That day, Shaoshang and Yuan Shen rarely refrained from bickering and even politely bid each other farewell. Later, thinking back, Shaoshang felt that day marked a good beginning, because from then on, she and Yuan Shen never again had the “spectacular situation” of quarreling upon meeting.

The palace and court once again returned to peaceful tranquility. The Emperor severely reprimanded and demoted those mid-ranking officials who had cornered the Crown Prince that day. Moreover, besides next month’s Shangsi Festival ceremony, the Emperor also had the Crown Prince attend court to hear government affairs.

However, according to the Crown Prince’s own words, he would rather stay in the Eastern Palace reading and writing, leisurely drinking a cup of mellow clear wine, painting a tranquil peach blossom scene, fishing by the lakeside, and appreciating scenery in the mountains—all better than listening to the court officials’ either veiled or heated memorials. As if to prove the reliability of these words, the Crown Prince immediately turned and handed over all the Eastern Palace’s seals and ceremonial tallies to Ling Buyi.

The Empress said the Crown Prince increasingly resembled her father, the late Duke Xuantai, who had long since passed away.

Shaoshang finally met the long-renowned Immortal Yan. He was twenty or thirty years older than the Emperor, with completely white hair and beard by now, though his face remained ruddy and spirited, his speech and behavior full of smiling kindness, humorous and affable. People of this era generally didn’t live long lives, so they naturally held a reverent feeling toward Old Yan, this kind of obviously immortal-boned longevity star.

It was said that when Uncle Emperor had success in farming back in the day, he sold his grain for tuition and ran to the previous dynasty’s capital to study, where he met Old Yan. He and the Emperor were nominally old classmate friends, but truly had half a teacher-student relationship.

Rarely meeting, Uncle Emperor as usual touched Immortal Yan’s plump belly and begged him to enter court as an official. Immortal Yan, upon hearing this, wanted to go wash his ears. Uncle Emperor grabbed him and cursed quietly, “Can you stop imitating ancient sages’ actions at every turn? They drank river water and ate wild fruits, but which wine, meat, silk, or bamboo pleasures have you ever gone without?” Immortal Yan replied humorously, “Actually, this old man is complimenting Your Majesty on having Emperor Yao’s brilliance.”

The request bearing no fruit, Uncle Emperor could only ask Old Yan to stay a few more days for intimate nighttime conversations. Then Old Yan, while sleeping, pressed his thigh on Uncle Emperor’s belly. The Grand Astrologer angrily memorialized, saying a guest star was violating the imperial throne. Uncle Emperor still had to bitterly rub his belly and plead for Old Yan, whereupon Immortal Yan took the opportunity to try leaving again.

The Emperor held the old man’s arm and sighed: “Have you seen Zicheng? The only surviving blood of Elder Brother Huo Chong. You should at least stay until next month when he marries before leaving. Do you remember that year when you and I encountered mountain bandits? If not for Zicheng’s uncle rescuing us in time, you couldn’t be any immortal now—you’d have become a ghost long ago!”

Immortal Yan sighed: “Clearly I said early on that road couldn’t be taken—the mountain pass pressed low, layered peaks like haze, a greatly inauspicious aspect in geomancy. But Your Majesty said the road was short and insisted on taking it… Aiya aiya aiya, never mind, I’ll wait until next month then.”

Everything needed for Ling Buyi’s wedding, Uncle Emperor had begun preparing N years ago—all kinds of gold, jade, pearls, and emeralds, fragrant woods and ritual vessels, brocades and embroideries, everything complete. Moreover, from half a year ago when his adopted son became engaged, he immediately issued an edict for the palace needlework workshop to rush the wedding robes, and had the Court of State Ceremonial organize the wedding ceremony according to imperial prince standards.

There were court officials with criticisms about this, but whoever had opinions, Uncle Emperor gave them tight shoes to wear. Either picking on their lifestyle conduct, or criticizing their romantic problems, or else saying they were picky eaters, displaying an air of extravagance—and then everyone fell quiet. After all, it wasn’t any major matter; just turn a blind eye and let it go.

