Ding Wenfu exclaimed in astonishment, “But why are you in such a hurry? You’re only… only sixteen this year.”
The real Li Fuxiang should be seventeen years old. This fictitious reduction of one year was a gift from the late Consort Xu Zhaoyi and Li Fuyou.
Li Fuxiang: “Is that so?”
Ding Wenfu: “Yes, I don’t understand why you have such thoughts. Everyone is looking forward to your future, including those still alive and those who have already passed…”
They never expected Li Fuxiang to have the destined life of great fortune and prestige. Everyone’s original hope was simply for him to live peacefully and joyfully, even if he were to be a frivolous wastrel.
The Emperor didn’t mind having a son who was an idle prince without ambition.
Gao Yuexing also didn’t care if her husband lived his life as a hidden pearl, never to see the light.
Only Li Fuxiang himself, as he grew older, felt the weight of lives lost for his sake, the unreserved and selfless care that had been offered to him without ulterior motives, pressing heavier and heavier on his shoulders day by day. He couldn’t allow himself to carry the expectations of so many people in vain, wasting the prime of his life.
—
Passing through Huayang Street.
Gao Yuexing once again quietly pushed open the window and saw the nearly completed Prince Xiang’s Mansion.
It was said to be nearly complete because it was still missing something.
It was rumored that a yellow mountain rock was needed for the garden, which was why the completion had been delayed. However, for Prince Xiang’s Mansion, if it weren’t for the Emperor’s tacit permission, how would they dare to delay?
Many didn’t understand the Emperor’s intentions, leading to endless speculation.
Yet, many others did understand.
The absurdity was that those who didn’t understand kept spreading rumors as if they were true, while the few who understood remained silent like gourd-mouthed stoics, feigning ignorance.
Gao Yuexing, of course, belonged to the latter group.
The edict conferring the title of prince to Li Fuxiang had already been issued. Once the mansion was completed, he would move out of the palace.
It was nothing more than the Emperor’s reluctance, wanting to keep him in the palace a little longer.
Li Fuxiang entered the imperial city and, on his way to Qianqing Palace, encountered Prince Xin, Li Fuqian.
Following behind Li Fuxiang, Gao Yuexing, though mostly silent, also took note of this.
Li Fuxiang cupped his hands in salute to his elder brother.
The two brothers rarely saw each other, so they were not close, and their meeting was rather awkward.
Li Fuqian stopped under the corridor and asked, “I heard you recently faced some danger. Were you hurt?”
Li Fuxiang replied that he was not and added, “Thank you, Brother, for your concern.” He seemed to think of something else and said, “I also heard that Brother’s wedding is approaching?”
He always seemed particularly interested in news of others’ marriages.
Li Fuqian, who was no longer young, had already left the palace and established his residence a few years ago. Regarding his marriage, the Emperor had allowed him to choose a woman he liked. He had chosen the younger sister of a Hanlin Academy scholar. The family was neither wealthy nor prominent—the bride came from a humble background, her parents were deceased, and her elder brother was this year’s second-place imperial exam laureate.
The Emperor had deliberated for a few days and eventually agreed.
Li Fuqian was clearly genuinely fond of his fiancée. Speaking of her, his face showed a hint of a smile as he said, “The Ministry of Rites has already begun preparations. It should be ready before the end of the year. Speaking of which, Fifth Brother, aren’t you also of marriageable age?”
Li Fuxiang turned his head without hesitation to glance at Gao Yuexing and said, “I can’t. I still have to wait.”
Li Fuqian noticed Gao Yuexing.
Gao Yuexing also saw him. The fatigue on Prince Xin’s face was unmistakable. He seemed burdened with worry, but Gao Yuexing couldn’t tell if it was because his wedding was approaching or for some other reason.
Li Fuqian said, “Hurry along. Father has been anxiously waiting for you. You’ve been out of the city for most of the day, and Father couldn’t even swallow a sip of water.”
The two brothers passed each other.
Li Fuxiang deliberately stopped in his tracks, waiting for Gao Yuexing to slowly catch up. He said, “My elder brother is getting married. When the day comes, let’s go take a look together.”
