Chapter 64

Her heart skipped a beat. Lu Minghua suppressed it, glanced at him lightly, and then looked at his hand, saying, “Let me check your wound to see if it got wet.”

Yan Yuanhua obediently extended his hand for her to see.

“It’s fine. I remembered all your reminders,” he couldn’t help but smile, thinking about Lu Minghua’s nagging earlier. He had never seen her so talkative before, but today, something seemed different.

Lu Minghua examined it carefully, confirmed it was fine, and finally felt relieved. She looked up and smiled at him.

“Be more careful. Don’t you feel any pain?” The sight of it pained her. The original wound had been aggravated, the flesh torn, and the blood had turned dark, looking almost shocking.

“I don’t feel it,” Yan Yuanhua said, looking at her. “I just wanted to be faster, even faster.”

Of course, it hurt, but with his mind set on her, he didn’t care.

“You,” Lu Minghua opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say. She wanted to laugh but also wanted to sigh. Finally, she looked out the window and said, “Today is Little New Year (*). Let’s have dumplings tonight.”

T/N: Little New Year, also known as “Xiaonian” (小年), is a traditional Chinese festival that marks the beginning of the preparations for the Lunar New Year. It usually falls on the 23rd or 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, depending on the region.

Yan Yuanhua sat down beside her, looking out the window. He saw the lights and heard the sound of firecrackers, “Alright.”

“Don’t do it yourself. Let them handle it,” he added.

“How did you know I was going to do it?” Lu Minghua indeed had the thought but didn’t expect him to see through it and refuse in advance.

“I just know,” Yan Yuanhua didn’t tell the truth, pretending to be profound.

Lu Minghua glanced at him, half annoyed, half amused. Thinking about it carefully, she understood. Just as she knew him well, after spending so much time together, Yan Yuanhua knew her well too.

In the evening, they had the chef make dumplings.

In the simple inn, they sat together and ate. The dumplings didn’t taste as good as they were used to, but looking at each other, they still ate quite a lot.

This was their first Little New Year together.

“Let’s set off for the capital tomorrow,” Yan Yuanhua suggested.

“But the snow,” Lu Minghua didn’t object, but the snow hadn’t stopped all day, and her carriage wasn’t suitable for travel.

“It’s fine. My guards will clear the way. If we leave now, we can return to the capital for the New Year.”

Most importantly, his mother had agreed to grant the marriage. Yan Yuanhua was almost impatient to return.

Hearing about the New Year, Lu Minghua’s heart stirred, and she agreed.

The snow stopped at midnight, and the breathing from the next room was light. Yan Yuanhua sat on the bed but couldn’t sleep. The joy of regaining what was lost was intense in the night. He unconsciously paid attention to every movement of Lu Minghua, staying awake all night.

Surprisingly, the next morning, the sky cleared. The long-unseen sun hung in the sky, and the sunlight fell on the snow-covered ground, making it even more dazzling.

In the morning, Lu Minghua and Yan Yuanhua had a quick breakfast. The maids busied themselves to prepare the carriage, making it as comfortable as possible. The guards began checking and preparing the horses.

After breakfast, everything outside was almost ready, and Lu Minghua and Yan Yuanhua went downstairs.

The guards pushed the people from the security bureau into a corner. Watching the couple come down, they were surprised to see how comfortable and natural they were with each other—not at all like they had imagined.

After descending the last step, Yan Yuanhua waited for Lu Minghua, and they walked out together to the carriage.

The innkeeper and staff knelt to salute, only getting up after the carriage had gone far, their faces full of excitement.

“Oh my, the Prince stayed at my inn.” In their small county town, the most distinguished person they had seen was the county magistrate. They never expected to see a prince.

The innkeeper reminded them to keep quiet. The fierce guards had warned them not to reveal the prince’s whereabouts to anyone. The innkeeper came to his senses and quieted down, but he couldn’t hide his joy.

The unremarkable carriage slowly left, surrounded by over a hundred guards. The people from the security bureau followed at the back, still unable to believe what had happened. They had escorted a young lady on a long journey, only to be chased by a prince. Even a storybook wouldn’t dare write such a plot.

With the guards clearing the way, the carriage moved slowly. Lu Minghua sat inside, reading a book and occasionally looking at the snowy mountains outside. Before long, she felt sleepy.

When she fell asleep, Yan Yuanhua put away the book, carefully helped her lie down, and sat on the floor, watching her quietly.

Just this was already very satisfying.

The carriage traveled for five whole days, and the gates of the capital were in sight, lifting everyone’s spirits.

Today was the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month. Many people were entering and leaving the city gates, all with joyful expressions, carrying New Year’s goods and chatting happily with their families as they walked away.

Lu Minghua lifted the curtain and looked out, her gaze drifting toward the city. She could not help but wonder what the Earl’s residence would be like now and also…

The palace.

