CH 19

Noticing that Hua Liuli felt cold, the crown prince smiled. “It’s chilly outside. Hurry and return to your estate with Changkong.” Following that, he turned to look at the dagger the people of the Dali Temple had recovered, gaze cold.　　

“Your Highness, this humble subject and my silly sister ask to be excused.” Hua Changkong did not want to be involved with the princes’ struggle for power. He turned around with his gaze falling upon his sister, hinting for her not to remain but to hurry home.　　

Hua Liuli curtsied toward the crown prince. Then she followed Hua Chankong back to their carriage.　　　　

Seeing Hua Liuli leaving, Tian Ruidong jogged to her. “Commandery Princess, there are some medicinal ingredients that can nourish the body in my humble estate. How about I have people send them to your distinguished estate tomorrow?”　　

“Many thanks, Young Master Tian, for your kindness. But my health has been poor for many years, and slow recuperation is required.” Hua Liuli smiled, soft and gentle. “Every medicine is three parts poison. A body like mine…”　　

A relieved smile spread across her lips. “Nevermind. Let’s not talk about such trivial matters. Goodbye, Young Master Tian.”　　

Distracted, Tian Ruidong watched as the Hua family’s brother-and-sister pair departed. A good while later, brokenhearted at having to part with her, he returned to the scene of the crime. “Where is that servant who tried to kill this young master?”　　　　

The crown prince looked at Tian Ruidong’s face full of foolishness, a sigh escaping his lips. The Tian clan truly passed down their stupidity from generation to generation. He almost lost his life, yet did not forget to try and court a girl.　　

The Hua clan had birthed famous generals for generations. To be capable of leading troops to battle required intelligence. The younger generations of both families were not a good match.　　

Their households did not match. Even their brains did not.　　

“Tian Ruidong,” said the crown prince, “you should not go outside if it’s not important these next few days. I don’t want to see you in the Dali Temple’s morgue next time.”　　　　

Tain Ruidong shook. At that moment, he realized this: just then, if Commandery Princess Fushou hadn’t called out to him, and he wanted to speak with her, then he…　　

When his thoughts arrived to this point, cold sweat sprang all over Tian Ruidong’s body. He reached out to touch his neck. Hand still trembling, he saluted the crown prince. “Many thanks, Your Highness, for the reminder.”

“Your Highness,” whispered Pei Jihuai. “A single drop of the poison on that dagger is priceless. A year ago, Defender General killed the enemy’s leading general with an arrowhead dipped in it.”　　　　

Indeed, that had been the turning point on the battlefield between the Great State of Jin and Jinpo Country. One year ago, Defender General shot and killed Jinpo Country’s famous general Tu Ka. Ever since then, Jinpo Country suffered defeat after defeat. Even their Second Prince, who personally led troops, was captured alive.　　

Shooting to death an enemy on the battlefield was the best way to boost morale among the soldiers. However, as the most outstanding high-ranking military officer of Jinpo Country, Tu Ka was covered from head to toe in gold armor. There practically wasn’t any part of his body exposed.

Except for his eyes.　　

As two armies fought, Hua Yingting was able to shoot him dead. What kind of godly shooting technique was this?　　

What a pity that this sort of godly general grew heavily injured while breaking into the enemy’s city, unable to ever fight in a war again. The crown prince looked at the dagger within a wooden box. His tone was cold as he said, “There’s a mastermind manipulating things from behind the scenes. They not only want to provoke conflict between Prince Ying and Prince Ning, but also make others suspicious of the Hua clan?”　　　　

Pei Jihuai dared not comment. He was only there to investigate the case. All he could do was find the murderer. Other than that, he dared not guess arbitrarily. 　　

The next day, every department in the capital suddenly grew nervous. The petty thieves and sexual assaulters were all rounded up. The red light districts were interrogated the most severely.　　　　

“May Young Master calm down.”　　

“Calm down?” The man pressed a hand to his chest, nearly spitting out blood. “In just a few short days, more than half the people we inserted into the city have been rounded up. If it weren’t for you useless things failing each time, leaving behind tracks, how could we lose so many people?”　　

“Young Master, the commoners in the capital are very crafty. Half of our people have been reported and exposed,” said the subordinate. “Young Master, the current political situation is unfavorable to us. We should leave now.”

