Chapter Twenty-One: The Eastern Palace

Li Yanhe gazed at the blueprint with a sense of novelty, much like a child receiving a new toy. Lin Miaomiao suddenly wondered if telling Li Yanhe that she had once assembled such a thing herself would make him even more interested.

Her eyes felt a bit sore, and as she rubbed them, she realized she was still holding the document she had written. She handed it to Li Yanhe.

“This is the business opportunity I came up with. It involves cooperating with this pilot city—essentially, partnering with your town to do business together.”

“The profits would be distributed to a certain extent. Your officials could use the funds to provide support for the pilot areas, or offer aid to disabled veterans.”

Li Yanhe’s interest was piqued again. He squinted at Lin Miaomiao, making her feel somewhat uneasy. She said quietly, “I plan to open a tavern... to save up some dowry.”

Li Yanhe clearly didn’t quite believe her. Lin Miaomiao insisted, “Everything I’ve said is true. Besides, if I open a shop on my own, I’ll surely be bullied.”

The more she spoke, the less confident she felt. Li Yanhe simply smiled, saying nothing. Silence settled over the room.

“You’re too young. If the business is too big, I won’t be able to protect you completely.”

Lin Miaomiao was stunned by his words. Her eyes reddened; she had always used cheerfulness to mask her disappointment.

In her former life, Lin Miaomiao had been utterly ordinary, never imagining she would end up living in a strange time and place. Back then, she could neither carry nor lift much, and aside from cooking, she could do little else.

She loved making pastries, but in this backward ancient era, she wouldn’t survive even three episodes. Lin Miaomiao knew she was a woman, and in this time, the inequality between men and women was undeniable. Men could take multiple wives, while women were expected to devote themselves entirely to their husbands.

She harbored resistance toward this era, wishing she could grow stronger so that nothing would frighten her.

She looked up at Li Yanhe and said, “If one day you meet someone you like, and I—your child-bride—stand in your way, you needn’t consider my feelings. Just tell me, and I’ll leave on my own.”

Having spoken, she turned and left. Li Yanhe watched the child run off, disappearing in a flash. He remembered her red-rimmed eyes, looking much like a rabbit.

Li Yanhe felt a softness in his heart, though he couldn’t explain why. Whenever he encountered Lin Miaomiao, he couldn’t help but be gentle.

He sighed. She was just a little girl, and he was determined to protect her. But if she insisted on running such a large business at her age, she would inevitably become a target.

Glancing toward Da’ankou, he pondered for a moment, then chuckled and murmured, “Third Brother, you must be quite anxious now, aren’t you?”

Li Yanhe’s bracelets repeatedly appeared on Emperor Yongchang’s desk, stirring many ambitions. Among them, the Third Prince, Li Tai’an, was growing impatient.

In the Eastern Palace, Crown Prince Li Hanwen lounged on a soft couch, reading letter after letter, none of which brought him satisfaction.

He lay lazily as a young palace maid cautiously massaged his legs.

The Crown Prince reviewed the memorials recently submitted by the Second Prince, Li Yanhe, and realized his father had not informed him, the Crown Prince, of any of them.

This made Li Hanwen uneasy. The position of Crown Prince was fraught with difficulty. Even as the future emperor, he was viewed as a thorn in the side by his brothers.

Even his own father sometimes guarded against him. After all, who would allow another to sleep soundly beside their own bed?

Li Hanwen rubbed his head, obviously displeased with all the memorials, and he even felt a hint of anger.

He glanced at the letter from the Third Prince, Li Tai’an, and tossed it onto the candle flame, which quickly consumed it.

Just then, a eunuch entered to announce, “Fourth Prince has arrived.”

Li Hanwen remained lazily sprawled on the couch. As soon as the Fourth Prince, Li Deren, entered the palace, he saw his brother reclining there, his beautiful phoenix eyes half-closed, watching him with a lazy gaze.

Li Deren understood that when his brother acted this way, it meant…

“You truly have time to come to the Eastern Palace today. Usually, I never see you. So, you’re free now?” Li Hanwen asked, his tone indifferent.

Li Deren walked up, smiled ingratiatingly, and said lightly, “Brother, you know it. Lately, Second Brother has been making frequent moves—he’s really an eyesore.”

He squinted, then glanced at the palace maid massaging the Crown Prince’s legs. Li Hanwen, seeing the maid’s lack of tact, kicked her.

“Take her away and beat her to death,” he ordered. The terrified maid knelt, banging her head on the floor until it bled, but that meant nothing compared to her life. Yet it was clear these two nobles had no intention of sparing her.

In the palace, every step was fraught with danger; a single misstep could cost one’s life. A smile appeared on Li Deren’s delicate, almost feminine face.

He then sat where the maid had been and began to massage Li Hanwen’s legs, albeit absentmindedly.

Li Hanwen said nothing, letting his brother continue, then remarked, “Why are you so obedient today?”

Li Deren replied, “Brother, when have I ever been disobedient? You mustn’t wrong me, must you?”

Li Hanwen laughed, then demanded, “Get to the point.”

“I accidentally slept with a newly promoted consort. Father likely hasn’t slept with her yet, so I…”

Before Li Deren could finish, Li Hanwen kicked him, sat upright, and stared coldly at him.

Li Hanwen’s slender hand gripped Li Deren’s chin. The handsome prince, frightened, looked at his brother.

Li Hanwen’s voice was gentle, but his actions were anything but. He stroked Li Deren’s face, again and again.

“Brother, I was wrong. Please forgive me. I won’t dare again…” Li Deren’s heart raced. Whenever his brother looked at someone gently, that person was as good as dead.

Tears welled in Li Deren’s eyes. Li Hanwen sighed and said, “Go get it yourself.”

Li Deren trembled, his voice shaky. “Brother, Crown Prince, I know I was wrong. I’ll never dare again. This time… please spare me, please…”

He stammered in fear. Li Hanwen raised an eyebrow. “Not listening?”

His grip on Li Deren’s chin tightened further, and Li Deren dared not plead anymore.

He scrambled to the study, pulled a ruler from behind the chair, knelt, and handed it to Li Hanwen.

Li Hanwen, still lazy, gazed at the kneeling Li Deren and said softly, “Deren, you know, lately I’ve been so troubled—one reckless Second Brother, one smiling Third Brother—and now you dare cause me trouble?”

Li Deren’s tears streamed down his exquisitely handsome face as he looked at Li Hanwen in terror and grievance.

He protested, “Brother, it’s really not my fault. That woman seduced me—I never intended…”

Li Hanwen looked at the fourteen-year-old Li Deren, whose face had matured. He recalled the stubborn child from years ago, now grown.

Li Hanwen squinted; Li Deren was so frightened he dropped the ruler and stammered, “Brother, Crown Prince, Your Highness, I know I was wrong.”

Only then did Li Hanwen slowly stand, his wide robe revealing a muscular chest.

Barefoot, he approached Li Deren, his violent aura unmistakable, then bent down to pick up the fallen ruler.

Li Deren trembled uncontrollably; Li Hanwen signaled him with a look, and Li Deren obediently lay across the couch where his brother had just reclined.

Li Hanwen’s slender, beautiful hand wielded the ruler, striking Li Deren absentmindedly, channeling inner strength with each blow.

The sound of the ruler echoed through the Eastern Palace, again and again.

When Li Hanwen grew tired, Li Deren lay on the couch, quietly sobbing. Li Hanwen saw his brother crying and raised an eyebrow, saying coldly, “And you still have the nerve to cry?”