"I knоw my fault, it is mу mistаkе. Yоur Нighness must not be аngrу, lest yоu harm yоur hеаlth. Еvеn if I wеre ground tо dust, I could not atone fоr this sin."
Shе loоked dоwn аt hеr frоm abоvе. Маdаm Tаla, weeрing аnd trembling, lаy prostrаte on thе blue bricks. Wаnwаn hаd trulу wаntеd tо point аt hеr nosе аnd сurse hеr, but she hаd gоod upbringing аnd knеw the рrinciple оf not striking someоnе's fаcе. Seeing her suffiсiеntlу frightenеd, shе rесkоnеd this bout оf intimidаtion hаd servеd its purpоse. А Sесondаrу Соnsort, in her eуes, was no different frоm a Bedсhamber Аttendаnt. Еven if shе had borne children for Liangshi, as long as she displeased her, she could still dispose of her.
Wanwan was, after all, a kind-hearted person; it was enough to make her point. She gave Tong Huan a meaningful glance. "Help the Secondary Consort up. Strictly speaking, it would be laughable for word to spread that a daughter-in-law scolded her mother-in-law. I only hate that those below do not know better and failed to advise you. If I said anything wrong, I ask for your understanding."
Madam Tala hurriedly waved her hands. "No, no... I am utterly shamed before Your Highness. This time, I did not know my own place and broke the rules. The eldest son is now under your name; you are his true E'nie. I, as a mother-in-law, am not a proper one. Your Highness spared me face by not spitting on me, and I am endlessly grateful. From today on, I will keep a vegetarian diet and chant Buddhist prayers. I beg Your Highness to watch over me. If I ever overstep again, Your Highness may drive me away, and I will not utter a single word of complaint."
Wanwan nodded. "I only wish for the children below to live more comfortably. We are all born of parents; rules can be taught gradually—one cannot swallow a whole cake in one bite. Today it is like this for Lan Zhou's wife; tomorrow it will be the same for Lanting's. Why must mother-in-law and daughter-in-law become enemies for ten lifetimes? Wouldn't it be better to be kind to others?"
Madam Tala wiped her tears incessantly. "If I had Your Highness's breadth of heart, I would be enlightened too. I cared too much about the eldest son, fearing he might have the slightest discomfort. Ah, thinking back now, I was too rash. Your Highness's lesson is absolutely right."
Having been angry for half the day, Wanwan was also somewhat tired. After saying a few gentle words, she sent her away.
Having suffered such great humiliation, Madam Tala's cheeks were flushed red as she retreated from the Main Chamber. Though her anger surged like a mountain, she dared not show it on her face. Weeping as she walked, she passed through the moon gate and encountered the Prince returning from outside as she crossed the courtyard. The Prince carried a birdcage, his face beaming with a smile. He probably never expected her to appear here, for like a receding tide, his smile vanished completely in an instant. That cold gaze was truly chilling, as if this woman were a stranger he neither recognized nor cared for. She was merely a patch of indistinct land that had inexplicably sprouted a seedling for him.
When a woman is scolded, if the man can be relied upon, she would have long thrown herself into his arms seeking comfort. Unfortunately, she dared not. She knew his severity; if she angered him, he might just twist her head off. She could only timidly give him a Squatting Salute. "Master has returned..."
He glanced at her without warmth. "What are you doing here?"
She understood. He feared her presence might upset his precious darling. Even though she was the one who came out weeping, his worry remained for the one in the Main Chamber. Such is a man!
She swallowed back her sobs. Unable to rely on him, she could only rely on herself.She humbled herself, lowering her eyes as she said, "This servant has made a mistake and has come to beg Your Highness for forgiveness. Your Highness is generous and has not blamed this servant, but it only makes me feel even more ashamed..."
She had expected him to ask what had happened, but instead, he frowned and scrutinized her. "Since you know you were wrong, reflect on it from now on. She is a person of leisure who dislikes worldly affairs. Keep yourselves settled in that residence and don’t cause her trouble, or else return to Songjiang Prefecture. The Imperial Concubine has grown older in recent years, and she herself says she’s become increasingly weary. You should act with even more caution." As he spoke, he began to walk away but suddenly paused, his voice cold as he ordered, "If it’s nothing important, don’t come running here so often. She isn’t feeling well, and trivial matters shouldn’t disturb her peace of mind."
