The Times Spent in Pretense

“Yuanwei, what time is it?” asked Hua Liuli.

“It’s fifteen minutes from the end of the Period of Si,” replied Yuanwei. “Is your honored self preparing to look for His Highness the crown prince?”

“We agreed that I’d go look for him before the Period of Wu. How could I break my promise?” Hua Liuli raised her head. Glanced at the sky. It was a bit overcast. Would it rain later?

She rose to her feet and made her way to Second Princess’ side. “Your Highness, it is this official’s daughter first time participating in the Birthday of the Flowers in the capital, so this official’s daughter would like to have a look around.”

“The wind is fierce on the mountain. Commandery Princess must be careful not to get cold,” said Second Princess. In Hua Liuli’s presence, she was more cautious without her knowing it. In an attentive manner, she said a few more things before having the maidservants at her side escort Hua Liuli to the exit.

“Young Miss Lin,” said Second Princess, after noticing the other party staring in the direction from which Hua Liuli departed. “If Young Miss Lin also wishes to step out and have a look around, then allow this palace’s personal servant girls to accompany you. They are more familiar than others on this path of Mount Qing.”

Although there was a massive military force guarding Mount Qing today, there were many men and women coming in and out. Lin Wan, who had only brought a single servant girl with her, found it shameful.

Thus, when Lin Wan heard Second Princess’ words, she felt too embarrassed to say that she simply wanted to look at Hua Liuli more. She accepted her offer.

Second Princess dispatched two of her maidservants to Lin Wan’s side. Following that, she said some words of concern in a gentle tone. This was Lin Wan’s future sister-in-law. Even if they couldn’t share a good relationship, she must not offend her.　　‌

After leaving the area of the gathering, Lin Wan stood at a loss. Where can I go?　　

“Young Miss Lin, there is a place called Wangqing Pavilion on the mountain, where many talented scholars and beautiful women like to compose poetry and admire paintings. If Young Miss is unsure of where to go, Young Miss can go there.” The people who served by Second Princess’ side were experts in discerning what one thought from one’s body language. One glance at Lin Wan’s expression and they knew what she felt embarrassed about, and so they had rushed to offer this suggestion.

“Then let’s go there for a look.” Lin Wan’s father had been the top scorer of a past imperial exam. Therefore, she held some interest toward poetry, curiosity piqued from the servant girl’s words.

Once they had traveled for a period, they caught sight of Hua Liuli and her entourage ahead. One of the maidservants, whom Second Princess had sent to Lin Wan’s side, then said, “What a coincidence. It turns out Commandery Princess Fushou is also headed for Wangqing Pavilion.”

A faint smile on her lips, Lin Wan said, “I did not expect Commandery Princess Fushou to be someone who liked poetry.”

“This slave has heard that the third young master of the Hua clan participated in the spring examination this year. Perhaps the commandery princess is looking for Third Young Master Hua,” said Lin Wan’s servant girl. “Maybe our young master is there as well.”

The two maidservants of Second Princess kept quiet after hearing those words. Young nobles from many influential families participated in the spring exam this year. They did not know who was more outstanding in his talents, and dared not offend anyone with their speech, so as to not attract disaster for their master.

Lin Wan smiled. “Big Brother was shut up at home studying all day. It’s good if he comes out more often.”

She shifted her gaze to the sweet, fair, and graceful figure of Hua Liuli, the look in her eyes changing at once.

Is that the crown prince and Prince Ying standing at the fork in the road ahead? Did Hua Liuli come here on purpose to look for them?

Hua Liuli had already noticed that Lin Wan was behind her. But she didn’t particularly care. When she caught sight of the crown prince waiting for her ahead, she quickened her pace forward and saluted him and Prince Ying. “This official’s daughter greets Your Highness the crown prince and Your Highness Prince Ying.”

Feigning casualness as he glanced at Hua Liuli’s shoes, the crown prince smiled before he replied, “Commandery Princess need not act with such courtesy.”

“This official’s daughter was late and made Your Highness wait for a long time,” said Hua Liuli before smiling. “It’s the fault of the pear blossoms on the mountain for being so beautiful, causing me to linger and forget the time.”

“We agreed to meet at the Period of Wu. It is still the Period of Si, so you are actually early.”

A drizzle of rain started to fall. A court eunuch opened an umbrella and held it for his master.

The crown prince received it, then waved for said court eunuch to withdraw. He held the umbrella over Hua Liuli’s head. “Admiring pear blossoms among the drizzling rain sounds fun. Is Commandery Princess interested?”

Hua Liuli gazed at the crown prince’s handsome face. Nodded and said yes.

