Dongxia Kingdom, the thirty-third year of the Guangyao era.
"Third Brother, still not giving up?"
A young woman sat on the saddle, her hand gripping the reins with an air of great proficiency.
Occasionally, she would turn her head to tease the man riding behind her.
It was none other than Princess Chun'an, Xia Yiyun.
The Emperor of Dongxia had only four children.
The First Imperial Prince Xia Yiyuan, the Second Imperial Prince Xia Yiduy, and the Third Imperial Prince Xia Yicheng.
Xia Yiyun was the only princess and also the youngest child, thus receiving a bit more affection than her three imperial brothers.
She wore a blue outfit, her long black hair neatly tied with a silk cord.
Her face was like a flower, radiant and elegant, with a high, delicate nose, large, round, sharp eyes, and long, curled eyelashes.
All these combined to create the aura of an arrogant, graceful princess.
Yiyun urged her horse past the white line, then stopped and dismounted.
She smiled faintly, looking at the white horse, stroking its coat as she softly said:
"You did very well, my little white horse."
Then she looked at her Third Brother and said smugly:
"Yicheng, you've lost to me three times in a row."
"Convinced now?"
When it came to horse riding, after the First Imperial Prince Xia Yiyuan, she was the best.
How could the Third Imperial Prince Xia Yicheng possibly compare?
"No more competing, no more."
"I'm heading back first."
Xia Yicheng dismounted and waved his hand, saying.
Just as he was about to leave, Yiyun tugged at his sleeve, her tone somewhat teasing:
"Third Brother, we agreed the winner gets to take any item from the loser."
"Have you forgotten?"
"What do you want to take? Just pick something."
"Let's see... hmmm."
Yiyun placed a hand on her small chin in thought.
Then, she turned and gave an order to the woman dressed in palace maid attire.
That was her personal maid, Xiuling.
"Go to Third Brother's palace and bring the red-glazed ceramic vase back to our main palace hall."
"Yes."
Just as Xiuling was about to leave, the Third Imperial Prince spoke up to stop her:
"Stop."
Then, he looked at Yiyun and continued:
"Not that vase, pick something else."
"But I still want that one."
"Xiuling, go get it quickly."
That red-glazed ceramic vase was very difficult to find; it can't just be taken like that.
"Ah! I have an idea."
"Let's compete in martial arts."
"If I win, you have to give me this jade pendant."
The Third Imperial Prince's voice was full of confidence, his hand pointing at the jade pendant she was wearing.
Martial arts? No way? If it came to this, she was the worst; how could she possibly compete?
"Are you afraid of losing to me? Alright, it's fine if we don't compete."
"I know you're bad at it..."
Xia Yicheng hadn't finished his sentence when she boldly retorted:
"Who said I was afraid? Let's fight then."
The moves the Third Imperial Prince unleashed, she could only dodge, with no chance to block.
Suddenly, her hand was controlled by him, unable to break free.
Yiyun had no choice but to shout loudly:
"I lose."
"No more fighting."
"I lose, I lose."
Xia Yiduy released her hand.
He knew the outcome—that Yiyun would definitely lose—so he wasn't surprised.
If she took his precious vase, then he would take her jade pendant; he considered it fair.
"Quickly hand over your jade pendant."
"Third Brother, how about I return the ceramic vase to you, and you don't take my jade pendant?"
Yiyun had no choice but to try to appease him, gently pleading as she shook her brother's arm.
But the Third Imperial Prince indifferently said:
"No, now I only want this jade pendant of yours."
"Third Brother, you can't take it."
Knowing this method wouldn't work, she immediately let go of his arm and said.
"Why can't I take it?"
"Because I'm your only sister, and especially... today I had to pretend to be sick and skip my calligraphy and literature class to come here with you."
"You skipped class?"
Realizing she had spoken out of turn, Y Vân quickly covered her mouth with both hands and shook her head repeatedly in denial.
"I must go report this to Father Emperor."
With that, he ran straight to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Y Vân quickly chased after Hạ Nhất Thành.
"Princess, slow down, wait for this servant!"
Tú Linh called out to her as she ran.
"Greetings to the Third Prince."
"Greetings to the Princess."
The servants in the Hall of Mental Cultivation quickly bowed upon seeing the siblings.
"Hạ Nhất Thành, stop right there!"
The Third Prince still had no intention of giving up; he walked straight inside.
Seeing this, Y Vân followed him in.
"Your child pays respects to Father Emperor."
