#( &. chara: princess xiyue. )

[westcrescent]

 𝐡𝐢 !!      -ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈ 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒔 & 𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒔 ┊ ┊୨୧

        -ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈ 𝒏𝒑𝒄 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕┊ ┊୨୧

[westcrescent]

A thoughtful silence followed the scholar's words, and for a moment, she looked inward, contemplating the gravity of his unexpected offer.

“Your honesty is… unexpected,” she said quietly, her gaze steady. “It’s not often one finds someone willing to speak so plainly, especially in a place where words are so carefully measured.”

She took a step closer, her voice dropping to match the intimacy of the conversation. “The path you suggest is filled with its own risks, and I’m well aware of the weight of reputation. But I also understand the value of true allies, and your willingness to act as one is not lost on me.”

Her eyes softened slightly as she met his gaze. “As for your question, I am indeed more interested in my own aspirations than the constraints of my position. I appreciate your offer of discretion and your role as a confidant. Thank you, Scholar You.”

With a nod of gratitude, she turned toward the door, giving him a glance accompanied by a playful smile. “Are you already leaving? If you’re to be my confidant, I suppose I should know what ambitions you’re harboring. After all, secrets are a two-way street, aren’t they?"

What intrigued her even more was the somewhat playful glint in his eye at times, a contrast to his serious demeanour when discussing their futures. There was a side of him that was both intellectual and personal. This duality fascinated her and made her want to know more about him, not just as a scholar, but as a person.

A light expression crossed his face, his smile small. There was an underlying trust that was built between them. It was a first meeting, yet she seemed to lean toward him; like a tree to the sun. It was an unexpected reaction.

"There are two options," Yiran started, smiling as he turned his head to her. He walked with his hands behind his back, confident in his stride. "Resign to your fate. Be married off but find your place in the court. Influence your husband and increase your own control over others. Am I too forward?"

He stopped and faced her. "They say a woman's reputation is the most important thing. I once overheard my grandmother tell my sister that a woman who is ignorant is blessed. I'm afraid you weren't born blessed like that, so you find yourself dissatisfied in your life. If your fate is something you can't resign yourself to, what are you willing to do to change it? In your case, it's not about means but about what you value more. Your dreams or your position?"

Suddenly he bowed his head, stepping away. "I'm sorry. I said too much."

He turned away and headed into the study room. Quietly, he packed his things. If the princess told her father what he said, he would be punished if he couldn't talk his way out of it.

Yiran stopped in front of her as he went to leave, holding his bag under his arm. The maid was approaching with the princes, so he lowered his voice. "I won't tell anyone what your thoughts were. Think of me as a confidant." With that, he stepped aside to allow her to walk by if she wished. Perhaps they could be useful to each other.

[westcrescent]

Xiyue's Diary (AD 808) 17th August

In dreams of night and moon’s gentle gleam, I find a promise, a whisper of my dream.

As the Empress Qian Ling, I know mother had envisioned her firstborn to be a son who would ensure her clan’s future on the throne. I was a delicate disappointment in her eyes, a shadow of the heir she had longed for. The affection that should have warmed my early years was replaced by a formal and distant relationship, leaving me to navigate the vast corridors of our home in solitude.

As Emperor Shen Long, father's ambitions stretched beyond our palace walls, consuming every decision with the cold logic of politics. Watching him manoeuvre and scheme, each move a reminder of how little my own desires mattered. The palace, with all its glory, felt like a gilded cage, where my true self was stifled beneath layers of expectation and duty.

I feared the day when my fate would be sealed by an arranged marriage, a union made not out of love but of political convenience. Each day, I counted the moments until I could escape the palace's stifling embrace, dreaming of a distant land where I might find freedom and a life of my own choosing.

Despite my fears and the constant reminders of my constrained existence, there was a flicker of hope that refused to die. I loved my siblings dearly and cherished our fleeting moments together, but I knew that my path might soon lead me far from them, perhaps never to return. The idea of leaving them behind weighed heavily on my heart.

