In terms of rank, a princess and the four consorts were both of the first grade — nominally equal. Yet even among officials of the same rank, there was always a distinction between cold posts and coveted ones. On one side stood a princess of a foreign surname, a daughter of a fallen dynasty; on the other, the Emperor’s own sister, his bedside companion, the mother of his sons. Xie Yuzhang had never genuinely believed she could stand as an equal to the four consorts.

She was the first to step forward and curtsy in greeting.

Li Zhenzhen remained seated without moving. The Cui and Deng consorts both inclined their bodies in a half-bow in return. Both were beautiful, with distinguished bearing — true daughters of great aristocratic families. Compared to their previous lives spent scraping by under Zhang Fen, they were more vibrant now, a delight to behold.

Nanny Mao also paid her respects to the three consorts.

Both Noble Consort Cui and Noble Consort Deng said: “The Mao clan of Zuozhou has produced talents generation after generation. We have long admired you from afar.”

Nanny Mao smiled with modest grace, neither deferential nor arrogant. Her manner blended naturally with the two consorts — after all, they were all daughters of great houses.

Li Zhenzhen, in truth, had little patience for these women of aristocratic families. She came from a military family, and by nature she was simply not cut from the same cloth. Yet no matter how much she disliked them, when it came to her own daughter, she hoped Nan’nan could become a true daughter of the great clans — or at least someone they would accept.

But after the Huo family’s extermination, Nan’nan had never received the upbringing proper to a girl of the aristocracy. Such cultivation could not be instilled merely by hiring a few teachers; it had to be absorbed over years of immersion in that very world — guided moment by moment by grandmother, mother, aunts, and sisters-in-law, every word and gesture shaped by their example.

In recent years, Li Zhenzhen had held authority over Li Gu’s inner household. North of the great river, she was the most distinguished woman in the land. Unwilling to let Nan’nan fall behind, she had engaged several learned teachers for her daughter’s instruction.

Yet as Nan’nan grew older, she grew ever more aware that she was a child without a father. She came to understand that everyone observed a deep, unspoken silence regarding her father and his family.

As she grew older still, when she dared to ask and was told the truth, she finally learned that her father’s family had been exterminated — and that the one who had exterminated them was the very person who now sat on the throne: her eleventh uncle.

Gradually she also perceived that the relationship between her mother and the Emperor was unlike that of the other imperial consorts.

Even though the Emperor uncle treated her with warmth and lavished her with favor, and even though her mother held authority over the six palaces with the two consorts and three imperial concubines all bowing their heads — still, the girl grew ever more quiet.

Li Zhenzhen exchanged a few words with Nanny Mao, and though she was inwardly displeased with these aristocratic women, she had to admit that Nanny Mao was dignified and composed, her bearing exceptional.

She summoned the Commandery Princess of Hexi to come and meet Nanny Mao. “Come and meet Nanny Mao. The Mao clan’s family school is excellent, filled with young women your own age. I would like you to study there alongside them.”

The Commandery Princess of Hexi was puzzled. “Is there something lacking in the teachers here in the palace?”

“Commandery Princess.” Xie Yuzhang smiled and addressed her. “The palace is excellent in every regard, and the teachers are all learned. There is only one thing: the palace walls are deep, and one cannot help but become confined by them. The teachers are devoted to the Commandery Princess, and the palace attendants are respectful and orderly. Yet the Commandery Princess will only discover, once she steps outside, that people beyond the palace walls are not like that. Everyone has their own nature and their own thoughts, each one radiant, none molded from the same pattern. A thousand people yield a thousand different faces — it is a most fascinating thing.”

Noble Consort Cui Xianfei was the first to agree: “What Yongning says is quite right.”

Noble Consort Deng Shufei nodded as well. “Indeed. Speaking of it, I do truly miss those days of old.”

Nanny Mao said: “That is precisely it. Our family school is not only for our own daughters — girls from the Yang family, the Zhang family, the Xue family, the Tang family, and many other acquainted households all come to study together.”

Li Zhenzhen had always swaggered wherever she went, yet her daughter was quiet and timid. The Commandery Princess of Hexi listened to everyone speaking this way and felt a slight stirring, but still hesitated.

Li Zhenzhen inwardly resented her daughter’s lack of boldness, yet could not scold her in front of everyone. A flicker of impatience crossed her eyes.

Xie Yuzhang, ever observant, took in the expressions of both mother and daughter. She smiled and offered a suggestion: “The Commandery Princess need not fear finding herself among strangers there. A few familiar companions from those around her are welcome to come along for company. Two or three close friends could attend together. I am sure the Mao household would be most glad to welcome them.”

