Spring arrived, and the snow that had blanketed Suyeh City for an entire winter began to melt slowly. One afternoon, Pei You'an returned home to find his daughter missing. Guessing she must be playing in the back garden, he was about to go look for her when he heard a voice calling "Daddy" from the corridor outside. Raising his eyes, he saw his little daughter's small figure appear at the doorway. She stepped over the threshold and came running toward him, her face lit up with a smile. He hurried forward and scooped her up into his arms, noticing the fine beads of sweat on her nose and her bangs sticking to her forehead from perspiration. When he asked Jiafu, who had accompanied her, he was told the child had been running around playing and had worked up a sweat.
Though spring had come, the weather was still chilly. Jiafu took their daughter to wash her hair and bathe. After changing her into fresh, warm clothes, she noticed the girl's bangs had grown long enough to cover her eyes. She was about to call the old maid who knew hair twirling when Pei You'an picked up their daughter, sat her on a stool in front of the dressing table, and took up a small pair of scissors, declaring he would trim her bangs himself and promising it would turn out no worse than if the maid had done it.
A Yuan was two years old, almost three, and the spitting image of Jiafu in her childhood. Her skin was milky white, her eyes round and bright, her nose delicate, and her lips cherry-red—utterly adorable. The chubby-cheeked little girl extended one plump hand with short, stubby fingers, the backs dimpled with tiny flesh hollows. Already conscious of her appearance, she sat perfectly still before the mirror as her father prepared to trim her bangs.
Pei You'an made the first cut, but the bangs ended up crooked. A Yuan expressed her dissatisfaction. Her father tried to fix it, trimming more and more until the bangs grew shorter and shorter. Finally, they were even—but what had once been a neat row of bangs was now reduced to a short, stubby fringe.
Tears began to well up in A Yuan's eyes.
Her father had thought trimming bangs would be a simple matter, never expecting it to turn out like this. Seeing his daughter on the verge of tears, he was filled with regret. Just then, Jiafu walked in and, noticing the short bangs, exclaimed, "Why are they so short?"
A Yuan could hold back no longer and burst into loud sobs.
Pei You'an panicked and hurried to comfort her, but the more he tried, the harder she cried.
After much coaxing, he finally remembered—in a few days, they would be taking her to the capital.
A Yuan had known about this for a while. She had been eagerly looking forward to the day when the ice and snow would melt, and her parents would take her to a place called the capital to visit her older brother who lived there. Hearing her father mention it now, she brightened momentarily. But then it occurred to her—with her hair cut so ugly by Daddy, what if her brother saw her and didn't like her? Unable to help herself, she sniffled and started crying again.
Pei You'an assured her that no matter what, her brother would love her. He added that the journey to the capital would take one or two months, and by the time they arrived, her hair would have grown back, and she would be as pretty and adorable as before. Only then did the little girl finally stop crying and begin counting the days until their departure with eager anticipation.
When the day finally came, with all arrangements in place, Pei You'an and Jiafu set off on the journey back to the capital with A Yuan.
It was their first return to the capital in three years.Over the past few years, although she had her husband and youngest daughter by her side, Jiafu often found herself unconsciously recalling Ci'er's childhood whenever she saw A Yuan. She still remembered the last time she saw her eldest son—he had been a sixteen-year-old boy then. Now, three years later, he was about to be married.
The journey proceeded smoothly. When they reached the metropolitan area and stopped at a posthouse to rest, Li Shang came fifty li outside the city to personally welcome Prince Jin and his wife, as ordered. After staying overnight at the posthouse, the family arrived in the capital before nightfall the next day and settled into the residence where they had lived for many years.
That very night, the emperor came in plain clothes to reunite with his father and mother.
Though three years had passed, and the sixteen-year-old boy had grown into a young man with the full appearance of an adult, the moment he spoke—his familiar, heartfelt "Father, Mother"—instantly dispelled all the unease in Jiafu's heart caused by their long separation, leaving only joy and excitement. Her eyes reddened, and tears fell once more.
