Yaoying followed the eunuch, slowly ascending the moss-stained long steps.
The cold stars had just faded as the first light of dawn began to emerge.
The morning bell echoed throughout the hall.
Through the vermilion lattice windows, flickering candlelight could faintly be seen. Li De was diligent in state affairs, summoning ministers from the Hall of State Affairs for discussions almost daily, with the candles in the inner hall burning through the night.
The eunuch entered to announce her arrival.
Standing atop the red-painted steps, Yaoying looked back toward the magnificent palace halfway up the distant mountain. Her face, as pure as fresh snow, showed no expression.
In the northeastern corner of the palace complex, layered peaks stood with interconnected towers and halls, their glazed tiles shimmering with a cold, radiant glow.
This was the detached palace built by the last emperor of the previous dynasty to escape the summer heat. The Taihe Palace sat in a low-lying area, becoming damp and stuffy in summer, with moist moss creeping through sun-deprived corners. The detached palace, constructed on the mountainside, was majestic, spacious, and more suitable for living.
Yaoying thought to herself: Once the Brahmin medicine matter is clarified, I must find a way to move Xie Guifei to the detached palace.
The Taihe Palace was too stifling and too close to trouble.
A damp morning breeze swept by, its chill piercing to the bone. Yaoying shivered involuntarily, pulling her moon-white shawl with Indian lotus patterns tighter around her shoulders.
The eunuch emerged and invited her inside.
Though day had fully broken, several candles still burned on the gilded lamp stands in the corners of the hall. Li De sat before the Dragon Throne Desk reviewing memorials, his graying temples resembling a night-blooming cereus quietly unfurling in the shadows, surrounded by an aura of secluded elegance.
Yaoying stepped forward.
Li De, looking at the unfolded memorial on his desk, said: "In a few days, it will be the Buddha's Birthday. Since the Guifei cannot manage affairs, the Crown Princess will preside over the Dharma Assembly. The Fukang Princess will soon be married to Chieftain Ye Lu, and the Crown Princess must prepare for her departure. She cannot handle everything alone—you shall assist her in presiding over the assembly."
Yaoying was taken aback; she had thought Li De summoned her to inquire about Xie Guifei.
Having given his instructions, Li De paid no attention to Yaoying's reaction and waved his hand to dismiss her.
Yaoying had no desire to be involved with the Crown Prince's Palace, but she knew that since Li De had summoned her in person to issue the order, he would not allow her to make excuses. She could only calmly acknowledge the command and withdraw from the inner hall.
With Xie Guifei, the highest-ranking consort, unable to manage palace affairs, many ceremonies were handled by Crown Princess Zheng Biyu. The Buddha's Birthday Dharma Assembly was to be held in the Hall of Auspicious Virtue, where the scripture desks, incense trays, and golden Buddha had already been arranged. Zheng Biyu, fearing oversights, was personally supervising the servants as they cleaned the hall.
When Yaoying arrived at the Hall of Auspicious Virtue, she asked Zheng Biyu what she needed to do.
Zheng Biyu smiled and said, "I dare not trouble the Seventh Lady. Many noblewomen from the court will attend this assembly. Your assistance in receiving them would be a great help to me."
Though Yaoying's relationship with Li Xuanzhen was awkward, she had never had any conflict with Zheng Biyu. She nodded and said, "As my sister-in-law commands."
Zheng Biyu was indeed overwhelmed with work. Before they could exchange more than a few words, people continuously entered the hall to seek her instructions.
Listening for a moment, Yaoying realized they were all inquiring about the Fukang Princess and thought to herself in surprise: Zheng Biyu was preparing Zhu Lvyun's dowry.
Had the marriage dispute been settled just like that?
Yaoying remained composed.
Returning to her residence, the chief steward reported to her: "Your Highness, the date for the Fukang Princess's wedding has been set—it will take place three months from now."
Yaoying asked in confusion, "Has the Crown Prince's Palace been silent?"The Chief Steward said, "The Crown Prince's Palace has sent many portraits of beauties and treasures of gold and silver to Chieftain Ye Lu, persuading him to marry someone else, but the chieftain has not agreed."
Chieftain Ye Lu was no fool. Zhu Lvyun's status was extraordinary, and since he had already provoked the Central Plains dynasty with his obstinacy, he naturally intended to marry the princess of the greatest significance.
It seemed Zhu Lvyun had brought this upon herself and would indeed be wedded far away to the grasslands.
Yaoying still felt uneasy.
The next day, Xie Qing delivered a letter from Li Zhongqian.
After reading her brother's letter, Yaoying felt somewhat reassured and stayed up late to write a reply.
In the days that followed, the capital remained calm and peaceful.
Zheng Biyu, aware that Yaoying would not set foot in the Crown Prince's Palace, invited her to the Hall of Auspicious Virtue whenever she needed to discuss matters, treating her with open and natural courtesy.
