Нeavеn wаs kind, sеnding аn unеxpeсtеd downpоur. In the south аftеr thе аwаkеning of inseсts, when clouds gathered, thеу did so with еarth-shаking fоrсе. Seеing thе skу dаrkеn was еxcellеnt. Lеt the dаrk clouds cоme fastеr, gathering thiсkеr аnd thiсkеr—bеst if it rаined for thrее daуs аnd thrеe nights, flоoding thе wаrd comроunds, so shе would have nо way to lеаvе.
Wanwаn stood by thе windоw lоoking оut. Lаrgе rаindrорs pаttеred dоwn, battеring the banаna lеаvеs in the соurtуаrd until they swaуed wildly. The scеnt of damp еarth slowlу rosе in thе air, likе a summer rainstorm in Beijing after a drought, washing the ground and stirring up dust.
The wind swept in, the light silk fluttering against her arms, felt even through her inner garment. She murmured to herself, "I wonder how long this rain will last. I’m afraid I won’t be able to go back."
Tong Huan was kneeling on the footstool, fumigating the bedding. Hearing her words, she smiled and said, "If you can’t go back, just stay here. The arrangements here all follow the standards of the Princess Royal. I’ve checked, and there are no discrepancies. As for outside matters, Steward Yu and Nurse Matrons Qin and Li are overseeing them. The rules are the same as in our Eldest Princess Residence. Your Highness need not worry."
Xiao You was delighted. "The scenery in the Princely Mansion is quite nice too. After all, they are immensely wealthy. Look at their roof tiles and rafters—they even have carvings of flowers! I think it’s fine for you to stay here long-term. After all, you’re married now and should be with the Imperial Son-in-Law. Only by being together can you bear an Heir Apparent. There’s no reason to always raise someone else’s sons."
Tong Huan had initially wanted to scoff at her, but upon hearing this, she realized that although the words were crude, they were not wrong. Today, the two young masters had already come to pay respects to their legal mother. Both were seven or eight years old. Even if the Princess Royal were to conceive immediately, it would still take ten months. If the age gap between the brothers grew too large, the Heir Apparent might suffer.
"I’ll find time to privately discuss this with the two Nurse Matrons. We’ve come for enfeoffment, so we shouldn’t rigidly enforce the rules from the capital, forcing this or that." She busied herself while glancing back. "I’ve told Your Highness before—three parts depend on heaven, seven parts on people. After all, you’ve already married into this family, and from now on, the people in this mansion are your family. There’s a limit to holding grudges. If the Prince proves sincere, we should treat him well too!"
Wanwan chuckled. "Now you’re lecturing me? How bold! You’re not me—how could you know what’s in my heart? I don’t intend to neglect him forever. The necessary formalities must still be observed." Her voice gradually softened. "Eunuch Official taught me that even between husband and wife, one must be cautious. After all, it’s not like an ordinary household."
So, even though she was no longer in the capital, Xiao Duo’s influence remained. There were few who truly cared for her, and Xiao Duo was one of them. She knew his temperament—he never spoke in absolutes. If he had specifically advised her, it meant there were indeed areas where she needed to be careful.
Tong Huan naturally had no rebuttal to Xiao Duo’s words, but mentioning him reminded her of something. "Earlier, on the way to the Ancestral Hall, I overheard people discussing that the Emperor has appointed a new Empress."
Wanwan hummed in acknowledgment. "Is it confirmed? Who is it?"
Tong Huan replied, "We’ve been on the water for a whole month. Imperial edicts travel by land, so the people here likely know before us. I only caught a snippet—something about the Prince being fortunate. First, he married the Princess Royal, and now his sister-in-law has become Empress."Wanwan’s mind buzzed with a sudden realization. Yin Ge had once been with Yuwen Liangshi, and when Yin Lou first entered the palace, she had used Yin Ge’s name. The “sister-in-law” he mentioned—could it be Yin Lou?
“How did things come to this?” she felt deeply troubled. “My brother has truly gone mad with his alchemy. Forbidden from enfeoffing Yin Ge, he turned around and enfeoffed Yin Lou instead.”
Although Yin Lou was close to her, in Wanwan’s view, she was hardly a suitable candidate for Empress. Yin Lou had neither the ambition nor the cunning to be Empress. Her heart was wholly devoted to Xiao Duo, inside and out. If she truly became Empress, it would only bring misery to three people.
Seeing her agitation, Tong Huan hurriedly comforted her, “I only heard this through rumors—the news may not be accurate. When the Prince arrives later, you can ask him yourself. If he confirms it, then it must be true.”
