In the twenty-seventh year of the Yongchang reign, early spring in the second month.

After a brief afternoon rest at noon, before continuing to review the afternoon memorials, Emperor Yongchang took a stroll around the Imperial Garden. He saw plum blossoms like rosy clouds throughout the garden, and the willow branches had also sprouted a layer of pale green.

Emperor Yongchang then ordered his attendants to move the memorials from the Imperial Study to a pavilion. After reviewing about ten memorials, Emperor Yongchang’s heart stirred, and he dispatched someone to summon his eldest son, Prince Kang.

The twenty-three-year-old Prince Kang held no less reverence for his father the Emperor than any court minister. Fearing his father might wait long, he practically ran all the way from the Ministry of Finance to the Imperial Garden. Spotting his father’s figure reviewing memorials in the pavilion from afar, Prince Kang took out his handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead, took several deep breaths, then approached the pavilion entrance with slightly hurried steps, head lowered, respectfully saying: “Your son pays respects to Imperial Father.”

Emperor Yongchang acknowledged with a sound, called Prince Kang to come closer, asked about a matter Prince Kang had been handling recently, then brought up the spring scenery: “The weather is fine. Have you thought about going outside the city walls for a spring outing?”

Prince Kang was not someone who enjoyed leisurely strolls, but since Imperial Father had brought it up, Prince Kang replied: “Your son does indeed wish to go riding.”

Emperor Yongchang said: “Don’t just go by yourself. Take your second brother along too. He’s loved shutting himself in his study since childhood. After receiving his princedom and establishing his own residence, I’ve heard he rarely goes out even on rest days. You established your residence earlier than him and are familiar with every part of the capital, inside and out. Guide him more.”

Imperial princes and princesses who grew up in the palace, even those with quiet temperaments, were filled with curiosity about the world outside the palace. Back when Emperor Yongchang had just ascended the throne and could make his own decisions, he would take advantage of rest days to leave the palace in disguise. Yet his second son was different—despite being enfeoffed as a prince for so long, apart from official duties, he still secluded himself in his princely residence. Emperor Yongchang worried that continuing such solitary behavior might develop some problem in his second son.

With Imperial Father’s command, Prince Kang agreed without hesitation. However, once he left the Imperial Garden, the relaxed expression Prince Kang had maintained disappeared, and he sighed helplessly.

He too felt that his second brother’s way of living was unlike that of a twenty-year-old young man. He had tried many times in his youth to get his second brother to have fun, but every single time left him exhausted mentally and physically without any success whatsoever. Now that Imperial Father was assigning him this task again, Prince Kang truly would rather calculate accounts for an entire day than spend half a shichen talking with his second brother.

At least an abacus would produce crisp sounds when moved. With his second brother, he had to speak at great length just to elicit a faint response, accompanied by an expression of “I don’t know what to say but since you insist on talking to me I can only respond like this”—not even bothering to feign interest.

On the road back to the Ministry of Finance, Prince Kang sighed countless times.

At dusk when offices closed, Prince Kang unusually left the Ministry of Finance on time, waiting early on the palace pathway for those departing. About two kè later, he finally saw his second brother, Prince Hui, coming from the direction of the Ministry of War.

The gentle evening sunlight illuminated the entire wide palace pathway, adding warmth and lively human presence to the officials of all ranks walking upon it. Yet in Prince Kang’s eyes, though his second brother possessed unparalleled handsome features—those elongated phoenix eyes and pale thin lips seemed to have been set from birth into a shape that would never smile. Serene, otherworldly, indifferent to worldly affairs, and no one dared approach rashly.

All the civil and military officials in court knew Prince Hui’s temperament. Unless absolutely necessary, no one wanted to hear Prince Hui’s one or two sounds of acknowledgment.

Apart from Qing Ai respectfully following behind Prince Hui, other officials cautiously maintained their distance from him.

Prince Kang pulled out a smile, like a fish swimming upstream, and actively approached Prince Hui: “Second Brother, why did you come out so late today?”

Zhao Sui: “Elder Brother was waiting for me?”

Prince Kang: “Yes. Look at how blue the sky is and how warm the breeze has been these past few days. Tomorrow morning, would you accompany me outside the city walls to ride horses?”

Zhao Sui: “Alright.”