The man finally couldn’t endure it any longer, blood spurting from his lips. He had calculated in every way possible, yet one’s plans could be derailed by unforeseen events. He had not thought of those elusive civilians in the capital, who would smile in front of others, then rush to report them to the authorities. Nor had he calculated there to be accidents occurring in his plans. 　　　　

In a place like Great Jin’s capital, not only did the imperial family court officials scheme; even the common people had a dagger hidden in their smiles, not what met the eye.　　

“Summon all the spies. Find an opportunity for us to leave the capital, and make sure not to cause people to suspect us.” The man slowly wiped the blood off the corners of his lips with a handkerchief. He looked up at another man standing in the corner. “Five Three.”　　　　

“Young Master?” said the one known as Five Three, raising his head to look at the man.　　

“Do you still remember my order from yesterday?” The man’s expression proved calm. “Stay in the capital. No matter what you have to do, you must capture that commandery princess from the Hua clan.”　　　　

If it wasn’t for this person, he wouldn’t have failed so many times.　　

Things had already reached this point. Only by handing her over to his master could he settle down his master’s anger.　　

“Understood,” said Five Three. “Don’t worry, Young Master. This subordinate has already started preparing for this task.”　　　　

After hearing the words “don’t worry,” the man spat out another mouthful of blood. In nearly one month, when had he ever not worried?　　

“The people of the capital eat too well and are too bored. Even when there’s nothing happening, they still have to delve into schemes and intrigue.” Yuanwei straightened out the phoenix hairpin in Hua Liuli’s hair. “Commandery Princess, you must be careful during today’s palace banquet.”　　　　

“It’s alright. I’m a delicate and sickly person. I won’t argue with anyone whatever they say.” Hua Liuli touched the dangling part of the forehead ornament that rested on the middle of her brows. She received a bowl of silver noodles from a servant girl to finish eating it. “What is Third Brother eating?”　　

“Don’t worry. Third Young Master is well aware of the situation.” Yuanwei helped her apply lipstick. “It’s getting late. Commandery Princess, we should go.”　　

In a banquet hosted by the imperial family, eating was not important. What was important was being able to attend. It represented one’s status and position. In order to maintain glory on the surface, some down-and-out imperial clan members thought of every method to stick their names on the guest list. 　　　　

The road to enter the palace had long since had clean water splashed over it, swept clean. Lining both sides of the road in an orderly manner were imperial guards, guaranteeing the safety of everyone attending.　　

This was Hua Liuli’s first time participating in the imperial palace’s New Year banquet. She was curious and looking forward to it.　　

The carriages of the court officials could not be driven in the imperial palace. After they entered the palace, Hua Liuli was to disembark from hers. She looked up at the various sorts of lanterns hanging everywhere, eyes full of awe.　　　　

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“Watch your step.” Hua Changkong reached out to support her as she disembarked from the carriage. Court eunuchs approached them, escorting them to the main hall where the banquet was to be held.　　

The imperial palace did not seem this beautiful on an ordinary day. But tonight, Hua Liuli found a hazy beauty in the night scene. Under the glow of the candles, marvelous flowers and rare plants seemed faintly discernible. Sweet, fair, and graceful palace maids traveled back and forth with lanterns. Occasionally, music could be heard, as though one were in a fairyland. 　　　

An eunuch following Prince Ying noticed people ahead. After carefully looking at them and recognizing them, he said, “Your Highness, the Hua clan’s young master and commandery princess seem to be ahead of us. Should this slave call out for them?”

Hearing movement behind them, Hua Liuli looked back. And she saw that it was Prince Ying and Fifth Prince. She smiled at them politely.　　

A breeze rolled by. The lanterns that hung on nearby branches swayed, the lights flickering. It made the woman beneath the lights seem like an immortal.　　　　

In a daze, Prince Ying stared at this scene. A bookish phrase flashed through his mind:　　　　

Suddenly, I turned, and there she was, standing in the dim light.　　

Before he had snapped out of his reverie, his feet brought him before the Hua clan’s brother-and-sister pair.　　

“Greetings to Your Highnesses Prince Ying and Fifth Prince.” 　　　

