Sitting in a daze for a long while, Shao Shang finally clumsily picked herself up from the ground. The palace maids and junior attendants cast knowing glances and subtle smiles as they saw her emerge from the palace chamber with slightly disheveled clothes and hair—especially since Ling Buyi had just exited the same room moments earlier.
Shao Shang desperately wanted to explain: It’s really not what you’re thinking, truly.
Back in her quarters, she recounted the key parts of the earlier martial arts scene to Zhai Nanny, omitting any mention of Fifth Princess. Zhai Nanny laughed so hard she nearly doubled over. Wiping tears of mirth, she sighed, "What a pity I didn’t witness it myself… Ah, Eleventh Master has been mature and steady since childhood, famously disciplined—he could sit reading and writing for an entire day, or practice archery until his arms were too sore to lift without moving an inch. But ever since he came to Her Majesty’s side, I’ve never seen him play and laugh like an ordinary child." A wistful expression crossed her face.
Shao Shang thought impassively: So Ling Buyi is making up for his lost childhood at my expense. After a pause, she asked curiously, "How does Lord Ling deal with people who provoke or anger him?" Surely Second Prince wasn’t the only one who’d bullied him—did Ling Buyi really turn the other cheek?
Zhai Nanny, now redoing Shao Shang’s hair, smiled knowingly. "Eleventh Master isn’t made of clay—he never lets offenses go unanswered. Those he deals with rarely get a second chance. Unlike you, Young Lady Shao, who provokes him every few days yet walks away unscathed. Anyone else would’ve been half-dead by now!"
"If he beat me half to death, Your Majesty would have to find him a new bride," Shao Shang muttered. Then she added, "A'ao, you’ve watched Lord Ling grow up. In all these years, hasn’t he had even one or two… well, romantic interests?" The palace was full of women, and Ling Buyi wasn’t made of iron—how had he navigated adolescence?
Recalling the past, Zhai Nanny paused her combing. "It’s rather amusing, actually. When Eleventh Master first came to Her Majesty, he was so thin and pale, like a delicate little girl. Later, when His Majesty had him train in martial arts to build strength, he turned into a mischievous mud-monkey, coming home covered in dirt every day—no amount of washing could clean him properly…"
Shao Shang giggled. "A'ao, you’ve given yourself away! Earlier you said he’s been mature since childhood, yet here he is rolling in mud—"
"Don’t interrupt," Zhai Nanny flicked her ear and rolled her eyes. "He wasn’t playing in the mud—he was training. Back then, his mind held nothing but study and martial practice. But then…" She gazed out the window. "Then when he turned fourteen, it was as if he’d been touched by moonlight and blessed by immortals overnight… I remember—it was the day after Princess Yuchang’s wedding banquet, when she and her son-in-law came to pay respects at the palace. Third Princess had only been married a year then. Eleventh Master wore new robes Her Majesty had commissioned—I chose the fabric myself: crimson silk with a golden belt. He stood quietly beneath the palace corridor, so tall and radiant, like a figure descended from the clouds. Every candle and jewel in the hall paled beside him—no one could look away." Even now, she remembered Third Princess and Princess Yuchang’s expressions—shock and regret couldn’t begin to describe their faces.This was an era of open social customs, where even elderly women took delight in admiring handsome men. Zhai Nanny's tone carried both nostalgia and melancholy: "...It was also that year when Eleventh Master first accompanied Cui Hou on a long journey. After returning, he received an official assignment from His Majesty and even established his own residence outside the palace." The implied meaning was that the palace women had initially failed to recognize the treasure beneath the rough exterior, and by the time they realized it, Ling Buyi had already escaped their grasp like the Monkey King fleeing the spider demons' cave.
Shao Shang nodded in understanding. She had long wondered why the Emperor, who doted on Ling Buyi so much, hadn't made him a royal son-in-law, especially since this dynasty had no restrictions preventing imperial consorts from holding political power. After hearing Zhai Nanny's words, she roughly understood the situation.