"No, d-Father Emperor."
"What brings you two siblings here today?"
As his two children entered, the Emperor put down his memorial and asked.
Y Vân tugged at her third brother's sleeve and shook her head, signaling him not to speak.
"Reporting to Father Emperor, today Y Vân... skipped class again."
Oh no, she was really in for it this time.
Hearing this, the Emperor slammed his hand on the table.
She immediately shot a glance at the Third Prince and took two steps back.
A thought immediately popped into her head: "I need to get out of here first."
"Suddenly remembering I have something to do, y-your child requests to be excused."
"Y Vân, stop right there."
"Your child withdraws."
Hạ Nhất Thành, sensing the situation, also requested to withdraw, secretly glancing at Y Vân with a mischievous smile before he left.
He knew she was definitely going to get scolded again.
"How many times have you skipped class now, Vân'er?"
"Father Emperor, your child knows her mistake."
It won't happen again.
Seeing her Father Emperor's anger, Y Vân had no choice but to humble herself and beg for mercy.
She didn't want to skip class, but studying that made her very sleepy.
It was all Hạ Nhất Thành's fault.
Just you wait, I'll settle the score with you!!!
"There'll be a next time? You truly infuriate me to death."
"Your child promises to be diligent and won't skip class anymore."
"Look at you, do you even resemble a princess in the slightest?"
The Emperor shook his head, looking at her attire.
No ordinary girl would learn horse riding and archery, but his daughter was different.
She knew horse riding, archery, and even martial arts, perhaps even more proficiently than men.
"Say no more. Go outside and kneel for an hour for me."
"Father Emperor!!!"
"If you say another word, I will increase it to two hours."
Faced with the Emperor's sternness, she had no choice but to obey her Father Emperor's words and go outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation to kneel.
Tú Linh, who was behind her, also knelt down with her mistress.
Trương Hằng, the chief eunuch of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, merely shook his head upon seeing her kneel; he could already guess the reason.
She hadn't even knelt for a quarter of an hour before she pretended to cry, pleading:
"Father Emperor, please don't punish your child anymore, your child truly knows her mistake."
Inside the hall, the Emperor heard his daughter's voice, put down his memorial, and strode outside.
"You still dare to beg? You are the granddaughter of the Grand Imperial Scholar, yet do you resemble him in the slightest? Kneel there and repent."
With that, he turned his back and went inside.
Y Vân could only silently ponder a solution.
Ah!!! I have an idea!
She turned her head back and whispered to Tú Linh:
"Go quickly and find my eldest brother."
"Yes, yes."
Obeying her command, Tú Linh immediately stood up and went to find the First Prince, Hạ Nhất Nguyên.
At this moment, only he could speak on her behalf.
"Greetings to the First Prince."
Hearing the voice, she looked up.
Eldest brother has finally arrived.
"Skipping class again?"
Y Vân gave a slight nod, having no choice but to concede to her elder brother.
"Wait for me a moment."
With that, he went inside.
"Your son greets Imperial Father."
He performed the greeting ritual. Upon seeing the First Prince, the Emperor naturally understood the situation and asked directly:
"You've come to plead for her?"
"Y Vân is still young, I beg Imperial Father to temper his anger. Your son will discipline my younger sister properly."
…
…
After some time spent persuading Imperial Father, he eventually received a nod of approval.
Outside, she didn't wait long before she saw Hạ Nhất Nguyên step out.
He walked over, looked at her, and said softly:
"You may stand up now."
Hearing her elder brother's words, she joyfully stood up. Brushing the dust from her knees, she then followed her elder brother away.
She followed the First Prince back to his palace. Hạ Nhất Nguyên thoughtfully had someone prepare her favorite mung bean cake.
Y Vân took a piece and brought it to her mouth. It seemed as if that piece of mung bean cake made her completely forget everything that had just happened.
Hạ Nhất Nguyên stopped reading, put the book aside, and observed Y Vân's expression. She had endured much sorrow in the past, so it was good that she was so happy now; as her elder brother, he also felt at ease.
"If I were at the border today, then who would speak up for you?"
"Then I would seek out Imperial Grandmother for help. I won't trouble you anymore, elder brother. I'm going back to my palace now."
With that, she stood up and left the First Prince's palace. Tú Linh quickly bowed to him and then followed behind her.
On her way back, Y Vân silently scolded her third elder brother to herself:
"Oh, Nhất Thành, Nhất Thành, I'll settle this score with you. That hateful third elder brother!!!"