The Princess Royal (度华年)

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION

Your Highness.

Ms. Qin.

You're here so early.

Is something the matter, Your Highness?

No.

I was taking a stroll and I found myself here before I knew it.

So I thought I should visit you.

It takes at least an hour to get to Jiulu Mountain

from the capital by a fast horse.

A mere stroll can't take you here.

I see dark circles around your eyes and your gait is weak.

It appears that you didn't sleep well at all.

Tell me. What's the matter?

None.

Did something happen to my brother at the border?

Not at all, Ms. Qin.

Don't worry.

It's my personal affair.

Phoenixes build homes in the imperial family.

It will still be flourishing in the fourth generation.

Your Highness, are you worried about the Crown Princess selection?

Are you overwhelmed by too many choices?

Stop mocking me.

I received an invitation several days ago.

It says Her Majesty will hold a banquet on the Double Seventh Festival,

where all unmarried noble ladies are invited.

Could it be related to this?

Will you be there?

Far be it for me to defy an imperial edict.

However,

I don't want to.

Life in the palace might be harsh on a woman,

but I believe that

though the road ahead may be difficult,

there's someone willing

to eliminate all the hardships

with you, Ms. Qin.

Together, you overcome difficulties and devote yourself to each other

like any ordinary couple does.

That only exists in novels.

In reality, life is long

and people may harbor evil in their hearts.

Women in the palace are like flowers in the four seasons.

One wilts as the other blooms.

They get replaced often.

Who's to say the flower won't lose its charm?

Who's to say the man won't lose himself amidst the temptations?

Besides,

some flowers only wish to live in nature,

freely wandering according to their own desires.

Your Highness, you're the Crown Prince.

You mustn't allow romance to distract you.

Come on.

Let me see if your swordsmanship has improved.

How thrilling.

The banquet is approaching.

You should head back, Your Highness.

Since you're attending it, Ms. Qin,

why don't we go together?

In this outfit?

That was a little abrupt of me.

You're a lady.

Of course, you'll want to dress up.

I'll take my leave.

Your Highness.

Do you believe in those ideals from the novels?

When there's a will, there's a way.

That's a good point.

I hope that you won't run away

when faced with challenges.

You have my words.

It's getting late.

You should go, Your Highness.

All right. See you at the palace.

See you.

Will you be different from those

who live in the palace?

What a great weather today.

Indeed.

We haven't had such great weather in so long.

What a great day to celebrate the Double Seventh Festival.

I, Shangguan Ya, show my greetings to you, Your Highness.

You may rise.

-Thank you, Your Highness. -Thank you, Your Highness.

Ya and I live in different places and we haven't seen each other for years.

I'd like to speak with her in private.

You won't mind, will you?

-No, Your Highness. -No, Your Highness.

Your Highness.

If you have anything to tell me,

just go ahead.

I was worried

you'd feel uneasy

and may say something about gambling.

I suppose I worried for nothing.

I appreciate your concerns.

You're so early today.

You too, Ya.

Have you heard about the nursery rhyme?

Yet you...

still want to join the harem?

You can lie to me

but not to yourself.

If you wish to know my stance,

I can tell you

that I don't want to stand there

and compete with other women

for the affection of one sole man on the throne.

Her Majesty is here.

Today is the Double Seventh Festival.

You were supposed to celebrate it with your family.

However,

I like the merriment of a crowd,

so I've invited all of you here.

Please have fun.

-Yes, Your Majesty. -Yes, Your Majesty.

Don't worry, Mother.

Young ladies are fond of gathering together.

It's our honor to be invited by you, Your Majesty.

I have discussed this with Her Majesty.

We'll introduce a new game today,

an incense-making contest.

Since it's a contest,

I'd like to suggest something, Your Majesty.

You may go ahead.

All the unmarried young ladies here will create their own incense,

which will be presented to His Majesty.

The top three will be awarded.

What do you think?

I'm married.

If I participate in this,

the nature of the contest will change.

Its outcome can't be used to select the future Crown Princess.

I beg to differ.

We're all attending this banquet.

Why is it that they can create incense and win prizes

but I can't?

I want to join too.

Rong,

today is the Double Seventh Festival.

You're married.

Don't join in.

Consort Rou proposed the contest,

which means that she must have persuaded Father

that the top three candidates

would be Chuan's primary and secondary consorts.

So Mother is planning to go with it?

Everyone is participating in it.

I won't make that much of an addition, will I?

Ms. Qin.

Do you not make incense?

It doesn't matter to me.

What a unique lady you are.

It seems that

Qin Zhenzhen doesn't want to become a consort at all.

She's indeed an innocent lady.

The banquet

is attended by important ministers and young officials.

Forsake the formalities.

Let's assess those incenses

and share ideas and experiences

about governance.

Feel free to speak your mind.

Your Majesty,

a nation only has hope and a future

if the imperial family has many descendants.

His Highness is almost 20 years old

and he should select his consorts.

You're right.

I've been thinking about this too.

Any suitable candidates?

Feel free to recommend them.

What is Her Majesty's plan?

The winner of the incense-making contest

will be the Crown Princess.

Don't worry.

Her Highness will help you.

I appreciate that.

Your Highness.

Mr. Shangguan.

I watched you grow up.

Please know

that no matter what,

your mother and I always want what's best for you.

I believe you know who to pick today.

Consort Rou wants Xiao Wei to win.

Mother wants Shangguan Ya to win.

There must be the name of the person

corresponding to the number of the sachet in the box.

If I were Consort Rou...

Time's up.

Ms. Qin,

my jade pendant fell on your seat.

Can you get it for me?

EIGHT

Why did you swap our sachets?

You said it didn't matter to you, didn't you?

You don't mind offering me some help, do you?

Well...