to say, 'We are beyond your reach; we won't play with you.'

Young men, do you know that envy makes people ugly?

Hua Liuli coughed and covered her mouth, then quickly walked with Hua
Changkong to stand before the Crown Prince, "Greetings to Your Royal
Highness, the Crown Prince."

She, Hua Liuli, would never stoop to the level of these clique-loving
individuals.

"Little girl, you're dressed up today?" The Crown Prince saw her and
chuckled as he descended from the sedan chair, "It's your first time
attending a palace banquet, so there are many things you don't understand.
Later, you'll sit beside the Empress Dowager."

Hua Liuli asked, "Will I be overstepping my boundaries?"

"The Empress Dowager is the grandmother of the people of this nation. It's
not against the rules for a granddaughter to accompany her grandmother,"
the Crown Prince turned his head and seemed to notice his four brothers
who were bowing to him, "There's no need for excessive formalities among
our own brothers."

The four princes claimed to be unworthy but still insisted on completing the
courtesy before standing beside the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince ignored them and leaned down to ask Hua Liuli in a low
voice, "Did you listen to Gu's words before coming?"

Hua Liuli hesitated for a moment and then understood the Crown Prince's
meaning. She nodded slightly.

"When we go in later, there's no need to speak. Just follow Gu's

arrangements," the Crown Prince watched Hua Liuli's swaying hair and
couldn't help but extend his hand to put the hood of her cloak over her head.

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli widened her eyes, "My hair will be
messed up."

"It's fine. When you sit beside the Empress Dowager later, no one will dare
to look at you," the Crown Prince cleared his throat and obediently
withdrew his mischievous hand behind his back.

Hua Liuli carefully took off the hood and stepped back towards Hua
Changkong.

Certain things can be negotiated, but the hairstyle must not be messed up.

Ying Wang looked at Hua Liuli's fair face and his fingers inexplicably
itched. The group entered the main hall, and after everyone paid their
respects, Ying Wang walked to the side of Consort Xian and whispered,
"Mother, your son thinks that the girl from the Hua family..."

"Don't even think about it," Consort Xian didn't even lift her eyelids, "I will
not agree."

She knew her own son's character very well. When she first saw Hua Liuli,
she knew that with her son's character, he would be attracted to her.
OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 20 – Not Quite There

"I haven't said anything yet," Ying Wang whispered, keeping his voice low
so that no one else would hear.

"You don't have to say it. I know what you're thinking," Consort Xian took
a deep breath, maintaining a perfect smile even when criticizing her son in
front of everyone.

Ying Wang froze, looking at the flawless smile on his mother's face. After a
moment of silence, he straightened up and said, "I understand. I'll take my
leave."

"Sister, Minghao showed his filial respect to you as soon as he arrived. The
first thing he did was to greet you," Consort Rong sighed as she glanced at
Ning Wang, who was sitting opposite and eating with his head lowered.

It was her own fault for trying to compete with Consort Xian to give birth to
the eldest prince. She had taken labor-inducing medicine before her due
date. The child she gave birth to couldn't compare in martial arts with Ying
Wang, in literary talents with the Fifth Prince, Ji Yanqiu, let alone with the
Crown Prince, who excelled in both literary talents and martial arts.

Upon hearing Consort Rong's words, Consort Xian forced a dry laugh.
Deep down, she thought, filial respect my foot!

She turned her head to look at Hua Liuli, who had been accompanied by the
Crown Prince to the Empress Dowager's side. Delicate and beautiful, she
exuded an innocent charm that came from being spoiled by her family. If
she were her own daughter, she might have loved her dearly.

But she wasn't. Such a girl, even without considering her troublesome
background, was not suitable to be a Wangfei.
"Empress Dowager, your imperial grandson has brought the little girl you
like," the Crown Prince handed Hua Liuli to the Empress Dowager and
accompanied her in conversation until Emperor Changlong arrived. Then he
got up and bowed to Emperor Changlong.

On occasions like this, the princes would prepare gifts for both the Empress
Dowager and the Emperor to show their filial respect. Fortunately, there
were no heirs to the princes in the palace; otherwise, they would have had
to prepare an extra gift.

The princes were grateful to their imperial father for this.

Of course, they would be even more grateful if their imperial father was
willing to let their own mothers become the Empress.

The eldest son, Ying Wang, always gifted items made of gold and jade. He
had developed a deep affection for these gifts over the years.

As for the gift from Ning Wang, it was some kind of coral tree, just a fancy
item that costs a lot.

The Fourth Prince gave something symbolic of a good harvest of grains, but
Hua Liuli doubted it. She heard that the Fourth Prince's maternal family was
not very wealthy, so he might be trying to save money.

The Fifth Prince gave a painting he had personally created. Hua Liuli
glanced at the courtiers' expressions and they seemed calm, it seems they
were already accustomed to the princes' gift-giving style.

"Junzhu," Yuan Yi whispered to Hua Liuli as she squatted down next to her,
peeling fruit, "Nubi heard that the Fifth Prince has a hobby."

Hua Liuli raised an eyebrow, gesturing for Yuan Yi to continue.

"The Fifth Prince is particularly fond of painting and is very confident in

his skills. It is said that someone criticized his painting last year and he held
a grudge for a whole year. In the end, the person cried and praised the Fifth
Prince as a once-in-a-millennium painting genius, and only then did the
Fifth Prince forgive him."

Hua Liuli looked at the graceful Fifth Prince among the crowd and couldn't
believe that he had such a peculiar quirk. Suddenly, she became curious
about the painting he had personally created.

The Empress Dowager noticed Hua Liuli staring at the pile of gift boxes in
front of her and thought she was curious about them. She waved her hand
when Hua Liuli approached.

When Hua Liuli leaned closer, the Empress Dowager whispered, "There's
nothing interesting. These things are just the same every year," But what
could she do? All the gift-givers were her grandsons, and even if she didn't
like them, she was afraid of hurting their feelings. Not only did she have to
praise them, but she also had to find a place in the palace to display these
items.

Luckily, she only had five grandsons and three granddaughters. If there
were a few more, she would worry about finding space in the Shoukang
Palace.

"The Crown Prince presents his congratulatory gift."

As the eunuch announced, the Empress Dowager turned her gaze to her
favorite grandson standing in front of the Emperor.

The Crown Prince presented various crop seeds that could increase
production. The Emperor was so delighted that he drank an extra cup of
wine. When he wanted to have a second cup, the Crown Prince stopped
him.

The Empress Dowager received various fabrics, and although they were just
items on the gift list, the descriptions of the fabrics had already made the
Empress Dowager ecstatic.

Looking at the items listed on the gift list, Hua Liuli seemed to understand
why the Empress Dowager felt closer to the Crown Prince. For the Empress
Dowager, gold, silver, and jade were easy to obtain, but sincere sentiments
were hard to come by.

The Crown Prince didn't care how others perceived him when they see that
all he presented were fabrics. He only cared what his imperial grandmother
liked. The other princes, on the other hand, only want the outsiders to see
their filial piety and sincerity.

If she were a grandmother, she would probably also enjoy taking care of her
grandchildren who catered to her likes and preferences.

When the other consorts learned that the Crown Prince had presented
various fabrics to the Empress Dowager, they felt that he had become
somewhat arrogant over the years. It was obvious that he hadn't prepared
carefully and had just brought a pile of fabrics as a perfunctory gesture at
the last minute.

Could the Empress Dowager ever lack those fabrics?

On the other hand, the various selectively bred crop seeds were interesting.
The Crown Prince's residence had many talented people at his beck. The
other princes couldn't openly rely on their subordinates to advise them as
the Crown Prince could. It seemed that the Crown Prince was taking
advantage of the situation.

After the New Year's gifts were presented, it was the process of flattering
the princes, which was a routine of elevating the Emperor's status. The
officials present were all professionals in this regard, there were even
talented individuals who composed poems on the spot. The general
meaning of the poem was that Your Majesty, you are like the Divine Purple
Star descending to earth. Your brilliance shines upon all your subjects. The
princes are more splendid because of you. They are extraordinary because
of you. They exist in this world because of you.

Hua Liuli, who had never seen such a scene, was stunned by their words.
She listened attentively from beginning to end, not even willing to blink her
eyes.
After the flattery process was over, the singing and dancing banquet began.
Hua Liuli saw the Empress Dowager preparing to have the female
attendants take away the pile of gift boxes on the table, so she quickly
spoke up, "Empress Dowager, I have heard that the Fifth Prince excels in
painting. His artworks are lifelike. May I have the honor of seeing them?"

Upon hearing this, Hua Liuli felt the Empress Dowager's expression stiffen
a bit, and she couldn't help but wonder if she had said something wrong.

"This child, Ji Yanqiu, has indeed liked painting since he was young," the
Empress Dowager's expression became somewhat complicated, "But it's
just his personal hobby, so you don't have to take it seriously."

Hua Liuli thought that the Empress Dowager was being quite humble when
mentioning her own family.

"Never mind, you may take a look if you want," the Empress Dowager
placed the scroll containing the painting in Hua Liuli's hands, her
expression... complicated.

Hua Liuli carefully opened the scroll and saw the words "Purple Qi
Descends" written in the blank space. The handwriting was beautiful and
matched the Fifth Prince's temperament quite well.

With such beautiful handwriting, the painting must be stunning.

After fully unfolding the painting, Hua Liuli remained silent for a long
time, trembling as she closed the scroll.

It's said that being an elder is not easy. It turns out it's the same for the
imperial clan elders. No wonder the Empress Dowager spoke in such a
manner. Hua Liuli had thought she was being modest, but it turned out she
was being sincere.

"This painting... the elegant calligraphy on the blank space is as graceful as

the wind, perfectly complementing the Fifth Prince's demeanor," Hua Liuli
returned the gift box to the Empress Dowager's attendant, "The symbolism
in the artwork is also auspicious, showing the Fifth Prince's filial piety
towards you."

The Empress Dowager looked at Hua Liuli silently, seemingly at a loss for
words.

"The Fifth Prince is very filial. He often paints for the Empress Dowager
and His Majesty and has never stopped for many years," the attendant who
took back the gift box smiled and spoke well of the Fifth Prince.

Hua Liuli suddenly felt sympathy for the Empress Dowager and the
Emperor. They received artworks of such caliber for no apparent reason,
they even had to rack their brains to find words of praise to encourage the
Fifth Prince. It was truly a touching display of the relationship between the
family members.

"This year's dance performances seem quite interesting, let's take a look,"
the Empress Dowager didn't want to discuss the Fifth Prince's painting any
further.

"It is indeed intriguing," Hua Liuli nodded and turned her attention to the
performance.

Having grown up on the border, although everyone gathered together for

festivities at the end of the year, it was always a makeshift stage, quite
different from the performances in the palace.

As the palace banquet neared its end, some nobles gracefully danced to the
music, creating a lively atmosphere. Whether they were nobles or
commoners who entered the imperial court through the civil service
examination, they all had to learn the six arts of a gentleman and would
occasionally join in the dancing. It was a normal occurrence.

The Empress Dowager, who was getting older, saw everyone enjoying
themselves and left early. Before leaving, she didn't forget to leave her
female attendant to take care of Hua Liuli.
The respected Empress Dowager was worried that Hua Liuli wouldn't know
how to dance the popular noble dances in the capital and would be excluded
by the other noble ladies.

"Fushou Junzhu, aren't you going to dance?" the Second Princess

approached Hua Liuli, who was sitting idle, and asked her, "Why not join
me?"

"Thank you for the kind offer, Second Princess, but this humble servant is
weak in health. If this humble servant accidentally falls and gets injured, it
will dampen everyone's spirits," Hua Liuli shook her head, "It is better this
way."

The Second Princess knew that her health condition was not great, so she
didn't insist and turned to dance with several other princesses.

These noble ladies had received the best education since childhood, and
their dancing movements were extremely graceful, as if celestial beings
were strolling. Hua Liuli supported her chin with one hand and couldn't
help but smile as she watched these beautiful and elegant women.

"Junzhu," the gentle and bright Fifth Prince approached Hua Liuli, who was
sitting alone at the table, and said, "Your tea has gone cold. Shall Benwang
have a palace servant bring you a fresh cup?"

"No need, Your Highness. this humble servant is not fond of tea," Hua Liuli
didn't expect the Fifth Prince to come over and talk to her. She let go of her
chin and stood up, bowing to the Fifth Prince.

The Fifth Prince returned a slight bow, saying, "Benwang noticed earlier
that Junzhu seemed to be appreciating my painting. Benwang wonders if
Junzhu has any suggestions or opinions regarding the painting?"

Hua Liuli: "..."

Huh?!
She was just being curious out of boredom, and now the Fifth Prince
suddenly asked her this, putting her in a difficult position.

Seeing Hua Liuli remaining silent, the smile on the Fifth Prince's face faded
slightly, "Perhaps my painting is not good enough..."

"Your Highness is too modest," Hua Liuli spoke with difficulty, "Your
paintings embody a childlike innocence that many other paintings lack."

Without childlike innocence, one cannot persist in a hobby for so many

years.

"In today's painting titled 'Purple Qi Descends', the auspicious clouds are
vivid and surrounded by an ethereal aura. Though the immortals are not
present in the painting, traces of their presence can be felt throughout. The
landscape below carries both grandeur and a hint of elegance," Hua Liuli
looked at the Fifth Prince, whose smile became warmer, "This humble
servant has no talent in painting, so if I have said anything wrong, I beg
Your Highness's forgiveness."

"No," the Fifth Prince shook his head slightly. He was handsome, and even
the action of shaking his head carried a unique elegance, "Benwang
believes Junzhu is someone who understands and appreciates art."

"Understands what?" The Crown Prince walked over and glanced at the
smiling Fifth Prince.

The Fifth Prince repeated the words Hua Liuli praised him with.

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow as he looked at Hua Liuli.

It seemed that the Feng Shui1Feng Shui is a term originating from Chinese
culture that refers to the practice of arranging objects and living spaces in a
harmonious and balanced way to create a positive flow of energy. The term
"Feng Shui" translates to "wind-water" in English, symbolizing the natural
elements that are believed to influence the flow of energy. in the capital
wasn't working well. How could a good girl like her learn to talk nonsense?
OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 21 – Inappropriate

The Fifth Prince showed great respect to the Crown Prince, so much so that
one couldn't tell there was any emotion between them as brothers.

Watching the two princes, Hua Liuli felt that she shouldn't be standing with
them but rather mingling among the crowd. She tidied up the stray hair on
her earlobe and silently took a step back.

The people in the capital loved spreading rumors, and she was afraid that
tomorrow morning the most lively gossip in the capital would be "Crown
Prince and Fifth Prince publicly competing for General Hua's only
daughter". When her father and mother returned to the capital, she and her
third brother would definitely be scolded.

Just at that moment, fireworks burst into the sky, and the entire palace was
filled with brilliant fireworks, so beautiful that one could forget what night
it was.

Hua Liuli unconsciously looked up at the sky, unwilling to divert her gaze.

The Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince were already accustomed to such
magnificent scenes, so they didn't find these fireworks particularly amusing.
However, seeing the little girl obediently looking up, they also glanced at
the sky a few more times.

The magnificent fireworks exploded and quickly vanished. The craftsmen

who created the fireworks put a lot of effort into developing new patterns
every year, but how many of the people sitting here could truly appreciate
them?

Hua Liuli held a hand warmer and looked up at the blooming and
extinguishing fireworks, her gaze filled with earnestness. It wasn't until the
fireworks ended that she reluctantly withdrew her gaze, turned her head,
and saw that the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince were still standing in
their original positions, "The fireworks in the palace are really beautiful."

"Is it lively on the border on New Year's Eve?" the Crown Prince looked at
the young girl's dark and clear eyes with a hint of pity in his heart. She was
born into a wealthy family but had been living in a harsh and cold place
since birth because her parents were generals protecting the borders. Even
though she was pampered by her family, her life was not as comfortable as
living in the capital.

"It's very lively," Hua Liuli nodded, "Everyone gathers together to sing,
dance, eat meat, and chat. The soldiers and the civilians celebrate together."

The soldiers in the army couldn't drink alcohol, but the people on the border
sympathized with the hardships of the soldiers. Every New Year, they
would find ways to give food and drinks to the soldiers. Afraid that the
soldiers would refuse, they often dropped the items and ran away.

The military had strict rules, the soldiers couldn't disturb the civilians or
damage their farmland. They couldn't take things from the civilians either.
But on New Year's Eve, if a young girl wanted to give something to her
soldier sweetheart, the officers would turn a blind eye and pretend not to
know anything.

Her father had told her that those who guarded Qinghan Prefecture were not
only the soldiers but also the people of Qinghan Prefecture.

Before coming to the capital, she knew the significance of her and her third
brother coming to the capital ahead of time.

It represented the Hua family's trust and loyalty to the imperial family.

The Hua family must not fall. If they were to fall, it wouldn't just affect
them, but also countless generals, soldiers, and even innocent civilians on
the border.
She glanced at the Crown Prince and continued talking about the scenery of
the border, the people, and the soldiers guarding the city gates.

"The roasted meat in the army is very fragrant..." Hua Liuli's eyelids
trembled slightly, "Unfortunately, my family always forbids me from eating
too much. I can only sit by my father's side and watch the soldiers frolic."

"There's a commander who is very skilled. He can mend two pairs of pants
within 10 minutes. Later, there was a sewing competition in the army, but
he wasn't allowed to participate," Hua Liuli's eyes curved with a smile,
"With him around, no one else can take the top spot."

The court would send officials to inspect the border every year. Qinghan
Prefecture was a strategic location for Great Jin, with a harsh climate and
inconvenient transportation, making it the most difficult place. Although the
Crown Prince had never been there, he had read the reports written by the
inspecting officials after they returned, so he had a general understanding of
the situation in Qinghan Prefecture.

He thought Hua Liuli would complain about the various difficulties in

Qinghan Prefecture, but unexpectedly, she talked about the lively and
beautiful memories of the place.

Looking at the smiling and nostalgic young girl, the Crown Prince's eyes
softened. He withdrew his gaze from Hua Liuli and said, "Once the Jinpo
Kingdom's affairs are settled, the court will gradually relax the conditions
for trade between Qinghan Prefecture and the neighboring small countries.
The lives of the local people will get better and better."

Hua Liuli widened her eyes, understanding what this meant. She couldn't
help but squint with a smile, "Thank you, His Majesty and Your Royal
Highness!"

"It's because the Great General decisively defeated the Jinpo Kingdom and
captured their second prince alive, forcing them to cede cities and
territories, signing a surrender letter, and bringing peace and stability to
Qinghan Prefecture. Only then did the court dare to open this trade route,"
the Crown Prince felt that smiles were contagious. Seeing Hua Liuli's
radiant smile, his own mouth couldn't help but lift up, "It is Father Emperor
and Gu who should thank your Hua family."

The entire Hua family guarded Qinghan Prefecture. If Qinghan Prefecture

were to be lost, not a single member of the Hua family would survive.

Hua Liuli recalled her father's words once again.

"His Majesty is willing to have our entire family here, without keeping the
women and children of the Hua family in the capital as hostages, simply
because he has never doubted the loyalty of the Hua family. His Majesty
treats us with sincerity, so the Hua family should repay it with hot-blooded
loyalty."

"Your Royal Highness is exaggerating," Hua Liuli said, "Even if there were
ten Hua families, we wouldn't be able to defeat the menacing Jinpo
Kingdom without His Majesty's support."

"Crown Prince, Junzhu," Consort Xian approached the two of them and
smiled, "Why are you two staying here alone when it's so lively around?"

Alone? Hua Liuli raised an eyebrow. Did Consort Xian not consider the
Fifth Prince as a person? She turned her head to look at the place where the
Fifth Prince had been standing just now. Where was he?

Why was the Fifth Prince so practical? After listening to her exhaustively
flattering him, he just silently walked away? Praising a painting that
resembles a mass of ink for mountains, lines for water, and tangled lines for
clouds—how much it betrays conscience, how difficult it is. Does he know?

Seeing that Hua Liuli remained silent, Consort Xian continued, "Young
people should talk more when they're together," This little girl from the Hua
family could captivate any man in the capital, as long as she didn't get close
to her son. Then she would be like a fairy descending from heaven.

"Consort Xian," the Crown Prince turned his head and looked at Consort
Xian, "Do you feel that you are getting old and need to interact more with
young people?"
Consort Xian: "..."

"That's good then," the Crown Prince smiled with relief. "Gu once heard an
old physician say that people with a youthful mindset age slowly."

Consort Xian finally understood what the Crown Prince meant. As someone
who prided herself on her beauty, she detested the word "old". She looked
at the Crown Prince -- who wore a concerned expression -- and could barely
maintain a gentle smile on her face.

"Consort Xian?" the Crown Prince stepped forward, effectively shielding

Hua Liuli behind him, "Did Gu say something wrong?"

"Your Royal Highness is correct," Consort Xian shifted all her attention to
the Crown Prince. She no longer cared about Hua Liuli, "I will remember."

Once my son seizes the position of Crown Prince, I will make you cry and
call me mother!

"That's good then," the Crown Prince had no intention of leaving Hua Liuli
alone with the consorts of the palace. He had a eunuch bring her a new hand
warmer, "The palace banquet is about to end. Gu will take you to find your
elder brother."

Hua Liuli silently glanced back at the distorted smile on Consort Xian and
quickly averted her gaze.

She could sense the dislike and rejection from Consort Xian towards her,
but when she saw the Crown Prince defending her made her feel... so
happy!

The Crown Prince truly lived up to being the Emperor's most beloved son.
Even his skill in dealing with annoying people was impeccable.

"Young Miss, what's wrong with you?" Not far away from Consort Xian, a
young lady who was originally walking towards them stopped in her tracks.

Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, seemingly displeased with the scene she
had just witnessed.
"Courtesy begets life, disrespect leads to failure," the young lady looked at
the Crown Prince's departing figure with a somewhat melancholic
expression, "Although Consort Xian is the Eldest Prince's birth mother, as
the heir to the throne, the Crown Prince should still treat her with respect."

"But I feel that Consort Xian's words just now were..." the young lady's
maid hesitated.

"As a gentleman, how can one be displeased by a few words from an elder,
especially when he is the Crown Prince of a country?" the young lady
turned around and walked in the direction she came from.

She sat down next to a woman and calmly spoke as she watched the lively
dancing crowd in the distance, "Mother, the Crown Prince lacks the
demeanor of a gentleman. I... am not suitable for him."

"What?" The woman's face slightly changed as she looked at her daughter.
After a long pause, she said, "Xiuying, there are no true gentlemen in this
world."

"But he is the Crown Prince," Du Xiuying shook her head slightly, "Others
in this world can be imperfect, but the heir to the throne cannot."

The woman looked at her daughter in a daze, seemingly unable to

understand why she had such thoughts, "Xiuying, I regret it."

"Mother?" Du Xiuying looked at her in confusion.

"I should not have let your grandfather and grandmother educate you," The
woman looked at her helplessly, "One day, you will understand."

She was not of the opinion that her daughter should marry the Crown
Prince. She was only worried about her daughter's perspective on life.

If a person is bound by strict rules of propriety and has no sense of self,

they are nothing more than a perfect walking corpse.

"Mother, I am fine this way," Du Xiuying shook her head, "A true
gentleman should be upright and virtuous, but the Crown Prince is not my
righteous partner."

"Alright," Madam Du sighed and didn't try to persuade her further. She
knew she couldn't. Her father-in-law was a senior official that has served
two imperial reigns. He was also an Imperial Tutor. Though he had retired,
he still held considerable prestige.

A few days ago, the Emperor specially summoned her father-in-law,

expressing his intention for a marriage between the Du family and the
Crown Prince.

It was well known that the Du family, both men and women, were
knowledgeable, scholarly, and well-versed in etiquette, making them a
prestigious family with a century-long heritage. The Emperor considering
the idea of the Du family's daughter as the Crown Princess did not come as
a complete surprise.

But her father-in-law was not too fond of the current Crown Prince. And
now, her daughter…

The marriage between the Du family and the imperial family was not going
to happen. However, the Emperor had not explicitly stated that the Du
family's daughter would become an imperial daughter-in-law, so they
couldn't even refuse.

As the palace banquet ended, the once bustling palace returned to

tranquility. The Crown Prince strode into the Chenyang Palace and bowed
to the Emperor. After he made the bow, he couldn't help but yawn, "Father
Emperor summoned Erchen at this hour to give Erchen a New Year's red
envelope?"

"You're already grown up, yet you still want to ask Zhen for a New Year's
red envelope?" the Emperor said, "Zhen has something to tell you."

The Crown Prince sat down on the chair and took a sip of hot soup. He
relaxed as if he were in his own palace.
"Zhen intends to have the granddaughter of Imperial Tutor Du become your
Crown Princess. What do you think?" In matters of their children's
marriages, Emperor Changlong did not make decisions unilaterally. After
he had a preliminary idea, he would ask his children for their thoughts.

"Imperial Tutor Du?" the Crown Prince placed the hot soup back on the
table as he looked at Emperor Changlong in disbelief, "Father Emperor, are
you serious?"

"Du Songwen, that man, is indeed a bit stubborn, but maybe his
granddaughter is different from him?" Memories of the past stirred up some
unresolved issues in Emperor Changlong's heart. The Crown Prince was
raised by him personally, and he believed his son was perfect in every way.
Yet Du Songwen didn't share the same view. He incessantly criticized the
Crown Prince's every action, going so far as to scrutinize even what he ate.

Ministers with personalities like Du Songwen had the best luck in

encountering wise emperors in their lifetime. However, no matter how wise
an emperor's heart was, there was always a little notebook of grudges
inside.

The Crown Prince shook his head in refusal, "Father Emperor, Erchen is the
son Father Emperor can't bring himself to scold. If the Du family's
granddaughter becomes the Crown Princess, won't that old man from the
Du family criticize Erchen every day?"

"You are Zhen's beloved child, accomplished in both literature and martial
arts, with a kind and virtuous heart. Who can criticize you?" The thought of
Du Songwen possibly interfering in the upbringing of his own child
instantly displeased Emperor Changlong.

No matter how flawed his son was, only he had the right to scold him.

Besides, the Crown Prince was doing well. He studied literature at the age
of three, martial arts at four, and he was handsome, loyal, brave, filial, and
virtuous. Among the young people in the court, who could compare to the
Crown Prince?
Even if there were occasional minor issues, they were inconsequential.
After all, no one is perfect.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 22 – Lunar New Year

"Never mind," After careful consideration, Emperor Changlong decided

that he couldn't let his son suffer, so he gave up the idea of making the
daughter of the Du family the Crown Princess.

"Let Zhen tell you again," Emperor Changlong sighed. "When Zhen was at
your age, Zhen was never lacking companions."

The Crown Prince pretended not to hear and stood up. He bowed deeply to
Emperor Changlong. "Thank you, Father Emperor, for your understanding."

"While being born into the imperial family comes with certain limitations,
Zhen also doesn't want you to end up with a Crown Princess who you find
displeasing," Emperor Changlong waved his hand, "If you find a suitable
woman who you have feelings for, you can inform Zhen in advance."

Crown Prince replied, "Father Emperor, Erchen may be picky when it

comes to marriage, but Erchen is not swayed by personal emotions. If
Father Emperor expects Erchen to have romantic feelings for any noble
young lady, it would be difficult."

"Get out, get out!" Emperor Changlong became angry upon hearing those
words and waved his hand, urging the Crown Prince to leave and go to
sleep.

"Then, Erchen will take leave," the Crown Prince said obediently, preparing
to leave.

"Wait," Emperor Changlong threw a red envelope at the Crown Prince

"Take this, it's your New Year's red envelope."
"Thank you, Father Emperor," the Crown Prince said as he took the red
envelope and left.

Emperor Changlong sighed once again, hoping that next year he would
have fewer children who would expect New Year's red envelopes.

After the Crown Prince left, Emperor Changlong, the worried father, sent
red envelopes to each of his sons and daughters. In the Great Jin, it was
customary for elders to give red envelopes to unmarried juniors on New
Year's Eve. Although he had five sons and three daughters, none of them
were married, and it was a headache for the imperial family's marriage
affairs.

The Hua siblings returned to the Hua Estate very late. After washing up and
lying in the soft bed, Hua Liuli held onto her longing for her parents and
slowly fell asleep.

The next day, she slept in and woke up late.

"A year's plan starts with spring, and a day's plan starts with the morning,"
Seeing Hua Liuli looking like she hadn't fully woken up, Hua Changkong
said, "Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year. Why are you sleeping
so late?"

"On the first day of the Lunar New Year, being able to sleep in symbolizes
that I can sleep in all year round. It's a good sign," Hua Liuli said. After
finishing breakfast, her energy gradually recovered, "Third Brother, let's go
out today. Spending the first day of the Lunar New Year at home and
reading books symbolizes that you will be reading books at home for the
whole year."

"Nonsense," Hua Changkong reached out and flicked her forehead, "I'll take
you out."

It would be lively outside on the first day of the Lunar New Year, so the two
siblings would feel somewhat lonely staying at home. Hua Changkong
knew that his sister was missing their parents.
After changing their clothes, the siblings went out. Knowing that his sister
was lazy and didn't like to walk, Hua Changkong specifically arranged for a
carriage to take them out.

The streets were indeed crowded, with vendors selling small goods smiling
from ear to ear. Mischievous children clamored to buy snacks, while young
men and women walked together shyly. Even in the midst of the bustling
crowd, their sweet affection couldn't be dispersed.

Hua Changkong knew that Hua Liuli had a craving for snacks, so he
secretly bought some and stuffed them into the carriage, "Don't eat too
much, the street food is not clean."

"For your thoughtfulness, even if I don't like these snacks, I will cherish
them," Hua Liuli opened the curtain of the carriage, giving Hua Changkong
a gentle smile. After closing the curtain, she started eating the snacks she
shared with her houndfish head.

"The capital is truly a good place," Hua Liuli sighed. "From both the north
and south, you can find all the delicious things in the capital."

It's no wonder people in the capital are so active. When they eat too much
every day and have nothing to do, don't they just want to find something to
occupy themselves?

Every now and then, the patrol guards from the Jingzhao Prefecture would
pass by on the main street, but the vendors were not afraid. They would
even greet the guards if they were familiar, presenting a thriving
atmosphere.

Hua Liuli could probably understand why her father respected the current
emperor so much.

"Passersby, don't miss out! To celebrate the capture of the Second Prince by
the Great Jin, all the noodles at my stall are 20% off. Buy five bowls and
get one free."
"Come and see here! Our pastries are extraordinary," a woman in an apron
shouted loudly, "To thank our wise and martial Majesty, all the pastries in
our shop are being sold at a discount. Buy three pastries and get a cup of hot
tea."

"Selling hair accessories! Selling hair accessories!" A child carried a basket

of hair accessories and shouted, "Wear these hair accessories and you'll be
the most beautiful girl on the street."

The vendors in the capital city were different. Even their reasons for
offering discounts were so noble. They celebrated what the court celebrated
and worried about what the court worried about. Their ideological
consciousness was so high.

Moved by their spirit, Hua Liuli bought a bunch of pastries and gave them
to the servants who accompanied her and her brother.

While waiting for the servants to eat, Hua Liuli got off the carriage and
looked around with curiosity. Coincidentally, she encountered another
group of people.

"Junzhu," Du Xiuying recognized Hua Liuli. She looked at the siblings

holding various trinkets and greeted them perfectly, "Happy New Year."

"Hello, Young Lady Du," Hua Liuli returned the greeting, "Are you also
here to join in the festivities?"

Du Xiuying shook her head lightly, "There's a bookstore ahead, I am going

there to buy books."

Hua Liuli respected her solemnly. A woman who spent the first day of the
Lunar New Year reading books diligently was truly remarkable.

"Farewell," Du Xiuying bowed again.

Hua Liuli quickly returned the gesture. In this Young Lady Du, she seemed
to see the shadow of her teacher, which reminded her of the fear she felt
when she was punished to copy texts in her childhood.
Du Xiuying nodded slightly, lifted her skirt, and walked in the opposite
direction, crossing through the crowd. Her pace remained steady and
measured. Even though the surroundings were crowded with pedestrians,
the swaying of her steps remained unchanged.

"This Young Lady Du is truly extraordinary," Hua Liuli exclaimed. Among

the nobility, there were countless demands regarding etiquette, but there
were few who could match Young Lady Du's perfection.

"Why are you praising others at this moment?" Hua Changkong noticed a
group of acrobats on stilts approaching, fanning themselves with fans. He
reached out and protected Hua Liuli by his side, "If you had such awareness
when the teacher taught you etiquette, that would have been great."

"I'm physically weak," Hua Liuli grabbed Hua Changkong's sleeve and
suddenly her expression changed, "Third brother, something doesn't seem
right."

Dressed in their luxurious attire, she and her third brother were usually
avoided by the commoners, who feared damaging the accessories on their
bodies. But now, she noticed that quite a few people were intentionally
moving closer to them.

Hua Changkong also sensed that something was wrong. He watched as the
unknown people crowded closer. He was about to draw the short sword
hidden in his boots when he heard his sister's scream.

"Help! Someone wants to harm the daughter of the Great General!"

"The daughter of the Great General?"

"Who dares to harm the Great General's daughter?!"

"Damn it, watch me kill him."

Upon hearing the scream, the surrounding pedestrians and vendors also
realized that something was wrong. They immediately rushed over with
fervor.
"Protect the Great General's daughter."

"Yes, the Great General guards our country, and we'll protect his daughter."

Before the person who attempted to abduct Hua Liuli could even touch her
sleeve, a candied haw seller took a bamboo stick and jabbed it into his
hand.

"Ah!" The person let out a miserable scream and was instantly pressed
down to the ground by the commoners.

Hua Changkong noticed someone drawing a weapon and swiftly kicked it

away mid-air, causing the weapon to fall to the ground. The Hua family
members were well-versed in navigating tumultuous battles amidst throngs
of people. He was worried that these people might harm the commoners and
didn't dare to let his guard down for a moment.

On the contrary, these unknown individuals seemed more accustomed to

ambushes. They realized the situation was unfavorable and turned to escape
into the crowd. However, they were no match for the people of the capital.
Many of them clumsily surrounded the culprits, blocking their escape.

"Please be careful and ensure your own safety. These thieves may be
carrying weapons," Hua Liuli stood amidst the crowd, trembling and pale-
faced. She appeared helpless and pitiful, as though she hadn't been the one
who screamed so loudly moments ago.

With Hua Changkong skilled in chaotic battles, he kicked down the

weapons before they could be used. Combined with the protection of the
commoners, those who wanted to take advantage of the chaos and abduct
Hua Liuli didn't dare to reveal their identities and had no opportunity to
make a move.

A timid yet caring girl like Hua Liuli easily triggered the protective
instincts of the passersby. After being firmly restrained by the angry crowd
and receiving a severe beating, the perpetrators were sent to the Jingzhao
Prefecture with swollen faces and bruised bodies.
Once these criminals were taken to the authorities, the Hua siblings began
expressing their gratitude to the commoners.

Rescuing the daughter of the Great General gave the commoners a sense of
satisfaction in acting righteously. They saw the outstanding appearance of
the siblings and their friendliness toward ordinary people, causing them to
smile happily and say, "No need to thank us. Such a well-behaved little girl,
those scoundrels wouldn't dare to lay a hand on her. They truly deserve to
be wiped out."

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid." One of the stall vendors saw Hua Liuli's
pale face and couldn't bear it. She handed over a traditional toy, a tilting
doll, from her stall to Hua Liuli, "Here, take this to play with."

She treated Hua Liuli as if she were her own granddaughter.

When Du Xiuying came out of the bookstore, she immediately caught sight
of the Hua siblings seated in a wonton shop, indulging in their meal. They
were surrounded by commoners and servants, while Hua Liuli was sipping
wonton soup and conversing with people around her.

As descendants of the prestigious Hua family, renowned for their martial

heritage, one would expect them to uphold basic etiquette and decorum.
How could they disregard such customary practices?

"What did you say? Those assassins we sent out, someone caught them?"
Wu San thought there was something wrong with his ears.

"Yes, they were caught by the commoners and vendors on the street."

"They were assassins," Wu San fell into a long silence. "They were
renowned and named assassins on the ranking list. And now you're telling
me they were captured by vendors? Did they buy their ranks with money?"

"Boss," one of the assassins replied in a low voice, reminding him, "You've
forgotten again. We assassins don't have surnames."
"The moral standards in the capital are deteriorating. Even the assassin
ranking list is being manipulated," Wu San covered his face, "When you go
out, don't mention that they are assassins. Our assassin profession can't
afford such a disgrace."

The assassin thought, in their line of work, what else is there to lose? The
only thing that can be lost is their lives, right?

"They are all useless individuals," Wu San felt bitter and indignant over the
declining state of the assassin profession and worried about its future. He
wiped his face with a solemn expression, "Next time, I'll personally take
care of it."

As a senior who's ranked third in the assassin world, he should shoulder this
heavy responsibility.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 23 – The Prefect of
Jingzhao

"Today's luck is not bad," Hua Liuli held the birthday spinning tops and
lucky dolls given to her by the vendors and said to Hua Changkong, "To
receive such gifts on the first day of the Lunar New Year means we'll have
good fortune throughout the year."

"Hmm, you're right, little sister," Hua Changkong reached out and touched
the spinning top and lucky dolls, then sat cross-legged with a serious
expression.

"Do you sense anything?" Hua Changkong asked.

"Those people are after me," Hua Liuli said, a little puzzled, "According to
normal thinking, even if someone wanted to retaliate against the Hua
family, their main target should be you, not me, as people always think that
sons are the pillars of the family, so it doesn't make sense to ignore the son
and only target the daughter."

Hua Changkong replied, "You truly are my dear sister."

"Of course," Hua Liuli put the spinning top and dolls aside and poured a
cup of tea for Hua Changkong, "Do you have a sister closer to you than
me?"

"Everyone knows that the Hua family hasn't had a daughter born for three
generations. You are the only little flower sprout in a hundred acres of
forest. It's possible to target you as a top priority since rarity holds value,"
Hua Changkong picked up the teacup and took a sip, "Our parents had three
sons, so I'm no longer a rarity."
Hua Liuli furrowed her brow. Could it be that the Jinpo Kingdom had
covertly dispatched someone to seek revenge? But the Second Prince of
Jinpo Kingdom was still held in Great Jin as a hostage, and their Emperor
had signed a surrender letter, effectively ending the war. If something were
to happen to her, wouldn't the Jinpo Kingdom fear the wrath of Great Jin,
ultimately leading to their own defeat?

Even if they weren't afraid of their Second Prince dying in Great Jin, they
should still fear Great Jin launching another attack. What was the purpose
of sending someone to ambush her now? Did they feel that the punishment
inflicted by the Hua family wasn't enough?

This didn't align with Jinpo Kingdom's current interests. The frightened
Emperor of the Jinpo Kingdom wouldn't dare to do such a thing.

"Did you offend someone in the capital?" Hua Changkong recalled the
events of the past month and glanced at his sister's expression cautiously,
"Did you have a conflict with any young ladies?"

"People's thoughts are inscrutable; who can truly understand how others
perceive me," Hua Liuli shook her head, "The young ladies in the capital
have diverse personalities, but they are all very astute. Even if they harbor
grievances, it would only lead to petty conflicts. They wouldn't stoop to
such actions."

The interpersonal relationships in the capital were extremely complex,

making it highly unlikely for someone to attempt a public abduction
without expecting to be quickly exposed. Even the most impulsive Jiamin
Junzhu wouldn't do such a foolish thing.

"Have you ever considered that you might have earned someone's
resentment by thwarting their plan to assassinate the Crown Prince?" Hua
Changkong speculated another possibility, "You inadvertently disrupted the
plot to assassinate Lin Huizi, aided the Crown Prince in capturing the
assassin, and also unintentionally saved Tian Ruidong's life a few days
ago."
"Isn't all of this just a coincidence?" Hua Liuli felt a little aggrieved. She
had sensed something was off about that palace maid and acted on it.
Should she have let her approach the Crown Prince?

If something were to happen to the Crown Prince right under their noses,
how big of a trouble would it be? Moreover, the Crown Prince was
handsome and attentive. How could she just stand by and watch him get
hurt?

"Try to stay indoors as much as possible until our parents return to the
capital," Hua Changkong advised, "If you want to go out, take Yuan Yi and
Yu Rong with you."

"Alright," Hua Liuli nodded. Since then, she openly declined all the
invitations for the beginning of the new year.

However, Hua Changkong couldn't be as leisurely as Hua Liuli. He not only

had to visit families with whom his parents had connections but also engage
with scholarly students, keeping himself occupied.

He had participated in the autumn imperial examinations in Qinghan

Prefecture, where conditions were harsh, and the overall level of the
scholarly students was lower compared to other regions. Despite his
impressive performance in the examinations, he was still considered
average among the scholarly students in the capital.

Some scholars specifically instructed their juniors to take care of Hua

Changkong. Initially, these juniors did it to appease their seniors and elders,
but after truly interacting with Hua Changkong, they were won over by his
charisma and became genuine friends.

The younger generation in the capital had limited knowledge about the Hua
family. They were unaware that if the Hua family sincerely sought
friendship, they could easily gain the favor of others.

In just a month, even those scholars who didn't hold a favorable view of the
Hua family didn't hesitate to praise Hua Changkong.
At the same time, they also lamented in their hearts how such a talented
scholar ended up being from the Hua family. It was truly a case of the
heavens being blind.

"I heard that the Hua siblings encountered some villains yesterday and
almost got abducted, but fortunately, the vendors and commoners around
helped and prevented the villains from succeeding."

"No wonder the capital has strengthened its guard today. I heard those
villains weren't ordinary people; they were assassins."

"That's too dangerous. Thankfully, the Hua siblings are safe."

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Madam Du took her daughter to
visit her maiden family. Since her Second Brother was married to Princess
Shunan and resided in the Princess's residence, they also returned to the Yao
family's ancestral home.

Princess Shunan briefly sat in front of the elders and then left. As an
Imperial Princess1"皇家公主" (huángjiā gōngzhǔ) means "royal princess" or
"imperial princess," denoting a princess who belongs to the imperial family
or holds a high-ranking position within the royal hierarchy. It signifies the
noble and privileged status of a princess within the context of a monarchy.
In this case. this Imperial Princess is the current Emperor's sister and the
previous Emperor's daughter., even sitting for a short while was considered
a face-saving gesture towards the elders.

The Yao family had more daughters than sons, so the women of the family
gathered together to discuss the interesting events happening in the capital,
finding solace in being together rather than venturing outside.

Jiamin Junzhu had a high status among the younger generation in the
family, so they sought to please her. Aware of her dislike for Hua Liuli, their
words carried a subtle tone of sarcasm.

"Who knows if Hua Liuli has provoked someone outside?"

"Exactly. That kind of scheming woman..."

"Stop speaking ill of others," Du Xiuying stood up, her expression turning
cold, "The Hua family has been fighting on the battlefield for generations,
not for you to mock their daughter."

The few young girls who had been badmouthing Hua Liuli had slightly
displeased expressions.

Du Xiuying didn't want to argue with them and turned to leave.

"Du Xiuying," Jiamin Junzhu called her, raising her chin, "Are you
intentionally creating disputes with me?"

Knowing that she didn't approve of Hua Liuli, Du Xiuying's support for
Hua Liuli was clearly causing a rift between them.

Du Xiuying turned back and furrowed her brow at Jiamin Junzhu, "Anyone
who doesn't cater to your every whim is deemed to have a problem with
you. Unfortunately, there are far too many people in this world who can't
get along with you."

Jiamin Junzhu's complexion changed as she struggled to respond. After a

moment, she said, "Spare me your lectures. Do you not know how close the
Crown Prince is to her?"

"What does it have to do with me?" Du Xiuying retorted.

"Don't you know..."

Du Xiuying turned and walked away, completely ignoring Jiamin Junzhu's

attempt to finish her sentence.

Enraged, Jiamin Junzhu muttered under her breath and said with a stern
face, "With such behavior, she wants to marry into the imperial family?
Maybe in the next life."

"You said those criminals are assassins?" After reading the case report, the
Prefect of Jingzhao shook his head while holding a teacup, "We can't handle
this case. Let's transfer it to the Ministry of Justice."
"Daren, Minister Zhang from the Ministry of Justice said that if we send
more cases their way, they will set the dogs after us."

"Nonsense! The dogs of the Ministry of Justice eat better than you lot on a
regular day. They won't have any appetite for you. Just transfer the case,"
the Prefect of Jingzhao firmly decided to wash his hands of the matter.

Interpersonal relationships in the capital were complicated, and given his

position, he couldn't handle this case. It would be more appropriate to hand
it over to the Ministry of Justice, as they had access to classified
information and possessed greater intelligence to deal with it effectively.

Upon receiving the newly transferred case from the Prefect of Jingzhao, the
Minister of Justice cursed in anger, "On the first day of the Lunar New
Year, can't the Jingzhao Prefecture handle anything on their own? They
keep dumping cases on us. Do they think the Ministry of Justice is a
dumping ground?"

"Daren," Pei Jihuai consoled, "These captured individuals are assassins. I

suspect they are related to several previous cases."

"Have they been interrogated?" Minister Zhang's expression turned grave.

If this was indeed an assassin organization and it was connected to several
previous cases, it indicated a grand conspiracy that loomed over the capital.

Those involved in this case were merely a cog in the larger conspiracy.

The Crown Prince, Consort Xian, Ying Wang, Ning Wang, the Tian family,
the Chen family, and the Hua family...

Were the princes plotting against one another, or was it the influence of a
foreign country?

"After conducting several investigations, we have determined that these

assassins are all highly ranked and their leader goes by the codename 'Wu
San'."

"Assassins have rankings?" Minister Zhang was surprised.

Pei Jihuai paused for a moment, feeling that the focus of the conversation
shouldn't be on this.

"Do we have any relevant information on the assassin with the codename
'Wu San'?"

"It is rumored that he has an ordinary appearance but exceptional hearing

abilities. He ranks third in the world of assassins."

"Who is the first?"

"The assassin who failed to assassinate the Crown Prince last month."

"Oh..." Minister Zhang instantly lost interest, "It seems these assassins
aren't that impressive," he remarked. He had heard that the assassin from
the Eastern Palace was accidentally tripped and subdued by Fushou Junzhu.

An assassin who could be tripped up by a powerless Junzhu—ranked first?

It appeared that the assassin world lacked talented individuals.

Pei Jihuai felt that this topic should not continue. He feared that Minister
Zhang would delve into analyzing the employment status of assassins, so he
hastily changed the subject, "Daren, His Majesty has sent out invitations for
a state banquet that will take place two months from now. Numerous
envoys from various countries will be arriving in the capital. We will need
to assign some of our Ministry of Justice personnel to ensure security."

"I understand," Minister Zhang sighed.

The Great Jin Empire had engaged in a century-long war with the Kingdom
of Jinpo. The decisive victory over Jinpo not only ensured the safety of the
borders but also served as a warning to other neighboring countries.

The significance of hosting this state banquet by His Majesty was profound.

Hence, utmost caution was essential to prevent any mishaps before the
banquet, especially involving the Hua family, who had made significant
contributions. They must be kept out of harm's way.
Upon learning that Hua Liuli had almost been abducted by assassins, the
Empress Dowager became extremely worried. However, with the New Year
just having passed, she couldn't immediately fetch Hua Liuli back to the
palace. All she could do was send a lot of calming medicine for Hua Liuli.

During these days, Hua Liuli received many things, including gifts from the
Empress Dowager, the Emperor, the Crown Prince, as well as from consorts
and other princes. Even those noble families with connections to the Hua
family sent gifts.

"The Du family estate has actually sent something as well?" Hua Liuli
picked out the gift list from the pile and was somewhat surprised, "Doesn't
Imperial Tutor Du dislike Father?"

When the current Emperor was still the Crown Prince, Hua Yingting, her
father, had been his study companion. Imperial Tutor Du always believed
that Hua Yingting would have a negative influence on the Crown Prince
and treated him coldly.

The two families have had little interaction in recent years. Hua Liuli even
thought that if Imperial Tutor Du hadn't already retired, he might have
joined Lin Huizi in accusing her father of warmongering.

"Nubi heard that the Du family might have a Crown Princess candidate,"
Yuan Yi tidied up the messy gift list, "Perhaps they're attempting to improve
relations with our Hua family in advance."

"Is that so?" Hua Liuli suddenly felt sympathy for the Crown Prince. The
Crown Prince had a carefree personality. He even sneaked food during the
grand ceremony of worshipping the heavens. It wouldn't be easy for him to
marry into a family like the Du family. How would he fare in the future?

"It's only circulating in a small, private circle," Yuan Yi pondered

thoughtfully, "Who knows if it's true or false."

Hua Liuli shook her head. Judging from the current situation in court, it
would be a good choice for the Crown Prince to marry into the Du family.
The Du family's daughter would be a perfect candidate for the Crown
Princess, not to mention a perfect choice for the future Empress. However,
considering the Emperor's indulgence towards the Crown Prince, he might
not appreciate others meddling in his son's affairs.

There are countless parents who dote on their children, but they all share
one common trait.

You can criticize me, but if you criticize my child, that's unacceptable.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 24 – Condolences

In Hua Liuli's view, Emperor Changlong was truly a good person.

The straightforward nature of the Eldest Prince made him a suitable match
for the daughter of a prestigious military family. Not only would it pave the
way for his future military endeavors, but it would also demonstrate his
deep respect for the military officials.

The Emperor trusted the Hua family, at least for now. That's why he wanted
her to marry the simple-minded Eldest Prince, which would give her a
noble status without subjecting her to a troublesome married life.

Unfortunately, hopes can be beautiful, but people's hearts can change. The
Eldest Prince, Ying Wang, might not be content with being an ordinary
prince. On the other side, the Emperor might become suspicious of the Hua
family one day. Thus, it was in her best interest to refrain from marrying
any of the princes.

Before coming to the capital, the Emperor had mentioned the betrothal
between the Eldest Prince and her. But after arriving in the capital, he never
mentioned it again, indicating that the Emperor had abandoned that plan.

The bestowment of the title of Junzhu probably served as compensation

after the Emperor changed his mind.

In any case, not marrying Ying Wang and gaining the title of Junzhu
seemed like a good exchange to Hua Liuli.

However, Emperor Changlong did not share the same sentiment.

As he read the memorials from the Ministry of Justice, he sighed upon

learning that Fushou Junzhu was targeted by assassins as retaliation for her
involvement in thwarting the assassination attempt on the Crown Prince.

"Father Emperor, which imperial family member is begging for mercy, or

which two spoiled sons caused trouble again?" The Crown Prince, who was
learning governance from Emperor Changlong, raised his head upon
hearing his father's sigh. Emperor Changlong leaned back in his chair and
didn't want to look at the memorials on the table anymore.

"It's about the case of the Fushou Junzhu's attempted abduction," Emperor
Changlong handed the memorial from the Ministry of Justice to the Crown
Prince, "Zhen owes an apology to the Hua family."

He had promised to make the Hua girl his Eldest Son's Wangfei, but then he
changed his mind. Now, because of the girl's unintentional actions in saving
the Crown Prince, she had become the target of the assassins and was
almost abducted.

The Crown Prince took the memorial and read it silently. After he was
finished reading it, he remained silent for a long time.

"Yuansu?" Emperor Changlong turned to the Crown Prince when he didn't

speak for a long time.

"Erchen was thinking that such unlawful organizations as the assassins

should be vigorously suppressed," the Crown Prince placed the memorial
on the table, "If they dare to lay hands on the Hua girl, who is a Junzhu of
Great Jin, it is a blatant provocation against the imperial court."

Emperor Changlong asked, "What are your thoughts?"

"The registration of households in all provinces and strict supervision of

anyone with unknown origins," the Crown Prince turned to look at Emperor
Changlong, "The slaves secretly kept by the major noble families should
also be registered."

Emperor Changlong's expression slightly changed, "Yuansu, this matter

should not be rushed."
"Erchen understands, Father Emperor," the Crown Prince looked at the
characters "Fushou Junzhu" on the memorial, "If it can't be done in one
year, then ten years. If it can't be done in ten years, then twenty years."

Emperor Changlong nodded slightly. The father and son didn't discuss the
matter further, but they both understood that there were some things they
couldn't compromise on for the sake of the people.

That afternoon, Hua Liuli received more gifts from the palace, including
imperial edicts praising her various qualities. Words like "a tiger's daughter"
and "clever and outstanding" were lavishly bestowed upon her, as though
they were free and all about her.

Those who didn't know her would surely think she possessed great martial
skills, just like her father.

Hua Liuli: "..."

No, she was delicate, helpless, and had no combat ability. She was just a
delicate girl among the tigers.

The Emperor's generosity knew no bounds. Not only did he lavish her with
compliments, but he also gifted her an estate on the outskirts of the capital,
complete with the surrounding land that now belonged to her.

The Emperor's magnanimity instantly made Hua Liuli forget about the
excessive flattery. After bidding farewell to the eunuch who delivered the
imperial decree, she cheerfully exclaimed to Yuan Yi, "The Emperor is truly
thoughtful. He even considered the future residence of my male pets."

In the capital, it was not uncommon for noble ladies to raise male pets, but
it was a private matter typically carried out in their own country estates.

"Unfortunately, having seen men like the Crown Prince and my three
brothers, my standards have been raised, making it challenging to find
interest in other men," Hua Liuli sighed, "Where can I find a male pet that
meets my high standards?"
"How about Junzhu spend more time observing Ying Wang? Perhaps, when
Junzhu looks at other men again, Junzhu might find them tolerable," Yuan
Yi teased with a mischievous smile.

"Although Ying Wang may not possess a handsome appearance like the
Crown Prince and my brothers, he still exudes the aura of royalty. At the
very least, he surpasses ordinary men," Hua Liuli coughed dryly, "Besides,
do I appear to be a shallow person who solely focuses on looks?"

"I value both appearance and substance," Hua Liuli waved her finger, "Even
if I have no intention of marrying, I cannot settle for less."

"Indeed, it's better to avoid rumors circulating in the capital about Fushou
Junzhu, the delicate and breathtaking young lady who indulges in romantic
affairs and disregards her own life," Hua Changkong entered the room and
sat beside Hua Liuli, "That would certainly create quite a stir."

"As the saying goes, 'Even if I were to die beneath the peony flowers, I'd
still be a romantic spirit'," Hua Liuli chuckled, covering her face with
feigned shyness.

"You're such a cheeky girl," Hua Changkong playfully tapped her head,
"Despite your bold words, I haven't seen you genuinely interested in any
man."

"Third Brother, how can you say such things to an innocent and shy young
lady like me? I'm feeling embarrassed," Hua Liuli covered her face,
casually taking Hua Changkong's money pouch, "Consider this a small
contribution to the grand endeavor of supporting your adorable sister's male
pets."

The two siblings laughed and teased each other for a while. Hua Changkong
looked at his exceptionally beautiful sister and felt a bitter and indescribable
pain in his heart, "Little sister, I have burdened you."

"Third Brother, what are you saying?" Hua Liuli widened her eyes and
smiled, "As a delicate and sickly young girl, I lead a carefree life of
indulgence in food, drink, and entertainment. What burden could I possibly
have?"

She hid the money pouch away, "Anyway, no matter what you say, I won't
return the money pouch to you. Give up already."

Hua Changkong: "..."

He knew that all his sentimental words meant nothing in front of his little
sister.

As the time for the spring examination drew closer, Hua Changkong rarely
left the house, spending his days in the study, solving problems, and
studying. Hua Liuli worried about his academic pressure and found ways to
have delicious food prepared for him in the kitchen.

Towards the end of the first month of the Lunar Year, news arrived that the
patriarch of the Tian family had passed away.

When the news of his death reached the various noble households, a
collective sigh echoed through the halls. Old Master Tian was an insightful
person, and with his passing, Ying Wang's path to the Crown Prince
position had grown even more distant.

As a junior, Hua Liuli also had to go pay her respects.

She changed out of her gorgeous silk dress and donned a plain cotton dress
while adorning her hair with a few modest silver hairpins. Boarding the
carriage, she made her way to the Tian family estate.

At the entrance, Tian Ruidong, dressed in mourning attire, received the

guests. His eyes were red and swollen, devoid of the vigor he once
possessed.

As Hua Liuli walked past Tian Ruidong, she heard him sobbing softly,
"Second Young Master Tian, please accept my condolences."

"Thank you, Junzhu," Tian Ruidong bowed to Hua Liuli.

Uncertain of how to console him, Hua Liuli half-knelt, returned a partial
bow and proceeded into the mourning hall.

Fire danced around the altar as the memorial tablet bearing the name of Old
Master Tian was placed in the center. Descendants of the Tian family knelt
on the ground, sobbing and wailing, filling the entire room with an
atmosphere of grief and of death.

Ying Wang stood by the side of the mourning hall, his face marked with
traces of mourning. As a prince, according to the rules, he didn't have to
wear mourning clothes for his maternal grandfather. However, today his
hair was tied with hemp rope and his clothes were a simple white cotton
robe.

The person who arrived before her was Jiamin Junzhu. The two locked eyes
for a moment, an unusual occurrence where neither spoke nor taunted each
other.

She and Jiamin Junzhu stepped forward together, bowing in reverence.

"Pay your respects and offer incense."

As soon as Hua Liuli received the incense, she bowed three times before
taking a slight step back. She waited until Jiamin Junzhu had placed the
incense in the censer before following suit.

There were other female relatives who came to mourn the deceased. Hua
Liuli retreated through a side door when she glanced back at Jiamin Junzhu,
who was walking towards Ying Wang.

Before long, Jiamin Junzhu also emerged, her mood appearing extremely
low. Seeing Hua Liuli standing under a tree in the courtyard, she couldn't
help but ask, "Aren't you supposed to have poor health? Why did you also
come?"

Could it be that she still harbored feelings for Ying Wang?

Among the female members of the Hua family, she was the only one
present in the capital. If she didn't come, who else would? However, Hua
Liuli couldn't be bothered with Jiamin Junzhu at this moment, so she simply
covered her chest, coughed a few times, and remained silent.

Seeing Hua Liuli in such a state, Jiamin Junzhu was reminded of that time
when she hadn't done anything but others had mistakenly blamed her for
bullying Hua Liuli. She could only suppress her anger and turn away,
leaving the courtyard.

"Junzhu," Yuan Yi tidied Hua Liuli's cloak, "It's windy here, let's go to the
front hall."

"Alright," Hua Liuli glanced at the other female relatives standing in the
courtyard before lightly coughing into her handkerchief.

As she turned to leave, she saw the weary-looking Ying Wang walking out
of the mourning hall towards her. She thought of pretending not to see him
and continue walking outside.

"Fushou Junzhu."

Hua Liuli knew Jiamin Junzhu was about to give her a hostile look.

"Greetings to Your Highness, Ying Wang," Hua Liuli smiled and turned
around, giving a courtesy to Ying Wang.

"Thank you, Junzhu, for coming to offer condolences," Ying Wang noticed
Hua Liuli's pale complexion and worried that she couldn't withstand the
cold, "There's a warm room nearby, let Benwang accompany you there."

"It's fine, this humble servant will have a maid show me the way," Hua
Liuli saw bloodshot eyes in Ying Wang's gaze, "Please take care, Your
Highness."

Ying Wang forced a smile, "Thank you."

He didn't insist on accompanying Hua Liuli but called for a maid to escort
her.
Upon reaching the warm room, Hua Liuli locked eyes with Jiamin Junzhu
once again.

"Junzhu, it seems we have quite the fate," Hua Liuli pretended not to notice
the animosity in Jiamin Junzhu's eyes as she sat down on a cushioned chair.

Jiamin Junzhu looked at her, her lips twitching. Hua Liuli thought she
would say something sarcastic, but unexpectedly, this usually hot-tempered
Junzhu didn't say a word.

In this warm room, the two sat face to face without uttering a single word.

After a while, Jiamin Junzhu looked at Hua Liuli, her eyes reddening, "Do
you know? Ying Wang's future Wangfei has been decided."

Hua Liuli screamed inwardly: I have no idea!

"Not you," Jiamin Junzhu's voice trembled, "And not me either."

Hua Liuli remained silent for a moment, "Condolences, then?"

Jiamin Junzhu: "..."

The room was filled with the scent of incense. As Hua Liuli's gaze swept
past the censer, she suddenly stood up, "Let's go, this room doesn't feel
right."

Jiamin Junzhu: "..."

Even if she didn't want to stay in the same room with her, there was no need
to put on such an exaggerated act.

Just as she was about to speak, thinking that Hua Liuli couldn't see through
her secretly mocking her, she began to feel dizzy and disoriented.

"You..." Jiamin Junzhu widened her eyes, staring at Hua Liuli.

What bad luck had she been having lately? The man she liked was marrying
someone else. Now, the woman she disliked was trying to poison her.
It was often written in the stories that if the protagonist was poisoned by her
rival, terrible things would surely follow.

Hua Liuli, this treacherous woman!

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 25 – The Assassins

Ying Wang placed the paper money into the clay pot and looked up at his
maternal grandfather's memorial tablet.

His grandfather had been very kind to him. Although they didn't spend
much time together, every time they met, his grandfather would look at him
with gentle eyes and secretly give him some toys that children liked.

He remembered when he was a child, his grandfather would lift him onto
his shoulders and take him to buy animal lanterns for the Lantern Festival.

Since childhood, his mother had demanded him to be perfect, comparing

him to his siblings, while his teachers always taught him according to the
standards of a Crown Prince.

But his grandfather would always smile and pat his head, saying he was the
best child.

His throat choked and he couldn't hold back anymore. He knelt in front of
the memorial tablet, covering his face and silently shedding tears.

"Your Highness, this is inappropriate," the Tian family servants were

somewhat panicked. Although Ying Wang was the grandson of the Tian
family, he was a prince, a ruler. It was unheard of for a ruler to kneel before
his subjects.

They quickly helped Ying Wang up and urged him to sit and rest in the side
room.

Ying Wang didn't want to trouble them and sat in the side room, lost in
thought.
"Your Highness, something has happened," Ying Wang's personal attendant
hurriedly entered the room. Seeing the sorrowful expression on Ying
Wang's face, he hesitated for a moment before approaching and said,
"Fushou Junzhu and Jiamin Junzhu have gone missing. They can't be found
in the warm room."

"What did you say?" Ying Wang exclaimed in shock, "Who would dare to
kidnap someone in the Tian family estate?"

"Fearing that the matter would escalate, the Tian family didn't dare to make
it public. The other guests are still unaware," the attendant said, "However,
we have already sent people to report the incident to the palace."

"Immediately dispatch people to thoroughly investigate and guard the city

gates tightly," Ying Wang could no longer focus on his grief. Princess
Shunan and her Fuma1Male Consort of a Princess. had been married for so
many years; Jiamin Junzhu was their only daughter. If something happened
to Jiamin Junzhu, Princess Shunan would surely hold a grudge against the
Tian family.

He didn't know whether it was his misfortune or the Tian family's, but
nothing that had happened recently had been in his favor.

Which one of his brothers was scheming against him?

When Hua Liuli opened her eyes, she saw the eaves covered in cobwebs.
Realizing that something unexpected had happened, she closed her eyes
again, pretending to still be unconscious.

Unfortunately, the person beside her didn't seem to have the same
understanding. She sat up and started cursing her.

Hua Liuli: "..."

What did this have to do with her? She wasn't involved in this matter at all.

Sensing that Jiamin Junzhu was about to kick her while she had the chance,
Hua Liuli quickly rolled over and tremblingly sat up from the ground, "Wh-
where is this?"

"Awake?" A woman spoke, her expressionless gaze fixed on Hua Liuli and
Jiamin Junzhu. She turned her head and shouted outside, "Boss, she's
awake."

"Who are you people? What do you want?!" Jiamin Junzhu looked at the
man walking in from outside; suppressing her fear and covering her chest,
she asked "Who sent you?"

"Why are you covering yourself?" The man in black sat on the ground and
said, "I'm a professional assassin. I only care about taking lives. Don't
squawk like a mother hen. I have a strong sense of morality. When you
were unconscious, I specifically had a female assassin watch over you. I
didn't even enter the room, so don't act like I'm going to molest you."

The outside sky was somewhat dim, indicating it was either dusk or just
dawn. Above the room was a statue that had lost its original color,
resembling an abandoned local temple.

In the capital city, where every inch of land was precious, it was impossible
to have such a dilapidated temple. This place should be a relatively remote
area on the outskirts of the capital.

She didn't know how much effort these people had put in to bring them out
of the Tian family, but one thing Hua Liuli could be certain of was that
there were insiders within the Tian family working with these people.

Was it because the public security in the capital city was so poor, or was it
just her bad luck that she had been encountering such unfortunate things?

"Which one of you is the Junzhu?"

"She is!" Hua Liuli and Jiamin Junzhu both pointed at each other.

Wu San looked at the two young ladies in the room, one with a fiery temper
who yelled and shouted at him, while the other trembled and constantly
coughed, clearly in poor health.
The Hua family was a family of military officers, so their daughter should
also be quite assertive.

"Are you Hua Yingting's daughter?" Wu San looked at Jiamin Junzhu.

"I'm not, she is," Jiamin Junzhu didn't even hesitate and betrayed Hua Liuli.

"You..." Hua Liuli looked at Jiamin Junzhu in disbelief, tears welling up in

her eyes. On the verge of crying, she said, "Since you said I am, then I am."

After saying that, she turned to the two assassins and said, "You're looking
for me. This Junzhu is innocent. Let her go."

Wu San frowned. The more he looked, the less she resembled the person in
the portrait.

Could it be that both of these young ladies were lying? He retrieved the
portrait from his pocket and carefully examined it, but he couldn't discern
who was truly Hua Yingting's daughter.

They both had two eyebrows and two eyes. How was he supposed to
choose?

"Boss, take them both away," the female assassin sneered, "Ladies,
beautiful ladies, beautiful young ladies from the noble families never speak
the truth. It doesn't matter who the real one is as long as we bring them all
to the Young Master. Our Young Master will be able to identify her."

"How did noble young ladies offend you?!" Jiamin Junzhu retorted
unhappily.

"Sorry, I have a grudge against the wealthy," the female assassin took out a
dagger and pointed it at Jiamin Junzhu, "Say another word, and I'll cut out
your tongue."

Jiamin Junzhu looked at the sharp blade against her neck and swallowed,
"Actually, sometimes I also have a grudge against the wealthy."
Hua Liuli turned her head to look at her. How come Jiamin Junzhu, who
usually speaks straightforwardly, is not being straightforward today?

"What are you looking at?!" the female assassin glared at Hua Liuli, "You
noble girls, you're even afraid of a knife?"

"I-I was looking at how beautiful you are," Hua Liuli said shyly, "Sister
Assassin, where did you buy your rouge? Why does it look so lovely when
you apply it?"

"Rouge? I don't have time to put on rouge like you," the female assassin put
away her dagger, her face still cold and merciless.

"Even without the rouge, you're still so beautiful..." Hua Liuli muttered
softly, seemingly afraid of displeasing the female assassin.

Jiamin Junzhu turned her head to look at Hua Liuli. This shameless
flatterer, she can say anything to save her own life.

Their eyes locked in the air, and they both averted their gazes.

After a while, the female assassin brought in two bowls of noodles, "Eat!"

Jiamin Junzhu noticed that there was an extra egg and a few more pieces of
meat in Hua Liuli's bowl.

Are female assassins nowadays so shallow? Just because this shameless

flatterer praised her beauty, she receives preferential treatment?

"Thank you, sister," Hua Liuli received the bowl and smiled timidly at the
assassin.

"Who's your sister? Shut up," the female assassin retorted and turned away.
After a while, she tossed a handful of wild fruits in front of Hua Liuli, not
giving any to Jiamin Junzhu.

Jiamin Junzhu: "..."

She finally figured it out. This female assassin is indeed that shallow. It
seemed that Hua Liuli's flattery didn't just work on men; even women can't
escape it.

However, given the situation, Hua Liuli remained much calmer than Jiamin
Junzhu had anticipated. She didn't burst into tears or make a scene. Instead,
she finished eating the bowl of mediocre-tasting noodles.

Although she had some knowledge of martial arts, she had no idea how
skilled these two assassins were, nor did she know how many people were
on guard outside. Moreover, she had Hua Liuli as a liability by her side, so
she didn't dare to act rashly.

After they finished their meal, the female assassin tied up their hands and
feet. With a cold expression, she warned, "Don't even think about escaping.
Our people surround this place. If you lose an arm or a leg by accident,
don't blame us."

Hua Liuli and Jiamin Junzhu sat obediently without struggling.

Seemingly satisfied with their reactions, the female assassin's expression

softened slightly, "If you need to use the restroom, you can call for me."

After the female assassin left, the dilapidated temple fell silent.

"You deliberately misled them, making them think I'm the one they are
after," Jiamin Junzhu cursed, "Your heart is truly wicked."

"What do you know?" Hua Liuli rolled her eyes, "I'm trying to save you,
don't you understand? They only want to find Fushou Junzhu. It seems they
want me alive. Assassins don't show mercy. It's inconvenient for them to
take two people out of the capital. Can you guess how these people will
treat the person they don't need?"

Jiamin Junzhu fell silent.

"Only dead people tell no tales," Hua Liuli retorted, "Do you want to die?"

Jiamin Junzhu stopped arguing altogether.

Both of them lay on the cold ground. After a while, Jiamin Junzhu spoke in
a low voice, "When they take us to leave the capital, find a way to escape.
I'll cover for you."

Hua Liuli opened her eyes in the darkness, "What about you?"

"I'm not as weak and useless as you. I have been practicing military strategy
and martial arts since I was five..." Jiamin Junzhu paused, "I'm doing this
for the sake of the Great General's wife; I'll save your worthless life for her
sake."

"Oh, so you admire my mother," Hua Liuli suddenly realized, "No wonder
you always think I'm holding back the Hua family. You're just jealous."

"I'm not!" Jiamin Junzhu scoffed, "I just feel sorry for the Great General's
wife. She is a heroine among women, and having a daughter like you, who
is deceitful and scheming, is the only regret in her life."

"No matter what you say, I am still the daughter of the Hua family. My
father, my mother, and my older brothers, they all dote on me. They say I'm
the best daughter in the world. Your jealousy is pointless."

"You..."

The door was pushed open by the female assassin, who had a cold
expression, "If you keep talking, I'll cut off both your tongues."

Both of them fell silent.

The female assassin closed the door again, but they could hear no footsteps
outside. They didn't know where these assassins were hiding.

Jiamin Junzhu's heart sank gradually. These assassins, who didn't make any
sound, were trained killers from a young age, highly skilled in martial arts.
She was no match for them.

Was she really going to die at the hands of assassins?

If she had to die, why did she have to die alongside this girl she despised so
much?

In the dimly lit room, Jiamin Junzhu found it impossible to sleep.

Meanwhile, Hua Liuli slept soundly on the ground. Seeing her carefree
state, Jiamin Junzhu felt the urge to kick her, but her hands and feet were
bound by ropes.

Before dawn, they were dragged into a dilapidated carriage. The carriage
exuded a strong musty odor, a reminder of its previous occupants.

"Boss, all the gates and roads are heavily guarded. We might not be able to
escape."

"Why don't we disfigure their faces? After all, the young master only wants
them alive; he never said we couldn't harm them."

The carriage jolted violently, causing Jiamin Junzhu to nearly vomit. She
feared she would be tortured to death on the way. Reluctantly, she sat next
to Hua Liuli and said, "Hey, if you feel uncomfortable, you can lean on me
temporarily. I don't want to be stuck with a corpse halfway."

Hua Liuli's face was pale, but her eyes sparkled astonishingly, "Do you
know what my childhood dream was?"

"What nonsense are you talking about now?" Jiamin Junzhu thought Hua
Liuli was seriously ill. Discussing dreams at a time like this... Why couldn't
she just faint and dream?

"My dream was to become a famous beauty, even in sickness," Hua Liuli
sighed, "But it seems that dream will have to be put on hold for now. It's
truly suffocating."

The assassins were already preparing to disfigure their faces, yet she still
aspired to be a famous beauty?

It would be better to commit suicide now and have a better chance at it in

reincarnation.
OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 26 – Protecting Dreams

Jiamin Junzhu stared at Hua Liuli with an incredulous expression. Hua Liuli
shyly and timidly returned her gaze. Inside the quiet carriage, neither of
them spoke. The swaying carriage seemed to be taking them to an unknown
destination.

Suddenly, the curtain of the carriage was lifted. The female assassin came in
and looked at Hua Liuli and Jiamin Junzhu who were facing each other. She
drew a small knife from her waist and slowly approached them.

"Let's talk properly, don't harm our faces!" Jiamin Junzhu turned her face
away, "We can make ourselves look ugly, really! If we get our faces
disfigured now, it will take a while for the wounds to heal, and it will raise
suspicion, which is not in your favor."

The female assassin's gaze swept over both of them. Hua Liuli leaned
against the carriage wall, tears welling up in her eyes, looking pitiful. That
gaze reminded the assassin of a little kitten that was killed by her master in
her childhood.

She sheathed the small knife, her face cold, "I'm only responsible for
escorting you out of the mountains on behalf of the young master. I won't
interfere with what happens to you afterwards."

"Sister, aren't you coming with us?" Hua Liuli looked at the female assassin
timidly.

"I told you not to call me sister," the female assassin turned her head, not
looking at Hua Liuli, "Don't blame us. We have no choice either. The young
master said that once we're done with you, he'll set me and the boss free."
"Even if you manage to take us out of the capital, you won't escape the
pursuit of the imperial court, no matter where you go. What kind of
freedom is that?" Hua Liuli lowered her eyelids, "It's better to let us go.
Perhaps it will give you a chance to save your lives."

"Little girl, don't try to fool me with such childish words," the female
assassin sneered, "Don't daydream. When you reincarnate in your next life,
choose a life with good luck, unlike this one that's ending prematurely."

The female assassin exited the carriage. The other person who was
accompanying was surprised to see her return so quickly, "Why didn't you
do it?"

The female assassin sneered, "If we were to injure their faces now, we
would be openly telling others that there's something wrong with their
identities. Do you think those from the imperial court are foolish?"

The person who asked the question suppressed his anger and walked away.

Once they left the capital, it would be the death sentence for these assassins.
At this moment, he couldn't disrupt the young master's plan, so he held
back. He turned to the others and had them do a simple disguise for the two
hostages, so they wouldn't be recognized.

"I think this female assassin may not live much longer," Jiamin Junzhu was
afraid, but she didn't want Hua Liuli to notice, so she pretended to speak
calmly, "Those who speak such words in the stories I read often meet their
demise in the end."

Hua Liuli blinked her eyes and ignored her.

Both of them were tied up, and the carriage windows were sealed tightly, so
they had no idea where they were now.

After a few more hours, they were served two bowls of porridge, which
seemed to be mixed with a hypnotic drug, causing them to fall into a deep
sleep.
When they woke up again, it was already the next day. Seizing the
opportunity when the female assassin took them to relieve themselves, Hua
Liuli observed their surroundings.

The people who had abducted them were disguised as a merchant caravan.
The people from the female assassin's side didn't seem to get along well
with the other dozen or so people. Those other people looked at them with
malicious and lecherous eyes.

"The young master said that once this is done, we'll be set free," the female
assassin said as she put Hua Liuli and Jiamin Junzhu back in the carriage
and spoke to the other dozen people, "From here on, we are going our
separate ways. We will not be seeing each other again."

"To bring these two young ladies back from the capital, the secret
arrangements and manpower we had set up have all been exposed by the
court. If you stay in the capital now, there's only a dead end for you. Why
not stay and continue to serve our Master, contributing to the great cause?"

The female assassin cupped her hands together, "Farewell."

Seeing that the female assassin's group was not persuaded, the leader's face
turned grim. He glanced at the assassins and then turned to his subordinates,
"Let's go."

"The female assassin who had been helping you all the way had already
left," Jiamin Junzhu, who hadn't eaten anything for nearly ten hours, leaned
weakly against the carriage wall, "What should we do now?"

If they were really taken to their destination, they would be in real danger.

"This area is treacherous, situated on the precarious border between the

capital and the Mountain Ridge Province. It is rumored to be sparsely
inhabited, with frequent appearances of fierce beasts..." Hua Liuli adjusted
her wrist, "We have a mere two hours left until nightfall."

Upon hearing this, Jiamin Junzhu became even more nervous. Without the
presence of those assassins who cared about gender differences, she was
worried about the behavior of the remaining individuals.

Jiamin Junzhu's worries soon became a reality. During their rest time at
night, although the ropes that bound them were untied, the malicious
individuals surrounding them started mocking them with obscene words.

If it were up to Jiamin Junzhu, she would have killed them long ago. She
turned her head to look at Hua Liuli, who was silently eating, seemingly
unconcerned about the dangerous situation they were in. Instantly, anger
boiled inside her. Through gritted teeth, she muttered, "All you do is eat,
eat, eat! Weren't you weak and nauseous from eating this and dizzy from
eating that? How come suddenly you can eat everything?"

"It's a special circumstance, special treatment," Hua Liuli put down her
empty bowl, wiped the corner of her mouth, and slowly reached for her
waist.

"Oh, little missy, have you eaten enough?" a man with a gaunt face and
sharp features laughed heartily, "Come on, call me 'big brother' nicely, and
I'll give you something delicious to eat."

Others laughed along, joining in the teasing.

"How can you insult them when one of them is a noble Junzhu?" someone
said.

"It seems that the Junzhu of the imperial court isn't all that impressive after
all. In times like these, she's obedient like a dog, isn't she?"

Insulting the esteemed Junzhu with their words brought them immense
satisfaction. A gleeful smile appeared on each person's face.

Jiamin Junzhu trembled with anger, her eyes turning red after enduring
nearly ten hours without food.

"When I was young, someone told me that vulnerability is also a weapon,"

Hua Liuli looked at lecherous men, "But vulnerability is a weapon that can
only be used against people, not beasts."
"Oh, look, this girl is calling us beasts."

"No wonder she's a Junzhu; even her insults sound so pleasing."

Swish.

Jiamin Junzhu vaguely saw a flash of silver in front of her. Before she could
react, there was a loud thud, and the man closest to them suddenly fell to
the ground.

The vulgar speech vanished and the laughter ceased. The entire valley was
filled with the sound of chilling wind, resembling the mournful cry of a
vengeful spirit.

She looked up in a daze, seeing Hua Liuli standing before her, wielding a
soft sword that seemed to have materialized out of thin air. Her mind went
blank.

"Every member of the Hua family has a soft sword to protect themselves,"
Hua Liuli shook the blood droplets off the sword, "I'm frail and frequently
ill, so I avoid resorting to violence."

"Look at that, this girl even bites like a dog. Brothers, draw your weapons!"

Upon hearing that the men were unsheathing their swords, Jiamin Junzhu
snapped back to reality. She quickly grabbed the sword near the fallen
corpse, trembling as she unsheathed it, and stood beside Hua Liuli.

"Stay away from me," Hua Liuli glared at Jiamin Junzhu.

Jiamin Junzhu gritted her teeth, "Hua Liuli!"

"I'm sick, I don't want to infect you," Hua Liuli said without looking back,
holding her sword and charging into the crowd. Her agile steps made Jiamin
Junzhu question who between the two of them was truly sick.

In the capital at this moment, Princess Shunan's estate, Ying Wang's estate,
the Hua family estate, and the imperial palace had dispatched numerous
individuals to search for the whereabouts of the two abducted Junzhus.
Even the soldiers guarding the city gates had been replaced with stern-
looking elite troops. The city gates adjacent to the major provincial capitals
were heavily fortified, preventing any suspicious individuals from slipping
through.

The citizens of the capital, who were always sensitive to imperial decrees,
privately speculated whether something major had happened in the palace.
Otherwise, why would there be many guards running around even during
the curfew hours of the night?

"Your Royal Highness, there are signs of someone staying in an abandoned

temple in the outskirts west of the city."

The Crown Prince looked at the map of the capital, pointing at it with his
finger.

"To the west of the city?" Ying Wang stood up, "Next to the west is the
Nanzhou Province. Benwang will lead the troops to pursue immediately."

The Crown Prince ignored Ying Wang's swift departure. He closed the map
and asked his attendant, "Any news from the Hua family and Princess
Shunan's side?"

"Not yet, Your Royal Highness," the attendant pondered for a moment,
"Princess Shunan had been crying before His Majesty for a long time,
wanting to post missing person notices, but His Majesty stopped her. On the
other hand, it's much quieter on the Hua family's side. After consulting with
His Majesty, Third Young Master Hua took some people and left the city."

"Let's go," the Crown Prince stood up and walked towards the door.

"Your Royal Highness, it's already dark. Where is Your Royal Highness
going?"

"To the Mountain Ridge Province," The wind rustled the Crown Prince's
robe as he replied without looking back, "Arrange for someone to follow
Gu out of the city immediately."
"Yes," the senior attendant wondered. The trail of the criminals who
kidnapped the two Junzhus was discovered not far from the Southern
Province. So why was the Crown Prince heading in the opposite direction
towards the Mountain Ridge Province?

"Third Young Master, don't worry. Junzhu will be fine," a servant who had
been following Hua Changkong for many years spoke up as they traveled
along the mountain road, "Junzhu is resourceful and will find a way to
protect herself."

"I am not worried that she can't protect herself, but..." Hua Changkong
sighed, gazing at the path in the dark night, and continued on their way.

The martial arts of the Hua family were passed on from one generation to
another on the battlefield. There were no extravagant or burdensome flashy
moves. The focus of each move was to defeat the opponent and protect
themselves and their comrades.

To survive, to let comrades survive, to defeat the opponent, and to protect

the land beneath their feet.

The sword blade slashed across the throat of the enemy, leaving only a thin
blood trail. As the blade moved on to another person, the blood gushed out
silently from the previous person's neck, and he fell to the ground.

When the last person fell, Hua Liuli turned around and walked toward
Jiamin Junzhu, who was cowering in the corner.

In the moonlight, Hua Liuli remained untouched by blood, her footsteps

light, and her expression calm. However, Jiamin Junzhu felt as if she was
facing a female demon who was ready to seek revenge.

She remembered the ridicule and mockery she had directed at Hua Liuli in
the past. The more she looked at her now, the more she felt that Hua Liuli
wanted to take this opportunity to kill her too.

Her teeth trembled as she tried to appear composed, "W-We can talk.
Actually, I don't like Ying Wang at all. Everything I said before was
nonsense. It's his bad judgment, not yours."

The man she liked meant nothing when her own life was at stake.

But to her surprise, after she finished speaking, Hua Liuli's expression
turned somewhat unpleasant. Jiamin Junzhu hurriedly continued, "You are
the most beautiful woman in Great Jin. You can choose any of the five
princes in the palace! And... and... you are the pride of the Hua family. It's
the luckiest thing in your mother's life to have a daughter like you. Ahhh,
Hua Liuli, I was wrong! Please don't kill me!" Seeing Hua Liuli getting
closer, she fearfully covered her eyes.

She had never regretted her loose tongue as much as she did at this moment.
If she could go back alive, she would definitely, definitely say fewer words
and never offend Hua Liuli!

"What are you talking about?"

After waiting for a while, the sword didn't fall on her. Jiamin Junzhu opened
her eyes and saw Hua Liuli clutching her chest, sitting pale and weak on the
ground. Her voice was so feeble that it seemed she might faint at any
moment, "Junzhu, I'm so scared, y-y-y-"

Jiamin Junzhu: "Huh?"

"Those fierce beasts were so terrifying. Fortunately, Junzhu, you bravely

protected me," Hua Liuli said, lifting her head and staring at Jiamin Junzhu
with gentle eyes, "Junzhu, you will continue to protect this weak woman,
won't you?"

Jiamin Junzhu retreated two steps in horror.

"Cough, cough, cough," Hua Liuli coughed a few times, looking at Jiamin
Junzhu with a smiling face, "Isn't that right?"

Jiamin Junzhu opened her mouth but couldn't utter a word.

Half an hour later, Jiamin Junzhu sat on a tree, watching the fierce beasts in
the mountains tearing apart the bodies of the dead. She covered her mouth
and did not dare to make a sound.

After the beasts had their fill, she finally asked, "What do you want to do?"

"I will strive to fight for my dream," Hua Liuli hung the herbs she had
found around the branches to repel snakes and insects, "Junzhu, will you
help me fulfill this dream?"

Jiamin Junzhu swallowed and her face turned pale with fright. She stared at
Hua Liuli for a moment and said, "I understand. I will keep this secret for
you."

"What secret? Do I have a secret?" Hua Liuli laughed and shook her foot,
causing the tree branch to sway.

"I misspoke. I meant to say that I'm willing to help you pursue your dream,"
Jiamin Junzhu thought Hua Liuli was crazy, absolutely out of her mind.
Who would have such a bizarre hobby?

"Thank you, Junzhu. I believe in your words today," Hua Liuli smiled with
squinted eyes, "You are a good person."

Jiamin Junzhu closed her mouth in frustration and turned her head, no
longer bothering to look at Hua Liuli. After a while, she heard Hua Liuli
coughing, so she took off her outer robe and threw it on Hua Liuli, "Take it
and cover yourself."

"Thank you."

"I just find your coughing annoying." Jiamin Junzhu tied herself to the tree
with a rope, fearing that she would fall from the tree if she fell asleep.

After a while, she opened her eyes and found Hua Liuli still sitting quietly.
After hesitating for a moment, she spoke, "Rest assured, I won't disclose
your secret."

Hua Liuli smiled at her and said, "I know, go to sleep."

Jiamin Junzhu didn't ask what would happen if she didn't keep her promise.
In fact, she highly doubted that even if she revealed the truth when she
returned, no one would believe her.

People like Hua Liuli have the ability to distort right and wrong to confuse
others.

She fell asleep in a daze and woke up the next morning to find the
mountains covered in mist. Hua Liuli sat beside her, seemingly having
stayed up all night.

The two of them climbed down from the tree, and Hua Liuli exclaimed,
"I'm so tired. I can't walk at all."

Jiamin Junzhu's face turned ashen as she held Hua Liuli's arm and said, "I'll
support you."

"Junzhu, you are truly a good person."

Jiamin Junzhu sneered. From now on, anyone who praised her as a good
person to her face would be beaten to death.

The mountain road was difficult to traverse. They also didn't know the
directions. After finally descending the mountain, they found a small river
and washed their faces. Hua Liuli found a large stone to sit on and said, "I
can't go any further. I'm weak and have no strength to walk."

"The other path leads to the official road, but you don't want to go there.
Now you're claiming that you can't walk. What exactly do you want?"
Jiamin Junzhu had lost her temper due to Hua Liuli's constant troubles.

"Do you dare to walk on the official road?" Hua Liuli pounded her leg with
her hands, "The fact that we were brought out of the Tian family undetected
means that there must be extraordinary people helping them cover it up.
Can you be sure that the people we encounter on the official road will be
helping us and not try to harm us?"
"Wait a moment," Jiamin Junzhu saw a donkey cart approaching, "I'll ask
someone to give us a ride back."

As the cart approached, Jiamin Junzhu realized that it was old and
dilapidated, and the driver emitted an unpleasant odor. She gritted her teeth
and stepped forward, "Wait!"

"What's the matter?" the driver was somewhat annoyed by her tone. As
someone who owned a donkey cart in the village, who wouldn't treat him
politely within a few miles?

However, when he saw that it was a beautiful girl calling him, his
expression improved.

"I am a Junzhu from the capital. I am in trouble today. If you can take us to
the capital, I will have someone give you one hundred taels of silver."

The driver looked at Jiamin Junzhu's torn and tattered clothes and her
messy hair and almost burst into laughter. These swindlers were getting
bolder and bolder. Which Junzhu would come to the countryside dressed in
such ragged clothes to hitch a ride?

He was the most knowledgeable person within ten miles. Would he fall for
such a trick?

"If you're a Junzhu, then I must be a prince," the driver snapped the whip,
"You deceitful liar, stay away from me."

Then he glanced at Jiamin Junzhu and muttered, "Such a good girl, pretty
too. Why would she engage in such despicable scams?"

Before Jiamin Junzhu could retort, he drove the cart away. He was afraid
that there might be other scammers lurking around, so it was safer to leave
early.

"He... he..." Jiamin Junzhu was so angry that her hands trembled. If anyone
in the capital dared to show such disrespect to her, she would have whipped
them twofold already.
She stood there cursing for almost a quarter of an hour when another
donkey cart came from the end of the road, driven by a middle-aged couple.

"Move aside," Hua Liuli pulled her and untied her messy hair, letting it fall
smoothly behind her, "You can't even hitch a ride. What use are you?"

Jiamin Junzhu: "..."

That wasn't what she said when she asked her to help her down the
mountain earlier.

She wanted to see how Hua Liuli would manage to catch a ride now.

The middle-aged couple was going to the city to sell mountain products.
They had been calculating how much money they could make on this trip
and whether they should buy some fabric to make new clothes for their
children. When they saw a young girl crying by the roadside, her fair face
stained with dirt, she looked pitiful.

As they approached, the young girl looked up at them timidly, seemingly

seeking their help. But because she was afraid, she didn't dare to approach
and instead took a cautious step back. In doing so, she accidentally tripped
on a nearby vine and fell by the side of the road.

"Miss, are you okay?" the middle-aged woman felt sympathy and asked the
man to stop the donkey cart. She asked again, concerned.

"Sister," The young girl spoke with a trembling voice, "My sister and I were
on our way to the capital to find our relatives. On the way, a woman offered
to accompany us, but she took us farther and farther away. My sister and I
realized something was wrong and finally managed to escape, but we don't
know where we are now."

As she spoke, she covered her face and sobbed, "I don't know what to do
now."

"Oh, you've encountered human traffickers," the middle-aged woman,

seeing the two young girls looking clean and fair, guessed that they were
sheltered girls from well-to-do families. She said, "If you trust us, come
with us to the capital. We happen to be going to the city to sell mountain
products."

"Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?" the young girl blinked her
beautiful eyes, her face turning red.

"It's on our way," the middle-aged woman warmly invited them to get into
the donkey cart and, upon learning that they hadn't eaten all day, gave them
two cakes.

"You two are so gullible. Have you never considered that my husband and I
might also be scammers?" the middle-aged woman worried that the two
young girls would continue to be deceived. She told them several stories of
children being tricked, "In the future, don't casually ride in other people's
carts, understand?"

"Sister, you have such beautiful eyes. Just by looking at them, I can tell
you're a good person," Hua Liuli took a couple of bites of the cake, looking
at the woman with her big eyes wide open.

"You can't judge a person by appearances," the middle-aged woman

touched her own face, "Good-looking people can also be scammers, you
know? Don't easily trust others' words in the future and never go out alone.
Both of you are good-looking, and human traffickers are fond of deceiving
young girls like you."

Jiamin Junzhu ate her cake expressionlessly, finding the middle-aged

woman's words reasonable. After all, there was a good-looking girl right
next to her who lied without batting an eye.

Perhaps being praised for her looks by Hua Liuli, the woman gave them a
box of snacks.

"You must have been frightened by this incident," the middle-aged woman,
seeing Jiamin Junzhu still silent, thought she had been scared out of her
wits and handed her a few plums, "Here, eat some of these."
The middle-aged woman's hands were rough, rougher than even the
coarsest servants in the Junzhu's estate. But her hands were warm, warm
enough to make Jiamin Junzhu feel a little embarrassed.

"Thank you," she held a few plums that she usually wouldn't even glance at,
her face inexplicably blushing.

"Thank you, sister," Hua Liuli smiled sweetly at the middle-aged woman,
"You have such a kind heart. You will definitely be rewarded."

"This is nothing more than a small favor," the middle-aged woman looked
at the sweet smile on the young girl's face and felt joy in her heart. She
brought them more food.

The middle-aged man driving the cart didn't speak much, only reminding
them a few times when they passed through some steep sections of the road.

When they were halfway there, the man stopped the cart. The middle-aged
woman lifted the curtain and looked outside in confusion, "We haven't
arrived yet. Why did we stop?"

"There are soldiers guarding up ahead. I don't know what's happening," the
middle-aged man replied, "It seems they want to check our identities."

Upon hearing the word "soldiers", Hua Liuli and Jiamin Junzhu's
expressions changed slightly and they both exchanged a glance. Hua Liuli
quickly hid behind the woman, peeking half of her face outside.

There were many people entering and leaving the city on the road, all
obediently undergoing the inspection under heavy guard.

Amidst the ethereal mist, a man rode atop a white steed, his presence
blending seamlessly with the damp surroundings, giving the impression that
he had been immersed in the fog for an indeterminable amount of time.

"Your Royal Highness!!" Hua Liuli recognized the person and her eyes lit
up with a sparkling smile.

When the Crown Prince heard the call, he turned his head to look.
The worn-out donkey cart stopped at the end of the queue. Hua Liuli poked
her head out from behind the curtain, her fair countenance adorned with a
few smudges, her disheveled hair allowing her ears to partially show.

Like a lost kitten suddenly revealing itself from the underbrush, her bright
eyes emitted a sense of joy and trust as she recognized her owner.

As the mist enshrouded his person, the Crown Prince felt an overwhelming
urge to assume the role of the person who would rescue the little kitten from
the thicket, his desire to cleanse the dirt from its tiny body intensifying.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 27 – Differential
Treatment

The moment she recognized the Crown Prince, Hua Liuli felt incredibly
happy. With the Crown Prince around, she could finally sleep peacefully.

Seeing the Crown Prince approaching on his majestic steed, she climbed
down from the donkey cart and waved at him, "Over here, over here!"

"Don't..." Jiamin Junzhu tried to grab Hua Liuli when she was rushing down
from the carriage with her dirty countenance, but she was too quick, and
Jiamin Junzhu only managed to graze the corner of her clothes.

It wasn't long ago when Hua Liuli claimed her legs were aching and
couldn't move, but now her little legs moved swiftly. Jiamin Junzhu rolled
her eyes and didn't bother to stop Hua Liuli from embarrassing herself.

Having been raised in an environment surrounded by brilliance, the Crown

Prince held disdain for anything covered in dirt. Those who served him had
to be clean and possess refined features. Hua Liuli was covered in dirt, her
face still dusty and not cleaned. How could the Crown Prince let her come
near him?

Of all the princes, the Crown Prince was the most difficult to handle.
Although they were cousins, if Jiamin Junzhu violated any of the Crown
Prince's taboos, he wouldn't give her any face. His temperament was so
unbearable that if it weren't for the Emperor's excessive favoritism towards
him, could anyone tolerate him?

With his behavior, the day would come when the Emperor grew dissatisfied
with him, leading to a fate similar to that of the deposed crown princes in
history.

Jiamin Junzhu remained seated steadily in the donkey cart, not wanting to
make herself uncomfortable.

The Crown Prince dismounted from his horse and saw Hua Liuli still
smiling at him. He took out a handkerchief and handed it to her, "Are you
injured?"

Hua Liuli used the handkerchief to wipe her face haphazardly and shook
her head, "We encountered ferocious beasts in the mountains. Jiamin
Junzhu took me away during the chaos."

"Don't move," the Crown Prince grabbed the handkerchief from her hand
and wiped away the dirt from her face, "As long as you're unharmed, it's
good."

Hua Liuli looked up at the Crown Prince, who was wiping her face. His hair
was damp and there were tiny droplets of water on his eyelashes. His eyes
were like clear lakes.

He's really handsome.

Since childhood, the people in her family often took care of her like this, so
she instinctively tilted her head and obediently allowed the Crown Prince to
clean her face.

"Your Royal Highness, the carriage has arrived."

Compared to the shabby donkey cart, the carriage waiting beside the Crown
Prince and Hua Liuli was much more splendid and spacious. Four
magnificent steeds pulled the carriage, creating a grand spectacle.

The middle-aged couple riding the donkey cart were already stunned upon
hearing Hua Liuli address the handsome man, who resembled a celestial
being, as "Your Royal Highness". Looking at the luxurious carriage and the
soldiers dressed in silver armor surrounding it, they understood that the two
little girls they had given a ride to were not ordinary people.
The couple nervously disembarked from the donkey cart and stood in a
corner, not daring to utter a word.

After cleaning Hua Liuli's face, the Crown Prince suddenly chuckled and
reached out to ruffle her head. "Let's go, Gu will accompany you back
home."

"Your Royal Highness, could you please stop ruffling my head?" Hua Liuli
covered her head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"En?" the Crown Prince raised an eyebrow.

"I haven't had a bath for two or three days," Hua Liuli whispered, "And
with all this dust on my head, I feel really embarrassed."

The Crown Prince: "..."

He rubbed his fingers a couple of times, then plucked a small piece of dry
grass from her head, "Gu considers you a junior sister. Gu doesn't mind."

Good-looking and gentle, the Crown Prince was undoubtedly the most
perfect among the five princes!

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli turned her head and covered
her mouth, coughing a few times, feeling somewhat embarrassed, "Your
Royal Highness, did you bring silver notes?"

The Crown Prince turned to his attendant, who quickly took out a stack of
silver notes from his pocket, "Junzhu, here they are."

Hua Liuli glanced at the denominations of the silver notes. The smallest one
was fifty taels. She bit her lip, "Do you have smaller denominations?"

Seeing this, the Crown Prince's attendants hurriedly gathered a few notes
with denominations of ten or twenty taels.

"Thank you," Hua Liuli took out these smaller-denomination silver notes
and turned to the middle-aged couple who gave her a ride, "Thank you,
brother and sister, for your help. Please accept these."
"No, no, no," the couple dared not accept and shook their hands
repeatedly, "We can't take it, noble guests."

"Take it." Hua Liuli grabbed the woman's hand and forcefully stuffed the
silver notes into it, "Those who are kind-hearted deserve good blessings."

The Crown Prince understood why Hua Liuli wanted these smaller-
denomination silver notes. For common people, excessively large-
denomination notes would be inconvenient.

This young girl from the Hua family seems to understand the ways of the
common people better than the average noble girl.

After the couple accepted the silver notes, the Crown Prince turned to Hua
Liuli and said, "Come, get on the carriage."

"En," Hua Liuli thanked the couple and walked to the carriage. Before she
could step onto the footstool, a hand reached out in front of her.

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli placed her hand in the
Crown Prince's palm and got into the carriage. The carriage was lined with
soft cushions, emitting a faint fragrance, and it was spacious enough for her
to want to fall asleep right away.

Spacious...

She opened her tired eyes and realized that Jiamin Junzhu hadn't followed
her?

Forgotten, Jiamin Junzhu silently climbed out of the donkey cart and
respectfully greeted the Crown Prince.

"Jiamin Junzhu, are you alright?" the Crown Prince looked at her with
indifference.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Royal Highness. I am fine," Jiamin
Junzhu dared not look into the Crown Prince's eyes.
"Mmm," The Crown Prince mounted his horse and looked down at her.
Speaking in a low voice, he said, "You worked hard to bring Fushou Junzhu
out."

"It's... it's nothing," Jiamin Junzhu bit her lip, burying her head, afraid that
the Crown Prince would notice her guilty expression.

"Rest in the carriage for a while," the Crown Prince glanced at her and rode
ahead of the procession.

Jiamin Junzhu let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly climbed into the
carriage. She saw Hua Liuli lazily lying in the carriage, ready to sleep.
Jiamin Junzhu reached out and pushed her, "Make some space inside."

"I haven't slept all night, so don't bother me," Hua Liuli grabbed a soft
cushion and threw it on the ground, "The carriage is so spacious, find a
place to sit, don't squeeze with me."

Jiamin Junzhu wanted to retort but suddenly stopped herself. She

remembered the situation from last night and couldn't help but suspect that
Hua Liuli might really not have slept all night.

Sullenly, she picked up the cushion and sat on the ground, crossing her legs.
She looked at the gemstones embedded in the carriage wall and her anxious
heart slowly calmed down.

Having lived for sixteen years, she had never experienced hardships or any
grievances. These past few days had been a nightmare, but with the
annoying Hua Liuli around, she was less afraid.

Could it be that in this world, it's the rival in love who gives people courage
more than the villains?

Hua Liuli was awakened by the bustling noise outside the carriage. She
slowly opened her eyes and saw Jiamin Junzhu staring at her intently. She
discreetly adjusted her clothes and asked, "What are you looking at?"
Jiamin Junzhu rolled her eyes. "The carriage has already entered the city,
you've been sleeping for two hours."

"No wonder I feel dizzy and stuffy. Turns out, I haven't slept enough yet,"
Hua Liuli sat up, her long black hair cascading down her shoulders, making
her look incredibly pitiful.

Jiamin Junzhu didn't want to talk to her anymore. She turned her head and
looked the other way.

"You mentioned last time that Ying Wangfei has been chosen. Who is it?"
Hua Liuli seemed to find the atmosphere not lively enough, so she
proactively brought up a topic that piqued Jiamin Junzhu's interest.

Jiamin Junzhu's face darkened, "Hua Liuli, are you doing this on purpose?"

"Jiamin Junzhu, how can you say that?" Hua Liuli innocently smiled, "I'm
just concerned about you."

"I don't need your concern."

"Alright, then consider it me wanting to see some excitement," Hua Liuli

sighed pitifully, "I don't have many friends in the capital, and I don't have
any close friends to share secrets with. Since we have gone through
hardships together, let's consider it a close bond. If there's anything that
makes you unhappy in the future, you can tell me and let me comfort you."

"Hmph," Jiamin Junzhu sneered, "You mean to mock and make fun of me
when I share my unhappiness, don't you?"

Shameless, we don't have a close bond! It's a bond formed almost losing our
lives.

Hua Liuli smiled as the corners of her mouth curved, looking innocent like
a fairy.

Seeing her like this, Jiamin Junzhu's anger subsided and she became calm.
After a moment of silence, she spoke, "She is the eldest daughter of Lin
Zhou, the Prefect of Yongzhou. Her father has been transferred back to the
capital this month. There are rumors that the Minister of Justice displeased
the Emperor with his performance, so her father will replace Zhang Shuo as
the Minister of Justice."

"Lin Zhou, the Prefect of Yongzhou?" Hua Liuli remembered the civil
official who accused her father, also surnamed Lin, "What's his relationship
with Lin Huizi?"

"What relationship can they have?" Jiamin Junzhu asked in confusion, "Just
because they have the same surname?"

Hua Liuli waved her hand and sat cross-legged in front of Jiamin Junzhu,
"Continue speaking, don't stop."

"Lin Zhou is the uncle of the Fourth Prince," Jiamin Junzhu guessed the
intention behind the Consort Xian's plan to marry the Prefect's daughter to
Ying Wang, so she felt somewhat down, "Prefect Lin is a good official who
treats the people like his own children. He is highly regarded in Yongzhou."

Ying Wang's reputation has not been good among the common people
recently. He urgently needs a father-in-law and Wangfei with a good
reputation to increase his popularity among the people. Combined with the
Consort Xian's intention to win over the Fourth Prince, the Prefect's
daughter became the most suitable candidate.

"That's a pity," Hua Liuli glanced at Jiamin Junzhu. She felt that Jiamin
Junzhu was more compatible with Ying Wang. They matched in status, their
minds and aesthetics were also a perfect match.

"Let it go," After the incident last night, Jiamin Junzhu understood it
clearly. No matter how good a man is, he cannot be more important than her
own life. She was able to abandon Ying Wang when her life was at stake,
only hoping to save her own life, which meant that she didn't actually like
him that much.

At this time, someone knocked on the carriage. Hua Liuli and Jiamin
Junzhu exchanged a glance, quickly picking up the soft cushions and sitting
down.
A maid lifted the curtain and entered, holding hot tea, pastries, and other
items. After placing the items down and bowing, she respectfully retreated.

The two looked at the teapot and teacups, then looked at each other.

"Pour the tea," Hua Liuli lifted her chin at Jiamin Junzhu.

"Why don't you do it?" Jiamin Junzhu was unhappy. They were both
Junzhus, why should she serve Hua Liuli?

"Cough, cough, cough," Hua Liuli covered her chest, "Because I'm not
feeling well."

Jiamin Junzhu glared at her fiercely, poured herself a cup of water, and
realized that it wasn't tea but sweetened water with honey.

She paused for a moment, suddenly realizing that it was prepared according
to Hua Liuli's taste.

At this moment, she started to doubt if she was really the Crown Prince's
cousin? Even if her mother was close to Consort Xian, the Crown Prince
shouldn't be so blatantly biased, right?

She poured a cup of water and placed it in front of Hua Liuli, "Drink."

Men are all dogs. When they see a delicate and beautiful young lady, it's
like seeing a bone. What family affection?

Jiamin Junzhu, who had always been very outspoken, had learned to
silently curse in her heart.

"Liuli," Just then, the voice of the Crown Prince resounded from outside,
"We're almost at your family's estate."

Hua Liuli put down the empty cup and opened the curtain, meeting the
smiling Crown Prince's gaze, "Thank you, Your Royal Highness."

"No need for thanks," The Crown Prince handed her a cloak, "Put it on, it's
cold outside."
Hua Liuli obediently put on the cloak. The Crown Prince found a hairpin
and jade comb from somewhere and handed them to her, "Rest well when
you return. Leave everything else to Father Emperor and Gu. Don't worry."

Hua Liuli tied up her hair, but the hairpin was crooked. The Crown Prince
looked at it, then looked again, and finally couldn't resist reaching out to
straighten it, "There you go."

The carriage stopped outside Hua Family Estate, where the servants of the
estate were expressing gratitude and crying, driving Jiamin Junzhu's head to
ache.

"Junzhu, you've suffered."

"Quick, call the physician. Junzhu's health is weak. We mustn't be careless."

Jiamin Junzhu still remembered this voice. It was Hua Liuli's personal
maid, called Yuan Yi or something like that.

"She's gotten thinner, so much thinner," an old female servant from Hua
Family Estate sobbed uncontrollably, heartbroken.

"Why is Junzhu's complexion so pale? Did Junzhu not take the Huolu Pill
these past few days?"

"Quickly, quickly fetch the medicinal pills our Junzhu usually takes."

Jiamin Junzhu finally understood that it wasn't just Hua Liuli who was sick
in the head, but the entire Hua Family Estate.

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli grabbed the cloak's belt and was
supported by the maids. She turned her head to look at the Crown Prince,
smiled at him, and gave a slight bow before slowly walking into the gates of
Hua Family Estate.

The Crown Prince watched her figure and couldn't help but feel regretful.
How good would it be if she were his own little sister?
The carriage continued on its way and stopped in front of Princess Mansion.
Jiamin Junzhu opened the curtain and looked at the Crown Prince. Where
were her cloak, hairpin, and comb?

It must be an inherited trait of the Ji family to be so biased.

"Ming'er!" Princess Shunan saw Jiamin Junzhu's figure and her eyes
reddened. She held Jiamin Junzhu's hand and turned to thank the Crown
Prince. The maidservants around them stood upright and proper, completely
different from the Hua Family Estate servants who clung to Hua Liuli.

She looked at her father, who stood behind her mother with a dull
expression and withdrew her gaze.

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness."

"Imperial Aunt, no need to be polite," the Crown Prince remained on his

horse and lazily said, "The person has been delivered, so Gu should return
to the palace."

"Take care, Your Royal Highness," Princess Shunan saw that the Crown
Prince remained motionless on his horse and her expression turned sour.

After the Crown Prince left, she expressed her dissatisfaction, "The
Emperor has spoiled the Crown Prince to the point that he is arrogant even
in front of his elders."

Jiamin Junzhu raised her eyelids and said nothing.

Even during this moment of excitement when she had finally returned home
after being abducted, her mother could still notice the Crown Prince's
arrogant attitude. It was evident that she was extremely dissatisfied with the
Crown Prince.

After complaining about the Crown Prince, Princess Shunan held her
daughter's hand and walked towards the mansion with a tender expression.

"Quick, go freshen up and change your clothes. The Crown Prince, really!
He didn't even think of letting you change your clothes."
Jiamin Junzhu: "..."

"Are you hungry? When the Crown Prince found you, did he let you eat
anything?"

"Thank goodness nothing happened to you. If you hadn't returned, I would

have had missing person notices posted. But that civil official on the Crown
Prince's side said posting notices to find you wouldn't be good for you. In
my opinion, he clearly doesn't want to find you properly."

"Thank goodness my clever daughter escaped from the hands of the

villains."

Jiamin Junzhu: "..."

The next morning, the Princess's Estate received numerous generous gifts
sent from the Hua Family Estate.

"This humble servant's younger sister is weak, it's my little sister's fortune
that Jiamin Junzhu took care of her. Please accept these small gifts of
gratitude, Princess and Fuma," Hua Changkong bowed to Princess Shunan
and Fuma, "Thank you, Jiamin Junzhu, for saving my little sister's life."

Yao Fuma listened to the account of his daughter saving Fushou Junzhu and
couldn't help but doubt his own ears. Did his daughter possess such
remarkable martial arts skills and intelligence?

He turned to Princess Shunan and observed her closely.

"You're too kind, Third Young Master Hua. Fushou Junzhu is the daughter
of a distinguished general, so it's only right for my daughter to save her,"
Princess Shunan's face showed a hint of satisfaction, thinking to herself that
even though Fushou Junzhu was the daughter of a general, she still had to
rely on her daughter to preserve her life.

Jiamin Junzhu, seated at the lower end, wore a look of despair. She
earnestly wished to avoid any mention of how she had saved Hua Liuli. At
present, her mind was consumed by the haunting image of Hua Liuli
advancing towards her with a sword.

The mere thought weakened her legs, to the extent that she wished to avoid
uttering Hua Liuli's name altogether.

"In truth, Fushou Junzhu also saved me. If it weren't for her, I would have
been bitten to death by a venomous snake. It was a mutual act of
assistance," she quickly threw back this favor.

"Oh," Princess Shunan felt a little disappointed. It would have been ideal
had the scales not been balanced, but alas, it was not meant to be.

Yao Fuma: "..."

Can venomous snakes truly forsake their hibernation just to bite people in
the cold of spring?

Soon, tales of "Jiamin Junzhu bravely rescuing the Hua family's daughter"
began to circulate among the ladies of the capital. Young Misses who held a
close friendship with Jiamin Junzhu hurriedly approached her, inquiring
whether she intended to further humiliate Hua Liuli by exploiting this life-
saving debt.

Jiamin Junzhu felt despondent as she listened to her companions plotting to

make Hua Liuli bow down to her by using this life-saving favor. She
quickly interjected, "Let's not create a fuss. Hua... Hua Liuli is, after all, the
daughter of the Great General. It's only right for me to save her."

"What's the harm? The favor of saving a life should be repaid generously.
She should be at your beck and call. In fact, she should be your maidservant
to repay your life-saving favor," one of the Yao family's young ladies said,
"Let's see if she still dares to act weak and pitiful in front of you in the
future."

Jiamin Junzhu's expression was emotionless. Yes, be a maidservant to repay

the life-saving favor, but it would be herself!
Sisters, please refrain from saying such things. She really doesn't want these
words to reach Hua Liuli's ears, or she might come to teach them all a
lesson one dark and stormy night, with a sword in hand.

They were all her sisters, so she really didn't want any harm to befall them.

"She's actually a nice person. Don't say such things about her," Jiamin
Junzhu gritted her teeth and forced a smile, "Let's not mention these things
anymore. Besides, she also saved me from a snake bite. It's a life for a life,
so where's the life-saving favor?"

"Jiamin Junzhu?" the Yao family girl reached out and touched Jiamin
Junzhu's forehead, "Are you feeling sick? Why are you talking nonsense? A
few days ago, didn't you say you wanted to embarrass Hua Liuli during the
Flower Festival?"

Before Jiamin Junzhu could speak, another young lady said, "Don't worry,
with us here, we won't let you suffer."

Jiamin Junzhu: "..."

Sisters, life is so beautiful, why don't you cherish it?

Ying Wang pursued all the way to Nanzhou and upon learning that the two
Junzhus had been rescued, he hurriedly returned to the capital. Although the
two Junzhus had been saved, the suspicion against the Tian family had not
been cleared, so he had to go to the palace and plead to the Emperor on
behalf of the Tian family.

When he arrived at the Chenyang Palace, he saw Ji Yuansu was also there.
He furrowed his brows in worry, afraid that the Crown Prince would
obstruct him.

"Erchen greets Father Emperor," Ying Wang felt somewhat apprehensive.

"Take a seat," Emperor Changlong glanced at his foolish son and put down
his brush, "You've been traveling for several days, go back and rest."
"Thank you, Father Emperor, for your concern," Ying Wang glanced at Ji
Yuansu, glanced at Ji Yuansu, who remained silent, and knelt down on one
knee before Emperor Changlong, "Erchen requests Father Emperor to
thoroughly investigate the case of the two Junzhus abduction by assassins
and clear the Tian family's name."

"Minghao," Emperor Changlong sighed helplessly, "Minister Tian has

passed away, Zhen is deeply saddened. Zhen is also unwilling to make
things difficult for the Tian family at this time. However, if Zhen doesn't
investigate the incident of the two Junzhus disappearing from the Tian
Family Estate, what would Princess Shunan and the Great General think?"

"But the Tian family is innocent," Ying Wang didn't understand, "Erchen
pleads with Father Emperor to show mercy."

"As an emperor, Zhen cannot disregard the responsibility of holding

someone accountable just because Zhen believes they are innocent,"
Emperor Changlong looked at his eldest son, who was filled with
unwillingness, "Zhen has ordered a thorough investigation into this matter,
you don't need to worry."

"But why did Father Emperor strip Erchen's uncle of his title?" Ying Wang
kowtowed, "Erchen implores you to reconsider."

Emperor Changlong sighed, feeling that everything he had just said was in
vain.

"Eldest Brother, if Gu were your position, Gu would go persuade Minister

Tian to make amends to the two Junzhus," Ji Yuansu looked at his foolish
older brother with pity, "Regardless of whether this matter is related to the
Tian family or not, it cannot erase the fact that the two Junzhus went
missing from the Tian Family Estate. Only when the two victims are willing
to forgive the Tian family can they retreat unscathed, do you understand?"

Ying Wang looked at the Crown Prince suspiciously, finding it hard to

believe his sudden display of kindness.
"Let's do that. You go back and instruct the Tian family to do as the Crown
Prince suggested," Emperor Changlong waved his hand, "You may
withdraw."

This child's intellect was not good, and as his father, he had a responsibility
too. Scolding wouldn't help, so he could only turn a blind eye to it.

"Yes," Ying Wang suppressed the discontent in his heart and left the
Chenyang Palace.

After Ying Wang left, the guards responsible for searching the mountain
area returned. One of them hurriedly walked into the Chenyang Palace and
reported, "Your Majesty, Crown Prince, we found some bones in the dense
forest that had been gnawed by ferocious beasts. However, due to their
deteriorated condition, it is impossible to determine the number of
individuals. We also found snake-repellent herbs on a tree, as well as traces
of climbing."

"Jiamin Junzhu and the little girl from the Hua family may have escaped
using this opportunity. Those who climbed the tree should be them,"
Emperor Changlong nodded, "It seems that Jiamin Junzhu's skill in
wielding swords has come in handy."

"Compared to her mother..." Emperor Changlong looked at the Crown

Prince, not wanting to speak ill of his sister, Princess Shunan, in front of his
son. He waved his hand to dismiss the guards and said to the Crown Prince,
"Fortunately, the young girl from the Hua family is unharmed. Otherwise,
how can Zhen explain it to Yingting?"

The Crown Prince smiled and changed the topic, "Why did Father Emperor
arrange for Ying Wang to marry the daughter of Prefect Lin? Erchen heard
earlier that Consort Xian seemed to intend for Ying Wang to marry Jiamin
Junzhu."

"The daughter of the Lin family is well-read and intelligent. Zhen heard
from the imperial physician that a child's intelligence is influenced by their
parents," Emperor Changlong sighed, "To ensure that your brother has
intelligent offspring, Zhen felt that the daughter of the Lin family is more
suitable to be his Wangfei."

The Crown Prince remained silent for a moment, "Erchen understands."

He personally felt that Jiamin Junzhu and his foolish brother were well-
matched.

After discussing governance with his father, the Crown Prince left the
Chenyang Palace as darkness fell.

Lounging lazily in the sedan chair, he was already accustomed to the

respectful and fearful attitudes of the palace maids and eunuchs around him.
The Crown Prince couldn't even be bothered to lift his eyelids.

In the darkness, the sound of a kitten's meow echoed from somewhere.

He sat up straight, "Go and see."

"Yes," several attendants quickly left and soon brought back a kitten. The
kitten had a rope tied around its neck, with a golden bell hanging from it,
indicating that it belonged to some important person in the palace.

The Crown Prince glanced at it for a moment and lost interest, "Set it free."

The attendants promptly placed the kitten nearby.

The Crown Prince confirmed that he wasn't truly interested in raising

kittens. Lost in thought, he played with the jade pendant at his waist and
said, "Have you been sending snacks to Fushou Junzhu recently?"

"No, Your Royal Highness."

"Send them over tomorrow."

Perhaps he wished to raise the girl who resembled a kitten.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 28 – Hua Yingting

Hua Changkong looked at the box on the table. It had just been sent by the
Eastern Palace. He looked at Hua Liuli suspiciously and asked, "Little
sister, did the Crown Prince discover something?"

"What?" Hua Liuli took out some dried fruits from the box and put them in
her mouth.

"He discovered... that you have a delicate body, so you need to eat more
food to nourish yourself," Hua Changkong glanced at the box. It contained
dried fruits, jerky, pastries, and dried nuts. They are exuding a tempting
aroma since they were made using the imperial family's secret methods.

"Maybe he thought that I almost got kidnapped, so he specially prepared

these to comfort me?" Hua Liuli didn't notice anything amiss and said,
"Back when we were in Qinghan Prefecture, you used to comfort me in the
same way."

How could the family's comfort and the Crown Prince's comfort be the
same?

Seeing her little sister's relaxed and happy appearance, Hua Changkong's
heart softened. He reached out and patted her head, "You're right, Third
Brother was overthinking."

"Here," Hua Liuli grabbed a handful of jerky and handed it to him, "This is
for you."

"Thank you. Our little obedient one is really generous," Hua Changkong
accepted it with a smile.
He remembered the great natural disaster that happened eleven years ago.
The food supply in Qinghan Prefecture was cut off and the mountain pass
leading to Qinghan Prefecture was blocked by rocks. The resources from
the imperial court couldn't be delivered temporarily. To fill their stomachs,
even the mice near the military camp were caught and consumed.

Life was extremely difficult even in the general's estate. Whenever there
was something delicious available, the family always gave it to her first.
But even at the tender age of four, she seemed to sense that were facing
difficult times. She would always share the meat in her bowl with everyone
in the family before she was willing to eat.

To this day, he still remembered his little sister, pulling at his clothes,
holding up a dried and skinny sparrow wing, and saying she wanted to
share it with him.

"Third Brother, I'm fifteen now, not three. Using that tone of praising a
child won't work on me," Hua Liuli looked at Hua Changkong thoughtfully
and said, "Father and Mother are about to arrive in the capital. Are you
trying to make me speak more good words for you?"

"You heartless little brat," Hua Changkong reached out and poked Hua
Liuli's forehead, "You enjoy yourself here, I'm going to the study to read."

"Third Brother, can you stop poking my forehead?" Hua Liuli covered her
forehead and said, "It is brilliant and rare."

"Still claiming to be brilliant and rare. If it truly became rare1A bit of

wordplay in Chinese. Hua Changkong is implying an almost bald head by
saying this., wouldn't you cry for three days and nights at home?" Hua
Changkong snatched another handful of dried fruits from the food box and
quickly walked away.

Minister Zhang Shuo, who truly had a "rare" head, was feeling worried. He
had also heard about the Emperor's dissatisfaction with him and the rumors
that Lin Zhou would replace him as the Minister of Justice.
He touched his increasingly sparse head and said to his trusted subordinates
in the room, "You all need to get rid of those bad habits you have. Once the
new superior takes office, he won't tolerate such behavior."

Lin Zhou, this person, had been acquainted with him in his early years. He
was a person of great integrity who couldn't tolerate any nonsense. The
group of people under his command were all capable, but they had different
personalities and were not very serious. If they were assigned to work under
Lin Zhou, they would definitely face trouble.

Where in the world could they find such a good superior like him? He
couldn't even keep his own official position, yet he still had to worry about
the relationship between his subordinates and their new superior.

"Daren, it's not necessarily the case. The appointment hasn't been made yet,
so we still have a chance," said Deputy Minister of Justice, Gou Jingqi. The
Ministry of Justice had two deputy ministers, Pei Jihuai and Gou Jingqi.
They had different styles of doing things, but both had a good relationship
with Zhang Shuo, their superior. Gou Jingqi was particularly good at
handling miscellaneous matters in the officialdom, becoming Zhang Shuo's
trusted adviser.

"What chance do we have? Lin Zhou is already Ying Wang's father-in-law,"

the Minister of Justice sighed. In the past month or two, there had been a
series of major cases involving members of the imperial family, and the
mastermind behind them had not been found. It was no wonder the Emperor
was dissatisfied with him.

If only he had gone to the Taoist temple to pay his respects and seek the
blessings of the Three Pure Ones, maybe his luck would have been better.

No, he should have gone to pay respects to Wen Quxing, seeking the
blessing of a successful official career.

"Daren, although Lin Zhou is Ying Wang's father-in-law, it doesn't mean we

have no one to rely on," Gou Jingqi stroked his pointed beard and said, "We
can approach the Crown Prince and the Hua family."
"The Crown Prince?" Zhang Shuo quickly waved his hand, "Everyone
knows the Crown Prince's temperament. What if our attempts to please him
fail and he ridicules me on the spot? What will become of my old face?"

Gou Jingqi silently looked at his superior. At this point, what face did he
still have left? Although he thought this way, he couldn't say it out loud.
Gou Jingqi cleared his throat and said, "Daren, then we can go to the Hua
family."

"The Hua family is now in a dominant position. Even the Crown Prince is
willing to give face to the Hua family. I heard that the Great General is
about to return to the capital. We can visit the two young siblings of the Hua
family and ask them to speak a few good words for you in front of the Great
General. If the Great General is willing to help you, many things will be
resolved."

Zhang Shuo shook his head, "I can't bring myself to please these young
siblings. I can't do such things."

"Daren, you are only showing concern for the younger generation. It's not
about pleasing them," Gou Jingqi said, "The ministers in the court dare not
offend the Crown Prince or provoke Ying Wang. Apart from the Hua
family, there are not many people who dare to intervene in this matter."

Zhang Shuo neither agreed nor disagreed. He turned to Pei Jihuai and
asked, "How is the investigation of the poisoning case at the Lincui Palace
going?"

"One of the palace maids at Lincui Palace died in an accident. She was
responsible for handling the utensils in the palace," Pei Jihuai said with a
solemn expression, "No matter how we investigate, the evidence on the
surface points to Ying Wang."

"Ah," Zhang Shuo sighed, "Although we haven't found out who the real
culprit is, I can be sure that this person has a deep hatred for Ying Wang."

"Seal the case and I will present the evidence we have found to the
Emperor," his instincts told him that this case should not be investigated
further, as it would involve palace secrets.

Although he found his bald head unattractive every morning when he woke
up, he didn't want it to fall off his shoulders.

Ying Wang, who was deeply hated by the mastermind behind the scenes,
emerged from Princess Shunan's residence with an ugly expression. The
eunuch attendant by his side whispered a few words of advice, but it was of
no use as it only provoked Ying Wang to kick him twice.

Princess Shunan had a bad temper. When she was young, she angered the
late Emperor so much that he forbade her from being promoted to the
position of the Royal Princess2"长公主" (zhǎng gōngzhǔ) translates to "Royal
Princess" or "Princess of the First Rank". In the imperial hierarchy, the title
of "长公主" is typically granted to the eldest daughter of the emperor or an
esteemed princess with high status., fearing that she would become even
more unruly.

This incident became the laughingstock of the capital. Since then, Princess
Shunan had been obedient for a few years, but as the younger generation of
the imperial family grew up in recent years, she began to rely on her
seniority and fell back into old habits.

Two years ago, the Emperor had softened his stance and was about to
decree her as the Royal Princess, but Princess Shunan had an unpleasant
altercation with the Crown Prince.

Everyone in the court knew that the Emperor deeply favored the Crown
Prince, so not only did Princess Shunan fail to become the Royal Princess,
but she was also scolded by the Emperor. Since then, she held a grudge
against the Crown Prince.

Today, Ying Wang came to the Princess's estate to plead on behalf of the
Tian family, but Princess Shunan, relying on her seniority, arrogantly
scrutinized every member of the Tian family from top to bottom.

Ying Wang, who held great respect for his maternal grandfather, confronted
Princess Shunan with a stern face and left in anger.
The attending eunuch couldn't help but think that Princess Shunan's mind
was quite strange. As a princess, what benefit would she gain from
offending both the Crown Prince and the Eldest Prince?

Being temperamental might feel satisfying momentarily, but when the

Crown Prince or the Eldest Prince ascended the throne, she would regret it
deeply. Wasn't this simple logic clear to her?

"Your Highness," Tian Daren, who was waiting outside, noticed Ying
Wang's displeased expression and guessed that he had encountered some
trouble concerning the Tian family. He felt touched and remorseful but
didn't know what to say, so he could only bow and show his respects.

"Uncle, you don't need to worry so much," Ying Wang reached out to help
Tian Daren up. Looking at the white hair at his uncle's temples, he felt
somewhat sad, "Don't overly concern yourself with the affairs of the estate.
Your health is important. If Ruidong misbehaves, just give him a good
beating."

When a child doesn't listen, it's usually because they've been spoiled. A few
beatings will do.

Tian Ruidong, who had come along with his father, looked at Ying Wang in
confusion, "Huh?"

He had been well-behaved recently. Ying Wang's words clearly indicated

that he still held a grudge from their previous encounter.

"Let's go and visit the Hua Family Estate," Ying Wang helped Tian Daren
into the carriage and turned his head to seriously say to Tian Ruidong,
"You're already this old, it's time to be sensible."

Tian Ruidong suddenly realized what was happening. He understood that

Ying Wang was driven mad by Princess Shunan and was taking it out on
him.

Yuan Yi entered the room, replaced the incense in the censer, and turned to
see Hua Liuli leaning against the soft couch, eating dried fruits while
reading gossip books about various officials in the capital. She smiled and
said, "Junzhu, Nubi heard that the Tian family and Ying Wang have arrived.
Would you like to change your clothes?"

"What is Ying Wang here for?" Hua Liuli put down the book in her hand
and took the water brought by her maid to rinse her mouth. These gossip
books were all nonsense; how could they unreasonably claim that the
Crown Prince was arrogant and fond of luxury? Without guessing, she
knew it must be one of the princes deliberately spreading rumors to slander
the Crown Prince.

"He must be here for the Tian family's matters," Yuan Yi quickly and
skillfully helped Hua Liuli change her clothes, "If Junzhu doesn't want to
go, Nubi will have Yurong send the message to Third Young Master on
your behalf."

"No, let's go and take a look. I've been cooped up in my room all day and
there's nothing interesting to do," Hua Liuli used a brush to shape her
eyebrows, making her delicate willow leaf eyebrows look even more
fragile.

With Yuan Yi and Yurong supporting Hua Liuli on both sides, they walked
towards the courtyard.

The master and servants arrived outside the main hall, where they could
hear the conversation between Third Young Master and Tian Daren.

"My younger sister is weak. Ever since the incident, she has been seeking
medical advice and taking medication. Today, she can barely eat a little."

"It's my fault for being used to the incompetence of my servants, causing

the Junzhu to suffer."

"This matter shouldn't be blamed on Tian Daren. The criminals had

malicious intentions. Fortunately, my sister escaped unharmed and didn't
suffer much. Our parents consider her a precious gem. If anything happened
to her, I would be ashamed to face our elders."
"Third Young Master Hua is forgiving, but I cannot forgive myself for my
own mistakes. Please accept these compensatory gifts."

"Tian Daren, you're too polite. These gifts are too valuable, I can't accept
them."

"Please accept them. It's a token of apology from my estate."

"Tian Daren, you're being too modest."

"It's the least I can do. Please don't refuse."

After refusing a few more times, Hua Changkong could only reluctantly
accept these compensatory gifts. Tian Daren appeared even more guilty,
implying that these compensations were not enough, and he would have his
son deliver more in the afternoon.

"This humble servant offers her greetings to Your Highness," Hua Liuli,
holding her chest, slowly walked into the main hall after they were almost
done with their discussion. She greeted everyone present, "I apologize for
not welcoming the esteemed guests properly due to my negligence."

"Little sister, why did you come?" Hua Changkong stood up, looking
worriedly at her, "Didn't I ask you to rest in the room?"

"Third Brother, my condition has always been like this. What's the point of
staying in the room all day?" Hua Liuli weakly walked to a chair and sat
down, smiling apologetically at everyone.

Ying Wang noticed that Hua Liuli's steps were unsteady and her face was
almost transparently pale. He couldn't help but worry, "Has Junzhu taken
her medicine?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. This humble servant has
already taken it," Hua Liuli smiled faintly at Ying Wang, her pale lips
resembling dim peach blossoms, evoking sympathy.

Tian Ruidong, seeing the fairy-like girl in such a sickly state, felt both
worried and guilty. He bowed his head and did not dare to look at Hua
Liuli.

"Please, Your Highness, don't worry. My sister has always had poor health.
With a few more days of rest, she will recover," the more magnanimous
Hua Changkong was, the more guilty Tian Daren felt. Especially when he
heard Hua Liuli occasionally coughing while covering her mouth, he
became restless and wished he could bring the invaluable medicinal herbs
from his home to the Hua family right away.

Compared to the cold reception at Princess Shunan's estate, the Hua family
could be considered warm and hospitable.

Tian Daren felt ashamed when he remembered that he had previously

suspected the Hua family of having their own trained soldiers. To raise such
kind and gentle children, General Hua must be an outstanding figure.

How could he use his own small-mindedness to speculate on a general who

protected the country? It was too shameful.

Before parting, Ying Wang looked at the pale-faced Hua Liuli, and couldn't
help but say, "Junzhu, please take care of yourself."

Hua Liuli didn't expect Ying Wang to specially remind her to take care of
herself. After a brief moment of surprise, she smiled and said, "Thank you,
Your Highness."

After seeing off Ying Wang and the Tian family, the siblings looked at each
other and lazily settled into their chairs.

"Third Brother, you have really taken advantage of them."

"Little sister, maintaining our position is costly. All the efforts I put into
saving money are for you," Hua Changkong shook his index finger and
said, "Besides, this is not taking advantage. They willingly sent these gifts
to our estate."

After saying that, he respectfully saluted Hua Liuli, "I also want to thank
my little sister for her help."
Hua Liuli covered her cheeks with a handkerchief, blushing, and said shyly,
"Third brother, what nonsense are you talking about? I don't understand."

"Your Highness," Tian Daren hesitated as he glanced at Ying Wang who

accompanied them back to the Tian Family Estate, "The desire for beauty is
universal and Fushou Junzhu indeed possesses the beauty of a spring
flower. However, Your Highness is already betrothed to Lin Zhou's
daughter. If Your Highness has any other thoughts, please let them go as
well."

"Uncle, what are you talking about?" Ying Wang laughed, "That girl from
the Hua family does have some charm, but she's delicate and weak, like a
little yellow-haired girl. Why would Benwang have any thoughts about
her?"

Tian Daren gave Ying Wang a sidelong glance. They were both men. And
he had been young before. He knew what kind of girls young men liked,
didn't he?

"I was overthinking," Tian Daren changed his tone, "It was Ruidong who
liked this kind of girl, so I thought Your Highness might like her too."

"Ruidong?!"

Didn't he always like charming and seductive beauties? His father used to
criticize him for having a vulgar taste. How did everything change now?

So, he was just a brick that needed to be moved wherever it was needed and
discarded after use, right?

"Ruidong is still young. He doesn't understand how to take care of a girl. A

delicate girl like Fushou Junzhu is not suitable for him," Ying Wang said
without hesitation, "He should find a capable wife who can take good care
of him."

Tian Ruidong quickly waved his hands, "Your Highness, you're joking. I
have no right to seek Fushou Junzhu's hand in marriage."
The little fairy Fushou Junzhu had already suffered enough coming down to
the mortal realm. He was simply unworthy of having her. Just thinking
about it felt sacrilegious.

"Your Royal Highness," an official from the Eastern Palace reported

excitedly to the Crown Prince, "Ying Wang and Princess Shunan have had a
falling out. Yesterday, someone saw him leaving Princess Shunan's
residence with a serious expression."

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"

What's the point of these two foolish people having a falling out?

"Ying Wang acted on his emotions and did not give face to Princess Shunan
for the sake of Tian family. However, this humble servant heard that the
Tian family sent gifts to the Hua family three times yesterday. Could it be
that they are trying to curry favor with the Hua family on behalf of Ying
Wang?"

"No wonder, Third Young Master Hua presented a petition to the Emperor
on behalf of the Tian family in the afternoon," another official said with a
serious expression, "Your Royal Highness, if the Hua family is swayed to
Ying Wang's side, wouldn't that be disadvantageous to us?"

"Do you know what the two of you look like right now?" the Crown Prince
looked at the two officials who were echoing each other, throwing the book
in his hand onto the table, "Like conniving troublemakers trying to sow
discord on a theater stage."

Why are there really so few people with normal functioning brains in the
entire capital?

"Your Royal Highness..." the two officials cautiously watched the Crown
Prince's expression.

"Let the Tian family go and plead with Princess Shunan and the Hua
residence. That was my idea," the Crown Prince raised an eyebrow, "Are
you dissatisfied with my suggestion?"
"Your Royal Highness, your strategic thinking is truly extraordinary,
incomparable, and unmatched!" The official quickly changed his tone, "I
knew this matter was not simple. In this way, not only did Ying Wang
offend Princess Shunan, but the Tian family and Ying Wang also owe you a
favor. The Great General and his family are loyal to the Emperor, so how
could they be swayed by the Tian family's petty gifts? Your Royal
Highness' plan is truly unparalleled and unbeatable."

"Get out," the Crown Prince pointed to the door expressionlessly.

"Your humble servants comply with the order," the two officials quickly
retreated.

"Transfer those two away for Gu," the Crown Prince rubbed his temples.

"Your Royal Highness, you have already transferred three officials this
year," the attendant reminded cautiously.

"It's still a bit less compared to last year," the Crown Prince raised an
eyebrow, "There are still eleven months left this year, so we can continue to
work hard."

The attendant fell silent. That wasn't what he meant. But he was afraid that
if he said a few more words, he would become the fourth.

The Crown Prince never took pleasure in scolding and beating people, but if
someone made him unhappy, he would kick them out of the Eastern Palace.
Over the years, not many trusted aides had been cultivated in the Eastern
Palace.

In the prestigious Eastern Palance, officials had been coming and going like
flowing water.

He couldn't help but worry that if there weren't many loyal and capable
people under the Crown Prince, what would happen in the future... What
should they do?
"By the way, there are a few interesting little things with Gu. Let someone
deliver them to the Hua family," the Crown Prince flipped through the
book, "Since Fushou Junzhu is unable to leave the house due to illness,
these things can keep her entertained."

"Yes," the attendant replied.

The Crown Prince knew that by winning over the Hua family, the Eastern
Palace would not lose, and there was hope!

When Hua Liuli received various little playthings sent by the Eastern
Palace, she was surprised but also very happy. The things the Crown Prince
sent were really interesting, she felt that she could play with them at home
for at least ten days without getting bored.

"Little sister, have you ever thought that the Crown Prince likes to give you
toys and snacks because he sees you as a child?" Hua Changkong had been
worried that the Crown Prince had developed romantic feelings for his
sister. However, after seeing a whole box of toys, he realized he was
overthinking.

If a man has feelings for a woman, he would surely give hairpins, jewelry,
books, or fabrics. How could he give toys that children like? It's obvious
that he sees his sister as a child, so when he heard that she was sick, he sent
these things to amuse her.

"What's wrong with being treated like a child?" Hua Liuli opened a
mechanical mouse and wanted to see how it worked. Unfortunately, it was
easy to dismantle but difficult to put back together. No matter how she tried,
there were always extra wooden pegs left. Unable to control herself, she
broke the leg of the wooden mouse.

"Alright, our little Liuli is still a five-year-old baby," Hua Changkong

handed a letter to Hua Liuli, "Father and Mother will arrive in the capital in
two days. Are you happy?"

Hua Liuli discarded the toy in her hand and took the letter to read.
"Father and Mother are really coming back to the capital?" She happily
clenched the envelope and called for the maidservants to make preparations
for the reception.

The entire Hua Family Estate became lively.

After the Lunar New Year, in the lingering chill of spring, pedestrians on
the road still wore thick winter clothes, hurrying back and forth.

Lin Zhou lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the tall city gate of the
capital with excitement.

After ten years, he had finally returned.

The capital was supposed to be a bustling place with many talented

individuals, but to his surprise, there wasn't a single commoner near the city
gate.

"Master," Lin Zhou's wife knew he was excited and gently advised, afraid
that he might strain himself after being overly joyous, "We have arrived in
the capital. After returning home, rest well. There will be many things for
you to worry about in the future."

"These years have been hard on you, my wife," Lin Zhou held his wife's
hand in return. Before he could utter another word, a symphony of orderly
hoofbeats reached his ears.

Why were there so many horses in the capital?

He released his wife's hand, stepped down from the carriage, and looked
back. He saw a disciplined cavalry hastening towards the city gate.
Following the cavalry, an endless procession of carriages stretched into the
distance.

That was...

Great General Hua Yingting, the Defender of the Nation!

Suddenly, drums resonated from the city gate. The Imperial Guards formed
a line and came out from the gate. Following them, the Emperor himself
appeared, accompanied by his entourage.

In the Emperor's retinue, five handsome young men dressed in silk robes
rode horses, their expressions solemn.

"Hurry, make way!" Lin Zhou swiftly steered the carriage to a corner,
bowing his head respectfully.

The drums at the city gate continued to sound when Lin Zhou and the
others were stopped by the Imperial Guards outside. He saw Hua Yingting
hastily dismount his horse and run towards the Emperor. He used the back
of his hand to wipe the corners of his eyes as he ran. It seemed that he was
so overwhelmed with excitement that he couldn't help but shed tears.

"Your Majesty," Hua Yingting knelt in front of the dragon carriage, his
voice choked with emotion, "This humble general is fortunate to have
preserved his life and been granted an audience with Your Majesty once
again."

"Yingting," Emperor Changlong, too, brimmed with excitement and

emotion. He descended from the dragon carriage and personally assisted
Hua Yingting to his feet, "These years, you have suffered."

When Hua Yingting departed from the capital years ago, he had made him
promise to return alive.

After all these years, Hua Yingting had achieved countless military
achievements, but at this moment, he expressed that he had "preserved his
life", thereby fulfilling the promise he had made back then.

The cities, the lands, and the grandeur of the military all paled in
comparison to the profound impact of the phrase "preserved his life" on
Emperor Changlong.

"To faithfully serve Your Majesty is the greatest honor for this humble
general," Hua Yingting uttered, his towering figure of seven feet trembling,
his words incoherent amidst uncontrollable sobs.

It was as if, after wandering outside for many years, he had finally found a
reliable anchor that allowed him to cast aside all his worries.

"Your Majesty."

"Zhen's most loyal subject."

The monarch and his subject clasped hands, their tearful eyes brimming
with overwhelming emotions.

As Lin Zhou witnessed this scene, his heart remained unmoved, even
feeling somewhat dazed.

He had heard that there was a type of dog that particularly enjoyed licking
its owner, so people called this kind of dog a "licking dog"3The term "舔狗"
(tiǎn gǒu) has a slang connotation in Chinese internet culture. It refers to
someone who is overly submissive, devoted, or obedient to someone else,
usually in a romantic or one-sided relationship. The term is often used
humorously or derogatorily to describe someone who sacrifices their own
interests or dignity for the sake of pleasing another person..

At this moment, Hua Yingting bore a striking resemblance to that very dog.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 29 – Blowing Cold Wind

Once the emotions of the monarch and his subject had settled, Emperor
Changlong called all of his sons forward, "Yingting, these are Zhen's sons.
You haven't been in the capital for many years, so you probably don't
recognize these children."

"This is the Crown Prince," Emperor Changlong sighed, "Although he has

some knowledge of martial arts and military strategy, he is a lazy person. If
Zhen didn't force him to study governance and political affairs, he probably
wouldn't even want to enter the study room."

"This humble general greets Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince. His
noble bearing and extraordinary aura are remarkable," Hua Yingting
carefully observed Emperor Changlong and the Crown Prince, "The Crown
Prince has attractive features, resembling Your Majesty."

Emperor Changlong burst into laughter.

The Crown Prince bowed to Hua Yingting and said, "General, your praise is
too kind. Gu still has many shortcomings."

"This is Zhen's eldest son, Ying Wang."

"Greetings to Your Highness, Ying Wang."

Ying Wang felt something was amiss. When introducing the Crown Prince,
Father Emperor used a series of adjectives, but when it came to him, it was
just a brief address of his title?

After introducing his sons, Emperor Changlong insisted on inviting Hua

Yingting to accompany them on the carriage. Hua Yingting blushed and
said, "Your Majesty's kind offer moves me deeply. However..." He kept
glancing back, even his neck turning red.

Seeing his reaction, Emperor Changlong understood that he was afraid of

his wife's temper flaring up again. He chuckled and patted his shoulder,
saying, "Forget it, forget it. Zhen won't be the bad guy today. Your return to
the capital with your wife is a joyful occasion. If Zhen's actions cause you
to kneel on the floor when you return, then it would be Zhen's fault."

"Your Majesty," a woman dressed in red approached with a smile. She

gracefully saluted Emperor Changlong, "It has been many years. Your
Majesty's charm remains as it was back then."

Hua Yingting lowered his head and remained silent.

"General Wei," Emperor Changlong looked at the woman in red, his words
tinged with emotion, "Zhen has grown old, but General Wei still radiates
brilliance."

This renowned female general, Wei Mingyue, had once been a

psychological shadow during his youth. When he was young and ignorant,
he made some frivolous remarks upon seeing Wei Mingyue's beauty, and
soon after, he witnessed her break a stone stool right in front of him with a
smile.

Since then, whenever he saw Wei Mingyue, he felt a pain in his legs,
fearing that she might accidentally break them. Due to this deep-rooted fear,
all the women in his harem, in terms of appearance and temperament, were
the complete opposite of Wei Mingyue.

After many years had passed, even though Emperor Changlong was now a
revered emperor, his first thought upon seeing Wei Mingyue was still that
broken stone stool.

For this reason, even though he knew Hua Yingting was afraid of his wife,
he considered him a true hero, a true man, and a role model for the young
men in the capital.
"Zhen's esteemed generals," Emperor Changlong pushed Hua Yingting
towards Wei Mingyue and said, "Thank you, both of you, for your great
contributions to Great Jin. Let's enter the palace together."

"As loyal subjects of Great Jin, we live and die for our country," Hua
Yingting and Wei Mingyue both kneeled before Emperor Changlong, "This
is our duty."

"Long live the Emperor," the couple kowtowed to the ground.

"Long live the Emperor," the generals and soldiers who accompanied them
back to the capital shouted in unison, their voices resounding, shaking the
heavens and earth.

"Zhen is fortunate to have such excellent generals. It is the blessing of

Zhen's life," amidst the cries, Emperor Changlong bent down to help them
up, his eyes once again filled with tears.

"Let's go. Prepare a celebratory feast in the palace. All the distinguished
generals shall accompany me back to the palace."

The monarch leading his sons personally to greet Hua Yingting at the city
gate was an exceptional display of honor. Lin Zhou watched as the imperial
procession gradually disappeared through the gate, and he couldn't help but
sigh.

Since ancient times, renowned generals were like beautiful women, not
allowed to be seen in old age.1This line captures the idea that there is an
expectation for famous generals to retire or disappear from the public eye
before growing old.

How glorious the Hua family was today, but how cautious they would be in
the future. In these years, with the Hua family guarding the borders, there
have been continuous reports of victories. But now, the ferocious Jinpo
Kingdom has been suppressed by the Hua family, while other small
countries are defenseless. At least the Great Jin Dynasty can enjoy fifty
years of peace and stability.
But what lies ahead for the Hua family in the next fifty years?

"Father," Lin Zhou's daughter stepped out of the carriage and saw her father
silent and gazing at the empty city gate. Thinking that he had witnessed the
Emperor personally welcoming the Hua family while they could only hide
in the corner, she felt a sense of melancholy and spoke words of comfort,
"You have always been upright and returned to the capital without much
fanfare. Others are unaware that you have arrived in the capital. So..."

"Silly child," Lin Zhou smiled and said, "The glory of the Hua family is
temporary. It's their future that will be evaluated in the annals of history. I
haven't thought much about it, so you don't need to worry."

His daughter was good in every aspect, except that she was too sensitive. If
she couldn't change her temperament, what should he do when she marries
into the imperial family in the future?

Early in the morning, Hua Liuli and Hua Changkong prepared to go to the
city gate to welcome their parents. Upon hearing that the Emperor had
personally received them and arranged a celebratory feast in the palace, the
siblings followed in the reception procession.

There was still a long way to go from the city gate to the palace.

Although the streets had been cleared, there were still enthusiastic
commoners beside the road. The tea houses and taverns were packed with
men and women watching the spectacle. As soon as the Emperor's
procession passed by, it instantly became lively. Flowers, handkerchiefs,
and even silver tickets were thrown.

Hua Liuli heard the exhausted cries of the guards, "Be careful, don't fall!"

"General, general, look here!" Hua Liuli could be certain that the screaming
voice belonged to a little girl.

"General, I want to marry you." Hua Liuli glanced at her elegant mother's
figure, then looked at the girl in the teahouse waving her handkerchief and
jumping around, feeling a bit complex.
Little girl, it's pointless to fall in love with a married female general. It's
better to find someone else to like.

"I never thought that after so many years, Mother would still be so popular
among little girls," Hua Changkong sighed with emotion. No wonder
Emperor Changlong's procession moved so quickly. It seemed to facilitate
the commoners' throwing flowers and cheering them on.

Emperor Changlong could return to the palace early, but the princes had to
accompany the generals. Ying Wang removed a flower that had accidentally
landed on his head.

The Crown Prince, riding a horse in front of him, suddenly pulled the reins,
stopping the horse. He turned around and looked at the Hua siblings
following behind the princes, and beckoned them, "Third Young Master
Hua, Fushou Junzhu, come forward."

Ying Wang immediately realized that the Crown Prince intended to act
favorably in front of General Hua and General Wei. He knew that Ji
Yuansu, that despicable person, liked to show off in front of his brothers
while pretending to be the best person in front of others.

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli's horse was being led by someone. When
she heard the Crown Prince calling her, she rode her horse close to the
Crown Prince.

"You haven't seen your parents for many days. Come forward and catch
up," the Crown Prince thought that this girl's eyes were so bright that they
made his heart sway, "Today is a day for your family to reunite. There's no
need to be overly formal."

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli felt even more that the
Crown Prince was a good person. Such a good Crown Prince -- And
someone actually dared to claim that he had an arrogant personality? Such
shameless slander.

"Go ahead," the Crown Prince patted his horse and moved aside.
Seeing this scene, Ying Wang cursed inwardly -- Deceptive, two-faced
scoundrel!

When the couple saw their youngest daughter approaching, their faces
softened with smiles, "Liuli, come over here to your mother."

"Mother," Hua Liuli guided her horse closer to Wei shi2In Chinese, the
character "氏" (shì) is a suffix used as an honorific title for married women.
When attached to a person's maiden surname, it indicates that the person is
married. It is typically used in formal or respectful contexts. For example, if
a woman's maiden surname is Zhang, adding "氏" after her surname would
make it "张氏" (Zhāng shì). It is a way of addressing or referring to a married
woman with respect.. If there weren't outsiders present, she might have
plunged into Wei shi's embrace.

Wei shi reached out and touched her head, "My well-behaved little girl, are
you happy in the capital?"

"Everything is good." Hua Liuli held Wei shi's hand, "It's just that I miss
father and mother."

"We miss you too," Wei shi looked at her daughter, her eyes so gentle as
though she was looking at the most precious pearl.

Seeing this scene, the Crown Prince couldn't help but slow down the pace
of his horse, giving the family of four some space to talk.

The two generals truly treasured their youngest daughter, just as the rumors
had said— as precious as a pearl in the palm.

"General, if you can't marry me, let me marry your daughter!"

--A young girl's scream cut through the noisy street.

Hua Liuli quietly raised her head and looked at the girls upstairs who were
screaming. She blinked at them.

Is the lifestyle in the capital too liberal?

"I don't agree!!" Hua Yingting shouted, tilting his head back.

What's wrong with these young girls in the capital nowadays? Not only are
they interested in my wife, but they also don't want to let go of my
daughter?

Immediately, countless handkerchiefs and sachets were thrown down from

both sides of the building, and the whole street was filled with a joyful
atmosphere.

In the private room on the second floor of the teahouse, Jiamin Junzhu
silently sipped tea while observing the curious young ladies.

"I heard General Wei was famous for her beauty in the capital back in the
day. I didn't expect her to be as graceful as before, even after so many
years."

"I think... Hua Liuli is indeed quite beautiful."

"Shut up," the person speaking glanced at Jiamin Junzhu secretly, "There
are many beautiful girls in the capital. What makes her special?"

"But she's not just beautiful, she's exceptionally beautiful..."

"Are you here to drink tea or judge people by their looks?" Jiamin Junzhu
slammed the teacup on the table and stood up, "There's a celebratory feast
in the palace tonight, so I won't be accompanying you anymore."

After Jiamin Junzhu left, the young ladies looked at each other.

"Knowing that Jiamin Junzhu doesn't like her, you praised Hua Liuli for
being beautiful. Are you stupid?"

"Don't blame me, it's mainly because she is so captivating."

"Fortunately, you're not a man."

"Why?"
"Men who are easily swayed by beauty tend to cause trouble for other
girls."

"Good sisters should support each other. During the Flower Festival, we
must make Hua Liuli lose face and help Jiamin Junzhu vent her anger."

"Sisters, do you realize that we now resemble annoying side characters in a

storybook?"

"Shut up!" the group of sisters scolded the talkative girl in unison.

Could they be mere side characters? They were clearly the resourceful
protagonists in the storybook.

To show appreciation for the great hero, the celebratory feast in the palace
was held in great splendor. Emperor Changlong, being overly delighted,
couldn't help but drink a few more cups of wine, constantly praising and
getting closer to Hua Yingting in his words.

The officials below followed suit in praising and extolling the Hua family
from top to bottom. Some even praised the stone lions at the entrance of the
Hua Family Estate.

Hua Liuli sat obediently next to her mother, smiling shyly from beginning
to end. Her blushing smile earned her heaps of praise.

With her daughter by her side, Wei shi only drank two cups of wine and
didn't touch the cup anymore. The other noble women saw this and
understood that after several months of separation, the mother and daughter
must have a lot to say, so they didn't try to persuade her to drink.

"Mother, when you and Father escorted Jinpo's Second Prince back to the
capital, did you encounter any attempt to rob the prisoner's carriage?" Hua
Liuli picked up the chopsticks to serve food to Wei shi, keeping the wine
cup far away.

"There were people from Jinpo negotiating with us along the way, afraid
that we would mistreat him," Wei shi smiled, "But the ones who attempted
to abduct the prisoner were not from Jinpo."

"Instigating discord?" Hua Liuli instantly understood. The Kingdom of

Jinpo acted arrogantly and oppressed many small countries. These small
countries couldn't afford to provoke them, so they resorted to sowing
discord and took advantage of the strained relationship between Great Jin
and Jinpo to benefit their own country.

"I thought Jinpo's Second Prince would be so angry that he would commit
suicide," Hua Liuli whispered, "Back on the battlefield, he was very
arrogant."

"Those who can live well don't want to die," Wei shi chuckled mysteriously,
"He has been quite obedient recently."

"He hasn't insulted me again, has he?" Hua Liuli asked softly.

"Hmm," Wei shi raised an eyebrow, "He wouldn't dare to insult you for the
rest of his life."

After the celebratory feast ended, the intoxicated Emperor spoke up,
"Yingting, we haven't seen each other for many years. Tonight, let's have a
late-night conversation by candlelight," Then he turned to Wei shi, "General
Wei, what do you think?"

Even when drunk, Emperor Changlong subconsciously felt that he needed

to seek the opinion of Wei Mingyue on such matters.

Some of the young officials were puzzled. They couldn't understand; it was
such an honor for the Emperor to invite them for a late-night conversation,
yet he still had to ask General Wei's opinion.

On the other hand, some old officials wore a deep expression of "I know,
but I won't say".

"It's the fortune of this humble general," Wei shi stood up and bowed to
Emperor Changlong. Then she turned to the crowd; the old officials all
lowered their heads, while the young ones still had a flicker of doubt in
their eyes.

The old officials secretly shook their heads, appreciating the value of youth
-- How ignorant they were.

"Your Royal Highness," a senior official from the Ministry of Justice

hurriedly approached the Crown Prince, "Jinpo's Second Prince refuses to
eat and insists on meeting Fushou Junzhu."

The Crown Prince glanced at the slightly intoxicated Emperor and said to
the senior official, "He is a prince of a defeated small country. What
qualifications does he have to meet our noble Junzhu? Let him make a
scene."

"Yes," the senior official from the Ministry of Justice acknowledged and
withdrew.

It was strange. Jinpo's Second Prince was captured by General Hua.

However, judging from his conduct, why did he seem to hate Fushou
Junzhu so much?

That night, the Hua family did not leave the palace.

Wei shi noticed that Hua Liuli was familiar with the palace attendants of
Shoukang Palace. She remembered her daughter mentioning in a letter that
the Empress Dowager had kept her in the palace for some time, so she took
the opportunity to express her gratitude to the Empress Dowager.

"This Grieving One is fond of this child. If it weren't for fear of gossip, this
Grieving One would have kept her by my side all the time," the Empress
Dowager smiled and said to Wei shi, "You have endured hardships on the
border all these years."

"Empress Dowager, you are aware of it," Wei shi smiled and shook her
head, "For this humble general, being able to guard the border is not a
hardship. It's staying in the rear courtyard for a lifetime that is difficult."
Being a female military general was already ten times, a hundred times
harder than her male counterparts. Fortunately, she encountered a wise
emperor and was able to fulfill her ambitions.

"Yes, women face many difficulties in the world. As a member of the Wei
family, who learned martial arts and military strategy, it would be a
hardship for you to be imprisoned in the rear courtyard," the Empress
Dowager sighed.

If she hadn't married the late emperor, she could have pursued her own
interests. Alas, it was all in the past, and she had learned to let it go, but
there were still some faint traces of regrets in her heart.

"Empress Dowager, how have you been all these years?" Wei shi personally
poured hot tea for the Empress Dowager.

"Good," the Empress Dowager patted Wei shi's hand. "The Emperor is filial
and the Crown Prince cares for me."

Sitting beside them, Hua Liuli thought, even the Empress Dowager thinks
highly of the Crown Prince. Those people who slander the Crown Prince
are truly outrageous.

"Liuli," the Empress Dowager turned to Liuli and said, "Your health is
weak. Go back to your room and rest early."

Hua Liuli knew that the Empress Dowager and her mother had something
else to discuss, so she pretended not to know and obediently got up to take
her leave.

As she walked out of the main hall, the night wind felt chilly. She accepted
the cloak handed to her by Yuan Yi and fastened it gently, then quietly made
her way towards the side hall. After walking a few steps, she noticed that
there were many beautiful lanterns hanging in the courtyard. She stopped
and asked, "They were not here the last time I was here, were they?"

"Junzhu, you've forgotten. Today is the Lantern Festival," Yuan Yi

whispered, "These lanterns were all handmade by the palace maids."
A nearby maid holding a lantern smiled and said, "Junzhu, it's an old
tradition in the palace. Every Lantern Festival, every palace hangs beautiful
lanterns that remain lit until early morning."

"With so many palace lanterns, they must all be beautiful," Hua Liuli
looked at the lanterns swaying in the wind with tassels, "I wonder how
beautiful the palace will be tonight."

"If Junzhu likes, Junzhu can go to the viewing platform in the palace. From
there, Junzhu can see the entire palace," the maid remembered Hua Liuli's
delicate health and regretted her words, quickly lowering her head.

"Where is the viewing platform?" Hua Liuli was curious.

The maid didn't dare to speak and looked at Yuan Yi for help.

Yuan Yi sighed, "Junzhu, you're not well, and it's windy at night..."

"If my frailty prevents me from enjoying the beauty of the world, what
meaning does such a day even have?" Hua Liuli looked at the sky with
sadness. A full moon hung in the sky, bright and clear as frost.

Yuan Yi dared not persuade her further and could only let the maids lead the
way.

Fortunately, the viewing platform was not far from Shoukang Palace. Hua
Liuli hadn't walked for long before arriving at the base of the platform. She
looked up, expressionless, at the towering stone steps, then turned to Yuan
Yi and said, "I suddenly feel a bit tired. Let's go back."

No wonder one could enjoy the panoramic view of the palace from there.
With such a high platform, anyone standing on it could see most of the
capital city.

Hua Liuli's reaction didn't surprise Yuan Yi at all. She supported Hua Liuli's
hand and smiled, "Junzhu, be careful on the steps. Let Nubi support you."

"Who is up ahead?"
Upon hearing a deep and elongated voice, Hua Liuli turned her head and
saw a group of neatly dressed maids approach as they carried lanterns. The
Crown Prince sat on a sedan chair, his expression didn't seem too pleasant.

Their gazes met in the darkness; the Crown Prince's expression shifted
slightly, "Little girl, why are you here?"

"This humble servant heard there's a viewing platform here and wanted to
take a look," Hua Liuli greeted the Crown Prince respectfully, "Is Your
Royal Highness here to enjoy the view as well?"

The Crown Prince looked up at the tall viewing platform and got off the
sedan chair. His expression turned calm, almost indifferent, "Yes."

Hua Liuli sensed his displeasure and tactfully prepared to leave, "In that
case, I won't disturb Your Royal Highness's tranquility..."

"The stone steps are difficult to climb. Gu will take you up," the Crown
Prince extended his robe towards Hua Liuli, "Hold on."

Hua Liuli grabbed the corner of the Crown Prince's robe and blinked her
eyes, "Ah?"

"The night scenery of the Lantern Festival is the most beautiful in the
capital every year," the Crown Prince led Hua Liuli up the stone steps, "Not
only the palace, but the streets outside are also bustling and lively."

"There's no curfew tonight?"

"On festive days like New Year's Eve, Lantern Festival, Qixi Festival, and
Mid-Autumn Festival, there is no curfew," the Crown Prince walked slowly,
occasionally glancing back at Hua Liuli, "Tonight, the capital truly becomes
a world of fireworks and endless lights."

Hua Liuli's skirt brushed lightly against the clean stone steps, making a faint
rustling sound. When they were halfway up, she slowed down her steps.

The Crown Prince turned back to look at her, "Feeling cold?"

Hua Liuli shook her head blankly.

However, the Crown Prince took off his cloak and draped it over Hua Liuli.
The oversized cloak on her made Hua Liuli look like a little child who
hadn't grown up yet. The cloak's hood covered most of her face. She let go
of the Crown Prince's robe and tugged at the cloak's hood a couple of times,
but it was too big and covered her entire face.

The Crown Prince, unable to suppress a light laugh, reached out to help her
take off the hood.

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli adjusted her steps and said, "It is not
right to mock this humble servant like this."

"Gu is sorry. Seeing you now, you look like a kitten tangled in a ball of
thread," the Crown Prince cleared his throat a few times, his beautiful eyes
filled with amusement, "Come, Gu will lead you."

He extended his hand in front of Hua Liuli.

Hua Liuli looked at him with suspicion.

"You're just a little girl, what do you have to worry about?" the Crown
Prince laughed and placed a handkerchief in his palm, "Here, it's separated
by a handkerchief."

"It's not that this humble servant is worried about herself," Hua Liuli
extended her hand towards the Crown Prince. After all, she was planning to
raise her own male pets, so she wasn't afraid of others' misunderstanding.

She was more concerned about the handsome Crown Prince being
misunderstood because of her.

Compared to her inherent coldness, the Crown Prince's hand felt like a
furnace. As she watched the Crown Prince's figure, she couldn't help but
feel a little sad, thinking that the male pets she would raise in the future
would definitely not be as attractive as the Crown Prince.
After witnessing the world's unparalleled beauty, everything else seemed
mediocre and mundane.

She turned her head and glanced at the palace maids carrying lanterns
behind them. The bright lanterns twinkled in the dark night, creating a
splendid scene.

"We've arrived," the Crown Prince's voice brought her back to her senses.

Hua Liuli raised her head and saw not the view within the palace, but the
bright street outside the palace gates that seemed to stretch endlessly, with
occasional fireworks sparkling in the sky.

The wind was strong on the viewing platform, but Hua Liuli, wrapped in a
large cloak, didn't feel cold. She leaned against the railing and sighed,
"Such a beautiful view."

The Crown Prince stood behind her in silence.

"In the past, did Your Royal Highness also come here to enjoy the Lantern
Festival?" Hua Liuli gazed into the distance, truly understanding the
meaning of the phrase "the prosperity of the capital".

The Crown Prince stood by her side and looked at the magnificent scene
before them, "Yes."

"It's wonderful," Hua Liuli's hair fluttered in the night wind, and she
exhaled a warm breath, "This view truly brings joy to one's heart."

The Crown Prince turned his head to look at the young girl beside him,
wanting to say something, but ultimately remaining silent.

Below the viewing platform, Ying Wang and the young lady from the Lin
family, who were meeting for the first time, stood ten steps apart. Consort
Xian insisted that since it was the Lantern Festival, he should take the Lin
girl to the palace to admire the lanterns.

What's so interesting about these lanterns late in the night?

However, he couldn't disobey his mother's command, so he still brought the
Lin girl out. To save trouble, he didn't bother taking her elsewhere and
planned to bring her to the viewing platform to let her enjoy the view at her
own pace.

But when they reached the bottom of the viewing platform, he realized that
there were already people up there and couldn't help but complain in a low
voice, "Who's so crazy to come up to the viewing platform in the middle of
the night to feel the cold breeze?"

Lin Wan: "..."

Upon hearing these words, Lin Wan's face stiffened. Should she blame
herself for choosing the wrong marriage partner, or should she blame her
sharp hearing?

The night breeze gently wafted around them, enveloping the pair in an
atmosphere of endless awkwardness.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 30 – Hua Wild Cat

Ying Wang turned to his accompanying eunuch, "Go and see who is up
there." After giving his orders, he turned to Lin Wan and said, "Young Lady
Lin, it seems a bit chilly tonight. You should consider dressing warmer."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness," Lin Wan forced a smile. She
had been well aware of her meeting with Ying Wang tonight and had taken
great care in selecting her attire and accessories to accentuate her features.

She had put in all that effort to look her best, not to have a man remind her
about the weather.

Did she really need him to remind her whether it was cold or not?

Unfortunately, Ying Wang didn't understand her thoughts. Seeing the

eunuch return, he frowned and asked, "What happened? Benwang asked
you to find out who was up there, why did you come back?"

"Your Highness, this servant just remembered something," the eunuch

whispered, "During the Lantern Festival every year, the Crown Prince likes
to come here to enjoy the lanterns."

"What kind of rubbish..." Ying Wang paused, suddenly remembering that

tomorrow was the memorial day for the Crown Prince's mother, Empress
Gonghui.

The Crown Prince's birth mother, Consort Hui, was a woman of indistinct
appearance. Ying Wang could barely remember her, only recalling that she
died when Ji Yuansu was not yet five years old. After Ji Yuansu was
proclaimed as the Crown Prince, Consort Hui's status was elevated to
Empress Gonghui by the Emperor posthumously.
She couldn't be considered a calamitous beauty. If it weren't for giving birth
to a son whom the Emperor greatly favored, she would have likely gone
unnoticed her whole life.

"Since the Crown Prince is up there, we shouldn't disturb them," Lin Wan
had already inquired about the relationships between several princes before
coming to the capital. She didn't want any conflicts to arise between the
brothers at this moment.

If rumors were to spread that she had met with Ying Wang and, on the same
evening, caused discord between the Crown Prince and Ying Wang, how
could she continue to live in the capital city?

It wouldn’t just be her. Even her father's reputation would also be affected.

"If the Crown Prince can go, Benwang can go as well," Ying Wang initially
had little interest in the viewing platform, but upon hearing that the Crown
Prince was there, he insisted on going up.

Lin Wan tried to persuade him politely, but as Ying Wang's expression grew
increasingly unpleasant, she had to keep quiet.

As they climbed higher, the wind grew stronger. Lin Wan touched her cold
arms with her palms and looked up at the platform, then she stopped in her
tracks. The figure up there couldn't be the Crown Prince; it clearly looked
like a young lady.

She wanted to call out to Ying Wang, but he had already taken several steps
ahead of her. So, she clenched her teeth and followed him.

"Someone's here?" Hua Liuli looked towards the stairs and met the eyes of
Ying Wang, who was hurrying up.

Looking at Hua Liuli's delicate face, Ying Wang inexplicably couldn't meet
her gaze. Perhaps it was because he knew that Hua Liuli had almost become
Ying Wangfei, and now he was bringing his fiancée here to stand beside
her, which gave him a strange feeling of guilt.
"Eldest Brother," the Crown Prince walked out from the shadows and
approached Hua Liuli, addressing the dazed Ying Wang, "Eldest Brother
seems to be in a good mood today. Came here to enjoy the scenery as
well?"

Glancing at the young lady trailing behind Ying Wang, he deduced that it
was Consort Xian's intention. Unfortunately, Consort Xian had clearly
overestimated her son's ability to please women. Setting up a private
meeting between Ying Wang and his fiancée would not foster a connection
but rather prove burdensome.

Ying Wang climbed up to the viewing platform and noticed the ill-fitting
cloak on Hua Liuli. He turned his head, and with a stiff face, he made a bow
to the Crown Prince, "Coincidentally passing by, so I came here to take a
look. I didn't expect to run into the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu
enjoying the scenery here as well."

Hua Liuli nodded slightly and returned the gesture, wisely leaving this
opportunity for "friendly interaction" to the two brothers. Just as she settled
in the corner, a young lady approached with the grace of a willow in the
wind, her skirt fluttering as if she could be blown away by the wind.

Who is this person?

Since Ying Wang didn't introduce the person who came with him, Hua Liuli
didn't step forward to greet her, just nodded slightly at her.

Hua Liuli didn't know Lin Wan, but Lin Wan knew Hua Liuli. When Ying
Wang addressed her as "Fushou Junzhu", she knew who the young lady
standing with the Crown Prince was.

The other party's appearance exceeded her imagination, especially those

moist eyes, easily evoking a sense of pity.

Having knowledge of the Emperor's previous intention to arrange a

betrothal between Ying Wang and Fushou Junzhu, she couldn't help but feel
a bit uneasy. Seeing Hua Liuli nod towards her, she returned the gesture.
Perhaps because she had just arrived in the capital and was still unfamiliar
with it, standing on this observation deck made her feel awkward. Since she
arrived, neither the Crown Prince nor Ying Wang had given her a second
glance, as though she didn't exist at all.

A gust of wind blew, producing a whistling sound against the palace walls.

"Are you cold?" Upon hearing Ying Wang's voice, Lin Wan looked up to
answer, but she realized his gaze wasn't on her but on Fushou Junzhu.

"I'm not cold. The cloak the Crown Prince gave me is very warm," Hua
Liuli hurriedly shook her head. Why would Ying Wang ask her if she was
cold when he brought a young lady to admire the scenery?

Was this not causing trouble for her? Although Ying Wang appeared to be
simple-minded, he should still understand some palace intrigue. After all,
he was a prince who had emerged from the palace and had more experience
than others.

However, she absolutely cannot sit idly by. If any rumors were to spread,
casting doubt on her judgment in choosing men, it would be impossible to
clear her name even if she were to jump into the Yellow River.

Hua Liuli quickly moved a few steps closer to the Crown Prince, making
sure the young lady could see clearly that she accompanied the Crown
Prince and had no connection to Ying Wang.

"The Crown Prince seems to have forgotten that Fushou Junzhu has a
delicate constitution and cannot withstand the wind," Ying Wang coldly
smiled at the Crown Prince, "If the Junzhu falls ill because of this, how will
you explain it to General Hua and General Wei?"

The Crown Prince nodded, "Eldest Brother is right." He turned his head to
look at Hua Liuli, "Junzhu, Gu will accompany you back."

For once, the Crown Prince actually listened to someone, but Ying Wang
still felt somewhat frustrated.
"Alright," Hua Liuli didn't want to stay here and affect Ying Wang's private
meeting with the young lady, so she quickly nodded in agreement.

"Be careful," the Crown Prince still placed a handkerchief in his palm.
When Hua Liuli handed over her hand, he held it in his palm and led her
down slowly.

The large cloak trailed on the ground, shimmering with a faint golden light
under the palace lamps. It was the golden thread embroidered within the
cloak that created the glow.

Lin Wan looked at the cloak that was sparkling like stars in the dark night.
Shivering from the cold, she turned to look at Ying Wang.

"She's the future Ying Wangfei, the young lady from the Lin family,"
descending from the viewing platform, the Crown Prince informed Hua
Liuli of the identity of the young lady. The young girl by his side almost
became Ying Wangfei herself, but her reaction upon hearing this was quite
calm.

"Oh," Hua Liuli nodded. Jiamin Junzhu had already informed her about
Ying Wangfei before, so she was no longer curious. She took off the cloak
she was wearing, "Your Royal Highness, here you go."

"Put it on," the Crown Prince stood in place, "It's late at night. Let a palace
maid escort you back."

Hua Liuli nodded. After bowing respectfully, she turned and walked away.
When she reached the corner, saw the Crown Prince still standing in the
same place, hands behind his back, gazing up at the moon in the sky.

Admiring a beauty under the moonlight, the more she looked, the more
beautiful he seemed.

She had long noticed that the Crown Prince was in a bad mood tonight, but
as an outsider, it was not appropriate for her to meddle in the affairs of the
princes. So she could only pretend to know nothing.
Unfortunately, beauty was too captivating to ignore; she suddenly felt
uneasy about leaving the Crown Prince in a bad mood like this.

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli turned around and walked up to the
Crown Prince, smiling brightly at him, "It's so lively outside the palace.
Would Your Royal Highness like to go out together and take a look?"

The Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli in a daze, then suddenly smiled,
"Okay."

"Junzhu..." Yuan Yi, seeing her mistress going out of the palace late at night
for the sake of beauty, whispered softly, "It's already very late. Shouldn't we
inform Madam?"

"Yurong," Hua Liuli called out to her other maidservant, "Go back and
inform my mother. I am going out with the Crown Prince to buy beautiful
lanterns to play with."

Without waiting for Yurong to refuse, she grabbed the Crown Prince and
left.

A palace maid brought a properly fitting cloak for Hua Liuli to change into,
while the Crown Prince directly draped his cloak, which she took off, on
himself. He smiled at Hua Liuli, "Let's go."

The attendants saw that the Crown Prince was really taking the Fushou
Junzhu out of the palace to play, so they called the guards and prepared
horses. Yuan Yi, on the other hand, appeared more calm and followed
quickly behind Hua Liuli.

It was said that when the Great General first encountered Madam, he was so
amazed that he wanted to marry her despite being beaten and scolded. Her
family's Junzhu, upon seeing such a handsome Crown Prince, was only
accompanying him to see the lanterns — It can be considered an act of
remarkable restraint.

The hereditary love for beauty in the Hua family cannot be changed so
easily.
As they stepped out of the palace, the ambiance outside seemed to embrace
an added layer of festivity. The pair found themselves on the bustling street,
where couples wandered hand in hand, engrossed in conversation and
laughter. Hua Liuli let out a sigh and remarked, "Tonight bears an air of
animosity towards those without companions."

She saw that many shops were holding riddle-solving lantern games and
selling lanterns. Although she wasn't good at solving riddles, she could still
spend money to buy lanterns. So she bought the most beautiful lantern and
presented it to the Crown Prince, "Your Royal Highness, this is for you."

The Crown Prince laughed helplessly, "For me?"

"Lanterns are given to beautiful people. This lantern suits Your Royal
Highness the best," Hua Liuli coughed lightly, covering her mouth with a
handkerchief, "Let's go, let's go see what's ahead."

The Crown Prince carefully examined the lantern she presented. It was a
lantern depicting an adorable fox, with a hint of liveliness in its eyes, gazing
at the moon.

A fox?

Hua Liuli had been influenced by her father, Hua Yingting, since childhood
and had learned the art of pleasing a beauty from her father.

Saying nice things, accompanying the beauty to see the scenery and moon,
and most importantly, buying things.

Unfortunately, there weren't many places in Qinghan Prefecture that

required spending money. And there wasn't a beauty she wanted to please.
The Crown Prince became her first opportunity to practice her skills.

On an open-air stage, there was a beauty lantern display organized by a

brothel. The area below the stage was crowded with excited men, cheering
and shouting for their own beloved beauties.
Not far away, there were food vendors with tables full of people.
Occasionally, patrol guards would pass by, creating a bustling and lively
atmosphere.

As they walked to the riverside, men and women of all ages gathered there,
lighting lanterns and making wishes. The river was filled with many
floating lanterns, resembling stars twinkling in the galaxy.

Hua Liuli gave a signal to Yuan Yi, and Yuan Yi immediately bought two
river lanterns.

"Would Your Royal Highness like to make a wish too?" Hua Liuli handed
the river lantern to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince took the lantern and looked up at the shimmering river,
"Gu never believed in these things."

"It doesn't matter. I don't believe in them either," Hua Liuli walked to the
riverside and waved at the Crown Prince, who was standing on the
riverbank, "Your Royal Highness, whether you believe it or not doesn't
matter, but the sense of ceremony is important."

The Crown Prince handed the Fox Gazing at the Moon lantern to the guard
behind him and held the river lantern as he walked beside Hua Liuli,
"Junzhu, what is your wish for tonight?"

"I seem to lack nothing, so I don't have any wishes that need to be fulfilled,"
Hua Liuli looked at the reflection of the moon on the water and used a flint
to light the lantern. She squatted down and looked at the Crown Prince,
"Then I wish for Your Royal Highness's wishes to come true."

The river lantern gently swayed on the water. The Crown Prince imitated
Hua Liuli's action and released the lantern, "You don't even know what my
wish is."

"That's not important. What matters is the ceremony," Hua Liuli rested her
chin on her hands, looking at the Crown Prince with a smile, "Your Royal
Highness, many things don't necessarily need results. It's enough to be
happy."

The Crown Prince chuckled softly and watched as the two river lanterns
slowly drifted away. How many people's wishes were being carried by this
river?

"In that case, Gu thanks you, Junzhu."

Inside the Ministry of Justice at this moment, the Minister of Justice had a
worried expression as he complained to his subordinates, "Why is Jinpo's
Second Prince still refusing to eat?"

"I'm about to retire, yet someone is still causing trouble for me," the
Minister of Justice looked at the moon outside the window.

"If he doesn't eat, let him starve. As long as he doesn't die, it's fine."

Pei Jihuai, seeing the troubled look on his superior's face, spoke up
proactively, "Daren, let me go and take a look."

"I don't think this Jinpo's Second Prince is a good person. He's already
become a prisoner, yet he still wants to see the General's daughter," Zhang
Shuo sneered, "This is not the Kingdom of Jinpo. Hostages should behave
like hostages!"

Pei Jihuai tried to persuade him by saying a few words and turned to the
dungeon.

Prince A’Wa of the Kingdom of Jinpo had a special identity, so the Ministry
of Justice had assigned many guards to watch over him. It had been nearly
ten hours since he had been brought to the Ministry of Justice, but he hadn't
even taken a sip of water. It was unclear what he was up to.

If he really wanted to die, he would have found an opportunity to commit

suicide halfway through the journey to the capital, so why did he wait until
he reached the capital to start causing trouble?
If someone were to ask Prince A’Wa if he was hungry, he would definitely
shout loudly that he was starving. But as the highly regarded Second Prince
of the Kingdom of Jinpo, he felt that he couldn't silently be locked up in a
prison cell in the Great Jin Dynasty. This was a blatant mistreatment of a
captive.

After causing commotion for a whole day and having no energy left,
coupled with being ignored by everyone, he found it pointless to continue.
He just wanted to fall asleep quickly so that he wouldn't feel hungry
anymore.

Just as he was about to doze off in a daze, someone walked in. He quickly
sat up, opened his eyes wide, and tried hard to appear strong-willed.

"Prince A’Wa," Pei Jihuai had his subordinates bring in a dining table and
placed it in front of Prince A’Wa, "I heard that Your Highness didn't even
drink a sip of water today, so I especially had a table of delicious food
prepared for you. Please have a taste, Your Highness."

"I won't eat," Prince A’Wa swallowed his saliva, "I won't eat anything until
you bring Hua Liuli here."

"It seems that Your Highness isn't hungry," Pei Jihuai looked at Prince
A’Wa with a smile that wasn't a smile. Standing in front of him, he kicked
over the table full of delicious food and vigorously stomped on it with his
boots, "It's my fault. I forgot that Your Highness isn't accustomed to the
water and soil of the capital. You need to fast for two days."

The scent of the food filled the entire cell. Prince A’Wa, who was extremely
hungry at this point, glared at Pei Jihuai, "What do you mean by this?"

"There's no hidden meaning. Your Highness isn't accustomed to the water

and soil here, and if I insist on having you eat, it would be risking your
life," After saying this, Pei Jihuai turned and left.

"Wait, I want to see Hua Liuli!" Prince A’Wa shouted through the cell door,
his voice filled with anger, "I, as a prince, am the future king of Jinpo!"
"Does Your Highness think that the compensation Jinpo offered for the
cities is still insufficient?" Pei Jihuai took the whip from his subordinate
and played with it, "If you really have such thoughts, I can write a letter to
His Majesty on your behalf."

"You, you..." Prince A’Wa never expected that a minor official of Great Jin
would dare to mock him.

"Your Highness, if you don't eat, then starve," Pei Jihuai turned around and
walked away, "When Your Highness feels like eating, I will come to see
you."

A hostage who was not obedient should probably be full and stuffed. Two
mealtimes in a day without food should suffice -- if one day was not
enough, then two should suffice.

A hostage should behave like a hostage. A defeated prince from another

country coming to Great Jin to act high and mighty, did he really think that
the Ministry of Justice had no means to deal with people?

"Pei Daren, when His Majesty finds out about how you treated Prince
A’Wa, will he not blame you?" one of his subordinates asked in worry.

"No need to worry," Pei Jihuai tossed the whip to his subordinate and
mounted his horse, "If His Majesty intends to treat him favorably, why
would he have him imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice?"

What type of people do they usually imprison in the Ministry of Justice?

Could His Majesty not be aware of it?

"The streets are crowded tonight. I'll go outside and see if there's any
trouble," Pei Jihuai instructed, "Do not give any food or water to Prince
A’Wa for the next ten hours. Let him learn what it means to obey."

"Understood."

Pei Jihuai kicked his horse and disappeared into the night.
His subordinate thought to himself: Why Prince A’Wa had been causing a
fuss about wanting to see the young lady from the Hua family? He even
seems to hate her.

Those who were unaware might mistakenly believe that the young lady
from the Hua family had betrayed him.

Amidst the bustling crowd, Hua Liuli dared not buy food from street
vendors for the Crown Prince. Instead, she took him to enjoy some street
activities, such as ring tossing, pot throwing, and dart throwing.

Since they were both generous people, they distributed the small prizes they
won to the children nearby who were watching.

"Junzhu's dart-throwing skills are impressive."

"Although I have a weak body, I have learned some self-defense techniques

from my family," Hua Liuli said as she stepped away from the dart-
throwing stall, "These skills are nothing special."

The Crown Prince noticed that Hua Liuli's complexion wasn't too pale
tonight; in fact, she even had a faint blush.

During their playtime, a maid by her served her a pill. He didn't know what
it was made of, but he could smell a faint herbal fragrance.

With the moon reaching its zenith, the crowd began to disperse. The Crown
Prince looked at the gradually ceding crowd and said, "It's past midnight,
we should go back."

"Alright," Hua Liuli put on the flowered lynx mask she had bought and
turned her face toward the Crown Prince, "Your Highness, have you heard a
rumor?"

"What rumor?"

"In fact, cats and tigers are closely related. The ancestors of cats were as
fierce as tigers and ruled the mountains," she said, opening her hands and
making a roaring sound towards the Crown Prince.
"Yes, a very ferocious... tiger," the Crown Prince curled his index finger and
lightly tapped the mask, "Gu's zoo happens to be lacking a tiger. Why don't
Gu take you back and keep you there? Although you're a bit small and
delicate, Gu doesn't mind."

"Your Royal Highness?!" Pei Jihuai couldn't believe his eyes as he looked
at the Crown Prince, quickly dismounting from his horse, "What is Your
Royal Highness doing here?"

And to make matters worse, he was accompanied by a young girl?

As someone well-informed in the Ministry of Justice, Pei Jihuai had not

heard about the Crown Prince getting close to any girl in the capital. This
young girl, standing beside the Crown Prince with a flowered lynx mask,
was dressed in luxurious clothes and had delicate and fair hands—a clear
sign that she had been well pampered.

Hua Liuli prepared to take off her mask, but the Crown Prince reached out
his hand and gently pressed it, preventing her from removing it.

"The Lantern Festival is so lively. Gu decided to take a walk around," the

Crown Prince remarked.

Noticing the Crown Prince's actions. Pei Jihuai no longer focused his gaze
on the girl and bowed, "Your Royal Highness, if you're going back to the
palace, allow me to escort you."

The Crown Prince thought for a moment and glanced at Hua Liuli, who was
wearing the mask, before speaking in a casual tone, "Come along."

Hua Liuli held the mask in her hands and turned her head to glance at Pei
Jihuai, who obediently followed behind them. She quietly asked the Crown
Prince, "Isn't that Pei Daren of the Ministry of Justice?"

"You still remember him?" the Crown Prince nodded, "Indeed, it's him."

Pei Jihuai lowered his head, pretending not to hear their conversation. After
working nearly five years at the Ministry of Justice, his senses had become
highly attuned to people's voices. As soon as he heard the young girl speak,
he could instantly recall having seen her recently.

"Your Royal Highness, when the hostage, Prince A’Wa, arrived in the
capital, he couldn't adapt to the environment. For the sake of his well-being,
this humble servant decided to withhold his food for tomorrow," Pei Jihuai
said. "This humble servant wonders if I have done something
inappropriate?"

The Crown Prince stopped walking and glanced at the person, who was
wearing the mask, beside him, "That's good. Give him some water the day
after tomorrow and let him have his food."

"This humble servant will comply with your order," Pei Jihuai said casually,
then brought up Zhang Shuo, the Minister of Justice, nonchalantly, "To
prevent any assassins from targeting the captive, Minister Zhang is
currently guarding the Ministry of Justice to ensure Prince A’Wa's safety."

"Zhang Shuo is always reliable. Both Gu and Father Emperor trust him,"
the Crown Prince casually remarked, "However, the major cases at the
Ministry of Justice need to be dealt with promptly."

"Please rest assured, Your Royal Highness. We will do our utmost," Pei
Jihuai's eyes sparkled with gratitude as he bowed to the Crown Prince. The
Crown Prince's words clearly indicated that Zhang Shuo's position would
not be revoked by the Emperor.

Upon further consideration, Pei Jihuai understood. The Ministry of Justice

was such an important institution, how could the Crown Prince possibly
allow Ying Wang's father-in-law to manage it?

Although Zhang Shuo and his subordinates were not aligned with the
Crown Prince's faction, they also did not favor other princes. Therefore,
having him serve as the Minister of Justice was the most appropriate choice.

After Pei Jihuai saw the Crown Prince off into the palace and witnessed the
masked young girl entering the palace with the Crown Prince, he suddenly
came to a realization. A young lady who could enter the palace with the
Crown Prince, could she be one of the princesses?

However, the Crown Prince wasn't particularly close to any of the three
princesses in the palace.

Hua Liuli removed her mask and, without asking why the Crown Prince
didn't let her show her face in front of Pei Jihuai, she smiled and asked,
"Did Your Royal Highness have a good time tonight?"

The Crown Prince looked into the bright eyes of the young girl and replied,
"Gu had a very enjoyable night."

"That's good to hear," Hua Liuli tiptoed and patted the Crown Prince's
shoulder, "Your Royal Highness, you're a young lad, don't burden yourself
with sadness. There are plenty of things in this world worth rejoicing over."

After saying this, she took a step back and gestured towards the Crown
Prince, "I should be going now, Your Highness. Please rest well."

She turned and took a few quick steps before turning back and smiling at
the Crown Prince. Then, she lightly coughed while covering her chest,
surrounded by her maids and palace attendants, walking towards Shoukang
Palace.

The Crown Prince watched her retreating figure as he shook the Fox Gazing
at the Moon lantern in his hand and suddenly burst into laughter.

Hua Liuli quietly entered the side hall and the room was suddenly
illuminated by candlelight.

"You're back? Yurong clearly told me that you would return well before
midnight," Wei shi sat upright in her seat, looking at her daughter, who had
returned in the middle of the night, with an expressionless face.

"Mother," Hua Liuli eagerly approached and hugged Wei shi's arm, "I
simply stayed out a little longer, don't be angry with me."

"Is the Crown Prince handsome?" Wei shi asked with a stern face.
"Yes, very handsome," Hua Liuli nodded, "I just felt that he seemed a little
unhappy, so I wanted to make him smile. I didn't do anything else."

Wei shi looked at her daughter with a gaze as though looking at a little
piglet that had finally learned how to dig up cabbage. With a straight face,
she pinched her cheek, "You've learned how to woo beauties at such a
young age like your father."

"How can it be the same?" Hua Liuli took the opportunity to nestle into Wei
shi's arms, "Father's heart belongs to mother alone. Your daughter just
cannot bear to see the beauty saddened."

"I thought you had an interest in the Crown Prince," Wei shi couldn't bear to
scold her daughter, and when she acted spoiled, she lost all principles, "If
you truly like the Crown Prince, your mother will think of a way to help get
that person for you."

"Mother, I only admire the Crown Prince. I don't have any romantic
feelings for him," Hua Liuli feared her mother might actually go and
propose marriage to the Emperor, so she quickly said, "I just want to
accompany you and father. And also raise a few male pets. I won't squander
a good man like the Crown Prince."

"That's fine too," Wei shi nodded, "Noble men don't understand how to
please women like male pets do."

"Mother, please don't let Father hear you say that," Hua Liuli quickly said,
"Otherwise, he will suspect that you're being unfaithful."

"Tsk," Wei shi patted Hua Liuli's head. "I see you've inherited your mother's
charm, but your talent for coaxing beauties comes from him."

"Mother, you're a female general who defends the borders, while I am a

delicate and sickly beautiful young lady. We're different, we're different."

"Heh," Wei shi chuckled with a cryptic meaning.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 31 – Taoist Temple

The next day, when Hua Liuli woke up, the sun was already high up in the
sky.

The palace maids at Shoukang Palace had gotten used to Fushou Junzhu's
habit of waking up late and secretly sympathized with her. She was
originally a wealthy young lady, but due to her poor health, she couldn't
enjoy the luxuries and pleasures of life. Medicine had become a constant
necessity for her.

When Hua Liuli woke up, the Empress Dowager had the palace maids serve
her breakfast.

"Your mother went to Chengyang Palace to meet the Emperor. She will
come to pick you up later," the Empress Dowager said with a smile, "This
Grieving One didn't sleep well last night. This Grieving One heard that you
left the palace yesterday?"

Hua Liuli swallowed the food, rinsed her mouth, and replied, "Empress
Dowager, I unintentionally returned late last night. Did I disturb you?"

"Don't be nervous. It's not a big deal. You young people should enjoy
yourselves while you can," the Empress Dowager said with a nostalgic
look. "When this Grieving One was young, this Grieving One used to
secretly sneak out of the palace with the late Emperor in the middle of the
night. After leaving the palace, we would be afraid of being discovered by
those court officials and would sneak around like thieves."

The smile on the Empress Dowager's face gradually faded, perhaps

reminiscing about the late Emperor who had already passed away, or
perhaps missing the elusive past. After a long while, she chuckled softly,
"Those were happy times."

Hua Liuli had heard stories about the late Emperor's relationship with the
Empress Dowager. It was said that they were childhood sweethearts and
had a good relationship. Unfortunately, this beautiful love story did not
have a perfect ending. After more than ten years of reigning, the late
Emperor started favoring a beautiful concubine, and after this concubine
gave birth to a prince, he mentioned the idea of establishing a new crown
prince.

However, the late Emperor's promise to the beautiful concubine was never
fulfilled because he fell ill soon after and never had the opportunity to bring
up the matter of establishing a new crown prince again.

Perhaps for the Empress Dowager, the man who had turned his back on her
and attempted to harm their child, his death was the best outcome.

Whether the late Emperor died of illness or other reasons, no one was
interested anymore. According to the official records, he died of illness. The
current Emperor was wise and virtuous, the Empress Dowager was kind
and virtuous. Everything was perfect.

Even now, whenever the Empress Dowager mentioned the late Emperor,
her tone was calm as if he had never hurt her. All the love, hatred, and
grievances seemed like fleeting clouds, not worth mentioning.

Hua Liuli was puzzled by the notions of love and hatred, yet she grasped
one fundamental truth: if she couldn't experience a relationship that
mirrored the unwavering devotion between her parents, it would be
preferable to not have it at all.

"Good girl," the Empress Dowager smiled. "As this Grieving One grows
older, seeing a young girl like you makes me reminisce about the past."

The Empress Dowager regained her composure and said, "In half a month,
it will be the Flower Festival. Many young girls will go to worship the Fairy
of Hundred Flowers. Do you have suitable clothes and accessories?"
"I have enough clothes, but for some reason, whenever I wear them, they
never look as good as the ones chosen by Your Majesty. I've been thinking
that maybe it's because my standards have been raised," Hua Liuli furrowed
her eyebrows slightly, "Your Majesty, it's your fault that my taste has
become more refined."

"So, it's this Grieving One's fault then? Where does that logic come from?"
The Empress Dowager was amused by Hua Liuli's words, "Don't worry, this
Grieving One has already prepared the outfits you will wear for the Flower
Festival. This Grieving One guarantees that no girl in the entire capital can
compare to you."

"Just now I misspoke earlier. Your Majesty is the best Empress Dowager,"
Hua Liuli playfully tried to make the Empress Dowager happy, "With you
by my side, I'm sure I can captivate countless men and women."

"That would be quite something," the Empress Dowager pulled Hua Liuli to
sit beside her, teasingly asking, "If all the young gentlemen and ladies cried
and begged to marry you, what would you do?"

"Then I would hide here with Your Majesty," Hua Liuli confidently replied,
"The clothes and accessories Your Majesty gives me make me more
beautiful, so Your Majesty should bear some responsibility for any troubles
that arise."

Hua Liuli's words amused the Empress Dowager, wiping away the lingering
melancholy. The young girl by her side was beautiful and adorable, making
it impossible to dwell on a man who had long passed away.

When Wei Mingyue returned from Chenyang Palace, she witnessed this
scene. The Shoukang Palace was filled with palace attendants holding
jewel-adorned luxurious robes, while the Empress Dowager resembled a
frivolous young nobleman eager to entertain a beauty, allowing the beauty
to choose from these exquisite garments and accessories.

Oh, her troublesome daughter was the beauty being indulged and pampered.

"The ruby pendant on this one..."

"Your fair and tender skin will match this one," without waiting for Hua
Liuli to speak, the Empress Dowager had a palace maid collect it for her.

"You usually wear clothes in plain and light colors. This Grieving One
thinks this red embroidered skirt looks good on you as well," the Empress
Dowager picked up a thin, gauzy cloak and draped it over the red skirt,
examining it, "With this combination, you will look like a celestial being
descending to earth, perfect."

"Empress Dowager," Wei Mingyue was not particularly interested in

hairpins and jewelry. Whenever she saw them, she would get a headache.

"You're back so soon?" The Empress Dowager felt a bit disappointed. She
had wanted to choose a few more outfits and accessories for Hua Liuli.

As she grew older, she didn't have much to do on regular days. This had
become her only hobby and interest.

She wondered how this girl from the Hua family managed to look so good.
Although she appeared thin and weak, she had a natural elegance that made
everything she wore look beautiful. Dressing up this kind of girl was the
easiest way to bring satisfaction to oneself.

"Come here, accompany this Grieving One in choosing for Liuli," the
Empress Dowager beckoned to Wei Mingyue, also expressing her
dissatisfaction, "This Grieving One knows both you and Yingting are
usually busy, but with such a beautiful little daughter, you should dress her
well. Heaven blessed you with such a pretty daughter, don't waste her
beauty."

"Empress Dowager, my husband and I can't bear to let Liuli suffer..." Wei
Mingyue began to say, but the Empress Dowager interrupted her.

"In my opinion, if you don't dress her well, it's a waste," the Empress
Dowager pointed at a box of jewelry, "Take a look. Which one suits Liuli
the best?"
Wei Mingyue's expression stiffened, "Empress Dowager, it would be easier
for me to go to the border to fight the enemy."

"Liuli, don't learn from your mother. When she was young, she found
dressing up and putting on makeup troublesome, so she would go out
wearing men's clothing," the Empress Dowager turned around to select
earrings for Hua Liuli, "She attracted girls in the capital, not boys."

Hua Liuliu covered her mouth and laughed. No wonder there were still
young girls wanting to marry her mother.

The Empress Dowager knew that the family of four must be longing for
each other, so she didn't keep the mother and daughter for long. She let Hua
Liuli take the preferred items and leave.

When Hua Liuli returned home, the plaque outside the gate had changed
from "Hua Family Estate" to "Marquis Zhongyong Estate," and the
gatekeeper had been replaced by soldiers wearing armor.

"Mother, didn't Father already petition to be relieved of his military duties?"

According to the regulations, those without a military position were not
allowed to have armed guards.

"The Emperor wanted to appoint your father as the Minister of War, but
your father declined due to his old injuries." Wei Mingyue stepped into the
Marquis Estate, "The Emperor allowed your father to retain the title of
Great General and bestowed upon him the additional title of Imperial Tutor
to the Crown Prince."

"I see," Hua Liuli sighed softly, "That's good, then."

"There are grown-ups taking care of the family matters. Why are you
sighing when you are so young?" Wei Mingyue walked to her seat and
dismissed the servants who came to pay their respects to her, "The Emperor
also conferred upon me the title of Marquis. Even if your father and I no
longer hold military power, being a family with two marquises is enough to
make others jealous."
Just as they were speaking, Hua Yingting entered with Hua Changkong.
Finally, the four of them had a chance to talk to each other.

"Mother," Hua Changkong bowed deeply to Wei Mingyue.

"These past few days when your father and I were not present, you took
good care of your sister and the estate. Thank you for your hard work," Wei
Mingyue, in front of her children, never acted like a female general. She
patted her son's shoulder.

"The fact that both of you returned safely makes me relieved," Hua
Changkong smiled, "Sister is very obedient, so I don't need to worry about
her."

"You don't need to speak up for her. I know what kind of person she is; I
understand," Wei Mingyue tapped Hua Liuli's forehead and then turned to
Hua Changkong, "You seem a bit thin. Don't study too hard; your health is
important."

"Yes, health is the most important," Hua Yingting quickly nodded, "In our
family, people come first, everything else comes after."

"Father, Mother, I understand and will act within my limits," Hua

Changkong said, "But now that Great Jin is at peace, in the next forty to
fifty years, the status of civil officials will surpass that of military generals.
Our Hua family needs a scholar to establish a foothold in the court."

"In that case, you should drink more Shouwu and Dong Quai chicken
soup," Hua Liuli softly said while the rest of her family were discussing a
serious topic, "And also eat black sesame."

"Why?" Hua Yingting curiously asked. "Good child, what does that have to
do with your third brother studying?"

"Because studying too much can cause hair loss," Hua Liuli said, "Third
Brother is handsome, but if he loses his hair, he won't look good anymore."
Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue both looked at their son and imagined what
he would look like bald. They immediately shook their heads, "Then he
must drink it."

The Hua family couldn't have such an ugly son.

Hua Changkong fell silent. At this moment, he deeply doubted whether he

was truly their biological son.

"Is Prince A’Wa causing trouble today?" the bald Minister of Justice,
rubbed his forehead as flipped through the documents in his hand,
seemingly amused.

"Prince A’Wa is no longer causing trouble. Deputy Minister Pei's method

worked. We gave him half a bowl of water today and he obediently drank it
all without making a fuss," the official in charge of guarding Prince A’Wa
reported, "However, from the looks of it, he seems to have not given up on
seeing Fushou Junzhu."

"Pay no attention to him," Zhang Shuo discovered something interesting

while going through the genealogical records of everyone involved in the
case, "Speaking of Fushou Junzhu, I find the Hua family quite interesting,"
Zhang Shuo beckoned to Pei Jihuai, who was sitting in the corner reading
the information, "Come here and take a look."

"Daren?" Pei Jihuai thought Zhang Shuo had found some useful evidence.
As he approached, he saw Zhang Shuo pointing to a few names on the
documents, all of whom were ancestors of the Hua family.

"Daren, what does this mean?"

"When we think of the Hua family, we regard them as a family of military

generals, but we haven't noticed that they have also produced several
capable civil officials," Zhang Shuo pointed to one of the names, "There
was even one who reached the highest position among civil officials, the
position of Prime Minister."
Most of these civil officials from the Hua family not only held high
positions but also retired peacefully to their hometowns. Perhaps because
the military achievements of the Hua family were too prominent, few
people paid attention to this fact.

After pointing out these facts to Pei Jihuai, Zhang Shuo smiled and
collected the documents in his hand, rubbing his bald head, "But this is their
family affair, it doesn't concern us much. There's no need to gossip about
it."

"You're right, Daren," Pei Jihuai thought for a moment but felt that he might
be overthinking it. Maybe it was just a coincidence?

"Daren, the Crown Prince's entourage has arrived."

Zhang Shuo didn't understand the purpose of the Crown Prince's visit and
quickly stood up, "Please have His Royal Highness enter."

"Zhang Shuo, there's no need for formalities," the Crown Prince said as he
entered with his attendants, raising his hand to waive their greetings, "Gu is
here today to meet Jinpo's Second Prince."

"Please, Your Royal Highness," Zhang Shuo didn't refuse and readily led
the way.

There was an unpleasant smell in the dungeon, but Zhang Shuo had grown
accustomed to it and didn't think much of it. One of the Crown Prince's
attendants had already taken out a handkerchief and handed it to him.

The Crown Prince covered his nose and mouth with the handkerchief, not
hiding his disdain for the place. Whenever his attendants saw someone with
an unattractive appearance in the cell, they quickly pulled back the curtains
and blocked both sides of the Crown Prince's path.

If there happened to be straw on the ground, the eunuchs would pick it up in

advance, as though that piece of straw would dirty the esteemed feet of the
Crown Prince.
Pei Jihuai glanced at the Crown Prince's clean soles. Last night, he had seen
the Crown Prince with mud on his shoes, but the attendants didn't show
such fear and reverence.

"Your Royal Highness, Prince A’Wa, the hostage from the Kingdom of
Jinpo, is imprisoned here," Zhang Shuo had his subordinates open the door
and bowed, "If Your Royal Highness has any questions, please feel free to
ask. We will be waiting outside."

The officials from the Ministry of Justice left, leaving only the Crown
Prince's entourage.

When it came to being tactful, Zhang Shuo was a professional.

Prince A’Wa had his hands and feet shackled. The shackles were locked to
iron chains that were welded to the wall. Even if the cell door was wide
open, he couldn't escape.

Two days without food had made him look extremely haggard, the corners
of his cracked lips were pale with sickness.

Hearing someone speak, he opened his weary eyes and asked hoarsely,
"Who... are you?"

The person who entered was dressed in luxurious brocade, followed by a

considerable number of attendants, indicating a distinguished identity.

The Crown Prince glanced at the dirt and grime in the cell that hadn't been
cleaned for who knows how long. He didn't step inside, nor did he even sit
on the chair brought by the eunuchs.

As the favorite son of the King of Jinpo, Prince A’Wa was fairly good-
looking, except for his messy hair and a long-untended beard that made him
appear very disheveled.

Prince A’Wa had been waiting for a long time, but the other party remained
silent, which made him uneasy. Ever since he arrived in the Great Jin
Empire, he had tested their limits by going on a hunger strike, but the Great
Jin officials seemed indifferent to his protests, as though they didn't care
about his life or death.

The more indifferent Great Jin was toward him, the more unsettled he
became. It indicated that Great Jin no longer regarded the Kingdom of Jinpo
with importance and had become arrogant.

After understanding his situation, Prince A’Wa became more obedient. He

had to return alive because only by returning alive could he become the
King of Jinpo.

"What is your identity?" He struggled to stand up, supporting himself on the

railing of the cell, and bowed to the visitor.

"Gu heard that Prince A’Wa had been very dissatisfied with our treatment
here in Great Jin," the Crown Prince raised an eyebrow slightly, "But from
what Gu sees today, Prince A’Wa seems to be adapting well to life in Great
Jin."

He was handsome, with slightly raised peach blossom eyes and eyebrows,
as if mocking others.

Feeling humiliated, Prince A’Wa lowered his head, concealing his

expression from the Crown Prince, "So it is the esteemed Crown Prince of
Great Jin."

"As the host, Gu should come and greet the guest," the Crown Prince raised
his hand slightly, and the eunuch brought wine and food in front of Prince
A’Wa, "Gu heard that Prince A’Wa wanted to meet our Junzhu? However,
Junzhu is a young lady, it is not appropriate for her to meet Prince A’Wa. So
Gu came personally."

Seeing Prince A’Wa not touching the food and wine, the Crown Prince's
expression turned slightly cold, "What's wrong? Does Prince A’Wa find the
food and wine Gu prepared for you unsatisfactory?"

"Thank you for your generosity, Crown Prince," Prince A’Wa said coldly as
he picked up the wine jug and took a sip. The Emperor of Great Jin held the
Crown Prince in high favor and trust, and he couldn't afford to offend him.

But he had heard that the emperors of the Great Jin were always inherently
suspicious of their children. The Crown Prince's arrogant behavior would
inevitably make the Emperor of Great Jin become dissatisfied with him
sooner or later.

When chaos ensued among the princes of Great Jin, there would still be a
chance for Prince A’Wa and the Kingdom of Jinpo.

Thinking of the territories they had yielded in the surrender letter, Prince
A’Wa's eyes turned red with hatred. If it weren't for falling for the Hua
family's plot and believing in that young lady's lies, he wouldn't have ended
up in this situation.

"Eat the meat," the Crown Prince lifted his chin.

The meat had already turned cold, but Prince A’Wa hadn't eaten for two
days. The first bite satisfied him, but after a few more bites, he couldn't help
but feel the urge to vomit. However, he knew that if he vomited now, he
would offend the Crown Prince of Great Jin.

He covered his mouth and forcibly swallowed the greasy and nauseating
meat.

"Continue," the Crown Prince didn't even raise an eyelid.

It wasn't until Prince A’Wa finished all the meat on the table, enduring the
throbbing pain in his veins, that the Crown Prince slowly spoke, "Prince
A’Wa, known for your bravery and military prowess, once led troops to
slaughter nearly ten thousand civilians in Huzhou of Great Jin," His gaze
turned cold, "But today, you're nothing special."

After speaking, he turned and left the dungeon. Nodding slightly to the
officials of the Ministry of Justice guarding outside, the Crown Prince sat in
his sedan chair.

"Your Royal Highness, are we returning to the palace?"

The sedan chair was quiet for a moment before the Crown Prince spoke,
"Go to the Taoist temple in the suburbs."

After seeing off the Crown Prince, Pei Jihuai said, "Daren, it seems like the
Crown Prince is not in a good mood today."

"Today is the anniversary of Empress Gonghui's death," Zhang Shuo

whispered, "It's normal for the Crown Prince to be in a bad mood."

"Where did the Crown Prince go today?" Emperor Changlong asked the
eunuch beside him.

"Your Majesty, according to the report from the Crown Prince's attendants,
the Crown Prince went to the Ministry of Justice and then planned to relax
in the suburbs of the capital," Zhao Sancai glanced at the Emperor's
expression, "Should we summon the Crown Prince back to the palace?"

"No need, let him go today," Emperor Changlong waved his hand. At this
moment, a eunuch came in to report that Ying Wang requested an audience.

"Not seeing him," there was no need to guess; the eldest son had come to
complain, and Emperor Changlong couldn't be bothered to indulge a grown-
up man child, "He's already this old and hasn't made any progress. He only
knows to come and complain to me about Yuansu."

Zhao Sancai bowed his head and remained silent.

Upon hearing that the Emperor had refused to see him, Ying Wang turned
his head grumpily and headed towards the Lincui Palace. If the Emperor
wouldn't see him, he wouldn't be able to discuss the matter of the Crown
Prince mistreating the prisoners with the Emperor.

"Good that he's mistreating that person," Consort Xian said after hearing
what Ying Wang had said, not even bothering to look at him, "I heard that
this prince named A Wang led an attack on Huzhou adjacent to Qinghan
Prefecture a few years ago and killed nearly ten thousand people of our
Great Jin..."
"Mother, his name is Prince A'Wa."

"I don't care what his name is, A'Mao or A'Gou1Mocking the name of
Prince A'Wa. Mao and Gou means Cat and Dog respectively.," Consort
Xian slammed the table, "This kind of person should be dealt with by the
Crown Prince. Why did you want to go and complain?!"

Ying Wang: "..."

"Forget it," Consort Xian grew angrier the more she thought about it, "Since
the Crown Prince has set this example, why don't you go and make trouble
for that A'Mao or A'Gou as well? Consider it venting for those innocent
commoners."

"Mother..." Ying Wang looked at the Consort Xian speechlessly, "Aren't we

trying to find evidence against the Crown Prince's misconduct against
prisoners?"

"What evidence is that?" Consort Xian stood up and pushed Ying Wang out
of the room, "You better think more carefully about your actions."

So, not long after the Minister of Justice had sent away the Crown Prince,
Ying Wang, with an unhappy expression, arrived. Before they could figure
out the purpose of Ying Wang's visit, they saw him mock and taunt the
Second Prince of Jinpo, before leaving in a hurry.

Pei Jihuai looked at Zhang Shuo with confusion, "Daren, it seems like Ying
Wang is also not in a good mood today?"

Half an hour later, Ning Wang also arrived after hearing the news. Though
his mind wasn't very sharp, he knew what his Eldest Brother and the Crown
Prince were up to, so he followed suit in learning how to handle such
situations.

However, his inherently simple and kind personality, coupled with a fear of
death, made it difficult for him to grasp the essence of insults. He had to ask
his attendants to prepare a list of insults for him in advance, then he sat
outside the prison cell on a chair and, holding the script, hurled a series of
insults.

After reading the script, he felt that his performance wasn't good enough.
He spat towards the cell where Prince A'Wa was imprisoned; satisfied with
it, he patted his slightly protruding belly and left contentedly.

People working at the Ministry of Justice: "..."

It seems that most princes were in a bad mood today.

After finishing their midday meal, Wei Mingyue said to Hua Liuli, "When I
left the capital city years ago, I visited a Taoist temple in the suburbs and
made a vow, asking the immortal to bless your safe birth. Now that I've
returned to the capital, I should fulfill that vow."

"Mother, it's already afternoon. You've just returned to the capital, why not
rest for a few days before going?" Hua Liuli felt sorry for her mother's
health and advised, "The Taoist temple will still be there. It's not going
anywhere."

"When it's time to fulfill a vow, the sooner the better," Wei Mingyue gently
touched her daughter's head. When she was pregnant with her, she traveled
all the way from the capital to Qinghan Prefecture, and she thought several
times that the child might not survive. However, the child was exceptionally
well-behaved, not causing her any trouble, not even a single bout of
morning sickness.

Even the time when she spotted those suspicious spies from Qinghan
Prefecture, it was because the child suddenly kicked her belly a few times
that she sat down at a nearby tea stall to rest and noticed them.

Because of that incident, the child, who was just seven months old in her
womb, couldn't wait to come into this world.

In her heart, this child was a gift from the gods to the two of them, precious
as a gem, so they named her Liuli.
Liuli was precious and fragile, they wanted to protect her for a lifetime.

"Liuli, come with me," Wei Mingyue then turned to Hua Yingting,
"Yingting, obediently wait at home with Changkong."

Hua Yingting sat back grumpily, "Alright, I won't go with you. Just try not
to look at those young gentlemen and ladies on the roadside too much."

Wei Mingyue glared at him and he quickly shut his mouth.

"Father, I will take good care of Mother, so don't worry," Hua Liuli blinked
at Hua Yingting.

Hua Yingting thought, forget it. When you two are together, all you do is
stare at young gentlemen and ladies. He even worried that his wife's doting
on their daughter had no limits. What if their daughter took a liking to some
young man and her mother helped her steal that person? What would they
do?

The mother and daughter happily left, leaving behind the father and son to
watch over the house.

"Why is the Taoist temple built on top of the mountain?" Hua Liuli, being
dragged up the mountain by her mother, felt like a frost-bitten cabbage.

"You're so lazy..." Suddenly, Wei Mingyue's tone changed, "Your body is

weak, so the more you worship, the more the gods will bless you."

Hua Liuli looked up at Wei Mingyue: Mother, how can you lie in front of
the gods?

Wei Mingyue smiled: The gods are very magnanimous. They won't mind
my small lies.

The mother and daughter calmly let go of each other's hands and both
bowed to the person at the top of the steps. "Your Royal Highness, the
Crown Prince."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 32 – Grass-Woven
Butterfly

Those who served the Crown Prince knew that during the Lantern Festival,
his mood would not be particularly good, sometimes even sleepless
throughout the night.

However, last night was different. The Crown Prince returned from outside
the palace and actually slept for a few hours in his chambers. This brought
relief to those attending to him.

Every year on the 16th day of the first lunar month, the Crown Prince
would come to this Taoist temple on the outskirts of the capital to light a
lamp for the late Empress Gonghui. In the past, there were people who
visited this temple at this time with ulterior motives and tried to please the
Crown Prince, hoping for some benefits, but ended up causing trouble for
themselves. As a result, rumors spread, and now no one dared to come to
this place on the 16th day of the first lunar month.

When they heard voices outside the temple, the Eastern Palace attendants
were secretly amazed. Who had the audacity to come here?

But once they saw the person clearly, the attendants quickly retreated.

"General Wei, Fushou Junzhu," the Crown Prince's gaze shifted to Hua
Liuli, inviting them to come closer, "Are you two also here to offer
incense?"

Also?
Hua Liuli was somewhat surprised. She never expected that the Crown
Prince, who dared to sneak food during the ceremonial offering to the
heavens, would actually be superstitious about such things.

"This humble general brought my daughter here to fulfill a vow," Wei

Mingyue remembered when they left the capital, how the Crown Prince
cautiously touched her belly, worried about how the baby inside would feel.
The Crown Prince had trusted them, the husband and wife, when he was
young. Even after many years apart, she still felt a certain closeness to him,
"When this humble general was pregnant and was leading the troops, I
made a vow in this temple. If the child could survive safely, I promised to
come here personally to fulfill the vow."

The Crown Prince noticed that the servants of the Hua family were carrying
many items for offering and knew that what General Wei said was true,
"General, the temple has changed quite a bit over the years, you might not
be familiar with the priests. Let Gu guide you," the Crown Prince turned
and walked towards the temple, "It has been over a decade since we last
met. You have worked hard all these years, General."

"It's been alright. Although the border is harsh, it has its own unique charm
compared to the capital," Wei Mingyue turned to look at Hua Liuli, "It's just
that this child has suffered, living in the bitter cold since birth."

"Mother, Qinghan Prefecture is actually quite good," Hua Liuli smiled, her
eyes curved, "I haven't experienced much hardship."

The Crown Prince shifted his gaze away from Hua Liuli and stepped into
the temple gate. He saw two female disciples coming from the shrine to
welcome the guests.

Hua Liuli received the incense and paid her respects before the three statues
of the Three Pure Ones, placing the incense in the censer.

She didn't understand much about Taoism or Buddhism, and seeing her
mother was about to engage in a philosophical discussion with the priests,
she decided to quietly leave through the side door of the shrine.
Outside the temple, there was a courtyard paved with blue stone slabs. Old
trees lined both sides of the courtyard, adding a touch of ethereal
atmosphere to this secluded mountain temple.

The afternoon sunlight of early spring sprinkled on the leaves, leaving

scattered spots of light on the ground.

"Junzhu," the Crown Prince followed her and came out, "There are tables
and chairs nearby. We can sit here and wait for a while."

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli looked around the flower
bushes and saw a stone table and stone stools hidden behind the trees. Once
they sat down, the priests brought tea and fruits.

The air was filled with a faint smell of incense, occasionally a priest would
pass by, creating a serene atmosphere.

"The climate in Qinghan Prefecture is harsh, it is not suitable for crops to

grow. Junzhu, you have been staying there all these years. You must have
endured a lot of hardships."

One of the priests was reciting scriptures, sometimes loud, sometimes soft,
like rolling clouds in the sky.

"Although it cannot compare to the capital, since I was young, I haven't

really experienced much hardship," Hua Liuli shook her head, "Every year,
His Majesty sends timely supplies and many rewards. I am the youngest in
the family, so everyone spoils me. The common people in the city also treat
me warmly because I am the daughter of the two great generals."

Amused by Hua Liuli's sincerity, the Crown Prince shook his head and
sighed, "Junzhu, as the Crown Prince, you should complain to Gu at this
time, about how difficult life was in Qinghan Prefecture, how tough your
days have been from childhood until now. Only then can Gu can appreciate
the dedication of the Hua family."

"Is it necessary?" Hua Liuli rested her chin on her hand, "Is it too late to say
it again now?"
"Gu has had a good memory since Gu was young. It's not easy to forget the
things you said just now," The Crown Prince picked up the teacup, ready to
drink, but was stopped by Hua Liuli's outstretched hand, "Your Royal
Highness, wait a moment."

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow.

"Although this place is on the outskirts of the capital, it is not the palace
after all," Hua Liuli pointed to the teacup in his hand, "It's not wrong to be a
little more cautious about what Your Royal Highness consumes."

"Thank you for the reminder, Junzhu," the Crown Prince smiled and put
down the teacup, "Gu was careless."

"Just a sudden curiosity," Hua Liuli looked up and surveyed the temple,
"Although this temple does have some peculiarities, how did Your Royal
Highness end up here?"

"Just taking a casual stroll, lighting a lamp for the deceased, wishing her a
smooth reincarnation," the smile on the Crown Prince's face gradually
faded, and he lowered his eyelids, his dense eyelashes trembling gently,
"This is all Gu can do for her."

Seeing the Crown Prince in such a melancholic state, Hua Liuli secretly
wondered if the person he loved had tragically passed away. She tactfully
refrained from asking further questions and remained a quiet listener.

No wonder Ying Wang and Ning Wang had already begun arranging their
betrothals, but the future Crown Princess remained unspoken.

Three years ago, a soldier died on the battlefield, and his betrothed traveled
thousands of miles just to bring his remains back home.

That woman was tough and thin, her eyes devoid of emotion. She held the
urn tightly as if grasping onto her last hope. Hua Liuli followed behind her,
escorting her out of the city until her figure was no longer visible.
Throughout the entire journey, the woman did not shed a single tear, but
Hua Liuli felt as if she had cried countless times in her heart.

The bitter taste of love severed by life and death is unbearable.

Looking into the Crown Prince's eyes, Hua Liuli couldn't help but feel pity.
But she would never let the Prince sense anything amiss, as she was a
thoughtful person.

"Please take solace, Your Royal Highness. The past is gone, you must live
well." Hua Liuli advised, "Surely she would want you to live a fulfilling
life."

"Thank you," the Crown Prince replied, "Gu knows."

In the face of life and death, any words are feeble and powerless. Hua Liuli
stood up, plucked a few withered plants stems, and swiftly twisted them
with her fingers, creating a butterfly in no time.

"Your Royal Highness, please extend your hand."

When the Crown Prince placed his palm up on the stone table, Hua Liuli
placed the grass-woven butterfly in his palm, "Your Royal Highness, in
Qinghan Prefecture, I once heard an old person tell a story. It is said that the
Underworld possesses a type of butterfly that can guide lost souls back to
the netherworld and convey the longing of the living for their loved ones."

"If Your Royal Highness places this butterfly under your pillow tonight,
perhaps your heartfelt sentiments will be heard by her," Hua Liuli smiled
and winked at the Crown Prince, "So, Your Royal Highness should rest
early tonight and not stay up late."

This butterfly was not beautifully crafted, with uneven wings and a slightly
bloated abdomen. He doubted if such a butterfly could even fly, considering
its swollen belly.

He closed his palm and kept the butterfly, "Thank you."

"Liuli," Wei Mingyue stood outside the flower bushes. One cannot tell how
long she had been standing there, but her expression looked normal as if she
hadn't seen the scene just now, "The abbot wants to see you, come with
me."

"Your Royal Highness, please wait here for a moment. I'll be back soon,"
Hua Liuli got up and walked toward Wei Mingyue.

After Hua Liuli reached her side, Wei Mingyue held her hand and then
turned to leave.

"Your Royal Highness," the Crown Prince's trusted aide whispered, "Why
didn't you tell Junzhu that Your Royal Highness is the one who supports
this Taoist temple and there is no problem with the tea?"

"It's a rare kindness," the Crown Prince picked up the teacup and took a sip
before slowly setting it down. Suddenly, he felt that the teacup's position
was different from when Hua Liuli left, so he reached out and adjusted it
slightly, restoring it to its original position.

Hua Liuli thought that the abbot of the Taoist temple would be an old Taoist
with white hair, but she didn't expect to see a young and handsome person.

"Please have a seat, benefactors," the abbot invited the mother and daughter
to sit down and personally poured tea for both of them.

They sat in a pavilion built on the rocks, and with a glance, they could see
the scenery below the mountain. If there was fog in the mountains at this
time, it would truly resemble a scene from a fairyland.

"Thank you, Enlightened One."

"I am Qinghui. Both of you can call me by that name," Abbot Qinghui
placed the tea in front of Hua Liuli, "This tea is made from fresh flowers
dried in the four seasons. It has the effects of nourishing the skin and
calming the mind, even those with weak constitutions can drink it."

Hua Liuli noticed his hands, which were neatly trimmed and fair.
"I have been practicing under my master since I was young. After my
master ascended to the heavens on a crane, I became the abbot of this Taoist
temple," Abbot Qinghui had beautiful eyes, untouched by the mundane
world, "When General Wei came to visit this humble temple, I was still
young and didn't have the chance to have a conversation with you. After so
many years, General Wei still looks as heroic as ever."

"Abbot Qinghui, you flatter me," Wei Mingyue sighed, "I haven't returned
for many years and didn't expect to not even see the Enlightened One."

"My master once told me that General Wei is a star of war who came down
to protect the country and family."

Wei Mingyue smiled at the words, it was hard to tell whether she believed
in such sayings or not.

"Upon hearing that Junzhu was returning to the capital, I had the intention
of visiting your estate, but I usually stay in this Taoist temple and rarely
have the opportunity to go out," Abbot Qinghui looked at Hua Liuli,
"Fortunately, today the Three Pure Ones blessed me, and I finally had the
chance to see the true appearance of Junzhu."

"Why did you insist on seeing me, Abbot Qinghui?" Hua Liuli curiously
asked.

"Because before General Wei left, my master forgot to give her a written
document," Abbot Qinghui took out a wooden stick from his sleeve. The
stick looked very old, who knows how long it has been there.

Wei Mingyue suddenly remembered that when she made a wish at the
Taoist temple, she randomly picked a stick. However, that stick accidentally
fell into the gap between the altar, but she didn't care about it and left that
day.

Unexpectedly, after so many years, this Taoist temple still preserved the
stick that fell into the gap.
Wei Mingyue took the stick and saw that it was blank, "What does this
mean?"

"This is a blank stick," Abbot Qinghui looked at Hua Liuli, "It means there
is no solution."

Wei Mingyue's expression turned sour. She had drawn this stick years ago
when she made a wish for the child in her womb. What does it mean for it
to be blank? It definitely doesn't have any good implications.

She exerted force on the stick, and it snapped in half. She coldly said, "We
create our own destiny. I don't believe in these things."

"In everything, there are always unexpected circumstances," Abbot Qinghui

looked at the broken stick and smiled faintly, "Walking the path of
cultivation goes against the natural order. I also believe that we shouldn't
put too much trust in these things, but..."

Abbot Qinghui's smile became more inclusive and gentle, "It seems that
Junzhu and I have some connection through Taoism. Would Junzhu be
willing to know more?"

"Huh?" Hua Liuli shook her head in her mind, no, no, it's too bothersome.

"If Junzhu is not willing, I will come to ask again next time," Abbot
Qinghui smiled even more warmly, "Perhaps next time, Junzhu will be
interested in cultivation."

Hua Liuli shook her head inwardly. No, no, it's enough to have bothered
them.

"The capital is like the deep sea, seemingly calm but actually harboring
hidden waves. General Wei and General Hua are loyal and brave generals
of Great Jin, I can't bear to see both of you trapped in a quagmire," Abbot
Qinghui didn't seem to insist on Hua Liuli's cultivation. He turned to look at
the scenery between the mountains, "Please take care of yourselves, two
generals."
"Thank you for the reminder, Abbot Qinghui," Wei Mingyue said, "His
Majesty is a wise monarch of our time. Even if there are turbulent waves, as
long as His Majesty is present, the ship will not be engulfed by the waves."

Abbot Qinghui performed a Taoist ritual, "May the virtuous protect the
country and defend the family. With merits as vast as the sky, no matter
when, there will be immortal beings protecting and turning misfortune into
fortune."

"Thank you for your kind words, Abbot Qinghui," Wei Mingyue returned
the gesture.

"Junzhu, please take care of yourself," Abbot Qinghui seemed as if he had

only come to deliver a blank stick. He took a deep look at Hua Liuli and
disappeared behind the stone bridge.

Wei Mingyue stared at the broken stick on the table with a somewhat
gloomy expression.

"Mother, a blank stick is actually a good sign," Hua Liuli picked up the
broken stick, "It's like His Majesty giving me a blank imperial decree with a
seal, allowing me to fill in whatever I want. It's great."

Amused by her words, Wei Mingyue stood up and said, "I made a wish
back then, and now I've come to fulfill it. My debts with the gods are now
settled."

"My debts are settled, but you better not create new debts outside," Wei
Mingyue hinted at something.

"What debts?" Hua Liuli lifted her flower tea and took a sip, her slender
fingers lightly tapping the stone table.

"Emotional debts," Wei Mingyue raised an eyebrow, "Just now, were you
making up little animals for the Crown Prince?"

Hua Liuli nodded.

"Your father likes to use this little trick to woo me. Your older brothers also
enjoy making up stories about rabbits and dogs to woo their wives. I didn't
expect you to be even more skilled, not only making up things but also
making up stories," Wei Mingyue reached out and poked Hua Liuli's
forehead, "The Hua family may not have learned anything else, but the art
of wooing people is endless."

"Mother," Hua Liuli covered her forehead and said, "I just wanted to make
the Crown Prince happy, not to trap him. Besides, the Crown Prince has
someone irreplaceable in his heart. How could he easily fall in love with
someone because they coaxed him?"

If he didn't like her, why would he personally come to this Taoist temple on
the mountain and light a lamp for her?

What an intense and sorrowful love it is.

"Enough, if you truly like someone from the imperial family..."

"Mother," Hua Liuli held Wei Mingyue's hand and said, "It's not suitable for
your daughter to be with an imperial family descendant. Besides, the
imperial family wouldn't let a weak and sickly person become the Crown
Princess. This is for the best."

Wei Mingyue looked at her daughter and said, "My child, you must
remember that the Hua family's path to greatness or decline does not
depend on a marriage alliance. You don't have to worry about us."

"I understand, Mother," Hua Liuli smiled, "Being a perfect young lady is
not all that great. There are merits in being gentle and weak. Besides, I still
want to become a famous delicate beauty in the world."

"Perhaps in a thousand or hundreds of years, there will still be poets and

scholars writing poems on me, using phrases like 'as beautiful as Liuli',
'surpassing Liuli', 'Liuli reincarnated', and so on..."

"Let's go, let's go home."

"Go home?"

"Go back and get some sleep, where everything exists in dreams."

When the mother and daughter returned, the Crown Prince was still waiting
for them.

"General, Junzhu, the mountain path is rugged. Let's go back together," the
Crown Prince smiled as he looked at them.

"Your Royal Highness, please," Wei Mingyue had no reservations and

immediately nodded in agreement.

When they reached the entrance of Marquis Zhongyong Estate, Hua Liuli
stood at the door and turned to look at the somewhat lonely Crown Prince
on horseback. She spoke, "Your Royal Highness, why not have dinner at
our humble residence before returning?"

When the host says, "Eat before you leave", and the guest says, "No need",
it is a basic display of common people's politeness and etiquette.

"In that case, Gu will not hesitate to intrude," the Crown Prince dismounted
with a smile on his face.

Evidently, the Crown Prince, who had lived in the palace since childhood,
did not understand the hypocritical etiquette of the common people.

Seeing his wife and daughter return with the Crown Prince, Hua Yingting
was somewhat surprised but not overly anxious. He had prepared a large
table of dishes and welcomed the Crown Prince to take a seat.

"The last time this humble general dined at the same table with Your Royal
Highness was fifteen years and four months ago," Hua Yingting raised his
teacup and said, "My wife doesn't allow me to drink alcohol, so I can only
offer you a cup of tea in place of wine."

"Thank you, General."

Hua Yingting winked at the Crown Prince when Wei Mingyue wasn't
paying attention and whispered, "It's not that I'm afraid of her. It's just that
as men, how can we let our wives get angry, right?"

"Yes," Hua Liuli leaned closer and whispered, "If Mother gets angry, you
won't be able to sleep tonight."

Coughing, Hua Yingting cleared his throat, "Your Royal Highness, since
you are here, please leave me some face."

The Crown Prince suppressed his laughter and said, "Just now, Gu didn't
hear clearly. What did Junzhu say?"

Hua Liuli smiled and raised an eyebrow, surprised that the Crown Prince
could speak like that.

The Crown Prince smiled gently in return.

"How is Your Royal Highness's martial arts training coming along these
days?" Hua Yingting separated himself from his daughter and asked the
Crown Prince, "When I left, I only taught Your Royal Highness
swordsmanship for a few months before going to the frontier. I wonder if
Your Royal Highness has improved?"

"General, after you left, Father Emperor had other people teach
swordsmanship to Gu, but they couldn't compare to you," the Crown Prince
spoke, "Now that you have returned, would you be willing to continue
teaching Gu?"

"Your Royal Highness, I'm honored by your high regard. It's just a pity that
I injured my bones on the battlefield, and now I can't even touch alcohol, let
alone wield a knife or a gun," Hua Yingting sighed regretfully, seemingly
saddened by his inability to return to the battlefield.

A maid came in carrying a bowl of medicinal soup. Hua Liuli took it and
drank it all in one gulp.
The other members of the Hua family seemed accustomed to Hua Liuli
taking medicine and didn't even change their expressions. The Crown
Prince furrowed his brows but didn't say anything.

After dinner, Hua Yingting called the Crown Prince and gave him a box of
things to bring back into the palace.

"These are interesting things that I received in Qinghan Prefecture. His

Majesty was interested in them when he was young. After all these years, I
don't know if his preferences have changed," Hua Yingting scratched his
head, "I feel embarrassed to give them to His Majesty, so I entrust the
Crown Prince to take them into the palace. His Majesty has always
cherished you, and even if he doesn't like them, he will accept them for
your sake."

"His Majesty will surely like the things General has sent," an attendant
behind the Crown Prince received the wooden box from Hua Yingting's
hands while the Crown Prince said, "Although General is not in the capital,
your correspondence with His Majesty has never ceased over the years.
This bond is different from that with others."

When he was young and ignorant, he secretly read the letters that General
Hua sent to his father. The letters contained various things, such as how his
daughter was cute and well-behaved, how General Wei treated him well, or
even about the delicious frontier delicacies he had eaten, regretting that he
couldn't bring some for His Majesty. They were much more interesting than
the routine greeting letters.

When his father found out that he had been reading them secretly, he simply
showed him the letters openly and said that General Hua was a loyal and
helpful minister. Later, he learned that General Hua would write letters back
to the capital every year, with simple and humorous words that made the
readers unable to help but laugh.

General Hua loved to mention his daughter the most in his letters. In his
letters, his precious daughter was described as more beautiful than other
girls, even if she just sneezed.
Her hair was longer than other girls', her eyes were more beautiful than
other girls', her skin was whiter than other girls'...

So, the first time he encountered Hua Liuli, he intentionally lifted the
curtain of the carriage to take a look at the little girl standing by the palace
wall.

Her eyes were big, her lips were small, and she was indeed as beautiful as
General Hua described in his letters, even more so than other girls.

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli poked her head out from behind Hua
Yingting and smiled at the Crown Prince, "I bid you farewell. Be careful on
your way."

"Farewell," The Crown Prince smiled at Hua Liuli and turned to leave the
Marquis Estate.

Leaving the warm and cozy house, the Crown Prince looked at the dark
streets and he felt his mood wasn't too bad. He returned to the palace and
presented the box that Hua Yingting had entrusted to him to the Emperor.

Emperor Changlong opened the wooden box, inside of which were some
interesting stones, wood carvings, clay figurines, and other items. There
were also some copies of calligraphy works, a few of them were even
counterfeit.

"This, it's from Yingting," Emperor Changlong recalled the news that
spread throughout the palace decades ago, about the late Emperor
considering reestablishing a new crown prince, causing him great distress
and loss of appetite.

After Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue learned about it, they brought a
bunch of little trinkets to cheer him up. They even told him that if the late
Emperor intended to depose him as the Crown Prince, they would escape
together and never let him be harmed by the new Crown Prince.

He never expected that a few decades would pass by in the blink of an eye,
and now their children were all grown up.
"Zhen heard that you went out to play with Fushou Junzhu last night?"
Emperor Changlong played with a clay figurine, looking at the Crown
Prince with a mysterious smile.

"The little girl has been stationed outside the capital for years and hasn't
seen the bustling city. So, Erchen accompanied her for a walk in the city,"
the Crown Prince replied.

"En," Emperor Changlong nodded, "Treat her as your little sister, and in
your leisure time, you should accompany her to explore the city more."

The Crown Prince stared at the candlestick on the wall without saying a
word.

Emperor Changlong handed the clay figurine to the Crown Prince, "Go
back and rest, remember to attend the court session tomorrow."

The Crown Prince held the ugly clay figurine and returned to the Eastern
Palace. He casually placed the figurine on the table and then noticed that
there were a few words engraved underneath it.

Handmade by a little girl in the Spring of the 23rd year of the Changlong
Dynasty.

As he touched those words, the Crown Prince chuckled lightly.

No wonder the clay figurine was so ugly; it turned out it was made by that
little girl.

As he was changing clothes after washing, something fell out of the

garment. The attending eunuch picked it up and took a look. It was... a
bundle of grass?

"Your Highness, should we keep this item?" the eunuch asked quietly.

The Crown Prince took the object from his hand and stared at it for a while,
"You all may leave."

"Yes," the palace attendants all withdrew.

The Crown Prince casually placed the grass-woven butterfly under the
pillow.

The little girl grew up, yet the butterfly she made is still ugly.

Hua Liuli had a dream. She dreamt of herself making small rabbits for a
group of little beauties, but no matter what, she couldn't make them well.
Then Jiamin Junzhu suddenly appeared and mocked her mercilessly.

After waking up from the dream, Hua Liuli felt that this dream was very
ominous.

Hua Liuli looked outside at the sunlight with a melancholic expression,

"The weather is getting warmer. I'm going to find Jiamin Junzhu and play
with her."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 33 – Appearances Can Be
Deceptive

"Fuma, our daughter seems to be reluctant to go out lately," Princess

Shunan expressed her concerns, "Could it be that she was frightened by the
incident with the bandits last time?"

Yao Fuma, who was playing with crickets, jokingly replied, "There are
many candidates coming to the capital recently to participate in the
upcoming Spring Examinations, so it's fine for her to stay at home."

Princess Shunan glared at him and slammed the teacup heavily on the table,
"I knew you were playing with crickets! Believe it or not, I will expose that
'General' you've been raising..."

"Hush," Yao Fuma quickly straightened his posture and nervously said,
"Don't speak nonsense. I've already changed the name of that cricket."

The couple's eyes met in the air, seemingly recalling something, and they
both avoided mentioning the three words "General" again.

"Princess, Fuma -- Fushou Junzhu has sent an invitation card, inviting our
Junzhu for a meeting," a maidservant entered with a card in hand.

Princess Shunan took the invitation card and glanced at it, then said without
hesitation, "Go and invite Junzhu, tell her that Fushou Junzhu wants to meet
her."

"Who invited me?" Jiamin Junzhu took the invitation card and glanced at it.
Immediately, she tossed it aside with a trembling hand, "Tell her I'm busy
and won't go."
"Junzhu, this is the Princess's intention," the maidservant looked hesitant
while delivering the message.

Jiamin Junzhu grabbed the invitation card and walked quickly to the front
hall, "Mother, didn't you tell me to stay away from Hua Liuli?" she asked,
"Now she's inviting me."

"It is correct that I told you to keep your distance from her, but she's the one
inviting you now," Princess Shunan avoided her daughter's angry gaze, "So,
you should go."

"I'm not going," Jiamin Junzhu felt embarrassed to tell her parents that she
couldn't help but feel scared when she saw Hua Liuli. So, she chose to
ignore her to avoid any trouble.

"Daughter, things are different today. Your hero, General Wei, has returned
to the capital. It would be better for you to go and please her daughter,"
Princess Shunan stood up, "Besides, Fushou Junzhu is different from her
mother. She's a delicate and gentle person. What's the harm in playing with
her?"

"General Wei's return is a good thing, but it doesn't mean I have to please
her daughter," Jiamin Junzhu shook her head vigorously, "I'm not going."

"Behave," Princess Shunan grabbed a stack of silver bills and handed them
to her daughter, then turned and walked towards the door, "The kitchen
won't prepare your favorite dishes for lunch. Have a good time with Fushou
Junzhu."

"Mother..."

"Father, what does mother mean?" Jiamin Junzhu turned her head and asked
her father, hoping her mother would change her mind, "I really don't want
to go out."

"Youth doesn't understand the value of fate until they're old and filled with
regret," Yao Fuma sighed, "My good daughter, listen to your mother and
have a good time with Fushou Junzhu. If the money is not enough, I have
more."

After saying that, he also handed a handful of silver bills to Jiamin Junzhu
and quickly left with the cage of crickets.

Clutching the stack of silver bills, Jiamin Junzhu's face kept changing. In
the end, she gritted her teeth and headed towards the main gate.

As soon as she reached the entrance, she saw Hua Liuli, who was wearing a
light-colored waist-bound dress, her slender waist as soft as a willow
branch. Suddenly, Jiamin Junzhu remembered a line from a poem that said,
"Gently held, boneless as if nothing, the fluttering sleeves dance like
butterflies in the wind."

But when she thought of this seemingly delicate woman who could wield a
sword and kill dozens of men, allowing their corpses to be dragged away by
fierce beasts, all Jiamin Junzhu could think of was the phrase "appearances
can be deceptive", which kept repeating in her mind.

"Sister Jiamin," seeing Jiamin Junzhu coming out, Hua Liuli smiled sweetly
and spoke softly, her voice like water and smoke, making one's bones go
weak.

Jiamin Junzhu walked briskly to Hua Liuli's side and asked softly, "What do
you want with me?"

"Sister Jiamin, I just came to play with you. Don't be so nervous," Hua Liuli
blinked her eyes, "Didn't you want to see me, sister?"

Seeing Hua Liuli's teary-eyed appearance, Jiamin Junzhu took a deep

breath, "You don't need to test me. I haven't told anyone about your secret."

"I know Junzhu keeps her promises," Hua Liuli reached out and held Jiamin
Junzhu's wrist, gently pulling her, "But we are sisters bound by life and
death. Talking about these things would only hurt our feelings. Come, let's
walk and play."
In despair, Jiamin Junzhu glanced back at the gates of the Princess Estate.
She didn't know if she would be able to return to the estate unscathed after
this.

"Young Miss, it seems that Jiamin Junzhu and Fushou Junzhu just passed
by our carriage."

Upon hearing the maid's words, Du Xiuying lifted the curtain of the
carriage and took a glance. She saw Jiamin Junzhu holding Hua Liuli's arm
and walking towards a teahouse. Their maids followed behind, their
expressions unclear.

Putting down the curtain, Du Xiuying turned a page in her book, but she
couldn't concentrate on reading.

Many people in the capital knew that General Hua's daughter was delicate
and prone to illness. Jiamin Junzhu, who had practiced martial arts since
childhood and had a proud personality, was incompatible with Hua Liuli.
What did she want by bringing Hua Liuli to the teahouse?

"A true gentleman values righteousness over personal gain..." Du Xiuying

put down the book and spoke, "Coachman, turn around and head to the
teahouse we just passed by."

If she hadn't seen it, it would have been fine. But if she witnessed
something unjust and refused to stand up, wouldn't she be no different from
a petty person?

Hua Liuli brought Jiamin Junzhu to the most popular teahouse the noble
ladies visit in the capital. She extended her finger and poked Jiamin
Junzhu's arm, saying, "Sister Jiamin, which private room do you usually
prefer to stay in?"

Jiamin Junzhu brushed off her hand and said to the clean female attendant,
"The usual one."

"Junzhu, please follow me," the female attendant smiled and led the two
upstairs, "We recently acquired some spring tea in the shop. Would you like
to try it, esteemed ladies?"

After Jiamin Junzhu nodded, the female attendant quickly made

arrangements and respectfully led them to a private room before quietly
leaving.

"Junzhu, have you forgotten? I don't drink tea," Hua Liuli asked the
attendant to replace the tea with plain boiled water and picked at the fruits
on the table, "It's been a while, Junzhu. How have you been?"

"What do you really want?" Jiamin Junzhu looked at Hua Liuli

suspiciously. She couldn't believe that Hua Liuli was genuinely concerned
about her.

"I don't have many friends in the capital, so I just wanted to spend some
time with you, sister," Hua Liuli placed two peanuts in front of Jiamin
Junzhu, "I don't mean anything else."

Hua Liuli glanced out of the window and found the position interesting. She
could see the pedestrians passing by on the street. The opposite side of the
street seemed familiar. It was where Tian Ruidong and the Young Master of
the Chen family had a conflict. Tian Ruidong was almost killed by a servant
with a dagger last time.

She even wondered if the true mastermind behind the scenes was sitting in
this teahouse, coldly watching everything unfold.

Her sudden appearance not only disrupted that person's plans but also
affected the person's enjoyment of the spectacle.

So, he hated her for disrupting his plans and wanted to capture her alive,
torturing her to death slowly. Unfortunately, after the incident with Tian
Ruidong, the court began investigating suspicious individuals, so he had to
leave the capital in advance and leave the assassins behind to execute his
plan.

If everything went as she imagined, then the mastermind was an extremely

arrogant person. He believed that his plan was flawless and foolproof.
Feeling disgusted by her own thoughts, Hua Liuli turned her head to look at
Jiamin Junzhu, who was sitting obediently in her seat, "Jiamin Junzhu, I
heard that the Flower Festival in the capital is particularly lively. Is there
anything I need to take care of?"

Upon hearing the words "Flower Festival", Jiamin Junzhu's scalp couldn't
help but tingle, and she felt anxious inside. Did Hua Liuli already know
about her previous plan to embarrass her during the Flower Festival? Is she
deliberately bringing it up now to probe for the truth?

But she had long given up on embarrassing Hua Liuli. Would Hua Liuli
believe it if she revealed the truth?

"Well... there's nothing specific to be careful of. On that day, many young
gentlemen will come out for an outing, some will even compose poems and
paint. Just make yourself look beautiful," Jiamin Junzhu picked up her
teacup and took a sip, concealing her uneasiness, "Why are you asking
about this?"

"Just asking casually." Hua Liuli got up and sat next to Jiamin Junzhu,
"Actually, there's another small matter I want to inquire about."

"If you want to ask, go ahead. Why are you getting so close?" Hua Liuli's
proximity made Jiamin Junzhu tense up. She moved aside slightly, "Hua
Liuli, let me tell you, don't go too far. I am a member of the imperial
family."

"I know, I know. If you weren't a member of the imperial family, I wouldn't
bother asking you," Hua Liuli grabbed Jiamin Junzhu, who was trying to
move away, and pulled her back, "I'm just bored. I want to hear some gossip
about the capital from you."

"What gossip?" Jiamin Junzhu turned her head. "As a Junzhu, how could I
gossip like a common woman?"

"I see," Hua Liuli let go of Jiamin Junzhu, "I heard some news about Ying
Wang, but if you're not interested, then forget it."
"You have news about Ying Wang?" Jiamin Junzhu looked at Hua Liuli
suspiciously.

"Aiyah, nevermind, nevermind," Hua Liuli waved her hand, "Since you're
not interested, it doesn't matter."

"If you insist on telling me, I can reluctantly listen," Jiamin Junzhu grabbed
Hua Liuli, "Tell me."

"I don't want to."

"Are you doing this on purpose, Hua Liuli, you..."

"Jiamin Junzhu, stop making a scene," The door of the private room
opened, and a young lady, who was taking deep breaths, stood at the
entrance, her eyes fixed on Jiamin Junzhu.

"Sister?" Although Jiamin Junzhu didn't particularly like her cousin, she
didn't want Hua Liuli to witness her create a scene. She waved her hand to
dismiss the guards who had caught up, "Why did you suddenly come?"

Du Xiuying ignored her and walked to Hua Liuli's side, pushing away
Jiamin Junzhu's hand on Hua Liuli's arm, "Jiamin Junzhu, stop causing
trouble."

"What trouble am I causing?" Jiamin Junzhu couldn't believe her eyes when
she saw Du Xiuying hiding Hua Liuli behind her, "Who is causing trouble
for whom here?!"

She had been perfectly fine at home, but Hua Liuli forcefully dragged her
out, and now her own cousin saw her as the villain.

She had never been treated like this before in her life.

"Junzhu, are you okay?" Du Xiuying disregarded Jiamin Junzhu's protests.

Jiamin Junzhu had bullied countless people throughout her life and had
become even more impulsive and inconsiderate as she grew up, so Du
Xiuying no longer believed in her excuses.
"I'm fine," Hua Liuli nodded obediently.

"That's good," Du Xiuying supported her arm, "It's getting late. I'll escort
you back."

Hua Liuli glanced at Du Xiuying, then at Jiamin Junzhu, and didn't refuse
the offer.

"Junzhu, you may not be familiar with me," Du Xiuying noticed that Hua
Liuli didn't enter the carriage, so she supported her and sat in the same
carriage, "My surname is Du, and my given name is Xiuying. I'm Jiamin
Junzhu's cousin. You can just call me by my name."

"Hello, Sister Xiuying."

"Don't be so formal," Du Xiuying bowed, "Junzhu, you are a noble young

lady with a title bestowed by His Majesty. It's not appropriate for you to
address me as 'sister'."

Seeing Du Xiuying's serious demeanor, Hua Liuli recalled the female

teacher who had taught her etiquette in her childhood.

"Although Jiamin Junzhu has an impulsive personality, she is not inherently

bad. If she has offended you in any way, I hope Junzhu can forgive her," Du
Xiuying bowed deeply to Hua Liuli.

"Young Lady Du, please don't be like this," receiving such a formal bow,
Hua Liuli quickly reached out to help her up, "Today, I came out with
Jiamin Junzhu just to ask about the Flower Festival. It has nothing to do
with her."

Du Xiuying glanced deeply at Hua Liuli and slightly lowered her head, "I
see."

