Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

Prince Ding picked up the teacup and returned the greeting.

On the fourth day of the first lunar month, the emperor led the six concubines, princes, and princesses to the Cining Palace for a New Year's banquet. This time, all concubines below the third rank came inside to kowtow. The three concubines and the mothers of several princes and princesses were in the front row, while Lan Qingwu sat further back. Empress Dowager Li summoned the two pregnant concubines and questioned them...

In the following days, the palace was bustling with activity: dancing, ice shows, fireworks, various operas, etc.

Lan Qingwu loved watching ice shows, similar to the figure skating she knew. Once, at a banquet, the Emperor Shenwu noticed her attentively watching and privately asked her if she wanted to learn. She quickly declined, saying she simply loved watching, and besides dancing, she had no talent for any other sport. It could be said that, just like in her previous life, she had no athletic instincts, and dancing was something she was forced to develop. Her mother also said that she didn't look like the daughter of a military commander at all.

That day, she sat on the swing in the backyard of Suowu Palace, Ruhan gently pushing her from behind. When the Shenwu Emperor arrived, he looked at the scene and felt a sense of peace and tranquility. He approached, and Ruping and Ruhan quickly bowed and stepped aside. Just as Lan Qingwu was about to stand, the emperor held her shoulders. He sat down with her, gently holding her waist.

Li Xiang saw Lan Qingwu say something to the emperor, and a smile appeared on the corner of the emperor's mouth.

Lan Qingwu signaled Ruhan to take out the Hetian jade flute on the stone table next to him. The flute was placed in an exquisite wooden carved box. Ruhan took it out carefully, handed it to Lan Qingwu, and stepped aside.

Lan Qingwu stroked the flute with her bare hands, closed her eyes slightly, and began to play.

Unravel my most mysterious waiting

The stars are falling and the wind is blowing

Finally holding you in my arms again

Two stars tremble

Believe in my unchanging sincerity

A thousand years of waiting, I have a promise

No matter how many cold winters pass

I will never let go

Hold on to me tightly for a long time

This pair of clasps

Waiting for the next life to rub shoulders and look back

Stay together again

The rescue of painful love

wish to share with you

But I can't even say I love you

Let love be the flower that blooms forever in your heart and mine

You promised me eternity, don't leave first this time

Only true love follows you and me through endless time and space

You will know that I am waiting for you

After a thousand years

Love is the only unchanging beautiful myth in my heart

(From: Mythology - Han Hong)

After the song ended, Emperor Shenwu seemed still immersed in the beautiful and moving flute sound. He seemed to see the two of them finally meeting and falling in love after traveling through thousands of years together.

He glanced at Lan Qingwu from the side: "The soft flute sound is as moving as ever." The lingering emotions in it will remind people of their loved ones when they hear it.

Lan Qingwu just smiled slightly. Her skills may not be top-notch, but her empathy ability is first-rate. When she participated in the competition in her original world, she even made the referee cry with her singing.

Emperor Shenwu added, "It is so pure and clean that it makes one intoxicated."

Lan Qingwu said: "Your Majesty, this is a New Year's gift from me to Your Majesty." Emperor Shenwu stretched out his arms and held her in his arms.

Li Xiang had been listening intently, and when he came to his senses, he gave Lan Qingwu a complicated look. No wonder the emperor looked down on the flower fairy at the New Year's Eve banquet. With this master's example, he thought it would be difficult for anyone who wanted to gain favor through talent in the future. However...it seemed like this had never happened before?!

At night, the Emperor embraced Lan Qingwu from behind, and together they stood by the window, watching the fireworks. The fireworks were dazzling, one after another, overwhelming. The Emperor looked at the person in his arms, and felt that she was even more beautiful than the fireworks.

The Lantern Festival, also known as the Shangyuan Festival or the Spring Lantern Festival, takes place on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. The palace is festooned with lanterns. During the day, the emperor entertains civil and military officials. In the evening, a royal family banquet is held, attended by concubines, relatives, and the entire royal family. Once again, there is laughter, singing, and dancing. Afterward, the emperor leads his concubines in admiring the lanterns and watching the fireworks...

At the hour of Xu, Lan Qingwu returned to Suowu Palace, bathed, changed his clothes, and prepared to rest. Less than half an hour later, Emperor Shenwu arrived at Suowu Palace, accompanied by Li Xiang and Qiulan. Qiulan held an exquisite crimson dress in her hands, the hem of which was shimmering with pink and white petals.

Emperor Shenwu said directly: "Change your clothes and I will take you out."

Ru Ping and Ru Han were left behind in Suo Wu Palace again, and Qiu Lan and Li Xiang followed to serve them.

Ruhan looked at Ruping and wanted to say something, but Ruping quickly said, "Let's rest separately. The master will be back soon."

Emperor Shenwu brought Lan Qingwu to the busiest street in the imperial city.

Lan Qingwu looked at the lively scene. He had obviously just entered the palace not long ago, but he missed the outside of the palace very much, especially the liveliness.

Emperor Shenwu sighed with rare emotion: "Weak, before, you took me on parades to see lanterns on the border, from now on, it will be my turn to take you."

Lan Qingwu looked at him, not knowing how to address him outside. Emperor Shenwu leaned close to her ear and said, "Call me husband."

Lan Qingwu nodded: "My lord, I want to guess lantern riddles."

Emperor Shenwu said, "Okay, let's go." Li Xiang, Qiulan, Qian Hui and other guards followed closely behind.

The long street is as bright as day, crowded with people, performing dragon parades, lion dances, sword shows, fire breathing, stilt walking... selling lanterns, masks, dolls, jewelry, and guessing lantern riddles... it is a prosperous scene.

The guards cleared the way for them, and soon Lan Qingwu arrived at the most lively place for guessing lantern riddles. The highest and most beautiful lantern had not been won yet.

Lan Qingwu looked up and said, "My dear husband, I will win it and give it to you."

Emperor Shenwu smiled and said, "Okay, I'll wait."

Qiulan's eyes shone, and Li Xiang was stunned. He watched Lan Qingwu overcome all obstacles along the way, leaving behind those who had stopped moving, and finally won the exquisite lantern at the highest point. The lanterns were decorated with the four seasons, and the shadowy figures among them were quite magical.

Lan Qingwu reached out to take the lantern handed to her by the host, lifted it up and showed it to Emperor Shenwu, smiling sweetly at him. Under the light of the exquisite lantern, her face seemed to be glowing, even brighter and more dazzling than the lantern in her hand.

At the corner of the long street, a woman sat in a sedan chair. She lifted the curtain and stood up, staring blankly at the scene not far away, muttering, "Why? Why? I, Li Wanqing, should be the one, the one standing by his side."

Li Wanqing, the fourth legitimate daughter of Duke Cheng'en, was selected together with Li Wanying, but her name was crossed out by Emperor Shenwu himself during the palace selection. Instead, Li Wanying, the third legitimate daughter of a concubine, was finally named a beauty. This was something that Li Wanqing, who had always been arrogant and proud, could not accept for a while. She was ill for a long time and only recovered recently.

Li Wanqing muttered again: "Your Majesty, cousin, do you know that I have seen you in the palace a long time ago? I have always wanted to enter the palace for you... No... I can't do this. I have to find a way, a way... to be closer to you..." She knew that she would be discussing marriage soon.

Emperor Shenwu held Lan Qingwu in his arms and slowly crossed the long street. The lantern had been picked up by Li Xiang, and the emperor said he would take it back to the palace and hang it in the Qianzheng Hall.