“No need to stand on ceremony,” said Prince Ying, coming back to his senses. He noticed that embroidered on Hua Liuli’s cloak were twisting sprigs of blossoming plants. Although they weren’t as beautiful and alluring as tree peonies or common herbaceous peonies, such blossoms were still gentle, beautiful, and pleasant.　　

Previously, he disliked such bland embroidery.　　

“Since we met by coincidence, let’s go together,” said Prince Ying to the siblings. From time to time, he would ask about the lives of the soldiers in the army camps, to get close to the siblings and to show his concern over the soldiers.　　　　

With a smile, Fifth Prince followed behind Prince Ying, demeanor elegant and gentle.　　

Whether the princes had arranged to meet up was a mystery. But midway on the road, they encountered Prince Ning and the reticent Fourth Prince. The four imperial princes gathered together, the picture of influence.　　　　

From the surface, Hua Liuli couldn’t make out the thoughts of the four princes. Even the more impulsive Prince Ying seemed to be a considerate elder brother.　　

Passing through the palace road, Hua Liuli saw the spacious area outside the main palace hall. From afar, a crowd of palace servants approached its front doors with lanterns, lifting a palanquin. 　　

In the entire imperial palace, there were only three people who could ride a palanquin without it being a taboo.　　

The emperor, the empress dowager, and the crown prince.　

Hua Liuli turned her head, looking at the four princes. They had distant expressions. The look in their eyes as they gazed at the approaching group made her confused about what was going on, yet also not wanting to understand it.　　　　

Oh my, who would have thought these princes would form a small clique to reject another?　　　　

The four of them gathered together, singling out the crown prince. At present, they had on expressions that read “we can’t climb to your level, so we won’t play with you.”　　　　

Did these young men know that jealousy made one ugly?　　

Hua Liuli covered her mouth and coughed a few times. Pulling on Hua Changkong’s hand, they quickly made their way before the crown prince and saluted. “Greetings Your Highness the crown prince.”　　　　

She, Hua Liuli, would absolutely not follow the bad example of these young men who liked singling out others.　　

“Little Girl, you dressed up well today?” said the crown prince, looking at her. Light laughter spilled from his lips. He disembarked from his sedan. “This is your first time at a palace banquet, so there will be many things you don’t know. Later, go and accompany Imperial Grandmother.”　　　　

Hua Liuli asked, “Would that be improper?”　　

“Imperial Grandmother is the world’s grandmother. What’s improper about a granddaughter accompanying her grandmother?” The crown prince turned his head. As if he had just noticed the other princes cupping their hands in greeting, he said, “We are all brothers. No need to be so polite.”　　

The four princes said they didn’t dare, yet still finished their salutes before walking to the crown prince’s side.　　　　

The crown prince paid them no mind. He lowered his head and softly said to Hua Liuli, “Before you came here, did you do what I said?” 　

Hua Liuli fell into a daze. At once, realization struck her. She nodded faintly.　　　　

“Once we’re inside, you don’t have to speak. Just follow what I have planned.” His gaze fell upon Hua Liuli’s dangling hair ornament, which lightly swayed, swaying to the point where he felt dizzy. He couldn’t help but reach out and pull her hood over her head.　　

“Your Highness.” Hua Liuli widened her eyes. “The hair of his official’s daughter is becoming messy.”　　

“Don’t worry. Once you’re sitting next to Imperial Grandmother, no one will dare to look at you.” A dry cough left his lips. He clasped his hands that were not well-behaved behind his back.　　

With care, Hua Liuli took off her hood. Then she retreated to the side of Hua Changkong.　　

There was no room for discussion: one’s hair must not be messy.　　　　

When Prince Ying saw Hua Liuli’s fair little face, his fingertips grew itchy for some reason. After the group entered the main palace hall and saluted, he went to Consort Xian’s side and whispered, “Consort-Mother, Son thinks that the Hua clan’s daughter is—”　　　　

“Don’t even think about it.” Consort Xian did not even bat an eyelash. “This palace will not allow it.”　　

She was well aware of what kind of morality and conduct her own son possessed. Back then, when she had first laid eyes on Hua Liuli, she knew that with her son’s terrible eyesight, he’d take a fancy to her.