Yaoying followed behind the eunuch, slowly ascending the moss-covered steps.

The cold stars were just setting as dawn’s first light appeared.

The bell announcing daybreak echoed throughout the hall.

Through the vermillion latticed windows flickered candlelight – Li De was diligent in state affairs, meeting with ministers of the Political Affairs Hall almost daily, the inner palace candles burning through the night.

The eunuch entered to announce her.

Yaoying stood on the imperial steps, turning to gaze at the magnificent palace perched halfway up the distant mountain, her snow-white face expressionless.

In the northeastern corner of the palace city, buildings rose tier upon tier, pavilions, and halls nestled among them, their eaves interlocking like fish scales, cold light shimmering on the glazed tiles.

This was the summer palace built by the last emperor of the previous dynasty. The Taiji Palace’s low-lying position made it humid and stuffy in summer, with damp moss crawling in corners lacking sunlight. Built on the mountainside, the summer palace was majestic and spacious, more suitable for living.

Yaoying calculated silently: once the matter of the Brahmin medicine was cleared up, she needed to find a way to move Noble Consort Xie to live in the summer palace.

The Taiji Palace was too stuffy, too close to intrigue.

A damp morning breeze swept past, its chill penetrating to the bone. Yaoying couldn’t help shivering, pulling closer her moon-white lotus-patterned silk shawl.

The eunuch came out and invited her inside.

It was already bright, but several candles still burned in the gilded candelabra in the hall’s corners. Li De sat before the dragon desk reading memorials, his temples grayed, like a night-blooming cereus quietly blooming in darkness, an otherworldly elegance surrounding him.

Yaoying stepped forward.

Li De looked at the open memorial on his desk and said, “In a few days is the Buddha’s birthday. Since the Noble Consort cannot manage affairs, the Crown Princess will preside over the Buddhist ceremony. Princess Fukang will soon marry the Yelu chieftain, and the Crown Princess must prepare her dowry, so she cannot manage everything. To assist the Crown Princess in presiding over the ceremony.”

Yaoying was startled – she had thought Li De summoned her about Noble Consort Xie’s matter.

Having given his instructions, Li De paid no attention to Yaoying’s reaction, waving his hand to dismiss her.

Yaoying didn’t want any involvement with the Eastern Palace, but she knew that since Li De had summoned her personally to instruct her, he would not allow her to make excuses. She could only calmly acknowledge and withdraw from the inner hall.

With Noble Consort Xie, the highest-ranked palace lady, unable to manage palace affairs, many ceremonies were handled by Crown Princess Zheng Biyu. The Buddha’s birthday ceremony would be held in the Linde Hall, where the altar, incense burners, and golden Buddha had already been arranged. Fearing oversights, Zheng Biyu personally supervised the palace servants cleaning the hall.

Yaoying arrived at Linde Hall and asked Zheng Biyu what she needed to do.

Zheng Biyu smiled and said, “I dare not trouble Seventh Sister with work. The noble ladies of the court will all attend this ceremony – if you help receive them, that would be a great help to me.”

Though Yaoying’s relationship with Li Xuanzhen was awkward, she had never had any conflict with Zheng Biyu. She nodded and said, “Whatever Sister-in-law commands.”

Zheng Biyu was truly overwhelmed – they had barely exchanged a few words when people kept entering the hall seeking her instructions.

Listening from the side, Yaoying noticed they were all asking about Princess Fukang’s matters. She wondered silently: Zheng Biyu was preparing Zhu Lvyun’s dowry.

Had the marriage controversy been settled just like that?

Yaoying maintained her composure.

Returning to the prince’s mansion, the chronicler reported to her: “Noble Lady, Princess Fukang’s grand wedding ceremony has been set for three months from now.”

Yaoying asked doubtfully, “No reaction from the Eastern Palace?”

The chronicler said, “The Eastern Palace chronicler sent many portraits of beauties and gold and silver treasures to the Yelu chieftain, trying to persuade him to marry another, but the chieftain refused.”

The Yelu chieftain wasn’t foolish. Zhu Lvyun’s status was extraordinary – since he had already offended the Central Plains dynasty with his unreasonable demands, naturally he wanted to marry a princess of the highest rank.

It seemed Zhu Lvyun would truly have to marry far away to the grasslands, suffering the consequences of her actions.

Yaoying still felt uneasy.

The next day, Xie Qing delivered a letter from Li Zhongqian.

Reading her brother’s letter made Yaoying feel somewhat more at ease. She wrote back that very night.

In the following days, the capital was peaceful and calm.

Knowing Yaoying would never step into the Eastern Palace, Zheng Biyu invited her to Linde Hall whenever she needed to discuss matters, maintaining an open and straightforward attitude.

