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The afternoon sun had begun its slow descent from the highest point of the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the imperial gardens of Gou'an.
The gardens were vast enough that one could wander through them for hours without seeing the same scenery twice. Curving stone pathways wound between carefully cultivated flower beds, small ponds, ornamental bridges, and clusters of ancient trees whose branches had been trained into elegant shapes by generations of imperial gardeners.
A gentle breeze passed through the garden, carrying the fragrance of blooming flowers.
Princess Xiao Lihua walked leisurely along the stone pathway beside Lin Yue, one hand resting lightly against the sleeve of her hanfu.
She had just finished lunch, and the pleasant meal had left her unusually content.
Lihua suddenly stretched both arms above her head.
"Ahh..."
Lin Yue turned toward her with an amused smile.
"Princess?"
"That was delicious," Lihua said, her expression brightening. "I think I ate more than I usually do."
Lin Yue giggled softly.
"That's because you kept complimenting every dish."
"They deserved the compliments."
"You said that about almost every dish."
"Because almost every dish deserved it."
Lin Yue covered her mouth as she laughed.
Lihua smiled at her.
The days she had spent in Gou'an had changed her more than she expected.
At first, the palace had felt unfamiliar.
The architecture was different from Tianzhou. The roofs had slightly different curves, the palace walls were decorated with patterns she had never seen before, and even the servants followed customs that took her some time to understand.
Yet little by little, the unfamiliar place had begun to feel less intimidating.
She had learned which garden paths received the most sunlight in the afternoon. She knew which pavilion overlooked the lotus pond. She had even learned which servants enjoyed sneaking extra sweets onto her afternoon tea tray.
And most importantly, she had begun to understand the people around her.
Especially the two princes.
Mingze was gentle, patient, and considerate.
Yichen was different.
He was quiet, somewhat blunt, and carried himself like someone accustomed to standing between danger and the people he cared about.
Lihua looked down at her wrist.
A delicate bracelet rested there.
It was one of the gifts Guo Mingze had given her.
The bracelet was beautifully crafted, with small polished stones arranged around a thin silver chain. It wasn't excessively extravagant, but it had been chosen with care.
Lihua gently touched it.
"I really should repay his kindness someday."
Lin Yue glanced at the bracelet.
"You have already thanked His Highness several times."
"Thanking someone and repaying their kindness aren't exactly the same thing."
"You worry too much, Princess."
Lihua smiled.
"Perhaps."
Lin Yue walked beside her for a moment before adding,
"His Highness is simply that kind of person. He has always been considerate toward others."
Lihua nodded.
"I've noticed."
"Especially toward the Second Prince."
Lihua looked at her curiously.
"Yichen?"
Lin Yue nodded.
"The two princes may behave differently, but His Highness Mingze has always been patient with him. Even when they were younger."
Lihua smiled faintly.
"I think they make a good pair of brothers."
"They do."
Lin Yue's voice softened.
"And the Second Prince may look intimidating, but he cares deeply about his brother."
Lihua was about to respond when-
Whoosh.
A sudden movement came from the other side of the garden.
Lihua stopped.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Someone had stepped from behind the flowering trees.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Dressed in dark training clothes rather than elaborate court robes.
His dark hair was tied neatly behind his head, though several strands had fallen loose around his forehead. There was still the faintest trace of perspiration along his temples, suggesting that he had recently finished training.
It was Guo Yichen.
The Second Prince.
Lihua's expression softened with recognition.
"Second Prince."
Yichen stopped.
For a moment, he seemed almost surprised to see her.
Then he straightened.
"Princess."
His voice was deep and slightly rough from training.
Lin Yue immediately bowed.
"Your Highness."
Yichen gave her a brief nod before looking back at Lihua.
There was an awkward silence.
Lihua tilted her head slightly.
"Have you just finished training?"
"Yes."
"I see."
Another silence.
Lin Yue glanced between them.
The two seemed perfectly capable of fighting a hundred soldiers, yet somehow neither appeared capable of deciding what to say next.
Lihua almost smiled.
Yichen eventually cleared his throat.
"I heard something."
Lihua looked at him.
"Something?"
He hesitated.
Then his gaze briefly moved toward the bracelet on her wrist.
"I heard that my brother has been giving you gifts."
Lihua blinked.
"Oh."
Yichen immediately looked away.
"I wasn't asking because I was curious."
Lihua's lips curved slightly.
"I didn't say you were."
Yichen became quiet.
Lin Yue lowered her gaze, apparently trying very hard not to smile.
Lihua gently touched the bracelet.
"He did give me several things."
Yichen nodded.
"I see."
"This was one of them."
She lifted her wrist slightly so the bracelet caught the afternoon sunlight.
Yichen studied it.
"It's beautiful."
"It is."
Lihua smiled.
"I like it very much."
Yichen looked away again.
"Good."
There was another pause.
Then Yichen reached inside his outer robe.
Lihua watched curiously.
He took out a small wooden box.
It was simple.
Unlike the ornate boxes often used to present imperial gifts, this one was made from plain dark wood. There were no jewels or gold decorations.
Yichen held it for several moments without saying anything.
Lihua looked at the box.
"What is that?"
Yichen hesitated.
"Something."
"Something?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
Lihua waited.
Yichen finally extended the box toward her.
"It isn't worth much."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"What?"
"I mean..."
He frowned, clearly annoyed with himself.
"It isn't as valuable as the things my brother has given you."
Lihua stared at him.
Yichen continued awkwardly.
"I made it myself."
For the first time, Lihua's expression became completely surprised.
"You made it?"
Yichen nodded.
"Yes."
