Ying Wang turned to his accompanying eunuch, "Go and see who is up there." After giving his orders, he turned to Lin Wan and said, "Young Lady Lin, it seems a bit chilly tonight. You should consider dressing warmer."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness," Lin Wan forced a smile. She had been well aware of her meeting with Ying Wang tonight and had taken great care in selecting her attire and accessories to accentuate her features.
She had put in all that effort to look her best, not to have a man remind her about the weather.
Did she really need him to remind her whether it was cold or not?
Unfortunately, Ying Wang didn't understand her thoughts. Seeing the eunuch return, he frowned and asked, "What happened? Benwang asked you to find out who was up there, why did you come back?"
"Your Highness, this servant just remembered something," the eunuch whispered, "During the Lantern Festival every year, the Crown Prince likes to come here to enjoy the lanterns."
"What kind of rubbish..." Ying Wang paused, suddenly remembering that tomorrow was the memorial day for the Crown Prince's mother, Empress Gonghui.
The Crown Prince's birth mother, Consort Hui, was a woman of indistinct appearance. Ying Wang could barely remember her, only recalling that she died when Ji Yuansu was not yet five years old. After Ji Yuansu was proclaimed as the Crown Prince, Consort Hui's status was elevated to Empress Gonghui by the Emperor posthumously.
She couldn't be considered a calamitous beauty. If it weren't for giving birth to a son whom the Emperor greatly favored, she would have likely gone unnoticed her whole life.
"Since the Crown Prince is up there, we shouldn't disturb them," Lin Wan had already inquired about the relationships between several princes before coming to the capital. She didn't want any conflicts to arise between the brothers at this moment.
If rumors were to spread that she had met with Ying Wang and, on the same evening, caused discord between the Crown Prince and Ying Wang, how could she continue to live in the capital city?
It wouldn’t just be her. Even her father's reputation would also be affected.
"If the Crown Prince can go, Benwang can go as well," Ying Wang initially had little interest in the viewing platform, but upon hearing that the Crown Prince was there, he insisted on going up.
Lin Wan tried to persuade him politely, but as Ying Wang's expression grew increasingly unpleasant, she had to keep quiet.
As they climbed higher, the wind grew stronger. Lin Wan touched her cold arms with her palms and looked up at the platform, then she stopped in her tracks. The figure up there couldn't be the Crown Prince; it clearly looked like a young lady.
She wanted to call out to Ying Wang, but he had already taken several steps ahead of her. So, she clenched her teeth and followed him.
"Someone's here?" Hua Liuli looked towards the stairs and met the eyes of Ying Wang, who was hurrying up.
Looking at Hua Liuli's delicate face, Ying Wang inexplicably couldn't meet her gaze. Perhaps it was because he knew that Hua Liuli had almost become Ying Wangfei, and now he was bringing his fiancée here to stand beside her, which gave him a strange feeling of guilt.
"Eldest Brother," the Crown Prince walked out from the shadows and approached Hua Liuli, addressing the dazed Ying Wang, "Eldest Brother seems to be in a good mood today. Came here to enjoy the scenery as well?"
Glancing at the young lady trailing behind Ying Wang, he deduced that it was Consort Xian's intention. Unfortunately, Consort Xian had clearly overestimated her son's ability to please women. Setting up a private meeting between Ying Wang and his fiancée would not foster a connection but rather prove burdensome.
Ying Wang climbed up to the viewing platform and noticed the ill-fitting cloak on Hua Liuli. He turned his head, and with a stiff face, he made a bow to the Crown Prince, "Coincidentally passing by, so I came here to take a look. I didn't expect to run into the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu enjoying the scenery here as well."
Hua Liuli nodded slightly and returned the gesture, wisely leaving this opportunity for "friendly interaction" to the two brothers. Just as she settled in the corner, a young lady approached with the grace of a willow in the wind, her skirt fluttering as if she could be blown away by the wind.
Who is this person?
Since Ying Wang didn't introduce the person who came with him, Hua Liuli didn't step forward to greet her, just nodded slightly at her.
Hua Liuli didn't know Lin Wan, but Lin Wan knew Hua Liuli. When Ying Wang addressed her as "Fushou Junzhu", she knew who the young lady standing with the Crown Prince was.
The other party's appearance exceeded her imagination, especially those moist eyes, easily evoking a sense of pity.
Having knowledge of the Emperor's previous intention to arrange a betrothal between Ying Wang and Fushou Junzhu, she couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. Seeing Hua Liuli nod towards her, she returned the gesture.
Perhaps because she had just arrived in the capital and was still unfamiliar with it, standing on this observation deck made her feel awkward. Since she arrived, neither the Crown Prince nor Ying Wang had given her a second glance, as though she didn't exist at all.
A gust of wind blew, producing a whistling sound against the palace walls.
"Are you cold?" Upon hearing Ying Wang's voice, Lin Wan looked up to answer, but she realized his gaze wasn't on her but on Fushou Junzhu.
"I'm not cold. The cloak the Crown Prince gave me is very warm," Hua Liuli hurriedly shook her head. Why would Ying Wang ask her if she was cold when he brought a young lady to admire the scenery?
Was this not causing trouble for her? Although Ying Wang appeared to be simple-minded, he should still understand some palace intrigue. After all, he was a prince who had emerged from the palace and had more experience than others.
However, she absolutely cannot sit idly by. If any rumors were to spread, casting doubt on her judgment in choosing men, it would be impossible to clear her name even if she were to jump into the Yellow River.
Hua Liuli quickly moved a few steps closer to the Crown Prince, making sure the young lady could see clearly that she accompanied the Crown Prince and had no connection to Ying Wang.
"The Crown Prince seems to have forgotten that Fushou Junzhu has a delicate constitution and cannot withstand the wind," Ying Wang coldly smiled at the Crown Prince, "If the Junzhu falls ill because of this, how will you explain it to General Hua and General Wei?"
The Crown Prince nodded, "Eldest Brother is right." He turned his head to look at Hua Liuli, "Junzhu, Benwang will accompany you back."
For once, the Crown Prince actually listened to someone, but Ying Wang still felt somewhat frustrated.
