Chapter 29.2

In order to illustrate how much importance the emperor placed on his subject who had achieved outstanding service, the welcoming banquet was grand to the extreme. Because Emperor Changlong was in such high spirits, he couldn’t help but drink a few more cups of wine. His words, both implicitly and overtly, made him seem close to Hua Yingting, as well as praise the latter.

The officials sitting at the bottom joined the emperor in praising the Hua clan. There were even some who lauded the guardian lion statues at the Hua estate’s front doors.

Sitting next to her mother in a lovable manner, Hua Liuli smiled from start to finish. Smiling bashfully, smiling with flushed cheeks as she received a heap of praise.

With her daughter by her side, Wei Mingyue merely drank two small cups of wine before refraining from touching the cup again. When the other womenfolk caught sight of this, they knew it was because mother and daughter had not met for many months, so must have many things they wanted to talk about. Thus, the womenfolk did not urge her to drink any more alcohol.

“Mother, when you and Daddy were escorting the Second Prince to the capital, did you encounter any people trying to break him free?” Using a pair of chopsticks, Hua Liuli helped pick and place food into her mother’s bowl. Moved the wine cup far away from her.

“Jinpo Country sent people to follow us to negotiate, afraid that we would toture their second prince,” Wei Mingyue replied, smiling. “There were people who tried breaking him out earlier, but they were not from Jinpo Country.”

“Are they drying to sow dissension?” In a flash, Hua Liuli understood the implications. Jinpo Country was arrogant in its behavior, pushing around many small countries. These small countries could not offend it. Could only use such a method to drive a wedge between Jinpo Country and Great Jin, exploiting the hostile relationship between them.

“I thought that second prince would commit suicide from anger,” whispered Hua Liuli. “Back on the battlefield, he was very domineering.”

“If one could live well, who would want to die?” said Wei Mingyue, a hidden meaning to her smile. “Nowadays, he has grown more well-behaved.”

“Did he continue to curse me?” asked Hua Liuli in a soft voice.

“Ah.” An arch of a brow. “He won’t dare to curse you again for the rest of his life.”

Once the welcoming banquet came to a close, the tipsy emperor said, “Yingting, we haven’t seen each other in many years. Why don’t we stay up together and talk all night?” He turned to Wei Mingyue. “What does General Wei think?”

Even though he was tipsy, Emperor Changlong subconsciously knew they needed Wei Mingyue’s opinion first.

The young officials were the picture of puzzlement. That the emperor wanted to speak to his subject overnight proved a great honor. Why did they need to ask General Wei?

However, the older officials revealed a profound expression that read “although I know the reason why, I shall not tell.”

“It is the fortune of this humble general’s husband.” Wei Mingyue rose to her feet. Saluted Emperor Changlong. Once she had finished speaking, she turned to look at everyone. The older officials dropped their heads. Only the confused and younger officials were still looking, doubt flickering bright in their eyes.

The older officials shook their heads in secret. Young people truly did not know how to treasure their lives. Seriously.

“Your Highness.” An official from the Imperial Court of Judicial Review rushed over to the crown prince’s side. “Jinpo Country’s Second Prince refuses to eat. He’s throwing a huge fuss and says he wants to see Commandery Princess Fushou.”

The crown prince shifted his gaze to his tipsy imperial father. Then, he said to that official, “He’s a prince of a small country who lost a war. What qualifications does he have to see an honorable commandery princess of my country? Let him make a fuss.”

“Understood,” said the official, withdrawing.

It was strange. General Hua was the one who had captured that second prince. So why did he seem so furious toward Commandery Princess Fushou?

On that night, the Hua family did not leave the imperial palace.

Wei Mingyue noticed how very familiar Hua Liuli was with Shoukang Palace, triggering a memory; her daughter had written in a letter that she had stayed in the empress dowager’s palace for a period. As such, Wei Mingyue went and thanked the empress dowager for the favor.

“This grieving one likes this child very much. If it weren’t for the fear that others would gossip, this grieving one would want to raise her by my side.” The empress dowager smiled at Wei Mingyue. “You have suffered at the border station these past many years.”

“Your Majesty the empress dowager should know the following,” she replied, returning the smile with a shake of the head. “When it comes this humble general, to guard our borders isn’t an act of suffering. Rather, staying in the inner courtyard is.”

It was usually ten to a hundred times harder for a female general than a male general to rise in the ranks. Fortunately, she met a wise ruler, and could follow her dream.

