The General’s Beloved
Princess Gu Li, the most cherished daughter of the Li Dynasty, was raised amidst boundless indulgence, her every whim catered to, resulting in a temperament both spoiled and headstrong. Not only did she have an emperor father who doted on her like a favorite doll, but also a crown prince brother whose love bordered on obsession. For fifteen years, she lived as though immersed in a jar of honey. When she finally reached the age to be married, none of the renowned scholars, poets, or heroes of the court could catch her discerning eye. Instead, her attention settled on the newly-returned general from a humble background. All within the imperial court knew of General Chang’an—descended from the illustrious Li Dynasty, famed for his exploits from a young age, aloof and solitary by nature. Before he had even come of age, his name was already associated with ten thousand lives lost on the battlefield, and there was no one who did not fear him. The crown prince, ever the doting brother, declared, “No matter. I am not afraid. Your brother will help you win his heart!” Yet General Chang’an, with a formal bow, declined the prince’s offer of friendship: “The princess is too willful and pampered; I am unworthy of such fortune. I dare not presume, and will keep my distance.” The crown prince was left utterly perplexed: “???” A glimpse from the side chamber: At a grand banquet one day, the guests drank and made merry.
The General’s Beloved
Year eighteen of Tianyuan, summer.
The palace walls towered majestically, the sky was flawless, but the air was thick with waves of heat, stirring a restless agitation in the heart.
Within the Cloud Mist Hall of the imperial palace, a girl of exquisite beauty reclined upon a rocking chair beneath the shade of garden trees. She wore a jade-green smoky blouse, a pleated skirt of misty floral green, and a sheer shawl as delicate as water vapor. Her shoulders were slender, her waist graceful as if measured by silk, her skin creamy as jade, her breath fragrant as orchids, and her loveliness seemed almost ethereal.
Yet her willow brows were knitted in impatience, her face flushed from the oppressive heat, and a fine sheen of sweat covered her. Behind her stood rows of maids, disciplined and attentive. One personal maid, Jasmine, stepped forward and asked gently, “Princess, the heat is unbearable. Should we return indoors to rest?”
“No,”
Gu Li shook her head stubbornly. “The scenery here is delightful, but inside feels stifling.”
Jasmine sighed, knowing her princess’s obstinate nature, and said no more.
Gu Li ordered, “Hurry, go to the Imperial Kitchens and bring me some chilled mung bean soup.”
Jasmine quickly bowed. “Yes, Your Highness.”
With that, she led several maids away in haste.
In less than half a quarter hour, Jasmine returned with the maids, each carrying a large bowl of iced mung bean soup.
Gu Li drank several mouthfuls, finally dispelling some of the oppressive heat. Nearby, a maid continued to wave
