Kowtowing, paying respects – all followed certain protocols. Then according to rank, they would stand divided on both sides. If the Empress Dowager had questions to ask, you simply answered yours. If there were no instructions, after staying for the duration of a cup of tea, you could take your leave.

Those who could speak before the Empress Dowager were only the Empress and two consorts – one was Noble Consort Shao, the other was Consort Zheng. Wanwan’s understanding of these three ladies was not deep. People in the palace rarely opened their hearts to each other – usually just a nod in passing, then forgetting each other. She only knew that Empress Zhao and Noble Consort Shao were like fire and water, incompatible. The Noble Consort had given birth to Prince Rong, while the Empress had no children, so aside from her empty title, the Empress was far inferior to Noble Consort Shao in terms of real benefits. As for the other, Consort Zheng, her eyes showed cleverness. Though her appearance wasn’t particularly outstanding, she was good at flattery and knew how to handle situations. It was said she had excellent relationships throughout the palace.

After all the morning visitors had dispersed, the Empress Dowager asked about the Emperor’s illness. The Empress spoke in soft, gentle tones: “His spirits fluctuate between good and bad, and he’s listless, not much inclined to speak. Yesterday I had someone set up a couch in the garden. Taking advantage of the fine spring weather when it’s no longer cold, I invited His Majesty to go out to admire flowers and bask in the sun, but he was unwilling.” After speaking, she sighed deeply. “What can be done? I’m anxious in my heart but have no solution. Thinking it over, the Noble Consort visits frequently. I think we should ask the Noble Consort to take some trouble and counsel His Majesty.”

Wanwan couldn’t help but look up at Noble Consort Shao, seeing her shift uncomfortably, her face flushing red.

This was what palace women were most skilled at – speaking without stern voice or countenance, wearing smiles on their faces, what seemed like ordinary household conversation could be deadly.

Since the Emperor had fallen ill, what the Empress Dowager most forbade was women entering and leaving Qianqing Palace. According to her words, Qianqing Palace was a place where dragons coiled and tigers crouched. Women carried heavy yin energy – frequent visits would suppress the yang vigor, even affecting the nation’s fortune. The Empress was the nation’s mother; occasionally showing concern for the Emperor’s health was acceptable. But what about the Noble Consort? How dare she disregard the Empress Dowager’s edicts?

The Empress Dowager said nothing. The Empress looked at Noble Consort Shao with a half-smile. Noble Consort Shao was initially somewhat anxious, but gradually calmed down, lowering her eyes to say: “I don’t know where Your Majesty the Empress gets such words. Speaking of worrying about His Majesty’s condition, who in the palace doesn’t worry? Whoever doesn’t should die! His Majesty has always loved the pastries made in my small kitchen. I indeed often have them made and personally send them to the gate of Qianqing Palace. But each time I hand them to Grand Companion Cao and stop there. I never even see His Majesty’s face, much less offer counsel. Your Majesty the Empress speaks in jest, making the Empress Dowager believe it’s true – that’s not harming me, that’s harming the Empress Dowager.”

Noble Consort Shao was no pushover. With both sides at sword’s point, neither seemed able to back down gracefully. Wanwan still spoke in gentle tones, saying slowly: “I encountered Yannian in the garden a few days ago. He was lying by the pool watching little ducks paddle in the water. Recently he’s taken on a tutor. I haven’t seen him for some time, and he’s improved considerably – his speech doesn’t sound like that of a five-year-old child at all. I was thinking, why not let Yannian go before His Majesty? Ten sentences from others couldn’t match one from Yannian. What does Mother think?”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Noble Consort Shao, hearing someone praise her son, naturally felt pleased. The Empress, having been firmly rebuffed by Noble Consort Shao and worrying about having no graceful exit, found relief in bringing up the child, temporarily resolving her difficulty. Both sides were at peace.