Even so, Xie Qing remained worried, following Yaoying closely every day, barely leaving her side.

With his tall, strong build, he stood like a mountain.

Zheng Biyu’s maid tactfully pointed out: that the Crown Princess was the Eastern Palace’s woman, and Xie Qing was an outside male – he should keep his distance.

Xie Qing replied stiffly: “I am the Seventh Princess’s guard. I will not leave the Princess’s side for one step.”

The maid was furious.

Zheng Biyu said nothing, knowing Xie Qing’s famous stubborn loyalty – he would execute Li Yaoying’s orders without question, and if she ordered him to kill himself, he would slash his own throat without hesitation.

Soon came the day of the Buddha’s birthday ceremony.

Yaoying stayed in the palace the night before, rising before dawn to make arrangements.

Zheng Biyu was elaborately made up with ornamental hairpins and ceremonial robes. Standing in the inner hall directing palace servants, she saw Yaoying wearing a lotus crown, silver-red jacket, and emerald skirt, and smiled: “Seventh Sister’s beauty outshines others even without adornment, but isn’t this too plain for today’s ceremony?”

Yaoying said carelessly, “What need for ornate decoration at a Buddhist ceremony?”

Zheng Biyu shook her head, calling several palace maids to forcibly seat Yaoying before a bronze mirror, applying rouge, drawing eyebrows, adding emerald decorations, shading with sandalwood, and coloring her lips.

Yaoying was already exceptionally beautiful – with this makeup, her girlish innocence transformed into alluring charm, her glances captivating.

The maids were transfixed by her beauty, falling silent for a moment.

Zheng Biyu couldn’t help sighing internally – no wonder the capital’s young nobles secretly called the Seventh Princess the foremost beauty.

Coming to her senses, she took bamboo scissors to clip a half-bloomed peony and pinned it in Yaoying’s hair, then added a gold-and-jade butterfly ornament that swayed with movement.

As the noble ladies arrived at the palace in their carriages, Yaoying went to receive them.

The Prime Minister’s wife held her hand, unwilling to let go: “You didn’t come to the spring banquet. In a while, I’m hosting a tea ceremony – Mengding Stone Flower tea from Jiannan, Yangxian tea from Changzhou, all excellent teas. You must come!”

Yaoying smiled and agreed.

After some pleasant conversation, a palace maid came over: “Noble Lady, the abbot of Daci’en Temple has arrived.”

Yaoying asked, “Where is the Crown Princess?”

The maid said, “Her Highness is speaking with the Grand Princess. Please go ahead, Noble Lady – she’ll be there shortly.”

Yaoying glanced back at the corridor.

Xie Qing, standing guard at the steps, immediately understood her meaning and strode to her side, following closely behind her.

…

Before the ceremony began, the noble ladies gathered in the side hall for tea, the hall full of jewels and finery, a dazzling display.

Zheng Biyu looked back several times, not finding Li Yaoying, and asked a nearby palace maid: “Where is the Seventh Princess?”

The maid pointed north: “The Seventh Princess went that way.”

Zheng Biyu frowned: why had the Seventh Princess suddenly left?

…

Outside Linde Hall, Li Xuanzhen stood before the steps, hands behind his back, his handsome face bathed in a thin layer of golden sunlight.

Hearty laughter came from below as the Yelu chieftain, wearing a braided beard and embroidered barbarian robe, entered Linde Hall’s front hall surrounded by his entourage.

Li Xuanzhen stood in the wind’s path, his robes billowing, watching the chieftain’s silhouette disappear through the vermillion palace gates.

Qin Fei stood behind him, his expression struggling: “Your Highness… the Seventh Princess… she is still your sister.”

Though not a full sister, she was still a sister by blood.

Li Xuanzhen’s thin lips pressed tightly together.

Qin Fei muttered quietly: “I shouldn’t speak out of turn, but I feel Chronicler Wei’s method is too ruthless. How can we scheme against a young lady like this? In my opinion…”

Li Xuanzhen whirled around.

Qin Fei jumped in fright, swallowing his unfinished words, not daring to speak further.

Li Xuanzhen turned his back to Linde Hall and strode away.

…

Inside Linde Hall, Yaoying stood beneath a pomegranate tree laden with bright red blossoms, waiting but seeing no sign of the Daci’en Temple abbot.

She asked the palace maid: “Why hasn’t the abbot arrived yet?”

The maid answered with a lowered head: “Please wait a bit longer, Noble Lady. The supervisor just said the abbot has reached the outer hall.”

Yaoying raised her eyes, carefully studying the palace maid.

The maid kept her eyes lowered, allowing the scrutiny.

