Xie Yuzhang did not enter the palace until the eleventh of the sixth month. Li Gu was still occupied, so she went directly to see Li Zhenzhen.

Li Zhenzhen was looking wonderfully well. Upon seeing Xie Yuzhang, she smiled with her eyes and said with a fond reproach, “Why did you only come today?”

She also said, “You were so thoughtful to go and find Huan Lang and the others — how perfectly suited to my taste.”

Xie Yuzhang smiled and said, “As long as Your Highness likes them. His voice is truly exceptional — otherwise I would not dare to present him. And it was lucky timing as well; since he has already been castrated, he can enter the palace. Otherwise, that would not have been possible.”

Li Zhenzhen said, “He sings beautifully. Only His Majesty disliked his name, so I have given him a new one — Yingge.”

Xie Yuzhang praised the new name, then said, “Actually, there is someone else I would like to recommend to Your Highness.”

Li Zhenzhen perked up with interest. “Tell me.”

Xie Yuzhang said, “It is Yingge’s foster father. He was originally the Director of the Inner Teaching Troupe in the palace, but he was displaced when Huang Yungong’s forces ravaged the capital. I have been looking into the matter recently, and as things stand, the Inner Teaching Troupe has only the formal ceremonial music used for rites and rituals. The ladies must find it so dull. One of the Inner Teaching Troupe’s functions was always to provide entertainment for the nobles of the palace — it should properly have both the refined and the popular. If Your Highness would speak to His Majesty, he surely would not refuse you.”

“If he was able to train someone as accomplished as Yingge, bring him to me at once.” Li Zhenzhen said happily, “I will go and speak to His Majesty.”

Xie Yuzhang then said, “As for the matter of Your Highness asking me to persuade His Majesty to hold a consort selection — I did speak to His Majesty about it.”

Li Zhenzhen asked, “What did he say?”

Xie Yuzhang spread her hands. “His Majesty told me to mind my own business.”

Li Zhenzhen said, “Ah.”

Xie Yuzhang said, “Your Highness need not worry. All the ladies in the various palaces are still young. Even in an ordinary household with three or four wives and concubines, they manage to produce a whole crowd of children.”

Li Zhenzhen said, “You do not know — that one in Jingluan Palace has twisted herself up in her own knots, and is actually drinking pregnancy-prevention medicine.”

Xie Yuzhang of course already knew, but since she knew, she could not let it show, and could only blink.

Li Zhenzhen said, “And His Majesty is indulging her. One is reckless, the other foolish.”

Xie Yuzhang said, “Pure Consort Deng lost her child. Excessive grief is understandable.”

Li Zhenzhen gave a scornful laugh. “What will she have to rely on in the future? A man? Let me tell you — a man is the most unreliable thing there is.”

At these words, Xie Yuzhang smiled and said nothing in response.

While they were chatting, a commotion faintly stirred from outside the palace.

Li Zhenzhen said, puzzled, “What is happening?”

Before she had even finished speaking — before she could call for someone — a palace attendant was already rushing in to deliver the joyous news. “Your Highness! Your Highness! A great victory on the northern frontier!”

“Is that so?” Li Zhenzhen clapped her hands together with delight. “This is wonderful news.”

Xie Yuzhang also said, “Congratulations to His Majesty, and congratulations to Your Highness.”

Li Zhenzhen said, “And to you as well. To all of us.”

Yet when she tried to ask for details, the palace attendant did not know anything more — only that the victory report had just arrived at the front palace.

Knowing the palace would be bustling for some time, Xie Yuzhang rose and took her leave.

At the junction along the covered walkway where the path leading out of the palace diverged, Xie Yuzhang looked into the distance and saw that Zichen Palace was indeed a scene of comings and goings, everyone moving with urgent steps.

Mobei was pacified. Once his ships were built, it would be the south’s turn.

Li Gu’s life — a journey brilliant at every turn. In her previous life, she had heard others recount it like a legend, that gleaming and magnificent course of a life. It had filled her with envy.

Back then, he had been a rising star of the imperial house — blazing, brilliant. She had been a dim, fading meteor, arcing across the night sky, then falling to earth to be extinguished.