Even so, Xie Qing remained vigilant, staying by Yaoying's side almost without a moment's separation.
He was tall and robust, standing like a towering mountain wherever he went.
Zheng Biyu's maid tactfully suggested that as the Crown Prince's consort was an inner-palace woman, Xie Qing, being an outer court man, should keep his distance.
Xie Qing replied stiffly, "I am the Seventh Princess's guard. I will not leave her side for even a step."
The maid was so infuriated she nearly fainted.
Zheng Biyu said nothing. She knew Xie Qing was famously unwaveringly loyal—if Li Yaoying gave an order, he would carry it out without question, even if it meant taking his own life without hesitation.
In the blink of an eye, the day of the Buddha's Birthday Dharma Assembly arrived.
Yaoying had stayed in the palace the previous night and rose before dawn to make preparations.
Zheng Biyu, heavily made-up and adorned in ceremonial hairpins and robes, stood in the inner hall directing the palace maids. When she saw Yaoying wearing a lotus crown, a silver-red blouse, and a green skirt, she smiled and said, "Seventh Lady, your beauty is peerless. Even without elaborate adornments, you outshine everyone. But today is the Dharma Assembly—shouldn't you dress more modestly?"
Yaoying replied carelessly, "Why would a Buddhist assembly require lavish attire?"
Zheng Biyu shook her head, summoned several maids, and firmly seated Yaoying before a bronze mirror. They applied rouge, painted her eyebrows, attached emerald ornaments, brushed on powder, and applied lip color.
Yaoying was already exceptionally beautiful, and with this embellishment, she shed some of her youthful innocence, her eyes sparkling with an indescribable radiance and charm.
The maids were momentarily silenced, captivated by her beauty.
Zheng Biyu couldn't help but sigh inwardly—no wonder the idle young nobles of the capital secretly called the Seventh Princess the foremost beauty.
Collecting herself, she picked up bamboo scissors, trimmed a half-bloomed peony, and pinned it beside Yaoying's temple. Then, she selected a gold-inlaid jade hairpin with four butterflies and fastened it into Yaoying's hair.
Noblewomen arrived one after another by carriage, and Yaoying went to greet them.
The Prime Minister's wife held her hand and insisted, "You didn't come to the spring banquet. Soon, I'll host a tea gathering with Mengding Stone Flower tea from Jiannan and Yangxian tea from Changzhou—both excellent. You must come!"
Yaoying smiled and agreed.
After some conversation, a maid approached and said, "Your Highness, the abbot of Daci'en Temple has arrived."
Yaoying asked, "Where is the Crown Prince's consort?"
The maid replied, "Her Highness is speaking with the Grand Princess and requests that you go ahead. She will join you shortly."
Yaoying glanced back toward the corridor.
Xie Qing, standing guard at the steps, immediately understood her meaning and strode to her side, following closely behind her.
...
The Dharma Assembly had not yet begun. The noblewomen gathered in a side hall for tea, the room filled with the glitter of jewels and the splendor of elaborate attire.
Zheng Biyu looked around several times but could not find Li Yaoying. She asked a nearby maid, "Where is the Seventh Princess?"
The maid pointed north. "The Seventh Princess went that way."Zheng Biyu frowned: "Why did the Seventh Princess leave so suddenly?"
...
Outside the Hall of Auspicious Virtue, Li Xuanzhen stood before the steps, hands clasped behind his back, his handsome face bathed in a thin layer of golden sunlight.
From below the steps came bursts of hearty laughter as Chieftain Ye Lu, with braided hair and wearing an embroidered Hu-style robe, entered the front hall surrounded by his entourage.
Li Xuanzhen stood at the wind's passage, his wide sleeves billowing, watching Ye Lu's back disappear behind the vermilion palace gates.
Qin Fei stood behind him, his expression conflicted: "Your Highness... the Seventh Princess... she is still your sister after all."
Though not a full sister by blood, they were still related.
Li Xuanzhen's thin lips pressed tightly together.
Qin Fei muttered under his breath: "This subordinate shouldn't speak out of turn, but I find Chief Secretary Wei's plan too underhanded. How can we scheme against a young lady like this? In my opinion..."
Li Xuanzhen suddenly turned around.
Qin Fei jumped in fright, swallowing his unfinished words and not daring to utter another sound.
Li Xuanzhen turned his back to the Hall of Auspicious Virtue and strode away.
...
Inside the Hall of Auspicious Virtue, Yaoying stood beneath a pomegranate tree laden with bright red blossoms, waiting left and right but failing to see the abbot of Daci'en Temple.
She asked a palace maid: "Why hasn't the abbot arrived yet?"
The maid kept her head lowered: "Your Highness, please wait a little longer. The eunuch just said the abbot has reached the outer hall."
Yaoying raised her eyes, carefully studying the maid.
The maid kept her eyes downcast, allowing the inspection.
Yaoying's brows lightly furrowed.
Something's wrong!
