Grоwing uр аlоnе without plaуmаtes cоuld indeed fееl lоnеlу аt times. Wanwаn had a few clan daughtеrs hеr agе, but theу livеd оutsidе the раlасе and rаrely met. Рrеviouslу, her father hаd seleсted two tо sеrvе аs hеr studу сompаniоns, sharing mеаls аnd living quartеrs with her dау and night. Unfortunаtеly, duе to persоnal recklеssnеss оr pоlitical entаnglеmеnts, both wеrе еvеntuаllу dismissed.
Тhе Emрress Dоwager sаw her dеsроndenсу but did nоt find it inаpproрriate. "Wanwan is such а good child; I’vе never sеen аnуonе more obedient. She is well-behaved, filial, and knows her place. We mustn’t let those vulgar influences from outside the palace corrupt her. A princess must carry herself like a princess—it’s improper to spend all day laughing and joking with them."
Thus, Wanwan had to become accustomed to loneliness and learn to embrace it. After all, life would bring more profound feelings of solitude in the future. Once she grew used to it, she would no longer fear it.
When Xiao You was around, she had someone to confide in, but after Xiao You was punished and sent to the Five Northeastern Institutes last year, Wanwan stopped expecting companionship. Tong Huan was kind and took good care of her in every way, but someone so pragmatic seemed difficult to connect with. Like her mother, Wanwan possessed an untamed heart, regardless of her status or age. Those who could be her friends could not be too worldly. Coincidentally, one day, such a person appeared. Her name was Yin Lou, originally a Sky-facing Maiden chosen by Emperor Yuanzhen for burial sacrifice. However, because Second Brother had taken a liking to her earlier, she fell from the white silk rope midway and survived. Thus, a talented lady became an Imperial Concubine, gilded with a layer of prestige at the imperial mausoleum, only to return to the palace after a roundabout journey. She became neighbors with Old Consort Zhao, one after the other, and also became the target of Old Consort Zhao’s venting.
Coughing Phoenix Palace and Chirping Phoenix Palace were very close, with the rear hall pressed against the palace wall of Chirping Phoenix Palace. When Old Consort Zhao was in a bad mood, she would loudly scold the palace maids and eunuchs in the main hall, and the noise could be heard from the front. After Wanwan and Yin Lou became close friends, Wanwan often came to witness Old Consort Zhao’s scolding skills. Holding a teacup, she worried for Yin Lou, "How long can this go on? The palace emphasizes tranquility, yet this place is so noisy!"
"Old Consort Zhao is like a rat," Yin Lou said with a broad heart. "Let her scold. I’ll learn to play the sheng and perform at midnight to show her what I’m capable of."
Seeing that Yin Lou wouldn’t be taken advantage of, Wanwan felt relieved. Sitting and drinking Pre-Dawn Dragon Well Tea, she listened to Yin Lou sigh, "Actually, Old Consort Zhao has it hard too. They say she’s being cared for, but she’s really living off others. As for me, I used to be under her command, so enduring a few scoldings isn’t a big deal. She doesn’t know, and I don’t want things to be like this either…"
Wanwan looked up at her. "You don’t want to be with The Emperor?"
Yin Lou glanced outside. "I’m speaking from the heart, so you mustn’t betray me." After receiving Wanwan’s assurance, she lowered her voice and said, "I don’t like The Emperor. I don’t want to be his concubine."
Such bluntness was rare. None of the women in the palace dared to openly admit they didn’t like The Emperor. Even those out of favor pretended otherwise, let alone someone like her, who had gone to great lengths to be brought back in.
Was The Emperor likable? Wanwan knew he wasn’t, so she didn’t find Yin Lou’s words inappropriate. "Is there someone you like in your heart?"Yin Lou's eyes instantly brightened. Usually lively and unrestrained, she suddenly grew quiet, pursing her lips with a faint smile at the corners of her brows, looking utterly captivating. Yet she slowly shook her head—even if she truly had someone she liked, she would never dare admit it. Now bearing the title of Imperial Concubine, she was actually the Emperor's designated consort. Having already entered the palace, she could harbor no further thoughts.
But her dislike for the Emperor was something Wanwan could see clearly. When meeting privately with her, Yin Lou was full of life, yet whenever the Emperor came to visit, she would claim illness, appearing half-dead. Occasionally, when Wanwan discussed her with Tong Huan, Tong Huan would laugh, "This Imperial Concubine Duan is truly quite amusing."
