As soon as Hua Liuli finished speaking, there was a soft knock on the door.
"Fushou Junzhu, His Majesty is here to visit you," Zhao Sancai said from outside the door, "May I know if you are available at the moment?"
Yuan Yi stood up and let down the bed curtain, while Yurong opened the door, and everyone bowed in unison.
"Your Majesty, please forgive this injured subject for being unable to salute to you."
"No need for excessive courtesy, no need for excessive courtesy," Emperor Changlong sat down behind the curtains in the room and asked the maidservants about the medicine Hua Liuli had taken and whether she had eaten after waking up. After asking, he kindly said to Hua Liuli, "The Empress Dowager treats you as her own granddaughter, so you are like a half-daughter to Zhen. You don't have to be restrained while living in the palace, just treat it as your own home."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"You rest well, Zhen still has some good scar-healing medicine in Zhen's place. Zhen will have someone bring it to you later," As the future father-in-law, Emperor Changlong was concerned about his future daughter-in-law's rest and did not want to disturb her any further. After giving thoughtful instructions, he left with a big smile on his face, leaving behind a pile of rewards.
Before, he was somewhat worried about the poor health of the Hua family's young girl, but now he had no reservations. He felt extremely pleased in both body and mind.
If he hadn't happened to hear the words of this little girl, he wouldn't have known that his most beloved generals loved and cared for him so much. This bond of affection hadn't diminished over the years they spent at the border, but had instead grown stronger. Even the younger generation in the family understood it so clearly.
But for all these years, they never said a word. If it were someone else, they would have made countless hints and suggestions in front of him.
"Sancai," Emperor Changlong sighed emotionally, "Having such loyal subjects is truly a source of comfort for Zhen."
Zhao Sancai quickly replied, "Both General Hua and General Wei have always been like this. Although they are not good with words, their loyalty to Your Majesty has never wavered."
"You are right," Emperor Changlong was still immersed in his emotions and didn't snap out of it. As an emperor who governed the nation with benevolence and was prosperous, whenever he was moved, he couldn't help but want to reward his officials with gifts. So he sent another pile of items from the imperial private treasury to the Hua family.
Anyway, it was considered a gift for his future in-laws. In a roundabout way, they were all family.
When one's own family gives gifts to one's own family, it doesn't count as a loss.
Emperor Changlong was in a good mood until he saw his eldest son, Ji Minghao, fidgeting and walking over. His eldest son's tall stature combined with his fidgeting made Emperor Changlong feel uncomfortable.
"Minghao, what kind of behavior is this?"
"Father Emperor," Ying Wang performed a grand salute before Emperor Changlong, "Erchen pays his respects to Father Emperor."
"Rise," Emperor Changlong noticed two red clouds rising on his son's face and couldn't help but sigh, "What brings you to Zhen?"
Ying Wang glanced at the palace maids and eunuchs behind Emperor Changlong, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He whispered, "Erchen has a request."
"Speak up," Both sons and daughters are debt collectors. Emperor Changlong took a deep breath, reminding himself to be kind and not lose his temper.
"Erchen thinks that Fushou Junzhu is quite good. Can Father Emperor help Erchen with the matchmaking..."
"Initially, Zhen did consider arranging that for you, but you and your mother refused, didn't you?" Flames of anger surged in Emperor Changlong's heart, quickly turning into a raging fury, "Do you think that the daughter of the two great generals is like one of those selected young ladies sent into the palace, that you can have her if you want and reject her if you don't?!"
"That was Erchen's previous foolishness," Ying Wang made up his mind, gritted his teeth, and knelt before Emperor Changlong with a thud. With a thick-skinned face, he pretended to cry and said, "Father Emperor, Erchen is already twenty-one this year. Father Emperor can't keep Erchen single like this, can you? Moreover, Erchen is the eldest, so if Erchen doesn't marry, what about Erchen's younger brothers?"
"Now you're considerate of your younger brothers," Emperor Changlong disdainfully tried removing his thigh from his eldest son's embrace, but to his surprise, his eldest son had quite a bit of strength, so he couldn't free himself for a moment.
