Xiao Nanhui came out of the palace. The carriage that had brought her there had not waited, so she walked heavily through the streets.

As expected, that old Emperor had no good intentions in promoting her — it had all been calculated from the start.

The Emperor’s words still echoed in her ears, and with each phrase she recalled, her heart sank a little further.

“We have made up Our mind to wage war on Bijiang, yet the Bai clan is cunning — one failed strike and the whole affair could drag on for years. We wish to send you ahead as a vanguard, to go first into the west of the Ling Ridge and reconnoiter enemy conditions. What do you think?”

“The duties of a vanguard are most grave. This subject fears she would not be equal to the task.”

“Does Our beloved subject know that this charge We entrust to you is an opportunity not easily come by?”

It was always said that those in power had shrewd and nimble minds, most adept at exploiting the heart’s vulnerabilities. Xiao Nanhui had heard this before but had never paid it much mind. It was only now, in this very moment, that she truly understood the force of it.

Every word the Emperor had spoken landed squarely upon her heart.

Though she lived in the Marquis Mansion, she had not been born there — when all was said and done, she would always be an outsider.

Xiao Zhun had an open and generous nature, and the circumstances of the Xiao Family were exceptionally unusual, which was why she had never faced harsh censure or suspicion, and had never thought too carefully about the subtle dynamics at play.

Though Xiao Zhun could not exactly be called highly placed or powerful, he had consistently looked after her. In the past, she had been no more than a minor squad captain. She had rendered a few military merits, but before Xiao Zhun’s achievements, they were like a stream flowing into the sea — they could stir no great wave. As time passed, though no one had said anything openly on the surface, there would always be those who harbored discontent.

To put it simply in one line: she was not worthy of standing at Xiao Zhun’s side.

Whether in terms of birth or the ability to build achievements, she and Xiao Zhun were still people of two entirely different worlds.

Her birth was a fact she could never change no matter what she did. The latter, though difficult for a woman, was still something she might have a chance to strive for. Moreover, the Qinghuai Marquis Mansion now rested solely on Xiao Zhun’s shoulders — if she could accomplish something, it would be good for both the Mansion and herself.

Naturally, on the condition that she carried it out beautifully, and came back alive.

The Emperor was asking her to stake her life for him, and in the end she was supposed to feel grateful that he had given her the opportunity to build merit and achievement.

Black-hearted. Truly black-hearted.

Xiao Nanhui stopped walking, suddenly somewhat regretting that she had agreed to the Emperor.

What is a “vanguard”? In generous terms, it is a forward detachment; in blunt terms, is it not simply a spy? She herself despised spies most of all, and in truth she was not capable of those deceptive dealings. Were there truly no other people around the Emperor? And he had actually sent her for this.

Xiao Nanhui’s mind was in turmoil. She decided to find a clever person to properly talk through this problem. But when she turned to go to Yanfu Street, she found the place empty — the young attendant at Wangchen Tower told her: Proprietor Yao had left the city early that morning.

Left the city? Yaoyi, who was as lazy to stir as an ancient tortoise, had actually gone outside the city?

By the time Xiao Nanhui found the earthen slope ten li outside the city walls, Yaoyi was already sitting upright on a rock, clutching a small warming brazier.

He was wearing a garish sapphire-blue jacket with a bat pattern, tending a fire that had rabbit meat and sweet potatoes roasting over it. Beside him sat a porcelain jar of silver coins, and he was cracking melon seeds in his mouth — every inch the image of a provincial nouveau riche.

“What’s gotten into you? Your perfectly good building is right there, yet you had to run all the way up the mountain.”

Yaoyi shifted the jar to one side, barely making room for her: “If you’re coming, come — but don’t interfere with my business.”

Xiao Nanhui glanced around curiously and saw a good number of cushioned mats laid out on the ground in all directions. The ones in front were finer, each mat accompanied by a small table bearing tea and small refreshments, looking quite well-appointed.

Yet what business could there possibly be on this weed-overgrown slope? Was it for sightseeing?

The several dozen mats were now haphazardly filled with people, each and every one gazing southward. Xiao Nanhui took a look and realized that from this vantage point, one had a clear view of Moon-Perch Lake inside the walls of Tiancheng Palace.

