Leaving the Changmen Palace - LTCP 03: Wedding

Chen Jiao woke up and gazed at the beautiful brocade curtains, still a little disoriented.

She slowly sat up as the intricate designs came into view. Hearing the commotion inside, the servants quickly approached to assist her in washing up and getting dressed.

Breakfast had already been prepared in her room.

As she got older, she gained more respect from those around her. Through the years, she seldom heard the word “no.” While she didn’t explicitly state it, her attire and lifestyle mirrored that of her parents but were even more exquisite.

Despite the grand princess having only one biological daughter, there were other young women in the Chen family. These sisters did not envy Chen Jiao’s special treatment; they simply accepted it. The unmarried crown princess—the empress dowager’s favorite granddaughter—and the beloved of the emperor and crown prince were not secrets within the family.

At just thirteen, she was already seen as a pillar of the Chen family. Who wouldn’t want to bask in the shade of her protection?

Chen Jiao believed that if she did not have the voice in her head reminding her about Empress Bo’s story, she might naturally develop a more determined and authoritative personality. A person who has not been exposed to offensive language since childhood may gradually become haughty.

Following breakfast, she rose and proceeded to her parents’ palace to pay her respects.

Despite the modest size of the Marquess of Tangyi’s estate, due to the financial support from the grand princess over the years, the expenses for food and clothing were not much inferior to those in the imperial palace.

Chen Jiao arrived early, and the grand princess was still getting ready, who had purchased a new set of jewelry. The intricate details of the figures and buildings on the gold hairpin were truly astonishing.

She was not one to speak much; it wasn’t necessary for her. When the grand princess commented on her quiet and dull nature, her uncle described her as “easygoing and composed, with the presence of an empress.” From that point on, her composure was highly regarded.

Sitting below the grand princess, she observed her repeatedly gazing at herself in the bronze mirror. She reflected on her uncle’s strict thriftiness and how the women in the palace, including her aunt, repeated outfits. Her cheerful expression gradually turned somber.

“Are you planning to visit the imperial palace today?”

The empress dowager, who was elderly and reliant on the grand princess, would occasionally request the latter to accompany her to the imperial palace and have lengthy conversations. Otherwise, the former would feel despondent and isolated.

There were many aspects of Chen Jiao’s life that she could not alter. She could clearly witness the deep affection the empress dowager harbored for the grand princess and how admired the Marquess of Tangyi’s estate was, making her retreat into silence.

The grand princess casually remarked, “I won’t be going to the imperial palace. I’ll be attending a birthday celebration.”

Chen Jiao may have noticed things that she was not oblivious to. Despite her inability to see it, it appeared that she had grasped something after Chen Jiao reiterated, “Aunt did not dress up, and mother was too extravagant, making her unhappy.”

Mostly, she mentioned this to uphold appearances. The wedding is scheduled for next spring. She will soon be the Crown Princess of Chen, no longer a young girl depending on the grand princess.

She absentmindedly glanced down and sipped on honey water.

The grand princess inquired, “Will you be attending?”

The wedding is scheduled for the beginning of next year. During that time, the host of the birthday celebration will make every effort to win her favor.

Expressing her boredom, she shook her head and reached for a cat to stroke. Beside her, the grand princess sighed, displaying a sense of helplessness.

In the mind of the grand princess, Chen Jiao appeared unhappy, despondent, and too reserved. She seemed as serene as the sound of a zither, yet too isolated and unliked.

Although the path ahead may be clear and promising, if it is fraught with obstacles, how can one be cheerful? Innocence does not comprehend sorrow, a trait associated with a noble lady but not Chen Jiao.

The grand princess was unable to grasp the situation, still enchanted by the smiling faces of the empress, the crown prince, the empress dowager’s special favor, and her uncle’s doting. She had overlooked the empress dowager’s age.

Chen Jiao’s father and brothers were also unable to comprehend. They celebrated the honor of the Dou family, forgetting the suffering of the Lu family and the despair of the Bo family. To them, the crown princess was as precious as gold and jade. What more could she desire? Her perpetual discontent remained a puzzle.

