Тhe Emреrоr's раssing plunged the nаtiоn into mourning. Тhe latе Еmреrоr's сoffin had аlready been prорerlу plасеd in thе Hаll оf Rеvеrеnt Bоdy, with layеrs оf white drаpes hanging frоm the lintel. Тhe mourning саnору stооd so high, benеаth which knеlt соuntless ministеrs and еunuсhs dressed in mоurning аttire, оffering their cоndolencеs. Wаnwаn still remеmbered evеrуthing frоm eight уеаrs аgо—whеn her fаthеr pаssed аway, it wаs the sаmе sсenе. It turnеd оut mеmories had сycles. She had оnce felt fеar towаrd the еightу-onе-layered red lacquered golden coffin, but back then, she still had her big brother to protect her. Now, even her big brother lay inside, and she finally understood that living was actually a continuous process of parting, with reunions few and far between.
The Empress Dowager and the palace women's cries were drowned in the vast sea of tears, each person feeling lost about the road ahead. The mourning cap was deep, blocking her peripheral vision. Wanwan could only see the high altar table before her and the candies and pastries piled into a towering pyramid.
Palace attendants came and went, constantly replenishing incense and candles. The burning paper money in the bronze basin formed a warm haze, scorching one's face after a while. Wanwan knelt for a long time beside the coffin under the elegiac couplets, her vision alternating between blurriness and clarity. Her big brother as the Emperor might not have been particularly competent, but he was a good brother. She still remembered him riding on the wall to retrieve her shuttlecock for her. Even if he had failed the people of the realm, he had never failed her. She wept, not for the state losing a wise ruler, but for her own sibling. Perhaps while he was alive, she hadn't realized how precious he was. Only once he was gone did she suddenly realize she had lost her support. She had knelt from the morning hour of Chen all the way until noon, with no intention of returning. What was there to go back for? She could smell the pervasive scent of hemp cloth in the air everywhere, and even sitting in her bedchamber would bring no peace. It was better to stay here and accompany her big brother on his final journey. From now on, this person would merely be a lengthy string of honorific titles on a memorial tablet, devoid of any further meaning.
Tong Huan came to persuade her: "Your Highness, the noon meal is already prepared and placed in the eastern side hall. You should rest for a while. There are still several days ahead; this is no way to go on."
She snapped back to reality and tried to stand up, but her legs wouldn't straighten out immediately. Tong Huan stepped forward to support her, and only then could she barely manage to move out of the main hall.
The court's obituary notices had been dispatched around midnight. Eunuchs with white flags on their backs returned one after another to report their missions. Wanwan glanced toward the side rooms and said, "The Eunuch Official must be terribly busy today, not even able to be seen."
Tong Huan agreed, "Indeed. Your Highness may not know, but this morning, Consort Shao chose righteousness, following the late Emperor in death."
Wanwan felt a sudden chill on her scalp and asked in astonishment, "Such a thing happened?"
Tong Huan nodded. "Likely her feelings for the late Emperor were too deep; she couldn't bear to part. Our Great Ye has always had the custom of Sky-facing Maidens accompanying the deceased. By going with him, she can remain by the late Emperor's side forever. Otherwise, given her rank, she would only be buried in the consorts' mausoleum in the future."
Her heart felt lost. "And what about Prince Rong? Did she not care for him anymore?"
"Prince Rong still has The Empress. After his ascension, he won't lack for guidance."
So living was not a necessity, and even in death, no one would take much notice. This palace was just that cold. Wanwan exhaled a turbid breath toward the vast Celestial Street, steadied herself, and descended the steps to enter the eastern side hall.There was someone in the hall, who seemed to have arrived early. Seeing her enter, they stood up and approached, "It's already this late and you still haven't eaten, not to mention kneeling for half a day. I tried to persuade you, but you wouldn't listen. Rest here for the afternoon. If you're tired, have your attendants take you back to your palace. Burning the midnight oil like this—how much can you endure?" As they spoke, they gestured to the eunuch, and the food from the meal box was brought out, neatly arranged on the dining table and books in front of her.
Wanwan looked up and called out, "Second Brother." This was her full brother, Prince Fu. Unlike the Prince Fu in history, this Prince Fu was well-proportioned, elegant in demeanor, fond of composing poetry and couplets, and had a reputation for being refined and cultured. When their father was alive, the siblings lived in the palace and were very close. Later, after the late emperor ascended the throne, he moved out of the palace and established the Prince Fu residence. In recent years, they had fewer opportunities to meet, only seeing each other during festivals and holidays. In terms of closeness, he was now less familiar than her eldest brother.
