The Fourth Prince

The fragrant sweet red bean paste melted on her tongue. The familiar taste made her grin widely.

"Ayia, Qingxiao, gluttony is a sin. When will you understand?" Jiao Hua scolded. However, her voice couldn't mask her indulgence.

After having difficulty conceiving for five years, heavens finally blessed her with this daughter. How could she bear to not let her even have her favourite dish?

"Don't sneak away again. Your grandma is waiting for you in the hall. Go greet her." She urged her.

Jiao Qingxiao, nodded seemingly obediently. Picking the bowl of freshly prepared red bean paste, she ran as fast as she could, not paying attention to her mother's shout behind her. 

The maids all stifled a giggle. It was a comical sight to look at the young lady dressed in a prim and proper ruqun struggling to run. She held the skirt up with one hand while balancing the bowl on another. 

Stopping near the main garden, Jiao Qingxiao sighed. The constant torture of palace, made her forget when she was happy for the last time. Had she not entered the palace as the crown prince's concubine, she would have never realised how precious these seemingly mundane moments in her residence were. 

With the wooden spoon, she slowly savoured the taste of the dish she missed so badly, before walking towards the hall where the old lady was resting.

From behind the embroidered screen, she looked at the old lady. Unlike the last time she had seen her, kneeling on the ground in front of the emperor, with her frail body barely able to breathe, she looked much more energetic now, as she patted a small ginger kitten on her lap. 

Xiao Cui. She remembered this small creature very well. Initially albeit not liking her much, eventually after coaxing her enough with fish, she used to follow behind her like a faithful guard. The old lady generously gave Xiao Cui to her as a companion. 

The crown prince refused to let her bring Xiao Cui to the palace. Once, the Jiao Residence was abandoned by the prince, and her father was removed from the position of the minister of finance, Xiao Cui was no longer seen.

She felt happy seeing her again. This time she would protect Xiao Cui well.

"Grandma, Jiao Qingxiao greets you." She knelt on the ground properly, greeting the old lady.

Jiao Yilin, looked at her youngest granddaughter. Among all the children in the residence she was the hardest to discipline. It would be much more believable to spot a flying turtle than for her to kneel and greet her on her own accord.

Pursing her lips, she gestured at her to stand.

"Come here."

Curiously Qingxiao trotted forward. In her last life, she disliked her grandma the most for vehemently being against the wedding between her and the crown prince. She was unfilial and didn't even come to see her once when she fainted from anger.

Yet, just to ensure her happiness in the palace, she emptied her dowry and abandoned her morals to help cover for the crown prince's crimes. She would make sure to be the most filial granddaughter ever.

The old lady took out a small green zade bracelet from her embroidered sachet.

"I went to the Buddhist temple on Qing Qi hill and prayed for you to turn over a new leaf. Looks like that indeed was a good thing. The monk there gave this bracelet as a blessing. Don't take it off."

Qingxiao wore the bracelet. The cooling texture was familiar. Almost immediately she could feel as if her mind was being soothed. Back then she was forced to pawn it off to bribe a palace maid to be able to see her cousin. Her health started worsening rapidly afterwards. 

"Qingxiao thanks grandma." She bowed gratefully.

The old lady was satisfied. Finally her strictness paid off. Hopefully this child can change her mischievous ways and become more ladylike. 

"Join your cousins to the moon festival. Don't stray away on your own. Come back before Hàishí."

Qingxioa nodded before leaving.

In her last life, the moon festival was when she came across the fourth prince. Straying away from her cousins, she wandered off on her own. Not even taking Jiao Mei with her. The river was frozen at that time. In that isolated place, for some reason, she wanted to walk on ice. 

Taking her embroidered shoes off, she happily ran on the ice, not noticing the slight creaks on the thin layer of ice. About to run back the pressure of her footsteps caused the layer to break down completely. 

Submerged in the cold water, she shouted for help. She was too tired after crying out for so long. Her voice was sore and she could barely hold on. Before fainting, she could feel a warm embrace wrapping her with a robe and carrying her up.

When she opened her eyes, she was lying on the grass near the riverbank. Not too far away she spotted the impressive figure. The fourth prince. His extravagant golden robe could be recognised under the moonlight. No matter how adventurous and fearless she had been, in front of a royal prince, she still felt fear.

With his sharp eyes, he looked at her with kindness. 

"You owe me." He said, pointing at the shelter nearby and leaving her with a fresh set of dress resembling hers.

Changing into the new set, she left to look for her cousins. That day, she clearly took note of his face. Engraving in her heart so deep, that till date she didn't forget his face. Except the feeling of gratitude was now replaced with a burning hatred.

'Tang Fenghua, anyone but you can ascend the throne.'

In the evening,

She admired her face in the mirror. Painting a rising phoenix wing on the corner of both eyes. Next year this would be the most popular makeup for women. The emperor's most beloved concubine Li first started wearing it. Influencing all the noble and commoner ladies alike.