"Alright," Hua Liuli didn't want to stay here and affect Ying Wang's private meeting with the young lady, so she quickly nodded in agreement.
"Be careful," the Crown Prince still placed a handkerchief in his palm. When Hua Liuli handed over her hand, he held it in his palm and led her down slowly.
The large cloak trailed on the ground, shimmering with a faint golden light under the palace lamps. It was the golden thread embroidered within the cloak that created the glow.
Lin Wan looked at the cloak that was sparkling like stars in the dark night. Shivering from the cold, she turned to look at Ying Wang.
"She's the future Ying Wangfei, the young lady from the Lin family," descending from the viewing platform, the Crown Prince informed Hua Liuli of the identity of the young lady. The young girl by his side almost became Ying Wangfei herself, but her reaction upon hearing this was quite calm.
"Oh," Hua Liuli nodded. Jiamin Junzhu had already informed her about Ying Wangfei before, so she was no longer curious. She took off the cloak she was wearing, "Your Royal Highness, here you go."
"Put it on," the Crown Prince stood in place, "It's late at night. Let a palace maid escort you back."
Hua Liuli nodded. After bowing respectfully, she turned and walked away. When she reached the corner, saw the Crown Prince still standing in the same place, hands behind his back, gazing up at the moon in the sky.
Admiring a beauty under the moonlight, the more she looked, the more beautiful he seemed.
She had long noticed that the Crown Prince was in a bad mood tonight, but as an outsider, it was not appropriate for her to meddle in the affairs of the princes. So she could only pretend to know nothing.
Unfortunately, beauty was too captivating to ignore; she suddenly felt uneasy about leaving the Crown Prince in a bad mood like this.
"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli turned around and walked up to the Crown Prince, smiling brightly at him, "It's so lively outside the palace. Would Your Royal Highness like to go out together and take a look?"
The Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli in a daze, then suddenly smiled, "Okay."
"Junzhu..." Yuan Yi, seeing her mistress going out of the palace late at night for the sake of beauty, whispered softly, "It's already very late. Shouldn't we inform Madam?"
"Yurong," Hua Liuli called out to her other maidservant, "Go back and inform my mother. I am going out with the Crown Prince to buy beautiful lanterns to play with."
Without waiting for Yurong to refuse, she grabbed the Crown Prince and left.
A palace maid brought a properly fitting cloak for Hua Liuli to change into, while the Crown Prince directly draped his cloak, which she took off, on himself. He smiled at Hua Liuli, "Let's go."
The attendants saw that the Crown Prince was really taking the Fushou Junzhu out of the palace to play, so they called the guards and prepared horses. Yuan Yi, on the other hand, appeared more calm and followed quickly behind Hua Liuli.
It was said that when the Great General first encountered Madam, he was so amazed that he wanted to marry her despite being beaten and scolded. Her family's Junzhu, upon seeing such a handsome Crown Prince, was only accompanying him to see the lanterns — It can be considered an act of remarkable restraint.
The hereditary love for beauty in the Hua family cannot be changed so easily.
As they stepped out of the palace, the ambiance outside seemed to embrace an added layer of festivity. The pair found themselves on the bustling street, where couples wandered hand in hand, engrossed in conversation and laughter. Hua Liuli let out a sigh and remarked, "Tonight bears an air of animosity towards those without companions."
She saw that many shops were holding riddle-solving lantern games and selling lanterns. Although she wasn't good at solving riddles, she could still spend money to buy lanterns. So she bought the most beautiful lantern and presented it to the Crown Prince, "Your Royal Highness, this is for you."
The Crown Prince laughed helplessly, "For me?"
"Lanterns are given to beautiful people. This lantern suits Your Royal Highness the best," Hua Liuli coughed lightly, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, "Let's go, let's go see what's ahead."
The Crown Prince carefully examined the lantern she presented. It was a lantern depicting an adorable fox, with a hint of liveliness in its eyes, gazing at the moon.
A fox?
Hua Liuli had been influenced by her father, Hua Yingting, since childhood and had learned the art of pleasing a beauty from her father.
Saying nice things, accompanying the beauty to see the scenery and moon, and most importantly, buying things.
Unfortunately, there weren't many places in Qinghan Prefecture that required spending money. And there wasn't a beauty she wanted to please. The Crown Prince became her first opportunity to practice her skills.
On an open-air stage, there was a beauty lantern display organized by a brothel. The area below the stage was crowded with excited men, cheering and shouting for their own beloved beauties.
Not far away, there were food vendors with tables full of people. Occasionally, patrol guards would pass by, creating a bustling and lively atmosphere.
As they walked to the riverside, men and women of all ages gathered there, lighting lanterns and making wishes. The river was filled with many floating lanterns, resembling stars twinkling in the galaxy.
Hua Liuli gave a signal to Yuan Yi, and Yuan Yi immediately bought two river lanterns.
"Would Your Royal Highness like to make a wish too?" Hua Liuli handed the river lantern to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince took the lantern and looked up at the shimmering river, "Benwang never believed in these things."
"It doesn't matter. I don't believe in them either," Hua Liuli walked to the riverside and waved at the Crown Prince, who was standing on the riverbank, "Your Royal Highness, whether you believe it or not doesn't matter, but the sense of ceremony is important."
The Crown Prince handed the Fox Gazing at the Moon lantern to the guard behind him and held the river lantern as he walked beside Hua Liuli, "Junzhu, what is your wish for tonight?"
"I seem to lack nothing, so I don't have any wishes that need to be fulfilled," Hua Liuli looked at the reflection of the moon on the water and used a flint to light the lantern. She squatted down and looked at the Crown Prince, "Then I wish for Your Royal Highness's wishes to come true."
The river lantern gently swayed on the water. The Crown Prince imitated Hua Liuli's action and released the lantern, "You don't even know what my wish is."
"That's not important. What matters is the ceremony," Hua Liuli rested her chin on her hands, looking at the Crown Prince with a smile, "Your Royal Highness, many things don't necessarily need results. It's enough to be happy."
The Crown Prince chuckled softly and watched as the two river lanterns slowly drifted away. How many people's wishes were being carried by this river?
"In that case, Benwang thanks you, Junzhu."