Gao Yuexing kept her gaze straight ahead. “You can go, but I can’t. I have no ties with that lady—neither as a family friend nor as a close confidante. Sending a gift later will suffice for courtesy.”
Li Fuxiang said, “I’ll ask the Empress to send an invitation to your family.”
Gao Yuexing replied, “My family won’t go.”
Li Fuxiang asked, “Why not?”
Gao Yuexing glanced at him and sighed. He still lacked a sense of political sensitivity. Gao Jing held an important position, deeply trusted by the Emperor, and the Gao family was known for its strict household values. Gao Jing’s spotless reputation was something he would never risk entangling in factional disputes.
Prince Xiang and Prince Xin were subtly shaping up to be opposing forces.
If not for Gao Yuexing and Li Fuxiang’s inseparable bond since childhood, Gao Jing would never have allowed his daughter to marry into the royal family.
At the entrance to Qianqing Palace, Li Fuxiang had no further opportunity to press the matter. Gao Neishi, the Emperor’s attendant, stepped forward and greeted him with a bow, saying, “Your Highness, you’re finally back. His Majesty has been waiting anxiously. He instructed that you be admitted without announcement. But don’t rush to see His Majesty yet. Inside, a hot spring bath and a few light dishes have been prepared for you. Take your time to bathe and eat before discussing anything further.”
Then, noticing Gao Yuexing, his face lit up with an even more affable smile. “Miss Gao, you must be tired after a full day of travel. As a young lady, you should take extra care. I’ll summon a palanquin to escort you to Chunhe Palace for freshening up. The Princess is waiting for you there.”
Gao Yuexing declined the palanquin. She was always adept at maintaining a sense of propriety and followed the attendants to Chunhe Palace to cleanse and groom herself.
Girls always understood girls best.
On Li Lanyao’s dressing table was a peony velvet flower ornament stored in a box. It had been specially prepared for Gao Yuexing, lifelike and adorned with golden branches and bright pearls. Li Lanyao personally pinned it in Gao Yuexing’s hair, placed her hands on her shoulders, and met her gaze in the mirror. She said, “I remember you had one like this when you were little. Recently, while sorting the storerooms, I happened to find a similar one and saved it just for you.”
The one Gao Yuexing had as a child had been left in the palace and was long lost.
She smiled and looked up. “Thank you.”
Li Lanyao said, “My mother originally planned to have you stay for a meal, but His Majesty sent word to have you come over. I’ve steamed some crabs here; take them along with you. I won’t go with you.”
Gao Yuexing asked curiously, “Why crabs again?”
Li Lanyao replied, “Father’s favorite. My mother often sends some over.” Her tone carried no trace of resentment, though Gao Yuexing recalled how, as a child, the Emperor’s excessive favor toward Li Fuqiu had often left Li Lanyao crying in secret.
Gao Yuexing couldn’t help but ask, “How have you been these past few years while I was away from the palace?”
Li Lanyao smiled and said, “Very well. When I was younger, I couldn’t figure things out and was always unhappy. It wasn’t until I got a little older that I realized Father’s love for me is no less than for any of his sons.”
She was the Emperor’s only daughter and the sole princess of the Great Xu Dynasty.
But in her childhood, her mother’s constant struggle to maintain favor had left her with deep misunderstandings about the Emperor.
Li Lanyao said, “In the past, Father enjoyed chatting with my mother most, because she had been by his side the longest and was the most understanding of all his consorts. Later, as I grew older, Father began talking to me more.”
This was not hard to understand.
No matter how understanding Consort Xian was, she was still born a concubine and had read only a few books. Her thoughts and vision were limited.
The princess, however, was different.
Since childhood, she had studied under Tutor Liu, accumulating knowledge over time, naturally developing a temperament as clear as the wind and as bright as the moon.
Li Lanyao said to Gao Yuexing, “The Emperor is preparing to finalize your marriage with Brother Xiang soon.”
Gao Yuexing set down her comb. “What? So soon?”
