If she had rеmаinеd in thе dаrk and gone, thеn sо be it. But nоw that she knеw thе truth, shе сеrtаinly wouldn’t fоolishly allow herself tо bе maniрulatеd.
Wаnwаn mаy nоt hаvе mаnу talеnts, but she knew how tо fеign illness. Whеn the day аrrived, she сould send sоmеоnе tо thе Рalaсе of Еаrthlу Trаnquility аt thе last minute, сlаiming she hаd caught a сhill and was bedriddеn. Еvеn if Emрress Zhao wаs disрlеasеd, Wаnwаn wоuldn’t hаvе to fасe hеr—so whу worry?
With sрring at its finеst, hеr Аrhat соuсh wаs placеd where she could sеe the crаbapрle trее. A gеntle breeze carried a faint fragrance, flowing through the intricately carved moon cave window, refreshing the senses. She looked up at the drifting clouds above the treetops, rarely feeling troubled. For instance, when she first heard from Wu Qi about The Empress’s self-appointed matchmaking obsession, she was quite annoyed. But after a night’s sleep and two lamb eye buns the next morning, her mood lifted considerably. Life is full of setbacks—if she took every one to heart, there would be no way to live peacefully.
On the desk, the characters she had just practiced were held down by a paperweight. A sudden gust of wind lifted the rice paper, making a crisp rustling sound. She turned over, lying with her back to the door. As noon approached, drowsiness set in. Today, she had no desire to sing; her limbs felt too heavy to lift. Xiao You tiptoed over to lower the threshold window, then went to tidy the writing tools on the desk. Suddenly, she exclaimed, “Director Xiao is here!” Hearing this, Wanwan immediately sat up.
Glancing around and seeing no one, Xiao You burst into laughter. Only then did Wanwan realize she had been tricked.
“Nurse Matron asked you to embroider, and you said you were too sleepy. How is it that the moment Director Xiao is mentioned, you’re suddenly full of energy?”
Wanwan sheepishly touched her face. “I just remembered I still have two pages of scriptures left to copy, so I thought I’d get up and work on them.” To save face, she slowly rose from the couch and moved behind the desk.
Still unwilling to let it go, she glanced around. “Has the Eunuch Official been here today?”
Xiao You said no. “He’s a very busy man. I heard from Wu Qi that the Directorate of Ceremonial is about to see a shift in power. Director Xiao is the most capable among the four Brush-holding eunuchs. I think he’s sure to become the Seal Holder this time.”
Wanwan dipped her small brush into the inkstone for a long while. “Actually, the Eunuch Official is quite good, just a bit intimidating…”
“What kind of place is the Eastern Factory? You might be the only one who thinks well of someone who serves as its Superintendent.” Xiao You leaned over to blow dust off the water caltrop flower, tilting her head thoughtfully. “But then again, if His Excellency becomes the Seal Holder, it would benefit us. After all, he once managed affairs in our palace—he’s bound to be more considerate than others! If he could support you, even if The Emperor couldn’t attend to you, he could at least look out for you.”
The current situation was rather awkward. In the early days of Great Ye, the Directorate of Ceremonial was merely an administrative office within the palace. Later emperors grew increasingly reliant on it, to the point where the eunuch in charge now wielded power almost equal to that of the Chief Cabinet Minister. Although Wanwan was a girl, she had her own insights into politics. Emperor Taizu had explicitly forbidden eunuch interference in governance, and history offered ample warnings. Yet, his descendants had completely disregarded their ancestor’s words. Sometimes, she thought far ahead, wondering how the fate of the nation would ultimately unfold. Of course, if a eunuch had to be chosen to share The Emperor’s burdens, Xiao Duo was a decent choice.
Xiao You pretended to fool her again, curtsying toward the door. “Greetings to Director Xiao.”
Wanwan didn’t even lift an eyebrow. “If I believed you the first time and fell for it again the second time, I’d be a fool.”