This life, thankfully, he had not changed. Thankfully, she had.

The following day, notices were posted throughout Yunjing announcing the victory on the northern frontier. Yunjing erupted with joy — commoners ran to tell one another the news, scholars gathered in the wine houses to discuss it with great animation.

Xie Yuzhang lived leisurely in her own princess’s residence and paid no heed to the affairs of Mobei — those matters had long since had nothing to do with her, and it was not her place to concern herself with them.

But unexpectedly, in the evening of the thirteenth of the sixth month, as the sky had already grown dark, Li Gu arrived.

No one dared to stop him, and the Princess had never once said to block the Emperor from entering after that day. So when Xie Yuzhang came out to receive Li Gu, he was already waiting in the outer courtyard before the main chamber.

“Ahem.” He saw Xie Yuzhang and said, “They announced it to you, did they not?”

Xie Yuzhang was speechless for a long moment, then said helplessly, “Please come in, Your Majesty.”

Li Gu entered the courtyard, passed through the front passage, and stepped once again into her main chamber.

In truth, every door in Princess Yongning’s residence held no particular barrier for Li Gu. One might even say that in a certain sense, he was the de facto male head of this household.

This time, the maidservants had had a little more time to prepare, and by the time he entered, the main hall was already tidied. But even so, one could still feel the threads of everyday life that permeated the room.

In truth, from the very first time Li Gu had come here, he had found he liked it. Because the faint, mingling traces that filled the air were all of Xie Yuzhang’s life. He truly wanted a glimpse into Xie Yuzhang’s life.

The maidservants were about to serve Xie Yuzhang’s preferred drink, but Xie Yuzhang raised her hand to stop them. “Bring tea instead.”

The maidservant holding the vessel withdrew, and the maidservant with the tray stepped forward. The maidservants moved in and out, their comings and goings carrying a quiet, hidden order — steady and unhurried. Li Gu’s gaze lingered on them for a moment.

In the palace, though no one said it outright, Li Gu could naturally tell — of the three consorts, the maidservants of Jingluan Palace were the most accomplished, those of Yuzao Palace a step below but still quite capable, and those serving Li Zhenzhen were comparatively weaker.

Among women, learning and ability also varied in degree — just as in the military, just as in the court.

Since Xie Yuzhang had reviewed and restructured the palace rules, the inner palace truly did run more orderly than before.

Once the tea was brought and the maidservants withdrew, Xie Yuzhang poured tea for Li Gu and asked, “What has brought Your Majesty here again today?”

The word “again” sounded distinctly unsatisfying. Li Gu endured it.

He asked, “What were you doing at home?”

Xie Yuzhang said, “Nothing much — playing the qin for a while.”

Li Gu recalled, “Everyone says you are accomplished in music. In that, I know absolutely nothing. I am entirely ignorant.”

Xie Yuzhang smiled gently. “The musician only needs to be competent. The listener only needs to listen. If you find it beautiful, it is beautiful; if you find it unpleasant, it is unpleasant. There is no need to understand the craft.”

Li Gu said, “When there is time, you might teach me.”

Xie Yuzhang was silent for a moment, then finally said, without recourse, “Your Majesty, what did you actually come to discuss with this subject?”

Li Gu said, “Chuluo is dead.”

Xie Yuzhang’s face broke into a bright, full smile. “This subject already knew. Since Your Majesty has said I am not to speak pretty words, this subject will refrain from praising Your Majesty.”

Li Gu said, “On occasion, it is fine.”

Xie Yuzhang covered her mouth, suppressing a laugh.

Li Gu smiled as well. He said, “Jingye pushed all the way to the foot of the Tian Shan mountains. Chuluo’s eldest son has inherited the Khan’s position. Chuluo’s forces have crossed the Tian Shan and retreated to the northern side of the mountains.”

Xie Yuzhang was surprised. “Everyone says the foot of the Tian Shan is already the coldest place in the world. Can people survive on the northern side of those mountains?”

Li Gu said, “Those from the Central Plains have never been there and do not know. For us, the steppe is what matters most.”