Li Lanyao waved her hand, and the palace servants obediently withdrew. She continued, “Brother Xiang’s heart is restless. Although the Emperor hasn’t said anything, he’s noticed it all along.”
Gao Yuexing’s gaze darkened in the mirror, and she let out an almost inaudible sigh. “What exactly is he worried about?”
Li Lanyao said gently, “When one person is too independent, the other naturally feels uneasy. It’s perfectly normal. Last time, you left so decisively. Who can guarantee there won’t be a next time?”
That year, Li Fuxiang had still been a child.
But that year, Gao Yuexing had returned from calamity, deeply changed.
Li Lanyao continued, “All he wants is something legitimate. With that legitimacy, no matter what happens in the future or where you go, he can follow or stay without being bound by the capital, gazing at you from afar and overstepping just to say a word.”
Gao Yuexing was still somewhat surprised. “The Emperor is actually willing…”
Li Lanyao replied, “Of course, Father is willing.”
Gao Yuexing detected a deeper meaning in her words and looked at her inquisitively.
Li Lanyao said, “Brother Xiang’s status is as it is, and he cannot avoid storms of blood and strife in the future. Father… hopes that his princess consort will have the courage and capability to protect him. Looking across all the noblewomen in the capital, only you possess the wisdom and resourcefulness for this.”
Gao Yuexing couldn’t help but marvel at the Emperor’s parental concern.
—
By dusk.
Li Lanyao instructed the palace servants to carry a steaming basket of crabs to escort Gao Yuexing to Qianqing Palace. As they parted, she reminded her that if it was inconvenient to leave the palace that night, she could return to Chunhe Palace as usual.
As Gao Yuexing departed, she passed by Liuhua Terrace, which was nearly fully arranged for the princess’s Hundred Flowers Banquet three days later. Gao Yuexing carried the freshly steamed crabs back to Qianqing Palace, where Li Fuxiang had just woken up groggily.
He had spent half a day in Qianqing Palace without discussing any serious matters, instead taking a nap.
Gao Yuexing sat down on a low couch by the window. The room was lit, and the fragrance of fresh crabs quietly filled the air from the three-tiered steaming basket on the small ebony table.
Li Fuxiang’s moon-white nightclothes hung loosely on him as he moved to the low couch, making a motion to lie down. Without hesitation, he rested his head on Gao Yuexing’s lap.
Gao Yuexing lowered her gaze to look at him. Her eyes were calm, with emotions so subtle they were hard to discern.
Li Fuxiang met her gaze for a moment but suddenly felt uneasy under her indifferent look. He sat up slightly, a touch cautiously, and called softly, “Ah Xing?”
The vulnerability he revealed unintentionally, the fear of losing what he had, was what tugged at Gao Yuexing’s heart most.
She cupped his face with one hand and said with profound sincerity, “I will never leave you again.”
Under the lamplight, looking at people, and under the moonlight, admiring flowers—such moments always seemed to carry an added touch of intimacy and emotion.
Li Fuxiang asked, “Who told you something? Why bring this up all of a sudden?”
Gao Yuexing gently shook her head, just as she used to when they were children, and pressed her cheek against his, nuzzling him intimately.
The sound of footsteps approached but did not disrupt them.
It was Yagu who entered.
Upon seeing the scene, Yagu stepped back and kept her distance. She waited until Gao Yuexing looked her way before smiling and gesturing to the copper basin in her hands.
The Emperor was waiting to see them; it was time to attend to Li Fuxiang’s grooming.
Li Fuxiang had bathed earlier and had only taken a short nap. He was not at all disheveled and merely wiped his face quickly before heading forward with Gao Yuexing.
—
The fragrant, freshly steamed crabs were taken along as well.
On the Emperor’s table sat the prayer beads that Li Fuxiang had brought back from Qingliang Temple.
As soon as Li Fuxiang arrived, he instructed the servants to place the steaming basket on the Emperor’s desk, inadvertently pushing the prayer beads to the edge.
The Emperor laughed, shaking his head, and said repeatedly, “Alright, alright, let’s eat first, let’s eat first.”