She lamented to the voice, “People only see things superficially. They’re like timid field mice with limited vision.”

It chuckled at her remark, “You’d be lost without me, just like a simple field mouse.”

Chen Jiao remained silent.

Without it, she felt like a common field mouse, admired by everyone. Most individuals only offered praise from childhood into adulthood. There were hardly any exceptions, and even those few were influenced by her. It was hard for her not to feel prideful when she could act whimsically and foolishly without repercussions.

After exchanging pleasantries with her parents, she went back to her private boudoir to work on some embroidery. She had completed half of a sachet and still had to do some intricate stitching and choose the color for the design.

This particular area of the Marquess of Tangyi’s estate was always peaceful.

Later in the day, a visitor arrived. Despite being a man, her elder brother personally led him to the inner chamber.

It was expected for the Marquess of Tangyi’s household to follow proper manners. Boys and girls were not allowed to sit together at the dining table once they turned seven. Furthermore, this room belonged to the crown princess. Even her own brothers had to be cautious in order to avoid suspicion.

“The wedding is fast approaching. I’m here to see you!” Her fiancé, Liu Che, said with good intentions but a domineering tone.

Chen Jiao looked up from her sewing and gave him a smile, one she only reserved for him.

She was like a flower that only blossomed in his presence, fading into silence the rest of the time.

How could any man resist such a captivating smile?

“Sister, the peach blossoms are in full bloom outside, I’ll go see them,” whispered her eldest brother, Chen Xu, before leaving the inner room.

Their wedding was scheduled for October, which was over six months away. The elaborate imperial wedding preparations were keeping the people at Marquess of Tangyi’s estate busy, but Chen Jiao was unconcerned with such matters.

She only cared about making a good impression on Liu Che. He may have been just a fourteen-year-old boy, but he was already showing signs of maturity. With five or six years until his coronation, she acknowledged his youthful behavior, yet his appearance belied his age. He had always been taller than his peers, and his voice had deepened while Han Yan still sounded like a child.

Even after a brief absence, he had a hint of stubble on his face, making him seem older than his actual age of fourteen. In fact, he seemed more similar in age to Chen Xu, who was sixteen or seventeen.

She observed him closely, then bowed her head and softly said, “You have come to see me once again.”

The betrothed couple shared a strong bond. During his spare time, Liu Che would often sneak out of the palace to visit his fiancée at the Marquess of Tangyi’s estate. Despite it being improper, the grand princess was not bothered by it. Empress Wang had mentioned multiple times that she wished Chen Jiao would guide Liu Che in proper etiquette.

Chen Jiao followed her guidance.

Although the words were meant as advice, there was an underlying sense of joy. Most notably, there was an unexplainable serenity surrounding her.

Liu Che paid no mind. He sat beside her, paused for a moment, and then gently placed his arm around her shoulders.

Having grown up together, they were used to embracing and playfully bickering with one another. However, as they matured, they started to drift apart. Due to Chen Jiao’s noble status and their marital relationship, he was cautious not to attract any suspicion.

Nevertheless, this time, he was firm in his decision to embrace her.

The young woman in his embrace didn’t collapse like water, instead, she momentarily froze before slowly resting her head on his shoulder. A delicate scent surrounded her, reminiscent of spring rain, with a touch of freshness.

Looking down, he noticed that she had nibbled lightly on her lower lip. Her cheeks were blushed slightly, and her lengthy eyelashes fluttered, evoking a sense of indescribable pity.

His heart raced, and it took him some time to compose himself.

Gently, he whispered, “Once we’re married, I’ll see you every day.”

Chen Jiao lowered her gaze, concealing the complexity in her eyes.

She nodded silently and softly responded, “Yes.”

The youthful crown prince exuded energy and liveliness. He was the main focus, the star of the show. How could anyone relegate him to a supporting role? Even if he could accept it, was that comparable to the countless feelings of affection holding his heart together?

