Spring arrives and the land smiles

Inside the room, Qingyan played the zither and sang softly.

"Who leans alone against the moonlit tower, whose zither and lute play a tune of sorrow? Thoughts are like knots, staining my sleeves. People say that the zither and lute are troublesome, but who sighs at the sorrow in the music? Youthful years remain in the music, a fragrant shadow unfolds my cloud-like hair. How can I relieve my sorrow? Sorrow only deepens, my heart is full of knots, but the flowers are withered and faded. How can I bear it, from spring to summer, from autumn to winter?"

"Yan'er, do we really have to do this?" Ning Yuan pressed down on the strings with one hand and held Qing Yan's left hand, which was about to pluck the strings, with the other. His voice was strange and somewhat restrained.

"Hmm." Qingyan composed her face, which was twitching from trying to suppress her laughter, and gently brushed away his hand that was blocking the strings. "Didn't we already agree?" Then she looked up at him and finally couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Yan'er, you're still laughing!" Ning Yuan awkwardly tugged at her skirt, a hint of anger on her face.

Yunxuan, on the other hand, remained calm and composed, sipping fragrant tea and listening to the zither music with great pleasure, as if the brightly colored silks and satins were not on his body at all.

Qingyan stopped laughing and stood up, like soothing a fluttering kitten, taking Ningyuan's hand and patting it gently: "Just think of it as armor, only the battlefield is different." Then, she looked at the sky, "It's about time, let's go."

At the entrance of Hua Man Lou, several light gauze sedan chairs were neatly arranged. Granny Liu was waving her handkerchief to guide everyone into the sedan chairs: "Girls, it's time to get in the sedan chairs. Don't keep the prefect waiting."

mingling among the beauties, Qingyan and her two companions entered the sedan chair under Luo Qing's guidance without attracting attention. Luo Qing, disguised as a musician, also accompanied Qingyan's sedan chair.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the group arrived at the prefect's residence and entered through a side gate. The girls rested briefly before being taken to the main hall to serve the prefect, while the geishas were taken to the back room to change clothes. Qingyan and the other two also took the opportunity to change their clothes and slip out to meet Luo Qing.

The four of them walked back the way they came to the side gate. Just as they were about to leave, they were stopped by a guard.

Qingyan was startled and looked at Luo Qing. Luo Qing composed herself, turned around, and greeted them with a smile: "We are from Hua Manlou."

"So it's Young Master Luo." The one who spoke was an elder, who seemed to be very familiar with Luo Qing, judging from his expression.

"Manager Wang, it's you!" Luo Qing stepped forward to greet the visitor with a curtsy, but was stopped by the visitor's warm welcome.

"The birthday banquet is about to begin. Where are you headed?"

"The girls are so forgetful, that's why they sent me back to get their things. So I had to take a few people with me to fetch them for them." Luo Qing pointed to the three servants dressed as servants behind her.

"You're so chivalrous, no wonder all the girls at Hua Man Lou are so devoted to you." Steward Wang smiled and gestured for the guards to open the door for the four of them. Before leaving, he whispered in Luo Qing's ear, "When I go to Hua Man Lou in a few days, you must introduce me to that beautiful young lady."

"Definitely, definitely," Luo Qing replied, leading the three of them out through the side door.

Turning into the back alley of the prefectural government office, three horses were already waiting at the end of the alley. After a brief farewell to Luo Qing, the three men and three horses galloped out of the city.

"What? They escaped?" Haitu glared at the kneeling guards and slammed his fist on the table. "A bunch of useless fools! Chase after them!" The followers were shocked and immediately gave chase outside the city.

The three men and three horses rode for about an hour before finally meeting up with Qin Mian and Chu Huai at Shili Pavilion outside the city. At that moment, Hai Tu was furiously clutching a letter.

"Your Highness, if you are truly sincere in wishing to marry this princess, please come to my capital, Shengjing, to propose marriage in person. And be sure to bring a generous dowry. Until we meet again. Sincerely, Shen Qingyan."

Hai Tu crumpled the delicate calligraphy into a ball, his eyes seemingly spitting fire, suppressing his violent rage through gritted teeth: "Shen Qingyan, I'll remember this."

Inside the inn, "Princess—" Qingyan had just landed when a pale green figure rushed towards her, hugged her tightly, and sobbed uncontrollably.

It turned out to be that little girl, Zhui'er. By the time Qingyan came to her senses and tried to comfort her, a large patch of her clothes was already soaked: "Alright, why are you crying? I'm back now, aren't you afraid people will laugh at you?"

"As long as the princess is alright, I don't care at all." Zhui'er smiled through her tears and escorted Qingyan to the inner courtyard to rest.