The girl from the Hua family was truly kind-hearted. When she entered, she
clearly saw Jiamin Junzhu grabbing Hua Liuli's arm. It seemed as if she
forcing her to say something, yet she still didn't want to speak ill of Jiamin
Junzhu in front of her.
With such a personality, how could she not suffer when she was with Jiamin
Junzhu?

"If there's anything the Junzhu wants to know, feel free to ask me," Du
Xiuying sighed in her heart as she took the cloak handed to her by the
maidservant and draped it over Hua Liuli's shoulders.

This frail girl sitting there alone couldn't help but make people worry.

"Thank you, Young Lady Du," Hua Liuli felt grateful towards Du Xiuying
and smiled at her.

"Junzhu, no need to be so polite," Du Xiuying looked at Hua Liuli's fair

face and couldn't help but feel like she wanted to cover her with another
layer of clothing.

Perhaps this was... the feeling of a grandmother doting on her

granddaughter. She always felt that the girl wasn't dressed warmly enough.

Du Xiuying found her own mindset somewhat strange. Could it be that her
own siblings were not as good-looking as Hua Liuli?

After sending Hua Liuli back to the mansion, Du Xiuying returned home.
She saw her parents and older brother present and stepped forward to greet
them.

"Xiuying, there's no need to be so formal with your own family," Father Du

said helplessly.

"Father, one should always show respect. It's what a daughter should do,"
Du Xiuying still completed the greeting.

Father Du helplessly raised his hand to his forehead. It seemed that he had
no way to deal with this scholarly daughter of his.

Eldest Brother Du had long been accustomed to his sister's personality and
didn't take these things to heart. Instead, he said, "Father, Mother, I heard
something very interesting today."
"What is it?" Father Du asked with interest. When he turned his head and
saw that his daughter was still there, he straightened his posture.

As a child, one shouldn't criticize their parents, so Du Xiuying stood up and

prepared to go back to her study.

"Yesterday, the Crown Prince and General Wei's daughter appeared together
at a Taoist temple on the outskirts of the capital."

Du Xiuying's steps paused and didn't walk out.

"The Crown Prince goes to the temple every year on the 16th day of the
first month to light a lamp for the late Empress Gonghui. General Wei just
returned to the capital and probably didn't know about the Crown Prince's
habit. It's normal for them to accidentally meet each other," Upon hearing
that it involved the Crown Prince, Father Du instantly lost interest. There
were too many rumors about the Crown Prince circulating throughout the
capital and it had long become uninteresting.

Everyone believed that with the Crown Prince's behavior, it was only a
matter of time before the Emperor stripped him of his status.

If he wasn't deposed today, then it would be tomorrow, or some other day in

the future.

Eldest Brother Du said, "Perhaps the Crown Prince intends to marry Fushou
Junzhu to increase his chances of inheriting the throne?"

"If the Crown Prince has any sense or reason, he would know better to stay
away from the Hua family," Father Du sighed. "Hua Yingting and Wei
Mingyue have achieved remarkable military feats. They not only have high
prestige in the military but also enjoy great popularity among the people. If
you were the Emperor, what would you think?"

"Admire my own discernment for selecting two capable generals?" Eldest

Brother Du hesitated, "But don't people say that the Emperor is the
incarnation of the Purple Star1"Zǐ wēi xīng" (紫微星) refers to the Purple
Microstar or Purple Star in Chinese astrology. It is one of the 28 mansions
or constellations in traditional Chinese astronomy and astrology. In Chinese
culture, each mansion is associated with a specific star or group of stars that
are believed to have astrological significance. The Purple Star is considered
a highly auspicious and influential star in Chinese astrology. It is associated
with power, authority, and the emperor. In ancient times, it was believed
that the Purple Microstar represented the essence of the emperor's power
and divine mandate. It was often associated with the ruler's destiny, fortune,
and governance., and General Hua Yingting is the Wenqu Star2文曲星 (Wén qǔ
xīng), being the Literary Star, holds a complementary role to 紫微星 (Zǐ wēi
xīng). It represents intellectual pursuits, wisdom, and literary talent.?"

"Shallow thinking," Father Du looked disappointed at his son, "If you had
half the insight of your sister, I would be much more relieved."

Eldest Brother Du thought to himself that his father complained about his
daughter studying too much and becoming a bookworm. But now he also
complained that his son didn't study enough and lacked knowledge. It
wasn't easy to please their parents these days.

"At first, the Emperor might think that way, but over time, he will suspect
whether the Hua family harbors any intentions of rebellion and whether
they pose a threat to the imperial power based on popular support. If the
Crown Prince gets closer to the Hua family, it will only make matters
worse. The Emperor will suspect that the Crown Prince is impatient to
ascend the throne and replace him."

"If the Crown Prince had even a shred of reason, he wouldn't get too close
to the Hua family. He can marry any woman in the world, except for that
Junzhu from the Hua family," Father Du stated with certainty, "Moreover,
Fushou Junzhu is frail and often ill. It may not be conducive to bearing
children. How can such a girl marry into the imperial family?"

"I see," Eldest Brother Du suddenly realized, "Could this be a deliberate

plot by someone?"

"The other princes are already of age, so it's hard to say," Father Du stroked
his beard and turned to look at Du Xiuying, who was still standing at the
door, "The point is, it's a good thing that Xiuying doesn't marry the Crown
Prince."

"Father, yesterday I went to pay respects to Grandfather, it seemed that he

had a great appreciation for the Fourth Prince," Eldest Brother Du
whispered, "Could it be that he's considering..."

"Don't overthink it," Father Du frowned. He knew that his father didn't
particularly like the Crown Prince, but he didn't want to use his children's
marriages as political bargaining chips.

The Fourth Prince?

Du Xiuying turned around expressionless. In her opinion, golden houses

existed in books, there were also beauties as captivating as jade within
them. Whether it was the Crown Prince or the princes, they were not as
interesting as those books.

"You have quite a temper, little sister," Hua Changkong said, "You went to
play with Jiamin Junzhu in the morning, and in the afternoon, you had
Young Lady Du bring you back. Among the young girls in the capital, who
haven't you provoked?"

"There are too many," Hua Luli said, "Today, I inquired from Young Lady
Du and found out that there is a temple nearby dedicated to the Wenqu Star.
It's said to be very effective. I'll go and pay my respects there tomorrow."

"Don't be superstitious," Hua Changkong said.

"Just a little belief won't hurt," Hua Luli patted Hua Changkong's shoulder,
"Third Brother, don't put too much pressure on yourself. There are only
three days left until the Spring Examination, you won't be able to read much
in such a short time. Why not relax a bit? I believe you will definitely pass
the exam. Even if you don't, it's okay. The most important thing is for you
to be happy."

She didn't tell Hua Changkong that today she also inquired about the
imperial examinations from Du Xiuying. She learned that some candidates
suddenly went mad or fell ill during the examination, so she was worried
that her handsome Third Brother would also lose his mind in the
examination hall.

"Don't worry, Third Brother will pay attention," Hua Changkong smiled and
rubbed Hua Luli's head. After Hua Luli had subtly expressed her concerns,
he understood that she was worried about him being under too much
pressure and harming his health, "Little girls shouldn't worry about such
trivial matters."

"Then you should go to bed early tonight," Hua Luli closed the book on the
table, "You can read these books during the day tomorrow."

"Okay, okay," Hua Changkong, supervised by Hua Luli, returned to his own
courtyard. When Hua Luli returned to her own small courtyard, she saw her
father and mother enjoying wine and the moon outside. Afraid of disturbing
their pleasant moment, she immediately tiptoed along the wall and slipped
into her courtyard.

"Your Royal Highness, should this be kept under the pillow?" a palace maid
who was changing the bedding found a bunch of grass under the pillow. Not
daring to make a decision on her own, she held it in both hands and
presented it to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince got up and personally put the Grass-Woven Butterfly
back under the pillow and said to the palace maid, "Leave it there."

"Yes," the palace maids finished tidying up the bedding and quietly left.

"Your Royal Highness, the news of your meeting with Fushou Junzhu at the
Taoist Temple yesterday was spread by Consort Xian," a eunuch dressed in
blue robes hurriedly came in and whispered, "It seems that Consort Xian
doesn't want you to marry the Young Lady from the Du family."

"Heh," the Crown Prince wasn't surprised by the discovery. Spreading

rumors about each other was a tactic almost all the imperial consorts used,
and Consort Xian, who had been in the palace for so many years, hadn't
made much progress in her methods.
"Your Highness," a eunuch who had served by the Crown Prince's side for
many years couldn't help but speak up, "Perhaps... in the future, you should
keep some distance from Fushou Junzhu."

"Is Gu the kind of person who would sacrifice Gu's own interests due to
rumors?" the Crown Prince flicked the golden beads on the table, and as
one fell to the ground and rolled into the bottom of a cabinet, he didn't even
furrow his brows. "The Flower Festival is approaching, and Gu remembers
there's a box of pearl hairpins in the private treasury. Tomorrow, Gu will
have someone send them to Fushou Junzhu."

"Your Highness, those hairpins are rare treasures. Why not keep them for
the future Crown Princess..."

"Gu thinks those jewels are more suitable for Fushou Junzhu," the Crown
Prince lazily stood up "Gu is tired. All of you can leave."

"Yes."

The next day, after the morning court, the Crown Prince went to the
Emperor's study in Chengyang Palace.

Seeing his son so proactively coming to the study, Emperor Changlong put
down the papers in his hand, "Speak up. What help do you need from your
Father Emperor?"

When his son suddenly became diligent and obedient, it usually meant he
had something to ask for.

"There's nothing, Erchen just wants to report to Father Emperor that certain
consorts in the palace have been spreading gossip about Erchen and a
certain young lady," the Crown Prince sat dejectedly in the chair, his head
lowered, "Erchen is not very happy about it, so Erchen can only come to
Father Emperor and vent my frustrations."

"Who is it again?" Emperor Changlong felt a headache coming on. He had

elevated the Crown Prince's status so high, hoping that they would
understand that the future Emperor of Great Jin could only be Yuansu and
no one else.

Unfortunately, it seemed that several women in the palace still didn't

understand his intentions.

"That's not important. What's important is that in order to make it up to that

young lady, Erchen sent her the jewelry that was prepared for future the
Crown Princess," the Crown Prince said, "So for the jewels that will be
offered this year, Father Emperor can let Erchen choose first and let me
accumulate some wealth."

"Do you still lack these things?"

"Father Emperor, it's a thousand-year tradition for a father to save up wealth

for his son's marriage. If Erchen can't come to find Father Emperor, who
else can Erchen turn to?" as the most privileged heir of the Great Jin, the
Crown Prince felt justified in relying on his father.

"Fine, fine. Since all fathers in the world love to support their sons, you can
pick whatever you like," Emperor Changlong's favoritism knew no bounds
when facing the Crown Prince.

"Erchen thanks Father Emperor's grace."

The Crown Prince turned to go to the Emperor's private treasury. He asked

the attendant, Zhao Sancai, who accompanied him, "Chief Eunuch Zhao,
what kind of jewelry does Consort Xian usually like?"

Zhao Sancai: "..."

Your Royal Highness, can't you be a little less obvious about it?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 34 – Blabbermouth

During the change of seasons every year, the Palace Department would
provide the appropriate clothing and accessories to the consorts and
concubines in the imperial harem, but there were quotas for these items.
Those with some status in the palace would not rely on these limited
provisions to make a living.

Emperor Changlong was not stingy. During this time, he would also give
many pieces of jewelry as rewards to the consorts and concubines. The vast
territory of Great Jin and its fertile land attracted many small countries to
seek affiliation with Great Jin, and they would offer various tributes,
including jewelry.

Among this year's jewelry, there were a few pieces that Consort Xian
favored. She eagerly hoped that His Majesty would reward her with these
items. However, days passed and she received nothing. Unable to wait any
longer, she finally couldn't restrain herself and sent someone to inquire with
the Chief Eunuch, Zhao Sancai.

"About those pieces of jewelry," Zhao Sancai smiled at the palace maid
from the Lincui Palace, "The Crown Prince liked them a few days ago, so
His Majesty allowed him to take them. May I ask why Consort Xian
suddenly asked about such a trivial matter?"

The smile on the palace maid's face froze. Those items were kept in His
Majesty's private treasury, and it was His Majesty's decision on whom to
give them to. She quickly shook her head and said, "So that's how it is.
Consort Xian was worried that those good items would lose their luster if
left in the treasury without being used. It's great that the Crown Prince liked
them."
Back at the Lincui Palace, the palace maid recounted the incident to
Consort Xian.

"Why would the Crown Prince, as a man, need those accessories?" Consort
Xian asked.

"Nubi heard that the Crown Prince intends to... accumulate wealth for his
future bride," the palace maid replied.

"He is the Crown Prince, His Majesty has always favored him. Why would
he need to accumulate wealth?" Consort Xian's face turned pale with anger.
There was a small country known for its craftsmanship in making hairpins
and accessories, Consort Xian particularly liked the jewelry that this small
country offered as tribute. Yet the Crown Prince took away all the good
items, clearly intentionally causing trouble for her.

"Your Highness, although the accessories you liked were taken by the
Crown Prince, there is no need for you to be angry. Because the Crown
Prince also took away the ones that were liked by the other consorts as
well," the palace maid quickly added.

"Should Bengong thank him then for not showing favoritism?" Consort
Xian asked the maid with a stern face.

"N-No, Nubi didn't mean that."

Consort Xian sneered. The Crown Prince hadn't even settled on a Crown
Princess, yet His Majesty was already thinking of accumulating wealth for
his marriage. Her son, the Eldest Imperial Prince, had already decided on a
marriage with a young lady from the Lin family. Why wouldn't His Majesty
provide some financial support for them?

Feeling dissatisfied, Consort Xian summoned a eunuch to bring Ying Wang

into the palace, "How are things going with that girl from the Lin family?"
she asked.

"How else could it be?" Ying Wang picked up a teacup and took a sip,
speaking in a casual tone, "She wants to become Ying Wangfei, and I, as
Ying Wang, need to marry a Wangfei. It's just a perfect match."

"Nonsense," Consort Xian couldn't help but speak up when she heard her
son's indifferent tone, "Lin Wan is Lin Zhou's daughter. Lin Zhou has
always been upright and incorruptible. How could his daughter be someone
who desires wealth and status?"

Ying Wang didn't argue with Consort Xian and nodded, "Mother is right."

Seeing his indifferent attitude, Consort Xian continued, "Lin Wan is

outstanding in both appearance and talent. Most importantly, she is the
cousin of the Fourth Prince. Marrying her would bring the influence of the
Fourth Prince to our side. For you, it is a hundred benefits and no harm."

Ying Wang kept his head down without speaking.

Consort Xian wanted to ask if he still had that girl from the Hua family,
who would collapse at the slightest wind, in his mind. But she knew she
shouldn't say such words, so she held back her anger and remained silent.

"Mother, I still need to go to the horse ranch this afternoon. If you have no
other matters, I will take my leave," Ying Wang stood up, bowed to Consort
Xian, and prepared to leave.

"Wait," Consort Xian took out a thin cloak from the room, "The weather has
started to warm up these past two days, those thick cloaks are
uncomfortable to wear. I made a cloak for you. Give it a try."

"Thank you, Mother," Ying Wang's eyes softened as he put on the cloak,
"Leave the needlework to others; Mother shouldn't tire yourself."

"I know," Consort Xian helped Ying Wang tidy his clothes and praised, "My
son was born noble and extraordinary. He is truly His Majesty's child."

Hearing the praise from his birth mother, Ying Wang suddenly felt
confident in himself that he was hundreds of times more handsome than his
other brothers.
Mothers couldn't help but have a biased gaze when looking at their own
children.

After receiving a whole box of jewelry and accessories, Hua Liuli received
another box of gifts from the Eastern Palace just two days later.

She opened the box and looked at the various jewelry inside, took a deep
breath, and asked the attendants from the Eastern Palace, "How is His
Royal Highness doing lately?"

"Thank you for Junzhu's concern. His Royal Highness has been doing
well."

If everything was normal, why would they send her so many good things?
The gold and silver jewelry she moved from Prince A'Wa's camp back then
weren't as dazzling.

"I understand His Royal Highness's goodwill, but these things..."

"Please rest assured, Junzhu. His Royal Highness said before we came that
these things are of no use to him. If you don't accept them, these precious
jewels will only gather dust. The Flower Festival is approaching, and
Junzhu, who is beautiful and charming, should not be without jewelry that
matches you."

"Please thank His Royal Highness on my behalf," Upon further thought,

since Prince A'Wa could bring so much gold and silver jewelry with him
when he went out to war, perhaps these things might really be insignificant
to the Crown Prince as the second most noble man in Great Jin.

"As long as Junzhu likes them," after the palace attendants finished
delivering the gifts, without even taking a sip of tea, they hastily left.

Upon learning of this, Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue didn't express any
opinions and simply let Hua Liuli handle the jewelry herself. If she married
in the future, she could use them as dowry. If she didn't want to marry, she
could wear them herself for fun.
Hua Liuli got up early the next day and took a carriage to Wenqu Star
Temple on the outskirts of the capital.

When she arrived, she found a long queue outside Wenqu Star Temple.
Some scholars even brought books and water bags to secure a good spot.

Hua Liuli began to reflect on herself, realizing that compared to these

devout scholars, she seemed lacking in sincerity.

As soon as she got off the carriage, she saw someone holding a sign that
read "Five taels of silver to skip the queue" and couldn't help but whisper to
Yuan Yi, who was supporting her, "Is there such a thing?"

"In the capital, many things can be flexible," Yuan Yi whispered, "But many
scholars believe that queuing shows more sincerity. Besides, five taels of
silver is too expensive, so few people would pay to skip the queue."

Hua Liuli glanced at the long line and then at the sign offering to skip the
queue, without hesitation, she said, "Give the silver."

The people at Wenqu Star Temple knew that a wealthy person had arrived
when they saw Hua Liuli stepping out of the carriage. After Yuan Yi paid
the money, they enthusiastically led the Junzhu and her entourage into the
temple.

Inside the temple, the temple attendant personally greeted them and led Hua
Liuli forward to light incense and make a wish.

"Junzhu, the Spring Examination will begin the day after tomorrow. We can
recite scriptures and pray for the candidates on the day of the examination,
wishing them a favor from the Wenqu Star for outstanding performance."

"Oh?"

"However, when seeking the favor of the star deity, offerings are necessary.
If Junzhu is interested, you only need to offer eighteen taels of silver as
tribute to the Wenqu Star. The temple will be moved by Junzhu's sincerity
and will willing to pray for your friends and family on that day."
Hua Liuli took out eighteen taels of silver and also bought some prayer
lamps and prayer brushes. As she turned to leave, she came face to face
with a girl wearing a lake-green dress.

She had a vague impression of this girl. She seemed to always follow
behind Jiamin Junzhu. She was from the Yao family, what was her name
again?

"Junzhu," Miss Yao walked over and greeted Hua Liuli with a curtsy. Her
gaze fell on the prayer brush in Hua Liuli's hand and she smiled somewhat
strangely, "Is Junzhu praying for Third Young Master Hua with this?"

Hua Liuli gave Miss Yao a gentle smile, "Is Miss Yao also here to pray for
her family?"

"My Eldest Brother ranked among the top candidates in the Autumn
Imperial Examination in the capital. This time, he is sure to be listed on the
gold list," Miss Yao paused for a moment, "I heard that Qinghan Prefecture
has harsh conditions and very few students. Third Young Master Hua, as the
top scorer in the provincial examination of Qinghan, should also achieve
fame on the gold list and bring glory to your family."

"But learning is not achieved in a day, last-minute efforts are self-

deception," Miss Yao said with a gentle smile, "Junzhu, it would be best not
to put too much faith in these things."

"Miss Yao makes a valid point, but I am not making last-minute efforts, I
am embracing the favor of the Wenqu Star. What if the star deity sees my
loyalty to the Hua family and is willing to bless my Third Brother?" Hua
Liuli covered her lips and chuckled softly, "Miss Yao doesn't believe in
these things, why did you come here?"

"You..." Miss Yao glared at Hua Liuli and turned around to leave in anger.

"Temple attendant, Miss Yao seems upset. Let me pay for her prayer on her
behalf," Hua Liuli smiled warmly, "I wish Yao family's young gentleman
great success and fame on the list."
"You are truly benevolent, Junzhu."

Miss Yao was so angry that she almost spat blood. She turned her head and
saw Hua Liuli still looking with a gentle and kind smile.

Clearly, the other party hadn't said anything offensive, but at this moment,
Miss Yao felt like she had already lost, though she wasn't clear about where
she had lost.

"These girls in the capital are so adorable, even when they're angry," Hua
Liuli said with a smile as she sat in the carriage, "Jiamin Junzhu and her
friends are really fun."

"Junzhu, please restrain yourself. I'm afraid someone will corner you and
curse at you." Yuan Yi smiled bitterly.

"If they dare to curse, I dare to faint," Hua Liuli lazily leaned against the
carriage wall, "I have a weak constitution and can't handle being provoked."

Yuan Yi: "..."

On the day of the imperial examination, the Hua family woke up early. Hua
Yingting draped a robe over Hua Changkong, "Your father has fought on
the battlefield many times, encountering countless evil spirits and bad luck.
By putting this robe on you, it can keep you away from misfortune."

"Right," Wei Mingyue tied up Hua Changkong's hair, "Mother is the most
powerful female general in Great Jin. Having her do your hair is equivalent
to receiving divine blessings."

Hua Changkong: "..."

His mother's narcissistic tendencies were beyond redemption.

"Third brother, don't pressure yourself," Hua Liuli handed Hua Changkong
a bag containing exam materials, "In our family, we have two Marquises
and a Junzhu. Even if you don't achieve a high rank in the exam, we can
still take good care of you."
If he didn't study well, he would have to rely on them for a living?!

For a moment, Hua Changkong didn't know whether to be relaxed or

nervous.

After the four of them left the house, Hua Liuli took out a small flag the
size of a palm from her sleeve and inserted it into the carriage.

"Daughter, when did you make a small flag for the Hua family?" Hua
Yingting looked at the swaying flag in the morning breeze with confusion,
"What's the use of putting this thing here?"

"It symbolizes a victorious start," Hua Liuliu patted the horse pulling the
carriage, "Horse, oh horse, you must bless my Third Brother to succeed."

"That makes sense. Our obedient daughter is really clever."

Hua Changkong, sitting in the carriage, remained silent.

He had a bunch of family members who never prayed or worshipped

before, but now they sought gods and buddhas at the last minute. He felt
helpless yet moved by their willingness to sacrifice principles for family.

No one could bear to destroy this kind of family affection.

The family accompanied Hua Changkong to the vicinity of the Imperial

Academy. Hua Changkong looked at his family and said, "Father, Mother,
Little Sister, I'm going in."

"En," Hua Liuli nodded. "No matter what, Third Brother is the best Third
Brother."

Upon hearing this, Hua Changkong smiled and reached out to pat Hua
Liuli's head, "Little sister is also the best little sister."

He bowed to his family, turned around, and walked towards the entrance of
the Imperial Academy.
After Hua Changkong was confirmed by the gatekeeper to not have any
cheating materials, the smiles on the faces of the three members of the Hua
family disappeared.

"Father, Mother, I'm a bit nervous," Hua Liuli whispered, "I heard that there
are candidates who go crazy halfway through the examination."

"Your Third Brother has been practicing martial arts since childhood, our
family also didn't force him to achieve academic success. He shouldn't
encounter such things," Hua Yingting said, somewhat unsure, as he turned
to Wei Mingyue, "Wife, don't you think so?"

"En," Wei Mingyue nodded with a stern expression, appearing the calmest
among the three. However, her clenched fist, unbeknownst to herself,
betrayed her.

Outside the examination hall, it was crowded with people seeing off the
candidates. The Prefect of Jingzhao was afraid of conflicts in the large
crowd, so he sent arranged for a lot of yamen constables to guard the area.
He was also worried that the yamen constables of Jingzhao Prefecture
wouldn't be able to handle the crowd, so he borrowed some personnel from
the Ministry of Justice.

To borrow personnel from the Ministry of Justice, the Prefect of Jingzhao

squatted in front of the Minister of Justice's estate for three days. Zhang
Shuo had been reluctant to cooperate until a few days ago when he
accidentally dropped his hat and his bald head was seen by the Prefect. The
Prefect's gaze was filled with pity, so Zhang Shuo unexpectedly agreed to
his request.

The Spring Examination was held every three years, the candidates who
came from all over the country were famous scholars in their local areas.
The Prefect of Jingzhao didn't dare to be careless, so he and the yamen
constables have been patrolling here since before dawn.

The first day they came to patrol, they saw Hua Yingting guarding outside
the Imperial Academy.
The second day they came to patrol, they saw Hua Yingting carrying a
small stool and sitting outside the Imperial Academy.

The third day they came to patrol, Hua Yingting came again, this time
bringing food.

Cao Jinbo, the Minister of Revenue, encountered Hua Yingting several

times and couldn't help but wonder why Hua Yingting had so much free
time and was guarding the gate of the examination hall every day.

Upon further consideration, although Hua Yingting still retained the title of
Grand General, he no longer had control over the military power in the
capital and the surrounding counties. Being the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor
was also just an honorary title. Unless summoned by the Emperor, he didn't
need to attend court meetings on normal days.

With this in mind, Cao Jinbo's mood suddenly became complicated. A

general who had achieved great military exploits could only idle away his
time like those idle nobles in the capital?

He was about to approach Hua Yingting for a chat when he saw the curtain
of the carriage next to Hua Yingting move and a fair and delicate hand
lifted the curtain.

A young girl came out of the carriage. It was Fushou Junzhu. Cao Jinbo
remembered his good friend Huizhi mentioning the Hua family's young girl
several times in his recent letters. He said she was stubborn yet kind-hearted
and a good girl.

After hesitating for a moment, he decided to approach and said, "Greetings

to Grand General, Junzhu."

"What Grand General? Now that I've retired, you can just call me Old Hua,"
Hua Yingting stood up from the stool, handed the things in his hand to the
servant, and introduced Hua Liuli, "Liuli, this is Cao Jinbo, the Minister of
Revenue."
Looking at Hua Yingting's handsome face, Cao Jinbo, who was a few years
older than him, felt a bit complicated. Hua Yingting referred to himself as
an old man, so what was he?

"Minister Cao," Hua Liuli greeted politely.

"I wouldn't dare to accept the Junzhu's courtesy," Cao Jinbo hurriedly
returned the greeting. Although Hua Liuli was younger, she held a title
bestowed by the Emperor, while he, as a minister, held a different
significance from a Junzhu.

"She's just a child, what's wrong with receiving her courtesy," Hua Yingting
pointed at the closed gate of the Imperial Academy, "Minister Cao, what
brings you here?"

Cao Jinbo chuckled. He had been patrolling here every day for the past
three days, but Hua Yingting hadn't noticed at all? After explaining the
reason, he couldn't help but take a few more glances at Hua Liuli.

The little girl was not talkative but well-mannered, without a hint of the
arrogance of a Junzhu. How could Huizhi say that she was stubborn yet
soft-hearted? She was clearly a likable and somewhat shy little girl.

After exchanging pleasantries with Hua Yingting, Cao Jinbo walked a

distance away when his friend, who was on good terms with him, pulled
him into a corner and whispered, "Why were you talking to Hua Yingting
for so long at the entrance of the Imperial Academy?"

"What's wrong with that?" Cao Jinbo countered.

"Naturally, it's not right," his friend said, "Do you know that His Majesty
originally intended to marry the Hua family's daughter to Ying Wang, but in
the end, Ying Wang is betrothed to the daughter of the Lin family?"

Cao Jinbo frowned.

"His Majesty has long harbored suspicions about the Hua family. You
talking and laughing with Hua Yingting at the entrance of the Imperial
Academy, in full view of everyone, isn't it giving others an opportunity?"
his friend worriedly said, "When His Majesty settles accounts with the Hua
family, someone will surely use today's incident to accuse you."

Hearing this, Cao Jinbo felt a bit uneasy. The Hua family had been
faithfully fulfilling their duties in guarding Great Jin for these years. Even
when General Wei was carrying a baby in her womb, she led troops to the
border. Now that the war had ended and no one dared to defy Great Jin's
authority, the Hua family's position had become awkward.

A hero's life shouldn't be like this.

He turned his head to look at Hua Yingting waiting at the entrance of the
Imperial Academy. He saw Hua Yingting's daughter holding a plate of
freshly cut fruit and offering it to her father. This simple and affectionate
scene made him feel a tinge of sadness.

"But I only seek... a clear conscience," Cao Jinbo said, "Thank you for
reminding me, my friend. I understand."

"It's good that you understand," his friend sighed, "The Hua family... their
glory may not last for many more years."

The Spring Examination had not yet ended, several candidates who had
fainted were being carried out and hurriedly taken away for treatment by
the attending physicians. Hua Liuli felt restless watching this and decided to
step out for some fresh air.

Outside, there were many food stalls with various flavors mingling together,
creating a lively atmosphere of smoke and fire. A few fake Taoists were
sitting on the street corner, pretending to tell fortunes for the anxious family
members that were accompanying the candidates.

Walking through the bustling alley, Hua Liuli encountered the girl from the
Yao family again. The girl was holding a talisman that she had just obtained
from the Taoist.
She claimed not to believe in praying to gods and Buddha, but she was
quite active in seeking talismans privately.

Their eyes met in mid-air, with the steam from the street food swirling
around, creating an indescribable awkward atmosphere.

At that moment, the girl from the Yao family couldn't see the sky, the
ground, or the passing figures. She only saw a faint smile on Hua Liuli's
face.

The girl felt that she was being mocked.

Her face flushed red, feeling extremely embarrassed.

"Are you alright?" Another person came out from behind her. Upon hearing
the voice, Miss Yao's expression improved slightly.

"I'm fine, Young Lady Lin," Miss Yao smiled at Lin Wan and secretly hid
the talisman in her sleeve. She looked up and bowed to Hua Liuli,
"Greetings, Fushou Junzhu."

Only then did Lin Wan notice Hua Liuli standing opposite them and slightly
bent her knees, "Greetings, Junzhu."

"You don't need to be so formal, both of you," Hua Liuli pretended not to
notice the embarrassment of Miss Yao, "Are you two also seeking talismans
for your older brothers at home?"

"Yes," Lin Wan didn't know what had happened between Miss Yao and Hua
Liuli, so she spoke, "Someone said that the Taoist on Dong Street is very
effective, so Miss Yao and I went together to get talismans."

"Oh..." Hua Liuli smiled at Miss Yao, deliberately drawing out her words,
"Then I wish both of your older brothers good results."

"Thank you, Junzhu," Lin Wan's smile faded from her face. When she saw
Hua Liuli, she was reminded of the awkward situation she had been in on
the night of the Lantern Festival.
It wasn't Hua Liuli's fault, she knew it very well, but even so, she couldn't
dispel the feeling of embarrassment in her heart.

Perhaps some people were just not meant to get along.

"Little girl," a sedan chair stopped not far from the three of them. The
window of the sedan chair opened, revealing the handsome face of the
Crown Prince, "There are all kinds of people here, from different
backgrounds. Why are you here?"

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli saw the Crown Prince and her lips
curved upwards, "Father and I are accompanying Third Brother outside the
Imperial Academy. When I saw several candidates being carried out, I felt
anxious and uncomfortable. So I came out for a walk."

The Crown Prince stepped out of the sedan chair. He saw that she only had
two maids with her and said, "The Spring Examination will not end for a
few more days. Waiting here every day is not meaningful. How about Gu
take you around the capital city to pass the time?"

He ordered his attendants to bring two horses and handed the reins of his
own white horse to Hua Liuli, "The weather has warmed up recently.
Riding a horse for a while should have no impact on your health, Junzhu."

Hua Liuli looked at the beautiful white horse, her fondness was almost
uncontrollable, "En. It won't have any impact."

Yuan Yi, who was following behind her, raised an eyebrow. Seeing Junzhu
happily patting the horse's head, she lowered her eyelids.

As Hua Liuli was about to mount the horse, Yuan Yi reached out and
supported her, "Junzhu, please be careful."

Hua Liuli coughed lightly, covering her chest, "You don't need to worry.
Riding in the city is not allowed anyway, so it'll be fine to ride for a while."

Yuan Yi stepped back, "Yes."

Miss Yao saw the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli riding away on horses,
without even sparing a glance at them. She couldn't help but whisper,
"Jiamin Junzhu was right. Most of these seemingly delicate women are
actually fox spirits in disguise."

Lin Wan forced a smile at the corner of her mouth.

The Crown Prince, knowing full well that she was the future Ying Wangfei,
his Eldest Sister-In-Law, treated her with such indifference. Wasn't it just
because he relied on the Emperor's favoritism and didn't regard Ying
Wang highly?

Lin Wan clenched her fists and lowered her eyelids, concealing the
ambition hidden deep in her eyes.

"Young Lady Lin, look quickly. That's Ying Wang..." Miss Yao had just
finished speaking when she saw Ying Wang riding a horse and chasing after
the direction in which the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli had just left.

As he raced past them, it stirred up clouds of dust.

Miss Yao looked at the disappearing figure of the Crown Prince and then at
Lin Wan beside her. She silently covered her mouth.

Why couldn't she change her habit of being a blabbermouth?!

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 35 – Traitor

Ying Wang was still unaware that he had just sneaked away from under the
watchful eyes of his betrothed.

He caught up to the Crown Prince and asked with a strange tone, "Crown
Prince, where are you going?"

The Crown Prince glanced at the fast-moving horses behind him and the
bewildered expressions that were still lingering on the faces of the
commoners. He raised an eyebrow and said, "Eldest Brother hasn't been
sleeping well lately?"

"What?"

"Since you're sleeping well, how could you forget that you can't gallop in
the bustling city?" the Crown Prince pointed at the eunuch following behind
Ying Wang with his whip and said, "You, come down and lead your
master's horse."

The eunuch looked awkward, unsure whether to comply or not.

With a cold expression, Ying Wang said, "Please rest assured, Crown
Prince. Benwang's riding skills are excellent and won't harm the people."

"Your Highness," Hua Liuli, who was riding a horse, greeted with folded
hands, "Your Highness, your fast riding just now was quite intimidating,"
She coughed lightly, covering her mouth.

Ying Wang suddenly remembered that Hua Liuli was a delicate and frail
girl who had been frightened into illness by a few indulgent young
noblemen galloping. Afraid that Hua Liuli might suddenly collapse, he
swallowed the anger surging in his chest.
"Junzhu is right, Benwang was careless," Ying Wang looked at the Crown
Prince, "Where are you both planning to go for leisure? Since Benwang has
nothing to do at the moment, would the Crown Prince mind having one
more person accompany you?"

He had heard that the Crown Prince intended to win over the Hua family.
Since he suspected that the Crown Prince wanted to rebel with their help, he
wanted to observe more closely.

"Good," the Crown Prince glanced at Ying Wang with a smile that wasn't a
smile, "It would be even better to have you join us, Eldest Brother."

Ying Wang didn't understand the meaning behind the Crown Prince's words,
but he soon understood.

Bookstores, cloth shops, rouge stores, jewelry shops...

How could he know whether round or square was more pleasing to the eye?

How could he distinguish between good and bad poetry from the same
person?

And as for the dresses, weren't they all watermelon red? What difference
did it make?

But the Crown Prince seemed to have a grudge against him, helping Fushou
Junzhu pick things while questioning him at the same time?

A bracelet was just a bracelet, why did he have to ask which one looked
better?

"Benwang thinks they all look good, so let's buy them all," Ying Wang's
emotions finally collapsed. He held the box with a fierce expression and
said to the shop assistant, "Pack them all up, Benwang will pay."

"Gu said that Gu would buy things today to apologize to Fushou Junzhu.
How can Gu let Eldest Brother pay?" the Crown Prince smiled, "Eldest
Brother, you're being too polite."
This jewelry shop was a famous high-end jewelry store in the capital city,
favored by noble families. The craftsmen who made the jewelry were
renowned throughout the country and the prices were jaw-dropping.

"As the Eldest Brother, it's only natural for Benwang to pay," Ying Wang
forced a smile. As long as you two stop asking me which things look better,
Benwang will be grateful.

The price of a box of jewelry was enough to make even Ying Wang feel a
bit distressed. Why were these things that women liked so expensive?

"Junzhu, if the Crown Prince did something wrong, please don't take it to
heart," Ying Wang was curious. What had the Crown Prince done wrong to
apologize to Hua Liuli?

"Your Highness, it's actually not a big deal. A few days ago, when my
mother took me to fulfill a vow at the Taoist temple, we happened to
encounter His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince. Unexpectedly, some
groundless rumors spread shortly after, but this humble servant didn't take
these trivial matters to heart. Moreover, His Royal Highness is also a
victim, but he insisted on apologizing to me," Hua Liuli didn't expect that
when the Crown Prince mentioned taking her to stroll around the capital
city, it meant going to various shops to buy things. When Ying Wang asked
about it, she came up with a reason.

These princes all had their own schemes. It would be better to make things
clear.

At the very least, the Crown Prince shouldn't be deceived by other princes.

"Benwang understands," Ying Wang recalled the rumors about this incident,
which were related to his own mother and several other consorts who had
played a part in fueling the rumors. He felt a bit embarrassed to face Hua
Liuli.

He had never liked the Crown Prince very much, but because of the Crown
Prince, this delicate little girl had been affected. He couldn't bear it. To
express his guilt, Ying Wang bought a whole set of jewelry for Hua Liuli.
The Crown Prince didn't stop him, and even after Ying Wang pulled out a
handful of silver bills to pay, he showed a gentle smile.

When the Crown Prince was about to take Hua Liuli to see the porcelain
items, Ying Wang couldn't bear it any longer and took his leave.

If he stayed like this any longer, he would go bald.

As soon as Ying Wang left, the Crown Prince stopped and said, "Gu
suddenly remembered that there's nothing interesting about these porcelain
pieces. Let's go somewhere else."

"Okay," Hua Liuli faintly felt that the Crown Prince had deliberately tricked
Ying Wang.

But who was she? She was the gentle, kind, and weak Hua Liuli. She just
needed to quietly follow him and pick up the spoils of the Crown Prince's
pranks.

The Crown Prince was truly good at playing. Not only did he take her to
taste delicious food, but he also took her to the lake to listen to beautiful
music and watch amusing performances by monkeys. Each activity was
more interesting than the last. As the night gradually fell, the Crown Prince
escorted Hua Liuli back home.

"If there's a chance in the future, Gu will take you to more places," the
Crown Prince said to Hua Liuli at the Marquis Estate's main gate, "It's
getting cold at night. Junzhu, go back and rest."

"Your Royal Highness, here is your horse," Hua Liuli handed the reins of
the white horse to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince smiled and said, "Keep it at your estate for a few days.
When Junzhu can't ride horses in winter, you can return it."

Hua Liuli was about to refuse, but she saw the Crown Prince turn his horse's
head to leave.

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli called out to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince turned back to look at her. Before Hua Liuli could speak,
a charming smile appeared on his face, "Thank you, Junzhu, for
accompanying me through an interesting Lantern Festival."

That smile was so beautiful that Hua Liuli had forgotten the name of this
horse.

"Never mind," Hua Liuli stroked the horse's mane, "Come, I'll take you
back."

When Wei Mingyue saw her daughter return with a horse, she carefully
examined it, "This is a tribute horse from the Northern Wuhu Kingdom. It's
a rare and excellent horse that only His Majesty possesses. You... " Her tone
paused slightly, "Daughter, did you steal the imperial horse?"

"Mother, my mind is still working fine," Hua Liuli lovingly touched the
horse, "The Crown Prince lent it to me to play with."

"Daughter, you should know that horses and beautiful women are not
usually lent to others." Wei Mingyue's expression turned serious, "Tell me,
what did you do to the Crown Prince? Let's see if I can protect you. If I
can't, I'll inform the Ministry of Justice in advance and let them arrange a
good bed for you."

"It's probably because the Crown Prince has too many good horses, so it's
okay to lend me one, right?"

"Madam, this horse was truly given to Junzhu by the Crown Prince," Yuan
Yi quickly said, "Since returning to the capital, Junzhu has been well-
behaved and hasn't caused any trouble. Moreover, she also took care of
several spoiled youngsters who were galloping on the streets. Recently,
there are hardly any people daring to ride horses on the streets of the
capital."

"Keep a low profile. I heard that Prince A'Wa was causing a fuss and
insisted on meeting you. He was starved for a few days by the Ministry of
Justice before he became obedient," Wei Mingyue said, "His Majesty is
hosting a state banquet next month, inviting neighboring countries to attend.
At that time, don't go outside too often. I'm afraid that if people from the
Jinpo Kingdom hear about what happened with Prince A'Wa, they might
ambush you."

"But that's not my fault," Hua Liuli asserted confidently, "He infiltrated our
Qinghan Prefecture and tried to use his beauty to gather military
intelligence from me. Of course, I could only return the favor."

"So, after capturing him, you took off all the gemstones embedded in his
shoes?"

"That wasn't me, it was Yuan Yi," selling out her servant was done swiftly
and cleanly.

Yuan Yi looked up at the moon in the sky, "Junzhu, look at the moon, so big
and round, doesn't it look like a pot?"

"It's a crescent moon today," Hua Liuli didn't even raise her head.

Yuan Yi looked numb. Yes, although the moon wasn't full, she was carrying
a big, round pot of blame.

"Yuan Yi has always been loyal to you. What has she done that wasn't your
intention?" Wei Mingyue could never argue with Hua Liuli because she
knows she couldn't win, "Just be more careful and don't get yourself into
danger."

"You can rest assured. Who in the capital doesn't know that I am kind,
gentle, delicate, and can't withstand anger or cold?" Hua Liuli reached out
to hug Wei Mingyue's arm but was evaded.

"You smell like a horse, don't rub against me."

As soon as the words were spoken, Hua Liuli embraced Wu Mingyue

tightly.

Seeing the Madam go from seriously reprimanding Junzhu to being coaxed

into laughter by Junzhu, Yuan Yi -- who had witnessed this scene countless
times -- led the horse to the stable and called for two grooms to take special
care of it.

After bathing and changing clothes, Hua Liuli sat cross-legged on the bed,
arranging the various jewels she had acquired today on the bed. She
beckoned to Yuan Yi and Yurong, who were closest to her.

"Yuan Yi, Yurong, come here."

Yuan Yi and Yurong took a step back as their eyes were dazzled by the
brilliant radiance of the jewels, but they soon approached without surprise.

"These are for you," Hua Liuli handed several pieces of jewelry to the two
of them. Having followed Hua Liuli since they were young, they were
accustomed to her ways and did not hesitate to accept them calmly.

The more she looked at these jewels, the more she liked them. Hua Liuli
found even the Crown Prince, who gave her gifts, adorable.

No woman would complain about having too many jewelry and accessories,
absolutely not!

Now that she had an estate, land, a shop, and jewelry, she could start her
preparations to raise male pets.

"Yurong, Yuan Yi, go and find out which music halls and theaters in the
capital are more interesting. Especially those places with beauties, we
mustn't miss them."

Yurong said, "Why not look for noble young men in the capital who might
suit your taste?"

"That's not appropriate. These young masters are supposed to marry young
noble ladies. If those young noble ladies find out that I have meddled with
their husbands, it will hurt their feelings, won't it?" Hua Liuli shook her
head, "That would be too annoying. It's better to focus on raising male
pets."
The night was cool, but Lin Wan couldn't sleep. She sat in the courtyard and
heard her mother sigh.

The housing prices in the capital were high. Her father had been an official
for many years and had always been very clean. He didn't like his family
living too extravagantly. After returning to the capital, they lived in this
three-courtyard estate, which was prepared for them by the Fourth Prince.

Originally, the Fourth Prince wanted to prepare a large, comfortable estate

for them, but her father refused, saying that if they lived in such a good
estate, the common people would suspect their integrity.

Father always said that people should not be too attached to material
possessions, maintaining a good reputation was the most important. But she
didn't understand why they couldn't live in the large estate that the Fourth
Prince wanted to give them.

It's not like they obtained it by dishonest means. Even if they lived there,
what difference would it make? They could face their conscience.

"Little Wan, why haven't you slept yet?" Madam Lin walked into the
courtyard and saw her daughter sitting on the stone stool, "It's chilly at
night. Go back to the house."

"Mother," Lin Wan stood up and helped her mother sit down, "I can't sleep."

"What's wrong?" Seeing her daughter's worried expression, Madam Lin

asked anxiously, "Did the girls from other families bully you as soon as we
arrived in the capital?"

Lin Wan forced a smile and shook her head, "It's nothing. I'm just not used
to the weather in the capital yet, so I have trouble falling asleep at night."

Madam Lin didn't believe her words, "Is it because the Flower Festival is
coming soon and you don't have suitable clothes and jewelry?" The Lin
family had been poor in the past. It was only after Consort Lin, her sister-in-
law, entered the palace as a consort and her husband became the top scholar
that they could barely live a better life.
Now, her husband had been reassigned back to the capital. Originally,
following the intentions of Ying Wang, her husband was supposed to be
appointed as the Minister of Justice. However, after waiting for so many
days, the appointment had still not come. It's unclear what exactly His
Majesty's intentions were.

But Madam Lin didn't tell her daughter about these matters. She didn't want
to add to her worries, "Tomorrow, Mother will accompany you to pick some
nice things."

Lin Wan shook her head, "The things made last year are still good.
Everything in the capital is expensive. There's no need to waste money on
unnecessary things."

Madam Lin hesitated for a moment, got up, and returned to the room. After
a while, she brought out a few silver bills and handed them to Lin Wan,
"Mother knows you are a sensible child, take this money and spend it."

Lin Wan refused a couple of times, but thinking about those beautiful
clothes and jewelry, she accepted them in the end.

It would be good once she becomes Ying Wangfei.

Everything would be fine.

After sending her mother back to the room to rest, Lin Wan looked at the
several bills of different denominations in her hand and thought of Miss
Yao, who spent money freely today, as well as those noble young ladies
who didn't care about money at all. Her hands trembled slightly.

When she becomes Ying Wangfei, she will have everything.

If His Majesty were to forsake the Crown Prince...

That would be even better.

"Please forgive Nubi, Your Royal Highness!" suddenly, a palace maid who
was tidying the bed knelt down, looking frightened.
The Crown Prince entered the inner room and saw the grass-woven
butterfly scattered on the bed. He furrowed his brow. The Hua girl's skill in
crafting things was not good.

"It's fine, you may leave," He turned and opened a wooden box that has the
ugly clay figure in it.

Taking out the clay figure, he placed the dried grass underneath in the box
and then put the clay figure back inside. After all, it was the little girl's
thoughtful gift, he couldn't just throw it away.

However, that girl from the Hua family was quite interesting when they
played together. She spoke when she should, remained silent when she
should. She was a clever and smart girl.

He patted the head of the small clay figure and sighed.

If she were in front of him, he would really like to touch her head.

Jin Ling Garden sounded like a shop selling bells, but it was actually one of
the famous pleasure gardens in the capital. It housed musicians and dancers,
some of whom came from poor families and entered the performing arts out
of necessity, while others were demoted nobles.

Recently, a remarkably attractive qin player emerged in this garden,

attracting many noble young ladies to come and spend a fortune on him.
The reputation of Jin Ling Garden soared as a result.

Jiamin Junzhu had been in a bad mood lately. Her fellow sisters knew of her
interest in Ying Wang, but unfortunately, Ying Wang had been betrothed to
the Young Lady of the Lin family, leaving Jiamin Junzhu feeling
disheartened.

Concerned that Jiamin Junzhu's melancholy state might turn into an illness,
her sisters inquired about this very attractive qin player at Jin Ling Garden
and invited Jiamin Junzhu to come and enjoy the beauty.
Thinking that Hua Liuli couldn't possibly appear in Jin Ling Garden, Jiamin
Junzhu readily agreed without hesitation.

The group found a visually excellent private room and sat by the railing,
enjoying the dance and music downstairs.

"It's nothing special. The musicians in the palace are more entertaining,"
Jiamin Junzhu glanced a few times and quickly lost interest.

"The musicians in the palace may be better at playing music, but the
musicians in these places have their own charm," Miss Yao said with a
wink, pointing to the male dancer below who was swaying his waist, "Look
at how charming he is."

Listening to the screams from below, Jiamin Junzhu took a glance and
thought it was just superficial and vulgar.

Not long after, the candles around them suddenly went out, leaving only the
spotlight on the stage. A qin player wearing white clothes and a demonic
mask on his face emerged, holding a qin.

"He's here," one of the girls pointed out to Jiamin Junzhu.

The qin player was incredibly aloof. Even though numerous people threw
jewels and hairpins onto the stage as soon as he sat down, he didn't make
any inappropriate moves.

After finishing a piece, he placed his fair hand on the mask and took off the
fierce and evil mask.

The ultimate exchange between the beauty and the devil caused the
audience to gasp.

After a moment, the stage was already covered with abundant rewards.

"Thank you," the qin player smiled faintly, lowered his head to pick up a
jade hairpin that fell on his robe, and lightly plucked the strings of the qin.
He looked up with a smile at everyone.
Jiamin Junzhu couldn't help but sit up straight.

"Jiamin Junzhu, I heard that if the offer is high enough, the qin player here
can come to the private room to perform exclusively for us."

"Interesting," Jiamin Junzhu beckoned to the attendants and asked them to

bring the qin player up from downstairs.

The audience downstairs, upon seeing the qin player leave, instantly felt
disappointed. Even the subsequent performances seemed dull and tasteless.

After waiting for a while, Jiamin Junzhu frowned and asked, "What's going
on? Where is he?"

Just at that moment, the embarrassed attendant walked in with a guilty face,
"Junzhu, the qin player has already been taken away."

"Taken away?" Jiamin Junzhu couldn't believe it. In the entire capital, with
all the Junzhus and noble ladies combined, who would dare to snatch the
qin player from her?

"Who has the audacity to compete with me? Taking someone away?"
Jiamin Junzhu's face showed anger. It was not just a matter of a qin player;
it was a matter of face.

Who dares to oppose her? How many people have feared Yao Jiamin since
childhood?

"Didn't even inform you prior that he should be kept for us?" Miss Yao, too,
became displeased, tapping the table lightly, "I would like to see who has
such a big face."

The attendant smiled awkwardly, "Esteemed guests, the one who took the
qin player away said she is friends with you."

"All of our good friends are here. What kind of person does she think she is,
daring to associate with us?" Miss Yao nudged Jiamin Junzhu lightly with
her arm, "Jiamin Junzhu, could it be that someone is using our name to
deceive others?"
Another girl whispered softly, "I feel like our current behavior is quite
similar to the side characters in a storybook who are about to be humiliated
and sent back to being ordinary bystanders A, B, C, D."

"Shut up!" Jiamin Junzhu and Miss Yao turned their heads simultaneously,
glaring at the girl who spoke.

Last time, she was the one who called them the side characters in a
storybook!

It's really funny. They come from noble families, born into wealth and
luxury. How could they be side characters that were about to be humiliated?
Are there any such noble and beautiful side characters like them?

The group arrived outside the private room where their qin player was sent
to and forcefully pushed the door open.

A young girl was reclining on a soft couch, with several beautiful

maidservants massaging her legs and shoulders while feeding her fruits. She
had an extremely leisurely posture.

"You're here?" When she saw them approaching, the young girl raised her
delicate and slender arm, "Feel free to sit, don't be polite."

"Hua Liuli, it's actually you... mmm..." Miss Yao didn't have a chance to
finish what she wanted to say before Jiamin Junzhu covered her mouth and
dragged her out, "Sorry for the disturbance, please continue."

"Mmm, mmm, mmm!" Miss Yao struggled to remove Jiamin Junzhu's hand,
"Jiamin Junzhu, what are you doing?"

"I just think it wouldn't sound good if this matter were to spread," Jiamin
Junzhu cleared her throat, "If you still want to snatch him back, you can do
it alone. I'm not going."

Miss Yao still remembered the small grievances she had with Hua Liuli, so
she immediately reached out to pull the door that Jiamin Junzhu had closed.
"After all, Hua Liuli is not in good health. She might faint from
provocation."

Miss Yao hesitated for a moment.

"After she faints, we can call the imperial physician."

Miss Yao's hand stopped.

"But if we call the imperial physician, Uncle and Aunt will find out that it
was you who made her sick."

Miss Yao's hand retracted.

"If Uncle and Aunt get angry..."

"Forget it, it's just a musician," Miss Yao turned around and left, "There are
plenty of handsome men in the world. I won't bother with her."

Jiamin Junzhu felt relieved when she saw her cousin giving up on snatching
the musician. Ignorant people were truly fortunate; her cousin didn't even
know what she had gone through.

Fortunately, her cousin didn't have much interaction with Hua Liuli. There
shouldn't have been any conflicts between them.

Before the group could walk away, the door to the private room opened
from the inside. Hua Liuli stood at the doorway, waving to them, "Why are
you leaving? Come, let's enjoy it together."

Jiamin Junzhu's innermost desire was to refuse instantly, but her face
displayed a stiff and polite smile, "No, there's no need..."

"That won't do. Good sisters are for a lifetime. How can we let a small
matter create a rift between us?" Hua Liuli looked at Jiamin Junzhu with a
smile, "Right, Sister Jiamin?"

Jiamin Junzhu said, "No, really, there's no need. I think our private room
has a nice view."
"I see," Hua Liuli lowered her eyelids with a touch of sadness, "Since Sister
Jiamin doesn't want to, I won't insist. I'll come to visit you tomorrow then."

Jiamin Junzhu's scalp tingled, "That's not necessary."

Hua Liuli's eyebrows furrowed lightly, "Sister Jiamin doesn't want to spend
time with me?"

Miss Yao: "Who wants to..."

Jiamin Junzhu quickly covered her cousin's mouth with the fastest speed
she could ever muster, "Th-then, sorry for the intrusion."

The little girl who was with Jiamin Junzhu breathed a sigh of relief, "I
misspoke earlier. It turns out we are not going to be bystanders 'A, B, C, D'
but rather supporting characters 'A, B, C, D'."

Miss Yao, unable to speak with her mouth covered, glared angrily at her
little sister. Can't they have some dignity? Why can't they be the main
characters?

Once the group of little sisters entered the private room, Miss Yao angrily
looked at Jiamin Junzhu, who didn't show the slightest temper in front of
Hua Liuli. She became even more furious.

"Don't say a word," Jiamin Junzhu noticed Miss Yao's expression and
whispered in her ear, "I think it's good to be friends with Hua Liuli."

Because if she didn't become friends with her, she might die.

Jiamin Junzhu patted her cousin's shoulder with a world-weary expression,

"Cousin, you understand me, right?"

Even Jiamin Junzhu's tone of speech had the flavor of Hua Liuli?!

Miss Yao stared at her in disbelief, as if she was looking at an unfaithful

person.

Among them, a detestable traitor had emerged!

OceanofPDF.com
Chapter 36 – Beautiful Capital City

It was supposed to be a lively place with sounds of music and revelry, but it
had turned into a quiet gathering for appreciating music and tea.

Jiamin Junzhu sat silently in a corner, while Hua Liuli reclined on a soft
couch, attended to by beautiful maidservants. The other girls, seeing the
two Junzhus not speaking, also remained silent, pretending to enjoy the
music while holding their teacups.

Miss Yao sneered, "They say even ghosts would be seduced under the
peony flowers, but Fushou Junzhu's health is not good. It's better for her to
stay indoors."

Hua Liuli, who had closed her eyes to rest, opened them.

"If one's health is not good, then it's important to go out and see more.
When your mood improves, your health naturally gets better," Seeing Hua
Liuli open her eyes, Jiamin Junzhu felt a tightness in her heart and grabbed
her cousin's wrist, signaling her not to speak any further, "As the saying
goes, beauty is nourishing. Junzhu, with your delicate constitution, it's
beneficial for your body and mind to look at beautiful people."

Miss Yao couldn't believe that Jiamin Junzhu would go to such lengths to
defend Hua Liuli. Who was her true sister? Why was she siding with others
instead?

Hua Liuli noticed Jiamin Junzhu's nervousness and slowly sat up, smiling.
"Sister Jiamin, you truly live up to being a Junzhu. You indeed have a broad
knowledge."

"Heh," Jiamin Junzhu forced a dry laugh, feeling the bitterness of telling
lies with her eyes wide open. Who could understand?
"I suddenly remembered some matters at home. I bid farewell," Miss Yao
glanced at Jiamin Junzhu, pretending to leave.

She was already angry, so Jiamin Junzhu should come and coax her, right?

"Take care on your way," Jiamin Junzhu breathed a sigh of relief. If her
cousin left, she wouldn't have to worry about her angering Hua Liuli
anymore.

"You..." Miss Yao was truly furious this time. She turned around and
walked away.

"Miss Yao, take care," Hua Liuli waved her hand with a smile.

"Hua Liuli, don't get too pleased!" Miss Yao pointed at Hua Liuli, "In a few
days, it will be the day of the examination results. I want to see how well
your brother performs."

After throwing down those words, Miss Yao left, leaving Jiamin Junzhu and
the other girls feeling awkward.

"Fushou Junzhu, my cousin can be a bit unruly, but..." Jiamin Junzhu

couldn't bring herself to say it. Her cousin didn't mean any harm, but she
mocked Hua Liuli's brother's ranks and exam results.

Jiamin Junzhu glanced at Hua Liuli in silence and rubbed her forehead. It
was always someone else who helped smooth things over for her. How
could she handle such matters? But Hua Liuli was someone who held
grudges and her smiles hid knives. Who knew when she would suddenly
seek revenge?

"It's alright. Your cousin is straightforward, I believe she means no harm,"

Hua Liuli smiled and said, "Why don't you all join me in appreciating the
music?"

Jiamin silently glanced at Hua Liuli. She couldn't trust a word this young
lady said.
Seeing the noble young ladies finally intending to enjoy her music, the
musician focused and began playing a difficult piece.

As the most famous musician in Jin Ling Garden, he took pride not only in
his face but also in his musical skills which enchanted countless women and
young ladies.

"This tea is not as good as the one we usually go to."

"It's not a proper teahouse, after all."

The musician's fingers trembled slightly, playing a wrong note. Even

though he was a well-known musician in the whole capital, the ladies were
more concerned about the quality of the tea?

"I don't drink tea, so I don't know which one is good or bad," Hua Liuli
said, "Why don't we ask the attendant here to bring a different kind of tea
for you all?"

"The tea here, no matter how good it is, has its limitations. Junzhu, there's
no need to trouble yourself," the young girl sitting next to Jiamin Junzhu,
with a pleasant appearance, was Tian Shan, the legitimate daughter of the
Tian family and Tian Ruidong's younger sister.

Tian Shan placed her teacup back on the table and looked at Hua Liuli
curiously, "Junzhu, you grew up at the border. Can you tell us about the
scenery there? Is it like what's described in poems, with vast deserts and
lonely smoke?"

Hua Liuli shook her head, "Qinghan Prefecture has rugged terrain and steep
mountains. In summer, there are many snakes, insects, and rodents. If you
step outside during summer nights, you'll be covered in mosquito bites."

"Is it that terrifying?" the girls, who grew up in luxury, couldn't fully
imagine such harsh living conditions.

"But there is an advantage to this—it's easily defendable. The local people

are strong-willed. Sometimes when enemies attack, men of age immediately
take up the responsibility to patrol the city. With their help, we've caught
spies sent by the Jinpo Kingdom several times," Hua Liuli sighed,
"However, due to the inconvenient transportation and harsh climate,
frequent conflicts occur. The merchants of Great Jin do not like to trade
with the locals, so the people there haven't had a good life for a long time."

The young girls listened attentively, holding their breath, wanting Hua Liuli
to continue.

"In recent years, my father led troops to suppress the bandits blocking the
roads, and gradually, merchants started coming for trade. Life has improved
somewhat," Hua Liuli noticed that the musician had made several mistakes.
She turned her head and looked at him with a smile that seemed friendly but
harbored knives, "Are you also interested in the border stories, musician?"

"I was momentarily captivated. Please forgive me, esteemed guests," the
musician stood up and walked to Hua Liuli, bowing before her.

He wore a loose white robe, and when he bent down, his collarbone was
faintly visible.

"I heard that eleven years ago, Qinghan Prefecture suffered from natural
disasters, and several roads leading to Qinghan Prefecture were blocked by
collapsed mountains," Jiamin Junzhu remembered this incident because her
father, Yao Fuma, personally served as the official in charge of escorting
supplies. After returning from Qinghan Prefecture, he was gloomy for
nearly half a month and started saving a lot of money.

"I was only four years old at that time, so I don't remember many things
clearly," Hua Liuli shook her head, "We came here today to listen to music.
What's the point of talking about these things?"

She turned her head and saw the musician still standing in front of her. She
waved her hand, "Musician, please continue playing."

The musician glanced at Hua Liuli and silently returned to his original
position.
The group ate fruits and snacks while staring at the musician for nearly half
an hour, feeling a bit bored. But since the two Junzhus didn't leave, they had
to force themselves to stay attentive.

"Musician, what's your name?"

"My ancestors committed a serious crime, and for three generations, we

have been slaves without a surname," the musician took the opportunity to
pause his playing. If he continued, his fingers would suffer, "The people in
the neighborhood call me Yunhan."

"Yunhan..." Hua Liuli pondered for a moment and looked at the musician
with a pensive gaze.

The musician slowly lifted his head, his beautiful eyes meeting Hua Liuli's
gaze.

"This name sounds a bit cold," Hua Liuli thought for a while, finally
expressing her inner feelings.

The slight smile on the musician's face, "The esteemed guest is right. I also
feel that the word 'cold' in my name is not good."

Jiamin Junzhu seriously doubted whether Hua Liuli knew how to make
someone happy. Why were her words so choke-inducing? It was ridiculous
to compete with her for someone like this.

"No, what I meant was that this name, like the musician, is like the pure
white clouds untainted by dust on the summit, although cold at high places,
it is also extremely pure," Hua Liuli stood up and walked to the musician,
casually plucking a few strings. Her movements were casual but carried a
hint of freedom, "The musician's skill is outstanding, and with such
exceptional looks, there is no need for self-deprecation."

She leaned slightly closer to the musician and, just when the girls thought
she would do something to the musician, she suddenly stood up straight,
took out a handkerchief, and lightly coughed a few times while covering her
mouth, "I'm sorry, I'm not feeling well and can't stay outside for long.
Musician, please rest in your room as well."

Yurong approached and held Hua Liuli's arm, while Yuan Yi handed a bag
of pearls to the musician, "My master's outings are unpredictable. It would
be best for the young musician not to entertain other guests for a while, so
as not to inconvenience my master when she wants to see you."

The musician accepted the pearls and casually placed them on the table. He
bowed to Hua Liuli, "Then I will await the esteemed guest's return here."

His posture was elegant, like an immortal untouched by the mortal world,
making people want to keep him in the mortal world while also wanting
him to continue being an exalted immortal.

If it were an ordinary young girl, she would have been captivated by such
elegance.

But the girls present were different. They had already seen the Fifth Prince,
who had reached the pinnacle of elegance in speech and behavior. Men like
Yunhan from the streets could only make them take a second look; far from
being stunning.

When Hua Liuli mentioned that she was leaving, Jiamin Junzhu quickly
stood up, "There are matters at home, so I should leave too."

If she didn't leave, did she have to stay here and compete with Hua Liuli for
men?

The group left Jin Ling Garden. Jiamin Junzhu hadn't even had a chance to
breathe a sigh of relief when she locked eyes with Du Xiuying, who was
standing across the street.

Although Du Xiuying's expression was calm, Jiamin Junzhu could be sure

that beneath her calm facade hid anger.

"Young Lady Du," Hua Liuli spotted Du Xiuying and waved at her with a
smile, "What a coincidence."
Du Xiuying nodded with a smile and walked over to them, bowing,
"Greetings, Fushou Junzhu."

"No need for such formalities, Young Lady Du," Hua Liuli reached out to
support Du Xiuying, who carried a faint fragrance of books and ink, which
smelled pleasant.

"Courtesy must be maintained," Du Xiuying turned and exchanged

greetings with the other girls. Then her gaze fell on Jiamin Junzhu.

The sounds of music and laughter occasionally drifted from Jin Ling
Garden behind them, making the atmosphere between them even quieter.

"Is it fun inside?" Du Xiuying looked at Jiamin Junzhu expressionlessly.

Jiamin Junzhu shook her head, "It's not that interesting."

"If you like going, I can't stop you," Du Xiuying turned her head and
glanced at Hua Liuli, "Fushou Junzhu is physically weak and younger than
you. Please don't bring her to such places in the future."

"What does that have to do with me?" Jiamin Junzhu scoffed, "Her legs are
attached to her body, not min. Can I control her?" She wasn't responsible
for her life, was she?

"Young Lady Du, this matter has nothing to do with Jiamin Junzhu. It was
my own decision to come here," Hua Liuli said softly.

"I know," Du Xiuying didn't take Hua Liuli's words seriously. Jiamin
Junzhu had a bad temper, she can see that Fushou Junzhu was just covering
for her.

If it weren't for Jiamin Junzhu bringing Fushou Junzhu here, how could she
have found this place?

With these thoughts in mind, Du Xiuying warned Jiamin Junzhu with a

stern look, asking her to stay out of trouble.

Jiamin Junzhu: "..."

She may have been reckless in her words and actions in the past, but it
didn't mean that she was the instigator of all bad things, right? Do people
still value reason in this world?

But she couldn't be bothered to argue with her cousin, Du Xiuying. Since
childhood, her cousin had always been using pompous words that gave her
a headache.

Tian Shan and the other girl sensed that something was wrong and quickly
found an excuse to get on their carriage and leave. They were also afraid of
Du Xiuying.

Jiamin Junzhu watched the two sisters leave in a hurry and once again
doubted the fragile friendship between them.

They had promised to be lifelong friends, but when faced with difficulties,
they ran without looking back?

"Let's go, let's go home," the street was bustling with people, so Du Xiuying
didn't say anything else. She pulled Jiamin Junzhu onto her carriage,
preventing her from running around.

"Junzhu," before Du Xiuying got on the carriage, she said to Hua Liuli,
"Return to your estate early, it's getting dark."

"Alright, Young Lady Du," Hua Liuli smiled innocently.

Seeing her innocent smile, Du Xiuying couldn't help but feel a sense of
"others' sisters are better" in her heart.

"Cousin, it wasn't me who brought her here. When I arrived, she was
already inside."

"Don't make up stories, why don't you say that she was also competing with
you for men?"

"Yes, she was competing with me for men."

"Hmph," Du Xiuying couldn't help but laugh in frustration, "Yao Jiamin, I
don't use foul language, but don't push me to make an exception."

Jiamin Junzhu: "..."

The thing she regretted the most in her life was provoking Hua Liuli. Ever
since she provoked her, she had never had a peaceful day.

They were truly incompatible.

Watching Du Xiuying's carriage disappear into the distance, Hua Liuli's lips
curved into a smile, "The girls in the capital are interesting."

"Junzhu, what do you think of that musician?" Yurong asked softly.

"He doesn't have the elegance of the Fifth Prince, nor the appearance and
grace of the Crown Prince," Hua Liuli shook her head with a sigh, "After
getting used to seeing extraordinary beauty, everyone else becomes ordinary
and mundane."

"Junzhu should calm down. It's impossible for those princes to become your
male pets," Yuan Yi honestly reminded her.

"You make a valid point. It's just that everyone has their flaws. It's easy to
go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality," Hua
Liuli felt a lack of interest in that musician, "If the Crown Prince weren't so
good-looking, I wouldn't be so picky."

"Fushou Junzhu?"

Hua Liuli frowned. She was only appreciating the Crown Prince's beauty,
how come she started hallucinating that he was calling out to her?

The Crown Prince saw Hua Liuli standing at the entrance of a pleasure
quarter and asked, "What are you doing here?" He dismounted from his
horse and glanced at the signboard hanging at the main entrance of the
pleasure quarter and thought she happened to pass by.
"I heard there's a talented musician inside, so I came to take a look," Hua
Liuli didn't hide her intentions from the Crown Prince.

"A musician?" The Crown Prince smelled a different fragrance emanating

from Hua Liuli, a scent that was unusual and mixed with some pungent
powder, probably unintentionally picked up from someone else.

"Junzhu... Do you have such an interest as well?" the Crown Prince knew
that some noble ladies in the capital had a hobby of keeping male pets, but
Hua Liuli didn't seem like that kind of person.

Could it be that someone had influenced her?

"Just curious to take a look," Hua Liuli didn't care about it, "Why is Your
Royal Highness here so late?"

"Gu was accompanying the officials from the Ministry of Rites to deliver an
imperial edict," the Crown Prince explained, "The men and women in this
kind of place aren't clean, and the scent is heavy, not good for your health.
Junzhu, you should avoid coming to this kind of place in the future."

Hua Liuli contemplated for a moment. Did the Crown Prince mean that she
should find an innocent commoner man?

She looked up at the Crown Prince and nodded slowly, "Your Royal
Highness, I understand your intention."

Watching Hua Liuli's pensive expression, the Crown Prince felt

uncomfortable. No matter what he thought, he felt a sense of unease. After
escorting Hua Liuli back to her estate, he still felt a tightness in his heart.

"Your Majesty, which consort's palace will you go to rest tonight?" Zhao
Sancai asked in a low voice. It had been five days since His Majesty visited
the harem and several consorts came to inquire about it. As an eunuch
without any roots, he had no idea about His Majesty's thoughts.

"Zhen remember that Consort Lin's brother seems to have returned to the
capital?" Emperor Changlong asked Zhao Sancai.
"Is Your Majesty referring to Lin Zhou, the Prefect of Yongzhou?"

"That's the one."

"Your Majesty, Lin Zhou has already been transferred back to the capital,
but there are no suitable vacancies in the capital at the moment, so he is
temporarily idle at home."

"Then Zhen will go to Lin Fei's place tonight. Zhen will discuss the
arrangement of Lin Zhou with her," Emperor Changlong was about to go to
Consort Lin's place when a eunuch came to report that the Crown Prince
wanted to see him. He stopped in his tracks and had the eunuch bring the
Crown Prince in.

"Coming to see Zhen so late, is there something wrong again?" Emperor

Changlong saw the Crown Prince's hurried footsteps and kindly asked him
to sit down before speaking.

"Father Emperor, today when Erchen was returning to the palace, Erchen
noticed that some pleasure establishments were brightly lit up, with
continuous music and sounds. It felt a bit inappropriate to Erchen," the
Crown Prince said with a worried expression, "Under Father Emperor's
governance, Great Jin has become more prosperous and the people live in
peace and prosperity. But as their living standards improve, the common
people are becoming more and more indulgent in pleasure-seeking. The
pleasure establishments are bustling every night, which is not conducive to
the long-term stability and prosperity of Great Jin."

"Of course, appropriate entertainment is necessary," the Crown Prince

added when Emperor Changlong fell into thought, "In a short while, envoys
from various countries will arrive in Great Jin. If they get the impression
that the people of Great Jin are only indulging in pleasure, it will damage
our reputation. It might be better to take advantage of this time to
investigate these pleasure establishments, check if there are any cases of
forced prostitution, officials lingering in fireworks places, killings of
servants in brothels, secret brothels, and other phenomena, and then have
them regulated and managed."
"You make a valid point," Emperor Changlong nodded after pondering for a
moment, "Arrange for people to handle this matter tomorrow."

Great Jin has enjoyed good weather and the commoners have been living in
peace and prosperity in recent years, but excessive indulgence in pleasure
poses hidden risks for the future.

No matter when, one must not lose the sense of crisis and the spirit of
striving upward.

Drip, drip, drip.

Countless pearls fell to the ground, making a crisp sound.

Yunhan ignored the pearls bouncing and rolling on the ground and stood in
front of a large bronze mirror. He gently touched his cheek and asked the
servant by his side, "Do I look unattractive?"

"Young Master, your appearance is unparalleled in the world, unmatched by

anyone," the servant held the tray high, not daring to look up at Yunhan.

The tray was empty, with a few scattered pearls around it.

Yunhan waved his hand and knocked over the tray, his face looking
extremely displeased. Ever since he appeared in the Jin Ling Garden, he
had attracted countless women's infatuation. A few days ago, two noble
ladies even turned against each other because of him.

But the young lady's reaction today was simply a great humiliation to him.

"Send someone to find out what usual hobbies Hua Liuli and Yao Jiamin
indulge in," Yun Han's anger gradually dissipated, and he casually played
with the silk purse in the tray, "Women all like sweet words and vows of
love. I want them to regret their actions today."

"Young Master, Master meant for you to get closer to Jiamin Junzhu.
Why..."
"What do you understand?" Yunhan interrupted the servant's words and
sneered, "Human nature is inherently cheap. If someone discovers that the
person who used to pursue them suddenly becomes interested in someone
else, their feelings will become even more intense."

"Nubi doesn't understand," the servant's shoulders trembled slightly, he was

afraid.

"Of course, you wouldn't understand," Yunhan's eyes were as cold as the
accumulated snow in December, "Women... for the sake of love, they can
give up everything."

"Young Master, before leaving, Hua Liuli didn't allow you to entertain
anyone else, which means you are already special to her. Maybe she acted
coldly because there were other people present," the servant said, "Nubi
believes in you, Young Master."

"Good boy," Yunhan patted the servant's head. The servant looked up at
him, revealing a neck without an Adam's apple.

The Crown Prince had a dream, a dream where he raised a little white
kitten. This kitten was extremely beautiful, even its meow was more
pleasant than other cats.

However, this kitten was particularly mischievous. It would go pick flowers

today and pick fruits tomorrow, it even almost got taken away by someone.

The Crown Prince scolded the person who tried to snatch his kitten angrily.
Still feeling unsatisfied, he returned to the palace and made an exquisite
cage for the little kitten.

The little kitten lay in the cage, looking at him with big eyes and meowing
pitifully.

The Crown Prince's heart softened all of a sudden. He wanted to hold the
little kitten in his arms and help groom its fur.

"Who let you go after other flowers?"

The little kitten stared at him with innocent big eyes.

"Will you run after someone else?"

The little kitten tilted its fluffy head and scratched the cage with its paw.

"Sigh," Although the little kitten made no promises, the Crown Prince still
opened the cage without any principles and let the kitten out.

Watching the little kitten strutting around in front of him, the Crown Prince
picked it up and kissed its ear, "You are a naughty little kitten."

"Your Royal Highness, Your Royal Highness."

The Crown Prince opened his eyes and saw a eunuch kneeling beside his
bed with a concerned expression, "Were you dreaming, Your Royal
Highness?"

"It's nothing," the Crown Prince sat up, "Gu just dreamt that someone was
trying to snatch my kitten."

The young eunuch looked perplexed: Kitten?

What kitten?

There were no kittens in the Eastern Palace.

"Help Gu change my clothes."

"It's still early. Your Royal Highness can sleep a little longer."

"No, Gu has something to attend to today."

Just as the sun rose, the chief steward of the Jin Ling Garden heard a
commotion downstairs. She was a bit annoyed and opened the door to step
out into the corridor, "What's all the noise about? We haven't opened the
doors to welcome guests yet."
As she looked downstairs and saw that most of the people there were
wearing official robes of the Ministry of Justice and yamen constable
uniforms, she was taken aback and quickly squeezed out a smile as she
trotted downstairs, "Gentlemen, may I ask what the matter is?"

"Creating a harmonious capital is everyone's responsibility," a yamen

constable handed a notice to the chief steward, "Recently, the yamen has
received numerous anonymous reports about illegal activities in some
pleasure establishments, such as illegal trafficking of people and
mistreatment of servants. In response to these reports, the Jingzhao
Prefecture and the Ministry of Justice will conduct a thorough investigation.
Once discovered, severe punishments will be imposed."

"Officials, our establishment is a legitimate pleasure establishment. The

musicians and dancers here are all legitimate performers, we would never
engage in any illegal activities," the chief steward quickly scanned the
notice, her heart pounding, "Please, gentlemen, investigate with
discernment."

She hastily took out a stack of silver bills from her sleeve and handed them
to the yamen constables, "Gentlemen, perhaps you haven't had breakfast
yet. Please have some morning tea..."

"Chief Steward, there's no need to be nervous. We are only conducting a

thorough investigation according to the laws of Great Jin. If your
establishment has not engaged in any illegal activities, we will not trouble
you," the yamen constable said with a serious expression, not even glancing
at the silver bills.

"Carry on with the investigation."

A deep, pleasant male voice reached the steward's ears. She followed the
sound and saw a tall and extraordinarily handsome man standing at the
entrance.

She couldn't believe that there could be a man in this world who was more
attractive than Yunhan?!
Even though she was accustomed to seeing various beautiful men and
women, she couldn't help but take a few more extra glances at him.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 37 – Beast

The yamen constable didn't dare to accept the money from the steward.
When he saw the chief steward take out the money bag, cold sweat broke
out on his back. What if the superiors misunderstood him as a bribe taker?
How could he continue working at the yamen in the future?

Seeing that the chief steward didn't insist on handing the money to him and
instead looked towards the entrance, the yamen constable breathed a sigh of
relief. He turned his head and glanced at the person standing at the door. He
came with the officials from the Ministry of Justice, but his identity was
unknown. The Deputy Minister of Justice, Pei Daren, was courteous to him,
so he might be a wealthy young man who came along for the fun.

In the capital city, some wealthy and influential young mans had peculiar
hobbies. Some liked to pretend to be beggars, some liked to go to teahouses
to tell stories, and some liked to practice Taoism and stay inside Taoist
temples. Among these wealthy people who only enjoyed the excitement,
this kind was considered relatively normal.

This investigation was particularly strict, even the Deputy Minister of

Justice personally took action. It could be seen how much importance the
Emperor attached to the spiritual and cultural construction of the capital
city.

It was unfortunate that this music hall had bad luck. With the Deputy
Minister of Justice leading the investigation, their inspection would
definitely be more stringent than the other teams.

"Report, the names on the roster do not match the actual number of people."
"Report, two dancers, one attendant, and two musicians have issues with
their household registration."

"Daren, this establishment is hiding prohibited drugs."

"The income and tax payments are unclear, with suspicions of tax evasion."

Within half an hour, Jin Ling Garden had been found to have several
problems. Some things wouldn't be apparent without a thorough
investigation, but with the skilled investigators from the Ministry of Justice
personally involved today, they could easily identify those who were
suspicious.

Those who could work at the Ministry of Justice were all skilled in their
own right. Having them investigate a music hall like this was a waste of
their talents.

Pei Jihuai sat in a chair, pretending not to see the Crown Prince's attendant
wiping the stool back and forth three times before the Crown Prince finally
sat down, "Young Master, this music hall has quite a few issues. It may take
us some time. You're busy with affairs, would it be an inconvenience for
you to stay here?"

"I just came to have a look. Deputy Minister Pei, continue with the
investigation, you don't need to worry about me," the Crown prince smiled,
appearing very accommodating, but Pei Jihuai knew that this person was
not someone who could be easily dismissed.

Seeing that the Crown Prince didn't want to leave, he didn't insist and
continued to listen to the report.

"Daren, most of the people living in the establishment have arrived, except
for one musician and a few dancers who live outside the establishment."

"That qin player also lives outside?" Pei Jihuai raised an eyebrow.

"Daren, the qin player lives inside the establishment."

"Then why hasn't he come down?" Pei Jihuai slammed the teacup heavily
on the table, "The Ministry of Justice is conducting an investigation. Those
who don't cooperate will be treated as suspects and brought back to the
Ministry of Justice for further questioning."

The musicians and dancers, who were brought out by the yamen constable
and were complaining incessantly, immediately fell silent when they heard
this. They were skilled at reading people's expressions, and seeing that this
official was truly angry, none of them dared to provoke him.

The dancers and musicians stood crowded together on the stage, bowing
their heads and shrinking their shoulders, afraid of becoming the
scapegoats.

"Apologies, I overslept and made the officials wait for a long time," a man
slowly walked up from the corridor. He was dressed in loose plain clothes,
with his hair untied. He looked at the people below with a half-smile, "I
wonder what business the officials have that requires my presence."

"The safety of the people in the capital concerns every citizen. I came here
to ensure the safety of every citizen, not to intentionally trouble you all,"
Pei Jihuai looked at the person whose hair was disheveled and frowned. He
was followed by a petite servant.

Seeing Pei Jihuai frown at his disheveled hair, Yunhan smiled and said,
"Apologies, I came out in a hurry and didn't have time to tidy up. I
apologize for my rudeness."

The chief steward saw the money tree come down and quickly gave him a
signal with her eyes. The people sitting here today had extraordinary
identities, so they had to be careful with their words and actions to avoid
causing trouble.

Yunhan didn't pay attention to the steward's signal and swept his gaze over
the people in the hall. Finally, his gaze fell on a man dressed in luxurious
clothes with a jade crown and tied-up hair, but the man completely ignored
his gaze and didn't even lift his head.
"Please present your household registration, we need to verify them one by
one."

The servant glanced at Yunhan upon hearing this and Yunhan nodded to his
servant. The servant took out two sets of household registrations from the
bosom, quickly went downstairs, and handed them to an official of the
Ministry of Justice.

The official took the household registrations but didn't open them yet. He
said, "Chief Steward, how can you let a little girl dress up as a servant
here?!"

"What little girl?" The chief steward was momentarily stunned. Seeing that
the official was staring at the servant girl, she suddenly understood. Feeling
somewhat unhappy about being ignored by Yunhan, she turned her head
and looked at the qin player, "Yunhan, I wanted you to stay in the
establishment to entertain the honored guests, not to keep a little beauty by
your side for pleasure."

The servant girl looked surprised. She didn't expect the official to say such
words, "Daren, I am a man, I just happen to look somewhat like a little
girl."

The staff member ignored him and opened the household registrations.
After a quick glance, he raised his hand and had someone grab the servant
girl, "Whether you are a man or a woman, I can tell at a glance. There's no
need for explanations. Pretending to be a daughter while using the
household registration of a son, you will be taken back to the Ministry of
Justice for interrogation."

After spending so many years in the Ministry of Justice, if he couldn't even

tell if someone was a man or a woman, he wouldn't have any face to stay in
the Ministry of Justice.

"What? You're actually a girl?" Yunhan seemed surprised that his servant
turned out to be a girl. He looked at her with a mixture of anger and a sense
of being deceived.
"Young Master, I admired you, and I tried to get close to you in the guise of
a servant. Please forgive me," the servant girl tried to break free from the
yamen constable's grip and knelt down to apologize to Yunhan, but the
yamen constable exerted a great force and held her firmly.

"Daren, this is a fake household registration," the official handed the

household registration to Pei Jihuai.

"It's a household register issued by Yongzhou Prefecture," Pei Jihuai

glanced at the fake household register and said, "I once traveled to
Yongzhou Prefecture for studies in my early years, so I have fond memories
of the place. Could you tell me about the mountains and rivers of
Yongzhou, little girl?"

The servant girl stammered as she described a few places, while Pei Jihuai
tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his tone cold, "Take her back to the
Ministry of Justice."

After the servant was dragged away, Pei Jihuai looked up at the qin
standing on the corridor, his expression indifferent, "This qin player, take
him with you as well."

"Daren, does my household register also have issues?" Yunhan descended

the stairs slowly and bowed deeply to Pei Jihuai, "Daren, I am also a
victim."

Although the chief steward was displeased with Yunhan, she didn't want
any trouble to fall on this money tree, so she quickly said, "Please, Daren,
understand. This servant girl has been working in the music hall for two to
three years, while Yunhan only arrived in our establishment three months
ago. There is no possibility that they are accomplices."

"Tsk," the well-dressed young man, who had remained silent until now,
glanced at the qin player with disdain and said impatiently, "If there are no
issues, the Ministry of Justice will deal with it fairly and release him. If
everything is to be decided by you, what's the point of having the yamen?"
"Daren, while that is true, we are in the business of running the music hall.
If we lose our star performer, how can we continue?" the Chief Steward
quickly tried to appease him with a smile, "Daren..."

"Still want to continue running the business?" The well-dressed young man
stood up, "Jin Ling Garden has violated several laws of Great Jin. Until this
matter is thoroughly investigated, it must be closed for rectification."

The steward's heart tightened. She turned to look at Pei Jihuai and, when
she realized that the official didn't refute the young mans's words, a sense of
foreboding crept into her heart. She hurriedly said, "Daren, two Junzhus
issued an order yesterday, saying they wanted to listen to Yunhan's music. If
you take Yunhan away and close the establishment, and when the Junzhus
ask, I won't be able to explain to them."

When the well-dressed young man heard her mention "Junzhus", his gaze
fell on Yunhan, and his eyes, filled with coldness, carried a hint of scrutiny,
"Two Junzhus were interested in him?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" the steward, thinking that the well-dressed young man
wouldn't dare offend the Junzhus, quickly said, "The Junzhus were quite
satisfied with Yunhan. Before they left, they even paid him a substantial
amount of silver and forbade him from playing for anyone else."

"Since it's the two Junzhus who were interested..." The well-dressed young
man pondered for a moment, and when he saw hope flicker in the steward's
eyes, he continued, "We mustn't let this person get close to the Junzhus
without any investigation. The Junzhus are highly regarded and precious. If
this person harbors ill intentions, it could harm the Junzhus, wouldn't it?!"

"Deputy Minister Pei," the well-dressed young man turned to Pei Jihuai,
"Take him to the Ministry of Justice and investigate thoroughly."

"Yes," Pei Jihuai cupped his fist in response.

Yun Han looked at the well-dressed young man, his face turning very ugly.
He was confident in his outstanding appearance and thought he was
unmatched by anyone else. However, now there was someone even more
outstanding than him, which ignited a raging jealousy in his heart that
couldn't be extinguished.

"Who are you?" Yunhan stared at the well-dressed young man, wishing to
know his identity immediately.

"What kind of thing are you? How dare you question Young Master's
identity?" the attendant accompanying the well-dressed young man looked
at Yunhan with disdain, "You're just a lowly musician who played a few
songs for the Junzhus. You're nothing more than a jumping clown, it's
laughable."

Upon hearing his attendant's words, the Crown Prince raised his eyelids
slightly but didn't speak to stop him.

"There are countless people in this world who want to associate with Young
Master. You don't even deserve to be in line. If I were you, standing in front
of Young Master, who is like an immortal in the sky, I would already be
ashamed and not dare to lift my head."

"What kind of lowly thing are you? How dare you look at Young Master
with eyes filled with jealousy? Get away quickly and don't disgust my
Young Master with your ugly face."

The whole room fell silent. Pei Jihuai silently glanced at the attendant
beside the Crown Prince. He had heard that the Crown Prince had all sorts
of talented people around him, but he didn't expect to find an attendant who
excelled at insulting people.

If there were a competition for insulting people in the capital, this attendant
by the Crown Prince's side would surely be in the top three.

Yunhan was almost infuriated by the attendant's words. How could a mere
attendant dare to call him ugly?

He had been good-looking since childhood and had captivated countless

women. How could he be ugly? He almost couldn't hold back his
composure and wanted to confront the attendant, but before he could move,
the people from the Ministry of Justice acted swiftly and detained him.

"Why is it so quiet here today?"

A young lady's voice came from outside the door.

"Isn't the music hall supposed to be open by now?"

"Young Miss, something seems off today. Why are there yamen constables
guarding outside?"

The Crown Prince said to his attendant, "Bring the young lady inside."

"Yes," the attendant bowed and went out, quickly returning with a young
lady and her servant. Yunhai took a glance at the newcomers. It was Miss
Yao, the girl who had left first last night.

However, Miss Yao didn't look at him. She walked obediently to the Crown
Prince's side and greeted him respectfully, "Greetings, Young Master."

"Last night, did you see this person play the qin for Liuli?" the Crown
Prince's expression was calm as he pointed at Yunhan.

Miss Yao nodded obediently.

"Liuli was quite fond of him?" the Crown Prince furrowed his brows
slightly but quickly relaxed them.

"She should be quite fond of him," Miss Yao saw the Crown Prince's
expression turn ugly in an instant and immediately changed her words,
"Actually, she doesn't like him that much. We just listened to his music,
nothing else happened."

She had intended to buy the qin player before Hua Liuli returned to teach
her a lesson. But she didn't expect to encounter the Crown Prince and the
officials from the Ministry of Justice right at the door. She was too scared to
say anything else.
Did this qin player commit a major crime?

Otherwise, why would the Crown Prince be here and have the attendant
warn her in advance not to reveal the Crown Prince's identity?

While she was thinking about this, suddenly she heard a young lady's voice
from outside and her heart was filled with joy. Hua Liuli had also come to
the establishment. She secretly glanced at the people from the Ministry of
Justice and Yamen. If someone had to die, they should all die together. They
had all visited this establishment. Why was she the only one who was
caught by the Crown Prince and the Ministry of Justice on the scene?

"I feel that something is amiss in the establishment," Hua Liuli said as soon
as she stepped through the gates, sensing that the atmosphere here was off.
It was too quiet, not like a pleasure quarter, but more like a study.

Jiamin Junzhu, who was forcibly dragged out by Hua Liuli, looked around,
"What's wrong?"

Hua Liuli glanced at Jiamin Junzhu and then turned around to leave.

"Junzhus, please wait."

Hua Liuli was called back before she could even step out of the gate. She
turned her head to see the person chasing after her, who looked somewhat
familiar, like the eunuch attendant by the Crown Prince's side.

"Junzhus, as the Crown Prince and the Ministry of Justice are conducting
investigations inside, why don't the two Junzhus join them to witness the
excitement?" the eunuch attendant smiled and invited both of them into the
main hall.

Hua Liuli's mood was somewhat complicated. She had just experienced the
thrill of pursuing a beauty for the first time, but the next day she was
surrounded by officials from the Ministry of Justice. How could she ever
freely enjoy the sight of a beauty in the future?
Jiamin Junzhu gritted her teeth and whispered in Hua Liuli's ear, "If you
hadn't dragged me out so early in the morning, we wouldn't have
embarrassed ourselves here."

"If you hadn't competed with me for someone last night, I wouldn't have
brought you along specifically," Hua Liuli retorted in a low voice,
"Shouldn't we share good fortune together?"

"Ugh, it's clearly sharing hardships together," Jiamin Junzhu rolled her eyes.

"Junzhus, please come in," the eunuch attendant turned back and saw
Jiamin Junzhu giving Hua Liuli a disdainful look. However, Fushou
Junzhu, instead of getting angry, smiled gently at Jiamin Junzhu and
reminded her, "Please."

"Sister Jiamin, you go first," Hua Liuli stepped aside, gesturing for Jiamin
Junzhu to go ahead.

"You're not well, I'll support you," Jiamin Junzhu reached out and held Hua
Liuli's arm, whispering in her ear, "Please."

The officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Yamen all lowered their
heads upon seeing the two elegantly dressed Junzhus coming in together,
not daring to look directly at their beauty.

As soon as the two entered, the first thing they saw was the Crown Prince
sitting next to Pei Jihuai. It could be said that as long as the Crown Prince
was present, people would subconsciously take notice of him.

Good-looking people seemed to emit their own light, making others appear
dull and colorless.

"Young Master," Hua Liuli and Jiamin Junzhu both spread their hands and
greeted the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince pointed to an empty seat beside him, "Sit down and let's
talk."
"Junzhu, I heard that you've been appreciating a qin player in this
establishment?" as soon as Hua Liuli took her seat, the Crown Prince asked
the question.

Although there were two Junzhus present, in the eyes of the Crown Prince,
there was only one Junzhu.

"Which qin player?" Hua Liuli looked around and only then noticed the qin
player whose arms were being held by the officials from the Ministry of
Justice. After casually glancing at him, she turned her gaze back to the
Crown Prince, "What did he do?"

"His servant disguised herself as a man, falsified her household registration,

and we suspect that he is an accomplice in the recent major crimes," Pei
Jihuai explained, worried that Hua Liuli would blame them for taking away
the qin player. So, he made the situation sound more serious.

"Junzhu, I am not an associate of any criminal. I implore you to help me

seek justice," Yunhan raised his head, revealing his handsome eyes and
nose, his gaze filled with melancholy and helplessness, "Junzhu, Yunhan is
merely a homeless qin player. Please see through this, Junzhu."

With the Crown Prince's captivating presence, Hua Liuli couldn't pay much
attention to Yunhan's handsome appearance. She took out a handkerchief
and covered her mouth with a slight cough, "Deputy Minister Pei is the
most skilled investigator in the Ministry of Justice. With him here, the truth
will be revealed. You don't need to worry."

"Doesn't Junzhu believe me either?" Yunhan drooped his head dejectedly, "I
thought Junzhu was different..."

The Crown Prince turned to look at Hua Liuli, who quickly shook her head.
She hadn't done anything with this qin player.

"Deputy Minister Pei, I will leave this to you," The Crown Prince stood up
and said to Hua Liuli, "Junzhu, come with me."

"Sure," Hua Liuli stood up and followed him.

Jiamin Junzhu: "..."

So, what was the point of her being here? Was it to prove how biased the Ji
family was and how little presence the Crown Prince had his cousin in his
heart?

"Junzhu..." Yunhan looked at Jiamin mournfully, as if she were his last

hope.

Unfortunately, Jiamin Junzhu, who was busy cursing the Ji family's bias in
her mind, completely missed Yunhan's gaze. It wasn't until Yunhan was
dragged away that she stood up with a blank expression, "I won't disturb
your investigation; I'll go back too."

As the saying goes, "A beautiful appearance can take you thousands of
miles". She could understand and accept that.

But why did they all favor Hua Liuli so much?!

Did they know what lay beneath Hua Liuli's delicate appearance?! They
were all blind and ignorant.

"Luckily, that qin player didn't harm you," the Crown Prince said to Hua
Liuli, who was slowly riding on horseback, "If he had taken the opportunity
to assassinate you while getting close, how dangerous would it have been
for you?"

"Thank you for the reminder, Your Royal Highness. I will be more careful
next time," Hua Liuli replied, glancing back in the direction of Jin Ling
Garden with clear and bright eyes.

"And there will be a next time?" the Crown Prince frowned.

"What, what's wrong?" Hua Liuli sensed that the Crown Prince seemed
unhappy.

"There are people outside with unknown intentions. As a Junzhu, your

status is noble. Don't let petty individuals take advantage of it," The Crown
Prince paused for a moment and squeezed out a few words from between
his teeth, "If Junzhu enjoys listening to music, there are many musicians
and dancers in the palace. Gu can take you to see them."

"The musicians in the palace have different identities. How can I approach
them?" Hua Liuli said.

"What did you say?" the Crown Prince turned to look at Hua Liuli, his
expression calm and eery.

Hua Liuli stared at the unfamiliar Crown Prince blankly and inexplicably
felt guilty. She turned her head, avoiding eye contact with the Crown
Prince, "As I am with a weak constitution, it is not suitable for me to marry.
I don't want to bring disaster to any legitimate young master by marrying
into their family. It's better to keep a few companions, seek some pleasure,
and live out my remaining days.."

"Are you suggesting that you are unsuitable for marriage, or that you don't
want to marry anyone?" the Crown Prince asked.

"In this world, who wouldn't want to marry a beautiful and ideal spouse?
And who wouldn't want to marry a beloved husband?" Hua Liuli lowered
her eyelids slightly and switched the hand holding the reins, "But I am
physically unfit, so I don't want to burden others."

"If there is someone in this world who doesn't mind Junzhu's condition,
would Junzhu marry that person?"

Hua Liuli laughed and looked at the Crown Prince in confusion, "Your
Royal Highness, why are you suddenly asking this question?"

Could it be that the woman the Crown Prince liked had passed away due to
her frailty, so he suddenly had such thoughts?

Understanding this, Hua Liuli said, "Your Royal Highness, if I fall in love
with someone and know that it would bring them pain, I would rather they
forget me, hate me, but I wouldn't want to be a burden to them."

What a joke!
If she were that frail girl, she wouldn't have so many concerns. Even if they
couldn't be together, she would make sure the Crown Prince understood her
feelings. At least she wouldn't have any regrets before her death.

For someone like her, with a violent temper and grudges, it was a good
thing not to have anyone she liked. Whoever she liked would suffer for their
entire life.

"I understand," the Crown Prince smiled, "If you ever fall in love in the
future, be sure to tell me."

"Is Your Royal Highness going to help me take possession of him?" Hua
Luli asked.

The Crown Prince chuckled softly without saying a word.

"How can I let Your Royal Highness do such a thing?" Hua Luli thought the
Crown Prince had tacitly agreed to her words and quickly said, "Forcing
oneself onto someone is not right. I don't mind, but it would damage Your
Royal Highness's reputation."

"If it can make you happy, it's not impossible," the Crown Prince sighed
lightly, "After all, my reputation is not that great either."

"All those are just baseless rumors spread by others," Hua Luli felt
indignant at the slander against the Crown Prince, "Your Royal Highness is
clearly a talented and handsome Crown Prince."

The Crown Prince, upon hearing this, turned his head and stared at Hua Luli
with a gentle smile.

Enchanted by the Crown Prince's charming smile, Hua Luli felt a tinge of
regret. How good would it be if he weren't the Crown Prince?

Even if he wasn't the Crown Prince, she would spend a fortune to bring
such a peerless beauty to her personal estate and treat him as her most
beloved lover.

What a pity. What a pity.

Under the strict crackdown by the Ministry of Justice and the Yamen, the
appearance of the capital city changed greatly within just three days. There
were no more men and women parading along the streets in revealing attire,
the prices of the pleasure quarters had also significantly decreased.
However, even though the prices were lower, fewer people dared to spend
money in these places.

Some outsiders who had just arrived in the capital marveled at how
different the common people in the capital were. They knew that during the
recent Spring Examination period, in order not to affect the examinees'
performance, the pleasure places had become quiet. Even thieves couldn't
be seen. If someone accidentally dropped money on the ground, someone
would pick it up and return it to the owner.

One foreign merchant even wrote travel notes, describing Great Jin as a
prosperous, elegant, beautiful country where nothing could be lost.

Emperor Changlong noticed that his most beloved son had been acting
strangely in the past few days, sometimes even spacing out while reading an
incredibly boring memorial.

On the day before Spring Examination was about to end, Emperor

Changlong couldn't help but ask the Crown Prince, "Yuansu, why have you
been absent-minded these past few days?"

"Father Emperor, Erchen has just realized that Erchen might be a beast," the
Crown Prince looked up at Emperor Changlong and shamelessly said,
"Erchen needs Father Emperor's help in this matter."

Emperor Changlong was taken aback and his face turned pale when he
heard these words, "What? Have you been forcibly seizing commoner
women outside?!"

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 38 – Good Big Brother

"Father Emperor, is Erchen such a person in your heart?" the Crown Prince
looked at Emperor Changlong with a somewhat hurt expression.

"It was a slip of the tongue. Zhen's son is both talented and handsome.
There is no need for you to engage in such unlawful acts as forcefully
taking commoner women," Emperor Changlong felt ashamed of his
reckless speculation, "By the way, Zhen acquired some interesting things
recently. Zhen will have Zhao Sancai deliver them to the Eastern Palace
later."

Emperor Changlong saw his son's expression improve after promising a

bunch of benefits. Soon, curiosity took hold, "Which girl have you set your
eyes on? I will arrange a marriage proposal with her parents."

The Crown Prince remained silent.

"Is it the Du or Yao family from Dongjie Street, or perhaps the Tian or
Chen family from Nanjie Street?" Emperor Changlong frowned, "It can't be
one of your few cousins, right?"

"None of them," the Crown Prince shook his head, "Erchen still doesn't
know her feelings. Let's discuss this matter later."

"If you truly like her, you should have told your Imperial Father earlier.
Zhen could have helped you take the initiative," Emperor Changlong said,
willing to do anything to prevent his son from being at a disadvantage.

"If you help Erchen arrange the marriage, she won't be able to refuse if she
was unwilling. Knowing her personality, even if she had some goodwill
towards Erchen initially, with your arrangement, it would turn into
resentment. In the end, Erchen wouldn't know if it's a blessed union or a
doomed one," the Crown Prince solemnly said to Emperor Changlong,
"There's nothing improper about her identity, but Erchen doesn't want to
force her now, nor does Erchen want to let other men snatch her away."

Emperor Changlong's heart grew calm. Yuansu had always been carefree
and unwilling to suffer, yet now he seemed to be thinking so deeply. It
appeared that he had developed genuine feelings for that young lady.

When in love, one has to scheme deeply.

The only thing that puzzled him was why Yuansu referred to himself as a
beast. Emperor Changlong contemplated various thoughts in his mind.

Was the other party already married? Such a thing was unacceptable. Even
if it was the Crown Prince, he would have to take drastic measures to make
her his wife.

Was she older than him? A few years of age difference was inconsequential.
Even if it was a bit more, it would be like carrying a few extra bricks. It
wouldn't qualify as being a beast or not.

Could it be...

Emperor Changlong's expression changed abruptly. Could that young girl

be relatively very young in age?

Thinking of this, Emperor Changlong looked at the Crown Prince with a

grave expression and spoke earnestly, "Yuansu, regardless of one's status or
deeds, there are some things one cannot do. Do you understand?"

The Crown Prince looked at Emperor Changlong inexplicably, then

reassured him, "Father Emperor, rest assured, Erchen understands."

Seeing the Crown Prince speak decisively, Emperor Changlong relaxed

slightly. He was an emperor of a dynasty, but he had to play the roles of
both a father and a mother to his most beloved son -- it has not been easy
for him.
After the state banquet, he should summon the court officials to discuss
whether the court should provide additional support to single-parent
families.

This would not only alleviate the pressure on the adults but also reduce
incidents of abandoned infants and illegal child trafficking. However, no
matter how good the plan sounded, there were bound to be loopholes and
even more troublesome consequences.

Therefore, before issuing any decree, he had to consider it countless times

with his court officials.

Being an emperor was not easy, especially compared to being a negligent

ruler. Emperor Changlong turned his head and glanced at the Crown Prince,
who would inherit the throne after him. The Crown Prince was lazy and
carefree. He didn't know how long he would have to bear the burden on his
shoulders before he could pass the throne on to his son.

The Crown Prince looked up at Emperor Changlong's expression and knew

what he was thinking. He quickly said, "Father Emperor, they say one
should establish a family and career. Erchen hasn't even married yet, so
Father Emperor shouldn't expect anything else from Erchen."

"Unfilial son! Zhen hasn't said anything."

"But your gaze says it all," the Crown Prince spoke confidently, "Father
Emperor is in the prime of your life, while Erchen is still young. So, Father
Emperor shouldn't think about these things."

"Zhen is already well past middle age, yet Zhen is still considered young?"
Emperor Changlong said, "When Zhen was your age, Zhen was already
handling state affairs as the Emperor."

In the past, the late emperor favored a concubine in the harem, promoting
her entire family and even considering deposing him as the Crown Prince to
establish a new one. The concubine's family forcibly took commoner
women, seized the people's land, and oppressed the commoners. Although
an imperial censor had remonstrated, the concubine had someone block the
imperial censor at the palace gate and beat him to death.

At that time, he stood on the city wall and watched the pregnant wife of the
imperial censor hold her husband's corpse as she heartbreakingly cried. A
chill ran down his spine.

The world knows that when an emperor gets angry, millions of people will
be prostrated. Doesn't the Emperor himself know that?

Therefore, after ascending to the throne, he constantly reminded himself

that even if he couldn't become a renowned emperor for all eternity, he must
still protect the Great Jin Empire.

What is the country?

Is it the towering mountains and the ever-flowing rivers?

No, it is the people living on this land.

"Father Emperor," The Crown Prince said, "Erchen heard that Grand Tutor
Du seems to be ill."

Upon hearing the Crown Prince's voice, Emperor Changlong snapped back
to reality. He sighed, "Grand Tutor Du is an extraordinary scholar."

But he is not a qualified official.

"Go and check on him for Zhen," Emperor Changlong thought for a
moment, "Grand Tutor Du has a stubborn temper. If he says anything
inappropriate, pretend you didn't hear it. When you come back, Zhen will
give you several chests of jewels to save for your future wife."

"Erchen understands, Father Emperor," The Crown Prince said, "In all these
years, Erchen never argued with him."

After all -- although this old man didn't understand how to be flexible and
his temper was foul and obstinate -- his loyalty to the Emperor had never
wavered.
Du Songwen's health was truly not good.

He had served two emperors, and because of his outstanding talent, he

became the Grand Tutor to the then Crown Prince at a young age. Later, the
late emperor became infatuated with a concubine, and because Du Songwen
had always stood on the side of the Crown Prince, he had lived comfortably
after the then Crown Prince, now Emperor Changlong, ascended to the
throne.

People thought he was particularly against the current Crown Prince, but
the truth was that since the Crown Prince was the future emperor, he feared
that he would become like the previous emperor, bringing suffering to the
people.

Du Songwen, with a pale yellow complexion, lay in bed, and the whole
room was filled with the bitter scent of medicine. He struggled to open his
eyes and looked at his children and grandchildren in the room. He beckoned
to Du Xiuying, who had red-rimmed eyes, "Come."

"Grandfather," Du Xiuying forced a smile. She squatted by the bed and

gently held Du Songwen's wrinkled hand.

"Do you really not want to marry the Crown Prince?" Du Songwen asked.

Du Xiuying lowered her head and remained silent.

"Never mind," Du Songwen sighed, "I wanted you to stay by the Crown
Prince's side and remind him of what is right and what is wrong. But I was
also afraid that if the Crown Prince grew tired of you, how would you spend
the rest of your life? It's better this way, it's better this way."

"Grandfather..." Du Xiuying couldn't hold back any longer, tears welled up

in her eyes and streamed down her cheeks.

"It's my fault," Du Songwen closed his eyes, "I was always worried that the
Crown Prince would become like the late emperor, but people in the world
are all different, and no one can grow according to someone else's
standards. I have been stubborn these years and offended the Crown Prince
many times. After I'm gone, what will you all do?"

Even a sage would be closer to his own family, not to mention that Du
Songwen was not a sage.

"After I'm gone, all of you should assist His Majesty and the Crown Prince
with all your hearts and not entertain any other thoughts," Du Songwen
took a deep breath and continued, "Although the Crown Prince is not
perfect, he was raised by His Majesty and possesses some of His Majesty's
virtues. Although the other princes have their own merits, they are
ultimately inferior to the Crown Prince's charisma. If any of you have
rebellious intentions, then... then..."

"Then you will be expelled from the ancestral registry of the Du family;
your descendants will have no connection with the Du family."

"Father, we, your children, will never go against your wishes," Du

Xiuying's father, knelt in front of Du Songwen's bed, sobbing, "Father,
please rest well. You will recover soon."

"I know my own body," Du Songwen looked at Du Xiuying, "Xiuying is a

good child. Whatever she wants to do in the future, you must not hinder
her."

"I understand, Father," Du Xiuying's father, who had reached an age where
had full-grown children, knelt before Du Songwen's bed and cried like a
child. He had blamed his father for being inflexible and obstinate in the
past, but at this moment, all he felt was reluctance.

"Daren, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."

Suddenly, a clamor came from outside the door. The Crown Prince, dressed
in brocade robes and wearing a jade crown, walked in with large strides,
"Du Daren, Gu didn't wait for an announcement and entered your estate
rashly. Please forgive Gu, everyone."
"Your Royal Highness," the Du family members did not expect the Crown
Prince to come personally. All of them immediately knelt to salute him.

"Please don't be overly courteous, everyone," the Crown Prince quickly

walked to the side of the bed. As soon as he saw Du Songwen's
complexion, he knew he was not doing well.

"Grand Tutor Du," the Crown Prince took a step back and paid his respects
to Du Songwen as a junior, "Father Emperor is deeply concerned upon
hearing of the Grand Tutor's illness. Since Father Emperor cannot leave the
palace, he sent me to visit on his behalf."

"I thank His Majesty for his great kindness," Du Songwen wanted to return
the gesture but was stopped by the Crown Prince. "Daren, you are Father's
mentor, and Gu, as a junior, should naturally pay respects to you. Please rest
well and do not worry about other matters."

The Crown Prince then asked the Du family members how Grand Tutor Du
fell ill and what medicine he was taking. After the Du family members
answered, he said, "When Gu came here, Gu brought a few imperial
physicians and some medicinal ingredients. If you don't mind, Gu will have
the imperial physicians come and examine Grand Tutor Du's pulse."

The Du family members were overjoyed at these words and quickly

expressed their gratitude to the Crown Prince.

After the imperial physicians finished examining Du Songwen's pulse, they

glanced at the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince put Du Songwen's hand
back under the blanket and tucked it in for him, "Grand Tutor Du, Gu will
go and see how the imperial physicians are using the medicine. Gu will be
back shortly."

Du Songwen watched the Crown Prince leave with tears glistening in his
eyes.

The Crown Prince left the room and saw that the imperial physicians'
expressions were not good. He asked quietly, "How is Grand Tutor Du's
pulse?"
"The Grant Tutor... is nearing his end," the imperial physicians helplessly
replied, "Please forgive us, Your Royal Highness, but we are powerless."

The Crown Prince fell silent for a moment, "Is the pulse accurate?"

"Unless Grand Tutor Du is a master who can change his pulse using internal
energy, otherwise..." the imperial physicians said, "Most people in the world
learn external martial arts, hardly anyone practices internal energy
cultivation."

In other words, there was no hope for Grand Tutor Du.

Footsteps came from behind, the Crown Prince turned to see Du Daren and
his daughter.

"Your Royal Highness, I have heard the words of the imperial physicians,"
Du Daren, with tears in his eyes, bowed to the physicians, "Gentlemen,
please do your best to save him. If it is not possible... at least relieve my
father's pain."

The imperial physicians returned the gesture, "Please rest assured, Du

Daren. We will do our utmost."

The Crown Prince returned to the room and heard Grand Tutor Du calling
for him, so he walked back to the bedside.

"Your Royal Highness, it seems that I won't make it," Grand Tutor Du
forced out his words, "Please learn from His Majesty and govern the
Empire well. Do not slack off."

"Do not worry, Grand Tutor. Gu will," the Crown Prince saw Grand Tutor
Du extending his hand, so he gently held onto the frail hand.

"In these years, I have been harsh on you, Your Royal Highness. It was my
fault," Grand Tutor Du looked at the Crown Prince's young and strong
hand, "I believe that you have a bright future ahead."

"Gu understands that your criticisms stem from your deep love for the
nation and high expectations placed on Gu," the Crown Prince's voice was
gentle, "Father Emperor often mentioned that back when Concubine Xiao
controlled the harem and made numerous demands, you refused to
compromise with such people. You persisted in giving lectures to Father
Emperor and ran around in court for him. Father Emperor remembers these
things, Gu will remember them too."

"It's just my duty as the Grand Tutor."

The Crown Prince saw that Grand Tutor Du was getting tired, so he
comforted him for a while. After Grand Tutor Du fell asleep, the Crown
Prince released his hand.

In these years, Grand Tutor Du had been overly critical of the Crown
Prince, and the Du family members were aware of it. However, the Crown
Prince responded with kindness. He not only inquired about the medicine
Grand Tutor Du was taking, but also had a long conversation with him.

How many people could show such tolerance?

Even if the Crown Prince had some flaws, they were minor and
inconsequential and did not affect his character.

Du Xiuying had the most complex emotions. She accompanied her parents
to see the Crown Prince off at the door. After the Crown Prince left and she
heard the elders praising him, she began to reflect on whether she had been
too judgmental when evaluating others.

After the Spring Examination, Hua Changkong spent two days in lazy
indulgence -- just eating and sleeping. When he heard that his sister went to
the pleasure quarter and was caught by the Crown Prince, he lost interest in
rest and found Hua Liuli, who was sitting in the courtyard soaking up the
sun, "Sister, is the pleasure quarter fun?"

Hua Liuli replied languidly, "It's all mediocre and ordinary."

"You have high standards," Hua Changkong had a servant bring over a chair
and sat next to Hua Liuli, "In places like the pleasure quarter, there are no
fresh and delightful beauties. It would be better to keep a couple of refined
and fair-looking destitute scholars who understand elegance without the
dust and dirt."

Hua Liuli waved her hand dismissively, "I'm not interested."

"What's wrong? Don't you want to keep handsome young men and have
other desires?" Hua Changkong poked Hua Liuli, who was too lazy to
move, "Tell me, what new hobbies do you have recently?"

"None," Hua Liuli sighed, "In the past few days, those pleasure quarters,
restaurants, and teahouses have become more and more boring. They used
to have dances and music, but recently, they've been playing games like
reciting poetry and coming up with matching verses. If I wanted to play
those games, I might as well play with the noble ladies in the capital. At
least they play with more skill."

"The Hundred Nations State Banquet is coming soon. It's good to do some
cleanup. If people from other countries dare to cause trouble in Great Jin's
territory, we can trouble them as well," Hua Changkong said, "What if they
retort by saying, 'Your own people in Great Jin do it, why can't we?' You
see, isn't that slapping ourselves in the face?"

Hua Liuli hummed and took a thin gauze to cover her face, shielding herself
from the strong sunlight so as not to darken her complexion.

"Tomorrow is Flower Festival, isn't it?" Hua Changkong said, "I made an
appointment with some fellow scholars from the capital to go for an outing
in the suburbs. Will you come with me or go with the other young ladies?"

"I'll go find Sister Jiamin. I won't go with you," What fun was there in
dealing with stiff scholars men? It was more interesting to bully little girls.

"Alright," Hua Changkong didn't insist, "Tomorrow will be crowded and

you're not very familiar with the roads in the capital. Don't get lost with the
other young ladies. Remember to bring Yuan Yi and Yurong with you."

"Okay," Hua Liuli nodded, "Don't worry, I won't get lost that easily."
Hua Changkong smiled and gently patted her head without saying anything.

The captive from the Kingdon of Jinpo, Second Prince A'Wa found himself
with a new neighbor. Recently, he no longer resorted to hunger strikes or
demanded to see Hua Liuli. He began to live a life of being well-fed and
satiated. And since he was being locked up in the cell every day and was
unable to move around, he surprisingly gained weight.

However, both cells on his left and right were empty, and the jailers of the
Ministry of Justice didn't like to talk to him, so he was getting bored.

Finally, he got a new neighbor. So he dropped his noble prince status to

initiate a conversation with the person next to him, "Brother, what crime did
you commit to end up here?"

Yunhan glanced at the man with a double chin and unkempt beard; He
adjusted his loose sleeves and ignored him.

"Mute?"

Yunhan remained motionless.

"Deaf?"

Yunhan didn't respond.

"Fool?"

Yunhan couldn't bear it anymore, "Shut up."

"You, a lowly prisoner, dare to be so rude to me?" Although Prince A'Wa

didn't dare to provoke the people from the Ministry of Justice, he still felt
superior when facing other prisoners. He initiated a conversation with
Yunhan because of his misplaced sense of superiority.

In life, it's all about striking others to find happiness.

Yunhan looked at Prince A'Wa with a look of disdain. Both were prisoners,
so who was nobler than the other?
"Do you know who I am?" Prince A'Wa touched the corner of the wall and
found a moldy bun that had been there for a long time. He threw it at
Yunhan through the cell bars, "Mind your manners."

The moldy bun hit Yunhan's face and fell on his clothes. Yunhan's face
darkened, "Get lost, stay away from me."

Smack.

Another piece of moldy bun hit Yunhan's face.

But this time, it wasn't thrown by Prince A'Wa; it was thrown by a prisoner
in the adjacent cell.

"The newcomer doesn't understand the rules. Listen carefully when the
seniors speak. If you don't understand the rules, during the exercise time,
we can teach you," the prisoner in the adjacent cell sat cross-legged on the
ground, appearing as a lofty figure.

"Yes, yes, you guys should teach him well," Prince A'Wa clapped his legs
and laughed, "I can't stand these pretentious pretty boys."

"Shut up," the prisoner looked at Prince A'Wa through the adjacent cell, full
of disdain, "A defeated dog from Jinbo is not worthy of talking to us Great
Jin people."

Prince A'Wa: "..."

No one in Great Jin was good, not just the officials but also the prisoners in
the cell.

Frustrated, he picked up a piece of mud and threw it at the prisoner. But

with a cell separating them, how could he hit him? The mud ended up
falling on Yunhan's head.

"Brothers, this Jinbo dog dares to be arrogant. Let's teach him a lesson!"

"Throw at him!"
At once, foul buns, dead mice, and worn-out shoes flew out from various
cells. Unfortunately, Prince A'Wa's cell was relatively far, so most of the
things landed in Yunhan's cell.

Yunhan looked at these disgusting and ugly things soiling his robes and
couldn't bear it anymore.

How dare these vulgar, despicable people treat him like this?

After he got out, he would make sure these people met a gruesome end!

Smack.

A smelly shoe hit Yunhan's forehead and fell down. He couldn't hold back
anymore, he covered his mouth and started to retch.

"Nobody is allowed to cause trouble anymore. If you do, the lunch will be
reduced by half," when the jailer spoke these words, the entire dungeon
became quiet. The prisoners, who were just hurling vulgar words a moment
ago, sat quietly, well-behaved.

Those who were locked up in the Ministry of Justice prison cells were all
involved in major cases but couldn't be executed for the time being.
Therefore, they understood better than anyone when to stop.

"As for you, why are you still standing there? Clean up your cell yourself,"
the warden knocked on the door of Yunhan's cell with a stick, then turned to
the jailer behind him, "This person was personally brought in by Deputy
Minister Pei. His identity is suspicious and might be related to several
major cases. Deputy Minister Pei said to observe him until the cases are
cleared."

As an official of the Ministry of Justice, the warden naturally knew what

those major cases were. He scrutinized Yunhan and said critically,
"Scheming and eerie, clearly not a decent man. Isn't the stone quarry short
of workers? Take him there."
"Make sure he changes his clothes and wears coarse linen garments," the
warden looked at Yunhan's face, "When he goes out to the quarry tomorrow,
make sure he doesn't come into contact with any women of status. If he
pretends to be pitiful and seduces any noblewoman to defend him, it will
bring us trouble."

The warden had been in his position for a long time and had encountered all
kinds of prisoners. In order to escape punishment, prisoners would use
seduction strategies, on both males and females.

It's better to be cautious in advance.

After noon, the Crown Prince sat in front of his desk and wrote several
invitation cards on scented paper, but he found them unsatisfactory. Some
were too subtle, others too outspoken, always lacking something.

Even the form of address was changed several times.

If he wrote 'Hua girl' it would seem like how an older brother would speak
to his younger sister. Addressing her as 'Junzhu' would seem too formal.
And if he wrote her name 'Liuli', it would seem too familiar.

"Forget it," the Crown Prince put down his pen and turned to leave.

"Your outer robe, Your Royal Highness," the attendants hurriedly caught up
with him.

After leaving the palace, they headed straight to the Marquis Zhongyong
Estate. The Crown Prince sat on his horse, staring at the stone lions at the
entrance of the Marquis Zhongyong Estate for a few minutes.

The newly assigned gate guards of the Marquis Zhongyong Estate didn't
recognize the Crown Prince. Seeing his distinguished attire and the eunuchs
following behind him, they cautiously approached and asked, "May I ask
whom the noble person is looking for?"

"Gu heard that the Third Young Master of your prestigious residence has
finished his examinations, so Gu came to pay a visit."
"Oh, it's the Crown Prince," the guards saluted one after another, "Please
come in, Your Royal Highness. The Third Young Master is inside the
residence," While notifying the Master that the Crown Prince had arrived,
they respectfully led the Crown Prince inside.

Hua Changkong was somewhat surprised when he heard that the Crown
Prince had come to see him. When did he and the Crown Prince become
such close friends? Just because he participated in the Spring Examination,
was it worth the Crown Prince personally visiting?

With his parents out of the house today, Hua Changkong personally went
forward to greet the Crown Prince. After exchanging pleasantries for a
while, Hua Changkong noticed that the Crown Prince kept looking outside,
thinking that he was waiting for his parents to return home. He explained,
"Father and Mother heard that Grad Tutor Du is seriously ill, so they went
to pay a visit. I apologize for not welcoming Your Royal Highness at the
main gate. Please forgive me."

"It was Gu who came unannounced. It's not your fault, Changkong," the
Crown Prince turned the teacup in his hand, "Is Junzhu in the residence? Gu
brought some of her favorite delicacies this time."

"Please wait a moment, Your Royal Highness. I will have someone go and
inform my sister."

"No need to make a fuss. It wouldn't be good if we disturbed Junzhu's rest,"

the Crown Prince feigned politeness.

"The Crown Prince has come in person, so my sister should come out to
receive you," Hua Changkong arranged for a servant to go and call Hua
Liuli, "Even though Your Royal Highness is on good terms with my sister,
Your Royal Highness shouldn't indulge her so much."

On good terms? Good terms?

The Crown Prince felt a bit guilty. Had Hua Changkong figured out his
intentions?
"That girl is just a bundle of childishness. The more Your Royal Highness
indulges her, the less respectable she becomes. Even if Your Royal
Highness treats her as a younger sister, there should still be proper
manners."

The Crown Prince sighed softly. If it weren't for the circumstances, who
would want to be the beloved older brother of someone they liked?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 39 – Embroidered Shoes

Hua Liuli arrived quickly in just a few minutes. She was wearing a dress
that was almost new, with wide sleeves tied with embroidered ropes. It was
clear that she had put aside whatever she was doing and rushed over.

Hua Changkong had intended to reprimand Hua Liuli in front of the Crown
Prince, pretending to scold her for her lack of manners. But to his surprise,
his sister's mouth was quicker than his.

"Your Royal Highness, please forgive me. I was playing with a few
maidservants just now. When I heard that Your Royal Highness had arrived,
I hurried over without changing my clothes," Hua Liuli said as she untied
the ropes of her sleeves, smiling at the Crown Prince, "Your Royal
Highness, you came here today for a special reason?"

Seeing Hua Liuli's smile, the Crown Prince also smiled, "During lunch, Gu
was thinking that since it's Fushou Junzhu's first time celebrating the
Flower Festival in the capital, you might not be familiar with the customs
here. So, Gu wanted to invite you to accompany me for a visit tomorrow."

The Crown Prince had specifically made this trip because he was worried
that she wouldn't enjoy herself tomorrow?

How could there be such a good man in the world? Handsome, gentle, and
considerate!

"I had made plans to go out with Jiamin Junzhu, but we haven't decided
where to go yet," Hua Liuli took the tea cup from the maid and replaced the
cup in front of the Crown Prince, "Your Royal Highness, are you also
planning to join in the festivities tomorrow? I wonder where Your Royal
Highness is planning to go. I will come and find you."
When the Crown Prince said that he would accompany her alone to play,
she was indeed quite happy. However, she was afraid of causing trouble for
the Crown Prince.

Upon hearing that Hua Liuli had made plans to go out with Jiamin Junzhu,
the smile on the Crown Prince's face remained unchanged. When he heard
that Hua Liuli would come to find him, his smile visibly brightened, "In
recent years, during the Flower Festival, the noble sons and daughters in the
capital like to go to the mountains in the suburbs. Tomorrow, Gu and
several other princes will be playing at Wangqing Pavilion on the mountain.
If Junzhu finds the mountains boring, you can come there to find Gu."

"Alright," Hua Liuli nodded, "I will come to find Your Royal Highness
before noon tomorrow."

Hua Changkong's gaze swept between the Crown Prince and his younger
sister. Previously, when he mentioned making plans with some fellow
candidates, his sister didn't mention that she would come to find him to
play?

Indeed, things in other people's homes are always better.

With Hua Liuli's promise, the Crown Prince was in a good mood and had
the attendants bring in the gifts he had prepared for her.

Various snacks and fabrics, as well as several pairs of embroidered shoes in

different styles and colors.

"In the capital, there is a custom among the common people that during the
Flower Festival, the elders in the family would prepare embroidered shoes
for the female members. On the day of the festival, when a girl wears the
shoes filled with blessings from her family, she will receive special favor
from the Flower God and have a peaceful and illness-free year," the Crown
Prince opened one of the wooden boxes, revealing a pair of exquisitely
embroidered shoes, "Since Gu didn't know the size of the Junzhu's feet or
what color clothes you will be wearing tomorrow, Gu had the embroiderers
make several pairs, hoping to have shoes that meet the Junzhu's
preferences."
Regardless of gender, giving someone shoes has some ambiguity, so the
Crown Prince didn't want the Hua family to think he was making advances.
He explained a few more words, "Two months ago when Junzhu was living
in the palace, Gu didn't know if the two generals would be able to return
before the Flower Festival, so Gu took the liberty of having the
embroiderers make these shoes. Hoping that Junzhu and Third Young
Master Hua wouldn't mind my meddling."

Hua Changkong had initially felt something was amiss, but upon second
thought, the Crown Prince had sent the gifts privately and didn't even know
the size of his sister's feet. Two months ago, he didn't understand the
customs and habits of the capital, and his sister was the type of person who
didn't bother with trivial matters. The fact that the Crown Prince had
considered even these small details showed his thoughtfulness.

"Your Royal Highness's intentions are kind, how could it be considered

meddling?" Hua Changkong stood up and bowed to the Crown Prince, "My
sister and I are still unfamiliar with these customs in the capital, fortunately,
Your Royal Highness has prepared in advance for my sister."

His family's little sister can't lack things that other people's daughters had,
or else it would be quite unfair.

"Gu was making a fuss over nothing. Now that we have General Hua and
General Wei here, everything will be taken care of," the Crown Prince's
smile was warmer than the spring breeze, "Originally, Gu didn't want to
bring these shoes, but Gu didn't want them to go to waste either. After much
consideration, Gu decided to bring them. If Junzhu doesn't like them, you
can simply discard them."

"These embroidered shoes are all very beautiful, I really like them," Hua
Liuli picked up one of the embroidered shoes and felt the sole. Perhaps
considering that they would be traveling during the Flower Festival, the
soles had been specially treated to be non-slip.

"As long as Junzhu likes them," the Crown Prince placed the wooden box
he was holding in front of Hua Liuli, "Gu still has some matters to attend to
and can't stay for long. If Junzhu likes these shoes, Gu hopes you... can
choose a pair to wear from them tomorrow."

"Okay," Hua Liuli nodded.

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince chuckled, stood up, and looked at Hua
Liuli, "Then we'll see each other tomorrow."

"I will see you off, Your Royal Highness," seeing the Crown Prince's
hurried departure, Hua Liuli believed that he was indeed busy. But even in
such a busy state, he hadn't forgotten to take care of her. Who wouldn't be
touched by such kindness?

The Crown Prince was truly a good Crown Prince.

On the day of the Flower Festival, Jiamin Junzhu, feeling drowsy, grumbled
softly, "Why are we fussing so early in the morning?"

"Junzhu, today is the Flower Festival. Junzhu is so beautiful, how can

Junzhu let other girls outshine you?" the personal maid, noticing her
unhappiness, advised in a soft voice, "Not to mention others, just look at
Lin Wan from the Lin family. Junzhu mustn't let her surpass you."

"Her?" Jiamin Junzhu sneered, "She's plain-looking and usually appears

soft and weak. Unfortunately, with Hua Liuli being so outstanding, she can't
even catch up even if she tries her best. Just watch, as long as Hua Liuli is
there, if anyone still notices her, I will give you a hundred taels of silver."

"Junzhu has always had excellent taste. Nubi is afraid Nubi won't be able to
earn those hundred taels," the maid flattered Jiamin Junzhu, "Nubi thinks
that Lin Wan doesn't hold a candle to Junzhu. If it weren't for her famous
father, who would pay her any attention, let alone become the future Ying
Wangfei?"

Upon hearing the words "future Ying Wangfei", Jiamin Junzhu completely
shook off her drowsiness. She stared at her own lips, which were rosy from
the makeup, and whispered, "What's so special about being Ying Wangfei?"
The maid dared not respond to that remark and lowered her head,
pretending to choose hairpins for Jiamin Junzhu.

As soon as Jiamin Junzhu finished dressing, Princess Shunan sent someone

to urge her.

"Junzhu, Fushou Junzhu has been waiting for you in the main hall for a
while."

"Who did you say?" Jiamin Junzhu doubted her own ears.

"Fushou Junzhu," the maid noticed Jia Min's unusual expression and asked,
"Fushou Junzhu said that Junzhu had already made an appointment, is
that... not true?"

"She's not wrong, we did make an appointment," Jiamin Junzhu forced a

smile. Why did she have to provoke Hua Liuli in the first place? Now, even
on the day of the Flower Festival, Hua Liuli wouldn't let her off.

Although she was reluctant to in her heart, she couldn't afford to linger. Her
mother had always been impulsive when speaking, Jiamin Junzhu was
afraid that if Hua Liuli waited too long and became impatient, she would
draw her sword and poke a couple of holes in her mother.

Hurrying to the front of the main hall, Jiamin Junzhu heard her mother's
laughter with a tone of deliberate flattery.

"Fushou Junzhu, you are truly beautiful today. Compared to you, Jiamin,
that girl, is like a dog's tail."

Heh heh.

A month ago, you were saying that your daughter was the most beautiful in
the entire capital.

Jiamin Junzhu stepped into the main hall with a fake smile. When she saw
Hua Liuli, a thought flashed through her mind.

Where did this little fairy come from? Why is she so beautiful?!
"Sister Jiamin," the little fairy stood up and bowed to her, both obedient and
adorable.

"What's wrong with you, child? Why aren't you returning the greeting?"
Princess Shunan glared at Jiamin Junzhu and then smiled at Hua Liuli,
"This child has been spoiled by me. She doesn't understand any rules. When
you all come back from playing, I will definitely teach her well."

"Your Highness, you're being too harsh. Jiamin Junzhu and I are sworn
sisters, we don't need these formalities," Hua Liuli held Jiamin Junzhu's arm
and said, "Please don't be too strict with my sister."

"Just look at how good Liuli is," Princess Shunan said with emphasis to
Jiamin Junzhu, "She came early to wait for you, but you were still lazily
sleeping in your room. A person should keep their promises. Since you had
made an appointment to meet, how could you make someone wait?"

Seeing Hua Liuli, Princess Shunan was reminded of Wei Mingyue. When
she was young and ignorant, she thought that since she was a princess, other
noble girls would let her have her way. Therefore, she spoke and acted
without any scruples.

In fact, it was true. She enjoyed a long period of carefree days until one day,
she accidentally provoked Wei Mingyue...

It was like a nightmare.

Later, when Wei Mingyue wanted to join the military camp, many people in
the court opposed it, but she used all her abilities to support her. In order to
ensure that Wei Mingyue could successfully become a general, she gathered
her friends from the noble families and enumerated the advantages of
women being generals. She even said things like "who says women are
inferior to men" in an attempt to get her friends to help.

After Wei Mingyue successfully became a general, Princess Shunan didn't

sleep well for three days due to her happiness.
This nightmare of a woman could finally roll off to the military camp and
stop causing trouble for her.

Since then, everyone in the capital regarded her as a big supporter of Wei
Mingyue, even her own daughter believed the rumors outside and held Wei
Mingyue in high regard from a young age.

Only she knew in her heart that all this admiration and support were
deceitful lies. She just wanted Wei Mingyue to stay away from her.

Watching Hua Liuli and her daughter leave together, Princess Shunan let
out a sigh of relief. Luckily, her daughter had a better fate than her. At least
Hua Liuli was a gentle and easy-going girl, unlike her mother who was so
terrifying.

Jiamin Junzhu lay despondently in the carriage, her mind no longer

occupied with thoughts of Ying Wang or Lin Wan, only the presence of Hua
Liuli humming a tune by her side

"Didn't you eat breakfast this morning?" Hua Liuli fed a small pastry, the
size of a little finger, to Jiamin Junzhu, "Eat this, it won't smudge your lip
color."

Could Jiamin Junzhu refuse?

She dared not, so she ate it with humiliation.

The taste was surprisingly good. She decided to endure this humiliation a
few more times.

A few moments later, Hua Liuli and Jiamin Junzhu sat cross-legged in the
carriage, holding a plate of pastries, enjoying the sweet treats.

"Tell me, what exactly do you want to do?" After finishing the pastries,
Jiamin Junzhu put the plate aside and pretended as if nothing had happened,
"I admit it was my fault for intentionally making things difficult for you
before. What should I do for you to willingly let me go?"

"Did I ever hit you?"

Jiamin Junzhu shook her head.

"Did I ever curse at you?"

Jiamin Junzhu shook her head again.

Hua Liuli rested her chin in her hands, her smile innocent and naive, "So
you've been overthinking. I only regarded you as a friend."

Seeing Hua Liuli's signature innocent smile, Jiamin Junzhu felt a chill in her
heart. The courage she had mustered, like the plate of pastries just now,
disappeared without a trace.

Outside the carriage came the sound of a whip cracking and someone's
painful groans. Hua Liuli lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside. She
saw a group of prisoners in shackles being led out of the city.

These prisoners wore leg irons and appeared to be serious offenders. They
seemed docile, except for the one at the back who walked unsteadily. The
prison guard behind him seemed impatient with his slow pace, so he lashed
him twice.

"Those are prisoners being sent to the quarry for labor," Jiamin Junzhu
glanced casually and said, "No need to pity them. These people committed
serious crimes such as trafficking women and children and robbery. They
deserve this fate."

Hua Liuli let go of the curtain and turned to Jiamin Junzhu, "How do you
know this?"

"Of course, I know." Jiamin Junzhu sneered, "A year ago, there was a
steward in our estate who had inappropriate intentions towards the maids.
After I discovered it, I gave him a whipping and sent him here."

Hua Liuli raised an eyebrow, "I didn't expect you to have a sense of justice."

"What do you mean, you didn't expect?" Jiamin Junzhu frowned in

dissatisfaction, "If you don't know how to speak, you can keep quiet."
At the foot of the mountain, a group of young ladies occasionally looked
into the distance, waiting for Jiamin Junzhu. Why hadn't she arrived yet?

Miss Yao, standing next to the little girls, had a discomfiting expression.
She hadn't completely calmed down yet.

"Oh, Sister Yao, you're still unhappy?" one of the young ladies held Miss
Yao's arm and shook it, "You and Jiamin Junzhu are not only cousins but
also good friends. In front of outsiders, she must be even more casual with
you. Who is an outsider and who is family, you know that too. Why bother
being upset over such a small matter?"

"They even made plans to go to the Jin Ling Garden together the next day.
Where can you find such close outsiders?" Miss Yao snorted, "It's not that
I'm petty, clearly it's her who's annoying."

Just as they finished speaking, they saw a carriage with the emblem of the
Hua family approaching. Miss Yao turned her head in disdain.

But when she saw Jiamin Junzhu getting off the carriage, she turned and
coldly said to Miss Tian, "See, she even came here in Hua Liuli's carriage."

"Let it go, let it go, we are all sisters," Miss Tian grabbed Miss Yao's hand.
Afraid that she would cause trouble for Hua Liuli, she quickly added, "It's
livelier with one more person, isn't it good?"

"Sister Yao, listen to my advice," Miss Tian said earnestly, "According to

the law of storytelling, your behavior of actively seeking trouble with others
will bring bad luck upon yourself."

"Tian Shanshan, I've told you many times, read more books and fewer
stories. It's good for your mind," Miss Yao gritted her teeth, "If you mention
stories again, I'll make you eat them."

Miss Tian weakly said, "Sister Yao, my name is Tian Shan, not Tian
Shanshan."
"Shut up." As the smartest among the group, Miss Yao often felt mentally
exhausted.

Jiamin Junzhu saw her little sisters waiting for her and worried that they
would confront Hua Liuli as soon as they spoke. She quickly stepped
forward and joined them, whispering, "Fushou Junzhu doesn't have many
friends in the capital. Let's take care of her more for the sake of General
Wei and General Hua."

When the little sisters heard Jiamin Junzhu mention the two great generals,
their expressions changed. In the capital, how many young people didn't
admire the two great generals?

Even if they didn't like Hua Liuli, for the sake of the two generals, they
wouldn't go too far with the matter.

"Actually, if you think about it carefully, we don't seem to have a deep

grudge against Hua Liuli," Tian Shan secretly glanced at Hua Liuli, who
was standing by the carriage and hadn't come over, "The person Ying Wang
wants to marry is not her. We don't need to intentionally target her."

"My brother's horse galloping through the city frightened her and made her
seriously ill. Later, when Jiamin Junzhu and Hua Liuli came to my estate to
offer condolences, they were both kidnapped by bandits. The Emperor
almost punished my father, but it was the Hua family who petitioned the
Emperor on our behalf," although the twenty-seventh day of the mourning
period had passed, Tian Shan, as a junior, was still wearing plain clothes,
the only fancy thing being the embroidered pouch on her waist.

"No wonder you always pretend to be innocent and change the subject
whenever we speak ill of Hua Liuli..." Miss Yao wanted to say that Tian
Shan was a traitor, but if she were in the same situation, she also probably
wouldn't let her friends smear Hua Liuli so easily.

Jiamin Junzhu's expression was quite subtle. Firstly, because when Ying
Wang came to plead for the Tian family, he was scolded by her mother, so
she felt a little embarrassed in front of Tian Shan. Secondly, hearing the
words "seriously ill from being frightened" made her feel uncomfortable.
A young lady who dared to kill bandits would be scared to illness just
because someone galloped through with their horse? It was clearly a trap set
by Hua Liuli for Tian Ruidong, that fool. Unexpectedly, Ying Wang was
even more foolish and jumped into this pit himself.

So, why should she continue to like Ying Wang, who already had a
betrothed and seemed to have a poor mind?

After gradually letting go of her feelings for Ying Wang, Jiamin Junzhu
realized that his straightforwardness, in her eyes, turned into impulsiveness;
his bravery turned into foolishness.

Perhaps it was because unmarried men were more attractive. Once that
attraction was gone, there was nothing good about them.

"With your fragile body, you better let a maid support you, so as not to
burden us," Miss Yao said unkindly, "We don't want to be accused of
bullying you."

"Miss Yao, you always talk tough but have a soft heart. I'll remember your
kindness," Hua Liuli said with a smile, "Let's go now."

As they climbed the mountain, everyone noticed that Hua Liuli's shoes were
particularly beautiful, even Miss Yao couldn't help but glance at them a few
more times.

"Junzhu, your shoes are really beautiful. Did the elders in your family
specially prepare them for you?" Tian Shan also had many custom-made
embroidered shoes from her family, but she kept them hidden away after
her grandfather passed away. Today, she was only wearing a plain pair.

"Hmm..." Hua Liuli deliberately extended her foot from her skirt, "Do they
look good?"

"They look good," Tian Shan nodded, "They match your outfit today, with a
faint shimmer on the shoe surface, like walking on the light. Not only are
they beautiful, but they also have a clever meaning."
"The two generals care about you a lot," Jiamin Junzhu looked down at Hua
Liuli's shoes, feeling a bit jealous that the other person's shoes were even
more beautiful than hers.

Hua Liuli smiled and remained silent. She couldn't say in front of Jiamin
Junzhu that they were a gift from her own cousin, the Crown Prince.

Seeing Hua Liuli smile without saying anything, everyone assumed that she
tacitly agreed. Miss Yao, who was supposed to embarrass Hua Liuli at the
Flower Festival, saw Hua Liuli's pale face after walking for a while and
unconsciously slowed down her pace. She took out two mint candies from
her purse and gave them to Hua Liuli, "Take these. If you faint, we won't be
able to carry you."

"Thank you, Miss Yao," Hua Liuli accepted the candies and smiled, "The
candy is very sweet."

"Hmph, aren't you afraid I might have poisoned them?" Miss Yao turned her
head away and didn't look at Hua Liuli.

"Miss Yao is beautiful and kind-hearted. How could you do such a thing?"
Hua Liuli looked at Miss Yao with gentle eyes full of affection.

Miss Yao snorted again, but her cheeks flushed lightly.

Jiamin Junzhu watched this scene in despair. Another friend deceived by

Hua Liuli's innocent appearance.

Yao Wenying, why are you blushing? Weren't you planning to deal with her
today because you didn't like her?!

Unfortunately, Yao Wenying did not hear Jiamin Junzhu's inner cry. Not
only did she blush, but she also awkwardly untied the purse containing the
mint candy and threw it to Hua Liuli, "Take it, I don't like these overly
sweet things anyway."

"Thank you, Sister Yao," Hua Liuli smiled with curved eyes. In the end,
somehow, with just a few words from Hua Liuli, they ended up climbing
the mountain and eating candy together.

This young lady, Hua Liuli, was truly mischievous.

"Young Miss, it seems like Miss Yao is with her friends behind us," Lin
Wan's maidservant heard laughter coming from behind and turned to look.
She saw Miss Yao accompanied by three elegantly dressed girls. The
maidservant didn't recognize the three people, but from their attire, she
could tell they were of noble status.

Unlike the maidservant maid, Lin Wan immediately recognized the other
three. Seeing them accompanied by many maidservants while she only had
one, she felt a bit uncomfortable and even thought about turning around and
pretending not to see them.

"Young Lady Lin," Yao Wenyin spotted Lin Wan and called out to her,
"Why are you traveling alone?"

Yao Wenyin and Jiamin Junzhu were close friends, so she had initially tried
to get closer to Lin Wan just to figure out what kind of person she was. But
now that Jiamin Junzhu seemed less interested in Ying Wang, she hadn't
bothered to interact with Lin Wan anymore.

Her family was an idle aristocracy that focused on pleasure and leisure,
while Lin Wan's father was an official known for his integrity. Being
together with Lin Wan always made her feel a bit uncomfortable.

Lin Wan stopped and smiled at the four of them, bowing respectfully,
"Greetings to the two Junzhus, Miss Yao, and Miss Tian."

"Today is the Flower Festival, why is Young Lady Lin dressed so plainly?"
Yao Wenyin noticed that Lin Wan only had two silver hairpins and a poorly
crafted gemstone hairpin on her head. Without hesitation, she spoke, "It
looks a bit dull."

No wonder Yao Wenyin and Yao Jiamin were so close. Their way of
speaking was of the same vein, but lacking common sense.
Behaviors like commenting on someone's attire so openly often led to
getting slapped.

Hua Liuli was about to speak to ease the tension when Lin Wan spoke with
a smile.

"My father taught me from a young age to be frugal and not indulge in
extravagance. I have grown accustomed to it over the years."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 40 – The Troubles of the
Pear Blossoms

Hua Liuli closed her mouth halfway and took a step back silently.

"Yes, Young Lady Lin is a rare beauty even without any embellishments,
unlike us who, despite our careful grooming, can only be ordinary and
vulgar," Jiamin Junzhu said in a sarcastic tone, "Young Lady Lin is an
elegant person untouched by worldly affairs, someone beyond our reach."

After speaking, Jiamin Junzhu rolled her eyes at Lin Wan and walked past
her with large strides.

Yao Wenyin and Tian Shan have been good friends with Jiamin Junzhu
since childhood, so when they saw Jiamin getting angry, they quickly
followed her.

Jiamin Junzhu always speaks ill of others. Lin Wan was naturally beautiful,
with more grace than beauty, yet Jiamin Junzhu insisted on calling her a
rare beauty. What else could it be if not sarcasm?

Lin Wan's face looked extremely unpleasant as she coldly watched Jiamin
Junzhu's departing figure.

Cough, cough, cough. Hua Liuli covered her mouth with a handkerchief,
pretending to cough weakly and unable to move, standing in place.

Seeing this, her maidservants including Yuan Yi and Yurong, quickly

gathered around her, showing concern and offering pills and honeyed dew,
taking care of her for a while.
"Junzhu," Tian Shan, who had already walked ahead, saw the situation and
hurriedly came back, instructing the maidservants around her to take care of
Hua Liuli along with the Hua family's maidservants, "Are you alright?"

"It's nothing, just out of breath. My chest feels a bit tight," Hua Liuli smiled
gratefully at Tian Shan, nodded friendly towards Lin Wan, who was
standing by the side, and continued walking forward with the maidservants
surrounding her.

Jiamin Junzhu stood still with a stern face, waiting for Hua Liuli to catch
up. She looked at her with some confusion. Could it be that she was
mistaken and Hua Liuli really had health problems?

"Sister Jiamin, why are you staring at me?" Hua Liuli shyly smiled at
Jiamin and even blinked her eyes coquettishly.

Feeling disgusted by Hua Liuli's coquettish expression, Jiamin Junzhu took

two steps back, "Speak properly."

"Oh," Hua Liuli lowered her eyelids, looking somewhat dejected.

"Cough," Yao Wenyin cleared her throat, "Sister Jiamin, the Second
Princess is still waiting for us on the mountain."

This year's Flower Goddess ceremony was led by the Second Princess.
Although she was not born of the same mother as Ying Wang, she had spent
two years under the care of Consort Xian and had a close relationship with
her.

Considering Consort Xian and Ying Wang's face, they couldn't be too late.
Moreover, Hua Liuli looked downcast, it was hard not to feel sorry for her.

With the interruption caused by Hua Liuli's incident, Yao Jiamin and the
others forgot about what Lin Wan had said earlier. After they arrived on the
mountain and met with the Second Princess, they no longer deliberately
troubled Lin Wan.
Among the mountains, apricot blossoms and pear blossoms were just
beginning to bloom. When the spring breeze blew, a faint fragrance filled
the air. Although Hua Liuli was not very familiar with the noblewomen of
the capital, people occasionally took the initiative to greet her.

After nearly half an hour of liveliness, it seemed that everyone knew about
Hua Liuli's poor health and didn't dare to disturb her too much. They each
sat around the table, enjoying the performance of the Second Princess's
palace dancers.

"Junzhu," Yuan Yi bowed down to her and whispered in Hua Liuli's ear,
"Young Lady Lin has been frequently stealing glances at you."

Lin Wan, as the future Ying Wangfei, was seated in a carefully arranged
position, just slightly to the right of Hua Liuli. Her simple appearance stood
in contrast to the luxurious and dazzling noblewomen on both sides.

"What can I do? Other people can't help but look at me, I can't do anything
about it," Hua Liuli picked up a few fruits from the table and handed them
to Yuan Yi, "I can't let others stop looking at me, can I?"

Yuan Yi happily took the fruits and distributed them among the other
maidservants. She continued in a low voice, "Young Lady Lin didn't seem
too friendly in her gaze. Why did you defend her just now?"

"Miss Lin is known for her integrity and uprightness. She is the beloved
daughter of Lin Daren, a good official loved by the people. There are many
noble ladies present today. If they find out that his daughter has lost face,
rumors will spread, and Lin Daren will also feel upset," Hua Liuli covered
her mouth with a handkerchief and whispered, "As for Miss Yao, she may
not have bad intentions, but she is simply not good with words. If she spoke
more tactfully, she wouldn't have provoked others. There is no feud
between them, so it wouldn't be good for either side to make a scene."

Moreover, with Yao Jiamin, Yao Wenyin, and herself, who knows who
would end up worse off if they really started quarreling? She couldn't just
stand by and watch them quarrel, could she?
Enjoying a spectacle also requires choosing the right occasion.

"The embroidery on Young Lady Lin's skirt is really beautiful, it looks like
a living creature."

"It's nothing," Lin Wan smiled lightly, "It's not even half as beautiful as the
brocade on Xianzhu."

"What I have is nothing special, but Young Lady Lin is like a secluded
orchid in a valley..."

Listening to the praises from the people around her, Lin Wan slowly felt a
difficult-to-express sense of satisfaction. She knew why these people
praised her, because she was the future Ying Wangfei, and they couldn't
afford to offend her.

Power and status.

She felt somewhat disdainful deep down. These pampered noblewomen,

when they praised others, weren't much different from ordinary people.

She looked down on them and yet enjoyed their current admiration of her.

Taking a sip of tea, her gaze fell on the stage opposite. The women who
could sit here and enjoy the dance today were all of extraordinary status.
Among them, Hua Liuli definitely had a stronger presence.

Although she had poor health and did not participate in activities such as
appreciating poetry and composing, she still inadvertently drew people's
attention toward her.

Following Hua Liuli were her four maidservants. Lin Wan didn't know what
she said to them, but the maidservants smiled and took out some dried
fruits, placing them in her hands.

But it seemed that she still felt it was not enough. She grabbed the
maidservant closest to her and took off the pouch from her waist, causing
all four maidservants to try and stop her.
Her clothes were very beautiful - it was said that they were carefully
tailored by the Empress Dowager - making her fair skin appear even more
delicate. Among her jet-black hair, every hair accessory shone brightly.
Even the simplest hairpin was more valuable than her entire outfit.

The most captivating was her exquisitely embroidered shoes, made through
countless processes to achieve such beauty.

"Young Miss," Lin Wan's maidservant noticed her looking at Hua Liuli and
whispered, "Nubi heard that Fushou Junzhu received her first noble title
when she was only one year old. Not only does she have a fief and fertile
land, but she also receives many rewards every year. After His Majesty
bestowed upon her the title of a Junzhu, she was granted a Junzhu's Estate,
a countryside estate, and fertile land. People outside say that His Majesty
greatly favors her. Her status is no different from that of a first-ranked
prince's legitimate daughter."

"Yes, His Majesty has always valued the Hua family," Lin Wan withdrew
her gaze and spoke in an indifferent tone, "If it weren't for her poor health,
she might have been the Ying Wangfei."

The maidservant was startled and quickly reminded her in a low voice,
"Young Miss, you shouldn't say such things here."

If someone with ill intentions heard it, they might think that she was
mocking Hua Liuli's poor health, which would be troublesome.

Lin Wan pursed her lips and remained silent.

At the Qingting Pavilion, the talented young gentlemen had been

composing poetry for an hour and were getting tired. But for some reason,
the Crown Prince, who used to say a few words and leave as he did in
previous years, seemed particularly enthusiastic this year. He not only sat
through the entire event but also helped with the critique.

Some young gentlemen whose poetry skills were not impressive were
drenched in sweat under the Crown Prince's critique and regretted why they
had to feign elegance and participate in such a flower-themed poetry
gathering, humiliating themselves.

To make matters worse, since the Crown Prince did not leave, the other
princes and imperial princes also remained seated, causing the pavilion to
be crowded inside and out.

"After an hour of composing poetry, Benwang noticed that everyone is a bit

tired," the Fifth Prince seemed to hear the inner call of these young
gentlemen and bravely stood up.

The young gentlemen's eyes brightened. There was hope.

However, some scholars from humble backgrounds who had participated in

the imperial examinations and did not yet know their rankings felt a bit
disappointed. They had hoped for more opportunities to showcase their
talents in front of the Crown Prince.

People's joys and sorrows are often incomprehensible to others, so some

laughed while others felt regret.

The Crown Prince hadn't expected his usually obedient Fifth Brother to
stand up and speak. He glanced at the path leading to the Qingting Pavilion
absentmindedly and said, "What suggestions do you have, Fifth Brother?"

"We've already composed poetry, so why don't we paint together?" the Fifth
Prince's eyes sparkled, "It's a festive occasion, with flowers blooming and
talented individuals all around. If we don't leave behind a few paintings, it
would be lacking some color."

Ying Wang, Ning Wang, and the Fourth Prince, all of them who looked at
the Fifth Prince with shining eyes, had their expressions changed subtly.

"Fifth Brother's suggestion is interesting," the Crown Prince nodded

slightly, "Gu will leave it to you, Fifth Brother."

Ying Wang, Ning Wang, the Fourth Prince: "..."

After speaking, the Crown Prince slowly stood up, "You all take your time
with the paintings. Gu will go around and enjoy the scenery."

"Farewell, Your Royal Highness." Hearing that the Crown Prince was
leaving, the scholars felt a bit regretful but didn't dare to ask him to stay.
They respectfully bowed and saw off the Crown Prince.

Seeing the Crown Prince preparing to leave, Ying Wang also didn't hesitate
and found an excuse to slip away. He walked a little ahead and saw the
Crown Prince standing still at a fork in the road. Thinking that the scenery
there was unique, he approached to take a look, but there was nothing
particularly special.

"What are you looking at, Eldest Brother?" the Crown Prince placed his
hands behind his back; his brocade robes swayed gently in the breeze,
displaying endless grace.

"Nothing, just admiring the scenery," Ying Wang felt that the Crown Prince
was acting strangely today. Normally, he despised being crowded by a
group of people, but today, he seemed rooted in place, not leaving even
when they reached the mountains.

And now, he was standing at the fork in the road, putting on a melancholic
noble son's appearance, just like a peacock showing off its colorful feathers
to attract the attention of a peahen.

There must be something wrong. Definitely.

"Eldest Brother, is there something else?" the Crown Prince raised an

eyebrow when he saw Ying Wang standing beside him without leaving.

"Your Royal Highness, your status is precious. Benwang can't rest assured
leaving you alone here," Ying Wang smiled warmly, "Benwang will
accompany you."

The attendants and guards behind the Crown Prince: "..."

Fine, as servants, they could be invisible. The orders of Ying
Wang determined everything.

"Oh," the Crown Prince lifted his chin slightly. "Then, Gu will trouble you,
Eldest Brother."

"Yuan Yi, what time is it now?" Hua Liuli asked.

"It's almost," Yuan Yi replied, "Are you going look for the Crown Prince,
Junzhu?"

"I promised to find him before noon. I can't break my word," Hua Liuli
looked up at the sky. The weather was a bit gloomy. Hopefully, it wouldn't
rain later.

She got up and walked over to the Second Princess, "Your Highness, this is
my first time participating in the Flower Festival in the capital. I would like
to go out to explore and enjoy the scenery."

"The mountain winds are strong. Junzhu, please take care not to catch a
cold," faced with Hua Liuli, the Second Princess couldn't help but be a bit
more cautious. She gave some careful instructions before letting her
maidservant escort Hua Liuli away from the gathering.

"Young Lady Lin," the Second Princess noticed Lin Wan staring in the
direction Hua Liuli had left and said, "If Young Lady Lin also wants to go
out and explore, let the maidservants by my side accompany you. They are
more familiar with the roads on this side of the mountain."

Though there were heavy guards present today, many men and women were
coming and going. Lin Wan only brought one maidservant with her, which
might not be convenient.

Upon hearing the Second Princess's words, Lin Wan couldn't exactly say
that she had just been looking at Hua Liuli in curiosity. So she agreed.

The Second Princess assigned two maidservants to accompany Lin Wan and
spoke a few caring words in a gentle tone. This was her future sister-in-law,
even if they couldn't become close, she couldn't afford to offend her.

After leaving the gathering place, Lin Wan felt a bit lost. Where could she
go?

"Young Lady Lin, there is a place called the Qingting Pavilion in the
mountains that many talented individuals like to visit to compose poetry
and appreciate paintings. If you don't know where to go, you can go there,"
one of the attendants arranged by the Second Princess was skilled at
observing words and expressions. Seeing Lin Wan's expression, she quickly
made a suggestion.

"Then let's go there and take a look," Lin Wan's father was the top scholar
in the imperial examinations, so she also had some interest in poetry. Upon
hearing the maidservant's words, her curiosity was piqued.

They walked for a while and saw Hua Liuli and the others ahead. The
maidservant sent by the Second Princess said, "What a coincidence, it turns
out that Fushou Junzhu is also going to the Qingting Pavilion."

Lin Wan smiled lightly, "I didn't expect Fushou Junzhu to be fond of poetry
as well."

"Nubi heard that the Third Young Master Hua participated in this year's
Spring Examinations. Perhaps Fushou Junzhu is going to find the Third
Young Master Hua," Lin Wan's maidservant said, "Who knows, maybe our
young master is also there."

Neither of the maidservants sent by the Second Princess said anything.

Several young men from prominent families participated in this year's
Spring Examinations and they couldn't discern whose talent was
outstanding. But when speaking, they mustn't offend anyone and bring
trouble to their masters.

Lin Wan smiled, "My brother spends all his time buried in books at home. It
would be good for him to come out more."
She looked at Hua Liuli's graceful figure ahead, and her gaze suddenly
changed.

Standing at the fork in the road ahead were the Crown Prince and Ying
Wang. Did Hua Liuli come out specifically to find them?

Hua Liuli had already noticed Lin Wan following behind her, but she didn't
pay much attention. When she saw the Crown Prince waiting for her ahead,
she quickly stepped forward and greeted him and Ying Wang, "This humble
servant pays my respects to the Crown Prince and Ying Wang."

The Crown Prince casually glanced at the ground near Hua Liuli's feet and
smiled before speaking, "There's no need for such formalities, Junzhu."

"This humble servant apologizes for my late arrival which made you wait,
Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli followed suit and smiled, "Blame it on the
beautiful pear blossoms in the mountains that made me lose track of time."

"We agreed to meet before noon, it's still well before noon now. Junzhu,
you're not late; in fact, you've come early," a drizzle began to fall in the
mountains, and a eunuch opened an umbrella and approached.

The Crown Prince took the umbrella, waved his hand to dismiss the eunuch,
and held the umbrella over Hua Liuli's head, "Enjoying the pear blossoms
in the light rain brings a different kind of charm. Is Junzhu interested?"

Hua Liuli looked at the Crown Prince's handsome face and nodded in
agreement.

Beauty often makes people disregard their principles.

"Wait a moment," the Crown Prince noticed that Hua Liuli wasn't wearing a
cloak, so he had an embroidered peach blossom cloak brought over,
"Junzhu, please hold the umbrella while Gu helps you put on the cloak."

Hua Liuli held the umbrella and lowered her head, catching herself staring
at his fair and clean fingers in a daze.
"Junzhu?" The Crown Prince tried to take the umbrella from Hua Liuli's
hand but couldn't. He couldn't help but chuckle and took another umbrella
from the eunuch, standing side by side with Hua Liuli, "Let's go."

It was a pity that given their current relationship, they couldn't even share
an umbrella in the rain.

"Alright," Hua Liuli nodded.

Passing by Ying Wang, the Crown Prince stopped and said, "Eldest Brother,
Gu will accompany Junzhu for a stroll. You can do as you please."

Ying Wang: "..."

Just a patch of pear blossom forest, what's there to see?

Ying Wang dismissed the attendant who was holding the umbrella for him
and stared at Hua Liuli walking alongside the Crown Prince. He took the
umbrella for himself and prepared to join them.

"Your Highness."

Ying Wang turned his head displeasedly. Who was calling him?

The face seemed somewhat familiar?

Oh, it was his betrothed.

Ying Wang furrowed his brows slightly and stopped walking, "What's the
matter?"

"Your Highness, when I came out, I forgot to bring an umbrella," Lin Wan
gently wiped the raindrops off her face, not exerting too much force for fear
of smudging her makeup.

"Oh," Ying Wang looked at the umbrella in his hand, "Benwang only has
one."

A stiff smile appeared on Lin Wan's face.

"You," Ying Wang turned to his eunuch attendant, "Go find an umbrella for
Young Lady Lin."

"Where is Your Highness going?" Feeling Ying Wang's coldness towards

her, Lin Wan felt a bit uneasy. Considering the two maidservants arranged
by the Second Princess behind her, she didn't want anyone to perceive the
awkwardness between her and Ying Wang, "If it's convenient, may I
accompany you?"

Ying Wang was about to refuse, but then he thought again. A grown man
like him running off to see pear blossoms didn't seem dignified. It would be
more appropriate to have his betrothed with him.

He nodded, "Alright, you can come along."

If they didn't catch up now, the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli would
disappear.

"Does Your Royal Highness and the other princes come to the mountains
every year?" Hua Liuli held a few apricot blossoms in her hands as she
descended the stone steps.

The Crown Prince held the umbrella with one hand and extended the other
in front of Hua Liuli, "The stone steps become slippery when it rains, with
moss growing on them. Please be careful, Junzhu."

Hua Liuli extended her hand over to the Crown Prince and stepped onto the
stone steps covered in flower petals, "Thank you, Your Royal Highness."

"Gu has arranged for a pavilion ahead. We will have our midday meal there
later," the Crown Prince held Hua Liuli's hand, "Normally, Gu doesn't have
many opportunities to leave the palace. In previous Flower Festival
celebrations, Gu would only show up briefly in front of scholars and
students."

"But it's different this year," The Crown Prince smiled gently at Hua Liuli.
"Since Gu promised to accompany Junzhu at the Flower Festival, Gu can't
break my word."
Hua Liuli smiled, her eyes and brows curved, "Thank you, Your Royal
Highness."

"If you truly want to thank me, then please eat more during our meal later,"
the Crown Prince continued walking while glancing back at Hua Liuli,
whose hand he held, "Gu doesn't want to see the Second Young Master Hua
scolding you again because of your picky eating."

Amused by the Crown Prince's words once again, Hua Liuli responded,
"Being picky eaters is just a trivial flaw. Your Royal Highness doesn't need
to pay too much attention to it."

"Let me tell you a secret," The Crown Prince stopped walking and wore a
mysterious expression on his face.

Hua Liuli quickly looked around, noticing passersby from time to time. She
wanted to remind the Crown Prince to lower his voice and not speak up, but
hesitated, "Your Royal Highness..."

The Crown Prince spoke earnestly, "Actually, Gu is a picky eater too."

Hua Liuli: "Ah?"

Hua Liuli is confused if should she try to persuade the Crown Prince not to
be picky, or should she speak up and say how amazing it was that they were
the same?

"So, as Junzhu said, being picky eaters is just a trivial flaw," the Crown
Prince chuckled quietly, "Since we share this common flaw, let's not mind
each other, shall we?"

Hua Liuli nodded thoughtfully, "You make a valid point. We can consider
ourselves... kindred spirits?"

Laughter and chatter could be heard ahead, but the atmosphere between
Ying Wang and Lin Wan, who were walking behind, was quite cold. Lin
Wan had tried to initiate conversations with Ying Wang several times, but
he responded with mere "mhm" and "ahh". She didn't want to continue
making herself look foolish.

Not knowing what she stepped on, Lin Wan suddenly slipped and fell
forward.

Ying Wang, who was walking ahead of her, heard the noise and quickly
stepped aside, watching as Lin Wan fell. Fortunately, the eunuch attendant
beside Ying Wang reacted quickly and, together with Lin Wan's
maidservant, helped her up.

Ying Wang glanced at Lin Wan with a complicated expression, "Be careful
with your steps, Young Lady Lin."

Ever since he turned fifteen, there were always two palace maids who
pretended to stumble in front of him every year, to the extent that he would
instinctively try to keep his distance whenever he saw a young lady about to
fall.

He hadn't expected Lin Zhou, who had been raised to be upright and
virtuous, to teach his daughter such methods. If he married Wangfei like
her, would it affect the intelligence of their future children?

Lin Wan didn't expect Ying Wang to not only reach out to help her but even
dodged aside when she was almost falling. Was she really that repulsive?

Pale-faced, she forced a smile and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Your
Highness. I will be more careful."

She looked at Hua Liuli ahead, who was chatting with the Crown Prince,
and a ludicrous idea suddenly popped into her mind. If it were Hua Liuli
standing here, would Ying Wang behave in the same way?

She knew she shouldn't think like this, but she couldn't control her thoughts.
She repeatedly reminded herself that she couldn't show her dissatisfaction
in front of Ying Wang, let alone let her father know about Ying Wang's
indifference towards her.
Knowing her father's character, if he found out how Ying Wang treated her,
he might go to the Emperor and find a way to break off the marriage
arrangement.

But she wanted to be the noble and revered Wangfei.

She wanted to have countless jewels, luxurious fabrics, and numerous

servants like those girls born into noble families.

"With so many apricot and pear blossoms, I wonder how many fruits they
will bear," Hua Liuli said, "I heard from Tian Shan that there's a peach
grove on the north side of the mountain, but unfortunately, it hasn't
blossomed yet."

"When it blooms, Gu will bring you there to see," the Crown Prince handed
the umbrella to the eunuch attendant and pointed to a pavilion ahead, "We'll
have our midday meal there. How does Junzhu feel about it?"

The pavilion was surrounded by flowers and trees, like a fairyland.

"Eating in such a place would surely whet one's appetite," Hua Liuli
descended the last step and was about to let go of the Crown Prince's hand
when an elderly couple, arm in arm, approached. She pulled the Crown
Prince to the side to give way.

"The shoes on the little girl's feet are so beautiful," the old lady, seeing Hua
Liuli voluntarily giving way, smiled and glanced at Hua Liuli, then at the
Crown Prince, her smile carrying a hint of flirtation, "Very nice."

The Crown Prince smiled, while Hua Liuli responded, "Thank you for the
compliment, Grandma."

The old man huffed, "You old woman, I had someone make new shoes for
you. Aren't they beautiful enough?"

"Beautiful, beautiful," the old lady coaxed the old man, "Why compare
yourself to the little girl and the young lad?"
The old man looked at the Crown Prince and stroked his beard, "I had the
same charm in my younger days."

The Crown Prince smiled amiably and didn't take offense at the old man's
words.

The two elderly people exchanged words as they slowly walked away,
displaying their deep affection.

Hua Liuli lifted her foot and glanced down, "Your Royal Highness, many
people have already complimented these shoes today."

"As long as you like them."

The Crown Prince gave Hua Liuli a gentle smile and reached out to pluck a
pear blossom petal from her hair, tossing it aside.

Pear blossoms had an unfavorable connotation and should not be left on

Liuli's body.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 41 – The Quarry

When Hua Liuli and the Crown Prince arrived at the pavilion, everything
had already been prepared by the attendants. Every two steps around the
pavilion stood a guard disguised as an ordinary person, indicating that the
Emperor wasn't completely at ease with the Crown Prince's safety.

The stone table was filled with steaming and delicious dishes. After
washing her hands, Hua Liuli couldn't help but exclaim, "These dishes are
different from those in the palace, but they are cleverly made, arousing
one's appetite at first glance."

"The greatest honor for this table of dishes is that the Junzhu likes them,"
the Crown Prince picked up his chopsticks, "Junzhu, please."

Just as Hua Liuli picked up her chopsticks, she saw Ying Wang approaching
along with Lin Wan. She put down her chopsticks and stood up.

"Crown Prince, forgive Benwang for intruding," Ying Wang handed the
umbrella to the guard stationed outside and walked into the pavilion with
big strides, "The rain outside is getting heavier, so Benwang came in to seek
shelter. Benwang hopes you don't mind."

The Crown Prince glanced at Ying Wang, then smiled ambiguously and put
down his chopsticks, "Gu had been feeling that there was a tail following
Gu all along. Gu was actually planning to send the guards to check it out.
Since it's Eldest Brother, Gu doesn't have to worry anymore. Come, have a
seat."

Ying Wang furrowed his brows. Why did it feel like Ji Yuansu was calling
him a dog?
He shook off the water from his shoes and sat down on the left side of the
Crown Prince. Hua Liuli glanced at Lin Wan - who was still standing
outside the pavilion - and she turned around to sit on the right side of the
Crown Prince, leaving the seat next to Ying Wang empty.

However, Ying Wang acted as if he hadn't seen Lin Wan at all. After being
attended to by the eunuch, he washed his hands and prepared to have his
meal.

Were these two having an unpleasant disagreement?

Hua Liuli didn't want to intervene in their personal matters, but she also felt
that it was awkward for Lin Wan to just stand outside. So she spoke up,
"Young Lady Lin, although the apricot blossoms are beautiful, it's more
important to have a meal first and enjoy them slowly."

Following Hua Liuli's lead, Lin Wan lowered her head and walked into the
pavilion, bowed to the Crown Prince, and quietly sat down next to Ying
Wang.

"This Eight Treasure Bamboo Shoot Soup is made with the tenderest
bamboo shoots of the spring season. It has the effect of nourishing the lungs
and clearing the mind. Would Junzhu like to try it?" the Crown Prince,
regardless of the tense atmosphere between Ying Wang and Lin Wan, ladled
a bowl of soup and placed it in front of Hua Liuli as if the other two didn't
exist.

Hua Liuli picked up the bowl and tasted it, "It's delicious."

"Gu also enjoys this soup. The others can only be considered ordinary," the
Crown Prince looked at the flowers around Hua Liuli. "But with flowers
accompanying us today, even these ordinary dishes are satisfying."

"Hmm?" Hua Liuli turned her head to look. The flower petals fell like
snowflakes and formed a thick layer on the ground. By tomorrow, these
petals would mix with the soil, losing today's beauty.
She reached out her hand outside the pavilion and caught a few falling
petals, placing them beside the Crown Prince, "Here, enjoy them while
eating."

The Crown Prince paused for a moment, then burst into laughter.

Ying Wang looked up and saw the pearl earrings gently swaying from Hua
Liuli's ears. He couldn't help but wonder how the Hua family managed to
raise their daughter so fair and frail despite the harsh conditions on the
border.

"Your Highness," Lin Wan picked up a tender bamboo shoot with her
chopsticks and put it into Ying Wang's bowl, "Please try this."

"Young Lady Lin, leave the task of serving to the servants," Ying Wang
picked up the bamboo shoot and placed it aside, "Besides, Benwang is not
accustomed to eating food brought by others."

Lin Wan's face turned pale, "I apologize for my offense."

She subconsciously looked toward Hua Liuli and felt relieved when she saw
that she hadn't noticed the situation. It eased her heart a bit.

Ying Wang frowned at Lin Wan, "When Benwang is talking to you, why are
you looking at someone else?"

"Your Highness," Hua Liuli put down her chopsticks, "I am full. I'll go out
and take a look at the flowers."

"Gu will accompany you," the Crown Prince stood up and smiled at Ying
Wang, then took an umbrella from one of the guards and held it over Hua
Liuli's head.

Hua Liuli lifted her skirt and walked into the apricot blossom forest with the
Crown Prince. She turned around and glanced at Ying Wang and Lin Wan,
who were still sitting in the pavilion, and whispered, "The way Ying Wang
and Young Lady Lin interact... it's quite unique."
Ying Wang obviously didn't like Lin Wan very much, so Hua Liuli couldn't
understand why Lin Wan indulged Ying Wang's temper by compromising
herself like this.

Men sometimes needed to be disciplined. Always yielding to them was

useless; the more you yielded, the more they became unruly. One should
find the right opportunity to discipline them a few times, and naturally, they
would become obedient and considerate, at least knowing how to save face
in front of others.

She heard from her Third Brother that when Lin Daren was young, he had
silenced several officials in court, leaving them speechless. Corrupt officials
would be afraid when they saw him. How did he raise his daughter to have
such a soft personality?

Could it be that he only taught his daughter to be a good wife and mother,
gentle and virtuous?

If that was the case, with Ying Wang's temper, one didn't know how much
suffering she would endure after marrying him.

The Crown Prince reached out and plucked a flower, placing it in Hua
Liuli's hairpin, "Everyone has different choices. Don't bother yourself with
other people's affairs and make yourself worried."

"Your Royal Highness, a single flower belongs to the family of a whole

apricot. Now you have separated them," Hua Liuli pretended to be serious,
"What should we do about that?"

"In that case..." the Crown Prince plucked another flower and placed it next
to the previous one, "Let its brother accompany it, so it doesn't feel lonely
as a single flower."

"A single flower... would feel lonely?" Hua Liuli pondered, wondering if
the Crown Prince was reminded of the girl he had liked but lost.

"Yes," the Crown Prince hinted, "Even the most beautiful flower would
want another flower to accompany it. Being alone... a flower would feel too
lonely."

"Perhaps this flower hopes that the flower it likes will stay on the branch
and bear delicious fruits," Hua Liuli's heart skipped a beat, worried that the
Crown Prince might have a tendency towards pessimism and world-
weariness, "There are so many beautiful flowers on the tree. It's better to
stay with the colorful flowers instead of leaving with just one."

"There are too many wonderful things in the world," Hua Liuli earnestly
consoled, "Don't give up on anything, especially the prosperity and
liveliness of life. Your Royal Highness, don't you agree?"

The Crown Prince handed the umbrella to Hua Liuli, "Gu suddenly feels a
bit cold. Gu will go and get a cloak."

"Huh?" Hua Liuli held the umbrella, watching as the Crown Prince turned
and walked in another direction. The wind was indeed strong today.

After a while, the Crown Prince still hadn't returned, but Lin Wan came
over first. She had a calm expression, showing no happiness or anger on her
face. It seemed that Ying Wang's behavior hadn't affected her mood.

"Junzhu, you are truly beautiful," Lin Wan suddenly turned her head to look
at Hua Liuli, "Standing here in the apricot blossom rain, you look like a
painting. As I sit in the pavilion, watching your figure, I almost lost
myself."

Although it was a compliment, Hua Liuli detected a slightly sinister tone.

She took two steps back, "Young Lady Lin, you praise me too much."

"Junzhu, there's no need to be modest. I'm just stating the truth," Lin Wan
slightly curved her lips, "When you stood here, everyone couldn't help but
look at you..."

Hua Liuli took a deep breath. How did she encounter another problem?

Just when she thought she had successfully dealt with Yao Jiamin's flaws,
now this Lin Wan was also acting strange. Ying Wang's appearance alone
couldn't be classified as a captivating beauty. Why did every one of his
admirers act as if she was trying to steal Ying Wang from them?

Why make it difficult for other women? She had never met Ying Wang
alone, they had barely even exchanged a few words. What did she do to
give the impression that she was interested in Ying Wang?

When a woman couldn't handle her man, she would always feel that it was
the fault of the other women. What kind of reasoning was this?

"Young Lady Lin," Hua Liuli smiled, her lips curving upwards, "I am not a
tolerant person, especially when it comes to others insulting my judgment. I
hope you understand."

Lin Wan looked at Hua Liuli with cold eyes.

Hua Liuli smiled back.

"Junzhu, you are awe-inspiring. I naturally can't afford to offend you," Lin
Wan sneered, "I hope you always maintain such grandeur."

"Yuan Yi," Hua Liuli ignored Lin Wan and beckoned to her maid, "Did you
remember Young Lady Lin's words just now?"

"Nubi has remembered them," Yuan Yi smiled, "Please rest assured,

Junzhu. Nubi will remember them word for word."

"That's good," Hua Liuli's smile was radiant, "In a few days, we will visit
Master Lin and Madam Lin and repeat Young Lady Lin's words. I believe
Master Lin will surely be pleased with Young Lady Lin's eloquence and
insight."

"What do you mean?" Lin Wan's face changed.

"It means we're going to lodge a complaint," Hua Liuli tilted her head and
smiled mischievously, "Little girls who don't know how to speak, offend
people recklessly. Who would treat an ignorant little girl on equal terms? Of
course, they would go to her parents."
"Hua Liuli!"

"Young Lady Lin," the Crown Prince walked over expressionless, "You
must have had a good appetite at lunch today."

Lin Wan didn't expect the Crown Prince to suddenly approach. Her
expression became somewhat flustered, and she stepped aside, bowing, "I...
don't understand Your Royal Highness's intentions."

"If you didn't have a good appetite and ate so much, how could you have
the energy to argue with a titled Junzhu appointed by His Majesty himself?"
the Crown Prince looked at Lin Wan coldly, his eyebrows and eyelids
glistening with raindrops, making him appear like an unsheathed cold
sword, causing people to avoid direct eye contact with him.

"Master Lin is a good official. Young Lady Lin, don't tarnish his
reputation," the Crown Prince's eyes turned slightly cold, "As the future
Ying Wangfei, if you don't know how to speak and act, then don't marry
into the imperial family."

Hua Liuli noticed that the rain was getting heavier, but the Crown Prince
was not holding an umbrella. She quickly lifted the umbrella to cover the
Crown Prince's head. She realized there was a height difference between
them, so she had to tiptoe to not obstruct the Crown Prince's line of sight.

His warm hand rested on the umbrella handle, "Let Gu handle it."

Hua Liuli quickly let go, finding it too tiring for a kind and lovely girl to
hold the umbrella for someone taller.

While holding the umbrella, Lin Wan felt a chill throughout her body. Her
teeth lightly chattered, unsure if she was really cold or if she was just
frightened. She feared that Hua Liuli would really go and complain to her
parents. She also feared that the Crown Prince would report to the Emperor,
revealing her lack of qualities and virtues befitting a Wangfei.

She couldn't accept that she would not become Ying Wang's Wangfei in the
future, ending up with a humble fate like her father's.
Her eyes turned red, and she knelt down, softly sobbing, "I beg Your Royal
Highness and Junzhu for forgiveness," her cries were desolate and heart-
wrenching, it seemed as if she were a pitiful person who dared not voice her
anger under a tyrant's rule.

"What's going on here?" Ying Wang walked over and saw his future
Wangfei kneeling before Ji Yuansu. His expression turned somewhat
unpleasant. Regardless, Lin Wan was his future legitimate consort and Ji
Yuansu's future Eldest Sister-In-Law.

"It's all this humble servant's fault," Hua Liuli bit her lower lip, her
eyebrows furrowing slightly. She looked as if she was hiding boundless
grievances, but she remained resolute, "There was a misunderstanding in
our conversation, and it made both of us unhappy. After the Crown Prince
arrived, he spoke a few words to Young Lady Lin. Unexpectedly, Young
Lady Lin felt so remorseful that she knelt down to apologize to His Royal
Highness and me."

The delicate face of Hua Liuli turned pale, seemingly frightened by Young
Lady Lin's actions. Nonetheless, she considerately addressed Ying Wang,
"Fortunately, Your Highness, you have arrived. Please persuade Young
Lady Lin to rise."

This blame was very significant. If the Crown Prince were to bear it, it
would surely intensify the discord between the brothers. It would be better
to let her shoulder it instead.

"So, it was just a misunderstanding," Ying Wang suddenly realized. He

looked down at Lin Wan and said, "Then why are you still kneeling? It's not
pleasant to be seen like this. Get up quickly, and later, go change your
clothes. Mother Consort has invited you to the palace to stay for a couple of
days."

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your tolerance," Lin Wan's hand hidden in
her sleeve clenched tightly, her nails sinking deep into her palm. She slowly
stood up, glanced at the mud stains on her skirt, and said to Ying Wang,
"Your Highness, may this humble servant return home to change clothes
and then pay respects to Mother Consort?"
"Suit yourself," Ying Wang glanced at the Crown Prince. "The rain in the
mountains is getting heavier. Since Junzhu's health is not good, it's not
advisable to stay in the mountains for long. Moreover, if the rain continues,
the mountain roads will become slippery and difficult to traverse. Junzhu
should descend the mountain early."

"Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness. This humble servant will
remember," Hua Liuli noticed the cold gaze of Lin Wan falling on her once
again.

She sighed inwardly, trying to hide behind the Crown Prince. It was
advantageous to have someone tall by her side, at least providing a broader
area of coverage.

Ying Wang glanced at Hua Liuli's little actions and bowed to the Crown
Prince, "Crown Prince, Gu shall take my leave."

"Take care, Eldest Brother," the Crown Prince said expressionlessly, then he
gave Lin Wan a glance. Lin Wan didn't dare to meet the Crown Prince's
gaze and lowered her head even further.

After Ying Wang left with Lin Wan, the Crown Prince said to Hua Liuli,
"Let's descend the mountain too. There is a lake near the outskirts of the
capital, the scenery there is beautiful in rainy weather. We can go there by
carriage. Would you like to go?"

"Sure," Hua Liuli nodded. With a beautiful companion, whether it was

enjoying the lake or flowers, it would be equally delightful.

On their way down the mountain, they encountered the Fifth Prince, who
was holding a painting tube. The Fifth Prince's eyes lit up when he saw Hua
Liuli. He respectfully greeted the Crown Prince and then looked at Hua
Liuli with bright eyes, saying, "Fushou Junzhu, Benwang has painted a new
artwork today. Benwang would like to have your opinion on it."

Hua Liuli: "..."

Young man, you look at me with such trusting eyes, it puts me in a difficult
position.

"In that case, this humble servant will dare to take a look," she sighed. Well,
since he was a prince, she had to show some appreciation.

As two young eunuchs carefully opened the scroll, the Fifth Prince quickly
held his umbrella over the painting, afraid that the merciless spring rain
would dampen his masterpiece.

Hua Liuli took a deep breath, gathering her courage to look at it.

What on earth was this painting?

A bunch of heavily inked blobs and lightly inked blobs mixing together as
friends?

"Junzhu, what do you think of this 'View of the Green Mountains'?" The
Fifth Prince eagerly asked Hua Liuli.

The Crown Prince smiled ambiguously and glanced at Hua Liuli, then he
pretended to look at the sky and the ground, intentionally avoiding the Fifth
Prince's painting.

"This painting..." Hua Liuli pondered for a moment, "When Your Highness
wielded the brush, the depth and lightness greatly varied. The heavier parts
resemble the majestic and magnificent green mountains, while the lighter
parts depict the wind, mist, rain, and the intangible aura within the
mountains. From observing the painting, this humble servant believes that
Your Highness is like a mountain in character, yet your state of mind is as
carefree and comfortable as the white clouds, truly embodying the qualities
of an upright gentleman."

"Junzhu, your praise is excessive," the Fifth Prince blushed slightly, and he
had the eunuch carefully collect the painting, "But you are right, Junzhu.
Benwang wants to be like the clouds and wind in these mountains,
unaffected by worldly ambitions."
Hua Liuli turned to the Crown Prince, "Your Royal Highness, does this
humble servant's opinion hold true?"

At such times, she shouldn't be the only one struggling in praising someone.

"Junzhu is correct," the Crown Prince smiled, "Junzhu makes a valid point.
Gu fully agrees with your perspective."

"It's the Crown Prince that understands Benwang the best," the Fifth Prince
became even happier, "After Benwang returns, Benwang will create two
new paintings to present to both of you."

Hua Liuli: "..."

No, there really is no need for that.

"Thank you for your efforts, Fifth Youngest Brother," the Crown Prince said
calmly, "You should return and continue your painting. Gu will be looking
forward to your paintings."

"The Crown Prince won't be disappointed," the elegant and flawless Fifth
Prince, upon hearing the Crown Prince's encouragement, hurriedly
descended the mountain, not even needing an umbrella.

From childhood to adulthood, the Crown Prince seldom praised him. Today,
he praised him so gently and encouraged him. It must be because his
painting was so artistic that the Crown Prince appreciated it.

Indeed, he had extraordinary talent in painting.

Watching the Fifth Prince's joyful figure, Hua Liuli felt a complex mood.
Imperial family members... were truly unique. However, when the Fifth
Prince spoke earlier about wanting to be like clouds and wind, was it
sincere or intentionally said for the Crown Prince to hear? She stole a
glance at the Crown Prince but couldn't discern his thoughts, so she gave
up.

The rainy mountain road was indeed difficult to traverse. The Crown Prince
slipped and nearly fell. Hua Liuli quickly reached out and grabbed his
waist, pulling him back.

The Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli's hand and suddenly smiled,
"Concern can lead to chaos. Gu never expected that Junzhu would exert
such strength to save me."

"Cough, cough," Hua Liuli covered her chest, "This humble servant also
didn't expect it. It shows that a person's potential is boundless," She took a
pill from Yuan Yi and ate it, "As long as Your Royal Highness is fine, this
humble servant can rest assured."

At the foot of the mountain, the two of them did not share the carriage. Hua
Liuli breathed a sigh of relief once she lay inside the carriage.

The power of beauty was truly captivating. Why couldn't she control her
own hand? With so many attendants by the Crown Prince's side, it was
impossible for him to fall.

"It's fortunate that Junzhu is not the ruler of our Great Jin," Yuan Yi shook
her head and teased, "If Junzhu were the ruler, Great Jin would inevitably
decline due to Junzhu's penchant for beauty."

Hua Liuli replied, "Yuan Yi, you're being too straightforward. I feel
embarrassed."

"Beauty comes first. What need is there for embarrassment?" Yurong

chimed in with a smile, "Clearly, Junzhu doesn't care about it."

"Alas, I am merely showing mercy and cherishing precious jade. How can
you understand my feelings?" Hua Liuli whispered softly, "Moreover, the
person the Crown Prince likes has already passed away. He has not yet
moved on from that emotional attachment, and I fear he may not be able to
accept it. I can only advise him more."

If something were to truly happen to the Crown Prince, it would affect the
entire country, and the people would suffer. Therefore, the person she saved
earlier was not just a beautiful individual but the future of the Great Jin
Dynasty as a whole.
That is why she was noble and great.

The carriage traveled for a while before coming to a stop. Hua Liuli lifted
the curtain and glanced outside. The surrounding scenery was ordinary and
there was no sight of a beautiful lake.

"Have we arrived?"

"Junzhu, just a little while longer," a guard said, "There is a quarry ahead,
so the road is uneven. Please ensure that Junzhu and the maids attending to
Junzhu are seated securely."

"Very well," Hua Liuli nodded, "Thank you."

"No need for thanks," the guard instructed the coachman to continue the
journey.

After a while, the carriage indeed became bumpy. Hua Liuli curiously lifted
the curtain and saw many bare stones lying on both sides of the road. A
group of quarry laborers huddled under a rain shelter, standing in an orderly
manner, afraid to make noise and disturb those passing by.

There was also a prisoner squatting outside the rain shelter, seemingly out
of place compared to the other prisoners.

When that prisoner saw Hua Liuli, he suddenly stood up and exclaimed,
"Junzhu, please save me!" He seemed to want to run in this direction but
was whipped by a prison guard, causing him to stop in fear. However, he
continued to call out to Hua Liuli with all his strength.

"Stop," Hua Liuli commanded the carriage to halt. She had the prison guard
bring the prisoner closer and carefully looked him over.

With messy hair and a disheveled appearance, who was this?

"Junzhu, I am the qin player, Yunhan," the prisoner, wearing grass shoes on
his feet, his emaciated body clad in dirty coarse clothes, looked like
someone who hadn't eaten enough in a long time.
"You are... Yunhan?" Hua Liuli scrutinized him from head to toe. It's no
wonder people always say that clothes make the man. This Yunhan, wearing
tattered clothes, had lost all traces of the ethereal aura he had before, and
his dirty face was far from the fair complexion he had a few days ago,
lacking any trace of beauty.

"Junzhu, these prison guards are using excessive punishment. Please save
my life," although he had only been in the Ministry of Justice prison
dungeon for a few days, he couldn't take it anymore.

"Please understand, Yunhan, that the prisoners in the Ministry of Justice are
meant to work to atone for their crimes," the prison guard, unaware of the
identity of the Junzhu inside the carriage, didn't dare to be negligent, "This
person is always scheming and cunning, doing little work but eating a lot,
and he doesn't obey discipline. We whip him because there's no other way,
not intentionally singling him out."

"Mr. Yunhan, the Ministry of Justice has its rules, and although I am a
Junzhu, I cannot interfere in political matters. The officials of the Ministry
of Justice are all geniuses at investigating and adjudicating cases, and I
believe they will definitely uncover the truth and bring about a perfect
resolution. The days in the prison might be harsh..." Hua Liuli glanced at
Yunhan's dirty grass shoes. "...but they will pass."

A glimmer of hope rose in Yunhan's heart.

"But there are still many days ahead, so endure a little longer, and you will
get used to it," Hua Liuli handed a plate of pastries out of the carriage
window, "Here, eat more. Only when you've eaten enough will you have the
strength to work."

Yunhan stared at the plate of pastries, his hands trembling as he took them.
"Since it's Junzhu's words, I will believe in them."

"That's right," Hua Liuli nodded, "Reform yourself well and strive to be
released soon," With that, she lowered the curtain and said to the guard,
"Let's go."
Once Hua Liuli and her entourage left, the prisoners who had been
obediently staying under the rain shelter swarmed around and snatched the
pastries from Yunhan's hands, leaving nothing behind.

"I thought this pretty boy had the ability to save himself."

"But all he got was a plate of pastries."

"The Junzhu was right. Reform yourself well and strive to be released
soon."

The group of prisoners laughed and joked, but they didn't dare to talk
casually about the Junzhu. They were all prisoners with some knowledge of
the Ministry of Justice's methods, so they know exactly what could be said
and what couldn't. They were as cautious as mice.

The Crown Prince lazily leaned against the carriage wall, feeling good.

How to shatter the beautiful image of a person in someone else's heart?

一By fully exposing their ugliest side.

The most beautiful and captivating qin player?

Hmph.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 42 – Weary Old Father

"Your Royal Highness, after Yunhan had been released from the prison
dungeon of the Ministry of Justice and was on the way to the quarry, he
accidentally encountered three pedestrians. There were also other prisoners
who had contact with him. They are all under our surveillance," the
personal attending eunuch hesitated and glanced at the Crown Prince,
"Moreover, Fushou Junzhu handed him a plate of pastries, but it was
snatched by other prisoners. For now, there doesn't seem to be anything
suspicious. Should we send someone..."

"Fushou Junzhu is the daughter of General Hua and General Wei. There's
no chance that she would be colluding with these unidentified rebels," the
Crown Prince interrupted directly, "The Hua and Wei families have been
loyal for generations and have made significant contributions to Great Jin
throughout history. If they had any ulterior motives, they wouldn't have
fought so fiercely to leave Jinpo defenseless. Suspecting Fushou Junzhu is
denying the merits that the two generals have earned for Great Jin. Do not
mention such words again in the future."

"Yes," the personal attending eunuch bowed down, touching his head to the
ground, "I spoke out of turn. I beg Your Royal Highness for forgiveness."

The Crown Prince glanced at him with a faint tone, "In many matters, until
there is evidence, refrain from self-righteous speculations about loyal
ministers."

"Yes," the trembling eunuch replied.

"Your Highness," the guard outside the carriage called out loudly, "We have
arrived at Yanlai Lake."
The Crown Prince lifted the curtain, stepped down from the carriage, and
turned around. Coincidentally, Hua Liuli also descended from her carriage,
her cloak fluttering gently in the wind.

"Junzhu," the Crown Prince approached Hua Liuli, "That's the Yanlai Lake
ahead. Whenever it rains, the lake's surface would be shrouded in mist. If
we take a boat on the lake, it will be as if we are roaming in the clouds."

Hua Liuli noticed a painted boat on the lake with eunuch attendants and
several palace maids wearing colorful garments.

"Come, let's board the boat," the Crown Prince invited Hua Liuli as they
stepped onto the boat, which swayed slightly.

Inside the boat, there were several kneeling musicians who quickly stood up
and bowed when they saw the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli entering.

Smelling the faint fragrance of incense in the boat, Hua Liuli said, "Thank
you, Your Royal Highness."

"Gu said Gu would invite you to listen to the palace musicians'

performance. How could Gu go back on my word?" On the tea table, there
was a teapot brewing some unknown tea, emitting a light and refreshing
aroma.

"Gu knows you can't drink tea, so Gu had them make a floral infusion for
you," the Crown Prince invited Hua Liuli to sit down, "Taste it and see if it
becomes too cloying."

Hua Liuli lifted the teacup and took a sip. The subtle sweetness enveloped
the tea aroma and tasted pleasant in her mouth. She smiled and said, "After
drinking this tea, I feel like I'm perfumed all over."

"As long as Junzhu enjoys it," the Crown Prince raised his hand slightly,
and the musicians began to play. The first piece they played was not a
gentle Southern melody but an exhilarating battlefield tune.
Hua Liuli paused, then she turned her head to look at the musicians,
listening intently.

Once the soldiers step onto the battlefield, their life and death are no longer
in their own hands. Father had once said that as a general, he hoped that
what he learned throughout his life would be put to good use, and he also
hoped that there would be no more wars in the world.

The battlefield is ruthless. Behind every death is a person's life. The person
who died may be yearning for someone from their hometown or may have
someone waiting for them to return.

The only consolation is that His Majesty is a benevolent emperor who does
not mistreat the soldiers. The soldiers can eat their fill, and if a soldier dies
in battle, there will be a generous pension for their family.

Father often told her and her brothers that a great general meeting a wise
emperor is the best start and end for a military commander. He was
fortunate to have met Emperor Changlong. However, the Hua family won't
have such good luck every generation, so preserving their strength and
survival has become almost instinctual for every generation of the Hua
family.

Compared to the wailing and howling of the frontier soldiers, the musicians'
performance was more melodious and pleasing to the ears, but it lacked the
carefree taste of the frontier.

"'Can I say that I have no clothes and share a robe with you?'" Hua Liuli
followed the melody and hummed two verses, smiling, "Your Royal
Highness, these musicians play such interesting tunes. Unfortunately, my
talent in leading troops and fighting is not as good as my parents, so I can
only listen to these tunes for my own amusement."

"In this world, there are no two completely identical people. General Hua
and General Wei are indeed rare talents, but Junzhu also has her own
charm. There is no need to compare yourself with others or elders," the
Crown Prince said as he refilled Hua Liuli's cup, "In the eyes of those who
love you, you are unique."
Hua Liuli smiled at the Crown Prince. "Your Royal Highness, if you want
to praise someone, you can definitely make that person feel elated."

"Junzhu misspoke," the Crown Prince chuckled, "Gu never flatters anyone;
Gu only speaks the truth from my heart."

Hua Liuli couldn't help but laugh.

Men, especially handsome men, can make their voices sound as beautiful as
heavenly music when praising someone.

On one side, Hua Liuli enjoyed the company of the handsome Crown
Prince as they boated on the lake. On the other side, Prince A'Wa, who was
captured, could only sit in an empty prison dungeon, playing with a straw.

Today, many prisoners were taken to the quarry, but due to his special
status, he was neither required to do hard labor nor participate in other
collective activities with the prisoners. He could only spend his days in
solitary confinement, lost in thought.

Although the other prisoners usually ignored him, at least he could listen to
their conversations. Now, even the voices were gone, making it unbearably
lonely.

If this continued, his mind would turn into mush.

"Prince A'Wa," Pei Jihuai walked up to the cell and looked at Prince A'Wa
playing with straw, "It seems that Prince A'Wa is doing well in our Ministry
of Justice. Your waist has gained two extra rounds."

Prince A'Wa glared at Pei Jihuai but didn't dare to retort. It was he who had
caused Prince A'Wa to starve for several days.

Pei Jihuai raised his hand. The others who had accompanied him retreated,
leaving him alone with Prince A'Wa.

"What... What do you want?" Prince A'Wa saw the others walk away, so he
kept retreating until he pressed against the wall. Anxiously, he spoke, "If
you have something to say, say it properly. It's not right to resort to torture."
"Prince A'Wa, you misunderstand me. Today is the Flower Festival, a lively
festival in our Great Jin. I was afraid that Prince A'Wa would be bored, so I
came here to accompany you," Pei Jihuai sat down on a chair, took off the
sword at his waist, and placed it on the nearby table, "It's still early; why
don't we talk about some of the interests and hobbies of your Jinpo royal
family?"

Prince A'Wa stood firm, "I am the most beloved son of my father, the King
of Jinpo. It is others who should remember my interests; I have no
obligation to care about theirs."

"Oh?" Pei Jihuai raised an eyebrow. He placed his hand on the scabbard,
tapping it with his index finger, producing a dull sound.

Prince A'Wa's heart was filled with anxiety due to the sound, "How about
we talk about a topic I'm familiar with?"

"Sure," Pei Jihuai slowly withdrew his hand and leisurely said, "Let's talk
about why you wanted to meet Fushou Junzhu."

Prince A'Wa's face turned extremely ugly. He gritted his teeth and spat,
"The women of your Great Jin are all cunning and treacherous witches!"

Swish!

A shiny blade was drawn from the scabbard, reflecting a frosty gleam in the
dim dungeon. Pei Jihuai tightly held the hilt of the sword and calmly looked
at Prince A'Wa, "Prince A'Wa, I seem to have misheard you just now. Please
say it again."

"I said that the women of your Great Jin are all intelligent and beautiful,
like goddesses descended from the moon."

"Thank you for praising the women of our country. In this matter, my
opinion aligns with yours," Pei Jihuai sheathed the sword, "Please
continue."
Prince A'Wa expression changed several times. Though he treasured his
life, he chose to continue discussing this topic.

"I met your Fushou Junzhu a year ago..."

A year ago, after General Tuka of the Kingdom of Jinpo died, causing
unrest within the Jinpo royal family, Prince A'Wa took it upon himself to
infiltrate the military camp of the Hua family army in Qinghan Prefecture to
gather information.

Once he successfully infiltrated Qinghan Prefecture, he learned about Hua

Yingting's beloved young daughter named Liuli. This young girl was
innocent, kind-hearted, and adored by the local people.

As the most handsome person from the Kingdom of Jinpo, Prince A'Wa had
a bright idea. He had planned to get close to Hua Liuli so that even if he
couldn't obtain any military intelligence, he could at least deceive her and
take her hostage.

Before executing his plan, Prince A'Wa made extensive preparations. He

created a story about his mother being abducted by people from the
Kingdom of Jinpo, becoming a slave, and ultimately dying from torture. So
he came to this place and established himself as a merchant in Qinghan
Prefecture.

In order to gain Hua Liuli's trust, he even gave away numerous medicinal
herbs to the people for free, making Hua Liuli believe he was a kind-
hearted person.

Prince A'Wa didn't want to share the irrelevant details with Pei Jihuai. After
all, his plan ultimately succeeded. He deceived Hua Liuli and convinced her
to leave the city with him, accompanied by a few maids.

However, on the same night when he brought Hua Liuli back to his own
headquarters, a fire suddenly broke out in the military camp's granary. The
Hua family army launched a surprise attack. Just as Prince A'Wa returned to
the tent, preparing to change into his battle armor, he was bound by the
maids beside Hua Liuli.
These women covered his mouth and hid him in a chest, while Hua Liuli
pretended to disappear along with him in another chest, creating the illusion
that they both had gone missing.

"The Second Prince and the newly acquired beautiful lady escaped!"

Someone shouted in chaos; the army's morale completely collapsed.

Someone entered his tent and saw scattered jewelry on the ground. The
person wanted to take the valuable jewelry for himself and deceive others
by saying that they were taken by the Second Prince while escaping, but he
was soon discovered by other deserters, resulting in a chaotic scuffle.

Helplessly, Prince A'Wa watched as the troops he had brought with him
were easily defeated by the Hua family army without any resistance. He
himself became a captive.

"I didn't expect you to deceive me. So, you are the Second Prince of the
Kingdom of Jinpo," Hua Liuli covered her face and sobbed, "Wasn't it you
who led troops to launch a surprise attack on the borders of Great Jin,
slaughtering tens of thousands of innocent civilians?!"

While crying, she picked up a smelly shoe that someone had dropped on the
ground and began hitting him with it.

"Why are you so wicked? Waaah!"

"Do you have any humanity left? Waaah!"

Prince A'Wa couldn't understand what was going on with this woman. She
was obviously weak and frail, gasping for breath after taking a few steps,
yet when she hit him, she exerted extra strength. With just a few hits, he felt
dizzy and disoriented, even losing two teeth.

"Xianzhu, you are weak and cannot be distressed. We will collect all the
gold, silver, and jewels in this camp and establish a charity hall, alright?"

"Yes, yes, yes. Although Prince A'Wa deserves to be dismembered, it is said

that the King of Jinpo values him greatly. We can use him as a hostage to
extract more compensation when the Kingdom of Jinpo signs the surrender
document. This will also accumulate blessings for the people."

As these maids spoke, they began searching for items, even using small
knives to pry off the precious gems embedded in his shoes. They didn't
leave behind a single valuable item.

In the end, under the watchful eyes of tens of thousands of Hua family army
soldiers, Prince A'Wa was tightly bound by several women and dragged out
of the tent like a dead dog, devoid of any dignity befitting a prince.

This past event had become Prince A'Wa's shame and nightmare. Even now,
he would dream of the scene where Hua Liuli hit him with a smelly shoe,
waking him up drenched in a cold sweat.

Prince A'Wa explained the situation hesitantly, omitting many embarrassing

details, but Pei Jihuai managed to piece together the general idea.

"So, you mean to say that you spent half a year in Qinghan Prefecture just
to gain the trust of Fushou Junzhu?" Pei Jihuai glanced at Prince A'Wa's
chubby face, which had lost its original contours. He wondered what
misconception this prince had about Fushou Junzhu to make him believe
that he could win her over with just his looks.

Not to mention others, even Third Young Master Hua, Fushou Junzhu's own
brother, was very handsome, and she would look at his handsome face
every day. Why would she be captivated by someone who claimed to have a
tragic background?

Even if, for the sake of argument, Fushou Junzhu suddenly developed
vision problems and truly believed Prince A'Wa's sweet words, she wouldn't
casually leave the city with him.

She was kind and innocent, but not foolish, right?

What kind made him think that the daughter of a great general would
abandon everything and follow him?
He felt he had calculated everything perfectly, but he had actually become a
pawn in someone else's eyes. This Prince A'Wa was simply foolish enough
to deliver himself on a platter; others would feel embarrassed not to take
advantage of it.

"There's something you may not know, but it's not your fault. After all, it
happened fifteen years ago," Pei Jihuai's face showed a hint of amusement,
"Fifteen years ago, your country's spy infiltrated Qinghan Prefecture, but
was discovered by General Wei within three days and executed on the
spot."

Prince A'Wa was stunned, "What are you implying?"

"Your country's spy in Qinghan Prefecture lasted only three days before
General Wei discovered him. How do you think you managed to stay in
Qinghan Prefecture for half a year and take away the daughter most
cherished by the two generals?" Pei Jihuai sneered, "Do you think you're
clever enough?"

"She deceived me! She knew my identity from the beginning, didn't she?!"
Prince A'Wa exclaimed angrily.

Pei Jihuai ignored Prince A'Wa's anger and calmly said, "Today's
conversation has been pleasant. We'll talk again when we have the chance."

"Get lost! Get out of here!" Prince A'Wa couldn't believe it. He had fallen
into Hua Liuli's trap from the very beginning.

When he first met Hua Liuli, she would use a handkerchief to bandage a
wounded rabbit and would even put fish back into the water when it
accidentally jumped ashore during heavy rain. How could a woman like her
have such a clever mind?

Impossible, impossible!

"In Qinghan Prefecture, there's a river with a lot of fish. Sometimes after
heavy rain, when the weather is humid, the fish jump out of the water on
their own," Hua Liuli shared an interesting story from the border with the
Crown Prince, "The soldiers would catch all those fish and bring them back
to the camp to cook in big pots. Sometimes there are too many fish, so they
would even share some with the people."

"In winter, when the river freezes over, the soldiers are worried that hungry
wild beasts might harm the people, so they regularly search the mountains.
Sometimes they hunt rabbits and other animals. The roasted meat there
tastes especially delicious," Hua Liuli took a sip of water, "Unfortunately,
due to my poor health, most of the time I can only smell the aroma. But
Third Brother often mingles with the soldiers and has eaten a lot of game
meat."

"Although Junzhu is weak, you can still eat some rabbit meat and deer
meat, but not too much," the Crown Prince continued, "Someone happened
to send us this meat. Tomorrow, Gu will send someone to pick up Junzhu.
Come to the palace and enjoy it."

"It's too troublesome for Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli declined.

"Actually, Gu has some personal motives too," the Crown Prince smiled,
"Imperial Grandmother keeps mentioning you all the time, and now that the
first lunar month has passed, she wants to keep you in the palace for a few
days. Let Gu be the messenger to please her."

"That would be a bother," Hua Liuli chuckled, "I can see that the Empress
Dowager really likes the Crown Prince. Even if Your Royal Highness
doesn't act as the messenger, you're still the apple of her eye."

While the two were talking, ripples suddenly appeared on the surface of the
lake, and a large fish jumped into the boat.

The attending eunuch bent over and caught the fish, "Your Royal Highness,
you are the true Dragon Prince! This fish jumped onto your painting boat on
its own. It's an auspicious sign, so..."

"Why not cook and eat it? This kind of fish is especially delicious when
braised."
Attending eunuch: ???

"Junzhu makes a good point. It's a blessing from heaven. If we don't eat it,
wouldn't it be a waste of the heavens' goodwill?" the Crown Prince
instructed his attendants, "Gu remember there's a chef who came along. Let
him braise this fish and prepare a few side dishes to serve together."

"Yes," the eunuch carried the struggling fish and left the boat.

If it were any other prince, they might have taken it as a lucky fish and kept
it. Unfortunately, he encountered the Crown Prince.

"It's your fortune to be eaten by His Royal Highness," the eunuch hopped
onto a small boat, rode back to the shore, and handed the fish to the chef.

"His Royal Highness doesn't like fish, so prepare more dishes that he
enjoys. Be quick, don't let His Royal Highness and Junzhu wait for long,"
the eunuch washed off the fishy smell from his hands, changed into clean
clothes inside the carriage, and hurriedly returned to the painting boat.

He couldn't let other eunuchs curry favor in front of the Crown Prince.

The chef in the Eastern Palace not only had exquisite culinary skills but also
worked quickly. Although the braised fish hadn't been served yet, the other
dishes had already been brought out.

Hua Liuli enjoyed the delicious food and sighed, "Days like these are truly
wonderful."

"That's why Gu sincerely thanks the two generals," the Crown Prince
clinked glasses with Hua Liuli and drank the flower dew in his cup,
"Because of the two generals, the surrounding countries dare not offend our
Great Jin. As the Crown Prince, Gu can leisurely sit on a boat on the lake
and enjoy the scenery with Junzhu while savoring delicious food."

"The Crown Prince's words are not entirely accurate," Hua Liuli shook her
head, "My parents only know how to fight on the battlefield. The true ruler
who ensures the people's peace and happiness without fear is His Majesty."
"Whether it's the Hua family or the people of the world, the luckiest thing is
to encounter a wise sovereign who loves the people like his own children,"
She looked at the Crown Prince, remained silent for a moment, and
continued, "I believe that the future of Great Jin will be just as good."

So, Your Royal Highness, even if your heart is burdened and you yearn for
the deceased, please persevere for the sake of the people.

The Crown Prince's mind stirred slightly. In Hua Liuli's eyes, he saw trust.

"Junzhu, do you trust Gu?"

"I trust His Majesty's judgment, I also trust the Crown Prince," the Hua
family is forever loyal to the Emperor, and the Crown Prince is the heir
whom the Emperor favors and trusts the most. Therefore, they will never
stand against the Crown Prince.

"Gu will remember that."

In the Imperial Palace, Emperor Changlong closed the last memorial and
glanced at the gradually dimming sky outside, "Sancai, what time is it
now?"

"Your Majesty, it's almost evening. Shall I light the lamps?" Zhao Sancai
saw the Emperor nod and quickly had the palace attendants light the
candles in the hall.

"Has the Crown Prince returned to the palace?" Emperor Changlong rubbed
his eyes.

"Your Majesty, no one has reported from the Eastern Palace yet," Zhao
Sancai replied tactfully.

If no one has reported, it means he hasn't returned yet. The weary old father,
Emperor Changlong, sighed, "When Zhen was his age, Zhen never had it
this easy."

Zhao Sansai smiled and presented a cup of health-preserving tea to Emperor

Changlong.
Emperor Changlong took a sip and furrowed his brow, "This tea is really
unpleasant."

"Your Majesty, this is a health-preserving tea specially prepared for you by

the imperial physicians at the Crown Prince's request. Since it is filial piety
shown by the Crown Prince, please have a few more sips," Zhao Sancai
consoled in a low voice, "Otherwise, if the Crown Prince asks, it would be
difficult for this old servant to answer."

"You old rascal," Emperor Changlong jokingly scolded, then picked up the
tea and took a few more sips, "When he learns to govern and handle
political affairs, he is always lazy. But when he goes out to play, he
becomes so excited and doesn't want to come back."

"Your Majesty, may I speak out of turn? Please forgive this old servant in
advance."

"Go ahead."

"Although this old servant has no children, I feel that children who are close
to their fathers are like this in the world. Your Majesty, you are still young
and vigorous. It's only natural for the Crown Prince to occasionally want to
go out and have fun. Moreover, the Crown Prince has excelled in both
literary and martial arts since childhood. Things that take others three days
to learn, the Crown Prince can learn well in just one or two days," Zhao
Sancai smiled, "I'm not good with words, and I don't know how to express
it properly."

Emperor Changlong chuckled, "You old rascal, the way you say it makes it
seem like the Crown Prince is not wrong to be lazy, and Zhen should be the
one suffering."

"Your Majesty, that's not what this old servant meant," Zhao Sancai smiled
and reassured, "Your Majesty knows what kind of person the Crown Prince
is, don't you?"

Emperor Changlong expressed disdain for the Crown Prince in words, but if
anyone actually said anything even remotely negative about the Crown
Prince, he would surely lose his temper on the spot. As he listened to Zhao
Sancai praising the Crown Prince for being filial and capable, the smile on
Emperor Changlong's face never faded.

"Speaking of father-son relationships, this old servant heard an interesting

story a few days ago," Zhao Sancai said, "During the recent Spring
Examinations, while General Hua's son was answering the questions in the
Imperial Academy, General Hua accompanied his son outside the Imperial
Academy every day, even catching two thieves for the Prefect of Jingzhao."

"Poor parents' hearts, General Hua has never been nervous or afraid when
he fought on the battlefield throughout his life, but when his son takes part
in the imperial examinations, he accompanied his son outside the Imperial
Academy hall every day," Emperor Changlong thought of Hua Yingting,
such a big person, squatting pitifully at the entrance of the Imperial
Academy, and smiled with emotion, "Being a father is not easy."

When the son goes out to play, the father works hard in the palace
reviewing memorials.

When the son takes the exams in the Imperial Academy, the father waits
outside to accompany him.

At that moment, Emperor Changlong unilaterally developed a sympathetic

feeling toward Hua Yingting.

However, this feeling turned into uneasiness when the Crown Prince
returned to the palace and said that he had spent the day happily playing
with the young lady of the Hua family.

After all, when Hua Yingting returned to the capital, on the night they had a
heartfelt conversation, he had told him that he didn't plan to let his weak
daughter marry and only hoped that she could live a peaceful and simple
life.

At that time, he had placed his hand on his chest and vowed to take good
care of the young lady, not letting her suffer.
How long has it been now? His most beloved son happily tells his weary
old father that he had a pleasant day playing with Hua family's daughter.

My son, have you ever considered your old father's feelings?

As an emperor who holds great authority, he cares a lot about his reputation,
don't you understand?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 43 – The Meeting of
Scholars

"Zhen remembers someone once saying to me that he only treats the young
girl from the Hua family like a sister; there is no way an older brother
would have romantic feelings for his sister. That would be no different from
a beast!" Emperor Changlong looked at his son, who had a smile on his
face, and couldn't help but criticize him, "And now, you've taken that little
girl out and don't even want to come back home. Tell Zhen, what are you up
to?"

"Father Emperor, in such unexpected circumstances, it is beyond the control

of Erchen," the Crown Prince bowed to Emperor Changlong and smiled
shamelessly, "Didn't Erchen tell you some time ago that Erchen is a beast?
There's a popular saying among the common people that if a man's words
can be trusted, even a pig can climb a tree."

"At that time, did you already have such thoughts?" Emperor Changlong
interrupted the Crown Prince and frowned, "Yuansu, you should know that
she almost became your Eldest Brother's Wangfei. If it weren't for the
unwillingness of Consort Xian, they might have already set the wedding
date."

"Father Emperor, Eldest Brother has already chosen the daughter of the Lin
family for marriage, his affairs have nothing to do with Fushou Junzhu
anymore," the Crown Prince sat in his chair and showed no intention of
leaving until the matter was resolved, "Father Emperor, Erchen has grown
up all this time, it's not easy for Erchen to admire a girl. If Father Emperor
doesn't support Erchen, Erchen won't have anyone to help me come up with
ideas."
"You have used this argument countless times in front of me, it's no longer
fresh," Emperor Changlong disdainfully said, "She is the daughter of the
Great General, not a woman selected from the common folk to fill the
harem. Your liking for her serves no purpose. Zhen can't force her to marry
you. If Zhen really did that, wouldn't it chill the heart of my meritorious
subject?"

"Erchen understands," the Crown Prince had long anticipated that Emperor
Changlong would make such arguments. He smiled and said, "As long as
Father Emperor doesn't oppose Erchen's admiration for Fushou Junzhu, it's
good."

Emperor Changlong remained silent for two seconds, then picked up a book
from the table and threw it at the Crown Prince, "Zhen knew you, this
stinking brat, were digging pits for Zhen in a roundabout way. You're
usually so lazy when it comes to reading memorials, but you have all sorts
of tricky ideas in these matters."

"Marriage is not a trivial matter, Erchen naturally has to put in more effort,"
the Crown Prince dodged the book thrown by Emperor Changlong and
picked it up. He walked in front of Emperor Changlong and bowed, "Please
fulfill Erchen's wish."

"Ah," Emperor Changlong took the book from the Crown Prince's hand,
"Yuansu, let Zhen tell you, before that girl from the Hua family entered the
capital, Zhen didn't know her health was so weak. You are the Crown
Prince and the future emperor of Great Jin. It's not beneficial for you to
marry a weak Crown Princess."

"Father Emperor, there is no Empress in the imperial harem, yet Father

Emperor has been living peacefully all these years. What does it matter if
Erchen marries a slightly weak Crown Princess?" the Crown Prince paused,
"Although Fushou Junzhu's health is weak, she can gradually recover with
proper care. There will be a day when she gets better."

"But what if you change your mind and have other women in the harem
while she remains physically weak?" Emperor Changlong looked at the
Crown Prince seriously, "At that time, the harem will become her tomb.
You, at that time, won't recall your current mindset and patience."

"You said earlier that if a man's words can be trusted, even a pig can climb a
tree. Zhen believes that your current feelings are sincere, but what about
tomorrow, the day after tomorrow?"

"There are so many tomorrows. Can you guarantee that you will never
change?"

"You are Zhen's most beloved son; Yingting and Mingyue are the most
trusted generals of Zhen. They have never distanced themselves from Zhen
because of rumors and have done a lot for Zhen. After Zhen ascended the
throne, the two of them guarded the border for Zhen, possessing vast wealth
but no time to enjoy it," Emperor Changlong sat down on the imperial chair,
"The way Yingting treats his daughter is how Zhen treats you. If you
mistreat her in the future, how can Zhen face them?"

Precisely because he considered this point that he intended to let his eldest
son, who is straightforward, seek marriage with the girl from the Hua
family. This way, not only would Hua Liuli have a status, but she wouldn't
be bound by the harem.

Unfortunately, his eldest son and Consort Xian did not want this marriage.
He didn't want the little girl from the Hua family to have a mother-in-law
who would be dissatisfied with her in every aspect. So this matter had to be
treated as if it never happened.

"Many men are naturally amorous and lustful. Yuansu, it's not that Zhen
doesn't trust you, but Zhen doesn't trust men in general," Emperor
Changlong had an expression on his face that said, "We're all men, you
understand". He then continued with deep meaning, "Zhen won't stop you,
but Zhen won't speak well of you in front of Yingting."

"By the way," with a deep love for his son, Emperor Changlong added,
"Pursuing the person you like is not something to rush, especially do not
offend your mother-in-law. You must be careful of your words and actions
in front of Wei Mingyue. If you accidentally anger her and she wants to
take action against you..." Emperor Changlong thought seriously,
"Remember to run faster, don't argue with her."

"What does Father Emperor mean?" the Crown Prince didn't quite
understand the meaning behind Emperor Changlong's words.

"Zhen said it like that. Just remember it," Emperor Changlong raised his
teacup slightly, "Zhen is very busy and doesn't have the leisure to talk to
you about these matters. Go back and rest early. Remember to attend the
morning court on time tomorrow."

Being driven out of the Chengyang Palace by his own father, the Crown
Prince showed no signs of annoyance on his face. As long as his father
didn't oppose his plan to marry Liuli, it was enough.

As for his father's other concerns, only the future could prove them.

Any intense and touching vows were useless. Only time and actions were
qualified to judge.

"The Crown Prince returned to the palace so late, yet His Majesty didn't
punish him. Instead, he kept him in Chenyang Palace and talked for a long
time," Consort Xian complained, feeling unhappy, "How can a man spoil a
child without any bottom line?"

Most of the Crown Prince's flaws were indulged by His Majesty.

A doting father spoils his son.

If he wants to spoil, let him spoil. Anyway, he is not her own child. She
hoped the Crown Prince would be arrogant all the time, causing trouble
everywhere, and making the ministers of the court resentful. Then even if
His Majesty didn't want to depose Ji Yuansu from the Crown Prince
position, he wouldn't be able to stop it from happening.

"Your Highness," a close palace maid reminded Consort Xian in a low

voice, "Young Lady Lin has arrived."
"Let her in," Consort Xian said. She wasn't very satisfied with Lin Wan, but
because she was even more dissatisfied with Hua Liuli, and Lin Wan's
father held considerable prestige among the civil officials, she could
reluctantly tolerate Lin Wan.

More importantly, she wanted to use Lin Wan's identity to win over Consort
Lin and the Fourth Prince, secretly gaining their support for her own son.
Therefore, letting her son marry Lin Wan was more in line with the current
interests.

After Lin Wan entered, Consort Xian warmly greeted her and handed her
prepared silk, satin, rouge, and powder. Then she smiled and asked the
palace maid to take Lin Wan to the side hall to rest.

"Your Highness, the Second Princess sent someone to convey a message;

She said that because Young Lady Lin only brought one maid when she
went out today for the Flower Festival, the Second Princess sent her own
palace maids to accompany Young Lady Lin, and then... they discovered
something," the palace maid spoke hesitantly.

Consort Xian had a bad premonition, "Speak."

"Today, when Young Lady Lin was enjoying the scenery, she happened to
meet Ying Wang. But Ying Wang treated Miss Lin coldly, it seems he was
very dissatisfied with her," the palace maid recounted the events, "At noon,
the Crown Prince, Fushou Junzhu, Young Lady Lin, and Ying Wang had
lunch together. After the meal, Fushou Junzhu went to enjoy the flowers.
Miss Lin followed her. They had a few words, but the two palace maids
couldn't hear clearly what Young Lady Lin said. However, the Crown
Prince reproached her with an unpleasant expression, Young Lady Lin was
scared and knelt down to apologize..."

"Why did she go and provoke Hua Liuli?" Consort Xian's temper flared up
before hearing the complete story, "The first time she came to see Bengong,
Bengong told her that Hua Liuli is in poor health. She should keep her
distance and never provoke her. Why did she go and find trouble on her
own?"
That Hua Liuli is so malicious. She even caused trouble for her family
members. How can anyone dare to approach her?

"Perhaps... Perhaps Young Lady Lin just returned to the capital not long ago
and hasn't had much interaction with Fushou Junzhu, so she doesn't know
the seriousness of the situation," the palace maid thought to herself that the
most serious part of this incident should be Young Lady Lin kneeling down
to apologize to the Crown Prince.

"We are not some small country like Yinshan. It's not necessary for women
to kneel down on every occasion. As Bengong's son's future legal wife, how
can she casually kneel in front of others?" Consort Xian frowned, "Lin Wan
has a good reputation. Even when facing bandits, she remains calm. How
can she be someone who easily kneels? Could there be some
misunderstanding?"

Great Jin is not a place where people have to kneel at every turn. Even in
front of His Majesty, not every meeting requires kneeling.

"You are right, Your Highness. Perhaps there is indeed some

misunderstanding," The palace maid hurriedly said, "Nubi has seen that
Young Lady Lin conducts herself with grace and has a gentle temperament.
In the future, when she becomes Ying Wang's wife, they should be able to
get along harmoniously."

"Bengong hopes so," Consort Xian felt somewhat uneasy as a mother. How
could she not see that her son doesn't like Lin Wan? But as a mother, she
also doesn't want her son to like a woman like Hua Liuli.

"Ah," Consort Xian sighed. It's not easy being a mother.

In the Hua family, the four family members sat around the table.

Hua Liuli scooped beef meatballs into Hua Changkong's bowl, "Third
brother, eat this. If you eat it, everything will go smoothly, and you'll surely
make it to the top of the list."
"Come, have some pumpkin soup. The color is auspicious, I wish you
success in the imperial examination," Hua Yingtian scooped a large
spoonful of pumpkin soup into Hua Changkong's bowl.

Seeing that his mother was also preparing to serve him, Hua Changkong
quickly covered his bowl, "Mother, please don't follow Father and Little
Sister's superstitions. It's not good."

Wei Mingyue reluctantly put down her chopsticks, "The list will be posted
tomorrow. Are you nervous?"

"Not really," Hua Changkong thought for a moment, "I have confidence in
myself."

"Well, that's good." Wei Mingyue nodded, "You are my son. Your
intelligence shouldn't be lacking."

"Mother, you are the smartest woman in all of Great Jin. If I have half of
your intelligence, I'm sure I can pass the examination," Hua Liuli flattered
with a smile, "Come, taste the flavor of this dish."

"Liuli, I heard you went out to play today?" Wei Mingyue put down her
chopsticks and looked at Hua Liuli.

"Didn't you see me come back?" Hua Liuli felt a little guilty.

"You came back when it was almost dark. That's quite early. I thought you
would wait until midnight to return," Wei Mingyue looked at her with a
smile that was not quite a smile, "You didn't even eat your dinner properly.
Did you eat outside and get full?"

"Just ate a little bit more than usual," Hua Liuli extended her hand and
gestured a short distance, "Mother, it's not entirely my fault. It's just that
there was an irresistible beauty and the food was so delicious that I couldn't
help but stay a bit longer."

"With whom?" Hua Yingtian asked angrily, "Whose family lets their son
accompany a girl until it gets dark?"
"The... the Crown Prince," Hua Liuli looked around, avoiding eye contact
with Hua Yingtian, "It was really incidental. Next time, I will definitely
come back earlier."

"So, it's the Crown Prince..." Hua Yingtian fell silent for a moment, bowed
his head, and continued eating, deciding to give up discussing the other
family's upbringing.

"I remember you saying that you have no romantic feelings for the Crown
Prince."

"I don't have romantic feelings, but I can still appreciate him," Hua Liuli
grabbed Wei Mingyue's arm and shook it, "Mother, I feel sorry for the
Crown Prince."

"Oh?" Wei Mingyue was unaware that the Crown Prince could be
considered pitiful.

So Hua Liuli told her family a story about a "devoted man and a devoted
woman, lost in life and death, where the man's love for the woman made
him suffer night after night".

"Did the Crown Prince tell you this?" Wei Mingyue had heard many rumors
about the Crown Prince, but no one mentioned that he had a woman whom
he loved more than life.

"No, it's not that. This matter seems very painful for the Crown Prince, so
he doesn't want to mention it. It's something I figured out," Hua Liuli
confidently said, "Having seen so much separation and parting at the
border, I can easily understand the Crown Prince's thoughts."

Hua Yingtian and Hua Changkong were both stunned. So the Crown Prince
is such a devoted person?

"I heard him imply that he wants to follow the deceased. How can I not
worry?" Hua Liuli sighed, "The Crown Prince has a special status. If
something happens to him, it will be troublesome. Today, I went to great
lengths to make him happy. I can't just stand by and watch him feel
hopeless."

"If that's the case, and the Crown Prince is willing to associate with you,
then it doesn't hurt to guide him a little," Wei Mingyue sighed, "But most
importantly, protect yourself."

A mother knows her daughter best. If the Crown Prince wasn't good-
looking, Hua Liuli wouldn't have had such patience.

"I have another speculation. Perhaps the person the Crown Prince likes is a
fragile and sickly girl. He is willing to be close to me because I resemble
that girl in some ways," Hua Liuli couldn't help but sigh, "It's truly pitiful.
When you lose the one you love, it feels like their presence lingers
everywhere."

"Liuli," Wei Mingyue stared at her daughter for a moment, "If you ever read
any more nonsense storybooks, I will make you copy a hundred books."

Hua Liuli: "..."

Weren't they talking about the Crown Prince's sad love story? How did it
suddenly turn into a trivial matter of whether she reads storybooks or not?

"Tomorrow, the Empress Dowager wants to bring me into the palace to stay
for a few days. Do you want me to go or not?" Under a strong desire for
self-preservation, Hua Liuli found a suitable topic to discuss.

"Do you want to go?" Hua Yingtian asked.

"The Empress Dowager is humorous and treats me very well. Every time I
go to see her, she doesn't want me to leave. I think she wants me to
accompany her," Hua Liuli said with a smile. Hua Liuli's grandmother
passed away early, so the Empress Dowager was like a shadow of a
grandmother in her heart.

"Some people outside say that the Crown Prince is getting close to you to
take advantage of our family," Hua Yingtian said, "What do you think?"
"Good or bad, I can judge for myself. I won't believe rumors from others,"
Hua Liuli smiled at Hua Yingtian, "Father, I've decided to stay in the palace
for a few days."

"Alright," Hua Yingtian also smiled, "You are the daughter of Hua Yingtian
and Wei Mingyue. While you should act with prudence, you shouldn't be
overly cautious. Tonight, let the maidservants pack your luggage. You can
enjoy yourself in the palace, we'll take care of everything outside."

"Thank you, Father," Hua Liuli rushed into Wei Mingyue's arms and rubbed
against her, "Thank you, Mother."

Wei Mingyue embraced her daughter and sighed helplessly, "You're fifteen
years old, but you still act like a five or six-year-old child."

Hua Changkong, who silently ate his meal, thought to himself: Isn't it all
because of your indulgence?

Before dawn, the Empress Dowager woke up.

"Is the side hall tidied up? Liuli is weak, so there must be no dust in the
room."

"Please rest assured, Empress Dowager. Everything in the side hall has been
properly tidied up."

"And the clothes and jewelry must not be missing," The Empress Dowager
commanded the palace maids and eunuchs in a bustling manner, "This
Grieving One heard that Consort Xian has also invited the daughter of the
Lin family into the palace?"

"The daughter of the Lin family entered the palace last night."

"They are both daughters of renowned officials. This Grieving One can't let
Liuli be outshone by Young Lady Lin," The Empress Dowager worried Hua
Liuli would be treated unfairly if they ever come across each other in the
palance, since Lin Wan is the future Ying Wangfei. She called a close
female attendant to her side, "From now on, whenever Liuli leaves the
Shoukang Palace, you must accompany her. Don't let her suffer."

"Empress Dowager can rest assured. Everyone in the palace knows that
Your Majesty favors Fushou Junzhu. Who would dare to disrespect her in
front of Your Majesty?" the female attendant smiled and said, "This old
servant will take good care of Junzhu and ensure that she doesn't suffer the
slightest grievance."

"This Grieving One trusts you to handle things," the Empress Dowager
said, "This Grieving One is just afraid that some people's minds would
suddenly become muddleheaded and they do something foolish. If that
happens, Liuli will be hurt. How could this Grieving One not feel
heartache?"

"It's because of your thoughtful consideration, Empress Dowager," The

female attendant glanced at the sky outside, "Today is the day of the Spring
Examination results. Junzhu and Third Young Master Hua have a deep
bond. They might enter the palace later."

"It's good for children to have affection and loyalty. Later, when you go to
pick her up from the Hua Family Estate, don't rush them," the Empress
Dowager said after thinking for a moment, "Prepare the gifts. If Third
Young Master Hua passes the examination, it will be a congratulatory gift.
If he fails for the time being, there will be other opportunities in the future.
Consider it as a consolation from this Grieving One. We shouldn't let others
mock him because of this."

"Why didn't this old servant think of these things?" the female attendant
bowed to the Empress Dowager, "This old servant will go and give the
instructions to prepare the gifts."

"Go quickly, don't delay the important matters," the Empress Dowager let
the female attendant leave with a smile on her face.

Thinking that Hua Liuli would accompany her in the palace, she felt both
happy and disappointed. She would stay for a few days and then leave the
palace again. How wonderful would it be if she could live in the palace all
the time?

Before dawn, the area around the bulletin board was already crowded with
people. Especially since the families with status and positions in the capital
sent out nimble, strong, and literate servants to guard the bulletin board.

At this time, the servants from different households didn't care about their
relationships with each other and firmly held their positions near the
bulletin board.

In the midst of the crowd pushing and shoving, suddenly two servants in
gray clothes squeezed into the crowd and easily pushed aside the people
blocking their way and occupied the central position.

"Excuse me, which high-ranking official's estate are you both from?" asked
the servant from the Yao Family Estate, who could only stand sideways as
he was being squeezed and almost couldn't catch his breath. He looked at
the two servants with extraordinary strength and thought of getting closer to
them.

If he didn't get close at this time, he would be squeezed out by others.

The two servants in gray clothes exchanged a glance. One of them smiled
and said, "We serve in the Hua Family Estate."

The Hua Family Estate?!

The family that had defeated the Jinpo Kingdom until they cried for mercy?

The servant who had puffed up his chest instantly deflated, "So it turns out
you are the brothers from the Great General's estate. I apologize for my
impoliteness."

No wonder they pushed others away like pushing cotton. So they were from
the Great General's estate?

It always seemed that anything done by people from the Hua family was not
surprising.
After all, they were a powerful military family.

There was a teahouse next to the bulletin board, and by this time, it was
already filled with scholars and some family members who cared about the
examination results.

Yao Wenyin got up early, spent a considerable amount of money to secure a

private room with a great view, and then called the sisters to cheer her on.

"Sister Yao, don't be nervous. With your brother's talent, he will surely pass
the examination," Tian Shan poured a cup of cool tea for Yao Wenyin,
"Come, drink some water and calm down."

"I still have confidence in my brother," Yao Wenyin picked up the tea and
took a sip, "But that's not what I'm looking forward to."

"What do you want then?" Yao Jiamin slumped on the table, too sleepy to
keep her eyes open.

"Do you know that Hua Liuli's brother also took part in the Spring
Examination this time?"

When Yao Jiamin heard the name "Hua Liuli", half of her drowsiness
disappeared, "What does that have to do with you?"

"I just want Hua Liuli to understand that my brother's talent is much
stronger than her brother's," Yao Wenyin clenched her fist, "I brought you
here today to witness the moment of her humiliation."

Tian Shan hesitated for a moment, her face showing reluctance, "Sister Yao,
according to the storybooks..."

"Don't talk about storybook laws. I won't listen, I won't listen," Yao Wenyin
covered her ears and stared at Jia Min. "Jiamin, is your cousin more
talented, or is Hua Liuli's brother more talented?"

Yao Jiamin: "..."

Reason told her that her cousin was definitely more talented, but her mouth
refused to speak.

Life is precious, she really didn't want to lose it.

"The list is posted!"

A shout from outside saved Yao Jiamin from her helpless struggle.

Upstairs, as people occasionally sang out the rankings, Yao Wenyin was so
nervous that she almost scratched the carved wooden table.

"Lin Sen, from Yongzhou, ranked seventh..."

"Yao Songbai, from the capital, ranked fifth!"

"He made it, he made it!"

The three of them jumped up happily, "Fifth place in the Spring

Examination!"

"Sister Yao, your brother is amazing!"

"Yes, let's go. I'll go with you to congratulate Uncle and Aunt as well as
Cousin!" Yao Jiamin was also overjoyed and stood up, ready to go
downstairs.

"Hua Changkong is which family's young master?! He actually became the

top scorer in this examination!"

The three of them instantly froze. Their eyes met in the air, speechless and
overwhelmed with emotions.

Silence and sorrow lingered around them for a long time.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 44 – Wronged

The hustle and bustle outside the teahouse had nothing to do with Yao
Wenyin. She sat on the stool in a daze, unable to recover from the
tremendous blow for a long time.

"Sister Yao, are you okay?" Tian Shan pushed Yao Wenyin's favorite pastry
in front of her, "Here, eat something to ease your emotions."

"It's my fault," Yao Wenyin took a pastry and stuffed it into her mouth
absentmindedly. She almost choked on it and had to drink half a cup of tea
to recover, "That day, I met Hua Liuli at the Wenqu Star Temple. I saw her
praying for her older brother in front of the Wenqu Star altar and I made
sarcastic remarks."

Speaking of this, Yao Wenyin felt regretful, "If I had known that the Wenqu
Star Temple was so effective, I would have donated money and even
kowtowed. I wouldn't have let Hua Liuli's brother outperform my brother."

"Wait, what did you say?!" Yao Jiamin looked at Yao Wenyin with shock
and sympathy. How desperate must she be to go and offend Hua Liuli?

"I saw Hua Liuli praying for her brother at the Wenqu Star Temple," Yao
Wenyin said dejectedly, "I must have offended the Wenqu Star. That's why
my brother didn't achieve a good ranking."

"The belief in gods and ghosts is a vague and elusive matter. How can you
blame yourself?" Yao Jiamin comforted, "Think positively about
everything. Maybe this has nothing to do with Hua Liuli seeking blessings,
but rather her brother is simply more talented than Cousin?"

Yao Wenyin silently looked at Yao Jiamin, unable to speak for a while.
Is that really comforting?

"What I mean is, perhaps Cousin just had a temporary slip-up and allowed
Hua Liuli's brother to temporarily achieve a higher rank," Yao Jiamin
quickly changed her words. "We will only know the truth during the Palace
Examinations."

"Jiamin is right," Tian Shan quickly intervened to ease the atmosphere,

"Sister Yao, your brother has already done very well. The Spring
Examinations are held once every three years. Your brother achieving the
fifth rank proves his exceptional talent. Instead of dwelling on unrelated
matters, we should celebrate his success."

"You're right, one should always think positively," Yao Wenyin took a deep
breath, "Although my brother is not the top scorer, he still achieved a good
fifth rank. I remember Lin Wan's brother also participated in this exam.
How did he perform?"

Tian Shan and Yao Jiamin shook their heads, completely unaware of this
matter.

Yao Wenyin sent someone to inquire and learned that Lin Wan's brother
only achieved the seventh rank. Her mood improved again.

There is always someone worse off than you.

The palace attendants sent to welcome Hua Liuli into the palace had just
arrived at the gate of the Hua Family Estate when they heard the joyful
sound of gongs and drums, along with shouts of "Congratulations to Third
Young Master Hua for achieving the top score in the imperial exam".

Top score?

Isn't that the first place in the exam?

The leading female attendant raised her hand to signal the carriage to move
aside, clearing the passage. She watched as the Hua family personally
welcomed the messengers of good news into their residence. Fushou Junzhu
followed behind two generals, her face filled with smiles, walking with
more cheerfulness than usual.

Crackling firecrackers sounded. Even from the tall courtyard walls, the
female attendant could feel the festive atmosphere.

"Should we go in now?"

"Wait a little longer," the female attendant said, "Let's take a stroll on the
street and come back in half an hour."

"I knew Third Brother is the most intelligent and handsome man on the
entire street," after bidding farewell to the messengers of good news and
closing the door, Hua Liuli happily jumped up and down in joy, "Third
Brother, you're amazing!"

"During this time, you've made the kitchen prepare various delicacies for
me. It's been hard on you," Hua Changkong said. Seeing Hua Liuli's flushed
cheeks, he felt a warmth in his heart.

Family members were always like this. When he achieved something, they
were even happier than he was. When he was unhappy or facing difficulties,
they wouldn't blame him but instead accompany and console him.

Having these lovely family members was the luckiest thing in his life.

"You three, enjoy yourselves for a while. I'll arrange for someone to share
the good news with your Eldest Brother and Second Brother, as well as
inform your maternal family," Wei Mingyue said, watching her husband and
children happily laughing. She smiled, patted Hua Changkong's shoulder,
and left the study.

After Wei Mingyue left, Hua Yingting reached into his pocket and pulled
out a few silver banknotes of different denominations. He handed them to
Hua Changkong with a grand gesture, "Take them. This is the reward from
your father."
"Wow, Father, you actually hid nearly a few hundred taels of private
money?" Hua Liuli peeked at the amount and said in a low voice, "If
Mother finds out, you're in trouble."

"What does a little girl like you know?" Hua Yingting chuckled, "Men
hiding some private money is the fun of marriage. Besides, I went to great
lengths to hide this silver, and in the end, it's all spent on you guys, isn't it?"

As a husband, he always had to find ways to surprise his wife every year.
Where did the money come from?

Of course, it's from his private stash.

As a father, he always had to buy gifts to encourage his children on their

birthdays or when they performed well. Where did the money come from?

Still, from his private stash.

Seeing the private stash grow little by little brings a sense of satisfaction.

Spending the private stash on the most cherished people brings a sense of
accomplishment.

"You're still too young," Hua Yingting reached out and patted the heads of
his children, "Do you think I'm afraid of your mother finding out about this?
Let me tell you..."

Before he could finish, he heard footsteps from outside the corridor. Hua
Yingting held onto Hua Changkong's hand and stuffed the banknotes into
his arms, raising his voice, "What's a man being afraid of his wife? Being
afraid of one's wife is the sign of a good man. Changkong, remember that."

"You're always fooling around and talking to the children," Wei Mingyue
walked to the door, "Go take the children to wash their hands to pay
respects to the ancestors in the ancestors' hall."

"Yes, my lady," Hua Yingting squeezed out a pleasing smile on his face.
Hua Changkong and Hua Liuli both looked at Hua Yingting, revealing
subtle smiles.

"Father is indeed not afraid of Mother."

"Just afraid to a great extent."

Hua Yingting had a thick skin. Being mocked and angered by his two
children, he chased them out like chasing ducklings, "Go, go, go, wash your
hands and pay respects."

The two siblings laughed and played for a while. Hua Liuli took the
opportunity to pull out two banknotes from Hua Changkong's arms and
stuffed them into her own pocket.

Compared to the lively Hua family, the Lin family seemed much quieter.

"This time, your ranking in the Spring Examination is quite good, but with
your abilities, entering the top three shouldn't be a problem," Lin Zhou
looked at his son, who was standing with his head lowered, "Don't be proud
and don't be satisfied with yourself. Strive to perform well in the Palace
Examination."

"Yes." Lin Sen looked up at Lin Zhou, hesitated for a moment, and spoke,
"My fellow candidates have made an appointment to have a meal at a
restaurant to celebrate..."

"The Palace Examination is soon approaching; if the candidates are too

close, it raises suspicions of forming factions. Try to participate in these
activities less and focus more on studying at home," Lin Zhou pondered for
a moment, "Son, remember that."

"Son remembers," Lin Sen's eyes dimmed slightly, "Father, I will go to the
study and prepare well for the Palace Examination."

"Okay," Lin Zhou nodded calmly. After his son left, he revealed a satisfied
smile.
Although he came from a humble background, as long as his children and
grandchildren were successful, after another hundred years, the Lin family
could barely be considered a family of scholars.

A thought flashed through his mind, but he quickly suppressed it.

As a subject, one should never have such thoughts.

The capital city was bustling, bustling to the point where one could easily
lose oneself.

When it was approaching noon, Hua Liuli boarded the carriage to the
palace, in an extremely good mood, to see the Empress Dowager.

As soon as she entered Shoukang Palace, she saw the Crown Prince sitting
next to the Empress Dowager. After giving her greetings, Hua Liuli smiled
at the Crown Prince, "Your Royal Highness, you've come to mooch off the
Empress Dowager again?"

"Today, since you've come to the palace, Grandmother will definitely

prepare delicious food. Gu can't miss such a good opportunity," the Crown
Prince pretended, "In the future, you should come to the palace more often,
so Gu can enjoy more good food."

The Empress Dowager was amused by the two younger ones, "You two,
really. Quickly bring out the delicious food. Otherwise, these two children
will blame this Grieving One for not giving them anything to eat or drink."

"Empress Dowager, I'm different from the Crown Prince. As long as I'm by
your side, even if I eat bran and swallow vegetables, I'll be happy," Hua
Liuli curtsied and smiled mischievously, tilting her head.

"Yes, yes, yes, our Liuli is a thoughtful little child," the Empress Dowager
couldn't stop laughing because of Hua Liuli's teasing. Even during the meal,
she didn't pay attention to the palace rules and listened to Hua Liuli talk
about interesting things outside the palace.
Hua Liuli knew how to make the old lady happy. Whatever she talked
about, it was always filled with fun. The Empress Dowager ended up
drinking a full bowl of health-preserving soup because of her.

"All ten of us combined can't compare to Junzhu," after the utensils were
removed, a palace attendant brought a cup of digestive tea to the Empress
Dowager, "Normally, Empress Dowager always finds the health-preserving
soup unpleasant and puts it down after a sip. But with Junzhu here, Empress
Dowager finished a whole bowl. We, servants, can't help but wish that
Junzhu could live in Shoukang Palace every day."

This palace attendant called Hongmian was a trusted palace attendant by the
Empress Dowager. Hua Liuli was also close to her. Hearing her words, Hua
Liuli nodded and smiled, "I'll remember that. From now on, I'll come to the
Empress Dowager's palace every three or five days. Even if the Empress
Dowager gets tired of me, I won't leave."

"Don't leave, don't leave. You can stay with this Grieving One all the time.
This Grieving One would love that," the Empress Dowager affectionately
said, "In the future, when you marry, if your husband treats you poorly in
any way, come to this Grieving One, and this Grieving One will support
you."

The Crown Prince, who sat by unnoticed, silently looked up at the Empress
Dowager. Seeing that the Empress Dowager didn't even spare him a glance,
he quietly lowered his head again.

"With Empress Dowager protecting me, I don't need any other relatives,"
Hua Liuli half-jokingly said, "It's so nice to be able to accompany Your
Majesty like this. I can come to see Your Majesty in Shoukang Palace and
stay for a few days without anyone objecting. If I were to get married, I
would have to consider the opinions of my father-in-law and mother-in-law,
as well as my husband and children. It wouldn't be as interesting."

The Empress Dowager shook her head helplessly and laughed, "You still
have the mentality of a child."
But deep down, she couldn't help but feel that Hua Liuli's words made some
sense. However, as the Empress Dowager, she couldn't speak out these
words. It would cause trouble if they were to spread.

"Junzhu, if there were a man in the world who would respect your
preferences and allow you to live freely, would you be willing to marry
him?" the Crown Prince asked.

"There probably wouldn't be such a man, right?" Hua Liuli thought, if there
really were a good man in this world who could tolerate her, she wouldn't
want to hurt him.

A good man is meant to be cherished by a woman, not ruined by her.

It's a sin, a sin to even think about such things.

"Why not?" the Crown Prince smiled, "Love can encompass everything."

Hua Liuli stared at the Crown Prince in astonishment, "Can love make a
person endure so much?"

Can loving someone lead to liking the green hat they make you wear1In
China “wearing a green hat” (戴绿帽子 or dài lǜ mào zǐ) is an expression that the
Chinese use when a woman cheats on her husband or boyfriend because the
phrase sounds similar to the word for cuckold. This apparently dates back to
the Yuan Dynasty when the relatives of prostitutes were forced to wear
green hats.?

Is love really so terrifying?

She'd rather not get married and not develop feelings for anyone.

The Crown Prince, seeing that his words didn't move Hua Liuli or evoke
any longing, but instead showed a distant expression, couldn't help but
reflect. Was there some kind of misunderstanding between him and Hua
Liuli in their conversation?
"Young Lady Lin, we've obtained the news," a palace maid walked in with
great joy and greeted Lin Wan, "Congratulations, Young Lady Lin. Your
brother has achieved a good result of seventh place in the Spring
Examination."

"Truly worthy of Lin Daren's son, preserving the reputation of the Lin
family," Consort Xian was also very pleased to hear this news, "Quickly,
prepare gifts for Lin Daren and Young Master Lin."

"Your Highness, please don't trouble yourself with this," Lin Wan's cheeks
flushed with excitement, but she maintained her composure in front of
Consort Xian, "Eldest Brother only achieved seventh place, not worthy of
such treatment from Your Highness."

Consort Xian felt embarrassed to tell her future daughter-in-law that the
Tian family members didn't have much talent in reading and studying. If
someone from the clan could even manage to pass the imperial examination
and become a scholar, they would be grateful to the heavens and the earth.

In the past thirty years, no one from the Tian family had achieved a top
twenty result in any of the Imperial Examinations.

"Young Lady Lin, you don't have to be modest. This is a good thing and
worth celebrating," Consort Xian patted Lin Wan's arm and instructed her
personal maid to access her private treasury and prepare the gifts.

Consort Xian thought that since the Lin family had just arrived in the
capital and hadn't established many connections, in addition to the usual ink
and paper, she would also prepare some gold, silver, and jewelry to be sent
along.

The Tian family's ancestors were successful merchants and had

accumulated a considerable fortune. They might not have much else, but
they had plenty of money.

As she finalized the gift list, Consort Xian suddenly remembered that Third
Young Master Hua also participated in this imperial examination, and
casually asked, "Did Hua Changkong make it to the list?"
"Your Highness, Third Young Master Hua has made it to the list," the
palace maid replied in a low voice.

"He actually made it?" Consort Xian sneered, "Wei Mingyue and Hua
Yingting managed to raise a son who passed the examination. That's rare.
What place did he achieve?"

The palace maid glanced at Consort Xian and Lin Wan, hesitating to speak.

"What is it? Is his ranking something to be ashamed of?"

"Your Highness, Third Young Master Hua... he is the top scorer of this
Spring Examination..."