The young emperor smiled as he wiped away her tears, exchanging a glance with his father, who stood by with a quiet smile. Between father and son, there was perfect understanding.
"Brother, I'm A Yuan!"
Though A Yuan had never met her brother since birth, she had long held him in her heart through her parents' stories. Now that she finally saw him, she took an immediate liking to this handsome brother. Seeing him wipe their mother's tears, she ran over and tightly hugged his leg, looking up at him with a grin.
The emperor beamed, lifting his tiny sister high above his head—just as he had been lifted by his grandfather when he was a child. He held her aloft for a long time, as if only this could express the affection he felt for her in that moment.
A Yuan was beside herself with joy. All evening, she clung to her emperor brother, who carried her around without putting her down. The house was filled with her laughter.
Late into the night, Jiafu left the father and son to talk in the study while she managed, with some difficulty, to coax her daughter to bed.
Even tucked under the covers, A Yuan kept chattering endlessly about her brother, saying he had promised to take her to his place the next morning. She was so excited that she didn't fall asleep until exhaustion finally overcame her in the deep of night.
With A Yuan asleep, only the father and son remained in the study. The emperor took the initiative to discuss several major state affairs he had been handling recently. Pei You'an nodded and smiled. "I know you have your own vision, and I have no concerns. However, there is one matter..."
He paused.
"Please speak, Father," the emperor said at once, rising respectfully.
Pei You'an motioned for him to sit. "You must already be aware—it concerns the granddaughter of the Zhang family. Some time ago, I received a letter from Minister Zhang Ming, whose tone hinted at pessimism regarding his daughter's appointment as empress. Ci'er, the Zhang family's granddaughter will soon complete her mourning period. What are your thoughts now on the marriage arrangement made years ago?"
"Marriage matters are entirely at my parents' discretion. What are your and Mother's current intentions?"
The emperor's expression remained calm as he spoke.
Pei You'an pondered.
Three years earlier, after he had firmly decided to step away, Zhang Shiyong had been implicated in Yang Song's case and subsequently forced to retire on grounds of illness.Pei You'an understood clearly that this was due to Zhang Shiyong's reluctance to let go of his power and status. The young emperor, ambitious like an eagle taking its first flight into the vast sky, would naturally not wish to have the former "regent minister" restraining him again.
Once the emperor and his ministers fell out of step, such an outcome became inevitable.
At the time, Pei You'an did not intervene but observed quietly, waiting for the dust to settle. Out of a desire to make amends and restore balance, he proposed making Zhang's granddaughter the empress.
When he suggested it, his son had agreed immediately. Yet now, the Zhang family seemed hesitant. Unable to decide, Pei You'an sought his son's opinion.
Hearing his response, Pei You'an said, "You are already nineteen and have yet to marry. Even if we do not choose Zhang's granddaughter, we must select another family for the position of empress. Your marriage is not just a private matter—it concerns the stability of the court. It should be steady, not subject to change. If I am not mistaken, the Zhang family is not truly unwilling to form this alliance but is merely apprehensive due to past events. My view is this: since Zhang's granddaughter was originally chosen as empress and the decision is known throughout the realm, unless you have another woman in mind, it would be better to honor the agreement rather than break it and invite courtly gossip. We should reassure the Zhang family and treat them generously henceforth. The marriage should proceed swiftly to settle the hearts of the people."
Gazing at his son's noble countenance, Pei You'an thought of how the boy had been separated from him and his wife at the tender age of three to enter the palace. There, regardless of season, he studied daily, learning how to rule this vast empire. By seven, when other children were still enjoying their parents' doting care, he had already ascended the throne. No one understood the hardships he had endured better than Pei You'an. Unconsciously, his voice softened. "Ci'er, when I chose Zhang's granddaughter, I did so with careful consideration. The Zhang family has been a scholarly household for generations, known for their strict discipline. Their granddaughter is both talented and virtuous, gentle and wise—a fitting match for you. If you marry her, she will surely stand by your side in the years to come."
"I defer to my parents' judgment in all matters."