As the wedding date approached, however, Ling Buyi became increasingly melancholic and silent, either busy to the point of being nowhere to be found, or sitting quietly to the side, not speaking for half the day. Several times Shaoshang took afternoon naps in the palace chambers and woke to see Ling Buyi sitting beside her, staring at her in a daze, his eyes obscure and unclear, seeming both sorrowful and reluctantly attached.

Shaoshang couldn’t help asking what was wrong. Ling Buyi said with difficulty: “The people sent to search for Uncle’s former subordinates still haven’t returned. Most likely, it’s another dead end.”

Shaoshang knew this was his heart’s knot and persuaded him: “If they truly are no longer in this world, then they were heroic spirits who passed on. Perhaps they’ve already been reborn into wealthy, peaceful, good families. We just do our human best and leave the rest to heaven’s will.”

Ling Buyi shook his head, fell silent again for a while, then said: “Mother’s health also isn’t very good…”

Shaoshang sighed. This was truly the worrying matter. Huo Junhua spent increasingly more time in a dazed and confused state. Marquis Cui spent all day crying his eyes out, and because she had to attend with medicine and soup, she now spent roughly one day in the palace for every two days at Apricot Flower Villa. As the “nephew’s new wife come to enjoy free hospitality,” Shaoshang’s diligent attentiveness had already earned several compliments from Huo Junhua.

She said: “Spring has already begun, but the cold air is still rather heavy. Wait until next month when spring warms and flowers bloom—perhaps Madam’s health will improve.”

Ling Buyi nodded. However, the melancholy in his eyes was like mist in an early spring valley, so thick it couldn’t be dispersed.

While the two of them, Ling and Cheng, worried about Huo Junhua’s health, over at the Prince of Ruyang’s mansion came a report that the old Princess Consort didn’t look good.

However, the old Princess Consort clearly wouldn’t depart quietly. Even in serious illness, she submitted a memorial begging the Emperor to bestow grace. The old Princess Consort said, “…I don’t worry about my other children, only Nuying is pitiable. At such a young age she lost both father and mother. In the future, the prince’s mansion will be managed by her uncle and aunt—another layer of separation. I humbly beg Your Majesty, for the sake of Nuying’s deceased father’s bond with you, to show more compassion.”

The Emperor thought of his cousin who died in battle for him and sighed, so he gave Princess Yuchang two more counties’ worth of bathing town revenue, and additionally granted her future husband—that is, Ling Buyi’s stepbrother—a prestigious official position as Gentleman of Dispersed Cavalry.

The Crown Prince was very sympathetic: “Little sister Nuying has been quietly virtuous and good since childhood. I hope her future days will be smooth and worry-free, like a young seedling blown down by wind—though it faced wind and rain early, it can ultimately take root and sprout on its own, establishing family and career.”

These words were both deeply emotional and poetic. The Emperor was just feeling moved when the Third Prince coldly interjected: “Father should wait until after the old Princess Consort passes away before granting additions. Now she’s only seriously ill, she hasn’t died yet.”

The Emperor’s emotion was immediately blocked. He gave his third son a withering look. Immortal Yan, however, laughed heartily and pointed at the Third Prince: “This son rather resembles Your Majesty.”

The Emperor’s face turned ashen hearing this. After chasing everyone out, he cursed: “Nonsense, your old eyes are dim! How magnanimous was I in my youth? Those who once bullied our family’s siblings for being orphaned and fatherless—I never held it against any of them!”

Immortal Yan patted his plump belly with a beaming smile: “Whatever makes Your Majesty happy.”

Whether or not the Third Prince’s crow’s mouth was too effective, the old Princess Consort of Ruyang truly remained “critical” for seven or eight days yet still held on. Now not only was the Emperor somewhat displeased, even the Prince of Ruyang’s mansion was very embarrassed—not that they hoped the old Princess Consort would die quickly, but what if she toughed it out and lived another three, five, or even eight or ten years? What would become of the Emperor’s “end-of-life care”? Next time she was “dying,” would there still be “care” or not?

Instead, it was from Apricot Flower Villa that Marquis Cui’s urgent report came—Huo Junhua was truly in critical condition.

