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Xiao Lan had been keeping vigil over the late Emperor Lin, and her body was already weak, to begin with. But upon hearing about the marriage proposal, she immediately passed out after a fit of sorrow. When Xiao Lan woke up, Lin Feilu ordered everyone else to leave as she sat on the edge of the bed. Then, she held her mother's hand and told her what she was thinking about word by word.
Xiao Lan's pale face slowly regained its color. She recalled her daughter's personality over the years and finally realized, "It turns out that the person you liked was him all along…" She paused and choked up again, "But the journey will be long…"
Lin Feilu hugged her and said, smiling, "I will come back to see Mother Consort often since he treats me well. He has been very good to me before and will treat me better in the future."
Xiao Lan looked at her distressedly, "To have an Emperor's love is the most ruthless thing of all. Even if he treats you well, there are also many women in the palace. The last thing I want for you is to experience what I have gone through."
Lin Feilu didn't know where the surge of her self-confidence came from, but she felt that Little Pretty Boy would definitely not accept any other beauties of the harem to anger her. Even so, it would be better not to have high expectations this brazenly, so she just said, "Don't worry, I'm pretty awesome, you know? I can take care of myself."
Although Xiao Lan was happy that her daughter could marry the man she loved, she also felt distressed that she would have to travel such a far distance. However, with the situation as it is, she knew that there was no other way.
Lin Jingyuan and Lin Nianzhi also had a fight with Lin Qing about the matter, but they were both persuaded by Lin Feilu in the end. Lin Ting was the only one who didn't seek out Lin Qing as he went to ask her opinions on the matter directly.
Everyone felt that Lin Feilu's statement of liking Song Jinglan was a molded lie, created merely to offer some form of comfort for them, but only Lin Ting believed what she said was true.
The Little Fifth Princess had been brilliant ever since she was a child. If she didn't want to do something, she would have many ways to solve the matter.
If she said that she liked him, then it would mean that it was nothing but the truth. She would never put herself in harm's way voluntarily.
Among all the people, Lin Feilu was only worried about Xiao Lan. However, with this 'enthronement gift' given to him, no matter what happens, Lin Qing will not mistreat her mother in the future.
There didn't seem to be anything to worry about in the Great Lin Empire. Everyone around her was living a fulfilling life of their own, so she could find her happiness with peace of mind.
It's just that Lin Qing rejected her proposal to take Lin Zhanyuan together to the Song Empire with her.
"The Sixth Brother is the Great Lin Empire's Imperial Prince no matter what. Once he goes there, regardless of the reasoning, he will be treated as a captive Prince. The current relationship between our empire and the Song Empire is a marriage alliance. However, once the Prince is involved, it will evolve into the Great Lin Empire asking for peace— just like the Song Empire's situation back then. We must not leave behind such a history of humiliation."
Lin Feilu didn't consider this aspect at first, but in the end, Lin Ting offered to take Lin Zhanyuan to his fief and live with him in the future.
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Lin Zhanyuan noted that Brother Rabbit had grown up a lot compared to when he was a child, but he still smiled very gently. It was also a rather warm feeling to hold Brother Rabbit's hand. Lin Ting then asked with a smile, "I have raised many small animals, such as kittens, rabbits, foxes, and squirrels. Oh, there is a big wild boar as well. Does the Sixth Brother want to stay with me in the future?"
Lin Zhanyuan opened his eyes wide, "Big wild boar!"
Lin Ting laughed, "Yes, a big wild boar."
He clapped his hands and smiled happily, "Okay! I want to raise big wild boars with Brother Rabbit!"
The Qin Mountain was located near the southern part of the empire and was also close to River Huai. Hence, it would be convenient for Lin Feilu to visit him in the future.
Since this was the best arrangement for both countries, Lin Feilu nodded in agreement.
Everything was properly arranged, and one month after Emperor Lin was buried in the imperial mausoleum, the delegation from the Song Empire arrived at the capital of the Great Lin Empire.
This time, thousands of troops from the Song Empire came to pick up the bride. Not only did they hand over the Emperor's edict to wed Princess Yong An, they even presented a lot of dowry, which seemed like a very sincere act. When the Ministry of Rites presented the list of gifts to the Emperor, Lin Qing was shocked.
The dowry was practically a mountain of premium-graded items. In ancient tradition, the contents of a woman's dowry differed depending on the bride's status. This meant that the dowries between civilian girls, noble girls, Empresses, and Consorts were all different. According to the list, the betrothal gifts sent by the Song Empire were all in accordance with the status of an Empress.
The marriage edict only declared that he wanted to marry the Princess, but did not state that she was to be appointed as the Empress. Hence, Lin Qing was very puzzled by the Song Emperor's intentions.
Everything was arranged properly as the Royal Astronomy Supervisors selected an auspicious day. Lin Feilu put on her grandest Princess robes and bid farewell to everyone one by one. Then, she stepped onto the gorgeously framed carriage amidst the officials that shouted, 'may the Princess live for thousands of years'.
Lin Jingyuan, as the royal family's representative, led the sixteen guards of the capital to see Princess Yong An off.
In the eyes of the common people, Princess Yong An exchanged herself for their peace. How could they not be moved?
Boohoo, they heard that the Emperor of the Song Empire killed others like a hemp and was terribly abnormal. It truly seemed pitiful for the Princess to go without knowing what kind of torture she would endure. Was this the duty of being a Princess? How great of a sacrifice she's willing to make…
Meanwhile, princess Yong An, who everyone greatly misunderstood, was taking off her heavy costume in the carriage. Afterwards, she sat cross-legged comfortably on a soft pillow, waiting for Songyu to peel some oranges for her to eat.
Songyu was a little sad at first, but upon seeing the Princess's behavior, she couldn't feel down anymore. While peeling the orange, she asked, "Princess, are you really not sad?"
Lin Feilu said, "What's there to be so sad about? It feels just like I'm immigrating. Plus, I still got the green card from both countries, so I'll return whenever I want to."
Songyu, "…but the journey is long."
Lin Feilu, "Indeed, but we don't need to use our legs to walk. Isn't that what horses are used for?"
Songyu, "…"
Lin Feilu rejoiced, "I'm going to experience a new life and open up new roads. I heard that mountains and rivers surround the Song Empire, so there should be a lot of seafood."
Songyu realized that she no longer felt sad about the move.
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Songyu realized that she no longer felt sad about the move.
Upon thinking about it, since peace could be maintained without fighting and the Princess could still marry the man she loved, there was nothing to be sad about. With that, Songyu also brightened up and happily imagined their new life in the future with the Princess.
Lin Jingyuan sent her all the way to the border.
After crossing that border, they would step foot into the territory of the Song Empire.
Throughout the past two years, Lin Jingyuan has calmed down a lot and was not as unreliable as before. Seeing Lin Feilu happily coming down to say goodbye to him, he didn't care about his expressions anymore and stated, "If he bullies you, I will help you teach him a lesson!"