This Grand Princess, without making a sound, sometimes showed quick wit. The Empress smoothed the bat and auspicious cloud pattern knee guards on her horse-face skirt, turning to appraise her – she wore a parrot-green front-opening jacket, her hair arranged in twin coils, charmingly adorned with a pair of small arrowhead leaf golden frog hairpins. Good upbringing formed her bones, personal character her flesh. Beyond her stunning beauty, she possessed a nobility that didn’t match her age, soaked deep into her very essence. Only she was still too young, childishness not yet departed from her face, but because she harbored no ill intent, her eyes and brows were open and honest.

The Empress smiled gently: “The Grand Princess speaks truly. His Majesty dotes on Prince Rong – no one else’s face carries as much weight as his.” She then said to the Empress Dowager: “I heard from Nanny that Mother has not slept sweetly these past two nights. With us here, we’re only disturbing Mother’s peace. If Mother has no other instructions, we shall take our leave.” While speaking, she bowed to the Empress Dowager. Seeing the Empress Dowager nod slightly, they withdrew from the warm chamber of Cining Palace.

Wanwan came out with them, originally intending to request the Empress Dowager’s permission to visit the Emperor, but due to the unexpected incident just now, she couldn’t voice it. Xiao You supported her as they walked in the corridor. Cining Palace wasn’t far from Qianqing Palace – once you exited Longzong Gate you could see it – but without permission now, she still dared not rashly go to visit.

In their generation, there weren’t many brothers and sisters. In their childhood years, they had played together very congenially. She and Second Brother were born of the same mother. After Consort Xu passed away, she was registered under the Empress Dowager’s name and from age six had been with Big Brother. Though open and covert struggles existed between princes in the imperial family, toward her, this little sister who posed no threat, they were all very protective. Now that Big Brother was ill and she couldn’t go see him, though separated only by two palace walls, it was no different from being separated by the entire Forbidden City.

Xiao You tugged at her arm: “Your Highness, let’s return. Nanny Zhang said she’d make sugar cymbal pastries for us to eat.”

Wanwan hummed in agreement. Just as she was about to mount the shoulder palanquin, the Empress ahead suddenly stopped, looked at her with a smile, and beckoned to her.

Actually, she had always been unwilling to get entangled with those consorts. Palace women were accustomed to scheming against each other – most of the time, every glance and gesture had purpose. Empress Zhao lacked the magnanimity of the former Tuoba Empress and the kindness of the former Kehedral Empress. She was that most common type of person in the world – mediocre, but vindictive.

Wanwan understood all this in her heart, but had no choice but to show face. She stepped forward slightly: “Does Sister-in-law the Empress have instructions?”

Seeing she didn’t approach to pay respects, Empress Zhao wasn’t offended either. She moved closer herself, examining her pleasantly: “How old is Grand Princess this year?”

Wanwan didn’t understand her intention but still answered seriously: “I’ll be fourteen in June.”

The Empress let out a long “oh”: “Fourteen is good – the prime of youth like a flower. Thinking of my own past now, I can’t help but sigh that time spares no one.” While speaking, she took her hand – a princess’s hand was the most noble hand, with slender fingers like red plum blossoms against white snow, so delicate that the sinews beneath the skin could be faintly seen.

But Wanwan found this rough handling quite unpleasant. She wasn’t accustomed to others’ false intimacy, so she unobtrusively withdrew her hand and smiled: “Sister-in-law is in the prime of life – why be melancholy? Why do you ask my age? Are you planning to celebrate my birthday?”

The Empress covered her lips and laughed: “Who celebrates a fourteenth birthday? Wait another two years, and Sister-in-law will arrange a feast for you – we’ll celebrate for three days.” Changing the subject, she continued: “I was thinking, would you come to my palace the day after tomorrow for pastries? There won’t be outsiders, just us two sisters. Don’t think that because I’m Empress, those below show me reverence and I must set an example, I have no way to be close to them. Speaking of equals, it’s still you and I. You are of golden branches and jade leaves, and a sensible person. In the future, let us sisters-in-law interact more – in the palace, we’d be mutual support.”

