Chapter 503: Chapter 284 Phoenix Seal
Shu Wan was no stone man, it was impossible for her to remain unmoved.
Gazing at the fireworks that filled the sky, Shu Wan was genuinely curious, “Ancient customs dictate that unmarried n and won must not et before marriage, yet Your Majesty harbors such deep affection for the late Empress.”
Upon hearing Shu Wan’s words, Qi Yuan turned his head, his eyes gleaming brightly in the reflection of the fireworks.
“Indeed we could not et, but I was able to see her frequently.”
As he spoke, Qi Yuan’s gaze shifted to the streets of the Capital below, “She was not a common woman content to be confined to the inner quarters; she went out often, and as long as I wished to see her, I often could.”
As the Crown Prince, Qi Yuan had a nationwide intelligence system at his disposal. He had been aware of the farce in the Pri Minister’s Mansion ever since Shu Wan first took the place of her elder brother Shu Yi to sit for the exam.
Before this, Qi Yuan had not given much thought to Shu Wan.
After all, when they first t, Qi Yuan was also eleven years old, and Shu Wan was six; Qi Yuan’s fondness for Shu Wan was purely based on finding her adorable.
Moreover, at that ti, Qi Yuan’s position as Crown Prince was anything but secure, with both the previous dynasty and the harem eyeing the Eastern Palace with covetous intent.
Qi Yuan, busy with state affairs, had no ti to spare for romantic entanglents.
To him, marriage was rely a ans to forge ties with courtiers; it didn’t matter who the Crown Princess Consort was.
However, upon receiving the news that Shu Wan had passed the scholar examination in place of Shu Yi, Qi Yuan developed a newfound interest in this fiancée he had not seen for years.
So, on an afternoon in spring, on a whim, Qi Yuan went to visit Shu Wan at the Pri Minister’s Mansion.
Shu Wan certainly never expected that the lofty Crown Prince would be standing in a corner waiting for her to return ho.
That day, Shu Wan had participated in a horse racing event under the guise of her elder brother.
Thus, when she returned, Shu Wan rode back on horseback.
She rode through the streets in her riding attire, her valiant deanor shining like the spring sun upon her, as if she herself was enveloped in a layer of golden light.
Then, the always calm and composed Qi Yuan did the most unbelievable thing in his life.
He climbed the wall of the Pri Minister’s Mansion.
By that ti, Shu Wan had already changed out of her riding gear and into won’s clothing.
In her own courtyard, Shu Wan wore no excessive adornnts—dressed in a simple pale green dress, she stood elegantly beside a cluster of bamboo, her beauty untarnished by worldly dust, fresh and graceful.
A soft breeze blew, lifting the hair from her forehead as well as the rustling of the bamboo leaves.
For a mont, Qi Yuan could not distinguish whether it was the bamboo leaves or his own heartbeat that resounded.
Afterward, paying attention to news about Shu Wan beca a matter of course.
Whether Shu Wan was studying at the academy, learning dicine in the mountains, or delving into the military camps, every move was under Qi Yuan’s watchful eye.
With every report that ca in, Qi Yuan was astonished that such a remarkably outstanding woman existed in this world.
And this remarkable woman was his wife-to-be since childhood.
This realization brought a secret sense of fortune and joy to Qi Yuan, who had long walked alone amid the whirlpools of power.
He wanted to et Shu Wan as soon as possible; even if customs did not allow it, as Crown Prince, he could disregard them if he so desired.
But precisely because he was the Crown Prince, he had reservations.
He knew all too well how the vortex of power could devour a living person, and how the blissfully ignorant Shu Wan was currently living happily and freely.
He feared that after revealing his identity, Shu Wan might have concerns, as might the Pri Minister’s Mansion.
He thought, since Shu Wan was his destined wife and would eventually beco his life companion, he could endure.
He was willing to wait, as long as Shu Wan was happy.
However, he never anticipated that this wait would turn into a lifelong regret.
He thought that as Crown Prince, he could protect Shu Wan well, until he could marry her into the Eastern Palace and bestow upon her the supre glory of this world.
Yet Shu Wan’s cold corpse almost shattered him.
Fortunately, heaven was kind, ultimately sending Shu Wan back to him.
As he spoke, Qi Yuan turned to look at Shu Wan, “Do you find the fireworks beautiful?”
Shu Wan nodded, “They are beautiful.”
“Then I shall set off a display for you every month,” Qi Yuan’s eyes twinkled with mirth, “I originally thought of doing it daily, but the national treasury couldn’t bear it.”
“…So the treasury can bear it monthly?”
In those days, fireworks were not a common thing like in the modern era; their high cost ant that staging such displays every month was extravagant, and Shu Wan could almost hear the courtiers poking at Qi Yuan’s spine in criticism.
“I will make the Beiling Dynasty the mightiest nation,” Qi Yuan declared, gazing intently at Shu Wan, “mighty enough to afford a fireworks display for you every month without any burden.”
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