The emperor recalled the private words Zhang's granddaughter had once spoken in her father's presence. His gaze flickered briefly, but his expression remained unchanged as he stood and replied respectfully.
The next morning, the moment A Yuan opened her eyes, she saw Jiafu's smiling face. Her brother had sent someone to fetch her, and the escort was already waiting outside. Letting out a cheer, she scrambled out of her warm bed without a hint of drowsiness, eagerly urging her mother to dress her and comb her hair. After wolfing down her breakfast, she happily followed Jiafu to the front hall, where she spotted a round-faced man in red robes. The moment he saw her, he hurried over, bowing deeply and addressing her as "Little Princess."
The night before, her brother had repeatedly apologized, explaining that he had urgent matters the next morning and couldn't fetch her personally. Instead, he would send someone named Cui Ban'er. Seeing the man's friendly, smiling face, A Yuan asked, "Are you Cui Ban'er?"
"Oh, I dare not claim such familiarity! Little Princess may call me Eunuch Cui."
Cui Yinshui was now in his forties, his round face plump with age, though he hadn't aged much otherwise. As the chief eunuch of the palace, he exchanged a few playful words with A Yuan before bowing to Jiafu. "Your Highness, this servant shall now escort the Little Princess to the palace. Rest assured, I will take good care of her."Cui Yinshui had always been good at taking care of children, so Jiafu had no worries. She reminded her daughter not to be mischievous before letting go of her hand, watching as the little girl skipped away happily under Cui Yinshui's escort.
After the emperor finished court duties, he set aside all matters and took his younger sister to the West Garden to visit the Swan House, Peacock House, and other enclosures where rare birds and exotic animals were kept. They were so engrossed in their fun that they didn’t return that night, staying in the palace instead. The same happened the next day, and it wasn’t until the third day, when the novelty began to fade and they started missing their parents, that they finally left the palace to go home.
Within a few days, all the court officials learned that the granddaughter of the Zhang family had completed her mourning period for her grandfather, and the Ministry of Rites had begun preparations for the emperor’s grand wedding. Prince Jin and his wife had returned to the capital precisely for this occasion. After calculations by the Imperial Astronomers, an auspicious date three months later was chosen for the wedding.
Years ago, when Pei You'an proposed making the Zhang family’s granddaughter the empress, Jiafu had discreetly inquired about the girl. She learned that her name was Xiguang, and from Madam Liu Jiushao, who had met her, she heard that the girl was not only beautiful and exceptionally talented but also, most remarkably, lively and cheerful. Madam Liu praised her for having the grace of a woodland spirit, free from any affectation, making her utterly delightful.
Madam Liu couldn’t stop singing her praises.
Jiafu had been very pleased when she heard this.
A woman who possessed both beauty and talent was rare, but not impossible to find.
What truly satisfied Jiafu was the girl’s temperament as described by Madam Liu—it seemed complementary to her son’s.
Now that her son was emperor, his marriage was no longer a private matter but the establishment of an empress. Though privately, Jiafu hoped he would find a good match, so that their hearts could unite and they could enjoy a lasting bond, just like she and his father had.
But considering his position, and out of respect for his own feelings—especially after their years of separation—Jiafu had never voiced such hopes to her son.
She only wished that the girl who would one day stand beside him as empress would be wise enough.
Jiafu understood her son.
His heart was too vast—so vast that even she, his mother, couldn’t fully grasp it.
And his wife, even if honored as empress and titled "Mother of the Nation," her world would be confined to the limited space of the inner palace.
That space was far too small.
If the girl wasn’t wise enough and saw only that small world and her emperor husband as her entire existence, over time, no matter how beautiful or talented she was, she would likely lose herself in the endless cycle of hope and disappointment, eventually losing her true self.
Like a radiant pearl gradually dulling into a worthless fish eye.
Such tragedies among women had played out generation after generation in the gilded halls of the inner palace, all too common.
Jiafu hoped that years later, the Zhang family’s granddaughter would still retain the "grace of a woodland spirit" and her lively, cheerful nature as described by Madam Liu.