Lin Feilu nodded with a smile.
She didn't want to make him cry, so she waved her hand and urged him to leave, "Brother Jingyuan, go back soon. Also, be gentle with my sister-in-law from now on!"
Lin Jingyuan said, "Am I not gentle enough for her? I almost forgot what it is like to be fierce."
The two laughed for a while before giving each other a final bow and saying their goodbyes.
The Great Lin Empire escorting team made their way back, but the convoy from the Song Empire was not in a hurry. They chose to camp for a while in the woods of the Song-Lin border for some rest.
Lin Feilu's waist was sore, and her back was aching after sitting in the carriage for such a long time, so she went for a walk. She sauntered back to the carriage when the convoy started packing up again.
As soon as the carriage curtain was lifted, a figure flickered inside as someone grabbed her wrist and dragged her in. Before she could make a sound, she saw who it was, and the cry about to exit her mouth was swallowed again.
The two looked at each other for a long time before Lin Feilu sighed, "Xi Xingjiang, what are you trying to do?"
The man inside was dressed in black and had a mop of black hair. He was grime-stained and sported a haggard face. He seemed to have traveled day and night to finally catch up with her, evident from his bloodshot eyes.
He watched her without speaking as he merely pursed his lips stubbornly and held her wrist.
After a while, Lin Feilu heard him ask in a hoarse voice, "Did you do this voluntarily?"
She nodded, "Mm, I did it out of my own will. I like him, and I want to marry him."
His eyes reddened, and the same hoarse tone was squeezed out between his teeth, "I don't believe it."
Lin Feilu asked, "So what if you don't believe me?"
Yes, what could he do?
On the one hand, this concerned the patriotic righteousness they both had towards the country, but on the other hand, this girl was someone he truly loved and cherished. The only thing he could do was to catch up with her privately to see her one last time.
The equipment and the camp were being kept whilst Songyu's voice that talked and laughed with the other maidservants could be heard.
Lin Feilu looked down at the hands that held hers. She looked up at him again and sighed helplessly.
She said, "Xi Xingjiang, it's time you let go."
Xi Xingjiang looked at her, motionless.
After a long time, he slowly let go of his hand.
He knew that letting go of her now was letting go of her forever.
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Songyu lifted the carriage curtain and walked in, holding a fruit plate in her arms as she said with a smile, "Princess, the fruits brought by the escorts are so sweet. We have preserved them in ice all the way, which is fresh. Please try some quickly."
Lin Feilu glanced at the red mark on her wrist gradually disappearing, and covered it with a flick of her sleeve.
After a while, the carriage swayed, and the convoy pulled out of camp, continuing to set off. Lin Feilu lay by the window and asked the leader of the guards, "Commander Chen, how long will it take to get to Lincheng from here?"
Chen Yao was the Deputy Commander of the imperial guards of the Song Empire. His Majesty had arranged for him to pick up the bride. In the eyes of others, it was overkill, but Chen Yao knew how important this task was to His Majesty. Listening to the Princess's enquiry, he immediately replied respectfully, "If we travel quickly, we can get there in 10 days. However, the Princess would be exhausted from the vehicle rides. So if the team travels slowly by setting up camp at sunset and journeying at sunrise, it will take about 20 days."
Lin Feilu, "…"
Ah, how I miss airplanes and high-speed trains.
She sat back unhappily.
Chen Yao heard the little Princess mumbling inside, "After staying seated for so long, I suddenly don't want to get married anymore."
Chen Yao, "…"
He swallowed his saliva, turned his head and glanced at the guards that trailed behind the Princess's carriage.
Emperor Song had personally handpicked the imperial guards manning the wedding procession convoy. They possessed very high martial skills and upheld strict discipline. A total of 300 people in uniform were all dressed in imperial armour as they followed behind.
Just as Chen Yao glanced back, he locked eyes with a cold gaze. Startled, he quickly turned around, obediently maintaining his strides with the carriage on horseback.
After a while, there was the sound of horseshoes trailing after him unhurriedly. Chen Yao looked back and was about to salute immediately.
The man in black sitting on the horse waved slightly and said softly, "Go back."
Chen Yao nodded, "Yes."
He turned his horse's head and walked towards the 300 imperial guards. The guard to stay by the Princess's carriage was then replaced.
After Lin Feilu finished eating the fruits, she lay on the soft bed and read the travel notes she had specially brought for the trip. After realising the fact that she was going to be on the road for 20 days, she wailed, turned over and placed the book on his face, "I paid too much of a price for Little Song!"
She had switched to no less than ten different postures in just a short while. Resting her head on her arms and lying on the bed, she started complaining listlessly, "Song Jinglan doesn't have a heart."
Songyu hurriedly said, "Princess, you can't call His Majesty by his name!"
Lin Feilu rolled around in the wide carriage, "Song Jinglan has changed; Song Jinglan was not like this before. Does Song Jinglan not love me anymore? Does Song Jinglan have a mutt in the harem or something-"
Songyu's face turned pale with fright as someone outside the carriage window suddenly laughed merrily.
Lin Feilu was also stunned for a moment before she sat up in a jerk, staring fixedly out of the window. Songyu also heard it and tentatively asked, "Is it Commander Chen?"
Lin Feilu didn't speak, but her heart was beating rather fast. She climbed to the window with her hands and feet before lifting the curtain abruptly.
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There was a tall black horse, but the person on the horse was wearing black clothes as well, adorned with moiré black boots that rested on the stirrups. There were dark red decorative linings on the hem of the clothes as they dangled over his attire.
She raised her head, and her eyes moved up little by little. As her gaze swept over the thin waist and straight back that sat on the horse, her eyes finally fell on the person's smiling face.
He tilted his head slightly, looking down at the tiny head stuck out of the window before curling his lips slightly.
Lin Feilu gasped and sat back.
The curtains closed on their own, blocking the view from the window. Songyu asked, "Princess, what's wrong?"
Lin Feilu said in horror, "I think I just saw a ghost."
After a while, the imperial carriage came to a stop. Lin Feilu sat up straight involuntarily, and the palace servant who drove the carriage outside called out, "Miss Songyu."
Songyu thought they requested her aid, so she hurriedly went out.
After a while, the man in black garb lifted the curtain of the carriage door as Lin Feilu looked at the person who bent over and walked in, not knowing what sort of expression to make for a moment.
He sat down next to her in a leisurely manner, still smiling happily as he raised his brows slightly. He asked her somewhat doubtfully, "How have I changed?" After a pause, he added, "What was I like before?"
Lin Feilu, "…"
She moved back silently.
As soon as she moved, he approached her unhurriedly. In the end, Lin Feilu was forced to a corner, and there was really no place to go. He finally shook his head and laughed, raising his hand and touching her head as he said warmly, "Princess, long time no see."
Lin Feilu held her breath, and it took her a long time to let out a question as she was in disbelief, "When did you arrive?"