"What did you say?" Consort Xian almost tore the gift list in her hand into
two pieces, "Hua Changkong is actually the top scorer?"

"The education in Qinghan Prefecture can produce a top scorer?" Consort

Xian suddenly wanted to go back to her maternal family estate and give all
those nieces and nephews a good beating. Look at Hua Changkong, who
achieved the top score, while they couldn't even pass the provincial scholar
examinations. How embarrassing!

Seeing Consort Xian's strong reaction, Lin Wan felt a little uncomfortable
in her heart. It should be said that ever since she learned that Hua Liuli had
almost become the future Ying Wangfei, she couldn't help but compare
herself to Hua Liuli.

She even couldn't help but speculate if Consort Xian would regret not
choosing Hua Liuli as the future Ying Wangfei and begin to despise her.

Her older brother had studied diligently since childhood, never taking
breaks even during cold and hot weather. How could he not surpass Hua
Changkong?

With this incident, Consort Xian's good mood was diminished by half,
while Lin Wan became even more restless. She always felt that the palace
maids, although still respectful to her on the surface, secretly mocked her.
They laughed at her brother having a father who was the top scholar, yet
still couldn't compare to the son of a military general.

Tormented by this embarrassment, Lin Wan couldn't sleep all night. It

wasn't until the next morning when she accompanied Consort Xian to pay
respects to the Empress Dowager and saw Hua Liuli sitting next to the
Empress Dowager, chatting and laughing freely, that her embarrassment
turned into resentment and jealousy.

If it weren't for Hua Liuli, her life might not have had so many
embarrassing moments.

Consort Xian wanted to discuss the matter of Ying Wang's marriage with
the Empress Dowager, so she asked Hua Liuli and Lin Wan to go out and
play. Speaking of such matters in front of a young girl was somewhat
inappropriate.

Restlessly, Lin Wan followed behind Hua Liuli. She watched Hua Liuli,
who was dressed in beautiful attire, and hesitated to speak. Last night, she
asked the palace maids about it. It was said that the Empress Dowager liked
Hua Liuli very much. Every time she entered the palace, the Empress
Dowager would prepare many good things for her, better than what she
prepared for her own daughter.

Thinking about the Empress Dowager's indifferent attitude towards her just
now, Lin Wan felt very uncomfortable. Did the Empress Dowager not like
her, or was she dissatisfied with her family background?

"That Young Lady Lin seems a bit dull in personality," the Empress
Dowager disagreed with Consort Xian's decision to set the wedding date
around the Mid-Autumn Festival, "This Grieving One is worried that
Minghao won't get along well with her. It's better to observe for a while
longer."

"Your Majesty, Minghao has a straightforward personality. Only with a

gentle girl like Lin Wan can he get along harmoniously. If he encounters
someone with a straightforward or delicate temperament, wouldn't they
argue every day?" Consort Xian followed along with a smile, "Moreover,
it's better to marry sooner rather than later."

The Empress Dowager knew who Consort Xian referred to as having a

"straightforward" or "delicate" temperament. In her opinion, it would be
more suitable for Ying Wang to marry Jiamin or Liuli rather than that
Young Lady Lin.

It's not that Young Lady Lin is not good, but she just can't seem to find
these two children suitable in any way.

"Ah," the Empress Dowager sighed, "This Grieving One is getting old.
These trivial matters should be decided by you and the Emperor."

Being neither deaf nor mute nor a meddler, an old lady who interfered too
much would only invite people's dislike. She was just worried about the
children. A person's life is only a few decades long, so marrying a suitable
life partner is important.

"Junzhu must be very happy," Lin Wan walked side by side with Hua Liuli
on the palace road, and above them was the high sky, "Congratulations to
you on your brother achieving the top score."

"Thank you," Hua Liuli nodded gracefully.

"My brother didn't perform well this time, letting Junzhu see a joke."

Hua Liuli took a step to the side, distancing herself a bit from Lin Wan.
What does it have to do with her how the Lin family's young master
performed in the examination? Why should she cry or laugh?

"Young Lady Lin is joking. I don't think anyone would laugh at you," Hua
Liuli stopped walking, her tone indifferent, "I feel that Young Lady Lin
seems to have some misunderstanding about me. There's no need for
unnecessary words. Young Lady Lin, please go ahead."

Lin Wan's expression became extremely unsightly. With a pale face, she
said, "It's not that I'm intentionally making things difficult for Junzhu. I'm
afraid that Junzhu is intentionally making things difficult for me."

Hua Liuli looked Lin Wan up and down, and coldly smiled, "Young Lady
Lin, what do you think is worth my deliberate trouble for you?"

Lin Wan looked at Hua Liuli with a deep gaze but remained silent.

"I have always admired your father's talent and demeanor. As a daughter of
the Lin family, don't tarnish your father's reputation because of a
momentary impulse," Hua Liuli said expressionlessly, her tone serious,
"Young Lady Lin's abnormal behavior today, I will overlook it for the sake
of Lin Daren. I won't spread it or hold it against you. But I am a timid and
narrow-minded person, so I hope there won't be a next time."

After speaking, she turned and walked in the opposite direction.

"You have the glory today, but it's only because of your family elders. How
long do you think your Hua family can stay in the limelight?" Lin Wan,
stimulated by Hua Liuli's words, lost her composure and asked loudly,
"Don't get too proud."

Hua Liuli stopped in her tracks, turned to look at Lin Wan, and suddenly
smiled. She raised her hand to cover her forehead and groaned softly, "My
head hurts so much, I can't breathe."

"Junzhu, are you alright?" Yuan Yi took a big stride forward and supported
Hua Liuli.

Hua Liuli's eyelids trembled as she looked up and fainted.

"Quick, go and fetch the imperial physician."

"Someone, come quickly."

With the assurance that the Empress Dowager would not interfere in her
son's marriage, Consort Xian felt at ease in her heart. As she was planning
to leave, she heard a commotion outside.

"What happened?" the Empress Dowager asked.

"Your Majesty," Hongmian hurriedly walked into the inner hall, glanced at
Consort Xian, and said to the Empress Dowager, "Junzhu became agitated
and fainted."

"What?!" The Empress Dowager became anxious, "How could she become
agitated when she was fine? Didn't this Grieving One tell you to take good
care of her? Are all of you wooden-headed?"

"Please forgive us, Your Majesty," Hongmian knelt in front of the Empress
Dowager.

"Your Majesty," Hua Liuli, pale-faced, was supported by a palace maid as

she walked in. She forced a smile and said, "This has nothing to do with
anyone else, it's just that my body is too weak. I'll be fine after resting for a
while."

"Please sit down," the Empress Dowager had the palace maids assist Hua
Liuli to sit down, "Do you feel any discomfort?"

"I just couldn't catch my breath for a moment. These palace maids and
eunuchs who serve me treat me extremely well, they just thought I fainted
from provocation. It's just an old ailment, I'll be fine after taking some
medicine."

The Empress Dowager noticed the word "provocation" and immediately

frowned tightly, "Who is so foolish? They know that you're not feeling well,
yet they still provoked you?"

"It's not related to anyone else. It's just my bad temper..." Hua Liuli said
weakly.

"Nonsense, this Grieving One knows your temperament well. If it weren't

for someone provoking you, how could you get so angry?" the Empress
Dowager, seeing that Hua Liuli refused to speak, turned to Hongmian and
asked, "Speak, what happened just now?"

Hongmian explained the situation to the Empress Dowager, "Young Lady

Lin questioned Junzhu, saying that the Hua family's glory would last for
how long, this provoked Junzhu to the point of fainting."

"Impudence!" the Empress Dowager was so angry that she wanted to slam
the table, but Hua Liuli quickly held her hand, "Your Majesty, the table is so
hard, don't hurt your hand."

"You, child..." the Empress Dowager was both angry and amused, "If
anyone says such things in the future, don't get provoked by yourself, just
order someone to slap her in the face. This Grieving One will support you."

"Your Majesty, Young Lady Lin is still kneeling outside to apologize..."

"She is the daughter of Lin Daren, there's no need for the young girls to
kneel and apologize to each other," the Empress Dowager spoke with a light
tone, then turned to Consort Xian and said, "Take her back."

Consort Xian realized the Empress Dowager's dissatisfaction and felt at a

loss. It had nothing to do with her. Why did Lin Wan, who had no grudge
against the Hua family, target Hua Liuli?

If she were the Empress Dowager, she would probably suspect that she, her
future mother-in-law, had secretly instigated Lin Wan with those words.

It was truly a case of being wronged without a place to complain.

The Crown Prince hurriedly arrived at Shoukang Palace and saw Lin Wan
kneeling in front of the palace gate. Sitting on the sedan chair, he had no
expression as he said, "Get lost."

Lin Wan's shoulders trembled, but she didn't raise her head.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 45 – Fairness

The young maidservant who knelt beside Lin Wan trembled all over. When
she heard the Crown Prince's command to "get lost", her whole body
convulsed with fear.

The Crown Prince was never a man who cherished beauties. He paid no
attention to the pitiful appearance of Lin Wan and her servant. He
descended from the sedan chair and hurriedly entered the Shoukang Palace.

Lin Wan heard her own teeth making chattering sounds. It made her both
annoyed and afraid. She feared that others would hear her fearful voice. She
didn't even know what to do after this incident.

She didn't even understand why she had said those things to Hua Liuli. Was
it jealousy, inferiority, or hatred?

People occasionally passed by in front of her: palace maids, eunuchs, and

imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau. Everyone hurriedly
came and went, not sparing her a second glance, but she knew that these
people had already scrutinized her from head to toe in their hearts. She
dared not imagine the disappointed look her father would give her when he
found out about this. Her mother would surely wear a face full of bitterness
and helplessness, narrating her father's hardships, the family's difficulties,
and the hardships she and her father endured in their childhood, as well as
the efforts her father had made to get to where he was now.

Over and over again, repeatedly.

She stared blankly at the bluestone path. Everything in the palace was
meticulously designed, even the carvings on the stone slabs depicted
auspicious patterns. She stared at these patterns, countless thoughts surging
in her mind, yet she felt as though she hadn't thought of anything at all.

At this point, she didn't know who could help her or be her support.

The floor was truly cold and her knees were really hurting from kneeling.

"What are you doing kneeling here?" a pair of shoes embroidered with four-
clawed dragons stopped in front of her. Lin Wan raised her head blankly
and saw the face of Ying Wang.

"Imperial Grandmother doesn't like to punish people. The imperial

physician has already gone to diagnose Fushou Junzhu's pulse," Ying Wang
sighed, "You can get up and go rest at Consort Lin's palace."

"Your Highness..." Lin Wan was helped up by several palace maids and
eunuchs beside Ying Wang. She looked at the indifferent Ying Wang and
didn't expect that it would be him, who disliked her, to take notice of her
kneeling at the palace gate.

"Mother has a straightforward personality. It's not appropriate for you to

return to the Lincui Palace at the moment," Ying Wang no longer looked at
Lin Wan with a frown, "Consort Lin is your aunt. You haven't seen each
other for many years, I'm sure you have a lot to talk about. Xiao Chen,
escort Young Lady Lin to Consort Lin's palace."

Lin Wan's lips moved. She wanted to ask Ying Wang if she would be
punished, but she didn't dare to speak out loud.

"In the future, take care of yourself," Ying Wang looked into her eyes,
"Benwang is a crude person, Young Lady Lin may not be suitable to be my
Wangfei."

"Your Highness, are you despising me?" Lin Wan heard a voice roaring and
shouting in her mind, but her expression remained unusually calm, except
for her trembling lips, "Your Highness, have you ever considered my
feelings when you say such things?"
"Young Lady Lin is forgetting that you are speaking to Ying Wang, the
eldest of the Emperor," Ying Wang looked at Lin Wan strangely, "Why
should Benwang consider other's feelings?"

Lin Wan's body staggered.

"Young Lady Lin, this is how the capital is, how the imperial family is,"
Ying Wang placed his hands behind his back, "No one would sacrifice their
own interests to uphold someone else's dignity."

After saying that, he walked quickly into Shoukang Palace.

"Young Lady Lin," Xiao Chen, Ying Wang's eunuch attendant, smiled and
approached, bowing, "This servant will escort you to Consort Lin's sleeping
quarters."

Seeing the eunuch in front of her smile at her, Lin Wan's anger surged, and
she pushed him away, "Get lost! I am an official's daughter. Even if I made
a mistake, it's not your place, a dog slave, to mock me!"

"Young Lady Lin speaks the truth," Xiao Chen's face still carried a smile,
"Young Lady Lin is a respected and capable official's daughter. I am just a
castrated slave. How dare I show disrespect to Young Lady Lin?"

Lin Wan suddenly froze, countless emotions surging from everywhere.

What should she do now?

What can she do?

When Ying Wang arrived in the inner hall, the imperial physician had
already finished examining Fushou Junzhu's pulse. Hua Liuli leaned against
a chair with her palm-sized cheeks still pale.

Seeing Hua Liuli preparing to get up and salute, Ying Wang quickly
stopped her and turned to bow to the Empress Dowager and the Crown
Prince, "Imperial Grandmother, this grandson has come to apologize to you
and Fushou Junzhu."
"She is your betrothed, not your Wangfei. There's no need for you to
apologize," the Empress Dowager's anger had not subsided. She didn't even
spare a glance at Consort Xian sitting beside her, "Besides, whether she can
become Ying Wangfei is still uncertain."

Consort Xian's expression changed slightly, but she didn't dare say
anything.

"Imperial Grandmother, this grandson came today to discuss this matter as

well," Ying Wang disregarded the imperial physician and others still present
in the hall and spoke up, "Young Lady Lin and I are incompatible, we are
not destined to be husband and wife. This grandson asks Imperial
Grandmother to judge this matter."

"Son, what are you saying?!" Consort Xian couldn't help but speak up,
"This is a marriage arranged by the Emperor, how can it be changed just
like that?"

"Consort Xian, when the two of us are talking, you shouldn't interrupt," the
Empress Dowager glanced at Consort Xian, "If your son's wife always
interrupts when he talks, would you be happy?"

Consort Xian begrudgingly thought, if you two keep talking like this, I
won't even have a daughter-in-law, let alone a daughter-in-law who
interrupts. Moreover, am I your daughter-in-law? I am only your son's
concubine. The only one who dared to call herself your daughter-in-law has
had her grave covered with grass many times over.

Consort Xian felt dissatisfied in her heart, but she was afraid and didn't dare
to say it. She glanced at the Crown Prince, hoping that he, who usually
liked to stir up trouble, would say a few words. However, the Crown Prince
didn't seem to know what was happening today. Since he entered, he hadn't
spoken more than ten words in total, and his face was surprisingly
unsightly.

"Minghao, what exactly do you want to say?" the Empress Dowager asked
Ying Wang.
"Imperial Grandmother, this grandson wants to void this betrothal," Ying
Wang paused for a moment, "Young Lady Lin should find a more suitable
husband."

"You should also know that if you break off this betrothal at this moment, it
will not only be bad for the Lin family but also have an impact on you," the
Empress Dowager said, "Lin Zhou holds considerable prestige among the
civil officials and has the support of the people. If this marriage is called
off, there will undoubtedly be rumors and gossip. Will you regret it?"

"The common people may gossip over tea, but they will forget after a while.
As for the other civil officials, this grandson's marriage has nothing to do
with them. If they can't stand it, they can let their own sons marry the
daughter of the Lin family. This grandson won't mind," Ying Wang replied.

"Nonsense," the Empress Dowager was both angry and amused, "This
Grieving One will discuss this matter with the Emperor."

"Thank you, Imperial Grandmother," Ying Wang bowed deeply to the

Empress Dowager and turned to look at Hua Liuli, "Junzhu, are you feeling
better now?"

"I'm fine, Your Highness," she hesitated for a moment and said to Ying
Wang, "Marriage is a serious matter. If the small conflicts between me and
Young Lady Lin affect your marriage with her, I will bear the blame. Please
reconsider, Your Highness..."

"This matter has nothing to do with Junzhu," Ying Wang said. "Benwang is
just not well-suited to Young Lady Lin. Benwang wanted to break off this
marriage even before this incident. Junzhu, please don't worry about it."

Hua Liuli had witnessed the interaction between Ying Wang and Lin Wan,
so she knew it was true that their relationship was not harmonious. As a
betrothed couple, their relationship was not as pleasant as her relationship
with the Crown Prince. Moreover, what relationship did she have with Ying
Wang for him to call off the marriage for her sake?
Looking at the Crown Prince sitting silently in the chair, Hua Liuli felt a bit
worried. His mood seemed to be unpleasant today. Could something have
happened?

Consort Xian, who was opposed by her son in front of outsiders, was
somewhat unhappy. She stood up and said to the Empress Dowager, "Since
Junzhu is no longer in danger, Bengong should take leave."

The Empress Dowager nodded, "You may leave."

Seeing Consort Xian hastily leaving, Ying Wang found an excuse and
followed her.

After the outsiders left, the Empress Dowager sighed and said, "When this
Grieving One brought you into the palace, this Grieving One wanted you to
have a good time. This Grieving One didn't expect such a thing to happen."

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. I won't take those idle talk to heart,"
Hua Liuli stood up and sat beside the Empress Dowager, "Is Your Majesty
trying to drive me out of the palace with your words?"

"How could this Grieving One bear to? This Grieving One could bear to
drive the Crown Prince away, but couldn't bear to let you go," the Empress
Dowager said, "You should stay here with this Grieving One at ease. If
anyone dares to gossip, this Grieving One will take revenge for you."

The Crown Prince, who was sitting beside them, remained silent.

The Empress Dowager was getting old and her body couldn't withstand
such commotion. Hua Liuli persuaded her for a while before she finally
settled down and went back to her resting palace.

When Hua Liuli returned, the Crown Prince was still there. She had already
developed a casual and comfortable relationship with the Crown Prince,
such as boating on the lake and enjoying delicious food.

She walked up to the Crown Prince and waved her hand in front of him,
"Your Royal Highness, what are you thinking?"
"Gu is thinking about how to avenge you," the Crown Prince reached out
and held Hua Liuli's wrist to stop her from shaking it, then quickly let go,
"Gu invited you into the palace, and if someone bullies you, it's like
slapping Gu in the face. Gu can't lose face."

"Your Royal Highness, the disputes between us young girls should be

handled by ourselves. If Your Royal Highness intervenes, it will be very
detrimental to Your Royal Highness when the word gets out," Hua Liuli
knew that the Crown Prince considered her as his own person and wanted to
help her seek justice. However, if this matter were to be known by certain
imperial censors, they would definitely criticize the Crown Prince.

"Gu has been a troublemaker since Gu was young. If Gu can change just
because someone says a few words, what kind of Crown Prince would
Gu be?" the Crown Prince chuckled lightly, "A person must take
responsibility for what they say. Otherwise, others will think that our
imperial family acknowledges Lin Wan's words."

Hua Liu Li suddenly understood that the Crown Prince was subtly telling
her about the imperial family's stance and attitude. She picked up the teacup
from the table and presented it to the Crown Prince with both hands, "It is
precisely because I trust Your Royal Highness that I don't want Your Royal
Highness to get involved in this matter. I can handle it myself. How can I let
Your Royal Highness be entangled? It's not worth it, it's not beneficial, and
it's unnecessary. What kind of person is Your Royal Highness? Why should
Your Royal Highness's reputation be affected by some small-minded
people?"

"But if you go and do it, won't it also affect your reputation?" the Crown
Prince took a sip of tea.

"Because I am also a petty person who holds grudges and seeks revenge. As
for reputation, I don't care," Hua Liuli chuckled in response to the Crown
Prince's words. She placed the teacup in the Crown Prince's hand, "I am not
marrying their sons. No matter what they say, it has nothing to do with me."

"So, are you planning to marry their daughters instead?" the Crown Prince
joked.
"Your Royal Highness, I am only interested in men," Hua Liuli laughed at
the Crown Prince's words, "Please rest assured, I have been picky since
childhood. There are many things that I don't like and don't want to
compromise on."

"Like Junzhu, Gu doesn't only dislike seeing myself being taken advantage
of, but Gu also doesn't want people closest to me to suffer," the Crown
Prince put down the teacup and gently grabbed a strand of Hua Liuli's hair,
pulling it out, "Go rest first, Gu knows what to do."

After speaking, he stood up and walked briskly towards the exit.

Hua Liuli tidied up the strand of hair and turned to look at the Crown
Prince's departing figure.

People closest to him?

Was she one of them?

The Crown Prince is quite loyal.

In the Imperial Study of Chengyang Palace, the Emperor was reviewing a

pile of memorials. When he saw the Crown Prince enter, he didn't even
bother to raise his head, "If you're short of money, go find Zhao Sancai and
take what you need from Zhen's private treasury. Zhen is busy."

"Father Emperor," the Crown Prince approached and bowed, then found Lin
Zhou's transfer order among the pile of memorials, "Erchen is not here for
money, but to lodge a complaint."

"Who dares to insult you?!" Emperor Changlong put down his brush and
furrowed his brows displeased. He glanced at the transfer order in the
Crown Prince's hand, "Lin Zhou?"

"No one dares to insult Erchen. Father Emperor misunderstood," the Crown
Prince placed the transfer order in front of Emperor Changlong, "Erchen
wants to make things difficult for the Lin family. Can Father Emperor help
Erchen with that?"
"What's going on?" Emperor Changlong understood his son. If someone
spoke ill of him on ordinary days, he might complain a bit at most. Unless
the official had truly committed a crime, he wouldn't utter such words.

"Lin Zhou has raised a good daughter," the Crown Prince explained to
Emperor Changlong the incidents involving Lin Wan and Hua Liuli,
"Erchen has been thinking about this; how does Lin Wan, that young lady,
know about important matters in the court? If it weren't for something Lin
Zhou said at home, how would she dare to say such things to Junzhu?"

"In the eyes of these people, is Zhen the kind of person who can't tolerate
capable generals and forgets their loyalty?!" Emperor Changlong, after
hearing the sequence of events, got angry and tossed aside Lin Zhou's
transfer order, "Yingting almost died on the battlefield defending against
foreign enemies, yet these people don't appreciate his merits. Instead, they
spend their days speculating about how Zhen despises the Hua family!"

Emperor Changlong was both angry at those who made baseless

speculations and heartbroken for the Hua family. The Hua family had
guarded the borders of the Great Jin for generations, many had even died on
the battlefield. Even now, Hua Yingting's two sons were still stationed in
the bitterly cold Qinghan Prefecture, just so that the people of Great Jin
could live in peace.

To what extent must people's hearts be corrupted to utter such words?

"In Zhen's view, certain people are jealous of the numerous achievements of
the Hua family and can't stand to see them doing well," Emperor Changlong
grew angrier the more he thought about it. He had been close to Hua
Yingting since childhood and the Hua family had made countless sacrifices
to prevent the late Emperor from deposing him as the Crown Prince. He
never spoke of these favors, but he had always kept them in his heart.

And now, these people were hoping he would deal with the Hua family?

How audacious!
Emperor Changlong was very angry, and when he got angry, he also wanted
to cause trouble for others. Although he was a reasonable emperor, he had
his own temper. That's why he suppressed Lin Zhou's transfer order.

He rummaged through the treasures in his private treasury, packed several

large boxes, and had the chief eunuch Zhao Sancai personally deliver them
to the Hua family.

If anyone insults the Hua family, the Hua family would be rewarded with
valuable items.

He didn't believe that these people would still think he wanted to be at odds
with the Hua family.

However, human hearts were always unpredictable. On the night when

Emperor Changlong rewarded the Hua family, many officials got wind of
the news.

"Just when the Hua family has gained popular support, there are people
who, right in front of the Hua family, openly say that their glory won't last
long. It's truly... sigh, how could Lin Zhou raise such a brainless daughter?"

"No wonder His Majesty rewarded the Hua family with so many things to
appease them. The third son of the Hua family has just passed the imperial
examination and will soon attend the Hundred Nations Banquet. If foreign
envoys were to learn that such a great contributor like the Hua family
received insults right after returning to the capital, entire Great Jin would
lose face."

"It seems unlikely that the Lin family's daughter will be able to maintain her
position as the future Ying Wangfei."

The next day, after the morning court session, Emperor Changlong
summoned the Crown Prince to his Imperial Study and had him review
memorials together. He was the emperor, and his son would become the
future emperor. He couldn't suffer and toil alone.
The father and son got along harmoniously. Although Emperor Changlong
couldn't help but scold the Crown Prince when he saw him slacking off, the
Crown Prince always managed to defuse his anger with just a few words.

"Your Majesty, Consort Lin requests an audience."

Emperor Changlong remembered that Consort Lin was always engrossed in

literature and rarely came to the Imperial Study. It was truly a rare occasion
today.

"Send her in."

Consort Lin had fair skin and was a delicate and graceful woman. After
entering, she respectfully performed a curtsey to Emperor Changlong,
"Chenqie pays respects to Your Majesty."

Emperor Changlong raised his hand slightly, signaling her to rise, "Consort
Lin, why have you come at this time? Is there something you need?"

Consort Lin bit her lower lip and glanced at the Crown Prince, looking
somewhat hesitant.

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow. He was someone who treats everyone
fairly and equally. If he didn't avoid the presence of Consort Xian, he would
be equally indifferent to the presence of Consort Lin.

It's best to prevent Consort Xian from complaining about him favoring
some and neglecting others, affecting the harmony among them.

"Chenqie is here to apologize to Your Majesty," Consort Lin curtsied again,

"Chenqie failed to discipline my niece properly. Chenqie asks for Your
Majesty's forgiveness."

Not long after Lin Zhou became the top scholar, he went to another
prefecture for his new appointment. Consort Lin and her niece, Lin Wan,
hadn't spent much time together in private. But given the circumstances, as
an aunt, she couldn't avoid taking responsibility for the incident.
Moreover, she had no other relatives from her maternal family, only Lin
Zhou as her brother. Out of consideration for her Eldest Brother, she
couldn't bear to see Lin Wan face excessive blame for this matter.

"You have had no involvement in the upbringing of the young lady of the
Lin family, so Zhen won't blame you for it," Emperor Changlong reassured
her, "You don't need to worry about this matter. Go back and rest well; Zhen
understands."

"Your Majesty, Chenqie's eldest brother and Chenqie lost our parents at a
young age and have relied on each other since childhood. Over these years,
Chenqie's eldest brother has only one son and one daughter. Please,
considering Chenqie's eldest brother's integrity as an official, be lenient
with Lin Wan in Your Majesty's judgment."

"The young girl spoke impulsively. Why would there be a need for severe
judgment?" Emperor Changlong said with a calm tone, "Let Lin Zhou take
her back and educate her well. Let her understand what words should be
said and what should not. Our soldiers sacrifice their lives and shed blood
on the battlefield. We must not let ignorant children speak thoughtlessly and
chill their hearts."

"Yes, Chenqie understands," Seeing Emperor Changlong's calm demeanor,

Consort Lin felt a sense of fear in her heart.

"The Crown Prince and Zhen have other matters to attend to. You may
withdraw for now," Emperor Changlong looked at Consort Lin and added,
"By the way, when you return, inform Madam Lin that the marriage
between Ying Wang and Young Lady Lin is not suitable. Zhen believes it's
best to cancel the betrothal."

The most worrisome thing had happened.

Consort Lin's face turned pale, and with teary eyes, she said, "Your Majesty,
Lin Wan is still a child. She has already realized her mistake. Please give
her another chance..."
"If she is still a child, it means she is not suitable for marriage," Emperor
Changlong's tone grew colder, "A child cannot become Ying Wangfei."

Consort Lin knew that Emperor Changlong was irritated. This matter not
only made him displeased with her brother's family, but it seemed like she
was also implicated.

"Your Majesty..." She knelt before Emperor Changlong, her voice trembling
as she sobbed softly.

"Rise," Emperor Changlong sighed, "Don't think too much. The Fourth
Prince is almost at the age to be conferred a title. If you cry like this, what
will you look like?"

Confer a title?

Upon hearing that Emperor Changlong was going to confer a title on her
son, Consort Lin felt relieved. It seemed that Emperor Changlong didn't
direct his anger toward her and her son for this incident.

"Chenqie couldn't control myself for a moment and made Your Majesty see
a joke," Consort Lin wiped the corners of her eyes and stood up with the
assistance of a palace maid, "Chenqie will convey Your Majesty's intentions
to Chenqie's sister-in-law."

The Crown Prince watched Consort Lin's tearful smile and couldn't help but
think that Liuli looked better when she had a tearful expression; she always
looked good no matter what expression she had.

Madam Lin entered the palace to bring Lin Wan back. Looking at her silent
daughter, Madam Lin couldn't help but sigh, "Your father is not in a good
mood today. When you go back, apologize to him sincerely and don't upset
him again."

Lin Wan remained silent.

"If I had known that you would cause so much trouble by going to the
palace, I wouldn't have allowed you there," Madam Lin blamed herself
when she saw her daughter's silence, "It's all my fault. I should have warned
you to stay away from that Fushou Junzhu. Children raised in such
households are naturally delicate. If you clash with her, you'll be the one at
a disadvantage."

"Such households?" Lin Wan's emotions suddenly became agitated, "If she
is from such a household, then what am I? Father was originally the Prefect
of Yongzhou, I am no worse than anyone else. Why am I always inferior in
every aspect compared to others?!"

Madam Lin was taken aback by her daughter's outburst. After a moment of
astonishment, she wiped her tears and said, "What are you saying? Your
father and I have worked hard to raise you. I never expected you would
think this way."

Hearing her mother's crying, Lin Wan fell silent once again.

Madam Lin cried all the way until the carriage stopped at the gate of the Lin
family's estate. She wiped her tears and turned to continue advising Lin
Wan not to make her father angry again.

With her head lowered, Lin Wan followed behind Madam Lin. Upon
entering the house, she noticed that it was extremely quiet. The servants
stood trembling in the corners, while her father sat in the main hall with a
serious expression.

She hesitated for a moment before cautiously approaching.

However, Lin Zhou only glanced at her, disappointment evident in his eyes,
and stood up to leave without uttering a word of reproach.

Lin Wan watched her mother chase after her father. She walked over and sat
down on the cold chair.

"Are you hungry?" After who knows how long, her brother, Lin Sen,
walked over, holding a plate of pastries in his hand.

Lin Wan shook her head, "I have no appetite."

"There's no harm in eating a little," Lin Sen hesitated for a moment, "There
was news this morning that Father's transfer order has been held back in the
Imperial Study. We don't know when it will be issued."

"Father is in a bad mood now. Don't worry about it."

Lin Wan coldly chuckled but remained silent.

"Ah." In the Lincui Palace, Consort Xian sighed repeatedly, touching her
temples, unable to help but complain to Ying Wang, "I'll have gray hair
sooner or later because of you."

"If Mother had agreed to let Fushou Junzhu be Ying Wangfei, your son
wouldn't be unmarried now," Ying Wang murmured softly, "But I can't be
blamed for that..."

"You also agreed with me that the Fushou Junzhu shouldn't become your
Wangfei then," Consort Xian said, "Who could have predicted that Lin
Zhou would raise such a daughter?"

Even if the Emperor has suspicions about the Hua family, one shouldn't say
such things at this time. Isn't this slapping the Emperor's face?

"My son, I thought it was difficult for poor commoners to marry a wife, but
I didn't expect it to be so difficult even for, an imperial prince, to marry a
good wife."

The mother and son sighed in unison.

One sighed for a daughter-in-law.

One sighed for why he didn't agree to marry Hua Liuli back then.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 46 – Testimony

The news of the betrothal between Ying Wang and the Lin family's young
lady being called off had spread through the capital like a raging wind.

Throughout history, there have been precedents of betrothals with the

imperial family being called off, but most of them involved prospective
Fumas of princesses who were found to have improper conduct and were
thus rejected by the imperial family. It was rare for a young lady to have her
betrothal with the imperial family called off.

Opinions were divided for a while, but even those who sympathized with
the Lin family's young lady did not dare to say that the Emperor had gone
too far. Although there were civil officials who detest wars and criticize
military officials, they took notice that after Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue
achieved great victories against the Jinpo Kingdom, they did not boast
about their achievements upon returning to the capital. During their time in
the capital, they received rewards from the Emperor without flaunting them.
Additionally, Hua Yingting had even raised a son who achieved top honors
in the imperial examinations, which earned him favor from many civil
officials.

Most scholars were sentimental in nature. When it came to someone they

disliked, they would criticize with words, but when they admired someone,
they would genuinely respect them from the bottom of their hearts. They
were both lovable and detestable.

Furthermore, recently, the storytellers in the capital loved to tell stories

about the heroic battles of the Hua family army against the Jinpo bandits. In
these stories, some soldiers of the Hua family army were killed by the Jinpo
bandits while protecting children. There were even womenfolk of the Hua
family army who sacrificed themselves to shelter the common people and
were ultimately pierced by stray arrows.

During the most difficult times of food shortages, many soldiers of the Hua
family saved their own rations and gave them to the weak, old, and women
in the city.

These stories moved the listeners to tears so much so that many elderly men
and women carried grain, rice, and money bags to the Ministry of War,
saying they wanted to donate them to the soldiers at the border.

The sentimental scholars were also deeply touched by these tragic yet
heartwarming stories. Many shed tears of admiration, some even composed
poems and lyrics on the spot, wishing that they could also be on the
battlefield, shedding blood and protecting the people of Great Jin, guarding
their pure land.

Especially among the younger scholars, the praise for the Hua family army
outweighed any criticism.

Hence, after the news of the betrothal between Ying Wang and the Lin
family's young lady being called off spread through the capital, the scholars,
who usually sided with the literati and civil officials during conflicts with
military officials, inexplicably remained silent and refrained from
expressing their opinions. Some of the hot-blooded young scholars even felt
dissatisfied with the words spoken by the Lin family's daughter.

If generals who shed blood and tears for the people would ultimately meet a
bad end, who would dare to step forward when the next invasion by foreign
enemies occurred?

Heroes should not shed blood and tears in vain!

The human heart is a delicate thing. Sometimes it transcends identities and

social classes, surprising and moving people.

Even the members of the Hua family did not expect this kind of attitude
from the scholars after the incident had escalated.
"In this lifetime, it was worth it," Hua Yingting filled two cups with wine
for himself and his wife. The wine in the cup bore the reflection of the
crescent moon in the sky.

The couple raised their cups and gently clinked them together. A radiant
smile appeared on Wei Mingyue's beautiful face, "Are we toasting to
ourselves with this cup?"

"Yes, we are toasting to ourselves," Hua Yingting raised his head and
finished the cup of wine.

"Are we still presenting that petition tomorrow?" Wei Mingyue held down
the wine jug, not allowing Hua Yingting to pour a second cup, "A little
wine is delightful, but excessive drinking is harmful to your health,
especially with so many old wounds on your body."

"I'll listen to Madam's advice." Hua Yingting quickly released his grip on
the jug.

"Of course, it should still be presented," Hua Yingting smiled and said, "In
the end, this matter boils down to a quarrel between the younger generation.
If we delve into other matters, it will only damage our friendship."

Wei Mingyue nodded. "You're right. Tomorrow, I will accompany you to

the palace."

Hua Liuli, who had been "provoked until she fainted" by Lin Wan, had been
living a life full of attention in the palace these past few days. The people in
Shoukang Palace were extremely nervous around her. It felt as if every leaf
falling from a tree would hit her head and cause her harm.

The Empress Dowager comforted her in a very simple and straightforward

manner by giving her beautiful clothes and jewelry. This prompted Hua
Liuli to tease the Empress Dowager, "Empress Dowager, if you were a
young man, this subject would probably be infatuated with you."

"It's a pity that this Grieving One is not a man and did not share the same
birthdate as Liuli. Instead, there is fate without opportunity, wasting Liuli's
heartfelt affections," The Empress Dowager pretended to be regretful,
"Indeed, fate without opportunity."

The people around couldn't help but laugh at her words, creating a lively
atmosphere.

The Crown Prince entered Shoukang Palace and heard words like "Junzhu"
and "marriage". He couldn't help but quicken his pace. Upon entering the
room and seeing the palace attendants laughing and joking, he approached
the Empress Dowager and greeted her, "Imperial Grandmother, it's very
lively here. Who is getting married to whom?"

"Don't you know, Your Royal Highness? Fushou Junzhu intends to marry,"
Hongmian smiled and saluted the Crown Prince, "Please prepare generous
gifts, Your Royal Highness."

The Crown Prince was taken aback. He looked at the palace attendants who
were laughing and joking in the room, then turned his gaze to Hua Liuli.
After a long time, he heard his own voice sounding strange from his throat,
"Junzhu, who are you marrying?"

Hua Liuli felt that the Crown Prince's gaze towards her was strange. She
thought to herself that the Crown Prince had such deep feelings for the
deceased young lady, to the extent that even the words "marriage" could
cause such a big change in his emotions.

"Who else could it be?" the Empress Dowager smiled playfully, "Far away
in the sky, but also right in front of your eyes."

The Crown Prince scanned the people in the room. Besides women, there
were only eunuchs. Could it be that the Empress Dowager was referring to
him?!

For a moment, the Crown Prince heard the wind howling, the horses
neighing, and the rivers and seas roaring. The blue sky and white clouds
seemed to open their arms to him. A brilliant smile bloomed on his face
uncontrollably as started to say, "How does Imperial Grandmother know..."
"Naturally, it's this Grieving One," the Empress Dowager rarely saw the
Crown Prince in such a dumbfounded state and couldn't help but laugh,
"This Grieving One was joking with Liuli. She said if this Grieving One
were a man of her age, she would probably be attracted to me."

The Crown Prince couldn't hear what the Empress Dowager said next. At
this moment, he felt as if the wind had stopped, the horses had died, the
rivers and seas were frozen, and even the sky was no longer blue.

His mood changed too quickly and he couldn't bear it.

"Your Majesty; Consort Lin and Fourth Prince request an audience with the
Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager's smile slightly faded, "Bring them in."

Among the grandchildren, the relationship between the Fourth Prince and
the Empress Dowager was the most distant. Although she treated all her
grandchildren equally when it came to rewards and gifts, emotionally, the
Empress Dowager was not particularly close to this grandson.

When facing her, this grandson of hers seldom spoke a word more than
necessary to greet her. It seemed like he would only come to comply with
the palace rules.

Initially, she tried to foster a closer relationship with him, actively finding
topics to chat with the Fourth Prince. However, he always maintained a
lukewarm attitude, and over time, the Empress Dowager's heart also grew
distant.

Now, when she heard that Consort Lin and the Fourth Prince were seeking
an audience, there wasn't much joy on her face.

Hua Liuli tidied up her clothes and stood up when Consort Lin and the
Fourth Prince walked in.

"Please sit, Junzhu," Consort Lin's voice was pleasant. As soon as she
entered, she supported Hua Liuli to sit down, "You have a weak body,
there's no need to pay attention to these formalities."

After helping Hua Liuli to sit down, she approached the Empress Dowager
and greeted her, "Chenqie offers my greetings to the Empress Dowager."

"This grandson pays respects to Imperial Grandmother," the Fourth Prince

greeted with a stern face.

The Empress Dowager glanced at the Fourth Prince's face and gestured for
both of them to sit down, "Yesterday, the Imperial Kitchen sent over some
new tea. Taste it, and if you like it, this Grieving One will let you take back
some of it."

"Thank you, Imperial Grandmother," the Fourth Prince picked up the

teacup, took a sip, and placed it back in its original position without saying
a word.

Hua Liuli sneakily glanced at the Fourth Prince's face. She couldn't tell
whether he liked it or not. At times like this, a grandson should praise the
gifts given by his grandmother. It didn't matter whether they were good or
not, the most important thing was to make the old lady happy.

This silence, who knows if he likes it or not?

"Imperial Grandmother, you didn't inform me about the new tea," the
Crown Prince said, "I also want some."

"You don't usually like this kind of tea. If this Grieving One gave it to you,
it would be a waste of good stuff," the Empress Dowager chuckled, "You
should leave these good things for others to enjoy. Qichen, isn't that right?"

"Imperial Grandmother is right."

Hua Liuli: "..."

The Fourth Prince's silence was enough to end any topic of conversation.
However, his character didn't seem to provoke the Empress Dowager's
anger, indicating that she was indeed a loving grandmother.
Fortunately, Consort Lin timely spoke up and saved the awkward
atmosphere in the room, "Empress Dowager is the Imperial Grandmother of
the Crown Prince. Even if the Crown Prince finds fault with other people's
things, he would still feel that your things are different from others."

The smile finally returned to the Empress Dowager's face, "There is some
truth in that statement."

"Imperial Grandmother's things are naturally different," the Crown Prince

said, "So please arrange for two boxes for me."

Hua Liuli finally understood why the Empress Dowager liked the Crown
Prince the most among all the princes.

With Consort Lin and the Crown Prince easing the tension, the conversation
in the room continued.

Consort Lin skillfully steered the conversation and finally talked about Hua
Liuli.

After listening for a while, Hua Liuli quickly understood the purpose of
their visit. Previously, she had some unpleasant conflicts with Lin Wan. As
Lin Wan's aunt, Consort Lin naturally had to make it clear that "all of Lin
Wan's words are her own and have nothing to do with them, the mother and
son".

Consort Lin was good at speaking. Not only did she clearly state her
intentions, but she also expressed her closeness to Hua Liuli, while also
praising the entire Hua family and Hua family's army from top to bottom.

"Qichen has had a strong admiration for Great General Hua since he was
young. He even said he wants to become a hero like Great General Hua,"
Consort Lin smiled and glanced at her own son, hoping he would say
something.

"Oh," Under Consort Lin's gaze, the Fourth Prince replied expressionlessly
with a simple "oh".
Hua Liuli: "..."

Such a strong admiration for her father, but it's not so obvious. She just
didn't notice.

Consort Lin seemed to be accustomed to her son's behavior and the smile
on her face remained unchanged, "This child has never liked to speak since
he was young. Bengong doesn't know who told him those rumors that
generals would always have serious faces and were normally
expressionless. Carelessness led to him developing this habit."

Hua Liuli looked at Consort Lin in disbelief. She didn't expect Consort Lin
to be so skilled at telling lies with her eyes wide open. Could she really
come up with such stories?

What does your son's lack of expression have to do with the generals?

Although this blame was big, bright, and round, the generals didn't want to
take it.

"Consort Lin truly excels in literature. When telling stories, it's both
fascinating and captivating," the Crown Prince spoke up, "Gu almost
believed it."

Consort Lin's face, which hadn't changed throughout, showed a momentary

stiffness after the Crown Prince spoke.

She forced a smile and looked at the Crown Prince, "Your Royal Highness
is joking. Bengong would never tell stories."

"Consort Lin is too modest. Gu thought the story you just told was
excellent," the Crown Prince shifted his posture and leisurely said,
"Continue, Gu wants to hear a little more."

Consort Lin suddenly felt that she didn't really want to speak after all.

"What's wrong, Consort Lin? Do you have any objections against Gu?" The
Crown Prince raised an eyebrow, "Gu just wants to hear the story continue,
yet you don't even want to speak?"
For a moment, Consort Lin didn't know whether she should continue
speaking or not.

Speaking meant admitting that everything she said before was a lie, a made-
up story.

Not speaking meant having objections to the Crown Prince.

Why is this dog of a Crown Prince so annoying? How did the Emperor
spoil him like this?

Consort Lin looked at the Empress Dowager with difficulty, hoping that the
old lady would speak up and brush this matter aside. But when she looked
over, the Empress Dowager was actually dozing off with the help of a
palace maid. Although her eyelids were trembling and her posture was stiff,
she still stubbornly conveyed an emotion to her — I'm sleeping, I don't
know anything, I don't want to speak.

When it came to showing bias, both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor
were professionals.

"If the Crown Prince wants to hear, Benwang will tell one," the Fourth
Prince spoke up in silence. His dark eyes swept over Hua Liuli and the
Crown Prince, and he said, "Last winter, there was a hole in the ice on the
river, and a fish jumped out of the hole."

"And then?" Afraid that the atmosphere would continue to cool down,
Consort Lin picked up the conversation.

"And then it froze to death," the Fourth Prince picked up his teacup and
took another sip, indicating that the story had already ended.

Consort Lin opened her mouth and regretted picking up the conversation.

Clap, Clap, Clap. Hua Liuli applauded three times, "This story is really
interesting."

If she didn't find a way to make the Fourth Prince shut up soon, she would
die of embarrassment in this atmosphere.
Although it was her own son telling the story, Consort Lin couldn't help but
glance at Hua Liuli. This Fushou Junzhu, is there something wrong with her
head?

"This story tells us that even if the ice on the river is frozen, we shouldn't
step on it casually. If the ice cracks, it can be very dangerous to fall in," Hua
Liuli said, "But making holes in the ice to fish is indeed a fishing method
used by fishermen."

"Are there people in Qinghan Prefecture who use this method to fish?" the
Empress Dowager asked with interest.

Consort Lin silently turned her head to look at the Empress Dowager.
Wasn't she sleeping so soundly just now? How did she wake up so quickly?

The Empress Dowager refused to respond to Consort Lin's gaze.

"Yes, there are," Hua Liuli told the Empress Dowager some interesting
stories about winter fishing in Qinghan Prefecture, "It's very cold in winter.
If we leave the fish in the courtyard overnight, they become harder than
stones. Once, during an attack by the Kingdom of Jinpo, when there weren't
enough stones for the catapult, they even used frozen fish heads as
substitutes."

"Does that mean they won't spoil even if they're left for several days?" the
Empress Dowager imagined the scene of smacking enemies with stinky fish
heads and couldn't help but applaud and laugh, "The soldiers and the people
on the frontier have a hard time. With such harsh conditions, you still
manage to have fun and make your lives interesting. It shows that the two
generals have made significant contributions."

"Perhaps it's because we all know that no matter when, the Emperor won't
let his soldiers go hungry, so we have the mood to make fun in difficult
times," Hua Liuli thought for a moment and explained, "The Emperor is our
backing, and people with backing always have the privilege to be a little
willful."
Consort Lin glanced at Hua Liuli. She was quite skilled at flattery at a
young age.

In the Imperial Study, Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue were pleading with
the Emperor for Lin Zhou.

"Your Majesty, we don't pay any attention to a few rumors and gossip from
the younger generation. We understand better than anyone else how well
you treat the soldiers," Hua Yingting said, "Lin Zhou is a good official who
is willing to do good and practical things for the sake of the people. By
withholding his transfer order, Your Majesty is actually giving him an
advantage."

"Zhen is venting for you, how does that end up benefiting him?" Emperor
Changlong, seeing that Hua Yingting didn't take those words to heart, felt
much better and even became interested in teasing, "Where does this
twisted reasoning come from? It seems like General Wei needs to take you
back and teach you a lesson."

Wei Mingyue shook her head. "Your Majesty, he has always been like this
for years. I can't teach him any better."

"Letting him eat and drink for free at home every day, while still receiving
the stipend from the court, isn't that benefiting Lin Zhou?" Hua Yingting
said boldly, "Your Majesty should make him do more tasks for the court.
Capable people should not go to waste."

"Have you ever considered that Lin Zhou might be someone who seeks
fame and reputation?" Emperor Changlong was both happy for Hua
Yingting's frankness and angry at the injustice done to the Hua family.

The Lin family spoke ill of the Hua family like this, yet Hua Yingting came
here specifically to speak well of Lin Zhou to avoid putting him in a
difficult situation. They were all officials, so why was there such a big
difference?

"Whether he seeks fame or reputation, as long as he is doing good things

for the people, he is a good official," Hua Yingting said casually, "I'm not
marrying my son into his family, so his character has nothing to do with me.
Isn't this something that Your Majesty should be concerned about?"

"Zhen doesn't need to be concerned either," Emperor Changlong quickly

said, "Our families have already broken off the marriage proposal."

"Your Majesty, it's your family matter. I shouldn't have said anything," Hua
Yingting scratched his head, "How about next time, before you consider
arranging a marriage for Ying Wang, let me inquire about the other family
first?"

Emperor Changlong knew Hua Yingting meant well, but why did he find
his words a bit inappropriate?

"Your Majesty, I didn't mean to say that your judgment is not good..."

Emperor Changlong waved his hand, "You don't need to explain. Zhen
knows you're saying that my judgment in choosing a daughter-in-law is not
good," He asked Hua Yingting, "Your eldest son and second son are already
married?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, the two daughters-in-law in my family are

exceptional. They are skilled in martial arts and can ride horses, and they
are also educated in etiquette," Hua Yingting chuckled and took out two
memorials from his pocket, "Your Majesty, since you asked about my sons,
I have a request."

"What is it?"

"Your Majesty's grace is vast, bestowing the title of Marquis upon both me
and my wife has deeply moved our entire family. Now that our children are
grown, my wife and I have discussed and decided to establish our eldest son
and second son as heirs to my Marquis title and my wife's Marquis title
respectively. I request Your Majesty's approval," Hua Yingting placed the
two memorials requesting the establishment of heirs in front of Emperor
Changlong.
"Zhen approves," Emperor Changlong readily agreed without hesitation. He
couldn't help but ask, "What about Changkong? Doesn't he have any
objections?"

"Changkong is the only scholar in our family," Hua Yingting smiled

innocently, "Scholars are capable individuals, whether they have titles or
not, they can still make a living. He also approves of giving the titles to his
two older brothers."

"As long as there are no objections within the family," Emperor Changlong
felt relieved. He and Hua Yingting were not only monarch and subject but
also close friends. He didn't want to see conflicts arise among the Hua
family's children over the inheritance of titles.

The words spoken by Hua Yingting in the Imperial Study were recorded by
the imperial officials responsible for recording the Emperor's daily
activities, and they even embellished it a little.

As a result, Hua Yingting became someone who didn't care about rumors,
pleaded for those who offended him, and praised the intelligence of
scholars.

Perhaps, thousands of years later, Hua Yingting would become a

representative of the military generals who respected scholars.

No one knew what would happen thousands of years later, but after this
incident spread, countless scholars praised the magnanimity of the Hua
family. Some praised the harmonious relationship among the Hua family
members, while others praised Hua Yingting's noble character.

Most importantly, it would affirm Hua Yingting's status as a rare great

general in a hundred years, overturning the biased notion that "scholars are
useless". It would affirm the status, talent, and ability of scholars.

What kind of spirit was this?

It was a noble spirit that was fair, objective, and appreciative of others.
For a while, the conflicts between civil officials and military officers in the
court diminished. Civil officials no longer immediately criticized military
officers as impulsive and brainless, while military officers felt awkward
about ridiculing civil officials as powerless. The atmosphere became so
pleasant that even Emperor Changlong felt a bit unaccustomed.

It wasn't until a general got into a heated argument with the Minister of
Revenue over military costs, using terms that Emperor Changlong had
heard before, that he regained a familiar feeling.

He knew that making civil officials and military officers as close as brothers
was even more difficult than making the imperial consorts as close as
sisters.

But no matter how much they argued, many scholars still saw General Hua
as different because he had taste, style, and vision. He was a great and noble
person who deserved everyone's respect.

As the other party involved in the incident, the Lin family felt a bit
uncomfortable. To avoid hearing the rumors and gossip, Lin Sen declined
all invitations and spent his days hiding in the study, reading and reciting.

Lin Wan, on the other hand, rarely left her courtyard. Even her meals were
served to her in her room by the maids.

Lin Zhou held the newly issued transfer order in his hands, his hands
trembling.

He originally thought that even if he couldn't become the Minister of

Justice, he would be transferred to the Ministry of Revenue. But he didn't
expect that the Emperor would appoint him as the Minister of Works.

Although both the Six Ministries' ministers and the Prefect held the same
official ranks of the Third Class, the Prefect governed a specific territory
and was constrained in many ways, unlike the ministers who had more
freedom.

It was a disguised demotion under the guise of a lateral transfer.

"Husband, is there something wrong with the transfer order?" Madam Lin
noticed that Lin Zhou's expression wasn't quite right and asked with
concern, "Please relax. Since the transfer order has been issued, it means
that the Emperor still trusts you."

Lin Zhou smiled bitterly. If it weren't for the Great General's plea on his
behalf, he wouldn't have obtained this transfer order at all.

In the Eastern Palace.

The Crown Prince had just returned from Shoukang Palace when he heard a
subordinate report that officials from the Ministry of Justice, Zhang Shuo
and Pei Jihuai, were seeking an audience.

"Why would officials from the Ministry of Justice come to see Gu?" The
Crown Prince sat down at the desk, "Let them in."

After Zhang Shuo and Pei Ji Huai paid their respects to the Crown Prince,
Pei Jihuai presented a transcript, "Your Royal Highness, this subordinated
obtained a new testimony from Prince A'Wa."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 47 – Roasted Meat

After obtaining information from Prince A'Wa, Pei Jihuai realized that
Fushou Junzhu had played a big part in Prince A'Wa's capture. He reported
the matter to the Minister of Justice, Zhang Shuo.

After reading Prince A'Wa's testimony, Zhang Shuo understood that Fushou
Junzhu had devised a plan to infiltrate the enemy camp, collaborate with the
Hua family's army, burn the enemy's provisions, create chaos within their
ranks, and capture their leader. No wonder Prince A'Wa, after being
imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice prison dungeon, insisted on seeing
Fushou Junzhu. It seemed that he held a strong grudge against her.

Fushou Junzhu, who was weak and frequently ill, must have endured a
great deal of suffering to ensure the success of the plan. The Hua family did
not publicize this matter, and even if others came to know about it, they
should not spread it widely.

However, as officials of the Ministry of Justice, they could not conceal this
matter. If it were to be investigated in the future, they could be charged with
withholding information.

"Daren, during the Flower Festival, my parents visited Qing Mountain to

enjoy the scenery. On the way, they encountered a couple who were
extraordinarily beautiful. The young man had unparalleled looks, while the
young lady was sweet and charming, resembling a heavenly couple," Pei
Jihuai continued, "Later, when my parents emerged from the Apricot
Blossom Forest, they found guards surrounding the area and realized that
the Crown Prince and Ying Wang were also there enjoying the flowers."

"Are you suggesting that the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu were the
couple your parents saw in the forest?" Zhang Shuo and Pei Jihuai were in
perfect sync, excluding the option of Ying Wang's involvement. In their
understanding, they cannot, in their right conscience, relate that young man
with unparalleled looks to Ying Wang?

"Does Daren still remember the incident I mentioned to you after the
Lantern Festival, when I coincidentally encountered the Crown Prince?"
Zhang Shuo naturally remembered that incident. At that time, he was
worried and uncertain about the possibility of Lin Zhou taking over his
position. However, unexpectedly, the Crown Prince hinted to Pei Jihuai that
his position would remain unchanged.

Now, hearing Pei Jihuai mentioning that night again, Zhang Shuo nodded,
"Of course, I remember."

"That day, the Crown Prince was accompanied by a young lady, but she
wore a mask that she didn't take off until they entered the palace gates," Pei
Jihuai said, "At the time, I thought she might be a princess, but I forgot that
on that same night, the Emperor had arranged for the Hua family to stay in
the palace."

"Are you suggesting that there may be a romantic connection between the
Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu?" Zhang Shuo was somewhat surprised.
He had never heard of any marriage arrangement between the Hua family
and the Crown Prince.

Given the current positions of the Hua family and the Crown Prince, a
marriage between them would be like throwing oil into the fire. It might
seem like a good thing, but in reality, it would lead to endless troubles.
Even if the Emperor didn't suspect the Hua family and the Crown Prince, he
would become more suspicious by nature.

The Hua family and the Crown Prince were not so foolish.

"I'm too old to understand matters of love," Zhang Shuo stroked his chin,
thinking for a moment, and said, "The matter of Fushou Junzhu capturing
Prince A'Wa has no direct connection to the cases we are investigating. It
might be best to present this testimony to the Crown Prince and let him
decide."
Being constantly burdened with various cases in the Ministry of Justice,
Zhang Shuo had learned the virtue of passing the buck when necessary.

The Hua family, he couldn't afford to offend; the Crown Prince, he couldn't
afford to offend; and above all, the Emperor naturally couldn't be offended.
Zhang Shuo didn't want to bring trouble for the Ministry of Justice.

Having understood Zhang Shuo's intention, the two of them set off to the
Eastern Palace together to meet the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince
refused to see them, the testimony would be sealed in the confidential
archives of the Ministry of Justice, no one would be informed of its
contents.

Pei Jihuai respectfully stood at the lower end, waiting for the Crown Prince
to finish reading the testimony.

Initially, the Eastern Palace was not as spacious, but the Emperor didn't
want the Crown Prince to suffer any grievances. A few years before the
Crown Prince moved out of Chenyang Palace, the Emperor personally
funded the expansion of the Eastern Palace, increasing its size by almost
one-third.

At that time, some officials disagreed and wrote petitions, claiming that it
went against the traditions of their ancestors. The Emperor responded with
the reasoning that "as a father, it is only natural for me to expand my son's
residence". This effectively silenced their objections.

If anyone continued to argue, the Emperor would ask where they hailed
from and whether they wanted to resign from their positions in the capital
and return to their ancestral homes.

So the officials had nothing more to say. After all, the imperial palace
belonged to the Emperor, and the funds used to expand the Eastern Palace
came from the Emperor's own private treasury. It was his own will, and as
imperial officials, why should they bother with such matters?

The late emperor even used funds from the Ministry of Revenue to build a
separate palace for his favored imperial concubine. Compared to the late
emperor, the current emperor was truly considerate and did not trouble the
Ministry of Revenue.

Without comparison, there would be no harm. Without harm, it was easy to

be satisfied. The experienced officials who had experienced the late
emperor's actions had a much better mindset than the young officials. Even
after the expansion of the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, they could still
smile and praise a few good words.

Pei Jihuai had never entered the Eastern Palace before, but today, as
rumored, it was indeed luxurious. Those bonsai with jade leaves and agate
fruits were all vividly crafted, making people unable to resist looking at
them.

"Is this testimony really given by Prince A'Wa himself?" The Crown Prince
put down the testimony with a casual expression, looking as if a bystander
witnessing a lively event unrelated to himself.

"Your Royal Highness, this testimony was personally recorded by this

official," Pei Jihuai explained the process, trying not to show any emotional
bias.

"Gu understands," The Crown Prince placed his hand on the testimony and
smiled, "Thank you both for informing me. Gu will convey this matter to
Father Empero, so please don't worry."

"Yes," the two were about to take their leave when they heard the Crown
Prince speak again.

"This matter involves the private affairs of Fushou Junzhu. Gu requests that
both of you properly seal and keep the testimony, without spreading it to
others."

"We will remember, Your Royal Highness," Zhang Shuo raised his head and
saw the Crown Prince meticulously folding the testimony. The expression
on his face was neither angry nor annoyed, indicating that his mood was not
bad.
"Minister Zhang, is there something else?" the Crown Prince met his gaze.

"Nothing," Zhang Shuo withdrew his gaze, "We take our leave, Your Royal
Highness."

As they exited the main hall, Zhang Shuo breathed a sigh of relief. The way
the Crown Prince looked at him just now seemed as if he had seen through
his intentions, making him inexplicably uneasy.

Outside the Eastern Palace gate, Pei Jihuai saw several maids and eunuchs
surrounding a young girl from afar. The girl was wearing a gorgeous palace
dress and looked somewhat familiar.

As they approached, Pei Jihuai recognized her. It was the Fushou Junzhu
they had just discussed.

"Junzhu."

"Minister Zhang, Deputy Minister Pei."

After both sides greeted each other, Hua Liuli said, "Daren, where are you
coming from?"

"We have just visited the Crown Prince and were about to return to the
Ministry of Justice," Pei Jihuai said, "The Ministry of Justice has made
progress on Junzhu's case, but the mastermind has already escaped the
capital and cannot be captured and imprisoned in the short term."

"It is truly impressive that you officials from the Ministry of Justice can
trace the whereabouts of these mysterious individuals," Hua Liuli said,
"You have worked hard."

As a middle-aged man who was already bald, Zhang Shuo's smile

brightened upon hearing Hua Liuli's praise. He took the initiative to speak,
"Junzhu, your words are too kind. Not letting a single bad person go free
and not allowing a good person to be wronged is the responsibility of our
department."
"And that is already worthy of respect," Hua Liuli curtsied, "Minister
Zhang, you are being too modest."

"Not at all," Zhang Shuo was pleased by the praise. After bidding farewell
to Hua Liuli, he stroked his beard and said to Pei Jihuai, "This Fushou
Junzhu is quite smart and lively. No wonder the Crown Prince treats her
differently from other girls."

Pei Jihuai maintained a serious expression.

Naturally, she was different. Other girls couldn't compare to the Ministry of
Justice.

The Crown Prince put away the testimony and heard a palace attendant
report that Fushou Junzhu had arrived. He walked out of the hall to greet
her and saw Hua Liuli standing in the courtyard, looking at a newly
sprouted tree. He approached her and asked, "What are you looking at,
Junzhu?"

"I am trying to guess what kind of tree this is," Hua Liuli said, "The other
trees in the Eastern Palace are either blooming or evergreen throughout the
year. It's rare to see one like this."

"Junzhu, this kind of tree can also be found in Qinghan Prefecture," the
Crown Prince couldn't help but smile, "This is a persimmon tree planted in
the courtyard, symbolizing everything going well."

"Junzhu," Yuan Yi whispered, "There is also a persimmon tree in the

courtyard where you reside, but it is still small and won't bear fruit this
year."

"So it's a persimmon tree," Hua Liuli shook her head with a sigh and said to
the Crown Prince, "If the tree was planted anywhere outside, I might be
able to recognize it, but when it is planted in the Eastern Palace, I can't
recognize it anymore."

There were many extraordinary trees and precious flowers in the Eastern
Palace, so she subconsciously thought it was some rare tree.
"This tree was planted when I was very young," the Crown Prince looked
up at the persimmon tree. When he was young and sick, he had to hide in
the room wearing thick clothes.

The Empress Dowager, seeing his boredom, had several large pots brought
in for him to plant trees together. Shortly after they were transplanted to the
courtyard, the other trees died, but this persimmon tree survived.

When the Eastern Palace was completed, he had it transplanted there as

well.

Perhaps it was because he still vaguely remembered that the Empress

Dowager had touched his head and wished him well by this persimmon
tree.

"No wonder it's growing so strong," Hua Liuli patted the trunk and smiled
at the Crown Prince, "Your Royal Highness, the symbolism is good. Your
Royal Highness will surely have everything go well in your remaining life."

The Crown Prince glanced deeply at Hua Liuli, "Gu will take your good
wishes, Junzhu."

"Your Royal Highness, you should believe my words," Hua Liuli solemnly
fabricated, "From a young age, I have always had exceptional luck. Those
who are blessed by me also have exceptionally good fortune."

Seeing the Crown Prince staring at her without saying a word, Hua Liuli
continued, "Your Royal Highness, please trust me."

"Gu trusts you," the Crown Prince chuckled and withdrew his gaze from
Hua Liuli, "It's settled then. Junzhu, please taste the roasted meat of the
Eastern Palace. Everything is already prepared. Please have a seat."

"Then I will shamelessly accept the invitation," Hua Liuli followed the
Crown Prince into the seat, feeling delighted.

The sky was still bright, and sunlight streamed in from the west, casting a
warm glow. Hua Liuli looked at the various fruits and vegetables that had
been prepared, already anticipating the flavors of various seasonings.

"Come," The Crown Prince rolled up his sleeves and tied them with a
sleeve cord, then took a piece of meat and placed it on the grill, "Gu heard
that the soldiers in the army roast their own meat to eat. Although Gu hasn't
had the chance to experience such liveliness, Gu can try it today."

"Your Royal Highness, the meat should not be placed directly on the grill,"
Hua Liuli took the piece of meat from him, skillfully brushed it with
seasonings and sesame oil, and returned it to him, "Roast it on one side,
then flip it and brush it with seasonings and sesame oil again."

As she spoke, she took a few skewers of meat and vegetables for herself,
evenly coated them with seasonings and sesame oil, and soon the grill
started sizzling.

"Junzhu, you're quite capable, even knowing these small details," the
Crown Prince looked disdainfully at the burnt meat in his hand, and when
Hua Liuli wasn't paying attention, he replaced it with two fresh pieces to
continue roasting.

"There's a saying among the common folk "even if you haven't eaten pork,
you've seen a pig run". Although I haven't had the opportunity to roast meat
myself, I have seen the soldiers and their families do these things in the
army," Hua Liuli skillfully flipped the skewers, "Knowing these things is
not surprising."

"Gu understands," the Crown Prince smiled and pressed the rolled-up meat
with chopsticks to flatten it forcefully, "In the military camp, where there
are many people and chaos reigns, would you be frightened if you go
there?"

"On ordinary days, I don't go to the military camp, but when my parents and
brothers go out to fight the enemy, I will stay in the army accompanied by
my maidservants," Hua Liuli handed half of the roasted vegetables to the
Crown Prince, "When they're not around, I am the only representative of the
Hua family in the city. Although I am weak and often sick and unable to do
anything, as long as I am there, the soldiers and the people who remain in
the city will understand that regardless of the outcome of the war outside,
the Hua family will stand together with the military and civilians."

The Crown Prince's hand stopped and he looked at the delicate young girl
before him, "Were you afraid?"

Hua Liuli looked up at the Crown Prince and smiled, but didn't answer
whether she was afraid or not.

"The soldiers in the military camp were especially kind. They were worried
I won't sleep well at night, so they often told stories to me from outside the
tent; they would make a few little wooden animals for me; some would
even practice their swordsmanship to show it to me. There's also a certain
General Uncle who is particularly skilled at sewing and he would make
dolls for me."

"Fortunately, the soldiers of our Great Jin have won and many uncles have
been able to return to their hometowns to be with their families," Hua Liuli
couldn't help but smile, "Your Royal Highness, you may not know this, but
when you moved to the Eastern Palace, my father and mother prepared a
gift for you. I have secretly stuffed two lucky dolls into the gift box."

At that time, Hua Liuli was only six or seven years old, the age when she
loved the wooden horse that the Crown Prince had given her. She heard that
the Crown Prince had to drink a lot of medicine every day. And when she
heard that the brother who gave her the wooden horse had to live alone, she
sneaked two lucky dolls into the box.

She didn't know that the items sent into the palace were supposed to be
listed in the gift inventory, so those two lucky dolls were considered
"smuggled" into the palace.

The Crown Prince indeed didn't remember receiving a gift from a six or
seven-year-old child when he moved out of Chenyang Palace. He looked at
Hua Liuli, who had a nostalgic smile on her face, and suddenly understood
that perhaps the little Hua Liuli was afraid when she was alone in the
military camp, but she no longer feared afterward.
"Junzhu, you're truly amazing," the Crown Prince put down his chopsticks
and smiled as he cupped his hands, "Gu admires you greatly."

"Please don't flatter me," Hua Liuli returned the gesture, "It's what this
humble subject should do."

The atmosphere was just right. The two of them chatted while grilling meat,
sharing stories from their childhood and laughing together.

"When was the first time you stayed alone in the military camp?" the
Crown Prince casually asked.

"When I was young, my Eldest Brother and Second Brother followed our
parents to the battlefield, so it was just me and my Third Brother. Later, my
Third Brother also followed them to the battlefield, and I was left alone,"
Hua Liuli carefully recalled, picked up the digestive medicine by her side,
and took a few sips, "I can't remember it clearly, but it was probably when I
was eleven or twelve years old."

The Crown Prince had heard from his father that General Hua and General
Wei doted on their only daughter, and he thought that with their level of
concern for Hua Liuli, they wouldn't be willing to let her suffer in the
military camp. He didn't expect that she had stayed alone in the camp at
such a young age.

"I thought the two generals would be reluctant to do so."

"My father and mother were indeed reluctant. When I stayed alone in the
military camp for the first time, my father's eyes were red," Hua Liuli put
down her cup and smiled lightly, "But as children of the Hua family, when
there was an invasion, there was no distinction between men and women.
As long as Qingzhou Prefecture still stands, the Hua family will be there. If
Qingzhou Prefecture perishes, the Hua family will perish with it."

The smile disappeared from the Crown Prince's face. He said solemnly,
"The Hua family upholds righteousness..."
"No need to be so serious, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli handed a piece
of grilled meat to the Crown Prince, smiling, "My father and mother are
both great generals. Although I stayed in the military camp, I didn't do
anything other than eat and drink every day. On the contrary, I tired out the
uncles and elders who took care of me."

Although Hua Liuli spoke lightly, the Crown Prince understood very well in
his heart. Over the years, Jinpo and Great Jin had often been at war, and
Hua Liuli, who stayed alone in the military camp, was the pillar of support
for Qingzhou Prefecture and even all the soldiers and civilians in the
neighboring counties.

In battles, the morale of the army and the people is crucial. If the morale
collapses, even with a large number of soldiers, they won't be able to win a
battle. However, if the army and the people are united, it is not uncommon
to achieve victory against a larger force.

As he looked at the sweet smile on Hua Liuli's face, the Crown Prince
couldn't help but wonder if when the flames of war raged outside the city,
Hua Liuli, who stayed alone in the military camp, had also stood at the city
gate and looked into the distance. Did she put on a cheerful facade while
secretly yearning for the return of her father and brothers?

At this moment, he felt as if several silver needles were dancing in his

heart, causing a tingling sensation.

"Your Royal Highness, the meat will get cold if you don't eat it," Seeing the
Crown Prince staring at her in a daze, Hua Liuli thought there might be
something on her face and wiped it with her handkerchief, "Meat tastes best
when it's hot."

"Did you ever think about what kind of man you would like?" The Crown
Prince stuffed a piece of grilled meat into his mouth, swallowing it without
even tasting the flavor.

"Obedient, sensible, with a simple and straightforward personality, and

good-looking," Hua Liuli pondered and listed her criteria for a potential
male pet, "It would be even better if he knows a bit about music, chess,
calligraphy, and painting."

He should be good-looking, know about music, chess, calligraphy, and

painting, and be obedient and sensible...

The Crown Prince faintly felt that something was amiss, "Do you like
obedient people?"

"When raising a male companion, one looks for someone who is well-
behaved, sweet-talking, and sensible. Otherwise, why bother raising one?"
Hua Liuli finished speaking and noticed the Crown Prince's dark and grim
expression, so she lowered her voice and said, "Your Royal Highness, are
there laws in the capital that prohibit women from raising male
companions?"

That couldn't be true. She had heard that several princesses and noble ladies
were keeping male companions in their private estates.

The Crown Prince gritted his teeth, "Forget it."

"Oh, that's good then," Hua Liuli breathed a sigh of relief but saw that the
Crown Prince's expression remained unpleasant, "Your Royal Highness, do
you disapprove of women engaging in such behavior?"

If men can keep numerous concubines, would it be too scandalous for

women to keep male companions?

"Those worldly people who serve through pleasure, how can they match a
Junzhu?" The Crown Prince silently reminded himself in his heart, took a
deep breath, and tried to remain calm. He couldn't lose his temper, "Just the
thought of those male companions standing by your side makes Gu feel that
it's an insult to you."

"Your Royal Highness, people like us seek their companions based on their
charm, don't we?" Hua Liuli said, "It's not like we're choosing someone to
spend our entire lives with. The standards don't have to be so strict."
"Don't you want to stay with someone until old age?" the Crown Prince
asked, "If there is truly such a person, would you give up keeping male
companions for his sake?"

Fifteen-year-old Hua Liuli didn't know if she would meet someone to spend
her whole life with. She thought about how her father and mother interacted
and replied seriously, "If I truly like someone, I probably wouldn't want to
let him misunderstand or be sad."

"That's right," the Crown Prince relaxed, "Junzhu, you're still young and
don't understand matters of love. If you keep male companions now and
that person you like appears and learns that you have many male
companions, wouldn't it hurt him?"

Hua Liuli pondered for a moment and nodded, "Your Royal Highness, you
make a valid point."

The Crown Prince said, "When Gu likes someone, they are in Gu's eyes, in
Gu's dreams, and in Gu's life."

He looked at Hua Liuli, her clear reflection appeared in his eyes.

Seeing the Crown Prince's serious and affectionate gaze, Hua Liuli's heart
skipped a beat. Could it be that the Crown Prince felt such deep affection
for that deceased woman? Would he really spend his whole life in this
hopeless love?

Faced with such a serious Crown Prince, Hua Liuli felt ashamed. As the
future successor of the Great Jin, the Crown Prince not only maintained his
integrity but also held deep affection for the deceased. He was truly an
example of a devoted lover.

Meanwhile, all she knew was to yearn for beautiful people and keep male
companions, which was truly decadent.

"Your Royal Highness, there's a saying that the past is gone, and one should
look forward. Perhaps in your future, another girl you like will appear, and
you..."
"Is that what Junzhu hopes for?" the Crown Prince lowered his eyelids, and
the digestive tea on the charcoal fire made gurgling sounds.

Huh?

Hua Liuli felt that the Crown Prince's expression had turned unpleasant
again. She realized that she had said something wrong and quickly changed
her words, "What I meant is, Your Royal Highness, your happiness from
here onwards is the most important."

"Then, will you accompany Gu more in the future?" The Crown Prince
picked up the teapot and poured a cup of steaming hawthorn digestive tea
for Hua Liuli.

"I don't have much to do on ordinary days. As long as Your Royal Highness
needs me, I'll be there," Hua Liuli thought that someone who had been hurt
in love would have emotions as unpredictable as the weather in June. It
would be hard to please them.

"Can you promise Gu one thing?" the Crown Prince smiled at Hua Liuli, his
eyes shining like a vast starry sky.

"Sure, sure," Hua Liuli, faced with the Crown Prince's charm, didn't need to
take a stance.

"Before you turn twenty, can you refrain from keeping male companions?"

In the Crown Prince's dark eyes, Hua Liuli could see a hint of sadness and
grievance. With a heart that pitied precious things, she readily agreed,
"Okay."

"In that case, thank you very much," the Crown Prince lifted the teacup
with a smile, clinking it against the cup in Hua Liuli's hand, "May we both
find someone to spend the rest of our lives with."

Hua Liuli took a sip of the digestive tea and the sour taste brought her back
to her senses.

Before twenty...
She was only fifteen now. Did the Crown Prince really expect her to abstain
from men for five years?!

Looking at the Crown Prince's smiling face, Hua Liuli couldn't find the
words to take back her agreement. "Your Royal Highness, why are you so
interested in not letting me keep male companions?"

"Maybe it's because..." the Crown Prince paused, looking at Hua Liuli with
tenderness, "Gu is happy when Gu is with the Junzhu, so Gu doesn't want
those companions to take away Junzhu's attention."

Hua Liuli suddenly realized and a lightbulb went off in her mind.

She indeed possessed an intriguing soul. Even the Crown Prince didn't want
to lose her as his lovely companion.

Oh well, five years it is.

Being by the Crown Prince's side, she didn't know who, between them,
would benefit in the end.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 48 – Misunderstanding

After every Imperial Examination, the candidates who passed would be

very busy, especially those who achieved good rankings. They would
receive a pile of invitations and gather together to discuss the questions of
the upcoming Palace Examination.

The Palace Examination questions in Great Jin were always a blend of

elegance and practicality. Sometimes, at the Emperor's whims, there would
even be complex arithmetic questions. Candidates who were not good at
calculations and lacked a stable mindset would often end up collapsing and
crying after completing the examination and leaving the palace.

As Hua Changkong returned to the capital only a few months ago, his
friends were concerned that he might not be aware of what to pay attention
to during the Palace Examination. They specifically invited him to join the
group of successful candidates from prominent families in the capital. They
would gather in a beautiful villa surrounded by mountains and rivers,
pondering how to perform perfectly in the Palace Examination.

Yao Songbai and Hua Changkong were the top-ranked scholars among
these candidates. So, whenever there were differences in understanding
during their review of the books, they would seek the opinions of these two
individuals.

However, within a few days, Hua Changkong had become close enough to
these people to be considered brothers. Their relationship was so good that
they could tease and play around with each other.

"I consider it a blessing from my ancestors that I was able to pass this
examination," said a young noble from a duke's household, lazily lying on a
reclining chair and yawning while listening to the discussions of his friends,
"A few days ago, I sent an invitation to the young master of the Lin family,
inviting him to study together with us, but he refused."

"He is the son of the top scholar. He could recite poems at the age of two,
write characters at three, and compose verses at five. Naturally, he is
different from us," another young noble remarked, "It would be a burden on
his studies to spend time with us idle young masters."

"Changkong is also a top-ranked candidate in this examination. He is not

inferior in arrogance," the young noble from the duke's household sat up
and placed his book to the side, "Look at his appearance, he carries himself
with great aloofness."

As fellow candidates, even if they were to enter the officialdom in the

future, they would have an extra bond compared to others. The people who
could study together in this villa were the descendants of influential and
prominent families in the capital. Coming together was not only for
reviewing books but also for maintaining the relationships among these
prestigious families.

Lin Sen's rejection of his invitation was almost equivalent to his disdain for
associating with them.

How could the person who sent the invitation save face?

"You two are hiding here to slack off again," Yao Songbai waved to the two
of them, "Come and play the pot-throwing game. Whoever misses will have
to recite a passage from a book or compose a poem."

"Come, come," Hua Changkong also waved to the two of them, "I won't
participate in the pot-throwing game, so you won't accuse me of bullying."

Upon hearing this, the young nobles all retorted against Hua Changkong.
However, after witnessing Hua Changkong's perfect throws, they fell silent.

"Brother Hua, you can easily secure a meal with your martial arts skills.
Why do you have to compete with us literary scholars for the spots?" Yao
Songbai playfully patted Hua Changkong's shoulder with a pretend
sorrowful expression, "Can't you leave us a way out?"

"That's not possible," Hua Changkong sighed regretfully with a face full of
sorrow, "If I don't do well in the examination, I'll have to rely on my
younger sister to support me at home."

Everyone burst into laughter. The Hua family had two marquises, two heirs,
and one Junzhu. Only poor Hua Changkong, with no title or noble rank, had
the possibility of returning home and relying on his sister for support if he
failed the examination.

After the laughter subsided, a blushing young noble took Hua Changkong
to a corner and asked, "Brother Hua, may I know if your sister is already
engaged?"

Hua Changkong looked at the bashful and handsome young noble before
him, and a hint of pity rose in his eyes, "My younger sister is still young.
Our parents want to keep her at home for a few more years."

Why did he have to set his sights on his sister when there were so many
other options available?

Men; they never understand that the more beautiful a woman is, the more
formidable she becomes when provoked.

"I see," the young noble looked somewhat disappointed. He had caught a
glimpse of Hua Liuli from afar, and in that instant, he had lost his heart. He
finally mustered up the courage to ask Hua Changkong, but he didn't expect
that the Hua family had no intentions of marrying off their daughter.

It wasn't surprising. In Great Jin, they always valued freedom. Many men
remained unmarried until the age of twenty, while women remained
unmarried until the age of eighteen. Fushou Junzhu was only fifteen, so it
was only natural that the two generals were reluctant to see her married off
at such a young age.
Hua Changkong sighed and patted the young noble's shoulder. With his
small build, if Liuli were to marry him, it would be a great disservice to
him.

The young noble was left bewildered by Hua Changkong's gesture. Was he
sympathizing with him for the unrequited love that withered before it had a
chance to bloom?

Princess Shunan's residence.

"Jiamin, Lin Wan is no longer the future Ying Wangfei. What do you
think?" Yao Wenyin nudged Yao Jiamin's arm.

"What can I think? I can't possibly bring Lin Wan home," Yao Jiamin sat
cross-legged on a fox fur carpet, carving a piece of wood with a knife. Ever
since she had been frequently troubled by Hua Liuli, she had developed a
new hobby: wood carving.

As long as she imagined the wood as Hua Liuli's face, every stroke she
made brought her immense satisfaction.

"You had your eyes on Ying Wang. How about..."

"Forget it," Yao Jiamin fiercely stabbed the wood carving twice, "Men, they
can only provide temporary entertainment in a woman's life."

Her greatest goal in life was to trample Hua Liuli under her feet. As long as
Hua Liuli, her archenemy, existed, all men were insignificant.

"Be careful not to stab your hand," Yao Wenyin warned as she watched Yao
Jiamin's fierce expression, "Are you carving the wood or killing it?"

"Don't you feel that if you carve this piece of wood as if it were Hua Liuli,
it brings an extra sense of relief?" Yao Jiamin pressed the wood forcefully
against the ground, it was as if she were pressing Hua Liuli.

Yao Wenyin stared at the messy wooden block for a while before speaking,
"Give me a piece of wood and a carving knife too."
The two of them started poking and carving the wood together. Yao Wenyin
said, "Jiamin, can't you directly deal with Hua Liuli?"

As the notorious female tyrants of the capital, they were losing face every
time Hua Liuli slapped them.

Yao Jiamin glanced at her cousin and thought, if she had the guts to make a
move against Hua Liuli, she would have done it a long time ago. Why
would there be a need for her to vent her anger on a piece of wood like this?

"Jiamin," Princess Shunan's voice echoed from outside the door. Yao Jiamin
and Yao Wenyin quickly hid the wood and carving knife and then tucked
the wood shavings under the carpet.

"Princess," Yao Wenyin greeted with a bow.

"You're our own family, there's no need for so much formality," Princess
Shunan had a gentle attitude towards the younger generation of the Yao
family. She waved her hand to dismiss Yao Wenyin's greeting and turned to
Yao Jiamin, "One of the palace attendants by the side of the Empress
Dowager mentioned that the Empress Dowager wants you to stay in the
palace for a few days."

Yao Jiamin was puzzled, "The Empress Dowager wants me to enter the
palace?"

According to the palace hierarchy, she should address the Empress

Dowager as her maternal grandmother, but since her mother was not born of
the Empress Dowager, their relationship was not particularly close. Over
the years, they only exchanged greetings during major holidays, otherwise,
they generally didn't bother each other.

"Perhaps the Empress Dowager heard that you get along well with Fushou
Junzhu, so she wants you young people to have a good time together,"
Princess Shunan said with a serious tone, "My daughter, please coax the
Empress Dowager well after entering the palace. Your mother's bestowal of
the title of Royal Princess will depend on you."
Yao Jiamin: "..."

Back then, if you didn’t run your mouth too much, you would have already
been the Royal Princess. What need would there be for your daughter to
step in now?

Besides, she didn't get along well with Hua Liuli!

Not at all!

Yao Jiamin's inner roar went unheard as she was packed into the carriage by
Princess Shunan.

Princess Shunan admonished her daughter, "Jiamin, Fushou Junzhu is weak

in health and has a timid temperament. Please take care of her in the palace
and don't let her suffer."

After all, no one could afford to provoke her mother.

Yao Jiamin felt like crying but had no tears. Whenever she was with Hua
Liuli, she was the one who always felt mistreated. How could anyone say
that Hua Liuli was the one who was suffering?

Sitting in the carriage and watching the palace gates getting closer, Yao
Jiamin seemed to see her dim and gloomy future.

Hua Liuli lived happily in the palace. She had beautiful clothes prepared by
the Empress Dowager every day. She could also accompany the Empress
Dowager to listen to the flattery from the noble ladies. She even got to
enjoy the food and drinks in the Eastern Palace from time to time, living a
blissful life like a fairy.

The Empress Dowager was also pleased. She felt that she was particularly
skilled in raising children. Since Hua Liuli started living with her, her frail
body had become less prone to illness.

What did that mean? It meant that she and Hua Liuli were destined to be
together, perfectly matched.
The Empress Dowager was worried that Hua Liuli would be bored staying
alone in the palace, so she sent palace maids to inquire and learned that Hua
Liuli often went to Princess Shanan's residence to invite Jiamin Junzhu to
play with her. Thus, she invited Yao Jiamin to the palace as well.

When young girls play together, their moods improve, and their health
becomes better.

When Yao Jiamin arrived, she saw Hua Liuli dressed in beautiful palace
attire, sitting on a newly built swing. When she saw Yao Jiamin, Hua Liuli
enthusiastically waved at her, "Sister Jiamin, come, let's swing together."

Silently staring at the swing next to her, Yao Jiamin walked over and sat
down, "Did you request the Empress Dowager to invite me to the palace?"

Although she didn't like Hua Liuli, as the Empress Dowager's nominal
granddaughter, being invited to stay in the palace by the Empress Dowager
was giving a lot of face to her.

"The Empress Dowager misses you, that's why she invited you to the
palace," Hua Liuli said, "It has nothing to do with me."

"You don't need to defend my dignity," Yao Jiamin leaned back on the
swing chair. There weren't many princesses of the imperial family in the
capital. In recent years, her mother had become more and more picky about
the younger generation, just to cover up the disappointment of their family
not being valued by the imperial family.

If it weren't for the broad-mindedness of the Emperor and his care for the
princesses of the imperial family, their family would have long lost their
current glory. The outside world didn't know, but she was very clear that
once the Crown Prince ascended the throne, their family would become
marginalized in the imperial family.

Ever since her mother lashed out at the Crown Prince, the imperial palace
had become indifferent to their family. Many sisters who were once close to
her had gradually become distant. The ones who truly got along with her
were just a few.
In this capital city, there was never a shortage of people who would elevate
those on top or belittle those at the bottom.

This time, being invited to stay in the palace by the Empress Dowager
would be seen by others as a sign that the imperial family was once again
valuing Princess Shanan's residence. Perhaps those sisters who kept their
distance from her would become more friendly now.

She glanced at Hua Liuli, wanting to say something but hesitating.

The current Hua family was enjoying boundless glory, but what about the
future?

Could Hua Liuli, with her cunning mind, really be unaware of the rumors
and schemes in the capital?

"It's good that you're here. There are many interesting places in the palace,
but it's not convenient for me to go alone," Hua Liuli said as if she couldn't
perceive Yao Jiamin's complex emotions. She swung back and forth on the
swing, "We can be together starting from today."

"Hmph," Yao Jiamin said awkwardly, "The palace is not a place for leisure.
Don't get into trouble."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Hua Liuli waved her hand, signaling
the attending palace maids to step back. She whispered to Yao Jiamin,
"There's something I want to ask you."

"No, don't involve me in any palace conflicts. I won't participate," Yao

Jiamin hurriedly said.

"What conflicts?" Hua Liuli doubted whether she had scared Yao Jiamin
last time, causing her to speak incoherently.

"Then what do you want to talk to me about?" Yao Jiamin leaned her head
back and moved away from Hua Liuli.

"You grew up in the capital city and you are also a relative of the imperial
family. Do you know which girls the Crown Prince is close to?" Hua Liuli
asked.

"Who else could it be, if not you?" Yao Jiamin suddenly sat up straight and
looked around. She lowered her voice and said to Hua Liuli, "Hua Liuli, are
you trying to get yourself killed? You dare to run to the pleasure quarter and
find a male musician even though you've set your sights on the Crown
Prince?"

"Nonsense, the Crown Prince and I have a pure and beautiful friendship,"
Hua Liuli shook her head, "Can't you have something pure in your mind?"

Yao Jiamin had nothing to say. She really couldn't see anything pure
between Hua Liuli and the Crown Prince.

"Between men and women, there is nothing pure," Yao Jiamin sneered,
"Until a man is married and a woman is wedded, what's pure about it?"

"Our hearts are pure," Hua Liuli said confidently, "Doesn't the Crown
Prince have someone he likes?"

"What?" Yao Jiamin thought her ears were playing tricks on her. With the
Crown Prince's narcissistic and picky nature, who could he possibly like?

Seeing Yao Jiamin's shocked expression, Hua Liuli suddenly realized that
Yao Jiamin was also unaware of this matter.

"In recent years, have there been any young girls in the capital who were
beautiful and delicate like me, but died young due to illness?" Hua Liuli
phrased it differently. She had no intention of exposing the Crown Prince's
scar, but one couldn't keep dwelling on past emotions and had to find a way
out.

"Delicate like you?" Yao Jiamin's expression became subtle, but under Hua
Liuli's gaze, she compromised, "There have indeed been young girls in the
capital who died young in the past few years, but in terms of appearance
and delicacy, they are not on par with you."
Once the bottom line of a person drops, it will keep plummeting, never
stopping. Yao Jiamin now freely used the word "delicate" to describe Hua
Liuli.

"There is someone who meets your criteria, but she is not from the capital,"
Yao Jiamin continued when she saw that Hua Liuli seemed interested, "The
eldest daughter of Royal Princess Leyang, her beauty is like the bright
moon in the sky. Unfortunately, she was born with a weak body and relied
on medicine jars all day long. She fell seriously ill and passed away in the
capital last spring."

Hua Liuli knew about Royal Princess Leyang. It was said that this princess,
with her outstanding beauty, married into the prestigious Xie family in the
south. She had two daughters and a son with her husband, living a
harmonious life.

"Has she ever visited the capital?" Hua Liuli asked.

"Of course she has. Royal Princess Leyang brings her husband and children
to the capital to stay for two or three months every year. If it weren't for the
eldest daughter's death in the capital last year, she would have arrived
earlier this year," Yao Jiamin spoke of Royal Princess Leyang's family with
a tone that indicated the relationship between Princess Shunan and Royal
Princess Leyang was not great.

"But she won't miss the Hundred Nations Banquet that's being held this
year. It's an important occasion," Yao Jiamin sneered. "At the latest, by the
end of this month, she will arrive in the capital."

"It seems like... you don't like this princess?" Hua Liuli opened a sachet and
shared some snacks with Yao Jiamin.

When gossiping, it's not suitable to do so without some snacks.

"Princess Leyang and my mother have never gotten along since childhood. I
don't get along well with her daughter, Xie Yao, either," Yao Jiamin replied
without being polite to Hua Liuli. As she ate the snacks, she continued,
"That Xie Yao... cries at the drop of a hat, apologizes for every little thing,
as if she's a pitiful girl being bullied by everyone in the world. And she's
also gentle and kind, like a little fairy who scolds us for being cruel
whenever she sees us hunting rabbits."

As she said that, Yao Jiamin glanced at Hua Liuli, "Just like you."

"Nonsense, I am indeed a gentle and kind little fairy, but I like eating
rabbits," Hua Liuli raised her eyebrows, "Rabbits are so cute and their meat
is delicious. How can I let them go?"

"I forgot, you two are indeed different. You are fake weak, while she is truly
weak..."

"Sister Jiamin, I think you can rephrase your words. What do you think?"
Hua Liuli smiled at Yao Jiamin.

"What I meant to say is that you are incredibly beautiful in your weakness,
while she is pretentiously weak and can't compare to you," Yao Jiamin
quickly changed her statement.

Hua Liuli nodded in satisfaction, "I knew Sister Jiamin is the best at
speaking."

"Jiamin, why are you here?" the Crown Prince heard that Hua Liuli was
swinging here, and when he arrived, he heard Hua Liuli praising Yao
Jiamin. He remembered that not long ago, Yao Jiamin had taken Hua Liuli
to the pleasure quarter, so he was worried that Yao Jiamin would corrupt
her.

"Your Royal Highness," Yao Jiamin became flustered upon seeing the
Crown Prince and quickly jumped off the swing, bowing to him.

The Crown Prince waved his hand. Seeing Hua Liuli move her body a bit
and sit back down, he couldn't help but smile, "Gu has fresh river prawns at
my place today. Would you like to taste them?"

"It's not good for me to always eat at Your Royal Highness's place, right?"
Hua Liuli pretended to be polite.
"Gu often dines alone. Having you accompany me makes me very happy,"
the Crown Prince lowered his eyelids slightly, trying to hide the loneliness
and sadness in his eyes, "If it troubles you, then forget it. Over the years, Gu
has already gotten used to it."

"Then I will trouble Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli quickly said, no
longer maintaining her pretense of politeness, "Shall we go now?"

After the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli left, Yao Jiamin collapsed onto the
swing. Was it her eyes playing tricks on her, or was the Crown Prince going
crazy?!

With the Crown Prince's temper, how could he show such a pitiful and
miserable expression?!

No, it couldn't be true!

The Crown Prince would make others feel miserable, but he would never be
miserable himself!

She weakly held onto her maidservant's sleeve, "Say, do you think... the
Crown Prince... has feelings for Hua Liuli?"

The maidservant shook her head in panic, "Junzhu, you can't spread such
words casually."

Yao Jiamin looked up at the sky in confusion.

She was genuinely worried. If the Crown Prince really got married to Hua
Liuli, and if he ever took a concubine, what if Hua Liuli drew her sword
without hesitation and killed both the Crown Prince and the concubine?

Just imagining that scene sent a shiver down Yao Jiamin's spine.

There were so many beautiful women in the world, why did the Crown
Prince, of all people, inexplicably fall for Hua Liuli?

Was it because life was too dull, or because the days were too good?
What surprised her, even more, was that even she could see the Crown
Prince's feelings, but why didn't the palace attendants in Shoukang Palace
show any reaction? And why did Hua Liuli think that the Crown Prince
liked someone else? Was there some misunderstanding in all of this?

Could it be...

Yao Jiamin suddenly thought of a possibility. Perhaps the Crown Prince had
genuinely fallen in love with a woman who resembled Hua Liuli, but that
person had already passed away, so Hua Liuli was being used as a
substitute?

Don't stories often depict this scenario? The living can never compare to the
dead, and in the end, the living always suffers.

With that thought, Yao Jiamin started to feel uncomfortable on behalf of

Hua Liuli.

She was the daughter of General Wei. Although she fakes her illness and is
somewhat inconsistent in her character, she was still the apple of General
Wei's eye. Why should she become a substitute for someone else?

Even if she hated Hua Liuli, she couldn't bear to see her being humiliated
like this.

When Hua Liuli returned from the Eastern Palace, she received several
volumes of storybooks that Yao Jiamin had prepared for her. She didn't
know how Yao Jiamin managed to bring these books into the palace.

"What is 'Record of Twin Jades' about?" Hua Liuli flipped through the first
book.

"It's about a scholar whose beloved woman passed away. Soon, he

coincidentally encounters a peasant girl who resembles his lover. After
marrying her, he wants the peasant girl to imitate every word and action of
his lover," Yao Jiamin replied expressionlessly.

"And what about 'Blossoms in Pairs'?"

"It's about a prince who remarries his deceased wife's sister, simply because
the sister bears some resemblance to the deceased wife."

"And 'Flowers Blooming in the Shadows'?"

"It's a story about a scholar who asks a flower demon to transform into the
appearance of his deceased wife and marry him as a way to repay a debt."

Hua Liuli tossed the pile of books onto the table and stood up. She
rummaged through the cabinet and pulled out a few books to give to Yao
Jiamin, "Stop reading these storybooks. They'll make you stupid. Come,
read these instead. They're more interesting."

"What are these?" Yao Jiamin flipped through them and noticed that most
of the titles had a hint of a martial world atmosphere.

"Stories of scum getting beaten and their heads smashed like a dog," Hua
Liuli smiled mischievously, "Specifically targeting the male protagonists in
those scripts of yours."

Yao Jiamin: "..."

She wasn't worried about Hua Liuli anymore. Now, she was starting to
worry about the Crown Prince.

If Hua Liuli found out about the Crown Prince's intentions, would she
smash his head?

"Violence is never a good solution," Yao Jiamin collected all the scripts and
laughed awkwardly, "It can't solve all problems."

"Sometimes, it can solve a part of the problem," Hua Liuli looked at Yao
Jiamin with a serious gaze, "Although you often speak without thinking, I
still like you. Love and affection are precious, but sacrificing oneself so
much for a man who doesn't love you is not only disrespectful to oneself
but also to one's family. From the moment we're born until we grow up, it's
to see more beauty in the world, not to let another person ruin us,
understand?"
Yao Jiamin: "Huh?"

She understood what Hua Liuli was saying, but what did it have to do with
her? Wasn't she the one trying to persuade Hua Liuli?

And what did she mean by speaking without thinking?

If Yao Jiamin could defeat Hua Liuli, she would have already confronted
her.

Hua Liuli sighed. She didn't expect Yao Jiamin to say that she no longer
liked Ying Wang, yet deep down, she still held such deep affection for him.

How could a good young girl be so stubborn and unable to see the truth in
matters of the heart?

Hua Liuli and Yao Jiamin silently looked at each other, their eyes filled with
unspoken sympathy and helplessness for the other.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 49 – Taoist Ceremony

The Place Examination was imminent. Hua Liuli returned to the Hua
Family Estate accompanied by several boxes of things.

Watching the servants unloading several large boxes from her sister's
carriage, Hua Changkong couldn't help but tease, "Every time you enter the
palace, you bring so many things. Are you planning to empty the Empress
Dowager's private treasury?"

"What are you saying? There's a saying, 'When the elder gives, one does not
dare refuse'. The Empress Dowager gave it to me, so of course, I have to
bring it back," Hua Liuli instructed the servants to bring one of the boxes
into Hua Changkong's courtyard, "This is a congratulatory gift from the
Crown Prince for your successful examination. I brought it back for you."

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness," Hua Changkong arched his hand in the
direction of the palace, "It seems that you get along quite well with the
Crown Prince. Even the congratulatory gift he gave me, he entrusted you to
bring it back."

"I've been eating and drinking in the Eastern Palace recently. I've gained a
little weight," Hua Liuli rubbed her cheek, which left red marks on her fair
skin, "Don't call me for lunch later, I'll eat out."

"Why are you going out right after you've returned?" Hua Changkong
directed the servants while expressing concern for his sister, "Aren't you
supposed to take care of your health? Going out and walking around, aren't
you afraid of getting sick?"

Hua Liuli glanced at Hua Changkong and said in a low voice, "Third
Brother, you better focus on your studies."
"Young girl, going out and having fun," Hua Changkong poked Hua Liuli's
forehead with his hand, "Did you make plans with someone?"

"Jiamin Junzhu wants to visit Young Lady Du, and I have some
acquaintance with Young Lady Du, so I'm going along to see her," Hua
Liuli instructed her attendants, including Yuan Yi, to bring the prepared
gifts, "I heard that Young Lady Du was raised by Grand Tutor Du, and with
Grand Tutor Du's serious illness, she must be feeling distressed."

Hua Changkong nodded, "Then be careful on the way."

Hua Liuli went back to her courtyard and changed into a simpler outfit.
When she came out, she saw Yao Jiamin was already waiting outside the
entrance of the Hua Family Estate, "Why are you here so early?"

"Is it bad to be quick?" Yao Jiamin pulled Hua Liuli into the carriage, "Let's
go."

During the time they had spent alone in Shoukang Palace, they often
discussed which storybooks were more interesting and they even went to
the imperial garden to catch butterflies and fish. Their relationship had
become much closer.

"I thought you don't get along with Young Lady Du?" Hua Liuli asked, "I
didn't expect you to take the initiative to visit her."

"It's not that we don't get along, we just have different personalities," Yao
Jiamin said, "My cousin has been holding books since she was three or four
years old, and she never lets go of them. She also has a strong sense of
morality and justice. When we were young, if any of us did something
wrong, she would lecture us for half an hour. Who can bear that?"

"But apart from that, she always accommodates us, her cousins. We might
find her annoying, but we don't want her to be trapped in a state of
sadness," Yao Jiamin frowned, "My cousin is not very close to her parents,
my aunt and uncle. If Grand Tutor Du really passes away, I'm afraid she
won't be able to bear it."
Hua Liuli fell silent. Her grandfather had passed away early due to severe
injuries sustained on the battlefield; her grandmother had also passed away
early. She didn't know how the younger generation interacted with their
grandparents, but she could understand the feeling of being unable to help
someone important who was approaching death.

Seeing her silence, Yao Jiamin tried to console her, "We are the younger
generation, and we are girls. We don't need to go into Grand Tutor Du's
room."

"I wasn't thinking about that," Hua Liuli forced a smile and shook her head,
"I just remembered something from the past."

Yao Jiamin looked at Hua Liuli, her mouth moving faster than her brain,
"What happened?"

She immediately regretted asking. It was obviously not something good.

Why couldn't she control her own mouth?

"A few years ago, there was a man in the military camp who had a beautiful
singing voice. Every Mid-Autumn Festival or New Year's Eve when we
gathered together, everyone would urge him to sing a few songs," Hua Liuli
said, "He said that in his hometown, young men would use singing to
propose to the girls they liked."

"Has he... found the girl he likes now?"

"Before he joined the army, he already had the girl he liked. She said that
she would marry him after the army defeated the Jinpo Bandits," Hua Liuli
turned her head and looked at the gemstones embedded in the carriage, "We
won the war, but that girl didn't wait for him to return."

"He..."

"He was shot by a stray arrow from a Jinpo archer while protecting several
children who were escaping. When the Hua family soldiers found his body,
there wasn't a single piece of good land on him," Hua Liuli sighed. "There
are many things in the world that can be redone, but life only comes once."
"When you die, you really have nothing left."

Yao Jiamin fell silent, feeling a lump in her throat. She looked at Hua Liuli
and couldn't bring herself to ask. How many stories like this played out in
the military camp every day?

She seemed to understand why her father, who only knew luxury and
indulgence, became much more frugal after escorting grain and supplies to
Qinghan Prefecture.

Some scenes could only be truly understood when witnessed firsthand, for
they were truly heart-wrenching.

When they arrived at the Du Family Estate, Yao Jiamin still felt a bit
sluggish. She walked ahead wearily and handed the invitation card to the
gatekeeper. Soon, maidservants and old women bowed to invite the two
inside.

As soon as they stepped into the Du Family Estate, Hua Liuli sensed a
heavy atmosphere. There seemed to be a faint bitter medicinal scent
lingering in the air. The servants and attendants all had solemn expressions,
without any trace of a smile.

The one receiving them was the weary-looking Madam Du. Upon hearing
that the two Junzhus came to visit her daughter, Madam Du forced a smile
and said, "Thank you for your concern, noble Junzhus. My daughter caught
a cold a couple of days ago and has been bedridden. Please come again
later."

"Aunt, Cousin has always been in good health. How did she become so
severely ill?" Yao Jiamin stood up and said, "I'll go take a look at her."

"Jiamin Junzhu," Madam Du called out to Yao Jiamin, "Wait until Xiuying
recovers a bit before you go in. I'm afraid she might infect you before
recovering from her illness."

Yao Jiamin froze and turned to glance at Hua Liuli. In an instant, she
understood what her aunt was worried about.
It was well-known that Hua Liuli's health was weak throughout the entire
capital. If something really happened, the Du family couldn't bear the
responsibility. Yao Jiamin pursed her lips and said to Madam Du, "Aunt, I'll
just go in and take a look."

Seeing that Hua Liuli showed no intention of going in with her, Madam Du
breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at Hua Liuli with a gentle expression
and said, "General Wei mentioned you when she visited last time. How
have you been adapting during your time in the capital?"

"Everything is fine," Hua Liuli asked about Du Xiuying's condition a few

more times. After learning that it was just a common cold, she put her heart
at ease.

Madam Du had a gentle personality. Although she wasn't familiar with Hua
Liuli, she always managed to find a topic to keep the atmosphere in the
room from becoming cold.

"Madam," a maidservant dressed in aqua-colored attire walked in and

respectfully said, "The esteemed guest you requested has arrived."

Madam Du glanced at Hua Liuli, and Hua Liuli immediately said, "A
distinguished guest has arrived. As a junior and a friend of Young Lady Du,
I hope Madam to receive your guests."

"I apologize," Madam Du smiled apologetically to Hua Liuli and stood up

to greet the guest.

Soon, Madam Du led in a Taoist priest, followed by two Taoist disciples.

They seemed untainted by the mortal world and exuded an air of authority.

"Fushou Junzhu," the Taoist priest saw Hua Liuli and greeted her with a
Daoist salute.

"Abbot Qinghui, greetings," Hua Liuli returned the gesture.

"Abbot and Fushou Junzhu know each other?" Madam Du was surprised
that Hua Liuli actually knew the most famous Abbot Qinghui in the capital.
"I had a brief encounter with Fushou Junzhu at the Taoist temple," Qinghui
sat down on a chair and then turned to Madam Du, saying, "Madam, I am
an outsider and possess no ability to revive the dead or heal the sick.
Madam truly overestimated me."

She had heard of Taoist priests selling fake pills claiming to grant
immortality and had encountered Daoists who boasted of their ability to
give divination. So, facing a Daoist like Qinghui who was so
straightforward and honest, Madam Du didn't know how to react for a
moment.

Hua Liuli glanced at Madam Du and felt that her facial expression had
frozen.

"Life and death are fated, and fortune lies in the heavens," Qinghui shook
his head and said, "Old Master Du is a learned man who has always agreed
with my views."

Madam Du was stunned for a moment before saying, "Abbot, is there really
no way?"

Qinghui shook his head, "Madam, although I don't possess the means to
extend life or revive the dead, I do know a bit about feng shui. If you don't
mind, I can take a look at your residence."

"Then I shall trouble you, Abbot," Perhaps due to Qinghui's honesty,

Madam Du actually had more trust in him.

"Shall we begin now?" Qinghui turned his head and looked at Hua Liuli,
"Junzhu, please join us."

"Abbot, I'm an outsider, wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to be present?"

Although Hua Liuli didn't believe in such things, she understood that it
might be inconvenient to have an outsider involved.

"If it were someone else, it would indeed be inappropriate, but Junzhu is

different from others," Qinghui smiled and made a gesture of invitation to
Hua Liuli.
"Abbot, forgive my rudeness, but why is Fushou Junzhu different from
others?" Despite being exhausted these days, Madam Du's curiosity was
still present.

"Because Junzhu and I have a connection in the Dao," Qinghui smiled

mysteriously.

Hua Liuli: "..."

Thank you, excuse me, goodbye.

Seeing Hua Liuli's refusal, Qinghui chuckled and his wide sleeves moved
without any wind, it was as if he were a celestial being descending from the
heavens, "I was just joking, Junzhu, please don't mind."

Hua Liuli curled her lips and said, "Abbot, you have a good sense of
humor."

Qinghui didn't wander around the Du Family Estate but instead took out the
architectural plan of the estate and gave some instructions.

The general idea was about which trees to plant, which flowers to avoid,
and the addition of a few more windows here and there. Hua Liuli listened
absentmindedly, waiting for Yao Jiamin to come out.

At this time, a few maidservants entered and spoke something to Madam

Du in a low voice. Not sure what the maidservants had told Madam Du, but
Madam Du apologized with a guilty expression, "Please excuse me, Abbot
and Junzhu. Please wait a moment while I go and come back."

"Madam, please take your time," Qinghui picked up his teacup and took a
sip. After Madam Du lifted the curtain and left, he turned to Hua Liuli, who
was sitting across from him, and said, "Junzhu, do you believe in fate?"

"Abbot, what do you mean by that?" Hua Liuli smiled and asked.

"After birth, everyone's fate is predetermined, but Junzhu is different.

However, your fate is not fixed, and you can even influence those around
you," Qinghui smiled and said, "People like you, if you focus on cultivating
the Dao, will achieve great things."

"Abbot, I've heard that when someone is lying, they often use small actions
to cover it up," Hua Liuli smiled, "In just a few words you said earlier, you
scraped the tea leaves in your cup five or six times with the lid."

Qinghui was stunned, then chuckled lightly, "Junzhu, you truly are the
daughter of two great generals. You have sharp eyes."

After being exposed by Hua Liuli, Qinghui no longer pretended to be

mysterious. He put down his teacup and smiled at Hua Liuli, "I thought that
Junzhu would enjoy being praised for her extraordinary background."

"Why should I pretend to be someone I'm not when I'm perfectly fine as
myself?" Hua Liuli restrained the smile on her face, "What is the purpose
behind your probing words, Daoist?"

Qinghui smiled and stood up, bowing to Hua Liuli, "Please forgive me,
Junzhu. I have no ill intentions."

Hua Liuli remained silent. She heard footsteps approaching from the
corridor outside and took out a handkerchief, lightly coughing a few times
to cover the corner of her mouth. Then she saw Madam Du entering with a
box, and from her manner, it seemed to be a special gift prepared for
Qinghui.

Hua Liuli stood up and apologized to Madam Du, "Madam Du, when I
entered earlier, I noticed an interesting pomegranate tree in the courtyard
and wanted to take a look. Please forgive my rudeness."

"Princess, there's no need to be so polite. Your mother and I have known

each other for a long time. You can consider this place as your own home,"
Madam Du smiled and asked a maidservant to escort Hua Liuli outside.

In her heart, she understood that there was nothing particularly interesting
about the pomegranate tree, and Hua Liuli was merely finding an excuse to
leave so that she could have a detailed conversation with Qinghui.
The weather was gradually becoming warmer, so standing in the sun in her
spring attire made Hua Liuli feel a bit hot. She extended her hand to shield
herself from the sun and moved to the shade of a tree.

In her view, the Du family was quite interesting. Old Master Du was a
principled man, and his granddaughter, raised under his guidance, had
inherited his character. However, Madam Du believed in seeking divine
help and even invited Taoists to treat Master Du's illness.

Fortunately, Qinghui wasn't the kind of fake Daoist who only cared about
money; otherwise, it could have caused a lot of trouble.

After a while, Yao Jiamin returned with her eyes reddened. It seemed she
had been crying.

"Are you okay?" Hua Liuli walked over to her.

"I'm fine," Yao Jiamin sniffed, "I mentioned to Sister Du that you were
here, so she kept urging me to leave. She even made me stay in the sun for a
while before coming to find you, so as not to pass on any illness to you."

As she said this, she glanced at Hua Liuli with a hidden meaning,
"Fortunately, you're a young lady. Otherwise, I would have suspected that
Sister Du has a crush on you."

In the past, whenever she went out to play with her sisters, Du Xiuying was
always critical. The last time when she saw her with Hua Liuli outside the
music hall, Du Xiuying felt that she was a bad influence on Hua Liuli.

Clearly, she was very sick, but when she heard Hua Liuli was with her, she
forcefully sat up from the bed. She kept saying how Hua Liuli was weak
and young, asking Yao Jiamin not to bully her.

Who was really bullying whom?

Who exactly was bullying the other?

Yao Jiamin didn't know whether she was crying out of sadness or anger.
Ever since she met with Hua Liuli, she hadn't gained any advantages.
People always saw her as the one causing trouble, while Hua Liuli was like
a blooming innocent and helpless white lotus, fragrant and delicate.

Soon, Qinghui also arrived in the courtyard. He still had that air of
superiority, but the young disciple accompanying him now carried a
wooden box. When he saw Hua Liuli standing in the shade of the tree, he
stopped and turned towards her, "Fushou Junzhu, there will be a ceremony
tomorrow at Bihuan Temple, I sincerely invite Junzhu to attend."

"Abbot Qinghui?!" Jiamin was shocked to see Qinghui, "Abbot, greetings."

"Greetings, Young Lady," Qinghui returned the gesture.

"I wonder if I can come to the ceremony tomorrow?" Yao Jiamin asked
eagerly.

Qinghui looked at Hua Liuli and said, "Young Lady is a friend of Fushou
Junzhu. If Fushou Junzhu is willing to come, Young Lady can accompany
her."

Hua Liuli: "..."

Abbot Qinghui, how obsessed are you with me joining the Daoist sect?

"Please rest assured, we will come on time," Yao Jiamin said, seeing off
Master Qinghui. She turned to Hua Liuli and said, "That's Abbot Qinghui,
the most famous Daoist in our Great Jin. He only invites those with fate to
his ceremonies. You must go with me tomorrow. If you don't, I'll tie you up
and take you there."

"Are you sure?" Hua Liuli raised an eyebrow.

"Just go," Yao Jiamin grabbed Hua Liuli's sleeve, "You are the moon, you
are the flower, you are the most beautiful woman in our Great Jin. I called
you sister, so take me with you, okay?"

After several days of being together, Yao Jiamin had already forgotten the
fear she felt when Hua Liuli wielded a sword to kill the abductors.
"Fine," Hua Liuli sighed, "Come and pick me up tomorrow."

"Okay, okay," Yao Jiamin took Hua Liuli to bid farewell to Madam Du.
After the two boarded the carriage, she continued to talk about the greatness
of Abbot Qinghui to Hua Liuli.

"Even if an imperial princess invites him, he might not show up. But this
time, he personally invited you to attend the ceremony. You should feel
happy about it."

"When my mother and I went to Qinghui Temple to pay respects, there

were no other worshippers in the temple, not even on the way to the
temple," Hua Liuli doubted whether Yao Jiamin was deliberately
exaggerating and praising the position of Abbot Qinghui.

"Are you saying you went on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month?"
Yao Jiamin looked at Hua Liuli suspiciously. She suddenly remembered the
rumors about the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli circulating in the palace a
while ago, but the rumors disappeared quickly, and she almost forgot about
it.

Seeing Hua Liuli nod, Yao Jiamin was dumbfounded, "Daring to go to that
temple to pay respects on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month. Indeed,
you are General Wei, different from other ordinary people."

Hua Liuli felt that something was off about Yao Jiamin's words.

"You grew up on the border since you were young, so you don't know about
these taboos in the capital. Do you know which day is the memorial day for
Empress Gonghui?"

Hua Liuli shook her head.

"It's the sixteenth day of the first lunar month," Yao Jiamin sighed, "When
Empress Gonghui passed away, the Third Prince was still very young, and
the Emperor had not yet proclaimed him as the Crown Prince. Later, when
the Third Prince was established as the Crown Prince, the Emperor
posthumously honored the birth mother of the Crown Prince, Consort Hui,
as Empress Gonghui. Over the years, to commemorate his birth mother, the
Crown Prince would light a fortune lamp for her in that temple on the
sixteenth day of the first lunar month, praying for her next life to be free
from disasters and to live a happy life."

"After the Crown Prince turned fifteen, there were often officials or young
ladies pretending to coincidentally meet him, which made the Crown Prince
furious. Even the Emperor issued an edict to reprimand them. Since then,
no one dares to go to the temple on the sixteenth day of the first lunar
month to avoid crossing paths with the Crown Prince."

"Are you suggesting that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had lit the
fortune lamp in the temple in memory of Empress Gonghui?" Hua Liuli's
expression became extremely strange.

"Who else could it be for?" Yao Jiamin rolled her eyes, "The Crown Prince
doesn't usually believe in gods or Buddhas, but he would break his usual
habit when it comes to Empress Gonghui. Don't spread these words around.
If the Crown Prince finds out I've been talking behind his back, I'll be done
for."

"Don't worry, I won't mention these things to anyone," Hua Liuli couldn't
help but retort, "But His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is not a grudge-
bearing person. Even if he finds out that you said these things, what can he
do? Don't portray him as some sort of demon."

Yao Jiamin: "I..."

Facing Hua Liuli's serious gaze, Yao Jiamin swallowed her dissatisfaction.
But she really wanted to roar. What part of the Crown Prince doesn't
resemble a demon?

The biggest joke in the world is that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince
doesn't bear grudges.

That person, he never keeps these things in his heart because he writes them
all down in his little notebook.
"Fine," Yao Jiamin took a deep breath, "You're beautiful, whatever you say
is right. As long as you take me to the ceremony tomorrow, everything will
be fine."

Under the torment of Hua Liuli's spirit, Yao Jiamin finally learned to bend
and stretch.

In the Imperial Palace, Emperor Changlong looked at his son in front of

him, "Speak up, why aren't you attending court tomorrow?"

"There will be a ceremony at Abbot Qinghui's Taoist temple tomorrow.

Erchen wishes to go and light a longevity lamp for Father Emperor," the
Crown Prince bowed and said, "Praying for the blessings of the immortal
gods to protect Father Emperor for ten thousand years."

"Speak the truth," Emperor Changlong threw down his brush, his face stern.
Facing this troublesome son every day and still having to live for ten
thousand years, it wasn't a life of comfort but of suffering.

"Erchen just wants to go out and take a look. Erchen heard that Father
Emperor's future daughter-in-law will also be going," the Crown Prince
shamelessly said, "As the saying goes, one must establish a family before
pursuing a career. Father Emperor should at least let Erchen establish a
family."

Unable to marry the girl he desired, he had no interest in anything else.

Emperor Changlong stared at the Crown Prince for several moments before
gritting his teeth, "Wait until you have the ability to pursue that girl, then
talk about a daughter-in-law."

Back then, he only threw a few teasing remarks at Wei Mingyue, and she
broke a stone stool in front of him. Now his son has set his sights on her
daughter. He didn't know if she would break the royal table right in front of
him.

Children are a burden indeed.

Emperor Changlong waved his hand in annoyance. "Go away, don't bother
Zhen."

"Erchen takes my leave," the Crown Prince exited Chengyang Palace with a
smug smile, taking a few silver bills from Emperor Changlong's private
treasury along the way.

An emperor who doesn't have a shameless son relying on him for a living is
not an emperor.

"Little sister, what's wrong with you?" Hua Changkong came out of the
study and saw his sister sitting in the courtyard, gazing at the moon in the
sky and lost in thought. He worriedly asked, "Did something upset you
today?"

Hua Liuli turned her head to look at him blankly, "Third Brother, you were
right before. Reading too many books is bad for the mind."

"What's going on?" Startled by Hua Liuli's serious tone, Hua Changkong sat
down beside her, "Come on, tell your third brother."

"Ah," Hua Liuli sighed but remained silent.

She remembered the night of the Lantern Festival and the following day at
the temple, with the melancholic Crown Prince.

Perhaps there wasn't a girl he desired, only a child who lost his mother at a
young age, holding onto memories of his mother. While everyone was
celebrating on that lively night, he stood alone on the high viewing
platform, wrapped in thick clothes, the cold night breeze blowing, silently
witnessing other people's joy and reunions.

Thinking of the little Crown Prince, standing on the windy viewing

platform, desperately tiptoeing to catch a glimpse of the lanterns and
revelry outside the palace, Hua Liuli felt her heart ache.

She sighed and said to Hua Changkong, "Third Brother, can you help me
deal with those books in my courtyard?"
Having read too many books, she thought she had seen through the
intricacies of love, hatred, life, death, and separations. In reality, there was
no logic to it all.

People's sorrows and joys do not necessarily align, since each person's life
follows a different path.

"In the past, whenever you used to secretly read these storybooks, you were
punished to copy. How did you suddenly come to this realization?" Hua
Changkong grew even more worried, fearing that his little sister had
experienced some sort of trauma.

"I feel like I should treat the Crown Prince better," Hua Liuli nodded, "Even
better than before."

"Huh?" Hua Changkong looked bewildered. What does that have to do with
the Crown Prince?

He stared at his solemn and earnest little sister, cautiously asking, "Little
sister, are you not planning to raise male companions anymore?"

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 50 – Lamp of
Transcendence

Upon hearing her third brother mention the matter she had temporarily set
aside, Hua Liuli's expression froze for a moment.

"What's wrong?" Hua Changkong sensed that something was off with his
little sister's expression.

"It's nothing. Let's not bring up the past," Hua Liuli took a deep breath,
"Before I turn twenty, I don't need to consider this matter."

"That's good," Hua Changkong nodded, a relieved look on his face, "At
your young age, it's not good to be obsessed with beauty."

"Third Brother, you didn't say that before," Hua Liuli looked at him
expressionlessly.

"If it wasn't to make you happy, I wouldn't go against my conscience and

say such things," Hua Changkong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Before
coming to the capital, he worried that the bustling and lively atmosphere of
the city would lead his little sister astray. Fortunately, other than causing a
ruckus with a few young girls from the capital, she hadn't done anything
else.

Now, even her bad habit of being obsessed with beauty has changed, so
that's a good thing.

"It's rare for you to change your attitude. Who made you come to your
senses?"

Hua Liuli suddenly changed her mind. There must be a reason for it.
"A few days ago, I had a casual chat with His Royal Highness the Crown
Prince..."

"You don't have to say anymore. I understand," Hua Changkong sighed

inwardly. What not being obsessed with beauty anymore? She was clearly
being bewitched by beauty, to the point of even rejecting the opportunity to
raise other beautiful male companions.

He knew that his own younger sister wouldn't be so easy to handle.

"Third Brother..."

"You don't have to explain. I understand," Hua Changkong patted her

shoulder, "Go to sleep early."

Instead of hoping that his little sister would have no interest in beauty, he
might as well go to sleep and dream about it.

Hua Liuli cupped her face, "But I can't sleep. How about you chat with
me?"

Hua Changkong, who had just stood up, sat back down, "What do you want
to chat about?"

"Let's talk about the Crown Prince, for example, his past and what he likes
in his daily life," Perhaps it was because the Crown Prince was too good-
looking, or maybe it was because they got along very well, in addition to
the fact that when she was in the palace, she often went to the Eastern
Palace to eat and drink. Whatever it may be, Hua Liuli realized that she had
a special affection for the Crown Prince.

"I suddenly feel very tired," Hua Changkong yawned and stood up, "I need
to review my books tomorrow, so I won't accompany you."

Hua Liuli: "..."

Indeed, men are fickle, including her own brother.

The more Hua Changkong thought about it, the more worried he became.
His little sister wanted to know everything about the Crown Prince. Could it
be that she was bewitched by him?

In terms of appearance, the Crown Prince was the epitome of the imperial
family.

In terms of intelligence, none of the other princes could compare to him.

In terms of favoritism, everyone in the capital knew that the Emperor's most
beloved son was the Crown Prince.

Regarding romantic matters, there were many rumors about the Crown
Prince. It was said that there were young girls who wanted to seduce him,
but they were ruthlessly mocked by the Crown Prince, who would say,
"You're not as good-looking as Gu. Gu looks at myself in the mirror every
day. How could Gu be captivated by you?"

Later, a beautiful noble young lady tried to get close to the Crown Prince,
but the Crown Prince pointed at a wild chicken on a tree and publicly
mocked her, "Look at the bird on the tree, does its coquettish behavior
resemble a mountain chicken?"

The noble young lady left in anger, but the Crown Prince took out his bow
and arrow, shot down the mountain chicken, and plucked its tail to make a
fan. He deliberately took out the fan in front of the noble young lady's
father and played with it.

Since then, even though the Crown Prince was unmatched in appearance,
not many noble young ladies dared to approach him. Who would want to be
treated like a mountain chicken?

However, because of this incident, rumors about the Crown Prince's sharp
tongue spread, and people occasionally complained privately. How long
could the Emperor tolerate his arrogance?

Hua Changkong didn't care how long the Emperor could tolerate the Crown
Prince. He was worried about his little sister being with the Crown Prince.
One was quick-witted with words, while the other had a wandering hand.
When they were together, there would definitely be either death or injury.

He walked two laps in his courtyard before he finally decided to make a trip
to his parents' courtyard.

At this time, Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue still hadn't gone to sleep. The
couple was enjoying the moonlight when they saw their son approaching,
disrupting the atmosphere. Hua Yingting cleared his throat and set down his
wine cup, "Changkong, why are you here so late?"

"There's an important matter," Hua Changkong squeezed next to the table.

From under the table, he could smell the fragrance of the wine, so he
couldn't help but say, "Father, I remember you said that this jar of wine was
prepared for me to drink when I got married."

"I've been waiting for you to bring a wife home for nearly twenty years, but
there's no good news. It's a waste to keep this wine, your mother and I
might as well drink it," Hua Yingting drank without guilt, while also
refilling his wife's cup.

Hua Changkong had nothing to say in response. It was his parents who
were secretly drinking, so what could he do but smile and pour them wine?
"I came here today for little sister's matter."

"What could be the matter with your sister?" Hua Yingting took a sip of
wine, "She has always been well-behaved, likable, and intelligent."

Seeing the bottomless trust his parents had in his sister, Hua Changkong
said, "There wasn't much of a problem with my sister initially, but now
she's taken an interest in the Crown Prince, and that's become an issue."

He thought that when he said this, his parents would be shocked and
surprised. However, what he didn't expect was that his father simply took
the opportunity to have a few more drinks.

"This matter truly surprises me. I'll have a few more drinks to calm myself,"
said Hua Yingting as he took his third cup, but he was glared at by Wei
Mingyue, so he reluctantly put down his wine cup.

From his father's calm face, Hua Changkong couldn't see the slightest trace
of surprise.

"I already know about the fondness between Liuli and the Crown Prince,"
Wei Mingyue spoke up, "Liuli is still young and hasn't matured in her
thinking. We, as family members, have imposed too many restrictions,
which is not good."

"She has seen too much separation and parting at the border since she was
young, so naturally, she has developed a resistance to attachments and
love," Wei Mingyue sighed, "Whether it's the Crown Prince or others, let
her be."

Separation and parting are beyond anyone's control. Having seen it

repeatedly, there is no longing for love and affection in one's heart but
rather fear.

Perhaps in Liuli's mind, it is better to be free in life and carefree in death

than to suffer heartbreak for someone.

"But what about the Emperor's side?" Hua Changkong was somewhat
worried.

"The Emperor prefers people around him to be straightforward and

trustworthy. The more open they are, the more he trusts them. It's not good
to hide things," Hua Yingting understood Emperor Changlong's character
very well, "The Emperor is different from other emperors. You don't have to
worry too much."

Hua Changkong recalled the various rumors outside and nodded with a
serious expression, "I understand."

The two elderly individuals had known and understood Emperor Changlong
since they were young. They should understand his character and thoughts
better than him. Since they said there was no problem, then surely there was
no problem.
"But it's not without any issues," Wei Mingyue spoke up again, "The Crown
Prince holds a prestigious status, and your sister... she's quite unique. You
know what I mean."

The three of them exchanged glances and fell silent simultaneously, their
hearts filled with worry.

"If one day your sister can't control herself and makes a move on the Crown
Prince, how can I explain it to the Emperor?" Wei Mingyue voiced her
concerns.

In Chenyang Palace, Emperor Changlong sighed as he spoke to the moon.

"Sancai, do you think Zhen is doing the right thing or not?" Emperor
Changlong had a worried and pained expression. Deep down, he knew the
temperament of his children. Even if he was biased, he couldn't deny that
the Crown Prince was a gentle, considerate, and tolerant good man.

That delicate little girl from the Hua family, would she be able to handle the
Crown Prince's sharp tongue?

If she couldn't endure it and ended up being frustrated, where could he find
a daughter to give back to Yingting?

"Alas, how could Zhen broach this matter?" Emperor Changlong lost many
hairs because of this issue.

He couldn't just go up to Hua Yingting and casually say, "Oh, Yingting,

even though my eldest son didn't take a liking to your daughter, my third
son is interested in her. Shall we pick a good day and arrange their
marriage?"

Even if he dared to think about Hua Yingting's reaction, he wouldn't dare to

think about Wei Mingyue's attitude.

Even if he was the Emperor, he couldn't be so shameless. Moreover, Wei

Mingyue was Hua Liuli's mother!
"Your Majesty, although I don't understand matters of love, I do have some
understanding of human nature," Zhao Sancai said, "Men in this world are
fickle because they haven't encountered a woman who can make them
transfixed. If they do meet such a woman, they would naturally be willing
to restrain their usual habits in her presence, only hoping to see her smile."

"If there were truly a woman who could make him evolve into a better
person, Zhen would wake up laughing in the middle of the night," Emperor
Changlong always suspected that he had been too good to his sons, which
made them more and more unreliable. They were dull, boring, foolish, and
strange, one worse than the other. And his most favored son was always
lazy. If his most favored son finally made an effort to do something, he
would still have to go out and clean up after him like an old father wiping
his buttocks.

The Empress Dowager always advised him to wait until the children were
married.

But if he let them casually marry a girl, not only would they not improve,
but they would probably cause more trouble. For example, the matter with
the eldest son. He originally thought that Lin Zhou was a top scholar, and
when he served as the Prefect of Yongzhou, he had the support of the
people. He felt that his daughter must be clever and resourceful,
complementing the eldest son.

As a result, that girl was indeed intelligent, excessively so. Before

becoming even becoming Ying Wangfei, she was already considering
whether the future of military officials would be good or bad.

The second son only knew how to eat and drink all day, lacking any
independent opinions. Whatever the eldest son and the Crown Prince did,
he followed suit. Sometimes, he wonders, if this second son of his is even
less intelligent than the eldest son.

The fourth son couldn't speak a word in half a day, his gloomy personality
was hard to fathom.
The fifth son seemed fine on the surface, elegant and graceful, exuding the
demeanor of a prince with every move. But as soon as the topic of painting
was mentioned, he would become completely abnormal.

Being an emperor is tiring, being an old father is tiring, being a person is

also really tiring.

Emperor Changlong sighed countless times in his heart.

"Your Royal Highness, what are you looking for?" the private treasury of
the Eastern Palace was filled with precious antiques and jewelry. Several
eunuchs who served the Crown Prince were helping him search for the gift
list from nine years ago. Finally, in a corner, they found a box labeled with
words like "congratulatory gift for moving".

"Is this the congratulatory gift that General Hua and his family gave when
Gu moved to the Eastern Palace?" The Crown Prince glanced at the simple
box and opened the lid.

Although there were many things in the private treasury, they were
regularly cleaned by the eunuchs and had not accumulated any dust. Some
of the items in the box had become a bit old due to not being opened for
many years.

The Crown Prince bent down and picked up two small lucky dolls in the
corner of the box.

"How could General Hua send such things in?" One of the eunuchs by his
side had a drastic change in expression. This kind of small toy was not
something anyone would send except for the people serving the Crown
Prince.

Firstly, these things were easily tampered with. In the previous dynasty, a
prince received such a doll, and it was later discovered that the doll had
curse symbols inside. Therefore, in the current dynasty, although there was
no explicit rule, court officials would not send such things to the Crown
Prince or his descendants unless they had a very close relationship.
Secondly, the things used by the Crown Prince were all made of the best
materials. Dolls made of ordinary cotton fabric like these would not be
considered suitable.

"Why not?" The Crown Prince examined the two lucky dolls. The
craftsmanship of the dolls was very good, with chubby faces that looked
very auspicious. The bellies were soft, and a gentle squeeze revealed that
there were no foreign objects inside. They had a soft and delicate touch,
suitable for children to hold and play with.

"They are very cute dolls, Gu likes them," the Crown Prince stood up and
walked out of the private treasury and placed the dolls in his own sleeping
quarters.

These dolls were so cute. They must have been even cuter when Liuli
secretly put them in the box back then.

If only he had discovered these two dolls earlier.

The dolls were one male and one female. As the Crown Prince looked at
them more and more, he called the people by his side, "Find someone to
make a courtyard for them, a beautiful courtyard."

"Your Highness, what kind of courtyard?" the eunuch was a bit

dumbfounded. He never expected that the Crown Prince, who had grown
up, would actually develop an interest in playing with dolls.

"A bridal chamber," the Crown Prince said mysteriously, "And make a set
of wedding attire for them."

"I will take note of it, Your Royal Highness," the eunuch replied.

After the eunuch left, the Crown Prince poked the face of the little doll with
his finger, "Your owner has gifted you to Gu. How should Gu repay her?"

He adjusted the position of the dolls, allowing their faces to touch each
other.

"How about... offering myself to her?"

As the most famous Taoist in the capital, Abbot Qinghui was admired by
countless people. Some wealthy nobles would often spend a fortune to ask
Qinghui to read their fortunes without hesitation.

When they learned that Abbot Qinghui would preside over a Taoist
ceremony, countless people wanted to attend. However, when they arrived
at the foot of the mountain, they saw heavy guards and guessed that some
noble figures would be participating in the ceremony. They could only stay
at the foot of the mountain, drinking tea and enjoying the lively atmosphere
of the ceremony.

Every time such a ceremony was held, the nearby vendors were the
happiest. They set up their stalls and occupied the best spots early in the
morning. With the presence of people who came to watch the spectacle at
the foot of the mountain, they could earn a good amount of silver.

The Taoist masters in the Taoist temple also understood people's desire to
watch the spectacle, so they set up a stage at the foot of the mountain and
performed some martial arts and swordsmanship, causing the onlookers to
cheer repeatedly.

Inside the carriage, Yao Jiamin looked at Hua Liuli, who looked sleepy, and
couldn't help but ask, "What were you doing last night? You slept so late?"

"I dreamt of a beauty," Hua Liuli yawned. She smelled the aroma of food
and opened her drowsy eyes, "Are we there yet?"

"We'll be there soon," Yao Jiamin lifted the curtain and took a glance,
pointing at several children running around, "Even the children have more
energy than you."

"You have a point. Should I go back and get some more sleep?"

"What I meant was, you worked hard to come to this ceremony," Yao
Jiamin was afraid that Hua Liuli would really change her mind and go
home, so she quickly persuaded her, "Since we're already here, it would be
troublesome to go back."
The carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain. The guards looked at the
waist tokens of Hua Liuli and Yao Jiamin before bowing to let them up the
mountain.

"Sister Jiamin," Hua Liuli took two steps and looked at Yao Jiamin with a
smile, "You know, I have a weak constitution and lack energy..."

Jiamin looked at the tall stone steps and Hua Liuli's outstretched hand, and
she was filled with refusal in her heart and eyes.

"Liuli," a plain white handkerchief fell into Hua Liuli's palm, then a warm
hand held Hua Liuli's hand through the handkerchief.

"Gu will take you up," the Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli, "Jiamin is just
a girl, she can't take care of you properly."

Yao Jiamin silently took two steps back. He was the Crown Prince,
whatever he said was final. She quickly looked around to make sure there
were no other noble young masters or ladies from prominent families
behind them before secretly letting out a sigh of relief.

Wait, the ones holding hands are the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli. Why was
she worrying about it?

"Come," the Crown Prince smiled at Hua Liuli. His charming smile made
her heart itch, how could she bear to let go of his hand?

The Crown Prince walked slowly, whispering to Hua Liuli, "Gu really liked
the dolls you gave me."

"Your Royal Highness had found them?" Hua Liuli was somewhat
surprised.

"Because they were gifts from the two generals, Gu never had the heart to
be separated from them," the Crown Prince turned to look at her.
"Fortunately, Gu had kept them, which allowed me to see this gift from
many years ago."
"At that time, I was too young and didn't understand anything," Hua Liuli
chuckled, "Fortunately, I didn't cause any trouble, otherwise..."

"Don't worry, even back then, Gu would have liked them," The Crown
Prince tightened his grip on Hua Liuli's hand. Despite the handkerchief
between them, he could still feel the softness and warmth of Hua Liuli's
palm, "It was the most sincere blessing from a little girl. How could Gu not
like it."

Hearing these words, Hua Liuli felt inexplicably embarrassed, yet there was
also a sense of indescribable satisfaction.

Anyone would be moved if someone cherished the small gifts they gave
when they were young and ignorant.

The Crown Prince was truly a rare gentle man.

"Gu had people make beautiful houses and clothes for them. When you
come to the palace next time, Gu will take you to see them," the Crown
Prince paused his steps when he saw Ying Wang and the Second Princess
standing ahead.

Ying Wang stared wide-eyed at them holding hands.

"Fushou Junzhu is weak, so Gu escorted her up," Faced with his own
siblings, the Crown Prince's expression softened slightly, and he didn't let
go of Hua Liuli's hand.

Before Ying Wang could speak, the Second Princess spoke first, "The
Crown Prince is truly considerate. We heard from Abbot Qinghui that Your
Royal Highness was also coming, so we waited outside the gate. Let's go in
together."

The Second Princess stepped aside to show her respect for the Crown
Prince.

She then noticed Jiamin, who was following behind the Crown Prince and
Hua Liuli. Feeling somewhat surprised, she asked, "Jiamin Junzhu, did
you... come here with the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu?"

Yao Jiamin had never been close to Hua Liuli, nor was she close to the
Crown Prince. Why were the three of them together today?

Princess Shunan had always supported Consort Xian. Since Princess

Shunan had a verbal dispute with the Crown Prince, their family shouldn't
have gotten too close to the Crown Prince.

Could it be... Princess Shunan had secretly sided with the Crown Prince?

No wonder. A few days ago, the Empress Dowager ordered Yao Jiamin to
live in the palace, but she had never once visited Consort Xian in Lincui
Palace during her stay in the palace. It turns out she had found a new
backer.

With countless thoughts running through her mind, the Second Princess
maintained a calm demeanor and walked side by side affectionately with
Yao Jiamin, "You haven't come to play with us these days. Have you been
occupied with other matters?"

Yao Jiamin glanced at Hua Liuli. She accompanied Hua Liuli every day, so
she didn't have time to play with other girls. But she couldn't speak out
about this embarrassing matter, so she vaguely responded, "Hmm, I've been
held back by some matters recently."

"I see," the Second Princess noticed Yao Jiamin's discreet glance at Hua
Liuli, her speculations becoming even clearer. Indeed, Princess Shunan's
family had indeed sided with the Crown Prince. Perhaps even the Yao
family was likely leaning toward the Eastern Palace.

Suppressing the smile at the corner of her mouth, the Second Princess
raised her head and looked at Ying Wang, her mind swirling with countless
thoughts, yet she remained silent.

"Why is the Crown Prince with Fushou Junzhu?" Ying Wang noticed the
faint blush on Hua Liuli's fair face due to climbing the steps and averted his
gaze uncomfortably.
They had only walked a few steps, yet her face had turned so red. Hua
Liuli's constitution was indeed too weak.

"Just happened to pass by. The stone steps are steep, Gu was worried that
Fushou Junzhu might fall, so Gu had to support her to feel at ease," the
Crown Prince accompanied Hua Liuli's pace, walking slowly, "Gu seemed
to remember that Eldest Brother didn't seem to believe in Gods and
Buddhas. Why did you come today?"

"The Crown Prince could come, why can't Benwang come?" Ying Wang
said in a strange tone, "Is this Taoist temple exclusively the Crown
Prince's?" He couldn't possibly tell the Crown Prince that he had been
driven to seek a marriage alliance by his mother, right?

"You're right, Eldest Brother. Gu misspoke," the Crown Prince apologized

with a gentle smile.

Ying Wang was taken aback by Yuansu's attitude. Was the Crown Prince
okay today?

Whenever he faced the Crown Prince before, he would always end up on

the losing side without exception.

Would the Crown Prince apologize?

Of course not.

Would the Crown Prince go easy on him just because he was the older
brother?

Possibly in his dreams.

But today, not only did the Crown Prince go easy on him, but he also had a
very agreeable demeanor. That gentle and tolerant attitude felt repulsive no
matter how he looked at it. Could it be a new tactic the Crown Prince was
using to deal with him?

The more he thought about it, the more suspicious he became. Ying Wang
frowned and stared at the Crown Prince for a moment, without saying
anything.

"Eldest Brother has always been like this, without any ill intentions," the
Crown Prince turned to Hua Liuli and smiled, "You don't have to take it to
heart."

Hua Liuli looked at Ying Wang and then at the Crown Prince, but she didn't
say anything.

Ying Wang was completely confused. He hadn't said anything bad about
Fushou Junzhu, so why should she take it to heart? He had a vague feeling
that something was off, but he couldn't figure out exactly what it was.

Or was it because the Crown Prince was acting weirdly unusual today,
making him overthink?

"Gu is going to light a lamp of longevity for Father Empero. Will you join
Gu?" as they were about to finish climbing the stairs, the Crown Prince
slowed down even more, "If you don't want to go, Gu will have someone
accompany you for a walk."

"Let's go together," Hua Liuli said, "I'll come with you."

"Good."

As they stepped onto the last step of the stairs, the Crown Prince lowered
his head and looked at the intertwined hands of the two. Then he slowly let
go of her hand before hiding his hand in his sleeve, "Let's go. Let's light the
lamps before the ceremony begins."

Ying Wang hesitated for a moment before he also followed along.

In the Dharma Hall, a Taoist priest greeted them and gave them instructions
on lighting the lamps.

"Devotee, what kind of lamp would you like to light?" A young Taoist
priest approached Hua Liuli and bowed.
"A lamp of transcendence," Hua Liuli took out a silver ticket and lit the
most expensive lamp for the deceased.

"For whom is the devotee lighting the lamp?"

The Crown Prince and Ying Wang both turned their heads. The lamps of
transcendence were usually lit for the deceased.

Hua Liuli looked up at the image of the Three Pure Ones, bowed deeply,
and said, "I'm lighting it for the warriors who sacrificed themselves on the
battlefield."

"The Great Jin is now enjoying peace and prosperity. I hope they can be
reborn as citizens of Great Jin and live a peaceful life," After finishing the
ritual, Hua Liuli stood up from the cushion and heard the Crown Prince say,
"Let Gu light a lamp for them as well, alright?"

"Sure," Hua Liuli smiled, her mouth slightly curved, "Thank you, Your
Royal Highness."

An additional lamp would make the path of those soldiers in their next life
brighter and smoother.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 51 – The Princess’s
Passage

Just as Yao Jiamin walked over and witnessed this scene, her mood became
complicated. From the moment she first saw Hua Liuli, she felt that the
other party was both delicate and weak, lacking the valor of General Wei.
Although she was General Wei's daughter, she didn't possess her strength
and integrity. She couldn't handle certain tasks and would even get teary-
eyed during conversations.

Later, when Hua Liuli killed those bandits, although she claimed her dream
was to become a famous sickly beauty in history, Yao Jiamin suspected that
there was definitely something more to it than meets the eye.

As she spent more time with Hua Liuli, she gradually discovered that as
long as she accepted Hua Liuli's unconventional behavior, she found her
quite interesting. Hua Liuli was generous and wouldn't deliberately deceive
anyone as long as there were no grudges or enmity in the future.

Overall, besides the little resentment that occasionally made her itch under
her skin, there didn't seem to be any major flaws.

This uncomfortable little resentment disappeared completely when she saw

Hua Liuli lighting the lamp of transcendence for the fallen soldiers. Yao
Jiamin approached a Taoist priest and said in a low voice, "I want to light a
lamp of transcendence too."

Seeing Hua Liuli looking over, Yao Jiamin said, "I'm not doing it because of
you, don't overthink it."
"Junzhu's thoughts are pure and good, so it's natural that it's not because of
me," Hua Liuli nodded, "So please rest assured, I won't overthink
anything."

Looking at Hua Liuli, Yao Jiamin realized she had been overthinking just
now. Her little resentment towards Hua Liuli was deeply rooted and
couldn't be removed.

After lighting the lamp, Yao Jiamin paid her respects to the Three Pure
Ones' statues. Once she was done and stood up, she noticed Ying Wang,
who was standing in the corner, secretly stealing glances at Hua Liuli.

She thought she would be angry, but unexpectedly, she felt calm.

If she had known that she could easily let go of her liking for Ying Wang,
she wouldn't have foolishly provoked Hua Liuli for no reason.

If she hadn't acted foolishly back then, she would still be the top-ranked
female powerhouse in the capital. Unfortunately, she had quietly transferred
the title of the top female powerhouse to Hua Liuli.

The Second Princess stood in the corner without saying a word. She
glanced at Yao Jiamin, whose face looked unpleasant, and a pensive
expression appeared on her face.

The matter of Yao Jiamin liking Ying Wang was known to her. It seemed
that things between Yao Jiamin and Hua Liuli weren't as good as they
appeared.

This was how things worked in the imperial family. They compromised on
the surface for the sake of interests, but as long as there was enough
temptation, that superficial disguise could easily be torn apart.

In the face of interests, everything could be abandoned.

But some people, due to jealousy, would lose their rationality.

The Second Princess turned and left the temple, smiling as she looked at the
priests preparing the altar outside.
Before long, Abbot Qinghui, dressed in Taoist robes, arrived with several
Taoist priests and greeted the Crown Prince, "Good Believers, the ceremony
is about to begin. Please follow me."

Leaving the temple, under the guidance of Abbot Qinghui, they arrived at a
spacious area outside.

"Good Believers, please take your seats," Abbot Qinghui invited everyone
to sit down. Yao Jiamin was about to sit next to Hua Liuli, but someone else
was faster and sat beside her in the blink of an eye.

Yao Jiamin stared at the Crown Prince for a moment, then turned around
and sat next to the Second Princess.

In the presence of her cousin, the Crown Prince, she was never deemed
worthy of having a name.

The Crown Prince placed a plate of pine nuts in front of Hua Liuli and
whispered, "These pine nuts were fried in the Taoist temple. They taste
pretty good."

"Have you tried them, Your Royal Highness?" Hua Liuli reached out and
picked up a pine nut, starting to peel it.

"When Gu had nothing to do in the past, Gu would bring a plate of pine

nuts and sit in the pavilion, drinking tea and daydreaming," the Crown
Prince smiled, "But ever since Gu started assisting Father Emperor with
political affairs in the past two years, Gu had less leisure time to be like
that."

"Your Royal Highness... don't you play with other imperial princes in your
free time?" Hua Liuli placed the pine nut she was about to put in her mouth
into the Crown Prince's palm, "It's so boring to peel pine nuts alone."

The Crown Prince glanced at Hua Liuli and lowered his eyelids slightly,
"Since Gu is the Crown Prince, it's inevitable that my brothers would be
more respectful around Gu."
Even dignified imperial princes would play such petty tricks?!

Hua Liuli couldn't believe it. The lovely cute little Crown Prince was full of
expectations as he approached his brothers, yet they all maintained polite
but distant attitudes.

Would they become lively again once the Crown Prince left? Did their
laughter cease when the Crown Prince appeared?

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli peeled several pine nuts and placed them
into the Crown Prince's palm, "I'll play with you from now on."

"Alright," The Crown Prince held the pine nuts in the palm of his hand,
ensuring not a single one fell out.

The ceremony was quite complicated. Taoist priests played celestial music
and recited Taoist scriptures, creating a solemn atmosphere. Hua Liuli
glanced back at the people attending the ceremony, noting that their status
was not low. However, she couldn't be sure whether they genuinely
believed in the deities or simply followed the Crown Prince's preference for
the Taoist temple.

After the ceremony, during the donation phase, Hua Liuli was almost
certain that most of those who were present truly believed in the deities, not
just because of the Crown Prince.

She looked at the Crown Prince, who seemed indifferent to whether people
believed or not.

"Would you like to eat?" Hua Liuli offered a small plate of peeled pine nuts
to the Crown Prince, smiling at him.

"Thank you," the Crown Prince split a pine nut in half, "Shall we share
them?"

"Sure," Hua Liuli nodded, and they started eating the pine nuts, looking like
two unique white flowers among the enthusiastic donors.
No one dared to disturb them. They had experienced the Crown Prince's
eccentricities. And it was also normal for Fushou Junzhu to prefer not to
move around due to her poor health.

She was indeed the daughter of General Hua and General Wei, even the
peculiar Crown Prince was willing to exchange a few words with her.

After the donation ceremony, the believers were satisfied with the talismans
given by the Taoist priests. They enjoyed a meal at the temple before
leaving contentedly.

"Eldest Brother, will you walk with me?" the Second Princess asked Ying
Wang quietly.

"You go first; Benwang will stay a while longer," Ying Wang looked in the
direction of the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli, seemingly determined to keep
the Crown Prince company.

Following Ying Wang's gaze, the Second Princess glanced in the direction
where the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli stood. Then she smiled at Ying
Wang before turning to leave.

"Second Princess, please wait," Yao Jiamin called out to the Second
Princess, "I'll walk with you."

"Aren't you here with Fushou Junzhu?" the Second Princess smiled at Yao
Jiamin.

"I remembered there's something I need to do at home, so I'll go back

early," Yao Jiamin thought to herself, leaving early might be best, lest the
Crown Prince drives her away.

"In that case, it's perfect. I was worried I wouldn't have someone to
accompany me," the Second Princess smiled and walked together with Yao
Jiamin. As a princess who lost her birth mother early and wasn't valued by
the Emperor, she had learned to be gentle and considerate.
Even though she suspected that Princess Shunan's estate might be leaning
toward the Crown Prince, she couldn't find any flaws in Yao Jiamin's
attitude.

"I recently heard that you have accompanied Fushou Junzhu in the Empress
Dowager's palace. How was it in the palace?" Once they were in the
carriage, the Second Princess poured a cup of tea for Yao Jiamin.

Yao Jiamin casually took a sip, "The Empress Dowager has been very
kind."

"I heard you and Fushou Junzhu had been fishing and flying kites together.
It looks like you had a great time. It puts my mind at ease," the Second
Princess pursed her lips and smiled, "You're both young girls, it's not worth
being unhappy over trivial matters. Isn't it better now?"

Yes, it's great for her to be oppressed unilaterally.

Not wanting others to know about this embarrassing matter, Yao Jiamin
responded vaguely, "Well, I'm just playing along for the sake of the
Empress Dowager."

The Second Princess smiled without saying anything. She knew that when
it came to matters involving men, women could never be generous.

Yao Jiamin saw that the Second Princess didn't continue probing and
secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't want to admit that she actually
had a good time during the days she spent with Hua Liuli in the palace.

When the atmosphere in the Taoist temple gradually quieted down, the
Crown Prince suddenly said, "The butterfly you gave me last time flew
away."

"Ah?" Hua Liuli felt a little embarrassed. She wasn't very skilled in the craft
of weaving things with grass. When she saw the Crown Prince looking at
her expectantly, she said, "How about... I weave a new one for Your Royal
Highness?"
"That would be great," the Crown Prince turned and walked outside, "Let's
go."

"Where are we going?" Hua Liuli followed in confusion.

"To find suitable grass," the Crown Prince turned back and smiled at her,
"Can Liuli weave a little fox?"

"I can... to some extent?" Hua Liuli wasn't very confident in her own skill.

"Let's go," the Crown Prince reached out and held her wrist, leading her
outside, "Let's try it."

"What about this bunch of grass?"

"It's too short."

"How about this one?"

"The branches are too thick, not suitable for weaving."

"This one is good," Hua Liuli bent down, plucked a few stalks of grass,
pinched off the roots, and skillfully wove a butterfly.

This one looked better than the previous one, and it was also more sturdy.

The Crown Prince handed her a bunch of grass and asked, "Are these
enough to weave foxes?"

When a handsome man, who was incredibly good-looking, looked at her

with anticipation, even if it wasn't enough, it would be enough.

"More than enough," Hua Liuli nodded repeatedly. She then pulled the
Crown Prince to sit on the stone table and began weaving.

Outside the flower bushes, Yurong whispered to Yuan Yi, "Don't you feel
like we're particularly invisible today?"
"What nonsense are you thinking?" Yuan Yi's lips barely moved, "With a
stunning beauty like the Crown Prince here, why would you think you have
any presence?"

As a maidservant, even if you're as close as sisters to the mistress, you

should be aware of your place.

As it turned out, when a woman wants to make a man happy, she becomes
invincible.

Hua Liuli placed the grass-woven fox in the Crown Prince's hand, "It's a bit
chubby and ugly. I'll try to weave a nicer one for Your Royal Highness next
time."

"Will you continue to weave these little animals for Gu in the future?" the
Crown Prince held the grass-woven fox in his hand, but his eyes were fixed
on Hua Liuli.

"If Your Royal Highness likes it, I will certainly continue to weave," Hua
Liuli thought for a moment and added, "But when Your Royal Highness has
a Crown Princess, I will have to avoid suspicion."

"If Gu could happily be with a girl like Liuli for a lifetime, what does it
matter if Gu doesn't marry a Crown Princess?" the Crown Prince smiled
gently, "There are countless women in the world, but there is only one like
Liuli."

The smile on Hua Liuli's face froze as she stared at the Crown Prince for a
moment. Uneasily, she asked, "Your Royal Highness, does that mean..."

The corners of the Crown Prince's lips twitched.

"Is Your Royal Highness thinking of following my example and not

intending to marry?" Hua Liuli said softly in surprise, "Your Royal
Highness, I am a useless and idle person with no skills. Your Royal
Highness is the Crown Prince of our country, you shouldn't imitate me."
"Why does Junzhu resist the idea of marriage so much?" The Crown Prince
replied with a question, his serious attitude making it difficult for Hua Liuli
to evade with vague answers.

"I remember mentioning to Your Royal Highness before that I have a weak
constitution, unsuitable for bearing children or taking care of a family. I
have no enmity with marriage; I just don't have fate with it."

"Junzhu is humorous, lively, and lovely. Even if your health is not good,
you never pity yourself. Even if there was no offspring, so what?" The
Crown Prince lightly caressed the grass-woven fox with his fingers, half
serious and half joking, "If Junzhu is willing, Gu is willing to marry you as
the Crown Princess."

"Your Royal Highness, it's commendable to have benevolence and virtue,

but being so soft-hearted to the extent of using a lifelong matter to console
me is not a good thing," Hua Liuli realized that the Crown Prince was
sympathizing with her weak health and uncertain lifespan, "Your Royal
Highness is the Crown Prince, Your..."

Your Royal Highness is the future Emperor of Great Jin, you can have vast
territories and billions of subjects. It's not suitable for you to be with a
fragile beauty like her.

Such words couldn't be spoken now. If they reached the ears of Emperor
Changlong, it would be a big trouble, as it would imply that the Crown
Prince was eager for the throne.

"Your Royal Highness, I have witnessed many separations and farewells in

life, with loved ones separated by life and death. I have always held an
attitude of observing from a distance and not playing with love," Hua Liuli
smiled, "So, there's no need for Your Royal Highness to sympathize with
me. It's a good thing for me to remain unmarried due to my weak health."

"Even if someone cherishes you, you still wouldn't change your mind?" the
Crown Prince accidentally exerted too much force while caressing the fox,
causing the chubby and ugly fox to topple onto the table.
He looked at the pitiful fox on the table but didn't pick it up.

"I probably wouldn't," Hua Liuli thought seriously and couldn't think of any
man in the world who would make her change her mind.

She couldn't be a virtuous wife and loving mother, nor could she live a
conventional life.

Having seen people who grieved to the point of breaking their livers and
intestines for their loved ones, having seen people who died together with
their beloved, she was both moved by such love and afraid of becoming that
kind of person.

The Crown Prince stiffened his fingers and slowly picked up the chubby fox
that had fallen on the table, "Gu understands."

Hua Liuli noticed a small flower blooming beside the stone table. She bent
down, plucked the flower with her fingertips, and placed it on top of the
grass-woven fox's head.

"Here, a little flower to wear," Hua Liuli nodded in satisfaction, her eyes
shining like stars when she smiled, "Now it looks beautiful."

The Crown Prince stared at the wildflower on the fox's head, then slowly
looked at Hua Liuli, who was smiling gracefully. Suddenly, he smiled.

Seeing him smile, Hua Liuli held her face and smiled even more happily,
"Your Royal Highness, do you also think it looks better this way?"

"No," The Crown Prince extended his finger and gently touched the small
flower on the fox's head, "Gu just feels that since even a fox can don a
flower..."

So many impossible things in the world can also become possible.

"Your Royal Highness, Fushou Junzhu, what are you both doing here?"
Ying Wang walked through the flowers and approached the two of them. He
glanced at the grass-woven object in the Crown Prince's hand and scoffed,
"Crown Prince, what are you weaving? A dog?"
"Your Highness, it's a fox, thank you," Hua Liuli's smile on her face became
a bit stiff.

Ying Wang thought the Crown Prince had made it and said without
hesitation, "So foxes look like dogs, huh? And why is there a flower on its
forehead?"

"Eldest Brother," the Crown Prince hid the fox and butterfly in his sleeve,
then said, "It's late, what brings you here?"

"Benwang came to find Fushou Junzhu," Ying Wang sat down next to Hua
Liuli, "Junzhu, there's something important. Benwang would like to talk to
you about it."

Hua Liuli maintained a neutral expression as she looked at Ying Wang.

"Your Highness, I don't understand your words."

"What Benwang means is..." Ying Wang wiped the sweat from his palms
and said, "Junzhu, are you willing to become my Wangfei?"

Ying Wang suddenly felt a gust of wind and before he could react, he was
kicked off the stone bench. He clutched his painfully throbbing thigh and
stood up from the ground, his face dark as he looked at the Crown Prince,
"Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, what is the meaning of this?"

"Apologies, Gu just saw a nasty bug crawling on Eldest Brother's leg and
got a bit excited," the Crown Prince's gaze turned as cold as ice, "Eldest
Brother, marriage is a serious matter and not a child's play. Without
consulting Father Emperor and Consort Xian, discussing marriage with a
young lady casually is an offense to Fushou Junzhu."

"But back then, Benwang and Fushou Junzhu..." Ying Wang was
interrupted by the Crown Prince.

"That was then, this is now," the Crown Prince interrupted Ying Wang,
"Fushou Junzhu is a beauty beyond compare, there are countless suitors
who want to marry her. Gu advises Eldest Brother to go home and look in
the mirror to calm down."
This dog of a Crown Prince was mocking his appearance again!

Ying Wang turned red with anger. He took two deep breaths and sneered,
"Crown Prince, this is a matter between Fushou Junzhu and Benwang.
Please refrain from interfering."

"As the Crown Prince, Gu is a role model for all the princes. It is my duty
to intervene when your behavior is improper," the Crown Prince smirked,
"If you're dissatisfied, go and have Father Emperor depose me as the Crown
Prince."

Ying Wang felt like he was on fire and this dog of a Crown Prince kept
adding fuel to the fire, almost causing him to explode.

"Your Highness Ying Wang," Hua Liuli tilted her head in confusion,
wearing an innocent and ignorant expression, "Have you forgotten that
when I first arrived in the capital, I fell ill from being frightened by the
carriage? Your Highness asked my third brother to save face and not pursue
the matter?"

Ying Wang: "..."

"Your Highness is handsome and extraordinary. I, as a fragile and sickly

young lady, do not possess the skills to manage a household and am unfit to
be a Wangfei." Hua Liuli curtsied to Ying Wang, "Your Highness's joke is
truly amusing."

After speaking, she ignored Ying Wang and turned to leave.

"Fushou Junzhu," Ying Wang tried to catch up, but the Crown Prince, with
malicious intent, tripped him with his long leg, causing him to fall to the
ground.

Covered in leaves, Ying Wang struggled to get up, but Hua Liuli had
already walked far away, with the Crown Prince following behind her.

"Your Highness," the eunuch attendant by Ying Wang's side quickly stepped
forward to brush off the dirt on his body, "Your Highness, from what this
old servant can see, the Crown Prince also has an interest in Fushou Junzhu.
Otherwise, why wouldn't he want Your Highness to propose to Fushou
Junzhu?"

"That's not necessarily the case," Ying Wang shook his head, "Whenever
there is something that makes Benwang unhappy, Ji Yuansu is more than
willing to do it. Let's forget Fushou Junzhu who is sickly and weak, when
even the most famous beauties in the capital approached him, he ridiculed
them as mountain chickens. It's because he clearly sensed Benwang's
interest in Fushou Junzhu that he deliberately approached her to make me
unhappy."

"Besides, with his personality, if he truly liked Fushou Junzhu, he would

have already asked Father Emperor for their betrothal. Why would he
endure until now?"

What has the Crown Prince lacked since childhood?

If he had known that he would develop feelings for Fushou Junzhu, even if
he was scolded to death by his mother, he would never have agreed to her
suggestion.

A thousand pieces of gold cannot buy foresight; there is no medicine for

regret in the world.

Ying Wang felt a bit disheartened and kicked the grass on the ground in
frustration.

This shameless dog of a Crown Prince even resorted to using grass-woven

animals to please young ladies!

Most importantly, he wove them so poorly that they were ugly.

The Crown Prince caught up with Hua Liuli's pace and said, "Liuli, Ying
Wang spoke and acted rashly. Please don't take it to heart."

"It's fine," Hua Liuli smiled, her mouth tugging at the corners, "Ying Wang
is an Imperial Prince, while I am just a subordinate. Even if Ying Wang's
words were inappropriate, it is because I, as a subordinate, haven't done
well enough."

"What's wrong with you?" The Crown Prince reached out and took the
opportunity to rub Hua Liuli's head, "Gu has witnessed Ying Wang's temper
countless times since Gu was young. Gu is used to it. If he dares to say
anything disrespectful to you in the future, just tell me, and Gu will take
care of it for you."

"Your Royal Highness, there's no need to make a fuss with Ying Wang over
a trivial matter concerning a subordinate like me," Hua Liuli advised, "Your
Royal Highness, don't worry, I won't be wronged."

"When has Gu ever gotten along well with Ying Wang?" The Crown Prince
chuckled lightly, "The whole capital knows that Gu is an intolerant person
and that Gu will make a fuss if provoked."

"They're all spreading baseless rumors," Hua Liuli took a deep breath,
"Your Royal Highness, you don't need to pay attention to their words."

"Gu is used to it, so how could Gu take it to heart?" the Crown Prince
pretended to smile resolutely, causing Hua Liuli's heart to ache.

"Gu just hit Ying Wang earlier, do you think Gu was too rude?" the Crown
Prince asked.

"Your Royal Highness is unparalleled in handsomeness, graceful in

demeanor, where could there be any rudeness?" Hua Liuli shrugged, "I
didn't see anything."

The Crown Prince smiled bitterly at her words, "It's because Gu likes you...r
little animals. When Gu heard Eldest Brother say they weren't good,
Gu couldn't control myself. Eldest Brother has never been good at
appreciating fine things. He only likes things that are either bright red or
bright green. But these were specially made by Junzhu for Gu, so they're
naturally different from other things."
"Your Royal Highness did well!" After saying these words, Hua Liuli saw
the Crown Prince smiling at her and coughed, "What I mean is, Your Royal
Highness shouldn't always tolerate others."

"Gu is the Crown Prince. If there are places where Gu has acted
inappropriately, it's fine for others to criticize me a few times," the Crown
Prince replied gently and magnanimously, "It's alright."

Such a gentle, considerate, and tolerant Crown Prince, and yet there are still
people who say he holds grudges and is petty?

Where is their conscience?

"It's getting dark. Gu will escort you back to your estate," the Crown Prince
revealed a beautiful smile as he walked side by side with Hua Liuli on the
stone steps. The evening sun cast a golden hue on them.

"It's truly beautiful," Hua Liuli turned her head to look at the long shadows
trailing behind them. Finally, the shadows disappeared together under a
cluster of trees.

Descending the stone steps, almost all of the small vendors at the foot of the
mountain had already left, leaving only a few merchants packing up their
stalls.

Suddenly, the sound of a galloping horse came from a distance. A man

wearing a eunuch's robe shouted loudly, "Make way for the Princess's
passage, no one is allowed to hinder."

Hua Liuli was somewhat surprised. Which princess had such a pompous
personality?

Even when His Highness the Crown Prince goes out, there is never such a
display of grandeur.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 52 – White Lotus

The guards escorting the Princess's carriage were imposing, exuding an air
of arrogance. The eunuch in a blue robe, mounted on a horse, raised his
chin haughtily, casting disdainful glances at the street vendors. His eyes
seemed to regard them as filthy insects, filled with impatience.

The vendors were somewhat slow to react. When the imperial princes and
princesses passed by in the morning, the servants merely requested them to
keep their voices down, without forbidding them from setting up their stalls.

"Which princess is this, displaying such arrogance?" A middle-aged man

dressed in a gray robe calmly packed up his stall, whispering to the woman
beside him, "Even the princes and princesses of the imperial family don't
act this ostentatiously."

"Perhaps she is a princess from another small country," The old man sitting
on a small stool, smoking a pipe, tapped his pipe and spoke leisurely, "We
are the Great Jin Empire, there's no need to bother with these ignorant small
nations."

"No, Uncle," The middle-aged man in the gray robe whispered, "That
eunuch on horseback is wearing the attire of our Great Jin's eunuchs."

While they were speaking, the eunuch had already ridden his horse to their
presence. Upon hearing them dare to discuss him, the eunuch in the blue
robe wasted no time as he raised his horsewhip and lashed it toward the
middle-aged man in the gray robe.

The whip came swiftly, producing a sharp crack as it sliced through the air.

A sword intercepted the whip, stopping it in its tracks. The eunuch in the
blue robe wore a displeased expression and looked at the young lady who
had blocked him. She was dressed in two-colored garments, her hairdo
simple but adorned with exquisite hairpins. She appeared to be a well-off
young woman or a maidservant from a prestigious family.

"Young girl, I advise you not to meddle in other people's affairs," The
eunuch in the blue robe saw that the sword in her hand was real and
retracted his whip, "According to the laws of Great Jin, commoners are not
allowed to carry weapons in the streets. You have quite the audacity, young
girl."

"Apologies for the misunderstanding," Yuan Yi didn't retract her sword, but
instead stood in front of the middle-aged vendor, "This commoner's name is
Yuan Yi, a rank-eight female corporal under the command of the Marquis
Chang'an. I bear the responsibility of protecting the common people and,
except for when I am visiting the palace, I am allowed to carry weapons in
the Great Jin."

"Regardless, a mere rank-eight female corporal, you dare to brandish your

sword in front of me..." The eunuch in the blue robe's expression suddenly
changed and swallowed his words.

Marquis Chang'an?

Wasn't that the title of Adjudant General Wei Mingyue, the number one
female general of Great Jin?!

His face changed rapidly. However, the surroundings were filled with
spectators. If he retreated, he would lose face for the estate of Royal
Princess Leyang. If he advanced, he would offend General Wei's
subordinates. It was said that General Wei and the soldiers under General
Hua were particularly fierce. There had once been an official from Qinghan
Prefecture who colluded with foreign nation enemies, and when General
Wei found out, she had him immediately beheaded and displayed his head
at the city gate as a warning.

Thinking of this, the eunuch in the blue robe felt a little apprehensive.
Could this rank-eight female corporal really stab him with her sword?
"Who is causing trouble here?" the commander of the capital's guards, upon
hearing that nobles were causing a commotion, dropped his teacup and
hastily rushed over.

He had heard that the Crown Prince had not yet left the Taoist temple, and if
these people caused disturbance to him, it would be troublesome.

When he arrived at the scene, he saw that the Crown Prince and Fushou
Junzhu had occupied the best spots to watch the spectacle. He could only
helplessly wipe his face.

Oh no, there's no hope left. He stood aside, waiting for his doom.

"What's going on?" Royal Princess Leyang heard the clash of weapons and
her eyebrows furrowed. She lifted the curtain of the carriage to take a look
and saw that the guards of the capital were surrounding her carriage. She
became furious and exclaimed, "This is outrageous! They dare to block my
path. Who has such audacity?!"

The guards stole glances at the Crown Prince, who was still watching the
spectacle, then they kept their heads down and remained silent.

Seeing that the guards neither spoke nor retreated, Royal Princess Leyang's
expression turned even uglier. She even carried a hint of hostility as she
said, "Someone, go ahead and see what's going on up ahead."

"Your Highness," one of the servants from the princess's estate came
forward and said, "It seems that Eunuch Wang has gotten into a conflict
with General Wei's subordinates."

"Who does that Wei Mingyue think she is?!" Upon hearing the words
"General Wei", Royal Princess Leyang's expression became even more
unpleasant, even carrying a touch of hostility, "This is the capital, not her
Qinghan Prefecture. Drive away her lackeys, you don't have to worry about
anything."

Hua Liuli heard Royal Princess Leyang's words clearly. She turned her head
and glanced at the carriage Royal Princess Leyang was riding in, then she
out a faint chuckle.

"Yuan Yu, Yurong," Hua Liuli calmly spoke, "What punishment is

appropriate for assaulting commoners in public?"

"Replying to Junzhu, the perpetrator should be stripped of their trousers and

publicly flogged ten times," Yurong answered loudly, "For severe cases,
they should be sent to the frontier as forced labor for five years."

"In that case, send this eunuch to the Prefect of Jingzhao for ten strokes of
the cane," Hua Liuli's expression remained indifferent as she spoke, "Let
him understand the laws of Great Jin."

"Good!" The vendors who were watching the spectacle all chimed in
agreement.

Yuan Yi intercepted the whip with her sword and hit the eunuch's face with
the scabbard. The eunuch, clutching his face in pain, fell from the horse.

One of the clever vendors "accidentally" stepped on the eunuch and picked
up the scabbard before handing it back to Yuan Yi, "Young girl, here's your
scabbard. Please take care of it."

"Thank you," Yuan Yi expressed her gratitude, and the vendor happily
returned to the crowd, continuing to watch the spectacle.

In the capital, there would always be some privileged people showing off
their power only to be dealt with by other reasonable aristocrats. He had
only heard about it from others before, but today he had the rare
opportunity to witness it firsthand. He would be able to boast to his
neighbors for quite a few days.

"You... you..." The pain in the eunuch's face subsided, and he stood up from
the ground, not even bothering to brush off the dust on his body. He angrily
said, "Even though you are a mere rank-eight female corporal, I showed
you some respect, yet you dare to be so rude? I am the Chief Eunuch of
Royal Princess Leyang's Estate. How dare you?!"
"Heh." Yuan Yi let out a cold laugh and, along with two other maidservants,
approached the eunuch. They tightly bound him with a rope, and finding his
cursing voice unpleasant, they bought a leftover cold steamed bun from a
vendor and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Young girl," a guard from the princess's estate saw the situation turning
unfavorable and hurriedly stepped forward, "Please show mercy, young
girl..."

However, Yuan Yi completely ignored him. She threw the eunuch onto the
horse, mounted her own horse, and hurriedly rode toward the city with the
other maidservants in tow.

The guard looked at the eunuch, who held a high position in the princess's
estate, bouncing around on the horse like a dead pig. He was stunned for a
moment and didn't react until the horse had run far away.

He turned around and looked at the young man and the young lady who
were peeling melon seeds by the roadside. The couple was dressed in
exquisite embroidered clothes, clearly of high status.

"Esteemed individuals, I am the captain of Royal Princess Leyang's Estate

guards. I apologize for any offense earlier and hope you can forgive us," the
guard said, "Our princess is eager to return home, so we were in a hurry. I
hope esteemed individuals can understand."

"You mean to say that your entourage had been making this kind of
commotion all the way from the south?" The Crown Prince handed the
melon seed waste to the little eunuch behind him and gave the peeled-off
melon seeds to Hua Liuli. Then clapped his hands while looking coldly at
the guard, "If you dare to cause a commotion upon entering the capital, it
would be better not to enter at all, to avoid disturbing the common people."

"Outrageous! Who dares to stop me from entering the capital?!" Royal

Princess Leyang lifted the curtain of the carriage and stepped down, her
beautiful phoenix eyes filled with anger.
Royal Princess Leyang was very beautiful, and although she was no longer
a young girl, she still had a captivating charm.

She was an arrogant woman, but that arrogance froze on her face when she
saw the person who was speaking—The Crown Prince.

She paused for a moment, then put on a gentle smile, "Nephew, it's been
over a year since we last met. You have become even more refined."

"It is Gu," the Crown Prince said coldly.

Royal Princess Leyang was stunned for a moment.

"What Gu means to say is that Gu dares to say that you cannot enter the
capital," the Crown Prince continued, ignoring Royal Princess Leyang's
stiff expression, "The Chief Eunuch of your estate is ignorant of the laws of
Great Jin. Gu will have him sent to the Prefect of Jingzhao to learn the laws.
Does Royal Princess Leyang have any objections?"

Royal Princess Leyang's lips trembled with anger. Did it even matter if she
had objections when the person had already been taken away?

Could it be that if she said she objected, the Crown Prince would bring him
back?

However, she had her own plans for this trip to the capital and didn't want
to have a falling out with the Crown Prince. So she suppressed the flames of
anger in her heart and smiled affectionately, "We are all one family. Crown
Prince, please teach the ignorant servant a lesson on my behalf. I should
thank the Crown Prince."

After saying that, she turned to a maidservant by her side and said, "Didn't
your Second Miss always want to meet her brother, the Crown Prince?
Today we happened to have a chance encounter. Go and bring her here to
greet the Crown Prince."

"Yes," The maidservant turned and ran hurriedly, afraid that she would be
too late and the Crown Prince would run away.
Hua Liuli couldn't understand the grievances and conflicts between imperial
family members. She quietly peeled pine nuts, planning to accumulate a
small plate before eating. When she saw the Crown Prince suddenly
looking at her, she thought he wanted some, so she handed the pine nuts to
him and generously said, "Here, Your Royal Highness."

Royal Princess Leyang noticed the unfamiliar young lady beside the Crown
Prince. She had been returning to the capital for a short stay almost every
year, but she had never seen this young girl before. Could she be the
daughter of an official who had been transferred back to the capital from
another place?

She scrutinized Hua Liuli from head to toe in a picky manner, almost
wrinkling her brow. She only withdrew her gaze when her daughter, Xie
Yao, approached and warmly engaged the Crown Prince in casual
conversation.

If it hadn't been for the arrogance of the eunuch from the princess's estate
just now, Hua Liuli might have almost believed that she was a gentle and
amiable elder.

Xie Yao bore only a slight resemblance to her mother, her eyes shimmering
like autumn water, and her figure delicate and graceful like a willow in the
breeze, evoking pity from those who saw her.

Hua Liuli unconsciously touched her face. Why did she feel like she was
seeing herself in the other person?

"You are much prettier than her," the Crown Prince leaned in and whispered
softly in her ear, "The distance between her beauty and yours is probably a
hundred and eighty streets."

The Crown Prince's expression was very serious, and if others saw his
expression, they would probably think he was discussing something
important with Fushou Junzhu.

Who could have guessed that the Crown Prince would say such childish and
shallow words to a young girl?
Xie Yao was initially very happy to see the Crown Prince, but when she saw
the Crown Prince so close to another young lady, her already pale cheeks
lost all color.

Her eyes shimmered with faint tears as she forced a smile and asked,
"Cousin Prince, may I ask who this young lady is?"

Hua Liuli's gaze met the other's eyes, then she suddenly covered her mouth
and took two steps back. On her small face, no larger than a palm, there was
a resolute smile. "I am Liuli, a humble maiden. I have had the honor of
meeting the Royal Princess."

Xie Yao's and Hua Liuli's gazes met in the air, causing Xie Yao's heart to
tighten.

Her instincts told her that she had encountered a formidable rival. She
disliked young ladies who resembled herself, especially when they
appeared beside the Crown Prince.

"Does this young lady... not like me very much?" Xie Yao looked at Hua
Liuli with a melancholic expression, "If there is anything I have done
wrong, please tell me directly. I... I don't want you to misunderstand me and
Cousin."

"Why would Miss Xie think that?" Hua Liuli widened her eyes and covered
her mouth, looking incredulous. Her expression showed sadness, her
shoulders trembling slightly, "I only didn't want to disturb your reunion
with the Crown Prince. I didn't expect to be seen as such a petty person by
Miss Xie."

She respectfully bowed to the Royal Princess and then turned to the Crown
Prince, "Your Royal Highness, it seems that Miss Xie has misunderstood
my intentions. To avoid further misunderstandings, I will take my leave."

After Xie Yao's sister passed away, Princess Leyang had not yet submitted a
petition to request the establishment of Xie Yao as a Junzhu. Therefore, Xie
Yao was still just an ordinary young lady and couldn't be addressed as a
Junzhu.
"Wait, you are frail. How can Gu let you leave alone?" the Crown Prince
gently held Hua Liuli's wrist, "Gu will accompany you."

"Cousin..." Xie Yao watched as the Crown Prince pulled the unfamiliar
young lady and walked away. She was unable to regain her senses for a
long time.

"Mother..." She looked at Royal Princess Leyang with a helpless gaze. She
never expected that the Crown Prince would just leave like that, not giving
her any face.

She didn't even know who that seductive little enchantress tempting the
Crown Prince was. Once she found out, she would make her regret it!

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 53 – Not Good

Hua Liuli and the Crown Prince sat in the carriage together. When Hua
Liuli stared at the hanging decorations on the carriage, she couldn't help but
laugh.

"What are you laughing at?" the Crown Prince handed a plate of snacks to
Hua Liuli and glanced at the empty seat beside her for a while but didn't sit
down.

"I'm laughing because Your Royal Highness is being seen as a fat piece of
meat by others," Hua Liuli said as she held the ceramic plate of snacks and
chuckled quietly. Her hairpin swayed gently as she laughed, looking very
happy.

"Fortunately, there is you to help. Otherwise, this fat piece of meat might
have been taken away by someone," the Crown Prince thanked with a
smile, "If this happens again, Gu hopes Liuli will lend me a hand with your
sword."

"That Miss Xie didn't look very friendly towards me," Hua Liuli placed the
plate on the small table and shook her head, "Your Royal Highness, it's
better to rely on oneself rather than others, Your Royal Highness needs to
know how to save yourself."

"What you said is right."

The carriage the Crown Prince was riding in was spacious and comfortable.
Even if a few people lay side by side, they wouldn't feel cramped.

To avoid any unnecessary gossip, besides the Crown Prince and her, there
were also eunuchs and maidservants serving in the carriage. They stood
silently on the side, not saying a word.
"Royal Princess Leyang's mother had a very good relationship with the
Empress Dowager in the palace before she passed away," the Crown Prince
said, "After Princess Leyang married into the Xie family, the Emperor took
care of her out of consideration for the Empress Dowager's feelings."

But people's hearts are strange. Sometimes, when things are too good, it's
easy to forget one's place and want something more out of it.

When Royal Princess Leyang was young, she wasn't as ostentatious. The
Emperor, considering the fact that she was living far away, not only
rewarded her with gifts every year but also allowed her to live in the capital
if she wished.

Perhaps it was due to this kindness and tolerance, as well as the fact that
Princess Shunan - who also resided in the capital - had never been granted
the title of Royal Princess, that Royal Princess Leyang developed a sense of
superiority. In recent years, she had become even more high-profile.

This time, her influence in the capital was even greater than before. She
relied not on the prestige of her husband's family, but also on the fact that
her eldest daughter had passed away in the capital. The Emperor would
surely sympathize with her, and even if she displayed some inappropriate
behavior, people would turn a blind eye out of consideration for her loss.

In the prosperous capital, people like Royal Princess Leyang were not
uncommon.

For power and status, be it friends or family or even their own flesh and
blood, they could abandon them.

The Crown Prince had seen through such people since he was young, so he
found them uninteresting and lacking in novelty.

After escorting Hua Liuli to the entrance of the Hua Family Estate, the
Crown Prince was about to leave when he saw Hua Changkong
approaching with a smile on his face.
"Your Royal Highness," Hua Changkong greeted the Crown Prince with a
bow, "It's getting late. Why don't Your Royal Highness have dinner at my
humble abode before you leave?"

"Gu came here without prior notice, Gu is afraid it would be an

inconvenience to your household..."

"Your Royal Highness is being too polite. Everyone in our household is a

straightforward person. As long as Your Royal Highness doesn't mind, it's
all good," Hua Changkong welcomed the Crown Prince into the estate and
enthusiastically introduced the flowers and plants in the house. He
occasionally praised Emperor Changlong, saying that the estate bestowed
upon them by His Majesty was excellent and very comfortable.

Although Hua Changkong had shown the same enthusiasm when the Crown
Prince visited the Hua Family Estate before, the Crown Prince inexplicably
felt that today's warmth had a touch of sincerity that was lacking before.

He turned around and glanced at Hua Liuli following behind him. Hua Liuli
smiled and blinked at him. The Crown Prince thought, perhaps he was
overthinking.

During dinner, both Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue were present. Hua
Yingting invited the Crown Prince to take the seat of honor, but the Crown
Prince insisted, "Great General, we share a mentor-disciple relationship.
The disciple should sit below the mentor. Please, Great General."

After all, this was his future father-in-law, so he wanted to show more
courtesy in order to marry his daughter.

"Your Royal Highness is mistaken. There is a distinction between ruler and

subject," Hua Yingting exerted his strength and pressed the Crown Prince
onto the main seat, "I understand Your Royal Highness's intentions, but
within our family, we don't pay much attention to such formalities. It's just
to silence outsiders. Please consider it as helping me and bear with it."

I hope, in the future, you can also consider our mentor-disciple relationship
and tolerate it if my daughter ever gives you a hard time.
"Great General Hua is too kind."

"Your Royal Highness is too tolerant."

They enjoyed the meal with relish, and after the meal, Hua Yingting
personally accompanied the Crown Prince to the carriage. The way he
looked at the Crown Prince was like a benevolent father-in-law looking at
his well-accomplished son-in-law, devoid of the aura of a general who
commanded thousands of troops on the battlefield.

Once the Crown Prince left, Hua Yingting returned to the house and saw his
well-behaved daughter still acting coquettishly in front of her mother. He
sighed deeply in his heart.

My dear daughter, do you know that I, your old father, didn't worry so much
when I married off your two older brothers?

Hua Liuli didn't know what her father was thinking. She was currently
telling her mother about the encounter with Royal Princess Leyang at the
foot of the mountain.

"Mother, did you have a bad relationship with that princess before? Her
expression turned unpleasant when someone mentioned you in her
presence," Hua Liuli thought that her mother must have lived a very
exciting life when she was young. Many of the women in the capital
admired her, but there seemed to be quite a few who hated her as well.

"Royal Princess Leyang?" Wei Mingyue pondered for a moment. In her

memory, she can't recall anything related to Royal Princess Leyang. She
shook her head and said, "I'm not sure. With the temperament I had when I
was young, even if someone was dissatisfied with me, I wouldn't have
cared."

Seeing her mother's carefree expression, Hua Liuli said, "Truly, Mother,
you are unparalleled. Any conspiracies or tricks are like paper tigers in front
of you."
"Stop flattering me. Your words are so sweet. Did you have a conflict with
someone from Royal Princess Leyang's estate?" Wei Mingyue smiled and
tapped Hua Liuli's forehead. Among her children, this daughter who
seemed the most delicate and harmless was the most similar to her in
personality.

Only outsiders would think that this mother and daughter had completely
opposite personalities.

Her daughter follows her temperament, but she had learned her father's
methods. People often would think that she was weak and easy to bully.
And once they met with misfortune, they still wouldn't know what had
happened.

"Originally, I didn't want to meddle in other people's affairs," Hua Liuli

explained, "But the eunuch from Royal Princess Leyang's estate was
whipping common people and that princess was speaking ill of you. How
could your daughter bear it? You are the woman that Father loves the most,
the best mother to me and my brothers. How could I let someone speak ill
of you so easily in front of me?"

"Our good daughter did well. If we, as military leaders, don't have the heart
to protect the people, how can we go to the battlefield?" Wei Mingyue
laughed, "Do what you believe is right, don't be afraid."

Hua Liuli nestled into Wei Mingyue's arms and whispered, "Mother, does
Royal Princess Leyang want her daughter to become the Crown Princess?"

Wei Mingyue lowered her head and looked at her daughter, who still acted
spoiled towards her like when she was a child. The smile on her face faded
slightly, "Do you want her to become the Crown Princess?"

"What does it have to do with me if she becomes the Crown Princess or

not?" Hua Liuli sat up straight and looked at Wei Mingyue with confusion,
"Such matters should be decided by the Emperor."

"You're right," Wei Mingyue smiled, "From my perspective, the Emperor

probably wouldn't want Miss Xie to become the Crown Princess, even
though she is indeed a good choice."

The Xie family had talented scholars and was highly renowned in the
South. If the Crown Prince married a daughter of the Xie family, it would
win over the hearts of many scholars of the South and greatly benefit his
reputation after ascending the throne. However, every advantage comes
with its drawbacks. The scholars in the South held the mainstream power of
public opinion, which was akin to an invisible sword.

As an emperor, one wouldn't want to rely on a sword to become a great

wise ruler but rather be the master of that sword.

If the Crown Prince married the Xie family's daughter, it would not only
enable him to use the scholars from the south to his advantage but would
also elevate the status of these scholars in the south. Over time, these
individuals would start dictating terms to the imperial family, saying what
can be done and what cannot be done, turning the emperor into a puppet
with a reputation to uphold.

The neighboring kingdom of Dai Mao was a cautionary example.

Wei Mingyue had once visited Dai Mao, where they prioritized literature
over martial arts and believed that scholarly pursuit was the highest pursuit.
Scholars readily engaged in deadly debates in court, and even if they died
during such encounters, they would gain a posthumous reputation.

What puzzled her the most was that Dai Mao's streets hardly had any
women. If a woman met a man outside and spoke to him, she would be
deemed impure. Even the princesses had to marry early and adhere to so-
called virtuous conduct.

After the Crown Prince married a Crown Princess, he dared to keep

concubines. If the Crown Princess accepted the presence of concubines, the
scholars would praise her. If she couldn't accept it, she would be accused of
jealousy.

If the Crown Prince of the Great Jin Empire dared to do such a thing, he
would either be beaten to near death by the Crown Princess and her
attendants or face divorce.

As for the scholars in the capital, when they encountered such lively scenes,
they would simply bring out their brushes and record or depict the events,
then write a few poems to turn the incident into a play for entertainment. No
one would stand up for the Crown Prince.

In recent years, some elderly members of the Xie family had been
advocating for the adoption of Dai Mao's customs in the Great Jin Empire,
but it hadn't attracted much attention.

Wei Mingyue was worried that if the Xie family's daughter married the
Crown Prince and suddenly began setting an example by adopting Dai
Mao's customs, it would be troublesome.

She glanced at Hua Liuli, who was still so young. She couldn't let her
daughter spend the second half of her life in such an environment.
However, she can't do much about it. The behavior of those in power had a
tremendous influence on the common people.

After much consideration, she hoped that the Xie family's daughter would
not become the Crown Princess.

On the second day of Royal Princess Leyang's return to the capital, she
went to the palace to meet the Empress Dowager and Emperor Changlong.
She mentioned her eldest daughter who passed away last year and
immediately choked up.

"My eldest daughter has always been considerate and sensible. I blame
myself for not giving her a strong constitution when I gave birth to her,"
with the consolation of the Empress Dowager and Emperor Changlong,
Royal Princess Leyang barely held back her tears. With teary eyes, she held
her second daughter's hand and said, "Now, I only have Yao Yao, this
daughter, and a useless son. Yao Yao is gentle and virtuous, and she likes
the cultural atmosphere of the capital. I was thinking of letting her stay in
the capital."
Her words weren't too subtle. Emperor Changlong and the Empress
Dowager understood her intention. She wanted Xie Yao to marry someone
from the capital.

The Empress Dowager smiled and asked, "Which good son-in-law have
you set your eyes on?"

"Mother, I have often visited the capital, I don't know enough about it. I'm
not clear about the personalities of other young masters in the capital,"
Royal Princess Leyang lightly touched Xie Yao's hand while smiling, "It's
just that the Crown Prince has grown up under my watchful eyes, and Yao
Yao has always liked playing with him since childhood. Why not make
them closer by letting her stay by the Crown Prince's side to take care of
him?"

Upon hearing this, the smile on the Empress Dowager's face completely
disappeared. She glanced at Emperor Changlong, picked up her teacup, and
covered the corners of her mouth without saying a word.

Emperor Changlong calmly looked at Xie Yao, who blushed with shyness.
Instead of mentioning marriage, he asked, "Why didn't Xie Fuma
accompany you on this visit?"

"Fuma still has some matters to attend to. He will arrive in about half a
month," Royal Princess Leyang said, "Your Majesty, as for Yao Yao and the
Crown Prince..."

"Your Majesty," Zhao Sancai hurriedly entered the room, "Marquis

Chang'an requests an audience."

"Mingyue has arrived?" Before Emperor Changlong could speak, the

Empress Dowager said, "Quickly, let her in."

Seeing the Empress Dowager's attitude, Xie Yao's face turned pale. If the
Empress Dowager didn't have any objection to this marriage, why would
she be in such a hurry to let someone else in? It was obvious that the
Empress Dowager didn't want her to marry the Crown Prince, but she also
didn't want to embarrass her mother either.
Royal Princess Leyang, on the other hand, remained composed. She lightly
patted her daughter's hand and fixed her gaze on the entrance to the hall.

The people in the capital used to say that Wei Mingyue, that rough woman,
was the most beautiful woman in the capital. She wanted to see how
beautiful Wei Mingyue could still be after spending so many years in the
harsh borderlands.

Before long, a stunning woman walked in. Her every gesture exuded
vitality and was extremely eye-catching.

"Mother," Xie Yao felt a sting on the back of her hand and softly called out.

Royal Princess Leyang released her daughter's hand and sat dignifiedly in a
chair, wearing a smile that was just right on her face.

"Greetings to Your Majesty; Greetings to the Empress Dowager," Wei

Mingyue approached and bowed. She then glanced at Royal Princess
Leyang but didn't say anything.

"Please take a seat quickly, there's no need for so much ceremony," the
Empress Dowager welcomed Wei Mingyue to sit down, secretly relieved.
Fortunately, Wei Mingyue had arrived, otherwise, she and the Emperor
would have had to think hard to find a reason to refuse the marriage.

Wei Mingyue once again bowed to the Empress Dowager and performed a
grand gesture to Emperor Changlong, "Your Majesty, I have come today to
apologize on behalf of my unruly daughter."

Seeing Wei Mingyue bow deeply to him, Emperor Changlong

unconsciously shifted his buttocks. But when he heard her mention Hua
Liuli, he leaned forward and put on an affectionate smile, thinking that she
already knew about the Crown Prince's intentions, "What do you mean,
Zhen's loyal subject? Fushou Junzhu is intelligent, clever, cute, kind, and
considerate, with a gentle and virtuous nature. Why would she need you to
apologize for anything?"

Regardless of the matter at hand, he first praised her daughter.

"Your Majesty overpraises her, and I am truly ashamed to hear such words,"
Wei Mingyue smiled bitterly, "That child is truly outrageous. On the day
Royal Princess Leyang arrived in the capital, she did something that
displeased the Royal Princess. I, as a mother, have failed to guide her
properly. I have already brought her along to the palace to let her personally
come and apologize to Your Majesty."

"Fushou Junzhu is outside?" Emperor Changlong glanced at the sky

outside. The weather was not good today, with a strong wind blowing. With
Fushou Junzhu being so delicate, how could she withstand it?

Afraid that the wind would blow away the little girl that his beloved son
liked, Emperor Changlong didn't even ask what Hua Liuli had done. He
immediately had Zhao Sancai bring the girl inside.

Xie Yao saw the person coming in and almost bit her teeth. Wasn't this the
little enchantress who seduced the Crown Prince?

"With such strong winds outside, how can Zhen let Junzhu stay alone out
there?" The more Emperor Changlong looked at Hua Liuli, the more he
liked her. This girl was good, even prettier than her mother, and most
importantly, she had a gentle and kind temperament, unlike her mother who
could smash a large rock with one hand.

"Quick, bring some hot ginger soup and remove the incense from the
room," Feeling that he had established a lovable and amiable image in front
of Hua Liuli, Emperor Changlong kindly asked, "Junzhu, would you like
some snacks?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, but this subordinate doesn't need anything," Hua
Liuli, supported by the hand of her maidservant, walked to the center of the
room, bowing deeply to everyone in the room. She recounted in detail what
had happened the previous evening.

"This subordinate only cared about the safety of the common people and
neglected Royal Princess Leyang's face, which also caused Miss Xie to feel
sad. After returning home, this subordinate couldn't rest and my heart was
unsettled for a long time. When I learned that Royal Princess Leyang and
Miss Xie were meeting with the Empress Dowager, I came to apologize to
both of you," After speaking, she walked to Royal Princess Leyang and Xie
Yao and bowed deeply, "I'm sorry for yesterday's impulsive behavior.
Please forgive me, Your Highness."

"My daughter is ignorant. I have already reprimanded her at home

yesterday," Wei Mingyue bowed to Princess Leyang and said, "Please
forgive her, Your Highness."

Royal Princess Leyang's heart turned cold. She never expected Wei
Mingyue and her daughter to bring the matter directly to the Emperor. This
was not an apology; it was clearly digging a pit under her feet and burying a
few sharp needles in it.

"During the event, the common people were allowed to set up stalls around,
the capital's yamen has already obtained permission from the court. It is a
good thing for the people's livelihood, so there is no transgression. Why did
the eunuchs of Royal Princess Leyang's estate whip the vendors?" Emperor
Changlong had the palace servants bring hot ginger soup and remove the
incense from the room. He then had Hua Liuli sit down and rest, with a
slightly cold expression he said, "Leyang, you are a royal princess, you
should know how to manage those servants who are bullying others."

"Your Majesty is right," Royal Princess Leyang covered her eye corner and
sobbed softly, "Since my eldest daughter passed away, I've been living in a
daze, allowing those insolent servants to become even more arrogant."

After crying for a while, she wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and
said to Hua Liuli, "Thanks to Junzhu, this wicked slave who bullies others
didn't succeed. How could I blame Junzhu? I'm grateful beyond words."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Hua Liuli smiled obediently, "My mother told
me yesterday that Your Highness is the most gentle and kind, and you treat
the younger generation very well. Today, after meeting you, I realize that
you are even better than my mother described."

"It's the Marquis Chang'an's exaggerated praise," Royal Princess Leyang

squeezed out these words through her teeth. She would rather believe that
pigs can fly than believe that Wei Mingyue would praise her like this.

Yesterday, the rank-eight female corporal under Wei Mingyue's command

clearly gave her no face. She forcibly brought the Chief Eunuch of Royal
Princess Leyang's estate to the Prefect of Jingzhao and made the yamen
constables publicly flog him ten whiplashes before sending him back to the
princess's estate, attracting countless onlookers. Along the way, she
deliberately or unintentionally told the people of the capital that this was the
Chief Eunuch of Royal Princess Leyang's estate, who got flogged for
causing trouble. She praised the Prefect for being fair and impartial, praised
the Crown Prince for his sense of justice, and also praised how well the
Emperor had educated the Crown Prince for the sake of the people.

This earned applause from the onlookers.

This was clearly slapping her face while also giving others face.

After doing such despicable things yesterday, today they changed their tone
and came to the palace to apologize, as if to say, "Although what we did
was not wrong, we were too impulsive and didn't give face to Royal
Princess Leyang, so we came to apologize."

If they really wanted to save face for her, they shouldn't have made things
so ugly yesterday.

Their current behavior was obviously for the Emperor to see, to show how
loyal they were to him.

What made her even angrier was that the Emperor not only did not
reprimand Hua Liuli, he even occasionally had palace servants bring her
food. If someone didn't know better, they would think she was his own
daughter.

"Don't make the ginger tea too strong, remember to bring a bowl of rose
dew to remove the ginger flavor for Junzhu," Emperor Changlong was not
in the mood to listen to Royal Princess Leyang's pitiful complaints. After
she finished speaking, he instructed the palace servants to prepare rose dew
for Hua Liuli.
The atmosphere instantly became awkward. Royal Princess Leyang looked
at Hua Liuli, who was sipping the ginger soup delicately. Wei Mingyue said
something like, "It's all because of Your Majesty's command; this child
doesn't like drinking these things at home." It made her feel disgusted.

This mother and daughter were not only duplicitous but also loved to flatter
the Emperor.

Shameless!

"General Wei, Zhen thinks that Fushou Junzhu is very good. Don't pick on
her every time. It's normal for a young girl to dislike the taste of ginger
soup. Who would like something with an unpleasant flavor?" Emperor
Changlong now saw Hua Liuli as good in every way, after all, she was his
future daughter-in-law.

Of course, the best thing about her was that she wasn't like her mother. It
was truly a blessing for his son.

"Fushou Junzhu, your health is not good. You must take your medicine on
time, or your family will worry," Xie Yao noticed that Emperor Changlong
seemed to be very fond of Hua Liuli, so she felt a little anxious in her heart,
"If you don't take care of your health now, what will happen in the future?"

A person with poor health shouldn't have delusions of becoming the Crown
Princess.

"Who said Junzhu isn't good?" The Crown Prince strode into the hall, his
gaze falling on Hua Liuli, who was drinking the rose dew with her head
lowered, "Gu thinks Junzhu is very good."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 54 – Imperial Guards

The Crown Prince suddenly appeared and threw out such a remark, making
the atmosphere in the hall even more awkward because his words greatly
undermined the dignity of Royal Princess Leyang and her daughter.

Although Royal Princess Leyang felt resentful, she noticed a crucial point.
Despite the presence of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, the Crown
Prince still had the freedom to come and go without even having to report.
It was evident that the Emperor favored his son to such an extent.

She glanced at her daughter, who had an unpleasant expression, and smiled
as she spoke, "The Crown Prince is right. Our Yao Yao doesn't mean that
Fushou Junzhu is not good, she is only concerned about her health. That's
why she couldn't help but say a few more words."

The Crown Prince stopped in his tracks and silently looked at Royal
Princess Leyang and her daughter. Just when everyone thought he would
say something, he expressionlessly with an "Oh".

Oh?

What's next?

And then?

Royal Princess Leyang felt a wave of anger from being ignored.

Hua Liuli had just prepared to bow to the Crown Prince when he walked up
to her and gently smiled, "With our friendship, why bother with such
formalities?"
After saying that, he naturally sat down in the empty seat next to Hua Liuli,
as if two good friends playing together. They didn't care about what the
adults were doing; they just sat together first.

But they were no longer five or six-year-old children!

Emperor Changlong's mood was complicated. He wanted Wei Mingyue to

let the Crown Prince experience the hardships of the world, but he also
feared that Wei Mingyue would really give his son a hard time. He sneakily
glanced at Wei Mingyue and saw her smiling as she whispered to the
Empress Dowager. His previously raised guard was eased a bit.

Regardless of what his anxious old father thought, the Crown Prince
lowered his head and asked Hua Liuli in a low voice, "Did they give you a
hard time?"

Hua Liuli extended a finger from her sleeve and gently shook it, "His
Majesty didn't blame me. He even forbade my mother from criticizing me."

The Crown Prince immediately smiled. This little girl probably didn't know
that the Emperor secretly regarded her as his future daughter-in-law. He
turned to Emperor Changlong and bowed, "Father Emperor, Erchen was
present during yesterday's incident. It was Erchen's idea to escort that little
eunuch to the Prefect of Jingzhao for punishment."

This matter had already been resolved, but unexpectedly, when the Crown
Prince arrived, he brought it up again. The smile on Royal Princess
Leyang's face could no longer be maintained.

She stood up, elegantly made her apology, and then once again mentioned
her deceased eldest daughter, crying bitterly while hugging her youngest
daughter, Xie Yao.

The Empress Dowager felt a headache upon hearing the sobbing cries. She
rubbed her temples, held the hand of her closest palace attendant, and stood
up. She then turned to Emperor Changlong, "Imperial Son, this Grieving
One is feeling a bit tired. This Grieving One will go to the sleeping palace
and rest for a while."
After speaking, she didn't forget to bring the two younger ones with her,
"Crown Prince, Liuli, both follow this Grieving One. There are some
matters this Grieving One wants to discuss with you both."

It's not good for young children to always hear others crying and wailing,
especially when Liuli's health is not good. What if it affects her vitality and
spirit?

Emperor Changlong watched as his mother leave with the two younger ones
and felt like he was a stone thrown out to face the quacking ducks in a
miserable state.

"Your Majesty, as an outsider, I shouldn't disturb your reunion with Royal

Princess Leyang," Wei Mingyue stood up and bowed to Emperor
Changlong.

Emperor Changlong: "..."

General Wei, when Zhen was almost deposed as Crown Prince, you were
there to support Zhen. When the Jinpo Kingdom invaded Great Jin on a
large scale, you were able to block their thousands of soldiers and horses for
Great Jin. So why are you now unwilling to do this small task?

Don't you understand the way to please an emperor?

Seeing the complaint in Emperor Changlong's eyes, Wei Mingyue spoke

again, "Your Majesty, there is something this subordinate's husband needs
to report, but Shoukang Palace is adjacent to the harem, and it would be
inappropriate for this subordinate's husband to visit here. So he had been
waiting for Your Majesty at the Chenyang Palace."

"Zhen's most beloved and loyal subordinate, General Hua. How can Zhen
let him wait for long?" Emperor Changlong quickly stood up and said to
Royal Princess Leyang and her weeping daughter, "Imperial Sister, you
have just arrived in the capital. Go back to your estate and rest well. Zhen
has some state affairs to attend to, so Zhen won't accompany you."
After speaking, without waiting for Royal Princess Leyang to respond, he
quickly left the main hall.

With the Empress Dowager and the Emperor gone, most of the palace
attendants in the main hall also left. Xie Yao looked at the empty hall and
felt a sense of coldness for no apparent reason.

She shivered and whispered to Royal Princess Leyang, "Mother, the

Emperor has left."

Royal Princess Leyang wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, slowly
stood up, and walked outside the hall. She looked up at the gloomy sky and
turned to Xie Yao beside her, "Look."

Xie Yao followed her mother's gaze and saw the towering city walls and the
palace standing in the strong wind.

"This is the imperial palace. I hope you can enter the Fengqi Palace and rule
the inner palace," Royal Princess Leyang said. Then she turned to look at
Xie Yao with sharp eyes, "Be it a Royal Princess or a Wangfei, it is still
inferior to the esteemed position of an Empress."

Facing her mother's determined gaze, Xie Yao felt a bit intimidated, "But
the Crown Prince doesn't like me at all."

"If he doesn't like you, then find a way to make him like you," Royal
Princess Leyang whispered in Xie Yao's ear. "If he likes someone, then
destroy that person. Do you understand?"

Xie Yao trembled.

"Why fear?" Royal Princess Leyang sneered. She gently caressed the stone
railing of the steps and descended step by step, "In this imperial palace,
whose hands are clean among the women?"

"Without being ruthless, one's position won't be stable," Royal Princess

Leyang bent down and plucked a bud from a tea flower in a flower bed, "If
you want something, you have to take it for yourself."
"Princess!" A eunuch hurriedly ran over, looking at the bud in her hand
with a troubled expression, "This is the Empress Dowager's favorite tea
flower. Please... have mercy and place it back."

Royal Princess Leyang: "..."

After the eunuch left, Royal Princess Leyang turned to Xie Yao and said,
"Do you see? If you can't become the most esteemed woman, even plucking
a flower will have someone coming to tell you that you can't do such
things."

Xie Yao nodded silently.

Princess Shunan's Estate.

"What? That wretched woman, Leyang, has returned to the capital again?"
Princess Shunan's face turned dark as she heard her personal maidservant
mention Royal Princess Leyang, "Didn't she say that her eldest daughter
passed away and she didn't want to set foot in this place of sorrow?"

It had only been a year, she had forgotten her grief completely?

"Mother, what place of sorrow?" Yao Jiamin entered the room with a
cheerful smile, sat next to Princess Shunan, and happily said, "Mother,
there's something your daughter wants to tell you that will surely make you
happy."

"What is it?" Princess Shunan said, "Just so you know, don't make up
stories to swindle money from me."

"What are you saying? Your daughter hasn't been spending money
recklessly lately," Since Hua Liuli's return to the capital, she had even
reduced the number of times she goes out and had no place to spend money.

Yao Jiamin recounted the incident of Hua Liuli's servants taking the Chief
Eunuch of Royal Princess Leyang's Estate to the Prefect of Jingzhou, "If I
had known such a good show would happen, I wouldn't have left early with
Second Princess yesterday. I should have stayed and watched shamelessly."
"Are you saying that when the incident happened, the Crown Prince was
also present?" Princess Shunan was somewhat surprised. Leyang has been
trying to win over the Crown Prince and even wanted to marry her daughter
to him as the Crown Princess. The Emperor treated Leyang better than her,
so why didn't the Crown Prince intervene when the Chief Eunuch of Royal
Princess Leyang's Estate was taken away by Hua Liuli's servants?

If there was a list of the most disliked people in Princess Shunan's heart,
Royal Princess Leyang's name would undoubtedly be at the top, written
with a bold and thick stroke.

A large part of the reason she threw insults at the Crown Prince was
because of Leyang.

She and Leyang had never gotten along since they were young. Leyang was
cunning and treacherous. She not only schemed against her at every turn but
also interfered when she was choosing her husband.

Later, when she gave birth to Yao Jiamin, she almost lost her life. Her
husband didn't want her to suffer, so he decided not to have any more
children. Every time Leyang returned to the capital, she would always
mention children in front of her, especially sons, which irritated her.

In Princess Shunan's mind, despicable people fell into two categories. There
were those who made her angry and helpless. They even had some qualities
that made her admire them -- like Wei Mingyue. And then there were those
who disgusted her to the point that she couldn't eat, and she wished she
could slap them -- Leyang was the epitome of this category.

They were both despicable people, but Wei Mingyue's likability surpassed
Leyang's by a hundred and ninety-nine streets.

"The Crown Prince and Hua Liuli... are good friends, so naturally, the
Crown Prince leans towards the Hua family," Yao Jiamin dared not mention
the possibility of the Crown Prince being fond of the late Xie Junzhu. Now,
Hua Luli was the substitute for Xie Junzhu, so she found an excuse,
"Although the Crown Prince is not easy to get along with, he also can't
stand nobles bullying the common people. It's also possible that he favors
the Hua family."

"With the Crown Prince's temperament, it doesn't seem surprising that he

would do such a thing," Princess Shunan recalled a few years ago some
corrupt officials were involved in the forced eviction of peasants and
encroaching of their lands. When the Crown Prince found out, he didn't
give them any face. Within a short month, these officials were demoted and
eventually sent to serve in harsh and cold places.

Since then, the trend of encroachment of lands in Great Jin has diminished
significantly, and it dared not resurge. Of course, rumors about the Crown
Prince's violent temper have also been increasing.

Whatever the reason, the Crown Prince made Leyang, that wretched
woman, lose face. For a moment, Princess Shunan felt that the Crown
Prince wasn't so detestable anymore.

Three days later, Royal Princess Leyang submitted a memorial, requesting

the establishment of her second daughter, Xie Yao, as a Junzhu.

The Crown Prince looked over the memorial and handed it to Zhao Sancai.
Zhao Sancai dared not read the contents of the memorial and respectfully
presented it to Emperor Changlong.

After reading the memorial, Emperor Changlong asked the Crown Prince,
"Yuansu, what do you think of this matter?"

"Late Xie Junzhu passed away only last year, however, Royal Princess
Leyang is already in a hurry to establish another Junzhu. It seems rather
heartless," the Crown Prince lightly tapped the table with his index finger
and smiled, "Erchen thinks it is inappropriate."

"Her eldest daughter had not married and had no offspring before she
passed away. If she doesn't even have the title of a Junzhu, how can she
enjoy the incense?" Emperor Changlong returned the memorial to the
Crown Prince, "You can respond to it."
"Erchen believes Father Emperor will preserve the title for her eldest
daughter," the Crown Prince picked up a vermilion brush and wrote two
lines on the memorial.

The eldest daughter of your family passed away less than a year ago, this
matter will be discussed in the future.

"After all, she is an outsider. Zhen has to consider my son's and future
daughter-in-law's feelings," Emperor Changlong said, "You brat, since Zhen
is doing this unpleasant thing for you, you better behave and help Zhen
handle state affairs properly. Don't run around before the Hundred Nations
Banquet is over."

Emperor Changlong knew very well what rumors would afloat if he

immediately granted a favor to Royal Princess Leyang right after the
servants of the Hua family took Royal Princess Leyang's Chief Eunuch to
the Prefect of Jingzhao. In the eyes of outsiders, it would appear as though
the Emperor was dissatisfied with the actions of the Hua family, but was
temporarily restraining himself.

He was well aware of who was right and who was wrong, Leyang's
flamboyant behavior couldn't be indulged.

Moreover, no matter what, he had to take care of his future in-laws. If there
were problems between in-laws, it would affect the relationship between his
son and daughter-in-law.

As a father, he had to consider more for his son who had a bad temper.

The Crown Prince put Royal Princess Leyang's memorial aside and picked
up another memorial. It was a greeting memorial, he casually marked a tick
on it before tossing it aside, "Father Emperor, there are so many talented
young men in the capital. If Father Emperor kept confining Erchen to the
study every day, what to do if Father Emperor's future daughter-in-law is
seduced by someone else?"

Emperor Changlong frowned and looked at his extremely handsome son,

"Don't worry, besides your noble status, you also have an additional
advantage."

The Crown Prince looked up at his father.

"You're good-looking," Emperor Changlong said, "Other young men can't

compare to you."

The Crown Prince sighed, "Father Emperor, relying on looks to win

someone's favor can only last for so long. Erchen thinks it's better for Father
Emperor to let Erchen go out."

Emperor Changlong was astonished. His son could say shameless things
just to leave the palace?

"Alright, alright," Emperor Changlong waved his hand, "You can leave the
palace once every three days, and if you lack anything, you can get it from
Zhen's private treasury."

"Father Emperor, not only are you a rare good emperor in a millennium, but
you're also a rare good father in ten thousand years."

"Yes," Emperor Changlong said expressionlessly with a cold smile, "Zhen

is this rare good father in ten thousand years, but Zhen doesn't have a rare
good son in at least a single day."

The Crown Prince bowed his head silently and continued to help Emperor
Changlong with the memorials.

This memorial was submitted by Lin Zhou, the Minister of Works. He

proposed conducting some experimental fields on the outskirts of the
capital to improve agricultural productivity.

The Crown Prince handed the memorial to Emperor Changlong.

"What do you think?" Emperor Changlong asked the Crown Prince.

"Agriculture is the foundation of the people. Erchen thinks it's feasible," the
Crown Prince said, "Not only that, but we should also select officials from
the Ministry of Works who are skilled in agriculture to be in charge of this
matter."

"Do you think Lin Zhou cannot handle this?"

"Erchen just thinks that he alone cannot handle this matter," the Crown
Prince took a list of officials from the Ministry of Works and marked
several names, "What does Father Emperor think of these people?"

These people included descendants of the imperial family, aristocratic

families, as well as descendants of military commanders and scholars.

"Good," Emperor Changlong smiled with satisfaction, "Do as you suggest."

After finishing the memorials, Emperor Changlong suddenly said, "Yuansu,

Zhen intends to hand over the capital's Imperial Guards to Hua Yingting."

The Crown Prince looked at Emperor Changlong in surprise.

"We are of the same age. Since Zhen is diligently reviewing the memorials
every day, how can he be idle at home?" Emperor Changlong smiled, "We
have to find something for him to do."

The Crown Prince's expression changed several times, "This is a major

matter, it can only be decided by Father Emperor."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 55 – The Relationship
Between Sisters-in-Law

"What? His Majesty wants Hua Yingting to take charge of the 30,000
Imperial Guards in the capital?!" Upon hearing this news, Consort Xian was
so shocked that she almost dropped the jade cup in her hand. She stood up
and paced around the room several times in disbelief, muttering, "How is
this possible? How could it be..."

On the surface, the Imperial Guards in the capital seemed to be just a few
thousand people. However, during emergencies, the soldiers and guards
from several neighboring counties would also be under the command and
dispatch of the Imperial Guards in the capital. This was a significant
amount of power.

In other words, the majority of the safety and protection in the capital was
now entrusted to the Hua family. Although the Palace Golden Armored
Army was not under the command of the Imperial Guards, the meager three
thousand soldiers in the Palace Golden Armored Army would probably not
be a match for tens of thousands of Imperial Guards in crucial moments.

What was even more frightening was that the Hua family also controlled
hundreds of thousands of troops on the border. Although Hua Yingting had
already left the military camp, his two sons remained in important positions
within the army. Given the prestige of the Hua family in both the military
and civilian sectors, it was only a matter of time before Hua Yingting's two
sons gained control over the main forces.

What did His Majesty mean by this?

Did he truly trust the Hua family, or was he deliberately lulling them into
complacency, waiting for the right moment to strike them?

Consort Xian felt some regret. If His Majesty had no suspicions about the
Hua family, why would she not agree to His Majesty's arrangement to have
her son marry Hua Liuli? Even if Hua Liuli didn't want to marry, she would
have made her son beg and cry to bring her back.

Before she could fully process this news, another piece of information
arrived—Royal Princess Leyang had returned to the capital.

Consort Xian's face instantly turned sour. She had a terrible relationship
with this Royal Princess Leyang, but as a consort, she had to pretend to
welcome the arrival of her younger sister-in-law in front of His Majesty.

She and Princess Shunan had become allies precisely because they shared a
common dislike for Leyang.

"But Royal Princess Leyang has lost a lot of face this time she returned to
the capital," Consort Xian's close palace maid, aware that her mistress
disliked Royal Princess Leyang, recounted the incident that caused Royal
Princess Leyang's embarrassment, "I also overheard a piece of gossip.
Royal Princess Leyang submitted a memorial to appoint her second
daughter as a Junzhu, but His Majesty rejected it."

"Her eldest daughter passed away just a year ago, yet she's already in a
hurry to establish another Junzhu?" Consort Xian raised an eyebrow in
astonishment. Did Leyang lose her mind?

She had married into the southern region, yet His Majesty still kept the
Princess's Estate in the capital for her. It was because His Majesty valued
the relationship between Leyang's birth mother and the Empress Dowager.
Anyone with a brain could see that His Majesty liked people who had both
affection and loyalty. As a birth mother, how could Leyang so eagerly
abandon her deceased daughter and start seeking benefits under His
Majesty's nose? Could His Majesty be pleased with that?
"Idiot," Consort Xian sneered, "Bengong has never seen such a foolish
woman."

"Your Highness, there are rumors that Royal Princess Leyang wants to
make Xie Yao a Crown Princess," the palace maid whispered, "But it's all
hearsay. The palace attendants in Shoukang Palace keep everything tightly
sealed, and no information can be obtained."

"It's normal that you couldn't find out," Consort Xian said, "Don't think that
the Empress Dowager is easily fooled just because her temper is good these
days and she always smiles. During the chaotic harem period of the late
emperor, the Empress Dowager was able to sit firmly on the throne of the
empress. How do you think she managed that?"

The palace maid fell silent.

Consort Xian sneered, "Xie Yao wants to become the Crown Princess? Ha.
In her dreams!"

She wanted to teach that annoying sister-in-law a lesson. Although they

were nothing more than lowly concubines in her eyes, they were still the
Emperor's concubines.

In this harem, it was the world of the consorts, and it had nothing to do with
her, Ji Leyang.

How could Royal Princess Leyang not understand that she would appear
too eager by requesting to establish her second daughter as a Junzhu at this
time? But she had no other choice now. Even Hua Liuli, someone not of the
imperial family, was a Junzhu. If Xie Yao were to mingle around in the
capital, wouldn't she still be beneath an outsider?

She thought her Imperial Brother would secure her eldest daughter's title
while establishing a new one for Yao Yao. She never expected that the
memorial would be directly rejected.

"The eldest daughter of your family passed away less than a year ago, this
matter will be discussed in the future," she read that sentence from the
memorial in a low voice, her voice trembling.

This was almost a subtle criticism of her as a mother lacking compassion.

It seemed that her Imperial Brother was displeased with her, likely due to
her ostentatious actions upon entering the capital. Otherwise, he wouldn't
have so blatantly disregarded her face.

"Mother, what should we do now?" When Xie Yao saw those two lines in
the memorial, her face turned red, and she felt as if the Emperor was
scolding her.

How would her cousin, the Crown Prince, view her?

Would he think that she was eager to replace her sister?

"Why panic?" Royal Princess Leyang looked at her daughter with some
dissatisfaction, "If your eldest sister were still alive..."

Her eldest daughter was more beautiful and talented than her second
daughter. If it weren't for her eldest daughter's poor health and early death,
she wouldn't have gone through the trouble of promoting her second
daughter as a Junzhu.

Xie Yao lowered her head and remained silent.

"Men are fond of delicate and lovely women. The more fragile and pitiful
you appear, the more likely they are to feel protective of you," Royal
Princess Leyang sneered mockingly, "You need to learn how to use this
weapon. It can be used not only against men but also against women."

Xie Yao thought of Hua Liuli, the little enchantress who was treated
tenderly by her cousin, the Crown Prince. Wasn't it because she was weak
and pitiful that the Crown Prince treated her differently?

Seemingly aware of what Xie Yao was thinking, Royal Princess Leyang's
expression turned cold, "Don't you understand how to deal with a young
lady?"
Xie Yao pursed her lips, "Daughter will remember."

"Let's go," Royal Princess Leyang stood up, "I'll take you to choose rouge
and face powder."

"Mother, I already have plenty of those in my room."

"If you want to become the Crown Princess, you can never have enough of
such thoughts," Royal Princess Leyang said, "Having a beautiful face is
your capital to captivate men."

The most expensive rouge and face powder shop in the capital was always
filled with wealthy women.

Just as Hua Liuli entered the shop's gate, she heard familiar voices. She
followed the sound and indeed saw Yao Jiamin, Yao Wenyin, and Tian
Shan. Tian Ruidong was following behind the three girls, paying for their
purchases with silver notes.

"Fushou Junzhu!" Tian Shan saw Hua Liuli and waved at her with a smile.
After waving, she remembered that they seemed to have some conflicts
with Hua Liuli before, so she discreetly retracted her hand.

"Junzhu," Tian Ruidong hadn't seen Hua Liuli for a long time, and now that
he finally saw her, he straightened his body, smoothed out the wrinkles on
his robe, and approached her with a bow, "Junzhu, are you also buying
rouge? What kind do you like?"

Seeing Tian Ruidong warmly approaching her, Yao Jiamin and Yao Wenyin
didn't find it strange. They even took a step back in unison and continued to
select lip rouge.

"Second Young Master Tian," Hua Liuli returned Tian Ruidong's bow on an
equal footing and smiled, "I'm just browsing."

"Junzhu, no matter what rouge you use, you will look good because of your
outstanding appearance," Tian Ruidong quickly changed his words, "Any
rouge that catches your eye will be the luckiest one in the entire shop."
"What arrogant language from a junior?" A woman dressed in embroidered
golden palace attire walked into the shop. The eunuchs and palace maids
behind her blocked the entrance, no longer allowing unrelated people to
enter the shop.

Tian Ruidong didn't even lift his head, "What do you mean by arrogant? I'm
just speaking the truth."

"Brother," Tian Shan lightly pulled Tian Ruidong's sleeve, "You should see
who the person is before you argue back."

Sensing something amiss, Tian Ruidong looked up at the entrance and

clenched his teeth. He took a step forward, blocking Hua Liuli behind him,
and saluted, "Greetings to Royal Princess Leyang."

"So, you're the maternal family member of that consort with the family
name Tian," Royal Princess Leyang smiled inexplicably, her eyes filled
with a hint of disdain.

Although Consort Xian had a title, Royal Princess Leyang addressed her by
her maternal family name, showing obvious disrespect, even in front of
Consort Xian's maternal family junior. This princess was truly arrogant.

Indeed, be it in the commoners' families or in the imperial family, the

relationship between sisters-in-law was a difficult problem.

Hua Liuli walked out from behind Tian Ruidong and respectfully greeted
Royal Princess Leyang, "Greetings, Royal Princess Leyang."

Royal Princess Leyang stared at her for a moment before smiling faintly,
"Fushou Junzhu, my daughter Yao Yao is the same age as you. You should
have a good time together."

"Aunt, Fushou Junzhu is here with us. If you trust us, you can let Cousin
join us," Yao Jiamin said with a fake smile, "We will take good care of her."

Xie Yao had so many malicious methods. Whoever was alone with her
would be unlucky.
"Jiamin is here too? Sorry, there are so many handsome young men and
beautiful women in the room that Aunt didn't notice you," Royal Princess
Leyang pretended to notice Yao Jiamin just now and smiled reservedly,
"Well, Yao Yao is shy. I'll take her upstairs to have a look. Next time, you
can all play together."

After speaking, she took Xie Yao and walked upstairs.

Watching Royal Princess Leyang and her entourage go upstairs, Yao

Wenyin expressed her concerns, "Jiamin, what if Aunt ends up arguing with
Royal Princess Leyang?"

Yao Jiamin rolled up her sleeves, turned to look at Hua Liuli, and said,
"Hua Liuli, you once said that we are lifelong sisters, right?"

Hua Liuli crossed her arms and replied, "Not long ago, someone said we
weren't sisters."

"Times change, so do circumstances. If you help me this time, I'll consider

you not only my sister but also my elder sister," Yao Jiamin held her arm
and whispered, "My mother is upstairs choosing jewelry. She has always
had conflicts with Royal Princess Leyang, but every time they clash, my
mother ends up losing. I'm worried she'll suffer again this time. Can you do
me a favor?"

With so many young people present this time, if her mother lost face, she
might not be able to eat for several days.

"Sister Jiamin, I am so delicate and helpless..."

"As long as you help this time, I'll accompany you no matter what you want
to do, alright?"

"Don't say things like that. We're sisters, there's no need to emphasize these
things. How can I just stand by and watch Aunt suffer a loss?" Hua Liuli
extended her hand toward Yuan Yi, "Yuan Yi, support me upstairs."
Yao Jiamin quickly followed behind Hua Liuli, her initially worried heart
miraculously calming down.

Somehow, she felt confident that with Hua Liuli's help, her mother wouldn't
suffer a loss this time.

"We'll go up and take a look too," Tian Shan suggested, noticing Yao
Wenyin's concern about Yao Jiamin.

"Shan Shan, I'm afraid this might involve your Tian family. I'll go up alone,
you don't have to..."

"It's fine. Good sisters share blessings and difficulties. Besides, according to
the law of storybooks, someone like Royal Princess Leyang will be slapped
in the face by the protagonist," Tian Shan patted her chest and whispered,
"Moreover, in this case, the protagonist is on our side."

"Who's the protagonist?" Yao Wenyin didn't refute Tian Shan's law of
storybooks this time, "Is it you or me?"

"What does it have to do with us? When I say the protagonist, I mean
Fushou Junzhu."

Yao Wenyin fell silent for a moment, "Just keep quiet. Thank you."

Tian Ruidong couldn't feel at ease leaving a few girls to deal with the
cunning and malicious Royal Princess Leyang. He hurriedly followed them
upstairs. If there was a fight later, as a man, he could at least punch a couple
of people.

The shop owner looked worriedly at these noble individuals who were
marching upstairs and silently prayed in his heart. He hoped they wouldn't
start fighting, please don't start fighting.

"This young master, there are important guests in the shop. Please come
back later," a servant from Royal Princess Leyang's estate intercepted a
handsomely dressed young man.
"Important guests?" the attendant behind the young man raised his voice
and said, "What kind of thing is your master? How dare they call
themselves an important guest in front of His Royal Highness?!"

As soon as he finished speaking, two guards behind him stepped forward

and pushed away the person standing at the entrance.

"You short-sighted dog!" the attendant kicked the servant who was blocking
the Crown Prince, then wiped the door frame that the servant had touched
with his sleeve, "Your Royal Highness, please."

Just as the Crown Prince's foot stepped into the door, he heard the sound of
something falling from upstairs.

It seemed like there was also the gentle sound of a woman sobbing.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 56 – Creating Something
Out of Nothing

Upon learning that Royal Princess Leyang had arrived in the capital,
Princess Shunan felt that she didn't have enough clothes, her jewelry wasn't
shiny enough, and her rouge wasn't vibrant enough. Within just two days,
she spent a considerable amount of silver at various rouge and jewelry
shops in the capital.

After learning that Leyang's petition to grant her daughter the title of
Junzhu had been rejected by the Emperor, Princess Shunan felt refreshed
and invigorated. She took her daughter and her husband's niece to browse
the rouge and jewelry shops. When they arrived at the shop, they noticed
that the Tian siblings were also there. Princess Shunan let the younger ones
play by themselves while she went upstairs to choose jewelry.

Just as she had picked out a phoenix hairpin, she heard someone speak, "I'll
take this phoenix hairpin."

Princess Shunan turned around and coldly smiled, "Oh, I wondered who
else could it be. Looking at other people's things and wanting it for yourself.
If you can't have it, you start complaining. Turns out it's you."

"My dear sister, it's been a year. Your tone while speaking to others is still
so unpleasant," Leyang reached out and picked up the phoenix hairpin on
the tray and sneered, "No wonder you're still without the title of Royal
Princess at your age."

"You!" That title was a thorn in Princess Shunan's heart. No matter who
mentioned it in front of her, she couldn't help but get angry.
"My dear sister, are you going to get angry at me again?" Leyang covered
her mouth and chuckled softly, "After all these years, when will you ever
change your temper?"

Princess Shunan's face darkened, "Get lost."

"My dear sister, do you know?" Leyang walked up to Princess Shunan and
smiled mockingly, "Every time I see you getting angry at me, unable to do
anything about it, I feel that you're particularly pitiful."

Seeing that Princess Shunan was about to push her, Leyang took two steps
back, "Dear sister, do you remember how our father despised you back
then?"

"You wretch!" How could Princess Shunan forget? Back then, she and
Leyang were at a marriageable age. Leyang took a liking to the refined and
handsome heir of the Xie family, but the Emperor intended for Princess
Shunan to marry into the Xie family. When Leyang found out, she
deliberately provoked her, allowing the Emperor and the Xie family's son to
see her ugly side.

Princess Shunan didn't want to bring up these old matters since she didn't
really care about the Xie family's son back then. But she remembered
clearly the grudge she held against Leyang for scheming against her.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Without thinking
twice, she raised her hand and slapped Leyang hard. After all, she already
had the reputation of scolding the Crown Prince, so she wasn't afraid of
adding another bad reputation.

It feels good to hit someone in the heat of the moment, but regret comes
afterward.

Leyang didn't expect that Princess Shunan would dare to strike her. She
touched her cheek that was slapped and raised her hand to retaliate, but just
as her hand was about to strike, she felt someone quickly pass by her side.
Somehow, Princess Shunan fell to the ground.
"Royal Princess, if you like the hairpin Princess Shunan chose, just say so.
With Princess Shunan's generosity, she wouldn't refuse; in fact, she would
even buy it and gift it to you. Why did you have to resort to violence?" Hua
Liuli helped Princess Shunan - who looked confused - and sat her upright.
Then Hua Liuli looked at Royal Princess Leyang with anguish and anger,
"You are sisters, after all."

Yao Jiamin, who followed Hua Liuli, hadn't fully grasped the situation yet.
She saw Hua Liuli supporting her mother on the ground, tears filling her
eyes. With her fair and tender fingers gently stroking her mother's cheek,
her face expressed surprise, injustice, anger, and heartbreak. Anyone who
saw it would think that Royal Princess Leyang had committed unforgivable
misdeeds.

No, who exactly is her mother's daughter between her and Hua Liuli? Why
does Hua Liuli seem more indignant than her own biological daughter?

Confused, she walked to her mother and Hua Liuli, crouching down. It
seemed like Royal Princess Leyang hadn't even had a chance to touch her
mother... right?

"Cry," Hua Liuli whispered in her ear.

"Huh?" Yao Jiamin had never seen such a distorted situation before, looking
as lost as a child who had wandered off.

"Cry!" Hua Liuli gritted her teeth and whispered, "If you can't cry, I can
help you."

Meeting Hua Liuli's beautiful eyes, Yao Jiamin suddenly understood

everything. She took out a handkerchief from her pocket and covered her
face, crying, "Mother, are you okay?"

After sobbing a few times, Yao Jiamin angrily pointed at Royal Princess
Leyang and said, "Aunt, you are the elder sister, my mother is the younger
sister. Everyone has been accommodating to you, why did you still resort to
violence?!"
Royal Princess Leyang sneered, "Nonsense, when did I hurt your mother?"

"Jiamin, you can't slander people like this. I know your family doesn't
welcome us back to the capital, but why fabricate lies?" Xie Yao's eyes
turned red, "Stop causing a scene. It's not good for outsiders to see us
imperial family members become a joke."

Yao Wenyin rushed upstairs with the others and saw her aunt had been
slapped by Royal Princess Leyang. Her face turned red with anger, "You've
gone too far, actually resorting to physical violence!"

Is being a princess so extraordinary that she can just hit people?!

Princess Shunan, who was being carefully supported by Hua Liuli, touched
her cheek that had been caressed by Hua Liuli. It felt slightly warm, as
though she had truly been struck. She even doubted whether she had really
been slapped by that wretched Leyang.

Tian Shan and Tian Ruidong were startled by the scene and quickly walked
to Princess Shunan, quietly asking if she was okay.

Royal Princess Leyang sneered and asked the palace attendants behind her,
"Did you all see me hitting someone?"

The attendants shook their heads, while the attendants accompanying

Princess Shunan remained silent.

"Of course, the servants you brought with you would naturally speak in
your favor," Yao Wenyin saw her aunt's reddened cheek and her eyes
welling up with anger. Ignoring her own identity, she shouted at Royal
Princess Leyang, "You have gone too far in bullying others."

"I haven't done anything, why should I admit to it?" Royal Princess Leyang
frowned in dissatisfaction, "How did the Yao family raise their daughter?
The girls they raised have no sense of propriety or respect."

Xie Yao tearfully said in a low voice, "We clearly haven't done anything,
why are you accusing us?"
"Miss Xie, so many of us saw it, yet you insist that you haven't done
anything," Hua Liuli handed Princess Shunan over to Yao Jiamin as she
stood up and looked at Xie Yao in disbelief, "In front of everyone's eyes,
why won't you admit what you did?"

"It was clearly Aunt who struck my mother!" Xie Yao, seeing the sense of
justice on Hua Liuli's beautiful face, felt immense anger, "Don't spout
nonsense."

"Am I spouting nonsense?" Hua Liuli's face turned pale in an instant and
she almost couldn't stand steady. She held her chest, it seemed as if an old
ailment had resurfaced. But in order to seek justice for the wronged
Princess Shunan, she didn't take a step back while holding onto the hand of
her servant, "Miss Xie, I never expected that you, such a kind girl, would
distort the truth. It's truly disappointing."

Xie Yao was so angry that she could barely catch her breath. Who was truly
distorting the truth?!

If it weren't for her status not allowing her to curse, she would have already
pointed at Hua Liuli and started swearing.

"Fushou Junzhu, are you alright?" Tian Ruidong noticed the staggering state
of the ethereal Hua Liuli and anxiously rubbed his hands together. He saw
one of the maidservants next to Junzhu feed a pill to Hua Liuli and quickly
called for water and a chair.

"We just said a few words and you started crying." Tian Ruidong murmured
softly, "Fushou Junzhu is so kind-hearted and weak. Even if you have
wrongly accused her, she doesn't cry as intensely as you do."

Hua Liuli weakly smiled at Tian Ruidong. In her watery eyes, there was a
mixture of fragility and strength, "Second Young Master Tian, I'm fine. You
don't have to worry."

Seeing Hua Liuli in this state, Tian Ruidong felt even more disgusted by the
ugliness of Royal Princess Leyang and her daughter, "They hit someone and
still pretend to be pitiful. Don't think that shedding a few tears makes you
innocent."

Princess Shunan and Yao Jiamin, who sat in the corner, exchanged a silent
glance before lowering their heads without saying a word.

"Outrageous! None of you have any respect for me," Royal Princess Leyang
had never imagined that one day she would be falsely accused by someone.
She was so furious that she knocked over the tray of jewelry, scattering
them on the ground, "If you youngsters don't understand the rules, I'll teach
you. Good sister, it's the mother's fault if the daughter doesn't learn. Today,
I'll teach your daughter a lesson on your behalf."

"Who wants your teachings?" The Crown Prince walked in from the
corridor, his gaze scanning the chaotic room. He paused for a moment when
he saw the redness on the cheek of Princess Shunan and then fixed his gaze
on Hua Liuli without moving.

Upon seeing the Crown Prince here, Princess Shunan's heart sank. She and
the Crown Prince had always been at odds, and he would definitely take
Leyang's side. With this matter blowing up, not only would she suffer, but it
was likely that the younger generation would also be wronged.

She frowned. She should have slapped that wretch a bit more earlier;
whatever the case, in the end, it would still be the same amount of trouble
for her.

"Cousin," Xie Yao, her eyes red, politely greeted the Crown Prince.

Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince didn't even look at her. He walked past her
and stood next to Hua Liuli, "Are you feeling unwell?"

"I'm fine, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli didn't expect the Crown Prince
to appear here. She hid one of her hands inside her sleeve and replied, "I
just need to rest for a while."

The Crown Prince glanced at the hand she hid in her sleeve and casually
took half a step to the left, blocking the view of Leyang and her daughter,
"If Junzhu is feeling unwell, why hasn't anyone brought water?"

"Yes," The eunuch behind the Crown Prince quickly brought water. The
Crown Prince took the cup but accidentally shook it, causing a few drops of
water to fall on Hua Liuli's skirt.

He handed a handkerchief to Hua Liuli, "Apologies for accidentally

staining the Junzhu's clothes. Please go to the nearby room to tidy up."

Hua Liuli looked up at the Crown Prince, who smiled and winked at her.

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness. I'll go now," Hua Liuli stood up and
walked into the adjacent room, where noble ladies could rest.

After Hua Liuli left, the Crown Prince looked expressionlessly at everyone
present, "Aunts, please have a seat, and let's talk."

Although Leyang was extremely angry, she intended to win over the Crown
Prince, so she glared at Shunan before sitting down in a chair.

Shunan was already feeling guilty, and coupled with her prior
disagreements with the Crown Prince, she could only sit silently on the
side. For a while, the whole room fell silent.

"Do you know what happened?" the Crown Prince asked the people in the
room.

"Replying to Your Highness, the servants who usually serve the nobles
don't dare to look directly at their faces, so we don't know exactly what
happened just now," one of the shop attendants replied. Although they often
interacted with nobles, they had never witnessed such a scene of two
princesses fighting. They quickly added, "We only heard a sound similar to
a slap, but we don't know anything else. Please enlighten us, Your Royal
Highness."

Leyang's face changed. The slap sound the servant heard was the sound of
Shunan slapping her. She turned her head to show the Crown Prince her
reddened cheek intentionally.
Unfortunately, it seemed that the Crown Prince didn't notice her intentions.
Not only did he not notice her slightly flushed cheeks, he instead turned to
look at Shunan. Leyang was shocked to see that the red mark on Shunan's
face was even clearer than hers.

What on earth was going on?

"Aunts, as a junior, there are some words Gu shouldn't say. But with things
escalating like this, if Father Emperor and Imperial Grandmother knew,
how heartbroken would they be?" the Crown Prince's sigh echoed
powerfully in the quiet room.

"Imperial Nephew, I know you don't want to see Shunan and me in conflict,
but Shunan is fabricating a story and falsely accusing me of hitting her in
front of other servants. As her eldest sister, I am truly heartbroken," Leyang
said.

"Cousin, not only did Aunt accuse Mother wrongly, but she also slapped her
in front of other servants," Xie Yao sobbed softly, "Mother always told me
how good the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were, how well they got
along with others. But I never expected that as soon as we returned to the
capital, we would face such difficulties. If we had known, we... shouldn't
have come to the capital this year."

"Aunt, are you thinking of going home so soon?" After a pause, the Crown
Prince's tone carried a hint of regret, "If Aunt and Cousin, two ladies, were
to return alone, Gu wouldn't feel at ease. How about Gu seek permission
from Father Emperor to send a squad of guards to accompany you both?"

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 57 – Confidant

When the Crown Prince spoke, the entire room fell silent.

Not only Royal Princess Leyang and her daughter Xie Yao, even Yao
Jiamin and Princess Shunan did not expect the Crown Prince to react like
this after hearing Xie Yao's words.

Yao Jiamin glanced at her mother secretly. She wondered if the rumors
about the Crown Prince's close relationship with Royal Princess Leyang
were just gossip. Judging from the Crown Prince's attitude, he didn't seem
close to Royal Princess Leyang at all.

Princess Shunan was also confused. Could it be that she had misunderstood
the Crown Prince in the past?

"Thank you for your kindness, Crown Prince. However, the Hundred
Nations Banquet is approaching. Besides, the Emperor and the Empress
Dowager are also our family," Royal Princess Leyang had a thicker skin
than her daughter and pretended not to notice the estrangement in the
Crown Prince's words, "While we miss our own family back in the South, it
would be troublesome to involve the guards in the capital for such a trivial
matter. Yao Yao is still young and doesn't understand the proper etiquette.
Your Royal Highness doesn't need to take it to heart."

"Is that so?" the Crown Prince raised an eyebrow as he looked at Royal
Princess Leyang. It seemed that he was reluctant to let Royal Princess
Leyang and her daughter leave and carried a hint of regret.

"Yes," Royal Princess Leyang's face showed some uneasiness, while her
heart was filled with resentment. It was obvious that the Crown Prince had
no intention of being close to them, and he probably wouldn't want Yao Yao
to become the Crown Princess. It seemed that her original plan was
impossible to achieve.

"In that case, Gu won't send you two back for now." the Crown Prince
looked at the scattered jewelry on the floor and gestured for the servants to
pick them up, "Regarding the incident where you hurt Aunt Shunan, please
explain."

"The Crown Prince means to believe Shun An and not me?" Royal Princess
Leyang was well aware of the contradictions between Shun An and the
Crown Prince. Given the Crown Prince's temperament, even if he didn't
want to favor her, he shouldn't be protective of Shun An.

Shun An raised her head upon hearing this but showed no reaction to Royal
Princess Leyang's words.

"What a pity," the Crown Prince touched the broken hairpin and gently
placed the phoenix hairpin he picked up from the ground on the table, "Gu
heard that it would take a lot of time and effort for skilled craftsmen to
make such a delicate hairpin. It's a shame that their efforts were wasted like
this."

Yao Jiamin quickly spoke, "Your Royal Highness, the dispute between
Mother and Aunt is a private matter. We, the Princess Shunan Estate, are
willing to compensate for the value of these pieces of jewelry."

"Oh?" the Crown Prince raised an eyebrow and glanced at Princess Shunan
before nodding slightly, "Aunt is a good teacher who cares for the people
and appreciates the hard work of craftsmen. But this matter shouldn't be
blamed on Aunt. As a junior, Gu will pay for the jewelry on behalf of both
my aunts."

Hua Liuli just stepped out of the room when she heard the Crown Prince's
words. She paused and turned to look at Xie Yao, who also looked at her.

Xie Yao's eyes were still red, but there was a hint of hatred in her gaze.
Hua Liuli calmly met her gaze. As she saw Xie Yao's increasing hatred,
Hua Liuli smiled and walked to the empty seat and sat between the Crown
Prince and Princess Shunan.

"Junzhu, have you taken care of it?" the Crown Prince smiled at Hua Liuli.

"It was just a few drops of water, it dried quickly," Hua Liuli looked at the
Crown Prince and suddenly smiled, "Thank you, Your Royal Highness."

"Gu apologizes for my rudeness by splashing water on your clothes," the

Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli's smile and couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Cousin!" Noticing the Crown Prince's gaze at Hua Liuli, Xie Yao couldn't
help but become a little agitated, "She's lying!"

The Crown Prince furrowed his brows slightly and looked at Xie Yao
expressionlessly, "Miss Xie, Fushou Junzhu has always been kind-hearted.
Don't accuse her without evidence."

"Such a pity," Yao Wenyin whispered to Tian Shan, "Xie Yao addressed the
Crown Prince as 'Cousin', but the Crown Prince addressed her as 'Miss Xie'.
As a bystander, it's clear that the Crown Prince wants to keep his distance
from her."

Tian Shan covered her mouth with her hand and whispered, "It's clear that
the Crown Prince has no affection for her."

Although Royal Princess Leyang's intentions were not known to everyone,

those who were close to the imperial family could see that she wanted to
marry Xie Yao to the Crown Prince and make her the Crown Princesses.
However, marriage is based on compatibility and matchmaking, there is no
reason to force a reluctant union.

The Crown Prince was unwilling, and with the Emperor's favoritism
towards him, he naturally wouldn't allow the Crown Prince to marry
someone he didn't want to. Royal Princess Leyang's plan was bound to fail.
"Cousin, I didn't falsely accuse her. Don't let her deceive you," Xie Yao
looked at the Crown Prince with a grievous expression, "Don't you trust
me?"

Princess Shunan and Yao Jiamin both looked at the Crown Prince.

Facing Xie Yao's aggrieved expression, Hua Liuli remained silent and
lowered her head. But her silent demeanor, without crying or making a
scene, made her appear even more pitiful and helpless than Xie Yao.

If it weren't for the Crown Prince's presence, Tian Ruidong wanted to jump
out and scold Xie Yao, questioning how a little demon like her could
slander the pure and innocent fairy-like Fushou Junzhu.

"Miss Xie, as a confidant of Fushou Junzhu, naturally, Gu believes in her,"

the Crown Prince declared his trust in Hua Liuli without any pretext, "Gu is
already aware of the situation. Since it concerns the face of Aunts, this
matter should not be publicized."

He stood up and said to Hua Liuli, "Junzhu, Gu saw a pair of bracelets that
would suit you very well in a shop on East Street just now. Would you like
to go and take a look at them with Gu?"

"Okay," Hua Liuli readily agreed.

Xie Yao couldn't help but want to step forward. She wanted to tell the
Crown Prince not to trust this woman, that she was a sham. Her
helplessness and fragility were all an act, and she was the one who falsely
accused her mother. She was a cunning and deceitful fraudster.

But her reason told her that no matter what she said now, the Crown Prince
would only see her as slandering Hua Liuli and would dislike her even
more.

"Your Royal Highness, I still feel dizzy," Hua Liuli apologized to the Crown
Prince with a smile and took the pill handed to her by Yuan Yi, "Taking this
medicine will make me feel better."
Seeing Hua Liuli's fake conduct, Xie Yao clenched the handkerchief tightly
in her hand.

"Be careful," the Crown Prince reached out and supported Hua Liuli's arm,
then turned to his two Aunts and said, "Aunts, Gu will take Fushou Junzhu
to bid farewell."

"We bid farewell to the Crown Prince," Yao Jiamin and the other younger
generation quickly bowed.

Xie Yao stared fixedly at the spot where the Crown Prince was supporting
Hua Liuli and slowly knelt down to perform a deep bow, "I bid farewell to
Cousin."

Hua Liuli smoothed out her skirt and turned her head to see Xie Yao
looking at her with teary eyes. She innocently tilted her head and said in a
sweet and innocent voice, "Miss Xie, if you want to return to the south, you
can let me know. The guards in our estate are all experienced from the
battlefield, they will be able to safely escort you home."

"Junzhu's kind offer is appreciated, but I don't need it for now," Xie Yao
gritted her teeth as she spoke.

"Oh," Hua Liuli smiled brightly, nodded, and said, "Then when you need it,
let me know."

Xie Yao took a few deep breaths, constantly reminding herself not to get
angry. An angry woman is the ugliest.

But no matter how she reminded herself, she really wanted to kick Hua
Liuli down the stairs.

Tian Ruidong covered his pounding chest and excitedly muttered to

himself, "Fushou Junzhu is even kinder than a fairy. Xie Yao has slandered
her so much, yet she still cares about her safety. It's truly moving."

Yao Jiamin, who heard what he said: "..."

When a man acts foolish, nothing good comes out of it.

Once the Crown Prince left with Hua Liuli, Princess Shunan suddenly held
her head and started screaming in pain, then she closed her eyes and fainted.
The younger generation hastily helped her onto the carriage and hurriedly
returned to the Princess's estate.

Yao Jiamin looked at her mother's twitching eyelids and felt that her
mother's feigning fainting technique is really poor. At most, she could
deceive innocent girls like Tian Shan and Yao Wenyin. If Hua Liuli were
still present, she would definitely see through it at a glance.

She reached out and removed the cloak that was rubbing against Princess
Shunan's cheek. She was afraid that if it continued rubbing, the cloak would
wipe away the rouge on her mother's cheek.

Inside the Crown Prince's carriage, Hua Liuli secretly glanced at him from
the corner of her eye. The Crown Prince seemed unaware of Hua Liuli's
stolen glances as he sat cross-legged on the carpet, peeling watermelon
seeds.

"Your Royal Highness..." Hua Liuli also sat on the soft seat as she
hesitantly spoke up, "Does Your Royal Highness know what I just did?"

"That's not important." The Crown Prince smiled and pushed the porcelain
plate filled with melon seeds in front of Hua Liuli, "Sometimes, Gu is
happy to support my loved ones even if it goes against reason."

Hua Liuli's heart trembled, and after a moment, she reached out and poked
at the peeled melon seeds on the plate. "If that's the case, Your Royal
Highness should support Royal Princess Leyang."

"If you say it like that, it would make Gu very sad," The Crown Prince
looked at her tenderly. "In Gu's heart, it is you, Liuli, who is closest to Gu."

Hua Liuli exerted a little force and poked two melon seeds out of the plate.

"Gu thought that we have released river lanterns together, climbed

mountains together, enjoyed flowers together, rowed boats together, so we
considered each other as bosom friends," The Crown Prince sighed, his
smile fading from his face, "So, it turns out that all of this was just Gu's
wishful thinking?"

"Your Royal Highness, I didn't mean it that way," Seeing the worried
expression on the Crown Prince's face, Hua Liuli suddenly felt pity for him.
"It's just that my actions have caused trouble for Your Royal Highness, and
I feel a little guilty..."

"What trouble is that?" the Crown Prince suddenly laughed, looking at Hua
Liuli, "As long as you are willing to consider Gu as someone close to you,
that would make Gu the happiest."

Hua Liuli opened her mouth but couldn't bring herself to say that as he was
the Crown Prince, it was inappropriate for him to openly favor someone.

But in the face of the Crown Prince's gentle gaze, she couldn't speak those
words.

