“Yes.” Eunuch Qin nodded.

The Emperor was faintly angered, and opened his mouth as if to say something, but paused. After thinking it over for a moment, he said, “Never mind.”

Eunuch Qin was a little surprised — he had thought the Emperor would be angry, but instead his reaction was this calm. Hadn’t he just rejected the Marquis’s request to let Consort Hua visit her family? Marquis Gongyu had gone to the Empress Dowager for an imperial pardon and kept it from the Emperor — could it be that His Majesty wasn’t angry at all?

Eyeing him for a moment, Eunuch Qin felt that the Emperor’s thoughts had grown harder and harder to guess lately.

As soon as she arrived at Marquis Gongyu’s residence, Hua Chun walked in as though she knew the place by heart, trailed by a large retinue behind her. Based on her experience reading Dream of the Red Chamber, she knew the process for a consort’s visit home would not be simple, so she had already mentally prepared herself — from the gate onward, she received all sorts of ceremonial courtesies, then handed out rewards, then made her way step by step toward the front hall.

He Chang’an had been waiting for quite a while. The moment he saw her, he hurried forward two steps to bow: “Your Highness.”

“Second Brother, no need to stand on ceremony.” Hua Chun smiled. “We’re family.”

With a faint smile, He Chang’an led her to the ancestral hall to complete all the required rites. After a full two hours of this trouble, the front hall finally quieted down.

“The reason I asked you out this time is simply to let you unwind.” He Chang’an said. “It hasn’t been easy for you in the palace lately, has it?”

“Second Brother is wise.” Hua Chun said with a beaming smile. “It truly hasn’t.”

“Then perfect timing.” He Chang’an said. “Come with me.”

Qing Niao was still following alongside; perhaps because he knew she was Hua Chun’s trusted attendant, He Chang’an showed no wariness toward her, and brought the two of them into the back courtyard of the residence, leaving the rest of the eunuchs outside.

“Hua’er!” Wan Shi’s voice was as loud as ever; the moment she spotted her from afar, she came bounding over, grabbing her and looking her up and down, her eyes reddening instantly. “It really is my Hua’er…”

Hua Chun was momentarily stunned — she hadn’t expected Wan Shi to be here at all, and blankly glanced at He Chang’an.

He Chang’an said, “It’s a rare chance. I had to let Aunt see you, so she’d know you’re doing well and be at ease.”

“Thank you, Second Brother.” She was truly moved; holding Wan Shi’s hand, she had so much she wanted to say but didn’t know where to start.

Wan Shi pulled her into a room at the back, staring at her for a long while before finally speaking: “You really do look better in women’s clothes!”

Hua Chun smiled faintly, a lump forming in her throat; she cleared it before asking, “Are you fully recovered?”

“Much better.” Wan Shi patted her hand again and again, as if she couldn’t look at her enough, tears falling as she watched. “I was worried you’d be dragged down by Hua Liuying’s troubles, but seeing you now, you’re doing just fine — at least you don’t have to hide who you are anymore, and can live openly.”

Seeing her cry, Hua Chun grew flustered, instinctively looking to the person beside her for help.

He Chang’an handed over a handkerchief, chuckling softly: “It’s a happy occasion, Madam, please don’t cry. Consort Hua is deeply favored in the palace these days and living quite well — there’s truly nothing to worry about. You should be happy.”

“I am happy, very happy.” Wan Shi laughed through her tears. “These are tears of joy. I thought I’d never see Hua’er in women’s clothes in this lifetime, and yet the day has come after all…”

Hua Chun said with a smile, “Anything is possible. You don’t need to be this worked up — let’s calm down and talk slowly.”

“Mm.” Wiping her face with the handkerchief, Wan Shi looked gratefully at He Chang’an. “Thank you, my lord, for giving this commoner woman the chance to see Hua’er again.”

When she’d first heard that the sitting Prime Minister had been beheaded, she had nearly fainted on the spot. She never expected that Marquis Gongyu would be the first to tell her Hua’er was still alive, and once the danger passed, would even bring her here to reunite with Hua’er. There was no way to thank him enough for this kindness — Wan Shi had even briefly entertained the thought of marrying Hua’er off to this Marquis.

Except now, Hua’er had already become a consort in the harem.

“It was nothing at all.” He Chang’an said. “Aunt needn’t take it to heart.”

Look at that — what grace, and so handsome too, gentle and considerate on top of it. Wan Shi couldn’t help but grip Hua Chun’s hand and ask, “Whatever possessed you to enter the palace?”

Hua Chun fell silent. Bringing this up, even she felt somewhat muddled about it — first there was that inexplicable physical intimacy with Yuwen Jie in the prison, then the sudden switcheroo at the execution ground that landed her straight in the palace. From start to finish, Yuwen Jie never gave her a single chance to voice an opinion.

But she couldn’t let Wan Shi worry, so she said, “His Majesty treats me quite well. No one in the palace can bully me.”

“Is that so?” Looking at her with half-belief, Wan Shi nodded. “As long as you’re doing well, then I, your mother, won’t say anything more. Your father’s temper has grown so violent since returning to the countryside — I’m planning to live quietly on my own outside, and not stay with him any longer.”

Hua Chun was stunned for a moment, then nodded. “Good. I’ll find you a place to live in Yanjing.”

Huh? Wan Shi was a bit surprised — she’d thought Hua’er, being so upright, would surely object. She hadn’t expected her to agree to help find a house without a second word.

At her age, divorcing Hua Zhengrong wasn’t really feasible, and living apart secretly would still saddle her with the stigma of desertion. She’d only meant to mention it to Hua’er, not really expecting support — just to let her know. And yet…

Wan Shi was at a loss, staring blankly at Hua Chun for a long moment. “You don’t object?”

“Since Father’s temper is so violent that he can’t live well with you, and you want to leave — why would I object?” Hua Chun looked at her. “Everyone has the right to choose a life that makes them comfortable. Besides, the marriage laws here are far from complete. Mother is the victim here and deserves to be protected all the more.”

He Chang’an was startled, glancing at her curiously. “What is a ‘marriage law’?”

Hua Chun said, “It’s a law protecting the lawful rights of both parties in a marriage. For instance, if a marriage becomes unlivable, the authorities should rule for the two to divorce, divide the property fairly, and from then on the man and woman go their separate ways, unconnected.”

“The authorities manage this?” He Chang’an shook his head. “Wouldn’t that overwhelm the yamen with work?”

“There could be a separate office just to handle this sort of matter.” Hua Chun said. “But there’s no use talking about it now — the thinking here isn’t advanced enough. Even with a forward-thinking solution, it wouldn’t be adopted. I just hope Mother can live her own life well. That’s enough for me.”

Pursing his lips slightly, He Chang’an said, “In your view, a woman need not preserve her chastity for a man?”

Rolling her eyes hard, Hua Chun said with a pout, “Chastity, my ass — why should she? If living together doesn’t work out, then each goes their own way. Men don’t preserve chastity for women, so why should women preserve it for men?”

Wan Shi gasped, hastily tugging at Hua Chun’s sleeve. How could she say such a thing in front of the Marquis? What if word reached the Emperor?