Klares Wasser und wunderschöne Berge

Kapitel 86

She fell silent, then sighed softly, "It's so long...it feels like a dream."

Shaking her head, as if trying to shake off the lingering traces of the dream, she smiled again and looked up, ready to continue walking. However, the scene that suddenly appeared before her was completely unexpected, dealing her another heavy blow.

Opposite her, on the other side of the restaurant's courtyard, appeared several elegantly dressed women, presumably having finished watching the lanterns upstairs. They chatted and laughed in twos and threes as they gracefully walked to the stairs on that side. Among them was a young woman who seemed to have some difficulty moving, walking more slowly than the others. Accompanying her was a tall, handsome man who carefully supported her, occasionally whispering something in her ear with a smile, his eyes filled with undisguised care and affection.

As the young woman descended the stairs, she deliberately protected her abdomen with her hand, carefully examining the steps before cautiously taking her first step. This made it easy for onlookers to notice her slightly protruding belly. The man, on the other hand, did his best to protect her from the side; even the slightest tremor of hers would elicit a tense expression from him.

This tender scene froze the princess in place. Her steps halted, her smile faded, and before she could even shed a tear, I could already hear the sound of her heart breaking.

Cao Ping at that time.

He was so close to the princess; he could have met her cool, melancholic gaze with just a glance. But he didn't. He had no time for anything else; the woman before him seemed to fill the entire world. To say he was supporting her would be an understatement; he was holding her in the palm of his hand. Without a doubt, this wife, who was bearing his new life, was a priceless treasure to him.

The princess did not continue forward for the time being, but instead went to the second-floor terrace, stood silently behind the railing, and watched Cao Ping and the young woman walk out of Baifan Tower together.

He helped her into the carriage, then mounted his horse and rode ahead of it. Years had passed since they parted, yet he remained the same young man from the Five Mausoleums in their memories, his steed kicking up light dust, his fragrant sleeves half-covering the whip. The princess stood silently, watching him depart, seeing his sleeves fluttering in the evening mist on his return journey.

Even after Cao Ping's figure disappeared, she still showed no sign of leaving. Gazing in the night wind at the direction the carriages had gone, she noticed Ruozhu suddenly appear behind her and said with a smile, "Oh, you're still here?"

"Oh, I'm just here, enjoying the breeze," the princess replied hastily, turning around. Looking at Ruozhu, she countered, "How did you get here?"

Ruozhu smiled and pointed to the musicians on the terrace, saying, "I heard someone singing my seventh uncle's lyrics here, so I came out to take a look."

There were eight or nine musicians playing string and wind instruments. Among them was a splendidly made-up singer holding a pipa, casually plucking the strings while softly singing a poem, "Partridge Sky," by Yan Jidao, the seventh son of Yan Shu. The princess listened intently. By this time, the singer had reached the second half of the poem: "Fleeting is inevitable, let us enjoy our leisure, lest sorrow tarnish our youthful beauty. Who can share the brocade of mandarin ducks with me, and pass this cold night in the west tower together?"

...

I drove the same carriage she had come in, taking her back to the princess's residence. The wheels rolled over the tracks left by the Cao family's carriages and horses, then changed direction and drove away into the distance. The tracks of both carriages spread out into an arc that occasionally intersected, continuing along their own paths after that brief intersection, perhaps never to meet again, I thought, just like her fate with Cao Ping, and even Feng Jing.

On the way back, apart from silence, the princess showed no unusual behavior. But at four o'clock in the morning, Jiaqingzi, who was serving her in her bedchamber, knocked on my door.

“The princess just woke up and is crying quietly in bed,” she told me. “We heard her and rushed to ask her why, but she wouldn’t say and just kept crying. Sir, please go and see her.”

I went there immediately. When I entered her bedchamber, I saw several of her personal maids and Madam Han gathered around her bed, offering words of comfort. The princess, however, seemed not to hear them. She sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped in a blanket, her head buried in her knees, sobbing softly.

When Han saw me come in, she got up and pulled me outside the curtain, asking in a low voice, "Did the princess see anything when she went out last night?"

Jiaqingzi must have told her everything about my outing with the princess. So I simply replied, "I saw Cao Ping."

She suddenly realized, and sighed repeatedly, "What a tragedy..."

Then she led the maids out, having previously instructed me: "You were the one who persuaded her last time, so try to talk to her again. These days, she only listens to you."

After they left, I went to the princess's bedside and gently called to her. After a short while, she finally looked up at me with tearful eyes and sobbed, "Before I fell asleep, Lady Yun told me that the moonlight was beautiful tonight, and since it was the last day of the Lantern Festival, I should make a wish. So I wished that when I woke up, I would find myself only eight or nine years old, and that my only worry would be not being able to finish memorizing the poems and essays my father gave me, and the biggest problem would be how to persuade you to write the essays for me..."

But when she woke up just now, she found herself still trapped here, never to return... I kept my sigh to myself, silently sat down beside her, thought for a moment, and said to her, "There are always some things that will never change, whether you are eight or nine years old, eighteen or nineteen, or eighty or ninety."