Xie Yuzhang said, “Indeed. As long as the people of the steppe do not make trouble, that is enough. And next — will the frontier trading markets be opened? If trade routes are established and people can exchange for grain, they will not need to raid the Central Plains in winter, and things will be far more stable…”

But Li Gu did not answer.

Xie Yuzhang caught herself and said with an apologetic look, “This subject spoke out of turn.”

Li Gu looked at her for a moment, then told her, “Yuzhang — Dielitele is dead.”

The room fell suddenly quiet.

Xie Yuzhang was still for a moment, then asked, “How did he die?”

Li Gu said, “If I wanted him dead, there are always ways. I gave Jingye a secret imperial order.”

Xie Yuzhang was at a loss for words.

Li Gu said, “Yuzhang, you need not fear him any longer.”

He said, “You are in Yunjing, at my side. No one can take you away. You need not dance for anyone.”

Xie Yuzhang gave a dazed, quiet sound of acknowledgment.

She was lost in thought for a moment, then said, “Now that he is dead, it would be best to separate the Ashina clan and the Ashide clan.”

Li Gu said, “Jingye is already doing so. The Khan’s banner of Mobei has been reclaimed.”

After the Khanate had fractured, that banner had remained in Wuwei’s hands and been inherited by Dielitele. Now that Li Gu had reclaimed it, it meant that the political entity known as the “Mobei Khanate” had been entirely and irrevocably dissolved.

From now on, in Mobei, there would only be Da Mu’s Five Guards.

Xie Yuzhang’s gaze settled on the low table before the daybed. “The way the Khanate has come to this — the old man up in the heavens may be quite disappointed.”

Li Gu had long since noticed something — Xie Yuzhang referred to the old man as “Silibo.”

There were other ways to address him, just as the women in the palace called Li Gu “Your Majesty” and none would ever call him Li Gu by name.

There were many things Li Gu wanted to ask, but he held them back. It was all in the past. In the past.

Li Gu drained his tea in a single swallow, set the cup down, and said, “I will go now.”

Xie Yuzhang came back from her reverie and stood. “I will see Your Majesty out.”

The sky had already darkened.

Maidservants ahead and behind carried lanterns to light the way. Yet the maidservants walking behind did not dare raise their eyes to look around.

The Princess came out to see the Emperor off. As they walked, somehow, the Emperor took hold of the Princess’s hand.

Neither of them said a word. They walked in silence, unhurried, moving through the darkness of the night at a pace that seemed to take in every detail of the scenery around them.

At the gates of the princess’s residence, the two released each other’s hands.

Xie Yuzhang said with a sigh, “Your Majesty must not come again. In a few more days, everyone in Yunjing will know that Princess Yongning’s residence is His Majesty’s second home.”

Li Gu said quietly, “If I do not come, and you do not go, are we simply to go the rest of our lives without seeing one another?”

Xie Yuzhang said, “I went the day before yesterday — I had meant to pay my respects to Your Majesty, but the victory report from the northern frontier had just arrived and Your Majesty was occupied, so I did not go to Zichen Palace.”

She lowered her head. “I will simply go to the palace on the rest days as before.”

Li Gu said, “There is no need for that. Go when you wish, and do not go when you do not wish.”

He paused, then added, “And if you do not enjoy it, you need not keep company with the consorts either.”

Xie Yuzhang pressed her lips into a slight smile. “I get along with Pure Consort Deng. I do not mind.”

The two of them stood at the gates of the residence for a long while, neither speaking.

The lantern light was dim and soft, and by its glow the beauty stood luminous as the moon, shimmering gently among the world of mortals.

“I will not come again,” Li Gu said.

Xie Yuzhang looked up.

Li Gu’s face in the lantern light showed a profile of particularly sharp and defined lines.

“Very well,” she said. “Mind the road in the dark.”

Li Gu looked at her for another moment, then swung himself into the saddle and rode away.

Hu Jin and the imperial guards followed at once.

The sound of hooves grew gradually fainter. Xie Yuzhang stood at the gates, watching that line of torches disappear into the darkness of the night.