Though Wanwan had grown to this age and experienced many things, she had always been well protected. While she certainly had sorrows, they were merely the melancholy of youth, rarely leaving lasting marks, so she remained pure and kind-hearted, almost without any scheming. While she was worrying about Empress Zhao, Tonghuan held a skeptical attitude about this matter. She tugged at her and whispered, “That old Empress Zhao is truly strange. If she suffered grievances, why didn’t she return to her bedchamber? How did she end up at the Golden Pavilion? Does she need to cry beside beautiful scenery? There are many people in the palace today, Your Highness should be careful. In this servant’s opinion, we should go to Qianqing Palace instead. After the banquet ends, it won’t be too late to visit Jiaifeng Palace to see her tomorrow.”
A eunuch leading the way overheard this and turned back to glance at Tonghuan, saying, “Sister, there’s no reason under heaven to refuse to save someone in distress. Empress Zhao is having dark thoughts right now. If Your Highness waits until tomorrow to see her and something happens tonight, would your conscience be at ease?” He smiled apologetically at the Grand Princess, “This matter originally has nothing to do with this servant, but I’m acting on someone’s request. Your Highness, you have a compassionate heart. Saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. If you’re willing to go, this servant will guide you. If you don’t wish to go, I’ll just go back and report.”
Wanwan felt somewhat hesitant in her heart, but she was also worried that refusing this invitation would make future encounters awkward beyond words. After deliberating in her mind repeatedly, she thought that the Imperial Palace was such a heavily guarded place where she had lived since birth without ever encountering any danger. Just going to the Golden Pavilion once shouldn’t be anything to fear.
She pressed Tonghuan’s hand, “Since someone was sent to invite me, I should at least go and take a look. If it’s nothing serious, I’ll comfort her with a few words and be done with it.” She glanced toward Qianqing Palace, “The banquet is about to begin. It would be one thing to eat crabs in the garden, but now… I’m afraid if the Empress Dowager can’t find me, she’ll blame me later. You go ahead and tell Nanny Zhang. If the Empress Dowager asks, at least there’ll be someone to explain.”
Tonghuan looked at her hesitantly, “How can you be without anyone by your side?”
Wanwan laughed, “What kind of place is this? It’s not some chaotic place outside. Who in the palace doesn’t recognize me? Just go ahead. After you give the message, come back to assist me. Then I’ll have an excuse to leave too, so I won’t be stuck there unable to get away, suffering through the night with lamps burning.”
The Golden Pavilion was not far ahead, decorated with flowers and plants, a place for palace ladies to admire chrysanthemums. Palace lanterns were scattered along the winding corridors, one every few steps. In such an open and honest place that could hide no filth or harbor no corruption, Tonghuan felt she might truly be overthinking. She agreed and turned toward Longzong Gate.
As for Wanwan, she was still immersed in the sadness from earlier, unable to pull herself out. She was a strong-willed person who didn’t want others to see her distress. Having Tonghuan constantly by her side made her quite uncomfortable, so she took this opportunity to send her away and calm her own emotions.
The eunuch carried a lantern ahead. The moonlight was like silk, illuminating the path beneath her feet. She called out to stop him, “I can go by myself. You go about your business.”
The young eunuch quickly replied, “Your Highness, please be extremely careful on the path. This servant takes his leave.”
Wanwan stood alone on the bluestone path for a while. It had entered autumn before the Mid-Autumn Festival. While it didn’t feel cold during the day, the nights were beginning to feel somewhat chilly.
The weather was slightly cool, but it seemed not as cold as her heart. Her mind was full of the incense burner and dress hem from the back room of Hanqing Studio. She wondered how many secrets were really hidden in that cabinet. She had barged in so suddenly—she must have scared them terribly, hadn’t she?
Really, she rubbed her face, feeling both sad and somewhat amused. Xiao Duo was such a domineering person, but meeting Yin Lou was indeed a good outcome for him. When it came to persistent pestering, if Yin Lou claimed second place, no one would dare claim first. If these two were truly devoted to each other, they would indeed be perfectly matched. This was good too. Yin Lou was part of the Forbidden City and would always remain here. As for herself? She was destined to go outside. With Xiao Duo having Yin Lou, he wouldn’t be lonely in the future.
That hazy affection wasn’t important at all. Actually, she didn’t really understand what love was—perhaps whoever treated her well, she would feel possessive toward. She only dared to secretly trace his features in her heart. When facing him directly, she didn’t even have the courage to look at him one more time. How could that count as love?
Yin Lou was different. Now that the clouds had parted, she realized there was a reason for Yin Lou’s previous listlessness. Though Xiao Duo’s face showed no unusual signs, his smiling eyes held sorrow, and it was all for Yin Lou. So these matters had no first-come-first-served basis. What did it matter that she had known him for so many years? Most sadly, in his eyes she might forever be just an ignorant princess, and her affection might be nothing but childish nonsense to him.
She sighed and looked up at the moon in the sky. The heavens were crystal clear without a single wisp of cloud. It had been so many years since there was such a Mid-Autumn night, such a beautiful time and night when lovers should be reunited. As for herself, perhaps she should wait a little longer. She would surely meet someone worthy of entrusting her life to.
Collecting her emotions, she climbed the steps. The Golden Pavilion wasn’t a common name for those two gilded copper pavilions in front of Qianqing Palace. This pavilion was built behind Yuhua Pavilion, spanning the long corridor between Baohua Hall and Zhongzheng Hall. It had burned down over a decade ago and was later rebuilt in the style of the Jiangshan Sheji Golden Hall, with round columns on all four sides and a circular pointed roof, more elaborate than ordinary garden pavilions. Speaking of places for Empress Zhao to grieve, she had truly chosen one rich in poetic sentiment. Wanwan followed the corridor forward and saw precious chrysanthemums competing in full bloom, but she didn’t see Empress Zhao anywhere.
