Late spring in March, outside Jiankang City the weather was pleasant with gentle breezes and warm sun, grass growing green and orioles flying about.

Luoshen sat in the ox cart, leaving the city for Bailu Zhou.

Steward Uncle A’Qi led several household members, carefully protecting the ox cart from front, back, left and right as they traveled together.

Unless deliberately driven by skilled drivers for racing, ox carts normally moved at a leisurely pace. Riding in them was much smoother than horse carriages, making them preferred by pampered scholar-officials. This was why ox carts were now popular and horseback riders were rarely seen in Jiankang City.

But even so, Uncle A’Da was still extremely cautious, ordering the driver to go slower, and slower still.

Two days ago, Luoshen had accidentally slipped and fallen from the swing frame at home. Fortunately, beneath the frame was springy grass on soft spring earth. Though she had fainted at the time, she quickly regained consciousness and was unharmed, not even suffering skin abrasions.

But this had thoroughly frightened Uncle A’Qi.

So today, unable to resist Luoshen’s insistence on going out, he was naturally extremely careful on the road, fearing she might have another mishap.

When she had awakened after falling, Luoshen felt her head hurt a bit and felt dazed, as if her brain had suddenly been stuffed with paste. She vaguely remembered having some kind of dream.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall it.

It felt like being lost in a forest full of mist, which was quite annoying.

At the time, she held her head and thought for a moment, then just let it go.

Because compared to this minor incident, she had more troubling matters on her mind.

The golden copper bell tied around the bull’s neck rang out pleasant tinkling sounds as the ox cart moved forward, as if reminding her that the spring scenery outside the carriage was magnificent and perfect for pleasure-seeking.

Luoshen was in no such mood at all.

She wore a worried frown, one slightly plump jade-white little hand supporting her delicate, pretty chin, elbow propped on the window sill as she gradually lost herself in thought.

She remembered this time last year, to celebrate her turning fifteen, mother had hosted a spring wine-cup floating ceremony at the Bailu villa.

That day, almost all the young ladies from noble families throughout Jiankang City had come.

Even Sister, who had married as Princess Dongyang several years ago, had specially returned from Dongyang Commandery to celebrate her coming-of-age ceremony—considered the most important ritual in a girl’s life after marriage.

Clear streams winding around, feet soaked in the brook, joyful laughter and chatter filling the air continuously.

That day’s carefree revelry remained vivid in memory, as if it were yesterday.

But not long after, the surrounding events began to cause worry one by one.

First came news that the northern Jie-barbarian ruled Xia Kingdom was eyeing them covetously, sharpening weapons and feeding horses, intending to advance south and annex Jiangnan. Since the second half of last year, Uncle Gao Yun, serving as Governor of Xuzhou, had led Cousin Gao Yin north to Guangling to recruit soldiers and prepare for war.

War between north and south could break out at any moment.

Misfortunes never came singly. At such a time, Prince Linchuan of the imperial clan had rebelled last autumn. Rebel forces had once occupied the entire Gan River basin.

The Xu family of imperial relatives, led by Xu Mi, father of current Empress Xu, was ordered to suppress the rebellion.

The suppression was not proceeding very smoothly. Fighting had continued intermittently for nearly half a year now.

This wasn’t the end of it. Jiaozhou in the far southwest was also becoming unstable.

The Kingdom of Linyu, which had always been subject to Dayu, experienced internal royal turmoil. The King of Linyu fled to Jiaozhou, seeking help from Luoshen’s imperial uncle Emperor Xingping.

When a vassal state fell into chaos, Dayu as the suzerain naturally couldn’t stand by and watch. Emperor Xingping dispatched an army to help the King of Linyu restore order.

That army still hadn’t returned.

The fifteenth year of Xingping seemed destined to be a troubled autumn.

Dayu’s north, center, and south were simultaneously in chaos. Father, serving as Head of the Secretariat and holding the chancellor’s position, was stationed at the center of power, assisting with government affairs and coordinating responses to all three fronts. The extent of his mental and physical exhaustion was imaginable.

More than once, Luoshen had seen lights burning late into the night in father’s study. Sometimes he would even spend the night roughly clothed in his study, rising before dawn to attend court sessions.

She felt extremely sorry for him, but could do nothing except hope in her heart that those detestable wars where men fought each other would end soon.

