The Imperial Palace of Qin Kingdom, Imperial Garden.
Beyond the winding cobblestone paths and seas of colorful flowers, in the central pavilion, a young lady sat upright and gracefully on a stone bench.
She wore a light pink long dress. The silk fabric glead with a pearl-like luster, the hem light as cloud wisps trailing on the ground.
Her waist was outlined by the well-tailored dress to be no more than a hand's width, and one could faintly see the graceful curves extending downward from her slender waistline, then drawing a perfect arc at the hips.
A swan-like neck erged from the standing collar, the neckline adorned with delicate lace, making her skin appear even more luminous white as jade.
Below two crescent-moon eyebrows, eyelashes covered like butterfly wings. When her eyes moved, they seed to contain a pool of clear spring water. The natural pale red at the corners of her eyes looked as if dyed with spring peach blossom juice.
Her thick black hair was loosely gathered into a Cloud-Following Bun, with a few loose strands hanging by her ears, revealing small earlobes adorned with pearl earrings.
Sunlight swept across her cream-like complexion. Even her slender fingers holding the embroidery needle were translucently white, her fingernails gleaming with the pale pink luster of seashell interiors.
Her current appearance was different from her lively and adorable childhood.
The young lady was now sixteen years old, quite embodying the saying "the girl next door has just co of age."
When the young lady finished embroidering the last stitch on the embroidery fra, she leaned forward slightly. Her cherry lips parted, revealing pearl-like white teeth, and she gently bit off the thread.
"Sister Huasheng, how is my embroidery?"
The young lady asked the maid beside her with curved eyes.
The maid Huasheng stepped forward, smiled, and praised, "Her Highness the Princess is naturally intelligent. You learn everything fastest, and as long as you put your heart into it, you do everything best."
"This princess thinks so too."
Qin Siyao said cheerfully.
"Sister Huasheng, go help get the calligraphy and paintings from my room. Now I want to see how Mother Empress and Father Emperor will find fault this ti! And what other excuses they'll find!"
Speaking, Qin Siyao pouted, her expression looking quite resentful.
"Yes, Her Highness the Princess."
The maid Huasheng smiled gently, walked into Her Highness the Princess's room, brought out the calligraphy and paintings Her Highness had painstakingly created this past month, then accompanied Her Highness the Princess to the imperial study.
Two and a half years ago, Qin Siyao had secretly followed her second brother to the Iron Tiger Army camp, wanting to see her childhood friend but who knew that when returning to the palace, Qin Siyao was still discovered.
Second Brother Qin Jingyuan was confined for three days.
Qin Siyao also could no longer go to the Iron Tiger Army camp. However, Qin Siyao still didn't give up. She still struggled against Father Emperor and Mother Empress, thinking of different thods every day trying to escape but naturally, each ti ended in failure.
Finally, the Qin Kingdom’s ruler felt this wasn't a solution, so he discussed it with the Empress.
First, they definitely couldn't let their daughter go to the Iron Tiger Army camp again.
When she was small, she could be willful, but now she was growing up. For a young lady to constantly go find soone else, what kind of propriety was that? Not to ntion that place was a military restricted area.
Second, the Qin Kingdom’s ruler felt he needed to give his daughter so hope, let her have a thod to achieve her goal.
Otherwise, if his daughter kept trying every way to run out, the Qin Kingdom’s ruler also found it sowhat difficult to handle.
Thus, finally, the Qin Kingdom’s ruler reached an agreent with his daughter.
That was, she must study music, chess, calligraphy, and painting every day, and reach the level of "master" before turning seventeen. If his daughter could do this, the Qin Kingdom’s ruler would let his daughter establish her own residence outside.
In the Qin Kingdom’s ruler's view, his plan was very perfect because the Qin Kingdom’s ruler felt his daughter was just relatively playful, and Xiao Mo was her first and only peer companion, so naturally Siyao kept thinking about him.
And music, chess, calligraphy, and painting could slowly suppress this girl's temperant.
Even as she grew older, she would beco more sensible, and naturally understand the distinction between n and won.
By that ti, this girl naturally wouldn't just think about going to find Xiao Mo anymore.
She might even feel embarrassed about always wanting to play with other little boys when she was small but what the Qin Kingdom’s ruler didn't expect was that his daughter was far more persistent than he thought.
It seed that going to play with Xiao Mo wasn't just about "going to play with Xiao Mo," but in his daughter's heart, it had ford an obsession.
So Qin Siyao studied very hard, and Qin Siyao had high talent. She learned everything quickly. Her music, chess, calligraphy, and painting beca increasingly refined, truly developing so master-level flavor.
Fortunately, the Qin Kingdom’s ruler and the Empress kept being nitpicky, requiring her to gain recognition from masters.
Qin Siyao even had to cultivate and enter Foundation Building realm.
