The palace had many festivals throughout the year. Besides days of universal celebration, there were also birthdays of the Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager—whether longevity celebrations or thousand-autumn festivals—with banquets occurring almost every few days. Wanwan didn’t have strong feelings about festivals—they were mostly just boring people finding excuses to gather for eating, drinking, and entertainment. Her status in the palace was rather special, so she was invariably invited each time. After attending so many gatherings, she had grown somewhat numb.

But this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival sparked her interest because the Factory Minister had returned from the south. This was precisely when the court’s direction was uncertain, with the Western Depot internally and princes externally. She was worried and ultimately needed to attend personally to ensure the grand banquet concluded smoothly.

Tonghuan applied her makeup, lightly dusting powder and dabbing lip rouge, enhancing her fine, translucent skin. She rarely dressed elaborately, relying on her natural beauty and appearing bare-faced even when visiting the Empress Dowager’s palace. Since Nanny Li had dismissed Xiao You and Wuqi, she had lost even her occasional interest in singing. With cosmetics on her face, she felt strangely unfamiliar looking in the mirror.

“Young ladies should dress up nicely.” Tonghuan inserted a delicate gold-inlaid burned blue hairpin for her, examining it repeatedly. “Look how complete you are—waiting until old age to care about beauty would be too late. Today is different from usual days, with no distinctions between palace and outside. Your Highness should also plan for yourself. I’m Your Highness’s personal attendant, and speaking honestly, relying on anyone else to make decisions is unreliable—it’s better to trust your own judgment.”

Wanwan hummed agreement: “Tonghuan, have you ever liked anyone?”

Tonghuan’s gaze moved to the sandalwood Five Bats Embracing Clouds floor screen: “People like us, once we enter the palace, can never expect to leave for life. I was only seven or eight when I came—where would I have anyone to like?”

“What about eunuchs? I hear many palace maids form partnerships with eunuchs, hoping for mutual care in the future. Sister Wen in our palace also has a partner. The other day I saw her talking with someone behind the rockery—I don’t know which department that eunuch belonged to, but he fled in panic when he saw me.”

Tonghuan showed a desolate smile: “Eunuchs? I don’t want to be like them. Already living bitter as coptis root—why degrade myself further?”

So eunuchs were always eunuchs. Palace maids with any spirit ultimately looked down on them.

Wanwan hesitated slightly, turning her head to ask: “What do you think… of Chief Xiao? He’s also a eunuch.”

Tonghuan changed her into an ivory-colored gold-threaded jacket, adjusting the snow-white crossed collar repeatedly as she smiled: “Someone like Chief Xiao—let alone among eunuchs, how many exist in the entire world? But what good is high position and great power? After dedicating a lifetime, he’s still trapped within these four walls—ultimately suffering too.”

Wanwan sighed and stood to watch her hold up skirts for comparison: “How about this blue-green one? Or is the pomegranate-colored one better?”

She chose a litchi-colored horse-face skirt herself, with flat gold ruyi patterns covering the knee panels—neither ostentatious nor overly modest. After dressing, she turned to look in the mirror, her face showing slightly shy smile: “Do you think it looks good?”

Tonghuan observed from the side with drooping sleeves. Among the three thousand beauties in the palace, truly none could compare to her. Her nobility was infused in her blood—even wearing simple hairpins and cloth, she remained radiant.

After a few compliments, she took the sachet brought by a palace maid and carefully attached it to the clothing knot at her side. Wanwan watched her soft hands slowly smooth the peach-colored dragon whiskers, softly advising: “Before the banquet begins you can still move around, but afterward stay beside the Empress Dowager! Later there will be many titled ladies coming to pay respects, plus many nobles and ministers. You should observe carefully so you won’t end up in a blind marriage later.”

Wanwan laughed: “You really are something—I’m only fifteen and you’re already eager to marry me off. Fine, I promise you—when I marry in the future, I’ll definitely take you along. You won’t have to suffer like the others. I’ll find you a good family so you’ll have hope in this lifetime.”

Master and servant laughed and played for a while before entering Qianqing Palace as evening approached.

Officials from outside had already entered. Having apparently completed a round of court greetings, they were scattered about reminiscing and chatting while waiting for the banquet to begin. The consorts fluttered like butterflies around the Emperor. This second brother was different from the elder brother—although Elder Brother’s political achievements were poor, at least he had tried. This one had a poet’s manner, being romantic to the point of promiscuity. In the half year since ascending the throne, he’d been busy with spring flowers and autumn moons, truly making people break out in cold sweat for him.

