Chapter Five, The Snow of the Primordial Palace

I murmured: "It is the wine that is spicy."

Upon hearing her words, I pondered for a moment, yet I became increasingly confused. Given the attitude of the Empress Dowager towards her own sons, how could the Prince of Linzi dare to openly challenge the palace rules and even utter phrases like 'my Li family dynasty'? The Emperor would surely not let this go unpunished, yet she chose to forgive him, which is indeed puzzling. I initially thought she had a clear intention to decide on the Li family's offspring inheriting the throne; could it be that my thoughts were too simplistic?

She no longer spoke of this and chatted with me about the Fengxian Temple. The spiciness of that cup of wine also eased my thoughts. ... If what Wan'er said is true, this is indeed the lightest punishment, but ...? ... Will the Empress Dowager truly let this matter rest, or will she further test Crown Prince Li Dan?

His words confirmed my suspicions even more. I looked at him seriously and asked, "Is the Prince of Yongping still kneeling?" Since he could speak so openly, he must have a very close relationship with Li Chengqi. I couldn't care about anything else and directly asked the question that concerned me the most.

His eyebrows were still dusted with snow, yet his face was adorned with a warm smile. He performed a bow and said, "The princess truly suffers from many ailments and misfortunes." I looked at him helplessly and replied, "This time it is due to excessive drinking; how could I trouble Physician Shen to come personally?" He stood up, shook his head, and his eyes sparkled: "The princess is mistaken; a wine rash is far more dangerous than a wine sting. If it becomes severe, it could even be fatal. How could I dare not come?"

I held Yongtai's hand as we walked at the back, admiring the scenery, and I let her step inside: "Be careful." She blinked and looked at me, saying, "Sister, are you my maid today?" I pinched her nose and laughed, saying, "You are the legitimate imperial granddaughter; how could I not protect you?" Upon hearing this, she surprisingly did not smile, but sighed and said, "What legitimate imperial granddaughter? Having done something wrong, I am not even as good as a servant."

The laughter and chatter at the table were much livelier than usual, likely as everyone sought to mask the awkwardness of the situation. Several uncles appeared quite at ease, frequently engaging in conversation with the Crown Prince, almost as if they were close brothers. Yongtai, called to the Emperor's side, also wore a listless expression, but fortunately still understood the importance of pleasing the Empress Dowager. At this moment, there was no one beside me, only the palace maids occasionally coming forward to replace the hot tea.

Due to the snowy weather, it was still pitch dark when I woke up in the morning. Yi Ping walked in from outside the curtain, lit a lamp, and was about to speak when she suddenly exclaimed, "Why has the princess been afflicted by the wine sting again?" I was taken aback for a moment, touched my face, and suddenly remembered the cup of wine from last night, then bitterly smiled and said, "This time it is not a wine sting, but a wine rash."

After a moment, it unexpectedly began to snow again, and the wind grew stronger. The people walking ahead slowed their pace. As I was contemplating whether to stop for a while and wait for the snow to cease before continuing, I noticed that someone had already passed by the crowd, and it was Li Chengqi and Li Chengyi. Just as I was puzzled, Li Chengyi spoke up: "The Emperor has sent someone to escort you, and my elder brother is concerned that the attendants may be clumsy, so we have come personally to act as your protectors."

He sighed, "I dare not return, for the Prince of Yongping has instructed me to come and diagnose the illness of the princess. How can I dare to go back if I do not prescribe an effective remedy?"

He let out a light sigh and said, "It is indeed a bit small, but Empress Wende was only twelve when she got married." Upon hearing his words, I gradually began to grasp some meaning, and my heart suddenly raced, my ears ringing like a drum. "Next year, I will find a good opportunity to ask my grandmother for a marriage proposal." He released my hand and fell silent.

I looked at him with concern and said softly, "He is still a child and cannot hide his feelings." Wan'er shook her head and said, "This is better; if he were to appear calm and composed, it would truly be a problem in the eyes of those who are observant."

I paused for a moment and said seriously, "This should not be spoken of again in the future." This child must have thought this way after witnessing yesterday's events, but she has yet to understand the principle that trouble arises from careless words

"Sister," Yongtai held my hand and said softly, "I still couldn't help it and said some things." I looked at her in surprise, only to see her smiling at me and saying, "I told Brother Chengyi that since the princess of the Wu family is destined to marry my brother, then let him marry you; it is better than marrying someone else." I stared at her in astonishment, then looked at Li Chengyi, who immediately said anxiously, "Princess, don't take it seriously; Yongtai is just joking."

