In the center, behind a screen-like curtain, Empress Zhangsun sat cross-legged on a carved lacquer sandalwood couch, leaning against an armrest with a smile as she watched a group of boys and girls running, jumping, and shouting on the grassy bank by the water. On either side of her sat two elegantly coiffed noblewomen, their attire marking them as high-ranking consorts, who chatted and laughed with the Empress, their expressions full of reverence and caution. Before the three of them, a low table held wine, cheese, pastries, writing brushes, ink, and incense burners—a scene of leisurely spring enjoyment.
Chai Yingluo was summoned into the curtained area. She first paid her respects to the Empress with a deep bow, then greeted the two consorts on either side, addressing them as "Lady Wei" and "Lady Yin." Following behind, Wei Shufen realized these two noblewomen were Consort Wei and Consort Yin of the current imperial harem and likewise bowed to them.
"You two mischievous girls, what brings you here?" the Empress said to Chai Yingluo with a laugh. "The weather is warm today, so I thought to sit outside for a while and let the children soak up some sun. I didn’t intend to make a fuss with formalities. But these clever ones, A-Wei and A-Yin, somehow caught wind of it and hurried over to join the fun. We’ve just been chatting, and now you’ve arrived too."
"When the phoenix perched on Mount Qi, a hundred birds came to pay homage," Chai Yingluo replied with a smile. "This is all heaven’s will—a testament to Lady Wei and Lady Yin’s devout service to the Empress, and your niece’s filial devotion to her aunt, moving the heavens..."
As the aunt and niece conversed, Wei Shufen couldn’t help but glance toward the group of children playing by the water. Surrounded and guarded by serving girls and palace maids, the younger ones ran about, riding stick horses and playing hide-and-seek, while the older girls, around twelve or thirteen, sat more demurely on a large cushion, seemingly engaged in a grass duel. Among them was Li Yuangui’s younger sister, the Seventeenth Princess.
The Seventeenth Princess looked up and spotted Chai Yingluo and Wei Shufen. Delighted, she rose to approach them but hesitated after glancing at the Empress and the others. Just then, Chai Yingluo turned and noticed her. Before she could speak, the Empress smiled and said:
"Go on. I know you’re still worried. Go talk to your Seventeenth Aunt, lest she cry every night missing her elder brother and mother."
If they were to truthfully inform the Seventeenth Princess about her brother’s current situation, the little girl would likely cry even harder at night... Wei Shufen pushed the thought aside for now. She and Chai Yingluo went over, bowed, and gently inquired after the young princess.
Having endured a great ordeal, the Seventeenth Princess looked thinner and darker, though her spirits seemed steady. She was no longer as fearful and withdrawn as during their last meeting, but she remained reticent, answering each question with just a word or two. Most of the responses to the inquiries from the two daughters of the Chai and Wei families came from a middle-aged serving woman behind her, introduced as Liu Shi, a wet nurse from the Great Peace Palace.
The Seventeenth Princess herself spoke only two sentences. The first was to Chai Yingluo: "Why hasn’t Elder Brother come to see me?"
Wei Shufen’s heart sank. Chai Yingluo forced a smile and replied, "Fourteenth Uncle is away on official business. I’ll tell him to finish quickly and come back to visit you." The little girl nodded and added:
"I’ve dreamed of Mother several times. She said Elder Brother would face great danger and told me to warn him to be careful."
Her demeanor was far more composed and reserved than that of her nieces of the same age. Though she appeared small and childlike, Wei Shufen suspected she understood far more than she let on. Throughout the exchange, she spoke only to Chai Yingluo. When her gaze turned to Wei Shufen, she merely offered a shy, friendly smile, curling her lips slightly, and reached out to give her hand a gentle squeeze.Wei Shufen clasped the delicate hands of the young princess, their fingers entwined in a silent greeting. Up close, the slender features and shy demeanor of the seventeenth princess bore a striking resemblance—six or seven parts out of ten—to her full brother... A pang struck Wei Shufen’s heart, her eyes growing moist with emotion.