"Zhen understands your thoughts. Don't worry, Zhen will choose a capable Wangfei for you, but Fushou Junzhu is not suitable," If it were other girls, Emperor Changlong might have suspected them of enchanting the princes and causing conflicts among the princes. However, Hua Liuli was different. Emperor Changlong believed that she was loyal, brave, gentle, and kind-hearted, definitely not a woman who would enchant others' hearts. Since the fault didn't lie with her, it was his own son's problem.
So after careful consideration, no matter how he looked at it, it was his own son's fault.
"Why?" Ying Wang asked in confusion, "Erchen believes that Fushou Junzhu is gentle, considerate, kind-hearted, and intelligent, and she is very suitable to marry into the imperial family."
"On this point, Zhen's view is the same as yours."
Ying Wang felt delighted in his heart. It seemed like there was still hope for this matter.
"So, Zhen has already discussed with General Hua and General Wei and arranged for her to marry your third brother as the Crown Princess," Taking advantage of his eldest son's dazed state, Emperor Changlong quickly pulled his leg out of his embrace, "Between people, there is the matter of fate. Initially, Zhen wanted you to marry Fushou Junzhu, but you were unwilling. Now that you've changed your mind, she is already betrothed to someone else."
"Minghao," Emperor Changlong bent down, patting his eldest son's shoulder, "In one's lifetime, there will always be many choices to face. Once a choice is made, it is made. Did you think there would be so many paths to turn back? Even if you are a prince, there will be things you can't achieve. Do you understand?"
Ying Wang was muddled and confused. He was unwilling to see the girl he somewhat favored marrying the most detested Crown Prince. He also regretted why he had refused to marry Hua Liuli back then. He looked up at Emperor Changlong but couldn't find any words to say.
"After you rejected the marriage alliance with the Hua family, did you actively try to form a good relationship with them? Or have you shown any special interest in Fushou Junzhu?" Emperor Changlong saw his eldest son's bewildered state and had no choice but to say, "When you realized your feelings, did you actively pursue Fushou Junzhu?"
Ying Wang was at a loss. He was a prince; marrying a young lady as his Wangfei would be an honor for her. Why would he need to actively pursue her?
"You have even blocked off the last path of regret. Now, even if you regret it, it is too late," Emperor Changlong shook his head involuntarily. Most women in the world like men who are gentle, considerate, and care about them. How many of these qualities did his eldest son possess?
"Try to accept it," Emperor Changlong comfortingly patted Ying Wang, "Don't bring up this matter again in the future. Fushou Junzhu will be your younger brother's wife. Don't ruin her reputation."
Ying Wang's lips trembled and he couldn't utter a word for a long time.
"Father Emperor, Eldest Brother, what are you doing here?" The Crown Prince approached and saw Emperor Changlong bending down to Ying Wang, who was half-kneeling on the ground, acting like a spoiled child. With a fake smile, he said, "Did Eldest Brother accidentally trip and fall?"
Prince Ying could throw a tantrum in front of Emperor Changlong, but he didn't want to lose face in front of the Crown Prince. He glared at the Crown Prince and said, "What's it to you?"
"Gu is just here to watch the excitement. If you want, you can continue," the Crown Prince opened his folding fan and shielded his face with it, "Please rest assured Eldest Brother, Gu won't watch."
Ying Wang: "..."
He was so angry, he wanted to kill him!
Emperor Changlong, afraid that his third son would know about his eldest son's intention to marry Fushou Junzhu, had to interrupt their conversation, "Yuansu, your injuries haven't healed yet. Why are you exposing yourself to the wind?"
"Father Emperor, Erchen only has some superficial wounds that are not serious," The Crown Prince bowed to Emperor Changlong, "Erchen is truly concerned about Liuli's injury, so Erchen wanted to visit the Shoukang Palace and look after her."
"Go ahead, go ahead," Emperor Changlong was truly afraid that the two brothers would cause trouble.
The Crown Prince glanced at his Eldest Brother, then turned around and left, exuding an air of arrogance.
Ying Wang felt a pain in his chest. He was full of pain, regret, and hatred, but he couldn't utter a word of complaint.
Yes, it was he who didn't want to form a marriage alliance with the Hua family. Now, it was too late for regrets.
"You go back and rest. Zhen will find you a good wife in due time," Emperor Changlong comforted his eldest son for a while before turning to walk towards the Chenyang Palace.
