Chapter 20 Yan'er on Happiness

She didn't know where she was; all she could see was an endless expanse of sea.

She was simply standing on a high place, gazing...

Watching the surging waves tear at the night sky, vast stretches of darkness, you can't see anything, yet it feels like everything is being swallowed up...

She stretched out her hand, the pale moonlight blurring her surroundings, including herself; she felt empty and lost.

Her clothes were soaked through, clinging tightly to her body, yet she felt no discomfort.

Looking down, one could only vaguely make out that the clothes were pure white with embroidery...

She stood there all alone, her mind blank, unable to awaken what had been lost.

She seemed to remember something, yet also seemed to have forgotten something.

And what is it that time takes away?

Just as she was about to burst into tears, she felt warm arms wrap around her waist from behind…

An unprecedented sense of security and comfort pulled her from the depths of despair.

Turning around, a smile appeared on her lonely face.

Those familiar eyes behind her—she had been waiting for them for so, so long…

Bai Lian woke up with a start and was surprised to find that the candles had been relit, and that Jia Luolin was holding her close, wiping away her tears as if she were a child.

Bai Lian hadn't reacted yet; she just opened her eyes wide.

By the candlelight, she carefully traced Galorin's eyebrows and eyes with her gaze.

The face before me transcends a thousand years, seemingly overlapping with the one in my dreams…

Galo Lin looked at Bai Lian with a leisurely air, leaned forward and affectionately pinched her nose, and said softly with a smile, "My wife, you first woke up crying from your dream, and now you're staring at your husband in a daze. Could it be that I was also in your dream just now?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Lian blushed immediately. Looking at her still disheveled appearance, she vaguely recalled the passionate encounter a few hours earlier...

them…………

Galorin seemed to notice her embarrassment and stopped pressing her about the cause of her nightmare, but instead smiled with unusual ease.

He got up, blew out the candles, then snuggled closer to Bai Lian in bed and pulled her back into his arms.

Bai Lian curled up in his warm embrace, feeling something growing in her heart that made her feel very happy.

Then, she heard that gentle voice whisper in her ear, making her heart itch with desire:

"Go to sleep now, we have to get up early tomorrow to visit Father and Mother."

After speaking, Galorin generously planted a kiss on Byakuren's face.

Bai Lian smiled and slowly closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep once more…

This time, it should be a beautiful dream…

Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the Eastern Palace

"Miss! Miss! Miss! Big sister, big sister, big sister!!!" Bai Lian was awakened by the familiar yet intense shouts.

"Emerald Bamboo Flower! What are you doing here?!" White Lotus suddenly sat up, propping herself up on her arms, and almost reflexively began to move further into the bed.

She moved along, glancing around as she went.

The room was filled with palace maids, some carrying water, some holding towels... all of them were stunned by the scene just now.

The gaze shifted back to Cuizhu. Her round eyes, which could squint into slits when she smiled, were now wide open, revealing a hurt expression that seemed ready to drip tears, as if she were about to cover her face and run away crying at any moment...

Bai Lian sighed... Yes, she had asked for Cui Zhu as part of her dowry.

She finally relented, smoothing the furrow between her brows, and said, "Cuizhu, please help me with my hair and makeup. Everyone else, please leave."

"Tsk tsk, so this is the ultimate in human beauty... Hehehehe, ah! This is the passion of life!"

Once Cuizhu saw that everyone had left, she immediately stepped forward, carefully examining Bailian and occasionally expressing her admiration.

Bai Lian saw the bright eyes of Cui Zhu, quickly tightened her collar, and snapped, "What are you looking at? Get back to serving me!"

He glanced at the empty bed and asked again, "...Where is the Crown Prince?"

Her heart still couldn't help but race a little when Galorin was mentioned.

Seeing the fine red spots on the snow-white neck covered up, Cuizhu felt even more joy: Ah, her precious young lady has finally become the Crown Princess.

As she fetched Bai Lian her clothes for the day, she replied, "His Highness the Crown Prince went out early this morning. He instructed that you should sleep a little longer, and if you were still asleep when he returned, he would personally go to pay his respects to the Emperor and Empress."

Upon hearing this, Bai Lian waved her hand repeatedly to Cui Zhu, signaling her to hurry up, but then she heard a sound coming from afar.

"No rush, take your time. I'm happy to see the beauty change her clothes."

No sooner had the words been spoken than Galo Lin, with his hair adorned with a pearl crown and dressed in a five-dragon robe, walked in with an imposing air.

He lifted his robe and sat down, looking at Bai Lian. His eyebrows relaxed, and his smile, illuminated by the morning light, filled the room.

