For two full days, Li Ce hadn’t stepped into the imperial harem at all. The momentum in the front palace gradually grew stronger. Various forces seemed intentionally hiding in the shadows, just waiting for someone to break the tranquility first, before rushing into the palace gates together. Fortunately, Zhao Chun’er’s arrival finally disturbed the still waters of the Tang capital, and Li Ce’s grand wedding ceremony drew ever closer.

Just as Li Ce and Chu Qiao had predicted, Great Xia made no statement regarding Li Ce’s rude dismissal of Ninth Princess Zhao Yan. Instead, they promptly dispatched a marriage alliance delegation. Various dowries like flowing water were delivered by excellent horses galloping day and night, arriving just one day after Zhao Chun’er. The spectacle was even more magnificent, with several hints of solemnness compared to before. The envoys of both countries held grand banquets in Tang’s National Academy Hall as if everything before had never happened. The prosperous and bustling scene immediately eliminated the public’s worries and speculations about war.

However, only a few people clearly understood that Li Ce’s rash action wasn’t without consequences. The peace and tranquility were only temporary. That slap on Great Xia’s face left lingering pain and hidden troubles, which might only become clear after a very long time.

Thus, Chu Qiao stayed in the Tang Palace for two more days. Her body had recovered by more than half, and her spirit was gradually becoming refreshed. Li Ce had found many medicinal herbs for treating wounds. The wounds left no scars, and even her old injuries had healed seven or eight parts out of ten. After many days of recuperation, her complexion looked much better, no longer skeletal and frail as before, seeming about to fall with the wind.

Zhao Chun’er coming to Tang for a political marriage was truly beyond Chu Qiao’s expectations.

The Xia Emperor had numerous offspring, with six or seven princesses of marriageable age. Sending a princess who had been separated in a chaotic battle to marry seemed quite forced. But Tang’s hundred officials were pleased with Zhao Chun’er’s arrival. The hundreds of writers from the Censorate all waved flags and shouted, greatly praising the historical significance of the marriage alliance between Tang and Great Xia. The battle-avoiding civil officials spoke eloquently, writing articles full of flowery praise, directly saying that the friendship between Great Xia and Tang could be traced back to ancient times, completely forgetting who had shattered Tang’s national gates, seized eighteen prefectures of Hongchuan, forcing the Tang royal family to retreat in haste, with the emperor trapped at the national gate, losing the entire northwestern barrier.

After all, for Tang, which emphasized bloodlines and the distinction between nobles and commoners, Zhao Chun’er’s identity as the only biological daughter of Great Xia’s Empress Muhe still earned her considerable attention.

But there was one thing that others didn’t know. Chu Qiao slowly frowned, her white fingers gently pinching the green gauze of the window curtain, with a small gold-foil flower at her brow, adding a touch of beauty.

Zhao Chun’er had been violated amidst the chaos of war and was no longer pure. As a princess of Great Xia, she might not need to undergo the physical examination required of ordinary concubines before selection, but once they shared a bed, someone as experienced as Li Ce would inevitably discover it.

Of course, even if Li Ce discovered this, he couldn’t blame Great Xia afterward. After all, once Great Xia’s princess was in Li Ce’s bed if this philanderer went around saying the woman wasn’t a virgin, probably no one would believe him. Moreover, Li Ce had always strongly opposed this marriage. This issue might be seen as another of Li Ce’s acts of mischief. With Li Ce’s intelligence, he wouldn’t embarrass himself by widely publicizing that he had been given an enormous green hat. Zhao Chun’er would successfully marry and obtain a title. But as an unclean princess in a political marriage, her future destiny was quite predictable.

Given Zhao Chun’er’s personality, would she willingly endure all this humiliation?

Chu Qiao secretly remained somewhat cautious. Unfortunately, this concern couldn’t be spoken aloud. Although she knew all the improprieties of this situation and had a deep bond with Li Ce, she couldn’t expose Zhao Chun’er’s vulnerability. Even though Zhao Chun’er had been ruthless toward her, she still couldn’t bring herself to use such underhanded tactics.

The situation in Tang became increasingly chaotic, yet Chu Qiao grew more careful and restrained, no longer in a hurry to leave the palace.

After all, if she couldn’t depart quietly, it was better to safely remain here and wait for an opportunity. For now, she could only remain unchanged while adapting to all changes, waiting for Yan Xun’s arrival.

At night, a cool breeze arose. Chu Qiao wore a soft garment, leaning against the carved window frame. The night breeze gently lifted her clothes, making her feel somewhat cold.

Footsteps slowly sounded in the corridor outside. Just one person. The only one who could come here at this time could be none other than one person. Sure enough, after a moment, Li Ce appeared in a dark blue robe, his face slightly flushed, carrying the smell of alcohol, standing at the doorway looking at her, but not entering.

