Those who served the Crown Prince knew that during the Lantern Festival, his mood would not be particularly good, sometimes even sleepless throughout the night.
However, last night was different. The Crown Prince returned from outside the palace and actually slept for a few hours in his chambers. This brought relief to those attending to him.
Every year on the 16th day of the first lunar month, the Crown Prince would come to this Taoist temple on the outskirts of the capital to light a lamp for the late Empress Gonghui. In the past, there were people who visited this temple at this time with ulterior motives and tried to please the Crown Prince, hoping for some benefits, but ended up causing trouble for themselves. As a result, rumors spread, and now no one dared to come to this place on the 16th day of the first lunar month.
When they heard voices outside the temple, the Eastern Palace attendants were secretly amazed. Who had the audacity to come here?
But once they saw the person clearly, the attendants quickly retreated.
"General Wei, Fushou Junzhu," the Crown Prince's gaze shifted to Hua Liuli, inviting them to come closer, "Are you two also here to offer incense?"
Also?
Hua Liuli was somewhat surprised. She never expected that the Crown Prince, who dared to sneak food during the ceremonial offering to the heavens, would actually be superstitious about such things.
"This humble general brought my daughter here to fulfill a vow," Wei Mingyue remembered when they left the capital, how the Crown Prince cautiously touched her belly, worried about how the baby inside would feel. The Crown Prince had trusted them, the husband and wife, when he was young. Even after many years apart, she still felt a certain closeness to him, "When this humble general was pregnant and was leading the troops, I made a vow in this temple. If the child could survive safely, I promised to come here personally to fulfill the vow."
The Crown Prince noticed that the servants of the Hua family were carrying many items for offering and knew that what General Wei said was true, "General, the temple has changed quite a bit over the years, you might not be familiar with the priests. Let Benwang guide you," the Crown Prince turned and walked towards the temple, "It has been over a decade since we last met. You have worked hard all these years, General."
"It's been alright. Although the border is harsh, it has its own unique charm compared to the capital," Wei Mingyue turned to look at Hua Liuli, "It's just that this child has suffered, living in the bitter cold since birth."
"Mother, Qinghan Prefecture is actually quite good," Hua Liuli smiled, her eyes curved, "I haven't experienced much hardship."
The Crown Prince shifted his gaze away from Hua Liuli and stepped into the temple gate. He saw two female disciples coming from the shrine to welcome the guests.
Hua Liuli received the incense and paid her respects before the three statues of the Three Pure Ones, placing the incense in the censer.
She didn't understand much about Taoism or Buddhism, and seeing her mother was about to engage in a philosophical discussion with the priests, she decided to quietly leave through the side door of the shrine.
Outside the temple, there was a courtyard paved with blue stone slabs. Old trees lined both sides of the courtyard, adding a touch of ethereal atmosphere to this secluded mountain temple.
The afternoon sunlight of early spring sprinkled on the leaves, leaving scattered spots of light on the ground.
"Junzhu," the Crown Prince followed her and came out, "There are tables and chairs nearby. We can sit here and wait for a while."
"Thank you, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli looked around the flower bushes and saw a stone table and stone stools hidden behind the trees. Once they sat down, the priests brought tea and fruits.
The air was filled with a faint smell of incense, occasionally a priest would pass by, creating a serene atmosphere.
"The climate in Qinghan Prefecture is harsh, it is not suitable for crops to grow. Junzhu, you have been staying there all these years. You must have endured a lot of hardships."
One of the priests was reciting scriptures, sometimes loud, sometimes soft, like rolling clouds in the sky.
"Although it cannot compare to the capital, since I was young, I haven't really experienced much hardship," Hua Liuli shook her head, "Every year, His Majesty sends timely supplies and many rewards. I am the youngest in the family, so everyone spoils me. The common people in the city also treat me warmly because I am the daughter of the two great generals."
Amused by Hua Liuli's sincerity, the Crown Prince shook his head and sighed, "Junzhu, as the Crown Prince, you should complain to Benwang at this time, about how difficult life was in Qinghan Prefecture, how tough your days have been from childhood until now. Only then can Benwang can appreciate the dedication of the Hua family."
"Is it necessary?" Hua Liuli rested her chin on her hand, "Is it too late to say it again now?"
"Benwang has had a good memory since Benwang was young. It's not easy to forget the things you said just now," The Crown Prince picked up the teacup, ready to drink, but was stopped by Hua Liuli's outstretched hand, "Your Royal Highness, wait a moment."
The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow.
"Although this place is on the outskirts of the capital, it is not the palace after all," Hua Liuli pointed to the teacup in his hand, "It's not wrong to be a little more cautious about what Your Royal Highness consumes."
"Thank you for the reminder, Junzhu," the Crown Prince smiled and put down the teacup, "Benwang was careless."
"Just a sudden curiosity," Hua Liuli looked up and surveyed the temple, "Although this temple does have some peculiarities, how did Your Royal Highness end up here?"
"Just taking a casual stroll, lighting a lamp for the deceased, wishing her a smooth reincarnation," the smile on the Crown Prince's face gradually faded, and he lowered his eyelids, his dense eyelashes trembling gently, "This is all Benwang can do for her."
Seeing the Crown Prince in such a melancholic state, Hua Liuli secretly wondered if the person he loved had tragically passed away. She tactfully refrained from asking further questions and remained a quiet listener.
No wonder Ying Wang and Ning Wang had already begun arranging their betrothals, but the future Crown Princess remained unspoken.
Three years ago, a soldier died on the battlefield, and his betrothed traveled thousands of miles just to bring his remains back home.