The bronze mirror immediately reflected Cui Zhu's face, which was so red it looked like it could drip blood. One could hardly focus on the beautiful hair in her hands.

Meanwhile, Bai Lian, who was waiting to get ready, was very worried that Cui Zhu's drool would uncontrollably drip down her face...

Finally, after Bai Lian finished dressing and left the East Palace with Jia Luo Lin, Cui Zhu finally had a moment to wipe her mouth hard with the back of her hand.

She leaned against the doorframe, watching the two figures walk away, and chuckled to herself:

"A true delicacy, indeed a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate!"

"Absolutely! What a feast for the eyes! Ahh! The room is filled with fragrance."

Cuizhu heard a low, androgynous murmur in her ear, followed by the sound of swallowing. Who was acting as me?

She paused for a moment, then turned her head stiffly and inexplicably, only to find a… “Eunuch! You scared me to death!!”

"Hey! How dare you speak like that! At least address me as 'Eunuch'!" The little eunuch, hands on his hips, glared angrily at Cuizhu, clearly displeased.

"Isn't a eunuch just a father-in-law?" Cuizhu thought helplessly. She decided not to pay any more attention to him and left the door frame to walk into the room.

"Hey, you're not even going to introduce yourself, and you don't even ask who I am?!"

Cui Zhu turned her head with a twitching mouth, thinking to herself, "Is this all the eunuchs in the Eastern Palace are capable of? Is this what you call outstanding?"

She approached the young eunuch and, as was her habit, began to look him up and down.

He's quite handsome, so why is he a spineless man? What a waste... Cuizhu thought, arms crossed and head tilted.

The young eunuch was clearly uncomfortable with Cuizhu's scorn and said, "I am Xiao Liuzi, and I am a favorite of the Crown Prince!"

After speaking, he patted his chest proudly.

"Tch, I'd rather be cuckolding someone," Cuizhu said sullenly. "I'm a maid from the Crown Princess's family who came with her as part of her dowry. Just call me Xiao Cui."

"Hey! So together we make up Green Willow, haha~"

Who wants to be paired with a eunuch like you!

"My original name was Cuizhu, so you can also call me Xiaozhu!" Cuizhu was very unconvinced and was determined to get her revenge.

"Green bamboo, green bamboo! I am Green Willow!"

"…………………………"

"Cuizhu, Cuizhu! Where did you run off to! We, Cuiliu, are indispensable, indispensable!!"

She knew it! Those eunuchs were just pathetic, lacking in both ability and substance. How could someone with such a stellar reputation have met such a nemesis?

Cui Zhu quickly fled the scene; if she couldn't afford to offend her, she could at least avoid her.

What's the use of looking good if you're not a real man with a penis?

Cuizhu suddenly felt a pang of sadness, realizing that she was probably crying more than laughing...

Inside Jinyang Palace, Jia Fengtian and Shangguan Yun were receiving the Crown Prince and his wife.

"It seems that Lin'er is quite satisfied with the marriage I arranged." Jia Fengtian smiled as he looked at the couple before him. This smile had been absent from his face for some time, and it was somewhat stiff.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your kindness," Galo Lin said, rising to bow.

"Lin'er, you may rise. Seeing your happiness, I am finally at peace."

Jia Fengtian sighed, and everyone understood the unspoken meaning behind his words.

Empress Shangguan Yun, standing to the side, wore an expression that was neither joyful nor sorrowful, and she did not resemble a woman who had suffered the pain of losing a child.

At this moment, she spoke up and asked, "I wonder if the Crown Prince has set a date for taking a concubine yet? The Crown Princess has no concubines to accompany her. I have some lists here, so we can choose one."

Shangguan Yun's gaze lingered on Bai Lian throughout the conversation, as if waiting to find a hint of discomfort on her face.

Bai Lian appeared calm on the surface, but she couldn't help feeling a little regretful inside. Although it was something that would come eventually, hearing it in person still made her feel uneasy.

Shangguan Yun sat high above, waiting for Jialuolin's reply.

Jialuolin bowed again in the direction of Jia Fengtian and replied indifferently, "Your subject and the Crown Princess are newly married and have no such intention." He then turned to Shangguan Yun and continued, "Moreover, the Crown Princess is both beautiful and talented, and I am afraid that your subject will no longer be able to find any other girl attractive."

Upon hearing this, everyone present was surprised. Shangguan Yun looked at Jia Fengtian.

Logically speaking, the Crown Prince's rebellious answer should have been met with reprimand.

Kejia Fengtian smiled and said, "If Lin'er insists, it is not impossible. I have no intention of interfering in this matter."

Bai Lian was already quite taken aback by Jia Luolin's answer, and was even more surprised to hear Jia Fengtian's reply.