Royal Uncle's first three princesses were all older than Ling Buyi, and even his youngest niece, Princess Yuchang, was a year his senior. Girls mature earlier than boys—an eighteen-year-old bride with a three-year-old groom, playing with mud while she blossoms into womanhood. When these women were discussing marriage prospects, Ling Buyi was still just a child, naturally not arousing any romantic interest. By the time they did develop such feelings, each was already married off to their respective partners.
As for the fourth and fifth princesses, even someone with Shao Shang's near-zero political sensitivity could vaguely sense that their marriages involved political considerations far beyond simple romantic preferences.
After cleaning up the volcanic remnants of the meal, Zhai Nanny had palace maids bring in a dining table laden with food and drink, dragging Shao Shang to make up for her missed lunch. As she ate, Shao Shang suddenly sighed: "I wonder if Lord Ling has had lunch. He stormed out of Everlasting Autumn Palace in anger, probably too upset to eat anything..."
Zhai Nanny gave her a hearty pat on the shoulder: "That's more like it! Finally learning to care about someone!"
After the post-lunch nap, Shao Shang had barely slept half an hour before being shaken awake by Zhai Nanny. Reluctantly pulled back to work, she was told that Marquis Xuan and his wife, along with General of Chariots and Cavalry and his daughter, had come for an audience. As they approached the inner hall, hearing voices inside, Shao Shang quickly smoothed her pouting expression into one of meek obedience. With her delicate features, she resembled nothing so much as a tender little cabbage in the field. Zhai Nanny pointed at her with a finger, muttering an almost inaudible amused reproach.
Entering the hall, Shao Shang swiftly scanned the room. To the Empress's right sat a quiet middle-aged couple in relative solitude, while the left side bustled with activity—Fifth Princess, Luo Jitong, Wang Ling, and an unfamiliar middle-aged man. Fifth Princess was enthusiastically telling the man: "...My eldest brother listens to you most! I'll entrust those fine horses to you then! Remember—they must have matching coats and heights, with hooves of uniform color too!"
The middle-aged man was tall and handsome, dressed in luxurious gold-red robes, though his oily complexion and protruding belly betrayed a dissipated lifestyle. He laughed: "No problem at all..."
"This seems inappropriate," the Empress interrupted. "Those horses are allocated to the Eastern Palace guards. Fifth Child, how can you ask for seven or eight at once..."
"Ah, Your Majesty needn't worry!" The man waved grandly. "The horses for the princess can come from my household, nothing to do with the Eastern Palace. When the princess makes a rare request, how could we elders possibly refuse?"The Fifth Princess beamed with delight and chided, "Exactly! Mother is too cautious!" She then turned to the middle-aged man and said, "Speaking of which, with the vast Eastern Palace and all its generals and retainers, you shoulder half the responsibilities. Both my brother and I hold you in high esteem."
"Not at all, not at all. I merely rely on Your Majesty's might and wisdom to maintain a modest household. In truth, I am old and lacking in virtue, hardly worth mentioning..."
"You're too modest! Now that Father is away on campaign, horses and ironware are under strict imperial control. Even with money, it's hard to acquire such fine steeds. When I mention it to Mother, she lectures me with grand principles. If I bring it up to Father, a few horses seem too trivial. And as for my elder brother the Crown Prince—I can't stand dealing with the Crown Princess. Yet every time I travel, my escorts are mounted on splendid horses. Even Fourth Sister managed to get four 'Black Clouds Treading Snow' steeds from the Yue family. I can't afford to fall behind..."
"Indeed, though the Princess is young, she has already established her own household. Face is as important to a person as bark is to a tree—how could we let the Princess lose her dignity?"
The Fifth Princess and the middle-aged man grew increasingly animated in their conversation, while the Empress frowned. Noticing this, Shao Shang had an idea. Just as Zhai Nanny was pulling her down to kneel and pay respects, she bowed to the Empress and the Princess, then stepped forward before Zhai Nanny could stop her and loudly addressed the middle-aged man with a deep bow: "Greetings to Marquis Xuan. My respects to you, Lord Marquis."
Her exclamation startled everyone in the hall. While others were still puzzled, the sharp-witted Empress immediately grasped her intention and flashed a faint smile. Luo Jitong, slower to react, seemed to catch on as well and hid a chuckle behind her sleeve. "Shao Shang, you've made a mistake. This is General of Chariots and Cavalry Wang Chun, father of Wang Ling." She pointed across the room. "That is Marquis Xuan and his wife over there."