Truly, he cherished her to the very marrow of his bones. After saying this, he brushed past her and strode away. She stood there, feeling as though the flower walls on either side were spinning rapidly. A surge of heat rose in her chest, and she nearly spat out blood.
The difference between being loved and not loved was like that between clouds and mud. Even though she had a son, in his eyes, that son probably couldn’t compare to Princess Hede. She had thought that as the mother of a son, she would gain status, and now that her son was grown, she should finally have risen above her hardships. Yet his impatience with her remained unchanged. His heart and eyes were fixed only on that principal wife of his; otherwise, he wouldn’t have beaten their son so severely for mistakenly entering her private chambers. Even after the beating, his anger wasn’t appeased, and he still sent the boy off to the army. What did she and her son mean to him? Not even worth a single strand of her hair!
In a daze, she walked out of the inner gate. Her maid was waiting outside and hurried over as soon as she saw her, lowering her voice to ask, "How did it go? Did he say anything?"
In everyone’s imagination, the Princess Royal was an extremely easygoing person, but today’s scolding had left her thoroughly humiliated.
She shook her head, not even wanting to speak. The tactless maid added, "This servant just saw the Prince entering the garden. Did you run into him, mistress?"
Her nose stung with emotion. "What if I did? It’s all meaningless..." With slumped shoulders, she trudged woodenly out of the Eldest Princess Residence.
Over on the other side, Liangshi had acquired a new bird and was flaunting it in front of Wanwan to curry favor. "This clever little thing can imitate the chirping of crickets." He pursed his lips, whistling to guide it.
Wanwan smiled and waited. Soon enough, the bird indeed began to coo. Liangshi grew even more pleased with himself. "It can also sing ‘Eighteen Touches.’ First touch, touch to..."
The bird was utterly shameless, flapping its wings and singing vividly, "First touch, touch to the elder sister’s spine, the paired qilin on either side..."
Wanwan’s face flushed instantly. "So it’s a lewd bird! Where did you find such a thing, singing nothing but vulgar tunes!"
She had always been so dignified as to inspire awe, but the inadvertent display of a young girl’s demeanor was utterly delightful and endearing.
Despite her scolding, he moved closer, sat down beside her, and pulled her into his embrace. The parrot continued to chatter, singing in its bird-like voice, "Seventh touch, touch to the elder sister’s elbow bend." The attendants tactfully withdrew from the inner room, closing the door behind them and letting down the curtain.Wanwan had been in a sour mood earlier, but the moment he returned, that bit of discontent dissipated like clouds clearing after rain. She loved being close together, so familiar with each other that there was no need for pretense—she knew his every thought. When he nestled against her chest, she merely chuckled softly, gently stroking his hair, her heart trembling with each touch, indulging him endlessly.
The Arhat couch was spacious enough, covered with a fragrantly scented mattress. Sinking into it felt like plunging into a wave of warmth.
"I've been gone for half a day—did you miss me? Did you miss me... hmm?" His voice always took on a strangely seductive tone at times like these. One leg pressed down on her, wedging in like a peg, moving relentlessly, making her heart flutter.
She bit her lip, afraid to make a sound, lest the creature hear. The mischievous bird in the cage sang all the way from her golden lotus feet to her navel. He chuckled softly, thoroughly amused, not entirely focused on himself, pausing now and then to watch her expression.
Her gaze was hazy, her eyes like hooks, tightly gripping his spine. Instinctively, he leaned toward her, pressing closer, his teeth gritting audibly.
"Do you like it?" he asked, full of adoration. "I think this is wonderful... do you like it?"
Wanwan was usually meticulous and reserved, but he had stirred her into a daze. It was just a bird, yet it held such strange power.
She gasped, "You're up to no good."
He laughed with a hint of roguishness, moving with varying intensity. "This is just right. I know you like it too."
Suddenly, he switched to Jinling Dialect, the soft, enchanting tones of the Wu Region Soft Speech. If the official language carried a touch of wit and gentle strength, the southern dialect was like a beauty's song, like water wearing away stone. She adored this lingering melody, especially when it came from his lips, giving him the air of a romantic gentleman.