Inside the Ministry of Justice at this moment, the Minister of Justice had a worried expression as he complained to his subordinates, "Why is Jinpo's Second Prince still refusing to eat?"
"I'm about to retire, yet someone is still causing trouble for me," the Minister of Justice looked at the moon outside the window.
"If he doesn't eat, let him starve. As long as he doesn't die, it's fine."
Pei Jihuai, seeing the troubled look on his superior's face, spoke up proactively, "Daren, let me go and take a look."
"I don't think this Jinpo's Second Prince is a good person. He's already become a prisoner, yet he still wants to see the General's daughter," Zhang Shuo sneered, "This is not the Kingdom of Jinpo. Hostages should behave like hostages!"
Pei Jihuai tried to persuade him by saying a few words and turned to the dungeon.
Prince A’Wa of the Kingdom of Jinpo had a special identity, so the Ministry of Justice had assigned many guards to watch over him. It had been nearly ten hours since he had been brought to the Ministry of Justice, but he hadn't even taken a sip of water. It was unclear what he was up to.
If he really wanted to die, he would have found an opportunity to commit suicide halfway through the journey to the capital, so why did he wait until he reached the capital to start causing trouble?
If someone were to ask Prince A’Wa if he was hungry, he would definitely shout loudly that he was starving. But as the highly regarded Second Prince of the Kingdom of Jinpo, he felt that he couldn't silently be locked up in a prison cell in the Great Jin Dynasty. This was a blatant mistreatment of a captive.
After causing commotion for a whole day and having no energy left, coupled with being ignored by everyone, he found it pointless to continue. He just wanted to fall asleep quickly so that he wouldn't feel hungry anymore.
Just as he was about to doze off in a daze, someone walked in. He quickly sat up, opened his eyes wide, and tried hard to appear strong-willed.
"Prince A’Wa," Pei Jihuai had his subordinates bring in a dining table and placed it in front of Prince A’Wa, "I heard that Your Highness didn't even drink a sip of water today, so I especially had a table of delicious food prepared for you. Please have a taste, Your Highness."
"I won't eat," Prince A’Wa swallowed his saliva, "I won't eat anything until you bring Hua Liuli here."
"It seems that Your Highness isn't hungry," Pei Jihuai looked at Prince A’Wa with a smile that wasn't a smile. Standing in front of him, he kicked over the table full of delicious food and vigorously stomped on it with his boots, "It's my fault. I forgot that Your Highness isn't accustomed to the water and soil of the capital. You need to fast for two days."
The scent of the food filled the entire cell. Prince A’Wa, who was extremely hungry at this point, glared at Pei Jihuai, "What do you mean by this?"
"There's no hidden meaning. Your Highness isn't accustomed to the water and soil here, and if I insist on having you eat, it would be risking your life," After saying this, Pei Jihuai turned and left.
"Wait, I want to see Hua Liuli!" Prince A’Wa shouted through the cell door, his voice filled with anger, "I, as a prince, am the future king of Jinpo!"
"Does Your Highness think that the compensation Jinpo offered for the cities is still insufficient?" Pei Jihuai took the whip from his subordinate and played with it, "If you really have such thoughts, I can write a letter to His Majesty on your behalf."
"You, you..." Prince A’Wa never expected that a minor official of Great Jin would dare to mock him.
"Your Highness, if you don't eat, then starve," Pei Jihuai turned around and walked away, "When Your Highness feels like eating, I will come to see you."
A hostage who was not obedient should probably be full and stuffed. Two mealtimes in a day without food should suffice -- if one day was not enough, then two should suffice.
A hostage should behave like a hostage. A defeated prince from another country coming to Great Jin to act high and mighty, did he really think that the Ministry of Justice had no means to deal with people?
"Pei Daren, when His Majesty finds out about how you treated Prince A’Wa, will he not blame you?" one of his subordinates asked in worry.
"No need to worry," Pei Jihuai tossed the whip to his subordinate and mounted his horse, "If His Majesty intends to treat him favorably, why would he have him imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice?"
What type of people do they usually imprison in the Ministry of Justice? Could His Majesty not be aware of it?
"The streets are crowded tonight. I'll go outside and see if there's any trouble," Pei Jihuai instructed, "Do not give any food or water to Prince A’Wa for the next ten hours. Let him learn what it means to obey."
"Understood."
Pei Jihuai kicked his horse and disappeared into the night.
His subordinate thought to himself: Why Prince A’Wa had been causing a fuss about wanting to see the young lady from the Hua family? He even seems to hate her.
Those who were unaware might mistakenly believe that the young lady from the Hua family had betrayed him.
Amidst the bustling crowd, Hua Liuli dared not buy food from street vendors for the Crown Prince. Instead, she took him to enjoy some street activities, such as ring tossing, pot throwing, and dart throwing.
Since they were both generous people, they distributed the small prizes they won to the children nearby who were watching.
"Junzhu's dart-throwing skills are impressive."
"Although I have a weak body, I have learned some self-defense techniques from my family," Hua Liuli said as she stepped away from the dart-throwing stall, "These skills are nothing special."
The Crown Prince noticed that Hua Liuli's complexion wasn't too pale tonight; in fact, she even had a faint blush.
During their playtime, a maid by her served her a pill. He didn't know what it was made of, but he could smell a faint herbal fragrance.
With the moon reaching its zenith, the crowd began to disperse. The Crown Prince looked at the gradually ceding crowd and said, "It's past midnight, we should go back."
"Alright," Hua Liuli put on the flowered lynx mask she had bought and turned her face toward the Crown Prince, "Your Highness, have you heard a rumor?"
"What rumor?"
"In fact, cats and tigers are closely related. The ancestors of cats were as fierce as tigers and ruled the mountains," she said, opening her hands and making a roaring sound towards the Crown Prince.
"Yes, a very ferocious... tiger," the Crown Prince curled his index finger and lightly tapped the mask, "Benwang's zoo happens to be lacking a tiger. Why don't Benwang take you back and keep you there? Although you're a bit small and delicate, Benwang doesn't mind."
"Your Royal Highness?!" Pei Jihuai couldn't believe his eyes as he looked at the Crown Prince, quickly dismounting from his horse, "What is Your Royal Highness doing here?"
And to make matters worse, he was accompanied by a young girl?