She turned and walked away.
The palace servants exchanged glances.
Without a word, Xie Qing gripped his sword and quickly followed Yaoying.
The maid who had answered stood dumbfounded, only reacting when Yaoying had already walked some distance. She hurried forward: "Your Highness, the abbot will be here any moment. Why are you leaving?"
Yaoying remained silent.
The maid kept glancing back and spotted a dozen figures approaching from the corridor leading to the front hall. Overjoyed, she forgot propriety and reached out to pull Yaoying: "Your Highness, look, the abbot has arrived!"
Yaoying paid no attention to the maid, continuing without looking back.
The maid steeled herself, ran a few steps to block Yaoying's path, and forced a smile: "Your Highness, look, the abbot is really here!"
Yaoying cast a cold glance at the maid.
The maid said calmly: "If you don't believe me, turn around and see."
Yaoying didn't turn.
Xie Qing stepped forward, his long sword leaving its scabbard: "Get lost!"
The maid hadn't expected him to draw his sword so readily. She screamed and retreated trembling.
This deliberately heightened scream drew the attention of a nearby group, a dozen pairs of eyes sweeping over simultaneously.
Yaoying felt the unfamiliar gazes from behind like prickles against her back. Instinctively raising her sleeve to cover her face, she quickly crossed the corridor and slipped into the central hall.
A tall figure approached.
Yaoying, walking too fast, didn't notice the person ahead and collided directly into his chest.
The man had a solid build. His long arm reached out to grasp Yaoying's elbow, steadying her.
Startled, Yaoying looked up and met his cold gaze.
A pair of narrow phoenix eyes stared coldly at her.
Yaoying froze, her body going weak in an instant.
"That maid was Eldest Brother's person? What does Eldest Brother intend to do?"
Her questioning voice trembled.
Li Xuanzhen released her arm and averted his gaze: "Return to the rear hall."
Yaoying's hands clenched softly within her sleeves, her heart pounding like a drum, a fine layer of sweat forming beneath her garments.Li Xuanzhen turned his face away from her, stepping aside to clear the path, his voice cold as ice: "Go to the rear hall, and don't come out."
Xie Qing rushed over, vigilantly positioning himself in front of Yaoying, his blade pointed at Li Xuanzhen.
Li Xuanzhen's face remained expressionless.
Laughter and chatter drifted in from the latticed window as a group of people drew nearer.
"Back to the rear hall," Yaoying said softly, tugging at Xie Qing's sleeve with resolve.
Xie Qing nodded, sheathed his long blade, and supported Yaoying as they entered the rear hall.
Just as the figures of mistress and servant vanished behind the corridor pillars, Chieftain Ye Lu strode cheerfully into the front hall, curiosity in his voice: "I just saw two people heading in that direction..."
Though the woman had covered her face, her delicate and graceful figure unmistakably hinted at a beauty. It was a pity she moved too quickly for him to catch a clear glimpse of her features.
Wei Ming, accompanying Chieftain Ye Lu, inwardly scorned the chieftain's shamelessness but maintained a smile as he replied, "Today's Buddha's Birthday Dharma Assembly is hosted by the Seventh Princess. The person just now seemed to be the Seventh Princess."
Chieftain Ye Lu's interest was immediately piqued.
He had heard of the Seventh Princess—rumored to be an exquisitely delicate beauty. Unfortunately, she never attended palace banquets or polo matches, so he had never had the chance to see her.
Wei Ming sneered inwardly, his eyes swiftly scanning the surroundings in search of Li Yaoying. Instead, he spotted someone who shouldn't have been there—Li Xuanzhen.
His expression darkened instantly.
To make the greedy Chieftain Ye Lu willingly give up Zhu Lvyun, mere portraits weren't enough; he had to see the Seventh Princess in person to be thoroughly captivated.
The Seventh Princess lived in seclusion, and Wei Ming had painstakingly arranged this opportunity for the chieftain to witness her kingdom-toppling beauty. How could the Crown Prince ruin it!
...
For the remainder of the assembly, Yaoying stayed hidden in the rear hall and did not reappear.
Chieftain Ye Lu never caught sight of Yaoying.
All the careful planning of recent days had gone to waste, leaving Wei Ming furious and frustrated.
The Seventh Princess was now on guard; their scheme had failed.
Unexpectedly, three days later, the situation took a dramatic turn.
Chieftain Ye Lu submitted a respectfully worded marriage proposal, seeking to wed the Seventh Princess.
Wei Ming could hardly believe his ears: "Chieftain Ye Lu clearly didn't see the Seventh Princess. How could he be willing to give up the Fukang Princess?"
His subordinate was equally bewildered: "I don't know, sir. Not only did the chieftain agree to the substitution, but he also said that if His Majesty grants the marriage, he is willing to serve as the vanguard for the Wei army and help reclaim Liangzhou!"
Wei Ming was utterly dumbfounded.
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