The woman, who had originally been dressed in night clothes, had now changed into an elegant and simple female official's robe. Walking in the garden full of spring colors, she was surrounded by the fragrance of flowers, which suppressed the fierceness in her body.
"Lady Luan." The young palace maid greeted her with a rude apology.
The woman simply nodded and continued walking deeper into the garden.
The palace maids couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"Luan Shanggong has such a strong aura, I can't even look her in the eye."
"She's always so serious and doesn't smile."
"Doesn't she smile in front of the princess?"
"She spends a lot of time alone with the princess, who knows?"
"Ha, Luan Yenan was only injured at the hunting grounds and was rescued by the princess. I heard that her whole family was killed by bandits, and she was all alone. The late imperial concubine took pity on her and gave her a status, making her a palace maid. Now she's just relying on the princess's favor to be so arrogant. She truly deserves to be called a lowly person from outside the palace." An old man muttered with full of dissatisfaction.
Several maids followed behind her, carrying trays on which were bright red clothes and various ornaments.
The young palace maids trembled with fear at the sound and hurriedly bowed to the old woman, greeting her as "Granny Hui."
They all knew that Granny Hui and Lady Luan were both veterans in the palace and had never gotten along.
Although these palace maids were all selected from aristocratic families with some power, they were, after all, unfavored concubines from collateral branches, and naturally dared not offend the female officials who held real power in the palace.
Looking at the respectful manner of the young maids, Granny Hui was somewhat satisfied, and asked coldly, "How has the princess been these past few days? Is she still causing trouble?"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a loud bang came from the house deep in the garden.
The palace maids all shrank their necks.
That's the room where the princess lives.
The princess loved growing flowers from a young age and even chose to have her own palace in the garden, which she called the Flower Room. Even after her birth mother passed away, she never moved out.
Granny Hui squinted, her face covered in wrinkles like towering mountains, and her expression was quite unpleasant.
One of the palace maids, who came from a better family and had been given more money, boldly spoke up: "Granny Hui, who knows which dynasty this vase came from that broke? It was on a hunger strike a few days ago, and only after being comforted by Lady Luan did it start eating again. But still, only Lady Luan dares to enter the princess's room."
Granny Hui clicked her tongue lightly, her eyes darting around.
“The princess is already so old, yet she is still so willful. But His Majesty has decreed that the princess must try on her wedding dress in the next few days. Very well, you can give the wedding dress to Lady Luan and let her persuade the princess to try it on, so as not to anger His Majesty for no reason, and so as not to waste the princess’s affection for her. I will come again tomorrow.”
Granny Hui told the palace maids behind her to leave the wedding dress and accessories behind, and then turned around and left.
The palace maids in Penglai Palace dared not speak; they could only accept the wedding dress and ornaments, bow, and watch the guests leave.
Even a fool could tell that the old woman had passed them a hot potato. They were on the verge of tears, but had no choice but to bravely head towards the greenhouse.
Bang--
"I said I won't marry, don't force me!" The princess's voice fell to the ground along with the vase.
The young palace maid, who had just entered the palace, was trembling.
Although Princess Penglai had fallen out of favor since the death of the late imperial concubine and the suppression of her family by Emperor Li, she was still of noble birth and now bore the future of the entire Dali Kingdom on her shoulders, so no one dared to offend her.
Finally, a palace maid was pushed forward by the crowd and knocked on the door.
The voice that came from inside the door was Luan Yennan's: "What is it?"
The young palace maid breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "Lady Luan, Granny Hui has brought the wedding dress and insists that the princess try it on. She said she will come tomorrow to confirm whether the dress needs any alterations."
Squeak.
The wooden door to the greenhouse opened.
The young palace maid was startled and took two steps back, but the wedding dress and jewelry she was holding on the tray were taken away.
The palace maid looked up and saw a strange smile flash across Luan Yenan's face, the meaning of which was unclear, before disappearing in a flash.
She hurriedly shook her head and gave a hasty bow: "Thank you, Lady Luan."
