Long Live the Emperor, Minus Me (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
I turned sharply after seeing off the Grand Duke.
“Tua. (Tula.)”
Tula, standing precisely two steps behind me, gracefully bowed her head.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Let’s have a tea party.”
Out of the blue, a tea party? Though she couldn’t possibly have understood what I meant, Tula didn’t ask for clarification—she simply bent her knees lightly in a respectful bow.
“Of course, as Your Highness wishes.”
Her demeanor was worthy of full marks.
Satisfied that Tula was progressing well in etiquette lessons, I recalled the grand banquets I’d hosted in my previous life.
Now, how should I design this party? Should I do what I’m best at, or prioritize the guests’ satisfaction?
The answer was simple. Naturally, I’d do what I excelled at.
*
However, moving in took precedence over preparing the tea party, since it was already decided to hold the event at Jasper Palace.
“Oh my! Your Highness, please look over here! The pond is truly beautiful!”
Though I’d worked hard to instill calmness in Tula, she was now visibly excited—but I didn’t scold her. It truly was worth marveling at.
“Indeed, the Grand Duke has every right to be proud.”
Jasper Palace was genuinely magnificent. Perhaps it was built of wood instead of stone precisely for this reason—every pillar bore intricate carvings, the ceiling was adorned with frescoes, and the floor was paved with colorful tiles.
Overall, it felt less like a residence meant for living and more like a stone house, yet beautiful was beautiful.
Sitting amidst the kaleidoscopic garden meticulously crafted by five gardeners, gazing at the palace, would surely be an enchanting experience. Though I couldn’t aim to bewitch the children at this tea party, I might try it another time.
While Tula explored the garden, I headed ahead to the bedroom—a task made possible because the bedroom was on the first floor. I didn’t know who had chosen my room, but perhaps they’d considered the height of this body?
“Ohh…”
Fortunately, the room itself was ordinary—not that the furniture was plain, but rather that the room’s layout felt conventional. At the very least, they hadn’t installed a chandelier inside.
Still, the furnishings were so luxurious, befitting a playmate of the Grand Duke, that they seemed overly dignified for a three-year-old.
Granted, the oak bed was acceptable—but did a child truly need an end table?
Of course, since I couldn’t dress myself, Tula would actually be the one using the dressing room. Yet, it was nominally “my” dressing room, and neither the door handle—positioned too high for my height—nor the full-length mirror, which was far too large, seemed designed with me in mind.
Whoever had decorated the palace clearly hadn’t considered the actual user.
But aside from that, yes—this palace was astonishingly splendid, impressive enough to earn admiration even from someone like me, whose eyes had been spoiled by every luxury in my past life.
“Ah, there you are, Your Highness.”
Tula entered the bedroom, her cheeks flushed pink from touring the garden. Her tone had also grown noticeably calmer. I reached out both hands toward her. We needed to take a full tour of the palace.
“Let’s go see the second floor.”
“Yes.”
Since she always carried me when I needed to climb onto chairs or stairs, Tula easily understood my intent and lifted me up effortlessly.
“Aren’t I heavy?”
I asked, suddenly noticing how slender Tula’s arms appeared. Though I was still too small to climb onto a chair alone, Tula herself wasn’t particularly tall or muscular.
Having been a warrior in my previous life, I couldn’t accurately gauge an ordinary person’s strength—but surely I wasn’t light enough to be carried around so easily.
“Oh my! Were you worrying about that? Don’t be—it’s as if I’m holding a feather.”
Her words were kind, but since I hadn’t been concerned about my weight, her reassurance missed the point entirely.
“But now that you mention it… I suppose there aren’t many days left when I’ll be able to carry you like this. You’ll grow so quickly.”
Hearing that, I realized she was right.
Though I still couldn’t fathom how she managed to lift me so effortlessly, she wouldn’t be able to do so forever. Since I only relied on being carried due to my current physical limitations, once my limbs grew longer, I wouldn’t need to be held anymore.
“I see.”
Though it was merely out of necessity, the thought left me with an unexpected sense of wistfulness. Reflecting on it, I’d never been carried like this even in my previous life.
Moved by this sentiment, I impulsively wrapped my arms tightly around Tula’s neck. Whether she sensed my complicated emotions—which even I didn’t fully understand—I couldn’t tell, but Tula simply chuckled softly and patted my back.
After touring the palace while nestled in Tula’s arms, I realized this place, though perhaps unsuitable for an ordinary child, was perfectly suited for me.
For one, it was entirely my own space.
“The palace is truly lovely and cozy.”
As Tula said, Jasper Palace was smaller than Emerald Palace. But whereas Emerald Palace had been shared among four people, this one was mine alone—so the actual usable space was likely comparable to what I’d had there.
Moreover, considering that palaces were originally designed for a single individual, this one was undoubtedly more practical.
“Have you seen the ceiling frescoes? The pillar carvings, the embroidered curtains—everything is so delicate and magnificent.”