Zhai Nanny wiped sweat from her brow and forced a laugh. "Yes, yes, you reckless child! Really now!"
Shao Shang feigned alarm. "Oh dear, is that so? My deepest apologies for this grave mistake, please forgive me..." She repeatedly begged pardon from everyone in the hall, then added with exaggerated innocence, "Seeing how close Fifth Princess and General Wang are, I assumed you were her maternal uncle, not her uncle by marriage!"
Wang Chun's face stiffened. The Marquis and Marquise of Xuan lowered their heads further. Only the Fifth Princess remained oblivious as she scolded, "You ignorant little... girl! If you don't recognize people, why call out so hastily?"
The Empress said calmly, "Don't blame Shao Shang. Anyone unaware might think the same... Shao Shang, come here. Why are you standing there?"
Wang Chun gave an awkward laugh and fell silent. The Fifth Princess fumed without speaking. Shao Shang pulled Zhai Nanny along and hurried to sit behind the Empress with small, deferential steps. The Empress pointed to her and said to the Marquis and Marquise of Xuan, "This is Zisheng's future bride. You may call her Shao Shang."
The Marquis and Marquise looked up, allowing Shao Shang to see their faces clearly. The Marquis had refined features somewhat resembling the Empress's, but his expression was dull and simple, clearly showing his lack of eloquence. The Marquise might have been quite pretty in her youth, but decades later... she and the Marquis had grown to look alike.
The Marquis first offered a stiff smile, then looked at Shao Shang and said, "We've... we've long heard of Cheng Niangzi. That Eleventh Master is finally willing to marry—we're all so happy for Your Majesty and the Empress. For our first meeting, we've prepared modest gifts as a token of our goodwill for you and Eleventh Master..."The Marquise of Xuan hastily pushed forward two lacquer wood chests about a foot wide that were piled beside her. Palace maids stepped forward to carry them up the steps. The Empress smiled at Shao Shang and said, "Open them and see. You'll surely like what's inside."
The palace maids obediently opened the two chests, and instantly, the dazzling display of jewels and treasures nearly blinded Shao Shang's titanium-alloy eyes—one chest was neatly stacked with gold ingots shaped like unicorn hooves, thirty in each row, four rows per layer, with at least three or four layers visible at a glance. The other chest was lined with deep red brocade, carefully arranged with dozens of thumb-sized sea pearls and five or six palm-sized white jade discs. The pearls were perfectly round and luminous, the jade pure and flawless, without any gold or silver embellishments—just displayed there simply and boldly, glowing radiantly, leaving one breathless.
For a moment, everyone in the hall was stunned. While others managed to conceal their reactions, the Fifth Princess's face was full of shock, her eyes gleaming with malice.
Shao Shang, her vision blurred and her breath quickened, even stammered in her laughter: "T-this is too much, how could I possibly accept..."
The Marquise of Xuan smiled shyly. "Over the years, Zisheng has helped us countless times. We never had a proper way to thank him before, so giving these to you is the same."
Hearing Ling Buyi's name, Shao Shang sobered up slightly. She turned hopeful eyes to the Empress and whispered, "Your Majesty, this is far too extravagant. Can I really accept it...? Won't Your Majesty accuse me of taking bribes later?" The Royal Uncle already lectured her endlessly on ordinary days—if he caught wind of this, the scolding could turn into a full-blown drama.
The Empress smiled gently. "Accept it. If His Majesty comes, I'll shield you." Then she turned to her brother and added, "Just this once—no more. Otherwise, I'll be the first to accuse you two of bribery."
The Marquis and Marquise of Xuan beamed, bowing in agreement. Shao Shang watched with trembling heart as the palace maids closed the two glittering golden chests and carried them away, her emotions surging, unable to calm down for a long time.
The Fifth Princess, consumed by jealousy and resentment, sneered. "Uncle and Aunt were right to prepare such lavish gifts. Last year, someone accused Uncle of encroaching on land near the imperial mausoleum. If not for Ling Buyi's efforts to mediate, Uncle might have had to take a trip to the Court of Justice."
