If she had been kept in the dark, going would have been going. But now that she knew the inside story, she certainly couldn’t foolishly let herself be manipulated.
Wanwan had no other talents, but she could feign illness. When the appointed day arrived, she would send someone to Kunning Palace at the last minute saying she had caught a cold and was bedridden. Even if Lady Zhao was displeased, she couldn’t see her anyway, so who cared!
The spring scenery was perfect. Her arhat couch was placed where she could see the crabapple tree. A gentle breeze carried faint fragrance, flowing through the intricately carved moon-gate window, refreshing to the heart. She looked up at the flowing clouds above the treetops, rarely feeling troubled. For instance, regarding the Empress’s presumptuous matchmaking obsession, when she first heard Wuqi mention it, she was quite disgusted. But after sleeping one night and eating two sheep-eye buns the next day, her mood immediately brightened. A person encounters many setbacks in life – if you take everything to heart, there’s no way to live.
The calligraphy she had just finished practicing on the desk was held down by a paperweight. A sudden gust made the rice paper rustle crisply as it lifted. She turned over, lying with her back to the door. It was nearly noon, and she felt drowsy. Today she had no interest in singing opera – her limbs felt too heavy to lift. Xiao You tiptoed to lower the threshold window, then went to tidy the brushes and ink on the table. Suddenly she called out “Supervisor Xiao is here!” and Wanwan immediately propped herself up.
Looking around, she saw no one. Xiao You burst into laughter, and only then did she realize she’d been tricked.
“Nanny told you to embroider, and you said you were sleepy. How is it that at the mention of Supervisor Xiao, you suddenly have energy?”
Wanwan sheepishly touched her face: “I just remembered I still have two pages of scriptures to copy, so I planned to get up and copy them.” To save face, she slowly got off the couch and moved to behind the desk.
Still unwilling to give up, she looked left and right: “Did the factory minister come today?”
Xiao You said no: “He’s a very busy person. Wuqi says the winds are shifting in the Ceremonial Directorate. Supervisor Xiao is the most capable among the four brush-holding officials. This servant thinks he’ll definitely become the seal-holder this time.”
Wanwan’s small-script brush lingered in the inkstone for a long time: “Actually, the factory minister is quite a good person, just a bit fierce…”
“The Eastern Depot is what kind of place? Someone who can be superintendent there – probably only you would say he’s good.” Xiao You leaned over to blow dust off the rhombus pattern, tilting her head to ponder again: “But then again, if he becomes seal-holder, it would benefit us. After all, he once managed affairs in our palace – he’d be more considerate than outsiders! If he supported you, even if His Majesty couldn’t look after you, at least he could provide some care.”
This current situation was rather embarrassing to discuss. The Ceremonial Directorate in early Daye was merely an administrative office within the palace, but later emperors relied on it more and more. Now the powerful eunuchs were almost equivalent to the chief ministers of the cabinet. Though Wanwan was a girl, she had her own views on political matters. The founding emperor had explicitly forbidden eunuch interference in government – there were historical precedents for this – yet none of his descendants took their ancestor’s words seriously. Sometimes when she thought long-term, she wondered how this family, country, and realm would end up. Of course, if they had to find someone among the eunuchs to share the emperor’s burdens, Xiao Duo was still a good choice.
Xiao You again pretended to fool her, curtsying toward the door: “Greetings to Supervisor Xiao.”
Wanwan didn’t even lift an eyebrow: “I believed you the first time. If I believe you a second time, I’d be a fool.”
“Who is Your Highness calling a fool?”
Someone really did lift his robe and enter from outside. Wanwan turned to look – the visitor wore a black gauze cap and fragrant-colored flying-fish robes embroidered with pythons. Even with his expression rather distant, his eyes always carried a hint of amusement.
She was momentarily stunned, then stood and addressed him as factory minister. Supervisor Xiao cupped his hands in salute: “Palace servants reported that Your Highness was indisposed. This minister came especially to see.” His gaze swept over her: “Where does Your Highness feel unwell?”
Wanwan was very nervous, awkwardly touching her forehead: “Just a fever in my head, and my throat doesn’t feel comfortable… also feeling weak and breaking into cold sweats…”
Supervisor Xiao’s eyebrows rose almost imperceptibly: “From the symptoms, it seems quite serious.” He turned to scold those serving outside: “The master is ill – why haven’t you summoned imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy? With so many people attending, what are you all good for!”
Within the deep palace, the brush-holding eunuchs of the Ceremonial Directorate absolutely held power of life and death. The lives of palace maids and eunuchs were merely a matter of their word, so everyone was scared pale, prostrating and kowtowing continuously.
Seeing she couldn’t hide it, Wanwan had to tell the truth: “Factory minister, don’t be angry. I told them not to summon physicians because I’m not actually ill.” She lowered her head, face flushing red: “Empress Zhao invited me to Kunning Palace for pastries the day before yesterday. I didn’t want to go but couldn’t refuse, so I could only claim illness to take leave. Now that the factory minister knows the truth, please don’t tell Lady Zhao. I fear offending her and feeling awkward when we meet in future.”