Song Jinglan said, "I was always here."
Lin Feilu, "!"
She looked at him in astonishment, "You were part of the convoy?"
He nodded.
Lin Feilu realized that she had really messed up, "Then you…why did you show up now?"
He smiled, "I didn't want to disturb you and your Fourth Brother's last journey together."
Lin Feilu didn't know what to say for a moment, merely looking at him fixedly. It was the first time they had seen each other since the night of her 15th birthday. After so many years, he seemed to have changed, but it also seemed he hadn't changed since she didn't feel estranged in the slightest.
She was stunned for a while before asking, "Is that possible? Are you allowed to come along with the convoy?"
Song Jinglan pulled her hand, one that she didn't know where to place because of the cramped space, and put it in his palm. He also gently kneaded her fingertips with his own, "I'm here to pick up my wife — what's wrong with that?"
Lin Feilu blushed suddenly.
Ahhh, Little Pretty Boy has changed! He's such a sweet talker now!
He turned his head slightly to see her blushing appearance, and the smile in his eyes grew even stronger.
Lin Feilu was shy for a while before she suddenly thought of something. Her body froze and even the palm of her hand started sweating. She looked at him a few times and asked tentatively, "Since you were here all along, then you…did you see…"
She became slightly speechless, unable to continue her words.
Song Jinglan answered as if nothing had happened, "Did I see Xi Xingjiang?"
Lin Feilu, "…"
Indeed he did.
Song Jinglan smiled at her, "Without my permission, how could he have gotten into your carriage?"
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Song Jinglan smiled at her, "Without my permission, how could he have gotten into your carriage?"
Lin Feilu was terrified by his laughter. Thinking of this man's perverted possessiveness, she quickly explained, "We just exchanged a few words and didn't do anything else!"
"Yeah," He nodded, looking down at her soft fingers.
Lin Feilu was a little nervous, "You won't send someone to hunt him down, will you?"
Song Jinglan raised his head and had a faint smile adorning his lips, "I won't break any promises I made with you before."
As long as you don't marry him, I won't kill him.
She breathed a sigh of relief and wanted to pull her hand back to wipe off the sweat, but he didn't let go. His slightly coarse fingertips rubbed over each of her knuckles as if he stroked a treasure before he gently wiped away her sweat. The palm of hers was damp whilst his fingers hooked hers, interlocking with each other.
But when he clasped her hand, Lin Feilu blushed.
She still couldn't adapt to the change of his new identity. Why was this person so experienced all of a sudden?
On that train of thought, her embarrassment and flusteredness immediately dissipated into thin air as she snarled, "Let go!"
Song Jinglan raised his eyebrows, and the smile on his face was tinged with helplessness, but he still let go of her hand because she told him to.
Lin Feilu placed her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest, asking imposingly, "Speak! How many beauties do you have in your harem?!"
She watched as Song Jinglan pondered about the question seriously before he replied, "About six or seven."
Lin Feilu, "??????!!!!!!!!!"
Wonderful, now she was truly furious.
Once the Princess was furious, the consequences were dire.
She turned around and walked out.
Song Jinglan had no choice but to grab onto her wrist, asking helplessly with a low laugh, "Where is the Princess going?"
Lin Feilu said blankly, "I'm not getting married anymore."
Song Jinglan didn't speak, merely exerting a bit of force on his fingers holding her wrist. The carriage was already swaying, so Lin Feilu couldn't remain standing. Being pulled by him as such, she immediately took a few steps back before she staggered and fell onto his lap.
He put his arms around her waist in a gentle manner, encircling her entire body in his embrace.
This posture was too intimate, and Lin Feilu was afraid of bumping into some places that shouldn't be touched, so she didn't dare to struggle too much. In the end, she could only look away from him and snort out loud.
Song Jinglan silently smiled as he raised his head lightly and brushed her chin with his lips.
Lin Feilu became even angrier, turning her head around to stare at him, "Don't kiss me sneakily!"
His deep eyes revealed a bit of his lingering innocence, "I kissed you by accident."
Lin Feilu, "Like hell you did! Did you accidentally marry those six or seven beauties as well?!"
Song Jinglan pressed her into his arms as he placed his forehead against her body. In a lazy tone, he explained, "It was Mother Empress Dowager who selected them and had them enter the palace. They have no titles, and I have never seen them anyway."
Lin Feilu looked at him, somewhat doubtful, "Really?"
He smiled, lowered his head and kissed her chin with his thin lips, "I will never lie to the Princess."
Lin Feilu covered her chin with her hand, "You kissed me again!"
He smiled, "Well, this time, it was on purpose."
Her ears started to turn red again.
Lin Feilu felt that she might be a goner at this rate.
How can I call myself a Green Tea Princess if I become a blushing mess merely with a kiss???
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How can I call myself a Green Tea Princess if I become a blushing mess merely with a kiss???
Lin Feilu moved her body awkwardly and said in a muffled voice after a while, "I don't like them."
Song Jinglan seemed to enjoy this position very much as the arms that hugged her became tighter. From the tip of his nose, he gave her a soft hum of approval, "I will have them sentenced to death upon our return."
Lin Feilu hurriedly said, "I wasn't asking you to kill them; you can just drive them out of the palace!"
He stroked her waist to her back with his fingers, "Okay."
She felt a little itchy and couldn't help shrinking her body, but she leaned closer to him. After thinking about it, she stated, "You won't be allowed to marry any other women in the future, do you understand?"
He laughed, "Got it."
Even after he finished speaking, she still didn't trust his words entirely. Therefore, she lowered her head and asked suspiciously, "Really? As an Emperor, won't you feel like it's a shame not to have 3000 beauties in your harem?"
Song Jinglan finally raised his head, meeting her suspicious gaze with his deep eyes and a smile plastered on his lips, "You're the only one I want."
Lin Feilu choked on her saliva and blushed again.
Song Jinglan narrowed his eyes slightly before raising his hand to caress her flushed face, gently brushing his thumb across her lips. His gentle voice was low as it bore a deep timbre, "You're the only one I want, Princess, but you are allowed to only marry me as well."
Lin Feilu blushed even harder as the shivers from her lips extended to her limbs, unable to stand his intense, passionate gaze.
Song Jinglan suddenly raised his hand to hold the back of her head before he stood up and kissed her reddening earlobe. When his soft yet cold lips were pressed against her skin, Lin Feilu 'exploded' instantaneously. She subconsciously wanted to struggle, but she was rendered immobile as he pinned her securely to her seat. In the end, the only thing she could do was shut her eyes out of embarrassment.
After kissing her, he bit her lightly, enveloping her neck with his warm breath as he asked in a hoarse voice, "Do you understand?"
After a moment, the girl's stammering voice was heard, "Yes…I understand…"
Song Jinglan smiled contentedly, and the convoy continued to press forward.