Anxious, Wanwan glanced outside at the heavy rain. She called to Xiao You, “Send someone to invite the Prince. I have questions for him.”
Xiao You replied, “I’d better go myself. Nanny Li can be rather oblivious—if she stops the messenger, it would only cause delays.” As she spoke, she stepped under the eaves, raised a Smoke Tree Umbrella, and ventured out into the rain.
Pacing restlessly in the room, with only Tong Huan remaining, Wanwan sighed, “I fear Yin Lou may end up walking the same path as Empress Zhao. Such a kind person, if steeped in power for too long, might she not become hardened and ruthless?”
Tong Huan covered her mouth with a light laugh. “That one was already rather hardened to begin with.” Then she patted her own cheek. “How dreadful of me! If Consort Bu truly becomes Empress, speaking of her like this would be courting death!”
Wanwan recalled Yin Lou’s glib and witty manner and couldn’t help but smile. Yet, after the laughter, a heaviness settled in her heart. A good person, once touched by power, could turn corrupt—just like her Second Brother. Now, the Directorate of Ceremonial almost rivaled the Inner Cabinet in influence. With an Empress added to the mix, she wondered if Second Brother, that counterweight, could still steady the realm.
“I always fear unexpected changes,” she murmured, slowly closing the window and sitting down by the incense table. “Somehow, lately, my heart has been uneasy, dreading that something might go wrong.”
Tong Huan said, “What could possibly go wrong? You are already married now. Let me advise you—leave matters of state to the men. As for you, when you have leisure, read books, play the zither, and take good care of yourself. That’s what truly matters.”
Wanwan listened, then smiled faintly, pressing her lips together. “What you say makes sense. I’ll remember it—to put myself first in all things.”
Before she could say more, Tong Huan glanced toward the door and softly exclaimed, “The Prince has arrived so quickly—almost as if he were waiting for word.” With that, she picked up the incense burner, bowed respectfully at the doorway, and withdrew outside.
He entered, lifting the hem of his robe, his brows lively and his eyes misted with a gentle smile. He did not presume, offering a slight bow before standing respectfully to the side. Wanwan, however, felt somewhat awkward remaining seated so composedly. She rose and nodded to him. “Please sit, Prince. There are matters I wish to seek your counsel on.”
He replied humbly, “Your Highness need only command. Liangshi will obey without question.”
She lowered her head, sensing that there was indeed something amiss in their interactions. Regardless of how things were before the marriage, now that they had reached this point, if she did not lower her stance a little, it would only become more difficult to move forward.
“There’s no need for such formality, Prince. Every time we meet like this, I feel rather uneasy myself.” She gestured gently. “Please sit. It’s easier to talk when seated.”He expressed his thanks and took a seat on the other side of the incense table, self-mockingly saying, "Your Highness comes from noble birth, and your marriage to me—to be honest, I still feel as if I'm dreaming."
She found this unreasonable. "In Great Ye, there are eight feudal princes, some sharing the imperial surname, others not. Regardless of whether they are relatives of the imperial family, their status is established. Why do you act as if you're beneath me? Since we are now a family, let's not speak of status anymore. Am I noble, and are you lowly? And there's no need for formalities like 'Your Highness'—I truly don't deserve it. Setting aside our backgrounds, you are older than me. In ordinary conversation, let's address each other as equals; it will feel more intimate."
After speaking gently, she paused to reflect and realized her tone still sounded like she was lecturing a subordinate, which left her feeling uneasy. He, however, was magnanimous. In his view, this was a good start. That she could take the initiative to show goodwill so quickly already exceeded his expectations.
It wasn't reverence for her status that held him back; it was actually because he liked her too much. He had admired her for so long, seeing her as unattainably high, wanting to be close but lacking the courage. Sometimes he felt foolish, wondering why he had to bow and scrape before her, yet he couldn't help himself—he wanted to cherish and adore her, to the point where even his son disapproved, reminding him not to be overly sentimental.
What did a young lad understand? He had his reasons. Those who spoke without feeling the strain either hadn't yet awakened to love or had experienced countless women. He fell into neither category, so he preferred to treat her as an honored guest, a way of expressing his devotion.
A servant girl brought tea, and he took it, personally handing it to her. "I'm afraid I might fall short in some way and inadvertently offend you. Since we're addressing each other as equals, from now on, don't call me 'Prince.' You can call me Liangshi or... husband. Both are fine."
