Chapter 12: I Just Want My Beloved To Have Me In Her Eyes And Her Heart
New name
李书瑶 - Li Shuyao
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too._____________
Before the puzzled Young Master Meng had time to ask questions, the Princess had already pulled her into the threshold of the Peach Blossom Garden deep in Yong'an Palace.
"Here we are, look. Apart from the Hanguang Hall where you came to welcome your bride yesterday, this is my other residence in the palace."
Li Qiubai held Meng Chang'an's arm and led her slowly into the Peach Blossom Garden.
It's September, and the peach blossoms have long since fallen, and now only the bare tree trunks are left standing around the garden.
Along the way, all Meng Chang'an could see were countless peach branches.
"All you see here were planted by my third sister in her childhood. At that time, it was not just me; she also always liked running to the Imperial Grandmother’s palace and squeezing into this small garden with me."
Li Qiubai's words were filled with undisguised nostalgia. Instead of heading straight to the residence, she turned right with Meng Chang'an and took a path paved with cobblestones by the main road.
"She always liked arranging these since she was young, whenever she had free time, she would plant one. Initially, this place was not called Peach Blossom Garden, it was only later that the Imperial Grandmother specifically changed the name. In this peach blossom garden, not only these trees, even the path beneath our feet, she personally laid."
If Meng Chang'an remembers correctly, as early as last year, the Third Princess encountered a mishap on her way to get married and her whereabouts remain unknown to this day, her fate uncertain.
Obviously, the relationship between the Princess and the Third Princess must be good. If she guessed correctly, the Princess must be unhappy at this moment.
Meng Chang'an didn't know how to comfort the person beside her, so she could only choose to silently listen to her all the way, listening to her chatter about the connections between every flower, grass, and tree in this place and her third sister.
The winding path twisted along the wall. Walking slowly along the path, Meng Chang'an finally saw at the end of the road a swing nestled among the peach trees.
Do you want to ride on a swing when you are unhappy?
Meng Chang'an never imagined that Her Majesty the Princess would have such a childlike thought.
Unfortunately, Young Master Meng, who had finally decided to act childish once and accompany the Princess in swinging on the swing, did not guess the Princess' thoughts correctly.
The Princess did not sit on the swing and continued to be sentimental as Meng Chang'an had expected. Instead, she approached and squatted by the swing, pulled out the dagger hidden in her boot, and stabbed it into the soil directly beneath the swing.
Young Master Meng had a rare sharp eye, and she recognized the dagger with just one glance. It was actually the return gift she gave to the Princess this morning.
My beloved dagger, a fine weapon for killing and self-defense, was being used by this person to dig mud?
Meng Chang'an suddenly felt distressed.
"Do not just stand there. Come and help me dig!"
Being urged like this, Young Master Meng became even more reluctant. After dawdling around for a while, she casually picked up a twig and leisurely walked over to the Princess’ side.
The Princess was digging so hard that she failed to notice the resentful look from Young Master Meng on the dagger in her hand.
"We once agreed that whoever first fulfills their wish and marries their beloved will own the two jars of wine we buried here in the past."
It was just a casual remark, yet it managed to dispel Meng Chang'an's lingering grievance.
Young Master Meng lowered her eyes, and then silently swallowed what she originally wanted to say. She consciously lifted the corner of her robe and squatted down, muttering in a low voice: "But my brother was kidnapped, This does not quite count as fulfilling your wish."
Even though she said that Young Master Meng still honestly helped by using twigs to dig up the soil.
The Young Master misunderstood, thinking the Princess was reminiscing and feeling sad about an old departed friend. In such circumstances, she felt reluctant to dwell on her distress over the dagger. She simply wished to help by doing what she could, digging out whatever was inside, to prevent further sadness for the Princess.
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
It was a pity that at this moment, the Young Master's eyes were fixed on the dagger in the Princess’ hand, and she failed to notice the Princess’ gaze on her face and her whisper that seemed to be blown away by the wind.
"Who says it does not count?"
A deep smile bloomed in the Princess' eyes.
The two jars of peach blossom wine were thus dug out by the two of them from the ground.
The cloth covering the wine jars was unwrapped, revealing the pristine vessels inside, appearing much the same as when they were buried years ago.
After digging for a while, both of them were already covered in dust. Li Qiubai paid no mind, she sheathed her dagger and casually brushed off the dust from her body. Then, she picked up one of the jars, stood up, and sat on the swing.
Simultaneously, Meng Chang'an intuitively lifted the other jar and sat beside the vacant space specially left by the Princess, sitting shoulder to shoulder with her.
As the seals were broken, a rich aroma of wine wafted out.
After deeply inhaling the fragrance of the wine, Li Qiubai continued by tearing open the seal, being the first to drink a large gulp straight from the jar's mouth.
Indeed, the wine brewed by her third sister was always richer and more aromatic compared to others.
Noticing Meng Chang'an's hesitation nearby, Li Qiubai thought it might be due to guilt over secretly digging up the wine. She kindly explained, “Although that girl is not here now, this is willingly given by her to me. You do not need to feel guilty or embarrassed, just drink at ease, do not be reserved.”
