Chapter 119: Matters of the Imperial Court

Princess Li Anyi of Chang’an tasted the ice cream made by Lin Miaomiao, her eyes brightening as she said to her, "This is truly delicious."

Lin Miaomiao shared the ice cream with Li Yanhe. Looking at the presentation Lin Miaomiao had prepared, Li Yanhe’s lips curled into a smile as he remarked, "If this were to be sold, our shop would truly need to expand."

Hearing this, Lin Miaomiao nodded. The two exchanged a glance, though neither spoke. Having spent a significant amount of time together, a silent understanding had grown between them. Seeing this interaction, Princess Li Anyi felt a sense of genuine happiness for her second brother and Lin Miaomiao.

After the Princess had finished her lunch and departed that evening, Lin Miaomiao and Li Yanhe went out for a stroll. The streets were empty, save for the occasional shout of a night watchman, which only served to make the silence feel more profound. The two stood atop the city walls, and as Lin Miaomiao looked out into the distance, a graceful curve appeared at the corners of her mouth.

"Although the streets are deserted at night," Lin Miaomiao said, looking up at Li Yanhe, "the view from here, with all the lights aglow, is a symbol of a peaceful and prosperous life for the people."

Li Yanhe nodded in agreement. "Indeed, the night view of the capital is magnificent. If you look closely, you can even see the lanterns in the distance."

As they stood there chatting and taking in the scenery of the capital, Lin Miaomiao felt that such a life was truly wonderful. Observing Lin Miaomiao as she lowered her gaze to watch the distant lights, Li Yanhe felt a sense of peace wash over him.

"I searched for her in the crowd a thousand times, only to find her where the lights were fading." The line of poetry drifted through Li Yanhe’s mind. Just as he was lost in thought, the city gates opened, and a group of soldiers clad in armor rode through.

Lin Miaomiao and Li Yanhe exchanged a look. She watched as the leader presented his token to the sentries on the wall and commanded, "Open the gates." Seeing the dark, gleaming token, Lin Miaomiao immediately recognized it as belonging to Li Zheng, who had been missing for a long time.

His complexion was ghastly. Lin Miaomiao stared at him in a daze until Li Zheng suddenly looked up, locking eyes with her. He said nothing, merely letting out a sigh. Li Yanhe and Li Zheng’s gazes met—two cold men staring at each other with icy detachment.

Lin Miaomiao had never seen Li Yanhe look so grave, nor had she ever imagined Li Zheng in armor, mounted on a tall warhorse. She remained frozen for a long time before finally turning to Li Yanhe. "Should we go back?"

Li Yanhe nodded. "Let’s go. It is time we returned."

Lin Miaomiao agreed. That night, she did not greet Li Zheng. She did not know what had gone wrong, but the two had become as strangers.

The next morning, when Li Yanhe attended the early court session, the atmosphere was markedly different from usual. Bai Qiu announced to the gathered officials, "State your business if you have any; otherwise, the court is dismissed."

No sooner had he spoken than Li Zheng stepped forward, knelt, and addressed Emperor Yongchang: "I have a matter to report."

The Emperor’s expression darkened instantly. "What is it you wish to say?"

Li Zheng looked up. "It is currently the rainy season. Bridges and grain warehouses in the south have collapsed. Although massive disaster relief funds were dispatched, they have proven ineffective."

At these words, the Emperor’s face turned livid. If the relief funds were insufficient, it meant embezzlement and corruption were at play. Narrowing his eyes, the Emperor slammed his hand down on the throne. "Investigate it! Use whatever means necessary, but find the black sheep responsible for this."

His piercing gaze swept across the court, causing the officials to tremble. Amidst the tension, Crown Prince Li Hanwen glanced at the Fifth Prince, Li Anping, who stood nearby.

After the session, as Li Zheng and Li Yanhe walked out together, Li Yanhe remarked, "It seems the floods in the south are enough to overturn the entire court." He turned and left. Li Zheng watched his departing figure for a long time before letting out a heavy sigh.

When Li Yanhe returned to the estate, he found Lin Miaomiao busy designing new ice cream treats, giving detailed instructions to the craftsmen. Seeing her, a smile touched his lips. When she finally turned around and saw him in his official robes, she felt they looked exceptionally good on him. "These robes look very fine on you," she said.

Li Yanhe was taken aback, then laughed. "Fine?"

Lin Miaomiao nodded with a smile. "This red adds a touch of vibrancy and makes you seem more approachable."

Li Yanhe smiled warmly at her. After he changed into black attire, Lin Miaomiao noticed the dragon embroidery on his clothes. "I suspect these embroideries carry different meanings; they are not the same as those worn by the Crown Prince or the Emperor," she observed.

Li Yanhe hesitated, then nodded. "Indeed, there are many differences."

Seeing him struggle to find the right words, Lin Miaomiao shook her head with a smile. "If there is something you want to say, just say it."

Li Yanhe nodded. "There is something I need to discuss with you. We may need to marry sooner than planned. Things have happened at court, and I fear that dragging it out will benefit neither of us."

Lin Miaomiao was stunned, her expression shifting as she looked at him. "What happened?"

Li Yanhe’s eyes narrowed, his voice cool. "The flooding in the south is severe. I fear I may be sent to oversee the disaster relief. If I go, I will gain real power, and it will be difficult for me to extract myself later."

Lin Miaomiao fell silent, closing her eyes to think for a long time before letting out a heavy sigh. She nodded. "Very well, do as you see fit."

She smiled, though she remained silent. Li Yanhe looked at the drawings on the table. "Are these the new products for this time?"

Lin Miaomiao nodded. "What do you think? They look nice, don't they?"

"They are beautiful," Li Yanhe said. "They hardly look like food; they look like works of art."

Lin Miaomiao smiled. "Dessert itself is an art form." She poured herself a cup of black tea, and Li Yanhe took a sip. "In that case, you are not wrong."

Noticing he was still preoccupied, Lin Miaomiao smiled. "If you have something on your mind, feel free to speak."

Li Yanhe looked up, his eyes weary. "It is nothing. I am just feeling a bit exhausted."

"Why the exhaustion?" she asked.

After a long pause, he sighed. "Sometimes, I find myself growing weary of this city."

Lin Miaomiao bit her lip, pained by his expression. Then, her face softened into a smile of profound understanding. "Why feel sad? Why feel fear or powerlessness? Life is about knowing when to hold on and when to let go. One must experience glory, one must experience failure, and one must know how to retreat unscathed. Ultimately, our lives are defined by our choices."

"If you are weary, then leave."

Li Yanhe looked at her, drank his tea, and nodded.

As they sat in the pavilion, a servant announced, "Princess Li Anyi of Chang’an and the Fifth Prince, Li Anping, have arrived."

Lin Miaomiao cleared the drawings from the table, and Nanny Zhao, ever observant, took them and quietly retreated. When the Princess approached, Lin Miaomiao’s eyes lit up. "What brings you here today?"

"Nothing in particular," the Princess replied with a smile. "I have had plenty of free time lately."

The Fifth Prince bowed to Lin Miaomiao, who greeted him warmly. "It has been a while since I last saw you, Princess. Today I had some time, so I came along with Anyi. I hope I am not intruding?"

Lin Miaomiao shook her head. "I am just an idle person. There is no intrusion at all."

As she spoke, her maid Chunhua cleared the tea set, and Xiahua quickly brought out a fresh selection of tea and refreshments.