Marrying the Crown Prince

The young palace maid's eyes lit up, and she immediately knelt back down, accepting the purse with both hands, and kowtowed to Zhou Zhou, saying, "This servant thanks Your Highness the Crown Princess."

Zhou Zhou waved his hand, "Alright, go ahead and get busy."

"Yes, the slaves retire."

The Imperial Kitchen and the Small Kitchen were both quite efficient. As soon as lunchtime arrived, Zhibei came in to ask, "Your Majesty, is it time for lunch?"

"Have you sent someone to ask His Highness the Crown Prince?" Zhou Zhou asked.

"His Highness said he had many official duties, so he stayed at Changding Palace for his meal and won't be coming over," Zhibei replied.

With so much official business to attend to, one should dine in the Mingde Hall, not the Changding Hall.

Clearly, Li Ziyan did not want to come to Changxin Palace and disturb Zhou Zhou and his family's meal.

"Okay, I understand." Zhou Zhou said as he stood up, gave He Shi and Zhao Yuehua an apologetic smile, "His Highness the Crown Prince is unavailable, so it will be just the few of us who will have the meal."

After saying that, she looked at Zhibei and said, "Let's set out the meal."

"Yes."

After finishing their meal, the group brewed tea, set out a table of leaf cards, and played a dozen or so rounds to pass the time.

Another hour and a half had passed, and it was almost time to leave the palace. He Shi and Zhao Yuehua then got up, bowed, and prepared to leave.

Zhou Zhou gave Dong He a wink, and Dong He understood immediately. He clapped his hands, and soon one palace maid after another came in carrying gift boxes.

"These things were all bestowed upon me by my father, mother, and the Crown Prince. I don't use them much here in the palace, so please take them home and divide them properly, my two sisters-in-law."

Madam He and Zhao Yuehua exchanged a glance and bowed together, saying, "Thank you for your generous gift, Your Highness."

“Hey,” Zhou Zhou helped the two of them up, “We’re all family, it would be too formal to just bow to each other.”

"Come on, I'll take my two sisters-in-law back."

They said they were taking them back, but really they just accompanied them to the gate of the East Palace.

Compared to the two women who kept turning back every few steps, Zhou Zhou was much calmer about the sad farewell.

Although it was winter, the warm afternoon sun pierced through the layers of cold, pouring down on the earth and shining brightly on the thick ice.

For some reason, Zhou Zhou found the snow scene in front of him somewhat dazzling.

Just then, He Shi and Zhao Yuehua's figures disappeared from his sight.

So she turned and left.

At that moment, a cloak with a faint, crisp scent of cedar was draped over her shoulders.

Zhou Zhou looked over and saw that Li Ziyan had somehow appeared beside him.

She reached out and pulled the cloak tighter around herself. The cloak was warm, probably because Li Ziyan had taken it off.

"Why did Your Highness come here?" Zhou Zhou asked, tilting his head.

Li Ziyan gave an irrelevant answer, "Why didn't you wear more clothes when you came out?"

this problem……

How should I answer?

Can I say it's because I'm not as afraid of the cold as you are?

Thinking of this, Zhou Zhou's brows relaxed, and her gaze softened a bit more as she looked at him. "Is Your Highness getting impatient?"

"Mmm," Li Ziyan replied softly.

That's right. They haven't seen each other since breakfast today. How can they not be anxious?

Looking at his slightly drooping eyes, clear and bright like a calm, azure lake, reflecting his own curved eyebrows, Zhou Zhou's heart clenched suddenly.

She reached out and took Li Ziyan's hand.

Perhaps because Li Ziyan did not bring a hand warmer, his fingertips were a little cold.

Zhou Zhou covered his hand, rubbed it, looked up at Li Ziyan, and said with a smile, "Your Highness, let's go back quickly."

Time flies by.

The passage of time has taken away the ignorance and recklessness of youth, as well as the joy and beauty of adolescence.

But as time goes by, it settles the cold and warmth, and gives people a new chapter.

Unfortunately, they returned to their former home.

Luckily, the person next to me helped me build a new home.

Perhaps this is what growth is like: gaining something while constantly losing something.

Although such loss was not what I wanted, what I gained was not entirely pleasant either.

But isn't that just life?

Thinking of this, Zhou Zhou looked up at the person beside him and silently added, "Actually, things are pretty good as they are now."

The annual leave is extended until January 15th.

The Lantern Festival is a major festival, but the imperial palace did not hold any banquet.

It wasn't that Emperor Chenze didn't value this festival; he simply tacitly allowed the princes and princesses to sneak out of the palace to play today.

Of course, Li Ziyan is the only prince who still lives in the palace and needs to sneak out to play.

The Lantern Festival is most lively not during the day, but at night.

So, as the sun set and the clouds on the horizon turned red, an ordinary-looking carriage drove out of the palace gate.

Zhou Zhou and Li Ziyan were not dressed in fine clothes or wearing elaborate crowns, but they were not dressed like ordinary commoners either. After all, what commoner would travel by carriage?

Their clothing consisted of warm satin and silk, the kind that only wealthy families could afford.

Therefore, as soon as the two appeared at the entrance of the music hall, people immediately came to greet them.

"Young master, young mistress, you've come at just the right time. Today, our two most outstanding talents from the music pavilion—Miss Su and Young Master Zhang—will both be performing on stage."

The other party was a young woman who was dressed neatly, with her hair tied up high, and spoke in a clear and crisp voice without any affected tone.

Therefore, Li Ziyan did not feel disgusted by her approach, and after listening to her introduction, he became somewhat curious.

However, he still asked Zhou Zhou's opinion, "Should we go up and take a look?"

"Okay," Zhou Zhou agreed.

Zhou Zhou was just out having fun, and he had never been to this music hall before, so he was quite interested.

"Are there any private rooms available?" Li Ziyan asked.

"Yes, young master and young mistress, please come with me."

The first floor is a hall with a high platform in the middle, which I suppose was where musicians and dancers performed.

Next to the platform was a circle of open space, and then there were rows of square tables, on which were placed various snacks and a pot of fine tea.

As the name suggests, the Eight Immortals Table is for eight people, so the first floor has regular seating.

The second floor is not a large, single-level space, but rather has a large opening in the middle, allowing customers on the second floor to have a clear view of the performances on the first floor.

The tables here are the kind that can accommodate two or three people, and the space is spacious and comfortable.

"Are there any spots with a good view?" Li Ziyan asked.

The young woman leading the way paused for a moment, then smiled apologetically, "Young master, unfortunately, the best seats have already been reserved."

Indeed, today is a once-a-year special day, and if you don't book a good place several days in advance, you won't get a chance at all.

Therefore, Li Ziyan did not make things difficult for them, but simply sighed regretfully, "I would like to trouble you, young lady, to find a better spot."

"Don't worry, young master, that's only natural," the young woman replied with a faint smile on her face.

At this moment, a gentle voice, as beautiful as jade, came from behind, "Young Master, Young Madam, I never expected to meet you two here."