In the quiet moments of reflection, amidst the echoing halls and whispered secrets, I dreamed of a life where I could be more than just a pawn in my family's ambitions. Though the future seemed uncertain and the palace felt like a cage, I held on to the hope that someday, in the heart of this vast and mysterious city, love might offer me the freedom and solace I yearned for.

[westcrescent]

Muse (一) 01.

Princess Xiyue, the only daughter of Emperor Shen Long of the Tang Dynasty, shines brightly amid her four brothers with her blend of beauty and brains. Gifted in literature, philosophy, and the art of weaving, she is celebrated across the kingdoms for her radiant presence and diverse talents

Xiyue is known for her down-to-earth nature and genuine kindness. She interacts with her servants and courtiers with warmth and respect, never allowing her royal status to overshadow her innate sense of empathy. Her days are often spent engaging in quiet acts of kindness, whether it’s providing thoughtful gifts to those in need or personally overseeing charitable projects within the palace.

While she treasures her royal duties and the rich cultural heritage of her family, she often gazes longingly at the horizon, dreaming of the vast, uncharted world beyond her gilded confines. Her curiosity and sense of adventure lead her to study maps and tales of distant lands, and she secretly longs for a life of exploration and discovery. Xiyue’s spirit is a blend of grace and daring, a princess who, despite her royal station, remains captivated by the promise of new horizons and the stories waiting to be discovered beyond her palace gates

[westcrescent]

Princess Xiyue considered the other's request and smiled softly. "I do enjoy gardening, Scholar You," she said as she rose gracefully from her seat to follow behind him. "It’s one of the few things that makes life in the palace less monotonous."

Xiyue watched Scholar You as he spoke, her gaze steady and thoughtful. His words about the trees and their roots resonated with her, mirroring thoughts she had long kept hidden behind the facade of royal duties and expectations. The willow tree's melancholic beauty, its drooping branches like a mournful sigh, seemed to echo the confinement she felt in her own life.

She took a step closer to the willow, her fingers brushing gently against the weeping leaves. The softness of the leaves contrasted with the heaviness of his words, and she felt a pang of empathy for the tree. The comparison to her own life was not lost on her. In the solitude of the garden, away from the prying eyes of her brothers and the maid, she allowed herself a rare moment of vulnerability.

His mention of the tree on his grave and the idea of being moved from one place to another resonated with her deeply. She recognized the symbolism and felt its relevance to her own life.

Turning her gaze back to the willow, she reflected on the confines of her own existence. Her voice, though gentle and poised, held an undercurrent of strength— a strength she had cultivated over years of navigating the expectations placed upon her.

Scholar You's words had stirred something within her, a realization that her own desires and aspirations could not be entirely silenced by her royal duties. The analogy of the trees, their longing for freedom and their acceptance of their fate, was a reflection of her own struggle. She approached the Scholar, her voice steady as she spoke.

“Scholar You,” she began, her tone carrying the same elegant composure as before, yet with an added firmness,

“I may be a princess, and my duties may be as rooted in place as the willow, but I am also a person with dreams and aspirations. I can't say no to the Emperor too, a person so clever and as dignified as you are, what do you think I should do, moving forward?"

It was almost a trick question. No matter how Scholar You answers, it would never be what she wanted to hear, and it would certainly never be something possible to execute. But she was curious, how a young scholar like him would react to words suggesting defiance.

When she spoke, he listened to her voice in interest. The way she sounded was a sign of her rank. She was elegant and proper. Her voice elegant and gentle like wind through the leaves of a willow tree. There was something else in her voice though. Something solid and strong.

He moved over toward her seat. His hand touched the wooden table in front of her lightly. Yiran gazed down at her, curiosity burning in his eyes. Something more than curiosity, like the something more in her voice; knowing.

"Do you like gardening, princess?" He removed his hand from the table, holding them behind his back now. "Would you follow me? Consider it part of the lesson. I would like to see the trees."

He led her out of the building and into the garden outside. They walked down the laid path, her brothers and the maid in the opposite direction. At the edge of the garden, he stopped and turned to her. The princes, or anyone else, couldn't see them. He lifted his head up toward the tree, its branches falling over their heads.