Lin Feilu buried herself into the crook of his neck for a long time before finally calming down her heartbeat and breathing steadily. She secretly raised her eyes to look at his handsome side profile, humming softly, "Are your legs numb?"
Song Jinglan's fingers caressed her back, replying to her in a pleasantly lazy tone, "No, it's not. The Princess is very light."
Lin Feilu, "Oh, well I'm getting numb."
He laughed and placed his arm through the hollow gap of her knees and carried her up. Lin Feilu originally thought he would place her down, but who would have thought that he was just changing the direction of where she faced.
Which was how she found herself kneeling on his lap, facing him.
He was still pinching her waist with his hand as he pulled her towards him. Song Jinglan asked calmly, "How about this?"
Lin Feilu was overwhelmed with embarrassment.
Her light-coloured dress was fanned out on both sides. Her face was blushing with a bright red hue, and her heart was pounding loudly. If an outsider were to see their position, they would cry out, "What a picture-perfect scenario of a foolish Emperor behaving obscenely in broad daylight!"
She fidgeted a bit and covered her face with her hands, submerging into a breakdown, "Let me go, hurry!"
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The person in front of Lin Feilu just smiled as he embraced her tighter and gently patted the back of her head, "But I want to get closer to the Princess," Before she could retort, he whispered again, "I haven't seen you in a few years and since I was worried that the Princess would feel estranged from me, I truly couldn't rest properly throughout the entire journey."
Lin Feilu suspected that there was something wrong with her own ears. Otherwise, how was it actually possible for her to hear a sliver of sadness in his tone?
She moved her feet and adjusted her posture slightly so that she could bury herself in his arms more comfortably. Then, she said slowly, "Alright then, I will give you another half stick of incense time."
Song Jinglan replied with a smile, "Thank you, Princess."
However, their physical closeness helped to reduce the awkward gap in their relationship. She buried herself in his chest, listening to his deep and mighty heartbeat as all the embarrassment and tension she previously felt completely dissipated.
It was as if they had never been apart for that long.
It was as if they had always been this close.
It seemed like no matter whether he was a royal prisoner or an Emperor, she could act as recklessly as she wanted to in front of him.
She leaned closer against his chest, raised her hand to touch the dark red lines on his neckline and said in a completely relaxed tone, "Since you secretly came to pick me up, who's handling the political affairs in the court? Will your subjects curse me for being a beauty of disaster?"
Song Jinglan pinched the back of her soft neck, smiling lazily as he replied, "They wouldn't dare to."
Lin Feilu sighed and acted out the scenario on her own, "Sigh, the ministers would think, 'for a mere Princess, His Majesty has given up the chance to rule and unify the world in order to spoil her. The night of spring is bitterly short, so the Emperor will no longer attend the morning court(1); what a shame."
(T/N: The phrase refers to the Emperor spending the night with a beauty/consort, and since the night passes by all too quickly, he would rather stay in bed till morning with her and ignore his responsibilities. I'm pretty proud about making the phrase rhyme to be honest, haha.)
Song Jinglan kneaded his fingers over the back of her neck, and after a while, he repeated her words with a soft smile, "The spring night is short, so I won't go to court?"
Lin Feilu, "?"
Wait, did I recite the wrong poem?
Song Jinglan raised his hand to hold her fingers that were playing with his neckline. He placed them to his lips and kissed them as he spoke in a very gentle tone, "Since the Princess has made arrangements for our future, I can only be respectful of your wishes."
Lin Feilu, who had practically dug a hole for herself through her words, "…"
She embarrassedly withdrew her hand, raised her leg and jumped off of him, "Time's up!"
Song Jinglan looked at her with a tad of reluctance, "Can we not extend it?"
Lin Feilu placed her arms on the sides of her waist and answered, "No!"
Song Jinglan, "Okay then, I'll come back tomorrow."
Lin Feilu, "?"
Pretty Boy has changed. No, he definitely was different from before.
He wasn't this shameless before.
She ran to the corner angrily and picked up the unfinished book that lay on the carpet, eager to continue reading it. Song Jinglan didn't stick to her this time as he sat across from her, smiling as he looked at her warmly. That gaze was very gentle, but she instead felt that it was scorching hot.
How could Lin Feilu continue reading in this sort of mood? She placed the book on her lap before actively declaring, "I want to ride a horse!"
Of course, she knew that as a Princess who was being wedded off, she couldn't just show her face of her own accord while she was still being escorted to the Song Empire. She just wanted to test how far Little Pretty Boy was willing to tolerate her tantrums.
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10 minutes later, Lin Feilu was riding on the tall and handsome black horse.
Song Jinglan sat behind as he held the reins. Wrapping his arms around her waist, they rode on the wedding procession escort team's left side.
Not everyone in the thousand-member mission knew that His Majesty was present. At first glance, seeing Princess Yong An leaving the carriage and riding on the same horse with a man with such an intimate posture made their eyes widen in shock.
But after seeing who the man was, their expressions quickly morphed into fear, and they quickly averted their gazes.
Chen Yao beckoned four guards to follow behind them from a moderate distance for the sake of their protection. The convoy marched on to a destination with no end in sight. However, as they weren't in a rush, the entire team leisurely made their way forward throughout the wastelands.
The wilderness was boundless, and the white clouds were thick. Lin Feilu had been bored under the carriage's shelter for far too long, so she felt a lot more comfortable now that she was on a horse and experiencing the breeze of the soothing wind. Leaning in his arms, she complained softly, "It wasn't comfortable to ride in the carriage! "
In fact, the carriage was much more comfortable than the one she was used to. This carriage was big and spacious. Plus, it was covered with soft carpets all over. Anybody could have just come in and had enough room to roll around as if it was a small, mobile caravan.
Nevertheless, she just wanted to act coquettishly and have a temper in front of him.
Song Jinglan gently pressed his chin against the top of her head as he said softly, "Then from now on,we will ride the horses everyday."
Lin Feilu thought for a while before adding, "When we get to a place with a city, can we rest for a day before setting off? I heard that every city in the Song Empire has delicacies that are exclusive to that area, so I want to give the food a try."
Song Jinglan smiled and said, "Okay."
When she heard from Chen Yao that it would take 20 days for the royal procession to reach the Song Empire's palace, her happiness practically dissipated into thin air. However, she now felt that 20 days were short. Having his company as they went eating, drinking and playing felt like a road trip, which was rather nice.
Oh, was this the honeymoon period before our marriage?
She thought happily about her upcoming honeymoon trip and asked him a bit nervously, "Are you not in a hurry to go back to the palace?"
Song Jinglan said, "Don't worry, Princess. You can play around for as long as you like."
Lin Feilu turned around halfway as she tilted his head to look at him. She had a weirded-out expression as her eyes clearly conveyed what she wanted to say, and you insist that you aren't a foolish Emperor?
Song Jinglan nodded kindly since it wasn't hard to understand the meaning, "Mm, that I am."