Wanwan, who had been wearing a gentle smile, felt her eyelids twitch at his words. What an audacious person—give him an inch, and he'd take a mile. Using his given name was one thing, but "husband"... She flushed, feeling almost murderous. Was this verbal impropriety? Upon careful consideration, it didn't quite seem so, which only frustrated her more. She shot him a resentful glare.
He, however, appeared entirely innocent, as if unaware, blinking as he asked, "What's wrong? Doesn't 'husband' sound good? Should we choose another term?"
She was seething with anger, afraid he might come up with even stranger words, and hurriedly said, "No, let's take it slowly. As you said before, take it slowly."
He suddenly found her adorable, this habit of settling for the next best thing. This temperament wasn't entirely bad; if she hadn't been open-minded, he might not have reached this point today. He also sadly realized that he was the result of her settling for the next best thing. If she had been given a choice between Xiao Duo and him in the past, she might have blurted out, "Who in their right mind would choose Yuwen Liangshi!"
Very well, very well—he had gotten lucky and was utterly satisfied. His patience had never been better. "You called me here in such heavy rain; it must be urgent. Please speak, Your Highness. I'm listening."
Wanwan snapped back to attention. "There are rumors on the streets that the Emperor has taken an empress. I've been on the water lately, so the news isn't reliable. I called you here to ask: who exactly was chosen?"
He furrowed his brows and smiled. "It's Consort Duan. Half a month after Your Highness's marriage, the Emperor personally announced the decree at a banquet. The proclamation has already spread far and wide; there's no mistake."She sat there in silence for a long while, simply unable to comprehend what kind of game The Emperor was playing. Using his only sister to fill a gap, bestowing the pregnant Yin Ge upon a minor sixth-rank official, while Yin Lou, who held no place for him in her heart, had become The Empress. If this was all part of imperial strategy, it seemed far too convoluted and bizarre. Yet, how could she comment? She could only smile helplessly, "The Emperor surely has his reasons."
Of course, she would not criticize The Emperor; all her regrets lay in the fact that Xiao Duo and Bu Yinlou could not be together. To be honest, she was a foolish girl. Despite her composed demeanor most of the time, he could see from the secret reports he received just how tender-hearted she truly was. Clearly in love with Xiao Duo, yet upon learning that Bu Yinlou had paired with him, she willingly stepped aside—what sense did that make? Could it be that a dignified Princess Royal was inferior to that half-baked talent? Perhaps her restraint was all for the sake of others, but that eccentric man was hardly worth her such devotion.
He had seen Bu Yinlou before—beautiful, yes, and possessing some charm, but compared to Wanwan, she fell far short. Which of Xiao Duo’s eyes had gone blind, that he would abandon such a wonderful Wanwan and instead become infatuated with her? Perhaps it was as the saying goes: one man’s poison is another man’s honey.
He gazed intently at her; her profile was like jade, flawless in every way. Was it because she was too perfect that the false eunuch dared not defile her? Yet she was despondent, constantly worrying over the one who had abandoned her—a pitiful waste of her tender heart.
Suppressing his jealousy, he asked softly, "Why do you seem unhappy? The Empress has always been on good terms with you. Now that she has ascended to the position of Empress of the Realm, it could be said her merits are complete."
Her eyelashes lowered, she appeared fragile and beautiful under the lamplight. Shaking her head, she said, "She may not have wanted to become The Empress, accustomed as she was to a carefree life."
He smiled and sighed deeply. "Perhaps so."
Wanwan sensed an underlying meaning in his words and probed further, "It has been several months since the previous empress was deposed last year. I also advised The Emperor to appoint a new empress, but I never expected that among so many consorts in the palace, she would be the one chosen. In Your Highness’s view, what is The Emperor’s intention now?"
His hands rested on his knees, the surging cloud patterns on the Knee Pleats accentuating his fair knuckles. He tapped his fingertips lightly, pondering before speaking, "Your Highness resides deep within the palace and likely knows little of affairs in the imperial court. The Directorate of Ceremonial has grown powerful, and The Emperor has entrusted the authority of Red Annotation entirely to Xiao Duo. The relationship between the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Inner Cabinet has become one of superior and subordinate. The Emperor relies on him too heavily and must find ways to restrain him; otherwise, if left unchecked, he may become the next Li Fuguo."
He paused, observing her expression. Her brow furrowed slightly, lost in thought.
He fell silent, and she finally murmured, "Please continue, Your Highness."