He placed his hand on the trunk of the willow, his eyes following the base up to the leaves.

"Trees are sad, aren't they? So strong and yet they can't leave where they were planted. They grow toward the sky and reach their branches out, trying to find something to grab onto. Unless you're this one," he turns toward her again, touching the hanging leaves of the weeping willow. "It's as if it's given up, instead dropping its face and crying. Accepting its fate as an ornamental plant behind walls."

His eyes met hers, as if searching for her understanding. They moved as they watched her face, wondering if she understood his hint. She was the tree. He could hear it in her voice. The gentle voice like wind in the leaves of the willow only hid the strength and desire to grow underneath. He, too, was a tree. One who escaped from his parents' garden only to land in another one.

"The children of the tree may get away for a while. Until they are planted in a garden. Or on a grave. I'm sure the goldenrain tree on my grave will be beautiful, too. From one place in the ground to the next."

He gave a dry smile and turned away from her, speaking despite walking away toward the study room.

"To answer your question: who says no to the emperor?"

[westcrescent]

Princess Xiyue looked up from the table, her fingers idly tracing patterns on the surface. She met Scholar You's gaze, noting the gentle curiosity in his eyes. The younger princes had dashed out of the room, their laughter fading down the hallway, leaving a quiet calm behind.

“In my free time,” Xiyue began, her voice soft but clear, “I love spending time in the gardens or with books. The gardens are peaceful, and books take me to places far beyond the palace. They offer me a sense of freedom I don’t often have here.”

Freedom was a forbidden word in this forbidden city, she dare not share further, it was a little too soon. After all, he's the emperor, her father's 'man'. A slip of tongue, she would be sent to a foreign land to marry for political relations.

She glanced at Scholar You’s modest attire and felt a twinge of empathy, not in a way that she was looking down on him, though. Despite her royal elegance, she found sincerity in his plain robes and respectful demeanor.

“I joined these lessons,” she continued, “because I wanted to learn more about the world and to connect with my brothers in a meaningful way. It’s not just about studying; it’s about sharing experiences and understanding more about life outside the palace.”

She looked at him with interest and asked, “And what about you, Scholar You? What motivates you to teach us? What do you hope to achieve through these lessons with us?” Probably a higher rank at the court but she doesn't blame him, everyone wants to be able to climb the ladders in the palace.

Her question was meant to understand him better and to find common ground between their worlds. She hoped that by learning more about him, she could bridge the gap between her royal life and his scholarly pursuits.

The deeper they went into their lesson, the more obvious it was that the younger princes were losing interest. Yiran smiled as he set his scroll down and stopped speaking, drawing attention from his students. His smile was gentle and understanding.

"Let's take a break now," he explained as he put away his things.

He stood, his robes falling around him as he walked around the table set up for him. Gently, he placed his hand on one of the younger boys' heads as he leaned over him.

"Seems like there are grasshoppers in the garden. Why don't you go catch some?"

The scholar watched as the boys left the room and motioned for the maid to keep an eye on them. He turned to the princess, dropping his gaze as he addressed her.

"Princess Xiyue, what do you like to do in your free time?" He glanced at her outfit, her jewelry and silk nicer than his. His scholar outfit suddenly felt plain, nothing him that seemed to suggest wealth. He never thought of how he looked much, until he realized he was near the same age as the princess. It suddenly mattered to him what a peer thought of him now.

His fingers curled around the edge of his sleeve as he lifted his arm over his stomach. He respected her interest in learning, though he was curious as to the reason she decided to study under the same tutor as her brothers.

"Princess, if I may ask, why did you join the lessson?"

[westcrescent]

In the grandeur of the ancient palace in Xi'an, where golden lanterns cast their warm glow and the scent of blooming jasmine filled the air, Xiyue lived a life of both privilege and seclusion. As the only daughter of the Emperor, she was surrounded by beauty and dutiful servants but rarely encountered anyone beyond the palace walls, especially men who were not eunuchs.