She looked at the box again.
"May I?"
He nodded.
Lihua carefully accepted it.
The box was surprisingly warm from being held.
She opened the lid.
Inside was a bracelet.
It was different from Mingze's.
Instead of silver and polished stones, it was made from carefully braided dark-blue and pale-colored threads, with a small metal ornament hanging from its center.
It wasn't extravagant.
It wasn't something that would immediately attract attention in a room full of priceless treasures.
But it was clearly handmade.
And the weaving was remarkably neat.
Lihua gently touched it.
"You made this?"
"Yes."
"Yourself?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Yichen looked at her.
For once, he didn't immediately answer.
"I..."
He looked toward the pond.
"I thought you might like it."
Lihua's cheeks warmed slightly.
Not because of the bracelet itself, but because she understood what it represented.
He had spent time making it.
He could have simply purchased something expensive.
Instead, he had made something himself.
That meant more.
"It's beautiful."
Yichen blinked.
"You like it?"
"I do."
Lihua smiled warmly.
"Thank you."
Yichen's shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly.
"I'm glad."
Lihua carefully lifted the bracelet from the box.
"May I wear it?"
Yichen seemed caught off guard.
"Now?"
"If you don't mind."
"No."
He paused.
"I mean, I don't mind."
Lihua laughed softly.
"Then I shall wear it."
She carefully fastened it around her wrist.
The dark threads contrasted gently against the pale fabric of her sleeve.
She lifted her wrist and examined it beneath the sunlight.
"It fits."
Yichen looked at it.
Then at her.
"It does."
Lin Yue smiled behind them.
The garden seemed strangely peaceful in that moment.
A few petals drifted through the air.
Somewhere nearby, water trickled gently through a narrow stone channel.
The sounds of distant training echoed faintly from the courtyard beyond the garden.
Yichen suddenly spoke.
"Princess."
Lihua turned toward him.
"Yes?"
"Are you free tomorrow?"
She blinked.
"Tomorrow?"
Yichen nodded.
"Yes."
"What for?"
He hesitated again.
"I wanted to ask..."
He looked away.
"If you would like to visit the central city."
Lihua's eyes immediately brightened.
"The central city?"
"Yes."
"I've heard about it."
Yichen nodded.
"It is different from the palace."
"How?"
"There are markets, tea houses, craftsmen, food stalls, temples, theaters..."
His voice became slightly more animated as he described it.
"There is also a large river running through the eastern district. At sunset, the entire waterway reflects the lanterns from the bridges."
Lihua listened intently.
"That sounds beautiful."
"It is."
Yichen looked at her.
"You've been here for weeks, but you've only seen the palace."
Lihua nodded.
"That's true."
"Then you should see more of Gou'an."
She smiled.
"I would like that."
Yichen's expression softened.
"Then I'll take you."
Lin Yue's eyes widened.
"Your Highness, wouldn't that require permission?"
Yichen looked toward her.
"Of course."
Lin Yue visibly relaxed.
"I only wanted to make sure."
Yichen nodded.
"I'll speak with my brother."
Lihua smiled.
"Would Mingze agree?"
"He probably will."
Yichen paused.
"He's been trying to make you feel comfortable here anyway."
Lihua looked down at the bracelet on her wrist.
"Then I suppose I have another person to thank."
Yichen raised an eyebrow.
"Another?"
"Yes."
She looked at him.
"You."
Yichen froze.
Lihua smiled.
"For this."
She raised her wrist.
"And for offering to show me the city."
Yichen looked away.
"It's nothing."
"It isn't nothing to me."
He didn't answer.
For a moment, the Second Prince simply stood beneath the afternoon sunlight, his usual stern expression softened by something almost shy.
Lin Yue quietly watched the two of them.
She had heard countless rumors about Guo Yichen.
Some said he was fierce.
Some called him cold.
Others claimed he had an uncontrollable temper.
Yet standing there, she couldn't help thinking that rumors often failed to describe the person behind them.
Yichen finally cleared his throat.
"I'll arrange everything."
Lihua nodded.
"I'll look forward to it."
"Then..."
He paused.
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow."
The Second Prince gave a small nod before turning away.
He took several steps before Lihua called after him.
"Second Prince."
Yichen stopped.
He looked back.
Lihua smiled.
"Thank you."
For a brief moment, Yichen simply stared at her.
Then he nodded.
"You're welcome, Princess."
He continued walking away.
Lihua watched him disappear beyond the flowering trees.
She looked down at the bracelet once more.
The breeze moved through the garden, carrying the fragrance of flowers across the pathway.
Lin Yue approached her.
"Princess."
"Hm?"
"You seem happy."
Lihua smiled.
"I am."
She gently touched the bracelet.
"Perhaps tomorrow I'll finally get to see what Gou'an is really like."
Lin Yue nodded.
"And perhaps you'll find something interesting in the central city."
Lihua looked toward the distant palace walls.
She didn't know what tomorrow would bring.
She didn't know that her journey into Gou'an would soon become much more complicated than a simple political marriage.
For now, however, she was simply grateful.
Grateful for Mingze's kindness.
Grateful for Lin Yue's companionship.
And unexpectedly-
Grateful for the quiet, handmade bracelet resting around her wrist.
Far beyond the garden, the afternoon bells of Gou'an began to ring.
One.
Then another.
Their deep sound traveled across the imperial grounds, announcing the approaching evening.
Lihua turned toward the sound.
"Tomorrow," she murmured.
And for the first time since leaving Tianzhou, the thought of tomorrow did not make her feel homesick.
It made her curious.
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(End of Chapter 32)