But blood is still blood. When she saw him, her eyes welled up with tears. Sitting at the table to eat, she couldn't help but sob. Even now, she still couldn't understand, "How could he pass away so suddenly when everything was fine!"
Prince Fu tightened his fingers on the armrest of the chair, frowning, "This illness has been lingering for more than just a day or two; it worsened since last spring. You don’t know this in the palace, but even the court’s morning audiences were frequently canceled. It seems his health truly couldn’t hold up."
Wanwan put down her chopsticks, "The Empress Dowager never allowed anyone to see him. I tried several times to enter the Palace of Heavenly Purity but didn’t dare go in when I reached the door. Now, thinking back, my eldest brother was truly pitiful—so young, and he passed away just like that."
Prince Fu stood up and paced slowly in the light near the doorway, his face as sorrowful as the mourning robe he wore. He murmured, "He enjoyed the blessings he deserved and endured the hardships he had to face. His life was not in vain. I know you were close to our eldest brother, and his passing grieves you, but you must take care of your health. Kneeling before the spirit altar all the time won’t do. Don’t keep vigil tonight. The Directorate of Ceremonial is currently handling the matter of the Sky-facing Maidens’ sacrificial burial. With so many deaths in the palace at once, the yin energy is too strong. You’re still young—don’t risk being affected. Don’t worry, even though our eldest brother is gone, I’m still here. We share the same mother’s womb and are closer to each other than anyone else."
She knew this second brother of hers—sometimes not entirely reliable, but blood is thicker than water. When it came down to it, he truly was her closest relative.
She nodded, allowing the palace attendants to serve her mouth rinse, then remembered the matter of Consort Shao, "I heard that Consort Shao from the Palace of Celestial Favor sacrificed herself?"
Prince Fu’s expression remained indifferent, "Even if her son succeeded to the throne, she would never become Empress Dowager—there’s still Empress Zhao above her. When the late emperor was alive, she relied on his favor and acted arrogantly, offending many. Now that her support is gone, sacrificing herself is a good way out, at least she died with dignity."
At the time, Wanwan didn’t fully grasp his words. The late emperor had only one son, Prince Rong, whose succession was a foregone conclusion. Why use the phrase "even if"? It was only later that she realized everything might have been part of his calculations all along. Yannian ran out of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility in the middle of the night and inexplicably died in the Palace of Celestial Favor, while the eunuchs keeping vigil concocted a story about ghosts and spirits to deceive everyone. The Great Ye dynasty had lasted for two hundred and sixty years. With Yannian’s premature death, Prince Fu stood alone, and the throne was undoubtedly his."Must becoming emperor come at the cost of loved ones' lives?" Wanwan later asked Tong Huan, "Don't you think being born into an imperial family isn't such a fortunate thing?"
Tong Huan stood in attendance nearby, her gaze fixed on the distant sky, her voice somewhat hollow: "Your Highness is of the most noble birth, how could you know the world beyond these high walls? People come in all kinds—some live in silks and satins, others freeze to death by the river. Since one enjoys the most immense wealth in the world, naturally one must also endure sufferings unimaginable to ordinary people. The transfer of imperial power knows no right or wrong, only success or failure. This servant actually thinks that rather than letting a six-year-old child become emperor, it would be better to entrust the realm to the imperial uncle. After all, they are both flesh and blood of Emperor Xiaozong—who isn't fit to be emperor?"
These words made sense too. What was done was done, and there was nothing left to dwell on. She was a girl; the storms and upheavals of the court had nothing to do with her. She continued living the same life as before. Apart from the Empress Dowager's increasingly desolate expression and Empress Zhao's reluctant change to Old Consort Zhao, what she saw in the rear palace was merely the replacement of the old with the new—aside from more people, there was no other difference.
Ever since Empress Zhao's last matchmaking attempt was rejected, she had largely discerned Wanwan's thoughts. To avoid further embarrassment, she deliberately distanced herself, even going for a period without speaking to her at all. But after the Late Emperor's passing, followed by Prince Rong's premature death, Empress Zhao's dream of becoming Empress Dowager came to an end. Suddenly realizing she was completely isolated, she became warm and friendly with Wanwan again.
As for Wanwan, because her own brother had become emperor, her days in the palace became even more leisurely than before. Although the current Empress also had only a superficial friendship with her, at least she didn't make things difficult. When necessary, she would still address her warmly as "Your Highness" with great enthusiasm.
