Lan Zhou’s birthday fell on the Dragon Boat Festival, which really wasn’t an auspicious date. It was said this day was an evil day in an evil month, when the five poisons emerged, and children born then might bring harm to their parents. Throughout history, children born on the Dragon Boat Festival being abandoned occurred from time to time.

Whenever his birthday came, Lan Zhou was unhappy. Generally in princely mansions, the master’s birthday was cause for great celebration – adults would set up opera stages and host birthday banquets, while children would at least have shadow puppet shows. However, he wasn’t pleased and always celebrated quietly each year. His wet nurse would boil him two eggs, and eating them was considered sufficient.

Wanwan held a pinwheel, sitting beside him on the steps, “You’re just a child yet your thoughts are so heavy. What day you were born isn’t something you could choose. What’s wrong with the Dragon Boat Festival? Emperor Song Huizong was also born on this day!”

Lan Zhou glanced at her listlessly, “What’s good about Song Huizong? Look at his wretched end – your son doesn’t want to be like him! I asked Grandmother, who said children born on the Dragon Boat Festival will either harm themselves or harm their parents in the future. Thinking about it truly pains me. Father and Grandmother don’t mind, but I can’t hold my head up. Such an unlucky day, and born to a secondary consort…”

Between legitimate and illegitimate children, there truly was an unbridgeable chasm. No matter how outstanding an illegitimate son was, he was ultimately born to a concubine. For a child with such high spirits as his, this was truly long-term torment.

Wanwan patted his shoulder consolingly, “You’re so clever – who dares look down on you? I’d be the first to not forgive them. Have you read the ‘Book of Song’? The Eastern Jin general Wang Zhen’e was born on the fifth day of the fifth month. His family wanted to abandon him, but his grandfather said, ‘This is no ordinary child – he will revive our family.’ Later when raised, he truly became a remarkable person!” She looked him over twice, “No wonder you’re called Lan Zhou – actually your father wanted to name you Dragon Boat, right? But I think calling you Zhen’e would be quite good too – Yuwen Zhen’e, see how imposing that sounds!”

Lan Zhou watched her laugh with delight, weighing those words repeatedly but really couldn’t appreciate them. However, he discovered she had said something very apt – his father probably had indeed wanted to name him Dragon Boat initially. A concubine’s child – where would there be such care!

He was somewhat disappointed, “Mother, when will you give birth to a little brother?”

Wanwan said: “I don’t know either. With such matters, being anxious is useless.”

“Then I… will never be able to be your son?”

Wanwan puffed her cheeks blowing the pinwheel. Hearing this, she smiled, “You call me Mother – that makes you my son.”

Verbal promises were always so easy. He turned away, tugging at the corner of his mouth toward the vast sky.

Though he didn’t celebrate birthdays, the manor’s gatherings were still necessary. On the Dragon Boat Festival, the women gathered to make five-colored threads and eat rice dumplings. The Great Prince’s sons lived in separate mansions, but during festivals, their wives would come to accompany the Dowager Consort in festivities.

Lan Zhou asked: “Won’t Mother go to the front courtyard? Those aunts arrived early.”

She said she knew, “Arriving late shows my status.” Turning to check the water clock and feeling it was about time, she stood and extended her hand to him, “Let’s go make an appearance. Later we’ll put on two opera performances and sing ‘Havoc in Heaven’ for you.”

Lan Zhou obediently took her hand.

Actually, the eight-year-old boy was already quite tall, and together with her they looked like siblings. Lan Zhou was sometimes very shy and somewhat timid, but she never took it to heart. Upon reaching the gathering, she received the wives’ formal greetings, seated herself, and had Lan Zhou sit beside her as well.

When women gathered, inevitably there was gossip about this household and that. Fifth Brother’s wife was as talkative as he was – among the roomful of women, she spoke the most. Wanwan listened to her tell stories of distant Yuwen clan relatives, about how a princess married a terrible husband. After going to a temple once to burn incense, she became involved with a young abbot. Later she became pregnant and gave birth to a little monk. Since her husband didn’t care anyway, the princess simply lived permanently at the temple, becoming husband and wife with the abbot. Finally sighing: “If I had given birth to such a daughter, how could I face people? Tie Rong’s wife is fine though – when visiting relatives she’s completely straightforward. When others ask about the eldest princess, she says she’s doing well, much more comfortable than at the Wen family. Look at that – what kind of mother is this? Not severely disciplining her daughter but actually being pleased.”

Everyone clicked their tongues in amazement, “Tie Rong’s wife comes from a poor military family background and can’t appear in decent society. In her eyes, what shame is there – as long as she’s comfortable, that’s enough.”

Fifth Wife felt moved: “That’s why they say if you don’t raise daughters well, you harm other families. Daughters require even more careful attention than sons.” After talking for a while, she remembered there was still a Grand Princess present and stopped speaking, laughing: “We’ve been talking all this time without knowing if Your Highness enjoys listening. Let’s have Little Gui Xiang sing opera tonight – with the men away, we’ll entertain ourselves. Speaking of the men, our master sent word yesterday saying they’re still wearing lined robes in the capital – the north is much cooler than here. Sixth Master is the same, drilling troops morning and evening on the training ground. The nighttime fog is heavy – he must be careful not to develop rheumatism in old age.”