Chai Yingluo seemed to notice her unusual expression and, after exchanging a few more words, guided her back to the Empress’s seated bedside. The conversation naturally shifted from the “seventeenth aunt” to the marriage of the “sixth uncle.” Upon hearing that Pei Ji’s children had already arrived in the capital, Empress Zhangsun showed surprise:
“Goodness, I had no idea about this. Why didn’t they report to the relevant authorities earlier? Last year, I mentioned that the weddings of the princes in the Great Peace Palace should be arranged, but the Supreme Emperor’s health has been poor, so it wasn’t appropriate to bring it up again. Now that the young lady is already here, why wait? Let’s choose an auspicious date for the wedding as soon as possible.”
Chai Yingluo didn’t mention the negligence of the Court of the Imperial Clan and the Ministry of Rites or the bribery demands from Yin Shi and her siblings in the Great Peace Palace. Instead, she smiled and replied, “The Pei siblings, considering themselves descendants of a disgraced official, were timid and hesitant, not daring to act rashly. They sought intermediaries to convey their plea slowly...”
“That’s nonsense. Even if the Pei family were truly stripped of their status as criminals, their daughter was already betrothed, and the betrothal ceremony had taken place. That makes her part of her husband’s family and shouldn’t be implicated by her birth family...”
As the Empress chatted with her niece, she didn’t notice Consort Wei and another consort quietly bowing their heads beside her. Wei Shufen recalled that both consorts had once been confiscated as maidservants due to their families’ criminal status. However, both now had sons and daughters, holding high positions in the palace. Seeing their diligent and cautious service to the Empress, their later years seemed secure and untroubled.
In the presence of these women, Empress Zhangsun spoke without much restraint. After discussing the Pei family’s past with Chai Yingluo and hearing that Miss Pei was of good character and appearance, she immediately ordered a palace official to instruct the Palace Service Department to prepare for the wedding. “See if there’s an auspicious date soon—the sooner the wedding and her formal installation as consort, the better.” Chai Yingluo laughed, saying, “There’s no need to rush so much,” but the Empress sighed:
“Yingniang, you’re thinking too shallowly. Your sixth uncle isn’t in any hurry—he has no shortage of attendants. But Miss Pei, having completed her mourning, is no longer young, and the Supreme Emperor’s health... you know better than I. If we delay further, it’ll be another three years, wasting the girl’s youth. Her late father wouldn’t rest easy in the afterlife either.”
Chai Yingluo lowered her head in agreement. Consort Wei seized the moment to praise, “The Empress’s compassion embraces all, considering every detail with such thoroughness and warming hearts with her kindness. Listening here, even we feel comforted and at ease...”
“Ah-Wei, no need to flatter me,” Empress Zhangsun chuckled. “This is just women speaking behind closed doors, free from fear of gossip. Strictly speaking, filial piety is paramount—how could we rush a wedding while the elder is unwell? If Wei Shufen’s father heard what I just said, he’d surely submit another memorial admonishing me...”
The Empress gestured toward Wei Shufen, and the women burst into giggles. Wei Shufen herself smiled awkwardly, lowering her head in silence. The Empress then said, “I’ve grown tired after sitting so long. Ah-Wei, Ah-Yin, take the children back first. I’ll give these two little mischief-makers a few more words before returning to the Hall of Established Governance.”The two consorts hurriedly acknowledged the order and rose to bid farewell, summoning their children and attendants to depart together. Here, the Empress called the two daughters of the Chai and Wei families to come closer and sit by her side, specifically instructing Wei Shufen to perch on her carved lacquer sandalwood bed with her legs dangling. Taking the girl's hand, she asked gently:
"I heard recently that you, Fen Niang, have willingly agreed to be betrothed to General Cheng?"
Wei Shufen's mind buzzed as if struck, her cheeks burning hot. She lowered her head, unsure how to respond. The Empress gave her hand a light squeeze and said softly:
"A grown maiden should marry, and parental commands cannot be disobeyed. For a young girl like you to come to this realization on your own, bringing joy with smiles to comfort your parents' hearts, is truly for the best. As for General Cheng Yaojin, though somewhat older in years and fierce in appearance, he may well prove an excellent match. He has long been His Majesty's trusted aide in the Prince of Qin's Manor, and I've seen him many times at banquets. His former wife Madam Sun also often came to converse with me. From what I've gathered, General Cheng is an extremely clear-minded man—at most somewhat quick-tempered, fearsome when angered, yet he takes no pleasure in cruelty or harshness. With you being the younger wife to an older husband, and considering your father's standing, he will surely cherish and dote upon you. Set your heart at ease."
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