The Times Spent in Pretense

The moment Hua Liuli recognized the crown prince, joy filled her heart. With him around, she could sleep at last.　　

Watching as he approached with his steed, she crawled out of the donkey-drawn carriage and waved at him. “Over here, over here.”

“Don’t go out—” Jiamin saw Hua Liuli run off with a filthy face and reached out to grab onto her. What a pity that Hua Liuli was too quick, so she was only able to catch the corner of her clothes.  　　

Just a while ago, she had said her legs hurt too much to move. Now, she was running so fast with her two short legs. Jiamin rolled her eyes, too lazy to stop Hua Liuli from embarrassing herself.　　　　

Since young, the crown prince had been brought up by a crowd of people. He hated filth the most. The people who served by his side were all immaculate with delicate and pretty features. Whereas, Hua Liuli was dirty from head to toe. She had not even wiped off the dirt from her face. He  would not allow her to get close.　　　　

Among the imperial princes, the most difficult to deal with was the crown prince. Although Jiamin and him were cousins, if she broke any of his taboos, the crown prince would not give her any face. With this terrible temperament, if it weren’t for the fact that the emperor adored him the most and everyone feared offending him, who could tolerate him?　　‌‌

The way he acted, sooner or later there would be a day when the emperor grew discontent with him. And in the end, he’d go down in history like the rest of the deposed crown princes.　　　　

Jiamin sat steadily in the donkey carriage, unwilling to incite his dislike.　　

The crown prince turned the horse around and noticed Hua Liuli smiling as she looked his way. He pulled out a handkerchief. Handed it to her. “Are you hurt?”　　　　

Hua Liuli wiped her face in a careless manner and shook her head. “We encountered ferocious beasts on the mountain. Commandery Princess Jiamin led the way as we escaped during the chaos.”　　

“Don’t move.” He seized the handkerchief from her hand. Wiped away the dirt on her face for her. “Thank goodness you are alright.”　　

With wide, wide eyes, she raised her head to gaze at the crown prince wiping her face. His hair was damp, droplets of water clinging to his eyelashes. His eyes resembled two clear lakes.

Truly a beautiful sight.　　

Since young, her family members and servants often took care of her like this. As such, she was very used to lifting her head and obediently allowing him to wipe clean her face.　　

“Your Highness, the horse-drawn carriage has arrived.”　　　　

Compared to the shabby donkey carriage, the horse-drawn carriage that had stopped by the crown prince and Hua Liuli’s side seemed more gorgeous and spacious. The four fine steeds pulling the carriage were impressive to the max.　　

Once the married couple, who were driving the donkey carriage, had heard Hua Liuli call a handsome man resembling a celestial being “Your Highness,” they grew stunned. They looked at the gorgeous horse carriage again, then at the surrounding soldiers in silver armor. How could the couple not understand that the two young girls they had picked up on the road were in no way regular civilians?

Husband and wife timidly disembarked from the donkey carriage. Stood at the corner without a sound.　　

After wiping clean Hua Liuli’s face, the crown prince laughed softly all of a sudden. He reached out and stroked her head. “Let’s go. I will take you home.”　　　　

“Your Highness, can you not stroke my head?” said Hua Liuli, covering said body part and somewhat embarrassed.　　

“Mm?” He arched a brow.　　

“I haven’t taken a bath in three days,” she whispered. “My head is dusty all over. It’s very embarrassing.”　　

The crown prince was speechless.　　

Rubbing two fingers together, he reached out and plucked a small piece of hay from her hair. “You’re considered half the daughter of my teacher. I won’t disdain you.” 　　　　

Handsome and gentle, the crown prince is certainly the most perfect out of the five princes!　　

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Hua Liuli turned her head, covering her mouth as she coughed. A bit embarrassed, she said, “Your Highness, do you have banknotes on your person?”　　

The crown prince turned his head to look at his personal attendant, who rushed to take out a pile of banknotes from his inner breast pocket. “Commandery Princess, please have some.”

Hua Liuli checked the denomination of said banknotes. The smallest value was 2.5 kg of silver. She bit the corner of her lips. “Do you have notes with a smaller value?”　　

In response, the crown prince’s personal attendant asked around for banknotes worth 500g and 1 kg of silver.　　　　