Her heart was filled with unease, making her feel a bit lost, but looking at Yan Yuanhua beside her, Lu Minghua finally calmed down.

At the city gate, the guards saw Zhao Shiyi and the others from afar and had already cleared the way. A group of palace attendants stood there with smiles, waiting respectfully.

Seeing this, Lu Minghua’s heart sank as she recognized Chief Eunuch Jiang, who had come to find her before.

“What’s wrong?” Yan Yuanhua asked, noticing her hesitation. He smiled lightly and said, “It’s him. Mother must have sent him to wait for me here. You go back first, and I’ll come to find you after I leave the palace.”

Lu Minghua nodded and agreed, lowering the curtain. But plans couldn’t keep up with changes. When the carriage stopped, Chief Eunuch Jiang’s first words surprised both of them.

“Your Highness, you’re finally back. The Empress Dowager has been thinking about you. She instructed me to wait here early and asked you to bring Miss Lu into the palace with you.”

“Alright, we’ll go now,” Yan Yuanhua responded in a deep voice after his initial surprise.

Chief Eunuch Jiang bowed and mounted his horse to follow behind.

“Bring me too?” Lu Minghua felt uneasy, unable to imagine what she would face in the palace.

“Don’t worry. Mother always does what she says. Since she agreed, she won’t make things difficult for you. And besides, you have me.” Yan Yuanhua wasn’t sure what his mother intended, but he spoke with confidence.

“It’s alright,” Lu Minghua felt uneasy for a moment but forced herself to calm down. She had already prepared for whatever she would face when she decided to return to the capital.

No matter what, she would face it head-on.

No matter how difficult, it wouldn’t be harder than before.

Thinking this, she looked up and smiled at Yan Yuanhua, trying to reassure him.

Yan Yuanhua’s expression relaxed, and he returned her smile, hiding the sigh in his eyes. He wished Lu Minghua wouldn’t be so stubborn and self-reliant. He hoped she could rely on him more. But these couldn’t be achieved with just a few words. But it didn’t matter; he had plenty of time to make it happen.

The vermilion palace gates were close at hand. Chief Eunuch Jiang sped up and showed his token, and the Imperial Guards immediately let them through.

The carriage didn’t stop, passing through the palace city and heading straight to Shoukang Palace.

A group of palace attendants came forward. Yan Yuanhua jumped off the carriage first, ignoring their salutes, and raised his hand, saying, “Minghua, come.”

Lu Minghua got out, glanced at him disapprovingly, ignored his hand, and exited the carriage herself.

Feeling a bit disappointed, Yan Yuanhua thought, as expected, Minghua started observing etiquette again as soon as she returned to the capital. It was better outside, he thought, reminiscing about the time in the carriage when the beauty leaned on his shoulder.

“Greetings, Miss Lu,” the head maid greeted Lu Minghua with another bow.

Lu Minghua was somewhat surprised by the respect in the palace attendants’ behavior and couldn’t help but glance at Yan Yuanhua.

“Everyone, rise. What is Mother doing?” Yan Yuanhua asked casually.

The head maid immediately replied that the Empress Dowager was fine and had been thinking about him these past days.

Yan Yuanhua nodded and smiled at Lu Minghua.

“Let’s go, Minghua,” he said.

Lu Minghua couldn’t help but feel anxious, but seeing his calm and steady eyes, she regained some composure, smiled lightly, and followed him. She didn’t notice her surroundings until they stopped. When she looked up and saw the dignified and kind woman on the throne, her heart trembled, and she finally calmed down completely.

This day had finally come. She felt a sense of resolution.

“Mother.”

“Your servant greets the Empress Dowager,” Lu Minghua said, bowing deeply. Compared to Yan Yuanhua’s casual demeanor, she was composed and graceful.

The head maid, who had been observing them, was surprised. She had noticed Lu Minghua’s nervousness and thought she might be disrespectful upon meeting the Empress Dowager. But to her surprise, Lu Minghua quickly calmed down and displayed impeccable manners.

Seeing the Empress Dowager’s signal, the head maid immediately stepped forward to help Lu Minghua up.

“Minghua? Rise, come to me,” the Empress Dowager said, glancing at her son before focusing on Lu Minghua.

Curious, she wanted to see what, besides her strong and stubborn nature, had attracted her youngest son to Lu Minghua.

Having made up her mind, Lu Minghua suppressed her thoughts and approached the Empress Dowager with utmost seriousness, following the proper etiquette.

The Empress Dowager observed everything and couldn’t help but smile. She liked Lu Minghua, not for her manners, but for her seriousness. A decisive and efficient person willing to be cautious in front of you meant something significant.

“Come, lift your head. Let me see you,” the Empress Dowager said, looking at her lowered eyes. Lu Minghua was indeed beautiful, though not stunningly so.