Though I preferred simplicity and dignity, attractive was still preferable to plain.
Besides, the actual living spaces like the bedroom and study were tastefully understated, ensuring no visual distractions in daily life.
“And the furniture is all so grand and impressive.”
If I’d truly been a child, this might have been inconvenient—but my mind was that of an adult. Had everything been decorated in a childish style, the constant visual immaturity would have been far more bothersome.
Since I already had Tula to care for me all day, enduring minor physical inconveniences for visual comfort was well worth it.
“Yes, that’s good.”
The size was neither too cramped nor too spacious, the atmosphere mature enough to satisfy me, and the interior design presentable enough to show others without embarrassment.
As the Grand Duke’s playmate—and someone who might host more palace parties in the future—these conditions pleased me greatly.
“Now, let’s go meet the newly arrived children.”
True to the Grand Duke’s words—that no situation was beyond handling—the preparations were ample. The staff transferred along with the palace move was more than sufficient.
All that remained was to showcase my own talents.
*
Ella had originally been a kitchen maid serving in the Empress’s palace. When the Grand Duke’s playmate was chosen, she was reassigned to Jasper Palace by Her Majesty’s command.
During the transfer, Ella felt no particular anxiety. After all, having served the Empire’s most exalted woman, she couldn’t imagine struggling to serve a provincial young princess.
If anything, her duties might even become easier—fewer servants to manage, and no strict head maid to answer to.
“Is this all?”
But the moment Princess Blanche appeared, cradled in her nurse’s arms, Ella realized she’d gravely misjudged the situation.
Upon reflection, though she’d served the Empire’s most revered woman, Ella had never actually met the Empress face-to-face. Her duties had simply required her to perform assigned tasks well.
Now, however, standing so close to the one she served, Ella instinctively straightened her spine. This tiny princess, scarcely reaching Ella’s knees if she stepped down from the nurse’s arms, possessed an innate ability to command such reverence.
With a composure uncharacteristic of a three-year-old, the princess swept her cool gaze over them once before speaking.
“Everyone. You’ll have to endure some hardship for now.”
In that instant, Ella understood only one thing: Princess Blanche was warning them that she’d make their lives difficult.
*
Lee Baekryeon was accustomed to hosting banquets. In her youth, she’d been the head of the Lee family, and as an adult, she’d become the Emperor’s most favored official.
Today, she hosted another banquet—a celebration of her appointment as General Shangdai.
As with every banquet she’d ever held, this one was flawless. The scent of peach blossoms was fragrant, delicacies from land and sea overflowed, and the orchestra’s performance was exquisite.
Though the usual festive atmosphere was entirely absent, even that absence was precisely what Lee Baekryeon desired in her perfect banquet.
After all, if revelry led to a brawl, Baekryeon would bear the blame.
“Baekryeon, come here.”
The Emperor, seated at the place of highest honor, called to her. Baekryeon picked up a wine bottle and moved to his side.
“It’s an honor to have you grace my gathering.”
Normally, the Emperor did not attend his subordinates’ banquets—but Lee Baekryeon’s events were the exception. Only the banquets of Lee Baekryeon, the Empire’s second-most-powerful figure, warranted such privilege.
This practice both unmistakably demonstrated His Majesty’s favor and elevated the distinction of Baekryeon’s gatherings.
“Of course I came—banquets this solemn are truly rare.”
Zi Qingling chuckled softly and raised his cup. Baekryeon tilted the wine bottle she’d brought, filling Qingling’s cup.
“At my banquet, any general who dares perform a sword dance will be thrown into the dungeons. Knowing that, they can hardly be anything but solemn.”
Baekryeon referred to an actual incident at another general’s banquet, where two drunken generals had drawn swords and fought.
The host of that banquet, known for his gentle and forgiving nature, had merely issued private warnings afterward and publicly claimed the two had merely performed a choreographed sword dance.
Though that flimsy excuse was almost admirable—and since both generals were otherwise competent—Lee Baekryeon had accepted the explanation and even petitioned His Majesty for leniency.
But had they caused such chaos in her own home, she would have locked them in the dungeon immediately and withheld release for three days. Apparently, her intent had been clearly conveyed, as the two now sat quietly, sipping their wine.
“Then why not skip hosting a banquet altogether? Were the feasts I arranged for you insufficient?”
Indeed, Baekryeon’s promotion had already been celebrated once—within the Imperial Palace.
Her new title, General Shangdai, represented the newly consolidated supreme military authority, merging the former positions of Supreme General and Grand General.
To mark this unprecedented appointment, Qingling had combined her victory celebration with a week-long series of grand banquets. Thus, by rights, Baekryeon had no need to host another celebration.
Especially since she didn’t particularly enjoy hosting banquets.
“I must drink deeply of your boundless grace before it dries up.”
As she spoke, Baekryeon cast a fleeting glance toward the center of the garden—where a small lake lay.
A lake made of wine.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
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