A Woman From a Powerful Family

The ice orchid tree on Mount Qingnan had existed for several millennia. It was exuberant and its massive foliage left a shadow beneath it.

The ice orchid tree's roots extended downwards from above the ground reaching two meters in height. A young woman was lying on the roots with her eyes closed in a deep sleep. Her long dark hair was scattered behind her and it was fluttering in the wind. The faint scent of the ice orchid wafted in the air.

"A crescent moon hangs in the heavens over Qinglong Palace, clouds gather and move on Mount Qingnan, a true gentleman is born in Prince Qing's residence…"

Someone could be heard singing a folk song. The young girl frowned, feeling annoyed at the sound.

"Miss, what are you doing sleeping at the foot of the tree again? You might catch a cold from staying outside."

A young maid with her hair styled in a double bun hurriedly ran over. She raised her head and looked at the young girl lying on the roots of the ice orchid tree half asleep. She could not help feeling awed by the size of the ice orchid tree. It was undoubtedly tall and massive. Just the roots rising from the earth alone were taller than her.

The young girl slowly opened her beautiful eyes. She raised her hand to shade her eyes from the sun. The light gauze shawl that was wrapped around her arms fluttered gently with her movement.

"Wan Yun, what is with the shouting? I barely slept." The young girl gradually sat up. The huge roots made her look particularly petite.

The folk song could be heard yet again and the young girl sighed. "Is there anyone around here who doesn't know that folk song?"

"Miss, everyone throughout the whole of the Shengyu Empire knows how to sing it." Wan Yun told the young girl.

"Is that so?" the young girl acknowledged what Wan Yun said. She looked into the distance and muttered, "It's already evening time!"

The clouds looked light, soft, and wispy with the beautiful sun setting in the background. The orange and red light from the sun made the sky look splendid.

"Miss, someone from the capital is here." Wan Yun raised her head and looked at the young girl sitting under the ice orchid tree, who clearly had no intention of leaving.

"Who is it this time?" asked the young girl disinterestedly.

"The emperor has sent Steward Si with a royal decree. You are already 15 this year, so you will reach the marriageable age next year. He wants you to be in the capital by the end of the month to start preparing for the wedding," said Wan Yun.

"I see. I nearly forgot that I am the crown princess." The young woman frowned.

"Also, the crown prince has a letter for you." Wan Yun stood on tiptoes and handed the young girl a letter.

"Is he here too?" The young girl pursed her lips as she looked at the familiar handwriting on the envelope which read "To: Yunge". She knew the letter would be short. Ever since they were kids, this guy was never much of a talker.

Wan Yun shook her head. "Steward Si simply said that the crown prince has a letter for you."

The young girl opened the seal and opened the letter. Sure enough, it was a short letter containing only one sentence: "Yunge, wait for me to get you". His signature "Xuan" could be seen at the bottom of the letter.

Nangong Xuan was the crown prince of the Shengyu Empire. He had kissed her on her head when she was a month old. In the past 15 years, he had spent a lot of time with her and no matter what she did, it was impossible to shake him off. It was simply annoying.

Zhan Yunge sighed deeply. She really wanted to just idle away on Mount Qingnan.

Zhan Yunge tossed the letter aside casually. Wan Yun already saw this coming. Each time the crown prince sent Zhan Yunge letters, she would toss them aside after she read them. Even the height and angle of the throw were the same, so Wan Yun was able to catch the tossed letters with great accuracy. Wan Yun placed the letter back inside the envelope and held onto it so that she could put it away later.

Zhan Yunge lay back down. Wan Yun was afraid that Zhan Yunge would go back to sleep, so she suggested to her. "Miss, why don't you sleep in your room? It will soon get very cold since it is getting dark."

"Keep it down. I want to remember the smell of the ice orchid while it lasts. In the future, I won't be able to smell it anymore."

Wan Yun was speechless. "Miss, if you want to smell it, why did you not go up the tree? How can you smell its fragrance at the roots?"

"Of course, I can still smell it from here. The ice orchid tree smells nice even at the roots." Zhan Yunge pouted and refused to leave.

Wan Yun certainly could not smell any fragrance at the roots. Then again, Zhan Yunge was the only person on Mount Qingnan who could stay in such proximity to the ice orchid tree… She decided to change the subject.

"Miss, Old Madam has already started preparing the things you need for the capital."

"Sigh. I wonder if everyone is secretly happy that the irritating girl will finally be gone." Zhan Yunge glanced at Wan Yun as Wan Yun kept nagging her.