She was still unwell, yet the moment she saw him, she smiled. "It's rare for the teacher to seek me out. Has something happened?"
Li Shaoling glanced at her plump figure and instinctively remarked, "They all say Your Highness has lost weight, but I don't see it."
His underlying thought was that since there was no visible result, there was no need to torment herself and make herself sick for nothing.
However, Chang Le froze at his words, her bright expression visibly dimming before she forced a smile. "He Jianghe saw how hungry I was and insisted on stuffing me with food. So, I’ve gained it all back."
Li Shaoling narrowed his eyes slightly. "He Jianghe?"
"The son of Chancellor He, the one who always ranks first in the men's academy at the Academicians' Court. Surely the teacher remembers him."
Of course, he remembered. His colleagues often praised He Jianghe at length, saying he was born with Crimson Meridians, that his talents were extraordinary—though his mischievous nature caused trouble, much to the He family's dismay.
But why was this name coming from Chang Le’s lips? And why did it leave him so unsettled?
"He’s the son of an outer court official. How did he end up delivering food to the inner palace for Your Highness?" Li Shaoling pressed his lips together.
Chang Le grinned. "He’s fearless. He climbed the wall to find me, got caught by Mingchen, and they ended up fighting."
"That’s rather undisciplined," Li Shaoling said, eyeing her. "And just because he gave you food, you ate it?"
"He said it’s fine if I’m plump—he wouldn’t mind." Chang Le lowered her gaze. "Just like the teacher once said."
Li Shaoling stiffened, his brow furrowing. "Is Your Highness really so easily fooled? Anyone who says that, and you’d be moved?"
After a moment of silence, Chang Le nodded with a smile. "Yes."
He didn’t understand what those words meant to her. Her physical condition couldn’t be changed; she might have to live like this for the rest of her life. So, anyone who thought she was fine as she was became precious company to her.
At first, she had thought the teacher was one of them. But over a year ago, those casual words of his seemed forgotten even by him. Later, he only urged her to lose weight.
She couldn’t. She had already tried.
Giving Li Shaoling a deep look, Chang Le stood and said cheerfully, "Don’t forget to come to my birthday banquet this year."
Her sixteenth birthday banquet would undoubtedly include the bestowal of a marriage arrangement. Li Shaoling knew he ought to attend, but his mood was foul, and she was already preparing to leave.
So he said coldly, "I can’t. It’s also Hua Qing’s birthday this year."
The last glimmer of light in her eyes faded. Chang Le murmured a soft "Oh," then bowed to him. "This student takes her leave."
"..." Li Shaoling opened his mouth to stop her, but she had already turned and stepped out the door in a flash.
Sitting alone in the room, he felt a pang of frustration.
The gleaming new official robes were still beside him—he hadn’t even had the chance to share them with her before the room fell into silence.
What was she rushing off to do? To feast on the lavish dishes He Jianghe had prepared for her?
She didn’t even let him finish speaking. Empty words of acceptance were easy to say—wasn’t he only looking out for her?
Fine. He wouldn’t attend her birthday banquet. Let’s see who His Majesty betroths her to then!
With a flick of his sleeve, Li Shaoling rose and strode into the inner chamber, his gaze landing on the birthday gift he had prepared for her.It was a pair of chubby clay dolls, their round bodies plump and full. The girl doll was as round as her, while the boy doll bore his name but was twice as plump. Placed side by side, they made quite a matching pair.
His anger subsiding somewhat, Li Shaoling stood in the room for a long while before finally tidying his appearance.
He wanted to appear at her birthday banquet in his finest form, outshining all those rivers, mountains, and seas—whatever they might be.
Princess Chang Le’s birthday this year was livelier than in previous years. Rumors spread among the common folk that the princess had fallen in love, her heart stirred by a sweetheart, and that she would marry as soon as she turned sixteen. That was why the palace was paying such special attention to this year’s celebration.
Those in the Academicians' Court knew this was no mere rumor.
The Ministry of Rites had long since begun preparing ceremonial items for the princess’s wedding. The princess herself had been studying diligently for some time—likely, the moment the birthday banquet ended, wedding festivities would begin.
People who encountered Li Shaoling on the road cupped their hands and congratulated him with a smile.
Li Shaoling kept a straight face and didn’t respond, only saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Patrol Inspector Li, why hide it? Who has won our princess’s heart—you know, and I know.”
The corner of his lips twitched upward before quickly being suppressed. Li Shaoling maintained a solemn expression. “My heart is filled with lofty ambitions. How could this matter be considered a cause for congratulations?”
“True,” his colleague nodded. “This official position you’ve only just obtained will likely be gone soon. Once you move into the princess’s residence, who knows if you’ll even be allowed out for drinks.”
“What a pity, Shaoling, with all that talent of yours.”
To suppress the upward tilt of his eyes, Li Shaoling forced himself to dwell on these downsides.
And dwelling on them, he truly couldn’t bring himself to feel happy anymore.
The group entered the palace where the birthday banquet was being held, mingling among the high-ranking officials and nobles coming and going.
Li Shaoling’s gaze inadvertently swept past He Jianghe, clad in fine silks.
He Jianghe wore a lake-blue brocade robe, the same color as his own. The two caught sight of each other across the crowd, hostility flashing in their eyes.
He Jianghe strode over immediately.
“Instructor, this lake-blue peacock pattern of yours is dazzling, no doubt, but it’s rather old-fashioned,” he remarked, then feigned sudden realization. “Ah, how could I forget? The instructor is, after all, our elder—far more mature than the rest of us.”
Every word dripped with implications of his age.
Li Shaoling raised a brow. “The butterflies on Student He’s robe are also quite lovely, but perhaps a bit too gaudy. They only suit those not yet of age—certainly not something I could wear.”
He refused to back down.
He Jianghe flicked the butterfly embroidery on his sleeve and suddenly smiled. “The instructor thinks it’s gaudy too, doesn’t he? I thought so as well. But Chang Le insisted on embroidering this pattern, saying paired butterflies flying wing-to-wing were an auspicious sign.”
Li Shaoling’s fingers, hidden in his sleeves, clenched abruptly.
Chang Le had embroidered his robes?
It had been a long time since she last embroidered anything for him, let alone something like paired butterflies. For him, she had only ever stitched bamboo and mountain landscapes.
“I heard the instructor’s official career has been smooth lately,” He Jianghe said, eyeing him up and down. “Congratulations on achieving your heart’s desire.”
Li Shaoling lowered his gaze with a faint scoff. “Merely Her Highness’s favor.”
“She doesn’t favor—she’s foolish.” He Jianghe’s eyes dropped slightly. “She’ll sacrifice for others a thousand times without sparing a thought for herself, never considering whether they’re even worth it.”
Li Shaoling didn’t understand his words.
Chang Le had granted him his official position merely to fulfill a fleeting wish of his—sooner or later, it would be revoked because of his status as her consort. What did it have to do with sacrifice? If anything, it was he who was sacrificing for her, reluctantly setting aside his reservations to be with her.The chime of the bianzhong bells rang out in a melodic sequence, and the banquet hall instantly fell silent.
Both of them hushed their voices and looked up in unison.
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