Longing for Love (Twice Reborn) - Chapter 9

The crimson sun slowly descended along the towering palace walls.

Pei Duzhi, following orders, escorted Juchen and Song Mi out before returning to the Empress Dowager’s side. Seizing the moment, she inquired about the official position Her Majesty intended to grant Li Juchen.

The Empress Dowager closed her eyes, pressing her index finger to her temple.

“A Dianji position will suffice.”

Pei Duzhi bowed in acknowledgment.

The Empress Dowager opened her eyes, pondered for a moment, and sighed. “Li Juchen gives me a different impression than her writings.”

Pei Duzhi asked, “Did she fail to meet Your Majesty’s expectations?”

After a brief silence, the Empress Dowager replied, “It’s hard to say. I just feel she shouldn’t be this… obedient.”

As she spoke, she accepted the tea offered by Pei Duzhi. Gazing at the floating tea foam, she smiled faintly. “I don’t know if her writings gave me the illusion of defiance, or if it’s her demeanor that’s misleading me.”

On the imperial thoroughfare, the snow had melted. The surrounding palaces stood in layered splendor, their solemnity and icy grandeur undiminished despite the thaw.

The two walked side by side.

Song Mi remained silent for a while. Only when the Shoukang Palace receded into a distant silhouette behind them did he suddenly turn to Juchen and ask, “Do you wish to serve in the palace?”

“Do you want to be a female official?”

“If you don’t, I can arrange for your release.”

He halted, firing three questions in quick succession. The fading sunlight cast a jade-like glow on his skin, rendering even his momentary stillness a picturesque vision. Yet he had no intention of being admired his brows furrowed slightly, revealing a trace of solemnity.

Juchen stopped as well, meeting his earnest gaze before curling her lips into a smile. “I’ve never regretted becoming a female official.”

“This path won’t be easy,” Song Mi said.

“I can sense that,” Juchen replied with a laugh, resigned yet defiant. “But if not this, what else? Follow my parents’ arrangements, accept a matchmaker’s proposal, and marry some stranger? I don’t want that life. I refuse to be confined to the inner chambers.”

Song Mi looked at her, and a scene from his past life flashed through his mind a woman in her thirties, her beauty undiminished, draped in a violet robe, her bearing dignified yet weary. Drunk in his arms, she clutched his collar with a bitter smile, murmuring, “I won’t marry. I’m no longer fit to be a woman of the inner court.”

Noticing his silence, Juchen countered, “Then, Your Highness, do you wish to enter the central government?”

Song Mi paused.

He had always known why he was elevated to his position, and he had strived relentlessly. Yet no one had ever asked if this was what he truly wanted.

When he didn’t answer, Juchen pressed further, “If your paternal and maternal families were to clash, which side would you take?”

After a brief silence, Song Mi replied, “I would stand with the nation.”

In this whirlpool of power, everyone had their own ambitions.

Some sought authority, others profit. Some desired reform, while others clung to tradition. Some chased wealth and glory, while others yearned for a carefree life.

But there must always be those who worked for the people, who held compassion for the suffering masses.

And as they each retraced the paths of their past lives, it was only to pursue, within their unchanging principles, a better outcome.

The fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Lishan.

Pushing open the vermilion gates, a warm breeze rushed through the hall. Even Juchen, who had witnessed countless opulent sights in her past life, couldn’t help but brighten as the grand doors slowly swung open before her.

Among the numerous hot spring courtyards, this particular one was neither elaborately constructed nor meticulously designed it couldn’t even compare to one tenth of the Farewell Worry Villa. Yet it possessed one geographical advantage that no luxurious mansion in the Eastern Capital could rival, no matter how much effort was expended.

A comfortable draft brushed past the ears, immersing visitors in a sensation akin to stepping into the warmth of early spring.

Inside the courtyard, the rockery appeared haphazardly arranged, winding around pools and buildings without any discernible pattern. Yet enveloped in swirling mist, the layered peaks appeared and disappeared like a celestial realm. The area surrounding the rockery was exceptionally warm, with lush greenery and vibrant flowers blooming year round.

The entire Li Mountain was dotted with hot springs of various sizes those at the foot served the common folk, the mid slope was a frequent retreat for high-ranking officials and nobles, while the summit housed the imperial palaces.

Thanks to the Empress Dowager’s favor, the Li family had their first opportunity to visit the summit and were allotted a premium courtyard.

As soon as Li Wuyou entered, he spotted a white crane standing proudly by the pool and playfully rushed toward it.

The crane glanced at him disdainfully, spread its wings, and soared into the air, teasingly staying just out of reach as he jumped several times in vain.

It then circled above Juchen’s head, hovering gracefully for a moment.

Juchen looked up, faintly recalling a similar white figure she had seen in her past life at the Pengshan Prince’s residence.

So he had already arrived.

Was this crane brother here to welcome her?

Seeing the crane lingering around Juchen, Li Wuyou ran over and asked, “Elder Sister, do you know it?”

Juchen hesitated before shaking her head. “No.”

As soon as she spoke, the crane seemed to understand. With a long cry that sounded almost like a cold snort, it flipped into the clouds and vanished.

Juchen: “…”

Li Wuyou immediately turned his attention to choosing accommodations, eager to claim the largest and finest hot spring chamber. Accustomed to always receiving the best at home, he took it for granted.

However, the palace attendant in charge stopped him with a polite smile. “By Her Majesty’s command, Lady Li Dianji shall enter first.”

