Chapter 298: Epilogue Part Two

Although Princess Yongning was only a six-year-old girl, no one present dared to neglect her.

The Emperor currently had only this one princess, and she was a princess he had personally raised. Many times, the Emperor would even hold the princess in his arms during court sessions.

Furthermore, there were now those rumors circulating.

The Marquis of Dongyang’s expression became even more tense. He bowed to the woman, “Palace Attendant Huang.” Then he bowed to Princess Yongning, “Your Highness’ presence graces us. The wedding is a bustling and hasty affair, and this humble official fears…”

Before he could finish his words, Princess Yongning waved her little hand, “Marquis Dongyang, there’s no need to be apprehensive. Father Emperor has said that I lived in the Marquis’ Residence when I was little, so this can be considered my maternal grandmother’s home.”

The Marchioness of Dongyang hurriedly stepped forward, “We were only fortunate enough to receive His Majesty’s kindness back then. We truly dare not accept such a title.”

Princess Yongning then looked towards Palace Attendant Huang beside her. Palace Attendant Huang smiled at her and shook her head.

Princess Yongning then didn’t insist on the title any further. Looking at the Marquis of Dongyang and his wife, she said, “I heard that the Marquis’ heir is getting married today, so I came specifically to have a look.”

After saying that, she extended her hand towards the eunuch.

She was still small, and the carriage was tall. She couldn’t even get off by herself.

The eunuch hurriedly reached out and carried her down, then knelt to straighten the princess’s clothes.

Two other eunuchs supported Palace Attendant Huang—she was the one responsible for raising the princess since childhood. She was bestowed the title of Palace Attendant by the Emperor, and the princess addressed her as Teacher. The Emperor also held her in high regard.

“No need for formalities,” Princess Yongning said. The small figure, with her neck held high, assumed an adult-like demeanor and walked slowly inwards, “I’ll go see the newlyweds.”

The Marquis of Dongyang and his wife once again looked at Palace Attendant Huang. The Marchioness of Dongyang still had an impression of this woman. Back then, she had lived in Zhou Jingyun’s courtyard while holding the princess. It was just a vague impression, perhaps because she had avoided seeing her many times during that period, or perhaps she had deliberately forgotten.

Palace Attendant Huang said with a smile, “Marchioness, don’t let the princess’s kindness go to waste.” After saying that, she followed Princess Yongning.

The Marquis of Dongyang and his wife could only follow them inside.

As they watched the group disappear through the doorway, the noise from the people on the street outside suddenly erupted.

“It’s Princess Yongning.”

“I can’t see her, she’s too small.”

“Nonsense, Princess Yongning is only six years old.”

“Have you heard? Princess Yongning might be made Crown Prince.”

“That’s ridiculous! Crown Princes are always male. How can a princess be the Crown Prince?”

“Isn’t it because the Emperor has no male heir…”

Outside, there was a lot of discussion, while the guests who came to the banquet at the Marquis’ Residence remained quiet.

Most of the people here were able to enter and leave the imperial palace. They knew of the Emperor’s love for the princess, how he often kept her by his side. The Empress was not seen due to illness, and during festivals, the Emperor did not let other consorts manage the inner court. Instead, Princess Yongning would take the Empress’s place to entertain the noblewomen. Almost everyone had seen Princess Yongning.

But this was indeed the first time they had seen Princess Yongning leave the palace.

After all, the Emperor only had this one daughter. In the past five years, none of the other consorts had given birth.

From this perspective, it seemed that having heirs was a bit difficult for the Li imperial family. Previously, Prince Changyang had even made a joke of presenting a fake prince. So, although she was a daughter, at least she was his own flesh and blood, cherished like a precious pearl.

Various thoughts ran through people’s minds. Over there, Princess Yongning had already walked up to Zhou Jingyun and the newlyweds, curiously tilting her head up to look them over.

“They all say that the Marquis of Dongyang’s heir is a very handsome person,” she said. “He is indeed very good-looking.”

Zhou Jingyun bowed, “Thank you for your praise, Princess. Zhou Jingyun greets Your Highness.” He then looked at Palace Attendant Huang beside her, “Greetings, Madam.”

