Chapter 112: Before the Thunder Breaks, the Anger Has Already Faded

Wang Jin had set the stage perfectly, but things always took unexpected turns. For two consecutive days, Chongniang had not returned to Jinxian Temple, which meant that news of Ye Chang's arrival reached her ears two days late.

However, Wang Jin’s prediction proved correct: upon hearing that Ye Chang had arrived in the capital without seeking her out, Chongniang leapt to her feet in a fury. Unlike other young princesses or princes, she received little attention, which granted her far greater freedom of movement. Thrilled by the news, she set off immediately for the area outside Chunming Gate.

Ye Chang was not staying within the city walls but at an inn outside Chunming Gate. Though it was the scorching heat of midsummer, the ancient, towering trees surrounding the inn provided a refreshing coolness. Ye Chang had set up a large folding couch under the shade and was sleeping soundly, completely unaware that Chongniang had arrived with an entourage.

Seeing that familiar figure from afar, a surge of joy filled Chongniang’s heart. She had intended to confront Ye Chang, but the moment she saw him, that thought vanished. Signaling her attendants to wait, she approached him alone. Ye Chang remained fast asleep; he barely snored, and a faint smile played on his lips, as if he were having a sweet dream.

Chongniang stood by his side, watching him silently. Suddenly, a mischievous impulse seized her. She snapped a twig from a tree and used the thin end to tickle Ye Chang’s nose.

The ticklish sensation made Ye Chang sneeze in his sleep. He reached out to scratch the spot but did not wake up. Chongniang found this even more amusing and continued her game.

"Stop it... Xiang'er, stop it..." Ye Chang muttered, turning over slightly.

Hearing the name "Xiang'er," Chongniang’s eyes widened. She could not stand that name!

Her eyes darted around until she spotted a caterpillar crawling on the tree. Like many young girls, she feared caterpillars, viewing them as one of the most terrifying creatures on earth. She reached out to grab it, hesitated, pulled back, and glanced behind her, beckoning one of the eunuchs over with a flick of her finger.

The eunuch trotted over eagerly. This twenty-ninth princess was not the same girl she had been a year ago; she now had income from the polo match business and was generous with her money. Flattering her well would certainly not go unrewarded.

Chongniang pointed at the caterpillar and then at Ye Chang’s face. The eunuch’s hair stood on end. Yet, under the pressure of her gaze, he had no choice but to wrap his hand in his sleeve and pluck the caterpillar from the tree.

The creature wriggled violently in his hand, making Chongniang’s skin crawl. She hesitated, but seeing Ye Chang still sleeping soundly, she finally steeled herself: "Put it down!"

She had initially aimed for Ye Chang’s face, hoping the caterpillar would crawl into his nostril, but as she gestured, her hand drifted toward his bare feet.

And so, the caterpillar was placed on Ye Chang’s foot. Clearly uncomfortable in its new environment, the creature desperately tried to crawl back toward the tree. Seeing it heading in the wrong direction, Chongniang used the twig to nudge it, guiding it to crawl up Ye Chang’s leg.

When it crawled up his calf, Ye Chang only frowned, but as it reached his thigh, the tickling sensation became unbearable—especially as it continued to advance toward his vital parts!

Ye Chang reflexively swatted at it. The caterpillar, a type of stinging larva, had been unable to defend itself earlier, but now it struck back, its tail spines delivering a sharp, stinging pain. Ye Chang leapt up with a shout, clutching his crotch—the creature had been only a palm’s breadth away from his vitals!

Hearing his shout, Shan Zhi jumped out from behind a tree. He had seen Chongniang earlier and knew she meant no harm, so he hadn't disturbed Ye Chang, but this was different—Ye Chang’s cry sounded all wrong!

"Who’s trying to sabotage me!" Ye Chang bellowed, only to see a round-faced, smooth-cheeked eunuch grinning at him.

A... damn eunuch?

Just as Ye Chang was about to let out a string of curses, the eunuch pursed his lips toward the side. Ye Chang looked down and saw Chongniang, who was standing there with a stern, frosty expression.

"Chongniang, you... why are you always..."