As someone well-informed in the Ministry of Justice, Pei Jihuai had not heard about the Crown Prince getting close to any girl in the capital. This young girl, standing beside the Crown Prince with a flowered lynx mask, was dressed in luxurious clothes and had delicate and fair hands—a clear sign that she had been well pampered.
Hua Liuli prepared to take off her mask, but the Crown Prince reached out his hand and gently pressed it, preventing her from removing it.
"The Lantern Festival is so lively. Benwang decided to take a walk around," the Crown Prince remarked.
Noticing the Crown Prince's actions. Pei Jihuai no longer focused his gaze on the girl and bowed, "Your Royal Highness, if you're going back to the palace, allow me to escort you."
The Crown Prince thought for a moment and glanced at Hua Liuli, who was wearing the mask, before speaking in a casual tone, "Come along."
Hua Liuli held the mask in her hands and turned her head to glance at Pei Jihuai, who obediently followed behind them. She quietly asked the Crown Prince, "Isn't that Pei Daren of the Ministry of Justice?"
"You still remember him?" the Crown Prince nodded, "Indeed, it's him."
Pei Jihuai lowered his head, pretending not to hear their conversation. After working nearly five years at the Ministry of Justice, his senses had become highly attuned to people's voices. As soon as he heard the young girl speak, he could instantly recall having seen her recently.
"Your Royal Highness, when the hostage, Prince A’Wa, arrived in the capital, he couldn't adapt to the environment. For the sake of his well-being, this humble servant decided to withhold his food for tomorrow," Pei Jihuai said. "This humble servant wonders if I have done something inappropriate?"
The Crown Prince stopped walking and glanced at the person, who was wearing the mask, beside him, "That's good. Give him some water the day after tomorrow and let him have his food."
"This humble servant will comply with your order," Pei Jihuai said casually, then brought up Zhang Shuo, the Minister of Justice, nonchalantly, "To prevent any assassins from targeting the captive, Minister Zhang is currently guarding the Ministry of Justice to ensure Prince A’Wa's safety."
"Zhang Shuo is always reliable. Both Benwang and Father Emperor trust him," the Crown Prince casually remarked, "However, the major cases at the Ministry of Justice need to be dealt with promptly."
"Please rest assured, Your Royal Highness. We will do our utmost," Pei Jihuai's eyes sparkled with gratitude as he bowed to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince's words clearly indicated that Zhang Shuo's position would not be revoked by the Emperor.
Upon further consideration, Pei Jihuai understood. The Ministry of Justice was such an important institution, how could the Crown Prince possibly allow Ying Wang's father-in-law to manage it?
Although Zhang Shuo and his subordinates were not aligned with the Crown Prince's faction, they also did not favor other princes. Therefore, having him serve as the Minister of Justice was the most appropriate choice.
After Pei Jihuai saw the Crown Prince off into the palace and witnessed the masked young girl entering the palace with the Crown Prince, he suddenly came to a realization. A young lady who could enter the palace with the Crown Prince, could she be one of the princesses?
However, the Crown Prince wasn't particularly close to any of the three princesses in the palace.
Hua Liuli removed her mask and, without asking why the Crown Prince didn't let her show her face in front of Pei Jihuai, she smiled and asked, "Did Your Royal Highness have a good time tonight?"
The Crown Prince looked into the bright eyes of the young girl and replied, "Benwang had a very enjoyable night."
"That's good to hear," Hua Liuli tiptoed and patted the Crown Prince's shoulder, "Your Royal Highness, you're a young lad, don't burden yourself with sadness. There are plenty of things in this world worth rejoicing over."
After saying this, she took a step back and gestured towards the Crown Prince, "I should be going now, Your Highness. Please rest well."
She turned and took a few quick steps before turning back and smiling at the Crown Prince. Then, she lightly coughed while covering her chest, surrounded by her maids and palace attendants, walking towards Shoukang Palace.
The Crown Prince watched her retreating figure as he shook the Fox Gazing at the Moon lantern in his hand and suddenly burst into laughter.
Hua Liuli quietly entered the side hall and the room was suddenly illuminated by candlelight.
"You're back? Yurong clearly told me that you would return well before midnight," Wei shi sat upright in her seat, looking at her daughter, who had returned in the middle of the night, with an expressionless face.
"Mother," Hua Liuli eagerly approached and hugged Wei shi's arm, "I simply stayed out a little longer, don't be angry with me."
"Is the Crown Prince handsome?" Wei shi asked with a stern face.
"Yes, very handsome," Hua Liuli nodded, "I just felt that he seemed a little unhappy, so I wanted to make him smile. I didn't do anything else."
Wei shi looked at her daughter with a gaze as though looking at a little piglet that had finally learned how to dig up cabbage. With a straight face, she pinched her cheek, "You've learned how to woo beauties at such a young age like your father."
"How can it be the same?" Hua Liuli took the opportunity to nestle into Wei shi's arms, "Father's heart belongs to mother alone. Your daughter just cannot bear to see the beauty saddened."
"I thought you had an interest in the Crown Prince," Wei shi couldn't bear to scold her daughter, and when she acted spoiled, she lost all principles, "If you truly like the Crown Prince, your mother will think of a way to help get that person for you."
"Mother, I only admire the Crown Prince. I don't have any romantic feelings for him," Hua Liuli feared her mother might actually go and propose marriage to the Emperor, so she quickly said, "I just want to accompany you and father. And also raise a few male pets. I won't squander a good man like the Crown Prince."
"That's fine too," Wei shi nodded, "Noble men don't understand how to please women like male pets do."
"Mother, please don't let Father hear you say that," Hua Liuli quickly said, "Otherwise, he will suspect that you're being unfaithful."
"Tsk," Wei shi patted Hua Liuli's head. "I see you've inherited your mother's charm, but your talent for coaxing beauties comes from him."
"Mother, you're a female general who defends the borders, while I am a delicate and sickly beautiful young lady. We're different, we're different."
"Heh," Wei shi chuckled with a cryptic meaning.
Krish728
Author's Note:
Crown Prince: Huh? Are all the women of the Hua family like this?
Little Pig Liuli: I've only made the same mistakes that many women make, such as liking a beauty.
