Marrying the Crown Prince

【autumn】

As time goes by and things change, the leaves on the trees gradually turn yellow. A gust of wind blows, and the leaves fall from the branches, fluttering in the wind like beautiful butterflies.

The maple leaves in the mountains turned fiery red, like the sunset on the horizon. The crimson sky intertwined with the maple leaves on the ground, creating a scene of breathtaking beauty, like a dream.

Zhou Zhou drew back his longbow, his eyes flashing with a sharp, cold light, as he stared intently at the prey ahead.

"Shh-"

The arrow left the bowstring and pierced the sky.

In an instant, the pheasant fell silent.

The guards nearby picked up the pheasant, clasped their hands in congratulations, and said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, on your successful hunt."

Zhou Zhou looked over and saw that the chicken was big and fat, and would be tender and juicy whether roasted or stewed.

Thinking of this, her mood improved a bit, and the corners of her mouth turned up. "Hmm, send it back to the base camp and have the cook make beggar's chicken."

This chicken has been raised since the beginning of the year, so it must taste amazing.

Indeed, most of the prey in the hunting grounds are kept in captivity, and in the autumn they are provided for the entertainment of high-ranking officials and nobles.

They either release the birds to hunt, or they go directly to the enclosure to pick the prey, then pluck the feathers and heat the oil in a wok.

When Zhou Zhou returned, he saw that several children had already set up a grill and were grilling fish, chicken wings, sweet potatoes, and the like.

Li Ziyan was also nearby, occasionally adding a piece of firewood.

Surprisingly, the scene was harmonious.

Upon seeing Zhou Zhou return, a guard immediately took the horse's reins from her and led the horse away.

She approached the group and asked, "Is there any for me?"

Li Zixu, the young prince born to Consort Lin, pointed to the row of chicken wings in front of him and said, "Sister-in-law, I roasted so many things."

The young prince is only ten years old and has always lived in the palace. When Zhou Zhou takes care of the children, she often takes him along. It can be said that Zhou Zhou has watched him grow up.

Therefore, although the two are not mother and son, they are as close as mother and son.

Faced with the child's performance, Zhou Zhou gave great affirmation and praise, "Hmm, it seems that Zixu is really good, really great. The color and the cooking time make it look incredibly delicious."

Upon hearing Zhou Zhou's words, Li Zixu proudly raised his head, puffed out his chest, and smugly gloated.

Hearing this, Li Changyuan pursed his lips but said nothing.

He was only one year younger than Li Zixu, so they were in the same class and had the same teacher when they studied at Jingyang Palace.

That's why the two are often compared.

Therefore, Li Changyuan was very displeased when Zhou Zhou praised Li Zixu.

Fortunately, Zhou Zhou treated everyone equally and praised Li Changyuan, Li Changrong, and Li Ziyan who were present.

Li Ziyan was amused by her reaction and replied with a slight smile, "Go wash your hands quickly."

"it is good."

Zhou Zhou changed out of her horse-face skirt and into a light ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and sat down next to Li Ziyan.

Li Ziyan complained to Zhou Zhou in a low voice, "Every time those two get together, they give me a real headache."

Zhou Zhou knew without needing to be told which two guys they were.

"You've worked hard, Your Majesty." Zhou Zhou said, "Please eat more later."

After afternoon tea, the children got tired of playing with this and said they wanted to feed the chickens.

After obtaining permission from Zhou Zhou and Li Ziyan, they took off running, and the palace servants hurriedly bowed and chased after them.

Zhou Zhou had been riding horses all afternoon, so Li Ziyan took her hand and strolled with her in the sunset.

The base camp was set up at the foot of a flat mountain, where one could see golden rice paddies in the fields.

The ears of grain were heavy, hanging from the branches, and under the soft and warm glow of the setting sun, everything before my eyes looked exceptionally beautiful.

Autumn is the season of harvest, and also a beautiful season that people yearn for.

【winter】

The sky in early winter was a clear, deep blue, without a single cloud in sight.

In the early morning, a thin layer of mist permeated the calm lake surface, making it seem as if the lake was merging with the horizon, creating a mysterious scene.

Zhou Zhou, dressed neatly, stood under the corridor, admiring the beautiful scenery, feeling exceptionally calm.

Li Ziyan, who had just returned from court, saw this peaceful and serene scene.

He strode over and hugged Zhou Zhou from behind. "What's wrong? Aren't you cold standing here?"

"It's alright," Zhou Zhou tightened his collar and turned to look over. "Looks like your official duties have been relatively easy lately?"

They finish court so early and are able to go to bed on time every night.

“Indeed, so I’d like to postpone the court session.” Li Ziyan nodded in reply.

"Oh?" Zhou Zhou raised his eyebrows with interest.

"Winter is coming, and it will only get colder and colder, and the sun will rise later and later."

"Most of the court officials come from prominent families, but a portion of them are from ordinary backgrounds, and their residences are not close to the palace."

"Since there's nothing much going on right now, let's just postpone the time so we don't have to get up early in the dark."

As Zhou Zhou listened, he nodded and commented very sincerely, "His Majesty is indeed considerate of his subordinates and is truly a diligent and benevolent emperor."

Li Ziyan: "..."

His face contorted, and he replied with difficulty, "No need."

He's not Li Changyuan, so there's no need for such praise; it just sounds... really strange.

Seeing Li Ziyan's strange expression, Zhou Zhou finally realized what was happening and burst out laughing.

"Your Majesty."

Zhou Zhou collapsed into Li Ziyan's arms.

Helpless, Li Ziyan embraced the person.

Time flows like water, disappearing silently, irreversible, and unstoppable.

Its hasty departure left its mark on Zhou Zhou and Li Ziyan's faces, but the only thing that remained unchanged was the beauty, laughter, and tears between them.