Although little Siyao was sowhat naive, little Siyao wasn't stupid.
She naturally knew Father Emperor and Mother Empress were making things difficult for her but Qin Siyao's stubborn temperant had already erged.
In Qin Siyao's heart, the more Father Emperor and Mother Empress made things difficult for her, the more she wanted to accomplish it!
Thus, it ca to now.
Soon, Qin Siyao arrived at the imperial study.
After Qin Siyao explained her purpose, the Qin Kingdom’s ruler also summoned Empress Shi, then summoned the palace's famous musicians and painters, and summoned the current Pri Minister. The Qin Kingdom's Pri Minister Li had once been praised as the Chess Saint.
As for calligraphy, naturally the Qin Kingdom’s ruler himself would evaluate it.
The Qin Kingdom’s ruler moved to the Sacred Heart Garden and had people prepare wine and dishes, planning to evaluate while enjoying the spring scenery and spring breeze.
In the Qin Kingdom, won ca of age at sixteen.
The Qin Kingdom’s ruler felt that if he rembered correctly, this was the first ti his daughter ca for evaluation after coming of age. It had even been a year since the last evaluation.
Over this past year, the Qin Kingdom’s ruler thought his daughter had long since given up but unexpectedly, his daughter still rembered. However, it didn't matter.
The Qin Kingdom’s ruler was also curious about what level Siyao's music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and cultivation had reached over this past year.
"Siyao, first let Miss You listen to your music." The Qin Kingdom’s ruler smiled at his daughter.
"Yes." Qin Siyao nodded, then curtsied to Miss You, who had the title of "First Music of Qin Kingdom," "Please give much guidance, Sister You."
Miss You smiled slightly, "I dare not presu to guide. Princess, please."
Qin Siyao lightly brushed her dress hem, sat before the zither, and began playing the world-renowned pieces "Spring Sun" and "White Snow."
At first, Miss You only felt that Her Highness the Princess played extrely skillfully. Setting aside other things, she had at least practiced for a very long ti but later, the more Miss You listened, the more surprised she beca.
Her Highness the Princess's musical skills had already reached master level.
The Qin Kingdom’s ruler was also stunned. He hadn't expected Siyao to make such great progress within this one year.
The two pieces ended.
When the Qin Kingdom’s ruler ca to his senses, he was already applauding and cheering.
"Miss You, how are Her Highness the Princess's musical skills?" The Qin Kingdom’s ruler asked.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Her Highness the Princess's musical skills have reached master level." Miss You curtsied, even adding, "This is absolutely from my sincere heart, without any flattery whatsoever."
"Good!" The Qin Kingdom’s ruler nodded, "Siyao, you've passed music. Bring out the calligraphy and paintings."
"Yes."
Qin Siyao gave Sister Huasheng a look.
Huasheng understood and threw out two scrolls.
The scrolls unrolled in the air, then floated motionlessly.
The left scroll was a painting. The painting depicted a courtyard as background. In the courtyard, a little boy gripped a long spear, seemingly practicing martial arts.
The image was lifelike and ticulous, every stroke extrely delicate.
As if the little boy in the painting could break through the painting at any mont gripping his long spear.
The right scroll was calligraphy, with four large characters written, "Irreplaceable Through the Ages."
Although the characters had the delicacy characteristic of won, they couldn't hide the natural majestic dominance of Qin Kingdom's royal family, making people look with admiration.
Whether painting or calligraphy, both were impeccable.
Finally, they tested Qin Siyao's chess skills.
Old Pri Minister personally played against Qin Siyao.
Qin Siyao naturally didn't win against Old Pri Minister but several of Qin Siyao's clever moves made Old Pri Minister exclaim in admiration. Finally, Old Pri Minister won by five stones, which definitely couldn't be considered a great victory.
After music, chess, calligraphy, and painting all passed, only then did Qin Siyao release her realm suppression.
Feeling the Foundation Building realm spiritual pressure his daughter emitted, the Qin Kingdom’s ruler felt both proud of his daughter and quite emotional.
He hadn't expected it.
The conditions he and her mother empress set back then, this girl had actually achieved them one by one.
The Qin Kingdom’s ruler also knew his daughter entered Foundation Building through "fist techniques," because he had previously heard from maids in her palace that she often tied up her hair and practiced fist techniques in the courtyard.
The Qin Kingdom’s ruler estimated this was also influenced by Xiao Mo.
"Siyao, Father Emperor and Mother Empress told you before that if you could enter Foundation Building before seventeen and reach master level in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, then we would allow you to establish your own residence. And now you've done it."
The Qin Kingdom’s ruler said with a smile.