Moon-Perch Lake lay between the second and third palace walls. It had originally been a lotus pond, already there in previous dynasties, but when the Su Family took the throne, they found the pond water had inexplicably dried up. They had initially intended to fill it in and build a garden or scenic feature, yet for some reason could not fill that great pit no matter how they tried. The mud at the lake bottom was said to be of unfathomable depth — one could neither dig to the end nor fill it with earth without the ground sinking. In the end, they had no choice but to have people pump it full of water again, and it remained a scenic lake. The water was very still; on moonlit nights the moon’s reflection settled within it, as if the lake housed a moon of its own — hence the name “Moon-Perch.”

Now some people had gathered at the lakeside, and something was apparently taking place.

“What spectacle is there to watch over there? Everyone stretching their necks out like chickens.”

Yaoyi spat out a melon seed shell: “You don’t know? The Emperor is choosing a wife.”

Choosing a wife? The Emperor is choosing a wife?

Xiao Nanhui’s face showed complete disbelief. She peeled the skin off a freshly roasted sweet potato and slowly brought it to her lips: “He’s choosing a wife and letting people watch? Who does he think he’s fooling!”

Yaoyi glanced at the sweet potato in Xiao Nanhui’s hand with considerable disdain: “Look at your unworldly self. The Emperor is conducting a selection of virtuous women. The selection process itself you naturally cannot watch, but once they’re brought into the palace afterward, doesn’t that present an opportunity to see them?”

Xiao Nanhui suddenly recalled that when she had seen the Emperor just now, he had seemed to have just finished bathing — and it turned out that was to go and meet these beauties?

She had a mouthful of sweet potato and raised a puzzled eyebrow: “You mean, after they enter the palace, they meet the Emperor here by Moon-Perch Lake?”

Yaoyi nodded with an air of deep mystery. At that moment another man came rushing over — clearly not coming to this spot for the first time, he deftly produced silver coins and placed them in the porcelain jar in front of Yaoyi, then made to push past.

The merchant Yaoyi wore a polite smile: “Is this not Young Master Huang? Your timing is just right — your seat has been kept for you. Only this year the garrison guards for the capital area have been replaced and things are a bit stricter, so the viewing fee, I’m afraid—”

Young Master Huang spluttered indignantly: “The price is going up again? Did it not just double last year?”

“Last year was last year; this year is this year. It’s a small-margin trade — Young Master Huang, please understand.”

At that very moment, two more young men from wealthy families arrived together behind Young Master Huang, and seeing the situation called out urging him along: “Good sir, are you taking your seat or not? If not, step aside a little — don’t hold up others.”

Yaoyi unhurriedly pointed to characters written in charcoal on a stone: “Regular seats, thirty taels of silver. Front-row seats, fifty taels. No copper coins accepted.”

Young Master Huang struggled with himself for a moment, then steeled himself and parted with the silver. The two wealthy young men behind him paid a hundred taels without hesitation, and Yaoyi smiled so broadly his eyes all but disappeared, casually presenting them with a platter of fruits and candied sweets.

Xiao Nanhui watched from the side with a measure of grievance. She thought of how she had gone all the way to Huozhou and nearly lost her little life, earning only a hundred taels of gold — yet this scoundrel probably raked in something close to that in a single day.

Hmph. Merchant with no scruples.

“They’re here, they’re here!” Some sharp-eyed person was the first to spot movement on the lake, and the entire hillside instantly erupted. The assembled men fixed their gazes like torches upon Moon-Perch Lake, and there the first virtuous lady candidate was already gracefully stepping from the bank onto the arched bridge, walking toward the small pavilion at the lake’s center.

One had to admit that Yaoyi had chosen this spot with remarkable cunning and precision. The view was wide and unobstructed, and though the lake was quite close, the pine and cypress trees provided cover so that those at the foot of the mountain could not easily notice them — moreover, being directly north of the lake, the entire slope lay in shadow while the lake area below was well lit.

Xiao Nanhui too temporarily forgot her troubles and joined in the spectacle.

And one had to say — the women selected for the Emperor were indeed something different. Each moved like a willow frond swaying in the breeze, their figures graceful and supple. On closer inspection, the necks and bare hands that showed were without exception fair and luminous, and their dark hair was dressed in all manner of elaborate styles, which even a few simple pearl and kingfisher ornaments made dazzlingly resplendent.

