The morning rain had just stopped, leaving the steps clean-washed and permeated with a cold, damp air.

As expected, Huo Zhenzhen arrived on schedule. Before she even entered the hall, her clear laughter could be heard: “Crown Prince Brother, good news! Mother and Father have agreed to let me stay in the capital until after the New Year!”

After speaking, she entered the study, where palace maids helped her remove her rain-shielding cloak. She let out a surprised sound as she moved closer.

“What is Crown Prince Brother looking at? Oh, Master Yan’s ‘Farewell Sequence by the Lake.’ Is there a problem with it?”

Among the embezzled assets confiscated from the Jiang family days ago was an authentic calligraphy piece by Master Yan from the previous dynasty. Zhao Yān was making temporary use of it.

She frowned thoughtfully, looking at the flowing calligraphy spread out on the desk: “I happened to acquire this and thought of presenting it to Father Emperor, but I’m concerned it might be a forgery, which would be a crime of deceiving the sovereign. Princess, please come and look at it for me.”

Huo Zhenzhen was an expert at judging the shades of rouge and powder, but she wasn’t very knowledgeable about literary matters, which immediately put her in a difficult position.

“It should… be authentic.”

“But the color of the paper and ink doesn’t seem quite right.”

“Hmm, the ink is a bit light. But judging by the brush strokes, inscriptions, and seals, it doesn’t seem fake.”

…

…

“Is that so? I’m still uncertain. If only an expert could help with the authentication.”

After putting on a show of debating with Zhao Yān, Huo Zhenzhen said, “Tomorrow at the Imperial Lecture, Crown Prince Brother could ask those old Hanlin Academy scholars to authenticate it.”

When she spoke, she always had a habit of lifting the final syllable, making her speech sound light and cheerful.

Zhao Yān recalled how in her childhood, she would bicker with Huo Zhenzhen and often called her a “little flirt,” which would anger Huo Zhenzhen into clenching her fists and stamping her feet. She couldn’t help but smile at the memory.

Huo Zhenzhen looked over, and Zhao Yān suppressed her smile, putting on a troubled expression: “After all, this is something to be presented to Father Emperor, so we shouldn’t be too ostentatious about it.”

Huo Zhenzhen nodded in agreement, tilting her head to stare at the painting for a long while before suddenly saying: “I know! Isn’t the Marquis of Ningyang knowledgeable about calligraphy and painting? Let’s go find him.”

This was exactly what Zhao Yān had been waiting for.

“But as Crown Prince, I cannot leave the palace freely…”

“That’s simple! Just change into casual clothes and quietly board my carriage. Those guards won’t dare inspect too thoroughly.”

Huo Zhenzhen patted her chest in assurance, then dropped her shoulders and mumbled softly, “Of course, you’ll need to bring several skilled guards for protection.”

After all, if anything happened to the Crown Prince outside the palace, she couldn’t cover for it.

“Alright, of course.”

Zhao Yān nodded with a smile, “Thank you, Princess.”

The calligraphy was just a pretext. Even without Huo Zhenzhen, she could have found a way to leave the palace. However, if she were to visit her uncle alone just for a piece of calligraphy, it would seem abrupt and troublesome. Going with Huo Zhenzhen as part of a bet was entirely different.

After all, this young lady was always the center of attention and had a close relationship with the Crown Prince. Taking someone out of the palace was quite normal for her.

Outside the Marquis of Ningyang’s mansion, several scholarly young men were gathered, struggling with their poetry. When they saw the mansion gate open, they rushed forward to present their compositions.

Zhao Yān had heard that her uncle was known as “Wei the Talent-Spotter,” with a keen eye for recognizing talent, having recommended many capable people to the court. As a result, failed scholars often waited around the mansion to recommend themselves, hoping to catch the Marquis’s attention.

Zhao Yān covered her face with the hood of her cloak as she followed Huo Zhenzhen off the carriage.

The steward of the Ningyang Marquis’s mansion was startled to see the palace token at Huo Zhenzhen’s waist. He quickly bowed and said, “Esteemed guests, please step inside! The Marquis and his wife are composing music in the Xingzhi Pavilion. Allow me to go announce you.”