Supervisor Xiao’s expression showed no change from beginning to end. He calmly listened to her finish, then calmly told her: “Your Highness is the Grand Princess, the late emperor’s bloodline, of extraordinary nobility. In this imperial palace, no one can force you to do what you don’t wish to do. You’ve grown up now and have your own judgment. If anything troubles you or makes you feel even slightly uncomfortable, don’t think it over repeatedly – it’s definitely not a good thing.”
Wanwan looked up, feeling infinite gratitude for these words. She was indeed the Grand Princess, but having lost her mother young, she was timid and accustomed to reading others’ expressions. Take him, for instance – he came to supervise her palace affairs. Originally she was master and he servant; she had no need to fear him. But somehow, she always felt afraid of him, and beyond fear, some dependence. Probably because there weren’t many people who truly cared for her, so when she encountered one, she found it precious.
She tucked her hands and nodded seriously: “I’ll remember the factory minister’s words.”
Supervisor Xiao smiled upon hearing this: “This minister is a palace eunuch. Your Highness need not be so polite to this minister.” While speaking, he waved to dismiss all the people under the corridor, then said quietly: “Your Highness only knows that Lady Zhao invited you for pastries, but doesn’t know that Lady Shao is currently petitioning His Majesty to grant a marriage?”
Wanwan was shocked: “Grant a marriage? To whom?”
He looked at her with a smile: “Naturally to Your Highness.”
Now she was at a loss. When the Empress called to her outside Cining Palace, Noble Consort Shao was nearby. Neither she nor Xiao You understood why the Empress asked about her age, but Noble Consort Shao understood clearly. Since the Empress chose indirect methods, she took the opposite approach, directly requesting an imperial decree – much more efficient than beating around the bush.
This Grand Princess of hers was truly pitiable and pathetic. She became angry, clenching her fists: “I won’t marry!”
But however good one’s natal family, there was no reason to stay forever. Moreover, bestowing marriage was generally speaking a good thing. You could dislike the person trying to send you away, but you had no reason to dislike the thing itself.
Knowing she had no leg to stand on, her expression grew even more dejected. Wringing her fingers, she said: “Factory minister, this matter makes me unhappy now. What should I do?”
“This minister said before – unhappy things are not good things. Since you find it repugnant, you need not pay it any mind.”
Could she really ignore it? She paced in circles. If left alone to germinate, who knew when an imperial decree might come down? She wanted to enter Qianqing Palace for an audience, not because it was impossible, but because she feared alerting Cining Palace afterward. After much consideration, she asked Xiao Duo’s opinion. He only shook his head, asking her to be patient. After all, her marriage couldn’t be decided in a few words – there would be plenty of opportunities for her to speak.
“Master, look – you’ve suddenly become hot property,” Xiao You said with some bitter amusement. “The palace ladies are all currying favor, wanting to pull you toward their families. But those two families haven’t produced anyone particularly promising either – like mangy dogs wanting to marry a princess.”
Wanwan stood dazed under the flowering tree, thinking up a set of arguments in case the emperor summoned her. Xiao Duo was right – one shouldn’t be arrogant, but neither should one put oneself in the dust. Though she had lost her parents, her status was there. In the past, Grand Princesses ranked equal to princes – was she inferior to anyone?
She straightened her chest: “Xiao You, look at me – how’s my bearing?”
Xiao You said: “It’s not warm enough yet. Wait until summer when you wear less – then we’ll see some imposing presence.”
They weren’t talking about the same thing. Wanwan dejectedly turned away, broke off a crabapple branch to take inside for a vase. That girl followed step by step, her voice like a mosquito, buzzing in her ear: “Your Highness… Your Highness, this servant’s heart is unsettled. I want to discuss something with you.”
She hummed acknowledgment: “What is it?”
“That Supervisor Xiao… has an unusual relationship with Lady Zhao. Earlier you confided in him, and he promised to keep it secret, but what if he turns around and sells you out to Lady Zhao? What would we do then?”
Unusual relationship – what did that mean? Wanwan asked: “How unusual?”
Xiao You cupped her hand like a trumpet to her ear: “The supervisor serves the lady… reportedly serves her all the way to the embroidered bed…” She shrugged with embarrassment: “You figure it out.”
Wanwan’s expression changed upon hearing this. She scolded quietly: “Watch your mouth. It’s fine to babble in front of me, but if others hear, do you want to live?” Xiao You was so frightened she stuck out her tongue repeatedly. Wanwan also felt the sky suddenly lower, with dark clouds pressing down so heavily she could barely breathe.
This imperial court was truly a tangled mess. She had thought there were at least some comforting aspects, but who knew it was dark under the lamp – dark all the way down, black as a deep well.
