A life of two souls traveling through time

In early summer, the shadows grow longer and the shade grows deeper. In the Hanwang Mansion, pomegranate blossoms are on fire, bamboo shadows sway through the windows, carps swim leisurely in the clear pond, pink lotus buds are about to bloom, and the summer cicadas begin to sing among the green trees, full of vitality, unlike the noisy summer.

Under the shade of the trees in the courtyard, Luoying lay lazily on a rattan chair with her eyes closed. The dappled sunlight seemed to add a bit of divinity to her stunning appearance. But as a yellowed locust leaf quietly fell onto her plain dress, she sighed and her dark eyebrows frowned slightly.

"Why is the princess sighing?" At this time, the maid Helian came out of the hall carrying tea and snacks. She happened to hear the sigh and asked hurriedly with concern.

Luoying neither opened her eyes nor responded to her. She just shook her head and simply covered her face with the silk handkerchief in her hand to hide the worry between her brows.

The Battle of Xijing is imminent, plunging the nation into chaos and dragging all other nations into the conflict. While Luoying believes in Jiuyi's abilities, she worries that the Xuanmeng Nation's small size and power won't be enough to support his revenge plan. However, since her last encounter with Yan Qiao in Changqiu Palace, she hasn't been summoned by him for over two months. Luoying can't think of a reason to approach him without arousing suspicion, leaving her with no way to help Jiuyi gather any useful information.

Although Jiuyi had written a letter strongly opposing her involvement, now she had no way out and could only keep moving forward, even if the road ahead was a bottomless abyss.

"Princess, the servants came to report yesterday that the lotus flowers in Ziyuan have bloomed early. The weather is good today, why don't you go to Ziyuan to enjoy the lotus flowers?" Seeing that the princess was unhappy, He Lian thought that the princess was remembering the dead prince again and was therefore sad. She sighed and placed the snacks on the stone table, then squatted in front of the princess and coaxed her softly.

Helian's words made Luoying open her eyes. She slowly took off the silk handkerchief covering her face and looked at the plate of jujube and yam cake on the table. After thinking for a moment, a faint smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, and she instructed Helian again:

"Ask the kitchen to prepare another box of jujube and yam cakes, and we'll go to the Purple Garden to pick lotus flowers."

After Luoying finished speaking, she stood up and went straight to the bedroom.

"Picking lotus flowers? Princess, do you want to make lotus drink?" He Lian stood up and bowed, smiling sweetly and then hurriedly asked someone to go to the kitchen to prepare cakes, and then she went into the bedroom.

Luoying wore no makeup, only a plain, simple dress before hurriedly leaving the palace. Though concealed by a curtain of veils, her ethereal beauty still caught the attention of those around her. Passersby couldn't help but stop and watch as they saw the carriage from Prince Han's mansion. After all, everyone knew that the Princess Han was as beautiful as Chang'e in the moonlight, so who wouldn't want to seize the opportunity to catch a glimpse of her beauty? Even a glimpse from afar was enough to satisfy them.

Half an incense stick later, the carriage stopped in front of the Purple Garden outside the city. Four maids holding swords stood guard on both sides. Then, Luoying, supported by Helian, stepped down from the carriage. As soon as she entered the Purple Garden, she saw the housekeeper quickly step forward and bow respectfully to her:

"Princess, why didn't you inform me in advance that you are coming today? I should have prepared some delicious refreshments."

"Don't be so reserved. You guys go about your business. I'm just stopping by to see the early blooming lotus flowers. I'll be gone in a moment." Luoying waved to the nanny in front of her, making a sound like a silver bell.

"Yes." Although the housekeeper heard the princess say so, she did not dare to be negligent in the slightest and still followed respectfully to the lotus pond.

"The lotus blossoms blaze brightly on the emerald waters, swaying in the breeze, dancing gracefully, their shadows ethereal."

Luoying took off her veil and strolled into the pavilion on the water. She gazed at the emerald green leaves and pink lotus flowers before her, and couldn't help but recall her childhood days of boating on Lotus Lake with Jiuyi, listening to him recite poems and praise them. Now, everything had changed, and although the flowers were still blooming beautifully, she had lost interest in them.

