Li Run approached them, smiling as he asked Li Shubai, “Fourth Brother, what brings you here?”

Li Shubai turned to look at him, nodding slightly: “Seventh Brother.”

Seeing Li Shubai alone with only Huang Zixa, Li Run nodded to her in acknowledgment, then smiled at Li Shubai: “The weather is fine today, and the street lamps shine like stars. No wonder Fourth Brother wanted to take a walk. Though bringing only one small eunuch seems inappropriate – you should have some imperial guards with you.”

Li Shubai reached up to touch the tassels hanging from a street lamp, saying: “If there were too many people following, how could one appreciate such a peaceful night?”

Li Run looked around, seeing the street full of lights but few pedestrians, and nodded: “That’s true. We’ve grown up amid such splendor, yet when have we ever appreciated scenery like this?”

Li Shubai seemed unwilling to talk further: “It’s almost curfew, you should head back early.”

He nodded in agreement, then remembered something and said: “Fourth Brother, if you have time, come visit me sometime. Chen Niangniang, Dong Tinglan’s grand disciple, is now serving as a zither master in my residence.”

“She’s not returning to Yangzhou?”

“Earlier, Ninth Brother brought her to perform for Imperial Consort Zhao in the palace, with the Emperor and Empress present. But Imperial Consort Zhao prefers the pipa, and the Emperor loves excitement, with no particular fondness for the zither… As for the Empress, she’s always maintained a pure and restrained demeanor, typically avoiding songs, dances, and entertainment, so she wouldn’t show special favor to a zither player. I asked about her intentions, and she said she wanted to stay in the capital for now – probably hoping to find Feng Yiniang.”

Huang Zixa and Li Shubai exchanged glances. They hadn’t expected Chen Niangniang to end up at Li Run’s residence. A series of related events seemed to be gathering together under some kind of guidance.

Li Shubai maintained his composure, only saying to Li Run: “I see. I’ll visit you in a few days when I’m free.”

“Good, I’ll clean up and wait for you.”

After Li Run’s carriage had gone far, Li Shubai finally turned his gaze to the lamp before him and slowly asked: “What do you think of Prince E?”

She thought for a moment and said: “If you want to disguise your identity, the best way is to impersonate someone with distinctive features. I think this might be why Prince E was chosen to create smoke and confuse us.”

“What’s another possibility?”

“Another possibility is that Prince E had a childish impulse, manipulating your choice of bride while personally learning magic tricks in the Western Market, then having others frighten your bride-to-be.” She leaned against a willow tree behind her, playing with a branch carelessly as she said, “However you think about it, the first possibility seems more plausible.”

“I’m different from you, I don’t like analyzing these things. But I don’t need to analyze to know he’s not that person, because I don’t believe he could pull any tricks in front of me.” Li Shubai said slowly, “In this world, there aren’t many who dare to oppose me directly. I just want to know who’s trying to put him in front of me, making me think he’s the one behind this.”

The ninth day of the fifth month.

Seven days remained until Duke Kui’s wedding.

A light rain came overnight, enveloping the entire capital in misty showers. On the way to the Wang family residence, Huang Zixa looked through the fine bamboo blinds of the carriage window, seeing rain-laden flower branches drooping outside.

The peach and plum blossoms had already passed, but Chang’an’s locust trees were gradually blooming, wrapping the entire city in a faint fragrance. Pure white flowers hung in clusters from the branches, their color so light they seemed barely there. Only occasionally did one or two hit the carriage window, and from the subtle sound, she realized it wasn’t raindrops but flowers.

The Wang family’s people were already waiting at the gate with umbrellas. Seeing her approach, they hurried to shelter her, saying: “Eunuch Yang, you’re finally here. The Empress has summoned the young lady to the palace and wants you and Sister Suqi to accompany her for an audience.”

“Yes, I know.” Huang Zixa nodded in response. The rumors in the capital had grown increasingly intense, reaching the ears of Empress Wang in her deep palace chambers. Summoning them to the palace today, she must have many things to instruct.

Thinking this, Huang Zixa took an umbrella and crossed the front courtyard, following the corridor. Past two vermillion gates and turning toward the west wing was where Wang Ru resided. Her courtyard was full of orchids, and newly sprouted banana leaves in the courtyard concealed the ornate windows, creating a cool, comfortless feeling on such a rainy day.

Huang Zixa gently closed her umbrella, standing outside the window. A grove of banana plants grew under the corridor, and beneath them sat a large porcelain jar containing three or four red and white koi fish swimming gracefully.

She stood watching the rain strike the banana leaves, water droplets splashing. Amid the tranquility, she heard muffled sounds from inside, as if someone was murmuring something.

Huang Zixa turned back, and through the latticed window saw the daybed by the window, where Wang Ru lay sleeping restlessly. Even in sleep, her brows were furrowed, her face full of fear, her hands clutching the corners of her blanket tightly, her forehead covered in sweat as if enduring the most terrible torture.

Huang Zixa stood outside the window watching her for a while, still considering whether to wake her, when she heard her mumbling: “Blood color… blood color…”

She was slightly surprised and leaned in to listen more closely when suddenly Wang Ru’s voice changed, becoming pleading: “Feng Niang, don’t blame me, you shouldn’t have known…”

The wind and rain suddenly intensified, striking half of Huang Zixa’s body. She quickly moved aside, hearing Wang Ru cry out “Ah!” as she awakened.

Huang Zixa calmly brushed the water drops from her clothes and walked to the door with her usual composure, knocking softly and calling: “Lady Wang.”

Inside, two maids had been sitting, and one particularly quick-witted one named Xianyun immediately came to open the door, saying: “Eunuch Yang, you’re here – the lady was having a nightmare.”