This morning, the palace was abuzz with the arrival of a new tutor, Imperial Scholar You. Known for his intellect and refined demeanor, Scholar You had been appointed to educate her younger siblings in the arts of statecraft, literature, and philosophy. Xiyue knew to others, she was only a 'woman', if she was not a princess, she would definitely be criticised for having a tutor as many would consider a waste of resources back in the ancient times, where women were bound to marry off to a family anyway. But she was one who always manages to find loopholes, breaking the little norms in the palace, determined to be a part of the classes today.

She had heard whispers about Scholar You’s reputation—his sharp mind and eloquent speech had won the admiration of the court. Yet, she had never met him, and her curiosity grew with each passing day.

The soft rustle of silk and the clinking of porcelain cups filled the space as Xiyue awaited her new tutor. Her heart fluttered with anticipation, and she found herself anxiously adjusting the folds of her elegant robe when her father asks her if she was joining her brothers.

When Scholar You finally enters the room, the air seemed to shimmer with a subtle magic. He entered with a calm grace, his scholarly robes flowing behind him, and a demeanor that spoke of both wisdom and humility. His eyes, deep and thoughtful, met Xiyue’s with a gentle warmth that instantly set her at ease.

“Princess Xiyue,” he greeted with a respectful bow, his voice smooth and resonant.

“Scholar You,” Xiyue replied, trying to sound composed as she returned the bow.

Their lessons began shortly thereafter, and Xiyue found herself captivated by Scholar You’s insights when she watches him teach her younger brothers from afar. His teaching was not merely academic but also laced with stories of far-off lands and philosophical musings that made the ancient texts come alive. As he spoke, Xiyue was drawn not only to his knowledge but also to his manner—his patience, his kindness, and the way his eyes would light up when discussing his passions.

@westcrescent

When the Emperor set his tea down, Yiran lifted his head up. He was lucky to be summoned for a favour for the Emperor, and he was already aware of what it consisted of.

"You're the greatest tutor for my children," the Emperor began, a confident look on his face. "You're young, but you even set aside marriage proposals for your knowledge. I find it interesting, though. Why won't you marry?"

Yiran smiled faintly as he kept in his amusement. The Emperor was interested in him. What a strange idea.

"It's much easier to focus on my works without distractions. A wedding is too distracting."

The Emperor's smile and nod of approval seemed to mean he was appeased by the answer. The two men stood and made their way to the room the Emperor had set up for the study lessons.

On the way there, he turned to Yiran and continued their talk.

"You should know my sons are young. I also invited my daughters for the lessons, but it seems they aren't interested. They would much rather do embroidery and learn their instruments. I'm sure my sons will keep you busy enough though."

Yiran silently smiled at the subtle warning. He knew from talk among nobles that the princes were rowdy.

"No need to worry. I'll try and keep them focused."

When they arrived at the room, the Emperor entered first. Yiran heard his voice from outside the doors, his interest piqued when he heard the Emperor's tone.

"Xiyue, you're joining your brothers?"

Yiran followed the Emperor into the room as he finished speaking. His eyes scanned the room, not surprised to see the princes' faces. Four of them, ranging from nine to fifteen. It was the older daughter who surprised him.

His eyes met hers as he stared at her. Yiran thought the feeling that he got was simply interest in why she was there. That was the reason he couldn't take his eyes off of her for seconds and his mind seemed to blur everything else out.

"I thought none of the girls were coming. It seems like Xiyue decided to. Well, that's good. You have a bigger class now." The Emperor seemed to not notice the way Yiran seemed confused for a moment, having finally gotten his mind back. "This is You Yiran. He's a scholar and one of my counselors. You will all be educated properly if you listen well." His eyes fell on the middle sons, giving them a stern look.

When the Emperor left, Yiran turned to his students. Suddenly, with the princess sitting there, he felt nervous.

"I did bring scrolls for you to read. To give us a place to start." The family maid he had brought with him passed the scrolls to each of them. Yiran glanced at Xiyue again before dropping his gaze to look at his own belongings he laid out. "All of you are at different levels. I'll probably have to help catch the younger ones up."