As dawn broke, the gates of Zhaoqing Hall swung open. Two lanterns glowed red, and from time to time, maids and eunuchs led groups of young ladies in and out.
There was a Chinese parasol tree at the palace gate. It had a deep root system and lush branches and leaves. A small shadow flitted behind it.
The junior eunuch in charge shouted, "Everyone, follow me! Soon, the imperial physicians will examine your pulses! They can tell right away if there's anything wrong with your health!"
"Yes," the young ladies replied obediently and followed the eunuch in closely.
The audition system in the Tang Dynasty was not yet fully developed. These young ladies were all daughters of high - ranking court officials. They had to go through several rounds of screening before they could meet Emperor Li Shimin and Crown Prince Li Chengqian.
One very important round was the health check. The future crown princess must not have any chronic diseases.
Li Jingyun poked her little head out from behind the tree. After the group had walked far away, she crept out.
It was just a quarter past five in the morning. Thinking about the audition, she was so excited that she couldn't sleep, so she sneaked out.
From afar, she could see well - dressed young ladies chatting in soft voices.
How beautiful they were!
Their beauty was dazzling!
Her brother had taught her a phrase, something like "A gentle smile showing dimples..." What was the rest?
Never mind. One "xi" was not enough. She needed more!
Just then, another group of young ladies walked by. The junior maid leading them was called away. Before leaving, she instructed them, "Those in front probably haven't finished the examination yet. I have some things to attend to. You rest here first. I'll be back soon."
Li Jingyun immediately shrank back behind the tree, only showing her eyes to watch them.
Her fluffy little head and chubby, fair face were so obvious in the dim light. Almost everyone saw the child hiding behind the tree.
Su Rui had just arrived at the imperial city last night. She was originally a bit nervous and flustered. Looking at this little child who seemed to have come out of nowhere, her eyes were full of fondness.
It seemed that not everything in the imperial city was cold and bound by strict rules. There was still room for a child to play freely.
"This young lady is so pretty. I wonder why you're here? Could it be that you're also here for the audition?" Su Rui called out to Li Jingyun from afar.
Of course, she knew it was impossible. Which family would be crazy enough to send a four - or five - year - old girl for the audition? To give the crown prince a child to raise?
This was probably the child of some high - ranking official, sent to the palace for upbringing.
She just wanted to tease the child.
Li Jingyun didn't want to reply at first. Then she thought of her parents' teachings about being polite, so she reluctantly came out from behind the tree.
She should have hidden better!
She mustn't let them know her identity!
If her father found out that she had sneaked out instead of sleeping well, he would surely be unhappy!
No, she had to find a way to explain it.
Looking up at Su Rui with bright eyes, she asked, "Who are you?"
Su Rui in front of her was wearing a long yellow gown with large sleeves on top and a long green skirt embroidered with bamboo leaves below. A red belt hung around her waist, along with a pearl pendant. Her hair was neatly coiled into a high峨髻, adorned with a pair of gold hairpins in the pattern of moths fluttering towards flowers. Her attire was simple, elegant, and full of grace.
Su Rui was very satisfied with her outfit today. Dressing too extravagantly would not conform to the doctrine of the mean her family had always taught her.
"I'm Su Rui, here for the audition today. It's only five o'clock. Are you going to school? Why do you get up so early?" Su Rui squatted down, her voice extremely gentle, and picked a fallen leaf from Li Jingyun's head.
She didn't even know that she, who considered herself straightforward, could speak so softly.
Just now, when the child was hiding behind the tree, she only thought her eyes were clear and bright. After she came out, Su Rui realized that she was a beauty in the making. Even at such a young age, one could tell that she would be extremely charming in the future. The crimson dress made her look even more charming.
She even thought that if she could have such a cute daughter in the future, her life would be worthwhile.
"I'm not going to school. I don't want to go to school at all. If I go to school, I won't be able to play freely like this anymore."
Su Rui had hit the nail on the head. Since Li Jingyun saw Li Yin going to school and was told by Li Shimin several times that she and her sister Li Mingda should study with their elder brothers and sisters, she felt that the sky was falling.
Getting up on time every day to study characters, learn those obscure ancient texts, and memorize them for future exams.
Each of these things made Li Jingyun feel that school was not worth it!
"How can you not study? Zhuge Liang said, 'Without learning, one cannot expand one's talents; without ambition, one cannot achieve learning.'"
Su Rui was getting excited as she talked, even citing a great figure like Zhuge Liang. But Li Jingyun didn't listen at all. She just played with the ants on the tree on her own.
She had inherited her father's biggest trait: stubbornness.
The whole family was as stubborn as donkeys.
Su Rui spent almost half an hour coaxing Li Jingyun. At a quarter past seven, Li Mingda woke up. Remembering what her younger sister had said last night, she walked all the way from the back hall of Taihe Hall to Zhaoqing Hall. Through the gap, she saw her younger sister surrounded by a group of people.
"Hongxuan?" Li Mingda called out to Li Jingyun through the crowd.
Li Jingyun felt a chill down her back when she heard someone calling her. She felt very guilty. She was having so much fun chatting with the others. How could she have been discovered?
Then she saw it was Li Mingda.
It was okay then!
She knew her sister well. Given their relationship, her sister must have also sneaked out to find her.
"Sister, you got up late today!" Li Jingyun deliberately teased Li Mingda.
Li Mingda smiled good - naturedly and didn't want to argue with her sister. "Come back with me quickly. Father will be worried if he can't find you."
"Sister, my dearest sister, I don't want to go back. It's so boring back there."
Li Jingyun hugged Li Mingda's arm and started to act coquettishly. She knew that Li Mingda couldn't resist this.
"Then just one quarter of an hour. That's the most."
"Got it, sister!"
Li Jingyun instantly beamed with joy, as if she was about to fly.
A group of people gathered on the opposite side again. Li Jingyun pulled Li Mingda over to take a look. They heard a woman with a lily - shaped hair bun and a delicate appearance shouting, "Today in the audition, the one from the Boling Cui family is actually the illegitimate eldest daughter of the second branch. The Cui family is really a noble family. They don't even take the audition for the crown princess seriously. They just sent an illegitimate daughter to make up the numbers."
Perhaps due to the huge contrast in her status, someone immediately echoed, "Yes. I heard that her mother died early and was the daughter of a bankrupt merchant."
"If such a person enters the palace, it will really be a laughingstock!"
"That's right. With her mother's background, if she weren't a member of the Cui family, how could she be here to meet His Majesty and Her Majesty?"
Li Jingyun and her sister were completely confused.
Who was the Boling Cui family?
A noble family? How noble and how big was it?
Who was the illegitimate eldest daughter of the Cui family?
Who was her mother?
Was this long string of words a test of the little princess's reaction ability?
"Everyone, we'll be seeing His Majesty and the Empress in less than a cup of tea. How do you still have the leisure to discuss me?"
A woman in a bright red ruqun embroidered with butterfly patterns walked from the long street. Her figure was graceful, her clear eyes were shining, and she was full of energy. Facing the crowd, she didn't show the slightest bit of weakness. Her gaze swept over everyone, and they all lowered their heads.
Only Li Jingyun and Li Mingda, who didn't understand what was going on, looked up at her curiously.