Lin Feilu was done with his antics, "If you're a fool, what does that make me? You're no fool!"
Song Jinglan, "Mm, I'm no fool."
Lin Feilu tugged onto the cuffs of his wide drooping sleeves, "Little Song, can you at least try to have a bottom line?"
Song Jinglan laughed before lowering his head. He kissed her tiny, swaying head and said softly, "The Princess is my bottom line."
Oops, Xiaolu crashed— mayday, mayday! Houston, we got a problem!
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The convoy drove until the evening before arriving at a barren border town. The border between the two countries had always been easy to fight, but after the peace agreement made by both empires back then, this place had become rather silent. A small town now situated at the border of the empires was the product of their many years of peace.
The convoy quickly cleaned a small courtyard and made it a place for His Majesty and the Princess to stay overnight. According to the rules, the Princess and His Majesty were not married and should not be living together. Seeing how His Majesty doted on Princess Yong An throughout the entire journey, the official felt that if he didn't arrange for the two of them to stay together, he might not even be able to wake up tomorrow morning.
Though, in the end, the rules were not broken. Although they were in the same courtyard, two separate rooms were tidied up for them respectively.
Living in separate rooms was the last-stand attempt of the brave servants to ensure tradition remained adhered to in the royal family!
When Song Jinglan walked in holding Lin Feilu's hand, the officials who flanked both sides trembled and observed His Majesty's expression. Seeing that Song Jinglan portrayed no visible displeasure on his face as he saw the two rooms, they sighed in relief.
The small courtyard of the farmhouse was divided into the main house and the side room, as there were differences in the room's quality. Naturally, His Majesty would stay the night in the main room, whereas the Princess would take the side room as a temporary chamber. Even so, the two rooms were very comfortably furnished, so the officials were waiting quietly. After taking two steps forward, they heard Princess Yong An say, "I want to sleep in that big room."
Everyone gasped, but before they could even take the next breath of air, they heard His Majesty reply in a warm voice, "Okay."
The envoys were once again enlightened about a new aspect when it came to understanding their Emperor.
They were all witnesses to Song Jinglan's murder of his father and grandiose seizing of the throne. The fear towards His Majesty had been deeply rooted in the bones of the people over the years, but this was the first time they had seen him behaving this gently and patiently.
In fact, the court officials had a lot to say even when he first voiced his opinion to marry a certain Princess of the Great Lin Empire.
Just like the Yong Kingdom's idea, the court officials thought that only by eliminating the place where His Majesty was once held captive could they wash away that humiliating era of suffering and pain.
But in the end, the people who protested against his idea all disappeared.
Later, everyone felt that His Majesty's insistence on 'I only want Princess Yong An' was just to ensure an alliance between the two empires, putting up a show for the Yong Kingdom. After all, everyone knew that His Majesty was not fond of women. He had never set foot in the harem all these years since he took the throne. If that wasn't indication enough, all the beauties in the palace were chosen by the Empress Dowager.
At first, the Empress Dowager selected a wife annually, and the daughters of various families were also willing to enter the palace. After all, the Emperor was young, promising and handsome. Moreover, there were no positions in the harem. Hence, the positions of the four Consorts, two Noble Consorts and an Empress were all vacant, which was simply too eye-catching to ignore.
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As a result, no other woman was favoured by the Emperor year after year, and corpses of certain beauties were ushered out of the palace from time to time.
It was said that the ones who died were those who misbehaved. His Majesty, who killed courtiers without blinking an eye, seemed to also be just as ruthless regarding matters of the harem.
Later, each family gradually stopped thinking about having their children enter the palace to compete for Imperial favour since they knew this Emperor was drastically different from the previous one. He only had ambition and a strong desire for power. With him wielding an uncertain temperament, everyone in the palace was in danger, so why would anyone else dare to send their daughters into the palace to their deaths?
Those unfortunate enough to be sent into the palace were also said to be 'sent to death'.
In retrospect, the other beauties who survived in the palace were the ones who were as quiet as a church mouse. They huddled and grouped together for companionship and had no further requests— they all merely wanted to stay alive.
So, for His Majesty to respond to Princess Yong An's every request obediently was surprising and frightening to everyone familiar with his bloodstained history.
However, this Princess Yong An also seemed a little too pampered. Relying on His Majesty's favour towards her, she was asking for everything she wanted. Her life would end soon if His Majesty were to be unhappy with her at some point.
Seeing Princess Yong An happily running into the bigger house, the officials sighed silently in their hearts.
After the convoy set up camp, Lin Feilu took a comfortable bath after eating before finally feeling alive again. When Song Jinglan came over, she had just finished changing her clothes. Her hair was not dry as it draped over her back with droplets of water dripping from her forehead.
Song Jinglan took the handkerchief from Songyu's hand and pulled Lin Feilu to his side. He dried her hair and asked with a smile, "There is a Fairy Lake(1) not far away from here, does the Princess want to see it?"
(T/N: There are a few lakes that are known to be gorgeously stunning, enough so that it was said to have fairies residing there. Those scenic locations are all given the nickname Fairy Lake)
Lin Feilu propped her chin and asked, "Are there any fairies in the Fairy Lake?"
He gently brushed the end of her hair with a pair of focused eyes, "We'll know once we check it out."
She pouted, "I don't want to ride a horse," After a pause, she added, "But I don't want to walk either— I'm so tired."
Song Jinglan laughed softly. After he finished drying most of her hair, he towered over her frame and carried her.
Lin Feilu blinked rapidly before putting her arms around his neck. Knowingly, she asked, "What are you doing?"
Song Jinglan looked down, and yet, he didn't speak, merely gazing at her with a smile in his eyes.
Under his deep gaze, Lin Feilu gradually felt a bit guilty.
Was that too much?
In her defence, she didn't know that she would become such an expert in acting coquettish once she fell in love.
The scene of His Majesty walking out of the campsite with Princess Yong An in his arms shocked everyone again.
A ruthless Emperor had suddenly become so gentle and kind. Not only did his abrupt change fail to comfort the people, it even managed to spark another wave of terror in their hearts! There was an unspoken thought among the soldiers that His Majesty would return with a sneer on his face, dragging the bloody corpse of Princess Yong An…
Lin Feilu was still blissfully unaware that she was practically as good as dead in everyone's hearts.
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Song Jinglan's steps were steady and heavy. She obediently curled up in his arms obediently as she played with his hair and touched his neckline. Finally, she couldn't help but nose his slender and enticing neck.
There was a faint scent of ambergris on his body. After being enraptured by his heated temperature, his aura became more intense, and his scent became reassuringly pleasant.
When the soft tip of her nose rubbed against his skin, Song Jinglan paused.
He looked down at the restless girl in his arms and said in a somewhat hoarse voice, "Princess."
Lin Feilu snuffled once more before she buried her entire face in the crook of his neck and rubbed it, "Little Song, you smell so nice."