“That’s true. Women have it hard in this world. You are from the Wei family and have learned martial arts and the art of war. If we locked you up in the inner courtyard, it would cause you to suffer.” A sigh left the empress dowager’s lips.

If she hadn’t married the previous emperor back then, she would have been able to follow her aspirations. But the past was the past. She already accepted how things were. However, when things were all said and done, she still felt nostalgic.

“Your Majesty the empress dowager is still the only person who understands this humble general,” said Wei Mingyue as she personally poured hot tea for her. “Has Your Majesty the empress dowager been well these past few years?”

“Yes.” The empress dowager patted the back of her hand. “The emperor is very filial and the crown prince shares a very close bond to this grieving one.”

Sitting by their side, Hua Liuli thought, Even Her Majesty the empress dowager thinks the crown prince is great. Indeed, those people slandering the crown prince are deranged.

“Liuli,” said the empress dowager, turning to her. “You are frail. Go and return to your room earlier to rest.”

Hua Liuli was aware that she and her mother had other things to talk about. As such, she feigned ignorance and obediently stood, before excusing herself and leaving.

Once she had stepped foot outside of the main palace hall, the night wind felt chilly. She accepted the cloak Yuanwei had proffered and put it on, making her way to the side palace hall in soft and quiet steps. After taking a few of them, she caught sight of the many beautiful lanterns hanging in the garden. Stopped in her tracks, “These weren’t here last time, right?”

“Commandery Princess, your honored self has forgotten. Today is the day of the Lantern Festival,” said Yuanwei in a soft voice. “The palace servants made these lanterns by hand.”

A palace maid, who was guiding the way at the side with a lantern, was all smiles. “Commandery Princess, this is an old custom in the imperial palace. On the day of every Lantern Festival, there will be pretty lanterns hung in every palace. And they remain hanging until the next morning.”

“So many lanterns. They must be a sight for the eyes.” Hua Liuli gazed at the tassels of the lanterns that swayed in the wind. “I wonder how beautiful the palace is tonight.”

“If Commandery Princess wishes, you can go to the viewing platform. There, one can see the whole palace.” Then the palace maid recalled how Hua Liuli was sickly and suddenly felt like she had misspoken, promptly lowering her head.

“Where is the viewing platform?” asked Hua Liuli, curious.

The palace maid dared not speak. She looked at Yuanwei, requesting for help with her gaze.

A sigh escaped Yuanwei’s lips. “Commandery Princess, you are not in good health and the night wind is strong…”

“If one cannot admire the world’s beautiful scenery due to one’s frail health, what’s the point of living?” Hua Liuli gazed at the sky, laden with grief. A full moon hung above, shining bright and white.

Yuanwei dared not continue to urge her. She could only helplessly allow the palace maid to lead the way.

Thankfully, the viewing platform was not too far from Shoukang Palace; Hua Liuli did not walk for too long before she arrived. She looked up at the towering stone steps. Then turned to Yuanwei and said, “I suddenly feel tired. Let’s just return.”

No wonder one could admire a panoramic view of the entire palace from there. Such a high platform. Whoever stood up there could see more than half of the capital.

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Although Hua Liuli had this kind of reaction, Yuanwei was not one bit surprised. She supported Hua Liuli’s hand. Beamed as she said, “Commandery Princess, watch your step. This slave will support your honored self.”

“Who’s ahead?”

When Hua Liuli heard those soft and drawn-out words, she turned to look in the direction of their source. And she caught sight of an orderly line of palace maids approaching with lanterns. The crown prince sat on a sedan. From his expression, he didn’t seem to be in a good mood.

Their gazes met in the night, causing the crown prince’s countenance to change a bit. “Little girl of the Hua family, why are you here?”

“This official’s daughter heard that there was a viewing platform here, and wanted to have a look.” Hua Liuli curtsied toward him. “Is Your Highness headed there too?”

The crown prince angled his head up to look at the towering viewing platform. Disembarked from his sedan. His mood grew calm, to the point where it resembled apathy. “Yes.”

Noticing his bad mood, she tactfully prepared to slip away. “Since that’s the case, then this official’s daughter will not disturb Your Highness…”

“It’s hard to climb the stone steps. I will take you there.” The crown prince handed her a corner of his robes. “Hold onto it.”

She did. Blinked her large eyes. “Oh?”

