Chapter 84: Journey to the Capital

As the end of the year drew closer, life at the border grew tranquil. Perhaps after last year’s great battle, the northern nomads needed time to recover, and so this winter was unusually peaceful. Lin Miao-miao busied herself at home preparing the New Year’s Eve feast, while Li Yan-he, with nothing urgent to attend to, idled about the house.

Lin Miao-miao made the fried meatballs and twisted pastries she had loved as a child. In years past, her grandmother had made these treats for the holiday—her mother never cared much for them, but Lin Miao-miao always delighted in the crisp, golden twists her grandmother would prepare. Though her tastes had shifted over the years to potato chips and cola, now as she fried the snacks herself for the festival, she realized her greatest wish was simply to have someone enjoy them.

Lin Lang-luan and Lin Lang-ze, the two children, were eager participants, devouring the twisted pastries in no time. Truly, the New Year was their favorite time of all. Every year, their sister would dress them in new clothes, cook a tableful of delicious foods, and never scold them for anything. When they tired of playing, they’d return to nibble on the treats. Sometimes, Lin Miao-miao would even have them share their snacks with friends. The boys were always proud—these treats were unique to their house, nowhere else to be found.

Quickly, Lin Lang-luan and Lin Lang-ze became the leaders among the children, and Lin Miao-miao was pleased to see them so at ease in their play. Li Yan-he, too, loved the pastries Lin Miao-miao fried. She watched him, amused, as he nibbled absentmindedly, like a child, on the snacks.

Anxious, Lin Miao-miao chided, “Stop eating so many pastries—you’ll need room for dinner!” Li Yan-he glanced up at her, but simply pretended not to hear, continuing to eat. Lin Miao-miao eyed him—he sat reading, slender fingers picking up pastries from the plate.

She was exasperated yet amused. “There’ll be fried yellow croaker, sweet and sour fish, and sweet and sour pork…” she rattled off the dishes. Li Yan-he, hearing the list, elegantly wiped his hands with a handkerchief. Lin Miao-miao looked at him, wondering at the unexpected charm of his contrasting manner.

With a smile and a shake of her head, she poured him a cup of chrysanthemum tea and turned to leave. As she stepped out, Li Yan-he popped another pastry into his mouth.

Closing his book, Li Yan-he watched as Lin Miao-miao went out in search of the mischievous Lin Lang-luan and Lin Lang-ze. She heard a commotion—a group of children quarreling nearby. As she approached, she caught them calling Lin Lang-luan and Lin Lang-ze wild children without parents.

Fuming, the boys wanted to fight, but Lin Miao-miao called them over, and they hurried to her side. Once back, they asked, “Sister, why don’t we have parents?”

Startled, Lin Miao-miao replied, “Why would you think you don’t have parents?” Li Yan-he overheard, his brow furrowing as he regarded the two children.

Lin Miao-miao then said, “Your parents have gone very far away. If you want to find them, it will take a long time.” She sighed. Indeed, they had gone so far away.

Seeing that Lin Miao-miao showed no sadness, Li Yan-he was relieved.

At last, Lin Miao-miao and Li Yan-he had a peaceful New Year once again. Since coming to Da'an Kou, Li Yan-he had scarcely had a restful winter.

Sitting together by the candlelight, the two kept vigil through the night.

After a long silence, Li Yan-he said, “After the holiday, we must return to the capital. Those two will be safer here in Da'an Kou than in the city.” Lin Miao-miao looked up. “Will we come back after going to the capital?” she asked.

Li Yan-he was silent for a moment before answering, “That depends on fate.”

In that instant, Lin Miao-miao understood his meaning. After another pause, she asked, “Why leave them here?” She continued, “Someone must stay in Da'an Kou to manage our affairs, but I don’t want them to become left-behind children.” She sighed, “Why must we worry so much?”

Li Yan-he frowned, but Lin Miao-miao smiled, “When the boat reaches the bridge, it will flow straight.” With that, he said no more. Lin Miao-miao did not speak further, instead igniting fireworks in the night sky.

She gazed upward and said, “The beauty of fireworks is fleeting, but it leaves an everlasting memory.”

Li Yan-he embraced her. “Little girl, hurry and grow up,” he said.