Ying Wang turned to his accompanying eunuch, "Go and see who is up there." After giving his orders, he turned to Lin Wan and said, "Young Lady Lin, it seems a bit chilly tonight. You should consider dressing warmer."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness," Lin Wan forced a smile. She had been well aware of her meeting with Ying Wang tonight and had taken great care in selecting her attire and accessories to accentuate her features.
She had put in all that effort to look her best, not to have a man remind her about the weather.
Did she really need him to remind her whether it was cold or not?
Unfortunately, Ying Wang didn't understand her thoughts. Seeing the eunuch return, he frowned and asked, "What happened? Benwang asked you to find out who was up there, why did you come back?"
"Your Highness, this servant just remembered something," the eunuch whispered, "During the Lantern Festival every year, the Crown Prince likes to come here to enjoy the lanterns."
"What kind of rubbish..." Ying Wang paused, suddenly remembering that tomorrow was the memorial day for the Crown Prince's mother, Empress Gonghui.
The Crown Prince's birth mother, Consort Hui, was a woman of indistinct appearance. Ying Wang could barely remember her, only recalling that she died when Ji Yuansu was not yet five years old. After Ji Yuansu was proclaimed as the Crown Prince, Consort Hui's status was elevated to Empress Gonghui by the Emperor posthumously.
She couldn't be considered a calamitous beauty. If it weren't for giving birth to a son whom the Emperor greatly favored, she would have likely gone unnoticed her whole life.
"Since the Crown Prince is up there, we shouldn't disturb them," Lin Wan had already inquired about the relationships between several princes before coming to the capital. She didn't want any conflicts to arise between the brothers at this moment.
If rumors were to spread that she had met with Ying Wang and, on the same evening, caused discord between the Crown Prince and Ying Wang, how could she continue to live in the capital city?
It wouldn’t just be her. Even her father's reputation would also be affected.
"If the Crown Prince can go, Benwang can go as well," Ying Wang initially had little interest in the viewing platform, but upon hearing that the Crown Prince was there, he insisted on going up.
Lin Wan tried to persuade him politely, but as Ying Wang's expression grew increasingly unpleasant, she had to keep quiet.
As they climbed higher, the wind grew stronger. Lin Wan touched her cold arms with her palms and looked up at the platform, then she stopped in her tracks. The figure up there couldn't be the Crown Prince; it clearly looked like a young lady.
She wanted to call out to Ying Wang, but he had already taken several steps ahead of her. So, she clenched her teeth and followed him.
"Someone's here?" Hua Liuli looked towards the stairs and met the eyes of Ying Wang, who was hurrying up.
Looking at Hua Liuli's delicate face, Ying Wang inexplicably couldn't meet her gaze. Perhaps it was because he knew that Hua Liuli had almost become Ying Wangfei, and now he was bringing his fiancée here to stand beside her, which gave him a strange feeling of guilt.
"Eldest Brother," the Crown Prince walked out from the shadows and approached Hua Liuli, addressing the dazed Ying Wang, "Eldest Brother seems to be in a good mood today. Came here to enjoy the scenery as well?"
Glancing at the young lady trailing behind Ying Wang, he deduced that it was Consort Xian's intention. Unfortunately, Consort Xian had clearly overestimated her son's ability to please women. Setting up a private meeting between Ying Wang and his fiancée would not foster a connection but rather prove burdensome.
Ying Wang climbed up to the viewing platform and noticed the ill-fitting cloak on Hua Liuli. He turned his head, and with a stiff face, he made a bow to the Crown Prince, "Coincidentally passing by, so I came here to take a look. I didn't expect to run into the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu enjoying the scenery here as well."
Hua Liuli nodded slightly and returned the gesture, wisely leaving this opportunity for "friendly interaction" to the two brothers. Just as she settled in the corner, a young lady approached with the grace of a willow in the wind, her skirt fluttering as if she could be blown away by the wind.
Who is this person?
Since Ying Wang didn't introduce the person who came with him, Hua Liuli didn't step forward to greet her, just nodded slightly at her.
Hua Liuli didn't know Lin Wan, but Lin Wan knew Hua Liuli. When Ying Wang addressed her as "Fushou Junzhu", she knew who the young lady standing with the Crown Prince was.
The other party's appearance exceeded her imagination, especially those moist eyes, easily evoking a sense of pity.
Having knowledge of the Emperor's previous intention to arrange a betrothal between Ying Wang and Fushou Junzhu, she couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. Seeing Hua Liuli nod towards her, she returned the gesture.
Perhaps because she had just arrived in the capital and was still unfamiliar with it, standing on this observation deck made her feel awkward. Since she arrived, neither the Crown Prince nor Ying Wang had given her a second glance, as though she didn't exist at all.
A gust of wind blew, producing a whistling sound against the palace walls.
"Are you cold?" Upon hearing Ying Wang's voice, Lin Wan looked up to answer, but she realized his gaze wasn't on her but on Fushou Junzhu.
"I'm not cold. The cloak the Crown Prince gave me is very warm," Hua Liuli hurriedly shook her head. Why would Ying Wang ask her if she was cold when he brought a young lady to admire the scenery?
Was this not causing trouble for her? Although Ying Wang appeared to be simple-minded, he should still understand some palace intrigue. After all, he was a prince who had emerged from the palace and had more experience than others.
However, she absolutely cannot sit idly by. If any rumors were to spread, casting doubt on her judgment in choosing men, it would be impossible to clear her name even if she were to jump into the Yellow River.
Hua Liuli quickly moved a few steps closer to the Crown Prince, making sure the young lady could see clearly that she accompanied the Crown Prince and had no connection to Ying Wang.
"The Crown Prince seems to have forgotten that Fushou Junzhu has a delicate constitution and cannot withstand the wind," Ying Wang coldly smiled at the Crown Prince, "If the Junzhu falls ill because of this, how will you explain it to General Hua and General Wei?"
The Crown Prince nodded, "Eldest Brother is right." He turned his head to look at Hua Liuli, "Junzhu, Benwang will accompany you back."
For once, the Crown Prince actually listened to someone, but Ying Wang still felt somewhat frustrated.
