Her father is the Duke of Ming who holds a large number of troops, her aunt is the current empress, and her cousin has been made the crown prince. Among all the ladies in Kyoto, there is hardly anyone with a better birth than Ye Shuran.
Born into such a noble family, Ye Shuran received the best etiquette instruction since childhood, and was clothed in fine clothes and fed with delicious food, and was raised like a delicate flower.
Needless to say, his manners and demeanor are outstanding, and his appearance is also extremely outstanding.
Everyone thought that this beautiful girl from the Ye family would be given to the prince as his princess, but they didn't expect that the queen didn't have that intention.
Therefore, just when she came of age, the threshold of the Duke of Ming's mansion was almost trampled down.
A noble and scholarly family like the Qi family had personally visited the palace many times to show their goodwill, and even royal relatives had come to inquire about the emperor's affairs.
But Ye Shuran didn't like anyone, she was thinking about someone in her heart.
Ever since returning to the capital from Zasak, Crown Prince Bilge has been sending letters and gifts to Kyoto frequently.
At first, I didn't have any other thoughts, but as I grew older, I gradually developed some feelings for her.
She said in the letter that she was learning archery. A month and a half later, she received arrows made of white eagle feathers and a specially made bow from Bilge.
It is lighter and smaller than ordinary bows and arrows, and is just right for girls to hold in their hands.
She complained that Bilge's Chinese characters were not good-looking.
When I received the letter again a month later, I found that the handwriting was much neater.
But... the handwriting is beautiful, like that of a woman, and it looks somewhat familiar.
When she compared her own handwriting with hers, she discovered that Bilge had practiced writing according to her handwriting.
For a moment, Ye Shuran couldn't stop laughing.
Thinking of the bold and unrestrained man riding a horse and whipping it, sitting at the table and copying the girl's calligraphy with a pen, she laughed for several days.
Finally, he ordered someone to buy a few calligraphy books suitable for men to practice and send them over.
Bilge blushed when he received the calligraphy.
Well, he didn’t think too much about it. He just thought Ye Shuran’s handwriting was beautiful, so he learned it, and ended up making this joke.
Seeing that his son was waiting for a letter from Kyoto all day, Ao Qi waved his hand and ordered his son to report to the capital on his behalf at the end of the year, and also to meet the girl from the Ye family.
Bilge is the crown prince and will inherit the throne in the future, so it is reasonable for him to go.
So when the first snow of December came, a young man dressed in wolf fur and riding a Ferghana horse appeared at the gate of the Duke of Ming's mansion.
Ye Shuran was reading a book in the yard. When she heard the maid come to report, she was surprised, tied her cloak on, and quickly walked out of the courtyard.
Red gate, white snow, red horse, black clothes.
The young man had starry eyes and sword-like brows, his jet-black hair was braided and tied with a silver hoop, he had a small gold ring in his left ear, and his wheat-colored skin gave off an exotic feel. At this moment, when he saw people, he smiled brightly, as warm as the summer sun.
It had been three years since they last met. Ye Shuran had imagined the appearance of the young man on the other end of the letter in her mind more than once. Now that she saw him in person, she felt as if he had come out of her imagination.
The same is true for Bilge.
The changes in three years are so great that the girl has grown into a graceful and delicate girl, as beautiful as a peony.
She was wearing a loose rabbit fur cloak, and her skin was white and tender. She held a silver hand warmer in her hand, and the tip of her nose was red from the cold wind, like a peach blossom.
"Miss Ye, I hope you are well. I am here to report to the king on behalf of my father. I have prepared a small gift and come to visit you."
Bilge dismounted from his horse and bowed politely.
"Your Highness, you are so polite. You didn't even tell me in advance. I didn't prepare anything. I'm really sorry. Please come in and take a seat." Ye Shuran bowed slightly.
Even though we had been corresponding for many years, I still felt a little uncomfortable when we met suddenly.
"I am sorry for being rude. I just entered the palace to report on my work today. I should have submitted the invitation first and come back tomorrow. However, I want to see the girl and don't want to be half a day late." Bilge said directly.
The men on the grassland never hide their love.
His frankness made Ye Shuran blush. She quickly welcomed the man into the house, fearing that he would say something shocking at the door.
At this moment, when Chu heard that the Zasak Prince was coming to visit, she had already prepared tea and snacks and was waiting for him in the flower hall.