Halfway there, he found his second son, Ning Wang, and his fifth son, the Fifth Prince, walking together. He casually asked them about their recent studies.
Little did he know, when his fifth son mentioned painting, he wouldn't stop talking about it. Emperor Changlong regretted why he had spoken. But as a father, seeing his son's bright and confident eyes, he couldn't interrupt him and had to continue listening.
He thought his fifth son was going to talk about painting insights for half an hour, but suddenly, the topic took a turn, "Erchen believes the second daughter raised by Royal Princess Leyang is truly impolite. Imperial Grandmother should send two female etiquette officials to reprimand her and teach her what etiquette is."
"Hmm?" Emperor Changlong looked at the Fifth Prince with some surprise, "Zhen remembers you don't seem to have any relationship with the second daughter of the Xie family, do you?"
"Erchen naturally wouldn't have any relationship with such an impolite and vulgar person," the Fifth Prince elegantly bowed, "Compared to Fushou Junzhu..."
Upon hearing the words "Fushou Junzhu", Emperor Changlong was afraid that his fifth son would also say something like, "Erchen thinks Fushou Junzhu is excellent and Erchen intends to propose marriage" He quickly said, "Zhen also thinks Fushou Junzhu is excellent, so Zhen intends for the Crown Prince to marry her as the Crown Princess. What do you think?"
Ning Wang always went along with whatever Father Emperor said. When he heard Father Emperor's question, his brain hadn't reacted yet, but his mouth responded first, "Fushou Junzhu, as a descendant of two renowned generals, is naturally a perfect match for the Crown Prince. Erchen thinks Father Emperor's idea is excellent."
The Fifth Prince had a somewhat conflicted expression. Fushou Junzhu was an elegant and artistic person, while the Crown Prince was difficult to get along with. Would she be wronged by marrying him?
"Yanqiu, what do you think?" Emperor Changlong noticed that the Fifth Prince was not speaking and the smile on his face faded a bit.
"Erchen thinks it's excellent," the Fifth Prince's conscience didn't hold out for even five breaths before choosing to surrender.
After all, he was a member of the imperial family. For the sake of his own interests, occasionally abandoning his conscience was inevitable. In any case, in the future, he could paint a few more paintings and send them to the Eastern Palace as a form of apology.
Once the Fifth Prince, who believed that his paintings were worth a fortune, came to terms with this, he felt at ease even when speaking nonsense.
After Emperor Changlong left, Yuan Yi whispered to Hua Liuli, "Junzhu, your skill in steering the situation according to the wind is becoming more impressive."
"Oh, not at all," Hua Liuli modestly smiled, "Every word I said was sincere and genuine, without any falsehood."
Both Yuan Yi and Yurong didn't believe her words but smiled and served by her side. Yurong was worried that she might get bored, so she deliberately found a few books to read and recited them to Hua Liuli.
"Junzhu, the Crown Prince has arrived," A palace maid from the Shoukang Palace came in to report. Yuan Yi and Yurong exchanged a glance and tactfully chose to step aside.
"Liuli," The Crown Prince strode in and saw that Hua Liuli's complexion was still pale as paper. He felt both heartache and regret, "If only Gu had... If Gu had the martial arts skills of General Hua, then you wouldn't have been injured."
"Your Royal Highness, my father has been practicing martial arts since childhood and has fought on the battlefield. Why compare yourself to him?" Hua Liuli chuckled lightly, "Your Royal Highness, you have been studying literature since childhood, practicing martial arts, and learning to govern the court under His Majesty. That's already impressive."
"Moreover, if it weren't for Your Royal Highness risking your life to save me, I'm afraid I wouldn't have made it back," Hua Liuli spoke the truth. In that situation, if it wasn't for the Crown Prince worrying about her and rushing out to divert the assassins' attention, she might have died under the chaotic arrows.
"You risked your life to save Gu, so naturally, Gu is willing to save you with my life," The Crown Prince picked up a book that Yurong had set aside, "What is this?"
"Nunbi was worried that Junzhu would get bored, so Nunbi found a book to read to Junzhu."
The Crown Prince flipped through it and smiled at Hua Liuli, "In that case, let Gu read a passage to you."
