Chapter 24: A Young Girl’s Heart

After spending half a month avoiding the summer heat in the Southern Garden, they finally set out for the palace.

The sweltering summer had passed, giving way to the crisp, refreshing air of autumn. Gu Li reclined on a ruyi-shaped rattan lounge chair, tasting the pastries delivered by the Imperial Kitchen, yet found them dull and flavorless.

Nearly five days had gone by since her return from the Southern Garden, and during these five days, she had not seen him…

Setting the pastry back on the plate, Gu Li asked, as if casually, "Have you seen General Chang’an these past few days?"

Jasmine shook her head. "No. General Chang’an is a court official, always in the front halls. How could a humble maid from the inner palace like me ever run into him?"

Jasmine frowned, puzzled. "Why does the princess ask?"

Gu Li bit her red lips. "General Chang’an has saved me several times. Properly, I should thank him in person."

"That’s easy enough," Jasmine said with a smile. "General Chang’an attends court every day. The Imperial Kitchen just made some new pastries, didn’t they? After court, you could send some over as a token of gratitude."

Gu Li’s eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly. She ordered a maid to have the Imperial Kitchen prepare another box of pastries. The thought of seeing him the next day made the corners of her lips lift involuntarily.

The following morning, just as dawn broke, Princess Danqing—who was usually fond of sleeping in—rose with the first call of the rooster. Jasmine hurried to prepare water and help the princess dress and do her hair. By then, the food box from the Imperial Kitchen had also arrived.

"Princess, it’s still early," Jasmine remarked, suppressing a laugh as she watched the princess rush about. This impulsive nature—responding to every whim—when would it ever change?

"It’s not time for court to end yet."

Only then did Gu Li realize she had risen over an hour too early. Her cheeks flushing, she quickly sat back down before her dressing table. Lifting her gaze to the girl in the bronze mirror, she saw the shyness of a maiden’s first stirrings of love, as delicate and reserved as a lotus bud at dawn.

Suddenly, a wave of melancholy came over her. She lowered her lashes, feeling a hint of shame at her own longing.

"Princess, have some breakfast first," Jasmine suggested, leading the maids to lay out the meal. Gu Li, distracted, ate only a few bites before looking up to ask, "What time is it?"

"Almost time for court to end."

"Let’s go, then."

With no appetite left, Gu Li wiped her lips with a gold-threaded handkerchief and had Jasmine touch up her lips. Then, gathering her maids, she set out.

When they reached the corner by the Hall of Grand Tranquility, just one flight of steps away, Jasmine’s voice stopped her. "Princess, look."

Gu Li glanced up in the direction Jasmine indicated. There, half-hidden beside the crouching stone tiger statue, stood a man and a woman engaged in conversation.

They kept the proper distance between them, but with one glance, Gu Li recognized Princess Zhen’an, and the man could only be General Chang’an.

He wore a purple court robe, belted at the waist with a spider-patterned sash of gold thread. His hair, bound up and fixed with a gold-and-jade coronet, complemented his tall, straight figure. Handsome and elegant, he exuded an aloof, unworldly grace, like the bright, cold moon.

His back was turned, so Gu Li couldn’t see his expression, but from the look on Princess Zhen’an’s face—pink as a peach blossom, her eyes shining with the joy of seeing her beloved—it was clear their words were those sweet nothings exchanged by lovers reluctant to part.

Gu Li’s enthusiasm was doused in an instant, as if by a bucket of ice water. She clenched her palms and turned away.

"Princess…" Jasmine called uncertainly, following behind as her mistress strode off in silence. "Aren’t you going to deliver the pastries?"

"No need to disturb General Chang’an and his sweetheart’s rare ‘reunion.’ I’ll deliver them another day."