Seeing it was her, Ye Chang realized what had happened and was left between laughter and tears. Why was this little girl always obsessed with his vitals? Last time in Chang'an, she had kicked him, and now she was playing these strange games.

He felt a wetness on his thigh and feared he might be bleeding. Ignoring the impropriety, he reached down to check, only to find half a caterpillar and a handful of green gunk, which nearly made him vomit in disgust.

"You come to Chang'an and don't even acknowledge me!" Before he could scold her, the young girl spoke first: "You’d rather sleep in here than send someone to let me know!"

Ye Chang wiped the filth from his hand onto some leaves and said with a bitter smile, "I came to Chang'an on business. If I had reached out to you the moment I arrived, the person in the palace would have been up in arms. I was planning to find a way to see you before I left. Now look, you’ve run all the way here; the imperial messengers will probably be here to chase me away any moment."

Chongniang had only been thinking of seeing him and hadn't considered the consequences. She froze for a moment, then lashed out again: "Are you blaming me for coming to see you? You blame me for ruining things? Fine, I'm leaving! I'm going back right now!"

"You little girl, where do you get such a temper? Do you want a spanking again?" Ye Chang glared at her as she began to act unreasonably.

The eunuch watching from the side felt a cold sweat. The princesses in the palace were mostly temperamental; wouldn't Ye Chang’s behavior infuriate the twenty-ninth princess? Even if she didn't get angry at Ye Chang, she would surely vent her rage on them!

But then, something astonishing happened.

Instead of getting angry at Ye Chang’s glare and raised hand, the twenty-ninth princess felt a blush rise to her cheeks, and her gaze shifted from fierce to gentle.

"I... I was just angry that you weren't happy to see me..."

"Who says I'm not happy? I never said that."

"Then why were you calling that girl’s name in your sleep?"

"I was dreaming that Xiang'er was being naughty... so it was you playing tricks on me?"

Ye Chang realized what had happened, while Chongniang hung her head in silence, regretting that her haste had made her spill the truth.

"You silly girl." Ye Chang patted her head with a sense of helplessness.

The eunuch nearby shrank back, pretending he hadn't seen a thing. That was the princess’s head—this guy patted it as if he were patting a neighbor’s child! No, even for a neighbor’s child, one wouldn't be so casual!

"You, you just don't know how to express your feelings. You're just being difficult. You obviously have a kind heart—it’s only because it's me; anyone else wouldn't understand." Ye Chang scolded her, and Chongniang nodded obediently, murmuring in agreement.

The eunuch sighed again: Was this really the twenty-ninth princess? In the palace, she was timid and quiet; she had never been this obedient to anyone!

Ye Chang glanced at the eunuch. This wasn't Wolong Villa, and he was no longer the naive man who had first entered Chang'an a year ago.

"For instance, when you are with the Emperor, you should say what is on your mind. He is your father, the person you hold most dear and respect most; there is nothing you cannot say to him. I suspect that when you see your father, you want to talk to him, but you don't dare, right?" Chongniang nodded. "You miss your father and want to keep him company to show your filial piety, but his natural authority makes you fear him, so you hide your affection, don't you?" Chongniang nodded again. "I also know you see his exhaustion and his aging face, and your heart aches, but you don't know how to voice it, right?"

Chongniang looked at Ye Chang and nodded a third time. Whether the last one was sincere, only she knew.

"The root of all this is that you don't know how to express yourself—not just to your father, but to everyone. You don't even know how to care for yourself..."

The last sentence caused Chongniang, who understood human nature better than most despite her youth, to well up with tears. Suddenly, she burst into sobs, clinging to Ye Chang’s arm.

Ye Chang patted her shoulder gently. He had truly... found the little girl’s weakness. A lack of love.

If she were his own daughter, he would cherish her dearly, talk to her every day, accompany her on walks, and inquire after her well-being, watching her grow with joy while worrying about some scoundrel stealing her away. Yet, she was born into the imperial family, her mother a neglected foreign tribute who vanished into thin air after giving birth. She craved affection instinctively but lacked the knowledge of how to pursue or express it.

Ye Chang didn't feel he was deceiving the young girl. He stroked her hair gently and, after she stopped crying, said softly, "When you go back, find an opportunity to tell your father exactly what is in your heart."