Yongtai casually grabbed a handful of the residual snow on the cliff and smiled, saying: "No need for my sister to search, my brother has already said that the daughters of the Li family are most likely to marry into the Wu family, and the daughters of the Wu family are the same." She formed a snowball and lightly tossed it at me, laughing, "Since the Empress Dowager likes my sister so much, my sister might still have the opportunity to choose well."

Li Chengyi let out a long sigh and said, "I suppose I am afraid of her now. Last time she forced me to play the flute, and this time she is forcing me to get married. What will she make me do next, hang myself?" After he finished speaking, he helplessly glanced at Li Chengqi and said, "If I had known, I would have handed her over to my elder brother just now."

I stared at the teacup in my hand, a throbbing pain in my head. Frowning, I glanced at the increasingly fierce snow and said to Wan'er, "I will head back first." Wan'er nodded and replied, "Go ahead." I took another look at Li Longji, then stood up and walked in front of the Emperor, saying that I had been out in the sun, had some wine, and was feeling a bit of a headache. My grand-aunt expressed a little concern, then allowed me to withdraw.

The iron chain by the mountain path still bears remnants of snow, which has quickly been covered by a thick layer; this snow indeed departs swiftly and arrives just as urgently

Upon arriving at the palace, Yiping had already been waiting for a long time. She removed the robe from my body, shaking off a flurry of snow. She incessantly inquired whether I had enjoyed myself today and if there were any interesting stories to share with her. However, I remained silent, allowing her to change my clothes, signaling her to lift the curtains, and then I simply collapsed onto the bed, lost in thought.

Yongtai let out a light snort and said: "You want to marry, but I am not willing. To be worthy of my sister, it must be a capable and dashing prince like my brother, who can compose poetry, write lyrics, play the flute, and shoot arrows, excelling in all these skills."

Li Chengqi nodded and said, "Let's go to the back and take another look, so as to avoid missing anything"

He smiled and said, "You are still young; it was just a night of kneeling in the snow. After a few days of rest, it will be fine. However, just as I was about to prescribe a remedy, you, the palace maid, rushed in, and I didn't have time to examine it further." I urged, "Then why aren't you hurrying back?"

Seeing me like this, he did not take his leave but turned to leave instead. I called out to him, saying: "Could Doctor Shen convey a message for me?" He turned back to look at me and smiled, saying: "I forgot to mention earlier, the Emperor has issued an edict that today the Prince of Yongping will accompany the Emperor to visit the Fuxian Temple. If the Princess has anything to say, it would be better to speak directly."

This sentence stirred up the anxiety I had just suppressed; I instinctively looked at Li Chengqi, only to see him shaking his head with a light smile, also casting a glance at me

"Sister," Yongtai rushed over as soon as she saw me, "I thought you all had rolled down the mountain." She tightly grasped my hand, seemingly quite worried. How childish; she had ignored me after being scolded earlier, and now, just a little while later, she was fine again.

Wan'er took a sip of wine, observed my expression, and sighed: "What does it signify when an eight-year-old child can utter such words? Naturally, it reflects the teachings and influence of his father, who remains steadfast in his dedication to the Li family dynasty"

Thus, that incident was, in fact, a favor, yet it had long been a capital offense. Nowadays, in the Great Zhou, who would still dare to mention the Li family dynasty? Especially the nominal crown prince, who is equivalent to harboring treacherous intentions of usurping the throne and changing the surname of the dynasty

He looked at me quietly for a moment before asking, "Is it cold?" I took a moment to respond and then nodded. He smiled gently and said, "I heard your birthday is on the eighth day of the first lunar month?" I was momentarily taken aback by his seemingly random question and took a while before I replied with a "mm." His smile deepened by three points, and he asked, "By next year, you will be twelve years old?" I nodded again, feeling increasingly confused as I looked at him.

"When do you think this snow will stop?" Wan'er raised her voice slightly and sighed, "Look how cold you are, have a drink." I responded and indeed felt cold; in a daze, I ended up downing a glass. A scorching and spicy warmth flowed down my throat, instantly blurring my vision. After wiping my eyes, I finally saw Wan'er smiling and shaking her head.

As the two individuals gradually distanced themselves, the footsteps behind grew increasingly clear. I focused on the snow on the steps, intentionally slowing my pace. Even if Shen Qiu's medical skills were exceptional, it was impossible for him to dispel the lingering chill of yesterday's prolonged kneeling with just a few silver needles. By walking more slowly, perhaps he would not feel so much pain.