"What?" she asked me, tears welling in her eyes.

“For example, my sleeve, your shadow, and…” I didn’t finish my sentence, but I reached out my hand to her.

She understood instantly, and gently moved closer, nestling into my arms.

And the warmth I can give her.

I cannot change her fate, but I can at least promise her that I will offer my sleeve when she sheds tears, blow on her wounds when she is in pain, and give her all the warmth I can give her when she feels cold.

The golden duck incense in the pavilion had grown cold, the gauze curtains hung low, and the phoenix curtains were half-drawn by jade hooks. We didn't speak anymore, and just embraced each other, listening to the night watchman's drum and watching the incense burner burn out. We let the two candles outside the curtain melt into tears, dimming the painted screen of the canna lily in front of the bed, until the dew was cold, the moon was waning, the stars were faint, and the pale blue light reflected on the gauze window.

This peaceful time ended at dawn. The sound of hurried footsteps approached, mingling with Jiaqingzi's voice: "Lady of the Imperial Uncle, the Princess has not yet risen. Please wait a moment in the hall..."

I immediately released the princess and strode to the outside of the curtain, just as Madam Yang pushed open the door and entered. Our eyes met, and we were both startled.

She frowned, her suspicious gaze sweeping over me before settling on the gently swaying curtain. After a moment's hesitation, she strode over and abruptly pulled it open.

The princess sat on the edge of the bed and turned to look at Madam Yang in surprise.

At that time, her eyebrows were thin and delicate, her makeup was ruined, her hair was disheveled and her hairpin was askew, and the traces of tears from crying were still visible.

And, unfortunately, she was still putting on her coat.

The Lonely City Closes (The Princess Who Fell in Love with the Eunuch) The wine is finished, leaving only sorrow on my brows. 1. My Mother-in-Law

Chapter word count: 2497 Update time: 09-07-05 10:35

1. My mother-in-law

(2308 words)

With a cold laugh laced with anger and mockery, Madam Yang slowly looked back at me and said, "Mr. Liang serves the princess with utmost care. Not only are you inseparable during the day, but you also come to the princess's boudoir to serve her at night. No wonder the princess only has eyes for you in this vast mansion. Such thoughtfulness and ability are not something everyone possesses!"

Jiaqingzi followed her in and hurriedly defended me, saying, "Mr. Liang is not here every night. The princess was not feeling well last night, so I invited him over."

Madam Yang scoffed, "I heard from the gatekeeper that yesterday the princess and Mr. Liang secretly went out and played all night, not returning until almost midnight. Later, the princess seemed unwell and specially invited Mr. Liang to her boudoir. I suppose Mr. Liang is a highly skilled physician with a unique remedy, and he doesn't want others to see his treatment, so he had all the maids and eunuchs guard outside, not letting anyone in..."

The princess was furious at her offensive words and said, "Who are you to me? Do I have to report to you and get your approval before I can even summon a servant?"

Madam Yang was immediately angered and directly retorted to the princess: "Who am I? I am your husband's mother, your aunt, just like your own mother! What, a bride invites a stranger into her boudoir to spend the night, and her aunt can't even ask a question?"

The princess trembled with rage, strode up to her, and snapped, "What aunt? What aunt does a princess have? What madwoman dares to sit on equal footing with my parents!" Turning to look outside the door, the princess called out again, "Zhang Chengzhao! Where is Zhang Chengzhao?"

Zhang Chengzhao immediately responded loudly from outside the door, then entered. Without waiting for the princess's instructions, he smiled and said to Madam Yang, "Madam, this is my fault. I didn't realize you're getting old; there are some things you might forget if I don't remind you often. From now on, I will definitely tell you every day: When the princess marries, the husband's family will be ranked one generation lower, meaning that, except for the husband, your entire family's generation will be lowered by one generation..."

"What kind of nonsense rules are these!" Madam Yang interrupted him, staring directly at the princess, and said angrily, "Your royal family has many rules, but can they be greater than the fundamental human relationships? Even after the emperor's daughter is married, she is still someone else's wife. I've never seen a wife who dares to climb over her mother-in-law and disown her as her mother! Even if you go back to the palace and tell your parents, they will definitely tell you to be filial to my mother-in-law. Is it wrong for a mother-in-law to discipline her daughter-in-law? The officials and court are all learned men who understand great principles. I want them to judge this matter today and see who is really ignorant of the rules and has messed up the seniority!"

Zhang Chengzhao clicked his tongue and shook his head, calling her "Lady of the Imperial Brother-in-Law," as if he wanted to say something more, but the princess had no patience to listen anymore and shouted at him, "Why are you wasting your breath on her? She trespassed into the princess's chambers and made slanderous remarks; she is extremely rude. Just kick her out!"

Zhang Chengzhao agreed, still smiling as he approached Madam Yang, saying "Please, Madam," while reaching out to try and take her away. Madam Yang angrily broke free, and as the two were struggling, Han Shi suddenly rushed in carrying a bowl of medicine.