tallest building

The banquet finally ended, and the sun was already setting.

Because Princess Duanmin returned to the capital, the eldest princess stayed overnight in the palace to accompany her.

“I have missed my aunt very much these past years. Let’s live together!” Princess Duanmin said sincerely. “Aunt, please don’t dislike me.”

The eldest princess glanced at her and laughed, "Don't look down on me, this old hag. I've drunk a lot of wine today, and I'm afraid I'll cause a drunken ruckus tonight."

“Then I’ll join my aunt in this commotion,” Princess Duanmin said immediately. “As long as you can cause a drunken ruckus, you can still survive.”

"Don't torment yourself anymore." The princess held her hand tenderly. "Back then, you married far away in a fit of pique, and I thought that leaving the capital might not be a bad thing. The grasslands are vast, and maybe they could help you find peace of mind. But now it seems that you still can't let go of what happened back then."

"Aunt, have you forgotten General Zhu now?" Princess Duanmin stared at the eldest princess without blinking.

The eldest princess smiled but said nothing.

At this moment, Yu Lu came over with two head palace maids and respectfully asked the two princesses, "Princess, Princess Duanmin, your palaces are ready and are next to each other. Please follow me. The sedan chairs are also ready."

"I was just telling my aunt that we'd like to stay together," Princess Duanmin said. "Go and make the arrangements!"

“Well… that’s fine,” Yu Lu hesitated for a moment, then immediately put on a smile and said, “Originally, the Princess was assigned to Mingcui Palace and the Princess was assigned to Huixiang Palace. If the two mistresses are to stay together now, in my humble opinion, Huixiang Palace is more suitable. It’s not only closer to here, but it’s also more spacious.”

The reason the eldest princess lived in Mingcui Palace was because she always stayed there whenever she returned to the palace. It was her residence in the palace before she went to Bowang Mountain, and it was incomparable to any other place.

“Although Huixiang Palace is large, none of us have ever stayed there. Let’s go to Mingcui Palace instead! I’m getting older now and I’m becoming more nostalgic,” said Princess Duanmin.

"Yes, yes, yes! It was my oversight, I deserve to die." Yu Lu hurriedly said, "I will immediately order people to rearrange Mingcui Palace."

Princess Duanmin glanced at her but didn't say anything more, but her eyes were cold.

Yu Lu was the Empress's confidant, how could Princess Duanmin not hate him?
"Chief Steward Yu, Princess Duanmin has not returned to the capital for a long time, so everything should be done according to her preferences." The eldest princess specially instructed, "I heard that the Empress has made very careful preparations to welcome her. Let the two of us take a walk around for a while, and then return to Mingcui Palace."

Yu Lu readily agreed and went.

The two princesses walked hand in hand down the road, followed by several attendants.

“The palace has remained the same for so many years,” Princess Duanmin sighed, “exactly the same as in my dream.”

“It’s precisely because it’s the same as always that we need to take a look,” the eldest princess said. “When we’re too old to walk, this place will still be the same.”

It was already quite cool in the evening. Sang Er found out where the princess was and quickly brought over a cloak.

"Quickly pay your respects to Princess Duanmin," the eldest princess said to her.

Princess Duanmin couldn't help but take a second look at Sang Er: "This girl is so pretty. I haven't seen such a beautiful person in so many years."

"Excuse my bluntness, but doesn't the princess look in the mirror?" Sang Er covered her mouth and laughed. "The princess is much prettier than me!"

“Aunt, no wonder this girl can serve you.” Duanmin smiled. “She is not only beautiful but also very clever.”

"Have you gone to see your mother, Wen?" the princess asked Sang Er.

“I’ve seen it. Look, isn’t that the one standing over there?” Sang Er pointed ahead.

Wen Mingqian stood at a distance along the path the princess and her companions were walking.

She was the adopted daughter of the Eldest Princess, and it was only right and proper for her to come and pay her respects when the Eldest Princess entered the palace. "This servant greets the Eldest Princess and Princess Duanmin." When the group approached, Wen Mingqian bowed respectfully and greeted them.

“Duanmin, I haven’t had a chance to introduce this person to you yet.” The Princess took Wen Mingqian’s hand. “She is my adopted daughter, Wen Mingqian, and she is now the incense maker by the Empress’s side.”

"Oh? My aunt actually adopted a goddaughter. I had no idea." Princess Duanmin couldn't help but scrutinize Wen Mingqian more closely.

She knew the princess's temperament all too well; for her to recognize her as a goddaughter, this person must be quite capable.

“This servant is foolish and ignorant, yet the Princess has taken me in as her adopted daughter. I am truly ashamed.”

“My aunt likes you, so you must have some special qualities,” Duanmin said. “It’s rare that you’re so popular with her. As a junior, I’m not by her side all year round, so I can’t do anything to help her. I should be thanking you.”

Before they could exchange more than a few words, a maid from the Empress's palace came to fetch them.

After bowing to the two princesses, she whispered to Wen Mingqian, "Her Majesty has a bit of a headache right now and wants you to come over."

Upon hearing this, the eldest princess said, "Since the Empress has summoned you, you should go quickly. When you are not busy tomorrow, come to Mingcui Palace to talk with me."

Wen Mingqian bowed again before leaving.

When the two princesses arrived at Mingcui Palace, Duanmin exclaimed in surprise as soon as she entered, "How fragrant! There are still orchids blooming in this palace at this time."

“What good orchids are there at this time of year?” The princess laughed. “It must be incense that the Empress had Mingqian make according to your preferences. Her incense is excellent, without the slightest trace of artificiality.”

The King of Chu and his queen also left the palace.

Sitting in the carriage, the princess said, "Princess, you have been married to the northern frontier for so many years, how come you have no children? King Fenye has three principal wives, and those two of them have children, and more than one."

"You know the princess's temper. She's too lazy to even look at Qisihe, so why would she have a child for him?" King Chu snorted.

The Ying family didn't know what was going on; every daughter they had was rebellious.

The eldest princess remained unmarried for life, and Princess Duanmin was also incredibly stubborn.

“Alas, it shouldn’t be like this. A woman is like a vine; how can she survive without relying on a man?” Princess Chu shook her head. “What about a princess? Without her own children, how miserable she will be in her old age.”

"Don't say that in front of the Empress," the King of Chu reminded her.

"Oh, I know. Although the Empress and the Princess don't get along, I would never speak ill of the Princess in front of the Empress. That would only make me seem petty," said the Princess Consort of Chu.

The King of Chu closed his eyes and stopped speaking. He was still feeling the effects of the alcohol and his head was spinning.

“Speaking of which, these barbarians are really tall and strong. Look at that Prince Yuchao, he’s only fifteen years old, but he’s frighteningly tall,” said the Princess of Chu. “It’s a pity I didn’t have time to tell Bai’er today that he must not offend him.”

“Bai’er is not impulsive; you are worrying too much,” said the King of Chu.

"Alas, what can we do? He has to be extremely careful when he enters the palace," sighed the Princess of Chu.

The King of Chu did not speak again, but the words that Master Zhuge had spoken to him earlier that day flashed through his mind.

Was he testing him? What exactly was his intention? (End of Chapter)