"Alright," Hua Liuli didn't want to stay here and affect Ying Wang's private meeting with the young lady, so she quickly nodded in agreement.
"Be careful," the Crown Prince still placed a handkerchief in his palm. When Hua Liuli handed over her hand, he held it in his palm and led her down slowly.
The large cloak trailed on the ground, shimmering with a faint golden light under the palace lamps. It was the golden thread embroidered within the cloak that created the glow.
Lin Wan looked at the cloak that was sparkling like stars in the dark night. Shivering from the cold, she turned to look at Ying Wang.
"She's the future Ying Wangfei, the young lady from the Lin family," descending from the viewing platform, the Crown Prince informed Hua Liuli of the identity of the young lady. The young girl by his side almost became Ying Wangfei herself, but her reaction upon hearing this was quite calm.
"Oh," Hua Liuli nodded. Jiamin Junzhu had already informed her about Ying Wangfei before, so she was no longer curious. She took off the cloak she was wearing, "Your Royal Highness, here you go."
"Put it on," the Crown Prince stood in place, "It's late at night. Let a palace maid escort you back."
Hua Liuli nodded. After bowing respectfully, she turned and walked away. When she reached the corner, saw the Crown Prince still standing in the same place, hands behind his back, gazing up at the moon in the sky.
Admiring a beauty under the moonlight, the more she looked, the more beautiful he seemed.
She had long noticed that the Crown Prince was in a bad mood tonight, but as an outsider, it was not appropriate for her to meddle in the affairs of the princes. So she could only pretend to know nothing.
Unfortunately, beauty was too captivating to ignore; she suddenly felt uneasy about leaving the Crown Prince in a bad mood like this.
"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli turned around and walked up to the Crown Prince, smiling brightly at him, "It's so lively outside the palace. Would Your Royal Highness like to go out together and take a look?"
The Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli in a daze, then suddenly smiled, "Okay."
"Junzhu..." Yuan Yi, seeing her mistress going out of the palace late at night for the sake of beauty, whispered softly, "It's already very late. Shouldn't we inform Madam?"
"Yurong," Hua Liuli called out to her other maidservant, "Go back and inform my mother. I am going out with the Crown Prince to buy beautiful lanterns to play with."
Without waiting for Yurong to refuse, she grabbed the Crown Prince and left.
A palace maid brought a properly fitting cloak for Hua Liuli to change into, while the Crown Prince directly draped his cloak, which she took off, on himself. He smiled at Hua Liuli, "Let's go."
The attendants saw that the Crown Prince was really taking the Fushou Junzhu out of the palace to play, so they called the guards and prepared horses. Yuan Yi, on the other hand, appeared more calm and followed quickly behind Hua Liuli.
It was said that when the Great General first encountered Madam, he was so amazed that he wanted to marry her despite being beaten and scolded. Her family's Junzhu, upon seeing such a handsome Crown Prince, was only accompanying him to see the lanterns — It can be considered an act of remarkable restraint.
The hereditary love for beauty in the Hua family cannot be changed so easily.
As they stepped out of the palace, the ambiance outside seemed to embrace an added layer of festivity. The pair found themselves on the bustling street, where couples wandered hand in hand, engrossed in conversation and laughter. Hua Liuli let out a sigh and remarked, "Tonight bears an air of animosity towards those without companions."
She saw that many shops were holding riddle-solving lantern games and selling lanterns. Although she wasn't good at solving riddles, she could still spend money to buy lanterns. So she bought the most beautiful lantern and presented it to the Crown Prince, "Your Royal Highness, this is for you."
The Crown Prince laughed helplessly, "For me?"
"Lanterns are given to beautiful people. This lantern suits Your Royal Highness the best," Hua Liuli coughed lightly, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, "Let's go, let's go see what's ahead."
The Crown Prince carefully examined the lantern she presented. It was a lantern depicting an adorable fox, with a hint of liveliness in its eyes, gazing at the moon.
A fox?
Hua Liuli had been influenced by her father, Hua Yingting, since childhood and had learned the art of pleasing a beauty from her father.
Saying nice things, accompanying the beauty to see the scenery and moon, and most importantly, buying things.
Unfortunately, there weren't many places in Qinghan Prefecture that required spending money. And there wasn't a beauty she wanted to please. The Crown Prince became her first opportunity to practice her skills.
On an open-air stage, there was a beauty lantern display organized by a brothel. The area below the stage was crowded with excited men, cheering and shouting for their own beloved beauties.
Not far away, there were food vendors with tables full of people. Occasionally, patrol guards would pass by, creating a bustling and lively atmosphere.
As they walked to the riverside, men and women of all ages gathered there, lighting lanterns and making wishes. The river was filled with many floating lanterns, resembling stars twinkling in the galaxy.
Hua Liuli gave a signal to Yuan Yi, and Yuan Yi immediately bought two river lanterns.
"Would Your Royal Highness like to make a wish too?" Hua Liuli handed the river lantern to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince took the lantern and looked up at the shimmering river, "Benwang never believed in these things."
"It doesn't matter. I don't believe in them either," Hua Liuli walked to the riverside and waved at the Crown Prince, who was standing on the riverbank, "Your Royal Highness, whether you believe it or not doesn't matter, but the sense of ceremony is important."
The Crown Prince handed the Fox Gazing at the Moon lantern to the guard behind him and held the river lantern as he walked beside Hua Liuli, "Junzhu, what is your wish for tonight?"
"I seem to lack nothing, so I don't have any wishes that need to be fulfilled," Hua Liuli looked at the reflection of the moon on the water and used a flint to light the lantern. She squatted down and looked at the Crown Prince, "Then I wish for Your Royal Highness's wishes to come true."
The river lantern gently swayed on the water. The Crown Prince imitated Hua Liuli's action and released the lantern, "You don't even know what my wish is."
"That's not important. What matters is the ceremony," Hua Liuli rested her chin on her hands, looking at the Crown Prince with a smile, "Your Royal Highness, many things don't necessarily need results. It's enough to be happy."
The Crown Prince chuckled softly and watched as the two river lanterns slowly drifted away. How many people's wishes were being carried by this river?
"In that case, Benwang thanks you, Junzhu."
