Spring Branches Stretch Far, Longing for My Heart

This story went premium on May 30, 2022, starting with Chapter 20.

Coming soon: Your Highness Seems Unwell. Please add it to your favorites! (Synopsis below)

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The day Qin Zhen arrived at Prince Su's residence with generous gifts to break off their engagement, it was the third month of spring, and a fine rain was falling.

Liang Yannian lay beneath the railing under the eaves of her little courtyard, staring blankly at the pond outside as raindrops formed ripples across its surface.

Her maid, Cuicui, came over. "Miss, the Second Prince wants to see you and apologize in person."

Liang Yannian blinked her lovely, bright eyes and said softly, "Tell him to get lost."

Cuicui: "..."

-

Everyone in the capital of Beiyu knew that Liang Yannian, the Third Miss of Prince Su's household, and the Second Prince, Qin Zhen, had grown up together. They had been betrothed at the age of three, and their wedding was just a month away.

A month before the wedding, Qin Zhen broke off the engagement. Less than half a month later, he married the Prime Minister's eldest daughter, making Liang Yannian the talk of the capital.

To compensate the Liang family, the emperor bestowed on them ten thousand taels of gold, countless jewels and bolts of fine silk, then issued an imperial decree arranging a new marriage for Liang Yannian.

Liang Yannian's response: Your Majesty, if you have so much free time, perhaps you could read more memorials.

-

The commander's second son, Bai Lutiao, was handsome and spirited. He had followed his father on campaigns since childhood, donned armor and fought the enemy at fourteen, and led an advance unit in a surprise attack on an enemy camp at sixteen, killing an enemy general and earning numerous battle honors. Now eighteen, he was the renowned young marshal of the Pofeng Army, famous throughout Beiyu.

The day after he returned to the capital from the border, the emperor issued an edict arranging his marriage.

Bai Lutiao didn't want to marry a woman he'd never met and refused the decree in public. "I won't marry!"

After his father summoned him to the study for a loud and chaotic "talk," he emerged with a bruised face and accepted the decree.

-

Troubled, Bai Lutiao tried to drown his sorrows in wine. At a tavern, he met someone dressed like a young page who seemed just as unhappy as he was.

They shared a table and drank together.

As the alcohol went to his head, Bai Lutiao slammed the table and stood up. "This is infuriating! I'm the mighty young marshal of the Pofeng Army. Why should I marry a woman I've never even met? What if Third Miss Liang is ugly, ill-tempered, and frail? What if we have nothing to say to each other after we marry?"

The "page" beside him fell silent for a moment, then looked up. "I don't think I'm ugly."

Bai Lutiao: "?"

"And my temper's not bad."

"..."

"I'm in good shape, too. When I get serious, I can take on two people at once."

"...?"

[Third Miss of Prince Su's household and second son of the Commander's household]

Coming soon: Your Highness Seems Unwell. Please add it to your favorites!

-

At the empress dowager's flower-viewing banquet, she took a liking to Zhao Susu, the legitimate daughter of the Zhao family. By imperial decree, Susu married into the Eastern Palace and became the Crown Princess.

Zhao Susu had never met Crown Prince Xie Yu before, and they had no feelings for each other.

They met for the first time on their wedding day. Xie Yu stood before her and coldly announced that they would sleep in separate rooms.

In a moment of excitement, Zhao Susu blurted out, "No problem."

Realizing she'd lost her composure, Zhao Susu cleared her throat, then added, "Starting tonight?"

Xie Yu: "...?"

For three months after marrying into the Eastern Palace, Zhao Susu behaved with restraint and propriety. She was determined to follow one rule: if she could avoid appearing before the Crown Prince, she would stay out of his sight, and never cause him trouble.

Xie Yu was indifferent toward her. She could do whatever she wanted, as long as she didn't get in his way.

One day, Xie Yu fell from his horse, hit his head on a rock, and lost a great deal of blood before falling unconscious.

Just as everyone believed he might never wake up, he suddenly opened his eyes.

After waking, Xie Yu heard all kinds of words of concern from the people around him, but his mind was filled with another voice behind their spoken words: worry, relief, curses, and shock that he was still alive... The voices chattered on, loud and chaotic.

As he sat there, confused, one voice stood out from all the others: "I'm starving. I want roast chicken."

"?"

He quickly looked around and realized the voice belonged to his Crown Princess, Zhao Susu.

He stared at Zhao Susu, brow furrowed and eyes full of surprise.

Zhao Susu gazed at him for a long moment: Grilled fish might be nice, too.

Xie Yu: ?

Does he look like a grilled fish?!

[Neurotic Crown Prince who can read minds and a Crown Princess who just wants to lie flat and be a couch potato]

Theme: With determination, anything is possible.