Afterward, nothing much happened; they passed a rather smooth day. The next day the troops set out, continuing northward.

The land was vast, and the further they traveled, the more noticeable the climate differences became. Perhaps it was also related to the passage of time—they spent a month reaching Shuangtaizi, by which time autumn had begun to show itself. Continuing northeast, as they approached Shengjing, the weather suddenly turned cool. Early mornings and evenings, a single layer of clothing was no longer enough to ward off the chill. When it rained, the cold and dampness made traveling in the wilderness increasingly difficult.

Men might grit their teeth and bear it, but women truly couldn’t. Women needed to be kept warm and couldn’t suffer the cold. Spending all day bouncing on horseback, with no posting stations in sight, swallowing dry rations when hungry, drinking cold water when thirsty, and then encountering rain—the limbs under the oil-soaked clothing were permeated with cold. Ordinary days were barely manageable, but when caught at an inconvenient time, it was truly a torment for Ding Yi.

Lifting the edge of her rain hat to look ahead, she saw that the sky was gray, and so was the ground. It had been raining for nearly seven days with no sign of clearing. This morning there was a slight pain in her lower abdomen, not too severe, just threads of discomfort that would flash by and then linger, eventually affecting her waist and back. She felt anxious—she knew her situation. It always happened this way, not immediately before her monthly cycle but as an early warning that the proper time wasn’t far off.

But she couldn’t speak up! She had to endure the discomfort. She asked a guard beside her, who said according to the map, they were still twenty li from the palace. If they quickened their pace, they could arrive by midday.

Fortunately, it wouldn’t be long now. She took a deep breath. This time they wouldn’t be staying at a posting station. Shengjing had an imperial city built by the founding Emperor, modeled after the Forbidden City though slightly smaller in scale. During major sacrificial ceremonies, the traveling palace served as accommodation for the Emperor and royal family. The many descendants of the Yu Wen family simply called it “the old residence.” With many rooms, they wouldn’t have to crowd together, and it would be more convenient to take care of herself. With hope in mind, Ding Yi pulled herself together, and as the large contingent continued through the rain, they indeed arrived by evening.

Shengjing had designated commanders on duty, and upon learning of the Princes’ arrival, they had been waiting at the city gates early. Seeing them approach, they didn’t even use umbrellas, instead kneeling stiffly on the stone-paved imperial street, kowtowing, “Paying respects to the Virtuous Prince and our Master.”

It turned out this commander was from the Shang Banner. The Pure Prince Hong Ce was the Banner Master of the Shang Banner, his legitimate southern garden master. A servant welcoming his master—that fervent loyalty was evident to heaven and earth. A dignified second-rank official, upon seeing his master, knelt with tears in his eyes, crawling forward several steps to embrace Hong Ce’s legs, looking up and wailing: “Master, you’ve endured such hardship on your journey. I received the news half a month ago and originally wanted to welcome you fifty Li outside the city, but alas, the Emperor commanded that commanders must not leave their posts without authorization. I could only kneel at the city gate to welcome you. Master… this servant has thought of you day and night. During these years of external assignment, I have strictly followed your family rules and teachings, not daring to slack even slightly. Now that you’ve come, I’ve examined myself thoroughly and haven’t brought shame to you, so I have the face to kowtow before you.”

Hong Ce patted him on the shoulder, “Rise. I know your devotion. Though I haven’t come here in a long time, I often hear reports that you’ve been guarding this region with notable achievements, which comforts me.”

The commander wiped his tears, thanked him, and rose, “The weather has been poor lately, and the Princes have been traveling in the rain. I’ve already sent people to relay messages inside. Wei Kaitai has prepared sleeping quarters for the masters. After you wash up and rest, I’ll come back later to massage your legs…”

“Kang Sanbao, are you going to ramble on forever? I know you’re close to your master, but don’t spout nonsense in front of me. Prepare wine, food, singing, and dancing, and make proper arrangements for everyone else below. Whether you massage your master’s legs or back, even if you attend him in his bedchamber, that’s your own business—you gentlemen can discuss that behind closed doors.” Hong Tao was an unrestrained person who couldn’t stand this kind of forced intimacy. Why should grown men act like long-separated young wives? He commanded the Shangyu Banner, which produced fewer high officials—was this bullying because he had fewer people under him? He snorted and turned around to call, “Xiaoshu, bring Phoenix and Oriole to my palace. I’m bored, come entertain me.”