Exhausted from the perilous journey, Qingyan fell asleep as soon as she touched the bed, thanks to Zhuier's help.

I slept soundly through the night without any dreams, and felt very at ease.

The following morning, the mild winter continued.

It was that awful way of waking her up again. Qingyan kept her eyes tightly shut, unwilling to open them. Her consciousness grew clearer as the sunlight became brighter, but her eyes remained closed tighter and tighter, as if she was enduring it.

After about fifteen minutes, Qingyan finally couldn't take it anymore. She suddenly opened her eyes and yelled at the instigator, "Fu Yunxuan, what did I do to offend you? Why are you doing this again!"

"Yan'er's morning temper is really something!" Yunxuan stood by the bed, looking at her with a big smile, seemingly even planning to help her get dressed, otherwise why would he reach out to pull back her blanket!

"No—" Clearly, Qingyan's words of protest came too late.

Looking at the boundless spring scenery before him, Yunxuan stood there dumbfounded, unsure whether to put down the blanket in his hand or continue holding it. Qingyan subconsciously protected her naked body, staring at Yunxuan in astonishment, and for a moment forgot what to do next.

The two of them just stared at each other blankly.

"Yan'er, it's time to get up, we still have to rush—" Ning Yuan pushed the door open without warning and came in. Seeing this scene, the last word was stuck in his throat.

This sudden intervention finally brought Qingyan back to her senses, and she quickly grabbed the blanket from Yunxuan's hand and wrapped herself in it.

"You, both of you, get out!"

The outburst of anger was deafening. Yunxuan and Ningyuan exchanged a glance and hurriedly ran out as if fleeing.

"Did you just see that?" Yunxuan was still in shock.

"Hmm." Ning Yuan nodded, also looking startled.

"Does she really have a habit of sleeping naked?"

"Mm." Ning Yuan nodded.

"Then why did you make me wake her up?" Yunxuan's voice suddenly rose eight octaves.

“But I didn’t ask you to pull off her blanket,” Ning Yuan retorted.

Yunxuan was speechless.

After a long while, the two seemed to have reached some kind of tacit understanding and smiled at each other. Yunxuan patted Ningyuan on the shoulder and said, "Brother, thanks."

"You're welcome. Remember to reciprocate." Ning Yuan put his hand on Yun Xuan's shoulder.

"Of course," Yunxuan laughed.

Inside the room, Qingyan, wrapped in a blanket, gritted her teeth and thought: Ning Yuan, you're so eager to change Yunxuan's empty title, don't regret it!

"Princess, look! A shadow puppet show! And over there, sugar paintings! Sugar paintings!" Zhui'er lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked around curiously.

None of this seemed to interest Qingyan, who was now sullenly leaning against the corner of the carriage, lost in thought.

Seeing that no one responded to her cheerful request, Zhui'er turned to look at Qingyan and asked in confusion, "Princess, what's wrong with you?" She didn't ask to ride a horse and remained silent after getting into the carriage. Zhui'er felt that this was not like the princess she usually was.

"I'm not done with those two." Qingyan said angrily, startling Zhuier. Before Zhuier could ask any questions, she jumped off the carriage and onto the horse.

He rode a few steps faster, then rode alongside Ning Yuan, gesturing for him to speak privately. The two of them then fell to the back of the group.

"Did you ask Yunxuan to wake me up this morning?" Qingyan asked, though her tone was certain, even though it was a question.

Ning Yuan didn't answer, but glanced at Qing Yan nervously, which was taken as tacit agreement.

"By default!" Qingyan's temper flared up immediately: "You, don't regret it later!" After saying that, she spurred her horse and drove off to join the group, leaving Ningyuan with a furrowed brow.

Since leaving Suizhou, Qingyan and her party had informed the local government wherever they went, and the journey was peaceful. With only one day's journey to Shengjing, Qingyan suggested that they rest for half a day in Weicheng, a city famous for its ginger candy, and then set off again the next morning.

"Yan'er, are you planning to hide away for one day at a time?" Yun Xuan sat opposite Qing Yan, poured himself a cup of tea, and smiled broadly.

"I just didn't expect him to arrive so quickly?"

This morning, Qingyan received news that Haitu had arrived in the capital ahead of everyone else and had requested a marriage alliance, bringing with him a special betrothal gift. His Majesty the Emperor seemed quite pleased with Haitu's request.

"With such a letter left by Yan'er, Hai Tu naturally rushed to deliver it." Yun Xuan laughed, sounding somewhat irritating.

"Stop laughing at her." Ning Yuan poured a cup of tea and handed it to Qing Yan.

“That’s right.” Qingyan took a sip and said, “I’m entrusting all the arrangements for my wedding to you. Ningyuan, come with me to buy ginger candy.” With that, she pulled Ningyuan and walked out.