She was a young girl – some things shouldn’t concern her. Even if she heard them, she should pretend she hadn’t. It was just a pity – she had greatly admired Xiao Duo’s character before, but now it was rather hard to describe.
She was dejected and disappointed with reality, but fortunately the emperor’s attitude gave her some comfort. However favored Noble Consort Shao was, Big Brother didn’t use her marriage as a personal favor. After much consideration, he still summoned her to Qianqing Palace to ask her opinion in person.
When she stepped into the eastern warm chamber, the emperor was sitting by the south window, leaning against a kang table examining a set of Mongolian fire steels. His thin profile reflected in the glass like a floating specter. Seeing her arrive, he set down what he was holding and smiled, pointing beside him: “Sit.”
Their sibling affection was deep, not distant because they weren’t born of the same mother. Before the late emperor’s death, he had specially summoned the crown prince for an audience to entrust her to him. Later when the crown prince ascended the throne and became the supreme ruler, he still privately instructed her that when no outsiders were present, she need not observe monarch-subject etiquette.
The emperor’s benevolence came from remembering their sibling bond, but she couldn’t take this favor for granted. Before the imperial presence, she still respectfully offered blessings and greetings. When the emperor granted her a seat, she reverently thanked him before sitting down.
“I heard from Grand Companion that Your Majesty’s health is better today. Looking at Big Brother’s spirits, they seem no different from before.” She looked carefully at her brother: “You’re not uncomfortable now, are you? If there’s any headache or fever, summon imperial physicians for proper treatment. You can’t refuse medicine just because it’s bitter.”
She wasn’t good at consoling people. The emperor found this amusing: “Do you take me for you, still afraid of bitter medicine? Rest assured, I’m indeed much better today – even practicing martial arts twice wouldn’t be a problem.”
Wanwan’s face showed a smile. After a pause, she asked: “Big Brother summoned me – what are your instructions? Wanwan awaits your guidance.”
“Nothing much, just yesterday the Noble Consort spoke with me, mentioning Grand Herald Wenyue…” A eunuch brought tea, and the emperor paused, lifting the lid to push aside tea leaves, speaking gently: “That Wenyue is exactly twenty this year. Rarely does someone have such distinguished appearance and understanding of music.”
“The Grand Herald’s Office handles court audiences, guests, and ceremonial affairs. A deputy herald is a sixth-rank official…” She gently clenched her fist: “Wanwan lives deep in the palace, not concerning herself with outer court matters. Why does Big Brother mention this person to me?”
She had come prepared. Though she didn’t state it explicitly, she recited his official position like reading from a book. If he truly wanted to marry a princess, a small sixth-rank official was reaching too high – no princess of this dynasty had ever married so far beneath her station.
The emperor might initially have been testing, but she easily deflected him. Thinking carefully, such a marriage would truly wrong his sister, so he shook his head: “I was mistaken. Forget it – this matter won’t be mentioned again.”
Wanwan breathed a sigh of relief, standing to thank him: “Big Brother worries for me, and I’m always grateful, but I’m still young and want to serve Mother a few more years in filial piety, not wasting her raising me. Marriage isn’t difficult – just a few months of preparation and I could be wed. I just fear others might not cherish me as Big Brother does. What would I do then?”
She was still childish. Even when sometimes stubborn and unreasonable, the emperor never argued with her, only smiling: “You’re the Grand Princess – who would dare mistreat you? If your consort troubles you, come back to the palace to lodge a complaint with me. I’ll beat him bloody to vent your anger. But joking aside, your marriage should have plans. You needn’t immediately choose someone and marry, but you should have some idea to avoid future panic. Fourteen isn’t old, but not young either. I originally wanted to discuss with Mother, but feared you’d be unwilling, so I asked you first to see your thoughts.”
Wanwan fidgeted: “I knew Big Brother favored me. I’ll keep your words in my heart. I also want to ask Big Brother for one favor – don’t force me to marry someone I don’t like in future. If Mother is displeased, please help smooth things over for me. I’ll be grateful to Big Brother for life.”
The emperor sighed and coughed several times before stopping, catching his breath: “Agreeing isn’t difficult, but you must be sensible too. There’s an opportunity now – the palace will hold a great feast for Dragon Boat Festival. Officials and princes from the outer regions haven’t been summoned to the capital for six or seven years. I’ve heard some rumors and need to remind these people of their place. I remember when Imperial Father was alive, he always brought you to banquets. This year’s feast, you’ll attend with the Empress Dowager and Empress. During the banquet, you can observe if there are suitable candidates.” Suddenly remembering something, he emphasized: “Anyone you fancy is fine, except those barbarians from Nanyuan. Murong princesses do not marry into the Yuwen clan. Remember this.”
Wanwan had heard before that the Qi people of Nanyuan had red eyebrows and green eyes. They once caused trouble around the Qilian Mountains until the founding emperor personally led campaigns to subdue those monsters. As a princess of a great nation, she naturally wouldn’t marry foreigners, but the emperor’s repeated warnings made her curious…