That woman was tough and thin, her eyes devoid of emotion. She held the urn tightly as if grasping onto her last hope. Hua Liuli followed behind her, escorting her out of the city until her figure was no longer visible.
Throughout the entire journey, the woman did not shed a single tear, but Hua Liuli felt as if she had cried countless times in her heart.
The bitter taste of love severed by life and death is unbearable.
Looking into the Crown Prince's eyes, Hua Liuli couldn't help but feel pity. But she would never let the Prince sense anything amiss, as she was a thoughtful person.
"Please take solace, Your Royal Highness. The past is gone, you must live well." Hua Liuli advised, "Surely she would want you to live a fulfilling life."
"Thank you," the Crown Prince replied, "Benwang knows."
In the face of life and death, any words are feeble and powerless. Hua Liuli stood up, plucked a few withered plants stems, and swiftly twisted them with her fingers, creating a butterfly in no time.
"Your Royal Highness, please extend your hand."
When the Crown Prince placed his palm up on the stone table, Hua Liuli placed the grass-woven butterfly in his palm, "Your Royal Highness, in Qinghan Prefecture, I once heard an old person tell a story. It is said that the Underworld possesses a type of butterfly that can guide lost souls back to the netherworld and convey the longing of the living for their loved ones."
"If Your Royal Highness places this butterfly under your pillow tonight, perhaps your heartfelt sentiments will be heard by her," Hua Liuli smiled and winked at the Crown Prince, "So, Your Royal Highness should rest early tonight and not stay up late."
This butterfly was not beautifully crafted, with uneven wings and a slightly bloated abdomen. He doubted if such a butterfly could even fly, considering its swollen belly.
He closed his palm and kept the butterfly, "Thank you."
"Liuli," Wei Mingyue stood outside the flower bushes. One cannot tell how long she had been standing there, but her expression looked normal as if she hadn't seen the scene just now, "The abbot wants to see you, come with me."
"Your Royal Highness, please wait here for a moment. I'll be back soon," Hua Liuli got up and walked toward Wei Mingyue.
After Hua Liuli reached her side, Wei Mingyue held her hand and then turned to leave.
"Your Royal Highness," the Crown Prince's trusted aide whispered, "Why didn't you tell Junzhu that Your Royal Highness is the one who supports this Taoist temple and there is no problem with the tea?"
"It's a rare kindness," the Crown Prince picked up the teacup and took a sip before slowly setting it down. Suddenly, he felt that the teacup's position was different from when Hua Liuli left, so he reached out and adjusted it slightly, restoring it to its original position.
Hua Liuli thought that the abbot of the Taoist temple would be an old Taoist with white hair, but she didn't expect to see a young and handsome person.
"Please have a seat, benefactors," the abbot invited the mother and daughter to sit down and personally poured tea for both of them.
They sat in a pavilion built on the rocks, and with a glance, they could see the scenery below the mountain. If there was fog in the mountains at this time, it would truly resemble a scene from a fairyland.
"Thank you, Enlightened One."
"I am Qinghui. Both of you can call me by that name," Abbot Qinghui placed the tea in front of Hua Liuli, "This tea is made from fresh flowers dried in the four seasons. It has the effects of nourishing the skin and calming the mind, even those with weak constitutions can drink it."
Hua Liuli noticed his hands, which were neatly trimmed and fair.
"I have been practicing under my master since I was young. After my master ascended to the heavens on a crane, I became the abbot of this Taoist temple," Abbot Qinghui had beautiful eyes, untouched by the mundane world, "When General Wei came to visit this humble temple, I was still young and didn't have the chance to have a conversation with you. After so many years, General Wei still looks as heroic as ever."
"Abbot Qinghui, you flatter me," Wei Mingyue sighed, "I haven't returned for many years and didn't expect to not even see the Enlightened One."
"My master once told me that General Wei is a star of war who came down to protect the country and family."
Wei Mingyue smiled at the words, it was hard to tell whether she believed in such sayings or not.
"Upon hearing that Junzhu was returning to the capital, I had the intention of visiting your estate, but I usually stay in this Taoist temple and rarely have the opportunity to go out," Abbot Qinghui looked at Hua Liuli, "Fortunately, today the Three Pure Ones blessed me, and I finally had the chance to see the true appearance of Junzhu."
"Why did you insist on seeing me, Abbot Qinghui?" Hua Liuli curiously asked.
"Because before General Wei left, my master forgot to give her a written document," Abbot Qinghui took out a wooden stick from his sleeve. The stick looked very old, who knows how long it has been there.
Wei Mingyue suddenly remembered that when she made a wish at the Taoist temple, she randomly picked a stick. However, that stick accidentally fell into the gap between the altar, but she didn't care about it and left that day.
Unexpectedly, after so many years, this Taoist temple still preserved the stick that fell into the gap.
Wei Mingyue took the stick and saw that it was blank, "What does this mean?"
"This is a blank stick," Abbot Qinghui looked at Hua Liuli, "It means there is no solution."
Wei Mingyue's expression turned sour. She had drawn this stick years ago when she made a wish for the child in her womb. What does it mean for it to be blank? It definitely doesn't have any good implications.
She exerted force on the stick, and it snapped in half. She coldly said, "We create our own destiny. I don't believe in these things."
"In everything, there are always unexpected circumstances," Abbot Qinghui looked at the broken stick and smiled faintly, "Walking the path of cultivation goes against the natural order. I also believe that we shouldn't put too much trust in these things, but..."
Abbot Qinghui's smile became more inclusive and gentle, "It seems that Junzhu and I have some connection through Taoism. Would Junzhu be willing to know more?"
"Huh?" Hua Liuli shook her head in her mind, no, no, it's too bothersome.