Beauty always made people give in.

“Hold on,” said the crown prince when he noticed that Hua Liuli had not worn a cloak. He had a court eunuch bring over a cloak meant for females with peach blossoms embroidered onto it. “Commandery Princess, help me hold up this umbrella.”

As she did so, Hua Liuli lowered her head. And she saw the crown prince attentively tying the cloak for her. She could not help but stare at his fair and white fingers in a daze.

“Commandery Princess?” asked the crown prince as he tried to take the umbrella from her hand. But to his surprise, her grip was vice-like. He laughed in spite of himself. Received another umbrella from a court eunuch’s hands. He stood next to Hua Liuli. “Let’s go.”

It was truly regretful. With their current relationship, they could not share an umbrella even if it rained.

“Alright.” Hua Liuli nodded.

As the crown prince was passing by Prince Ying, he paused and said, “Eldest Brother, I will accompany Commandery Princess in having a look around. You can do as you please.”

Prince Ying was speechless.

It’s just a crappy pear forest. What’s so interesting about that?　　

Prince Ying waved off his personal attendant who was holding his umbrella. Stared at the Hua Liuli who was leaving with the crown prince. He grabbed the umbrella and held it up himself, preparing to catch up with them and join in on the fun.

“Your Highness.”

Annoyed, Prince Ying turned his head. Who’s calling me?

She looks a bit familiar?　

Oh, isn’t that my fiancée?

Furrowing his brows a shade, Prince Ying stopped in his tracks. “What is it?”

“Your Highness, this official’s daughter forgot to bring an umbrella when coming here.” Lin Wan softly wiped the raindrops on her face, afraid of ruining her makeup if she used too much force.

“Oh.” Prince Ying glanced at the umbrella in his hand. “This prince only has one.”

The smile on Lin Wan’s face stiffened a bit.

“You,” said Prince Ying, looking at his personal attendant. “Go and find an umbrella for Young Miss Lin.”

“Where is Your Highness going?” After noticing the indifference Prince Ying held toward her, Lin Wan felt embarrassed, and it slightly showed on her face. When she thought of the fact that there were two servant girls of Second Princess behind her, she was even less willing to allow other people to witness the stiff relationship between her and Prince Ying. “If it’s convenient, may this official’s daughter accompany your honored self?”

Just as Prince Ying was about to refuse her, he had second thoughts. It didn’t look good for a grown man to rush to look at some pear blossoms. Indeed, it was more appropriate to bring his fiancée along.

He nodded. “Alright, catch up.”

If he didn’t catch up, then the crown prince and Hua Liuli’s figure would no longer be in sight.

“Does Your Highness come to Mount Qing every year?” asked Hua Liuli, holding an apricot flower in her hand. When she reached the green stone path, the crown prince held up the umbrella with one hand as he extended the other in front of her. “Moss has grown on the slabs. Be careful, Commandery Princess.”

Hua Liuli gave her hand to the crown prince, then stepped on the steps that were covered in petals. “Many thanks, Your Highness.”

“I already had people prepare the pavilion ahead. Once it’s time for the noon meal, we’ll head there for it.” The crown prince held Hua Liuli’s hand. “Normally, I don’t have many opportunities to leave the palace. For the previous Birthdays of the Flowers, I only showed my face to the scholars before leaving.

“But this year is different.” He gave Hua Liuli a gentle smile. “Since I’ve already promised to accompany Commandery Princess this Birthday of the Flowers, I cannot go back on my word.”

Hua Liuli smiled, eyes becoming crescents. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

“If you truly want to thank me, then eat more when we’re having our noon meal.” As the crown prince walked, he would look back at Hua Liuli, whose hand he held. “I don’t wish for Third Young Master Hua to scold you because you were too picky with your food.”

Smiling once more due to the crown prince, Hua Liuli said, “Being picky with food is just an insignificant bad habit. Your Highness mustn’t care about it too much.”　　‌

Translated by Sleepchaser at https://sleepchaser.wordpress.com/ If you read it anywhere else besides Sleepchaser’s wordpress, that copy was stolen.　

“I’ll tell you a secret.” The crown prince stopped in his tracks. A mysterious expression slid across his features.

Hua Liuli hurried to look around. And she discovered that there would be people passing by every now and then. Thus, she wanted to lower her voice and tell him not to say it. “Your Highness…”

“Actually, I’m a picky eater too,” he said, deadpan.

“Oh?”

According to rules of etiquette, should she advise him not to be picky with food, or should she open her mouth to say, “Oh buddy, we’re actually the same?”