"In fact, Gu doesn't like Royal Princess Leyang either. If we really have to
talk about it, Gu should thank you for providing this opportunity for Gu,"
the Crown Prince, seeing Hua Liuli's hesitant expression, chuckled lightly,
"Over a decade ago, when Gu was not yet the Crown Prince and Gu's
mother was still alive, this good aunt of mine pointed at Gu's mother and
said, 'When your sickly son dies, how long do you think a woman like you
will be favored?'"

"At that time, Gu was standing behind the pillar and witnessed how Mother
was humiliated by Royal Princess Leyang but dared not utter a word. Gu
remembers it vividly to this day," the Crown Prince's smile faded a little,
"But Royal Princess Leyang thought that Gu was young back then and had
forgotten about what happened."

Thinking about the little Crown Prince, who stood timidly behind the pillar
and endured so much injustice, Hua Liuli couldn't help but feel heartbroken.
She reached out and grabbed the sleeve of the Crown Prince, "Your Royal
Highness, don't be sad. She won't dare to bully Your Royal Highness
anymore."
"En," the Crown Prince looked at the hand gripping his sleeve and smiled
even more beautifully, "That's why Gu is happy that you provided this
opportunity for Gu, Liuli."

"This will be our secret," the Crown Prince placed his hand on the back of
Hua Liuli's hand through his sleeve, "If there's someone you dislike in the
future, just tell Gu. Gu will dig a hole for them without you suffering any
losses."

Hua Liuli chuckled awkwardly. She felt like she was corrupting the upright
Crown Prince.

Oh no, if Father and Mother find out, will they break my legs?

Seeing Hua Liuli's silence, the Crown Prince's expression turned gloomy,
"Liuli, do you still not trust Gu?"

"I naturally trust Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli couldn't bear to see even
a hint of grievance on the Crown Prince's face, "I just can't bear to see Your
Royal Highness doing these things."

"Gu spends my days studying and handling government affairs in the study
without a moment's leisure. No matter what Gu does, someone is always
watching. Sometimes, if Gu says something wrong or takes a wrong step,
someone will report it to Father Emperor, and Gu will face severe
criticism," the Crown Prince looked forlornly at Hua Liuli, "Only when Gu
is with you, Liuli, do I feel a sense of relief. If even you treat Gu like
others..."

"Your Royal Highness, Your Royal Highness!" Hua Liuli held the Crown
Prince's arm, "In the future, let's set fire together and plot against the bad
guys together. Whoever Your Royal Highness dislikes, we'll secretly deal
with them, alright?!"

If you keep talking like that, I can't help but hug you, cuddly you, and give
you a kiss.

She was an upright beauty, she couldn't do such things.

"Thank you, Liuli," the Crown Prince revealed an incredibly gorgeous smile
to Hua Liuli, "If you have someone you dislike, we'll deal with them
together, secretly."

Seeing the Crown Prince's spellbound smile, Hua Liuli nodded in a daze.

In the face of such beauty, other than nodding, did she have any other
choice?

No!

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 58 – Commander of the
Imperial Guards

Hua Liuli sneaked into her courtyard, her hand hadn't even touched the door
to the room.

She stiffened and slowly turned her head to look at Wei Mingyue, who was
standing under a tree. She walked over to her with a dejected expression
and said, "Mother."

"Very well, at least you remembered to come back before curfew," Wei
Mingyue walked over to the stone table and sat down, pointing to the stone
bench next to her, "Sit down, we need to talk."

"I was thinking that the weather is getting warmer and wanted to buy some
rouge and powder to use," She took out a box of rouge from her sleeve,
"This is a gift from me."

"You went out early in the morning to buy rouge and only returned after
curfew. One would think that you went to make rouge, not to buy it," Wei
Mingyue took the rouge and put it in her own sleeve, "I heard that Princess
Shunan had some conflicts with Royal Princess Leyang?"

Hua Liuli lowered her head and remained silent.

"Enough with your pitiful act. I don't want to delve too much into your
matters, I believe you have discretion in your actions," Wei Mingyue said,
"I came to find you for an important matter."

Hua Liuli quickly sat up straight. As long as she wasn't punished to copy
books, everything would be fine.
"The Emperor wants your father to take charge of the Imperial Guard in the
capital and has given him command over the neighboring six counties'
guards as well," Wei Mingyue's expression turned solemn, "You need to be
careful in your future actions."

"Did Father accept the order?" Their family was already in a delicate
situation. After the war, their parents retired from the military, not wanting
the Hua family to become a thorn in the Emperor's eye.

Although the Emperor trusted the Hua family, they, as loyal subjects,
needed to be tactful. They shouldn't let this trust disintegrate into suspicion
due to their own arrogance, leading to a rift between ruler and subject.

Wei Mingyue shook her head, "As a loyal subject, it is only right for us to
share the worries of the ruler. But this important position, our family can't
easily accept it, at least not readily."

The way rulers and subjects interact was something that every member of
the Hua family learned from a young age.

Blind obedience was the worst approach, while trying to please the ruler
wasn't the best either. The key was to strike the right balance -- to know
when to advance and when to retreat, to invest genuine feelings but not
forget everything -- in order to protect the family to the greatest extent.

"You have learned the ways of a ruler and a loyal subject by my side since
childhood, but I hope you will never need to use them in your lifetime."
Wei Mingyue reached out and touched her daughter's head, "Only when
there is peace in the world, with no more wars, can our family truly retire
from the military. You have suffered in these years."

If Hua Liuli were an ordinary noble girl, she wouldn't have been left alone
in the military camp at such a young age, even risking her life as bait for the
sake of the people's safety.

Outsiders thought that the Hua family treated their daughter like a precious
gem, but they didn't know the cruelty and helplessness of leaving their ten-
year-old daughter in the military camp.
Hua Liuli held her mother's hand and smiled playfully, "Mother, from the
day I was born until now, I have never felt wronged."

She remembered her father rolling up his pants and catching fish for her at
the fish pond. She remembered her dignified mother on horseback, looking
back even when they were far from the city gate, just to catch another
glimpse of her standing at the city gate.

Later, when they returned victorious, she went up to her mother with a bow
and arrows and said, "Mother, I just stopped a few scouts who were trying
to infiltrate the city." Her mother, a deputy general at that time, hugged her
tightly and burst into tears in front of everyone.

And there were her three older brothers, who managed to find her good
food during the most scarce times.

Whatever she wanted to do, whatever trouble she caused, they accompanied
her through it all. When she said she wanted to raise male companions, her
brothers even saved up money for her.

She was born when her parents were defending against foreign enemies and
grew up under the care of the soldiers and civilians on the border. She had
never felt that she had been wronged.

"It's precisely because you never feel wronged that I feel you are wronged,"
Wei Mingyue looked at her daughter tenderly, "If you like someone, go
ahead and like them boldly, without any concerns," Wei Mingyue was
worried that her daughter would bury her feelings for the Crown Prince for
the sake of the family, leaving a lifelong regret.

"Huh?" Hua Liuli was puzzled. Why did her mother suddenly mention
liking someone?

"Mother," Hua Liuli looked at Wei Mingyue suspiciously, "I am only

fifteen. You're not trying to marry off your daughter, are you?"

"Nonsense," Wei Mingyue thought Hua Liuli was pretending to be foolish,

"Just remember, don't make yourself suffer. Your father and I fought on the
battlefield for the sake of the people's peace and prosperity, not to let our
children suffer for a lifetime."

She understood every word, but why did they carry such profound
meanings?

Hua Liuli felt that there must be some misunderstanding between her and
her mother that couldn't be explained. But seeing her mother's appearance,
it seemed like she had already decided that she was lying.

Oh well, her mother is so beautiful, whatever she says must be true.

Early the next morning, Hua Yingting entered the palace and squatted
outside the Imperial Study waiting for an audience with the Emperor.
Several other officials were also waiting outside. They exchanged a few
words with each other before respectfully standing in place, waiting for the
Emperor's summons.

"Daren," Zhao Sancai walked out with a smile, "The Emperor and Crown
Prince have important matters to discuss. If you have no urgent matters,
please come back in the afternoon."

After thinking for a moment, the officials all tactfully left.

"General," Zhao Sancai called out to Hua Yingting, who was about to leave
with the other officials, "The Emperor invites you inside."

"Is it appropriate for me to go in now since the Emperor and Crown Prince
have important matters to discuss?"

"Others may not, but the General certainly can," Zhao Sancai bowed, "The
Emperor said that there's no need for formalities among ourselves."

Hua Yingting felt something was amiss upon hearing this. It was good to be
trusted by the Emperor, but using the term "among ourselves" so casually?

Pretending not to notice General Hua's doubts, Zhao Sancai smiled and led
him into the Imperial Study, then quietly stepped aside.
When Hua Yingting entered the study, it seemed that the Emperor and
Crown Prince were discussing something. Upon seeing him come in, both
of them smiled.

"Zhen's beloved subject, have a seat, and let's talk," without waiting for Hua
Yingting to finish his formalities, Emperor Changlong beckoned for him to
sit down.

"Your Majesty, I came today for the matter of the Imperial Guards in the
capital," Hua Yingting got straight to the point, "It is an honor for me that
Your Majesty is willing to entrust such a great responsibility to me, but this
matter involves the safety and well-being of Your Majesty and the people of
the capital. In my personal opinion, Your Majesty should think twice before
proceeding."

"What do you mean by this, Zhen's beloved subject?" Emperor Changlong

wasn't angry at Hua Yingting's refusal to accept the appointment as
Commander of the Imperial Guards in the capital. He smiled and said,
"Zhen's beloved subject, you have defeated the enemy forces led by Jinpo.
Can't you handle these mere 30,000 Imperial Guards?"

"Your Majesty, you understand what this loyal subject means," Hua
Yingting scratched his head with a smile. When he was young, he was
handsome, and even now, approaching the age of fifty, he still looked better
than his peers when he smiled. "Today, with Your Majesty and the Crown
Prince present, I will dare to say something audacious. I am capable of
fulfilling this leadership role, but Your Majesty should not entrust it to me.
It concerns your safety, so please think twice before proceeding."

There was a moment of silence in the study, then Emperor Changlong burst
into laughter, "Other officials in the court should be the ones saying this,
but instead, they didn't say anything. Only you are worried about these
matters."

A subject like him, why wouldn't he be reassured?

"Your Majesty, I am speaking of a serious matter," Hua Yingting helplessly

said, "I hope you can take it seriously."
"When you deceived Zhen into climbing trees to fetch bird nests, did you
make Zhen take it seriously?" Emperor Changlong laughed and coughed
lightly twice, "Now you finally understand."

"When we were young and ignorant, we were fearless," Hua Yingting

showed a trace of nostalgia on his face and couldn't help but smile, "But
Your Majesty, you truly lack talent when it comes to climbing trees."

The two of them spoke lightly, but they didn't mention an event related to
climbing trees.

Back then, when the demonic concubine sent someone to assassinate

Emperor Changlong, who was the Crown Prince, Hua Yingting hid him in a
tree and single-handedly killed dozens of top assassins. In the end, Emperor
Changlong only suffered minor external injuries when he climbed down
from the tree.

However, Hua Yingting was covered in blood and had injuries that took
quite some time to heal.

Shortly after the assassination attempt, the late Emperor fell ill, to the point
where he didn't even have the energy to attend court. Emperor Changlong,
as the Crown Prince at the time, naturally had to assist in state affairs. The
demonic concubine went crazy and wanted to kill him to ensure her own
child's succession.

Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue guarded him day and night, not allowing
anyone to harm him in the slightest.

People in the world often feel that as an emperor, the least liked individuals
to him would be those who had seen him in his most miserable state.

Emperor Changlong didn't agree with this statement. When he was at his
most miserable and pathetic, those who were willing to risk their lives for
him were the most worthy of being his close friends.

Over the years, Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue never mentioned their past
favors in front of him, but every letter they wrote from the border and every
item they sent made Emperor Changlong feel the warmth of their youth.

Thirty years ago, during the assassination attempt, he told Hua Yingting not
to worry about him and leave quickly.

Hua Yingting pulled him onto the tree and said word by word, emphasizing
the bond between life and death. How could there be a reason to escape
halfway?

This bond lasted for thirty years.

"Yingting, Zhen trusts you," Emperor Changlong patted Hua Yingting's

shoulder, "You guard this capital for Zhen and help Zhen protect the
imperial family too."

Hua Yingting fell silent. He stood up and bowed to Emperor Changlong,

"Your Majesty, with your genuine trust, I am willing to repay it with my
life."

"Zhen wants you to keep your life well. When we are seventy or eighty
years old, we can drink tea and play chess together, regardless of the affairs
of the state," Emperor Changlong had already begun to envision his retired
life in his mind.

"Your Majesty, that may not be feasible," Hua Yingting chuckled, "I have
already promised my wife that when we grow old, I will accompany her to
travel and enjoy the mountains and waters. If Your Majesty doesn't mind,
you can join us."

Emperor Changlong: "..."

But he was afraid that Wei Mingyue would smash a stone table in front of
him.

The Crown Prince silently stood aside. When he saw Hua Yingting's tea
cooling down, he attentively approached and replaced it with a fresh cup of
tea.
"How can the Crown Prince do such things?" Hua Yingting quickly stood
up and took the teacup with both hands.

Emperor Changlong chuckled and said, "This child, you taught him when
he was young. In a way, he is your student. There's nothing wrong with a
student offering tea to his mentor." He glanced at the Crown Prince and
thought, there was only so much he, as a father, could do for his son.

"Great General, what Father said is true," the Crown Prince said with a
smile, "Gu was your student when Gu was young. As the saying goes, 'One
day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father'. In that sense, Gu could be
considered half your son."

What half a son?

Would he dare to treat the current Crown Prince as half his son?

He wasn't even his son-in-law. In the common people's eyes, only sons-in-
law were considered half a son.

"Crown Prince, you're joking. I dare not," Hua Yingting said, the more
polite and humble the Crown Prince was, the more complicated Hua
Yingting's mood became. Such a good young man, if he was harmed by his
own daughter, could he live with his conscience?

Of course, he couldn't.

He picked up the tea personally brewed by the Crown Prince and took a sip.
It was just the right temperature, with a delicate and pleasant fragrance.
Good tea.

The Crown Prince smiled as he watched Hua Yingting drink half a cup of
tea, his smile filled with delight.

"Your Majesty, I have a suggestion," Hua Yingting put down the teacup and
saw the Crown Prince smiling at him. He quickly returned a smile and then
slightly nervously shifted his gaze away from him, looking at Emperor
Changlong, "I will take on the role of Commander of Imperial Guards, but
I'm afraid I'll be too busy to handle everything. Why not choose two vice
commanders to assist me?"

"Do you have suitable candidates in mind?"

"I've been away from the capital for many years and don't know much about
the city. It puts me in a difficult position, Your Majesty," Hua Yingting
paused, "However, I think Kang Wang can serve as one of the vice
commanders."

Kang Wang is cautious and timid and doesn't have much presence in the
capital. But he has one advantage: whatever His Majesty says, he will do.

When the Crown Prince dealt with a few corrupt officials who encroached
on common people's territories, Kang Wang was so scared that he gave up
all the land he had claimed, fearing blame.

"Kang Wang?" Emperor Changlong pondered for a while, "Let Zhen ponder
about it."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 59 – Temple of Wenqu
Star

Emperor Changlong didn't care who the Vice Commander of Imperial

Guards was, but he understood that Hua Yingting's intentions were good.

Appointing Kang Wang as the vice commander was Hua Yingting's way of
expressing loyalty to him. In order to reassure Hua Yingting, Emperor
Changlong carefully considered and agreed to his suggestion.

As for why he had to carefully consider, it was not because he had any
objections to Hua Yingting, but because of Kang Wang himself... one
couldn't find any shortcomings or strengths of this person.

The late emperor didn't have many offsprings before his passing. After the
late emperor started indulging in the charms of that demon concubine, he
didn't care about his children at all. Kang Wang was a pitiful child whose
father didn't love him and whose mother died early. If it weren't for the
kindness of the Empress Dowager, who occasionally took care of him,
Kang Wang might have died in the palace long ago.

Growing up in an unhappy palace life, Kang Wang developed a submissive

personality. For all these years, he had quietly stayed in the capital and
avoided troubles. After finally learning to encroach lands like others, he
encountered the Crown Prince who was dealing with corrupt officials
involved in these dealings. Frightened, he quickly disbanded the lands he
claimed and hurriedly went to the Crown Prince to apologize.

What troubled Emperor Changlong the most was that not only was Kang
Wang soft in character, but the Wangfei he married was also timid. The two
children they had were too honest and simple-minded. As a family, they had
no presence in the capital.

With the personalities of Kang Wang and his family, if they encountered an
emperor with less tolerance, their days in the capital would not be easy.

The very same day, Emperor Changlong personally issued a dispatch order
with his seal and signature and sent it to Kang Wang's estate, causing panic
throughout the residence.

"Why would Imperial Brother let Benwang become the Vice Commander of
the Imperial Guards?" Kang Wang held the dispatch order, his face turning
pale with fear, "Benwang can't do it, Benwang can't."

He had never done anything in his life. He didn't seek fame or glory. He just
wanted to stay quietly in his estate and do nothing.

"Father, this is a dispatch order personally issued by the Emperor," Anning

Junzhu, who had a round face, approached and looked at the dispatch order,
"If you don't go, will it not displease the Emperor?"

Kang Wang Shizi1Shizi means heir. Kang Wang Shizi literally means: Heir
to Kang Wang. nodded along, "Sister makes sense. Father, if the Emperor
wants you to do something, what will be the consequences if you refuse?"

"Benwang doesn't know how to deploy troops or understand military

commands. Benwang can't even shoot a bow. What can Benwang do as the
Vice Commander of the Imperial Guards?" Kang Wang agonized, clutching
his head. Just the thought of the possible mockery that would follow from
his assumption of the position made him feel suffocated, "Who is the
Commander of the Imperial Guards?"

"Great General Hua Yingting."

Kang Wang felt even more despair. How could he, a useless person, have
the face to become the Vice Commander under the Great General Hua? It
would be a disgrace.
"I've seen General Hua's daughter, she's very beautiful," Anning Junzhu was
already accustomed to her father's personality of not wanting to do
anything. She enthusiastically said, "On the day of the sacrificial ceremony,
Fushou Junzhu stood next to me. When she almost lost her balance, I
reached out and helped her."

"It's a pity that Jiamin Junzhu didn't seem to get along well with her. I didn't
dare to upset her, so I didn't talk much with Jiamin Junzhu," Anning Junzhu
regretted a little, "If I had known that you would work under General Hua, I
would have gathered the courage to get closer to her."

"Ah... what a pity," Kang Wang looked at his daughter with some regret,
then turned to discuss with his Wangfei on what gifts would be appropriate
to send to the Hua family.

He didn't know how to do anything, so it was definitely not wrong to start

by sending some gifts to please them.

Even though they were members of the imperial family, they didn't see
anything wrong with trying to please an outsider.

When the Hua family received the gifts from Kang Wang's estate, they were
at a loss whether to cry or laugh. Looking at the nervous servants from
Kang Wang's estate, it seemed as if these servants would faint on the spot if
they didn't accept these gifts.

"Please express my sincere thanks to His Highness Kang Wang for his kind
gesture. I obtained some exotic wines from the border and would like him
to have them as a gift from our humble estate," Hua Yingting didn't expect
Kang Wang's courage to be so small, so he prepared a gift in return and sent
the servants from the Hua family along with the servants from the Kang
Wang's estate to Kang Wang's estate.

Little did he know that because of his return gift, Kang Wang spent a
sleepless night worrying.

General Hua accepted his gift and sent one back. Was that a good sign or a
bad sign?
At this moment, Kang Wang was so worried that he couldn't sleep, while
his half-sister, Princess Shunan, was so excited that she also couldn't fall
asleep.

It was not surprising, considering her impulsive nature, that she had been at
a disadvantage in her confrontations with Leyang over the years. Rarely did
she gain the upper hand, and now that she did, she wished she could spend
three days and three nights gloating to her Fuma.

Shunan's excitement kept Yao Fuma awake, so he sat up helplessly,

"Princess, you've been happy for two days."

"Forget two days, I can be happy for two months," Princess Shunan sat up,
holding her blanket, "You didn't see Leyang's unpleasant expression when
she feigned to leave the capital, thinking that the Crown Prince would want
to keep her, but it turns out she only brought trouble upon herself."

"In the past, you used to dislike the Crown Prince, didn't you?" Yao Fuma
got up and poured her a glass of warm water, "Why are you praising him
now?"

"As long as it embarrasses Leyang, I'll praise anyone," Princess Shunan

took a sip of water from the cup in Yao Fuma's hand, "You know, it's
strange. Leyang is so obviously trying to win over the Crown Prince, but
the Crown Prince is becoming more and more distant from her. What's the
reason behind this?"

"What other reason could there be? The Crown Prince doesn't want to
marry her daughter," Yao Fuma placed the cup back on the table, "Don't
dwell on such matters and get some sleep."

With your intellect, you wouldn't be able to figure anything out anyway.

"It can't be that simple; there must be other reasons," Princess Shunan
yawned, "Think about it, for years the Crown Prince had a lukewarm
attitude toward Leyang, but Leyang had been trying to get closer to him."
"If you had understood this earlier, you wouldn't have had a falling out with
the Crown Prince," Yao Fuma said. Since she refused to sleep, he picked up
a cloak and draped it over her, "The Emperor and the Empress Dowager
will surely come to know about this matter. What will you do if they ask?"

"Whatever we discussed with the Crown Prince, we'll say the same thing to
the Emperor," Princess Shunan said, "The Emperor favors the Crown Prince
so much, maybe the Crown Prince has already told him about this matter. If
our stories don't match, it will only cause trouble."

"You, next time you want to thrash someone, you should bring me along.
What if you get taken advantage of?" Yao Fuma said, "Luckily, Fushou
Junzhu was here this time, otherwise that despicable Leyang would have
plotted against you again."

One of the little ploys to sweeten the marital life was to curse together the
person one of them hates the most. Yao Fuma knew this well.

"I knew that Fushou Junzhu was different from her mother. I can be more at
ease now that our Jiamin has made such a friend," Princess Shunan glanced
outside and said in a low voice, "In my opinion, the Crown Prince's feelings
for Fushou Junzhu are extraordinary."

Yao Fuma was somewhat surprised but quickly said, "Don't talk about this
outside."

Regardless of the Crown Prince's feelings for Fushou Junzhu, with their
positions and statuses, the Emperor would probably not allow them to be
together.

If the Crown Prince were to marry Fushou Junzhu, it would be equivalent to

having a father-in-law who controlled 30,000 Imperial Guards. In that case,
it would be effortless for the Crown Prince to seize the throne if he had any
intentions.

The Emperor was an intelligent ruler, he would never allow such a thing to
happen.
The next morning, the couple woke up late. Just as Princess Shunan
finished dressing up, Yao Fuma hurriedly entered the room and said,
"Princess, an official from the Ministry of Rites has come to announce an
imperial decree."

"The Emperor actually issued an imperial decree for me?" Countless

thoughts flashed through Princess Shunan's mind. Could it be that the
Emperor, after learning about her dispute with Leyang and not wanting to
punish Leyang, decided to give her something to shut her up?

It's not surprising that Princess Shunan would think that way. Their
relationship was so bad that it reached the point where even the Emperor
couldn't stand it.

After setting up the incense table, Princess Shunan reluctantly maintained a

smile as she received the imperial decree. When the official from the
Ministry of Rites finished reading the contents of the decree, she suspected
that her ears were playing tricks on her.

Yao Fuma quietly pushed her, "Hurry and express your gratitude."

Princess Shunan dazedly accepted the imperial decree and sat down on the
chair, looking bewilderedly at Yao Fuma, who was busy seeing off the
Ministry of Rites officials.

Could it be that she didn't sleep well last night and was having auditory
hallucinations?

Her Imperial Brother actually bestowed upon her the title of Royal
Princess?

Ever since the last time she almost became the Royal Princess but failed,
Princess Shunan knew that she would never have a chance to be titled
Royal Princess in her entire lifetime.

She never expected that this time, without doing anything other than
slapping Leyang, she would be promoted?!
"Congratulations, Royal Princess, for achieving your wish," Yao Fuma
smiled and bowed to her.

Royal Princess Shunan grabbed Yao Fuma's hand and took a deep breath,
"Prepare a generous gift and send it to the Hua Family Estate immediately."

Even if she was foolish, she knew that her becoming the Royal Princess
was related to Hua Liuli and the Crown Prince. She had scolded the Crown
Prince several times, so she couldn't bring herself to send gifts to him.

Since the Crown Prince had intentions toward Hua Liuli, she would give the
gift intended for him to Hua Liuli instead.

Upon hearing that her mother was conferred as the Royal Princess, Yao
Jiamin ran excitedly from the courtyard to the main hall. But before she
could say "Congratulations, Mother," she saw her mother tearfully looking
at her and said, "Jiamin, you've grown up."

"Huh?" Yao Jiamin looked at her mother in confusion, feeling like her mind
couldn't catch up with this development.

"You've grown up, become sensible, and know how to share your mother's
worries," Royal Princess Shunan took out a thick stack of silver notes from
her pocket, "From now on, spend more time with Fushou Junzhu. Whatever
she wants to eat, I have it here. Don't let her be inconvenienced. And from
here on, control your temper. Just because Fushou Junzhu is gentle and
treats you well, you shouldn't vent your anger on her, do you understand?"

"Huh?" Yao Jiamin was completely perplexed.

"Take it," Royal Princess Shunan stuffed the silver notes into Yao Jiamin's
hand, "Take good care of Fushou Junzhu from here onwards. Do you
understand?"

"Mother, who is your real daughter, me or Hua Liuli?" Yao Jiamin looked at
the silver notes in her hand, feeling like the whole world had fallen under
Hua Liuli's spell.
"Silly child, don't think too much. If Hua Liuli were my real daughter, I
would have brought her home long ago."

Yao Jiamin: "..."

That's just how life is. Helpless and resigned, one eventually gets used to it.

"The Crown Prince actually let the Emperor confer the title of Royal
Princess on Shunan!" Royal Princess Leyang sneered, "What a Crown
Prince. All the favors I've shown him over the years were wasted on an
ungrateful person."

Knowing well that she and Shunan were incompatible, he deliberately made
Shunan a Royal Princess, clearly intending to make her contend with
Shunan.

"Mother, what should we do now?" Xie Yao asked.

"What should we do?" Royal Princess Leyang slowly suppressed the anger
in her heart, "Are there no other imperial princes in the capital?"

Xie Yao's face turned pale, "But Mother, I only like the Crown Prince."

"Like?" Royal Princess Leyang seemed to have heard a joke, "Such useless
emotions should be discarded early. Your mission is to become the
Empress, it doesn't matter who sits on the throne."

"But..."

"No 'buts'," Royal Princess Leyang narrowed her eyes, "Have you forgotten
your father's expectations of you?"

Xie Yao's eyes welled up with tears, "Daughter hasn't forgotten."

"That's good if you haven't forgotten," Royal Princess Leyang nodded in

satisfaction, "Go back to your room and think it through. Understand? Don't
disappoint me."
Xie Yao silently withdrew. She stood in the courtyard, staring blankly at the
blooming trees, her eyes gradually filled with resentment.

If it weren't for Hua Liuli, none of this would have developed to this point.

The Crown Prince wouldn't be so heartless towards her, and she would have
had a chance to marry the Crown Prince.

Why did she have to come back from the border? Wasn't she said to be in
poor health? Why didn't she die of illness at the border?

"I think the Temple of Wenqu Star is quite effective," Hua Liuli said to the
Crown Prince, who was beside her, "Many candidates have already left the
capital. There shouldn't be any more queues today."

As the Palace Examination was imminent, Hua Liuli planned to go to the

Temple of Wenqu Star to pray for Hua Changkong's success. Unexpectedly,
she met the Crown Prince halfway, and the two set out to the Temple of
Wenqu Star together.

"Why is Your Royal Highness also going to the Temple of Wenqu Star?"

"To pray for the blessings of Wenqu Star, so that our Great Jin Empire will
have more talented individuals," The Crown Prince said seriously, "If the
two of us go together to pray, it will be easier for Wenqu Star to hear us,
and our wishes will be more likely to be granted."

"That makes sense," Hua Liuli nodded, "Your Royal Highness is the Crown
Prince. With Wenqu Star considering your face, it will also be more likely
to bless my brother."

As the two arrived at the entrance of the Temple of Wenqu Star, Hua Liuli
tugged at the Crown Prince's sleeve, "Your Royal Highness, look at the
person in front, doesn't she resemble Young Lady Lin from the Lin family?"

She remembered that Young Lady Lin had said she didn't believe in these
things, but it turned out she came here secretly.
The Crown Prince glanced briefly and said indifferently, "Gu doesn't
remember."

"Didn't Your Royal Highness meet her before?"

"Most people in this world are like a passing cloud to Gu," the Crown
Prince looked at Hua Liuli, "It doesn't matter whether Gu remembers that
person or not."

Curiously, Hua Liuli asked, "Who is important to Your Royal Highness

then?"

"Family, friends, and... my most special confidante, you."

Hua Liuli stared at the Crown Prince, feeling that his gaze was like a
blazing fire, warm and passionate, making her unable to meet his eyes.

Feeling uneasy, she averted her gaze and was about to say something when
she heard chattering voices from behind.

"Eldest Brother, let me tell you, this Temple of Wenqu Star is definitely
effective. Last time, Hua Liuli was here..." Yao Wenyin's voice abruptly
stopped as she looked at Hua Liuli not far away, her expression extremely
awkward.

If she had known that she would be repeatedly embarrassed by the incident,
she wouldn't have made those sarcastic remarks at the entrance of the
Temple of Wenqu Star last time.

Some chance encounters are beautiful, but encounters like today are
unnecessary.

She couldn't afford to lose face in front of this person.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 60 – The Female General

"Your Royal Highness," Yao Songbai's eyes fell on the Crown Prince
standing beside Hua Liuli. He stepped forward and saluted, "Greetings to
the Crown Prince."

Only then did Yao Wenyin notice the presence of the Crown Prince and
quickly followed behind her brother to offer her greetings. It wasn't her
fault for being inattentive; it was just that Hua Liuli was so detestable that
she couldn't pay attention to anyone else as long as Hua Liuli was around.

"Miss Yao, you're here too?" Hua Liuli only noticed Lin Wan walking
ahead of them and didn't expect Yao Wenyin to be here as well.

Upon hearing Hua Liuli's inquiry, Yao Wenyin felt somewhat uneasy and
murmured a faint response. She couldn't help but feel the sting on her face
now, thinking about how straightforward she had been when she said she
didn't believe in ghosts and gods.

"Fushou Junzhu," Yao Songbai was friends with Hua Changkong, but this
was the first time he had a closer look at Hua Liuli's appearance.

Fushou Junzhu didn't seem like someone who had lived on the border for a
long time; she seemed more like someone who had grown up in the
southern province, gentle as water, evoking a sense of pity in others upon
seeing her. No wonder a fellow candidate inquired about Fushou Junzhu's
marriage prospects after catching a glimpse at her just once.

"Is Young Master Yao also here to pay respects to Wenqu Star?" the Crown
Prince reached out and lightly held Hua Liuli's wrist, "Be careful on the
steps."
Noticing the Crown Prince's gesture of holding Fushou Junzhu's wrist, Yao
Songbai quickly diverted his gaze, "My younger sister mentioned that this
place is quite efficacious. I wanted to seek peace of mind, so I came to pay
my respects."

Yao Songbai was quite open-minded and didn't think there was anything
embarrassing about coming to pray to Wenqu Star before the Palace
Examinations.

But Yao Wenyin felt embarrassed. She silently covered her face and wished
she could pretend she had never been here.

"Oh~" Hua Liuli smiled and looked at Yao Wenyin with narrowed eyes,
"Last time, Miss Yao here didn't believe in the efficacy of Wenqu Star, but it
seems she's changed her mind so quickly?"

Yao Wenyin: "..."

I don't want to talk, thank you.

The Crown Prince chuckled lightly, pretending not to notice that Hua Liuli
was deliberately teasing Yao Wenyin, "Young Master Yao's words are right.
It's also good to seek peace of mind."

As the group entered the Temple of Wenqu Star, the guards surrounded the
temple, causing the temple priest to jump in surprise and bow respectfully
to greet them.

However, before he could approach the Crown Prince, he was intercepted.

"Apologies, our honored guest is offering incense. Others are not allowed to
approach," The guard in a black robe spoke politely, but his expression was
serious. The temple priest quickly backed away, not hesitating at all.

There were many esteemed individuals in the capital, but who other than
the imperial relatives and nobles could bring so many guards with them
when going out?
Just as Lin Wan was about to kneel on the cushion, she heard the
commotion outside the temple. She turned her head to look and saw a group
of guards surrounding the Temple of Wenqu Star, with the remaining guards
protecting four well-dressed young gentlemen and young ladies.

She had intentionally chosen a day when there were fewer people to visit
the Temple of Wenqu Star to avoid running into acquaintances, but she
didn't expect to avoid the people she didn't want to see and encounter the
ones she did.

She bowed three times before the statue and then approached the Crown
Prince, "Your Royal Highness, I pay my respects."

The Crown Prince nodded slightly and walked toward the temple with Hua
Liuli, it seemed as if even a glance at Lin Wan would be a waste of his
valuable time.

This obvious attitude made even the simple-minded Yao Wenyin realize that
the Crown Prince clearly didn't like Lin Wan. She had wanted to mock Lin
Wan a few times, but seeing the Crown Prince's behavior, she dared not
speak further.

When someone was despised by those in power, even exchanging a few

words with them could bring trouble.

Lin Wan stood stiffly in place, watching them enter the temple, her
expression incredibly complex.

What made her even more uncomfortable was that Hua Liuli didn't look at
her from beginning to end, as if her existence was insignificant. Perhaps to
Hua Liuli, she was just a roadside stone, an ant, or a withered leaf, devoid
of any meaning.

It was truly laughable.

Every day and night, she regretted why she couldn't get along with Hua
Liuli. If she had spoken a little less, at least she could still be the future
Ying Wangfei. Unlike now, living in the bustling capital but feeling no
sense of belonging, she was like a passerby in this city. No one was
surprised when she arrived, and no one tried to keep her when she left.

The noble ladies who had been polite and courteous to her during the
Flower Festival now hurriedly walked away when they saw her, as though
they could gain some benefits by distancing themselves from her.

What was even more ridiculous was that her father's transfer order was
suppressed by the Emperor and was only resolved quietly due to Hua Liuli's
father's plea in the palace.

Now, every time she saw Hua Liuli, she felt embarrassed, regretful,
resentful, and a mixture of indescribable hatred. Even if Hua Liuli had
mocked her a few moments ago, it would have been better than this current
attitude of being ignored.

"May the Star God bless my brother to achieve the top rank..."

Hua Liuli and Yao Wenyin both knelt on the cushion and said the same
words. They turned their heads to look at each other, their eyes engaged in a
silent battle.

"Star God above, this devotee is willing to donate one hundred taels of
silver," Yao Wenyin spoke first.

"Star God above, this devotee's companion spoke ill of you just last month,"
Hua Liuli said, "In the name of the Star God, this devotee is willing to
donate five hundred taels of silver to the charitable hall for the purpose of
helping more people."

Yao Wenyin was stunned to hear Hua Liuli's words. She didn't expect this
shameless woman to make such a move.

"Star God above, this devotee's previous words were spoken

unintentionally. Please do not take them to heart," Yao Wenyin glared at
Hua Liuli, knowing that Hua Changkong's success in the top rank was the
reason why Hua Liuli could do anything wicked.
Yao Songbai stood awkwardly beside them, trying to appease the Crown
Prince with forced laughter. He said to the Crown Prince, "My younger
sister is still young and ignorant. Please forgive her, Your Royal Highness."

The Crown Prince nodded slightly without saying a word.

Seeing the Crown Prince's attitude, Yao Songbai became even more uneasy.
The Yao family knew that the Crown Prince had a strained relationship with
Princess Shunan. Princess Shunan's Fuma was their uncle, so every time the
Yao family interacted with the Crown Prince, they were extra cautious,
fearing that the Crown Prince might suddenly vent his anger on them if he
was in a bad mood.

As a scholar, he does aspire to be at the top in the Palace Examination.

However, Yao Songbai admired Hua Changkong's talent and demeanor, so
even if Hua Changkong came out top in the Palace Examination, he would
accept the result with sincerity and contentment.

"I was just joking earlier. Miss Yao, please don't take it to heart," Hua Liuli
stood up and smiled, "I wish Young Master Yao to achieve a good ranking
in the palace examination."

"Hmph," Yao Wenyin would never believe the hypocritical Hua Liuli again.
She stood up and grabbed a handful of silver coins, throwing them into the
charity box, saying, "My brother will definitely achieve a good ranking."

"Wenyin," Yao Songbai worried that the atmosphere would turn tense if the
two girls continued arguing, so he quickly stepped in to mediate, "Let's not
be disrespectful."

Yao Wenyin pursed her lips and didn't say anything more. It was clear that
she didn't want to embarrass her brother any further.

"There's a tea house nearby. If the Crown Prince and Junzhu don't mind, we
can go there to have tea and chat," Yao Songbai bowed to the Crown Prince,
"May I know Your Royal Highness's opinion?"
The Crown Prince turned to look at Hua Liuli, "Would you like to go,
Liuli?"

Hua Liuli noticed that Yao Songbai was trying to establish a closer
relationship with the Crown Prince. She turned her head and saw no sign of
reluctance on the Crown Prince's face, so she nodded and said, "I will
follow Your Royal Highness's arrangement."

"Then let's sit for a while before leaving," As they walked out of the temple,
the Crown Prince looked up at the scorching sun and took the fan handed
over by the eunuch, opening it to shield Hua Liuli's head. He whispered in
her ear, "Envoys from other countries have been arriving in the capital in
recent days. We may able to overhear some news in the tea house."

In the vicinity of Great Jin, there were only two powerful countries with
vast territories, the Daimei Kingdom and the Jinpo Kingdom. Most of the
other countries were small and posed no threat to Great Jin.

Some small countries that were previously oppressed by Jinpo had no

choice but to bow down to Great Jin, hoping to receive the protection of
Great Jin.

Whenever something good happened in Great Jin, these small countries

would send envoys with gifts to the capital, praising Emperor Changlong
and bribing officials in the capital with gold, silver, and jewels, ensuring
that Great Jin's support remained secure.

There were even some poorer and more remote tribes that wanted to
directly join Great Jin and obtain Great Jin's citizenship. However, their
enthusiasm was rejected by Emperor Changlong.

Merging other small countries and tribes involved many political factors
and interests. Although Emperor Changlong was tempted, he was not
willing to act rashly.

But this time was different. Great Jin's army had defeated the usually
arrogant Jinpo and forced them to surrender. What had previously been
impossible to consider, could now be contemplated.
The victory achieved by Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue for Great Jin
would not only have an impact in the present but also shape the future of
the Great Jin Dynasty for the next hundred years.

It was precisely because of this that other officials thought that the Hua
family would be targeted. There was no emperor who could tolerate such a
great hero by their side, and no emperor liked their subordinates' reputation
being more clamorous than their own.

Yao Songbai was a scholar, so it was obvious that the tea house he liked to
go to was also frequented by scholars.

Most scholars were cultured. Although there were many of them gathered
in the main hall, talking and enjoying tea, there was no loud noise, and the
atmosphere was excellent.

As some scholars descended from the upper floor, they noticed Yao Songbai
and his group accompanied by young ladies, so they consciously stepped
aside to avoid colliding with the young ladies.

The second floor had many small rooms separated by screens. On one of
the stages, an elderly man played the pipa and sang a tune. His relaxed and
contented demeanor did not seem like he was performing for money, but
rather like he was indulging in his own passion and wanted to entertain the
guests.

There were fewer customers on the second floor compared to the ground
floor. They sat at separate tables in groups of two or three, with some
speaking softly, some discussing examination questions, and some even
playing chess.

"The Biluochun tea here tastes exceptionally good. Would Your Royal
Highness like to try it?" Yao Songbai beckoned to the attendant as he
sought the Crown Prince's opinion.

"Three cups will do. Gu has already prepared some snacks that Fushou
Junzhu enjoys," the Crown Prince ordered a few snacks and turned to Hua
Liuli, who was sitting cross-legged on his right side, "Most of the snacks
outside are of that kind, with no attention to craftsmanship. If you like
them, Gu can have the Eastern Palace's chef make them for you."

Yao Wenyin widened her eyes. The Crown Prince and Hua Liuli...

She discreetly swallowed her saliva and began to recall if she had offended
Hua Liuli too severely.

As the tea and snacks were served, before the four of them could exchange
a few words, they heard someone at a nearby table say, "The women of
Great Jin have no shame. It's one thing to appear in public, but to let a
woman become a general..."

"The military camp is filled with men. How can a woman boss around men
like that?"

Yao Wenyin frowned in displeasure. What was wrong with a woman being
a general? General Wei was admired by many young girls in the capital.
She followed the sound of the voice and saw three men sitting together.
Although their clothing style was similar to that of Great Jin, she could tell
at a glance that these three were not locals of the capital, and they might not
even be from Great Jin.

"What kind of reasoning is this?!" Before Hua Liuli and her group could
speak, several other scholars slammed the table and stood up, "The ones
who made those remarks, who gave birth to you - a male or a female?"

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 61 – Kindness

In the myth and legends, the ancestors of the Great Jin and Daimao nations
were two brothers of the same family. Due to disagreements, the two
brothers separated their families, one heading east and the other heading
west, never to see each other again. As their descendants multiplied, their
living areas expanded, eventually forming the two nations we have today:
Great Jin and Daimao.

There are two versions of this ancient legend. In the Great Jin version, the
older brother was suspicious and greedy, eventually moving to the land
where the Daimao nation resides. In the Daimao version, the younger
brother was weak and timid, ultimately settling in the territory of Great Jin.

The scholars of both nations often composed poems and writings to elevate
their own ancestors while subtly criticizing the ancestors of the other
nation. This story is also frequently adapted into folk dramas and
performances.

Regardless of how the people of both nations secretly slandered each other,
the literati of Daimao carried a faint sense of superiority in their hearts,
believing that they held a higher status within their own country and
possessed more prestigious voices.

These Daimao scholars, who were accustomed to lofty discussions, were

surprised to find that the scholars in Great Jin lacked both the aura and
status they expected. At street food stalls, they saw farmers sitting at the
same table as scholars. Even in teahouses and taverns, these scholars
remained quiet and did not gather together to compose poems or engage in
literary discussions. They found that the scholars in Great Jin lacked the
demeanor expected of scholars.
After inquiring around, they learned that this teahouse was a popular
gathering place for literati in the capital city. The three of them specifically
came here. Little did they know that apart from being a bit quieter and
having more scholars, this teahouse was not much different from others.

As fellow scholars, they felt ashamed of the weakness and mediocrity of the
Great Jin scholars. However, since they were in Great Jin's territory and
didn't want to criticize the scholars directly, they could only complain about
women.

To their surprise, the seemingly ordinary and easily bullied scholars in

Great Jin unexpectedly slammed the table as soon as they made a few
casual remarks.

"The one who gave birth to me is my mother, naturally a woman," said Liu
Daren, an older man from Daimao and a renowned scholar who also served
as the teacher of the Daimao's Crown Prince.

Liu Daren politely arched his hand towards the scholar who slammed the
table, "I wonder what insights this young brother has?"

"I wouldn't call them insights," replied the scholar from Great Jin in a Qing
Dynasty-style robe with composure, "If the esteemed elder knows that it is
a woman who gave you flesh and blood, why do you look down upon
women in your words?"

"The nature of women is to bear children. What does it have to do with

what this old man is saying?" said Liu Daren, "Men are yang, women are
yin. If women engage in men's affairs, it would be reversing yin and yang,
which will inevitably lead to chaos in the world."

"Daren, you don't seem like someone from our Great Jin," the scholar in the
Qing Dynasty-style robe smiled ambiguously and asked, "May I know
which distinguished country you are from?"

"I am just a humble person, serving as the tutor to the Daimao's Crown
Prince," Liu Daren said with a dignified tone, revealing his identity.
"No wonder, so you are from Daimao," the scholar in the Qing Dynasty-
style robe smiled even brighter, "The young men of Great Jin are different
from your country. The world won't fall into chaos just because a woman
does something. Our Emperor is wise and martial, our politics are clean,
and the people live in peace and prosperity. There is nothing inappropriate
about it."

"Shouldn't women stay in the inner courtyard, manage household chores,

give birth to children, and not show their faces outside all day?" Liu Daren
did not expect the scholar in the Qing Dynasty-style robe to use this
argument to counter him. From an objective standpoint, Great Jin was
indeed more prosperous than Daimao. But what use was prosperity without
rules? It simply felt chaotic.

"Oh," the scholar in the Qing Dynasty-style robe suddenly realized, "I didn't
know why you all were so dissatisfied with the women of Great Jin, but
now I understand."

"Why?" other scholars from Great Jin shouted and asked.

"Yes, tell us quickly."

"Naturally, it's jealousy," the scholar in the Qing Dynasty-style robe shook
his head and said with a playful tone, "The young women of Great Jin can
write poetry, paint, and even ride horses skillfully. With such excellent
young women in our Great Jin, life is much easier for us men. Your young
men don't have such fortune. When they come to our Great Jin, they
naturally feel uncomfortable, wishing they could live the same kind of life
as us."

"I see," Another scholar in a blue robe sighed, shaking his head, "Though
the three of you are not natives of Great Jin, we are scholars after all. We
should have broad minds and not feel jealous when others are doing well.
As the saying goes, jealousy makes one ugly. If you envy the young men of
our Great Jin, you can always marry our Great Jin women. Although your
appearances may be ordinary, our Great Jin women do not judge based on
looks. Perhaps someone might be interested in you."
"Nonsense!" Liu Daren, the esteemed scholar, trembled with anger, his lips
quivering, "You allow women to be so audacious and not be ashamed, but
even take pride in it. It's truly absurd."

"It's the three of you who are absurd. Don't you have mothers, sisters, and
daughters?" the scholar in the blue robe sneered, "To witness your mothers
and daughters being treated as inferior but not seek to change it, thinking
that this is the right way, that's what's absurd."

"When you speak such words, have you ever considered the women in your
own families?" the scholar in the Qing Dynasty-style robe added, "To not
protect one's mother is unfilial. To not protect one's children is unkind.
People like you, who are neither filial nor kind, shouldn't talk about yin and
yang or the order of the world. I'm ashamed to be associated with you."

"You rely on numbers, but all you have is a quick tongue," Liu Daren, the
esteemed scholar, was rendered speechless by the barrage of arguments
from the scholars. The other two scholars who wanted to defend Liu Daren
were immediately silenced and berated by the scholars. They started to
doubt their own lives and wished they could escape with their faces
covered.

What was wrong with these Great Jin scholars? They seemed mild-
mannered on the surface, speaking softly outside, but when it came to
arguing, they were fierce.

"So what if we have a female general in Great Jin? She defends our home
and country, showing no fear in the face of enemies. What does that have to
do with you?"

"If you look down on our female general, you can go to the Marquis's
mansion and insult her if you dare. We won't stop you."

"Indeed, you are all proud men. If you have a problem with someone,
confront them directly and insult them face-to-face. We would respect you
for that. The three of you claim to be scholars, yet you don't even
understand the basic principle of not spreading rumors behind someone's
back. How can you dare call yourselves scholars?" The speaker's face was
filled with disdain, as if saying, "Go away, we scholars don't have traitors
like you among us." The expression was vivid.

Liu Daren, the esteemed scholar, was furious, and it took him a while to
stammer, "You incompetent fools can only be lapdogs under women's
skirts!"

"Well, I would like to be a lapdog under General Wei's skirt, but

unfortunately, she doesn't fancy me."

Huh?

The Great Jin scholars all turned their heads to look at the speaker, an
elderly man sitting in the corner.

"Why are you all staring? Who hasn't had dreams of a fairy in their youth?"
The old scholar blushed and said, "When General Wei was young, she was
the most beautiful woman in the capital."

"Well, Lao Daren, you're quite straightforward," the scholar in the blue robe
said, "It's okay to dream a little."

The scholars burst into laughter, understanding that the

"straightforwardness" mentioned by the scholar in the blue robe implied
that General Wei wasn't interested in the old scholar. The old scholar also
became angry but sighed, "Whether it's men or women, aren't they all
human beings? I don't understand why the three of you are so fixated on the
distinction between men and women. But in my opinion, General Wei has
defended the people against countless enemies, even when she was
pregnant and learned that Great Jin needed her, that the people needed her,
she rushed to the battlefield without hesitation. If the people of Great Jin
criticize her simply because she is a woman, that's ingratitude. A hero is a
hero, regardless of gender."

"The ones who gave birth to you and nurtured you are also the women
you're talking about," the old scholar sneered, "If you look down on women
so much, then please end your lives quickly so that the bodies born from
these women won't taint your noble souls."
"Well said, Lao Daren!" the scholars cheered, "We think the three of you
made a lot of sense, but we are afraid of death and content with the current
situation. Since your stance is so clear, why not lead by example and end
your lives and become a role model for us?"

"Please."

"Go ahead, start quickly, we won't stop you."

"You... you..." Liu Daren, the esteemed scholar, turned pale, and angrily
said, "You simply don't know what you're talking about."

After saying that, he lifted his robe sleeve, covered his face, and hurriedly
left the teahouse amid the laughter of the crowd. The two people who came
with him followed hastily, but they tripped over their robes as they ran too
fast and ended up rolling on the ground.

In such a disheveled state, their scholarly elegance was nowhere to be seen.

"What rubbish! General Wei is someone they are unworthy to talk about,"
Yao Wenyin was about to explode with anger. If it weren't for Yao Songbai
firmly holding her back, she would have picked up a teacup from the table
and smashed it.

"Sister, the Crown Prince is still here. Can you please restrain yourself a
bit?" Yao Songbai whispered in Yao Wenyin's ear, "Let's save some face,
alright?"

Yao Wenyin, who had lost her temper, finally remembered that the Crown
Prince was also present in their group. She put down the raised teacup and
forced a dry laugh. When she turned to see that Hua Liuli's face showed no
sign of anger, she couldn't help but ask, "Those three scoundrels insulted
General Wei. You are her daughter, aren't you angry?"

Upon hearing the words "scoundrels", Yao Songbai's expression stiffened,

and he no longer dared to look at the Crown Prince's face.
"Why should I be angry?" Hua Liuli smiled, "Not only am I not angry, but
I'm also actually quite happy."

"Are you out of your mind? When someone insults your mother, you..."

Yao Songbai covered his sister's mouth with his hand and smiled at Hua
Liuli, "Junzhu, I apologize. My sister had a bit too much tea and her mind
isn't very clear."

Yao Wenyin: "..."

She didn't have a habit of getting drunk on tea.

"Mother is protecting the people of Great Jin. It's a good thing for the
people of Great Jin to remember her kindness, isn't it?" Hua Liuli's gaze
swept over the scholars who defended her mother, and her eyes were filled
with extreme gentleness.

When these scholars confronted the scholars from the Kingdom of Daimao,
they were like fierce tigers. Now that they were gone, they returned to their
gentle and peaceful demeanor. They continued playing chess and drinking
tea, and lament why General Wei had to marry.

Who could have imagined that these seemingly delicate and easy-going
scholars would be so fierce when defending their own people?

Yao Wenyin was stunned. The anger in her heart disappeared instantly, and
she awkwardly blushed, "I apologize. I misunderstood you."

"I understand that Miss Yao meant well. How could I be angry with you?"
Hua Liuli smiled gently, showing great understanding.

Yao Songbai sighed silently. If his sister could be as gentle and calm as
Fushou Junzhu, their family would have fewer worries.

Noticing Yao Songbai's gaze toward Hua Liuli, the Crown Prince spoke,
"It's getting late. I should escort Junzhu back home."
Hearing that the Crown Prince was leaving, the Yao siblings didn't dare to
stay longer. They quickly stood up and went downstairs with the Crown
Prince.

Yao Wenyin felt guilty for misunderstanding Hua Liuli and felt uneasy
while walking. Suddenly, her foot slipped and she was about to fall down
the stairs.

"Miss Yao, be careful," Hua Liuli extended her hand in the blink of an eye,
holding onto Yao Wenyin's waist, "It's dangerous to fall down from here."

Resting against Hua Liuli's chest, Yao Wenyin felt a bit dazed. Smelling the
faint fragrance on Hua Liuli's body, she realized what had just happened.

"Little sister, are you alright?" Yao Songbai turned pale with fright. Rolling
down from such a high staircase was no small matter.

"I'm fine," Yao Wenyin, thinking of Hua Liuli's frail health, carefully
extricated herself from her embrace, "Hua- Hua Liuli, are you okay?"

"I... I'm fine," As soon as she spoke, Hua Liuli started coughing violently. A
maidservant brought a pill and fed it to her. She gradually recovered.

Seeing her like this, Yao Wenyin felt even more guilty. If Hua Liuli hadn't
held onto her firmly, they could have both fallen down together. Yao
Wenyin had a strong body and could recover in three to five months at most
after a fall, but if Hua Liuli had fallen like that...

She stole a glance at Hua Liuli and blushed, "Thank you."

"It was just a small effort. Miss Yao doesn't need to be polite," Hua Liuli
said gently with a smile.

Seeing this gentle and accommodating smile, Yao Wenyin blushed even
more. Her conscience started to reproach her. Although Hua Liuli
occasionally said things that were frustrating, she hadn't done anything
excessive to her. Moreover, when Yao Wenyin was in danger, Hua Liuli
disregarded her own safety to save her.
Furthermore, she was the one who initially provoked Hua Liuli.

Realizing this, when Yao Wenyin looked at Hua Liuli again, she felt that
although she was delicate, she was also as beautiful as the moon. Despite
her frustrating words, she was kind and generous.

The Crown Prince glanced at Yao Wenyin and reached out to support Hua
Liuli's arm, "Liuli, watch your step."

Yao Wenyin silently took a step back. She felt that the Crown Prince's gaze
toward her was a bit off.

She heard that when General Wei was young, she was not only the dream
lover of many young men, but also many girls cried and made a fuss to stay
by her side and be her good sisters.

How could she forget that Hua Liuli was General Wei's daughter, naturally
surpassing her mother in many ways?

In this current world, not only men but women couldn't be trusted as well.

OceanofPDF.com
Chapter 62 – What Do You Desire?

Liu Mingshi, the esteemed scholar from Daimao Kingdom, hurriedly left
the teahouse with two other scholars. They hadn't gone far when they heard
a man's scream and the cheers of the crowd.

The man, lying on the ground, was being stepped on by a seemingly thin
and weak woman who shouted, "Hand over the old man's money pouch!"

Trembling, the man took out the money pouch from his pocket and was
stomped on by the woman twice.

Witnessing such a brutal scene, the three of them took a few steps back and
changed their path. However, before they had gone far, they saw several
exquisitely dressed young girls walking by, revealing their faces without
wearing veils, allowing the men on the street to get a clear view.

"This is truly a decline in moral standards," Liu Mingshi quickly pulled up

his sleeve to cover his eyes. The two young scholars behind him blushed,
one turning his head away while the other couldn't help but sneak a glance.

"How can women let strange men gaze upon their faces? Such is the state of
Great Jin, uncivilized like a primitive land," Liu Mingshi lamented, hastily
returning to the embassy with the two young scholars, too infuriated to eat.

After falling asleep at night, he even had a nightmare where he was

surrounded and scolded by Great Jin scholars and beaten down by Great Jin
women.

Liu Mingshi wiped the sweat off his forehead, panic-stricken, thinking that
Great Jin was truly a sinister place.
Hua Liuli also had a night full of dreams. She dreamt of the little Crown
Prince standing on the viewing platform in the palace, looking at her with a
pitiful expression as if he had suffered countless grievances.

Under such gaze, Hua Liuli couldn't help but approach him and ask, "What
do you desire?"

The little Crown Prince remained silent.

"If you want stars, I will pick them for you. If you want the moon, I will
fetch it for you."

The little Crown Prince reached out his hand and gently held her fingers,
suddenly transforming into a handsome adult Crown Prince. He looked at
her tenderly, his beautiful eyes resembling a vast starry sky, "Gu desires..."

He opened his mouth to say something, but Hua Liuli couldn't hear what he
said.

After waking up from the dream, she sat on the bed feeling gloomy,
constantly pondering over what the Crown Prince in her dream truly
desired. She felt uneasy; it was as though she couldn't fulfill his request,
causing discomfort in her heart.

"Junzhu, you woke up so early?" Yurong gently lifted the veil and handed a
warm towel to Hua Liuli.

"I had a dream and couldn't fall back asleep."

"What did Junzhu dream about?" Yurong helped her with dressing and
shoes.

"Nothing," Hua Liuli shook her head. After freshening up, she sat in front
of the bronze mirror and took out a phoenix hairpin from the jewelry box,
playing with it for a moment before asking, "This jewelry box, was it sent
by the Crown Prince?"

"Yes. When Madam and Junzhu visited the Taoist temple to fulfill the vow,
some people saw the Crown Prince accompanying Junzhu, and rumors
started circulating in the capital," Yurong thought Hua Liuli had forgotten
the origin of the jewelry box, "After the Crown Prince learned about this, he
had several boxes of jewelry sent consecutively, this is one of them."

"Oh," Hua Liuli pondered, lost in thought.

Two days later, the Palace Examination officially began.

As the future heir to the throne, the Crown Prince appeared in the grand hall
together with Emperor Changlong. These candidates arrived here from
different places and had varying backgrounds.

To prevent the candidates from feeling any psychological pressure, Emperor

Changlong never walked down to observe how they answered the
questions. However, the Crown Prince was different. He casually strolled
among the candidates, appearing very relaxed.

After the morning session, the palace provided a unified lunch. Following
the usual practice, the dishes were mostly light and tasteless. The nervous
candidates couldn't eat much.

"Brother Hua, what a coincidence. These are the dishes you like," Yao
Songbo sat next to Hua Changkong, opened the food container, and quietly
teased him, "This is a good omen."

Hua Changkong also didn't expect that almost all the food containers sent
by the Crown Prince contained dishes he liked, and they weren't excessively
greasy.

Some candidates from humble backgrounds lived frugally in order to come

to the capital for the imperial examination. If they suddenly ate excessively
oily food, it could cause diarrhea and affect their performance in the
examination. So, when the palace prepared meals for the candidates, they
deliberately avoided greasy foods.

"This is a good omen for all of us," Hua Changkong smiled, "The Crown
Prince added dishes specifically for us. Isn't it a good omen?"
"Brother Hua makes sense," The candidates familiar with Hua Changkong
smiled and agreed. Most of them came from wealthy families, and for them,
being able to participate in the Palace Examination was already a victory.
So, their mindset was quite stable.

Lin Sen sat silently in a corner, watching the lively scene of Hua
Changkong and his companions, feeling somewhat envious. If he hadn't
rejected their invitation back then, he should be sitting with them, chatting
and laughing, instead of sitting alone in the corner like he was now.

He looked down on candidates from humble backgrounds, while he also

personally rejected invitations from the candidates hailing from high-
ranking families. For a moment, Lin Sen felt disheartened, feeling that he
had been excluded by these candidates.

The afternoon session of the Palace Examination hadn't ended, yet the
Crown Prince brazenly slipped away under Emperor Changlong's angry
gaze. He rode his horse out of the palace and indeed found the Hua family
waiting at the palace gate.

Apart from the Hua family, there were also several other candidates'
families waiting outside. These people were influential figures in the
capital, and when they saw the Crown Prince noticing their presence
outside the gate, they felt somewhat embarrassed and approached him with
flushed faces, bowing respectfully.

"No need for so much ceremony, gentlemen," the Crown Prince smiled,
"Gu is not yet aware of how the young masters from various mansions
performed in the examination. You don't need to worry, Daren."

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness," these people expressed their gratitude
one after another, but they were astonished in their hearts. The Crown
Prince noticed them waiting outside and not only didn't reprimand them but
also took the initiative to talk to them about the candidates' situation.

They were unaccustomed to such gentle and considerate behavior from the
Crown Prince.
After dealing with these people, the Crown Prince rode his horse toward the
Hua family. Before they could even bow, he dismounted and said,
"Generals, no need for so much ceremony."

He gestured to Hua Liuli, who understood and mounted her horse and
followed behind the Crown Prince for a while before dismounting, "Your
Royal Highness, how did my third brother perform?"

The Crown Prince also dismounted from his horse and tossed the reins to
the attendant behind him, "Gu was worried that it would affect the
performance of the Third Young Master Hua, so Gu only glanced at him
briefly. Gu believes that with Third Young Master Hua's talent, there should
be no problem securing a place among the top three," He smiled gently,
"During lunch, Gu had a few additional dishes added, and Third Young
Master Hua ate most of them, which indicates his confidence in the
afternoon examination. So, you don't need to worry."

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli instantly felt relieved. She
touched her chest and took out a string of beads, "This is for Your Royal
Highness."

"What is this?" The Crown Prince reached out and received it. Each bead on
the string was made of top-quality jade, and on these small jade beads,
various auspicious patterns were delicately carved, making it a rare
treasure.

"There is a staff officer in the army whose ancestors were jade craftsmen.
Whenever we obtain good materials, we often ask him to carve some items
for us," Hua Liuli coughed dryly, "Last year, when I received some good
things, I asked him to help carve something to give to my family. The staff
officer insisted on carving something for my future partner, so that's how
this bead bracelet came about."

Speaking of this, Hua Liuli smiled helplessly, "But I don't have a partner.
After thinking it over, I thought that you would definitely look good
wearing it, Your Royal Highness. Your Royal Highness has given me so
many things, but I don't have many decent gifts to give in return."
"Liuli has already given me a gift," the Crown Prince gently rubbed the jade
beads on the bracelet and smiled.

Hua Liuli was puzzled. Did she give him a gift?

In her moment of confusion, the Crown Prince handed the jade beads back
to her.

"Your Royal Highness?" Hua Liuli looked at the Crown Prince with
confusion, "Don't you like it?"

"Gu really likes it," the Crown Prince sighed softly, "But this is something
intended for your future husband, Liuli. How can Gu take something meant
for someone else?"

"Whether it's a future husband or not, it's just a few jests from the staff
officer," Hua Liuli took the bracelet from the Crown Prince's palm, held his
arm, and put the bracelet on his wrist, "As long as Your Royal Highness like
it, nothing else matters."

Indeed, good-looking people have hands that look good as well. With the
jade beads on the Crown Prince's wrist, it seemed to have added a touch of
luster.

"The bracelet is for Gu to wear from here on, Liuli," the Crown Prince
looked at Hua Liuli and smiled, "Gu won't return it in the future."

"Return? There's no logic in returning something that has been given as a

gift," Hua Liuli chuckled, "Your Royal Highness, do you think I'm the kind
of person who goes back on their word and holds onto things?"

"No," the Crown Prince's smile grew even softer, "It's just my own
selfishness."

"It's fine, I won't mind," Hua Liuli touched the horse's head, "Your Royal
Highness, recently, I dreamt about you."

The Crown Prince touched the jade bracelet on his wrist, "What did you
dream about Gu?"
"I dreamt that a little version of Your Royal Highness was standing on the
viewing platform in the palace, looking extremely adorable and pitiful. I
asked Your Royal Highness what you desired, but Your Royal Highness
didn't say anything. In the end, I coaxed Your Royal Highness for a long
time, and just when Your Royal Highness was finally about to speak, the
dream ended," Hua Liuli said, touching her chin curiously, "Your Royal
Highness, is there something you desire?"

"When Gu was young, seeing my brothers with their mothers, Gu wondered

what it would be like if my mother were still alive," the Crown Prince
smiled. "But as Gu grew older, Father Emperor treated me so well that
those thoughts gradually faded."

"Is there something Your Royal Highness wants now?"

The Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli quietly and smiled after a moment,
"Yes."

That look, it's that look!

The current Crown Prince seemed to overlap with the Crown Prince in the
dream. Although the Crown Prince in the dream looked aggrieved while the
one in front of her had a smile on his face, Hua Liuli felt that their gazes
were so similar.

"What is it?" she asked.

A gust of wind blew, lifting the corners of the Crown Prince's robe.

He reached out to help Hua Liuli tidy the tassels of her hairpin that were
blown astray by the wind, and with a gentle smile, he said, "You'll find out
soon enough."

Hua Liuli placed her hand over her chest. This feeling, like being lightly
scratched by a cat's claw and then licked, was a bit... strange?

As a fifteen-year-old girl full of vitality, she exuded a vibrant aura from

head to toe.
As long as he thought of the possibility of causing her difficulty, of making
her frown, he couldn't bear it.

The Crown Prince couldn't help but chuckle and playfully tapped her
forehead with his index finger, "Liuli... you're still young."

On the teahouse rooftop, Xie Yao watched this scene expressionlessly, her
palms bleeding from the pressure of her nails. She turned her face away
with a cold expression and said to her trusted maidservant, "I heard that
there's a formidable assassin in the capital known as Wu San?"

The maidservant nodded in agreement.

"Find a way to contact this assassin," Xie Yao's eyes filled with a chilling
intent to kill, "I want Hua Liuli's life."

"As long as she is eliminated, any amount of money will do."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 63 – The Daimao
Kingdom

The maidservant who contacted the assassin brought back a reply to Xie
Yao two days later.

"Young Miss, there is news from the assassin you asked Nubi to contact,"
the maidservant stood in front of Xie Yao, her face devoid of the joy of
accomplishing a task, only filled with unease and fear.

"What did they say?" Xie Yao's hand trembled, almost smudging her
eyebrows. She put down her eyebrow pencil and said expressionlessly,
"They don't want to take the job?"

"The contact person said that there are no assassins left in the capital," the
maidservant replied.

"What do you mean?!" Xie Yao exclaimed.

"A few months ago, there were several assassination incidents in the
capital. The court ordered a thorough investigation, so the assassins either
fled or were captured. The assassins' organization was completely wiped
out by the court. The remaining few who managed to escape believed that
being an assassin had no future and switched to other professions," the
maidservant spoke in a low voice as she continued. She was afraid of
provoking Xie Yao's anger and instinctively took a step back.

Xie Yao recalled hearing about the assassination incidents in the capital a
few months ago. She looked at the maidservant, whose face was filled with
fear, "Is it possible to contact that assassin named Wu San?"
The maidservant shook her head, "The contact person said that Wu San may
have already perished. There has been no news about him for several
months."

"I understand," Xie Yao thought expressionlessly. If Heaven wanted Hua

Liuli to live a few more days, she would endure a few more days. She
would think of other ways when her father arrived in the capital.

"Earning money is really difficult," even though summer had not arrived,
Wu San was already wearing a short-sleeved jacket. He sat in front of his
stall and greeted customers.

"Boss, why does your lamb noodle soup only have two pieces of lamb? The
stall next door has two more pieces of meat and it's even cheaper by one
copper coin," a customer complained while holding his bowl of noodles,
"You can't do business like this."

"Not enough?" the woman who was wiping the table picked up the knife
from the table and approached the customer.

"Let's talk it out. Don't use the knife," the customer was startled.

"Heh," the woman sneered, and in a flash of the knife, the two pieces of
lamb placed on the noodles turned into more than ten evenly sized pieces,
scattered on the noodles.

"Is this enough lamb for you?" the woman slammed the knife onto the
cutting board with a sharp look in her eyes.

"Yes, yes, it's enough," the customer shrank his neck in fear, picked up his
chopsticks, and began eating. When it was time to pay, he gave a thumbs-up
to the female boss and said, "You have great knife skills, boss."

Wu San put the coins paid by the customer into the drawer and quietly
added a spoonful of hot water to the pot.

As the sun grew hotter, there were fewer customers eating noodles. Wu San
sat on a small stool and asked the woman who was peeling garlic, "How
much silver did we earn this month, excluding the cost of various
ingredients?"

"Taking away the cost of ingredients, we lost one or two silver this month,"
Wu Si said with a stern face, "It's better than last month when we lost five
taels of silver."

The two looked at each other and sighed together. The life of ordinary
people was really difficult.

After parting ways with the young master that day, instead of returning to
the city immediately, they stayed in a cottage in the countryside for a while.
When they returned to the capital, they learned that their organization had
been wiped out. The most bizarre thing was that the two captured Junzhus
had already been rescued.

As for how the young master's men were discovered and how the hostages
were rescued, they didn't dare to inquire, nor did they want to.

After some deliberation, they decided to live an ordinary life and opened
this noodle shop.

After opening the noodle shop, they realized that life was not easy. Besides
having to work from dawn till dusk, they often had to deal with eccentric
customers. If it weren't for them having retired long ago, those eccentric
customers would have lost their heads after returning home.

"Boss," an old man in tattered robes walked into the noodle shop, "Give me
three bowls of noodles and five steamed buns."

Wu San glanced at him, "We don't have any."

"Then give me four bowls of noodles and five mantou."

Wu Si coldly snorted without expression, "We don't have those either."

The old man chuckled, "I heard that the boss has a priceless antique at
home. A customer is offering 30,000 taels. Is the boss willing to sell?"
"The antique was broken long ago. We're not selling now, nor in the future,"
Wu San threw the tablecloth in his hand onto the table, "Don't come here
again."

The old man grabbed a handful of beans from their counter and slowly
started eating, "The customer said, as long as you are willing to sell, they
can offer more money."

Wu Si hung the "Closed" sign on the door of the noodle shop, turned
around, and sneered at the old man, "We've already given up this business.
Who wants to do this kind of work in this current situation?"

"I know you want to live an ordinary life now, but you were once prominent
people. Earning a few copper coins every day, what meaning does it have?"
the old man said in a low voice, "This time, it's a big client with a generous
offer. They only need you to kill a little girl."

"Who should we kill?" Wu San asked casually.

"Hua Yingting's daughter, Hua Liuli."

Both Wu San and Wu Si froze in place. Wu Si turned around, opened the

door of the noodle shop, and pointed outside, "Go away, and don't come
back."

The old man said, "Are you truly prepared to live as ordinary people for the
rest of your lives?"

Wu San maintained a stern face, "After being sewer rats for over twenty
years, being ordinary is quite good."

The old man looked at the inconspicuous noodle shop and the bowls and
chopsticks left on the wooden table. Suddenly, he smiled and said, "That's
fine. I won't come to find you anymore."

He turned around and walked to the door. Seeing that Wu San and Wu Si
were still looking at him, he suddenly said, "A few days ago, I received
some information. I don't know if it's true or false. There's a young master
in Yong Prefecture who was caught by the Eastern Palace's Silver Armored
Guards for smuggling forbidden goods. He will be escorted to the capital
soon."

The expressions on Wu San and Wu Si suddenly changed.

"I was planning to earn the referral fee from you and leave the capital. Since
you're unwilling to take the job, I'll leave the capital tonight," the old man
smiled, "I have already prepared my new identity and household
registration."

Wu San nodded at him, "Take care."

The old man placed his hands behind his back and slowly walked out of the
shop, merging into the crowd.

Two hours later, the Ministry of Justice received a report that an old man
had died on the street. The cause of death was simple: he accidentally
slipped and hit his head on a broken bowl hanging from the eaves; he
passed away before the physician arrived.

As the old man had no family, his body was sent to the charity house and
cremated and buried by the Ministry of Justice.

"Young Miss, why did we arrange for our own people to kill the contact
person?"

"Only the dead keep the secrets."

Xie Yao sat in front of the bronze mirror, gently touching her face, and
asked her maidservant in a soft voice, "Do you think I'm beautiful?"

"Young Miss, you are as beautiful as a celestial being."

"But why doesn't the Crown Prince like me?" Xie Yao suddenly laughed,
her eyes filled with madness, "It doesn't matter. Sooner or later, he will
become mine."

If she couldn't have him, no one else could.

In the study room, Emperor Changlong was reviewing the examination
papers for the Palace Examination. Over three hundred candidates had
participated in the examination, and he couldn't read them all. So, apart
from the top ten recommended by the invigilators, he randomly selected
and reviewed the others.

"This answer paper is exceptionally brilliant and can be ranked first,"

Emperor Changlong took out the most impressive answer paper and circled
it. After circling it, he smiled and asked the Crown Prince, who was
reviewing the memorials, "Yuansu, do you think this answer paper could
belong to your future brother-in-law?"

"If it's not, Father Emperor, would you promote him to be the top scholar
for Erchen's sake?" The Crown Prince seemed a bit tired from writing and
put down his brush, shaking his hand. Seeing that Emperor Changlong was
looking at him, he shook his hand again.

The jade beads on his bracelet collided, making a clinking sound.

"You have a beautiful imagination, but the imperial examination is about

the country's prosperity and stability. It's not child's play," Emperor
Changlong put the first-ranked paper on a separate tray, "Naturally, it's not
possible."

"That's fine then," the Crown Prince stood up and walked to the imperial
desk, extending his hand to exchange the tea for Emperor Changlong. He
also took a glance at the answer paper that was circled as the first rank by
Emperor Changlong, "Erchen doesn't care whether Changkong's
performance in the examination is good or bad."

"Yes, you only want to marry his little sister," Emperor Changlong saw the
Crown Prince constantly stretching his arm in front of him, sometimes
pouring tea for him, sometimes tidying up the disheveled memorials, and
couldn't help but say, "Have you caused any trouble outside again?"

This child was too lazy, which was not good. But if he ever appeared a bit
more diligent, Emperor Changlong couldn't help but worry that he might
have caused some trouble. It was truly a complicated and contradictory
feeling.

"Father Emperor, Erchen hasn't done anything recently," the Crown Prince
shook his wrist, and the jade beads made a clinking sound again.

"Stop shaking, it makes Zhen dizzy," Emperor Changlong noticed that the
Crown Prince had an extra string of jade beads on his wrist and couldn't
help but laugh, "Aren't you usually the most annoyed by wearing these
things on your hand? Don't you find them uncomfortable?"

The Crown Prince's hands were always clean as he never wore any rings or
jade thumb rings. Even the Buddhist beads given by high monks were kept
in storage and had never been worn.

"Erchen doesn't like other bracelets, but this one is different," Seeing that
Emperor Changlong finally noticed his bracelet, the Crown Prince showed a
satisfied smile, "It was given to Erchen by your future daughter-in-law."

Emperor Changlong: "..."

It's all well and good to boast about the bracelet, but if he doesn't have the
ability to bring the person into the palace, what was the point of boasting
privately?

After showing off his bracelet, the Crown Prince didn't want to help
Emperor Changlong with the memorials anymore, "Father Emperor, the
envoys from the Daimao Kingdom have arrived in the capital for a few
days. Have you met with them?"

"Why? Did they send gifts to you?" Emperor Changlong asked.

"Indeed, someone came to bring gifts," the Crown Prince smiled

ambiguously, "Not only did Erchen receive gifts, but Erchen is afraid
Erchen's siblings also received quite a few good things."

"If they are willing to give, you can accept them," Emperor Changlong said,
"As for granting an audience to these envoys, it's up to Zhen. For external
matters, you can make the decisions yourself. If anyone causes trouble, you
handle it, and Zhen will cover for you."

"Erchen also thinks that Father Emperor has countless affairs to attend to.
There's no need to meet these envoys all day long. Let the officials from the
Ministry of Rites handle it," the Crown Prince said, "They're not the
monarchs themselves coming in person, so there's no need to give them too
much face."

Whether it was individuals or nations, excessive friendliness in their eyes

would be seen as a weakness. Great Jin was powerful, and if they displayed
a slightly distant attitude, these envoys would become fearful and
respectful.

Perhaps, that's just human nature.

Early in the morning, Hua Liuli discovered that there were several boxes of
gifts in the main hall, "Who sent them?"

"The head envoy from the Daimao Kingdom. They were sent by the Third
Prince of the Daimao Kingdom," Wei Mingyue put the gift list aside and
spoke in an indifferent tone, "The Daimao Kingdom's envoy has been in the
capital for seven days, but His Majesty has not granted them an audience.
They are getting anxious."

Just a few days ago, they were mocking Great Jin for having a female
general, but now they came seeking their favor. She kicked the boxes and
said, "Mother, I don't like these things. Send someone to return them."

Wei Mingyue glanced at her daughter and didn't ask for a reason. She
nodded and said, "As you wish."

For the past few days, the Daimao Kingdom's envoy had been staying
restlessly in their residence. Ever since Jinpo was beaten to the point of
being defenseless, they worried that Great Jin would recall the old
grievances and launch an attack on their country.
When they first arrived in the capital, the ministers who received them at
their residence were very polite to them. They felt relieved for a couple of
days, but then they realized that the Emperor of Great Jin seemed to have
no intention of granting them an audience. They became anxious and sent
generous gifts to several princes, but received no definite response.

In the end, they had no choice but to give gifts to some important officials
in the court. However, these officials were all very cunning. They spoke in
a pleasing manner, but none of them were willing to give a definite answer.

"Your Highness," a subordinate walked up to the Third Prince of the

Daimao Kingdom with an anxious expression, "The gifts we sent to General
Hua's residence were returned."

"What?" the Third Prince's face turned pale. General Hua was the most
powerful general in Great Jin, and he didn't want to accept their gifts. Was
there any implication behind this?

"Have you found out why the General's estate returned these gifts?"

The subordinate shook his head in confusion and guilt, "I wasn't able to see
the two generals in their estate, but I got a piece of information. Today
afternoon, General Hua's beloved daughter went to the Cuju field to watch
the Cuju match. We can take this opportunity to approach her."

"She is a young lady, how can we, unfamiliar men from another nation,
approach her?" the Third Prince was worried in his heart. If he had known
this would happen, he would have brought one of his sisters along.

"Your Highness, the customs in Great Jin are different from our country.
Young ladies here do not shy away from meeting men from other nations,"
the subordinate explained, "Even the cuju match this afternoon is being
played by young ladies."

"How can these young ladies play cuju?" The Third Prince was very
surprised. After pondering for a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "In
that case, Benwang will personally go to find this Young Lady Hua to show
our sincerity from the Kingdom of Daimao."
The people of Daimao hastily inquired about Young Lady Hua's interests,
but apart from her frail health and the endless favor she receives from the
Empress Dowager of Great Jin, they couldn't find out anything else.

"Your Highness, I heard a small rumor."

"Tell me."

"It is said that Fushou Junzhu once had a very unpleasant encounter with
another Junzhu concerning a remarkably handsome musician. So I thought
that when this Junzhu faces a handsome man, perhaps she might be more
agreeable."

The exceptionally good-looking Third Prince of the Daimao Kingdom: "..."

Had they already stooped so low that they would have to resort to selling
their male charms?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 64 – The Third Prince

"Absurd!" Liu Mingshi was shocked to learn that the Third Prince, in order
to get close to the beloved daughter of a favored minister in Great Jin, was
willing to compromise himself by using the beauty trap. He was so
infuriated that he almost fainted on the spot, "Your Highness, you are a
prince, how can you degrade yourself like this?"

The Third Prince understood Liu Mingshi's good intentions, but at this
point, the Emperor of Great Jin had been refusing to see them. How could
he be at ease?

"Daren, Great Jin is as powerful as the heavens. Even the skilled warriors of
Jinpo had been defeated under their iron hooves," the Third Prince sighed
bitterly, "In the past, the three countries balanced each other, with
occasional frictions but maintaining a surface-level equilibrium. However,
ever since Jinpo attacked Great Jin and killed civilians, that balance has
been broken."

"Jinpo was defeated. Since they had no capable individuals, after signing
the surrender treaty, they will have to pay tribute to Great Jin every year,"
the Third Prince felt more bitter than a bitter gourd, "Benwang is genuinely
worried that since the Great Jin suppressed Jinpo, they will now turn their
attention to us, Daimao."

Daimao excelled in literary arts, emphasizing culture over martial prowess.

If they were to engage in a conflict with Great Jin, Daimao would
undoubtedly suffer.

"During the conflict between Jinpo and Great Jin, if His Majesty had been
willing to join forces with Great Jin to attack Jinpo, things wouldn't have
turned out like this..." Liu Mingshi sighed. During the war between Great
Jin and Jinpo, Daimao dared not offend either side and could only play
dumb, which led to the situation they found themselves in today.

Although Liu Mingshi didn't like the culture of Great Jin, Jinpo was
aggressive and inclined to plunder, behaving in a domineering manner.
Compared to that, Great Jin was more reasonable. Back then, they should
have followed Great Jin in suppressing Jinpo.

But who could have expected that Great Jin would be so determined,
spending so many years just to subdue Jinpo into obedience?

Blaming and complaining won't change anything; it can only be blamed on

Jinpo for provoking other nations. Now, they've suffered a defeat that will
go down in history. Not only do they have to pay tribute every year, but
they also have to cede cities and territories, which affected not only them,
but also Daimao.

Oh, how good it was when the three kingdoms stood strong! Who knew that
being in a triangle was the most stable?

But now, things have changed. They have cut off one of their own legs and
become vassals to the Great Jin. Is that something to be happy about?

The officials of the Jinpo Kingdom may say that they are not afraid of
external enemies, but deep down, everyone knows that they don't want to
fight and that if they do, they will surely lose. They can't afford to be like
the Jinpo Kingdom, which went down in history for losing, ceding cities
and territories, and even having their prince taken captive. That is
absolutely unacceptable.

It was precisely because of this that, as soon as they arrived at Great Jin,
they had been wanting to find out if Emperor Changlong had any plans to
attack the Daimao. However, Emperor Changlong didn't even bother to
meet with them.

The envoys from the Daimao had solemn expressions and looked at their
Third Prince with guilt and helplessness. However, there were not many
who, like Liu Mingshi, firmly opposed the strategy of using the beauty trap.
When it comes to the rise and fall of a nation, principles are not important
anymore.

The dignity of men, the nobility of a prince, are all illusory.

In a heavy atmosphere, everyone finished their lunch. While the Third

Prince bathed and changed clothes, and groomed himself, the officials
looked at him as if they were seeing off a princess departing for a political
marriage with another country.

"Let's think positively. Perhaps this Junzhu won't do anything to the Third
Prince," Envoy A reassured the others after the Third Prince left in the
carriage.

"But if she doesn't like the Third Prince, how could she be willing to speak
favorably for us?" Envoy B said with a worried expression, "Wouldn't
everything we've done be in vain?"

Everyone fell into a painful silence, unsure for a moment whether they
should pray for Fushou Junzhu to take a liking to the Third Prince or pray
that the Third Prince wouldn't be influenced by Fushou Junzhu.

The afternoon cuju match had not yet begun, but the surroundings of the
cuju field were already crowded with spectators. Since it was a cuju match
played by young ladies, the audience had intentionally changed into clothes
that resembled the colors of the teams they supported.

Hua Liuli didn't know which team to support, but because Yao Jiamin
supported the Red Peony team, she had no choice but to change into a red
dress. She even replaced her hairpin with a red gem.

"Oh my goodness," Yao Jiamin covered her eyes when she saw Hua Liuli
coming out of Hua Family Estate, "You should wear less of this color in the
future."

"Why?" Hua Liuli climbed onto the carriage and smiled at Yao Jiamin,
looking very beautiful.
"I'm afraid others will curse you as a calamity-causing fairy," Despite being
a young girl herself, Yao Jiamin couldn't help but steal a few more glances
at Hua Liuli. With her fair and tender appearance, the red clothes on her
made her look like a perfected fairy, with a contradictory charm and purity
as if she had just arrived in the mortal realm.

If she were a man, she would probably want to lift up her sleeve and take a
look at the delicate white wrist hidden underneath, and smell the faint
fragrance on her tender neck.

"Thank you for your compliment," Hua Liuli used the embroidered fan in
her hand to cover half of her cheek and intentionally smiled coquettishly, "I
really like it."

"Stop with your pretentious act," Yao Jiamin pushed Hua Liuli away from
herself, "I'm not a man, I'm not falling for your tricks."

"Is Junzhu treating me so heartlessly?" Hua Liuli's smile faded, her

eyebrows lightly furrowing, and her beautiful eyes seemed to be filled with
infinite melancholy, "Have you forgotten that we had relied on each other
through life and death, never leaving each other behind?"

Yao Jiamin covered her chest and took a step back, "Just, just consider me
scared of you, okay?"

Just moments ago, she was an enchanting fairy, but now she seemed like a
pitiful red flower beaten down by rain. Women like Hua Liuli, if they
genuinely tried to enchant a man, that man would surely die under the hem
of her dress.

Even she, a woman, found it hard to resist, let alone a man.

Thinking of this, she began to doubt if Ying Wang had a problem with his
brain. Why would he refuse to marry such a peerless beauty?

The two of them arrived at the cuju field, and indeed, as soon as they
arrived, many young gentlemen came over to pay their respects. Yao Jiamin
looked at the shy and weak Hua Liuli; she put on a stern face and drove
away all these people, then she found Tian Shan and Yao Wenyin with Hua
Liuli.

"Fushou Junzhu," Yao Wenyin saw that Hua Liuli was feeling a bit
embarrassed and quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe a chair that wasn't
even dirty, offering it for Hua Liuli to sit on.

Yao Jiamin: "..."

Why is my cousin suddenly so attentive to Hua Liuli?

"Thank you," Hua Liuli smiled at Yao Wenyin and sat down as she held up
her skirt.

"No need to thank me," Yao Wenyin blushed and whispered, "Junzhu, you
look really beautiful today. Your presence is enough to make all the flowers
pale in comparison."

Yao Jiamin looked at Yao Wenyin in shock. Who is this bootlicker that
possessed her cousin? Her cousin couldn't possibly act like this!

However, reality slapped her in the face. Not only did her cousin praise Hua
Liuli, but she also blushed and took out snacks she had prepared in advance,
holding them out in front of Hua Liuli, and asking her to pick whichever
she liked.

Watching her cousin's reddened cheeks and shy appearance, Yao Jiamin
really wanted to grab her shoulders and shake her hard, to make her sober
up.

Weren't we supposed to hate Hua Liuli together?

Not long ago, we even used a wooden carving as a replacement to poke at

Hua Liuli. And now you're fawning over her. Even if you're a traitor, you
shouldn't be this enthusiastic!

Tian Shan wasn't wearing red clothes, but to support the Red Peony team,
she had the team emblem of the Red Peony embroidered on her clothes.
Even the fan in her hand had the words "Red Peony will win" embroidered
on it.

She saw that Yao Wenyin had finally let go of her prejudice against Hua
Liuli and took the initiative to make friends with her. Tian Shan felt
extremely relieved, as she no longer had to be caught in the middle.

The women's cuju match was very exciting, with the score constantly
changing. In the end, the Red Peony team won the match, and the stands
were filled with cheers.

Yao Jiamin had screamed until her voice went hoarse. Hua Liuli handed her
a bottle of floral dew, so she took it and drank it without hesitation.

"What is this?" Yao Jiamin smacked her lips, "It's quite tasty."

"It's Huaihua Dew. If you like it, I'll have someone send you the recipe to
your estate tomorrow," Hua Liuli rubbed her ears, which were buzzing from
Yao Jiamin's screams, "It detoxifies and nourishes the complexion."

"Can you send the recipe too?" Tian Shan asked.

"Of course," Hua Liuli smiled and nodded. Seeing Yao Wenyin also looking
at her expectantly, she chuckled and said, "Would you also like it, Miss
Yao?"

"Yes, yes," Yao Wenyin blushed and thought, What kind of fairy is she? Not
only does she not hold a grudge against me for what I've done in the past,
but she also voluntarily gives me a beauty recipe. Is there a better young
lady than her in the capital city?

No, there isn't!

Yao Jiamin silently watched this scene, her heart filled with a sense of
sadness and world-weariness that only she could understand.

The Third Prince stood outside the cuju field, dumbfounded as countless
people in blue and red shirts walked out. With so many people dressed
similarly, where would he find her?
"Why are these people dressed like this?" the Third Prince asked his
attendant.

"Gentlemen, are you a foreign envoy visiting the capital city?" A passerby
happened to overhear and enthusiastically answered his question, "This is a
custom in our Great Jin. Whenever there is a women's cuju match, the
audience supporting them will wear clothes similar in color to their team
uniforms."

"Is it only for women's cuju?"

"Yes," the passerby said, "Most women have less physical strength than
men, but they can kick the ball so well. As spectators, we naturally want to
support them enthusiastically."

"All of you who have come from afar, the people of our entire capital city
warmly welcome you and wish you a pleasant time," The passerby didn't
forget to showcase the broad-mindedness of the people of the capital city
and said some polite words to the group before leaving satisfied.

Their words and actions represented the face of the Great Jin. At a time like
this, they couldn't afford to make any mistakes.

Third Prince and his group, who suddenly witnessed the grandeur of the
common people of Great Jin: "..."

The Third Prince sighed, "The ordinary people of Great Jin have such
remarkable demeanor. How can we let our country be their enemy?"

The mood of the group became even heavier.

The Third Prince raised his head and looked around with a worried
expression when suddenly a woman caught his full attention.

Among the crowd dressed in red, that young girl stood out, with her snow-
like face, starry eyes, and long hair as dark as the night. Her presence made
all the red colors fade in comparison.

Can there really be such a beauty in the world? Who is she?

As the girl approached closer, the Third Prince heard the thumping of his
own heartbeat, finally understanding the feeling of a pounding drum in his
heart.

"Fushou Junzhu," He heard someone approaching and bowing to the girl,

addressing her as Fushou Junzhu.

Is she the Fushou Junzhu, the one favored by the Empress Dowager?

The Third Prince took a moment to regain his composure, took a deep
breath, and walked quickly towards Hua Liuli, "I am He Yuanting, the
envoy from the Kingdom of Daimao. May I ask if you are the esteemed
Fushou Junzhu?"

"He?" Hua Liuli looked at the handsome young man before her, dressed in
luxurious attire and with a fair and gentle face. She withdrew the foot she
had stepped on the stirrup and replied, "I've heard that the imperial surname
of the Daimao Kingdom is He. I wonder what relationship the honorable
gentleman has with the imperial family of Daimao?"

"Benwang is the Third Prince of Daimao," He Yuanting bowed and said,

"Benwang has come here without prior notice. Benwang hopes the Junzhu
can forgive me."

In the bustling marketplace, where people were coming and going, it was
indeed not the place for conversation. Hua Liuli looked at the Daimao
prince and said, with a smile that was not quite a smile, "Your Highness is
the esteemed Third Prince of Daimao. May I ask why Your Highness has
sought me out?"

Yao Jiamin and the other two who were accompanying Hua Liuli felt very
puzzled upon learning about this person's identity. Why would an envoy
from Daimao come to find Hua Liuli?

He Yuanting once again bowed politely and said, "We are newcomers, if
there has been any rudeness, Benwang asks for Junzhu's forgiveness.
Benwang has long heard of your esteemed father's and mother's great
names, and Benwang holds them in high regard. However, Benwang is
curious why your household refused the gifts Benwang sent. Could it be
that the gifts Benwang sent were not to the liking of the two generals?"

It was not surprising to Hua Liuli that an envoy from the Kingdom of
Daimao would come to find her. What surprised her was that it was the
Third Prince of Daimao who sought her out.

She chuckled softly, "Your Highness, the generous gifts sent by you were
entirely appropriate, and my parents were pleased with them."

The Third Prince's heart stirred, "So it is like that, but why..."

"It's just that this humble girl knows that she is unworthy of such generous
gifts, so I had them returned to Your Highness," Hua Liuli smiled on her
face, but there was no trace of amusement in her eyes, "I understand Your
Highness's goodwill, but our humble household is insignificant and cannot
bear it."

Sensing that something was amiss in Hua Liuli's words, the Third Prince
became even more perplexed. Had they offended the Hua family?
Otherwise, why would they have such an attitude?

Although the other party spoke impolitely, the Third Prince couldn't muster
any anger. He bowed to Hua Liuli and said, "Junzhu, there may be some
misunderstanding here. Benwang has prepared a feast at the restaurant and
hopes that Junzhu will grace us with her presence, allowing Benwang to
apologize to Junzhu."

"Your Highness, as a person of noble status, I cannot accept your

hospitality," Hua Liuli returned the courtesy, "Your Highness is being too
polite. There is no misunderstanding on our part. Please do not overthink
it."

Yao Wenyin, standing beside them, thought silently: You Daimao envoys
have the audacity to say disrespectful things about a female general right in
front of Hua Liuli, and yet you expect her to be amicable towards you? You
don't even understand the basic principle of not insulting someone's mother
and expecting them to be friendly. You come here asking why she didn't
accept your gift. It's already a gesture of preserving the dignity of both
nations that the gifts weren't smashed in your faces.

Just when the situation was unfolding, a young man dressed in elegant attire
appeared on horseback next to them.

He Yuanting looked at the handsome man on the horse and bowed, "May I
ask who the gentleman is?"

The Crown Prince lazily returned the bow while sitting on his horse, "I am
the cousin of Liuli's close friend. I came to check on her since she seemed
bothered by someone."

Liuli's close friend, Yao Jiamin: "..."

Thank the heavens, thank the earth, she finally had some presence in the
Crown Prince's eyes.

OceanofPDF.com
Chapter 65 – Our Family’s Junzhu

Although He Yuanting couldn't guess the identity of this man who suddenly
appeared, he could sense the unfriendliness in his demeanor.

"It's me!" Yao Jiamin stepped forward, "He is my cousin and has a close
relationship with Fushou Junzhu."

After saying these words, Yao Jiamin felt her cousin, the Crown Prince,
taking a glance at her, his eyes filled with a satisfying emotion.

Hmph, men.

At this moment, Yao Jiamin felt that she had already seen through the men
of the world.

"I don't know who this young master is..."

"Just a trivial name, not worth mentioning," the Crown Prince interrupted
He Yuanting, "I've heard that your country has a custom where unfamiliar
men are not allowed to converse with unfamiliar young ladies. If such
behavior occurs, it is considered disrespectful. The Third Prince has a noble
status and conducts himself in accordance with the customs of our Great
Jin. It seems that you sneer at your country's etiquette and rules."

He Yuanting could already be sure that this noble young man had hostile
intentions towards him. Moreover, in his speech, he showed no
consideration or respect for him, the Third Prince of Daimao. From this, it
could be seen that this person's identity was not ordinary.

"This young master is joking," Liu Mingshi realized something was amiss
and quickly stepped forward, "As the saying goes, 'When in Rome, do as
the Romans do'. We are on your country's land, so naturally, we will
conduct ourselves according to your country's customs."

"In Great Jin, there is no custom of a master speaking while the attendants
interrupt," the Crown Prince said with a faint expression.

"I am Liu Mingshi, the Minister of Etiquette in Daimao," Liu Mingshi, who
was highly respected in Daimao and admired by countless scholars, how
could he tolerate being treated as a lowly slave by others?

"Oh," the Crown Prince responded expressionlessly and remained silent.

Here it comes, here it comes, the Crown Prince's infuriating habit of

ignoring people to death. Yao Jiamin, who had been afflicted by the Crown
Prince's expression before, felt a strange sense of excitement when she saw
him tormenting people from other countries.

Oh, what's with the "Oh"?

According to the usual customs, shouldn't he say a couple of polite words

like "I've heard your famous name, so you're the renowned Liu Mingshi"?
Even if this young man is ignorant and doesn't know his name, he should at
least exchange a few polite words. What's with just a simple "Oh"?

Unfortunately, the Crown Prince never cared about the feelings of such
people. He glanced at He Yuanting from head to toe with a sideways glance,
"Fushou Junzhu is just a little girl. If the Third Prince has any business, he
can visit General Wei or General Hua."

"The young master is right," He Yuanting understood very well that this
noble young man clearly didn't want him to get close to Fushou Junzhu. He
only spoke harshly when he spoke, not giving them any face.

The situation was sensitive to consider personal feelings; they simply

couldn't afford to offend the powerful figures of Great Jin at the moment,
even if they knew the other party was being disrespectful, they could only
endure.
Fortunately, He Yuanting was the most easy-going among all the princes of
Daimao. Even if he was frustrated, he could still maintain a smile on the
surface.

In fact, he himself was also suspicious as to whether the reason his father
sent him to visit Great Jin was because of his good temperament and noble
status. His mother was the Empress and his Eldest Brother from the same
mother was the Crown Prince. His arrival could better demonstrate
Daimao's sincerity.

Unfortunately, this sincerity did not move the Emperor of Great Jin, and
now they could only wander aimlessly like headless flies.

Hua Liuli glanced at the Crown Prince, who was pretending to be an

ordinary nobleman, and opened her mouth to say something, but didn't
know how to address him, so she said, "Young Master, the Third Prince has
come from afar. Since he's set up a feast, it wouldn't be good for me to
decline. However, as they are the guest, I will bear the cost of the banquet."

When mountains are stout and rivers are winding, doubts arise and there
seems to be no way out. When willows are dark and flowers are bright,
another village appears.

When the Daimao envoy thought that Fushou Junzhu would not agree to
their request, she decided to attend the feast. Two young officials who had
not fully mastered their poker faces couldn't help but reveal a hint of joy on
their faces.

"Fushou Junzhu, we'll accompany you..." Yao Wenyin wanted to speak,

thinking that these envoys had unclear intentions, so they should
accompany her. But before she could finish her words, her mouth was
covered by Yao Jiamin's hand.

"Cousin, what she means is that we have something important to attend to.
Please bear the inconvenience and accompany Fushou Junzhu," Yao Jiamin
firmly held Yao Wenyin, preventing her from making a sound.
Tian Shan looked at the scene before her in confusion and chose to remain
silent cautiously.

"Wu wu wu wu..."

Yao Wenyin: That's not what I meant!

However, her resistance was futile. Yao Jiamin had martial arts training
since childhood, and although she didn't dare to provoke Hua Liuli, there
was no problem dragging Yao Wenyin onto the carriage.

After getting on the carriage, Yao Wenyin pulled Yao Jiamin's hand away,
"Jiamin, what are you doing?!"

"My dear cousin, if you trust me, then please don't speak now," Yao Jiamin
put her finger to her lips, made a "shh" gesture, turned around, and leaned
out of the carriage, facing the Crown Prince who was sitting on horseback,
"Cousin, we'll go ahead."

"Alright," the Crown Prince nodded elegantly at her, "Be careful on the
way."

His little cousin has finally grown up to be sensible.

Yao Jiamin let down the curtain of the carriage and urged the coachman to
hurry, not wanting to stay for a moment.

She had never experienced the Crown Prince's gentle and pleasant
demeanor before, so she was deeply moved.

"Sister Jiamin," Tian Shan opened the window curtain and glanced outside.
After confirming that they were already at a distance from the Crown
Prince, she cautiously spoke, "Is the Crown Prince interested in Fushou
Junzhu...?"

Yao Jiamin silently nodded.

Yao Wenyin and Tian Shan involuntarily revealed sympathetic expressions -

- not sympathizing with the Crown Prince, but sympathizing with Hua
Liuli.

"Fushou Junzhu is a good person, how could she..."

Yao Jiaminturned her head to look at Yao Wenyin, her eyebrows tightly
furrowed. Little cousin, say it again, who is a good person?! What kind of
spell did Hua Liuli cast on you to completely change your perception of
her?

In fact, it was not surprising that Tian Shan and Yao Wenyin had such a
reaction. They were both young ladies who had been raised in a noble
household since childhood. They didn't need to be sent into the palace by
their families in exchange for wealth and glory, so they didn't have much
desire to marry into the imperial palace.

The Crown Prince was unparalleled in appearance. He was talented in both

civil and martial affairs, which undoubtedly captured the hearts of countless
young ladies. But no matter how good-looking and capable he was, it
couldn't escape the fact that he had a bad temper and a sharp tongue.

Who among them was not highly esteemed? How could they withstand the
invisible killings from the Crown Prince's mouth?

It was said that even the palace consorts had no way to deal with the Crown
Prince, let alone young girls like them who lacked strong combat power.

From their perspective, the weak and sickly Fushou Junzhu being pursued
by the Crown Prince was undoubtedly like a lamb entering a tiger's den. It
would do more harm than good.

Seeing the expressions of the two young sisters, Yao Jiamin hesitated to
speak. Honestly, she wasn't really worried about Hua Liuli; she was more
concerned about the Crown Prince.

But the truth often resided in the hands of a few individuals. Even if she
revealed the truth, there wouldn't be many who would believe it.
Hua Liuli couldn't understand. The Crown Prince wasn't a man-eating tiger,
so why was Yao Jiamin so afraid of him? The Crown Prince had been very
kind to their family. Last time, when she helped Princess Shunan resolve a
conflict, the Crown Prince not only didn't expose her, but also had her go to
a small room to clean the rouge from her palms.

Just because the Crown Prince held a prestigious position, they had to treat
him like this? Wasn't it going too far?

She looked up at the lonely Crown Prince sitting on his horse and smiled at
him, bowing slightly, "Thank you, Your Royal Highness."

"I'm glad to help, it's not a bother," the Crown Prince dismounted and
tossed the reins to the attendant behind him, then said to his guards, "Gu
will be with Fushou Junzhu, you can follow behind."

The guards glanced at the several people from the Daimao Kingdom and
bowed, "Yes."

Although it didn't go as expected and there was an unidentified young

master with them, at least Fushou Junzhu was willing to talk with them in
detail. They respectfully led the people to a well-known restaurant in the
capital.

To show their sincerity, the table was set lavishly.

"Some of the ingredients were prepared by us, but the dishes made by our
country's cook may not suit the Junzhu's taste, so we asked the head cook of
this restaurant to make them," He Yuanting explained, implying that they
wouldn't tamper with the food in any way.

Hua Liuli pretended not to hear the implication and ordered Yuan Yi and
Yurong to serve the dishes.

Yuan Yi walked to Hua Liuli's side and served her a bite of food. After Hua
Liuli tasted it, Yurong picked the same dish and placed it in the Crown
Prince's bowl.
After a few bites, Hua Liuli had already tasted all the dishes in front of her.
She wiped the corner of her mouth and smiled, "Third Prince is too polite.
These dishes are truly delicious in terms of appearance, aroma, and taste."

She raised her hand to her maid and said, "No need to serve me, I can
handle it myself."

"Yes," Yuan Yi stepped aside. The Crown Prince glanced at Yurong, raised
his hand to dismiss her, then turned to Hua Liuli and said, "However, this
venison tendon is a bit old compared to the flavorful one you had at my
place last time."

Hua Liuli smiled, "The cook at the Young Master's residence is truly
exceptional; the outside cooks are far from comparable."

The envoys from the Daimao Kingdom felt a bit embarrassed upon hearing
this, but they still smiled and praised the cook of the noble young master's
household, even though they didn't know who this person was.

Despite the efforts of the Daimao Kingdom envoys to liven up the

atmosphere, the meal was awkward due to the noble young master's
occasional provocations, making the atmosphere quite tense.

"Junzhu, I offer you a toast," He Yuanting raised his wine cup and drank it
all in one gulp.

"Third Prince, you may not know, but our family's Junzhu has a weak
constitution and always carries medicine with her. She can't drink the
wine," the Crown Prince picked up the wine cup in front of Hua Liuli, spun
it in his hand, and poured it into the nearby tea bowl.

The wine mixed with the tea emitted a somewhat strange aroma.

Seeing their Third Prince personally offering a toast, only to be rejected like
this, the faces of the envoys turned extremely ugly, but they could only
endure in silence.
He Yuanting blushed and looked at Hua Liuli with an apologetic
expression, "I'm sorry, I was not aware of this," After saying that, he
beckoned a maidservant and had her bring a cup of water for Hua Liuli.

Hua Liuli picked up the cup and sniffed it lightly at the tip of her nose. She
then raised the cup and said to He Yuanting, "As a weak and sickly girl, I
have inherent illnesses that cannot be remedied. If I have offended you in
any way, I hope Your Highness will forgive me."

"No, no, it's my negligence," He Yuanting's cheeks grew even redder.

Seeing Hua Liuli take a sip of water, he quickly poured himself a full cup of
wine and drank it all in one gulp again.

After two cups of strong wine, He Yuanting's fair cheeks and neck were
tinged with a faint blush. Hua Liuli smiled and glanced at him a little more.

The Crown Prince noticed Hua Liuli's gaze. He lowered his eyelids slightly
and calmly asked, "Your Highness invited our family's Junzhu for what
reason?"

He Yuanting explained his intentions once again. outwardly apologizing,

On the surface, it was an apology, but in reality, he wanted to understand
why the Hua family refused their gifts.

"Third Prince, as I mentioned earlier, it's not that our estate looks down on
your country's gifts, but rather that our estate knows we are not worthy of
such generous offerings, so we sent them back," Hua Liuli's gaze swept
over Liu Mingshi sitting beside her, and mockingly smiled, "After all, my
mother is just a shameless female general who shows her face everywhere.
How can she deserve your country's gifts?"

"Where does this statement come from?" He Yuanting felt confused.

Liu Mingshi, who was sitting in the corner, had a change of expression. He
suddenly looked up at Hua Liuli, feeling anxious and unsure. Could it be
that what he said in the teahouse that day reached the ears of Fushou
Junzhu?
He felt extremely flustered. He was afraid that Fushou Junzhu would
mention that incident in front of the Third Prince, but at the same time, he
secretly prayed that Fushou Junzhu didn't know that it was he who spoke
that day.

He kept his head down, feeling the gaze of Fushou Junzhu on him.

The more she gazed at him, the less he dared to raise his head.

"Hmm," Seeing Liu Daren's conduct, Hua Liuli stood up and said, "Instead
of apologizing to me, Your Highness, why not manage the people around
you? Fortunately, they targeted my mother, who has always been
magnanimous and unwilling to dwell on such trivial matters. If you were to
target our Emperor or the Crown Prince, I would suspect that your country
intends to provoke conflict with our Great Jin."

This Liu Daren made such a big mistake and, at a critical moment, was
thinking of evading responsibility rather than making amends. This type of
person could actually hold the position of Daimao's crown prince tutor and
come here as their envoy.

From this, it could be seen that the internal affairs of the Daimao Kingdom
were not in good shape.

"Our country has no such intention!" He Yuanting was shocked and quickly
said, "Our country has always admired the benevolence and wisdom of the
Great Jin Emperor. How could we have any intention of offending your
country?"

At this point, how could he not understand that one of his subordinates or
guards must have spoken carelessly, allowing someone to overhear and pass
it onto Fushou Junzhu's ears?

"I don't know which arrogant person is spouting nonsense. If Junzhu knows
who it is, please inform me. I will punish them severely and not protect
them," He Yuanting made up his mind. If Hua Liuli pointed out the person,
in order to resolve this conflict, he would execute them on the spot, even if
he would be reluctant to do so.
The room fell into silence. Liu Mingshi and the other two young officials
turned pale, not daring to make a sound.

Time passed slowly; Liu Mingshi felt as if a long time had already passed.

"Never mind, since it's a misunderstanding, there's no need to mention it

again," Hua Liuli's gaze swept back and forth over the envoys several times,
and she chuckled, her smile innocent, "Third Prince, there's no need to be so
nervous."

This kind of official cultivated a crown prince for their nation. Why bother
killing him?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 66 – Suicide?

Hua Liuli's decision not to pursue the matter further didn't ease the worries
of the envoys from the Daimao Kingdom; instead, it made them even more
anxious. If she had made demands, it would indicate that there was still
room for negotiation. However, when one was not even willing to make any
demands, it signified that the situation had become more severe.

He Yuanting, born into the royal family, had no knowledge of how to win a
young lady's heart. He looked at the beautiful young lady from Great Jin in
front of him and felt somewhat at a loss.

Seeing that the other party intended to leave, He Yuanting wanted to keep
her but didn't know how to speak up.

"Third Prince," The Crown Prince stepped forward, blocking He Yuanting's

line of sight, "Our family's Junzhu is weak, she should return home and
rest."

"Junzhu..." Before he could say anything, He Yuanting saw the coldness in

the elegant gentleman's eyes. His lips moved slightly, "Junzhu, take care."

"Farewell," Hua Liuli smiled and as she passed by Liu Mingshi, she paused
for a moment and turned her head to look at him.

Liu Mingshi took a step back and bid her farewell with a gesture.

Witnessing this, Hua Liuli's lips curled up, and she left alongside the Crown
Prince.

Once they were in the carriage, Hua Liuli relaxed her posture, "I heard
people say that the scholars of the Daimao Kingdom are noble and fearless,
even in the face of death. But today, it proved that they are nothing like
what they say. They are not as lively and humorous as the scholars of our
Great Jin."

"The Daimao Kingdom's emperor is incompetent, while their crown prince

is mediocre. Not to mention their emphasis on culture over martial arts, the
power struggles among the civil officials are also fierce," The Crown Prince
noticed that once she was alone with him, she would unconsciously shed
the pretense she had in front of others; the smile on his face grew warmer,
"Liuli, why did you spare that person surnamed Liu?"

"My mother, a remarkable general, is not someone whose achievements can

be denied by a few words from such a person. Just and unbiased historical
records will prove her greatness," Hua Liuli smiled, "Moreover, his
disdainful yet fearful attitude pleased me."

"Just because of these reasons?"

Hua Liuli met the Crown Prince's gaze and knew that he had already seen
through her intentions. She had no choice but to reveal her true thoughts,
"A crown prince who was cultivated by someone like him would never be a
match for you, Your Royal Highness."

Only a timid Daimao Kingdom would not join forces with Jinpo and
become an enemy of Great Jin.

"If it can make Liuli happy, it doesn't really matter if you want to deal with
him," the Crown Prince chuckled, "Daimao's internal affairs are already in
chaos; without someone surnamed Liu, there are still those surnamed Li,
Wang. You don't need to worry about them."

"How can I not worry?" Hua Liuli said, "As a subject, I still hope to see
Great Jin prosper under the rule of His Majesty and the Crown Prince."

The Crown Prince silently looked at her for a while before saying,
"Alright."

The carriage suddenly fell silent. Hua Liuli lowered her head and looked at
the Crown Prince's beautiful, clean hands. In a daze, she thought: How
lovely these hands are. I really want to hold them.

Her fingers moved slightly as she discreetly moved back.

"Gu won't let Liuli down."

The Crown Prince chuckled lightly, his laughter was like invisible sugar
gently enveloping Hua Liuli's heart. She looked at the smiling Crown
Prince and felt like she would never want to imagine this stunning man with
other women.

"Liuli?"

Hua Liuli was startled and snapped back to reality. She looked at the Crown
Prince's moist lips, wondering when he had stopped addressing her as
Junzhu and started addressing her by name?

The carriage continued to move forward, while the two palace maids
kneeling in the corner remained quiet. Hua Liuli's gaze shifted slightly
downward and looked at the neatly arranged collar of the Crown Prince's
garment.

The Crown Prince noticed Hua Liuli suddenly shaking her face with her
hands. He couldn't help but smile, "What's wrong with you?"

"It seems a little bit of water has gotten into my head, so I'm trying to shake
it out."

"En?" The Crown Prince's voice was deep and pleasant, causing the guqin
strings in Hua Liuli's heart to throb wildly. She wished she could play the
song 'phoenix seeking his mate'.

"I'm just joking," Hua Liuli lifted the curtain of the carriage window and
said hurriedly, "Your Royal Highness, my home is almost here. I will be
getting off now."

After speaking, she lifted her skirt and jumped off the carriage.
"Junzhu, please be careful..." The attending eunuch stared blankly as
Fushou Junzhu quickly left with her few maids.

Fushou Junzhu's body is so weak. Can her body handle jumping off the
carriage when it hasn't even stabilized?

He secretly turned his head and glanced at the carriage. The thick curtains
covered the scene inside.

What did His Highness do to scare the young girl like this?

"Junzhu," Yuan Yi grabbed Hua Liuli's wrist and gritted her teeth, "Your
health is not good. Take it slow."

"I'm afraid that if I walk slowly, I'll make mistakes," Hua Liuli patted her
chest, trying to calm her pounding heart.

"Has Junzhu taken a liking to the Third Prince of Daimao?" Yuan Yi asked.

"The Third Prince of Daimao?" Hua Liuli pondered, "Is he good-looking?"

"Rosy lips, white teeth, and delicate features. Isn't that Junzhu's favorite
type?" Whenever Junzhu encountered men like that on the street before, she
would throw a few more glances at them. But today's Third Prince of
Daimao is even more stunning, yet Junzhu didn't even react?

"Is that so..." Hua Liuli stopped in her tracks, deep in thought. The situation
is serious. With the Crown Prince around, she couldn't even notice other
men.

Not only that, she even had the thought of unbuttoning the Crown Prince's
collar and stealing a few glances. Hua Liuli was indeed a bit flirtatious, yet
she was also a morally upright person who appreciates beauty without being
disrespectful. What happened today?

Could it be because the cuju match was too intense, making her blood boil?

"Are there any handsome men in the major pleasure houses and dancing
establishments in the capital recently?" Hua Liuli attempted to save herself.
"Junzhu, have you forgotten?" Yurong reminded her in a low voice,
"Recently, all the major entertainment venues are conducting the 'Cultivate
a Civilized Capital' campaign. Musicians and dancers are not allowed to
have personal contact with guests."

"It's been so long, and they're still doing that?" Hua Liuli sighed, "When the
envoys from various countries leave after the Hundred Nations Banquet..."

"Forget it," Hua Liuli shook her head quickly, "I've already promised..."

She had already promised the Crown Prince not to keep male pets for the
next five years. A virtuous woman should keep her word. How could she go
back on her word?

"Forget it," Hua Liuli sighed, "Let's just go back home and read books."

The accompanying maids all revealed shocked expressions. Junzhu

voluntarily suggested reading books?

"Junzhu, what kind of books do you want to read?" Yurong and Yuan Yi
asked the same question at the same time.

"Scriptures," Hua Liuli said with a weary expression, "The kind that helps
people cultivate their character, calm their minds, and reduce desires."

After the envoys from Daimao returned to their residence, the gentle-
natured He Yuanting flew into a rage.

"All of you are pillars of our Daimao. You should act cautiously and be
mindful of what should be said and what shouldn't!" He Yuanting's gaze
swept over the crowd, looking tired, "Wei Mingyue is the number one
female general of Great Jin, highly respected by the people. Even if you
don't like the customs of Great Jin, you shouldn't say such things outside!"

No one dared to utter a word.

Rubbing his throbbing temples, He Yuanting felt disheartened, "Go back

and rest, all of you."
"Your Highness, please calm down," one of the envoys said, "The situation
hasn't reached the worst point yet. I've heard that the Emperor of Great Jin
has started to suspect Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue because of their
outstanding achievements."

"As long as they are still generals, we cannot offend them," He Yuanting
waved his hand, "Tomorrow, I will personally apologize to the Hua family."

"Your Highness, how can you endure such grievances..."

"People are mere pawns to be sacrificed," He Yuanting smiled helplessly,

"What grievances can't be endured?"

They had already stooped to the point of using the beauty trap tactics to
seduce Fushou Junzhu, what grievances couldn't he endure?

Thinking of that girl who made everything else in the world pale in
comparison, He Yuanting's heart couldn't help but skip a beat several times.

There are people in this world who can make your heart flutter with just one
glance.

Liu Mingshi returned to his own room, feeling both ashamed and guilty. He
tossed and turned on the bed, unable to fall asleep, constantly recalling the
words he had said at the teahouse that day.

He recalled being cautious initially, but the young civil official beside him
kept mentioning the flaws of women from the Great Jin.

He talked about women socializing with men to paint and write poetry, their
frivolous behavior and indulgence in pleasures, and even some noble ladies
keeping male companions in their private estates.

Later, he even spoke about the absurd actions of the female general. So he
couldn't help but complain about these things.

No, that civil official was clearly deliberately leading him to say these
things!
He suddenly sat up from the bed. Not caring about the late hour, he put on
his outer robe and prepared to find this young civil official. He suspected
that something was wrong with this person!

Just as he opened the door, he saw someone running towards him, panting
and looking terrified, "Liu Daren, something terrible has happened. Wang
Daren has hanged himself."

"What?!"

Liu Mingshi was shocked. Wang Daren was the young civil official who
had deliberately led him to say those things!

He followed the person and rushed to Wang Daren's room. Wang Daren's
body had already been taken down, and the rope hanging from the ceiling
swayed gently, casting a sinister shadow on the wall in the flickering
candlelight.

"Is... is he still alive?" Liu Mingshi's throat felt dry.

The physician who came with the envoy team shook his head, "Wang Daren
has no pulse."

Liu Mingshi's teeth rattled and his heart turned cold. This was a massive
conspiracy!

He Yuanting also arrived, his hair disheveled and his outer robe loosely
hanging on him due to the rush. He raised his hand to stop the crowd behind
him from rushing into the room, "Report to Great Jin's Ministry of Justice
immediately. No one is allowed to enter."

He looked at the people in the courtyard, his eyes shining with an alarming
intensity, "No one can leave this courtyard either."

"Your Highness..." an envoy said, "Why should Great Jin's officials

interfere in our affairs?"

"This is the capital city of Great Jin," He Yuanting said, looking at Wang
Daren's body in the room, his face pale, "Naturally, they will be the ones to
handle it."

In the middle of the night, Zhang Shuo, who was deep in his sleep, heard
urgent knocks on the door.

"Daren, something big has happened!"

Zhang Shuo got up from the bed. His department had been so busy lately
that he had been sleeping at the Ministry of Justice. He didn't expect to be
woken up in the middle of the night, "What happened?"

He opened the door and rubbed his head.

"An envoy from Daimao has died in their residence."

"What?" He exerted force on his hand, and the few remaining strands of
hair on his forehead finally met their demise. He lowered his head, his lips
trembling as he said in a low voice, "Summon Pei Daren and Gou Daren.
We must go there immediately."

Although the Emperor didn't currently intend to meet with the envoys from
Daimao, if an envoy died in their capital city, it would become a matter
involving both countries.

At the entrance of the Daimao envoy's residence, Zhang Shuo saw the
equally anxious Prefect of Jingzhao. Thinking about the few strands of hair
on the other person's forehead, which weren't much different from his own,
Zhang Shuo let out a deep sigh.

Those who always worried had less hair, indeed.

Pei Jihuai strode into the inner courtyard. Noticing that the Third Prince of
Daimao was also present, he raised his hand and took off the sword at his
waist before handing it to his subordinate. He approached and saluted, "I
am Pei Jihuai, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Greetings to
His Highness, the Third Prince."

"Deputy Minister Pei, there's no need for such formality," He Yuanting said
wearily, "Take Pei Daren to the scene for investigation."
Pei Jihuai entered the room and glanced at the scene. He saw a farewell
letter left by the deceased on the table. He put on silk gloves and opened the
letter.

As he read the contents of the letter, his brow furrowed instantly.

What did it mean to acknowledge offending General Wei, unable to face

one's country and family, and be willing to die as a form of apology?

Although the letter seemed like a confession, anyone who read it would
only feel that the Hua family was being tyrannical. Merely speaking a few
unpleasant words led to the death of an envoy.

He folded the letter and looked up at the marks on the beam where the
hanging rope was tied. He climbed up and examined the spot, then jumped
back down, "Your Highness, the disorderly marks on the beam indicate that
the deceased struggled before death."

"What does that mean?"

"It doesn't necessarily mean anything," Pei Jihuai replied, "Whether it's
suicide or homicide, experiencing extreme pain and struggling is normal."

He Yuanting's gaze fell to the cuff of Pei Jihuai's sleeve. When Pei Jihuai
was speaking, he had tucked the letter left by Wang Daren into his sleeve.

Pei Jihuai pretended not to notice He Yuanting's gaze and spoke as usual,
"We will seal this room and have our country's top mortician examine the
body."

"Oh, right," Pei Jihuai said, "Until the cause of death is determined,
everyone present is considered a suspect. Therefore, the contents of the
farewell letter cannot be shown to you for the time being. I hope you all
understand."

"What do you mean, Pei Daren?" one of the envoys couldn't help but ask,
"Are you implying that others are not suspicious?"
In fact, what he wanted to say was: Are the people from Great Jin not
suspicious?

"Don't get agitated, Daren. I didn't say that the culprit must be among you,"
Pei Jihuai said expressionlessly, "You can think positively. Perhaps the
deceased really did commit suicide."

The Daimao envoys did not argue anymore.

He Yuanting remained silent for a moment, then had someone bring Wang
Daren's books and handed them to Pei Jihuai, "There are samples of Wang
Daren's handwriting inside. Pei Daren, please compare the handwriting. I
hope that after the case is solved, Pei Daren can return Wang Daren's
farewell letter intact."

"Please rest assured, Your Highness. I will definitely investigate the case
thoroughly and provide you all with the truth."

He Yuanting took a deep breath, "Very well, Pei Daren, I'm counting on
you."

OceanofPDF.com
Chapter 67 – An Audience with the
Emperor

After Pei Jihuai took the letter, the Prefect of Jingzhao and the Minister of
Justice approached and expressed their condolences and sympathy for the
death of Wang Daren. Then they hurriedly left.

"Your Highness," one of the envoys asked, "Why did we let them take
Wang Daren's letter? Great Jin has gone too far in their arrogance."

"Even if we have it, what can we do?" He Yuanting replied directly, "If the
cause of death is related to the Great Jin people, can our Daimao Kingdom
really go to war with them?"

The envoys fell silent. The Third Prince was right. Even if the Great Jin
people truly mistreated them, they could only swallow their grievances.

"Following this significant event, it is inevitable for the Emperor of Great

Jin to summon Your Highness," a composed minister said after a long
silence, "Your Highness, I strongly recommend staying indoors for the next
two days. Use this time to prepare yourself thoroughly. It is rumored that
Emperor Changlong greatly favors the Crown Prince of Great Jin. If Your
Highness encounters their Crown Prince in the palace, you must not offend
him."

He Yuanting nodded solemnly, his gaze fixed upon his own shoes as
bitterness swelled within him. Both of them were Crown Princes, but his
Eldest Brother was constantly suspected by their father, while the Crown
Prince of Great Jin was greatly cherished by Emperor Changlong.

Perhaps, that was fate.

"Daren," in the darkness, Pei Jihuai handed the letter left by the deceased
from Daimao to Zhang Shuo, "I suspect there is something unusual about
this matter."

Zhang Shuo received the letter and read it, his expression grave, "Someone
intentionally wants to provoke conflict between the two nations."

The two exchanged a glance, keeping the rest of their thoughts to

themselves. If this matter escalated, it would be extremely detrimental to
the Hua family. It might even make the Emperor believe that the Hua family
had become so powerful that foreign envoys were driven to suicide out of
fear.

The mastermind behind the scenes didn't care if they discovered it was a
conspiracy. He had almost blatantly revealed his intentions because he
knew that the rift between Daimao and Great Jin could never be eliminated.
Simultaneously, this matter would also raise suspicions in the Emperor's
heart against the Hua family; once suspicion took hold, it would be
impossible to dispel.

Who was so eager to bring misfortune to the Hua family?

Was it Jinpo?

Or the neighboring small countries that were intimidated by the Hua

family?

Or... was it a staged performance by Daimao itself?

"Daren, what should we do now?" Pei Jihuai asked.

Zhang Shuo tucked the letter into his robe, "Of course, we should deliver
the letter to the Emperor tonight."

Pei Jihuai furrowed his brow, quietly mounting his horse without uttering a
word. Zhang Shuo, as he climbed into the carriage, playfully remarked,
"Jihuai, it seems you place great trust in the Hua family. Have you ever
contemplated the possibility that they might have orchestrated Wang
Daren's murder and cunningly masked it as a suicide?"

"If the two generals want to seek revenge against such meddlesome
individuals, why would they resort to assassination?" Pei Jihuai replied
calmly, "Furthermore, if they killed the person, why would they leave this
letter behind?"

"You make a valid point," Zhang Shuo nodded, "I also believe that the Hua
family is unjustly accused."

Unfortunately, by involving themselves in this matter, even if they did

nothing, they would still be implicated. Zhang Shuo had recently received
news from a Daimao envoy that the Third Prince of the Daimao Kingdom
had organized a banquet to offer his apologies to Fushou
Junzhu. Seemingly, the individual involved had been overwhelmed by fear
to the point of taking his own life. Uninformed people might suspect
Fushou Junzhu of having driven that person to his untimely demise.

Not to mention others, he too had a fleeting moment of uncertainty,

wondering if it could indeed be real.

But he quickly dispelled those thoughts; Fushou Junzhu was physically

weak and timid. Given her character, it would be quite difficult for her to
scare a young man to death.

If things really escalated, it was unknown who would end up being

frightened.

Before drifting off to sleep, Emperor Changlong reveled in a sense of

contentment as the Crown Prince voluntarily engaged in discussions
regarding state affairs, finally exhibiting signs of diligence.

In the evening, after the Crown Prince had his meal, the father and son took
a stroll together before Emperor Changlong had Zhao Sancai escort the
Crown Prince back to the Eastern Palace. Unfortunately, this harmonious
atmosphere was shattered in the dead of night.
Emperor Changlong received a letter and investigation report presented by
Zhang Shuo, the Minister of Justice. As he read them, his anger swelled to
the extreme, "Someone dares to falsely accuse Zhen's two generals. It is
unforgivable."

Zhang Shuo thought the Emperor would ask what the Hua family had done,
but unexpectedly, without even asking, the Emperor directly concluded that
the Hua family had been framed.

This was different from the rumors that suggested the Emperor was wary of
the Hua family's rising power and influence.

If the Emperor truly suspected the Hua family, he wouldn't concern himself
with whether the Hua family was innocent or not. Utilizing this moment, he
would suppress their influence, tarnishing their standing in the eyes of the
people. Subsequently, when the time came to settle the score with the Hua
family, it would be deemed more justifiable.

Looking at the Emperor's demeanor, it was clear that he did care about the
Hua family's reputation. However, his concern seemed to be in the opposite
direction -- it was more like an intolerance for others tarnishing the Hua
family's name.

"Investigate it thoroughly, immediately," Emperor Changlong slammed the

table with the documents, "Keep an eye on the envoys from Daimao and
make sure they keep their mouths shut. Not a single piece of false
information should be leaked!"

He knew the character of Wei Mingyue very well. If someone spoke ill of
her, she would rather break their bones on the spot than resort to such
insidious means.

As for his future daughter-in-law intimidating and slandering the envoys?

That was even more ridiculous. That little girl from the Hua family spoke
softly and delicately. Were the envoys from Daimao rabbits? Could their
courage be so small?
"This subordinate obeys Your Majesty's command," Zhang Shuo
acknowledged, grasping the significance of the statement. It became clear
to him that the Emperor's intention was to protect the Hua family,
unwaveringly and without reservation.

From this day forward, he would no longer believe in such nonsense as

"birds have flown, the bow is hidden". The Emperor's treatment of the Hua
family was undoubtedly one of immense trust, even blind trust.

As he reached the main gate, he saw a group of people hurrying towards

him. When they approached, he recognized them as the Crown Prince and
his entourage from the Eastern Palace.

What could prompt the Crown Prince to appear here in the dead of night?

"Minister Zhang," the Crown Prince, who had initially appeared anxious,
regained composure upon sighting Zhang Shuo, "Gu heard the news of an
incident involving an envoy at the guest residence. Please enlighten me on
the matter."

Zhang Shuo proceeded to elaborate on the situation, recounting the details

of the deceased envoy's letter.

"Minister Zhang, you have a formidable task ahead," the Crown Prince
lightly tapped his index finger on the dragon-carved armrest of the carriage,
"The two generals are esteemed heroes of our Great Jin; we must ensure
that their honorable reputation remains untarnished by unfounded
accusations. Furthermore, it is imperative to prevent the circulation of
rumors that may lead to misunderstandings about their character."

The Crown Prince's statement left little ambiguity—the two generals were
evidently not at fault; someone else was to blame.

Zhang Shuo repeatedly agreed, but as he left the palace, he found a thin
layer of sweat forming on his forehead. They say the Emperor's mind is
unfathomable, but perhaps, in this case, it's the officials who were
overthinking.
The results of the autopsy came out quickly. The deceased, Wang Daren,
was found to have been tied up with a rope while he was conscious. There
were bruises on his body. However, as he had had a dispute with another
envoy and they had even physically clashed within the last hour of his life,
it was impossible to determine from the body alone whether he willingly
put his neck in the noose or if someone forcefully hanged him.

"After the death, guards, servants, and physicians entered the scene, so we
cannot confirm whether the crime scene was tampered with," said the
examiner from the Ministry of Justice, "Superficially, it appears to be a
perfect suicide scene."

However, precisely because it was too perfect, it was riddled with doubts.

"Have we found out the identities of the three Daimao envoys who defamed
the women of our Great Jin in the teahouse that day?" Pei Jihuai asked,
looking at the marks on the deceased's neck. In some novels and
storybooks, the protagonist would often mention signs of struggle on the
deceased's body, which proved that it was murder.

In reality, many people who commit suicide might feel regret before their
death, causing them to struggle and desperately seek a way out.

But often, their efforts were in vain. They could only perish in a state of
self-remorse and despair.

"Daren, the deceased was one of the three individuals. The other two are the
Minister of Rites of Daimao, Liu Mingshi, and the Deputy Minister of
Rites, Qian Yi."

"Hmm," Pei Jihuai snorted disdainfully, walked out of the autopsy room,
and took off his gloves, "As a tutor to the Crown Prince, he dares to meddle
in the customs of other countries. What's the point of reading so many
books to become a scholar?"

"I heard that, in Daimao, if a woman speaks to a man not from her family,
she is considered impure."
"A bunch of filthy old men, thinking they're so clean," Pei Jihuai scoffed at
this, "They bully women, and on top of that, they can't stand to see women
from other countries living a comfortable life. Isn't that sick?"

The Daimao envoys' predictions were correct. On the second afternoon after
the incident, Emperor Changlong, who had been avoiding them, finally
granted an audience to He Yuanting.

Upon receiving the news, the envoys did not dare to be careless and
prepared early to escort He Yuanting into the palace.

As soon as he entered the imperial palace, He Yuanting immediately sensed

the differences between Great Jin and Daimao. If he had to describe it, the
Daimao's Imperial Palace seemed to have a stronger scent of cosmetics
compared to the Great Jin's Imperial Palace.

A eunuch led He Yuanting to the outside of the main hall of the Chenyang
Palace and said, "Third Prince, His Majesty is currently receiving other
ministers. Please wait a moment."

He Yuanting quickly expressed his understanding. Not long after, a middle-

aged man wearing a brocade robe came out. The man had a handsome
appearance and an extraordinary demeanor. A purple-clad eunuch
accompanied him to the door.

"General, take your leave," Zhao Sancai escorted Hua Yingting down the
steps, then turned to He Yuanting with a smile, waving the feather duster in
his hand, "You must be the Third Prince from Daimao. Apologies for
keeping you waiting. Please follow this humble servant."

"Thank you, Chief Eunuch."

"No need to be so polite, Your Highness."

As he stepped inside, He Yuanting slightly lowered his head and hurriedly

followed the purple-clad eunuch into the hall.
Vaguely, he saw a figure sitting on the dragon throne, dressed in a black
robe embroidered with a golden dragon pattern. He quickly bowed deeply
and said, "I am He Yuanting, the Third Prince of Daimao Kingdom. I pay
my respects to Your Majesty, the esteemed Emperor of the Great Jin."

"No need for excessive courtesy, Third Prince. Please take a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," After expressing his gratitude and taking his
seat, He Yuanting noticed that there was another person in the room. When
he raised his head and saw the person's appearance, he couldn't help but be
stunned for a while.

"The Third Prince seems surprised to see Gu?" the Crown Prince sighed, "A
few days ago, Gu accompanied my cousin's close friend to attend Your
Highness's banquet. In the evening, rumors spread that my cousin's close
friend had forced a noble envoy of your country to death. After careful
consideration, it could be discerned that my cousin's close friend didn't say
anything that day, so how could she have forced a grown man to his death?"

He Yuanting's heart skipped a beat. He never expected that the handsome

man who had accompanied Fushou Junzhu that day would turn out to be the
Crown Prince of Great Jin.

He had thought that person was Fushou Junzhu's... special guest.

"Fortunately, Gu was present that day. Otherwise, my cousin's close friend

would have a hard time clearing her name," the Crown Prince raised an
eyebrow, looking at He Yuanting with a seemingly amused smile, "Third
Prince, don't you agree?"

He Yuanting hurriedly responded, "These are all baseless speculations. Your

country's Fushou Junzhu is pure, kind, and gentle. How could she possibly
scare someone to their death?"

The Crown Prince lazily picked up his teacup, chuckled lightly, and said,
"As long as the Third Prince understands it in his heart."
"Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness," a eunuch entered to report, "Marquis
Chang'an, accompanied by Fushou Junzhu, requests an audience."

The Crown Prince, who had been sitting lazily, instantly straightened his
posture and put the teacup aside.

Emperor Changlong glanced at his son, who was grooming himself, and
waited until he smoothed out the wrinkles on his robe before speaking,
"Announce them."

Hua Luli entered the hall and immediately noticed the elegant posture of the
Crown Prince. Before she could even bow to Emperor Changlong, the
Crown Prince met her gaze and showed her a gentle smile. She couldn't
help but pause her steps and return the smile.

"Greetings Your Majesty. Greetings Your Royal Highness," Wei Mingyue

hadn't finished her salutation when the Crown Prince returned the gesture,
"General, there's no need for excessive courtesy."

"Zhao Sancai," the Crown Prince turned to Zhao Sancai, "Add a cushion to
the seats for the General and Junzhu."

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness," Wei Mingyue didn't expect the Crown
Prince to be so attentive, so she smiled at him.

"It's only natural," the Crown Prince nodded slightly to Hua Luli, then
turned to Emperor Changlong and said, "Father Emperor, since General Wei
and Fushou Junzhu are here today, why don't we clarify the case?"

He Yuanting: "..."

At this point, there was nothing more to say. It was clear that they were at
fault.

"Third Prince, I deeply regret and am saddened by the incident involving

your country's envoy," Hua Luli met He Yuanting's gaze, "Our two
countries have had many years of interaction, we shouldn't let
misunderstandings affect our relationship. So it's better to clarify the matter,
don't you think?"

He Yuanting stared blankly into Hua Luli's beautiful eyes, "Junzhu is right."

The Crown Prince furrowed his brow. What was going on with this Third
Prince of the Daimao Kingdom? Why was he constantly staring at my
family's Junzhu?

"Summon Zhang Shuo, the Minister of Justice, Pei Jihuai, the Deputy
Minister of Justice, and Liu Mingshi, the Minister of Rites of the Daimao
Kingdom, to the court."

As soon as Liu Mingshi entered the main hall of the Chanyang Palace, he
heard a woman say, "I also want to see which honorable person has
misunderstood a woman so deeply."

The voice was pleasant to the ears, but Liu Mingshi felt that every word
was filled with killing intent.

Pity that he couldn't lift his shoulders or raise his hands, he was actually
feeling nervous in front of a woman.

"Are you Liu Mingshi, who bears ill feelings towards the General of our
humble country?" Emperor Changlong looked at Liu Mingshi, who was
bowing and kneeling with no expression on his face, "The General is a
female general personally appointed by Zhen. Do you have any objections
to what you have said?"

"If so, let your country's Emperor personally write a letter to Zhen. Zhen is
willing to discuss it slowly."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 68 – One Who
Understands Painting

Emperor Changlong's shameless behavior was truly outrageous. He held

onto the topic of the envoy from the Kingdom of Daimao insulting the First
Female General of Great Jin. He even claimed that it was the intention of
the Daimao Kingdom's monarch.

Knowing that the other party was deliberately making things difficult, He
Yuanting had no choice but to apologize.

"Your Majesty, I have a clear conscience and fear no rumors," Wei Mingyue
worried that Emperor Changlong's reputation as a shameless rogue would
soon take hold, so she spoke up, "Being criticized is trivial; the immediate
priority is to investigate the truth behind the death of the Daimao envoy."

The court official responsible for documenting the Emperor's daily affairs
swiftly grasped the brush and commenced inscribing the events onto paper.

Fundamentally, the Emperor held his esteemed generals in high regard—

General Wei exemplified magnanimity—simultaneously displaying
outward sympathy towards the unfortunate circumstances befalling the
Kingdom of Daimao while covertly condemning their deplorable actions.

As diligent court officials, it was their expertise to faithfully document the

words and actions of the Emperor. How they recorded it depended on their
skills.

"Please forgive me, esteemed Emperor of Great Jin. I am deeply sorry for
the inappropriate words and actions of our envoy from the Kingdom of
Daimao," He Yuanting apologized with exhaustion. These envoys who
accompanied him were increasingly troublesome. They were of no help, but
they were quite skilled at being a burden.

Although he was accustomed to virtuous women in his own country, when

he saw this Female General of Great Jin, he couldn't help but feel a sense of
admiration.

With just one glance, he could tell that she was an extraordinary person.
The more remarkable she was, the shallower and more ridiculous those who
spoke ill of her appeared.

"Zhen has already read the letter left by your deceased envoy. If it weren't
for the Crown Prince informing Zhen that on the day of the incident, the
Crown Prince was also present at the banquet, Zhen would have almost
believed that Fushou Junzhu was responsible for the death of your Daimao's
envoy," Emperor Changlong raised his hand, and Zhao Sancai handed over
the transcribed content of the letter to He Yuanting.

He Yuanting quickly read through the contents, his face filled with anger,
"This is slander against Fushou Junzhu. Your Majesty, I suspect that this
letter has ulterior motives. It is surely the work of someone intentionally
trying to provoke tensions between our two countries."

"Ah," Emperor Changlong sighed, "The Third Prince and Zhen share the
same view. This conspiracy not only targets two of Zhen's most trusted
generals but also targets your country and you, Third Prince."

Caught within the intricate web of this conspiracy were not only the
unfortunate Hua family but also the primary target, Third Prince He
Yuanting. As the most prominent figure among the envoys and with the
unfortunate demise of one of their envoys within Great Jin's guest
residence, he would bear the brunt of the blame, regardless of his actions.

Should he persistently question the actions of Great Jin, it would risk not
only offending the Emperor of Great Jin but also escalating tensions into a
full-blown war between the two nations. Upon his return, he would
inevitably face severe retribution from his father, the Emperor of Daimao.
If he were to downplay the matter, when the news spread back to his own
country, countless scholars would condemn him for his perceived weakness.
Not only would his reputation be permanently tarnished, but his future
would also be plagued with hardships.

At this point, he felt like he was being roasted over a fire. If he's not being
roasted from the back, then he would be roasted from the front.

Soon, he came to a decision.

"Please - Your Majesty, the honorable Emperor of Great Jin - thoroughly

investigate this matter and find the mastermind behind this malicious
scheme to appease the spirit of Wang Daren."

"Please rest assured, Third Prince. Zhen will definitely deliver justice to
you," Emperor Changlong nodded satisfactorily. He barely even spared a
glance at Liu Mingshi, who was bowing and saluting, before he turned to
comfort Wei Mingyue for a while, rewarding the Hua family with a pile of
gifts in the name of consoling them.

He Yuanting sat awkwardly in his chair. Clearly, they were also victims, so
why did he feel guilty when facing General Wei and Fushou Junzhu?

The most miserable one was Liu Mingshi. He knew that those few words
would cause a lot of trouble. How could he have spoken so recklessly back
then?

The truth of the case swiftly unraveled. It was revealed that the farewell
letter purportedly written by Wang Daren was indeed a forgery, crafted by
none other than his own servant. Furthermore, in Wang Daren's quarters, a
collection of cryptic letters was discovered, hinting at someone's
orchestration with the intention of deliberately inciting a war between the
Daimao Kingdom and Great Jin.

The original plan was to create a conflict between the Hua family and the
envoys of Daimao during the Hundred Nations Banquet. However, the Hua
family surprised everyone by returning the gifts sent by the Daimei
Kingdom, which inadvertently alerted the Third Prince about the envoy's
insults against General Wei. Fearing exposure, the mastermind behind the
scenes orchestrated Wang Daren's murder at the hands of his own servant.
Subsequently, a forged letter was concocted, depicting Wang Daren as
fearful of the Hua family and driven to suicide, thereby tarnishing the Hua
family's reputation.

"Who would have guessed that the gentle and delicate young Junzhu of the
Hua family would have such a temper, not giving the slightest face to the
Third Prince of Daimao and directly returning the gift?" Pei Jihuai looked at
the revelations of the case and couldn't help but marvel at the good fortune
of the Hua family.

If the conflict had escalated during the Hundred Nations Banquet and led to
Wang Daren's death, the incident would have undoubtedly become a highly
publicized affair, beyond anyone's ability to control it.

"It seems that occasionally losing one's temper is not only beneficial for
one's physical and mental well-being, but also advantageous for the family,"
the other Deputy Minister of Justice, Gou Jingqi, came in with a thick stack
of files, "It seems even the heavens do not want loyal ministers and virtuous
generals to suffer injustice."

"Since when did people from our department believe in heavenly destiny?"
Pei Jihuai helped Gou Jingqi lock the files away, "It's your turn for the night
shift today. I'll head back first."

Gou Jingqi picked up a few other encrypted cases from the cabinet, "What
do you think? Is the mastermind behind this related to the previous cases?"

Pei Jihuai brushed off the dust from his body and remained silent for a
moment before saying, "The previous cases, to some extent, all implicated
people associated with Ying Wang, but this one seems different."

"It's not completely unrelated either. The young Junzhu of the Hua family
was once almost betrothed to Ying Wang," Guo Jingqi locked the cabinet
door, "A few days ago, our people found out that Ying Wang had recently
proposed to Fushou Junzhu, hoping to marry her as his Wangfei, but she
refused."
Pei Jihuai was not surprised to hear that Hua Liuli had rejected Ying Wang.
In fact, given the status of Fushou Junzhu, it was best for her not to marry
any prince from the imperial family.

But when it came to the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu...

The world never lacked tragic love stories, yet countless men and women
still pursue them relentlessly.

Consort Xian and Ying Wang, who were finally no longer implicated, were
currently in a state of shock.

Consort Xian looked at the proud and disdainful expression on Royal

Princess Leyang's face and couldn't help but wonder if Leyang had lost her
mind or if there was something wrong with her own ears.

"My son is dull and impulsive by nature. He may not be worthy of your
daughter's extraordinary beauty," Consort Xian wished she could spit the
tea in her mouth onto Royal Princess Leyang's face. Having someone like
Xie Yao as her daughter-in-law was worse than having Hua Liuli as her
daughter-in-law.

At least Hua Liuli was more attractive, and their children would be more
beautiful.

"Sister-in-law, Ying Wang is the Eldest Prince, it is necessary for him to

marry a young lady who can assist him in his endeavors. It will make
everything easier in the future," Royal Princess Leyang smiled gracefully,
"What do you think?"

Consort Xian didn't think it was good at all.

In the past, this princess always looked at her with disdainful eyes,
addressing her as the Tian family's Consort. Even if she called her sister-in-
law now, it felt like an insult coming from her mouth.

"Royal Princess, speak your mind. You don't have to call me sister-in-law.
Just address me as the Tian family's Consort, as you used to," Consort Xian
replied coldly, "I am not as noble as the Royal Princess, so I don't really
care about titles."

"In the past, I may have been a bit immature in my conduct. I ask for your
forgiveness, sister-in-law," Royal Princess Leyang knew that Consort Xian
harbored resentment toward her, but she also knew that Consort Xian
wanted nothing more than to see her son ascend the throne.

Consort Xian held the teacup in her hands without saying a word.

"A scholar's pen is an invisible knife," Royal Princess Leyang continued,

"You must be aware of the Xie family's status in the south. Allowing your
son and my daughter to marry each other would benefit both you and me."

"Hmph," Consort Xian sneered, "Are you trying to revolt by exaggerating

the power of the Xie family?!"

Royal Princess Leyang's eyes turned cold.

"Don't think that your daughter is a golden goose that lays golden eggs.
Even if she were made of gold, she would still be just a goose, not a
phoenix," Consort Xian mocked, "If the Crown Prince doesn't want her, you
think you can just pawn her off to my son? Do you think we're
scavengers?!"

"I don't care how powerful the Xie family is, I simply don't like her,"
Consort Xian stood up, finally seizing the opportunity to vent her
frustrations. She scolded with great satisfaction, "If she's really that
exceptional, she wouldn't have been passed around like a commodity. If no
one else wants to marry her, let whoever is willing to take her, but don't
disgust me."

"Fine!" Royal Princess Leyang was infuriated, but she smiled sarcastically,
"Tian family's Consort, remember the insult you gave me today."

"I'll remember it if you want me to. Your daughter may have a pretty face,
but her actions resemble that of a brothel madam. My son is a proper child
and cannot afford to be with your girl," Consort Xian pretended to spit on
the ground, "You may leave now; I won't send you off."

Royal Princess Leyang's eyes turned black with anger, and as she left, she
kicked over two vases in the Lincui Palace.

"Hmph," Consort Xian looked at the broken vases without getting angry.
Instead, she wiped her face with a handkerchief, feeling refreshed, "You
little wench, trying to use my son and me as pawns. Do you think I'm a
fool?"

With that, she covered her face with the handkerchief and ran off to the
Chenyang Palace, crying.

As a woman, if she was bullied by her sister-in-law, she had to inform her
husband, right?

These two vases were gifted to her by her son. Although the colors were
faded and the style was not great, it was still a heartfelt gesture from her
child.

From beginning to end, Ying Wang, who sat in the corner without a chance
to speak, stared blankly at the empty doorway, looking dazed as if he had
just witnessed a great battle.

As he witnessed his mother scolding the princess, he realized that his

mother was relatively more gentle whenever scolded him.

After all, he was her biological son, he received better treatment than
others.

He walked out of the Lincui Palace and didn't go far before he came across
the second daughter of Royal Princess Leyang in the imperial garden,
admiring the flowers. He quickly turned around and ran away.

"Your Highness..." Xie Yao didn't like Ying Wang, but she knew that her
mother intended for her to be betrothed to him, so when she saw him, she
took the initiative to greet him.
Little did she know that before she could even say a word of greeting, Ying
Wang hastily ran away as if she were a terrifying monster.

"He's crazy," Xie Yao muttered softly. She turned around in anger and
coincidentally bumped into a eunuch holding a scroll.

"Which palace are you from? Can't you watch where you're going?" Xie
Yao's personal maid quickly supported her and kicked away the scroll that
had rolled to their feet.

The red string that held the scroll was kicked loose, revealing half of the
painting.

"What kind of ghostly thing is this painting?" the personal maid cursed a
few times, supporting Xie Yao as they walked back to the corridor.

Xie Yao's anger also surged, but as someone who was usually gentle and
kind, she wouldn't scold a eunuch who made a careless mistake. So she just
remained silent and let her maidservant support her.

"Fifth Prince?" Behind the Moon Gate, someone was looking at her
expressionlessly. Xie Yao was startled and recognized the person as the
Fifth Prince, Ji Yanqiu. She showed a delicate smile and said, "Greetings,
Fifth Prince."

Little did she know that Fifth Prince, who was usually gentle and
easygoing, only gave her a cold glance and turned around without saying a
word.

Xie Yao: "..."

Were all the princes in the palace crazy?

Wasn't there a single normal one?

Hua Liuli heard that the Crown Prince had prepared delicious food in the
Eastern Palace and even sent someone to escort her into the palace. She
readily agreed without reservations.
Just as she entered the palace gate, she saw the Fifth Prince walking
towards her with a dejected young eunuch. She stopped and greeted him
respectfully.

"Fushou Junzhu," the Fifth Prince, with a stiff smile, asked, "Where are you
headed?"

"I have some matters to attend to in the Eastern Palace. Your Highness,
what brings you here?" Hua Liuli couldn't bring herself to say that she was
going to the Eastern Palace to enjoy the food. Seeing the hint of grievance
on his face, she regretted speaking up.

"Early this morning, Benwang was suddenly inspired and painted the rising
sun. Benwang had intended to present it to Father Emperor, but
unexpectedly, something happened on the way, and the painting got
stained," Even in his despondency, the Fifth Prince maintained his elegance,
"How could Benwang give a dirty thing to Father Emperor? So Benwang
had to bring the painting back."

After speaking, he took the scroll from the young eunuch's hand, unfolded
it, and handed it to Hua Liuli, "What does Junzhu think of this painting?"

Honestly, Hua Liuli couldn't really see any improvement in the Fifth
Prince's painting skills. But in the face of his expectant gaze, her conscience
was not worth much.

"It seems Your Highness's painting skills have improved once again," After
gazing at the scroll for a moment, Hua Liuli earnestly said, "Most
importantly, the meaning behind this painting is very special. The sunrise
brings light to the earth, and the earth embraces the sunrise, creating a
vibrant picture of the rising sun."

The Fifth Prince blushed and smiled shyly, "Actually, it's not as good as
Junzhu praises, but Benwang is also very satisfied with this painting.
Benwang initially wanted to give it to you, but..."

A painting intended for the Emperor, even if it couldn't be presented, it

wouldn't be appropriate to give it to someone else.
"A gentleman does not take away what others like," Hua Liuli hurriedly
said, "Your Highness, this painting has touched my heart. Although I cannot
possess it, I have already engraved its appearance in my heart."

"Junzhu understands art," The Fifth Prince sighed, "Indeed, you are the
pearl in the palm of the two generals. Your insight and breadth of mind are
truly different from others, admirable."

After genuinely praising Hua Liuli, the Fifth Prince left the palace with a
smile on his face.

Hua Liuli, who was praised to the heavens: "..."

When the imperial princes praise someone, are they all so enthusiastic?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 69 – Peonies

"Fifth Prince is really...obsessed with painting," said Yuan Yi as she stared

at the departing figure of the Fifth Prince. She whispered, "Junzhu, it's
almost noon."

"It's not good to let the Crown Prince wait," Hua Liuli snapped back to
reality, turning and walking towards the direction of the Eastern Palace. It
was the time when spring blossoms were in full bloom, and vibrant flowers
could be seen everywhere, even on the long palace path, where
meticulously trimmed potted plants were placed.

The brilliant and colorful peonies bloomed extravagantly. Hua Liuli saw a
few eunuchs trimming the flower branches and stopped. She called out to a
young eunuch, "Hey, young eunuch."

The young eunuch appeared to be around twelve or thirteen years old. He

didn't know Hua Liuli's identity but recognized the senior eunuch leading
the way ahead. That senior eunuch served in the Eastern Palace, so he
quickly put down his pruning shears and approached, bowing respectfully,
"Greetings, esteemed person."

"I want a few peony branches that were trimmed. Can you help me
choose?" Hua Liuli stood amidst a bunch of peonies, mesmerized by their
beauty.

"Please wait, esteemed person," The young eunuch quickly selected a few
peonies that were in full bloom. After tidying them up, he wrapped the
flower branches in a clean handkerchief and carefully handed them to Hua
Liuli.
"Thank you." Hua Liuli held the flowers and had Yuan Yi reward the young
eunuch. Then she continued walking, clutching the flowers in her arms.

"Miss, it seems that person over there is Fushou Junzhu," A maidservant

next to Xie Yao noticed a group of people heading towards the Eastern
Palace and whispered, "From the way she looks, it seems like she's going to
meet the Crown Prince."

Xie Yao's face darkened as she watched Hua Liuli's departing figure. She
took a deep breath and followed along.

"I could see someone holding a bouquet of flowers from afar, but I didn't
expect it to be Fushou Junzhu."

Hua Liuli turned her head to look at the approaching person and she held
the peonies even more tightly. These were meant to be a gift for the Crown
Prince; if this Xie girl appeared, nothing good would happen.

"These flowers are indeed beautiful, but once Junzhu picks them, they will
only have a fleeting beauty left. What a pity," Xie Yao looked at the
bouquet of peonies and smiled insincerely, "Junzhu, as a young lady, you
should cherish and pity flowers more."

Hua Liuli remained silent as she glanced at Xie Yao.

"They say women are like flowers. Their blooming period is short, so they
just want to stay on the branches a little longer..."

"Perhaps it's because I see myself as a big tree and can't empathize with
flowers," Hua Liuli was in a hurry to have lunch at the Eastern Palace and
had no interest in discussing flowers and branches with Xie Yao, "Miss Xie,
I have something else to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

"Wait," Xie Yao stopped Hua Liuli, "Junzhu, are you heading to the Eastern
Palace?"

"What does it have to do with Miss Xie?"

"The Crown Prince is unmarried; Junzhu is also yet to be married. It might
not be appropriate for you two to meet alone," Xie Yao's emotions surged in
her eyes, but her lips curled up, "If rumors were to spread, it would harm
Junzhu's reputation, wouldn't it?"

"Aren't palace maids and eunuchs considered people? How can it be

considered alone?" Hua Liuli furrowed her brows. Xie Yao's actions seemed
to be prying into the Crown Prince's beauty.

With this thought, she felt strange and even more reluctant to talk to Xie
Yao, so she turned around and walked away.

"Junzhu," Seeing Hua Liuli in a hurry, Xie Yao didn't want her to leave, or
rather, she couldn't tolerate Hua Liuli being alone with the Crown Prince,
"Junzhu, don't you want to talk to me?"

"Liuli?"

The Crown Prince walked out from a side door, "Gu waited for you for
almost half a day. Gu thought something happened to you, but it turns out
you're here."

"Oh, Miss Xie was discussing cherishing flowers with me, which delayed
me for a while," Hua Liuli stuffed the flowers into the Crown Prince's
embrace, "I remember there's a blue vase in Your Royal Highness's palace,
it will be just right for these peonies."

"It's beautiful," The Crown Prince lowered his head to look at the flowers in
his arms, "Gu really likes it."

Xie Yao's eyes turned slightly red. She told Hua Liuli that it was not good to
pick flowers, but the Crown Prince said he liked these flowers. She was the
Crown Prince's cousin and had admired him for many years, so why did he
slap her face like this for an outsider?

"Do you have something else to do?" the Crown Prince finally glanced at
Xie Yao.
"Cousin, I have nothing else to do," Xie Yao looked at the Crown Prince
expectantly, hoping he would invite her to the Eastern Palace as well.

"Since you have nothing to do, then leave the palace early," the Crown
Prince said expressionlessly, "Gu has something to discuss with Fushou
Junzhu, so Gu won't accompany you."

Xie Yao: "..."

Is your discussion just about having a meal?

We are already at the doorstep of the Eastern Palace. Inviting one more
person to eat, would it break the Eastern Palace?

Xie Yao watched the departing figures of the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli,
feeling both aggrieved and angry. She didn't know how to vent her
resentment.

The first thing the Crown Prince did upon returning to the Eastern Palace
was to put the flowers into the vase that Hua Liuli had mentioned.

Sitting cross-legged on the cushion, he arranged the bouquet of flowers and

turned to look at Hua Liuli, "Gu thought you wouldn't come today."

"Why would Your Royal Highness think that?" Hua Liuli leaned on the
table and peered at the Crown Prince.

"Because these past two days, you haven't said much when you met Gu,"
the Crown Prince placed the vase of flowers in a prominent position and
smiled with a hint of sadness, "Gu thought Gu did something wrong and
made you dislike Gu."

Hua Liuli felt a little guilty. She had indeed hurriedly walked away when
she saw the Crown Prince two days ago at the Chengyang Palace, but it
wasn't because of any issues with the Crown Prince; it was her own guilty
conscience.

The Crown Prince treated her so well, but she had wicked thoughts because
of his beauty. So whenever she saw the Crown Prince, she felt guilty.
She stayed at home and copied scriptures for two full days, feeling that her
soul had been cleansed and uplifted, allowing her to meet the Crown Prince
with a clear conscience today.

"Your Royal Highness, you misunderstood. Your Royal Highness hasn't

done anything wrong; it's my own problem," Hua Liuli timidly withdrew
her head.

"Is it because of the incident with the envoy from the Daimao Kingdom?"
the Crown Prince walked over and sat next to Hua Liuli, gently explaining,
"You don't have to worry. The Ministry of Justice has thoroughly
investigated the entire case, it has nothing to do with your family."

"Fortunately, Your Royal Highness was with me on that day. Otherwise,

whatever the people from the Daimao Kingdom said would be taken as the
truth," Hua Liuli quickly continued on this topic, "I just don't know who
would plot against our Hua family like this."

"Whoever it is, both Father Emperor and Gu believe that none of the Hua
family members wouldn't stoop to such petty actions," the Crown Prince
hesitated and reached out his hand, lightly touching Hua Liuli's head, "So,
you don't have to worry."

Feeling the palm on her head, Hua Liuli instinctively reached out to touch it
and accidentally held the Crown Prince's finger.

As the soft fingers grazed her palm, she uncomfortably released his hand
and cleared her throat, "It's an honor for me and my family to have the trust
of His Majesty and Your Royal Highness."

"You don't need to be so polite in front of me, Liuli."

A palace maid brought water; the Crown Prince washed his hands in the
basin. He said while wiping his hands, "Is it still because of Gu's status that
you're concerned?"

Good-looking people can captivate one's mind with just a frown or a

downcast look. Hua Liuli realized that she couldn't bear to see the Crown
Prince unhappy.

She sighed. What could she do about the Crown Prince?

After washing her hands, Hua Liuli wiped off the water droplets from the
back of her hand and suddenly remembered Xie Yao's strange expression
earlier. Unable to hold back, she reminded, "Your Royal Highness, I feel
that Xie Yao is acting a bit strange. Considering your noble status, it's better
not to be alone with Xie Yao."

"Thank you for your reminder, Liuli. Gu will remember."

Liuli didn't like other women getting close to him. It seemed that he wasn't
just a bundle of joy. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but smile again.

Seeing the Crown Prince's smile, Hua Liuli's heart started playing the guqin
once again. It seems she didn't copy enough scriptures. When she returns
home, she would continue copying, copying more, genuinely copying.

She couldn't let her claws reach the Crown Prince.

When Xie Yao returned to the Princess's estate, Royal Princess Leyang had
already arrived home. She looked at Xie Yao entering the hall with a very
unpleasant expression, "What's the use of raising you? You can't even
capture a man's heart."

Today, she met with Consort Xian and Consort Rong. Consort Xian's
attitude, that despicable woman, need not be mentioned again.
Unexpectedly, even the usually unnoticeable Consort Rong had rejected her
marriage proposal.

The Second Prince, the Crown Prince's half-brother, born and raised under
Consort Rong's knee, had a brain like an idiot. Among all the princes, he
was the only one who didn't possess any outstanding talent or remarkable
martial skills, yet Consort Rong dared to refuse her proposal?!

Having accumulated a bellyful of anger in the palace, Royal Princess

Leyang became increasingly dissatisfied with her daughter, Xie Yao, "If
your sister were still alive, I wouldn't have to endure all this frustration."

The eldest daughter surpassed the second daughter in both temperament and
appearance by a large margin. If she were still alive, with her looks, she
would have easily won over these princes. There would be no need for her
to lower her dignity and negotiate with people she used to look down upon.

Upon hearing her mother mention her deceased sister again, Xie Yao
lowered her head, concealing the chill in her eyes, "Mother, the Crown
Prince and Ying Wang have both fallen under the spell of Hua Liuli. Your
daughter has no way to deal with it."

One is the Eldest Prince and the other is the Crown Prince, both were the
most notable among the princes, but unfortunately, both of them, as if
blinded, took a liking to the fake and pretentious Hua Liuli.

Xie Yao didn't care who Ying Wang likes; all she cared about was how
much the Crown Prince truly likes Hua Liuli.

Expressionless, she watched Royal Princess Leyang, who kept complaining,

and silently retreated to her own courtyard. She retrieved an emerald-green
token.

"Father said that with this token, one can mobilize assassins from
neighboring counties," Xie Yao caressed the token and let out a mocking
laugh, "Cousin, since you are so heartless towards me, don't blame me."

"After all... only a dead man cannot provoke other women, right?" She
seemed to have thought of something delightful and burst into laughter,
"Say, if you die, and I marry your memorial tablet, I will still be your wife,
isn't that right?"

"Junzhu, weren't you saying a few days ago that you should keep your
distance from the Crown Prince? Why did Junzhu have a meal with him
today and made plans to go horse riding in three days?" Yuan Yi handed a
digestion pill to Hua Liuli, "This puts us, little maidservants, in a difficult
position."
"Yuan Yi, don't blame me for lacking determination. The Crown Prince is
just too good-looking. Whenever he furrows his brows, I feel inclined to
agree to anything he asks. Not to mention going for an outing, even if he
wants me to don armor and go to the battlefield, I would nod right there."

"The word 'lust' can be a double-edged sword. How long has it been since
Junzhu looked at other men?" Yurong handed water to Hua Liuli. Although
the carriage rocked unsteadily, not a single drop of water spilled from her
hand.

"With someone as good-looking as the Crown Prince around, how other

men even fall into my eyes?" Hua Liuli raised her head and drank the water.

"But," Yurong took the cup back, looking at Hua Liuli with sympathy, "The
Crown Prince will marry a Crown Princess sooner or later."

Hua Liuli fell silent, and the entire carriage became quiet.

"Junzhu," Yuan Yi looked at Hua Liuli's face that was devoid of a smile,
unable to bear it, "If you like the Crown Prince, you can marry him. The
two generals won't oppose it."

"Who said I wanted to marry the Crown Prince?" Hua Liuli held her face in
her hands, "I'm just thinking about who would be more suitable to be the
Crown Princess."

"Has Junzhu thought of anyone?"

"No," Hua Liuli shook her head honestly, "No one is worthy of the Crown
Prince."

Yurong and Yuan Yi nodded in agreement, "Junzhu is right."

Anyway, since no one is worthy, that's fine.

Three days later, amidst the chirping of birds and the fragrance of flowers,
with clear skies above, Hua Liuli led the horse given to her by the Crown
Prince out of the stable. When she stepped out of the estate, the Crown
Prince was already waiting for her.
The Crown Prince, wearing a jade crown and a light-colored silk robe,
stood there, looking as if he had descended from the heavens.

"Today is a good day," the Crown Prince mounted his horse, "Liuli, why
don't we ride outside the city."

"Okay."

Hua Liuli nodded. Fine, fine, whatever you say.

Inside the city, to avoid startling the horses and causing harm, the grooms
held onto their reins until they left the city. Only then did the Crown Prince
allow them to loosen their grip.

The two of them, accompanied by guards, rode for a while when suddenly a
swarm of wasps came from nowhere, causing the entire group to panic.

"Your Royal Highness, be careful!" Hua Liuli saw an arrow heading

towards the Crown Prince's horse and quickly reached out, pulling the
Crown Prince onto her own horse.

Startled by the commotion, the horse beneath them neighed and galloped
wildly.

Hua Liuli turned her head and glanced at the guards who were surrounded
by a group of unidentified individuals. She lowered her voice and said,
"Your Royal Highness, someone wants to kill you."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 70 – Escape for Life

The wasps in the sky were clearly manipulated; otherwise, how could they
conveniently separate the Crown Prince from his guards?

Taking advantage of the momentary panic of the horses, these assassins

rushed out recklessly as if they had no regard for their lives. It was truly a
reckless way of fighting.

The outskirts of the capital were not desolate and uninhabited. When some
farmers sensed something was amiss, they dropped their hoes and ran,
shouting at the top of their lungs, "Murder! Bandits are killing people!"

An assassin noticed something was wrong and was about to kill the farmer
when he was intercepted by the Crown Prince's guards. After exchanging a
few blows, the farmer had already vanished into thin air.

"Let's be swift and decisive," the leader of the assassins realized that the
farmer might call for reinforcements, drew his knife from his waist, and led
a few of his most skilled men to go after the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli,
"Hold back these guards."

"Your Royal Highness!" the Eastern Palace guard fought desperately to kill
one of the assassins, only to have another assassin pounce on him.

The Crown Prince's whereabouts would always be kept secret. In order to

ensure his safe travel, they even arranged several teams of people who
resembled the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu to ride in different
directions, confusing those with ulterior motives.

However, these assassins seemed to be very familiar with the Crown

Prince's movements and were determined to kill him whatever it takes.
The Crown Prince had been proficient in horse riding, archery, and
swordsmanship since childhood. If he were to push Fushou Junzhu off his
horse, he might escape the pursuit of the assassins. But the Crown Prince
was still accompanying Fushou Junzhu, who was weak and often ill...

The guards became more and more fearful as they thought about it. If
anything happened to the Crown Prince, it would implicate several
generations of their clans.

Both sides unleashed their bloodthirsty nature, showcasing their utmost

prowess and unleashing their most formidable skills.

"The horse that Your Royal Highness gave me is truly a divine steed," Hua
Liuli tapped the Crown Prince's head, narrowly avoiding an arrow flying
towards them. She dared not let the horse stop but couldn't run in the
direction of the city either, so she could only hide in the dense forest.

If they were in an open area with a large number of enemies armed with
bows and arrows, they would be like moving targets. It was better to take
cover in the woods, where they would have some concealment, and the
assassins would lose their advantage with bows and arrows.

As soon as the horse rushed into the dense forest, Hua Liuli pulled the
Crown Prince down with her from its back and kicked the horse, letting it
run in the opposite direction.

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli tore apart her beautiful skirt and tied it
around her waist, "Come with me."

Without waiting for the Crown Prince to respond, she grabbed his hand and
ran.

"Try not to step on areas covered with green grass," Hua Liuli observed her
surroundings. Fortunately, it wasn't midsummer, and many small grasses
hadn't grown tall enough to accumulate dry leaves. She pulled the Crown
Prince to take cover behind a massive tree trunk and listened carefully to
discern the position of the assassins.
"They are after Gu. You must hurry and leave," the Crown Prince took out a
soft sword from his waist and lowered his voice as he spoke to Hua Liuli,
"Gu will be fine. Go and hide behind."

"Your Royal Highness, you are the heir to the throne, you shouldn't say
such things," Hua Liuli suppressed her smile and looked at the Crown
Prince with utmost seriousness, "Your Royal Highness is the future ruler,
and I am a subject. Your Royal Highness's life and death are connected to
the future of millions of people. As long as this humble girl is still
breathing, I won't let Your Royal Highness die before me."

She untied the skirt from her waist and pulled out a soft sword from her
belt, "As a subject, I shouldn't carry a weapon in front of Your Royal
Highness. But outside the palace, there are always unsafe places. Please
forgive me for deceiving Your Royal Highness."

The two of them stood face to face, hiding behind the tree trunk. The
Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli, reached out his hand, and gently held
hers, "If you don't want me to die, how can Gu bear to let you risk your life
for Gu?"

"Your Royal Highness!" Hua Liuli grasped the Crown Prince's wrist and
lowered her voice even more, "If I can safely return, I ask that Your
Highness keep a secret for me."

"Alright."

"Your Highness, don't you want to know what it is?" Hua Liuli smiled and
tightly held the hilt and blade of the sword together.

The Crown Prince watched her skillfully assemble the sword without
asking or saying anything.

"Your Highness, don't be afraid. The maidservants of this humble girl are
skilled in tracking in the dense forest and will soon find us," But she
couldn't hide here because the assassins had already started searching in
their direction. She had to divert their attention.
"Wait," The Crown Prince lifted the hem of his robe and casually fastened it
at his waist, "How can Gu let a little girl like you handle this kind of
situation? I..."

"Enough, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli pressed down on the Crown
Prince, forcibly making him sit on the ground, "You have learned the sword
skills of a nobleman, one that cannot be used to kill."

After saying that, she patted the Crown Prince's shoulder, "Be good and
wait for my return, understood?"

The Crown Prince, still unsure of how he ended up sitting on the ground,
remained silent.

"Your Royal Highness, listen to me and stop causing trouble. Otherwise, we

will both die here. Your Royal Highness, for me, for the people of Great Jin,
I beg you, please don't come out, alright?" Hua Liuli crouched in front of
the Crown Prince, gazing deeply into his eyes.

The Crown Prince's eyes reddened, "And what about you?"

He regretted it. He would rather have never developed feelings for her,
never been attracted to her, than let her fall into such danger.

"Your Royal Highness, have you forgotten?" Hua Liuli smiled and said, "I
am surnamed Hua, a member of the Hua family. It is the ancestral slogan of
the Hua family to serve the ruler and protect the people. I don't want to be
someone disloyal and unfilial. I ask Your Royal Highness to grant me this."

The Crown Prince's hand trembled and he didn't say anything.

"Please grant me this," Hua Liuli smiled and said, "If Your Royal Highness
refuses, I can only atone with my life."

"Alright," The Crown Prince's voice choked, and for the first time, he
touched Hua Liuli's cheek without any hesitation, "Gu will wait for your
return. You must come back."
"Understood, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli curved her lips and smiled
at the Crown Prince, then ran out quickly.

The Crown Prince had never seen Hua Liuli run like this before. He
watched her hurriedly retreating figure, covered his slightly aching chest,
and struggled to suppress the urge to follow her.

He repeatedly reminded himself that if he rushed out now, all of Liuli's

efforts would be in vain.

Liuli was able to capture Prince A'Wa alive in the Jinpo military camp. She
couldn't be as weak as she appeared on ordinary days.

During the time when Father Emperor was the Crown Prince, General Hua
and General Wei protected him.

And now, it's General Hua and General Wei's daughter who's protecting
him.

Although he was the Crown Prince, he was also human. It was too difficult
to let reason overcome emotions. Within a few moments, the Crown Prince
had bitten his lips until they bled.

He lay on the ground, ignoring the dirt, wanting only to hear the sound of
Hua Liuli's departing footsteps. At least that would bring him some peace of
mind.

Once the assassins saw the Crown Prince riding into the dense forest, they
became cautious. The leader tightened his grip on the sword hilt and
carefully led the way forward.

"Leader, there's someone crying," One assassin with exceptional hearing

said, "It sounds like the crying of a young lady."

These assassins were well-trained death warriors. They proceeded with

extreme caution, inching closer to the source of the sound. They discovered
a fair-skinned girl hiding in the bushes, covering her mouth and crying in
fear. When she saw them, the girl was so frightened that she couldn't even
speak. She used her hands to push herself backward, tears continuously
streaming down, appearing pitiful.

Noticing that her legs were unnaturally bent, the leader lifted the girl's chin
with his sword. Her tears dripped onto the blade, trembling like chaff.

"Are you the Junzhu who was with the Crown Prince?" The leader, who
wore a mask, spoke disdainfully, "The Crown Prince abandoned you to save
his own life?"

The girl continued to tremble, her white teeth chattering. After a long while,
she tremblingly said, "Please don't kill me..."

Her voice was gentle and delicate, like a helpless little kitten. Besides
begging for mercy, she had no other means.

The leader of the assassins looked expressionless at this girl who had been
abandoned by the Crown Prince, "Tell us, in which direction did the Crown
Prince escape?"

The girl cried but remained silent.

Impatiently, the leader lifted her up from the ground and squeezed her
throat, "If you don't speak, I'll have them strip your clothes off and let you
die without dignity."

"No... Please..." A few hot tears fell on the back of the leader's hand as the
girl looked at him with tear-filled eyes, "I beg you, please."

The leader glanced at the tears on his hand and threw her back onto the
ground, "Then speak quickly."

Trembling, the girl pointed in a direction.

"I thought the daughter of the two generals would have more backbone than
others, but it seems not," The leader snorted disdainfully, wiped away the
tears on his hand with a handkerchief, and turned to walk in the direction
indicated by the girl.
"Leader, what should we do with this girl?" one of the assassins asked.

"Kill her," the leader replied without looking back, "Leave her body intact."

As soon as the words fell, he heard the sound of a head hitting the ground,
and the smell of blood filled the air.

No, this scent, it's not just one person's blood.

He abruptly turned around and saw a silver light slashing toward him. He
quickly raised his sword to block, but the opponent's movements were fast
and ruthless. Unable to land a hit, the opponent kicked him in the chest.

The leader saw that several of his followers who had come with him were
now lying on the ground silently. His eyes turned cold as he said, "What a
timid and frail Fushou Junzhu. You deceived everyone in the capital."

"Do not expose your back to the enemy, that is an age-old principle in the
martial world," Hua Liuli attacked mercilessly, "I have to thank you for
giving me this opportunity."

The leader had spilled countless lives with his hands, so he faced Hua Liuli
without showing any weakness. Unlike the thugs Hua Liuli had encountered
before, this leader was clearly an unflinching death warrior.

Not swayed by beauty or personal gain, the only mistake he made this time
was underestimating his opponent. Otherwise, she wouldn't have found a
chance to kill the others.

"Unfortunately, Junzhu, as beautiful as you are, you will ultimately die by

my sword," The leader's blade swept across Hua Liuli's neck, but she
quickly dodged, allowing his blade to graze her arm.

Hua Liuli took a few steps back, leaning against a tree trunk, and gasped for
breath. She switched the sword to her other hand, her face expressionless as
she said, "Life and death are predetermined, but as long as I'm here today,
none of you can take the Crown Prince's life."
"Your Hua family has hundreds of thousands of troops. Why risk your lives
to protect a ruler who may suspect you at any moment?" The leader didn't
give Hua Liuli a chance to rest, continuing to aim his sword at her vital
points, "Why not seek a new master?"

"Ridiculous. The current emperor is the rightful ruler. There's no need to

seek another," Hua Liuli quickly evaded several strikes. Suddenly a sharp
sound rang out. She tilted her head as an arrow grazed her cheek.

It nearly ruined her face!

Anyone who would dare to ruin her dream of being a delicate beauty would
become her greatest enemy.

The leader realized that Hua Liuli had suddenly gone mad. Every move she
made was at full strength. In his momentary negligence, she managed to
slash his chest with her sword.

Taking advantage of her victory, Hua Liuli pursued relentlessly. She cleaved
the arrow flying towards her with a sword and turned around, causing the
leader to impale her shoulder with his sword.

Chi.

It was the sound of a blade piercing flesh.

The leader couldn't believe it as he lowered his head, looking at the dagger
embedded in his heart. It seemed unimaginable that he would meet his
demise at the hands of a fifteen-year-old girl.

Hua Liuli pulled out the dagger and kicked him away, clutching her
bleeding shoulder, "I thought a death warrior like you would be more
skilled, but it seems not."

The leader widened his eyes, looking at the green branches overhead, and
unwillingly took his last breath.

"Leader!" Two assassins who arrived on the scene rushed towards Hua
Liuli.
"Go!" The Crown Prince ran over quickly, throwing the sword in his hand,
which happened to strike the assassin at the forefront in the throat. He
grabbed Hua Liuli and turned to flee.

"Your Royal Highness! Didn't I tell you to hide properly?!"

"Gu, indeed, promised you, but Gu's feet didn't agree," The Crown Prince,
who was usually meticulous to the extreme, spoke in such a manner. He
pulled Hua Liuli along as they ran through the woods, with a group of
assassins in pursuit.

"Your Royal Highness, I'm injured and can't run much farther," Hua Liuli's
face turned pale due to excessive blood loss, "Your Royal Highness should
go on, I'll hold them off."

"Gu would love to listen to you, but Gu's hands and feet disagree," The
Crown Prince took the blood-stained sword from Hua Liuli's hand. Despite
his aversion to dirt, he firmly grasped her bloodied hand, "Who said Gu
only practiced the sword of a gentleman? General Hua, after all, was once
my teacher."

After saying that, the Crown Prince dashed toward the assassins with grace
and elegance.

But he returned soon, holding the sword, and pulled Hua Liuli to continue
their escape.

"Gu thinks you made a valid point. When we return, Gu will definitely
practice the sword diligently," The Crown Prince ran while throwing sleeve
arrows and smoke bombs at the assassins, managing to delay their pursuit
for a moment.

"Sigh," the Crown Prince looked at the steep slope ahead and the killers
chasing them with murderous intent. He smiled bitterly, "Liuli, it seems that
we might not share the same birthdate but we might share the same date of
death."
Hua Liuli grabbed the sword from the Crown Prince's hand, her lips turning
pale, "If Your Royal Highness had stayed hidden and didn't come out, Your
Royal Highness wouldn't have to die on the same day as me."

"Gu knows, but..."

But I can't bear it.

"Your Royal Highness!" The guards from the Eastern Palace and Hua
Liuli's maidservants heard the sound of the smoke bomb exploding and
finally found their way over. Embarrassingly, the maidservants from the
Hua family even rushed ahead.

"It seems we don't have to die," Hua Liuli breathed a sigh of relief. She felt
cold all over, suffering from severe blood loss, and was starting to struggle.

At that moment, a sleeve arrow flew over. Hua Liuli, slow to react due to
her severe injuries, swayed and pulled the Crown Prince to the side,
avoiding it by a hair's breadth.

The Crown Prince slipped under his feet and was about to fall down the
steep slope.

Hua Liuli instinctively reached out to grab him but forgot that her own arm
was injured and she couldn't exert any strength. So she ended up falling
down together with the Crown Prince.

In a hazy state of consciousness, she felt a warm hand protecting the back
of her head.

If only the Crown Prince hadn't come out just now, at least he would be
safe.

Even if Hua Liuli had only one breath left today, she would protect the
Crown Prince with her all.

If she were to entrust the future of Great Jin to any of the other four princes,
who could feel at ease?
She bit her tongue to keep herself conscious. She opened her eyes and
looked at the Crown Prince tightly embracing her in his arms. With great
effort, she reached out her hand, summoning the last bit of strength she had,
and protected the Crown Prince's head and face.

This person must not die.

This person's face must not be destroyed.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 71 – Making Mistakes

The news of the Crown Prince being attacked by assassins and falling down
the cliffs quickly spread to the ears of some people.

"What? The Crown Prince was attacked?" When Consort Xian heard the
news, her face was devoid of any joy but filled with worry. She summoned
her son, Ying Wang, into the palace and sighed, "What should we do now?
Your father, the Emperor, loves the Crown Prince so much. If something
happens to him, you, as the eldest son, will definitely become a thorn in his
side, a constant worry."

"If the Crown Prince were to perish, wouldn't it be advantageous for me as

the Emperor's eldest son?"

"Yes, everyone knows that it would be advantageous for you. But surely
many people will also think that you sent the assassins," Consort Xian
glanced at her foolish son, "If the Crown Prince dies, we will be the next
unlucky ones."

"Mother makes a valid point," Ying Wang pondered for a moment, "Could
it be that Royal Princess Leyang bears a grudge against the Crown Prince
for refusing to marry her daughter as the Crown Princess, and she also
resents you for making her lose face, so she wants to seek revenge?"

"She's not insane. Who would dare to assassinate the Crown Prince in broad
daylight? It's a life-threatening matter," Consort Xian shook her head,
"Although Leyang is as dull-witted as a pig, her mind is still clear. She
couldn't have done such a thing."

"Maybe she has gone mad," Ying Wang glanced at the setting sun in the
west, "Mother, you don't need to worry too much. I will go to the Chenyang
Palace and request permission to lead troops in the search for the Crown
Prince."

"Hurry and go. Regardless of whether your father believes you or not, you
must still show a brotherly and friendly attitude," Consort Xian nodded
repeatedly, "Go quickly, don't let the other princes take the lead."

Consort Xian's guess was half-correct. Emperor Changlong had indeed

fallen into a state of anger and worry, but he didn't really suspect the
involvement of his other four sons in this matter. When his eldest son, Ying
Wang, and his second son, Ning Wang, came to consult him about leading
troops to search for the Crown Prince, he did not refuse. He allowed them
to take their own guards and search the mountains.

"Your Majesty, please don't worry. The Crown Prince will definitely return
safely," Hua Yingting was worried about his daughter and concerned about
the Crown Prince's safety. He was afraid that Emperor Changlong would
become ill with worry, so he would have to divide his attention to comfort
him.

"Old friend, Yuansu is the heir that Zhen personally raised. He is not only
the Crown Prince, but also the child Zhen raised with my love and care. If
something happens to him..." Emperor Changlong thought of the little girl
from the Hua family who was with the Crown Prince. The girl was so weak,
how could her body endure such a major incident?

"My wife has already led troops to search for him," Hua Yingting looked at
the gradually dimming sky outside the window, hoping that the night would
come a little slower. If it became night, it would be even more difficult to
find people.

According to Yuan Yi, who had followed them, before the Crown Prince
and Liuli fell down the cliffs, Liuli seemed to have suffered a serious injury.
Hua Yingting was afraid that his child wouldn't last the night.

"Did you move your father's token?" In the wake of the news about the
attack on the Crown Prince, Royal Princess Leyang's immediate reaction
was to investigate the whereabouts of the token, and to her dismay, it was
nowhere to be found.

She hurriedly made her way to her daughter's courtyard, where she found
her sitting before the bronze mirror wearing a red dress. Approaching
swiftly, she delivered a resounding slap across her face, "Xie Yao, have you
lost your senses?"

"Yes." Xie Yao covered her face and chuckled, "I've lost my senses for a
long time. Didn't you want me to become the Crown Princess? Once the
Crown Prince dies, I can go and marry his memorial tablet. Are you
satisfied now?"

"You mad girl! Do you want to destroy the whole family?" Leyang couldn't
believe her daughter would do something so insane. She pointed at Xie Yao
and said, "If you want to die, fine, but don't drag your younger brother
down with you."

"In your eyes, both Eldest Sister and I are just tools. Naturally, we are not
worthy of burdening our younger brother," Xie Yao covered her swollen
face and looked at her mother with a cold gaze, "Eldest Sister was the tool
that pleased you, but she died. I'm still alive, but you are unsatisfied with
how I, as a tool, am used."

"Nonsense!" Leyang was furious and spoke without thinking, "If your sister
were still alive, I wouldn't need you."

"Yes, if Eldest Sister were still alive, you would have wanted her to become
the Crown Princess," Xie Yao said, lowering her voice with a smile,
"Mother, you've forgotten. I told you three years ago that I liked the Crown
Prince. But you, you never listened and always wanted my Eldest Sister to
marry the Crown Prince, so..."

She covered her mouth and laughed, "So Eldest Sister died."

"What did you say..." Leyang looked at her daughter that has gone insane,
"You, did you kill your eldest sister?"
"If it weren't for you, why would I want Eldest Sister to die?" Xie Yao
innocently looked at Royal Princess Leyang, shaking her head with a smile,
"Mother, it was you who killed her."

"You mad girl, you beast!" Leyang pushed Xie Yao away. Xie Yao fell
backward and hit her head on the corner of the table, causing blood to gush
out.

She covered her wound and laughed, "It's good if the Crown Prince is dead.
Only when he's dead will he not fall in love with other women. Isn't that
what you always said, Mother? In this world, there are no men who stay
faithful. They only become obedient once they are six feet under."

The sight of her daughter's crazed appearance frightened Leyang. She

stepped out of the courtyard and told the servants, "Watch over her. Don't
let her leave her courtyard."

Now she had to find a way to erase all the evidence linking the assassins to
the Xie family. Otherwise, the entire Xie family, and even the scholars in
the south, would be implicated.

Walking out of Xie Yao's courtyard with large strides, Royal Princess
Leyang suddenly thought of something. She asked Xie Yao's personal
maidservant, "Did the Second Miss contact any assassins in the capital?"

"Yes, b-but the assassins didn't take the job."

"You remembered wrong. Those assassins did take the job," Royal Princess
Leyang had no expression on her face, "Second Miss went crazy with
jealousy and hired someone to kill. The person she wanted to kill was
Fushou Junzhu from the Hua family, right?"

No evidence of the Xie family's hidden forces planted near the capital must
come to light. Every trace of their presence should be meticulously
concealed.

Xie Yao's personal maid looked at Royal Princess Leyang, who had no
expression on her face, and felt a chill run down her spine.
Was the Royal Princess trying to kill Second Miss?

In the capital, there were quite a few people worried about Hua Liuli's
safety. In Princess Shunan Estate, Yao Wenyin anxiously sent guards to
gather information. Yao Jiamin, who used to frequently criticize Hua Liuli,
was also full of worries and suspicions. Among her list of suspects was
Ying Wang.

"Perhaps Fushou Junzhu will be fine. Isn't it often written in storybooks that
when the protagonist falls into cliffs, rivers, or forests, they encounter good
fortune and eventually become extraordinary martial arts experts?" Tian
Shan's face was pale, looking worse than her other two sisters, "Maybe
they'll come back when it's daylight."

Yao Jiamin reached out for the teacup and realized that her hand was
trembling.

This time, neither she nor Yao Wenyin criticized Tian Shan's law of
storybooks.

When Hua Liuli woke up, she saw the Crown Prince sitting against a tree,
his body tattered and his face covered in dirt, unsure if he was injured.

"Your Royal Highness," She weakly covered the wound on her shoulder
and asked with a feeble voice, "Are you injured?"

"You're awake?!" The Crown Prince threw down the fire stick and rushed
over to Hua Liuli, "Don't move, your wound is deep. Gu has managed to
stop the bleeding, but if you move, the blood will start flowing again."

"I'm fine. I won't die," Hua Liuli noticed the soft and clean cloth bandaging
her wound and saw the Crown Prince's disheveled robe. She realized that he
had taken off his inner garment and torn it into pieces to bandage her.

"Gu wanted to start a fire for warmth, but the ground below is covered in
dry leaves. If the wind blows, it could start a forest fire, so Gu extinguished
it," The Crown Prince gently held Hua Liuli's hand, "Are you cold?"
"A little," Hua Liuli looked around. The moonlight was dim, she could
barely see her surroundings, "The guards still haven't found us?"

"After falling down the cliff, both of us passed out. When Gu woke up, Gu
realized we had fallen into a pile of dry leaves in a crevice," The Crown
Prince tucked Hua Liuli's hand into his own robes, "But don't worry, Gu
hung an outer robe on a tree. The guards will surely find us soon."

"That's good," Hua Liuli didn't ask how the Crown Prince had bandaged her
wound. She looked at the man before her, who was earnestly warming her
hands. Despite his dirty appearance, she still thought he looked extremely
handsome, "Your Royal Highness, there are three sachets tied around my
waist. Can you check if they're still there?"

The Crown Prince took out one of the sachets and opened it, finding some
small snacks inside.

"Before the guards find us, let's eat some of these," Hua Liuli felt her throat
was so dry it was about to crack, but since they were in this deserted place,
she didn't want the Crown Prince to go out alone to find food. So she didn't
bring up the matter.

Unfastening the three sachets, the Crown Prince found a bottle of rose dew
inside one of them. He opened the bottle and brought it to Hua Liuli's lips,
"Here, have some of this."

"Your Royal Highness, I'm not thirsty..."

"Even if you're not thirsty, you should drink it. This is Gu's command," The
Crown Prince fed the rose dew to Hua Liuli. The small bottle of rose dew,
which was usually just a snack for Hua Liuli, had now become a life-saving
remedy.

Drinking a bottle of rose dew didn't quench her thirst at all, but it relieved
the burning sensation in Hua Liuli's throat. The Crown Prince reached out
and held her hands while occasionally taking out a piece of dried meat to
eat. He probably knew that Hua Liuli couldn't eat dry food at the moment,
so he didn't force her to eat it.
"Your Royal Highness, since I was a little child, I've had a very lovely
dream, and it's almost about to come true," Unable to sleep due to the pain
in her wound, Hua Liuli could only distract herself by chatting, "Can Your
Royal Highness help me make it come true?"

"What is it?" The Crown Prince reluctantly swallowed a few pieces of dried
meat. His throat was so dry that he couldn't continue swallowing, so he tied
the sachet back around Hua Liuli's waist.

"I want to become the most famous delicate and sickly beauty in history,"
Hua Liuli gently held the Crown Prince's finger, "Your Royal Highness, can
you help me with that?"

At this point, her skills had already been exposed to the Crown Prince. If
she wanted to continue being a delicate and sickly beauty, she needed the
Crown Prince's cooperation.

"Do you know that Gu once obtained a confession from Prince A'Wa of the
Jinpo Kingdom?" The Crown Prince looked tenderly at Hua Liuli, "Prince
A'Wa gave a clear account of his capture."

Hua Liuli smiled, "So, Your Royal Highness knew all along?"

"Gu only had some guesses," The Crown Prince reached out and gently
brushed aside the stray hair on Hua Liuli's cheek, "It's just a fun and lovely
little dream of yours, not some grand matter. As long as you want it, it will
definitely come true."

"Your Royal Highness doesn't blame me?"

"Why should Gu blame you?" The Crown Prince chuckled softly, his
laughter filled with tenderness, "You're willing to let go of such a great and
wonderful dream in order to protect Gu. Gu is very happy."

Hua Liuli couldn't help but feel that something was amiss with these words.

"Doesn't this mean that in your heart, Gu is more important than this dream
you've held onto since childhood?" The Crown Prince leaned slightly closer
to Hua Liuli's face.

Hua Liuli looked into his eyes and felt slightly uneasy, shifting her gaze,
"Um..."

"So, nothing else matters as long as Gu is important to you," The Crown

Prince wanted to steal a kiss from Hua Liuli secretly. Even though she
resembled a little kitten at the moment, he still thought it would be nice to
kiss her.

"Your Royal Highness..." Hua Liuli's heart was not only pounding the
rhythm of a phoenix seeking its mate but even performing the most
unrestrained dance of the borderlands, "Don't come so close, I... I don't
want to make a mistake."

More importantly, her heart was willing, but her ability fell short.

"Actually..." The Crown Prince wanted to reach out and touch Hua Liuli's
face but was afraid she would misunderstand his intentions, so he secretly
touched the ends of her hair instead, "Actually, in Gu's heart, Gu also wants
to make mistakes with you."

"Gu wants to make mistakes with you, but Gu is afraid of disturbing your
life," The Crown Prince sighed with a bitter smile, looking at her with a
forlorn expression, "Liuli, what do you think Gu should do?"

"I..." Hua Liuli's eyes widened, but before she could utter a word, the
booming voice of Ying Wang echoed from a short distance away.

"The Crown Prince is here!" Ying Wang couldn't help but be moved to tears
when he saw the Crown Prince's figure. Finally, he could eliminate the
suspicions against himself, "Physician, come quickly! The Crown Prince
and Fushou Junzhu County are injured."

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the Crown Prince's gaze turning as

sharp as a cold blade toward him, causing him to step back in fear.
He's... he's not the one who sent the assassins, what does the Crown Prince's
gaze mean?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 72 – Brightest Pearl

It must be the exceptionally bright moonlight tonight that dazzled his eyes.
If the Crown Prince couldn't stand him, he would be making sarcastic
remarks. How could it be just a glare from him?

So he must have been overthinking.

When he saw clearly that Hua Liuli was lying on a pile of dry leaves,
covered in blood, he was immediately startled. This was no longer a person,
but clearly a bloodied figure.

He quickly grabbed the cloak brought by the guard and ran three steps in
two to reach them. He tore off a piece of the cloak and was about to bend
down to cover Hua Liuli when the Crown Prince snatched the cloak from
his hand, his tone cold, "Eldest Brother, leave it to Gu."

Ying Wang was so scared by his polite and courteous demeanor that he
trembled, watching the Crown Prince gently cover Fushou Junzhu with the
cloak, "Has the physician arrived?"

"Your Highness, I am here," two physicians crawled and rushed over,

perhaps considering the identity of Fushou Junzhu before they came, they
specifically brought a few female physicians along.

"Junzhu's wound is deep. The area near her shoulder blade was almost
pierced by a sword," the head female physician carefully examined the
wound, "Fortunately, the weather hasn't been too hot in the past two days,
so the wound hasn't worsened."

"Your Royal Highness, we can only provide basic treatment to stop the
bleeding for Junzhu at the moment. Her injuries require rest," The head
female physician looked at Fushou Junzhu's fair and tender arm with a
wound from a sword, her movements extremely gentle and cautious, afraid
of causing pain to this delicate Junzhu.

"It's all Gu's fault," The Crown Prince gently held Fushou Junzhu's
uninjured arm, "If she didn't block that sword for me, Junzhu wouldn't have
been so severely injured."

With just a single statement, countless thrilling scenes were imagined by the
people present. Assassins targeting the Crown Prince, the delicate Fushou
Junzhu fearlessly standing in front of the Crown Prince to protect him, and
so on.

Rescuing a beauty has always been a timeless classic, but a beauty saving
her beloved is also a classic tale that has been passed down for centuries.

Moreover, Fushou Junzhu was a delicate and sickly beauty. This delicate
little girl was willing to risk her life to save others. How loyal, affectionate,
and touching it was!

In the past, there were people in the capital who lamented that the two
generals had spent half their lives on the battlefield, but unexpectedly gave
birth to a frail and delicate woman who would collapse at the slightest
breeze.

Now their views had changed instantly. Although Fushou Junzhu had a
weak physique, her soul was resilient and brave. She was truly worthy of
being a descendant of the Hua family.

The female physicians pulled the curtains, keeping all the men outside.

The wound was bloody. To prevent the wound from becoming swollen and
infected, the female physicians had to wash away the dirt on the wound
with a medicinal solution and then bandage it.

"Junzhu, this medicine is a bit strong. Please endure it for a moment," The
head female physician opened the bottle containing the medicinal solution
and said to Fushou Junzhu, who was still conscious, "I apologize in
advance."
At times like this, they would rather have the injured person faint, so at
least they wouldn't struggle during the wound treatment.

"Wait," The Crown Prince lifted the temporary curtain set up by the female
physicians, disregarding his image. He knelt beside Fushou Junzhu, gently
bent over, and lightly embraced half of her body, "Go ahead."

The head female physician's hand trembled, almost spilling the medicinal
solution. Had the intimacy between His Royal Highness the Crown Prince
and Fushou Junzhu gone a bit too far?

"Junzhu, are you ready?" The head female physician looked at Hua Liuli's
exposed shoulder and arm. Seeing her nod slightly, she took a deep breath
and said to other female physicians, "Let's proceed."

The female physicians spoke in unison and held down Hua Liuli's legs. The
head female physician poured the medicinal solution onto the wound and
started cleaning it.

If you were to ask Hua Liuli how she felt at this moment, she had no
feelings at all except for the piercing pain.

If it weren't for the presence of the Crown Prince, she would have
instinctively lost control of her image and screamed out in pain by now.
Large drops of cold sweat trickled down her forehead, and she tightly held
the Crown Prince's hand, intermittently saying, "Your Royal Highness...
Does this count as enduring hardship and suffering?"

"Our Liuli is the most powerful and beautiful hero," The Crown Prince's
shoulders trembled more intensely than Hua Liuli's. He wanted to urge the
female physicians to be quicker, but he was also afraid of frightening them,
causing them to make Hua Liuli's pain worse with a trembling hand.

Seeing that the Crown Prince embraced Fushou Junzhu, the head female
physician hurriedly applied the medicine to the wound and then bandaged
it, "Junzhu, your wound is deep. For a period of time, you must not exert
force on this arm, and be careful when bathing and changing clothes. The
wound must not come into contact with water."
"Thank you," Hua Liuli was already weak and feeble. She weakly held the
Crown Prince's hand and managed to smile at him, "Your Royal Highness,
you asked me to come back alive, and I have fulfilled your request."

"Gu knows," The Crown Prince used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from
Hua Liuli's forehead, "You're tired, rest for a while."

"I'm in too much pain to sleep," Hua Liuli looked up at the bright moon in
the sky, "The moon tonight is so beautiful."

After surviving a catastrophe, when she looked at everything in the world

again, she realized how beautiful everything was. Not to mention the moon
in the sky, even the vibrant grass growing by her head seemed full of
vitality.

Being alive was truly wonderful.

"Not as much as you," The Crown Prince had a stretcher brought over. He
wanted to carry Hua Liuli onto the stretcher, but her maids acted swiftly and
in the blink of an eye, they had placed her on the stretcher.

"Your Highness, I'm covered in dirt and blood. I don't look presentable at
all," Hua Liuli saw the disappointment on the Crown Prince's face as if he
had missed the chance to hold her and couldn't help but laugh, "Your Royal
Highness, don't just casually praise me just because of the debt of gratitude
you owe me for saving your life."

"Even if a precious pearl is covered in dust, it remains the most beautiful

and dazzling pearl. To Gu, the Junzhu is the brightest pearl," The Crown
Prince stood up from the ground and stood beside Hua Liuli, "Moreover,
even if Gu wants to repay the debt of gratitude, Gu won't just praise you
with a few words."

"Gu would rather..." The Crown Prince leaned closer to Hua Liuli's ear and
whispered, "Offer myself to you."

Yuan Yi, who had good hearing, trembled slightly. She glanced at Junzhu
lying on the stretcher, who showed no intense reaction, and briefly
pondered before silently moving aside.

Junzhu had grown up and knew how to judge the good people around her.
Those who served as subordinates should know their place.

The most difficult task was left to those who were carrying the stretcher.
They couldn't walk too fast or too slow, they had to carefully match the
Crown Prince's pace, pretending not to notice the intimate gestures between
the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu.

However, if there was someone in the world who, despite being weak and
fragile, was willing to step forward and risk their lives to protect others,
they would also be moved.

Before they could finish contemplating, Ying Wang walked briskly over
and said to Hua Liuli on the stretcher, "Fushou Junzhu, Benwang heard
from the female physicians that you were severely injured and may be left
with scars?"

Hua Liuli looked at Ying Wang, who seemed somewhat excited, and
remained silent.

What did this mean, finding joy in someone else's misfortune?

"Although Junzhu will have scars, Benwang will not despise you. Benwang
is willing to marry you as my Wangfei..."

The Crown Prince rolled up his robe and kicked the back of Ying Wang's
knee, causing him to fall to the ground with a thud.

"Sorry, after Gu fell down from the cliff and Gu's leg has been a bit
uncooperative," The Crown Prince retracted his foot and expressionlessly
pointed ahead, "Eldest Brother, it's difficult to walk in the dark. You go
ahead and scout the path."

Ying Wang glared at the Crown Prince in anger, but in front of everyone, as
a prince, he had to follow the Crown Prince's orders. Otherwise, it would be
seen as disrespectful.
The Crown Prince had never felt his Eldest Brother to be a nuisance until
now. He smiled at Hua Liuli and said, "Eldest Brother is impulsive and
thoughtless. Don't take his words to heart."

Hua Liuli blinked, feeling as if the stars in the sky were also blinking at her.

"Your Majesty!" Zhao Sancai ran into the palace with a joyful expression
on his face and didn't bother with formalities, "The Crown Prince has been
found!"

Emperor Changlong, who had been sleepless all night, was suddenly
delighted, "Is the Crown Prince injured?"

"The Crown Prince only has some minor external injuries, nothing serious.
It is said that when they fell down the slope, Junzhu protected the Crown
Prince's head with her arm," The joy on Zhao Sancai's face faded slightly,
and he secretly glanced at Hua Yingting, who was also waiting in the hall,
"However... Junzhu's injuries are severe."

"What happened?!" Emperor Changlong became anxious upon hearing that

his future daughter-in-law was seriously injured, "How serious is it?"

"Fushou Junzhu was injured and couldn't rush back, so Ying Wang sent
someone back to deliver the news first," Zhao Sancai explained, "It is said
that after the Crown Prince and Junzhu took refuge in the forest, Junzhu
was worried that the assassins would find the Crown Prince. She
deliberately led them in the opposite direction, putting herself in danger. In
the end, the assassins discovered her. They intended to kill Junzhu with a
sword, but the Crown Prince rushed over to stop them. However, there were
a lot of assassins and the Crown Prince was overpowered. Just as they were
about to strike the Crown Prince with a sword, Fushou Junzhu intercepted
the blow with her body."

"Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Crown Prince threw a smoke

bomb he had on him and pulled Junzhu to escape. However, they were
chased by the assassins and reached a dead end. The Crown Prince lost his
footing and fell down the slope. Junzhu tried to hold onto the Crown Prince,
but being weak herself and severely injured, she couldn't hold him and they
both fell."

Hua Yingting's lips turned pale upon hearing that his daughter was seriously
injured. As Zhao Sancai sadly recounted how his weak and pitiful daughter
saved the Crown Prince, his expression became indescribable.

"Yingting, Fushou Junzhu truly lives up to being your daughter. Such

sincerity and loyalty deeply moved Zhen..." Emperor Changlong saw Hua
Yingting's pale face, feeling both guilty and proud. He felt guilty that his
own son had to be protected by a frail young girl, but proud that in the face
of imminent danger, the Crown Prince didn't abandon the young girl to
escape alone, behaving like a true man.

"You and General Wei risked your lives to protect Zhen in the past, now it's
your daughter who protected the Crown Prince by risking her own life -- it
shows that our two families are truly destined."

"Your Majesty, as loyal subjects, it is our family's duty to protect Your

Majesty and the Crown Prince. Your Majesty's words have truly
overwhelmed me..."

"Since our two families have such a close connection, and your daughter
has saved Zhen's inept Crown Prince's life, why don't we take a step closer
and let the younger generation unite in eternal harmony, creating a beautiful
union of yin and yang?"

"What?" Hua Yingting was taken aback by Emperor Changlong's words.

What did he mean by eternal unity and the harmony of yin and yang?

Seeing his beloved general's bewildered expression, Emperor Changlong

felt somewhat guilty. However, as an old father who wanted his son's
happiness, he decided to cast aside his dignity, "Zhen noticed that the two
youngsters get along very well. Besides Fushou Junzhu, the Crown Prince
has never been so close to any other young girl. Moreover, there is an old
saying among the common people; 'one should repay a life-saving favor
with one's own life'. Zhen thinks it would be good for the two youngsters to
be together. What do you think?"
Hua Yingting was dumbfounded, unable to speak for a while.

What grievances does His Majesty have with the Crown Prince? Why can't
he find someone else to be the Crown Princess? Why does he have to
choose his own daughter?

He knew his daughter better than anyone else. Despite her delicate
appearance, she held was petty and held grudges. Those who offended her
didn't have a good ending. The Crown Prince, with his noble status, would
inevitably say or do things that would displease his daughter. What if...

Hua Yingting smiled weakly, "Although marriage is traditionally decided

by the parents and matchmakers, our Great Jin Dynasty is not as rigid as the
Daimao Kingdom in adhering to strict rules. In my opinion, for the sake of
the two children's future, it would be better to seek their opinions first
before discussing such a significant matter of life. What does Your Majesty
think?"

"No need to worry, Zhen's beloved General. The Crown Prince also likes
Fushou Junzhu very much," Seeing that Hua Yingting didn't directly refuse,
Emperor Changlong continued to persuade shamelessly.

"My daughter is physically weak, and I'm worried..."

"In the palace, there are so many imperial physicians who can take good
care of your daughter," Before Huayingting could finish speaking, Emperor
Changlong interrupted, "It doesn't matter if the young girl had poor health
when she was young and grew up in the harsh climate of the border. Now
that she is in the capital, she will gradually recover."

It's good that she is physically weaker. This way, she won't be able to play
around like her mother, breaking things with a single word. It's simply
perfect.

"My little daughter grew up in the borderlands and may not understand the
etiquette as well as the other noble ladies in the capital. I'm worried that her
presence might hinder the Crown Prince."
"If she marries the Crown Prince and becomes the Crown Princess and
future Empress, the rules she sets will be the rules. Who else would dare to
make her abide by their etiquette?"

Hua Yingting felt that the Emperor's attitude was not proper. Shouldn't we
be more strict and rigorous in choosing the Crown Princess, the future
Empress?

"What kind of father are you?" Emperor Changlong stared at Hua Yingting,
"What kind of father finds fault with his own child at every turn? Zhen
thinks Fushou Junzhu is outstanding."

Although he never witnessed it, he heard a lot about how much Hua
Yingting doted on his daughter. Who would have thought that he would be
so critical of her?

With this in mind, Emperor Changlong advised with a serious tone,

"Yingting, our Great Jin Dynasty does not have as many rigid rules as the
Daimao Kingdom. We must not favor boys over girls."

Hua Yingting: "..."

What kind of baseless accusation is this?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 73 – Touched

Hua Yingting had serious doubts. If he continued to evade responsibility for

this matter, in the Emperor's eyes, he would become a bad father who
mistreated his daughter.

He sighed helplessly and said, "Your Majesty, this matter... I alone cannot
make the decision."

Emperor Changlong, who was speaking endlessly, abruptly stopped. He

walked up to Hua Yingting and patted his shoulder, "Yingting, Zhen
understands your difficulties. For the happiness of our children, try your
best to persuade General Wei."

Hua Yingting: "..."

He hadn't said anything yet.

"Zhen knows you are concerned about your daughter's safety. You don't
need to stay here anymore. Go and see your child," Emperor Changlong
said, "There are many female physicians in the palace. After Fushou Junzhu
returns to the city, she will be temporarily placed in the Empress Dowager's
Shoukang Palace. It would be convenient for the female physicians to
change look after her."

At this critical moment, Emperor Changlong exhibited infinite wisdom. In

order to let his son enjoy the advantages of proximity, he was willing to put
aside his dignity and keep the little Hua girl in the palace.

"This subject obeys Your Majesty's command," Hua Yingting had given up
struggling. This was fate.
After all, you are the Emperor, and your word is final. I have done my best,
but if you and your son insist on going against everyone, then no one can do
anything about it.

Hua Yingting was genuinely worried about her daughter's health. After
paying respects to Emperor Changlong, he hurriedly left the palace.

The city's roads were smooth; the eunuchs had placed the stretcher in a
spacious carriage. Once they arrived at the city gates, they ordered the
soldiers guarding the city to open the gates.

The city guards dared not delay and quickly opened the gates. Only after
the procession had gone far away did they dare to quietly discuss.

"The one who just passed by... was it the Crown Prince?"

"I heard that the Crown Prince and General Hua's daughter were attacked."

"If anything happens to the Crown Prince, the one who benefits is..."

"Hush!" A companion covered the person's mouth, "Don't speak nonsense.

Do you want to court death?"

The city guards fell silent again, and no one dared to discuss the matter
further.

Hidden in the shadows, Wu San and Wu Si exchanged serious glances, both

seeing the worry in each other's eyes. As former top-rated assassins, they
easily evaded the patrolling guards and returned to the small noodle shop.

"Have you gathered any information?" The other assassins in the noodle
shop quickly gathered around.

"It seems that the Crown Prince is fine, but Fushou Junzhu seems to have
been seriously injured," Wu San said, "Do you all remember that someone
asked us to assassinate Fushou Junzhu some time ago?"

The faces of the group turned gloomy. The old man they had contact with,
their employer, died unexpectedly on the eve of leaving the capital.
Although it seemed like an accidental death due to his old age and frailty,
they knew deep down that his death was no accident. Someone had killed
him to silence him.

"The situation has escalated so much. Fortunately, the Crown Prince is still
alive. Could it be that the mastermind behind the scenes, in order to clear
suspicions, would make us the scapegoat?" one of the assassin's comrades
said, "Although we have lived through days of bloodshed, we shouldn't
unjustly bear this burden."

"Perhaps these assassins have nothing to do with our previous employer?"

Wu Si still held a glimmer of hope in her heart.

"Regardless of whether they are connected or not, we need to take

precautions in advance," It's not surprising that Wu San and others were so
nervous. Their assassin organization had borne too many unjust accusations
that didn't belong to them.

Many things that they didn't do ended up being attributed to them, yet no
assassin dared to step forward to refute. All the blame and dirty water were
unjustly thrown at them.

"So, what should we do?" Everyone looked at Wu San, while Wu San

turned to look at Wu Si.

"I heard that there is a large box at the gate of the Jingzhou Prefecture
where people can stuff anonymous reports," Wu Si pondered for a while,
"The old man already warned us, and our contact, the young master who
knows our background, was captured in Yongzhou. It's no longer safe for us
to stay in the capital."

"Are you suggesting that we write an anonymous report to the Prefect of

Jingzhou?" Wu San frowned, "But we don't even know who the mastermind
is."

"We may not know, but as long as the court wants to investigate, they will
definitely uncover the mastermind behind it," Wu Si slammed the table,
"Now, we gather our belongings and leave as soon as it's dawn."
After considering it, everyone realized that staying in the capital was not a
long-term option, and they needed to leave quickly.

Rocking back and forth in the carriage with the Crown Prince by her side,
Hua Liuli finally felt drowsy. She forced herself to open her eyes and saw
the Crown Prince gazing at her intently. She smiled and said, "Your Royal
Highness, I'm a bit tired."

"If you're tired, rest," Although the Crown Prince wanted to continue
discussing the topic of "making mistakes" with Hua Liuli, seeing her
current weak state, he couldn't bring himself to say anything.

Hua Liuli slowly closed her eyes, and the carriage fell into silence.

Just when the Crown Prince thought Hua Liuli had fallen asleep, her voice
sounded again in the carriage.

"We can talk about the topic of making mistakes after I've recovered from
my injuries."

The Crown Prince joyfully looked down and saw Hua Liuli in a deep sleep.
If he hadn't heard her words clearly just now, he might have doubted
whether he had imagined it.

"Alright."

"Gu will wait for you."

Before the carriage reached the palace gate, the Crown Prince heard the
sound of hurried horse hooves. He lifted the curtain and saw General Wei
and General Hua riding their horses swiftly, followed by Hua Liuli's third
brother, Hua Changkong.

"Greetings, Your Royal Highness," the three members of the Hua family
dismounted and respectfully saluted the Crown Prince, but their gaze turned
towards the carriage.

"Junzhu has already fallen asleep," the Crown Prince got off the carriage
and whispered, "Her wounds are painful, but she finds some relief in
sleeping."

Wei Mingyue approached quietly, lifted the curtain, and saw her daughter
lying comfortably on a soft fox fur blanket. Although her face was pale, she
showed no signs of lifelessness, which completely put her at ease.

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness, for taking care of this subject's daughter
all the way," Wei Mingyue lowered the curtain and walked in front of the
Crown Prince, bowing to him.

"General Wei, you're too polite. If it weren't to save Gu's life, how could
Junzhu have been injured so severely?" The Crown Prince helped Wei
Mingyue up, "If anyone should be grateful, it should be Gu. Generals,
Junzhu needs rest due to her serious injuries. Gu plans to bring her to the
palace for recuperation. You are welcome to visit her in the palace anytime.
What do both of you think?"

Hua Yingting didn't speak and glanced discreetly at Wei Mingyue.

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness. We appreciate it," Wei Mingyue looked
at the motionless carriage for a moment, then said after a moment of
silence, "My daughter is young and ignorant. If she has offended you in any
way, please forgive her, Your Royal Highness."

"It's what Gu should do," The Crown Prince breathed a sigh of relief. The
Hua family's willingness to let him bring Liuli to the palace for recuperation
was a tremendous blessing for him.

"Then we'll go ahead. A carriage is not as comfortable as a bed in the

palace. Gu is worried that Junzhu won't sleep well."

"Alright..." Wei Mingyue's expression was somewhat complicated as she

allowed the Crown Prince to bring her daughter into the palace.

"Mother, how can we let our sister, who is so severely injured, live alone in
the palace?" Hua Changkong worriedly said, "I think we need to keep an
eye on her to feel at ease."
"Who do you think is more skilled, the physicians outside or the imperial
physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau?"

"Of course, the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau,"
Hua Changkong still didn't understand, "Even if comes back with us to the
estate, those imperial physicians will still treat her. There's no need for her
to live in the palace, right?"

"You're still young and don't understand many things," The family of three
rode their horses home. Hua Yingting said with complicated emotions,
"Today, His Majesty mentioned Liuli's marriage to me."

"The Emperor wants to arrange a marriage for my younger sister?" Hua

Changkong furrowed his brow, "Who is the other party?"

His sister's current favorite person is the Crown Prince. Even if His Majesty
acts as a matchmaker, his sister would never agree to marry anyone who is
not the Crown Prince.

"The Crown Prince."

Wei Mingyue and Hua Changkong fell silent, and after a long time, both
mother and son sighed in unison, "This is really hard to understand..."

"Cough, you can't say that. Our Liuli has a beautiful face, and she's smart
too. She has many virtues," Hua Yingting, the doting father of this spoiled
daughter, couldn't help but defend her at this moment.

"But my little daughter, although she's so beautiful..."

Hua Yingting stopped talking and turned to Wei Mingyue, "Dear wife, what
should we do about this?"

"What can we do?" Wei Mingyue looked up at the gradually brightening

sky, "If both parties are willing, let them be."

"But what if..."

"People who are good-looking will still be better-looking when they turn
old. You should have confidence in the Crown Prince's appearance," Wei
Mingyue gave up and said, "Think positively, maybe the Crown Prince can
make Liuli infatuated with him for a lifetime?"

Hua Yingting and Hua Changkong dared not speak.

"In the end, it is His Majesty who wants Liuli to marry the Crown Prince.
It's not us using all means to send our daughter into the palace," Wei
Mingyue sighed, "The Emperor has seen Liuli's weak condition, but still
insists on the marriage between our families. Do you think it's easy to reject
this marriage?"

Kind words are hard to persuade. With His Majesty and the Crown Prince
insisting on this, what else can their family do?

When Hua Liuli woke up, she saw a familiar ceiling. This wasn't the room
she lived in at home.

"Junzhu, you're awake?" The palace maids surrounded her, adjusting the
curtains and offering water. Their enthusiastic attitude made her feel as if
she had returned home.

Before she could speak, the Empress Dowager hurriedly came over and
expressed her heartfelt concern. She watched as the palace maids fed Hua
Liuli a bowl of medicinal porridge before leaving with relief.

"Yuan Yi," Hua Liuli called for Yuan Yi, "What's going on? Why am I in
the palace?"

"Junzhu, His Royal Highness was worried about your health, so he brought
you into the palace for care," Yuan Yi explained the situation, "Don't worry
about the family. Master, Madam, and the Third Young Master visited you
last night."

As Hua Liuli rinsed her mouth with Yuan Yi's help, even the slightest
movement caused a sharp pain in her arm. She winced, "It hurts."
"Now Junzhu finally knows what pain feels like," Yuan Yi was both angry
and concerned, "Junzhu, you knew you were injured but still reached out to
grab the Crown Prince. The few of us were scared to death when we saw
Junzhu fall."

"I'm sorry, Yuan Yi. I know I shouldn't have made you worry. But in that
situation, how could I bear to let the Crown Prince fall? What if something
happened to him?" Hua Liuli smiled bitterly, "Forget about the injured arm.
Even if I had a hole stabbed in any other part of my body, I would have
jumped down with him."

Yuan Yi fell silent.

The people of the Hua family were like this. For the sake of the people and
the righteous ruler, they were willing to sacrifice their lives without regret.

Hua Liuli may seem different from other members of the Hua family, but
the bloodline that flows within her veins carries the same inherent qualities.

Emperor Changlong stood outside the hall, his face filled with gratitude.

Fushou Junzhu had saved his son risking her life. As an emperor, to express
his gratitude, he specifically came to Shoukang Palace to visit her. He
hadn't expected to hear such a touching conversation.

Yes, these were the descendants of the Hua family, always so loyal to the Ji
family. Even if it meant sacrificing their lives, they would never regret it.

Their family is so loyal, yet there were always people trying to scheme
against them, hoping for their misfortune. These people claimed to care
about the court's affairs, but in reality, they were just jealous of the Hua
family and wanted to drive away the virtuous officials, allowing corrupt
officials to dominate the court!

But was the Emperor an easily deceived ruler?

No!

The Hua family was formidable, but had they become arrogant?
No!

The Hua family held high prestige among the people, but had they ever
shown off in front of them?

No!

He had long heard that the Hua family often proclaimed to the people that
he, as the Emperor, was the Purple Star incarnate. With his blessing, the
Hua family could achieve continuous victories and defeat Jinpo.

What excellent subjects, what an exceptional young lady.

What an outstanding girl, if she couldn't marry the Crown Prince and
become the Crown Princess, it would be a great loss for the Ji family!

"Of course, the Crown Prince's face..." Hua Liuli paused suddenly, her tone
weak, "The Crown Prince is the child His Majesty has painstakingly raised.
If anything were to happen to him, how devastated His Majesty would be."

"Both Father and Mother hold His Majesty close to their hearts. If His
Majesty is distressed, they would also be heartbroken," Hua Liuli smiled
bravely, "Whether it's for His Majesty or for my parents, I cannot bear to
see the Crown Prince getting hurt."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 74 – Silly Things

As soon as Hua Liuli finished speaking, there was a soft knock on the door.

"Fushou Junzhu, His Majesty is here to visit you," Zhao Sancai said from
outside the door, "May I know if you are available at the moment?"

Yuan Yi stood up and let down the bed curtain, while Yurong opened the
door, and everyone bowed in unison.

"Your Majesty, please forgive this injured subject for being unable to bow
to Your Majesty."

"No need for excessive courtesy, no need for excessive courtesy," Emperor
Changlong sat down behind the curtains in the room and asked the
maidservants about the medicine Hua Liuli had taken and whether she had
eaten after waking up. After asking, he kindly said to Hua Liuli, "The
Empress Dowager treats you as her own granddaughter, so you are like a
half-daughter to Zhen. You don't have to be restrained while living in the
palace, just treat it as your own home."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"You rest well, Zhen still has some good scar-healing medicine in Zhen's
place. Zhen will have someone bring it to you later," As the future father-in-
law, Emperor Changlong was concerned about his future daughter-in-law's
rest and did not want to disturb her any further. After giving thoughtful
instructions, he left with a big smile on his face, leaving behind a pile of
rewards.

Before, he was somewhat worried about the poor health of the Hua family's
young girl, but now he had no reservations. He felt extremely pleased in
both body and mind.
If he hadn't happened to hear the words of this little girl, he wouldn't have
known that his most beloved generals loved and cared for him so much.
This bond of affection hadn't diminished over the years they spent at the
border, but had instead grown stronger. Even the younger generation in the
family understood it so clearly.

But for all these years, they never said a word. If it were someone else, they
would have made countless hints and suggestions in front of him.

"Sancai," Emperor Changlong sighed emotionally, "Having such loyal

subjects is truly a source of comfort for Zhen."

Zhao Sancai quickly replied, "Both General Hua and General Wei have
always been like this. Although they are not good with words, their loyalty
to Your Majesty has never wavered."

"You are right," Emperor Changlong was still immersed in his emotions and
didn't snap out of it. As an emperor who governed the nation with
benevolence and was prosperous, whenever he was moved, he couldn't help
but want to reward his officials with gifts. So he sent another pile of items
from the imperial private treasury to the Hua family.

Anyway, it was considered a gift for his future in-laws. In a roundabout

way, they were all family.

When one's own family gives gifts to one's own family, it doesn't count as a
loss.

Emperor Changlong was in a good mood until he saw his eldest son, Ji
Minghao, fidgeting and walking over. His eldest son's tall stature combined
with his fidgeting made Emperor Changlong feel uncomfortable.

"Minghao, what kind of behavior is this?"

"Father Emperor," Ying Wang performed a grand salute before Emperor

Changlong, "Erchen pays his respects to Father Emperor."
"Rise," Emperor Changlong noticed two red clouds rising on his son's face
and couldn't help but sigh, "What brings you to Zhen?"

Ying Wang glanced at the palace maids and eunuchs behind Emperor
Changlong, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He whispered, "Erchen has a
request."

"Speak up," Both sons and daughters are debt collectors. Emperor
Changlong took a deep breath, reminding himself to be kind and not lose
his temper.

"Erchen thinks that Fushou Junzhu is quite good. Can Father Emperor help
Erchen with the matchmaking..."

"Initially, Zhen did consider arranging that for you, but you and your
mother refused, didn't you?" Flames of anger surged in Emperor
Changlong's heart, quickly turning into a raging fury, "Do you think that the
daughter of the two great generals is like one of those selected young ladies
sent into the palace, that you can have her if you want and reject her if you
don't?!"

"That was Erchen's previous foolishness," Ying Wang made up his mind,
gritted his teeth, and knelt before Emperor Changlong with a thud. With a
thick-skinned face, he pretended to cry and said, "Father Emperor, Erchen is
already twenty-one this year. Father Emperor can't keep Erchen single like
this, can you? Moreover, Erchen is the eldest, so if Erchen doesn't marry,
what about Erchen's younger brothers?"

"Now you're considerate of your younger brothers," Emperor Changlong

disdainfully tried removing his thigh from his eldest son's embrace, but to
his surprise, his eldest son had quite a bit of strength, so he couldn't free
himself for a moment.

"Zhen understands your thoughts. Don't worry, Zhen will choose a capable
Wangfei for you, but Fushou Junzhu is not suitable," If it were other girls,
Emperor Changlong might have suspected them of enchanting the princes
and causing conflicts among the princes. However, Hua Liuli was different.
Emperor Changlong believed that she was loyal, brave, gentle, and kind-
hearted, definitely not a woman who would enchant others' hearts. Since the
fault didn't lie with her, it was his own son's problem.

So after careful consideration, no matter how he looked at it, it was his own
son's fault.

"Why?" Ying Wang asked in confusion, "Erchen believes that Fushou

Junzhu is gentle, considerate, kind-hearted, and intelligent, and she is very
suitable to marry into the imperial family."

"On this point, Zhen's view is the same as yours."

Ying Wang felt delighted in his heart. It seemed like there was still hope for
this matter.

"So, Zhen has already discussed with General Hua and General Wei and
arranged for her to marry your third brother as the Crown Princess," Taking
advantage of his eldest son's dazed state, Emperor Changlong quickly
pulled his leg out of his embrace, "Between people, there is the matter of
fate. Initially, Zhen wanted you to marry Fushou Junzhu, but you were
unwilling. Now that you've changed your mind, she is already betrothed to
someone else."

"Minghao," Emperor Changlong bent down, patting his eldest son's

shoulder, "In one's lifetime, there will always be many choices to face.
Once a choice is made, it is made. Did you think there would be so many
paths to turn back? Even if you are a prince, there will be things you can't
achieve. Do you understand?"

Ying Wang was muddled and confused. He was unwilling to see the girl he
somewhat favored marrying the most detested Crown Prince. He also
regretted why he had refused to marry Hua Liuli back then. He looked up at
Emperor Changlong but couldn't find any words to say.

"After you rejected the marriage alliance with the Hua family, did you
actively try to form a good relationship with them? Or have you shown any
special interest in Fushou Junzhu?" Emperor Changlong saw his eldest son's
bewildered state and had no choice but to say, "When you realized your
feelings, did you actively pursue Fushou Junzhu?"

Ying Wang was at a loss. He was a prince; marrying a young lady as his
Wangfei would be an honor for her. Why would he need to actively pursue
her?

"You have even blocked off the last path of regret. Now, even if you regret
it, it is too late," Emperor Changlong shook his head involuntarily. Most
women in the world like men who are gentle, considerate, and care about
them. How many of these qualities did his eldest son possess?

"Try to accept it," Emperor Changlong comfortingly patted Ying Wang,

"Don't bring up this matter again in the future. Fushou Junzhu will be your
younger brother's wife. Don't ruin her reputation."

Ying Wang's lips trembled and he couldn't utter a word for a long time.

"Father Emperor, Eldest Brother, what are you doing here?" The Crown
Prince approached and saw Emperor Changlong bending down to Ying
Wang, who was half-kneeling on the ground, acting like a spoiled child.
With a fake smile, he said, "Did Eldest Brother accidentally trip and fall?"

Prince Ying could throw a tantrum in front of Emperor Changlong, but he

didn't want to lose face in front of the Crown Prince. He glared at the
Crown Prince and said, "What's it to you?"

"Gu is just here to watch the excitement. If you want, you can continue,"
the Crown Prince opened his folding fan and shielded his face with it,
"Please rest assured Eldest Brother, Gu won't watch."

Ying Wang: "..."

He was so angry, he wanted to kill him!

Emperor Changlong, afraid that his third son would know about his eldest
son's intention to marry Fushou Junzhu, had to interrupt their conversation,
"Yuansu, your injuries haven't healed yet. Why are you exposing yourself to
the wind?"

"Father Emperor, Erchen only has some superficial wounds that are not
serious," The Crown Prince bowed to Emperor Changlong, "Erchen is truly
concerned about Liuli's injury, so Erchen wanted to visit the Shoukang
Palace and look after her."

"Go ahead, go ahead," Emperor Changlong was truly afraid that the two
brothers would cause trouble.

The Crown Prince glanced at his Eldest Brother, then turned around and
left, exuding an air of arrogance.

Ying Wang felt a pain in his chest. He was full of pain, regret, and hatred,
but he couldn't utter a word of complaint.

Yes, it was he who didn't want to form a marriage alliance with the Hua
family. Now, it was too late for regrets.

"You go back and rest. Zhen will find you a good wife in due time,"
Emperor Changlong comforted his eldest son for a while before turning to
walk towards the Chenyang Palace.

Halfway there, he found his second son, Ning Wang, and his fifth son, the
Fifth Prince, walking together. He casually asked them about their recent
studies.

Little did he know, when his fifth son mentioned painting, he wouldn't stop
talking about it. Emperor Changlong regretted why he had spoken. But as a
father, seeing his son's bright and confident eyes, he couldn't interrupt him
and had to continue listening.

He thought his fifth son was going to talk about painting insights for half an
hour, but suddenly, the topic took a turn, "Erchen believes the second
daughter raised by Royal Princess Leyang is truly impolite. Imperial
Grandmother should send two female etiquette officials to reprimand her
and teach her what etiquette is."
"Hmm?" Emperor Changlong looked at the Fifth Prince with some surprise,
"Zhen remembers you don't seem to have any relationship with the second
daughter of the Xie family, do you?"

"Erchen naturally wouldn't have any relationship with such an impolite and
vulgar person," the Fifth Prince elegantly bowed, "Compared to Fushou
Junzhu..."

Upon hearing the words "Fushou Junzhu", Emperor Changlong was afraid
that his fifth son would also say something like, "Erchen thinks Fushou
Junzhu is excellent and Erchen intends to propose marriage" He quickly
said, "Zhen also thinks Fushou Junzhu is excellent, so Zhen intends for the
Crown Prince to marry her as the Crown Princess. What do you think?"

Ning Wang always went along with whatever Father Emperor said. When
he heard Father Emperor's question, his brain hadn't reacted yet, but his
mouth responded first, "Fushou Junzhu, as a descendant of two renowned
generals, is naturally a perfect match for the Crown Prince. Erchen thinks
Father Emperor's idea is excellent."

The Fifth Prince had a somewhat conflicted expression. Fushou Junzhu was
an elegant and artistic person, while the Crown Prince was difficult to get
along with. Would she be wronged by marrying him?

"Yanqiu, what do you think?" Emperor Changlong noticed that the Fifth
Prince was not speaking and the smile on his face faded a bit.

"Erchen thinks it's excellent," the Fifth Prince's conscience didn't hold out
for even five breaths before choosing to surrender.

After all, he was a member of the imperial family. For the sake of his own
interests, occasionally abandoning his conscience was inevitable. In any
case, in the future, he could paint a few more paintings and send them to the
Eastern Palace as a form of apology.

Once the Fifth Prince, who believed that his paintings were worth a fortune,
came to terms with this, he felt at ease even when speaking nonsense.
After Emperor Changlong left, Yuan Yi whispered to Hua Liuli, "Junzhu,
your skill in steering the situation according to the wind is becoming more
impressive."

"Oh, not at all," Hua Liuli modestly smiled, "Every word I said was sincere
and genuine, without any falsehood."

Both Yuan Yi and Yurong didn't believe her words but smiled and served by
her side. Yurong was worried that she might get bored, so she deliberately
found a few books to read and recited them to Hua Liuli.

"Junzhu, the Crown Prince has arrived," A palace maid from the Shoukang
Palace came in to report. Yuan Yi and Yurong exchanged a glance and
tactfully chose to step aside.

"Liuli," The Crown Prince strode in and saw that Hua Liuli's complexion
was still pale as paper. He felt both heartache and regret, "If only Gu had...
If Gu had the martial arts skills of General Hua, then you wouldn't have
been injured."

"Your Royal Highness, my father has been practicing martial arts since
childhood and has fought on the battlefield. Why compare yourself to him?"
Hua Liuli chuckled lightly, "Your Royal Highness, you have been studying
literature since childhood, practicing martial arts, and learning to govern the
court under His Majesty. That's already impressive."

"Moreover, if it weren't for Your Royal Highness risking your life to save
me, I'm afraid I wouldn't have made it back," Hua Liuli spoke the truth. In
that situation, if it wasn't for the Crown Prince worrying about her and
rushing out to divert the assassins' attention, she might have died under the
chaotic arrows.

"You risked your life to save Gu, so naturally, Gu is willing to save you
with my life," The Crown Prince picked up a book that Yurong had set
aside, "What is this?"

"Nunbi was worried that Junzhu would get bored, so Nunbi found a book to
read to Junzhu."
The Crown Prince flipped through it and smiled at Hua Liuli, "In that case,
let Gu read a passage to you."

"Fang Sheng looked around in confusion, and from a distance, he saw a girl
approaching with a basket of flowers."

"Fang Sheng asked, 'Miss, which family do you belong to, that you possess
flawless beauty like the clouds on the mountaintop?'"

"The girl replied, 'Young Master, have you forgotten? Three years ago, you
saved a girl who was picking flowers. You told that girl that once you
passed the imperial examination as the top scholar, you would ride a tall
and magnificent horse to marry her and bring her home. Now, three years
have passed, do you still remember? I, a young woman, have been waiting
for you day and night.'"

Upon reading this, the Crown Prince furrowed his brow, "Gu would have
been unwilling to let the person Gu loves wait for that long."

Hua Liuli looked at him without saying a word.

"Three years, thirty-six months. How many three years does a person have
in their lifetime?" The Crown Prince closed the book and gently placed it
back in its original position, "Life is short, time is just right. How can we
waste even a moment?"

"Your Royal Highness, what do you think is the right thing to do?" Hua
Liuli asked with a smile.

"Naturally, it is to bring her with Gu. In the harsh cold of the mountains,
how could Gu bear to let her wait alone for that long? When they meet
again, he couldn't even recognize her face?" The Crown Prince stood up
and walked to the edge of the bed, gently holding Hua Liuli's hand, "If it
snows, Gu would dress her in the warmest clothes and watch the most
beautiful snow in the world together. If there was exquisite food, Gu would
always share it with her and enjoy the meal together."
Hua Liuli slightly loosened her grip on the Crown Prince's hand, "But what
if she doesn't want that?"

The Crown Prince stared at her for a long time, then slowly released his
hand and forced a smile, "If she doesn't want that, Gu would give her warm
furs, grant her glory, and let her live freely throughout her life."

Hua Liuli looked at the beautiful person in front of her who was clearly sad
but still smiling and chuckled softly, "Isn't that foolish?"

"A person must do at least one foolish thing in their lifetime to be

considered perfect."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 75 – The Shy Crown
Prince

Hua Liuli covered her wound and said to the Crown Prince, "Your Royal
Highness, please help me up first."

"You're injured so badly, you shouldn't move," The Crown Prince advised
verbally, but his hands involuntarily reached out to support Hua Liuli,
providing a soft backing for her back.

"Just now, Your Royal Highness said that people have to do something
foolish in their lifetime, right?" Hua Liuli smiled brightly at the Crown
Prince.

Their gazes met, but the Crown Prince couldn't understand the meaning
behind Hua Liuli's eyes. In her gaze, he neither saw deep affection nor
disdain.

The Crown Prince looked at her pitifully, as if he would burst into tears if
she refused him on the spot.

Hua Liuli extended her finger, wanting to touch the Crown Prince's cheek,
but it accidentally chafed her wound, causing her to inhale sharply in pain.

"Be careful," The Crown Prince quickly held her arm.

"But there's still one regret in life, and that is when you do something
foolish, there's no one to accompany you in your foolishness," Hua Liuli
pinched the Crown Prince's arm, "I've witnessed separations due to life and
death since I was young. I've always been most afraid of two people who
deeply care for each other, only to end up separated by life and death,
setting them on a different path."

"So, I thought that when I grow up, I absolutely shouldn't like anyone, and I
definitely shouldn't give my true heart, otherwise, when there is a time to
part, how sad it would be," Hua Liuli smiled, "In life, it's better to be
carefree and unburdened."

The Crown Prince understood the meaning behind Hua Liuli's words. His
eyelids trembled and he lowered his head, "Gu... understands."

Hua Liuli seemed not to notice the Crown Prince's sadness as she let go of
her own hand, "Your Royal Highness, since I was born, I've always
witnessed farewells due to life and death."

"Gu understands you," The Crown Prince smiled, his eyes filled with
sorrow on the verge of overflowing, "Then, does the promise you made to
Gu before still stand?"

"What promise?"

"To not keep male companions for five years."

"Yes, it stands."

The smile on the Crown Prince's face became even sadder, "That's good."

"Is that enough for Your Royal Highness?" Hua Liuli smiled mischievously
at the Crown Prince, "Actually, I wanted to say that even though I've grown
accustomed to life and death, and I don't want to experience the painful
parting of life and death, I still want to give it a try."

"Try... what?" The Crown Prince looked at her cautiously.

"To do something foolish that's in my heart, like..." Hua Liuli extended her
index finger and gently tapped the Crown Prince's nose, "Being with a
man."
"Perhaps that wouldn't be foolish, but a fortunate thing," The Crown Prince
excitedly held Hua Liuli's hand. He wanted to embrace her, but he was
afraid of hurting her wound, "Even if it's a foolish thing, Gu can turn it into
something good."

"Really?" Hua Liuli looked at the Crown Prince, whose sorrow had turned
to joy, with a smile that held a hint of slyness.

Some people in the world always ask why they should give up an entire
forest for the sake of one tree. She thought, perhaps it's because that tree is
the most beautiful, the most upright, and the most pleasing. With the
existence of that tree, all the other trees in the forest become the same and
no longer attracts one's attention.

"Gu never lies to you."

"Come here," Hua Liuli beckoned with her finger, asking the Crown Prince
to come closer.

The Crown Prince obediently leaned closer to her, and Hua Liuli reached
out and hooked her hand around his neck, pulling him closer to her lips and
leaving a gentle kiss on his cheek.

"This is a reward for being an honest child," Hua Liuli released the Crown
Prince's neck, presenting herself as someone who has seen the world and
experienced everything. Unfortunately, her blushing cheeks and ears gave
her away.

But would the Crown Prince expose her pretense of being experienced?

Of course not.

He lowered his head, appearing shy, and leaned closer, pointing to other his
cheek, "Can... Gu also have it on this side?"

"Cough," Hua Liuli uncomfortably turned her head to look at the

maidservants in the room, "Men shouldn't be so greedy."

The Crown Prince looked at her with a disappointed expression, "Alright..."

"Forget it, forget it," Hua Liuli leaned closer and kissed his other cheek, "I
really can't do anything about Your Royal Highness."

With such good looks and the ability to act cute, how could she let this good
man be shared with other noble ladies in the capital? It had to be her
personally guarding him for her peace of mind.

The maidservants, Yuan Yi and Yurong, covered their eyes and retreated.
As loyal subjects of the Great Jin, they should have intervened when they
saw their Junzhu flirting with the Crown Prince. But as humans, it was
inevitable to show favoritism. As long as they covered their eyes, they
couldn't see anything.

As long as Junzhu is happy, their conscience doesn't matter.

After a while, they saw the Crown Prince emerge with flushed cheeks and
watery eyes. They quickly bowed and said, "Farewell, Your Royal
Highness."

"No need for formalities. Take good care of Junzhu. If you need anything,
send someone to the Eastern Palace to fetch it. Don't let Junzhu suffer,
understood?" The Crown Prince placed his hand behind his back, exuding
extraordinary grace.

"Yes."

Yuan Yi and the others watched the satisfied Crown Prince leave, then they
turned back into the room. They saw Junzhu had already laid back down
and were unsure whether to speak up or not. The group gave Yuan Yi a
signal, making her the spokesperson.

"Junzhu," Yuan Yi approached Hua Liuli's bedside, "You and the Crown
Prince..."

"Yuan Yi, I have carefully considered it for a long time and evaluated all the
noble ladies in the capital, but couldn't find anyone suitable for the Crown
Prince. You see, the Crown Prince is so handsome and talented. How could
there not be someone worthy of him?" Hua Liuli shamelessly said, "I've
been thinking day and night, contemplating and pondering. I can't bear to
see the Crown Prince being mistreated by someone else. So, in the end, I
reluctantly came to a conclusion: instead of letting someone else mistreat
the Crown Prince, it's better if I do it."

Yuan Yi: "..."

It was the first time she heard someone talk about indulging in beauty so
gracefully and shamelessly. If these words were spread, their Hua family
would offend all the noble ladies in the capital.

"But... what about Junzhu's aspirations of raising male companions?"

"In consideration of the remarkable Crown Prince, I am prepared to endure

the hardships and renounce my noble aspirations," Hua Liuli affirmed with
unwavering resolve, presenting her decision as a selfless sacrifice.

"Junzhu once said you would never hang yourself on one man."

"How can one trust a woman's words, especially a beautiful woman? They
can't be trusted."

"Oh," Yuan Yi suddenly understood, "So, Junzhu's promise to the Crown

Prince about not raising male companions is also untrustworthy?"

"Yuan Yi, haven't you noticed that I, as your mistress, am losing my

position in front of all of you?" Hua Liuli looked at Yuan Yi with a
profound expression, "You shouldn't envy me just because I have an
exceptionally beautiful person by my side."

The maids turned around in unison. Those responsible for cleaning began
tidying up, while others started sorting their belongings. The maidservant
who was supposed to recite stories to Hua Liuli silently picked up a book.

What else could they do when they followed a mistress who is shameless?
They could only smile and continue to serve her.

"Daren!" The yamen runner placed a thick stack of reports on the desk of
the Prefect of Jingzhao, "These are the denunciations received today."
The Prefect of Jingzhao sighed and reached out to open the denunciation
letters.

Oh, the Deputy Minister of Rites littered on the street. Fine him one ounce
of silver.

Huh, Kang Wang Shizi cursed at someone on the street? That doesn't seem
illegal?

There are even officials who ate someone's food without paying. This one
needs further investigation before drawing a conclusion.

Every day, he had to go through a pile of useful and useless denunciations.

Having sat in this position as the Prefect of Jingzhao for only two years, he
felt he had been losing his hair and aging rapidly.

As he received the last denunciation letter, he was stunned by its thickness.

How much did they write in it?

Could it be another case of a village chief's son stealing melons from one
household and trampling on the seedlings of another?

He casually opened the envelope and quickly scanned through the contents.
The more he read, the more serious his expression became. Before finishing
the letter, he trembled and said, "Quickly, immediately send someone to
invite Zhang Daren from the Ministry of Justice to come over."

"Daren," the yamen runner said with a distressed face, "The old man who
guards the gate of the Ministry of Justice said that if our department bothers
them with small matters again, they will set their dogs loose on us."

"This is not a small matter. This is a denunciation letter written by an

assassin, related to several major cases in the capital!"

The yamen runner realized the seriousness of the matter and didn't dare to
joke with the magistrate anymore. He quickly rushed towards the Ministry
of Justice.
The Prefect of Jingzhao, with his hands trembling, anxiously finished
reading the thick letter. After he was done with the letter, countless
speculations surged in his mind.

Who wants to hire an assassin to kill Fushou Junzhu?

Could this person be the one who sent other assassins to kill the Crown
Prince?

The Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu were attacked by assassins in broad
daylight, and the Emperor was furious. The entire court was on edge. The
young nobles and aristocratic ladies who usually liked to wander around
outside dared not stroll on the streets today. It shows how serious this
matter was.

They had only discovered a few clues this morning, all pointing to a hidden
mastermind in the capital. Now they had received a denunciation letter from
an assassin, its contents meticulously written. They didn't know if it was
true or false.

"Bring someone to investigate the old man who was killed on the street
some time ago, also find out who he had contact with recently," The Prefect
of Jingzhao pondered for a moment, "Wait, don't rush. When the people
from the Ministry of Justice arrive later, go and investigate together with
them."

Although he didn't want to admit it, in terms of investigating and solving

cases, the people from the Ministry of Justice were more capable.

Zhang Shuo and Pei Jihuai heard about the denunciation letter and hurriedly
rushed to the Prefect of Jingzhao. After reading the letter handed over by
the Prefect of Jingzhao, both of them felt somewhat incredulous.

"An assassin... also writing a denunciation letter?" Even Zhang Shuo, who
was well-informed, was shocked. This letter not only mentioned the
assassination attempt on the Crown Prince but also brought up some cases
in which they were unjustly blamed in the past. Some of these cases were
secretly handled by the Prefect of Jingzhao and the Ministry of Justice, not
known to ordinary people.

"No matter whether the contents of this letter are credible or not, we still
have to investigate according to the clues provided," Pei Jihuai quickly gave
the order for the people from the Ministry of Justice and the Prefect of
Jingzhao to investigate based on the killer's clues.

With the involvement of the Ministry of Justice, they soon learned which
people the old man had contact with in the period before his death. Not only
people, but even the fact that the old man had fed two stray dogs on the
roadside was also recorded.

"A maid from Royal Princess Leyang Estate actually had contact with this
person?" Pei Jihuai's gaze swept over a long list and finally settled on the
name of a woman.

This woman's name was followed by a note indicating that she was a maid
from Royal Princess Leyang Estate.

"This old man is a street performer. How could he have any connections
with a maid from Royal Princess Leyang Estate?" Pei Jihuai frowned,
"Daren, it seems we have to go into the palace and seek an imperial decree."

The Prefect of Jingzhao quickly said, "Zhang Daren, Pei Daren, this case is
of great importance. I, as a minor official, cannot meddle in this case. You
both may be burdened with it."

As a lowly official, he couldn't handle a case involving the imperial family.

In the Chenyang Palace, Emperor Changlong looked at the Crown Prince,

who had been smiling since noon till now, and threw a few documents at
him. The Crown Prince didn't mind and patiently finished reviewing them.

"Yuansu," Emperor Changlong looked at the Crown Prince with concern,

"Are you alright?"
"Father Emperor, Erchen is fine," The Crown Prince smiled and said, "By
the way, if those brightly colored gemstones in Father Emperor's private
treasury are not in use, Erchen will take them for now."

"Why do you want to take them?"

"To make jewelry for Erchen's future wife. Father Emperor's future
daughter-in-law is so beautiful, she deserves some pretty jewelry," The
Crown Prince said, "The Eastern Palace should also be renovated.
Otherwise, it won't look bright enough during the grand wedding."

Emperor Changlong: "..."

"Let me remind you that General Wei and General Hua haven't agreed to
this marriage yet."

"Erchen's future happiness relies on Father Emperor," The Crown Prince

said, "Erchen truly loves Fushou Junzhu, Father Emperor must grant us
your blessing."

Emperor Changlong was disgusted by the Crown Prince's words and waved
his hand, "If you want gemstones, take them. Just don't disgust Zhen."

"Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness; the Minister of Justice, Zhang Shuo,
seeks an audience."

"Announce him," Emperor Changlong's face immediately turned serious. If

he didn't thoroughly investigate and expose the truth behind the attack on
the Crown Prince this time, there would be no safety left in the capital.

After Zhang Shuo entered and reported what he had found, before he could
seek permission to investigate Royal Princess Leyang's involvement, he
saw Emperor Changlong's stern expression and heard him say, "Investigate!
Immediately take people to investigate Royal Princess Leyang! If anyone
dares to obstruct... charge them with treason!!"

Emperor Changlong was usually benevolent and willing to support his

siblings, but if anyone dared to harm his most beloved son, he would
destroy their entire family!

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 76 – Pretentious

Having received the imperial decree, Zhang Shuo wasted no time and
immediately headed to Royal Princess Leyang Estate with his men.

The gatekeeper of Royal Princess Leyang's residence, looking at the

relentless intrusion of the officials from the Ministry of Justice, raised his
chin and said, "Who are you? This is Royal Princess Leyang Estate. You
can't trespass here."

"Apologies," Zhang Shuo took out the imperial decree, "I am acting on the
orders of His Majesty to bring Miss Xie from your esteemed estate to the
Ministry of Justice for questioning."

The gatekeeper became flustered, unsure whether to let these people in or

stop them.

The crimson gate slowly opened from the inside, producing a heavy
creaking sound. Zhang Shuo glanced inside and saw Royal Princess Leyang
wearing a dark-colored brocade robe, her face grave, without any trace of a
smile, "Zhang Daren from the Ministry of Justice?"

"Zhang Shuo pays respects to Royal Princess Leyang."

"Why are you here today?" Royal Princess Leyang looked puzzled,
seemingly not understanding why the Ministry of Justice officials had
aggressively approached her doorstep.

"Miss Xie from your esteemed estate is suspected of plotting against the
Crown Prince. I am ordered to apprehend Miss Xie and bring her to the
Ministry of Justice for questioning," Zhang Shuo's words had just landed
when Royal Princess Leyang staggered, seemingly unable to accept it, "Is
there some misunderstanding? My daughter has been timid since childhood
and has had a close relationship with the Crown Prince. How could she...
how could she..."

