Taiji Palace, Liangyi Hall.
The weather was sweltering. Water had been sprinkled on the courtyard steps. The rising morning sun pierced through feather-light drifting clouds, casting broad golden beams across the ground. The uneven patterned brick floor shimmered with a wet, glistening radiance, resembling sparkling pools of clear water when viewed from afar.
The Chief Eunuch entered the hall to announce that the Seventh Princess requested an audience.
Li De looked up from the piled memorials, a trace of surprise crossing his face.
Unless matters were urgent, Li Zhongqian and Li Yaoying rarely sought him out voluntarily.
The eunuch quietly reminded Li De, "Your Majesty, the Seventh Princess has been tirelessly working to rescue the Prince of Qin these past few days."
Li De set down the half-read memorial in his hand, his brow slightly furrowed.
"Military affairs are no concern for a young lady who seldom leaves her quarters. Why is she involving herself?"
The eunuch hesitated briefly before bowing deeply. "Your Majesty, the bond between the Prince of Qin and the Seventh Princess runs deep. With the Prince ambushed and his fate unknown, it's natural for the Seventh Princess to be frantic with worry. Perhaps you should grant her an audience."
Li De lifted his gaze, sweeping a cool glance over the eunuch.
Though keeping his head lowered, the eunuch felt a chill of fear, his expression growing even more reverent. "I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness for my impertinence."
Li De studied him, his phoenix eyes containing sharp intensity. "You're a veteran by my side, always known for your caution and reliability. Even when Zheng Yu comes seeking favors, you weigh matters carefully. Why make an exception for the Seventh Princess today?"
The eunuch broke into a cold sweat, about to explain when Li De waved his hand dismissively.
"Let her in."
The eunuch acknowledged the command and withdrew from the inner hall. Standing by the threshold, he closed his eyes and slowly released a long breath.
Serving the emperor was like accompanying a tiger - His Majesty was warning him to reduce his interactions with the ministers from the Hall of State Affairs.
After composing himself for a moment, the eunuch arranged a smile on his face and walked to the corridor. Addressing Li Yaoying, who stood with her back to him at the courtyard steps, he said, "Seventh Princess, His Majesty requests your presence inside."
Yaoying turned around. Her face, bathed in the morning light, was pale as fresh snow, making her dark, bright eyes appear even more striking. Her lightly furrowed brows seemed veiled in the hazy willow hues of a spring morning.
Like a pear blossom moist with spring rain, jade trees and snow-laden branches - delicate and pitiable, soft and graceful, yet possessing the innate noble bearing of an immortal, proud and unyielding.
Under the moonlit terrace, her spirit pure and heroic, her demeanor lofty and unsullied.
The eunuch thought to himself, anyone who saw the Seventh Princess like this would find it impossible to turn her away from the hall.
Yaoying raised her eyes and stood in the bright sunlight, surveying the interlocking palace roofs with their upturned eaves and ornamental ridge figures before slowly ascending the steps.
Seeing her pale complexion and unsteady footsteps, as if she could barely stand, the eunuch's heart softened. He gestured for a young attendant to support her.
Yaoying indicated it wasn't necessary and walked step by step toward the inner hall.
Hearing the footsteps, Li De didn't look up, his gaze fixed on the spread-out memorial. "I've already dispatched people to search Huangzhou for Second Lang. You don't understand battlefield matters - stop troubling the court officials."
Yaoying approached the Dragon Throne Desk.
"Your Majesty, you owe me something."
Li De frowned and looked up, his eyes sharp as lightning.
Yaoying met his scrutinizing gaze without flinching. "Nine years ago, to save the young masters of the Kong and Lin families, you abandoned me on the battlefield. I nearly died in the chaotic fighting."
Li De's pupils contracted, his expression darkening.
Yaoying stated calmly, "Your Majesty, you owe me a life."
...
That happened when Yaoying was five years old.That year, when Li Zhongqian returned to Jingnan to sweep the graves, Xie Guifei suddenly fell ill. The Li family, worried that Yaoying would have no one to care for her, sent her to Li De, who was stationed in Xiangzhou.
Yaoying finally met her father.