Prince Kang continued sighing internally. Though his second brother disliked conversation, he had always been agreeable in temperament. Even though he clearly didn’t enjoy spending time with his elder brother, he would never refuse any invitation.

After agreeing on a departure time, the two brothers each returned to their residences.

Both brothers were accustomed to rising early. When they departed the city the next day, only a few merchant caravans were queued at the city gate, with not yet many young masters from the city heading out for leisure. After the brothers rode in silence for half a shichen, the sunlight had just begun to warm. Prince Kang, thinking of Imperial Father’s expectations, pointed toward the direction of Meiling east of the city: “The plum blossoms are blooming beautifully lately. Second Brother, will you accompany me to view them?”

Zhao Sui: “Alright.”

On the road to Meiling, the brothers no longer galloped at full speed but walked slowly, also giving their mounts time to rest.

Prince Kang chatted about several matters discussed at this month’s court assemblies. His second brother’s responses finally contained a few more words, but they were all proper critiques that didn’t involve personal preferences for any particular official.

Just as Prince Kang was secretly searching for his next topic, three sets of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from behind.

Prince Kang turned around.

Zhao Sui also looked back.

Behind them were three fast riders. From a distance, he could only make out two men and one woman on horseback. One man and the woman rode almost side by side at the front, while the other rider lagged behind by about two mule-lengths.

Zhao Sui first looked at the three people’s mounts. Only the young man in blue silk brocade robes riding at the front was on a horse; the girl in the red dress beside him and the young man in gray robes behind both rode mules.

Zhao Sui was about to turn back after a glance, but then saw the young man in blue robes force his horse close to the girl beside him. This action was somewhat dangerous, so Zhao Sui instinctively watched for a few more moments. By this time, the distance was close enough for him to clearly see the three people’s faces. The young man in blue robes had handsome features, the young man in gray robes had a robust build, and the girl in red dress—

The girl in the red dress suddenly swung her whip to the side, glaring with round black eyes and scolding: “I know your horse runs fast, so why don’t you ride ahead? What are you following me for?”

Li Tingwang leaned his upper body backward to avoid Yao Huang’s whip, while slightly pulling the horse away and smiling at her: “I’m afraid if I run too fast, you’ll cry from frustration.”

Yao Huang couldn’t be bothered with him anymore. She only regretted that her family’s finances weren’t wealthy enough—they could afford but were reluctant to buy two more fine horses that weren’t absolutely necessary. Otherwise, she would definitely leave Li Tingwang far behind.

No longer looking at Li Tingwang, Yao Huang raised her head and first noticed six horseback riders ahead. The four lagging behind appeared from their clothing to be attendants, while the two in front both wore brocade robes. The man with the long, square face was still observing them, while the other had turned away, preventing her from seeing his features clearly. But these two clearly were sons of wealthy families, and their mounts were truly excellent—plump and healthy with glossy coats!

In this moment, Yao Huang’s fondness and envy for these two fine horses surpassed her envy of the silks worn by daughters of wealthy families. As her family’s mule passed the two men, Yao Huang’s head was still tilted, and she naturally glanced toward the gentleman riding the black fine horse, wearing sky-blue brocade robes, whose back appeared more upright—

The instant their gazes met, he lowered his eyelids.

Yet Yao Huang’s eyes widened slightly. It wasn’t until the mule beneath her carried her far away, until looking back at him would strain her neck, that she reluctantly withdrew her gaze with inexplicable regret.

Li Tingwang scoffed: “That person is clearly either wealthy or noble at a glance. You’d better not harbor any thoughts.”

Yao Huang whipped at him again. Li Tingwang could have dodged, but because Yao Huang had been staring at another man, he felt uncomfortable. In his impulsiveness, he only turned his head aside and took the whip strike solidly on his shoulder.

Yao Huang: “…”

She could be angry at Li Tingwang’s foul mouth, but when Li Tingwang foolishly didn’t dodge and took her whip strike squarely, Yao Huang couldn’t maintain her anger and continued ignoring him.

The two princes didn’t hear the conversation between the young man and woman ahead, but they witnessed all their actions after passing.

Prince Kang said to his second brother beside him: “That young lady is quite beautiful, but unfortunately too fierce, constantly whipping at people.”

Zhao Sui thought that it should have been the young man in blue robes who angered her first, which was why she took action.