She hoped father could relax more, like in her childhood memories when he would gather with three or five friends, holding whisks while sitting together, drinking wine and chatting leisurely. In his flowing sleeves and high boots, elegant and carefree, the Gao family’s refinement was known throughout the realm. Not like now, burdened daily by court affairs.

How long had it been since Luoshen had seen father smile with genuine relief and joy?

This was also why, after falling two days ago, she insisted on not letting the servants tell father, to spare him additional worry.

“Young Lady, we’ve reached the ferry.”

Uncle A’Qi’s voice sounded.

The carriage door opened, and Uncle A’Qi’s kindly smiling face appeared at the door.

Only then did Luoshen realize the ox cart had stopped.

Uncle A’Qi personally placed the small stepping stool for her.

The two accompanying maids, Qiongshu and Yingtao, immediately came over without needing instruction.

Qiongshu supported Luoshen.

Yingtao crouched down, steadying the small stool.

Actually, Luoshen could easily get down from the cart herself. Even without the stepping stool, she could jump down steadily.

But Uncle A’Da wouldn’t give her such an opportunity, especially since she had just slipped and fallen from the swing frame two days ago.

So Luoshen was thus attended by Qiongshu and Yingtao, one above and one below, as she got down from the cart.

A painted pleasure boat was already waiting at the ferry.

Luoshen boarded the boat, heading toward Bailu Zhou.

Bailu Zhou was located among the river islets west of the city. From the ferry, one had to travel a stretch by water. Every spring, many white egrets would gather at the islet’s banks, hence its name.

Luoshen’s mother, Eldest Princess Qinghe Xiao Yongjia, had been residing for several years at the Bailu villa on Bailu Zhou, rarely coming to the city.

The villa was a residence granted to her by the late emperor. After Luoshen’s imperial uncle ascended the throne, due to his close affection for his elder sister, he bestowed many more treasures, decorating the interior with extreme luxury.

Luoshen’s trip today was to visit her mother.

She stood at the bow, facing the wind as she gazed toward Bailu Zhou ahead.

Today the wind on the river was quite strong. After leaving the ferry, the boat rocked rather severely.

Uncle A’Qi stayed close beside her, following tightly as if she were still a three-year-old child who might accidentally fall into the river. He kept muttering, insisting that Luoshen return to the cabin.

Luoshen sighed and obediently entered the cabin.

When the boat reached Bailu Zhou and Luoshen arrived at the villa by sedan chair, her mother wasn’t there.

Servants said she had gone to nearby Ziyun Temple.

Taoism was currently flourishing, with the Celestial Master sect popular among the people. There were also many believers among the noble families and imperial clan.

For instance, the Lu family’s Jianzhi brothers all had names ending with the character “zhi” because Jianzhi’s father Lu Guang followed the Taoist way.

Ziyun Temple was an imperially established nunnery. The abbess Liao Chenzi was over fifty but was said to be skilled in alchemy, looking only about forty, and could also play chess and compose poetry. Mother, living long on the islet, often went to the temple to play chess and discuss the Way with Liao Chenzi.

Luoshen had no choice but to turn toward Ziyun Temple.

The distance wasn’t far, and she arrived quickly.

Xiao Yongjia was playing chess with Liao Chenzi. Hearing that her daughter had come, she hurriedly rose to meet her.

Liao Chenzi followed beside them. Seeing Luoshen, she flicked the whisk in her hand and bowed with palms together in a smiling, obsequious manner.

For some unknown reason, Luoshen simply disliked this pale-faced old Taoist nun.

Anyway, in this world, she didn’t even need to bow when meeting her imperial uncle, so naturally she needn’t acknowledge someone she disliked.

She ignored the old Taoist nun and threw herself into Xiao Yongjia’s arms: “Mother, your daughter fell two days ago!”

Xiao Yongjia was five years younger than Luoshen’s father Gao Qiao. She had given birth to Luoshen at twenty and was now thirty-six, but still looked very young.

Her flowing Taoist robes made her exceptional beauty even more striking. Standing with Luoshen, if someone said she was an older sister, people would probably believe it.

Especially compared to father, who despite being barely forty already had gray at his temples, mother’s youth and beauty always made Luoshen unconsciously sympathize with father—though she didn’t know exactly why mother had fallen out with father to such an extent, openly living apart for years, refusing to return to the city, causing all of Jiankang to mock father behind his back, saying the minister feared his wife.