"If Junzhu is not willing, I will come to ask again next time," Abbot Qinghui smiled even more warmly, "Perhaps next time, Junzhu will be interested in cultivation."
Hua Liuli shook her head inwardly. No, no, it's enough to have bothered them.
"The capital is like the deep sea, seemingly calm but actually harboring hidden waves. General Wei and General Hua are loyal and brave generals of Great Jin, I can't bear to see both of you trapped in a quagmire," Abbot Qinghui didn't seem to insist on Hua Liuli's cultivation. He turned to look at the scenery between the mountains, "Please take care of yourselves, two generals."
"Thank you for the reminder, Abbot Qinghui," Wei Mingyue said, "His Majesty is a wise monarch of our time. Even if there are turbulent waves, as long as His Majesty is present, the ship will not be engulfed by the waves."
Abbot Qinghui performed a Taoist ritual, "May the virtuous protect the country and defend the family. With merits as vast as the sky, no matter when, there will be immortal beings protecting and turning misfortune into fortune."
"Thank you for your kind words, Abbot Qinghui," Wei Mingyue returned the gesture.
"Junzhu, please take care of yourself," Abbot Qinghui seemed as if he had only come to deliver a blank stick. He took a deep look at Hua Liuli and disappeared behind the stone bridge.
Wei Mingyue stared at the broken stick on the table with a somewhat gloomy expression.
"Mother, a blank stick is actually a good sign," Hua Liuli picked up the broken stick, "It's like His Majesty giving me a blank imperial decree with a seal, allowing me to fill in whatever I want. It's great."
Amused by her words, Wei Mingyue stood up and said, "I made a wish back then, and now I've come to fulfill it. My debts with the gods are now settled."
"My debts are settled, but you better not create new debts outside," Wei Mingyue hinted at something.
"What debts?" Hua Liuli lifted her flower tea and took a sip, her slender fingers lightly tapping the stone table.
"Emotional debts," Wei Mingyue raised an eyebrow, "Just now, were you making up little animals for the Crown Prince?"
Hua Liuli nodded.
"Your father likes to use this little trick to woo me. Your older brothers also enjoy making up stories about rabbits and dogs to woo their wives. I didn't expect you to be even more skilled, not only making up things but also making up stories," Wei Mingyue reached out and poked Hua Liuli's forehead, "The Hua family may not have learned anything else, but the art of wooing people is endless."
"Mother," Hua Liuli covered her forehead and said, "I just wanted to make the Crown Prince happy, not to trap him. Besides, the Crown Prince has someone irreplaceable in his heart. How could he easily fall in love with someone because they coaxed him?"
If he didn't like her, why would he personally come to this Taoist temple on the mountain and light a lamp for her?
What an intense and sorrowful love it is.
"Enough, if you truly like someone from the imperial family..."
"Mother," Hua Liuli held Wei Mingyue's hand and said, "It's not suitable for your daughter to be with an imperial family descendant. Besides, the imperial family wouldn't let a weak and sickly person become the Crown Princess. This is for the best."
Wei Mingyue looked at her daughter and said, "My child, you must remember that the Hua family's path to greatness or decline does not depend on a marriage alliance. You don't have to worry about us."
"I understand, Mother," Hua Liuli smiled, "Being a perfect young lady is not all that great. There are merits in being gentle and weak. Besides, I still want to become a famous delicate beauty in the world."
"Perhaps in a thousand or hundreds of years, there will still be poets and scholars writing poems on me, using phrases like 'as beautiful as Liuli', 'surpassing Liuli', 'Liuli reincarnated', and so on..."
"Let's go, let's go home."
"Go home?"
"Go back and get some sleep, where everything exists in dreams."
When the mother and daughter returned, the Crown Prince was still waiting for them.
"General, Junzhu, the mountain path is rugged. Let's go back together," the Crown Prince smiled as he looked at them.
"Your Royal Highness, please," Wei Mingyue had no reservations and immediately nodded in agreement.
When they reached the entrance of Marquis Zhongyong Estate, Hua Liuli stood at the door and turned to look at the somewhat lonely Crown Prince on horseback. She spoke, "Your Royal Highness, why not have dinner at our humble residence before returning?"
When the host says, "Eat before you leave", and the guest says, "No need", it is a basic display of common people's politeness and etiquette.
"In that case, Benwang will not hesitate to intrude," the Crown Prince dismounted with a smile on his face.
Evidently, the Crown Prince, who had lived in the palace since childhood, did not understand the hypocritical etiquette of the common people.
Seeing his wife and daughter return with the Crown Prince, Hua Yingting was somewhat surprised but not overly anxious. He had prepared a large table of dishes and welcomed the Crown Prince to take a seat.
"The last time this humble general dined at the same table with Your Royal Highness was fifteen years and four months ago," Hua Yingting raised his teacup and said, "My wife doesn't allow me to drink alcohol, so I can only offer you a cup of tea in place of wine."
"Thank you, General."
Hua Yingting winked at the Crown Prince when Wei Mingyue wasn't paying attention and whispered, "It's not that I'm afraid of her. It's just that as men, how can we let our wives get angry, right?"
"Yes," Hua Liuli leaned closer and whispered, "If Mother gets angry, you won't be able to sleep tonight."
Coughing, Hua Yingting cleared his throat, "Your Royal Highness, since you are here, please leave me some face."
The Crown Prince suppressed his laughter and said, "Just now, Benwang didn't hear clearly. What did Junzhu say?"
Hua Liuli smiled and raised an eyebrow, surprised that the Crown Prince could speak like that.
The Crown Prince smiled gently in return.