The two eunuchs complied and hurriedly made their way down the mountain path. I knew that there was no one behind us, but I understood that he had done this intentionally, so I said nothing and simply followed him to the pavilion. Most people had reached the halfway point of the mountain, and only a few of us lagged behind. At this time, because the two of them were present, there were already four braziers set up in the pavilion for warmth.

I was taken aback by him and could not utter a word

She reached out to tidy my hair and said, "This punishment is already the lightest." I looked up at her and softly asked, "What if it were a heavier punishment?" Wan'er thought for a moment and replied in a low voice, "Death by beating." My hand trembled slightly as I stared at her, unable to respond, how could a royal heir come to this?

If I were to walk over at this moment, no one would notice. Moreover, we went to the Imperial Academy together during the day, and now he is being punished. Even if I were to walk over, it would be understandable. Thoughts raced through my mind as I took a couple of steps forward, only to see him brush the falling snow from his face, looking at me gently and shaking his head.

"Of course not," he shook his head and said, "If one were to be punished by kneeling in front of the Hall of Eternal Life, who would dare to see him? The Emperor, seeing him kneel for an entire night, softened his heart and ordered someone to assist him to the Imperial Pharmacy. I just examined his pulse for him." Upon hearing him say the word 'assist', a faint pain pierced my heart, and I hurriedly asked, "Is there any serious issue?"

I clenched my fist slightly, and after listening to her a few words, I understood everything clearly

The banquet inside the Hall of Eternal Life gradually reached its climax, while outside the Hall, everything was already blanketed in white snow

I quietly watched her, waiting for her to continue speaking

Shen Qiuwei closed her eyes and carefully examined the pulse, paying no attention to me. Seeing this, I felt even more certain that the person he was referring to was Li Chengqi, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. Just as I was about to pull my wrist away, he had already released his grip: "It's nothing, nothing at all, just an old ailment I've had for many years. However, although this is a condition I've had since childhood, the princess should not take it lightly; it would be best to avoid alcohol in the future."

After the lights went out, I tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep soundly. Several times I thought of calling Yiping to inquire, but ultimately decided against it

Eternal Peace Road: "My dear elder brother"

After walking for a while, Yongtai seemed to recall my earlier reprimands and instinctively wanted to avoid me. She said to Li Chengyi, "Brother Chengyi, isn't there a pavilion ahead? I'm tired, let's hurry up." As she spoke, she quickened her pace by a few steps. Seeing her like this, Li Chengyi could only smile helplessly and followed closely behind.

I nodded slightly and made way for Li Chengqi, but as we passed each other, I inadvertently glanced at him. He did not look at me, but quickly walked behind me.

She approached and examined for a moment, saying: "Should we invite the imperial physician to take a look?"

I just reached out my hand, but suddenly guessed something, staring at him, I said: "Whom did Doctor Shen refer to?"

She fell silent for a moment, her voice extremely soft: "Do you remember the day I told you that Li Longji caused a great commotion in front of Fengyang Gate? The Emperor was very pleased at that time, and I did not understand the Emperor's intentions then. However, upon reflecting on it today, I have come to understand."

She responded and hurried away. When she returned, surprisingly, Shen Qiu was following her.

I brushed the snow off my body and casually remarked, "It's rare to hear you mention him; I thought you regarded Prince Yongping as your own brother, with no one else in your eyes." It is indeed rare to hear her refer to her own brother; upon reflection, I recalled that it was on that day in the palace when a young man was shouting that he was indeed Prince Yongtai's brother. Later, I learned that this was Li Chongrun, the eldest son of King Luling, who was also a prince that had been established and later deposed.

I was taken aback for a moment, but when I pondered over it, my heart began to race. I suddenly pulled her to a stop and whispered, "When he said that, who else was beside you?" His words clearly referred to the concubines of the Empress Dowager, a serious taboo in the palace... to casually speak of such matters with a seven-year-old child. If someone else were to overhear... As I thought of this, a chill ran through my body, and I dared not think any further.

On the mountain path, someone is pouring boiling water to melt the snow, while a group of people is waiting at the foot of the mountain for the snow to melt before ascending.

Wu Chengsi stood beside his imperial grandmother, whispering with a smile about the dragon's might that intimidates the heavens. Today, the Emperor is paying homage to the Buddha, and by morning, the snow had already lessened. Now that we have reached the foot of the mountain, it has completely stopped. The Crown Prince and his offspring were right beside him. From a distance, I observed Li Chengqi, who stood behind the Crown Prince, still wearing a calm expression. Occasionally, when the imperial grandmother turned to ask a question, he would nod in response, as if the bond between them remained harmonious, and the events of last night had long since faded away.