The servants were waiting outside, but their eyes were all fixed on the beauty in the pavilion. In their eyes, no flower in the world could be more beautiful than the princess.

Soon, He Lian took the tea from a maid, walked into the pavilion, and said with a smile:

"The people are beautiful, the flowers are beautiful, and the poems the princess recites are also very beautiful!"

"I don't know where you learned such smooth talk." Upon hearing the voice, Luoying quickly concealed the sadness in her eyes, turned around and said to Helian with pretended anger.

"These are just my true feelings, Princess. How can you laugh at me?" He Lian offered a cup of tea and sighed aggrievedly.

Luoying drank half a sip of tea but smiled without saying anything. Then she said, "Have someone pick some lotus flowers. We'll go to the cemetery later."

"The princess is going to the cemetery?" He Lian was stunned when she heard this, and her face turned pale. The princess went to the cemetery to see Concubine Meng, but when she thought of Concubine Meng, Xiaochun's death came to her mind again.

"No need to say more, let's go pick lotus flowers." Luoying glanced at Helian lightly, and without waiting for her to continue speaking, she turned around and looked at the pink lotus flowers in the pond.

He Lian wanted to say something but stopped herself. She had to bow and leave the pavilion, and asked the housekeeper to find someone to go boating and pick flowers.

Less than half an incense stick of time passed before a basket of bright pink lotus flowers appeared in Helian's hands. Luoying immediately stood up and walked out of the pavilion. Just as she was about to leave, the housekeeper came forward with a serious expression and reported, "Princess, the two uncles of the king have brought people here and wish to enter the garden to view the lotus flowers?"

"What? The uncle of the emperor is here to enjoy the flowers? Don't they know that the Empress has already granted the Purple Garden to the Princess?" Before Luoying could react, Helian was the first to raise her eyebrows and ask the housekeeper. Even if he was the uncle of the emperor, he was still an outsider. The Purple Garden was the Princess's private residence, and the Princess was still in the garden. Wouldn't it be a disgrace to her reputation if this were to get out?

"It is a well-known fact that the Empress gave the Purple Garden to the princess. But the two uncles-in-law also said that since the princess has been recognized as her sister by the Empress, they are also her brothers-in-law. There is no need for the family to be shy. What's more...what's more, they are just here to enjoy the flowers." The housekeeper lowered her head and stammered for a long time before she conveyed the words of the uncles-in-law truthfully.

The words "the princess's sworn brother" immediately choked He Lian. She didn't dare to say anything more and could only turn to look at the princess.

"Go and invite them in. Just tell them that I'm not feeling well and have returned to the palace. Please understand." Luoying sneered in her heart, but there was no expression on her face. She raised her eyes and gave instructions to the housekeeper.

Luoying was recognized as the Queen's adopted sister because the royal family wanted to elevate her status to match that of King Han. Therefore, although she had heard of Rong Linfeng and Rong Linze, the Queen's two brothers from her mother's side, she had never seen them, so she could not call them "brothers".

But just as the housekeeper received the order, a burst of laughter came from not far away, mixed with the flirting of men and women. The servants looked at each other in confusion, and the four sword-wielding maids behind Luoying could not help but be alert and gripped their swords tightly.

Luoying was shocked. She never thought that the bright and beautiful Queen Rong had two such arrogant and rude brothers. Relying on their status as the king's uncle, they broke into the private residence without the owner's consent.

"Sister!"

Luoying had barely finished muttering when a dashing young man in brocade robes and jade belts appeared in the garden. Seeing her by the lotus pond for the first time, he froze in his tracks, lost in thought for a moment before suddenly closing his folding fan, grinning and calling out to her. Then, he scurried towards her. He looked young, presumably Empress Rong's younger brother, Rong Linze. However, his frivolous demeanor repelled Luoying, and before Rong Linze could even approach, she sneered and walked away.

Seeing that the princess was so ruthless to the uncle of the king in public, everyone looked at each other again. He Lian reacted quickly and gave a look to the housekeeper, indicating that she should go and greet the uncle of the king. She and the sword-wielding maids followed the princess away.