“We have come uninvited. There’s no need to disturb the Marquis’s refined activities.”

From behind the corridor came elegant strains of music. Zhao Yān took the calligraphy scroll handed to her by Li Fu and walked with Huo Zhenzhen toward the source of the flowing music.

In front of the Xingzhi Pavilion, parasol leaves fell rustling, while dark chrysanthemums along the wall hung their petals like silk threads.

Rong Fuyue sat elegantly in a moon-white dress, her delicate hands playing the zither. Her fingers produced clear, melodious sounds, as refined as a fairy from the moon. Wei Yan stood beside the zither in a traditional robe, accompanying her with a jade flute, his elegant demeanor unfolding like a scroll painting.

The zither and flute harmonized, creating a heavenly melody as sublime as celestial music from the clouds, cleansing the spirit. Zhao Yān signaled her attendants to tread lightly, quietly appreciating the performance.

When the piece ended, the lingering notes drew nearby birds to chirp on the branches.

Looking up to see Zhao Yān and her party, Wei Yan appeared somewhat surprised. Supporting his wife to stand, they both came forward and bowed: “Crown Prince.”

“Uncle, Aunt, please don’t stand on ceremony.”

Zhao Yān returned the bow and said, “When I entered the mansion just now, I saw many scholars outside presenting their poetry. Uncle even prepared seats and refreshments for them, treating them almost like honored guests.”

“Your Highness overstates. In my youth, I too was turned away when trying to recommend myself. I simply don’t want them to face the same dismissal.”

Wei Yan gestured for Zhao Yān to enter and be seated, smiling warmly: “Does the Crown Prince have some important matter to discuss?”

Before Zhao Yān could speak, Huo Zhenzhen rapidly interjected: “Crown Prince Brother acquired an authentic calligraphy piece by Master Yan, but isn’t sure if it’s genuine. We debated for quite a while but couldn’t determine who was right, so we’ve come specifically to ask the Marquis of Ningyang to authenticate it.”

“I see.”

Wei Yan humbly replied, “If Your Highness needed calligraphy authenticated, you could have summoned me to the palace. How could I let Your Highness humble yourself by coming here?”

“It’s no trouble. I also wanted to visit Uncle.”

Zhao Yān suppressed a smile as she gently removed the calligraphy scroll from its brocade box and carefully spread it out on the desk.

Wei Yan bent down to carefully examine the inscriptions and seals, then elegantly held back his sleeve and raised his hand, using his fingertip to rub the ink on the paper.

Huo Zhenzhen rested her chin on her hand, waiting impatiently for a while before asking: “Well, is it authentic or a forgery?”

Wei Yan smiled and gently beckoned his wife to come over and take a look.

“So, who was right, me or Crown Prince Brother?” Huo Zhenzhen urged.

After examining it for a long time, Rong Fuyue smiled gently: “This piece isn’t exactly a forgery, nor is it entirely authentic. The Crown Prince and the Princess should be considered tied.”

An expected answer—Zhao Yān showed little surprise.

Huo Zhenzhen, however, widened her eyes and asked: “Why?”

Wei Yan pointed to the mounting of the scroll, his fingertip lightly tracing over the edge of the rice paper as he explained: “This type of rice paper is called ‘layered Xuan paper,’ made of two layers. If carefully separated, a genuine calligraphy piece can be split into two identical layers—the upper layer with slightly thicker ink, and the lower with slightly lighter ink. Your Highness’s piece is the peeled lower layer.”

“So this calligraphy is indeed from Master Yan’s hand, but it’s just one layer of paper peeled from an authentic piece?”

“Correct.”

Zhao Yān pretended to understand and nodded: “Uncle has a discerning eye. I have learned from you.”

Wei Yan replied, “You flatter me.”

He looked at Zhao Yǎn for a moment, then suddenly remembered something.

“When Your Highness visited my humble home last year, you seemed to have left behind a jade pendant. Later, I took Ayue away from the capital to recuperate, and I temporarily forgot about this matter. Since Your Highness is here today, I should return it to its rightful owner.”

“Is that so?”

Zhao Yān raised her eyes in surprise. A jade pendant left by her brother?

