Whoеvеr саusеd the trouble shоuld сlean uр the mess thеmsеlvеs. Shе wаs аn outsider аnd had no intention of getting invоlvеd. Hоwevеr, shе still fеlt а twinge оf guilt оvеr hеr rаsh prоmise to the Рrinсe оf Nanyuan аt Tanzhе Temрlе thаt dау. It wаs hеr own thoughtlеssnеss and ехсessivе symраthy that hаd turnеd her intо someonе who went baсk оn hеr word. Fоrtunately, thе dееp раlасе wаs a сlоsed-оff world, аnd they wоuld nevеr hаvе to mееt аgаin. Even if he сursed her behind her baсk, at most her еars would burn а little—shе сould simрly pretend not to hear.
When she went to pay her Morning and Evening Salutations to the Empress Dowager, she saw the Empress Dowager sighing in frustration at the room full of consorts. "Well, this is just perfect—a ship without a captain. Your master is too much. Isn't the palace just like the court? One position opens, another must fill it. Now that the position of the central palace is vacant, how are the palace's affairs, big and small, supposed to be managed? Out of all these people, at least pick one. If that's not possible, there are suitable candidates from the households of officials in the court—appointing one wouldn't be a problem either." Lowering her voice, she muttered with a tone of disappointment, "Spending all day tangled up with that sister of Consort Duan—what will outsiders say? That woman belongs to someone else, and now the Emperor has gotten her pregnant. How will he handle this in front of the Prince of Nanyuan? In my opinion, it would be better to simply not keep this child. It’s neither legitimate nor proper, and its birth would only bring chaos."
The consorts below, having learned from Empress Zhang’s example, all remained silent. The Empress Dowager’s gaze swept over their heads, shaking her head in deep disappointment. The men were useless, and the women were as tight-lipped as sealed gourds. The one with high rank who dared to speak out had ultimately been removed. This was perhaps the most decisive action the Emperor had ever taken in dealing with women since he began his reign.
Since the passing of the Late Emperor and the death of her proper daughter-in-law in the Chirping Phoenix Palace, the Empress Dowager had grown somewhat indifferent to everything. Among the large group of imperial grandchildren, not a single one was close to her. In the end, whether this Emperor was good or bad, she didn’t really care. Still, it was her duty to inquire—after all, as the Empress Dowager, she couldn’t be more carefree than the departed Emperor Xiaozong. Her eyes scanned the crowd and suddenly landed on Consort Duan, who was hiding in a corner. Clearing her throat, she raised her voice and asked, "Have you asked her about it? How exactly is this matter to be handled?"
Yin Lou looked utterly innocent. "Your Majesty, my sister and I were never close to begin with. As for how to handle it, she hasn’t mentioned anything to me."
"And the Emperor? Has he given no instructions either?"
Yin Lou shook her head again. "His Majesty rarely visits me, let alone discusses such an embarrassing matter."
The Empress Dowager was frustrated by her lack of answers. "Both of these people are closely connected to you. Are you trying to deceive me here?"
Wanwan, sensing trouble, quickly stood up to console the Empress Dowager. "She has her difficulties, Mother. Please don’t blame her. Look, one is her sister, and the other is her master. She’s caught in the middle and in a difficult position. Earlier, when she learned of this news, she asked the Emperor for his opinion. The Emperor didn’t explicitly say to abandon the child, so she grew anxious and was willing to give up her position to accommodate the Secondary Consort. But then the Emperor refused and even reprimanded her for it. If you blame her now, wouldn’t that be unjust?"She spoke softly to soothe her, and the Empress Dowager gradually calmed her anger, though she remained displeased, her voice cold as she said, "The winter solstice is just around the corner. I’d like to see how your brother explains himself to them. Don’t think that just because he’s the emperor, he can do whatever he pleases. If he angers those feudal princes, he may not come out unscathed."
Wanwan was also at a loss, imagining that the emperor must have his reasons, but she had already resolved to stay out of the matter.
In her memory, winter had always been accompanied by ice and snow. The remnants of snow from a few days ago were once again covered, icicles hung upside down from the glazed tiles on the walls, and the northwest wind swept through, freezing everything like a nine-toothed rake.
Outside, the world was frozen and blanketed in snow, but inside the Cultivating Virtue Palace, it was warm and cozy. Thick felt curtains hung on the doors, the heated kang in the room was already lit, and fruits sent as tribute from the south were placed on the table. When the curtain was lifted, a rich fruity fragrance filled the air.
