In the Kunning Palace, Wei Yan the Marquis of Ningyang’s handwritten “Hundred Longevity Diagram” hung beside the antique shelf, its calligraphy rich with ink and every character exquisite.

Zhao Yān accompanied the Fourth Princess Zhao Shuang as they stood to one side, while Consort Xu sat in a chair, crying tearfully.

“At the Mid-Autumn banquet, His Majesty just recently praised Maojun. Under His Majesty’s grace, how would Maojun dare commit the crime of great disrespect? There must be some misunderstanding. I beg the Empress to help me.”

Empress Wei’s gaze fell on Zhao Yān, then returned to Consort Xu, and she calmly said: “This is a matter decided by the Emperor. The inner palace has no right to interfere. Consort Xu is asking the wrong person.”

“That’s true. But I feel so wronged for my nephew, yet I don’t dare bother His Majesty. With no other option, I can only come to beg the Empress for help.”

As she spoke, Consort Xu made a show of wiping the corner of her eye and looked at Zhao Shuang, saying, “Maojun is a well-behaved child. With his marriage to the Fourth Princess approaching, they often gathered to discuss poetry and literature. The other day, the two children mixed up their papers and ink. Maojun mistakenly took the Fourth Princess’s poem, which led to this misunderstanding…”

She was now pushing all the blame onto Zhao Shuang.

Empress Wei looked at the silent Zhao Shuang and asked: “Fourth Princess, is this true?”

“I…”

Zhao Shuang’s face turned slightly pale, and she instinctively covered her right ear.

…

…

Consort Xu spoke quickly and urgently, never considering Zhao Shuang’s ear condition. Whenever Zhao Shuang became overly nervous, her impaired ear would start to throb with sharp pain, like needles piercing and stirring inside.

Consort Xu continued to urge in a shrill voice: “Fourth Princess, speak up! Say that the Taoist poem was written by you, that His Majesty blamed the wrong person.”

“But Consort Xu, why would Fourth Sister suddenly write a Taoist poem? And who was she writing it for?”

Zhao Yān couldn’t listen anymore and put on a puzzled expression. “Even if the poem was written by Fourth Sister, their writing styles and handwriting are completely different. How could he mistake it after taking it and submitting it a day later?”

Consort Xu couldn’t answer, so she lifted her sleeve to wipe away tears, sobbing: “People can make mistakes. At most, my nephew should be punished for oversight, but his official career shouldn’t be completely ruined.”

Zhao Yān displayed the Crown Prince’s good temperament and said mildly, “Whether Editor Xu mixed up the poems unintentionally or deliberately, submitting someone else’s writing to Father Emperor is the crime of deceiving the sovereign. Consort Xu must consider carefully whether to protect his career or his life before speaking further.”

If anyone else had said this, it might have seemed threatening, but the “Crown Prince” was such a noble and upright person.

With such a virtuous reputation, his words carried natural persuasion.

“What… what should I do?” Consort Xu was immediately frightened into stopping her tears.

She had been so focused on complaining that she had forgotten this aspect.

She knew well that the Xu family was merely a pawn relying on others, and their path to the present hadn’t been easy, but even a pawn wants to survive.

Empress Wei set down her teacup and spoke at the right moment: “This matter will be decided by His Majesty. Consort Xu needn’t be so anxious. Focus on taking care of the royal heir you carry.”

Yes, she still had the child in her belly.

This child was her most important support.

“Thank you for your comfort, Your Majesty. I was rash.”

Consort Xu suppressed her emotions, stood up with the help of a palace maid, and said to Zhao Shuang, “Let’s go, Fourth Princess.”

Zhao Shuang pressed her lips together, properly curtsied, and also left the hall.

Zhao Yān turned back with some concern when she heard Empress Wei say from her seat, “Though the Fourth Princess loves literature, she has always been quiet and honest. Do you have a part in today’s events?”

Zhao Yān knew she couldn’t hide it from her and nodded: “Yes. Xu Maojun is someone promoted by the Shenguang sect. If allowed to establish himself in court, he would only be a great hidden danger.”

Empress Wei frowned: “How did you learn of his connection to the Shenguang sect?”

Zhao Yān didn’t mention overhearing the conversation beneath the window at the night banquet, but instead asked: “I’ve tested Xu Maojun’s scholarship, and it’s truly mediocre. If the Xu family had no backing, how could he rise so quickly?”

Empress Wei fell silent.