"Royal Princess, please understand the difficulties I face," Zhang Shuo's

expression remained unchanged.

Royal Princess Leyang turned pale, hesitated for a long time, and finally
ordered her servants to lead the officials from the Ministry of Justice inside.

"Zhang Daren, my daughter is delicate. Please... refrain from using harsh

measures," Royal Princess Leyang invited Zhang Shuo to sit and have a
chat with her inside her residence, but seeing Zhang Shuo delaying and
refusing, she could only lower her head and plead, "My daughter would
never do such a thing. I implore you, Zhang Daren, to investigate
thoroughly."

"Please rest assured, Royal Princess. I am merely following standard

procedure. Once it is determined that Miss Xie has no involvement, I will
send her back," After uttering these words, Zhang Shuo remained silent, not
giving Royal Princess Leyang any face.

He knew very well that with such a major incident, regardless of whether
Royal Princess Leyang Estate could clear the suspicion, the Emperor would
no longer treat Royal Princess Leyang and her family kindly in the future.
Since it concerned the Crown Prince, he wasn't afraid of offending anyone.

Xie Yao was dressing up in her courtyard when the officials from the
Ministry of Justice kicked open the door. She looked at them
expressionlessly, "Who allowed you to rudely barge in?"

The officials from the Ministry of Justice ignored her words, approached
her, tied her up along with her personal maid, and left without leaving her
any dignity.

"What are you doing?!" Xie Yao exclaimed, "Offending an imperial family
relative is a grave offense."
However, no matter how she shouted, the officials from the Ministry of
Justice remained silent and dragged her onto a rudimentary carriage. If it
weren't for her special status, perhaps it wouldn't be a carriage she was
entering, but a prisoner's wagon.

"Zhang Daren..." Royal Princess Leyang chased after them to the door,
looking at her daughter, who had already been confined inside the carriage,
taking a deep breath. She stared at Zhang Shuo with a cold gaze, "I implore
you, Zhang Shuo, to thoroughly investigate the case and clear the innocent."

"Please rest assured, I will not let a single guilty person go free," Zhang
Shuo bowed, "I take my leave."

Royal Princess Leyang watched the officials from the Grand Court
hurriedly leave and stood at the entrance of her estate for a long time,
unable to snap out of her daze.

"If Miss Xie truly did this, she has brought calamity upon her entire
family," Zhang Shuo's attendant whispered softly, "Royal Princess Leyang's
expression just now... she looked so pitiful."

"You, someone who earns only two taels of silver per month, actually have
the leisure to sympathize with a princess of the nation," Zhang Shuo set
down his teacup, "It seems you have too little to occupy yourself with on
regular days."

"Master, I apologize for my mistake," The attendant quickly pleaded for

forgiveness.

Zhang Shuo leaned against the carriage without saying a word, but his years
of experience in handling cases told him that Royal Princess Leyang was
somewhat strange.

Perhaps... as a high-ranking princess, she was too accommodating.

According to the temperament of the imperial family members, when they

see someone trying to take away their child, regardless of whether they
were justified or not, they usually create a scene first, preventing them from
taking the person away, and then run to the palace, crying and pleading with
the Emperor. That was the normal procedure.

Royal Princess Leyang being so understanding and cooperative made him

somewhat uncomfortable.

Hua Liuli, who was weak and injured, enjoyed the top treatment of a
princess in Shoukang Palace. When she opened her eyes, someone wiped
her hands and rinsed her mouth. She was fed during meals, and when she
was feeling bored, someone would recite her stories. The Empress Dowager
and the Crown Prince were worried about her boredom and even arranged
for several female performers to entertain her in her courtyard.

After being cared for for nearly half a month, she could finally move
slightly. At least she could move her arms a little without worrying about
the wound tearing open.

The wound had healed well, but the new flesh was itchy, making it difficult
to bear. The Crown Prince was worried that she would scratch the wound
with her hands, causing infection. So every day, he found ways to keep her
entertained. If it weren't for his duties in the Chenyang Palace, where he had
to handle political affairs with the Emperor Changlong, he would probably
stick around in Shoukang Palace every day.

Finally, it was because Hua Liuli said, "I believe Your Royal Highness can
do your best" that he obediently returned to the Chenyang Palace.

"Indeed, one person can influence another," The Empress Dowager smiled
and said, "This child has been spoiled by his father since childhood and
loves to be lazy. With you around, it has saved his father a lot of worry."

Hua Liuli thought to herself, when it comes to pampering children, the

Empress Dowager is not one to be outdone.

"Imperial Grandmother, I wouldn't call it one person can influence another.

It's more like willingly offering oneself," The Crown Prince walked in
briskly. He was dressed in a new set of brocade robes, which made him
look handsome and upright. Even those who knew about his bad temper
would probably find it hard to resist being moved when they saw him like
this.

The Empress Dowager was amused by the Crown Prince's shameless

remarks, shaking her head repeatedly as she got up and said, "This Grieving
One will go to the garden to enjoy the flowers. You, youngsters, can
entertain yourselves."

Although she was already an old Empress Dowager, she understood not to
disturb the sweet moments of the younger generation.

"Is the wound still itchy today?" Without needing Hua Liuli's maidservant
to prompt him, the Crown Prince voluntarily sat on the round stool beside
the bed.

"Itchy," Hua Liuli groaned, "It's easy to get injured, but it's hard to heal..."

"This ointment was obtained from the Imperial Medical Bureau. Applying
it will relieve the itching sensation a bit," The Crown Prince handed the
medicine to Yuan Yi, "Let your maidservant apply it for you."

Hua Liuli stared at him.

He looked back at Hua Liuli.

"Your Royal Highness, when young ladies apply their medicine, men
shouldn't sneak a peek."

The Crown Prince blushed and sighed helplessly, "You're deliberately

teasing Gu again," He stood up and said to Hua Liuli, "Gu will sit outside
for a while. Once you've changed the medicine, Gu will accompany you for
a walk in the Imperial Flower Garden. You've been cooped up in the room
for quite some time, and your complexion has become pale, which makes
Gu feel concerned."

After lying in bed for so many days, Hua Liuli herself also felt
uncomfortable. Upon hearing the Crown Prince's words, she immediately
agreed.
Seeing that Hua Liuli readily agreed to his suggestion, the Crown Prince,
feeling that he held a significant position in her heart, happily left the room.

"You're out so soon?" The Empress Dowager, who had claimed to go and
enjoy the flowers, saw the Crown Prince come out with a smile on his face
and kindly said, "Back when Liuli was living here with this Grieving One,
you used to come here often. This Grieving One knew that you had other
intentions."

"Imperial Grandmother, at that time, I just wanted to visit you," The Crown
Prince accepted the tea served by a palace maid and placed it in front of the
Empress Dowager, "Please don't misunderstand my filial piety."

"This Grieving One knows you're filial, but the way you look at Liuli, this
Grieving One can see it clearly," The Empress Dowager's favorite grandson
was the Crown Prince. Seeing him happy made her happy too, "On the
night of the Lantern Festival, this Grieving One heard that Liuli
accompanied you to play outside the palace, which reminded this Grieving
One of the past..."

"Imperial Grandmother..." The Crown Prince looked at the Empress

Dowager with concern. The Empress Dowager and the late emperor had a
relationship that the people in the palace preferred not to mention.

"It's been so long since those events happened, this Grieving One has long
since let go," The Empress Dowager patted the Crown Prince's arm, "Just
don't follow in your grandfather's footsteps, deceiving girls with promises
for half a lifetime and then making promises of a lifetime to others."

The Empress Dowager had both hatred and love for the late emperor, who
had coldly abandoned her when he turned his back. He was equally ruthless
towards their son. The Empress Dowager often thought that perhaps it was
because of the unfortunate experiences of the past that her own son, the
current emperor, treated the Crown Prince so well. He neither indulged in
the pleasures of women nor showed excessive favoritism to any concubine.

Her son had a shadow hanging over him throughout his life because of the
late emperor. That's why she didn't want her grandson to become a man like
his grandfather.

"Imperial Grandmother, I wouldn't dare to harm Liuli, nor do I want to. You
can rest assured," The Crown Prince knew what the Empress Dowager was
worried about. While making a promise, he tried to amuse the Empress
Dowager with his words.

"What do you mean you wouldn't dare?" The Empress Dowager was
quickly amused by the Crown Prince, and a smile appeared on her face,
"Liuli is gentle and kind, not a fierce lion from the east. You're just talking
nonsense."

"What I mean is, with you here, Imperial Grandmother, how could I dare to
harm her?" The Crown Prince smiled, "In Imperial Grandmother's heart,
your grandson was picked up on the streets, while Liuli is the pearl in your
palm."

"Only realizing that now, Your Royal Highness?" Hua Liuli walked out with
the support of her maidservants. She lightly covered her lips and smiled,
"Your Royal Highness should treat your subject well. Otherwise, I'll have to
let the Empress Dowager decide."

"That's right," the Empress Dowager said, seeing Hua Liuli. She joyfully
pushed the Crown Prince aside, "The other day, this Grieving One already
said that whoever offends you in the palace, this Grieving One will take
care of it. So, don't worry, this Grieving One will support you."

"My dear Imperial Grandmother, please treat your grandson well," The
Crown Prince pleaded repeatedly, making the Empress Dowager laugh and
smile. Then he walked with Hua Liuli out of the Shoukang Palace.

In the eyes of a lover, everything is beautiful. Hua Liuli felt that the Crown
Prince not only looks handsome but also shows filial piety to his elders. To
amuse the Empress Dowager, he didn't hold back at all.

"Be careful," The Crown Prince saw some steps ahead and was afraid that
Hua Liuli might fall and tear her wound. He quickly reached out and lightly
supported her waist, then quickly withdrew his hand.
He looked around, seeing no one nearby, and pitifully said, "We don't even
have an official status, so Gu is afraid that even if Gu helps to support you,
rumors might spread and damage your reputation."

"Your Royal Highness, everyone knows that I'm frail and weak. Even if
Your Royal Highness helps me, others won't think much of it," Hua Liuli
said, her face pale with a sickly pallor under the sunlight. She appeared
extremely weak, making the Crown Prince wish he could pick her up and
carry her.

"Gu actually wishes they would think more," the Crown Prince muttered
softly, "Gu intended to have Father Emperor send someone to propose the
marriage to your Hua Family Estate, but Gu was afraid you might think Gu
is being presumptuous. What do you think Gu should do?"

Looking at the pitiful Crown Prince, Hua Liuli coughed lightly, covering
her mouth with a handkerchief. She was wearing a loose palace gown
today, with her hair simply tied up. Paired with her pale face, she appeared
even more fragile. She blinked and looked at the Crown Prince without
saying anything.

Consort Xian was in the garden, admiring the flowers. When she saw the
Crown Prince with Hua Liuli, she wanted to avoid them. She couldn't stand
the Crown Prince's mouth and didn't want to argue with him. It was better to
avoid him early on.

A few days ago, her son found her and sorrowfully said that the Crown
Prince intended to marry Hua Liuli. She was completely stunned. What was
His Majesty thinking? Was he so eager to have the daughter of the Hua
family marry the Crown Prince and force him to ascend the throne?

Fortunately, there hadn't been any news of His Majesty sending someone to
the Hua family for a marriage proposal these past few days. Perhaps it was
just a rumor, and His Majesty hadn't made up his mind yet?

She was planning to leave when she turned her head and saw Royal
Princess Leyang hastily walking out from the opposite corner. It was
obvious that she was heading toward the Crown Prince. Seeing this,
Consort Xian lost any desire to leave, instead heading towards the Crown
Prince.

She couldn't resist the impulse to cause trouble for Leyang.

Royal Princess Leyang sought an audience with Emperor Changlong, but he

denied her. The other consorts in the palace also closed their doors, shutting
her out. So when she saw the Crown Prince, she didn't hesitate and went up
to him.

"Crown Prince..."

"Royal Princess Leyang, please walk slower," Yuan Yi stepped forward and
blocked Royal Princess Leyang, "The physician said that Junzhu is very
sensitive to wind. If you walk too quickly and create a breeze, how will it
affect Junzhu?"

Royal Princess Leyang: "???"

She had heard the phrase "delicate and unable to withstand the wind", but
she never expected someone to be unable to tolerate the wind caused by
others walking?

Even if it was an act, it should have some limits, right?

However, Fushou Junzhu didn't seem to think so. She pitifully looked at
Royal Princess Leyang and weakly leaned against the Crown Prince, her
voice feeble as she said, "Royal Princess, please forgive my maidservant's
impudence. She was just overly protective..."

"Liuli, you're so weak. Don't speak anymore," The Crown Prince intently
gazed at Hua Liuli, his expression full of concern. Then he turned to Royal
Princess Leyang and said, "Aunt, considering Hua Liuli's delicate health,
please show some understanding."

Royal Princess Leyang was suddenly at a loss for words. She hadn't even
said anything yet, but how did it suddenly become about whether she could
show her understanding or not?
She glanced at the pretentious Hua Liuli, then looked at the Crown Prince,
who was defending her at every turn, blindly loyal to her antics. She took a
deep breath and forced a smile, "Crown Prince, I came here today to ask
you for a favor..."

"Oh, isn't this Royal Princess Leyang..." Consort Xian waved her
handkerchief and walked over, laughing raucously, "I heard that your
daughter has committed a crime and been locked up in the Ministry of
Justice's dungeon prison. As her mother, how can you find time to come to
the palace and play? Let me tell you, you're also heartless. Even if your
daughter made a mistake, she is still the one you carried in your womb for
ten months. Shouldn't you go to the prison and bring her blankets and
food?"

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 77 – Misery

The cunning Consort Xian, who considered herself a master of palace

intrigue, had a principle: she could bend when necessary. When the other
party was in a favorable position, she would kneel before them. But when
they were in trouble, she would bounce back and trample them.

So over the years, despite her intense hatred for the Crown Prince, Consort
Xian knew that the Emperor and the Empress Dowager favored him the
most. In front of the Crown Prince, she would always be submissive. The
Emperor had always treated Royal Princess Leyang as a sister, so when the
Royal Princess put on airs, Consort Xian pretended not to notice.

But now, things were different. This wicked Royal Princess Leyang was in
trouble! Consort Xian dared not scold the Crown Prince, but she would
certainly make things difficult for Royal Princess Leyang!

"Consort Xian?" The exhausted-looking Royal Princess Leyang asked,

"Weren't you ill and confined to your palace, unable to receive guests? How
is it that within an hour, you've suddenly recovered from your illness?"

"I must say, my dear sister-in-law, you are quite unreasonable," Consort
Xian threw her flower-embroidered handkerchief aside and said in a
meaningful tone, "As your sister-in-law, I'm giving you some face by saying
that I'm not fit to receive guests due to illness. Do you want me to be blunt
and say that I don't want to see you?"

"Consort Xian, you're going too far!" Royal Princess Leyang's face turned
pale, "You're just a consort. What qualifications do you have to meddle in
my affairs?"
"You failed to discipline your daughter who dared to plot against the Crown
Prince. What's wrong with scolding you? It's your fault for failing to
educate your daughter. You deserve the scolding," Consort Xian scolded
with great pleasure. She then turned to the Crown Prince and smiled, "Isn't
that right, Crown Prince?"

The Crown Prince, standing beside Hua Liuli, silently watched the drama
unfold.

When Consort Xian looked at him, he raised an eyebrow with a smile but
didn't say a word.

Seeing the Crown Prince's reaction, Consort Xian felt reassured. If the
Crown Prince didn't speak up, it meant he agreed. As long as the Crown
Prince didn't take the side of that wicked Royal Princess Leyang, she could
argue with her all day and night.

"Oh, what do you mean by going too far? Back then, when you bullied me
in front of my son, you didn't say that," Consort Xian thought for a moment,
"Oh, I see, you called it teaching manners."

"Today, as your little sister-in-law, I'll also teach you some manners."

Bullying the mother in front of her child...

Hua Liuli, who was originally enjoying the spectacle, couldn't help but turn
her head towards the Crown Prince when Consort Xian brought up the
matter. Did Royal Princess Leyang, in the past, also bully Empress
Gonghui?

She gently tugged on the Crown Prince's sleeve and whispered in his ear, "I
think Consort Xian scolded her well."

The Crown Prince chuckled softly, "Hua Liuli, our minds are truly
connected. Our opinions are so similar."

"Oh my," Hua Liuli smiled at the Crown Prince and suddenly changed her
expression. She covered her mouth in astonishment and looked at Royal
Princess Leyang, "Royal Princess Leyang, I thought you were just hostile
towards your sisters and enjoyed being physically aggressive. I didn't
expect you to dare insult even the Emperor's beloved consorts. How could
you be like this?"

Royal Princess Leyang couldn't bear it any longer, "You're just a child, you
have no right to interfere in adults' matters!"

Seeing Hua Liuli reminded her of the humiliation she had suffered last time.
Seeing her dare to mention it, Royal Princess Leyang retorted, "Who are
you, an outsider, to meddle in imperial family affairs? Are the Hua family
planning a rebellion?"

Consort Xian, witnessing Hua Liuli speaking up in her defense, didn't mind
her previous dislike of Hua Liuli. She immediately said, "You always throw
around the accusation of rebellion. Who are you trying to scare? Everyone
knows that the Hua family has always been loyal to the imperial family. By
slandering loyal ministers and generals, aren't you chilling the hearts of the
officials?"

Royal Princess Leyang realized that she had spoken in anger and made a
mistake. Her visit to the palace today was not to ask the Emperor to release
her daughter but to present herself as a helpless and unaware mother.

At this critical moment, offending the Hua family was extremely unwise.
But she couldn't blame herself for losing her temper. It was simply because
Hua Liuli's pretentious behavior was so disgusting. How could the Crown
Prince be fond of such a person?

"Aunt Leyang, Liuli is Gu's savior and the future Crown Princess whom Gu
wants to marry into the Eastern Palace. By accusing the Hua family of
rebellion, are you doubting my intentions?" The Crown Prince's face turned
cold as he spoke, "Gu never expected Aunt Leyang to have such a
misconception about Gu. Gu is deeply saddened."

"Crown Prince misunderstood. I had no such intention..."

"Husband and wife are one entity. By insulting Gu's betrothed, you insult
Gu," the Crown Prince sighed, "There is no need for further explanation.
Gu already understands your meaning."

"Since Aunt Leyang holds Gu and Gu's betrothed in such contempt, we will
no longer linger here to disturb you," the Crown Prince said, and with that,
he supported Hua Liuli and slowly walked away in another direction.

"Crown Prince..."

"Royal Princess Leyang," a eunuch attendant by the Crown Prince's side

intervened with a fake smile, extending his hand to stop her, "Fushou
Junzhu is physically weak and prone to illness, and she is still recovering
from a severe injury. This old servant implores you not to disturb the Crown
Prince and the future Crown Princess any further."

Royal Princess Leyang was left fuming. She hadn't done anything, yet she
was being portrayed as a heinous tyrant by these people.

"Fine, fine, fine..." She uttered the word "fine" three times out of anger.
Even the eunuchs by the Crown Prince's side could humiliate her. What
dignity did she, a Royal Princess, have left?

Consort Xian felt relieved seeing Royal Princess Leyang's face turn pale
with anger, but something didn't feel quite right. When did Hua Liuli and
the Crown Prince get betrothed? How did they become a betrothed couple?

In the world of palace intrigue, she was a professional. It was impossible for
her to be unaware of such important news.

"Tian family's Consort, I will remember this humiliation today," Royal

Princess Leyang coldly smiled at the eunuch who blocked her way, "Go
back and tell your Crown Prince that Consort Xian managed to take
advantage of me today and undermine me. If the Crown Prince makes even
the slightest mistake in the future, this esteemed Consort Xian will treat him
with the same contempt and insults as she did to me today."
"Ugh!" Consort Xian didn't expect Princess Leyang to bring up such
trouble. She quickly retorted, "Don't compare yourself to His Royal
Highness the Crown Prince. You're not worthy!"

In the palace, which woman didn't know how to be flexible and adaptable?

"Hmph," Royal Princess Leyang sneered, "We'll see."

"Please rest assured, Royal Princess Leyang, that day will never come," the
eunuch from the Eastern Palace raised an eyebrow.

Consort Xian breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the Crown Prince still
trusted her.

"The Crown Prince will never be like you today..." The eunuch from the
Eastern Palace bowed respectfully, "Consort Xian, Royal Princess Leyang,
this old servant will take my leave."

Consort Xian: "..."

She felt humiliated.

"Betrothed?" In a secluded place, Hua Liuli looked at the Crown Prince

with a half-smile.

"Gu is just telling others about our future," the Crown Prince justified
confidently, "It's not considered lying, right?"

Hua Liuli raised an eyebrow and smiled without saying a word.

"Could it be... Liuli doesn't want to be betrothed to Gu?" The Crown Prince
lowered his eyelids, "If you think it's too soon, Gu can talk to Father
Emperor and ask him to postpone the marriage proposal to your esteemed
family."

"It's fine, it's just a betrothal," Hua Liuli generously smiled, "As long as the
Crown Prince is happy."

The Crown Prince instantly brightened with a smile, "That's good."

"After all, a betrothal is not the same as marriage. If the Crown Prince isn't
good enough, we can still call off the betrothal," Hua Liuli teased, "Don't
you think so, Your Royal Highness?"

The Crown Prince: "..."

It seemed that even with a betrothal, one couldn't let their guard down.

Little did they know, due to the incident with one of their envoy's death, the
Kingdom of Daimao was worried about angering the Emperor and Crown
Prince of Great Jin. They hurriedly sent messengers back to their capital,
riding at full speed. The news frightened Daimao's old Emperor so much
that he couldn't sleep all night. That very night, he ordered the preparation
of a generous apology gift and sent a remarkably beautiful princess to Great
Jin, claiming it to be a gift of apology.

The poor Princess of Daimao cried throughout the journey. However, in

order to appease the anger of the Great Jin and to arrive before the Hundred
Nations Banquet officially began, they rode without rest, finally arriving in
the capital of the Great Jin.

Princess of Daimao sat dignified inside the carriage. Although she was very
curious about the capital of the Great Jin, she didn't dare to lift the curtain
and take a peek. It wasn't until she heard the laughter and chatter of women
outside that she couldn't contain her curiosity any longer and secretly lifted
the carriage curtain to take a glimpse.

What a bustling scene it was.

She stared in astonishment at the world outside the carriage. Those women
walking hand in hand, were they not even wearing veils?

And those couples holding hands, wouldn't the passersby criticize their
behavior?

"Princess," the etiquette Momo said expressionlessly, "As a young lady,

your gaze should not wander like this. Such behavior is too frivolous.
Please restrain yourself."
The Princess of Daimao's gaze dimmed, and she quickly corrected her
posture, "Yes."

"Now that you are in Great Jin, your every word and action will represent
all the women of Daimao," the etiquette Momo said, "I've heard that the
women in Great Jin have very frivolous manners. You must never imitate
their behavior."

The Princess of Daimao nodded slightly and no longer looked outside the
sedan curtain. Her gaze became numb and lifeless.

Before the arrival of the Princess of Daimao in the capital, several consorts
in the palace had already inquired and learned that Daimao had sent a
princess for a marriage alliance in order to seek peace.

The consorts were panicked. They feared that the Emperor would assign
this princess to one of their sons as a concubine, but they also feared that
the Emperor would bring this princess into the imperial harem.

Over the years, the Emperor's harem had always been occupied by the same
old people, and there had been no newcomers. Now, with the arrival of a
young and delicate princess from Daimao, wouldn't she overshadow them
all?

Men always liked young and delicate women. How could they, old women,
compare to those young and delicate girls?

After much thought, all they could do was advise their children to please
the Emperor more. If a girl from another country entered the palace, they
must keep their distance.

What could the princess do? She had the blood of another country flowing
in her veins. Even if she gave birth to a prince, it would be impossible to
shake the position of other princes.

With such thoughts in mind, they couldn't help but feel sour in their hearts.
Even the consorts who usually liked to secretly compare themselves had
become quieter and more obedient.
Suddenly facing a calm and peaceful harem, Emperor Changlong felt
somewhat uncomfortable. He summoned Zhao Sancai and asked in
confusion, "Sancai, have those palace consorts caused any trouble again?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble servant has not received any
news."

Emperor Changlong frowned. It was strange. The more they acted like this,
the more anxious he felt.

Zhao Sancai added, "Your Majesty, the Emperor of Daimao, because of his
admiration for our Great Jin culture, has specially dispatched several young
scholars and a princess to the capital to study. How would you like to
arrange it?"

"They, the people of Daimao, always boast of their exceptional talent. Why
are they sending people to study now?" Emperor Changlong took the letter
handed over by Zhao Sancai. The Emperor of Daimao mentioned
something about his beautiful daughter, the Princess of Daimao, and the
wise and martial Crown Prince of Great Jin. He requested the Emperor of
Great Jin to "handle it favorably and kindly..."

Emperor Changlong furrowed his brows deeply, "Other countries send their
crown princes as hostages, but Daimao casually sends a princess just to
fulfill their obligation."

"Just arrange them as you please. Whatever the princesses and noble young
ladies in the capital are studying, let that princess study the same. As for
those scholars, send them all back," Emperor Changlong impatiently said,
"We have no interest in playing along with this."

"This old servant thought Your Majesty might bring this princess into the
harem," Zhao Sancai, who had been by Emperor Changlong's side for many
years, dared to say a few words to lighten the atmosphere.

"Zhen doesn't think the Emperor of Daimao wants to marry the little
princess to me. He probably wants her to be a concubine for Yuansu,"
Emperor Changlong sneered, "Zhen is already busy in preparing to propose
the marriage to the Hua family on behalf of the Crown Prince. Zhen doesn't
have time to accommodate these people."

They sent a princess for a marriage alliance in fear of the might of the Great
Jin Dynasty's army. Daimao wanted to send her, but that didn't mean Great
Jin wanted to marry her. Emperor Changlong wouldn't bring trouble upon
his most beloved son.

Daimao wanted to send their princess into the imperial harem or the Eastern
Palace under the guise of studying. But when they learned that Emperor
Changlong had ordered their princess to attend classes at the Imperial
Academy, they were all stunned.

Was the Emperor of Great Jin so straightforward? Did he really make them
attend classes when he said they were coming to study?

"It's fine, Your Highness, don't worry too much. We're not the most
unfortunate ones," the Daimao envoy comforted the Third Prince, He
Yuanting, "I heard that the envoy from the Kingdom of Jinpo entered the
city in the middle of the night yesterday and had been staying in a guest
residence, afraid to go out."

As a defeated country, they had no choice but to come even though they
knew the Hundred Nations Banquet was a showcase of power by the Great
Jin Dynasty. And after arriving, they couldn't be too ostentatious, fearing
the wrath of the Great Jin people.

Happiness... is all relative.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 78 – Clearly and
Transparently

The Kingdom of Jinpo... Jinpo indeed didn't dare to wander around the
streets of the capital. If it weren't for them leading troops to attack the Great
Jin and killing many innocent civilians, this prolonged war wouldn't have
broken out.

As the saying goes, "The one who flirts first is the cheap one". They were
originally in the wrong, and what's even more regrettable is that they lost,
and they lost miserably. Their second prince was even captured alive by the
Great Jin.

"This time, His Majesty commanded us here to Great Jin to bring the
Second Prince back," sighed one of the Jinpo's envoys, "I'm afraid Great Jin
won't comply with our wishes."

"Ah," The other envoys also sighed. At that time, Hua Yingting and Wei
Mingyue had divided their forces and conquered ten of their cities,
frightening His Majesty and the nobles in the capital to the point where they
almost fled overnight. If it weren't for some court officials advising them to
not flee, Jinpo might have fallen into chaos.

In the past, they had thought that if Great Jin didn't have Hua Yingting and
Wei Mingyue, it would be better. But now they didn't even dare to think that
way. The names, Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue, had become synonymous
to fear in Jinpo. If any child dared to misbehave, adults would say, "If Hua
and Wei catch you, you'll behave and not make a fuss."

Even as adults, their legs trembled at the thought of meeting Wei Mingyue
and Hua Yingting.
"The letter we presented to the palace, I wonder if the Emperor Great Jin
will agree," their main objectives for this visit were threefold: to show their
willingness to surrender to Great Jin, to take Prince A'Wa back with them,
and to negotiate for a lesser compensation for the war reparations.

"Who knows, but I think the Emperor of Great Jin might not have the
inclination to see us in the coming few days," whispered one of the Jinpo
envoys, "I heard that their Crown Prince was attacked recently, and they are
currently investigating the culprit."

The expressions of the group became solemn, and one of them said, "Do
you think... the Emperor of Great Jin might suspect us?"

The envoys looked at each other, "He shouldn't... There's no evidence."

"But the most suspicious ones are us, aren't we?" the one who spoke gave
an example, "Among all the countries that came to the Great Jin Dynasty,
which one hates the Great Jin Dynasty the most?"

Needless to say, it was Jinpo.

"Who wanted the Great Jin Dynasty to descend into chaos the most?"

Again, it was them.

"It is well known that the most beloved child of the Emperor of Great Jin is
the Crown Prince. It is rumored that this Crown Prince is both talented and
virtuous, raised personally by the Emperor of Great Jin, inheriting the
perfect governance principles of Emperor Changlong. If he were to die, the
next Emperor would certainly not follow Emperor Changlong's intentions,
and even the current state of the Great Jin Dynasty could change. For us,
Jinpo, it would be absolutely advantageous."

Speaking of this, they felt somewhat regretful. Why couldn't the assassins
kill the Great Jin Dynasty's Crown Prince?

"So now the question is, how do we prove that this matter has nothing to do
with us?"
"There's no way to prove it," An older Jinpo envoy said, "Buy more incense
and pray at the temple."

"Seek the help of high monks?"

"No, seek the protection of deities. Let's hope that our journey goes
smoothly."

Anything they did now was suspicious, so it was better to remain quiet and
stay in the guest residence, and not say or do anything to draw attention to
themselves.

However, as envoys from a country that actively provoked the Great Jin
Dynasty but was defeated, they naturally carried a strong presence. Even if
they never left the guest residence, there were countless people paying
attention to them.

In the dungeon prison of the Ministry of Justice, Prince A'Wa, who had
gained a lot of weight, lazily leaned against the wall and turned his head to
ask his neighboring cellmate, "Hey, have you been eating more recently?"

With rough skin, dark cheeks, and disheveled hair, Yunhan's body suddenly
stiffened, and he trembled as he held the yellowed bun in his hands, unable
to stop his hands from shaking.

He looked at his rough and cracked palms, with traces of unwashed mud in
the creases of his nails. He remained silent. No one who saw him now could
ever imagine that he was once the famous Yunhan, the qin player who made
ladies spend a fortune.

In the quarry, he had learned to fight for food with the others. Fair skin and
delicate features were replaced by rough muscles, and his shiny, smooth
hair was replaced by unruly and dry tangles.

Without exquisite clothes and accessories, without fair skin, he lost all his
beauty.
For a renowned beauty of the capital, eating very little was a fixed standard
for him. But now he could eat several pieces of hard bread and drink two or
three bowls of plain water in one breath.

The once-beautiful times felt like a fleeting dream, causing him both pain
and confusion.

He even doubted whether the people in the Ministry of Justice had already
discovered his true identity, which was why they were humiliating him like
this. But he couldn't figure out how he had been exposed in the first place.

"Hey, are you going to eat or not? If you're not eating, give it to me!" his
neighboring cellmate shouted. Without thinking, Yunhan stuffed the
remaining half of the bun into his mouth.

"Hey," The head jailer walked over and noticed Yunhan's action, wearing a
smile that was more of a sneer, "Looks like you've developed quite an
appetite. It shows that labor is good for the body and mind. You can even
eat more food."

He waved his hand and signaled the guards to clean up a heavily guarded
cell, "An important prisoner will be locked up here in half an hour. Stay
alert, all of you."

"Jailer, at this rate, our cells won't be enough," The guard hastily cleaned up
the cell and looked back at the prisoners who were behaving well and not
causing any trouble.

"Why don't you let me out? I can eat, but I can't work. I'm taking up space
here," Prince A'Wa spoke up, "When I get out, I'll give you a hundred gold
coins."

"Shut up," One prisoner picked up a stone and threw it at Ava, "This isn't
your place to interrupt when the jailers are speaking."

Prince A'Wa glared fiercely at the prisoner who threw the stone.

These people were so desperate to please the jailers.

"Speak nicely, don't throw things at people," The jailer pretended to
intervene, then he ignored Prince A'Wa and walked up to Yunhan's cell,
"Thanks to this prisoner, we were able to catch him."

Yunhan's heart skipped a beat, "What do you mean by that?"

"No particular meaning. You made a commendable report. You'll be

rewarded with half a bowl of braised pork for lunch," The jailer's words had
just fallen when the Imperial Guards from the Eastern Palace arrived,
escorting a man with shackles all over his body.

Although this man looked somewhat haggard, there was still a trace of
elegance about him. He was dressed in a blue robe, giving the impression of
a thin and weak scholar.

It seemed as if he heard the conversation between the jailer and Yunhan; he

slowly turned his head, his face expressionless as he glanced at Yunhan, his
eyes filled with unconcealable killing intent.

Yunhan was frightened and took several steps back.

The man seemed to pay no attention to his fear and silently entered the cell.

The jailer locked the cell door with the strongest cold iron lock and smiled
politely to the Imperial Guards, "Would esteemed officials like a cup of
tea?"

"No need. We have to return to the Eastern Palace to report to the Crown
Prince," The Imperial Guards were elite troops under the command of the
Crown Prince. They held a special status, so no one dared to provoke them.

"Tell your Crown Prince that no matter what he wants to know, I won't say
a word," the scholar in the blue robe sneered, "If you have the guts, go
ahead and kill me."

"Kill? Kill what?" The jailer said, "The new prisoner here doesn't know any
better. The quarry is short of people. Regardless of whether you speak or
not, you'll have to work."
The Imperial Guards didn't even spare a glance at the scholar in the blue
robe and arrogantly walked out of the prison.

The scholar in the blue robe looked at their retreating figures in disbelief.
Did they not want to know how he had come up with those brilliant plans?

He was the trusted strategist of the Master. Everyone under the Master's
command addressed him as "Young Master". Weren't these people curious
about his accomplices?

"Your Royal Highness," the Imperial Guards entered the Eastern Palace and
kneeled before the Crown Prince, "We are fortunate to have fulfilled your
command and captured the mastermind behind the kidnapping of Fushou
Junzhu."

"Rise," The Crown Prince walked forward and personally helped the
Imperial Guards up, "You have all worked hard."

"To share Your Royal Highness's worries is an honor for us," one of the
Imperial Guards said, "If it weren't for Your Royal Highness pointing us in
the right direction for investigation, we wouldn't have been able to capture
this cunning strategist."

"This person is extremely arrogant. He holds a grudge against Fushou

Junzhu for ruining his plans several times. He even had the audacity to
abduct two Junzhus in the capital city," the Crown Prince sneered, "This
type of person, who is so full of himself, will have specific habits in life,
such as choosing a superior position when drinking tea or eating, and
looking down on ordinary people. Even if he were dressed in coarse
clothes, he would still attract attention."

This person was indeed skilled in strategy, but he forgot that beneath the
heavens, there is no land that does not belong to the ruler. As long as he is
within the borders of Great Jin, he could not escape the pursuit of the
imperial family.

He looked down on ordinary people, but in reality, it was those ordinary

people who had discovered his whereabouts – the ones that could be seen
along the roadside.

"These kinds of people are always full of themselves. Once they are
imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice, there's no need to interrogate him or
treat him any special," the Crown Prince chuckled, "He should be involved
in all the dirty and tiring work."

In dealing with someone who considered himself above others, the best
method was not torture, but to let him experience the hardships of life.

Being practical was the most important aspect of being human, excessive
self-entitlement was not good.

What drove the scholar in the blue robe to the brink of collapse was that for
three whole days since his imprisonment, no one paid him any attention.
Furthermore, he had to join the other ordinary prisoners in shoveling horse
dung at the stables, carrying stones at the quarry, and digging manure pits
for the villagers in the village.

Had he gone mad, or were these people in Great Jin the crazy ones?!

In the evening, as he was being escorted back to the cell, he saw a group of
women wearing prisoner clothes walking slowly. One person seemed to be
mentally unstable, claiming to be a princess, yet these people treated her as
if she were beneath them.

Unfortunately, the female jailer in charge of them smiled insincerely and

said, "They were living their lives just fine, but now they've gone crazy. It
seems they've had too little exercise and eaten too much, causing their
brains to turn stupid. Their food will be halved tonight."

The scholar in the blue robe: "..."

Were the jailers in Great Jin, regardless of gender, all devils?

"Oh," Tian Ruidong saw a young nobleman with delicate skin and tender
flesh among the group of prisoners locked together and cheerfully said to
the prison warden, "Oh, there's a newcomer?" Tian Ruidong grinned at the
prison warden, "This is a new arrival? Can't handle the work and needs
some more practice?"

The scholar in the blue robe looked at Tian Ruidong with a dark expression.
If it weren't for Hua Liuli appearing halfway and disrupting his plans, this
young master of the Tian family would have died long ago.

If it weren't for Hua Liuli... If it weren't for Hua Liuli...

Hua Liuli touched her burning ears and secretly wondered who was cursing
her behind her back.

Looking at Zhao Sancai respectfully standing in front of her, Hua Liuli

gently placed her hand on her chest, weakly leaning against the bed, and
whispered, "Why did His Majesty send so many things over?"

"The Emperor saw that Junzhu is able to get up and walk outside. He
thought that Junzhu would like gold and silver jewelry, so he had this old
servant send them over," Zhao Sancai smiled and said, "Junzhu, just focus
on recovering in the palace. If you miss your family, you can invite them to
stay in the palace. The Emperor also said that you all will be one family in
the future, so Junzhu shouldn't feel restrained."

Hua Liuli: "..."

She had a feeling that the Emperor was greatly pleased with her and the
Crown Prince's betrothal. He couldn't wait to see them bow to the heavens
and pay respects to their ancestors right here and right now.

"This humble servant thanks His Majesty for his grace," Hua Liuli
pretended to rise and express her gratitude but was urged back by the palace
maid of the Shoukang Palace, "Junzhu, it's important to focus on your
recovery. There's no need to get up."

"Thank you," With the support of the palace maid, Hua Liuli reluctantly sat
up, "Chief Eunuch Zhao, I would like to ask you something."

"Junzhu, please speak," Zhao Sancai bowed and saluted.

"Has the mastermind behind the attempt on the Crown Prince's life been
identified?"

"All the evidence now points to Xie Yao, the daughter of Royal Princess
Leyang," Zhao Sancai didn't hide anything, "This old servant believes that
there will be results from the Ministry of Justice soon."

Xie Yao?!

She respectfully sent off the people from the Chenyang Palace.

Hua Liuli was somewhat surprised by the answer given by Zhao Sancai.

She had only thought that Xie Yao was interested in the Crown Prince, but
she didn't expect her to want to kill him.

She got up from the bed, "Yuan Yi, bring me a change of clothes."

"Junzhu, where are you going?"

"I'm going to the Ministry of Justice."

She wanted to meet this mad girl who had almost ruined the appearance of
her man.

"No, Junzhu, your injury hasn't healed yet," Yuan Yi advised, "If the Crown
Prince finds out, he will surely worry."

"Although I am injured and weak, for the sake of the person I care about, I
am willing to endure the pain and find out why she wanted to harm the
Crown Prince," Hua Liuli whispered in Yuan Yi's ear, "I'm afraid that by the
time I recover, she will have been beheaded, and I won't even have the
chance to scold her."

Yuan Yi: "..."

"Nubi understands. Nubi will prepare right away."

She remembers her grudges clearly and would not suffer any losses.
"Your Royal Highness!" A eunuch from the Eastern Palace rushed to the
Crown Prince, "Your Royal Highness, Fushou Junzhu heard about Xie
Yao's attempt to assassinate Your Royal Highness and has angrily rushed to
the Ministry of Justice."

The Crown Prince froze for a moment, then solemnly said, "Junzhu is weak
in health and still recovering. What if she gets exhausted? Gu will go and
check on her."

The eunuch from the Eastern Palace: "..."

Shouldn't His Royal Highness focus on the fact that Junzhu is about to
storm the Ministry of Justice?

Thinking of the delicate Junzhu, who was daring to challenge the Ministry
of Justice and its prison, all for the sake of the Crown Prince, it was a
wonderful display of affection.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 79 – True Love

"Are you sure we can really get in?" A Jinpo envoy looked at the heavily
guarded Ministry of Justice prison and hesitated, retracting his steps.

"I paid a hundred taels of silver to the gatekeeper," Another Jinpo envoy
wiped his tears with his sleeve, sadness apparent in his voice, "I never
thought the Second Prince would be imprisoned in a place like this. I
wonder how much suffering he has endured."

Just as they spoke, they saw the jailers escorting a group of prisoners back,
the sound of whips cracking in the air. The two envoys imagined the
Second Prince also enduring such torture and silently cried, their heads in
their hands.

To avoid attracting the attention of the Great Jin people, they deliberately
wore the popular clothes of the Great Jin and even covered their hair with
hats.

As they hesitated, a luxurious carriage stopped at the entrance of the

Ministry of Justice prison. The people inside the carriage seemed to be from
a noble family, even their attendants were dressed remarkably.

"Who is this esteemed person from Great Jin?" the Jinpo envoys cautiously
stood at a distance, not daring to approach.

Before long, a gorgeously dressed, frail-looking woman stepped out of the

carriage, surrounded by her maidservants. It was unclear what the
maidservants said to the guards at the entrance, but they quickly let her in.
Soon after, someone wearing the attire of a junior official of the Ministry of
Justice hurriedly followed.
Upon seeing this scene, the two envoys hesitated. If they were to approach
now, would they be stopped?

The Ministry of Justice dungeon was much cleaner than Hua Liuli had
imagined. There was no filthy sewage or sticky mess on the floor.

Upon entering the main gate, there were two separate paths, with the left
leading to the male cells and the right leading to the female cells. Seeing
several jailers urging a line of prisoners to the left, Hua Liuli stopped and
waited for them to enter before proceeding.

"Junzhu, among these prisoners, two people are looking at you as if they
know your identity," Yuan Yi whispered.

Hua Liuli casually glanced at them and coughed lightly, covering her mouth
with a handkerchief, "Don't mind them."

"Junzhu, please come this way." The jailer saw Hua Liuli's pale complexion
and weak countenance, he was very concerned that she might suddenly
faint. His voice unconsciously softened, as he worried that speaking too
loudly or forcefully would blow her away.

"Thank you," Hua Liuli softly thanked the jailer and walked into the door
on the right. She heard faint conversations mixed with sobbing, creating a
somber and oppressive atmosphere.

As she descended the steps, her gaze swept over the prisoners with various
expressions, slowly moving forward.

"Junzhu, you don't need to pay attention to these prisoners. Those

imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice dungeon are all wicked and
unforgivable criminals," the jailer worried that Junzhu would have a soft
heart and feel sympathy for the prisoners, so he quickly said, "Some of
them kidnapped young girls and forced them into the flesh trade, while
others killed the children left behind by their husbands' previous wives for
the sake of their family fortune. Although they may seem well-behaved
now, they showed no mercy when they committed their crimes."
"Please, stop speaking. These despicable criminals deserve to be punished,"
Yuan Yi interjected, "Junzhu is timid, so please refrain from mentioning
such depraved examples."

"You are right, I have been rash," the jailer said, relieved that Junzhu didn't
show any sympathy for the prisoners, "The suspect involved in the
attempted assassination of the Crown Prince has a very special status. To
prevent any accidents, her cell is located inside."

Xie Yao huddled in the corner, trembling, as she heard footsteps

approaching. Anxiously, she lifted her head and caught sight of Hua Liuli.
Without any control over herself, she rushed towards the cell door, "It's you,
why is it you?"

Hua Liuli halted her steps, looking expressionless at the seemingly

deranged Xie Yao.

"Are you here to mock me? Is that why?" Xie Yao's head banged against the
cell door, making a loud noise. Yet, she seemed oblivious to any pain as she
attempted to grab onto Hua Liuli, "Why haven't you died?"

"You wanted to kill the Crown Prince, you wanted me to die too. Why..."
Hua Liuli stared at Xie Yao, who desperately reached out but failed to grasp
her. With disbelief in her voice, she asked, "The Crown Prince and I have
no grievances with you, so why would you treat us like this"

"You stole the man I loved!" Xie Yao screamed in a sharp voice, "He was
the man I liked, and you all deserve to die, you vile people!"

"Junzhu, Nubi thinks there's something wrong with her," Yuan Yi

whispered, "She seems...mad."

"If she's truly mad, then how does she know about the most attractive man
in the capital?" Hua Liuli raised her folding fan and covered her mouth,
speaking softly, "She's simply pretending to be crazy, using this madness to
mask her twisted desires."
"Some people are inherently malicious and would sacrifice everything to
get what they want," Hua Liuli looked at the frenzied Xie Yao and suddenly
raised her voice, "Xie Yao, have you forgotten? The Crown Prince has
always preferred me over you."

"If it weren't for you, how could the Crown Prince not like me?" Xie Yao
glared at Hua Liuli, "It's all because of you, everything is your fault."

"Xie Yao, you're mistaken again," Hua Liuli twirled the handle of her
folding fan, her tone filled with innocent playfulness, "When I wasn't in the
capital, the Crown Prince never treated you specially."

"Oh, I remember now. The Crown Prince did mention you a couple of times
to me."

A smile appeared on Xie Yao's face, and she eagerly asked, "What did the
Crown Prince say about me?"

"He said..." Hua Liuli swayed her body and weakly leaned against Yuan Yi,
"He said, 'Although the second Miss Xie is mediocre, her eldest sister is a
talented girl. It's a pity that she's frail and passed away at a young age'."

"Eldest Sister, Eldest Sister, it's about Eldest Sister again!" Xie Yao
widened her eyes, "You're lying to me!"

"If my words just now made you feel upset, then you can consider it a lie,"
Hua Liuli lowered her eyelids, looking melancholic, "I thought you were a
gentle and kind girl, but I never expected you to do something so vicious.
Shortly after arriving in the capital, you hired an assassin."

"I knew it! The Crown Prince treats Eldest Sister better than me," Xie Yao
angrily tugged at her sleeve, "Why do they all prefer Eldest Sister? Why?"

Suddenly, she laughed, carrying a sense of delight, "Fortunately, Eldest

Sister is dead, and now I'm the only one left in the family. Dead people
won't compete with me for anything."
Hearing this statement, Pei Jihuai, who had followed along, stopped in his
tracks.

It seemed that the death of the eldest daughter of Royal Princess Leyang
was related to her second daughter.

Pei Jihuai realized the possibility; Hua Liuli naturally guessed it too. She
looked at Xie Yao, who was smiling contentedly, and said in confusion,
"Xie Yao, why would you think that way?"

"What do you mean?" Xie Yao's smile vanished instantly as she stared
fixedly at Hua Liuli, unable to accept any answer that didn't fit her
imagination.

"How can a living person compare to a dead one?" Hua Liuli shook her
head, "Your eldest sister passed away in her prime, so in the memory of
others, she will forever be beautiful and talented. People might even lament
her early departure and idealize her in their memories. And you, how can
you compare to a girl who is remembered as perfect by everyone?"

"You're talking nonsense! You're talking nonsense!" Xie Yao grabbed her
hair, her eyes bloodshot, "You're lying to me."

"So, why did you kill her then? Let her live, let the world witness her
suffering on her deathbed, and make people see that you are more beautiful
than her, isn't that better?" Hua Liuli sighed softly, "Unfortunately, you
killed her at her most beautiful moment."

Seeing that Xie Yao didn't refute her words, a chill ran through Hua Liuli's
heart. As siblings, Xie Yao had mercilessly killed her own sister just
because she suspected that the man she liked favored her sister more. There
was not even a trace of guilt in her heart... Her earlier speculation turned out
to be true, and Hua Liuli felt nothing but disgust.

Hua Liuli shook her folding fan and sat down on the chair brought by the
jailer, "You hate your eldest sister, so you killed her. But I don't understand,
the Crown Prince is clearly the man you like, so why did you want him
dead?"
Pei Jihuai and the other officials from the Dali Temple behind him became
nervous. Since Xie Yao was brought to the Ministry of Justice, she had
never admitted that she sent someone to kill the Crown Prince. She only
claimed that a maidservant, out of jealousy, took the initiative to hire an
assassin to kill Fushou Junzhu.

Even Xie Yao's maidservant had admitted that she had hired the assassin
herself and Xie Yao had nothing to do with it.

If they hadn't received the informant's letter written by the assassin and
verified that what they said was true, they might have believed that the
target of the maid's murder plot was Fushou Junzhu, and the Crown Prince
was merely an innocent victim.

Driven mad by Hua Liuli's words, Xie Yao had long lost her usual
rationality. She laughed hysterically, "Don't you know? Only dead people
won't love other women."

"I loved him so much. For him, I even caused killed my own eldest sister.
But what about him?" Xie Yao glared at Hua Liuli with resentment, "He
treated my heartfelt affection like a stone, disregarding me. But he favors
you, a sickly girl. He even shows consideration for you. I imitated my
sister's way of speaking and walking and even tried to have the same taste
in food as her, but he fell in love with you!"

"But you failed," Hua Liuli curved her lips, revealing her trademark
infuriating smile, "Haven't you considered that even if the Crown Prince
and I died together at the hands of the assassins, we would die on the same
day? Even in the netherworld, I would still be by his side. What does it have
to do with you?"

"You wretch! You wretch!" Xie Yao banged her head against the door, "I'll
kill you, I'll kill you."

"Xie Yao!" Hua Liuli's face turned pale with fright. She clutched her chest,
seemingly as if experiencing a sudden bout of heartache. With tears in her
eyes, she said, "You've truly disappointed me. Poisoning your own sister
and attempting to assassinate the Crown Prince. Have you ever considered
the Xie family or the people of this world?"

"What does it have to do with the people of this world?" Xie Yao spat out in
resentment, "I'm happy that that sickly girl died early, leaving only me in
the family."

"You..." Hua Liuli trembled as she pointed at Xie Yao. She seemed on the
verge of fainting from anger.

"Outrageous!" The Crown Prince walked in, swiftly pulling Hua Liuli into
his embrace. He looked at Xie Yao expressionlessly, "Fushou Junzhu is
already weak and she is the future Crown Princess. Why are you
deliberately provoking her?!"

Yuan Yi, who was standing beside them: "..."

Love truly blinded people's eyes. Even though it was Fushou Junzhu who
had driven Xie Yao insane, in the Crown Prince's eyes, it seemed like the
whole world was bullying his Junzhu.

"Crown Prince," Xie Yao's voice became more agitated upon seeing him,
"Crown Prince, please don't like this wretched woman. Like me, please?
Like me?!"

"Gu has no habit of hitting a woman," The Crown Prince turned his face
away with a cold expression and said to the attendant eunuch, "Go help
Miss Xie regain her composure."

"Yes, Your Royal Highness," The attendant eunuch stepped forward,

grabbed Xie Yao's hair, and vigorously shook her head several times
through the fence. Then he released the broken hair in his hand, "Apologies,
Miss Xie. This old servant was a bit heavy-handed."

Yuan Yi quietly stepped back, feeling a tingling sensation on her scalp.

But this move was indeed effective. Xie Yao gradually regained her
composure and realized what she had just said. She immediately knelt down
with a thud, "Crown Prince, it was all this woman, Hua Liuli, deliberately
misleading me. I didn't... I didn't kill anyone, I didn't send assassins to kill
you."

The Crown Prince ignored her. He gently adjusted his posture to make Hua
Liuli more comfortable against him, "Aren't you tired? Your body is so
weak. How could you come here? If someone hadn't told me, Gu wouldn't
have known you were being bullied."

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli shyly shook the sleeve of the Crown
Prince, "When I heard that Xie Yao harmed you, I couldn't bear it. Who
would have known she would be so cruel and even insult me?" After that,
she rushed into the Crown Prince's embrace and began to sob softly, looking
quite pitiful.

"Don't cry, don't cry. Don't let it harm your health," The Crown Prince
comforted her tenderly. His considerate and gentle demeanor made it seem
like Hua Liuli had suffered a great grievance.

"She's deceiving you!" Xie Yao unwillingly protested, "Crown Prince, this
woman is acting. She's deceiving you. Please don't believe her!"

"Nonsense! My family's Junzhu is so gentle and kind-hearted. Despite her

timid nature, she protected Gu at the risk of her own life against the
assassins," The Crown Prince reprimanded, "If you speak ill of her again,
Gu will have someone give you sixty beatings today."

"Crown Prince..." Xie Yao looked at him in disbelief, "I'm willing to do

anything for you. Why can't you see my true feelings?"

"Poisoning your own sister, was that for Gu?"

"Sending someone to assassinate my family's Junzhu, was that for Gu?"

"Setting the assassins on Gu, was that for Gu?"

Xie Yao kept shaking her head but couldn't find any words to refute it.
"Did Gu accumulate bad karma in Gu's previous life to encounter this kind
of sincere but unlucky love?" The Crown Prince gently patted Hua Liuli,
who was still "sobbing" in his embrace, "Using the guise of true love to
commit evil acts, who are you trying to disgust?"

"By mentioning true love, you have insulted those two words," The Crown
Prince looked disdainful, "Gu has no interest in this kind of love you offer."

Tears streamed down Xie Yao's face, "It shouldn't be like this..."

"Do you know what true love is?" The Crown Prince lowered his head,
looking at the girl in his arms, "My family's Junzhu protected Gu by
shielding me from the assassin's blade. She diverted the assassin's attention
for Gu, and we even fell off a cliff together. That's true love."

"You," the Crown Prince raised an eyebrow, "What right do you have to
compare yourself to my family's Junzhu?"

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli, leaning against the Crown Prince's
chest, spoke softly but loud enough for Xie Yao, "I believe that you truly
love me."

"You're right. Gu naturally loves you truly."

Xie Yao looked at the affectionate couple and her mind went blank. She
fainted on the spot.

"What happened to her?" Hua Liuli looked at Xie Yao, who lay flat on the
ground, and asked in a low voice.

"Probably overwhelmed by the 'true love' between Junzhu and the Crown
Prince... and fainted," Yuan Yi said with a complicated expression.

To think that someone could faint from being infuriated.

I-It's impressive.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 80 – Prison Cell

"She fainted..." Hua Liuli came out of the Crown Prince's embrace,
furrowing her brows. She had wanted to take the opportunity to provoke
Xie Yao and extract information from her, to find out if the Xie family was
involved in this case.

But she didn't expect Xie Yao to be so easily overwhelmed. She hadn't even
had the chance to employ all her infuriating methods, and the person
fainted.

Yao Jiamin and Xie Yao were both daughters of royal princesses, but Yao
Jiamin was much stronger than Xie Yao.

Hua Liuli felt somewhat disappointed. It was evident how important it was
for girls to exercise and strengthen their bodies from a young age. They
should learn some horse riding and archery skills at the very least. It would
make them much more resilient in the face of adversity.

It had been a few days since she last saw Yao Jiamin. Did she miss her a
little?

The case was yet to reach a conclusion, so it seemed inappropriate for the
person to just lie on the ground like this. Pei Jihuai, who had regained his
composure, called for a physician.

He had long known that there might be a secret relationship between the
Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu, but he never expected that when the two
were together, it would be like this...

Pei Jihuai truly didn't know how to describe this distinguished couple. He
walked up to the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli, bowing respectfully, "Many
thanks to the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu for making the culprit
confess to her crimes."

It wasn't hard to understand why someone who could poison her own sister
could commit acts such as arranging for assassins to kill the Crown Prince.

Pei Jihuai glanced at Xie Yao, who lay unconscious on the ground. Once the
charge of plotting to kill the Crown Prince was brought up, regardless of her
noble status, she would ultimately face the punishment of death.

"Xie Yao plotted against her own sister, Gu is deeply surprised and grieved
by this. Gu will relay this matter to Royal Princess Leyang and her
husband," In front of Pei Jihuai, both the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli
returned to their normal selves. The Crown Prince's expression remained
blank as he said, "As for Xie Yao, she must be interrogated slowly. Pay
attention to the food she consumes. Until the truth of the matter is revealed,
no one is allowed to visit her."

Hua Liuli tugged gently at the Crown Prince's sleeve.

The Crown Prince's eyebrows twitched, "Except for Fushou Junzhu, no one
is allowed near Xie Yao without an order from His Majesty or Gu."

"I will follow your command," Pei Jihuai looked at the delicate and timid
Fushou Junzhu, cupping his hands, "Fortunately, with the assistance of
Fushou Junzhu, we were finally able to uncover the truth. The culprit
refused to admit her crimes until you arrived. This posed a great challenge
for me and the others."

"I never expected to gain such an unexpected reward," Hua Liuli smiled
shyly, appearing quite bashful, "Before coming here, I didn't believe that
Xie Yao could have done all these things. But..."

Her expression turned bleak, "I didn't expect her to hate me and the Crown
Prince so much."

Pei Jihuai realized that he had never truly understood women. Fushou
Junzhu had targeted every sore spot of Xie Yao's with her words, almost
like an expert archer hitting the bullseye.

Women, sometimes they could kill without leaving a trace and nobody
knew if it was intentional or unintentional.

With that thought, he looked up at the so-called timid and frail Fushou
Junzhu, feeling somewhat curious.

Had she ever considered that getting so close to the Crown Prince would
make people even more suspicious of the Crown Prince's relationship with
the Hua family?

This Fushou Junzhu was truly peculiar. She seemed like a young lady with
few notable qualities apart from her beauty, yet she unintentionally
disrupted many conspiracies recently.

Could there really be so many coincidences in the world?

Noticing Pei Jihuai's gaze, Hua Liuli raised her folding fan to cover half of
her face and hid behind the Crown Prince, appearing somewhat timid.

Who would have thought that just a while ago, this Fushou Junzhu had
eloquently driven another woman mad?

After leaving the female prisoners' cells, Hua Liuli looked up at the sky,
"It's getting dark. Your Royal Highness, let's go to Hua Family Estate for
dinner."

"Alright," The Crown Prince didn't find it embarrassing to go to an official's

estate for dinner. He wanted to take this opportunity to please his future
father-in-law.

Yuan Yi sighed silently. The Crown Prince was lucky to have a noble status,
otherwise, he would have long been abducted by Junzhu and brought to the
Hua family's doorstep.

Before the two of them could leave, they saw two people bowing and
hurrying in the direction of the male prisoners' cell. Hua Liuli had spent
fifteen years in Qinghan Prefecture, so she subconsciously felt something
was amiss when she saw these people. She spoke up, "Halt!"

The two men with cloth hats froze in their tracks, not daring to take another
step forward or turn their heads to look at Hua Liuli and the others.

Pei Jihuai, who followed them, immediately recognized that these two were
Jinpo envoys who had come to visit the prison. He stood by and didn't say a
word.

"Who are you?" Yuan Yi and Yurong unsheathed their swords.

The two unfortunate Jinpo envoys mustered up the courage to enter the
Ministry of Justice, only to be stopped by a noble young lady from Great
Jin. They were so frightened that they bowed and saluted, "Greetings to the
esteemed noble young lady from Great Jin. We are envoys from Jinpo and
wish to visit the Second Prince of our country in the prison."

"People from Jinpo..." Hua Liuli's eyes revealed a touch of disgust. No

matter how pitiful these Jinpo envoys looked as they cowered, she couldn't
forget their heartless and bloodthirsty actions when they slaughtered
innocent people in Jin. They looked pitiful now only because Great Jin had
won and they no longer dared to invade Great Jin. If Great Jin were to
lose...

"The Ministry of Justice never detains innocent people," Hua Liuli said
calmly, "You two have the right to visit the prisoners. Please proceed."

The faces of the two Jinpo envoys changed upon hearing her words. Did
this mean that the Great Jin had no intention of releasing the Second
Prince?

They didn't know the identity of this elegantly dressed young lady, but
seeing the officials of the Ministry of Justice showing respect in her
presence, they couldn't help but speculate silently. Could she be a princess?

But Emperor Changlong only had two daughters, there didn't seem to be a
princess as young as her.
The two envoys cautiously greeted Hua Liuli and didn't dare to argue. They
lowered their heads in dejection as they entered the men's prison.

Hua Liuli stared at their receding figures and grabbed the Crown Prince's
arm, "Let's go and see."

The two envoys entered the dungeon; their first impression was that the
Ministry of Justice had constructed the prison like a maze. If someone were
to come to rescue the prisoners, they might get lost inside.

The prison guard who was leading them seemed unaffected by the previous
encounter. With a calm expression, he led them through twists and turns,
pointing to a cell, "Gentlemen, the prisoner, Prince A'Wa, is confined here."

The person in the cell seemed to be asleep, lying motionless on the bed.

The two envoys eagerly rushed to the railing, desperately trying to get a
better look at the Crown Prince. They wondered if he had lost weight after
enduring so much suffering.

However, when they saw the person lying on the bed, they realized it was
just a chubby, white man.

Their Crown Prince was a tall and upright man with wheat-colored skin that
charmed countless women. Who was this obese person lying there with a
bloated belly like a pregnant woman in the seventh or eighth month? His
face was full of fat, his neck was even obscured. Who was he?

They felt somewhat displeased. Even though they were the defeated country
and Great Jin looked down on them, they couldn't believe that they would
point at a dead fat man and claim he was their Second Prince. Who were
they trying to fool?

Did they really think they would not know what their own Second Prince
would look like?

"Daren, Jinpo's visit this time is sincere. It's a bit too much for you to just
point at a fat man and claim he is our Second Prince. Please don't joke
around and take us to see the real Second Prince," one of the envoys from
Jinpo forced a smile.

"Who's joking with you?" The prison guard rolled his eyes and took out a
wooden stick from his waist and forcefully knocked on the prison door,
"Prisoner A'Wa, there are visitors to see you!"

Prince A'Wa woke up from his slumber and saw the two Jinpo envoys
standing outside the cell. He was so excited that he tried to get up from the
bed, but due to his excessive weight, he nearly fell off the bed.

"Envoys, you've finally come to the capital!" After being confined in the
cell for several months, Prince A'Wa finally saw familiar faces. Even
though he fiercely fought on the bloody battlefield before, he was still on
the verge of tears, "Has my father given the order for you to take me back?"

"Are... are you really the Second Prince?" Envoy A looked at the man
before him, whose eyes were barely visible due to his excessive weight. He
sounded like the Second Prince, but... but...

What had happened to him in the Great Jin? In just a few months, how had
he become so fat?

"Naturally, it's me," Prince A'Wa had little patience for envoys from his
own country, "Tell me quickly, how does my father plan to save me?"

"His Majesty said that we should do our best to persuade the Emperor of
Great Jin to release you and allow you to return to our country," They
remembered the attitude of the noble young lady they had encountered
earlier, her tone was ice-cold.

Both envoys were worried. What if the Emperor of Great Jin refused to let
their Second Prince go?

Looking at the hopeful eyes of the Second Prince, they didn't dare to voice
this speculation.
"Second Prince, have the people of Great Jin tortured you?" Envoy B's eyes
were red, "It's only been a few months, yet you've become this fat."

Prince A'Wa: "..."

Words failed him. He lived a life akin to a pig's. It couldn't be considered

torture, but it wasn't enjoyable either. It left him feeling helpless.

"Hold on a bit, Second Prince. We will do everything we can to rescue

you," Envoy A quickly said, afraid that Prince A'Wa would recall the heart-
wrenching experiences during his imprisonment, "After learning that you
were taken away by the Hua family army, His Majesty had been worried for
a long time. In order to save you, we sent gold, silver, and jewels to the Hua
family, sought assistance from others, and even set up an ambush along the
way to try to rescue you, but none of it succeeded."

"Last year, when we learned that the Hua siblings were returning to the
capital ahead of schedule, our plan was to capture them as hostages and use
them to negotiate your release. However, they changed their route, and we
ended up waiting in vain."

"It's... it's for the best," Prince A'Wa's expression was filled with weariness,
"None of the Hua family members are good people."

"Second Prince, initially, when you were intentionally getting close to Miss
Hua, everything was going smoothly. But in the end, what happened..."
Their original plan was to extract military information from Hua Liuli, but
they never expected that the valuable information would slip away, and
instead, their Second Prince would be captured.

Until now, the Kingdom of Jinpo still hadn't figured out how their brave and
skilled Second Prince suffered such a humiliating defeat and was captured
in his own tent by the enemy's general.

Prince A'Wa's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. He had thought he

was playing that girl by using the beauty trap, but in reality, the other party
had outmaneuvered him.
Being captured by a seemingly fragile young lady was an enormous
disgrace to him.

Faced with the curious envoys, Prince A'Wa couldn't bring himself to speak.

"Could it be that there were spies sent by Great Jin in the military?" If there
weren't any spies, how could the army's supplies be burned and the large
army be rendered defenseless in the face of an enemy ambush?

Yunhan in the neighboring prison cell held his breath and quietly listened
in.

"Hey, why are you guys talking?!" The prisoner next to Yunhan, separated
by a cell, threw a piece of dry steamed bun at Prince A'Wa and said, "I'm
sleeping, don't disturb my rest."

Envoy A looked at the steamed bun that fell at his feet and found that it had
already become moldy. It made him feel nauseous.

"What are you looking at?" This prisoner, who always liked throwing
steamed buns, scolded with his hands on his waist, "This is Great Jin's
Ministry of Justice prison, not your Jinpo Council. Go back and talk where
it's easier."

Yunhan, who was pretending to sleep, furrowed his brows. He didn't expect
them to be interrupted by this annoying prisoner just as he was hearing the
crucial point. It was truly detestable.

Envoy A: "..."

It was uncomfortable for them to hear such righteous words from a mere
prisoner in a dungeon. Were all people from Great Jin not right in the head?

"If you love your country so much, why did you commit a crime and end up
in jail?" Envoy B couldn't help but retort.

"What's wrong with being a prisoner? Even if I'm a prisoner, I'm still a
prisoner of Great Jin," The prisoner sneered, "Jinpo people aren't worthy of
talking to me."
"That's right, Jinpo insects aren't worthy of talking to me!"

Someone chimed in, and soon, a chaotic mix of objects was thrown from all
directions, hitting the two envoys and leaving them covered in filth, looking
disheveled.

"Hey, aren't you also from our Jin Kingdom? How can you just sit and
watch the commotion at a time like this?" One prisoner, seeing the strategist
in the blue-clad robe sitting still, looked at him disdainfully, "Truly
ignorant."

The strategist in the blue-clad robe coldly glanced at him without saying a
word.

The prisoner being stared at wasn't afraid either. He dug up some mud from
the bottom of his foot and continued to throw it at the Jinpo envoys. Others
took the opportunity to throw a few more at the strategist because they
didn't like him.

Yunhan glanced at the foul mud on the strategist's forehead. In order to

avoid being beaten by others the next time he moved stones, he turned over
and got up. He picked up some mud from the ground and casually threw it,
"Kill the Jinpo insects!"

Little did he know that he threw it with exceptional accuracy and hit the
envoy's forehead.

Envoy: "..."

Yunhan: "..."

He truly didn't intend to hit anyone. Everything is fate, everything is

predetermined, he cannot be blamed.

The strategist in the blue-clad robe silently took off the mud from his
forehead and looked at Yun Han with an inexplicable emotion in his eyes.

"Great!" Seeing Yunhan hit the envoy's forehead, the other prisoners
applauded.
Seeing that the prisoners had caused enough commotion, the jailer, who had
been pretending to be blind, finally spoke slowly, "Alright, these are envoys
sent by the Kingdom of Jinpo. Don't be disrespectful."

In his heart, however, he thought of the countless innocent and helpless

people who had died at the hands of these beasts.

Smash, fiercely smash!

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 81 – Xie Fuma

Looking at the flying mud, stones, and foul steamed buns, Hua Liuli
hesitated before stepping forward, "It's quite lively here, huh?"

Pei Jihuai planned to go in and quiet down the prisoners, but Hua Liuli said,
"No need to hurry, let's listen to what they're arguing about first."

The eunuchs accompanying the Crown Prince quickly took out their folding
fans and opened them, fanning the air around, seemingly trying to disperse
the invisible dust.

After the commotion subsided, Hua Liuli took a few steps forward and
stood at the bend, looking at Prince A'Wa inside the cell.

Back then, from the moment Prince A'Wa approached her, she sensed that
something was amiss. He claimed that his birth mother was a Jinpo woman
abducted from Jin, but the people of Jin commonly referred to themselves
as "Great Jin people".

Given the frequent conflicts between Qinghan Prefecture and Jinpo,

merchants from other regions would often exchange their goods for money
and quickly leave, without lingering in such dangerous places for too long.

Prince A'Wa had played the role of a naive and unsuspecting young man in
her presence, but his gaze toward the people of Qinghan Prefecture lacked
any warmth.

Back then, Hua Liuli never regretted risking her life by pretending to be
deceived by Prince A'Wa and following him to the Jinpo camp.

As a daughter of the Hua family, she couldn't allow these emotionless

enemies to invade the territory of Great Jin and harm innocent people.
"Pei Daren," seeing the coldness in Hua Liuli's gaze towards Prince A'Wa,
the Crown Prince was in a good mood and said to Pei Jihuai, "Bring Prince
A'Wa out. Gu and Junzhu will interrogate him privately."

"This..." The rules of the Ministry of Justice dictated that a person unrelated
to the Ministry of Justice couldn't be left alone with a prisoner in the
interrogation room.

"Of course, Pei Daren will accompany us."

The Jinpo envoy had no idea what was happening when saw the people of
the Ministry of Justice opening the cell door and taking the Second Prince
away. He quickly asked, "Where are you taking the Second Prince?"

"The visiting time is over. Please leave, gentlemen," the cold-hearted jailer
stated, "Rest assured, the Ministry of Justice will not mistreat prisoners."

The envoy felt even more concerned.

No matter how much they struggled, Prince A'Wa was taken away right in
front of them. The two of them walked out of the Ministry of Justice with a
heavy heart.

"Great Jin is deliberately warning us."

"If we knew this would cause such trouble, we shouldn't have come to see
the Second Prince in the first place."

"Great Jin is truly despicable, showing no face to us."

They criticized Great Jin for all its faults, forgetting that it was Jinpo who
had initially led troops to kill innocent people in Great Jin, causing Great
Jin to retaliate in anger.

When Prince A'Wa was taken away by the jailer, he felt a sense of panic.
Though he lived a life similar to that of raising pigs in the Great Jin, who
would willingly choose death?
Moreover, in his heart, he still yearned to return to his country and inherit
the throne.

Passing through the heavy iron door, he caught sight of the young girl he
despised with every fiber of his being.

"Hua Liuli!"

"Oh my, what a despicable prisoner. Not only is he ugly, but his voice is
also so unpleasant. Don't frighten the esteemed Crown Prince and Fushou
Junzhu with your presence," The attendant eunuch shook his fan and
frowned at the people from the Ministry of Justice, "How do you even
conduct your affairs? Show some vigilance and keep him farther away, so
that the air he breathes doesn't pollute the soles of the noble's shoes."

Pei Jihuai: "…"

He had heard that the Crown Prince's words were sharp, but he didn't expect
the eunuchs by his side to be even more merciless in their speech. He
glanced at Prince A'Wa, who dared not speak, and waved his hand,
signaling his subordinates to keep Prince A'Wa at a distance.

Although Prince A'Wa was now so fat that he was unbearable to look at, he
was still a high-ranking general who had been on the battlefield. Therefore,
the subordinates from the Ministry of Justice tightly bound him to the chair
before silently retreating.

"Your Royal Highness, Junzhu, we will wait outside," The eunuchs of the
Eastern Palace tactfully withdrew. Once the door was closed, they stood
guard at the entrance, not allowing anyone to approach.

The people from the Ministry of Justice, seeing the loyal and protective
demeanor of these eunuchs, wisely chose not to contend with them and
retreated. It was said that those who served by the Crown Prince's side were
like fierce dogs. Who would willingly provoke a group of dogs and get
bitten?
"Hua Liuli, why did you deceive me back then?!" When Prince A'Wa saw
Hua Liuli, his mind was filled with the humiliation of being deceived and
captured. He wished he could return to the moment when he first met Hua
Liuli and kill her on the spot.

"Who are you?" Hua Liuli looked at Ava timidly, "I have never met
someone as ugly as you... nor have I ever met a man with such a slovenly
appearance."

Here it comes! Here it comes!

Pei Jihuai suddenly became spirited. Seeing Fushou Junzhu's words that
irritated people, sometimes... was quite satisfying.

Slovenly appearance...

Pei Jihuai glanced at Prince A'Wa's plump face, and indeed, he looked quite
slovenly.

"You deceived me in the army and captured me. Now you pretend not to
recognize me. Isn't it a bit too late?" Prince A'Wa sneered, "If it weren't for
you, how could Jinpo have suffered such a miserable defeat?"

"Goodness," Hua Liuli looked at Prince A'Wa in astonishment, "So you're

Prince A'Wa?!"

"It seems that the food in our Great Jin is so good that it made you gain so
much weight. I didn't recognize you for a moment. When did you arrive in
the capital, Your Highness?" Hua Liuli put on an innocent expression,
seemingly as if she didn't know anything and it was her first time meeting
him.

"Hmph," Prince A'Wa really wanted to rush forward, grab Hua Liuli's
shoulder, and shake her vigorously, telling her not to pretend anymore.
However, he was bound to the chair and couldn't move a step, "I want to
know, did you recognize my identity from the beginning?!"
"Prince A'Wa, is it really necessary for you to know this?" Hua Liuli sighed,
"I don't know if you've heard a saying?"

"What saying?"

"Ignorance is bliss."

Ava's face became even more gloomy. This girl was mocking him!

Seeing Prince A'Wa's aggrieved and unwilling appearance, Hua Liuli

couldn't help but say, "The look in Prince A'Wa's eyes reminds me of those
innocent people who died in vain. When you led your troops to ambush our
Great Jin cities and slaughtered innocent people, were they also looking at
you with that same gaze?"

Prince A'Wa attacked a Great Jin city, causing the massacre of countless
innocent people. If it weren't for Qinghan Prefecture learning about it and
rushing to provide reinforcements, who knows how many more people
would have died at their hands?

Unfortunately, Prince A'Wa didn't stay long enough at the scene, which lead
to him escaping the punishment.

"The victors are rulers, the losers are bandits. You don't need to talk to me
about morality," Prince A'Wa sneered, "Who made your Jin nation have
such fertile land?"

"So who made you get captured?" Hua Liuli sneered, "You want to return to
Jinpo and inherit the throne? Dream on!"

"Whether I can return to Jinpo or not is not up to you, a young girl..."

"Gu thinks Junzhu has a point," the Crown Prince interrupted Prince A'Wa,
"Perhaps Prince A'Wa is unaware that Fushou Junzhu is Gu's betrothed, the
future Crown Princess of our Great Jin. Junzhu's intention is Gu's
intention."

"What..." Prince A'Wa's face turned extremely ugly. As a member of the

imperial family, he understood the inherent suspicion of the imperial
household. Therefore, even when Hua Yingting captured him as a hostage
and sent him back to the capital, he still had confidence in returning to
Jinpo.

Because no emperor could tolerate a general with excessive power. The

more the Hua family tries to keep him in Great Jin, the more likely they
would incur the displeasure of Emperor Changlong. When the time came,
as long as the Jinpo envoys gave generous gifts to the influential figures in
Great Jin and instigated them a little, he would definitely have an
opportunity to return home.

But if Hua Liuli could become the Crown Princess, then this series of plans
would lose their effectiveness.

He looked at Hua Liuli and the Crown Prince with a dark expression. It
would be great if Emperor Changlong and the Crown Prince could have
suspicions about the Hua family. Unfortunately, he was now imprisoned in
the Ministry of Justice dungeon, while the Jinpo envoys dared not move
around freely. Even if he had many plans in mind, he couldn't put them into
action.

Knowing that Prince A'Wa had used the beauty trap strategy on Liuli, and
now that Liuli had seen Prince A'Wa's current appearance up close, the
Crown Prince's mood improved significantly. He muttered quietly to Hua
Liuli's ear, "Gu's Liuli is smart and perceptive. How could she fall for such
a shallow beauty trap strategy? Moreover, this Prince A'Wa can hardly be
considered handsome."

Hua Liuli used her fan to cover her face and whispered teasingly in the
Crown Prince's ear, "If he had Your Royal Highness's looks, maybe I would
have fallen for it."

"But in this world, there is only one Ji Yuansu," the Crown Prince said with
a smile, "Moreover, Gu won over you with sincerity, not just a superficial
face."

Hua Liuli nodded with a smile, then sat up straight, putting down her fan.
She said, "Prince A'Wa, the moment you were captured by the Hua family's
army, it meant that you no longer have a chance to become the Emperor of
Jinpo."

Jinpo's Emperor had three sons. The Eldest Prince had a mediocre and
indecisive personality; the Second Prince, Prince A'Wa, was a fierce and
skilled warrior; the Third Prince had a lowly birth and, because he once
offended Prince A'Wa, had one of his legs crippled, making it impossible
for him to ever become the Emperor.

If Prince A'Wa couldn't return to Jinpo, once the incompetent Eldest Prince
ascended the throne, Jinpo would never dare to provoke the borders of
Great Jin again. As long as Emperor Changlong and the Crown Prince
remained clear-headed, they would never allow the tiger to return to the
mountains.

Moreover, Prince A'Wa committed numerous atrocities against the people

of Great Jin. Even for the sake of those who died, he could not be released.

In this lifetime, Prince A'Wa could only be imprisoned hopelessly in the

capital of Great Jin while dreaming of returning and ascending the throne.

"You can't do this to me!" Prince A'Wa was completely panicked. He

understood Hua Liuli's intentions and shouted in despair, "I am the precious
Second Prince of Jinpo!"

"Why can't we?" The Crown Prince chuckled lightly. Compared to Prince
A'Wa's mad rage, he spoke calmly as if discussing an inconsequential
matter, "Gu thinks this is good."

"No, no, no..." Prince A'Wa kept shaking his head. He couldn't accept this
outcome and muttered, "My father, he will come to save me, he will!"

"You know very well that your father will not go to war with Great Jin
again for your sake," Hua Liuli said. She stood up and looked down at
Prince A'Wa. Just like Prince A'Wa from years ago, who rode high on his
horse, coldly observing the people of Great Jin lying in pools of blood,
"You have to learn to accept it. If you can't learn in a year, then two years,
and if you can't learn in two years, then five years. As long as you spend
enough time imprisoned in the dungeon, there will come a day when you
accept it."

After speaking, she grabbed the Crown Prince, who had been wearing an
expression of "whatever Liuli says is true" the whole time, and gave a cold
snort, "In this lifetime, even in death, you can never return to Jinpo."

"Gu heard a rumor," the Crown Prince looked at Prince A'Wa, whose face
showed a touch of desperation. "If someone commits suicide, and if their
ashes were to be scattered on a road haunted by vengeful spirits, their soul
will be devoured by those vengeful spirits, unable to be reborn for eternity."

"Gu heard Huzhou is a good place..."

Huzhou was the place where Prince A'Wa led his troops to slaughter
innocent people. The Crown Prince's words clearly meant that if Prince
A'Wa ever dared to commit suicide, he would scatter Prince A'Wa's ashes
on the roads of Huzhou, letting thousands of vengeful spirits devour him,
and prevent him from being reborn for eternity.

The people of Jinpo believed in reincarnation and attached great importance

to funerals after death. The Crown Prince's words were undoubtedly the
biggest blow to Prince A'Wa.

To let him live, but not let him live in peace.

To let him die, but also to humiliate him even in death?

Prince A'Wa looked at the Crown Prince of Great Jin and was enveloped in
endless fear.

At the same time, carriages filled with books stopped in front of Royal
Princess Leyang Estate.

"Fuma has arrived."

"Welcome, Fuma."
A man dressed in a light-colored robe stepped out of the carriage. Even
though he was a middle-aged man, he still had a refined and scholarly air,
and his appearance was outstanding.

He looked up at the gently swaying red lanterns hanging at the entrance of

Royal Princess Leyang Estate and walked inside with his son.

After the family of three reunited, Xie Fuma dismissed the attendants and
his expression became even gentler, "Has Yao Yao caused a big fuss?"

Royal Princess Leyang recounted the incident with a worried expression on

her face.

"The child is young and ignorant. It is our fault as parents for not educating
her well," Xie Fuma's tone was light as he gently rubbed the ring on his
thumb, "When one makes a mistake, there is always a price to pay."

"The night is beautiful today, Yao Yao will take leave looking even better."

"Fuma," Royal Princess Leyang hesitated, "That's our child..."

"That's why she should pay the price she owes to our entire family," Xie
Fuma smiled slightly, his handsome face gentle like a breeze in March.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 82 – Marriage Proposal

A'Da is an elite assassin, the most formidable assassin in the Xie family.

In the literary world of the South, there is nowhere he didn't want to go, and
nowhere he couldn't enter.

Although it was his first time accompanying his master to the capital, he
firmly believed that there was nothing he couldn't accomplish!

But soon he realized that he might not fit in well in the capital.

Whenever he ate a bowl of noodles at a small stall in the evening, someone

would say to him, "Young man, it's your first time in the capital, right?
Finish your meal quickly and go back. The curfew in the capital is strictly
enforced."

He couldn't understand why he was recognized as a non-local just because

he hadn't said a word.

"It's already this late. Who from the capital would come out to eat?" The
stall owner seemed to know what he was puzzled about and explained while
closing up shop, "The list for the Palace Examination will be released
tomorrow. Who wouldn't gossip about it a bit during their meal?"

The cold and merciless assassin, A'Da: "..."

He felt that the people in the capital were crazy and seriously ill in their
minds.

"I've noticed that many people have been guessing who will become the top
scholar these past few days," a curious out-of-town customer next to him
said, "I heard that General Hua's son is also participating in the
examination?"

"That's right," the owner of the noodle stall said, "The owner of a shop on
West Street said that if anyone can guess the top scholar, they will select
one person from those who guessed correctly and give them five rolls of
fine cloth."

"Five rolls?" The customer was amazed, "That's enough for several outfits."

"If you're interested, you can join in the fun."

"Of course, I will go," the customer said with a smile, "I support General
Hua's son. It doesn't matter if he becomes the top scholar or not, what's
important is not to let General Hua's son lose face."

"Then your chances of winning are slim."

"Why? Isn't General Hua's son talented?"

"That's not it. It's just that there are too many people supporting Third
Young Master Hua. I'm afraid even if Third Young Master Hua becomes the
top scholar, you won't be chosen."

A'Da thought coldly, in four of the last five imperial examinations, the top
scholar came from the south. These people simply and crudely supported
the Hua family's son because of Hua Yingting's military achievements.
They were truly mindless and vulgar.

Moreover, the Hua family had been a family of military commanders for
generations. What dream were they having, wanting to raise a son who
would become the top scholar?

He placed a copper coin on the table and left. As an elite assassin, he didn't
need to say another word.

"That person seems a bit off," the stall owner put the coin in his money
pouch, waited until all the customers had finished eating, closed up the stall,
then turned and ran to the Prefect of Jingzhou to report this to a yamen
constable.

It was a special time recently. After they release the list for the Palace
Examination and hold the Qionglin Feast, there would be the Hundred
Nations Banquet, for which they had been preparing for several months. For
this Hundred Nations Banquet, every department had spared no effort, as
they did not want any accidents to occur.

After receiving the report from the stall owner, the yamen constable at
Prefect of Jingzhou recorded the suspicious person's height and appearance
and sent a copy to the Ministry of Justice.

In the thick darkness of the night, A'Da circled around the Ministry of
Justice three times, but couldn't think of a way to enter.

Helpless, he decided to follow a prison guard home, threaten his family, and
ask him to help kill Miss Xie. But soon he discovered that, to ensure no
accidents happened, these prison guards at the Ministry of Justice had been
staying at the Ministry of Justice and didn't go home after their shifts.

After observing for two days, he found out that the relatives of the prisoners
were allowed to visit the Ministry of Justice. He obtained a list of prisoners
at the Ministry of Justice and finally chose Yunhan, a qin player. He would
claim to be his brother who had been wandering outside for many years. He
had finally learned about his brother's whereabouts, but his brother had
been locked up in the Ministry of Justice. As the eldest brother, he had
spent all his family wealth just to see his brother.

The simpler the relationship with the prisoner, the better for impersonation.

Using this excuse, he finally infiltrated the Ministry of Justice. With the
guidance of the prison guards, he saw Yunhan. After a brilliant
performance, he barely memorized the layout of the prison cells in the
Ministry of Justice.

It was said that the female cells and male cells were built the same. Tonight,
he could take advantage of the inattentiveness of the prison guards and
sneak into the female cell.

In this world, there was nothing that an elite assassin couldn't do.

Yunhan watched in confusion as the man who claimed to be his brother left:
"..."

Where did this eldest brother come from when had no father or mother?

Originally, he thought that someone from the Master's side had come in to
inquire about some information. Now it seemed that it wasn't the case?

Thinking of this, he secretly glanced at the strategist in the cell opposite

him, who was looking at him with icy eyes, and quickly lowered his head.

The plan of using the beauty trap had failed, but he couldn't blame himself.
How could he have known that the Crown Prince would be so good-
looking?

Moreover, now that both of them had been captured and couldn't escape or
send messages, what other choices did they have besides desperately
competing with other prisoners for food and trying to move stones?

"Royal Princess Leyang's Fuma arrived in the capital?" Emperor Changlong

opened the plea letter in his hand after lighting a few more candles in the
palace, "This plea letter is written with true feelings."

Those assassins who tried to assassinate the Crown Prince had formidable
martial arts skills and were ruthless. They didn't seem like small-time
assassins who did things for money in the Jianghu. How could Xie Yao, a
young girl in her teens, find these assassins to do her bidding?

"What plea letter?" The Crown Prince casually entered the inner hall and
saluted Emperor Changlong, "Why is Father Emperor still awake at this
hour? "

"Yes, why is Zhen still handling memorial petitions at this late hour?"
Emperor Changlong threw the plea letter to the Crown Prince, "Tomorrow,
Zhen will send someone to help you with your marriage proposal, so you
won't have to go to the Hua family every day. As the Crown Prince of a
country, what kind of attitude is it to idle away your time every day?"

"Father Emperor, Erchen believes in mixing work and pleasure," The

Crown Prince opened the plea letter, "Erchen doesn't spend less than an
hour every day assisting Father Emperor with the memorial petitions,
right?"

"In a day of twelve hours, do you spend more than one hour assisting me?"
Emperor Changlong took a sip of tea and reminded himself countless times
in his heart to stay calm. The child was his own, no matter how much he
scolded him.

The Crown Prince silently read through the plea letter. Xie Fuma had
excellent literary talent, the letter was filled with sincere feelings. Almost
every sentence was suffused with his guilt, making people unable to help
but feel pity.

The poor Xie Fuma, his eldest daughter was killed by his second daughter,
who also plotted to assassinate the Crown Prince behind their backs. He
failed to educate his children properly and deserved punishment, but their
youngest son was innocent. He hoped the Emperor could spare his youngest
son and so on.

"The words written by someone with good literary talent are indeed so
different, truly moving and touching," The Crown Prince smiled lightly,
closing the plea letter, "Father Emperor, Erchen is moved by him."

"You..." Emperor Changlong frowned.

"Since Xie Fuma says they are innocent, then we will believe that they are
innocent," The Crown Prince put the plea letter back on the imperial desk,
"We not only have to believe in them but also sympathize with them and let
them stay in the capital for a while longer."

When pulling out a radish, what's the point of just breaking off a few radish
leaves?
Naturally, the radish should be pulled out with the mud attached to it.

"If he is unwilling to reveal his true colors..."

"Then Erchen will force him to reveal his true colors," The Crown Prince
chuckled lightly, "Father Emperor, when it comes to infuriating people, how
many people in the capital can surpass Erchen?"

"Heh," Emperor Changlong had a face that revealed the world-weary

understanding of life, "Zhen actually thinks that each and every one of
Zhen's sons is quite adept at infuriating people."

"Erchen thanks Father Emperor for the praise on behalf of my brothers."

"Get out!"

On the day the Palace Examination results were announced, the merchants
in the capital were more excited than the scholars who took the
examination. They had prepared various items such as "top scholar wine",
"top scholar brush", and statues of the Wenqu Star. This was a wonderful
opportunity for them to make more business.

The capital was densely populated, with many wealthy individuals and
many people hoping for their children to achieve success. Therefore, after
each major examination, items related to academic achievements sold
particularly well.

"The top scholar is Hua Changkong!"

"General Hua's son!"

"No wonder he's General Hua's son!"

"Like father, like son!"

The candidates who participated in the Palace Examination had already

entered the palace to listen to the proclamation before dawn. The official
who announced the rankings was one of the examiners for this examination.
After delivering a speech about diligent governance and love for the people
to the examinees, the chief examiner began to announce the rankings.

The rankings were read from the bottom to the top, and the further down the
rankings, the more nervous the candidates became.

The ministers of the Six Ministries and some dignitaries were also present,
waiting for the top three candidates to emerge from this palace examination.

"Lin Sen, fourth rank."

Upon hearing this ranking, Lin Zhou turned his head to look at his son, who
bowed respectfully from a distance. It was difficult to tell whether he was
happy or disappointed.

"Congratulations, Lin Daren," a fellow official next to Lin Zhou whispered,

"Your son achieved an excellent fourth place."

"Thank you," Lin Zhou expressed his gratitude to his colleague, a slight
smile appearing on his face.

"Yao Songbai, third rank."

The Yao family had a marital relationship with the imperial family, so
another round of congratulations echoed among the officials.

The second rank was given to a student from the south, surnamed Xie. It
was said that he was a distant relative of the Xie family. However, due to
Xie Yao's attempt to assassinate the Crown Prince, the Xie family's position
in the court was somewhat delicate. Aside from a few officials with
connections to the Xie family who displayed some smiles, the other
officials showed little expression.

The second-rank scholar surnamed Xie seemed somewhat dissatisfied with

his ranking; he had a hint of disappointment on his face.

Only the list of the top scholar remained to be read, but all the candidates
present knew who the top scholar was.
"Hua Changkong, top rank," The chief examiner closed the list and smiled
warmly at Hua Changkong, who stood in the first row, "Congratulations,
Top Scholar Hua."

"Thank you, Teacher," Hua Changkong bowed to the chief examiner in

gratitude.

There was some commotion among the court officials. It was unexpected
that this time, the top scholar was neither a southern student nor Lin Daren's
son, but rather a child from a military family.

This left them with no face to mock military families for their lack of
literary talent. If someone lacked literary talent, how could they produce a
top scholar of a son?

Many officials congratulated Hua Yingting. Even the military officers were
also delighted. From now on, if any civil official dared to criticize them,
they could retort by asking, "Did you become the top scholar? Did your son
become the top scholar?"

Oh, you didn't make it? That's okay. The son of the Grand General did!

Hahaha.

Lin Zhou also wanted to step forward to express his gratitude to Hua
Yingting, but he couldn't face him due to the words his daughter had
spoken. So he simply stood quietly to the side.

In a daze, he saw the Crown Prince stride up to Hua Yingting and have a
conversation with him. Their interaction appeared quite intimate.

It was said that recently the Crown Prince had become close to the Hua
family, not only frequently seeking conversations with General Hua and
General Wei on his own initiative, but also dining with the Hua family
several times. Such obvious attempts to win their favor could potentially
arouse suspicion from His Majesty. What would be the outcome of that?
"Uncle," the Fourth Prince approached Lin Zhou with a stern face,
"Congratulations."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Lin Zhou quickly bowed, not daring to step
out of line.

The Fourth Prince didn't say anything further, seemingly as if saying those
four words was a task he had to complete and then could ignore everything
else.

Lin Zhou secretly glanced at the Crown Prince and Hua Yingting. The
atmosphere between himself and the Fourth Prince, as uncle and nephew,
seemed a lot more distant than that between the Crown Prince and Hua
Yingting.

Unfortunately, the Fourth Prince couldn't sense Lin Zhou's awkwardness at

all. He stood with a cold expression in front of Lin Zhou, successfully
causing the court officials around them to keep their distance.

"My most loyal subject, General Hua," Emperor Changlong smiled as he

looked at Hua Yingting, "Your son achieving the top scholar position is a
great joyous occasion. Today is a good day. Zhen wants to make you even
happier and make it double happiness."

The court officials looked curiously at Emperor Changlong. What did he

mean by making it double happiness?

Was he planning to bestow another noble title on the Hua family?

"Zhen became acquainted with you, my most loyal subject, when we were
young. Now, in the blink of an eye, our children have grown up," Emperor
Changlong laughed, "We, as parents, raise our children and still have to
worry about their marriages, don't you think?"

Hua Yingting quickly replied, "Your Majesty's princes and princesses are
outstanding individuals. This humble general is incompetent and cannot
compare to Your Majesty."
The court officials thought to themselves, could it be that His Majesty
wants to marry his daughter off to the third son of the Hua family?

His Majesty only had two daughters. The eldest daughter was already
married, and now only the Second Princess remained in the palace,
unmarried still. Could she be the one to be married off?

It made sense. Throughout history, many renowned generals had married

princesses into their estates. However, this didn't necessarily imply His
Majesty's trust; it was more like letting the famous generals think that His
Majesty trusted them.

Anyway, the final outcome... wouldn't be too favorable.

"Fushou Junzhu is intelligent and brave. She almost lost her life while
protecting the Crown Prince. Zhen believes that your esteemed daughter
and the Crown Prince are well-matched. What if we become in-laws?" In
order to ensure his son's happiness, Emperor Changlong chose the most
shameless way and proposed the idea of a marriage alliance between the
two families in front of the court officials.

The Court Officials: Oh, so the Crown Prince is going to be married into the
Hua family...

Wait!

The crowd was so shocked that they couldn't come back to their senses. His
Majesty actually wanted to make the sickly and frail daughter of the Hua
family the Crown Princess?!

Hua Yingting looked at Emperor Changlong with a complex expression and

then glanced at the Crown Prince standing beside him. As a loyal general,
he had tried his best to prevent this tragedy from happening, but he never
expected that His Majesty would be so determined to make his own
daughter the Crown Princess. And he brought up this matter in front of so
many court officials.
When a marriage proposal is made on such a grand scale, it won't be easy to
withdraw it later.

"General Hua, what do you think?" Emperor Changlong noticed Hua

Yingting's silence and guessed that the esteemed general might not agree.
But as fathers, they had to be selfish for the sake of their children's
happiness, "If you have no objections, Zhen will have Kang Wang visit
your residence to propose the marriage on Zhen's behalf."

"This humble general thanks Your Majesty for your grace."

Your Majesty, this is a choice you personally made. Don't blame me later.

I won't be taking responsibility for any disaster that may incur.

As Emperor Changlong watched Hua Yingting bow his head, his

conscience twinged with pain. But for the sake of his most beloved son, he
could let go of that conscience.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 83 – Exchanging GengTie

The court officials had bewildered expressions on their faces, inwardly

shocked and terrified.

To marry off a princess to a subject was different from making a subject's

daughter the Crown Princess. The Crown Prince was the heir apparent and
the future emperor. The potential candidates for the Crown Princess would
naturally be from families whom the Emperor trusted and valued.

Could it be that the Emperor had never suspected the Hua family?

No, no, many court officials instinctively dismissed such speculations and
started to guess in another direction.

Could it be that the Emperor was already dissatisfied with the Crown Prince
and wanted to eliminate both the Crown Prince and the Hua family at once?

The court officials glanced secretly at the smiling faces of those around
them. Everyone seemed to be oblivious to what it meant for the Crown
Prince to be connected to the Hua family. This idea gradually solidified in
their minds.

Certainly, that's how the Emperor must be thinking.

The thoughts of the examination candidates were mostly simple. They saw
that Hua Changkong had just become the top scholar and that his sister was
to be the future Crown Princess, so naturally, they showed more enthusiasm
towards Hua Changkong.

"Brother Hua, congratulations."

"Brother Hua, double happiness has arrived. Congratulations."

Lin Sen frowned slightly as he watched the candidates who fawned over
Hua Changkong. As scholars, why were they valuing fame and fortune so
much?

"These people are just useless opportunists," the second-ranked scholar

surnamed Xie, said sourly next to Lin Sen, "It's not that we lost to him in
talent, but we lost to him in status."

Lin Sen found the comment somewhat unpleasant. His status was higher
than that of this scholar surnamed Xie, yet his ranking was two places
lower. Wasn't this scholar surnamed Xie implying that his talent was far
inferior?

With this in mind, Lin Sen lowered his brows and ignored him.

Seeing that Lin Sen was not paying attention to him, the second-ranked
scholar surnamed Xie felt somewhat uncomfortable. Wasn't it Lin Sen the
one who felt the most upset during Hua Changkong's most glorious
moments?

After the examination results were announced, the most popular event for
the common people was the parade of the top scorers. The streets were
crowded with onlookers, and young girls had prepared sachets and flowers,
waiting for the top-scoring candidates to pass by.

Some influential merchants had cleverly hired entertainers to beat drums

and put up their large signs by the street, hoping to make the passersby
notice their business.

Yao Songbai, as a descendant of the Yao family, had a quite outstanding

appearance. His uncle held the title of Fuma relying on his handsome face.
Otherwise, with his lack of substance and the soul that couldn't even pass
the scholar's exam, how could he become a Fuma?

The top scholar and all the other top scorers below him were all riding on
horseback. Yao Songbai and Hua Changkong were good friends, so
naturally, their conversations appeared more intimate. The second-ranked
scholar surnamed Xie, watching the women screaming incessantly for Hua
Changkong and Yao Songbai, felt excluded.

A good man relied on his talent. What use was it to be so good-looking?

The second-ranked scholar surnamed Xie snorted coldly, turned his head
the other way, and stopped looking at the two of them.

"Brother Xie," Hua Changkong smiled, "I noticed that your expression
didn't look good. Are you feeling unwell?"

"No need to worry, Top Scholar Hua. I'm perfectly fine," the second-ranked
scholar surnamed Xie replied stiffly.

"If Brother Xie is fine, then I can rest assured," Hua Changkong smiled
amiably, seemingly unconcerned about the second-ranked scholar surnamed
Xie's rudeness.

The people leading the horses were from the Ministry of Rites. They
overheard the conversation between the two and couldn't help but be filled
with a warm and considerate impression of Hua Changkong, while the
second-ranked scholar surnamed Xie's awkwardness and difficulty in
getting close to people were apparent.

In the capital, anyone who worked in the Six Ministries knew quite a few
influential people, so it was only natural that these newly successful
candidates became the objects of scrutiny by various departments.

In the teahouse, Yao Jiamin watched Hua Changkong and Yao Songbai pass
by on their tall horses. She patted Yao Wenyin's shoulder and comforted
her, "Being the third-ranked candidate is great. Titles like the Top Scholar
and second-ranked candidate don't sound as good as the third-ranked
candidate, right?"

Little did she know that there was no hint of sadness on Yao Wenyin's face.
Instead, she looked excited and said, "Indeed, it was right to follow Fushou
Junzhu. My brother's ranking in the Palace Examination has improved!"
Yao Jiamin: "..."

How could she forget that her cousin had already betrayed her and regarded
Hua Liuli as a good friend? Even if Hua Liuli pointed to the sun in the sky
and said it was the moon, her cousin would nod and say, "Fushou Junzhu
has such good vision, she can see the moon during the day. She must be a
gifted person."

Once a person's moral standards start to decline, they have no bottom line.

"Fortunately, you didn't continue to oppose Fushou Junzhu," Tian Shan said
happily, "Otherwise, we would have embarrassed ourselves again."

Yao Jiamin: "..."

Was it appropriate to say something that undermined her own prestige and
boosted the spirits of others?

As she watched the lively parade pass by, Yao Jiamin said, "Although Hua
Liuli is despicable, I have to admit that the people in their family are quite
good-looking."

"Of course, General Wei was the most beautiful woman in the capital when
she was young."

"Even now, General Wei is still the most beautiful woman," Yao Jiamin
would always defend General Wei.

"I think Fushou Junzhu's appearance surpasses that of her parents. She
perfectly inherits all the best qualities from both of them..."

"Cousin, I think it's your eyesight that's not good."

"My perception of beauty is the best."

"Then why did you call Hua Liuli a little wretch before?"

"I did that to vent your anger. Besides, those who can be little wretches can't
be ugly."
Seeing the two of them arguing, Tian Shan casually peeled a fruit from the
table and ate it, not participating in their battle of words.

Anyway, she understood that no matter how they argued now, neither of
them could utter a single harsh word when facing Hua Liuli.

"Junzhu!" A maidservant hurriedly ran up the stairs, her expression excited.

Tian Shan recognized her as a person from Royal Princess Shunan's side.

"What's the matter?" Yao Jiamin thought that something had happened at
home when she saw the maidservant's hurried expression. She didn't have
time to quarrel with Yao Wenyin and asked, "What happened?"

"Just now, news came from the palace that His Majesty, the Emperor, has
chosen Fushou Junzhu to be the Crown Princess," the maidservant gasped
for breath and said, "Kang Wang is now leading officials from the Ministry
of Rites to the Hua Family Estate for the marriage proposal. Royal Princess
Shunan has said that you are friends with Fushou Junzhu and asked you to
hurry back and accompany her to the Hua Family Estate to offer
congratulations."

"Wait, are you saying that the Emperor has chosen Hua Liuli to be the
Crown Princess?!" Yao Jiamin looked at the maidservant who brought the
news in shock and took a while before saying, "Is this information
accurate?"

"Nubi wouldn't dare to deceive you. Nubi also heard that His Majesty
proposed this marriage to General Hua in front of many court officials. It
shows how much importance he attaches to this marriage," The maidservant
was pleased in her heart. Since their Junzhu and Fushou Junzhu were
closest friends, once the Crown Prince ascends the throne, their Junzhu
would be the closest friend of the future empress.

Even if Junzhu didn't have the support of her own family, as long as the
Empress supported her, the people in her husband's family wouldn't dare to
mistreat her.

"What is the Emperor thinking..."

How could he be so reckless?

Yao Jiamin couldn't hear the maidservant's chattering voice anymore. In her
mind, scenes of the Crown Princess violently beating the Crown Prince
played out one after another. Eventually, the Emperor would be furious, and
the Hua family would be reprimanded. As a friend of Hua Liuli's on the
surface, she would also be scorned by the imperial family and would have
to live with her head held low in the capital from then on.

It was tragic, so tragic.

Ever since her mind went haywire and she started troubling Hua Liuli, she
had stepped into a pitiful abyss.

"Junzhu, please don't space out. Royal Princess Shunan is waiting for you to
go back."

"Yao Jiamin, you should hurry back soon. Don't make Royal Princess
Shunan wait too long," Hearing the maidservant's urging, Yao Wenyin, who
had just snapped out of the shock, pushed Yao Jiamin with her hand and
whispered, "We should also go home."

Her surface appeared calm, but her heart was roaring.

Why did the gentle and kind Fushou Junzhu have to marry the Crown
Prince?

The Crown Prince was mean-spirited, ill-tempered, and lacked

consideration for others. Fushou Junzhu would undoubtedly suffer so much
hardship and injustice by marrying him.

The Emperor was truly cunning. He must have known that the Hua family
would not agree to a private marriage proposal, so he deliberately brought it
up in front of the court officials.

Given General Hua's loyalty to the Emperor, he would never let the
Emperor lose face in front of the court officials, so he could only grit his
teeth and agree to it.
It's just that Fushou Junzhu, a tender and delicate big white cabbage, would
be snatched away by a pig that is Crown Prince.

It's truly heartbreaking.

Emperor Changlong was a man of action. After discussing the matter with
Hua Yingting, he sent Kang Wang on the same day with officials from the
Ministry of Rites, carrying piles and piles of gifts, to propose marriage to
the Hua family.

Wei Mingyue looked at the courtyard filled with gifts and at Kang Wang,
who had been smiling all along, and reluctantly accepted the GengTie1庚帖 -
gēngtiě - dated card with the horoscope of a boy or girl sent as a proposal
for betrothal
from Kang Wang's hand, then handed him a wooden box.

The wooden box contained Hua Liuli's GengTie.

After receiving Fushou Junzhu's GengTie, Kang Wang breathed a sigh of

relief. Being bad at making small talk, he awkwardly said a few words of
blessing before finding himself at a loss for words.

Fortunately, the officials from the Ministry of Rites were skilled at speaking
and praised the Hua family from head to toe before leaving with Kang
Wang.

Putting the Crown Prince's GengTie on the table, Wei Mingyue turned her
head and glanced at Hua Yingting. Hua Yingting quickly said, "Don't blame
me for this. His Majesty brought up this matter in front of so many
ministers. I couldn't refuse."

"I know," Wei Mingyue understood in her heart that the recent attitude of
the Crown Prince and His Majesty had already indicated their intentions.
And Liuli obviously also had intentions toward the Crown Prince, so she
didn't oppose this marriage. She just had some concerns. If the Crown
Prince did something wrong in the future and her daughter ended up
physically attacking him, how would their family handle the aftermath?
Since Liuli was born, they never thought about letting her enter the palace.
The current situation was completely unexpected.

They taught Liuli how to beat up men, but they never expected the
possibility of Liuli beating up the Crown Prince.

"Ah," Hua Yingting was so worried that he felt like his hair was going to
fall out, "Mingyue, what should we do now?"

"What else can we do? We can only go to the Hua family's ancestral hall
and burn several incense sticks." Wei Mingyue said calmly, "Someone, go
and invite the Junzhu."

"Are we asking them to bless Liuli to not resort to violence against the
Crown Prince?"

"No," Wei Mingyue smiled, "We are asking the ancestors of the Hua family
to bless the Crown Prince with eternal youth and everlasting beauty."

Hua Yingting touched his own face and felt a sense of crisis in his heart.
Was Mingyue implying that he had aged recently?

"Mother, did you call for me?" Before the maidservants could come and
invite her, Hua Liuli entered on her own. Wei Mingyue pointed to the empty
seat next to her, and when her daughter sat down, she placed the Crown
Prince's GengTie in her hands, "Liuli, this is your last chance. Are you
willing to marry the Crown Prince?"

Hua Liuli held the GengTie in her hands and looked at Wei Mingyue
without saying a word.

"If you are willing, I will never bring up this matter again," Wei Mingyue
reached out and touched her daughter's head. "If you are unwilling, I will go
to the palace and decline this marriage on your behalf."

Hua Liuli shook her head, "Mother, I used to think that most couples in love
were like what I saw at the border, separated by life and death. Or they were
like you and Father, sweet and loving, always together in life and death."
"But I have discovered that love, just like people, can have different
appearances and different tastes," Hua Liuli held the Crown Prince's
GengTie, "The Crown Prince understands my interests and is even willing
to defend them when facing others. I am very happy when I'm with him."

"Is that all?" Wei Mingyue's expression gradually eased, "I thought you
valued the Crown Prince's appearance the most."

"Mother, am I such a shallow person?" Hua Liuli quickly said, "Although

the Crown Prince is handsome, what's more beautiful is his interesting inner
self."

"Have you ever thought that the Crown Prince might like someone else, or
even want to have a harem like His Majesty?" Wei Mingyue couldn't help
but ask, "What will you do then?"

"In that case, I can reluctantly tolerate a few concubines," Hua Liuli
finished her sentence and smiled, "Mother, until the day something like that
happens, no one knows what it will be like."

"At least for now, I want to agree to what the Crown Prince wants and make
him happy. That's enough," Hua Liuli smiled brightly. "My heart is like his.
If he has no interest in me, then I will leave. Life is short, and in the face of
life and death separations, other things don't need to be taken too seriously."

Wei Mingyue nodded solemnly, "I understand, my daughter."

"General Wei, Royal Princess Shunan has come with her daughter to offer
congratulations."

"Royal Princess Shunan?" Wei Mingyue raised an eyebrow and smiled,

"Please let the Royal Princess enter."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 84: The Qionglin Feast

On the way to the Hua family, Royal Princess Shunan's heart was filled
with hesitation, confusion, and a little fear that she couldn't express in front
of her daughter.

"Mother, why does Hua Liuli's betrothal with the Crown Prince concern our
family?" Yao Jiamin asked, "During this time, Hua Liuli has been
recuperating in the palace. She only returned to her family's estate shortly
before the Palace Examination results were released. If we go now, it would
seem like we were desperately trying to gain favor with the Hua family..."

"Don't think too much," Royal Princess Shunan looked at her daughter, "We
are, indeed, trying to gain favor with the Hua family."

Yao Jiamin: "..."

She suddenly felt so embarrassed.

"Over the years, Leyang has been my archenemy. I dislike the people she
favors, and I make an effort to befriend those she dislikes," Royal Princess
Shunan said, "She always loves to put on a show and takes advantage of the
weak while fearing the strong. She rarely suffers losses. With the help of
Fushou Junzhu, I've made her taste bitterness and stumble. The joy in my
heart still hasn't dissipated."

"The Emperor, my Imperial Brother, had been gradually distancing himself

from me because I criticized the Crown Prince. I never expected that in the
end, it was because of the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu that I received
the title of Royal Princess," Royal Princess Shunan sighed, her face filled
with emotion.
Just when Yao Jiamin thought her mother would say something profoundly
touching, Royal Princess Shunan said, "If I had known earlier that the
Crown Prince and Leyang were at odds, I wouldn't have provoked the
Crown Prince. I would have hugged his thigh long ago."

Yao Jiamin: "..."

"Mending the pen after the sheep are lost, it is not too late," Royal Princess
Shunan took a deep breath, "Since we can't hug the Crown Prince's thigh,
we can still hug Fushou Junzhu's thigh. My good girl, fortunately, you are
friends with Fushou Junzhu, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to save face."

Yao Jiamin felt like crying but had no tears. She and Hua Liuli were really
not friends.

"It's your good fortune that most girls your age are gentle and don't have
many bad intentions, unlike our generation, where demons are
everywhere..." In Royal Princess Shunan's mind, Leyang was the biggest
demon.

As for Wei Mingyue... she was a devil.

Yao Jiamin's lips trembled intensely. She wanted to grab her mother's hand
and shout: No, that's not the truth. Hua Liuli is not human, she's a
tormenting devil. Wake up.

But she couldn't say it.

She had promised Hua Liuli before; she couldn't go back on her word.

Moreover, that day, after she helped her mother against Royal Princess
Leyang, she had already made a promise to Hua Liuli. She would listen to
Hua Liuli from now on. Although Hua Liuli hadn't made any specific
demands, she couldn't plot against her behind her back.

Once words are spoken, they cannot be taken back. She couldn't use her
tongue to take them back, so she could only silently let everyone
misunderstand that Hua Liuli was a pure and gentle fairy.
Regret, she deeply regretted it. Incredibly regretted it.

Why did she offend Hua Liuli for the sake of a man?

Standing at the entrance of the Hua Family Estate, Royal Princess Shunan
recalled the time when she was disciplined by Wei Mingyue and sighed
deeply.

In youth, she didn't realize the value of fate, and in old age, she could only
regret her mistakes at the Hua family's gate.

"Your Highness, please follow this servant," a clean and tidy maidservant
led the mother and daughter into the inner hall. As they passed through the
courtyard outside, they saw many unpacked gift boxes.

The Emperor had spent quite a bit to marry Hua Liuli into the Eastern
Palace.

"Your Highness," Wei Mingyue saw the still graceful Royal Princess
Shunan and smiled, "Please have a seat, Your Highness."

Upon seeing Wei Mingyue's smile, Royal Princess Shunan couldn't help but
take a step back.

After offending Wei Mingyue back then, Wei Mingyue had smiled at her in
the same way, and soon she had experienced the power of that smile. Now,
whenever she saw Wei Mingyue smile at her, she felt afraid.

"Thank you, General Wei," Royal Princess Shunan forced a smile, thinking
that she still owed Hua Liuli a favor. She had the servants present the
prepared gifts as she carefully observed Wei Mingyue's expression to make
sure she wasn't dissatisfied with this marriage. Only then did she continue,
"Upon hearing that Fushou Junzhu is going to be my niece-in-law, I
couldn't even eat properly due to joy. So, I took the liberty to come and
congratulate."

"Oh?" Wei Mingyue smiled ambiguously, "I haven't been in the capital for
years and have heard some rumors, not sure if they're true or false. Some
people say that Your Highness and the Crown Prince don't get along well?"

"That... it's all a misunderstanding, yes, a misunderstanding," Royal

Princess Shunan said, "Fushou Junzhu is beautiful, she is also a close friend
of our Jiamin. I like her very much. After she marries into the imperial
family, I will treat her like my own daughter. If anyone dares to bully her, I
will deal with them severely."

Facing Wei Mingyue, Royal Princess Shunan had a strong desire to survive.
Before Wei Mingyue could say anything else, she began praising Hua Liuli.

"Wouldn't that be too much trouble for Your Highness?" Wei Mingyue
sighed, "The girl's health is not good and she has been pampered by us
these years..."

"Being gentle and delicate is charming, not a flaw," Royal Princess Shunan
praised Hua Liuli once again and didn't forget to pull her daughter into the
conversation, "This child of mine used to love running around everywhere.
Since she met Fushou Junzhu, she has become more obedient. They say that
those close to vermilion get stained red. If it weren't for Fushou Junzhu's
guidance, this unruly girl would have caused so much trouble."

Yao Jiamin: "???"

Is this what a mother should say about her child?

Her mother usually criticized other people's children and praised her own.
Why did she suddenly change? Yao Jiamin looked at the elegant and
imposing Wei Mingyue and suddenly realized that she truly deserved the
admiration in her mother's heart.

"It's boring for us elders to talk while the younger generation keeps
accompanying us," Wei Mingyue, listening to the series of praises, smiled
and said to Hua Liuli, who was sitting beside her, "Liuli, take Jiamin Junzhu
to the backyard to play."

Yao Jiamin inwardly refused, but when faced with Hua Liuli's smiling eyes,
she couldn't say it out loud.
She couldn't afford to offend her, and there was no way to avoid her.
Besides following her, what else could she do?

Watching the two young ones leave hand in hand, Royal Princess Shunan
smiled with satisfaction.

What a gentle and considerate young girl. It's great that Yao Jiamin can be
friends with her.

"Hey," Yao Jiamin noticed that Hua Liuli's arm movements were still
somewhat unnatural and asked with a hint of displeasure in her tone, "How
are your injuries?"

"I'm fine. It'll heal slowly with time," Hua Liuli stood on her tiptoes,
plucked a magnolia flower, and placed it in Yao Jiamin's hand.

"Why are you giving this to me?" Yao Jiamin looked at the magnolia flower
with disdain but didn't throw it away.

"Flowers are given to beauties. I'm just trying to make you happy," Hua
Liuli said, bringing Yao Jiamin to a small arched bridge. Below the bridge,
a babbling stream flowed, and colorful koi fish freely swayed their bodies
in the water.

"What flowers for beauties? Don't think I'll fall for your tricks," Yao Jiamin
muttered quietly, occasionally glancing at Hua Liuli's injured arm, "Your
swordsmanship is so powerful, how did you still get injured?"

"Those were highly skilled assassins. I had no problem escaping on my

own, but what about the Crown Prince?" Hua Liuli leaned against the
bridge railing lazily, "Do you know why I waited until those assassins left
before taking action when we were kidnapped?"

"Why?" Yao Jiamin asked curiously.

"Of course, it's because those assassins were highly skilled, and I couldn't
beat them alone," Hua Liuli said, "I endured for so long, all for the sake of
escaping with you."
"Don't forget, they were after you. If it weren't for being implicated by you,
why would I have been captured?" Yao Jiamin said in an annoyed tone,
"Fortunately, this is Great Jin. If we were people from the Daimao
Kingdom, even if we came back intact after being captured for dozens of
hours, the rumors would drown us."

Hua Liuli smiled and remained silent.

"Take these," Yao Jiamin sternly handed two boxes of ointment to Hua
Liuli.

"What is this?"

"Scar removal cream," Yao Jiamin raised her chin, looking impatient, "As
someone who is going to be the Crown Princess, it's not suitable to have
scars on your body."

"Thank you." Hua Liuli reached out and embraced Yao Jiamin's neck, "You
are a good sister who shares difficulties with me."

Yao Jiamin: "..."

In her previous life, she must have killed so many people that, in this life,
she was repenting by becoming Hua Liuli's good sister. She wanted to push
Hua Liuli away but was afraid of hurting her wound. She could only endure
with a stern face.

Perhaps it was because she had been troubled by Hua Liuli too many times,
her heart had already become as calm as water.

"Have you ever thought about how Xie Yao could summon so many highly
skilled assassins?" Yao Jiamin couldn't help but remind Hua Liuli as she
saw her being carefree playing with the koi fish, "The palace is treacherous.
You lived at the border for so many years and don't know about the
intricacies inside. Now that you are the future Crown Princess, there will
only be more conspiracies against you, not fewer. You should be more
cautious in your daily life."
"Don't we still have the Emperor and the Crown Prince?" Hua Liuli let go
of Jiamin's neck, nonchalantly smiling, "Why do I need to worry about
those things?"

"Are you really naive or just pretending to be naive? Can't you use the little
tricks you use against me for something important?" Yao Jiamin couldn't
help but say, "Although the Crown Prince is favored by the Emperor, his
birth mother passed away early, and his maternal family is not from the
capital. There are those who wish misfortune upon the Crown Prince and
want to bring him down every day. I'm afraid someone might drag your Hua
family down for the sake of harming the Crown Prince."

Yao Jiamin was about to say it outright—that if someone slandered the Hua
family, accusing them of colluding with the Crown Prince to rebel and
forcing the Emperor to abdicate, it would be the end for both the Hua
family and the Crown Prince.

But when she looked at the smile on Hua Liuli's face, she became furious,
"Forget it, do as you please!"

She was really wasting her breath.

For court officials, the marriage between the Hua family and the Crown
Prince was a surprising event that caught everyone off guard. But for the
common people, there was nothing wrong with it.

General Hua and General Wei guarded the borders for the country, so their
daughter marrying the Crown Prince to become the future Empress was a
wonderful thing.

In any case, the merchants were happy because they had a new promotional
slogan.

The common people were also happy because the things they bought would
be cheaper for the next two days.

In the evening, the main hall of the palace was brightly lit for the Qionglin
Feast. The scholars who had passed the imperial examination were beaming
with joy, carefully surveying the spacious and magnificent hall.

Emperor Changlong gave some encouraging words to the crowd at the

banquet, had a drink, and then left, leaving several princes to entertain the
scholars.

However, among the five princes, the Crown Prince was never a considerate
and gentle person. After a few introductory remarks, he disappeared from
sight for the rest of the time.

Ying Wang, on the other hand, tried to win over these scholars, but listening
to their poetry and literary discussions made his head ache. Before the
banquet was even halfway through, he found an excuse and slipped away.

Ning Wang, seeing that the Crown Prince and the Eldest Prince had left,
was afraid that others would think he was staying to show off to gain
popularity. He immediately covered his head, claiming to have a headache,
and hastily left with his attendants. Before leaving, he even patted the
Fourth Prince's shoulder and said, "Fourth Brother, Lin Daren is a renowned
top scorer, and Consort Lin is also a talented woman, well-versed in poetry
and literature. You must be just as capable. Benwang will leave it to you
here."

After saying that, without paying attention to the Fourth Prince's

expressionless face, he covered his forehead, cried out in pain, and left.

The Fourth Prince looked at the hurried figure of his Second Brother
leaving and then glanced at the scholars who were praising each other. He
stood up and prepared to leave.

"Your Highness, the Fourth Prince," A Ministry of Rites official saw the
only remaining prince they could rely on about to slip away and quickly
intercepted him, "These scholars have composed poems. You should take a
look at who has the best one."

"What about the Fifth Prince?" The Fourth Prince stared at the Ministry of
Rites official for a while, emotionlessly spitting out these words.
"The Fifth Prince mentioned earlier that he wanted to create a painting of
the Qionglin Feast and has already left early," The smile on the Ministry of
Rites official's face remained unchanged, but he and a few other colleagues
had already surrounded the Fourth Prince tightly from all directions.

The Fourth Prince had no chance of leaving before the Qionglin Feast
ended.

In the palace, Consort Lin was reading a book when a palace maid hurriedly
approached her and whispered, "Your Highness, tonight, the other princes
have already left, only the Fourth Prince is accompanying the scholars at
the Qionglin Feast."

"Really?" Consort Lin's face showed a smile.

"Nubi dare not lie, Your Highness."

"Good," Consort Lin put down her book, her smile becoming even brighter,
"This child has always been reticent and uncooperative with whatever I
want him to do. Now he finally knows how to win people's favor. I am even
gratified."

The palace maid smiled and said, "He will only get better."

Compared to Consort Xian and Consort Rong, Consort Lin's maternal clan
was not as wealthy and prominent. Compared to Consort Shu, her maternal
clan was not as noble. In order to help her son advance further, she tried
countless methods, but no matter how many means she had, they were
useless against her son's lack of cooperation.

She couldn't understand why her own child, whom she had raised with her
own hands, was so silent that it seemed like saying a few more words to
others would cost him his life.

At the Qionglin Feast, the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

The Fourth Prince held a thick stack of poems written by the candidates and
evaluated them one by one with an expressionless face.
"Good," This was a poem written by Lin Sen.

"Acceptable," This was a verse by Xie Bangyan.

"Passable." This was a work by a certain candidate who ranked in the top
five in the examination.

There were a few pieces he didn't even want to comment on and just placed
them on the table.

The Ministry of Rites official looked at the candidates below, who were
looking at each other, and felt a bit regretful. If he had known that the
Fourth Prince would create such an atmosphere, he should have just let him
go earlier.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 85 – Understanding
Others’ Intentions

For the scholars participating in the Qionglin Feast, the most important
thing was to be recognized by nobles for their talent, or to make a stunning
display of their talent. At the very least, receiving a few comments from
nobles and gaining some visibility was considered good.

However, who would have expected that the Fourth Prince would be so
sparing with his words? When others commented on poems and verses,
they would usually elaborate on the meaning and artistic conception. But
with the Fourth Prince's approach, everyone felt a sense of disappointment.

"This one is the best," The Fourth Prince finally finished going through all
the poems and, as if completing a task, placed one poem on the table. Some
ministers present, in order to lighten the atmosphere, praised the poem
before realizing that it was the work of the top-ranked scholar, Hua
Changkong.

Hua Changkong's work was different from the other scholars. His poems
carried a sense of grandeur from the borderlands, with a righteous spirit
flowing between the lines, like a general on horseback who would not
retreat even in the face of the enemy.

"Scholar Yao's poem is also well-written, especially the use of the word
'reflection'..."

Seeing the atmosphere returning to a lively discussion, the Fourth Prince

stood up and left. This time, no one stopped him. The Ministry of Rites
official silently accompanied him out of the hall. If this prince were to stay
any longer, the scholars would have burst into tears.
Before returning to his residence, the Fourth Prince went to meet Consort
Lin.

Upon seeing her son, Consort Lin's face showed a hint of a smile, "Did you
enjoy your time with those scholars?"

The Fourth Prince pondered for a moment. No one was nagging at him, so
it could be considered enjoyable.

"Next, there will be the Hundred Nations Banquet, and numerous envoys
from different countries will attend. As a prince, you must not be outdone
by the other princes," Consort Lin recited the names of the countries
participating in the banquet and continued, "During this banquet, your
father certainly wants the Crown Prince to shine, but with the Crown
Prince's temperament..."

Consort Lin laughed, "Rest assured, you just need to make sure you don't
make any mistakes at the banquet. As for the Crown Prince, I will handle
him."

As Consort Lin kept talking non-stop, the Fourth Prince's eyes began to
empty out, pretending that he was just a rock in the courtyard.

Consort Lin mentioned many things to be cautious of, and after she finished
speaking, she took a sip of tea. However, after waiting for a while, she
didn't receive any response from her son. She furrowed her brows.

"Hmm?" Sensing that the room had fallen quiet, the Fourth Prince snapped
back to attention, "Mother, have you finished speaking?"

Consort Lin was annoyed, "Have you been listening to what I said?"

The Fourth Prince stood up, "It's late at night, so I bid you farewell,
Mother."

Consort Lin covered her chest, she almost cursed at her own son in anger.

No cursing, no foul language. She was the understanding and gentle

Consort Lin.
After leaving the hall, the Crown Prince headed straight to the Eastern
Palace. Unexpectedly, he encountered Xie Fuma, who was leaving the
palace.

Xie Fuma walked unsteadily, leaning on two servants to barely support

himself. Even in such a disheveled state, he had not lost a bit of his
elegance.

"Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince," Xie Fuma gestured for his
servants to step aside, respectfully bowing to the Crown Prince, "This
humble official greets Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince."

"The night is late. Where are you coming from, Fuma?" The Crown Prince
leaned against the sedan chair, his expression seemingly smiling but not
really. To onlookers, it was clear that he was making fun of Xie Fuma.

Who in the palace didn't know that Xie Fuma came to the palace to plead
for his daughter, but the Emperor didn't grant him an audience? Xie Fuma
knelt at the gate of the Chenyang Palace for several hours until the Emperor
returned from the Qionglin Feast, and then he expressionlessly drove him
away.

Xie Fuma's daughter had committed a heinous crime by attempting to

assassinate the Crown Prince. Seeing Xie Fuma in this state, the Emperor
didn't even send someone to accompany him, letting him walk out of the
palace on his own. Onlookers felt both sympathy and introspection.
Children must be raised properly, otherwise, if they commit grave crimes
outside, it would affect the whole family.

The usually benevolent Emperor's cold treatment of Xie Fuma indicated

how deeply he resented Royal Princess Leyang. It was possible that the
entire Xie family would be implicated.

Perhaps it was due to Xie Fuma's prominent and talented image, as well as
his sincere attitude in pleading, that few people suspected any connection
between him and the incident involving his daughter.
Xie Fuma bowed and said, "This humble official's daughter has committed
an unforgivable crime. This humble official feels deeply troubled. Until the
Emperor forgives this humble official, I am willing to come to the
Chenyang Palace every day to plead for forgiveness."

"No need for that. Father Emperor is a benevolent and wise ruler; if you
kneel in front of the Chenyang Palace every day, it might be seen as
intentionally self-harming and trying to force the Emperor's forgiveness,"
the Crown Prince leisurely played with his jade bead bracelet and calmly
said, "In that case, both you and Father Emperor would feel miserable.
Wouldn't that be a lose-lose situation?"

"Gu has a good idea. Fuma, would you like to hear it?"

"Please speak, Your Royal Highness," Xie Fuma's knees trembled slightly,
looking quite pitiful. To onlookers, it seemed like a scene where an arrogant
prince was bullying a poor elder.

"The Princess's followers attempted to assassinate Gu. Gu is the most pitiful

victim. If you find it difficult to move on, you can kneel at the entrance of
Gu's Eastern Palace," the Crown Prince thought his idea was excellent and
was proud of himself, "Gu is known for having thick skin, so you can kneel
there as much as you want. Gu guarantees that Gu won't drive you away.
This way, Father Emperor won't see you, and he won't feel as miserable. It
will also help relieve your guilt. What do you think of Gu's idea, Fuma?"

"Your Royal Highness, this idea is perfect. This humble official admires it,"
Despite the Crown Prince's deliberate provocation, Xie Fuma's expression
remained unchanged as he respectfully bowed.

"Very well then," The Crown Prince smiled in satisfaction, "Tomorrow,

Fuma can come early. The entrance of the Eastern Palace is spacious
enough. Even if Aunt decides to accompany you, there will be room. A
family should be neat and tidy to show sincerity, don't you think?"

Xie Fuma: "..."

Why did the Emperor allow such an arrogant person to become the Crown
Prince?

"Why aren't you saying anything, Fuma?" The Crown Prince frowned, "Do
you think Gu is wrong?"

"Your Royal Highness is absolutely right."

"Since Fuma agrees with Gu, then it's settled. Come early tomorrow, Gu
will have the eunuchs sweep the floor at the entrance of the Eastern Palace.
If Aunt doesn't want to accompany you, then so be it. She is a delicate
woman, and kneeling for a long time isn't good for her health," After
yawning, the Crown Prince said, "It's late. Gu should return to the palace to
rest. When you come tomorrow, there's no need to offer greetings. Gu
wakes up late, so don't disturb Gu's peaceful dreams."

"Yes," Xie Fuma felt like his many years of patience were about to run out.

The Crown Prince enjoyed watching these people resort to desperate

measures, kneeling for however long they wanted. After all, it was not his
knees that would hurt. But as a spectator, he cared about the actors'
performances, and this Fuma's acting skills were quite exquisite.

He loved watching these people's performances.

Xie Fuma endured the pain and returned to Royal Princess Leyang Estate.
Looking at his swollen knees, he said to Royal Princess Leyang, "The
Crown Prince is cruel. If he ascends to the throne, he won't care about his
elders."

Royal Princess Leyang sneered, "Since he wants me to kneel, then I will

kneel for him. I want everyone in the capital to see what a ruthless person
the Crown Prince is."

Xie Fuma glanced at Royal Princess Leyang but didn't mention what the
Crown Prince had said about exempting her from kneeling in the palace.
After Royal Princess Leyang fell asleep, Xie Fuma put on his outer robe,
rubbed his painfully aching knees, and walked outside the courtyard.

"Xie Fuma," A'Da knelt on one knee in front of Xie Fuma, not daring to lift
his head, "Although this subordinate has infiltrated the Ministry of Justice
Prison, the prison is heavily guarded, and Second Miss's food is thoroughly
inspected. This subordinate cannot find an opportunity."

"Tomorrow is the Hundred Nations Banquet. Most of the personnel at the

Ministry of Justice Prison will be patrolling the streets. You can take
advantage of this opportunity to make her commit suicide willingly," Xie
Fuma said with some dissatisfaction. He didn't expect that two days had
already passed, and A'Da hadn't found an opportunity yet.

If it weren't for the limited manpower he brought to the capital and the fact
that all those people and horses he arranged in the suburbs were wiped out
due to the incompetence of Xie Yao, he wouldn't be so stretched right now.

Just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Hua Liuli received a message
from the Crown Prince's men, inviting her to watch a play at the Eastern
Palace.

For the Hundred Nations Banquet in the evening, the Empress Dowager had
already invited Hua Liuli to the Shoukang Palace to dress up and get ready
in the morning. The Empress Dowager had also prepared many beautiful
clothes for her.

Whether she went early or late, Hua Liuli hardly hesitated. She quickly
boarded the carriage and headed to the Eastern Palace first.

"Ah," Hua Yingting watched the departing carriage, "A daughter that
doesn't listen to her father. She's a source of disaster, this blue-eyed
troublemaker."

"Why are you squatting at the gate so early in the morning? Are you
waiting for me to throw you a bone?" Wei Mingyue said expressionlessly,
"It's a good thing for the younger generation to get along well. Don't
meddle in their affairs."
"I'm just reluctant," Hua Yingting muttered unhappily, "Our lively little
cabbage has gone to amuse the pigs. As an old father, I feel a bit
uncomfortable."

Wei Mingyue couldn't be bothered to deal with him and turned back to the
courtyard.

Hua Liuli was still unaware of her own father's melancholic heart. When
she arrived at the gate of the Eastern Palace, she saw three people kneeling
outside, with Royal Princess Leyang in the middle.

What kind of play is this? Aunt kneeling at her nephew's doorstep.

She cleared her throat, catching the attention of the three individuals. The
young gentleman on the far right lifted his head. His appearance was
relatively ordinary, but there was a hint of the elegance of Royal Princess
Leyang in his eyes and brows. One could reluctantly admit that he looked
refined.

Royal Princess Leyang had been kneeling at the entrance for less than half
an hour and her knees had already lost all feeling. She never expected that
the Crown Prince would actually let her kneel for so long.

This was the main palace road, where eunuchs and palace maidservants
passed by and could witness her sorry state.

Royal Princess Leyang hated it with all her heart. Her biggest regret was
not slapping the Crown Prince when he was still the Third Prince.

"I apologize," Hua Liuli took out her handkerchief and covered her mouth,
her face reddening as she looked at Royal Princess Leyang, "I have matters
to discuss with the Crown Prince. Your Highness and the other two seem to
be blocking my way. Could you please move aside?"

Royal Princess Leyang sneered, "There's so much space on the side, can't
Junzhu just pass through?"
Hua Liuli sighed, "This humble servant has a lowly status, how can I step
over His Royal Highness?" With that, she held onto Yuan Yi's hand and
stepped over the threshold of the Eastern Palace. She stood inside and
looked down at them.

"This is Xie Fuma?" Hua Liuli looked at Xie Fuma, whose face was pale
but still exuded a dignified air in his middle age. She couldn't help but
glance at him a few more times.

He looks so handsome now. I wonder what he looked like when he was

young, radiating such charisma.

Xie Fuma looked up and met Hua Liuli's gaze. This kind of clear gaze, he
had seen it before in his younger years.

He was momentarily lost in thought until he saw the Crown Prince coming
out with a group of palace attendants, then he retracted his gaze.

"Liuli," The Crown Prince had just stepped out when he noticed Hua Liuli
staring at Xie Fuma. The fact that Xie Fuma had once been known for his
unparalleled appearance when he was young created a subtle feeling in his
heart.

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli walked calmly to the Crown Prince's
side, as though she hadn't been the one examining Xie Fuma's appearance
just now, "Why is Royal Princess Leyang kneeling here?"

"Aunt and Fuma had been thinking about how they raised a daughter like
that. It's been keeping them up at night and making them lose their appetite.
They insist on kneeling to beg for forgiveness from Gu," the Crown Prince
sighed. "No matter how Gu tried to stop them, they wouldn't listen. Gu can
only go along with their wishes. Perhaps if Gu let them kneel for a few
more days, they will feel better."

"I see," Hua Liuli nodded approvingly, "Your Royal Highness is willing to
let others gossip about you just to satisfy the wishes of Princess Leyang.
You truly understand people's hearts."
Royal Princess Leyang: "..."

Is that how you use the phrase "understand people's hearts"?

"What else can Gu do?" the Crown Prince shook his head and sighed,
"They are family after all. Gu can't just stand by and watch them starve
themselves, refuse to eat, drink, or sleep, and ruin their health. For the sake
of Aunt's family's well-being, the idle gossip of outsiders is not important.
Gu doesn't care."

"Ah," Hua Liuli looked distressed, "Your Royal Highness, you are always
so kind and considerate, enduring grievances without complaint. It hurts my
heart."

"It's okay, Gu doesn't mind. Don't worry about it," the Crown Prince
comforted Hua Liuli in a low voice.

Watching these two who were so perfectly in sync with each other, Royal
Princess Leyang felt nauseated.

These two little wretches are so good at acting, why don't they go on stage
and perform a grand play?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 86 – Adding Insult to
Injury

Seeing Royal Princess Leyang's distorted features from anger, Hua Liuli
was afraid that she would end up fainting like Xie Yao, so she pulled the
sleeve of the Crown Prince and entered the Eastern Palace, "Your Royal
Highness, what's going on?"

"Royal Princess Leyang's family feels guilty, so they came to apologize to

Gu," the Crown Prince smiled and patted Hua Liuli's head, "Aunt here has
been favored by Father Emperor all these years and thought that her
daughter's attempt to assassinate Gu was just a childish fight."

Living a life so smooth and untroubled, did she truly believe that his Father
Emperor had no temper?

"Well, let them continue kneeling then," Hua Liuli had no favorable
impression of Royal Princess Leyang's family. They dared to attempt to
assassinate the Crown Prince. Were they planning a rebellion?

"We've suffered so much, nearly losing our lives. Letting them kneel for a
while won't hurt them," the Crown Prince held Hua Liuli's hand, "Besides,
Gu is the Crown Prince and you are the future Crown Princess. It is only
natural for them to kneel before us."

Hua Liuli led the Crown Prince to the window, opened a crack, and looked
outside, whispering, "I remember that the relationship between Consort
Xian and Royal Princess Leyang isn't very good, right?"

The Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli with a mischievous smile, it seemed
as if he had guessed what she wanted to do.
"Shared joy is a double joy. We can send a message to Lincui Palace," Hua
Liuli blinked her eyes, "After all, we are the younger generation, there are
some things that we can't say directly."

The Crown Prince chuckled, "Only you understand Gu, Liuli."

In Lincui Palace, Consort Xian was selecting attire and jewelry to wear for
the Hundred Nation Banquet in the evening.

This one is too flamboyant, not dignified enough. That one is too plain, not
eye-catching enough.

Why aren't there any clothes that can be worn?

"Your Highness," A young palace maid ran in with a beaming smile, "Nubi
heard some good news."

"What good news?" Consort Xian replied listlessly, "When there isn't a
single decent outfit, what good news could there be?" The thought of
possibly being overshadowed by Consort Lin, Consort Rong, and Consort
Shu tonight made her feel uneasy.

"Royal Princess Leyang and her family are kneeling at the gate of the
Eastern Palace to apologize to the Crown Prince. Many palace servants
passing by have seen it," the palace maid reported, knowing who her
mistress disliked the most, and immediately rushed back to deliver the
news.

"What?" Consort Xian suddenly became alert, "Are you saying that little
wretch Leyang is kneeling at the gate of the Eastern Palace and the Crown
Prince hasn't asked her to get up?"

"Nubi heard that not only did the Crown Prince not let them get up, he even
invited Fushou Junzhu into the palace early," the palace maid said with
malice, "Maybe His Royal Highness wants Fushou Junzhu to witness the
spectacle?"
Consort Xian agreed wholeheartedly. Considering the extent of the Crown
Prince's wickedness, he was indeed capable of such a thing.

The more she thought about it, the happier she became. She didn't bother
picking clothes or selecting jewelry anymore. With a few trusted palace
servants, she excitedly headed towards the Eastern Palace.

"Your Highness, please slow down a bit," The palace servants following her
had to hurry and nearly couldn't keep up with Consort Xian's pace.

Consort Xian thought, how could such an important matter be slowed

down? If it were delayed any longer, that family of three might get up and
run away.

They hurried all the way to the gate of the Eastern Palace. Consort Xian
looked at the neatly kneeling trio and suddenly felt a surge of delight. Her
breathlessness and leg soreness from running all the way here had
disappeared instantly and she exuded an air of joy.

She straightened her clothes, took the embroidered fan handed to her by a
palace maid, and walked slowly toward Leyang. In an exaggerated manner,
she exclaimed, "Oh my, which ignorant servant almost tripped me?!"

She stepped on the stone steps and turned to look at the three kneeling
people on the ground, "Heavens, I thought it was some foolish servant, but I
didn't expect it to be the Royal Princess Leyang and her Fuma. What are
you all doing here?"

Seeing Consort Xian's attitude, Leyang knew that she had intentionally
come to witness her humiliation. She turned her head away and ignored her.

"I never expected that the once well-renowned Xie Fuma would one day
kneel in front of someone begging for forgiveness," Consort Xian still
remembered the time when Xie Fuma first arrived in the capital and called
her and her good sisters vulgar. Those words remained in her memory until
now.
What's so great about being good-looking and well-read? Criticizing other
young ladies, does that make one a gentleman?

If she hadn't accidentally overheard Xie Fuma's words, she wouldn't have
known that this seemingly refined Xie Fuma was such a hypocritical man.

Even His Majesty never found fault with her, so what qualifications did this
Xie Fuma have?

"But Xie Fuma is still better than others. At least, he looks good even when
kneeling," Consort Xian shifted her gaze to the couple's son and clucked her
tongue, "It's been a few years, and the young master of the Xie family has
become quite robust. But this child doesn't resemble you both at all. The
nose, the eyes... it's obvious he's a low-key person."

"Tian family's Consort, don't sow discord here," Upon hearing Consort
Xian's comments about her son, Royal Princess Leyang could no longer
bear it, "Whether my child is good or not, he is His Majesty's nephew.
There's no need for you to comment."

"Oh my, I now know why that Xie Yao, that little girl, had such audacity to
send assassins against the Crown Prince. So, it seems she learned it from
you," Consort Xian shook her fan and rolled her eyes, "Your daughter
wanted to kill the Crown Prince, yet you still expect His Majesty to treat
your son as a treasure? Kneeling for so long in the broad daylight has made
you delusional?"

Without waiting for Royal Princess Leyang to react, Consort Xian, with a
cold face, said, "You should thank your status as a Royal Princess for
allowing your whole family to keep their lives."

"Consort Xian," Xie Fuma calmly spoke up, "If my unfilial daughter has
made a mistake, His Majesty will decide how to punish us. However, how
to deal with us is up to His Majesty, not what Consort Xian says."

"She didn't just make a mistake, she committed a crime. Xie Fuma has read
countless books. How can he lack such common knowledge? Has he put the
books into the belly of a dog?" Consort Xian sneered, "I'm talking to Royal
Princess here, what right does an outsider like you have to interfere? You're
nothing but a worthless thing!"

"Tian family's Consort!" Leyang, hearing Consort Xian speak to her Fuma
in such a manner, stood up, ready to slap her. However, before she could
reach out, a servant girl grabbed her arm.

"Royal Princess Leyang," Yuan Yi smiled, "Are you tired, Your Highness?
If you're tired, I can send you back to Your Highness's estate now."

"What right does a maidservant of a Junzhu have to boss me around?"

Royal Princess Leyang recognized this girl as the maidservant girl by Hua
Liuli's side and her anger flared. How could a lowly maidservant dare to
mock and ridicule her?

"What's going on? Why all the noise?" The Crown Prince leisurely came
out and raised an eyebrow when he saw Yuan Yi holding Royal Princess
Leyang's wrist.

"Your Royal Highness, while I was selecting jewelry today, I found a piece
of high-quality mutton-fat jade that suits Your Royal Highness's style. So, I
came here to send it to Your Royal Highness personally," The enemy of my
enemy is my friend; Consort Xian found the maid by Hua Liuli's side very
pleasing to the eye, "But unexpectedly, Royal Princess Leyang seems to be
very displeased with the incident of kneeling at the Eastern Palace gate. She
even wanted to slap me. Fortunately, Fushou Junzhu's maidservant saved
me. Otherwise, Leyang might have come to kill me, just like her daughter
tried to assassinate you."

"Consort Xian, you've misunderstood. Royal Princess Leyang didn't mean

that at all," Xie Fuma said, "We came here to apologize sincerely. Why does
Consort Xian have to make it so difficult for us?"

"When did I make it difficult for you?" Consort Xian looked up at the
eunuchs by the gate of the Eastern Palace, "Did any of you see it?"

The eunuchs shook their heads and remained silent.

"I've heard that Xie Fuma has excellent eloquence, but I didn't expect it to
be to this extent, able to twist black and white, and spew blood from his
mouth," Consort Xian's eyebrows twitched, "Insolent! I am just one of the
Principal Consorts appointed by His Majesty, how dare you slander me?"

"Gu understands now," The Crown Prince sighed, his tone filled with
disappointment, "Since Aunt and Fuma don't want to apologize to Gu, why
did you have to put on this act for Gu?"

Royal Princess Leyang opened her mouth.

"Your Royal Highness, please don't be upset," Hua Liuli supported the
Crown Prince's arm and whispered, "Family relationships are also a matter
of fate. Now that it has come to this, it can only be said that you and Royal
Princess Leyang are not destined to be a family. Don't harm your health
over these matters."

"Enough, enough," The Crown Prince waved his hand wearily, "Aunt,
Fuma, you can go back. Gu had planned to intercede for you with Father
Emperor, but it seems Gu was just being foolish."

Young Master Xie was a bit confused. His mother had only exchanged a
few words with Consort Xian, so why did the Crown Prince look so hurt?

Something felt off.

"Your Royal Highness, this guilty subject's family came here with
sincerity," Xie Fuma felt a vague sense of unease, but at this point, if they
really stood up and left, it would be the least advantageous choice.

"Gu doesn't believe you."

"This guilty subject is willing to kneel until Your Royal Highness believes
us."

Consort Xian's eyebrows twitched. Xie Fuma dared to say such words; it
seemed he didn't know the Crown Prince's stubborn temper well enough. As
long as he dared to say it, the Crown Prince would make him kneel until he
cried.

He was indeed the next head of the Xie family, showing commendable
courage.

"If you put it that way, it's not interesting," The Crown Prince said
indifferently. Just as Xie Fuma thought he would say something else, the
Crown Prince turned to Consort Xian and said, "Thank you, Consort Xian,
for thinking of Gu. Please come inside and have a cup of tea."

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness," Normally, Consort Xian wouldn't even
want to walk in the direction of the Eastern Palace. But today was different.
In order to witness Leyang's humiliation, she could endure it.

She had hated Leyang for too long that even the Crown Prince had become
pleasing in her eyes.

Hua Liuli turned her head and glanced at the kneeling Xie Fuma. She
revealed an innocent smile but had no intention of interceding for them.

"Be careful as you walk," The Crown Prince reached out and supported the
back of Hua Liuli's head, gently turning her face to him, "Is Gu not good-
looking?"

"You're good-looking."

"Then just look at Gu, don't look at others."

Consort Xian, who was walking beside them: "..."

Why are they so affectionate?

Consort Xian's visit to watch the spectacle was not over, but rather the
beginning of a good show.

Not long after, Consort Rong mentioned that she happened to acquire
several pieces of exquisite satin and learned that Fushou Junzhu was in the
Eastern Palace. So, she personally brought the satin to the Eastern Palace.
However, when she entered the gate of the Eastern Palace, her steps slowed
down significantly, and her gaze drifted. As she passed by Royal Princess
Leyang, she accidentally dropped the sachet she was carrying, which landed
on Royal Princess Leyang's hand.

"Sorry," Ever since giving birth to Ning Wang, Consort Rong had become
more low-profile. No matter who it was, she appeared calm and unruffled.
She didn't have much interaction with Royal Princess Leyang, but on
several occasions, Leyang openly mocked Ning Wang's dullness in front of
others. Although she maintained a calm appearance, these things were
etched deeply in her heart.

She didn't dare to mock as openly as the ostentatious Consort Xian, but she
could still enjoy the spectacle and intentionally disgust the other party.

"Does Your Highness still want this sachet?" A palace maid beside Consort
Rong picked up the scented sachet and quietly asked her.

"What's the point of keeping something that's already dirty?" Consort Rong
covered her nose with a handkerchief, "Quickly throw it away, far away. Let
it dirty someone else's eyes."

"Royal Princess, I wasn't referring to you," Consort Rong smiled

expressionlessly at Leyang, "I was referring to that dirty, useless piece of
waste, the sachet."

Royal Princess Leyang: "..."

"I still have to find Fushou Junzhu for something. As for your family... just
keep kneeling. Maybe someday when the Crown Prince is in a forgiving
mood, he'll pardon you," Consort Rong smiled gently, "After I meet with
the Crown Prince, I'll also plead for you."

Let's see if I can make things worse for you.

With her character, she still had the audacity to say her precious son had a
dull mind?
While her own child is quite intelligent, daring enough to even attempt to
kill the Crown Prince. What kind of intelligence does it take to do
something like that?

Shortly after Consort Rong entered, the Fifth Prince arrived with a painting
to pay respects to the Crown Prince.

The Fifth Prince was naturally elegant, and although the Crown Prince
treated him with indifference, he still maintained the habit of paying his
respects to the Crown Prince every seven days, almost without interruption.

The Eastern Palace attendants were already accustomed to the Fifth Prince's
behavior, but they were still somewhat surprised to see him today.

Only two days had passed since the last visit. Why was the Fifth Prince
coming so early this time?

Ignoring the attendants' strange gazes, the Fifth Prince walked up to

Leyang's family and suddenly said, "Aunt, not properly raising one's
children will lead to consequences."

Leyang looked at the Fifth Prince in confusion. She had no grievances with
Consort Shu and her son, so what did the Fifth Prince mean?

"Unfortunately, although Fuma is a renowned literary talent, the daughter

raised by him lacks any substance," The Fifth Prince frowned, "Are you
kneeling here to save her?"

"Plotting to assassinate the Crown Prince is a crime punishable by the

extermination of nine clans. Unfortunately, your family is of imperial
lineage, so exterminating nine clans is not possible. It would be good to
have Xie Yao sentenced to be beheaded," The Fifth Prince's gaze turned
cold, "You are kneeling here only to force the Crown Prince to grant your
request. If you truly repent, you should stay at home honestly and wait for
the Ministry of Justice to investigate the matter thoroughly."

"You are in such a rush, which makes Benwang doubt that you are
harboring guilty conscience. The attempt to assassinate the Crown Prince is
not unrelated to your Xie family."

"Fifth Prince, please do not wrong the guilty subject's family until the
matter is resolved."

"I apologize, Fuma. Benwang is still young, and if Benwang has

misspoken, Benwang hopes you will forgive Benwang," The Fifth Prince
elegantly placed his hand behind his back, "But since there are no outsiders
here, you don't have to worry about the word getting out."

At the age of seventeen, the Fifth Prince finally employed the excuse of
being a child, shirking responsibility like a scoundrel from commoners.

I'm still young, just a child, so I don't have to take responsibility for my
words.

OceanofPDF.com
Chapter 87 – Upright and Innocent

The relationship between Consort Rong and Consort Xian was not very
good in the earlier years. At that time, they were both pregnant around the
same time, and there were rumors in the palace that the eldest prince would
be the crown prince, creating a silent competition between them.

Little did they know that the crown prince would turn out to be Ji Yuansu, a
third-ranked Consort's son. After that, their thoughts of competing with
each other diminished, but their relationship remained awkward.

Now they were using the pretext of delivering gifts to the Eastern Palace to
witness Leyang's embarrassment, and surprisingly, they didn't feel
uncomfortable. Instead, they had a strange sense of understanding for each
other.

Although this woman was not likable, her stance against Leyang's
misbehavior was commendable.

Consort Xian and Consort Rong looked at each other and showed a subtle
smile.

Consort Xian: Ha, this woman has aged, with wrinkles under her eye.

Consort Rong: Always throwing tantrums, her appearance has worsened,

with spots on her face.

Both of them felt that the other's appearance had declined and couldn't
match their own beauty. Their smiles became even warmer and friendlier.

"There are many carriages entering the palace tonight. I'm worried that
Royal Princess Shunan and her family might get stuck on the way," Hua
Liuli suddenly said, "Your Royal Highness, should we send someone to
remind them?"

Royal Princess Shunan and Royal Princess Leyang were at odds with each
other, so Royal Princess Shunan should certainly enjoy this lively scene.
They were supposed to be good sisters, so how could she miss such an
occasion?

Consort Xian and Consort Rong turned their heads together and looked at
Fushou Junzhu, who appeared delicate and shy with her smile. The future
Crown Princess—was she acting unintentionally or with purpose?

The conflict between Shunan and Leyang was endless. If Shunan witnessed
Leyang's embarrassment, she would be happy for at least half a month. This
early invitation to Shunan and her family to enter the palace was practically
an open invitation for them to come and enjoy the spectacle.

If it was unintentional, then so be it. If it was intentional...

This future Crown Princess was ruthless.

"Liuli, you're considerate. Gu will send someone to invite Royal Princess

Shunan and her family into the palace," the Crown Prince said with a bright
smile. He was eager to see how the Xie family's ploy of feigning suffering
would unfold with so many spectators.

Watching a show is more exciting with a large audience.

"Someone, the tea for Consort Rong, Consort Xian, and the Fifth Prince has
gone cold. Get them fresh cups," The Crown Prince, who used to even
neglect serving tea to the Fifth Prince, now proactively replaced the cold tea
with hot tea for him, showing his warm hospitality.

The three of them pretended not to remember the Crown Prince's previous
aloof attitude and firmly remained in their seats without moving.

As long as they could witness Leyang's embarrassment, what was a little

sacrifice?
"Father, Mother," Young Master Xie secretly rubbed his numb knees and
whispered to Leyang and Xie Fuma, "How long do we have to kneel?"

Unlike his two sisters, who returned to the capital every year, he stayed at
the Xie family estate in the south and received the family's teachings.
However, every time he was in the capital, the Emperor and the Empress
Dowager treated him kindly, and the young nobles in the capital were also
enthusiastic towards him. But this time...

At the tender age of fifteen, he couldn't understand why his second sister
had hired an assassin to target their cousin, the Crown Prince. The Crown
Prince was the favored and highly valued child of the Imperial Uncle, so
how could Imperial Uncle not be angry if something happened to the
Crown Prince?

As someone who had never experienced hardship, he felt both aggrieved

and guilty from kneeling for so long and being mocked by others. After all,
his second sister almost caused the death of their cousin, and it was only
natural for their cousin to hold resentment toward their family.

"My son, if you're tired, you can pretend to faint," Royal Princess Leyang
said softly in his ear, feeling heartbroken by his pale face, "That way, no
one will bother you anymore."

"How can I do that?" Young Master Xie shook his head, refusing, "Our
family has caused harm to the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu. It's
already a mistake. If I faint now, in the eyes of others, it will seem like the
Crown Prince has forced me to kneel and made me faint. In that case, won't
it further tarnish the Crown Prince's reputation?"

Hearing his son's upright words, Royal Princess Leyang almost fainted on
the spot. Her second daughter was foolish and ruthless, but her son was
upright and innocent. If her two children could balance each other out, how
wonderful would that be?

Afraid of tarnishing the Crown Prince's reputation, Young Master Xie, who
already felt guilty, rubbed his knees and continued to kneel.
Xie Fuma looked at the sun rising gradually in the sky and then at his son
sweating profusely. He spoke up, "This matter has nothing to do with you.
If something happens to your health, causing your mother and me to worry,
it would be unfilial. It's better for you to leave early so that we can be at
ease."

"Then wouldn't it be parents kneeling to ask for forgiveness while the son
sits leisurely beside them?" Young Master Xie wiped the sweat from his
forehead, "Father, you don't need to worry about me. I'm fine."

"You, my child, how... how..." Royal Princess Leyang was both anxious and
frustrated. How did she raise her child to be so pure-hearted?

"Young Master Xie," Just then, a eunuch from the Eastern Palace walked
over, "The Crown Prince invites you in, please."

"Thank you," Young Master Xie expressed his gratitude, then turned to his
parents, "Has the Crown Prince summoned my parents?"

"Please pardon me, Young Master Xie," The eunuch from the Eastern
Palace smiled apologetically, "The Crown Prince only wants to see you
alone."

Young Master Xie stood up and bowed to his parents before limping behind
the eunuch and entering the Eastern Palace.

"Greetings to the Crown Prince, to the esteemed consorts, and to the Fifth
Prince," Young Master Xie bowed, "Greetings to Fushou Junzhu."

Hua Liuli noticed that Young Master Xie... no longer seemed like Leyang's
son. His manners were impeccable and he showed genuine respect to the
Crown Prince and the others. Although he didn't possess his parents' good
looks, he displayed an elegant demeanor befitting his imperial lineage.

"Please have a seat," the Crown Prince pointed to an empty seat at the end.

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness," Young Master Xie cautiously sat down.
Perhaps with the knowledge of Xie Yao's attempt to assassinate the Crown
Prince, he lowered his head with a sense of guilt when facing the Crown
Prince's scrutinizing gaze.

After talking with him for a while, the Crown Prince reluctantly let him go.
Young Master Xie turned his head to see Hua Liuli looking at him. He
blushed, his ears turning red.

Hua Liuli: "..."

She wasn't a tyrant who teased innocent young men from respectable
families. What was wrong with this Young Master Xie?

The Crown Prince also noticed Young Master Xie's unusual behavior. He
discreetly tugged at Hua Liuli's sleeve, giving her a look that said "Don't
lead him on", then turned to Young Master Xie with a gentle tone, asking
about what studies he had been pursuing and whether he planned to take the
imperial examinations in three years to become an official.

When the atmosphere was right, the Crown Prince sighed and said with a
bitter smile, "You knelt outside, but Gu didn't stop you or ask you to get up.
Will you blame Gu for it?"

"This matter was already our family's wrongdoing. How could we blame
the Crown Prince?" Young Master Xie quickly shook his head and grabbed
his robe, "I... I just don't have the face to meet you."

Oh my, how did Leyang teach her children?

Consort Xian couldn't help but cover her face. Xie Fuma and Leyang, such
dignified individuals, were kneeling outside the Eastern Palace in front of
palace servants. What was their purpose for doing this?

The purpose was to portray this matter as Xie Yao's personal act, so as not
to implicate the entire Xie family.

But this little Young Master opened his mouth and said, "Our family's
wrongdoing". Truly... his innocence almost made people want to mock him
a bit. Like bullying a child.
Even the Fifth Prince, who hadn't spoken much, couldn't help but look at
Young Master Xie with an affectionate gaze.

"Gu doesn't blame you," The Crown Prince looked even more melancholic,
"If it weren't for Fushou Junzhu's desperate protection that day, Gu would
have already met my demise. When we were found, Fushou Junzhu's
clothes were stained red with blood. The imperial physician said that if it
had been a little later, her arm would have been crippled, and she might not
have even survived."

Young Master Xie secretly glanced at the girl sitting next to the Crown
Prince. She looked pale and fragile. How much courage did it take for such
a petite girl to save the Crown Prince from the assassins?

The more he thought about it, the more guilty Young Master Xie felt. He
almost buried his head in his stomach.

"Gu doesn't blame you at all. After all, you're young and unaware of this
matter," the Crown Prince called a palace servant, "It has been a long time
since you last saw the Empress Dowager. Go to Shoukang Palace and pay
your respects to the Empress Dowager."

"Yes," Young Master Xie stood up but hesitated, "Crown Prince, my

parents..."

"Cousin," the Crown Prince gazed at him with a melancholic expression,

"Do you still resent Gu in your heart?"

"No, no," Young Master Xie quickly shook his head.

"In that case, go see the Empress Dowager first. Your father and Gu will
take care of the other matters," the Crown Prince raised his teacup,
signaling for a palace servant to accompany Young Master Xie out.

"Wait," Hua Liuli smiled and spoke, "Take the young master through the
side door."
Young Master Xie felt touched in his heart. Fushou Junzhu must be worried
that he would feel sad seeing his parents kneeling, so she specifically
instructed the palace servant to take him out through the side door.

Hua Liuli, who received a grateful glance for no reason: "..."

Seeing the sun rise higher and higher while their son still hadn't come out,
Royal Princess Leyang became more and more anxious. She couldn't help
but grab Xie Fuma's sleeve and say, "Fuma, Sheng'er has an upright
personality. Will the Crown Prince intentionally make things difficult for
him?"

If it were someone else, they might still consider etiquette and face, but the
Crown Prince, at times, would have no regard for dignity.

Xie Fuma's expression also turned grim. Seeing Royal Princess Leyang's
anxious look, he reassured her, "Don't worry, our child will be fine."

"Leyang, what's going on?" Royal Princess Shunan's voice came from
behind, "From your tone, it seems like you're worried about your child?"

With a burst of clear laughter, Royal Princess Shunan walked over, fanning
herself with a fan. She approached Leyang and said, "It seems that people
are inherently selfish. Their own children are extremely precious, while
they treat other people's children as if they can kill them and deceive them
at will."

"The crime of attempting to assassinate the Crown Prince; you kneel here as
if it doesn't exist?" Royal Princess Shunan sneered, "Why do you have such
beautiful thoughts?"

"Shunan..." Xie Fuma was about to speak but was interrupted by Shunan.

"Xie Fuma, please address me as Royal Princess Shunan. Don't get it

wrong," Royal Princess Shunan looked at the man, who looked pale but still
had an air of elegance, "Don't address me incorrectly."
When Royal Princess Leyang forcibly took away this man all those years
ago, she understood one thing: some men might appear decent, but they
were actually dogs. They would go wherever there was a mess. As a
beautiful princess, she should not have any dealings with a dog.

Over the years, Royal Princess Leyang had always thought that Royal
Princess Shunan still harbored feelings for a man who betrayed her. She
often flaunted their affection in front of her, which only made her feel
helpless.

A lowly person matched with a dog for eternity. Who would still care about
a dog?

"Oh dear, Eldest Sister, your gaze is quite intimidating," Royal Princess
Shunan patted her chest and pulled her daughter, Yao Jiamin, back a few
steps, "Leyang, are you thinking of hitting me again?"

"Royal Princess Leyang, I beg you, spare my mother," Yao Jiamin bowed to
Royal Princess Leyang, "After you slapped my mother that day, she needed
several days to recover at home. If you do it again, don't blame me for
fighting back."

Hua Liuli was truly toxic. Being with her for a long time, one's way of
speaking and doing things would be influenced by her style.

Royal Princess Leyang: "..."

How dare they bring up what happened last time?!

"Shunan, you shameless person, how dare you bring up this matter?!" Royal
Princess Leyang gritted her teeth, "Just you wait, do you think you can bask
in glory forever?"

"Eldest Sister's threats are so scary," Royal Princess Shunan swayed her
waist, "Unfortunately, I'm the one standing now, and you're the one
kneeling, Eldest Sister. If you want to seek revenge, straighten your spine
first."
"Aunt, you've gone too far!" Yao Jiamin suddenly raised her voice, "You
have no sense of teaching your daughter. It was bad enough to plot against
the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu, but now you're threatening my
mother?!"

"Just wait, I will go and inform His Majesty and His Royal Highness. Let
them judge the situation," Yao Jiamin said as she supported Royal Princess
Shunan, "Mother, let's go. We'll find the Crown Prince."

"The Crown Prince is honest and upright. He will surely ensure justice for
us."

Yao Jiamin noticed that when a person had betrayed their conscience once
and then indulged in flattery, they would gradually become accustomed to
betraying their conscience again.

She was truly a filial daughter, willing to discard her conscience just to give
her mother a chance to regain the upper hand.

Yao Fuma, who had been silently following behind the mother and daughter
without saying a word, shook his waist and stepped onto the steps.
Accidentally, his foot slipped and landed on Xie Fuma's shin.

"Brother-in-law, I slipped accidentally. You're a scholar, don't lower

yourself to the level of someone like me," Yao Fuma deliberately pressed
hard on Xie Fuma's shin and playfully retracted his foot, "We shouldn't let a
small matter like this harm the harmony between us as brothers-in-law.
Don't you agree?"

"You're right, brother-in-law," Xie Fuma lightly brushed off the dust on his
shin, "Just be more careful when you walk next time, so you don't break
your leg."

"Thanks for the reminder, brother-in-law," Yao Fuma flicked his sleeve, and
the wide sleeve hit Xie Fuma's fair face, leaving a red mark.

Yao Fuma acted as if he didn't see it, folded his hands behind him, and
hummed a vulgar tune as he slowly walked away.
"A mangy dog has arrived from the south, with little fur and an ugly face..."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 88 – Shameless

Seeing Yao Jiamin enter with her family, Hua Liuli blinked at her.

After Yao Jiamin paid her respects to everyone present, she sat down next
to Hua Liuli and whispered, "What's going on?"

"I invited you to come and watch the show," Hua Liuli replied softly, "Isn't
Royal Princess Leyang your family's enemy?"

"Ah, I see," Yao Jiamin suddenly understood. Could it be that the Crown
Prince had suddenly sent someone to invite their family to enter the palace
earlier for this? Because their family had offended the Crown Prince a few
years ago, and now, seeing the Crown Prince actively sending someone to
invite them, their family didn't hesitate and immediately boarded the
carriage to enter the palace.

They didn't expect to witness such a good show.

When she saw Royal Princess Shunan and her family enter, Consort Xian's
eyes nearly popped out.

Princess Shunan had always disliked the Crown Prince and had even
expressed multiple times that she would help her son, Minghao, compete
against Yuansu for the Crown Prince position. So why was she being so
polite to the Crown Prince today?

"Fortunately, the Crown Prince reminded us. Otherwise, our whole family
would have been late today," Royal Princess Shunan smiled as she handed a
wooden box to an attendant from the Eastern Palace, "The joyous day for
the Crown Prince is approaching, and it's a time when money is needed. As
your Aunt, I don't have anything to offer you. I could only bring some
jewelry. Consider it an early gift from your aunt to your future wife."
"Thank you, Aunt. How can Gu let you bear the expense?" Although he felt
embarrassed, the Crown Prince had the attendant take the gift.

Seeing that the Crown Prince was willing to accept the gift, Royal Princess
Shunan's heart was relieved. Over the years, her attitude toward the Crown
Prince had been unfavorable, but he didn't pay much attention to her. She
had been worried that the Crown Prince wouldn't give her any face today,
but unexpectedly, he was surprisingly easy to talk to.

She was pleasantly surprised.

"I tend to speak without thinking and have a bad temper. Fortunately, with
the understanding of the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Crown
Prince, I was able to live a comfortable life," Royal Princess Shunan
blushed, "I have offended many people in these years, so I ask the Crown
Prince to forgive this aunt."

"Aunt, you're being too harsh. Family members arguing with each other is
not a big deal," the Crown Prince turned his head and looked at Hua Liuli,
who was whispering to Yao Jiamin, with a faint smile, "Moreover, Jiamin is
a close friend of the future Crown Princess. We need not bring up past
matters."

Royal Princess Shunan understood in her heart that she didn't have much
affection for the Crown Prince. His words almost told her explicitly that he
didn't want to investigate the past grievances because of the future Crown
Princess's relationship with her daughter.

The Crown Prince openly stated this in front of Consort Xian and Consort
Rong. If she agreed, it would be like announcing to the entire capital that
the Royal Princess Shunan Estate and the Hua Family Easte were allied.

"Thanks to Fushou Junzhu, our child has become obedient and sensible,"
Yao Fuma continued the conversation, "We are very fond of Fushou Junzhu
as well."

"Yes," Royal Princess Shunan seemed to have made up her mind. She
smiled as she looked at her daughter and Fushou Junzhu, "I just wish she
were my own daughter."

Consort Rong lowered her head and silently drank her tea. She glanced
sideways at Consort Xian, who looked stunned, and followed suit by
praising Fushou Junzhu a few words.

Consort Xian forced a smile, feeling that she couldn't really come up with
anything.

How could her ally just change sides like that, especially right in front of
her? Doesn't she care about her dignity?

Royal Princess Shunan's declaration of friendship with the future Crown

Princess represented not only herself but also the Yao family behind Yao
Fuma.

Wait, she heard that the son of the Yao family had achieved third rank in the
Palace Examination and had a close relationship with Hua Changkong, who
had achieved the top rank.

How can there be so many coincidences in the world?

She looked at Yao Jiamin and Hua Liuli in confusion. Jiamin had always
looked down on Hua Liuli before, so how did they become close friends in
the blink of an eye?

Aren't women supposed to become more displeased with each other the
more they look at each other?

This doesn't comply with the rules of palace intrigue.

She came here to watch the play and enjoy it. However, it's not as enjoyable
when the play is unfolding around her. Consort Xian stood up and said,
"Your Royal Highness, I still have matters to attend to in my palace. I'll take
my leave."

If she doesn't leave soon, her understanding of palace intrigue might

undergo a dramatic change.
Already feeling upset, she became even more displeased when she looked
at Royal Princess Leyang at the gates. Consort Xian fanned herself and let
out a disdainful hum towards the couple who were still kneeling before her,
then turned and walked away.

Playing the role of a victim is a worn-out method used by women in the

harem.

But this move can only be used on someone who still cares about you,
someone who sympathizes with you.

Did the Crown Prince meet either of those criteria?

Xie Fuma probably believes that the Crown Prince values reputation. But
he doesn't consider that if the Crown Prince truly cared about his reputation,
he wouldn't act so capriciously.

Moreover, even if the Crown Prince had a bad reputation, wasn't he still the
Emperor's most favored son?

Thinking of this, Consort Xian became even more displeased.

To say that the Emperor didn't care about appearance, his favorite son was
the most good-looking of all his children. To say that he valued appearance,
he treated all the concubines in the harem fairly, not overly favoring one for
their beauty.

The heart of an emperor was like a needle at the bottom of the sea.

It's truly incomprehensible and elusive.

Emperor Changlong returned from the morning court. The palace maids and
eunuchs served him as he changed out of his dragon robe and ceremonial
crown. He sat down at the imperial desk and saw that the room was empty,
with the Crown Prince absent. He asked, "The Crown Prince didn't come to
court today and isn't in the study. Where did he go?"

"Your Majesty, early this morning, Royal Princess Leyang and her husband
knelt at the Eastern Palace gates to beg forgiveness from the Crown Prince,"
Zhao Sancai placed a cup of nourishing tea by Emperor Changlong's side
and whispered, "Consort Xian and Consort Rong also happened to be
visiting the Crown Prince, while the Fifth Prince went to pay respects to the
Crown Prince. With all these comings and goings, it caused a delay."

"Visiting and paying respects? They're just here to watch the commotion,"
Emperor Changlong ruthlessly exposed the truth, "Yesterday, Zhen didn't
pay attention to these two individuals. How did they end up kneeling at the
Eastern Palace?"

"Last night, on his way to the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince ran into Xie
Fuma and learned that he was kneeling outside your palace. He said a few
words to Xie Fuma," Zhao Sancai repeated the Crown Prince's words, "The
Crown Prince is filial to you, Your Majesty."

The Emperor was known for his benevolence. The Crown Prince was afraid
that Xie Fuma kneeling outside the Chengyang Palace for a long time
would affect the Emperor's reputation.

"Nonsense! If outsiders were to think that he was forcing his elders to

kneel, wouldn't that be a bad impression on him?" Emperor Changlong
furrowed his brow, "Go and handle this personally. Don't let this news
spread outside the palace."

"Yes," Zhao Sancai readily agreed.

Behind every daring child, there is a father protecting them. The Crown
Prince dares to do this because he is clearly not concerned about rumors
spreading.

"As for Leyang and Xie Fuma, let them kneel if they want. They don't need
to attend tonight's banquet," Emperor Changlong's tone wasn't heavy, but
the words he spoke almost caused Royal Princess Leyang's status to
plummet, "Leyang has shown incompetence in educating her daughter,
which led to her daughter plotting against the Crown Prince. She is no
longer worthy of being called a Royal Princess. Her title will be reduced to
just 'Princess', her fiefdom will be halved, and her household staff will be
subject to the same restrictions as a Princess. Until this case is fully
investigated, the entire Leyang family is not allowed to leave the capital."

"Your Majesty, is this an edict or an imperial decree to be sent to various

departments?" An edict would mean discreet handling, but if it were an
official imperial decree, the contents would be registered and recorded in
the imperial archives. Even after thousands of years, many future
generations could still read it.

"For matters concerning the promotion or demotion of the noble ranks of

imperial women, an edict would seem too informal," Emperor Changlong's
tone remained calm, "Zhen will personally draft the decree, let the Ministry
of Rites issue it."

Personally drafting the imperial decree...

It seems that regardless of whether this case has anything to do with the Xie
family, the Emperor has already developed a deep hatred for Princess
Leyang and Xie Fuma.

At this moment, the Eastern Palace was bustling. Ning Wang also received
news from someone and rushed over. He brought along many ingredients,
claiming they were fresh delicacies he had just obtained, and wanted the
Crown Prince to taste them.

Before long, even Consort Shu, who usually didn't like to go out, also
followed. She's the birth mother of the Fifth Prince. She conducted herself
in a manner as gentle as her title, exuding a subtle elegance from her very
core.

This was probably the liveliest day in the Eastern Palace throughout the
year.

The Crown Prince was in a good mood and simply had the palace chefs
take care of the ingredients brought by Ning Wang. They prepared a table
for lunch, allowing the spectators to satisfy their hunger and continue
watching.
Royal Princess Shunan's emotions were quite complex. This was her first
time staying in the Eastern Palace for a meal.

If it weren't for Fushou Junzhu, she probably would never have had this
opportunity. She always said that most crown princes who were raised
personally by emperors in history didn't end well. However, she vaguely
understood that her Imperial Brother was different from those emperors; Ji
Yuansu was also different from those tragic crown princes in history.

One's own prejudice can blind one's judgment. In the past, she found fault
with the Crown Prince at every turn, but now, when she looked at the
Crown Prince, she felt that even if he had a slightly bad temper, it wasn't a
major flaw.

She just hoped that the Crown Prince could successfully ascend to the
throne with Fushou Junzhu as his Empress. That way, even as she grew
older, her daughter, Jiamin, would have stronger support.

As it approached noon, Hua Liuli whispered a few words in the Crown

Prince's ear, then got up and walked outside. She saw Royal Princess
Leyang kneeling in the sun, drenched in sweat and looking exhausted. Hua
Liuli stepped forward and said, "Royal Princess Leyang, Xie Fuma, the
Crown Prince has prepared a banquet in the house. Please rise and join us
for a meal."

Royal Princess Leyang ignored her.

Hua Liuli wasn't annoyed either. She turned her head and persuaded Xie
Fuma, "Xie Fuma, kneeling for so long is not good for your health. Can't
we discuss matters after we've had our meal?"

"Has the Crown Prince forgiven this humble servant's family?" Xie Fuma
knelt on the ground, one hand supporting Royal Princess Leyang's waist.
His fair face was slightly flushed, but there was no sign of sweat on his
forehead.

"Xie Fuma, the case of your daughter's assassination attempt on the Crown
Prince is being investigated by the Ministry of Justice. Why talk about
forgiveness or not?" Hua Liuli sighed, "The Crown Prince is concerned
about your well-being, yet you take advantage of his leniency and force him
like this?"

"Just as your son and daughter are your children, the Crown Prince is also
His Majesty's child. If something were to happen to the Crown Prince, how
much sorrow do you think the Emperor would feel? How much turmoil
would it cause in the court?" She looked disappointedly at the two of them,
"If there is turmoil in the court, it is the common people who will suffer.
How can you bear it in your hearts?"

Sincerity or acting, sometimes one can tell at a glance. Truly remorseful

individuals wouldn't even have the face to meet those involved and would
have long sought ways to make amends. Were this couple deliberately
kneeling at the Eastern Palace gate for the Crown Prince to see?

No, they wanted others to see, to make others think how pitiful and
innocent they were, and how the Crown Prince was overbearing.

People like them, if they were in the military camp, would have been beaten
until they cried for their parents.

Thinking that the Crown Prince was almost killed by this couple, she felt
disgusted.

"Since the two of you are not hungry and don't want to eat, I won't force
you," Hua Liuli shook her head slowly, appearing quite helpless, "I'll come
and check on you later, hoping that you can change your minds."

Royal Princess Leyang glared weakly at Hua Liuli, wishing for her to leave
quickly.

But before the time of two incense sticks had passed, Hua Liuli came out
again, followed by a row of people holding various delicious foods and
refreshing drinks.

Having been under the sun for two hours, Royal Princess Leyang, who had
already become parched, looked at the honeydew and nuts in Hua Liuli's
cup, and smoke seemed to be rising from her throat.

"Royal Princess, would you like to take a sip?" Hua Liuli squatted in front
of Royal Princess Leyang and brought the honeydew to her lips.

Royal Princess Leyang's voice was hoarse, "Take it away."

"So, Royal Princess is not thirsty," Hua Liuli handed the honeydew to Yuan
Yi and exchanged it for a plate of well-prepared dishes, "This chicken and
bamboo shoots dish tastes excellent. Would Royal Princess like to try it?"

Royal Princess Leyang ignored her, her face growing even darker.

"How about trying this Red Plum Pearl Fragrance?" Seeing that Royal
Princess Leyang still ignored her, Hua Liuli's smile became even more
gentle. She placed one dish after another in front of Royal Princess Leyang,
then slowly had them moved away. She displayed great patience, seemingly
as if coaxing a stubborn child.

"None of the dishes prepared by the Eastern Palace suit your taste?" Hua
Liuli pondered for a moment, "Then, Royal Princess, please tell me what
you like, and I'll have the chef make it."

"Get lost!" Royal Princess Leyang couldn't bear it any longer. Seeing Hua
Liuli's half-smiling expression, she knew the other party was deliberately
disgusting her, and she reached out to push her away.

"Ah!" Yuan Yi suddenly screamed, "Royal Princess, what are you doing?"

Upon hearing the screams, the people who were talking in the main hall of
the Eastern Palace quickly got up and went to see. They saw Fushou
Junzhu, who was weak and helpless, collapsed under the scorching sun.
There was a plate of pastries scattered on the ground.

Royal Princess Leyang's expression twisted, and upon seeing these people
coming out, she hastily hid her hand behind her back.

"Aunt!" The Crown Prince became furious and quickly walked to Hua
Liuli's side and helped her up from the ground, "Fushou Junzhu kindly tried
to persuade you to have a meal, but you resorted to violence. It seems that
you really don't want to apologize to Gu sincerely."

"You don't need to kneel in front of the Eastern Palace pretending to be

sincere. Gu can't afford it. Please leave!"

Yao Jiamin turned her head and saw the angry expressions on everyone
present. She silently stepped back into the corner.

There she was, Hua Liuli, appearing weak, helpless, and pitiful once again.

At this moment, she was like snow under the sunlight, a water lily on the
surface of the water, a dandelion in the wind.

At this moment, she was both fragile and invincible!

Facing the accusing gazes of many, Royal Princess Leyang, consumed by

anger and frustration, with a thud, finally collapsed on the ground.

"Injuring someone and pretending to faint. How shameless."

Yao Jiamin glanced at the Fifth Prince, who said these words, then looked at
Hua Liuli, who was being held by the Crown Prince, and silently nodded.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 89 – Traitor?

In the eyes of everyone, Royal Princess Leyang's fainting was seen as her
unwillingness to face the consequences of hurting someone, so she
deliberately pretended to faint.

"Your Royal Highness, this matter has nothing to do with Royal Princess
Leyang..."

"Liuli, Gu knows you are always kind-hearted. You don't have to cover up
for Aunt," The Crown Prince looked at Royal Princess Leyang, who was
lying on the ground, "Fuma, Gu knows you've always loved Aunt deeply.
Since Aunt has fainted, please take her back and let her rest."

Xie Fuma performed a deep bow, "Thank you for your forgiveness, Your
Royal Highness."

"Gu is not forgiving. Gu just fears that if you all stay here, more people will
get hurt," The Crown Prince didn't give Xie Fuma a chance to manipulate
his words, and without mercy, he said, "Please leave."

Hua Liuli tugged the Crown Prince's arm down as her eyes met with Xie
Fuma's gaze.

That gaze...

Xie Fuma noticed half of Hua Liuli's face peeking out from behind the
Crown Prince's arm. His eyelids drooped slightly, concealing all emotions
in his eyes. He bowed to the Crown Prince, "I will comply."

He stumbled as he stood up. Then he attempted to bend down and lift up the
fainted Royal Princess Leyang from the ground.
"Xie Fuma," an attendant from the Eastern Palace stepped forward to help
support Royal Princess Leyang, "We will accompany you out of the
palace."

"Thank you," Xie Fuma adjusted his clothes and expressed his gratitude to
the attendant from the Eastern Palace.

"No need for thanks," The attendant bowed deeply, respectfully gesturing
for them to proceed, "Xie Fuma, please."

Before leaving, Xie Fuma glanced back at the Crown Prince. The Crown
Prince didn't look at him, but the little girl in the Crown Prince's arms
secretly glanced at him.

Xie Fuma quickly averted his gaze and disappeared at the entrance of the
Eastern Palace.

"Fushou Junzhu, are you injured?" The Fifth Prince wanted to approach
Hua Liuli to see if she was hurt but was elegantly pulled back by the
Consort Shu.

This child really didn't understand. That was the future Crown Princess.
What did he, a prince, want by getting so close to her?

Being pulled back by his own mother, the Fifth Prince immediately
realized. His concern for Hua Liuli was purely out of admiration for her
artistic talent. In the world, there were few who truly understood painting,
and Fushou Junzhu was one of them. If something were to happen to her,
there would be one less person in the world who understood painting.

Royal Princess Shunan took the opportunity to scold Royal Princess Leyang
with a few more words. She thought she would be the only one scolding,
but to her surprise, Consort Rong, who usually had little presence, actually
joined in.

She looked at Consort Rong in surprise. Did Consort Rong have any
grievances with Leyang? They seemed unrelated.
"Mother, don't be angry," Ning Wang smiled innocently, "I didn't take any
of Royal Princess Leyang's words to heart."

"She had the nerve to speak ill of others," Consort Rong sneered. Then she
looked at her son, who was smiling foolishly, and didn't want to use foul
language in front of him. She said, "Crown Prince, Fushou Junzhu, let's
have our meal first."

Ning Wang nodded along. His mother was right. No matter how big the
world was, eating was the most important thing.

During the meal, Ning Wang praised the Eastern Palace's chef, not only
giving them golden melon seeds as a reward but also expressing his desire
to bring one of the chefs over to his place.

Consort Rong was worried that her son would upset the Crown Prince, so
she tried to signal him discreetly. Unfortunately, Ning Wang didn't
understand his mother's intentions. He secretly thought that his mother's
eyes seemed off today. After finishing the meal, he would ask a physician to
check on her.

"Alright," the Crown Prince said, "Later Gu will arrange for two chefs to go
to your place."

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness," Ning Wang felt delighted. It seemed
there were benefits to working with the Crown Prince on a regular basis.
The Crown Prince was so easy to talk to now.

In a low voice, the Crown Prince whispered to Hua Liuli, "My brothers...
they all have... carefree personalities. I don't usually bother with them."

"Your Royal Highness, you are so magnanimous," Hua Liuli sighed,

realizing how challenging it must be for the Crown Prince to deal with his
brothers.

Being praised for his magnanimity by Hua Liuli, the Crown Prince quickly
changed the topic, "I'm not magnanimous at all. You were looking at Xie
Fuma several times just now. Don't look at handsome men in the future, or I
will get jealous."

"Who's handsome?" Hua Liuli confidently said, "With Your Royal

Highness here, who in the world dares to claim to be handsome?"

The Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli.

Hua Liuli stared back at the Crown Prince without blinking.

"I believe whatever Liuli says," the Crown Prince smiled, "As long as you
won't be interested in other men, I will be relieved."

"I was looking at him just now because I felt something was off about him,"
Hua Liuli explained in a low voice, "The way he looked at Your Royal
Highness made me uncomfortable. As someone who grew up on the
battlefield, I am sensitive to people's gazes, and he looked at you with ill
intentions."

"Don't worry," the Crown Prince's smile became incredibly warm and
radiant, "No matter what kind of fox he is, the day will come when his tail
is exposed."

The Xie family had a high reputation among scholars in the South. To
diminish the influence of the Xie family, the best way was not to confront
them directly but to shatter their noble image in the minds of the southern
scholars.

Different people required different approaches. Xie Fuma was skilled at

acting and concealing his true intentions. To make a move against the Xie
family, his disguise needed to be torn apart.

"I need Liuli's help in this matter," the Crown Prince whispered a few words
in Hua Liuli's ear, then smiled, "Fortunately, I had you earlier; otherwise,
today wouldn't have gone so smoothly."

"It's alright," Hua Liuli understood the Crown Prince's intentions and
covered her face with a folding fan, hiding her smile, "Don't worry, it's just
about frustrating someone."

"See that?" Royal Princess Shunan, noticing Hua Liuli and the Crown
Prince whispering and smiling to each other, reached out and tapped Yao
Jiamin on the forehead. "The Crown Prince has a very good relationship
with Fushou Junzhu. You're older than her, but you don't even have a
fiance."

Yao Jiamin covered her forehead and dodged to the side, pretending not to
hear.

Consort Rong and Consort Shu witnessed this scene and had more complex
thoughts in their minds. When the news of the betrothal between the Crown
Prince and Hua Liuli was announced, they initially thought it was the
Emperor's way of strengthening the Crown Prince's position. But seeing this
now, it seemed more like the Crown Prince's genuine interest in Fushou
Junzhu, and the Emperor helped the Crown Prince propose to the Hua
family.

The Emperor truly treated the Crown Prince with undivided attention.

Fortunately, their own sons didn't have any ambition to compete for the
throne. Otherwise, they would have already lost before the competition
began.

Shortly after Royal Princess Leyang was sent back to her estate, she woke
up. She grabbed Xie Fuma's sleeve and through gritted teeth, said, "That
little slut Hua Liuli actually pretended to be pitiful in front of me."

Xie Fuma lightly frowned and held Royal Princess Leyang's hand, gently
persuading, "I don't think Fushou Junzhu, with her delicate countenance, is
a scheming girl..."

Royal Princess Leyang paused and stared at Xie Fuma, "Are you biased
toward her because she is Mingyue's daughter? Do you think she's flawless
in every aspect?!"
"What are you thinking?" Xie Fuma's expression slightly changed, then
returned to normal, "Don't overthink it. I had the kitchen prepare the
porridge you like. Have some first."

A chill ran through Royal Princess Leyang's heart. Indeed, after all these
years, Xie Fuma still hadn't let go of that slut, Wei Mingyue.

"You rest for a while. I'll go to the study and find a book to read to you,"
Xie Fuma smiled at Royal Princess Leyang, then got up and walked to the
study. He saw A'Da kneeling in the study, his face cold, "Another failure?"

A'Da felt ashamed, "I disguised myself as several different people, but I
couldn't gain the trust of the officials at the Ministry of Justice."

Xie Fuma tapped his fingers on the desk, making a resounding sound,
"A'Da, I think tonight is the perfect time for Xie Yao to die. Don't fail
again."

"Yes," A'Da bowed and said, "This loyal servant will not disappoint Master
Xie."

"Fuma, there's an imperial decree from the palace!"

Xie Fuma frowned. At this time, receiving an imperial decree from the
palace was probably not a good thing. He knew that his wife had a character
of showing off and being impulsive, but he never expected that she would
offend so many people in the palace.

However, it's better for her to be foolish. It makes things easier. He

wondered how much she hated Wei Mingyue and wanted to cause trouble
for her.

He never interfered in battles between women.

Wei Mingyue...

Thinking of that spirited woman, Xie Fuma twirled his fingers.

Unfortunately, she's too clever.

"Xie Fuma?" The messenger boy, seeing Lord Xie's silence, asked in
confusion, "Should we prepare the incense table to receive the decree?"

"You immediately make arrangements and have someone attend to Royal

Princess's grooming," Xie Fuma snapped back to his senses and said to
A'Da, "You may withdraw."

"Yes," A'Da silently retreated. Taking advantage of the distraction of the

others attending to Royal Princess Leyang, he slipped out through a side
door and blended into the crowd on the street.

The yamen constables of the Jingzhao Prefecture were patrolling the streets
and accidentally bumped into A'Da, who was hurrying past.

"Apologies, Daren," A'Da lowered his head and whispered an apology to

the constables, then turned and continued walking hurriedly.

"That person..." One of the yamen constables flipped through a thick stack
of suspicious individuals' sketches in his hand and pointed to one of them,
"A street vendor reported a few days ago that this person appeared
suspicious and needs closer attention."

"Report to the officials from the Ministry of Justice and follow him," an
experienced yamen constable didn't hesitate and waved to the Ministry of
Justice officials not far away.

"Why call the Ministry of Justice people?" a newcomer yamen constable

asked in confusion, "Won't we be giving them the credit?"

"For someone of unknown origin like this, what if they have strong martial
arts skills and accomplices?" the experienced yamen constable patted the
shoulder of the newcomer, "Young man, we're just yamen constables of the
Jingzhao Prefecture, not experts from the Ministry of Justice. Leave such
important matters to the experts. Small credits are nothing compared to
preserving our lives."

"Don't worry, once you've spent enough time in the Jingzhao Prefecture,
you'll understand."
Young yamen constable: "..."

Suddenly, he felt a sense of crisis in his future.

With the support of her maidservants, Royal Princess Leyang managed to

reach the main hall with some effort. She looked at the officials who came
to deliver the decree and greeted them, "This humble sister accepts the
imperial decree."

The officials from the Ministry of Rites were extremely busy today and had
to come to Royal Princess Leyang Estate to read the imperial decree. They
wished they could split themselves in half to get the work done faster, so
they didn't bother to be polite to Royal Princess Leyang. They swiftly read
out the decree.

Zhao Sancai, who accompanied the Ministry of Rites officials, smiled and,
after the officials finished reading the decree, said, "Princess, this decree
was personally written by His Majesty. Please take care not to let it be
tainted."

If she hadn't just fainted a while ago, Princess Leyang would have almost
fainted again at this moment. She tremblingly accepted the decree, "This
humble sister thanks His Majesty for his benevolence."

The Emperor actually removed her title as Royal Princess and had the
officials from the Ministry of Rites deliver the decree. Thinking that the
contents of this decree would be recorded in the imperial archives and could
even be passed down for hundreds of years, she felt extremely ashamed.

Didn't her Imperial Brother have an ounce of sibling affection?

"The decree has been delivered. Princess and Fuma, please rest well in your
estate. There are many banquets being held in the palace these days, with
people coming and going to the capital. His Majesty is concerned about the
safety of the Princess and her family, so he has dispatched a team of
imperial guards to protect them. Please rest assured, Your Highness," Zhao
Sancai flicked his folding fan and said, "This old servant has conveyed His
Majesty's message. This old servant will take leave."
Protect them? It was clearly a form of house arrest for their family!

After the officials from the Ministry of Rites and Zhao Sancai left, Princess
Leyang angrily slammed the decree onto the incense table, "The imperial
family is the most heartless! Imperial Brother is so heartless..."

"Princess, don't let your anger affect your health," Xie Fuma gently
embraced her, "Whether you are a Royal Princess or a Princess, in my heart,
you will always be the most beautiful woman."

"Fuma..." Princess Leyang held Xie Fuma tightly, "I only have you."

Xie Fuma gently patted her back, his expression tender to the extreme.

As the sky gradually darkened, A'Da approached the teahouse where he had
arranged to meet with the other assassins.

"Wait," Several armed guards from the Ministry of Justice stopped him as
they scrutinized him from head to toe, "Take him away."

"Daren, what does this mean?" A'Da felt a panic in his heart. Could he have
been exposed?

It was impossible. Each time he infiltrated the Ministry of Justice's prison,

he always had his appearance changed, bearing no resemblance to his
current self. How could he have aroused suspicion?

Where did things go wrong?

Upstairs, several assassins disguised as commoners helplessly watched as

A'Da was taken away by the Ministry of Justice's men.

"..."

Information leaked!

Could there be a traitor among them?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 90 – Banquet

In front of a large crowd, A'Da dared not lay a hand on the officials from
the Ministry of Justice. Today, the capital city was heavily guarded, even if
he had wings, it would be difficult for him to escape.

In his career as an assassin, he felt suffocated for the first time, with
nowhere to turn.

"This person seems extraordinary," said a yamen constable from the

Jingzhao Prefecture, "Please take him back to the Ministry of Justice."

"The Ministry of Justice's prison is already packed," frowned one of the

Ministry of Justice's officials, "Don't just dump everything on us."

"Daren, we don't want to do that either," the yamen constable smiled,

pleasingly, "But the prison in our Jingzhao Prefecture is not as secure as
your department's prison. What if this criminal manages to escape?"

The Ministry of Justice's officials knew they were afraid of taking

responsibility. He turned his head and glanced at the man who was captured
and nodded, "Forget it, you can continue with your patrol. We'll take him
back."

A'Da looked at the handcuffs on his wrists and asked, "Daren, may I know
what crime I have committed and why I am being arrested?"

The official from the Ministry of Justice patted his shoulder and said,
"Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough."

However, the calmer the Ministry of Justice official's attitude, the more
A'Da speculated in mind. When he sneaked out of Princess Leyang Estate
earlier, did anyone notice him?
If something happened to him, would it implicate Master Xie?

The more he thought about it, the more worries filled his mind. He twisted
his bound wrists. He didn't even have a chance to take the poison hidden on
him.

"Why is someone else coming in?" The prison warden looked at the worried
official from the Ministry of Justice, "Brothers, we can't fit anyone else in
here."

"It's alright, Daren. I can squeeze with him," said a fellow prisoner sitting
next to A'Da, trying to please the warden, "You can rest assured, I won't
bully the newcomer."

"Alright, let him squeeze with you later," the official from the Ministry of
Justice led the man into the adjacent interrogation room and thoroughly
searched him.

"Dart, healing medicine, dagger..." the official glanced over the items on the
table, "Tell me, what's your name, where do you live, and who else is
associated with you?"

A'Da remained silent.

"Not talking?" the official raised his hand, "Lock him up, let him sober up
first, don't remove the shackles."

A'Da was secretly puzzled. What did this official from the Ministry of
Justice mean? They discovered these items on him but didn't continue the
questioning?

"Brother, to dare carry weapons in the capital city?" the man imprisoned
with A'Da said enthusiastically, sitting next to him, "You're quite
impressive."

A'Da glanced at him without saying a word.

However, the fellow inmate seemed unaffected by his coldness and

continued to speak enthusiastically, without lowering his enthusiasm. He
kept chattering incessantly.

"I used to be a bully on the streets and alleys. If it weren't for a conflict with
a servant of a noble family, resulting in me cutting off his leg with a knife, I
wouldn't be locked up here," the prisoner patted his chest, "Back then, as
long as people mentioned my name, they all called me Big Brother."

"Shut up!" A'Da couldn't bear it any longer. He had never encountered such
a talkative person before.

"Brother, you finally spoke?" the fellow inmate rejoiced, "I thought you
were mute or deaf. Anyway, it's good as long as you can hear what I'm
saying."

The whole afternoon, A'Da had been listening to this person boasting about
his past glory, even claiming that the village girls would take a few more
glances at him.

"Also, my ancestors were once prominent," the prisoner shook his head,
"But unfortunately, thirty years ago, my family got into trouble, and we
were ruined, ending up like this."

Thirty years ago...

A'Da glanced at the man and asked, "Thirty years ago, were your family
members officials in the court?"

"Not at all," the prisoner took out a bead hanging around his neck, "My
mother said this was a reward given by a palace concubine. She told me to
keep it as a family heirloom."

Thirty years ago, a palace concubine...

That must be one of the late emperor's concubines. The officials who were
never vindicated for their crimes and were still in prison were probably the
faction that opposed the current Empress Dowager.

There had been rumors that the late emperor's death was shrouded in
mystery; even the imperial edict for the succession was switched by the
current Empress Dowager and Emperor. The current Emperor only
ascended the throne by tampering with the decree.

As night fell, carriages heading to the palace arrived one after another.
Whether they were envoys from other countries or the nobles of Great Jin,
they lined up in front of the palace gates and entered the magnificent palace
one by one.

Princess Yan of the Daimao Kingdom looked at the men and women
walking hand in hand ahead with envy, feeling that the women in Great Jin
were truly fortunate.

In her Daimao Kingdom, women were not allowed to attend important

occasions. Even if they were fortunate enough to attend, men and women
were seated separately. Even if they were husband and wife, the wife had no
right to sit at the same table as her husband.

During her days studying in Great Jin, she truly broadened her horizons.
Here, there were women who served as generals and physicians, as well as
some noblewomen who kept male companions throughout their lives and
remained unmarried.

Such behavior was not allowed in her Daimao Kingdom. After a Princess of
Daimao married her Fuma, if they didn't have children within a few years
and the Fuma wanted to take a concubine, the Princess would be criticized
by the censors if she didn't agree to it.

A few days ago, a Princess studying with her asked about some customs in
the Daimao Kingdom. When she mentioned this rule, the Princess of Great
Jin seemed astonished.

"Can the Fuma dare to take a concubine? Even if the Princess can tolerate
it, would your Emperor agree?" she asked in confusion.

She asked in confusion, "If a woman does not produce offspring for five
years, the husband takes concubines to continue the family line. Why would
they oppose it?"
"Since he can become a Fuma, it means he is not the only son in the family.
Even if he and the Princess have no children, it doesn't mean the family line
is cut off. Why take a concubine?" the Princess of Great Jin said, "If this
were in our Great Jin, this type of Fuma would have brought disaster upon
his entire family."

Princess Yan felt that this Princess's words were too harsh, but deep down,
she was somewhat envious.

It seemed that women in Great Jin lived more freely.

However, she didn't have many opportunities to go out, so she didn't have a
direct sense of the daily lives of women in Great Jin. Just looking at many
women walking on the streets and men and women walking side by side in
the palace was enough to astonish her.

"Please follow me, esteemed envoys," A palace maid approached with a

smile, guiding them, "The banquet will be held in the Wuyang Hall. If there
is anything you need, please feel free to instruct us."

"Thank you," the representatives of the Kingdom of Daimao quickly

expressed their gratitude, fearing that the people of Great Jin might perceive
them as arrogant.

"Please," The palace maid courteously led them into the Wuyang Hall.
Inside the hall, nearly half of the guests had already arrived. The
representatives of the Kingdom of Daimao noticed that the representatives
of the Kingdom of Jinpo had arrived earlier than them, sitting quietly in the
corners, looking so obedient that it was hard to believe they were once the
assertive ministers of Jinpo.

"Your Highness, shall we go over and greet them?" one of the

representatives from the Kingdom of Daimao whispered.

Before He Yuanting could speak, another representative from the Kingdom

of Daimao spoke first, "Jinpo has just made peace with Great Jin. If we go
over to greet them now, what if Great Jin misunderstands our connection
with Jinpo?"
"Your Highness, perhaps it's best if we don't go," Another representative
from the Kingdom of Daimao suggested, "There is a constant stream of
people coming and going here, so it's not convenient to walk around."

Officials from the Ministry of Rites came over to guide them to their seats.
The representatives of the Kingdom of Daimao noticed that their Third
Prince and Princess Yan were seated together. They wanted to point out that
this was against protocol, but seeing that women and men were sitting
together at other tables as well, they had to swallow their words.

Seeing that the representatives of both Jinpo and the Kingdom of Daimao,
two major countries, were sitting obediently and not making a sound, the
envoys from other small countries became even more rule-abiding. Some
envoys had silently rehearsed various words of praise several times in their
minds so that they could flatter Emperor Changlong to the fullest when the
time came.

With the arrival of several princes of the Great Jin, regardless of whether
they were familiar with these princes or not, everyone showed expressions
of admiration and envy. In fluent or broken Great Jin language, they
lavishly praised them.

Praising others is a timeless routine to please them.

Since this was an important banquet, all the invited countries were punctual,
and almost everyone arrived before the start time.

While people were chatting quietly, they noticed the palace servants
attending to them suddenly bowing respectfully and looking toward the
entrance of the main hall. They saw a handsome young man and a young
girl walking hand in hand. The young man was wearing a brocade robe with
a golden crown adorned with dragon patterns, his clothes were embroidered
with faint dragon patterns.

"Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince!" The dignitaries quickly stood up
to bow to the Crown Prince, fearing that the Crown Prince might suddenly
go mad and embarrass them in front of so many people.
"No need for excessive courtesy, esteemed gentlemen," The Crown Prince
gave the dignitaries a reserved smile.

The dignitaries became even more nervous. The Crown Prince seemed a bit
abnormal today.

"Gentlemen, you have traveled a long way. Great Jin has always been
hospitable. Please do not hesitate to enjoy yourselves. Eat and drink as you
please," the Crown Prince said with a slight smile to the envoys from
various countries.

The envoys quickly flattered the Crown Prince, praising him from head to
toe. Some were curious about the young girl by the Crown Prince's side and
secretly speculated if she was a princess.

"This is the future Crown Princess, Fushou Junzhu," The Crown Prince
seemed to know what they were guessing and considerately revealed the
identity of Hua Liuli.

"This young lady is like a fairy descending to the mortal realm. I was just
thinking earlier; what kind of young man would be worthy of such a
beautiful girl? It turns out to be the Crown Prince," One envoy from a small
country quickly said, "Only a fairy-like person could truly match the Crown
Prince. Before seeing the Crown Prince and Junzhu, I didn't understand the
true meaning of the phrase 'heavenly match'."

Other small countries didn't want this envoy to take all the limelight, so
they each offered carefully prepared flattery.

The most exaggerated was an envoy who claimed to be the Grand Tutor of
their country and an expert in past and present lives.

"The Crown Prince and Junzhu are an inseparable and eternal good match,"
This self-proclaimed Grand Tutor shamelessly uttered false compliments.

Hua Liuli felt that she still had too little experience and should learn a few
tricks from these envoys, so that she wouldn't worry about running out of
vocabulary when the Fifth Prince asked her to appreciate paintings in the
future.

"Thank you for your kind words, esteemed envoy," The Crown Prince
seemed to be very pleased with these flatteries. He held Hua Liuli's hand
and whispered in her ear, "Did you hear that? You and I are destined for
eternity."

"I understand, I understand, be good," Hua Liuli pointed to the Crown

Prince's designated seat, "You should take your seat quickly, I'll go find
Father and Mother."

"Wait," The Crown Prince held onto Hua Liuli's hand and whispered softly,
"Can you accompany me to my seat?"

"Your Royal Highness, you are the Crown Prince, don't act so spoiled," Hua
Liuli saw the pitiful look in the Crown Prince's eyes and couldn't bear to
turn and leave. She advised, "Be good, this is the Hundred Nations Banquet.
It's not appropriate for me to sit there."

"You are the future Crown Princess. What's inappropriate about sitting by
my side?" The Crown Prince continued to act pitiful.

"You also know that I'm the future Crown Princess," Hua Liuli untangled
the Crown Prince's grip on her wrist, "I'm not a wicked imperial concubine
who brings calamity to the country and its people."

"I understand," The Crown Prince let go of Hua Liuli's hand and leaned
down with a smiling face, whispering in her ear with a playful smile, "Are
you implying that I should marry you sooner?"

Hua Liuli: "..."

Her hand itched a bit, but she resisted!

After all, she was a delicate and frail beauty.

"Don't worry, tomorrow I will urge the Qintian Observatory to calculate the
most auspicious wedding date," The Crown Prince said pitifully, "Next time
we attend such an occasion, I won't have to sit alone anymore."

Hua Liuli's heart trembled. She turned her head and noticed that although
the other princes had not yet married, they were sitting beside their mothers,
engaging in joyful conversations. It was heartwarming.

Thinking about how the Crown Prince had been sitting alone since
childhood, her heart felt both sour and soft. She reached out and held his
finger, "I will come to you later, alright?"

"Is that a promise?" The Crown Prince chuckled and rubbed her head, "It's
alright, I was just joking. Go join your parents."

"I'm not lying to you," Hua Liuli smiled at the Crown Prince before turning
and sitting next to Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue.

Hua Yingting looked at Hua Liuli in surprise, "Who's this little girl? How
did she end up sitting here?"

"I'm the little girl picked by General Hua and General Wei," Hua Liuli
rested her chin on her hand and smiled at Hua Yingting, "Do you want this
little girl?"

"I reluctantly accept, although this little girl seems to have caught the
Crown Prince's eye and can't walk properly anymore," Hua Yingting shook
his head in resignation, "Father isn't concerned about this little girl's
appearance. What can we do"

"Is she the future Crown Princess?" Princess Yan of Daimao couldn't take
her eyes off Hua Liuli since she entered the palace. Although she appeared
delicate, there was a vitality about her that was incredibly captivating. She
couldn't help but want to take another look.

Seeing her speaking freely with the Crown Prince without anyone giving
them strange looks, Princess Yan couldn't help but smile.

How wonderful.
"Father initially intended for you to become the Crown Prince's side
concubine," He Yuanting said to his sister, showing little sibling affection
for this insignificant girl, "The Crown Prince seems quite pleased with the
future Crown Princess. Even if you enter the Eastern Palace, you won't be
valued."

Princess Yan timidly whispered, "Third Brother, they seem to have such a
good relationship. I don't want to be the antagonist."

He Yuanting sneered, "Don't worry, even if you wanted to play the

antagonist, you wouldn't have the chance."

Princess Yan felt relieved after hearing that. Seeing her Third Brother's
displeased expression, she dared not show any joy on her face.

"You need to think it through. Father Emperor sent you to Great Jin without
any intention of bringing you back," He Yuanting said calmly, lowering his
eyelids, "If the Emperor of Great Jin refuses to accept you into the imperial
harem, and the Crown Prince doesn't want to marry you as a concubine, are
you willing to spend your life in Great Jin, pretending to study?"

Princess Yan's face lost its color gradually. She looked at the radiant Fushou
Junzhu sitting across from her and firmly nodded her head, "I admire the
culture of Great Jin and I'm willing to study here for a lifetime."

He never expected his timid sister to utter such words. He Yuanting laughed
inexplicably, no longer pressuring her further.

He waved to Great Jin palace maids, "Benwang heard that your country has
two Royal Princesses. Why is only one of them present today?"

"Respected envoy, Princess Leyang and her Fuma are feeling unwell and
won't be attending today's banquet."

He Yuanting turned his head, glancing at the Crown Prince seated above
him, and nodded with a smile, "Benwang understands. Thank you for the
information."
OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 91 – Deep Brotherly
Affection

Hua Liuli noticed a gentle-looking young lady in the envoy group looking
at her, so she instinctively flashed a big smile at her.

Little did she know that the young lady was even shyer than she had
imagined. She blushed and lowered her head, unable to meet Hua Liuli's
gaze.

"Mother, who is that young lady sitting next to the Third Prince of the
Daimao Kingdom?" Hua Liuli didn't expect her smile to make the young
lady blush and become flustered. She turned her head and whispered to Wei
Mingyue, "It's been a while since I've seen such a shy young girl."

"You're still a young girl yourself, so don't call others young girls," Wei
Mingyue looked up and glanced at Princess Yan, "That's the princess sent
by the Daimao Kingdom."

"She's the Daimao Kingdom princess who is studying at the Imperial

Academy?" Hua Liuli understood that the Daimao Kingdom didn't send a
beautiful princess like her to Great Jin just for the sake of studying. But
since His Majesty said they were here to study, then she could only be here
to study.

The Crown Prince became nervous when he noticed Hua Liuli occasionally
glancing at the Daimao Kingdom envoy group. He vaguely remembered
that the Third Prince of the Daimao Kingdom had some degree of
attractiveness. Could Liuli be looking at him?
He called over a eunuch who was attending to him, "Talk quietly, is Fushou
Junzhu looking at the Third Prince of the Daimao Kingdom?"

"Your Royal Highness," the eunuch carefully observed for a while, then
whispered, "It seems that Junzhu is indeed looking towards the Daimao
Kingdom envoys, but she is looking at the Princess from Daimao, not their
Third Prince."

"The Princess from Daimao?" The Crown Prince was puzzled. Why would
Liuli be interested in her?

"Your Royal Highness, don't you remember? The Daimao Kingdom

intended to betroth that princess to Your Royal Highness as a concubine,"
the eunuch reminded in a hushed tone, "Perhaps Junzhu has also heard this
rumor."

The Crown Prince sighed helplessly, "Gu can't control her. Why is she so
prone to jealousy? Gu doesn't even know whether that princess is round-
faced or thin-faced, so how could Gu possibly accept her as a concubine?"

The eunuch quickly added, "Your Royal Highness, Junzhu is like this. She
cares about you."

"Tch," the Crown Prince shook his head, "Forget it, forget it. Just let her be.
As long as she's happy."

"Your Royal Highness is so kind to Fushou Junzhu," If anyone were to ask

who was the most skilled at flattering the Crown Prince, if the attendants in
the Eastern Palace claim to be second, no one would dare to claim to be the
first.

"She is going to be the Crown Princess, the girl Gu loves the most. It is
given that Gu is good to her?" the Crown Prince glanced at the fruits and
pastries on the table, "Bring these two plates of fruits to Fushou Junzhu.
She likes them."

"Yes," the eunuch didn't hesitate and carried the fruits to Hua Liuli.
"Did His Royal Highness send these?" Hua Liuli looked at the fruits in front
of her and glanced up. The Crown Prince was secretly smiling at her, so she
returned the smile and picked two plates of fruits that he liked, "Here, take
these to His Royal Highness."

"Yes," the eunuch carried the two plates of fruits and hurried back.

Ying Wang, who was closest to the Crown Prince, watched this scene
sourly. It was just two plates of sour fruits. If the Crown Prince genuinely
liked them, he could have the palace servants bring more. Why bother with
this exchange?

They were all so idle.

He took a piece of fruit, put it in his mouth, and then spat it out.

"What's wrong?" Consort Xian noticed the disgusting action of Ying Wang
and wiped the corner of her mouth with disgust, "What are you doing,
making such an ugly face?"

"So sour, it hurts my teeth," Ying Wang forced out five words.

Consort Xian: "..."

What a stupid reason.

"Consort Xian," the Second Princess said, "Ying Wang doesn't like sour
things. Why don't you try this plate of pastries? They're not too sweet or
greasy."

"You're so considerate, my child," Consort Xian said to the Second

Princess, "I don't know what's been going on with him lately. He's become
more and more strange."

The Second Princess turned her head and glanced at Hua Liuli, who was
exchanging glances with the Crown Prince. She smiled and said, "Consort
Xian, please don't worry. Ying Wang has always been filial, so I think he's
just not in a good mood recently."
Not in a good mood?

Consort Xian knew very well that he was indeed in a bad mood because of
Hua Liuli's betrothal to the Crown Prince, which made him feel extremely
frustrated.

Men can be so foolish. When they have the opportunity to be with someone,
they fail to cherish that person. Yet, once they no longer have that person
and witness someone else possessing them, they become uneasy and yearn
to reclaim the person they once took for granted.

How much genuine affection is there in all of this?

No one knows, maybe he doesn't even know himself.

Consort Xian didn't bother to console him. The more she tried, the more
worked up he would become. If no one paid attention to him or
accompanied him in his act, he would find a way to save face on his own.

"Consort Xian," the Second Princess whispered to Consort Xian, "I think
Fushou Junzhu is quite peculiar."

Consort Xian picked up her teacup and took a sip without saying a word.

"Jiamin used to be at odds with her, but now they're good friends. The Yao
family's girl had a conflict with her at a temple, but now they're like sisters.
Even the Crown Prince..." The Second Princess covered her mouth with a
handkerchief, concealing her lip movements, and cautiously said, "Why
does she seem like a bewitching fox?"

Consort Xian turned to look at the Second Princess, her expression

somewhat strange, "Do you know..."

"Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager, has arrived."

"Long live Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager."

The entire hall fell silent, and Consort Xian stood up, respectfully
welcoming the arrival of the Empress Dowager.
The Second Princess, who was waiting for Consort Xian to continue, dared
not speak any longer and stood up, performing a respectful bow.

All the envoys knew that this Hundred Nations Banquet was Emperor
Changlong's forewarning to them not to be as audacious as the Jinpo
Kingdom. Look at how frightened the Daimao Kingdom was; not only did
they send gold, silver, and precious jewels, but they even sent their own
princess.

What's even worse was that although the princess was sent, Emperor
Changlong and the Crown Prince didn't want her. Instead, they sent her to
the Imperial Academy to study.

No one could discern Emperor Changlong's intentions and dared not

speculate. They simply ate, drank, and enjoyed the music quietly.

In order to entertain Emperor Changlong, some envoys brought musicians

and dancers from their own countries to perform in the hall.

However, other countries had also come prepared. Singers, dancers,

acrobats—they all gave face to Great Jin.

In order to show their humility, the Daimao Kingdom presented Emperor

Changlong with a painting called "Myriad Miles of Land", which was said
to be created by their most famous painter and carried great momentum.

The Fifth Prince stared at the painting for a while and suddenly spoke up,
"Father Emperor, Erchen thinks there's something missing in this painting."

"Oh?" Emperor Changlong wouldn't embarrass his son in front of so many

people. Although he didn't hold high expectations for his son's painting
skills, he asked, "Tell Zhen."

"Erchen believes that our Great Jin is like the rising sun, not the setting
sun," the Fifth Prince pointed to the sun in the painting. To the naked eye, it
portrayed the image of the scorching sun. However, as someone who
enjoyed painting and appreciating art, the Fifth Prince immediately noticed
that the sun in this painting of the Myriad Miles of Land had shifted slightly
to the west.

"Bring a brush," The Fifth Prince was full of confidence, "Father Emperor,
let Erchen make some changes to it."

"What is this about?" Ying Wang couldn't help but ask, "Fifth Brother, are
you being serious?"

If he were to make changes to this painting, could one even look at it again?

"Father Emperor, the Fifth Prince has been studying painting for many
years, Erchen believes in his judgment," the Crown Prince interrupted Ying
Wang and said to Emperor Changlong, "It would be good to make some
changes."

The Daimao representative sweated profusely and said, "Respected

Emperor Changlong, we have no other intentions. This painting is meant to
symbolize the brilliant radiance of your esteemed country, like the
scorching sun shining high in the sky, bringing prosperity to all beings and
bestowing blessings upon the people."

"Thank you for your blessings, but this son of Zhen is an art enthusiast.
Once he sets his mind on something, even Zhen can't change it," Emperor
Changlong raised his hand slightly, "Bring a brush for the Fifth Prince."

"Thank you, Father Emperor!" The Fifth Prince's face turned red with
excitement. It turned out that both Father Emperor and the Crown Prince
trusted his painting skills. His efforts over the years had paid off.

He took the brush presented by the eunuch and added a rising sun in the
eastern sky with a swoosh. He then transformed the previous blazing sun
into a slightly chubby immortal crane.

"Great!"

Just as the ministers were staring blankly at the chubby immortal crane,
Hua Yingting suddenly clapped and laughed, "The rising sun, the immortal
crane worshiping the sun, such auspicious signs and profound meanings.
The Fifth Prince has such clever thoughts! Not only does it symbolize a
prosperous life for the people of Great Jin, but it also implies Your
Majesty's longevity, health, and abundant blessings!"

"Not only that, this immortal crane has a plump figure and extraordinary
bearing. It is clearly not an ordinary crane," Hua Liuli sincerely said, "The
Fifth Prince's strokes can be called the finishing touch, extremely
ingenious."

The scholarly officials of Great Jin fell silent for a moment and exchanged
glances with each other, simultaneously betraying their conscience.

"General Hua is right."

"I share a similar view with Fushou Junzhu."

They secretly rejoiced in their hearts. Fortunately, the Daimao Kingdom

was sitting relatively far away and didn't know how the Myriad Miles of
Land painting had been altered. Otherwise, they might have been infuriated
on the spot.

The envoys from other countries fell into speculation. The Daimao
Kingdom presented the Myriad Miles of Land painting to Great Jin, but
they had painted the position of the sun incorrectly. Was it intentional or
unintentional?

And the Great Jin directly modified the painting in front of the Daimao
Kingdom. What did this mean?

Were they dissatisfied with the Daimao Kingdom's action?

They stole glances at the pale-faced Daimao officials, who seemed

frightened. It didn't seem like they had intentionally done it.

Could it be that someone had tricked them and tampered with the painting?

Seeing Hua Liuli speaking nonsense with her eyes wide open, the Crown
Prince felt both annoyed and amused. He instructed the eunuch to put away
the painting that the Fifth Prince had modified. Just as he also casually
praised the Fifth Prince for a few words, he noticed his little brother looking
at him with shining eyes, full of adoration.

He had been the Fifth Prince's older brother for seventeen years, but it was
the first time he had seen his little brother look at him with genuine
affection.

Those eyes were too bright, so bright that the Crown Prince felt guilty if he
didn't praise him a few more words.

"The Fifth Prince's painting skills are becoming more proficient. Keep up
the good work in the future..." After saying these words, the Crown Prince
saw the Fifth Prince's eyes shining even brighter, and his admiration for him
became even stronger.

The Crown Prince: "..."

Emperor Changlong looked at this scene with satisfaction. It was indeed

different after the marriage was arranged. The Crown Prince had become
more mature and knew how to make his little brother happy.

Ying Wang silently covered his face. Oh no, another one who speaks
without thinking in the palace.

"Thank you, Crown Prince, for your encouragement. This younger brother
will continue to work hard," The Fifth Prince was completely surrounded
by happiness. He bowed deeply to the Crown Prince, "After I return, I will
practice my painting skills diligently. When Third Brother and Sister-in-law
get married, I will paint a picture of a hundred children and a thousand
grandchildren for you."

The Crown Prince: "???"

No, it's not necessary...

"Then Gu thanks you, Fifth Brother," the Crown Prince thought silently. As
long as he didn't display Fifth Brother's painting, he could still tolerate it.
"This is what this younger brother should do. Please, Third Brother, don't be
so polite," Forget about the picture of a hundred sons and thousand
grandsons, even if he was asked to go back and paint a hundred
pomegranate trees for the Third Brother, he would happily agree.

Why did he used to think that the Crown Prince didn't like him?

The Crown Prince was clearly a very good older brother.

The Crown Prince had always thought that his brothers were quite foolish.
So whenever the Fifth Prince had addressed him as "Crown Prince", he
never thought there was anything wrong with it.

Today, Fifth Brother suddenly changed the way he addressed him, calling
him "Third Brother", and he felt a bit awkward.

He turned his head to look at Hua Liuli, who noticed his gaze. She
discreetly extended her thumb from her sleeve and bent it towards the
Crown Prince.

Your Royal Highness, you did great today.

The Crown Prince immediately bloomed into a smile. Then he looked at the
beaming Fifth Prince and smiled at him with restraint.

Well, since Liuli likes it, let this foolish little brother be happy.

The scholarly officials below were somewhat puzzled by this scene.

Didn't they say that the Crown Prince had a poor relationship with his
brothers and was cold toward his two younger brothers?

Looking at this scene today, it seemed that the Crown Prince had a good
relationship with the Fifth Prince. With all eyes on them, he praised the
Fifth Prince's painting skills. Wasn't that the mark of a good brother?

As for the Fourth Prince...

He had a naturally taciturn personality. Whoever stood next to him seemed
to have a strained relationship with him.

More importantly, the Crown Prince actually agreed to let the Fifth Prince
paint a picture of a hundred children and a thousand grandchildren for him.
This was no longer just a good relationship; it was clearly a deep brotherly
bond!

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 92 – Give Me Your Hand

After the various countries had presented their gifts, the envoys turned their
curious eyes toward the Jinpo envoys. They wondered what kind of
congratulatory gift the tyrannical nation, known for frequently provoking
the Great Jin and ultimately beaten to the point of crying for mercy, would
offer to the Great Jin.

Jinpo envoys knew that everyone was laughing at them. They were angry,
they were resentful, but they... had no choice but to let others laugh at them.

As a defeated nation, they couldn't present a painting like the Daimao

Kingdom did, which was pleasing to the eye but inedible. They knew that
this Hundred Nations Banquet was Emperor Changlong's way of flaunting
his victory over them, yet they had to smile and present their faces to be
slapped.

When the Jinpo envoy finished reading the long list of gifts, the envoys
from other countries fell silent. It seemed that Jinpo was truly frightened
this time, as they had offered so many compensations.

"Respected Emperor Changlong, we have come with sincere intentions

from our country's sovereign," the Jinpo envoy said, "However, our Second
Imperial Prince has been a guest in your country for a long time. We kindly
request that Your Majesty send him back to our country. Our Eldest Prince
has always admired your country's culture, we are willing to send our Eldest
Prince to your country to study."

Everyone was shocked. Jinpo actually wanted to exchange their Eldest

Prince with the Second Prince? It seemed that the Eldest Prince held little
importance in Jinpo, as even his own father treated him as an object to be
exchanged.
"The Second Prince of your nation is not a guest in our Great Jin, but rather
our captive," the Crown Prince said expressionlessly, "He led troops to
massacre innocent people in our country, his hands are stained with
countless innocent lives. Great Jin does not entertain such guests."

"Your Royal Highness, we are willing to exchange five cities for the Second
Imperial Prince," the Jinpo envoy proposed.

"Five cities?" The Crown Prince stood up tall, his expression proud as he
looked down at the Jinpo envoys. His imposing aura filled the room, "Our
Great Jin has skilled generals and a million-strong army. Even if we were to
capture ten or twenty of your Jinpo cities, it would be no difficulty for us."

"We do not wish for further conflict, for we are a benevolent and righteous
army. We do not wish for the world to suffer, nor do we want the common
people of Jinpo to endure hardship and displacement," the Crown Prince
descended the steps slowly, his tone merciless, "But Prince A'Wa has
committed crimes against the innocent people of our Great Jin. If we were
to release this criminal back to Jinpo, how could our Ji family face the
people of the world?!"

"The Crown Prince's words are reasonable," Emperor Changlong turned his
gaze towards his other sons and court officials, "Tell me, what should be
done in this matter?"

"Father Emperor, Erchen believes every word spoken by Third Brother is

justified," the Fifth Prince was the first to stand up, "Prince A'Wa has
committed heinous crimes in our Great Jin, he should not be allowed to
return."

"Erchen concurs," Ning Wang also stood up and paid his respects, "The
grievances of the people in Huzhou have not been appeased. How can
Prince A'Wa be allowed to return?"

Ying Wang glanced at the celebrated Crown Prince and coldly snorted
before rising, "Erchen... shares the same opinion as the Crown Prince."
"Fourth Prince, what do you think?" Emperor Changlong looked at his
fourth son who hadn't spoken.

The Fourth Prince stood up with a stern face and bowed, "Erchen concurs."

Seeing that the Fourth Prince had finished speaking and showed no
intention of saying another word, Emperor Changlong didn't want to ask
further. He turned his gaze towards the court officials.

Even those court officials who held opposing views to the Crown Prince
dared not voice their dissent in this situation.

With his earlier words, the Crown Prince made it clear that whoever
released Prince A'Wa would be seen as a criminal in the eyes of the people.
Among those present, who would be willing to bear such infamy?

The officials who had accepted bribes from Jinpo didn't even dare to lift
their heads, remaining silent.

"This subject concurs," the first official to stand up was not the future
father-in-law of the Crown Prince, but rather the son of Grand Tutor Du. Du
Daren stood up and bowed, "This subject believes that the captive Prince
A'Wa should not be released."

The court officials were inwardly surprised. The Du family had always been
strict towards the Crown Prince, particularly Grand Tutor Du, who would
nitpick the Crown Prince's faults every few days. Why was it that today, the
Du family was the first to stand up and support the Crown Prince?

In this situation, the Du family's declaration held a deeper meaning. The Du

family was practically announcing to everyone that they supported the
Crown Prince.

Even the Hua family, the Crown Prince's in-laws, didn't show such
enthusiasm.

It seemed that Grand Tutor Du was seriously ill, and the Du family could
not stand on their own. They wanted to rely on the Crown Prince's support.
With the Du family taking the lead, many court officials began to stand up
one after another, expressing their agreement with the Crown Prince's
proposal.

Princess Yan didn't understand politics, but she vaguely felt that discussing
the fate of the Jinpo's Second Prince in front of the Jinpo envoys seemed to
have a hidden purpose.

"Third Brother," she knew she shouldn't ask, but her recent experiences at
the Imperial Academy gave her courage, "Why does Great Jin purposely
discuss this matter in front of the Jinpo envoys?"

He Yuanting expressed surprise as he looked at Princess Yan. When did his

half-sister gain such courage and curiosity?

"Do you know how many innocent civilians Prince A'Wa and his army of
soldiers killed during their surprise attack on Huzhou?"

"How many?"

"More than ten thousand."

"All of them unarmed ordinary civilians?" Princess Yan exclaimed, "Did

they at least spare women and children?"

"If they had spared them, given Emperor Changlong's temperament, he

wouldn't intentionally embarrass Jinpo in front of everyone here," He
Yuanting lowered his head and took a sip of wine from his cup, "The land
of Great Jin is fertile, and its people are resilient. The people living on this
land are both tolerant and vengeful."

"Fifty years ago, during a great drought in Great Jin, the Kingdom of
Qingshi generously donated grain to them. Twenty years ago, when Qingshi
was in turmoil, Great Jin assisted in quelling the rebellion and provided
them with agricultural tools and skilled craftsmen. In all these years, have
you ever heard of any conflicts or difficulties between the Great Jin and
Qingshi?"
Princess Yan slightly shook her head.

"The people of this nation remember both kindness and grievances," He

Yuanting gently rubbed his wine glass, "Our Daimao Kingdom and Great
Jin have had several minor clashes over the past century. There have been
frequent disagreements due to differing ideologies. Now that Jinpo has been
defeated, who knows which country will be next to have its cities carved
away?"

Princess Yan shook her head. "But didn't the Crown Prince of Great Jin just
say that he doesn't want to see the people displaced?"

"Can we trust the words of those in high positions?" He Yuanting looked at

his timid yet somewhat beautiful sister, "If you were to marry Emperor
Changlong or the Crown Prince and bear a prince, perhaps it could ensure
the peace of our Daimao Kingdom for the next thirty years."

"Ah?" Princess Yan looked at her gentle brother in surprise, "But I am just a
weak woman. How can I change the thoughts of a ruler?"

"Never mind, if you don't want to, Benwang won't force you," He Yuanting
lowered his eyelids, "Rest assured, if those officials have any objections
towards you, Benwang will suppress them on your behalf."

As Princess Yan listened to these words, her chest felt heavy. She felt that
there was something off in her brother's words, but she couldn't pinpoint
exactly what was wrong.

"Great General Hua," Emperor Changlong looked at Hua Yingting, "What

are your thoughts?"

"Your Majesty, this subordinate is a simple man and cannot speak profound
arguments," Hua Yingting looked at the Jinpo envoys, "This subordinate
only feels that if we were to return Prince A'Wa to Jinpo, the innocent
people who died in Huzhou would not be able to rest in peace, and the
brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives on the battlefield would not rest in
peace either."
The entire hall fell silent.

Even the court officials who had been whispering amongst themselves
quieted down.

It was widely known that the Hua family had guarded the borders of the Jin
Kingdom for generations, and they had lost count of the Hua family's
generals who died on the battlefield. They had gone through countless
hardships to capture Prince A'Wa and bring him back to the capital. If they
were to simply release him, what would the soldiers who fought desperately
on the battlefield think?

"Zhen believes that the Crown Prince and the court officials have spoken
wisely," Emperor Changlong spoke in a gentle tone to the Jinpo envoys,
"Your country need not mention this matter again in the future. As for the
Eldest Prince of your country who admires the culture of Great Jin, please
send him over sooner. When summer arrives and the weather becomes hot,
the Eldest Prince will suffer on the journey."

The envoys of Jinpo: "..."

This meant that they were unwilling to release the Second Prince of Jinpo
and also wanted Jinpo to send over their Eldest Prince.

Great Jin's move was ruthless, leaving Jinpo with no face at all.

Without the Eldest Prince and the Second Prince, the future ruler of Jinpo
would be the mischievous and dull Third Prince. With such an emperor in
the future, what strength did Jinpo have to compete with the Great Jin?

But if Jinpo disagreed, Great Jin's army might launch a full-scale attack,
and the outcome would be even more disastrous.

It was like asking them: Do you choose slow suicide or let me kill you on
the spot?

The Jinpo envoys were dumbfounded. They had never expected that
Emperor Changlong, who seemed mild and easy to talk to, would act
shamelessly like this.

"This matter is of great importance, we dare not make any promises without
authorization," the Jinpo envoys trembled as they bowed, "Please, Your
Majesty, grant us some time to deliver your opinions to our sovereign with
the utmost urgency."

"In that case, Zhen will wait for another month for your country's response.
One month later, Zhen hopes to receive a satisfactory answer from your
sovereign," Emperor Changlong smiled, "Since it seems that all of you are
visiting Great Jin for the first time, please stay in our country for a while
longer and wait with Zhen for the response from your sovereign."

Jinpo envoys: "???"

Did this mean they couldn't leave?

As the Emperor of a great and prosperous country, could you have some
dignity? Could you?!

They roared with anger in their hearts, but on their faces, they dared not
show the slightest hint of it. Not only did they have to suppress their anger,
but they also had to smile and express gratitude, "Thank you, esteemed
Emperor Changlong. It is an honor for us."

"Hmm," Emperor Changlong nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand for
them to sit down.

The envoys from other countries, afraid that Emperor Changlong would
also detain them in the capital, quickly raised their wine cups and flattered
excessively, fearing that Emperor Changlong would suddenly say, "It seems
like all of you are also visiting for the first time?"

He Yuanting had long noticed that the status of civil officials and military
generals in the Great Jin was similar; the relationship between them was
also not as conflicting as in their Daimao Kingdom.

He put down his chopsticks and furrowed his brows slightly.

"Brother, if our Daimao Kingdom could be like Great Jin..."

"Nonsense!" He Yuanting scolded in a low voice, "You've only been in

Great Jin for a few days, and you're already praising them?"

Princess Yan trembled with fear and dared not speak again.

"The people of the Jin Kingdom are too unrestrained, lacking refinement
and etiquette. This nation, even if temporarily prosperous, cannot be
considered a civilized land," He Yuanting whispered, "You must not say
such things again. If our civil officials hear about it, your reputation in
Daimao will be ruined."

"Yes," Princess Yan felt even more uncomfortable that she couldn't even
focus on the performances on the stage.

"It's stuffy in here," Every now and then, envoys came over to toast Hua
Liuli. Some of them brought their female companions, and upon learning
that Hua Liuli would be the future Crown Princess, they sent their female
companions to get closer to her.

"Madam, we apologize, but our Junzhu is delicate and cannot drink."

"Marquess, we are sorry, but our Junzhu is not knowledgeable about martial
arts and military strategy. She cannot answer your questions. Why don't you
ask General Wei instead?"

Taking advantage of Yuan Yi blocking people for her, Hua Liuli lifted her
skirt and slipped out of the hall.

Compared to the noisy hall, it was quiet outside. She let out a long breath,
walked down the steps, and turned into the nearby small garden.

"Who's there?" Just as she entered the small garden, Hua Liuli heard a faint
sob. She paused and looked toward the source of the sound.

"Miss Du?"
Du Xiuying wiped away the tears in the corners of her eyes and forced a
smile as she stood up, "Fushou Junzhu, why are you here too?"

"It's stuffy inside the hall, so I came out for some fresh air," Hua Liuli saw
the tear stains on Du Xiuying's face but pretended not to know that she had
been crying. She looked up at the sky, "The stars are so beautiful tonight."

"Are they?" Du Xiuying raised her head dazedly. The moonlight covered
the stars, so there were only a few scattered stars that couldn't be considered
particularly beautiful.

"Miss Du, can you climb trees?" Hua Liuli asked.

Du Xiuying shook her head, "A gentleman values etiquette. It's improper..."

Before she could finish her words, Hua Liuli lifted her beautiful skirt and
effortlessly jumped onto a tree branch.

She lay on the branch and gently coughed twice. Leaning forward, she
extended her fair and clean hand to Du Xiuying, "Sitting in a tree and
enjoying the scenery can improve your mood. Miss Du, come and try."

Du Xiuying stared blankly at the delicate palm in front of her and stuttered,
"Thi-this is... not appropriate..."

"It's fine. Besides, no one else will see," Hua Liuli extended her hand in her
direction, "Come, I'll hold onto you. Give me your hand."

From childhood to adulthood, Du Xiuying had never made such a rude

gesture.

But, just this once, only this time.

It's okay, right?

When the Crown Prince saw Hua Liuli leaving the hall alone, he worried
that she would be bored and found a way to sneak out. He saw his fiancée,
who hadn't been married yet, leaning against a tree, smiling tenderly at
another young girl.
And that extended hand, what did it mean?!

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 93 – Friendship

Du Xiuying placed her hand on Hua Liuli's palm. As Hua Liuli prepared to
pull her up the tree, she lightly held onto Hua Liuli's delicate wrist and said,
"You're not well, don't exert yourself."

After speaking, she released Hua Liuli's hand and imitated Hua Liuli's
climbing motion, and climbed up the tree.

It turned out that when the brain believed it could do something, the hands
and feet didn't necessarily agree.

"Sister Du, use your feet more forcefully," Hua Liuli directed from the side,
"Yes, climb with your right hand up."

After spinning in place for a long time, Du Xiuying finally climbed up a

distance. She looked up joyfully at Hua Liuli and said, "I can climb now."

"Sister Du is amazing," Hua Liuli made way to the side, "Keep going, only
half the height left."

Du Xiuying glanced at her obstructive skirt, hugged the tree trunk with one
hand, and tucked her skirt into her waistband. Gasping for breath, she
continued to climb upwards. When she finally reached Hua Liuli's side, she
was drenched in sweat.

She sat down, catching her breath. The cool breeze blew against her,
seemingly dispersing the sadness in her heart. As she looked up at the little
stars in the sky, she realized they were indeed quite beautiful.

Suddenly, she understood the meaning behind Hua Liuli taking her to climb
the tree. Du Xiuying turned her head and looked at her, "Thank you."
"Why are you thanking me?" Hua Liuli smiled and shook her head. "When
I was young and in poor health, my father and mother didn't let me go
outside. But my brothers secretly carried me and climbed trees, allowing me
to see the world outside the courtyard. Gradually, I learned how to climb
trees."

"Whenever my family members went to the battlefield, I would sit in the

tree and wait for their return. Whenever I heard the familiar sound of horse
hooves, I knew they had come back," Hua Liuli leaned against the tree
trunk, looking up at the sky, "Yearning for and missing one's family is a
natural human instinct, there's nothing shameful about it."

Du Xiuying fell silent for a moment, "Is Junzhu comforting me?"

"No," Hua Liuli smiled and shook her head, "I'm just advising you, cry
when you want to cry, laugh when you want to laugh. When living, there
will always be moments when things go your way."

Du Xiuying curved her lips, trying to make herself smile, but tears welled
up in her eyes instead.

Her grandfather always told her that a noble person should be strong and
not show their emotions.

As her grandfather's condition worsened, her feelings of reluctance grew

stronger. Today, she didn't want to enter the palace, but her grandfather,
who had been in a coma for a long time, suddenly woke up. He grabbed her
hand and said that this was a historic banquet, and she should go and take a
look on his behalf, to witness this grand spectacle.

"This is the land of Great Jin..." Her grandfather weakly opened his eyes
wide, "You must look at it for me, see it prosper and flourish."

At that moment, she didn't want to go anywhere else. She just wanted to
stay by her grandfather's side.

But her grandfather's grip was so firm, so earnest.

So she came, she watched as the Imperial Princes united and spoke with
one voice, she saw the Emperor prioritize the well-being of the people, not
caring about his reputation for benevolence. She saw the Crown Prince, the
future Emperor of Great Jin, resolute in the face of the people's problems.

If only her grandfather were still healthy enough to see it with his own eyes,
how wonderful would that be?

In the end, she couldn't bear the sadness in her heart, so she came out to
quietly shed tears. Unexpectedly, Fushou Junzhu saw her.

Even more unexpectedly, she did something she had never considered
before, sobbing silently as she leaned against the rough tree trunk.

The pain of losing loved ones was too agonizing. Tonight, she didn't want to
be a noble person.

Hua Liuli reached out and embraced Du Xiuying, gently patting her back,
allowing her to silently shed tears.

The Crown Prince quietly watched this scene. He withdrew his foot that
was about to step forward and turned to glance at the attending eunuch
following behind him. He whispered, "Don't make any noise, let's go back."

The attending eunuch silently shook his head in his heart as he saw the
gentle and comforting Fushou Junzhu. His Royal Highness truly loved
Fushou Junzhu with unparalleled love.

"Arrange for two imperial physicians to guard Grand Tutor Du's Estate. Use
any medicine that can benefit Grand Tutor Du, regardless of its cost. If the
Imperial Medical Bureau doesn't have suitable medicinal ingredients, they
can come to Gu," the Crown Prince walked to the entrance of the Wuyang
Hall and looked at the people inside, who were pouring wine and changing
cups, "Gu remembers that some artists are capturing tonight's banquet? "

"Yes," on such important occasions, several skilled artists would be

arranged to depict the scene from different angles, leaving a record for
future generations to admire.
"Go and see how they are doing with their paintings. If there are any that
are almost finished, bring them to Gu," the Crown Prince said, "Tell them
that Gu will only borrow them temporarily and return them in a few days."

"Yes," the attending eunuch bowed and hurried off to find the artists.

Among the artists who were invited to work on the paintings, some were
skilled at depicting scenery, others were skilled at depicting people, and
there were also those who were good at quickly recording large-scale
scenes. The attending eunuch took a few paintings that looked decent and
hastily left.

The artists whose paintings were taken felt anxious and uneasy. Could it be
that the Crown Prince was not satisfied with their works?

After crying to her heart's content, Du Xiuying felt much better. She noticed
that her tears had soaked a large portion of Hua Liuli's shoulder and shyly
said, "I'm sorry, I lost control."

"A beautiful woman shedding tears is like a pear blossom in the rain, what's
there to apologize for?" Hua Liuli smiled and took out a piece of preserved
fruit from her brocade bag, placing it in Du Xiuying's hand, "Here, let's
replenish our energy."

"Thank you," Du Xiuying, who had never eaten snacks outside before,
looked at Hua Liuli's sparkling eyes and unconsciously took a piece and put
it in her mouth.

The sweet and sour taste filled her mouth. Du Xiuying felt a hint of
sweetness filling her heart.

"After crying, does eating this make you feel better?" Hua Liuli swung her
legs back and forth, smiling, "When I was young, there was a shortage of
food on the border. But during the fruit harvest season, the locals would
make preserved fruits from the excess fruit they couldn't finish or sell.
When I was little and cute, beautiful aunties would always give me
preserved fruits whenever I went out. My brothers said that if I went out a
few more times every day, we could open a preserved fruit shop at home."
If someone else said they were cute when they were young, Du Xiuying
would only think that they were not modest enough. But when Hua Liuli
said it, she wholeheartedly agreed without any other thoughts.

"Later, when I grew a little older, my family went to the battlefield, and I
sat in the military camp holding a bunch of preserved fruits, waiting for
them to return," Hua Liuli picked a preserved fruit with a lot of nuts and fed
it to Du Xiuying, "As long as there is enough sweetness in your mouth, no
matter what terrible things you face, you can stay strong."

Du Xiuying remembered when she first saw Hua Liuli, sitting with her
brother at a roadside stall, enjoying a bowl of noodles with relish,
regardless of whether the customers nearby were noble or common.

At that time, she felt that the siblings from the Hua family were not refined,
but now she realized that it was her own narrow-mindedness.

Her grandfather was seriously ill, yet he still cared about the well-being of
the people. How could she judge others as noble or lowly based on their
status?

She was wrong.

Her mother always told her that it's better to believe in what one sees than
in what one reads. She used to think that her mother was resentful because
she didn't want to marry and settle down. But now, she realized that her
mother might have been advising her not to judge people as good or bad
based on a unified standard.

Now she understood, and there was still time to change.

Savoring the sweetness of the preserved fruit, Du Xiuying softly said,

"Thank you, I understand now."

"What did Sister Du understand?" Hua Liuli blinked her eyes, "I didn't say
anything."

Du Xiuying smiled, "The preserved fruit you gave me is very sweet."

Hua Liuli untied her brocade bag and placed it in Du Xiuying's hands, "This
whole bag is for you."

"Thank you," Du Xiuying earnestly tied the brocade bag around her waist,
"I will make sure to finish eating it."

"After you finish, I'll give you some more."

"Hua Liuli, what are you doing here?" Yao Jiamin and Yao Wenying
sneaked out for some fresh air and were startled to see Hua Liuli sitting on a
tree branch with another girl, "What are you climbing the tree for in the
middle of the night?"

"Because the moon looks more beautiful from the tree," Hua Liuli pointed
to the nearby tree trunk, "Do you want to come up too?"

"I don't want to. What if someone sees us?" Yao Jiamin quickly shook her
head, "I have my reputation to consider."

More importantly, her cousin, who measures everything with a ruler, was
also here today. If she found out that she was climbing trees with Hua Liuli,
she would definitely say that Yao Jiamin was a bad influence on Hua Liuli.

She wasn't afraid of her cousin, but listening to her constantly lecturing was
a headache.

Just as she was thinking, the girl sitting next to Hua Liuli suddenly turned
her head. In the moonlight, Yao Jiamin could clearly see the person's face.

"Cou... cousin?!" Yao Jiamin was startled and almost thought her eyes were
playing tricks on her.

Her cousin, who never spoke loudly, never smiled openly, and was
extremely proper in everything she did, was actually influenced by Hua
Liuli?!

Hua Liuli was really toxic!

Her cousin, who was so mature and always followed the rules, was now like
this!

Yao Wenying discreetly tugged at Yao Jiamin's sleeve, "Jiamin, is there

something wrong with my eyes? I think the person next to Hua Liuli is
Cousin Du."

Yao Jiamin's expression had become numb, "No, your eyes aren't playing
tricks on you. That's really our cousin."

Yao Wenying took a step back in horror. What on earth had happened to
their cousin?

"Jiamin, don't scream so loudly in the middle of the night. What if you scare
Fushou Junzhu?" Du Xiuying reached out to support Hua Liuli, afraid that
Yao Jiamin would startle her and cause her to fall from the tree, "We are
young girls, can't we talk calmly?"

Yao Jiamin: "Huh?"

Well, it was always her fault anyway.

Du Xiuying's face showed a bit of embarrassment, "It's not Fushou Junzhu's

fault. I thought of looking at the scenery from the tree, so I asked Fushou
Junzhu to accompany me."

Yao Jiamin: "..."

Oh no, oh no, another one is done for.

In this instant, Yao Jiamin had the illusion that all the girls in the entire
capital were being bewitched by Hua Liuli.

"Sister Du was just joking with you. It was actually me..." Before Hua Liuli
could finish her sentence, Du Xiuying interrupted, "The moonlight is
beautiful tonight. Why don't you come up and have a look?"

"Okay, okay," Yao Wenying agreed without hesitation, thinking about

enjoying the moon on the tree with Hua Liuli.
Yao Jiamin felt like she was suffocating.

"Don't tell them," Du Xiuying whispered to Hua Liuli, "Jiamin is innocent

and sometimes can't keep secrets. You are the future Crown Princess; it's
not good for rumors like this to spread about you."

"Sister Du, the Crown Prince won't mind these things. How can I let you
take the blame for me?" Hua Liuli didn't expect Du Xiuying to think so
much.

"The Crown Prince may not mind, but the court officials might," Du
Xiuying pursed her lips, "It's just a well-intentioned concealment, which
doesn't count as lying. Besides, you did climb up here for me, did I say
anything wrong?"

"Cousin Du, give me a hand," Yao Wenying was hopping around at the foot
of the tree, unable to climb up.

Unable to bear it any longer, Yao Jiamin climbed the tree in three to two
moves. She pulled Yao Wenying up onto the tree and said, "Little Cousin,
have you gained some weight recently?"

Yao Wenying became nervous, "Did I?"

"Miss Yao has a well-proportioned figure and looks just right," Hua Liuli
looked at Yao Wenying seriously, "If you become any thinner, you won't
look as good."

Yao Jiamin looked at Hua Liuli suspiciously. She couldn't have won over
her little sister using this kind of method that pleases little girls, would she?

"Really?" Yao Wenying touched her own face.

"Of course," Hua Liuli nodded earnestly, "Your skin is so fair, and if you're
too thin, you won't look lively. Like this, you look radiant and beautiful."

Yao Wenying suddenly smiled brightly and happily chatted with Hua Liuli.

Yao Jiamin: "..."

Ha, shallow.

When the Crown Prince came out to find Hua Liuli again, he saw that the
number of girls on the tree had increased from two to four.

The four of them had their heads together, chatting about who knows what,
and they seemed quite happy.

The Crown Prince: "..."

He sighed, "Have someone guard this place. Intruders are not allowed."

Well, as long as his Liuli is happy.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 94 – My Heart Is Like
Your Heart

"Ah!!" Hua Liuli was getting engrossed in the conversation when she
suddenly remembered that she had promised the Crown Prince to meet him
later, but the banquet was about to end, and she was still playing with a few
young girls outside.

"What's wrong?" Yao Jiamin and Yao Wenying were sitting on another
branch and noticed Hua Liuli's sudden change in expression, thinking that
something significant had happened.

"I promised someone that I would go find them, but I almost forgot because
I was having such a great time with you all," Hua Liuli pointed below,
"Jiamin, you go down first and wait for me."

"What does it have to do with me if you forgot?" Yao Jiamin said as she
unconsciously climbed down the tree.

"I'm not strong enough. I'm afraid I might fall when climbing down," Hua
Liuli smiled at Du Xiuying and Yao Wenying, "Sister Du, Miss Yao, you
continue playing. I'll go ahead."

"Careful," Du Xiuying carefully pulled the corner of Hua Liuli's clothes,

afraid that she might fall from the tree.

"It's okay. Jiamin will take over for me," Hua Liuli smiled at Yao Jiamin,
"Isn't that right, Jiamin?"

Yao Jiamin: "..."

At a time like this, she still cared about maintaining her delicate and frail
appearance. How much does Hua Liuli want to become a historically
famous delicate beauty?