Song Jinglan's arms that held her were tightened to the point where the veins on the back of his hands were exposed.
He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly before letting out a helpless sigh, striding towards the Fairy Lake.
Night had fallen, and the sky above the wilderness was boundless. Clear and bright, it was like the artwork, 'The Starry Night' that Van Gogh painted. The scene was enchanting, almost to the point of unrealism. The Fairy Lake was bathed under this starlight as the lake's surface sparkled, seemingly full of glittering stars.
There was also a row of weeping willows by the lake, and as the night wind blew across the water, the leaves disrupted the reflection of the stars over the lake.
The beauty of nature truly moved Lin Feilu, and her heart suddenly seemed to be filled with some sort of emotion. Her limbs trembled before this beauty, leaving her rather satisfied as she basked in it.
She turned her head to look at the tall and stunning man seated beside her, whose hands were still intertwined with hers. With a gentle smile adorning his lips, he looked even more beautiful than the starlight scenery in front of her.
As a sudden epiphany struck, she suddenly understood where this feeling came from.
It's because she was enjoying the most beautiful scenery in the world with her favourite person.
Song Jinglan noticed the change of expressions on her face before he smiled lightly. Turning his head, he asked, "What is the Princess looking at?"
Lin Feilu looked at him and said with a serious face, "Little Song, it turns out that there really is a fairy in the Fairy Lake!"
Song Jinglan had already guessed what she was going to say, but he still asked cooperatively, "Huh? Where is it?"
However, Lin Feilu didn't answer the way he thought she would.
"It's me," she answered.
Song Jinglan silently kept his gaze on her for a moment before finally shaking his head and smiling, "Yes, it's you."
The night breeze blew across the wilderness with an empty and distant sound. Under his gaze, Lin Feilu felt her coquettish temperament flare up again as she stretched out her hand, "Carry."
He smiled, leaning over to lift her up tenderly.
Lin Feilu wrapped her arms around his waist and buried herself in his chest, saying, "No matter where we go from now on, you have to carry me when I get tired."
He lowered his head and kissed her soft, long locks, "Okay."
Lin Feilu looked up at him, expressing her doubts, "You're saying okay to this and okay to that all the time; are you just going to agree with everything I say?"
He gently stroked her head's back with his palms before sliding his fingers down her dark strands. Pinching the back of her neck, his low voice was extremely gentle as he uttered, "As long as the Princess is by my side, everything is okay to me."
Lin Feilu felt goosebumps break out all over her body again.
She realised that whenever this man's perverted possessiveness was stirred, he would pinch the back of her neck.
The problem was that she was still going crazy for this damned possessive-yet-good-looking maniac.
She blushed a little before pushing him away, "Let's go back."
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Song Jinglan nodded and was going to lean over in order to carry her. Before he could do so, Lin Feilu hurriedly said, "I'll walk by myself this time!"
He raised his eyebrows, "Weren't you tired?"
Lin Feilu pulled his hand and intertwined their fingers. She clasped them tightly together and shook her head with a smile, "Just hold my hand."
He smiled, gently sweeping her long hair that brushed against her cheek, "Mmhm, let's go."
Not long after, the people in the camp could see that His Majesty had returned with Princess Yong An. Seeing that the Princess was alive and well, everyone let out a sigh of relief.
Amitabha, everything went well; God indeed was merciful to her.
After a night's rest, the convoy continued to set off from camp.
The Song Empire was located in the south and had always been known as fertile land. After passing through the barren border, the surrounding lands gradually became prosperous. The farming and commerce sections were arranged in an organised manner, and the customs differed from those in the Great Lin Empire. The Canal Towns(2), the softly spoken native dialects; each and every part of the Empire had its own specific characteristic and style.
(T/N: Canal Towns, also known as Water Towns, are ancient towns that are built around a body of water such as rivers and canals. These towns also have many bridges)
Lin Feilu celebrated her 18th birthday on the road.
Throughout the previous years, the climate would still hover around springtime in the Great Lin Empire in this particular month. However, the shadow of summer was already looming over the south. Even so, there were enough supplies when passing through the official gates across the land. There were also enough ice cubes to cool off the sweltering heat, so the carriage was still quite cooling.
As soon as the weather got hotter, Lin Feilu didn't want to wander around the streets anymore. Only stopping for meal breaks and short rests, the convoy finally sped up their progress.
Lin Feilu had actually forgotten about her birthday.
Too many things have happened during this time, and she had been on the road for a long time. Coupled with the change of weather, Lin Feilu's concept of time was blurred, so she didn't even remember it was her birthday today. After getting into the carriage, she sat on the couch with one leg atop the other and looked through the scripts of a few plays she had picked up a few days ago.
Just as she was reading the part where the protagonist and the heroine were having a secret rendezvous before being bumped into by the heroine's parents, her feet that were dangling in the air were suddenly held by a pair of somewhat cold hands.
She didn't look back and merely kicked her foot in protest.
Lin Feilu then smiled, but felt something cool wrap around her legs. She was feeling sort of coquettish but was also half surprised, "What are you doing?"
Upon looking at her leg, she saw a red ankle chain.
Lin Feilu turned over and sat up. Uncrossing her legs, she lifted her feet and looked closely at the anklet.
There was a thin chain made of unknown material, but it was exquisite and beautiful. Sporting a bloody red hue, it hung on her fair ankle, which made it particularly eye-catching. The grandest part of it was at the buckle of the chain— a red phoenix with its head and tail linked together.
The phoenix was the representative of an Empress in ancient times.
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Lin Feilu was a little dazed, so it took her a long time to raise her head to ask the person who sat across from her, "What is this?"
Song Jinglan softly replied, "It's your birthday gift."
Only then did Lin Feilu realise that today was her birthday.
No, that's not the point!
She pointed to the anklet, "It's a phoenix!"
Song Jinglan nodded, "Mmhm, it's a phoenix buckle. Do you like it?"
"It's not a question of whether I like it or not…" She scratched her head and asked hesitantly, "Phoenixes are only used by Empresses, right?"
Song Jinglan smiled and nodded, "Yes."
Lin Feilu's eyes widened, and she didn't speak for a long time.
Just like that? Her?
Can I be the Empress with how I am???
Although she knew that there was no one else in Pretty Boy's harem, she never thought she would occupy the Empress's throne right after marrying in. Throughout history, there was no such thing as a Princess from another country becoming the Emperor country's Empress. It would be a wonder if the courtiers of the Song Empire didn't protest to the end.
However, upon looking at Song Jinglan's expression, it seemed that he was not joking in the slightest.
Lin Feilu gulped in nervousness.
Seeing Lin Feilu speechless for a long time, Song Jinglan leaned forward. He took her fingers in his grasp, twisting them lightly as he asked in a low, sultry voice, "Is the Princess perhaps unwilling to be my Empress?"
