Нer heаrt skiрреd а beat, wanting tо аsk what he mеant by thе instruсtiоns hе hаd just givеn. She had mеrely kindly invited him to staу fоr a mеal—did hе intеnd tо оverstау his wеlсоme? Yеt it wasn’t apрrоpriаte to ask dirеctly, fеaring she might misintеrрrеt his intеntiоns аnd invitе ridicule. Shе dаwdled аs shе sаt down аnd begаn tо probе indirеctlу.
"Does Your Нighness perfоrm thе Мorning аnd Evening Salutаtiоns еverу dау?"
Не hummеd in agrееment. "With thе childrеn watching, if I, аs their Аmа, dоn’t set аn ехаmple, it’ll be hаrd to teach them in thе future." He рoured а little winе intо her сup. "This is Peach Blossom Drink from Jiangnan, mixed with honey syrup. The wine flavor is already very mild, so you can drink more without worry."
Wanwan took a small sip and found it indeed light and sweet, not as pungent as regular wine, so she indulged in a hearty gulp.
He served her dishes, but she delayed picking up her chopsticks, asking instead, "Since the rules are so strict, it wouldn’t be good to skip them today. I’m bound by ancestral precedent—princesses must reside separately in the Princess’s Residence. Without this rule, I too should be paying daily respects to the Imperial Concubine. With the heavy rain today, I can’t return, and it’s rare for me to stay overnight. Yet I’ve inconvenienced you from attending to the Imperial Concubine’s rest—if word gets out, people will criticize me."
Because she tried to consider every angle, she sometimes acted timidly. However, he could see through it clearly—she simply didn’t want him to stay, so she cloaked her intentions in moral arguments.
This time, he had no intention of being understanding. He looked at her deeply and said, "The old lady is the most sensible person. Earlier, she even said to prioritize Your Highness. Since I rarely take leave, she naturally understands. Besides, the children are also present. Without needing instructions, they know to fulfill filial duties on my behalf."
Wanwan drew out an "oh," pondering inwardly. It seemed he couldn’t be driven away. What to do? After all, he held a legitimate position, and the entire Prince’s household was surely watching in secret. If she acted too harshly, she feared unpleasant rumors.
She remained sullen and silent, causing his movements to pause, suspecting he might have said something inappropriate that displeased her. She had married him, and though he felt fortunate, he also felt unworthy of her. A pure girl, only sixteen, had become the legal mother to others, especially with two sons already grown—how could she bear it?
His hands loosened and clenched repeatedly, tangled in worry. Shadows gathered at the corners of her eyes and brows, like the sky outside. Not addressing it outright, he feared she would bottle it up and harm her health, so he mustered the courage to gauge her expression and said, "Your Highness still minds after all, don’t you?"
She looked bewildered, puzzled by his abrupt words. "What does Your Highness mean? Mind what?"
He took a breath. "I mean Lan Zhou and Lanting. To be fair, if I were in Your Highness’s position, I wouldn’t feel comfortable either. Who doesn’t wish for a marriage with no third person? Yet between us lies an entire family. Even if Your Highness wishes to be close, thinking of the illegitimate sons and those concubines, your feelings toward me must cool. Our Yuwen Clan originally herded at the foot of the Qilian Mountains. Survival on the grasslands depended on livestock and sons. The ancestors’ rules have been passed down to this day. If I violated them, I wouldn’t be sitting on the throne of the Prince of Nanyuan now. If Your Highness feels uneasy, wronged, or needs to vent anger, I will bear it all. But the facts cannot be changed. I only beg Your Highness to see things more clearly and take care of your health."Wanwan listened to him say so much, and after a moment of dullness, she suddenly understood. "Are you afraid I won't be able to accept the two children?"
He lowered his eyes and nodded. "Or perhaps marrying a princess was a mistake from the start."
Whether it was a mistake or not, it was too late to say now, but she wasn't willing to bear the blame for being misunderstood in this way.