The Empress Dowager’s favor was bestowed upon the new cohort of female officials, and naturally, her subordinates were prioritized. Juchen was rightfully assigned the best quarters.

Upon hearing this, Aunt Wu and Li Wanyu stiffened. They had assumed that, given Li Ling’s doting on Wuyou, they would naturally stay in the finest rooms.

As Juchen and Lady Wen were escorted by palace attendants to the main chamber, Li Wanyu pursed her lips and reluctantly followed behind Aunt Wu and her younger brother.

Passing by the entrance, she couldn’t help but peek inside. The luxurious and spacious indoor hot spring in the main chamber filled her with envy.

At the summit of Li Mountain, there was also a grand royal indoor cuju field, its turf lush and green, the environment warm and comfortable.

During leisure days, nobles and royals often gathered here for matches, which were not only thrilling but also offered valuable prizes.

That very afternoon, an impromptu game was underway.

After lunch, the spectator stands gradually filled with people.

Song Mi and Lu Feng were warming up on the field, exchanging banter, when a familiar crane’s cry echoed from above.

Song Mi looked up and instinctively turned his gaze toward the stands.

There, a graceful and familiar figure appeared slowly, trailing behind another family’s group of women, taking her place among the spectators.

Lu Feng followed his gaze toward the stage and couldn’t help but laugh. “When you compare him to the crowd, Li Juchen stands out even more. Look, she even put on makeup todaycould it be she heard the Lu family was hosting this match and came specifically to see me…”

Before he could finish, Song Mi elbowed him in the right shoulder and stole the ball f rom under his feet.

Lu Feng chased after him, cursing, “Song Zhengzhi, you’re playing dirty again!”

Without turning his head, Song Mi retorted, “If you’re not focused on the game, what are you looking at?”

“Hey, you can look, but I can’t?”

In the spectator stands.

Juchen had just sat down and was blowing on her tea when the sound of drums and gongs erupted.

The previously lively stands fell silent in an instant as everyone’s eyes turned to the neatly lined up players from both teams the match was about to begin.

The Liang Dynasty’s cuju matches followed a timed system, with each team fielding eleven players, including a goalkeeper. The team with more goals within the allotted time would win.

Li Wanyu was usually reserved in public, maintaining a dignified demeanor.

But upon hearing that the Prince of Pengshan was playing today, she couldn’t resist stepping out from the pavilion’s curtains to join the young women crowding the front railings, their gazes tender and cheeks flushed.

Holding a round fan, Li Wanyu shielded her face as she peered out and murmured, “Which one is the Prince of Pengshan?”

A delicate finger pointed beside her, its owner’s voice clear and melodious but tinged with sarcasm. “The one who always looks like he’s just strolling around.”

Though it seemed like he was merely strolling, most of his team’s goals came from his last minute kicks.

Knowing many were guarding against him, he remained unhurried, never rushing to take the lead, persistently waiting for openings.

Li Wanyu turned her head, eyes widening in surprise. “Elder Sister? Didn’t you say you weren’t coming to watch?”

Juchen paused, offering her a perfunctory smile.

She had indeed said she didn’t want to come at first. After all, in her past life, she had hosted countless cuju matches for foreign envoys and was long accustomed to such events.

But during her afternoon nap, Lu Yun had shaken her awake, saying her brother was playing a match with the Prince of Pengshan a rare opportunity and invited her along.

The moment Juchen heard Song Mi would be playing, she sprang from bed, dressed properly, and arrived gracefully.

Li Wanyu, noticing the tall, striking figure on the field bore a striking resemblance to the one she’d seen under the drum tower that day, couldn’t help but ask, “Elder Sister, do you know the Prince of Pengshan?”

Juchen replied calmly, “We’ve met once. He’s acquainted with the second son of the Lu family.”

To avoid raising suspicions, she didn’t deny his presence at the drum tower gathering that day, but neither did she imply any deeper connection.

Li Wanyu, who had never heard of any prior friendship between them, quickly believed her. She stared at Juchen’s exquisite face for a long moment, growing increasingly disheartened and resentful that her elder sister, already beautiful, had also adorned herself with makeup.

Truly, as the saying goes, “Even the lotus pales beside a lady’s makeup; the breeze carries her jewels’ fragrance through the hall.”

Afraid of being overshadowed, Li Wanyu instantly positioned herself in front of Juchen.

Juchen couldn’t be bothered to compete for the scant sunlight, as long as her view of the match wasn’t blocked.

As the three-quarter-hour incense stick neared its end, Song Mi scored another goal in the final moments. The music, drums, and cheers erupted in unison, nearly deafening the crowd.

Li Wanyu couldn’t help but clap and cheer. In the blink of an eye, she saw Song Mi had chosen his prize and glanced back toward the railing before ascending the steps to the viewing platform.

The young ladies at the railing all held their breaths, then quickly retreated to the pavilion, each composing themselves with proper decorum, afraid he might see them jostling in the crowd such unseemly behavior would be improper and lacking in manners.

Juchen and Li Wanyu were no exception. They had barely taken their seats when the tall figure began walking gracefully in their direction.

Li Wanyu nearly met his gaze, causing her heart to pound like thunder and her cheeks to flush crimson. She hastily lowered her head.

Song Mi truly stopped right in front of their pavilion.

Yet when he lifted the curtain to enter, his eyes remained fixed ahead, not sparing a single glance toward the women seated inside.