I paused for a moment, realizing that I had been abrupt, so I reached out to take a sheet of white paper, intending to write something, but my mind was completely blank.

Wan'er lightly raised the corner of her mouth and said, "I am not trying to scare you; I am truly prepared for this."

As I thought of this, my hands began to tremble slightly. Wan'er poured a glass of wine and handed it to me, signaling for me to drink.

He cleared his throat again before asking: "Do you remember who it is, Your Highness?"

Yongtai was taken aback and hurriedly said, "There is none."

I stood before him in a daze, unable to distinguish between sweetness and panic, my thoughts a chaotic jumble. I opened my mouth to say something, but the words caught in my throat, and I could not produce a sound. Li Chengqi took a slight step back and said, "Let's go"

He nodded and said, "If the princess has something to say, let us meet again in an hour to discuss it. I must first go and administer acupuncture to the prince to ensure everything goes smoothly today; otherwise, this commotion may leave lasting repercussions." I quickly nodded, no longer stopping him. He also did not stand on ceremony, lifting the beaded curtain and departing swiftly.

The snow in Luoyang is indeed falling rapidly," Wan'er said as she walked to my side with a wine cup, sat down, and continued, "Tomorrow, the Emperor is set to visit Fengxian Temple to offer incense, and I fear that some people will be up all night clearing the accumulated snow from the stone walls and the Buddha niches.

I quietly watched him, and he remained motionless, gazing at me as well. After a moment, the fleeting thoughts of hope in my heart dissipated entirely, leaving only a slight bitterness within, along with the sting in my throat caused by the alcohol. I took a deep breath, tightened my robe, and turned to quickly distance myself from the Changsheng Hall. After walking a few dozen steps, I nearly slipped and fell to the ground, yet I did not dare to look back again

I witnessed Yongtai and Li Chengyi entering the pavilion, estimating that after walking for a while longer, I too would be able to enter. Just as I hesitated, I felt a tightness around my wrist, and before I could react, I was pulled to the side of the stone wall by someone behind me. The shouts from halfway up the mountain continued, but I could no longer hear them clearly; I was pressed tightly against the cliff wall, suddenly colliding with those pitch-black eyes.

I cannot see beyond the jade stone steps, only the snow intensifies, sweeping in like a storm with the fierce wind. Although I sit in the hall, my hands and feet are icy cold. When he left the hall, he did not wear any cloak; in such a fierce wind and heavy snow, how could he endure kneeling in front of the Hall of Eternal Life?

I could see that he was anxious and agitated, and naturally understood that he was being teased by Yongtai, so I smiled and said, "Of course, I would not take it seriously"

Kneeling in the snow all night, today I unexpectedly accompany the emperor to Fengxian Temple? Although it is my first time coming to Luoyang to pay homage and offer incense, I am aware that Fengxian Temple is built on the hillside of Longmen Mountain. The mountain path is rugged and uneven; although it has been tidied up for the emperor's visit, in steep areas, one still has to walk, making it difficult for a soft sedan chair to pass.

When he picked up the pen, I still felt a bit of palpitations. After thinking it over for half a day, I finally asked, "Are there any idle people in the medical office at this time?" He decisively put pen to paper, writing the prescription with a fluid motion, and said, "Upon further reflection, it seems rather inconvenient." After he finished speaking, he set down the pen, picked up the paper, blew on it, and pressed it down on the table with the inkstone.

I looked at him in confusion, yet saw that his smile was thick and unyielding, as if he were hiding something else. However, after conversing with him several times, I understood that this person acted unconventionally, so I chose not to inquire further and simply lifted my tea to moisten my throat

I was disturbed by her few words, and I lost my desire to enjoy the scenery. She was also frightened by my scolding and silently walked alongside me, not saying another word

Yongtai stared at me, and I repeated it again while keeping my gaze fixed on her. Only then did she nod, though she did not fully understand, she dared not speak again

Thus, Li Chengqi stepped forward, stating that his younger brother was following his teachings, taking all the blame upon himself. In that moment, he had almost comprehended everything, or perhaps he had understood it all since the day the incident occurred, knowing that one day he would have to take the blame for instigating his brother, bearing the punishment for his father

Yiping brought up two cups of hot tea, but he did not drink; he only smiled at me and said, "This ailment requires a quiet diagnosis, and there should be no outsiders present." I felt that this person had many issues, so I signaled Yiping to leave and said, "This is an ailment I have had since childhood, there is no need for Dr. Shen to be so tense."