Empress Zhao invited her over for a visit. As a deposed empress, she had to vacate the Palace of Earthly Tranquility for others and moved to reside in the Chirping Phoenix Palace. When Wanwan entered, she appeared quite awkward: "Look at this place—it's no different from the cold palace. I'm glad the Princess Royal could lower herself to visit me. People like us, what are we now? Unwanted by anyone, merely living under others' roofs. My skin is thick enough to endure it, but Consort Zheng Hui chose to end her life—do you know why?"
Every time she saw Wanwan, she had endless grievances to pour out. The "Consort Hui" she referred to was Consort Zheng Hui, once the favorite of the Empress Dowager, who had starved herself to death half a month earlier. The reasons for her death remained widely debated.
Deaths in the palace were never rare occurrences, and Wanwan had little interest in those strange behind-the-scenes stories. She only pretended curiosity to avoid making Old Consort Zhao lose face. This time, Old Consort Zhao poured out everything like an overturned cart of walnuts, chattering nonstop. She said Consort Hui's death wasn't voluntary but instructed by her family. When the Late Emperor passed away, she wasn't chosen for burial sacrifice, nor was she assigned to guard the imperial mausoleum. Lingering in the palace, she became despised and disliked. She wept daily in the Palace of Longevity and Health, and because she clung to life, the Empress Dowager also grew cold toward her, making her days quite difficult. Having no other choice, she sought advice from her family. Minister Zheng, being resourceful, sent an empty food box into the palace. When Consort Hui saw it, she suddenly awakened to reality. From that day on, she refused to eat or drink, and within three days, she was dead."Each new reign brings its own courtiers, and for people like us, it's no different. Now there's no one close to us left in the palace, only you." Old Consort Zhao cradled her cup, glancing at her expression. "Forgive my presumption, but I've watched you grow up, Your Highness. When the Late Emperor ascended the throne, you were barely taller than a table. In the blink of an eye, you've become a young lady. There's something I've been thinking about—you've reached the age for marriage. What if I, as your sister-in-law, arrange a match for you? Would you be willing?"
Last time was just skirting the issue, but this time she was asking outright. Wanwan was displeased, but as a young lady with delicate sensibilities, her flushed face from anger looked more like shyness.
"Sister-in-law, please don't jest. Since the time of Emperor Taizu, Great Ye has never allowed girls to decide their own marriages. I have Her Majesty the Empress Dowager above me, as well as my brother and sister-in-law. When would it ever be my turn to decide?"
Old Consort Zhao persisted, "Although the Late Emperor wasn't your birth mother, he cared for you no less than The Emperor does. As for a sister-in-law, am I not your sister-in-law? The relative from my family I mentioned serves as an official in the court. His father is the Right Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, and he himself holds the position of Counselor in the Provincial Administration Commission. He is handsome and renowned for his good character. Marrying a princess may be considered reaching above his station, but what matters in a marriage is harmony between husband and wife." She smiled. "I know you're embarrassed, and it's my fault for being too hasty. I should have discussed this with the Empress Dowager first. Never mind, I'll sound out Her Majesty later and talk to you in detail then."
Wanwan stood up and left Chirping Phoenix Palace with a sullen expression.
Tong Huan followed and asked, "What does Your Highness think?"
"This Empress Zhao is now desperate for a cure, seeing her family about to fall, and she's trying to drag me into it. If she wants to bring it up with the Empress Dowager, let her. She'll only end up embarrassing herself." She said indignantly, then paused wistfully. "Before Eunuch Official left for Jiangnan, he warned me, probably afraid I'd get angry, hinting at it indirectly. It must have been difficult for him. I'm not afraid now—he had Junior Director Yan look after Cultivating Virtue Palace, so Empress Zhao can't do anything. Let's wait and see. When he returns, I'll ask for his advice."
"But what if the Empress Dowager agrees? What will Your Highness do?"
"I'm not some cat or dog to be disposed of as they please." She gently brushed her sleeve. "I have my own plans. If they force me, I'll simply ask The Emperor to grant me a residence and live outside the palace on my own."
Tong Huan had been by her side for a year and witnessed every change in her. Last year, the Princess Royal was still a child who cried over every trouble, but this year she had matured considerably. A girl's character can be shaped in an instant—having principles, opinions, and her own likes and dislikes makes her far superior to those Clan Daughters.
"This servant guesses, does Your Highness have someone you like in your heart?" Tong Huan teased her. "If so, please don't hide it. Matters of marriage can slip away in the blink of an eye, and you might regret it for a lifetime."
Wanwan smiled. "Where would I..." She thought of Xiao Duo, but alas, in the end, it fell just short. It was a dream of her youth, unspeakable. As long as he was still there, it was enough.
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