Chapter 129: Green Plums and Boiling Wine

Within the Eastern Palace, amidst a magnificent complex of pavilions and verandas, stood the tallest structure of all, built upon a foundation of dahlia granite and known as the Hall of the Dragon's Progeny. Occupying the very heart of the Eastern Palace, this grand hall covered roughly one-fifth of the entire precinct.

The Hall of the Dragon's Progeny was divided into five distinct sections, adhering to the classic architectural motif of all four quarters paying homage to the center. At its core lay the Crown Prince's formal residence, designated as the Prince's Mansion. White marble steps led up to towering crimson lacquer doors secured by massive bronze rings, flanked by a pair of formidable stone guardian lions. Inside the main entrance stood a stone screen exquisitely carved with the likenesses of two guardian generals.

Had a person from later generations laid eyes on these two guardians, they would undoubtedly have been astonished to find that they were not the legendary Qin Qiong and Yuchi Jingde, but rather two entirely different figures named Li Zide and Yang Zhen.

In truth, this was merely a parallel world, one where a certain era of history ran remarkably parallel to the known past, and the successive emperors of the Tang Dynasty essentially mirrored historical records without deviation.

The aforementioned location was the main portal of the Prince's Mansion, though this grand entrance was rarely opened; ingress and egress were almost exclusively conducted through the side or rear gates.

Because the Eastern Palace was situated in close proximity to the Yeting quarters, over ten thousand servants were assigned to the direct command of the Crown Prince within the Hall of the Dragon's Progeny alone, while more than fifty thousand palace maids and eunuchs kept the entire Eastern Palace functioning.

In the rear garden of the Prince's Mansion stood a three-story tower. Strictly speaking, its uppermost level was not a room, but an open pavilion designed for catching the cool breeze and enjoying the panoramic scenery. Open to the winds on all four sides, the rooftop pavilion was draped with cascading strings of pearls and furnished internally with sandalwood screens, filling the air with a subtle, captivating fragrance upon entry.

At this moment, two figures were seated within the enclosure of the screens. One of them had a pair of revolvers engraved with black rose patterns tucked casually into their waist belt.

Between the two individuals rested a low, broad, square dining table. At the center of the table sat an exquisite bronze charcoal brazier, atop which a small pot simmered with red wine and tart green plums.

"My esteemed adopted sister, the spring evening wind is brisk, and the green plums are not yet fully ripe, so I am obliged to entertain you with boiled wine! I sincerely hope my adopted sister will not find this brother's hospitality lacking!" Adorned in magnificent robes and an ornate crown, the forty-something Li Heng sported a neatly trimmed mustache. His features bore a fifty-percent resemblance to those of Li Longji, though his build was considerably fuller without being overly stout. Despite his humble words, a look of complacent pride played across his face.

The wine was a tribute from a minor nation on the fringes of the Western Regions, completely unavailable in the bustling wine markets of Chang'an. By bringing out such a vintage to entertain the Protector Princess, Li Heng was subtly attempting to assert his dominance. Among all the imperial brothers and sisters, he was currently the Crown Prince; ascending the throne as emperor was merely a matter of time. Once his father formally abdicated in his favor, he would become the undisputed sovereign of the realm.

Wu Yueling raised her wine bowl and took a sip of the warm wine. Tinged with the tart acidity of green plums, it proved surprisingly palatable. "I thank Your Highness for the wine!"

"My adopted sister need not be so formal. If you are willing, you may simply address me as your elder cousin!" Li Heng rolled back one sleeve with his free hand, picked up the communal chopsticks, plucked a green plum from the pot, and placed it directly into the bowl of the princess opposite him. A smug, natural smile graced his features, entirely devoid of impatience; instead, his tone was one of affectionate familiarity.

Having lived for more than half a lifetime, he had long since fathomed the myriad complexities of human nature. What he played at now was merely a well-rehearsed performance. Having long heard tales of his adopted sister's reputation as a talented woman, compounded by her prestigious standing among the Eight Immortals—rumors that were undoubtedly fanned by others—the flames of jealousy within Li Heng had been thoroughly ignited. Boiling green plums over wine was, in essence, an emulation of Cao Cao discussing heroes, meant to gently chide this presumptuous, newly elevated princess.

"Green plums are only truly delicious when boiled half-ripe and half-raw. My adopted sister should enjoy them while they are still warm!"

Wu Yueling picked up her chopsticks, smiled as she retrieved the plum, sniffed it delicately, and popped it into her mouth. The sourness had diminished significantly, and overall, it was quite acceptable. "I thank my elder cousin for his thoughtful kindness!"

