Xiziqing

Crown Prince Yun Chi chose as his consort the youngest daughter of the Hua Family, Hua Yan, and the news shattered the hearts of countless ladies in the Capital City.
It was said: the Crown Prince could write poetry at three, compose essays at seven, debate with the greatest scholars at ten, shoot arrows with precision at twelve, oversee the examinations of all scholars at fifteen, and was regent by the time he was sixteen. He reached the pinnacle in letters, the extreme in martial arts, his looks were world-shaking, and his presence unrivaled.
Hua Yan felt as though a gigantic pie had fallen from the sky, landing squarely on her head.
From then on, was she to compete with the entire world for this man?
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Yun Chi: Standing at the pinnacle of the Azure Clouds, he learned the art of balance, practiced the strategies of an emperor, envisioned the land and skies in his heart. Within the nine-layered royal palace, he could turn his hands to clouds and his palms to rain, holding sway over the court and the nation, trimming himself into a figure free from desire and henceforth unyielding.
Hua Yan: She viewed herself as beneath the dust, with all her emotions and desires, disliking the Son of Heaven's court, preferring the ordinary alleys, treading on ten feet of soft red and experiencing all facets of life. She believed that nothing was better than green mountains and clear waters. "If you promise me a lifetime, I will accompany you for an eternity."

Schemes Of A Flower

Upon hearing this, Yun Chi looked toward the old duke with a gaze that held a trace of inquiry, eager to hear the old duke's opinion.


Since he mentioned the King of Anyang's mansion and the An Clan, it was obvious that he had something to say.


The old duke sighed and then continued, "Descendants of the Royal Clan are mostly raised loosely, and although they don't meddle in politics, for many years, they have been living off the Imperial Court's provisions, consuming without contributing. Generation after generation has passed, four hundred years have elapsed, and their offspring are not few in number. A couple of days ago, I had someone calculate this, and now one-tenth of the state treasury is being used to maintain the Royal Clan."


Yun Chi nodded, "What uncle says is very true, one-tenth is probably an underestimate."


Chapter 22 (First Update)_1