A person's name might also reflect their character. Something invisible could gather into a tower, converge into a building—what a powerful force that must be. Yin Lou was a powerful person. Her hometown was in Jiangnan, and she often spoke of the customs and scenery of the south: blue-bricked alleys, night songs along the Qinhuai River. After rain, leaning against the waterside railing to lower a bamboo basket, fishermen would ask for very little money and give you a plump, lively carp. Places with water nurture talent and beauty; water gives birth to soft elegance and enchanting charm.
"Hearing you speak like this, I truly wish to go see the south," Wanwan said, hiding half her face behind a round fan. "But I cannot leave the palace at will, unlike men."
Yin Lou replied, "If you want to leave the palace, you can only marry. Find an official from the south and quietly follow him away from the capital—even the Empress Dowager won't be able to control you." Then she murmured, "Marry anyone, just not the Prince of Nanyuan..."
Wanwan, suddenly hearing her mention the Prince of Nanyuan, instead pictured Xiao Duo's face in her mind. "The Yuwen Clan cannot marry a princess, have you forgotten?"
"Things in this world, where are there any fixed rules? This time, when I accompanied the Eunuch Official south to Jinling, I was entertained by the Prince of Nanyuan, and he spoke of you," Yin Lou said, her gaze darkening.
Wanwan remembered the trouble she had caused the previous year and that she had indeed encountered the Prince of Nanyuan. But she felt she hadn't exposed her identity at the time, so his inquiries about her left her puzzled. "Spoke of me? I don't know him."
Tong Huan chimed in from the side, "It was long ago, Your Highness may have forgotten, but this servant remembers. Ten years ago, when I was serving at the grand banquet for feudal princes in the Hall of Heavenly Favor, the Prince of Nanyuan was still the Heir Apparent, at most twelve or thirteen years old, entering the palace for the banquet with his father. Young children can't sit still—he left the hall during the feast and accidentally intruded into the Palace of Heavenly Purity, where the Silk-clad Guards caught him red-handed. Originally, it was to be reported for punishment, but by chance, Your Highness left the banquet and encountered him on your way back to the palace. Thinking it wasn't a serious matter, you ordered him released."
After hearing Tong Huan's account, her face remained clouded with confusion. So they had crossed paths long ago, yet when she saw him last year, she had no impression at all.
"Then why did he mention me?" She felt embarrassed again, worried that she had been recognized long ago while she was still putting on airs, looking like a fool in his eyes.
Yin Lou toyed with her Jia Nan Bracelet, seemingly unimpressed with the Prince of Nanyuan. "He asked how you were in the palace, whether you were betrothed. You are a Golden Branch and Jade Leaf—how many eagerly hope to marry a princess? The Prince of Nanyuan is human too; it's only natural he'd want to climb high. Isn't that obvious?"Wanwan had grown accustomed to such matters over the years. It seemed that men in Great Ye all regarded marrying a princess as the ultimate goal in life, which she found rather dull. The Prince of Nanyuan had once left her utterly captivated, but upon closer reflection, he always seemed to overlap with Xiao Duo in her mind. Apart from the unforgettable golden ring in his eyes, everything else had merely passed like the wind, leaving no trace.
Falling for someone in one's youth was truly profound. Xiao Duo was like a landscape, a tree in full bloom—something to be admired from afar but never touched. Her feelings were unspeakable; she had never breathed a word of them even to Yin Lou. On the contrary, she had gradually discovered Yin Lou's own unspoken secrets. The relationship between Yin Lou and Xiao Duo seemed anything but ordinary. Though there was no concrete evidence, it was glimpsed from the subtle details of their daily interactions. If it were anyone else, they might have considered it a shocking secret, eager to spread it far and wide. But to Wanwan, it felt perfectly natural. Xiao Duo was an exceptional man; if she liked him, others naturally would too. She was delighted to have found a friend who shared her perspective, and because of this, she grew even closer to Yin Lou.
Yin Lou often acted mysteriously, yet she lived with remarkable freedom. As a woman who had entered the palace and had long been on The Emperor's mind, it was only a matter of time before she served him. One day, she finally stayed the night. The next day, when Wanwan went to see her, Yin Lou's eyes were red, and she kept calling for "Tongyun." Tongyun was her palace maid, who sighed upon hearing her cries: "Mistress, what's the big deal? It's just serving the Emperor. Why are you carrying on like this?"
