Chapter Twenty-Two: Oh! A Beauty!

On the night of the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, within the residence of the Prince of Jincheng, in Li Xueyan’s boudoir, three young women were chattering animatedly. More precisely, it was Li Xueyan gesticulating as she spoke, Li Zixuan smiling silently by her side, and a girl of about thirteen or fourteen listening intently.

“Changle, you have no idea! I was absolutely terrified at the time. I thought Brother Yi was going to leave me forever! My mind went completely blank, and I just rushed over without thinking!” Li Xueyan shuddered at the memory.

The young beauty, it turned out, was none other than Princess Changle, Li Lizhi, Li II’s most beloved daughter. Arms hugging her chest, her face was tense, her eyes anxious and eager. “And then? What happened next?” she pressed.

“I hadn’t even reached them yet, when Brother Yi called out.” As she spoke, Li Xueyan stood up and mimicked Li Yi’s tone and gestures, lowering her voice for effect: “‘What are you yelling for? I’m not dead yet! Damn it! Still alive with my left hand! That was too close! Luckily, I was prepared!’ Pfft, haha! At the time I was shocked, amused, and a bit annoyed all at once—such a mix of feelings! Then we saw Brother Yi push that scoundrel Li Zihao away, and only then did we realize he’d killed Li Zihao with his Cold Edge Bayonet when he turned around!”

“Haha! Your Brother Yi is truly a character—still joking in such a situation! Wait, what’s a bayonet?” Princess Changle couldn’t stifle her laughter, especially as Li Xueyan’s imitation was so convincing.

“Oh! The bayonet is a type of knife Brother Yi invented himself. It’s said to be extremely powerful. Lichen has been eyeing it for ages, but he’s never agreed to give it up!” Li Xueyan declared proudly, ignoring Li Zixuan’s eye-rolling.

“He invented it himself? He can invent things?” asked Changle, incredulous.

“Yes! And not just the bayonet—he’s also made perfume. The perfume is magical! I’ll show you later. Brother Yi says if he had the means, he could invent so many more things. The perfume and bayonet are just playthings to him!”

“Heavens! Is there anything in this world he can’t do?”

“Well, as Brother Yi himself puts it: he knows half of what’s in the heavens, and eight-tenths of what’s on earth—in other words, he’s versed in everything from astronomy to trivial matters! He’s both scholarly and martial, and so clever. Even though I haven’t been by his side for long, it feels as if nothing ever troubles him, that nothing can ever defeat him! Most importantly, he’s so witty. With him, I’ve never felt unhappy. He may seem frivolous, but with him, I feel so secure and joyful!” Li Xueyan’s eyes softened with affection. Indeed, a roguish character like Li Yi would have no shortage of admirers in the modern age, let alone in the etiquette-bound Tang dynasty.

“Just look at you! Love makes you see him as a paragon. Why not say your Brother Yi can ascend to the heavens, too?” Li Zixuan interjected sourly.

“Silly girl,” Princess Changle smiled, “He does have worries—he just doesn’t show them. A mature man doesn’t reveal his hardships and frustrations. They bear everything themselves, so you feel safe, steady, and amused with them. That’s why you think he’s reliable. ‘A thousand times I sought him in the crowd, but suddenly, he was there in the dim light’—who else could compose such lines? It’s hard to believe he’s only fifteen!” She glanced at Li Xueyan, admiration for Li Yi flickering in her eyes, but even more envy for Li Xueyan herself. She had never met Li Yi, but if he was truly as described, then...

“Even though I hate to admit it, Brother Li really is mature. When he was attacked, he must have been frightened, but he pretended to be casual so you wouldn’t worry. I noticed his left hand was trembling the whole time,” Li Zixuan added.

“What? Really? I never noticed!” Li Xueyan had never thought about it, nor realized how much Li Yi looked after her.

“Hmph! You silly lovesick girl, you’re always wrapped up in Brother Yi—how could you notice? Besides, he didn’t want you to, or you would have!” Li Zixuan shot her a look.

“Why does he do this?” Li Xueyan suddenly felt herself enveloped in happiness.

“Because, as long as you’re happy, he feels everything is worth it!” Princess Changle’s tone was both admiring and wistful. She glanced at the sky, a hint of melancholy in her gaze. She wondered what her own destined one would be like, but as a royal princess, could she really decide her own fate? Would she have to marry that Changsun Chong her mother mentioned? She’d never even met him! Was he anything like Xueyan’s Brother Yi? Suddenly, Changle felt an icy chill. “Oh no! It’s so late—I won’t make it back to the palace! I only asked Mother for the afternoon off. What should I do?” She was jolted from her reverie by a cold gust of wind, realizing she’d gotten herself into trouble. As a princess, not returning to the palace for the night would enrage Li II, and the consequences...

