Valiant Princess

One: The awakening

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General Bing Xiaji

(Zhang Bin Bin)

As soon after Crown Princess Long Fenghuang has woke up from her month-long coma, Emperor Long Feng has made an edict that every single one of the royalties including the nobles must compulsorily attend a banquet especially made for his oldest imperial daughter, Crown Princess Long Fenghuang. At first, it was to be held a week after she has woken up but then it has been postponed for more than seven weeks.

Most of them are appalled by the imperial invitation as they are sure that the bratty princess will for sure, without a doubt, make a scene like she always did just like in the past. Many of them did not believe when they heard the rumours that she has changed since the "accidental" fall that nearly cost her life three months earlier. Many also knew that the Emperor will also announce the impending engagement between the Crown Princess and Bing Xiaji, General Bing Xiaji to be exact.

Over the last few years, it is widely known that his military control has increased rapidly and ultimately strengthened amongst those who are against the present imperial family members and this has caused the Longs to be quite cautious towards the young yet influential General. Some knew that the cold-hearted General hated the Crown Princess while she is obviously and foolishly in love with him. Everyone is highly interested in what will happen during the banquet itself. No one can resist the joy of being a spectator of an epic drama that is about to be unfolded soon. This, they must see with their own eyes they thought to themselves.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Xuehua Palace, someone is sitting while her hand is holding on to a beautiful hand-carved mother-of-pearl hand fan, as she keeps on fanning herself in a slow, calm, and steady motion while staring at the pond in front of her. She seems to be thinking about something as she lays on the cushioned carved, white-coloured marble bench with her other dainty and fair hand supported her head, but she just stays silent for more than an hour now. Those who are watching her at this very moment can only say that it is indeed a monumental moment where, for once, the Crown Princess look so ethereally beautiful as if she is a reincarnated goddess. That exquisite looking face of hers can definitely destroy an entire kingdom but, due to her tendency to act like a ‘loose cannon’, her beauty has gone down the drain.

The maidservants accompanying her used to be terrified with her somewhat crazy antics but, these days, the Crown Princess is acting differently. They are happy with these new changes but a bit scared as well as they thought that this might be a storm-a-brewing within the imperial palace unlike any other before. Yes, she is still as aloof as before, but her aloofness is no longer caused by her violent temper like in the past, it is more like, she does not even care what's what now. She let the maidservants do their job. She let the imperial guards do their job as well. Not even once causing any trouble as she usually had done before. Her face is almost expressionless these days. She rarely speaks as well. Nanny Lei is quite worried as the Crown Princess has been shutting the main gate of her palace for almost two months now and refused to accept any visitation including that from General Bing Xiaji. No one can enter including her family members but that has not been able to stop the Empress herself from visiting the Crown Princess daily without any prior notice whatsoever (more like she barges in forcefully into Xuehua Palace). The Crown Princess is helpless against her imperial mother, so she just let it be and continues just to sit in silence whenever her imperial mother was there for a visit.

This is odd, her servants thought to themselves as they are doing what they are supposed to be doing. All of them thought that after she has woken up, she will indeed storms out to Yueliang1 Palace to cause a scene there. Second Princess Long Hua and her consort mother, Imperial Noble Consort Mei, have been sent away out of the imperial palace for the time being as the Emperor fears what the Crown Princess will do once she has woken up.

But there she is, lying quietly on the cushioned marble bench in complete silence while she stares at the pond before her. She read books most of the times. Sometimes, she was found to be sleeping underneath her favourite peach blossoms tree. Other times, she confined herself within her secret chamber. She does everything in a calm and peaceful manner these days. She no longer acts despotically towards others. She is, truthfully, a sweet young girl in nature but the General brings out the worse in her and, over time, that is how she had acted towards everyone else. Her people cannot help but feel rather proud of their newly upgraded version of their mistress. They have no doubt that she will show every critic that she is not someone to be laughed or jeered at.

"Open the main gate..."

A soft yet clear voice can be heard from the waiting hall, as the maidservants are daydreaming, Crown Princess Long Fenghuang is already sitting on her hand-carved fragrantly smelling rosewood chair. Everyone immediately stops what they are doing at that very moment. The Crown Princess has spoken and given her first instruction after she has woken up from her coma. Nanny Lei2 suddenly runs into the inner chamber and wails after she heard what has just been said by the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess smiles upon hearing her beloved nanny is crying uncontrollably and loudly for all the ears to hear as she gently shakes her head.

"Xiao Yu3, tell the watch guards to open the main gate."

Xiao Yu immediately bow down before he runs to the location where the watch guards are guarding the main gate. He is slightly shocked as well because the Crown Princess will usually shout, scream, or even kick him if he is slow in doing what she had instructed him to do.

Chengshi4, Congming5, Lianhua6 and Huli7 are even more shocked as their mistress speaks clearly with a very elegant yet in a very distant tone. Gone were the childish tone in her voice. Something had changed and the Crown Princess herself has changed as well but what exactly had changed her, they do not know.

The Crown Princess is quite distant and cold lately but despite acting cold, she has been treating them rather well and oddly, she even treated them with respect. Never even once did she lash at them like she usually did. She speaks to them all without any a hint of disrespectful tone like she always did. Her personality is colder and distant, but she is somewhat much kinder lately. She even apologized at one time when she has accidentally broken the teacup.

They are happy with these changes, but they are worried as well. Though the Crown Princess wears an expressionless face lately, her eyes look so sad. Sometimes, she stood towards the direction of the main palace for hours before going back inside her sleeping chamber and cried on her own. Everyone feels like the princess is keeping something inside her heart, but no one knows what.

Gradually over the past weeks, they can see how the Crown Princess is acting more and more mature.

They are sad because, years ago, she is a very sweet-natured young girl though spoil by nature. Always laughing and treating others kindly as well. Yes, for being spoiled by others, she can be quite domineering then but rather in an adorable way.

That had changed when she met that diabolical man three long insufferable years ago. The ones working in Xuehua Palace had a taboo, and that taboo is that the damnable General Bing Xiaji. He is the cause of the downfall of Crown Princess Long Fenghuang. She has changed for the worst since she had fallen head over heels in love with that incorrigible man. If he treated her with considerable respect, she might not have been acting like a devil she has been ever since she has met him. But not only he avoided her like she is a deadly plague. He even treated her with an obvious disdain every time he sees her. He treated other girls with the utmost respect and treats them kindly but all that did not apply when it comes to the Crown Princess, the one he is said to be married with once she reaches her sixteen birthday.

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1. ** Moon

2. * Thunder

3. ** Small fish

4. ** Honest

5. ** Clever

6. ** Lotus flower

7. ** Fox