Lady Pingjing felt truly uncomfortable hearing such fawning and flattering words.

She was naturally bold and unable to bear being wronged, and had always doted on her niece. When that girl had wanted to slit her throat and hang herself at home because of Gu Juhan’s sudden marriage to someone else, even now that time had passed, she still couldn’t let it go, and her aunt felt heartbroken along with her. She and her younger brother had originally thought that since the two families were close and they could be considered his half-elders, having always addressed him by his courtesy name Wenruo in their interactions, they had some degree of familiarity. When he was newly married, he was probably passionate about that merchant woman and unwilling to accept Yuan’er, but after a few years when his ardor cooled, he could welcome Yuan’er into the household as an equal wife, or at the very least as a concubine. Who would have expected this merchant woman’s methods to be so skillful that even after five years had passed, she still had Wenruo completely bewitched, refusing no matter what to marry Yuan’er—it was truly detestable.

Now look—this merchant woman needed her husband’s protection just to walk and his support just to sit down. Her poor Yuan’er watching this scene from afar—how heartbroken and wounded she must feel! As an aunt, how could she swallow this humiliation?

However, she was perceptive and astute, unlike these other foolish women who only knew how to act like lapdogs. Earlier when this merchant woman heard the romantic story of Qi Ying and Xiao Ziyu, she clearly showed signs of melancholy, which proved that between her and Gu Juhan, things might not be as harmonious and loving as they appeared.

Once this thought arose, she intended to mention Qi Ying a few more times, but just as she was about to speak, she heard shouts of “Long live!” outside the polo grounds, followed by the sight of ceremonial processions like clouds—His Majesty and the Empress had arrived.

Emperor Wei, Gao Mian, had just reached his fortieth year this year. He maintained himself well and hadn’t grown fat, but in recent years he had become quite fond of the Five Stone Powder that came from the south. Though this substance was elegant and favored by renowned scholars, prolonged consumption was not beneficial to one’s health. Gu Juhan had even issued strict orders forbidding soldiers in the army from being contaminated by it, but His Majesty was not his soldier and naturally wouldn’t listen to him. Whether he had consumed some last night was unknown, but it might explain why he was late to the polo grounds today.

Empress Wei, Zou Shi, was about the same age as Emperor Wei. She had been stunningly beautiful in her youth and remained favored to this day. Her maternal Zou clan had not originally been a prominent family, but with Empress Zou’s favor, the Zou family had also risen with the tide. Now the Imperial Uncle held the position of Chancellor and was accompanying the imperial procession today.

After everyone rose from their bows and looked up, they saw that Great Liang’s princess had also come today. Since she had not yet married His Majesty, the ceremonial retinue still followed Great Liang’s protocols for a princess. Everyone looked her over and saw that this Xiao Ziyu was indeed properly featured with bright eyes and white teeth, but she couldn’t really be called particularly beautiful. Moreover, she was now twenty-six years old, no longer young, and her complexion was somewhat haggard, further detracting from her beauty.

The noble ladies under the pavilion thought to themselves: No wonder this princess looked haggard—marrying someone else in front of her former lover, and that former lover being the world-renowned Qi Jingchen no less, anyone would have a poor complexion! However, this princess being involved in such a romantic affair, they had expected her to have devastatingly beautiful looks that could compete with the Duchess of Yanguo, but unexpectedly her appearance was… rather ordinary.

After everyone had made these assessments, they quickly averted their gazes and searched the entire field for that Qi Jingchen, but… looking this way and that, though they did indeed see many Liang officials, none of their attire met Qi Ying’s status, leaving them somewhat bewildered.

The Emperor and Empress had already taken their seats on the high platform, and the Great Liang princess had also been seated. Gu Juhan approached the imperial presence, paid his respects to Emperor Wei, then asked: “Forgive my presumption, but why don’t we see Lord Qi today?”

Emperor Wei laughed heartily and replied: “I still remember six years ago when Jingchen came to Shangjing and had a match with Wenruo on this very polo ground. Who won back then?”

