The Li family had no overweight members; all were lean and capable. In their eyes, obesity equated to a lack of self-discipline—how could someone who couldn’t even control their own mouth manage a household? It would only invite ridicule.
So, even when Chang Le crossed his mind, he remained silent and simply said, "Not yet."
As usual, his aunt chided him a few times before leaving.
As fireworks bloomed in the night sky, he sat alone in the front hall, guarding the ancestral offerings, feeling utterly bored—until a small pebble flew over the wall.
His heart stirred, and Li Shaoling stood up.
This fishing village was far, far from the Palace City, requiring a Flying Beast Cart to traverse the desolate roads. Someone as delicate as her shouldn’t have come here.
Yet when he stepped outside and turned toward a secluded section of the courtyard wall, there she was.
Chang Le beamed, holding a bundle of fireworks. "These are the finest new ones from the palace. I thought I’d share some with you."
Her fingertips were red from the cold, and her embroidered shoes, soaked through, sank into the snow.
Li Shaoling frowned, wanting to take her inside to change her shoes, but hesitated, glancing at her as if considering something.
Chang Le looked at the courtyard wall and waved with a smile. "It wouldn’t be proper for me to go in. I’ll leave after setting off the fireworks."
After a long silence, Li Shaoling nodded.
They found a quiet corner and lit the fireworks.
Sparks flew as Chang Le exclaimed excitedly, "After the New Year, I’ll be sixteen! Aren’t you happy, Teacher?"
Her turning sixteen marked the beginning of his nightmare—what was there to be happy about? Li Shaoling scoffed.
But to be fair, she treated him well, always thinking of him, always defending him. She’d even abandoned the luxuries of the Palace City to accompany him in this backwater village to set off fireworks. Living together in the future might not be so unbearable.
Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that her decision was selfish. For the sake of her affection, she’d ruined his future. How could he possibly be at ease with her?
Noticing his silence, Chang Le laughed to herself. "At sixteen, I can finally leave the Weapon Forging Hall where you teach. And you’ll have served two years in the Academicians' Court—eligible for promotion."
She looked at him and asked, "If given the choice, would you pick me or the promotion?"
The question amused Li Shaoling. He smirked. "What do you think, Princess?"
A bright future of his own, or a chubby princess and a lifetime of living off her wealth—even a fool would know the answer.
His mockery was unmistakable, making Chang Le’s lashes tremble and her lips pale.
Realizing his harshness, Li Shaoling pressed his lips together and turned away. "It’s not like I have a choice anyway. Why ask?"
"No reason. Just curious."
The fireworks in their hands burned out, leaving only blackened remnants on the ground.
Li Shaoling stared at the ashes and said idly, "If the Princess could slim down, choosing her wouldn’t be so bad."
"..." Chang Le forced a smile. "Didn’t you say chubby was cute?"
"But you’re getting heavier," he replied. "Eating less won’t kill you."
Snow suddenly cascaded from the eaves, showering Chang Le.
Li Shaoling chuckled and pulled her aside. "How unlucky can you be? Even the snow finds its way into your clothes."Chang Le stood dazed for a long while before finally snapping out of it. With a smile, she brushed the snow off her shoulder. "Quite unlucky indeed."
There was something odd about her words that made Li Shaoling's heart inexplicably sink. Seeing her about to leave, he took two quick steps to catch up and grabbed her arm. "It's so late—how will you get home alone?"
"It's fine. I brought a beast-drawn carriage." She glanced at the courtyard behind him. "Even if I couldn't go back, your place wouldn't have room for me anyway. Why bother asking?"
Li Shaoling choked on his words and released her arm.
Chang Le waved at him cheerfully, her plump figure wobbling with the motion.
Frowning at the sight, Li Shaoling gave a half-hearted wave in return.
As the beast-drawn carriage disappeared into the snowy landscape, he stood watching for a moment until the cold numbed his hands and feet. Hurrying back inside, he changed his shoes and socks before returning to warm himself by the fire.
After the New Year, he resumed classes at the Academicians' Court and noticed Chang Le's seat was empty again.
"They say it's royal protocol—to prepare for marriage, the princess must spend half a year learning palace etiquette. She won't be attending classes here anymore," one of the instructors explained.
Her birthday was still months away. Were they really in such a hurry?
Li Shaoling felt both irritated and helpless.
Her affection was too intense, like the Facing Sun that rose without fail every morning.
Without the meals she used to bring or the new clothes she would gift him, he found himself oddly unsettled. Still, with the rare peace around him, he didn’t actively seek news of her, only catching snippets from others now and then.
"The princess seems to have lost weight recently. She even fell ill."
His chest tightened. Li Shaoling grabbed his colleague’s arm and asked awkwardly, "What kind of illness?"
The colleague laughed. "You’re the one who can enter the palace anytime. Why ask me?"
"No," he pressed his lips together. "I’ve been busy compiling the Record Book. No time for the palace. It’s just that there’s been an outbreak of disease among the common folk—I was worried it might have reached the palace."
"Not that kind of illness. Who knows how it happened? Someone so pampered suddenly can’t keep food down."
Li Shaoling slowed his steps, regret gnawing at him.
He shouldn’t have told her to lose weight. She always took his words to heart—if he said she should slim down, she’d probably starve herself day and night.
He’d only worried her weight might make her sick, but this kind of torment would only make her sicker. She might as well have stayed as she was.
"Shaoling." Qin Shangwu called out to him.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Li Shaoling quickly approached. "Instructor?"
"Draft a petition of gratitude. It’ll be submitted along with the others later." Qin Shangwu patted his shoulder.
He was taken aback.
Petitions of gratitude were usually written after receiving an official appointment, a form of thanksgiving. But what hope did he have for an appointment now? The princess’s birthday was just around the corner.
Nodding with mixed emotions, Li Shaoling walked away, lost in thought. Maybe this was her way of letting him hold office before she turned sixteen—a final fulfillment of his dream?
But was there enough time? The calculations didn’t quite add up.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. He sighed inwardly—Chang Le would do anything to make him happy.
In the past, with his qualifications, he would’ve had to wait at least two more years for a chance at an inner court position. But now, likely because of her, he was directly appointed as Patrol Inspector. The official robes arrived half a month before her birthday.
Li Shaoling traced the embroidery on the robes but didn’t put them on immediately.
Suddenly, he longed to see Chang Le. So he sent a letter to the palace.Chang Le arrived quickly. As usual, whenever he wanted to see her, she would come riding her Flying Sword.
OpenNovel