When the two men came in, the granddaughter's face turned slightly red. The bright young man's eyes were always on his granddaughter, and he knew what was going on.
"Please take a seat, Prince. Seeing is believing. I've often heard Shu Ran mention him. He is indeed a handsome man." Mrs. Chu entertained him with a smile.
After paying his respects, Bilge sat down gracefully, "Grandma Ye, you are too kind. I see that you look rosy and healthy, and you must be a blessed person."
Chu smiled and waved her hands, "It's just that I don't worry about it on weekdays, so I'm lazy. But why did the prince come to the capital?"
It would have been fine if I hadn't asked this question, but once I did, I got a surprising answer.
Bilge looked at the girl beside him, bowed and smiled.
"I have two things to do when I come to Beijing. One is to report on my father's work, and the other is to ask for Miss Ye's hand in marriage."
"puff-"
“Ahem…”
Frightened, Ye Shuran spat out a mouthful of tea, and Chu was also choked by the tea and started coughing violently.
"Grandma, please be careful." Ye Shuran quickly stood up and went to help Chu calm down.
Mrs. Chu shook her head gently, indicating to her granddaughter that she was fine.
He wiped the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief, put the teacup aside, and looked embarrassed.
"Don't joke, my prince. Marriage is a serious matter that requires the consent of the parents and the matchmaker. It is not a joke."
At this time, Bilge also realized that he was too abrupt, and quickly stood up and bowed.
"Grandmother Ye, please forgive me for being rude, but I really want to marry Miss Ye. It's just that I can only stay in Beijing for half a month, so time is tight, so I'm speaking my mind."
After he finished speaking, he ordered his followers to bring a wooden box.
When he opened it, he saw a marriage proposal and a pure jade bracelet inside.
"Please take a look. This engagement letter was written by my father. The bracelet is an heirloom from my mother's family. It is a gift to Miss Ye. I am sincere and not speaking nonsense."
Seeing that his eyes were determined and he didn't seem to be acting, Chu's guard was reduced a little.
But no matter what, Bilge's behavior was too sudden, and it was impossible to agree to it so easily.
The eldest daughter of the Ye family will never have trouble finding a husband, and she can choose any good man in Kyoto.
Ye Shuran had the same idea.
Although I have been corresponding with this person for many years and my feelings towards him are different, if I want to get married, I still have to consider it carefully, after all, it is a lifelong matter.
After coming out of Ye Mansion, there was a hint of loss in Bilge's eyes, but he still looked bright.
He also made an agreement with Ye Shuran that during the next half month in Beijing, Ye Shuran would take him around and have some fun.
Ye Shuran readily agreed.
If nothing else, after knowing each other through correspondence for so many years, the two of them can at least be considered friends.
So in the next half month, the two of them traveled all over Kyoto.
Although she grew up in Kyoto, she rarely went out as a lady from a wealthy family and had never enjoyed herself like this.
The two of them cooked wine, tasted tea, admired plum blossoms, went boating on the lake, and watched plays together.
At first, she was supposed to play the role of a good host and take Bilge out for a tour, but gradually it turned into Bilge accompanying her to all the places she wanted to go.
For example, he disguised himself as a man and entered a casino, went horse racing in the suburbs of Beijing, and even took a flower boat to watch the dancers at the Linjiang Music Hall.
From the initial reservedness to the later parting with reluctance and looking forward to the next day's itinerary.
Ye Shuran gradually discovered that Bilge was more humorous, more cheerful, and very careful than he showed in his letters.
He could capture her thoughts very keenly, for example, he would order people to buy her the water chestnut cakes and candied haws that she had taken a closer look at, or the clay dolls and masks from the roadside stalls, or he would accurately win a pair of fat rabbits for her in the ring-tossing game.
Although there were other young men who showed their courtesy to her, none of them could be so attentive and notice every look in her eyes.
Moreover, Bilge's sincerity was revealed in every place, and it didn't seem like a show at all.
He could even remember what Ye Shuran mentioned in her letter last year, that the braised beef in soy sauce at Hongkeju was the best, and he specially ordered this dish during the meal.
If he wasn't sincere, then his thoughts were too deep and his net was too wide.
Unfortunately, Bilge could not stay in Beijing for too long. He went back after staying in Beijing for less than half a month.
Before leaving, he took the marriage certificate with him, but left the jade bracelet to Ye Shuran.
"Just say the word, and I will travel day and night from the grassland to marry you." Bilge was as firm as before.
