Chapter 1 Princess Chang Le

In February, the grass grows tall and the orioles fly, and spring is in full bloom in Chang'an.

In the palace, Emperor Yongxi, having just finished court, was suffering in his study, surrounded by the loud, arguing voices of two groups of ministers.

It's as if they're both right, and the other is completely wrong.

They were all key ministers, his right-hand men in managing state affairs. Emperor Yongxi could not openly show any bias or favor one side, so he could only occasionally say some tactful and agreeable things with a smile.

For example.

"Lu Qing is right!"

"Minister Cui's consideration is very thoughtful!"

"What Zheng Qing said is true!"

He thoughtfully considered the feelings of all his ministers, but this also made the political dispute even more intense.

The situation gradually stabilized only after one of the officials, a thin man in a purple robe, spoke up.

"Your Majesty, I believe that what Minister Lu and Minister Cui said just now makes sense. Why not take their strengths and discard their weaknesses, and see how things go?"

As soon as this person spoke, Emperor Yongxi sat up straight in front of the imperial desk, clapped his hands and said with a smile, "What Minister Lin said is very true. All of you should do as Minister Lin said and stop arguing."

The group that had been arguing just moments before glanced at Lin Heng, whose expression was calm and composed, and then fell silent.

As the highest-ranking official and the Grand Secretary in charge of decision-making, once he spoke, there was nothing to argue about.

After seeing off several key ministers, Emperor Yongxi first drank a cup of strong tea, then turned it over and threw it back into his desk.

He was not a brilliant and ambitious emperor, so he had to make up for it with diligence.

He was particularly concerned about the ongoing war with the Turks on the border and the uncertainty of the situation.

This was his first battle against the Turks since he ascended the throne, and he could not afford to lose face or national prestige.

With a heavy heart, Emperor Yongxi reviewed the old military reports again before turning to review the memorials.

However, after only a short while at his desk, Emperor Yongxi noticed a rustling sound of footsteps coming from inside the Zichen Palace.

Light and delicate, with an endearingly sneaky quality, Emperor Yongxi knew who it was as soon as he heard it.

He didn't look up or make a sound, maintaining the posture of reviewing memorials as if he were completely unaware.

A pair of slender, white hands suddenly reached out from behind and boldly covered the eyes of the current emperor.

Behind Emperor Yongxi, a radiant young woman peeked out from behind, a sly smile playing on her jade-like face.

She didn't make a sound, just covered Emperor Yongxi's eyes with her hands, her small face smiling like a spring flower.

The solemn and dignified imperial study came alive with the light of spring.

"Who dares to mess with the Emperor? Does he have a death wish?"

With a knowing smile on his lips, Emperor Yongxi feigned alarm and asked a question, but his hand holding the vermilion brush remained steady and composed.

The young woman remained silent, her demeanor impassive. Emperor Yongxi, however, understood her meaning and chuckled as he guessed one by one, "Is it Que Nu?"

Upon hearing that it was her third brother, the young lady frowned, somewhat displeased.

So the young lady shook Emperor Yongxi's head with her hand, indicating that Emperor Yongxi was wrong.

"If it's not a sparrow slave, then it must be a Suanni!"

This is the young lady's elder brother. She shook her head again, accompanied by Emperor Yongxi, and began to get impatient.

Emperor Yongxi couldn't stop smiling, and finally pretended to realize something, saying, "None of them, I know, it must be Yue Nu!"

This completely angered the young woman behind him, who immediately withdrew her hand and made a smug face.

"What? My eldest brother, sister, and third brother would never do that! Grandpa did it on purpose, just to annoy me!"

I'm angry!

As she spoke, the young woman sat down on the ground, her pomegranate-colored skirt, adorned with jade and gold threads, spread out on the floor like a vibrant flower blooming in spring.

Upon seeing his youngest daughter's actions, Emperor Yongxi immediately got up, went over to pull her up, and gently coaxed her, "It's my fault. Get up quickly. It's only early spring, and the weather is still cool. Be careful not to catch a cold sitting on the ground."

With her grandfather's doting affection, Huiyi scrambled to her feet with a whimper and said, "Then Grandfather must grant me a request."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongxi immediately understood why the people had come today.

He sat back down, no longer in a hurry to review the memorials, and looked at the young woman standing in front of him with a smile, asking, "Tell me about it."

Huiyi immediately leaned over, spread a bright yellow silk scroll from her sleeve on the table, and, clinging to her father's arm, said in a coquettish tone, "I have just a small request. I hope that Father can stamp a small imperial seal on this silk scroll~"

Emperor Yongxi shook his head and chuckled, his eyes filled with doting affection.

This wasn't the first time the youngest daughter had used this method.

Usually, when she had something she particularly wanted but couldn't get on her own, she would bring him this pre-written "imperial edict" to have him stamp it with the emperor's seal.

Everything he does is successful.

This time...

Emperor Yongxi glanced at the contents of the silk scroll and understood immediately.

"Rhinoceros Slave wants the Cherry Blossom Garden?"

This is a private garden under the royal family, open only to imperial relatives and officials. The person in charge is Emperor Yongxi.