“The most beautiful nightscape in the capital each year is during the Lantern Festival,” said the crown prince, leading Hua Liuli toward the stone steps. “It’s not just the imperial palace. Outside the palace is bustling with activity too.”

“There’s no curfew tonight?”

“Every year on New Year’s Eve, the Lantern Festival, the Qixi Festival, and the Mid-autumn Festival, there would not be a night curfew.” The crown prince walked at a snail’s pace. Occasionally, he would glance back at Hua Liuli. “It will be bright all night at the capital.”

The stone steps had been swept immaculate. As the foot of Hua Liuli’s dress was dragged across them, there came a rustle. When they had ascended halfway through the stairs, her pace slowed.

The crown prince turned to look at her. “Are you cold?”

Blankly, Hua Liuli shook her head.

But the crown prince removed his cloak and draped it over her. Wearing such a large cloak, Hua Liuli seemed like a young child. The hood covered half of her face. She let go off the corner of the crown prince’s robe she had been holding, then pushed lightly at the hood twice. In the end, because the hood was too large, it covered her whole face.

The crown prince reached out and helped her pull down the hood. He could not help but laugh.

“Your Highness.” Hua Liuli supported a dangling hair ornament. “It’s wrong of you to make fun of this official’s daughter.”

“Apologies. When I look at your current appearance, I find that you resemble a cat that has fallen into a ball of yarn.” The crown prince coughed dryly twice, smiles dying his beautiful eyes. “Come, I’ll lead you by the hand.”

And he extended his hand in front of Hua Liuli.

Suspiciously, she looked back at him.

“What’s a half-grown girl like you worried about?” Laughter spilled from his lips. Then he placed a handkerchief on the hollow of his palm. “Alright, the handkerchief will serve as a barrier.”

“This official’s daughter is not worried about myself.” She handed her hand over to the crown prince. In any case, she intended to raise handsome male pets in the future. She wasn’t afraid of people misunderstanding her.

No, she was afraid of this misunderstanding: that a good handsome man like the crown prince was involved with her.

Her body ran cold compared to the crown prince. His hand was as warm as a stove. As she took in his rear view, she thought, for certain, that her future handsome male pets would not be as handsome as him. And she could not help but feel sorrowful.

After one laid eyes on the most handsome man in the world, everyone else would appear ordinary.

She looked behind her, gaze falling upon the palace maids who followed them with lanterns. The bright lanterns flickered in the night, a magnificent view.

“We’ve arrived,” said the crown prince, his voice snapping her back to her senses.

Hua Liuli lifted her head for a look. And what she saw wasn’t the view of the palace. Rather, it was the bright street outside the palace gates, whose end could not be seen. And the flickering fireworks that appeared from time to time.

On the viewing platform, the wind proved strong. But because Hua Liuli was wrapped in the spacious cloak, she did not feel cold. She leaned forward on the perimeter wall. A good while later, she said, “What a beautiful sight.”

The crown prince stood behind her without a word.

“In the past during the Lantern Festival, did Your Highness come to this viewing platform?” Hua Liuli surveyed the far away scenery. And she clearly understood the phrase “the flourishing capital.”

Once the crown prince was at her side, he stood still. Gazed at the prosperous scene before him. “Mm.”

“It’s truly a sight for the eyes.” Hua Liuli’s dangling hair ornaments swayed from the wind. She expelled a warm breath of air. “Such a scene truly causes one happiness.”

The crown prince turned his head and looked at the girl by his side. He wanted to say something, yet did not utter a word in the end.

Below the viewing platform, Prince Ying and Miss Lin stood ten steps apart, the former who was meeting his future princess consort for the first time. His consort-mother had urged him to bring the Lin family’s daughter into the palace and admire the lanterns, citing the Lantern Festival as her reason.

What’s so good about looking at some lousy lanterns in the night?

However, he could not disobey his mother. So he brought the Lin family’s daughter out. In order to save trouble, he was too lazy to bring her anywhere else. He decided to take her to the viewing platform so that she could take her time enjoying the view.

However, once they reached the base of the viewing platform, Prince Ying noticed that the platform was already occupied. He could not help but complain a little, saying, “Whose brain has problems? They’d actually stand there and bear the cold wind?”

When Lin Wan heard these words, her expression stiffened. Should she be blaming herself for choosing the wrong fiance, or should she blame herself for having too acute of a sense of hearing?

The night wind gently blew, curling around the two of them. It was too awkward to put into words.