Palace Attendant Huang smiled and nodded. Her gaze fell upon the woman beside Zhou Jingyun. Princess Yongning also looked over. As the two looked at her face, their expressions seemed to freeze slightly.

The woman smiled first.

“You can speak freely now,” the woman said with a smile. From beneath her red wedding dress, she extended a fair hand and waved it gently. Then she reached out to Palace Attendant Huang, “Teacher.”

Huang Ru grasped her hand, her voice choked with emotion, “Ah Li, it’s so good to see you again.”

Perhaps it was from the moment the woman spoke, Princess Yongning only felt the surroundings become stagnant, the onlookers and their gazes all blurring into a hazy mess.

Only the two women holding hands before her were clear.

“Do you also call her Teacher?” Princess Yongning asked curiously.

Bai Li looked at her, “Yes, she is also my Teacher.”

Princess Yongning let out an “oh” and looked at her, “Father Emperor said you are my aunt?”

Bai Li gave an “oh” and said to Huang Ru, “He really doesn’t hide anything from her, huh?”

Huang Ru nodded with a smile, “His Majesty is very dedicated to raising the princess. He never hides good things from her.”

Good things, meaning that she was her aunt. Bad things, like Bai Ying being her birth mother, were kept hidden, right? Bai Li pursed her lips into a smile, squatted down to look at Princess Yongning, and nodded, “Yes, I am your aunt.” She then pinched her cheek, “You were so chubby when you were little. Why are you so thin now? Are you not eating properly? Spoiled? Picky eater?”

Princess Yongning frowned, “Why aren’t you praising me?”

Bai Li shrugged, “Why should I praise you? You are a princess, do you lack people praising you?”

The eunuchs and palace maids around her, the consorts in the inner court, all praised her when they saw her. No one dared to say anything bad about her.

Although her Teacher was strict, she would at most correct her actions and never scold her.

Speaking of which, she really didn’t lack people praising her.

Princess Yongning nodded, “Alright, you’re right.” She then scrutinized her face again, “I dreamt of you.”

Bai Li immediately smiled and leaned in closer, “Children are amazing. You still remember even though you were so small. Quickly tell me, what did you dream about me? Was I tirelessly, caringly, and tenderly holding you, coaxing you to sleep, feeding you, and giving you drinks?”

Sigh, taking care of children was truly not easy.

Princess Yongning looked at her, “I dreamt that you were scaring me, making faces, and poking my face.”

Bai Li’s eyes widened, “You little child, can’t you remember any good things?”

Seeing the two staring wide-eyed at each other, Huang Ru smiled and pulled Bai Li up, then took Princess Yongning’s hand.

“Alright, you’ve seen who you need to see and said what you need to say. Don’t delay the auspicious time.”

✿✿✿

After the interruption, the newlyweds’ ceremony continued. Princess Yongning stayed to observe the ceremony. Although she had eunuchs and palace maids accompanying her, the wedding was crowded with people and children. Princess Yongning, after all, was just a five or six-year-old child. She couldn’t help but squeeze into the midst of the children, vying for wedding candies.

The guests’ attention also shifted from the newlyweds to Princess Yongning.

“Have you heard?” one of the madams whispered, “Princess Yongning is going to be the Crown Prince.”

The women here were all well-informed. Upon hearing this, they weren’t surprised, only exchanging glances.

“But, she is a princess after all. This… has never happened before—”

“Yes, can women inherit the throne?”

“Why not? Didn’t that Empress Jiang want to become the Emperor back then—”

“Cough, let’s not talk about the past. Besides, Princess Yongning is His Majesty’s bloodline.”

“That’s right. That’s why the Emperor said, if he can’t have a son, should he give his family’s legacy to someone else? He clearly has a daughter. He’s been arguing with the ministers for a year now. I think… he’s given in.”

As the women were whispering amongst themselves, news came from outside. Several important ministers had arrived. Having heard that Princess Yongning was here, they came with stern faces, both worried and dissatisfied. The Marquis of Dongyang had no choice but to go and deal with them. Princess Yongning was also persuaded to get back into the carriage and reluctantly left. Only then did the court officials also depart.

Although the princess had left, the discussions among the people at the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence became even livelier.

“All those people came. It seems they’re really treating Princess Yongning as the Crown Prince.”

“Otherwise, why would they be so cautious and attentive?”

