The Crown Prince, heir to the Great Tang, future Emperor—such news would surely provoke astonishment and curiosity. Yet Ye Jiao remained focused on toasting her buns. She turned one carefully to check for any burnt edges and said indifferently,"His Majesty is in the prime of life. Why speak of naming a Crown Prince now?"It seemed, by comparison, she was far more invested in the state of her buns.
Bai Xianyu had no choice but to volunteer more of the news:"They say it's the Prince of Jin who will be appointed."
Only then did Ye Jiao lift her gaze. She curled her lips in a seemingly slow-witted gesture and remarked,"They say the heir should be the legitimate eldest. Of course it's him. Who else? The fifth prince? Don't be absurd."
Just then, Prince Zhao, Li Jing, stepped through the courtyard gate and overheard her last words. He coughed sharply and voiced his displeasure,"Who are you calling the fifth? Still want to keep your title, Lady Wu Hou? Naturally, the second brother will be appointed. And don't mock me—your Sisi has no chance either. Xianyu, let's go. I won't waste words with this she-devil."
Bai Xianyu quickly got up and followed Li Jing out. Li Ce called after them,"Fifth brother, will you be having roast lamb?"
The meat had been marinating all afternoon and was ready for the fire."No," Li Jing waved a hand. "Tonight, I plan to drink myself into oblivion at the Prince of Jin's residence."
"What about the beef stew?" Li Ce pressed.
Already stepping past the threshold, Li Jing turned his head and asked,"Why are you acting so strange today?"
Li Ce smiled faintly, stirred the coals with his fire poker, and said casually,"Go ahead. Don't worry."
The buns were finally done. Ye Jiao broke one in half and handed a piece to Li Ce across the fire."Sisi, have a taste."
Li Ce didn't take it with his hands. Instead, he leaned forward as if to bite the bun, but planted a kiss on the back of her hand."Hey, you!" Ye Jiao yanked her hand back and waved a stick. "Looking for a beating?"
"I'm frail. Can't handle being hit," Li Ce murmured with a hint of humor, then grew solemn. "Jiao Jiao, marrying you as my Princess Consort—it feels like I'm not doing you justice."
"What injustice?" Ye Jiao grinned. "If Fu Mingzhu hadn't betrayed me, I would've married him. And who is he? Just the eldest son of the Prime Minister's household, and it's not even certain he could pass the imperial exam."
"But still..." Li Ce sighed with some melancholy.
"Still what?" Ye Jiao shoved the bun into his mouth. "You think being the Crown Princess or Empress is so grand? I like you. Even if you were a shepherd on Jiuzong Mountain, I'd still follow you."
Li Ce chewed the roasted bun slowly. The more he chewed, the sweeter it seemed."If I were a shepherd, wouldn't you insist on slaughtering a sheep every day?" He chuckled at the thought.
Ye Jiao stood and reached out with soft fingers to clutch his collar. She looked down at him with a playful glint."Why eat sheep at all?" she teased. "You're my little lamb."
This time, Li Ce didn't retreat. Though a blush crept to his ears, he wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her from the fire, carrying her over his shoulder."Come, tonight I shall be generous and let you taste this little lamb."
With those words, he strode toward the house. Ye Jiao dangled from his shoulder, her long hair brushing his back as she pounded on him."Let me go! Put me down!"
"No!" Li Ce even spun in a playful circle, just like they had done long ago in the bustling street markets.
Ye Jiao's loud protests came to an abrupt halt when the courtyard gate creaked open. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a figure standing coldly.
"She told you to let her go." The voice was flat.
Both froze. Li Ce quickly set Ye Jiao down and looked to see who it was—it was their guest. Ye Jiao's brother, General Ye Changgeng, mounted cavalry commander.
Ye Changgeng's expression was a mixture of awkwardness and suppressed rage. Led by Qingfeng, he had entered unannounced and stumbled upon this scene: the Prince of Chu carrying his sister, who was loudly demanding to be set down.
How many months had it been? And this man was already bold enough to take such liberties with his sister?