Li De was often away on military campaigns with uncertain return dates. Even when he returned to Wei Commandery, he never entered Xie Guifei’s courtyard. Before the age of five, Yaoying had never seen Li De.
After arriving at the temporary residence where Li De stayed in Xiangzhou, the servants often told her stories of Li De’s youth—how he was exceptionally handsome and charismatic, with young ladies in Wei Commandery vying for his attention.
One evening, Yaoying was playing by the window, leaning against the sill. Lantern lights flickered, and the sound of neighing horses echoed from beyond the courtyard wall.
She stood on her tiptoes, imitating the maids, and peered outside.
A tall, imposing man emerged from the darkness into the lantern light. Clad in magnificent Mingguang armor, he stood tall and handsome, his posture as straight as a pine tree.
Yaoying thought to herself, the maids hadn’t lied—her father was indeed the most handsome man in the world.
No wonder her mother had fallen for him at first sight.
Remembering the steward’s instructions, Yaoying toddled out into the corridor on her short legs. Standing at Li De’s feet, she lifted her small face and called out softly, “Father.”
She was utterly adorable.
Li De paused, looked down at Yaoying, and gently patted her head with his rough hand. “Seventh Daughter has grown so big.”
Xie Guifei’s maid, standing nearby, secretly wiped away tears.
That night, as the maid tucked Yaoying into bed, she said happily, “Little Seven, the General does care for you.”
Half a month later, Xiangzhou fell. Yaoying, fast asleep, was abruptly awakened by the sound of hurried footsteps. Guards rushed into the room, scooped her up, and fled the city with her and the families of Li De’s subordinates.
On the road, they encountered Li De and his retreating troops. They hurried forward to offer horses and assistance, but suddenly, a group of pursuers charged down the hillside, surrounding them completely.
The situation was critical. As the enemy closed in, Li De decisively abandoned Yaoying, lifted his subordinate’s two sons onto his horse, and broke through the encirclement.
Yaoying fell to the ground.
All around her were fierce pursuers—a forest of blades and a storm of arrows, blood and flesh flying everywhere.
Abandoned by her father amid a hail of arrows, she heard the deafening battle cries and saw gleaming blades swinging toward her.
Loyal guards gritted their teeth and shielded her, their blood spraying out and drenching her face and hair.
Covered in blood, Yaoying stared blankly as Li De rode off into the distance without looking back.
She recalled the maid’s words and smiled bitterly to herself, slowly closing her eyes.
One by one, the guards fell.
Yaoying huddled beneath their bodies, soaked in the stench of blood for what felt like an eternity.
So long that she thought she had died.
Until she heard Li Zhongqian’s voice—the persistent, hoarse cries of the young man kneeling amid the piles of corpses.
“Little Seven, your elder brother is here for you.”
Li Zhongqian, from thousands of miles away, had crossed the smoke-filled battlefield, carrying his twin hammers, to find her.
Yaoying burst into tears.
That year, Li De abandoned his own daughter, Yaoying, to save his subordinate’s two sons. Fathers Kong and Lin were so moved they wept bitterly, swearing lifelong loyalty to him.
After being rescued, Yaoying wandered with Li Zhongqian for half a year. The siblings traveled a thousand miles on foot before finally returning home.
The Lin and Kong families, feeling deeply guilty, made their two young sons kowtow to Yaoying.
Yaoying smiled indifferently and helped the two boys to their feet.
Why should she resent Young Masters Lin and Kong?
They were not the ones who had abandoned her.Yaoying's magnanimity spared the Lin and Kong families from an awkward situation, leaving everyone satisfied.
...
Incense smoke curled before the gilded lion-shaped censer, filling the air with the faint, sweet fragrance of green silk tulips.
Yaoying looked at Li De. "Father, the horses you used to escape the encirclement with the Kong and Lin gentlemen were mounts from the Xie family's guards."
Li De remained silent for a moment. "Qiniang, what do you want?"
Yaoying smiled. "No hurry, Father. This is only the first account."
What Li De owed her, owed to the Xie family, owed to Li Zhongqian—she would settle each debt with him one by one.
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