"Your Highness, if you look at me like that, you truly underestimate me. I grew up in the palace, and throughout the dynasties, there have been so many princes and princesses, but few were born of the same mother. I myself came from that very pile, so why would I look down on two children? The Murong Clan has no precedent of marrying a princess to the Southern Garden. I don’t care about what happened before you married a princess, nor can I control it—after all, the Emperor granted this favor." She looked at the sparse peach blossoms and willow leaves at the bottom of the bowl and said, "But after marrying a princess, we must make it clear: no more taking concubines. We mustn’t break the imperial family’s rules and make me lose face. As for the two young masters, I think they’re quite fine. If they respect me, I naturally won’t treat them poorly. But if you expect me to give you a guarantee, that’s impossible. If others respect me an inch, I’ll respect them a foot. I’ve always been fair in my dealings—I won’t treat others unjustly for no reason, nor do I enjoy flattering them unnecessarily."
Her words were firm and resolute, carrying the demeanor of a proper mistress of the household. Of course, he wouldn’t expect her to treat Lan Zhou and Lanting as her own children. All he wanted was an attitude—he was a flawed man in her eyes, and only if she could tolerate him would he dare to truly draw closer to her.
But her tone seemed angry, and he anxiously said, "Don’t misunderstand me. It’s precisely because I see my own unworthiness that I feel even more unworthy of you. Since we’re speaking frankly, I understand your meaning. Your Highness is magnanimous, and I am deeply grateful. The Qi people value brotherhood above all else. Lan Zhou and Lanting will one day be the right-hand men of the heir apparent."
Wanwan’s face flushed with heat, spreading from her cheeks all the way down to her neck. Why did this man always take advantage of unexpected moments? What heir apparent? Where did that come from? How shameless!
She was left speechless by him and picked up her cup to hide her face, awkwardly trying to smooth things over. "Alright, alright… the food is getting cold. Let’s talk about this later."
Once they picked up their chopsticks, the conversation was over. Both were refined people, and they ate without making a sound. He urged her to drink, but she only smiled. In this quiet atmosphere, their hearts slowly settled. Occasionally, she glanced at him. He was earnest in everything he did, even eating, and he drank the same lukewarm clear wine with her, appearing perfectly content.
After the meal, they rinsed their mouths and moved to the corridor. The sky had already darkened deeply. Lanterns hung overhead, and the rainwater gathered on the tiles formed small streams, trickling endlessly as if they would never stop.
Wanwan tucked her sleeves and looked up. The sky hung low, and it seemed this rain would last for two days.
"On the way here, I also encountered two bouts of rain. The south has more rain than the north."
He stood with his hands behind his back, his dark blue robe accentuating his tall figure. From the side, he seemed somewhat distant, ultimately unfathomable. He hummed in agreement, his tone soft. "The land of fish and rice relies on water to thrive. This season is the yellow plum rainy season—it rains continuously, one shower after another, lasting for about twenty days.""Last year was the same, before Emperor Yuanzhen passed away, it rained for over forty days straight, nearly flooding Beijing City. But so strangely, after Big Brother ascended to the heavens, the sky suddenly cleared..." she murmured to herself, squinting her eyes. "People say those born to be emperors have extraordinary signs at their birth and at their passing. For instance, the rain stopped, and only then could Big Brother's coffin be moved out of the Forbidden City to the Shouhuang Hall. He passed away in spring, when the pear blossoms in the Palace of Celestial Favor were in full bloom. Soon it will be the anniversary of his death, and I regret not being able to pay my respects this year."
He had long known that she shared a deep bond with her two brothers. It was rare and precious for a girl to value affection so deeply, yet her excessive attachment also made him vaguely uneasy.
"The imperial mausoleum is not yet completed, so the Late Emperor's coffin likely won't be interred until next year. When the time comes, we can set up an incense altar and bow northward to pay our respects—that should fulfill your intentions. Once everything is settled in the Tai Mausoleum next year, I will take you to offer sacrifices in person. However, although I am not restricted in my movements now, entering the capital without reason might arouse suspicion. At that time, Your Highness will have to pass by your home without entering—please forgive me."
She suddenly felt desolate. After her marriage, she could no longer live as she once did. The Forbidden City used to be her home; she was a member of the Murong Clan. Now, she had followed him, and just as he was cautious of appearances, she too had become like him. If relatives do not visit, bonds grow cold. Second Brother had forgotten her, and the rest of her life would be spent drifting in the south.