“Changle, don’t worry! Brother Yi will be back soon—he’ll have a way!” Li Xueyan blurted out.

“Really?” At the mention of Li Yi, Changle inexplicably felt a little reassured. Clearly, Li Xueyan’s praise had been most persuasive.

“Yes, I’m sure he’ll think of something! Just sit and relax; you can’t go back now anyway, so there’s no use worrying,” Li Zixuan reassured her.

Gradually, Princess Changle calmed down. Perhaps, she really did believe.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside, and a petite, dazed-looking girl darted in. This was Yiyi, Li Xueyan’s attendant. Last time Li Xueyan had returned to Jincheng, Yiyi had fallen ill and remained in Chang'an, but now, with her mistress back, she’d resumed her duties.

“Miss! Miss!” Yiyi burst in, about to speak, but Li Xueyan cut her off. “Yiyi, slow down! Don’t be so rash—Her Highness is here!”

“Oh! Sorry, Princess, I was too hasty!” Yiyi immediately apologized.

“Don’t mind her, Yiyi. You don’t need to be so formal with me. What were you about to say?” Princess Changle smiled kindly.

“Oh, Princess, you’re so nice! I was going to say... oh no, Miss startled me and I’ve forgotten!” Yiyi patted her head, vexed.

Li Zixuan laughed, “Xueyan, your maid is something else—truly hilarious.”

“Don’t rush, Yiyi—try to remember,” Li Xueyan urged.

Li Xueyan rolled her eyes. “I think you’re the one who’s anxious! Didn’t I tell you to wait for Brother Yi at the gate? Wait—could it be he’s back?”

“Ah! I remember now! Miss, Miss! The young master has returned!”

No sooner had Yiyi finished than Li Yi’s cheeky voice sounded from outside. “What? Since when am I the young master? You silly girl, always spouting nonsense! You’re ruining my reputation! And where did you find this unreliable, clueless little girl? She ran off before saying a word to me—doesn’t she know I don’t know my way around?”

Princess Changle couldn’t help but laugh at Li Yi’s words. Though she hadn’t seen him yet, just from the sound of his voice, she could tell he was either unreliable or very unreliable indeed. Curiously, she peeked out, only to see a tall young man, handsome as a jade statue, eyes like stars, a wicked smile at his lips, exuding a strange aura—steadiness laced with cunning, refinement with a touch of wildness. He was nothing like an ordinary Tang man.

“Xueyan! Go fix me a big bowl of noodles! The biggest you have! Sigh, His Majesty is so stingy—kept me busy all afternoon and didn’t even offer a proper meal, just tried to fob me off with snacks. Do I look like someone who’s satisfied with a few cakes? At the very least, there should be some abalone or lobster! My stomach’s still growling!” Li Yi bellowed as he entered, leaving Changle and Li Xueyan torn between laughter and exasperation.

“Brother Yi, don’t be ridiculous! We have guests! Yiyi, hurry and make a big bowl of noodles, quickly!” Li Xueyan shot Li Yi a look. To speak like that in front of the daughter of the emperor—she really was at her wits’ end with him.

Yiyi ran off to the kitchen. Only then did Li Yi, reminded by Xueyan, realize there was someone else present—a beauty, no less! He immediately straightened up, chest out, head high. “Oh, so there’s a beauty here! Hello, little beauty! I am Li Yi, Li— Ow, Xueyan, why are you pulling my ear? Let go! That hurts!”

“Hmph, serves you right! Brother Yi, are you up to your old tricks again? This is Princess Changle—mind your manners!”

“What old tricks? This is etiquette! You know nothing! Honestly!” Li Yi muttered, before suddenly realizing, and exclaimed, “Wait—what did you just say? She’s a princess? Oh my heavens! By the Three Pure Ones! How do you always manage to create such unexpected situations? Hiding a princess in your house at night!”

After venting, Li Yi put on a sycophantic grin and turned to Changle. “Ah, Your Highness! When did you arrive? You must be tired of sitting—here’s a stool, why not stand for a bit?”

Li Xueyan hurriedly pulled Li Yi up, mortified. “Brother Yi, stop making trouble! The princess is one of us, it’s fine.”

“Oh, you should have said so earlier! All this fuss for nothing—I’m exhausted!” Li Yi promptly sprawled across the table and pretended to sleep.

His antics left Princess Changle dumbfounded. Was this really the legendary paragon—upright, handsome, accomplished in both culture and arms, mature and steady—Li Wenyong? “Xueyan, is this really… Are you sure you haven’t mistaken him for someone else?”

“Not at all! This is how Brother Yi is—he calls it being ‘unrestrained and unconventional.’”

“Unrestrained and unconventional?” Changle gazed at Li Yi, already asleep on the table, and suddenly felt that this was what life was truly meant to be.