The Prince's Beloved Little Wife

After a sumptuous lunch, the Crown Princess and her entourage rested briefly before rising and summoning her personal maid to lead Chen Mengyao and her party to stroll around the East Palace. The sun shone brightly, and a gentle breeze caressed their skirts. The Crown Princess led the way, and the group slowly made their way along the cobblestone path to the garden.

The Crown Princess, a smile playing on her lips, looked around the garden and said, "This garden is filled with flowers for all four seasons. No matter when you come, you'll always see a riot of color." Everyone looked in the direction the Crown Princess pointed, and there they saw a garden bursting with vibrant blooms, each vying for attention. The delicate peonies, like a group of elegantly dressed dancers, swayed gracefully; the shy, pink peach blossoms were like young maidens just entering the world, gazing at visitors with tender affection; and the snow-white pear blossoms were as pure and elegant as fairies descending to earth… All the flowers complemented each other, butterflies fluttering among the blossoms, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

The Crown Princess and Chen Mengyao strolled among the flowers, occasionally stopping to admire the blooming blossoms and inhale their fragrant aroma. They chatted and laughed as they enjoyed the scenery, their cheerful voices echoing throughout the garden.

They arrived at a lake with crystal-clear water where fish swam happily. The Crown Princess said, "This lake is called Mirror Lake, because it's like a mirror, reflecting the sky and the surrounding scenery." Chen Mengyao couldn't help but exclaim, "It's absolutely beautiful!"

Further ahead, there was an exquisite pavilion. The Crown Princess stepped onto the stairs, turned around and smiled, "This is a great place to view the scenery. From the top of the tower, you can see the entire East Palace." The group filed in, leaned on the railing and looked out. In the distance, the mountains rose and fell, and nearby, the courtyards were arranged in a pleasing manner.

Just then, the melodious sound of string and wind instruments drifted over. The Crown Princess and everyone listened intently for a moment, and the plaintive, sorrowful music seemed to come from afar, captivating them completely. The Crown Princess smiled slightly and said softly, "In my opinion, those highly skilled musicians must be diligently practicing a new piece. Come, I'll take you there to see for yourselves." With that, she took a graceful step and led the way towards the direction of the music. Chen Mengyao and the others followed behind the Crown Princess, heading towards the musicians.

Even before we got close, the music grew clearer. Passing through an ornate archway, we came to a spacious area where several musicians sat upright. They were dressed in fine robes and looked focused.

The zither player in the center moved with nimble fingers, like butterflies dancing on the strings, each pluck producing a string of beautiful notes. Beside him, the flute player's cheeks puffed out slightly, the long, melodious sound flowing like a deep mountain spring. And then there was the pipa player, cradling her instrument, her face half-hidden, her jade-like fingers sweeping the strings, producing a clear, resonant sound, like the clash of swords and the thunder of horses.

Various exquisite musical instruments were arranged around them, reflecting a warm glow in the sunlight. The Crown Princess and others stood quietly to the side, listening intently, their faces filled with rapt attention. A gentle breeze blew, causing their robes to flutter, as if everyone had become one with the beautiful music. When the exquisite and moving melody slowly faded to its last note, everyone present was so captivated that they remained mesmerized for a long time.

The Crown Princess clapped her hands gently and praised, "This music is wonderful! The musicians are truly skilled." The musicians quickly bowed, and the elder in the lead replied respectfully, "Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. We have only done our best."

She smiled at Chen Mengyao and the others beside her and said softly, "My dear sisters, let's continue on our way. There are still many beautiful sights waiting for you to see." With that, she gracefully strode forward, leading everyone toward other parts of the East Palace.

Along the way, pavilions and towers were scattered in a pleasing arrangement, with artificial hills and waterside terraces complementing each other beautifully. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, as if whispering the palace's long history and mysterious stories. As they walked, the Crown Princess introduced the origins and characteristics of each scenic spot to Chen Mengyao and the others. Sometimes she would point to an exquisite pavilion and tell them the romantic legend behind it, and sometimes she would stop in front of a cluster of delicate flowers, telling them about the varieties of these flowers and how to care for them.

Chen Mengyao and the others followed closely behind the Crown Princess, occasionally letting out exclamations of amazement. They were captivated by the breathtaking scenery before them, their hearts filled with curiosity and longing for this magnificent palace. Before they knew it, the group had passed several ornately decorated courtyards, finally arriving at a secluded and mysterious bamboo grove. This bamboo grove acted like a green barrier, completely isolating them from the noise and chaos of the outside world. A gentle breeze rustled the bamboo leaves, as if whispering secrets.