Noticing her brother's dark expression, Ye Jiao stepped forward to explain,"We were just playing around." She tugged at his sleeve and pulled him closer. "Prince Chu would never hurt me, right?" She glanced at Li Ce mischievously.
Li Ce had straightened his clothes and stood upright. In front of Ye Changgeng, he seemed more nervous than in front of the Emperor himself. He quickly raised his sleeve and greeted,"General Ye, welcome. Please, have a seat."
Ye Changgeng sat down with a huff, still seething."I heard the two of you had quarreled and broken it off."
"It was my fault," Li Ce admitted. "We've talked it through."
Ye Changgeng nodded slowly, trying to maintain his elder-brotherly dignity."Then Prince Chu is prepared to formally ask for my sister's hand?"
"Yes," Li Ce said solemnly. "I shall beseech His Majesty to grant the marriage."
"As your principal wife?"
"Naturally."
Only then did Ye Changgeng's demeanor ease. He cast a glance at Ye Jiao, who stood demurely at the side, and said to Li Ce,"My sister has a temper."
"It's a good one," Li Ce replied without hesitation.
"I said she has a temper," Ye Changgeng clarified. "That's not criticism. I just hope Prince Chu will be tolerant."
"Of course." Li Ce smiled and offered tea.
Ye Changgeng accepted it and added,"She eats a lot."
"I can afford to feed her."
"She spends money like water." Ye Changgeng sipped his tea.
"Aside from my stipend, I have other sources of income," Li Ce responded promptly, as if afraid the elder brother might change his mind.
"I mean it—she really spends. Buys golden hairpins like she's buying vegetables. Always in bulk."
This finally drew a protest from Ye Jiao."That's nonsense!" She kicked the firepit, sending red embers flying.
"She also loves giving things away. Will pluck a pin from her hair and hand it to someone without a second thought." Ye Changgeng added.
Li Ce, on the other hand, nodded in agreement."Indeed. Once, she took off everything from her hair and gave them all to me." He was referring to the night she had escaped her former brother-in-law's household.
"See?" Ye Changgeng laughed heartily, warming to Li Ce again, just as he had the first time they met.
"Are you two quite finished?" Ye Jiao stomped her feet in mock outrage as the pair's conversation turned into a full-on roast of her.
Li Ce winked at her and said reassuringly,"I only wish to learn more about you from your dear brother, so that I may never wrong you in the future."
Is that so? Ye Jiao tilted her head in doubt. Somehow, she wasn't entirely convinced.
But Ye Changgeng continued,"Do you know how much she loved to eat as a child? As soon as she learned to run, she fell into a ditch. Father jumped in to save her and hurt his leg. When asked why she jumped in, she said, 'My meat bun fell in.'"
"Noted," Li Ce replied solemnly. "Jiao Jiao loves meat buns."
"And she bullied people too..."
Before he could finish, Ye Jiao kicked him in the thigh."Get up and roast the meat!" she commanded.
"Yes, yes." The two men exchanged glances and rose in unison, both trying hard not to laugh.
Unexpectedly, the Prince of Jin's residence was not bustling.
Though Li Jing usually came and went freely, this time he was stopped at the gate.
"Your Highness," the steward said respectfully, "His Lordship is in conference with a distinguished guest. Please wait in the warm chamber."
"Wasn't there supposed to be a banquet?" Li Jing stepped inside with a smile. "What business could be more important than wine?"
"The banquet has been canceled." The steward led the way, while Bai Xianyu followed silently behind. It was well known that the Prince of Jin's estate ran a tight ship, and wandering eyes were frowned upon.
In the warm chamber, rare winter fruits were laid out on the table. Li Jing and Bai Xianyu sat across from each other. Bai looked somewhat uneasy, so Li Jing pushed the fruit platter toward him."Eat. Pretend you're at home. Once Second Brother finishes his discussion, I'll take you to see him."
Bai Xianyu accepted the offering but didn't eat. He kept up light conversation with Li Jing until his stomach growled...