Lin Feilu was a little distressed, "Of course, I want to, but…it feels so troublesome. I would have to abide by many rules and manage the harem. I'll need to pay my respects and also greet the others as they greet me in the morning, so I won't be able to sleep in…"
Song Jinglan saw her wrinkled eyebrows on her saddened expression. Seeing her worrying about her future life, he couldn't help as he chuckled, "No, you don't need to worry about those; no one will bother you."
Lin Feilu pouted, "Then why would you still want me to be the Empress?"
He patted her head and said softly, "Because I want to give the Princess all the best things that the world has to offer."
Lin Feilu's eyelashes trembled.
Her ears had been burning for quite a while, and she was pretty sure that her earlobes were now sporting a bright red shade. However, she maintained her neutral expression and said calmly, "Okay, since you oh-so-sincerely asked, then I will be merciful and grant your wish."
She looked down at the red chain again—the phoenix buckle.
Not only did the name sound good, but the appearance was also stunning.
Ultimately, she couldn't help but lean forward to hug Song Jinglan. Lying on his shoulder coquettishly, she added, "I really like this gift a lot."
He let out a laugh before he hugged her back.
Lin Feilu twitched in his arms for a while. The flower of passion that remained perched on the tip of her heart seemed close to full bloom. When the time came, she knew she couldn't hide her love and affection for him.
She pursed her lower lip and whispered in his ear, "Your Highness, you have already given me so many presents, so shall I give you one too?"
Song Jinglan smiled and said, "Alright, what gift does the Princess want to give me?"
She acted mysteriously and merely whispered in his ear, "Close your eyes."
Song Jinglan did as she said.
He felt the girl, who was lying on his shoulder, leave. After a while, a soft and light breath gradually approached his face.
She held her breath, half-kneeling on the carriage seats as she placed her hands behind her back. Raising her chin, Lin Feilu slowly approached him, planting a kiss lightly on his lips.
It felt like a gentle drifting of the clouds, like the gentle touch of the spring breeze, like a spring rain pouring on the lotus leaves; it came and went just as quietly, leaving no traces behind.
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Song Jinglan opened his eyes.
Before Lin Feilu had the time to retract her lips, she was suddenly met with his intense gaze. Stunned by it, she froze momentarily, forgetting to back away entirely.
The thin lips that she kissed suddenly hooked onto her own. His large hand palmed the back of her head before pushing her down. When Lin Feilu finally came to her senses, she was already lying on the soft carpet of the carriage, caged under his body.
His hand was still supporting the back of her head, and he had turned his body slightly to not apply his entire body weight on her. His other hand stroked her waist and held her tightly before kissing her again.
She always thought that he smelled really nice.
But at this moment, the scent of him completely enveloped her, passing through her nasal cavity and filling every single one of her senses.
His tenderness took a drastic change as he was now covered with involuntary aggression— he did not allow her to back down, nor did he allow her to clench her teeth despite her slightly reluctant mannerisms. However, he wasn't in a hurry as he patiently kissed and bit her. Inch by inch, he took what was his until she became pliant and putty in his arms. Unable to control herself, her weakened state caused her to relax her lips as he took advantage of the void and robbed her of everything.
Lin Feilu was so drained from the kiss that her head became dizzy. The flower that was at the tip of her heart bloomed out of her body at this moment, the petals passionately wrapped themselves around her and the man in front of her. For a moment, she forgot that they were still in the carriage and that there were other people outside.
She rid her mind of everything else as she only wanted to respond to him.
In a daze, the soft touch of his lips slipped from her mouth to her jaw before he ventured his way down her neck.
Her fingers clenched into fists, and even the backs of her feet were stretched.
Song Jinglan stopped at her collarbone and raised his head slightly. His deep eyes were full of desire as he gazed at the emotional girl below him, gently brushing the damp corners of her eyes with his fingers. After that, he lowered himself and kissed her tightly shut eyes.
When she heard his low laugh, Lin Feilu was out of breath, "Thank you, Princess, for the gift. I liked it very much."
The self-control of an Emperor was indeed different.
Lin Feilu was paralysed for a while before she managed to get up slowly with the strength of her arm. Song Jinglan took in the way her hair was scattered, how her eyes rippled and how the light in those captivating orbs dimmed. She didn't do much after, merely brushing her fingers gently through her hair as she tried to straighten her now messy locks.
Lin Feilu knelt down on the carpet with her skirt draped all over the floor and started whining again, "My mouth hurts from all your biting!"
He straightened her long hair, bent down and kissed her lips lightly with a tinge of soothing tenderness, "I'm sorry."
She put her hands on her hips and looked domineering, "You are not allowed to kiss me until you are punished to go back to the palace!"
Song Jinglan's eyes froze for a moment, and it took him a long time to come up with a retort. He said slowly, "Princess, have you heard of the phrase that Yishu shouldn't be blocked(1)?"
(T/N: Refers to how every problem has to be solved by figuring out the cause. Approaching the problem with a solution that isn't beneficial to the involved parties might cause further troubles)
Lin Feilu, "…"
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Her mouth wasn't in any less pain throughout the entire remaining journey.
On the first day of early summer, the convoy arrived in Lincheng. People flocked all over the city as they watched, eager to see Princess Yong An's beauty. However, the windows of the carriage remained closed. The convoy sent Princess Yong An all the way to the palace as they entered through the main entrance that had gates carved full of dragons, phoenixes and pegasi(2).
(T/N: Plural form of pegasus)
The arrangements of the palace have already been managed properly. The palace where Lin Feilu lived was refurbished by Song Jinglan a few years ago, and it was close to his Lin An Palace. Later, he personally bestowed the plaque of the new palace as 'Yong An Palace'. It had been empty for many years but finally had the chance to usher in its owner.
In the Great Lin Empire, horse-drawn carriages were not allowed to walk in the palace at will. Lin Feilu didn't know if the Song Empire didn't have this rule or if Little Pretty Boy was just indulging her again. At any rate, the tremors she felt from the moving carriage throughout their journey stopped when they arrived at the entrance of the Yong An Palace.
After the carriage and horses entered the palace, the envoys dispersed to their posts. Currently, only four maids and the palace servant who drove the carriage remained behind. The servants who followed the Princess from the Great Lin Empire were also present, trailing behind the carriage.
A group of maids and eunuchs assigned to the Yong An Palace were already kneeling in front of the palace. After the carriage and the horses stopped, they all said respectfully, "This humble servant welcomes Your Highness the Princess."
The wedding wasn't held yet. Hence, it was natural that she would be addressed by her previous identity.
These people probably didn't know their Emperor was still sitting in the carriage, right?
Lin Feilu poked the calm person next to her, "Are you going to go down with me? Your presence won't scare the others, right?"
Song Jinglan smiled and held her hand, "No, let's go."
Songyu opened the wide curtain outside, and she led Lin Feilu out of the carriage. The Princess looked around curiously before she said to the palace servants kneeling in front of her, "All of you may rise."