When the news arrived, the Emperor was in high literary spirits, sitting in Changqiu Palace composing the Shangsi Festival rhapsody with the Empress, you one line, me one line. Hearing this matter, his fingers trembled and a large mass of deep black bloomed across the snow-white silk. After sighing with disappointment, he immediately had Ling Buyi stop all work at hand and rush to Apricot Flower Villa. Shaoshang also quickly packed her bundle to go attend.

When they arrived, Apricot Flower Villa already seemed suspended between the realms of yin and yang. Outside the house were shamans and spirit mediums singing and dancing day and night; inside was heavy medicinal vapor, crowded with seven or eight attending physicians, plus precious medicines and prayer offerings being sent continuously from the capital.

Marquis Cui had dark circles under his eyes, his expression sorrowful, sitting beside Huo Junhua’s couch silently shedding tears. Nanny A had cried until her eye sockets were dry, her voice hoarse and choked. Ling Buyi, however, was like a lofty mountain ridge with ten thousand years of unmelting snow—sitting properly and upright to the side, silent and cold.

“Little Junhua, Little Junhua, wake up…” Marquis Cui held Madam Huo’s hand, constantly calling gently, yet the person on the couch remained unconscious.

Everyone kept watch inside the room. When night enveloped the apricot grove, Shaoshang heard the drip-drop of heavy rain beginning outside.

Until midnight, Marquis Cui felt the hand in his tighten. He immediately straightened up and called out repeatedly. Sure enough, Huo Junhua woke without warning and gripped his hand tightly.

In these past few months, Shaoshang had accompanied Huo Junhua for quite some time, but she had never seen such an expression on Huo Junhua’s face—Huo Junhua was no longer the spoiled and willful young girl of the past, but a mature woman who had suffered through years of painful tribulation.

She stared fixedly at Marquis Cui, murmuring as if in delirium, “A’yuan, A’yuan… did you pick mulberries…”

“You… you…” Marquis Cui was at a loss, unable to guess whether Huo Junhua had remembered the past.

“…I want that highest bunch of mulberries, black and purple, surely very sweet… Elder brother, don’t scold me, I didn’t make A’yuan climb so high, if you don’t believe me ask him…” Huo Junhua lay quietly on the couch, large teardrops flowing along her cheeks to either side.

“You want to eat mulberries, I’ll go pick them, I’ll go pick them, don’t worry…” Marquis Cui said repeatedly.

“A’yuan, A’yuan, if only I had married you!”—Huo Junhua suddenly cried out fiercely. Outside, the heavy rain poured down, and a heart-stopping spring thunder suddenly rang out.

“Junhua!” Marquis Cui froze for a moment, then immediately threw himself forward, tightly embracing Huo Junhua.

Huo Junhua extended her two pale, thin arms and circled them around Cui You’s neck—

“If only I had married you, I was blind, I was a fool, I should have married you long ago… A’yuan, if only I had married you, if only I had married you… A’yuan, I’ve wronged you, the affection you showed me, I can only repay in the next life…” Her face was covered in tears, crying with heart-rending anguish, as if wanting to pour out a lifetime of regret and suffering.

Crying until hoarse and exhausted, Huo Junhua slowly released her arms and struggled to prop up her body, her eyes unfocused as she looked around in all directions.

Cui You understood and called loudly: “Zicheng, come quickly, come quickly!”

Ling Buyi walked to the front of the couch and knelt down, extending his hands with a slight tremor.

Huo Junhua grabbed them tightly, staring straight at him. The emotion erupting in her gaze was not the deep feeling and painful regret she showed toward Marquis Cui, but rather a fervent, intense, agitated emotion—”A’li… my A’li, Mother has always thought of you… you, you also cannot forget…”

These were Huo Junhua’s last words. Then she collapsed back onto the couch, breath completely gone.

Marquis Cui still couldn’t believe it, checking again and again. Finally, holding the gradually cooling body of the one he had loved since childhood, he wailed loudly. The servants inside and outside the house also began crying along.

All night the torrential rain poured down. The apricot blossoms that had just bloomed were beaten scattered and forlorn. When the sun shone and the mountain wind blew, the tiny pinkish-white petals floated like reed flowers and snow, covering the entire mountain in white mourning.