"No need for such courtesy. Let us share this cup! This is specially supplied Western Regions wine, bestowed upon me personally by my father. Drinking entirely alone would be far too dull, which is why I wished to share a cup with my adopted sister!" Li Heng raised his bowl with a smile.

"Many thanks for my elder cousin's sentiments!" Wu Yueling offered her gratitude once more. As she lowered her gaze, she caught a glimpse of the armored guards concealed behind the surrounding screens. From the moment she arrived, she had detected the subtle stirrings of the guards on the other side of the screens, along with the distinct sound of crossbows being drawn—which was precisely why she had tucked her two revolvers into her belt the moment she sat down.

Though her outward expression remained utterly serene, her mind raced through a succession of turbulent thoughts before ultimately settling on the certainty that no real harm would come to her. The summons from the Crown Prince had struck her as somewhat peculiar from the start, and stepping into the Eastern Palace had immediately clarified the full scope of the matter. To put it bluntly, this resembled a modern-day Feast at Hong Gate, yet no lives would be taken, nor would anyone perform sword dances for intimidation; the intent of the middle-aged man before her was transparently clear—it was nothing more than a warning and a reprimand.

Yet what could be his motive for doing so? He was the Crown Prince; could it be that he harbored jealousy toward her simply because she had won the favor of their adoptive father and mother? Having finished her wine and grasped the true objective of her host, Wu Yueling now knew precisely how to proceed. Her expression remained unchanged as she once again expressed her gratitude for her cousin's hospitality.

Li Heng was thoroughly pleased with the reaction of his adopted sister, the Protector Princess. A child was still a child; they were remarkably easy to handle.

"I wonder what my adopted sister thinks of Chang'an?" Li Heng continued to nibble on a plum as he posed the question.

"Chang'an is prosperous and bustling, a true testament to the might and glory of our Great Tang!"

Wu Yueling paused with her chopsticks in hand and replied.

"My adopted sister, does this scene of boiling green plums over wine feel at all familiar to you?" Li Heng wore an enigmatic smile, his scholarly exterior masking an undercurrent of unyielding pride and towering ambition.

"Ah, my elder cousin may set his mind at ease. I am no Liu Xuande, and I have no intention of causing my elder cousin any trouble. Therefore, please rest assured. Let me offer Your Highness a cup in return!" Wu Yueling responded with perfect composure, effortlessly defusing the suddenly tense atmosphere.

Li Heng's expression of triumph returned, thoroughly enjoying the flattery. Feigning drunkenness, he waved a casual hand toward the periphery, signaling the armored guards stationed beyond the screens to withdraw.

Wu Yueling observed all of this without a word, though a flicker of disdain crossed her mind. Not until she had departed the Eastern Palace and boarded her carriage did she let out a helpless sigh and shake her head.

She was neither Liu Xuande nor Cao Mengde; she was the Protector Princess, who in their eyes had originally been nothing more than a commoner from the grassroots.

By the time she returned to the Princess's Mansion, the deep, fathomless night had already fallen. Having failed to eat her fill during her excursion as a guest at the Prince's Mansion, she instructed the kitchens to prepare a midnight snack. At the same time, she could not help but view Li Heng, the Crown Prince, as utterly juvenile, going to such pretentious, theatrical lengths for a hollow display of power.

In reality, mere moments after her departure from the Eastern Palace, Li Linfu had appeared in that very same pavilion, though the two men were far from being at odds.

"Congratulations, Your Highness the Crown Prince! With this stern reprimand, the Protector Princess will surely know to exercise some restraint before the Holy One. Imperial favor is not something to be monopolized by a single person!" Li Linfu flashed a fox-like smile. The Western Regions wine in question had actually been brought by him; there had never been any bestowal of such wine by the Emperor upon the Crown Prince. For years, the Emperor had not once set foot in the Eastern Palace, nor had he ever summoned the Crown Prince, displaying a clear and deliberate aloofness. Seizing upon this precise weakness, Li Linfu had effortlessly driven a wedge between the Crown Prince and the princess.

Today's entire spectacle had, in truth, been orchestrated from the shadows by his own hand.

"Hahaha! Right Prime Minister, with you assisting my father, our Great Tang is bound to enter an era of infinite glory! Such magnificent wine is truly a rarity. Come, come, let me toast the Right Prime Minister!"

"Your Highness flatters me! However, I happen to have yet another treasure to present to Your Highness. This item is also a specialty of the Western Regions, known as the Eight-Treasure Luminous Cup..."