The Imperial Uncle Zou Qian, seated below, cupped his hands and answered with a laugh: “Your Majesty, that polo match was played with great vigor, but unfortunately no victor was decided.”

Emperor Wei nodded and asked Gu Juhan with a smile: “So Wenruo has been thinking about settling things with Jingchen today?”

Gu Juhan lowered his head and smiled: “Nothing can be hidden from Your Majesty.”

Emperor Wei was delighted: “Then Wenruo is going to be disappointed. This morning the Liang envoys reported that Jingchen has caught a cold recently and cannot come today.”

The Liang Deputy Envoy Han Feichi stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said with a smile: “The Left Chancellor mentioned during his journey to Wei this past match with the General and had long wanted to resolve that old regret with the General, but unfortunately he caught cold from the arduous travel and will have to break his appointment this time.”

Under the ornate pavilion not far away, the noble ladies felt truly and deeply disappointed.

What past regret, what polo victory—what did any of that matter! Taking a good look at what kind of face Qi Ying had was the most important matter under heaven! Now that he wasn’t coming, what were they to do with their hearts that had been eagerly anticipating since early morning? What about their necks that had grown long from constantly craning to look?

This was simply outrageous!

Everyone’s spirits fell, and suddenly they felt the entire morning had been wasted, immediately becoming parched with frustration. The servants beside the noble ladies were quite clever—seeing their mistresses displeased, they thoughtfully offered fragrant tea and sweet dew to quell their anger. Qin Shi personally changed a cup of fresh tea for her sister-in-law, but when she handed it over, her sister-in-law was looking down with lowered head. She had to call her twice before she noticed and took the teacup from her hands.

With Qi Jingchen not coming, the ladies felt disappointed, and the men also felt deflated. This was because Qi Ying had always been called the model of aristocratic families, and on the battlefield he had repeatedly dampened Great Wei’s spirit, making Great Wei’s sons feel utterly humiliated. Though Jiangzuo’s Great Liang had always been a prosperous land and a nation of ritual and ceremony, precisely because they valued scholarly elegance, their people were not as robust as those of Great Wei. They thought that no matter how formidable Qi Ying might be, in this matter of polo he might not necessarily defeat them. Therefore, Great Wei’s nobles and military officers had steeled themselves early on to dampen his prestige today, never expecting to throw a punch at cotton—how could this not infuriate them?

Liu Shaotang, second son of Marquis Juanling, was now Great Wei’s Right Army General. Twenty-four years old this year, he had just returned from the battlefield against Liang in the second month and was also a general under Gu Juhan’s command. He had encountered Qi Ying only a few times on the battlefield, and when Qi Ying came to Wei this time, he had also wanted to compete with him on the polo field. Unable to fulfill this wish today, he too felt uncomfortable. However, seeing that Gu Juhan’s expression had shown some worry since coming down from the high platform, by comparison he became the more carefree one. He stepped forward and grabbed Gu Juhan, teasing: “Though I expected early on that big brother wanted to compete with that Qi Jingchen, I didn’t expect you to care about this matter so much. If you ask me, there’s no rush—after all, he has to wait until His Majesty and the princess are married before he can return to Liang. There will still be chances to compete with him.”

Marquis Juanling and the old duke had been old friends, and Gu Juhan was seven years older than Liu Shaotang, so the two had grown up like brothers and were very close. However, today he had no mind for joking with him. Liu Shaotang saw him walking toward the field while constantly looking back at his wife sitting peacefully in the ornate pavilion, and couldn’t help teasing again: “We’ve been back from the battlefield for a month now—how is this lovesickness still unresolved? Big brother, I’m telling you, you can’t always be clinging to sister-in-law like this…”

As he spoke, he had already pulled Gu Juhan to the center of the field. The other men heard Shaotang’s teasing and saw General Gu, who was decisive in killing on the battlefield, looking so reluctant to part from his wife—they all burst into laughter and joined Liu Shaotang in teasing him. Gu Juhan withdrew his gaze and laughed: “Enough, enough. Last time in the army you all lost and weren’t convinced, right? Let’s go again today.”

