A little later, all the birthday gifts Gao Yuexing had received were stored in the small warehouse. She kept only a few useful items for herself, recording everything one by one, preparing for future return gifts.
The land deed was placed right at the edge of her embroidery desk, where Gao Yuexing could glance at it with just a lift of her head. It left her feeling a little distracted.
Inside the room, the lamp was lit. Gao Yuexing sent the maid who was attending her back to rest, saying she wouldn’t need her personal service tonight. Thus, the only figure left in the room was Gao Yuexing herself, sitting quietly under the light.
Following the royal standards for a prince’s wedding, Gao Yuexing was embroidering her wedding dress. Layer upon layer, it was magnificently ornate. However, her progress was so slow that even her mother couldn’t bear to watch and helped her with some of the work. Feeling tired, Gao Yuexing set aside her needlework and picked up a pair of scissors to trim the candle wick, removing the small clusters of soot that had formed.
Suddenly, she heard a faint plop sound.
It came from the courtyard—a noise like a small stone hitting the ground and rolling to her door.
Having spent years in the outside world, Gao Yuexing might not have mastered many skills, but she had certainly developed courage. Alone and unafraid, she got up and went to the door, curious to investigate.
And then, she saw a figure leap down from the wall of her small courtyard.
Gao Yuexing: “…”
No need to panic, nor to ask who it was.
Just by looking at the figure’s back, Gao Yuexing could instantly conjure up his face in her mind.
It was a familiarity etched into her very bones.
Li Fuxiang leapt gracefully from the top of the wall, brushing the dust off his clothes. Clearly, he didn’t want to appear messy when meeting Gao Yuexing. However, when he looked up, Gao Yuexing was already standing at the door, staring at him. Li Fuxiang immediately flashed what he thought was a charming smile.
Gao Yuexing: “….”
It was charming.
To be honest, she missed him too.
But such behavior simply couldn’t be tolerated, so she kept a stern face and said, “My father really will throw you out.”
Li Fuxiang replied, “He won’t. I’ll just stand here for a while. If your father comes, I’ll run.”
Gao Yuexing thought of a question. “Where would you run? The palace gates are already locked by now.”
Li Fuxiang said, “That’s fine. I won’t end up sleeping on the streets. I can go to the Xiaoqi Camp, or to General Zheng’s house. I also have my own Prince Xiang’s Manor.”
Gao Yuexing asked, “Why did you come to see me?”
Li Fuxiang spoke plainly, “I want to take you out. Can you come with me?”
Gao Yuexing thought he must be sleepwalking, but she still held her patience and said, “Not now.”
Li Fuxiang, as if hearing hope, asked, “Then when can you?”
Gao Yuexing replied, “In the daytime.”
Li Fuxiang’s face immediately lit up with joy. “How about tomorrow? I’ll come to pick you up.”
Gao Yuexing took a step forward—not a large one, just enough for her skirt hem to sway lightly. Holding back, she said, “Tomorrow… that’s fine.”
She couldn’t hold back her smile any longer. It blossomed like an epiphyllum secretly blooming in the night, but it didn’t escape the watchful eyes of Li Fuxiang, who was always paying attention to her.
He had thought she would be angry at him for climbing over the wall into the Gao residence.
But it seemed she was quite happy, too.
Anyone would feel delighted to receive indulgence from their beloved.
Li Fuxiang, especially so.
He took another step forward, but this time, Gao Yuexing retreated.
Li Fuxiang had no choice but to stop.
Gao Yuexing said, “See you tomorrow.” Afraid that she might soften her resolve, she turned back into the house, shut the door, and even blew out the lamp, ignoring any sound from outside.
Of course, the outside soon grew silent as well.
Li Fuxiang wouldn’t be foolish enough to squat in the Gao residence courtyard all night. If he dared, Gao Jing would surely use a club to drive him out.
He had merely been unable to resist and came to ease a bit of his longing.
When it came to matters concerning her, Li Fuxiang always meant what he said. So the next morning, just as the first light of dawn broke, a flamboyant carriage stopped at the gates of the Gao residence. Anyone with knowledge of such matters could recognize it as the carriage of the Grand Princess Li Lanyao. Afraid of attracting attention, Li Fuxiang had specially borrowed the princess’s carriage.
As for Li Fuxiang himself, he hid inside the carriage, making no sound.
Gao Yuexing sighed at the door. After informing her mother, she climbed into the carriage and left with him.
Inside the carriage.
Gao Yuexing saw him wrapped in a plush black cloak, the soft fur around his face giving him a warm and cozy appearance. She asked, “Have you been ill these past days?”
Li Fuxiang shook his head. “No.”
His body had initially struggled to adapt to the early winter, but after falling ill once and recovering well, there was nothing much to worry about.
Gao Yuexing personally checked his pulse, trusting his words were truthful. Then she asked, “Where are we going?”
Li Fuxiang replied, “To the palace I built for you. You’ll love it.”
Gao Yuexing glanced at him. “You built it for me?”
Li Fuxiang said, “I had the Emperor build it.”
The deed for the palace was already in her hands.
Judging by Li Fuxiang’s intent, it was likely meant to be a betrothal gift for her. However, Gao Yuexing couldn’t help but overthink it; such private exchanges seemed rather improper. Still, she said nothing to dampen the mood.
Back in the day, when she was the Princess Consort of Xiang, her personality was nothing like this. At that time, there wasn’t a second person in the entire capital who could compare to her in thoughtfulness. Whether speaking or acting, she left no room for error, never giving anyone a chance to find fault.
Those days appeared glamorous, but in truth, they were hollow and meaningless.
Gao Yuexing couldn’t understand how she had once managed to immerse herself in the illusory utopia Li Fuxiang had built for her, year after year, feeling so content.