When it came to a rival, what good could be said? He had never liked Xiao Duo to begin with, so naturally, he spared no effort in vilifying him.
"Your Highness is pure-hearted and judges people only by appearances. Xiao Duo may be diligent in his duties within the palace, but that does not mean his political affairs are clean. The Emperor’s handling of this matter may seem unpredictable to others, but I believe it is a wise and illuminating strategy—a method of remaining still to counter movement." He bit his lip slightly and turned his head away. "I assume Your Highness is already aware of the matter between Xiao Duo and The Empress?"
Wanwan was startled, then her expression darkened. "Where did Your Highness hear such rumors?"She was still defending them even now. If only she could ever be so inclined toward him, he would be overjoyed even in his dreams. However, trusting someone too much and constantly keeping them in mind inevitably left no room for him. After much deliberation, if he didn’t take drastic measures, he would forever be lingering in her presence as Xiao Duo’s shadow. This was not a good situation to let continue.
He looked at her intently, speaking word by word, “Last year, the imperial court assigned him to handle the silk trade in the south. He lived and ate with Consort Duan, and this was no secret. Since The Emperor values him, he naturally keeps a guard up as well. So, The Emperor is likely aware of his affair with The Empress. To keep The Empress in check, Xiao Duo must serve The Emperor wholeheartedly. But this man is not simple—if things go wrong, he could hold the emperor hostage to command the nobles. That would be The Emperor’s miscalculation.”
She listened quietly, her heart sinking deeper with each word. She truly was still too naive. The intricate web of relationships here was far more complex than mere chaos. So, when The Emperor used the incident of Yin Ge being beaten to depose Empress Zhang, it was actually to make way for Yin Lou. What did the empress’s throne mean in his eyes? A shackle to bind Yin Lou and Xiao Duo, so he could have more leisure to refine elixirs and seek enlightenment?
Unable to hold back her disappointment, she turned away, then felt the matter was not so simple. She gave him a faint smile. “I heard that Your Highness was able to enter Tanzhe Temple last time because he showed leniency. With such a good friendship between you, I’ve never heard him mention it.”
He was momentarily stunned by her words. A girl with such sharp thinking was truly hard to deal with. He rubbed his forehead, somewhat awkwardly. “Your Highness, don’t misunderstand. Seal-holding Xiao is a man of feeling. He knew I was sincere and couldn’t bear to make things difficult for me.”
She shot him a cold glance. “Is that so? To make him willingly take the risk of letting you in—I never knew he was such a kind-hearted person.”
What was it called to lift a stone only to drop it on one’s own foot? This was it! His original intention was to make her see that Xiao Duo only had Bu Yinlou in his heart, but she approached it from another angle, indirectly deducing that he had used this as leverage to trouble the one she loved. What kind of bargain was this! It seemed that in their future marital life, they would have to engage in constant wit and courage. Perhaps even a small oversight would allow her to glimpse the truth.
She stood up, flicking her sleeve as if to leave, but he grabbed her arm. “Wanwan… can we speak calmly? You asked for my opinion, so I told you based on the current situation. If anything is inappropriate, just refute it. Why get angry? In this world, devoted men aren’t limited to Xiao Duo alone. You…”
Wanwan was truly provoked by him. What did he mean by that? Had he seen through her? Her face flushed with anger. “What nonsense are you spouting? What does Xiao Duo have to do with me?”
Fortunately, he was quick-witted and replied sheepishly, “What I meant was, he is devoted to The Empress, and I am the same toward you.”
Only then did she calm down slightly, though the tears that had gathered in her eyes could not be held back and fell.
Feeling she had lost her composure, she quickly turned away to wipe them. When she turned back and saw his stunned expression, she regretted it deeply. This time, she had confessed without being pressed, and he had likely already seen through her.
He frowned, looking dejected. “Your Highness…”
She quickly cut him off. “Don’t say anything.”Just then, she heard Xiao You announce from the doorway, "Master, it's about time. Shall we serve the meal now?"
She gestured toward the side hall. "Would the Prince join us at the table? Where are the two young masters having their meal? Should we send someone to fetch them?"
He declined. "They've been with E'nie since they were little. They've likely already eaten by now. Sending for them might disturb the old lady." Then he instructed the attendant outside, "I'll dine here today. Inform the old lady that I won't be going over in the evening."
Wanwan watched as Rong Bao kowtowed and scurried out of the courtyard, feeling something was slightly off. Turning back to look at him, she saw him smile gently and gesture with his hand. "Your Highness, please don't just stand there. Let's take our seats."
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