Chu Qiao turned to look at him and saw that his steps were slightly heavy as if he could barely stand. She quickly rose to go to his side, intending to support him. However, just as she reached out, Li Ce suddenly pulled her to sit on the doorstep, then lowered his head, pressing his forehead heavily on her shoulder, muttering tiredly: “Qiao Qiao, I’m exhausted.”

Chu Qiao was momentarily stunned, her hand suspended in midair, suddenly not knowing what to do.

The night breeze brought the faint fragrance of calamus drifting between breaths. Li Ce’s sleeves were embroidered with faint gold patterns, with fine stitches as smooth as water. Chu Qiao took a deep breath, then softly asked: “Li Ce, what’s wrong?”

Li Ce shook his head without speaking.

Chu Qiao tentatively asked: “Is it because of the marriage alliance with Great Xia? You don’t like Zhao Chun’er?”

Li Ce still didn’t speak. Chu Qiao sighed helplessly, then sat beside him on the doorstep, allowing Li Ce to lean on her shoulder, also remaining silent.

In early autumn, the sparse evening grass filled the air with a subtle sense. The new moon outside the window was like a new eyebrow, faintly shining through the window, spilling silver-white light all over the ground. The palace lamps were dark purple, flickering, with candle tears dripping slowly down the silver-white candlesticks.

The chirping of autumn insects made the room seem even more desolate. This spacious palace had indeed been uninhabited for a long time.

“Qiao Qiao, did you send someone to find me the other day?”

Li Ce suddenly said, his voice somewhat deep, but no longer as tired as before. He sat up straight, his eyes darkly bright, as if the previously soft man wasn’t him at all. Chu Qiao knew his moment of weakness had passed, and now he was once again the invincible Crown Prince of Tang.

“Yes,” Chu Qiao nodded: “I want to leave.”

“Good, I’ll send people immediately. Tomorrow they’ll escort you to Yan Bei,” Li Ce nodded without hesitation, saying in a deep voice.

“No, I don’t want to return to Yan Bei yet. I still have unfinished business here.”

Li Ce’s brow immediately frowned slightly. He stared at Chu Qiao, habitually with a hint of inquiry and contemplation. Chu Qiao said: “You don’t need to guess. I’m waiting for someone, and you needn’t ask who this person is.”

Li Ce smiled slyly and said: “You’re probably planning to cheat on Yan Xun. Zhuge Yue is about to arrive, are you perhaps going to find him?”

Chu Qiao impatiently rolled her eyes at him: “Guess all you want.”

“You’d better be a bit careful,” Li Ce leaned against the doorpost and said: “Under my watch, I can still protect you, but once you’re out, it’s hard to guarantee. Great Xia’s people have entered the city. They’ve learned from Zhao Yan that you’re in the palace. How much the Xia people hate you, I don’t need to remind you.”

Chu Qiao nodded, suddenly remembering the one-armed Zhao Song, her expression momentarily desolate. She said softly: “I understand.”

Li Ce looked at her sideways, seeing her silent, he suddenly stood up, grabbed her hand, and said loudly: “Come, I’ll take you somewhere!”

The night mist was gray-white, the dim palace lamps submerged in the darkness, like warm, bright flames. Li Ce in his plain elegant clothes, holding her hand, strode forward rapidly. The night wind passed through their hair, light and floating, like the finest cloud brocade curtains.

They arrived at a courtyard Chu Qiao had never visited before. They passed through flowers and willows, stepped on the early autumn dew, turned through several small gates, pushed aside a cluster of green willows, and suddenly a clear emerald lake appeared before them. The lake was covered with lotus leaves, reaching to the sky. The pure white lotus flowers in the moonlight were like snow carvings, with an intense fragrance that made one feel intoxicated.

Chu Qiao was momentarily stunned. She turned her head and asked: “How did you do this?”

Li Ce smiled, pulled her hand to squat down, and reached into the lake water. Chu Qiao let out a light cry, very surprised.

Li Ce smiled proudly and said: “Aren’t I clever? I had people bury lotus roots underneath early on, then divert hot spring water. In one night, all the flowers bloomed.”

Chu Qiao covered her mouth and laughed: “Impressive. Money can make ghosts turn millstones, power can make millstones turn ghosts. You have both money and power, so even the flower god must listen to you.”

“Money can make ghosts turn millstones? That’s a fresh saying.”

Li Ce laughed: “Come, follow me.”

The two followed the stone path to the lakeside. Li Ce was very familiar with this place. Under the faint moonlight, he led Chu Qiao onto a small boat, then stood at the bow, lightly pushed an oar, and the small boat slowly left the shore, gradually sliding into the emerald lake.

A gentle breeze came softly, carrying the faint fragrance of the newly bloomed lotus. The misty water stretched for miles, with countless lotus flowers hidden among the mist. The moonlight was like washing, with a clear glow, moving like a mirror breaking ice.

The small boat shuttled between the blue-green lotus leaves, with large lotus flowers pushing on both sides, having an almost extravagant sweet fragrance. Chu Qiao, being a woman, brushed past several white lotus flowers, her eyelashes curved, smiling quietly.