Everyone answered affirmatively, and then they got up one by one. When they each showed their most respectful smiles and looked at the Princess who came from afar, they saw His Majesty standing next to her.
Palace servants, "?"
Lin Feilu saw the awkward frozen smiles of the palace servants on their faces. They even lowered their heads, bodies shivering out of fear as a layer of cold sweat formed.
She turned her head and glared at Song Jinglan.
You said that you wouldn't scare them!
The instigator didn't realise that anything was wrong and led her in, "Go on, see if you like it here."
Lin Feilu saw the word 'Yong An Palace' as soon as she came down the carriage. She felt a surge of warmth in her heart, knowing that he would definitely arrange her living quarters well. However, she never would have thought that after stepping into the palace gates, the sight in front of her would surprise her to the point of being unable to speak.
Wasn't this the Mingyue Palace???
Every plant, every tree, every brick and every tile was present. The flower field, the animal house next to it and even the pomegranate tree in the yard were all the same.
But a closer look to them revealed that there were differences.
Everything was newer, more exquisite and even more gorgeous than the items she owned in the Mingyue Palace.
She turned her head to look at the person behind her.
Song Jinglan smiled and asked her warmly, "Do you like it?"
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Lin Feilu couldn't tell what jumbled emotions she felt in her heart, but they were both sour and sweet. Initially, she bore no sort of nostalgia nor homesickness even though she was marrying into a faraway empire. Now that he had gone through all the trouble to remind her of it, she felt a bit homesick.
She asked in a low voice, "When was this remodelled?"
Song Jinglan answered, "The year I ascended the throne."
Lin Feilu was surprised, "Did you know that you would marry me at that time?"
He smiled and led her in, "I've wanted to marry you since then."
Even though they were already very close, Lin Feilu couldn't help but blush every time he said such words.
But after entering the main hall, the interior decor differed from the Mingyue Palace. All the specifications were arranged according to the Empress's position and were designed in an extremely gorgeous manner. Passing through the main hall and the apse, the back of it was completely made in the architectural style of the Song Empire. As a whole, it was much larger than that of the original Mingyue Palace.
Songyu's exclamation came from outside the gates.
Lin Feilu had already calmed down as she pushed him away, "It's been so long since you've left the palace, you should go back and deal with your political affairs first. I'll just get to know my surroundings a little bit better."
Song Jinglan raised his hand and patted her head, "Okay, rest up for a bit and wait for me to come over for dinner tonight."
She nodded repeatedly.
As soon as Song Jinglan left, the atmosphere in the Yong An Palace finally became less tense.
These palace servants who were assigned to serve the Princess in the Yong An Palace were all selected by His Majesty himself. They were diligent, and clever and had no intention of pulling tricks or schemes. All of them were people who had served their purposes in the palace for a long time but never had they seen their Emperor this gentle and this expressive. The amount of fear and shock they felt at that moment was comparable to the convoy's first discovery as well.
Even so, no one dared to question it. They had already developed the habit of talking less, seeing less and asking less in this strict palace. Lin Feilu walked around and looked at these servants who had lowered brows and pleasing eyes, thinking they were oddly passive.
She brought a lot of things from the Great Lin Empire this time, including the small animals she had raised for a long time. After Songyu got over her initial shock, she led the servants to put things away happily.
Lin Feilu took a hot bath under the service of the palace servants before she climbed into the large, soft bed. It wasn't until she slept like a log for 2 whole hours that she regained her energy.
The two maids who washed and dressed her were older than her, both having very calm personalities. One was named Tingchun, and the other was called Shixia. Although she was closer to Songyu, this was still the Song Empire. As the saying goes, 'when in Rome, do as Romans do'. Hence, they needed the two locals to help them get used to the varying customs.
Lin Feilu casually asked a few questions about the customs they needed to take note of, only to find out that she didn't have to worry about it. Song Jinglan had even prepared a private kitchen for her.
Tingchun skillfully combed Lin Feilu's hair into the style of a bun that she had never seen before. The maidservant complimented with a smile, "The Princess is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
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Lin Feilu looked left and right in the mirror, feeling very satisfied. After she was done dressing up, she said excitedly, "Take me out for a stroll."
It was said that the Song Empire's imperial palace was full of the magnificence and beauty that the world had to offer. Simply put, it was like a paradise on earth, so she had longed to see it.
Tingchun and Shixia bowed in response, accompanying her out of the Yong An Palace and introducing her to the various other palaces.
She was also considered to have grown up in a palace of her own, so her vision and the knowledge she had weren't low by any means. Still, after seeing the palace of the Song Empire herself, she understood why the previous Emperor indulged not in political affairs but in pleasure.
It really complied with Du Mu's phrase 'five steps to the first floor, ten steps to the pavilion; reaching an unadorned corridor, the birds perched on the high eaves of the mansion'(1). Looking around, the flowers were clustered like clouds, the tiles were made of jade and the walls were inlaid with gold. The entire place seemed to be fit for a celestial being, almost as if there were too many underlying sights that the human eye couldn't see.
(T/N: Du Mu is a very famous poet, revered for his ability to write captivating poetry. This line in particular comes from one of his poems where he described the naturally picturesque scenery around him from the balcony of a building. On a side note, I'm pretty proud that I managed to make the English one rhyme)
Was Song Jinglan still human?
Living in such a beautiful palace, how can you not indulge in pleasure and only concentrate on political affairs?!
His restraint is really admirable!
She lingered and listened to Shixia's introduction, "The Princess's Yong An Palace and His Majesty's Lin An Palace are closest to each other as the two are divided only by this road. The Yong An Palace and the Lin An Palace are located in the main palace, whereas most of the other palaces are empty now. "
Lin Feilu thought for a while and asked, "Where's the Empress Dowager?"
She had never heard Song Jinglan mention his mother, but she must be an extraordinary person to be able to remain seated unchallenged in the position of the Empress Dowager. The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had been a big problem since ancient times, so she had to understand his mother's situation to develop suitable future strategies.
When Shixia heard her question, she replied respectfully, "The Empress Dowager lives in the Chonghua Palace, which does not belong to the area of the main palace," She lowered her voice and continued, "The beauties in the palace also live near the Chonghua Palace. Usually, no one from there is allowed to step even a single foot into the main palace, so the Princess remains the only one thus far."
Lin Feilu nodded thoughtfully, "Since we're all here, let's go to the Lin An Palace to have a look."
Tingchun and Shixia's expressions suddenly became terrified as they hurriedly said, "Princess, no! The Lin An Palace is the place where His Majesty usually resides and rests. If you are not summoned, you must not go there!"
Shixia said with a lingering trace of fear on her face, "Your Highness, there is something that you do not know. A few years ago, a Concubine took her initiative and went to the Lin An Palace to see His Majesty with some snacks she made herself. Before she even entered the Palace, she was dragged away and imprisoned in the Internal Criminal Division. In a few days, that Concubine had…"