Yin Luo, having just recovered from serious illness, came despite her frail condition. The Emperor pulled her aside to talk, and she perfunctorily dismissed him before turning to whisper in Wanwan’s ear: “There will be too many people at the banquet later to eat properly. I had subordinates prepare crabs—let’s hide in the garden to enjoy them.”

Wanwan also loved eating crabs, though they were troublesome to eat. Fiddling with the eight crab tools back and forth, by the time all the meat was picked out, it was basically cold. Cold crab had a fishy smell and was disappointing to eat. Yin Luo’s method was to bite directly with her mouth—time-saving and convenient, able to finish two crabs in one tea period with the satisfying feeling of a cow chewing peonies.

This friend was well-chosen—their temperaments weren’t necessarily the same, but they clicked. Being with her always brought new discoveries she’d never tried before. Wanwan agreed and was planning to leave with her when several clan aunts dragged her back.

Those princesses were divine beings, finding it quite miraculous that she had somehow grown so much: “Just a few months unseen, and the Grand Princess has blossomed into a young lady!”

They pushed a girl who was either a commandery princess or county princess to stand beside her, making them stand shoulder to shoulder while everyone began critiquing: “Look, Wanwan is two months younger than Baose but has grown taller than her.”

“Consort Xu was always outstanding in appearance—since Wanwan is her daughter, naturally she’s taller than girls her age…”

“What books is the Grand Princess currently reading? How many volumes of the Record of Rites have you memorized?”

“The embroidery on this sachet is truly exquisite—you made it yourself, right?”

No matter how elevated one’s status, it meant nothing before these gossiping women. Wanwan was trapped in their circle, smiling awkwardly. She glanced at Yin Luo, signaling her to go ahead while she dealt with these troubles and would meet her later in Cining Palace’s garden.

Yin Luo cast a pitying look, shrugged, and left first. Wanwan was completely surrounded and couldn’t even take a step. Turning to seek help from the Empress Dowager, she seemed quite satisfied with Wanwan’s popularity and was whispering with Empress Zhang, occasionally glancing her way with no intention of rescuing her.

Feeling inexplicably trapped, she answered their questions one by one like taking an examination while her eyes wandered everywhere, hoping the banquet would suddenly begin so everyone would disperse. But meals had to follow proper timing—with some officials arriving early and others late, they needed to wait for everyone to arrive before having eunuchs serve the food.

What to do? She couldn’t escape and couldn’t show impatience on her face. She gazed sadly into the distance and suddenly noticed someone standing under the lights in the depths of the hall—richly dressed in brocade, with proud eyes beneath a black gauze cap. He was also looking at her leisurely, with somewhat playful intent. His gaze paused briefly before he lowered his head to fiddle with his amber prayer beads.

He avoided her gaze, his lips quickly spreading into a warm smile. Wanwan was stunned, suddenly remembering that person was Prince Nanyuan, her heart churning with increasing discomfort.

The princesses and titled ladies continued chattering: “Last month when the Commandery Princess of Prince Xiang married, besides the dowry, her family commissioned Westerners to paint a portrait.”

Tsk tsk, everyone was amazed: “Never heard of such a thing—sending a portrait for a wedding, isn’t that bad luck!”

“What’s wrong with that? Westerners paint well, like real people…”

Wanwan noticed everyone’s focus had shifted and quietly pulled Tonghuan’s sleeve to slip out of the crowd. Eager to keep her appointment with Yin Luo, she hurried toward the palace entrance. Halfway there she saw that prince again, immediately feeling both ashamed and embarrassed, covering her face as she fled from his gaze.

“What to do—how mortifying…” Her legs were still trembling as she crossed Yuehua Gate, twisting her body and whimpering like a child.

Tonghuan was puzzled: “Your Highness answered very well just now—how was it mortifying?”

She slumped her shoulders, wanting to tell her the details of how she disguised herself as a eunuch to spy on Prince Nanyuan, but reconsidering decided against it. Raking up embarrassing old matters—wasn’t she looking foolish enough already?

She evasively said it was nothing and looked north after entering Lansheng Gate: “Send someone to find a pot of carved flower wine—I’m bringing it to go with the crabs.”

Tonghuan was somewhat worried: “You’re going to drink too? If you reek of alcohol later, what if people smell it?”

Wanwan was unconcerned: “If I get drunk, I won’t attend the banquet. You go back and get us two quilts—she and I will spend the night in the pavilion.”