"Fang Sheng looked around in confusion, and from a distance, he saw a girl approaching with a basket of flowers."
"Fang Sheng asked, 'Miss, which family do you belong to, that you possess flawless beauty like the clouds on the mountaintop?'"
"The girl replied, 'Young Master, have you forgotten? Three years ago, you saved a girl who was picking flowers. You told that girl that once you passed the imperial examination as the top scholar, you would ride a tall and magnificent horse to marry her and bring her home. Now, three years have passed, do you still remember? I, a young woman, have been waiting for you day and night.'"
Upon reading this, the Crown Prince furrowed his brow, "Gu would have been unwilling to let the person Gu loves wait for that long."
Hua Liuli looked at him without saying a word.
"Three years, thirty-six months. How many three years does a person have in their lifetime?" The Crown Prince closed the book and gently placed it back in its original position, "Life is short, time is just right. How can we waste even a moment?"
"Your Royal Highness, what do you think is the right thing to do?" Hua Liuli asked with a smile.
"Naturally, it is to bring her with Gu. In the harsh cold of the mountains, how could Gu bear to let her wait alone for that long? When they meet again, he couldn't even recognize her face?" The Crown Prince stood up and walked to the edge of the bed, gently holding Hua Liuli's hand, "If it snows, Gu would dress her in the warmest clothes and watch the most beautiful snow in the world together. If there was exquisite food, Gu would always share it with her and enjoy the meal together."
Hua Liuli slightly loosened her grip on the Crown Prince's hand, "But what if she doesn't want that?"
The Crown Prince stared at her for a long time, then slowly released his hand and forced a smile, "If she doesn't want that, Gu would give her warm furs, grant her glory, and let her live freely throughout her life."
Hua Liuli looked at the beautiful person in front of her who was clearly sad but still smiling and chuckled softly, "Isn't that foolish?"
"A person must do at least one foolish thing in their lifetime to be considered perfect."
Krish728
Author's Note:
The Crown Prince, a professional in selling misery.: Gu is beautiful, Gu is strong, and yet Gu is miserable. Please pity Gu.
As soon as Hua Liuli finished speaking, there was a soft knock on the door.
"Fushou Junzhu, His Majesty is here to visit you," Zhao Sancai said from outside the door, "May I know if you are available at the moment?"
Yuan Yi stood up and let down the bed curtain, while Yurong opened the door, and everyone bowed in unison.
"Your Majesty, please forgive this injured subject for being unable to salute to you."
"No need for excessive courtesy, no need for excessive courtesy," Emperor Changlong sat down behind the curtains in the room and asked the maidservants about the medicine Hua Liuli had taken and whether she had eaten after waking up. After asking, he kindly said to Hua Liuli, "The Empress Dowager treats you as her own granddaughter, so you are like a half-daughter to Zhen. You don't have to be restrained while living in the palace, just treat it as your own home."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"You rest well, Zhen still has some good scar-healing medicine in Zhen's place. Zhen will have someone bring it to you later," As the future father-in-law, Emperor Changlong was concerned about his future daughter-in-law's rest and did not want to disturb her any further. After giving thoughtful instructions, he left with a big smile on his face, leaving behind a pile of rewards.
Before, he was somewhat worried about the poor health of the Hua family's young girl, but now he had no reservations. He felt extremely pleased in both body and mind.
If he hadn't happened to hear the words of this little girl, he wouldn't have known that his most beloved generals loved and cared for him so much. This bond of affection hadn't diminished over the years they spent at the border, but had instead grown stronger. Even the younger generation in the family understood it so clearly.
But for all these years, they never said a word. If it were someone else, they would have made countless hints and suggestions in front of him.
"Sancai," Emperor Changlong sighed emotionally, "Having such loyal subjects is truly a source of comfort for Zhen."
Zhao Sancai quickly replied, "Both General Hua and General Wei have always been like this. Although they are not good with words, their loyalty to Your Majesty has never wavered."
"You are right," Emperor Changlong was still immersed in his emotions and didn't snap out of it. As an emperor who governed the nation with benevolence and was prosperous, whenever he was moved, he couldn't help but want to reward his officials with gifts. So he sent another pile of items from the imperial private treasury to the Hua family.
