Year 3 of the Zhengyuan era, fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month.
Early morning.
On the east side of the Imperial Palace, outside the Qianhua Gate, stood five or six won dressed in purple and wearing jade ornants.
Inside the Qianhua Gate lies the Lizheng Hall.
Lizheng Hall was originally the resting hall of previous empresses, but the current Empress Tang does not reside here; she shares chambers with the Emperor in Liangyi Palace. Lizheng Hall is used solely for the Empress to receive noblewon.
These noblewon, waiting outside the Qianhua Gate for the Empress to summon them, are all of the Third Rank or higher. Their husbands are high-ranking officials who have just returned to the Capital City to report their duties and are also awaiting an imperial summons elsewhere.
Though shielded from the cold wind under the eaves, the deep winter cold in the twelfth lunar month was still biting.
The noblewon waited for a long ti before hearing footsteps inside, indicating that Empress Tang had possibly co from the west gate.
Soon, a female official erged from the Qianhua Gate, her eyes narrowed with an air of arrogance.
"The Empress is too busy to see anyone today, please leave!" The official stated coldly.
Even if there was dissatisfaction among the noblewon, none dared to voice it.
As they were being led away by palace maids, they turned and saw a carriage approaching from the direction of the palace gate.
Within the palace, who could possibly ride in a carriage?
The noblewon displayed astonishnt.
At that mont, the previously indifferent female official ran up in a hurry, "Princess Consort, you are finally here!" Her tone was filled with undisguised delight and respect.
The carriage stopped outside the Qianhua Gate, and the door opened. The official personally extended her hand to help.
A hand as fair as frost and snow rested upon the official’s, followed by soone in a red robe erging gracefully.
The cloak of red fox fur set off a face white and radiant, with dark eyebrows and red lips, eyes bright, skin like snow, beauty so stunning it took one’s breath away.
Such an exquisite appearance is unforgettable once seen.
Soone imdiately recognized her identity and gasped softly, "Ah... it’s—" but their words were stilled by the beauty’s gentle glance.
Rembering the rumors of this beauty, the person involuntarily shrank back a step.
Princess Xiping, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Tang Family, Empress Tang’s elder sister—
She was known for being proud and tyrannical!
...
At this mont, Tang Jiaojiao had no ti to "bully" others. After glancing at the noblewon, she turned to look at the carriage behind her.
Another woman erged, cradling a bundle wrapped in brocade and silk.
"Is that the little Commandery Princess?" Tao Zi was extrely excited, eager to embrace her imdiately.
Tang Jiaojiao nodded and asked, "Is the Empress having an audience today?"
"Originally yes, but on hearing of the Princess Consort’s arrival in the Capital City, she dismissed them all!"
Tang Jiaojiao nodded, lifted her foot, and walked inside.
Not seen for two years, the walk of Princess Xiping was still as swift and compelling as ever, and Tao Zi hastily scurried to catch up.
Past the Qianhua Gate, raising her head, she saw a figure exiting the door of Lizheng Hall, looking up to et her gaze.
Those eyes, a little naive in their roundness as a child, had grown increasingly like Tang Jiaojiao’s over the years.
Now nearly eighteen, the eye shape was delicate and charming, unlike Jiaojiao’s. When smiling, the corners curved slightly, revealing a trace of innocence and playfulness.
"Elder Sister!" A familiar yet not-so-familiar call, sweet and lodious, now laced with a trace of gentleness.
Tang Jiaojiao choked up, finally speaking as she grasped Tang Xiaobai’s hand, "Why are you running! Maintain an empress’s deanor—"
Before she could finish, she was enveloped in a tight embrace.
Tang Jiaojiao raised her hand, hesitated before touching her hair, eventually patting her shoulder softly, "Mind your manners!"
Tang Xiaobai chuckled and said, "I’m the Empress; who would dare criticize my manners?"
Tang Jiaojiao remained silent.
Alright then...
Only after a long embrace did Tang Xiaobai release her, carefully examining Tang Jiaojiao once more.
They hadn’t seen each other in two years.
Initially, Li Xingyuan hoped to linger in the Capital City, but fate was not on their side.
At the start of the second year of the Zhengyuan era, there was unrest in the Eastern Territory. Li Mu ordered Princess Changshan, Li Huaiyue, to deploy troops nearby.
Li Xingyuan couldn’t neglect his younger sister and thus accepted the decree and departed for the Eastern Territory with his beloved wife.
After the chaos in the Eastern Territory was quelled, coincidentally, Tang Jiaojiao beca pregnant.
Li Xingyuan took on the role of Governor of Youzhou, remaining in Hebei.
Thus, they stayed for two years.
Tang Jiaojiao stayed too, waiting until their daughter was a little older to return to the Capital City with her.