Ye Shuran still didn't agree to him in the end. Such an important matter had to be informed to her parents first.
Ye Zhe and the Yin couple came back later this year, arriving in Kyoto a few days before New Year's Eve.
First he went to the palace to report on his work and meet Ye Yun, and only then did he have time to listen to what was going on at home.
Chu told them everything about Bilge's visit, and both of them frowned.
Firstly, she didn't know this person well, and secondly, marrying to the grassland would definitely not be as comfortable as life in Kyoto.
Not to mention whether or not I can get used to the food, the living conditions alone are not as good as those in Kyoto.
The palaces of several Zasak princes are called palaces, but in fact they are just prosperous and densely populated tent camps.
In the evening, Yin went to sit in her daughter's room and told her and her husband what was on her mind.
"If that prince is really good and you really like him, your father and I will agree, but you have to think carefully. Marrying to Zasak will not be as good as living in the capital."
Ye Shuran nodded, "I understand what you mean, Dad and Mom. I do have a good impression of him, but it takes time to see a person's true character. I have only been with him for half a month, so I am not in a hurry."
I like him, but I'm not determined to marry him.
Seeing her daughter's rationality, Yin heaved a sigh of relief and continued.
"What your father and I mean is that you have just turned sixteen, and there is no need to get married so early. If you really can't find someone you like more, then he is good. Your father and I are in Lingzhou, not far from Zasak, and we can always take care of you."
Ye Shuran nodded.
In fact, she had something even more troubling. If she married far away, her grandmother would be left alone in Kyoto. Although her younger brother would be sent back to be raised next year, she still couldn't bear to let him go.
My grandmother is old, and it’s not easy to see her again after we’ve been apart for so long.
So this first proposal of marriage was put on hold for the time being.
In the following days, the two of them exchanged letters as usual, and Ye Shuran also made her concerns clear.
She didn't want to delay others.
But Bilge's reply was much slower and contained fewer words.
She felt disappointed and thought that the other party no longer had that intention, so after thinking it over again and again, she ordered someone to send the jade bracelet back.
What she didn't know was that at this time, Bilge was experiencing a fight for the throne.
Although he was made the crown prince at an early age, his brothers had grown up and had their own thoughts. Bilgena, his younger brother who was two years younger than him, was quite struggling and entangled.
They all want to be the crown prince, but there can only be one crown prince, and brothers can never bring themselves to do it.
During the days of stalemate, Bilge was upset every day.
It was also at this time, when he received the bracelet from Kyoto, that he realized that he might have another way to go.
So in May of the following year.
Bilge appeared again at the door of the Mingguo Mansion.
But this time he did not plan to leave. He gave up the position of crown prince to his younger brother, and he wanted to go to Beijing to be an official and stay here.
This way, the brotherhood is preserved and Ye Shuran is relieved of her worries.
Bilge's actions were completely unexpected.
At first, Ye Shuran was very resistant. She felt guilty towards Bilge. After all, giving up the title was too great a sacrifice.
But Bilge remained as resolute as before.
Because he knew that he missed this girl, and he would regret it for the rest of his life if his brothers and sisters killed each other to inherit the title.
This is how life is. There are gains and losses. It all depends on personal choice.
Bilge chose to withdraw from the fight for the title and came to Kyoto to marry his beloved.
Seeing such sincerity, Ye Shuran finally gave herself up without any worries.
Maybe at the beginning of the relationship, the other party gave more, but there will be a longer period of time for her to do something for him.
In November of that year, the eldest daughter of Duke Ming married the eldest son of Prince Aoqi.
Ye Shuran was given the title of Princess Jinghua, and she married Bilge, a man of only the fourth rank, in front of the surprised gazes of all the nobles in Kyoto.
Naturally, there are people who make sarcastic remarks behind the scenes.
But the two were so sweet and happy after their marriage, and Bilge worked hard for the sake of his beloved's progress, that he gradually shut up these people.
Many years later, Bilge, who was less than 30 years old, became the youngest first-rank Zhaoding general in Nanqi, and treated Ye Shuran like a girl in the boudoir.
No one in the capital anymore implied that the eldest daughter of the Ye family was foolish enough to marry a man with nothing. They only saw that General Zhaoding was young and promising, and that the couple had a deep love for each other.
From the persistence in their youth to their companionship today, from the letters sent from afar to the marriage certificate held by the two.
If there is true love, there is no fear of crossing thousands of miles.