This unwilling encounter was a significant blow to Yin Lou. For a while, she remained sullen and unhappy, and before long, she fell ill. Around that time, a Fox Demon began causing panic in the capital. The newly established Western Factory proved ineffective in handling the matter. The Emperor had originally intended to gradually sideline the Eastern Factory, but due to the unresolved crisis, he had no choice but to reinstate Xiao Duo and summon him back to the capital.
Wanwan was unaware of his return. That day, she visited Coughing Phoenix Palace as usual and didn't head back until dusk. Walking along the narrow path, she spotted Xiao Duo's godson, Cao Chun'ang, from afar, bouncing energetically toward her to bow: "Greetings, Princess Chang."
Overjoyed, Wanwan asked, "Has the Eunuch Official returned?"
Cao Chun'ang confirmed, "He arrived just moments ago and was immediately summoned by the Empress Dowager. He's currently speaking with her in the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility!"
"How long has he been there?"
Cao Chun'ang calculated, "About the time it takes to drink two cups of tea. As Your Highness knows, the Empress Dowager relies heavily on my godfather for everything. I'm afraid he'll be delayed a while longer. If Your Highness has any matters, you may command me, and I will relay the message to my godfather."
Wanwan shook her head, "It's nothing urgent. There's still some time before the palace gates are locked. I was just planning to take a stroll in the garden. You may attend to your duties."
Cao Chun'ang acknowledged with a bow and headed toward the Eastern Factory.
At the tail end of midsummer, the sun had set, and crimson clouds spread across the sky, stretching from the western horizon all the way overhead, mottled evenly above. She lingered outside the Prosperous Ancestral Gate, where the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility met the Western First Long Street. If he were heading to the Eastern Factory, he would surely pass through here. It had been three months since she last saw him, and truth be told, she missed him a little. Human emotions were ever-changing. Initially, she had despised him because of the unclear rumors involving Old Consort Zhao, but as time passed, that flaw seemed to fade into insignificance.
Clutching her handkerchief, her heart fluttered with anxiety yet brimmed with anticipation. Finally, she saw someone emerge from the gate of the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility. She lifted her skirt and hurried forward a few steps, but upon seeing him, she suddenly felt a wave of shyness.He called out "Your Highness," his figure appearing noticeably thinner in the twilight. She shyly tucked her sleeves, a small smile blooming at the corner of her lips. "Managing silk affairs and overseeing shipping—Eunuch Official has been working hard lately."
He gave a light chuckle. "It is all within my duties; I dare not speak of hardship. Rather, Your Highness seems more composed than before."
Her cheeks flushed. "If I never grew up, wouldn't I be laughed at? Did everything go well on your trip south? Was the journey smooth?"
He nodded. "It was just that the tasks were difficult, involving too many conflicting interests, which took quite some effort." He then looked at her. "Upon returning to the palace, I heard rumors about Your Highness's marriage. Old Consort Zhao's matchmaking itch has flared up again—I heard she recommended the son of Censor Zhao?"
Wanwan hummed in acknowledgment. "She did mention it to me."
He frowned. "It has only been a little over half a year since The Late Emperor passed away. Old Consort Zhao is too hasty. I only wish to remind Your Highness of one thing: the Imperial Princess of Great Ye has the right to choose her Imperial Consort. Marriage is a lifelong matter, so please think it over carefully and do not act rashly."
From his words, it seemed the "perfect match" Old Consort Zhao spoke of had already been scrutinized by him. Since he urged her to think carefully, it was clear he found it highly unsuitable. Wanwan felt reassured and let out a long sigh of relief. When he was not in the palace, the Forbidden City felt like it had lost its backbone. Now that he had returned, there was hope for everything.
She shifted to a lighter tone. "What did the Empress Dowager want with you?"
As he escorted her back to Cultivating Virtue Palace, he replied, "With The Emperor's ascension to the throne, rumors are spreading everywhere. A brother succeeding his elder brother is different from a son inheriting his father's legacy—there are shortcomings in every aspect. There are concerns that the Feudal Princes may cause trouble, and even the officials stationed outside the capital have yet to be summoned. Now that the realm is at peace, the Empress Dowager intends to host a grand Mid-Autumn banquet to display both grace and authority, allowing The Emperor to assert his power before these Feudal Princes. I am currently preparing for this. Master Cheng is likely busy, and the gifts I brought back for Your Highness are still at my residence. I will have my subordinates deliver them later."
He had traveled so far from south to north, yet he still remembered to bring her gifts—at the very least, it proved he remembered her. At this moment, words seemed unnecessary. Wanwan lowered her head, a faint smile gracing her lips.
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