The villa in the suburbs of the capital, the Haitang Palace.
The palace had just been completed recently. Li Fuxiang said, “I had crabapple trees planted all over the mountain. Next year, you’ll be able to see them bloom.”
By spring of the following year, the wind would carry the scent of crabapple blossoms across the entire mountain. In autumn, the courtyard would feature elegant ornamental-leaf crabapple trees.
If they found the capital too noisy, they could even live in the palace residence all year round, enjoying a cozy, blissful life together.
In Li Fuxiang’s palace residence, there would be no need to serve in-laws or rush into having children. They would have ample time to stay together, enjoying the fleeting beauty of nature in the mountains.
What Li Fuxiang offered her was always the most beautiful vision she could imagine.
How wonderful…
Li Fuxiang didn’t need to ask whether Gao Yuexing liked it or not.
He only had to look at her expression to understand the words in her heart.
This time, his efforts to please her had been reciprocated, and he happily whispered incessantly in Gao Yuexing’s ear.
Gao Yuexing thought to herself, He’s so noisy.
She suddenly remembered the complaints from Yagu who had raised him, saying that he had been noisy and mischievous as a child.
It seemed the servant hadn’t been lying.
Compared to the Li Fuxiang of her previous life—reserved, always hiding his thoughts, never showing his joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness—Gao Yuexing preferred the simple and pure young man before her, who seemed as though he had no worries in the world when he was with her.
Indeed, having one’s beloved by their side could soothe all worries.
Gao Yuexing said, “Next year, wait for me. I’ll definitely come to see the sea of blooming crabapples covering the mountains.”
It took more than a year for Gao Yuexing’s wedding dress to finally take shape and look somewhat presentable. Lady Gao remarked that her eldest sister’s wedding dress had taken a full four years to complete.
Looking at her phoenix coronet and ceremonial robe, Gao Yuexing, utterly exhausted, thought, Good or bad, it’s fine as it is.
And it was all Li Fuxiang’s fault for being so impatient.
Barely a year had passed when, with Gao Yuexing’s birthday approaching, the Ministry of Rites, following the Emperor’s decree, hastily selected an auspicious wedding date.
March 9th for the coming-of-age ceremony.
March 10th for the wedding.
Even in the royal family, let alone among commoners, it was rare to see such a rushed wedding.
To outsiders, it might seem as if something disgraceful couldn’t wait—such as the bride’s pregnancy…
Among the citizens of the capital, such rumors began to spread.
It wasn’t because this pair of lovebirds had a bad reputation in their daily lives, but rather because the royal family had recently experienced an embarrassing incident.
It involved Prince Xin.
The current Emperor had only two sons. While it was clear that he favored one over the other, it couldn’t be said that he treated Prince Xin poorly.
Last year, Prince Xin, Li Fuqian, married the sister of a Hanlin Academy editor. Yet less than seven months after the wedding, news came from the Prince Xin’s residence: the Emperor’s first imperial grandchild had been born.
And it was born to a concubine.
The aristocracy in the capital was abuzz.
The legitimate princess consort had yet to show any signs of pregnancy, yet the concubine’s child had already been born.
In those days, the face of the Hanlin Academy editor was ashen every time he attended court.
Prince Xin went to personally apologize but was met with a closed door, creating a great public spectacle for all to see.
Although Gao Yuexing rarely left her secluded chambers, news of such events inevitably made their way into the inner residences through various channels.
Gao Yuexing learned of this incident when her elder sister came back to their family home one day to help her with her needlework.
At that time, Gao Yuexing was sitting in the courtyard, embroidering a fan while watching Gao Mingdong practice with a sword. Young Dong had gotten an unsharpened sword from General Zheng, perfectly sized for a child of his age, and he swung it with great enthusiasm.
Gao Yuemin, threading gold embroidery floss, said to her, “Prince Xin’s actions were truly improper. The princess consort had only just entered the household, and now there’s a concubine’s son. Though no one dares to say anything outright, his reputation has taken a significant hit.”
Gao Yuexing, catching the key point, asked, “Does Prince Xin… truly favor that concubine?”
Gao Yuemin sighed. “I suppose he must like her. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have allowed that child to be born.”
The birth of the first imperial grandson, a concubine’s child, was tantamount to a resounding slap in the face to Prince Xin’s wife.
What’s more, this wife was someone Prince Xin had personally chosen and begged the Emperor for.
As for the Emperor’s stance on the matter, it was crystal clear—disdain.
The Emperor confined Prince Xin to his residence under the pretext of recuperating from illness.
Everyone knew that Prince Xin was in perfect health.
But if the Emperor said he was ill, then ill he must be, even if he wasn’t.
The concubine and her son in the prince’s household, however, caused no further trouble. They kept to themselves and made no noise. The Emperor, already disgusted, refused to summon them, and they wisely stayed out of his way.
Gao Yuexing sighed inwardly.
Her elder sister gave her one last piece of advice before her marriage, repeating it tirelessly: “I know you and His Highness Prince Xiang grew up together and share mutual affection, but you must always remember this: ‘The heart of an old friend changes easily.’ Excessive wisdom leads to harm, and deep love seldom endures. You, unfortunately, possess both. Don’t be foolish.”
Gao Yuexing smiled and replied, “I understand, elder sister. I will live my life well. Don’t worry.”
To outsiders, she may have seemed like a foolish girl, following Li Fuxiang’s footsteps from the very beginning, offering her sincere heart without regret.
But Gao Yuexing never argued with others about such opinions. Only she knew in her heart that Li Fuxiang was the one person she could entrust with all her faith and happiness. If one day she lost even her trust in herself, Li Fuxiang would be the only lifeline capable of saving her from her own despair.