“Yes, I just heard through the window.” Huang Zixa shook off the raindrops from her body and turned to see Wang Ru slowly sitting up on her daybed, looking up at her with eyes still full of fear, seemingly unable to shake off the nightmare.

Huang Zixa walked to the bedside and asked softly: “Did the lady dream of something?”

“Chonggu…” Her autumn-pool-like eyes were now filled with tears, looking at her with rippling waves, hesitating to speak for a long while before turning away and saying tremulously, “I, I dreamed that I really, really disappeared from this world…”

Huang Zixa sat down beside her bed and said quietly: “Dreams come from thoughts in our hearts. The lady is dwelling on things during the day that become dreams at night. If you don’t think about that person and those words, you surely won’t have such dreams.”

“Really?” She spoke trembling, clutching Huang Zixa’s sleeve helplessly, her body also shaking slightly, “Chonggu, the Duke will protect me, won’t he?”

“Yes.” She answered without hesitation, though her mind recalled Li Shubai’s words – regardless of the reason, presenting fake birth charts was deceiving the emperor, a crime from which there was no return.

However, her one-word answer seemed to give Wang Ru extraordinary comfort. She let out a gentle sigh, then leaned back against the soft cushions of her daybed, falling silent for a while. Huang Zixa saw her lips slowly spread into a dreamlike smile as she stared at an empty point in space as if seeing something unshakeable, murmuring: “Yes, Duke Kui will protect me, what do I have to fear?”

The Penglai Hall of Daming Palace.

The hall stood atop three tiers of platforms, where the Empress resided.

Huang Zixa followed the stream of palace servants, accompanying Wang Ru, Suqi, and several Wang family maids up the white jade steps and through the nine hall doors.

Before them stood an enormous twelve-panel floor screen of agarwood, carved with the twelve flower goddesses among celestial flowers and clouds, paying distant homage to the Queen Mother of the West on Mount Kunlun. She stopped with Wang Ru before the screen, standing with her head bowed, hearing complete silence around them.

Standing there, she pondered Wang Ru’s sleep-talking. Feng Niang must surely be Feng Yiniang, but what did she mean by “blood color”?

Just then, the hem of a vermillion silk brocade robe swept across the thick Persian carpet, and everyone around quickly knelt, not daring to raise their heads.

She knew it must be Empress Wang and also knelt, looking down at the cloud and mist patterns on the Empress’s robes.

Empress Wang, surrounded by palace maids, walked behind the screen and settled onto an agarwood daybed inlaid with seven treasures and glass. She held a secret-colored porcelain teacup, contemplating for a long while before speaking. Her voice was clear as flowing springs, slow and calm: “Ah Ru, you don’t look well. With only seven days until the wedding, where is your joy at leaving home?”

Wang Ru sat sideways with her on the daybed, saying softly: “In reply to Your Majesty, due to some trifling matters, I’ve been overly worried lately, troubling Your Majesty to inquire.”

Empress Wang studied her for a long time, just holding her hand without speaking. Huang Zixa secretly glanced up at Empress Wang’s face. Though she still wore the typical cold detachment of those in high positions, her eyes revealed a kind of familiar tenderness.

This pair of cousins didn’t look alike and were about ten years apart in age, but their relationship seemed quite good.

“The capital is vast, with many idle people – their various gossip isn’t worth worrying about. Why trouble yourself with so many thoughts?” Empress Wang gently held Wang Ru’s right hand between both of hers, tender as if comforting a young bird. Watching this, Huang Zixa felt something indescribable in her heart. Just as she was slightly stunned, she heard the Empress ask: “Who are the people Duke Kui’s mansion has assigned to attend the lady?”

Suqi and Huang Zixa quickly responded: “We are, Your Majesty.”

The Empress’s gaze turned to them, lingering meaningfully on Huang Zixa for a moment before saying: “The lady is young. When she enters the Duke’s mansion, you must take good care of her.”

“Yes,” they quickly answered.

Wang Ru said: “Chonggu and Sister Suqi have both been completely devoted to me, taking great care of me lately.”

“Mm, if there’s anything you don’t like, tell me.” Empress Wang said, then stood holding Wang Ru’s hand, “In seven days you’ll leave home. I’ve prepared some things for you – come look in the inner hall.”

The group waited outside the spacious inner hall, where voices were barely audible. After a while, several of Empress Wang’s female officials came out, inviting everyone to dine in the outer hall.

Palace meals were different from those outside, prepared with extreme delicacy but tasteless when eaten. Huang Zixa took a few bites and put down her chopsticks. The maid Xianyun beside her quickly nudged her with an elbow, asking: “Shall we go look at the hall entrance together? It seems you can see the entire Taiye Pool from there – they say it’s a sight many people never see in their lifetime.”

Though Huang Zixa now had the status of a eunuch, she frequently visited the Wang family and had become somewhat familiar with Xianyun. Xianyun was quite chattery and lively, which many close acquaintances disliked, so she surprisingly wanted to bring Huang Zixa along.

Not wanting to continue eating such food, she went with Xianyun to the entrance, standing by the railing outside the hall, gazing northward.

The weather was clear today, and the nearby Taiye Pool sparkled with waves. The island in the middle of the lake was like the mythical Penglai Island, faintly adorning the glittering waters of Taiye Pool.

“It’s so beautiful, no wonder they say the imperial palace is the most beautiful place under heaven.” Xianyun spread her arms as if wanting to gather all the beauty into her embrace.

Huang Zixa looked down at the thousand layers of pavilions below, saying: “Yes, it’s beautiful.” Only it was too majestic and splendid, making it seem not of this world but rather like unreachable jade towers and halls, without any trace of mortal life.