Suddenly, faint shouts could be heard from halfway up the mountain. Perhaps the heavy snow had caused the princesses to pause in their steps. The palace maids would first clear the snow with hot water, and they would proceed only after the snow had melted and the path was clear

On that day, it was not a matter of not punishing, but rather to punish his father, and not the Prince of Linzi.

In his pitch-black eyes, there was one part determination and one part warning

Outside, Yi Ping instructed to tend to the brazier, specifying the time and types of breakfast for the following day, each word spoken softly, yet I heard them distinctly. I had thought my mind would be in turmoil at this moment, but unexpectedly, I was still able to divert my attention to listen to the words of the palace maid.

Upon hearing his words, I realized that someone had arrived in the distance. I hurriedly adjusted my robe and continued to walk up the mountain with him. After taking just a few steps, two eunuchs approached carrying a bronze kettle. The older one, seeing us, hurriedly bowed and said: "I thought there was no one behind, but fortunately, I kept my eyes open and came to check. Your Highness, please proceed; the path ahead has been cleared."

The Long Life Palace was bustling with noise, and the palace maids on duty had also taken refuge inside due to the heavy snow. I descended the stone steps slowly, and within just a few steps, my shoes were already soaked. There were only a few steps from the stone steps to where he was kneeling, and I instinctively took two steps forward, but he gently shook his head to signal me to stop. At that moment, my heart suddenly skipped a beat, and I halted.

He said last night while drunk, "Yongtai is mysterious, indeed." He also mentioned that it is possible for the Empress Dowager to give birth to several more children with different surnames, and in the future, the royal family could have three or four surnames, which would undoubtedly be an unprecedented tale.

I paused for a moment, tightened my grip on her hand, and said: "Remember, completely forget this sentence, no one is allowed to speak of it. If he mentions it again, you must pretend you did not hear! From now on, you cannot speak privately about the Li family, the Wu family, or the royal family; anything related to them must not be mentioned again!" Yongtai was inherently simple-minded, and with a brother who spoke without restraint, if she did not remember this today, it would surely lead to great trouble in the future

After a while, he cleared his throat and said: "It seems that the princess is not very concerned about that person, so I will not make a fool of myself and will finish the diagnosis early and take my leave." As he spoke, he gestured for me to extend my right hand to him

Thus, the Empress Dowager wished to borrow today— I inadvertently blurted it out, but was halted by her gaze. She nodded slightly and said: "It is not impossible, especially since Taiping is not present, and no one can truly speak a good word."

There is a depression in the stone wall here, obscuring the view of the valley below and preventing any sight of individuals at the halfway point of the mountain.

Yongtai responded, saying: "I was thinking last night, if I had the same surname as my sister, Wu, I could live more freely. I could also enjoy supreme honor, and my parents would be healthy and happy." Upon hearing her words, I felt a complex mix of emotions and did not know how to respond, so I could only joke: "That's easy, in the future, I will find you a little prince from the Wu family to marry."

I walked to the entrance of the hall, where a palace maid draped a robe over me, secured the belt, and then bowed to escort me out of the Hall of Eternal Life

I thought for a moment and said: "Go ahead, but be quick." Today, I need to go to Fengxian Temple to pay my respects, but I should first ensure everything is in order. If something suddenly goes wrong on the way, it would be quite troublesome

I ignore what he says and keep a close watch on him

He spoke while walking in front of me and pulled up Yongtai, saying: "Let's go one by one."

I looked at him in surprise and said, "Today?"

The grand Taichu Palace has long become indistinct, concealed behind the white expanse, with snow stretching endlessly in all directions. I have read countless poems celebrating snow, yet not a single line comes to mind at this moment. In this world, only that person with a straight back kneels before the Changsheng Hall, their clear eyes gazing quietly at me through the snow curtain.

After a moment, everyone headed up the mountain. Ahead, there were palace maids clearing the path, and due to the narrowness of the mountain trail, apart from the Emperor, all others did not bring their personal maids and eunuchs, leaving them all at the foot of the mountain

I responded with a sound, but didn't say anything.

She lightly tapped my forehead and said, "How can someone who likes the Li family be so sentimental?"

He sat down by himself, and after Yiping had gently lowered the curtain, he spoke softly: "Since I am here to observe on behalf of someone else, I naturally need to be more careful."

The Crown Prince remained composed, discussing poetry with several of my uncles. Li Longji maintained his calm demeanor, neither eating nor drinking. Yongtai went to seek him out for a conversation, but he ignored him.

I was hit with half a body of snow, and I looked at her, both crying and laughing, and said: "Which brother of yours said that?"