On days when Wanwan couldn’t go outside, she spent most of her time playing musical instruments, practicing calligraphy, or painting. Occasionally, she would also do needlework, following Nurse Matron’s lead to embroider pouches. She would stretch a small lotus bud just beginning to show its tip on an embroidery hoop, meticulously perfecting it stitch by stitch.
That day, as she sat by the south window, threading a needle, she saw a figure winding its way around the glazed screen wall through the wind and snow. Shielded from the storm, the umbrella obscured his face, but she could see the rising dragon embroidered on his chest, its scales and mane bristling with energy. His bright yellow ceremonial robe swayed with his steps, neither hurried nor slow, until he reached the corridor beneath the eaves.
Wanwan was somewhat surprised, wondering why the emperor would suddenly visit. Before she could give it much thought, the palace maid lifted the curtain to announce his arrival, and she had already tidied her appearance and greeted him at the door.
When the emperor entered, he saw her standing solemnly to the side, as if she couldn’t understand why he had come. For a moment, he was lost in thought. After a while, he let out an "oh" and stepped forward to offer a light, supportive gesture, saying, "I was passing by the Cultivating Virtue Palace and thought I’d stop by to see you. What have you been busy with lately?"
Wanwan ushered the emperor to the throne, then brought a teacup to offer him tea, replying, "The weather is too cold to do much of anything. I happened to come across two new embroidery patterns, so I’m embroidering a pouch for my brother."
The emperor was taken aback. "For me?" He picked up the embroidery hoop and glanced at it. "A lotus flower?"
She smiled sheepishly. "A noble gentleman is pure and lofty, and the lotus suits him perfectly. I even got frostbite while sketching the design. Look, Brother."
She extended her right hand, her fingers slender and fair as scallion stalks. On the tip of her little finger was indeed a small red spot, about the size of a mung bean, faintly visible beneath the skin. According to her, it itched terribly, and even sparrow brain ointment couldn’t cure it.
The emperor chuckled. "You’re no longer a child, yet you’re using remedies meant for little ones—of course it won’t work. The servants below are also at fault. Isn’t the room warm enough? How could they let their mistress get frostbite!" He turned and called for Chongmao, "Bring the ointment the Goryeo people prepared for Her Highness, and add two more incense cages. Light the ones behind the screen as well."
Daughters of the Murong family were born with extraordinary nobility. Before the emperor ascended the throne, he had been solely focused on producing sons at home, leaving him now without a princess of his own. Since Emperor Xiaozong, Wanwan was the only daughter in three generations, which made him particularly fond of this younger sister. Wanwan had a gentle and contented nature, harboring no selfish desires and adapting easily to her circumstances. Her demands were even fewer than those of pampered young ladies raised in ordinary households. Watching her frown and rub her frostbitten finger, the emperor felt an indescribable ache in his heart.But her absurd brother was now setting his sights on her today...
He licked his lips, feeling troubled. After glancing at her, he gestured with his hand and said, "You may sit as well. There's no need for such formality in front of your own brother."
Wanwan sensed something unusual about him and felt uneasy. She took a seat in the lower position and asked cautiously, "Brother, did you come to see me today because you have something to say?"
The Emperor swallowed, slowly shook his head, then nodded.
She smiled, "What does that mean? Is there something or not?"
The Emperor dared not look up, keeping his eyes fixed on the gold-threaded embroidery on his lap. "I still remember the eve of Father's passing, when he summoned me and Eldest Brother to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to speak. He said that all worldly matters could be set aside, but he was only worried about you, urging us brothers to take good care of you. Eight years have passed in the blink of an eye, and you are now fifteen. We Xianbei people do not have a coming-of-age ceremony, but by Han standards, you are already a young lady. I have been thinking lately that I must not delay your future. I must find a good match for you, so as to honor our late father and Eldest Brother... Wanwan, if there is someone you like in your heart, you can tell your brother. There is no need to feel embarrassed. We are the closest of kin, bound by blood. In this vast palace, only we are truly heart-to-heart."
Wanwan felt a faint sense of foreboding. Logically, Eldest Brother had also mentioned to her last year that she should consider choosing an Imperial Consort for herself. At that time, she hadn’t felt the slightest bit flustered. Why, when it came to this Second Brother, did she feel so uneasy?