Kang Sanbao stared in shock—for a Prince to bring women along while executing imperial orders seemed highly improper. After being rebuked, he didn’t dare to say anything, just murmuring agreement. Then he saw a small guard responding with a “Yes,” and bowing while carrying two birdcages from behind. Only then did he understand that Phoenix and Oriole weren’t women but birds!

The head eunuch of the traveling palace paced back and forth at the main palace gate. Seeing a group of horsemen approaching from afar, he leaped down the steps, swept his sleeves with a flourish, and respectfully bowed, raising his head with a beaming smile, “This servant has been waiting for ages, and the two masters have finally arrived… This servant is Wei Kaitai, paying respects to the Princes.”

The rules of the traveling palace were the same as those in Beijing, with specific eunuchs and palace maids assigned to each palace and courtyard, all under the supervision of a head steward, the Grand Steward of the traveling palace. The steward here was called Wei Kaitai. He led numerous young eunuchs forward to kowtow and pay respects. After all formalities were completed, the masters had their sleeping palaces, and the guards had their quarters. The eunuchs led them in different directions to their respective accommodations.

More than half of the palaces in the traveling palace were in a state of being unoccupied despite being available. Since they had previously housed the founding Emperor and his consorts, those halls remained untouched even when empty. Direct-line princes occasionally stayed in the auxiliary palaces of the east and west routes. Ding Yi, attending to the Seventh Prince’s birds, followed him into the inner garden. She couldn’t appreciate the beautiful flowers and scenery—her body was troubled, likely from the accumulated cold that had built up since leaving Beijing. This time it was unusually severe, causing such pain that she couldn’t stand straight. She reached the Seventh Prince’s Wende Palace staggeringly. The Seventh Prince sat majestically on his throne, took her lark, and began whistling to it.

Ding Yi was sweating profusely from the pain, truly unable to endure. She looked at the Seventh Prince and said softly, “Master, you must be tired from the journey. Why not rest for a while?”

The Seventh Prince made a sound of acknowledgment, “Not tired.”

She felt a bit disappointed, “Then would you like to change your clothes? Look, your robe is wet.”

“Why be so fussy about such small matters? It’s just a little damp, it’ll dry by itself later.” The Seventh Prince was someone who didn’t care much about appearances and focused entirely on enjoyment. A bit of untidiness on his person didn’t matter. He clicked his tongue, “I see Phoenix’s feathers aren’t as good as before. Don’t just feed fine grains; give some coarse food too. Later, tell the kitchen to prepare a dish of chicken with fermented soybean bits.”

Ding Yi hesitated, “Does Master want to eat this?”

The Seventh Prince had been staring at the bird and only turned his head when he heard these words, “You’re the one who’ll eat that! Such shallow understanding—you’ll mistreat my birds…” Then looking at his face, which was as white as a ghost, he asked curiously, “What’s wrong? Seen a ghost? Look at your complexion!”

She instinctively wiped her face, “In reply to Master, I’m not feeling well.”

The Seventh Prince observed his hunched posture and chuckled, “You’ve got so many tricks up your sleeve. Stomach troubles? You’re quite delicate, more pampered than me. Fine, go to the toilet. Later I’ll have someone bring the birds to your place. Don’t stay far—tell Wei Kaitai to prepare a room in the west seven chambers for you all, so I won’t have to go back and forth to see the birds.”

She blushed, awkwardly responded with a “Yes,” and retreated outside the hall. Her calves were cramping, making it difficult to move. What to do? She needed to find a place to settle down quickly! Holding her stomach, she stumbled forward. A eunuch came to guide her, looked at her, and exclaimed, “What’s wrong, stomach discomfort? Do you want to see the imperial physician?”

She shook her head. She couldn’t be examined—it was merely cold dampness congealing and blood deficiency, typical female symptoms. If examined, her disguise would be exposed. She said, “Please trouble you to arrange a room nearby. I take care of the Seventh Prince’s birds, and must be ready whenever the Seventh Prince calls.”

The eunuch agreed and led her to a side room, opening the door and saying, “This used to be the residence of Jiqing Palace’s court ladies. Later, when the masters and ladies went to the Forbidden City, half of the palace maids were released, and the rooms became vacant. If you stay here, it’s not far from the Seventh Prince’s sleeping quarters, which is convenient.”