"That's right, Father, please bestow it upon your son?"

"It's just a small matter, I would never do anything reckless!"

Huiyi rested her chin on the table with both hands, her eyes sparkling, her face full of pleading and adoration.

As she spoke with great emotion, the golden phoenix hairpin adorning her hair trembled, like the shimmering light in her eyes.

Looking at his youngest daughter's expectant face, Emperor Yongxi suddenly recalled some memories of his first return to Chang'an.

From that moment on, Emperor Yongxi resolved to make amends to his youngest daughter, who had suffered with him for twelve years since birth.

Overwhelmed with tenderness, she stroked her soft, black hair adorned with jewels and imprinted the imperial seal upon it.

If it's something harmless and makes people happy, then I'll give it.

"Go have fun."

"Remember not to come home too late."

...

Southeast of the imperial city, in the suburbs of the cherry blossom garden.

It is springtime, a time when all things begin to grow and plants flourish. Where there is beautiful scenery, there are people.

This is especially true in the cherry blossom garden.

As its name suggests, Cherry Blossom Garden was famous in Chang'an for its garden full of cherry blossoms in spring. Every spring, many members of the imperial family and nobles would flock there.

It's a pity that the common people of Chang'an are not fortunate enough to have such a view; they can only stand on Leyouyuan every spring and gaze at that soft pink hue from afar.

This is exactly where Huiyi is going today.

Before they arrived, a group of young women who looked like they came from noble or aristocratic families had come to visit early in the cherry garden.

They were all dressed up, their hair flowing and clothes fragrant, smiling as they surrounded the birthday celebrant in the center.

She was a stunningly beautiful woman with willow-leaf eyebrows, bright eyes, and a delicate and charming face, standing out among all the women.

However, his eyes and brows were filled with arrogance and haughtiness, like a peacock that had come to this cherry blossom garden.

Princess Li Xiuyun, daughter of the Prince of Liang, the younger brother of the current sage.

Although the Prince of Liang was not the emperor's biological brother, he was the eldest son of the late emperor, and thus had the best reputation, the most respectability, and the most prestige among the princes. His daughters also held a prominent position among the nobles in Chang'an.

Ten days ago, it was decided to hold a birthday banquet in the Cherry Blossom Garden, and the daughters of several officials who were invited were very honored.

Several of them had fathers of slightly lower official ranks, and from the moment they met the Princess of Anning County, they showered her with compliments.

They praised her dress, then her hairpins, and finally her makeup and appearance.

"They say that a beautiful face and peach blossoms complement each other perfectly, but today, the county princess is truly as beautiful as cherry blossoms!"

"I think even all the cherry blossoms in the garden are not as beautiful as the county princess!"

Being fawned over by her girlfriends, Li Xiuyun's already arrogant nature became even more smug.

Although he said it was too much praise, he showed no sign of embarrassment.

Amidst the pink cherry blossoms, tourists' clothes fluttered in the breeze, and laughter filled the air.

Just as Li Xiuyun and her entourage were about to take their seats for the banquet, an uninvited guest arrived at the Cherry Blossom Garden.

Of course, this is how Li Xiuyun and her group see it.

Six beautiful palace maids came to greet us: two played the flute, two carried glass lanterns, and the last two held fans.

Behind the screen was an exquisite jade palanquin inlaid with mother-of-pearl, carried by four strong eunuchs. Above the palanquin was an umbrella-shaped canopy, and every tassel hanging down was tied with glass and pearls.

It swayed in the February spring sunshine, its faint light flickering continuously.

Further back were palace servants and eunuchs with bowed heads, and lastly, a general with a broad back and narrow waist, carrying a sword.

"Princess Chang Le has arrived!"

Walking to the left was a eunuch in a blue robe, nearly forty years old, with a whisk draped over his arm.

As soon as he entered, he shouted at the top of his lungs, startling everyone around.

The cherry blossom garden was fragrant and spacious. The palanquin traveled through the spring scenery and stopped in front of Li Xiuyun and her entourage.

"What are you all standing there like idiots for? Bow and greet our princess!"

Seeing everyone around him stunned, De'an, who was in the lead, glared, flicked his whisk, and scolded.

The crowd was startled, and they all bowed and greeted her, saying, "Greetings, Princess Chang Le."

The men performed a crossed-hands salute, while the women performed a more elegant curtsy.

Li Xiuyun and the others were stunned for a moment before they remembered to bow.

There was no way around it; no matter how noble she was, a county princess's rank couldn't compare to a princess's, especially since her cousin was a favored concubine.

"Why is Sister Chang Le here?"

To be honest, Li Xiuyun didn't like her cousin, because whenever she appeared, she was no longer the most dazzling person in the room.

Completely different from the thin and dark-skinned woman she was when she first arrived in Chang'an five years ago, Li Huiyi now resembles a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.

Her golden-red silk skirt was as vibrant as a rosy sunset, and her cloud-patterned shoes, adorned with pearls and agates, were faintly visible beneath the skirt's hem.

On the bright yellow robe hung the owner's eight-treasure glass necklace, and above that was the owner's fair skin and beautiful face.

Bright eyes and red lips, radiant beauty that could topple cities.