"Elder Sister is even more beautiful," Tang Xiaobai remarked with a smile, though her eyes were slightly moist.
Tang Jiaojiao, hesitant to let others see her like this, pulled her along, muttering, "Why are you being sentintal? You went to Liangzhou alone back then for over a year, didn’t you? Did I say anything?"
"I wasn’t alone..."
"Was I alone?"
"But when I returned, Elder Sister cried—"
"Nonsense! When did I cry?"
Tang Xiaobai giggled and hugged Tang Jiaojiao again, "Elder Sister! I missed you so much!"
Tang Jiaojiao, overwheld, pried her off while calling outside, "Bring the little Commandery Princess in!"
Upon hearing this, Tang Xiaobai imdiately released her, gazing eagerly at the bundle in the maid’s arms.
Inside, the charcoal fire was burning warmly. The thick wrapping outside had been removed, and a little girl in a red jacket with embroidered butterflies turned her head out of the maid’s arms, so strikingly beautiful that Tang Xiaobai montarily forgot to breathe.
"Quickly, let Auntie hold her!" Tang Xiaobai said eagerly, reaching out.
The little girl, who looked like a doll, glanced at her without hesitation and threw herself—
into Tang Jiaojiao’s arms.
"Does she think I’m ugly?" Tang Xiaobai felt a bit defeated.
Were the child’s parents so handso that her standards have been raised?
Tang Jiaojiao, holding her daughter, couldn’t help but roll her eyes, "What do you think? She’s usually held by her nursemaid!"
Tang Xiaobai regained so confidence, chuckling awkwardly, "I was too rash—"
At that mont, the girl turned her face again from Tang Jiaojiao’s embrace, her grape-like black eyes curiously and cautiously observing Tang Xiaobai.
Tang Xiaobai was instantly chard, couldn’t help but exclaim, "Our Bao’er is truly as clever as ice and snow, so young but already wary of strangers!"
Tang Jiaojiao couldn’t help but laugh, "Out of ten children, there are always five or six who are shy around strangers. What nonsense are you talking about?"
Tang Xiaobai giggled, sneaking a touch of the little hand while the child wasn’t looking.
Ahhhh, so soft and cute!!!!
And then, again unnoticed, she pinched the hand.
Ahhhh, even softer and cuter!!!!
After a third stealthy pinch, the little girl suddenly turned her face and nestled into her mother’s embrace.
Tang Xiaobai dared not touch more, only sighing longingly.
Seeing this, Tang Jiaojiao said amusedly, "If you like children so much, why not have one of your own?"
The question hit Tang Xiaobai’s sore spot.
Her expression stiffened briefly before she smiled, "It’s not the right ti yet... Has Bao’er not been given a formal na?" Quickly changing the topic.
Tang Jiaojiao’s daughter had been the center of attention since she was conceived, and upon birth, she was exceptionally granted the title of Commandery Princess.
However, the little Commandery Princess was so beloved that a formal na was never settled, and only the nickna "Bao’er" was used for the ti being.
At this ntion, Tang Jiaojiao rolled her eyes again, "Li Xingyuan looked through books for a year, and finally, settled on the na ’Zhangzhu’!"
"A bright pearl in the palm, it’s nice!" Tang Xiaobai agreed, albeit finding it a bit lacking, "Just a bit plain."
Still sowhat unworthy of the little darling.
"Why don’t you give one?" proposed Tang Jiaojiao.
"?" Tang Xiaobai panicked slightly.
I’m terrible at nas too!
"Otherwise, let Father na her," Tang Jiaojiao suggested, "Father didn’t have any trouble naming the rest of us."
Tang Xiaobai silently repeated the nas of their siblings and replied quickly, "Let give it so thought!"
As the sisters conversed, the little girl in Tang Jiaojiao’s arms quietly turned half her face, sneaking a peek at Tang Xiaobai.
Just as Tang Xiaobai concluded her remark, the girl suddenly stretched out her arms toward her, her entire little body leaning forward.
An unmistakable gesture for a hug!
Tang Xiaobai quickly took her into her arms, her mouth wide open in a soundless shout of joy.
What an incomparably adorable little darling!
The soft warm bundle in her arms, her little head resting obediently on her shoulder.
Tang Xiaobai was overjoyed, gently stroking her fluffy little head and occasionally squeezing her chubby little feet.
Suddenly, she looked up at Tang Jiaojiao and suggested, "Why not call her Ruyi? May she have a life of contentnt and satisfaction!"
Tang Jiaojiao, seeing Tang Xiaobai’s cheeks flushed with excitent as she embraced the child, felt imnsely touched and replied with a smile, "Alright, Ruyi it is!"
A slight pause.
"Why hasn’t there been any news from you and Your Majesty yet?"
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