Luan Yenan nodded and said in a deep voice, "Go and prepare some food first, and I'll have you bring it over when I ask you to. I'll try to persuade the princess."
"Yes, ma'am." The palace maids hurriedly bowed and agreed, not wanting to stay there for even a second longer.
Luan Yenan closed the greenhouse door expressionlessly, only to hear another "bang" behind him.
Luan Yenan turned her head, shook her head helplessly, and smiled faintly: "They've already left, Princess."
The elegantly dressed beauty sitting on the soft couch opposite her leaned against it, supporting herself with her hand. Facing the vases neatly arranged on the couch, she discontentedly took a flower out of one of the vases and tossed it into the air.
The vase rose into the air and then fell.
Bang--
"You call me princess again. When it's just me and Sister Nan, you should call me Xuan'er, or Xuanxuan, or Xiaoxuan. You choose one." The princess fiddled with the flowers on the couch.
“Princess Xuan,” Luan Yenan said, turning the conversation in.
Princess Zuo Baixuan was the name of the princess. Luan Yenan had heard the little princess introduce herself before she was rescued and brought into the palace at the age of ten. She secretly remembered it, but never called her by name.
Zuo Baixuan lowered her head in dissatisfaction, twirling the petals in her hand until they were all plucked off.
Even Sister Nan bullies me.
"The flowers are innocent."
Luan Yenan placed the heavy wedding dress on the mahogany round table in the middle of the room with one hand, and picked up the broom that had been prepared in advance with the other hand to sweep the broken vases to the side.
“These flower petals can be used for bathing later,” Zuo Baixuan said, looking at the heavy wedding dress on the table. She sat up straight and sighed softly. “Sister Nan, I am clearly a princess envied by all, but I have never had any freedom. It was better when my mother was alive, but after she left, my grandfather was stripped of his power by my father. Now my father wants me to use my beauty to serve men. I really don’t want to marry that prince from the Northern Gao Kingdom.”
Luan Yenan looked up at Zuo Baixuan.
The princess, with her stunning beauty and ethereal grace, had turned her head to look out the window. She watched the birds taking flight from the branches with envy. Her eyes were red-rimmed, filled with resentment. She had been like this ever since she learned half a month ago that the Emperor had promised her marriage.
Luan Yenan asked her, "Princess Xuan, this is the Emperor's decree. Not only is it difficult to disobey the Emperor's decree, but even if you don't marry the prince of the Northern High Kingdom, there will be the Northern Low Kingdom, the Northern Wai Kingdom, or even the son of some treacherous minister. Whom can you happily marry?"
From a young age, the princess was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and also had some knowledge of national affairs. However, Emperor Li never paid any attention to these things. In his view, it would be more beneficial for the beautiful princess to be a caged bird and serve as a resource.
Zuo Baixuan's eyes were filled with a mixture of sorrow and hope as she turned to look at Luan Yenan: "Sister Nan, I want to marry the person I love."
Luan Yenan didn't evade the question. He stared intently at Zuo Baixuan, a smile playing on his lips. "Princess, you've been reading too many stories. You've been raised within these palace walls all your life. Where would you find someone you like?"
Zuo Baixuan couldn't help but look away from Luan Yenan's slightly wicked smile and turn her gaze back to the window, her ears turning red involuntarily.
She remained silent for a while, then turned her gaze to Luan Yenan: "Sister Nan, why don't you take me with you? I've always covered for you when you left the palace, so take me with you this time! Let's fly far away, just like the two birds we were just now."
Luan Yenan looked at Zuo Baixuan, his eyes flickering.
I still remember that before the late Empress Dowager passed away, she called me to her side.
At that time, Zuo Baixuan was lying on the bedside, already crying her eyes out, her peach blossom eyes red from constant rubbing.
The late Empress Dowager remained calm and solemnly entrusted Luan Yennan with the task: "Nan'er, I entrust Xuan'er to your care."
Luan Yenan replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured. Ever since I first met the princess when I was ten years old, I have decided to protect her with my life."
Luan Yenan didn't know if Zuo Baixuan remembered this, but she would never forget it for the rest of her life.
"..."