In just a few short years, the once dark-skinned, thin, and coarse girl has become this femme fatale!

Even without Li Huiyi, she would still be the most beautiful lady in the royal family, her father would be a sage emperor, and she would not just be a county princess!

It was Li Huiyi who took the place that should have been hers.

Therefore, Li Xiuyun disliked her in every way.

She spoke intimately, but her eyes held a hint of anger.

Huiyi wasn't blind; she could see it.

She knew that, and that she had come today specifically to make things difficult for her dear cousin.

Three days ago, on the second day of the second lunar month, the day the dragon raises its head, my grandfather held a banquet for the royal family members on this auspicious day, and Li Xiuyun came along.

Not only did she come, she also splashed water on Huiyi's most beloved dress.

If it were unintentional, it wouldn't be a big deal, but Huiyi wasn't blind; Li Xiuyun clearly threw it on purpose.

Otherwise, how could she have been nimbly darting around on this smooth, non-slippery ground, only to fall on herself?

But Li Xiuyun was prepared. In front of everyone, she acted pitiful and apologetic, even though Huiyi hadn't said a word. She pretended to be frightened and kept apologizing.

Huiyi was so angry she almost laughed.

In that case, Huiyi had no choice but to report back.

Upon learning that her cousin was going to hold her birthday banquet at the Cherry Blossom Garden in three days, she immediately asked her grandfather for the garden.

Huiyi, with a shawl of gold and yellow hanging from her arm, slowly and gracefully stepped down from the palanquin, her pearl-studded shoes trembling slightly with each step.

"Grandpa gave me the cherry blossom garden this morning. It's my garden, why can't I come here?"

Li Xiuyun frowned, angrily saying, "How could this be? This is the royal garden. How could the Emperor bestow it upon someone else?"

"Why not? My grandfather loves me the most. It's just a garden, what's wrong with that?"

Without Huiyi speaking, De'an immediately stepped forward and unfurled the jade scroll, showing everyone the emperor's seal on it.

The overwhelming imperial power silenced everyone's dissent, and also made Li Xiuyun blush.

"Is Sister Chang Le here to show off that you've acquired the Sage's Cherry Blossom Garden?"

"That's rather low-class."

Li Xiuyun's smile was forced, revealing an awkwardness.

She had once urged her grandfather to ask for this cherry blossom garden as part of her future dowry.

However, the emperor refused, rejecting the grandfather's request on the grounds that the Cherry Blossom Garden was a royal park.

But then she gave it to Li Huiyi, which made Li Xiuyun feel very unbalanced.

Filled with resentment, her words were also harsh and barbed.

Huiyi snorted, making no attempt to hide her annoyance with her cousin. Holding the hand of her maid Biqing, she said leisurely, "It's not that. It's just that this garden now belongs to me, and I happen to need it today, so I can only clear out some irrelevant people."

"Please, cousin."

To blatantly kick someone out, especially at their birthday banquet, is undoubtedly a slap in the face.

Several girls who were on good terms with Li Xiuyun couldn't stand it anymore and stepped forward, thinking themselves righteous, saying, "How can Your Highness be so unreasonable and domineering? The County Princess is Your Highness's elder sister after all. It's too disrespectful to do this."

“That’s right. This cherry blossom garden has been open for fifty years. Your Excellency wants to take it over with just a word. It’s outrageous!”

Upon hearing someone talk back like that, Huiyi became furious and coldly rebuked, "Who do you think you are, daring to speak to me like that? My grandfather gave it to me, so it's mine to do with as I please. What business is it of yours!"

"Trying to stand up for others without even knowing your own limitations!"

A reprimand made Zhao Sanniang, who had been hot-blooded, feel a tightness in her chest, and she realized how audacious she had been in her rebellion.

Princess Chang Le is willful, domineering, and vindictive. If I were to register my name with her, would I be able to live comfortably in the future?

She was the most favored princess in the imperial family; how could she compare?

Thinking of this, Zhao Sanniang stammered an apology, her face pale as she stepped back without saying a word.

Li Xiuyun's face was extremely ugly, but she could only swallow her anger today.

"...Okay, I've got it."

"Walk!"

"I'm not going to embarrass myself any longer," Li Xiuyun said coldly, and left the Cherry Blossom Garden with several girls she was on good terms with.

Seeing that the dispute had ended, the onlookers, though indignant, were also prepared to leave, fearing that the unruly princess might retaliate against them.

But then a eunuch standing next to Princess Chang Le spoke with a smile.

"Please don't panic, everyone. Just continue enjoying the cherry blossoms. What happened just now was merely a private matter for our princess. It won't disturb your enjoyment."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions softened considerably. They simply treated it as a performance and decided to tell their families about it when they got home.

Princess Chang Le was domineering, but not extremely so.

A note from the author:

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The story has begun! [Sprinkling flowers]

First, let me explain the situation with this book.

Sweet romance novel

The bickering couple is considered a road of confrontation.

I'm a beginner writer, please click the "×" if you don't like it.

The male and female leads are not perfect; they have flaws and make mistakes.

Support original works and respect the fruits of labor [crying emoji]