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The evening had settled gently over the Guo'an Imperial Palace.
Beyond the tall vermilion windows of the royal study, the last traces of sunlight were fading behind the distant mountains. The sky had turned into a beautiful mixture of violet and deep blue, while the first stars slowly appeared above the tiled rooftops.
Lanterns had already been lit throughout the palace grounds.
Their warm golden glow reflected against polished stone pathways and illuminated the gardens in small pools of light.
Inside the study, Guo Mingze remained seated behind his writing desk.
Several scrolls were arranged neatly before him.
He had been reading through reports from various parts of the kingdom, occasionally making small notes with his brush. The room was quiet except for the faint crackling of the candle flames.
A gentle knock came from the door.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Guo Yichen stepped inside.
Unlike his older brother, who had spent most of the evening surrounded by documents and political matters, Yichen had only recently returned from the training grounds.
His dark hair was tied behind his head, and he had changed into a clean set of robes. His posture remained straight, and there was still something distinctly military about the way he carried himself.
Mingze looked up.
"Yichen."
"Brother."
"What brings you here?"
Yichen walked toward the desk.
"I wanted to ask you something."
Mingze put down his brush.
"Go ahead."
Yichen hesitated.
It was unusual for him to hesitate.
Mingze noticed immediately.
"Is something wrong?"
"No."
"Then?"
Yichen folded his arms.
"Tomorrow, I want to take Princess Lihua into the central city."
Mingze's expression softened.
"The central city?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"The eastern market district, the river promenade, perhaps the old temple quarter."
Mingze leaned back slightly.
"And why?"
Yichen gave him a look.
"Because she has been inside the palace for weeks."
"I know."
"Then you understand."
Mingze smiled faintly.
"You want her to see more of Gou'an."
Yichen nodded.
"She's going to become part of our family."
His words were simple.
Yet Mingze noticed the slight change in his brother's expression.
Yichen continued.
"I thought she should know the place she's going to call home."
Mingze was silent for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"I agree."
Yichen seemed relieved.
"I'll arrange the guards."
"Don't take too many."
Yichen raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"If the princess wishes to see the city, surrounding her with half the palace guard will only make her feel as though she's attending a military procession."
Yichen considered that.
"Then a smaller escort."
"Exactly."
"I'll make sure they're discreet."
Mingze smiled.
"I trust you."
Yichen turned toward the door.
His hand had almost reached the handle when Mingze spoke again.
"Yichen."
The younger prince stopped.
"What do you think of Princess Lihua?"
Silence.
Yichen slowly turned around.
"What?"
Mingze rested his chin lightly against one hand.
"You heard me."
Yichen stared at him.
"I think she's..."
He paused.
"She's fine."
Mingze's eyebrow lifted.
"Fine?"
"Yes."
"That's all?"
Yichen frowned.
"What else am I supposed to say?"
Mingze chuckled.
"You've never been very good at describing your feelings."
"I didn't say I had feelings."
"I didn't say you did."
Yichen became silent.
Mingze's smile grew.
His younger brother was remarkably easy to tease whenever the subject concerned something outside military affairs.
Finally, Yichen sighed.
"She's kind."
Mingze listened.
"She's polite. She treats servants well."
A pause.
"She's also curious."
"Curious?"
"She asks questions."
Mingze smiled.
"That sounds like her."
Yichen looked down briefly.
"She doesn't seem arrogant."
"She isn't."
"And..."
He stopped.
Mingze waited.
"And she smiles easily."
The older prince's expression softened.
"That's true."
Yichen looked toward the window.
"The palace has probably been lonely for her."
Mingze nodded.
"She left everything familiar behind."
"I know."
"Her brother. Her homeland. Her servants."
Yichen's expression became thoughtful.
"That's why I want her to see the city."
Mingze looked at him for several seconds.
Then he smiled.
"Take good care of her."
Yichen nodded.
"I will."
He opened the door.
"Yichen."
The younger prince glanced back.
"Thank you."
Yichen gave a small nod.
Then he left.
Mingze watched the door close behind him.
For a moment, he remained silent.
Then a faint smile appeared on his face.
Perhaps tomorrow would be interesting.
---
The Following Morning
The sun rose over Gou'an beneath a cloudless sky.
Morning light spilled across the palace rooftops, turning the golden decorations along the eaves into brilliant points of light.
The central courtyard was already alive with activity.
Servants carried baskets of fresh vegetables toward the kitchens.
Guards changed shifts at the palace gates.
Merchants delivering supplies waited outside the designated entrance while palace officials checked their documents.
Inside the princess's residence, Xiao Lihua stood before a mirror while Lin Yue adjusted the final layer of her hanfu.
Today, Lihua wore a soft-colored robe decorated with delicate floral embroidery.
Her hair had been arranged in an elegant but relatively simple style, with only a few ornaments placed among the dark strands.
Lin Yue stepped backward.
"There."
Lihua looked at herself.
"Is it alright?"
"More than alright."
Lin Yue smiled.
"You look beautiful, Princess."
Lihua laughed softly.
"You always say that."
"Because it's always true."