Li Ce put down the oar, sat at the bow, and didn’t speak, just silently watching her. The distant palace lamps reflected in the pool water, with large patches of silk red and yellow floating on the clear water surface, as beautiful as a rainbow after rain.

Chu Qiao turned her head, smiled slightly at Li Ce, and said: “Li Ce, thank you.”

“Thank me? For what?”

The man’s eyes curved slightly upward, with a hint of the deep and cunning nature unique to men. His eyes were half-closed, with flickering dim light, seemingly hiding many things, and also covering many things.

“Thank you for taking care of me these days. If not for you, I might already be dead.”

Li Ce smiled slightly: “Then you really should thank me properly. Saving a life is no small matter. Why don’t you just stay and dedicate yourself to me in Tang?”

The water flowed softly, with faint sounds passing by, merging with their sparse conversation, disappearing among the miles of wind and lotus. Chu Qiao raised her head, her eyes bright, and said: “The beauty of the lotus lies in emerging unstained from the mud, being washed by clear ripples without becoming bewitching. I feel that being with you for so long and still being able to think and speak with a normal person’s mentality is the spirit of the lotus.”

Li Ce clutched his heart and sighed: “Qiao Qiao’s poetic talent truly makes me increasingly infatuated.”

Chu Qiao looked up at the gentle moonlight: “You’re infatuated with too many things. Being too greedy isn’t a good thing.”

Li Ce stood up, his light robe and big sleeves floating with the wind, his tone casually saying: “Some things, no matter what cannot be forced into one’s hands, so one can only try to look a few more times.”

Chu Qiao was slightly startled, but her face remained unchanged as she said: “Withered lotus can bloom again. You’ve managed to make them bloom an extra pool, which is already remarkable.”

Li Ce nodded and sighed lightly: “Yes, they will bloom again next year.”

The small boat rocked, the duckweed separated and gathered, light as goose feathers, slowly drifting with the waves.

“Yan Bei must be very cold,” Li Ce suddenly sighed softly: “I heard it snows all year round there, rarely seeing flowers, a place of ice and snow.”

Chu Qiao raised her head, looking at his tall figure, her tone cheerful as she said: “Spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, each has its own specialty. Yan Bei’s vast plains like snow, ice mountains washed clean are also rare sights. If one day you tire of the misty rain of the south, you might consider riding to the frontier, stepping on the snow. The beauties on the Yan Bei plateau will surprise you beyond your expectations and capture your heart.”

Li Ce was slightly taken aback, his expression momentarily lost, then he immediately laughed loudly and said: “You understand me best, always thinking of me.”

At this moment, with a bang, the small boat touched the shore. The pool wasn’t large, and in this short time, they had already reached the end.

The two disembarked and slowly walked toward Mihe Residence. The moonlight shone on them, so pure and desolate, with a hint of bleakness. Their shadows fell on the ground, overlapping, then separating, overlapping, then separating again, eventually growing further apart. After all, they were two shadows, and they had never been connected as one.

In the blink of an eye, they had arrived at the entrance of Mihe Residence. The two stood there, with a moment of hazy awkwardness. Li Ce lazily leaned against a pomegranate tree, with crimson petals like rouge, fluttering all over his body. His forehead and sideburns were stained with light red. The distant lamplight shone over, making it increasingly momentarily hazy.

Li Ce seemingly lazily yawned and said: “It’s too late, probably won’t be able to get up early tomorrow morning.”

Chu Qiao nodded: “You’re just lazy. This morning, Qiu Sui said you hadn’t even put on your boots after the morning court, and the Tang Emperor was angry about it.”

“Why talk about those things?” Li Ce waved his hand, then said: “I don’t want to get up early. Why can’t the morning court be moved to the afternoon? Troublesome. Let’s do this: early tomorrow morning, I’ll send someone to escort you out of the palace, and then you can fend for yourself. I won’t see you off.”

Chu Qiao nodded: “No need to trouble your grand presence.”

Li Ce smiled and said: “That’s good. This journey is long, take care of yourself. If…”

At this point, his words suddenly became difficult to express. Li Ce laughed self-mockingly, then turned away, the corner of his mouth showing faint lines: “If someday, you find the cold of Yan Bei unbearable, you can consider returning to the south to recuperate. Although this place lacks the magnificence of the great desert and the openness of the grasslands, it’s warm and suitable for living.”

Chu Qiao’s lips were bitter as she smiled lightly: “People have joy and sorrow, partings and reunions, the moon has cloudiness and clarity, waxing and waning. The affairs of the world depend on destiny.”

Li Ce shook his head and said softly: “I also hope you never have that day. You… take care of yourself.”

Suddenly, there was an inexplicable sadness in her heart. Li Ce’s figure grew increasingly distant, and Chu Qiao also slowly turned away. The moonlight shone between them, that patch of uninhabited brightness gradually spreading, finally enveloping the entire lonely palace.