This was probably the only aspect of father’s life that people could ridicule and gossip about behind his back.

Xiao Yongjia paid no attention to her husband, but loved her daughter extremely. Hearing this, she was alarmed and quickly embraced her: “Are you alright? Where did you fall? Why didn’t you send someone to tell me?”

Luoshen said: “Your daughter fell very badly and still has a severe headache today. I was just afraid mother would worry, so I didn’t have anyone tell you.”

Xiao Yongjia hurriedly supported Luoshen out of the temple. Mother and daughter shared a sedan back to the villa, where she questioned Uncle A’Da carefully about the situation. Learning there was no serious harm, she finally felt relieved, but then severely scolded her daughter’s personal maids Qiongshu and Yingtao.

The two maids knelt on the ground, constantly kowtowing and admitting fault.

Luoshen hadn’t expected her mother to blame the maids and quickly interrupted, her two plump little hands tugging at her mother’s wide Taoist robe sleeves, twisting her body: “I’ll be careful next time. Mother, your daughter missed you.”

Only then did Xiao Yongjia stop, scolding away the ashen-faced Qiongshu and Yingtao before lovingly touching her daughter’s cheeks, which had grown somewhat cool from the river wind: “Mother missed you too and was just thinking of sending someone to bring you here. Since you’ve come at just the right time, stay and keep mother company for several days. Don’t return to the city.”

“Mother, I also want to stay here and keep you company. But I’m afraid it’s inconvenient. A’Ye has fallen ill these days…”

She watched her mother’s expression.

“…Everywhere is unstable, and he works day and night, often sleeping in his study. I’m afraid if A’Ye continues like this, his health won’t hold up. I’ve advised A’Ye, but he won’t listen to me…”

The smile gradually disappeared from Xiao Yongjia’s face as she glanced at her daughter: “Are you trying to coax me to return again? What does it matter to me if that old thing doesn’t care about his own life? If I returned, would he get better?”

“A’Ye isn’t an old thing…”

Luoshen pouted, muttering with dissatisfaction in a small voice.

Xiao Yongjia snorted: “Don’t think I don’t know your little schemes—you’re biased! If you came to see mother, mother would be very happy. But if you came to coax mother to return, don’t even think about it! Even if he died from illness, it would have nothing to do with me!”

Luoshen’s pale, tender fingers kept twisting a hanging sash, her pearl-white teeth biting tightly on her lip as she looked at Xiao Yongjia without speaking, her eyes gradually reddening.

Seeing this, A’Ju felt extremely sorry and quickly came over.

“Eldest Princess, since the minister is ill and has many affairs lately, he probably can’t take proper care of the young lady. Why don’t I return to serve the young lady for a few days? What does Eldest Princess think?”

A’Ju was the wet nurse beside Xiao Yongjia. When Luoshen was small, she had received much care from her.

Hearing her say this, grieved tears began falling patter-patter.

A’Ju felt even more sorry and wiped her tears.

Luoshen simply buried her face in her arms.

Xiao Yongjia glanced at her daughter’s back, her expression softening slightly: “Very well. A’Ju, you go back with her and take care of her for a few days on my behalf.”

A’Ju quickly agreed, softly coaxing Luoshen.

When Luoshen left Bailu Zhou, her eyes still carried a hint of red. Only by evening when she returned to the city did she appear to have recovered. Near the residence, she remembered something.

“A’Niang, when you see my A’Ye, just say that mother knew he was ill and specially sent you back to take care of him for her.”

A’Ju nodded: “Without the young lady’s reminder, I already knew that.”

Luoshen looked at A’Ju: “A’Niang, I heard that in the past, it was mother herself who wanted to marry A’Ye. But now mother heartlessly ignores A’Ye. Do you know why?”

A’Ju most feared when Luoshen asked this, answering vaguely: “I don’t know either—”

Luoshen sighed: “A’Niang, if only mother would reconcile with A’Ye, how wonderful that would be…”

A’Ju murmured agreement, but sighed inwardly.

The private matters between husband and wife behind closed doors—who suffered grievances, who hardened their heart—outsiders only saw the surface and how could they know what was inside?

It was nothing more than each person knowing their own situation, like drinking water and knowing whether it was hot or cold.