Lin Miao-miao looked up at him, smiling. “I’ve already grown up—how much more must I do?”

She smiled at him, and Li Yan-he, seeing her cheerful face, felt his heart begin to race uncontrollably.

The next morning, Lin Miao-miao rose early. Li Yan-he announced he would take them to his own princely estate in Da'an Kou.

Anba drove the carriage, Lin Miao-miao, Li Yan-he, and the two lively boys rode together, and soon they arrived.

Stepping down, Lin Miao-miao immediately noticed the imposing stone lions flanking the gate. They were mighty and majestic.

Standing at the entrance, she felt the place exuded discomfort, even a sense of oppression.

She lingered for a while, then glanced up at Li Yan-he, who smiled at her.

He took her hand and led her step by step into the Prince’s Manor. Lin Miao-miao thought the estate must have cost a fortune to build.

She asked, “Why don’t you live here?”

Li Yan-he sighed, “It’s too cold. Living here feels as if everything around me is frozen.”

He looked up at the four-cornered sky, as if pondering the sorrows hidden within.

Lin Miao-miao, Li Yan-he, Lin Lang-luan, and Lin Lang-ze would remain in the manor until the imperial edict arrived.

She and Li Yan-he wandered the grounds. “It’s so big here, and the scenery is beautiful,” she remarked.

Li Yan-he, seeing her carefree expression, smiled contentedly.

There were few people, for after the manor was built, no one had ever lived there. Li Yan-he spent his years in the barracks.

After a few days, Lin Lang-luan and Lin Lang-ze protested, clinging to Lin Miao-miao. “Sister, we don’t want to stay here. It’s no fun—we want to go out and play.”

Lin Miao-miao frowned, replying, “If you go back, your brother Yan-he and I will leave.”

“If we leave, who knows when we’ll return. You decide!” The boys thought for a long while, then said, “Sister, we… can’t go back.”

Lin Miao-miao patted their heads. “Be good, both of you.”

In the sixteenth year of Yongchang, in March, the awaited imperial decree finally arrived. Lin Miao-miao watched as soldiers cleared the way.

A eunuch addressed Li Yan-he, “The Prince is summoned to receive the imperial decree.”

Li Yan-he knelt, and Lin Miao-miao knelt beside him, her head bowed, ears ringing.

The ceremony lasted long, and when the decree was finally accepted, Lin Miao-miao stood up while the others remained kneeling. She looked at the eunuch, feeling awkward, and glanced at Li Yan-he.

He shook his head, amused, and took the decree. Lin Miao-miao, seeing this, felt less embarrassed.

Though Lin Miao-miao was well-versed in literature, the classical language of the decree was still hard for her to follow.

Bai Qiu handed the decree to Li Yan-he, saying, “Set out soon. His Majesty and the Noble Consort await you in the palace.”

Lin Miao-miao nodded earnestly. “We’ll prepare and depart shortly—no need to rush.”

Turning to Li Yan-he, she said, “Let’s hurry and pack so we can set out early.”

Li Yan-he nodded, exchanging a knowing look with Anba, who slipped a purse of silver discreetly into Bai Qiu’s hand. Bai Qiu transferred it to his sleeve in one smooth motion.

Lin Miao-miao began packing, and Li Yan-he watched her bustling about, shaking his head in amusement.

Finally, they set out. Lin Miao-miao rode in the carriage prepared by the emperor, curiously inspecting its interior and exterior.

By the second day, boredom set in, and Lin Miao-miao grew drowsy.

She leaned against Li Yan-he, while the two boys slept nearby, and soon she was fast asleep in his arms.

Li Yan-he watched her sleeping face, a gentle smile on his lips.

The carriage quickly left the borderlands, and Lin Miao-miao noticed how different the central plains were from the frontier.

She watched the scenery change endlessly, her spirits high at first, but soon even the landscapes grew monotonous, and she asked Li Yan-he, “When will we arrive?”

Restless, she queried him, and Li Yan-he glanced at the soldier outside.

The soldier replied respectfully, “Your Highness, only three cities remain.”

Li Yan-he nodded. Lin Miao-miao pressed, “How many more days?”

He smiled and shook his head, “At most twenty days, at least fifteen.”