Luo Jitong, seated behind her, sighed. "But wasn't it later proven to be a false accusation? Even if he had gone to the Court of Justice, His Majesty, in his wisdom, would have released the Marquis of Xuan."
"Even if it was a false accusation, someone still had to clear his name," the Fifth Princess retorted haughtily. "Our mother's family has few members, and Uncle lacks talent. In crucial moments, he still has to rely on Ling Buyi!"
Luo Jitong said nervously, "Lord Ling was raised by Her Majesty. We're all family—why distinguish between yours and mine?"
"In the end, it still depends on Mother," the Fifth Princess declared smugly.
The Marquis of Xuan lowered his head, murmuring meekly in agreement. The Marquise wasn't much better, only repeating, "The Princess is right, it's all thanks to Zisheng, all thanks to Her Majesty..."
Luo Jitong sighed silently. Shao Shang gave her a smile, to which she could only respond with a helpless, bitter shake of her head.
The Fifth Princess smirked arrogantly. "And two years ago, when our cousin caused trouble in another province and was detained for ransom, it was Ling Buyi who rushed overnight to settle the matter..."
Luo Jitong said weakly, "That was because the criminals heard the Marquis of Xuan's family was wealthy and deliberately set a trap to extort them."
"That just proves our cousin is incompetent and reckless. The Yuhou family is also wealthy—why didn’t those criminals dare to target their sons? They wouldn’t have the guts! It’s only because Uncle is meek and easy to bully, willing to swallow his grievances and hide them away!"The Empress was seething with anger, her lips pressed tightly together as she remained silent, only slapping the folding fan heavily onto the table. Everyone in the hall fell into a hushed silence. However, Marquis Xuan and his wife along with Wang Chun and his daughter dared not speak, while Shao Shang and Zhai Nanny chose not to, both harboring varying degrees of hope that the Empress would scold Fifth Princess harshly.
Luo Jitong, observing the Empress's expression, had no choice but to continue damage control. She smiled and said, "The Xuan family is renowned for their sincerity and kindness. His Majesty has praised them repeatedly and bestowed many rewards—have you forgotten?"
Fifth Princess pouted. "Sincerity and kindness don’t mean they should be taken advantage of! It’s precisely because Uncle is like this that Father only keeps showering them with gold, silver, and land but never entrusts them with official duties or authority. Meanwhile, Fourth Sister’s uncles hold great power..."
"Your Highness, weren’t you just asking about Lady Ling’s marriage earlier?" Luo Jitong desperately tried to tug at Fifth Princess’s sleeve, only to have her hand swatted away. "Don’t change the subject—I’m not finished yet!"
Fifth Princess yanked her sleeve back and continued, "Uncle, just recently I heard that Cousin was swindled again—someone took twenty thousand coins for a fighting rooster! Was that rooster made of gold? Mother, don’t glare at me—I’m only doing this for Uncle and Aunt’s sake. Should we just stand by and watch them get bullied?"
"Your Highness, let’s talk about something else..." Luo Jitong was nearly at her wit’s end, utterly unsure how to stop Fifth Princess. If she called her out for spouting nonsense, everything she said was true; if she accused her of arrogance and rudeness, Fifth Princess was cloaking it all under the guise of concern for her uncle’s family.
"Your Highness," Shao Shang suddenly spoke up, "there’s no need for you to worry so much about Marquis Xuan. In truth, His Majesty has already made arrangements."
Fifth Princess sneered. "What arrangements? If you can’t give a proper explanation, see if I don’t punish you for this!"
Clutching her chest, Shao Shang feigned fear. "Your Highness just said Lord Ling was raised under Her Majesty’s care, making us family. Yet at the slightest disagreement, you’re already threatening to punish me?"
Fifth Princess was momentarily speechless, gaping like a fish.
The Empress tilted her head, amused, and picked up the folding fan again, leisurely fanning herself. "What arrangements has His Majesty made? Do tell... It’s fine even if you’re wrong."
Seeing her mother shielding Cheng Shaoshang, Fifth Princess angrily shut her mouth.