In a moment, war horses neighed and dust flew as the men’s spring entertainment began in earnest.

However, though the Duke of Yanguo’s figure playing polo on the field was very handsome and eye-catching, he was married after all, and his wife sat properly below the field. Naturally this couldn’t inspire the same fantasies as Great Liang’s Qi Ying, so when the grand event that the noble ladies and young women had been anticipating fell through, they naturally felt somewhat dejected.

However, this dejection didn’t linger long in the ladies’ hearts. Within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, they turned to discussing the real reason why Qi Ying hadn’t come today.

“If you ask me, this matter has other origins,” said the lady who had earlier revealed the secrets between Qi Ying and Xiao Ziyu with great certainty. “The excuse about catching a cold is really nothing new. I think his not coming today is because he doesn’t want to see the princess laughing and chatting happily with our majesty.”

The ladies were startled upon hearing this, then made sounds of amazement.

Another joined in: “That would make sense. That lord can even go to battlefields—how could he so easily catch a cold? It seems this matter of love truly breaks one’s heart, even someone like Qi Ying cannot bear it.”

The ladies again made sounds of amazement.

Lady Pingjing listened to these words while glancing at that merchant woman, seeing her looking down at the tea leaves swirling in her cup with an absent-minded expression. She felt her earlier speculation was indeed correct—though she and the Duke of Yanguo appeared to be a loving couple, privately there might be some discord, which had brought out her melancholy for that unfortunate pair of lovers from Great Liang.

She intended to stir things up with a few words, but today was truly unlucky—several times when she tried to start a conversation, she was interrupted. She saw a palace eunuch approach the pavilion, bow to the ladies, then say to the merchant woman: “Duchess of Yanguo, the Empress requests your presence for conversation.”

When Shen Xiling ascended the high platform to pay respects to Emperor Wei and Empress Wei, drums beat continuously below while voices rose in excitement—probably someone had won the first prize.

Spring in Wei was indeed beautiful this year, but she still felt somewhat cold. Even when the Empress granted her a seat, she still felt cold. She remembered that when leaving home today, Gu Juhan had wanted her to add a small jacket over her spring robe, but she had thought it ugly and hadn’t worn it. Now she was beginning to regret it.

The Empress asked with a smile: “I’ve noticed you’ve grown thinner recently, and heard that an imperial physician was called to your mansion early this morning. Is there something wrong with your health?”

Shen Xiling bowed to the Empress and answered: “Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. I am quite well. This morning I only had a slight headache—the General made too much of it.”

The Empress smiled: “He loves you most dearly. Originally, I and His Majesty were worried about his marriage, fearing his standards were too high to find a suitable wife. Who would have thought we worried for nothing.”

Emperor Wei nearby, hearing the Empress mention him, should have joined the conversation, but the competition on the field was at its most intense, and he couldn’t spare attention, so he only gave a vague response without saying anything else.

The Empress took Shen Xiling’s hand and continued: “Your marital harmony brings me joy, but I feel sorry for you that Wenruo has always been busy with military affairs these years, causing you two to be apart more than together.”

Hearing this, Shen Xiling naturally had to say some conventional words about duty to country and family. The Empress laughed upon hearing this and continued: “But things should be better from now on. With the princess marrying into our Great Wei, the two nations will form a permanent alliance. Wenruo won’t have to be constantly burdened by military affairs, and you two can be reunited, saving him from that pathetic appearance every time he returns and can’t bear to leave you.”

Everyone on the high platform laughed at the last comment, and Shen Xiling felt somewhat embarrassed, only nodding.

At this moment, the Great Liang princess, who was also seated in the place of honor on the high platform, looked toward Shen Xiling, smiled, and said: “When General Gu married, I heard about it even in Great Liang. I heard that Madam possessed beauty that could make fish sink and geese fall. Seeing you today, it’s indeed true.”