Lihua shook her head.
"You flatter me."
"Never."
A knock came from outside.
Lin Yue immediately turned toward the door.
"Who is it?"
A guard answered.
"Princess, His Highness the Second Prince has arrived."
Lihua's expression brightened.
"Let him enter."
The door opened.
Guo Yichen stepped inside.
Today he wasn't wearing his usual training clothes.
Instead, he wore a dark blue robe with subtle silver embroidery along the sleeves. His appearance was still unmistakably that of someone accustomed to martial training, but the formal clothing made him look more like a prince than a soldier.
He bowed.
"Princess."
"Second Prince."
Yichen looked at her for a brief moment.
Then he nodded.
"You are ready."
"I am."
Lin Yue stepped forward.
"Your Highness, will we be traveling by carriage?"
"Yes."
"How many guards?"
"Six."
Lin Yue looked surprised.
"Only six?"
Yichen nodded.
"Four will remain nearby. Two will accompany us directly."
Lihua smiled.
"That's enough."
Yichen looked relieved.
"I thought you might prefer a smaller escort."
"I do."
He nodded.
"Then let's go."
---
The journey from the imperial palace to the central city did not take long.
As the carriage passed through the palace gates, Lihua immediately moved toward the window.
Her eyes widened.
For weeks, she had seen Gou'an only through the palace.
Now she finally saw the kingdom beyond its walls.
The streets were alive.
Vendors called out to customers.
Children ran between stalls while their parents hurried after them.
Travelers moved through the streets carrying bundles and baskets.
Colorful banners hung from wooden buildings.
The architecture was different from Tianzhou.
The rooftops were slightly steeper, and many buildings had carved wooden balconies decorated with hanging lanterns.
Lihua's eyes sparkled.
"It's beautiful."
Yichen glanced toward her.
"You like it?"
"I love it."
Lin Yue smiled.
"I told you that the princess would enjoy the city."
Yichen nodded.
"I thought she might."
The carriage eventually stopped near the eastern market.
Lihua stepped down.
A warm breeze immediately greeted her.
The scent of freshly baked pastries, roasted chestnuts, tea, and flowers mixed together in the air.
Lihua looked around in amazement.
"Where should we go first?"
Yichen smiled faintly.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"Whether you want to see the market or the river."
Lihua thought for a moment.
"The market."
"Then the market it is."
They began walking.
Lin Yue followed close behind.
The guards remained several steps away, careful not to interfere with the princess's experience.
Lihua stopped at almost every interesting stall.
She admired embroidered fabrics.
She looked at painted fans.
She laughed softly when a merchant demonstrated a small wooden toy.
At one stall, she noticed several handmade hair ornaments.
She picked up a small flower-shaped pin.
"It's pretty."
Yichen looked at it.
"Do you want it?"
Lihua quickly shook her head.
"No, no. I was only looking."
The merchant smiled.
"Princess, it would look lovely with your hair."
Lihua laughed.
Yichen quietly reached for his purse.
Lihua noticed.
"Wait."
He stopped.
"You were going to buy it."
"I was."
"You don't need to."
"It's inexpensive."
"But..."
Yichen handed the merchant the payment.
"Consider it part of your tour."
Lihua stared at him.
"You really are quite similar to your brother."
Yichen looked confused.
"How?"
"He does that too."
"What?"
"Give me things whenever I say that I like them."
Yichen became quiet.
Then he muttered,
"Apparently my family has a habit."
Lihua laughed.
The merchant wrapped the ornament carefully.
Yichen handed it to her.
She accepted it with a smile.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
They continued through the market.
Eventually, the crowded streets began to open.
The sound of rushing water became louder.
They reached the river promenade.
Lihua stopped.
The river stretched across the city like a ribbon of glass.
Bridges crossed it at intervals, each decorated with rows of lanterns that would glow beautifully after sunset.
Boats drifted slowly across the water.
Lihua stood quietly.
"This..."
She smiled.
"This is even more beautiful than I imagined."
Yichen stood beside her.
"I told you."
She looked at him.
"You were right."
He smiled.
For several moments, neither spoke.
There was something peaceful about standing there.
No ministers.
No palace walls.
No discussions about marriage.
No expectations.
Only the river, the breeze, and the distant sounds of the city.
Lihua gently touched the bracelet Yichen had made.
"I think I'll remember today."
Yichen glanced at the bracelet.
"Why?"
"Because it's my first time seeing Gou'an like this."
She looked toward the river.
"And because someone decided that I shouldn't spend all my days inside the palace."
Yichen looked at her.
"I thought you might need a day like this."
Lihua smiled.
"I did."
A gentle breeze swept across the river.
Her hair moved slightly with it.
Yichen looked away.
For reasons he couldn't quite explain, the sight made his chest feel strangely warm.
He quickly cleared his throat.
"There are still several places you haven't seen."
Lihua smiled.
"Then show me."
Yichen nodded.
"Gladly."
And together, they continued along the river promenade, unaware that what began as a simple afternoon excursion would become one of the memories Lihua would treasure most from her time in Gou'an.
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(End of Chapter 33)