46.1 – ORAL CONFESSION

News of Prince Ying and the Lin family’s broken engagement resembled a squall, sweeping through the entire capital city in the blink of an eye.

Since times immemorial, it wasn’t as if there was no precedent of engagements with the imperial family being broken. That said, for the most part, it came in the form of men who nearly became prince consorts yet whose conduct was later discovered to be dishonorable. Thus, the imperial clan withdrew from the marriage. On the other hand, it was rare for the cause of a broken imperial engagement to be a woman.

For a moment, there existed many differing opinions regarding the situation. However, even if some people sympathized with the Lin family’s daughter, no one said that the emperor acted in an excessive manner. Although some civil officials disliked war, after Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue achieved a grand victory against Jinpo Country, said couple did not did not grow arrogant from their contributions. After they had returned to the capital city, the emperor bestowed things to them on a frequent basis, but they never showed off. Additionally, they raised a son who placed first on the spring imperial exam, drawing favorable impressions from many civil officials.

For the most part, scholars were sensitive individuals. They would condemn the people they disliked in speech and writing without using obscenities. But once they held someone in high esteem, they would respect them greatly from the bottom of their hearts. Thus, scholars were hateful yet adorable.　‌

Moreover, the bards in the capital had recently taken a liking to telling tales about the brave Hua clan army battling against the wicked Jinpo Country. In these tales, soldiers of the Hua clan’s army were slashed to death when trying to protect a child. Also, in order to protect the civilians as said civilians escaped, maidservants of the Hua family were shot to death by a barrage of arrows to the heart.

When food was at its most scarce, many soldiers of the Hua clan’s army left behind their own rations, giving them to the city’s elderly, weak, women, and children.

Once these stories were told, they moved their audience to tears. To the point that many elderly men and women carried foodstuffs and pouches of money to the capital’s government office, telling the staff that they wished to donate those things to the soldiers at the border station.

Naturally, the sensitive scholars shed many manly tears from such moving, tragic, and heart-warming stories. The bolder ones actually composed poems and verses on the spot for the Hua family’s army, itching to sacrifice themselves on the battlefield for the country, so that Great Jin’s civilians could continue their peaceful lives.

Especially some of the younger scholars. Whenever they mentioned the Hua family’s army, the majority of the time they would praise them to the heavens; rarely did they vilify them.

Typically, when civil and martial officials fall into a dispute, scholars would help scholars. But for some strange reason, after news of what had occurred spread, the scholars did not comment on the situation at all. They did not declare their position, remaining taciturn. It was to the point that the younger scholars, those who were more impulsive and had fiery tempers, would mention the Lin family’s daughter with discontentment in their tone.

If even the general who put his life on the line to defend the country experienced such a fate, who would dare step out the next time an enemy attacked?

Heroes must not be allowed to shed blood and tears!

People’s hearts were subtle things. Sometimes, it would cross over status, cross over hierarchy, surprising and moving people.

Even the Hua family never anticipated that, after the situation with Lin Wan exploded, the scholars would act like so.

They protected the common people; the common people not only remembered, but they threw away all the stones on the Hua family’s backs.

“This life was worth it.” Hua Yingting carried a pot of wine, pouring a cup for Wei Mingyue and himself, the reflection of the moon on the surface of their wine.

Husband and wife raised their wine cups. Tapped them together. Wei Mingyue’s gorgeous face revealed a smile. “Is this toast for us?”

“Yes, that’s right.” Hua Yingting threw his head back as he downed the cup.

“Should those memorials still be presented tomorrow?” Wei Mingyue grasped her husband’s wine cup, not allowing him to pour himself more alcohol. “A bit of wine can improve the mood, but too much can harm the body. You have so many old injuries. It’s not good to drink a lot.”

“I’ll listen to you, Wife.” Hua Yingting rushed to let go of the wine cup.

“As for those memorials, of course they need to be presented to the emperor,” said Hua Yingting, chuckling. “When it comes to this situation, it’s ultimately an argument between the members of the younger generation. If we chase after those other things,  it would just hurt the relationships between our families.”

