Chapter 18 Unexpected Changes The moon remains as bright as ever, but the people are all gone...
"In the autumn of the twenty-second year of Fengtian, Crown Prince Jiayunqi abdicated and left the palace, passing away in the Yiyu Hall at the age of 21. Emperor Fengtian and Empress Shangguan were deeply grieved by the loss of their beloved son and held a national mourning ceremony. In the same year, Emperor Fengtian bestowed the title of Crown Prince upon the eldest prince, Jialuolin."
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When Bai Lian finally came to her senses after a series of complicated events, it was during the ceremony for establishing the crown prince.
She was fortunate enough to witness this moment as the Crown Princess.
She looked at Galo Lin, who was dressed in a bright yellow five-dragon robe, still possessing a voluptuous and beautiful figure.
His eyes, reflected beneath the pearl crown, shone brighter than ever before, yet Bai Lian could not decipher the expression within them.
Stripped of her polite smile and haughty demeanor, Byakuren could no longer find a trace of the familiarity she once possessed on Galorin's face.
It was as if, in just a few days, she would become the crown princess of such a stranger, and an inexplicable fear made her panic.
Inside the Grand Hall, officials gathered, the bronze lanterns gleaming, as magnificent as ever. Bai Lian surveyed her surroundings; how many of those masked faces still bore the sorrow of a day of national mourning?
The sky over Phoenix Dance City suddenly changed. The Second Prince and the Fourth Prince died, the Third Prince was crippled, and the First Prince was made Crown Prince. The power in the court was also replaced by blood due to this change. This curse belonging to the Jia royal family was so bizarre that it could be turned into a legend and a topic of conversation by the common people.
Bai Lian felt like a passerby who had witnessed a grand spectacle as she hastily entered the palace.
But she couldn't bring herself to feel deep sorrow for any prince who had suddenly met with misfortune.
She could still recall the expressions on the faces of these people she didn't know well when they watched her play; they were young and vibrant faces, and she only felt regret.
Perhaps it wasn't just regret; when Bai Lian saw Shu Li throwing herself onto Xuan Yu's bed and crying loudly, she almost shed tears herself.
That was a bed that is now empty.
The former Prince Xuanyu once lay half-reclined, calmly watching Bai Lian come to visit him. In the only eye that was not covered, there was no wind or waves, no desire or hope, as if he were a dead object and they were as air.
Bai Lian still remembers the bleak scene of that day and Shu Li's unconcealed disappointment, even though she tries her best to visit her brother every day and tries to persuade Bai Lian to go with her again...
But right after the Crown Prince's ceremony, Jia Xuanyu disappeared without a trace. No one knew where he went or witnessed his departure. He took nothing with him except his personal clothing, as if he had evaporated into thin air.
The servants who had neglected their duties in the Jade Prince's mansion were all ordered to be executed by the extremely deranged Consort Liu. However, no matter how many people were sent to search, they could not find her beloved son.
Thus, in this autumn, the Jia royal family tragically lost three princes.
Those high-ranking and powerful senior officials kept urging the emperor to take heed of his grief, as if they were driving away evil spirits for the gods. They all desperately offered suggestions and strategies to ensure peace and tranquility in the Feng Dynasty.
He sits high on the throne in the Heavenly Palace, looking down upon all living beings, but how many people can truly see his expression?
Parents' hearts are always full of love and worry. While everyone else sees this as an ominous sign, they overlook the fact that their high-ranking ruler also has another identity: father...
The moon still hangs in the sky above Phoenix Dance City, as bright and clear as ever, but the people there are no longer here...
Bai Lian was still living in Nieran Palace, waiting for the Crown Prince's wedding in a few days. She would soon become the rightful Crown Princess. Little did she know that her wish would be fulfilled through such an unexpected turn of events.
Before getting married, Bai Lian can go home to visit her parents and brothers.
The last time she saw her father was at the ceremony for establishing the crown prince. Bai Lian and Bai Moyuan were quite far apart, so she could only look at her father in his official robes from afar and didn't have time to say a word.
When Bai Lian lifted the thick curtain on the carriage, she finally saw her parents' long-awaited faces.
Changsun Rao'er stepped forward and hugged her daughter tightly, gently patting Bai Lian's back. She was so excited that she almost forgot to welcome her into the house.
Even with countless setbacks, as long as they are happy, that's all that matters. Bai Lian sighed softly, but Zi Yuan was still nowhere to be seen…
"Father, has my brother not returned yet after completing his studies?"
"Well, the grand examination is in a few days. Your brother might not be able to make it to your wedding..." Bai Moyuan seemed hesitant to speak. Bai Lian couldn't help but feel regretful, but she didn't press him further.
Upon entering the mansion, Bai Lian headed towards Qing Pavilion, only to hear a long shout rushing towards her from afar.
"Miss~~~~~~~~~~" Before Bai Lian could even step into the pavilion, she was bumped into by a little maid and swayed precariously.
Bai Lian sighed and looked down, only to be met with Afu's face, which was so red it could drip blood...
"Miss, I've been waiting for you so long!!" Cuizhu snuggled her round body into Bailian's arms, swaying from side to side, displaying an unusually charming and coquettish ability with an exaggerated and affected manner, which added a touch of naivety to her...
If the other person in this scenario were a man, he would probably affectionately pat her head, gently stroke her nose, and softly sigh, "You missed me that much, didn't you?"
"Ouch, young lady~ be gentle, be gentle..."