Anyway, it was considered a gift for his future in-laws. In a roundabout way, they were all family.
When one's own family gives gifts to one's own family, it doesn't count as a loss.
Emperor Changlong was in a good mood until he saw his eldest son, Ji Minghao, fidgeting and walking over. His eldest son's tall stature combined with his fidgeting made Emperor Changlong feel uncomfortable.
"Minghao, what kind of behavior is this?"
"Father Emperor," Ying Wang performed a grand salute before Emperor Changlong, "Erchen pays his respects to Father Emperor."
"Rise," Emperor Changlong noticed two red clouds rising on his son's face and couldn't help but sigh, "What brings you to Zhen?"
Ying Wang glanced at the palace maids and eunuchs behind Emperor Changlong, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He whispered, "Erchen has a request."
"Speak up," Both sons and daughters are debt collectors. Emperor Changlong took a deep breath, reminding himself to be kind and not lose his temper.
"Erchen thinks that Fushou Junzhu is quite good. Can Father Emperor help Erchen with the matchmaking..."
"Initially, Zhen did consider arranging that for you, but you and your mother refused, didn't you?" Flames of anger surged in Emperor Changlong's heart, quickly turning into a raging fury, "Do you think that the daughter of the two great generals is like one of those selected young ladies sent into the palace, that you can have her if you want and reject her if you don't?!"
"That was Erchen's previous foolishness," Ying Wang made up his mind, gritted his teeth, and knelt before Emperor Changlong with a thud. With a thick-skinned face, he pretended to cry and said, "Father Emperor, Erchen is already twenty-one this year. Father Emperor can't keep Erchen single like this, can you? Moreover, Erchen is the eldest, so if Erchen doesn't marry, what about Erchen's younger brothers?"
"Now you're considerate of your younger brothers," Emperor Changlong disdainfully tried removing his thigh from his eldest son's embrace, but to his surprise, his eldest son had quite a bit of strength, so he couldn't free himself for a moment.
"Zhen understands your thoughts. Don't worry, Zhen will choose a capable Wangfei for you, but Fushou Junzhu is not suitable," If it were other girls, Emperor Changlong might have suspected them of enchanting the princes and causing conflicts among the princes. However, Hua Liuli was different. Emperor Changlong believed that she was loyal, brave, gentle, and kind-hearted, definitely not a woman who would enchant others' hearts. Since the fault didn't lie with her, it was his own son's problem.
So after careful consideration, no matter how he looked at it, it was his own son's fault.
"Why?" Ying Wang asked in confusion, "Erchen believes that Fushou Junzhu is gentle, considerate, kind-hearted, and intelligent, and she is very suitable to marry into the imperial family."
"On this point, Zhen's view is the same as yours."
Ying Wang felt delighted in his heart. It seemed like there was still hope for this matter.
"So, Zhen has already discussed with General Hua and General Wei and arranged for her to marry your third brother as the Crown Princess," Taking advantage of his eldest son's dazed state, Emperor Changlong quickly pulled his leg out of his embrace, "Between people, there is the matter of fate. Initially, Zhen wanted you to marry Fushou Junzhu, but you were unwilling. Now that you've changed your mind, she is already betrothed to someone else."
"Minghao," Emperor Changlong bent down, patting his eldest son's shoulder, "In one's lifetime, there will always be many choices to face. Once a choice is made, it is made. Did you think there would be so many paths to turn back? Even if you are a prince, there will be things you can't achieve. Do you understand?"
Ying Wang was muddled and confused. He was unwilling to see the girl he somewhat favored marrying the most detested Crown Prince. He also regretted why he had refused to marry Hua Liuli back then. He looked up at Emperor Changlong but couldn't find any words to say.
"After you rejected the marriage alliance with the Hua family, did you actively try to form a good relationship with them? Or have you shown any special interest in Fushou Junzhu?" Emperor Changlong saw his eldest son's bewildered state and had no choice but to say, "When you realized your feelings, did you actively pursue Fushou Junzhu?"
Ying Wang was at a loss. He was a prince; marrying a young lady as his Wangfei would be an honor for her. Why would he need to actively pursue her?