"Draft an edict. Imperial daughter Siyao, gentle and virtuous in conduct, precociously wise and capable, naturally understanding with the ambition to govern. I have observed her handling affairs with clear judgnt, treating subordinates with benevolence. Though in the deep palace with silk and strings, she constantly harbors thoughts of governing the world. Now I specially permit her request to establish a residence, grant her gold and jade seal, permit her to appoint Chief Administrator, Commandant and other positions, annual salary of ten thousand shi, rank equivalent to prince. She may select worthy advisors and consult on governnt affairs. She may prepare carriages and use red banners. I only hope you will be wise and intelligent, respect heaven and love the people, let your radiance illuminate the mountains and rivers, let your virtue nourish the common people. Announce to all within and without, let all know."
"Thank you, Father Emperor."
Qin Siyao happily curtsied.
As long as she established her residence, she would no longer have any curfew restrictions but Pri Minister Li and the others, hearing the content of His Majesty's edict, couldn't help but feel surprised.
"Annual salary of ten thousand shi, rank equivalent to prince."
She could even "select worthy advisors and consult on governnt affairs."
If Her Highness the Princess weren't a woman, they would have thought there would be a three-way struggle for succession but speaking of which, His Majesty truly doted on this daughter.
"Thank Father Emperor..." Qin Siyao happily curtsied.
"This is what you deserve." The Qin Kingdom’s ruler smiled, "Alright, go rest well. I also need to return to the imperial study to handle governnt affairs."
"Your daughter respectfully sends off Father Emperor."
"We respectfully send off Your Majesty."
Everyone bowed and sent off the Qin Kingdom’s ruler.
After Qin Siyao bid farewell to Pri Minister Li and the others, she also rode in a carriage with maid Huasheng back to her own palace.
"Congratulations, Her Highness the Princess. After Your Highness establishes your residence, there won't be any restrictions. You can live outside the palace or inside the palace."
Huasheng congratulated her.
Huasheng had seen all of Her Highness the Princess's efforts over these years.
Since reaching an agreent with His Majesty and the Empress, Her Highness the Princess barely rested every day, either practicing music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, or practicing the fist techniques Xiao Mo gave Her Highness.
And Her Highness the Princess really smoothly reached Foundation Building realm.
Honestly, Huasheng had never seen Her Highness the Princess have such high talent.
"Hmph hmph hmph." Qin Siyao proudly raised her chin, "As long as it's sothing this young lady wants to do, there's nothing that can't be done."
"Then will Your Highness still go find Xiao Mo?" Huasheng asked.
"Of course. I definitely have to go find him. Otherwise, wouldn't my two and a half years of hardship be for nothing?"
The young lady said as if it were obvious.
Although the little girl from back then had blossod into a graceful young lady, in certain aspects, the young lady seed to have never changed from beginning to end.
"But Your Highness, won change greatly at eighteen, and n are the sa." Huasheng slowly spoke, "Young Master Xiao has now grown into an adult, and you two haven't seen each other for two and a half years. What if Young Master Xiao is no longer the person Your Highness knew when you were small? What if Young Master Xiao no longer recognizes Your Highness?"
"He won't. I am Siyao. He is Xiao Mo. No matter how many years pass, he will still be that Xiao Mo. I won't forget him. He will definitely always rember ."
Qin Siyao's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled gently.
"I said so~"
"Your Majesty, is it appropriate to let Siyao establish her residence at this ti?"
In the imperial study, Empress Shi asked the Qin Kingdom’s ruler.
"I know what you're worried about."
The Qin Kingdom’s ruler smiled.
"Now Siyao has co of age. Establishing a residence is a normal matter. As for going to find Xiao Mo, that's even more impossible. The Iron Tiger Army isn't a place she can enter just because she's a princess. Moreover, even if she entered the Iron Tiger Army, Xiao Mo isn't there anymore."
"Xiao Mo isn't in the camp?" Empress Shi asked.
"He deployed." The Qin Kingdom’s ruler smiled, "At the shortest two years, at the longest seven or eight years, or even longer. Siyao and Xiao Mo haven't seen each other for so long. After a few more years, she'll probably have forgotten."
Empress Shi nodded, agreeing with His Majesty's view. After all, how many childhood playmates gradually drift apart after growing up?
Childhood beauty only exists in mories.
"However, Your Majesty, since Siyao has co of age, should we arrange a marriage for Siyao?" Empress Shi asked again, "I heard the Censor-in-Chief's son is both civil and military. The Second Young Master of the Xiao Manor is also unmarried. I heard that Second Young Master is exceptionally brave..."
"Don't ntion this matter again."
Before Empress Shi finished speaking, the Qin Kingdom’s ruler interrupted.
Empress Shi was stunned, then imdiately understood His Majesty's aning, "His Majesty already has a candidate for prince consort in mind?"
"Hehehe..."
The Qin Kingdom’s ruler stroked his beard and smiled.
"It just depends on whether he strives for it."
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