Return of the Swallow

Li Helan might not have been born a princess, but her family had always treated her as a treasure and doted on her immensely.

Especially once Li Qitian had conquered the world and had the economic support of all the main Northern Ji aristocracy, as well as the wealth he’d plundered from war, life for Li Helan hadn’t been far from a princess at all.

Since young, she’d received everything she wanted.
Not to mention that from her point of view, Pang Xiao was hers to begin with!

Her parents and brother had said a million times that she would marry Pang Xiao when she grew up.
Li Helan had long since nurtured an admiration for Pang Xiao.
She liked his arrogant dominance and relished his acumen in both strategy and valor.

Now that she was sixteen years old, she’d been waiting eight years to marry Pang Xiao.

Starting from her first glimpse of Pang Xiao at age eight, she’d treated as gospel her mother’s compliments of the prince and notion of promising her to him.
Since then, marrying Pang Xiao had become the cherished dream of half a lifetime.

Why had a reality set in stone suddenly changed?

Why had her doting brother stopped backing her up once he owned the world and wielded utmost authority?

He was even suddenly telling her that Pang Xiao loved another.
Then what of her many years of hopes and yearning?

Fat teardrops trickled down Li Helan’s delicate face, collecting on her chin and wetting a patch of her clothing.
Her bright pink cotton jacket was dyed a deep burgundy.

Li Qitian looked at his little sister, who seemed like she’d been struck by lightning.
He rose with a sigh and slowly walked up to her, helping her up with both hands.

“Don’t cry, Helan.
We only have this singular little sister, We would never harm you.
Although Ji Lan is detached, he’s a true gentleman.
He’s not any worse than Pang Zhixi.
You’ll have a good life with him.
Besides, I’ll be here.
He won’t dare treat you poorly.
Just prepare for your wedding with peace of mind, mm?”

Li Helan sniffled and raised teary eyes to look at Li Qitian.

“Royal brother, Lan’er doesn’t want to marry Ji Lan.
Can Lan’er not marry him?”

The emperor’s expression darkened with impatience.
With a frowned, he rebuked, “Helan, you must be a good girl.
You’re not a country bumpkin, you should know the rules and manners.
Women need to follow the three obediences and four virtues.
[1] Do you intend on disobeying me?”

Though Li Qitian hadn’t lost his temper, someone as smart as Li Helan understood his meaning very well.

This marriage had been finalized.

Whether it was out of obedience to her brother or the Son of Heaven, she had to marry Ji Lan.
There was no way out of it.

Wait, no, perhaps there was still something to be done.

What if Pang Zhixi was willing to marry her? If he brought up the subject with her royal brother, things may take a turn yet.

When her thoughts travelled her, Helan wisely argued no further with Li Qitian.

She knew her brother very well and understood that he was no longer the same brother of yesteryear.
As the ruler of the nation, his words were precious and sacred.
No one could argue against them.

If she wanted to live on happily, the greatest thing that she had to rely on was her brother’s love and protection.
Appearing to agree with him for now would earn his pity.
If she kept being stubborn, that would only make him lose patience.

Li Helan wiped at her eyes and smiled faintly at Li Qitian.
She responded hoarsely, “Lan’er will listen to her royal brother.”

She was the aggrieved party, but here she was, smiling through her tears and softly declaring that she would listen to him.
This poked at the softest parts of Li Qitian’s heart and increased his pity for his docile, considerate little sister.

He patted her shoulder and comforted her for a long while, bestowing much gold, silver, and precious jewels before sending her back to rest at the Palace of Serene Piety.

Li Helan lived at the Palace of Serenity Piety with the empress dowager.

1.
Three obediences: “obey your father before marriage; obey your husband when married; and obey your sons in widowhood”.
Four virtues: ethics, speech, visage, works.

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