After Hua Liuli climbed down the tree, Yao Jiamin said to the girls on the
tree, "I'll accompany her outside the garden so she doesn't fall," After
speaking, she grabbed Hua Liuli's arm and walked out.

"How did you manage to make Sister Du climb the tree?" Outside the
garden, Yao Jiamin said, "I really admire you."

"It's fine. There are many more reasons for you to admire me in the future,
so don't rush," Hua Liuli teased for a while, then stopped at the intersection
where eunuchs were guarding and said to Yo Jiamin, "Sister Du is not in a
good mood. You should spend more time with her."

Yao Jiamin sighed, "Grand Tutor Du's health is deteriorating day by day.
According to the imperial physicians, it seems that he only has a few more
days left. For the sake of Grand Tutor Du, the Du family has invited
physicians and Taoist priests, but the old master's condition continues to
decline."

"Life and death are predetermined. What use is it to seek gods and ask
Buddhas?" Hua Liuli remembered the time she visited the Du family.
Mother Du invited a Taoist priest, which showed that the Du family was
extremely concerned about Grand Tutor Du's well-being.

But they didn't think about the fact that Grand Tutor Du never believed in
gods and spirits. Their actions were contrary to Grand Tutor Du's beliefs. If
Grand Tutor Du knew about what they were doing, who knows what he
would think?

As an outsider, it's not appropriate for her to say too much. The only thing
she can do is to spend more time with Sister Du. Sister Du was raised by
Grand Tutor Du himself, so her bond with the old master is naturally
stronger than the other grandchildren.
Unfortunately, despite Grand Tutor Du's remarkable career and his
experiences with two emperors, his descendants, including his children and
grandchildren, have been rather unremarkable. After he's gone, one could
only wonder whether these descendants possess the capability to carry on
the legacy of the entire Du family.

"You should hurry back. Don't keep the Crown Prince waiting for too long,"
Yao Jiamin urged Hua Liuli, crossing her arms, "Did you really think I am
unaware that the Crown Prince is eagerly awaiting your return?"

"To know me is to admire me, Yao Jiamin. I'm going to meet the talented
and beautiful Crown Prince now. I'll come to play with you again
tomorrow," Hua Liuli collected her thoughts and waved at Yao Jiamin
before turning around and walking towards Wuyang Hall like a gentle
breeze.

Who could have imagined that she was a ruthless person who dared to
wield a sword and kill enemies?

"Greetings, Junzhu," The palace maids and eunuchs guarding outside

greeted Hua Liuli eagerly, "Junzhu, do you plan to visit other places?"

When she first returned to the capital, she was quite interested in exploring
the palace, but now, after getting used to staying in the palace often, she
didn't have the same enthusiasm as before. It's not like she was going
shopping.

She recognized these palace servants and asked in confusion, "Are you...
attendants from the Eastern Palace?"

"Junzhu has sharp eyesight. We are here on the Crown Prince's orders to
ensure your safety," The head eunuch smiled ingratiatingly, "The Crown
Prince said that there were people coming and going outside the palace
tonight, and he was afraid that some ignorant people might disturb your
enjoyment, so he had us guard this place."

"The Crown Prince was here?" Hua Liuli felt even more guilty. She had
promised to meet the Crown Prince but almost forgot about it. When the
Crown Prince came to find her, she was still accompanying others.

To avoid disturbing her, the Crown Prince not only didn't come to bother
her but also had his subordinates guard the area to ensure she had a good
time.

The more she thought about it, the more ashamed and guilty she felt. Hua
Liuli lifted her skirt and said, "I won't go to other places. I'll go back to
Wuyang Hall to find His Royal Highness."

The palace attendants were delighted and quickly followed her.

They weren't afraid of Junzhu going to find the Crown Prince; they were
afraid she wouldn't go.

"Junzhu, watch your step. There's a pebble here. Don't hurt your delicate
face," The head eunuch bent down and picked up a pebble no bigger than a
fingernail, "Who would be so careless not to notice such a big stone?"

After saying that, he bent down and offered support to Hua Liuli, "Junzhu,
there are stairs ahead."

The eunuch's words amused Hua Liuli, and she couldn't help but laugh,
"Are all the attendants from the Eastern Palace like this?"

"As long as it makes Junzhu happy, we will be whatever you want us to be,"
The head eunuch flattered, "The Crown Prince has ordered us to serve you
as if we were serving him, without any disrespect."

"Do you behave the same way in front of the Crown Prince?"

"The Crown Prince... is wise and brave, generous, and considerate towards
his subordinates. We don't have to be so formal in front of him," The
eunuch quickly replied, "But when we see Junzhu, we can't help but feel
close to you, so we naturally become more attentive."

"Yes, yes," A nearby palace maid approached and lifted Hua Liuli's skirt,
"We all really like you, Junzhu. Some even say that you are a heavenly fairy
who has descended to the mortal world. We want to get close to you and
bask in your celestial aura."

When it comes to flattery, the servants from the Eastern Palace have never
lost to anyone in the palace.

"Fushou Junzhu?" He Yuanting walked out of the main hall and saw Hua
Liuli being surrounded and pleased by the palace maids and eunuchs. When
he thought about Hua Liuli's identity, he understood.

She's the future Crown Princess of Great Jin and possibly the future
Empress of Great Jin too. Who wouldn't want to please her?

"Third Prince," Hua Liuli lowered her lifted skirt and slightly bent her
knees to perform a respectful courtesy.

He Yuanting returned the gesture.

Since one of his envoy's mysterious death, which was later revealed by the
Ministry of Justice to have been orchestrated by someone with ill
intentions, he hadn't seen Fushou Junzhu again. During the time spent in the
secluded guest residence, he had heard many rumors about her.

He had heard about the assassination attempt on Fushou Junzhu and the
Crown Prince. Also heard about how the Crown Prince was trying to win
over the Hua family, and later, the Crown Prince and the daughter of the
Hua family were engaged.

The Hua family held significant military power, while the Crown Prince
was the future successor of Great Jin. He couldn't imagine what kind of
mindset the Emperor of Great Jin had to agree to let the Crown Prince
marry the daughter of a prominent military general.

For the imperial family, whether it's family affection or romantic love, they
all pale in comparison to power and status.

When he first saw Fushou Junzhu, he thought she was the most dazzling
color among the reds. However, no matter how dazzling the color, once it
entered this palace, it would eventually become dull and lackluster.

"Third Prince, where are you preparing to go?" Hua Liuli was a bit
surprised. Considering the cautiousness of the envoys from the Daimao
Kingdom, they shouldn't be wandering around in such a situation.

"Benwang's sister went out to change her clothes and hasn't returned yet.
Benwang is waiting for her here," He Yuanting hesitated for a moment,
"Benwang's sister is new to your esteemed country and still unfamiliar with
its customs. If you have the time, Junzhu, please visit the Imperial Academy
and see her. Benwang would be deeply grateful."

Looking at the man who bowed to the end, Hua Liuli nodded slightly, "I
heard that your country intends to arrange a marriage by sending this
princess to our country?"

"Benwang's sister came to your country with a learning mindset," He

Yuanting explained, "Benwang believes that your country will be able to
educate Benwang's sister well."

Letting an exceptionally beautiful sixteen-year-old princess come to a

foreign land to study?

In the Daimao Kingdom, where women couldn't easily leave their

residences, how could they have such an enthusiastic mindset?

Seeing through but not revealing, Hua Liuli didn't bother to speculate about
the other party's intentions, "Please rest assured, Great Jin will not mistreat
anyone who seeks knowledge."

"Thank you," He Yuanting couldn't help but glance at Hua Liuli a few more
times.

"Third Brother," Princess Yan returned after changing her clothes and
curtsied to pay her respects to the Third Prince and the future Crown
Princess of Great Jin.
Hua Liuli returned the courtesy and glanced at the Great Jin palace
attendants behind the Daimao Princess.

Noticing the attentive attitude of the palace attendants towards Hua Liuli,
Princess Yan curiously looked at her a few more times.

"Princess?" Hua Liuli was sensitive to the gaze of others and noticed the
Daimao Princess looking at her again. She curiously asked, "Is there
something wrong with me?"

He Yuanting glanced at Princess Yan and raised an eyebrow slightly.

"No, Junzhu, you look fine," It's just that she rarely saw the daughter of an
outsider receiving so much respect in the palace, so she was curious.

"That's good," Hua Liuli made a gesture of invitation with her hand,
"Please, both of you can enter first."

"Please, Junzhu should go in first," The Daimao Kingdom didn't dare to

provoke Great Jin now, and naturally, they didn't want to show off in front
of the future Crown Princess.

"How can I let distinguished guests walk behind me?" Hua Liuli insisted on
letting them walk ahead. When she stepped into the hall, she saw the Crown
Prince sitting in a chair, looking at her with a somewhat resentful gaze.

"Apologies, I have other matters to attend to. Please feel free, Your
Highnesses." Hua Liuli bowed to He Yuanting and the Daimao Princess
before she walked briskly toward the Crown Prince.

He Yuanting watched as Hua Liuli hurriedly left, his gaze deep.

"Third Brother?" Princess Yan noticed He Yuanting's gaze and whispered,

"It seems like Great Jin's Crown Prince is looking at us."

She had a feeling that there was something strange in the way Third Brother
looked at that girl.
He Yuanting met eyes with the Crown Prince and bowed, sitting back with
a respectful expression.

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli approached the Crown Prince and poked
his arm with her finger, "Your Royal Highness?"

The Crown Prince shifted his body, not looking at Hua Liuli, "There is no
Crown Prince here, only a pitiful man forgotten by his fiancée."

"I'm here, aren't I?" Hua Liuli cleaned her hands and peeled a few longans
for the Crown Prince, feeding them to him personally, "Don't be angry,
hmm?"

"Do you think a few longans can appease Gu?" The Crown Prince ate the
longans but maintained his face expressionless.

Hua Liuli raised an eyebrow. Now that he referred to himself as "Gu", it

seemed like he was genuinely angry.

"Do you want some pine nuts?" Hua Liuli simply sat down by the Crown
Prince's table and whispered in his ear, "Give me face and smile. Otherwise,
by tomorrow, all the noble ladies in the capital will mock me, saying that
you don't even like me. Even if I try to please you in front of them, I won't
get a smile from you. And when I marry into the Eastern Palace, I'll only be
neglected by you..."

"Who dares to spread such nonsense?" The Crown Prince finally turned his
head to look at Hua Liuli, "Who was the person who said that they would
come to see me later?"

"It was me."

"And yet you went to play with other girls, even talking to other country's
princes, completely forgetting about me."

"How could I forget about you?" Hua Liuli fed a pine nut to the Crown
Prince.

The Crown Prince lowered his head and obediently ate it.
"I saw that Sister Du was feeling down, so I wanted to comfort her," Hua
Liuli held onto the cuff of the Crown Prince's robe under the table, gently
shaking it back and forth, "You understand my feelings, don't you? We are
betrothed, and my intentions, don't you understand?"

The Crown Prince's ears began to turn red as he turned his head, "I don't
understand."

"Really?" Hua Liuli looked at him with a smile.

The Crown Prince turned his head and looked into her eyes, his face still
red, "You never told me, how could I understand?"

Hua Liuli laughed out loud and hooked her finger, "Then come closer and
lend me your ear."

The Crown Prince lowered his head, bringing his ear closer to Hua Liuli's
face.

"I like you."

The whole world fell silent. The Crown Prince held Hua Liuli's hand that
was gently shaking his robe and said with a red face, "I didn't hear clearly,
say it again."

"I said, Hua Liuli likes Ji Yuansu the most. Ji Yuansu is the most handsome,
gentle, and best man in the world," Maybe it was because holding his hand
felt so warm, but Hua Liuli felt her face heating up, "I like you, I like you
the most. No man in the world can compare to you. Do you understand
now?"

Looking at the blushing cheeks of the girl in front of him, the Crown Prince
felt a hint of regret. If only this wasn't the Wuyang Hall, he would have
tightly embraced her.

"Let me add one more thing," The Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli
earnestly, "No woman in the world could compare to me either."
Hua Liuli couldn't help but laugh, "Okay, no man, woman, young or old in
the world can compare to you. Nothing in the world is better than you. You
are my only one. Do you understand a little better now?"

"I got it," The Crown Prince looked into Hua Liuli's eyes seriously, "If you
ever take a liking to someone else..."

"I'll kill him," He extended his thumb and gently pressed Hua Liuli's lips,
his eyes as dark as ink, "There are too many good-looking people in the
world. If I can't control your heart, then I can only control others."

In the Crown Prince's eyes, Hua Liuli saw unprecedented solemnity. She
gently held the Crown Prince's wrist and smiled, "Okay."

"But remember, Your Royal Highness," Her smile was radiant. "My heart is
like your heart, so don't disappoint my feelings."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 95 – Palace Maid

"Imperial Son, look at how well those young ones get along," The Empress
Dowager smiled and said to Emperor Changlong, "Initially, this Grieving
One was worried that Yuansu wouldn't know how to get along with girls,
but now it seems to be going quite well."

Emperor Changlong glanced at the Crown Prince and saw his cheeks
flushed, a shy expression on his face. He felt his eyes sting. He quickly
averted his gaze and said to the Empress Dowager, "A son who is about to
marry is like water poured out. If Zhen looks at him less, Zhen will have
fewer worries."

"Nonsense!" The Empress Dowager playfully scolded, "This Grieving One

can clearly see that you're secretly happy too. Why pretend to be stubborn?"

Emperor Changlong cleared his throat, "Imperial Mother!"

"You've always been like this since you were young—stubborn on the
outside but soft-hearted on the inside," The Empress Dowager patted
Emperor Changlong's hand, "Even at your age, you still have this flaw."

Emperor Changlong held the Empress Dowager's hand, "With Imperial

Mother looking after Zhen, what harm is there in having a few flaws?"

"Do you think you're still a child?"

"As long as Imperial Mother is here, Zhen will forever be Imperial Mother's
child."

"Oh, you," The Empress Dowager's smile grew warmer as she looked at her
other grandchildren, "Your eldest son and second son should also settle
down soon. Don't wait until Yuansu gets married, while his two older
brothers still remain without any betrothal."

"Imperial Mother, when it comes to choosing daughters-in-law..." Emperor

Changlong sighed as he thought about the Lin family's girl he had chosen
for his eldest son to be his Wangfei, "This matter, Zhen still needs Imperial
Mother's help to be reassured."

"This Grieving One had been thinking that even though Yuansu is not the
eldest, he is the Crown Prince you selected. It is not against ancestral
traditions for him to marry before his older brothers. In this grand palace,
there should be a mistress. Rather than hoping for an old bone like this
Grieving One, it's better to have Yuansu and Liuli marry soon, and have
Liuli manage the affairs of the harem together with this Grieving One."

Emperor Changlong sensed that the Empress Dowager intended to delegate

power. Worried that his old mother would have too many wayward
thoughts, he quickly explained, "Imperial Mother, even if your
granddaughter-in-law enters the palace, she is still a young girl and doesn't
understand as much as Imperial Mother does. The palace still needs to be
under Imperial Mother..."

Before he could finish speaking, the Empress Dowager angrily interrupted

him.

"What's the meaning of this? Are you implying that when Liuli enters the
palace, you want to mistreat her?" The Empress Dowager's eyebrows
furrowed as she spoke sternly, "This Grieving One is old, and you have yet
to establish a living Empress. If you don't want to entrust the power of the
harem to Liuli, then who do you want to entrust it to?!"

"Imperial Mother, that's not what Zhen meant," Emperor Changlong didn't
expect the Empress Dowager to become so furious. He smiled and
explained, "What Zhen meant was that when the daughter-in-law just enters
the palace, there will definitely be many things she doesn't understand.
Imperial Mother can guide her and teach her how to handle matters in the
palace."
"Learning all the methods is not as good as having a man by your side," The
Empress Dowager sighed, "Don't worry, this Grieving One will take good
care of my granddaughter-in-law."

Emperor Changlong smiled, "Zhen knows Imperial Mother would be very

satisfied with the granddaughter-in-law."

The Empress Dowager said, "If it weren't for Yuansu liking her, this
Grieving One would have wanted to adopt her as my granddaughter."

Emperor Changlong was somewhat surprised. He knew that Hua Liuli was
a good girl, so it was normal for his mother to like her, but he didn't expect
his mother to like her to this extent.

"Is it because she is cute and likable?" Emperor Changlong was genuinely
curious.

"This imperial palace never lacked beautiful faces, did it?" The Empress
Dowager shook her head with a smile, "Her interesting personality is one in
a million. How would a man like you, who doesn't understand women,
know these things?"

Emperor Changlong: "..."

As a son who was disliked by his own mother, what else could he do
besides smile?

"Here, these pine nuts are all yours," Hua Liuli peeled a small plate of pine
nuts and placed them in front of the Crown Prince. She whispered, "If I
don't go back soon, my father's eyes will pop out."

The Crown Prince secretly glanced at General Hua and indeed saw him
looking in their direction. General Hua looked at him with a smile that
wasn't quite a smile. He quickly straightened his back and handed the pine
nuts he had peeled to Hua Liuli, "I wouldn't dare to make my future father-
in-law and future mother-in-law wait. Please go ahead."
One can afford to offend others, but not one's future father-in-law and future
mother-in-law.

Even the unruly Crown Prince had people he feared.

"Then I'll go now," The hand hidden under the table gently hooked the
Crown Prince's fingers twice. Hua Liuli stood up and prepared to leave.

"Wait," The Crown Prince grabbed her wrist, "After the banquet, will you
wait for me?"

Hua Liuli nodded without hesitation, "Okay."

"This time, you won't go looking for someone else, right?" The Crown
Prince looked at Hua Liuli with some suspicion.

"How could I bear to make you wait for long? I definitely won't this time,"
Hua Liuli scratched the palm of the Crown Prince's hand, "Trust me once
more, hmm?"

"Alright," The Crown Prince let go of Hua Liuli and straightened his robe.
He made it seem like he hadn't just acted spoiled towards a girl six years
younger than him.

"Ah!" Hua Yingting sighed with a pained expression as he said to Wei

Mingyue, "Fortunately, our Liuli is a girl. If she were a boy, she would have
caused so much trouble for the young girls..."

Wei Mingyue remained silent and put down her chopsticks, "You think it's
fine just because she's a girl? What if she causes trouble for other families'
boys?"

"Now that she's already betrothed, if she causes trouble, it will only be for
the Crown Prince," Hua Yingting took a sip of wine and said, "If I had
known that His Majesty would let our daughter become the Crown
Princess, I wouldn't have taught her to be like this."

"I think it's fine this way," Wei Mingyue smiled faintly, "You men, don't
you all like women who are not easily controlled?"
Hua Yingting felt that continuing this topic would be dangerous, so he
wisely chose to keep quiet.

"Mother, Father," Hua Liuli held the pine nuts in her hands as she squeezed
in between them before sitting down, "So many people were secretly staring
at me earlier. I feel so shy and scared."

"Silly girl, don't be afraid. Come and hide next to Father," Hua Yingting
moved aside to make more space for his daughter.

Wei Mingyue shook her head helplessly. A doting father ruins his daughter.
The main reason Liuli developed this kind of personality was due to Hua
Yingting's doting.

The Crown Prince was in a good mood. He held the pine nuts that his
beloved had peeled for him, but before he could start eating them, an
inattentive palace maid accidentally spilled the wine cup on him, wetting
half of his sleeve.

"Your Royal Highness, please forgive me! Nubi beg for your forgiveness!"
The palace maid was pale with fear, kneeling in front of the Crown Prince
and trembling.

"Find out who is responsible for supervising this palace maid. How can
someone so careless serve in the Wuyang Hall?" The Crown Prince
received the handkerchief handed to him by a eunuch with an
expressionless face. He dabbed at the wine stain, "Spilling wine on Gu
today is one thing, but if it had happened to other envoys, people would
think that the people of Great Jin have no manners."

"Please forgive me, Your Royal Highness!" The palace maid trembled like a
sieve, repeatedly kowtowing to the Crown Prince.

"Cover her mouth and drag her away," With a wave of his hand, he had the
attending eunuch drag her away before she could make a fuss.

"Your Royal Highness, there is a place dedicated in the side hall to change
clothes. Let this servant accompany Your Royal Highness to change,"
Seeing the situation, the other attendants in the hall turned pale with fear
and hurriedly stepped forward to apologize.

"Shut up, don't make a fuss," The Crown Prince frowned, stood up, and said
to the attending eunuch, "Go and fetch replacement clothes for Gu."

There was indeed a place for the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the
Crown Prince to change clothes in the side hall. If it were in the past, the
Crown Prince wouldn't have cared if his sleeves had been stained with a
little wine. But this time was different. After the banquet, he had planned to
meet with Liuli. It would be inappropriate to go there with the smell of
alcohol on him.

Entering the side hall, a eunuch from the Eastern Palace took off the outer
robe for the Crown Prince and then retreated to the door.

The people of the Eastern Palace knew that the Crown Prince didn't like
others touching his personal clothes. So, the clothes he wore close to his
body were always put on by the Crown Prince himself. If any servant dared
to offend, it would anger the Crown Prince.

Although the side hall was the imperial dressing room, it was not frequently
used. To eliminate the desolation in the room, the palace maids often lit
pleasant fragrances.

The Crown Prince waited in the room for a while until a eunuch from the
Eastern Palace brought the clothes, "Your Royal Highness, according to the
style you wore today, this old servant selected similar clothes to bring."

"Hmm, good," The Crown Prince nodded in satisfaction.

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness."

The room fell silent again. Just as the Crown Prince was taking off his inner
robe, he suddenly saw a shadow behind him in the bronze mirror. He pulled
back his robe and turned to look behind the folding screen.

"Who's there? Show yourself!"

"Your Royal Highness," a soft voice came out, but there was no figure to be
seen.

The Crown Prince sneered, "Gu will count to three. If you don't come out,
don't bother coming out," With that, he turned to the outside and said,
"Guards, there's an assassin!"

"Your Royal Highness, please forgive me. Nubi was cleaning here and
accidentally fell asleep. Nubi didn't expect Your Royal Highness to
suddenly appear here..." A young palace maid walked out from behind the
screen in a panicked and trembling state. She knelt down with a thud in
front of the Crown Prince, looking pitiful and helpless, "Please forgive
Nubi, Your Royal Highness."

The Crown Prince took two steps back, "Keep your distance." He pointed to
the corner of the room, "You're covered in dust. Don't dirty Gu's shoes."

The palace maid stiffened, stood up, and stepped back. However, in her
haste, she accidentally stepped on her own skirt, and it seemed like she was
about to fall onto the Crown Prince.

Crash!

The palace maid fell heavily onto the bronze mirror, leaving a dent in it.

"Your... Your Royal Highness..." She held her throbbing forehead, her face
pale, and looked up, appearing exceptionally pitiful. However, the Crown
Prince furrowed his brow with a sinister expression.

"Who sent you?" The Crown Prince put on his outer robe and fastened it.

"Your Royal Highness?!" Eunuchs from the Eastern Palace rushed in and
were shocked to find an additional woman in the hall. They knelt before the
Crown Prince, their knees weak with fear.

"Please forgive us, Your Royal Highness. We failed to thoroughly inspect

the area and allowed this girl to hide in the inner chamber..." If this girl was
truly an assassin, they would have lost their heads.
Wait, for the past three days, the Imperial Guards had been patrolling here.
Apart from the palace maids and eunuchs responsible for cleaning, no one
else should have been able to approach this area.

Could this palace maid be one of the cleaners?

When they got a clear look at the palace maid's appearance, their shock
intensified. This... This palace maid seemed to bear some resemblance to
Fushou Junzhu?

"Your Royal Highness, Your Royal Highness," The palace maid clung to the
Crown Prince's thigh, sobbing, "Please spare Nubi, Your Royal Highness."

"Get away," The Crown Prince had no sympathy, and he kicked the palace
maid away with one foot. He even ignored her grip on his outer robe, "Just
because you bear a slight resemblance to Fushou Junzhu, you thought you
could seduce Gu?"

"Is it merely a coincidence that someone spilled wine on Gu, and at the
same time, an oblivious cleaning maid happened to be asleep here?" The
Crown Prince tidied his outer robe while sneering, "The Imperial Guards
inspect this place every two incense sticks' worth of time. You, a mere
cleaning maid, dare to sleep here in the side hall of the Wuyang Hall during
that time. Who gave you the audacity?"

"It's a conspiracy! Your Royal Highness, this is a deliberate plot against

you!" An experienced eunuch from the Eastern Palace spoke up, "Let this
old servant take her downstairs for questioning!"

"Of course, Gu knows this is a conspiracy. Gu doesn't need you fools..."

"What's going on here?" Hua Liuli stood at the doorway, looking at the
sobbing palace maid in the corner and then glancing at the disheveled
Crown Prince. Her eyebrows gradually furrowed.

"Liuli, listen to my explanation..."

"Fushou Junzhu, Nubi begs you to save me. The Crown Prince intends to
harm Nubi, but Nubi resisted him. In his rage, he wants to kill Nubi," The
distressed palace maid, in a disheveled state, rushed to Hua Liuli, crawling
and clinging to her, "Junzhu, please save Nubi."

"Are you implying that the Crown Prince desired you because of your
exceptional appearance and that you refused him, which caused his anger?"
Hua Liuli looked at the Crown Prince and the palace maid expressionlessly,
"Look up."

The palace maid timidly raised her head as tears rolled down her pale
cheeks.

"Since you're unwilling to yield to the Crown Prince even at the cost of
your life, then go ahead and die now," Hua Liuli lowered her eyelids and
took a step back, allowing the eunuchs from the Eastern Palace to do as
they pleased, "Once you're dead, the Crown Prince won't be able to do
anything to you."

The palace maid froze. Wasn't Fushou Junzhu said to be timid and kind-
hearted, unable to bear seeing the weak suffer?

Why did the current situation... differ from the rumors?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 96 – Definitely Not Her

The Fifth Prince, who accompanied Hua Liuli, was stunned by the scene.

"This... What is happening?" At only seventeen years old, he instinctively

wondered what the Crown Prince, with his disheveled appearance, had done
to make the palace maid, who was kneeling before Fushou Junzhu, cry so
heartbrokenly.

Wait, why did he instinctively think that the Crown Prince had done
something to the palace maid?

Was it because the Crown Prince was unapproachable and no one dared to
offend him? Or did the palace maid appear pitiful?

"Junzhu, Third Brother is not the type to be swayed by appearances. There

must be a misunderstanding here," The Fifth Prince was afraid that if the
situation escalated, it would reflect poorly on the Crown Prince. He also
worried that this incident would affect the relationship between the Crown
Prince and Fushou Junzhu. He quickly spoke up, "Shall we sit down and
discuss slowly?"

If this attracted General Hua and General Wei's attention, and they beat up
the Crown Prince, no one's face would look good afterward.

"Fifth Brother, why are you here?" Upon hearing the Fifth Prince speak up
for him, the Crown Prince finally noticed his presence. However, at this
moment, he had no time to pay attention to his little brother. He looked at
Hua Liuli cautiously, "Liuli?"

"What should one do in a situation like this next time?" Hua Liuli looked at
the Crown Prince expressionlessly.
Yuan Yi, who stood behind Hua Liuli, saw that the palace maid still wanted
to pounce forward. She quickly approached and pinned the palace maid to
the ground, swiftly searching her body, "Junzhu, there are no suspicious
weapons on her, and her hairpin seems normal."

The Fifth Prince's mouth hung open, unable to recover his senses for a
while. The maidservants from the general's residence were this formidable?
He turned his head to look at the Crown Prince, inwardly shouting, Third
Brother, please answer Fushou Junzhu's question quickly. Benwang is
afraid these maidservants will finish questioning the palace maid and then
begin interrogating you.

"Next time, Gu will keep my distance from them and prevent them from
touching even a corner of Gu's clothes."

The Fifth Prince: "???"

Why is the Crown Prince acting so obedient and easy to talk to when he is
facing Fushou Junzhu?

"Your Royal Highness, as the Crown Prince and heir to the country, the first
thing you should do when encountering such a situation is to escape from
the confined space," Hua Liuli stepped into the side hall's dressing room
with one foot, "Regardless of the other person's identity, suddenly appearing
by Your Royal Highness's side implies ulterior motives. Keep your distance
from such people as much as possible."

"If she only covets Your Royal Highness's status and appearance, it's not too
bad. But if she seeks Your Royal Highness's life, the situation will be very
dangerous," Hua Liuli stood by the Crown Prince's side, looking down on
the palace maid who was being held down, "Let me ask you again, does the
Crown Prince truly have improper intentions towards you?"

"Y-Yes," The palace maid, in a miserable state, prostrated herself on the

ground, disregarding everything, "In order to force Nubi, the Crown Prince
even dismissed all the attendants around him to the outside. Junzhu, if you
don't believe it, you can ask the guards outside the hall."
The Fifth Prince hurriedly said, "Nonsense! When the Crown Prince
changes his clothes, he doesn't like having others attend to him. What does
it have to do with you?"

"Your Highness, why are you also hiding the truth for the Crown Prince?"
The palace maid cried, "Nubi is nothing but a lowly servant. Both inside
and outside the palace, everyone belongs to the Crown Prince. No matter
what Nubi says, no one will believe Nubi, right?"

She cried like a helpless lone goose. If one had a slightly softer heart, they
would probably start doubting themselves and wonder if they had
misunderstood her.

The Crown Prince's face darkened. This was a very unrefined tactic, but it
had a fatal aspect to it—it planted seeds of doubt in people's hearts. Perhaps
for a moment, Liuli might believe him, but what about tomorrow? The day
after tomorrow? In the future?

Would she suddenly recall today's events one day and begin groundlessly
speculating and doubting?

Thinking of this, the Crown Prince turned his head to look at Hua Liuli. If
Liuli doubted him...

"Look at me," Hua Liuli used her folding fan to lift the palace maid's chin,
"Do you think I am beautiful?"

"Junzhu, you are exceptionally beautiful and enchanting," The palace maid
didn't understand why Hua Liuli asked this question.

"Then, if you compare yourself to me, who is more beautiful?" Hua Liuli
hooked her lips, seemingly very satisfied with the palace maid's answer.

"Junzhu, she is just a crude palace maid, how can she compare to you?" The
attendant eunuch from the Eastern Palace hurriedly spoke, "Junzhu, please
don't believe her lies."
"Junzhu, you are like a celestial being descending to earth, while Nubi is
just a humble willow. How can Nubi compare to Junzhu?" The palace maid
looked at Hua Liuli expectantly, "Junzhu, you are kind-hearted. Please save
Nubi."

"Save you?" Hua Liuli stood up, coldly snorting, "Since you know that your
appearance cannot compare to mine, why do you dare to assume that the
Crown Prince would do something absurd for the sake of your looks?"

"With me as his betrothed, would the Crown Prince still be interested in

you?" Hua Liuli sneered, "Are you mocking the Crown Prince's taste or
mocking my ability to choose a man?"

"If you want to prove your determination through death, then come, die in
front of me and the Crown Prince," Hua Liuli smashed a vase next to her
and picked up a shard of porcelain, stuffing it into the palace maid's hand,
"Come, die for me and the Crown Prince now."

The Fifth Prince felt that he shouldn't have appeared here, he should
have stayed back in the Weiyang Hall. He didn't expect the gentle and
delicate Fushou Junzhu to become so terrifying when angry.

He discreetly took two steps back.

"Jun... Junzhu..." The palace maid held the sharp shards of porcelain, her
hand trembling.

"What's wrong? Can't do it?" Hua Liuli pointed at one of the attendants
from the Eastern Palace, "It's okay, I'll let him help you."

"Junzhu!" The palace maid threw away the shard of porcelain and bowed
her head, "It doesn't matter if Nubi dies, but as a lowly servant, how can
Nubi dirty the side hall with my blood?"

"That can be easily solved. I'll have you dragged outside."

"Junzhu, it is not allowed to abuse private punishment in the palace..."

"It's okay. With the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince here, they will help
me dispose of the body," Hua Liuli put on a fake smile, "You don't have to
worry about me. The sooner you die, the sooner you can be reborn."

The palace maid: "..."

"What's the matter? Are you afraid of death?" Hua Liuli saw that the palace
maid didn't dare to speak anymore and toyed with her folding fan, "It seems
that what you said earlier, that you would rather die than comply, was just a
lie, right?"

With a gentle smile, she continued, "It's not your fault. With my Crown
Prince being so handsome, there must be no shortage of girls with ulterior
motives."

Although this scene appeared calm, the Fifth Prince inexplicably found it
chilling. He silently hugged himself, pretending that he had never appeared
here.

In case they really needed him to dispose of the body later, he could
maintain a more calm mindset.

"Junzhu, Nubi dare not lie to you," The palace maid was still trying to
maintain her stance.

"If you dared to covet my man, why wouldn't you dare to lie to me?" Hua
Liuli picked up the discarded shard of porcelain and raised her left hand, "A
handkerchief."

The attendant from the Eastern Palace quickly handed her a squeaky-clean
handkerchief.

Through the handkerchief, Hua Liuli lifted the palace maid's face, "I find
your eyebrows and eyes displeasing. Let's get rid of them."

The palace maid trembled uncontrollably, pale with fear.

"Don't shake. I just want to scratch off your eyebrows and eyes. If I
accidentally cut your face because of your trembling, don't blame me," Hua
Liuli pressed the shard of porcelain against the palace maid's face.

"Junzhu, have mercy! Have mercy! Nubi will never dare again," The palace
maid's voice trembled with a sob. "Please spare Nubi, Junzhu."

The Fifth Prince had curled up into a ball. He didn't expect Fushou Junzhu
to be so fearless when dealing with rivals. The image of her being weak and
timid in his mind seemed to be crumbling and on the verge of collapse.

"Don't be scared. I was just scaring you," Hua Liuli handed the shard of
porcelain to Yurong and slowly stood up, glancing at the silent Crown
Prince, "Now you can tell us, did someone order you to get close to the
Crown Prince?"

"N-Nubi originally worked as a cleaner in Weyang Hall. A few days ago,

someone suddenly brought a letter from my family, along with a talisman
my mother wore, saying that my younger brother had caused trouble and
might end up in prison if things went wrong," The palace maid knelt on the
ground and cried, "Nubi had no choice but to do as the other party wanted."

"So you deliberately appeared here to make me misunderstand that the

Crown Prince had an affair with you?" Hua Liuli probably guessed the
intention of the person behind this, "Who was the person you were in
contact with?"

The palace maid shook her head, "Nubi doesn't know. Nubi only found
mysterious letters under Nubi's pillow every night."

"Have you never considered that the contents of the letters might be
deceiving you?" Hua Liuli had a vague suspicion in her heart. She glanced
at the Crown Prince. This was an attempt to deliberately tarnish the Crown
Prince's reputation and cause dissatisfaction within the Hua family.

In the capital city, everyone knew she was the cherished gem of her father
and mother. If her parents were to find out that the Crown Prince had
harassed a palace maid in the side hall on the day of the Hundred Nations
Banquet, they would never allow her to marry him.
If this matter escalated and spread to others, the Crown Prince's scandalous
reputation would be firmly established. No matter what he did in the future,
the first impression people would have when they mentioned him would be
that he was a beast of a person who forced a palace maid during the
Hundred Nations Banquet.

Having the Crown Prince to be despised by the Hua family and condemned
by the court officials -- this scheme was more profitable than any business
deal.

The methods used were simple and crude, but as long as she, Hua Liuli, had
even the slightest doubt about the Crown Prince, the other party's
conspiracy could be considered as successful.

If it weren't for the Fifth Prince discovering something was amiss and
calling her over in advance, how else would she have discovered the Crown
Prince's wrongdoing?

Would it be the scent of rouge from another girl on the Crown Prince or
some other suspicious discovery?

Hua Liuli turned her head and looked at the Crown Prince, circling around
him. She reached into his sleeve and pulled out a handkerchief embroidered
with another girl's name.

"Lu Cao," Hua Liuli softly pronounced the name, "Such a vibrant name.
Did you slip this onto him when the Crown Prince wasn't paying attention?"

The palace maid begged for mercy without saying anything else.

The handkerchief carried a distinct fragrance of rouge, practically

announcing to others that it was something left by another girl for the
Crown Prince, implying that the Crown Prince had been putting a green
hat1The phrase "绿帽子" (lǜ màozi) literally translates to "green hat" in English.
In Chinese culture, wearing a green hat is associated with being cuckolded
or cheated on by one's spouse or partner. It is a metaphorical expression
representing betrayal or infidelity in a relationship. on her.
It was already late spring, so there was no need for the green hat anymore.

"Take her away for questioning," The Crown Prince's face turned extremely
grim upon seeing the handkerchief. After much effort, he had finally been
betrothed to Liuli, but he never expected someone to scheme to ruin their
relationship.

In a cold voice, he commanded, "Question her word by word. If she can't

explain clearly, treat it as an attempt to harm the Crown Prince."

"Little girl," the attendant from the Eastern Palace said with a fake smile to
the palace maid, "Plotting against the Crown Prince could implicate nine
generations. I wonder if your brother, who committed the crime, can ever
come out of prison?"

Was there really someone in the palace who was so foolish to believe a
random letter so easily?

How many hidden motives were there in all of this?

Since she is unwilling to speak up now, let her take her time.

For so many years, this kind of unsightly method hadn't appeared in the
harem, but unexpectedly it had resurfaced and was used to scheme against
the Crown Prince.

"Third Brother," after the palace maid was taken away by the people from
the Eastern Palace, the Fifth Prince cautiously approached the Crown Prince
and bowed, "Third Brother, just now, my mother noticed that the palace
maid damped your sleeve and realized it might be a scheme against you. So
she asked me to bring Fushou Junzhu to check on you."

Regardless of the outcome, the primary objective now was to clear his and
his mother's name out of this conspiracy.

"Gu is sincerely grateful to Consort Shu2Raws had it as Consort Rong, not

Consort Shu. But Consort Rong was Ning Wang's mother. Fifth Prince's
mother was Consort Shu. ," the Crown Prince expressed gratitude to the
Fifth Prince, "If it weren't for Consort Shu's reminder, Liuli wouldn't have
been able to come in time to save Gu."

The Fifth Prince: "???"

There seemed to be something off about these words.

"The mastermind behind all this arrangement should be secretly monitoring

this situation, they may even be eager to bring people over to escalate the
matter," the Crown Prince calmly straightened his clothes, "The more
desperate Gu appears, the happier that person will be."

"Crown Prince, what are you doing?" Consort Xian, accompanied by palace
maids and eunuchs, arrived. She noticed the broken vase on the ground and
exclaimed, "How did the vase break?"

She glanced at the Crown Prince. She knew this Crown Prince couldn't
control his hot-tempered nature and would argue with Fushou Junzhu.

The Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince looked at each other, frowning in
unison.

"Definitely not her..."

The Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince simultaneously spoke, experiencing
perfect synchronization for the first time in their seventeen years as
brothers.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 97 – Golden Armor
Guards

Consort Xian realized that something was amiss and halted her steps, not
continuing forward, "Why don't you continue, and I'll leave first?"

"Consort Xian," the Crown Prince called out to stop Consort Xian, who was
turning to leave, "If Gu recalls correctly, consorts are responsible for palace
affairs, right?"

Consort Xian furrowed her brows even tighter, "What happened here?" She
noticed the presence of the Fifth Prince and took a few steps back, "It has
nothing to do with me. I have no authority over the affairs of the Wuyang
Hall."

The Crown Prince glanced at her without saying a word, then turned to Hua
Liuli, "Liuli, you go back to the hall first. Gu will return to the Eastern
Palace and change clothes."

Upon seeing the unusual expression on his face, Hua Liuli suddenly
reached out and touched the Crown Prince's chest.

Consort Xian and the Fifth Prince quickly averted their gaze, not daring to
look. Can't the two of you, who have a good relationship, show some
restraint in public?

"You're wearing..." Before Hua Liuli could finish her sentence, she heard
Yuan Yi's anxious voice, "Crown Prince, Junzhu, you need to leave
immediately. There are other people's traces in this room."
"It's fine," the Crown Prince gently embraced Hua Liuli's shoulders, "That's
the leader of the Eastern Palace's Golden Armored Guards."

Why would the leader of the Eastern Palace's Golden Armored Guards be
here?

Hua Liuli glanced at the Crown Prince and suddenly turned pale. She
whimpered and threw herself into the Crown Prince's arms, "Fortunately,
Your Royal Highness is fine. I knew that you were not that kind of person.
The person who framed Your Royal Highness is truly wicked."

"It's alright, it's alright. Don't be afraid," The Crown Prince gently held Hua
Liuli and smiled, "If you can trust Gu like this, even if someone stabs Gu
with a knife, Gu will be happy."

Hua Liuli nestled her head on the Crown Prince's shoulder, her gaze
scanning the surroundings. Finally, she discovered two perfectly hidden
figures on the beam above the bronze mirror and at the corner of the room.

She quickly averted her gaze and lightly hugged the Crown Prince's back,
confirming the presence of the Eight Treasures Soft Armor.

In the Great Jin imperial family, there was a treasured item called the Eight
Treasures Soft Armor. It was said that this armor was impervious to fire and
poison, light and thin, and impenetrable by blades and spears.

Why did the Crown Prince wear this item for this occasion today?

"Alright, don't be afraid, don't be afraid," The Crown Prince released Hua
Liuli, took her hand, and approached Consort Xian, "Consort Xian, Gu will
return to the Eastern Palace first. Fushou Junzhu was frightened just now,
so please take care of her for a while."

Consort Xian looked at the broken porcelain pieces on the ground, then at
the gentle expression on the Crown Prince's face. She nodded and said,
"Alright," After agreeing, she glanced at the broken porcelain pieces on the
ground again and added a few more words, "Your Royal Highness is still
young. Speak calmly without resorting to harsh words when Your Royal
Highness is angry. The girl has a soft personality and a soft heart. Don't hurt
her feelings."

Fushou Junzhu was timid and physically weak. Consort Xian truly feared
that one day she would be bullied to death by the Crown Prince's bad
temper.

The Fifth Prince who was standing beside them: "..."

He felt that something was amiss, but for the moment, he couldn't pinpoint
any major flaws.

Fushou Junzhu fought against fear and timidity to protect Third Brother,
engaged in a battle of wits with the palace maid plotting against his third
brother, and extracted the truth from the palace maid. It was truly
admirable.

Could this be the beautiful love they spoke of in legends?

After returning to the Eastern Palace and changing into clean clothes, the
Crown Prince walked out of the inner chamber and spoke to the leader of
the Golden Armored Guards who was waiting outside, "Did anyone
suspicious attempt to approach the side hall?"

"Your Royal Highness, no suspicious individuals have appeared," replied

the leader of the Golden Armored Guards, "I suspect that the premature
appearance of the palace maid disrupted their plans."

"That's a pity. Gu is quite curious about the power of the Xie family's
Fuma," the Crown Prince put his hands behind his back, his tone oddly
gentle, "Investigate who arranged for that palace maid. If it turns out to be
one of the Emperor's consorts, let the Emperor handle it."

"Trying to have the future Crown Princess suspect Gu with just a mere
palace maid?" The Crown Prince snorted coldly, "Liuli is not an ordinary
person."
The leader of the Golden Armored Guards responded, "As you say, Your
Royal Highness."

If you hadn't looked so displeased and tense when you saw Fushou Junzhu
earlier, this statement might have been more believable.

In the Wuyang Hall, Zhao Sancai approached Emperor Changlong and

poured him a cup of wine, "Your Majesty, something unexpected has
occurred."

"Is the Crown Prince injured?" Emperor Changlong almost dropped the
wine cup from his hand.

"The Crown Prince is safe and sound, Your Majesty," Zhao Sancai quickly
whispered a few words into Emperor Changlong's ear. Emperor Changlong
tightened his grip on the wine cup, his expression gradually calming, "It
seems that Zhen's harem is not peaceful either."

His gaze swept over several consorts who had sons, and then he noticed
Consort Xian, dressed extravagantly, entering the hall with the Fifth Prince
and Hua Liuli.

Emperor Changlong carefully observed his future daughter-in-law's

complexion and let out a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, Fushou Junzhu didn't misunderstand the Crown Prince because

of this incident. Having a good daughter-in-law like this was truly a
blessing for the future of Great Jin.

With the feast concluded and everyone satiated, the officials from the
Ministry of Rites reservedly expressed their welcome to the envoys,
inviting them to visit the training ground together the next day.

The envoys thought to themselves: Tonight, we have to think about

tomorrow's flattery content again.

"Third Brother?" Princess Yan noticed that her brother was absent-minded
and whispered softly, "Third Brother, the feast has ended."
"Apologies," He Yuanting snapped out of his daze, adjusted his attire, and
stood up to express his gratitude to Emperor Changlong.

He glanced at the empty seat of the Crown Prince and at Emperor

Changlong who had left with the Empress Dowager. Once they were gone,
the court officials and envoys slowly exited Wuyang Hall. The envoys from
the Daimao Kingdom and the Jinpo Kingdom walked at the back.

The envoy from the Jinpo Kingdom sneered, "If you had joined us in
attacking Great Jin back then, you wouldn't be so subservient now, unable
even to send off a princess in a marriage alliance."

"And then you would have us be subservient to you later, allowing you to
snatch away all our princesses?" The envoy from the Daimao Kingdom
retorted, "Our regret is not having joined forces with Great Jin back then."

If it were the Jinpo Kingdom who emerged victorious now, their fate would
likely be even more miserable than it is currently.

The Jinpo envoy chuckled, "Ha."

The Daimao envoy snorted, "Hmph."

The two groups parted ways, exiting the palace gate and going their
separate directions.

Princess Yan silently followed behind He Yuanting. As a young lady, she

couldn't engage in conversation with the other envoys, as it would seem
improper. So even though she was very curious about certain things
regarding the Great Jin Kingdom, she dared not ask.

Crossing the spacious courtyard outside the hall, Princess Yan caught sight
of the future Crown Princess of the Great Jin Kingdom leaning against a
tree. She held a lantern in her hand, illuminating the darkness like a radiant
light. She exuded a dazzling beauty.

Their gazes met in mid-air. Princess Yan made a bold move. She
proactively removed her veil and smiled at the beauty beneath the tree.
The other party seemed taken aback by her action. After a momentary
hesitation, she returned the smile and nodded in greeting.

"What are you looking at?" He Yuanting turned his head when he saw his
sister removing her veil. He followed her gaze and saw the smiling Hua
Liuli beneath the tree.

He Yuanting paused and quietly watched her.

"Third Brother, she is the future Crown Princess of the Great Jin Kingdom,"
Princess Yan nervously bit her lip, almost drawing blood.

"Benwang is well aware that she is the future Crown Princess of the Great
Jin Kingdom," He Yuanting gently smiled, "Little sister, why do you say
such a thing?"

"N-Nothing," Princess Yan quickly shook her head, putting her veil back
on, covering her fearful emotions.

"Fushou Junzhu," He Yuanting stepped forward and bowed to Hua Liuli, "If
there is no one accompanying you, Benwang would be honored to escort
you for a part of the way."

"Thank you, Third Prince, for your kind offer, but it's unnecessary," the
Crown Prince interjected as he approached in the night breeze, "Junzhu and
Gu have already agreed to travel together."

"Benwang understands. Benwang thought Junzhu was alone here," He

Yuanting modestly smiled, "In that case, Benwang will bid farewell."

The Crown Prince nodded slightly and, facing He Yuanting, gently held
Hua Liuli's hand, "Third Prince, take care. Gu requests your presence at the
martial arts demonstration tomorrow."

"Benwang would not miss the opportunity to witness the magnificent

military prowess of the Great Jin Kingdom. Benwang will be there," He
Yuanting bowed and glanced at the hands of the Crown Prince and Hua
Liuli that were intertwined. He then turned and slowly departed.
"Your Highness," one of the Daimao's envoys said to He Yuanting when he
returned, speaking in a low voice, "Although it was a hardship for you to
employ the beauty trap on Fushou Junzhu before, she is now the Crown
Prince's betrothed. Your Highness no longer needs to burden yourself."

Princess Yan looked at her Third Brother in astonishment. He had tried to

employ the beauty trap on Fushou Junzhu? To ensure the well-being of the
Daimao Kingdom? How sacrificial of him!

But judging by the indifferent attitude of Fushou Junzhu toward Third

Brother, it seemed the beauty trap was not very successful?

"You're thinking too much. Benwang just went to chat with her for a few
moments," He Yuanting raised an eyebrow at the official who spoke, "The
customs of the Great Jin Kingdom are different from ours. It is beneficial
for Daimao to establish a good relationship with the future Crown
Princess."

"While that may be true, I have observed that the Crown Prince is quite
fond of her. He probably wouldn't appreciate other men getting too close to
her. By doing so, you might offend the Crown Prince," Princess Yan
whispered, "Third Brother, I think it would be best for you to keep your
distance when you meet her in the future."

He Yuanting glanced at Princess Yan, "Thank you for your reminder."

"I think that the Third Prince of Daimao looks sneaky and untrustworthy.
He doesn't seem like a good person," the Crown Prince said to Hua Liuli,
"In the future, stay away from him. I'm afraid he might be too ugly for
you."

"It's okay. If anyone looks ugly to me, I'll ask Your Royal Highness to wash
my eyes," Hua Liuli yawned, covering her mouth, "Your Royal Highness,
it's late. Where would you like me to accompany you?"

"I want to visit Grand Tutor Du at the Du Family Estate. Would you
accompany me?" The Crown Prince held Hua Liuli's hand and walked
towards the direction of the carriage.
"Your Royal Highness, is it appropriate for you to visit the Du Family
Estate so late at night? It might not be proper for me to go along," Hua Liuli
expressed her concerns.

"I think it's perfectly fine," the Crown Prince said as he helped Hua Liuli
into the carriage, "Grand Tutor Du has served through two reigns. Although
he is picky and stubborn with me, he is unwaveringly loyal to the Great Jin
Kingdom. I don't usually mind these things. Now that he is seriously ill, he
must be thinking about who the Crown Prince will marry and when."

"With his current condition, I cannot let him pass away with regrets.
Although our wedding day has not yet arrived, the fact that you are the
future Crown Princess cannot be changed," the Crown Prince enclosed Hua
Liuli's hand in his palm, "To put the old man's heart at ease, please bear
with me and accompany me as we visit his estate late at night."

Hua Liuli asked, "I heard that Grand Tutor Du used to be very critical of
you?"

The Crown Prince sighed, "When I was young, I was mischievous, and
Grand Tutor Du caught me in the act twice. He thought I was lazy and
believed that scolding me more would make me more diligent."

"Children being mischievous is natural. Your Royal Highness is doing well

now, aren't you?" Hua Liuli said, "Your Royal Highness has a broader mind
than I do. I'm petty and hold grudges."

"Nonsense. It's obvious that Liuli is a hundred times better than me," the
Crown Prince adjusted his sitting position and faced Hua Liuli, "What I
feared the most tonight wasn't the possibility of an assassin but you
misunderstanding me, doubting my feelings for you."

A thousand words are not as moving as the word "trust".

Hua Liuli looked at the Crown Prince and smiled without saying a word.

The carriage left the palace through a side gate, merging into the flow of
vehicles leaving the palace. It passed through the dark night and arrived in
front of the Du Family Estate.

The Du family had just returned from the palace. They hadn't even had a
chance to freshen up when they heard the gatekeeper's report that the
Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu had come to visit. This news surprised
them, and they quickly made their way to the entrance.

Before the family reached the entrance, a servant from the inner courtyard
rushed over in a panic, "Master, Madam, the Old Master is not well!"

"What?!" Du Daren's mind went blank. Ignoring the Crown Prince outside,
he turned and rushed towards the courtyard where Grand Tutor Du resided,
stumbling along the way.

Madam Du watched the frantic figure, wiping away tears from the corners
of her eyes with a handkerchief. She spoke to her two bewildered
maidservants, "Open the main gate and welcome His Royal Highness the
Crown Prince."

As soon as the Crown Prince got out of the carriage, he heard the
commotion inside the Du Family Estate. He could faintly hear words like
"The Old Master is not well". He quickly stepped inside the Du family's
main gate without waiting for them to pay their respects and asked, "How is
your old master?"

"Your Royal Highness, the Old Master... he's not doing well," one of the Du
family members couldn't hold back any longer and covered his face with his
sleeve, crying.

"Your Royal Highness, let's go and see," seeing that the Crown Prince
seemed stunned, Hua Liuli pushed his arm.

The Crown Prince snapped out of his daze. He held Liuli's hand and walked
directly toward Grand Tutor Du's courtyard.

The room was filled with the bitter scent of medicine, with the Du family
members kneeling around the bedside. Grand Tutor Du, looking at his
wailing descendants, had an unusually clear mind, "You've all come back?"
"Father, all your children are here," Du Daren knelt at the foot of Grand
Tutor Du's bed.

"It's good that you've come back," Grand Tutor Du then asked, "At the
banquet, did those envoys behave themselves?"

"With His Majesty's majestic presence, the envoys from other countries
wouldn't dare to be disrespectful. After the banquet, His Majesty asked
about your health and said to take good care of yourself. Once you've
recovered, he would invite you to the palace for a meal."

"It's good that they behaved," Grand Tutor Du smiled contentedly but also
with some regret, "Unfortunately, I won't have the chance to witness such a
lively scene anymore. From now on... I'm afraid I won't be able to see it."

"The Crown Prince has arrived!"

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 98 – Complicated
Relationships

The Crown Prince entered the room and saw Grand Tutor Du lying against
the headboard, his eyes unusually bright. He had a sense of foreboding in
his heart.

"Has the Crown Prince arrived?" Grand Tutor Du saw the Crown Prince
and a kind smile appeared on his face, "It's late at night. Was the journey
smooth?"

"The journey was smooth," The Crown Prince walked to the bedside and
performed a junior's courtesy to Grand Tutor Du.

This time, Grand Tutor Du didn't avoid it but instead beckoned to the
Crown Prince, "Your Royal Highness, ruling a country is like walking in the
night. If you have a clear direction in your heart, the path will naturally be
smooth. If you're lost, you'll encounter obstacles at every turn. I, as an old
servant, have exhausted my abilities and can no longer see the prosperity of
our Great Jin Kingdom. I only hope that in the future, Your Royal Highness
will love the people like your own children and govern with benevolence
and virtue."

The Du family members dared not speak as they all kneeled on the ground.

In the old man's words, he always seemed dissatisfied with the Crown
Prince, but in his heart, the Crown Prince had always been the legitimate
heir to the throne.

At this moment, Hua Liuli didn't approach. She silently stood on the side,
allowing the Crown Prince to have a quiet conversation with the old Grand
Tutor.

"Grand Tutor, Gu knows you are concerned about the prosperity of the
Great Jin Kingdom. Take good care of your health. If there is anything Gu
has done improperly, please point it out to Gu," The Crown Prince touched
Grand Tutor Du's slightly cool hand and sighed softly in his heart.

This was a sign of impending death.

"Your Royal Highness, I'm old and should rest," Grand Tutor Du rarely
smiled in front of the Crown Prince, but today, he smiled particularly
kindly. He looked at Hua Liuli standing beside him, "Is this young lady the
future Crown Princess?"

"Yes, she is the future Crown Princess. Her name is Liuli. Gu brought her
here today to meet you," The Crown Prince turned and looked tenderly at
Hua Liuli.

"A daughter raised with Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue's teachings won't
be inferior," Grand Tutor Du had never shown much liking for Hua
Yingting, but when the court officials tried to impeach the Hua family, he
stood up in support of them.

"She is a good girl," Grand Tutor Du thought of the relationship between

the late Emperor and the Empress Dowager, and sighed softly, "Don't
disappoint her."

The descendants of the Du family saw that the old man's spirit was getting
better and that he had the strength to speak. Their initial joy turned into
worry, and some even silently shed tears, covering their mouths.

The news of Grand Tutor Du's deteriorating condition quickly spread to the
imperial palace. Although Grand Tutor Du had little power in the court, he
was His Majesty's mentor and had considerable prestige among the
scholars. When the consorts and concubines heard the news, they quickly
sent people to notify their sons to visit the Du Family Estate.
"Your Highness, Ning Wang is already asleep at this hour. He must not be
able to wake up at this time," after the banquet, Ning Wang looked tired.
Consort Rong felt sorry for her son and let him rest in her palace.

Unexpectedly, Grand Tutor Du was on the verge of passing away, but her
own son couldn't wake up. She glared at the palace maid who spoke, "If he
doesn't wake up, splash him with water until he does."

The palace maids and eunuchs knew they wouldn't dare to actually splash
water on an imperial prince. Consort Rong lifted her skirt, grabbed a bucket
of water with one hand, and rushed into Ning Wang's bedroom, pouring all
the water onto him.

"Ah!" Ning Wang let out a miserable cry and jumped up from the bed,
"What happened?!"

"Change your clothes and go visit Grand Tutor Du at the Du Family Estate.
The Crown Prince went to the Du Family Estate after the banquet. Ying
Wang should be on his way there too. Leave the palace immediately, don't
delay," Consort Rong threw the wooden bucket to the ground and pointed to
a set of plain clothes on the tray, "His Royal Highness has already gone to
the Du Family Estate. Now it's your turn."

Consort Rong sighed as she turned around and left her son's bedroom.

The Du family's stance at the banquet today was clearly in support of the
Crown Prince. It turns out that despite the Grand Tutor being so critical of
the Crown Prince for so many years, he still regarded the Crown Prince as
the legitimate heir. No wonder His Majesty and the Crown Prince endured
him for so long.

"Your Highness," A palace maid handed her a coat to put on, "It's chilly at
night. Let's go back and rest."

Consort Rong rubbed her forehead, "Tonight at the banquet, did Consort
Xian suddenly go out for a while and then return with Fushou Junzhu?"

The palace maid nodded, "Yes."

"I suspect that foolish Consort Xian has been manipulated," Consort Rong's
temples throbbed. She really didn't want to get involved in these matters,
but in the palace, with only a few consorts and concubines like them, if any
one of them caused a major incident, considering His Majesty's regard for
the Crown Prince, none of them would fare well.

"Your Highness, shall I go and inquire about what happened tonight?" The
palace maid noticed Consort Rong's displeased expression and had the
intention to find out.

"No need," Consort Rong shook her head with a grave expression, "From
now on, let our people have fewer interactions with those from other
palaces, especially... the side of Consort Lin and Consort Shu."

The foolish Consort Xian wasn't the least bit frightening, the frightening
ones were the clever ones.

Meanwhile, Consort Xian, who was regarded as foolish, couldn't sleep

because she was infuriated. At first, she didn't understand, but later, she
realized that she had been made a scapegoat.

When she saw the Crown Prince in the rear hall, something was obviously
amiss, but judging by the expressions of the Crown Prince and Fushou
Junzhu, the situation seemed to have been temporarily resolved.

What if it hadn't been resolved?

With her straightforward and outspoken nature, she might have uttered a
few words of criticism. Would the Crown Prince then suspect her of being
behind it?

"It's already Changlong Dynasty, yet people are still using such disgusting
tactics," Consort Xian drank two cups of calming tea but couldn't calm
down her anger, "I knew it, in the harem, as long as there is power, there
will be struggles."

"Your Highness, what should we do then?" The palace maid was somewhat
afraid.
"What can we do?" Consort Xian slammed the table, "I need to find His
Majesty."

"Ah?" The palace maid was shocked.

"If not His Majesty, then who else should I find, the Empress Dowager?"
Consort Xian spoke confidently, "The Empress Dowager is old and can't
handle disturbances. It's late at night, I can't go bother her."

The palace maid: "..."

But what did His Majesty do wrong? In the middle of the night, he had to
worry about the critically ill Grand Tutor and also face the complaint-prone
Consort Xian.

Unfortunately, Consort Xian was associated with virtue in every aspect of

her body and had no solutions. Having suffered such a big loss and not
being able to find a way to resolve it, and fearing that His Majesty and the
Crown Prince would misunderstand her, she had no choice but to go to
Emperor Changlong and plead her grievances. She had no other means left.

The palace was in chaos, however, the Crown Prince at the Du Family
Estate was unaware of it. He looked at Grand Tutor Du, whose gaze was
growing brighter, seemingly as if he was burning with the last glimmer of
life. His tone was gentle as he said, "Grand Tutor Du, is there anything else
you need Gu to convey to Father Emperor?"

This was the Emperor's promise to a court official. As long as the Grand
Tutor Du's requests were not excessive, Emperor Changlong would fulfill
them.

Grand Tutor Du's gaze swept over all his sons and grandsons, finally falling
on his significantly emaciated granddaughter.

"Your Royal Highness, I have no requests. I only wish for the peace and
prosperity of Great Jin, and for favorable weather," Grand Tutor Du
withdrew his gaze and a smile appeared on his face, "His Majesty is the
Emperor and my best student."
The Crown Prince's expression showed a hint of emotion as he looked at the
Grand Tutor Du, "Besides these, is there anything else?"

"My children and grandchildren will have their own fortunes. Before I
depart, it would be my greatest blessing if His Majesty could accompany
me on my final journey," The Grand Tutor smiled with a carefree demeanor,
"I was wrong before. Your Royal Highness is the most qualified to be the
Crown Prince."

Just as Ying Wang entered the room, he heard these words and paused in his
steps.

Hua Liuli sensed someone entering and turned her head to glance at the
person.

Ying Wang and Hua Liuli's eyes met. Ying Wang's expression slightly
changed as he quickly averted his gaze.

"Grand Tutor Du," the Crown Prince spoke softly to the Grand Tutor Du,
"The Hundred Nations Banquet tonight was very lively. When Gu thought
about Grand Tutor Du being unwell and unable to witness the grand
occasion in person, Gu brought two scrolls depicting the banquet."

He stepped aside, allowing Grand Tutor Du to see the scrolls being

unfolded by the eunuchs.

"Grand Tutor Du," the Crown Prince grasped the Grand Tutor's hand,
"Great Jin will continue to prosper."

Grand Tutor Du's eyes greedily observed every detail in the scrolls,
seemingly unwilling to miss any slightest detail. Finally, his gaze settled on
Emperor Changlong seated at the head.

He recalled the glory of his youth when he passed the imperial

examinations, the uneasiness when he first entered the court, and the
anticipation and nervousness when he first met Emperor Changlong.

From that moment he was called "Teacher", it had been half his life.
His vision gradually became blurred, but he strained to keep his eyes wide
open, seemingly as if he saw flashes of peculiar light in the vast white sky.

A scroll was placed in his palm, and he knew that it was the Crown Prince's
hand helping him grip it.

"Grand Tutor Du, the prosperity of Great Jin today is thanks to your
contributions."

The Grand Tutor exerted all his remaining strength to tightly grip the scroll
in his hand, a smile lingering on his lips as he slowly closed his eyes.

"Father!"

"Grandfather!"

In an instant, the cries of grief filled the Du Family Estate.

The Crown Prince stared at the old Grand Tutor who held his hand and
departed with a smile, feeling a complex mix of emotions in his heart.

He gently released the old man's hand, tucked it into the bedding, tidied the
covers for him one last time, took a few steps back, and bowed deeply to
the Grand Tutor Du.

Ying Wang silently walked behind him and also performed a deep bow.

The members of the Du family reciprocated the bow while crying. The
Crown Prince looked at the grieving younger generations of the Du family
and said, "Please accept Gu's sincere condolences. You don't have to worry
about us. Prepare for the Grand Tutor Du's final rites."

The descendants of the deceased prepared the body, changing it into burial
garments. As outsiders, the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli couldn't watch.
They moved to the courtyard and listened to the sound of wailing. After a
long silence, the Crown Prince spoke, "If Father Emperor knew that the
Grand Tutor Du had passed away, he would be deeply saddened."
"Grand Tutor Du was already in his eighties and died at an advanced age. It
can be considered joyful mourning," Ying Wang remarked, "With the
Crown Prince here, Grand Tutor Du departed with a smile. When Father
Emperor hears about it, he will find some solace."

Grand Tutor Du used to criticize the Crown Prince all the time, but would
occasionally praise him, the eldest son. Ying Wang thought that Grand
Tutor Du had higher expectations of him. However, he didn't expect that
despite Grand Tutor Du's constant pickiness, he still wished for the Crown
Prince's well-being. After all, what significance did he, the eldest son of the
Emperor, hold?

"Your Royal Highness, you shouldn't be too saddened," Hua Liuli reached
out to grab the Crown Prince's hand, but he avoided her touch.

Hua Liuli looked at him with surprise.

"Gu hasn't washed my hands yet, it's not auspicious," the Crown Prince
said, though he wasn't superstitious, he was concerned that Hua Liuli might
be.

"Your Royal Highness is the Crown Prince, carrying the Emperor's dragon
energy within you. Your whole being is surrounded by auspiciousness,"
Hua Liuli firmly grabbed the Crown Prince's hand, "Don't say such things."

The Crown Prince forced a smile, "It's getting late. Gu will handle the
matters concerning Grand Tutor Du here. You should go back and rest."

Hua Liuli shook her head, "Didn't I say it earlier? I will accompany Your
Royal Highness tonight. I won't leave halfway," She noticed that the Crown
Prince's mood was not good and held his hand to comfort him, "Your Royal
Highness, I will be by your side."

The Crown Prince blinked his eyelids, "Alright."

Ying Wang, who was standing by the side: "..."

Why did he feel like he was standing there alone, resembling a stray dog
that was being ignored on the roadside?

After a while, Ning Wang also hurriedly arrived. Upon hearing that Grand
Tutor Du had passed away, he paused for a moment, went to the memorial
hall to offer incense, then turned to find the Crown Prince and Ying
Wang before finally feeling relieved.

He couldn't feel at ease if he didn't accompany his eldest brother or the

Crown Prince in their activities.

The stubborn Grand Tutor Du had offended many people during his
lifetime. As he reached the end of his life, having the Crown Prince and
other princes come to bid him farewell was considered a great honor.

However, for the Du family members who genuinely respected and loved
Grand Tutor Du, no amount of glory could compare to having their old
master still alive.

Du Xiuying changed into mourning clothes made of coarse fabric and knelt
in front of the memorial hall, crying so hard that she could hardly catch her
breath. Madam Du was worried about her health and tried to console her,
but to no avail. She was filled with anxiety.

"Madam Du," Hua Liuli arrived at the Du Family Estate without enough
time to change her clothes. She was still wearing the elegant attire she had
worn to the banquet. Luckily, Yurong was quick-witted and brought out a
plain garment. Hua Liuli hurriedly changed into it, removed her hair
accessories, and then went to find Du Xiuying at the memorial hall.

Seeing Du Xiuying so heartbroken, Hua Liuli felt a pang in her own heart.
She walked over, squatted down beside Du Xiuying, and said, "Sister Du..."

"Junzhu..." Du Xiuying looked at Hua Liuli in a daze, then suddenly

reached out and hugged her, no longer caring about her own image, and
began to sob uncontrollably.

Hua Liuli gently patted her back, comforting her in silence.

At this moment, words seemed futile. Silent companionship was the best
comfort.

Ning Wang looked at Du Xiuying and Fushou Junzhu embracing each other.
It was said that Du Xiuying had almost become the Crown Princess.
However, seeing the trust Du Xiuying placed in Fushou Junzhu and the
gentle and considerate manner of Fushou Junzhu towards Du Xiuying, it
seemed that they didn't hold any grudges over that matter.

Then he turned his head and glanced at his third brother, who pretended as
if nothing had happened. Suddenly, Ning Wang understood something and
nodded in realization.

As a man, if he wanted to live a tolerable life, he had to pretend not to feel

wronged.

He then looked at his eldest brother, whose complexion wasn't looking too
good. Fushou Junzhu had also almost become Ying Wang's Wangfei, but
unfortunately, his eldest brother had not agreed, and their father hadn't
brought up the marriage proposal again.

Upon careful consideration, the relationships between the men and women
here seemed a bit complicated.

The only one without any relationship seemed to be him.

"Sister Du!" Yao Jiamin, dressed in plain clothes, hurriedly ran in.

Ning Wang looked at Ying Wang once again; the situation became even
more complicated.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 99 – Wronged!

News spread fast that Grand Tutor Du had passed away, flying away on a
crane towards the west. Yao Jiamin, who had just laid down on the bed to
sleep, changed into plain clothes in a hurry and rushed to the Du Family
Estate. When she saw Hua Liuli accompanying Du Xiuying, she finally
breathed a sigh of relief.

"Jiamin..." Ying Wang was about to call out to her when he saw Yao Jiamin
pass by him like a gust of wind, not even sparing him a glance.

Ying Wang quickly looked around to make sure no one noticed his
embarrassing moment before pretending as though nothing had happened.

The dream of the divine maiden is shattered. The spilled water has been
collected. When we meet again, we are already strangers!1This phrase
metaphorically expresses a sense of irreversible change and distance
between two individuals or parties. It suggests that a once close relationship
or connection has been severed or lost, and the possibility of reuniting or
reconciling is now unlikely.

What a tangled and heart-wrenching love story.

Ning Wang turned his head, pretending not to have seen Ying Wang being
ignored by Jiamin Junzhu just now, and shrunk back into the corner.

Seeing Ning Wang's silly actions, the Crown Prince couldn't help but say,
"Second Brother, if you retreat any further, you'll bump into the wall or step
into the drain."

"Ah?" Ning Wang turned his head to take a glance and smiled, thanking the
Crown Prince, "Thank you, Third Brother, for the reminder."
When a man has a betrothed, it's different. Even the Crown Prince knew
how to be considerate. If it were in the past, let alone stepping into a drain,
even if he fell into a hole, the Crown Prince would only have him pulled out
without showing any expression, never bothering to remind him.

He wondered what his future Wangfei would be like. Would she be delicate
and beautiful like Fushou Junzhu or radiant and stunning like Jiamin
Junzhu?

As he pondered, he suddenly felt a twinge of bitterness. The Crown Prince

and the Eldest Prince both had passionate and heart-wrenching love stories,
while his emotional world was a blank sheet of paper. He didn't know
which one of them was more pitiful.

Du Xiuying looked at Yao Jiamin, who was running towards her as she was
wiping away the tears from her face with a handkerchief. She choked and
asked, "Why did you come?"

"I was worried that you would cry alone in hiding. I came to let you scold
me so that you'll feel better," Yao Jiamin took out a handkerchief and
helped Du Xiuying wipe her face, "Why are you crying so much,
disregarding your health? If Grand Tutor Du sees this from the heavens,
how can he rest in peace?"

Hua Liuli stood up and took a cup of water from a maidservant, helping Du
Xiuying drink a few sips and tidying up her disheveled hair. She adjusted
the mourning cloth on Du Xiuying's head, "It will be dawn in three hours.
Take a good rest. There may be more tasks for you to attend to tomorrow."

Du Xiuying nodded numbly and hoarsely said, "I know. Thank you, all of
you."

"We are sisters. There's no need for thanks," Yao Jiamin said, "Grand Tutor
Du didn't like extravagance, and your estate doesn't have many servants. I
was afraid that you would be short-handed, so I brought some servants to
help. Feel free to order them around without hesitation."
After the passing of Grand Tutor Du, the Du family was immersed in
immense sorrow. If it weren't for the three imperial princes present among
them, the estate would have been in chaos.

Fortunately, the Du family members quickly regained their spirits. They

removed all the colorful decorations in the estate and hung up white paper
lanterns outside the main gate.

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince. Thank you to Ying
Wang and Ning Wang," Du Daren, with red and swollen eyes, walked over
to greet the imperial princes and expressed his gratitude, "Thank you for
helping our humble estate handle the affairs of our late father. It's late at
night, so please rest. If our father were still alive, he wouldn't want to
trouble the three of you on his behalf."

The Crown Prince saw that all the affairs had been taken care of inside and
outside the Du Family Estate, and he knew that if they stayed there any
longer, it would only make the Du Family Estate restless. He nodded and
said, "In that case, Gu will take leave. Gu will come tomorrow to offer
incense to Grand Tutor Du."

"I am humbled," Du Daren quickly bowed and expressed his thanks.

Ning Wang, seeing the Crown Prince about to leave, also quickly stated that
he would accompany the Crown Prince. Ying Wang, who knew that Grand
Tutor Du had always supported the Crown Prince until his death, naturally
took the opportunity to request permission to leave as well.

The Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli, who was still comforting Du
Xiuying, and said to Ning Wang, "Second Brother, please wait a moment."

Ning Wang nodded, "Please go ahead, Third Brother."

The Crown Prince walked over to Hua Liuli, "Liuli, I will return to the
palace to report to Father Emperor. If you are worried about Young Lady
Du, you can stay here and accompany her. I will leave the Golden Armor
Guards here to protect you."
If it were any other time, Hua Liuli would have agreed immediately.
However, when she thought of the two Golden Armor Guards lurking
behind the back hall of the Wuyang Palace and the Eight Treasures Soft
Armor worn by the Crown Prince, she couldn't help but worry, "Wait for
me. I'll go talk to Sister Du for a few words and then leave with you."

"Alright," The Crown Prince glanced at Du Xiuying, who had already

recovered considerably, and said to Hua Liuli, "I'll be waiting for you
outside."

Hua Liuli nodded at the Crown Prince and walked back to Du Xiuying's
side, "Sister Du, I have something to attend to. I'll come back tomorrow
morning."

Du Xiuying hadn't forgotten about the assassination attempt on the Crown

Prince and Hua Liuli. She grabbed Hua Liuli's hand and reminded her, "The
envoys from the other countries haven't left yet. They may seem friendly on
the surface, but they are plotting behind the scenes. The Crown Prince has a
special status, so you must be extra careful when accompanying him."

"I understand. Sister Du, don't worry about me," Hua Liuli gently patted Du
Xiuying's hand and said, "Take care of yourself as well, Sister Du."

Du Xiuying nodded and got up to see Hua Liuli off through the courtyard
gate. When she saw Hua Liuli descending the steps and the Crown Prince
naturally reaching out to hold her hand, the words "be careful on the steps"
that were about to come out of her mouth had been swallowed back.

Of the three imperial princes, only Ying Wang had come on horseback.
Ning Wang glanced at his comfortable carriage and kindly asked Ying
Wang, "Eldest Brother, would you like to ride with Benwang?"

"No need," Ying Wang mounted his horse, glanced at Ning Wang's slightly
bulging belly, and snorted before riding off.

"No need, then no need. Why show me that face?" Ning Wang wasn't angry
either. He climbed onto the carriage slowly and said to his guards, "Let the
Crown Prince's carriage go ahead."
He lifted the curtain and glanced outside through a crack, only to find that it
was late at night and there was not a single person on the street, which
made it quite eerie. He took a deep breath and quickly lowered the curtain.

After the carriage had traveled for a while, Ning Wang suddenly heard the
sound of clashing weapons coming from the street.

"The Ministry of Justice is handling a case. All unrelated people should

quickly leave!"

Ning Wang lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and saw several tiles
falling from the sky had been shattered in front of his carriage.

The guards guarding the Crown Prince's carriage and Ning Wang's carriage
drew their swords one after another.

Ning Wang gathered his courage and glanced upwards, only to see several
masked figures swiftly moving on the rooftops, while a few officials from
the Ministry of Justice were chasing after them on the rooftops.

This was the capital, under the Emperor's feet, yet there were thugs causing
trouble in the capital?

Suddenly, his vision blurred, and he vaguely saw two objects flying out of
the Crown Prince's carriage in succession, causing two of the three masked
men who were being chased after to fall down like dumplings.

One of them landed on the roof of Ning Wang's carriage and then fell off
the roof.

Seeing this, Ning Wang silently closed the carriage curtain. It's good to
enjoy the spectacle, but one's life is more precious.

The carriages used by the imperial princes were made of special materials.
Arrows couldn't penetrate them, fire couldn't damage them. If a person gets
hit on the carriage... it would be particularly painful.

The officials from the Ministry of Justice quickly tied up the fallen
assassins, while the remaining ones continued to chase after the one who
had escaped.

"Wow, Your Royal Highness, your aim is so accurate. You casually threw
something and managed to hit two assassins," Hua Liuli poked her head out
of the carriage and looked at the tightly bound assassins with admiration,
"Truly worthy of being a prince skilled in both civil and martial arts."

Ning Wang, who was huddled inside the carriage, heard Fushou Junzhu's
words and lifted the carriage curtain again. Seeing that the assassins had
been captured, he relaxed and stuck his head out.

Were the things that flew out of the Crown Prince's carriage just now
thrown by Third Brother?

Why couldn't he remember that the Crown Prince had such good skills?
During martial arts classes in the past, the Crown Prince complained about
sweating in the hot summer and the wind being too strong in the cold
winter. Even his swordsmanship was learned from General Hua when he
was a child. Could he casually throw something and hit an assassin?

Could it be that the Crown Prince pretended to dislike such activities but
secretly practiced martial arts in his courtyard?

Hmm, he hadn't expected the Crown Prince to have such deep thoughts.

The officials from the Ministry of Justice were still curious about who had
assisted them in capturing the assassins who infiltrated their dungeon
prison. They didn't expect it to be the Crown Prince. They quickly stepped
forward and saluted, saying, "We greet Your Royal Highness the Crown
Prince."

"No need for the formalities," The Crown Prince, dressed in white, calmly
stepped down from the carriage. He looked at the bruised and battered
assassins and asked, "Who are these people?"

"Your Royal Highness, these assassins sneaked into the dungeons of the
Ministry of Justice with the intention of assassinating the prisoner Xie Yao.
When we discovered them, they panicked and tried to escape. Fortunately,
with Your Royal Highness's help, we were able to capture them so quickly,"
the Ministry of Justice official replied, "There is still one assassin who
managed to escape. Pei Daren is already leading the pursuit."

"Pei Jihuai is capable, so Gu can rest assured," The Crown Prince nodded,
"Which direction did the assassin escape?"

"Your Royal Highness, it seemed... in the direction of the guest residences

where the envoys are staying."

"Oh?" The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow and turned to Hua Liuli, who
had walked out of the carriage with him, "Liuli, the people from the
Ministry of Justice said that there is another assassin who escaped in the
direction of the guest residences. Shall we go take a look?"

"Yes, let's go and see."

The Crown Prince and Hua Liuli turned their heads to look at Ning Wang,
who had just spoken.

Ning Wang chuckled as he got out of the carriage, "What Benwang meant
to say is that these audacious assassins dared to break into the Ministry of
Justice at night. We must ensure that they are all brought to justice,
otherwise, what face does the Ministry of Justice have."

The officials from the Ministry of Justice: "..."

If they couldn't capture the person, wouldn't they lose face?

As the assassin fled, Pei Jihuai pursued closely, passing through several
guest residences. Suddenly, the assassin swung a grappling hook from his
sleeve and used it to flip into a courtyard.

Pei Jihuai's expression remained unchanged as he said, "Surround this

courtyard."

After returning from the Hundred Nations Banquet, the envoys from the
Kingdom of Jinpo couldn't sleep. They failed to rescue the Second Prince,
and now they even had to hand over the Eldest Prince to Great Jin. How
could they face their Emperor when they returned?

They huddled together and discussed for a long time, but couldn't come up
with a better plan. They had no choice but to return to their rooms and
prepare to sleep.

Little did they know that shortly after they went to sleep, and before they
could even dream, the servants urgently knocked on their doors, informing
them that their guest residence was surrounded.

They were startled and quickly got out of bed. They quickly opened the
door and stepped into the courtyard. They saw a young official standing
expressionlessly in the courtyard, his sword already unsheathed, gleaming
coldly in the dark night.

The envoys from Jinpo took two steps back in fright. Even in times of war,
enemy nation's envoys were not to be harmed, let alone when they were not
at war. Did Great Jin have to handle things in such a decisive manner?

Silence filled the courtyard; no one dared to speak.

Pei Jihuai's gaze swept across the envoys, sheathing his sword and bowing,
"Apologies for the disturbance, esteemed envoys. It was not my intention,
but just now, an assassin infiltrated this guest residence. It is my duty to
conduct a search here. I kindly request your cooperation."

An assassin?

The envoys from Jinpo felt a sudden unease, exchanging glances. Did
they... have something to do with this? Why would an assassin run into their
guest residence? There were many other residences, theirs was neither the
closest nor the farthest. Why did the assassin come here?

One of the leading envoys from Jinpo cautiously asked, "May I ask, Daren,
what crime has this assassin committed?"
"A nighttime infiltration into the dungeons of the Ministry of Justice," Pei
Jihuai raised his hand, and the officials from the Ministry of Justice began
their search.

"What?!" The envoys from Jinpo seemed to hear the sound of their hearts
shattering in fear.

A nighttime infiltration into the dungeons of the Ministry of Justice, and the
assassin ended up here. This... Wasn't this a trap set up against them? If
news of this spread, even a three-year-old child would think that they had
sent the assassin.

But... they truly had nothing to do with this!

The envoys from the Kingdom of Jinpo felt wronged, but they dared not
speak up, knowing that it would be futile.

"The Crown Prince has arrived!"

"Ning Wang has arrived!"

Jinpo's envoys became even more afraid. It was just catching an assassin,
why did it alarm the Crown Prince and Ning Wang of the Great Jin
Kingdom?

Pei Jihuai was also somewhat surprised. It was already late at night. It
would be understandable if Ning Wang liked to join in the excitement, but
why did the Crown Prince also come? And upon closer inspection, he found
that Fushou Junzhu was accompanying them.

It would have been enough for the Crown Prince to come alone, why did he
bring his betrothed as well? How did the solemn scene of a crime
investigation suddenly turn into a lively spectacle?

"Daren, this matter has nothing to do with us, please investigate

thoroughly," one of the Jinpo's envoys shouted in despair, defending their
innocence.

Which despicable individual framed them like this?

Was it because they had bullied the countries of Qingshi, Manao, Hongfei,
and Luyou... or was it Daimao?

Oh no, they had bullied too many nations in the past, and for a moment,
they didn't know which country's envoys were the most suspicious.

Seeing the Great Jin's Crown Prince walking in with his entourage, Jinpo's
envoys deeply regretted their previous actions for the first time. If only they
had bullied a few less countries back then.

At least they would know who to suspect, right?

"Oh, aren't these the esteemed gentlemen from the Jinpo Kingdom," Ning
Wang said with a smiling face, "What a coincidence, you're all still awake
at this late hour?"

Jinpo's envoys had a look of despair on their faces. No, it was not a
coincidence at all.

Whoever wants this kind of coincidence can take it away.

"Greetings to the esteemed Crown Prince and Ning Wang," one of the
Jinpo's envoys glanced at Hua Liuli by the Crown Prince's side, "Greetings
to the beautiful Junzhu."

"Whether you greet or not is not important," the Crown Prince said
indifferently, "What's important is that the assassin must be captured."

The Jinpo envoys: "..."

Whether they could capture the assassin or not had nothing to do with them!

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 100 – I Want To Marry
Her

"Your Royal Highness," Pei Jihuai walked up to the Crown Prince and
bowed, "After the assassin infiltrated the courtyard, he disappeared. I am
currently leading a search party."

"Hmm," the Crown Prince nodded slightly and signaled for a stool to be
brought over. He sat down with Hua Liuli and lifted his chin slightly, "Carry
on with the search."

Unable to bear it any longer, one of the Jinpo envoys said, "Your Royal
Highness, we couldn't have sent this assassin..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the people from the Ministry of Justice
hurriedly ran over and reported, "Reporting to Your Royal Highness, the
assassin has been captured."

The Jinpo envoys turned their heads to look at the black-clad assassin being
escorted out of their courtyard by the Ministry of Justice and were instantly
speechless. The person was captured from their courtyard, but they didn't
recognize this assassin.

"Your Royal Highness," one of the Jinpo envoys hurriedly said, "This
assassin has nothing to do with us."

"Oh?" The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow, "If he has nothing to do with
your country, then why did he run everywhere and end up here?"

The Jinpo envoys: "..."

They didn't know either. If they knew, they wouldn't have been framed.
"Search him," Pei Jihuai said expressionlessly.

The people from the Ministry of Justice thoroughly searched the assassin's
body and found a poisoned dagger, toxic needles, and a blowpipe.

"These are essential tools for a professional assassin," one of the Ministry
of Justice personnel found a tattoo on the assassin. It depicted a sacred beast
worshipped in Jinpo. Jinpo people liked to embroider this kind of sacred
beast on their clothes or tattoo it on their bodies to seek its blessings.

"This is a setup, a blatant setup!" one of the Jinpo envoys exclaimed

urgently, "Please, Your Royal Highness, see through this. If our country
truly wanted to send an assassin, why would we leave such an obvious
totem on him?"

"Perhaps you intentionally left this flaw to lower your suspicion?" Ning
Wang said leisurely, "Crying thief is nothing new for you people."

The Jinpo envoys: "..."

They couldn't explain themselves clearly. If this matter escalated, it would

provoke another war between Jinpo and the Great Jin Kingdom. With what
could they fight against Great Jin now?

"Detain this assassin for now," the Crown Prince looked at the Jinpo
envoys, "Please rest well."

"Your Royal Highness!" The Jinpo envoys saw the Crown Prince preparing
to leave without saying anything, and their anxiety deepened, "Your Royal
Highness, this matter truly has nothing to do with us."

The Crown Prince stood up, reaching out to hold Hua Liuli's wrist, "A
sudden appearance of an assassin at night has frightened Gu's beloved. Gu
shall escort her back to her family's estate for rest."

After saying that, without paying heed to the cries of the Jinpo envoys, he
left with Hua Liuli.
The Jinpo envoys were dumbfounded. What did this mean? Did the Crown
Prince believe them or didn't believe them?

Why was the Great Jin Kingdom like this? Why couldn't they just speak
straightforwardly? They had to torment people and make their hearts
restless, filled with despair.

Ning Wang saw the Crown Prince leave and quickly got up from his chair.
He pretended to look profound as he glanced at the Jinpo envoys, then
shook his head and walked away. It was like a physician looking at a
terminally ill patient, not examining the pulse or prescribing medicine, just
sighing a few times and leaving.

That expression seemed to say, "There's no hope, go home and wait for
death". It made their hearts pound with fear, filled with utter despair.

"Your Highness..." one of the Jinpo envoys reached out his hand, hoping
that Ning Wang would say a few words to provide some certainty. But to
their surprise, he simply turned around and left, leaving them with a
carefree silhouette.

The people from the Ministry of Justice left in a rush, leaving behind the
deeply anxious Jinpo envoys. They couldn't take the Second Prince back,
the Eldest Prince was lost, and now they were burdened with the accusation
of attempted assassination. When they return to their country, they would
surely face execution by the Emperor.

"We need to find out what those assassins did in the Ministry of Justice,"
the leading envoy calmed down, "Also, the Great Jin Kingdom's Emperor
favors the Crown Prince the most, and the Crown Prince seems to value his
betrothed greatly. Let's prepare generous gifts immediately and present
them to the Junzhu."

"But, Daren, she is the daughter of Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue,"
Another envoy's mood was complicated. These two generals defeated them,
and now they had to give gifts to their daughter to please them. These were
truly difficult times.
"As men, we must learn to bend and stretch. For our honorable Emperor,
what is a little discomfort for us?" The leading envoy gritted his teeth,
"Let's say it's an early congratulations to the Crown Prince and his
impending marriage to Junzhu."

"Daren, there is another problem. We have already given away most of the
precious treasures we brought," In order to win some favorable words from
the influential figures in the Great Jin Kingdom, they had given away many
valuable items. However, when it came time for these people to assist them,
none of them were of any use.

"Gather everything we have left, whatever valuable items we still have on

us. Bring them all out," the leading envoy sighed, "The peace of Jinpo is at
stake, we have no choice."

In the end, in order to assemble a decent congratulatory gift, the envoys

scraped off whatever valuable possessions they had on them.

The Crown Prince accompanied Hua Liuli to the entrance of the Hua
Family Estate. Hua Liuli got off the carriage and said to the Crown Prince,
"Your Royal Highness, please wait."

She knocked on the gate of the Hua Family Estate until it opened. Hua Liuli
pointed to a few people and said, "You all will escort His Royal Highness
into the palace."

"Yes," the individuals all saluted in unison. Judging by their demeanor, it

seemed like they had just come back from the battlefield.

"They are all courageous soldiers who have been on the battlefield.
Although they cannot return to the battlefield due to their injuries, they
react quickly. Let them escort you into the palace, and I will feel more at
ease," Hua Liuli reached out to help the Crown Prince tidy his clothes,
"There will be many things to do tomorrow. After you return to the palace,
find an opportunity to rest."

"Alright," the Crown Prince didn't refuse Hua Liuli's goodwill. He glanced
at these guards from the Hua family, all of them strong and sturdy, but some
were missing half a hand, and others were missing an eye.

He nodded slightly at them, "Thank you."

"We dare not, Your Royal Highness!" These guards were originally worried
that the Crown Prince would look down on them because of their physical
disabilities, so they didn't dare to stand too close. But they didn't expect the
Crown Prince to treat them so kindly.

They felt a little excited and realized that the blood and sweat they shed on
the battlefield were not in vain. The people respected them, even the Crown
Prince treated them so gently.

Hua Liuli pretended not to see the excitement in their eyes. After watching
the Crown Prince's carriage leave, she turned around and returned to the
residence.

"Master, the assassination attempt failed."

In the dimly lit room, Xie Fuma's expression was indifferent as he looked at
the person kneeling on the ground. After a long silence, he asked, "Why did
it fail?"

"The Second Miss we approached was a decoy!" The subordinate held his
wounded body, "To ensure my safe return to report, the other three helped
to divert the pursuit from the Ministry of Justice. But now, the situation
looks grim..."

"A decoy?" Xie Fuma sneered, "The Emperor was indeed on guard against
us."

"When you escaped, did anyone discover you?"

"No, Master," the subordinate's face turned pale, "I failed in my task and
only hope for death."

"Enough," Xie Fuma said, "Go and tend to your wounds first. Don't concern
yourself with other matters for now."
"Thank you, Master," The subordinate expressed gratitude and bowed
deeply before leaving the room.

The room fell silent. Xie Fuma looked at the night sky outside the window.
For the first time, he felt a weariness that calculations, no matter how
meticulous, could not overcome.

Years of perfect planning, a hidden and powerful force, had been ruined by
one insane daughter. Not only was the force destroyed, but the Xie family
was also implicated and suspected by the imperial family, trapped with no
room to maneuver.

Now, the capital city was turning increasingly dangerous for him. If he
stayed here any longer, he feared that he couldn't even guarantee his own
life.

"Master!" A servant hurriedly ran in, panting heavily, "Urgent news! The
Crown Prince of Daimao, who had been critically ill, had passed away over
ten days ago."

"The Crown Prince of Daimao is dead?!" Xie Fuma's face revealed a faint
smile. He took a deep breath and said, "Spread the word that I am ill, my
mind is confused, and I need to return home for recuperation."

Even if one became insane, the imperial family would send them back to
their hometown.

After the Crown Prince returned to the Eastern Palace and changed his
clothes, he hurriedly went to the Chengyang Palace. Just as he reached the
entrance of the hall, he heard the loud and wailing voice of Consort Xian.

He paused his steps and turned to leave.

Emperor Changlong, whose head ached from Consort Xian's wailing, saw
the Crown Prince's figure hesitate at the door and quickly called out to him,
"Yuansu, why are you here so late? What brings you to see Zhen?"
"Hmm? The Crown Prince is here?" Consort Xian, who still harbored the
idea of making the Crown Prince cry and beg her, quickly wiped away the
tears on her face, stood up, and positioned herself to the side.

She was a woman who aimed to be the mother of the world, so how could
she show any shallowness in front of her juniors?

Seeing that Consort Xian had finally stopped crying, Emperor Changlong
felt that the whole world had become beautiful. Even his son, who often
slacked off, looked pleasing to his eyes.

"Father Emperor," the Crown Prince saluted Emperor Changlong and

bowed to the Virtuous Consort, "Consort Xian."

Consort Xian returned the courtesy.

"Father Emperor," the Crown Prince looked at Emperor Changlong, his

tone somewhat hesitant, "Erchen just returned from the Du Family Estate."

"Why did you come back so late? How is Grand Tutor Du?" Emperor
Changlong still had feelings for this stubborn teacher of his, despite him
often scolding his own child whom he had personally raised.

"Grand Tutor Du... has passed away."

Emperor Changlong stiffened all over. He remained silent for a long time,
and slowly spoke, "Did he pass away peacefully?"

"Erchen brought two paintings of the Hundred Nations Banquet to Grand

Tutor Du. He looked at them and passed away with a smile on his face," the
Crown Prince worried that Emperor Changlong might feel uncomfortable,
so he supported him as he sat on the dragon throne, "Please take care,
Father Emperor."

"Everyone experiences this in their life," Emperor Changlong patted the

Crown Prince's arm, let out a sigh, and said, "Since Grand Tutor Du's illness
worsened, Zhen was mentally prepared. However..."
Those who had treated him exceptionally well during his youth were
becoming fewer and fewer.

Seeing Emperor Changlong in a sorrowful state, Consort Xian hesitated to

speak out her own grievances. She silently gave a greeting and quietly left
the Chengyang Palace. Although she had caused a fuss on a few occasions,
the Emperor tolerated her. If she were to cause a fuss now, even if the
Emperor's temper was good, he would punish her.

Palace intrigue was her specialty. Throwing tantrums was also her specialty.

After Consort Xian left, the Crown Prince informed Emperor Changlong
about the assassins who tried to infiltrate the Ministry of Justice.

"For now, we don't need to worry about the situation in Jinpo. Let's see how
they are going to cause trouble," Emperor Changlong, in a bad mood,
lacked much tolerance, "Send people to monitor the Xie family in the south
and don't let them have a chance to slander the imperial family among the
scholars."

"Father Emperor, rest assured. Once we uncover any issues with the Xie
family, Erchen has ways to make them infamous in the south for eternity,"
the Crown Prince's expression was cold. When it came to dealing with the
Xie family, a clan obsessed with their reputation, he had plenty of methods.

Early the next morning, the envoys, led by the officials of Great Jin, arrived
at the training ground on the outskirts of the capital. As they witnessed the
shiny armor of the Great Jin soldiers and their sharp weapons, the envoys
couldn't help but gulp nervously.

"Why do the esteemed gentlemen from Jinpo have such heavy dark
circles?" one of the Qingshi envoys noticed the dark circles under the Jinpo
envoy's eyes and said sarcastically, "Could it be because they were scared
by the formidable soldiers of Great Jin and couldn't sleep at the thought of
coming to the training ground today?"

The Agate Kingdom envoy, who had also been bullied by the Jinpo envoy,
chimed in, "Maybe it's because they did something guilty and were afraid of
not being able to sleep after being discovered."

One of the Jinpo envoys sneered, "Instead of mocking us, esteemed

gentlemen should think more about your own lands that yield so little."

Both sides traded jibes for a while until Emperor Changlong and the Crown
Prince arrived, putting an end to the banter.

"Infantry, fall in!"

"Ho! Ho! Ho!"

Upon seeing the female general commanding the soldiers from her horse,
the Jinpo envoys' expressions turned grim. It was the woman who made
their Jinpo army cry for mercy—Wei Mingyue!

"Shield bearers, archers, form up!"

At the sight of this woman, they remembered the nightmare of their army
being trapped in her ambush.

How could she be called a woman? She was clearly a female demon!

"Wow, General Wei is so beautiful!"

"I want to marry her!"

"I think... Fushou Junzhu is also very beautiful."

The Jinpo envoys turned their heads to look at the several elegantly dressed
noblewomen from the Great Jin Dynasty, their expressions somewhat
complicated.

What kind of peculiar taste did the women of the Great Jin Dynasty have?

OceanofPDF.com
Chapter 101 – The Delicate Beauty

The envoys from the Daimao Kingdom felt extremely embarrassed. A few
among them had mocked the Great Jin Dynasty for having a female general.
However, today, at the training ground, the Emperor of Great Jin directly
appointed the Female General as the commanding general for the military
formation demonstration. The few high-ranking gentlemen felt a burning
sensation on their faces.

They discreetly glanced at the Third Prince, who stood with a straight back
and an unyielding demeanor, and their awkwardness eased slightly. It
seemed that Third Prince could keep his composure.

It was already surprising enough to have a woman leading thousands of

troops, but they hadn't expected that on this important occasion, the Great
Jin Dynasty would allow women to attend. Those elegantly dressed women
must be the nobility of the Great Jin Dynasty.

Vaguely, they overheard some women saying how beautiful Fushou Junzhu
was. The envoys from the Daimao Kingdom curiously looked over and
asked a Great Jin Dynasty attendant by their side, "I wonder, who is that
young lady in the blue dress? Which family does she come from in your
country?"

"That is the niece of our country's Yao Fuma. She is also Marquis Yao's
granddaughter," the attendant replied with a smile.

Hearing the conversation between the envoys and the Great Jin Dynasty
attendant, He Yuanting turned his head and looked in the direction of Yao
Wenyin. He immediately recognized her as the granddaughter of the old
Marquis Yao. She was also a close friend of Fushou Junzhu.
Thinking of the alluring Fushou Junzhu, He Yuanting couldn't help but scan
the crowd, finally finding her figure next to the Crown Prince of Great Jin.

Swish!

The sound of an arrow piercing through the air echoed. He Yuanting

focused his gaze and saw the Female General, Wei Mingyue, on horseback,
holding a heavy bow, shooting an arrow that pierced through the target.

"Excellent!"

"Long Live His Majesty! General Wei is mighty!"

Wei Mingyue handed the bow to a guard with one hand. After the guard
received it, he had to use both hands to take the bow down. His face and
neck turned bright red, indicating that it was somewhat strenuous.

"As a woman possessing such strength, which man dares to..." one of the
envoys from the Daimao Kingdom stared in disbelief at this scene. He
realized that this was the Great Jin Dynasty, not the Daimao Kingdom, and
quickly swallowed back his words, displaying a well-placed smile on his
face.

"I have heard that among the envoys, there are also brave and skilled
warriors. I wonder which valiant warrior would be willing to spar with
me?" Wei Mingyue turned her horse around and cast her gaze upon the
envoys.

The envoys from Jinpo and the Daimao Kingdom involuntarily shrank their
heads back, wishing they could cover their faces with their sleeves, hoping
that the Female General wouldn't notice them.

But Wei Mingyue didn't let them off easily. She eventually turned her gaze
towards He Yuanting and said, "Your Highness, the Third Prince of the
Daimao Kingdom, I heard that your country also brought a general along. I
would be honored if this general would be kind enough to spar with me."
The Daimao military general responsible for escorting the prince and the
civil officials stood speechless.

Among the many envoys from different countries, why did they have to be
singled out?

Even if he were to win, it would be considered bullying a woman, which

wouldn't sound good if it got out. If he were to lose, it would be even more
embarrassing. He, a young and vigorous general, couldn't defeat a woman
who had given birth to four children. If news of that spread back to his
country, he would no longer have any face.

"My mother is so powerful!" Hua Liuli clapped her hands, feeling relieved,
"These people from the Daimao Kingdom look down on women. Let them
see the consequences of offending women."

The Crown Prince and she stood closely together, watching the training
ground from behind the railing, "That general from the Daimao Kingdom is
all talk and no substance. It's clear at a glance that he is no match for
General Wei."

"Your Royal Highness has such good insight," Hua Liuli was thoroughly
delighted by the Crown Prince's flattery. She grabbed his sleeve and said,
"My mother is especially amazing. She once led three hundred elite soldiers
and broke through the defense line of three thousand enemy troops, causing
them to flee in the night, leaving their armor behind."

Even the Jinpo soldiers, who were skilled in battle, couldn't fare well under
her mother's command, let alone the Daimao Kingdom, which didn't value
their generals.

"My best insight is falling in love with you at the right time," The Crown
Prince, who never missed an opportunity to shower her with sweet words,
said, "That's why I also think highly of my own insight."

Unfortunately, his sweet words did not move Hua Liuli. She was excitedly
watching the training ground, waiting for her mother to deliver a fatal blow
to the Daimao military officer.
Seated on the dragon-patterned chair, Emperor Changlong was in a good
mood with a hint of schadenfreude. The blow he had from Wei Mingyue
had brought about a dramatic change in his aesthetic perception of women.
Thus, he was pleased to see Wei Mingyue become a nightmare in the hearts
of other men.

The more people who were unfortunate along with him, the better.

"You are an esteemed guest," Wei Mingyue looked at the Daimao general
who approached in embroidered clothes. She took off her armor, and
clasped one hand behind her back, "I yield three moves."

This was a true insult, silent and without any cursing.

All the envoys present knew that when the Daimao Kingdom arrived in the
capital, they had offended Wei Mingyue with their groundless claims, and
even caused a loss of life. Although it was later found that the incident had
nothing to do with the Hua family, it still piqued the curiosity of many
people.

In the days that followed, the Hua family had never intentionally made
things difficult for the Daimao Kingdom's envoys. They thought that the
matter had been put behind them, but they didn't expect to encounter it here.

If he were to be defeated by a woman in just three moves, the Daimao

military officer would be left with no face.

"General Wei, it would be impolite for me, as a man, to be yielded to by a

delicate woman like you," the Daimao military officer said, his voice
trailing off as he saw Wei Mingyue's hand coming toward his face. He
quickly raised his hand to block.

After a few moves, he found it increasingly difficult to counter her attacks.

He no longer maintained the demeanor of a gentleman and became fully
immersed in the contest.

Little did he know that Wei Mingyue had both hands clasped behind her
back, evading his attacks without retaliating. It was only after she allowed
him three moves that she smiled and said, "We agreed on three moves, and I
will not break my word."

This was a blatant insult, an overwhelming insult.

The Daimao military officer's face turned crimson with anger. He only
wanted to defeat Wei Mingyue and avenge the insult he had just received.
But Wei Mingyue insisted on fighting with just one hand, seemingly as if he
was only worthy of facing her with half her strength.

"General Wei, is this how you treat your opponents on the battlefield as
well?!" the Daimao military officer exclaimed in anger, "I ask you to show
respect for your opponent."

"In that case, let's continue," Wei Mingyue revealed the hand behind her
back. Within five moves, the Daimao military officer felt everything
spinning around him, and he found himself lying on the ground, completely
dazed.

"You are gracious in defeat," Wei Mingyue looked at the fallen Daimao
military officer with a mocking smile, then turned to the Daimao envoys,
"Your country has had some reservations about this general. I wonder if,
after today, you will have a different view?"

"Ah, ah, ah!" Yao Jiamin shouted excitedly, leaning against the railing,
"General Wei is a heroic woman, unmatched in the world, invincible! A war
goddess among mortals!"

Wei Mingyue heard Yao Jiamin's voice and smiled gently at her.

Yao Jiamin covered her pounding chest and grabbed Yao Wenyin's sleeve in
excitement, "Why is General Wei so handsome? Why is she so good-
looking? Why?!"

Royal Princess Shunan, sitting beside them, had an expressionless face as

she sipped her tea and let out a cold snort.
Having witnessed the overwhelming defeat of the Daimao military officer
by Wei Mingyue, the other country's military officers silently took a step
back. They all made a living as military officers, and face was important to
them.

The poor Daimao military officer lay on the hard ground, looking up at the
azure sky, questioning his existence.

Who was he? Where was he? Was he really a military officer?

Thinking about the mocking gazes he would face upon returning to the
Daimao Kingdom, he couldn't help but almost shed a few drops of tears of a
man's pride.

Why were there such terrifying women in the world? What was even scarier
was how this type of fierce woman could give birth to a delicate daughter.

He staggered as he got up from the ground, his smile looking even uglier
than crying, "General Wei is truly extraordinary."

"You... were not bad either," Wei Mingyue comforted him, "Many people
can't last three moves against me. It's already impressive that you could
fight me for this long."

Yes, being able to fight for this long was all thanks to you fighting with just
one hand and giving me three moves.

The sight of the Daimao military officer walking back was filled with
helplessness, sadness, and the despair of shattered self-confidence. Perhaps
from now on, the words "female general" would become a nightmare for
the rest of his life, an inescapable torment.

As soon as he joined his group, he glared at the silent scholarly officials

who dared not speak. If it weren't for their careless remarks that offended
Wei Mingyue, how could Wei Mingyue have singled him out and ruthlessly
tormented him?
After watching this one-sided overwhelming fight, the Crown Prince's hand
trembled slightly. He asked Hua Liuli in a low voice, "Liuli, does General
Wei usually resort to violence at home?"

"No, she doesn't. She treats me very well," Hua Liuli blushed, happily
holding the Crown Prince's hand, "She's also kind to the people and rarely
gets angry. She would never hurt her own family."

The Crown Prince felt relieved. Once he married Liuli, the son-in-law
would also be considered family.

Seeing the severely shaken appearance of the Daimao military officer,

Emperor Changlong felt so extremely satisfied that even the few court
officials he disliked seemed pleasing to the eye.

"The competition is first... friendship is foremost. Envoys, please do not

take this matter to heart," Emperor Changlong comforted gently, "Rest
assured, these are just minor matters that will not reach the ears of the
common people."

After speaking, he raised his left hand, signaling the scribe standing beside
him to take a few notes.

He didn't want this matter to spread among the common people; it would
only be recorded in the history books of Daimao.

The scribe, a young scholar who greatly admired General Wei, quickly
recorded the notes as Emperor Changlong raised his hand.

General Wei said: You are an esteemed guest; I yield three moves.

The Daimao military officer angrily replied: "I am a great warrior. Why
should I fear a delicate woman?"

In the encounter, the Daimao military officer was no match and became
greatly enraged by the fact that General Wei was effortlessly fighting him
with one hand. Helpless, General Wei had no choice but to go all out.
Before reaching three moves, the Daimao military officer suffered a
crushing defeat, covered his face, shed tears, and fled.

Whether the Daimao military officer cried or not wasn't important; what
mattered was that he lost, and he lost miserably. The scribe felt that the
recorded content was unbiased and satisfactory, so he stopped writing.

Just as the Daimao envoys thought that Wei Mingyue would continue to
spar with others, she unexpectedly turned and left the field, allowing other
commanders to take the stage.

The Daimao envoys felt that they had been deliberately targeted by Wei
Mingyue.

The envoys from other countries secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing
how badly the Daimao military officer lost, who would dare to challenge
Wei Mingyue?

"Liuli," the Crown Prince looked at the military officer who was no match
to General Wei and asked Hua Liuli in a low voice, "Is your martial arts
taught by General Wei?"

"Somewhat. When I was young, I was frail, so the path I learned differed
slightly from my mother's. Although I learned a bit from my father and
mother, it is not as good as the skills they accumulated on the battlefield,"
Hua Liuli blushed and smiled coyly, then added, "But, like my mother, it
would be no problem for me to defeat the Daimao military officer and
knock him to the ground."

The Crown Prince: "..."

"What's wrong?" Hua Liuli smiled at the Crown Prince.

"It's nothing. I just think Liuli is really amazing. At a young age, you have
learned the skills of two skilled generals," The Crown Prince quickly said,
"I will feel much more at ease with you by my side."
"Your Royal Highness, you've forgotten again," Hua Liuli covered her
mouth with a handkerchief and coughed softly, "I am frail and frequently
fall ill. I topple over with a gust of wind."

The Crown Prince immediately changed his words, "Don't worry, I'll protect
you."

"Your Royal Highness is so kind," Hua Liuli smiled sweetly at the Crown
Prince.

"Your Royal Highness, His Majesty is calling you over," Zhao Sancai
approached and smiled kindly at Hua Liuli, then addressed the Crown
Prince, "There will be an archery competition between the countries. His
Majesty requests Your Royal Highness's presence by his side to observe."

"Then, Your Royal Highness, please go ahead. I'll go find Jiamin and the
others to play," Hua Liuli left the Crown Prince behind and gracefully
walked away.

Watching her cheerful figure, the Crown Prince couldn't help but feel
doubtful. Perhaps Liuli had long wanted to leave him and go play with her
girlfriends. Was he really the person Liuli loved the most?

As soon as he arrived with Zhao Sancai and sat down beside Emperor
Changlong, the Crown Prince saw his father looking at him with a solemn
expression, "Yuansu, did you see?"

"What?" The Crown Prince's heart tightened. Did he miss something

important just now?

"In the future, treat Liuli better. Don't lose your temper with her. Most
importantly, don't make her complain about you in front of her family,"
Emperor Changlong patted his shoulder with his hand, "Fortunately, your
Crown Princess is gentle in nature, weak in strength. As long as she doesn't
speak ill of you in front of her family, you'll be safe."

The Crown Prince: "..."

What did General Wei do to his father that made him so afraid?

"Please rest assured, Father Emperor. Erchen will treat Liuli well," In order
to ease his father's mood, the Crown Prince decided to bury the secret of
Liuli's martial arts skills, which were equally as proficient as General Wei's,
deep in his heart.

"Hua Liuli, why did you come over?" Yao Jiamin saw Hua Liuli
approaching and asked curiously, "Aren't you with the Crown Prince?"

"His Majesty called the Crown Prince for something, so I came to find you
guys," Hua Liuli squeezed in beside Yao Jiamin and sat down, "There will
be an archery competition later. I heard several envoys have brought female
archers. You can go down and compete with them."

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard a cheerful female voice say, "I
heard that General Wei has a daughter, already fifteen years old. With
General Wei as her mother and General Hua as her father, she must also be
a heroic female warrior on the battlefield, right?"

Hua Liuli, who was dressed up and had delicate makeup: "Huh?"

Who said that a general's daughter must be a female hero?

Yao Jiamin turned her head to look at her with schadenfreude, "A female
hero?"

Hua Liuli calmly took out an embroidered handkerchief from her sleeve;
Yuan Yi and Yurong quickly approached her from behind, bending down to
support her.

"I apologize for embarrassing you," Hua Liuli covered her mouth and
coughed a few times, then, assisted by the maidservant, slowly walked
towards the female soldier who spoke, giving her a gentle smile, "Sister,
were you referring to me?"

The female soldier didn't expect a slender, fragile-looking young girl with
fair skin to come forward. Observing her slim waist and bright eyes, the
female soldier even wondered if she would scare the young girl with her
loud voice.

"Although I take pride in my parents, unfortunately, I am not skilled in

martial arts," Hua Liuli weakly smiled and then, in an emotional tone,
narrated a story of a pregnant female warrior who fought against enemies
while struggling to raise a prematurely born daughter.

On a snowy night with howling winds, the female general, in search of life-
saving herbs for her daughter, stumbled and rose again in the snow-covered
mountains, refusing to give up even when her entire body was frozen. The
weak daughter, on the verge of death, heard her parents' tearful cries and
endured the excruciating pain to open her eyes.

She grew up with great difficulty, relying on various medicines, but became
a sickly child unable to learn martial arts. People mocked her and said she
tarnished her parents' reputation.

As Hua Liuli reached this point, she wiped the corners of her eyes with the
handkerchief, and on her delicate face, there was determination, "No matter
how others may judge, I know that both my father and mother love me."

The female soldier had already teared up halfway through the story, and by
the time Hua Liuli finished, she was already sobbing uncontrollably, "What
a touching family bond. I apologize for my shallowness."

"You are an extraordinary woman," the female general wiped away her tears
with admiration, "You have overcome death; you are a hero."

Yao Jiamin: "..."

She admired Hua Liuli's ability to come up with so much nonsense with a
serious face.

As she turned her head to look at the women around her who were crying
softly, moved by Hua Liuli's story, a faint sadness rose within her.
"This child, Liuli, has truly gone through a lot," Royal Princess Shunan
wiped her tears with a handkerchief, choked up, "Yao Jiamin, do you still
have the Warm Jade I gave you last time?"

Yao Jiamin asked, "Why?"

"I heard that Warm Jade is good for one's health. Since Liuli is not in good
health, give it to her," Royal Princess Shunan said.

Yao Jiamin: "..."

It's over, another one is gone, and this time it's her own mother.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 102 – Melon

"General Wei is truly formidable. Not only is she skilled in warfare, but she
also teaches her children well."

"It's something I should do as a mother."

"I wish my child could be as sensible."

"You're being too modest."

Usually, it was a group of military generals surrounding Wei Mingyue,

asking about military strategies. This was the first time she was surrounded
by a group of women asking about how she taught her children. Someone
even shed tears and said, "Raising children well is not easy, General Wei.
You have suffered over the years."

Wei Mingyue: "..."

"In Qinghan Prefecture, winter is almost covered in snow. General Wei, you
must have endured a lot to search for medicinal herbs, right?"

Wei Mingyue: "..."

"Poor parents all over the world. But it seems that Fushou Junzhu is filial to
you," A lady with red eyes said, "General, you have truly endured a lot."

Wei Mingyue remembered that this lady didn't seem to like her much
before. How did her attitude change after hearing a story?

They say people in the capital have complicated thoughts, but in her
opinion, they were quite simple. Those people actually believed the story
that Hua Liuli made up?
Perhaps it was because on the day Hua Liuli returned to the capital, she fell
ill from being frightened by Tian Ruidong and others. This left the people
of the capital with the impression that she was frail and sickly, so no one
doubted her words.

As a result, not only did no one ask her to come out for martial arts
competitions, but many beautiful young girls also came to console her.

"Fushou Junzhu, it doesn't matter if you can't practice martial arts. Who
says children have to be like their parents?" a pretty girl said, "My father
was a top scholar, but my elder brother couldn't even pass the scholar exam.
Yet, he lives happily."

"That's right," another pretty girl chimed in, "Our grandfather was a scholar,
but our father chose to be a military person. He didn't follow in his father's
footsteps."

"What's so special about that? Our parents are both attractive, but my
brother only got their worst features," said another straightforward pretty
girl, "Fushou Junzhu, you are so beautiful. You have inherited the best traits
from your parents, surpassing even your third brother."

Hua Liuli and the other girls turned their heads to look at the person
speaking. Ah, wasn't she Anning Junzhu from Kang Wang's residence?

Thinking about the not-so-handsome Kang Wang Shizi, they fell silent.

They didn't expect Anning Junzhu, who usually didn't speak, to be so

sincere when consoling others. These were words that only a real sister
could say.

Jiamin Junzhu, who was squeezed to the side by these girls, crossed her
arms with an expressionless face and pulled Tian Shan and Yao Wenyin,
who were about to join in, back.

"Can't you see how happy she is with all these pretty girls surrounding her?
Why are you trying to join in the excitement?" Yao Jiamin said impatiently
as she pressed the two sisters onto their seats, "With so many pretty girls
accompanying her, why would she think of us?"

"Jiamin, the way you're speaking, it sounds like you're jealous," Tian Shan
whispered, "But Fushou Junzhu has really gone through a lot. She has been
taking various medicines since birth, and when she gets sick, her whole
body hurts. If it were me, I wouldn't have been able to endure it for so
long."

Yao Jiamin almost rolled her eyes but managed to hold back. Of course, she
could endure it because she was lying!

"Yes," Yao Wenyin nodded in agreement, "Thinking about how Fushou

Junzhu suffered so much when she was young, I regretted making trouble
for her back then."

Yao Jiamin said sarcastically, "Don't worry, in the future, she will be the
Crown Princess. She will have many attendants by her side. No one will
dare to mistreat her."

Yao Wenyin turned her head to look around and made sure no one was
paying attention to them before whispering, "It's precisely because she will
be the Crown Princess consort that I'm worried about her."

Although the Crown Prince is good-looking, his temper is terrible, and he

doesn't spare anyone with his words. How much suffering will Fushou
Junzhu, a frail and gentle person, have to endure being with him?

Yao Jiamin swallowed her saliva. She didn't think there was a high
possibility of Hua Liuli being mistreated, but she was very concerned that
the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli might hurt each other. In the end, Hua Liuli
might reach her limit and pin the Crown Prince down, crying and accusing
him of bullying her.

"If only I were a man," Yao Wenyin said with a melancholic expression,
holding her face in her hands, "Then I could shamelessly ask for Fushou
Junzhu's hand in marriage and let her live a free and unrestrained life."
Yao Jiamin sneered. Shallow and ignorant.

"Why are you all sitting in the corner?" Hua Liuli walked over and sat next
to Tian Shan.

"Aren't you going to accompany those pretty little girls?" Yao Jiamin raised
an eyebrow.

"In my heart, Jiamin is still the most beautiful," Hua Liuli said, turning her
head and smiling tenderly at the departing pretty girls. She extended her fair
and delicate hand and waved goodbye to them.

The cheeks of the pretty girls turned red, and they shyly walked away,
occasionally glancing back.

"Please calm down," Yao Jiamin couldn't take it anymore, "As a young
lady, why are you bothering those girls?"

Hua Liuli blinked her eyes and looked at Yao Jiamin, then she obediently
lowered her head, "Oh."

She didn't even utter a word of complaint, but both Tian Shan and Yao
Wenyin felt that Hua Liuli had been wronged.

"Jiamin, we know you mean well, but don't be so harsh," Yao Wenyin
quickly comforted Hua Liuli, who seemed a bit down, "Jiamin was just
joking. Junzhu, please don't take it to heart."

Hua Liuli smiled and said, "I know Jiamin means well."

Yao Wenyin secretly glared at Yao Jiamin. See how gentle County Princess
Fushou was! So considerate and understanding!

Yao Jiamin took a deep breath. Don't get angry. She was her cousin, after
all.

She picked up a cup of tea from the table and took a sip, preparing to speak.
Suddenly, she heard Hua Liuli shout "Be careful!" and reached out to
intercept a small stone flying towards her.
Not far away, it seemed that there was a conflict between envoys from two
countries, and they were fighting fiercely. The stone had come from that
direction.

"Is your hand okay?!" Yao Jiamin grabbed Hua Liuli's hand and saw a red
mark on her palm. Her tone immediately softened, "Thank you."

"It's just a stone. It's better to get hit on the hand than to ruin your
appearance," Hua Liuli stood up, lifted her skirt, and was about to walk
towards the fight. However, she saw her third brother, dressed in brocade,
passing through the crowd and effortlessly moving the two fighters aside
with one hand each.

"Please, gentlemen, there is a martial arts stage for exchanging notes ahead.
Please refrain from fighting here," Hua Changkong smiled, "There are
many distinguished guests sitting here, and accidentally harming them
would be inappropriate. What do you all think?"

The two fighters were both warriors from their own country. Seeing a
young man dressed like a weak scholar easily moving them aside, they
suddenly began to doubt their lives.

Were they really warriors?

Were they too weak, or were the people from the Kingdom of Great Jin too
powerful that even a weak-looking scholar had such divine power?

"Alright, alright," the two fighters didn't dare to provoke the Great Jin
officials and were somewhat afraid of the weak-looking scholar. They felt
that if they disagreed, the scholar could easily press them down and beat
them up.

"Very well," Hua Changkong nodded in satisfaction, then turned and

walked into the crowd.

The two fighters looked at his retreating figure and cautiously asked the
Great Jin Kingdom guards standing nearby, "May we ask who that young
man was just now?"
A mysterious smile appeared on the face of the Great Jin Kingdom guard,
"He is our country's top scholar."

"The top scholar in martial arts?"

"You two are joking. He is naturally the top scholar in literary exams."

The two fighters were dumbfounded and admired the Great Jin Kingdom
even more. They truly hid their strength. Even the top scholar in literary
exams had such divine power. The top scholar in martial arts must be even
more formidable.

Terrifying, truly terrifying. They would never dare to become enemies with
this country!

"Wow, Fushou Junzhu, Third Young Master Hua is amazing. He effortlessly

moved the two fighters aside," Tian Shan exclaimed in shock. "I thought
Third Young Master Hua didn't like martial arts and only focused on
scholarly pursuits."

"My third brother has been studying with our teacher since he was young,
but he didn't neglect his martial arts. He even joined the army and went to
the battlefield," Hua Liuli's face brightened with a smile when she
mentioned her family, "For him, separating two men who only relied on
brute strength is just a trivial matter."

"He went to the battlefield too?" Tian Shan was surprised, "Then why did
he participate in the imperial examinations?"

"Because my brother prefers studying," Hua Liuli smiled and lowered her
eyelids. When she saw Yao Jiamin not saying anything, she poked her arm
and asked, "What's wrong? Were you scared by the stone? Don't worry, I'm
here. I won't let you get hurt."

Yao Jiamin hesitated to speak.

Yao Wenyin thought with emotion that Fushou Junzhu was truly a good
person. She would rather get hurt herself than let others be harmed. It's a
pity that such a good girl ended up with the troublesome Crown Prince.

"Fushou Junzhu," a eunuch from the Eastern Palace walked through the
crowd and finally found Hua Liuli, "The Crown Prince requests your
presence. Do you have the time?"

"I'll go find the Crown Prince," Hua Liuli smiled at her sisters, "Take care
and stay safe. Stay away from those who are fighting."

"Take care, Junzhu," Yao Wenyin and Tian Shan stood up to see her off, but
Hua Liuli declined, "Friends don't need to observe these formalities. Just sit
comfortably."

As they watched Hua Liuli walk away, Yao Wenyin said, "Jiamin, Fushou
Junzhu is so considerate of others, even with her weak health. She's truly
wonderful."

For the first time, Yao Jiamin began to doubt her cousin's intelligence. How
could Hua Liuli, who was so physically weak, catch a flying stone?

But she remained silent.

Did Hua Liuli consider the possibility of exposing herself when she caught
the stone? Perhaps she did, perhaps she didn't, but she still unhesitatingly
reached out and blocked the flying stone for her.

Yao Jiamin felt a sour and tender feeling in her heart. She wanted to say
something bad about Hua Liuli, but couldn't bring herself to do so.

"With Hua Liuli's weak health, why would the Crown Prince choose her as
his future Crown Princess?"

People who practice martial arts have good hearing. Without thinking, Yao
Jiamin glared at the young lady who spoke, "If not her, then you? When you
said those words, did you ever look at yourself in the mirror and see your
own face? Are you qualified to say such things?"

"You're not qualified!" Yao Jiamin sneered, "What does it have to do with
you whether she is weak or not? The Crown Prince likes her. If you find it
displeasing, then keep it to yourself. If you have the guts, go and say it to
the Crown Prince's face. Muttering behind someone's back, what kind of
woman does that make you?"

The young lady who spoke didn't expect her words to be heard by Jiamin
Junzhu. Although she felt embarrassed and angry, she didn't dare to offend
the notorious arrogant Junzhu of the capital. She covered her blushing face
and ran away crying.

"You only know how to gossip and cry. Even when you cry, you don't look
as good as Fushou Junzhu. How dare you whisper behind her back? What a
joke!" Yao Jiamin glanced at the young lady's friends, who dared not speak,
and then haughtily hmphed before she sat back down.

If she didn't scold someone from time to time, people would almost forget
that she had a straightforward and quick-tempered nature.

Hua Liuli approached the Crown Prince and noticed that he had
intentionally left a vacant seat beside him, "Is it for me?"

"In this world, besides the delicate and beautiful Hua Liuli, who else is
worthy of me reserving a seat for her?" The Crown Prince placed a plate of
pre-peeled dried fruits in front of Hua Liuli, "The practice session will end
in a while. If you're bored, shall we go to the nearby horse arena for a ride?"

"There are too many people today, so it's not suitable," Hua Liuli shook her
head, looking at the warriors on the field practicing their archery, "Please
don't take those words to heart, Your Royal Highness. Some of them aren't
true."

The Crown Prince fell silent for a moment, "How much of it is false?"

"Half true, half false," Hua Liuli smiled and whispered in his ear, "Don't
worry, I've already recovered from my illness."

The Crown Prince gently held her hand. Although he had a smile on his
face, his gaze was serious, "I still want to accompany you for a hundred
years. By that time, you will be the most beautiful grandmother in the
world, and I will be the most handsome grandfather."

"I believe it," Hua Liuli returned the gesture, "Your Royal Highness, you
don't need to worry about it."

The Crown Prince looked at her without saying a word.

Hua Liuli sighed helplessly, "If I lied to you, then I'm just a little dog."

"But there are some people who might even act like a dog just to deceive
me," the Crown Prince said, feeding Hua Liuli a piece of fruit.

"If I am a dog, what are you?" Hua Liuli also fed a piece of fruit to the
Crown Prince.

"There's an idiom that goes, 'When the rooster crows, the dog steals'. If you
are a dog, then I am a rooster. We won't be separated no matter where we
go," the Crown Prince shamelessly replied, having no objection to being a
rooster or a dog.

"What rooster crows, dog steals? Your Royal Highness, as a talented and
virtuous young man, are you misusing these idioms?" Hua Liuli was
shocked by the shamelessness of the Crown Prince.

"No problem," the Crown Prince confidently said, "I call it 'a wife sings
while the husband follows'. It doesn't matter what we are, what matters is
that we are a pair."

"Your Royal Highness, you are not my husband yet," Hua Liuli ruthlessly
reminded him.

"Even as your betrothed, I am still your husband. Are you thinking of

abandoning me?" The Crown Prince held onto Hua Liuli's hand, shaking his
head with a sigh, "My beautiful little one, you have such a cruel heart."

Snap. Ning Wang, holding a plate of melon in his hands, met the gaze of the
Crown Prince looking over. Ning Wang's face changed color in fright,
"Your Royal Highness, Benwang didn't hear anything!"
He, he just wanted to hug the Crown Prince's thigh. Since the melon was
sweet, so he brought it over for the Crown Prince to taste.

If he had known it would lead to such an awkward situation, he would have

rather swallowed all the melon seeds than end up in this situation.

Now, he couldn't hug the thigh anymore. Who knows, his own legs might
be broken by the Crown Prince in a fit of anger.

OceanofPDF.com
Chapter 103 – Dropped The Melon

That afternoon, Ning Wang received two baskets of honeydew melons sent
by the Imperial Household Department.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince said that since you like eating honeydew
melons, you should finish these two baskets and not waste the Crown
Prince's thoughtful gesture," the leading eunuch smiled and said, "The
Crown Prince also said that as long as you like them, any kind of melon that
appears in the future will be sent to you first."

Ning Wang looked at the two baskets of melons, and his calves trembled
slightly.

"Please express my gratitude to His Royal Highness," Ning Wang instructed

his attendants to bring the two baskets of melons into his courtyard and let
out a long sigh. Although he enjoyed eating melons, this time he truly had
no interest.

So many melons, how could he finish them all?

With the Crown Prince's pettiness, if he found out that Ning Wang had
distributed these melons to his attendants, he might have the Imperial
Household Department deliver four more baskets of melons and even
assign someone to watch him finish eating them.

"Someone, bring me the clothes Benwang wears when going out."

Upon hearing the words "going out", Ning Wang's attending eunuch felt a
bit troubled and hesitated, "Your Highness, Consort Rong has said that she
doesn't want you to do those things anymore."
"I'm useless in literature and incapable in martial arts, unable to do
anything. Can't I have a few hobbies?" He impatiently waved his hand and
said, "Go, go, hurry up."

The attending eunuch felt bitter in his heart. While others' hobbies involved
composing poems or painting, his master had a rather unique one—he liked
wearing simple clothes, mingling in the market, and selling things as a
vendor. When he had nothing to do, he enjoyed "eating melons" with
elderly vegetable sellers.

Consort Rong had scolded and even punished him, but his master couldn't
change this habit.

The servants had no choice but to change into coarse clothes and pretend to
be vendors, setting up their stall alongside Ning Wang to ensure his safety.

Ning Wang placed a small stool on the ground and skillfully greeted the
nearby vendors.

"Wang LaoEr1Lao Er here means Old Second. Wang is the surname. Ning
Wang is masquerading himself as this imaginary Wang family's imaginary
second son., you haven't been seen in the market for a long time. Has your
family struck it rich?" a vegetable seller next to him pointed at the sky, "It's
already afternoon, you won't make much money setting up a stall now."

"Recently, my younger brother married a wealthy wife. Our family has

become prosperous," Ning Wang put his hands into his sleeves and said
proudly, "My sister-in-law is particularly good to me. She bought a big
estate for our whole family to live in. But I can't stay idle and miss you all,
so I came out to set up the stall and pass the time."

"Oh, that's great," the vegetable seller selling bamboo shoots said enviously,
"If I were you, I would just stay at home as a young master and not bother
selling vegetables."

"Do what one loves," Ning Wang neatly arranged the honeydew melons, "Is
there any interesting news lately? Tell me about it."
"I don't think you are here to sell vegetables. You must be bored at home
and came to chat with us," the couple selling fish next to him laughed and
said, "You know what, there's been so much fresh news recently."

Ning Wang, masquerading as Wang LaoEr, was very popular in the market.
Firstly, he never competed with other vendors for the business. Secondly,
the stalls he purchased were often left unused, and he didn't mind others
borrowing them. Thirdly, whatever he couldn't sell, he would give away to
everyone, showing great generosity.

The most important thing was that when people talked gossip with him, he
listened attentively, giving the gossiper a great sense of accomplishment.

As soon as Ning Wang asked, everyone started chatting animatedly. With

few customers in the market in the afternoon, they were all bored and
enjoyed chatting to pass the time.

Thus, they discussed husbands who were cheating on their wives behind
their backs, and mothers-in-law mistreating daughters-in-law, causing them
to consider divorce.

The most exciting story was about someone's son who turned out to be from
another family. Ning Wang listened with great interest and immediately
shared a few melons with everyone, encouraging them to eat and continue
sharing stories.

"I recently heard a small piece of news, but don't spread it outside. It's
related to a noble in the palace, and if it gets out, heads will roll," the
bamboo shoot seller said mysteriously, arousing everyone's curiosity.

Ning Wang's guards, disguised as vendors, had a change in their

expressions. Ning Wang handed another piece of melon to the vegetable
seller and said, "Quickly tell us. We are ordinary commoners, and even if
we were to spread it, the nobles wouldn't listen to us."

"You can boast all you want. As a bamboo shoot seller, how would you
know about noble affairs?" the fish-selling woman scoffed, "I think you just
want to trick Wang LaoEr into sharing his melon with you."
The bamboo shoot seller became unhappy and immediately retorted, "Do
you know the princess?"

"Of course, she's the Emperor's daughter, right?"

"The Emperor's sister, she's also a princess," the bamboo shoot vendor said,
"I have a relative who sells spices. A few nights ago, he saw a person in
black jumping around inside this princess's estate. That person in black
seemed tall and moved very quickly, disappearing in the blink of an eye."

"Oh!" The vendors suddenly became excited, "Could that be the

princess's..."

The common people at the bottom of society usually had few sources of
entertainment. When they heard any slight movement in someone's
household, it became the topic of their conversations over tea and meals. If
it involved nobles, they became even more interested.

"I heard that the princess's Fuma used to be a famously handsome man in
the capital. Who would have thought he would end up wearing a green
hat?" After imagining how the princess secretly met with a young man, the
conversation turned increasingly vulgar, "Isn't her Fuma a scholar? How
could he tolerate such a thing?"

Seeing the conversation turning distasteful, Ning Wang quickly interjected,

"Don't make baseless guesses. Perhaps it's just a petty thief trying to break
into the princess's estate?"

"Which thief would enter through the side entrance?" the bamboo shoot
vendor confirmed, "There's definitely something fishy going on."

Ning Wang's mind was filled with endless speculation, but he maintained a
smile and nodded, "You make a good point."

"And my relative saw it more than once," the bamboo shoot vendor
continued mysteriously, "But he said that yesterday afternoon, the person in
black was captured by the Ministry of Justice. Maybe the scholar Fuma
found out that he was being cuckolded by the princess but couldn't vent his
anger on her, so he had the adulterer captured."

"You mean, the adulterer was captured by the Ministry of Justice yesterday
afternoon?" Ning Wang was so startled that he dropped the melon in his
hand.

"How can it be false?" the bamboo shoot vendor said, "My relative had a
deep impression of that adulterer. When the Ministry of Justice captured
him, he recognized him at first glance. But that adulterer looks quite
ordinary. I don't know what the princess saw in him. Could it be that the
Fuma... isn't capable enough?"

Ning Wang didn't care whether the Fuma was capable or not, his heart was
in turmoil. He couldn't even focus on his usual interest in gossiping about
family affairs. He found an excuse to leave the market, went home, changed
his clothes, and rushed to Chenyang Palace.

Inside the Chengyang Palace, Emperor Changlong was reading a

confidential report.

"The Daimao Crown Prince has passed away," Emperor Changlong handed
the report to the Crown Prince, "Zhen remembers that the Third Prince of
Daimao was also born to the Empress?"

"Yes, both He Yuanting and the Crown Prince were born to the Empress.
With the Daimao Crown Prince's death, he is the only legitimate son," the
Crown Prince looked over the confidential report. The Daimao Crown
Prince had died half a month ago, but did He Yuanting, who remained in the
capital of Great Jin, know about it?

If he did, his reaction was surprisingly calm.

In the Crown Prince's impression, He Yuanting was a lukewarm prince.

Aside from having a somewhat attractive appearance, he had almost no
outstanding qualities. If he didn't speak, no one would notice him.
"Father Emperor, didn't we invite the Jinpo envoys to be our guests?" The
Crown Prince placed a confidential report on the table and calmly said, "As
the hosts, we shouldn't treat our guests differently. So, let's also let the
Daimao envoys stay in the capital for another month."

Emperor Changlong jokingly scolded, "Are you trying to infuriate the Third
Prince of Daimao?"

"Erchen has good intentions in hosting them. How could that infuriate
him?" the Crown Prince smiled, "Some time ago, the Kingdom of Daimao
envoys were clamoring for an audience with us. It's no big deal if we meet
them once every three to five days for the next month."

"You make a valid point. Do as you wish," Emperor Changlong knew that
the Crown Prince wanted to delay He Yuanting's departure to investigate
recent events. He had no intention of interfering with his plan.

"Your Majesty, Ning Wang seeks an audience."

"Announce him," Emperor Changlong sighed. His second son rarely sought
him out unless he wanted something or had run out of money.

He never had a steady occupation—never excelled at anything, wasted

everything he had.

"Father Emperor," Ning Wang entered the hall and, seeing the Crown
Prince present, quickly recounted what he had heard, adding, "Erchen
suspects there's something wrong with Xie Fuma."

"Where is this vendor selling bamboo shoots? Did you investigate this
relative of the vendor?" Emperor Changlong's expression changed slightly,
even his posture.

"The bamboo shoot vendor is, of course, at the vegetable market," Ning
Wang looked at his father perplexed, wondering why he would ask such a
foolish question.
Emperor Changlong took a deep breath, reminding himself that this was his
biological son and he couldn't scold or hit him. He had no one else to vent
his anger on and he had to remain calm and restrained.

"Find that bamboo shoot vendor at the vegetable market immediately and
protect him and his relatives," the Crown Prince, seeing his father too angry
to speak, rose and called the Golden Armor Guards at the door, "Hurry and
do it without delay. Also, try to conceal your actions and not alert anyone."

"Yes!" The Golden Armor Guards took their orders and left.

Emperor Changlong felt slightly calmer after the Crown Prince's

instructions. It was fortunate that he had a clear-headed son; otherwise, he
might have been driven to an early grave by anger.

When the Crown Prince returned, Ning Wang cautiously said, "Third
Brother, thanks to the melons you sent, Benwang was able to learn about
this news."

"What do the melons have to do with what you heard from the vendor?"
Emperor Changlong looked at Ning Wang suspiciously, "What were you
doing?"

The Crown Prince glanced at his second brother, who was acting evasive,
and smiled as he gracefully lifted a teacup and took a sip, appearing like an
elegant young noble untouched by worldly matters.

"Father Emperor, I... I..." Ning Wang couldn't bring himself to say it.

Emperor Changlong no longer paid him any attention and called in Ning
Wang's attendant eunuch, "You, tell Zhen, what has your master been doing
recently?!"

The attendant eunuch was frightened by the sight of Emperor Changlong

and his legs turned weak. However, he didn't dare to betray his master.
Trembling like grass in the cold wind, he remained silent.
"Father Emperor," tired of seeing this trembling display from both master
and servant, the Crown Prince lazily spoke up, "Second Brother is usually
cautious and won't cause any major trouble. If it weren't for him, we
wouldn't have gotten this significant evidence. Considering his
contributions this time, please don't punish him."

Emperor Changlong took a deep breath. He didn't want to punish his second
son in front of his third son, so he said, "Stop idling around and do some
meaningful work. Starting tomorrow, you will go to the Ministry of Works
to learn how to be productive. They are currently busy with the selection
and cultivation of grain seeds, so you'll accompany them."

For Ning Wang, this news was nothing short of a thunderbolt on a sunny
day. He immediately pleaded, "Does Father Emperor think Erchen is the
type of person who can do meaningful work? For the sake of the esteemed
officials at the Ministry of Works, please rescind your command."

Emperor Changlong: "..."

What sins had he committed in his past life to have such a son?

With a resounding roar from his father, Ning Wang, who was given a task at
the Ministry of Works, left the Chenyang Palace in tears. His sorrowful and
lonely figure was like a commemoration of his vanished carefree life.

"Father Emperor, please calm down," the Crown Prince changed Emperor
Changlong's tea, "It's getting late, and Erchen was thinking..."

"Don't think about anything. Don't go anywhere until the memorials are
finished," Emperor Changlong said coldly and mercilessly, "Zhen helped
you matchmake your marriage since you were shameless enough to ask for
it. You even took the jewelry and gemstones from the private treasury to the
Eastern Palace. What more do you want?"

The Crown Prince smiled and said, "Erchen was thinking Father Emperor
might be hungry by now. Would Father Emperor like some dinner?"

Emperor Changlong: "..."

His son cared about his well-being but he got angry at him. Thinking about
this, Emperor Changlong felt somewhat guilty. His tone softened, and he
asked Zhao Sancai to prepare dinner.

After finishing dinner, the Crown Prince continued to smile and said,
"Father Emperor, in a few days, the Hundred Nations Banquet will be over,
and soon it will be summer. After summer passes, winter will come."

"What are you trying to say?" After the meal, Emperor Changlong's mood
stabilized.

As a weary old father, he had grown accustomed to his sons' behavior and
had plenty of experience in calming himself.

"Doesn't Father Emperor think it's time for you to urge the Astronomical
Bureau to calculate an auspicious wedding date so that Erchen can marry
Fushou Junzhu?" the Crown Prince asked.

"Didn't you visit the Astronomical Bureau in recent days?" Emperor

Changlong sighed. He knew that his third son had suddenly become so
patient because he wanted something.

"Without Father Emperor's command, they have become lax in their work,"
the Crown Prince said, "Erchen thinks August would be a good time—it's
neither too cold nor too hot."

Emperor Changlong nodded helplessly, "Zhen will discuss this matter with
General Hua and General Wei."

"Thank you, Father Emperor," the Crown Prince achieved his goal and
obediently sat in a chair, helping Emperor Changlong finish reading the
memorials.

"Father Emperor, it's late at night. Father Emperor should return to the
palace and rest," the Crown Prince put down his brush and rubbed his hands
together, "Erchen heard that the envoys from various countries have
brought many beautiful gemstones. Erchen wants to make a few sets of
gemstone clothes for my wife. What does Father Emperor think?"
"Get lost!"

What sins had he committed in his past life to have such shameless children
in this life?

"Thank you, Father Emperor. Erchen will be off to choose the gemstones,"
the Crown Prince, the biggest freeloader in Great Jin, smiled and walked
towards Emperor Changlong's private treasury.

Emperor Changlong: "..."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 104 – Shameless Audacity

Chen LaoWu1Lao Wu here means Old Fifth, indicating that he is a certain

Chen family's fifth son. was a seller of counterfeit spices. Although the job
was not respectable, due to the scarcity of people willing to do it, he earned
a good amount of money every month. However, the capital city was filled
with influential people, so he usually went out to work at night. During the
day, he helped with household chores, and life was quite comfortable for
him.

Before it got dark, he changed into his worn-out clothes that had been
hanging outside. Before he could even leave the house, several men dressed
in ordinary attire burst in.

He was startled and was about to shout when one of them covered his
mouth.

"Ugh, what do you want?" He turned pale with fear, especially when he
noticed that these men were carrying knives. Afraid of provoking their
anger, he dared not speak.

"We are the Golden Armor Guards investigating a case. Please cooperate,"
one of the men said, taking out his identification token, "The Crown Prince
wishes to see you."

"The... Crown Prince?" Chen LaoWu's tongue was tied in countless knots,
and he became even more afraid. Could it be that his previous statement
about the Crown Prince's future wife being a beauty had reached the Crown
Prince's ears?

After calming his family down and changing his clothes, Chen LaoWu
noticed that his cousin was also in the carriage. It was the bamboo shoot
seller from the market.

"Cousin," the bamboo shoot seller saw Chen LaoWu but dared not look him
in the eye. He had a feeling that they had been caught possibly because of
his comment about Xie Fuma wearing a green hat in the afternoon.

"Why have you been caught too?" Chen LaoWu whispered, "I heard that
these people are under the command of the Crown Prince?"

In the hearts of ordinary commoners, the Crown Prince was like a person
from another world, mysterious and untouchable.

"Maybe... maybe everything will be fine," the bamboo shoot seller

stammered, "The Crown Prince's betrothed is General Hua's daughter, and
General Hua is a good person. If the Crown Prince is marrying his daughter,
he must be a good person too."

Chen LaoWu felt that something was amiss, but he couldn't pinpoint what
exactly was wrong. He could only nod along.

After a while, the carriage stopped, and the Golden Armor Guards opened
the carriage door. As they stepped out, they realized that they were not at
the imperial palace, which left them somewhat disappointed.

Wasn't the Crown Prince supposed to live in the palace?

Although they couldn't read, they recognized that they were at the Ministry
of Justice, which made them even more nervous. So, idle gossip could lead
to being brought to the Ministry of Justice?

With trepidation, they followed the Golden Armor Guards through the gates
of the Ministry of Justice. One of the guards seemed to sense their
nervousness and smiled, "Don't be afraid. We have already sent people to
protect your family."

Upon hearing this, their fear intensified. How could their families be
involved?
The bamboo shoot seller couldn't control his fear any longer and knelt
before the Golden Armor Guard, crying, "Noble lords, I was wrong! I
promise I won't talk about Xie Fuma wearing a green hat anymore!"

"What green hat?" a man in a brocade robe walked in, followed by several
others.

The bamboo shoot seller cried so much that his tears mixed with snot, but
when he looked up and saw the person entering, he forgot to cry. Why did
the world have such a handsome man?

Feeling a bit embarrassed, he wiped the tears from his face. He felt that
even appearing messy in front of this person would be an offense.

The Crown Prince looked at these two bewildered individuals and said,
"You are not criminals, so why are you kneeling? Get up."

Not knowing who this man was, they instinctively chose to obey him. They
stood up obediently, and even though someone brought them chairs, they
did not dare to sit.

"What's the matter with Xie Fuma wearing a green hat that you mentioned
earlier?" The Crown Prince lazily asked while sitting on a carved wooden
chair.

"Noble lord, I was just speaking nonsense..."

"Tell me," the Crown Prince said with interest, "Gu is quite interested in
this matter and won't pursue it."

"Just so you know, this is the Crown Prince," a eunuch of the Eastern Palace
interjected loudly, flicking his folding fan, "You should speak the truth
about what you know and not hide anything. Understand?"

"Cro... Crown... Crown Prince?" Chen LaoWu's legs weakened, and he

knelt down again.

Oh my goodness, the Crown Prince is actually so good-looking?!

"Don't be nervous. Gu just wants to have a chat with you," the Crown
Prince had the eunuch help the two commoners sit down. He caressed the
pearl bracelet on his wrist and raised his chin slightly, "Speak."

Chen LaoWu was not good with words and hesitated about what to say.
Fortunately, the bamboo shoot seller, who was accustomed to interacting
with commoners, saw that the Crown Prince was genuinely interested and
began to speak.

As he spoke, he observed the Crown Prince's expression. Seeing that the

Crown Prince didn't get angry and even revealed a smile, he quickly
understood. It seemed that the Crown Prince didn't like this Xie Fuma?

So, he embellished the story with popular market gossip, describing how a
person in black came out of the princess's estate, making it seem like the
entire estate was shrouded in an everlasting green haze that even the wind
couldn't disperse.

"Interesting," the Crown Prince chuckled twice, paused his movement of

playing with the bracelet, and raised his hand, "Bring that person in black
here and let him be identified."

A'Da had never encountered someone so annoying in his life.

Since he had been thrown into this prison cell, his fellow cellmate had been
talking nonstop. Even when he slept, he would mutter a few words.

What he couldn't understand even more was that the people in the
neighboring cells had no objections at all.

"If my ancestors hadn't caused any trouble thirty years ago, I would have
been a young master by now."

He had heard this statement at least twenty times.

"Sigh."

He had heard at least fifty sighs.

"Brother, what did you do to end up here?"

He had asked this question at least ten times.

"Hey, you look somewhat like the brother who came to visit Yunhan a few
days ago," the prisoner knocked on the cell pillar and called Yunhan over,
"Hey, take a look at this person. Does he resemble your long-lost brother?"

Yunhan had long been annoyed by this prisoner and didn't even bother to
raise his head, "I don't have a brother!"

"You shouldn't say that. Your brother brought you food a few days ago," the
prisoner sighed, "I wish I had a long-lost brother coming to find me."

A'Da was shocked. When he impersonated Yunhan's brother, he used a

disguise, yet this prisoner could still notice some resemblance?

"Don't daydream," another prisoner next to him mocked, "You've been

locked up for months. Has anyone come to see you?"

"Can't I even dream?" the prisoner touched the beads around his neck and
sneered, "You all should show me some respect. My ancestors lived a lavish
life."

Everyone burst into laughter, not knowing if they were mocking him or
finding his statement amusing.

A'Da looked at the jade bead on the prisoner's neck and furrowed his brow.

At this moment, he saw several people entering from outside. He didn't

know what these people said to the guards, but they walked straight toward
him.

"You, come out," They pointed at him and opened the door.

It's a perfect opportunity!

Without hesitation, A'Da prepared himself to escape. However, these people

appeared casual but were actually prepared. They immediately tied him up.
"So, you are quite skillful at escaping," The person who tied him up sneered
and dragged him out.

These people are all experts!

A'Da was greatly shocked. These people were prepared. Could it be that his
identity had been exposed?

After walking through numerous twists and turns, A'Da was brought to a
well-decorated room that was emitting a faint fragrance.

He sniffed and recognized the fragrance that could be found in his master's
study. It was said to be very precious.

There were numerous guards lurking around the room, indicating that there
must be someone of great importance inside.

He looked up at the man sitting at the head of the room but remained silent.

The Crown Prince raised his chin, gesturing for Chen LaoWu to identify
him, "Take a look, is this the person?"

"Yes, it's him. He came out from the side door of the princess's estate late at
night, looking secretive. Clearly, he is not a decent man," Chen LaoWu
exclaimed excitedly, "It was already curfew time, so why would a decent
person be out at that hour?"

"Good, reward them," The Crown Prince toyed with his bracelet, leaning
lazily in his chair. He instructed the officials from the Ministry of Justice to
take the bamboo shoot seller and Chen LaoWu back. Then he lazily gazed
at A'Da, "Speak, who are you in Princess Leyang Estate?"

A'Da remained silent, glancing at Chen LaoWu with a murderous look in

his eyes.

"Why are you staring at others?" The Crown Prince's gaze turned cold, "Do
you know about the assassins who infiltrated the Ministry of Justice last
night?"
A'Da remained silent.

"Gu likes people with character," the Crown Prince didn't get angry either.
He turned to Pei Jihuai and said, "Come, help this person write a
confession."

Pei Jihuai took out a pen and paper.

The Crown Prince asked, "Are you a subordinate of Xie Fuma?"

A'Da remained silent.

The Crown Prince continued, "Did Xie Fuma send you to kill Xie Yao?"

A'Da remained unfazed.

The Crown Prince asked a few more questions, but A'Da did not utter a
word.

"Is everything recorded clearly?" The Crown Prince adjusted his bracelet
and turned his head to look at Pei Jihuai.

"Your Royal Highness, everything has been documented," Pei Jihuai said,
blowing on the ink on the paper before handing it to the Crown Prince.

After reading it, the Crown Prince nodded in satisfaction, "Very well, as Gu
expected, Xie Fuma harbors ill intentions and is disloyal to the imperial
family."

"I haven't said anything!" A'Da angrily shouted, "You're distorting the
truth."

"What?" The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow in surprise, "So you can
speak after all?"

A'Da's heart felt suffocated.

"As the saying goes, silence is equivalent to agreement. Since you didn't
refute what Gu said earlier, it means my speculations were correct," the
Crown Prince handed the written confession back to Pei Jihuai, "Seal it and
keep it in the Ministry of Justice's archives as evidence."

"You are falsely accusing innocent people!" A'Da roared.

"Gu is accusing Xie Fuma. What does it have to do with you? Why are you
so angry?" The Crown Prince suddenly realized, "Oh, Gu forgot. You are
his subordinate. Naturally, you want to defend him."

"I have no connection with Princess Leyang Estate."

"Of course, you have no connection with Princess Leyang Estate because
you have a connection with the Xie family," the Crown Prince slapped the
armrest of his chair, "Gu doesn't care what you intend to do, but the capital
city is not a place for your scheming and conspiracy!"

A'Da sneered, "You are falsely accusing loyal and righteous people."

"Gu is the Crown Prince," the Crown Prince stood up, "What Gu says goes.
Who acknowledges that Xie Fuma is loyal and righteous?"

"Gu said Xie Fuma harbors ill intentions, so he must have a problem."

"The Crown Prince is right!" one of the palace eunuchs in the Eastern
Palace exclaimed, "Xie Fuma has a narrow mouth and a sinister appearance.
Clearly, he has a problem."

Another eunuch chimed in, "He even plotted against his own daughter to
escape blame. Truly malicious."

"A private assassin group? He must be planning a rebellion!"

"Look, the eyes of the masses are sharp," the Crown Prince clicked his
tongue, "It's clear that Gu hasn't wrongly accused him."

A'Da: "..."

He had never seen such shameless audacity before.

"Now that the matter is clear, Gu doesn't want to waste any more time
here," the Crown Prince said to Pei Jihuai, "Detain this person properly. If
anything happens to him accidentally, it will definitely be Xie Fuma trying
to silence him. If he did, we can add another charge against him."

"Yes!" Pei Jihuai readily agreed.

"Crown Prince, aren't you afraid of retribution for handling the case so
hastily?" A'Da glared at the departing figure of the Crown Prince, wishing
he could tear a piece of flesh from him.

"Gu is upholding justice and has a clear conscience. Even if there is

retribution, it should fall on Xie Fuma, not Gu," the Crown Prince smiled,
"Don't worry, Gu has dealt with many people before. Has anyone ever been
wrongly accused?"

A'Da's heart trembled. Although he had been in the south for many years,
he had heard rumors about the Crown Prince.

It was said that the Crown Prince had a peculiar temperament. Sometimes,
when he became angry, he wouldn't give anyone face. What was even
stranger was that anyone he had troubled would ultimately be found to have
significant issues.

"Considering your loyalty, Gu has decided to imprison Xie Fuma earlier,

fulfilling the bond between you as master and servant," the Crown Prince
raised an eyebrow, "Don't thank Gu too much."

A'Da: "..."

Why isn't there a lightning bolt to strike him down?

Author's Note:

The Crown Prince: Gu has always been considerate.

A'Da: Get lost!

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 105 – Perfect Match

There has been a strange rumor circulating in the capital city recently.

In a teahouse, some idle gentlemen gathered together to drink tea and chat.

"Have you heard? Several imperial physicians went to Princess Leyang

Estate early this morning. It's said that Xie Fuma's health is deteriorating."

"Could it be that he's incapable? No wonder the Princess would rather keep
an unattractive male companion."

"You guys are behind on the news," A man with a mysterious expression
said, "I heard that Xie Fuma has gone mad."

"What? Driven mad by wearing a green hat?" The tea drinkers suddenly
became interested, "Is it true or false?"

"How could it be false?" The man patted his chest loudly, "I have a relative
who runs a pharmacy. I heard that Princess Leyang Estate has been seeking
medical help everywhere these past two days, all to cure Xie Fuma's
madness."

"Really driven mad by wearing a green hat?" the people gossiping didn't
know whether to be amused by this news or feel sorry for the Fuma.

"Who knows," The man shook his head, "Anyway, the man has gone mad. I
heard that the Princess is still crying."

"But wait, if the Princess doesn't like him, wouldn't it be better if he went
mad?"

"Well, that's true. Is it not because of the green hat?"

It turned out that the common people were most interested in the green hat.
As for Xie Fuma's identity and talents, they didn't care much.

They even felt a bit regretful that they couldn't witness Xie Fuma going
mad.

"What? Xie Fuma has gone mad?" Hua Liuli heard the news and found it
strange. Just a few days ago, Xie Fuma was kneeling in front of the Eastern
Palace, pretending to be pitiful. He was clearly someone adept at hiding his
true self. How could he suddenly go mad?

"Why has he gone mad?" Hua Liuli was so surprised that she lost her
appetite for breakfast, "Surely it's not because the Crown Prince made him
kneel, and in retribution, he started feigning madness and acting foolish?"

Whenever these people caused trouble now, Hua Liuli's first thought was
that they were plotting against the Crown Prince again.

"In the imperial court, whether someone is mad or not doesn't matter,
whether it's genuine or feigned madness doesn't matter. What matters is
what he intends to do after going mad," Wei Mingyue glanced at Hua Liuli's
barely touched bowl of food, "Eat your food properly. I think you've been
spoiled by the Crown Prince. You're becoming picky with your food."

"I'm just curious," Hua Liuli quickly took a few mouthfuls of rice,
attempting to gather some information from her parents, "Father, Mother,
what do you think Xie Fuma intends to do?"

"Xie Fuma has a complex mind and is someone who keeps his true thoughts
hidden," Wei Mingyue said calmly, "I would believe it if Princess Leyang
went mad, not him."

"He's just a hypocrite and a womanizer," Hua Yingting sneered, "This type
of man who puts on a false front. Compared to your father, me, he's not
even half as good."

"Father, you shouldn't joke like that," Hua Liuli chuckled, pretending to be
serious, "In my opinion, he's not even worthy of being compared to Father."
"Did you hear that?" Hua Yingting gave Wei Mingyue a glance with his
small eyes, "Our daughter has good taste."

Tired of watching his father be jealous and compete for attention, Hua
Changkong put down his chopsticks and said, "Father, Mother, I've finished
eating," as an attendant at the Hanlin Academy, he had to be punctual every
day.

"Be careful on the way," Wei Mingyue stood up and tidied her son's clothes,
"Is anyone bullying you at the Hanlin Academy?"

"Don't worry, Mother," Hua Changkong glanced at Hua Yingting and

whispered in Wei Mingyue's ear, "There are a few old Hanlin scholars who
can't stop praising you whenever I mention you. They treat me very well."

Wei Mingyue patted his shoulder with a smile, "Flatterer! If you ever feel
wronged, make sure to tell us."

"Yes," Hua Changkong made a gesture of respect and smiled at Hua Liuli,
"Little sister, you'll be home alone today. Don't go causing any trouble."

Since her betrothal to the Crown Prince, he had noticed that his sister had
become even more mischievous, often causing trouble with the Crown
Prince.

It seemed that His Majesty still had no idea that his favorite son had been
badly influenced by Liuli.

"I have something important to attend to today," Hua Liuli put down her
chopsticks, her expression mysterious.

"What is it?"

"A serious matter," Hua Liuli blinked her eyes, "Don't worry, I know what
I'm doing."

Her task was indeed related to Princess Leyang Estate.

After everyone had left the estate, she dressed herself up and boarded a
carriage to the Ministry of Justice.

The whole capital was now buzzing with rumors about Xie Fuma being
cuckolded. Even inside the carriage, Hua Liuli could hear snippets of
gossip. She wondered how Xie Fuma was feeling right now.

Upon arriving at the Ministry of Justice, Hua Liuli heard a commotion and
saw Young Master Xie anxiously pleading with the officials.

Young Master Xie, who was only in his early teens, still had baby fat on his
face, which made him look ordinary, but he had a clean and likable
appearance.

However, he lacked the cunning and slyness of his parents. He didn't

resemble them at all.

Judging from the situation, it seemed that Young Master Xie wanted to visit
Xie Yao, but he was being stopped by the officials of the Ministry of
Justice.

"Fushou Junzhu," Young Master Xie noticed the presence behind him and
turned his head, his face brightening up, "Fushou Junzhu, please help me
plead with these officials to let me see my second sister."

"Young Master Xie, do you know that Second Young Lady Xie wanted to
kill the Crown Prince? I almost died under the assassin's sword that day,"
Hua Liuli covered her injured arm, "Even now, I can't use my arm properly.
Is it appropriate for a victim like me to help you plead with them?"

Young Master Xie's face turned red, and he lowered his head, apologizing
to Hua Liuli.

"Young Master Xie, you can go back now. Although His Majesty has not
forbidden you from leaving the palace, it's not appropriate for you to
wander around the capital at this time," Hua Liuli said, "I heard that Xie
Fuma is ill. Has he taken any medicine?"
"Thank you for your concern, Junzhu. Father has sought medical treatment.
The physician said he needs to rest in a familiar place and avoid further
stimulation," Young Master Xie replied. Thinking of his father's
deteriorating condition, his face turned pale. He had never expected his
elegant father to become like this.

"In that case, let Xie Fuma recuperate well in the capital. The imperial
physicians here are highly skilled, and they will surely help him recover,"
Hua Liuli nodded, "I have some matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

"Take care, Junzhu," Young Master Xie wanted to ask Hua Liuli to help
persuade the Emperor to let his father return to the Southern Province for
treatment. But considering that his second sister had once tried to kill
Fushou Junzhu, he couldn't bring himself to ask. He could only watch as
she entered the Ministry of Justice accompanied by her maidservants.

"In the past few days, there have been intruders in the prison. To ensure the
safety of this prisoner, she hasn't been assigned any labor outside these
days," The jailer explained to Hua Liuli as they walked, describing why the
prison cells were overcrowded today.

Following the jailer, Hua Liuli walked a distance and saw Xie Yao, who
was being held captive. Xie Yao looked even more haggard than when they
last met.

Without luxurious clothing, delicacies, and cosmetics, Xie Yao's once

seven-point beauty had diminished to a mere two points.

Upon seeing Hua Liuli, she didn't show any more emotions. She just stared
coldly at her through the fence, her eyes filled with icy hatred.

"Miss Xie, we meet again," Hua Liuli smiled, "It's been a few days. Have
you missed me?"

Xie Yao: "You wretched woman!"

"Pei Daren," one of the subordinates hurriedly ran up to Pei Jihuai, "Fushou
Junzhu has gone to see Xie Yao. Should we follow and take a look?"
Recalling how Fushou Junzhu and the Crown Prince had made Xie Yao
faint last time, Pei Jihuai's hand holding the brush trembled. After
considering for a brief moment, he put down the brush in his hand, "I'll go
and take a look."

"Miss Xie, how can you speak so rudely when your father is a renowned
talent in the South? Don't you think it's inappropriate?" Hua Liuli looked at
Xie Yao with surprise, "Although Miss Xie may not think much of me, I
think of you quite a lot."

Xie Yao glared coldly at the pretentious Hua Liuli. Suddenly, she said, "Do
you think the Crown Prince loves you?"

Hua Liuli laughed. "The Crown Prince said he only loves me in this lifetime
and doesn't see any other women."

"If you had seen my sister, you wouldn't say such things," Xie Yao sneered
maliciously, "She is more gentle and beautiful than you. You think you're
the Crown Prince's beloved, but in reality, you're just a shadow of my
sister."

Yuan Yi and Yurong, who were standing beside Hua Liuli, had a slight
change in their expressions.

"Miss Xie, if the Crown Prince truly loved your sister, he should have taken
you as a substitute after her death. Why would he love me?" Hua Liuli
chuckled lightly, "I know you're jealous of me, but I won't stoop to your
level."

Xie Yao's cheek twitched, "You're just deceiving yourself."

"Even if I were to be a shadow, I would be the shadow of the Crown Prince.

From now on, we'll be inseparable, like a shadow following its form," Hua
Liuli blushed and smiled shyly, "Ah, such sweetness is something you can't
experience."

Xie Yao's face twisted for a moment before returning to normal, "Hmph, do
you think I will fall for your tricks?"
She didn't expect Xie Yao to have become stronger after the last encounter
that had provoked her. Hua Liuli sighed regretfully and smiled gently, "Miss
Xie, do you think I came here today just to provoke you?"

"What else?" Xie Yao coldly sneered. A despicable person will always be
despicable.

"Do you know what the person who broke into the Ministry of Justice last
night wanted to do?" Hua Liuli asked.

Xie Yao's eyelids trembled, but she remained silent.

"Although I don't know why you aren't valued at home, what surprised me
is that you've been pitiable to the point where even your own parents
wanted to kill you," Hua Liuli shook her head, "Actually, thinking about it
carefully, I shouldn't have come to provoke you. There aren't many noble
girls as pitiable as you."

"Not as beautiful as your sister, and not receiving the love and care from
your parents as your younger brother does. When you made a mistake, not
only did your parents not speak up for you, but they also sent assassins to
kill you and silence you," Hua Liuli sat down on the chair, looking at Xie
Yao with compassion, "As someone who is cherished and favored by my
family, I can't imagine the kind of life you've been living. So, I'm genuinely
curious. Why don't you tell me?"

"Are you intentionally trying to provoke me?" Xie Yao clenched her fists,
but her face showed no expression, "Give up, I won't fall for it."

"Do you think I came here to find out something from you?" Hua Liuli was
taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter, "Oh my, Miss Xie, what
made you have this misconception?"

"You are an abandoned daughter who is unloved by your father and mother,
what useful things can you possibly know?" Hua Liuli laughed, her eyes
and eyebrows full of disdain for Xie Yao.
"You've been locked up in this cell for so many days. Has anyone from your
noble household come to visit you?"

Xie Yao retorted, "Aren't you the one who stopped them from coming in?"

"If thinking that way makes you happy, then go ahead," Hua Liuli
sympathetically looked at Xie Yao, "On the day of the Hundred Nations
Banquet, your father and mother knelt outside the Eastern Palace for hours.
They only had one request."

Although she reminded herself countless times that Hua Liuli could be
deceiving her, Xie Yao couldn't help but ask, "What did they request?"

"They said..." Hua Liuli's tone paused, she turned her head to look at Pei
Jihuai and others who had rushed over, and slowly said, "They said your
crimes are unforgivable, and they won't plead for mercy on your behalf. But
they emphasized that Young Master Xie is innocent and hoped that the
Emperor and the Crown Prince would spare him."

"It's impossible, you're lying to me..." Xie Yao muttered, "You're lying to
me."

"On the day you were taken away by the Ministry of Justice, did Princess
Leyang try to stop the people from the Ministry of Justice?" Hua Liuli
sighed, "I heard that you were taken away from your own courtyard."

Xie Yao recalled the day she was taken away, and indeed, her mother didn't
try to stop the people from the Ministry of Justice.

In an instant, images of her mother scolding her, people surrounding her

sister to please her, and her father carrying her younger brother, oblivious to
her fall, flooded her mind like an unbreakable curse.

"Whether you believe it or not doesn't matter. In any case, you have already
been sentenced to be beheaded, and soon you will be pushed to Caishi
Street for execution," Hua Liuli sighed, "Perhaps without you, this
troublesome daughter, your parents and your younger brother can live a
peaceful life."
"But it's not entirely their fault. Who could have imagined that their
daughter would be audacious enough to arrange for assassins to target the
Crown Prince?" Hua Liuli stood up, "If I were them, I would also hurry to
leave the capital and return to the South, pretending that you never existed."

"They want to leave?" Xie Yao widened her eyes, looking at Hua Liuli.

"Yes, yesterday Princess Leyang wrote a memorial to the Emperor, saying

that she and Xie Fuma are unwell and need to return to the South for
recuperation," Hua Liuli pointed to Pei Jihuai standing nearby, "Many
people know about this. If you don't believe me, you can ask Pei Daren."

Xie Yao turned her head to look at Pei Jihuai, seemingly as if wanting to
hear the truth from him.

"Princess Leyang did indeed write a memorial to the Emperor, hoping to

return to the South with Xie Fuma for recuperation," Pei Jihuai said
expressionlessly, "Furthermore, Princess Leyang said she hoped it would be
as soon as possible."

He glanced at Hua Liuli, who looked compassionate, and couldn't help but
think that there probably wasn't a woman in the world best suited for the
Crown Prince than Fushou Junzhu.

These two were naturally a perfect match.

Xie Yao's expression twisted. They wanted to kill her to silence her, and
after failing, they wanted to abandon her?!

If they couldn't bear to part with her younger brother, then she would drag
the whole family into hell with her!

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 106 – Pale in Comparison

"Those assassins were not hired by me from outside. They were privately
raised by the Xie family," Xie Yao's words made everyone in the Ministry
of Justice perk up. Pei Jihuai instinctively took out the record book of
confessions from his pocket.

"If you want me to speak, I have a request," Xie Yao pointed at Hua Liuli,
"She must apologize to me."

"What have I done wrong?" Hua Liuli blinked defiantly, "If you don't want
to say, then forget it. After all, it's not me who's being wronged."

After saying that, without waiting for Xie Yao's response, she turned and
left.

Would anyone in the Ministry of Justice dare to stop her?

Not only did they not dare to stop her, but they also smiled as they sent her
out.

"Fushou Junzhu," Pei Jihuai asked Hua Liuli, "Did you expect that this will
make Xie Yao reveal the truth?"

"What?" Hua Liuli exclaimed in surprise, "With the Ministry of Justice

handling the case, I was only deliberately provoking Xie Yao because we
had a disagreement."

She looked afraid as she continued, "I didn't expect the Xie family to be so
audacious, daring to privately raise assassins. Pei Daren, you must
investigate this matter thoroughly and protect the safety of the imperial
family."
Pei Jihuai looked at Fushou Junzhu, who seemingly looked terrified, and
clasped his hands in a salute, "Please rest assured, Junzhu. I will definitely
investigate this matter thoroughly."

"That's great then," Hua Liuli smiled with relief, "My father and mother
always say that the Ministry of Justice is the most formidable in handling
cases."

Pei Jihuai's smile disappeared from his face as he bid farewell to Hua Liuli.
He turned and walked into the cell, looking at Xie Yao with an
expressionless face, "Miss Xie, if you know anything, speak up as soon as
possible. If the information you provide is useful, I can submit a petition to
the Emperor to spare your life."

"Really?" Xie Yao looked at Pei Jihuai.

"If Miss Xie doesn't believe me, I can't do anything about it."

Xie Yao furrowed her brows, "I've already said that as long as Hua Liuli
apologizes to me, I will reveal the truth."

"It seems that Miss Xie doesn't want to cooperate with us," Pei Jihuai
closed the record book, his tone indifferent, "Since that's the case, we can
wait for Miss Xie to reconsider and discuss this matter later."

"However..." Pei Jihuai spoke slowly, "I hope you think it through before
Princess Leyang and Xie Fuma leave the capital. Otherwise, what you say
won't be of much use."

To have Fushou Junzhu apologize to a criminal?

Not to mention that the Ministry of Justice couldn't make this request, even
if they did, they wouldn't pass the Crown Prince's approval. If the Crown
Prince were to find out, the entire Ministry of Justice would suffer.

Pei Jihuai turned and walked out of the cell. His subordinates sighed and
helplessly said to Xie Yao, "Miss Xie, you don't know the temperament of
my master. He rarely takes the initiative to plead for prisoners. This time, he
made an exception, but you made an unreasonable request. Isn't this
deliberately provoking my master?"

Xie Yao found it ridiculous. As the daughter of a princess, she had reached
a point where she needed an official from the Ministry of Justice to plead
for her.

But now, apart from placing her hopes on the Deputy Minister of Justice,
she had no other choice. Her own parents were afraid she would reveal the
family's secrets and would rather kill her than find a way to rescue her from
the cell.

Perhaps, after they realized that she couldn't marry the Crown Prince, she
had already lost her value to them.

Thinking of her family living happily together after her death, Xie Yao was
buried in endless hatred.

Since they were unwilling to protect her, why should she consider their
feelings?

"Junzhu, it seems that the Crown Prince's carriage is up ahead."

The carriage came to a stop. Hua Liuli lifted the curtain and happened to
meet the Crown Prince's gaze who also had his carriage's curtain lifted.

Upon seeing Hua Liuli, the Crown Prince flashed a bright smile and waved
at her, "Liuli, come."

Hua Liuli climbed onto the Crown Prince's carriage and took the most
comfortable seat. She lazily remarked, "Your Royal Highness, your carriage
is the most comfortable to sit in."

"Then marry me sooner. Once you're married to me, you can use all my
things," the Crown Prince never missed an opportunity to urge for the
wedding.

Hua Liuli: "..."

How did this handsome man unknowingly turn into a marriage-crazed man?

"Where are you going at this time?" Hua Liuli was curious, "A few officials
from the Eastern Palace met me the other day, and their eyes were strange.
It's as if I were a wicked concubine who distracted you from state affairs"

"Those officials from the Zhan Shi Mansion are abnormal. No need to pay
attention to them," The Crown Prince was troubled by those officials who
kept reminding him to be cautious about this and guard against that.

Although they meant well, according to their thinking, he wouldn't be a

qualified Crown Prince unless he trampled on all his brothers.

He didn't really like those brothers, but what was the point of stepping on
them?

"Xie Fuma is seriously ill. Father Emperor asked me to visit him on his
behalf," The Crown Prince sighed, "Xie Fuma was a talented person. I'm
really sorry to see him go insane."

Hua Liuli suppressed her amusement and said, "Your Royal Highness, don't
worry too much. There are many imperial physicians in the capital. They
will surely cure him."

At this moment, the mood in Princess Leyang Estate, from the masters to
the servants, was not good. Clearly, their master, Xie Fuma, had become
mentally unstable due to the incident of their daughter attempting to
assassinate the Crown Prince. They were all both angry and sad. On top of
that, they didn't know which troublemakers were spreading rumors outside,
saying... saying...

How could those commoners, who spoke nonsense, know anything about
the strong bond between the Princess and Xie Fuma?

But no matter how they explained, the people outside wore an "I
understand, I get it" smile on their faces. They sympathized with Xie Fuma
in their words but turned to watch the spectacle when they turned away.
The commoners in the capital were shameless, truly shameless.

Princess Leyang had been crying for a long time, unable to eat anything the
entire day. Upon hearing from the physician that this hysteria required
treatment in a familiar place, she wrote a memorial overnight, hoping that
the Emperor would grant permission for their family to return to the
southern region.

"Princess, Xie Fuma is not doing well again. He says he's a little bird, but
his child is lost, and he wants to find the child on the rooftop."

"What?" Princess Leyang hurriedly ran out of the courtyard and saw Xie
Fuma, disheveled, walking back and forth on the roof. She dared not shout
loudly and could only hold back her tears, "Didn't I ask you all to keep an
eye on Xie Fuma?"

"Who are you?" Xie Fuma looked at Princess Leyang with a gentle smile,
"Excuse me, have you seen my child?"

"Yes, I did. Come down, and I'll tell you."

"Okay," Saying that, Xie Fuma was about to wave his arms and jump down.

Princess Leyang let out a frightened scream, "Don't!"

"What's wrong?" Xie Fuma looked at Princess Leyang in confusion, as if he

was seeing an evil person who was stopping him from flying.

Princess Leyang could no longer speak, her words choked up.

Hua Liuli stepped into Princess Leyang Estate, looked at the weeping
Princess Leyang, and stopped in her tracks. She had always thought
Princess Leyang was a selfish woman because whenever Princess Leyang
mentioned her deceased eldest daughter, her emotions weren't genuine.
Even when her second daughter was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice,
her sadness seemed superficial.

However, today's Princess Leyang overturned her perception. Her feelings

for Xie Fuma were genuine, and it was apparent.
She looked up at Xie Fuma, who was acting foolishly on the roof, he
seemed to be oblivious to the sorrow of Princess Leyang and instead made
even more extraordinary movements.

"You didn't deceive me. My child is really here," Xie Fuma said, looking at
the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli who had entered. His gaze fell on Hua
Liuli, "Good daughter, why did you come back so late?"

The attendants who came in with Hua Liuli and the Crown Prince changed
their expressions. Xie Fuma was taking advantage of Fushou Junzhu!

"Good daughter, come up quickly. Father will take you to the sky to pick
stars," Xie Fuma said with a smile, looking at Hua Liuli, "Let's go."

"Have you forgotten that I still can't fly?" Hua Liuli curved her mouth, "You
come down now, and then take me up."

"Alright," Xie Fuma made a motion as if he was about to jump down.

"No, please, don't!" Princess Leyang's loud roar stopped Xie Fuma's action.
Fortunately, at this moment, an attendant climbed up to the roof and held
Xie Fuma down.

Princess Leyang wiped away the tears from her face and looked at Hua
Liuli with resentment, "Fushou Junzhu, we have no grievances. Why did
you harm my Fuma?"

Hua Liuli raised an eyebrow, "No grievances?"

"Your daughter almost killed my man. How can you say we have no
grievances?" Hua Liuli sneered, "A child not taught well reflects the father's
fault. Don't you understand this principle?"

After saying that, she looked up at Xie Fuma, who was pinned down on the
roof, "You said you would take me to pick stars in the sky, but this woman
bullied me. Don't you care?"

Princess Leyang didn't expect Hua Liuli to be so shameless. She tightly

gripped her handkerchief, wishing she could scratch Hua Liuli's face to
shreds.

"You wicked madwoman, let go of my daughter!" Xie Fuma struggled and

rolled off the roof. Fortunately, the servants of the estate had laid many soft
blankets on the ground when he wasn't paying attention, or he would have
had a hard fall.

Normally, Xie Fuma was gentle and refined, but after going mad, he
became as strong as an ox. Several servants couldn't stop him, allowing him
to rush straight to Princess Leyang.

Before Princess Leyang could react, he made a motion to slap her.

Princess Leyang stared blankly at the approaching slap, without any

reaction.

"Enough," Hua Liuli reached out her hand, stopping Xie Fuma's action. "As
a nobleman, how can you bully women?"

Xie Fuma quickly let go of his hand, "Good daughter, Father was wrong.
For your sake, I will let her go," After speaking, he tried to grab Hua Liuli's
hand.

The Crown Prince noticed his movement and without hesitation kicked Xie
Fuma, knocking him down.

"Fuma," Princess Leyang anxiously threw herself onto Xie Fuma and
shielded him with her body, angrily looking at the Crown Prince, "Crown
Prince, even if you hate Xie Yao, you shouldn't be so heartless. Fuma is
your uncle by marriage."

"Aunt, Gu only saw Uncle going crazy and trying to harm you, so Gu
intervened," The Crown Prince shook his robe, "Gu had good intentions,
but you have misunderstood Gu so deeply. Gu feels very uncomfortable
about it."

"You don't need to interfere," Princess Leyang said with resentment,

"Whoever dares to harm my Fuma today, I will fight against them."
Hua Liuli looked at Princess Leyang, who was desperately trying to protect
Xie Fuma, and squatted in front of her, "He just tried to harm you for the
sake of an outsider like me. Why are you protecting him like this?"

"Fuma is not in his right mind. How could he bear to harm me?" Princess
Leyang hid Xie Fuma behind her and looked at the Crown Prince with
pleading eyes, "Crown Prince, I know Xie Yao was wrong, and I dare not
plead for her. But Fuma is innocent. Please spare him."

The Crown Prince said expressionlessly, "Aunt, Gu hasn't done anything."

"Then can you let us go back to the south?" Princess Leyang urgently said,
"As long as you are willing to let my Fuma return to the south for treatment,
I will agree to any conditions."

"Even if it means giving up your position as a princess?" The Crown Prince

looked at Xie Fuma, who was foolishly smiling behind Princess Leyang,
"Are you willing?"

Princess Leyang's face turned pale. She turned her head to look at her
husband and, after a long time, trembled, "I... I'm willing."

"Who are you?" Xie Fuma suddenly pushed away Princess Leyang, "You,
this wicked woman, stay away from me and don't hurt my good daughter."

"I am your wife!" Princess Leyang's emotions suddenly collapsed. She

tightly held onto Xie Fuma's arms, her expression fierce, "I gave birth to
sons and daughters for you. Why did you treat the child of that wretched
woman as your daughter? Can't you even forget her when you're insane?!"

Xie Fuma was frightened by Princess Leyang's screams. He took a few

steps back, evading her, "You, don't come over. My wife is very
formidable."

"You... You..." Princess Leyang burst into tears, sobbing, "Have you been
deceiving me all these years?"
Hua Liuli frowned, wondering what Xie Fuma was trying to achieve by
pretending to be crazy.

With her eyes bloodshot, Princess Leyang looked at Hua Liuli. Filled with
hatred, she said, "You're just like your wicked mother. Your mother seduced
my man, and now you're seducing the man my daughter likes. You're both
despicable!"

The Crown Prince spoke with a cold face, "Aunt, although you are a
princess, don't try to deceive yourself. General Wei's husband is the
renowned General Hua, and he has no relation to your husband. Of course,
it was your husband who failed to seduce General Wei back then. General
Wei couldn't be bothered to even look at him. It's because he lacked charm.
What does he have to do with General Wei?"

"As for your daughter..." The Crown Prince clicked his tongue, "There are
many women in the capital who have their eyes on me. Even if your
daughter waits in line, she won't be the first."

"Gu won the heart of Fushou Junzhu with my outstanding inner qualities.
Are you trying to ruin the relationship between Gu and Gu's betrothed by
saying these things?" The Crown Prince said coldly, "Gu won't be pleased
with that."

"You can't blame others just because you can't obtain Xie Fuma's genuine
feelings," The Crown Prince sneered, "In Gu's opinion, your husband's
appearance and demeanor pale in comparison to General Hua."

Author's Note:

Crown Prince: Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, do you think my licking

technique is up to standard?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 107 – Recruited

It was probably because the Crown Prince's words were too provocative
that Princess Leyang, who had been extremely angry, miraculously calmed
down. She instructed her servants to support Xie Fuma back to his room.
She then wiped away the tears from her face, and with a blank expression,
invited the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli to the front hall, "Is the Crown
Prince here at my estate today to visit the sick or to enjoy the spectacle?"

"Father Emperor heard that Xie Fuma was ill, so he asked Gu to come and
visit on his behalf," The Crown Prince saw that Princess Leyang refused to
even pour him a cup of tea, "Gu noticed that Xie Fuma's condition is severe,
it is not advisable for him to travel. It would be better for him to stay in the
capital and recuperate slowly. Princess, you need not worry about medicine
and physicians; Father Emperor and Gu will take care of everything."

Princess Leyang couldn't help but sneer inwardly. The Emperor, for the
sake of benevolence and virtue, appeared to be kind to his siblings on the
surface, but in reality? She and Xie Fuma knelt outside the Eastern Palace
gate for so long, yet the Emperor not only did not send anyone to dissuade
the Crown Prince, but also revoked her title as the Royal Princess.

Since they were both concerned about their face, there was no need to talk
about "we have the final say in everything". It was simply ridiculous.

She pressed her lips together. "The physician advised that Fuma's condition
would improve in a familiar setting."

"Fuma has spent considerable time residing in the capital, which can be
considered familiar," the Crown Prince left no room for Princess Leyang to
retreat, "Furthermore, the physicians in the south cannot compare to the
expertise of the Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy."
"The physicians affiliated with the Imperial Medical Academy are the most
skilled in treating various complex ailments," the Crown Prince changed his
tone, "Gu understands that you hold grievances against Gu, and truthfully,
Gu does not harbor deep affection for your family either. However, out of
respect for the Emperor, Gu will offer you this final well-intentioned
advice."

"Are the physicians in the southern region more competent, or are the
Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy more capable?
The capital has access to abundant and safer medicinal resources," the
Crown Prince casually fiddled with his prayer beads. "Moreover, who
knows when your husband's condition might improve? The Xie family has
numerous side branches; there could be some people with ill intentions
among them. If you are far away from the capital, any unforeseen incidents
may be beyond the reach of the imperial family's protection."

"As a princess and your husband's wife, if even you cannot calmly consider
his well-being, then who can wholeheartedly safeguard him?" the Crown
Prince offered a smile devoid of warmth, "Are you relying on those cunning
relatives of the Xie family?"

Princess Leyang remained silent.

She knew in her heart that the Crown Prince's words were not without
reason. The Xie family was influential in the south, closely connected with
local aristocratic families. If any ill intentions arose, without the backing of
the imperial family, she would struggle to protect Fuma or their child.

"Please rest assured and allow Fuma to recover in the capital. Do not bring
up leaving the capital again," the Crown Prince rose to his feet, "Father
Emperor's refusal to grant your request is also for your own benefit."

Princess Leyang looked up at the Crown Prince, "Is it truly for my own
benefit?"

The Crown Prince's tone was flat, "Regardless, you are a member of the Ji
family."
Princess Leyang stared at the Crown Prince blankly without saying a word.
She sat motionless in her chair, even after the Crown Prince left with Liuli,
she still hadn't snapped out of her daze.

"Your Highness, has the Crown Prince agreed to let Xie Fuma return to the
south for recuperation?" A servant hurriedly approached, his face filled with
urgency.

Princess Leyang slowly shook her head, feeling lost and distraught, "Take
good care of Xie Fuma. Don't mention anything about returning to the
South."

"But the physician said that Xie Fuma's condition would improve in a
familiar setting," The servant became anxious, "If Xie Fuma continues to
stay in the capital, this servant is worried his condition will worsen."

"Isn't it better to stay in the capital?" Princess Leyang laughed at herself,

"Here, we have the most skilled imperial physicians, and... his favorite
woman."

Over the years, Xie Fuma had never mentioned Wei Mingyue in front of
her. She thought he had long moved on, but after his onset of hysteria, he
treated Wei Mingyue's daughter as his own.

So, he wanted to have children with Wei Mingyue?

Then what was she?

Were all those sweet words from him just deceiving her?

For this man, she became enemies with her half-sister, abandoned her pride,
and married far away. But all of that couldn't compare to Wei Mingyue,
whom he hadn't seen for years.

Or perhaps, men always care the most about the women they can't have?

Princess Leyang knew she should hate the man who had shared her bed for
many years, but she couldn't hate him. So, the only person she could hate
was Wei Mingyue.
She wished this woman dead.

At noon, the palace dispatched a large number of imperial guards to tightly

protect Princess Leyang Estate. They declared to the outside that Xie Fuma
was seriously ill, and to ensure his safety, they sent people to protect them.

However, the servants of Princess Leyang Estate quickly discovered that

they couldn't leave. They were provided with everything they needed by the
officials from the Palace Department, but no one was allowed to go out.

The entire estate became like a stagnant pool.

"I've been deceived by Ji Yuansu!" Princess Leyang looked at her heavily

guarded estate, furious enough to smash the furnishings inside the room,
"The Emperor wants to confine me!"

All those claims about Xie Fuma's illness and her safety were just deceitful
lies.

They simply didn't want to let them return to the South.

Could it be, could it be that the Emperor already knew that the Xie family
had arranged their own connections in the capital to promote their
ideological beliefs?

At the thought, she suddenly became restless. She called for her her son,
Xie Shizi, and with a grave expression, she said, "My child, if anything
happens to your father and me, go to the palace and seek an audience with
the Empress Dowager. Your maternal grandmother was good friends with
the Empress Dowager when she was in the palace. Your maternal
grandmother even helped her when your imperial uncle ascended the
throne. Considering the past bond, they won't make things too difficult for
you."

"Mother, what has happened?" Xie Shizi looked at Princess Leyang in

confusion, "Why are there so many Imperial Guards outside?"
"You're still young, you don't need to know so much," Princess Leyang
gently touched Xie Shizi's head, "If it weren't for your foolish second sister,
our family wouldn't have ended up like this. Poor child of mine..."

"Mother, it's true that Second Sister tried to assassinate the Crown Prince.
Even if the truth is revealed and punishment is imposed, they won't take our
lives," Xie Shizi, seeing his mother with swollen, tear-stained eyes, quickly
consoled her, "We'll face whatever comes together. Don't cry until it affects
your health."

Looking at her son, who was still ignorant of everything, Princess Leyang
held back her tears and took a deep breath, "I will write a petition to the
Emperor and the Empress Dowager, asking them to allow you to study in
the palace. No matter what happens afterward, you must obediently follow
the Empress Dowager's instructions and make her happy, understood?"

"Mother, what exactly has happened? Please don't scare me..."

"Don't be afraid, everything will be fine," Princess Leyang smiled faintly, "I
just think that the Imperial Academy might be more suitable for you than
staying in the south to study."

"Alright, you go back and pack your things. Maybe someone will come to
take you to the palace tomorrow," Princess Leyang had been bold and
domineering in these past years because she knew that the Empress
Dowager and the Emperor both held gratitude towards her. Her mother had
helped the Empress Dowager in the past, and with the Empress Dowager's
personality, she wouldn't let her suffer.

Over the years, she had become accustomed to the praise of others and had
never experienced any setbacks.

In her time of adversity, she suddenly became calm and realized many
things.

If only she had known that her second daughter would cause so much
trouble, she would have preferred to let her die in the South rather than
bring her to the capital. If it weren't for Xie Yao causing so much trouble,
her Fuma wouldn't have gone mad, and she wouldn't have let her beloved
son live a life of pleasing and flattering the Empress Dowager.

After writing the letter she wanted to send to the Empress Dowager,
Princess Leyang realized that her letter couldn't be sent out. The people in
her estate couldn't leave, and the Imperial Guards didn't obey her
commands. In the eyes of these guards, she, as a princess, was utterly
useless.

Clutching the sealed envelope, she looked at the guards stationed at the
door. She clenched her and was about to make a scene when someone
arrived on a majestic horse.

The person was dressed in a dark-colored brocade robe, cleanly shaven with
a handsome face, appearing to be no older than thirty-something years old.

However, Princess Leyang knew that this man riding on horseback was
already over forty, but he didn't show signs of aging.

She hated Wei Mingyue, she also hated Wei Mingyue's man. Sadly, at this
moment, she had no choice but to bow her head and ask for help from Hua
Yingting.

"General Hua," Princess Leyang called out to Hua Yingting, suppressing the
surging emotions in her heart, through the swords held by the Imperial
Guards.

Hua Yingting turned his head to look at Princess Leyang, urging his horse
to move further away from her before speaking, "May I ask what
instructions the Princess has?"

"I dare not," Princess Leyang bowed slightly to Hua Yingting, pleading, "I
have a letter that I want to deliver to the Empress Dowager. General, could
you please help me convey it?"

"Your Highness, as a man, it might not be appropriate for me to bring a

letter to the palace," Hua Yingting glanced backward, then continued,
"However, my wife might be able to help. Why don't you discuss this
matter with my wife?"

Princess Leyang suddenly snapped back to reality and saw Wei Mingyue
not far behind, dressed in men's attire, smiling as she sat on horseback.

Had Wei Mingyue witnessed her desperate plea for help?

Princess Leyang tightly gripped the letter in her hand, and after a while, she
slowly bowed to Wei Mingyue, "Please... General Wei, help me deliver this
letter."

"Princess, there's no need to be so polite," Wei Mingyue stepped aside,

avoiding Princess Leyang's gesture of respect. She dismounted and walked
up to Princess Leyang, taking the crumpled letter from her hand. Then she
turned to leave.

At that moment, someone suddenly rushed out from the gate. He seemed to
want to approach Wei Mingyue, but unfortunately, he was intercepted by
the Imperial Guards.

"Fuma?" Princess Leyang saw the look in Xie Juchang's eyes as he glanced
at Wei Mingyue, and it pierced her heart like ten thousand arrows. She
glared fiercely at the servant guarding Xie Juchang, "Take him back."

"Wife, are you here to see our daughter..." Xie Juchang's voice had just
fallen when a scabbard came straight at his chest. Xie Juchang didn't even
have a chance to utter a sound before he was knocked to the ground by the
scabbard.

"I apologize," Hua Yingting dismounted and picked up the fallen scabbard
from the ground, "There seems to be something wrong with this scabbard.
Is Xie Fuma alright?"

Daring to feign madness and stupidity to take advantage of his wife, he

wouldn't let him off easily.
"Cough... cough..." Xie Juchang coughed twice, then suddenly burst into
tears, crying like a wronged child.

Princess Leyang looked at him in heartache.

"Ahem!" Wei Mingyue stepped back with disdain, "So, this disheveled and
ugly man is Xie Fuma? After all these years, how did he become like this?"

The tears on Princess Leyang's face instantly froze. The man she held
dearest in her heart was being called ugly by Wei Mingyue?

Seemingly realizing that she had misspoken, Wei Mingyue clasped her
hands together in front of Princess Leyang, "I apologize, I am a rough
person and not good with words. Please forgive me, Princess. Perhaps it's
not that Xie Fuma is ugly, but my eyes are not good. You don't have to take
my words to heart."

Princess Leyang felt that Wei Mingyue was humiliating her.

Wei Mingyue quickly mounted her horse, "Please rest assured, Princess. I
will deliver your letter to the palace."

Being in a position of need, Princess Leyang couldn't say anything. She

watched Wei Mingyue, who was radiant with confidence, and silently
swallowed the resentment and anger swirling in her heart. Gritting her teeth,
she said, "Thank you, General Wei."

"Your Highness, there's no need to be so polite. I will take my leave," Wei

Mingyue arched her hand, "Oh, please don't mind what I said earlier."

Princess Leyang: "..."

If could just not rub it in my face, I could pretend not to mind!

Xie Yao quickly changed her mind. As soon as Pei Jihuai walked out of the
prison, he was called back.

As Xie Yao provided more and more information, Pei Jihuai's expression
grew more serious. If the information provided by Xie Yao was true, the
Xie family had been planning for at least several decades. They had
endured silently for so long, showing great patience as a family.

Since the matter involved the imperial family, Pei Jihuai felt that he couldn't
afford to delay it any further. After recording everything, he hurriedly went
to the palace to meet the Emperor. This case had become too significant for
the Ministry of Justice to handle independently.

Just after the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli finished their meal at the Eastern
Palace, someone from the Chengyang Palace came to invite the Crown
Prince over.

"Now?" The Crown Prince glanced at Hua Liuli and stood up, "You go back
first. Gu and Fushou Junzhu will join you shortly."

"Why am I going with you as well?" Hua Liuli was puzzled.

"When General Wei and General Hua come to the palace later, it will be
livelier with more people," The Crown Prince wanted to take advantage of
the presence of both sides to mention the matter of their marriage.

The Crown Prince, accompanied by Hua Liuli, entered the main hall of the
Chengyang Palace. To his surprise, besides his future in-laws, Zhang Shuo
and Pei Jihuai from the Ministry of Justice were also present. He furrowed
his brow, "What's happened?"

"Xie Yao confessed," Emperor Changlong saw the Crown Prince and Hua
Liuli enter and said to the Crown Prince, "You arrived just in time, take a
look at this."

After reading the contents, the Crown Prince sneered, "This is utterly
ridiculous and absurd."

With so many intellectuals in Great Jin, even if they wanted to leave a mark
in history, it would depend on their literary talent or their ability to govern.
Why was the Xie family so fixated on crooked and sinister methods?

Perhaps what they truly desired was not fame, but power!
OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 108 – Enke

Standing among the group of solemn individuals, Hua Liuli felt somewhat
out of place. She glanced at the Crown Prince, hoping for some hints.

The Crown Prince directly handed Xie Yao's deposition to Hua Liuli.

Hua Liuli didn't reach out to take it. As a non-imperial Junzhu bestowed by
the Emperor, she shouldn't involve herself in political matters.

"Fushou Junzhu, take a look as well," Emperor Changlong said

straightforwardly. Hua Liuli was his future daughter-in-law and the future
Crown Princess, it would be beneficial for her to have some exposure to
these matters. The Crown Prince was lazy, but with the Crown Princess
overseeing things, he might become more diligent.

"Please excuse this humble subject's impudence, Your Majesty," Hua Liuli
bowed to Emperor Changlong and elegantly received the deposition from
the Crown Prince's hands. She quickly began reading it. The more she read,
the more perplexed she became. The Xie family had been advocating for
changes in Great Jin's ceremonial standards due to their preference for the
customs of the Daimao kingdom. However, both the late Emperor and the
current Emperor had rejected their proposals.

Not only did the current Emperor reject the Xie family's proposals, but he
also promoted Wei Mingyue to become a female general, letting her
command tens of thousands of troops. This made the Xie family feel that
Emperor Changlong was deliberately opposing them. Not only did he not
adopt their suggestions, but he also intentionally allowed women to hold
power.
In their discontentment with Emperor Changlong, they secretly colluded
with residual forces and engaged in dealings with the Daimao Kingdom.
Unfortunately, Xie Yao, who was not valued in her own family, didn't know
many hidden details, including the identity of the Daimao forces associated
with the Xie family.

Hua Liuli couldn't quite comprehend their thought process. What was the
point of all this trouble just to change ceremonial studies? Isn't human
nature driven by fame and profit? Doing these things wouldn't benefit the
Xie family much. She returned the deposition to the Crown Prince, unsure
of what to say.

Was it because her thinking was too normal that she couldn't understand
them?

She glanced at the Crown Prince and then at her calm and composed
mother. She felt that it was best not to speak at this moment.

However, perhaps due to Emperor Changlong's particularly favorable

impression of his future daughter-in-law, despite the anger in his heart, he
kindly smiled and asked Hua Liuli, "Fushou Junzhu, what do you think
about this matter?"

Pei Jihuai had already informed him. If it weren't for Fushou Junzhu's visit
to the Ministry of Justice, Xie Yao wouldn't have divulged the Xie family's
secrets so quickly.

"Your Majesty, this humble servant lacks comprehension in the intricacies

of court politics," Hua Liuli smiled bashfully, portraying herself as timid,
"However, from my perspective, the audacity of the Xie family to harbor
assassins and orchestrate an assassination plot against the Crown Prince is a
grave offense against the imperial family."

Upon hearing these words, Emperor Changlong swiftly grasped the

underlying sentiment. Hua Liuli still carried lingering resentment towards
the assassination attempt on the Crown Prince.
As a father, who wouldn't appreciate a daughter-in-law who wholeheartedly
cared for their son?

Emperor Changlong burst into laughter, nodding, "Fushou Junzhu makes a

valid point."

Hua Liuli was bewildered. What had she said and what was the valid point?

"What the Xie family is thinking is no longer important. What matters is

what they have done and the consequences they have caused," Emperor
Changlong tapped the table, "According to the clues provided by Xie Yao,
thoroughly investigate the Xie family."

"Your Majesty, those scholars from the south..." Pei Jihuai hesitated. The
Xie family had a significant reputation in the south, coupled with how far it
was from the capital, if the Xie family were to spread rumors, there would
be dissent against the imperial family. Even if the Xie family were
apprehended and brought to justice, there could still be adverse
repercussions for the Emperor's reputation.

"Zhen cannot allow the Xie family's schemes to succeed for the sake of
reputation," Emperor Changlong was even more resolute than Pei Jihuai
had imagined, "The Xie family has ambitious plans, but they are not
beneficial to the people of the world. Zhen cannot tolerate them."

"Father Emperor, General Hua and General Wei's victory over the Jinpo
bandits is a great joyous event. However, Erchen believes that hosting the
Hundred Nations Banquet alone is not enough," the Crown Prince spoke,
"Why don't we hold Enke1恩科 (ēn kē) refers to a special imperial examination
held to grant pardons and rewards to scholars. It was a way for the imperial
court to show favor and appreciation to scholars to promote their social
status and opportunities for advancement. The 恩科 examination was usually
held separately from the regular imperial examination. It focused on a
specific subject or theme and allowed scholars to compete for recognition
and rewards. Scholars who achieved high ranks in the 恩科 examination would
be granted special privileges, such as exemption from certain taxes, access
to higher government positions, or opportunities to serve in prestigious
roles. next year and hold another imperial examination in the spring?"
"With the speed at which rumors spread, news of Xie Yao's attempt on
Erchen's life should have already reached the south," the Crown Prince
chuckled, seemingly helpless, "Rumors tend to distort the farther they
travel. Who knows, by the time it reaches the south, it might have become
completely outrageous."

"The Crown Prince makes a valid point," Emperor Changlong smiled

contentedly, "General Hua and General Wei's successful victory against a
foreign enemy is indeed a momentous occasion. Holding the Enke is a
suitable decision."

Pei Jihuai looked at the father and son, the Heavenly Emperor and the
Crown Prince, smiling at each other, and suddenly felt that certain court
officials who hoped for the Crown Prince to be deposed might be greatly
disappointed.

Not only would the Crown Prince not be deposed by the Emperor, but he
would continue to be arrogant and eventually ascend to the throne. This
seemingly arrogant and overbearing Crown Prince was, in fact, an
intelligent and astute individual.

Holding the Enke would undoubtedly be the best way to win over the
scholars from the South. This action would not only win the favor of
scholars but also subtly express the Imperial Family's appreciation for
military officials. It would also alleviate conflicts between civil and military
officials.

Why hold the Enke?

Because the two generals achieved a great victory in battle.

There was no shortage of literati in the world, but there were many ordinary
people who aspired to achieve fame through the imperial examination and
bring glory to their ancestors.

The establishment of this Enke would bring great joy to scholars. In

addition, there were not many southern scholars who achieved high
rankings in this year's imperial examinations. They eagerly sought to
redeem themselves. So the imperial court establishing the Enke would be a
timely assistance for them.

Compared to their own interests and the stability of the country, the affairs
of the Xie family would no longer be significant for these scholars.

The world is vast, but food and the stability of the country are paramount.

"In that case, Zhen will summon the officials from the Six Ministries to
discuss the matter of holding the Enke," Emperor Changlong no longer
mentioned the Xie family. He turned to Hua Yingting, "Crown Prince and
General Hua, stay behind. Zhen has something to discuss with you."

"Your Majesty, Princess Leyang entrusted this humble general to deliver a

letter to you and the Empress Dowager," Wei Mingyue took out the letter
written by Princess Leyang from her bosom.

Emperor Changlong's expression remained indifferent as he didn't accept

the letter, "Give it to the Empress Dowager to handle."

The attempted assassination of the Crown Prince by Xie Yao deeply

wounded Emperor Changlong's heart. He had no affection left for Princess
Leyang's family.

Fortunately, Fushou Junzhu accompanied the Crown Prince when it

occurred. Despite her frailty, she was willing to risk her life to lead the
assassins away from the Crown Prince. But what if Fushou Junzhu had not
been there?

The Crown Prince was the heir he had personally nurtured, his most
beloved son. He couldn't even bear to imagine how devastated he would be
if something were to happen to the Crown Prince.

As an Emperor, if he couldn't even protect his own child, what kind of

Emperor would he be?

The Ministers from the Six Ministries hurried to the Chenyang Palace upon
learning of the Emperor's urgent summons. When they heard the Emperor
mention the establishment of the Enke, the Ministers couldn't react for a
moment.

However, they saw it as a good thing since it aimed to benefit the scholars.

None of the Ministers from the Six Ministries objected. They began
discussing how to quickly announced it to all parts of the country.

After everyone finished their discussions and left the palace, they gradually
realized that the Emperor's attitude clearly indicated that he wanted them to
focus on their work and had no intention of seeking their opinions.

The several old Ministers glanced at each other, feeling that something was
amiss. There had been no prior indications, so why did the Emperor
suddenly decide to hold the Enke?

"The Crown Prince and General Hua were present earlier. Could this be the
Crown Prince's idea?"

"The Crown Prince is capable of such kindness?" the Minister of War

questioned, "The relationship between the Crown Prince and the literati
is..."

Not that great, to be honest.

Not only was it not great, but some literati were even hoping for the Crown
Prince to be deposed.

Unfortunately, they had been hoping for several years, and the Crown
Prince continued to be arrogant. They didn't know when their wishes would
come true.

Within a couple of days, the Ministers from the Six Ministries received
news that the proposal to hold the Enke was indeed put forth by the Crown
Prince. Since the information came from Pei Jihuai, the Deputy Minister of
Justice, nobody doubted its authenticity.

Instead, they began to question the Crown Prince's state of mind.

Especially those literati who hoped for the Crown Prince to be deposed.
After the Crown Prince proposed to hold the Enke, they suddenly felt
awkward to secretly continue to criticize him behind his back.

As the proud and arrogant Crown Prince, couldn't he just be consistently

evil? Now he made it difficult for them!

The capital city was filled with noble figures and scholars. When news of
the Enke spread, articles praising Emperor Changlong, the Crown Prince,
Hua Yingting, and Wei Mingyue sprouted up like mushrooms after rain. As
a result, very few people paid attention to the fact that Princess Leyang's
son, Xie Shizi, had moved into the palace.

After moving into the palace, Xie Shizi resided in with the Fourth Prince
and the Fifth Prince, who had not yet been granted noble titles. However,
the Fifth Prince didn't like the Xie family, and the Fourth Prince had never
been one to speak. After Xie Shizi moved in, his situation became very
awkward.

The people attending to him were newly assigned by the Empress Dowager;
none of the servants from Princess Leyang Estate were able to accompany
him. Although Xie Shizi had been raised in innocence, he had now come to
understand that something major had happened in his family.

His mother sent him into the palace to save his life.

News of the Enke, like a spring breeze, quickly spread throughout the
country. The scholars were extremely delighted and intensified their studies
and calligraphy practice, hoping to achieve good rankings in the next year's
Enke.

News of Xie Yao's attempt to assassinate the Crown Prince reached the
southern regions even faster than the news of the Enke.

At first, the scholars regarded it as a rumor, dismissing it as the envy of

wicked individuals intentionally smearing the Xie family's good reputation.
But as more and more news circulated, the scholars gradually started to
believe that the legitimate daughter of the Xie family had indeed committed
this heinous crime.

"What? You still don't know why Xie Yao wanted to kill the Crown
Prince?" a merchant who had just arrived from the capital city seemed
surprised that people in the south knew nothing about it, "This doesn't make
sense. I came from the north, this matter has already spread there. Your
southern region is usually so well-informed, why are you so ignorant about
this?"

He scratched his head, perplexed, and asked, "Could someone be

deliberately suppressing the news?"

Who would deliberately suppress this news? Naturally, it was the Xie
family, who didn't want the people from the south to know about it.

In the minds of many southern scholars, the Xie family had always been
seen as representatives of integrity and a scholarly heritage. Now, when
someone suddenly told them that this family was capable of concealing the
truth even from the capital city, it made the scholars feel a bit strange.

People are always like this. When a bad person does something good, they
start to think that maybe the person isn't entirely bad. But when a person
they consider good does something bad, it inevitably makes them wonder if
that person is a hypocrite.

However, most scholars still felt that the merchant was talking nonsense.
Both sides couldn't convince each other and ended up arguing.

"What's going on?" This large teahouse had many merchants coming and
going. One merchant walked in and heard people on both sides arguing
about Xie Yao's attempt to assassinate the Crown Prince. He couldn't help
but interject, "Why are you arguing about something even a three-year-old
knows? Isn't it just that Xie Fuma wanted Second Young Lady Xie to
become the Crown Princess, but the Crown Prince wanted to marry General
Hua's daughter and rejected the Xie family's proposal? Out of anger and
humiliation, the Xie family sent assassins to kill the Crown Prince. It's said
that General Hua's daughter was injured protecting the Crown Prince and
was covered in blood, with her clothes completely soaked."

Several scholars present seemed to have great admiration for the Hua
family. When they heard that the Hua family's daughter was covered in
blood, their faces changed, "Is the Hua family's daughter alright?"

"She's just a young girl. With so much bloodshed, how could she be
alright?" The merchant shook his head, took a sip from his teacup, and
continued, "She survived, but we don't know when she'll recover. The
Crown Prince is also a man of loyalty and integrity. In front of many
officials, he proposed marriage to the Hua family."

Most scholars were sensitive and admired unwavering devotion. Many

young scholars couldn't help but sigh, "The Hua family's daughter risked
her life for the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince reciprocated with
genuine affection. This kind of love is truly moving."

With that, the actions of the Xie family seemed even more despicable.

The merchant sighed, "Indeed, the Hua family's daughter is naturally frail,
and she suffered a lot of injuries. She managed to survive on the brink of
death, perhaps because she couldn't let go of her deep affection for the
Crown Prince."

Devoted, unwavering, and willing to endure pain for the sake of a loved
one.

This was the epitome of a perfect woman in the hearts of countless men.

The scholars were touched. They even felt that they could go home and
compose a poem praising the love story between the Crown Prince and the
Hua family's daughter.

"But why are the scholars in the south so leisurely?" the merchant changed
the topic, "Students in other places are burning the midnight oil, studying
hard for next year's Enke, and yet you all come to teahouses to listen to
gossip?"
"What do you mean by Enke?" the scholars looked at the merchant in
surprise.

"To celebrate General Hua and General Wei's victory in battle, His Majesty
has decided to hold the Enke," the merchant said, more astonished than the
scholars, "The announcement has already been posted nationwide.
Yesterday, some scholars from a branch of the Xie family came to me and
bought sets of examination questions brought from the capital city, saying
they were preparing for next year's Enke. And yet, you still don't know?"

The scholars were dumbfounded. How could they not have heard any news
about such a major event?

"Has the announcement been posted in other places?" a few scholars didn't
look too pleased.

"In the northern region, it was posted five days ago," the merchant who
claimed to have come from the north chimed in, "You're in the jurisdiction
of the prefecture here. Could it be that the announcement hasn't been posted
yet?"

The other merchant who had arrived later was completely puzzled and
muttered under his breath, "It doesn't make sense. Even the Xie family's
branch knew about it, but you don't?"

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 109 – Wedding Date

Why did the Xie family know while they didn't?

Did the Xie family intend to conceal the news and make preparations in
advance?

In this year's imperial examinations, the Xie family's branch failed to

achieve the top ranking. Did they want to redeem themselves next year and
erase their previous shame?

It's understandable to want to achieve the top ranking, but secretly studying
while not letting others know about the imperial court's decision to establish
the Enke is a bit too much, isn't it?

It's widely known that the local Prefect and the Xie family are relatives. The
Prefect's son married a girl from the Xie family. It's possible that, for the
sake of the Xie family, the Prefect delayed posting the announcement by a
few days.

Although some scholars consoled themselves, thinking there might be some

misunderstanding, the Xie family's once lofty position seemed to be on the
verge of collapse.

The news of the imperial court's decision to establish the Enke quickly
reached the ears of every scholar in the South. The scholars discovered that
as the news spread, the Prefect's office posted the announcement of the
court's decision to establish the Enke. In order to quell the anger of the
scholars, the Prefect personally came out to explain that they had just
received the news from the imperial court.

The scholars needed to go to the yamen to obtain travel permits and other
procedures before rushing to the capital for the Enke examinations. They
outwardly believed the Prefect's explanation but internally harbored doubts
about the Xie family and the Prefect's office.

How could the Xie family know about the information coming from the
capital if they weren't aware in advance?

However, at this critical moment, although the scholars were dissatisfied,

they didn't have the energy to argue with the Xie family.

"I heard that the books on the reading list for next year's Enke have already
started selling in the bookstores. Let's hurry and buy them."

For the candidates, the preferences of the examiners were crucial, so

regardless of whether they had money or not, they had to find a way to
obtain a copy.

When these scholars arrived at the bookstores and inquired, they found that
all the books were sold out.

"Sold out?" the scholars exclaimed, "Why didn't the bookstore prepare
more?"

The bookstore's owner smiled bitterly, "Gentlemen, I prepared quite a few

copies. But today, as soon as the bookstore opened, some servants from the
Xie family came and bought all the related books."

Those few individuals claiming to be servants of the Xie family were

generous spenders. As a business owner, naturally, he sold the books to
whoever paid more.

"Thank you for letting us know," the scholars said helplessly, then went to
the next bookstore to inquire. The answer they received was the same: the
Xie family's servants had bought all the books.

The same situation happened in several bookstores. As the well-connected

scholars asked each other, they discovered that the Xie family had
practically bought up all the books in the city. The only bookstores that
weren't bought out had books with unclear printing and poor-quality paper.
"The Xie family, despite being a renowned and prestigious clan, is going
too far by bullying people like this," Even the most patient person would
have complaints in such a situation, let alone when it concerned the Enke.

However, most of these scholars came from humble backgrounds and

couldn't afford to offend the Xie family. Even if they harbored resentment,
they didn't dare show it. They could only politely ask the bookstore owners
to prepare more next time, assuring them that they would come to buy.

On the day the new books arrived, many scholars waited in front of the
bookstore early in the morning. As soon as the bookstore opened, before
they could even speak, several aggressive individuals rushed in, grabbed the
books they wanted, and threw a piece of silver on the counter before
leaving.

One scholar wanted to argue with them but saw a tall man with a stern face
say, "We are from the Xie family. If anyone dares to say more, be careful or
we won't be polite."

After speaking, without waiting for the scholars' reaction, the man turned
and left.

"This... this..." Scholar A was so angry that he couldn't speak. After a while,
he finally said, "Why has the Xie family become so arrogant lately?"

In the past, the Xie family had been very humble in their actions and had a
good reputation. They rarely behaved in such a domineering manner.

"Perhaps their hypocritical facade has been exposed, so they're throwing

caution to the wind," said a stranger who seemed somewhat knowledgeable,
"If the Xie family dares to attempt to assassinate the Crown Prince, there's
nothing they wouldn't dare to do."

"Maybe, maybe there's some misunderstanding?"

"What misunderstanding? It's clear that they're afraid we'll perform well
and overshadow the Xie family," the stranger continued, "Most of you are
renowned scholars. If you're suppressed, how can ordinary scholars like us
find hope?"

At this point, he covered his face and choked, "I pity my elderly mother
who has been hoping for me to achieve success in the Enke and return
home in glory. With the way the Xie family is acting, how can I fulfill my
parents' expectations?"

"Apologies for my outburst. I'll take my leave," After speaking, in the

sympathetic gazes of the other scholars, he stumbled away.

"Ah!" Scholar A looked at the disheveled appearance of the departing

scholar and couldn't help but sigh, "If the Xie family behaves like this for a
short period of time, it's one thing, but if they continue like this..."

The hearts of everyone present suddenly filled with dark clouds, and fear
arose within them.

The Xie family was unaware that many scholars had already developed
discontent towards them. It should be said that the Xie family, at this point,
couldn't afford to care about these small matters. Their attention was
entirely focused on the capital.

"Are you sure our master has been confined in the capital?" The one
speaking was an old man, the eldest member of the Xie family. In his earlier
years, he held a position in the capital but returned to the south to live a
leisurely life after his views clashed with Grand Tutor Du.

"To deceive His Majesty, our master has taken a temporary medication that
causes confusion," The messenger was a servant from the Xie family's
household, "But instead of pardoning our master, His Majesty has
dispatched Imperial Guards to heavily guard the princess's estate. I'm
extremely worried that His Majesty will imprison our master in the capital
for the rest of his life due to Miss Xie's crime."

Elder Xie stroked his graying beard, "Prepare the carriage. I will personally
go to the capital and plead with His Majesty to release our master and allow
him to recuperate in the south."
During the time when His Majesty was the Crown Prince and was on the
verge of being deposed by the late emperor, Elder Xie had spoken in
defense of His Majesty in the court. He hoped that His Majesty would take
into account their past relationship and spare the Xie family.

Elder Xie, accompanied by several members of the family, hurriedly

traveled to the capital, completely unaware that the Xie family's reputation
among scholars had gradually deteriorated.

With the absence of Elder Xie, who was accustomed to managing the
younger generations, the Xie family's side branches became lively, causing
trouble outside.

Once, when they were drunk, they pushed a scholar who had offended them
into a river.

The scholar struggled but eventually sank. By the time other passing
scholars arranged for someone to rescue him, the scholar who had been
pushed into the river was carried away by the current, and even his body
couldn't be found.

Although the passing scholars didn't know the scholar who had been pushed
into the river, they couldn't tolerate such bullying behavior. They ran to the
yamen to report the incident, but to their surprise, the Prefect said, "If you
report a crime without presenting a body, it's slander."

The scholars were infuriated by the Prefect's protection of the Xie family's
actions. They left in a huff. When they returned to the river, they saw an old
woman with graying hair kneeling by the river, grieving and in pain. They
felt both guilty and distressed.

Their hearts grew even more determined. They vowed to achieve academic
success during their trip to the capital and seek justice for the grieving old
woman.

A few days later, the old woman disappeared. The scholars secretly inquired
and heard different accounts. Some said the old woman went to the capital
to seek justice from high-ranking officials, while others claimed that the old
woman had been silenced by the Prefect and the Xie family. Regardless of
the truth, the old woman and the scholar who drowned were completely
ignored by the Xie family and the Prefect, as if they were insignificant.

The scholars' hearts turned completely cold.

The Xie family's branch members who had pushed the scholar into the river
didn't care about this matter at all. They even felt that heaven was on their
side. Otherwise, why would the scholar's body be swept away by the river
without leaving any evidence?

These incidents in the south did not affect the lives of the people in the
capital.

Emperor Changlong even chose a sunny day and invited Hua Yingting and
Wei Mingyue into the palace once again to discuss the wedding date.

"Yuansu has been raised by Zhen since he was a child and has reached
marriageable age. It's time to plan for his marriage," Emperor Changlong
rubbed his hands together, feeling somewhat hesitant to look at Wei
Mingyue, "The Astronomical Bureau has calculated several auspicious
dates. Zhen finds them all suitable. Both of you, take a look."

Zhao Sancai prepared the auspicious dates calculated by the Astronomical

Bureau and was about to hand them to Hua Yingting. However, as he
approached Hua Yingting, he paused and turned to offer them to Wei
Mingyue instead.

"May 6th of the Fifth Month?" Wei Mingyue frowned, "Your Majesty, this
date seems a bit too early."

Emperor Changlong quickly nodded, "Zhen also thinks it's a bit early.
Yuansu is Zhen's beloved son, and Fushou Junzhu is the precious gem of
both of you. Naturally, Zhen wants to celebrate their wedding grandly. Zhen
is afraid we won't have enough time to prepare within this time frame."

"Of course, if General Wei thinks this date is good, Zhen will expedite the
preparations. Zhen won't let it be an inconvenience for Fushou Junzhu,"
Emperor Changlong felt that there would be no problem if he
accommodated Wei Mingyue in such a small matter.

After all, Wei Mingyue was capable of smashing rocks with her fists.

Wei Mingyue slowly shook her head, "Your Majesty, in this subject's
opinion, this date is not good enough."

"Then... let's look at the next one?" Emperor Changlong couldn't help but
wipe the sweat from his forehead.

"June 28th?" Wei Mingyue didn't even think about it and shook her head,
"June is scorching hot. This subject's daughter is physically weak. It'll be
hard for her to endure sitting in a wedding sedan on such a hot day."

"What you say makes sense, General Wei. Zhen also thinks this date is not
good enough. We should prioritize Fushou Junzhu's well-being," Emperor
Changlong thought about the Crown Princess's ceremonial attire and
realized that it would indeed be uncomfortable to wear it on such a hot day.

"The weather gradually becomes cooler in July, but this month is still not
ideal," Wei Mingyue continued shaking her head, "December is too cold. In
my opinion, March of next year would be just right. It's neither too cold nor
too hot, and it signifies the revival of all things."

Next March? Doesn't that mean we have to wait for nearly a year?

That unfilial son of his wants to marry Fushou Junzhu every day and bring
her back to the Eastern Palace. As a father, he should strive and fight for his
son's happiness.

"Zhen thinks August this year looks good. The weather is pleasant, and it's
a time of harvest, which also has a good symbolism," Emperor Changlong
chuckled and turned to Hua Yingting, "General Hua, don't you agree?"

Hua Yingting looked at Emperor Changlong inexplicably and thought, Your

Majesty, I don't have an opinion. Besides, my opinion doesn't matter
anyway.
Seeing Hua Yingting's expression, Emperor Changlong knew that he
couldn't rely on this old friend. He gathered his courage and looked at Wei
Mingyue, "General Wei, when your daughter marries into the imperial
family, Zhen will treat her as my own daughter."

Hua Yingting began to ponder whether the Emperor's favoritism toward his
daughter was a good thing or not.

"August is indeed a good day, but..." Wei Mingyue looked at Emperor

Changlong with pity in her eyes. But why bother? If Liuli is married off to
the Eastern Palace early, the one who will suffer in the end is the Crown
Prince.

"As long as the Wei family has no objections, that's good," Emperor
Changlong clapped his hands, "Since we have reached an agreement, Zhen
will instruct the Astronomical Bureau to determine the auspicious date on
August 12th and let them calculate the most favorable time."

"Your Majesty..." Hua Yingting couldn't help but speak up, "This subject
thinks, Hi Royal Highness and this subject's daughter are both still young.
There's no need to rush to set the wedding date."

"A man should establish his family before pursuing a career. Once the
Crown Prince gets married, Zhen can also pass on some responsibilities to
him sooner," Emperor Changlong interrupted Hua Yingting, "Besides, the
Crown Prince is already twenty-one, not too young."

"But this subject's daughter is..."

"Although the Crown Prince is five years older than Fushou Junzhu, it's
better for him to be slightly older. If he's older, he will know how to take
care of others. Don't you think that makes sense?" Emperor Changlong
didn't expect Hua Yingting to raise objections. Speaking earnestly, he said,
"Hua Yingting, Zhen has been shouldering the burden of this vast imperial
palace alone for these years, and Zhen is tired. With you and General Wei as
Zhen's in-laws, Zhen can finally breathe a sigh of relief. We are not only
sovereign and subjects but also good friends. Please, for Zhen's sake, set the
wedding date."
For the sake of his son, Emperor Changlong could even resort to desperate
measures.

Hua Yingting had grievances he couldn't express. Your Majesty, I am only

thinking of your well-being, which is why I wanted to postpone the
wedding date.

"Everything will be done according to Your Majesty's wishes," After a

moment of silence, Wei Mingyue bowed to Emperor Changlong, "This
subject has no objections."

Hua Yingting looked at his wife, then at Emperor Changlong, who was
filled with anticipation. Slowly, he lowered his head, "This subject will
comply with Your Majesty's will."

Your Majesty, I have really done my best.

Please don't blame me if anything happens in the future.

After seeing off Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue, Emperor Changlong
finally breathed a sigh of relief. He wiped the cold sweat off his forehead
and said to Zhao Sancai, "Go and summon the Crown Prince."

As soon as the Crown Prince entered the Chongyang Palace, he saw

Emperor Changlong pointing to a pile of memorials, "Today, these
memorials are all handed over to you."

"Father Emperor, Erchen suddenly remembered that there are some matters
in the Eastern Palace..."

"Zhen has already discussed it with your future in-laws. The wedding is set
for August 12th. If you have any objections, Zhen can postpone it to March
next year," Emperor Changlong picked up a teacup and took a sip, "Zhen
has always favored you. Zhen can even change Zhen's mind for your sake."

The Crown Prince, who had already turned his back, instantly turned back.
He smiled and said, "Erchen made a mistake. There's nothing urgent in the
Eastern Palace. It is an honor for Erchen to help Father Emperor in reading
memorials."

He sat down at the table, picked up a vermilion brush, and started writing.

Emperor Changlong had a cup of tea.

Emperor Changlong had a plate of snacks.

Emperor Changlong went out and enjoyed some music for a while.

After listening to the music, he returned and looked at his son, who was
working diligently, with a sense of satisfaction in his heart. It was so
delightful to derive his own happiness from others' suffering.

"Father Emperor, have you really set the wedding date for Erchen?" The
Crown Prince pretended not to notice the bright smile on Emperor
Changlong's face and continued writing with his pen, "Erchen knows it.
Father Emperor's love for Erchen, is heavier than Mount Tai and broader
than the sea."

Emperor Changlong: "Heh."

Don't think that flattery will work on him.

The Crown Prince had been using this type of shallow flattery from the age
of three to twenty-one. As a father, Emperor Changlong had long grown
tired of it.

"Father Emperor, a few days ago, Erchen obtained a fine piece of jade and
had the craftsmen carve it into an auspicious beast," the Crown Prince
beamed with a smile, "Erchen had Zhao Sancai place it in your sleeping
chamber. If you like it, keep it. If not, you can throw it into the private
treasury."

Emperor Changlong remembered that when the Crown Prince was young,
whenever he got something new, he would always save a share for him.
Even when catching insects, he would intentionally catch an extra one to
bring back.
After a stick of incense, Emperor Changlong, seeing the Crown Prince
occasionally rubbing his wrist in pain, quietly sat back at the imperial desk
and picked up the imperial brush.

Forget it, children are always a burden.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 110 – The Kind-Hearted
Crown Prince

Inside the Imperial Academy, other imperial descendants were playing

outside in the courtyard while Xie Shizi sat silently in the corridor with a
lifeless expression.

"Xie Shizi," A distant relative from the imperial family approached him, "In
the afternoon, we're going to the martial arts field for horseback archery
practice. I heard General Wei will come to teach us. Are you going?"

Xie Shizi was not good at horseback archery and did not enjoy learning it.
However, after entering the Imperial Academy, he discovered that the
imperial relatives in the capital all had some martial arts skills. Some even
took pride in excelling in both literature and martial arts. Among them, a
young Shizi had learned a great sword technique, making him popular in
the academy.

"I'll go." Xie Shizi knew he couldn't be willful. Besides trying to appear
sociable, he didn't know what else he could do.

Although the others in the academy treated him politely on the surface, he
could tell that most of them didn't dare to have close contact with him. This
was his first experience of the fickleness of human relationships and the
hypocrisy of the imperial relatives.

During lunchtime, everyone gathered in small groups, holding their food

boxes and chatting happily. Xie Shizi sat in the corner, unable to taste the
food, worrying about his parents who were under house arrest, and his
second sister who was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice.
"Have you heard? This afternoon, not only will General Wei come to teach
us in the martial arts field, but the Crown Prince and several princes will
also be here," a young nobleman said, "I heard the Fourth Prince and Fifth
Prince are going to be enfeoffed and establish their own estates. They need
some peers to serve as subordinates, and His Royal Highness the Crown
Prince will come to choose subordinates for the two princes."

Although some of them had distant connections to the imperial family, they
were not from prominent families. Being able to serve in the estates of the
titled princes was considered a decent career path.

The fact that the Crown Prince would personally select the deputies for the
two princes showed Emperor Changlong's trust and value placed in the
Crown Prince.

Xie Shizi felt more fear than respect for the Crown Prince. Due to his guilty
conscience and fear, he couldn't lift his head in front of the Crown Prince,
especially when he thought about how close the Crown Prince had come to
being harmed by his second sister.

He suddenly regretted it. If he had known that the Crown Prince would
come, he wouldn't have agreed to go to the martial arts field in the
afternoon. Unfortunately, given his current situation, if he really didn't go, it
would be seen as having ulterior motives by others.

No wonder someone had invited him to the martial arts field. They knew
the Crown Prince would come and had called him there just to watch the
joke.

Xie Shizi wished the lunch break would be longer, but no matter how
unwilling he was, he ended up standing on the martial arts field.

He couldn't pull the bow.

He couldn't wield the sword.

He couldn't even perform the basic strengthening martial arts.

He knew that the people around him were secretly laughing at him, but he
no longer cared about these flaws. He could only secretly pray in his heart,
hoping that the Crown Prince wouldn't come.

Sitting on the horse, his mind was restless, and he didn't even hold the reins
tightly. With a scream, he realized that the horse he was riding seemed to
have gone crazy.

How could these docile horses suddenly go mad?

Was someone trying to kill him?

Who?!

The Crown Prince or the Hua family?!

The horse tossed him around, making Xie Shizi nauseous. Just when he
couldn't hold onto the reins any longer and was about to fall off the horse,
someone rushed over on a horse and lifted him up from mid-air.

"Xie Shizi, are you okay?"

The person helped him down from the horse. In his dizziness, he saw the
appearance of the person who had come to his rescue.

It was General Wei Mingyue, whom his mother disliked very much.

Did she save him?

Thinking that he had just been suspecting the Hua family, Xie Shizi felt
extremely embarrassed, his face turning red, "Thank you, General Wei, for
saving my life."

"This horse has heatstroke," Wei Mingyue frowned, "Who is responsible for
these horses? How come they didn't detect the illness?!"

The stablehands' faces turned pale. These horses were exclusively provided
for the use of the imperial relatives. If anything happened to them, no one
would be able to bear the responsibility. They carefully selected these
horses every day, so how did a sick horse manage to get mixed in today?

"Bring everyone here," Wei Mingyue flicked the horsewhip in her hand and
sneered, "You dare not take the safety of the imperial relatives to heart, is
there anything you're not afraid to do?!"

The attendants responsible for the martial arts field saw Wei Mingyue's
anger and quickly knelt down, begging for mercy.

The young nobles among them looked at Wei Mingyue with admiration in
their eyes. General Wei was truly awe-inspiring.

"Mother, what happened?" Hua Liuli walked into the martial arts field and
saw her own mother's unpleasant expression. Beside her was a young
eunuch supporting the unsteady Xie Shizi while the attendants in the martial
arts field were all kneeling. Seeing this, she realized that something might
have gone wrong.

"Why are you here?" Wei Mingyue saw that the Crown Prince had brought
Hua Liuli over, feeling helpless and amused at the same time. The Crown
Prince had come today to select subordinates for the two princes. Bringing
along Hua Liuli to join them, was it to let the princes get used to having
Hua Liuli as their sister-in-law in advance?

Hua Liuli gave a flattering smile, "I accompanied His Royal Highness to
have a look."

She didn't like to meddle in the affairs of younger generations, so she

wouldn't interfere in her daughter's interactions with the Crown Prince. She
bowed to the Crown Prince, "Your Royal Highness, the sick horse in the
martial arts field nearly injured Xie Shizi."

How could a mad horse appear in the imperial martial arts field?

The Crown Prince and Hua Liuli exchanged a glance, understanding that
there must be a conspiracy behind this.
If Xie Shizi had been seriously injured, considering the nature of those
noble families in the capital who liked to speculate on matters for no
reason, the blame would likely fall on the Crown Prince or the Hua family.

Why did Xie Shizi fall just when they arrived here?

It was definitely intentional bullying.

Some people just liked to sympathize with the weak unconditionally,

without reason or principles, in order to demonstrate their misplaced
kindness.

Fortunately, her mother arrived in time and saved Xie Shizi.

Now it turned into General Wei putting aside the grievances of the older
generation and courageously rescuing the enemy's son during a crisis. The
daughter of Xie had hired an assassin to kill her, but her mother repaid
enmity with virtue and saved Xie Shizi. What a noble sentiment and moral
character!

It was worthy of praise and admiration from everyone!

Whoever planned this behind the scenes, shouldn't they have been driven to
madness with how it all played out in the end?

Of course, it would be even better if they were driven to death.

Without hesitation, the Crown Prince called the Golden Armor Guards to
take away all the attendants and hand them over to the Ministry of Justice
for interrogation.

"The purpose of Gu's visit today is probably clear to everyone present," the
Crown Prince sat down on the intricately carved chair and looked at the
imperial relatives, "Any skills or strengths you may have, you can speak
up."

The Crown Prince then turned his head towards his two younger brothers,
"Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, you can choose for yourselves."
Imperial relatives: "..."

Why did they feel like they were radishes waiting for a rabbit to pick them?

The Fourth Prince raised his eyelids slightly and quickly lowered them
again, "It's up to the Crown Prince to decide."

"Since the Fourth Brother has no preferences, then Gu can choose for you,"
the Crown Prince scanned the faces of the others and pointed to a few
outstanding young men, "Among you, who is good at communication?"

The imperial relatives were a bit confused. What were the standards for
being good at communication?

"Gu's Fourth Brother here, he usually doesn't like to socialize or talk to

people. Gu wants to choose two lively and eloquent individuals for him,"
the Crown Prince pointed at one of them, "You seem clever, go stand
behind the Fourth Prince."

"Thank you, Crown Prince," the person chosen by the Crown Prince
expressed joy on his face and paid his respects to the Fourth Prince,
"Greetings to the Fourth Prince."

"Hmm," the Fourth Prince refused to speak.

He had an impression of this imperial relative that was chosen as one of his
subordinates. He came from an upright family background and had no
involvement with other factions, but... he was talkative.

As someone who didn't like to speak, he really didn't want to have two
subordinates who talked too much.

But would the Crown Prince accommodate his wishes?

Of course, he wouldn't.

Not only did the Crown Prince choose two more subordinates for the Fourth
Prince, but each of them was talkative by nature.
The Fourth Prince couldn't help but suspect that the Crown Prince was
retaliating for his past indifference.

When they were young, the Crown Prince, just a few years old, took the
initiative to talk to him, but he couldn't be bothered to respond. Since then,
the Crown Prince had never approached him for a conversation. Over the
years, they had been peaceful with each other, and he thought that the
Crown Prince had long forgotten about their childhood encounter.

But it turned out he was waiting for this opportunity.

"Third Brother," ever since the Hundred Nations Banquet, the Fifth Prince
had become closer to the Crown Prince. Seeing that the Crown Prince had
finished selecting deputies for the Fourth Prince, he quickly raised his
request for deputies, "This younger brother wants a few people who are
skilled in painting and knowledgeable about art."

The Crown Prince turned his head and gave him a suspicious look before
falling into silence for a moment, "Alright."

However, the imperial relatives noticed that out of the four subordinates
chosen by the Crown Prince for the Fifth Prince, only two were skilled in
painting. The other two had a major talent... that was, sweet-talking and
charming people to make them smile from ear to ear.

Regardless of the special talents possessed by these eight individuals

selected by the Crown Prince, they all had one thing in common: their
families had a clean background, with no outspoken or staunch elders.

Not a single member among these imperial relatives showed any inclination
toward supporting the Crown Prince.

Wei Mingyue looked at the Crown Prince with appreciation. No wonder the
Emperor never wavered in his choice for the heir to the throne. Governing a
nation required someone with a broad mind.

No one is perfect, and there can never be a perfect emperor, but the Crown
Prince possessed the qualities of a good emperor.
After selecting subordinates for the two princes, the Crown Prince didn't
leave immediately. Instead, he showcased his impressive archery and
swordsmanship skills to the imperial relatives, leaving a lasting impression
on his future mother-in-law. Only then did he politely bid farewell.

Wei Mingyue spoke with a gentle expression, "Take care, Your Royal
Highness."

Hua Liuli looked at the Crown Prince, then at Wei Mingyue, and smiled
obediently, "Mother, I'll stay here to keep you company."

"The arena is dusty, and you're not in good health. Staying here for too long
will make you cough," Wei Mingyue didn't want to disturb her precious
little flower pig's plans. She smiled at the Crown Prince, "Your Royal
Highness, please take good care of this subordinate's daughter."

"Gu is delighted to do so," the Crown Prince observed the gaze of his future
mother-in-law and felt assured that she was satisfied with him.

Hua Liuli happily took the Crown Prince's hand and left the training
ground. Curiously, she asked, "Your Royal Highness, why did you choose
talkative subordinates for the Fourth Prince."

"I was worried that the Fourth Brother would stay silent all day, which
would be bad for his health," the Crown Prince had a gentle smile, "Having
a few subordinates who enjoy talking and joking is good for him."

"I see," Hua Liuli sighed emotionally, "Your Royal Highness, you are truly
kind to your imperial brothers."

The Crown Prince was so kind, yet there were still some court officials who
would often point out his shortcomings. They were really nitpicking.

Her pitiful Crown Prince had endured countless grievances since childhood.

Thinking of this, Hua Liuli held the Crown Prince's hand tenderly, "Don't be
so kind in the future."
The Crown Prince showed a tolerant smile, "In the future, they will
understand my intentions."

Back then, the Fourth Brother ignored him, and now the Crown Prince
wanted the Fourth Brother to be bothered to the point of tears.

"If they misbehave in the future, I will help you teach them a lesson," Hua
Liuli said, "You are the Crown Prince. If the other princes do something
wrong, you should discipline them instead of always indulging them."

"Junzhu," a eunuch attendant from the Eastern Palace interjected, "Please

forgive this old servant for speaking out of turn, but the Crown Prince has
endured many grievances over the years."

"Don't talk nonsense," the Crown Prince interrupted the eunuch attendant,
"What do you servants know?"

"Although this old servant may not understand, I have eyes," the eunuch
attendant said, "This old servant can see the grievances Your Royal
Highness has endured, which makes this old servant's heart ache, not to
mention Junzhu..."

"Since you know that it would upset Junzhu, then don't bring it up," the
Crown Prince said coldly, "Go down and receive ten lashes. If you dare to
speak out of turn again, don't stay in the Eastern Palace to serve."

Although the eunuch attendant didn't mention the grievances the Crown
Prince had endured in the past, it was enough to make Hua Liuli feel
distressed. She tightly held the Crown Prince's hand, vowing to be even
better to him in the future.

She wouldn't let him suffer any grievances from here on.

Hearing that the Crown Prince had chosen a few subordinates for her son,
Consort Lin summoned the Fourth Prince to ask him about the people the
Crown Prince had selected.
The Fourth Prince raised his chin, signaling his personal eunuch to speak on
his behalf.

After the eunuch by the Fourth Prince's side finished mentioning the names
of the chosen individuals, Consort Lin nodded slowly. "Although these
individuals don't have the identities I anticipated, at least they are not
affiliated with the Crown Prince. I knew that even if the Crown Prince is
audacious, he wouldn't dare to place spies around you under the eyes of
your father, the Emperor."

Unfortunately, the Emperor didn't allow her to intervene in this matter.

Otherwise, the people she chose would undoubtedly be better than those
chosen by the Crown Prince.

The Fourth Prince glanced at Consort Lin and suddenly waved his hand,
signaling all the palace maids in the room to withdraw, "Mother, I have
something to say."

Rarely did she ever see her son take the initiative to speak to her, so Consort
Lin didn't hesitate to have the others leave.

"Mother, do you know about the incident in the side hall involving the
Crown Prince on the night of the Hundred Nations Banquet?" The Fourth
Prince looked at Consort Lin, observing her reaction.

Consort Lin remained calm, "What are you talking about?"

"I just wanted to advise you to be cautious. The Crown Prince... holds
grudges. Don't do something that Mother would regret in the future," the
Fourth Prince furrowed his brow.

"I am well aware," Concubine Lin said with a stern expression, "You just
need to please your father and not concern yourself with anything else."

The Fourth Prince furrowed his brow, "Mother, Father Emperor is a wise
monarch. He treats me well."
He was not talkative, and his father never pressured him. Whenever his
father bestowed gifts upon his other brothers, he would never forget to send
him something as well.

Despite his gloomy personality, his father never showed even a hint of
disdain toward him

"Treats you well?" Consort Lin's tone suddenly became sharp, "Has your
father ever treated you the same way the Crown Prince had been treated?!"

She and Consort Hui entered the palace in the same year. The Emperor
treated Consort Hui just like anyone else. When the Crown Prince was
born, his health was not the best, so she never could understand why the
Emperor favored this sickly child so much.

In terms of appearance, Consort Hui couldn't compare to her. In terms of

talent, Consort Hui was inferior to her. So why did the Emperor choose to
dote on the child born to Consort Hui?

"Mother," the Fourth Prince looked at Consort Lin with a pair of gloomy
eyes, "The Crown Prince is better-looking than me."

Consort Lin: "..."

The Fourth Prince continued, "Since childhood, the Crown Prince has
always been favored by Father Emperor."

Consort Lin: "..."

The Fourth Prince spoke seriously, "Father treats all of his sons well, but he
treats the Crown Prince even better. Isn't that normal?"

Consort Lin took a deep breath, reminding herself not to get angry.

Anger accelerates aging.

"Why did I give birth to a son like you?!"

"You asked this question fourteen years ago," the Fourth Prince looked at
Consort Lin with his dark eyes, "Even I don't know."

Consort Lin was startled. He was only three years old at that time. How
could he remember the words she complained to herself?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 111 – Snacks

Consort Lin still remembered the time when she and Consort Shu gave birth
to princes in the same year. When she discovered that the Fifth Prince, who
was half a year younger than her own son, could already speak fluently
while her son couldn't even say "Father" and showed no interest in laughter
or playfulness, she couldn't help but complain in front of her son to the
close palace maids.

"Neither I nor my elder brother are foolish people, so how did I end up
giving birth to an idiot who can't even speak?!"

Consort Lin vaguely remembered that she had complained like this.

She was born in poverty and didn't have the same wealthy and
knowledgeable background as Consort Xian and Consort Rong. It was a
joyous occasion for her to finally give birth to a son. However, that
happiness turned into resentment when her son turned three and still
couldn't speak.

Why did it have to be her son with problems?

Why did it have to be her?

At that time, she felt that the entire harem was mocking her for giving birth
to a foolish son. She even felt that this foolish and dull son was her shame.

Later, it was the Emperor who brought him into the Chengyang Palace for a
period of time and renamed him Qichen.

The Emperor said that the name Qichen represented a new beginning and
conveyed hope and blessings. The child was still young, perhaps he was
just a late bloomer in terms of intelligence.
Unexpectedly, after the Emperor brought Qichen to the Chengyang Palace
and raised him together with the Crown Prince for some time, Qichen
actually learned to speak.

According to the palace maids in the Chengyang Palace, Qichen was

originally playing with a wooden horse in the corner when he overheard the
Crown Prince's tutor speaking continuously. Unable to bear it any longer, he
suddenly spoke up and said, "Shut up."

Since then, although Qichen still didn't like to talk, everyone stopped
calling him a fool behind his back.

Consort Lin had already forgotten about this old story, or rather, she
deliberately wanted to forget that time which was a great humiliation for
her. However, she never expected that Qichen would still remember this.

She looked at her expressionless son with a pale face, "Qichen, what I said
back then was just out of anger. Don't take it to heart. Your mother loves
you. I will help you reclaim anything you want."

The Fourth Prince looked at Consort Lin calmly, "Mother, I could

remember things from an early age," He could understand adults' words
from an early age and sensibly perceive the emotions of people around him.
However, talking was too tiring for him, and he didn't want to talk to these
mediocre people.

He didn't like Consort Lin, but he didn't feel any resentment either. Who
said that a mother must love her own child?

He just didn't like Consort Lin wrapping her ambitions in a cloak of

motherly love and imposing them on him.

There wasn't much, to begin with, so why bother to force oneself to be a

loving mother?

"Life is short, Mother, you don't need to burden yourself," the Fourth
Prince's eyes were pitch black, "I don't want to be the Crown Prince, nor do
I want to be the Emperor. Mother, there's no need to waste your efforts."
There were so many fools in the court. If he had to talk to them every day, it
would be a fate worse than death.

Consort Lin suddenly understood that she couldn't hide anything from her
son. Her ambitions, her lies, and even all her disguises were seen through
by him.

She felt like a fool, performing in a ridiculous manner. And her son just
looked at her calmly, without any emotions, reactions, or even a normal
person's anger.

What kind of monster had she given birth to?!

Consort Lin felt extremely embarrassed, almost furious, "Are you a

monster? All these years, have you been watching me make a fool of
myself?!"

The Fourth Prince furrowed his brow. Facing his mother's reprimands, he
didn't show the slightest sign of sadness on his face, "Even if I am a
monster, you cannot blame me because you gave me."

Consort Lin trembled with anger. Her many years of scheming had turned
into nothing but a joke. She spoke without thinking, "If I had known you
were a monster, I shouldn't have given birth to you."

After this outburst of anger, Consort Lin realized what she had said. She
looked at her only son in a panic, not knowing what to say to salvage this
already false mother-son relationship.

After a moment of silence, the Fourth Prince simply said, "Oh."

"It's alright," A tiny smile appeared at the corner of the Fourth Prince's
mouth, "The Emperor told me back then that I was a gift from heaven to
him. The Crown Prince also said that although I may be a bit slow, he
wouldn't let others bully me."

"Although you hoped to never give birth to me, at least there are two people
in the palace who wish for my well-being," Seeing Consort Lin's expression
turning uglier, the Fourth Prince comforted her openly, "Don't get angry just
because others have different opinions from you. There are too many people
in this world with different views from yours, and you won't be able to get
angry at all of them."

Consort Lin's emotions collapsed, "Leave my palace!"

The Fourth Prince glanced at Consort Lin, whose face contorted with rage,
and obediently left.

Leaving Consort Lin's palace, the Fourth Prince felt that the night was
beautiful. He dismissed the idea of taking a sedan chair back to his own
palace and walked slowly with his hands behind his back.

The stars in the sky were shining brightly, but there was no sign of the
moon.

"Fourth Prince?" Hua Liuli held a lantern and was surprised to see the
Fourth Prince walking alone on the palace path. She asked, "Why is Your
Highness alone here? Why are there no palace attendants attending Your
Highness?"

The Fourth Prince turned his head and looked behind him, then shook his
head slowly, "Benwang doesn't know."

Hua Liuli sighed and brought the lantern closer, illuminating the path for
the Fourth Prince, "I will be worried if Your Highness walks alone in the
palace. Allow me to accompany Your Highness back."

The Fourth Prince looked at Hua Liuli's fair cheeks, "You're younger than
Benwang."

"Your Highness is a prince, it is my duty to protect Your Highness," Hua

Liuli chuckled. Seeing that the Fourth Prince didn't want to say a word, she
said directly, "Let's go."

The Fourth Prince thought that Fushou Junzhu would soon become the
Crown Princess, which meant that she would soon be his third sister-in-law.
It was reasonable for his third sister-in-law to escort him back to his palace.

Yuan Yi and Yurong followed behind the Fourth Prince, protecting him
closely. It wasn't that they were overly cautious, but there were too many
assassins in the capital city recently, which forced them to be vigilant.

"Your Highness seems unhappy. Did something happen?" Hua Liuli saw
that the Fourth Prince had been silent the whole time, not even speaking
when a fruit fell on his head from a tree, so she couldn't help but ask.

"Unhappy?" The Fourth Prince stopped and looked at Hua Liuli with a
puzzled expression. He reached out and touched his own face, "Not
unhappy."

Hua Liuli looked up at the sky, "Then why was Your Highness looking up
at the sky just now? Was Your Highness looking at the stars?"

"Yes."

"In that case, why not come to the viewing platform with me? It's the best
place to enjoy the night scenery."

"Not suitable," the Fourth Prince glanced at Hua Liuli. As a younger

brother-in-law, how could he go to watch the stars with his future sister-in-
law? The Crown Prince held grudges, and it could bring trouble.

"Your Highness misunderstood," although the Fourth Prince didn't show

much expression, Hua Liuli surprisingly understood his thoughts from his
dark eyes, "The Crown Prince is also at the viewing platform."

If the Crown Prince was also at the viewing platform, then he definitely
couldn't go. The Crown Prince liked Fushou Junzhu so much, and if he
went there at this time, the Crown Prince might add a few talkative
subordinates to assist him.

"No," the Fourth Prince shook his head repeatedly.

Leading a peaceful life was not easy, but he felt that the current situation
was just fine.
"Liuli?" The Crown Prince had been waiting for Hua Liuli for a while and
came down from the viewing platform. He saw the Fourth Prince with Hua
Liuli and gave the Fourth Prince a closer look.

As the Crown Prince's gaze met his, the Fourth Prince took a step back,
feeling unsafe, and took another step back. After thinking for a moment, he
took three more steps back.

Hua Liuli looked at the distance between herself and the Fourth Prince and
raised an eyebrow.

Did she look like a villain who would eat people?

"Why is Fourth Brother here?" The Crown Prince approached and held Hua
Liuli's hand. Seeing that there was no attendant around the Fourth Prince,
he asked, "Where are the people who attend to you?"

The Fourth Prince shook his head.

The Crown Prince frowned and said to the attendant eunuch behind him,
"Have the people from the Palace Administration investigate. Those palace
attendants who are negligent in their duties cannot stay by the Fourth
Prince's side. Replace all the people who were attending to the Fourth
Prince tonight."

Although his brothers were all odd characters, he was the only one who
could find fault with them. He couldn't tolerate others mistreating them.

Upon hearing that the Crown Prince intended to punish the attendants by
his side, the Fourth Prince didn't react. He remained silent, lowered his
head, and still had that gloomy expression.

Just as they were about to have someone accompany him back to his palace
to rest, the Fourth Prince suddenly looked up at the Crown Prince, "Third
Brother, I want to see the stars."

The Crown Prince stared at the Fourth Prince for a moment and nodded,
"Come with Gu."
The Fourth Prince silently followed behind the Crown Prince. If he didn't
speak, he would hardly be noticed. He looked up at the Crown Prince
holding hands with Fushou Junzhu and felt somewhat puzzled.