"Hmm? How many new clothes have you made again?" Bai Lian chuckled, tugging at Cui Zhu's chubby cheeks. She thought to herself, "This girl, she's really living a comfortable life without me. Her body feels much fuller now..."
With tears welling up in her eyes, Cuizhu rubbed her tender face and dejectedly went to open Bailian's clothes chest.
The fine silks and satins inside instantly dazzled Bai Lian's eyes. She casually picked out a few new styles she had never seen before, and each piece was exceptionally exquisite. Even she couldn't help but marvel at them. It seemed that Cui Zhu had truly turned her longing into motivation.
"Miss..." Seeing Bai Lian's cheerful expression, Cui Zhu, who was standing nearby, said, "Cui Zhu congratulates Miss on becoming the Crown Princess."
Bai Lian looked at Cui Zhu's eyes, which were radiating an unusual light that she hadn't seen in a long time, and her lips twitched involuntarily. She said helplessly, "Speak, besides asking you to come to the palace to serve me, what other requests do you have?"
"Miss, I know that His Highness the Crown Prince is a handsome man who appears once in a hundred years..." Cuizhu blushed and stammered while looking at her fingers, "I don't mean to compete with you for food, I just want to ask, the woman serving next to such a luminous creature, she must be quite presentable, right?"
"Oh, you mean you're asking if any of his personal male servants are good-looking?" Bai Lian asked, arms crossed and head tilted.
Cuizhu nodded vigorously, her face flushed, her eyes shining with anticipation.
“I’ve seen one of them beside him; he’s quite handsome. But there must be many handsome eunuchs like him in the Eastern Palace, after all, they’re all the best of the best,” Bai Lian pondered before speaking.
Cui Zhu stood frozen in place for a few seconds, then stiffly turned her head and ran out of the door crying, leaving behind a bewildered Bai Lian. Had she said something wrong?
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Later that evening, Bai Lian was called into her parents' room to catch up. She was leaving the next day and had so much to say, but she didn't know where to begin.
Changsun Rao'er straightened Bai Lian's clothes, her eyes still glistening with tears.
Bai Moyuan, standing to the side, could not hide his worry. The recent series of events that had shaken the entire Feng Dynasty had made them extremely concerned for their daughter.
"Lian'er, you must be careful and cautious in this palace from now on..."
“My daughter understands.”
Changsun Rao'er smoothed the stray hairs from Bai Lian's forehead. Her daughter's increasingly beautiful and captivating features bore no resemblance to her former self.
She brushed it gently, feeling a slight bitterness... Bai Moyuan saw this and patted Changsun Rao'er's back lightly.
"Mother, don't be sad. Lian'er will come back to visit more often in the future."
Changsun Rao'er sighed deeply and put on a loving smile. "I've prepared all of Lian'er's dowry. Come with me to take a look later."
Bai Lian nodded slightly.
After Bai Lian left the room, Bai Moyuan looked at Changsun Rao'er and said, "I've thought about the white robe. I think I'll not give it to Lian'er this time."
Changsun Rao'er's face was full of thought as she asked, "Is this the right thing to do?"
"Sigh, about what we were considering telling her, I'm a little worried it might affect her future life, so... let's keep it from her for as long as possible."
Changsun Rao'er slowly lowered her eyes; she understood his thoughts all too well.
The decision they made back then was like a thin sheet of paper covering the truth, easily torn apart by anyone.
Even today, they don't know whether their approach has been right or wrong all along...
At that moment, there was a gentle knock on the door, and Bai Lian slowly pushed it open.
"Mother, Lian'er has been waiting for you for so long. Weren't you going to take me to see the dowry?"
Bai Lian acted like a little girl, coaxing Changsun Rao'er.
"Oh, they're here." Changsun Rao'er hurriedly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, got up and walked out of the room.
The dowry that Changsun Rao'er prepared for Bai Lian was exceptionally exquisite and abundant. Bai Lian was so moved by the sight of it that her eyes welled up with tears.
Changsun Rao'er handed her a white jade hairpin with lotus petals and said with a smile, "When your grandmother was still alive, she loved this hairpin the most. She later left it to me, and it was through the exquisite craftsmanship of this hairpin that I came to love lotus flowers."
Bai Lian took the jade hairpin and examined it closely. The hairpin was made of white jade, with two parallel strands, one end pointed and the other end curved and connected. It was polished all over and so clear that there were almost no impurities.
On the top of the hairpin, a large piece of jade was used to carve a lotus flower, with layers upon layers of petals, each distinct and exquisitely detailed, so much so that the patterns within the lotus petals could be seen.
Such exquisite craftsmanship makes it like a priceless treasure.
Bai Lian stroked the cool touch of the jade hairpin, delighted, and asked with a grin, "Mother, could it be that Lian'er's name was also derived from this hairpin?"
Changsun Rao'er smiled gently and said, "Yes, my Lian'er is so clever~"
Bai Lian was completely absorbed in it, feeling even more delighted, and continued to flip through the pages with a smile.
"Hmm? Mother~ What is this?" Bai Lian presented a stack of white fabric, on which large white lotuses were embroidered... but before it could be unfolded, it was snatched away by Changsun Rao'er.
"This...this is Mother's stuff. It got mixed in by accident." Changsun Rao'er replied without looking up, but her voice betrayed her nervousness. After speaking, she quickly turned around and carried the item out of the room.
Bai Lian stood there, stunned, unable to recover for a while.
When has my mother ever spoken or acted like this? Can't she even look at her own daughter...? Thinking about it, I felt a strange sensation in my heart.
A note from the author:
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