Countless nobles and dignitaries were invited to the palace banquet, and every household that received an invitation took pride in it, parading through the streets in their finest beast-drawn carriages before entering the palace.
As a result, business at Flower Full Tower had become rather quiet.
Hua Qing sat by the window, watching the commotion below, and teased, "If you were willing to go, she would surely send a palace beast-drawn carriage to fetch you."
Li Shaoling drained his cup of wine and replied indifferently, "Who cares?"
Hua Qing giggled and leaned into his embrace, her fingers lightly tracing his collar. "If my lord truly thinks so, then this humble one can rest easy."
Li Shaoling sneered inwardly. This woman still dreamed of him entering officialdom so she could become a nobleman's wife. Leaving aside the fact that Chang Le had taken a liking to him, making it impossible for him to pursue an official career, even if he did, what did it have to do with this greedy woman? Their relationship was purely transactional—money paid, no further ties.
He drank cup after cup, and in his drunkenness, he impulsively tossed his wine cup out the window.
This was hardly unusual; Flower Full Tower wouldn’t be considered a place of romance if a few cups or bottles didn’t go flying out the window daily. But as luck would have it, the streets below were crowded today, and the cup struck Patrol Inspector Yuan on the head as he rode by.
Patrol Inspector Yuan was a spoiled young master who had just secured his position through family connections. Before he could even revel in his newfound status, he was struck on the head by a wine cup in broad daylight, leaving a large bump. How could he tolerate such an insult? Cursing loudly, he dismounted and stormed into Flower Full Tower to settle the score.
The door burst open, and Hua Qing hurried forward to mediate but was shoved aside. Patrol Inspector Yuan bellowed, "What kind of lowlife dares to throw a wine cup at my head?!"
Li Shaoling glanced at him, his drunkenness making him sneer. "Another mediocre fool riding on his family’s coattails."
"What did you say?!" Patrol Inspector Yuan didn’t recognize him, and his attire didn’t suggest he was from a noble household. He immediately signaled his servants to enter and pointed at Li Shaoling viciously. "Beat him! If he dies, it’s on me!"
Hua Qing paled in fright. While trying to hold back the servants, she quickly sent Li Shaoling’s attendant to the palace for help.
Ordinary attendants couldn’t enter the palace, but Li Shaoling’s servant carried a Jade Token personally given by Chang Le, allowing him unimpeded access.
Chang Le had just finished toasting with the Empress Dowager when she received the news.
Hailan, standing beside her, also heard the attendant’s report and widened her eyes in disbelief. "He skips Chang Le’s birthday banquet to drink at a pleasure house, gets into a fight, and now expects Chang Le to rescue him? What kind of logic is that?"
She turned to report him, but Chang Le grabbed her hand.
"I’ll be right back. Cover for me," Chang Le said with a wink. "Please, dear sister."
Hailan was furious but helpless, reluctantly agreeing.
Meanwhile, Li Shaoling had already taken several blows.
His Meridians were only at the green level, while these servants all had Azure Vessels. They struck him hard enough to turn his head, blood streaming from his nose.
For a moment, Li Shaoling thought he was going to die as one of the servants raised a bronze cauldron, aiming straight for his skull.
But in the next instant, a surge of gray Essence Power shot over, sending both the cauldron and the servant flying out the window to crash onto the street below.
"Teacher!" Chang Le leaped off her Flying Sword in a panic and pulled him up from the ground.
Li Shaoling stared at her in a daze, suddenly remembering that this student of his was a Fighter born with Crimson Meridians.She hadn't inherited her imperial parents' beauty, but she'd perfectly inherited their Essence Power. Forget one household servant - even if a whole crowd came, they wouldn't be her match.
In one swift motion, she pulled him behind her and glared at Patrol Inspector Yuan: "In broad daylight, are you trying to commit murder?"
Though it was Patrol Inspector Yuan's first time attending a birthday banquet and he didn't recognize the princess's face, he knew the Nine-Phoenix hairpin on Chang Le's head. Combined with her plump figure, he immediately knelt and cried innocence: "He struck first!"
Chang Le froze, turning to look behind her. Li Shaoling merely smiled at her, his eyes shimmering with tenderness: "What brings you here?"
That single glance made her forget everything else. She stammered: "I-I came to take you to my birthday banquet."
He made an "oh" sound, his handsome face leaning closer as he grinned: "But I don't want to go. What then?"
"Well... then you should go back and rest properly." Frowning at the bruise on his brow, Chang Le hesitated before withdrawing her hand back into her sleeve, too shy to touch it. "I'll chase everyone away for you."
True to her word, Patrol Inspector Yuan and his men scrambled downstairs like frightened rats.
Li Shaoling laughed at the sight. Staggering forward a couple steps as if about to fall, he was immediately caught by Chang Le - only for him to pull her into a full embrace.
Heat rose from her chest to her cheeks. Chang Le stared at him in shock, her tongue tied in knots.
Li Shaoling looked down at her, pinching her chubby cheek: "Happy birthday, Little Princess."
Chang Le's heart instantly felt like it had been dipped in honey, then fished out and cradled in warm palms.
Though he hadn't prepared a gift, these words were the happiest present she'd received all year.
Hua Qing stepped forward to pull him away, frowning: "Your Highness shouldn't be in such a place. Please."
Her joy dimming slightly, Chang Le nodded. After one last glance at them both, she stepped onto her Flying Sword and returned to the palace.
Watching her retreating figure, Hua Qing couldn't help muttering: "She didn't even care about her status when she came to save you."
Li Shaoling looked immensely pleased, his drunken eyes hazy as he slurred: "I'm incomparably important to her, more than any banquet in the palace... Have you ever been valued like that?"
Hua Qing rolled his eyes, though not without envy.
Who wouldn't want to be valued so? But not everyone meets someone who treasures them that way.
Thinking about it, Li Shaoling seemed rather ungrateful for his good fortune.
Though drunk, Li Shaoling wasn't completely insensible. When he woke the next morning, he remembered Chang Le's actions and expressions from the previous night with perfect clarity.
That little girl truly adored him beyond reason.
What a shame. If only she weren't a princess.
Splashing water on his face, Li Shaoling headed to the Academicians' Court for lessons.
With the princess's favor, his days grew increasingly smooth. Meals appeared when he opened his mouth, and new clothes arrived monthly. When drinking with friends, they all flattered him now, no longer mocking his humble origins.
Occasionally he'd act strangely cruel toward her - overturning the soup she brought, or chatting with other scholars while ignoring her presence. Yet Chang Le never grew angry, her plump figure patiently waiting under the eaves.
When New Year arrived, Li Shaoling returned to his hometown - a fishing village outside Sunspire City. His elders inevitably asked about his marriage prospects during the holiday.In the past, he would always brush it off with a few words, but this year when his aunt asked if he had someone he fancied, for some reason, Li Shaoling's mind conjured up an image of Chang Le.
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