"How is Your Royal Highness's martial arts training coming along these days?" Hua Yingting separated himself from his daughter and asked the Crown Prince, "When I left, I only taught Your Royal Highness swordsmanship for a few months before going to the frontier. I wonder if Your Royal Highness has improved?"
"General, after you left, Father Emperor had other people teach swordsmanship to Benwang, but they couldn't compare to you," the Crown Prince spoke, "Now that you have returned, would you be willing to continue teaching Benwang?"
"Your Royal Highness, I'm honored by your high regard. It's just a pity that I injured my bones on the battlefield, and now I can't even touch alcohol, let alone wield a knife or a gun," Hua Yingting sighed regretfully, seemingly saddened by his inability to return to the battlefield.
A maid came in carrying a bowl of medicinal soup. Hua Liuli took it and drank it all in one gulp.
The other members of the Hua family seemed accustomed to Hua Liuli taking medicine and didn't even change their expressions. The Crown Prince furrowed his brows but didn't say anything.
After dinner, Hua Yingting called the Crown Prince and gave him a box of things to bring back into the palace.
"These are interesting things that I received in Qinghan Prefecture. His Majesty was interested in them when he was young. After all these years, I don't know if his preferences have changed," Hua Yingting scratched his head, "I feel embarrassed to give them to His Majesty, so I entrust the Crown Prince to take them into the palace. His Majesty has always cherished you, and even if he doesn't like them, he will accept them for your sake."
"His Majesty will surely like the things General has sent," an attendant behind the Crown Prince received the wooden box from Hua Yingting's hands while the Crown Prince said, "Although General is not in the capital, your correspondence with His Majesty has never ceased over the years. This bond is different from that with others."
When he was young and ignorant, he secretly read the letters that General Hua sent to his father. The letters contained various things, such as how his daughter was cute and well-behaved, how General Wei treated him well, or even about the delicious frontier delicacies he had eaten, regretting that he couldn't bring some for His Majesty. They were much more interesting than the routine greeting letters.
When his father found out that he had been reading them secretly, he simply showed him the letters openly and said that General Hua was a loyal and helpful minister. Later, he learned that General Hua would write letters back to the capital every year, with simple and humorous words that made the readers unable to help but laugh.
General Hua loved to mention his daughter the most in his letters. In his letters, his precious daughter was described as more beautiful than other girls, even if she just sneezed.
Her hair was longer than other girls', her eyes were more beautiful than other girls', her skin was whiter than other girls'...
So, the first time he encountered Hua Liuli, he intentionally lifted the curtain of the carriage to take a look at the little girl standing by the palace wall.
Her eyes were big, her lips were small, and she was indeed as beautiful as General Hua described in his letters, even more so than other girls.
"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli poked her head out from behind Hua Yingting and smiled at the Crown Prince, "I bid you farewell. Be careful on your way."
"Farewell," The Crown Prince smiled at Hua Liuli and turned to leave the Marquis Estate.
Leaving the warm and cozy house, the Crown Prince looked at the dark streets and he felt his mood wasn't too bad. He returned to the palace and presented the box that Hua Yingting had entrusted to him to the Emperor.
Emperor Changlong opened the wooden box, inside of which were some interesting stones, wood carvings, clay figurines, and other items. There were also some copies of calligraphy works, a few of them were even counterfeit.
"This, it's from Yingting," Emperor Changlong recalled the news that spread throughout the palace decades ago, about the late Emperor considering reestablishing a new crown prince, causing him great distress and loss of appetite.
After Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue learned about it, they brought a bunch of little trinkets to cheer him up. They even told him that if the late Emperor intended to depose him as the Crown Prince, they would escape together and never let him be harmed by the new Crown Prince.
He never expected that a few decades would pass by in the blink of an eye, and now their children were all grown up.
"Zhen heard that you went out to play with Fushou Junzhu last night?" Emperor Changlong played with a clay figurine, looking at the Crown Prince with a mysterious smile.
"The little girl has been stationed outside the capital for years and hasn't seen the bustling city. So, Erchen accompanied her for a walk in the city," the Crown Prince replied.
"En," Emperor Changlong nodded, "Treat her as your little sister, and in your leisure time, you should accompany her to explore the city more."
The Crown Prince stared at the candlestick on the wall without saying a word.
Emperor Changlong handed the clay figurine to the Crown Prince, "Go back and rest, remember to attend the court session tomorrow."
The Crown Prince held the ugly clay figurine and returned to the Eastern Palace. He casually placed the figurine on the table and then noticed that there were a few words engraved underneath it.
Handmade by a little girl in the Spring of the 23rd year of the Changlong Dynasty.
As he touched those words, the Crown Prince chuckled lightly.
No wonder the clay figurine was so ugly; it turned out it was made by that little girl.
As he was changing clothes after washing, something fell out of the garment. The attending eunuch picked it up and took a look. It was... a bundle of grass?
"Your Highness, should we keep this item?" the eunuch asked quietly.
The Crown Prince took the object from his hand and stared at it for a while, "You all may leave."
"Yes," the palace attendants all withdrew.
The Crown Prince casually placed the grass-woven butterfly under the pillow.
The little girl grew up, yet the butterfly she made is still ugly.
Hua Liuli had a dream. She dreamt of herself making small rabbits for a group of little beauties, but no matter what, she couldn't make them well. Then Jiamin Junzhu suddenly appeared and mocked her mercilessly.
After waking up from the dream, Hua Liuli felt that this dream was very ominous.
Hua Liuli looked outside at the sunlight with a melancholic expression, "The weather is getting warmer. I'm going to find Jiamin Junzhu and play with her."
Krish728
Author's Note:
Jiamin Junzhu: ?? I'm just minding my own business. What did I do wrong for you to treat me like this?!