Shao Shang flashed the Empress a bright, charming smile before turning back to Fifth Princess. "During my time in the palace, I’ve often heard how Fourth Princess is steady and capable, skilled in managing finances. Last time I spent all the money Lord Ling gave me, His Majesty even scolded me using Fourth Princess as an example. He said that among all his children, Fourth Princess is the best at household management—she’d never be fooled into losing money or face. So you see, His Majesty has betrothed Fourth Princess to Marquis Xuan’s son. This is a perfect match of talent and position—what is there to worry about? If someone like me were married into the Xuan family, it’d be like a rice jar with a hole in the bottom—we’d be destitute in no time!"
Marquis Xuan and his wife had been thoroughly humiliated by Fifth Princess’s tirade, while Wang Chun, noticing the Empress’s increasingly dark expression, had also sensed trouble. Zhai Nanny and Luo Jitong had been at a loss for how to intervene. Now, hearing Shao Shang’s words, they couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Wang Chun even loudly chimed in, "Well said, Cheng Niangzi!" He thought to himself, No wonder my daughter is no match for her. If he were Ling Buyi, he’d also be drawn to such a vibrant, clever, and courageous beauty.Shao Shang pouted with a playful smile, the very picture of a young maiden: "General Wang, you're truly unkind! I said I wasn’t good at managing a household, and you praised me for it. I’ll tell Lord Ling about this later!"
Wang Chun laughed heartily: "Alright, alright, my mistake. I’ll prepare a grand gift to make it up to you later." Then, turning to the Empress, he added, "This child is so delightful, no wonder Your Majesty and Zisheng both adore her!"
The Empress finally smiled, casting a mock-stern glance at Shao Shang: "You and your silver tongue."
Seeing no one take her side, the Fifth Princess turned livid with anger and said coldly, "Fourth Sister is truly fortunate—kind uncle and aunt, an honest cousin, and the Xuan family’s wealth. I don’t have such luck..."
Shao Shang cut in cheerfully: "Fifth Princess, when you marry into the Yue family, it’ll be wonderful too! You won’t need to trouble General Wang for fine horses anymore. Forget 'Black Cloud Over Snow'—you’ll even have 'White Cloud Over Inkstone'!"
At this, even the dignified Empress couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Wang Chun roared with amusement, baring his molars, while Zhai Nanny collapsed in giggles behind the Empress. Even Wang Ling, who had been frowning all this while, chuckled: "...White Cloud Over Inkstone? There’s no such horse!"
The Fifth Princess fumed: "You’re happy because you’ve landed a good son-in-law. All my elder sisters married well, but I—"
"Princess!" Luo Jitong tugged sharply at the Fifth Princess’s arm, her eyes flashing a warning. "Your betrothal was decided by Your Majesty. Do you mean to argue with him?"
The Fifth Princess snapped back to her senses and huffed, turning away in silence. The Empress watched her daughter with mixed emotions—both pity and displeasure—but ultimately said nothing.
Wang Chun, who had managed to retain his position even after his father-in-law Prince Qian'an’s downfall, was quick to sense the tense atmosphere and stepped in to smooth things over: "Haha, let’s return to the matter at hand. Your Majesty, today I’ve brought A Ling to the palace for two reasons. First, to join Marquis Xuan and his wife in offering early birthday wishes, and second, to thank you on behalf of my daughter. Truth be told, without Your Majesty’s kind words to His Majesty, I’d have struggled to find a suitable match for her in Jiangxia, given how unfamiliar the place is. Thanks to Your Majesty’s grace, I’ve had more time to arrange a marriage, and today I’m pleased to report—we’ve found a promising candidate!"
The Empress smiled. "Oh? Which family’s son-in-law is it?"
"Your Majesty, it’s the Cai clan, a prominent family in Jingzhou."
The Empress paused, feigning annoyance: "I asked about the groom, but you men only care about lineage."—Shao Shang tilted her head slightly, glancing at the Empress before looking away.
Wang Chun clasped his hands in apology, laughing. "Your Majesty scolds rightly. But rest assured, A Ling is my only daughter—I’d never let her suffer. We’ve made thorough inquiries. The groom is the youngest son of the Cai family’s patriarch. Though doted on by his parents, he enrolled at White Deer Mountain to study at a young age and only returned a few months ago... Regardless of his scholarly achievements, he’s clearly ambitious."
