Before the lavish gifts sent by the emperor of Wuling Kingdom, Xu Yuehuai stood calmly, her face serene and undisturbed.
Her gaze slowly fell upon the exquisite porcelain, precious jewels, and colorful silks. Then, she gently raised her eyes and looked at the respectful envoy.
"His Majesty truly shows great favor to the Princess; this generous gift is truly astonishing," the envoy said with a smile, his eyes revealing sincere admiration.
Xu Yuehuai smiled slightly and said in a calm tone, "I appreciate Your Majesty's kindness. However, although I am flattered, I cannot easily accept such a generous gift."
Having said that, she gently waved her hand, signaling the messenger to remove the gifts.
Other officials from the surrounding area rushed over upon hearing the news, and they gathered around, discussing the matter animatedly.
Some admired Xu Yuehuai's courage and boldness, while others secretly lamented the loss of these priceless treasures.
One of the officials stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Princess, what brings you to this? His Majesty's high regard for you is an immense honor!"
Xu Yuehuai glanced at him indifferently and said slowly, "Glory? Yuehuai doesn't care about such material things. Besides, one shouldn't accept rewards without merit. How could I easily accept these valuable gifts?"
Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, yet it carried an undeniable firmness.
Zhou Wan stood to the side, her gaze lingering on the dazzling array of gifts.
She clicked her tongue softly: "Alas, what a pity, if only these things could have been kept..." Before she could finish speaking, the little princess tugged at her sleeve.
The little princess's eyes sparkled with curiosity and innocence: "Are we really not going to accept these?"
She pointed to the dazzling array of gifts, her small face filled with regret.
Xu Yuehuai lowered his head slightly, looking into her clear eyes, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.
She said softly, "These items may be precious, but they cannot replace the feelings and trust between people. True wealth is not the gold and silver jewelry in front of you, but the kindness and integrity in your heart."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Wan nodded slightly.
She knew Xu Yuehuai's character well and knew that these things were far less precious to her than a sincere friendship.
Although the little princess was somewhat disappointed, she gradually understood the reasoning behind it under Xu Yuehuai's gentle comfort.
"I see." The envoy looked admiringly at Xu Yuehuai's words. "The princess's insights are truly unique, and I have benefited greatly from them. His Majesty would be very pleased if he knew of the princess's noble character."
Xu Yuehuai smiled slightly and said, "You flatter me, envoy. I am merely stating my thoughts and have no intention of concealing anything."
The envoy knew that Xu Yuehuai was a woman who did not covet wealth and had her own opinions, so he respected her even more. He bowed respectfully and said, "Princess, I shall take my leave."
Xu Yuehuai nodded in return: "Thank you for your help, envoy. Please convey my gratitude to His Majesty."
With the departure of the envoy, the palace returned to tranquility.
Zhou Wan walked up to Xu Yuehuai and exclaimed sincerely, "You really impress me! It's rare to see someone so calmly refuse such valuable gifts."
Xu Yuehuai smiled faintly: "For me, those things are not the most important. People live in this world not to pursue material wealth, but to live a meaningful and valuable life."
Zhou Wan nodded thoughtfully, her admiration for Xu Yuehuai growing even stronger.
In the season of gentle spring breezes and fragrant flowers, the courtyards of the Wuling Kingdom's palace are ablaze with color.
Various flowers bloomed in profusion, displaying their vibrant colors. Xu Yuehuai and her little princess strolled along the path among the flowers, their clothes fluttering in the breeze, as if they were in a beautiful painting.
"Big sister, look how beautiful that flower is!" The little princess excitedly pointed to a blooming peony, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Xu Yuehuai approached with a smile and said softly, "This peony is indeed very beautiful. Look at its petals, layer upon layer, like clouds and brocade. It uses its short blooming period to show its most radiant smile."
The little princess looked up and nodded earnestly: "I also want to be like this flower, to live my most beautiful life in my short life."
Xu Yuehua felt a warmth in her heart, knowing that her words and actions were influencing her. She hoped that her little princess would grow up to be a kind, brave, and ambitious person.
"Oh, right, elder sister," the little princess suddenly remembered something, "Her Majesty the Empress said she plays the zither very well and wants to teach me to play!"
A hint of surprise flashed in Xu Yuehuai's eyes: "Oh? That's wonderful. Your Majesty the Empress is indeed a woman of many talents."
The two continued strolling along the path through the flowers, chatting about their musical skills.
"Sister, how can I play the zither well?" the little princess asked curiously. Xu Yuehuai stopped and said softly, "The way to play the zither lies in the unity of heart and instrument. You must use your heart to feel the flow of the music and experience the emotions contained within the pieces." She gently held the little princess's hand and continued tenderly, "At the same time, you must learn to listen to the sounds of nature and feel its rhythms. In this way, your music will have more vitality." The little princess nodded thoughtfully, "Sister, I understand. I will use my heart to feel every note and fill my music with emotion." Xu Yuehuai smiled encouragingly, "Very good, I believe you can do it."
Xu Yuehuai looks forward to her little princess achieving something in her musical skills, and hopes that she can learn to appreciate beauty and understand life in the process.
A gentle spring breeze caressed the flowers in the Imperial Garden, where they bloomed in vibrant colors and butterflies fluttered about. In this season brimming with life, Xu Yuehuai and the little princess strolled through the garden, appreciating nature's bounty.
However, this beautiful moment was shattered by the appearance of Consort Wan. Dressed in magnificent robes and with a graceful gait, Consort Wan immediately drew everyone's attention.
She walked gracefully up to Xu Yuehuai, a cold smile playing on her lips: "Who do we have here? It's just that little slut left in the palace."
Xu Yuehuai's heart tightened. She knew that Consort Wan held a deep prejudice against her, but she remained calm: "Your Highness is too kind. I am only here to spread the word and have no other intentions."
Consort Wan laughed disdainfully: "Hmph, do you really think you're just here for a simple stroll in the Imperial Garden? Don't think I don't know what you're up to. You're staying in the palace to seduce the Emperor!"
Xu Yuehuai's expression changed slightly, but she tried her best to remain calm: "Your Highness, you misunderstand. I did not have such thoughts."
Consort Wan scoffed disdainfully, "Don't think I don't know your background. For a commoner like you to be allowed into the palace is already a great blessing. How dare you even dream of the Emperor! You truly don't know what's good for you!"
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