If so, it would be her good fortune—and her son’s as well.
On this day, Jiafu took A Yuan to the Changning Villa in the western part of the city.
This was a garden Ci’er had built for his younger sister, named after A Yuan’s title. Construction had begun two years earlier, after learning of her birth, on a site near the West Garden of the palace. It was only completed a few months ago. Connected to the Great Liquid Pond, the estate was vast, filled with pavilions, towers, rare flowers, and exotic plants—a breathtaking sight.Jiafu stayed overnight at the villa, and the next day, under the pretense of admiring flowers, she sent someone to bring Xiguang to the villa.
Some time ago, Xiguang had learned from her father that the annulment of the engagement was hopeless, which left her deeply disappointed.
After the disappointment, since the matter was settled, all she could do now was wait for the wedding.
Prince Jin had visited, and afterward, her father told her that the prince had said the emperor had appointed her as empress out of respect for her grandfather. Prince Jin assured her father there was nothing to worry about.
Though she didn’t know if it was true, with Prince Jin’s words, her father seemed to have been given some peace of mind.
After Prince Jin’s visit, her father appeared much more relaxed than before.
Subsequently, the emperor’s actions seemed to confirm Prince Jin’s words.
On the anniversary of her grandfather’s passing, the emperor personally wrote a eulogy. Her two brothers, who had completed their mourning period, not only had their official positions restored but were also promoted.
These successive honors, in the eyes of others, were naturally seen as the emperor’s favor toward a family that had long assisted him, and many envied them.
During this time, Xiguang could only wait for the wedding date, not stepping out half a step or entertaining guests. Until this day, when she received an invitation from Princess Jin and, not daring to decline, she went out, boarded the carriage sent for her, and arrived at the villa.
Princess Jin looked quite young, at most in her early thirties. She led Xiguang to the garden, admiring flowers while casually chatting with her. Only a lively little princess accompanied them, with the maids following at a distance, creating a very relaxed atmosphere.
Before coming, Xiguang had been somewhat nervous.
After all, Prince Jin’s influence over the emperor was well-known throughout the court. It was said that after Princess Changning arrived in the capital, she entered and left the palace as if it were her own garden, and the emperor even set aside court affairs to personally accompany her on several days of sightseeing in the West Garden.
But now, after meeting Princess Jin and the little princess, Xiguang quickly relaxed.
Not only was the little princess lively and adorable, quickly warming up to her, but Princess Jin was also very amiable, without a trace of arrogance.
She could sense that the princess seemed to like her quite a bit, and she naturally felt a growing closeness in return.
The princess told her many things about the emperor.
What the emperor liked to eat, what books he enjoyed reading, and finally said, “Xiguang, His Majesty the emperor may seem difficult to approach, but that’s because he has been very lonely since childhood. So you must not fear him, nor hesitate to show your true self in front of him.”
“I like you very much, and I believe that once His Majesty the emperor knows how wonderful you are, he will like you too.”
Xiguang was stunned, staring fixedly at the princess who smiled at her, suddenly recalling a rumor she had heard years ago, though she couldn’t remember where.
It was said that Prince Jin was the son of the late emperor and the so-called “Goddess” of those days. Due to his complicated background, he was raised under the care of Duke of Wei, who was as close as a brother to the late emperor, and the current emperor was Prince Jin’s son.
Such a rumor, no one knew when, where, or by whom it started, was so absurd that after circulating for a while, it gradually faded away.
But at this moment, Xiguang suddenly had a strange feeling, as if she sensed an extraordinary, profound love in the princess’s words for the “His Majesty the emperor” she spoke of.
A warm current slowly welled up in her heart.
Gazing at the woman before her, who looked at her with earnest hope, Xiguang slowly nodded firmly. “Princess, rest assured, I will do my best.”"Sister, let's go swing! I love swinging so much!"
The little princess suddenly grabbed Xiguang's hand, pointing excitedly at a swing ahead.