These were not merely beauties — they were beauties at the very finest age of their youth.

For some reason, Xiao Nanhui thought of Auntie Dai, and felt a twinge of regret in her heart. If Auntie Dai’s face had not been scarred, and she were ten years younger, she would absolutely be second to none among those before them — surely she too would have been the kind of beauty to draw a man’s tender affections.

Meanwhile the men had long since had their blood stirred to a fever, each vying to offer commentary.

“Quick, look at that one! That’s the only daughter of Ma Mengren, Commander of the Household Guard — she wins the polo tournament every year, quite the commanding presence.”

“Hah, I don’t see anything particularly special about her. Her waist is a touch thick, and her arms are rather broad and sturdy — she doesn’t look like a young lady, she looks more like a military officer.”

Xiao Nanhui shot that person a withering glare and helped herself to another piece of Yaoyi’s sweet potato.

“What do you know? Is the Emperor’s taste something someone like you could guess?!”

One of the middle-aged men in the front seats had clearly watched this spectacle more than once and spoke with considerable experience: “As I recall, two years ago the Emperor favored women with a mole on their face; the year before that he singled out those with sparse eyebrows; the year before that he preferred those with rough or husky voices. All in all, no one knows exactly what the Emperor’s taste is — only that it changes considerably. Which is why the female officials have had such a difficult time during past selections.”

The man who had spoken before gave a cold snort: “Moles and eyebrows — from this far away, you can’t make out a damned thing.”

“Just here for the spectacle. No need to take it so seriously.”

“Oh, look! Here comes a slender one this time. But she looks unfamiliar — I wonder whose beauty this is.”

Xiao Nanhui narrowed her eyes and squinted hard. Hmm — this one was indeed probably someone very few had seen, but she had exchanged a glance with her just yesterday at the city gate, and retained some impression.

That was Cui Xingyao, daughter of the late Prince Kang — the very first one who had been earmarked for the Emperor.

One had to say, the late Prince Kang must have married a remarkably beautiful woman, or he could never have produced a daughter like this.

“Finally, one who catches my eye. Look at that figure — in a gust of wind that slender waist might snap in two…” Young Master Huang’s eyes were glazed with infatuation, entirely forgetting that he was making remarks about the Emperor’s woman.

Without warning, a peach stone the size of a large egg came flying through the air and landed squarely on his head, cutting short his reverie.

Young Master Huang turned around in fury: “Who?! How dare you hit—”

A pair of eyes with a faintly dangerous glint were staring at him with ferocious hostility, the hand holding a half-eaten peach.

“What are you looking at? I threw it at you. Put away that foul mouth of yours — if I hear it again, I’ll kick you straight off this hillside!”

Young Master Huang had, after all, come from a scholarly background and had never encountered such a ferociously intimidating figure. His tongue was somewhat tangled: “In broad d-daylight, would you actually resort to violence?! I was merely complimenting a beauty — what business is it of yours?”

His answer was that half peach, thrown this time with clearly full force. Young Master Huang managed only a single yelp of misery, and when he raised his head again, a large lump had risen squarely on his forehead, with a thin line of blood running down from it. He shakily wiped it, held his hand before his eyes to look — and crumpled to the ground.

This sudden turn of events gave everyone nearby a fright. They all looked over, yet not a soul dared say a word.

The one who had thrown the peach finally rose to his feet. One glance at his bearing was enough to show he was utterly unlike the crowd of young men in their fine silks — he stood tall and powerfully built. He stepped forward and seized Young Master Huang’s collar, lifting the man bodily from the ground: “It’s one thing to set your sights on someone else, but you dared to set your sights on her. Consider this merely a warning — and a lesson for every lowly wretch here present. In the future, anyone who dares speak of her with such filthy mockery, I will take you on one by one—”

“Xu Shu?”

Xiao Nanhui stared somewhat incredulously at the back before her, but having spent many years in each other’s company, she was confident she was not mistaken.

The arrogant young man turned around, also somewhat surprised — it was unquestionably Xu Shu.

“It really is you. You’re not on duty at the Imperial Guard — what are you doing here?”