Volus to Another (1/2)

Volus to Another

After the end of the exhibition, Yong Ele, what do you think of Xiahou Yuanfeng?”

Princess Changle indifferently replied, “Not bad”

Pleased, Li Yuan continued to ask, “If he were to becole think?”

Princess Changle disinterestedly responded, “Although this person is good … it is to no avail, this child is at peace”

Li Yuan once again asked, “Since this person is not to your liking, then of thesecivil and le fancies?”

Princess Changle suddenly began to shed tears She stepped forward and kneeled on the ground, saying, “Ih this child is I, I a is still alive Even if this child lacks honor and shame, what reason is there for me to leave nant and cried out, “We have wholeheartedly made preparations to help you select a fine husband How can you be so obstinate?”

Furiously, he rose to his feet Just as he was about to speak stern words of repri heavy tears Although her jade countenance was not as wan and sallohen she first returned to Chang’an, she was co in the splendor and radiance of a youthful ood while before he spoke again “We should not be forcing you Child, be at ease, We will never again s difficult for you”

When this matter was transmitted to le remained as ardless of how she treated the king, she had nevertheless fulfilled her responsibilities Even if she were to remarry in the future, I would not look down on her

This h Li Yuan had tele reive up Empress Dou, noble Consort Yan, and noble Consort Ji all went to try to persuade Princess Changle The princess couldn’t drive thee her , Lady Gao, entered the palace Hearing of this, she tried to persuade noble Consort Zhangsun to allow Princess Changle to live for a few days in the Prince of Yong’s residence, returning to the palace on the fifteenth day of the New Year

noble Consort Zhangsun did not ilanced at Lady Gao There were sos that only she knew Even if others did not show an interest in et involved The day of the competition, after she had returned to her cha if they had noticed if princess had expressed an interest in anyone Against her expectations, the maid, Lü’e,¹ reported, “The Princess re arrived, this servant saw the Princess look intently at the reat happiness However, she instantly returned to norsun kneho thatSuiyun When she went to the Jade Phoenix Hall, she would frequently see her daughter holding a book of poetry, filled with Jiang Zhe’s poetry Included a The rest were the handwriting of a stranger She had once asked her daughter about it This book had been sent into the palace by Jiang Zhe while they were both in Southern Chu So the one her daughter admired was a surrendered subject of Southern Chu However, when she once interrogated the hter, all of thehter had scrupulously abided by the ainst the proper rites Those poe Zhe before they were delivered into the palace She only knew that her daughter was fond of that hter’s heart long ago belonged to someone, but was only hindered by her previous status, and thus was never revealed Of course, it was possible that her daughter originally did not have this inclination But noith the recenta husband did she have this inclination If her daughter was allowed to go to the Prince of Yong’s residence, it was possible to allow her daughter to meet with that person

However, noble Consort Zhangsun’s brows furrowed tightly If he were so as his character was good and her daughter liked him, then she would not mind But that man was a surrendered subject of Southern Chu Even if her daughter illing, then that hter was once the Queen of Southern Chu Thinking it over, noble Consort Zhangsun thought, regardless of what, allowing her daughter to te’s residence would allow her to drive away her worries As for what her intentions were, the noble consort could investigate sun replied, “It would be good if Changle could go play at your place Lü’e, you have always been prudent Go with the Princess If anything happens to the Princess, then you will be able to co Lü’e take note of Changle’s hter’s intentions exactly were

Princess Changle was also very happy that she could temporarily leave the palace to play When she arrived at the Prince of Yong’s residence, the Princess of Yong accoardens The residence’s gardens were divided froardens Thescreens reardens weren’t extremely clear However, there was a clear distinction between inner and outer On this day, the sky was sunny and fair Within the pavilion of the inner residence’s gardens, the Princess of Yong had servants arrange superior grade fruits, having servants and wet nurses bring over the heir, Li Jun, the two daughters born of concubines, and Roulan While they frolicked outside the pavilion, she personally led the two concubines in accole to watch them from within the pavilion Not far was the lake As this moment, the weather was sunny and cloudless, the water of the lake clear, as bright and clean as a piece of jade The several children giggled as they played around, their innocence fascinating After Princess Changle watched for a while, she felt her reatly With a smile, she wondered, “Sister-in-law, I remember that when I left, brother did not have any children Surprisingly, he already has one son and three daughters”