She stopped, surrounded by silence. The attending eunuchs were far away, standing by doors, motionless as mountains. She called out “Sister Zhao,” but unfortunately no one responded. She had probably already left! Wanwan felt somewhat annoyed. She had specifically been asked to come, but now it was all for nothing. Why was everyone like this today!
Feeling irritated, she decided never to be fooled by others again. As she turned to leave, someone appeared from nowhere, wearing a humble smile on his face and bowing to her from afar.
Wanwan couldn’t help but frown. What kind of performance was this? It seemed Empress Zhao wasn’t giving up and had deliberately arranged this.
She stepped back, planning to return to Qianqing Palace, but unexpectedly this person quickly stepped forward. The lamplight clearly illuminated his features—he was fairly handsome but emanated an aura of servility from his entire being.
Unpleasant, even repulsive to her, but since he had come before her and was wearing court official robes, she still had to show basic courtesy.
She tucked her hands away and looked at him with some arrogance, “The palace inner quarters are heavily guarded. How can an external minister come and go at will? In which office do you serve? Don’t you even understand such basic rules?”
The other party probably hadn’t expected her to be so merciless and seemed momentarily surprised, but he quickly composed himself and smiled, “Your Highness the Grand Princess has misunderstood. Today His Majesty issued an order that except for the Eastern and Western Six Palaces, the entire palace has no forbidden areas. The Golden Pavilion was originally a place for officials to appreciate flowers. There’s nothing improper about my being here.” He glanced at her and bowed again, “It was presumptuous of me. Your Highness was unprepared and must have been startled, right? Your Highness asked in which office I serve. In response to Your Highness, I am Zhao Huanzhi, Counselor of the Provincial Administration Commissioner, and Empress Zhao of Rong’an is my clan sister. The Empress should have mentioned me to Your Highness, shouldn’t she?”
As expected, Empress Zhao was determined to play matchmaker and had finally found an opportunity today. There was nothing wrong with matchmaking itself. With the Zhao family on the decline, wanting to pull in a princess for support was understandable. But she shouldn’t have used deception on her. She was a Grand Princess with her status, not some country woman from the mountains who could be met at will. Empress Zhao disregarded palace rules and took on such a role, truly debasing herself and earning contempt.
She felt offended, her expression growing even worse, unwilling to engage with him further. She said coldly, “A banquet is being held at Qianqing Palace. Counselor Zhao should hurry to the feast. The palace has palace rules. Even if His Majesty issued orders, there should still be some discretion. There’s one more thing—please convey to old Empress Zhao that the palace has already changed hands. She should exercise some self-reflection. Rather than constantly complaining about poor circumstances, she’d be better off minding her own conduct and making fewer mistakes, so her future end won’t be too ugly.”
She was, after all, of imperial blood. These few sentences were enough to make even Zhao Huanzhi somewhat unable to bear them. However, no matter how noble a woman was, she was ultimately still a woman. Without everyone revolving around her, when she was alone, she was merely a teenage girl—how much intimidating power could she have? They had discussed this beforehand, fearing she would be proud and difficult to deal with. Empress Zhao had instructed her clan brother: if she was harsh, he had to be even harsher. She was, after all, just a girl, and reputation mattered. She surely wouldn’t dare make a scene. In the worst case, if she really did make a scene, that would be even better—once the rice was cooked, even if she were the Monkey King, she couldn’t escape from Buddha’s palm.
With such good instruction, Mr. Zhao’s courage grew. As she turned to leave, he grabbed her arm with one hand. This grab would be unforgettable for life—how many people in the world could have such good fortune to be so close to a princess? Her early autumn shirt was very thin, and the contours hidden beneath the flowing sleeves were delicate and fragile, slender and soft. The sensation transmitted through his fingertips was simply intoxicating, completely different from those vulgar women. He enjoyed it for a moment, then suddenly became nervous again, fearing she would make it public—he would have to take risks after all. Unexpectedly, she truly acted as Empress Zhao had said, holding back without speaking out, only flushing red and demanding in a low voice that he let go.
Emboldened by lust, with such a heavenly maiden within his grasp, he didn’t care about her status. He smiled somewhat menacingly, “Why must Your Highness be like this? Speaking seriously, we could be considered relatives. We even played together as children. Has Your Highness forgotten?”
Wanwan was so angry her whole body trembled, grinding her teeth as she said, “You have such audacity! If you don’t let go, I’ll exterminate your entire family!”
But he didn’t take it seriously at all, instead curling his lips in a smile: “I have no other intentions, just a few words I’d like to say to Your Highness. Don’t be anxious to leave, Your Highness. I’ll let go right away.” Though he said this, his hand slid up along her arm and pressed against her neck.
Wanwan had never encountered such a situation. Even among those who spent day and night with her in Yude Palace, apart from Tonghuan, none could get close to her body. What kind of thing was this Zhao Huanzhi to dare lay hands on her! She wanted to call for help, but the Empress Dowager wasn’t open-minded. If she thought the girl’s reputation was ruined and decided to break the jar and smash it, what if she really betrothed her to the Zhao family?
She was trapped in a desperate situation, unable to advance or retreat. Right now everyone was at Qianqing Palace attending His Majesty for moon viewing—probably no one could help her.
Just when she was panicking desperately, the oppressive feeling on her neck suddenly disappeared. The man surnamed Zhao was grabbed by someone, and in the blink of an eye was thrown over the railing, crashing heavily onto the white marble platform base below the corridor.