Li Yuanying had been pestering Emperor Li for days, trying to get his banishment lifted early. But he found the Emperor was as hard as iron this time, and wouldn’t budge. He eventually gave up, settling into a peaceful routine of reading with Wei Jiu and occasionally sneaking into the Eastern Palace to steal teachers from Li Xiang.
Meanwhile, in Tengzhou, they received news from the capital: Li Yuanying had been beaten, but was recovering quickly and was already bouncing around like a playful puppy. Reassured, everyone went back to their own lives, eagerly waiting for Li Yuanying’s return after the New Year to give him a piece of their minds.
The Emperor’s decision to keep Li Yuanying in Chang’an for the New Year was met with much discussion. Without him, things just felt different. While Li Yuanying spent his days eating, drinking, and playing, it was undeniable that his presence had drawn everyone together. Despite their personal friendships, they wouldn’t be as close without him. The Emperor, on the other hand, was simply happy to have dealt Li Yuanying a blow and to have kept him in Chang’an.
Compared to the gloom of Di Renjie and others, Emperor Li was in a much better mood, even enjoying his meals more than usual. He hadn’t forgotten about his daughter Gao Yang, who had stayed in Tengzhou, and sent someone to bring her back for the New Year. They would return to Tengzhou together after the holidays.
Gao Yang wasn’t thrilled about returning. Life in Tengzhou was free and carefree, and she had no desire to go back to Chang’an. But when Emperor Li’s envoy arrived, Lu Zhaolin persuaded her to return, reminding her that a child couldn’t disobey their parents’ wishes, especially an emperor’s.
In some ways, Gao Yang was just like Li Yuanying in her stubbornness. She would usually ignore such platitudes, but she listened to Lu Zhaolin. Biting her lip, her bright eyes shone as she gazed at him, asking, “What if I’m gone for a few months? Will you miss me?” Before Lu Zhaolin could react, she continued, “Lu Zhaolin, I’ll miss you!”
With that, she lifted her skirt and ran off.
The young girl’s figure was vibrant and beautiful, like a blooming flower.
Lu Zhaolin remained standing, feeling his heart pounding wildly. It was as if, knowing that the flower he loved was full of thorns, he still wanted to plant it in his heart, nourish it with the blood of his heart, and watch it bloom, even if he was torn to shreds by the sharp spikes, he wouldn’t regret it.
On the day Gao Yang returned to the capital, she sat in the carriage, lifting the curtain to look at her friends who came to see her off. Her eyes immediately landed on the tall and handsome Lu Zhaolin. She smiled brightly at him, and even after his figure faded from sight, she continued to smile as she sat back in the carriage.
You don’t necessarily continue to love someone from the moment you first meet them. But with some people, the more you get to know them, the harder it becomes to let go. He was a dignified gentleman, too afraid to take the first step, so she did it for him. When she returned from Chang’an, perhaps he would also tell her his feelings, and then, no matter what obstacles lay ahead, they could face them together.
Gao Yang was filled with anticipation, but Lu Zhaolin, standing there watching the carriage disappear, remained lost in thought. Only when Di Renjie clapped him on the shoulder, his expression grave, did Lu Zhaolin snap out of his reverie.
Under his friend’s sharp gaze, Lu Zhaolin knew he couldn’t hide his growing feelings for Gao Yang from him. He confessed, “I want to go back to Fanyang this year.” In matters of marriage, one had to follow the wishes of their parents and the arrangements of a matchmaker. Without their support, he dared not cross the line, even with Gao Yang, he dared not speak his heart.
Di Renjie said with concern, “It won’t be easy.”
Lu Zhaolin replied, “Doesn’t Your Highness always say that nothing in this world is easy? If you want to achieve what you desire, if you want the outcome you crave, you must be prepared for countless hardships. Unless you’re content with living a mediocre and insignificant life. So, no matter how difficult it is, you must try, or you will regret it.”
Di Renjie remarked, “Your Highness is a handful, yet you’re so eloquent when it comes to giving advice.” Li Yuanying, with his smooth tongue, had tricked a bunch of people into working for him, so he could spend his days in carefree pleasure.
Lu Zhaolin had made up his mind, and Di Renjie didn’t stop him. They discussed with Wu Mei how to delegate Lu Zhaolin’s responsibilities and send him home. After seeing Lu Zhaolin off, Di Renjie asked Wu Mei, “Do you think they have a chance?”
Could two young hearts truly overcome the many obstacles and be together?
Many prestigious families were wary of getting entangled with the imperial family. When Emperor Li had considered marrying his daughter to a son from one of these families, the family immediately refused, instead choosing to marry their daughter to a member of the Fanyang Lu Family. Emperor Li, angered by these families’ actions, lowered their rank in the “Shizu Zhi” (Clan History) to third-class.
In the face of power and profit, the love between two youngsters was inconsequential.
