Chapter 430
Zhang He'an lowered his gaze. "Your Highness, please maintain decorum."
Li Qingxun clicked her tongue in amusement.
Zhang He'an was always meticulous—stoic, reserved, and unwaveringly proper in everything he did. Even the clasp on his collar was always fastened with perfect symmetry.
The more rigidly he adhered to propriety, the more Li Qingxun found him intriguing.
She was determined to pluck this unattainable flower from its lofty peak.
In the days that followed, Li Qingxun deliberately set aside her homesickness and focused entirely on teasing Zhang He'an. She often left the Autumn Cool Palace to wander the palace corridors.
Perhaps by sheer luck, she encountered him five out of ten times.
Li Qingxun would always approach him with a playful smile, greeting him with remarks like:
"Ah, Minister Zhang, you seem even more dashing today."
"Good afternoon, Minister Zhang. The red official robes suit you best."
"I ate a pear today. Can you guess what kind? The kind that resides in my heart."
"Such scorching summer heat—why must you wear so many layers?"
Zhang He'an remained an unmoving moon, while Li Qingxun buzzed around him like an insistent bee.
Word travels fast in the palace, and soon, the news of the Sixth Princess's favor toward Zhang He'an spread far and wide. The Seventh Princess, Li Qingling, was furious and wanted to confront Li Qingxun, but the Empress intervened.
A willful, ill-mannered princess wasn’t worth the trouble. The more Li Qingxun behaved with reckless audacity, the more the Emperor would grow to disdain her.
At present, Qing State faced pressure from Yue Kingdom in the north and harassment from Yelang in the south. To secure peace, the Emperor had already decided to send a princess for a political marriage.
An unloved princess was destined to be sacrificed for diplomacy. With Li Qingxun’s brash and uncouth temperament, she would surely face torment in a foreign land, destined for an early demise.
There was no need to quarrel with someone whose days were numbered.
---
Autumn Cool Palace
The summer heat was oppressive, even indoors. The courtyard lacked shade, with no large trees to provide relief. Li Qingxun lounged on a reclining chair by the steps, lazily fanning herself. Beside her stood a massive wooden contraption—a rudimentary air conditioner she had crafted.
While the courtyard sweltered, the area near the "air conditioner" offered slight respite.
Yuan'er sat beside Li Qingxun, staring curiously at the wooden box. "Your Highness, it’s amazing! When you spray cold water inside, the air that comes out feels so cool."
Li Qingxun squinted. "It’s an air conditioner—though a very basic version."
She had applied simple thermodynamics: as water evaporated, it absorbed heat from the air, lowering the surrounding temperature. Unfortunately, limited materials meant the cooling effect was minimal.
Gazing at the barren courtyard, Li Qingxun instructed Yuan'er, "When we have time, let’s dig up a tree from the imperial garden and plant it here for shade."
Yuan'er nodded eagerly. "Of course!"
Li Qingxun closed her eyes to rest, while Yuan'er embroidered a handkerchief beside her.
As she stitched, Yuan'er remarked, "Your Highness, you used to embroider handkerchiefs for Minister Zhang often. Lately, you seek him out constantly, yet you never gift him anything."
Li Qingxun waved a hand dismissively. "Why bother? I’m merely fond of him—not planning to marry him."
Her pursuit of Zhang He'an was purely for amusement, a way to pass the time in this dull ancient era. She teased him when she pleased and ignored him when she didn’t.
Just a game.
Nothing serious.
---
Li Qingxun’s carefree days didn’t last long. Soon, news arrived: Yue Kingdom sought to sign a peace treaty with Qing State in Liangzhou City.
The Crown Prince of Yue would personally attend. On Qing State’s side, the Emperor dispatched Third Prince Li Ang to finalize the agreement, elevating Zhang He'an to the position of Qing State’s youngest-ever Prime Minister to accompany the delegation.
For reasons unknown, the Emperor also decreed that both the Sixth and Seventh Princesses would join the journey.
Thrilled at the prospect of leaving the palace, Li Qingxun packed her belongings and set off with the procession.
The caravan followed the main road, a journey that would take two months to reach Liangzhou.
Li Qingling and Li Qingxun shared a carriage. While Li Qingling sulked the entire way, Li Qingxun ate and drank merrily.
Bored and restless, Li Qingxun amused herself by teasing Zhang He'an, much to Li Qingling’s disgust.
Finally, Li Qingling snapped, her eyes reddening. "Sixth Sister, do you truly believe we’re traveling to Liangzhou for leisure?"
Li Qingxun took a bite of pastry. "Then enlighten me—why are we going?"
Li Qingling lowered her voice bitterly. "We’re being paraded for selection."
Qing State had only two unwed princesses. By sending them both to Liangzhou, the Emperor intended for the Crown Prince of Yue to choose his bride.
Whomever he fancied would be sent to Yue Kingdom in marriage.
If he fancied both, both would go.
Li Qingling grew increasingly despondent, caressing her delicate face. "They say the Crown Prince of Yue is a notorious libertine who collects beauties—his Eastern Palace houses nearly a thousand concubines. Given my looks, he’ll surely pick me."
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
She had always believed that, as the Empress’s daughter and the Emperor’s favorite, she would escape such a fate. But when it came to state interests, paternal affection meant nothing.
Her father had coldly sent her to Liangzhou, no different from a courtesan displayed for a patron’s pleasure.
For the first time, Li Qingling understood the cruelty of imperial power. She gazed enviously at Li Qingxun. "Beauty is often a curse. You’re fortunate—plain-faced, free from such worries."
