290: Heart-to-heart talk

Jiang Yan slowly set down her teacup, the base making a soft clink against the stone table. She deliberately softened her voice, as if afraid to disturb the tranquility of the garden in full bloom:

"You flatter me, Sister."

Jiang Yan spoke softly, her tone carrying a hint of genuine helplessness as she continued:

"Within these palace walls, is there ever true freedom? I may seem able to come and go from the various palaces, but wherever I go, am I not being watched and gossiped about? It is merely moving from one cage to another, slightly larger cage."

Her fingertips lightly traced the rim of the teacup, her gaze falling upon the most vibrant red peony in the courtyard. Its petals, translucent in the sunlight, shimmered with a beautiful, gentle luster.

"On the other hand, the peonies here have a touch of life to them, possessing more vitality than elsewhere. Unlike the flowers and plants in my Minglan Palace; no matter how meticulously they are tended, they always exude a sense of cold desolation."

Li Danying chuckled softly, the sound tinged with self-deprecation, though a faint glimmer quickly flashed in her eyes, like a star suddenly lighting up the dark night:

"There are many stiff, unfamiliar faces here now, as I'm sure you already know, Imperial Sister-in-law, so there's no need to comfort me with indirect words. My Imperial Brother made these arrangements simply because he's worried that I, his 'disobedient' sister, will cause him more trouble by 'consorting with an external official.' He fears I'll help Situ Jun threaten his reign, and more so, he wants to use the child in my womb as leverage to keep the Northern Frontier in check."

At the mention of the name "Situ Jun," Li Danying's eyes softened instantly, like honey soaked in warm water. Even her tone took on a layer of warmth, soft as cotton bathed in the spring sun, so tender it could almost melt:

"Imperial Sister-in-law, you must be curious how he and I ended up together, right?"

Jiang Yan nodded, her eyes filled with a gentle curiosity.

She knew the Princess's character; she seemed fragile, but there was a hidden resilience in her bones. If she hadn't truly lost her heart, she would never mention a man so easily.

Li Danying's cheeks suddenly flushed with a faint crimson that spread from her ears to her jaw. She actually looked a bit like a bashful young girl, and even her speech became somewhat hesitant:

"Our meeting was quite surreal. The first time we met... I was forced by him to do... that..."

"What?!"

Jiang Yan's eyes widened in shock. The tea in her hand sloshed over the rim, splashing onto her plain skirt and forming a dark stain, but she was completely oblivious. She just stared blankly at Li Danying, even forgetting to breathe.

Li Danying gave her a reproachful look and gently pinched a peony petal that had fallen onto the stone table. The soft, silky texture of the petal brushed against her fingertip, and a happy smile bloomed on her face—a smile that overflowed from her eyes, even the fine lines at their corners tinged with tenderness:

"At first, I hated him too. I hated his overbearing nature, his irrationality, and how he disrupted my originally peaceful life. But later, I discovered that compared to the Bei Batian's coldness and obsession with power, he truly treats me well. During the days I spent with him, I didn't have to be constantly on edge, didn't have to think about how to please others, and didn't have to pretend. I was truly happy and blessed."

A warm breeze drifted through the wisteria trellis in the courtyard. The delicate clusters of purple flowers swayed gently with the wind, casting mottled shadows across Li Danying's smiling face. In the flickering light, her somewhat pale face gained a touch of vibrancy.

"You know what happened later. Once I realized I was pregnant, I immediately returned to the palace to nurse the pregnancy."

Having said that, she gently stroked her lower abdomen, a tender ripple appearing in her eyes:

"This child was an accident, yet he has become my only solace while being trapped here. At night, I can feel him move slightly—even if it's just a faint flutter, I feel that all the suffering I endured before was worth it."

Watching the genuine smile on her face, Jiang Yan's shock gradually turned into a sense of relief.

She reached out and gently covered the back of Li Danying's hand. The warmth from her palm warmed her heart as she said softly:

"It seems this City Lord Situ is a man of deep feeling and integrity; otherwise, you wouldn't be so attached to him. As for Your Majesty, perhaps there is still room for negotiation. Once the matter of the national fortune settles down a bit, I will try to put in a good word for you. We'll find a way to get you out of this deep palace eventually."

Li Danying looked up at her, her eyes shimmering like starlight:

"Thank you, Imperial Sister-in-law. Actually, this is fine too. With flowers for company, my thoughts of him, and this little fellow with me, the days aren't so hard to endure."

As she spoke, she reached out and plucked a blooming white peony from a branch. The petals were still wet with crystalline dewdrops, shimmering with a soft glow in the sunlight.

She stood on her tiptoes and carefully pinned the flower into Jiang Yan's hair, her fingertips gently tidying the stray strands:

"This flower suits you perfectly, Imperial Sister-in-law. It makes you look much more radiant."

Jiang Yan reached up to touch the peony petals in her hair, feeling their soft, silky texture. The elegant scent of the peony mingled with the incense from the hall. She sighed softly, her voice tinged with a hint of melancholy:

"Currently, City Lord Situ is a famous figure in the Northern Frontier. Even East Lin City follows his orders, and his influence is at its peak. Perhaps before long, he will personally visit the Royal City. When that time comes, he might just be able to take you away from here."

Li Danying looked up and shared a smile with Jiang Yan, a smile that held her hopes for the future:

"I look forward to that day as well. When these peonies bloom for another season, perhaps everything will be better. By then, this little fellow should be out to keep me company."

The wind blew and the flowers swayed, sending petals of wisteria and peony fluttering down to rest on their hair and skirts. The incense in the pavilion intertwined with the sweet fragrance of the flowers, spreading a silent warmth within these quiet palace walls.

But this warmth did not last long. As Jiang Yan twirled the white peony in her hair, the soft texture of the petals was clear to the touch, yet it could not dispel the growing heaviness in her heart.

She watched the falling petals swirling in the courtyard. They seemed free, yet in the end, they still had to land on the cold bluestone floor. She sighed softly.

"Princess, although you are trapped here, you have something to look forward to in your heart. You have City Lord Situ thinking of you and your child to keep you company. I truly envy such a life."

She lowered her eyes to look at her own fair hands—slender, delicate, and soft. She had once hoped to grind ink for the King and accompany him to see all the spring scenery within the palace walls. Now, she was only met with her tea being brushed aside and being scolded whenever she spoke. Even her fingertips had developed faint calluses.

"My position as Queen may seem like infinite honor and luxury to outsiders, but only I know that beneath this Phoenix Crown and Embroidered Robe lies nothing but grievances that I can tell no one."

Her voice was very soft, as if afraid it would be scattered by the wind or disturb something.

Li Danying's hand holding the teacup paused, the tea within rippling slightly. She looked up at Jiang Yan, her eyes full of clear heartache and understanding.

She knew of her sister-in-law's suffering; it was just that before, due to their status and the distance between them, it hadn't been appropriate to ask.

"Your Majesty used to show me some warmth, but ever since he heard that the national fortune is declining, his eyes hold nothing but anxiety and rage. In his presence, I cannot even say a single word that pleases him."