Those who served the Crown Prince knew that during the Lantern Festival, his mood would not be particularly good, sometimes even sleepless throughout the night.
However, last night was different. The Crown Prince returned from outside the palace and actually slept for a few hours in his chambers. This brought relief to those attending to him.
Every year on the 16th day of the first lunar month, the Crown Prince would come to this Taoist temple on the outskirts of the capital to light a lamp for the late Empress Gonghui. In the past, there were people who visited this temple at this time with ulterior motives and tried to please the Crown Prince, hoping for some benefits, but ended up causing trouble for themselves. As a result, rumors spread, and now no one dared to come to this place on the 16th day of the first lunar month.
When they heard voices outside the temple, the Eastern Palace attendants were secretly amazed. Who had the audacity to come here?
But once they saw the person clearly, the attendants quickly retreated.
"General Wei, Fushou Junzhu," the Crown Prince's gaze shifted to Hua Liuli, inviting them to come closer, "Are you two also here to offer incense?"
Also?
Hua Liuli was somewhat surprised. She never expected that the Crown Prince, who dared to sneak food during the ceremonial offering to the heavens, would actually be superstitious about such things.
"This humble general brought my daughter here to fulfill a vow," Wei Mingyue remembered when they left the capital, how the Crown Prince cautiously touched her belly, worried about how the baby inside would feel. The Crown Prince had trusted them, the husband and wife, when he was young. Even after many years apart, she still felt a certain closeness to him, "When this humble general was pregnant and was leading the troops, I made a vow in this temple. If the child could survive safely, I promised to come here personally to fulfill the vow."
The Crown Prince noticed that the servants of the Hua family were carrying many items for offering and knew that what General Wei said was true, "General, the temple has changed quite a bit over the years, you might not be familiar with the priests. Let Benwang guide you," the Crown Prince turned and walked towards the temple, "It has been over a decade since we last met. You have worked hard all these years, General."
"It's been alright. Although the border is harsh, it has its own unique charm compared to the capital," Wei Mingyue turned to look at Hua Liuli, "It's just that this child has suffered, living in the bitter cold since birth."
"Mother, Qinghan Prefecture is actually quite good," Hua Liuli smiled, her eyes curved, "I haven't experienced much hardship."
The Crown Prince shifted his gaze away from Hua Liuli and stepped into the temple gate. He saw two female disciples coming from the shrine to welcome the guests.
Hua Liuli received the incense and paid her respects before the three statues of the Three Pure Ones, placing the incense in the censer.
She didn't understand much about Taoism or Buddhism, and seeing her mother was about to engage in a philosophical discussion with the priests, she decided to quietly leave through the side door of the shrine.
Outside the temple, there was a courtyard paved with blue stone slabs. Old trees lined both sides of the courtyard, adding a touch of ethereal atmosphere to this secluded mountain temple.
The afternoon sunlight of early spring sprinkled on the leaves, leaving scattered spots of light on the ground.
"Junzhu," the Crown Prince followed her and came out, "There are tables and chairs nearby. We can sit here and wait for a while."
"Thank you, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli looked around the flower bushes and saw a stone table and stone stools hidden behind the trees. Once they sat down, the priests brought tea and fruits.
The air was filled with a faint smell of incense, occasionally a priest would pass by, creating a serene atmosphere.
"The climate in Qinghan Prefecture is harsh, it is not suitable for crops to grow. Junzhu, you have been staying there all these years. You must have endured a lot of hardships."
One of the priests was reciting scriptures, sometimes loud, sometimes soft, like rolling clouds in the sky.
"Although it cannot compare to the capital, since I was young, I haven't really experienced much hardship," Hua Liuli shook her head, "Every year, His Majesty sends timely supplies and many rewards. I am the youngest in the family, so everyone spoils me. The common people in the city also treat me warmly because I am the daughter of the two great generals."
Amused by Hua Liuli's sincerity, the Crown Prince shook his head and sighed, "Junzhu, as the Crown Prince, you should complain to Benwang at this time, about how difficult life was in Qinghan Prefecture, how tough your days have been from childhood until now. Only then can Benwang can appreciate the dedication of the Hua family."
"Is it necessary?" Hua Liuli rested her chin on her hand, "Is it too late to say it again now?"
"Benwang has had a good memory since Benwang was young. It's not easy to forget the things you said just now," The Crown Prince picked up the teacup, ready to drink, but was stopped by Hua Liuli's outstretched hand, "Your Royal Highness, wait a moment."
The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow.
"Although this place is on the outskirts of the capital, it is not the palace after all," Hua Liuli pointed to the teacup in his hand, "It's not wrong to be a little more cautious about what Your Royal Highness consumes."
"Thank you for the reminder, Junzhu," the Crown Prince smiled and put down the teacup, "Benwang was careless."
"Just a sudden curiosity," Hua Liuli looked up and surveyed the temple, "Although this temple does have some peculiarities, how did Your Royal Highness end up here?"
"Just taking a casual stroll, lighting a lamp for the deceased, wishing her a smooth reincarnation," the smile on the Crown Prince's face gradually faded, and he lowered his eyelids, his dense eyelashes trembling gently, "This is all Benwang can do for her."
Seeing the Crown Prince in such a melancholic state, Hua Liuli secretly wondered if the person he loved had tragically passed away. She tactfully refrained from asking further questions and remained a quiet listener.
No wonder Ying Wang and Ning Wang had already begun arranging their betrothals, but the future Crown Princess remained unspoken.
Three years ago, a soldier died on the battlefield, and his betrothed traveled thousands of miles just to bring his remains back home.
