Chapter 19: Following the Protagonist’s Prosperity

“Actually, the capital is suffocating. I’ve had enough…”

---

Ever since the assassination attempt, the Grand Princess’s residence had been closed to visitors. The only person allowed inside was General Xiao.

The young emperor had sent gifts as a gesture of concern, but Li Yunli had not gone to the palace to express her gratitude. No news was coming out of her residence.

Rumors spread throughout the capital, but with the assassin dead and the Grand Princess showing no interest in pursuing the matter, the incident seemed to be settled quietly.

It appeared as if she intended to retreat.

If she truly stepped back, Li Yunli would become the first princess of this dynasty to be sent away to govern a vassal state, a move that would significantly alter the political landscape in the capital.

The young emperor, anxious but powerless, summoned Xiao Linjia to inquire about Li Yunli’s situation.

That very day, as soon as General Mingyi left the palace gates, a decree was issued approving the Grand Princess’s journey to Yongzhou. The date of departure was left to her discretion.

As soon as the imperial edict was delivered, magpies landed on the branches outside the Empress Dowager’s palace—an auspicious sign.

---

At the Grand Princess’s residence, Li Yunli was in the study, watching Yun Chu as he demonstrated calligraphy.

“Press down, pause, lift.”

Li Yunli followed his movements. “I’m doing it right. Why is it so hard?”

She looked at the characters on the paper—crooked, claw-like scribbles. With a sigh, she pressed her brush down and smeared ink over them.

“Forget it. Maybe I just shouldn’t practice.” She set down her brush and gazed up at the ceiling.

Yun Chu smiled, his brows curving. “To practice calligraphy, one must have a calm mind.”

But she had never been able to calm down. How could she sit still long enough to practice?

“I can’t stay still.” Li Yunli admitted. “I used to think my handwriting was fine—at least legible. Why is it that the more I practice, the worse it gets?”

She unrolled a previous attempt.

Her penmanship had always been neat and structured, at least orderly if not elegant. But trying to mimic Yun Chu’s fluid and artistic strokes, with all their intricate flourishes, was impossible.

“That’s because Your Highness has your own method. Forcing yourself to imitate another’s style makes it unnatural.”

Li Yunli sighed, unconvinced but unwilling to give up. “How long did you practice to write like this?”

Yun Chu hesitated. He had been gifted in calligraphy since childhood and, though he practiced daily, he had never struggled.

“Ten… years?” He guessed cautiously, watching her expression.

Li Yunli looked satisfied.

“That’s more like it. Where would I find ten years to practice? Forget it.”

Yun Chu’s gaze flickered.

He was afraid of hearing her talk about time—especially ten years.

“You do have time.” His voice was soft, steady. “I will be by Your Highness’s side. You can take your time. One day—”

Before he could finish, a knock on the door interrupted.

“Your Highness, an imperial decree has arrived,” came Zihui’s voice from outside.

Silence fell.

Li Yunli and Yun Chu exchanged a glance. They both knew what the decree contained.

Li Yunli rose. “Understood.”

“Your Highness,” Yun Chu called her back.

“If you are leaving, should I start packing?”

“No rush,” she said. “The gardeners are supposed to bring me the landscape designs today. Let’s go look at them together later.”

She left the room.

As the Grand Princess, she only paid respects to the late emperor, not the current one. No formal ceremony was required, so she wouldn’t be gone long.

Yun Chu put down his brush and glanced out the window.

In his previous life, he had never been to Yongzhou. During Li Yunli’s absence, turmoil had erupted in the capital, and he had used the chaos to accumulate power. That had been the foundation of his eventual revenge.

If he left with her this time…

“Simply staying by her side, merely being her consort, in a peaceful world—perhaps that wouldn’t be so bad.”

Yun Chu murmured to himself.

But this journey was destined to be anything but peaceful.

---

Li Yunli reached the front hall.

The eunuch delivering the decree wasted no time. After reading it aloud, he handed it to her and conveyed the emperor’s concern for her injured left hand.

“I appreciate His Majesty’s kindness. It’s just a minor wound. Thank you, Eunuch.”

The eunuch waved his hands, saying he dared not accept her gratitude.

With the task complete, he prepared to leave.

Li Yunli ordered Zilan to escort him out, then turned back, unfolding the decree for another look.

Something felt off.

The weight was different.

Had something been hidden inside?

She opened it carefully and found a black jade pendant tied with a silk cord.

“This…”

She held it up, shaking her head with a wry smile.

The young emperor was truly worried about his sister—he had secretly assigned her a team of imperial shadow guards.

The decree stated that Xiao Linjia would accompany her, but no additional troops had been granted to General Mingyi. Clearly, the emperor had his own plans.

If he had openly sent soldiers with her, the Empress Dowager would have objected, and the court would have debated the matter for days.

The young emperor was doing everything he could to protect her.

Li Yunli studied the jade pendant as she walked, unknowingly arriving at Hanmei Pavilion.

Yun Chu was waiting at the door.

“Ready to leave?”

Li Yunli looked up, gripping the jade pendant. “Not yet. The time isn’t right.”

“Your Highness wants to wait until news of the Yongzhou disaster reaches the capital?”

If he recalled correctly, that news wouldn’t arrive until after the New Year—it was still only late autumn.

“General Xiao’s condition for accompanying me is to aid the people. If we wait for the official report, we’ll lose over two months. While the formal disaster relief process would secure more funds and supplies, simply waiting isn’t wise.” Li Yunli stood beside him. “What do you think?”

“Official reports follow a rigid process. But people can act freely.”

“Exactly.” She smiled. “So, how can we make sure the news reaches the capital faster?”

Yun Chu paused. He could tell she already had a plan.

“Your Highness, this is risky. In Chu law, this could be considered deceiving the emperor.”

Reports had to pass through multiple levels before reaching the court. That process took time.

But if they manipulated the system—sped up the final step—the message would be real, but the method false.

“It’s not deception—just urgency.” Li Yunli said lightly. “At worst, I’d be called impatient, not a traitor.”

Yun Chu watched her carefully.

For the first time in years, she looked lively, determined—the way he remembered her from long ago.

He found himself smiling.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” she asked, waving a hand in front of his face.

“Nothing,” he murmured, glancing down. “With Your Highness’s status, this is possible.”

“Then, if I leave before the news reaches the capital, what do you think?”

“If Your Highness departs first, the court will fear for your safety. Old generals loyal to the Jin Prince will pressure the emperor to send reinforcements—along with more relief funds.”

Li Yunli grinned.

“That sounds complicated. I hate causing trouble.”

She was obviously joking.

She was pleased with the decree. But Yun Chu didn’t understand why.

“Your Highness, may I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“Why do you want to go to Yongzhou?”

Li Yunli hesitated, then asked:

“You think I don’t care about the people?”

“No! That’s not what I meant.” Yun Chu hurriedly denied it.

She smiled. “The capital is suffocating. I’ve had enough. You must feel the same, right?”

He frowned slightly.

“You’ve been cooped up here too long. It’s time to see the world.”