Purple Spring Garden is wide and open, sloping gently down to a cosmic-blue river.
A grove of cypress pines flanks us on one side, with a thicket of peaceful beeches standing guard on the other.
Purple Blossom trees run through the garden's center, casting a lake of claw shadows onto the grass. In autumn, the fiery brilliance of their leaves is a sight: scorching oranges, burning browns, and molten reds. Then they drift to the ground as silently and carelessly as an ash cloud, settling into their eternal rest.
It was indeed a breathtaking sight and would make anyone feel relaxed with its enchantment.
Even Ye Tian Yun was surprised to see the scene in front of him. Such gardens are a rarity even in the Middle Heavens.
[A/n: Purple Springs Garden in paragraph comments and chapter comments.]
'The person who created this garden must have an amazing eye for the colors.'
Other than its enchanting view, the garden was known for the Purple Blossoms. The beautiful pinkish purple-leafed trees were spread throughout the garden.
"This place lives up its name." Jun Xie remarked.
Ye Tian Yun nodded, "Indeed."
"Hmm, so how do we find the princess?" Jun Xie asked, "I don't think she would come here in her real appearance."
Ye Tian Yun smiled, "Don't worry, but first, let's scout this place. It's better to understand the geography of this place first."
"Oh?" Jun Xie frowned, "Alright, let's see."
Both of them started to move through the path.
As for the two young men whom they had followed to enter the garden… both parties separated as soon as they entered the garden.
"What's that?" Just then, Jun Xie pointed at the crowd of youngsters.
Ye Tian Yun had also noticed the crowd.
"Why are they grouped near a wall?"
"They are surrounding someone." Ye Tian Yun answered.
Jun Xie nodded, "That's what I meant."
"Yeah, you did." Ye Tian Yun stepped closer to the crowd.
There were about ten young men and women, clearly from big backgrounds considering their attire and clothing.
"Look at that!" Jun Xie nudged Ye Tian Yun's elbow while pointing at a banner.
Ye Tian Yun followed the direction Jun Xie was pointing at and saw a small banner.
[Burger Queen]
'Burger Queen…' Ye Tian Yun frowned, remembering a certain taste.
He gulped and then turned towards Jun Xie, "Keep this place in mind. We will visi…."
"Hm?" Jun Xie turned towards Ye Tian Yun noticing the latter's sudden pause, "What happened? Why did you stop?"
But he only found Ye Tian Yun staring at someone behind him.
Jun Xie turned his head towards the other side, and not far from them was a young lady in violet clothes who was quietly sitting, staring at the artificial river beside them.
"Is that the princess?" Jun Xie asked.
Ye Tian Yun nodded, "She is."
"Are you sure?" Jun Xie frowned, "She seems... "
"Too normal?"
"Yes, exactly."
"Well, that's the princess. She's trying to 'keep a low-profile'."
Jun Xie smiled, "This is a pretty stupid idea then."
"It is." Ye Tian Yun nodded, "She should have disguised herself as a wealthy noble young lady; no one would have noticed. But disguising as a normal girl at this place makes her stand out too much."
"True," Jun Xie nodded, "But I wonder why no one is approaching her?"
"My guess is people here already did," Ye Tian Yun shrugged, "Anyway, kids from big clans are not idiots. They won't offend others without understanding the background of the other person fully well. Also, she's a regular visitor to this place, so I also think that there's no one else who's curious about her anymore."
Jun Xie nodded, "So are you planning to talk to her, or are we going to keep on guessing?"
Ye Tian Yun smiled, "You wait here; I will try my luck. Keep yourself hidden and reveal me once I have crossed that tree."
"What about the guards? Is no one watching over this place?"
"Nah," Ye Tian Yun smiled, "The reason why they have such security outside is that there's no one watching over the kids in the garden, but they will come at a moment's notice."
"Oh?" Jun Xie frowned, "But you should be careful, with all this security; it's weird that they don't have any countermeasures against someone trying to infiltrate through illusions."
Ye Tian Yun smiled, "I know. If things really get out of hand, we will simply escape. Oh, and take these."
"Hm? More pills? I just took one, but thanks."
"Can you create an illusion that all the seats are filled, and only the one beside her is empty?"
"Alright." Jun Xie smiled and nodded.
Ye Tian Yun stepped closer and headed towards the bench where Princess Xin Xue Qing was seated.
Noticing someone's approach, a slight frown formed on Xin Xue Qing's forehead.
'No again.'
She was in no mood to talk to anyone.
'The palace politics are already giving me a headache. And now here too….'
She didn't turn towards the young man who calmly approached her and took a seat beside her.
'The whole garden is almost empty; why come here?'
Xin Xue Qing was irked.
'I wonder which clan this guy is from? I should talk to Eunuch Pio about this guy's clan.'
She took a deep breath, and then without turning, she said, "The garden is pretty huge; why don't you have a whole empty seat for yourself?"
Ye Tian Yun smiled, "Well, I find you more interesting than this garden."
"Oh really?" She inwardly rolled her eyes. This was the nth time she heard the same line.
"Nah, not really," Ye Tian Yun shook his head, "I am just kidding. The main reason is all other seats are empty."
"Huh?" Princess Xin Xue Qing froze, and then she raised her head and glanced from one side to the others, starting from the seats that were all full and stopping at the face of the young man beside her.
'This…'
A breathtakingly handsome young man was sitting beside her.