That woman was tough and thin, her eyes devoid of emotion. She held the urn tightly as if grasping onto her last hope. Hua Liuli followed behind her, escorting her out of the city until her figure was no longer visible.
Throughout the entire journey, the woman did not shed a single tear, but Hua Liuli felt as if she had cried countless times in her heart.
The bitter taste of love severed by life and death is unbearable.
Looking into the Crown Prince's eyes, Hua Liuli couldn't help but feel pity. But she would never let the Prince sense anything amiss, as she was a thoughtful person.
"Please take solace, Your Royal Highness. The past is gone, you must live well." Hua Liuli advised, "Surely she would want you to live a fulfilling life."
"Thank you," the Crown Prince replied, "Benwang knows."
In the face of life and death, any words are feeble and powerless. Hua Liuli stood up, plucked a few withered plants stems, and swiftly twisted them with her fingers, creating a butterfly in no time.
"Your Royal Highness, please extend your hand."
When the Crown Prince placed his palm up on the stone table, Hua Liuli placed the grass-woven butterfly in his palm, "Your Royal Highness, in Qinghan Prefecture, I once heard an old person tell a story. It is said that the Underworld possesses a type of butterfly that can guide lost souls back to the netherworld and convey the longing of the living for their loved ones."
"If Your Royal Highness places this butterfly under your pillow tonight, perhaps your heartfelt sentiments will be heard by her," Hua Liuli smiled and winked at the Crown Prince, "So, Your Royal Highness should rest early tonight and not stay up late."
This butterfly was not beautifully crafted, with uneven wings and a slightly bloated abdomen. He doubted if such a butterfly could even fly, considering its swollen belly.
He closed his palm and kept the butterfly, "Thank you."
"Liuli," Wei Mingyue stood outside the flower bushes. One cannot tell how long she had been standing there, but her expression looked normal as if she hadn't seen the scene just now, "The abbot wants to see you, come with me."
"Your Royal Highness, please wait here for a moment. I'll be back soon," Hua Liuli got up and walked toward Wei Mingyue.
After Hua Liuli reached her side, Wei Mingyue held her hand and then turned to leave.
"Your Royal Highness," the Crown Prince's trusted aide whispered, "Why didn't you tell Junzhu that Your Royal Highness is the one who supports this Taoist temple and there is no problem with the tea?"
"It's a rare kindness," the Crown Prince picked up the teacup and took a sip before slowly setting it down. Suddenly, he felt that the teacup's position was different from when Hua Liuli left, so he reached out and adjusted it slightly, restoring it to its original position.
Hua Liuli thought that the abbot of the Taoist temple would be an old Taoist with white hair, but she didn't expect to see a young and handsome person.
"Please have a seat, benefactors," the abbot invited the mother and daughter to sit down and personally poured tea for both of them.
They sat in a pavilion built on the rocks, and with a glance, they could see the scenery below the mountain. If there was fog in the mountains at this time, it would truly resemble a scene from a fairyland.
"Thank you, Enlightened One."
"I am Qinghui. Both of you can call me by that name," Abbot Qinghui placed the tea in front of Hua Liuli, "This tea is made from fresh flowers dried in the four seasons. It has the effects of nourishing the skin and calming the mind, even those with weak constitutions can drink it."
Hua Liuli noticed his hands, which were neatly trimmed and fair.
"I have been practicing under my master since I was young. After my master ascended to the heavens on a crane, I became the abbot of this Taoist temple," Abbot Qinghui had beautiful eyes, untouched by the mundane world, "When General Wei came to visit this humble temple, I was still young and didn't have the chance to have a conversation with you. After so many years, General Wei still looks as heroic as ever."
"Abbot Qinghui, you flatter me," Wei Mingyue sighed, "I haven't returned for many years and didn't expect to not even see the Enlightened One."
"My master once told me that General Wei is a star of war who came down to protect the country and family."
Wei Mingyue smiled at the words, it was hard to tell whether she believed in such sayings or not.
"Upon hearing that Junzhu was returning to the capital, I had the intention of visiting your estate, but I usually stay in this Taoist temple and rarely have the opportunity to go out," Abbot Qinghui looked at Hua Liuli, "Fortunately, today the Three Pure Ones blessed me, and I finally had the chance to see the true appearance of Junzhu."
"Why did you insist on seeing me, Abbot Qinghui?" Hua Liuli curiously asked.
"Because before General Wei left, my master forgot to give her a written document," Abbot Qinghui took out a wooden stick from his sleeve. The stick looked very old, who knows how long it has been there.
Wei Mingyue suddenly remembered that when she made a wish at the Taoist temple, she randomly picked a stick. However, that stick accidentally fell into the gap between the altar, but she didn't care about it and left that day.
Unexpectedly, after so many years, this Taoist temple still preserved the stick that fell into the gap.
Wei Mingyue took the stick and saw that it was blank, "What does this mean?"
"This is a blank stick," Abbot Qinghui looked at Hua Liuli, "It means there is no solution."
Wei Mingyue's expression turned sour. She had drawn this stick years ago when she made a wish for the child in her womb. What does it mean for it to be blank? It definitely doesn't have any good implications.
She exerted force on the stick, and it snapped in half. She coldly said, "We create our own destiny. I don't believe in these things."
"In everything, there are always unexpected circumstances," Abbot Qinghui looked at the broken stick and smiled faintly, "Walking the path of cultivation goes against the natural order. I also believe that we shouldn't put too much trust in these things, but..."
Abbot Qinghui's smile became more inclusive and gentle, "It seems that Junzhu and I have some connection through Taoism. Would Junzhu be willing to know more?"
"Huh?" Hua Liuli shook her head in her mind, no, no, it's too bothersome.
