Chapter 135: Unstained by the Dust
The Emperor set aside his playful mood, brimming with gratification, and smiled with increasing tenderness. "Splendid, simply splendid. My Princess Danqing is indeed nearing her coming-of-age ceremony; she has truly matured and become far more sensible."
The court officials below immediately chimed in with sycophantic praise. Princess Danqing was, after all, the Emperor’s most cherished treasure; currying favor with her was never a misstep. However, each official harbored their own private thoughts—with the princess approaching her coming-of-age, her marriage prospects were likely on the horizon. It had been rumored that the Emperor and Empress intended to betroth her to Zhou Siyuan, the eldest son of the Duke of Ding.
As the ministers mulled over these prospects, the time arrived for the civil and military officials to present their birthday offerings.
At the mention of the Duke of Ding’s eldest son, a man who had been sitting silently beside the Duke suddenly stood up. He bowed toward the dais and announced, "Zhou Siyuan, son of the Duke of Ding, presents this gift to the Empress Dowager. May your longevity span the southern mountains, may your fortune be as vast as the eastern seas, and may your health remain ever robust."
Zhou Siyuan had returned?
Guli’s eyelids twitched at the name, and she could not help but lift her head to look.
He wore a teal robe trimmed with gold, his form appearing as if cast from flawless jade. He possessed a high-bridged nose, thin lips, and sword-like brows that swept upward into his dark hair. His silhouette was handsome and extraordinary; even standing still, he exuded a refined elegance and a unique, noble air.
He was indeed a man of imposing appearance and remarkable talent, a gentleman of effortless grace in every gesture.
It was no wonder the Empress Dowager held him in such high regard.
Alas, he was not to her taste.
Guli glanced at him, finding the figure vaguely familiar—likely a remnant of childhood memory—but she dismissed it from her mind. She withdrew her gaze indifferently, her heart remaining completely unruffled.
Zhou Siyuan’s temperament was much like that of her brother, the Crown Prince; both possessed an ethereal, unblemished aura. Yet, Zhou Siyuan seemed to embody that untouchable quality even more deeply; standing there, he made one feel that he was not to be trifled with or profaned.
Her brother, the Crown Prince, was gentler and more refined, his smile as warm as a spring breeze. Even as the Crown Prince, he carried no airs, making him seem far more approachable just by standing there.
Guli silently mused to herself before turning her attention to Lie Chang'an, who sat below dressed in white.
It was the first time she had seen him in white court attire.
His temperament was entirely different from Zhou Siyuan’s.
He was even more striking than Zhou Siyuan, his features more sharply defined. Though he, too, possessed an innate sense of cold detachment, it did not make him feel inaccessible; rather, it made him seem all the more mysterious, like a flame beckoning one to draw near and explore.
Perhaps it was because he was a military officer: his sharp, sweeping brows, the piercing black eyes hidden beneath, his thin, pressed lips, his angular jawline, and his tall, lithe frame—all suggested a hawk in the night. He was cold, solitary, and imposing, radiating a powerful, defiant spirit that seemed to command the world around him.
Every time Guli looked at him, she felt he possessed an even greater, unspoken authority than the Crown Prince. Of course, once one had spent time with him, it became clear just how stubborn and overbearing he truly was.
Even as a princess, she often found herself unable to outspeak him; his arrogance was enough to drive one to distraction.
While Guli was lost in her thoughts, the Empress Dowager had finished scrutinizing Zhou Siyuan, her smile deepening with satisfaction. "For Young Master Zhou to return just in time for the eve of my birthday, you have certainly shown great thoughtfulness."