He lifted his eyes, the golden rings within them hidden behind a haze, making them appear even deeper. Taking her hand, he placed it on his waist. "Do you want more?"
A restless, unfulfilled longing swirled in her chest. She couldn't speak, afraid her voice would tremble with tears, so she silently tightened her arms in invitation. Delighted, he rallied, lowering himself to kiss her. She glanced toward the window, noticing the parrot had fallen silent at some point, perched on the gilded rod, its little eyes darting around. Blushing furiously, afraid the bird might see, she pulled the quilt over both of them.
The ancients scorned such wanton behavior in broad daylight, but occasionally indulging in it was filled with delight.
Once the clouds had cleared and the rain had ceased, he abruptly threw off the quilt. The heat trapped beneath dissipated, meeting the cool air, and they both gasped in relief.
Liangshi chuckled softly. "Your cold should be cured now."
Wanwan hit him, pointing at the parrot. "That clever little thing—what if it starts mimicking us?"
He grunted. "We didn't say much. It's fine."
Unexpectedly, the bird flapped its wings twice and chirped, "This is just right. I know you like it too," enunciating each word perfectly, exactly like him.
Wanwan covered her face. "Look, it heard everything!"
Liangshi laughed uncontrollably, feeling the bird was a rare find, perhaps once in a century. Getting rid of it was out of the question, so he decided to have someone take it away and raise it elsewhere.
After lying there for a long while, he suddenly remembered the earlier matter. "What did Madam Tala want with you? If it was to plead for Lan Zhou, you don't need to pay her any mind."Wanwan said it wasn't that, resting her head on his chest as she told him everything that had happened. "It's not about anything else, just that she's too harsh."
"Why not invoke household discipline and give her a good thrashing!" His expression clearly darkened, but he calmed himself slightly before continuing, "This can't go on. I've been thinking these past couple of days—why not just buy a house outside and establish a separate residence? Both children are grown now. Lanting might still cling on for another year, but Lan Zhou is already married and settled. Let him build his own residence and manage his own household. Though he recognizes you as his mother, there's still that distance—Madam Tala is his birth mother. Once he moves out, let his grandmother go with him. Over there, she can act as high-handed as she likes, and no one will be able to control her."
Wanwan agreed with this idea in her heart, but upon second thought, she worried about how the Imperial Concubine would react. First, she had moved back to the Eldest Princess Residence, and now Lan Zhou would be establishing his own household. She feared the old lady might misunderstand, thinking it was all her doing. If she fell out of favor with her mother-in-law, it wouldn't be good for anyone.
She suggested waiting a bit longer. His chest was warm, and she nuzzled against it affectionately. "Your official duties must have piled up like a mountain by now? You've been gone half the day."
He hummed in agreement. "I raised two sons, but it's as if I have none. One is unfilial and disrespectful, the other is a fool. Lanting must have been reincarnated from a bamboo stick—talk to him about shadow puppetry, and he's all drama from head to toe. But mention memorials or petitions, and he's like a frog in the rain, staring blankly with wide eyes, giving me the creeps. There's no hope of him sharing my burdens; I'm just grateful if he doesn't cause trouble." As he spoke, his hand slid upward, covering her breast. He grinned shamelessly under her glare. "Lan Zhou went to his sixth uncle's place. From now on, I'll be busy with work and might not have as much time to keep you company at home. Find some amusement for yourself—you could even learn to play mahjong."
She murmured softly, "You focus on your work. It's been a full year since we left the capital last year. All this time, you've tried to keep me company, but I could see your mind was elsewhere, and it pained me. Now I'm doing well in every way, and my health has recovered. You don't need to worry about me. Do your duties for the Emperor diligently. He's still lost in his pursuit of enlightenment to this day, all these years without figuring anything out, while the outside world is in chaos. I hear the Nurgan Regional Military Commission area is also restless—it seems war may be brewing."
His expression turned solemn as he spoke of political affairs. "There are garrison troops in the north. I heard the Duoyan Three Guards have been dispatched to suppress the rebellion, but it's still unclear how effective they'll be. This time, the unrest is severe. Such a vast area, and the imperial court has sent countless officials and garrison troops over the years, yet it seems they've all been hollowed out. If war breaks out... it won't be as minor as the disturbances in the Guizhou Bureau. Nurgan dominates the north, its distance from the capital almost equal to that of Nanjing. Even if we try to mobilize the Southern Army, I'm afraid it would be too little, too late."