Prince Kang teased his second brother again: “That girl stared at you for quite a few moments. Looks like Second Brother has encountered romantic fortune today. Who knows, when we reach Meiling, you might encounter other marriage prospects.”

Zhao Sui: “Elder Brother, speak cautiously.”

Prince Kang: “You’re already twenty. I married my princess consort at twenty. This year, Imperial Father will certainly select a princess consort and two side consorts for you. If you can’t even tolerate a few teasing remarks, how will you face your newly wedded princess consort in the future?”

Zhao Sui turned his head. He had never contemplated such matters. When that day truly came, he would simply follow propriety.

Prince Kang looked at his second brother’s profile and suddenly thought of his aunt’s family’s cousin. The cousin would come of age this year. Seeing how their aunt usually praised Second Brother frequently before Imperial Father, she would probably marry the cousin to Second Brother. In that case, Second Brother wouldn’t exactly be marrying a stranger. However, Second Brother wasn’t close to either him or Third Brother, and was even more distant from their cousin. Apart from recognizing her face, how much different was the cousin from a stranger to Second Brother?

Prince Kang could casually tease about the passing strange girl, but he wouldn’t use his cousin to banter with Second Brother, so he skipped over the topic of marriage.

They arrived at Meiling. At the mountain’s foot, carriages or mules and horses were stopped everywhere—all visitors from the capital or nearby villages and towns who had come to view the scenery.

Since Zhao Sui had come all this way, he didn’t want to disappoint the spring scenery. However, Elder Brother always wanted to find topics of conversation, and Zhao Sui didn’t want to force his brother or himself.

After dismounting, Zhao Sui said to Prince Kang: “There are many people on the mountain. I’d like to find a secluded place to view the plum blossoms. Why don’t Elder Brother and I walk separately and meet at the mountaintop in half a shichen?”

Prince Kang was greatly pleased inwardly, though his face showed concern: “This is Second Brother’s first time here. If you take small paths, you might easily get lost.”

Zhao Sui: “I’ll follow the sounds of people to stay near the main path.”

Prince Kang could only agree.

Zhao Sui didn’t even bring his guards Zhang Yue and Wang Dong, choosing a small trail to ascend the mountain himself. Zhang Yue and Wang Dong knew their prince’s martial arts skills and weren’t particularly worried that their prince would encounter danger in the mountains.

Meiling was famous for its plum trees and was one of the favorite spring outing destinations for leisured young men and women of the capital.

Prince Hui’s residence garden also had over a dozen plum trees planted. Just two days ago, Zhao Sui had painted a plum blossom picture. Now, immersed in the continuous plum forests, listening to the joyful laughter of distant visitors, though Zhao Sui had no great enthusiasm for touring, he didn’t feel this trip was dispensable either. He climbed the wild path step by step toward the mountaintop.

Walking along, Zhao Sui suddenly heard a somewhat familiar laugh: “Li Tingwang, there’s a bee on your head!”

The image of the girl in the red dress they’d encountered on the road emerged in Zhao Sui’s mind, along with her pair of bright, limpid eyes when she’d looked back.

Do bees sting people?

Zhao Sui altered his route.

“Yao Yao, be careful, the bee went toward you!”

Zhao Sui quickened his pace, then saw a girl in a red dress run around a plum tree toward his direction. Seeing him, surprise appeared in her eyes. Zhao Sui instinctively averted his gaze, but from the corner of his eye, he saw that red hem go in another direction. Before the two young men could chase over, Zhao Sui timely retreated behind the nearby plum forest.

Not knowing the mountain paths, he deliberately maintained a distance where he could hear the three young people’s laughter and chatter, but where they definitely couldn’t see him.

“Yao Yao, next rest day we’ve agreed to play polo at the martial academy. Three matches in a row in the morning. Will you come watch?”

“Of course. Elder Brother already told me.”

“See, you’re just talking unnecessarily.”

“I was afraid you’d forget to tell Yao Yao.”

Yao Huang silently listened as her brother and Li Tingwang bickered over such trivial matters again. She glanced back several times, yet even until they descended the mountain, they never encountered that gentleman whose handsomeness seemed unearthly again.

The capital was vast, with too many people one would pass by fleetingly and never meet again. Yao Huang quickly forgot about this matter.