“That’s why, what Commandery Princess said was correct. Being a picky eater is just an insignificant bad habit.” The crown prince tried to hold back from laughing, but it still came out. “Since we have the same shortcoming, we shouldn’t disdain one another, right?”

Hua Liuli nodded in a thoughtful manner. “That makes a lot of sense. Then that makes us… each other’s people?”

The sound of chatter and laughter would occur in front of Prince Ying and Lin Wan every now and then. On the other hand, the mood around them proved ice-cold. Lin Wan took the initiative to start a conversation with Prince Ying several times, but he only responded in monosyllabic grunts. And she did not want to court a rebuff.

Who knew what she stepped on, but her foot slipped all of a sudden, causing her to fall forward.

The moment Prince Ying, who was up ahead, had heard the sound of her movement, he rushed to the side to dodge her, staring blankly as Lin Wan fell forward. Fortunately, the court eunuch serving at his side reacted quicker, supporting Lin Wan with the help of her servant girl.

Prince Ying sent a complicated glance Lin Wan’s way. “Watch your step, Young Miss Lin.”

Ever since he was fifteen years old, every year there would be around two palace maids who would pretend to slip and fall in front of him. As such, as long as he witnessed women slipping and falling, he’d want to dodge far away.

Never had he expected that the daughter raised and educated by the upright and honorable Lin Wan would use such a tactic. If he married such a person as his princess consort, would his children be stupid?

Never had Lin Wan expected that after she almost fell, Prince Ying not only failed to reach out and support her but dodged out of the way. Was she that unlikeable?

Face pale, she forced a smile. “Many thanks, Your Highness, for the reminder. I will pay more attention to walking.”

She shifted her gaze ahead to the Hua Liuli who was chatting and laughing freely with the crown prince. At that moment a preposterous thought entered her mind: If it were Hua Liuli standing here instead, would Prince Ying also treat her like this?

She knew she shouldn’t be thinking like this. Yet, Lin Wan couldn’t control herself. She had reminded herself over and over not to reveal her discontent in front of Prince Ying. Even more so, to allow her father to discover how cold Prince Ying treated her.

With her father’s personality, he might find the emperor and try to break up the engagement should he learn of her treatment.

But she wanted to be a princess consort who lived a cozy life and received the flattery of others.

She wanted to be like those noble young ladies born from families influential for many generations, in possession of countless pieces of jewelry, precious silks, and a throng of servant girls waiting upon her.

“With so many apricot and pear blossoms, I wonder how many fruits there will be?” said Hua Liui. “I heard from Young Miss Tian that there is a peach forest at the northern part of the mountain. What a pity they’re not yet in bloom.”

“Then when they are, I will bring you there to look at them.” The crown prince handed the umbrella to a court eunuch. He reached out and pointed to a pavilion ahead. “In a little while, we will have our noon meal there. How does Commandery Princess feel about that?”

All around were flowers and trees. Such a sight as beautiful as that of a fairyland.

“Eating in a place like this will better our appetite.” Hua Liuli made her way to the last step on the stairs. Just as she was about to let go of the crown prince’s hand, an old married couple with servants came over. She pulled the crown prince to the side, yielding the way.

“Your shoes are very pretty, Young Girl,” said the old lady. She saw that Hua Liuli took the initiative to yield the way, so was all smiles as she looked at her. Then she shifted her gaze to the crown prince. An ambiguous smile slid across her lips. “Truly great.”

To which the crown prince smiled. Also smiling, Hua Liuli said, “Thank you Grandmother for the compliment.”

Fuming, the old man said, “You old lady, I specially had people make new shoes for you. Don’t tell me they’re not beautiful?”

“They are, they are,” said the old lady, trying to coax him to a better mood. “Why are you comparing yourself to youngsters?”

At those words, the old man looked at the crown prince. Stroked his beard. “He has the elegance of my youthful self.”

The crown prince smiled good naturedly. He did not tell the old man that what he had said was offensive.

The elderly couple bounced back and forth in conversation as they slowly left. It was clear that they shared a good relationship.

Lifting a foot for a look, Hua Liuli said, “Your Highness, many people have complimented these shoes as beautiful today.”

“It’s good that you like them.” The crown prince smiled at Hua Liuli, gentle and soft. He reached out and plucked a pear blossom petal that had fallen on her temple. Threw it far away.

Pear blossoms hold an unlucky meaning. They cannot remain on Liuli.　

Author’s Note:

Crown Prince: Don’t be superstitious. I don’t believe in these things. At most, I find that the homonym for pear, depart, has an unlucky implication.

Prince Ying: I’m a manly man. Don’t look for me!