Princess's Wedding (New Year's Eve Bonus)
"Your Highness, you are of noble birth, exceptionally talented, and possess a heart that embraces all things. I am unworthy of such praise," Chang Yi said respectfully, kneeling below.
"Then I shall issue a decree to bestow marriage upon the two of you." The emperor sat at the head of the table, his expression unchanged, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
"I fear I am unfit to serve Your Majesty," Chang Yi said, declining slightly without looking up.
"There is no law in this dynasty that prohibits those who marry a princess from holding office, and even if there were, I could abolish it. Zhaoyang's husband absolutely cannot be a commoner." His Majesty's tone was authoritative and left no room for argument.
"Your subject will obey Your Majesty's decree." Chang Yi had no choice but to agree.
"Chang Yi, you may not love my Zhaoyang, but no matter what happens—natural disaster, man-made calamity, or anything else—you must stand before Zhaoyang and protect her life at all costs." This was the first time Chang Yi had heard His Majesty command him in such a tone, and he quickly swore an oath.
"Your Majesty, I hereby swear that I am willing to protect Princess Zhaoyang with my life. As long as I live, I will never allow Princess Zhaoyang to suffer any harm." Chang Yi knelt respectfully on the ground, and the Emperor nodded in satisfaction.
"Lin Ben, I remember that Zhao Yang really liked that pot of White Snow Tower Peonies. Why don't you take Commandant Chang to see it?" As soon as the emperor said this, Lin Ben understood his meaning.
"Your Majesty, this servant will take Commandant Chang to take a look." He then gave a wink to the eunuch behind him and led Chang Yi towards the flower room.
"Commander Chang, Princess Zhaoyang is a humble and considerate person, never abusing her power. Everyone in the palace knows she is a kind and generous person." Lin Ben led the way, softly recounting Zhaoyang's past along the way.
"His Majesty ascended the throne when the princess was six years old. The following year, the Empress Dowager passed away. The princess protected the five-year-old Crown Prince, shielding him from the open and covert attacks in the palace. His Majesty has dealt with many people over the years, both openly and secretly, and the palace has finally calmed down. The princess is an excellent person, and the Commandant will know that."
Lin Ben and the others remained outside the greenhouse, while Chang Yi entered alone. Lou Xuan's image was reflected on the screen displaying birds and flowers.
"Your subject, Chang Yi, Commandant of the Vanguard, pays his respects to Princess Zhaoyang." Chang Yi stopped behind the screen and bowed to Lou Xuan from afar.
"Commander Chang, you may rise." Lou Xuan stepped out from behind the screen and handed Chang Yi a cup of tea.
"Princess?" Chang Yi was puzzled, but out of respect for his status, he accepted the teacup.
"I apologize. I dragged you into this without permission. I'm sorry." Chang Yi's hand holding the teacup paused slightly before he knelt on the ground. "It is my honor to have gained the princess's favor. I am deeply grateful for the princess's apology."
"I suspect Father is currently drafting an imperial edict. If you are unwilling, you can go and beg Father now. Commander Chang, there's no need to force yourself." Lou Xuan picked up his teacup to conceal the cold smile on his lips.
"Your subject is willing." Chang Yi knelt at Lou Xuan's feet.
"Commander Chang, do you know what your situation will be like if you marry me?" Lou Xuan's brocade shoes came into Chang Yi's sight.
"I know, but it is my duty to bear the emperor's burdens and share his burdens," Chang Yi said, suddenly looking up, catching Lou Xuan off guard.
"No, if you marry me, I will surely die, and if I live, you may not live. Chang Yi has no way back. You should think it over carefully. As long as you haven't left the palace and the imperial decree hasn't been issued, I can give you a chance to back out." Lou Xuan gently stroked the white snow tower.
"I have never had a way out, and besides, the princess simply chose me in accordance with the will of Heaven. I, like the princess, had no choice." Chang Yi stood up and stood beside Lou Xuan.
"In fact, the princess had already guessed His Majesty's choice, but she pretended not to know. If I were to disobey the imperial decree, it would be to preserve the princess's reputation for magnanimity."
Lou Xuan wasn't embarrassed by his scheme being exposed; instead, he chuckled softly, "It's good that you know. I still prefer dealing with smart people."
"From now on, I will only be the princess's subject." Chang Yi looked steadily at Lou Xuan, who placed a peony in his palm. "I hope you will protect my beloved White Snow Tower well, Commander."
"Your subject would gladly die for this cause." Chang Yi placed the white snow tower on the golden belt at his waist. "I hope the princess will be happy and carefree, and that everything will go smoothly for her!"
Lou Xuan smiled as he looked at Chang Yi, "It seems that Commandant Chang is not as dull and taciturn as he appears."
Lou Xuan walked to the door and opened it, letting the summer sunlight stream into the greenhouse. Lin Ben glanced at the peony on Chang Yi's waist and immediately gave a wink to the person beside him.
"This old servant would like to offer my congratulations to Your Highness." Lin Ben stood at the bottom of the steps, bowing respectfully to Lou Xuan.
"You're too kind, Eunuch Lin." Lou Xuan lifted her skirt and descended the steps one by one. Sunlight fell on her hair, where a white jade peony hairpin accentuated her dignified elegance.
"Please trouble Eunuch Lin to escort Commandant Chang out of the palace first, lest we be late." The maidservant quickly walked to Lou Xuan's side and held up an oil-paper umbrella.
"Your Highness, be careful not to catch a heatstroke." Lou Xuan glanced at the maid holding an umbrella beside him and said in a deep voice, "Xueya, see Commandant Chang off for me."
"Yes." Xueya handed the oil-paper umbrella to the person beside her and followed behind Chang Yi.