"If Junzhu is not willing, I will come to ask again next time," Abbot Qinghui smiled even more warmly, "Perhaps next time, Junzhu will be interested in cultivation."
Hua Liuli shook her head inwardly. No, no, it's enough to have bothered them.
"The capital is like the deep sea, seemingly calm but actually harboring hidden waves. General Wei and General Hua are loyal and brave generals of Great Jin, I can't bear to see both of you trapped in a quagmire," Abbot Qinghui didn't seem to insist on Hua Liuli's cultivation. He turned to look at the scenery between the mountains, "Please take care of yourselves, two generals."
"Thank you for the reminder, Abbot Qinghui," Wei Mingyue said, "His Majesty is a wise monarch of our time. Even if there are turbulent waves, as long as His Majesty is present, the ship will not be engulfed by the waves."
Abbot Qinghui performed a Taoist ritual, "May the virtuous protect the country and defend the family. With merits as vast as the sky, no matter when, there will be immortal beings protecting and turning misfortune into fortune."
"Thank you for your kind words, Abbot Qinghui," Wei Mingyue returned the gesture.
"Junzhu, please take care of yourself," Abbot Qinghui seemed as if he had only come to deliver a blank stick. He took a deep look at Hua Liuli and disappeared behind the stone bridge.
Wei Mingyue stared at the broken stick on the table with a somewhat gloomy expression.
"Mother, a blank stick is actually a good sign," Hua Liuli picked up the broken stick, "It's like His Majesty giving me a blank imperial decree with a seal, allowing me to fill in whatever I want. It's great."
Amused by her words, Wei Mingyue stood up and said, "I made a wish back then, and now I've come to fulfill it. My debts with the gods are now settled."
"My debts are settled, but you better not create new debts outside," Wei Mingyue hinted at something.
"What debts?" Hua Liuli lifted her flower tea and took a sip, her slender fingers lightly tapping the stone table.
"Emotional debts," Wei Mingyue raised an eyebrow, "Just now, were you making up little animals for the Crown Prince?"
Hua Liuli nodded.
"Your father likes to use this little trick to woo me. Your older brothers also enjoy making up stories about rabbits and dogs to woo their wives. I didn't expect you to be even more skilled, not only making up things but also making up stories," Wei Mingyue reached out and poked Hua Liuli's forehead, "The Hua family may not have learned anything else, but the art of wooing people is endless."
"Mother," Hua Liuli covered her forehead and said, "I just wanted to make the Crown Prince happy, not to trap him. Besides, the Crown Prince has someone irreplaceable in his heart. How could he easily fall in love with someone because they coaxed him?"
If he didn't like her, why would he personally come to this Taoist temple on the mountain and light a lamp for her?
What an intense and sorrowful love it is.
"Enough, if you truly like someone from the imperial family..."
"Mother," Hua Liuli held Wei Mingyue's hand and said, "It's not suitable for your daughter to be with an imperial family descendant. Besides, the imperial family wouldn't let a weak and sickly person become the Crown Princess. This is for the best."
Wei Mingyue looked at her daughter and said, "My child, you must remember that the Hua family's path to greatness or decline does not depend on a marriage alliance. You don't have to worry about us."
"I understand, Mother," Hua Liuli smiled, "Being a perfect young lady is not all that great. There are merits in being gentle and weak. Besides, I still want to become a famous delicate beauty in the world."
"Perhaps in a thousand or hundreds of years, there will still be poets and scholars writing poems on me, using phrases like 'as beautiful as Liuli', 'surpassing Liuli', 'Liuli reincarnated', and so on..."
"Let's go, let's go home."
"Go home?"
"Go back and get some sleep, where everything exists in dreams."
When the mother and daughter returned, the Crown Prince was still waiting for them.
"General, Junzhu, the mountain path is rugged. Let's go back together," the Crown Prince smiled as he looked at them.
"Your Royal Highness, please," Wei Mingyue had no reservations and immediately nodded in agreement.
When they reached the entrance of Marquis Zhongyong Estate, Hua Liuli stood at the door and turned to look at the somewhat lonely Crown Prince on horseback. She spoke, "Your Royal Highness, why not have dinner at our humble residence before returning?"
When the host says, "Eat before you leave", and the guest says, "No need", it is a basic display of common people's politeness and etiquette.
"In that case, Benwang will not hesitate to intrude," the Crown Prince dismounted with a smile on his face.
Evidently, the Crown Prince, who had lived in the palace since childhood, did not understand the hypocritical etiquette of the common people.
Seeing his wife and daughter return with the Crown Prince, Hua Yingting was somewhat surprised but not overly anxious. He had prepared a large table of dishes and welcomed the Crown Prince to take a seat.
"The last time this humble general dined at the same table with Your Royal Highness was fifteen years and four months ago," Hua Yingting raised his teacup and said, "My wife doesn't allow me to drink alcohol, so I can only offer you a cup of tea in place of wine."
"Thank you, General."
Hua Yingting winked at the Crown Prince when Wei Mingyue wasn't paying attention and whispered, "It's not that I'm afraid of her. It's just that as men, how can we let our wives get angry, right?"
"Yes," Hua Liuli leaned closer and whispered, "If Mother gets angry, you won't be able to sleep tonight."
Coughing, Hua Yingting cleared his throat, "Your Royal Highness, since you are here, please leave me some face."
The Crown Prince suppressed his laughter and said, "Just now, Benwang didn't hear clearly. What did Junzhu say?"
Hua Liuli smiled and raised an eyebrow, surprised that the Crown Prince could speak like that.
The Crown Prince smiled gently in return.