Wei Yan nodded: “Please wait a moment, Your Highness. I’ll go fetch it.”

Zhao Yān had been wondering how to bring up the topic she wanted to investigate. Hearing this, she quickly nodded: “Very well.”

The Xingzhi Pavilion was a place Wei Yan had created for his beloved wife to compose music and read books. It was exquisitely arranged, with a beautiful couch near the window. Behind a screen stood a desk complete with writing materials, housing a thousand-gold-worth ancient zither. Three walls were filled with bookshelves, the scent of ink and incense mingling pleasantly.

The outer area was a tea room, equipped with a small stove and tea utensils, along with a long table and soft seating cushions.

Rong Fuyue went through several steps to brew two cups of amber-clear tea for Huo Zhenzhen and Zhao Yān to sample.

Holding the teacup, Zhao Yān timely asked: “Is Aunt feeling better?”

Rong Fuyue, gentle as an orchid, replied softly: “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am much better this year.”

“I can see from Aunt’s complexion that it’s a very good sign.”

Zhao Yān smiled and asked curiously, “I’ve been weak and sickly since childhood, and countless medicinal soups haven’t helped. May I ask what medicine Aunt takes? Where is it from? Since it’s so beneficial, I’d like to try a different prescription.”

Rong Fuyue laughed: “Your Highness, one cannot take medicine carelessly.”

“You’re right. I’m not sure if it would be appropriate for my condition.”

As she spoke, Zhao Yān tilted her head, employing her perfected illness-feigning technique, covering her mouth to give two light coughs.

Perhaps it was empathy between patients, but Rong Fuyue was moved to compassion and said gently, “My medicine was obtained by the Marquis from a wandering Taoist. If Your Highness needs it, you can ask the Marquis later.”

Hearing this, Zhao Yān was momentarily startled.

Uncle had obtained the medicine from the Shenguang sect. Why would he lie to Aunt, saying it was from a wandering Taoist?

To dig deeper into this matter, face-to-face would be too obvious. Zhao Yān could only shake her head and say, “I was just joking. Mother Empress wouldn’t be comfortable entrusting my weakness to outsiders.”

She then asked: “Did the wandering Taoist prescribe pills?”

Rong Fuyue answered: “Yes.”

“They must be very bitter?”

“Not too bitter, and the scent is quite refreshing.”

Zhao Yān wanted to see what the pills looked like and was planning her next question when she heard Rong Fuyue ask with concern: “Has Your Highness received any news of Princess Changfeng recently?”

Zhao Yān instinctively felt her heart skip, but maintained her composure: “What’s the matter?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard from the child. I wonder how she’s doing.”

“What else could be happening? She was banished to Huayang and must be too ashamed to contact Madam.”

Huo Zhenzhen pursed her lips and snorted, “Although I don’t believe she committed any great wrong back then.”

Zhao Yān hadn’t expected her to speak up for her and was quite surprised.

Rong Fuyue also seemed somewhat regretful and said softly, “Since I developed heart disease, I fear I’ll never have children of my own. Forgive my presumption, but Your Highness and Princess Changfeng have filled that void in my life.”

Aunt had always been as gentle as an orchid, but her serious heart condition made it difficult for her to bear heavy emotions, causing her to suppress her feelings and cultivate a façade of proud quietude.

Zhao Yān was also immersed in mottled memories and responded: “Indeed, when I was a child… my sister and I received our first lessons in painting and calligraphy from Uncle and you, Aunt.”

Rong Fuyue smiled lightly: “Your Highness was proper and studious from a young age, often practicing for two hours straight. The little Princess, however, was lively by nature and couldn’t sit still for a moment, constantly fidgeting and letting her eyes wander out the window.”

Bearing Zhao Yǎn’s identity while hearing her aunt comment on her childhood embarrassments, Zhao Yān felt momentarily awkward and looked down at her teacup as a cover.

Aunt hadn’t seen her studying in Huayang. The only person who hadn’t stormed off in anger was Zhou Ji.