Li Qingxun: "..."
Frankly, she thought herself quite attractive.
Ignoring the weeping princess, Li Qingxun lifted the carriage’s ornate curtain and called out to Zhang He'an, who rode nearby. "Prime Minister Zhang, come here for a moment."
The surrounding guards pretended not to hear.
Now adorned in the exquisite red robes of a prime minister, Zhang He'an wore a black official hat, his jade-like features more striking than ever.
Li Qingxun’s heart fluttered.
If not for the crowd, she might’ve dragged him into the woods right then.
Zhang He'an remained unmoved.
Undeterred, Li Qingxun persisted:
"Minister Zhang."
"Prime Minister~"
"He'an, my dear He'an~"
After much cajoling, Zhang He'an finally guided his horse alongside the carriage.
His expression was cool. "What does Your Highness require?"
Li Qingxun grinned. "Nothing at all. I simply wanted to see you. That red robe suits you so well."
Zhang He'an remained impassive. "Your Highness, maintain decorum."
Li Qingxun propped her chin on her hand, twirling the curtain’s golden tassels. Her eyes roamed over his face as she teased, "Decorum? I’m not heavy at all. If you don’t believe me, Prime Minister, you’re welcome to carry me when no one’s looking."
Amidst the wilderness, with the mountain breeze stirring, Zhang He'an showed no reaction, as if her boldness meant nothing.
After relentless teasing yielded no response, Li Qingxun grew bored. With a huff, she dropped the curtain and settled in for a nap.
Inside the carriage, Li Qingling’s face burned with indignation. "Y-you—have you no shame? How dare you harass Minister Zhang like this?"
Li Qingxun yawned lazily: "I tease him because I like him."
Li Qingling choked on her words, struggling to retort after a long pause: "We are both women—how can you forget propriety and decency? We should abide by the Admonitions for Women and know our place."
Li Qingxun dismissed her with a wave: "Love between men and women is only natural. That tattered Admonitions for Women? Just tear it up."
Li Qingling fell silent, unable to respond.
...
Meanwhile, Zhang He'an dismounted and entered the Third Prince's carriage for discussions.
Inside, Zhang He'an warned Li Ang: "We must not let our guard down on this journey to Liangzhou City. The Empress will surely have a backup plan."
Li Ang set down the scroll in his hand and chuckled: "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. The Empress has wanted me dead for a long time—I’ve taken precautions. But He'an, you’ve had quite the ordeal with my sixth sister, haven’t you?"
Throughout the journey, Li Qingxun’s activities consisted of three things: eating, sleeping, and teasing Zhang He'an.
Yet Zhang He'an, ever patient, never once lost his temper.
Even Li Ang admired his restraint.
Li Ang remarked, "Oddly enough, Sixth Sister used to be timid and meek. But ever since Seventh Sister gave her that beating, her personality changed completely. I hardly recognize her now. Though her words are reckless, there’s an undeniable charm in her boldness."
Zhang He'an lowered his gaze, thoughtful. "Her temperament has indeed shifted dramatically."
Li Ang teased further: "I rarely saw you in red before, yet these past few months, you’ve been wearing it constantly. What’s the reason?"
Zhang He'an replied calmly, "It’s just my official robe. Nothing deliberate."
Li Ang burst into laughter.
...
Time flew, and two months passed in a blink. They were just days away from Liangzhou City.
One night, Li Qingxun had just fallen asleep on the rickety bed of a roadside inn when deafening clashes erupted outside—bandits were attacking!
Li Qingxun shared the room with Li Qingling, who turned pale with terror.
In one swift motion, Li Qingxun sat up, flung open the window, and saw guards and bandits locked in a bloody skirmish below. The metallic scent of blood hung thick in the air. Scanning the room, she spotted only one hiding place.
Grabbing Li Qingling’s arm, she shoved her behind a wooden cabinet: "Stay here. Don’t move."
Trembling, Li Qingling curled into the shadows.
Li Qingxun snatched the kitchen knife from under her pillow, gripping it coolly. The door burst open—Zhang He'an’s crimson figure appeared.
"This place isn’t safe," he said.
Li Qingxun grinned. "Then take me away."
As the clashes below grew fiercer, Zhang He'an seized her arm and pulled her through the window. A sharp pain shot through Li Qingxun’s right leg—something had pierced her.
She bit back the pain.
Zhang He'an mounted his horse and galloped away with her, leaving the inn behind.
...
Li Qingxun didn’t know what happened next. Blood loss from her leg dragged her into unconsciousness.
When she woke again, she found herself in a dry, cool cave. Every muscle ached as she groaned and sat up to survey her surroundings.
The cave was meticulously clean, free of dust, with a burnt-out fire pit nearby. She was draped in a thick red official robe—Zhang He'an’s.
She hissed as pain flared in her right leg. Pushing aside the robe, she saw her bare thigh wrapped in bandages, her pale calf and foot exposed.
The faint scent of herbs lingered.
A slight movement sent agony ripping through her, sweat beading on her forehead.
"You’re awake." Zhang He'an’s voice came from the cave entrance. He stepped inside, fresh medicinal herbs in hand.
Li Qingxun arched a brow, piecing it together—after the bandit attack, Zhang He'an had fled with her, and now they were stranded in this wilderness.
Ever mischievous, she drawled, "Chief Minister Zhang risked his life to save me last night. My, who knew you were such a gentleman?"