"How is Your Royal Highness's martial arts training coming along these days?" Hua Yingting separated himself from his daughter and asked the Crown Prince, "When I left, I only taught Your Royal Highness swordsmanship for a few months before going to the frontier. I wonder if Your Royal Highness has improved?"
"General, after you left, Father Emperor had other people teach swordsmanship to Benwang, but they couldn't compare to you," the Crown Prince spoke, "Now that you have returned, would you be willing to continue teaching Benwang?"
"Your Royal Highness, I'm honored by your high regard. It's just a pity that I injured my bones on the battlefield, and now I can't even touch alcohol, let alone wield a knife or a gun," Hua Yingting sighed regretfully, seemingly saddened by his inability to return to the battlefield.
A maid came in carrying a bowl of medicinal soup. Hua Liuli took it and drank it all in one gulp.
The other members of the Hua family seemed accustomed to Hua Liuli taking medicine and didn't even change their expressions. The Crown Prince furrowed his brows but didn't say anything.
After dinner, Hua Yingting called the Crown Prince and gave him a box of things to bring back into the palace.
"These are interesting things that I received in Qinghan Prefecture. His Majesty was interested in them when he was young. After all these years, I don't know if his preferences have changed," Hua Yingting scratched his head, "I feel embarrassed to give them to His Majesty, so I entrust the Crown Prince to take them into the palace. His Majesty has always cherished you, and even if he doesn't like them, he will accept them for your sake."
"His Majesty will surely like the things General has sent," an attendant behind the Crown Prince received the wooden box from Hua Yingting's hands while the Crown Prince said, "Although General is not in the capital, your correspondence with His Majesty has never ceased over the years. This bond is different from that with others."
When he was young and ignorant, he secretly read the letters that General Hua sent to his father. The letters contained various things, such as how his daughter was cute and well-behaved, how General Wei treated him well, or even about the delicious frontier delicacies he had eaten, regretting that he couldn't bring some for His Majesty. They were much more interesting than the routine greeting letters.
When his father found out that he had been reading them secretly, he simply showed him the letters openly and said that General Hua was a loyal and helpful minister. Later, he learned that General Hua would write letters back to the capital every year, with simple and humorous words that made the readers unable to help but laugh.
General Hua loved to mention his daughter the most in his letters. In his letters, his precious daughter was described as more beautiful than other girls, even if she just sneezed.
Her hair was longer than other girls', her eyes were more beautiful than other girls', her skin was whiter than other girls'...
So, the first time he encountered Hua Liuli, he intentionally lifted the curtain of the carriage to take a look at the little girl standing by the palace wall.
Her eyes were big, her lips were small, and she was indeed as beautiful as General Hua described in his letters, even more so than other girls.
"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli poked her head out from behind Hua Yingting and smiled at the Crown Prince, "I bid you farewell. Be careful on your way."
"Farewell," The Crown Prince smiled at Hua Liuli and turned to leave the Marquis Estate.
Leaving the warm and cozy house, the Crown Prince looked at the dark streets and he felt his mood wasn't too bad. He returned to the palace and presented the box that Hua Yingting had entrusted to him to the Emperor.
Emperor Changlong opened the wooden box, inside of which were some interesting stones, wood carvings, clay figurines, and other items. There were also some copies of calligraphy works, a few of them were even counterfeit.
"This, it's from Yingting," Emperor Changlong recalled the news that spread throughout the palace decades ago, about the late Emperor considering reestablishing a new crown prince, causing him great distress and loss of appetite.
After Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue learned about it, they brought a bunch of little trinkets to cheer him up. They even told him that if the late Emperor intended to depose him as the Crown Prince, they would escape together and never let him be harmed by the new Crown Prince.
He never expected that a few decades would pass by in the blink of an eye, and now their children were all grown up.
"Zhen heard that you went out to play with Fushou Junzhu last night?" Emperor Changlong played with a clay figurine, looking at the Crown Prince with a mysterious smile.
"The little girl has been stationed outside the capital for years and hasn't seen the bustling city. So, Erchen accompanied her for a walk in the city," the Crown Prince replied.
"En," Emperor Changlong nodded, "Treat her as your little sister, and in your leisure time, you should accompany her to explore the city more."
The Crown Prince stared at the candlestick on the wall without saying a word.
Emperor Changlong handed the clay figurine to the Crown Prince, "Go back and rest, remember to attend the court session tomorrow."
The Crown Prince held the ugly clay figurine and returned to the Eastern Palace. He casually placed the figurine on the table and then noticed that there were a few words engraved underneath it.
Handmade by a little girl in the Spring of the 23rd year of the Changlong Dynasty.
As he touched those words, the Crown Prince chuckled lightly.
No wonder the clay figurine was so ugly; it turned out it was made by that little girl.
As he was changing clothes after washing, something fell out of the garment. The attending eunuch picked it up and took a look. It was... a bundle of grass?
"Your Highness, should we keep this item?" the eunuch asked quietly.
The Crown Prince took the object from his hand and stared at it for a while, "You all may leave."
"Yes," the palace attendants all withdrew.
The Crown Prince casually placed the grass-woven butterfly under the pillow.
The little girl grew up, yet the butterfly she made is still ugly.
Hua Liuli had a dream. She dreamt of herself making small rabbits for a group of little beauties, but no matter what, she couldn't make them well. Then Jiamin Junzhu suddenly appeared and mocked her mercilessly.
After waking up from the dream, Hua Liuli felt that this dream was very ominous.
Hua Liuli looked outside at the sunlight with a melancholic expression, "The weather is getting warmer. I'm going to find Jiamin Junzhu and play with her."
Krish728
Author's Note:
Jiamin Junzhu: ?? I'm just minding my own business. What did I do wrong for you to treat me like this?!
