The Story of Hua Yan

The narrator tells us that Empress Dowager is looking for a wife for her brother, the new crown prince. The princess, Zongzi, arrives at the palace and tells the princess that she has heard that the crown prince intends to choose a new wife for his brother. She tells her that the princess from the south is a good candidate for the prince's wife because she is learned, gentle, and considerate. When the princess asks the princess about the book of beauties, the princess says that the portraits are boring, and that the prince should think of the future of the south. She says that she would like to choose the daughter of the prince from the north, but since she doesn't find any attractive girls in the south, she would rather choose the girl of the north. She also says that having an affair with the prince is not acceptable in the royal house, and she wants the prince to send the decree to the household in the north for her to sign. The narrator says that he will sign the decree and give the prince a glimpse of spring.