Inside the Ministry of Justice at this moment, the Minister of Justice had a worried expression as he complained to his subordinates, "Why is Jinpo's Second Prince still refusing to eat?"
"I'm about to retire, yet someone is still causing trouble for me," the Minister of Justice looked at the moon outside the window.
"If he doesn't eat, let him starve. As long as he doesn't die, it's fine."
Pei Jihuai, seeing the troubled look on his superior's face, spoke up proactively, "Daren, let me go and take a look."
"I don't think this Jinpo's Second Prince is a good person. He's already become a prisoner, yet he still wants to see the General's daughter," Zhang Shuo sneered, "This is not the Kingdom of Jinpo. Hostages should behave like hostages!"
Pei Jihuai tried to persuade him by saying a few words and turned to the dungeon.
Prince A’Wa of the Kingdom of Jinpo had a special identity, so the Ministry of Justice had assigned many guards to watch over him. It had been nearly ten hours since he had been brought to the Ministry of Justice, but he hadn't even taken a sip of water. It was unclear what he was up to.
If he really wanted to die, he would have found an opportunity to commit suicide halfway through the journey to the capital, so why did he wait until he reached the capital to start causing trouble?
If someone were to ask Prince A’Wa if he was hungry, he would definitely shout loudly that he was starving. But as the highly regarded Second Prince of the Kingdom of Jinpo, he felt that he couldn't silently be locked up in a prison cell in the Great Jin Dynasty. This was a blatant mistreatment of a captive.
After causing commotion for a whole day and having no energy left, coupled with being ignored by everyone, he found it pointless to continue. He just wanted to fall asleep quickly so that he wouldn't feel hungry anymore.
Just as he was about to doze off in a daze, someone walked in. He quickly sat up, opened his eyes wide, and tried hard to appear strong-willed.
"Prince A’Wa," Pei Jihuai had his subordinates bring in a dining table and placed it in front of Prince A’Wa, "I heard that Your Highness didn't even drink a sip of water today, so I especially had a table of delicious food prepared for you. Please have a taste, Your Highness."
"I won't eat," Prince A’Wa swallowed his saliva, "I won't eat anything until you bring Hua Liuli here."
"It seems that Your Highness isn't hungry," Pei Jihuai looked at Prince A’Wa with a smile that wasn't a smile. Standing in front of him, he kicked over the table full of delicious food and vigorously stomped on it with his boots, "It's my fault. I forgot that Your Highness isn't accustomed to the water and soil of the capital. You need to fast for two days."
The scent of the food filled the entire cell. Prince A’Wa, who was extremely hungry at this point, glared at Pei Jihuai, "What do you mean by this?"
"There's no hidden meaning. Your Highness isn't accustomed to the water and soil here, and if I insist on having you eat, it would be risking your life," After saying this, Pei Jihuai turned and left.
"Wait, I want to see Hua Liuli!" Prince A’Wa shouted through the cell door, his voice filled with anger, "I, as a prince, am the future king of Jinpo!"
"Does Your Highness think that the compensation Jinpo offered for the cities is still insufficient?" Pei Jihuai took the whip from his subordinate and played with it, "If you really have such thoughts, I can write a letter to His Majesty on your behalf."
"You, you..." Prince A’Wa never expected that a minor official of Great Jin would dare to mock him.
"Your Highness, if you don't eat, then starve," Pei Jihuai turned around and walked away, "When Your Highness feels like eating, I will come to see you."
A hostage who was not obedient should probably be full and stuffed. Two mealtimes in a day without food should suffice -- if one day was not enough, then two should suffice.
A hostage should behave like a hostage. A defeated prince from another country coming to Great Jin to act high and mighty, did he really think that the Ministry of Justice had no means to deal with people?
"Pei Daren, when His Majesty finds out about how you treated Prince A’Wa, will he not blame you?" one of his subordinates asked in worry.
"No need to worry," Pei Jihuai tossed the whip to his subordinate and mounted his horse, "If His Majesty intends to treat him favorably, why would he have him imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice?"
What type of people do they usually imprison in the Ministry of Justice? Could His Majesty not be aware of it?
"The streets are crowded tonight. I'll go outside and see if there's any trouble," Pei Jihuai instructed, "Do not give any food or water to Prince A’Wa for the next ten hours. Let him learn what it means to obey."
"Understood."
Pei Jihuai kicked his horse and disappeared into the night.
His subordinate thought to himself: Why Prince A’Wa had been causing a fuss about wanting to see the young lady from the Hua family? He even seems to hate her.
Those who were unaware might mistakenly believe that the young lady from the Hua family had betrayed him.
Amidst the bustling crowd, Hua Liuli dared not buy food from street vendors for the Crown Prince. Instead, she took him to enjoy some street activities, such as ring tossing, pot throwing, and dart throwing.
Since they were both generous people, they distributed the small prizes they won to the children nearby who were watching.
"Junzhu's dart-throwing skills are impressive."
"Although I have a weak body, I have learned some self-defense techniques from my family," Hua Liuli said as she stepped away from the dart-throwing stall, "These skills are nothing special."
The Crown Prince noticed that Hua Liuli's complexion wasn't too pale tonight; in fact, she even had a faint blush.
During their playtime, a maid by her served her a pill. He didn't know what it was made of, but he could smell a faint herbal fragrance.
With the moon reaching its zenith, the crowd began to disperse. The Crown Prince looked at the gradually ceding crowd and said, "It's past midnight, we should go back."
"Alright," Hua Liuli put on the flowered lynx mask she had bought and turned her face toward the Crown Prince, "Your Highness, have you heard a rumor?"
"What rumor?"
"In fact, cats and tigers are closely related. The ancestors of cats were as fierce as tigers and ruled the mountains," she said, opening her hands and making a roaring sound towards the Crown Prince.
"Yes, a very ferocious... tiger," the Crown Prince curled his index finger and lightly tapped the mask, "Benwang's zoo happens to be lacking a tiger. Why don't Benwang take you back and keep you there? Although you're a bit small and delicate, Benwang doesn't mind."
"Your Royal Highness?!" Pei Jihuai couldn't believe his eyes as he looked at the Crown Prince, quickly dismounting from his horse, "What is Your Royal Highness doing here?"
And to make matters worse, he was accompanied by a young girl?