Wu Mei said, “Isn’t there still His Highness?” Li Yuanying, though often irresponsible, was reliable when it mattered. His presence was like a guiding light, ensuring that no hardship would stand in their way.
Di Renjie nodded.
Li Yuanying was somewhat slow in this regard. They had all noticed the subtle affections between Lu Zhaolin and Gao Yang, but Li Yuanying hadn’t picked up on it at all.
If he knew, he would probably fly into a rage, accusing Lu Zhaolin of trying to steal his niece! But after venting his anger, Li Yuanying would still do his best to help them.
Di Renjie asked, “Should we write to His Highness about this?”
Wu Mei replied, “Gao Yang isn’t afraid to speak her mind. She’ll tell His Highness herself.”
…
Li Yuanying had been enduring his banishment in Chang’an, when Gao Yang finally arrived.
Gao Yang first went to see Emperor Li. They hadn’t seen each other for a year, and Emperor Li surveyed the increasingly beautiful Gao Yang, noticing she had grown taller and her personality had matured.
After offering words of encouragement, he allowed her to go find Li Yuanying. Li Yuanying was practicing calligraphy with Wei Jiu when he heard that Gao Yang had returned. He was taken aback, as he had been ignoring everything outside his own world, diligently fulfilling his role as a good brother. He didn’t even know that the Emperor had sent someone to fetch Gao Yang.
He invited Gao Yang to sit and chat, asking, “Was the journey smooth? How are Mother and the others?”
Gao Yang took a large sip of tea before recounting her travels and the current situation in Tengzhou. She had returned safely without any mishaps, and everything in Tengzhou was running smoothly. That was mostly due to Li Yuanying’s habit of leaving everything to others and acting as a hands-off manager. Without his leadership, Tengzhou would have been in chaos.
Hearing that Tengzhou was functioning perfectly without him, Li Yuanying felt no disappointment. He was even quite pleased and said, “It should be like that.” If the court was as efficient, he could convince his brother to take them all on an adventure anytime.
Gao Yang, relieved to see that Li Yuanying was truly safe and sound, felt her worries vanish. She glanced at Li Yuanying and Wei Jiu, who were sitting together, and envied their ability to be openly affectionate. If only she and Lu Zhaolin could be like that someday. She would write with him, and he would ride horses with her. They would play, study, eat, drink, strive for success, and enjoy every moment together.
With hesitation, she finally mustered up the courage to speak, her fingers nervously clutching her dress. “Uncle, I have something to tell you.”
Li Yuanying, rarely seeing such seriousness in Gao Yang, was curious and said, “Tell me what’s on your mind. What are you mumbling about?”
Gao Yang blurted out, “I like Lu Zhaolin.” Having finally spoken the words, she stopped mumbling and said confidently, “I want to marry him! Uncle, you have to help me!”
Li Yuanying was stunned by her words.
He thought back to Gao Yang and Lu Zhaolin’s close relationship, but he hadn’t given it much thought. What was so strange about his friends getting along with his niece? He just enjoyed seeing everyone happy and getting along.
But Gao Yang was telling him that she wanted to marry Lu Zhaolin!
Li Yuanying couldn’t process this information: Was his niece trying to ruin Lu Zhaolin’s life, or was Lu Zhaolin the one who was trying to steal his niece?
Thinking back to how he’d helped Gao Yang get Lu Zhaolin’s manuscript, indirectly facilitating their clandestine communication, Li Yuanying became furious. These two scoundrels had used him to hook up!
He roared, “Did you suddenly want to read and study ‘Elegant Learning’ because you were scheming this all along?!”
Gao Yang was embarrassed and whispered, “I wasn’t sure if I truly liked him back then.” It was only after spending time together in Tengzhou, getting to know each other more deeply, that she realized she truly liked Lu Zhaolin, and her feelings grew stronger with each passing day. If she didn’t fight for him, she would regret it for the rest of her life.
Li Yuanying had never seen this side of Gao Yang, a side full of girlish charm. His heart felt heavy, and he understood why Wei Ying and Wei Zheng were always giving him a hard time. Now, even when he thought of Lu Zhaolin, he found him repulsive, his nose and eyes seemed all wrong! How dare this scoundrel steal his niece’s heart right under his nose, especially after Li Yuanying considered him a good friend!
Li Yuanying didn’t say whether he would help or not. Instead, he sent Gao Yang to play with Sizhi and the others, while he sat there in a huff.
Wei Jiu saw how angry Li Yuanying was, his cheeks puffed out, his youthful face still showing traces of childishness. She tried to soothe him, “Even if they have feelings for each other, it’s just a budding affection, they haven’t done anything inappropriate.”
Li Yuanying roared, “They dare?”
If Lu Zhaolin had done anything, he would have broken his legs, even before Emperor Li got mad!