Nanny Mao smiled and said: “Children who have the heart to learn are more than welcome.”

Li Zhenzhen clapped her hands. “Invite Hanhán from your eldest uncle’s family, and Yunyun from your fifth uncle’s family. A pity that the daughters of your seventh and eighth uncles are still too young. Your tenth uncle has no daughters. Wénwen from Uncle Jiang’s family is a little older, but no matter — better to learn more before a match is made.”

Nanny Mao’s eyes brightened with growing delight.

But the Commandery Princess of Hexi hesitated. “Yunyun is also quite young.”

Xie Yuzhang smiled. “That doesn’t matter at all. The Commandery Princess is the elder sister — she can simply look after her younger sister. Older and younger sisters should naturally take care of each other.”

The Commandery Princess of Hexi thought for a moment, then said with some bashfulness: “I will do my best. Yunyun is very well-behaved too.”

And so the matter was settled.

The ladies chatted on over tea and refreshments, moving to lighter topics.

Noble Consort Deng Shufei said: “Before I was married, I had a complete set of the Cheng-annotated edition of the Chunshui Ji. In the rush of my wedding, I left it at home, and my younger sisters claimed it and refused to return it. Even now the thought of it pains me — ah…” She shook her head with a wistful smile.

That Chunshui Ji was the very work written by Nanny Mao’s grandfather — the senior Mao gentleman of the Department of Rites. Nanny Mao smiled and said: “Your Highness need not be regretful. Our family keeps the largest collection of the Chunshui Ji of anyone. I shall look for a Cheng-annotated copy to send to Your Highness when I return home.”

Noble Consort Deng Shufei was delighted and thanked her warmly.

Noble Consort Cui Xianfei did not raise the topic of books or scholarship. She simply remarked to Li Zhenzhen: “I find Yongning’s garment beautifully tailored.”

Li Zhenzhen said: “Indeed — Yongning looks so spirited wearing it.”

The Commandery Princess of Hexi also looked over at Xie Yuzhang, and she too found her dress and skirt exceptionally lovely and unlike anything she had seen before. Unable to help herself, she asked: “Why is the hem cut into four openings?”

Xie Yuzhang smiled. “For riding on horseback.”

The Commandery Princess of Hexi said: “I have heard that the Princess always rides a horse and never takes a carriage.”

“That’s an exaggeration,” Xie Yuzhang said. “When it rains or snows, I certainly take a carriage. I’m not foolish enough to do otherwise.”

All the ladies laughed.

The Commandery Princess of Hexi laughed as well. She found Xie Yuzhang both lovely to look at and delightful in conversation, and her manner was quite different from the refined composure of Noble Consorts Cui and Deng — there was an easy, spirited quality about her that stirred in the girl an inexplicable sense of longing. A pity she herself could never be that way.

She asked again: “Why does the Princess love riding so much?”

Xie Yuzhang said: “On the steppe, I grew accustomed to seeing the landscape with my own eyes, to reading the road beneath me. Since returning to Yunjing, I have no wish to be confined and stifled again.”

Noble Consorts Cui and Deng both fixed their gaze on her, a look of quiet understanding in their eyes.

The Commandery Princess of Hexi had heard of her story, and now felt she might have touched on something painful. She felt a pang of guilt and was at a loss for what to say.

Xie Yuzhang clicked her tongue inwardly. Li Zhenzhen was so bold and fierce — how had she given birth to a daughter with such a temperament? Who did the girl take after? Could it truly be her father?

She smiled and said: “Commandery Princess, you should know that the steppe rolls on in great sweeping waves — vast and open. The sky is deeply blue, the clouds hang low, and the sight of it lifts the spirit.”

The Commandery Princess of Hexi saw that she was not troubled by the question and exhaled in relief, quickly saying: “I recall that the sky over Hexi is also very blue, and the clouds are very low there too. Here in Yunjing it is quite different.”

Xie Yuzhang said: “Indeed. But then, where can compare to Yunjing’s splendor? Each place has its own merits.”

When Li Gu arrived, he found before him this scene of perfect harmony and warmth. It was, quite simply, everything a man of the world could desire.

He took his seat and asked Nanny Mao: “Is this concerning the Commandery Princess attending the family school?”

Nanny Mao replied respectfully: “It is. I came to discuss the curriculum with Her Highness.”

Li Gu said: “Treat her the same as the others — strictly. If she misbehaves, come and tell me.”

Everyone laughed. Nanny Mao smiled and curtsied: “Understood. I shall not let the Commandery Princess waste her days.”