The Crown Prince usually had a bad temper and spoke rudely, so why was
he completely different when he was with Fushou Junzhu?

Could this be what they called affection?

As they climbed the stairs to the viewing platform, the Fourth Prince saw
the Crown Prince bend down and naturally lift the hem of Fushou Junzhu's
dress, then hold her hand as they ascended slowly.

The Crown Prince's behavior was so beyond his expectations that he had
forgotten about looking at the stars.

After they finally reached the viewing platform, the Fourth Prince saw
Fushou Junzhu taking out a small bag of snacks and giving half of it to the
Crown Prince.

She then handed the other half to him.

Snacks like these, he had eaten them during the few months when he was
raised in the Chenyang Palace after being taken in by Father Emperor. After
his mother brought him back, he never touched these things again.

He glanced at the Crown Prince and reached out to take the snacks.
Following the Crown Prince's lead, he sat on the stone bench at the viewing
platform and slowly enjoyed eating the snacks.

Hua Liuli sat down next to the Crown Prince. She glanced at the Fourth
Prince sitting on the other side and smiled, "Your Royal Highness, don't we
look like children sitting in a row, sharing snacks?"

"Mmm," The Crown Prince nodded and smiled, "In my heart, you will
always be a child who needs protection."

The Fourth Prince shifted his buttocks slightly to the side of the bench,
expressing through his actions that he found these words somewhat cheesy.
He remembered when he was in the Chenyang Palace, the Crown Prince
would divide the date pastries with him. Their father didn't allow them to
eat many snacks, so there was always a limited amount.

Every time they divided the pastries, he found that the Crown Prince would
take two or three more from the share. However, the Crown Prince would
always leave these extra snacks he took for himself to their father.

At that time, he didn't understand why the Crown Prince did that. The
snacks were given to them by their father in the first place. Why would he
want to give them to their father?

What he couldn't understand even more was that their father was always
happy about it, as though the snacks the Crown Prince left for him were
something rare and precious.

Now he understood why. He no longer found it strange why their father

favored the Crown Prince a lot.

What was more peculiar were those court officials who wished for his
father to depose the Crown Prince. Why would these outsiders hope for a
strained father-son relationship? Wasn't that immoral?

"Fourth Prince, would you like more?" Hua Liuli noticed that the Fourth
Prince had silently finished all the snacks and took out another handful
from the pouch, "Here."

Seeing the beaming smile of Fushou Junzhu, the Fourth Prince accepted the
snacks and turned his head to see the Crown Prince's gaze fixed on him. His
mind flashed, "Thank you, Third Sister-in-law."

"Huh?" Hua Liuli thought there was something wrong with her ears.

"Fourth Brother is still young and sometimes speaks without thinking. Don't
take it to heart," the Crown Prince said with a smile that understood
people's feelings, "Liuli, don't be mad at him, okay?"
Hua Liuli coughed and pretended as if nothing had happened, looking up at
the sky, "Your Royal Highness, look, a shooting star just passed by."

The Fourth Prince also looked up, but he only saw the tail of the shooting
star.

He glanced at the Crown Prince, eating the snacks given by Fushou Junzhu,
and his lips curved slightly upwards.

The Crown Prince turned his head to look at the Fourth Prince, his crooked
smile was slightly more pleasant than when he didn't smile at all.

In the Chenyang Palace, Emperor Changlong sighed after looking at the

investigation report on the night of the Hundred Nations Banquet for a long
time.

"Zhao Sancai, summon Consort Lin without alarming others."

"Yes," Zhao Sancai looked at Emperor Changlong with concern and

respectfully withdrew from the room.

Two-quarters of an hour later, Consort Lin pushed open the half-closed door
and saw Emperor Changlong sitting upright. The smile on her face
gradually disappeared.

"Greetings to Your Majesty."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 112 – Consort Lin

"You've come?" Emperor Changlong saw Consort Lin and pointed to the
chair in the room, "Take a seat and let's talk." After saying that, he had all
the other attendants in the room leave.

The chair was cushioned, but when Consort Lin sat down, she felt
somewhat stiff and awkward.

"Do you know why Zhen summoned you here?" Emperor Changlong asked,
looking at her.

Upon hearing this, Consort Lin lowered her head and said, "Chenqie doesn't
know."

When she used every means to enter the palace, she thought that with her
beauty, she would surely be favored among all the concubines and consorts.
But she realized that although Emperor Changlong treated her well, he
didn't favor any particular woman in the harem.

"In truth, Zhen didn't want to see you among the people Zhen had to meet
tonight," Emperor Changlong looked at the woman before him. He had
known Consort Lin for over twenty years and didn't want their relationship
to end on an embarrassing note.

Consort Lin's heart trembled. She looked up at Emperor Changlong and

pursed her lips without saying a word.

Does the Emperor know about the things she had done...?

"Have Zhen ever treated you poorly?" Emperor Changlong looked at

Consort Lin with disappointment and regret in his eyes, which ultimately
turned into calmness, "Consort Lin, Zhen has chosen a title for Qichen's
noble rank. It is 'Cheng'. This child has a loyal heart and Zhen believes
'Cheng' suits him well."

'Cheng' was a good name. Consort Lin stood up and bowed, "Thank you,
Your Majesty."

Since the Emperor was willing to bestow a royal title on her son, and he
even carefully selected the title, it meant that the Emperor had not grown
tired of Qichen. He also didn't know about the things she had done
privately.

Then why did the Emperor summon her? Could it be that the other women
in the palace were plotting against her?

"You don't need to thank Zhen. Zhen is Qichen's father, and it is a father's
responsibility to consider his son's future," Emperor Changlong tried to see
a hint of guilt or fear on Consort Lin's face, but all he saw was a perfect
smile.

"Zhen remembers when we coincidentally met outside the palace. You said
you admired Zhen and insisted on entering the palace with Zhen," Emperor
Changlong said. Consort Lin was just an eighteen-year-old girl at that time.
Despite knowing that he already had other consorts in the palace, she had
willing to follow him.

It was his fault. If he hadn't agreed to her request back then, perhaps she
would have remained the talented woman that she was, instead of getting
buried under endless ambition.

"Because, Your Majesty, you don't know how handsome you are," Consort
Lin curved her lips, "Among all the scholars, Your Majesty is the most
extraordinary presence."

Over all these years, she was most proud of recognizing Emperor
Changlong's identity back then, approaching him, and convincing him to
accept her into the palace.
If she hadn't entered the palace, perhaps she would have married a humble
scholar and lived a struggling life.

"All these years, have you been doing well in the palace?" Emperor
Changlong looked into Consort Lin's beautiful eyes, "Zhen is not a gentle
and considerate man. Zhen has caused you a lot of suffering over the years."

"No, Your Majesty has always treated Chenqie well," Although Consort Lin
resented Emperor Changlong's favoritism toward the Crown Prince, she had
to admit that the Emperor treated all the consorts in the harem well.

He was not a lustful emperor. The number of consorts in the harem was the
fewest among the emperors throughout the history of the Jin Dynasty. He
was also a responsible husband.

"Zhen thought you held resentment in your heart towards Zhen, which led
you to do these things," Emperor Changlong placed the gathered evidence
in front of Consort Lin, "Consort Lin, what do you want?"

Trembling, Consort Lin picked up the documents. She only glanced at the
top few pages and felt overwhelmed. Her mind buzzed, and it took her a
while to find her voice, "Since Your Majesty already knows, there is
nothing more for Chenqie to say."

"Zhen deeply regrets it."

"You regret letting Chenqie enter the palace, Your Majesty?" Consort Lin
asked with a sarcastic smile.

"Yes," Emperor Changlong nodded slowly, "Zhen regrets letting you enter
the palace, making you one of the women in the harem."

"Hah!" Consort Lin chuckled self-mockingly. The thing she was most proud
of had become the thing he regretted the most. Was her life nothing but a
joke?

"Although you were born into a humble family, you were well-read and
insightful," Emperor Changlong sighed, "If Zhen hadn't let you enter the
palace back then, you wouldn't have developed these ambitions or walked
this path."

Consort Lin froze. She looked at the man she had never had feelings for
before and felt an uncomfortable sensation for the first time. It was like a
web tightly entangling her; she wanted to cry, but tears wouldn't come.

"All these years, you have always been gentle and considerate towards
Zhen. No matter what Zhen did, you would always approve," Emperor
Changlong stood up and walked to the window, facing away from Consort
Lin, "Zhen will take good care of Qichen. From now on, you will live a
secluded life in the palace, never coming out or having contact with
Qichen."

"Your Majesty wants to confine Chenqie?" Consort Lin snapped back to

reality. She looked at Emperor Changlong's back, tears streaming down her
cheeks, "Your Majesty, Chenqie knows Chenqie was wrong. Chenqie begs
your forgiveness this time. Qichen has not yet married. He has not left the
palace to establish his own estate. Please, for the sake of our child, spare
Chenqie this once."

In the past, if she had cried like this, the Emperor would always soften his
heart for her.

But this time, Emperor Changlong didn't turn around to look at her.

"Consort Lin, if you had considered Qichen even a little before doing these
things, Zhen wouldn't have treated you like this," Emperor Changlong's
voice carried exhaustion, "You, leave."

Consort Lin knew that if she took that step back, she would no longer be the
esteemed Consort Lin.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Consort Lin crawled to Emperor

Changlong's side, clinging to his leg, and begged, "Your Majesty, please
don't treat Chenqie like this."
Emperor Changlong closed his eyes, refusing to look at her pitiful
appearance, "Linfei, Zhen treats every consort in the harem well, but Zhen's
bottom line is Zhen's children."

Seeing that Emperor Changlong remained unmoved, Consort Lin's heart

gradually sank. She knew that Emperor Changlong was a gentle yet
decisive man. He could tolerate the small mistakes of his children, consorts,
and even court official, but once he made up his mind, no one could change
it.

No, there was someone who could change his mind before— the Crown
Prince.

Knowing that she couldn't make Emperor Changlong revoke his decision,
Consort Lin suddenly became calm. She wiped away the tears on her face
and spoke calmly, "In Your Majesty's heart, you still favor Consort Hui the
most."

Emperor Changlong remained silent.

"Chenqie and Consort Hui entered the palace in the same year. Her son
became the Crown Prince, while Chenqie's child is still just an imperial
prince without a title," Consort Lin sneered, "Is it really that Your Majesty
cannot tolerate Chenqie's ambition, or that Your Majesty cannot tolerate
Chenqie's scheming against the Crown Prince?"

"The Crown Prince has been spoiled by Your Majesty to the point of
dereliction, disrespecting ministers of the court, and arbitrarily replacing
officials in the Eastern Palace's council. Not only did Your Majesty not
blame him, but Your Majesty even selected the daughter of Hua Yingting as
the Crown Princess," Consort Lin's emotions suddenly spiraled out of
control, and she asked loudly, "Neither of us was the Empress, so why did
Your Majesty let Consort Hui's son become the Crown Prince?"

"You claim not to favor anyone, but in reality, you bestowed her the title of
'Favored'1Hui means Favored. Consort Hui can also be called Favored
Consort., what about Chenqie?" Consort Lin pointed to her chest, "We both
come from humble origins. Your Majesty gave her a title, while Chenqie is
only identified by my surname. Is Chenqie destined to be inferior to her?!"

Emperor Changlong opened his eyes and looked at the resentful and
indignant Consort Lin. After a long while, he finally spoke, "Zhen
remembered when we first met, you said that the Lin surname was a noble
gift given by your father, and Zhen believed you."

Buzz.

Consort Lin felt as if something was roaring in her mind. She staggered a
few steps and collapsed weakly on the ground. She had forgotten what she
had said back then to catch the Emperor's attention. How could she
remember those words she casually uttered?

"Your Majesty is lying to Chenqie!" Consort Lin shouted hoarsely, her

voice strained, "Your Majesty is lying to Chenqie!"

Zhao Sancai, who stood outside the palace doors, heard Consort Lin's
howling. He waved his folded fan and sighed softly, shaking his head.

Why stir up so much trouble when things were going well? What was the
point?

Consort Lin had never thought that there was anything wrong with
scheming for her child. The Emperor favored Consort Hui, and even if she
died, it was her son that he loved the most. If she didn't scheme, where
would she find her place in the harem?

She was unwilling to be just a consort, and she was unwilling for her son to
be a prince without a position.

They were all the Emperor's sons, so why was Ji Yuansu superior?

"It's impossible. Your Majesty, you clearly favor Consort Hui..." It seemed
that only by proving the Emperor's favoritism towards the deceased Consort
Hui could she convince herself that everything she had done was not wrong.

In the spacious hall, there was only Consort Lin's resentful howling.
Consort Lin gradually quieted down. She wiped the tears from her face and
looked at Emperor Changlong, "Your Majesty... What will be Chenqie's
punishment?"

Emperor Changlong sighed.

That sigh was like a knife, stabbing straight into Consort Lin's heart.

Looking at the Emperor's back, she suddenly recalled their first meeting,
when he wore a light-colored brocade robe and smiled like an immortal day
in the mortal world.

With his radiance, she couldn't help but take a few more glances at him.

She remembered it now. At that moment, her heart skipped a beat.

That charming young man, anyone would want to take a second look.

"You may leave," Emperor Changlong waved his hand wearily, "One day as
husband and wife, a hundred days of grace. Zhen doesn't want to kill you.
You're ill and need to recuperate. Zhen will send someone to take good care
of you."

"Very well," Consort Lin trembled as she spoke, kowtowed to Emperor

Changlong, "Chenqie will take leave."

Emperor Changlong remained with his back turned to her. Moonlight

illuminated his figure, casting a long shadow behind him.

That shadow kept extending, extending until it reached right in front of

Consort Lin.

She suddenly asked, "Your Majesty, when Chenqie gave birth to Qichen, he
couldn't speak or cry. Did Your Majesty ever despise Chenqie for it?"

"Never."

The dark shadow stirred, but its owner still didn't turn around.
"Zhen has never blamed you, nor has Zhen ever despised the child. He is
Zhen's child, a gift bestowed upon Zhen by the heavens. As a father, how
could Zhen despise his arrival?"

"Chenqie understands," Consort Lin stood up in a daze, stumbling as she

walked towards the door.

The palace doors creaked open, revealing a brilliant display of lights

outside. She turned around to look at Emperor Changlong's back, "Your
Majesty..."

She wanted to say something, but she realized that she had nothing to say.

Crossing the tall threshold, Consort Lin exited the hall.

"Farewell to Consort Lin."

Consort Lin halted her steps and glanced at the palace attendants outside the
main hall of the Chengyang Palace. Suddenly, she let out a laugh, then
turned and disappeared into the night.

Emperor Changlong stood by the window, not moving for a long time. Zhao
Sancai bowed and closed the palace doors, but he sighed with worry in his
heart.

He never expected that Consort Lin, who appeared to be the most

knowledgeable and reasonable, would resort to such dirty tactics in the
harem. Threatening palace maids to frame the Crown Prince, especially
choosing one who resembled Fushou Junzhu.

If this plan succeeded, it would not only harm the Crown Prince but also
Fushou Junzhu.

The one who was most saddened by this incident was the Emperor himself.

Zhao Sancai stood guard at the door for a while until the Crown Prince
approached carrying a box. With light steps and a smile on his face, he
seemed unaware of what had just happened.
"Greetings to Your Royal Highness," Zhao Sancai greeted him.

"Zhao Sancai, why are you guarding the door? Where is Father Emperor?"

"His Majesty is inside..." replied Zhao Sancai. Before he could finish

speaking, he saw the Crown Prince push open the palace door and walk in.

Your Royal Highness, please don't make matters worse for His Majesty by
upsetting him.

Unfortunately, the Crown Prince couldn't hear Zhao Sancai's inner cry. He
saw Emperor Changlong standing by the window and approached him,
saying, "Father Emperor, Erchen brought you something good."

"What good thing?" Emperor Changlong's voice was somewhat hoarse. He

turned to look at the Crown Prince, his expression still relatively calm.

"Just now, Fushou Junzhu and Erchen, along with Fourth Brother, were
stargazing at the viewing platform. Suddenly, we felt hungry, so Erchen
took them to the kitchen in the Eastern Palace and made some food by
ourselves," the Crown Prince opened the box, revealing several poorly
shaped pastries that resembled animals. However, Emperor Changlong
couldn't help but wonder what kind of animals they were.

They all had one thing in common—they were ugly.

"You made these yourselves?" Emperor Changlong walked over and sat
down on a chair, looking at the pastries with some hesitation.

"They may be ugly, but they taste good," the Crown Prince used silver
chopsticks to pick up one and fed it to Emperor Changlong's mouth,
"Erchen heard that Father Emperor hasn't eaten anything tonight and must
be hungry."

After hesitating for a moment, Emperor Changlong still ate the pastry.

To be honest, he felt that his two sons and his future daughter-in-law had no
talent in cooking.
Although the pastry wasn't completely inedible, besides extreme sweetness,
he couldn't taste any other flavors. His taste buds were accustomed to the
imperial chef's skills and couldn't bear this kind of disappointment.

"Eating just pastries is not satisfying. Erchen also brought soup," said the
Crown Prince as he brought out a large bowl of soup from beneath the food
container. He poured it into small bowls and sat down with Emperor
Changlong to drink soup together.

The soup was rich in flavor; one could tell it had been simmering for
several hours. Emperor Changlong glanced at his son sipping from his bowl
and reached out to stop him, "It's not advisable to eat too much at night.
You just ate something, why are you still eating?"

"Erchen is not full yet."

Emperor Changlong chuckled, "Zhen knows you want to stimulate Zhen's

appetite by joining Zhen," He picked up the bowl and took a few sips,
"Zhen will eat well, so don't force yourself."

The Crown Prince immediately put down his bowl and rubbed his stomach
with a distressed expression, "No one understands Erchen better than Father
Emperor. To please your future daughter-in-law, Erchen ate all the pastries
she made, but these ones were made by Erchen and Fourth Brother."

Emperor Changlong picked up one of the pastries and swallowed it, smiling
faintly, "Looking at these pastries, they don't look very appealing."

"Appearance doesn't matter; what matters is the intention behind them," the
Crown Prince comforted Emperor Changlong as he drank soup and ate
pastries. Then he suggested, "After eating, it's not good to sleep right away.
Let Erchen accompany Father Emperor for a walk in the courtyard."

"Alright."

Zhao Sancai, guarding outside, felt relieved when he saw that the Crown
Prince accompanied His Majesty for soup and went out for a walk.
Fortunately, with the Crown Prince around, His Majesty's mood could
gradually improve.

With stars twinkling in the sky, Emperor Changlong listened to various

pleasing words from the Crown Prince and suddenly smiled, saying,
"Yuansu, there's nothing to worry about. You don't need to be concerned."

"What concern?" The Crown Prince turned his head, looking puzzled,
"Erchen just came to bring you pastries, Father Emperor."

Emperor Changlong smiled and said, "Come earlier tomorrow and help
Zhen handle the memorials."

"Okay."

"These days are busy; don't leave the palace," Emperor Changlong
continued, "There are several files in the Ministry of Justice that you can
take a look at."

"Yes," although the Crown Prince had a bitter face, he agreed.

Emperor Changlong shook his head with a smile. This child normally
wouldn't be so obedient. It seems he knows about Consort Lin's incident
and came to cheer him up.

Early the next morning, Hua Liuli, who stayed overnight at Shoukang
Palace, heard some shocking news. The birth mother of the Fourth Prince,
Consort Lin, was critically ill and no one was allowed to visit her during her
recovery.

In the palace, using illness as an excuse to prevent visits was just a pretense
for saving face.

Consort Lin had encountered some trouble.

Hua Liuli furrowed her brows and remembered the palace maid who falsely
accused the Crown Prince during the Hundred Nations Banquet. Could it be
that Consort Lin did that?
However, since the Fourth Prince wasn't the next in line for succession, by
doing this, Consort Lin would benefit Ying Wang instead of her own son.

The imperial decree stated that no one was allowed to visit Consort Lin
except essential personnel. But since Hua Liuli was the future Crown
Princess, she couldn't pretend as if nothing had happened. So she asked
Yuan Yi to prepare gifts and went to Consort Lin's sleeping chambers.

At this critical moment, what mattered most was how she conducted herself
while visiting.

Just as Hua Liuli entered through the palace gates, she heard Consort Xian
questioning in an agitated voice.

"On that night, were you the one who set me up by leading me to the side
hall?!"

Consort Lin's voice was extremely cold and different from before.

"It wasn't me."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 113 – I Love Him

"If it wasn't you, who else could it be?" Consort Xian didn't believe Consort
Lin's excuses, "Among all the consorts, you are the best at pretending. I can
see through your jealousy towards me. I'm more favored by the Emperor
than you. That's why you deliberately plotted against the Crown Prince and
also dragged me into it, isn't it?"

"Jealous of you being more favored?" Consort Lin seemed to have heard a
joke. This stupid Consort Xian couldn't even secure the position of Crown
Prince for her son, Ji Minghao. And yet she had the audacity to claim she
was the most favored?

With Consort Xian's wooden mind, if it weren't for the Emperor's tolerance
towards the harem, Lincui Palace would have long become a cold palace.
And she still had the nerve to say she was favored?

She retorted, "What makes you think that the Emperor favors you?"

"Every year during changing seasons, the Emperor gives me the newest
things. Even when I occasionally make mistakes, he can't bear to blame me.
If I'm not the most favored one, then who is?" Consort Xian proudly said.
Even when Fushou Junzhu was poisoned in her palace, the Emperor did not
blame her. If this isn't favoritism, then what is?

"That doesn't count..." Consort Lin suddenly halted and her face turned
pale.

Yes, that's how the Emperor treated her too.

But she never thought that she was being favored by him nor did she ever
concern herself with it. Only fools like Consort Xian regarded what others
also had as something special from the Emperor.
"Why doesn't it count?" Seeing Consort Lin's change in expression, Consort
Xian thought that she was jealous and grew even more pleased with herself,
"Even the oranges the Emperor sent to Lincui Palace last winter were
bigger than the ones in your palace."

"You don't need to envy me too much. After all, I am more beautiful than
you and better at pleasing the Emperor," Consort Xian sneered,
"Fortunately, the wise and martial Emperor discovered that you were the
true mastermind, which completely cleared suspicion on me."

So the Emperor really treated her well and never accused her wrongly.

"You don't need to feel proud in front of me," Consort Lin mockingly said,
"Even if you are truly favored, so what? Your son still can't become Crown
Prince. The Emperor's most favored is still Ji Yuansu, not your son."

As soon as she finished speaking, the door slammed open suddenly, with a
loud sound.

"Sorry for scaring you both with my careless behavior," Hua Liuli stood at
the doorway, bowing to Consort Lin and Consort Xian, "This subject greets
Your Highnesses."

Consort Xian instinctively felt nervous when she saw Hua Liuli. She
wished she could have all her attendants surround Hua Liuli to prevent any
possible accidents.

"No need to be overly polite, Junzhu," Consort Xian glanced at the

threshold, seemingly considering its height. Would Fushou Junzhu stumble
when stepping inside?

If she did stumble, would others think it was intentional?

"Why are you just standing there?" Consort Xian looked displeasedly at her
attendants beside her, "Aren't you going to support Fushou Junzhu?"

"This subject heard that Consort Lin is unwell so I came to visit," Hua Liuli
handed over her hand to a maid from Lincui Palace and let them support her
into the room.

Consort Lin, with no makeup on her face, was sitting by the window. Her
hair was casually scattered behind her, and she appeared somewhat
haggard. The beauty she used to carefully present had disappeared at this
moment, making her look almost ten years older.

When Consort Lin saw Hua Liuli walking in with her attendants, including
the steward from Shoukang Palace, she smiled self-mockingly. The one
who favors the Crown Prince most in the palace is not His Majesty, but the
Empress Dowager. She has put a lot of effort into taking care of the future
Crown Princess, Fushou Junzhu.

Even the legitimate princesses of the imperial family don't receive this
treatment.

With her true intentions exposed by His Majesty, Consort Lin no longer
cared to pretend in front of others. She coldly said, "Fushou Junzhu has a
delicate constitution. Don't come near a sickly person like me, or else you
might catch my illness."

"From what I see, Your Highness seems to be in good health. It must not be
an illness that can be transmitted to others," Seeing that Consort Lin was
not welcoming of her, Hua Liuli didn't mind and walked over to a chair. She
turned to Consort Xian and asked, "Consort Xian, let's sit down and talk
slowly."

"You're right," replied Consort Xian as she took a seat and invited Hua Liuli
to join her, "Please have a seat and let's talk."

Consort Lin frowned. Were these two intentionally here to make fun of her?

"Consort Xian, Fushou Junzhu, I am seriously ill and unable to host you.
Please leave."

"It's alright. We brought our attendants with us, so there's no need for your
hospitality," Consort Xian hadn't vented out her anger yet—how could she
leave?
Consort Lin: "..."

She thought being despised by the Emperor might be the worst outcome
possible, but being despised and forced to be scrutinized by others was even
worse.

"What do you want, Consort Xian?" Although Consort Lin disliked Hua
Liuli in her heart, the one she disliked, even more, was Consort Xian who
was sitting beside Hua Liuli.

"Nothing much. Just came here to see you," Consort Xian hinted at
something, "After today, it won't be easy for us to meet again."

Although news of Consort Lin plotting against the Crown Prince hadn't
spread yet, the other palace consorts could guess what Consort Lin had
done. Otherwise, with the Emperor's gentle nature, he wouldn't have treated
Consort Lin so coldly.

"You don't need to come here to mock me!" Consort Lin sneered, "Even
though I lost, you can't win either."

"Don't speak nonsense about winning or losing," Consort Xian nervously

glanced at Hua Liuli. Seeing that she still had an innocent and ignorant
look, Consort Xian secretly breathed a sigh of relief and then spoke firmly,
"As an imperial consort, how dare you plot against the Crown Prince? Your
current situation is what you deserve."

"All of you, including Consort Rong and Consort Shu, didn't have these
thoughts?" Consort Lin disregarded all consequences, "Back then, Consort
Rong and you were pregnant at the same time. In order to give birth to the
eldest imperial son, Consort Rong even secretly took labor-inducing
medicine. Unfortunately for her, after tossing around for half a day, she still
gave birth to her son after you did."

"And why did Consort Shu teach her son to visit the Crown Prince every
few days?" In Consort Lin's view, none of these women in the harem were
clean, "Isn't it just to show to His Majesty how obedient Ji Yanqiu is?"
Consort Rong and Consort Shu had just entered the courtyard and felt
somewhat embarrassed when they heard the conversation inside the room.

"Consort Lin, is there some misunderstanding in what you said?" Hua Liuli
interrupted Consort Lin's words, "Consort Rong has always been gentle and
considerate towards Ning Wang. Even the Crown Prince himself told me
that Consort Rong is a good mother. There is no evidence behind your
claims of labor-inducing medicine; you must not falsely accuse Consort
Rong."

Hua Liuli's words reached Consort Rong's ears. She loosened her grip on
the fan handle slightly. Over the years, her biggest regret was that she had
been deceived by the rumors in the palace. She had believed that the
Emperor would make the eldest imperial son the crown prince, so she took
labor-inducing medicine.

As she watched her son lag behind other princes in his studies and martial
arts, Consort Rong felt deep regret and guilt. If she hadn't taken the
inducing medicine back then, perhaps her son wouldn't have fallen behind
in every aspect.

She couldn't bring herself to tell her son this secret or let him know about it.
All she could do was protect him and ensure his safety throughout his life,
keeping him away from the struggles within the harem.

"What's more important is that Ning Wang is very filial to Consort Rong.
Isn't it inappropriate for you to intentionally provoke their mother-son
relationship?" Hua Liuli didn't know what had happened in the past, but as
someone who had grown up being loved by her parents, she could see with
one glance that Consort Rong's eyes towards Ning Wang were filled with
genuine maternal love.

Consort Lin sneered, "What does this foolish girl from a border town
know?"

Both Yuan Yi and Yurong glanced at Consort Lin. Their Junzhu had been
commanding troops since she was eleven years old. Who was really
foolish?
"Consort Lin, there's a saying: what's in your heart is reflected in your
eyes," Hua Liuli smiled gently, "I believe that in life, it's most important to
be optimistic. If you don't trust anyone and think everyone has ulterior
motives, then everyone will appear insincere to you. When the Fifth Prince
greets the Crown Prince, there is a display of brotherhood and respect, not
mere submission. The Emperor treats the Fifth Prince well not because he
pays respects to the Crown Prince, but because he is the Emperor's own
child."

With a sigh, Hua Liuli continued, "Your Highness, you are well-read and
experienced. I never expected to hear such disappointing words from you."

Consort Shu raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly.

She exchanged a glance with Consort Rong. Thanks to Fushou Junzhu's

interjection, the awkwardness between them had disappeared.

However, considering Consort Xian's contentious nature where she would

meddle even when it wasn't her concern, they decided not to enter the
courtyard. They didn't want to be involved when Consort Xian went crazy
and started berating people.

"Even if I've lost favor, you have no right to say anything. You don't need to
point fingers," When Consort Lin heard the phrase "well-read", she felt
annoyed because as someone from a humble background, besides being
well-read, she had nothing else to boast about.

In order to maintain her image in front of the Emperor all these years, she
always had books in her hand and wrote poetry. But what was the point?
Her son was abnormal, and there was no difference between how the
Emperor treated her and other women in the palace.

Just like that stupid Consort Xian, who had a better background than her—
what else did she possess?

But for the Emperor, even this kind of stupid person could sit on equal
footing with her.
"Consort Lin, how dare you speak like that?" Consort Xian scolded Consort
Lin sternly, "Fushou Junzhu is the daughter of two great generals. She is
also a Junzhu personally bestowed by His Majesty and the future Crown
Princess chosen by His Majesty himself. She is kind-hearted and of noble
birth. What's wrong with her saying a few words to you?"

Consort Xian deliberately emphasized the phrase "of noble birth".

Did Consort Xian dislike Hua Liuli?

Of course, she did.

But it's just dislike. At this moment, they were allies with the same stance.
Both she and Hua Liuli were victims of the conspiracy behind the scenes in
the imperial harem.

"Consort Lin, let me ask you," Consort Xian shook her head, "You and I are
considered elders to Fushou Junzhu. How could anyone have a wicked
mentality to intentionally arrange for someone to let their younger
generation wear a green hat?"

"Consort Xian, please don't be angry," Hua Liuli smiled at Consort Xian,
"Although I am deeply saddened and disappointed by Consort Lin's
behavior, I believe that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would never
betray me. To be frank, I never believed what that palace maid said."

Consort Xian: "..."

She really didn't care whether there was any affection between the Crown
Prince and Hua Liuli. She simply just wanted to use Hua Liuli to strike
Consort Lin down. Why doesn't this Junzhu understand her intentions?
Instead, she's looking at her with an expression of "you are so kind"?

How did Wei Mingyue raise her daughter? She raised her so naive and
innocent. How many setbacks will she face when she enters the palace in
the future?

Can't they be more serious and focused?

They were now in a palace intrigue situation, not a scene where elders care
about the emotions of the younger generation.

"Consort Lin, I don't understand why you dislike His Royal Highness the
Crown Prince so much and constantly try to drive a wedge between him and
his brothers," Hua Liuli covered her chest and coughed several times, her
expression filled with anger, "Even if others think I am being disrespectful,
I still want to say it. Do you not feel guilty for bullying a poor child who
lost his mother at a young age?"

Consort Xian was confused. Who was this poor child who lost his mother at
a young age?

The Crown Prince?!

She didn't expect this Junzhu to not only be simple-minded but also have
poor eyesight. What does that dog of a Crown Prince have to do with
feeling sorry for someone?

Consort Lin also looked at Hua Liuli as if she were crazy. Bullying the
Crown Prince?

In the entire harem, who hasn't been tormented by the Crown Prince?

Can someone please clarify who is bullying whom?

"Consort Lin, today I came here with good intentions to visit you when you
are ill, but all you have done is sow discord between me and my future
husband's brothers," Hua Liuli weakly stood up, seeming quite upset, "If I
had known it would be like this, I wouldn't have come."

"It's fine if you don't like me or criticize me, but don't speak ill of my future
husband," Hua Liuli looked at Consort Lin, "The Crown Prince has no
mother to love him, but I love him."

Consort Xian found these words somewhat absurd, but when she looked
into Fushou Junzhu's eyes, she silently shrank her shoulders.

She felt... that Fushou Junzhu seemed sincere.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 114 – Suspicion

The Crown Prince stood in the warm sunlight and suddenly turned his head
to look at Ying Wang and Ning Wang, who were following behind him. He
showed them a friendly smile.

Ying Wang was disgusted by that smile and turned his head away.

However, the phrase "I love him" from Fushou Junzhu felt like a stab to
Ying Wang's heart. He knew why the Crown Prince suddenly smiled so
disgustingly, but he deliberately did not want to agree with the Crown
Prince.

Ning Wang thought more simply. He didn't expect Fushou Junzhu, who
appears soft and weak, to be so good to Third Brother. No wonder she had
stood up to protect the Crown Prince when the assassins attacked them.

If there is someone in this world who is willing to protect you with their
life, it is truly fortunate.

"Fushou Junzhu, you have a way with words," Consort Lin mocked and
smiled, "The Crown Prince has a noble status, who dares to provoke him?"

"It is precisely because of his noble status that everyone thinks he will not
suffer any grievances," Hua Liuli said with a stern face, "When he is being
treated unfairly, none of you see it because you don't care about him."

People only care about whether the ones they love are doing well or not.
For those they don't care about, they often only see their glory and the
mistakes they make.

As for whether the person is being treated unfairly or feeling sad, what does
it have to do with them?
"Hah!" Consort Lin sneered and stopped arguing with Hua Liuli.

Hua Liuli didn't care whether Consort Lin paid attention to her words or
not. She stood up and said, "I see that Consort Lin doesn't look well. Your
Highness needs to rest properly. I'll take my leave."

"Are you leaving just like that?" Consort Xian was somewhat reluctant. She
wanted Fushou Junzhu to say a few more words.

Hua Liuli curtsied and said, "Your Highness, tomorrow is the day of Grand
Tutor Du's burial. I want to go to the Du Family Estate again and offer
incense for him."

Consort Xian suddenly remembered that tomorrow was the day of Grand
Tutor Du's burial.

After Grand Tutor Du's death, the Emperor posthumously conferred him the
title of "Wenzhong". The monks and Taoists had been reciting the sutras for
him at the Du Family Estate for a full twenty-one days. Many scholars also
flocked to the Du Family Estate to pay their respects.

Grand Tutor Du had a high status among the scholars in the capital and the
surrounding provinces. In the past, this old man loved to criticize the Crown
Prince from time to time, and she quite enjoyed it. But unexpectedly, after
he fell seriously ill, he often praised the Crown Prince in front of visitors
who came to see him. Even when he took his last breath, the last he did was
praise the Crown Prince.

How could this old man waver in his convictions? If he liked to criticize the
Crown Prince, he should have continued to do so until the end. Why did he
suddenly change his mind and start praising him?

"In that case, I won't keep you any longer, Junzhu," Consort Xian forced a
smile, "Take care on your way. Someone, escort Fushou Junzhu."

"Your Highness," a palace maid beside Consort Xian reminded her, "This is
Consort Lin's sleeping quarters."
Your demeanor is so much like that of a master.

Consort Xian glanced at Consort Lin. Consort Lin was no longer in a good
position now. It would be better to have someone personally escort Hua
Liuli out of the palace for now.

"You all wait here. Gu has something to attend to," the Crown Prince
swiftly turned and left the courtyard.

Ning Wang looked puzzledly at the Crown Prince's departing figure.

Fushou Junzhu was about to come out, so why did the Crown Prince walk
away?

Was he... feeling shy?

"Greetings to the consorts, greetings to the princes," Hua Liuli hadn't

expected to see so many people in the courtyard and greeted them
respectfully.

"Fushou Junzhu, greetings" Consort Rong and Consort Shu smiled

particularly warmly at Hua Liuli, surprising her with their kindness.

She remembered these two consorts; their gazes towards her used to be less
amiable.

"Are you all here to visit Consort Lin?" Hua Liuli nodded slightly to Ying
Wang and Ning Wang. She then walked out of Consort Lin's sleeping
quarters.

Under the walls of the courtyard, several persimmon trees were planted,
bearing ripe fruits that looked especially delightful in their greenish hues.

"These trees were planted after Consort Lin entered the palace," explained
the palace maid who accompanied Hua Liuli. This palace maid was from
the Consort Xian's side. Glancing at the persimmons, she continued,
"Consort Lin and Empress Gonghui entered the palace in the same year, but
Consort Lin had been unable to conceive for a long time. As a result, these
persimmon trees were planted in the courtyard."
"I see," Hua Liuli nodded. She thought the persimmon trees were for eating.

"Fushou Junzhu," Ying Wang followed her out. Seeing Hua Liuli standing
under the persimmon tree, he approached her, "Benwang happened to be
leaving the palace as well. Shall we go together, Junzhu?"

The palace maid sent by Consort Xian had a change of expression upon
seeing Ying Wang follow them.

"Thank you for the offer, Your Highness, but the His Royal Highness has
already prepared a carriage for this subject," Hua Liuli took a step to the
side, holding the Yuan Yi's hand, "This subject doesn't dare to
inconvenience Your Highness."

"Is it that you don't dare or that you don't want to?" Ying Wang couldn't
help but speak, "Benwang won't eat you, after all."

Yuan Yi and Yurong glanced at Prince Ying, silently warning him that if he
continued like this, their Junzhu might actually hit him.

"Your Highness is joking," Hua Liuli didn't want to be too involved with
Ying Wang, as it would upset the Crown Prince. So, she smiled at him,
turned around, and walked away.

Ying Wang's expression didn't look too good.

"Your Highness, please calm down," his attendant eunuch consoled him,
"Fushou Junzhu and the Crown Prince are engaged. With so many people
watching in the palace, Fushou Junzhu may be concerned about gossip,
which is why..."

"Benwang doesn't need you, a dog, to remind Benwang," Ying Wang was
furious as he followed behind Hua Liuli.

The attendant eunuch lowered his head and hurriedly followed.

"Junzhu, do you really think that the Crown Prince is a kind person who is
easy to bully?" Ying Wang caught up with Hua Liuli's pace, "You say these
things because you still don't know him well enough."
Hua Liuli didn't want to pay attention and continued walking forward.

"Since childhood, he has always been the favorite of the Emperor, and he
has grown accustomed to being domineering in the palace. You think he's
pitiful, but it's just a deception," Ying Wang's voice involuntarily lowered as
he looked at the delicate girl in front of him.

"Your Highness," Hua Liuli stopped and turned to look at Ying Wang, "Are
you trying to sow discord between this subject and the Crown Prince?"

Prince Ying looked at the fragile young girl before him and couldn't help
but soften his voice, "Benwang just doesn't want you to be deceived."

"Your Highness, this subject doesn't know how the Crown Prince treats
others, but he treats me very well," Hua Liuli said, "Your Highness says the
Crown Prince is deceiving this subject; this subject doesn't know if it's true
or not, but among all the women in the world, why would His Royal
Highness only deceive this subject? It shows that this subject is very special
to His Royal Highness."

"What?" Ying Wang was left speechless by Hua Liuli's words. Faced with
her attitude, he lost interest in speaking ill of the Crown Prince.

"The Crown Prince is talented in both literature and martial arts. He is

highly regarded by the Emperor and possesses extraordinary looks that
surpass everyone in the capital. This outstanding young man is willing to
conceal his emotions and preferences for this subject, to make this subject
happy..." Hua Liuli's face revealed a touch of moved emotion, "If this
doesn't prove that the Crown Prince's feelings for this subject are sincere,
then what else can?"

Ying Wang: "..."

Suddenly, he found himself at a loss for words.

"Have you ever considered that the Crown Prince is interested in marrying
for the influence of the Hua family?" Ying Wang felt he couldn't give up
yet.
"Your Highness is joking again. Everything this subject's family has was
given by the Emperor, and the Crown Prince is the Emperor's son. If the
Crown Prince wants something, he only needs to ask the Emperor. There's
no need to sacrifice his own happiness to pursue this subject." Hua Liuli
said, "Didn't Your Highness say earlier that the Crown Prince is
domineering in the palace? As someone who can be so domineering in the
palace, why would His Royal Highness need to suffer to pursue this
subject?"

"This subject understand," Hua Liuli clapped her hands and looked
gratefully at Ying Wang, "Your Highness deliberately said these things to
make this subject understand the Crown Prince's love for this subject,
right?"

Ying Wang: "..."

No, that's not it.

"Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness. This subject will treat the
Crown Prince well, so Your Highness doesn't need to worry," Hua Liuli
smiled and performed a graceful bow to Ying Wang.

Ying Wang took a deep breath, reminding himself to speak gently and not to
frighten Fushou Junzhu, "Junzhu, the reason Benwang came to speak with
you today is to tell you something."

Hua Liuli had a bad feeling.

"Benwang likes you."

Ying Wang blushed after saying this. He then saw Hua Liuli and her
maidservants were looking around nervously.

What kind of reaction is this?

"Junzhu, there is no one suspicious nearby," Yurong whispered in Hua

Liuli's ear, "With the volume at which Ying Wang spoke, no one within five
meters could hear what he said."
Hua Liuli breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at the flushed Ying Wang
and sighed, "Your Highness does not like this subject. Your Highness is just
feeling regret."

Ying Wang furrowed his brow, "That's not..."

"Does Your Highness know what this subject likes? Does Your Highness
know this subject's daily habits, what this subject likes to wear, eat, or
where this subject likes to go for fun? Your Highness doesn't know any of
that," Hua Liuli quickly interrupted Ying Wang's words with a series of
questions, leaving him stunned. She knew she absolutely couldn't let Ying
Wang embark on a sentimental path, so she continued, "Your Highness
doesn't understand this subject, and this subject doesn't understand Your
Highness either. In that case, what does Your Highness like about this
subject? Is it this face?"

Ying Wang earnestly tried to recall. Whenever he saw Fushou Junzhu, he

couldn't help but feel pity and wanted to look at her a little longer. Was it
because she was beautiful?

"In reality, Your Highness doesn't like this subject. It's just because this
subject almost had an engagement with Your Highness that Your Highness
has a special feeling whenever Your Highness sees this subject," Hua Liuli
said, "If this person wasn't this subject, it could be another girl. Does Your
Highness understand?"

Ying Wang furrowed his brow, pondering. He felt like he understood a

little, but at the same time, he wasn't quite sure.

"Your Highness, being as clever as you are, Your Highness will soon figure
it out," Hua Liuli smiled, "The Crown Prince and this subject have already
set a wedding date. It will be held on August 12th this year. Please, Your
Highness, refrain from saying things that could easily be misunderstood in
the future."

The Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu are getting married on August 12th?
Ying Wang stared blankly at Hua Liuli's hurried departure, feeling like he
had been hit on the head with a heavy blow, unable to recover for a long
time.

Was it because of his regret and unwillingness that he felt he liked her?

"Your Highness?" The accompanying eunuch noticed that Ying Wang's

expression was off and whispered softly, "Fushou Junzhu has already gone
far."

The several palace maids attending to Ying Wang had their faces turned
pale from his words to Fushou Junzhu. What was their master thinking?
How dare he confess his feelings to the future Crown Princess?

Even worse, their master, who could never compete with the Crown Prince
for horses, weapons, or precious gems, couldn't even win a woman now.

It was truly miserable.

Emperor Changlong saw the Crown Prince staring at a memorial and

smiling. He stood up, picked up the memorial, and found it to be a pile of
useless flattery. In the past, the Crown Prince would simply circle them and
throw them aside. Why was he so happy today?

"What are you smiling at?" Emperor Changlong hadn't slept well the night
before and still had a faint shadow in his eyes.

"Nothing," the Crown Prince snapped out of it and smiled, shaking his head
at Emperor Changlong. Seeing his father's incredulous expression, he
continued cheerfully, "Just now, Liuli told the other consorts that even if
everyone in the world doesn't love Erchen, she will."

Emperor Changlong: "..."

"Erchen is happy, Father Emperor," the Crown Prince's smile was radiant,
like a child who was content. Emperor Changlong looked at the smile on
his son's face and suddenly remembered that Yuansu hadn't smiled so
foolishly and happily for a long time.
"As long as you're happy," Emperor Changlong didn't say anything else. He
patted the Crown Prince's shoulder, "In these past few days, the envoys of
various countries have gradually left the capital. The envoys from Daimao
have been moving around the city nonstop to ensure a successful departure.
It seems they can't sit still anymore."

"Erchen wonders what price the Third Prince of Daimao is willing to pay?"
Speaking of serious matters, the Crown Prince's smile became more
cunning, "Erchen hopes Father Emperor can wait patiently and watch the
show."

"You'll be in charge of this matter," Emperor Changlong hinted at

something, "In the future, they will be your rivals and allies."

Leaving the palace in the carriage, Yuan Yi asked in confusion, "Junzhu,

what does Ying Wang really want to do?"

"Maybe he wants to sow discord between me and the Crown Prince?" Hua
Liuli couldn't think of any other reason. Anyway, it couldn't be because he
liked her. Ying Wang had never shown any signs of liking her.

"Back then, His Majesty wanted to betroth Junzhu to Ying Wang, but then
His Majesty stopped mentioning it. It was probably because Consort Xian
and Ying Wang disagreed with the arrangement. Now that Junzhu and the
Crown Prince have set a wedding date, this Ying Wang is coming out to say
these things," Yurong furrowed her brow, "It's clear that he has ulterior
motives."

Ah, these princes in the palace are truly vile. They can't stand it when
someone else is happy.

No wonder Junzhu feels sorry for the Crown Prince. These princes even
want to steal the Crown Prince's betrothed. It's truly too much.

When Consort Xian heard from a palace maid that her son had chased after
Fushou Junzhu to confess his feelings, she was so angry that she almost
slapped Ying Wang in the face. In extreme anger, she scolded, "Why don't
you use your brain? Because of you, that Lin Wan spoke ill of Hua Liuli
and even cursed the Hua family. If I were Hua Liuli, I wouldn't think that
you liked me either. I would only think that you had ulterior motives."

"Mother, I truly like her..."

"Like my ass!" Consort Xian used vulgar language, "You say you like her,
but what have you done?!"

"Even your father knows to frequently give gifts to his consorts. What
about you?" Consort Xian sneered, "Have you given her jewelry or silk
fabric? Do you know what the Dog Crown Prince did when he pursued
Fushou Junzhu?"

"He gave her jewelry, took her sightseeing, and treated her to delicious
food. When she was cold, he gave her a hand warmer; when it snowed, he
gave her a cloak. He even accompanied her to look at the stars and the
moon," Consort Xian said, shaking with anger, "What about you?!"

Forget about giving gifts, he didn't even know how to utter a sweet word.
He wasn't as attractive as the Dog Crown Prince to win a woman's favor.
What could he use to compete with Ji Yuansu?

Ying Wang: "My feelings for her are genuine."

"If you can't do anything, don't talk about genuine feelings," Consort Xian
pointed at Ying Wang, speaking sternly, "I don't care if your feelings are
genuine or fake, but remember this, she and the Crown Prince are already
betrothed. Starting today, put away these ridiculous thoughts of yours, or
else I won't have a son like you, who lusts after his brother's wife."

Ying Wang's eyes turned red, "Mother, I regret it..."

"Regret all you want, but there's no remedy for regrets in this world,"
Consort Xian looked at her kneeling son, gripping his shoulder firmly, and
looked at him earnestly, "Minghao, remember this. You can mock your
opponents when you're right, but if you're wrong, bear all the hardships
honestly. As an imperial prince, there are things you can fight for, and there
are things you can't."
She released her grip, gently touching her son's face with a pained
expression, "Let go of this matter. For your own good and for my sake,
never mention it again."

"Ying Wang has intentions toward the future Crown Princess?" In the dimly
lit room, a fair hand picked up a confidential report and suddenly chuckled,
"The Crown Prince of Great Jin and Ying Wang have never gotten along. If
they start quarreling over a woman, one wonders how lively the capital city
will become?"

"What does the Master intend to do?"

"I intend to create chaos in Great Jin's imperial family, so they have no time
to deal with other matters," the man sneered, "I don't believe that the
Emperor of Great Jin has no grudges against the Hua family."

"But the Emperor of Great Jin even entrusted the Imperial Guards to Hua
Yingting..."

"What if the Hua family is suspected of colluding with the enemy?" the
man tossed the confidential report aside, "Emperors are often suspicious,
and as long as someone can prove that the Hua family is colluding and
betraying the country, regardless of the final outcome, Emperor Changlong
will develop suspicions towards the Hua family."

He couldn't find peace as long as the Hua family remained. He wanted

Emperor Changlong to personally wield the blade of suspicion and wipe out
the members of the Hua family.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 115 – Elder Xie

On the day of Grand Tutor Du's burial, the sides of the funeral procession
were filled with offerings from various families.

Some scholars who had received favors from the Du family spontaneously
changed into coarse cloth and followed behind the funeral procession to
send off the spirit. The descendants of the Du family cried, looking
haggard, and could barely move without the support of their servants.

Some people wrote elegies, while others bowed and bid farewell at the
roadside. Even some foreign envoys who had not yet left the capital placed
offerings at the roadside.

Hua Liuli wore white clothes without any adornings, her black hair was tied
up with several plain silver hairpins. The road offerings set up by the Hua
Family Estate were close to those set up by the Princess Shunan Estate. Hua
Liuli saw the exhaustion in Yao Jiamin's eyes and guessed that she had
stayed with Du Xiuying at the Du Family Estate all night. She walked up to
her and asked, "You didn't sleep all night. Can you bear it?"

"I'm fine," Yao Jiamin sighed, "Cousin Du has been through a lot in the past
half month."

Hua Liuli pursed her lips and remained silent. Parting with the dead,
regardless of one's noble birth, is inevitable.

Before long, the sound of mourning music could be heard from afar. Hua
Liuli knew that it was the funeral procession approaching.

Valuable objects were flying in the sky as the Eight Diamond Generals
carried the coffin, moving forward and stopping from time to time. When
the coffin stopped, the filial sons and virtuous grandsons would kneel down
and perform the three bows.

Du Daren, who was crying, hunched his back and stumbled forward while
holding the memorial tablet. He wasn't even able to thank those who had set
up road offerings along the way.

However, at this moment, no one would pursue the impropriety of Du

Daren. They paid their respects to the coffin of Grand Tutor Du and took
out a string of gold ingots, lighting them in the offering basin, "We
respectfully bid farewell to Grand Tutor Du. May you have a blessed and
long life in the next world, under auspicious stars."

The one who lit the gold ingots for the Hua family was Hua Changkong,
Hua Liuli's third brother. Because he was the most educated person in the
Hua family, Hua Yingting thought that letting his son, who had achieved the
highest academic honor, burn the gold ingots would make Grand Tutor Du
happier.

"Sister Du," Hua Liuli saw Du Xiuying, who looked emaciated, in the
funeral procession of the Du family. She expressed her concern, "Please
take care of yourself."

Du Xiuying silently greeted Hua Liuli and followed the procession,

gradually moving further away.

The scholars who followed behind were silently weeping, making the
funeral appear grand and solemn.

To be sincerely mourned by so many people after death could be considered

as having no regrets in one's heart.

Even though she was accustomed to life and death, Hua Liuli's mood was
somewhat gloomy. She looked at the paper money floating on the ground
and turned around. She changed her clothes when she returned to her
courtyard, and said to Hua Changkong, "Third Brother, I'm going out with
Jiamin."
"At such a young age, don't be so listless," Hua Changkong patted Hua
Liuli's head, "Cheer up."

"Okay," Hua Liuli went out and quickly found Yao Jiamin, who had already
changed her clothes, and said, "Let's go. I'll accompany you to the
teahouse."

Just as Elder Xie entered the city, his carriage encountered the funeral
procession head-on. There was a rule among the common people that they
must never collide with a funeral procession, as it was considered
inauspicious and would bring bad luck.

He didn't expect to encounter such a situation as soon as he arrived in the

capital. He quickly instructed the Xie family's carriage procession to make
its way to the side.

Peeking through the curtain of the carriage, Elder Xie noticed that there
were many scholars in the funeral procession, which made him somewhat
puzzled. Could it be that someone of high prestige had passed away?

Looking at the paper money fluttering in the air and the funeral flags held
by the procession, Elder Xie felt a bit uncomfortable. He had a vague
feeling that this was not a good omen.

Why did he happen to encounter a funeral procession right at the moment

he arrived in the capital?

After the funeral procession moved further away, Elder Xie took off the
handkerchief covering his mouth and nose and said in a hoarse voice, "Go
and find out whose funeral procession this is."

Soon, the servant who went to inquire came back and said, "Master, the
funeral procession that just passed by was for Grand Tutor Du."

"Du Songwen?" Elder Xie was stunned for a moment, sighed after a long
time, and said, "I didn't expect it to be him."
In the past, he and Du Songwen served together in the court, but their
differing political views led to a strained relationship between them. At that
time, there was a saying in Great Jin, "Xie in the south, Du in the north."
The Xie family had a high reputation among the scholars in the south, while
the Du family had great influence in the capital and surrounding provinces.

After the death of the previous emperor and the current emperor's
ascension, he proposed to the Emperor to modify the conventions of the
Great Jin Dynasty, but the Emperor refused. Out of anger, he resigned from
his position and returned to the South, vowing to never set foot in the
capital again.

Unexpectedly, after nearly thirty years, when he returned to the capital, the
first news he received was the death of his old rival.

Unfortunately, Du Songwen's sons were all mediocre individuals. With his

death, it would be difficult for the Du family to maintain their position
among the scholars in the north.

Thinking of this, Elder Xie's mood became cheerful again. With the
downfall of the Du family, it was a good opportunity for the Xie family. It
was a pity that Xie Yao was useless and couldn't marry the Crown Prince.
Otherwise, the Xie family could have taken advantage of this opportunity to
expand their influence to the capital.

The carriage went straight to Princess Leyang Estate. Elder Xie was already
old and had barely rested properly due to the rush of the journey. He
supported himself with the arm of his servant and got off the carriage stiffly.
Before he could approach the main gate of the Princess Leyang Estate, he
was stopped by the Imperial Guards.

"Elderly Gentleman, this is Princess Leyang Estate. You cannot enter

without permission."

"I am from the Xie family in the south. I heard that the Master of the Xie
family is seriously ill, so I came to visit."
"You are from the Xie family?" the Imperial Huard scrutinized Master Xie
with a cold attitude, "I'm sorry, His Majesty has ordered that no one is
allowed to enter Princess Leyang Estate. If you are truly from the Xie
family, you can petition His Majesty and obtain an imperial decree to
enter."

"Thank you for letting me know, Young Gentleman," Elder Xie politely
clasped his hands, turned around, and returned to the carriage. His face
instantly became gloomy.

Emperor Changlong actually confined the Master of the Xie family and
Princess Leyang in the estate. It seemed that His Majesty's dislike for the
Xie family had surpassed his affection for his sister, Princess Leyang.

Elder Xie made a trip to the Ministry of Justice, but the result was the same.
The Ministry of Justice wouldn't allow him to visit Xie Yao.

He was at a loss for what to do and could only settle with his servants in an
inn. He then asked his former colleagues for help, hoping they could find a
way for him to meet Emperor Changlong.

Unfortunately, it had been thirty years since he last visited the capital city,
and most of his old friends were either old, sick, or dead. There were very
few who could speak up for him and the Xie family, fearing they would be
implicated in the Crown Prince assassination case.

Elder Xie had no choice but to swallow his pride to give gifts and plead for
assistance until he finally established a connection with Cao Jinbo, the
Minister of Revenue.

When Cao Jinbo participated in the imperial examinations, Elder Xie was
one of the vice examiners for that year, so they could barely be considered
to have a teacher-student bond.

Upon hearing what Elder Xie had to say, Cao Jinbo said, "Elder Xie, I am
willing to deliver your memorial to His Majesty, but I cannot guarantee
whether His Majesty will agree to see you."
"Cao Daren, if you are willing to deliver the memorial to His Majesty on
my behalf, I am already grateful," Elder Xie breathed a sigh of relief.
Emperor Changlong was a sentimental person; even if he harbored
resentment toward the Xie family, he would still meet with him after
reading the memorial.

After leaving the Minister of Revenue's estate, Mr. Xie looked at the
bustling capital city, which didn't resemble his memory of it. He waved his
hand, gesturing for the servant who helped him into the carriage to step
back, "I want to take a stroll around, you can follow behind in the carriage."

When he left the capital city all those years ago, Emperor Changlong had
just ascended the throne for less than a year. The previous emperor in his
reign had been obsessed to build a palace for his favored concubine,
creating a stifling atmosphere in the capital city, and the people lived in
constant fear. It was a time of great caution.

Now, the capital city was bustling with people, and occasionally, people of
different hair and skin colors could be seen. The common people wore
vibrant clothes, and there was laughter and joy everywhere.

Unlike the South, the women here were bolder. Approaching early summer,
some women wore beautiful gauzy garments, revealing the shape of their
arms beneath the fabric.

Elder Xie furrowed his brow. Women are more attractive when they are
gentle and reserved.

"Sister Du, it's not good for your health to stay indoors every day."

"Yes, Cousin Du, the view from the teahouse here is excellent. Sitting on
the second floor by the window, you can have a panoramic view of the
scenery downstairs. You can even throw a handkerchief or drop a few
flowers on handsome young men and enjoy the sight of them being all
flustered."

Who is this girl? How could she be so casual and rude?

Elder Xie's brows furrowed even tighter when he saw several exquisitely
dressed girls surrounding a young girl who was wearing plain clothes with a
silver hairpin. They were chatting and laughing without any concern for the
passing men.

Just over thirty years had passed, and the women in the capital city had
become like this?

He covered his chest, feeling a bit breathless.

"Daren, are you alright?" Hua Liuli was persuading Du Xiuying to come
out and relax when she saw an elderly man on the roadside holding his
chest and struggling to breathe. She quickly called Yuan Yi, who had some
medical skills, "Yuan Yi, please check on this old gentleman."

"Excessive anger, excessive liver fire," Yuan Yi took a quick glance and
handed a pill to the old gentleman, "Daren, when you reach a certain age,
you should strive to remain calm and content. You need to relax your
mind."

Observing that the old gentleman was dressed in luxurious silk garments, he
didn't seem to be from a poor family. Why did he have such a bad temper?

Elder Xie held the unidentified pill and couldn't catch his breath. He tilted
his head and rolled his eyes.

"Hey, you have quite the temper, old man," Yuan Yi simply fed the pill
directly into the old gentleman's mouth. After seeing his complexion
gradually improve, she said, "Daren, take things slowly. It's not worth
getting sick over anger when there's no one to replace you."

Elder Xie's face remained stern, "Thank you."

After thanking them, he glanced at the group of elegantly dressed girls who
were laughing and chatting with each other, then turned and sat in the
carriage.
He couldn't bear to witness the bold behavior of these women in the capital
city any longer. He was afraid that if he continued to look, his eyes would
not be able to handle it.

Elder Xie waited in the inn for another two days before he finally received
news that the Emperor was willing to grant him an audience. Early the next
morning, he changed into clean clothes and hurriedly entered the palace.

Unfortunately, he arrived too early; Emperor Changlong had not yet held
the morning court.

"Elder Xie, it has been many years since you entered the palace. Let this old
servant accompany you for a walk around," Zhao Sancai warmly
entertained Elder Xie. If it weren't for the fact that he had been turned away
at the entrance of Princess Leyang Estate, Elder Xie would have found it
hard to believe that the person confining the master of the Xie family was
none other than the Emperor.

"Thank you, Head Eunuch Zhao. I appreciate your company," Elder Xie
didn't dare to offend the eunuch beside Emperor Changlong, so he had to go
along with his words.

"Elder Xie is too polite," Zhao Sancai called a few palace maids and
eunuchs to accompany Elder Xie to the Imperial Garden.

The capital city had become much more prosperous, but the palace
remained the same as it was thirty years ago, with its towering walls,
respectful palace attendants, and the Imperial Garden where colorful
butterflies danced.

During the reign of the previous emperor, because of his favorite

concubine's love for peonies, the entire Imperial Garden was filled with
various types of peonies. After thirty years, there were fewer peonies in the
garden, replaced by other flowers.

Elder Xie hadn't walked far when he heard the intimate laughter of a
couple.
"Your Royal Highness, this flower is the most beautiful in the entire
Imperial Garden. I'm giving it to you."

"You're lying. This isn't the most beautiful one. I clearly saw an even more
beautiful one. Will you give it to me?"

"Where is it?"

"It's right here in my eyes."

Elder Xie stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Zhao Sancai. Which
prince was this, daring to speak so frivolously with a young lady in the
Imperial Garden?

Zhao Sancai lowered his head even further. His Royal Highness didn't
attend court today!

"Your Royal Highness is mistaken. The most beautiful flower is clearly in

my eyes."

"In that case, we will both give it to each other, okay?"

"Okay..."

"Cough, cough, cough," Elder Xie couldn't bear to listen anymore. He

coughed a few times, reminding the young couple indulging in love talk in
the Imperial Garden that there were others around.

"Zhao Sancai?" the Crown Prince peeked out from behind a rockery, half-
bloomed peony still adorning his jade crown, "Why weren't you by Father
Emperor's side today?"

"This old servant greets Your Royal Highness and Fushou Junzhu," Zhao
Sancai grinned, "His Majesty summoned Elder Xie from the Xie family
today, so this old servant was ordered to wait in the palace."

"Elder Xie from the Xie family?" the Crown Prince took off the peony from
his jade crown, turned around, and held Hua Liuli's hand, placing the peony
by her temple. He nodded in satisfaction, "Liuli is truly stunning, more
beautiful than this flower."

This frivolous young man was the current Crown Prince?!

Elder Xie looked again at the girl the Crown Prince was holding. Wasn't she
one of the girls he saw on the street just two days ago?

Zhao Sancai referred to her as Fushou Junzhu. Could she be the future
Crown Princess?!

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 116 – Gentle and Kind

"This subject pays respects to Your Royal Highness and Fushou Junzhu,"
Elder Xie dared not offend the Crown Prince, who was most favored by the
Emperor, and suppressed all his emotions, giving a bow to the Crown
Prince.

"Elder Xie, no need for excessive courtesy," The Crown Prince's tone was
calm, and his attitude was even colder. It was as if he could write "I don't
want to deal with you" on his face, "Elder Xie, you've traveled from afar to
the capital. What brings you here?"

Elder Xie looked somewhat embarrassed. The more fastidious a person, the
more circuitous their speech tended to be. The Crown Prince unexpectedly
cut to the chase, which made Elder Xie feel somewhat unprepared.

Seeing Elder Xie remaining silent, the Crown Prince nodded with
realization, "So Elder Xie has come to the capital for sightseeing?"

"Sightseeing sounds good," Hua Liuli smiled innocently, "In these years,
under His Majesty's governance, our Great Jin has enjoyed peace and
prosperity, and the lives of the people have improved. Elder Xie, it's been
many years since you last visited the capital. It's quite interesting to see and
experience more."

Listening to the Crown Prince and his betrothed, who echoed each other,
describing his visit as a sightseeing trip, Elder Xie had no choice but to
speak up in defense. "Your Royal Highness, this subject came to the capital
not only to appreciate the flourishing era under His Majesty's rule but also
to make a request."
"Oh, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli suddenly covered her chest, "I feel a
pain in my chest."

"Gu will escort you back to rest. Is your old ailment acting up again?" The
Crown Prince supported Hua Liuli with concern and said to Elder Xie, "A
few days ago, when Gu encountered assassins outside the palace, Fushou
Junzhu sustained serious injuries while protecting Gu, and her old ailment
resurfaced. Elder Xie, please excuse us. Gu will accompany Fushou Junzhu
back to Shoukang Palace for rest."

Encountering assassins outside the palace...

Elder Xie became even more embarrassed. He knew exactly what the
Crown Prince was referring to. Elder Xie's expression turned grim.

"Farewell, Your Royal Highness."

"Elder Xie, the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu share a strong bond. If
any inadvertence occurred, please don't take it to heart," Zhao Sancai
watched as the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu walked away. Then he
turned to Elder Xie and said, "Elder Xie might not be aware; on the day the
Crown Prince was attacked outside the palace, by the time the Imperial
Guards found him and Fushou Junzhu on the mountain, Fushou Junzhu was
covered in blood and had nearly lost her life. Even the Empress Dowager
shed tears out of concern."

"I failed to properly guide our younger generation, causing the Crown
Prince and Fushou Junzhu to suffer," Besides apologizing, what else could
Elder Xie say?

He couldn't possibly say that Xie Yao, despite having the Xie surname, also
had imperial blood in her veins, right?

If he dared to say this, perhaps their family wouldn't have been subjected to
house arrest, because Emperor Changlong would have directly pushed them
to the marketplace for public execution.
Knowing that he had no grounds to argue, Elder Xie could say nothing but
wear a pleasing smile towards the unimpressive old eunuch.

Zhao Sancai seemed oblivious to his discomfort and smiled, "Elder Xie,
please come this way."

Elder Xie quickly realized that the Imperial Garden was much larger than
he remembered. He was panting as he walked but didn't dare to allow
anyone to support him.

"The Emperor should be finishing court soon," Zhao Sancai flicked his
folding fan and spoke with a fake smile, "Elder Xie, follow this old
servant."

"Thank you," Elder Xie rallied his spirits and followed Zhao Sancai back to
Chenyang Palace.

"Head Eunuch Zhao," the gatekeeper eunuch spoke softly as Zhao Sancai
returned, "The Emperor is in the main hall discussing matters with Minister
Cao and General Hua."

"That's quite unfortunate," Zhao Sancai said to Elder Xie, "Elder Xie, let
this old servant take you to a side hall for some rest. The Ministry of Rites
has been busy lately, and the matter of coordinating the Enke examinations
is likely to require further discussion."

"You're being too polite, Head Eunuch Zhao," Elder Xie suddenly recalled
the past. Back then, when he and Du Songwen went to the palace, they were
treated as equals and didn't have to wait outside for so long.

Elder Xie's uneasiness grew. He had a feeling that this visit wouldn't go
smoothly.

After waiting for almost half an hour, Elder Xie finally received the
summon from Emperor Changlong. Stepping into the main hall, he
respectfully performed a deep bow.
"Elder Xie, please have a seat," Emperor Changlong had someone help
Elder Xie up from the ground and granted him a seat, "It has been many
years. Is Elder Xie's health still robust?"

"Thanks to Your Majesty's blessings, this subject is still in good health,"

Elder Xie cautiously took a seat on the chair, observing Emperor
Changlong's expression.

After decades of not seeing each other, Emperor Changlong appeared much
more steady and mature, giving off an unfathomable aura.

Emperor Changlong didn't inquire about Elder Xie's purpose for coming
and instead casually chatted with him about ordinary matters, seemingly as
if he were genuinely concerned for an ordinary elderly person.

Elder Xie grew anxious but couldn't detect any emotions from Emperor
Changlong. Helpless, he could only speak directly, "Your Majesty, with all
due respect, this subject would like to request a favor."

"Oh?" The smile on Emperor Changlong's face gradually faded, and he

stared at Elder Xie, making it difficult to discern his emotions.

Elder Xie's scalp tingled, but for the sake of the Xie family, he could only
press on with his plea, "Your Majesty, Master Xie is seriously ill. This
subject wishes to bring him back to the South for recuperation."

"Elder Xie, rest assured. Master Xie is an imperial Fuma. Zhen will
dispatch people to take good care of him."

"This subject has no ulterior motives. It's just that Master Xie's illness is
complicated, and returning to the South for recuperation would be more
beneficial to his condition," Elder Xie noticed that Emperor Changlong was
unwilling to grant this request, so he threw caution to the wind and cried,
"Your Majesty, this subject has no children of my own, so this subject treats
Master Xie as my own son. When Master Xie learned that he had developed
hysteria, Master Xie couldn't sleep a wink and rushed to the capital
overnight, praying for his safety."
Elder Xie was already old, his sorrowful crying appearance was particularly
pitiful.

"What's going on here?" The Crown Prince strode into the main hall, took a
glance at the tear-streaked Elder Xie, and saluted Emperor Changlong,
"Father Emperor, why is Elder Xie crying? Did Father Emperor make
things difficult for him?"

"His Majesty is benevolent. How could His Majesty make things difficult
for this old subject? Your Royal Highness has misunderstood," Elder Xie
hurriedly explained.

"Since Father Emperor has never treated you harshly, why are you so
heartbroken?" The Crown Prince sat down on a chair, received the tea
brought by Zhao Sancai, and took a sip, "Those who don't know might
think Father Emperor is bullying the elderly, which would lead to
misunderstandings."

Elder Xie, who was still wiping his tears: "..."

Does this mean he can't even cry?

He moved his sleeve aside, glanced at the expressionless Emperor

Changlong, then at the arrogant Crown Prince, and dried his tears before
lowering his sleeve, "This subject has behaved improperly."

"Is Elder Xie crying because you learned about the assassination attempt on
Gu by the descendants of the Xie family and came to the capital to confess
out of guilt?" The Crown Prince played with the bracelet given to him by
Hua Liuli and calmly said, "Although Xie Yao's attempt to assassinate Gu is
a grave crime punishable by the execution of the entire family, Father
Emperor has always been softhearted and doesn't want to implicate others.
So please rest assured, Elder Xie, this matter will not hold the entire Xie
family accountable."

Elder Xie's expression changed slightly. What did the Crown Prince mean
by these words? Was he threatening him?
The Xie family had a prestigious legacy in the south, highly respected by
scholars. Could Emperor Changlong and the Crown Prince truly dare to act
against the entire Xie family? Elder Xie didn't believe that Emperor
Changlong would be so impulsive, but he couldn't grasp the temperament of
this Crown Prince.

At first sight, he only thought the Crown Prince was superficially attractive,
but now that he sat here, Elder Xie felt a sense of immense pressure.

"Xie Yao has been residing in the capital with Princess Leyang for a long
time, and we elders haven't disciplined her properly. It's our fault..."

"Hold on a moment," The Crown Prince's movement with the bracelet

paused slightly, and his eyebrows furrowed. "What does Elder Xie mean? Is
Elder Xie saying that Xie Yao's mistake is related to our capital city because
she sometimes resides in the capital with Princess Leyang?"

"This old servant dare not imply that."

"But it looks like Elder Xie is clearly implying that," the Crown Prince
waved his hand dismissively, "Forget it, Gu can't be bothered to argue with
this old man. It wouldn't look good if rumors spread that Gu bullies the
elderly."

Elder Xie silently swallowed his frustration.

"As the saying goes, 'Children and grandchildren have their own blessings'.
Elder Xie, at your age, you should focus on taking care of your health and
not worry too much about other matters," The Crown Prince stood up, "As
for Xie Fuma returning to the South for recuperation, you don't need to
mention it again. Gu won't agree."

"Your Majesty..." Elder Xie didn't expect the Crown Prince to be so brazen
in front of Emperor Changlong. He turned his head and looked at Emperor
Changlong, hoping that he would reprimand the Crown Prince.

However, Emperor Changlong not only showed no anger but instead wore a
helpless smile.
"This child has been spoiled by Zhen since childhood. He has suffered
grievances when the assassins attacked him," Emperor Changlong sighed,
"Elder Xie, you are Xie Fuma's elder, while Zhen is the Crown Prince's
elder. You feel sorry for Xie Fuma, but doesn't Zhen also feel sorry for the
Crown Prince? The case of the Crown Prince's assassination is of great
importance. Until the matter is clarified, no one from Princess Leyang
Estate is allowed to leave the capital."

"As for you, Elder Xie..." Emperor Changlong chuckled lightly, "Since you
haven't been to the capital for many years, you can stay here for a while."

Elder Xie:...

What does this mean? Not only could he not bring back Master Xie, but
instead he was now being compelled to stay back in the capital?

"Elder Xie, there are still memorials for His Majesty to review. Allow this
old servant to escort you back," Zhao Sancai stepped forward and requested
Elder Xie to leave.

Elder Xie maintained a forced smile and, as he stepped over the threshold,
stumbled and nearly fell to the ground.

"Elder Xie, please be careful with your steps," Zhao Sancai smiled and
supported Elder Xie's hand, "If anything happens to you, how can this old
servant explain it to His Majesty?"

Elder Xie felt bitter in his heart. He never expected Emperor Changlong to
become so difficult to deal with. Was he really going to keep Master Xie in
the capital, never to be seen again?

No, he must find a way to rescue Master Xie; otherwise, all their planning
over the past few decades would be in vain.

The weather gradually became hotter. Princess Leyang was confined to her
estate, unable to obtain any news. The only reassurance she had was that
her son had been safely sent to the palace, his safety ensured regardless of
the circumstances.
The imperial physicians visited the estate every day, but Xie Fuma's
hysteria showed no signs of improvement. Instead, it became increasingly
severe. The maids and servants by her side advised her to find a way to
send Xie Fuma back to the South for recuperation.

But what could she do? She couldn't even step outside the gate. What
options did she have?

When she couldn't sleep at night, she got up and went to the courtyard to
get some fresh air. She overheard two maids whispering to each other.

"Fuma treated the Princess so well. Who would have thought that after
Fuma developed hysteria, the Princess would just watch as His Majesty
confine the entire estate?"

"Don't speak nonsense. It's His Majesty's order. What can the Princess do?"

"No matter what, the Princess is also His Majesty's imperial sister. If
reasoning doesn't work, she can resort to crying, making a scene, or even
threatening to commit suicide. The Emperor and the Crown Prince won't
just stand by and let the Princess commit suicide, could they?"

"What kind of terrible idea are you suggesting? If it gets out, won't it
become a laughingstock for the imperial family?"

"Even if people laugh, as long as we can protect Fuma, that's all that
matters..."

The voices of the two maids gradually faded away, leaving Princess Leyang
standing in the courtyard, unable to calm her restless heart.

Would her imperial brother really consider her face and allow her to take
Fuma away from the capital?

After news spread about the Enke examinations held by the imperial court,
some well-off candidates began packing their belongings and rushing to the
capital. They wanted to acclimatize themselves to the capital's climate and
diet beforehand to avoid any mishaps during the examinations.
Some candidates who lived closer to the capital had already arrived in
groups of two or three.

Wang Qi and his fellow brothers had also come to the capital early.
However, due to the deliberate concealment of information by the Xie
family, they arrived a few days later than the other candidates.

Misfortune never comes alone. Before they reached the capital, one of their
companions fell ill with a cold, and they almost exhausted all their money
trying to help him get treatment.

They traveled with empty stomachs, trying to save money. Sometimes they
stayed in dilapidated temples or hitched rides with local farmers.

When they were finally close to the capital's border, they were too weak
from hunger to continue walking. At night, they drank water desperately to
fill their stomachs.

"Everyone, hold on a little longer. We only have one more day of travel, and
we'll reach the capital," Wang Qi and his companions sat around the
campfire, whispering, "If things get desperate, we can borrow some grains
from rural households, and repay them double when our families send us
money."

They had been studying since childhood. When had they ever worried about
money?

"It's all my fault. If not for me, you all wouldn't have suffered so much on
this journey," Yang Wen choked up, "I don't know how to repay all of you."

"Forget about repayment. We've been brothers for so many years. What's a
little hardship? The most important thing is that everyone is safe," Wang Qi
and the other candidates comforted Yang Wen while patting their empty
stomachs.

Suddenly, Yang Wen fainted.

"Brother Yang, Brother Yang?"

"What happened?" A delicate carriage stopped by the road, and a gentle
voice of a woman emanated from within.

Wang Qi and the others felt relieved, stood up, and bowed to the owner of
the carriage, explaining their recent hardships.

"So, you're the candidates from the south?" The carriage curtain moved, and
a fair wrist gently lifted the curtain.

Inside the carriage, the young girl had bright eyes and white teeth, but her
complexion was abnormally pale, seemingly as if she were unwell.

Feeling embarrassed to stare at the girl, Wang Qi quickly lowered his head
and said, "We are indeed candidates who traveled from the south."

The girl instructed her attendants to lift the fainted Yang Wen onto another
carriage and then looked at them with curiosity, "I heard that candidates
from the south value the imperial examinations. Why did you arrive later
than candidates from other provinces?"

The candidates couldn't express their bitterness and could only cite Yang
Wen's illness as the reason for the delay.

"You are all good-hearted and righteous young men. When a friend falls ill,
you would rather go hungry yourselves than neglect their treatment," With
the assistance of her maids, the young girl slowly stepped down from the
carriage, "There are many scholars in this world, but gentlemen as virtuous
and righteous as you deserve admiration."

She placed a purse containing silver coins in Wang Qi's hand, "The Great
Jin Dynasty needs talents like you. These silver coins are a small token of
my appreciation. I hope you achieve great success and have your names
inscribed on the golden list."

"No, no, no," Wang Qi and the other candidates blushed and felt
embarrassed to accept the purse, "Thank you for your kindness, Young
Lady. We are already grateful that you are willing to accompany us into the
city. How can we take your money?"
"These silver coins are a token of my admiration for your character. I don't
want individuals like you, virtuous and upright gentlemen, to be
undermined by money and forget your own talents. The silver is given to
you because I believe you gentlemen will take care of the common people
when you become officials in the future. It is for the sake of the common
people."

"Thank you, Young Lady," Wang Qi, with tears in his eyes, accepted the
purse containing the silver coins and deeply bowed along with the other
candidates, "If there is a chance for us to enter the court as officials in the
future, we will not forget the words of the young lady today."

Cough, cough, cough.

The young girl coughed several times, appearing weak, "It's getting late.
Gentlemen, please get on the carriage and enter the capital with me."

"Junzhu, your health is already poor, and you suffered a serious injury
recently. Please be careful not to catch a cold," A maid stepped forward and
fed the young girl a pill.

The young girl smiled apologetically at the candidates and covered her face
with her sleeve as she swallowed the pill.

Junzhu, weak health, serious injury?

Wang Qi and the other candidates couldn't help but think of the rumors that
had spread vigorously in the south before they came to the capital.

Although their rationality told them that there couldn't be so many

coincidences, they couldn't help but speculate whether this kind-hearted
young lady who unintentionally helped them could be Fushou Junzhu.

Truly worthy of being the daughter of General Hua and General Wei, she
was so kind and even hoped that they would become good officials in the
future and bring benefits to the common people.

How could someone bear to harm such a frail and kind-hearted woman?
They could hardly imagine what kind of bloodshed this gentle and kind girl
had experienced.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 117 – Grievances

After the scholars were brought to the capital city, Yang Wen regained his
spirits. As they looked at the bustling and prosperous city, they were moved
to the point of tears.

"Gentlemen, you have safely arrived in the capital. We should take our
leave," said the maidservant who was about to bid them farewell.

"Please wait, Miss," Wang Qi called out to the maid who was leaving,
"Please pardon my rudeness, but may I inquire about the identity of your
young lady? When we have the means, we would like to repay the silver to
your esteemed estate."

The maidservant, who was stopped by them, smiled and said, "Gentlemen,
there's no need to be so polite. This is our Junzhu's kind intention."

"The Junzhu's generosity in assisting us when we were in distress is truly

benevolent. How can we not repay the debt?" Wang Qi bowed and said,
"Please inform us."

"Alright," the maidservant shook her head helplessly, "Junzhu's estate is on

the Eastern side of the capital, she is the daughter of the Great General."

Among the current generals who could be referred to as the "Great

General", there were only two in Great Jin: Hua Yingting and Wei
Mingyue. Although Wang Qi and the other scholars had speculated that the
person who had helped them was Fushou Junzhu, it was just speculation,
and they couldn't believe that such a coincidence could happen.

"So it is Fushou Junzhu," Wang Qi deeply bowed, "Many thanks to Junzhu

for her assistance. We will study diligently and live up to Junzhu's
expectations."
"Cough, cough, cough."

A light cough came from inside the carriage of Fushou Junzhu. This time,
she did not lift the curtain but spoke through the carriage, "Gentlemen,
please don't be so courteous. When rivers and mountains meet, it is fate.
You happened to encounter a problem, and I happened to pass by there. It
shows that heaven sent me to help you. When something is destined, you
don't need to feel pressured. Even without me, there would have been
someone else to help you."

Wang Qi understood very well that even if they had received help from
someone else, the person assisting them might not have been as considerate
and mindful of their reputation as Fushou Junzhu.

As the carriage slowly moved away, Yang Wen couldn't help but sigh,
"Fushou Junzhu is truly gentle and kind. No wonder the Crown Prince is
fond of her, instead of..."

"Brother Yang," Wang Qi quickly interrupted him, "This is a sensitive

matter in the capital. We must be cautious with our words."

Yang Wen suddenly realized, "Thank you for reminding me, Brother
Wang."

Before they came to the capital, the evil deeds of the Xie family had already
spread throughout the provinces. Although later, some members of the Xie
family came out to claim that those acts were not committed by them, no
one believed their excuses.

Especially the scholar who was pushed into the water by the Xie family.
They had witnessed it themselves, but at the time, the river was turbulent,
and by the time they reached the riverbank, the scholar who had fallen into
the water had already disappeared.

They had regarded the Xie family as a noble family they could look up to,
but little did they know that the Xie family was not as virtuous as they had
imagined. They even daringly concealed the public announcement of the
examination in the capital, delaying the progress of other scholars' studies.
They were truly hypocritical pseudo-gentlemen.

"I never expected that I would casually save a few people, and it happened
to be scholars coming from the south."

Yesterday, Hua Liuli went out of the city to inspect the estate and fields
awarded to her by the Emperor. She had even stayed overnight at the estate.
Unexpectedly, on her way back to the city, she encountered this situation.

"It shows that heaven is helping us," Yuan Yi said, "Junzhu, the envoys
from the Daimao Kingdom and the Jinpo Kingdom are still in the capital.
The Elder of the Xie family, for the sake of Xie Fuma, has also come to the
capital. Nubi is worried that they may have other schemes. Junzhu must be
careful."

"My dear Yuan Yi, have you forgotten?" Hua Liuli reached out and lifted
Yuan Yi's chin, smiling, "Your Junzhu is a delicate and innocent young lady.
If you were one of those people, would you think that I am the easiest
person from the entire Hua family to deal with?"

Yuan Yi half-squatted in front of Hua Liuli and tapped her leg a few times,
"Junzhu, it's just that there seems to be a lot happening in the capital
recently. Nubi is a bit uneasy."

"It's alright," Hua Liuli held Yuan Yi's hand and had her sit beside her, "I
still have you and Yurong. There's no need to worry."

Yuan Yi smiled helplessly, "Junzhu, we servants only understand fighting

on horseback. We don't understand the ways of the capital."

"It's alright. Your Junzhu is very clever," Hua Liuli said as she opened the
carriage curtain and glanced outside. The smile in her eyes gradually faded,
"This is a beautiful and peaceful world. Anyone who wishes to disrupt it for
their own selfish gain is an enemy of the people of Great Jin."

Since the Hua family could shed blood on the battlefield to protect this
land, they could naturally protect the prosperity of the capital city amid
changing times.

Five years ago, she dared to stay alone in the military camp. Five years
later, she dared to accompany the Crown Prince and better protect the Great
Jin Dynasty.

That was the motto of the Hua family.

In the imperial court, Emperor Changlong slightly raised the index finger of
his left hand, and Zhao Sancai, who was standing aside, loudly declared, "If
there is any matter to report, speak up; otherwise, the court is dismissed."

This was almost the standard procedure after the court meeting. Generally,
when these words were spoken, it meant that the meeting was over and
everyone could disperse.

But today, it was different. A censor stood up.

"This subordinate has a report."

Emperor Changlong sat up straight, his expression unchanged. He said,

"Speak."

"Recently, this subordinate received a secret report related to the border,"

the censor turned his head and glanced at Hua Yingting, who stood at the
forefront of the generals' side, "It has been discovered that General Hua
Yingting's eldest son, Hua Jingyi, has had close contact with the imperial
family of Jinpo. It has raised suspicions of collusion and treason."

The entire court was shocked; almost no one could believe that this was
true.

"Your Majesty," Cao Jinbo stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty,
General Hua has been guarding the border with his sons for many years and
has even defeated the bandits of Jinpo. How could they collude and betray
the country? Please investigate this matter carefully, Your Majesty."

As Cao Jinbo looked up at Emperor Changlong, who had no expression on

his face, his mind raced with thoughts. Could it be that the Crown Prince's
betrothal to Fushou Junzhu was merely a ruse to deceive the Hua family?
And now, was Emperor Changlong intending to suppress the Hua family?

Fortunately, the Crown Prince was present at today's court meeting. Cao
Jinbo cast a hopeful gaze at the Crown Prince, hoping that he would speak
up for the Hua family.

The Crown Prince, standing at the head of the civil officials, remained
silent. The civil officials who stood behind him were unaware of his current
expression.

"General Hua Jingyi is a talented and loyal general of Zhen. Do you have
any evidence to support your claim that he colluded with the enemy?"
Emperor Changlong looked at the censor with an impassive expression.

"These are the correspondences between Hua Jingyi and the enemy country.
Please review them, Your Majesty," the censor took out several letters from
his sleeve.

Zhao Sancai received the letters, confirmed that they were not poisoned,
and then handed them over to Emperor Changlong. Instead of immediately
reading the letters, Emperor Changlong turned his gaze toward the Crown
Prince.

"Crown Prince, what is your view on this matter?"

The civil officials felt a sense of relief in their hearts. The Emperor still
valued the Crown Prince, even in a situation like this, he still considered the
Crown Prince's reputation. Of course, at this moment, they felt even more
sympathy for Hua Yingting.

The suspicion of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country was a
serious accusation, and once tainted, it would be difficult to cleanse oneself
of it.

If the Emperor wanted to use this opportunity to strike at the Hua family,
shedding just a layer of skin would not be enough for them. It might cost
them half of their lives.
"This censor seems rather unfamiliar, a newcomer?" The Crown Prince
glanced at the censor.

"Replying to Your Royal Highness, this subordinate was the second-ranked

scholar in the recent imperial examination," Censor Xie made a bow, "This
subordinate has just taken up my position at the Office of Imperial
Censors."

"Oh," the Crown Prince nodded, "You do have a rather ordinary

appearance. Gu can only remember the appearances of the top-ranked
scorer and the third-ranked scholar. Gu seems to have forgotten about you."

Being publicly mocked by the Crown Prince for his appearance, Censor
Xie's face turned pale and green, making for a rather interesting sight.

"Since you are a newly appointed censor, where did you obtain the evidence
of Hua Jingyi colluding with the enemy and betraying the country?" The
Crown Prince placed his hands behind his back, took a few steps forward,
and stood in front of Censor Xie, "Gu suspects that when you saw Hua
Changkong achieve a better ranking than you in the imperial examination,
you were filled with jealousy. That's why you are intentionally spreading
rumors."

"Your Royal Highness, this subordinate has never harbored such thoughts,"
Censor Xie hurriedly replied, "This subordinate came across this evidence
unintentionally and spoke of it during the court out of concern that Hua
Jingyi might commit further wrongdoing. Although Your Royal Highness is
betrothed to Fushou Junzhu, Your Royal Highness cannot protect the Hua
family from their heinous crimes just because of Your Royal Highness's
personal feelings."

"Are you suggesting that Gu is shielding criminals?" The Crown Prince

chuckled lightly but suddenly turned serious, "Whether the Hua family is
guilty or not, neither Father Emperor nor Gu have made any statements yet.
Do you think it is your place to pass judgment? Are you, a mere censor,
assisting the Ministry of Justice in delivering verdicts or helping Father
Emperor convict people?"
As he finished speaking, he kicked Censor Xie, sending him sprawling on
the ground, "What nonsense you spout in front of Gu."

The other civil officials silently moved aside, creating more space to allow
the Crown Prince to continue.

This newcomer, Censor Xie, truly had no fear of tigers in his infancy. It
would have been enough if he had just targeted the Hua family, but he had
to involve the Crown Prince as well. They had already experienced the
Crown Prince's temperament and firmly remembered the rule of "better to
anger the Emperor than to provoke the Crown Prince's madness" when
attending court.

As officials, they still had their pride. Where could they put their faces if the
Crown Prince scolded them or kicked them during court sessions?

Moreover, this censor...

Who has ever seen a traitor who has defeated the enemy country so
resoundingly?

Whose intelligence is he trying to insult here?

Censor Xie, who was kicked by the Crown Prince, was unable to regain his
composure for a long time. Wasn't this the imperial court? Wasn't the
Emperor still present? Why did the Crown Prince dare to kick a court
official without any hesitation?

"Crown Prince," Emperor Changlong cleared his throat, "Speak properly,

no need for violence. When you return, copy ten scrolls of large characters
to calm your mind."

And then? That's it?!

Censor Xie couldn't believe it. The Emperor was actually tolerating the
Crown Prince to this extent?! You are the Emperor, can't you show some
authority and discipline this bad-tempered Crown Prince?
Unfortunately, Censor Xie was destined to be disappointed. After uttering a
few perfunctory remarks, the Emperor seemed to have forgotten about the
Crown Prince's outburst. The other court officials also wore indifferent and
inscrutable expressions.

Censor Xie: "..."

Are the officials in the capital all crazy?

"Your Majesty," the determined Censor Xie refused to give in. Struggling to
climb to his feet from the ground, he endured the pain and said, "Your
Majesty, these letters are personally written by Hua Jingyi. Please review
them."

Emperor Changlong was familiar with Hua Jingyi's handwriting, or rather,

he was familiar with the handwriting of all of Hua Yingting's children. Hua
Yingting often showed him letters written by his children. Even when Hua
Yingting was stationed at the border, he would include samples of his
children's writing in the letters he sent to the Emperor.

As soon as the envelopes were opened, the Emperor recognized the

handwriting, which indeed resembled Hua Jingyi's. These letters not only
touched on certain political matters within the court but also discussed trade
with foreign countries in Qinghan Province.

In some of the letters, Hua Jingyi implied that individuals on the Jinpo side
should send him gold, silver, and jewels; otherwise, their cooperation would
be terminated, and so on.

Closing these letters, Emperor Changlong looked at Hua Yingting. Hua

Yingting's face still carried a sense of grievance, confusion, and
bewilderment, but notably not guilt.

"After reviewing these letters, it indeed seems to be Hua Jingyi's

handwriting," Emperor Changlong cast his gaze toward the assembled court
officials, lightly tapping his index finger on the armrest of the dragon throne
without saying a word.
"Your Majesty, this subordinate believes there may be some
misunderstanding here," Zhang Shuo, the Minister of Justice, spoke up,
"General Hua Jingyi has served on the border from a young age and has
slain countless enemies. How could such a person collude with the enemy
and betray the country? Your Majesty, please examine this matter
carefully."

"This subordinate concurs," Pei Jihuai, the Deputy Minister of Justice, also
stood up.

"Your Majesty, this subordinate suspects that this matter is an intentional

framing and false accusation by a foreign power," Lin Zhou, the Minister of
Works, also stood up. Although his relationship with the Hua family was
quite awkward, he remembered that during his most difficult times, Hua
Yingting had interceded on his behalf.

The Hua family had sacrificed their lives and shed blood for the Great Jin
Dynasty for generations. It was too hasty to declare them guilty of collusion
and treason based on a few letters with similar handwriting.

"Father Emperor," Ying Wang spoke directly, "In Erchen's opinion, it is this
censor who has ill intentions. Look at his sneering appearance; he does not
seem like a good person. He must be deliberately scheming against the Hua
family."

Censor Xie: "..."

Can you imperial family members just focus on the matter at hand and stop
bringing up appearances?

"Don't worry, esteemed ministers," Emperor Changlong said with a laugh,

"When Zhen said that this handwriting seems to belong to Hua Jingyi, it's
not because Zhen doubted him. Rather, Zhen wanted to tell you all that all
of this was done by Hua Jingyi under Zhen's instructions," He placed all the
letters in a tray and chuckled, "However, Zhen can't disclose what he was
supposed to do at this moment. So, please refrain from speculating."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. So, that was the case. Once they
understood, they became somewhat concerned. If this matter was exposed,
Hua Jingyi's ongoing mission would likely fail.

With this in mind, they turned their heads to look at Censor Xie. Couldn't he
have reported this matter privately instead of making it known to the entire
court?

Now, the Emperor's plan had been jeopardized.

Facing the condemning gazes of many courtiers, Censor Xie felt a

significant blow to his worldview. The person who had given him these
pieces of evidence had clearly stated that they would make the Hua family
unable to escape, but why was he the one caught in the situation now?

"This farce ends here," Emperor Changlong stood up, his tone indifferent,
"You may all retire."

The Emperor did not punish Censor Xie, but many people looked at him
with sympathetic eyes.

To offend the Crown Prince right after entering the court, he truly was a
brave warrior.

Censor Xie wanted to inquire about some information from his colleagues,
but as soon as he approached them, they avoided him as if he were a ghost.

"Wait."

Censor Xie watched as his colleagues hurriedly left, finally feeling a sense
of fear.

"Censor Xie..." Pei Jihuai walked up to him, implying something in his

words, "You are a distant relative of Xie Fuma, aren't you?"

Censor Xie nodded, puzzled, "Why do you ask, Pei Daren?"

Pei Jihuai smirked and walked away.

Censor Xie: "..."

What is wrong with these people?

Just now, Hua Yingting, who didn't say a word in the court, silently
followed behind Emperor Changlong and entered the main hall of the
Chenyang Palace.

"Your Majesty!" Hua Yingting shouted, kneeling before Emperor

Changlong with a thud. He held onto the Emperor's leg, crying with snot
and tears streaming down his face.

"Your Majesty, this subordinate feels so bitter in my heart!"

"Who is the bastard who dared to frame this subordinate? If it weren't for
Your Majesty's protection, even if I had a hundred mouths, I wouldn't be
able to explain myself."

At this moment, Hua Yingting became a child weighing 150 catties1Around

75 kg full of grievances.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 118 – Seeking Justice

Who says heroes don't shed tears, they just haven't reached the point of
heartbreak.

Hua Yingting's crying voice shook the heavens, startling Ying Wang who
had just walked to the door. He took a step back and asked Zhao Sancai,
who was guarding outside, "Head Eunuch Zhao, is General Hua... alright?"

Did Father Emperor reprimand him because of what happened?

"Head Eunuch, please inform to Father Emperor that I wish to see him,"
Ying Wang said, growing more concerned and wanting to go inside to
check on the situation.

"Please wait, Your Highness."

After Zhao Sancai entered the palace, Hua Yingting's crying quickly
subsided. Unable to resist his curiosity, Ying Wang tried to peek inside.
However, Zhao Sancai emerged at this time, "Your Highness, His Majesty
invites you to enter."

Ying Wang walked briskly into the palace and saw General Hua standing
beside his father. General Hua's eyes were red, indicating that he had
suffered great grievances. His father, on the other hand, appeared calm, with
no discernible emotions.

"Father Emperor," Ying Wang bowed to Emperor Changlong and said,

"Father Emperor, Erchen suspects that Censor Xie deliberately smeared
General Hua's family. Someone is manipulating things behind the scenes."

Emperor Changlong looked at his son with satisfaction. It was a pleasant

surprise that he was finally willing to use his brain.
"Hmm, makes sense," Emperor Changlong nodded, "Then, who do you
think is the most likely suspect?"

"Who else but the Xie family? They caused a big incident and must want to
drag the Hua family down with them. Perhaps they even hold a grudge
against Fushou Junzhu for saving the Crown Prince and thwarting their
grand scheme," Ying Wang affirmed, "In Erchen's opinion, no one other
than the Xie family could be behind this. Even the censor who slandered
Hua Jingyi is likely connected to the Xie family."

Emperor Changlong sighed, relieved that his eldest son was at least willing
to think. He didn't have excessively high expectations for him.

Seeing his father sigh, Ying Wang was puzzled, "Father Emperor, did
Erchen say something wrong?"

"No," Emperor Changlong waved his hand wearily, "You can go and rest
now. Zhen will handle this matter properly."

"Yes," Ying Wang glanced at Hua Yingting and then left. Just as he exited
the Chengyang Palace, he encountered Crown Prince and Hua Liuli, who
were walking together.

Ying Wang silently bowed and, after taking a few steps, turned back to Hua
Liuli, "Don't worry, Fushou Junzhu. Father Emperor won't believe the
slanderous words of those despicable individuals."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Hua Liuli thought Ying Wang had more to
say, but he walked away without another word, seemingly lost in thought.

"Don't look at other men. Look at me more," the Crown Prince held Hua
Liuli's face in his hands, "Gu is much better looking than them."

"Yes, yes, Your Royal Highness is the most handsome," Hua Liuli grabbed
the Crown Prince's hand, "But right now, I'm more eager to see Father. I
have no heart to appreciate Your Royal Highness's beauty."
The Crown Prince chuckled lightly and led Hua Liuli into the main hall.
Seeing that it was the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu, Zhao Sancai didn't
even bother to announce them and greeted them with a smile before letting
them enter.

"Your Majesty, this person deliberately enticed a member of the Xie family
to take the bait. His intentions are extremely wicked," Hua Yingting, who
had stopped sobbing, quickly regained his composure, "If Your Majesty
believes this subject, then it is the Xie family who is implicated. Everyone
knows that the Xie family holds a grudge against this subject's family,
especially after their daughter failed to marry the Crown Prince due to her
unrequited love."

"Everyone knows that the Xie family certainly harbors ill will towards this
subject and this subject's family. However, the Xie family's patriarch is very
cautious and adept at concealing his emotions. Even if they truly hate our
Hua family, it would be unlikely for a member of the Xie family's side
branch to act on their behalf."

The most suspicious family, the Xie family, wasn't as suspicious as it

seemed in this case.

"Zhen also thinks the same," Emperor Changlong handed the letters
presented by Censor Xie to Hua Yingting, "Take a look at these letters."

Hua Yingting glanced at them and shook his head, "The handwriting styles
are very similar to this subject's son, but this subject can assure Your
Majesty, these are not this subject's son's own writings."

"Zhen knows," Emperor Changlong nodded, "However, to quash rumors

and arguments in their infancy, Zhen can only say publicly that Zhen
instructed Jingyi to do all this."

"This subject understands Your Majesty's intentions," Hua Yingting knelt

down on one knee, "With Your Majesty's protection of my family, I don't
know how to repay Your Majesty. After all, everything this subject and this
subject's family possess was given by Your Majesty."
Rumors always attract more attention than the truth. If the rumors of the
Hua family's potential treason and betrayal spread, it would greatly impact
their image in the eyes of the people. Therefore, until the true culprit was
discovered, Emperor Changlong could only publicly take responsibility to
shield them.

"You and the Wei family have protected the country for Zhen, so Zhen
should naturally protect you. How can Zhen let you repay the favor?"
Emperor Changlong held onto Hua Yingting's arm, trying to lift him up.

Unfortunately, he forgot that Hua Yingting was a strong man weighing

nearly 200 pounds. With his strength alone, he couldn't budge him.

The atmosphere instantly became somewhat awkward.

Following Emperor Changlong's motion, Hua Yingting immediately stood

up and wiped away his tears. He said, "As a general, having a wise monarch
is this subject's fortune. Even if it means sacrificing this subject's life and
shedding blood, this subject is willing."

"Zhen's most beloved subject!"

"Your Majesty!"

"Cough, cough."

The Crown Prince cleared his throat twice, interrupting this emotional
exchange between the monarch and his subject. He stepped forward and
said, "Father Emperor, Erchen has a request."

"What is it?" Emperor Changlong had not yet fully recovered from the
emotional moment. Upon seeing Hua Liuli behind the Crown Prince, he
couldn't help but say, "Zhen's most beloved subject, the child you have
raised is also good. The Crown Prince is fortunate to have your child as the
Crown Princess."

"Not at all," Hua Yingting quickly interjected, "The Crown Prince possesses
both literary and martial talents; his appearance rivals that of Pan An1Pan
An (潘安) was a famous figure in ancient China known for his exceptional
beauty. He was a renowned poet, musician, and scholar during the Eastern
Jin dynasty. Pan An's good looks and talents made him a popular subject of
admiration and inspiration in Chinese literature and art. Comparing
someone's appearance to Pan An is a way of saying that they are
exceptionally attractive.. It is this subjects daughter's good fortune to marry
His Royal Highness."

"But Liuli is better."

"The Crown Prince is even better."

"Thank you, Father Emperor and General Hua, for your praise. Erchen also
believes that we are a perfect match," the Crown Prince felt that if they
continued to praise each other, it would soon be dark outside.

Hua Yingting smiled warmly, his gaze towards the Crown Prince was much
more amiable than before.

Today, in the court, he had expected the Crown Prince to remain silent. He
didn't expect him to confront the censor on behalf of the Hua family right
then and there, even getting so angry as to use force.

If it weren't for the Crown Prince cherishing his daughter, how could His
Royal Highness remain fearless in the face of rumors and go to these
lengths?

In truth, he had always been worried deep down. His daughter, raised on the
border, might feel uncomfortable being with the Crown Prince. Children
raised in the palace were accustomed to many rules and regulations. Could
his daughter, with her temperament, stay with the Crown Prince for a
lifetime?

But today, he saw the Crown Prince's protective behavior in the court. The
lingering worries in his heart gradually dissipated.

This Crown Prince might not fit the perfect image of a Crown Prince in the
minds of scholars, but he just might be the most perfect for his daughter.
If he had to describe it in words, it would probably be... compatible?

As a father, the thing he loved most was hearing praise for his own son. He
had long grown tired of others pointing fingers at the Crown Prince. Upon
hearing Hua Yingting's compliments, Emperor Changlong felt a sense of
refreshing joy throughout his being.

"Why are you here now? Did you have something to say?" Emperor
Changlong remembered that the Crown Prince had something to discuss
with him.

"Erchen believes the Xie family's false accusation of treason and betrayal
against the Hua family is a serious matter," the Crown Prince said, "Erchen
thinks we should thoroughly investigate the Xie family to clear the
suspicions raised on the Hua family."

Emperor Changlong's eyes brightened slightly, "Are you suggesting..."

"The weather is getting hotter; Erchen wants to give the Xie family some
relief," the Crown Prince curled his lips and smiled, looking very
handsome, "The Xie family privately harbors assassins and has attempted to
assassinate the Crown Prince. There is irrefutable evidence."

"With just two confessions, conducting a thorough investigation of the Xie

family may not be sufficient, right?" Emperor Changlong tapped the table,
"The Xie family holds considerable influence in the south. With only these
reasons, it may not be enough."

"We will have more soon," the Crown Prince said with a smiling
expression, "If Father Emperor agrees to let Erchen leave the palace today
and go out for a trip, then we will have it."

Emperor Changlong: "..."

After all this beating around the bush, he just wants to sneak out of the
palace to have some fun?
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. This subject will take good care of His
Royal Highness," Hua Liuli smiled gently.

Facing his future daughter-in-law, Emperor Changlong couldn't scold his

son and could only suppress his anger, "As a man, he should take good care
of you. Let Yuansu accompany you in exploring and shopping in the capital
city. If there's something you like, let him pay for it."

Hua Liuli covered her mouth and smiled, "Thank you very much, Your
Majesty."

"Father Emperor, General Hua, we will take our leave now," the Crown
Prince grabbed Hua Liuli's hand and turned to leave, afraid that Emperor
Changlong might change his mind.

"Ah!" Emperor Changlong sighed and forced a smile at Hua Yingting,

"Young people should cultivate their relationship before marriage."

He absolutely couldn't let his subject see that he had no way to deal with the
Crown Prince.

"You are right, Your Majesty," Hua Yingting nodded, "This subject also
thinks the same way."

Emperor Changlong's smile became more natural. Having a loyal minister

who agreed with everything he said really put his mind at ease.

"Master, the censor from the Xie family's side branch has already presented
the evidence to the court."

"Hmph!" The man sneered, "And then?"

"And then..." His subordinate stammered, "And then Emperor Changlong

said that those letters were indeed written by Hua Jingyi, but it was under
Emperor Changlong's instruction."

"What did you say?!" The man sat up straight, even tearing his folding fan
in his hand, "After seeing the evidence of collusion written by Hua Jingyi,
Emperor Changlong actually took responsibility for it?"
"Yes," the subordinate was completely confused. They had arranged for
someone to imitate Hua Jingyi's handwriting in those letters and
deliberately let it be discovered by the censor from the Xie family's side
branch.

How did it turn into a different story when they ended up in Emperor
Changlong's hands?

Any sane emperor would have taken advantage of this rare opportunity to
suppress the Hua family, wouldn't they?

"Emperor Changlong actually trusts the Hua family so much?" After a

moment of shock, the man understood Emperor Changlong's intentions. He
wanted to protect the Hua family completely.

As an emperor, how could he not be suspicious of military generals? Even

after seeing the evidence, he didn't waver in the slightest?

This Emperor Changlong, is he mentally ill? What kind of strange emperor

is he?

"Master, what should we do now?" The subordinate also didn't expect

Emperor Changlong to not fall for their scheme and was stunned.

"I heard that the estate where the Hua family currently resides was
bestowed upon them by Emperor Changlong?" The man pondered for a
moment, "Also, Fushou Junzhu has an estate bestowed upon her, didn't
she?"

"Yes."

"If someone discovers the Dragon Robe in Fushou Junzhu's bestowed

estate," the man elegantly opened his folding fan but found that he had torn
it just now. So he tossed it aside and continued with an air of mystery, "I
would really like to know if Emperor Changlong will still trust his most
beloved son and his most trusted general when he sees that set of Dragon
Robe."
"Understood, Master."

After spending some time playing outside the palace with the Crown
Prince, Hua Liuli was about to board the carriage and return to the palace
when a disheveled woman knelt in front of them.

"I beg the heavens and earth, please help me seek justice!"

With people coming and going on the street, soon the passersby surrounded
their carriage tightly. The guards from the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace
almost drew their swords in warning.

"Brother Wang, look!" Yang Wen, who was residing in a room on the
second floor of an inn, saw this scene and quickly called Wang Qi and
others from his hometown, "Doesn't this woman blocking the carriage
resemble the mother of the scholar who was pushed into the river?"

After the scholar was pushed into the river, the scholar's mother spent days
by the riverbank, calling out her son's name and crying until her eyes were
hollow. Later, when yamen constables from Changyan Prefecture came to
drive her away, she disappeared.

They thought that the Xie family and the Prefect of Changyan Province had
killed this woman but unexpectedly she had come to the capital city.

"Great heavenly lord! This commoner demands justice against the Prefect
of Changyan Province and the Xie Family for causing innocent deaths!"
The old woman knelt in front of the carriage and took out a complaint letter
from her sleeve, raising it above her head and crying, "I beseech the
honorable gentleman to seek justice for this commoner!"

Everyone was in an uproar. The Prefect of Changyan Province and Xie

family?

"Do you mean the Xie family that has a Fuma?"

"The one who was cuckolded by the Princess and went mad?"
"Wasn't it said that he had turned against the Crown Prince, sent assassins to
kill him, and went mad after his plot was exposed?"

As people excitedly discussed the scene regardless of the truth, it quickly

became known that the Xie family had taken innocent lives and caused this
old woman's hair to turn white. She had come to the capital to lodge a
formal complaint.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, some people also began to worry.
Seeing the old woman in tattered clothes, it was evident that she came from
a poor family. The Xie family, on the other hand, was a prominent clan with
a noble Fuma. They wondered if the person inside the carriage dared to
intervene in this matter?

If they didn't dare to intervene, would Princess Leyang Estate kill the old
woman to keep her from speaking out?

"Old lady, please take your time," a guard stepped forward with a gentle
expression and helped lift up the old woman, "First tell us what exactly
happened so that the Crown Prince can assist you."

"The Crown Prince?" the old woman asked excitedly, "Is it His Royal
Highness?"

The guard smiled and nodded.

"That's wonderful! That's wonderful!" The old woman lowered her head
and wiped her tears, "Your Royal Highness, this old woman's son died
unjustly!"

"This old woman is from Changyao Province in the south. When my child
was three years old, his father passed away," the old woman spoke of her
deceased husband, who had died in battle on the frontier. After her
husband's death, she raised their child alone, hoping that he would achieve
success and serve the court just like his father.

"After this old woman's husband passed away, the court granted us a
considerable amount of pension. With that money, I hired a teacher for my
child so that he could study and become successful like his father. But those
animals from the Xie family..." The old woman cried so intensely that she
nearly fainted.

Just as the Enke was about to be held and her child, whom she had raised by
herself, was about to take it, he was pushed into a river by members of the
Xie family and drowned. His body was never found.

The pitiful mother sought help from officials, but no one paid attention.
Instead, she faced threats from the Xie family. Sad and desperate, she could
only beg her way to the capital. However, she feared that the officials in the
capital city might be like the Prefect of Changyao Province. Thus, she
resorted to stopping a nobleman's carriage on the street to plead for
assistance.

After hearing about this poor woman's tragic life story, many people began
wiping their tears away while others started cursing the Xie family out of
righteous anger.

After sharing all the details and deeply affecting countless passersby, the
old woman seemed to have let go of all her persistence and fainted.

"Quickly take her to see a physician."

The guards carried her away, while some concerned citizens followed along
out of worry for her safety.

Some brave individuals stood in front of the carriage, hoping that the owner
of the carriage would make a statement.

"Everyone please rest assured that His Royal Highness will handle this
matter seriously and will not let any evildoers go free."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, it's true."

"There are so many princes in the palace. Which one is your master?"
someone in the crowd shouted very loudly.
"My master is none other than Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace. He has
always detested evil and doesn't spare corrupt officials," the attendant
replied loudly, "Please rest assured that the Crown Prince will submit a
petition to the emperor and thoroughly investigate the Xie family and the
Prefect of Changyao Province."

"The Crown Prince?!" The common people immediately felt relieved upon
hearing that it was the Crown Prince.

They had heard that the Crown Prince was the most favored son of His
Majesty and was also General Hua's future son-in-law. If it was him, he
would certainly not protect the Xie family.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 119 – The Dragon Robe

The old woman was taken away and the commotion had subsided. The
crowd dared not offend the Crown Prince and could only disperse
reluctantly.

"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli lifted the curtain of the carriage and saw
the crowd gradually dispersing. She said, "I feel something is amiss with
this matter."

"On what basis?" The Crown Prince smiled as he looked at Hua Liuli.

"The old woman's sorrow seemed more like a show for others. Every word
she spoke about her son's drowning, each one was perfectly calculated to
evoke sympathy from the others," Hua Liuli pondered for a moment and
said, "She appeared too flawless, to the point of seeming unreal."

The Crown Prince chuckled lightly, extending his index finger to gently tap
her nose, "My Liuli is truly perceptive, able to discern things that others
cannot."

Seeing the Crown Prince so calm, Hua Liuli gradually formed a guess in
her mind, "Your Royal Highness, could it be that this person is…"

"Hush!" The Crown Prince placed his index finger against his lips, "You
understand."

Hua Liuli did understand. She stared at the Crown Prince in silence for a
while, not saying a word.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" The Crown Prince gazed back at her
gently, "Do you find me unscrupulous?"
Hua Liuli shook her head lightly and smiled, "I am looking at Your Royal
Highness and wondering how your mind works and why it is so clever."

Given the Xie Family's numerous schemes and their influence in the south,
if they were not dealt with promptly, it would surely lead to dire
consequences.

"Perhaps it's because of 'birds of a feather flock together'?" The Crown

Prince chuckled, "Having been betrothed to a girl who's so clever, wouldn't
I appear incompetent if I didn't use my brain?"

Hua Liuli burst into laughter, "Your Royal Highness, you certainly know
how to speak, your words are so sweet."

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt something soft and warm brushed
against the corner of her lips. She touched her lips and looked at the Crown
Prince, who had straightened up, and widened her eyes.

"Didn't you say that my words are sweet?" The Crown Prince pointed to his
own lips, "That's why I wanted you to taste it."

Hua Liuli's cheeks blushed slightly. Although she had once been a beautiful
young girl who wanted to raise male companions, she had always just
admired from afar without taking any action.

So she... felt shy.

As soon as the carriage stopped at the entrance of the Hua Family Estate,
Hua Liuli jumped out of the carriage and ran into the estate.

"Liuli, walk slowly, your health isn't good," the Crown Prince lifted the
carriage curtain and showed a gentle smile to the fleeing Hua Liuli.

Hua Liuli stumbled for a moment and turned to look at the Crown Prince;
she made a funny face at him before slipping into the main gate of the Hua
Family Estate.

The Crown Prince chuckled lightly. He leaned against the carriage wall and
couldn't help but sigh.
There were still over three months until the twelfth of August. It felt like
time was passing so slowly. He didn't know how preparations were going in
the Ministry of Rites. Some of the items in the Eastern Palace also needed
to be replaced with those that Liuli liked.

"Your Royal Highness," a cautious attendant eunuch reminded, "Junzhu has

already returned to her estate. Is Your Royal Highness going back to the
palace now?"

The Crown Prince regained his senses and glanced at the cautious attendant
eunuch, "Back to the palace."

When he returned to the palace later, he would go and see if there were any
items that girls liked in his father's private treasury.

News of the Xie family's members killing an innocent scholar quickly

spread throughout the capital. Some literati who knew Wang Qi, Yang Wen,
and other scholars from the south came to inquire whether such an incident
had truly occurred.

Wang Qi and the others were wary of the power of the Xie family.
However, when they thought of how Fushou Junzhu had helped them in
their time of need and expressed her hope that they would become good
officials who stood up for the people in the future, how could they not dare
to speak up about the wicked deeds of the Xie family? If they couldn't even
speak the truth about the Xie family's misdeeds, how could they face
themselves when they entered the court in the future?

After hesitating for a moment, they finally spoke about everything they
knew.

"It's all my fault. If I could swim, perhaps that day I could have saved that
fellow scholar instead of watching him be swallowed by the river," Wang
Qi felt deeply guilty, as this incident had become an indelible shadow over
him.

"Brother Wang, although you were unable to help him, by speaking the
truth, I believe that scholar would also be grateful to you," A scholar from
the north, seeing Wang Qi's guilt-ridden expression, consoled him, "The one
who should feel guilty is the Xie family, not you."

"They say the Xie family is a scholarly family, but I never expected them to
commit such inhumane acts."

The scholars from the south who had come to listen to the conversation felt
a sense of heat in their faces upon hearing this. The Xie family, as the
leading scholarly family in the south, had brought shame upon them,
tarnishing their reputation.

"We've always heard that the scholars from the south are like bright moons,
unafraid of the powerful. Today, after meeting you gentlemen, we truly
understand that the scholars from the south indeed possess great integrity,"
the scholar from the north bowed to the scholars from the south, "The Xie
family may be influential, but you have dared to speak the truth. We greatly
admire you."

Receiving praise from the scholar from the north, the scholars from the
south blushed with guilt. In truth, they were not as praiseworthy as
described, but faced with the admiring gaze of the others, their fear of the
Xie family gradually dissipated.

Some bold individuals even revealed some of the Xie family's shameless
actions, such as hoarding books, deliberately delaying the imperial edict of
Enke, bullying others, colluding with the local Prefect's office, and so on.

"As scholars, we should consider the well-being of the nation and its
people. How can we commit these outrageous acts?" The usually gentle and
reasonable scholars in the capital were now enraged. Some spoke their
minds and slammed the table, vowing to write articles to condemn the Xie
family.

"Today, the Xie family may have killed this scholar, but tomorrow, they
might come to kill us," A scholar said, "We must speak out against them in
defense of that scholar and urge the court to arrest the murderer."
The pen of the literati is an invisible sword. The Xie family wanted the
support of the southern scholars to establish their position in Great Jin's
scholarly world. However, when these invisible swords were pointed at
them, they found the scholars detestable.

They claimed to "act in the interest of the people", but it was clear they
were jealous of the Xie family's status.

When Elder Xie heard this news, he was shocked and could hardly believe
his ears, "The southern scholars have always respected the Xie family. How
could they join the scholars in the capital to insult us?"

The servant recounted the events to him.

"Foolish!" Elder Xie was so angry that he nearly vomited blood, "Didn't I
instruct them before I left to manage the younger generation in the family
strictly? Why did they still cause such a mess?"

If it were just a mess, it would have been fine. But unfortunately, it resulted
in a scholar's death. And many people saw that it was the doing of the Xie
family!

Not only were they seen, but they also had the audacity to slander the
deceased student's mother while being watched by countless pairs of eyes.
Did these people have any brains when carrying out their actions?

In despair, Elder Xie wondered which of the younger generations had

caused this trouble. A few least intelligent of the younger generation had
gathered together in his mind.

Even though the Xie family was a scholarly family, there would always be a
couple of useless individuals among them who were good at causing
trouble.

"Now that things have come to this point, as long as we hand over these
useless individuals, we can save the entire Xie family," Elder Xie made up
his mind, "I will write a letter, and you must deliver it to Changyao
Province as quickly as possible. Let the family hand over those useless
individuals to appease public anger."

After this incident, the Xie family's standing among scholars in the south
would greatly decline.

Thinking of this, Elder Xie felt a pain in his chest. The image that several
generations of the Xie family had painstakingly built would be destroyed in
an instant. How could he face his ancestors after he died?

Unfortunately, Elder Xie didn't know that the letter he sent to Changyao
Province overnight had been intercepted outside the capital. The servant
who delivered the letter had also been thrown into the prison of the
Jingzhao Prefecture.

Elder Xie's letter soon appeared on the imperial desk.

After reading the letter, Emperor Changlong sighed and said, "Abandoning
the carriage to save the general, the Xie family members act efficiently,
without any hesitation, without any muddy faults."

"Father Emperor, there is a strong public outcry regarding the Xie family's
case," the Crown Prince said, "To appease the public and maintain stability,
Erchen believes we should post notices and send a high-ranking minister to
thoroughly investigate the Xie family."

"Do we have any candidates for the high-ranking minister?" Emperor

Changlong asked.

"What does Father Emperor think of Pei Jihuai from the Ministry of Justice
and Hua Changkong from the Hanlin Academy?" the Crown Prince
suggested, "Hua Changkong is the newly crowned top-ranked scholar and
the son of two prominent generals. Both scholars and the common people
would trust him. Pei Jihuai is skilled in solving cases, with an impeccable
reputation and upright character. He won't be influenced by the Xie family."

"It seems you have already thought it through," Emperor Changlong

laughed, "You're already helping your future brother-in-law find a position
even before marrying into the Hua family."

"Erchen selects talented individuals regardless of family connections," the

Crown Prince said confidently, "Are these two individuals not suitable,
Father Emperor?"

"Very well," Emperor Changlong agreed, "We'll do as you suggest."

The Crown Prince was right. Hua Changkong's background was indeed
well-suited to handle this case. If Hua Changkong hadn't just entered the
court as an official, Emperor Changlong would have even considered
appointing him as the principal high-ranking minister.

After the court's announcement was posted, it received widespread praise.

The common people believed in this Top Ranked Scholar Hua, who was the
child of General Hua and General Wei. They heard that he had
accompanied his parents to the battlefield before coming to the capital, so
he must be fearless of power and would bring justice to the victim.

The literati were also satisfied. The deceased was a scholar; the fact that the
Emperor appointed the newly crowned top scholar as the deputy high-
ranking minister showed that the Emperor took the feelings of the literati
seriously and valued them.

As a result, there were more articles praising Emperor Changlong. What a

great Emperor! He was willing to offend his brother-in-law in order to
ensure the safety and justice of the common people.

Having an Emperor who was unbiased, the common people were blessed!

In teahouses and under the arches, countless articles and stories praising
Emperor Changlong had taken inception.

Hua Liuli and her group of sisters deliberately went to teahouses to listen to
these stories. They were startled by what they heard. In these stories,
Emperor Changlong had become a divine dragon descended to earth.

They said that a golden dragon appeared in the sky when he was born.
During his enthronement, colorful auspicious clouds appeared in the sky.

There were even versions where he personally carried an old lady across the
river while in disguise.

Hua Liuli quietly turned to look at Yao Jiamin, wanting to know how many
of these stories were true.

"Don't look at me," Yao Jiamin shook her head repeatedly, "I have never
heard my mother talk about these things. If even you, the future daughter-
in-law of the Emperor, haven't heard of them, how would I know?"

"If the Emperor wanted to carry an old lady across the river, he would have
the guards do it. How could His Majesty do it personally?" Tian Shan
whispered, "It doesn't sound like it's true."

As they were chatting, stories about Emperor Changlong had progressed to

a haunted house. It was said that after Emperor Changlong passed by in a
carriage, all the ghosts in that house disappeared.

"Abbot Qinghui came to take a look, recited some incantations, and said to
this noble person, 'Old master, there were originally ghosts in your house,
but today, the True Dragon Emperor passed by and dispelled the ghostly
aura. This Emperor has deep merits, with the aura of a dragon surrounding
him. Wherever he is present, no evil can harm'."

The teahouse customers listened with great interest and showered the
performers with silver that was raining down like a downpour on the stage.

Yao Jiamin and the others also tossed some silver coins up there. Regardless
of whether it was true or false, they were praising the Emperor, and attitude
was important.

"If he hadn't mentioned my imperial uncle, I would almost believe it," Yao
Jiamin sighed, "These storytellers are really impressive."

"Who knows, maybe the Emperor really is the reincarnation of a true

dragon," Hua Liuli said with a smile, "Just think about it, ever since the
Emperor ascended the throne, our dynasty has been prosperous for the
common people."

The girls nodded in agreement.

"Even Jinpo, who always used to provoke us, now submits to His Majesty's
dragon robe," Hua Liuli emphasized with a nod, "Who else but the True
Dragon Emperor could achieve this?"

"Junzhu is right!"

Two of the girls said it at the same time.

Yao Jiamin looked at her cousin and Tian Shan and saw the words
"flatterer" written on their faces, "I also think the same way."

Good sisters support each other, even in flattery.

"Junzhu, something happened." Yurong, who was usually composed,

hurriedly approached the tea table, "Someone found the dragon robe in your
private estate."

"What?!" Yao Jiamin was so scared that she even spilled the teacup in her
hand. She looked at Hua Liuli with a pale face and said urgently, "Who is
framing your family? Hurry, go to the palace now and ask the Crown Prince
for help!"

Private possession of the dragon robe was a grave crime that could lead to
the extermination of nine generations. Since the Crown Prince had genuine
feelings for Hua Liuli, so he should help her... right?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 120 – Your Majesty?

"Wait, wait," Yao Wenying called out to Hua Liuli, her teeth trembling with
fear.

Private possession of the dragon robe was something that had happened in
the previous dynasty as well. The crown prince of that time was involved in
the matter and was ultimately deposed and imprisoned for the rest of his
life.

"We can't go to the Crown Prince," Yao Wenying took a deep breath, "This
situation, we can't burden the Crown Prince."

"Why?" Yao Jiamin couldn't understand, "The Emperor dotes on the Crown
Prince the most. In times like these, it's more effective for the Crown Prince
to intercede than anyone else."

"But privately keeping the dragon robe is a grave crime. Do you all
remember the deposed crown prince from the previous dynasty, who was
imprisoned for life?" Yao Wenying exclaimed urgently, "The Crown Prince
is Fushou Junzhu's betrothed. This matter coming to light would be most
detrimental to the Crown Prince."

Yao Jiamin froze, then she turned to look at Hua Liuli with concern, "What
should we do now? What's the matter with that private estate?"

"The private estate was bestowed upon me by the Emperor when I was
conferred the title of Fushou Junzhu. The servants inside were assigned by
the Imperial Household Department. Most of these servants were punished
for major crimes in their families and were reduced to slavery," Hua Liuli
explained.
Apart from occasionally visiting her private estate, she hadn't meticulously
managed the property there. Now that a dragon robe suddenly appeared in
her private estate, she needed to carefully recall how many rooms there
were in the estate.

The servants who had passed through the Imperial Household Department
should not have any major issues unless someone had already tampered
with them before they were assigned to the private estate.

"What should we do now?" Yao Jiamin stomped her feet in frustration,

"Hua Liuli, don't panic. I will go back and ask my mother to inquire if
there's anyone who can help intercede."

After saying that, she didn't even bother to take the carriage and ran down
the stairs to snatch a guard's horse. She mounted the horse and prepared to
ride back to her residence.

"Wait," Hua Liuli pulled the reins, and the horse neighed, coming to a stop.

"What are you doing?" Yao Jiamin was startled, "Are your hands okay?"

"I'm fine," Hua Liuli patted the horse and advised Yao Jiamin, "We can't
gallop through the busy streets. You're in such a rush, but what if you
accidentally hurt someone?"

"You are already in this kind of situation, yet you still remember this," Yao
Jiamin sighed helplessly, "So what should we do now?"

"What else can we do?" Hua Liuli pursed her lips, "Since it's a problem
with my private estate, I will go and explain to the Emperor myself."

Hua Liuli boarded the carriage and said to the coachman, "Go, to the
palace."

Watching the carriage of the Hua family leave at a steady pace, Yao Jiamin
kicked the wheel of her carriage in anger, "Resorting to such cunning
methods. What kind of hearts do these people have?"
The Hua family had sacrificed a lot to guard the borders, and now that there
was finally peace in the world, the Hua family is now being accused of
privately keeping the dragon robe. It was too much of an insult to them.

Thinking of General Wei, whom she admired the most, enduring so much
injustice, Yao Jiamin's eyes turned red. She quickly turned around to head
towards the carriage.

"Jiamin, where are you going?" Yao Wenyin called out to Yao Jiamin.

"I'm going to seek help from my mother," Yao Jiamin gritted her teeth, "I
don't believe the Hua family would privately keep the dragon robe!"

Yao Wenyin nodded firmly, "Then I will go seek help from my

grandfather."

Tian Shan glanced at the two sisters and said in a low voice, "Then I'll go to
the palace and plead with my aunt."

Tian Shan didn't have much confidence in saying these words. Her aunt,
Consort Xian, had never been fond of the Crown Prince, and more
importantly, if the Crown Prince were to be implicated in this matter, her
cousin, Ying Wang, would benefit the most. Her aunt might not be willing
to help.

However, even if there was no hope, they had to try.

None of the young ladies believed that the Hua family would do such a
thing.

As Hua Liuli's carriage arrived at the palace gate, another carriage

happened to be coming out from inside.

The carriage slowed down and the person inside lifted the curtain. Hua Liuli
recognized her, "Second Princess."

"Fushou Junzhu," the Second Princess seemed to already know about the
private possession of the dragon robe. After a moment of hesitation, she
spoke, "Junzhu, there are several important officials in Father Emperor's
study right now. If you go at this time, please be extra careful."

"Thank you for the information, Second Princess," Hua Liuli smiled, "I
have a clear conscience as I haven't done anything wrong."

"The two generals are loyal and devoted; they would never do this thing,"
the Second Princess said with a gentle smile, "But Father Emperor is still
angry at the moment. If anything happens, Junzhu, please don't worry. The
Crown Prince sincerely cares for you, and he will definitely come to your
rescue."

Hua Liuli glanced at the Second Princess and slightly curved her lips,
"Indeed."

After giving a slight nod to Hua Liuli, the Second Princess put down the
curtain.

After the Second Princess's carriage left, Hua Liuli's carriage continued on
its way.

No one hindered them along the road, and even the palace maids and
eunuchs gave her respectful salutations, although their gazes held a hint of
strangeness.

Hua Liuli strode to the gate of the Chengyang Palace, where Zhao Sancai,
who was guarding it, saw her and approached with a gentle smile, "Junzhu,
you've come?"

"Head Eunuch Zhao, I have urgent matters to discuss with His Majesty.
Please inform him on my behalf."

"His Majesty has already told this old servant that if the Junzhu comes, she
can go in directly without prior notice."

"Thank you," Hua Liuli thanked him and walked through the gate.

While Hua Liuli's little sisters believed in the Hua family, it didn't mean that
everyone else did.
"Your Majesty, private possession of the dragon robe is a grave crime
associated with rebellion. Before it is determined whether Fushou Junzhu is
innocent, this subject believes that Hua Yingting should not continue to
hold the position of the Commander of the Imperial Guards," Wang Daren
said.

"Wang Daren's words are truly amusing. If there hasn't been a conviction
yet, why should General Hua be removed from his post?" Zhang Shuo, the
Minister of Justice, retorted, "If we follow your logic, I can suspect you of
embezzlement and bribery. Shouldn't your entire family be suspended from
duty until the matter is clarified?"

"You!" Wang Daren fumed, "Zhang Daren, don't use sophistry with me."

"I'm speaking logically, not using sophistry," Zhang Shuo said,

"Investigating the case is the responsibility of the Prefect of Jingzhou and
the Ministry of Justice. If we can determine the verdict with just your
words, then the Prefect of Jingzhou and the Ministry of Justice can all take
a break."

"Zhang Daren, are you colluding with the Hua family to protect them?"
Wang Daren challenged.

"Wang Daren, your statement doesn't make sense. I am currently speaking

with you, does that mean I am colluding with you?" Zhang Shuo no longer
paid attention to Wang Daren and turned to Emperor Changlong, bowing
respectfully, "Your Majesty, this matter is extraordinary and even goes
against reason. This subject believes it is necessary to quickly investigate
the truth and clear the name of Fushou Junzhu."

Emperor Changlong looked at the two officials, who had been debating
since they entered, and slowly sipped his tea, "Have the two esteemed
ministers reached a conclusion?"

Only then did Zhang Shuo and Wang Daren realize that His Majesty hadn't
expressed his opinion on the matter since they entered. Upon this
realization, they felt somewhat embarrassed.
"Fushou Junzhu's private estate was originally an imperial estate, which
Zhen bestowed upon Fushou Junzhu not long ago. Even the servants in the
estate were assigned by Zhen," Emperor Changlong looked at the
exquisitely embroidered dragon robe on the imperial desk, "Fushou Junzhu,
personally chosen by Zhen as the future Crown Princess, would she be
foolish enough to secretly hide a dragon robe in the imperial estate
bestowed upon her?"

"Your Majesty, there is a saying that the most dangerous place is the safest,"
Wang Daren continued, "If it hadn't been for a thief being discovered in the
estate, who would have known that Fushou Junzhu had hidden a dragon
robe in her private estate?"

"Fushou Junzhu is a young lady, so this dragon robe is obviously not

prepared for herself," Wang Daren's gaze swept over the dragon robe,
"Perhaps it was prepared for someone she cares about."

Who are the men that Fushou Junzhu cares about?

It's none other than Hua Yingting, her three older brothers, and... the Crown
Prince.

"This subject understands that Your Majesty doesn't want to suspect the
Hua family, but this matter concerns the stability of the country. Please
consider it carefully," Wang Daren didn't dare to mention the Crown Prince
and directed suspicion toward the Hua family.

In fact, he had long suspected the Hua family. They not only controlled
hundreds of thousands of troops guarding the borders but also held
significant power in the Imperial Guards. If they had any rebellious
intentions, the capital city would be in danger.

"Your Majesty, this humble subject seeks an audience," Hua Liuli stood
respectfully outside the curtain.

Both Wang Daren and Zhang Shuo turned their heads in surprise, looking at
Hua Liuli standing outside. How could she dare to enter the palace at a time
like this?
If any other younger generation were in trouble, they would surely stay at
home and let the elders of the family handle it. Unexpectedly, Fushou
Junzhu had come alone. Wasn't she afraid that His Majesty would imprison
her right away?

"Come in," Emperor Changlong's expression softened slightly. When he

saw Hua Liuli enter, though her face appeared pale, there was no sign of
guilt or remorse. He then said, "Zhao Sancai, bring a stool for Fushou
Junzhu."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Hua Liuli lightly coughed, covering her mouth
with her hand.

"Your health is not good. Don't rush into the palace for such minor matters,"
Emperor Changlong waited for Hua Liuli to sit down before continuing,
"Does the Crown Prince know that you've come to the palace?"

Hua Liuli shook her head and honestly replied, "His Royal Highness is not
yet aware."

Emperor Changlong's heart instantly tensed up. If the Crown Prince caused
a scene later, accusing him of mistreating his future bride, wouldn't it strain
their father-son relationship?

Wang Daren, seeing that His Majesty didn't rebuke Fushou Junzhu and even
let her a take seat, couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, since Fushou
Junzhu is already here, she should explain the situation."

"Wang Daren," Emperor Changlong said, "Fushou Junzhu is in poor health

and still young. Take your time to speak. Don't rush. Don't frighten her. If
she is truly innocent, Zhen will ensure she receives justice."

Wang Daren: "..."

Your Majesty, we are discussing the matter of private possession of the

dragon robe. You are the Emperor. Someone is encroaching upon your
position, shouldn't you show a sense of urgency?
Wang Daren turned his head and looked at Fushou Junzhu. He saw the
petite and lovely Junzhu, who had a smile on her face — a smile that was
both timid and shy. As he gazed at her fair and tender face, Wang Daren,
who was over fifty years old, couldn't help but think of his granddaughter at
home.

"Fu-Fushou Junzhu, do you have anything to explain regarding the dragon

robe in your private estate?" Wang Daren's voice involuntarily softened,
"Take your time. If you are truly innocent, His Majesty will definitely
ensure justice for you."

"Thank you, Daren," Hua Liuli smiled gratefully at him. With her naturally
good looks, her smile made the old man even more fond of her.

Seeing this smile, Wang Daren felt a bit guilty. Perhaps he genuinely
wished well for Fushou Junzhu. This adorable and timid young girl didn't
seem like someone with the courage to privately hide the dragon robe.

Could it have been the Crown Prince?

Under the guise of his betrothed, the Crown Prince, did he hide the dragon
robe in Fushou Junzhu's private estate? If it had been discovered, the blame
would have fallen on Fushou Junzhu...

Wang Daren secretly glanced at Emperor Changlong. The more he thought

about it, the more he felt that the Crown Prince, with his arrogant
temperament, was capable of doing this kind of thing. A pity though,
Fushou Junzhu is now implicated in the conspiracy without knowing why.

"Your Majesty..."

Before Hua Liuli could speak, Zhao Sancai's voice rang out, "Your Majesty,
Royal Princess Shunan seeks an audience."

Emperor Changlong was somewhat surprised, "What is she here for?"

Taking a glance at his well-behaved future daughter-in-law, Emperor

Changlong said, "Let her come in."
"Imperial Brother!" As soon as Royal Princess Shunan entered the hall, she
urgently exclaimed, "This must be a deliberate plot against the Hua family
and the Crown Prince."

Wang Daren and Zhang Shuo exchanged glances. Didn't Royal Princess
Shunan dislike the Crown Prince the most? At a time like this, instead of
seizing the opportunity to criticize the Crown Prince, she was actually
pleading for the future Crown Princess?

The emotions of the imperial family were truly more complex than a
spider's web.

In a hurry, Royal Princess Shunan respectfully greeted Emperor Changlong

and then turned to see Hua Liuli. She quickly walked over to her and said
directly, "Liuli is weak and timid. How could she dare to do such a thing?"

"That private estate is an imperial estate, and the servants inside are
assigned by the Imperial Household Department," Royal Princess Shunan
said, "I believe these servants must be involved. Why don't we capture them
all and interrogate them one by one to ensure justice for Fushou Junzhu?"

"You're right. These servants should be interrogated," Emperor Changlong

said to Hua Liuli, "Originally, Zhen planned to provide you with some
capable servants, but Zhen never expected these servants to be so
incompetent and cause you so much trouble. After this incident, you can
rearrange the servants to take care of the private estate and not burden
yourself."

Hua Liuli looked at Emperor Changlong in confusion. Did His Majesty not
suspect her at all?

"Yes," Royal Princess Shunan sighed with relief when she saw that
Emperor Changlong didn't suspect Hua Liuli, "If Junzhu doesn't understand,
I can send some of my estate's servants to you."

Zhang Shuo: "..."

This seems like a perfect opportunity to plant spies in Fushou Junzhu's
private estate!

"Why trouble yourself, Your Highness?"

"It's not a trouble. I have too many servants in my estate, and I've been
worried about the cost of maintaining them," Royal Princess Shunan
smiled, "You're actually helping me by sharing the burden."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Zhang Shuo: "..."

Well, he's a fool.

Consort Xian, accompanied by Tian Shan, arrived at the entrance of the

main hall in Chenyang Palace. She actually didn't want to help plead for
Hua Liuli, but it wouldn't hurt to come and watch the excitement.

As soon as they reached the door, they heard the laughter of the Emperor.

Had he gone crazy after finding out that the Hua family was privately
hiding the dragon robe?

"The two esteemed ministers are unaware. It wasn't Fushou Junzhu who
placed the dragon robe, but Zhen had it sent to her."

Consort Xian's steps halted, her mind filled with confusion. He can do that?

"Your Majesty?"

Wang Daren and Zhang Shuo were equally astonished, staring at Emperor
Changlong with disbelief, thinking that something was wrong with their
ears.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 121 – Feeling Aggrieved
and Sad

Not only Wang Daren and Zhang Shuo were surprised, but Hua Liuli was
also taken aback. She had visited the private estate a few days ago and had
not found anything suspicious in the main courtyard. Today, the dragon
robe was suddenly found, which was clearly a deliberate framing and the
most convenient mudslinging tactic.

If His Majesty had even the slightest suspicion towards the Hua family,
even if it were proven that she was not responsible for this, the position of
the Hua family in the court would become awkward.

No matter what they did or said in the future, in the eyes of others, they
could be seen as having ulterior motives. The relationship between monarch
and subject was more complex than that between husband and wife.

She thought that the best outcome would be for His Majesty to order a
thorough investigation into the matter without treating the Hua family as
criminals. However, she never expected that His Majesty would directly
claim responsibility for this.

His Majesty was lying.

"Well... this matter..." Emperor Changlong looked somewhat embarrassed,

"Originally, it was a private matter between Zhen and the Crown Prince."

Wang Daren and Zhang Shuo stood with their heads down, but their ears
perked up.
How did the dragon robe end up in Fushou Junzhu's private estate if it was
a private matter between His Majesty and the Crown Prince?

"Lately, there have been rumors circulating outside that Zhen is the True
Dragon descended to the mortal realm, capable of warding off evil spirits,"
Emperor Changlong lamented his old age and strained his brain to find
reasons to preserve the reputation of his beloved family, "The Crown
Prince, after hearing these rumors from the common folk, shamelessly came
to beg Zhen and obtained the dragon robe that Zhen no longer wears. He
placed it in Fushou Junzhu's private estate, claiming that it could protect her
from all illnesses."

"Naturally, Zhen doesn't believe in these things, but Zhen allowed it so that
the Crown Prince would not be worried about it," Emperor Changlong
looked somewhat embarrassed, "Originally, Zhen didn't intend to reveal this
private matter, but unexpectedly, the dragon robe was discovered right after
it was placed in the private estate, and it implicated Fushou Junzhu."

Wang Daren wore an expression of "Who am I and what am I listening to?"

He felt that at the age of fifty-five, he was not yet old enough to understand
the ways of communication between father and son in the imperial family.

Soon, he felt embarrassed. It was a matter of mutual affection between

father and son, but he had made a big fuss. Now he was left feeling utterly
ashamed.

"Wang Daren, you have always been devoted to Zhen, and Zhen is deeply
grateful," Emperor Changlong didn't forget to save his loyal subject's face;
he rewarded him with some items and said, "With a meticulous subject like
Wang Daren in the court, it is the fortune of the imperial court."

Being praised by Emperor Changlong, Wang Daren's embarrassment

disappeared in an instant, and he happily replied, "Your Majesty's words are
too kind. It is this subject's duty to share Your Majesty's worries."

"Now that the matter has been resolved, Wang Daren may withdraw. Zhang
Daren and Zhen still have some matters to discuss," Emperor Changlong
said.
"Yes, this subject will withdraw," Wang Daren exited the Chanyang Palace
and encountered Consort Xian, who was waiting outside. In his heart, he
thought that Consort Xian must have come to witness the spectacle
involving Fushou Junzhu, but unfortunately, His Majesty had already
known about it, so Consort Xian had made the trip in vain.

Consort Xian hadn't recovered from the shock of hearing the news just now.
She glanced at Wang Daren without saying a word.

Wang Daren respectfully nodded and hastily walked away and

unexpectedly encountered the Crown Prince, who was coming towards him.
He quickly stepped aside to make way.

Looking at the Crown Prince sitting in the sedan chair, Wang Daren's
thoughts were quite complicated. He never expected the Crown Prince to
believe the rumors circulating among the common folk and go to such
lengths to protect Fushou Junzhu's delicate health, even resorting to using
the dragon robe. It was truly laughable and exasperating.

Although this method was not ideal, it could be seen that the Crown Prince
deeply admired His Majesty, or else why would he believe that the dragon
robe worn by His Majesty could ward off evil spirits?

Moreover, the Crown Prince was also a person who valued emotions.
Fushou Junzhu risked her life to intercept an assassin and was gravely
injured. In response, the Crown Prince was marrying her as the Crown
Princess and even requested His Majesty's dragon robe for her sake.

As a courtier, one did not fear an emperor with heartfelt emotions and
righteousness but rather a cold-hearted and ruthless monarch who
disregarded any sense of sentiment. When working under a ruthless
monarch, a slight misstep could cost one's life.

Perhaps he had misunderstood the Crown Prince before. The Crown Prince
was actually not a bad person.

"Wang Daren," The Crown Prince raised his hand to signal the eunuchs
carrying the sedan chair to halt. He turned his head to look at Wang Daren,
who was concealing the anxiety on his face, "Did you just come out of the
Imperial Study?"

"Indeed, Your Royal Highness." Wang Daren bowed and saluted.

"Gu heard that you accused Fushou Junzhu of privately keeping the dragon
robe in her private estate?" The Crown Prince furrowed his brows slightly.

Wang Daren: "..."

This question was really difficult to answer. He did indeed accuse her, but
he couldn't say it directly to the Crown Prince. He could only lower his
head and remain silent.

"To be honest, this matter is related to Gu and has nothing to do with

Fushou Junzhu," the Crown Prince lowered his eyelids and spoke in a cold
tone, "Gu will explain this matter to Father Emperor. You should not
meddle."

"Yes."

Wang Daren said, "Please rest assured, Your Royal Highness. This subject
will never disclose it."

The Crown Prince was somewhat surprised. Wang Daren was a student of
Grand Tutor Du; his character and behavior were similar to Grand Tutor
Du. He was stubborn and inflexible, and although he sometimes didn't
consider others' opinions, he could be considered an upright official. Since
this was a matter concerning the court, the Crown Prince thought that Wang
Daren would argue with him, but he unexpectedly agreed so readily.

Upon arriving at the Chanyang Palace, the Crown Prince couldn't wait for
Zhao Sancai to announce his arrival. He strode in and said, "Father
Emperor, this matter has nothing to do with Fushou Junzhu. Please..."

When he saw the scene inside the hall, his footsteps halted, and his words
were caught in his throat.
Wasn't it said that someone found the dragon robe in Liuli's private estate?
Why were Princess Shunan, Consort Xian, and Liuli all sitting leisurely in
chairs?

"Zhen is well aware that it has nothing to do with Fushou Junzhu," Emperor
Changlong glanced at Consort Xian, who was sitting beside him and
reluctant to leave while sipping tea, and spoke directly, "Consort Xian, take
Shunan to your palace to sit for a while."

Consort Xian glanced at the Crown Prince and reluctantly stood up, taking
Royal Princess Shunan with her to leave.

"Zhen suspects that the forgery of the treasonous letters involving Hua
Jingyi and the dragon robe discovered in Fushou Junzhu's private estate are
the work of the same group of people," Emperor Changlong's expression
turned grim, "The only people who could have secretly placed the dragon
robe in the imperial estate are the servants in the private estate."

These servants were arranged by the Imperial Household Department, so

those who could plant spies in advance were likely from within the palace.

The personnel in Emperor Changlong's harem were few. Aside from a few
consorts, there were only the imperial princes and princesses. However, no
one wanted to easily suspect those close to them.

Originally, Zhang Shuo thought that the Crown Prince's reason for placing
the dragon robe in Fushou Junzhu's private estate was absurd. But now,
after hearing what His Majesty said, he understood that His Majesty was
providing cover for the Hua family.

He was shocked to the core. Upon discovering this matter, His Majesty
didn't suspect the Hua family but instead found an absurd reason to protect
them and prevent any harm to their reputation.

What level of trust His Majesty had in the Hua family for him to protect
them to this extent?
As the saying goes, hide the bow after shooting the bird. The way His
Majesty treated the Hua family was far from hiding the bow, but rather, he
wished to gild the bow with gold and proudly display it to everyone, saying,
"Look at my bow, isn't it powerful and handsome? Are you afraid of this
bow?"

"Zhang Daren, this case will be handled by you. Don't startle the snake in
the grass," Emperor Changlong looked at Zhang Shuo, "Focus on the
individuals who accidentally discovered the dragon robe in the private
estate, they must be thoroughly interrogated."

"This subject understands, Your Majesty." Zhang Shuo glanced at Fushou

Junzhu, "Junzhu, are there any suspicious individuals among the servants in
the private estate?"

Hua Liuli shook her head, "The private estate was bestowed upon me by
His Majesty. Aside from occasional inspections, I haven't made any
changes to the personnel inside, even the furnishings and decorations
remain the same."

"This subject understands," Zhang Shuo saluted Emperor Changlong, "Your

Majesty, this subject will now investigate the suspicious servants in the
private estate. This subject will take leave."

"Hua family's girl, you have been through a frightful experience this time."

As he walked towards the palace gate, Zhang Shuo heard these words.

The address of "Hua family's girl" sounded much closer than any noble
title. It seemed that His Majesty was genuinely pleased with his future
daughter-in-law.

He looked at the dragon patterns carved on the Hanbai stone pillars outside
the hall and sighed inwardly.

If any of the imperial princes were involved in this matter, it would be

troublesome.
From the surface, privately keeping the dragon robe should have implicated
both the Hua family and the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince gets
deposed as a result, the most prestigious Crown Prince position would go to
the Eldest Prince, Ying Wang.

Regardless of the assassination attempt at Eastern Palace or the other major

cases in recent months, it seemed that they were all somehow related to
Ying Wang. On the surface, it seemed to be in favor of Ying Wang, but in
reality, he was the most unlucky one.

Everyone knew that His Majesty cherished the Crown Prince the most. If
something were to happen to the Crown Prince, instead of turning to his
eldest son, His Majesty would start to suspect whether everything was done
by Ying Wang for his own benefit.

There was also the attempted poisoning case of Fushou Junzhu in the
Lincui Palace. Later, it was discovered that a palace maid from the Lincui
Palace had 'attempted to commit suicide out of fear'. Although the palace
maid denied any involvement of Consort Xian, her every action indicated
that she desperately wanted to tell the Ministry of Justice that Consort Xian
and Ying Wang were the most suspicious and should not be let off the hook.

But was the Ministry of Justice so easily deceived?

Therefore, after informing His Majesty of all the doubts, they did not
publicize the case, so neither Consort Xian nor Ying Wang were implicated
in the slightest.

"Your Majesty," Hua Liuli stood up and knelt before Emperor Changlong,
"This subject caused Your Majesty trouble with this case involving this
subject."

As the saying goes, a gentleman's promise is worth a thousand pieces of

gold. In order to not bring trouble for her, Emperor Changlong actually told
a lie in front of his ministers.

"Yuansu, help Hua family's girl up," Emperor Changlong saw his future
daughter-in-law kneeling and hurriedly said, "Zhen knows you have been
wronged. Zhen doesn't find it troublesome at all."

"You are still young and unaware of the treacherous nature of people's
hearts," Emperor Changlong smiled, "Many people want to tarnish the
reputation of the Hua family and create discord between us. But Zhen
cannot comply with their wishes. What Zhen is protecting is not only the
Hua family but also the century-old foundation of the Ji family dynasty and
the will of the people."

If the Hua family falls, the happiest ones would be the countries like
Daimao and Jinpo. Perhaps they dare not act rashly in the coming years, but
what about ten or twenty years later?

The Hua family is not just the Hua family; it also represents the symbol of
Great Jin's deterrence over other nations.

"Yuansu, Hua family's girl may be frightened by this incident. Accompany

her for a stroll in the Imperial Garden to relax," Emperor Changlong didn't
forget to foster the relationship between his son and future daughter-in-law,
"Don't worry about other matters. Zhen trusts the Hua family."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Hua Liuli bowed deeply and then retreated.

The Crown Prince walked beside Hua Liuli, his expression was not
particularly happy, "Are you scared?"

Hua Liuli shook her head and then nodded slightly, "I was initially scared,
but then I thought that as long as I have a clear conscience, His Majesty will
surely bring justice to the Hua family."

The Crown Prince reached out and plucked a small flower, tearing off its
petals. He looked both aggrieved and sad, "I thought you would come to the
Eastern Palace first. I waited for you there, but you never came."

Upon learning that Hua Liuli had gone directly to the Chengyang Palace, he
hurriedly rushed over.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 122 – Is He Insane?

"Your Royal Highness, are you angry?" Hua Liuli belatedly realized that the
Crown Prince was indeed displeased.

The Crown Prince glanced at Hua Liuli and shifted uncomfortably, "Hmm."

Seeing the Crown Prince in a sulky mood, Hua Liuli walked up to him and
tugged at his sleeve, "Don't be angry, okay?"

The Crown Prince gave a light tug on his sleeve, unexpectedly pulling it out
of Hua Liuli's hand. He awkwardly stuffed the sleeve back into her hand
and turned his head, "Do you not trust me?"

"Your Royal Highness, it is precisely because I trust you that I did not come
to find you," Hua Liuli said, holding the Crown Prince's hand. His hand was
warm and clean, and holding it gave her a sense of infinite security.

"Throughout history, privately hiding the dragon robe has always been a
grave offense. In the previous dynasty, a crown prince was accused of
privately hiding the dragon robe without clarifying the truth and was
imprisoned for a lifetime. You are my betrothed; until I understand His
Majesty's stance on this matter, I cannot implicate you," Hua Liuli said with
a gentle smile, "Your Royal Highness, you don't know how good you look
when you smile. Even though the capital experiences the seasons of spring,
summer, autumn, and winter, as long as I have you, it will forever be the
most beautiful spring."

"Call me selfish or arrogant if you want, but I can't bear to see you suffer
even a little bit," Hua Liuli opened her arms and gently held one of the
Crown Prince's hands, shaking it back and forth, "Your Royal Highness,
please don't be angry, okay?"
The Crown Prince blushed and was enchanted by Hua Liuli's words. With
his ears turning red, he pretended to be angry and looked at Hua Liuli,
"Don't think that you can appease my anger with sweet words."

"Then, Your Royal Highness, how can you forgive me?" Hua Liuli looked
at the Crown Prince pitifully, "Just because of this little matter, you don't
like me anymore?"

"Don't talk nonsense," the Crown Prince gazed at Hua Liuli. Emotions
seemed to surge in his eyes, and in the end, they transformed into boundless
tenderness, "To me, Liuli is my heart, my liver, and even my life. If you
don't want me to suffer, how can I bear to see you implicated in a
conspiracy?"

"In the future..." The Crown Prince slightly leaned forward, seemingly as if
he was about to kiss the corner of Hua Liuli's lips, "In the future, if
something like this happens, will you come to me first?"

Hua Liuli stared at the Crown Prince, her mind in a daze. Faced with the
tenderness in his eyes, she couldn't help but nod, even if it meant risking her
life.

"Is that okay?" the Crown Prince asked.

Hua Liuli caught a faint fragrance from the Crown Prince's body as she
nodded, "Yes."

"I'll remember it," the Crown Prince held Hua Liuli's hand tightly, "In the
face of any trouble, we will face it together. Two minds are better than one."

Hua Liuli smiled, "Even if I bring trouble for you?"

"Between us, there is no trouble; it's called sharing joys and sorrows," the
Crown Prince suddenly pointed to a branch, "Look, the magnolia tree is
blooming beautifully."

Hua Liuli looked up and saw several white magnolia flowers blooming on
the branch, like fairies veiled in beauty.
She felt a warm touch of lips on her cheek; Hua Liuli widened her eyes and
turned to look at the Crown Prince.

"This is called 'sounding east while striking west'," the Crown Prince,
having succeeded in his military tactic, smiled triumphantly, "Liuli, born
into a prestigious military family, should understand."

Hua Liuli reached out and pinched the Crown Prince's cheek, distorting his
handsome face into a square shape, "The Crown Prince is truly worthy of
being a student of my father. You even know how to use the 'sounding east
while striking west' tactic."

"Ouch..." The Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli with a pitiful expression as
she continued to twist his face.

"Does it really hurt?" Hua Liuli quickly released her grip, cupping the
Crown Prince's face and giving it a gentle rub, "Your Royal Highness, your
face is so tender that it turns red with just a light pinch."

"Although the magnolia is beautiful, with you, Liuli, all my thoughts are
captivated," the Crown Prince lamented, "If I have to blame someone, it's
your fault for looking too good, so good that I constantly want to be close to
you."

"So, in the end, it's still my fault?" Hua Liuli held the Crown Prince's face
and raised an eyebrow at him.

"Blame me, blame me, blame my uncontrollable heart," the Crown Prince
grasped both of Hua Liuli's hands, "Our Liuli would never make mistakes,
and even if you do, it would be my fault."

Upon hearing that Fushou Junzhu had committed the grave crime of hiding
the dragon robe, Ying Wang hastily rushed into the palace. From a distance,
he saw the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli laughing and playing under a
magnolia tree, causing him to halt his steps.

In his impression, Fushou Junzhu was delicate and needed to be cherished

in one's palm. Even when she smiled, there was a hint of shyness and
timidity in her eyes.

But now he realized that Fushou Junzhu could also laugh and tease others,
even taking the initiative to grab someone's cheek. The only difference was
that the person being grabbed was not him.

"Your Highness?" The attending eunuch knew that Ying Wang had hastily
entered the palace to intercede for Fushou Junzhu. However, since she was
in a cheerful mood, laughing and talking with the Crown Prince, it meant
that the situation was not serious at all.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince is really good to Fushou Junzhu. He

even dares to intercede with the Emperor for her, even though she
committed the grave crime of hiding the dragon robe," the attending eunuch
lowered his head and bowed, saying, "It was a waste of Your Highness's
efforts..."

"Shut up," Ying Wang looked at the attending eunuch, who had been with
him since childhood, with a harsh tone, "You're becoming more and more
ignorant of the palace rules. It's not your place, a eunuch, to speak freely
about imperial matters."

"Your Highness, please forgive this servant," the attending eunuch knelt
before Ying Wang, looking extremely submissive, "This servant only saw
Your Highness putting in so much effort for Fushou Junzhu, however, she
knows nothing about it. Instead, she jokes and flirts with the Crown Prince.
This servant couldn't help but feel indignant on Your Highness's behalf."

"Does Benwang need you, a eunuch, to feel indignant on Benwang's

behalf?" Ying Wang kicked him in the shoulder, causing him to roll away,
"Don't be so reticent in Benwang's presence."

"Yes," the eunuch hurriedly got up from the ground, not daring to brush off
the dust on his body. He quickly followed behind Ying Wang and left the
palace.

After leaving the palace, Wang Daren was surrounded by other court
officials who wanted to gather information.
"Wang Daren, has the Emperor issued a decree?"

"Who was the one hiding the dragon robe in Fushou Junzhu's private
estate?"

"It was the Crown Prince..."

Before Wang Daren could finish speaking, some officials already had an
expression of "as expected" on their faces. The Crown Prince had been
spoiled rotten by the Emperor for years. Now that he had the support of the
Hua family, it made him even more arrogant. With his proud character, it
was not surprising that he would commit an act of privately keeping the
dragon robe.

"The Crown Prince placed it in Fushou Junzhu's private estate with the
Emperor's permission."

"What?!"

Several court officials who were preparing to go home and write a

memorial to impeach the Crown Prince were shocked on the spot, "How is
that possible?!"

"It's true. After I met with the Emperor, he explained the situation clearly.
This matter has nothing to do with Fushou Junzhu. Don't make wild
speculations, or it might anger the Emperor," Wang Daren felt embarrassed
to mention the Crown Prince's reason for placing the dragon robe in Fushou
Junzhu's private estate, so he pretended to speak in a profound manner,
"The Emperor and the Crown Prince have their own intentions in handling
matters. Don't inquire about it, or it might jeopardize the Emperor's plans."

The officials all showed signs of sudden realization, nodding in agreement,

"So that's how it is."

In fact, none of them had any "sudden realization". Instead, they were all
afraid because they had just been so indignant about this matter and even
said some disparaging words about Fushou Junzhu. After all, she was the
future Crown Princess and possibly even the future Empress. It wouldn't be
good if their words reached Fushou Junzhu's ears.

"I knew it. Fushou Junzhu was born into a family of loyal and virtuous
generals. She has a gentle and kind nature. How could she do such a thing?"

"I also thought the same. Whenever my female relatives mention Fushou
Junzhu, they always praise her endlessly. She was personally chosen by the
Emperor as the future Crown Princess. How could a good girl like her
commit an act of treason?"

"Yes, yes, I think the same way."

As for the nonsense they spoke earlier, such as "treacherous generals" and
"to know someone's face but not their heart", they were not the ones who
said it. It was all a misunderstanding.

The incident of Fushou Junzhu hiding the dragon robe started with a big
fanfare but ended silently. The next day, during the court session, no one
brought up the matter for discussion.

The few court officials who had made baseless speculations about the Hua
family and the Crown Prince stood silently among the other officials, afraid
that the Hua family and the Crown Prince would find out what they had
said yesterday.

Fortunately, neither the Hua family nor the Crown Prince came to trouble
them until the court session ended.

However, they couldn't help but feel a little suspicious. They inexplicably
felt that the Crown Prince's footsteps seemed slower when he passed by
them.

"Your Royal Highness," Zhang Shuo called out to the Crown Prince, who
turned around, "Zhang Daren?"

"May Your Royal Highness spare some time to talk with this subject at the
Ministry of Justice?" Zhang Shuo made a bow and salutation to the Crown
Prince.

"Alright," the Crown Prince nodded and agreed immediately.

At the Ministry of Justice, Zhang Shuo got straight to the point, "Your
Royal Highness, this subject has thoroughly investigated the servants in
Fushou Junzhu's private estate; there are indeed several suspicious
individuals who were found near the place where the dragon robe was
discovered."

Zhang Shuo placed a piece of paper with a list of names in front of the
Crown Prince, "These people may not seem connected, but they all have
some degree of association with Lincui Palace and Ying Wang's Estate."

"Ying Wang?" The Crown Prince picked up the list and glanced at it before
placing it back on the table, lightly tapping his index finger on the table,
"What are you trying to say, Zhang Daren?"

"The Emperor has given the order to entrust this case to Your Royal
Highness's full responsibility," Zhang Shuo looked at the Crown Prince, not
wanting to miss any expression on his face, "So, this subject has come to
seek Your Royal Highness's command."

"You can go to Ying Wang's Estate to inquire, but Gu believes this matter
has nothing to do with him," the Crown Prince's tone was calm. "Though
Gu wouldn't describe Gu's relationship with Ying Wang as brotherly,
considering his upright and straightforward character, he wouldn't stoop to
low schemes, nor would he involve loyal and virtuous individuals even if he
did."

Zhang Shuo was somewhat surprised. He had always thought that the
Crown Prince and Ying Wang were at odds. In the past, whenever conflicts
arose between them, the Crown Prince didn't give Ying Wang any face. But
now, when there was a perfect opportunity to deal with Ying Wang, the
Crown Prince was unexpectedly speaking up for him.

It's often said that the imperial family lacks genuine familial emotions, but
Zhang Shuo couldn't see through the feelings of these individuals in the Ji
family dynasty. Was this ultimately good or bad?

"Does Your Royal Highness truly mean what you say?" Zhang Shuo wanted
to confirm whether the Crown Prince was being genuine or not.

"Is Zhang Daren thinking that Gu is speaking up for Ying Wang?" The
Crown Prince sneered, "Everyone in the court knows about the poor
relationship between him and Gu. But plotting against loyal and virtuous
individuals is something he definitely wouldn't do. If you don't believe Gu,
you can investigate slowly. If he's unlucky, it would be a good thing for
Gu."

"Zhang Daren, don't be polite. If there's anything, just ask Benwang

directly," Ying Wang suddenly pushed open the door, and it was unclear
how long he had been listening outside. His face appeared calm as he strode
into the room, not even sparing a glance at the Crown Prince, who was
sitting on the cushioned seat and leisurely sipping tea as if the tea from the
Ministry of Justice was a rare delicacy.

"These people, do you have any impression of them, Your Highness?"

Zhang Shuo handed over the list of names, focusing on the key suspected
individuals.

Ying Wang took the list and noticed that the relationships were clearly
illustrated, including the interactions and indirect connections of these
individuals with Lincui Palace and Ying Wang's Estate, all listed in detail.

"Rest assured, Zhang Daren. Within an hour, Benwang will bring all these
people to the Ministry of Justice," Ying Wang's expression was extremely
grim. Even if he did not have the brightest mind, he could tell that there was
a conspiracy at play.

This conspiracy targeted not only the Crown Prince and the Hua family but
also him.

Who could be behind this?

Ning Wang? No, Ning Wang had a mild temperament and preferred to
indulge in food and spectacles. He wouldn't do something like this.

Could it be Ji Qichen or Ji Yanqiu?

He knew it. These two younger brothers must be coming to collect debts.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for cooperating with this subordinate's

investigation," Zhang Shuo breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't expected
that Ying Wang would be so easy to talk to, completely different from his
usual hot-tempered self.

The Crown Prince set down his teacup and smiled, "Since the matter has
been clarified, Gu will take leave."

"Wait," Ying Wang called out to the Crown Prince, "I will walk with you."

The Crown Prince didn't respond and left Zhang Shuo's office with his
hands behind his back.

Without hesitation, Ying Wang chased after him.

Outside the Ministry of Justice, the two brothers mounted their tall horses in
silence.

Ying Wang, restless and impatient, looked at the Crown Prince, who had a
faint smile on his face. After suppressing his emotions for a moment, he
spoke up, "Why did you speak up for me?"

"Speak up for you?" The Crown Prince knew that Ying Wang had heard the
words he had just spoken. He chuckled lightly, appearing carefree, "Gu is
not speaking up for you. Gu is simply stating the facts so that Father
Emperor doesn't have to worry."

"At a time like this, shouldn't you take the opportunity to suppress me and
eliminate me as a threat?" Ying Wang couldn't understand why the Crown
Prince would let go of such a good opportunity.
"A threat?" The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow, revealing his signature
infuriating smile to Ying Wang, "Eldest Brother, do you know why you
look several years older than Gu despite our seven-day age difference?"

Ying Wang glared at him but remained silent because he knew the Crown
Prince wouldn't say anything pleasant.

"People who overthink things age faster." The Crown Prince chuckled
disdainfully, "In Gu's eyes, you have never been a threat."

Ying Wang was somewhat moved, "Could it be that you..."

"Who among you can threaten Gu?" The Crown Prince lazily smiled,
"Don't overthink things. Overthinking not only ages you faster but also
gives you an inflated sense of self-importance."

Ying Wang: "..."

He should just kill this dog of a Crown Prince. Having him as a Crown
Prince was simply a mental torment for them as princes.

"Don't be angry, Eldest Brother," The Crown Prince smiled softly, "This is
just how Gu speaks. After all these years, why are you still getting angry?"

Ying Wang gritted his teeth, "Shut up."

The Crown Prince continued to smile at him, and surprisingly, he really

stopped speaking.

Even though the Crown Prince had actually listened to him for once and
stopped talking, Ying Wang couldn't help but feel frustrated. It should be
said that every time he faced the Crown Prince, he felt nothing but
frustration.

They were all Father Emperor's sons, so why did the Crown Prince always
manage to infuriate them?

Ying Wang remained silent for a while before asking, "Did Third Brother
and Fushou Junzhu really set the wedding date for the 12th of August?"
"Is Eldest Brother worried that there won't be enough time to prepare the
wedding gift for Gu and Liuli?"

Liuli.

Ying Wang silently repeated this name in his mind. He knew that he would
never be able to utter this name in his lifetime. Now he addressed her as
Junzhu, but in the future, he would have to address her as Crown Princess.

If he hadn't rejected his betrothal with her back then, perhaps it would have
been him standing as the groom.

Ying Wang's lips twitched, and he shifted his gaze away, "I wonder what
Fushou Junzhu likes. I should start preparing in advance."

"No need to be polite, Eldest Brother. If you don't know what to give, you
can give us gold and silver, deeds to properties, anything will do. Neither
Gu nor Liuli will find fault in it," the Crown Prince smiled, "When it comes
to silver, no one will find it too much."

"Alright," Ying Wang replied sullenly, "Take good care of Fushou Junzhu."

"Thank you for your concern, Eldest Brother. Liuli is the treasure of Gu's
heart. How could Gu bear to mistreat her?" The Crown Prince seemed
oblivious to the unusual expression on Ying Wang's face as he happily
spoke about the sweetness between him and Liuli, "Since Gu's betrothal is
already settled, Eldest Brother's good fortune should also be approaching."

Ying Wang felt as if the Crown Prince had stabbed him in the heart twice. It
not only caused a dull pain, but he also had to force a smile.

After separating from the Crown Prince, Ying Wang returned to his estate
and had the suspicious servants tied up and discreetly placed them into a
carriage. The carriage was then sent to the Ministry of Justice through the
back door.

He could tolerate being stabbed by the Crown Prince, but he would not
tolerate these servants.
"Your Highness..."

The accompanying eunuch approached. Ying Wang was in a bad mood, so

he pushed him away impatiently and said, "Get out, Benwang wants to be
alone."

"Yes," the accompanying eunuch respectfully exited the room and closed
the door behind him.

In that brief moment when the door closed, the accompanying eunuch
caught a glimpse of the pained expression on Ying Wang's face.

The Crown Prince returned to Chenyang Palace and carefully examined the
dragon robe that had been found in the private estate. The embroidery on
the dragon robe was exquisite, not something that could have been
hurriedly made. Ordinary embroiderers couldn't produce such fine work.

The golden threads used to embroider the dragon patterns required

countless procedures to complete a single, intricate dragon.

"Did they measure the size of the garment?" The Crown Prince pulled up
the sleeve of the dragon robe and glanced at it, then turned to Zhao Sancai.

"Your Royal Highness, the size of this dragon robe..." Zhao Sancai hesitated
for a moment, "It's similar to the size of the clothes Your Royal Highness
usually wears."

"They even know Gu's measurements?" The Crown Prince threw the sleeve
away as if it were scalding hot, "It seems this person is not ordinary."

"With so many people constantly watching you, Zhen is truly worried,"

Emperor Changlong sighed and looked at the Crown Prince with concern,
"Why don't Zhen abdicate and let you ascend to the throne? With that, Zhen
can rest assured that no one will use these methods to target you or the Hua
family anymore."

"Father Emperor, please forgive Erchen for speaking impolitely. Father

Emperor is still in the prime of your life. How can you think of such absurd
things?" The Crown Prince hurriedly replied, "I'm still so young and
inexperienced, how could Father Emperor trust Erchen to handle the
dynasty?"

"Zhen trusts you wholeheartedly."

The Crown Prince: "..."

He didn't know how to respond to that.

"Father Emperor, for the sake of our Ji family's ancestors, please don't have
such negative thoughts," the Crown Prince pleaded, "Father Emperor is the
true Dragon Emperor. For the people of Great Jin, Father Emperor should
strive to work hard."

"Erchen is still young and has neither married nor had children," the Crown
Prince kept retreating, distancing himself from the dragon robe, "There is a
saying that goes, 'Those without a beard on their face are unreliable in their
actions'. Erchen is still too young and not very dependable."

Emperor Changlong: "..."

What sin had he committed to raise such a son?

As night fell, the moon climbed up the treetops, and a man dressed in a
light-colored brocade stood beneath a golden osmanthus tree, his expression
cold.

"Master, the plan has failed, and those servants have been exposed," the
subordinate knelt before the man, feeling as if his head was about to fall off
his neck and roll onto the ground.

"Failed?" The man frowned, "The dragon robe wasn't successfully placed?"

"Replying to Master, not only was the dragon robe placed in Fushou
Junzhu's private estate, but it was also discovered and presented to the
Chenyang Palace," the subordinate swallowed nervously, afraid to mention
what happened next.
"Continue!" The man's face grew even colder.

"But soon, news spread within the palace that the dragon robe was not
placed by Fushou Junzhu, but by the Emperor and the Crown Prince," the
subordinate trembled, "So no one pursued the matter."

This precious dragon robe was painstakingly crafted over several months by
their people. It was clearly their people who had placed it there, yet how did
it become a case of Emperor Changlong and the Crown Prince putting it
there after it was presented in the palace?

Is Emperor Changlong out of his mind?

"So, you're saying that Emperor Changlong publicly claimed that he placed
the dragon robe in the private estate?" the man's face contorted in anger, "Is
he being controlled by the Crown Prince and the Hua family in the palace?"

The subordinate shook his head. "Based on the information from our palace
informant, everything appears to be proceeding normally."

But normalcy itself is the biggest abnormality!

Has there ever been an emperor who, upon learning that a court official's
family concealed a dragon robe, willingly shouldered the blame and
publicly proclaimed to have placed it there himself?

Is he insane?

Is he still worthy of the title of emperor?

Can he not possess a shred of the suspicion befitting an emperor?

What has become of the dignity and temper expected of an emperor?

Has it all gone to the dogs?!

The man gripped the golden osmanthus tree and couldn't contain his anger.
He snapped off a branch, "If the person in the palace wants revenge so
badly, she should kill the person that Consort Xian cares about the most."
"It is said that the Crown Prince and Ying Wang have a strained relationship
and often quarrel," the man took out a thumb-sized jade bottle from his
pocket, "This medicine is called Sanxi Powder. It once saved Fushou
Junzhu from a crisis."

Unfortunately, the Crown Prince won't have good luck this time.

Since his plan clashes with Fushou Junzhu's five elements, this time he will
avoid Fushou Junzhu.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 123 – The Teahouse

After successfully resolving the matter of the dragon robe, Hua Liuli's
group of sisters were all very happy. To express her gratitude for their
support and efforts in seeking help, Hua Liuli treated them to a meal at the
best restaurant in the capital city.

After finishing their meal, Yao Jiamin looked at the sky and said, "There are
still a few hours before curfew. Why don't we find a place to listen to some
music? It's boring to go back so early."

"Jiamin is right. I heard that there are several talented musicians at a music
pavilion who are quite pleasing to the eye," Yao Wenyin said, "Because of
the Hundred Nations Banquet, I haven't been to the music pavilion for a
long time."

"I'd rather not," Hua Liuli chuckled twice. If the Crown Prince found out
that she went to the music pavilion, he would definitely look at her with a
pitiful expression. How much time would she need to coax him back?

"Come on, I'll treat you," Yao Jiamin hooked her arm with Hua Liuli,
"You're a Junzhu with a fief, and you're not known for being frugal. Why
are you being stingy now?"

"No, no, no," Hua Liuli quickly declined, "Jiamin, it's not suitable for me to
go."

"Why?" Yao Jiamin couldn't understand. Just a few months ago, she was
competing with them for a musician. Now she suddenly didn't want to go to
the music pavilion. Could there be some hidden reason?

"I don't want to make the Crown Prince feel upset," Hua Liuli sighed, "The
Crown Prince treats me with deep affection and devotion. If I were to go to
such a place, he would secretly feel sad."

Yao Jiamin's expression became indescribable because she couldn't imagine

what it would look like for the Crown Prince to feel secretly sad.

"I'm sorry to inconvenience you," Yao Jiamin patted Hua Liuli's shoulder. A
good girl like her had become so restricted by her husband. It was truly
lamentable.

With the Crown Prince's temperament, ordinary people couldn't do anything

to him, but Hua Liuli could truly move him. That was quite a skill.

However...

Yao Jiamin looked at Hua Liuli with concern. Does the Crown Prince know
the true nature of Hua Liuli?

In their youth, they might be attracted to each other because of their

appearances, but appearances alone couldn't sustain a lasting relationship.

The Crown Prince held a noble status, and in the future, if there were any...
disadvantages, it would be Hua Liuli who would suffer. With the loyalty of
the Hua family to the imperial family, even if the Crown Prince betrayed
Hua Liuli, she would never do anything to harm him for the sake of the
prosperity of the nation.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt that Hua Liuli was at a
disadvantage in this marriage.

"Just listening to some music, it's not like we're going to keep a lover.
What's the big deal?" Yao Jiamin tried to let Hua Liuli enjoy some freedom
before her marriage.

"No," Hua Liuli smiled and shook her head, "I can't bear to see him sad."

Yao Jiamin looked into Hua Liuli's eyes, sighed, and said, "Forget it, I won't
persuade you anymore."
If the Crown Prince ever mistreated Hua Liuli in the future, she would
definitely curse him behind his back.

"Then let's go to the teahouse and listen to a storytelling performance," Yao

Jiamin raised an eyebrow, "I've only heard half of 'The Extraordinary
Adventures of the Emperor'."

"Okay," Hua Liuli smiled, "What kind of tea and snacks would you like?
Order whatever you want, my treat."

"The latest Da Hong Pao tea of this year?"

Hua Liuli patted the purse at her waist, "No problem, I have money."

"Have you struck it rich?"

"Yes," Hua Liuli smiled brightly, "The Crown Prince frequently gives me so
much gold, silver, and jewelry. I don't have anywhere to spend it."

Yao Jiamin: "..."

The sourness lingering in the air, what is it? It's her envy.

"Fushou Junzhu, you're so lucky," Yao Wenyin sighed, "Using the Crown
Prince's money to support us, it's a deep sisterly bond that moves heaven
and earth."

Yao Jiamin furrowed her eyebrows. After hearing that, it seemed to make
some sense. However, with this kind of thinking, she somewhat felt like
Hua Liuli was a scoundrel.

Pei, Pei, Pei.

"Cousin, don't make random jokes," Yao Jiamin interrupted the terrifying
speculation in her mind, "I'm getting goosebumps."

Yao Wenyin wanted to say that she didn't mean to make a joke, but she
thought of the Crown Prince's temperament and swallowed her words.
Forget it, forget it, can't provoke him.

The people in the capital city liked to join in the excitement, and with a
society that is very open-minded, the court didn't really care about people
making up stories about Emperor Changlong going to heaven and earth and
slaying demons. These stories were quite popular among the common
people.

Fortunately, Yao Jiamin had a reserved private room in the teahouse, or they
wouldn't even have a seat. When they arrived, the storyteller was in full
swing, and many people in the audience applauded and cheered.

Hua Liuli and her group of people sat in the private room on the second
floor. They removed the screen so they could easily listen to the storyteller
downstairs.

"As the story goes, in a blink of an eye, His Majesty drew his sword and
sliced the iron-skinned monster into two..."

"The Empress Dowager once said that when the Emperor was young, he
wasn't good at horseback riding and archery. Let alone wielding a sword to
slay monsters, he couldn't even pull back a strong bow," Yao Jiamin
muttered quietly, "These people are really good at making up stories, but it
sounds quite interesting."

"Hey, look over there," Tian Shan whispered, pointing discreetly to a

corner, "Isn't that the Third Prince of the Daimao Kingdom?"

Hua Liuli and Jiamin looked over and saw the Third Prince of the Daimao
Kingdom, He Yuanting, sitting in the corner, drinking tea with a
melancholic expression. Besides the envoys from Daimao, there were also
the elite Great Jin imperial guards sitting beside him.

These imperial guards were all selected as top experts to protect the envoys'
safety, but Hua Liuli suspected that they were there to facilitate the escape
of the Third Prince. However, the order came from the Crown Prince, and
she couldn't undermine her own betrothed's authority.
"I heard that the Crown Prince of the Daimao Kingdom has passed away.
Since the Third Prince and the Crown Prince share the same mother, the
Empress of the Daimao Kingdom, he is likely to be the next Crown Prince
of the Daimao Kingdom," Yao Jiamin, being a member of the imperial
family, had heard some news about other countries, "But the Daimao
Kingdom has more than one prince and the Third Prince is currently stuck
in our Great Jin's capital city. It's hard to say how he's feeling."

"From your tone, it seems like you don't really like him," Hua Liuli was
somewhat surprised. Yao Jiamin shouldn't have much interaction with this
Daimao's Third Prince.

"I don't really like him," Yao Jiamin nodded.

"Why?" Yao Wenyin asked.

"No reason," Yao Jiamin hesitated for a moment. There really was no
reason to dislike the Daimao's Third Prince, she just felt that she didn't like
anything about him, "Do you need a reason to dislike someone?"

Yao Wenyin: "..."

Hua Liuli glanced at Yao Jiamin. Perhaps Yao Jiamin herself didn't realize
it, but in reality, Hua Liuli had long discovered that Yao Jiamin's intuition
was often accurate.

When she first arrived in the capital, Yao Jiamin could instinctively sense
that she was not genuine, as well as the other noble ladies in the capital. Yao
Jiamin could accurately discern who was merely flattering her on the
surface and who genuinely wanted to befriend her.

It was because of this that Yao Jiamin, who had been spoiled since
childhood, developed the annoying habit of speaking without thinking.

However, after these few months of "friendly exchanges" with Yao Jiamin,
she noticed that this habit of hers had changed a lot.
Lost in her thoughts, Hua Liuli noticed He Yuanting lifting his head and
looking in their direction.

She took a sip of honey water, concealing her emotions. The Third Prince of
Daimao, He Yuanting, was quite vigilant. They had only glanced at him a
few times, but he had already noticed and accurately located the source of
their gaze.

"Hello, Junzhus and young ladies," He Yuanting blushed as he approached

them. He seemed somewhat awkward, unused to being so close to women,
"What a coincidence."

Several guards in regular clothing followed him. Seeing that He Yuanting

wanted to meet the Junzhus, they all straightened up.

"Third Prince," Yao Jiamin stood up and bowed, followed by Hua Liuli who
also gave a courtesy greeting without saying anything.

He Yuanting's gaze swept over Hua Liuli, then quickly lowered his head,
"Hello... um, greetings to all of you."

Yao Jiamin shifted her body, positioning herself in front of Hua Liuli. Her
tone was indifferent as she asked, "Why is the Third Prince here to listen to
the storytelling?"

He Yuanting's expression dimmed slightly, "A few days ago, Benwang

received news from Daimao... Benwang's eldest brother..." He couldn't
finish what he wanted to say as his eyes reddened, "Benwang is in your
esteemed country and unable to return to bid farewell to my imperial
brother. So, I came out to distract myself."

He Yuanting was handsome and his distressed appearance was quite

pitiable. If it were an ordinary woman, she would have felt sympathy for
him.

But he was facing several renowned debauched women of the Jin capital
city who were already accustomed to seeing pitiful men, so they had
developed immunity to He Yuanting's appearance.
As for Hua Liuli, who had the heart to sympathize with others and
cherished the Crown Prince who was handsome, eloquent, generous, and
prone to jealousy, she had become conscious enough not to provoke other
men.

So, after he finished speaking, no one said a word and the atmosphere
became tense.

In the end, it was Tian Shan, who had a softer heart, who spoke up, "The
dead cannot be brought back to life. Third Prince, please accept our
condolences."

Besides saying this, she had nothing else to say. Having read various
storybooks, she felt that in these kinds of situations, saying too much would
just give the other person an opportunity.

"Thank you, Young Lady," He Yuanting awkwardly avoided looking at Tian

Shan's face and bowed to express his gratitude.

Hua Liuli raised an eyebrow as she watched the Daimao Third Prince, who
seemed to be not good at interacting with women.

"Benwang has come today to seek something from the two Junzhus," He
Yuanting took a deep breath. For him, asking for help was somewhat
difficult to put into words, "Benwang's younger sister wants to stay in your
esteemed country to study. After Benwang returns to Daimao, Benwang
doesn't know when Benwang will be able to see Benwang's sister again.
She has a gentle and non-confrontational personality. Benwang earnestly
requests that the two Junzhus take care of her during your leisure time."

Yao Jiamin sneered inwardly. As a Junzhu, how could she manage affairs at
the Imperial Academy? As for how to arrange the future of the Daimao
Princess, she had no way to interfere.

He wasn't here to ask her; it was quite clear that he was here to ask for Hua
Liuli, the future Crown Princess.
If this had happened a few months ago, she would have been displeased
with Hua Liuli because of these words.

But now...

She had no thoughts other than maintaining a smile.

"Please rest assured, Your Highness," Hua Liuli also understood He

Yuanting's intention. After a long silence, she spoke up, "If the Princess
from your esteemed country is here to study in our country, she will be
considered a student of our country. His Majesty, the esteemed Emperor
Changlong, has always respected scholars. Even if she is just an ordinary
girl, our country will treat her well, especially so if she is a princess of
another nation."

"With Junzhu's words, Benwang can be at ease," He Yuanting thanked her

with a cupped fist salute, "When Benwang returns to Daimao, Benwang can
entrust everything to your esteemed country."

Hearing him repeatedly mentioning the words "return to Daimao", Hua

Liuli smiled and remained silent.

He Yuanting glanced at Hua Liuli, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke
up, "Junzhu, there is one more thing Benwang would like to ask for your
help. Although your esteemed country has a pleasant environment,
Benwang is homesick..."

Before he could finish his words, a man dressed in black brocade walked in.
He had a grand presence and attracted the attention of many teahouse
customers.

Even Yao Jiamin and the others were drawn to look.

"Why is Ying Wang here?" Yao Wenyin gasped, "Should we send someone
down to ask the storyteller to stop?"

It was acceptable for Ying Wang to invite people to sing songs praising the
Emperor, but he wouldn't tolerate others making up stories. If the storyteller
said something that he didn't like, it would likely cause a scene.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 124 – Cherries

"It's too late," Yao Jiamin sighed, "Ying Wang has already noticed us."

Ever since she stopped liking Ying Wang, she noticed many flaws in him.
For example, his walking posture was not as elegant as the Fifth Prince's,
his clothes were not as tasteful as the Crown Prince's, and his appearance
was not refined enough. Even the way he entered the room seemed a bit
crab-like.

Seeing Ying Wang again, she didn't feel calm but rather had an
indescribable, faint sense of disdain.

Ying Wang heard from the eunuch by his side that this teahouse had
storytellers randomly arranging stories about the Emperor, so he rushed
over immediately. The Emperor was the Son of Heaven, how could he
allow these storytellers to randomly arrange stories? Do these literati have
good taste and deep emotions like he does?

Only the songs arranged by him were the best!

When he entered, the storyteller happened to be telling the story of Emperor

Changlong sleepwalking to the heavenly palace, and how the Jade Emperor
above praised Emperor Changlong. However, the story was interrupted
because Ying Wang entered.

The tea customers were about to curse the person who interrupted the story,
but when they turned their heads and saw the attendants behind Ying Wang,
they swallowed their curses.

As residents of the capital, they valued harmony.

Ying Wang also wanted to curse, but when he looked up and saw Hua Liuli
sitting on the second floor, he swallowed his rude words. He patted his robe
and walked towards the second floor.

His steps were forceful, making the wooden stairs creak.

"Your Highness," among the tea customers on the second floor, there were
those who knew Ying Wang. They came forward in twos and threes to greet
him.

Ying Wang nodded slightly to them and walked briskly to Hua Liuli's side,
"Fushou Junzhu?"

"Greetings to Your Highness Ying Wang," Hua Liuli stood up and saluted.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed that He Yuanting intentionally or
unintentionally glanced at Yao Jiamin when Ying Wang walked toward her.

She lowered her eyelids. She didn't expect the Third Prince of the Diamao
Kingdom to be so curious, showing his desire to watch the excitement on
his face.

Ying Wang greeted Hua Liuli and took an awkward step back, then turned
to Yao Jiamin, "Jiamin, you're here too."

Yao Jiamin: "..."

Yes, I'm finally noticed by you, such a great accomplishment.

"Did Your Highness come here to listen to the stories as well?" Yao Jiamin
asked, "A few of us sisters are here listening to the stories. The storyteller
downstairs was making up some nonsense in the story, but it's still quite
interesting to listen to."

Ying Wang remained silent for a moment and asked Hua Liuli, "Fushou
Junzhu is here with Jiamin Junzhu?"

"Yes, that's right," Hua Liuli smiled, "If it weren't for Your Highness
coming in, the storyteller would have reached the part about the Jade
Emperor meeting His Majesty."
Ying Wang's cheek muscles twitched. He didn't expect that the commoners
could boast about the Emperor even more shamelessly than him.

What he couldn't understand the most was that, a few months ago,
whenever Yao Jiamin saw Hua Liuli, they were like enemies, clearly seeing
through each other. Now they were like close sisters, listening to stories and
chatting.

Wasn't it said that most women were petty and held grudges?

He looked at Hua Liuli, wanting to say many things but unable to utter a
single word. One reason was the headache caused by his mother's wailing,
and the other was the words the Crown Prince said to Zhang Shuo, that he,
Ying Wang, wouldn't do anything lowly.

Secretly thinking about his younger brother's betrothed was considered

lowly.

"Uh, uh..." The guiltier he felt, the worse Ying Wang could speak. He
withdrew his gaze from Hua Liuli and said, "Then you can continue
watching. Benwang will sit with the Third Prince of the Diamao Kingdom
over there."

After speaking, regardless of whether He Yuanting agreed or not, Ying

Wang reached out and pulled him over, "Third Prince, where do you want to
sit?"

If he dared to say that he wanted to sit with these young ladies, Ying Wang
might give him a cold face right then and there.

"Your Highness, Benwang will sit across from you," He Yuanting smiled
gently.

Ying Wang didn't waste words with him. He turned around and sat at the tea
table where He Yuanting had reserved.

"Your Highness, what tea would you like?"

Ying Wang was distracted, listening to the storyteller downstairs talking
about how the Jade Emperor wanted to bestow a divine position on his
father. When He Yuanting asked about the tea, Ying Wang absentmindedly
replied, "Anything will do."

A cup of hot tea was placed next to Ying Wang, but even as the tea cooled,
Ying Wang didn't touch it.

Being a member of the imperial family, he had developed a habit of not

consuming anything not given by trusted individuals. In front of He
Yuanting, it wasn't convenient for the attendants by Ying Wang's side to test
for poison, so they maintained superficial courtesy.

Ying Wang traced the edge of the teacup, looking up at the opposite side.
He wondered what Jiamin and the others had said to Fushou Junzhu; she
looked very happy.

There was clamor downstairs, with cheers and applause at times. Ying
Wang suddenly felt annoyed. He glanced at He Yuanting, who was looking
at him with a pleasing smile, and stood up, "Third Prince, Benwang should
be leaving."

"Safe travels, Your Highness," He Yuanting personally escorted Ying Wang

downstairs.

Ying Wang turned to look at him and suddenly spoke, "There's no need to
please Benwang."

He Yuanting's expression stiffened.

"Pleasing Benwang is pointless. Benwang won't help you intercede," Ying

Wang was cold and ruthless, "And stay away from the young ladies of our
Great Jin, especially Fushou Junzhu!"

Ying Wang glanced at He Yuanting's plain appearance. How dare he

approach Fushou Junzhu?
He Yuanting's expression completely froze. He had never encountered a
noble who spoke so directly, so mercilessly. He couldn't find a suitable
response to such words.

Ying Wang didn't care if he could respond or not, or if he was enduring

humiliation or bearing a burden. He mounted his horse arrogantly and left.

After watching Ying Wang's departing figure for a while, He Yuanting

returned to the teahouse. He looked at the tea cup, which had lost its
warmth, sighed, and said to the accompanying minister by his side,
"Benwang wonders when we'll be able to leave the capital."

Most of the envoys from various countries had already left, except for a few
who genuinely wanted to stay in Great Jin for learning. Only the envoys
from Daimao and Jinpo were retained by Emperor Changlong, under the
pretext of providing a "warm and hospitable" environment.

"Don't worry, Your Highness. Once Jinpo brings their Eldest Prince over,
we should be able to leave," even though they were puzzled about the
correlation between Jinpo's hostage situation and their prolonged stay, they
dared not seek clarification.

If they asked too much, Emperor Changlong might suddenly have the idea
to keep the Third Prince in the capital for learning, and their own Emperor
would likely agree to it.

Most of the envoys who came to the Great Jin with He Yuanting were from
the Crown Prince's faction. After the Crown Prince's untimely death, they
were saddened and worried that their Emperor might choose another prince
as the Crown Prince.

In their view, besides the Crown Prince's own younger brother, the Third
Prince, no other prince was the most suitable candidate for the heir.

However, being retained in the capital of Great Jin, their thoughts were
futile unless Emperor Changlong was willing to let them return.
Currently, apart from indulging in luxury in their guest residences, they
couldn't even see Emperor Changlong. They were surrounded by Great Jin's
Imperial Guards, making it impossible to take a single step.

Thinking about this, the envoys shook their heads and sighed, "What a
pity."

It was a pity that Fushou Junzhu was already engaged to the Crown Prince
of Great Jin. Otherwise, the Third Prince could have relied on his good
looks to seek assistance from Fushou Junzhu.

Thinking about the appearance of Great Jin's Crown Prince, the envoys fell
silent. Having a betrothed like that, it would indeed be difficult for Fushou
Junzhu to be swayed by the Third Prince's charm.

Great Jin was a treacherous place. Not only could women become generals,
but men also relied on their looks to survive.

Back in his own palace, Ying Wang had just changed out of his outer robe
when a servant informed him that the Second Princess had arrived.

Ying Wang put on his robe and fastened his belt before entering the main
hall. He straightforwardly asked, "Imperial Sister, why do you have time to
come to Benwang's place today?"

"I heard a few days ago that you were collecting high-quality gemstones, I
have many that I don't need. So I brought them over first," the Second
Princess pointed to the box of gemstones on the table and casually picked
up the invitation card on top, "The cherries in my garden are ripe, so I've
arranged a feast. Will Imperial Brother also come tomorrow to join in the
fun?"

Ying Wang accepted the invitation card, "Who else is going?"

"The other imperial brothers and sisters, as well as some noble ladies," the
Second Princess smiled, "Consort Xian has been rather anxious since the
Crown Prince's betrothal was decided."
Ying Wang immediately understood that his mother had asked the Second
Princess to help him choose a Wangfei. He stared at the invitation card for a
moment, "Alright."

"It's good that Imperial Brother agreed. I will go back to the palace and
inform Consort Xian," the Second Princess didn't stay long and hurriedly
left.

Ying Wang opened the box of gemstones that his sister had brought and
took a look. After closing the box, he picked it up and left.

"Your Highness, where are you going?" The attending eunuch quickly
followed.

Ying Wang carried the box of gemstones and proceeded to the Eastern
Palace. He placed the box of gemstones in front of the Crown Prince,
"Here."

The Crown Prince opened the box and glanced at it, "What is Eldest
Brother doing by bringing these here?"

"Consider it a return gift for speaking up for me at the Ministry of Justice

the other day," Ying Wang had no expression on his face, "I don't like
owing anyone favors."

The Crown Prince waved his hand, instructing a palace attendant to take the
gemstones away, without even pretending to refuse, "Eldest Brother, Gu
usually don't speak up for anyone."

"What do you mean?" Ying Wang glared at him.

"What Gu means is, a single box of gemstones is not enough," the Crown
Prince smiled, "Gu heard that Consort Xian has a very beautiful glass lamp
that emits a dazzling light in the moonlight."

Understanding the Crown Prince's implication, Ying Wang had an

incredulous expression. Could this dog of a Crown Prince have any shame
left, even snatching women's belongings?
"I remember Father Emperor once bestowed upon you several priceless
glass lamps..." Ying Wang looked at the Crown Prince disdainfully. If he
had known the Crown Prince was so shameless, he wouldn't have given him
the gemstones.

"Things... always seem better when they belong to others," the Crown
Prince suddenly opened his folding fan, "Eldest Brother, don't you agree?"

Ying Wang remained silent for a moment, "You don't have to hint at me.
Rest assured, I won't get close to Fushou Junzhu anymore."

The Crown Prince slowly closed his fan and chuckled softly, "Eldest
Brother, where did your mind wander off to? Gu is talking about the glass
lamp."

Ying Wang: "..."

"Your thoughts shouldn't be too complicated," The Crown Prince lazily

smile, "Gu simply wants that glass lamp."

Ying Wang held back, endured, and finally roared, "Ji Yuansu!"

"Tsk!" The Crown Prince sighed, "You have such a bad temper. If you can't
bear it, then forget it. You can owe Gu this favor, Gu doesn't mind."

Ying Wang stormed out of the Eastern Palace. If he ever took the initiative
to speak to the Crown Prince again, he would be a pig.

Upon receiving the invitation from the Second Princess, Hua Liuli realized
that she was someone who loved hosting banquets. Today, it was a flower-
viewing feast, tomorrow it would be a cherry feast, and who knows, there
might be a lotus-viewing feast in the summer?

She didn't want rumors to spread outside about the future Crown Princess's
dissatisfaction with the Second Princess before she even married into the
imperial family. Even if she didn't want to attend, she had to join in the fun.

As the saying goes, sisters-in-law don't get along well; it's the same in the
imperial family.
Anyway, she was a delicate and sickly beauty. Apart from indulging in food
and drinks, she didn't have to do anything else. What mattered was that the
conditions at the border were poor, and cherries could not be easily
transported, so she had never tasted such delicate fruits before.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 125 – Red Cherries

It is well known that Emperor Changlong is a loving father to his children.

He pities his daughter for not being able to participate in court, so he has
bestowed upon her a considerable amount of estates and properties.

The Second Princess often holds banquets because she has many assets and
feels no burden in hosting them.

When Hua Liuli arrived, not too early or too late, the servants in the Cherry
Garden Estate treated her warmly due to her special status.

"Junzhu, there is a large cherry orchard behind the garden," the Second
Princess warmly greeted Hua Liuli, "Jiamin and Miss Yao just said they
wanted to pick cherries themselves, so they should be in the back garden
now. If you also want to go cherry-picking, I can have someone take you
there."

Her gaze swept over the red coral pearl hanging by Hua Liuli's temples, her
eyelids trembled slightly.

"Then I will trouble you, Your Highness Second Princess," Hua Liuli
curtsied and reached out to receive a delicate hand-held bamboo basket,
"This is my first time picking cherries."

"The climate in Qinghan Prefecture is not suitable for cherries to bear fruit,
so there's nothing that can be done," the Second Princess, who was quite
versatile, explained. Although everyone knew that she belonged to the
faction of Consort Xian and Ying Wang, she treated Hua Liuli, the future
Crown Princess with affection, like an elder sister.

"That's true," Hua Liuli smiled, "Fortunately, I'm back in the capital now."
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, and when other guests arrived,
Hua Liuli took the opportunity to leave.

The Second Princess watched Hua Liuli's figure as she departed, her
eyebrows lightly furrowing. The material used for the red coral pearl
hairpin by her temples seemed to be the same as the one she had sent to
Ying Wang a few days ago.

"The Crown Prince, the Fourth Prince, and the Fifth Prince have arrived!"

The Second Princess looked at the energetic Crown Prince, a beautiful

smile appearing on her lips.

Does the Crown Prince, who holds a superior position, know that his
betrothed is wearing hairpins given by other men?

When the Crown Prince arrived at the Cherry Garden Estate, he heard that
Hua Liuli had gone to pick cherries with her friends, so he lazily sat aside
without making any movements.

When Ying Wang entered, he saw the Crown Prince and immediately
wanted to sit as far away from him as possible.

"Eldest Brother," the Fifth Prince greeted Ying Wang and bowed, "Come
and sit here."

Ying Wang looked at the enthusiastic Fifth Prince and glanced at the empty
seat next to the Crown Prince. He had no intention of going over there.
What's wrong with the Fifth Prince? Can't he see that he doesn't want to sit
next to the Crown Prince?

The Crown Prince lifted his eyelids slowly and said, "Fifth Brother, Big
Brother doesn't want to sit with me."

"Why?" The Fifth Prince, whether truly ignorant or pretending to be

ignorant, asked.

"With our outstanding appearances, how could Eldest Brother be willing to

sit with us?" The Crown Prince said in a pleasing voice, uttering words that
could infuriate someone, "We are brothers, we should consider his
feelings."

Ying Wang sneered in his heart. He glanced at the Fifth Prince and didn't
expect the Crown Prince to turn the Fifth Prince into his lackey. He strode
over and sat next to the Crown Prince, coldly snorting, "Crown Prince, you
worry too much."

As a man, the most important thing is ability. What's there to be proud of

when you look like a little pretty boy?

In the cherry orchard, Hua Liuli looked at the bright red cherries, glanced
around, and swiftly picked some large, ripe cherries and put them into her
basket when no one was paying attention.

From a distance, she heard voices of girls talking. She listened attentively
and realized that Yao Jiamin was arguing with someone. She took a few
steps closer and heard their conversation.

"When it comes to understanding the situation, who can compare to Jiamin

Junzhu?" The girl in the red dress spoke with an unfriendly tone, "When
Fushou Junzhu returned to the capital, you mocked her. And now that
Fushou Junzhu is betrothed to the Crown Prince, you've become good
friends with her."

"Jiamin Junzhu, who is straightforward, is indeed perfectly

straightforward."

"Junzhu..." Yuan Yi thought this conversation was not proper at all. Wasn't
it an intentional provocation and sowing discord? Even the best of friends
can't withstand such provocation.

Hua Liuli handed the basket of cherries to Yuan Yi and picked out the
biggest and ripest cherry from it, wiping it clean with a handkerchief before
slowly putting it into her mouth.

"What does it have to do with you?" Yao Jiamin said with a stern face, "I
just like to please Fushou Junzhu. What's wrong with that? If I don't please
her, should I please you instead? And there's no need for you to pretend in
front of me. Who can't see that you're jealous of Fushou Junzhu?"

"You're talking nonsense!"

"So what if I'm talking nonsense?" Yao Jiamin chuckled, "I heard that
someone dreams of marrying into the palace as the Crown Princess but
hasn't even taken a good look at themselves in the mirror. Wake up."

"You're spouting nonsense!" The girl in the red dress seemed to have been
provoked by Yao Jiamin. She angrily shouted, "Yao Jiamin, are you
shameless? You follow Hua Liuli like a dog. It's because of her that your
mother was bestowed the title of Royal Princess and you were accepted into
the palace by the Empress Dowager. For the sake of these honors, can you
give up the man you like?"

"What is a man?" Yao Jiamin raised her chin slightly, "With status, what
kind of man can I not get?"

The girl in the red dress wanted to say something more, but suddenly she
noticed several people standing behind the bushes. They were... Hua Liuli's
maids?

She felt delighted and continued, "So it turns out you have no real
friendship with Fushou Junzhu, you're just using her."

Yao Jiamin frowned, "You meddle in everything, the heavens, the earth, and
now you even want to meddle in people's friendships?"

"I'm just standing up for Fushou Junzhu."

Yao Jiamin sneered, "A person who dreams to become the Crown Princess
is standing up for Hua Liuli? What's the difference between you and a cat
crying for a mouse?"

"What's wrong? Did I hit the mark and make you feel guilty?" The girl in
the red dress became even more aggressive when Yao Jiamin remained
silent.
"If I were you, I would shut up," Yao Jiamin couldn't be bothered to talk to
her anymore, "Your maternal family, the Xie family, has troubles of its own.
And yet you still have the nerve to attend the Cherry Banquet and speak ill
of me in front of me. The last person who used every means to marry the
Crown Prince was your cousin. And now she's still locked up in the
Ministry of Justice prison."

The girl in the red dress blushed under Jiamin's ridicule. Suddenly, she
turned her head to the side and exclaimed, "Fushou Junzhu?"

Yao Jiamin's expression froze as she turned her head to look. She saw Hua
Liuli standing under a cherry tree, holding a few cherries in her hand. She
didn't know how long Hua Liuli had been standing there, listening to them.

Her lips twitched slightly, and she turned her head away with a soft snort,
without explaining anything.

"Fushou Junzhu, I was just chatting casually with Jiamin Junzhu. She didn't
intentionally use your feelings. Please don't blame her because of my
foolish words," the girl in the red dress anxiously said, "Please don't let my
nonsense words affect your relationship."

Hua Liuli glanced at the girl who spoke, leaning against the tree with a
smile, "Please continue your conversation, don't mind me."

The girl in the red dress looked somewhat embarrassed. She glanced at Hua
Liuli and then at Yao Jiamin, who looked uneasy but unwilling to speak.
She lowered her head, appearing delicate and helpless.

"Why stop chatting?" Hua Liuli sighed, "If you'd like, I can move farther
away so as not to disturb you?"

Yao Jiamin looked at Hua Liuli's expression, but couldn't figure out if she
took what the other party said seriously or not.

"It's alright," the girl in the red dress quickly said, "As long as Fushou
Junzhu doesn't misunderstand Jiamin Junzhu because of my words."
"Don't worry, I won't," Hua Liuli walked over to Yao Jiamin's side, took her
arm, and smiled at the girl in the red dress, "But you did say some things
wrong just now."

"W-What?" The girl in the red dress was dumbfounded, looking at Hua
Liuli and Yao Jiamin holding arms together. Could it be that Hua Liuli
really didn't mind?

"I am friends with Sister Jiamin not because she intentionally pleases me,
but because I intentionally please her," Hua Liuli smiled at Jiamin,
squinting her eyes, "Right, Sister Jiamin?"

Yao Jiamin: "???"

When did Hua Liuli please her? Hasn't she been threatening and
intimidating her all this time?

Yao Jiamin felt a bit awkward, her cheeks slightly reddening, but her heart
felt like it had been poured into a big bowl of sugar, sweet and content.

"The Empress Dowager summoned Yao Jiamin to stay in the palace

because she is the Empress Dowager's granddaughter; Royal Princess
Shuan'an was conferred the title of Royal Princess because she is His
Majesty's sister," Hua Liuli tilted her head, appearing innocent, "Which
family do you come from? How come I've never seen you before?"

"I... I..." The girl in the red dress didn't know why Hua Liuli was asking
about her family, and for a moment, she couldn't say her true identity.

"You're quite audacious. I've been in the capital for so long, I haven't seen
many people like you who dare to criticize the imperial family," Hua Liuli's
eyes curved into a crescent moon as she smiled, "Rest assured, I will
definitely speak highly of you in front of the Empress Dowager and the
Crown Prince. Now, tell me, what's your surname, your name, and what
does your family do?"

The girl in the red dress was frightened by Hua Liuli's words. She
stammered and couldn't find a coherent response. In the end, she hurriedly
ran away, not even bothering to pick up the hairpin that fell from the cherry
tree.

"She has great stamina, running so fast," Hua Liuli let go of Yao Jiamin's
arm and crossed her arms, looking at her.

"What are you looking at me for?" Yao Jiamin felt somewhat

uncomfortable. She wanted to tell Hua Liuli that the girl earlier was talking
nonsense, but she couldn't bring herself to say it due to her pride.

"I think you're foolish," Hua Liuli said with frustration, "When we argue,
you're so fierce. But now, in a situation where no one's watching, and
someone talks nonsense, you let her go. You said you learned martial arts
when you were young, what's the use of that if you just let others throw
dirty water at you?"

"Aiyah!" Hua Liuli sighed, "After being friends with me for so long, you
haven't made any progress."

Yao Jiamin: "..."

Thinking about all the hidden losses she had suffered at the hands of Hua
Liuli since they met, Yao Jiamin couldn't refute her.

"You didn't believe what she said?"

"Who is she? Why should I believe her?" Hua Liuli raised an eyebrow,
"Besides, she spoke so highly of you, like you're so clever and
understanding. Can I trust her?"

Yao Jiamin felt that the overwhelming gratitude in her heart had dissipated
by half at this moment.

"Let's go. I picked a few big, red cherries. I'll give you a small portion
later," Hua Liuli retook Yao Jiamin's arm and prepared to take her back to
the courtyard.

"You picked so many, yet you're only giving me a small portion?" Yao
Jiamin glanced at the cherries in the bamboo basket. She suspected that Hua
Liuli only picked the best ones.

"There's nothing I can do. I still have to feed my dear betrothed," Hua Liuli
openly stated her preference for her lover over friendship, "Although they
say sisters are like limbs and men are like clothes, how can we go without
clothes as human beings?"

Yao Jiamin remained silent for a moment, "The person just now is called Li
Ru. Her father returned last month after being reassigned. Her mother's
surname is Xie, the eldest sister of Xie Fuma."

"No wonder she chose to sow discord at this time," Hua Liuli handed two
cleaned cherries to Yao Jiamin, "Next time you encounter someone like her,
display the aura of being the daughter of the Royal Princess and scold her
mercilessly. Don't leave her any face."

Yao Jiamin remembered when she first met Hua Liuli; Hua Liuli had the
Crown Prince mistakenly think that she wanted to harm Hua Liuli. She
couldn't help but laugh, "Her schemes are far inferior to yours."

Hua Liuli blinked, "Should I take that as a compliment?"

Yao Jiamin turned her head, "Whatever makes you happy."

Although Hua Liuli had criticized her a few times just now, Yao Jiamin
couldn't help but smile when she looked at their intertwined hands. Despite
knowing that Hua Liuli was fake and two-faced, since they were friends,
she should be tolerant of her flaws. Sometimes, closing one's eyes and
enduring would make things pass.

The two of them walked while eating cherries. Whenever they encountered
big, red ones, they would pluck them. When they had eaten enough and
picked enough, the courtyard was already filled with guests, creating a
lively atmosphere.

Hua Liuli asked Yuan Yi to bring a few large leaves to cover the cherries in
the basket.
"What are you doing?" Yao Jiamin didn't understand.

"With so many people here, not sharing would seem stingy. If we distribute
them, we won't be able to give any to the Crown Prince," Hua Liuli justified
herself, "These cherries were carefully selected, and besides, there's already
a portion specifically for you."

Yao Jiamin was astonished by Hua Liuli's stinginess.

While the two of them were whispering, a eunuch in blue approached with
a plate of beautifully red cherries. Hua Liuli casually remarked, "That
eunuch seems somewhat familiar."

"That's a chief eunuch from Ying Wang's side," Yao Jiamin casually
glanced, not paying much attention.

"Halt!" Hua Liuli called out to the blue-clad eunuch, "Come here."

The blue-clad eunuch hesitated for a moment before bowing in front of Hua
Liuli, "This servant greets the two Junzhus."

"You are Ying Wang's attendant?" Hua Liuli noticed that the cherries on his
plate seemed redder and bigger than the ones she picked, looking
particularly delicious.

"Yes," the attendant eunuch stood respectfully before Hua Liuli.

"Let me see the cherries you picked," Hua Liuli noticed that his sleeves
covered half of the plate and said, "Stand straight and answer."

The attendant felt a bit hesitant, "Junzhu, these cherries are for Ying
Wang..."

"Who said anyone wants these cherries?" Hua Liuli laughed, "I want to
know where you picked these cherries."

"Replying to Junzhu, this servant picked them in the forest to the west."
"The west?" Hua Liuli looked towards the western forest. That was the first
place she went to, but she didn't see cherries this big.

"You're feeling hot?" Hua Liuli noticed a fine sweat on the eunuch's
forehead and raised an eyebrow slightly, "Give me the cherries."

"Please forgive this servant, Junzhu. These cherries are indeed prepared for
Ying Wang," The eunuch seemed to fear Ying Wang's anger, "Or should I
have someone take the cherries to Ying Wang and accompany you to find
that cherry tree?"

Yao Jiamin looked at Hua Liuli in surprise. Usually, Hua Liuli was gentle
with servants. Why was she now giving a hard time to Ying Wang's
attendant?

Even if she didn't like Ying Wang, knowing Hua Liuli's temperament, she
wouldn't take it out on an innocent eunuch.

The power of love was truly great. It made a noble Junzhu stoop to the level
of snatching cherries from others. Yao Jiamin covered her face, not wanting
anyone to see her.

She had her dignity.

"Yuan Yi, go tell Ying Wang that I have taken a liking to the cherries in his
attendant's hand," Hua Liuli stretched out her hand in front of the blue-clad
attendant, "Don't be afraid. If anything happens, I will take care of it for
you."

"Yes," the look of fear on the blue-clad attendant's face gradually faded as
he handed the plate to Hua Liuli.

Just as Hua Liuli was about to take the plate, his hand accidentally
trembled, and the plate fell to the ground. The bright red cherries rolled all
over the floor, stained with dust.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 126 – Poisoned!

"Please forgive me, Junzhu," The blue-clad eunuch panicked and threw
himself to the ground, attempting to pick up the fallen cherries. However,
upon seeing the cherries covered in dust, he halted his actions and only
knelt on the ground trembling.

Someone passing by frowned disapprovingly at the scene. However, as they

noticed that it was the future Crown Princess who was causing trouble for
Ying Wang's eunuch, they averted their gaze.

Ying Wang, unaware of the conflict between his eunuch and Hua Liuli, sat
silently, occasionally lifting a glass of cherry wine to take a sip.

The cherry wine lacked intensity and it tasted somewhat bland.

"Do you not enjoy this type of wine, Eldest Brother?" The Second Princess
approached with a jug of wine and poured a cup for Ying Wang and herself,
"I had a feeling that you might not like cherry wine, so I obtained some
'Nu'er Hong' wine for you."

She raised her cup and toasted Ying Wang, "Care for a taste?"

Ying Wang lifted his cup and took a sip, "It's acceptable."

"You're still as picky with your wine, Eldest Brother. Unfortunately, I am

not a connoisseur of wine. Please bear with me," the Second Princess said,
then tilted her head back and finished her cup, "I noticed that you've been
silent all this time. Is something bothering you?"

Ying Wang casually set down his wine glass, "Nothing."

"That's good then," the Second Princess smiled, "I almost thought you had
genuine concerns for a young lady you're fond of."

Ying Wang was surprised, "Why would you think that?"

"In the past few days, you've been searching for various beautiful and
precious gemstones. If I hadn't assumed that you were trying to please a
certain lady, I wouldn't have hesitated to give you that box of jewelry as a
gift."

Unable to openly admit that the jewelry was intended for the Crown Prince,
Ying Wang discreetly glanced at him. Considering his reputation, he
couldn't let others misunderstand and think that the jewelry was his way of
pleasing the Crown Prince.

What if people mistakenly believed he was trying to gain favor with the
Crown Prince? What dignity would he have left?

With these thoughts in mind, he coughed awkwardly, concealing his

embarrassment.

The Second Princess, observing Ying Wang's awkward expression and his
surreptitious glances at the Crown Prince, felt shocked internally. Ying
Wang was truly deceiving the Crown Prince behind his back...

Afraid of alerting Ying Wang to her knowledge of his secret, the Second
Princess quickly changed the subject and engaged in trivial conversation.
Ying Wang halfheartedly responded, showing little interest in the topics at
hand.

"Your Highness," a young lady dressed in red approached Ying Wang,

"Subject's daughter saw Your Highness's attendant kneeling before Fushou
Junzhu, seemingly begging for forgiveness."

"What?" Ying Wang furrowed his brows, "What's going on?"

"Subject's daughter is not entirely sure, Your Highness. Subject's daughter

only saw Fushou Junzhu calling your attendant over from a distance. I don't
know what was said, but your attendant knelt down in response."

Ying Wang's brows furrowed even deeper as he walked briskly toward the
scene.

The Crown Prince, who was sitting nearby, gradually pared his smile. He
stood up and glanced at the young lady in red, "Who are you, young lady?"

"Subject's daughter is surnamed Li, and subject's daughter's given name is

Ruru," the young lady in red seemed surprised by the Crown Prince
initiating a conversation with her, her expression appeared somewhat
excited.

"Oh," the Crown Prince swiftly opened his folding fan, "Are you married?"

Li Ruru's cheeks turned rosy, "No, Your Royal Highness. Subject's daughter
is not yet married."

"Well, that's good," the Crown Prince's smile suddenly faded, "It doesn't
matter if a young lady is married or not. What matters is inner beauty.
Otherwise, even if someone possesses unparalleled beauty, it's merely a
superficial shell."

The smile vanished from Li Ruru's face. What did the Crown Prince mean
by those words?

The Second Princess looked at Li Ruru, whose face had turned pale, and
then glanced at the departing Crown Prince. She kindly smiled at Li Ruru,
"You don't have to worry about it. The Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu
share an inseparable bond. He doesn't mean to target you."

Li Ruru forced a smile, "Thank you, Your Highness. It's no problem for
me."

The Second Princess was worried about any potential trouble arising. They
were all people of high status, so she couldn't afford to offend anyone. She
wanted to go out and check the situation to feel at ease.
"What a waste for these good cherries to fall on the ground," Hua Liuli
sighed. When she wasn't smiling, she would lose her usual gentle and
amiable appearance. She would instead resemble Wei Mingyue, who had
experienced battles on the battlefield.

"This servant is clumsy. This servant is at fault," the blue-clad eunuch said,
raising his hand, ready to strike himself.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Yurong reached out and stopped the eunuch's
action, "Our Junzhu only pities the cherries that fell on the ground. She
didn't order you to be punished. With so many people around, if they see
this, won't they misunderstand that our Junzhu is deliberately making things
difficult for you?"

"This servant dares not," the blue-clad eunuch obediently withdrew his
hand.

When Ying Wang came out, he happened to see his eunuch kneeling on the
ground, while Hua Liuli's personal maid grabbed his hand -- It seemed as if
she was about to strike him.

"Your Highness," the blue-clad eunuch saw Ying Wang, and his eyes
gleamed faintly. He glanced cautiously at Hua Liuli and knelt silently by the
side, not daring to speak.

"What's going on?" Ying Wang approached, not even sparing a glance at the
kneeling eunuch, and asked Hua Liuli, "Fushou Junzhu, has this foolish
servant offended you?"

"You're being too harsh, Your Highness," Hua Liuli chuckled, "This subject
merely wanted to take a look at the cherries in this eunuch's hand, as they
appeared so big and red. This subject didn't expect him to accidentally drop
them."

"You useless wretch, you can't even hold a plate of cherries properly," Ying
Wang kicked the eunuch, causing him to roll in place, crushing quite a few
cherries that had fallen to the ground.
"It was just a misunderstanding. Please don't take it to heart, Your
Highness," Hua Liuli bent down and carefully picked up two intact cherries
using a piece of gauze, examining them closely.

"Junzhu, the cherries have become dirty. Benwang will have him prepare a
fresh serving for you," Ying Wang thought that Hua Liuli wanted to eat the
fruits that had fallen on the ground, so he quickly reassured her, "Rest
assured, Benwang will select the best ones for Junzhu."

It was said that those who had spent several years in the harsh climate of the
borderlands, lacking supplies, couldn't stand to see good things fall on the
ground.

Even Fushou Junzhu, who was born into a prestigious general's family,
seemed to have developed this habit.

"It's alright, the items are not damaged. They just need to be washed," Hua
Liuli wrapped the two cherries in the gauze and handed them to Yuan Yi.

"Junzhu, this servant deserves death for dropping. It's just that the ground is
dirty, so please, Junzhu, do not consume them," the blue-clad eunuch's face
showed fear and urgency as he bowed repeatedly to Hua Liuli.

"If you like bowing so much, remember to keep your distance," the Crown
Prince approached and looked expressionlessly at the eunuch, "Junzhu is
timid and kind-hearted, unable to bear seeing others suffer."

The Second Princess, who followed them out, seemed to have already
envisioned the scene of Ying Wang exploding in anger.

She looked at Ying Wang, prepared to rush over and calm him down when
he started scolding the Crown Prince. Even though he was the Eldest
Prince, he couldn't show disrespect toward the Crown Prince in front of
others.

But to her surprise, Ying Wang managed to control himself. Not only did he
hold back, but he actually followed the Crown Prince's suggestion and
asked his eunuch to keep his distance.
No, this wasn't right!

Since when did Ying Wang listen to the Crown Prince like this?

There are only two reasons why someone like Ying Wang would willingly
lower his head. One is genuine admiration, the other is harboring guilt.

Could Ying Wang truly admire and respect the Crown Prince? That would
be more difficult than the sun rising from the west.

So, there is only one reason -- guilt!

Why would Ying Wang feel guilty towards the Crown Prince?

The Second Princess looked at Hua Liuli and became increasingly certain
of her absurd speculation. Ying Wang and Hua Liuli must have had an
ambiguous relationship in private, which caused Ying Wang to lose his
morale when he was facing the Crown Prince.

In the Ministry of Justice, the entire process of the dragon robe case had
been thoroughly investigated. It was indeed true that the suspicious servants
in Fushou Junzhu's residence had connections to the palace. However, what
they didn't expect was that all the evidence pointed to one person, the
eunuch who served as the personal attendant to Ying Wang.

After reviewing all the information, Pei Jihuai suddenly stood up and
exclaimed, "This is not good!"

"What?" Zhang Shuo and Gou Jingqi turned to look at Pei Jihuai.

"Zhang Daren, I suspect that Ying Wang's personal attending eunuch may
attempt to assassinate Ying Wang," Pei Jihuai hastily grabbed the sword at
his desk and asked his subordinates, "Where is Ying Wang now?"

The subordinates were taken aback. How could they, a few mere minor
officials, know Ying Wang's whereabouts?

"I heard that the Second Princess is hosting a banquet in her Cherry Garden
Estate. Most of the imperial family members are attending," Gou Jingqi
stroked his beard and said, "Considering the relationship between Ying
Wang and the Second Princess, he should also be there."

"The cherry banquet is crowded and full of idle chatter. It's the perfect
opportunity to strike," Pei Jihuai's expression became solemn, "It's almost
noon now."

If that eunuch found a suitable opportunity, he might have already

succeeded. This eunuch by Ying Wang's side had been serving him since he
was about ten years old. Who would easily suspect a close attendant who
had been by his side for ten years?

He and a few subordinates mounted their horses and hurriedly rode toward
the outskirts of the capital.

"The Ministry of Justice is on a case. Everyone unrelated should steer clear

on the road," Pei Jihuai took out his identification tablet, clearing a path
through the crowd.

Under normal circumstances, officials from the Ministry of Justice wouldn't

be galloping on their horses in the bustling streets. Seeing this scene, the
people of the capital murmured to themselves, wondering what major event
was taking place.

Pei Jihuai felt anxious in his heart. If Ying Wang met his demise at the hand
of his eunuch attendant, it would have severe implications for the Ministry
of Justice. The blame would also extend to the Imperial Household
Department which was responsible for overseeing the internal affairs of the
imperial family, as well as others who had any association with the eunuch
attendant.

They swiftly rode on horseback and arrived at the foot of the mountain. Pei
Jihuai looked at the Cherry Garden Estate estate built halfway up the
mountain and couldn't help but curse. He tied his robe around his waist, led
his subordinates, and ran up the mountain.

He didn't understand why these imperial people chose to build their estates
in such inconvenient locations. Why did they have to construct them
halfway up the mountain, wasting so much energy?

On the road from the foot of the mountain to the estate, guards stood in
abundance. They stopped Pei Jihuai when they saw him carrying a sword,
"The Second Princess has given orders that those without invitations are not
allowed to enter."

"I am Pei Jihuai, Deputy Minister of Justice. I suspect that a serious crime
might occur in this residence, so I've come to intervene," Pei Jihuai
presented his identification tablet. Though anxious, he couldn't forcefully
break through.

"This..." The guards certainly wouldn't think Pei Jihuai was lying, but they
were palace guards and naturally had to obey the Second Princess's orders.

"Let him in," a woman's voice sounded, "If something happens, I will take
responsibility."

"General," the palace guards recognized Wei Mingyue almost without

exception. Seeing her speak, they retracted their hands that were blocking
Pei Jihuai.

"Thank you, General," Pei Jihuai expressed his gratitude with a bow and
hurriedly ran up the mountain with his subordinates.

Wei Mingyue had observed the hasty arrival of the officials from the
Ministry of Justice and guessed that something might have happened, so
she followed them.

Although her heart wasn't too anxious, she didn't carry an invitation either.
Yet, no guard dared to stop her.

As the future mother-in-law of the Crown Prince and the most valiant
female general in Great Jin, who would dare to stop her?

The guests attending the banquet were unaware that the officials from the
Ministry of Justice were about to arrive. Upon learning that Ying Wang's
eunuch had offended Fushou Junzhu, they were eager to go outside and
watch the excitement. However, their rationality prevented them from
making that mistake.

Imperial affairs were not to be meddled with. A slight misstep could lead to
misfortune or even cost one's life. In the face of power and status, curiosity
was not as important as it seemed.

The Second Princess approached Ying Wang and whispered, "Let's go

inside and discuss whatever it is. Don't let others see and make fun of us."

Ying Wang walked up to his attendant and kicked him with his foot, "Go,
fetch a clean plate."

"Yes," the attendant quickly hurried out and soon returned with a fresh
plate.

"Thank you," Hua Liuli took the plate. This time, the eunuch's hands were
steady and the cherries didn't fall to the ground.

"This servant dares not."

Hua Liuli chuckled and turned to Yuan Yi, taking the handkerchief from
her. She gently unfolded it, revealing two bright red cherries inside, "These
two cherries are a reward for you."

"Thank you, Junzhu," the eunuch reached out his hand to receive them.

"No need for such trouble," Hua Liuli had her hand covered in the
handkerchief that was holding the cherries and smiled, "There was a
misunderstanding earlier, you were wronged. Cherries are not to be touched
or dropped. Eat these two before you continue your duties."

The eunuch looked at the two cherries lying on the handkerchief and slowly
extended his hand, "Tha... thank you, Junzhu. However, this servant's eating
manners are unsightly, and dares not eat in your presence."

"I grew up on the border, where soldiers' eating manners come in all shapes
and forms. There's nothing I haven't seen," Hua Liuli's smile became even
gentler, "It's fine, go ahead and eat. I'll watch you."
Ying Wang, observing the scene, vaguely sensed that something was amiss.

"Someone, hold the cherries for Junzhu and feed him," The Crown Prince
toyed with the folding fan in his hand and sneered, "Junzhu has given you
something. If you refuse to accept it, are you looking down on Gu's
esteemed Junzhu?"

"Your Royal Highness, this servant would never dare," the eunuch
repeatedly kowtowed.

"Then eat what Junzhu has given you," The Crown Prince twirled the fan in
his hand, "If you were in Gu's Eastern Palace, someone like you would have
been sent back to the Imperial Household Department long ago."

"Your Royal Highness, this servant believes this person is acting arrogantly
solely because he is Ying Wang's personal attendant and relies on
favoritism," a eunuch from the Eastern Palace stepped forward, disdainfully
looking at the kneeling eunuch as if witnessing the shame of the eunuchs.

Amidst everyone's gazes, the kneeling eunuch tremblingly picked up a

cherry, but as it was about to touch his lips, it slipped from his grasp and
fell to the ground.

"Please spare this servant, Junzhu!" He suddenly kowtowed towards Hua

Liuli, "Please spare this servant, Junzhu."

"Junzhu only wanted you to eat the cherry, not to sacrifice yourself. What's
with all this talk about sparing or not sparing?" The eunuch from the
Eastern Palace frowned as the kneeling eunuch's kowtowing made a loud
thud, "Could it be that the cherry is poisonous!?"

The kneeling eunuch froze for a moment and then crawled towards Ying
Wang, "Your Highness, please save this servant. This servant was just
momentarily confused. This... This servant was also coerced by someone.
Please save this servant."

As Ying Wang watched the eunuch kneel before him, begging with tears, he
gradually regained his senses. Could there really be poison in his plate of
cherries?

This young eunuch had been by his side since he was ten years old. Did he
really want to kill him?

This was too unexpected, Ying Wang couldn't believe it. He couldn't even
spare a thought for sadness or anger, just staring at the tearful face of the
eunuch, speechless for a long time.

The eunuch from the Eastern Palace realized that something was amiss. He
glanced at the Crown Prince's expression and quickly stepped forward to
pull the kneeling eunuch aside, keeping him away from Ying Wang.

Yao Jiamin was stunned by this series of events. She stammered, "Hua...
Hua Liuli, did you notice that something was off earlier?"

"Not completely, actually. It was just his attitude that made me feel
something was amiss," Hua Liuli sighed, "It's just a force of habit. Having
spent so long on the border, whenever someone behaves oddly, I can't help
but suspect them of being a spy."

She only wanted to test the eunuch with the cherries, but she didn't expect
them to be truly poisoned.

"If you don't even dare to eat a single cherry, it indicates that it contains a
highly lethal poison," Hua Liuli collected the handkerchief and cherries,
"And you also know that as soon as Ying Wang consumes one, he will die."

The eunuch, who was begging for mercy just moments ago, miraculously
fell silent upon hearing those words.

"As an attending eunuch to Ying Wang, you are considered a prominent

figure among the eunuchs," Hua Liuli furrowed her brow, "I don't
understand how, if Ying Wang were to die, it would benefit you."

The blue-clad eunuch remained silent. The fawning and terrified

expressions on his face vanished, replaced by a pair of dark, resentful eyes
filled with jealousy as he looked at Ying Wang.
"Because the esteemed Ying Wang is unaware that I was born on the same
day as him, with the same birthmark on our wrists. Even our physical
appearances are identical," The blue-clad eunuch laughed a few times, "Isn't
Your Highness curious about why that is?"

Yao Jiamin and Hua Liuli exchanged a glance. This was... an imperial
secret.

"Want to calm your nerves with some cherries?" Hua Liuli passed the plate
of cherries that had just arrived to Yao Jiamin.

"Don't move, the cherries are poisoned!" Suddenly a sudden came from
nowhere. Yao Jiamin only saw a dark shadow fly past.

With a loud crash, the dark shadow smashed the plate of cherries in Hua
Liuli's hand into pieces.

Among the broken porcelain, there was also a sword sheath.

As they watched the delicious cherries rolling on the ground, spinning, and
eventually meeting their demise, Yao Jiamin and Hua Liuli fell into silence.

Yuan Yi noticed that her Junzhu's hand was trembling slightly.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 127 – Dare to Insult Me?

"Your Highness, someone wants to harm you. This subject suspects these
cherries are poisoned. I implore all esteemed individuals not to consume
them," Pei Jihuai said, relieved to see that Ying Wang was still standing
fine, showing no signs of poisoning.

But what puzzled him was that even after he shared such an important piece
of information, not a single person at the scene showed surprise. In fact,
their gazes carried...an inexplicable pity?

Could his speculation be wrong?

"Your Highness Ying Wang, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince," Pei
Jihuai walked confidently to Ying Wang and the Crown Prince in this
strange atmosphere, "Allow this subject to explain. Based on the
information gathered by the Ministry of Justice, this subject suspects that
there is someone with malicious intent around Ying Wang."

With an expressionless and weary face, Ying Wang pointed to the attending
eunuch who was being held by the Eastern Palace eunuchs, "Are you
referring to him?"

Pei Jihuai turned his head and saw a disheveled eunuch in blue clothes
being held down, his head bowed and face obscured. He paused for a
moment, "This is the attending eunuch by Ying Wang's side?"

So Ying Wang and the Crown Prince had already guessed?

Ying Wang glanced at Pei Jihuai but remained silent because he had nothing
to say.
The Crown Prince paid no attention to Ying Wang and Pei Jihuai. He strode
over to Hua Liuli and flicked her forehead with his index finger, "Are you
angry?"

"I particularly picked these cherries for you," Hua Liuli looked at the
cherries on the ground, her brows furrowing, "I picked the biggest and
reddest ones..."

"Don't be angry, don't be angry," the Crown Prince whispered to Hua Liuli,
"There's also a cherry orchard in the imperial garden. Let's go pick cherries
together tomorrow."

"But aren't you busy lately?" Hua Liuli hooked her finger around the Crown
Prince's sleeve and whispered in his ear, "How did things go with the Xie
family?"

The Crown Prince glanced at Pei Jihuai and whispered in her ear,
"Tomorrow, Pei Jihuai and your third brother will set off for the south. No
need to worry."

Hua Liuli's eyes flickered slightly. The Xie family had great influence in the
south. After this incident, the imperial court representatives who were
supposed to be heading to the south were still in the capital. Would the Xie
family think that the imperial court was just making a show of investigating
them to silence the public, but actually intentionally let them off?

If she were a member of the Xie family and received such news, she would
surely be overjoyed and even relax her guard. This way, the two imperial
court representatives would be much safer.

In fact, the people conducting the thorough investigation of the Xie family
had probably already arrived in Changyao Province. The so-called imperial
court representatives were just a front; there were already other individuals
who were truly uncovering the Xie family's secrets.

Hua Liuli glanced at the Second Princess, who stood nearby with a shocked
and bewildered expression, so she didn't voice her suspicions.
"Fushou Junzhu," Pei Jihuai, who had explained the situation to Ying Wang,
approached Hua Liuli and bowed, "This subject was in a rush just now and
behaved rudely. This subject hopes for Junzhu's forgiveness."

Hua Liuli looked at the cherries on the ground, then at the Crown Prince
beside her, and took a deep breath.

Her man was so beautiful, she shouldn't be angry. If she got angry, she
would only hurt herself.

"It's okay, Pei Daren was also thinking about our safety," Hua Liuli tugged
at the corner of her mouth, trying to appear gentle and forgiving.

Pei Jihuai: "..."

Why did he feel that there was no trace of a smile in Fushou Junzhu's
smile?

"Thank you for your understanding, Junzhu," Pei Jihuai became even more
cautious in his conduct.

Hua Liuli looked at the blue-clad eunuch and said, "This eunuch is full of
nonsense. If Pei Daren has any questions, you can take him to a quiet room
for a slow interrogation."

The Crown Prince raised his chin, signaling the eunuch from the Eastern
Palace to shut the blue-clad eunuch's mouth. This was to prevent others
from hearing and spreading all sorts of rumors that would mislead others.

The Second Princess finally recovered from her shock and quickly spoke,
"You can follow me," She led the people from the Ministry of Justice to a
room in the backyard and closed the door before stuttering, "This eunuch
has been by Eldest Brother's side for more than ten years, usually appearing
honest and obedient. I didn't expect..."

She gasped and turned to Hua Liuli, "If it wasn't for Fushou Junzhu just
now, those poisoned cherries would have been sent to Eldest Brother's
table."
Pei Jihuai was somewhat surprised, "So it was Fushou Junzhu who
discovered that this person was suspicious?"

Accustomed to seeing Fushou Junzhu's weak appearance, Pei Jihuai always

easily forgot that she had once set a trap in the enemy's military camp and
captured Prince A'Wa.

"It was just a coincidence," Hua Liuli smiled with curved brows, "Initially, I
was simply interested in the cherries on the eunuch's plate and wanted to
ask where he got them. I didn't expect him to reveal so many flaws."

Speaking of this, Hua Liuli looked at the blue-clad eunuch, who had his
mouth covered, in confusion, "It's strange, this eunuch's expression changed
as soon as he saw me. Could it be that I treat people harshly on a daily
basis?"

"Junzhu, you possess heavenly beauty and a heart like a bodhisattva. If you
were harsh, there would be no one who could claim to be tolerant in this
world," the eunuchs from the Eastern Palace would never miss an
opportunity to flatter, "It's likely that this criminal eunuch felt guilty and
inadequate facing Junzhu's kindness, so he exposed his sinister plot."

Pei Jihuai twitched his eyebrows. Aren't the attendants of the Eastern Palace
overly fawning?

"You make a valid point," the Crown Prince held Hua Liuli's hand, "Gu also
thinks so."

Pei Jihuai sighed inwardly. So, the top is crooked because the bottom is
askew.

The Second Princess glared at the blue-clad eunuch, "You have been by
Eldest Brother's side all these years, he has always treated you well. Why
would you do something so treacherous?"

The eunuch from the Eastern Palace removed the handkerchief covering the
blue-clad eunuch's mouth.
"Treated me well?" The blue-clad eunuch sneered, "He is a high and mighty
prince, while I am a eunuch because of my castrated body. He gives me a
few rewards when he's happy, but if he's displeased, he kicks me with his
feet. Is that considered treating me well?"

The Second Princess turned her head and glanced at her eldest brother,
hesitating to speak.

The Crown Prince didn't scold or punish palace servants, but anyone who
displeased him would be sent back to the Imperial Household Department
without any mercy.

"Just because of these?" Pei Jihuai felt that the situation was not that simple.

"Of course, it's not just because of that," the blue-clad eunuch suddenly
rolled up his sleeve, revealing a red birthmark on his wrist, and glared at
Ying Wang with hatred, "Ying Wang also has this mark on his arm."

Ying Wang was bewildered, "Benwang does have this mark, but what does
it have to do with you?"

"Because we are twin brothers. Due to my castrated body, Consort Xian

abandoned me, and I became a eunuch in the palace," the blue-clad
eunuch's eyes turned bloodshot, "Do you know what kind of life I lived
before the age of ten?!"

The room fell silent.

The room fell silent. No one knew if the people present were shocked by
this news or simply didn't know what to say.

"This..." Yuan Yi suddenly rolled up her sleeves, revealing her strong and
powerful arms, "Does the birthmark on Nubi's wrist also represent that Nubi
is the long-lost sister of His Highness, Ying Wang?"

"Yuan Yi, go back to sleep early tonight," Hua Liuli smiled and patted Yuan
Yi on the shoulder. "Early sleep, sweet dreams. Dreams can have
everything."
The blue-clad eunuch glared at the two of them with resentment. He was
narrating a blood feud related to his own identity, why were these two
disrupting the atmosphere?

"You continue, you continue," Hua Liuli received the gaze filled with
resentment from the blue-clad eunuch and covered her mouth with a
handkerchief, chuckling, "This girl by my side has also been with me for
many years and has been spoiled by me."

"Junzhu, although Nubi has a bad temper, Nubi would never harm Junzhu,"
Yuan Yi's words clearly carried a hidden meaning.

For a moment, everyone present didn't know whether the master and
servant were mocking Ying Wang or mocking the blue-clad eunuch.
However, the solemn atmosphere created by the blue-clad eunuch was
successfully destroyed by the master and servant.

Ying Wang regained his senses and angrily scolded, "Nonsense! Consort
Xian only gave birth to Benwang, no one else. Where did you hear this
nonsense?"

"Nonsense?" The blue-clad eunuch sneered, "A few months ago, I found
some tattered cloth in the place where I was abandoned. According to the
records of the Imperial Household Department, that kind of fabric was used
for swaddling clothes specifically for the eldest prince twenty-one years
ago."

"I also found out that after Consort Xian gave birth, she secretly sent
something out of the palace," the blue-clad eunuch burst into laughter, tears
streaming down his face, "What she sent out was not just something, it was
clearly me, a prince born incomplete."

Ying Wang quickly responded, "It's impossible. If you were truly a prince
borne by Consort Xian, she would never abandon you."

"Impossible?!" The blue-clad eunuch sneered, "Consort Xian and Consort

Rong were competing to give birth to the eldest prince at that time. If
someone were to find out that among her twin sons, one was a castrated and
incomplete prince, not only would she have been despised by the Emperor,
but her healthy son could have been affected as well."

"Most importantly, I checked the medical records from the Imperial

Medical Bureau twenty-one years ago and found that some imperial
physicians suspected that Consort Xian was carrying twins in her womb,"
the blue-clad eunuch stared at Ying Wang with hatred in his eyes, "The only
thing I can thank you for is allowing me to become a eunuch attendant and
giving me the opportunity to access the Imperial Medical Bureau to
investigate those records."

"Were you also the one who had that palace maid poison the wine cup in
Lincui Palace?" Pei Jihuai asked.

"People in Lincui Palace, just like Consort Xian, are foolish," the blue-clad
eunuch chuckled lightly, "I merely planted the idea to that palace of
poisoning Fushou Junzhu. Once it was done, Ying Wang would have taken
her into his estate as a concubine, and she did as I expected."

"Oh, and..." As his deeds were exposed, the blue-clad eunuch suddenly lost
control and broke down, "The assassin who infiltrated the Eastern Palace
was also helped by me to enter the palace. Unfortunately, she was too
foolish and didn't even know that Fushou Junzhu doesn't drink tea, so she
was discovered. But I never expected her to succeed from the beginning. I
just wanted the Crown Prince to be wary of Ying Wang."

"So, you were also the one who helped the abductors to abduct Fushou
Junzhu and Jiamin Junzhu at the Tian residence?" Pei Jihuai furrowed his
brow, looking at this mad eunuch with mixed emotions, "Have you ever
considered that the Tian family might be implicated because of this?"

"The Tian family abandoned me in the desolate wilderness along with the
Consort Xian. I wish for them to be implicated," the blue-clad eunuch
gritted his teeth, "But despite everything I've done, why are Consort Xian
and Ying Wang still fine?"

"You are the Crown Prince, why haven't you dealt with them despite
encountering so many incidents?!" The blue-clad eunuch couldn't
understand the Crown Prince's behavior. Although he usually acted
arrogantly, he had shown no reaction when facing the possibility of being
plotted against by Consort Xian and Ying Wang.

In the imperial family, siblings would even go as far as to kill one another
for power.

The Crown Prince, who just wanted to watch the excitement, inexplicably
became the target. He opened his folding fan and waved it casually,
speaking calmly, "Ying Wang is Gu's eldest brother. As the saying goes,
brothers united are invincible. How can Gu suspect Gu's own brother based
on insufficient evidence?"

The blue-clad eunuch felt a tightness in his chest and almost coughed up
blood in anger, "Even if he sent assassins to take your life, can you tolerate
it?"

"Isn't it proven the mastermind behind the scenes is you?" The Crown
Prince raised an eyebrow, displaying righteousness and magnanimity, "This
shows that Gu's trust in Gu's eldest brother was correct."

"Blech!"

The blue-clad eunuch couldn't hold back anymore and finally spat out a
mouthful of blood.

The Crown Prince took a step back with disdain, then turned to see Ying
Wang standing there dazed, looking deeply shocked. He tapped Ying
Wang's shoulder with his fan and said, "After so many years, what is the
truth? We cannot simply believe the words of this eunuch alone."

"The Crown Prince is right," Ying Wang regained his composure, rare for
him not to mind the Crown Prince tapping him with the fan, "Pei Jihuai, tie
up this eunuch. Benwang will bring him to the Emperor."

After saying that, he turned around and opened the door, preparing to leave.
But then he saw the Crown Prince, who was holding Hua Liuli's hand, was
following him, "Why are you following me?"
"Gu just wants to watch the excitement," the Crown Prince said confidently,
"With such a big matter, how can Gu not be present?"

"You..." Veins popped on Ying Wang's forehead. He really wanted to pin the
Crown Prince down and give him a beating.

But he didn't dare, so he held back.

"Eldest Brother, Third Brother, I won't go with you," the Second Princess
said in a low voice, "This matter should not be made too big. I will go and
appease the guests."

The Crown Prince glanced at her and nodded slightly.

The Second Princess looked worriedly at Ying Wang. Then she tried to
make her smile appear more natural and she walked out of the room with
big strides.

The attendants in the Eastern Palace skillfully covered the blue-clad

eunuch's mouth, leaving him no chance to say a word.

Consort Xian was enjoying the cherries sent to the palace by the Second
Princess when she heard that she was summoned to the Chenyang Palace.
She quickly got up and asked the eunuch delivering the message, "Who else
is present?"

"Replying to Consort, the Crown Prince, Ying Wang, Fushou Junzhu, and
Deputy Minister Pei are all there."

Consort Xian's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that her son and the Crown
Prince were having a conflict?

With this thought in mind, she didn't even have time to touch up her
makeup and hurriedly rushed to the Chenyang Palace. When she arrived at
the main hall of the Chenyang, she saw the Crown Prince secretly linking
pinky fingers with Fushou Junzhu. She silently breathed a sigh of relief.

The fact that the Crown Prince was in the mood to play around with Fushou
Junzhu meant that nothing serious had happened.
"Chenqie greets Your Majesty," Consort Xian bowed to Emperor
Changlong.

"No need for excessive courtesy," Emperor Changlong's expression seemed

somewhat... indescribable. He pointed to the eunuch bound behind him,
who appeared somewhat disheveled, "Do you recognize this eunuch?"

"This is the Eldest Prince's attendant eunuch. What has he done?" Consort
Xian casually asked.

"He poisoned the cherries that were to be consumed by Minghao..."

"What?!" Consort Xian's face turned pale. She disregarded the fact that they
were in the Chenyang Palace, and hurriedly grabbed Ying Wang's arm,
checking him from head to toe, "Minghao, did you eat those cherries? Are
you feeling unwell anywhere?!"

"Mother, I'm fine," Ying Wang, seeing Consort Xian frightened and pale,
quickly held her trembling hand and reassured her, "The plate of cherries
was found to be suspicious by Fushou Junzhu and has already been
toppled."

"It's good that you're fine, it's good that you're fine," Consort Xian was
scared to the point of almost crying. She turned to Hua Liuli and repeatedly
thanked her.

"Does the noble Consort Xian only care about this son?" The blue-clad
eunuch's gaze was stubborn, "Haven't you noticed the resemblance in my
eyes, which bears some similarity to yours?"

"Impudence!" Consort Xian glared fiercely at the blue-clad eunuch, "You

wretched thing! You wanted to poison my son, now you dare insult me?!"

Others present: Huh?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 128 – Again?

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Consort Xian became even more
displeased when she noticed everyone's gaze on her, "What's the matter? Do
you all think I resemble this dog servant in any way?"

Hua Liuli glanced at Consort Xian and then at the blue-clad eunuch.
Honestly speaking, there was hardly any resemblance between the eunuch
and Consort Xian, including the eyes he mentioned.

"Liuli," the Crown Prince whispered in her ear, "What do you think?"

"The palace is heavily guarded, it would be extremely difficult for the Tian
family to cooperate with Consort Xian and take a living baby out of the
palace," Hua Liuli shook her head and whispered, "If someone wanted to
abandon a child in the wilderness, it means they didn't want the child to
survive. In that case, why not kill the child in the palace and then take the
corpse out?"

This matter was full of loopholes and Hua Liuli didn't believe the eunuch's
words at all. She looked at the blue-clad eunuch and asked loudly, "After
you were picked up, were you adopted by a poor family?"

The blue-clad eunuch sneered, "Yes, I had nothing to wear and eat."

"The swaddling cloth given to newborn princes in the palace is soft and
skin-friendly. Who would pick up a castrated child and leave behind the
precious swaddling cloth?" Hua Liuli couldn't help but chuckle, "The
person who made up this lie clearly doesn't know that even common folks
wouldn't throw away a piece of cloth the size of a palm. Even if these
fabrics are too delicate to be worn as outer garments, they can be washed
and used as undergarments."
The blue-clad eunuch retorted, "They were afraid and didn't dare to bring
back those fabrics. What's so strange about it?"

"They didn't dare to pick up the fabrics, but they dared to pick up a newborn
baby?" Hua Liuli argued, "Who gave you the idea that you are Consort
Xian's child? Who led you to investigate these so-called truths?"

Consort Xian, who was already worked up, looked puzzled. How was she
involved in this?

The blue-clad eunuch didn't look into Hua Liuli's eyes as he coldly laughed,
"No one. I discovered the truth myself. Fushou Junzhu, the future Crown
Princess, actually supports Ying Wang."

Without hesitation, the Crown Prince stepped forward and delivered a kick.
He then elegantly adjusted his robes, "You can suspect Ying Wang and
scold him all you want, but when it involves Gu's betrothed, Gu has a bad
temper."

Perhaps because he had experienced the Crown Prince's bad temper before,
the blue-clad eunuch, after being kicked by the Crown Prince, didn't dare to
say anything.

Emperor Changlong had already sent people to search the blue-clad

eunuch's room. Seeing the Crown Prince kick the eunuch, Emperor
Changlong cleared his throat and said to Consort Xian, "Consort Xian, this
eunuch suspects that he and Minghao are twin brothers but, due to... his
physical deficiency, he was abandoned by you."

"It's impossible!!" Consort Xian was startled and, forgetting her anger,
hurriedly explained to Emperor Changlong, "Your Majesty, this has nothing
to do with Chenqie. If Chenqie had given birth to twins, Chenqie would
definitely know it. Moreover, in the Inner Palace, even if Chenqie had ten
times the courage, Chenqie wouldn't dare to send an imperial child out of
the palace."

After speaking, she took out a handkerchief from her sleeve, seemingly as if
she was about to cover her eyes and cry. Seeing her action, Emperor
Changlong's head began to throb, and he quickly said, "Zhen is just
explaining the situation to you. When did Zhen say that Zhen doesn't
believe you? Our younger generation is present, so please sit calmly and
explain the situation clearly."