Wei Jiu thought Li Yuanying was acting like a real elder when he was angry. She knew he was simply protective of his niece, which was why he was so upset. Taking his hand, she said, “If even you won’t support them, Gao Yang will be even more lost. Didn’t you once say you wanted to help her find someone she liked, someone who would make her happy for the rest of her life?”
Li Yuanying, holding Wei Jiu’s hand, calmed down a bit. Of course, Gao Yang should marry someone she loved. He was just upset that they had snuck around behind his back. He grumbled, “Well, at least she came to me. But whether or not this works out depends on Lu Zhaolin. If this is just a one-sided thing for Gao Yang, I won’t support her.”
Wei Jiu said, “You’re friends with him, which means you approve of his character and abilities. He shouldn’t let Gao Yang down.” Li Yuanying knew a lot of people, but his true friends were the ones who had stayed in Tengzhou. Sometimes, even Wei Jiu was amazed by his ability to judge character. Even someone who seemed average at first glance could shine when placed in the right position.
Li Yuanying still grumbled, “It better be that way.”
Several days passed peacefully, and Li Yuanying received a letter from Tengzhou. The letter mentioned two things: Li Dejian and Du He had almost fully recovered, and Lu Zhaolin had gone back to Fanyang to see his parents. The letter was written by Di Renjie, who didn’t elaborate on why Lu Zhaolin went back, only mentioning that he had gone.
Li Yuanying, now quite astute, saw through Di Renjie’s words and whispered to Wei Jiu, “Do you think he went back to discuss Gao Yang with his parents?”
Wei Jiu said, “Maybe.”
Li Yuanying said, “I heard Old Madam Fang is trying to arrange a marriage for Fang Jun with her niece. But she hasn’t found anyone willing to marry him.” The drama between Gao Yang and Fang Jun had ended a long time ago, but those in the know would still whisper about it to those they were close to. The Lu family believed their son was perfect in every way, so they insisted on choosing a niece from their own family. However, not all the nieces were willing to marry their son, so they went back and forth, unable to reach a decision.
So, it seemed that after Gao Yang and Fang Jun broke off their engagement, they were both vying for the Lu family’s affection. What a tangled mess!
Thinking about how Lu Shi would react when she found out, Li Yuanying felt a sense of satisfaction. He no longer cared about Gao Yang and Lu Zhaolin’s deception, and with a smile, he said, “If both sides succeed, the Lu family would be double-blessed!”
Wei Jiu saw that Li Yuanying was excited and knew he was going to help Gao Yang. She said, “You should still be cautious. Gao Yang is His Majesty’s daughter, after all.”
Li Yuanying said, “I know.” Even he, knowing about Gao Yang’s feelings for Lu Zhaolin, was angry, so imagine how Emperor Li would react. He asked Wei Jiu to remind Gao Yang to be patient and not rush to reveal her feelings. He would handle the Emperor’s side of things.
**The author’s note:**
Little Prince: This is going to be fun! (rubbing his hands together)
Update!
Today!
Off to Xi’an!
I’m going to lie around and do nothing!
**Note: The text within square brackets is not part of the story but an author’s note or a note for readers, which is why it’s not included in the translation.**
**Glossary explanations:**
* **Henan Road:** One of the administrative divisions during the Tang dynasty.
* **Emperor Li:** Emperor Taizong of Tang dynasty, also known as Li Shimin.
* **The Pearl of the East:** A poetic reference to a beautiful and prosperous city, often used to describe ancient Chinese cities like Chang’an or Guangzhou.
* **Prince Tang:** A title given to a prince of the Tang dynasty, referring to Li Yuanying in this context.
* **Government Office or Official Residence:** The term “府” can mean either a government office or an official residence. In this context, “Wei Wang Fu” refers to the official residence of the Prince of Wei.
* **Yu Shu:** A term of address for an uncle, specifically used for the younger brother of one’s father.
* **Shangyuan Festival:** The first full moon of the lunar calendar, celebrated as the Lantern Festival in China.
* **Tianzhu:** A historical name for India, used in ancient Chinese texts.
* **Chang’an:** The capital of the Tang dynasty, located in present-day Xi’an, China.
* **Imperial Examination Hall:** A designated place where candidates for the civil service exams were tested.
* **Min Gui:** A historical document about civil service regulations, compiled during the Tang dynasty.
* **Imperial Academy:** An institution dedicated to educating officials and scholars in ancient China.
* **Honglu Temple:** A government department responsible for receiving foreign envoys and managing diplomatic affairs.
* **The Wang Clan of Taiyuan:** A powerful and influential family in the Tang dynasty, known for its political and military influence.
* **Duke of Xun Guo:** A hereditary title awarded to individuals who had made significant contributions to the Tang dynasty.
* **Princess Pingyang:** A princess of the Tang dynasty, known for her bravery and military prowess.
* **International Expo:** A modern event showcasing a variety of products, technologies, and cultures from around the world. It is not a historical term.
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