"We're both husbands, so why is there such a big difference in treatment?" Yunxuan shook his head with a smile.

"Who says they're the same? You're older and he's younger, but our roles are different. Just accept your fate."

Ning Yuan, since you insist on having Yun Xuan join, I will grant your wish.

"Ning Yuan, what do you think the dowry for Hai Tu will be?" Qing Yan asked casually while picking out ginger candy.

"Yan'er, I can accept whatever it is, don't worry." Ning Yuan followed behind Qing Yan, his voice suppressed.

He had already guessed it. Qingyan's tense heart relaxed a little; no matter what, it was always necessary to be mentally prepared.

"Ning Yuan, no matter what, I will always be by your side." Qing Yan turned around, grabbed his hand, and held it to her chest.

In the evening, at the post station in Weicheng, the emperor, as if knowing Qingyan's intention to deliberately delay, sent an imperial edict and the imperial guards to welcome her back to the palace.

"The Princess is to return to the capital immediately to discuss the marriage alliance with the Rong tribes. There must be no delay." The eunuch Wang Huaisheng, who was delivering the order, had a shrill voice that was already unpleasant, and it sounded even more annoying at this moment.

"He was so impatient that even the Emperor issued an edict to urge him on." Qingyan said listlessly, stuffing ginger candy into her mouth.

“In that case, the title of Princess Pingqiu is truly well-deserved,” Yunxuan said with a smile.

Pingqiu! Qingyan gave him a rather unseemly glare, but she understood perfectly well. Qiu Rong had always been a threat to the northwestern border of the Great Qi, and Emperor Longqing was naturally very pleased that they had taken the initiative to request a marriage alliance.

"When soldiers come, we'll block them. In the Great Qi's palace, do you think I'm afraid he'll eat me alive?" Qingyan chewed the ginger candy in her mouth fiercely.

The next day, under the joint urging of Wang Huaisheng and the Imperial Guards, Qingyan still slept until late morning before getting up. The grand procession finally arrived at the palace after sunset.

Just as the repairs were completed, an imperial edict arrived: the Princess was to be summoned to an audience.

It is a disaster that cannot be avoided.

Inside the Jingxin Hall, Qingyan knelt before the imperial desk: "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, rise." Emperor Longqing raised his hand to indicate.

Qingyan stood up, gazing at the emperor high above. Despite being dressed in ordinary clothes, the emperor still exuded an invisible pressure, making the familial bond between ruler and subject seem extremely thin. Recalling her own words, "Your subject and Your Majesty," it seemed the emphasis of those two phrases was on the latter: "Your Majesty" and "Your subject."

Emperor Longqing remained engrossed in his desk, and Qingyan stood silently to his side until Emperor Longqing put the vermilion brush on the shelf, at which point Qingyan stepped forward.

Looking up at the emperor's face, Qingyan was suddenly stunned. His eyes were sunken and his cheekbones were high due to his thin cheeks. His lips were dry and pale, and even the wrinkles on his forehead seemed to have increased. He looked old and decrepit even though he was not yet fifty years old.

"Father!" Qingyan called out unconsciously.

"Jiaojiao, come here and let me see you." Emperor Longqing extended his hand to Qingyan.

Jiaojiao! It had been so long since he had called her that name that even Qingyan thought he might have forgotten about her.

Qingyan slowly walked up to Emperor Longqing, placed her hand in his large palm, and felt a mix of emotions.

"It's good that you're safe, it's good that you're safe." Emperor Longqing patted Qingyan's small hand, his gaze searching over her body. He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when he found that she was unharmed.

"Have you gone to see your mother?"

"I haven't gone to pay my respects yet."

"Ever since you left the capital, your mother has lost her appetite and been unable to sleep. She has been ill for several days. Go and keep her company."

"My son, I obey."

"Go down and rest."

"Rest!" Qingyan didn't react for a moment. Why was she being rushed back? She'd barely entered the palace and hadn't even had a sip of water before being summoned for an audience. Was it not to discuss the marriage alliance, or was it just for a few words of pleasantries?

Seeing that Emperor Longqing had lowered his head to look at the memorials again, Qingyan didn't want to ask any more questions. She was about to leave in confusion when she unexpectedly heard Emperor Longqing's voice.

"Jiaojiao, pass on a message to your mother. I have too much official business today, so I will visit her tomorrow."

"Yes." Another coquettish reply. Qingyan found Emperor Longqing even more unbelievable today. As she slowly withdrew from the Jingxin Hall, Qingyan seemed to hear Emperor Longqing muttering to himself, "Tomorrow, it will be twenty years since she became empress."