Xiguang had also loved swinging since childhood, and she was bold at it. Every year during the Maidens' Festival, when the young girls gathered to swing, she always soared the highest and most gracefully, winning first place year after year.
She glanced at the princess consort.
The princess consort smiled. "Go ahead, but be careful."
Xiguang nodded, took the little princess's hand, and headed toward the swing.
Stepping onto the swing, she swayed higher and higher in the wind, cheered on by the little princess, who gazed up at her with admiration, and the maids who gradually gathered around, clapping and cheering. It was as if she had returned to those carefree days of her youth, and a smile she hadn’t worn in a long time appeared on her face.
The emperor, having learned that his mother and younger sister had arrived at the villa the previous day for a short stay, came to visit them that afternoon. As he approached, he was drawn by the laughter drifting from the garden and followed the sound, only to witness this scene.
From a distance, he saw a beautiful maiden in crimson robes standing on the swing he had specially ordered built for the little princess. Wisteria cascaded like a waterfall around her, her fair wrists as white as snow, her movements as light as a swallow. She swayed in the wind, her wide sleeves fluttering, her robes billowing, her face radiant with joy. Her laughter, carefree and bright, carried on the breeze, making her seem like a flying celestial being descended to the mortal world.
The emperor did not approach further but stood there, silently watching for a long time.
Xiguang and the little princess played until the child grew tired, and then she accompanied her back to rest with the maids.
Her hair had become slightly disheveled from the wind while swinging. As Xiguang tidied up, she noticed a pearl hairpin was missing from her hair. Suspecting it had fallen into the grass while swinging, she retraced her steps with a maid to search for it.
After searching for a while and combing through every inch of grass beneath the swing, she still couldn’t find the hairpin.
Resigned, Xiguang was about to leave when suddenly, a man’s voice came from behind her. "Are you looking for this?"
Startled, Xiguang turned and saw a handsome young man standing there, his gaze fixed on her. She had no idea where he had come from.
In his palm lay the very pearl hairpin she had lost.
Xiguang was shocked—how could a strange young man have entered this place? She turned to leave quickly but then froze and slowly turned back to look at him again.
He stood tall and straight, his gaze steady, his presence commanding an air of authority that only those in the highest positions possessed.
Who else but one person in the entire realm could enter and leave the rear garden of Prince Jin’s villa as if it were nothing?
Xiguang’s heart raced. She forgot to kneel and kowtow, standing stiffly instead, wide-eyed, as she watched him approach and stop right in front of her.
The young emperor was tall, and at this close distance, he looked down at her.
Finally snapping back to her senses, Xiguang steadied herself and hurriedly knelt before him.
His gaze lingered briefly on her flushed face, still warm from swinging, then slowly lowered to her hair, where the missing pearl hairpin had been. He reached out and gently placed the hairpin back into her hair, his touch surprisingly tender.Xiguang's heartbeat quickened, her face flushed crimson in an instant, even the tips of her ears burning hot. She was momentarily at a loss, unsure how to react.
Whether to express gratitude or something else—
Before she could decide, she suddenly felt a shadow loom over her. A voice sounded by her ear: "We've heard you look down upon Our empress position, unwilling to become Our empress."
Xiguang froze instantly, slowly raising her head to see this young man slightly leaning down, his gaze fixed upon her with an expression that seemed both smiling and not.
"You're not wrong. Being my empress is indeed a terrible fate. But you have no choice, understand? If you wish to grow melons and beans, that's easy enough—come to the palace, and I'll let you grow them for the rest of your life."
His face drew closer, so near she could almost smell the ambergris scent on his robes. In a voice as soft as a whisper, both teasing and threatening, he spoke these words to her. Then he straightened up and casually said, "Rise," before turning and striding away.
The young emperor had finally uttered the words that had been stuck in his throat in front of the girl. As he left, he caught a glimpse of her pale, stunned expression from the corner of his eye, and his mood suddenly became unprecedentedly light.
Bringing her here and making her grow melons and beans in the Kunning Palace seemed like a rather delightful idea.
He thought cheerfully.
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