“Oh my, I can’t even imagine… having a female Emperor.”

“Maybe everyone is just going along with the Emperor’s wishes. His Majesty is still young after all, and there are quite a few consorts in the palace. Maybe he’ll have a son.”

“Let’s take it one step at a time.”

“Yes, in any case, Princess Yongning came to Zhou Jingyun’s wedding. This shows the Emperor’s favor.”

“That’s right. If the Emperor hadn’t allowed it, how could Princess Yongning, a little child, leave the palace?”

Little Princess Yongning didn’t return to the palace directly either. As the carriage approached the imperial city, she got off. An eunuch carried her onto a small cart, and surrounded by imperial guards, they rushed into the city again. This time, they didn’t take the main street but went through several alleys and entered a teahouse.

Pushing open the window on the highest floor of the teahouse, one could see the bustling main street.

Twilight was deepening, but the colorful confetti and flowers left behind by the wedding procession still covered the ground, shining brightly. People on the street were still continuously surging towards the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence.

“Hurry up! Today, the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence is having a flowing feast, it’ll last until midnight.”

“It’s not just today, it’s for three consecutive days.”

“Then I’ll go eat for these three days, save some money.”

Hearing the noise coming from below, the young man standing by the window couldn’t help but smile.

“Father Emperor—” The door behind him was pushed open, a childish voice rang out.

Li Yu turned around and looked at Princess Yongning running towards him. His smile deepened, “Did you see her?”

Princess Yongning ran to him and opened her arms. Li Yu skillfully picked her up.

“I saw her. The Marquis’ heir is very good-looking,” Princess Yongning said. “Aunt, just like in my dream, bullied me.”

Li Yu reached out and pinched her nose, “She wasn’t bullying you, she just doesn’t know how to handle children. Because she never got to be a child herself.”

This was something Princess Yongning, a child, couldn’t understand. She just let out an “oh,” “So Aunt was born an adult?”

Li Yu laughed heartily. He felt that this statement was wrong, yet also right. Bai Li had lost her mother from birth, and with her unique constitution, no one treated her as a child. She truly didn’t have a carefree childhood.

“Was the wedding lively?” he changed the subject and asked.

Princess Yongning nodded repeatedly, “Lively! So many people, so many fun things, so much delicious food.”

In reality, her food, clothing, and everything she used were the best in the world. But for a child, the people and things outside were still more attractive.

Li Yu smiled, “Actually, my wedding was also very lively.”

Princess Yongning asked curiously, “Father Emperor and Mother Empress’s wedding? Did I attend?”

“Of course you attended,” Li Yu said with a smile. “It’s a pity that you were too small then, only knew how to sleep. You didn’t see any of the delicious food, fun things, or good things to play with. And, Father Emperor even sang and danced.”

Princess Yongning’s eyes were filled with regret, and she lamented, “Alas, I really love to sleep. No wonder the Grand Tutor always nagged me, and I wouldn’t listen. It seems I really need to change.”

Last month, she had already begun her enlightenment education, with venerable and erudite ministers as her teachers.

This was to make it clear to everyone at a glance that she was being raised as the heir apparent, not that she was truly expected to be diligent in her studies right now.

Li Yu smiled gently, “No rush, you’re still young. If you’re sleepy now, just sleep. But when you’re a bit older, you can’t be so casual.”

Princess Yongning hugged Li Yu’s neck and snuggled against him, “Father Emperor is so good to me.”

Li Yu patted her and said softly, “This is also me being good to myself.”

Raising the princess was also him raising himself all over again. Although he was a bit luckier than Bai Li, he had also suddenly grown up at a very young age and could no longer be a child.

After running around for a while, she was indeed a bit tired. Princess Yongning yawned, hugged Li Yu’s neck, and closed her eyes under his gentle patting.

Li Yu looked in the direction of the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence. The twilight faded, night fell, and the lights were bright. He watched quietly for a moment, then retracted his gaze, turned, and walked away.

It didn’t matter, he had also had a wedding.

In recent years, he would often dream of that wedding when he slept. He was very happy in the dream, and he was also happy after waking up.

A dream was a dream, but it was also real, because it had truly happened.

Just as Bai Li had said, even if those people were gone, they had existed. Having existed made it real, made it… eternally present.