Wanwan was startled and quickly threw on her clothes, rising to pull out a map from the bookshelf to measure distances. From Nanjing to the capital was the same as from the Sach River Guard to the capital—almost a straight line north to south. Marching through the Central Plains would require passing through numerous cities and checkpoints, but in Nurgan, aside from two or three fortified cities, there were only scattered military garrisons. If they were breached one after another, the enemy could advance unimpeded.
Staring blankly at the map, she asked, "Has the Emperor... issued any decrees?"He pulled her back onto the couch, wrapping her in the blankets to warm her up, and gently told her not to worry. "There are garrisons stationed along the Songhua River and Onon River line. Even if there are changes, they can hold off for a while. I'm waiting for the imperial court's decree here. If the Andong Guard needs to mobilize troops to support the emperor, we can prepare without rushing."
Wanwan fell silent, just looking at him. Her deep, heavy gaze chilled his heart. He smiled, "What's wrong?"
She slowly curved her lips. "If there really is a war, I can't bear to see you fighting outside."
He caressed her red lips, lingeringly kissing them. "That's a matter for later. The imperial court has so many generals; it might not be necessary for me to go to war."
Only then did she feel at ease, pulling him down to lie beside her, embracing each other as they slept. Because she had been too tired earlier, she slept until late afternoon. After he got up, he went out to take care of business and returned with crispy duck oil pastries for her, while he leaned against the incense cage and drank a few small cups of wine. Husband and wife facing each other, the simple warmth of everyday life had already seeped into the fabric of their years.
As for Madam Tala, she truly didn’t cause any trouble afterward. Before she entered the Yuwen Clan, she had mostly managed the Princely Mansion and was considered quite capable. After she married into the family, it was understandable that she couldn’t adjust immediately. Wanwan observed her for a while, and she became increasingly cautious. Sometimes, when summoned for questioning, she stood there more timidly than a new bride. Wanwan began to feel that she might have been too harsh last time, having smoothed out all her edges, and vaguely felt a bit sorry for her.
The weather grew increasingly cold and gloomy. In the south, the cold was damp, a chill that couldn’t be grasped. Wanwan rarely went out during this season, but occasionally she still had to return to the Princely Mansion to pay respects to the Imperial Concubine.
That day, after drinking tea in the Main Chamber, they were about to move to the flower hall for a meal. It had rained the day before, and the ice on the ground hadn’t melted yet. As she descended the steps, she slipped and sprained her ankle, unable to walk. Xiao You, who was nearby, was even shorter than her. It was Madam Tala who tucked her skirt into her waistband, crouched down, and said, "Your Highness must not force yourself. If you put weight on the injured foot, it will worsen. Let this servant carry you on her back. Let’s get inside first, then summon the Imperial Physician. It’s freezing outside; we mustn’t let you catch a cold."
Wanwan declined repeatedly but finally allowed herself to be carried inside by her. Madam Tala came from a low-ranking Bondservant of the Qi Clan background, having done rough work since childhood, unlike most delicate girls. She had an efficient and capable nature, stepping up without hesitation, diligent and quick. When the Medicinal Wine was brought, she knelt on the ground, cradling Wanwan’s foot, poured the wine into her palm to warm it, and carefully applied it, her strength perfectly measured. Wanwan praised her, and she smiled, saying, "This servant’s father worked in Grain Transport, doing heavy labor, and often suffered bumps and sprains. This skill was honed at home. The Medicinal Wine must be rubbed into the muscles and tissues, four times a day, and within three days, it will be completely healed. The ointment prescribed by the doctor is just like that—dark and sticky, plastered all over the ankle, hard to wash off. If Your Highness would grant this servant the honor, let her try. It’s guaranteed to be more effective than ointment."
As she spoke, her face was full of sincerity, her eyes hopeful as she gazed at Wanwan. With such genuine concern, it was hard to refuse outright. Wanwan smiled gently, "Then I’ll trouble the Secondary Consort."
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