After quietly admiring the scenery of the bamboo forest, the Crown Princess led Chen Mengyao and the others back to the main hall to drink tea and chat, instructing the servants to bring up snacks and fruits.

These fruits were tributes from other places and countries, and many of the varieties were ones that Chen Mengyao had never even seen before. The pastries were also imperial pastries and looked very exquisite.

Soon, the table was filled with colorful fruits. There were crystal mangoes, translucent like glass, their flesh melting in your mouth like shaved ice, sweet and refreshing; and crescent-shaped purple pomegranates, small-seeded and thick-fleshed, sweet and sour, so juicy they almost overflowed your lips. Next came fist-sized crimson pomegranates, their skin a vibrant crimson, thin as a cicada's wing. Gently peeling them revealed a rich, fragrant flesh, soft, sweet, and juicy, like candied fruit yet refreshingly light. Beside them were unique green melons, their bodies covered in emerald scales. Cut open, the flesh was a translucent pale blue, crisp and refreshing with a hint of mint, truly delightful. Then there were golden thread peaches, small in size, their golden skin seemingly outlined with gold thread, their flesh a delicate pink that melted in your mouth, possessing a unique, mellow flavor with a lingering aftertaste. Then there were the black jade grapes, each one round and plump, like black gemstones. Their skins were very thin; a gentle bite released a burst of sweet juice that instantly filled the mouth, accompanied by a subtle, intoxicating aroma of wine. As everyone savored these novel fruits, they couldn't help but marvel at the sheer variety and deliciousness of the world's produce, listening as the Crown Princess recounted the fascinating stories of these fruits' journey as tribute.

Looking at the plates of pastries, the Crown Princess introduced them as she sampled them. The lotus-shaped pastry, layered like a blooming white lotus, emitted a delicate lotus fragrance. Upon entering the mouth, the flaky crust crumbled, revealing a soft, sweet filling that wasn't cloying. The jujube paste cake was an enticing brownish-red, exuding a rich jujube aroma. Its texture was dense and firm, with a subtle hint of honey. Then there was the jade-green rolled cake, its outer layer resembling jade, with a faint greenish luster. A closer sniff revealed a refreshing tea aroma. Biting into it, one first felt the soft, springy outer layer, followed by the slowly flowing red bean paste filling. The aroma of red beans mingled with the tea fragrance, spreading throughout the mouth, the sweetness perfectly balanced without being cloying.

Then there's the sorbet, its surface as white as snow, adorned with a few sugar-coated plum petals. Even before tasting it, you can feel its coolness; once inside, the refreshing sensation instantly spreads across the tongue, as if snow is melting in your mouth. The cake is soft and smooth, infused with the delicate fragrance of plum blossoms. The slightly tart plum aroma balances the cake's sweetness, leaving only an indescribably refreshing taste.

The most unique is the Starfall Cake, which is sprinkled with gold leaf fragments, resembling twinkling stars falling from the sky. Its flavor is extremely complex, with the rich aroma of milk, the crunchy texture of nuts, and a thin layer of jam in the middle, which is sweet and sour, making every bite a delightful surprise.

The Crown Princess smiled and invited everyone to taste the pastry. Chen Mengyao picked up a piece and tasted it first. Her taste buds were instantly captivated by the wonderful flavor, and her eyes lit up. Seeing this, the others also joined in, and the hall was filled with laughter and joy. This pleasant and wonderful atmosphere, like everything in the Eastern Palace, exuded endless nobility and charm.

They chatted for a long time in the hall, and finally, at Ouyang Han's urging, the Crown Princess reluctantly let Chen Mengyao leave, telling her to come back and visit again when she had time. The other princesses and consorts also told her to visit their residences when she had time, saying that the scenery there was also quite nice. Before leaving, the Crown Princess also told her to take many pastries and fruits back with her. On the carriage ride back, Chen Mengyao was still sighing, "I am so grateful to God for letting me come here and meet you and your family. Your care has made me feel the warmth of home that I have never felt before. Thank you and your family." Ouyang Han patted her head and said, "Silly girl, there's no need to thank me. Meeting you is my good fortune. You have given me feelings that I have never experienced before, brought me so much joy, and taught me how to love." As he spoke, he pulled her into his arms, and Chen Mengyao nestled in his embrace, enjoying the broad and warm embrace.