Concubine Zhen ranked first among the four consorts, and her position in the Emperor’s heart nearly rivaled that of the Empress herself. Now, with Consort Xu becoming increasingly domineering due to her pregnancy, who knew what would happen if she truly gave birth to a prince? It would be good to teach her a lesson now.

Zhao Yān assessed Empress Wei’s expression and hesitantly said: “There is another matter where I would like to request Mother Empress’s help.”

Empress Wei seemed to see through her thoughts: “You want me to intervene and look after Zhao Shuang?”

“Yes, I promised I would be Fourth Sister’s support, which is why she had the courage… I fear Consort Xu will punish and mistreat Fourth Sister.”

“Zhao Shuang is betrothed to Xu Maojun and has been raised by Consort Xu for many years. I have no reason to interfere in matters of the Guixia Palace.”

“It’s not difficult. Doesn’t Consort Xu want to report Fourth Sister for disobedience? Mother Empress could keep Fourth Sister at your side for instruction. Consort Xu would have nothing to say against that.”

Zhao Yān smiled slightly and folded her sleeves in a bow: “Your son thanks Mother Empress in advance.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she quickly left the hall, as if afraid the Empress might change her mind.

Empress Wei watched the young figure retreat and slightly parted her red lips, finally letting out a light sigh before instructing the court lady: “Go prepare the west chamber, assign several loyal palace maids, and make it ready for the Fourth Princess.”

After leaving the Kunning Palace, Zhao Yān saw Zhao Shuang standing at the steps in a plain dress, staring absent-mindedly at the cloud shadows on the ground tiles.

A sharp-featured palace maid frowned continuously, urging, “Fourth Princess, go apologize to Consort Xu. What does this look like?”

Lady He came out with her hands folded and said to the palace maid: “Go and inform your mistress that the Fourth Princess is young and inevitably offended Consort Xu. Therefore, the Empress will personally instruct her. From now on, the Fourth Princess will remain in the Kunning Palace for training. Tell your mistress to focus on her pregnancy.”

The palace maid heard this and repeatedly said “yes” before leaving to deliver the message.

Only then did Zhao Yān step forward to the stunned Zhao Shuang and say: “The ‘training’ is just an excuse. From now on, Fourth Sister need not worry about being controlled.”

Zhao Shuang finally reacted, her eyes gradually reddening as she softly expressed her thanks.

Zhao Yān smiled and signaled Lady He to send someone to bring Zhao Shuang’s personal belongings to the Kunning Palace, then turned back to Zhao Shuang: “Would you like me to accompany you for a while?”

Zhao Shuang tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and solemnly nodded.

“Crown Prince… why are you helping me?” After a long silence, Zhao Shuang finally asked.

“I haven’t done anything. It was Fourth Sister who took the first step. The one who truly helped you was yourself.”

Zhao Yān smiled gently and said, “If I must give a reason, there are many brave people like Fourth Sister in the world, acting either for themselves or for the country. I hope that when they raise their voices, someone will stand beside them and resist injustice.”

If there were more such people, using human hearts as a windbreak, perhaps the bright light of the Mirror Tower could shine longer.

The two walked aimlessly along the palace path, and when they reached the Taiji Gate, they saw Xu Maojun being carried out like a dead pig by two eunuchs.

Xu Maojun had already been stripped of his Editor position and his official robes. His back and thighs were covered with bloody marks from the beating. His legs trembled, and he whimpered faintly.

Consort Xu was waiting at the palace gate. Seeing this, she rushed over, her raised hands not knowing where to place, finally pressing against her chest as she sobbed.

“Aunt, Aunt…”

Xu Maojun struggled to open his eyes, which were covered with cold sweat. When he saw Zhao Shuang, he suddenly pointed at her with trembling fingers: “It was you! You deliberately wrote that treasonous verse!”

Zhao Shuang stiffened, instinctively wanting to retreat.

Xu Maojun shuddered and wailed pitifully: “I’ve been wronged! I don’t know how I offended you to suffer such a trap…”

“Master Xu, be careful with your words.”

Zhao Yān stepped forward slowly, calmly blocking Zhao Shuang as she said, “Crying injustice at the Taiji Gate—could it be that you’re dissatisfied with Father Emperor’s judgment?”

Zhao Shuang stood frozen, closing her eyes with a tremble.

Since childhood, she had been the least noticeable, least present among the royal children. She had long grown accustomed to enduring mistreatment.

But did becoming accustomed to it mean she deserved to be manipulated and bullied?

“Fourth Sister, your personality can be shy, but when it’s time to stand up, you must not shrink back. When it’s time to express your thoughts, you must not remain silent.”