“Thank you.” Hua Liuli took those low-denomination banknotes, turned around, and ran to the young married couple. “Thank you Big Brother and Big Sister for the help. Please accept these.”　　

“No, no, no.” The married couple dared not take the money, waving again and again. “Noble person, there is no need.”　　

“Just take it,” said Hua Liuli as she grabbed the woman’s hand, stuffing the banknotes into her hold. “Good actions will accumulate good karma.”

Now the crown prince understood why Hua Liuli wanted banknotes of small denominations; too large, and it would be too inconvenient for civilians.　　

The Hua clan’s little girl seemed to understand the commoners’ way of living very well.　　

After the married couple received the banknotes, the crown prince said to Hua Liuli, “Come and board the carriage.”　　　　

“Alright.” Hua Liuli thanked the couple, turned, and made her way to the side of the carriage. Before she had one foot on the footstool, a hand stretched out in front of her.　　

“Thank you, Your Highness,” she said, placing her hand on his palm. She sat down in the carriage, which had soft cushions laid out everywhere. A faint scent of incense. It was so spacious inside that she itched to fall asleep on the spot.

Spacious…　　

She opened her tired eyes. Commandery Princess Jiamin didn’t seem to have followed her into the carriage.　　

The forgotten Jiamin climbed down the donkey-drawn carriage in silence. She saluted the crown prince in a sincere way.　　　　

With an expression of indifference, he looked at her. “Jiamin, are you alright?”　　

“Many thanks for the concern. This official’s daughter is fine.” Jiamin was too afraid to look the crown prince in the eye.　　　　

“Mm.” He mounted his steed again, looking at her from high above. In a low voice, he said, “You’ve worked hard escaping along with Commandery Princess Fushou.”　　

“It w-wasn’t too tiring.” Jiamin bit the corner of her lip, head lowered firmly, too afraid that the crown prince would notice her guilty expression.　　

“Go rest for a while in the carriage,” he said, glancing at her. Then he rode his horse ahead to where the soldiers were.　　

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A breath of relief escaped her lips. Following that, Jiamin boarded the carriage in haste. Caught sight of Hua Liuli lying down inside in a lazy manner as she prepared to take a nap. Jiamin reached out to push her. “Move over.”　　　　

“I haven’t slept for a whole night, so quiet down.” Hua Liuli grabbed a soft cushion and threw it on the floor. “There’s so much space in the carriage. Just find any spot and sit. Don’t crowd me.”　　

Jiamin wanted to retort, but paused all of a sudden. As she recalled the circumstances of last night, she could not help but feel doubt. Perhaps Hua Liuli truly had not slept last night.　　

Resentfully, she picked up the soft cushion and sat cross-legged on the floor. Her gaze fell upon the precious stones inlaying the walls of the carriage. And her anxious and uneasy heart grew peaceful bit by bit.　　　　

In her sixteen years of life, she had never experienced suffering before, let alone be wronged. The bitter experience from the past few days could be considered the greatest nightmare of her life. However, with the annoying Hua Liuli around, she had not been that afraid on the contrary.　　

Don’t tell me that in this world, love rivals make people more courageous than hoodlums do?　　

The noise and excitement outside the carriage woke Hua Liuli. Slowly, she opened her eyes, catching sight of Jiamin staring at her with rapt attention. Not a word leaving her lips, she pulled her clothes up. Then Hua Liuli said, “What are you looking at?”　　　　

To which Jiamin rolled her eyes. “The carriage has already arrived at the capital. You slept for four hours.”　　

“No wonder I’m dizzy and my chest hurts. It turns out I haven’t slept enough.” She sat up. Her long and fine black hair flowed down along her shoulders, matchless in inciting one’s tenderness.　　　　

Jiamin no longer wanted to speak with her, pulling a long face as she turned her head to look in another direction.　　

“Last time, you said Princess Consort Ying had already been chosen. Who is it?” asked Hua Liuli, disliking the fact that the mood wasn’t lively enough. As such, she had purposely chosen a topic that would arouse Jiamin’s interest.　　　　

Expression darkening, Jiamin said, “Hua Liuli, are you doing this on purpose?”　　

“Elder Sister Jiamin, why are you saying this?” An innocent smile blossomed on Hua Liuli’s lips. “I’m just worried about you.”　　