Younger generation?

Consort Xian turned her head and glanced at the Crown Prince, instantly
composing herself.

As a woman who aspired to have the Crown Prince kowtow to her and have
him call her 'Mother', she absolutely couldn't lose her dignified and elegant
image in front of him.

Once assured that Consort Xian wouldn't burst into tears, Emperor
Changlong breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he looked at Hua Liuli with a
loving gaze. He had chosen a gentle, considerate, kind-hearted, and willing-
to-risk-her-life-to-protect-him Crown Princess for his son. From now on,
his son wouldn't have to experience the hardships he had endured.

"Hua Liuli, please continue," Emperor Changlong smiled kindly at Hua

Liuli, his eyes gleaming with the light of 'my son has found a great
treasure', "Zhen thinks your speculation is quite reasonable."

The Crown Prince proudly smiled and said, "Gu's beloved Junzhu is
naturally intelligent."

Pei Jihuai shifted his steps to the side. The Eastern Palace was the same
from top to bottom, especially when it came to seizing every opportunity to
praise Fushou Junzhu.

"Your Majesty, this subject was just sharing my own speculation, which
may not be accurate," Hua Liuli sighed, "When this subject was stationed at
the border, this subject once heard a military physician talk about a
condition where people, due to their difficult lives, develop delusions of
being a noble relative or the beloved of someone important. In severe cases,
they can't distinguish between reality and imagination, eventually mistaking
their imagination for reality."
This blue-clad eunuch was a castrated person, and from a young age, he
may have been subjected to various provocations from people around him.
After entering the palace and serving Ying Wang, he became accustomed to
luxury and witnessed Consort Xian's favor towards Ying Wang. Perhaps he
developed the imagination that if he were also Consort Xian's child, his life
would be just as good.

However, imagination is just imagination. For someone who seeks

redemption by relying on imagination and mistakes it for reality, there must
be someone intentionally guiding them.

"Can you tell me about your experiences from childhood?" Hua Liuli
looked at the blue-clad eunuch.

"Why?" The blue-clad eunuch regretted it. Someone had already warned
him to avoid Fushou Junzhu. Although he didn't believe in such rumors, he
had specifically inquired about Fushou Junzhu's whereabouts after arriving
at the Cherry Garden Estate. He made sure she had gone cherry-picking and
wouldn't return for some time before seizing the opportunity.

Unexpectedly, Fushou Junzhu returned early and happened to see him

carrying cherries.

Someone had warned him before that Fushou Junzhu was very sinister, but
he didn't care. What was there to fear about a young girl who would start
crying at the slightest harm before anyone could even touch her delicate
body?

However, the facts proved that this Junzhu was indeed sinister.

If it weren't for her, Ying Wang would have long died of the poison, and
Consort Xian would have been plunged into the pain of losing a child.

"Because I'm curious," Hua Liuli's smile was innocent, "I love listening to
stories the most."

The blue-clad eunuch: "..."

Just let him die, he didn't want to talk.

"Gu already knew that this eunuch was lying. He doesn't even dare to
mention his past. How could he have any imperial bloodline?" The Crown
Prince tapped his palm lightly with his folding fan, seemingly as if he was
watching a lively scene on the street, "The imperial offspring are all
handsome and elegant. Your face doesn't resemble the Ji family at all. Stop
talking nonsense and take him out to be executed."

"All handsome and elegant?" The blue-clad eunuch sneered and looked up
at Ying Wang, whose face turned dark and grim.

Everyone followed his gaze and looked at Ying Wang.

Ying Wang furrowed his brows, "Why is everyone staring at me?"

"Although there have been occasional exceptions to that, the imperial

family abandoning the imperial bloodline has never happened before," the
Crown Prince coughed, "Someone is deceiving you."

"Impossible!" The blue-clad eunuch stated firmly, "She told me personally,

it can't be wrong."

"She?" Pei Jihuai furrowed his brows, "Who is she?"

However, the blue-clad eunuch ignored Pei Jihuai and looked at Hua Liuli,
"Because of your existence, many of their plans have been foiled several
times. They won't let you go."

Hua Liuli remained silent. She was just a fragile and sickly young girl.
What did she have to do with all this?

"I was adopted and abused since childhood; was beaten and cursed by the
people who adopted me. I crawled on the ground like a dog to please their
entire family," the blue-clad eunuch suddenly laughed maniacally in a low
voice, "At the age of seven, I entered the palace; the senior eunuch in
charge was even worse than a beast. When I turned ten, and because my
birthdate was the same as Ying Wang's, the noble Consort Xian sent me to
serve by Ying Wang's side. All of this was because Consort Xian believed
that my horoscope could ward off disasters for Ying Wang."

"I only assigned you to my son because I saw you were abused when you
were young," Consort Xian couldn't help but laugh out of anger, "My son is
of imperial blood, protected by His Majesty's dragon energy. Does he need
a little eunuch like you to ward off disasters?"

"Consort Xian, of course, wouldn't acknowledge such a thing," the blue-

clad eunuch sneered mockingly, "A woman like you, who can abandon her
own offspring, what else can't you do?"

"If you were so dissatisfied, you should have continued to stay by that
senior eunuch's side," Consort Xian's temper was fiery, and couldn't tolerate
being wrongly accused, "Why did you stay by my son's side?"

The blue-clad eunuch paused for a moment, "If I hadn't stayed by Ying
Wang's side, how would I have known that you treat your other son so
well?"

"I only have one son," Consort Xian reiterated with a cold face.

Soon, someone presented the items that were found by searching the blue-
clad eunuch's room. They also brought along with two imperial physicians.

Among these items were faded and broken swaddling clothes, yellowed
medical records from the Imperial Medical Bureau, and some items related
to Consort Xian and Ying Wang.

"Are you insane?" Consort Xian saw a handkerchief she had accidentally
lost inside and said, "I am not your birth mother."

"If Mother doesn't want to acknowledge me, then so be it," the blue-clad
eunuch's voice gradually calmed down, "Throughout my life, I was
despised by others when alive and pitied by no one when dead. It's all
because of my ill fate."
"But have you ever thought that if Consort Xian is not your birth mother, all
that you have done would make it impossible for you to find your biological
parents?" Hua Liuli took a few steps toward the blue-clad eunuch. There
was no disgust or pity in her eyes, "During your many years in the palace,
do you really believe that someone like the Tian family and Consort Xian
could take away a living child from the harem without being noticed?"

At that time, both Consort Rong and Consort Xian wanted to give birth to
the eldest son. They must have assigned people to monitor each other's
palaces. If such a thing had happened, Consort Rong would have been the
happiest. How could she have helped Consort Xian conceal it?

The blue-clad eunuch's eyes became panicked, and he shook his head
frantically, "I don't believe it, you're lying to me."

"If you were able to find the medical records from twenty-one years ago at
the Imperial Medical Bureau, why didn't you check the list of personnel
who attended Consort Xian's childbirth in the Lincui Palace?" Hua Liuli's
gaze was clear, so clean that the blue-clad eunuch, who was already mad,
gradually calmed down.

"Perhaps deep down, you know that Consort Xian is not your biological
mother," Hua Liuli sighed, "But your childhood was too bitter, and you
wanted a mother, someone to bear your hatred. So, you believed the
misleading words of others and became their pawn."

"In fact, if you weren't the attending eunuch of Ying Wang, you wouldn't
even have any value for them to exploit," Hua Liuli looked at him with
compassion, "Your life has been so difficult. Tell us who used you, and we
will help you seek revenge."

The blue-clad eunuch was stunned for a moment and then sneered, "Fushou
Junzhu, do you think I'm a naive three-year-old who would easily fall for
your tricks?"

"Your Majesty, these are all the medical records related to Consort Xian
from twenty-one years ago," the imperial physician handed a stack of
yellowed medical records to the Emperor, "When Consort Xian was three
months pregnant twenty-one years ago, there were indeed signs of twins in
her pulse. However, after several senior physicians rechecked her pulse,
they found that there was an error. The Imperial Medical Bureau has
records of the pulse examination process."

"With so many records, you only found the medical records suggesting
Consort Xian's possible twin pregnancy," Hua Liuli turned her head and
looked at the blue-clad eunuch, "Throughout your whole life, the only
person who showed you compassion was Consort Xian, yet you believed
the lies of others and tried to harm her son."

"I don't believe it, I don't believe it!" The blue-clad eunuch went mad, he
looked at Consort Xian in a frenzy, "Mother, Mother, I am your child,
right?"

Consort Xian shook her head indifferently, "From beginning to end, I only
have one child, Ji Minghao."

"Then what about this swaddling cloth, this one!" The blue-clad eunuch
refused to give up, "This swaddling cloth can only be used by a prince."

"These fabrics were presented by a diplomatic envoy from the Daimei

Kingdom twenty-two years ago," Zhao Sancai said, "Although the imperial
family of Daimei no longer uses these fabrics, they have always maintained
the tradition. If the person who deceived you had the intention, they could
naturally acquire these fabrics."

"Daimei..." The blue-clad eunuch muttered to himself, "Was I deceived?"

"Then who are my biological parents?!" He looked at everyone, "Who gave

birth to me and abandoned me?"

No one could answer him.

In a courtyard somewhere, the man received a message from his

subordinate.

"Master, the plan has failed."

The man stared at his subordinate with a cold gaze for a long time before
saying, "Why again this time?"

When he mentioned the word "again", his mood miraculously calmed

down.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 129 – Set a Trap

When the subordinate heard the Master mention the word "again", he was
stunned. Seeing the Master looking over, he quickly spoke up, trembling,
"The cherries that were poisoned have been discovered by Fushou Junzhu."

"Didn't I say to avoid her when taking action?" The man rubbed his
forehead in frustration, "This Hua Liuli is like a lucky star for the Ji family's
imperial bloodline. Since her return to the capital, everything has gone
wrong. No matter how perfect the plan is, once she's involved, there will be
deviations."

"If that's the case... Master, why don't we kill her first?" the subordinate
suggested, "She is the betrothed of the Crown Prince of Great Jin and the
daughter of Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue. If she dies, Great Jin will
surely fall into chaos."

"I'm afraid the people of Great Jin will go mad and take their anger out on
others," the man's expression changed slightly, but quickly returned to
normal, "We've tried to harm her before, and the price was that almost all of
our people stationed in the capital of Great Jin were wiped out. Even the
ones sent to capture her disappeared without a trace."

"Although we were unsuccessful last time, maybe this time we will..." the
subordinate hesitated.

"Can't you understand my orders?" The man's gaze turned cold, "Without
my command, you are not allowed to have any thoughts of harming Hua
Liuli."

"Yes..." The subordinate dared not speak further, but he couldn't help but
feel puzzled. Was Fushou Junzhu really that ominous, even the Master
feared her?

But she was just a frail and timid ordinary girl. If it weren't for the
pampering of her parents, with her weak constitution, she wouldn't have
lived to this age.

"What should we do now?" the subordinate asked anxiously, "Should we

stay here?"

The man picked up the tea on the table and took a sip lightly, "Why rush?"
he said calmly.

"But what about the situation in the capital?" the subordinate asked.

"Let them fight," the man said nonchalantly, "It's safer to stay here. If any of
my brothers die or are maimed, it's their own bad luck. Don't blame it on
me."

The subordinate felt relieved. "So, Master, you had already considered
this."

The man remained silent, neither happy nor angry.

In the Chenyang Palace, the blue-clad eunuch refused to reveal anyone

connected to him when questioned.

"Don't you hate the person for misleading you and putting you in this
situation?" Pei Jihuai looked at the blue-clad eunuch, "If you tell us who the
person is, we can help you seek revenge."

"Help me seek revenge?" The blue-clad eunuch burst into laughter, "As a
castrated man, how can I dare to have the high and mighty nobles seek
revenge for me?"

"Since I can't escape death, why should I reveal this person and give you
peace of mind?" The blue-clad eunuch laughed maniacally, "You can
continue to suspect and doubt each other, hahaha."

The people present had unpleasant expressions on their faces.

"I would love to see the expressions on your faces when you learn the truth,
but unfortunately, I will die soon," the blue-clad eunuch laughed and
suddenly tears streamed down his face. He wiped the corners of his eyes
and grinned with satisfaction, "That person was born in the palace and grew
up in the palace. Your Majesty, who do you find the most suspicious?"

Emperor Changlong looked calmly at the blue-clad eunuch and said, "Pei
Jihuai, take him away."

As the officials from the Ministry of Justice were escorting him out, the
blue-clad eunuch suddenly turned his head and looked at Hua Liuli, giving
her a chilling smile, "You won't be able to escape either."

Before Hua Liuli could respond, Yuan Yi slapped the back of the blue-clad
eunuch's head.

"What are you pretending for? Who are you trying to scare with that smile,
huh?!" Yuan Yi slapped him a few more times, "Who taught you to smile so
disgustingly, huh?! Huh?!"

Yuan Yi had been on the battlefield with General Wei. Her strength in
slapping was greater than many men. Every blow made a dull thudding
sound on the blue-clad eunuch's head.

"This young miss," Pei Jihuai couldn't help but interject, "His mind was
already not quite right, and if you keep hitting him, all the water in his brain
might spill out."

"I apologize, I was just too eager to protect my mistress. Please forgive me
for my rudeness," Yuan Yi retracted her steel-like hand and bowed, "My
mistress is delicate and easily suffers a relapse of her old ailments when
frightened. After much effort, her health has improved somewhat during
this time, and we cannot afford to undo that progress."

"It's alright, don't worry," the Crown Prince comforted Hua Liuli softly,
showing his consideration, "As long as Gu is here, there's nothing to fear."
Seeing the maid beside Fushou Junzhu smashing the eunuch's head with her
own hands, producing the effect of hitting it with a brick, Emperor
Changlong couldn't help but think of Wei Mingyue. He broke out in a cold
sweat on his back and glanced at the delicate Fushou Junzhu.

Fortunately, at least his daughter-in-law was gentle.

Pei Jihuai glanced at Hua Liuli, who had turned pale and looked like a
startled deer, and couldn't help but recall the scene where Hua Liuli made
Xie Yao go mad with fury and had her confess the whole truth. Despite her
courage in going alone to the Ministry of Justice's prison and risking her life
to protect the Crown Prince, she was still a timid and good girl.

The blue-clad eunuch was taken to the prison of the Ministry of Justice. As
he passed by Yunhan and the strategist in the blue robe, his pace slowed for
a moment. Although his expression didn't change, Pei Jihuai was certain
that he recognized these two individuals.

"The cells are full. Put him in here," Pei Jihuai pointed at Yunhan, gesturing
for the jailer to lock Yunhan and the strategist in the blue robe together.

Yunhan looked somewhat frightened; he really didn't want to go over.

Unfortunately, his resistance and opposition went unnoticed. Even if they

were seen, they would be ignored. The jailer dragged him as if he were
dragging a dog into the cell with the strategist in the blue robe.

The vacant cell left by Yunhan became the exclusive property of the blue-
clad eunuch.

The gazes of the blue-clad eunuch, Yunhan, and the strategist in the blue
robe met in the air, and then they silently withdrew their gazes.

"So, I have a new neighbor?" the talkative inmate in the adjacent cell leaned
against the fence enthusiastically, "Hey, buddy, with that outfit, you must
have worked in the palace, right?"

The blue-clad eunuch ignored him.

"My ancestors were also high-ranking officials and even went to the
palace," the talkative inmate, seeing that the blue-clad eunuch ignored him,
tapped on the fence, "Tell me, is the palace really big and beautiful?"

The blue-clad eunuch glanced at him coldly. When he served as the

attendant to Ying Wang, people like this inmate had never had the chance to
nod and bow to him.

"Hey, buddy, what did you do to end up here?"

"Quiet," a jailer approached and tapped on the fence, "Don't make a fuss."

After speaking, the jailer glanced at the blue-clad eunuch, "His crime is
much more serious than yours. He attempted to poison an imperial prince."

"Ah!" The talkative inmate quickly sat back in his place, getting closer to
his cellmate, A'Da. Then he continued to talk about his ancestors'
achievements.

"Shut up!" A'Da couldn't take it anymore, "Weren't you looking for
someone new to talk to? Don't bother me!"

"Why would anyone else be more important to me than my cellmate?" The

talkative inmate explained in a low voice, "Besides, my mother taught me
from a young age not to play with fools. He's a eunuch from the palace who
dared to attempt to poison an imperial prince. If that's not foolish, what is?"

A'Da's temples throbbed, "Shut up."

The biggest fool here was clearly himself.

Late at night, the prisoners in the cell had already fallen into a deep sleep.
The sounds of snoring and teeth grinding filled the air. Yunhan cautiously
opened his eyes and met the cold gaze of the strategist in the blue robe.

He quickly sat up, intending to kneel before the strategist in the blue robe.

The strategist in the blue robe frowned and pointed at the guard sitting at
the table. He then rolled over and lay back down.
Yunhan shrank back, hugging the dirty and smelly blanket, and leaned
against the corner, falling into a drowsy sleep. In the cell across from them,
the talkative inmate turned over and muttered in his dreams.

A'Da, in the darkness, looked at Yunhan and the young man in the blue
robe, his gaze becoming strange. It turned out that these two knew each
other.

He turned to look at the talkative inmate. Because of his tossing and

turning, the necklace on the talkative inmate's neck fell off, sparkling with a
moist luster in the dim candlelight.

Although this talkative inmate loved to brag and tell lies, he had extracted
many useful things from his words.

He mentioned that his ancestors had left him an important seal, but he was
young and ignorant, so he didn't know where it had fallen.

It was rumored that when the demon concubine of the previous emperor
was punished by the Empress Dowager and Emperor Changlong, a large
number of gold, silver, and jewels disappeared without a trace. Many
people speculated that these treasures had been hidden by the demon
concubine of the previous emperor, awaiting revenge and hatred from her
descendants.

Unfortunately, the Empress Dowager didn't give her that chance and
completely eradicated all her hopes.

Perhaps the seal mentioned by the talkative inmate was related to that batch
of jewels. Understanding this, the next day when they went to the stone
quarry to dig stones, A'Da only provided slight guidance, and the talkative
inmate revealed the details of his childhood estate and the relatives who he
still had contact with.

When they returned from the stone quarry, A'Da intentionally hit the
talkative inmate's knee with a stone. Taking advantage of the chaos caused
by his fall, he passed the information to a seemingly curious onlooker.
Elder Xie was held back in the capital, although he wasn't confined like
Master Xie and Princess Leyang, unable to leave anywhere, he could only
wander around the capital and couldn't even leave the city gates.

The information he obtained from A'Da excited him, especially when he

followed the information provided by A'Da and successfully found the seal.
He discovered that it was a unique symbol of a certain underground bank's
distinguished guests. As a result, Elder Xie, who had been depressed for a
long time, suddenly felt several years younger.

As the sky began to brighten, Elder Xie, holding a wooden box containing
the seal, arrived at the bank where the demon concubine's jewels were
hidden.

This bank was an old establishment, but it was not prominent in the capital.
No one would have expected that such a small bank would be harboring the
jewels left by the demon concubine.

"Daren, are you here for retrieval, pawning, or selling?" The shopkeeper,
seeing the elderly man arrive in splendid attire with his attendant, warmly
greeted him, "Our shop also sells some items. If you're interested, I can
personally take you upstairs to have a look."

"Do you have a bottle of 99-month-old 'Daughter's Red' wine?"

"We don't have 99-month-old 'Daughter's Red' wine, but we do have a jar of
31-year-old 'Daughter's Red' wine," the shopkeeper's smile faltered slightly,
"Daren, do you want the 31-year-old 'Daughter's Red' wine or the Gold
Pearl liquor?"

Elder Xie slowly made his way upstairs. With his old age, his back
appeared somewhat hunched while climbing the stairs, but he still exuded
an air of elegance, "I'll take the Gold Pearl liquor for nine silver coins and
the 31-year-old 'Daughter's Red' for nine silver coins."

There was no one else upstairs. Elder Xie took out the seal, "I have come to
retrieve something belonging to an old acquaintance."
"Daren, are you truly here to retrieve it?" The shopkeeper's smile faded.

"Yes."

"Retrieving something belonging to an old acquaintance is not easy."

"As long as the shopkeeper is willing to bring it out, I will naturally be able
to retrieve it," Elder Xie placed the seal back into the wooden box, "Or
perhaps, the shopkeeper is unwilling."

"Daren, you're joking. Our bank values reputation. Be it something from

thirty years ago or even three hundred years ago, as long as someone comes
to retrieve it, we will provide it," the shopkeeper led Elder Xie to a door, "I
just have one more question to ask, sir. Are you truly here to retrieve it?"

Elder Xie's expression remained unchanged, "Open the door."

The shopkeeper smiled, bent down, and slowly pushed open the heavy
carved wooden door.

The intricately carved door was perhaps rarely opened, emitting a creaking
sound. Through the crack, Elder Xie saw rare ancient paintings hanging on
the walls and precious jewels and jade trees.

Boxes filled with ingots were stacked in the corner, causing Elder Xie, who
saw this scene, to breathe a bit heavily.

As the intricately carved door opened completely, Elder Xie suddenly

widened his eyes and looked in astonishment at the person standing inside
the room, "Xie Shizi, why are you here?"

Xie Shizi, with a pale expression, looked at Elder Xie, "Uncle, I didn't
expect you to actually come."

Elder Xie realized something was wrong and took a few steps back, but
someone blocked his retreat. He turned around and saw the Golden
Armored Guards of the Eastern Palace.
"How coincidental," the Crown Prince walked out from behind the screen,
looking at Elder Xie with a smile that was not quite a smile, "Gu came to
the bank to check the account books, and Elder Xie is here as well?"

Elder Xie's heart pounded like a drum, "This bank..."

"Don't be mistaken. This bank was part of the dowry from Imperial
Grandmother. She gave me the bank a few years ago," the Crown Prince sat
on a chair made of golden nanmu wood, his eyebrows slightly raised, and
his smile becoming even more gentle, "Elder Xie, what did you come here
to take away?"

"Is this your scheme?!" Elder Xie shouted angrily, "You deliberately set a
trap and lured me into it!"

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 130 – Isn’t It Amazing?

"What conspiracy and trap are you talking about? Why can't Gu understand
what Elder Xie is saying?" The Crown Prince twirled the fan in his hand
and pointed to a chair nearby, "A thousand mountains and rivers are filled
with affection. I have always respected the elderly and cared for the young.
Please have a seat and let's talk."

Without waiting for Elder Xie to respond, someone pulled him and made
him sit on the chair. Faced with Xie Shizi's incredulous and pained gaze,
Elder Xie uncomfortably averted his eyes.

"Uncle, why?" Xie Shizi, who had been well-protected by Princess Leyang
since childhood, had developed a kind and innocent character. He couldn't
accept the sudden transformation of his usually upright Uncle Xie into a
greedy and ambitious person, just like how he couldn't accept his second
sister poisoning his eldest sister and plotting to assassinate the Crown
Prince.

His beautiful life suddenly had a massive crack torn open by the people
around him, revealing the dirty ambitions and desires of his loved ones.

He couldn't understand. The Xie family was a renowned scholarly family in

the south. They didn't lack food, clothing, or books to read. His mother was
even granted the title of Royal Princess by the Emperor. What was the
meaning behind their actions?

Elder Xie avoided Xie Shizi's gaze and remained silent.

"Because human desires are boundless. Greed can make people lose their
true nature and become monsters controlled by ambition," the Crown Prince
said, looking at Elder Xie, "Your Xie family has a heritage of six or seven
generations. Your ancestors include great literati who have left their names
in history. Yet, you, the later generations, are..."

He shook his head and sighed, "Gu wonders if the ancestors of the Xie
family, who are resting in peace, would be furious enough to crawl out of
the earth?"

"There are millions of scholars in the world, but how many of them truly
leave their mark in history?" When the Crown Prince mentioned the glory
of their ancestors, Elder Xie seemed to be deeply simulated, "Every
descendant of our Xie family starts learning to read and write from a young
age. But no matter how hard we try, people always mention the exceptional
ancestors of the past."

"So you developed twisted ambitions and wanted to use the opportunity of
modifying the conventions of Great Jin to make the Xie family renowned
once again?" The smile on the Crown Prince's face faded, "For the sake of
these empty accolades, you were willing to collude with other countries and
maintain a private army of loyal soldiers?"

With their deeds exposed, Elder Xie no longer struggled futilely.

Expressionless, he said, "Your Royal Highness has His Majesty as your
father and outstanding brothers standing behind you. Once you ascend the
throne as the Emperor, you will understand the taste of it all."

Where are these outstanding brothers?

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow. Did he have a brother he hadn't met?

"But what use are these empty accolades?" Xie Shizi's emotions began to
crumble, "Why can't we simply live a good life? These things don't bring
life into the world, they also won't accompany us in death. Isn't it important
to live well?"

"How naive!" Elder Xie sneered, "After years of diligent study, aren't we
pursuing a place in history and the admiration of future generations?"
Tears welled up in Xie Shizi's eyes, "But can those things you proposed
truly make future generations look up to you?"

"People's hearts change," Elder Xie said unwillingly, "As long as His
Majesty is willing to support our Xie family's proposal for the reform of the
conventions, even if there are oppositions for a time, who will complain a
hundred years from now? What they will remember is our Xie family's
contribution to these matters."

In Xie Shizi's memory, even though Uncle Xie was strict with the younger
generation, he was someone who didn't place much importance on material
possessions. Now, looking at the endless ambition on his face, Xie Shizi
suddenly realized that everything around him was false.

When the Crown Prince brought him here, he had been praying in his heart
that no one from the Xie family would come, that there would definitely be
no one from the Xie family.

But the moment the door was pushed open, he was disappointed.

The Crown Prince was right. The Xie family had long been consumed by
desires. All the elegance and refinement were merely a superficial facade.

He looked at Elder Xie, suddenly losing the strength to speak. He stood up

in a daze and walked out, one step at a time.

"Xie Shizi," The shopkeeper waiting outside smiled and said, "Are you
ready to leave?"

"I want to see my second sister, is it possible?" Even though he was born
naive, he had guessed that these matters couldn't be accomplished by Elder
Xie alone. Perhaps his father was also involved.

No wonder his mother sent him to the Empress Dowager, leaving him in the
palace to study. She was probably worried that if their deeds were exposed,
he would be implicated.
"Of course, you can," the shopkeeper smiled, "A member of the Imperial
Guard will escort you to the prison of the Ministry of Justice. Please wait a
moment."

Xie Shizi thought the shopkeeper would refuse, but he didn't expect it to be
so easy, "Thank you."

After learning the truth, Xie Shizi felt perplexed. He didn't know whom he
should confront. Perhaps his parents had done wrong, but they had always
treated him as a precious treasure. But if he ignored their actions, he
couldn't reconcile with his conscience.

He didn't want to see his parents, nor did he want to go to the palace to meet
his classmates at the Imperial Academy. The only person he could see was
his second sister who was imprisoned in the dungeon prison of the Ministry
of Justice.

After Xie Shizi left, Elder Xie revealed all of his bitter emotions, "Your
Royal Highness, you have been planning this for a long time, haven't you?"

"This is just like Jiang Taigong fishing1People use this old idiom to
describe someone who willingly falls into a trap or does something
regardless of the result.; the willing ones take the bait," the Crown Prince
adjusted his sitting posture comfortably and took a grape from the attendant
eunuch, "If your Xie family hadn't harbored ill intentions, how could you
have fallen into this trap?"

"Since the moment you entered this bank, Gu had the shopkeeper give you
three chances. As long as you turned around and left, Gu wouldn't hold you
responsible," the Crown Prince said, spitting the grape seed into the bowl,
"Unfortunately, you insisted on pushing open that door."

"Should I thank Your Royal Highness for your generosity?" Elder Xie
sneered, "Was that prisoner who claimed to be from the faction of the
demon concubine sent by you?"

The Crown Prince smiled but didn't answer.

"A dignified Crown Prince of a nation, resorting to such methods to
eliminate opponents. If this were to be known, wouldn't it make the world
burst into laughter?"

"That's why you can rest assured that Gu won't let this matter be known,"
the Crown Prince casually played with the fan in his hand, "As the favored
Crown Prince who can manipulate everything and bask in the Emperor's
favor, why should Gu worry about this thing called reputation?"

Elder Xie's vision blurred. He was infuriated by the Crown Prince's words,
trembling as he pointed at him, "You..."

"Gu doesn't care about reputation, Gu cares more about when hypocrites
like you will surrender willingly," the Crown Prince sneered, "If it benefits
the people of the world, what importance does Gu's reputation hold?"

Elder Xie was struck by a sudden realization. He recalled the rumors

surrounding the Crown Prince, accusing him of targeting officials and
subjecting them to severe punishment for their alleged crimes, ranging from
mistreating others to exploiting the common people. Initially, Elder Xie had
thought it was merely a tactic employed by Emperor Changlong to protect
his son, the Crown Prince.

But what if those officials' crimes were real?

As the cases began to unfold, Elder Xie couldn't help but wonder how many
innocent individuals were being ensnared. The Crown Prince took it upon
himself to lock up those officials in the dungeons and eradicate their corrupt
influences completely.

And now, the Xie family found themselves in a similar position - the
officials who had "accidentally" offended the Crown Prince and were
ultimately found guilty of grave crimes.

As this realization sank in, Elder Xie was enveloped in a chilling sensation.
Ji Yuansu, this person, was truly ruthless. The rumors about his arrogant
behavior and disregard for others subconsciously overshadowed his
calculations and methods.
Yes, it all made sense now.

The Crown Prince who was so highly regarded by Emperor Changlong,

whose position as the Crown Prince had been unshakable, regardless of his
arrogant behavior, cannot possibly be a fool.

Elder Xie suddenly realized that the Xie family, in their self-perceived
cleverness, had unknowingly fallen into the trap set by the Ji family.

When the previous emperor passed away under mysterious circumstances,

Emperor Changlong ascended the throne and swiftly gained control over
the court. He pacified the civil officials while recruiting capable military
generals, ensuring the stability of the Great Jin Dynasty like an
impenetrable fortress.

Hua Yingting achieved remarkable military feats, which should have raised
suspicions among the civil officials. However, his youngest son took a
different path, participating in the imperial examinations and even
achieving the top rank. The youngest son of a prominent military general
abandoning the military career in favor of literary pursuits greatly satisfied
the vanity of the civil officials.

As a result, the underlying crisis between the civil and military forces
quietly dissipated.

All these seemingly unrelated events were interconnected, contributing to

the stability of the court and the entire Great Jin Dynasty.

Emperor Changlong arranged for the Crown Prince to marry into the Hua
family, not out of suspicion towards the Hua family or the Crown Prince,
but as a subtle means of transferring military power to his son.

The court officials believed the Crown Prince to be dissolute, and Emperor
Changlong to be biased. In reality, they were the foolish ones.

Everyone in the court had been deceived by this father-and-son duo and the
Hua family.
Understanding all of this, Elder Xie gave a desolate smile, "My matters
have nothing to do with the Xie family. Without evidence, you cannot take
action against us."

"Elder Xie, do you think the imperial court representatives delaying their
departure from the capital for a few days gave the Xie family a chance to
conceal evidence?" The Crown Prince took out a thick stack of papers from
his sleeve, "Evidence of your Xie family's hidden weapons, forcibly buying
farmland at low prices, and illegal mining operations, it's all in my hands.
Your Xie family... is finished."

"You can't do this!" Elder Xie pleaded anxiously, "Du Songwen is already
dead, and there is no one capable left in the Du family. If you eliminate our
Xie family as well, aren't you afraid that the scholars of the world will say
that the imperial family intentionally suppresses scholars?"

"The imperial court is conducting the Enke examinations. How could it be

that we are suppressing scholars?" The Crown Prince sneered, "Even
without your Xie family, there could still be the Zhang, Chen, Wang, and Li
families. There are so many righteous scholars in the world. As long as the
people like and admire them, what significance does your Xie family hold?"

"Moreover, who said there is no one capable left in the Du family," The
Crown Prince put his hands behind his back, "Du Songwen's granddaughter
is exceptionally talented and well-versed in various books. She will soon
take on the role of headmaster at Qinghe Academy."

Qinghe Academy was one of the top academies in Great Jin, with a history
longer than that of the country itself, producing countless capable officials.

"She's a girl," Elder Xie sneered, "Do you expect a girl to uphold the Du
family's century-old reputation?"

"Before the matter reaches its conclusion, don't judge a person's

capabilities," the Crown Prince lifted his chin slightly, wearing a disdainful
smile, "Anyway, your Xie family is incapable."
Xie Shizi arrived at the dungeon of the Ministry of Justice with the Golden
Armor Guards and saw a haggard-looking Xie Yao. He eagerly leaned
against the railing, "Second Sister, how are you?"

However, Xie Yao's attitude was cold. She looked at Xie Shizi, dressed in
fine silk clothing, and suddenly laughed, "You didn't leave the capital?"

"Father and Mother... are still at the estate," Xie Shizi didn't want to tell Xie
Yao about the current situation at home, "What about you? Have you
suffered in prison?"

"What do you think?" Xie Yao spread open her hands, showing the calluses
left from labor, "Did you or Mother intercede for me?"

Xie Shizi looked at her rough hands and couldn't say a word.

"Stop pretending. I know that you didn't want to save me, and not only did
you not want to save me, but you also wanted to send an assassin to take my
life," Xie Yao sneered, "You wanted to abandon me and flee, but you have
nowhere to go!"

"Second Sister, what are you saying?" Xie Shizi was taken aback.

"Have Father and Mother been put under house arrest?" Xie Yao saw the
change in Xie Shizi's expression and knew she was right, "We are family.
How can we abandon each other when facing great difficulties?"

Xie Shizi's face turned pale. He couldn't utter a word as he looked at the
ferocious expression on Xie Yao's face.

"My dear little brother, how did they raise you to be so naive?" Xie Yao
burst into laughter, "You may not know, but after I was imprisoned in the
Ministry of Justice, Father never intended to save me. He wanted to kill me
to silence me. Unfortunately, my fate wasn't meant to end there. Father must
be very disappointed."

"I heard Father has hysteria?" Xie Yao smiled mysteriously, "My dear little
brother, why don't you go back and observe carefully? Is Father's hysteria
real or fake?"

Xie Shizi's mind buzzed, feeling that everyone around him was too
terrifying. Father or not, brother or not, everything felt like a nightmare.

He must be dreaming.

It must be.

Pei Jihuai and Hua Changkong, disguised as ordinary escorts with expert
guards from the Ministry of Justice and Golden Armor Guards, hurriedly
rode to Changyao Province.

The Xie family warmly received them along with the Prefect of Changyao
Province, who generously presented them with gold, silver, and precious
gems without asking for anything in return.

Pei Jihuai coldly observed the crates of gemstones and also the murderous
intent in the eyes of the Prefect of Changyao. With his salary and family
wealth, it was impossible for the Prefect's family to produce so much gold
and silver.

"Prefect Wang, you're being too kind. How can we accept this?" Hua
Changkong smiled and stooped to pick up a gold ingot. After glancing at it
a few times, he put it back in place.

"These are just some tokens of our sincerity," Prefect Wang said, seeing Pei
Jihuai's cold expression and feeling somewhat worried. He even considered
whether to secretly plot and have these two court representatives die at the
hands of "bandits".

But seeing the greed in Hua Changkong's eyes, he put his mind at ease. Hua
Changkong was the Crown Prince's future brother-in-law; as long as he
pleased him, all troubles could be easily resolved.

After some insincere refusal, Hua Changkong reluctantly accepted the

precious gems, "Prefect Wang, you are such a hospitable friend. I truly
appreciate your generosity. When you are transferred to the capital, I will
definitely invite you to have a few drinks."

Transferred to the capital?

Prefect Wang's eyes suddenly lit, "Being friends with Hua Daren is a
blessing I've accumulated over several lifetimes."

The two of them spoke candidly, Prefect Wang took out a stack of silver
bills and put them in Hua Changkong's hands.

Hua Changkong's expression became even more amiable, "Prefect Wang,

you've been away from the capital for a long time, so you probably don't
know how difficult it is to secure a position there. But since we have such a
good relationship, no matter how difficult the matter is, it's not a problem,"
he lowered his voice and whispered to Prefect Wang's ear, "My sister will
be marrying into the Eastern Palace in two months. What can't be
accomplished?"

"Yes, yes, yes," with the opportunity to connect with the brother of the
future Crown Princess, why would he need to carefully endure the people
from the Xie family? He flattered Hua Changkong for a while before
leaving the courtyard where the court representatives were staying, wearing
a smile on his face.

Prefect Wang left the officials from the Prefect's office outside the
courtyard. Pei Jihuai walked up to Hua Changkong's side and asked in a
low voice, "What are you planning?"

"Reaping benefits," Hua Changkong said naturally as he slipped the silver

bills into his sleeve. He reached out and patted Pei Jihuai's shoulder, "Pei
Daren, rest assured, I won't ruin your good fortune."

In the following days, the officials from the Prefect's office took them to see
the granaries and farmland. Pei Jihuai sensed something fishy and was
about to ask more questions when Hua Changkong interrupted him.
"Very well, Prefect Wang is indeed an exemplary official who loves the
people like his own children," Hua Changkong praised, "When I return to
the capital, I will definitely convey the prosperous scene of Changyao
Province to His Majesty."

"Thank you, Hua Daren, for speaking kindly of me," Prefect Wang glanced
at Pei Jihuai. Although Pei Jihuai was an official representative, he didn't
even dare to interject in front of Hua Changkong.

It was clear how highly Hua Changkong was regarded in His Majesty's
heart.

Having good parents and a good younger sister made a difference. Despite
his young age, he enjoyed such glory. Prefect Wang discovered that Hua
Daren not only liked gold and silver but also enjoyed visiting pleasure
quarters, taverns, and other places. Gradually, Prefect Wang relaxed his
vigilance. On the day the two court representatives were leaving, he warmly
sent them off and even gave them some local specialties as gifts.

"Pei Daren, Hua Daren, have a safe journey. I will wait here to receive good
news from Hua Daren," Prefect Wang said.

"Prefect Wang, rest assured and wait for good news from me," Hua
Changkong smiled, "If everything goes smoothly, you can even attend my
sister's wedding in the capital."

Upon hearing this, Prefect Wang quickly pulled out a stack of thick silver
bills and handed them to Hua Changkong, "I don't know what Fushou
Junzhu likes, but this is a small token of my appreciation. Please convey it
on my behalf."

"Very well, very well," Hua Changkong stuffed the silver bills into his
chest, causing it to bulge, displaying his greed.

Pei Jihuai stared at the golden, silver, and jade decorations all over Hua
Changkong's body, and was afraid of dazzling himself, so he silently
averted his gaze.
After leaving the jurisdiction of Changyao Province, Hua Changkong took
off the jingling accessories from his body and fanned himself with a fan,
"It's exhausting."

Pei Jihuai bowed his hand toward him, "May I ask what gains Hua Daren
has obtained?"

"I just happened to acquire a few servants who are willing to work like oxen
and horses for me," Hua Changkong swung his fan loudly, "Interestingly
enough, these people have all been persecuted by the Xie family and Prefect
Wang. Isn't it amazing?"

Pei Jihuai: "..."

Every day, Hua Changkong either received favors from Prefect Wang and
the Xie family or went to enjoy himself at the music halls and teahouses.
How did he manage to find these people?

"There's nothing I can do; since I've brought these people along, I can't just
ignore them," Hua Changkong sighed, "After we return to the capital, I'll
hand these people over to you to take back to the Ministry of Justice. I'm
just a newly appointed Hanlin scholar who knows nothing. I'll have to rely
on you, Pei Daren, to take on more responsibilities."

In Hua Changkong, Pei Jihuai seemed to see a shadow of the supposed

gentle but infuriating Fushou Junzhu who had made Xie Yao faint in anger.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 131 – Never Return

On their way back to the capital, Pei Jihuai was worried that their group
might be ambushed by assassins from the Xie family or pursued by people
sent by Prefect Wang. Consequently, he couldn't get a good night's sleep for
several consecutive nights.

Every morning, when he saw Hua Changkong, who was energetically

indulging in local delicacies and thoroughly enjoying himself, Pei Jihuai
couldn't help but wonder if they were here on a mission or simply on an
expense-paid trip for food, drinks, and entertainment.

"Pei Daren, I've heard that the pan-fried dumplings here are exceptional.
I've prepared a few portions for our brothers from the Ministry of Justice,"
Hua Changkong smiled warmly and said, "Everyone, please come and have
a taste."

The officials of the Ministry of Justice never sought pleasure while working
on their cases. They traveled far and wide, but never indulged in culinary
desires. Seeing Hua Changkong's carefree demeanor, Pei Jihuai couldn't
fathom that this seemingly extravagant young man had once accompanied
his parents onto the battlefield.

Quietly reminding himself that Hua Changkong was the future brother-in-
law of the Crown Prince, Pei Jihuai sat down beside him with a stern
expression. Hua Changkong pushed the bowls and plates of dumplings
toward Pei Jihuai and said, "Here, even though it's not as grand as in the
capital, these dumplings should be passable."

Pei Jihuai remained calm as he responded, "I'm not picky. As long as it's
edible."
"I understand. After enduring difficult times on the borderlands for so long,
I've grown to appreciate good food since returning to the capital and
experiencing a more comfortable life," Hua Changkong's voice was neither
too loud nor too soft, just enough for the nearby diners to hear his words.

Once the neighboring customers left, the smile on Hua Changkong's face
faded, "It seems that the Xie family and Prefect Wang are still suspicious of
us. They actually sent people to follow us all the way here."

Pei Jihuai's expression slightly changed, "Their ambitions know no

bounds." Surprisingly, Hua Changkong and his entourage were even more
vigilant than the officials of the Ministry of Justice.

Observing how well Hua Changkong slept every night, Pei Jihuai had
thought that he genuinely didn't care about anything.

"No need to be nervous. With me, a pampered young nobleman who has
received favors, as long as they believe my words, they won't intentionally
make things difficult for us. They might even hope for our safe return to the
capital," Hua Changkong took out a handkerchief and wiped the corners of
his mouth, "With all the benefits I've received, I have to speak a few good
words on behalf of others."

"Hua Changkong, please forgive me for asking a somewhat offensive

question, but are all members of the Hua family so covert?"

Hua Changkong lowered his eyelids slightly and sighed, "All of them?"
Then he continued, "My younger sister has always been fragile and kind-
hearted. Furthermore, what I possess are merely superficial skills, and they
cannot be considered covert."

Kind-hearted?

Pei Jihuai sensed that there might be some discrepancies in the

understanding of that term between himself and Hua Changkong.

"And please don't worry. The situation has become so significant that His
Majesty kept us in the capital for several days before allowing us to depart.
It indicates that His Majesty already had an inkling and sent us to Changyao
Province solely to confuse the enemy."

As the Deputy Minister of Justice, Pei Jihuai was well aware that he, as a
court representative, was merely the visible part of the investigation. In
reality, there were others conducting an in-depth probe of the Xie family
and Prefect Wang. However, he hadn't disclosed this information to Hua
Changkong, yet Hua Changkong had managed to piece it together.

Truly deserving of a person who hailed from a military background and

achieved the top rank in the imperial examinations. With such an individual
as an assistant to the Crown Prince, it was akin to adding wings to a tiger.

Pei Jihuai smiled, "Even so, Hua Changkong, you still managed to find
some witnesses. I admire that."

"Pei Daren, you jest. It's all just a matter of coincidence, mere coincidence,"
Hua Changkong resumed his appearance as a carefree young man.

Pei Jihuai looked up and coincidentally saw a middle-aged man dressed as a

traveler entering the establishment with a bundle on his back. As he picked
up the watery porridge and took a sip, Pei Jihuai couldn't help but admire
the Hua family's vigilance, which surpassed that of many others.

Pondering about this Hua family's vigilance that was possibly developed on
countless battlefields, Pei Jihuai couldn't help but feel a bit of admiration.

The capital had been calm for the past few days, and no major cases had
occurred. Even news of Elder Xie being imprisoned hadn't spread.

Only the servant by the side of Xie Fuma noticed that something was amiss
after several days passed without receiving any messages from Elder Xie.
Helplessly, he fed Xie Fuma an antidote.

After Xie Fuma regained consciousness, he looked at the soiled outer robe
he wore and casually tossed it aside. "It's been so long. Any news from the
Princess?"
The servant replied, "Princess has remained secluded in these past few
days, only visiting you. I'm unaware of the Princess's thoughts," He then
proceeded to recount all the recent events in the capital.

"We must find an opportunity to leave the capital," Xie Fuma smashed the
flower vase on the table, picked up a shard of porcelain, and deeply cut his
own arm, "Inform the Princess that I've gone mad and harmed myself."

As he watched the fresh blood dripping onto the floor, Xie Fuma's face
turned cold, "Now, my only way out lies with her."

The servant nodded with a pale face and rushed to the door, shouting,
"Help! Fuma is harming himself!"

As the weather grew hotter, Hua Liuli became less inclined to go out. To
entice her to visit the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince instructed the palace
chefs to prepare numerous refreshing and thirst-quenching foods. Only then
was he able to coax her to come visit him.

The officials at the Zhanshi Mansion of the Eastern Palace were somewhat
dissatisfied with the Crown Prince's excessive attention to Fushou Junzhu.
In their opinion, a qualified monarch should not have too many emotional
attachments.

However, due to the saying, "The Zhanshi Mansion is as solid as iron, while
the officials come and go like running water", no one dared to voice their
opinions. Yet, with every Fushou Junzhu's visit, they enjoyed delicious and
refreshing iced dishes, and their inner views gradually changed.

To capture someone's heart, one must first please their stomach. It was
practical at all times.

Furthermore, they noticed that the Crown Prince scolded them less and
even took the initiative to discuss political matters with them in the
presence of Fushou Junzhu, almost moving them to tears.

During a break, one official sighed, "A man needs a woman he likes to look
after him in order to become more mature and stable."
The other officials understood that he was referring to the Crown Prince,
but no one dared to explicitly say it.

"As the saying goes, the harmony of yin and yang leads to smooth sailing in
all matters," Another official chimed in, "Otherwise, why would our
ancestors say 'establish a family before building a career'?"

"I wonder if Fushou Junzhu will visit tomorrow?" a young official who had
just joined the Zhanshi Mansion of the Eastern Palace asked
straightforwardly.

The other officials turned to look at him. The newcomer was still too
young, daring to ask such questions.

However, they also eagerly anticipated Fushou Junzhu's visit to the Eastern
Palace tomorrow.

As Hua Liuli, who was eagerly anticipated by the officials of the Zhanshi
Mansion, had just left the Eastern Palace and was not far from the palace
gates, the Crown Prince arranged for a sedan chair to escort her to the
palace gates, where she would then take a carriage back home.

The several consorts and concubines in the palace were aware of Fushou
Junzhu's delicate health, so no one considered this act inappropriate. They
only privately marveled at the Crown Prince's careful attention to Fushou
Junzhu, despite his irritable disposition that could offend all women in the
world.

It was truly a rare sight.

Even Consort Xian, who used to mutter about Hua Liuli behind her back,
didn't say anything this time. Since the incident involving Ying Wang,
where Hua Liuli had uncovered the conspiracy against him, Consort Xian
wore a slight smile whenever facing Hua Liuli, without uttering a single
unpleasant word.

As a mother, faced with her son's lifesaving benefactor, Consort Xian

couldn't bring herself to say anything hurtful. Consequently, it had been
peaceful for the past few days, allowing Emperor Changlong to enjoy some
tranquility.

Understanding the reason behind Consort Xian's recent calmness, Emperor

Changlong had Zhao Sancai send many valuable gifts to Hua Liuli. After
all, giving them to his future daughter-in-law was equivalent to giving them
to his own son. He didn't mind parting with good things as long as Consort
Xian could remain calm for a few more days.

In a good mood, when Emperor Changlong learned that Xie Shizi had
requested to stay temporarily at Princess Leyang Estate, he readily agreed.

Upon learning that he could return to Princess Leyang Estate for one night,
Xie Shizi didn't feel happy. Instead, he had an indescribable sense of fear.
He was afraid that what his second sister had said would come true.

If Father was truly pretending to be insane, did Mother know?

If Mother didn't know, then the tears she shed for Father and the efforts she
put in would be nothing more than a pitiful joke.

He walked slowly on the palace road, feeling suffocated by the towering

walls. Footsteps sounded behind him, and when he turned his head, he saw
several eunuchs carrying a sedan chair approaching. Sitting in the sedan
chair was Fushou Junzhu, dressed in a splendid gown reminiscent of
moonlight.

Facing Fushou Junzhu, he always felt a pang of indescribable guilt and

embarrassment. He took two steps back, allowing the sedan chair to pass
first.

"Xie Shizi?" Hua Liuli almost didn't recognize him. This young man
wearing a gray-blue brocade robe was the same Xie Shizi who had seemed
somewhat naive before. But after not seeing him for half a month, he
appeared much more gloomy, with an instinctual frown on his forehead, a
hint of melancholy in his appearance.
"Fushou Junzhu," Xie Shizi bowed and saluted, devoid of the youthful
vigor he once had.

"Your complexion doesn't look good, did you suffer from heatstroke?" Hua
Liuli noticed his pale face, covered in sweat. She took out a small bottle
from her brocade pouch and said, "This is a remedy for heatstroke. If you
feel unwell, you can take one pill."

"Thank you, Junzhu," Xie Shizi realized that he felt weak all over, his head
spinning. He accepted the heatstroke remedy that Hua Liuli handed to him
and took a pill without hesitation.

The refreshing scent of mint instantly reached his brain, gradually clearing
his mind. He thanked Hua Liuli again, "Thank you."

"Xie Shizi, there's no need to be polite. This kind of heatstroke remedy is

commonly available in the army and nothing extraordinary," Hua Liuli
chuckled. This Xie Shizi was still simple-minded, daring to take the
medicine she offered without hesitation. Wasn't he afraid it might be
poisoned?

Due to Xie Shizi's awkward status, Hua Liuli didn't want to make things
more difficult for him and found an excuse to leave.

"Take care, Junzhu," Xie Shizi watched as the sedan chair departed. He
took another pill from the bottle and consumed it.

Savoring the minty fragrance, he seemed to regain the courage to face

everything when he returned home. He raised his head and walked briskly
towards the palace gates.

The entrance of Princess Leyang Estate was still splendid, but Xie Shizi felt
an indescribable desolation as he looked at the closed doors. Instead of
entering through the main gate, he took a detour and entered through the
eastern corner gate.

There were some fallen leaves on the ground that the servants hadn't had
time to sweep away. As Xie Shizi passed through the courtyard, he heard
the commotion of the servants.

"Help! Fuma is harming himself!"

"Princess, what should we do?"

He ran all the way and arrived at the courtyard where his father resided. He
saw his father covered in blood, being attended to by several servants who
were applying medicine to his wounds. His mother looked at his father with
anguish, crying uncontrollably.

"Fuma," Princess Leyang choked with tears, "I will find a way to send you
back to the south for recuperation, I promise."

Hearing his mother's words, Xie Shizi forced a bitter smile. How could they
go back to the south? His mother still didn't know that Elder Xie had been
captured, the Emperor and the Crown Prince had long been suspicious of
the Xie family.

The Xie family had long been unable to protect themselves. Even their good
reputation had been completely destroyed.

Their family was destined to never return to the south.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 132 – Hanging Oneself

"Mother," Xie Shizi approached Princess Leyang, supporting her trembling

body as she cried, "The imperial physician will be here soon. You need to
take care of yourself."

"The imperial physician? If the imperial physician was of any use, why is
my husband still sick after all this time?" Princess Leyang's heart was filled
with both anxiety and anger. She cursed, "They're all useless quacks! It's
been almost a month, and my husband's condition has worsened instead of
improving."

Xie Shizi knew he shouldn't doubt his father, but he couldn't help but
wonder. It was only a few days after Elder Xie's arrest that his father's
illness became severe. Was it just a coincidence, or...?

The two imperial physicians, who had just entered the courtyard, had
unpleasant expressions on their faces. Most of the physicians working at the
Imperial Medical Academy were highly skilled, with generations of
medical knowledge. Being called quacks by Princess Leyang naturally
didn't sit well with them.

However, as medical practitioners, they understood that family members of

patients sometimes uttered hurtful words due to excessive grief. They chose
to turn a blind eye and pretend not to have heard.

To prevent Xie Fuma from continuing to harm himself, the imperial

physicians instructed the servants in the estate to bind his hands and feet
with a soft cloth.

After preparing the prescribed medicine, one of the imperial physicians said
to the servant who was standing nearby, "Boil three bowls of water until it
becomes one bowl. After taking the medicine, observe his condition for a
while. He shouldn't be left alone in the coming days."

"Thank you, sir," the servant expressed gratitude, "Considering the current
condition of Fuma, wouldn't it be more beneficial for him to stay in a
familiar environment?"

The two imperial physicians didn't respond. After packing up their medical
supplies, they bid their farewells. The Princess had been insisting on taking
Xie Fuma back to the southern region for recuperation, but the palace had
consistently rejected the request, indicating that there was something fishy
about the matter. As mere physicians who diagnosed and prescribed
medicine, they didn't want to get involved in this mess.

"Please wait, esteemed physicians," Xie Shizi caught up to them, "May I

ask why my father's symptoms suddenly worsened?"

"Hysteria is a type of neurological disorder that is invisible and intangible.

Sometimes, it can be triggered by emotional stress," one of the physicians
answered, "You don't need to worry too much, Xie Shizi. There is still a
chance for improvement in your father's condition."

With twelve attendants constantly by Xie Fuma's side and the Princess's
concern, his father was considered fortunate among such patients.

"Thank you," Xie Shizi expressed his gratitude heavily. He turned around
and returned to his father's courtyard. His father was now wearing clean
clothes, his wounds had been treated by the imperial physicians. He lay on
the bed, no longer in a state of agitation.

As Xie Shizi listened to his mother's sorrowful cries, he approached her and
comforted her, "Mother, Father has fallen asleep. Don't worry, Father will
be fine."

Princess Leyang wiped away her tears and glanced at the sleeping Xie
Fuma on the bed. With a swollen face, she took Xie Shizi to the courtyard
and asked, "Why did you come back?"
"I missed you and Father, so I pleaded with the Emperor to allow me to stay
at home for one night," Xie Shizi said, looking at Princess Leyang's red,
swollen eyes. He instructed a servant to bring ice and had Princess Leyang
apply it to her face.

"Silly child, your father and I have already incurred the Emperor's
displeasure. You shouldn't keep thinking about coming back to see us. What
if the Emperor starts to dislike you as well?" Princess Leyang wanted Xie
Shizi to leave the estate immediately and return to the palace, "You should
leave now..."

Suddenly, her voice faltered, and her eyes flickered, unable to meet her
son's gaze, "Then, stay overnight at home and return to the palace early
tomorrow morning."

"Alright," Xie Shizi didn't notice anything amiss in Princess Leyang's gaze.
He coaxed her back into the house and urged her to rest early.

Princess Leyang had always been someone who disliked suffering

grievances. Throughout her life, she had used every means to obtain what
she wanted. When she fell in love with Xie Fuma, upon learning that the
late emperor intended to betroth Princess Shunan to him, she schemed to
make the late emperor detest Princess Shunan, ultimately making Xie Fuma
her husband.

After their marriage, she discovered that although Xie Fuma treated her
well, his heart belonged to someone else. At first, she thought it was
Princess Shunan, but later she realized that Xie Fuma had no affection for
Princess Shunan. The one he truly admired was Wei Mingyue, who had
gained fame throughout the capital.

This became a thorn in her heart. Later, when Wei Mingyue went to the
battlefield while pregnant, she couldn't help but think, what if Wei Mingyue
died in battle or had her beauty ruined?

But Wei Mingyue not only survived, she became the most famous female
general in all of Great Jin. Countless women admired her, even some
scholars and literati wrote poems in her praise.
Late at night, Princess Leyang couldn't help but speculate. Had this beloved
man beside her truly moved on?

She tossed and turned in bed, her mind filled with the words spoken by the
maids a month ago.

Crying, making a scene, hanging oneself...

Although the Emperor harbored resentment toward their family due to Xie
Yao's attempt to assassinate the Crown Prince, he had always treated his
relatives well. If she staged a suicide attempt, perhaps the Emperor would
spare their family.

Princess Leyang got up from the bed, retrieved a sharp dagger from the
cabinet, and endured the pain as she cut her own finger, writing a blood-
stained plea.

The only thing she could rely on was her imperial brother's soft-
heartedness.

As the night grew darker, Xie Fuma covered his injured arm and sat up on
the bed. He touched his forehead and realized that he was running a fever.

He picked up the cold tea on the table and took a sip. Suddenly, he felt that
something was amiss. As he turned around to prepare to lie back down, he
noticed a figure standing behind the bed curtain.

"Father..." Xie Shizi lifted the curtain and stepped out, "Father, it has been
tough for you to feign madness and ignorance."

"Faking madness and ignorance? What are you talking about?" Xie Fuma
was taken aback, "These days, there have been many foreign envoys in the
capital. Why aren't you resting early? Why are you guarding my room?"

"Foreign envoys?" Xie Shizi approached Xie Fuma, "The foreign envoys
left the capital a month ago. If there are any remaining, it would be the
envoys from Jinpo and Daimao."
"A month ago?" Xie Fuma rubbed his temples in pain, "Wasn't the Hundred
Nations Banquet held recently?"

Xie Shizi looked at Xie Fuma in silence for a long time before averting his
gaze, "Father, stop pretending. You don't have hysteria, do you?"

"What hysteria?" Xie Fuma's expression grew even more pained, "What
have I been doing recently?"

Xie Shizi had never been as clear-headed as he was at this moment. He

looked at Xie Fuma and said, "Father, during these days, Mother has been
unable to eat or sleep well because of your hysteria. She has been shedding
tears every day, her face has grown pale, and she has become emaciated.
When you were doing all these things, did you ever think about Mother?"

"What are you saying? I don't understand," Xie Fuma rubbed his forehead,
"What's wrong with you, talking to me in this tone?"

Xie Shizi was about to say something when the cries of the servants came
from outside.

"Help! Something terrible has happened! The Princess has hanged herself!"

Xie Shizi felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He pushed past Xie
Fuma and rushed toward the courtyard where the Princess resided. As he
crossed the threshold, he stumbled and fell, but he seemed oblivious to the
pain as he got up and continued running.

In his mother's courtyard, he saw her being carried onto the bed by the
servants. Trembling, he gently felt her breath. Thankfully, she was still
breathing.

"Quick, fetch the imperial physician! Hurry!"

He, who seldom lost his temper, shouted loudly at the servants in the room,
"What are you all doing, crowding here? Don't you know how to fetch a
physician?!"
The servants scrambled to fetch a physician. Xie Shizi cried as he noticed
the blood-stained plea lying on the table.

The blood-stained plea emitted a strong smell of blood; between the lines, it
was filled with his mother's pleas for his father's sake. Even her act of
hanging herself was for the sake of his father.

"Imperial Brother, this sister knows the gravity of my crimes; I cannot

escape blame even if I die a thousand deaths. I only beg Imperial Brother to
spare the life of Fuma..."

Seeing this plea, Xie Shizi's hand trembled heavily. He looked at his
unconscious mother on the bed, wanting to scream out loud. You have
offended your own siblings for the sake of that man. You were willing to
give up your life for him. But do you know that he is deceiving you?!

With tears in his eyes, Xie Shizi collected the blood-stained plea and placed
it against his chest.

The personal maidservant of Princess Leyang witnessed this scene and

whispered, "Shizi, you..."

"No one is allowed to speak," Xie Shizi said with a stern face, coldly
looking at the maids in the room, "Remember, the Princess has never
written any plea letters, understood? If anyone dares to let slip, none of you
will survive."

"U-understood," the personal maidservants trembled in fear as they

responded.

They never expected that the usually gentle and kind-hearted Shizi would
possess such ruthlessness in his eyes. Just one glance made them feel afraid.

The news of Princess Leyang's attempted suicide soon reached the

Chenyang Palace and Shoukang Palace. Emperor Changlong put on his
outer robe, looked at Zhao Sancai, who was bowing in front of him, and
sighed after a long while, "No matter what, she is still my sister. Let the
Crown Prince and..."
He wanted to say, "Let the Crown Prince and Ying Wang visit her," but
considering that Ying Wang was living in his own estate outside the palace,
he changed his words, "Let the Crown Prince and Fifth Prince pay a visit. If
she hanged herself to plead for Fuma, then there's no need to intervene
further."

The Emperor's expression was not clearly visible in the flickering

candlelight, but Zhao Sancai, who had served Emperor Changlong for many
years, knew that His Majesty had completely lost hope in Princess Leyang.

The Fifth Prince was still deep in his sleep when he was urgently awakened
by a eunuch. Reluctantly, he got up and dressed, asking, "Is she dead?"

"This servant heard that the Princess's maidservant discovered it in time.

Although she fainted, her life was saved."

"A princess who resorts to such methods of crying, making a scene, and
hanging herself. She isn't trying to die; she is forcing us with her death,
hoping for the Emperor to spare Xie Fuma's life," The Fifth Prince, still
groggy, said, "She should have resorted to this tactic during the day, instead
of troubling the imperial physicians and us younger generation in the
middle of the night."

"Your Highness, please calm down," the accompanying eunuch said, seeing
that the Fifth Prince was unhappy, "The Crown Prince from the Eastern
Palace is also going with you."

"The Crown Prince is going too?" The sleepiness in the Fifth Prince's eyes
suddenly dissipated. With the Crown Prince's temperament, how could he
tolerate such tactics from Princess Leyang?

"Quickly change clothes for Benwang. We can't keep the Crown Prince
waiting for too long," the Fifth Prince started cooperating actively. As long
as the Crown Prince wasn't scolding him, he enjoyed watching such scenes
unfold.

As soon as the Crown Prince left the Eastern Palace, he saw the Fifth Prince
looking at him eagerly, his face filled with an expression of wanting to
cause trouble.

"Get in the carriage," the Crown Prince beckoned the Fifth Prince to join
him in the carriage of the Eastern Palace, "When we arrive at Princess
Leyang Estate, no matter what they say, don't easily agree."

"Please rest assured, Third Brother. Your younger brother will always defer
to your decision," the Fifth Prince immediately expressed his loyalty, "I will
never nod my head if you disagree."

Facing the intense gaze of his fifth brother, the Crown Prince shifted
slightly to the side.

He had the feeling of being a street gang leader, taking his little brother
along to cause trouble.

Seeing the Crown Prince shifting to the side, the Fifth Prince followed suit.

Let's cause some trouble together.

Crying, making a scene, and hanging oneself—such bad behavior must not
be tolerated!

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 133 – Ups and Downs

"The Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince have arrived!"

Xie Shizi was accompanying the imperial physician in examining his

mother's pulse when he heard that the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince
had arrived. He quickly stood up and walked out to greet them.

Wherever the Crown Prince appeared, it was always lively. Xie Shizi
looked at the Crown Prince, who was surrounded by many people, and
bowed respectfully, "Greetings to Your Royal Highness, Greetings to the
Fifth Prince."

"No need for formalities, cousin," said the Crown Prince, standing in the
courtyard without entering the room. Though Princess Leyang was his aunt,
she was still a woman, and he didn't feel comfortable going directly into the
room, "Is Aunt in serious condition?"

'Committing suicide' was not a glorious matter, so the Crown Prince didn't
want to mention it. They shared the same surname, he couldn't afford to
tarnish his own family's reputation.

Xie Shizi's expression was somewhat unnatural. Even he could guess the
reason behind his mother's attempted suicide. How could the Crown Prince
and the Emperor not guess? He lowered his head further, "The imperial
physician is currently examining my mother's pulse, but her life is not in
danger."

"The imperial physician is also here?" The Crown Prince raised his foot,
"Then let Gu go in and take a look."

"Please, Your Royal Highness," Xie Shizi didn't stop him. He lowered his
head and led the way. When he stepped on the stairs, he touched the spot on
his chest where the blood letter was placed. After his mother regained
consciousness, she might blame him, but he didn't want to compound this
matter any further.

The crimes committed by the Xie family couldn't be borne by his mother's
attempted suicide alone.

"Your Royal Highness, please," he opened the curtain and allowed the
Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince to enter the room.

Upon entering the room, the Crown Prince caught a whiff of a faint
medicinal scent. He glanced at the bed where Princess Leyang lay, still
unconscious, with a clear mark on her neck. He waved his hand to exempt
the people in the room from bowing and assessed the room, "Was there no
one keeping watch while Aunt was resting?"

"Your Royal Highness, there were usually attendants keeping watch in the
past, but tonight the Princess was in a bad mood, so no one was left to
attend to her," a maid in emerald attire stepped forward to answer.

The Crown Prince glanced at her, "Why was she in a bad mood?"

The maid glanced at Xie Shizi when he remained silent and continued, "A
few hours ago, when Xie Fuma's hysteria worsened, he smashed a vase; the
broken shards cut his arm."

"A person with hysteria shouldn't have had porcelain items in the room,"
the Crown Prince frowned, "The Xie family's attendants really don't know
how to care for the sick. Fortunately, we in the imperial family are still
watching over them in the capital. If they were taken back to the south, how
could their lives be ensured?"

The attendants from the Xie family in the room had blank expressions upon
hearing these words. They all knew that the Crown Prince was framing and
slandering them, but they dared not retort.

"It must be these attendants who failed to properly serve Aunt, leading to
her ill intentions," the Crown Prince raised his eyelids, his tone cold, "Bring
all these attendants from the Xie family to the Ministry of Justice for
interrogation. The attendants serving the Princess and Fuma will be
reassigned by the Imperial Household Department. The safety of the
Princess and Fuma takes precedence in all matters."

"Please forgive us, Your Royal Highness," the attendants in the room paled
in fear and knelt down, pleading for mercy. Some of them looked at Xie
Shizi, hoping he would help intercede.

However, to their disappointment, Xie Shizi remained silent, lowering his

head and not even looking at them.

"It is due to Fuma's severe hysteria and Aunt's poor health that all of you
attendants from the Xie family have taken advantage of Gu's kind-hearted
cousin's youth," the Crown Prince angrily rebuked, "If Gu were to spare
you, it would mean Aunt and Fuma suffered these hardships in vain. Even if
Gu has a forgiving nature, Gu cannot tolerate such things happening."

He clapped his hands. The Golden Armored Guards came in and dragged
all the attendants from the room.

After Princess Leyang's attempted suicide, Xie Fuma had been lying in bed,
waiting for news. He waited for a long time, but no one came to give him
any updates. Just as he was about to pretend to be insane and rush out, he
heard footsteps outside.

"The Golden Armored Guards are here on official duty! You guilty
servants, surrender yourselves!"

Xie Fuma frowned upon hearing the commotion. The Golden Armored
Guards were the Crown Prince's personal guards, so why were they at
Princess Leyang Estate to apprehend someone?

"I am the attendant of Xie Fuma. You shall not be disrespectful," Xie
Fuma's personal attendant declared.

Upon hearing the voice of his loyal servant, Xie Fuma realized the situation
was unfavorable. In his urgency, he had no choice but to roll off the bed, his
hair disheveled, and rush out of the room, grabbing his servant's arm.

"My companion cannot be taken away," he held onto his servant's clothes
and sat on the ground, kicking his legs and wailing.

"What's going on?" The Fifth Prince entered the courtyard and looked at
Xie Fuma, who was crying loudly on the ground. He crossed his hands
behind his back and said to the Golden Armored Guards, "Don't just stand
there. As Third Brother said, none of these malicious servants can be left
behind."

"Your Highness, Fuma's mental state is like that of a child. This servant has
served by his side for over ten years. If Your Highness let the guards take
this servant away, what will happen to Fuma?" The servant knelt before the
Fifth Prince, pleading, "This servant implores mercy, Your Highness."

"The attendants arranged by the Imperial Household Department will arrive

soon. Do you think the attendants from the palace are not as capable as you
in serving?" The Fifth Prince's face turned cold, "Even if Fuma currently
had the mentality of a three or four years old child, it is not a reason to
allow dangers to remain by his side."

"A good child is not to be spoiled but to be taught well," the Fifth Prince
raised his hand, "Take him away."

Xie Fuma clung to his servant's leg, while the servant protected Xie Fuma,
preventing the Golden Armored Guards from touching him. After a
touching farewell scene, the guards finally separated the master and servant.

"Fuma!"

"Companion."

Xie Fuma and his servant reached out their hands toward each other. The
scene was extremely moving.

However, Xie Shizi, who witnessed this, found it both ridiculous and
pitiful. His mother lay unconscious on the bed, while his father is still
pretending to be insane.

Since he was so good at feigning illness, why didn't he find an opportunity

to go to his mother's courtyard and see if she was safe?

He covered his mouth with his hand and suddenly felt nauseous, so
nauseous that he wanted to vomit.

"Cousin, your complexion looks terrible," the Crown Prince noticed that
Xie Shizi's face had turned pale in an instant, "Are you ill?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Royal Highness. I am fine," Xie Shizi
forced a smile to express his gratitude.

"Fifth Brother will take care of things here. Cousin, come with me to where
Aunt resides," the Crown Prince said as he took Xie Shizi back to Princess
Leyang's courtyard. He also had an imperial physician examine Xie Shizi's
pulse.

"The young master shows symptoms of heatstroke, but it seems he has

already taken antipyretic medicine, so the symptoms are not severe," the
imperial physician handed a few pills to Xie Shizi and instructed him to
take them with plain water.

Xie Shizi remembered the bottle of medicine that Fushou Junzhu gave him
when he set out to return to home. It seemed that was the medicine that
alleviated his symptoms.

Most of the servants in Princess Leyang Estate had been taken away,
leaving the estate extremely quiet, with only a few eunuchs from the
Eastern Palace assisting. Xie Shizi turned his head and quietly thanked the
Crown Prince.

"You are Gu's cousin. With Aunt and Fuma in their current state, Gu cannot
ignore you," the Crown Prince said with a gentle smile, appearing like a
caring older brother.
Xie Shizi hesitated to speak, but coincidentally, Princess Leyang on the bed
moved. He quickly stood up and approached the bedside, "Mother?"

Princess Leyang regained consciousness, wanting to speak, but she found

her throat was in severe pain.

"Mother, don't worry for now. The imperial physician said you injured your
throat and need a few days of rest before you can speak," Xie Shizi held her
wrist, "The Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince came to see you."

The Crown Prince is here?

Princess Leyang endured the tremendous pain in her throat and turned her
head to look at the Crown Prince sitting in the room. She opened her mouth
but couldn't produce any sound.

Did the Crown Prince see her blood-stained letter? She glanced at the table,
but the blood-stained plea was gone. She grabbed Xie Shizi's sleeve and
pointed to where the letter had been placed.

"Mother, please rest assured. Your son will take good care of the Crown
Prince," Xie Shizi squeezed Princess Leyang's wrist and tucked her hand
into the silk quilt.

Princess Leyang widened her eyes. That's not what she meant!

Xie Shizi looked calmly at her, silent for a moment, "Mother, please rest
well. Your son will see the Crown Prince out."

He released Princess Leyang's hand, stood up, and bowed to the Crown
Prince, "I feel extremely guilty that the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince
had to make this trip due to my mother's situation. Now that my mother has
awakened, I urge both the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince to return to the
palace and rest."

"Seeing Aunt wake up in good condition puts Gu's mind at ease," the
Crown Prince stood up and looked at Princess Leyang, who lay on the bed
with her round eyes wide open, "Aunt, Gu never knew you suffered so
much in the Xie family. Those Xie family servants are audacious to dare to
humiliate even a princess. Rest assured, Gu will seek justice for you."

The Xie family servants humiliated her?

Princess Leyang found herself unable to understand the meaning behind the
Crown Prince's words. She struggled to sit up, wanting to write down her
plea once again.

"Princess, please lie still," the eunuch from the Eastern Palace pressed
Princess Leyang back down, his face filled with concern and anger, "The
fingers are connected to the heart. Those audacious servants dared to attack
your fingers, leaving so many wounds. The Crown Prince is distressed
seeing this."

Princess Leyang breathed rapidly. She was infuriated.

The Crown Prince did this intentionally! All this talk about acting out of
line and audacity were just excuses from the Crown Prince. He wanted to
shift all the blame for her suicide attempt onto the Xie family.

How could she forget?

Ji Yuansu had always been audacious and ruthless since childhood. No

matter what she did, as long as he didn't want her to live peacefully, he
would never stop.

"Hearing that Gu will avenge you, Aunt, are you so delighted?" Looking at
the Princess Leyang struggling to breathe, the Crown Prince smiled faintly,
"Rest assured, Gu won't let you suffer in vain."

Princess Leyang's eyes rolled back as she fainted from anger.

On the next day, rumors spread in the capital that the servants of the Xie
family took advantage of Xie Fuma's hysteria to humiliate Princess Leyang
and drive her to hang herself. Fortunately, Princess Leyang's son returned to
the estate that night and discovered something amiss, saving Princess
Leyang.
The reputation of the Xie family had long been tarnished in the capital.
Upon hearing that the Xie family servants had driven the Princess, who was
like a golden branch and jade leaf, to commit suicide, few doubted it. They
simply cursed every member of the Xie family.

Even scholars who came from the south believed these events without a
doubt. They witnessed members of the Xie family pushing a scholar into a
river to drown in front of others, so it was not surprising that Xie family
servants would bully the Princess while Xie Fuma suffered from hysteria.

As various versions of the story circulated, accusing different Xie family

servants of bullying Princess Leyang, Jinpo finally sent the Jinpo's Eldest
Prince to the capital of Great Jin.

The Eldest Prince of Jinpo sat in the carriage, looking at the bustling city,
his expression not too mournful.

After their defeat and the capture of his second brother in Jinpo, he had long
anticipated that he might be sent to Great Jin as a hostage. What he did not
anticipate was that even if he was sent as a hostage to the capital of Great
Jin, his second brother would still remain as a prisoner in Jinpo.

Being a hostage was better than being a prisoner.

In life, one must learn to find joy amidst hardships. Over the years, he had
been subjected to countless hardships caused by his second brother. He
never expected that his first opportunity to surpass him would come in the
form of being a hostage in Great Jin.

Such is life, full of ups and downs...

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 134 – Tea

Facing the arrival of the Eldest Prince, dressed simply and in a hurry, the
Jinpo envoys left behind in Great Jin had somewhat fluctuating expressions.
While it was the Jinpo Emperor's idea to exchange the Eldest Prince for the
Second Prince, they were the ones who had mentioned it in front of
Emperor Changlong.

They were well aware that sending the Eldest Prince to Great Jin as a
hostage meant he would no longer have a chance at the throne. If Jinpo
caused any trouble in the future that displeased Great Jin, the first one to be
sacrificed would be the Eldest Prince who was left behind as a hostage.

"Your Highness..." The envoys bowed and saluted the Eldest Prince.

"There's no need for you to have such gloomy expressions. Isn't it just a
matter of losing a small gain for a bigger one?" The Eldest Prince smiled,
"It's alright, Benwang doesn't take this small gain to heart."

The envoys' expressions grew even more awkward. It turned out that the
Eldest Prince fully understood their original intentions.

"Furthermore, Benwang forgot to tell you that before coming to Great Jin,
Father Emperor bestowed upon Benwang a title: He Wang," Taking a seat
in his chair, the Eldest Prince announced, "Peaceful coexistence is what
benefits the people of both nations the most. Gentlemen, what do you think
of this bestowed title?"

The envoys forced themselves to offer praise.

"Benwang knew it," He Wang smiled with a hint of mockery, "You all
certainly know how to flatter people. However, during Benwang's time in
Jinpo, Benwang never had the chance to experience your flattery. It's truly
regrettable."

The envoys felt uneasy and inferior but pretended not to understand He
Wang's sarcastic remarks.

On the third day of He Wang's arrival in the capital, he was summoned by

Emperor Changlong. After receiving the edict delivered by the Ministry of
Rites, he turned to see the excited expressions of the envoys behind him.
Feeling a bit disdainful, he thought that even if they were eager to keep him
as a hostage, there was no need for them to show such excitement. After all,
he was still standing here.

Observing the expression on He Wang's face, the envoys realized that he

had misunderstood. They explained, "Your Highness, we have been staying
in the capital for quite some time and have never been granted an audience
with Emperor Changlong. However, just three days after Your Highness's
arrival, Emperor Changlong expressed his intention to meet Your Highness.
It shows that he still values Your Highness."

He Wang finally understood how these envoys managed to bring him over
as a hostage yet couldn't rescue the Second Prince. If they couldn't even
meet the Emperor of Great Jin, what more could they do?

Why did Father Emperor provoke Great Jin in the first place? If he hadn't
caused so much trouble, he wouldn't have ended up in this situation. As he
looked at these trembling envoys, he remembered the expressions of these
same ministers when they sent troops to attack Great Jin. They were full of
confidence; it was as if Great Jin was already in their grasp.

Little did they know that Great Jin had two formidable generals; what was
even more frightening was that the two generals were husband and wife.
They wouldn't have any disputes over power, and their cooperation on the
battlefield was seamless, leading to Jinpo's defeat.

His father's most beloved commander died in battle, and the son his father
valued the most was also captured. Finally, Father Emperor realized the
importance of cherishing world peace. Why did it take him so long?
Hindsight is always 20/20.

This saying also applied to Xie Fuma. The most reliable servants by his side
had been completely replaced, while the entire Princess Leyang Estate was
tightly sealed off. No outside news could come in, and no inside news could
go out.

He was now a blind man with his eyes wide open, except for drinking the
bitter medicines on time every day, he had no other way. He knew that the
Crown Prince and Emperor Changlong would not spare him. He couldn't be
bothered to continue pretending to be sick.

Princess Leyang, who had been taken care of for three days, finally could
speak with some effort. As soon as she saw Xie Shizi, who had rushed back
from the Imperial Academy, she grabbed him and asked, "Did the Crown
Prince see my blood-written plea?"

"What blood-written plea?" Xie Shizi calmly comforted Princess Leyang,

"Mother, don't worry, those ignorant servants have already been taken away,
no one will dare to disrespect you in the future..."

"I'm talking about the blood letter that could save your father's life!"
Princess Leyang's voice was hoarse, she held Xie Shizi's hand with all her
strength, "I did so much just to save your father, don't you understand?!"

"Even if Father's actions may cause great chaos in the world, depriving
countless women of their freedom and causing suffering to the people? Do
you still unconditionally protect him?" Xie Shizi looked at his mother's
angry face, "Mother, you are the Princess of the Great Jin Dynasty, the
Princess of all the people."

"I don't care, I just want Fuma to be safe and sound!" Princess Leyang
pushed Xie Shizi away, "He is your father, yet you dare to accuse him."

"Father has committed heinous crimes. I cannot go against my own

conscience as a son, so let's pretend all this doesn't exist," Xie Shizi lifted
his robe and knelt before Princess Leyang, "I, as an unfilial son, deserve to
be struck by lightning from the heavens. This is my sin. Mother, you can hit
me or scold me. Even if you take away my name right now, I will have no
complaints."

He kowtowed repeatedly to Princess Leyang, soon causing his forehead to

bleed, "I, as an unfilial son, deserve no forgiveness. Please take care of
yourself, Mother. I'll take my leave."

With blood streaming down his face, Xie Shizi turned around without
expression and walked out of the courtyard where Princess Leyang resided.
There were screams from servants wanting to stop his bleeding, but he
waved them away.

He entered the courtyard where Xie Fuma resided and saw Xie Fuma sitting
under the eaves drinking tea.

Xie Fuma noticed the blood on Xie Shizi's forehead, his expression changed
slightly. He poured a cup of tea and placed it on the table, "Come and sit."

Xie Shizi casually wiped the blood off his forehead and sat across from Xie
Fuma. The filial son and doting father, now they looked at each other in
silence.

"Today's tea is a bit more bitter than previous years," Xie Fuma picked up
the teacup and took a sip. No longer pretending to be crazy or foolish, he
still had that charming demeanor.

Xie Shizi picked up the tea, brought it to his lips, and then put it back down,
"Aren't you going to continue pretending?"

"Since pretending to be crazy is no longer useful, why continue to bring

disgrace upon oneself?" Xie Fuma looked at the lush flowers and plants in
the courtyard, "What's happened outside?"

If they hadn't found evidence against the Xie family, the Crown Prince
wouldn't have treated the Xie family so ruthlessly. However, what surprised
him was that the Fifth Prince turned out to be a staunch supporter of the
Crown Prince. Wherever the Crown Prince pointed, he struck.
The brotherly relationship of the Ji imperial family was truly
incomprehensible. It seemed like the conflicts between brothers from past
generations had all converged in their generation, making it difficult to
discern reality.

"I don't know," Xie Shizi shook his head lightly, choosing not to reveal the
things the Crown Prince had discovered.

"If you don't want to say, then forget it," Xie Fuma sighed, "What I regret
the most is raising you to be such a kind and naive person."

"In my heart, Father, you were once the purest and greatest person in the
world," blood slid from his unattended wound, dropping into the teacup in
front of him.

The crimson blood mixed with the green tea leaves, emitting a strange
aroma.

Xie Fuma looked at the cup of tea in Xie Shizi's hand and suddenly realized
something. He smiled, "You're now following the Crown Prince. With
Emperor Changlong's favoritism towards the Crown Prince, it is Ji Yuansu
who will inherit the throne in the future. By relying on him, you can live
well."

However, the glory of the Xie family was no more, their future generations
would become ordinary and insignificant individuals.

"Have you ever truly loved Mother all these years?" Xie Shizi couldn't help
but ask. He looked at Xie Fuma's face, "For Father's sake, she could set
aside her precious status and even be willing to die. Do you know that?"

Xie Fuma held the tea cup steadily, the water surface undisturbed. He
avoided his son's gaze and, after a long time, said, "In my life, I have loved
the Xie family the most, and then, myself."

"What about Mother? What about my sisters and me?"

"You are different from them. You are the one to inherit the Xie family in
the next generation," Xie Fuma looked at his son, "In my vision, the Xie
family's plans for upcoming decades would succeed in my hands, so the
next generation of the Xie family would need a true gentleman."

However, all those plans had encountered an unexpected event, the Crown
Prince's unpredictable behavior, which left him completely puzzled.

If Xie Yao had managed to take the Crown Prince's life when she sent the
assassins, it would have been better. Unfortunately, the Crown Prince
survived. Since then, the Xie family had been constantly sinking into the
abyss, and the efforts and plans of several generations were destroyed.

The Xie family was ruined by the Crown Prince.

"So you sent someone to assassinate Second Sister and even used Mother's
feelings to let her commit suicide?" Xie Shizi felt extreme pain. The man in
front of him seemed so unfamiliar. The elegant and gentle father in his
memory seemed like an illusion, disappearing in the sunlight.

"I call it, making reasonable use of them. Besides, your mother is perfectly
fine, isn't she?" Xie Fuma toyed with the teacup, his smile still gentle, "In
my life, I am destined not to have feelings for any woman."

"So when you were pretending to be crazy, saying that Fushou Junzhu was
your daughter and General Wei was your wife, was that intentional?" Xie
Shizi looked pained, "Have you ever thought about how much it would hurt
Mother?"

Xie Fuma's expression slightly changed, then he chuckled, "I've said it

before, in my entire life, I won't be infatuated with any woman. Since birth,
I've been destined to live for the Xie family."

"I understand," Xie Shizi stood up, looking at Xie Fuma with sadness, "So,
to you, Mother, my sisters, and I are all just tools of the Xie family, is that
right?"
"Yes," Xie Fuma smiled, "My child, don't be so naive in the future. There
aren't that many good people in the world."

Xie Shizi walked off the eaves and knelt before Xie Fuma, performing the
ritual of three bows and nine kowtows, "Father, I will never forget your
upbringing. I implore you to change your ways and stop making mistakes."

"Making mistakes again?" Xie Fuma burst into laughter. He turned his head
and saw Princess Leyang standing at the courtyard entrance, tears streaming
down her face. He revealed a gentle and considerate smile, "Princess, did
you hear everything?"

As she looked at this man whose smile was so beautiful, Princess Leyang
felt an intense chill coursing through her body, causing her to tremble
uncontrollably.

If everything he did for all these years was just an illusion, what did her
genuine feelings amount to? For the sake of marrying him, she had used
every means and made sacrifices, but all she received was the statement, "I
won't be infatuated with any woman." Was her whole life just a joke?

"Mother..." Xie Shizi didn't expect his mother to come. Did she hear
everything he discussed with his father just now?

Princess Leyang walked up to Xie Fuma, "Have you truly never loved me
all these years?"

"If it makes the Princess happy, I can say that I have loved you," Xie Fuma
stood up and gently reached out to touch her temple, fixing a loose hairpin,
"You shouldn't have come."

"If I hadn't come, how would I have known that you never loved me?"
Princess Leyang sobbed uncontrollably, "You... how cruel-hearted you are."

"Stop crying. It won't look good," Xie Fuma wiped away Princess Leyang's
tears with a handkerchief, his lips curved into a smile, looking incredibly
charming.
However, Princess Leyang's heart grew colder and colder. She had been
mistaken. He wasn't cruel-hearted; he simply had no heart at all.

The sweet words were false, the vows were false, even the gentle gaze was
false. Everything was false. Only she had foolishly taken everything to be
true and sacrificed everything for him.

"Why?" she asked with a hoarse voice.

Xie Fuma sighed, "Back then, I originally intended to marry Princess

Shunan. I didn't want to deceive you, but you insisted on marrying me.
Have you forgotten?"

"Hahaha!" Princess Leyang laughed through her tears, "I snatched away
Shunan's man, so this is my retribution, retribution..."

Xie Fuma put his hand behind his back and looked at her gently, "Princess,
if hating me can make the rest of your life better, then go ahead and hate
me."

After saying these words, blood oozed from the corners of his mouth and
the tip of his nose.

"Fuma, what's wrong with you?" Seeing him like this, Princess Leyang
trembled even more violently. She took out a handkerchief and tried to wipe
away the bloodstains.

"No need," Xie Fuma stopped her hand, "I put Sanxi Powder in the tea just
now. There is no antidote to this poison."

"Why? Why would you do this?" Princess Leyang screamed frantically,

"Imperial Physician, call the imperial physician quickly!"

Xie Shizi stared blankly at the teacup on the table. His mother's frantic
screams didn't reach his ears. His mind buzzed, finally understanding that
his father had also intended to kill him just now.

"As a member of the Xie family, I would rather you die cleanly than live
miserably under the Crown Prince," Xie Fuma knew what his son was
thinking. He looked at Xie Shizi, "Unfortunately, you weren't destined to
die. You didn't drink that cup of tea."

He clutched his chest and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, "But this is for
the best. From now on, you will understand one thing: don't casually accept
things given by others."

"Fuma... Fuma," Princess Leyang reached out to cover Xie Fuma's mouth,
hoping it could stop the bleeding. But large quantities of blood still flowed
through her fingers.

She cried in agony, "What should we do? What should we do? You can't
die, you can't."

Xie Fuma pushed her away and staggered back to the chair under the eaves.
He looked at the still-steaming tea on the table, took out a handkerchief, and
gently wiped his chin. Then, he weakly leaned against the chair.

The door was forcefully pushed open; Wei Mingyue entered with the
Imperial Guards, holding the imperial decree issued by Emperor Changlong
high in her hand, "This subject is sorry for the intrusion. This subject has
been ordered by His Majesty to arrest Xie Fuma and thoroughly investigate
the Xie family's case. Princess Leyang, please cooperate."

Xie Fuma turned his head to look at the woman who entered, Wei Mingyue.

When he first arrived in the capital that year, he saw a woman in red sitting
tall and beautiful on a snow-white horse from afar. She was stunningly
beautiful.

As a young man at the time, he couldn't help but wonder which family's girl
she was. She was so bold and captivating.

But she was too clever, he couldn't marry a clever woman.

In his entire life, had he ever truly been moved by a woman?

Seeing Wei Mingyue walking towards him, he closed his eyes and smiled.
In this world, there are not many love-at-first-sight encounters or love as
deep as the sea. In his entire life, he had never loved anyone, nor did he
regret not loving anyone.

He only regretted underestimating the Crown Prince, causing the Xie

family's century-old legacy to be destroyed.

"General, he's dead," someone approached and checked Xie Fuma's

breathing, only to retract their hand in shock. They looked at Wei Mingyue
with some confusion.

"The suspect committed suicide out of fear," Wei Mingyue picked up the
teacup on the table and glanced at it, "There was poison in the tea."

"Fuma isn't dead!" Princess Leyang crazily pounced on Wei Mingyue, "Wei
Mingyue, you wretched woman, Fuma isn't dead."

Wei Mingyue stopped Princess Leyang's hand from hitting her and sighed,
"Princess, if you continue like this, do you want His Majesty to completely
despise you? Even if you don't care for yourself, you should think about
your child. The Xie family has committed heinous crimes. If you also incur
His Majesty's displeasure, who will protect him?"

"Let go of me!" Princess Leyang wailed loudly, "Fuma is already dead, so

why am I still alive?"

Xie Shizi endured the pain and tried to persuade Princess Leyang, but she
fiercely slapped him.

"I don't have a son like you who takes advantage of others. If it weren't for
you, if it weren't for you, how could your father have died?" Princess
Leyang looked at Xie Shizi with hatred in her eyes, "Why wasn't it you who
died?"

Xie Shizi stared blankly at Princess Leyang and dejectedly let his arms
hang down, allowing Princess Leyang to beat and curse at him.
"Pull her away," unable to bear it any longer, Wei Mingyue reached out and
pulled Xie Shizi aside, saying, "You child, do you finally understand the
consequences of causing trouble?"

Xie Shizi remained silent, his face swollen and red. Watching his mother
crazily berating him, he felt somewhat lost.

In this vast world, there was no place for him.

Hua Liuli accompanied the Empress Dowager in Shoukang Palace, playing

chess together. Both of them were not good at chess, but they enjoyed
playing together. The Empress Dowager would also occasionally share
some tricks for managing the harem. Those unaware would probably
assume that they were truly grandmother and granddaughter.

"Empress Dowager, news has come from Princess Leyang's residence. Xie
Fuma has taken poison and committed suicide," Hongxiu glanced at Hua
Liuli, "Early this morning, Pei Daren and Hua Daren rushed back from
Changyao Province. Shortly after meeting with His Majesty in the palace,
His Majesty ordered General Wei to arrest Xie Fuma at Princess Leyang
Estate. Unexpectedly, Xie Fuma had already taken poison and killed
himself."

Strictly speaking, it was General Wei's failure in handling the matter.

Hongxiu had a good relationship with Fushou Junzhu, so she hurried back
to inform the Empress Dowager.

"How is Princess Leyang?" The Empress Dowager had watched Princess

Leyang grow up and had feelings for her. Upon hearing such news, she
couldn't help but sigh. She put down the chess piece in her hand and said to
Hua Liuli, "Go to Chenyang Palace and say that you are acting on my
orders. The Emperor won't make things difficult for you."

"Thank you, Empress Dowager," this matter involved the Crown Prince,
Third Brother, and Mother, so Hua Liuli couldn't rest easy. Hearing the
Empress Dowager's words, she quickly expressed her gratitude and hurried
towards Chenyang Palace.
Zhao Sancai, who was guarding the door, saw Princess Fushou rushing over
and smiled, "Junzhu, don't worry. Xie Fuma's suicide has nothing to do with
General Wei. There are many people in the hall right now, so you can go
in."

"Thank you, Head Eunuch Zhao," Hua Liuli felt relieved and thanked Zhao
Sancai before stepping over the threshold and entering.

There were indeed many people in the hall. Hua Liuli walked forward and
bowed, "Your Majesty, this subject pay my respects."

"The Hua family's girl has arrived?" Emperor Changlong pointed to the
empty seat beside the Crown Prince, "Take a seat and let's talk."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Hua Liuli took a glance at her father and
mother. She saw that their expressions were still calm, so turned and sat
beside the Crown Prince. Before she could speak to the Crown Prince, he
secretly held her hand.

"We have collected a lot of evidence against the Xie family. Even if they are
executed, it would not be excessive," the Crown Prince whispered to Hua
Liuli, "Don't worry, the case has been revealed. Even if Xie Fuma
committed suicide by poison, it won't help the Xie family."

Hua Liuli looked at Xie Shizi standing in the corner and sighed softly.

"Your Majesty, among the many pieces of evidence collected, we found that
the Xie family has had secret correspondence with the Daimao Kingdom for
many years," a Golden Armor Guard dressed in casual attire reported, "In
one of the letters, it was cited to have the Xie family kill Fushou Junzhu.
However, I cannot determine whether this letter was sent from Daimao or
from the capital because the handwriting is different from the others and
resembles that of a female."

"A woman's handwriting?" Wei Mingyue's expression turned cold, "Who

dares to harm my precious daughter?!"
Hua Liuli widened her eyes. She was just a helpless little girl, so why did so
many people want to kill her?

Seeing Wei Mingyue's serious expression, Emperor Changlong, who was

sitting on the throne, couldn't help but shift his dragon seat back slightly,
"Investigate, investigate the source of this letter immediately!"

Wei Mingyue stood up and apologized to Emperor Changlong, "This

subject begs Your Majesty's forgiveness for losing composure."

"Parents naturally protect their own children," Emperor Changlong

generously expressed, "Zhen understands your feelings, General Wei."

As long as Wei Mingyue didn't smash the table in front of him, everything
would be fine.

Xie Shizi, who was standing in the corner, couldn't help but smile bitterly at
Emperor Changlong's words. There were also parents who didn't care about
their children.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 135 – Testimonies

The officials from the Ministry of Justice, accompanied by the Golden

Armor Guards, left the Chenyang Palace with the evidence they secretly
collected in Changyao Prefecture. Only the members of the Ji family, the
Hua family, and Xie Shizi, who stood silently in the corner, remained in the
main hall.

Emperor Changlong looked at Xie Shizi and sighed. After Xie Fuma's
deeds were exposed, he actually wanted to commit suicide together with his
son. This person, deep down, looked down on ordinary people and couldn't
accept the fall of the Xie family from their lofty position.

On the imperial desk, a clear record of Xie Fuma and the Xie family's
clandestine activities over the years was kept.

Due to suspicion that a waiter at a teahouse had overheard his conversation

with his counselor, Xie Fuma had the entire waiter's family drowned. The
waiter's family consisted of seven members, with the youngest being less
than a year old. They died without any explanation.

The Xie family also secretly adopted orphans and used them as candidates
for training to become assassins. They only selected the qualified children
and eliminated the others.

In the Xie family's plans, the lives and deaths of common people were not
important to them. They were aloof and indifferent, bordering on cruelty.
Emperor Changlong loved his people as if they were his own children and
could not tolerate the numerous heinous acts committed by the Xie family.
He took a deep breath and picked up the dossier, "Zhao Sancai, show this
dossier to Xie Shizi."
Trembling, Xie Shizi took the dossier. Each section he read drained the
color from his face. The lives documented in it were like a big hand tightly
gripping his conscience, making it difficult for him to breathe.

Before he finished reading the whole dossier, Xie Shizi knelt down.

The crimes of the Xie family were unforgivable.

Emperor Changlong looked at Xie Shizi, who was overwhelmed with guilt,
"For the sake of these souls, Zhen will severely punish the Xie family. Do
not resent Zhen."

"Your Majesty," Xie Shizi no longer dared to address Emperor Changlong

as his imperial uncle. He kowtowed to Emperor Changlong, "Everything is
the Xie family's fault. I, as a guilty subject, can only feel remorse and will
never blame you."

Emperor Changlong sighed and summoned a eunuch, "Escort Xie Shizi

back."

According to the customs of Great Jin, if there were any princesses who
married into other families, their eldest son would usually be granted the
title of Junwang1Basically a Prince of Second Rank. If you have read Eight
Treasures Trousseau by the same author, you would recognize the ML of
that novel also started as a Junwang. Qinwangs would be the Princes of
First Rank, they are mostly current or previous emperor's sons. However, if
an emperor wishes, he could also have one of his nephews conferred as a
Qinwang, like the Emperor in Eight Treasures Trousseau did for that novel's
ML. He was promoted from a Junwang to a Qinwang. Here, Ying Wang and
other Imperial Princes are all Qinwangs. Even Emperor Changlong's
surviving brother Kang Wang is also a Qinwang. Kang Wang's son,
however, would be conferred as a Junwang after his father's passing. after
his coming-of-age ceremony, while their eldest daughter would be granted
the title of Junzhu upon reaching adulthood. However, due to the Xie
family's involvement in so many major crimes, Xie Shizi could never be
promoted to Junwang.
"The Minister of Rites shall enter the hall. Zhen intends to confer the title of
Ping Junwang upon Princess Leyang's eldest son," Emperor Changlong
remained silent for a moment, "Grant Ping Junwang an estate in the capital;
he shall not leave the capital without summon."

This was his greatest benevolence as an emperor.

On the second day of Xie Shizi's promotion to Ping Junwang, the countless
crimes committed by the Xie family were exposed to the world, shocking
everyone.

Assassinating commoners, secretly raising private soldiers and assassins,

seizing land from the people, colluding with foreign countries, selling
official positions and titles...

Compared to these earth-shattering crimes, the previous incident of

drowning a scholar seemed insignificant and unworthy of mention.

When the Ministry of Justice held a public trial, countless commoners

flocked to witness. Some of the testimonies were brought back by the
Golden Armor Guards, while others were "accidentally" found by Hua
Changkong.

As they listened to the tearful testimonies of these witnesses, recounting the

tragic events that occurred in their families, the people became furious and
roared, demanding that the Xie family be brutally punished.

"Don't you know? The mastermind already committed suicide when the
crime was exposed," a knowledgeable commoner complained in a low
voice, "He got off too easily."

"I never expected that the Xie family would commit so many heinous acts,"
another commoner shook their head, "These scholars may seem
knowledgeable and rational on the surface, but who would have thought
they could be so wicked."

"Don't speak nonsense. The crimes of the Xie family have nothing to do
with other scholars," a sensible commoner immediately retorted, "Many of
those who work for us commoners are scholars as well. Even the imperial
court representative who went to Changyao Province to investigate the case
this time is a newly appointed Top-Scholar. Does that make him wicked
too?"

Others also expressed their agreement.

The commoner who was refuted felt embarrassed and left with a flushed
face. Scholars from the south who overheard this conversation felt relieved.
Who would want to bear a bad reputation when they had done nothing
wrong?

"I never expected that Xie Fuma would actually commit suicide by
poisoning," under a pomegranate tree, Hua Liuli sat with the Crown Prince,
chatting casually. The table was filled with snacks that Hua Liuli liked.

"Xie Fuma was extremely arrogant. He pursued a lifetime of surpassing all

scholars, elevating the Xie family above them all. When this hope fell apart
and the entire Xie family declined, he would rather die than admit that he
had taken the wrong path," the Crown Prince sipped his tea, his tone
somewhat indifferent, "In the end, he didn't want to acknowledge his
failure."

A person who considered themselves clever and looked down on others had
their own unique "pride".

As the curtain fell on the Xie family's grand performance, Hua Liuli had a
lingering unease in her heart, feeling that there was something she had
overlooked.

"Which one of the Daimao's officials had the Xie family colluded with?"
Hua Liuli frowned, "The Daimao Crown Prince died of illness, the Third
Prince is still in our Great Jin capital. Could it be one of the other princes or
the Daimao Emperor who had connections with the Xie family?"

"The Daimao Emperor prioritizes culture over martial arts, indulging in

pleasure and women. He neglects the domestic affairs of his own country,
let alone putting so much effort into colluding with the Xie family to stage
this play," the Crown Prince picked a grape and fed it to Hua Liuli, "The
who was willing to do such things must be a certain ambitious prince."

The Daimao Emperor had more princes than Jinpo and the Great Jin
Emperor, which was a result of the Daimao Emperor's obsession with
women. Among all the Daimao princes, it was said that the Crown Prince
had the most benevolent and virtuous appearance, and many Daimao
officials who cared about the world had high expectations for him.

Who would have expected that this Crown Prince would suddenly pass
away, leaving countless literary officials crying into their pillows?

"Your Royal Highness, His Majesty summons Your Royal Highness to

Chenyang Palace to handle official matters," the eunuchs of Chenyang
Palace had learned a skill. Whenever Fushou Junzhu was present, the
Crown Prince would obediently comply with the summons to Chenyang
Palace.

The Crown Prince, who cared about his image, also needed to maintain a
responsible, capable, and proactive image in front of his beloved.

"His Majesty summons the Crown Prince?" Hua Liuli said, "Your Royal
Highness, don't delay any longer. Go to His Majesty's place quickly. Third
Brother just returned from the south, so I should spend more time with
him."

"Oh," the Crown Prince deeply suspected that his father deliberately did
this. It was a stretch to have him go to Chenyang Palace to help with the
memorial petitions. His father went to great lengths for that.

But what could he do? He was a man. He couldn't let his wife think that he
lacked ambition.

The Crown Prince shrugged and left, while Hua Liuli remembered that a
few days ago the Empress Dowager mentioned that the flowers in the
Imperial Garden were blooming beautifully. She decided to pick a few
flowers and send them to the Shoukang Palace before returning home.
Upon arriving at the Imperial Garden, she saw the Second Princess playing
with a few palace maids, chasing butterflies in the garden. The sounds of
their laughter filled the air with joy.

She paused and watched for a while, not wanting to disturb them.

The Second Princess failed to catch any butterflies but reached out her left
hand to pluck a flower and placed it in her hair. Then, she noticed Hua Liuli
standing beside the rockery and smiled, saying, "Fushou Junzhu, what
brings you here?"

"Greetings, Second Princess," Hua Liuli walked up to her and bowed, "I
came here to pick a few flowers and send them to the Empress Dowager's
Shoukang Palace."

"I see," the Second Princess nodded, "Please feel free to do so."

Since Hua Liuli returned to the capital, the Empress Dowager had taken a
special liking to her. The Second Prince, as the granddaughter of the
Empress Dowager, could not compare to the position Hua Liuli held in the
Empress Dowager's heart.

Originally, she thought that the Empress Dowager liked Hua Liuli because
the Empress Dowager had high regard for Hua Liuli's parents. Later, when
her father decided to betroth Hua Liuli to the Crown Prince, she realized
that the Empress Dowager had genuine affection toward Hua Liuli.

The Second Princess left the Imperial Garden with the palace maids. When
they saw Ying Wang approaching from the direction of Lincui Palace, their
steps halted, "Eldest Brother."

"Second Sister, where did you come from? Why is your face all flushed and
sweaty?" Ying Wang noticed the fine sweat on the Second Princess's
forehead, "It looks like a monkey's backside."

"Eldest Brother, this is the latest trend in makeup," the Second Princess
forced a smile, tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Who would paint a monkey's backside on their face? It looks so ugly,"
Ying Wang shook his head, unable to understand the strange aesthetics of
young girls of these times.

"Maybe... maybe it happened while I was chasing butterflies in the Imperial

Garden, and my makeup got messed up accidentally," the Second Princess
could barely maintain her smile, taking out a handkerchief to gently wipe
her cheeks, "Afterward, Fushou Junzhu came to pick flowers, so I left with
the palace maids."

"Fushou Junzhu?" Ying Wang was shocked, "Does Fushou Junzhu also
have the same makeup as you?"

The smile disappeared completely from the Second Princess's face, and she
replied dryly, "No."

Ying Wang sighed with relief. It seemed that Fushou Junzhu's sense of
aesthetics was still normal.

"Fushou Junzhu is in the western part of the Imperial Garden," the Second
Princess added, curtsied, and said, "Eldest Brother, I'll take my leave."

Ying Wang watched the Second Princess walk away and couldn't
understand why Fushou Junzhu being in the western part of Imperial
Garden had anything to do with him. As a grown man, he couldn't possibly
go and help Fushou Junzhu pick flowers, right?

Unable to comprehend, Ying Wang shook his head and walked away.

After delivering the flowers to the Shoukang Palace, Hua Liuli passed by
the Ministry of Justice in her carriage. She noticed a crowd of commoners
gathered at the gate and thought something significant must have happened.
She asked Yuan Yi to go and inquire.

After a while, Yuan Yi returned with the information, "Junzhu, the

judgment for the Xie family has been pronounced."
"Tell me about it," Hua Liuli looked at the commoners pointing and
discussing near the bulletin board, her eyes lowered slightly. The Xie family
had famous literary figures in their ancestry, and their descendants should
have upheld their ancestors' legacy, cultivated virtue, and maintained the
family's reputation. Instead, they had committed numerous crimes, hoping
to achieve lasting fame but only leaving behind lasting infamy rather than a
positive historical legacy.

"The male and female members of the Xie family involved in the criminal
case have been sentenced to be executed, with more than twenty individuals
receiving the death penalty. More than thirty individuals have been
sentenced to exile, while others face varying degrees of punishment. The
women married into the Xie family who were not involved in the crimes
have not been implicated. If they are found to be unaware of the cases, they
may return to their maiden families with their dowries," Yuan Yi sighed, "If
they had known their fate would lead to this, I wonder if the Xie family
would regret their past actions."

"If there were truly a remedy for regrets, they would only regret not being
discreet enough in their actions and being discovered by His Majesty, rather
than regretting the deeds they had done," Hua Liuli shook her head, "Once
greed takes root in one's heart, it is difficult to eliminate."

"The announcement does not mention anything about deposing Princess

Leyang," Yuan Yi scooped up some fruits from the ice bowl, cut them, and
placed them on a plate, which she brought to Hua Liuli.

As Hua Liuli was about to speak, a man's voice came from outside the
carriage.

"May I inquire if it is Fushou Junzhu in the carriage?"

Hua Liuli lifted the curtain of the carriage window and saw Pei Jihuai
standing nearby.

"Pei Daren," Hua Liuli raised an eyebrow slightly, "May I ask why Pei
Daren has stopped me?"
"I have a matter to request Junzhu's assistance with. Please join me for a
meeting at the Ministry of Justice," Pei Jihuai bowed to Hua Liuli.

Hua Liuli stepped down from the carriage and nodded to Pei JiHuai,
"Daren, please lead the way."

"Please follow me this way, Junzhu."

"After Third Brother returned home, he mentioned that Pei Daren provided
him with considerable assistance throughout the journey. On behalf of Third
Brother, I would like to express gratitude to Pei Daren," Hua Liuli entered
the Ministry of Justice and saw people inside bustling around, handling
documents.

As she looked around, she noticed that nearly half of them had thinning
hair.

She glanced at Pei Jihuai, who had a full head of hair. Such a person would
likely be the target of envy from others in the Ministry of Justice.

"Junzhu, you jest. It was Hua Daren who took care of me," Pei JiHuai's
expression was somewhat subtle. After they returned from Changyao
Province, they went straight to the palace to meet with the Emperor. In front
of His Majesty, Hua Changkong presented all the jewelry, silver, and
everything else he received from the Prefect of Changyao.

Afterward, His Majesty not only allowed Hua Changkong to keep those
items but also praised him for his resourcefulness.

After leaving the palace, Hua Changkong donated most of the bribes he
received to charity, keeping only half of the silver tickets.

Being an official for many years, this was the first time Pei Jihuai had seen
someone receiving bribes and being praised for it. But His Majesty was
right; Hua Changkong's actions not only appeased the Xie family and the
Prefect of Changyao, allowing them to return to the capital peacefully, but it
also caught them off guard, leaving them with no opportunity to cover up
the evidence.
Hua Liuli followed Pei Jihuai to the office area of the Ministry of Justice
officials. Upon entering, she noticed the Minister of Justice, Zhang Shuo,
and Deputy Minister of Justice, Gou Jingqi, were also present.

She didn't know if it was her imagination or not, but the Minister of Justice,
Zhang Shou, seemed to have cast a resentful gaze toward her.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 136 – He Wang

Under the slightly subtle gaze of Zhang Daren, Hua Liuli understood why
she was summoned to the Ministry of Justice.

"What the three of you mean is that you want me to find out whose
handwriting in the palace matches the one on this letter?" Hua Liuli picked
up the letter and found the sentence -- "Hua Liuli has captured the Crown
Prince's heart. To prevent accidents, she must be killed" -- particularly
striking.

"Please, Junzhu, lend us a hand," Zhang Shuo stood up and bowed to Hua
Liuli, "The noble status of the women in the palace and the precious
calligraphy make it inappropriate for them to fall into the hands of the
Ministry of Justice officials. We have no other options."

Although there were not many consorts in the imperial harem, they were all
the Emperor's women. It wouldn't be appropriate for a group of Ministry of
Justice officials to demand their calligraphy treasures. They had to find a
more subtle way to seek assistance from someone of the same gender.

Now, with the mastermind behind the scenes hidden, while they were
themselves out in the open, they couldn't easily seek help. What if the
person they sought help from turned out to be the real culprit?

After careful consideration, they found the most suitable candidate in

Fushou Junzhu. Firstly, the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Crown Prince
all valued Fushou Junzhu. Secondly, Fushou Junzhu frequently entered the
palace, making her the most suitable person for this task.

"Zhang Daren, you are too polite," Hua Liuli stood up and returned the
gesture, "I will do my best, but I cannot guarantee success."
"Junzhu, we are already immensely grateful for your willingness to help,"
Zhang Shuo happily said, "If there is anything you need from the Ministry
of Justice, please let us know."

Hua Liuli nodded and walked out of Zhang Shuo's office. In the large hall
outside, several officials were busy transcribing documents. Their writing
speed was extremely fast, and in no time, they had transcribed several lines
of text. Some even wielded brushes in both hands, writing on two sheets of
paper simultaneously.

Truly, the mysterious the Ministry of Justice was a place of hidden talents.

Hua Liuli was amazed and developed an inexplicable admiration for the
Ministry of Justice.

With the fall of the Xie family and Princess Leyang's suicide attempt, the
consorts in the imperial harem had become extremely quiet. Even Consort
Xian, who used to cry and complain the most, now obediently stayed in her
palace, not daring to provoke Emperor Changlong.

The Eldest Prince of Jinpo, He Wang cautiously followed behind the

eunuchs and entered the main hall of the Chengyang Palace. He was
supposed to meet Emperor Changlong three days ago, but due to the Xie
family incident, he was stopped at the palace gate. He had to wait for three
days in the guest residence before finally receiving the summons from
Emperor Changlong.

Compared to the Jinpo Palace, the Great Jin Palace had an air of elegance
and refinement. He Wang dared not look around and instead performed his
greetings properly before presenting the letter handwritten by his father.

"Your generosity is unnecessary. you are here in the Great Jin to learn and
would not spend much. Why offer a city as a gift?" Emperor Changlong
smiled, showing his appreciation, "Since you insist, Zhen will reluctantly
accept it."

He Wang thought to himself, if you didn't reluctantly accept it, how could
the officials in Jinpo feel at ease?
After suffering such a significant defeat, Jinpo had already lost his courage.
Everyone because so timid that they worried in their dreams that the Hua
family's army would invade the imperial city.

"Your title is He?" The Crown Prince sitting nearby looked at He Wang,
"This title is good. Harmony is paramount in all matters. It is touching that
the monarch of your country has such an understanding. Gu was initially
worried about what would happen if your country did not comprehend the
importance of peace."

Upon hearing this, He Wang trembled and quickly replied, "Under the
summoning of the esteemed Emperor Changlong, our entire country
cherishes peace and will never invade another country."

"Both Zhen and Zhen's beloved son are people who cherish peace,"
Emperor Changlong smiled with satisfaction, "It's good that your country
shares the same ideals."

He Wang wanted to cry but had no tears. If it wasn't good, would he be

beaten?

However, relieved by the affirmative response from Great Jin, He Wang

finally relaxed. According to Great Jin's intentions, as long as Jinpo did not
offend Great Jin, Great Jin would not wage war against them.

Understanding this point, He Wang repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

"It seems that He Wang hasn't seen the Second Prince of Jinpo for a long
time and must be yearning to meet him."

He Wang: No, I don't miss him at all.

"The Second Prince of your country had killed our people, a crime that is
unforgivable. Considering that your esteemed father has offered us several
cities, our country can spare his life, but he must spend the rest of his life in
the Ministry of Justice dungeon," the Crown Prince glanced at He Wang,
who had a relieved expression on his face, and smirked, "However, our
country is not unreasonable and will not prevent brothers from meeting
each other. From now on, you will be allowed to visit the Second Prince in
the Ministry of Justice dungeon once every month."

He Wang was initially stunned but then happily expressed his gratitude,
"Thank you, Your Royal Highness, for your great kindness."

From childhood to adulthood, he and his mother had endured countless

insults and abuses from his second brother and his second brother's mother.
Now he finally had the opportunity for revenge and he wouldn't easily let it
go.

A gentleman takes ten years to seek revenge!

When He Wang left the palace, he took with him an imperial edict granting
permission for Jinpo's envoys to leave the Great Jin. The envoys from
Jinpo, upon seeing this edict, burst into tears of joy.

For almost two months, they had been too afraid to leave their residences in
the Great Jin, fearing that they would be spat on. Finally, they could be
relieved. That night, they left the Great Jin Capital secretly, without looking
back, carrying their packed belongings.

"I never want to come to this cursed place again," one of Jinpo's envoys sat
on horseback and looked back at the towering city walls of the capital with
lingering fear.

The Great Jin's capital city was truly eerie, incredibly eerie.

When they returned, they would have to be more polite to the women
around them. After encountering women from Great Jin, they realized that
many of their Jinpo's most formidable women deserved the term "gentle as
water".

Early the next morning, the envoys from the Daimao Kingdom learned
about Jinpo's envoys leaving the capital. They gathered together,
contemplating how to approach Emperor Changlong and request permission
to return home.
"The initial excuse for Great Jin keeping us here was to treat us all equally.
Now that Jinpo's envoys have already left the capital, there is no reason to
continue detaining us," Envoy A anxiously suggested, "Why don't we visit
Emperor Changlong today and plead with him to allow us to return home?"

"Do you know why Emperor Changlong released them so readily?" Envoy
B, who had gathered information, lifted a cup of cold tea from the table and
drank two large sips, "Not only did Jinpo send their Eldest Prince, but they
also offered a city to Emperor Changlong as the Eldest Prince's tuition and
living expenses."

The Jinpo Kingdom, which had ruthlessly slaughtered the people of Great
Jin in the past, was now kneeling obediently.

"Jinpo has deep enmity with the Great Jin, so it's only fair that they give up
cities and land. However, we have never killed innocent people from the
Great Jin..." Envoy A suddenly paused, his face turning pale, "Do you
remember that one of the charges against the Xie family was colluding with
the enemy and betraying the country?"

"Isn't it Jinpo who colluded with the Xie family?" Other envoys were
puzzled, "What does this have to do with us?"

Envoy A's face turned white as a sheet, "I've heard that the Xie family
proposed to the Emperor of Great Jin to modify the conventions of Great
Jin according to our Daimao's conventions and etiquette. Do you think the
one colluding with the Xie family might be one of our Daimao's ministers
or..."

A prince?

Envoy A glanced at He Yuanting, who sat at the head of the table, unable to
bring himself to utter the remaining two words.

He Yuanting looked at Envoy A for a moment, then remained silent. After a

long pause, he stood up and said, "Benwang will try to see Emperor
Changlong. If things don't work out, we'll find another way."
"Your Highness, if Emperor Changlong doesn't want to let us go, he won't
meet with you. Going to the palace will only bring embarrassment," Envoy
B suggested, "Princess Yan is studying at the Imperial Academy. Why not
let her seek help from the influential people there and have them inquire
about it?"

He Yuanting smiled bitterly, "What does a little embarrassment matter? As

long as all of you can safely return to our country, Benwang will be at
ease."

Upon hearing these words, the envoys were moved to tears. The Third
Prince was the legitimate son of the Empress, and for the sake of their
return and the Daimao Kingdom, he had endured countless grievances.

As the envoys had anticipated, the imperial palace rejected He Yuanting's

request to meet with Emperor Changlong, citing the Emperor's busy
schedule and asking him to come back in a few days.

"Just two days ago, I saw the Great Jin's Crown Prince accompany his
betrothed to buy jewelry. If Emperor Changlong is truly so busy, how can
the Crown Prince, as the heir, have time to spend with a young lady?"
Another envoy remarked.

The rest of the envoys fell silent. One envoy tried to console them, "Let's
think positively. What if the Great Jin's Crown Prince is just a lazy person
by nature?"

In that case, the next generation of the Great Jin would be in trouble.

Meanwhile, He Wang was unaware that the Daimao envoys were secretly
envious of Jinpo's envoys to be finally able to leave Great Jin Kingdom.
The Jinpo envoys had left the previous night, and when He Wang woke up
in the morning, he put on his best clothes and confidently made his way to
the Ministry of Justice.

Guided by the prison guards, He Wang stood before an old prison cell door.
He looked left and right but couldn't see his younger brother's figure,
feeling somewhat disappointed. He had dressed so nicely, and if he couldn't
provoke his younger brother, what was the point?

The prison warden held a bunch of keys and opened the door to an adjacent
cell, addressing a chatty inmate who couldn't stop talking, "You, come out."

"Alright!" the talkative prisoner stood up and patted A'Da's shoulder,

"Brother, wait for me to come back. I'll continue telling you the glorious
deeds of my ancestors."

A'Da silently said "get lost" to him.

Since being locked up with this chatterbox, he had realized that death wasn't
the most terrifying thing; the most terrifying thing was being tormented like
this. But with his dant'ian1Dantian, dan t'ian, dan tien or tan t'ien is loosely
translated as "elixir field", "sea of qi", or simply "energy center". Dantian
are the "qi focus flow centers", important focal points for meditative and
exercise techniques such as qigong, martial arts such as t'ai chi ch'uan, and
in traditional Chinese medicine disabled and his martial arts skills gone, he
couldn't defeat this person in a fight and could only endure it forcefully.

He glanced at He Wang, who stood outside the cell door, dressed in

luxurious clothing, and then lay down on his side.

For him, even a moment of temporary silence was the ultimate pleasure.

"Eldest Brother, are you being locked up too?"

Just as He Wang was feeling lost, the obese man in the neighboring cell
spoke up. Seeing the greasy, dirty face, the scrounged chin, and the belly
that couldn't be hidden by his clothes, He Wang took a step back, unable to
help but ask the prison guard, "Does the Ministry of Justice prison in Great
Jin also detain wild boar demons?"

"What do you mean by wild boar demons? Where are there monsters in this
world?" the prison guard lifted his chin with a meaningful smile, "Isn't this
your younger brother?"
He Wang fell silent.

Although he found his younger brother extremely unpleasant, his

conscience told him that his younger brother wasn't that ugly.

The two brothers faced each other through the cell door, silently gazing at
each other for a while before He Wang turned around and walked away.

"Eldest Brother, Eldest Brother..." Prince A'Wa reached out his arm, trying
to hold back He Wang, but He Wang walked faster and faster, almost
running, until he disappeared from Prince A'Wa's sight.

If he didn't run faster, he would burst out laughing in front of Great Jin's
prison guards.

Prince A'Wa waited for a long time in the neighboring cell but never saw
the talkative inmate return. As night fell, he couldn't help but ask the prison
guard about the whereabouts of the talkative prisoner.

"Him?" The prison guard looked at Prince A'Wa with a knowing smile, "He
has served his sentence. You won't see him again."

Prince A'Wa was stunned, "Say, can prisoners in the Ministry of Justice
wear jewelry?"

The prison guard chuckled softly and did not answer the question. He just
hummed a tune and walked away.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 137 – Green Hat?

When Hua Liuli went to the Eastern Palace, she noticed that there was an
expressionless and silent eunuch by the Crown Prince's side. Standing
among the other articulate palace attendants, this eunuch seemed out of
place.

What's more, this eunuch was tall and muscular, not resembling a typical
eunuch but more like a member of the Imperial Guards wearing eunuch
robes.

"He had been running errands for me recently and only returned yesterday,"
the Crown Prince noticed Hua Liuli's gaze and explained, "His entire family
was harmed by the demon concubine. He is a loyal subject."

"I see," Hua Liuli's gaze softened toward the eunuch, "To stand out among
the flatterers and secure a position before the Crown Prince, he must
possess some skills."

The tall and robust eunuch bowed to Hua Liuli.

"He seems reluctant to speak?" Hua Liuli whispered, "Is it because his
family suffered from demon concubine's persecution, and he has not
recovered from the grief in these years?"

"He wasn't even born when his family suffered," the Crown Prince shook
his head, "Perhaps he has spoken too much lately and now prefers to remain
silent."

Hua Liuli contemplated for a moment and replied, "I see."

Although she didn't truly understand, she pretended to.

"Junzhu," Yuan Yi entered with a stack of papers, bowing to the Crown
Prince and continuing towards Hua Liuli, "The writings of the palace
masters and the female officials who can write are all here."

"Thank you, Yuan Yi," Hua Liuli took the stack of papers and quickly
flipped through them.

Yesterday, she had conspired with the Empress Dowager, claiming that she
and the Empress Dowager had dreamed of immortals, and requested the
female members of the palace who could write to copy a few words of
blessings. These copies would be burned as an offering to the immortals,
accumulating blessings for herself and the Great Jin Dynasty.

Regardless of whether these palace women believed in it or not, as long as

the Empress Dowager displayed unwavering faith in the dream, they would
actively participate.

Since His Majesty was not lustful, there were only a few consorts in the
palace, and they didn't have much scope to engage in palace intrigue. So
they always had to find some lively things to do.

The Crown Prince knew what Hua Liuli intended to do. The two of them
leaned close together, their heads almost touching, comparing the writings
on the papers with the writings on the letter they found in the Xie family's
possession.

"It turns out there are so many skilled calligraphers in the palace," halfway
through, the Crown Prince reached out and gently squeezed Hua Liuli's
shoulder, "Why don't you take a break and continue later?"

"Just a moment," Hua Liuli pulled out a piece of paper and placed it
solemnly in front of the Crown Prince, "Your Royal Highness, take a look
at this."

The Crown Prince picked it up and saw that the blessings written on this
paper were almost identical to the handwriting on the letter. The two of
them glanced at each other, then went through the remaining blessings one
by one. They found two more with slightly similar handwriting, but none
matched the initial one they discovered.

Hua Liuli put the letter and blessings together, "Almost identical."

"Who wrote this blessing?" the Crown Prince asked.

Hua Liuli glanced at the signature, her expression somewhat subtle, "It was
written by a female official from the Lincui Palace."

"Why does it involve Consort Xian again?" the Crown Prince lightly tapped
the table with his index finger, "That eunuch who resents Consort Xian has
already been sent to prison. Who else in the palace wants to frame Consort
Xian for colluding with the Xie family?"

"Your Royal Highness, have you ever considered the possibility that the
mastermind behind all this might have anticipated your disbelief regarding
Consort Xian's involvement?" Hua Liuli carefully preserved the evidence,
planning to hand it over to the Ministry of Justice later.

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow in curiosity, prompting Hua Liuli to

continue.

"It's possible that in the mastermind's plan, this evidence is like a dagger
being presented to you. She might assume that even if you suspect foul
play, your intense hatred for Consort Xian and her son would drive you to
seize the opportunity to eliminate them," Hua Liuli tilted her head
thoughtfully, "But why would the mastermind believe that this matter would
be the breaking point for you? After all these years, you have endured
countless challenges. What makes She think you would finally reach your
limit with this particular issue?"

She wasn't intentionally humiliating Consort Xian and her son but speaking
based on facts. Considering the fact that Ying Wang's intelligence cannot
compare to the Crown Prince's, if ever the Crown Prince wanted to
eliminate Ying Wang, he would have done it long ago. He wouldn't wait
until now.
"Your Royal Highness, I wonder, what would Ying Wang have to do for
you to consider it unforgivable?" Hua Liuli posed the question, seeking to
understand the boundaries of the Crown Prince's tolerance.

"He's foolish to the point that I never even thought to take his life. What
else is there that is unforgivable?" the Crown Prince's expression subtly
glanced at Hua Liuli, "You don't need to worry about this matter anymore. I
will discuss it with the officials from the Ministry of Justice."

"Very well," Hua Liuli nodded without thinking. She really didn't want to
face the peculiar gaze of Zhang Daren anymore.

After having lunch in the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince went to the
Chenyang Palace, while Hua Liuli prepared to leave the palace to meet her
sisters to play. But as she reached the palace gate, someone called out to
her.

"Fushou Junzhu," Princess Yan walked timidly and hesitantly to Hua Liuli,
bowing before her, "May I have the honor of your attention?"

"Greetings Princess," Hua Liuli returned the bow and smiled. She asked,
"Why did Princess call upon this humble maiden?"

Princess Yan bit her lower lip, looking somewhat nervous and anxious. She
looked up to see Fushou Junzhu smiling kindly at her, and with courage,
she said, "I... I came to seek your assistance, Junzhu."

"Please, go ahead and speak," Hua Liuli maintained her smile.

"I heard that the envoys from the Kingdom of Jinpo has already set off on
the journey back to their country a few days ago. I daringly wish to ask
Junzhu to inquire whether His Majesty, Emperor Changlong, would grant
permission for our envoys to return to our country. Our Crown Prince had
passed away, and the Third Prince has a deep brotherly bond with the
Crown Prince. If he couldn't attend the Crown Prince's funeral in time, it
would be a lifelong regret for him," Princess Yan saw Hua Liuli silent and
not speaking, so she bit her lip and lifted her skirt as if about to kneel, but
she was lifted up by Yuan Yi.
"Princess, you mustn't. You are an esteemed member of Daimao's imperial
family. Junzhu cannot accept such a grand gesture from you," Yuan Yi
gently and skillfully helped her stand straight, "You can speak slowly. If
Junzhu can help, she naturally will. If she cannot, please understand her
situation."

"It was my impoliteness," Princess Yan found it hard to raise her head.
However, she couldn't help but think of her gentle Third Brother and his
eyes filled with tears. She could only put aside her conscience and say,
"Junzhu, you are the future Crown Princess. You are highly esteemed by the
Crown Prince and Emperor Changlong. I beg you to help me this time."

"Princess, it's not that I'm unwilling to help you, but I am someone who has
not served in the court. If I were to intervene in important court affairs, it
would be presumptuous," Hua Liuli refused Princess Yan's request, her face
filled with melancholy and helplessness, and she forced a bitter smile,
"Princess, as someone who is not from the Great Jin Dynasty, you don't
know how difficult it is for me as the Crown Prince's betrothed."

Yuan Yi's eyebrows twitched.

The Empress Dowager frequently sent clothes and jewelry, while His
Majesty often bestowed rewards. The Eastern Palace treated Fushou Junzhu
as the lady of the house. Moreover, with two generals backing her, Fushou
Junzhu's reputation as a weak and sickly beauty was known to all. No one
dared to provoke her. Indeed, challenging times for Junzhu.

"Junzhu, you..." Princess Yan had countless thoughts running through her
mind, such as the possibility of fake affection between the Crown Prince
and Fushou Junzhu, Emperor Changlong's suspicion of the Hua family, or
even being undermined by the other unmarried girls in the capital.

"You are also a young lady, surely you understand my situation, don't you?"
Hua Liuli gently held Princess Yan's hand, her expression even more
worried, "To marry the person I love, I tread on thin ice in the palace. I dare
not say a word more, eat a mouthful out of place, and especially not
displease His Majesty. The Great Jin Dynasty has a precedent for dissolving
imperial betrothal. The previous betrothal of Ying Wang was broken
because of a slip of the tongue from a young maiden."

As she spoke, Hua Liuli lightly wiped the corner of her eye with a
handkerchief, "Regarding your country's matter, I have the intention to help,
but I only have the intention without the ability. To me, the Crown Prince is
flesh and blood, the solace of my heart, and my hope for the future. I truly
don't want to end up like the other young maiden. Princess, you will forgive
my incompetence and weakness, won't you?"

Princess Yan didn't expect Fushou Junzhu to have such difficulties. In the
past, she had only seen the Crown Prince's affection for Fushou Junzhu and
forgotten that the imperial rules were strict, and being by the monarch's side
was like being with a tiger. Fushou Junzhu, as the daughter of a military
family, had to marry the Crown Prince, which would definitely attract
criticism and jealousy.

Understanding all this, she felt deep guilt. How could she trouble this kind
and gentle girl with such matters? Fushou Junzhu had already sacrificed so
much to marry the man she loved. If because of their country's matters,
Fushou Junzhu's betrothal was broken or she was despised, wouldn't it ruin
her life?

"I merely mentioned it casually. Junzhu, please don't take it to heart," the
more Princess Yan thought about it, the more guilty she felt. Seeing that
Fushou Junzhu seemed even more remorseful than herself, she coaxed her
for a while before allowing Fushou Junzhu to leave without any burden.

"Princess, why didn't you persuade Fushou Junzhu anymore?" the maid
behind Princess Yan asked anxiously. "Without Fushou Junzhu's help, how
will Third Prince handle the situation?"

"It's not right for us to harm her for our own sake, given the difficulties
faced by women in the palace," Princess Yan shook her head, "There's no
need for us to persuade her anymore. We can only ask the Third Prince... to
think of another solution."
She knew better than anyone how difficult life was in the palace. Fushou
Junzhu, with her pitiable and sympathetic situation, shouldn't have to suffer
like she did—ignored and unappreciated, living a murky and aimless life.

"That Princess Yan is a good girl," Hua Liuli said as she boarded the
carriage, sighing, "It's a shame she's too thin-skinned and softhearted.
People with such personalities are easily taken advantage of."

"Why did Junzhu deceive her, then?" Yuan Yi couldn't help but ask.

"I deceived her for her own good," Hua Liuli explained, raising an eyebrow,
"In the presence of the Emperor, a conversation between a foreign princess
and me will surely be scrutinized. A kind-hearted and gentle person is much
more likable than someone who stops at nothing to achieve their goals."

"That's true," Yuan Yi suddenly understood, "The Daimao Kingdom's

Emperor intended to marry her to our Great Jin Dynasty, but His Majesty
didn't agree to Emperor Daimao's plan and instead allowed her to stay in the
capital to study. Her position was already awkward. If any unfavorable
rumors spread, her days will become even more difficult."

"In my opinion, the Third Prince of Daimao and their envoys aren't good
people. They know how difficult the situation is for that princess, yet they
still sent her to plead with you," Yurong fanned Hua Liuli with her fan,
"They've always looked down on women, so why are they suddenly seeking
help from women? It just shows that the Daimao's Third Prince is nothing
more than a hypocrite, pretending to be honest and kind."

"True villains are bad in an obvious way, but hypocrites are the most
disgusting," Yurong scolded the Daimao envoy and the Third Prince for a
while, "They don't look like good people."

Hua Liuli smiled and said, "With the way you speak, Yurong, if you were to
argue with the enemy on the battlefield, you would win against thousands
of troops and horses."

She lowered her eyelids, but Yurong was right. That Third Prince's actions
were truly questionable. Even toward his own sister, he calculated without
mercy. His usual gentleness and sophistication were probably just a facade.

If she compared to her beloved Crown Prince, when it came to Ying Wang,
the Crown Prince wasn't so scheming. At most, he would make a few
sarcastic remarks, causing him to suffer financial losses or misfortunes. But
he had never done anything that would make Ying Wang endure a lifetime
of suffering.

To obtain Emperor Changlong's permission for a month's leave in

preparation for his wedding, the Crown Prince had been toiling like a slave
in the Chenyang Palace for the past few days. He would often be engrossed
in his duties until nightfall before finally departing from the palace.

Today was no exception. He sat in the sedan chair, passing by the lotus
pond when he suddenly heard palace maids mentioning Fushou Junzhu
behind the artificial rockery. The eunuchs by his side wanted to go forward
and reprimand them, but he raised his hand to stop them.

He stepped down from the sedan chair and quietly approached behind the
rockery, listening to what the two palace maids were saying in hushed
voices.

"Consort Xian always felt that Fushou Junzhu was a cunning fox, which is
why she rejected her marriage to Ying Wang. But who would have thought
that even after her betrothal to the Crown Prince, she still can't settle down."

"Are you talking about what happened a few days ago when Ying Wang and
Fushou Junzhu had a private meeting in the imperial garden?"

"That actually happened? I'm talking about Fushou Junzhu attending the
Second Princess's cherry banquet, with a hairpin given to her by Ying
Wang."

"Oh my, how could she do such a thing?!"

The Crown Prince looked at the two palace maids expressionlessly, "You're
both dismissed. Do you have any objections?"
The two palace maids suddenly realized that the Crown Prince was standing
behind them and trembled with fear. They stammered and couldn't form
coherent sentences, almost fainting.

"Which palace are you from?" The Crown Prince looked at them
expressionlessly, his face not showing any anger.

The two palace maids were trembling and unable to utter a word.

If they refused to speak, the attendants of the Eastern Palace could find out,
and it didn't take long before they discovered that these two were palace
maids from the Lincui Palace. These two palace maids had heard these
rumors somewhere and, while hiding behind the rockery to cool off, let it
slip what they had heard.

"These two are palace maids of the Lincui Palace, recently dispatched to
work in the palace," said the provincial seal supervisor of the palace, who
had rushed over after hearing about the incident.

Except for those palace attendants who were new and brainless, who would
dare to say such words that were worthy of getting their heads chopped off?

"Go, bring Ying Wang into the palace," the Crown Prince sat in the sedan
chair, not even looking at the palace maids kneeling in front of him, "Let
him hear this too."

The eunuch attendants of the Eastern Palace felt a pang of worry. Could it
be that the Crown Prince and Ying Wang were going to fight?

Upon hearing the Crown Prince summoning him into the palace, Ying
Wang cursed him in his mind while hurriedly riding his horse into the
palace. When he arrived and saw the two palace maids kneeling in front of
the Crown Prince, he said with a stern face, "The Crown Prince summoned
me here just to witness you punishing people?"

The Crown Prince glanced at him with icy eyes. Seeing this, Ying Wang felt
somewhat apprehensive and took a step back. Had something happened in
the palace related to him?
Learning from the tone of the two palace maids, the eunuch attendant of the
Eastern Palace repeated what they had said.

"What imperial garden?" Ying Wang was puzzled, "A few days ago,
Benwang heard that Fushou Junzhu was on the west side of the Imperial
Garden, so to avoid suspicion, Benwang deliberately took a big detour.
What kind of private meeting is this?"

"Also, forget about Fushou Junzhu wearing any jewelry on the day of the
cherry banquet. Benwang can't even remember what style of clothes she
was wearing, except that she looked quite beautiful," After saying the
words "quite beautiful", Ying Wang noticed the Crown Prince looking at
him again. Thinking about his own ambiguous thoughts about Fushou
Junzhu, he dared not look the Crown Prince in the eyes, "You can't falsely
accuse Benwang."

"The jewelry that Fushou Junzhu wore that day was indeed sent by you,"
the Crown Prince lightly tapped the armrest of the sedan chair.

Ying Wang couldn't believe his eyes. He had never seen a man willingly
weave a green hat for himself. When did he give jewelry to Fushou Junzhu?
If this matter reached the ears of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager,
wouldn't his legs be broken?

Just as he was thinking about this, someone forcefully kicked his butt.
When he turned around, he saw his own mother, Consort Xian, with one
hand on her waist and the other holding her skirt, glaring at him.

"Mother, I'm innocent!" Feeling wronged after being kicked in the butt by
his own mother without a word, Ying Wang felt aggrieved. His dignity and
reputation, were they worth nothing in front of so many people?

"Don't talk nonsense. I'll beat you, this unfilial child, first," Consort Xian
was also concerned about her son, but if she didn't punish him now, once
the Crown Prince calmed down, he would be the one to deal with her son
instead.
Thinking of this, Consort Xian gave him a few more kicks, causing a ruckus
with chickens and dogs scattering in all directions.

After Consort Xian kicked him enough, the Crown Prince spoke, "Consort
Xian, you misunderstood. This matter has nothing to do with the Eldest
Brother."

"Huh?" Consort Xian stopped her raised foot and looked at the Crown
Prince cautiously, "This matter truly has nothing to do with him?"

The Crown Prince nodded slightly, "It's just that these two palace maids
spreading rumors came from your palace."

"Why is it my palace again?" Consort Xian couldn't help but say, "I don't
have any problems with my brain. How could I let the palace maids from
my palace run outside and have them gossiping about the jewelry my son
gave to Fushou..."

The Crown Prince smiled as he looked at Consort Xian, causing her to

swallow the words she was about to say.

"Before the cherry banquet, Eldest Brother gave a box of jewelry to Gu. Gu
saw the well-crafted coral beads and thought they were nice, so Gu had the
craftsmen from the Eastern Palace make a few pieces of jewelry overnight
and gave them to Gu's betrothed," the Crown Prince's smile became even
colder, "This was a private matter between Gu and Eldest Brother. Gu
wonders how you all came to know that the coral jewelry was related to
Ying Wang?"

Consort Xian looked at Ying Wang in disbelief. He received jewelry and

precious stones but didn't give them to her, his own mother. Instead, he sent
them to the Crown Prince to please the Hua family's girl?

What use was having a son?!

The two palace maids were so scared under the Crown Prince's cold gaze
that they actually fainted.
The Crown Prince turned to Ying Wang, "Eldest Brother, where did the box
of jewelry you gave Gu come from?"

Ying Wang dusted off the footprints on his clothes and casually said, "It was
sent by the Second Princess."

"Oh?" The Crown Prince raised his hand, gesturing to the provincial seal
supervisor of the palace to take away the two unconscious palace maids. He
then had the attendants of the Eastern Palace bring a few chairs, "Consort
Xian, Eldest Brother, the moon is beautiful tonight. Let's sit here and enjoy
the moon."

Ying Wang swatted away the buzzing mosquitoes with his hand and
reluctantly sat down. He glanced at Consort Xian sitting beside him and
took out a folding fan and opened it to fan away the mosquitoes for Consort
Xian.

The Crown Prince glanced at the mother and son before lowering his
eyelids again.

"Crown Prince, Eldest Brother, Mother Consort?" The Second Princess

hurriedly rushed over and looked at the three of them sitting in a row, and
couldn't believe her eyes.

Weren't they always at odds, throwing daggers at each other when they
were together? But now, they weren't arguing or mocking each other, but
sitting peacefully... admiring the moon?

She looked up at the sky. Was there anything special about the moon
tonight?

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 138 – Fishing

"Second Princess is here?" The Crown Prince pointed to the empty seat
beside him, "Please, have a seat."

The Second Princess stole a glance at Consort Xian and Ying Wang. Seeing
that they remained silent, she sat down with a puzzled expression. Just as
she sat down, a mosquito flew towards her face, and she quickly waved it
away with her fan.

"Crown Prince, since this is a misunderstanding, let's clear it up," although

Consort Xian didn't particularly like Fushou Junzhu, Fushou Junzhu was
her son's savior. If the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu were to develop
any animosity over this matter, she would feel uncomfortable for the rest of
her life.

"Consort Xian, there's no need to worry. Gu holds Fushou Junzhu dear to

Gu's heart. Gu would never have any misunderstandings with her over a
trivial matter," the Crown Prince had eunuchs fanning him and holding
incense, so he had not been bothered by mosquitoes. His gaze swept over
the Second Princess, and the jade beads in his hand emitted a soft sound as
he twisted them.

"Crown Prince, these jade beads are exquisitely crafted," the suffocating
atmosphere made the Second Princess uncomfortable, so she took the
initiative to start a conversation.

"Gu also thinks so," the Crown Prince curved his lips, "They were a gift
from Fushou Junzhu."

The Second Princess forced a dry laugh, pretending not to notice the Crown
Prince's deliberate display of affection.
The awkward atmosphere lingered until the voice of Fushou Junzhu
reached them.

"Greetings to the Crown Prince, Consort Xian, Ying Wang, and Second
Princess."

"Liuli, come here," the Crown Prince beckoned for Hua Liuli to sit next to
him. After she sat down, she took out a sachet from her waist, "The eunuch
who called for me said that Your Royal Highness was enjoying the moon by
the lotus pond. I thought there would be many mosquitoes there, so I
brought two mosquito-repellent sachets."

"One for each of us," Hua Liuli tied the sachet she had taken off to the
Crown Prince's waist and turned her head to apologize to the others with a
smile, "I'm sorry. I thought only the Crown Prince would be here, so I didn't
bring any for you."

Without waiting for others to speak, the Crown Prince spoke first, "It's
alright. They don't mind, right?"

Consort Xian and the others could only nod. You are the Crown Prince, and
we can't afford to offend you, so whatever you say is right.

"These sachets that Junzhu brought are so good. In just a short while, the
mosquitoes are gone, and even we servants get to enjoy the benefits," the
eunuchs from the Eastern Palace vehemently praised, as though the
mosquito-repellent sachets brought by Hua Liuli were not ordinary items,
but something extraordinary.

Seeing the flattery from the eunuchs of the Eastern Palace, Prince Ying
wanted to mock them, but since they were praising Fushou Junzhu, he
swallowed his words.

After a few more words of flattery, the eunuchs from the Eastern Palace
recounted the incident to Hua Liuli.

"In these past few days, Gu also took some gemstones from Father
Emperor's private treasury and combined them with the ones sent by Eldest
Brother. Gu chose the gemstones with the best color and made them into
jewelry, which Gu sent to you," the Crown Prince held Hua Liuli's hand,
"This matter has nothing to do with you. It's just some nosy people
spreading rumors."

"As long as Your Royal Highness believes in me, I won't care about the
foolish words of others," the daughter of the Hua family knew when to let
go of trivial matters.

"But there's something I don't understand," Hua Liuli turned her head to
look at the Second Princess, "Apart from the Second Princess, who else
knew that the coral hairpin I wore at the cherry blossom banquet was
originally from Ying Wang?"

The Second Princess's expression changed rapidly, then she looked at her
trusted palace maids behind her, "Which one of you leaked the
information?"

The palace maids were frightened and turned pale. They all kneeled down.
Apart from them, no one else knew about the gemstones that the Princess
had given to Ying Wang. Now that such rumors were circulating in the
palace, besides them, who else could be more suspicious?

"This matter concerns the marriage of the Crown Prince. How dare you
play such childish tricks!" The Second Princess was trembling with anger,
"Since none of you are willing to speak, then all of you will be punished. I
don't need palace maids like you."

Hua Liuli glanced at the Second Princess's expression. Her anger didn't
seem feigned.

The palace maids begged for forgiveness together, kowtowing and bowing,
creating quite a scene.

Seeing that the Princess was unwilling to speak, a palace maid, with a
determined heart, bit her teeth, pointed at another palace maid, and said,
"Please, Your Highness, forgive this servant. A few days ago, this servant
discovered that she sneaked out of her chambers in the middle of the night."
The accused palace maid was wearing a green dress. After being pointed
out, she appeared somewhat flustered and quickly made excuses.

"You don't need to defend yourself. On that night, I noticed something

strange about you, so I didn't drink the water you brought," the accusing
palace maid said, "The others who drank the water slept soundly that night,
probably unaware that you sneaked out."

The palace maid in the green dress turned pale. She probably knew that she
had been exposed and had no defense. Suddenly, she looked at the Second
Princess and sneered, "Princess, are you angry because this servant spread
rumors, or because this servant ruined your plan?"

"What are you talking about?" The Second Princess frowned at her, "You
wretched servant, spreading false rumors and trying to bite me?"

"Princess, do you still remember Fusheng?" The palace maid in the green
dress laughed, tears streaming down her face, "If it weren't for you, how
could he have believed so firmly in the false identity he created for
himself?"

Ying Wang and Consort Xian's expressions changed when they heard the
name "Fusheng". This person was the crazy eunuch who claimed that
Consort Xian was his birth mother.

"Nonsense!" The Second Princess pointed at the palace maid in the green
dress, "Take her away and administer a caning punishment. I won't tolerate
people spreading rumors and causing trouble in my presence."

"Wait," the Crown Prince stopped them from taking the palace maid in the
green dress away, "Gu enjoys listening to stories. Please, continue."

"Crown Prince, after this servant entered the palace not long ago, this
servant met Fusheng. However, since Fusheng was not favored by the
senior eunuch, he didn't allow me to show any signs of our acquaintance,"
the palace maid in the green dress sobbed, tears flowing like rain, "After he
started serving Ying Wang, his life gradually improved compared to others.
But two years ago, he suddenly told me that he might be Consort Xian's
child."

"This servant suspected foul play and advised him numerous times, but it
wasn't until recently that he told me that he is surely Consort Xian's son
because all of this was told to him by the Second Princess," the palace maid
in the green dress stared at the Second Princess, "All these years, Fusheng
and this servant relied on each other for survival, and we even planned to
request the Princess to allow us to be together after her marriage. But all of
this was ruined by the Second Princess!"

"Ridiculous!" The Second Princess laughed mockingly, "I deceived him by

saying that he was Consort Xian's son? What benefit would I gain from
that? Everyone in the palace knows that Consort Xian has shown me
maternal affection, and our relationship is like mother and child."

"That's what this servant believed too," the palace maid in the green dress
said with a crazy smile of revenge, "But you have forgotten that this servant
is your personal palace maid. Your every word and action are seen by this
servant. Perhaps you don't know that on the night before the cherry blossom
banquet, you laughed in your sleep and spoke words about seeking revenge
for your mother and yourself."

"You don't treat Consort Xian as a mother figure; you clearly wish for her
death!"

Hua Liuli was stunned by this palace intrigue drama. She suddenly felt a bit
regretful and thought she should have brought some snacks with her. It
would have been more appropriate to eat while watching.

"Do you want some?" The Crown Prince seemed to guess her thoughts and
handed her a bag of pine nut candies.

Hua Liuli fed one to the Crown Prince and ate one herself. Seeing that the
people who had been emotionally charged a moment ago were now looking
in their direction, she smiled gently, "Please continue. Don't mind us."
The palace maid in the green dress paused her sobbing, then she wiped
away her tears before continuing, "The true mastermind behind all this is
not Fusheng, but her!"

She pointed her finger at the Second Princess.

Rather than getting angry at being accused by the palace maid, the Second
Princess raised an eyebrow and retorted, "This is merely your word against
mine, baseless accusations. In the end, you're just trying to shift blame onto
me because I refuse to protect you."

"You intentionally spread rumors that would cause discord between the
Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu. What is your motive?" The Second
Princess, usually mild and easy to get along with, displayed a touch of
dignity when she became angry.

"The Crown Prince has a good relationship with Fushou Junzhu? Aren't you
the one who most wants to create discord between them?" The palace maid
burst into laughter, "You hate this servant so much simply because this
servant released the rumors prematurely, exposing your actions and causing
the Crown Prince to suspect you."

"Arguing won't solve anything," the Crown Prince looked at Consort Xian,
"Consort Xian, send someone to inspect the Second Princess's chambers
and check if there's anything suspicious inside. This will also prove the
Second Princess's innocence."

"Princess, please don't worry. The Crown Prince believes in you," Hua Liuli
said to the Second Princess, "Tonight, with so many palace members
gathered here, if we can't investigate the matter clearly, it would tarnish
your reputation."

Consort Xian listened to everything with confusion. When the Crown

Prince told her to send someone to search the Second Princess's chambers,
she acted without hesitation according to his instructions.

After giving the order, she regretted it a little. As the esteemed Consort
Xian, why should she follow the instructions of her younger generation?
"Second Princess and Consort Xian have a mother-daughter relationship. If
others search your palace, it wouldn't be appropriate," Hua Liuli continued
to smile, "But it's appropriate for the wise and experienced Consort Xian to
do so. It shows how considerate the Crown Prince is toward you."

The Second Princess sneered inwardly. If he truly was considerate, why

would he send people to search her chambers?

"The female attendants around Consort Xian are like fairies, and they
shouldn't be overworked," Hua Liuli pointed at Yuan Yi and Yurong, "These
two maids with me grew up on the border and have no other outstanding
qualities, but they are strong. Let them go with you and lend a hand."

Consort Xian sensed something amiss from the Crown Prince's expression
and nodded in agreement.

"Speaking of the day in the Imperial Garden, although I didn't have a

private meeting with Ying Wang, I did see the Second Princess," Hua Liuli
smiled and winked at the Second Princess, "Princess, it seems that you have
a habit of picking flowers with your left hand. Are you left-handed?"

The Second Princess hid her hand in her sleeve, "I don't know what you
mean by asking this, Fushou Junzhu."

Consort Xian slapped her thigh excitedly, "Her mother was left-handed.
However, this girl has always used her right hand to eat and write. She
doesn't seem to be left-handed."

"Perhaps when the Princess was young, she saw everyone around her using
their right hand and secretly corrected this habit," Hua Liuli glanced at the
Second Princess, whose expression was unclear, "But habits in one's bones
cannot be changed, so sometimes they subconsciously reveal themselves."

"Am I right, Second Princess?"

"I don't understand what Junzhu is talking about," the Second Princess
remained composed and silent. There was no sign of fear on her face; she
seemed confident that she hadn't done anything wrong and had nothing to
be guilty of.

Inside the Second Princess's chamber, the female attendants around Consort
Xian didn't find anything suspicious. As they were about to leave, they
noticed Fushou Junzhu's maids, Yuan Yi and Yurong, fidgeting and
touching things here and there. Surprisingly, they discovered several
problematic hairpins and other seemingly suspicious items.

They were preparing to step forward and help carry the items when the two
maids effortlessly lifted them up with one hand, leaving the other attendants
who had intended to offer assistance speechless.

Yuan Yi and Yurong placed the items they had found in front of everyone.

"Crown Prince, there's an empty space at the bottom of this bottle. I suspect
something is hidden inside," Yuan Yi said, then used her bare hand to strike
the bottle, causing it to shatter into two halves. A yellowed letter fell out.

"This hairpin feels heavier than usual," Yurong broke a gold hairpin with
her hand, revealing white powder inside.

The imposing manner of the two maids left everyone momentarily

speechless. They silently watched as the maids broke palace bricks with
their bare hands and effortlessly opened gold ingots, revealing various
objects hidden inside.

After dismantling everything, Yuan Yi and Yurong noticed that no one was
speaking and explained, "Since childhood, the two of us have followed
General Wei in battles. In order to prevent enemy forces from infiltrating
the city, we developed a habit of searching for suspicious items."

The Second Princess had indeed concealed the items in a very discreet
manner, but for them, who had been tested over time, it was nothing.

For a princess with a noble status to secretly hoard these things was already
strange behavior.
Among these items were some left by her biological mother, as well as
some notes of unknown origin with ordinary content.

Descriptions of clothing colors, a few unspecified gemstones, and so on.

The Second Princess gently collected the items left by her deceased mother,
her voice trembling slightly. "Can't I keep some mementos of my late
mother with me as a remembrance?"

"If you want to keep them, why act secretly?" Consort Xian couldn't help
but speak up, "Do you think I would intentionally treat you poorly because
of these items?"

She had her own son. She took the responsibility to raise the Second
Princess simply because she pitied this child who lost her mother at an early
age. As for whether she missed her biological mother, Consort Xian had
never paid much attention to it.

After all, the Second Princess wasn't her own child, so why should she care
so much?

The Second Princess gently touched a yellowed handkerchief, "Didn't

Consort Xian once tell the palace maids around me not to let me see
anything related to my late mother?"

Consort Xian carefully recalled and after a long pause, she said, "But that
was when you fell ill at the age of seven."

The Second Princess fell silent.

"I was afraid that if you, at such a young age, heard nonsensical rumors
from people around you, it would give rise to negative thoughts and worsen
your condition," Consort Xian said, never expecting that a casual remark
would be held against her for so long. She couldn't help but complain,
"After all, you're not my own flesh and blood."

"These seem to be coded messages," Hua Liuli picked up the scraps of

paper, most of which contained only a few words, "Princess, I saw someone
at the Ministry of Justice who could write with both hands simultaneously.
Does the Princess use her left hand for writing?"

The Second Princess met Hua Liuli's gaze and smiled, "Junzhu, you really
have a great sense of humor. Those who can serve at the Ministry of Justice
are all extraordinarily talented. How could I write with my left hand?"

"Whether you can or not is not important," Hua Liuli collected all the paper
scraps, "Would Second Princess cooperate with me in a little game?"

"What game?" The Second Princess remained silent, but Consort Xian
became a bit curious.

The Crown Prince chuckled and remained silent, seemingly deciding to let
Hua Liuli take charge of the situation.

"Fishing."

Hua Liuli covered her mouth with a handkerchief and coughed lightly,
"Although I was born weak, I have learned the art of fishing."

Consort Xian was puzzled. Was fishing considered a remarkable skill? As

long as you had a fishing rod and bait, anyone could do it, right?

OceanofPDF.com
Chapter 139 – Spoke Thoughtlessly

"Master, there's news from the palace. The Crown Prince and Fushou
Junzhu had an argument. Fushou Junzhu, in a fit of anger, took a carriage
and returned to Hua Family Estate," the subordinate approached the man
and whispered, "After Fushou Junzhu left, the Crown Prince smashed
several objects in the Eastern Palace."

"Why?" The man opened his eyes, his gaze filled with indescribable
emotions that quickly settled down.

"Someone in the palace said that the Crown Prince discovered a connection
between Fushou Junzhu and Ying Wang. After their argument, they parted
ways unhappily."

"Didn't Ying Wang almost get betrothed to Fushou Junzhu in the past?" The
man furrowed his brow at the thought of this past event, "The Crown Prince
was pampered by Emperor Changlong since childhood and can't tolerate the
slightest grievance. He is also intolerant of any flaws."

"However, for us, this is a good opportunity," the man stood up and pushed
open the window, gazing at the bright moon outside, "We've lingered here
for so long. It's time to go back."

Upon learning that the Crown Prince had a heated argument with Fushou
Junzhu, the Empress Dowager summoned him to Shoukang Palace and
scolded him severely.

After enduring nearly half an hour of scolding in Shoukang Palace, when

the Crown Prince went to the Chenyang Palace, he saw his father, the
Emperor, looking at him with a serious expression.
"Father Emperor?" The Crown Prince thought his father was going to blame
him, but the Emperor looked at him in silence for a long time.

"Yuansu, if you encounter General Wei in the next few days... keep your
distance from her," Emperor Changlong stared at him for a long time before
uttering these words.

"Erchen will strictly obey Father Emperor's command," although the Crown
Prince didn't quite understand why the Emperor said this, he still agreed.

In the Hua Family Estate, Hua Changkong returned from the Hanlin
Academy and was surprised to see his younger sister sitting in the courtyard
enjoying the cool air, "Why are you at home?"

Normally at this time, Hua Liuli would either be shopping with her sisters
or accompanying the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince in the palace.
It was unusual for her to suddenly appear at home, and he felt somewhat
unaccustomed to it.

Hua Liuli pursed her lips and remained silent.

"Judging by your angry look, did you have an argument with the Crown
Prince?" Hua Changkong smiled approvingly, "I thought with your
temperaments, you would have been quarreling long ago. It seems your
relationship is indeed good."

"Third Brother!" Hua Liuli snorted softly, "You just came back, and now
you're teasing me?"

"You silly girl," Hua Changkong patted her head, "If you're not happy, go
out shopping with your sisters. Don't stay cooped up at home, or you'll get
sick."

He then took out a money pouch from his waist and placed it in Hua Liuli's
hand, "Take this money and spend it."

"Thank you, Third Brother," Hua Liuli accepted the money pouch, her face
showing a hint of melancholy as she left with her maidservants.
Watching the figure of his younger sister departing, the smile on Hua
Changkong's face slowly faded. As an older brother, he would rather his
sister remain ignorant of romantic love and be happy for the rest of her life.

But once emotions are involved, it's hard to let go.

He sighed, and just as he entered the hall, he was heard by Wei Mingyue,
who happened to be coming in, "Why the sigh?"

"Mother," Hua Changkong forced a smile at Wei Mingyue, "I heard about
my sister's argument with her betrothed just now, it made me feel
sentimental."

"I can see that you're unwilling to see your sister get along well with
others," Wei Mingyue shook her head, "It's normal for young people to have
occasional quarrels. As parents and older siblings, we should avoid
interfering too much in trivial matters. Sometimes, the more we try to help,
the more harm we cause."

Some couples who were originally in good relationships ended up with

strained relationships because of interference from family members. More
importantly, she believed that her daughter can handle these matters well.

"You had an argument with the Crown Prince?" Yao Jiamin's voice couldn't
help but rise. She thought of the neighboring private room in the teahouse
where there were other customers and quickly lowered her voice, "What
happened?"

"Whatever, let's not talk about it," Hua Liuli's tone was vague, and she
sounded a bit sad, "Instead, tell me about any interesting places in the
capital recently. Take me out to have some fun and relieve boredom."

"A while ago, didn't you say you were giving up your hobbies for the
Crown Prince?" Yao Jiamin felt angry for Hua Liuli but couldn't help but
soften her heart, "What's good about men? They get angry whenever they
want. We sisters are the ones you can rely on."
"Jiamin, why don't you just say a little less?" Yao Wenyin tugged at Yao
Jiamin's sleeve. When would her cousin stop speaking without thinking? It
wasn't comforting at all; it was rubbing salt in the wound.

"Oh, I didn't mean it like that..." Yao Jiamin realized her mistake and
secretly glanced at Hua Liuli's expression. Seeing that she was indeed more
upset, she quickly said, "How about... how about I take you to listen to
some music?"

But they had to make sure not to be discovered by the Crown Prince.

"Okay," Hua Liuli stood up, "Since he suspects everything anyway, I might
as well go listen to some music and find some good-looking companions..."

"Wait!" Yao Jiamin suddenly changed her mind, "I think I forgot to bring
my purse. Did you all bring yours?" She looked at Tian Shan and Yao
Wenyin, and both of them shook their heads.

"How coincidental! We didn't bring ours either," Yao Wenyin said while
avoiding eye contact with Hua Liuli.

"Why is today so unfortunate?" Yao Jiamin dared to take Hua Liuli to listen
to music but didn't dare to take her to meet handsome men. If this got out,
before the Crown Prince would find trouble for her, her mother would break
her legs.

Knock, knock, knock.

A gentle knocking sounded from outside the private room.

Yao Jiamin frowned. Who had such poor manners to disturb them at this
time? Could it be someone familiar? She opened the door and saw the
person standing outside, "Third Prince?"

"Greetings, ladies," He Yuanting saw that there were only ladies inside and
felt somewhat shy as he took out a bag of silver, "When Benwang passed by
earlier, Benwang heard you ladies saying you forgot your money pouch.
This is a small token from Benwang..."
Yao Jiamin fell silent. She never expected someone to come and offer
assistance at a time like this.

"Thank you, Third Prince, for your kind gesture, but we don't need these,"
Yao Jiamin was afraid that if she accepted the small bag of silver, the next
day he would come to her estate, asking her mother to intercede for him,
hoping that her Imperial Uncle would allow him to return to his country.

"Who said I don't want it?" Hua Liuli stood up and pushed Yao Jiamin
aside. She addressed He Yuanting, "Your Highness, let's go."

"Where are we going?" Yao Jiamin hurriedly reached out to hold Hua Liuli,
"Liuli, don't be impulsive."

"I know what I'm doing," Hua Liuli took out a handkerchief and covered
her mouth as she coughed lightly, "Don't worry about me. I just want to go
out and explore."

Yao Jiamin tried to persuade her, but she was afraid that Hua Liuli would
get into a fight with her in her anger. If that happened, the whole capital
would know that Yao Jiamin, who had been practicing martial arts for
years, was slapped to the ground by the frail Hua Liuli.

Such an embarrassing incident must never happen.

"Please rest assured, Junzhu. Benwang will bring Fushou Junzhu back safe
and sound," He Yuanting smiled at Yao Jiamin and followed behind Hua
Liuli as they left the teahouse.

"I knew it, people in love lose their minds," Yao Jiamin was extremely
anxious and turned to ask Tian Shan, "According to the laws of storytelling,
what usually happens in this situation?"

"Usually, they get discovered by the Crown Prince, causing the

misunderstandings to deepen," Tian Shan furrowed her brow in worry,
"Should we go and stop them now?"

"We can't stop them."

You don't know how terrifying her true combat abilities are.

The three of them looked at each other, not knowing what to do. In the end,
Yao Jiamin gritted her teeth and chased after them.

In the tavern, Fushou Junzhu reached out to grab the wine jug, preparing to
pour herself a drink, but was stopped by He Yuanting, "Junzhu, Benwang
heard that you're not in good health. It's not advisable for you to drink
alcohol."

"I'm just a sickly body anyway. I've lived for sixteen years, too afraid to eat
or drink, and even my emotions are too apparent," Fushou Junzhu pushed
He Yuanting's hand away and poured the wine for herself, "People laugh at
me for being a descendant of the Hua family but unable to wield a sword. Is
this the only choice I have?"

Yao Jiamin, who originally reached out to intervene, suddenly froze. She
glanced at Hua Liuli and slowly retracted her hand, trying to minimize her
presence.

Hua Liuli glanced at Yao Jiamin and then raised the wine cup, drinking it all
in one go. The pungent liquor made her face turn red.

"Life and death, joy and anger, none of it can be chosen by ourselves.
What's the point of such a life?" She coughed while drinking two more
cups, her eyes moist with a thick mist.

"Junzhu, you're drunk."

"You're talking nonsense," she propped her chin up with one hand, her
beautiful brows furrowed, "This stuff, alcohol, is really disgusting."

"Alcohol, the more you drink, the more troubled you become," He Yuanting
smiled and took away the wine cup in front of Fushou Junzhu, "Junzhu,
you've never drunk alcohol before. It's better to avoid this harmful thing."

"Your Royal Highness, why don't you believe me?" She suddenly looked at
He Yuanting with drunken eyes. He Yuanting was slightly startled when he
saw Fushou Junzhu's gaze. He suddenly understood that the "Your Royal
Highness" she referred to was not him, but the Crown Prince of the Great
Jin Dynasty.

"If I had known you would hurt me like this, I shouldn't have let my father
and mother agree to this marriage in the first place," she laughed at herself,
"You'd rather believe the rumors from palace maids than believe me?"

He Yuanting looked at her without saying a word.

Yao Jiamin was still trying to adjust her sitting posture, seemingly trying to
make herself appear less conspicuous while sitting.

"Why aren't you saying anything?!" Hua Liuli, angered by He Yuanting's

silence, seemed to want to grab his clothes, but due to the discomfort in her
chest, she could only hold her chest and slump back down.

"Princess, you've mistaken me for someone else," He Yuanting reached out

to move the wine cup, preventing the liquid from staining Fushou Junzhu's
dress, "Benwang is He Yuanting, not your betrothed."

"Who is He Yuanting?" Fushou Junzhu rubbed her head, "Oh, that

unfortunate prince who can't go home?"

He Yuanting tightened his grip on the wine cup slightly and then smiled,
"Junzhu, you're joking. Benwang is a guest in your esteemed country, how
can Benwang be considered unfortunate?"

"Your eldest brother died of illness, yet you can't even go back to see him.
If you are not unfortunate, then who is?" Fushou Junzhu hiccuped, "But it's
because the Ministry of Justice found out that someone from the Kingdom
of Dai... "

Her voice grew softer as she spoke and He Yuanting didn't catch the words
that followed.

His expression remained gentle, seemingly as if he didn't take Fushou

Junzhu's words to heart or care about what she said. In his eyes, Fushou
Junzhu was just a drunken person who spoke incoherently.

Seeing Hua Liuli leaning on the table, Yao Jiamin wanted to call for a
maidservant to come and assist her. However, before she could do that, the
door of the private room was kicked open from the outside.

He Yuanting raised his head and locked eyes with the Crown Prince. He
stood up and bowed to the Crown Prince, "Greetings to the esteemed
Crown Prince of the Great Jin Dynasty."

The Crown Prince glanced at him without saying a word, walked up to Hua
Liuli, looked at her for a long time with a gloomy expression, then bent
down and carried her into his arms before striding away.

"Take care, Your Highness."

He Yuanting looked at the almost untouched dishes on the table, with a

worried expression on his face. It seemed as if he was afraid that the Crown
Prince would misunderstand.

Yao Jiamin became even more uneasy. Would the Crown Prince suspect that
she had a hand in letting Hua Liuli drink alcohol? She seemed frightened by
the Crown Prince's cold face. Leaving He Yuanting alone at the table, she
hastily followed.

The Crown Prince carried Hua Liuli downstairs, placed her in the carriage,
and couldn't help but rub his arm. This way of carrying someone really
tested his strength.

"He's very cautious," Hua Liuli, who had just pretended to be drunk, sat up,
"He showed almost no reaction, even when I vaguely mentioned the reason
he couldn't return to Daimao."

"Do you suspect him?"

"I can't say," Hua Liuli shook her head, "When I pretended to be drunk and
deliberately mentioned the reason he couldn't return to Daimao, he didn't
show any reaction at all."
Any normal person would have had some subconscious curiosity upon
hearing something related to themselves in such a situation.

There are only two types of people who are not interested: true saints and
those pretending not to care.

"This matter is not the most important thing for us. First, spit on the ground
three times and tell the heavens that you spoke thoughtlessly as a child."

"What?" Hua Liuli didn't understand.

The Crown Prince spoke seriously, "The things you said to He Yuanting just
now were somewhat ominous. What if the heavens take them seriously? It
wouldn't be good."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 140 – Visiting the Sick

"The heavens are so busy, they won't have time to bother with us," Hua
Liuli chuckled.

"But who made you so beautiful? People who are beautiful will receive a
little more attention from the heavens," the Crown Prince held Hua Liuli's
hand and gently squeezed it, "Just pretend to appease me, alright?"

"I really can't do anything with Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli spat on
the ground three times and clasped her hands together, "Heavens, please
don't take the words I spoke thoughtlessly to heart."

The two of them sweetly enjoyed each other's company for a while. When
the carriage stopped at the entrance of the Hua Family Estate, Hua Liuli
shook her clothes and said to the Crown Prince, "There may be some
rumors circulating in the capital in the coming days. I apologize for any
inconvenience caused to you."

"I am not inconvenienced, I'm just worried about you..."

"Your Royal Highness, have you forgotten?" Hua Liuli interrupted the
Crown Prince with a smile, "As a member of the Hua family, our priority
has always been the well-being of the people and the nation. My reputation
is insignificant as long as the country prospers and the people live
peacefully. Besides, with Your Royal Highness standing behind me, what
do I have to fear?"

The Crown Prince was stunned. Yes, in their daily interactions, he often
forgot about the loyalty and righteousness ingrained in the Hua family.

"I only have you," the Crown Prince opened his arms and embraced her,
"But don't forget, once this matter is resolved, we should proceed with our
grand wedding."

Hua Liuli pushed the Crown Prince away, "Then, in the next few days, Your
Royal Highness will have to bear with me."

She got off the carriage and leaned on her maidservant, appearing drunk.
She noticed other carriages passing by and burst into tears, crying out,
"Your Royal Highness, this humble maiden bids farewell."

The passing carriage suspiciously slowed down, but after Hua Liuli entered
the Hua Family Estate's gates, the carriage sped up again.

The next day, news spread that the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu had a
disagreement. It was said to be quite a big deal. The usually abstinent
Fushou Junzhu, in her attempt to drown her sorrows with alcohol, had a
relapse of her old illness that same night, shocking the entire Hua family,
who immediately sought the imperial physician for treatment.

Others had witnessed Hua Yingting visiting the palace in the morning,
meeting with the Emperor and the Crown Prince. No one knew what the
Crown Prince said, but Hua Yingting's expression turned extremely grim
before leaving. Shortly after, he claimed that his old injury had relapsed and
he could no longer serve as the commander of the Imperial Guards,
submitting a letter of resignation.

Emperor Changlong refuted Hua Yingting's request and did not grant his
resignation.

When everyone thought the Hua family would be suspected by the Emperor
for a long time, nothing happened. On the contrary, just as they began to
believe that the imperial family had complete trust in the Hua family,
conflicts arose due to the Crown Prince's impending marriage to Fushou
Junzhu.

On one side was the Crown Prince, held in the Emperor's favor; on the other
side was the cherished daughter held dearly by the Hua family. They were
only a month or two away from their wedding, but unexpectedly, such a big
incident occurred.
Those who had a good relationship with the Hua family, after visiting the
seriously ill Fushou Junzhu and returning, shook their heads and sighed,
saying, "Fushou Junzhu's illness this time is not to be taken lightly. Even
the usually resilient General Wei had tears in his eyes. It seems like a bad
situation."

If Fushou Junzhu was truly angered to death by the Crown Prince, wouldn't
the Hua family hold a grudge against the imperial family? Some people felt
uneasy, there were even those who gathered the courage to persuade the
Crown Prince to visit the ailing Fushou Junzhu at the Hua Family Estate.

"As a man, how can Gu bow down to a woman?" the Crown Prince coldly
rebuffed the people who came to advise him, "You don't need to persuade
Gu; Gu will not agree."

The people trying to persuade the Crown Prince fell silent.

It was you, the Ji family, who actively sought marriage with Fushou Junzhu.
And now, conflicts have arisen, and you don't even care about her critical
condition. Truly heartless.

People were at a loss; some of them remembered that the Fifth Prince had
recently become close to the Crown Prince. So they turned to the Fifth
Prince and asked him to persuade the Crown Prince.

However, when the Fifth Prince went to the Eastern Palace, he was also
turned away by the Crown Prince. It seemed that it didn't matter who went
to persuade him; it had no effect.

In the Lincui palace, after hearing the Empress Dowager and the Emperor
bestowed many gifts to the Hua family, Consort Xian also sent several
precious medicinal herbs.

"I knew it. The Crown Prince's temperament wouldn't improve," Consort
Xian, who used to find Fushou Junzhu somewhat annoying, now only felt
sympathy for her, "She was fine just a few days ago. How did it escalate to
this so quickly?"
Ying Wang furrowed his brows, his expression turning grim.

Consort Xian noticed his expression, "You mustn't go to the Hua family. If
you do, the conflict between the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu will only
escalate."

"Mother, rest assured, your son understands this much," Ying Wang vaguely
spoke a few words to Consort Xian, then left the Lincui Palace.

As he passed by the Hua Family Estate's gates on his horse, he stopped

outside the gate for a moment, his face dark, before galloping away. Along
the way, he encountered the Third Prince of the Daimao Kingdom, He
Yuanting, who invited him to a tavern for a drink. With a troubled mind,
Ying Wang agreed to join him.

With good wine and food, Ying Wang had several cups of wine without any
change in his expression or clarity in his eyes.

"Your Highness has a strong tolerance for alcohol. A few days ago, Fushou
Junzhu came here to drink, but she got drunk after just one cup," He
Yuanting expressed his guilt, "If Benwang had known, Benwang wouldn't
have agreed to Fushou Junzhu's proposal to drink."

Ying Wang set down his cup and glanced at him, pouring another cup of
wine.

Feeling troubled, he had no interest in entertaining He Yuanting's chatter.

After having his fill of food and drink, he stood up, patted his bottom, and
left.

Watching Ying Wang's departing figure, He Yuanting frowned. As the

eldest son of the Emperor, Ying Wang undoubtedly had ambitions for the
throne. But despite all the suggestive words he had said just now, Ying
Wang showed no reaction at all.

Could it be that he was hiding his true intentions? Were all his impulsive
actions over the years just an act?
After leaving the tavern, Ying Wang turned to the eunuch beside him and
said, "That Third Prince of the Daimao Kingdom was so noisy, always
blabbering and talking nonstop."

The eunuch dared not speak. Ever since Fusheng was found to have
problems, none of the eunuchs serving Ying Wang dared to speak out or
give any random advice to Ying Wang.

"Benwang can't stand people who talk too much. From now on, if you see
him, remind Benwang to stay away from him," Ying Wang didn't care much
about the incident and returned to the palace, still smelling of alcohol.

The next day, the condition of Fushou Junzhu worsened. General Hua, who
loved his daughter dearly, once again went to the palace to seek an audience
with the Crown Prince but he was turned away.

News from the palace spread. The lights in the Chengyang Palace burned
throughout the night. No one knew what the Emperor said to the Crown
Prince, but finally, the Crown Prince was willing to visit the seriously ill
Fushou Junzhu at the Hua Family Estate.

Hearing that the Crown Prince was finally willing to visit Fushou Junzhu,
some curious onlookers squatted outside the Hua Family Estate's gate on
the main street. However, to their surprise, within half an hour, quarreling
voices came from inside the gate. The Crown Prince and the attendants
from the Eastern Palace hurriedly walked out of the gate, while Wei
Mingyue stood at the entrance with a frosty face, saying, "This humble
general bids farewell to the Crown Prince. This humble general is unworthy
of Your Royal Highness's presence. Your Royal Highness need not come
again."

Upon seeing the Crown Prince covering his cheek with his sleeve, the
onlookers were shocked. Did Wei Mingyue actually hit the Crown Prince?

When Wei Mingyue was young, she had a bad temper, and it seemed that
even after so many years, her temper hadn't improved. She dared to strike
even the Crown Prince. This incident was bound to cause a major
disturbance.
The families who had a good relationship with the Hua family couldn't
sleep well that night. Early in the morning, before dawn, they sent people to
gather information and find out whether the Emperor intended to punish the
Hua family.

However, nothing happened that day. During the morning court assembly,
when the Emperor noticed that Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue were
absent, he compassionately inquired about them as if he had no knowledge
of the Crown Prince's injury.

Rumors quickly spread that the Emperor was actually dissatisfied with the
Hua family. However, as the Hua family held military power, the imperial
family didn't dare to act against them at the moment.

But under the heavens, is there any land that doesn't belong to the monarch?
The Emperor was benevolent and loved his people. Even though the Hua
family held military power, it couldn't shake the Emperor's position,
especially considering the opinions of people across the land.

Unable to bear the thought of the Hua family facing such a calamity, Cao
Jinbo, who had a close relationship with the Hua family, and considering
the lifesaving favor the Hua siblings had done for his good friend Lin
Huizhi, braved the potential disapproval of the Emperor and the Crown
Prince to visit the Hua family.

Entering the Hua Family Estate, he noticed that the servants wore worried
expressions, and a young maid was secretly wiping away tears. His heart
sank. Could it be that Fushou Junzhu's condition had truly worsened?

Upon entering the reception hall, while exchanging pleasantries with Hua
Yingting, Cao Jinbo noticed the wrinkles on Hua Yingting's robe and his
exhausted appearance. It seemed like he hadn't rested all night.

Seeing Hua Yingting in such a state, Cao Jinbo sighed inwardly. How
pitiful are the hearts of parents? With Fushou Junzhu's current illness, it was
no wonder General Wei...
Recalling Wei Mingyue's temperament when she was young, he felt a bit
fearful. He couldn't help but look around, then said, "I received some new
tea a few days ago and brought it for the General to taste," his words
sounded somewhat awkward. He didn't have much interaction with Hua
Yingting, and it wouldn't be appropriate to visit empty-handed. He could
only use the excuse of bringing tea to pay a visit, "Why isn't General Wei
here?"

"My wife is taking care of our daughter," Hua Yingting forced a smile, "Our
daughter is currently seriously ill, and she can't bear to leave her side, so
she has been staying by her."

Hearing this, Cao Jinbo was at a loss for words. The Wei Mingyue of the
past, how captivating and graceful she was. Now, for the sake of her
beloved daughter, she couldn't bear to even step out of the door.

Although he didn't know what conflict had occurred between the Crown
Prince and Fushou Junzhu, allowing things to escalate to this point would
be detrimental to the country and its people.

"Cao Daren, I know why you came today," Hua Yingting sighed, "Rest
assured, the Hua family is wholeheartedly loyal to Great Jin and will never
do anything that undermines the interests of Great Jin."

"General..." Cao Jinbo's heart trembled slightly, sensing a tinge of sadness

in Hua Yingting's words, "Please take good care of yourselves, both of you.
Your children are still young and need you to support them."

Hua Yingting forced a smile, but the smile seemed like tears, "But what can
a father like me do to support them?"

After offering a few words of comfort, Cao Jinbo noticed Hua Yingting's
weary spirit and took the initiative to bid farewell.

Hua Changkong, who was resting at home, escorted him to the gate,
"Minister Cao, take care."
"Please wait," Cao Jinbo looked at the lingering worry on Hua Changkong's
face and patted his shoulder, "Fushou Junzhu has her own fate. She will be
fine."

"Thank you for your auspicious words, Minister Cao," Hua Changkong bid
farewell to Cao Jinbo once he got into the carriage, bowing to express his
gratitude.

"Hua Daren," He Yuanting stepped down from the carriage, holding

something in his hand, followed by several Daimao envoys carrying boxes.
It was evident that they had come deliberately.

"Third Prince," Hua Changkong bowed upon seeing He Yuanting.

"Benwang heard that Junzhu is seriously ill. Benwang has come to visit and
apologize," He Yuanting returned the gesture, "Benwang is to be blamed for
not stopping Junzhu from drinking that day. After she got drunk, she
mistook Benwang for the Crown Prince and said some heartbreaking things.
She even had a couple more cups."

"What did my sister say?" Hua Changkong's expression slightly changed as

he made a gesture of invitation, "Please come inside and have a cup of light
tea, Your Highness."

"In that case, Benwang will be presumptuous," He Yuanting's lips curled

slightly as he elegantly followed Hua Changkong, entering the gate of the
Hua family.

After taking a few steps inside, the heavy gate closed with a resounding
sound. He Yuanting paused and glanced at the closed gate.

"Your Highness, this way, please."

"Thank you," He Yuanting nodded slightly and continued walking inside

with Hua Changkong.

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 141 – Now That You Are
Here

As He Yuanting stepped inside the gates of the Hua Family Estate, a

renowned divine physician, who had recently gained fame in the capital,
discreetly entered through a side gate. With his white hair and youthful
appearance, he exuded an aura of wisdom and enlightenment, resembling a
transcendent figure who had achieved spiritual cultivation.

The Hua family's servants warmly welcomed the divine physician, nodding
and bowing in respect. It was apparent that if he could cure their Junzhu,
they were willing to offer him generous rewards, including gold, silver, and
even high-ranking positions.

The divine physician stroked his beard and said, "I've heard that obtaining
an official position in the capital is no easy feat. I, as a nameless individual,
even if I desire an official position, it is not an easy task."

"What difficulty is there for our two esteemed generals to accomplish what
others cannot?" sneered one of the servants, a hint of disdain in their voice,
"The prosperity of the Ji Dynasty owes much to the efforts of our two
generals. If they prove ungrateful, then don't blame the Hua family for
resorting to unscrupulous means."

The divine physician smiled lightly, seemingly unimpressed by the Hua

family's position and power. Stepping into the courtyard where Hua Liuli
resided, he detected a potent medicinal aroma permeating the air.

"In these medicinal scents, I sense the presence of several herbs known for
dispelling cold, calming the mind, and fortifying vitality," the divine
physician's nostrils twitched as he surveyed the room.
The Hua family's servants were astonished, expressing their admiration,
"The divine physician's medical skills are truly remarkable. Just by smelling
the medicinal aromas, you can determine which herbs are used?"

"What's so difficult about that?" the divine physician replied with a calm
chuckle, "After practicing medicine for many years, distinguishing the
essence and identifying medicinal properties is just a basic skill."

His words only fueled the servants' admiration.

After carefully examining Hua Liuli's pulse, the divine physician's

expression turned solemn. Withdrawing his hand, he let out a sigh, "Junzhu
has pent-up emotions and weak vitality. I'm afraid..."

"Divine physician, is there no hope even with your expertise?" one of the
maids in the room sobbed softly, "The imperial physicians have prescribed
countless tonics, but there has been no improvement. In fact, her condition
has worsened."

"Divine physician, please find a solution. The Hua family has seen three
generations of male heirs. It was only in this generation that we were
blessed with a precious daughter. Our general, while carrying Junzhu during
her six months of pregnancy, had to rush to the battlefield. Unfortunately,
Junzhu was born prematurely and has been physically frail since childhood.
We cherish her like a rare gem. If anything were to happen to her, how
could our two generals bear it?"

"If not for the Crown Prince, how could our Junzhu end up like this!"
another maid seethed with resentment. It was evident she had been speaking
ill of the imperial family behind their backs, showing no restraint even with
an outsider present.

Clearly, the Hua family had long been discontented with the imperial
family, even the servants had no qualms about criticizing them openly.

The divine physician stroked his beard, pondering for a while before
sighing, "Pity the hearts of all parents. Let me try. Junzhu's vitality and
spiritual essence are fragile, rendering ordinary remedies ineffective. In my
Divine Physician Valley, I possess a set of golden needles capable of
invigorating vitality. Please bring the child to me.."

"Thank you, divine physician. We will send our Junzhu to your estate..."

"No need. It is forbidden for outsiders to enter the medicinal estate of

Divine Physician Valley. I will take her there myself," the divine physician
interjected, "Before I depart, please provide me with details about Junzhu's
condition, such as, when her illness first manifested."

The Hua family's servants dared not offend the esteemed physician,
obediently complying with his requests. However, as they saw him off, they
discreetly slipped a handful of silver into his hands, hoping it would hasten
Hua Liuli's return.

"Don't worry," the divine physician accepted the silver with a smile, a subtle
sense of satisfaction emanating from him, "I will be swift."

Unfortunately, consumed by concern for their ailing Junzhu, the Hua

family's servants failed to notice anything amiss with the divine physician.

In the main hall, He Yuanting exchanged pleasantries with the Hua family's
father and son, both of whom appeared downtrodden.

"Third Young Master Hua, don't you need to go to the Hanlin Academy
today..."

Before He Yuanting could finish speaking, Hua Changkong's face turned

cold, "The court is ungrateful. Why should we continue serving as
officials?"

He Yuanting wanted to persuade him, but a subordinate came to report,

"General, there is an attendant outside claiming to be Third Prince's
attendant. He says he has important matters to report."

"Benwang's attendant is rude..." He Yuanting's face turned awkward as he

stood up to apologize.
"The matter might be urgent. Please allow him to enter quickly," Hua
Yingting unexpectedly showed a kind attitude, completely unlike his
coldness towards the Daimao envoys.

He Yuanting expressed his gratitude once again and soon saw a Daimao
guard in a red robe entering. The guard spoke of the imminent burial of
their deceased Crown Prince and the Emperor's urgent request for He
Yuanting to return promptly.

"The deceased Crown Prince of your esteemed country and Third Prince
were born of the same mother. Why did you not return earlier? You two
brothers share a deep bond. If you fail to attend the funeral, it will be a
lifelong regret?" Hua Yingting looked at He Yuanting skeptically.

He Yuanting forced a bitter smile, "It's not that Benwang didn't want to
return. Emperor Changlong insisted that Benwang remains as a guest in
your country..."

"He's just a pseudo-gentleman," Hua Yingting snorted, "Intentionally

forging treasonous letters and implicating my Hua family, while at the
court, he generously washes away the crimes of the Hua family."

"Had it not been for that night when my little daughter inadvertently
overheard the conversation between the Second Princess and a palace maid,
we would have remained ignorant," Hua Yingting grew increasingly
indignant as he spoke. "What benevolent and righteous emperor? What
virtuous and wise ruler? It's all a facade to deceive us and make the Hua
family sacrifice our lives!"

"For the sake of his Ji family, our Hua family endured the harsh and cold
frontier, shedding blood and sacrificing ourselves. What does it matter if
gold and silver are bestowed upon us every year? In such a harsh and
chaotic place, even with wealth, there is nowhere to spend it," Hua Yingting
slammed his fist on the table, shattering it into pieces. He roared, "My Hua
family has been loyal for generations, yet now we are selling our lives for
this false gentleman."
He Yuanting looked at the furious Hua Yingting and hesitated for a
moment, "Benwang has seen how well Emperor Changlong treats your
family. Could there be some misunderstanding?"

No wonder the Second Princess was confined at Shoukang Palace by the

Empress Dowager, using the excuse of fomenting discord between the
Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu. The truth might be that she uttered those
words for Fushou Junzhu to hear. Then perhaps, Emperor Changlong and
the Empress Dowager discovered it, leading to their displeasure.

It seemed that after the eunuch by the side of Ying Wang was caught, she
couldn't sit still and resorted to this ruthless move. She is willing to go to
great lengths for revenge.

"A misunderstanding?!" Hua Yingting seemed to have heard a huge joke,

"If it wasn't for the imperial family themselves revealing it, how could we
have known? If that were the case, it would be fine, but I never expected the
Crown Prince to also be such a despicable person."

"The Crown Prince has deep feelings for Fushou Junzhu, young people
quarrel sometimes..."

"What nonsense about deep feelings and strong emotions!" Hua

Changkong, who had been silent on the side, could no longer tolerate it,
"The Crown Prince privately complained to someone that my little sister is
weak and sickly, afraid that she wouldn't even be able to bear a child. He
even said that if it weren't for leveraging the influence of our Hua family to
suppress other princes, why would he marry a hen that can't lay eggs?"

"She is the precious pearl in the palm of our Hua family. How could he treat
her this way?" Hua Changkong's face reddened with fury, distorting his
typically gentle features, "Does he believe only their Ji family possesses
unparalleled value, while our Hua family's daughter is not even worthy of
human consideration?"

"Third Prince, do you aspire to claim the position of Crown Prince in

Daimao?" Hua Yingting kicked aside the wooden debris scattered at his
feet, "I can lend you a helping hand."
He Yuanting's face was filled with panic, "General Hua, what do you mean
by this? Forget about the fact that Benwang might not be able to return to
Daimao now, even if Benwang could, Benwang dare not even entertain the
thought of the position of Crown Prince. The position of heir is extremely
precious, and everything is decided by the Emperor."

"Are you saying you have no intention of becoming the Crown Prince? I
thought the reason for the Third Prince's visit today was due to the letters I
recently sent you. Yet, it seems you have only come to visit my daughter,"
Hua Yingting sneered, "In that case, I can only throw my support behind
your other brothers. Although my Hua family lacks great power, we still
possess soldiers and strategists. If we join forces with one of your country's
princes, support him in ascending the throne, and then lead our armies
against the Ji family, it would not be an insurmountable task."

Hua Yingting's previous kindness toward He Yuanting vanished, leaving

only indifference and impatience, "Third Prince, I must ask you to leave.
However, there is one thing I feel compelled to remind you of. Without the
assistance of my Hua family, I'm afraid you will never return to Daimao in
your lifetime."

"While Benwang may not care about the position of Crown Prince, not
being able to return home is somewhat troubling..." He Yuanting
maintained his humble demeanor, "General, please help Benwang."

"Hmph!" Hua Yingting sneered with a meaningful undertone, seemingly

mocking He Yuanting's duplicity, "If the Third Prince is willing to
cooperate with me, then naturally, I am willing as well. After all, who
would choose a distant path when they can seek what is close at hand?"

He Yuanting's gaze flickered, but he remained silent.

"But I am worried that once I send you back to your country, you will turn
your back on me, which would put me in a difficult position," Hua Yingting
said directly, "I can assist you in returning to your country, help you secure
the position of heir, and even the imperial throne. But I have one condition."

"Please speak, General."

"I require you to deploy troops to attack Great Jin once you ascend to the
throne, and at that time, the Hua army will collaborate with you," Hua
Yingting's expression turned cold, "I trust the Third Prince understands the
implications of my condition."

The Hua family harbors rebellious intentions?!

He Yuanting had never anticipated that the profound conflict between the
Hua family and the imperial family arose from the Hua family's unwavering
love for their daughter. Thinking back on everything, he suddenly smiled,
"Benwang understands."

"The tea for His Highness has gone cold. I'll bring a fresh cup," Hua
Yingting's expression improved significantly as he began discussing with
He Yuanting how to send him out of Great Jin and help him ascend to the
position of heir.

He Yuanting was taken aback as he listened. The hidden power of the Hua
family turned out to be vast and formidable.

"The only difficulty lies in placing people in the palace," Hua Yingting's
anger resurfaced when the topic arose, "For years, the Hua family has
guarded the border and never considered betraying the court. If it weren't
for the Ji family pushing us too far, who would be willing to take this step?"

Looking at the tears and anger on Hua Yingting's face, He Yuanting thought
about how loyal the Hua family had been to the imperial family of Great Jin
in the past, and now they must be so disappointed and resentful.

"General, you don't need to worry too much. Benwang can share your
burden," moved by the Hua family's anger and sincerity, He Yuanting
finally spoke up, "General, Benwang only needs your assistance in claiming
the position of heir."

Hua Yingting was somewhat surprised, and in his gaze toward He Yuanting,
there was a hint of diminished contempt, "The palace has strict rules. Those
who enter the palace must go through layers of scrutiny to verify their
identity. How could a prince of another country manage to infiltrate the
Great Jin's palace?"

He Yuanting smiled calmly, "That is the sincerity Benwang offers you,

General. Benwang wonders if you find it satisfactory or not?"

"If it's merely about arranging ordinary eunuchs and palace maids..." Hua
Yingting quickly regained his composure, "This act of Third Prince hardly
qualifies as sincerity."

A person capable of commanding hundreds of thousands of troops would

not lose his rationality just because of anger.

"General, you don't need to worry about this. Benwang's person can not
only access the Imperial Study, but also gather information from any palace
in the Imperial Palace," He Yuanting chuckled lightly, "No one is more
useful than she is."

Hua Yingting remained silent for a moment, "Is that so?"

"Naturally," He Yuanting said, "General, you command hundreds of

thousands of troops, and your wife's family also holds considerable military
power. Would Benwang dare deceive you?"

Hua Yingting scrutinized He Yuanting, seemingly contemplating the truth

behind his words.

Undeterred, He Yuanting maintained his smile, devoid of any timidity.

Over the past few days, as the Hua family started sending him letters and
extending frequent friendly gestures, He Yuanting had sensed their
intentions. However, he dared not easily believe it, so he had someone pose
as a divine healer to gather information in the Hua family's backyard.

To his surprise, even the Hua family's servants expressed grievances against
the imperial family.

The servants follow the lead of their masters. The Hua family truly
harbored intentions of betraying the imperial family.
Neither the esteemed Emperor Changlong nor the Crown Prince of Great
Jin could have fathomed that their ambiguous handling of the treasonous
letters and the dragon robe incident would lead to the Hua family nurturing
rebellious thoughts.

And it was Fushou Junzhu that had become the breaking point.

All thanks to the arrogant Crown Prince of Great Jin. If it weren't for him,
this situation would never have arisen.

Reflecting on his years of planning, which were now on the brink of

fruition with the support of the Hua family, a smile reemerged on He
Yuanting's face.

"Third Prince, please forgive my audacity in asking you a question." Hua

Changkong placed his hand on his waist, "Your insider in the palace, was it
the Second Princess?"

The smile on He Yuanting's face gradually faded, "What do you mean by

that, Third Young Master Hua?"

A faint sense of unease crept over him, sensing that something was amiss.

"When the envoys from your country first arrived in our country, there was
a suicide incident. To investigate the case, our country kept a copy of the
letters from all your envoys and their accompanying servants," Hua
Changkong smiled, "Coincidentally, we discovered several handwriting
samples in the courtyard of the Second Princess that bear a striking
resemblance to Your Highness's handwriting. Isn't that interesting?"

The attendants who accompanied He Yuanting realized something was

amiss and quickly surrounded him.

The entire capital was aware that the Second Princess had instigated a
conflict between the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu, which angered the
Empress Dowager. As a punishment, the Second Princess was ordered to
transcribe Buddhist scriptures in the Shoukang Palace. The Empress
Dowager even scolded Consort Xian when she pleaded for the Second
Princess.

The Empress Dowager favored Fushou Junzhu greatly and grew to dislike
the Second Princess after Fushou Junzhu's conflict with the Crown Prince.

But if everything was merely a charade...

If the Second Princess had already been exposed, then everything that had
transpired in the past few days was meant to lure out the person connected
to the Second Princess.

"Third Young Master Hua, you have quite a sense of humor. As a prince of
another country, how could Benwang have any relationship with your
country's imperial princess?" He Yuanting reprimanded, "Benwang came
here out of goodwill to visit Fushou Junzhu, but Benwang never expected to
be insulted like this. General Hua, do not overstep your boundaries.
Benwang will take leave!"

"Now that you are here, why leave so soon?" A person suddenly emerged
from behind the folding screen, emanating a brilliance as dazzling as
moonlight, outshining everything else.

He was none other than the Crown Prince of Great Jin, Ji Yuansu.

He Yuanting's expression darkened completely.

"Oh, Gu forgot to tell Third Prince that Gu is someone who enjoys both
excitement and hospitality. So, Gu invited some distinguished envoys from
your country to join in the fun," Ji Yuansu said, raising an eyebrow.

The folding screen was lifted by a servant, revealing several bound and
gagged envoys from Daimao, as well as several important officials from
Great Jin.

These envoys were renowned literary scholars from Daimao, all of whom
held utmost admiration for their deceased Crown Prince.
He Yuanting's expression changed multiple times, and he suddenly smiled,
"General Hua and the Crown Prince seem interested in conversing with
Benwang. How about we consider the well-being of Fushou Junzhu?"

"Oh?" The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow.

With a thud, a tightly bound person was thrown into the room by Yuan Yi.

Facing the astonished gazes of everyone present, Yuan Yi performed a deep

bow, "Esteemed guests, this servant accidentally captured a fake divine
physician. I seek your judgment, esteemed guests."

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 142 – White-Eyed Wolf

To lure this big fish, the officials from the Ministry of Justice hadn't slept
for three days and three nights. They collected handwriting samples from
suspicious individuals and compared them one by one. After narrowing
down the main suspects, they began investigating the movements of the
people around them. They had to be accurate and clear in their investigation
without arousing suspicion, so as not to jeopardize their subsequent plans.

The officials from the Ministry of Justice worked hard, but they were used
to it.

When they found that the Third Prince of Daimao was the most suspicious,
they knew couldn't simply arrest him and interrogate him. One reason was
his special status, and the other was the lack of evidence.

A man with ambitions, cunning, and caution was extremely difficult to

catch hold of. That's why the Hua family became particularly important in
luring him in.

Recently, the Hua family had privately shown goodwill to the Third Prince
of Daimao, causing him to start suspecting whether there was a conflict
between the Hua family and the Ji family.

People with heavy ambitions and desires often think that everyone else in
the world is the same as them. So the Third Prince of Daimao had never
believed that the Ji and Hua families could be as close as a ruler and
subject.

He Yuanting couldn't believe what was unfolding before his eyes. As he

looked at the Crown Prince and the ministers of Great Jin, for the first time
in his life, his gentle face twisted with a distorted expression, "Is all of this
your trap?"

"Fortunately, these events have allowed us to see a more genuine side of

Third Prince," the Crown Prince smiled and raised his hand, signaling the
Golden Armored Guards to loosen the ropes and gags on the envoys from
Daimao, "Great Jin has always maintained a friendly relationship with
Daimao. However, the actions committed by your Third Prince have
violated the interests of Great Jin."

The Daimao envoys, who had been forced to watch silently, didn't know
what to say. They never expected that the Third Prince, who usually
appeared gentle and humble, would have such a side.

He wanted to return to his country, not to mourn the deceased Crown

Prince, but to contend for the position of Crown Prince.

Where did the Third Prince, who was not entangled by power and showed
respect and closeness to the Crown Prince, go?

Gradually recovering from their shock, they fell into panic. Would the Third
Prince's numerous transgressions provoke Great Jin to launch an attack on
Daimao?

With Daimao's current strength, they absolutely had no ability to resist.

The Daimao envoys felt uneasy, yet no one dared to plead for He Yuanting.
The other envoys who might have stood up to protest against Great Jin were
not present here.

The room fell into silence until the Crown Prince ordered He Yuanting to be
detained in the Ministry of Justice prison. One of the Daimao envoys finally
mustered enough courage to speak, "Esteemed Crown Prince of Great Jin,
although our Third Prince has committed great crimes, he..."

"So, are you suggesting that we should deal with your Third Prince after our
two countries have negotiated?" the Crown Prince raised an eyebrow in
response, "If that's how you want it to be, Gu can accommodate you."
Upon hearing these words, the Daimao envoys fell silent. Negotiate?

On what grounds?

He Yuanting looked at these envoys, who appeared weak and useless before
the Crown Prince of Great Jin, and smiled bitterly, filled with both
desolation and resentment. The harmony and abundance of talents among
the officials of the Great Jin were remarkable. Meanwhile, Daimao had
fallen into a strange circle that praised literature but suppressed agriculture,
commerce, and the military. There were only these useless ministers left in
the court, along with his foolish brothers. Daimao was in danger.

He didn't ask the Crown Prince of Great Jin when he started suspecting him,
nor did he ask why the person he sent to handle Hua Liuli had failed. His
gaze swept across everyone in the room, and finally, he glanced at Fushou
Junzhu's personal maid. He allowed the officials from the Ministry of
Justice to take him away.

The subordinate, who had disguised himself as a divine physician, saw that
his Master was caught, and fell despairingly to the ground.

How did things turn out like this? Just this morning, he was full of fighting
spirit and hope for the future. Why had everything changed in just a few
short hours?

Falling from paradise into hell couldn't be more apt.

The Ministry of Justice prison had recently disposed of a group of

prisoners, so some cells had become empty. The prisoner next to Prince
A'Wa, the one whose term had ended, was released, while another who had
blood on his hands was sentenced to be beheaded.

Prince A'Wa had grown accustomed to the talkative inmate who would
occasionally curse him. Now that the talkative inmate had been set free, an
unusual silence permeated the prison cells.

As he nibbled on a white steamed bun, Prince A'Wa perked up at the sound

of shackles. Could it be that a new cellmate had arrived?
The person brought in was dressed in luxurious garments and wore a jade
crown. He had a handsome appearance, much more attractive than Yunhan.

Many prisoners secretly stared at this person.

"He Yuanting?" Prince A'Wa recognized him. They had interacted a few
years ago when he visited Daimao. In Prince A'Wa's memory, He Yuanting
always followed behind the Crown Prince of Daimao, few people paid
attention to him.

Upon hearing someone call his name, He Yuanting's steps faltered for a
moment. He glanced at the greasy and obese man in the cell and coldly
retracted his gaze.

The jailer opened the cell door next to Prince A'Wa and locked He Yuanting
inside.

"You ended up here too?" Prince A'Wa couldn't hide his schadenfreude.
When life became too bitter, it would be somewhat enjoyable to share the
misery with others.

The strategist in the blue robe across the cell, who had remained
expressionless, instantly rushed to the cell door, his eyes filled with worry
and astonishment.

But He Yuanting didn't look at him. After being locked in the cell, he sat
cross-legged and remained silent throughout.

He knew that his weak father wouldn't offend the Emperor of Great Jin for
his sake. To appease Emperor Changlong's anger, his father might even
write a letter personally to reprimand him.

All these years of planning, everything should have gone smoothly. But
ever since his strategist informed him of the failed assassination of Lin
Huizhi at the relay station, unexpected events began to occur frequently.

It was as if the heavens were deliberately opposing him, causing accidents

with every move he made. Even the strategist who had escaped to
Yongzhou was captured by the Golden Armored Guards and brought to the
Ministry of Justice.

He Yuanting looked up at the strategist in the blue robe, his eyes filled with
indifference. It was as if he couldn't recognize him as his strategist.

The master and servant stared at each other through the prison cells until He
Yuanting looked away.

The moment he was suspected by the Crown Prince of Great Jin, he had
already lost. What use was there in delving into the past?

In a side hall of the Shoukang Palace, Second Princess leaned against the
window sill in a daze. When Consort Xian entered, she sneered, "No need
to pretend to be righteous in front of me."

"You're thinking too much," Consort Xian snorted, "I'm just here to tell you
that the person you've been in contact with has been locked up in the
Ministry of Justice prison."

"Are you lying to me?" the Second Princess turned her head sharply to look
at Consort Xian.

"Believe it or not, I don't care," Consort Xian rolled her eyes, "I just can't
understand why an imperial princess like you, who has never lacked food or
clothing, would collude with a prince from another country. Are you not
right in the head, or were you born a white-eyed wolf?"

"Father Emperor favors you so much that he's even unwilling to investigate
my mother's death. As a child, seeking revenge for one's mother is not
wrong," Second Princess glared at Consort Xian with a fierce gaze, "I only
hate that girl, Hua Liuli, who kept ruining my plans."

Consort Xian furrowed her brows, "I've told you before, your mother died
in childbirth. Whether you believe it or not is irrelevant to me. But I can't
help but think that a treacherous person like you wouldn't go to such lengths
for a mother you've never met."
"Do you still remember the Liu family?" The Second Princess's eyes carried
a sense of longing, "It's the family that was implicated by the Crown Prince
and was eventually found guilty of embezzlement, bribery, and land
encroachment."

"Embezzlement, bribery, and land encroachment resulted in punishment

according to the law. What does that have to do with you?"

"The person I love was the eldest son of the Liu family!" The Second
Princess's voice was filled with grief, "If it weren't for them, how could Liu
Lang have fallen ill and died when he was on his way to exile?"

Consort Xian suddenly realized, "So not only are you a white-eyed wolf,
but your mind is also not quite right. Wasn't he exiled to the border because
the Liu family had committed innumerable crimes?"

OceanofPDF.com
 Chapter 143 – The Most Beautiful
Scenery

"What do you understand?" Hatred surged in the Second Princess's eyes, as

though Consort Xian was responsible for all the misfortunes in her life.

She was born without her mother, some said it was because of her bad fate
that her mother perished. During the years she spent in the care of Consort
Xian's palace, although Consort Xian treated her the same outwardly, the
only person she truly cared about was her own son.

Being motherless and without siblings, she had to carefully please Consort
Xian and her eldest brother, striving to be the forever obedient and
considerate Second Princess. It wasn't until she turned fourteen that she met
the eldest son of the Liu family.

Being with him, she learned to smile genuinely. She could be imperfect, not
good at understanding others, and didn't need to be cautious about her
words and actions.

They made a pact that when she turned sixteen, Liu Lang would enter the
palace and ask her father for her hand in marriage. However, on the eve of
her sixteenth birthday, the Liu family was thrown into prison, with
numerous executions and exiles.

She went to the prison to visit Liu Lang, saying she wanted to plead for
him. But Liu Lang said that the Liu family had committed grave crimes,
and their fate was retribution.

He told her to forget about him.

She told him that she would wait for his return.

But he died. He died on the journey of exile. The person responsible for
escorting the Liu family was a distant relative from Consort Xian's maternal
side. Those who gave her life, those who loved her, all died at the hands of
Consort Xian.

She closed her eyes, unwilling to accept the outcome of all her schemes
failing, "Leave, I don't want to see you again."

"Even if one raised a cat or dog, they could evoke emotions, let alone
raising a person," Consort Xian's gloating expression gradually gave way to
sadness, "When your mother gave birth to you, the Empress and His
Majesty were both present. Do you think I had the means to manipulate
things under the noses of the Empress and His Majesty?"

"If it's because you lost your mother that you hold a twisted resentment
towards me, I won't blame you for not considering the mother-daughter
bond we had these years," Consort Xian stood up, "But you calculated
against me at every turn and colluded with a prince from another country,
disregarding the disasters it could bring upon Great Jin. When you did all
this, did you ever think of your father or the people of the world?"

"Did your father ever mistreat you?" Consort Xian asked, "In these years,
has he ever ignored you or treated you coldly?"

"Because I'm not like you, satisfied with the small scraps of kindness Father
Emperor gives me," The Second Princess sneered, "Kindness? His favorite
has always been the Crown Prince, not me."

Consort Xian fell silent for a long time, "The fact proves that the Emperor's
preference for the Crown Prince is reasonable."

How heart-wrenching would it be if the Emperor's most beloved child

turned into a white-eyed wolf?

Consort Xian sighed and turned to leave. Suddenly, she said, "I didn't know
about your romantic involvement with the eldest son of the Liu family, so
there's something I haven't told you. The eldest son of the Liu family didn't
die of illness; he committed suicide. The Emperor, out of sympathy for his
pure-heartedness, didn't want the world to mock him for being weak, so he
announced it as an illness."

The Second Princess stared blankly at Consort Xian's departing figure.

After a long while, she touched the tears on her face and burst into laughter
filled with despair.

The officials of the Ministry of Justice, who had finally enjoyed two days of
good sleep, once again became busy after capturing the big fish they had
been after, He Yuanting.

As expected, the person colluding with the Xie family turned out to be the
Third Prince.

"He Yuanting is so cunning. Neither the spies he sent to Great Jin nor his
advisors knew about his secret dealings with the Xie family," Gou Jingqi
flipped through the documents, amazed by He Yuanting's myriad of plans.

"Attempting to assassinate court officials and trying to incite conflicts

among civil and military officials, tsk tsk."

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. No matter how good the

schemes were, they couldn't compare to the plan being foiled by a servant
girl from the Hua family kicking the poisoned food. Not only did the court
official not die, but Fushou Junzhu safely sent the court official on his way
to exile.

The servant lurking in Consort Rong's maternal family was planning to kill
Consort Xian's nephew during the chaos, but the plan failed due to the
unexpected appearance of Fushou Junzhu.

Sending an assassin to kill the Crown Prince and blame it on Ying Wang,
regardless of success or failure. However, Fushou Junzhu accidentally
misstepped and disrupted the assassin's performance.
There were many more conspiracies and schemes; if any of them were to
succeed, it would bring countless troubles to Great Jin. But as the saying
goes, the man proposes... Heaven disposes.

"Although Fushou Junzhu is weak and sickly, she has contributed no less to
Great Jin than her three brothers," Gou Jingqi put away the documents,
rolling them up and sealing them. He took the seal of his position as the
Deputy Minister from the table and affixed it to the scroll.

Pei Jihuai looked at Gou Jingqi with a complex expression and took out his
own seal of the Deputy Minister, also affixing it to the scroll.

The scroll was then handed over to Zhang Shuo, the Minister of Justice.
Holding the weighty scroll in his hands, Zhang Shuo let out a long sigh.
This seemingly ordinary scroll contained the turbulent changes of the past
few years and the future of two different nations.

Fortunately, Heaven blessed them, Great Jin.

Zhang Shuo placed the final seal on the sealing paper, stood up, and stored
the scroll in the highly classified archives of the Ministry of Justice.
Perhaps centuries later, future generations would discover this scroll and
glimpse at the storms of what had happened during this time.

Click.

The bronze lock fell, sealing not only the scroll but also the conspiracies
against Great Jin.

In the scorching heat of July, the capital city had become slightly cooler.

Hua Liuli sat in the cool pavilion of the Eastern Palace, leisurely enjoying a
bowl of ice. The palace maids and eunuchs from the Eastern Palace
surrounded her attentively, creating a relaxed atmosphere.

The Crown Prince, who had just returned to the Eastern Palace after a
busying around in the Chenyang Palace, saw this scene. He walked over
and sat next to Hua Liuli, exhaustedly saying, "Liuli, my wrists are tired.
Can you massage them for me?"

Hua Liuli fed him a spoonful of rose-flavored ice and put down her bowl to
start massaging his hands, "You've worked hard, Your Royal Highness."

"I don't feel tired when I know you're waiting for me in the palace," the
Crown Prince said, holding a spoon of rose-flavored ice and looking at Hua
Liuli's fair face. In his heart, the girl he liked must be the most beautiful
bride in the world.

Lost in his thoughts as he looked at her profile, the Crown Prince suddenly
said, "Liuli."

"Mm?" Hua Liuli smiled and looked at him.

"In a little over twenty days, it will be our wedding ceremony," the Crown
Prince held Hua Liuli's hand in his palm, "You'll always be by my side,
right?"

Hua Liuli looked up at him, smiling softly, "Yes."

"I'm so handsome, once you have me, you won't think about raising male
companions anymore, right?" The Crown Prince's heart still had a slight
trace of fear.

"Your Royal Highness, have you forgotten?" Hua Liuli extended her finger
and lightly tapped the Crown Prince's chest, "I've said it before. After
meeting you, all the men in the world pale in comparison."

The Crown Prince pressed her hand against his chest, his gaze gentle and
affectionate, "I remember, I will remember it for a lifetime."

On the eighth day of the eighth month, the grand wedding of the Crown
Prince was approaching; the Ministry of Rites was in a state of disarray.
They ran to the Hua family to discuss the wedding process one moment,
then they would go to the palace to report the progress to the Emperor the
next.
Emperor Changlong had simple and straightforward requirements for the
Crown Prince's wedding ceremony: it should be grand, large-scale, and
lively.

Some officials in the capital who had hoped for the Crown Prince to be
deposed felt their hopes extinguished almost completely after seeing the
proposed wedding process from the Ministry of Rites.

Today, the Emperor was still kind to the Crown Prince; the Crown Prince
had not been deposed.

In Qinghe Academy, Du Xiuying had just finished organizing a scroll of

books when she received a gilded invitation.

She opened the invitation; inside was Hua Liuli's handwritten message.

After reading the invitation, Du Xiuying smiled silently. From the moment
she decided not to marry the Crown Prince, she knew that her life was not
meant to be spent with any man.

However, she was genuinely happy for her good friend's wedding.

After spending several months in the academy, for the first time, she made
the decision to leave the mountain.

The students and teachers at the academy were reluctant to have a woman
serve as the mountain leader, but they reluctantly agreed because Du
Xiuying was the granddaughter personally raised by Grand Tutor Du.

Upon Du Xiuying's arrival at the academy, she quickly gained the respect of
everyone with her knowledge. So when the students saw her leaving the
academy, they were startled. Could it be that the mountain leader didn't
intend to stay here anymore?

The students rushed forward to persuade her and the scene became lively.

"Where do you think I'm going?" Du Xiuying's lips curved into a smile, "I
have a good friend who is about to get married, so I'm going to attend her
wedding."
The crowd was surprised and suddenly realized that the mountain leader,
who was always immersed in knowledge, also had friends?

"Mountain Leader, may I ask who your friend is?" one assistant teacher
couldn't help but break the ice.

"She is the daughter of General Hua and General Wei, Fushou Junzhu."

The crowd was even more shocked. The mountain leader's friend turned out
to be the future Crown Princess? Those who had spoken ill of the new
mountain leader felt even more uneasy, afraid of retaliation.

Du Xiuying glanced at the expressions of the crowd, smiled faintly, and

turned to leave the mountain.

On the tenth day of August, there was a bustling atmosphere in the Hua
Family Estate. Only Hua Liuli, who was about to become the bride, was the
most leisurely. The courtyard where she resided was already adorned with
red silk and posted with the character "Double Happiness".

Afraid that Hua Liuli would be nervous before her wedding, Yao Jiamin
came to accompany her. Eating melons and cracking melon seeds, Yao
Jiamin couldn't spot any signs of nervousness on Hua Liuli's face.

Actually, it was true. The one who should be nervous was the Crown
Prince. Who would have thought that this seemingly delicate Junzhu was a
capable and decisive person?

"So, you were deceiving me when you said you wanted to become a famous
weak and sickly beauty in history, right?" Before leaving the Hua Family
Estate, Yao Jiamin suddenly said, "With the Hua family's military power in
hand, and as the only daughter of the Hua family, no matter which prince
you marry, it would cause conflicts among all the princes. No matter which
influential family's son you marry, it may also lead to factional struggles."

"Everything you have done is for the stability of the court, for the safety of
the Hua family, isn't it?"
Hua Liuli blinked, "So, you think I'm that amazing?"

Yao Jiamin's cheeks turned slightly red, and she turned her head, saying, "If
it wasn't for the Crown Prince actively pursuing to marry you, would you
sacrifice yourself for a lifetime and never marry even if you met someone
you liked?"

"Don't overthink it," Hua Liuli chuckled, "Young girls who think too much
will lose their hair."

Yao Jiamin, who had been experiencing some hair loss recently, fell silent.
She glanced at Hua Liuli's thick and dark hair and felt numb, "Sorry for
disturbing you. Goodbye."

When there is Liuli, who needs Jiamin!

On the twelfth day of August, it was an auspicious day. The weather was
clear and the entire capital was surrounded by red.

Hua Liuli rarely wore red, so when she changed into the red wedding dress,
her brows and eyes looked even more radiant than the sun in the sky.

The Eldest Young Master and the Eldest Young Madam of the Hua family,
as well as the Second Young Master and the Second Young Madam, rushed
back to the capital from the border. The family looked at her with a mixture
of joy and a hint of worry.

"Little sister," Hua Jingyi, the composed Eldest Young Master of the Hua
family, spoke with sincerity, "If there is any conflict, remember to take a
deep breath. Whenever possible, we should seek to resolve conflicts
through peaceful dialogue rather than resorting to violence."

The others nodded in agreement.

In the palace -- The Crown Prince dressed in a bright red wedding robe rode
a tall horse with joy as he left the palace to go to the Hua Family Estate to
meet his future Crown Princess.
Emperor Changlong stood on the viewing platform, watching the wedding
procession leave the palace gate, and smiled with contentment. He turned to
Zhao Sancai and said, "Fushou Junzhu is gentle and kind, she is also the girl
that Yuansu likes. Finally, Zhen can rest assured."

"Your Majesty speaks the truth," Zhao Sancai replied with a smile on his
face as well.

However, the bystanders gathered outside the Hua Family Estate couldn't
help but find it peculiar. In typical weddings where daughters are married
off, tears and reluctance often accompany the farewells. Yet, when it came
to the Hua family, no one shed a tear. Instead, their countenances were filled
with solemnity and gravity.

Hua Jingyi carried Hua Liuli into the wedding sedan and turned to the
Crown Prince, who was on horseback, "Your Royal Highness..."

Just take good care.

"Eldest Brother-in-Law," the Crown Prince's face was full of smiles as he

looked at Hua Jingyi with shining eyes.

Facing this joyful face, Hua Jingyi's conscience ached a little, and he
returned a smile that can be described as the gentlest smile a family member
can have when facing their family's son-in-law.

The wedding sedan was carried into the palace, and after going through one
complicated ritual after another, the newlyweds could finally sit peacefully
on the bed.

When they sat down, they were still sitting on the cushioning materials like
longans, red dates, peanuts, and other items placed under the blanket.

"I'm so tired," Hua Liuli lay on the bed with exhaustion, weakly asking the
Crown Prince to remove her headdress.

The Crown Prince smiled as he helped her take off the headdress. They lay
side by side, facing each other, and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Your Royal Highness, your face seems a bit red," Hua Liuli tugged at the
Crown Prince's cheek.

The Crown Prince replied, "It's a joyful blush."

"I thought you were shy," Hua Liuli's eyes formed crescents as she smiled.

"I am not shy," The Crown Prince held Hua Liuli's hand, "Also, you should
no longer address me 'Your Royal Highness'."

"What should I call you then?"

"Call me... husband, or call me by my name, Yuansu."

Their fingers intertwined, just like their lives. They initially thought they
would have limited interactions, but in the end, they became each other's
deepest bond.

"We are destined to be together," the Crown Prince smiled, "When you
were still in General Wei's belly, we had already met. At that time, I secretly
wished in my heart for the safe delivery of the baby in General Wei's belly."

"Heaven heard my words."

So it let us meet again, know each other, become acquainted, fall in love,
and finally walk together.

Their foreheads pressed against each other, filled with incomparable

sweetness.

In the room that was filled with red, they were the most beautiful scenery.

OceanofPDF.com
 Extra Chapter 1 – He Was Wise

The Crown Prince's grand wedding attracted envoys from various countries,
making the capital city bustling with excitement.

At their homes, the unmarried youths of marriageable age were nagged by

their elders -- Even the Crown Prince got married, why are you still single?

Muddled by the nagging of their elders, the young ladies and gentlemen of
prestigious families had no choice but to go out for a stroll and enjoy the
spring scenery. Surprisingly, several loving couples were formed as a result.

The congratulatory gifts from the Daimao Kingdom were more generous
than those from other countries. As for the Third Prince, He Yuanting, who
was imprisoned in the dungeons of the Ministry of Justice, they didn't dare
to ask about him at all.

As long as the Great Jin Dynasty didn't send troops to attack them, they
were willing to give up on this legitimate heir.

When He Yuanting, who was in prison, learned of this news, he remained

stunned for a moment before laughing at himself.

"Don't laugh. Just move the stones honestly," Prince A'Wa, with his chubby
figure, walked past him, holding a large stone in his hands.

Originally, as a prince of another country, he had the privilege of not

participating in labor in the dungeons. However, a few days ago, the
prisoners in the dungeons began to cause trouble, saying that they were all
prisoners, so why did some people receive preferential treatment?

Once the situation escalated, it eventually led to everyone being forced to

perform labor.
He Yuanting had never experienced such days of carrying stones and
fighting for food. If it weren't for the protection of the strategist in the blue
robe and Yunhan, he might not even have enough to eat.

Whenever Prince A'Wa felt depressed, he would look up and glance at He

Yuanting and would feel that he could barely get through the days.

"During these few days of the Crown Prince's grand wedding, even the
meals for us prisoners have been better than usual," at lunchtime, the
prisoners could rest for a short half hour. Holding their bowls, they sat
down and whispered under the supervision of the guards, trying to gather
information.

Those who ended up in the dungeons of the Ministry of Justice were all
involved in major crimes. Most of them would spend the rest of their lives
in prison.

Listening to the prisoners speculating about how grand the Crown Prince's
wedding was, Prince A'Wa sat down next to He Yuanting and sneered, "Ji
Yuansu and that girl, are they really together?"

He Yuanting looked at him expressionlessly.

"In light of the fact that we are all unfortunate princes, don't act so
indifferent to me," Prince A'Wa completely disregarded He Yuanting's
coldness and continued. He quickly finished eating the steamed bun in his
hand and glanced at the two people sitting next to He Yuanting, "I knew
there was something strange between those two. So, they are your people."

He Yuanting remained silent.

Prince A'Wa didn't care about his attitude and continued, "I have to say, you
could have stayed as a prince in your Daimao. After your eldest brother's
death, you would have become the next Crown Prince for sure. But no, you
had to go and provoke the wrong person. You just had to provoke Hua
Liuli, the most treacherous vixen in the world."
When Prince A'Wa mentioned Hua Liuli, He Yuanting finally deigned to
give him a proper look.

"Brother, that look in your eyes..." Prince A'Wa's expression became subtly
intrigued, "Could it be that you also fell into her trap?"

"Don't talk nonsense. Who said we were brothers?" The strategist in the
blue robe gave Prince A'Wa a cold glance, not concealing his annoyance
towards him.

However, life in prison had made him look extremely desolate, he no longer
had the scholarly elegance he used to have.

"Tsk!" Prince A'Wa took a steamed bun from in front of the three of them,
stood up, and patted the dust off his buttocks, "We're all prisoners. There's
no need for discrimination."

Yunhan glanced at the departing Prince A'Wa, then looked at He Yuanting

without saying a word.

He Yuanting stood up silently. He gazed into the distance, in the direction of

the Great Jin Dynasty's palace.

When he first arrived in the capital, he was captivated at first sight by the
red-clad girl in the crowd. That vibrant and lively girl only needed one
glance to be etched into one's memory

Since birth, the people around him had always told him that women were
only important pastimes for men, that men could like them but should not
become obsessed.

When Father Emperor wanted to send his imperial sister as a gift to Great
Jin, he did not object.

Now, when he was given as a gift to appease the anger of Great Jin, no one
objected either.

In the face of interests, whether it was a woman or a man, they could both
become sacrificial pawns. He had desired so much in his life, and for the
sake of those things, he had let go of everything, only to end up with
nothing in the end.

Closing his eyes, the wind from the mountains still blew past his ears,
blowing through his empty heart.

On the viewing platform of the palace, Hua Liuli leaned on the railing,
watching the distant mountains with their blushing maple leaves.
Occasionally, she would take something to eat from the plate held by a
palace maid, appearing completely relaxed.

"Crown Princess, when the maple leaves on the mountain turn completely
red, the scenery will be especially beautiful," a female attendant from the
Eastern Palace whispered, "It's also delightful to enjoy the clear autumn
weather while looking out into the distance."

As they were speaking, the Crown Prince approached Hua Liuli, holding a
cloak in his hands. He walked up to her, reaching out to embrace her
shoulder, "It's windy up here. Be careful not to catch a cold."

Seeing him, Hua Liuli fed the fruit in her hand into his mouth, "Didn't
Father Emperor tell you to go to the Chanyang Palace?"

"You've just moved into the Eastern Palace, I'm afraid you're not
accustomed to it," as he held Hua Liuli's hand, the Crown Prince ate the
fruit she fed him, "Before our wedding, I already talked to Father Emperor
and got myself a few days leave so that I can spend some time playing with
you."

Hua Liuli chuckled softly and didn't persuade the Crown Prince to return to
the Chanyang Palace to handle government affairs. The two of them sat on
a stone bench, sharing the fruit.

Ying Wang, who just came by, saw this scene. His gaze then met the Crown
Prince's and Hua Liuli's.

"Sorry for the interruption. Please continue," Ying Wang turned and walked
away.
Is the palace lacking food?

Do they not find it corny to eat from each other's hands?

He hurriedly walked some distance, looked up to see the plaque of the

Lincui Palace, then stopped his steps. Thinking about how his Mother kept
talking about finding him a better Wangfei than the Crown Princess, he felt
a headache and turned around to leave.

"Your Highness?" The attendant who was serving him hurriedly followed
behind him.

Ying Wang, who was walking quickly, suddenly stopped just as he was
about to leave the palace. He looked up in the direction of the observation
deck, and thought to himself: Ji Yuansu is probably still having a sweet time
with the Crown Princess, right?

As the bustling street noises surrounded him, Ying Wang was about to
mount his horse when he suddenly remembered how the Crown Princess's
old ailment resurfaced after she was frightened by his cousin's horse. He
paused in his action, threw the reins to the attendant behind him, and
continued walking sullenly.

He was not in a good mood, and he knew why, but he couldn't bring himself
to speak.

"Ying Wang."

Hearing a girl calling him, Ying Wang turned his head, his expression
turning somewhat subtle, "Oh, it's you."

Lin Wan looked at the man, who had almost become her husband, standing
in front of her. She walked up to him and performed a deep bow, "This
humble maiden greets Your Highness, Ying Wang. Is Ying Wang doing well
recently?"

She had a sensitive personality, so she had long noticed Ying Wang's
favorable impression of Hua Liuli. That was why she didn't like Hua Liuli.
Even though she understood that if a man had his heart set on someone, it
was not the fault of others.

Did she have to admit that she was inferior to Hua Liuli in every aspect,
only for Ying Wang to overlook her, his future Wangfei, and instead harbor
feelings for Hua Liuli?

Her father had once told her that jealousy was an ugly demon. She
remembered it, but she couldn't comprehend it. Even now, whenever she
heard news related to Hua Liuli, she couldn't calm down.

"Benwang is fine. Do you need something?" Ying Wang raised an eyebrow.

Their betrothal had long been broken. It might not look good for an
unmarried man and woman to stand together on the street, right?

"No, nothing," Lin Wan smiled stiffly, "I just came to pay my respects when
I saw Ying Wang."

"You've paid your respects. You may leave now," Ying Wang couldn't
understand the twists and turns in Lin Wan's mind, nor could he understand
her reticent expression.

"Ying Wang, there's something I want to tell you..."

"What does a young girl like you have to say to Benwang?" Ying Wang
looked at Lin Wan warily, "You also know that our betrothal has been
dissolved. It's fine to pay your respects while standing on the street, but if
you want to do something else, Benwang is afraid others might
misunderstand."

"I have a clear conscience and am not afraid of others' slander."

"Although you're not afraid, Benwang is," Ying Wang furrowed his brow,
"What if it tarnishes your reputation, and Benwang has no choice but to
bring you into the palace as a concubine?"

There's no way he would fall for this scheme.

He was a remarkably intelligent man in the imperial family.

Lin Wan smiled bitterly. Ying Wang's attempt to distance himself was too
obvious, she couldn't pretend to be ignorant. All along, she resented Hua
Liuli for causing her misery. She blamed her family background for not
being prominent enough, which led her to the current situation where she
was mocked and ignored.

But seeing the disdain in Ying Wang's eyes, she suddenly understood.

Her betrothal was dissolved because ultimately... Ying Wang simply did not
like her.

"You despise me so much, Ying Wang?"

Ying Wang looked at Lin Wan's tearful face and sighed, "Lin Wan,
Benwang knows that you have no interest in Benwang. What you want is to
the position of Ying Wangfei. Whether the Ying Wang you marry is tall or
short, fat or thin, doesn't matter. So, there's no need for you to put on this
act."

Lin Wan bit her lip tightly until it bled, trembling as she asked, "What about
Hua Liuli? Even if she doesn't like you, would you still marry her if you
had the chance?"

"Are you foolish?" Ying Wang sneered, "Using the Crown Princess as an
analogy?"

Lin Wan glared fiercely at him, seemingly determined to obtain an answer.

Ying Wang didn't understand what she was insisting on. He also didn't
understand why she had been against Hua Liuli in the first place when the
two had no connection whatsoever.

"Just consider it as a favor for our past relationship, please answer me, Your
Highness."

"Benwang would."

"Why?!" Lin Wan exclaimed, "You really have feelings for her..."
"She's beautiful," Ying Wang simply stated and hastily left.

She's beautiful?!

Lin Wan stood stunned for a moment, all her emotions were replaced by
anger. Hua Liuli was beautiful, so did that mean she wasn't?

It was fine if he criticized her character, but why attack her appearance?!

Ying Wang returned to his estate, leaned against a tree, poured himself a
glass of wine, and sipped it slowly.

"Why do you think..." He turned to the eunuch attendant beside him, "Some
people are particularly despicable?"

The eunuch attendant didn't dare to speak.

Ying Wang didn't seem to have any intention of obtaining an answer from
him either and continued, "What one can't have, what one can never obtain,
always seems particularly appealing."

Autumn leaves fell, and he reached out to catch one.

"But Benwang is wise," He toyed with the withered leaf and sneered,
"Benwang won't make the mistakes others make."

The autumn wind mewled as he drank the remaining wine in his cup and
tossed away the withered leaf in his hand, "Winter is approaching."

He only had a slight regret.

Last winter, when his father asked him to marry the girl from the Hua
family, he wished he had just nodded back then.

But unfortunately...

It was the biggest mistake he had made in his life.

It couldn't be undone, nor could it be compensated for.

Fortunately, he was wise enough to know when to let go.

OceanofPDF.com
Extra Chapter 2 – Dragging the Oil
Lamp

Ji Yanqiu felt that he was the most talented, elegant, and skilled in painting
among all his brothers, but most people didn't understand him or appreciate
him.

The beauty of painting comes from life, yet it transcends life. The artistic
conception always outweighs the form. In the torrent of time, everything
undergoes changes, but the charm captured in a painting never fades.

As the youngest of the five princes, he actually didn't like the Crown Prince.
However, when he was young, his mother told him never to offend the
Crown Prince. So every few days, he would go pay his respects to the
Crown Prince, even though he could sense that the Crown Prince didn't
particularly care if he paid his respects or not.

The most important thing for a person is to observe etiquette. Whether the
Crown Prince liked it or not was unimportant; what mattered was that he
followed the rules.

Devoting his heart and soul to painting, he didn't want to associate with his
abnormal brothers. However, his mother once told him that if he didn't
interact well with his brothers, and if one of them ascended to the throne, he
might not even be able to touch a paintbrush.

In fact, he truly believed from the bottom of his heart that he was the only
normal person among the five brothers. While the others had some weird
flaws: the eldest was simple-minded, the second was dull-witted, the third
had a peculiar temper, and the fourth had a gloomy personality. Even the
second sister, who was imprisoned in the imperial dungeon, had a stubborn
and muddled character.

As the youngest, he had to bear the clarity and pressure that he shouldn't
have to bear.

He thought the Crown Prince would always be abnormal like his other
brothers, but then Fushou Junzhu appeared.

He didn't know how Fushou Junzhu ended up with the Crown Prince, but
by the time he realized it, the atmosphere between them had become subtle
and ambiguous.

In his heart, he truly hoped that Fushou Junzhu would become the Crown
Princess. It was hard to find someone who appreciated his artwork and was
gentle. Having a Crown Princess who fulfilled both roles would be a great
thing for him.

But he also understood that the Hua family held nearly half of Great Jin's
military power. If Father Emperor had even the slightest suspicion or fear of
the Crown Prince, he wouldn't have allowed a daughter of the Hua family to
marry into the Eastern Palace.

Actually, it was for the best. Hua Liuli was physically weak, and regardless
of whether Father Emperor was willing to let her marry into the Eastern
Palace, her physical weakness served as both an offensive and defensive
shield.

Not long after, Father Emperor sent his Imperial Uncle, Kang Wang, to the
Hua family personally to propose marriage between the Crown Prince and
Fushou Junzhu. It was at this moment, he fully understood that, no matter
how much trouble the Crown Prince caused, Father Emperor's choice for
the heir to the throne had never wavered.

Outsiders believed that he suddenly got close to the Crown Prince because
he had seen through the Emperor's thoughts. But in reality, he got close to
the Crown Prince only because the Crown Prince was the only one among
his brothers to praise his painting skills in front of the officials.
A scholar would die for his sworn brother, and he, as a prince, would
always stand by his sworn brother. Although his father had only a few sons,
the other princes were no match for the Crown Prince.

On the second day after the Crown Prince's wedding to Fushou Junzhu, he
fulfilled his promise and presented a painting he had personally created. It
was the first time he deviated from his usual artistic preferences and
intentions, using popular realistic painting techniques to create a celebratory
painting called "A Thousand Miles of Red Bridal Bliss".

"Your Highness, your painting skills are truly exceptional," he saw a hint of
astonishment in the eyes of the Crown Princess.

The Fifth Prince felt somewhat proud. If he could amaze the Crown
Princess with just this simple popular realistic painting technique, it was no
wonder that the profound and artistic paintings he had previously created
also received such high praise from the Crown Princess.

"It's good that Third Sister-in-Law likes it," the Fifth Prince modestly
smiled.

A few days later, he saw his painting hanging on the wall of the Eastern
Palace. He felt a mixture of pride and regret and couldn't help but ask the
Crown Prince, "Third Brother, this painting emphasizes craftsmanship,
unlike the other paintings I've given you. Why did you only hang this one?"

The Crown Prince paused his tea-drinking motion, raised his head, and
looked at him with a loving and indulgent gaze, "This painting captures the
beautiful moment of the grand wedding between Gu and the Crown
Princess, so it holds significant meaning. Moreover, the other few paintings
from Fifth Brother have profound artistic conceptions and exceptional
skills. Gu simply can't bear to hang them up for some common people to
defile."

The Fifth Prince was deeply moved. He knew that the Crown Prince and
Crown Princess cherished his paintings immensely.
From then on, every year, he would present the Crown Prince and Crown
Princess with realistic style paintings and profound conceptual paintings.

The Crown Prince never hung up the profound conceptual paintings, but he
hung up quite a few from the realistic style. Gradually, his artistic skills and
reputation grew, making him the most renowned artist in Great Jin.

Throughout his long life, he painted many paintings. He painted mountains,

water, people, and animals, but every year, he had to paint his Third Brother
and Third Sister-in-Law.

In order to record their lives, he could only use realistic style craftsmanship
to depict their loving scenes.

His Third Sister-in-Law was always delicate and weak in health. There
were even some unfavorable rumors that had circulated in the capital. But
the delicate Third Sister-in-Law disappointed those rumors. Not only did
she not wither away in her prime, but she also remained by his Third
Brother's side.

She accompanied his Third Brother in his ascension to the throne,

accompanied him during meals and sleep, and accompanied him through
the quiet palace, spending the rest of their lives together.

His Third Brother never took any concubines.

Not long after his Third Brother ascended the throne, court officials
presented countless petitions, claiming that the harem was empty and
lacked the majesty of a monarch of a great nation.

"The majesty of a great nation is not determined by the number of people in

Zhen's harem but by the officials' concern for the people and the people's
peaceful and prosperous lives," the Emperor, Ji Yuansu, stood tall on the
platform, his expression resolute, just as it was when he was young, "When
Zhen was in danger, the Empress saved Zhen by risking her life. Now, the
Empress is accompanying Zhen, living in this secluded palace. This bond is
the blessing of ten generations. Do you want Zhen to squander this blessing
by taking other women as concubines?"
The officials dared not advise any further. If someone were to advise, it
would be seen as tempting His Majesty to relinquish his blessings. Who
could bear such a responsibility?

Some officials were not willing to give up and wanted to seek an audience
with the Supreme Emperor in the Imperial Villa, hoping that the old retired
Emperor could persuade His Majesty. But the Supreme Emperor refused on
the spot, saying, "As a father, one can't meddle in the affairs of one's
descendants' bed chambers."

The Supreme Emperor was busy with his own matters—playing chess,
fishing, painting, enjoying music. Sometimes he even had to mediate small
conflicts among the imperial dowager consorts. He didn't have time to
bother with the matters of his son taking in, or not taking in, concubines.

Besides, the Hua family girl was such a good young lady. Yuansu was
devoted to her. Why would he need other women in the palace? Would it be
necessary for them to confine themselves in the Cold Palace and witness the
strong bond between Yuansu and his daughter-in-law?

The palace now belonged to the new Emperor and Empress. The Supreme
Emperor and the dowager consorts moved to the scenic Imperial Villa.

A certain courtyard within the palace that seemed to have been forgotten, it
didn't matter if the flowers bloomed or leaves fell, was always silent and
still.

The courtyard gate was pushed open from the outside, and Dowager
Consort Lin, sitting in the courtyard, looked at the newcomer with a
peculiar smile on her face, "When you first entered the palace, I felt that
you were different from other women. But I never expected..." she paused
for a moment, "That you would firmly capture the Emperor's heart, that he
would keep the harem empty and not take in any concubines."

Hua Liuli smiled and walked over to sit in front of Dowager Consort Lin,
"Thank you for your praise, Dowager Consort."
"Empress, you misunderstood. I didn't praise you," she replied coldly,
lowered her head, and fell silent.

Seeing that she didn't continue to speak, Hua Liuli remained quiet as well.
She sat there silently, taking out a book from her pocket and reading it
leisurely.

After a period of time passed, she heard Dowager Consort Lin ask, "Is His
Majesty doing well?"

Hua Liuli understood that when Dowager Consort Lin referred to His
Majesty, she meant the Supreme Emperor, "Imperial Father is doing rather
well. A few days ago, he traveled to the Imperial Villa with the other
dowager consorts for a leisure trip. He won't return for about half a year."

Dowager Consort Lin looked toward the direction of Chenyang Palace, her
expression somewhat desolate, "He took everyone with him but forgot
about me."

"Dowager Consort, do you remember that you once borrowed the influence
of Lin Daren to manipulate the sale and purchase of household registrations
in Yongzhou?" Seeing Dowager Consort Lin's dejected and wounded
expression, as though the Supreme Emperor had let her down, Hua Liuli
spoke directly, "You probably don't know, but among those household
registrations you sold, some of them were spies sent by the Daimao
Kingdom."

"Impossible!" Dowager Consort Lin exclaimed in shock, "I only took

advantage of my brother's inattentiveness and had his people help process
customs documents and household registrations for some merchants!"

She only wanted her son to ascend the throne, she had never considered
selling out Great Jin to other countries.

Hua Liuli looked at Dowager Consort Lin's shocked expression and

chuckled lightly, "Imperial Father probably trusted you, so this matter did
not implicate you or Lin Daren."
When the Golden Armor Guards captured the strategist in the blue robe in
Yongzhou and imprisoned him, they didn't mention the matter of household
registrations. Hua Liuli had already guessed that there must be others
involved.

Upon hearing this, Dowager Consort Lin first laughed, then burst into tears.

She was born into a humble family, and although she wasn't favored in the
palace, she still received Emperor Changlong's love and attention. If her
ambition hadn't taken over her, she wouldn't have ended up in this situation
today.

She had a husband, but he no longer wanted to see her.

She had a son, but the relationship between mother and son was more
indifferent than that of strangers.

"Why did you come today?" Dowager Consort Lin regained her composure
and sneered at Hua Liuli, "To see me as a joke?"

"You are one of the dowager consorts, so I came here today just to see how
you're doing," Hua Liuli didn't care about Dowager Consort Lin's attitude
towards her, "Moreover, what joke could one possibly find in you?"

"You're right. The Empress is surrounded by countless flatterers. Naturally,

you don't need to see me as a joke," Dowager Consort Lin lowered her gaze
and chuckled softly, then suddenly said, "Empress, please dismiss your
palace maids. I have a secret to tell you."

Hua Liuli silently stared at Empress Lin for a few moments, then raised her
hand, signaling the attendants around her to leave. In the empty courtyard,
only she and Dowager Consort Lin remained, creating an atmosphere that
was quiet and almost eerie.

"The secret I want to tell you is..." Dowager Consort Lin suddenly took out
a dagger from her pocket and aimed it toward her own heart.
She didn't want to live anymore, and before dying, if she could case cause
trouble for the new Emperor and Empress, she was more than willing to die.

However, before the tip of the dagger touched her skin, it was intercepted
by someone. Her wrist was firmly held by a weak and boneless hand.

She couldn't believe it. How could Hua Liuli, who was weak and often sick,
possess such strength?

"You..." Dowager Consort Lin was greatly shocked. She realized that Hua
Liuli had been pretending to be weak and sickly. She had been lying! She
deceived everyone in the capital!

Hua Liuli easily took the dagger, pinched it, and broke it into two pieces—
separating the blade from the hilt.

"Dowager Consort Lin, don't scream. Even if you do, no one will come,"
Hua Liuli kicked the blade aside, stood up, and wiped her palms with a
handkerchief, "Supreme Emperor and the other dowager consorts are
enjoying themselves in the Imperial Villa. I don't want you to disturb their
mood."

"Even if you are the Empress, can you stop me from living? Can you stop
me from dying?" Dowager Consort Lin sneered, "If I live, aren't you afraid
that your secret will be exposed?"

"Dowager Consort Lin, you're accustomed to lying. Who would believe

what you say?" Hua Liuli raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Will Imperial
Father believe you, or will the officials of the court believe you?"

Dowager Consort Lin turned pale and remained silent.

Indeed, the people in the capital would no longer believe her words.

"I know that you're not afraid of death, but as the saying goes, a person's
reputation is like their face, and a tree's reputation is like its bark. If you end
your life now, not only will you not be able to enter the imperial tomb after
death, but your wicked deeds will be exposed and become infamous for
eternity."

"Are you threatening me?"

"Dowager Consort Lin, you're joking. I'm just advising you."

"What does my life or death have to do with you? Why are you doing this?"
Dowager Consort Lin couldn't understand.

"Because if you die, it will affect Imperial Father's mood. If Imperial Father
is in a bad mood, my Yuansu will worry and feel upset," Hua Liuli looked
up at the azure sky, "I don't care about you, but I care about my Yuansu."

Dowager Consort Lin found this statement absurd and ridiculous, but seeing
Hua Liuli's serious expression, she twitched her lips and couldn't force a
smile.

It turned out that her life and death were no longer so important to others.

"You address the Emperor by his name and consider everything for him, but
have you ever considered that he might have a change of heart one day?"
Dowager Consort Lin looked at Hua Liuli maliciously, hoping to see signs
of distress in her eyes.

However, she was disappointed. There was nothing in Hua Liuli's eyes.

"No," Hua Liuli smiled, "I don't dwell on things that are yet to happen."

Having said that, she turned and walked towards the courtyard gate to
leave.

Dowager Consort Lin watched Hua Liuli's departing figure and murmured
softly, "I don't believe it, I don't believe it."

However, she lived lonely in the palace year after year until the day of her
death. The only one who accompanied her from time to time was Hua Liuli.
In the last moments of her life, she saw her son whom she had once
despised.

He stood by her bedside, his expression serious, "Mother, let's not be

mother and son in the next life."

She reached out her hand, attempting to hold his hand for the last time. But
she no longer had the strength, and her hand drooped weakly, taking her
final breath.

Ji Qichen looked at his mother's hand in silence for a long time, then slowly
extended his own hand. When his fingertips were about to touch the back of
her hand, he pulled it back.

In this lifetime, they were destined to not share the bond between mother
and son, and that was for the best.

In the next life, they should never meet again.

He walked out of the courtyard and arrived at the Chenyang Palace, where
his Third Brother and Third Sister-in-Law stood side by side, looking at the
ripening persimmons.

Yao Jiamin and Hua Changkong stood behind them, speaking in low voices.
The atmosphere was harmonious.

"Fourth Brother?" Third Sister-in-Law spotted him and waved, beckoning

him over, "Come, come and take a look. The fruits on this persimmon tree
are ripening. Which one do you like? I'll have the palace maids watch over
it for you and pick it when it's ripe to send it to you."

His Third Brother also turned his gaze toward him. Although he didn't
speak, his eyes were warm and gentle.

He walked up to them and saw his reflection in their eyes.

Just like many years ago, when he walked alone on the palace road, his
Third Brother and Third Sister-in-Law took him to the viewing platform, sat
together as they shared snacks, and then went to the Eastern Palace kitchen
to cook together.

He was always wanted, always cared for.

Even many, many years later, when he had grown old and even his youngest
grandchild had begun to recite poetry, his Third Brother and Third Sister-in-
Law still enjoyed standing or sitting side by side. They would share many
little trinkets with him.

If there were another life...

If there were another life, he hoped that the Third Prince and Third Princess
would remain loving and inseparable, and he would shamelessly continue
dragging the oil lamp1拖油瓶 (tuō yóu píng) is a Chinese slang term that
translates to "dragging the oil lamp" in English. It refers to a person who
accompanies a couple on a date or hangs around them, making the
atmosphere awkward or uncomfortable. This term is often used to describe
a third wheel or someone who intrudes on a romantic situation. behind
them.

Thousands of years later, after a history subject examination.

Student A: "There was a multiple-choice question just now, asking which

school the famous Jin Dynasty artist Ji Yanqiu belonged to. I chose
realistic-style paintings, what about you guys?"

Student B: "What? He wasn't part of the profound artistic conceptions

school?!"

Student C: "You guys don't get it. This member of the Ji family was a
representative figure of both realistic-style paintings and profound artistic
conceptions. It was a multiple-choice question."

Students A & B: "???"

Student C: "In the museum, there are many portraits of Emperor Qing and
Empress Hua, reportedly painted by Ji Yanqiu. In these paintings, the
Emperor and Empress are lifelike, with even the strands of their hair
distinguishable, demonstrating the exquisite skill of the artist."

Student B: "But in the museum, there are also a bunch of works covered
with his private seal that are completely incomprehensible... masterpieces."

Student C: "That's why future generations say he is an outstanding

representative of both the realistic-style paintings and profound artistic
conceptions schools."

Indeed, this skill point was somewhat contradictory, but given the stark
differences in his artistic styles, later generations had no way to classify
him.

Student A: "By the way, the historical records about Empress Hua are also
quite contradictory. According to the history books, she was a famous
sickly beauty, but mentally strong; a remarkable woman who combined
talent, courage, and loyalty throughout her life. In the collected works of
Hua Changkong, the renowned Prime Minister of that time, he mentioned
his sister multiple times, saying that she surpassed even the sun, moon, and
stars in the sky. But there are also unofficial historical records stating that
Empress Hua, despite looking like a sickly beauty, was not physically weak
but rather incredibly strong, cunning, and perfectly inherited all the
strengths of her mother, the Jin Dynasty's first female general Wei Mingyue,
and surpassed her. This point seems to be mentioned in the memoirs of an
official named Pei Jihuai."

Students B & C: "How can we take unofficial records seriously? Have you
forgotten that there are many poems and verses related to Empress Hua
passed down in Emperor Qing's calligraphy, which often described her as a
frail and delicate beauty?"

Student A felt a bit embarrassed for taking unofficial records seriously: "Y-
yes, that's true."

"But one thing is certain," Student C sighed, "Be it unofficial or official, it

was said that the love between Emperor Qing and Empress Hua was
unparalleled and incomparable in the world."
Student B said in a low voice, "Didn't experts say that a prayer book
believed to be from Emperor Qing was discovered under the floor tiles of
the Jin Dynasty Palace, comprising a prayer for him and Empress Hua to be
together for all eternity?"

Student C fell silent for a moment, "Emperor Qing was a good emperor.
Under his rule, the Jin Dynasty flourished, attracting people to immigrate
from all directions. Perhaps the heavens, recognizing that he was a good
emperor, will grant his wish."

Student A and Student B fell silent. After a long while, Student A nodded
emphatically, "It will definitely come true."

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