Here is the translation of the Chinese web novel chapter:
High Yang knew she was going to marry Fang Jun, but she had secretly gone to take a look at her fiancé. Although she was a spoiled princess who had been pampered since childhood, she had never thought of choosing her own husband. Her father, the Emperor, had chosen a husband for her, and she would marry him regardless. Besides, she didn’t have any likes or dislikes.
As long as she could live comfortably in the princess’s mansion, she wouldn’t have to worry about anything. She wouldn’t be like her older sister, who was silly enough to follow the crowd and live with her in-laws. High Yang didn’t want to be restricted by societal norms.
If Fang Jun wasn’t to her liking, she would live her life as she pleased. She was the Emperor’s daughter, a princess of the Great Tang, and she didn’t need to submit to anyone.
Unfortunately, she and Fang Jun didn’t get along. After several encounters, High Yang realized that Fang Jun didn’t want to marry her, and she didn’t want to marry him either.
Fang Jun liked women who were gentle and weak, but High Yang was never going to be that kind of person. She loved riding horses, playing polo, and laughing freely. She liked doing what she wanted, without restrictions.
She would never be able to pretend to be weak for a man. She was born without the talent for gentleness.
After having a falling out with Fang Jun on the street, High Yang went to visit her Uncle Yu in the countryside. Uncle Yu was the only one who understood her, and he quickly took her back to Chang’an to help her cancel the engagement.
Uncle Yu suggested she become a Daoist nun. High Yang was delighted with the idea and immediately took to it. She wore a Daoist robe, tied up her hair, and looked at herself in the mirror, feeling very pleased.
That night, she, Uncle Yu, and the others went to the observatory tower, gazing at the night view of Chang’an, feeling carefree and unrestricted.
High Yang felt extremely happy. She thought that if she could live like this forever, she would be content being a Daoist nun for the rest of her life.
Until she met Lu Zhao Lin in the Cuiwei Palace.
That day, they were playing polo, and High Yang accidentally hit the ball out of bounds, which landed near Lu Zhao Lin’s feet.
High Yang thought that this was fate, as if the heavens were playing matchmaker. Why else would the ball land exactly where Lu Zhao Lin was standing?
The first time High Yang saw Lu Zhao Lin bend down to pick up the ball, she felt that there was no one more handsome in the world.
High Yang asked for the poem Lu Zhao Lin had written at the banquet, and she read it over and over, marveling at his talent. She thought that the heavens had given him a special gift, making him both handsome and talented.
High Yang used to dislike reading, but after meeting Lu Zhao Lin, she made time to read every day.
Sometimes she would read a book from cover to cover, and sometimes she would get distracted, but she still read much more than before. When listening to others discuss literature, she could now understand most of it, unlike before.
The mischievous thoughts of youth were indeed sweet and annoying.
Fortunately, they got married smoothly.
On the day they got married, High Yang felt like the happiest person in the world.
After getting married, they lived happily, and soon they had their first child.
Lu Zhao Lin was overjoyed, taking care of High Yang and their child with utmost dedication. High Yang was in so much pain during childbirth that she wanted to bite Lu Zhao Lin, but seeing him guard her bedside, she felt better.
She felt happy.
As they lived happily, the Tang Dynasty prospered, and Chang’an became more vibrant.
After the Crown Prince ascended to the throne, High Yang and Lu Zhao Lin settled in Chang’an, where they raised their children alongside their cousins.
The new emperor was their older brother, and they lived comfortably, often going to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to seek blessings. They would travel with their children, and even the strictest of officials would relax when they were around.
Not only did they enjoy traveling, but many strict, rule-abiding women from noble families also began to venture out, no longer hiding behind veils and screens.
At first, there were many idle men who would gather to critique women’s appearances, but soon everyone got used to it, and the idle men were told to focus on their work. Instead of being surprised, people just glanced at the women who still wore veils.
High Yang hadn’t inquired about Fang Jun’s life for many years.
Until one day, when she and Lu Zhao Lin were out having tea with their children, someone mentioned Fang Jun’s situation.
They said that Fang Jun had married a weak and frail woman who took medicine every day. Fang Jun liked her a lot and took good care of her. However, Lady Lu didn’t like this daughter-in-law, and when she didn’t conceive, Lady Lu would makes biting remarks, which made the daughter-in-law vomit blood. Fang Jun had a big argument with Lady Lu, which made old man Fang very upset…
High Yang listened, feeling uninterested. She had never experienced such family conflicts. Occasionally, she would bring her children to visit her in-laws, who treated her like their own daughter.
High Yang listened to the gossip, resting her chin on her hand, looking at Lu Zhao Lin.
No matter how broad-minded a man was, he wouldn’t like to hear about his wife’s former fiancé. Lu Zhao Lin was a serious person, and even if he heard that Fang’s family was in a mess, he wouldn’t be happy about it.
High Yang snuck a kiss on Lu Zhao Lin’s face when no one was looking.
Lu Zhao Lin’s ears turned red, and he sternly said, “You can’t do that in public.”
High Yang smiled and said, “I want to.”
With the children, they went to the Ci’en Temple to pray, although High Yang didn’t have any specific wishes. She just wanted to spend more time with Lu Zhao Lin.
The master of the temple, Xuan Zang, had finished translating the scriptures from the Western Regions, and was now lecturing at the temple. High Yang had met him before, but she didn’t find it novel, so she just took the children to pray.
High Yang asked the old monk if she could pray without any specific wishes, and he smiled, saying it was okay.
High Yang shook the fortune stick, getting an auspicious sign. The children also shook the stick, and even their daughter asked to pray for fish for dinner that night.
The whole family prayed and got auspicious signs. High Yang felt happy, and with Lu Zhao Lin, they left the temple, where they met a young monk named Bian Ji.
Bian Ji was handsome, and High Yang couldn’t help but look at him twice. Lu Zhao Lin quickly pulled her hand back.
High Yang looked at Lu Zhao Lin’s serious face and smiled secretly. Her husband was sometimes a bit possessive, never liking her to look at other men.
Bian Ji introduced himself and said he had seen them before. High Yang nodded, not paying much attention, and with Lu Zhao Lin, she went to listen to Xuan Zang’s lecture.
In the end, they didn’t understand it, and quietly left the temple.
As they walked out, Bian Ji followed behind, chatting with the old monk.
The old monk talked about the family they had just seen, saying they were blessed, and their daughter was very cute. The old monk even said that the wife didn’t have any wishes, and the whole family was very happy.
Bian Ji listened, feeling envious. He joked, saying, “Maybe I should get married and find a wife like that.”
The old monk shook his head, saying, “I’m too old for that. I’d rather live a peaceful life in the temple.”
Translator’s note: The following text is an author’s note and does not need to be translated.
author has something to say:
Update!
Little Wangye: I didn’t appear in this chapter! But I saw a daughter! (Although not mine)
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