"Alright, I won't delay Commandant Chang's departure time any longer. Yunwu, let's go." Lou Xuan led her maid back to Huile Palace. Summer ice was used up incredibly quickly, but Huile Palace never felt a trace of summer heat.
"Your Highness, may I send a message to His Highness the Crown Prince?" Yunwu offered Lou Xuan the cooled tea.
"No need. With the Dou family's power, as soon as Father's imperial edict leaves the palace, they'll know what's written inside. They might even find out its contents faster than Chang Yi." Lou Xuan lay on the chaise longue, two maids fanning her to dispel the heat she had brought in.
"How is the Imperial Concubine's health?" Lou Xuan lazily enjoyed Yunwu's care as she flipped through the book in her hands.
"They say she's fully recovered, and Physician Zhai has already left the palace." Lou Xuan hummed in agreement and said no more. For a long while, the Huiyue Palace was quiet and peaceful.
"Tomorrow, go and invite Physician Zhai to the palace for a chat. She seems capable of curing the Imperial Concubine's illness, and is certainly not just a pretty face." Lou Xuan continued turning the pages of his book, but his eyes were fixed on the view outside the window.
"Your Highness, this servant has returned." Xueya knelt on the ground and replied, "When this servant and Eunuch Lin arrived at Danfeng Gate, we saw Dou Gongzheng entering the palace, so he must have something important to discuss."
Lou Xuan put down her book, pressed her slender fingers to her brow, and sighed softly, “Get up. They can’t wait even a moment longer. It seems my marriage didn’t become their bargaining chip, and they are now desperately looking for a replacement.”
"Your Highness, they are really bullying us! The people they chose are all ugly and deformed, either widowers or good-for-nothings. They are disgusting!" Xueya knelt in front of the chaise longue, carefully massaging Lou Xuan's legs.
"Why bother arguing with them? Father won't really marry me off to those people." Lou Xuan closed her eyes. Too much had happened today; she needed to analyze it carefully to avoid falling into a trap.
"Your Highness, the Imperial Clothing Bureau has arrived. They say they are here on the orders of the Noble Consort to make winter clothes for you." At Songluo's glance, the maid who entered knelt down.
"Since when has the Huiyue Palace ever allowed entry without prior notice? Haven't you learned any manners?" Songluo put down her fan and looked at the palace maid with a cold gaze.
Song Luo glanced back at Lou Xuan and saw her wave her hand lightly. Song Luo immediately said loudly, "Send her back to the Yeting Bureau and have someone teach her some manners. How dare any Tom, Dick, or Harry send her to the Huile Palace?"
Upon hearing this, the two eunuchs outside the door immediately dragged the palace maid outside. "Xueya, go and tell the people in the Imperial Clothing Bureau that I am very tired today and I am afraid I will have to disappoint Her Majesty's good intentions."
"Yes." Lou Xuan still didn't open her eyes. She didn't care about what happened in the palace, but that didn't mean just anyone could interfere in Huiyue Palace.
"Your Highness, what does the Imperial Concubine mean by this? Could it be that she already knows about Your Highness's marriage?" Yunwu looked at Lou Xuan cautiously. "The Third Princess and the Xun family are discussing marriage. Should we accept?"
"No need. The Xun family is nothing to us. The Consort is just here to probe my attitude." Lou Xuan opened his eyes, and Yun Wu quickly supported him. The two walked to the bedside and watched the Shangfuju (Imperial Clothing Bureau) officials leave.
"Have Xueya find a chance to thoroughly clean Huile Palace, so that no filth or junk remains here," Lou Xuan said, glancing at Yunwu.
"Yes, Your Highness, would you like to dine at the Crown Prince's palace tomorrow?" Yunwu helped Lou Xuan sit down. The woman in the mirror was dignified and beautiful, her red palace dress adding to her charm.
"Why not go? Do you think they can take back Father's decree? The Crown Prince couldn't even protect his own Crown Princess." Lou Xuan took off the bracelet from her wrist and put it in the box.
"His Highness is truly kind-hearted, having given Lady Wang much help. I imagine Lady Wang remembers it." Yunwu removed Lou Xuan's hairpins and brought her her nightgown.
"This is a dress made of 'Moonlight Gauze,' a tribute from a foreign vassal state. His Majesty said that His Highness is sensitive to heat, so he bestowed all of this 'Moonlight Gauze' upon him." Lou Xuan touched the dress; a chill emanated from it.
"No need, just wear your usual silk nightgown. Put this in the box for now."
"Yes." Yunwu tactfully put the dress back into the box. Xueya pushed open the door and entered, carrying a bowl of medicinal food.
"Your Highness, this was sent over by the Imperial Pharmacy. They said it was specially prepared by Consort Shu." Xueya placed the medicinal meal beside the White Snow Tower. "Today's medicinal meal seems to have a stronger medicinal flavor than usual."
"This servant can smell it too." Yunwu picked up a silver spoon, scooped some soup under her nose, dipped it in the medicinal liquid, and put it in her mouth.
"There's too much alum in it, this..." Yunwu glanced at Xueya and Songluo,
"Just pour it out, don't worry about it." Lou Xuan, her long black hair loose, returned to the inner hall. The inner hall was very different from the outer hall; it was quite simple. The gilded glass incense burner and the white porcelain vase were both empty inside.
"Your Highness, Xueya and I are on night duty tonight." Songluo closed the wooden door to the inner hall. Lou Xuan was alone in the inner hall, with only a basin of ice radiating coldness.
"Hmm." The inner palace was perpetually dark, its interior shrouded in heavy gauze curtains. Lou Xuan quietly read a letter by the light of an oil lamp.
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