"You have even blocked off the last path of regret. Now, even if you regret it, it is too late," Emperor Changlong shook his head involuntarily. Most women in the world like men who are gentle, considerate, and care about them. How many of these qualities did his eldest son possess?
"Try to accept it," Emperor Changlong comfortingly patted Ying Wang, "Don't bring up this matter again in the future. Fushou Junzhu will be your younger brother's wife. Don't ruin her reputation."
Ying Wang's lips trembled and he couldn't utter a word for a long time.
"Father Emperor, Eldest Brother, what are you doing here?" The Crown Prince approached and saw Emperor Changlong bending down to Ying Wang, who was half-kneeling on the ground, acting like a spoiled child. With a fake smile, he said, "Did Eldest Brother accidentally trip and fall?"
Prince Ying could throw a tantrum in front of Emperor Changlong, but he didn't want to lose face in front of the Crown Prince. He glared at the Crown Prince and said, "What's it to you?"
"Gu is just here to watch the excitement. If you want, you can continue," the Crown Prince opened his folding fan and shielded his face with it, "Please rest assured Eldest Brother, Gu won't watch."
Ying Wang: "..."
He was so angry, he wanted to kill him!
Emperor Changlong, afraid that his third son would know about his eldest son's intention to marry Fushou Junzhu, had to interrupt their conversation, "Yuansu, your injuries haven't healed yet. Why are you exposing yourself to the wind?"
"Father Emperor, Erchen only has some superficial wounds that are not serious," The Crown Prince bowed to Emperor Changlong, "Erchen is truly concerned about Liuli's injury, so Erchen wanted to visit the Shoukang Palace and look after her."
"Go ahead, go ahead," Emperor Changlong was truly afraid that the two brothers would cause trouble.
The Crown Prince glanced at his Eldest Brother, then turned around and left, exuding an air of arrogance.
Ying Wang felt a pain in his chest. He was full of pain, regret, and hatred, but he couldn't utter a word of complaint.
Yes, it was he who didn't want to form a marriage alliance with the Hua family. Now, it was too late for regrets.
"You go back and rest. Zhen will find you a good wife in due time," Emperor Changlong comforted his eldest son for a while before turning to walk towards the Chenyang Palace.
Halfway there, he found his second son, Ning Wang, and his fifth son, the Fifth Prince, walking together. He casually asked them about their recent studies.
Little did he know, when his fifth son mentioned painting, he wouldn't stop talking about it. Emperor Changlong regretted why he had spoken. But as a father, seeing his son's bright and confident eyes, he couldn't interrupt him and had to continue listening.
He thought his fifth son was going to talk about painting insights for half an hour, but suddenly, the topic took a turn, "Erchen believes the second daughter raised by Royal Princess Leyang is truly impolite. Imperial Grandmother should send two female etiquette officials to reprimand her and teach her what etiquette is."
"Hmm?" Emperor Changlong looked at the Fifth Prince with some surprise, "Zhen remembers you don't seem to have any relationship with the second daughter of the Xie family, do you?"
"Erchen naturally wouldn't have any relationship with such an impolite and vulgar person," the Fifth Prince elegantly bowed, "Compared to Fushou Junzhu..."
Upon hearing the words "Fushou Junzhu", Emperor Changlong was afraid that his fifth son would also say something like, "Erchen thinks Fushou Junzhu is excellent and Erchen intends to propose marriage" He quickly said, "Zhen also thinks Fushou Junzhu is excellent, so Zhen intends for the Crown Prince to marry her as the Crown Princess. What do you think?"
Ning Wang always went along with whatever Father Emperor said. When he heard Father Emperor's question, his brain hadn't reacted yet, but his mouth responded first, "Fushou Junzhu, as a descendant of two renowned generals, is naturally a perfect match for the Crown Prince. Erchen thinks Father Emperor's idea is excellent."
The Fifth Prince had a somewhat conflicted expression. Fushou Junzhu was an elegant and artistic person, while the Crown Prince was difficult to get along with. Would she be wronged by marrying him?
"Yanqiu, what do you think?" Emperor Changlong noticed that the Fifth Prince was not speaking and the smile on his face faded a bit.
"Erchen thinks it's excellent," the Fifth Prince's conscience didn't hold out for even five breaths before choosing to surrender.