“Your Highness, who are you calling a fool?”Someone indeed lifted the curtain and entered from outside. Wanwan turned to look: the newcomer wore a black gauze cap and a scented-colored embroidered python flying fish robe. Even with a detached expression, his eyes always held a hint of a smile.
She was taken aback for a moment, then stood up and addressed him as "Eunuch Official." Director Xiao bowed to her with clasped hands. "Someone from the palace came to report that Your Highness was unwell, so I came specifically to check on you." His gaze swept over her. "Where does Your Highness feel discomfort?"
Wanwan was very nervous, awkwardly touching her forehead. "It's just that my head feels hot, my throat is uncomfortable... and I feel weak, with cold sweats..."
Director Xiao's eyebrows lifted almost imperceptibly. "Judging by the symptoms, it seems quite serious." He turned to reprimand the attendants outside: "With Her Highness ill, why hasn't anyone summoned an imperial physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau? With so many of you here, what are you all doing?"
Within the depths of the palace, the Grand Secretary Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial held absolute power over life and death. The lives of palace maids and attendants were merely a matter of his word, so they all turned pale with fear, prostrating themselves and kowtowing incessantly.
Seeing that she could no longer hide the truth, Wanwan had no choice but to confess honestly. "Eunuch Official, please don't be angry. It was I who told them not to summon an imperial physician because I'm not actually ill." She lowered her head, her face flushing red. "Empress Zhao invited me to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility for pastries the other day. I didn't want to go but couldn't refuse, so I had to plead illness as an excuse. Now that you know the truth, please don't tell Empress Zhao. I'm afraid of offending her and would feel embarrassed when we meet again."
Director Xiao's expression remained unchanged from beginning to end. He listened calmly and then replied with equal composure, "Your Highness is the Princess Royal, a descendant of the late emperor, and your status is incomparably noble. Within this palace, no one can force you to do anything you do not wish to do. You are grown now and have your own judgment. If something troubles you or causes even the slightest discomfort, there is no need to overthink it—it is certainly not a good thing."
Wanwan looked up, feeling immensely grateful for his words. It was true that she was the Princess Royal, but having lost her mother at a young age, she had grown timid and accustomed to gauging others' moods. Take him, for example: he was here to oversee her palace affairs. In principle, she was the master, and he the servant—there was no reason for her to fear him. Yet, somehow, she always felt a sense of dread toward him, mixed with a certain dependence. Perhaps it was because there were few who genuinely cared for her, so when she encountered one, she found it exceptionally precious.
She clasped her hands and nodded earnestly. "I will remember your words, Eunuch Official."
Director Xiao smiled upon hearing this. "I am merely a palace attendant. Your Highness need not be so courteous to me." As he spoke, he waved his hand to dismiss everyone from the corridor and lowered his voice. "Your Highness only knows that Empress Zhao invited you for pastries, but are you aware that Consort Shao is currently seeking the emperor's permission for a marriage arrangement?"
Wanwan was startled. "A marriage arrangement? For whom?"
He looked at her with a smile. "Naturally, for Your Highness."
This left her at a loss. When the empress had stopped her outside the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, Consort Shao had been nearby. Neither she nor Xiao You had understood the empress's intention in asking about her age, but Consort Shao had grasped it immediately. Since the empress was taking a roundabout approach, Consort Shao decided to do the opposite—directly requesting an imperial decree would save much more time and effort than beating around the bush.
As the Princess Royal, she truly felt pitiful and sorrowful. Angered, she clenched her fists and declared, "I will not marry!"But no matter how good her maternal home was, there was no reason to stay there forever. Moreover, being granted a marriage was broadly speaking a good thing. You could dislike the person who tried every means to send you away, but you had no reason to dislike the matter itself.
Knowing her stance was untenable, her expression grew even more somber. Twisting her fingers, she said, "Eunuch Official, this matter is already making me unhappy. What should I do?"
"This humble official has said that anything that makes you unhappy is not a good thing. Since you dislike it, you can simply ignore it."
