Volume One, Chapter 33: The Daily Life of a Married Couple

The ripples of the Lantern Festival lingered long after the event.

Crown Prince Li Xuan had stunned the crowd with his poem, "Nian Nu Jiao." Not only did it overshadow the Second Prince, Li Zhan, but it also cemented his reputation as a "Master of Verse." Across the capital, from noblemen to common peddlers, almost everyone could recite the lines: "The landscape is like a painting, how many heroes have graced this moment in time."

For the past few days, the threshold of the Eastern Palace had been nearly trampled by prominent scholars coming to pay their respects and discuss academics. Yet, the Eastern Palace itself, the eye of the storm, remained unusually tranquil.

Early that morning, inside the bedchamber, Li Xuan and Xiao Ningshuang sat facing each other over breakfast. Since that night of the Lantern Festival, the atmosphere between them had undergone a subtle transformation. The icy barrier of their "covenant" had melted into a pool of spring water following her bold confession that her husband was a "hero above all heroes." Though both still maintained a facade of composure, whenever their eyes met, ripples of unease would inevitably stir.

"Cough," Li Xuan said, taking a sip of porridge to break the silence. He squinted at the cold, exquisite face across from him, a faint, teasing smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I say, Crown Princess, that line of yours—'My husband is a hero above all heroes'—has spread through the capital just as widely as my poem. Many are now saying that the Crown Prince and his consort are a match made in heaven, a hero paired with a beauty."

Xiao Ningshuang’s grip on her spoon tightened, and her earlobes turned a predictable shade of red. She raised her eyes to glare at him, but the old coldness was gone, replaced by a touch of bashful resentment.

"One should not speak while eating, nor talk while in bed. Has Your Highness forgotten the rules?" she retorted stiffly.

"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible," Li Xuan replied, his skin thick enough to rival a city wall. "Besides, sharing intimate words between husband and wife to deepen our bond hardly counts as breaking the rules."

Xiao Ningshuang had no defense against his shamelessness, so she simply lowered her head and ate in silence, ignoring him. Watching her, Li Xuan chuckled inwardly. He knew the iceberg had been thoroughly thawed; now, this warm, polished jade required his patient carving.

Once breakfast was finished, the maids cleared the dishes and served fragrant tea. Xiao Ningshuang held her cup in silence for a long time, seemingly lost in thought. Just as Li Xuan assumed she was drifting off again, she spoke.

"Your Highness, I would like to... pay a visit to White Horse Temple."

Li Xuan was caught off guard. He raised an eyebrow. "White Horse Temple? Everything is fine, why go there?"

Xiao Ningshuang lowered her gaze, her long lashes casting shadows on her cheeks. Her voice was soft and clear. "During the Lantern Festival, Your Highness’s brilliance was perhaps too dazzling. While it is a good thing, it invites jealousy. I wish to go to the temple to pray for peace—for you, and for the Great Zhou. It is to find peace of mind, and... to fulfill my duties as the Crown Princess."

She spoke with impeccable propriety, leaving no room for criticism. It reflected both the virtue of a wife concerned for her husband and country, and a clear statement of her position as the Crown Princess.

However, Li Xuan was no ordinary man. He saw right through the words to the unsettled heart of a woman beneath. She was overwhelmed by the rapid succession of events and the emotional impact they had caused—from initial hatred to shock, curiosity, and finally, the complete surrender of her heart at the festival. The shift was too swift, too violent for an "ice beauty" who had lived with a heart like a still well for years. She needed a quiet place to sort through her thoughts.

White Horse Temple was, without a doubt, the perfect choice.

Li Xuan understood perfectly. Not only did he refrain from exposing her, but he found this version of her exceptionally authentic and endearing. Furthermore, he saw a deeper purpose in this trip.

Politically, a Crown Prince and his consort visiting a royal temple to pray was an excellent performance. It showcased his filial piety and benevolence while demonstrating marital harmony to the outside world, further solidifying his image as the heir and washing away the bloody scent left by the recent purge of the Eastern Palace.

Privately, this was a perfect "date." Escaping the suffocating cage of the Eastern Palace to be alone in the scenic, ancient temple was the ideal opportunity to warm their relationship.

At this thought, the corners of Li Xuan’s mouth lifted into a fox-like smile.

"Very well," he agreed readily. "If the Crown Princess has such a virtuous heart, how could I refuse? Besides, I have been feeling quite burdened by worldly affairs lately. Going to the temple to listen to the morning bells and evening drums to cleanse the spirit would be a welcome change."

He paused, leaned in closer, and lowered his voice, teasing her with an ambiguous tone. "However, you must be sincere in your prayers for me. After all, the safety of your 'hero above all heroes' now rests entirely in your hands."

"You..." Xiao Ningshuang’s cheeks flared a deep crimson. She never expected him to repeatedly mock the words she had spoken in the heat of the moment. Embarrassed and angry, she grabbed an orange from the table and threw it at him.

Li Xuan laughed heartily as he caught it with ease. He peeled a slice, popped it into his mouth, and mumbled, "Sweet. Truly sweet."

It was unclear whether he meant the orange or something else entirely.

Xiao Ningshuang turned away in frustration, her chest rising and falling, utterly defeated by his antics.

The matter was settled. Wang Fugai was instructed to arrange the carriage and guards. To avoid drawing attention, Li Xuan ordered simplicity, taking only a few elite guards from the Crown Prince's regiment to follow in the shadows.

Half an hour later, an unassuming green-canopied carriage quietly slipped out of the Eastern Palace. Inside, Li Xuan and Xiao Ningshuang sat opposite each other. Free from the constraints of the palace walls, the world outside felt vivid. The calls of vendors, the laughter of children, and the sound of wheels rolling over cobblestones merged into a symphony of human life.

Xiao Ningshuang lifted a corner of the curtain, watching the scenery flash by with a dazed look in her eyes. Raised in deep courtyards and married into the imperial palace, it was her first time experiencing the bustling street life so freely.

Li Xuan said nothing, simply watching her quietly. He saw the sunlight filter through the gaps in the curtain, dappling her delicate profile and casting a soft, golden halo over her cold temperament. He suddenly felt that such a peaceful moment was not bad at all.

The carriage traveled west, gradually leaving the city's noise behind. The imperial road was lined with lush trees, and the distant mountains appeared like dark, graceful ink paintings.

"Look at that mountain," Li Xuan said, pointing to a range in the distance shaped like a reclining Buddha. "Doesn't it look like a great Buddha, fast asleep?"

Xiao Ningshuang followed his finger and saw that the rolling hills did indeed resemble a sleeping Buddha. She couldn't help but smile.

"Listen," Li Xuan said, closing his eyes. "The wind, the birds, the babbling brook. On a battlefield, these sounds would be the best cover. But here and now, they become the best lullaby. This is to say, nothing in the world is inherently good or bad; it all depends on where you place it and how you perceive it."

His words left Xiao Ningshuang deep in thought. She realized that this man always found profound philosophical meaning in the most ordinary things.

She turned to look at him earnestly. "Your Highness seems to... know everything."

"Of course," Li Xuan puffed out his chest without a hint of humility. "I know astronomy, geography, and in between, I know a thing or two about how to win a girl's heart."

The first half sounded like a master, but the second half immediately stripped away the facade.

The small spark of admiration that had just risen in Xiao Ningshuang vanished instantly, and she shot him a sharp, annoyed look.

In this relaxed yet subtle atmosphere, the carriage continued slowly toward the deep woods.

In the distance, a majestic sight of red walls and yellow tiles emerged, revealing a corner of the ancient architecture tucked away among the towering pines and cypresses.

White Horse Temple had arrived.