Chapter Thirty-One: Going Out for a Breath of Fresh Air

Until Lie Chang’an’s wounds healed and he resumed his duties at court, Gu Li never again visited him in the side hall. When she heard that he had recovered and left the palace for his residence, she merely nodded indifferently. Jasmine looked at the princess’s wan face and sighed inwardly. This was the princess’s first time falling in love, and she had happened to set her heart on someone whose affections lay elsewhere. With her clear sense of right and wrong, no matter how deep her feelings, she would never steal what already belonged to another.

Since the assassin incident, the palace had intensified its security. On the emperor’s orders, General Chang’an handed over the affairs of the barracks to his deputy and remained at court to serve before the throne. The matter of the assassins had yet to be thoroughly investigated, their origins still a mystery, but the drought in Lihuai County grew ever more severe. The people harvested nothing, famine began to spread, and unrest mounted.

The emperor announced an edict at court, instructing all prefectures along the route to Lihuai County to open their granaries at the checkpoints, distributing grain to ease the people’s suffering. Yet the reserves in each prefecture were limited; within half a month, the famine worsened. Officials reported their granaries were running out, the people begged for food in the streets, complaints echoed everywhere, and life became unbearable as they pleaded for the court’s aid.

After much consideration, the emperor appointed the crown prince as imperial envoy at the next court session, assigning him to deliver ten thousand dan of grain to Lihuai County, escorted by the army, to relieve the disaster. The prince was chosen not only because of the gravity of the crisis, which had left the people destitute and full of resentment, but also because his personal involvement would reassure the populace, win their hearts, and establish his reputation for compassion, paving the way for his future accession.

Upon hearing that the crown prince would go to Lihuai County for disaster relief, Gu Li immediately rushed to the Eastern Palace to ask him to take her along.

“Nonsense!”

Wei Chu, who had always doted on his younger sister, could not help but grow angry at her request. “Do you think this is some excursion for amusement? It’s utter nonsense!”

“Why can’t I go with you? I promise not to cause you any trouble, all right?” Gu Li clung to his arm, trying to wheedle her way through.

“I’m going on official business. The journey is long, and the people there are suffering from famine—there is nothing fun about it. What good could possibly come from you going?” Wei Chu assumed his sister simply wanted to leave the palace for entertainment and tried to comfort her patiently.

“I want to go.” Gu Li insisted, pouting, “I’m not afraid of boredom or hardship, I just want to clear my mind.”

To Wei Chu, these words were merely the willful excuse of a pampered princess wishing to escape the palace for fun. At fourteen or fifteen, she was a cherished daughter, living in luxury, adored by all. What troubles could she possibly have that required her to go out and relax?

“No. You can beg, but it’s useless.” The matter was too grave; even if Wei Chu indulged her in everything else, he could not accede to this request.

“Hmph!”

Gu Li hadn’t expected her brother to be so stubborn this time. She stamped her foot angrily, snorted, and raised her chin at him. “If you won’t let me, I’ll ask Father to issue a decree!”

“Go ahead.” Wei Chu saw her puffed-up cheeks and laughed. “If Father agrees, I’ll have nothing more to say.”

He was certain that their father, who cherished his daughter as a precious jewel, would never allow her to undertake such a dangerous journey to the disaster-stricken region.

But Wei Chu hadn’t anticipated that the emperor would actually consent.

Though the emperor initially found the idea far too dangerous and scolded Gu Li harshly, he finally yielded, unable to resist his beloved daughter’s persistent coaxing and tears. In the end, he reluctantly agreed.

What could he do? For his most treasured daughter, no matter how difficult the task, he would find a way to fulfill her wishes.