Li Mei learned so much about her own life after she was brought into the Eastern Palace. It was from him—her husband, Crown Prince Lin—that she heard how he had anticipated her arrival, how he'd been waiting for her for five long years. He told her he would never forget the day he first saw her. It was a simple day, and he and his friends were debating who was the most beautiful maiden in the kingdom when her carriage pulled up. She remembered that day; her sisters and she were on a rare outing, and the world seemed so big and so new. He told her that he was shocked to see four young ladies emerge from a single carriage. It was only when her father, General Li, appeared that they realized they were the famed daughters of the Li family.
He later confessed that he thought she was the prettiest of the four. Li Mei must have seemed so timid; she held close to one of her older sisters, her gaze wide with shy curiosity. He asked his friends if they knew her, but they all admitted it was their first time seeing her. He mused that she was "the last daughter of the Li family," and "probably the most sheltered and pampered one, as she's her father's favorite." They quickly bought some candy from a nearby vendor, then hurried back into their carriage and disappeared as swiftly as they had arrived, leaving behind an impression that, to this day, has never quite faded from Prince Lin's mind.
Weeks and days went by, and every time the prince passed by their residence, he would think of her, wishing the Li walls were not so high. He confessed that every time he thought of her, he would wonder why she hadn't left his mind. Until one day, curious to see her again, he devised a plan to gain entry to the Li residence. He claimed he needed her father's mentorship on army policies, given his long and distinguished service. Her father, flattered, readily agreed.
On the day the prince came to their house, he wore his finest clothing, unconsciously wanting to look his best. When he arrived, he nervously looked for her, but there were no glimpses of her. Her father welcomed him and guided him into his study. They talked about policies for about two hours. The prince told her that even though he was bored out of his mind, he endured, hoping his torture would be worth it. Three hours in, there was still no sign of her. Casually, he asked, "Where are the General's children? I haven't seen anyone for the last three hours?" Her father told him that his children and the women in the family were not allowed to come to the study unless instructed by him. The prince then asked to go and greet them, stating it would be impolite to leave without saying hello. They went to the main house, and her mother and the wives of her brothers were there. He asked, "Is everyone from your family here?" to which he received the answer that her six siblings and she had left for the countryside some time ago. He said a sharp, slight pain of disappointment pricked him. He asked, "Do they live in the countryside fully?" curious. And her father told him, "No, they had been sent there for something important, but will be back once it is finished."
What her father didn't tell the prince was the true reason for their absence. They had all left for the countryside because, as each of them, including her, had started their menstrual cycles, they had to undertake the secret Li family ritual for daughters. This ancient and private rite was performed as a vital preparation for their marriages, beginning with the eldest.
Her father, General Li, was a man who saw every decision as a move in a grand chess match. Li Mei always knew he approached the betrothals of his daughters with the same precision he used on the battlefield. Each marriage was not just an alliance but a shield, designed to protect their family and solidify their power.
She remembered her eldest sister, Li Wan, was the first to be betrothed. Knowing her gentle nature would not thrive in a home of conflict, Father carefully arranged her marriage to Chen Wei, the son of the powerful General Chen. While the alliance would bind their two military families, she knew Father was also securing a home for her where she would be safe and honored.
The next to wed was her second sister, Li Jin. Her love of knowledge and quiet grace were well-known throughout the capital. When she chose a top scholar, Gao Min, her father did not object. This marriage would tie their family not to a military force but to the court's intellectual heart, securing their favor and respect among the nation's most learned men. It was a strategic move that diversified their family's influence beyond the barracks.
Finally, her third sister, Li Lan, was to be married. It was a tense and crucial time, with the Kingdom of Huangtu at a fragile peace with the rival Xialan Kingdom. After a long and complicated negotiation, Father presented a bold proposal. He offered her sister's hand to Prince Wang Cheng of Xialan, a marriage that would serve as a living, breathing symbol of the peace treaty. Though his heart ached at sending his daughter to a foreign land, he believed this was the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the safety and prosperity of their people.
His plans for all three of her sisters were now complete, each one a testament to his wisdom and his love. He had prepared the ground for a brilliant future, a world where they were safe and their family's influence was unmatched. All that was left was for her, his last and most cherished daughter, to take her rightful place.
Her father's meticulously crafted plans for his daughters came to a halt when it was her turn to marry. As his youngest and most cherished daughter, he refused to use her as a political pawn. He'd seen the cold, distant relationship between the Crown Prince and his first wife, Lady Anya, and he feared she'd suffer a similar, lonely fate. Instead of approaching the royal family, Father decided to find a suitor himself—a man who would cherish her as she deserved.
News of their family's search spread like wildfire through the capital and eventually reached the Crown Prince. She would learn later that a cold dread—a feeling he couldn't explain—seized him. He told her his mind, clouded by some unspoken trauma, screamed at him: "Do not let this woman go. She is the one you must protect." He said he immediately rushed to the King, his father, demanding he send a marriage proposal at once.
"Why, Father, why hasn't General Li discussed this with you first?" he pleaded, his voice thick with uncharacteristic desperation. "Why are they looking for other suitors?"
The King, seeing the same fatal attraction, chose to test his son. "How many times have you turned away his daughters? He probably thinks you're not worthy of this one."
"No, Father," the Prince insisted. "I was waiting for the last daughter."
The King feigned ignorance, asking him why he'd waited so long. The Prince, without a logical reason, could only confess to an unshakeable feeling. "I saw her once, five years ago. I don't know why, but she's the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She smiled, and it felt like... I don't know, like I'd seen it before. It left such an impression that I swore to myself I would wait for her." He told her he hadn't fallen in love that day; he'd simply recognized his soulmate, and the thought of her had been a beacon in the darkness of his heart ever since.
Li Mei's heart ached when she heard of the King's reaction. He felt he couldn't stop his son's heart, but he could choose how this story would end. He would arrange the marriage, but only because he was confident he could manipulate the game in his favor this time.
The Prince felt a sudden, cold dread when his father promised to speak with hers on his behalf. Though the words were reassuring, his keen intuition sensed a deep reluctance in the King's eyes, a shadow of an unspoken memory. The King's gaze was not one of a man securing a marriage for his son, but one who was trying to protect him from it. Unable to trust his fate to a man who, he felt, was trying to separate them, the Prince knew he had to take matters into his own hands.
Driven by a desperation that defied all royal protocol, the Prince left the palace and rushed to her father's residence. He found her father in his study and, without a single moment of hesitation, fell to his knees.
"General, I beg you," he pleaded, his voice thick with raw emotion. "Please, don't give your daughter to anyone else. I cannot... I cannot live without her."
Her father, a man who had faced armies without flinching, was taken aback by the Prince's unfiltered honesty. He had decided to protect her from the lonely fate of a royal consort, yet here was the Prince himself, forgoing all dignity to ask for her hand.
"Your Highness," her father said, his voice firm, "you have turned away my other daughters. Why this one? Why this sudden urgency?"
"General, I don't know why," the Prince confessed, looking up with tears in his eyes. "I saw her once, five years ago, and something in me knew she was the one. My mind may not remember, but my heart has never forgotten. She feels like... coming home." He reached out a trembling hand. "I am here because I cannot trust my fate to anyone else. I would go to war to keep her safe."
Her father, seeing past the title and rank to the man who was truly in love, finally agreed. He rose, pulling the Prince to his feet. "Rise, Your Highness. My daughter is yours."