Jiamin wanted to say, Don’t act like you’re concerned about me. But when she recalled Hua Liuli’s appearance as she murdered those people, Jiamin came to the conclusion that she could endure her antics for a little more. “I don’t need you to worry about me.” 　　

“Fine, then pretend I just want to hear something exciting.” Hua Liuli sighed in a pitiful manner. “I don’t have any good friends in the capital, any bosom friends to share secrets with. You and I can be considered to have shared life’s joys and sorrows, and if we round it up, we’re friends who went through life and death together. So you can tell me who it is, and I will console you.”　　　　

Cold as ice, Jiamin laughed. “You just want me to tell you so that you can laugh at me, right?” 　　

Truly shameless. Who’s your friend who went through life and death with you? More like a friend who almost died.　　

But Hua Liuli only smiled, so innocent that she resembled a fairy among white lotuses.　　　　

As she took in her appearance, Jiamin was so angry that she calmed down. After a moment of silence, she said, “She’s the eldest legitimate daughter of Lin Zhou, the governor of Yongzhou Prefecture. Her father was transferred to the capital this month. Rumors say that, because the head of the Dali Temple didn’t handle his cases well enough, His Majesty is discontent. Her father will replace Zhang Shuo as the new head of the Dali Temple.”

“Yongzhou Prefecture’s governor, Lin Zhou?” Hua Liuli remembered that the civil official who impeached her daddy also had a surname of Lin. “What relationship does he have with Lin Huizhi?”　　

“What other kind of relationship could they have?” asked Jiamin, baffled. “They both have Lin as their surname?”　　　　

Waving, Hua Liuli sat cross-legged before Jiamin. “Keep going. Don’t stop.”　　

“Lin Zhou is Fourth Prince’s maternal uncle.” Jiamin finally came to a theory why Consort Xian had sought out Governor Lin’s daughter as Princess Consort Ying. Her mood plummeted. “Governor Lin loves the common people as his own children. An excellent official. The popular sentiment was all for him in Yongzhou Prefecture.”

Recently, Prince Ying did not have a good reputation among the common people. He urgently needed a father-in-law and a princess consort with stellar reputations to lift his own. Not to mention, Consort Xian had the intention of pulling Fourth Prince to their side. Thus, Governor Lin’s daughter was the most suitable choice.　　

“What a pity,” said Hua Liuli, glancing at Jiamin. She still felt that Jiamin was a better match for Prince Ying. Not only were their statuses a suitable pair, their intelligence was a perfect match as well.　　　　

“Nevermind.” After going through last night’s terrible events, Jiamin was able to understand it. No matter how good a man was, he wasn’t more important than one’s life. At the critical juncture, the fact that she was able to abandon Prince Ying and only hoped that she could keep her life meant this: she didn’t really like him that much anyway.　　

Someone knocked on the carriage. Hua Liuli and Jiamin looked at each other. Then Jiamin picked up the soft cushion on the floor and sat properly in a flash.　　　　

A servant girl lifted the curtain and entered the carriage. She carried hot tea and pastries, and after placing down the items and saluting, she withdrew in a respectful manner.　　

The two looked at the teapot and teacups. Then, at each other.　　

“Pour some tea,” said Hua Liuli, lifting her chin at Jiamin.

“Why aren’t you doing it?” Jiamin replied, unhappy. They were both commandery princesses. So why did she have to serve Hua Liuli?　　

Coughs spilled from the other party’s lips as she pressed a hand to her chest. “Because I’m sickly.”　　　　

In a hateful manner, Jiamin glared at her. Went forward to pour tea for herself, when she discovered it wasn’t actually tea. Rather, it was water mixed with honey.　　

After a moment of daze, Jiamin realized at once that these things had been prepared according to Hua Liuli’s preferences.　　

For a moment, she doubted whether she was actually the crown prince’s cousin. Even though her mother and Consort Xian were pretty close, shouldn’t the crown prince not be this blatantly biased?　　

Jiamin poured a cup of water and placed it in front of Hua Liuli. “Knock yourself out.”　　　　

Men were truly dogs. To them, seeing a delicate and beautiful woman was like seeing meat on a bone, not even giving a rat’s ass for things like familial love.　　

Commandery Princess Jiamin, who had experienced much suffering outside, had already mastered the art of scolding obscenities at someone in her heart.