Chapter Ten: Discussing Marriage

After sitting for a while, Guli rose to prepare for her return. Not far away, she heard the sound of steady footsteps. Looking up, she saw Lie Chang'an leading a group of first-class guards in her direction, evidently on patrol.

Lie Chang'an noticed her as well, and immediately approached with his subordinates, bowing and cupping his fists in salute. "Greetings, Princess."

Guli merely nodded with a faint smile, acknowledging him.

Lie Chang'an said nothing more, leading his men away as they continued their patrol.

As the footsteps behind her gradually faded, Guli could not help but glance back. The tall, upright figure at the head of the group remained as straight as a pine, leaving a lingering shadow in her heart beneath the waning light of the setting sun.

Having stayed in the Southern Garden for several days, Guli soon found herself restless. Since she was no longer in the palace, both the Empress Dowager and the Empress had said there was no need for her to pay her respects every day, so Guli took the opportunity to sleep in until late morning.

Yet the afternoons left her stifled with boredom. Though the oppressive heat and restlessness were gone, the ease that followed made the days seem to drag on endlessly.

Pouting, Guli complained to the Empress, who tapped her on the forehead and teased her with a smile, "If your father hears you say that, he’ll have something to say! Wasn’t it you who insisted on coming here to escape the summer heat? Now you’re bored already, he’ll send you straight back to the palace."

Guli huffed, retorting, "Fine, I’ll go back. I can keep the Crown Prince company."

"Who’s going back to keep the Crown Prince company?"

No sooner had she spoken than a deep, resonant voice came from the doorway. Looking up, she saw the Emperor himself had arrived.

The Empress and Guli immediately stood and bowed in greeting. Seeing Guli drooping her head in frustration, the Emperor let out a hearty laugh. "What’s this? You want to go back and keep the Crown Prince company? Shall I have someone send you back tomorrow?"

Though she knew her father was teasing, Guli quickly began to act coquettish and evasive. "Father," she said, clinging to his arm and shaking it gently, her sweet voice petulant, "I was only joking. I still want to spend more time with you and Mother."

"More time with us? You’re just sweet-talking. You can barely stand the heat yourself," the Emperor scolded her with a laugh, then turned to the Empress, clapping his hands gently and speaking kindly. "If she’s really so bored, don’t indulge her too much. Find a matron to teach her—let her stay in her own garden and learn some embroidery."

At this, Guli shook her head at once. "Please don’t, Father! I could never master embroidery. I’d rather go back to the palace."

The Emperor shook his head, both helpless and indulgent.

Having been a loving couple for over a decade, the Empress understood the Emperor’s intentions well. She smiled and counseled Guli, "Your father is right. You’re almost of age now. As a princess, you should at least be as skilled in these arts as any other girl. If you don’t even know the basics of embroidery, who will care for you when it’s time to choose a consort and talk of marriage?"

At the mention of marriage, a dark blue figure flashed through Guli’s mind, and her cheeks flushed inexplicably. But as quickly as the thought came, it faded away. She shook her head. "I’m still young. I don’t want to talk about marriage or choosing a consort yet."

With that, she tugged at the Empress’s hand. "Mother, are you in such a hurry to send me away? Do you already want me married off?"

"Of course not. I love you more than anything. How could I possibly want to let you go?" The Empress stroked Guli’s head with boundless affection. "But every girl must marry someday, Princess or not."

Guli lowered her eyes and pouted, "But Jian’an is my elder sister, and she hasn’t settled down yet."

At the mention of Princess Jian’an, the Empress froze, her expression changing as she glanced up at the Emperor, whose own face darkened.

"Your imperial grandmother is handling Jian’an’s affairs," the Emperor replied with obvious displeasure. "She’s keeping an eye on it this time, so it should be settled soon."

"Does Grandmother have any prospects in mind?" Guli asked instinctively.

"Not yet," the Emperor said curtly, clearly unwilling to linger on the subject. "I don’t want to concern myself with her affairs."

Guli nodded in understanding and said no more.