Could she really ignore it? She felt as if she were spinning in circles at the center of the earth. If she left it there to sprout, one day an imperial decree might suddenly arrive. She wanted to enter the Palace of Heavenly Purity to see the emperor in person. It wasn’t that she couldn’t do it, but she feared it might later alarm the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility. After weighing the pros and cons, she asked Xiao Duo for his opinion. He only shook his head, urging her to remain patient. After all, her marriage was not something that could be decided in a few words; there would be plenty of opportunities for her to speak.
"Your Highness, look, you’ve suddenly become the center of attention," Xiao You said with a hint of finding joy in hardship. "The palace ladies are all currying favor, trying to draw you into their families. But neither of those two families has anyone particularly outstanding—they’re like mud pigs and mangy dogs, yet they still dream of marrying a princess."
Wanwan stood under the flowering tree, lost in thought, devising a set of responses in case her brother the emperor summoned her. Xiao Duo was right: one should not look down on others, nor should one lower oneself into the dust. Although she had lost her parents, her status remained. In the past, the Princess Royal was ceremonially equivalent to a prince—was she any less than anyone else?
She straightened her posture. "Xiao You, look at me. How is my presence?"
Xiao You said, "The weather isn’t warm enough yet. When summer arrives and we wear lighter clothes, we’ll be able to see your figure better."
They were not talking about the same thing. Wanwan sighed in frustration, turned away, broke off a branch of crabapple to take back for a vase. The maid followed closely behind, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, whispering in her ear, "Your Highness… Your Highness, this servant’s heart is in turmoil. I want to talk to you about something."
She hummed in acknowledgment. "What is it?"
"That Junior Director Xiao… his relationship with Empress Zhao is not ordinary. Earlier, when you entrusted him with that matter, he promised you he would keep it secret, but what if he turns around and sells you out to Empress Zhao?"
"What do you mean, ‘not ordinary’?" Wanwan asked.
Xiao You cupped her hand like a trumpet and leaned close to her ear. "It’s said that the Junior Director serves Her Majesty… all the way to the embroidered bed…" She shrugged awkwardly. "Think about it."
Wanwan’s expression changed upon hearing this, and she scolded in a low voice, "Watch your words. It’s fine if you talk nonsense in front of me, but if others hear, how will you survive?" Xiao You was so frightened she stuck out her tongue. Wanwan also felt as if the sky had suddenly lowered, dark clouds pressing down, suffocating her.
This palace was truly a tangled mess. She had thought there were at least some comforting aspects, but who knew that darkness lurked even under the lamp—so dark it was like a deep well.
She was a young girl; some matters were not for her to inquire about, and even if she heard them, she should pretend she hadn’t. It was just a pity. She had once greatly admired Xiao Duo’s character, but now… it was truly hard to put into words.She felt dejected and disappointed with reality, but fortunately, the Emperor's attitude offered her some comfort. No matter how favored Consort Shao was, her elder brother had not used her marriage as a favor. After careful consideration, he had still summoned her to the Palace of Heavenly Purity to ask for her opinion in person.
When she stepped into the Eastern Warm Pavilion, the Emperor was sitting by the south window, leaning against the kang table as he examined a set of Mongolian fire sickles. His thin profile reflected in the glass pane, like a faint, ethereal shadow. Seeing her arrive, he set aside the items in his hand and smiled, gesturing to the side. "Sit."
The bond between the siblings was deep, not distanced by the fact that they were not born of the same mother. Before the Late Emperor passed away, he had specifically summoned the Crown Prince to entrust her to his care. Later, when the Crown Prince ascended the throne, even as the supreme ruler, he had privately instructed her that, in the absence of outsiders, she need not observe the formalities between sovereign and subject.
The Emperor's benevolence stemmed from his regard for their sibling bond, but she could not take this kindness for granted. Before the Emperor, she remained respectful, offering blessings and greetings. Only after the Emperor granted her a seat did she compose herself, express her gratitude, and then sit down gracefully.
"I heard from the chief eunuch that Your Majesty is feeling better today. Looking at your energy, it seems no less than before," she observed her brother carefully. "Are you feeling unwell now? If you have any headaches or discomfort, summon the Imperial Physician for a proper diagnosis. You mustn’t avoid taking medicine just because it’s bitter."