A married daughter and her natal family are like an infant and its mother—once the umbilical cord is cut, without the bond of kinship, the connection gradually fades to ashes. Back then, Big Brother repeatedly opposed her marriage to the Southern Garden, perhaps because he did not want her to leave the capital. How wonderful it was in the capital—when she missed home, she could return; when she missed family, she could still see them. But now, like a kite with its string cut, she watches it drift away with sorrow, then turns and lets it go.
After all, she was still young, unable to hide her heartache. She choked back a sob, her eyes and the tip of her nose turning red. Watching her from the side, he gently touched her. "Seeing you so sad makes me uncomfortable too. It's all because of me that you've been uprooted from your homeland."
She shook her head. "It's not because of you; it's fate." His fingertips brushed the back of her hand, and she flinched slightly, quickly pulling away.
Raising her face to look at the lantern under the eaves, a small cluster of light reflected in her dark pupils. She said, "I have always been lonely. Father and Mother left when I was six—they went to live a better life, leaving Brother and me to live as dependents in the palace. The Empress Dowager never liked me, but fortunately, Big Brother cared for me. When the Empress Dowager scolded me, he always took my side. But Big Brother was the emperor; he couldn't look after me all the time. Second Brother was away, and for a while, life was very hard. When I missed Father and Mother, I would hide under the covers and cry, and Nurse Matron paid no attention. After crying until I was exhausted, I would fall asleep, only to wake with a wet pillow. I would get up, apply some powder, and pretend to be cheerful as usual... The Empress Dowager disliked seeing me with a mournful face. Gradually, I learned to read people's expressions—the Empress Dowager's, The Empress's, even the concubines'. I was terrified they would speak ill of me behind my back, afraid that even Big Brother would stop liking me. If it came to that, I thought I might as well die..."She knew he was aware of what she had spoken, and even what she had left unsaid. Later, when Xiao Duo arrived at her palace, she gradually came to life with someone to rely on. In some ways, she should still be grateful to Xiao Duo, though most of the time she hated him with a passion. Yet it was he who protected her during her loneliest moments, allowing her to remain whole until he came to marry her.
Born into a life of gold, she had walked a path paved with bitterness. He comforted her gently, "In this life, stumbling is inevitable, but one day, things will get better."
She bit her lip, her face pale, and after a long pause, she said, "I fear it will always be like this—lonely, with nothing but wealth and status to my name. Sometimes I wonder, what is the point of so much power? A lifetime of military campaigns, and looking back in old age, it all seems meaningless. Deep down, I am someone who craves comfort, truly without great ambition."
He sensed a hint of solace in her words and suddenly felt she was too perceptive, her words often carrying hidden meanings that left him unable to respond. He could only feign ignorance, "Your Highness speaks wisely. Since our brief encounter ten years ago, I have often inquired about you, but unfortunately, I was too far away to offer any help. I was absent during your time in the inner chambers, but in the days to come, please grant me the opportunity to take good care of you."
She did not shy away in embarrassment but smiled serenely, nodding slightly before turning her gaze to the night rain outside.
A swirling breeze under the corridor lifted the ends of her hair, causing the golden leaf tassels on the small hairpin to sway like strings, rustling softly. He said, "Let's go back. Standing in the draft, you might catch a chill."
Wanwan seemed rooted to the spot, saying only that she wanted to wait a little longer. The distant capital felt remote, and she missed life in the palace, as well as the people there.
A Nurse Matron approached from across the corridor, bowing respectfully across a flowerbed, "It is late, Your Highness should retire." She glanced at the Prince of Nanyuan, "Will Your Highness stay or leave tonight? If you stay, this servant will have it recorded."
Such questions were truly awkward. In the palace, only the Emperor's visits were recorded, yet here it was the same for her. This was only the beginning—would they have to record every day in the future, with red ledgers sent to the palace for review? She was considering whether to abolish this practice when he answered for her.
"Tonight, I will attend to Her Highness. Dismiss everyone outside, including those eavesdropping. If I catch anyone, they will not escape a beating."
The Nurse Matron’s face turned a myriad of colors, likely startled by his words. Wanwan was also stunned—was there really a man who could utter the words "attend to Her Highness" so clearly and properly? The term was utterly shocking in this context. Was he going to attend to her? Should they make a green plaque and have eunuchs present it on a large silver tray every day?