Chongniang nodded, wiped away her tears, and pouted.

"I came to see you, and you made me cry! I... I’m not talking to you anymore!"

She twisted her body and turned to leave. Ye Chang didn't stop her. The sensitive girl was feeling shy after her emotional outburst. Stopping her now would undo everything he had said, and letting her return was better for both of them.

In the distance, Wang Jin, who had been watching the whole time, muttered, "A fool courting death!"

Chongniang’s brief appearance left Wang Jin feeling unsatisfied; he hadn't seen the grand drama he expected. "If it weren't for that reckless fellow, this matter might have blown over. Now, he even dares to pat the princess on the head—is that something he’s allowed to touch? Even setting aside the rules of propriety, that is a princess!"

Wang Jin admired Ye Chang’s audacity but was certain that it wouldn't be long before Emperor Li Longji of the Great Tang heard the news and flew into a rage, sending the Southern衙 troops to crush him. If the Emperor, in his fury, simply had the man’s head cut off, that would be for the best. Wang Jin decided to wait here, anticipating the drama he craved.

Not long after Chongniang returned to the palace, the eunuch knelt trembling before Li Longji. The Emperor listened to his account with a grim face, including every word of the conversation between Ye Chang and Chongniang.

The eunuch had a sharp memory, not only recounting the dialogue with near-perfect accuracy but also mimicking Ye Chang’s expressions and gestures vividly. After hearing it, Yang Yuhuan was caught between laughter and shock. "How truly reckless. Such audacity—even if he was teaching the twenty-ninth princess on the Emperor's behalf, he must be punished!" Gao Lishi interjected.

Li Longji said nothing, his face remaining dark.

After thirty years on the throne, though he had grown somewhat lax, Li Longji’s grasp on human nature remained as sharp as ever. He understood the hidden motives of Yang Yuhuan and Gao Lishi perfectly.

Yang Yuhuan had gained much from the polo business over the past year, receiving a larger share than even Princess Yuzhen or the twenty-ninth princess. She stayed silent because she felt it wasn't the right time; it would be far more effective to offer soft persuasion once Li Longji’s anger had subsided.

Gao Lishi had also profited from the polo business. Though he was scolding Ye Chang, he was actually reminding Li Longji that Ye Chang was teaching his daughter—and teaching her well. Li Longji was not an ungrateful man. He rarely paid much attention to Chongniang, but at the thought of someone else playing the father figure to his daughter, while she spoke so little to him, a surge of shame and annoyance churned in his chest.

However, Li Longji could not bring himself to act against Ye Chang. He would wield his blade without hesitation against anyone who threatened his imperial power, but what could Ye Chang threaten? His status in his daughter's heart?

"Your Majesty?" Gao Lishi, seeing Li Longji silent, probed, "The musicians of the Pear Garden are ready. Didn't you say you wanted to watch them rehearse the 'Rainbow Feather Garment' dance?"

"Let them wait... I will go see the twenty-ninth princess," Li Longji said.

Seeing that his anger had not faded, Gao Lishi dared not say more. Having followed this suspicious and brilliant emperor for decades, he knew exactly when to say what. But just as Gao Lishi signaled a eunuch, before the man could leave the hall, Li Longji said, "Forget it, forget it. Let’s go to the Pear Garden instead."

Gao Lishi bowed in acknowledgment. Yang Yuhuan, unsure of Li Longji's true intentions, blinked and smiled sweetly, "Sanlang, why not let the twenty-ninth princess come along?"

Li Longji looked at her. "You are kind to her, but I hope she knows it... That reckless boy is arrogant and absurd, but he wasn't wrong about one thing: Chongniang doesn't know how to distinguish good from bad, nor does she know how to express herself."

"Your Majesty seems to appreciate that boy..."

"Hmph, appreciate? I wish I could exile him to the Bohai Kingdom so he wouldn't keep running back to Chang'an to irritate me."

Despite his words, Li Longji ultimately sent no one to trouble Ye Chang.

As the sun set and the stars rose, the music of the Pear Garden played on endlessly. Meanwhile, at the inn outside Chunming Gate, Wang Jin waited foolishly.

"Why hasn't he come yet... he must be coming any moment..." he muttered to himself.