Chapter 114: A True Man

On that day, Wu Yueling visited Gao Lishi and learned that her foster parents were enjoying the hot springs at the Huaqing Palace on Mount Li.

Under the bright moon and clear breeze, amidst the twinkling stars, the Huaqing Palace was filled with chilled drinks and iced wine. Because the use of saltpeter had made ice readily available, Litchi from Lingnan could be transported to Chang’an as fresh as the moment they were picked. For this reason, her foster mother, Yang Yuhuan, held the Princess Protector in high regard. Seeing his beloved concubine so happy, Li Longji was naturally full of praise for his foster daughter; this was also the reason he had not immediately agreed to Li Linfu’s request to marry her off.

Now, by offering litchi-flavored toothpaste, she had earned her foster mother’s endless delight. Li Longji had also largely guessed the reason for his foster daughter’s visit. Previously, he had only allowed Li Linfu to send a matchmaker to test the waters, not knowing if this notoriously headstrong foster daughter actually wished to marry.

Wu Yueling poured wine for her foster father, kneading his shoulders and rubbing his back, fawning over him with every opportunity.

"Hahahaha! Enough, enough!"

Seeing his foster daughter acting so obsequiously, Li Longji knew she wanted something. Moreover, the pear-infused spirits were incredibly sweet—a flavor he had never tasted before—so he felt she was quite thoughtful.

Wu Yueling stopped, sat down across from her foster father, and sensing the time was right, said, "I have come here today because there is something I wish to discuss!"

Having drunk too much, Li Longji’s plump face was flushed with a drunken glow. He nodded, peeling some roasted watermelon seeds, and asked, "Is it about the matter of marriage?"

She nodded without hesitation. It was indeed that. She had no intention of marrying yet; if she could convince her foster parents, she would effectively get her way. After all, in this ancient era, a woman’s marriage was not her own choice but depended on the whims of her parents. Thinking of this, it seemed not much different from the modern world. Wu Yueling continued to pour wine for her foster father.

"Then, my dear daughter, what kind of man do you wish to marry? Your foster father shall decide for you!" Li Longji raised his chilled wine cup. The early autumn wind in Chang’an was quite scorching, and only the cold wine in the cup could dispel some of the heat.

"To be frank with my foster father, as for the man I wish to marry, my first condition is that he must be of Han descent!"

She finished peeling the watermelon seeds, placed them in her foster father’s dish, and then poured a cup of wine for her foster mother, who had moved closer.

"Does Yueling not want to marry? You are at the age where you should be wed, and that Wang Lizhi seems like a decent choice!" Yang Yuhuan leaned against her husband, smiling sweetly as she sipped her wine.

"I do not like that fellow. Not to mention he insulted me with crude poetry earlier, he has no merit or achievement to speak of—how could he possibly marry me! Furthermore, if anyone is to join the household, they should be the one to marry into the Princess’s estate; how could I be taken away by another?" Wu Yueling spoke with feigned seriousness, continuing to pour wine for her foster parents.

"Oh? Then what kind of man should my princess marry?" Li Longji was intrigued. In his semi-drunken state, he found her words quite reasonable; how could the dignified Princess Protector be married off to just anyone?

Seeing that her foster father was somewhat tipsy, Wu Yueling cleared her throat and raised her voice, "My husband, beyond being of Han blood, must be a true man of honor—one who carries a three-foot blade, achieves peerless merit, and rides a steed of a thousand li, bringing the glory of the Great Tang to welcome me!"

Hearing this, Li Longji laughed heartily, the flush on his plump face deepening. "Worthy of being my foster daughter! Well said, well said! Someone, bring the imperial edict!"

Not long after, Li Longji drafted an edict announcing the search for a husband for the Princess to all under heaven. Unable to hold his liquor, he collapsed in front of the table and was carried to the dragon bed by eunuchs to rest.

The moonlight was soft, and starlight filled the air. The palace lights burned brightly. Wu Yueling had managed to dodge the marriage issue for now, though it was only a temporary fix. If such a person were to truly appear in the long run, she would have no excuse.

She sat across from her foster mother. Due to the pear-infused liquor, her foster mother’s expression was quite unnatural—she was indeed drunk. They say one cup of wine can wash away a thousand sorrows, but her foster mother appeared lonely and helpless. Was this the true self behind the glamour and prosperity? Wu Yueling pondered. Perhaps this was the real foster mother.

"Yueling, why do you keep staring at my face? Is my makeup ruined?" Yang Yuhuan’s eyes cleared, no longer dull or vacant. She curled her red lips into a smile, her profile looking somewhat dim under the pale yellow lamplight.

"You child, you are still wearing no makeup. Do you really dislike using rouge and powder so much?" She reached out to stroke her foster daughter’s face, sighing with pity.

Facing her foster mother’s loving gaze, Wu Yueling felt a slight tug at her heart. She did not respond, instead continuing to pour wine, but her foster mother stopped drinking and took her hand instead.

"Come, follow me to the hot springs. If you don't mind, why not call me Mother?" Yang Yuhuan led Wu Yueling to the edge of the pool, then ordered the nearby palace maids to bring over a folding screen.

Wu Yueling stammered, but eventually called her "Mother," causing Yang Yuhuan to laugh until she shook. Wu Yueling laughed sheepishly as well, only to be taken aback when her foster mother began to undress her.

"Yueling, come, bathe with Mother!"

After removing her foster daughter’s outer robes, Yang Y