Winter was approaching, and fresh vegetables and fruits were becoming scarcer, making the capital city much more desolate. One day, Tian Yu and Lv Liu Qiu Ju were buying groceries on the street when they overheard passersby discussing how the newly launched hot pot at Yue Lai Restaurant was very popular, but the quantity was limited and they had to queue for a long time each time they could get a taste. The two maids covered their mouths and chuckled as they listened. Tian Yu smiled as well, thinking to herself that Huang Xuan was quite fast; it had already been launched in just a few days. No wonder everyone in the capital had been discussing and researching hot pot lately.
On the way back, they passed by Yuelai Restaurant and, sure enough, there was a long queue in front of it. Green Willow was curious and wanted to go in and take a look, but Tian Yu thought it was too much trouble and, with so many people, they went around the queue and returned to Qinyuan.
The princess arrived at Qinyuan early in the morning. She was a little embarrassed to learn that Tianyu was not there, but she didn't know how to stay. Just as she was hesitating about whether to leave, Tianyu's carriage returned. The princess happily went up to Tianyu and took her hand. Tianyu didn't have time to bow before being pulled into the courtyard. The princess smiled and said, "No need to bow."
"Is there something you need so early for, Princess?"
"It's nothing important, I was just bored at home and thought I'd come and see you."
"Where is the princess? Isn't the princess with the princess?" Tian Yu thought about how the princess had just come a few days ago. Did the princess want to see her or Li Xingyun?
"Don't mention her. She's had some family issues lately, and I haven't seen her in a long time."
"What's wrong? What's so important?"
"I don't know the specifics, but it seems to be because of her marriage."
"I see. Well, she's older than you, so you should have been talking about marriage a long time ago. She also comes from a good family. Why are you delaying her marriage?"
"I'm not really sure either. It seems like she's been unwilling, and her family can't force her, so it's been dragging on."
"Does she have someone she likes, which is why she's been hesitant to marry him?"
“We’re together every day. If she had someone she liked, she should have told me. But I’ve never heard of her liking anyone.”
Tian Yu and the princess chatted as they entered the inner courtyard. A maid brought tea and snacks, and Tian Yu pulled the princess to sit down and continue chatting. The princess thought hard for a long time and said, "However, she was sad for a long time when the Crown Prince got married. At that time, I also thought that she liked the Crown Prince, but later she acted as if nothing had happened, and everyone forgot about it."
"Alright, let's not talk about her anymore. What has the princess been up to lately? Why hasn't she come these past few days?"
"My father made me stay in the palace to learn needlework, so I haven't been able to find a chance to go out."
"Does the princess have to learn this too?"
"Of course, every woman in the Wu Kingdom must know this skill, otherwise she will be disliked by her husband's family. Don't you know it?"
"What level is considered 'able'?" Tian Yu asked curiously.
"Well, at the very least, you should be able to embroider a handkerchief like this, right?" the princess said, taking out a handkerchief she carried with her and handing it to Tian Yu to see.
Tian Yu reached out and touched the lifelike flowers and birds embroidered on the handkerchief, and said with a smile, "So beautiful, did the princess embroider it?"
"Yes! But the embroidery isn't very good; it's barely passable!"
"Is this what it means to be considered qualified?" Tian Yu asked, her eyes wide.
"Yeah! Your embroidery is probably better than mine!"
I can't embroider.
"You can't embroider?! You don't know how to embroider?!"
"No, I can only mend clothes."
"How could that be? I thought you were good at embroidery."
"I'm sorry to disappoint the princess, I really won't."
"Ah! Then I've been working so hard hoping that one day I could surpass you."
“Princess, you’ve already beaten me. Your embroidery is excellent. I’ll probably never be able to embroider like this in my entire life.” Tian Yu smiled and pointed to the handkerchief in her hand.
"It's boring. I thought I would have to work really hard."
"Then you can give me this handkerchief?"
"No, this is the most successful piece I've ever embroidered," the princess said, snatching the handkerchief.
"You treasure this so much, who are you planning to give it to?"
"Anything else is fine, just not this one. I'll give you the one I embroider later."
“Okay, I don’t want it. Princess, you can keep it.” Tian Yu said with a smile.
The princess carefully packed the handkerchief and asked softly, "How is Doctor Li?"
"What? What did the princess say? I didn't hear you clearly."
"Tian Yu! You!"
"Okay, okay, I understand. My brother is still the same lately. He doesn't want to go out and just stays in the house."
"Is it still because of what happened that day?"
"I don't know, maybe it hurt my pride!"
“I went back and asked the old people in the palace about his affairs, and that’s when I learned that he had gone through so much.”
"Princess, don't worry, he will understand."
"I want to see him!?"
"This? Has the princess figured it out?"
"Me? I just don't want to see him sad."
"Okay! I'll go with you."
Knowing the princess had arrived, Li Xingyun finally opened the door and greeted her politely before preparing to leave. Tian Yu repeatedly persuaded him to stay, and kept giving Xiao Wu meaningful glances. Only then did she manage to push Li Xingyun out of the room and they went to the living room to chat. Looking at the princess's shy demeanor, Tian Yu was both surprised and delighted. If this were to happen, it would be a good thing. But would Li Xingyun agree? Would the Emperor agree? Would it harm the princess? Tian Yu felt a pang of regret, wondering if she should have stopped them from meeting.
While Tian Yu was lost in thought, Zhao Moyan arrived just in time. Tian Yu took the opportunity to say she was going to prepare lunch and quickly slipped away, leaving Zhao Moyan to stay and keep them company. The atmosphere eased considerably during lunch, and with Tang Yuan and Xuan Yu joining them, the atmosphere became less reserved.
When the princess left, Tangyuan happily invited her to visit again next time. Seeing the princess's happy smile, it seemed she was very pleased.
Zhao Moyan had been secretly gathering information about the truth behind his family's annihilation, and due to his busy official duties, he didn't have much time to come to Qinyuan. However, after Gongye Ming disappeared for a while, he started coming to Tianyu's place every day again.
On the winter solstice, a gathering of literati was held in the capital. Tian Yu and Li Xingyun both received invitations. They didn't want to go at first, but later they heard that it was jointly organized by the Crown Prince and several ministers. Tian Yu felt it would be inappropriate not to go, so she had no choice but to accept the invitation.
Since being invited by Tangyuan, the princess has been visiting Qinyuan more and more frequently, but she doesn't seem to care much about Zhao Moyan anymore. She claims that she wants to compete with Tian Yu, but everyone knows who she's really after.
With Xiao Wu around and Tian Yu and Tang Yuan always causing him trouble, Li Xingyun seemed to forget about it over time, and his mood improved a lot. He started bickering with Tian Yu again.
After Tian Yu came to the capital, besides writing books and researching spices, she also wrote letters to people in the mountain city. The income from her two books was quite good, so they were still able to live a leisurely life.
On the winter solstice, Tian Yu and Li Xingyun appeared before everyone at their appointment. This mansion belonged to the Tang family. When they arrived, Tian Yu learned that the Tang family was also the organizer of this literary gathering. But since they had already arrived, Tian Yu looked at Li Xingyun with concern and bent down to say to him, "If you don't want to stay, we can leave now."
"Now that you're here, if you leave now, won't you just laugh at me again?"
Tian Yu regretted it a little. If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have forced Li Xingyun to come with her. They were bound to run into the Tang family, and maybe even the eldest daughter of the Tang family. What should she do now?
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