The Crown Prince’s words from that day still echoed in her ears. Even a sixteen-year-old youth saw more clearly than she did.

“Wait.”

As they passed by Xu Maojun, Zhao Shuang spoke with a husky voice.

Xu Maojun thought she was going to apologize and weakly raised his head.

Zhao Shuang took a deep breath, summoning the greatest courage of her life. She gripped the jade ring at her waist and pulled hard, then smashed the ring against the palace wall.

With a clear, crisp sound, the jade ring broke, creating a crack as fine jade dust scattered.

Under Consort Xu’s surprised gaze, Zhao Shuang placed the broken jade ring in front of Xu Maojun. With trembling breath, she said word by word: “I return this to you.”

Xu Maojun’s gaze fell on her palm, and his face instantly paled.

That jade ring was the token he had given to the Fourth Princess during their betrothal. Now, with a crack, it resembled a jade jue.

Jue means severance.

The Fourth Princess was… breaking off their relationship!

“Fourth Princess, what are you doing?” Consort Xu almost screamed.

“I’m returning what you gave me,” Zhao Shuang repeated. “I don’t want… to marry you.”

With that, she crouched down to place the broken jade on the ground, performed a deep bow to the stunned Consort Xu, then rose and left.

“Wait… Fourth Princess! Fourth—argh!”

Xu Maojun’s previous pretense was gone. He anxiously tried to raise his arm to stop her, but the movement pulled at his wounds, causing him to cough and gasp in heart-wrenching pain, utterly pathetic.

He had already been dismissed from his official position and was relying on becoming a Prince Consort to bring honor to his family. Although the Fourth Princess was of humble birth, she was still a princess, and her dowry wouldn’t be too meager… He couldn’t let this opportunity slip away!

“Fourth Princess, don’t act impulsively,” Consort Xu’s lovely face twisted as she coldly said, “Do you think anyone else will want you if you back out of this engagement?”

Zhao Shuang’s steps faltered, but she didn’t look back.

Only after walking to the end of the palace path and turning the corner did Zhao Shuang’s rigidly held back suddenly slacken, and she stumbled against the palace wall.

Liu Ying and another palace maid hurried forward to support her, guiding her to sit down on the steps to rest.

Zhao Shuang, as if drained of her last bit of strength, slowly hugged herself and murmured: “Did I do something wrong…”

Zhao Yān crouched down to meet her eyes and said: “No, Fourth Sister did very well.”

“Consort Xu said that Xu Maojun is my fiancé, and helping him means helping myself… that a woman’s greatest value is contributing to her husband’s family.”

Zhao Shuang closed her eyes, as if judging herself, and continued brokenly: “I deliberately wrote it that way… and left it under a paperweight. He took it secretly and claimed it as his own.”

Zhao Yān said, “If he hadn’t tried to take advantage, nothing would have happened. He brought this on himself.”

Zhao Shuang shook her head: “I broke off the engagement on my own. Father Emperor will surely be furious.”

At this thought, her willow-like body began to tremble slightly.

A girl who had endured so much neglect was always particularly fragile; a comment or a glance from others could make her terrified.

In Fourth Sister, Zhao Yān seemed to see a reflection of her past self. The difference was that, back then, that little girl had always chosen to fight back with ferocity.

In the sedan chair returning to the Eastern Palace, Liu Ying saw that Zhao Yān was silent in thought and offered comfort: “Your Highness need not worry. Master Xu committed the crime of disrespect and has already lost his qualification to be a Prince Consort. His Majesty will likely cancel the bestowed marriage accordingly and won’t punish the Fourth Princess too severely.”

“I’m not solely concerned about this matter.”

Zhao Yān rested her chin on her hand, her long eyelashes covering the small mole at the corner of her eye. “For a woman to be remembered, she often needs to be known by her husband’s surname. For me to do what I want to do, I also need to borrow my brother’s identity… Sometimes I wonder, why is this world so unfair, so unreasonable?”

“Your Highness…”

“I know that’s just how the world is, and thinking too much can be cruel to oneself. But since I’ve thought about it, I should do something.”

For instance, perhaps she could establish a women’s academy outside the Mingde Academy, so that women could also study and understand principles, openly occupying a place in the world of letters.

Yet she knew how difficult it would be to implement such a seemingly small idea. Not to mention the constraints of the “Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues” in traditional etiquette, the obstruction from family, or the contempt from society… just the enormous financial expenditure was enough to give her a headache.

Over the years, apart from the gifts from her father and the regular annual stipends and estate productions, the Eastern Palace had not accepted even a fraction of additional bribes.