She thanked him and asked where the Twelfth Prince was staying. The young eunuch pointed west, “Over there in the Jisi Study.” Then he bent down to look at her complexion, “Are you alright like this? There’s a chamber pot in the room. I’ll bring a pot of tea. After a hot drink, you’ll feel better.” As he spoke, he backed out, took a few steps, then remembered something and returned to the doorway, leaning in to say, “Actually, I think a few sips of alcohol would be more effective. Do you drink? I have a jar of aged brew. I’ll bring you a pot. Drink to warm yourself—perhaps you caught a chill on the road. Once you expel the cold, you’ll be fine.”

Ding Yi hurriedly thanked him, “You are truly kind.”

The eunuch said, “It’s nothing. We rarely see people from Beijing here, and visitors are guests. Just don’t complain if the alcohol isn’t good. Servants don’t have money to buy fine spirits—it’s humble, but it helps with fatigue.”

Ding Yi exchanged a few polite words and sent him off. After arranging herself, she lay down on the kang bed. The climate was unfavorable, and though it wasn’t time yet, the bed was cold—stretching her feet forward, she felt the chill. She shivered and curled up as much as possible. Being away from home brought many inconveniences. If she were in Beijing, finding a hot water bottle to warm her stomach might help, but now she could only endure.

She sighed mournfully, pressing her lower abdomen with her hand. The sinking pain was something she had never experienced before. Women always had various taboos; she had always thought herself capable of enduring hardship, but when truly ill, she was indeed helpless.

The eunuch returned shortly, carrying a copper kettle and pouring alcohol into the cup on the table. The aged brew, heated, had a warm, fragrant aroma that reminded her of the sweet rice wine she made in summer.

“Come, drink a cup. It cures disease if you’re sick and strengthens the body if you’re not.” The eunuch laughed heartily, speaking like someone who deeply loved alcohol. He handed her the cup, urging, “This alcohol isn’t too strong, just sweet. Don’t breathe while drinking it—down it in one go and sleep. You’ll be completely fine after sleeping. For us, it’s like a magical remedy—we drink it for colds, fevers, and stomach troubles, and it truly helps. Hey, are you the Seventh Prince’s bird handler? You look like a guard…”

The alcohol went down easily. Ding Yi followed his advice and drank it all. After wiping her mouth, she smiled, “I’m both a guard and a bird handler, doing two jobs at once. Thank you so much today. When I’m better, I must properly express my gratitude.”

The eunuch waved his hand, “It’s nothing. We’re all having a hard time—if we don’t look out for each other, who will care for us, right? Well, I have duties to attend to. I’ll be going now. Rest well!”

Ding Yi tapped the edge of the bed, “I can’t see you out. Take care.”

The eunuch left with a lowered head, and she lay down again. The alcohol entered her stomach, spreading warmth along the way. She couldn’t say if it was effective, but at least her body felt warmer. Ding Yi was nicknamed “Half-cup Tipsy”—she couldn’t handle alcohol and got drunk easily. This time there was no choice; the Seventh Prince already knew she was ill, so it didn’t matter if she got drunk. Without worries, she drank a full cup, which was certain to make her drunk. So be it—as long as her body felt comfortable, she couldn’t worry about much else.

She covered herself with the blanket and fell asleep immediately. As the alcohol took effect, her eyelids stuck together and wouldn’t open. Vaguely, someone entered the room. She opened a thin slit to look—the person was backlit, and with the poor weather, the room was dark. She couldn’t see clearly, only that it was a tall person with an upright posture who sat down on the edge of her bed.

“Who is it?” she mumbled, dream-like, her body without strength, her tongue not obeying her. The person didn’t speak but reached into her blanket. She muttered and pushed his hand, “What are you groping for?”

There was no groping—the person was just trying to find her hand, pulling it out. Three warm fingers pressed against her wrist.

This person was checking her pulse. She didn’t need it and struggled to pull back, but he finally spoke, “Don’t move.”

Her mind was foggy, but she recognized the Twelfth Prince. Initially alert, she relaxed upon realizing it was him. With her other arm across her forehead, she murmured, “I’ve worried you again. I’m fine, just… not well.” She choked slightly, “I’ve never… been well.”

Hong Ce glanced at her without speaking. His bloodline descended from the Emperor Emeritus, and while his temperament didn’t much resemble his father, his dedication to medicine followed that of the Emperor Emeritus. Back then, the Emperor Emeritus had studied medicine to treat the Eastern Fence Crown Prince; as for himself, it was for his ears. Although he had tried everything without improvement, there was one unexpected benefit—extensive medical knowledge. For treating common ailments, he was at least much better than street physicians ringing bells.