She forced a slight smile, "You came all this way in the snow just for this? Although I am not young anymore, I haven’t yet thought about marriage..."
Before she could finish, he interrupted, "I heard a piece of news. On the night of the Mid-Autumn banquet, that scoundrel son of the Zhao family behaved improperly toward you, and it was the Prince of Nanyuan who saved you. Is that true?"
Wanwan’s heart skipped a beat. She had thought this matter would never be brought up again and wondered where he had learned of it.
The Emperor did not wait for her reply and continued slowly, "It truly fits the saying: when fate arrives, it cannot be stopped. In terms of character and talent, the Prince of Nanyuan is indeed outstanding. If you have any inclination toward him, I will arrange a marriage for you, so that you two may be united as lovers."
Wanwan was startled and hurriedly turned to look at Tong Huan, who was standing nearby in attendance. Tong Huan was stunned, likely not expecting the Emperor to suddenly take such a step.
Her expression darkened, "Has Your Majesty forgotten the ancestral decree? The Yuwen Clan of Nanyuan is forbidden from marrying a princess. If you arrange a marriage for me, are you not afraid of criticism from the court officials?"The Emperor clearly did not care about those Remonstrance Officials, declaring arrogantly, "Destruction precedes construction. While ancestral teachings must be followed, we should still distinguish between right and wrong, and weigh priorities. Why is the Yuwen Clan forbidden from marrying a princess? Because our ancestors feared the Feudal Princes would grow too powerful and harm the imperial court. Now, the military forces of all the Feudal Princes are under the court's control. The Feudal Princes are merely empty shells—what is there to fear? Our dynasty has eight Feudal Princes, and in terms of wealth, the Prince of Nanyuan alone is the most prosperous. If you were to marry and go south of the Yangtze, a life of luxury and comfort might not be inferior to staying in the capital. As your Brother, I only wish for your happiness. I have observed the officials in the court, but they are all mediocre—none can compare to the Prince of Nanyuan. Besides, you have interacted with him before, and you know his character and appearance. Marrying him would not disgrace you."
He spoke as if the matter were already settled, and only then did Wanwan realize she was being used to fill a gap. He had been involved with another man's concubine, and now, unable to repay the debt, he wanted to use her as compensation.
Her face flushed with anger. "These words must have come from the Secondary Consort, right? Is Your Majesty here today to issue an imperial decree?"
Struck where it hurt, the Emperor grew furious from shame. "What nonsense are you talking!"
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she began to cry. "Back then, Eldest Brother repeatedly warned me not to choose the Prince of Nanyuan. Yet now, my own full-blooded Brother, born from the same mother, is willing to trade me for someone else's concubine. Second Brother, we are supposed to be the closest. Why are you not as good as Eldest Brother?"
The Emperor detested being compared to Emperor Yuanzhen the most, as his ascension to the throne had been murky, and the Late Emperor had almost become a scar in his heart. Wanwan had touched a raw nerve this time, provoking his rage. He raised his voice, "I have indulged you too much in the past, and now you dare speak to me like this! I am not sending you to some barren wasteland—how have I wronged you in any way? Say no more. Stay quietly in your palace and await my decree!" With a snort, he turned and stormed away.
Wanwan stood there woodenly, feeling as if ice had formed in her chest. She had originally held some affection for the Prince of Nanyuan, but now that she had been treated like plaster for mending a broken bowl, used to patch up a mess, even that fondness turned to dislike.
Her face was ashen. Tong Huan and Xiao You rushed to support her, settling her on the southern kang and urging anxiously, "Your Highness, don’t worry. The decree hasn’t been issued yet. If His Majesty comes to his senses, this might not count."
She slowly shook her head. "If this were just a joke, he wouldn’t have come specifically to Cultivating Virtue Palace today. I’m not afraid to tell you both—being betrothed to the Prince of Nanyuan should make me happy. I wronged him last time, and now I can finally make amends. But precisely at this moment, the Emperor has broken my heart. What kind of full-blooded sibling treats me like this?"
Tong Huan was at a loss. After all, the Emperor’s word was final. Moreover, the Secondary Consort of the Prince of Nanyuan was pregnant. The Emperor wanted both the woman and the child, so he had no choice but to sacrifice his own sister.
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