"This is not a good idea." Although hesitating briefly, Meng Chang'an finally opened her own jar and poured some wine onto the ground in front of her, “Let us first toast to the Third Princess. This way, her departed soul can find some solace, and Your Highness can also find comfort and adapt to the changes.”
Even though the Princess was used to keeping her emotions and anger secretive, the moment she heard Young Master Meng's words, she couldn't help but twitch her lips.
After seeing the serious look on Young Master Meng's face and confirming that she was not joking, Li Qiubai immediately didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
The Third Princess of the Great Chang Dynasty was indeed dead. The only one left in this world is her younger sister, the carefree Li Shuyao.
"You silly girl."
Li Qiubai didn't say much, nor did she inquire why the Young Master, despite sharing the same teaching, was unaware of her identity. With a resigned smile, she relaxed, and leaned back against the swing's backrest, cradling the wine jar, letting her feet dangle freely above the ground.
From this angle, the Wangyuan Tower in the distance is still vaguely visible.
"Have you seen that tall building?"
Meng Chang'an was puzzled, followed the Princess's gesture, and then noticed the indistinct silhouette of the tall building.
“Mm, what about it?"
After casually asking, Meng Chang'an mimicked the Princess’ movements, leaning back alongside her, letting her feet dangle freely, and allowing the swing to sway gently with their actions.
Li Qiubai comfortably settled into the swing, leisurely swinging and sipping her wine, slowly recounting her past.
"When my mother passed away, I was just nine years old. At that moment, I felt like the sky was falling, yet they were all like you are now, advising me to mourn and adapt to changes," Li Qiubai chuckled self-deprecatingly, taking a few sips of wine before continuing to gaze at the tall building. "But back then, I did not understand mourning. I only knew that I had, on more than one occasion, thought about jumping from that Wangyuan Tower, to join my mother and end it all."
Perhaps surprised that the seemingly esteemed Princess had such a bitter past, Meng Chang'an momentarily froze upon hearing this.
"Later, my grandfather, fearing my depression in the palace, took me out, accompanying the army on expeditions, just to watch over me. But with my mother gone, how could I find joy in the military camp?"
Li Qiubai leaned gradually onto Young Master Meng's shoulder without being pushed away, prompting her to continue speaking.
"At the age of ten, I secretly slipped out of the military camp and, by accident, fell victim to an attack. I was trapped in the bandits' dungeon along with a group of girls kidnapped and taken for sale to various brothels. In the desolate wilderness, even my grandfather could not find my whereabouts."
Recalling those days of darkness, Li Qiubai didn't fear but rather laughed. Clearly, it was the most miserable time of her life, yet it also became her most unforgettable past.
It was in that extremely cold dungeon that she felt an unforgettable warmth in her life.
"At that time, I met a silly girl in the prison. Although she could have escaped alone, she willingly stayed and protected us at the risk of her life."
Li Qiubai could never forget how that silly girl held her hand and kept her safe back then.
Even though that girl was only eight years old at the time, her fierceness with the knife was enough to intimidate those fierce bandits. Li Qiubai could never forget how the girl repeatedly told her that as long as they stayed alive, there was still hope.
Seeing the Princess stop speaking and seemingly lost in thought, Meng Chang'an couldn't help but ask, "What happened next?"
So, the princess regained her focus and continued, "Fortunately, the family of that silly girl arrived in time and took down all those bandits, allowing us to safely leave the desert."
Thinking about this, Li Qiubai once again pictured the leader and her wife single-handedly defeating the bandits when they entered the enemy camp, and admiration filled her eyes.
"It was also then that I realized women can live so freely and openly. Since then, I no longer wish to die. I just want to live well and witness how those who killed my mother face their punishment, to comfort my mother's soul in heaven!"
Speaking up to this point, Li Qiubai's jar of peach blossom wine had emptied, and a layer of intoxication appeared in her eyes.
Meng Chang'an hadn't expected such heavy past events and unspoken resentment to be narrated so casually. She couldn't help but let out a sigh.
The more the Princess acted as if nothing had happened, the more Meng Chang'an felt heartache. To the extent that when that person leaned into her arms as soft as boneless, her first reaction wasn't to push the person away but to hug her gently, patting her shoulder.
"It is okay, those things are all in the past."
Young Master Meng couldn't discern any connection between what the Princess mentioned about the past events and herself. She thought the person was just seeking an opportunity to confide. Lacking experience in comforting others, Young Master Meng stumbled with words, unsure how to console, clumsily shifting away from that previous topic.
"What about now? Do you have something you want to do now?"
"Now... "
The Princess, half-lying in Young Master Meng's arms, felt somewhat distant. She then released the empty jar from her hand, allowing the wine jar to roll on the ground.
Afterward, Li Qiubai lifted her hand to rest on Young Master Meng's shoulder, using it to get closer, facing her directly, smiling while looking into the reflection of herself in Young Master Meng's eyes.
"Now, I just want my beloved to have me in her eyes and her heart. I want her to have me by her side for the rest of her life."
At that moment, a breeze seemed to come, ruffling their hair and messing up Young Master Meng's mind.
Author's Note:
Meng Chang'an: "What about now? What do you want to do?"
Princess: "I want to kiss you!"