Her unguarded words frightened everyone present into a cold sweat. There were strict restrictions on when fiefdom clans could enter and exit the capital. Anyone making a trip to Beijing had to be reported and thoroughly investigated – the Grand Princess knew this. Moreover, aside from the navy, Jiangnan officially had no troops whatsoever. What exactly was Sixth Master drilling?

The Dowager Consort couldn’t directly silence her, so she made roundabout clarifications: “Fifth Brother was sent to the capital to audience with the Emperor on Third Brother’s orders, right? He’s been gone over twenty days – he’s probably on his way back by now. As for Sixth Brother, he’s too meticulous in his work. Those hundred or so soldiers – what’s there to drill? It’s just that way anyway.”

Wanwan said nothing, put down her chopsticks, took Tonghuan’s towel and dabbed her mouth, “This red bean paste one is cloyingly sweet. I still prefer plain rice ones dipped in sugar!”

Lan Zhou quickly stood to have some prepared. She smiled and said it wasn’t necessary, “I’ve already eaten half of one and fear indigestion. I need to move around.” She said to the Dowager Consort, “Today is Big Brother’s birthday, so I’ll also order two operas for him. Mother and the wives can first look at the play selections while I digest my food – I’ll return when the gongs sound.”

Since she put it this way, no one could insist she stay. Everyone laughingly agreed as she supported herself on Tonghuan’s hand and slowly walked out of Yin’an Hall.

“Did you hear Fifth Wife’s words?” When they were far enough away, she turned to ask Tonghuan.

Tonghuan said yes: “What are Your Highness’s instructions?”

“Have Yu Qixia send someone to investigate Xuzhou. If it’s true… then not one person in this family is decent.”

Her ability to remain clearheaded at such a time surprised Tonghuan. She had assumed that once a young lady became a wife, her whole heart would be on her husband. She and the Prince of Nanyuan had just become harmonious, so hearing this she should worry or avoid it. Even if suspicious, she wouldn’t have the courage to investigate thoroughly. But she was different – as if she could always extract herself, and upon discovering any disturbance, would act without hesitation. This made one feel that her submission to the Prince of Nanyuan perhaps wasn’t entirely sincere.

Tonghuan went outside to relay the order while she walked alone in the garden, looking at trees and birds – a solitary figure, hopefully not appearing lost.

Lan Zhou stood behind the ornamental gate observing from afar, vaguely sensing great trouble. Chang Bao stood beside him bowing to receive orders. Seeing the young master’s brow furrowed, he rashly spoke his thoughts: “I’m afraid this can’t be contained. There are quite a few drilling locations. If someone investigates and reports to the capital, the matter will be serious. In this servant’s opinion, might as well go all out…”

Before he could finish, his young master turned and glared fiercely at him, “What do you mean go all out? Say that again!”

Chang Bao was stunned, “Just like with Empress Bu last time…”

He raised his hand and slapped him across the face, “Do you know who this is? If the Prince found out, he’d flay you alive!”

Chang Bao said with a mournful face: “This servant’s head is full of bean curd – I can’t think properly. I just felt this was most convenient…”

“Then give the court an excuse of poor service to exterminate nine generations of relatives? If we really followed your method, none of us would survive.” He instructed with a stern face, “Immediately report to the Prince and send people to race to all locations with warnings. If it can be contained, best. If not… find ways to temporarily buy people off and deal with them later.”

Chang Bao bowed and agreed, while muttering: “This princess is something else too – already married to our prince yet still siding with the living deity in the Forbidden City everywhere.”

He sneered, “What do you understand? She’s first the Grand Princess of Great Ye, only then the Princess Consort of Nanyuan. This magnificent foundation of over two hundred years was carried down generation by generation by ancestors. Even if not considering that muddle-headed ruler, she must still consider her forebears. Murong Gaogong isn’t Li Houzhu after all – he’s more capable of scheming than Li Houzhu, otherwise he wouldn’t have so smoothly married the Grand Princess into Nanyuan.” After speaking he waved dismissively, “Stop babbling and go handle your duties!”

As for Wanwan, she no longer had the energy to attend the evening banquet and used illness as an excuse to take leave.

Alone with heavy thoughts, she reclined on the couch listening to wind sounds outside. Soon there was also the pattering of rain. Getting up to push open the window, she saw the sky was overcast like an inverted clay pot, with bean-sized raindrops pelting the banana leaves with crackling sounds.

Xiao You came in asking whether to serve dinner. The rice dumplings from midday were still sitting in her chest – she didn’t feel hungry. Returning to lie on the couch with closed eyes, she asked if Manager Yu’s agents had departed. Xiao You said yes, “Your Highness needn’t worry – Manager Yu will surely provide an explanation.” After hesitating she added, “If this proves true, how does Your Highness plan to handle it?”