To which Wei Mingyue nodded. “You’re right. I’ll come with you to the palace early in the morning tomorrow.”

Hua Liuli, who had “fainted from anger,” spent the past few days surrounded by fretting servants. The entire Shoukang Palace was unceasingly anxious over her, as if she would suffer injuries even if a leaf from a tree hit her head.

The empress dowager’s method of consoling her was simple and crude: sending her beautiful clothes and jewelry. Hua Liuli could not help but to say in a teasing manner, “Your Majesty the empress dowager, if you were a young man, one would fear that this official’s daughter would fancy you.”

“What a pity that this grieving one is not a man, or born on the same year, month, and day as Liuli. Rather, we are destined to meet but not fated to be together, putting your affection in vain,” said the empress dowager, feigning upset. “We truly are destined to meet but not be together.”

The surrounding servants could not help but laugh from these words, and the room bustled with excitement for a moment.

When the crown prince arrived at Shoukang Palace and heard the words “Commandery Princess,” “marry,” and “take as a wife,” he could not help but quicken his pace. Once he stepped foot into the room, he caught sight of the masters and servants laughing together. He stepped forward and saluted the empress dowager. “Imperial Grandmother, it’s quite lively here. Who wants to marry and who wants to take a wife?”

“Your Highness still doesn’t know?” Commandery Princess Fushou wishes to marry,” said Hongmian, a smile on her lips as she curtsied toward him. “May Your Highness quickly prepare a generous amount of gifts.”

In a daze, the crown prince stared at the smiling and laughing palace servants filling up the room. He shifted his gaze to Hua Liuli. A good while passed before he could hear himself say with a strange tone, “Commandery Princess, whom do you wish to get married to?”

Hua Liuli sensed that the crown prince was looking at her in a strange manner. Looks like the crown prince really loved that girl who passed away. Even the two words “getting married” change his mood so much.

“Who else?” said the empress dowager, all smiles. “They’re right here.”

The crown prince swept his gaze through everyone. Other than women, there were only court eunuchs in the room. Don’t tell me Imperial Grandmother is talking about me?!　

In a flash, he heard the howls of the wind, the neighs of horses, the roars of rivers and lakes, as if the blue skies and white clouds above stretched open just for him. He could not stop the brilliant smile from blossoming on his lips. “How did Imperial Grandmother know—”

“Naturally, that person is this grieving one.” It was rare for the empress dowager to see him staring so stupidly like that. She smiled in spite of herself. “This grieving one and Liuli were cracking jokes with each other. She said that if we were the same age and this grieving one were a man, she might catch feelings for me.”

The crown prince could no longer hear what she said next. At this moment, he only felt as though the wind ceased blowing, the horses died, the rivers and lakes froze over, and even the sky was no longer blue.

His emotions changed so much that he was almost unable to contain them.

“Imperial Grandmother and Commandery Princess truly are good at making jokes.” The crown prince took a seat. Noticed that Hua Liuli’s cheeks had grown rosy from laughing. And his fingertips felt itchy.

If I could hold Liuli’s hand, stroke her cheeks, and stroll in the imperial gardens with her, how good would that be?　　

“Your Majesty the empress dowager, Her Highness Consort Lin and His Highness Fourth Prince have come to seek an audience.”

The smile on the empress dowager’s face diminished a shade. “Allow them entry.”

Among her grandchildren, the relationship she shared with Fourth Prince was the most distant. Although the gifts she bestowed her grandchildren were all the same, when it came to emotions, the empress dowager was not particularly close to this grandson of hers.

Normally, her fourth grandson didn’t speak much in her presence. He only came to pay respects because of palace etiquette and to show filial piety.

In the beginning, she tried to strengthen their bond, taking the initiative to chat with him. But he continued to be neutral with her, so over time, her heart grew indifferent.

Translated by Sleepchaser at https://sleepchaser.wordpress.com/ If you read it anywhere else besides Sleepchaser’s wordpress, that copy was stolen.

Now, when she heard that Consort Xian and Fourth Prince had come to see her, joy did not particularly fill her face.

Hua Liuli adjusted her clothes. Once Consort Lin and Fourth Prince entered the room, she rose to her feet.