After a careful look, Lu Minghua raised her eyes and smiled gently at the Empress Dowager.

This brief observation revealed nothing, but the Empress Dowager hadn’t expected to see everything immediately. She just wanted to get acquainted first. Glancing at her somewhat restless son, she understood the emperor’s previous feelings.

You rascal, you finally got what you deserve.

“Minghua, I must first apologize to you. I shouldn’t have let them say those things to you before.”

“Please don’t say that, Your Majesty. How could I have expected you to say this?” Lu Minghua was startled and immediately replied, “I understand your deep love for your son.”

“Listen to me,” seeing that she indeed held no resentment or grudges, the Empress Dowager felt more satisfied and smiled again, “Yuanhua has never been so attentive to a woman before. I couldn’t help but worry, so I tested you a bit. Seeing you like this, I feel more at ease.”

Hearing this, Lu Minghua felt relieved. Although she didn’t know the Empress Dowager’s thoughts, her demeanor showed no intention of making things difficult.

“Since you’re back, enjoy the New Year at home. Oh, and on New Year’s Day, the day of the grand court assembly, you must come to the palace to accompany me,” the Empress Dowager said, not intending to say much more. After seeing her, she looked at Yan Yuanhua and asked him to take Lu Minghua home.

This meeting left Lu Minghua feeling nervous when she went in and dazed when she left. Sitting in the carriage, she let out a long breath. But upon thinking carefully, she couldn’t remember what had just happened.

“Minghua,” Yan Yuanhua called out excitedly.

Lu Minghua looked at him in confusion, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, nothing,” seeing her still a bit dazed, Yan Yuanhua swallowed his words, smiled at her, and said, “You’ve had a tiring journey. Remember to rest well when you get home. I’ll come to see you tomorrow, and I want to see you looking refreshed.”

“You should be the one resting well,” Lu Minghua admonished him in return.

Although her journey had been bumpy, she had rested every day. Unlike Yan Yuanhua, who had traveled through the night and, for the past few days, she saw him wide awake every time she woke up, making her suspect he hadn’t slept at all.

“Alright, I’ll rest well too. Tomorrow…” his last two words were so soft that Lu Minghua didn’t notice.

The carriage returned to the Earl’s residence. The guards had already informed Lu Chengwen and his wife. As soon as Lu Minghua entered the residence, the steward hurried to greet her.

Seeing him glance outside, Lu Minghua looked at the departing carriage and said, “The carriage has taken someone away. It’s fine.”

The steward smiled and agreed, looking at Lu Minghua with even more respect. He knew who had been in that carriage.

After the hurried journey, seeing the Earl’s residence again felt different to Lu Minghua. But Lu Chengwen and his wife were full of worry and joy. They were worried about her relationship with Prince Rui but happy that she had finally returned home.

After a few brief questions, Madam Yuan urged her to wash up and rest well, saying they would talk more tomorrow.

After washing up, the kitchen sent food. Lu Minghua ate and intended to pay her respects to Madam Yuan, but the maid sent by Madam Yuan stopped her and told her to rest well. She had no choice but to comply. After a short walk to aid digestion, she faced her familiar bedroom, felt a wave of drowsiness, and fell asleep. She slept from the afternoon until the second watch of the next day.

On the other side, after seeing her enter the residence, Yan Yuanhua turned and returned to the palace.

“Brother, the imperial edict,” he said as soon as he entered the Taiji Hall.

“What imperial edict?” The emperor looked at him carefully, seeing that he was in good spirits, and pretended not to know.

“The imperial edict for my marriage with Minghua. Have you written it? If not, write it now. I want it written by your own hand,” Yan Yuanhua urged, standing by the imperial desk without sitting down.

“Who said I would grant you a marriage?” Seeing his brother’s proud and joyful expression, the emperor didn’t want to give it to him and pretended not to know.

“Mother just said that Minghua should accompany her in the palace on the day of the grand court assembly. She wouldn’t say that for no reason. Brother, let me see it,” Yan Yuanhua reached out.

“You rascal,” the emperor laughed and threw the already written edict to him.

“Did you write this?” Yan Yuanhua asked as he opened it. Seeing his brother’s handwriting, he was satisfied but then complained, “Brother, why does it only say that Minghua is virtuous and graceful? That’s not enough. It should say—”

“Stop. Take it or leave it. If you don’t want it, give it back,” the emperor immediately stopped him, knowing that once Yan Yuanhua started talking about Lu Minghua, he wouldn’t stop.

Yan Yuanhua had to be quiet. He stared at him and said, “No, it needs to be changed.”

The brothers argued for a moment. The emperor took a deep breath, feeling he owed his brother, and had to take out a new scroll and write another edict according to Yan Yuanhua’s wishes.

Looking at the overflowing praise on the edict, the emperor’s hand trembled, finding it hard to believe he had written it.

Even his empress had never been described in such terms.