As someone well-informed in the Ministry of Justice, Pei Jihuai had not heard about the Crown Prince getting close to any girl in the capital. This young girl, standing beside the Crown Prince with a flowered lynx mask, was dressed in luxurious clothes and had delicate and fair hands—a clear sign that she had been well pampered.
Hua Liuli prepared to take off her mask, but the Crown Prince reached out his hand and gently pressed it, preventing her from removing it.
"The Lantern Festival is so lively. Benwang decided to take a walk around," the Crown Prince remarked.
Noticing the Crown Prince's actions. Pei Jihuai no longer focused his gaze on the girl and bowed, "Your Royal Highness, if you're going back to the palace, allow me to escort you."
The Crown Prince thought for a moment and glanced at Hua Liuli, who was wearing the mask, before speaking in a casual tone, "Come along."
Hua Liuli held the mask in her hands and turned her head to glance at Pei Jihuai, who obediently followed behind them. She quietly asked the Crown Prince, "Isn't that Pei Daren of the Ministry of Justice?"
"You still remember him?" the Crown Prince nodded, "Indeed, it's him."
Pei Jihuai lowered his head, pretending not to hear their conversation. After working nearly five years at the Ministry of Justice, his senses had become highly attuned to people's voices. As soon as he heard the young girl speak, he could instantly recall having seen her recently.
"Your Royal Highness, when the hostage, Prince A’Wa, arrived in the capital, he couldn't adapt to the environment. For the sake of his well-being, this humble servant decided to withhold his food for tomorrow," Pei Jihuai said. "This humble servant wonders if I have done something inappropriate?"
The Crown Prince stopped walking and glanced at the person, who was wearing the mask, beside him, "That's good. Give him some water the day after tomorrow and let him have his food."
"This humble servant will comply with your order," Pei Jihuai said casually, then brought up Zhang Shuo, the Minister of Justice, nonchalantly, "To prevent any assassins from targeting the captive, Minister Zhang is currently guarding the Ministry of Justice to ensure Prince A’Wa's safety."
"Zhang Shuo is always reliable. Both Benwang and Father Emperor trust him," the Crown Prince casually remarked, "However, the major cases at the Ministry of Justice need to be dealt with promptly."
"Please rest assured, Your Royal Highness. We will do our utmost," Pei Jihuai's eyes sparkled with gratitude as he bowed to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince's words clearly indicated that Zhang Shuo's position would not be revoked by the Emperor.
Upon further consideration, Pei Jihuai understood. The Ministry of Justice was such an important institution, how could the Crown Prince possibly allow Ying Wang's father-in-law to manage it?
Although Zhang Shuo and his subordinates were not aligned with the Crown Prince's faction, they also did not favor other princes. Therefore, having him serve as the Minister of Justice was the most appropriate choice.
After Pei Jihuai saw the Crown Prince off into the palace and witnessed the masked young girl entering the palace with the Crown Prince, he suddenly came to a realization. A young lady who could enter the palace with the Crown Prince, could she be one of the princesses?
However, the Crown Prince wasn't particularly close to any of the three princesses in the palace.
Hua Liuli removed her mask and, without asking why the Crown Prince didn't let her show her face in front of Pei Jihuai, she smiled and asked, "Did Your Royal Highness have a good time tonight?"
The Crown Prince looked into the bright eyes of the young girl and replied, "Benwang had a very enjoyable night."
"That's good to hear," Hua Liuli tiptoed and patted the Crown Prince's shoulder, "Your Royal Highness, you're a young lad, don't burden yourself with sadness. There are plenty of things in this world worth rejoicing over."
After saying this, she took a step back and gestured towards the Crown Prince, "I should be going now, Your Highness. Please rest well."
She turned and took a few quick steps before turning back and smiling at the Crown Prince. Then, she lightly coughed while covering her chest, surrounded by her maids and palace attendants, walking towards Shoukang Palace.
The Crown Prince watched her retreating figure as he shook the Fox Gazing at the Moon lantern in his hand and suddenly burst into laughter.
Hua Liuli quietly entered the side hall and the room was suddenly illuminated by candlelight.
"You're back? Yurong clearly told me that you would return well before midnight," Wei shi sat upright in her seat, looking at her daughter, who had returned in the middle of the night, with an expressionless face.
"Mother," Hua Liuli eagerly approached and hugged Wei shi's arm, "I simply stayed out a little longer, don't be angry with me."
"Is the Crown Prince handsome?" Wei shi asked with a stern face.
"Yes, very handsome," Hua Liuli nodded, "I just felt that he seemed a little unhappy, so I wanted to make him smile. I didn't do anything else."
Wei shi looked at her daughter with a gaze as though looking at a little piglet that had finally learned how to dig up cabbage. With a straight face, she pinched her cheek, "You've learned how to woo beauties at such a young age like your father."
"How can it be the same?" Hua Liuli took the opportunity to nestle into Wei shi's arms, "Father's heart belongs to mother alone. Your daughter just cannot bear to see the beauty saddened."
"I thought you had an interest in the Crown Prince," Wei shi couldn't bear to scold her daughter, and when she acted spoiled, she lost all principles, "If you truly like the Crown Prince, your mother will think of a way to help get that person for you."
"Mother, I only admire the Crown Prince. I don't have any romantic feelings for him," Hua Liuli feared her mother might actually go and propose marriage to the Emperor, so she quickly said, "I just want to accompany you and father. And also raise a few male pets. I won't squander a good man like the Crown Prince."
"That's fine too," Wei shi nodded, "Noble men don't understand how to please women like male pets do."
"Mother, please don't let Father hear you say that," Hua Liuli quickly said, "Otherwise, he will suspect that you're being unfaithful."
"Tsk," Wei shi patted Hua Liuli's head. "I see you've inherited your mother's charm, but your talent for coaxing beauties comes from him."
"Mother, you're a female general who defends the borders, while I am a delicate and sickly beautiful young lady. We're different, we're different."
"Heh," Wei shi chuckled with a cryptic meaning.
Krish728
Author's Note:
Crown Prince: Huh? Are all the women of the Hua family like this?
Little Pig Liuli: I've only made the same mistakes that many women make, such as liking a beauty.
