No one in the Li family was overweight; they were all lean and fit. In their eyes, being fat meant a lack of self-discipline. How could someone who couldn’t control their mouth manage a household? It would be laughable to even suggest it.
So, even though he thought of Changle, he didn’t say anything, only replying, “Not yet.”
His aunt, as usual, chided him a bit before leaving.
As fireworks bloomed in the night sky, he sat alone in the front hall, keeping vigil over the ancestral offerings. Just as he was feeling bored, he saw a small pebble fly over the wall.
His heart stirred, and Li Shaoling stood up.
This fishing village was very far from the palace city, requiring a flying beast carriage to reach. The road was desolate, and someone as pampered as her shouldn’t have come.
Yet when he went out and turned to a secluded part of the courtyard wall, he saw her.
Changle stood there, eyes sparkling with joy, holding a bundle of fireworks. “These are the latest from the palace. I’ve come to share some with you.”
Her fingertips were red from the cold, and her brocade shoes were soaked through from the snow.
Li Shaoling frowned, wanting to bring her inside to change shoes, but hesitated, glancing at her.
Changle looked at the courtyard wall and waved her hand, smiling. “It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to go in. I’ll just set off the fireworks and leave.”
After a moment of silence, Li Shaoling nodded.
They found a quiet corner and lit the fireworks.
As sparks flew, Changle excitedly said, “After the New Year, I’ll be turning sixteen. Are you happy, Teacher?”
Her turning sixteen marked the beginning of his nightmare. What was there to be happy about? Li Shaoling frowned.
But to be fair, she treated him well, always thinking of him, protecting him, and even traveling far from the splendor of the palace to this remote village to set off fireworks with him. If they were to live together in the future, it might not be so unbearable.
However, he still felt her decision was selfish. How could he be with her without resentment when she had ruined his career prospects for her desires?
Seeing his silence, Changle continued smiling, “At sixteen, I can leave the Forging Hall where you teach. You’ll have completed two years at Yuan Shi Academy and will be eligible for promotion.”
She looked at him and asked, “If given a choice, would you choose me or the promotion?”
This question made Li Shaoling laugh. He looked at her and said, “What does the Princess think?”
A promising career of his own, or a chubby princess and endless idle luxury? Even a fool would know how to choose, right?
The mockery in his eyes was undisguised, making Changle’s eyelashes tremble and her lips turn pale.
Realizing his attitude was hurtful, Li Shaoling pressed his lips together and turned away, saying, “It’s not like I have a choice anyway, so why ask?”
“No reason, just asking,” she replied.
The firework in her hand burned out, leaving only a black mark on the ground.
Li Shaoling stared at the black spot and said carelessly, “If the Princess could lose some weight, choosing you wouldn’t be so bad.”
“…” Changle forced a smile. “Didn’t you say that being chubby was quite cute?”
“But you’re getting fatter,” he said. “Eating a little less won’t kill you.”
Suddenly, snow fell from the eaves, covering Changle.
Li Shaoling laughed, pulling her aside. “How unlucky you are, snow even got inside your clothes.”
Changle was stunned for a long while before finally coming to her senses. She smiled, brushing the snow off her shoulders. “Yes, quite unlucky.”
The response sounded odd, and Li Shaoling felt an inexplicable sinking in his heart. Seeing her about to leave, he took a few steps to catch her. “It’s so late. How will you, a young lady, get back?”
“It’s fine, I brought a beast carriage,” she said, looking at the courtyard behind him. “If I can’t go back, you can’t accommodate me here either, so why ask?”
Li Shaoling was taken aback and let go of her hand.
Changle waved at him, smiling, her chubby body jiggling as she moved.
Li Shaoling watched her with a frown, halfheartedly waving back.
The beast carriage disappeared into the snowy landscape. He stood there for a moment, feeling his hands and feet grow cold, then hurried back to change his shoes and socks and warm himself by the fire.
After the New Year, he returned to Yuan Shi Academy to continue teaching, only to find Princess Changle’s seat empty again.
“It’s said to be royal custom. To prepare for marriage, the Princess needs to study in the palace for half a year and won’t be attending classes here,” other teachers informed him.
It was still months before her birthday. Why such haste?
Li Shaoling felt annoyed yet resigned.
Her affection was too intense like the sun rising every morning.
During this time, without her bringing meals and new clothes, he felt somewhat out of sorts. However, finally having some peace, he didn’t actively seek news about her, only occasionally hearing bits from others.
“The Princess seems to have lost some weight recently and has fallen ill.”
His heart tightened. Li Shaoling grabbed his colleague who was speaking and asked uncomfortably, “What illness?”
The colleague laughed at him. “You can enter the palace anytime you want. Why are you asking me?”
“No,” he pressed his lips together. “I’ve been busy compiling records. How could I have time to enter the palace? I’m just worried because there’s been an epidemic among the common people lately. I fear it might have reached the palace.”
“It’s not the epidemic. Who knows what’s going on? Such a precious person, yet she can’t seem to eat anything lately.”
Li Shaoling slowed his pace, feeling regretful.
If he had known, he wouldn’t have said anything about her needing to lose weight. She always took his words to heart, and if he said she should be thinner, she would surely starve herself day and night.
He had originally thought being too fat could lead to illness, but tormenting herself like this would cause even more sickness. It would have been better to stay as she was.
“Shaoling,” Qin Shangwu called out to him.
Li Shaoling snapped back to attention and quickly walked over. “Teacher?”
“Write a memorial, to be submitted along with the others,” Qin Shangwu patted his shoulder.
He was surprised.
Memorials were usually written to express gratitude upon receiving an official appointment. But how could he hope for an official position now, with the Princess’s birthday approaching?
Nodding with mixed feelings, Li Shaoling walked away, thinking that perhaps they wanted to let him hold an official position before she turned sixteen, as a way of fulfilling his dream.
But would there be enough time? No matter how he calculated, it seemed insufficient.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he thought with resignation that Changle would do anything to make him happy.
In the past, with his qualifications, he would have had to wait two more years for a chance at an inner court position. But now, likely because of her, he was directly given the position of Inspector, with his official robes delivered half a month before her birthday.
Li Shaoling touched the embroidery on the official robe but didn’t put it on immediately.
He suddenly wanted to see Changle, so he sent a letter to the palace.
Changle came quickly, as always. Whenever he wanted to see her, she would come flying on her sword.