The Empress glanced at the downcast Wang Ling and nodded. "A graduate of White Deer Mountain can’t be too lacking."
Suddenly, Wang Ling lifted her head, eyes brimming with tears. "Your Majesty, I truly don’t want to leave the Capital City. Could you speak to His Majesty again and let me stay? I’ll never speak out of turn again. Shao Shang, I beg you too—I was wrong before, petty and mean. Please plead with His Majesty for me...""Wretched child, what nonsense are you spouting!" Wang Chun turned his head to scold his daughter in a low voice, then turned back with a smile, "Your Majesty, please pay her no mind. She's simply grown accustomed to life in the Capital City and sees everywhere else as uncivilized wilderness. In truth, Jiangxia is quite prosperous..."
The Empress shook her head with a sigh. After all, she had watched Wang Ling grow up. But since the Emperor himself had ordered Wang Chun to quickly marry off his daughter, it was clearly meant to make an example—to show support for his adopted son. It didn't matter that Cheng Shaoshang came from an official's family with military merits; even if she were a commoner, as long as Ling Buyi wanted to marry her, the Emperor wouldn't tolerate any objections from others.
Indeed, in these past few months, no one in the Capital City dared to question Cheng Shaoshang anymore.
Wang Ling bit her lip and stared straight at Shao Shang: "Actually, the fine horses my father obtained this time were second-rate. The best were the batch Lord Ling acquired last month. When Fifth Princess asked him for them, he refused, yet he personally selected six for you instead!"
At these words, Fifth Princess abruptly straightened, her eyes filled with venom as she glared at Shao Shang.
Wang Chun sensed disaster and swiftly slapped his daughter, roaring, "You wretch! What nonsense are you spouting?" He then hastily begged forgiveness from the Empress, "This is entirely my fault! I was careless with my words at home and let it slip! The blame lies with me!" He repeatedly kowtowed as he spoke.
Wang Ling let out a wail, covering her face as she ran out in tears.
Shao Shang was too stunned to speak. After a long pause, she finally said, "Sister Wang Ling is lying! It was only two horses!" Even if it were true, the number couldn't be wrong.
Zhai Nanny couldn't help rolling her eyes at her.
Wang Chun forced a bitter smile. "It was indeed six horses—how could I not know? Two were sent to Cheng Residence, two to Xu County for Old Brother Wan, and another two to your uncle's post, along with specialized horse grooms. Ah, those were truly swift steeds capable of covering a thousand li in a day, fast as the wind. Even if surrounded by thousands of troops, one could escape with them. They're the pride of any soldier..."
Fifth Princess could bear it no longer. She rose angrily and stormed toward Shao Shang. Luo Jitong, sensing trouble, quickly grabbed her and placated her with a smile, "Princess, didn't you always long for a hunting falcon? Among the betrothal gifts from the northwest, there's an exceptionally majestic one, already trained to hunt wolves and even tigers. I had Chuntiao bring it into the palace—it's in the garden now. Let's go see it, let's go... Your Majesty, Fifth Princess and I shall take our leave first..." As she spoke, she mustered all her strength to drag Fifth Princess out of the hall.
Marquis Xuan and his wife were utterly dumbfounded. Wang Chun, taking pity on their bewildered state, pulled them along as he excused himself. The Empress, watching her brother and sister-in-law's simple-minded demeanor, felt a wave of exasperation and waved them off.
It wasn't unusual for fools to be stunned, but when the Empress turned, she saw even the usually sharp-witted Shao Shang in a daze.
She nudged the girl with her finger, and Shao Shang murmured, "...I once mentioned to him that Uncle Wan's legs aren't strong, yet he loves wandering about. And the county where Third Uncle is posted isn't entirely peaceful—there are occasional riots. If anything happened, I wasn't sure they could make it back to the city gates quickly."
"He never told me anything."
He hadn't told her about his decisions, nor had he told her about his kindness toward her.
Author's Note:
I was too eager to push the plot forward and lost sight of my original intent—I wanted to write about people.
I admit I got lazy. I'm guilty as charged. I'll take the criticism—my apologies.
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