Below, drums beat continuously, and there were sounds of crowds, though not like cheering. Just then Emperor Wei couldn’t help but clap and sigh, saying “What a pity for Wenruo.” Shen Xiling understood that Gu Juhan had probably made an error and failed to win a prize.

She steadied her mind, rose to bow to the Great Liang princess, and said respectfully: “The princess flatters me.”

The Great Liang princess asked her to sit, then while looking sideways at the scene of men on horseback with mallets below, said conversationally to Shen Xiling: “I also heard that Madam is from Liang. I wonder if this rumor is true?”

Shen Xiling’s hands stiffened somewhat, but her voice remained gentle and calm, her complexion unchanged as she answered: “Indeed, I am from Langya.”

“Oh?” The princess raised her eyebrows and smiled again, a hint of mockery seeming to flash across her brow. “What a pity. I thought Madam was from Jiankang.”

The Empress asked with some surprise: “Why does the princess ask this? Could it be that you were previously acquainted with the Duchess of Yanguo?”

The drums beat urgently, so densely it made one’s heart race, and Shen Xiling felt today’s wind was indeed rather cool.

At this moment, they heard Han Feichi, the Great Liang envoy behind the princess, laugh and say: “The Duchess indeed bears a strong resemblance to an old friend of the princess from years past. The princess must be missing that old friend.”

Shen Xiling looked up toward Han Feichi standing behind Xiao Ziyu. He was a tall, slender man with a smiling face, though his current expression was more like a half-smile, and his eyes hadn’t glanced toward her even an inch.

Then she heard the princess remain silent for a moment before saying coolly: “Yes, Lord Han speaks correctly.”

The drums ceased, then suddenly there were sounds of crowd cheering. Emperor Wei also laughed heartily, praising “Wenruo’s excellent form.” Hearing this, Shen Xiling turned back to look and saw Gu Juhan holding his mallet high while mounted on his horse, surrounded by crowds. He was too far away to see his face clearly, but she knew he was looking in her direction.

Shen Xiling smiled and waved at him.

The Empress laughed: “Look at this—our Great Wei’s Pillar of State has just this much composure, becoming like this after being away from his wife for just a moment. In my opinion, you two should also think about having a child.”

Shen Xiling turned back, not yet having time to answer the Empress, when she saw the Great Liang princess raise the small golden cup in her hand toward her from afar, saying: “Seeing Madam and her husband’s deep affection truly makes one envious. I toast to you both having a son soon.”

After she finished speaking, Shen Xiling looked toward Han Feichi. That lord still wore the same half-smiling expression, his eyes still not having glanced toward her even an inch.

Shen Xiling lowered her head, thanked the Empress and princess, then said she had perhaps dressed too lightly today and was now having some headaches. The Empress immediately said upon hearing this: “Look at my memory—I forgot you have a delicate constitution and can’t bear the wind. Good child, go back and rest well.”

Shen Xiling rose to bow and thank the Emperor, Empress, and princess, then followed the eunuch as she left the high platform.

When she came down, a match had just ended—Gu Juhan had won. She didn’t know how he had won, but she knew he would certainly be able to win. That man, if he set his mind to doing something, had always been able to accomplish it. This morning she heard the prize for the first match was a golden hairpin. She had looked at the design and praised it as “exquisite,” so he said he would win it for her. Sure enough, he had won it.

Shen Xiling saw him dismount and walk toward her direction, the hairpin in his hand.

When he reached her, he forgot about giving her the hairpin and only frowned as he asked: “What’s wrong with you? Why is your complexion so pale?”

She smiled and said: “It’s nothing. Go play with Shaotang and the others. I… I want to go home early today.”

Gu Juhan sighed and said: “I’ll go with you.”

Shen Xiling wanted to persuade him otherwise, but seeing his resolute expression, she said nothing more.