Yaoying’s brows furrowed slightly.

Something was wrong!

She turned to leave.

The palace servants exchanged glances.

Xie Qing said nothing, gripping his sword and following Yaoying with quick steps.

The maid who had spoken stood dumbfounded, only reacting after Yaoying had gone far. She ran forward quickly: “Noble Lady, the abbot is coming right away – why are you leaving?”

Yaoying remained silent.

The maid kept looking back anxiously, seeing over a dozen figures approaching the passage to the front hall. Overjoyed, she forgot propriety and reached to grab Yaoying: “Noble Lady, look, the abbot has arrived!”

Yaoying ignored the maid, continuing to walk away without looking back.

The maid steeled herself, running several steps to block Yaoying’s path, her face full of smiles: “Noble Lady, look, the abbot has come!”

Yaoying cast a cold glance at the maid.

The maid said steadily: “If you don’t believe me, turn and look.”

Yaoying didn’t turn around.

Xie Qing stepped forward, drawing his sword: “Get lost!”

The maid hadn’t expected him to draw his weapon so readily. She screamed and stumbled backward, trembling.

This deliberately pitched scream drew the attention of the approaching group, over a dozen gazes sweeping their way.

Yaoying felt the strange gazes on her back like needles, instinctively raising her sleeve to cover her face as she quickly passed through the long corridor, slipping into the middle hall.

A tall figure approached.

Moving too quickly, Yaoying hadn’t noticed someone ahead and crashed straight into his embrace.

He was a man with a broad chest. His long arm reached out to grasp her elbow, steadying her.

Yaoying was startled. Looking up, she met his cold gaze.

A pair of narrow phoenix eyes stared at her coldly.

Yaoying froze, suddenly weak all over.

“That palace maid was Elder Brother’s person? What does Elder Brother intend to do?”

Her questioning voice trembled.

Li Xuanzhen released her hand, averting his gaze: “Return to the rear hall.”

Yaoying’s hands curled into fists inside her sleeves, her heart pounding, a layer of fine sweat beneath her clothes.

Li Xuanzhen turned his face away, refusing to look at her, his voice cold as ice and snow: “Go to the rear hall. Don’t come out.”

Xie Qing rushed over, warily placing himself between Yaoying and Li Xuanzhen, sword point aimed at the latter.

Li Xuanzhen’s face remained expressionless.

Voices of laughter came through the ornate window as the group drew nearer.

“Return to the rear hall,” Yaoying said decisively, lightly tugging at Xie Qing.

Xie Qing nodded, sheathing his sword and supporting Yaoying as they entered the rear hall.

Just as master and servant disappeared behind the corridor pillars, the Yelu chieftain walked into the front hall in high spirits, saying curiously: “I just saw two people walking that way…”

Though the lady had covered her face, her delicate, graceful figure marked her as a beauty. Unfortunately, she had walked away too quickly for him to see her features.

Wei Ming, accompanying the Yelu chieftain, secretly despised the chieftain’s shamelessness but maintained a smile, saying: “Today’s Buddha’s birthday ceremony is presided over by the Seventh Princess. That person just now seemed to be the Seventh Princess.”

The Yelu chieftain’s interest was immediately piqued.

He had heard of the Seventh Princess, reportedly a delicate great beauty, but she never attended palace banquets or polo matches, so he had never had the chance to see her.

Wei Ming laughed coldly inside, his gaze quickly sweeping the area searching for Li Yaoying, and saw someone who shouldn’t have been there – Li Xuanzhen.

His expression immediately darkened.

To make the greedy Yelu chieftain voluntarily give up Zhu Lvyun, portraits alone weren’t enough – he needed to see the Seventh Princess in person to be truly moved.

The Seventh Princess lived in seclusion. He had cleverly arranged this opportunity for the Yelu chieftain to glimpse her transcendent beauty, yet the Crown Prince had ruined it!

…

For the rest of the ceremony, Yaoying remained hidden in the rear hall, not appearing.

The Yelu chieftain didn’t see Yaoying.

Days of careful planning had come to nothing, leaving Wei Ming furious.

The Seventh Princess was now on guard – their scheme had failed.

Unexpectedly, three days later, events took a sudden turn.

The Yelu chieftain presented a respectfully worded marriage proposal, requesting to marry the Seventh Princess.

Wei Ming couldn’t believe his ears: “The Yelu chieftain didn’t see the Seventh Princess – how could he be willing to give up Princess Fukang?”

His subordinate also looked bewildered: “I don’t know. The chieftain not only agreed to the switch but said if His Majesty approves the marriage, he’s willing to serve as the Wei army’s vanguard and help recover Liangzhou!”

Wei Ming was dumbfounded.