She lifted a corner of her skirt and crossed the stone bridge through the dew. The lights were dim under Linxi Pavilion, but after searching around, she found no trace of Yin Luo. Wanwan turned back to think—had she remembered the meeting place wrong? Seeing faint light in Hanqing Studio to the east, that place was specifically for consorts’ Buddhist worship and rest. The front, back, and western side rooms were connected, forming an independent small courtyard unconnected to the outside world—quite a peaceful and elegant place.

She smiled and pointed with raised sleeve: “She might be there—let’s go look.”

The lantern-bearing nanny led the way through the secluded path to the entrance. Strangely, there wasn’t even a single guard eunuch on duty. Only the front hall showed distant candlelight, like spread satin illuminating half the passage.

She stepped across the threshold. The courtyard was very quiet. She hadn’t visited here for a long time and still remembered Elder Brother bringing her to catch fireflies by the well when she was small. Memories suddenly surged up, and she unconsciously headed toward the back courtyard.

Hanqing Studio wasn’t a luxurious place to begin with—its specifications couldn’t compare to the adjacent Baoxiang Tower. The furnishings here were extremely simple: one table, one chair, one standing cabinet. A throne was set beneath the south window, with brocade cushions and pillows that were rarely used, still new as before.

Looking at the empty room, Wanwan felt somewhat melancholy. After standing briefly and wanting to leave, she faintly detected the scent of styrax floating in the air. This fragrance was too familiar—it was the Factory Minister’s.

He had been here? How strange… She turned to look at the carved standing cabinet with its openwork intertwining branches extending endlessly. Suddenly she noticed a piece of skirt hem caught in the cabinet door—upon closer inspection, it was bird-and-auspicious-flower brocade. Her mind buzzed—this pattern was tribute from Goryeo, and only Yin Luo in the entire palace had made it into a skirt.

Her heart began trembling—she had come at such an unfortunate time… She stepped back twice and turned around, feigning composure: “Let’s go look elsewhere. She might be shelling crabs at Linxi Pavilion right now!”

Following behind the lamp-bearing nanny, she was in a daze, walking unsteadily. Tonghuan noticed her abnormality and came to support her: “What’s wrong, Your Highness? Are you feeling unwell?”

She couldn’t speak—it wasn’t physical discomfort but terrible heartache. So Yin Luo and the Factory Minister had reached this stage. Her youthful dream shattered in an instant.

The moon hung in the sky, large and desolate. She walked out of Lansheng Gate and crouched down in the shadows by the dark corridor wall. Tonghuan was frightened and asked in alarm: “Your Highness, where do you feel unwell? This servant will immediately summon the imperial physician.”

Her throat was blocked and she couldn’t make a sound. She just waved her hand and buried her face in her arms.

Why was she always hesitating? This time she was truly too late—clearly having known him for five or six years… She knew Yin Luo was wonderful—upright in character and lovable in temperament. If she were a man, she might have fallen for her too. But… she had always felt the Factory Minister was within reach, never thinking he would become involved with someone else. This was a fatal blow delivered without warning. She panicked, feeling isolated and directionless.

She was disheartened—having never possessed anything, why should she feel disappointed? Supposing she was given another chance, could she seize it? After long thought, she actually knew she lacked the courage, so failure was only natural.

She stood up and wiped her tears: “Something seemed to get in my eye…”

Tonghuan brought the lantern to examine her. Her eyes were red—clearly she had been crying. But she didn’t expose this, using a handkerchief to dab for her: “It’s fine—tears can wash the dust clean. Your Highness, try again—it doesn’t hurt anymore, does it?”

She took a deep breath: “You’re right—it doesn’t hurt much anymore.”

Tonghuan smiled in response and helped her toward Changxin Gate. They had only taken a few steps when they encountered a young eunuch coming toward them, bowing and saying: “Greetings to Your Highness the Grand Princess. Your Highness wasn’t there earlier, and trouble broke out in Qianqing Palace… Old Consort Zhao and Empress Zhang had a dispute and were reprimanded by the Empress Dowager. She’s crying in the Golden Pavilion now. Nanny Sun beside Her Majesty can’t comfort her and fears something might happen, so she sent this servant to request Your Highness. Please go take a look quickly, Your Highness.”

Although Old Consort Zhao was generally unpopular, her situation had been difficult since Elder Brother’s death. Wanwan was kind-hearted and ultimately couldn’t stand by and watch. She had the eunuch lead the way and hurried to follow.