Left for men, right for women; cun for men, chi for women. The chi pulse was slightly slow—a pulse of cold deficiency. After checking, he sat with furrowed brows for a long time. To determine one’s gender solely from the pulse would be presumptuous, but his doubts were growing increasingly difficult to suppress.

The person on the bed had pulled the blanket high, covering everything below the lips. He thought for a moment, then reached out to lift it. The guard’s uniform had a false collar with a stiff lining that buttoned up, commonly called a “cow’s tongue.” He stared at the dark green false collar for a long time. The person was drunk—was it taking advantage to do this? Without removing the collar, remaining ambiguous, he felt unsettled and uncertain about how to treat him in the future.

He had never felt so nervous before, his heart surging uncontrollably. Just unfastening the hooks would reveal the truth—an eighteen-year-old man, even if not fully developed, should have an Adam’s apple. Normally the false collar stood high, covering the entire neck, but now as he lay flat, only a slight protrusion of the throat would be enough.

He took several deep breaths, his fingertips trembling slightly. Leaning closer, the person on the bed was restless, brows furrowed, cheeks flushed red—looking closely nearly made him forget his purpose.

If it was a man, opening the collar shouldn’t matter; if it was a woman… he had made up his mind to give her an explanation.

He bit his lip and touched the fastener, but before he could undo it, the person grabbed his hand. Startled, he saw that the person on the bed was now awake, staring at him with burning eyes, expressionless. Hong Ce immediately felt embarrassed, like a thief caught in the act. Just as he was considering what excuse to give, Mu Xiaoshu pulled his arm over, turned it around, and pressed the back of his hand against his burning cheek.

“Ah, so cool,” he tilted his head, smiling foolishly, “Twelfth Prince, you’ve come?” As he spoke, he moved over, patting the edge of the bed, “Come quickly, lie down and look at the stars.”

Lie down and look at the stars. He must be quite drunk—so he had forgotten his earlier actions? Hong Ce breathed a sigh of relief, only then realizing that the skin under his hand was smoother than he had imagined. Wind and dew had not destroyed him—how extraordinary! He didn’t know what he was thinking as he turned his wrist, his fingertips slowly caressing the person’s cheek, saying softly, “People told me you were sick? How are you now? Feeling better?”

He made a sound of agreement, turning his head to nuzzle against his hand like a cat, “Much better, not hurting anymore. I drank some alcohol that the attendant here gave me… it tasted good.” He became drowsy again, pointing at the table, “See if there’s any left, pour me another cup, and let’s… toast.”

He couldn’t help but smile wryly. His behavior while drunk was decent—no wild antics, just slightly confused thinking. More alcohol was certainly out of the question. He turned to call Sha Tong outside the door, “Bring hot tea…” Then, thinking it wasn’t right, he added, “And stew a couple of eggs with plenty of brown sugar.”

Sha Tong opened his mouth in surprise—it wasn’t as if someone was in postpartum recovery, why drink brown sugar water with boiled eggs? Their master truly didn’t know how to care for people. But he dared not speak up, simply responded affirmatively, and went to take care of it efficiently.

Hong Ce turned back, saying softly, “I’ve had someone prepare it. Bear with it for now. You can’t drink more alcohol, or you’ll become a fool.”

He responded with a sound, heaving a long sigh, “When will we reach the Changbai Mountains? The weather is bad, leaking like a sieve, always raining—time has been wasted.”

He seemed particularly concerned about the Changbai Mountains. Hong Ce tried to draw him out, “The delay is only about half a month, isn’t it? Do you have acquaintances in the Changbai Mountains? Otherwise, why are you always thinking about going there?”

His lips moved twice without sound, closing his eyes as tears fell. This seemed to further confirm his suspicions, but then he slowly said no, “I’m just tired of the bumpy journey. If we reach the Changbai Mountains earlier, and then get to Ninguta earlier, the mission will be completed… then we can go home, I… find my master.”

Still a child after all, constantly thinking of home during a long journey. He said, “I told you not to come along, but you wouldn’t listen. Now you understand how difficult it is?”

“What I have in mind… can’t be said. To speak it would be a crime.” He wobbled as he supported himself up, staring blankly at him for a long time before suddenly bursting into tears again. Shaking his head left and right to show himself, he moved his face closer, “Twelfth Prince, look at my face, doesn’t it look like it belongs to the bitter plant family?” After speaking, he whimpered and plunged into his embrace, nestling against his chest and mumbling—unfortunately, he couldn’t see what was being said.