She looked at Galorin and found that he was also looking at her. She looked away shyly.

I was naturally very happy, but there was still something inexplicable in my heart that I couldn't quite figure out.

Bai Lian then looked at Shangguan Yun, who was seated above, and noticed that her expression was clearly unpleasant.

Upon seeing this, Bai Lian felt inexplicably delighted.

at the same time

"Princess, Princess, the Emperor and the Crown Prince are having a meeting. You can't just barge in like that..."

"How dare you! Get out of my way and let me in!"

"Princess……"

The voice reached Jinyang Palace intermittently.

Jia Fengtian's previously relaxed brows furrowed again, and he asked sternly:

"Who is making such a commotion outside the palace!"

"Father, Father, Father, save Shu'er! Mother, Mother wants to kill Shu'er!!"

Bai Lian was shocked to hear Shu Li's voice outside the door, sometimes near, sometimes far, tinged with sobs.

The guards at the gate were at a loss, unsure whether to let her through, faced with a princess unlike any they had ever seen before.

"Your Majesty..."

"Let the princess in!" Jia Fengtian commanded without hesitation.

Upon receiving permission, Shu Li nearly collapsed to the ground in tears, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.

Upon seeing this, Jia Fengtian's thick eyebrows furrowed even more, and he asked sternly, "What exactly happened? Tell me the truth!!"

“Mother, this morning after she finished dressing, she wanted to… she wanted to stab me with a hairpin. I dodged it, but she kept chasing after me…” Shuli answered, choking back tears.

Everyone in Phoenix Dance City knew that since Prince Yu disappeared, Consort Liu's condition had deteriorated day by day; she frequently fell into a coma, and when she did wake up, she remained silent.

Emperor Fengtian, out of compassion for Consort Liu's grief over the loss of her child, frequently visited her to comfort her. However, Consort Liu often failed to appreciate the Emperor's favor, and her madness worsened.

Over time, the once-favored Jade Brocade Palace has become deserted and almost a neglected palace.

"Where is she now?!" Jia Fengtian nearly flew into a rage upon hearing this.

Before Shuli could even reply, the guards at the door called out in a troubled voice, "Your Highness, Your Highness the Imperial Concubine, you cannot go in!"

It turned out that Consort Liu really was holding a delicate hairpin and was chasing after her, but fortunately she was stopped at the door by the guards.

"Guards, seize Consort Liu, remove her palace robes, and banish her to the Cold Palace!!"

With a wave of his hand, Jia Fengtian gave the order without hesitation. The repeated upheavals in recent days had already angered him. Now, he only wanted to cut the Gordian knot and ensure the peace of the royal family.

This imperial edict shocked everyone present, especially Shu Li, whose eyes widened in terror as she pleaded incessantly.

"I beg Father to spare Mother. Mother is only acting out of depression. She didn't really want to kill me. It was my fault for speaking recklessly. If you want to punish someone, then punish me."

She was originally just afraid of her erratic mother, and thinking of her father's past affection for her mother, she thought he wouldn't punish her too severely. But she never expected that this desperate measure would lead to such an outcome.

Even if her mother didn't love her, she was still the mother who gave her life and raised her. In her current state, if she were to go to the Cold Palace, she probably wouldn't survive. She had actually harmed her own mother...

Shuli knelt down crying. Bailian couldn't bear to see this and wanted to help her up, but given her status, she couldn't say much and could only remain silent.

She glanced at Galorin beside her, and saw a hint of pity flash across his usually calm eyes, but it vanished in an instant as he stood silently to the side.

The imperial edict was issued without delay.

As everyone watched, Consort Liu, stripped of her palace robes, was no longer dignified. Her hair was disheveled as she was carried away by guards, her former glory gone, leaving only a desolate figure behind.

Empress Shangguan Yun seemed to be watching a play, remaining dignified and unaffected, as if she had been waiting for a long time, watching Consort Liu's figure gradually disappear into the distance.

That day, what lingered in Jinyang Palace for a long time was Consort Liu's mad and shrill laughter, as if telling of her resentment and sorrow...

When everything returned to calm, Jia Fengtian looked at Shuli, who had been kneeling on the ground for a long time and was crying so hard she could no longer make a sound. After a long while, he sighed, closed his eyes, and leaned back on the dragon throne.

People heard Jia Fengtian speak slowly, word by word:

"Shu'er, I will arrange your marriage tomorrow. Go back and prepare."

As soon as the imperial decree was issued, Bai Lian saw Shu Li's body, which had been kneeling on the ground for a long time, sway and then fall heavily to the ground...

A note from the author:

----------------------