Chapter Fifteen

At court and in the palace, everything seemed to be going exceptionally smoothly.

Yet that line from the Lantern Festival kept circling in my mind: Di Renjie held great authority and influence. No matter how cunning Lai Junchen was, it would be difficult for him to bring Di Renjie down—let alone on a charge as grave as treason. Still, I knew such matters had nothing to do with me. No matter how much I admired Di Renjie’s integrity, I had no power to intervene. Even he himself could barely protect his own position—what more could anyone else do?

A few days earlier, during the lunar eclipse, several of my uncles had tried to shift the blame onto the Crown Prince, but Di Renjie had defused the situation with just a few words. The Emperor then declared a general amnesty and changed the era name to Ruyi. Ruyi… if only things could truly go as one wished.

I saw the sun already high outside the window and felt too lazy to move. I idly fiddled with the unlit lotus lantern on my desk. When I grew bored of that, I picked up my brush to practice calligraphy. Before I knew it, half the day had passed. It wasn’t until Wan’er quietly approached from behind that I finally set the brush down and turned to look at her.

She smiled, picked up the half-cold tea from the table, and said, “First, congratulations—you’ve grown another year older.”

I replied, “Time flies. In the blink of an eye, you’ve returned from Luoyang.” Since offering incense at Longmen Mountain, Wan’er had remained in Luoyang and only returned after the great Buddha statue at Fengxian Temple was completed. I had heard yesterday that she had entered the palace, but I hadn’t expected her to come see me so soon.

She picked up my practice sheet, examined it carefully, and said, “These characters resemble his style by about seventy percent. You’d better switch to a different model for practice.”

Her words were indirect, but I understood the warning. After a moment of silence, I nodded. “All right.”

In truth, I had only been practicing casually, yet I had unconsciously followed his style.

She set down the teacup and continued, “At first, I thought you were cautious. But it seems what you’ve learned in the palace these past two years has been lost by seventy or eighty percent.”

Embarrassed, I crumpled the paper and tossed it aside. “I know. I’ll find another model tomorrow and start again.”

She tapped the table lightly, then suddenly asked, “Although he’s been in the palace these past four months, he hasn’t moved about much. You still haven’t seen him, have you?”

I nodded. “I saw him once when he stayed outside the palace for two months. Since returning, I haven’t seen him again.”

From the cold of winter to the bloom of spring, though we were both in Daming Palace, we had never met. Aside from occasionally hearing his name from attendants, he felt distant, almost like a stranger.

Wan’er waved her hand in front of my face and said softly, “You still don’t understand your imperial grandaunt. She kept those imperial grandsons in the palace only to confine them and silence them. Only by doing so can people gradually forget the Li clan and remember that the Emperor’s surname is Wu.”

She sighed, her gaze distant. “If the Lis show too much brilliance, it only gives the old ministers hope—and brings about their deaths.”

Her words sent a chill through me. The more I thought about them, the colder I felt.

After a moment, she continued, “But judging from these past four months, he is clever. He knows to keep a low profile. By avoiding attention, he avoids fault.”

I nodded, called for Yiping to pour more tea, and spoke with Wan’er a bit longer about Fengxian Temple.

After she left, I found myself unable to calm my thoughts. I asked Yiping to accompany me for a walk in the Imperial Garden.

The sky was unusually clear, a deep, translucent blue. Along the path stretched clusters of qionghua blossoms, lush and abundant. These flowers had been transplanted from Guangling by Wu Chengsi. There were even rumors that Emperor Yang of Sui had once tried to transplant them, only for them to wither. Yet now they flourished within Daming Palace, pleasing the Emperor greatly.

I crouched down, immediately surrounded by their rich fragrance. Just as I was about to ask Yiping to pick some petals, a voice sounded behind me.

“Why are you admiring flowers like a thief?”

Turning around, I saw several princes I hadn’t seen in months. The one who spoke was Li Longji.

He looked at me and said, “If you like them, just pick them. Duke Zhou planted an entire garden—he won’t mind a few flowers.”

It had been over half a year since we last met. He had grown taller, and only when I stood did I realize he could now meet my gaze.

I bowed. “What a pleasant surprise to see the princes enjoying the flowers.”

Li Chengqi nodded slightly, smiling faintly. Li Chengyi, however, grinned brightly. “Thanks to Duke Zhou’s flowers, Her Imperial Grandmother graciously allowed us some fresh air.”

I forced a smile, understanding the implication. “Qionghua and peonies are both treasures of the world. Since the princes have leisure, please enjoy them.”

Li Longji stepped forward, plucked a blossom, and said, “We have plenty of leisure.”

His words were even more direct.

Seeing the eunuchs nearby, I quickly said, “If the prince has time, why not help me pick some flowers? I was thinking of making tea with them.”

“Tea?” he asked, surprised.

I nodded. “The flowers, fruits, even the leaves can be used medicinally. They clear heat and detoxify—perfect for spring.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly. “Your face looks fine today. The alcohol rash is gone. Why do you still need detoxifying tea?”

I froze. “How do you know about that?”

“I asked Shen Qiu,” he replied casually.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Still, I answered, “The rash is better now. But spring dryness causes internal heat, so it’s still beneficial.”

He accepted this and began picking flowers.

Li Chengyi, having nothing better to do, started chatting with Yiping, making her blush deeply.

After a while, Li Longji and Li Chengyi began composing poetry on the spot.

I watched, amused, when Li Chengqi said softly beside me, “Since you’re enjoying it, why not join them?”

I hesitated, then asked, “Why won’t you join?”

He smiled faintly. “It’s rare to see him like this. I’ll stay and talk with you.”

My heart warmed.

After a pause, he lowered his voice. “Someone at court has once again proposed making Wu Chengsi the Crown Prince. Though the Empress Dowager has rejected it, she is beginning to waver.”

My chest tightened. “I understand.”

“For you, this marriage is not simple,” he continued.

Because my surname was Wu, marrying him would carry political implications. It was no longer just a matter of affection.

He looked at me, his gaze gentle. “If you don’t understand, I would worry less.”

I smiled faintly. “Next year I’ll only be thirteen. There’s no need to rush.”

He chuckled softly.

I had never heard him laugh before. My heart pounded, and I quickly moved away, joining Li Longji among the flowers.

When I glanced back, he was still standing there, smiling at me like the warmth of spring.

—

That evening, Yiping and the palace maids sorted the petals, chatting happily.

I sat nearby, lost in thought, until someone announced Shen Qiu’s arrival.

After Yiping left, Shen Qiu looked at me and said, “The princess looks perfectly healthy. I hardly know what to treat.”

I asked, confused, “When was I ill?”

“The prince ordered me to come,” he said dryly. “Spring dryness and internal heat, was it?”

I finally understood.

“Then prescribe something,” I said lightly.

He smirked. “I’ll give you a beauty-preserving formula, so you won’t age before marriage.”

I glared at him, used to his sharp tongue.

As he wrote, he glanced at my book. “A good text—but not quite suitable for your age.”

“How do you know where it came from?” I asked.

He smiled. “How could I not recognize the prince’s handwriting?”

Embarrassed, I said nothing.

After he left, Yiping entered with qionghua tea.

“The flowers are ready,” she said. “Shall we send some to the princes?”

I smiled teasingly. “Planning to deliver it personally to Prince Hengyang?”

She blushed.

“Go ahead,” I said. “Send some to Wan’er and Wei Tuan’er as well.”

“What reason should I give?” she asked.

I thought for a moment. “Say it’s to celebrate the Emperor’s new era name—Ruyi. A wish for good fortune.”

I could only hope that this era name would truly bring peace and prosperity to the palace.