She wasn’t skilled at comforting others, and the Emperor found her words amusing. "Do you think I’m like you, afraid of bitter medicine? Don’t worry, I’m truly much better today. I could even practice a couple of martial arts routines without issue."
Wanwan’s face brightened with a smile. After a pause, she asked, "Why did you summon me, Brother? I await your instructions."
"It’s nothing major. Yesterday, the Imperial Consort mentioned Wen Yue, the Chief of the Court of State Ceremonial, while speaking with me..." The eunuch brought tea, and the Emperor paused, lifting the lid to stir the tea leaves. He continued in a measured tone, "That Wen Yue has just turned twenty this year. He’s exceptionally handsome and well-versed in music."
"The Court of State Ceremonial oversees court assemblies, guest receptions, and ceremonial rites for auspicious and inauspicious occasions. A chief, a sixth-rank official..." She gently clenched her fist. "I live secluded in the palace and do not concern myself with affairs of the outer court. Why are you mentioning this person to me, Brother?"
She had come prepared. Without explicitly stating it, she laid out the details of the man’s official position as if reciting from memory. If he truly wished to marry a princess, a sixth-rank minor official was far too presumptuous. There had never been a precedent in this dynasty for a princess to marry so far beneath her station.
The Emperor might have initially intended to test the waters, but she effortlessly rebuffed him. Upon further reflection, he realized that such a marriage would indeed be a disservice to his sister. Shaking his head, he said, "It was my oversight. Let’s forget this matter. I won’t bring it up again."
Wanwan breathed a sigh of relief and stood to thank him. "I’ve always been grateful for your concern, Brother. But I’m still young and wish to fulfill my filial duties by our mother’s side for a few more years, so as not to betray her care in raising me. Marriage is not a difficult matter—it can be arranged in just a few months, and I could marry as soon as it’s decided. I’m just afraid that others may not cherish me as you do. What would I do then?"She was still very much a child at heart. Even when she was stubborn and unreasonable at times, the Emperor never held it against her, simply smiling and saying, "You are the Princess Royal, who would dare to give you a hard time? If your Imperial Consort ever troubles you, come back to the palace and file an Imperial complaint. I'll have him beaten black and blue to vent your anger. But jokes aside, it's time to start thinking about your marriage. There's no need to rush into a marriage of a princess right away, but you should have some idea in mind so you won't be flustered later. At fourteen, you're not exactly old, but you're not too young either. I originally wanted to ask the Empress Dowager for advice, but I was afraid you might not be willing, so I’m putting you first. Let’s see what you think."
Wanwan fidgeted a little and said, "I knew Big Brother would side with me. I’ll remember your words, and I’d also like to ask for a favor from you, Brother—please don’t force me to marry someone I don’t like in the future. If the Empress Dowager is unhappy, I beg you to help smooth things over for me. I’ll be grateful to you for the rest of my life."
The Emperor sighed, coughed a few times before finally stopping, and took a moment to catch his breath. "It’s not hard to promise you that, but you must also be sensible yourself. There’s an opportunity coming up now. During the Dragon Boat Festival, the palace will host a grand banquet. The officials and princes who have been enfeoffed in the outer regions haven’t been summoned to the capital for six or seven years. I’ve heard some rumors and need to rein them in a bit. I remember when the late Emperor was still here, he always took you to banquets. This year, you should attend the banquet with the Empress Dowager and the Empress. You can take a look during the feast and see if there are any suitable candidates." Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he emphasized, "You can consider anyone, but not the barbarians from the Southern Garden. The Murong princesses do not marry into the Yuwen Clan, remember?"
Wanwan had heard before that the Southern Garden Qi people had red eyebrows and green eyes. Back in the Qilian Mountains area, they caused trouble until Emperor Taizu personally led a campaign to subdue those monsters. As a princess of a great nation, she naturally wouldn’t marry into an alien tribe. But the Emperor’s repeated warnings only made her more curious...
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