Her delicate eyebrows arched high, and her lips parted slightly—even her look of surprise was endearing. After dismissing the others, he smiled kindly at her, "There are many officials dispatched by the imperial court in Nanyuan, and our marital situation will be reported to the capital. I thought, since we are newlyweds, sleeping separately on the second day might raise unnecessary questions, so I took the liberty of deciding. Please forgive me, Your Highness."Wanwan felt dizzy and muddled; everything he said made sense. For the sake of Second Brother’s request, she ought to get closer to him. She had agreed readily in the capital, but now that she was here, she hesitated and worried, afraid he might misunderstand her change of heart and make some strange decision again, leaving her unable to cope.
She had no choice but to agree, resigned to her fate. “Then let’s settle in. There’s no point standing here like a fool any longer.”
Her dejected expression made it clear that all her earlier rambling had been an attempt to wait for him to take his leave on his own. Fortunately, he held his ground. A man’s happiness, it seemed, truly depended on thick skin and shamelessness to achieve.
Wanwan followed Tong Huan into the bathing room. Steam rose from the large wooden tub, and as soon as she entered, the scent of medicinal herbs filled her nostrils. Leaning over, she saw small cloth bags floating in the water. She undressed and stepped in. “Are we having a medicinal bath today?”
The palace had specialized imperial prescriptions for the health of consorts and concubines throughout the year, and they must have brought them along to the Southern Garden.
Tong Huan, however, explained it was the Xiuzhen Formula. “We prepared this specially, afraid you might be in pain. Last time, we mixed the medicinal liquid into the water, but Nanny Qin worried the potency might not be enough, so she went ahead and put it in gauze bags. Soak a little longer, and you’ll suffer less later.”
The Xiuzhen Formula was an old remedy, specifically used to alleviate the pain of a maiden’s first night. Almost every princess had it prepared for her marriage. She didn’t feel embarrassed, just hollow inside, her mind in utter chaos.
The water was scalding, making her sweat all over. Resting her arms on the edge of the tub, she frowned and said, “I’m not ready yet. I don’t want to consummate the marriage with him. I feel that if I hold on, I remain myself; if I don’t, I’ll become a foolish wife, forever revolving around a man, for better or worse.”
In matters like this, outsiders truly couldn’t offer advice. How could they persuade her? By saying it was inevitable sooner or later, that a short pain was better than a long one? For her, this was a watershed moment. Before, her heart was filled with the nation and the world, as clear as the sun and moon. But once she truly settled into domestic life with this man, husband and wife would become one. If anything went wrong, it would be like grinding bones and cutting flesh—a life-or-death struggle.
She soaked for a quarter of an hour, then rose gracefully and changed into a pale purple sleeping robe. The robe was thin and elegant, faintly revealing her slender jade-like arms. Xiao You dusted her with a layer of fragrant powder. Standing before the mirror, she whispered, “I’ll see how tonight goes. If he gets presumptuous, I won’t stop him. But from then on, he will never set foot in the Eldest Princess Residence again.”
She walked around the screen and made her way into the bedroom. Tong Huan and Xiao You exchanged glances, the towel and comb they had fished from the water dripping, forgotten and still wet.
The wind howled loudly, and the Goryeo paper on the windows bulged as if a child had blown against it. The candle flame on the moon-shaped table flickered, and a copper needle reached over, idly poking at it twice. Even though the Tower of Profound Grace was out of sight, they still gazed in its direction beyond a white wall. “Do you think… the master is resting there tonight? Will things work out?”
The servant girl lifted the lampshade from the table and fanned it with her hand, extinguishing one of the candles.“Young ladies love handsome looks, and the Princess Royal is also a woman. No matter how noble her status, her eyes are no different from ours.” As she spoke, she helped her mistress onto the canopy bed. “Don’t fret, my lady. Even entering a temple requires paying respects to the Bodhisattva. How things turn out in the future depends entirely on what our son says. Set your mind at ease. With the eldest young master by your side, both the Prince and the old madam dote on him. As for the second young master, he’s always scowling and looking clever, but there’s no certainty about him at all. Before the Princess Royal gives birth to a son, the prince’s household will still be our eldest young master’s domain.”
This explanation brought some relief. Madam Tala lay down, used a backscratcher to push aside the copper hook on the canopy, and let the curtains fall. She turned over, letting out a sigh that was half a groan, and murmured, “Let’s sleep…”
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