Reflecting on these thoughts, she spoke gently, “Uncle is aware. He mentioned that you harbor sincere emotions towards me. Will I have the pleasure of seeing you in a few days at grandmother’s?”

Every day, Liu Che greeted the empress dowager, who often allowed the grand princess to stay in the imperial palace. Chen Jiao, the empress dowager’s favorite grandchild, seized the chance to serve there.

The imperial palace was crowded, and even the crown prince was not immune to the rumors. Even if they managed to be alone, how could Liu Che embrace her and enjoy her company as he currently does?

The young crown prince was preoccupied and carefully observed Chen Jiao’s eyebrows. When he saw her close her eyes and blush as if she couldn’t bear his gaze, his heart was filled with longing.

He couldn’t resist holding her waist and whispering, “I miss you and can’t bear to be apart for a few days.”

No matter how quiet and melancholy she appeared, Chen Jiao was only fourteen years old. Liu Che’s soft, soothing voice touched her heart directly, tightening multiple heartstrings simultaneously. Her heart quivered.

Suddenly, a derisive voice whispered in her ear, sounding as though it was speaking to itself. However, in this desolate place, who could it possibly be conversing with?

“You can survive without food for three days, but he cannot last even a day without a woman. Naturally, he cannot endure a single day.”

Chen Jiao’s heart turned cold once more, causing her to tremble uncontrollably.

Liu Che mistakenly believed she was simply shy. The more bashful she appeared, the more he felt unable to bear it. He leaned in closer and gently grasped her chin, lifting it up tenderly.

Unexpectedly, a loud cough resonated from outside the inner chamber.

She pushed Liu Che away, her face flushing even more and her voice quivering, “Once the ceremony concludes…”

She gazed up at him, her eyes resembling rippling water: lucid and sparkling.

Liu Che found himself captivated by her. Before he could utter a word, her eyes gradually calmed, turning into a mysterious abyss he could not penetrate.

His cousin occasionally appeared to be more distant than his aunt. Her mind felt like it was deep underwater, clear but hidden by the shimmering pool of water.

Engrossed in thoughts, he fiddled with the incomplete sachet created by her. Bringing it close to his mouth, he casually took a sniff. Realizing it was still unfinished, he set it aside.

Chen Jiao responded to him by rolling her eyes and softly sighing, “I like this. There’s more here, but there’s only one left of this.”

“I do not appreciate the scent of osmanthus.” Liu Che deliberately took the opposite stance, causing her to roll her eyes once again. Her eyes, filled with moisture, showed impatience but also a hint of a smile.

“It was the osmanthus you gave me last year. I couldn’t bring myself to dispose of it, ” she murmured. Then quickly said, “No, never mind.”

With the spring breeze rustling the curtains, Chen Xu stood outside, feeling the aroma of peach blossoms wafting towards him. Laughter from inside also reached his ears.

“I want it! I want it!” He overheard the crown prince’s joyous voice, “If it’s yours, I want it.”

The delightful fragrance of osmanthus lingered from the winter solstice until the following spring, all the way to their wedding day.

…

A/N (as in author’s note, not translator’s note):

Let me clarify some points that might be confusing for you. Some of these points have already been discussed in the comments.

Firstly, there is no definite information about Chen Jiao’s age in history. She could have been older than Liu Che or younger than Liu Rong due to the age gap between Liu Rong and Liu Che. For the sake of the novel’s readability and the plausibility of their marriage, I decided to portray Chen Jiao as younger than Liu Rong, approximately the same age as Liu Che. If Chen Jiao were older than Liu Che, she would have likely fallen out of favor eventually, even if Liu Che remained loyal. Princess Guantao wouldn’t have been that naive.

Secondly, Liu Che’s “nickname” is inspired by Emperor Wu of Han’s story. I don’t give it much credence. The book mentioned that Empress Chen’s name was A’ Jiao, the same as her brother, the Marquess of Longli. Yet, the narrative of a beautiful woman concealed in a golden house is also from Emperor Wu of Han’s story. Haha.

Lastly, Chen Jiao’s name remains unchanged, following the famous story of the beautiful woman hidden in the golden house.