Yes, how to handle it? She had been thinking all afternoon without reaching an answer. She only remembered what he had once promised her – she deeply trusted him. Now this was merely speculation without solid evidence. She could only keep comforting herself – if true, perhaps he just needed troops to protect Nanyuan. For instance, with the overflow of Huaining disaster victims, if they couldn’t guard the key routes, Nanyuan would truly be overwhelmed by refugees. Currently all the princes appeared respectful on the surface while calculating privately. Those who truly followed court policies strictly would probably be fools…

She was also willing for him to protect himself – naturally under the condition that numbers remained controllable. If they exceeded too much, she couldn’t help but suspect he had other schemes.

Each fiefdom was actually like a small court, just with limited territory and scale. He had many matters to handle and was therefore very busy, sometimes disappearing all day. She was accustomed to saving up things to tell him. But today’s matter, by the time she saved it up, she had lost the desire to speak, having Tonghuan light incense early and moving to lie on the bed.

When he returned, night was already deep. She lay with her back turned, hearing footsteps reach the bedside. Then he lay down beside her, habitually embracing her from behind like a small bowl fitted with a large bowl – seamlessly warm, as if a lost part of her body had returned to position, peaceful and satisfied.

She loved this inconsiderate disturbance that let her know he had returned, allowing peaceful sleep all night.

She moved slightly and he tightened his arms, his dark husky voice carrying seductive undertones, “Still waiting for me?”

She made a sound of acknowledgment and turned around, “So late – what kept you busy?”

He sighed, “The court is inspecting spring silkworms and summer mulberries – inevitably had to wine and dine the imperial commissioners. Toasting and drinking at the table is more exhausting than anything… From now on if I’m late, don’t wait – rest yourself first.”

He frowned with a tired expression, but his gaze never stopped. He was carefully observing, trying to discern even the slightest displeasure from her expression. Actually she didn’t know that dealing with her suspicions was secondary – the newly built treasure ships and sea-going vessels at Xinjiang Harbor that needed covering up were most troublesome. Fortunately Xiao Duo would never return. A civil official who knew nothing about naval forces would only check firearms and ship quantities against account books. Adding a few strokes here, subtracting a few there – though manageable, it truly took considerable effort.

He had received news of the day’s events and knew she had already sent people to investigate. Even if he could cover everything without a trace, he still felt somewhat disappointed by her actions. He thought that after their intimacy, she could wholeheartedly focus on being his little wife, yet she had never let down her guard. She was so stubborn – if she truly discovered any clues, would she break with him completely?

He gazed at her, this face carved into his mind that he would never forget until death. But sometimes being too close actually made it blurry. He raised his hand to touch that pink cheek, forcing out a smile, “Did you miss me today?”

Wanwan nodded and moved closer to him, “Hold me tight, will you?”

Again like this – unwilling to speak what was in her heart. He wanted to resolve it but didn’t know how to start. Both playing guessing games and constantly scheming – truly pitiful and hateful.

He did as she asked, holding her so tightly both arms ached slightly. She remained silent, just pressed against him. When he kissed her there was even some roughness, because he too was frustrated, blaming her for being too sensitive and giving no room for maneuvering. He didn’t know how to make her relax her guard – he had done everything he could, so what more was needed?

She sobbed beneath him while he didn’t relent, not daring to blame her but loving her with a slight punitive flavor. She looked at him hazily, face flushed red yet eyes innocent. He covered her eyes, his heart in great turmoil. Having planned to this point, many stood ready to fight alongside him. If he paused, they would certainly keep urging action. In trying to achieve both goals, the path under his feet had become even more difficult than before – something unforeseen when marrying the princess.

Exhausted to the extreme with his whole body emptied, he lay there panting. She reached over with difficulty, slender fingers massaging his temples as she asked softly: “Liang Shi, do you have a headache again?”

Last time when his overindulgence made her cry, he had used headaches to deflect her. She seemed to have remembered – whenever it was like this, it meant he had a headache and she couldn’t blame him.

He suddenly felt heartbroken, pulling her into his arms to kiss her, “I’m sorry, I was too rough.”

She smiled, “No need to apologize – I know you’re tired.”

He didn’t speak for a long time. Wanwan thought he had fallen asleep when he suddenly said: “I have troops.”

She was shocked, staring at him in amazement. He sat up dejectedly saying: “I have troops in every county and prefecture. The current situation is too chaotic – those princes all harbor ambitions. If I handled things according to court policies, who knows if someone might cut off my head while I’m sleeping. I have to guard against this.”

His frankness actually calmed her down, “Just for self-protection, right?”

He nodded, “Just for self-protection, and when necessary, to rescue the monarch.”

She breathed a sigh of relief, smiling peacefully, “That’s good. You might as well tell me everything so I don’t have to guess blindly.”

She nestled over, her soft body like finest silk, densely entwining around him. He felt both guilty and ashamed – even if everything was suspended, the schemes still existed. Deceiving her again and again like this, he didn’t know what terrible scene would unfold when she learned the truth in the future.