This sudden heart-to-heart left Wanwan quite astonished. The Empress had been married to Big Brother for over ten years. When Big Brother was still a prince, she often entered the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, but was never particularly warm upon seeing her. Later, when Big Brother became Emperor and Lady Zhao entered the central palace, their relationship remained mediocre with little interaction. Today, she didn’t know what had gone wrong to make her so earnest – truly baffling.

But since there was no malice, she couldn’t very well refuse coldly. She vaguely agreed: “I only fear troubling Sister-in-law…”

The Empress’s smile became even warmer: “What kind of talk is that? Even small families gather often – how can people like us be so unfeeling? If you regard me, I’m happy beyond measure – would I find you troublesome instead? Then it’s settled – the day after tomorrow I’ll sweep the courtyard and wait, respectfully awaiting Grand Princess’s honored presence.”

The Empress mounted her palanquin and left contentedly. Wanwan couldn’t figure out the reason and returned to Yude Palace in confusion.

The palace servants from the Wardrobe Department had been waiting, helping her change into a spring robe, removing her jewelry, and loosening her hair to gather softly behind her head. She took a book to sit by the window and read, but after only two pages couldn’t sit still. She turned the book face-down on the table, got up, and went under the corridor to feed the goldfish.

Nanny Zhang came carrying a white jade tray with sugar cymbals neatly arranged in the center, artistically decorated with two crabapple blossoms. Seeing her, she spoke the usual daily words: “Was everything well when Your Highness went to Cining Palace today? Did you encounter anything interesting?”

The attending eunuch Wuqi snorted from the side: “Something interesting was encountered, but I don’t know if our master took it to heart.”

Wanwan and Xiao You stared at each other wide-eyed: “Interesting? No, there wasn’t…”

Wuqi showed an “as expected” expression: “I told you so. They went to such great lengths, but when it comes to our master, it’s completely ineffective – all that effort wasted.”

Taking advantage of Li Nanny’s absence, Xiao You kicked his calf: “Who stopped up your mouth? Can’t you speak plainly?”

Wuqi, having received the flying kick, accepted his bad luck and moved aside before saying: “Lucky you’re a girl – how do you not know even this? Suddenly asking about age – if it’s not casual conversation, it’s planning matchmaking. What kind of person is Lady Zhao?” He paused to look around, lowering his voice: “The type who’d lick even salt-alkali soil – how grating! Usually she’s never been close to our master, but today with that silver tongue, both currying favor and inviting to pastries – she’s probably up to no good.”

Now Xiao You was stunned. Palace maids weren’t like eunuchs who could go to every corner of the Forbidden City. They entered the palace at around ten years old, and wherever they were assigned, they stayed for life. Except for a few who had opportunities to accompany their masters, the rest had to guard their small territories, having no chance to see the world, much less understand women’s indirect ways of speaking.

However, having someone arrange a match was something most girls would be very happy about. Xiao You clapped her hands: “We were just talking about it yesterday, and today good fortune comes to our door!”

Nanny Zhang carefully asked about the details. After hearing everything, she was silent for a long time before handing the tray to Xiao You and saying: “Invited for pastries the day after tomorrow? To Kunning Palace? How did I hear that the day after tomorrow is the day Lady Zhao receives relatives? The whole family gathering – how can she invite outsiders to be present?”

Xiao You was bewildered: “But Lady Zhao said ‘just us two sisters’…”

“She’s probably coaxing Your Highness to go for others to look at!” Wuqi was still sharp, making a decisive judgment: “In my opinion, you shouldn’t go. What kind of person is our master? She’s not some ordinary family’s daughter – how can she be eagerly sent to Kunning Palace! Even if there’s to be a meeting, it should be a row of prince consort candidates for our master to choose from.”

Wanwan fell silent. Someone like her might not receive attention as a child, but once of age, she became a hot commodity. Especially in Daye, reaching her generation with only one princess – gradually all factions would stir. This was what she had realized after her mind fully matured. She just hadn’t expected Lady Zhao to start calculating so quickly… She suddenly tasted a touch of desolation. In this harem, many people could make decisions for her. Looking at a life built of gold and jade, it was really just this much after all.