The Princess of Yong laughed and replied, “Princess has guessed wrong Your brother has few children Aside frohters The s Zhe, Major Jiang”

Princess Changle’s hand trembled With a cool and collected voice, she asked, “Oh! Major Jiang is alreadydid not sense the restlessness in Changle’s voice, and explained, “This is Major Jiang’s adopted daughter She is absolutely adorable From what the Prince has said, the major is alone by himself Worried that he wouldn’t be able to take care of his daughter, he therefore had her delivered to the inner residence to allowthat Major Jiang is already twenty-six or twenty-seven years of age, and should take a wife However, the Prince stated that Major Jiang was unwilling It seems as if it is because his former fiancéele felt sorrow, she was also partly delighted Thinking it over, she knew that it was ih thisfrom his poems, but no matter how one looked, he was not someone to depart from established practices If this hter as a subject, it was probably extrereater sorrow

This man that she had silently loved was sohtest bit of destiny with her Recalling that day when she had read his poetry for the first tireatly adht him to have an audience with her, she had fallen deeper in love with him However, there was a separation between the royal-imperial fahtest bit of her intentions Later when he had been dis that she had no need to be anxious about hi after Southern Chu was destroyed Who would have thought that he had still been taken captive by her older brother and brought back to Great Yong? She had spent the entire journey back filled with anxiety, worried that he would be unwilling to surrender and would end up being put to death by her brother But now that he had already beco, she was further worried that he would be i were to happen to her second brother But regardless of what her own thoughts were, after all was said and done, then it would never be possible for her to be with him She could not reveal any of her affection towards hile forced a sht over here Allowordered a servant to bring Roulan over Princess Changle looked at this young baby girl The more she looked, theRoulan into her embrace Roulan had yet to learn hoalk and had just now been playing on top of a felt rug underneath the tree Seeing the beautiful, elegant Princess Changle, Roulan was filled with inquisitiveness as she extended her hands to grab onto the princess’s hair that was tied up into a bun In a short while, Roulan cole’s fine black hair Yet, Princess Changle did not get angry, instead beginning to laugh, continuing to tease this adorable little girl Her hearty laughter caused the Princess of Yong to beco on the side understood the princess’s mind

At the moment when everyone was joyous and happy, barely audible h this sound did not come from the silk thread of a zither nor fros This was a tune popular in Southern Chu Every year at this time, companionshi+ps were for of plu this time This tune was called, h this tune had a si about the skill and technique of the person playing the instrument, however the tune allowed its listeners to feel as if they were being cleansed by the blue skies, the cold plule was enthralled After a short period of time, the sound of the ? Is he thinking of Southern Chu?”

The Princess of Yong’s heart was le, she said, “It is Major Jiang who played the tune I do not knohat instru, but whenever I hear it, its sound always feels noble and ancient Younger sister ca in the scenery at the Overlooking Wave Pavilion When this Major Jiang has free ti the scenery at the lakeside, he is in the guest courtyard reading or playing weiqi, always contented He is not as busy as the other retainers and advisers”

At this moment, an azure-clothed youth approached froe His appearance was delicate and handsome However, he carried with hinized him and did not obstruct him The youth walked to the front of the pavilion Respectfully, he stated, “Princess of Yong,back young Miss Roulan”

Just as the Princess of Yong was about to accept, she glanced at Princess Changle and suddenly said, “Sir Jiang is too polite He has been in the Prince’s residence for quite some time now; there is no need for hile is here She is quite fond of Roulan and would hate to part with her If he doesn’t think askance, please have Sir Jiang come over The Prince will also come soon It won’t be a hindrance”

Xiaoshunzi stared back blankly, glancing at the Princess of Yong and at Princess Changle, a hint of hesitation flashi+ng across his face However, he still replied, “This servant will do as you co approached fro Xiaoshunzi, he sain? Your hter whenever he is free”

Xiaoshunzi responded, “Reporting to Your Highness, the Princess of Yong has stated that Princess Changle is fond of the youngmaster should come over and not treat himself as an outsider”