Rong Fuyue knew the Crown Prince deeply loved his sister. Seeing him silent, she added, “Children naturally love to play. Princess Changfeng was always clever. Looking at her recent letters, her handwriting has improved greatly…”

Just as she was speaking, a heavy object suddenly fell by the bookshelf in the inner room.

It was Huo Zhenzhen, who had been standing on tiptoe looking for a book, and accidentally knocked down a small wooden box that had been hidden on top of the bookshelf.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t see there was a box up there!”

Huo Zhenzhen apologetically crouched down to pick it up, then let out a surprised sound as she curiously examined what she found.

It was a palm-sized brass disc, like a mirror, bright enough to reflect one’s face.

“It’s nothing.”

Rong Fuyue rose, placed the box aside, and gently stroked Huo Zhenzhen’s smooth forehead with her delicate hand, asking softly, “Did it hurt the Princess?”

“No, no.”

Rong Fuyue’s gentleness made Huo Zhenzhen feel embarrassed, causing her to blush. “I’m sorry…”

“It’s good you weren’t hurt. It was my fault for placing it improperly, startling the Princess.”

Rong Fuyue comforted Huo Zhenzhen, picking up the brass disc and gently placing it back in the box.

Only then did Zhao Yān recognize it as a heart-protecting mirror—

Strange. Uncle had no martial skills, and Aunt came from a scholarly family. Why would they have a warrior’s heart-protecting mirror?

Just as she was pondering this, gentle footsteps sounded behind them, and Wei Yan smiled: “What are you all discussing together?”

“I did not attend to them properly and almost frightened the Princess with a falling object.”

As she spoke, Rong Fuyue placed the small box back on the bookshelf.

The shelf was quite high, and Rong Fuyue struggled to reach it. Wei Yan naturally helped her from behind, saying tenderly: “Let me, Ayue.”

After placing the item securely, Wei Yan turned and handed the jade pendant to Zhao Yān.

“Your Highness, please look. Is this the one?”

It was a lotus jade pendant, very similar to the one Zhao Yǎn usually wore.

Zhao Yān reached out to take it, but noticed something was wrong as she got closer.

After she was banished to Huayang, Zhao Yǎn had only used water jade from Huayang for his pendants, but this lotus pendant was made of warm Hetian jade.

Zhao Yān became confused and hesitantly said: “This… doesn’t look right…”

“It’s not what Your Highness left behind?”

Wei Yan was also surprised as he looked at the warm jade in his hand.

Rong Fuyue came over to look and said, “Perhaps it belongs to another guest.”

Wei Yan then withdrew his hand, placing the jade on the table: “You’re right. I must have mixed it up. Seeing it was a lotus pattern, I naturally thought of Your Highness.”

The mansion prepared lunch, but Zhao Yān didn’t stay.

Leaving the mansion, Zhao Yān put on her hood to cover her face. Before getting into the carriage, she remembered something and asked Huo Zhenzhen: “Does the Princess know which martial family the Rong family was close to?”

“The Marquis of Ningyang’s wife?”

Huo Zhenzhen thought for a moment, then clapped her hands and said, “I heard my father mention that Lady Rong was engaged to someone before marrying the Marquis of Ningyang.”

“Who was it?” Zhao Yān asked eagerly.

Huo Zhenzhen frowned and said dejectedly: “I can’t remember. They spoke vaguely, and I didn’t hear clearly.”

Before Huo Zhenzhen could finish her answer, the sound of hoofbeats came from the street corner.

Cai Tian drove Prince Su’s carriage, slowly pulling up to the side. From behind the curtain emerged a cold, pale, slender finger, lightly lifting a corner.

Zhao Yān knew that Wenren Lin had returned.

She immediately felt relieved and smiled at Huo Zhenzhen: “Princess, please return to your mansion first. There’s no need to escort me back.”

“Not escort you? How will you sneak back into the palace?”

“Someone has come to pick me up.”

With that, Zhao Yān quickly walked forward and boarded Wenren Lin’s carriage.

At the Marquis of Ningyang’s mansion.

Wei Yan looked at the lotus jade in his hand until it slipped from his fingers, breaking into three pieces.

Jade is like a gentleman—even its breaking sound is soft and restrained.

He stepped over the broken jade and did not look back.