Li Zhenzhen’s smile grew even warmer.

The more Li Gu spoke this way, the more it showed he valued Nan’nan. If he had been indifferent and cared nothing for whether she wasted her youth, who would bother?

The Commandery Princess of Hexi quickly said: “Uncle, I won’t misbehave.”

Li Gu said: “Best not let me find out otherwise — or I’ll have your seventh uncle administer the hand-rapping punishment.”

Among all the uncles, the most irreverent was seventh uncle Li Weifeng — putting him in charge of punishment was plainly letting the matter slide.

All the ladies laughed. The Commandery Princess of Hexi leaned against her mother, giggling with shy delight.

The Commandery Princess of Hexi was this relaxed even in front of Li Gu — which showed that a child’s heart instinctively knows who truly cares for her. Li Gu, toward those he regarded as “family,” was indeed, as Li Weifeng had said, exceptionally good to them.

Xie Yuzhang’s keen eyes took it all in.

Those fortunate enough to be counted among his “family” were truly lucky.

After the gathering at Li Zhenzhen’s quarters dispersed, Noble Consort Cui Xianfei returned to her own palace. Her most trusted attendant could not help saying: “That Princess Yongning keeps coming to the palace.” She had come three times in one month already.

Noble Consort Cui Xianfei said: “She and the Noble Consort have a history.”

The attendant said: “She is so beautiful — Your Highness must still be on guard.”

Noble Consort Cui Xianfei rebuked the attendant: “Speak no more of this nonsense — you’ll only invite ridicule.”

At Noble Consort Deng Shufei’s quarters, much the same was happening.

Deng Wan said: “Guard against what? Even if I guard against her, does that mean no one else will come? The root of such matters was never in women’s hands to begin with. When she enters the palace as a consort, then come and speak to me about ‘guarding’ and ‘competing.'”

Her trusted attendant said: “But the Noble Consort’s meaning seemed to be…”

Deng Wan gave a cold laugh. “No matter what Li Zhenzhen is, she is not the Empress. Not everyone will bow to her wishes. Princess Yongning — a princess of the former dynasty — stands firmly on her own feet in Yunjing. Do you think she’s someone Li Zhenzhen can knead as she pleases? Let us wait and see. If a princess from another house stands as steady as a mountain while we in the palace are the first to grow anxious and unsettled — would that not be playing right into Li Zhenzhen’s hands?”

She then murmured to herself: “When all is said and done, it still comes down to His Majesty. This is His Majesty’s rear palace — not Li Zhenzhen’s rear palace.”

The trusted attendant dared not say more, but privately thought: Princess Yongning possesses a beauty that could topple kingdoms, and His Majesty is a man like any other — how could he not be moved? To pin one’s hopes on a man in such a matter was as futile as hoping a sow could climb a tree.

Lin Fei came to visit Princess Yongning’s residence to play. Xie Yuzhang said to her: “The Emperor, in truth, is genuinely a good person.”

Lin Fei smiled without comment.

Xie Yuzhang said earnestly: “I am speaking purely on the merits of the matter. Oh, by the way — how is your commendation plaque?”

Lin Fei said: “It has been hung in the hall and enshrined. My uncle and aunt are very pleased.”

The commendation was an official tribute from the court or local authorities to those who had demonstrated loyalty, filial piety, righteousness, or moral integrity — either in the form of a memorial arch or a plaque.

A few days prior, the plaque from Li Gu for Lin Fei had been delivered. Li Gu had personally inscribed the two characters “Yi Lie” — Righteous and Valiant.

“Everyone says His Majesty rarely writes inscriptions, yet I became the first person in the entire Da Mu dynasty to receive a plaque personally inscribed by the Emperor,” Lin Fei said. “You asked for it, didn’t you?”

Xie Yuzhang: “Heh heh heh heh.”

Lin Fei laughed despite herself. “When did you ask him?”

Xie Yuzhang said: “It was that day when I negotiated the agreement to come to the palace twice a month to pay respects to the Noble Consort. I thought — since I was already negotiating terms, I might as well ask for both things at once.”

Lin Fei asked: “You asked, and he simply agreed?”

“He certainly did not,” Xie Yuzhang said.

The Emperor had said: My handwriting is not good.

The Princess Yongning had replied without hesitation: But one might ask around — is there anyone in all of Yunjing who would dare say His Majesty’s handwriting is not good?

And the Emperor had smiled at that.

The Emperor was still young, and when he set aside the past, when he let it all go — his smile, truly, was very beautiful.