The entire Eastern Palace, like Zhao Yǎn himself, was as pure and clean as the bright moon.

The setting sun stretched for ten thousand miles, and the scattered clouds looked like burning fire.

Zhao Yān, with empty sleeves, sighed lightly, feeling the weight of her responsibilities.

Just as she entered the Eastern Palace, a figure in light yellow rushed over, calling out sweetly: “Crown Prince Brother!”

Zhao Yān’s eyelid twitched—truly, enemies are bound to meet. She had forgotten about Huo Zhenzhen, that clingy girl.

“Princess of Changle.”

“Why call me ‘Princess of Changle’? Just call me Zhenzhen.”

Huo Zhenzhen smiled, the ornamental chains around her neck jingling. “I didn’t see you after the Imperial Lecture earlier. Where did you go?”

“I went to the Kunning Palace to see Mother Empress.”

Zhao Yān said as she entered the hall, noticing that Huo Zhenzhen followed her in, and subtly hinted: “When will Aunt return to her fief? Has a date been set?”

Huo Zhenzhen indeed pouted and said glumly: “Next month, after the first day of winter.”

The clingy girl was finally leaving. Zhao Yān struggled to contain her involuntarily raised lips and was about to feign regret when she heard Huo Zhenzhen throw out an earth-shattering topic.

“But before returning to the fief, I’ll probably go to Huayang first. Mother says I haven’t seen my maternal grandmother for several years. The old lady’s health isn’t good this year, so I must go and show my filial piety.”

At this point, Huo Zhenzhen became spirited, standing with her hands on her hips and chest puffed out: “And I’ll go see Zhao Yān while I’m there. I don’t know what state she’s fallen into during these years in Huayang. I’ll thoroughly mock her to her face!”

“Cough, cough…”

“Crown Prince Brother, what’s wrong? Is your old illness flaring up? Why does your expression look so strange?”

Zhao Yān waved her hand, pressing her chest for a moment before finally squeezing out a warm, fake smile: “Why not stay in the capital a bit longer, Princess? The New Year’s fireworks and the Lantern Festival lanterns are capital spectacles. It would be a pity to miss them. You could leave after the New Year instead.”

“Really?”

Huo Zhenzhen’s eyes brightened, and she moved closer with a smile: “Will Crown Prince Brother accompany me to see them?”

“Um… of course.”

Zhao Yān took a guilty sip of tea. “We’ll invite the Young Lord of Yingchuan and Pei Sa to join us.”

“Great!”

Huo Zhenzhen didn’t notice that these people were obstacles at all. Instead, she thought more people would make it more lively and immediately hugged Zhao Yān’s slender arm: “Crown Prince Brother, you’re the best!”

Feeling the soft body of the young girl pressing against her without restraint, Zhao Yān said “forgive me” and was about to pull her hand away when she glimpsed someone suddenly standing at the entrance of the hall.

“Grand Tutor?”

Zhao Yān was startled and instinctively sat up straight.

Wenren Lin walked in with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over Huo Zhenzhen’s hand holding Zhao Yān’s arm. He nodded politely: “I have come to assist the Crown Prince in night reading. May I ask the Princess to excuse us?”

Huo Zhenzhen made a sound of surprise and asked Zhao Yān, “Does Crown Prince Brother need to study at night too?”

Occasionally she did, though those books…

Zhao Yān didn’t dare to look up directly, just casually made a sound of agreement and pretended to be grinding ink and preparing paper.

“Alright, that is hard work.”

Huo Zhenzhen released her hand and stood up: “Then I’ll go discuss staying in the capital. I won’t disturb you two.”

With that, she clapped her hands and bounced out the door cheerfully.

With a faint sound of wood sliding against stone tiles, Wenren Lin pulled over a round-backed chair and sat opposite Zhao Yān. One hand was bent with his elbow supporting his temple, while the other casually pressed down on his sleeve over his knee, hiding something bulging inside the sleeve.

He adopted an interrogative posture but spoke gently with a smile: “Who was Your Highness planning to see the lanterns with?”

“…”

“The Young Lord of Yingchuan, Pei Sa… who else?”

He repeated each name one by one. With each name, Zhao Yān’s heart skipped a beat.

“And… Huo Zhenzhen?” she hesitantly added.

Wenren Lin narrowed his eyes slightly, looking both relaxed and dangerous.

Zhao Yān smiled instead, raising her clear, bright eyes, using her brush handle to prop her chin as she softly asked: “Well, will the Grand Tutor accompany me to see the lanterns?”