After all, he was a member of the imperial family. For the sake of his own interests, occasionally abandoning his conscience was inevitable. In any case, in the future, he could paint a few more paintings and send them to the Eastern Palace as a form of apology.
Once the Fifth Prince, who believed that his paintings were worth a fortune, came to terms with this, he felt at ease even when speaking nonsense.
After Emperor Changlong left, Yuan Yi whispered to Hua Liuli, "Junzhu, your skill in steering the situation according to the wind is becoming more impressive."
"Oh, not at all," Hua Liuli modestly smiled, "Every word I said was sincere and genuine, without any falsehood."
Both Yuan Yi and Yurong didn't believe her words but smiled and served by her side. Yurong was worried that she might get bored, so she deliberately found a few books to read and recited them to Hua Liuli.
"Junzhu, the Crown Prince has arrived," A palace maid from the Shoukang Palace came in to report. Yuan Yi and Yurong exchanged a glance and tactfully chose to step aside.
"Liuli," The Crown Prince strode in and saw that Hua Liuli's complexion was still pale as paper. He felt both heartache and regret, "If only Gu had... If Gu had the martial arts skills of General Hua, then you wouldn't have been injured."
"Your Royal Highness, my father has been practicing martial arts since childhood and has fought on the battlefield. Why compare yourself to him?" Hua Liuli chuckled lightly, "Your Royal Highness, you have been studying literature since childhood, practicing martial arts, and learning to govern the court under His Majesty. That's already impressive."
"Moreover, if it weren't for Your Royal Highness risking your life to save me, I'm afraid I wouldn't have made it back," Hua Liuli spoke the truth. In that situation, if it wasn't for the Crown Prince worrying about her and rushing out to divert the assassins' attention, she might have died under the chaotic arrows.
"You risked your life to save Gu, so naturally, Gu is willing to save you with my life," The Crown Prince picked up a book that Yurong had set aside, "What is this?"
"Nunbi was worried that Junzhu would get bored, so Nunbi found a book to read to Junzhu."
The Crown Prince flipped through it and smiled at Hua Liuli, "In that case, let Gu read a passage to you."
"Fang Sheng looked around in confusion, and from a distance, he saw a girl approaching with a basket of flowers."
"Fang Sheng asked, 'Miss, which family do you belong to, that you possess flawless beauty like the clouds on the mountaintop?'"
"The girl replied, 'Young Master, have you forgotten? Three years ago, you saved a girl who was picking flowers. You told that girl that once you passed the imperial examination as the top scholar, you would ride a tall and magnificent horse to marry her and bring her home. Now, three years have passed, do you still remember? I, a young woman, have been waiting for you day and night.'"
Upon reading this, the Crown Prince furrowed his brow, "Gu would have been unwilling to let the person Gu loves wait for that long."
Hua Liuli looked at him without saying a word.
"Three years, thirty-six months. How many three years does a person have in their lifetime?" The Crown Prince closed the book and gently placed it back in its original position, "Life is short, time is just right. How can we waste even a moment?"
"Your Royal Highness, what do you think is the right thing to do?" Hua Liuli asked with a smile.
"Naturally, it is to bring her with Gu. In the harsh cold of the mountains, how could Gu bear to let her wait alone for that long? When they meet again, he couldn't even recognize her face?" The Crown Prince stood up and walked to the edge of the bed, gently holding Hua Liuli's hand, "If it snows, Gu would dress her in the warmest clothes and watch the most beautiful snow in the world together. If there was exquisite food, Gu would always share it with her and enjoy the meal together."
Hua Liuli slightly loosened her grip on the Crown Prince's hand, "But what if she doesn't want that?"
The Crown Prince stared at her for a long time, then slowly released his hand and forced a smile, "If she doesn't want that, Gu would give her warm furs, grant her glory, and let her live freely throughout her life."
Hua Liuli looked at the beautiful person in front of her who was clearly sad but still smiling and chuckled softly, "Isn't that foolish?"
"A person must do at least one foolish thing in their lifetime to be considered perfect."
Krish728
Author's Note:
The Crown Prince, a professional in selling misery.: Gu is beautiful, Gu is strong, and yet Gu is miserable. Please pity Gu.