Zuo Baixuan didn't know what flashed in Luan Yenan's eyes. This wasn't the first time she had seen it, but she could never quite grasp the key point.
He hurriedly got up and walked to Luan Yenan.
Luan Yenan stood by the table, watching Zuo Baixuan walk barefoot toward him. He took two steps forward and picked her up in his arms, saying, "Be careful of your feet."
Zuo Baixuan was startled when her feet suddenly left the ground. She pursed her lips and grabbed Luan Yenan's collar.
The silk of the palace maid's clothes was very smooth. Zuo Baixuan gripped it too tightly and suddenly grabbed Luan Yenan's undergarment. The material was rather rough, and she squeezed it crookedly.
The moment she tore it open, Zuo Baixuan saw the small mole on Luan Yenan's collarbone.
Her heart was pounding, and she huddled in Luan Yennan's arms, too afraid to move, but her eyes were restlessly observing.
I don't know why, even though we're both women, and Sister Nan smells nice, her fragrance is completely different from mine, and I can never get enough of it.
Looking at the frightened little white rabbit in his arms, Luan Yenan suppressed a smile in his eyes and said calmly, "Princess, if you do not marry according to His Majesty's decree, I'm afraid you will have a hard time leaving the capital alive."
"I'd rather die," Zuo Baixuan said softly, nestled against Luan Yenan's chest and inhaling her fragrance.
But he only received Luan Yenan's calm response: "Then, every single one of the people in Penglai Palace will have to be buried with them."
Zuo Baixuan's breath hitched.
In this way, Sister Nan will also...
Her eyes welled up again. Why was she a princess? If only she weren't.
But if she weren't a princess, she might not have been able to save Sister Nan when she was five years old, and they might not have been able to meet.
As Zuo Baixuan thought about it, she raised her head and followed Luan Yenan's swan-like neck upwards. Her red lips parted slightly as if they were filled with honey, her nose was straight and her eyebrows were not like the curved willow-leaf eyebrows of other women. Her eyebrows had fine blades at the peaks, making her look heroic and dashing.
Everyone says that Princess Penglai is exceptionally beautiful, but if we ask Princess Penglai herself, Sister Nan is truly outstanding, beautiful and extraordinary.
Especially those long, narrow fox-like eyes that exude intelligence.
At that moment, Fox Eyes was staring at the little rabbit in his arms, and chuckled softly.
The little rabbit in her arms looked away as if startled.
Luan Yenan still remembers the first time he met Zuo Baixuan when he was ten years old; she looked like a sweet and delicious little dumpling.
After being rescued, Luan Yenan spent several days recuperating. When she opened the door, she immediately saw the little white rabbit hopping towards her, holding flowers in her hands, and calling out in a childish voice, "Sister, you're awake!"
Like a light, floating cloud, it landed on her heart, which was as firm as a rock.
Luan Yenan carried Zuo Baixuan back to the chaise lounge and sat her down. He then took a towel and bent down to wipe the soles of Zuo Baixuan's feet.
Zuo Baixuan was so ticklish that she laughed and tried to pull her foot back.
Luan Yenan, however, grasped her ankle and gently wiped it.
The cool touch landed on the skin of her ankle, and along with the unavoidable itch, it seeped into her heart.
Zuo Baixuan looked at Luan Yenan's serious face, and her toes curled up.
Luan Yenan, however, held onto his toes tightly, preventing him from breaking free.
The little white rabbit instantly turned into a little pink rabbit, cursing the fox in her heart for doing it on purpose. She suddenly pulled her foot back and reached out to try to push the fox away.
The fox grabbed the little pink rabbit's hand, pulled her into his arms, and reached for her waist with his fingers: "Are you that ticklish?"
The little rabbit didn't want its laughter to be heard outside. It was tickling so badly that it could only cover its mouth, twisting and turning but unable to break free. Finally, it had to give in: "Sister Nan, please let me go, I won't make a fuss anymore."
The fox, however, was not satisfied and whispered seductively to the little rabbit, "Xuan'er, you still need to try on the wedding dress. Let me help you put it on."