“Quickly sit, Commandery Princess,” said Consort Lin, voice a pleasure for the ears. After stepping foot through the doors, she supported Hua Liuli in sitting down. “Your body is frail. You don’t need to pay attention to these empty rites.”

After that, she stepped forward and saluted the empress dowager. “This concubine pays respects to Your Majesty the empress dowager.”

“Grandson greets Imperial Grandmother,” said Fourth Prince with a stiff face, saluting.

The empress dowager glanced at Fourth Prince’s face. Invited the two of them to sit. “Yesterday, the Department of the Palace sent people over with new tea. You people should have a taste. If you like it, this grieving one will allow you to take some back.”

“Many Thanks, Imperial Grandmother.” Fourth Prince picked up his teacup for a sip, steeped in propriety as he placed it back down in its original position. Not a word left his lips.

Hua Liuli sneaked a peek at his face. She really could not discern whether Fourth Prince liked or disliked the tea. In this moment, as a grandson, he should be praising his grandmother’s things. Whether or not he found it delicious, it was most important to coax her to happiness, right?

If he just kept quiet like this, who could tell whether he liked the tea or not?

“Imperial Grandmother received new tea yet did not inform me,” said the crown prince. “I also want it.”

“You normally aren’t fond of this type of tea. If this grieving one gives some to you, it’ll be wasting such good things.” A smile graced the empress dowager’s lips. “Give these good things a path to survival. Qichen, do you agree?”

“Imperial Grandmother is correct.”

Hua Liuli was speechless.

Fourth Prince is really taciturn to the point where every conversation topic ends with him. It’s surprising that with this kind of personality, he doesn’t draw the empress dowager’s hostility. It’s clear that she’s truly an affectionate grandmother.  　　‌

Fortunately, Consort Lin opened her mouth in a timely manner, saving the room from the awkward atmosphere by saying, “Your Majesty the empress dowager, your honored self is the crown prince’s paternal grandmother. Even if a grandchild sees everyone else’s things as lacking, they would find their grandmother’s things different from everyone else’s.”

A smile finally returned to the empress dowager’s face. “These words are correct.”

“Naturally, Imperial Grandmother’s things are different,” said the crown prince. “So don’t forget to have people wrap up two boxes for me.”

And Hua Liuli finally understood that there was a reason why the empress dowager liked the crown prince the most out of all the imperial princes.

With Consort Lin and the crown prince around to ease the tension, conversation in the room continued even though Fourth Prince always ended every topic.

Consort Lin beat around the bush, until finally, the topic of conversation became Hua Liuli.

After listening for a moment, Hua Liuli realized why that mother and son pair had come. Earlier, she and Lin Wan had an unpleasant argument. As Lin Wan’s paternal aunt, Consort Lin naturally came to illustrate that “everything Lin Wan said was her own opinion and had nothing to do with them.”

Consort Lin was good with her words. Not only was she clear about her reason for making this visit, but she also didn’t forget to show her intention to be close with Hua Liuli, conveniently praising the entire Hua clan and army to high heavens.

“Qichen, this child, has idolized General Hua since young. He has even said he wants to be a hero like General Hua.” Smiling, Consort Lin glanced at her son, hoping he’d say something.

Under her stare, Fourth Prince said with an expressionless face, “Yes.”

Not a word escaped Hua Liuli’s lips.

Truly a deep idolization of her father. It’s just that Fourth Prince didn’t show it well, and she couldn’t really see it, that’s all.

It seemed Consort Lin had long since grown used to her son’s behavior, an unwavering smile on her face as she said, “Since young, this child has been taciturn. This concubine doesn’t know who he heard it from, but apparently generals should have serious expressions and mustn’t show many emotions on their faces. Just a bit uncareful, and he cultivated this kind of bad habit.”

Hua Liuli gazed at Consort Lin in disbelief. Never had she thought that Consort Lin would be a master at lying with her eyes wide open. She’s even able to make up this kind of story?　　　　

What does your son being expressionless have to do with generals?　　

Although this wok is large, shiny, and round, generals don’t want to carry it.