Growing up alone without playmates, one would indeed feel lonely at times. Wanwan had several clan daughters of her age, but they all lived outside the palace and rarely met. Previously, Father had selected two to serve as her study companions, eating, living, and spending all their time together. Unfortunately, later they were both sent away one after another due to personal recklessness or political entanglements.

The Empress Dowager saw her melancholy and found nothing wrong with it: “Wanwan is such a good child—I’ve never seen anyone more obedient than her. She’s well-behaved, filial, and knows propriety. Don’t let those vulgar people outside the palace corrupt her. A princess must look like a princess. Laughing and chattering with them all day would be undignified.”

So Wanwan had to befriend solitude and learn to enjoy it. After all, her future life would hold much more and deeper feelings like this. Once you become accustomed to it, you won’t feel afraid anymore.

When Xiao You was still around, she had someone to confide in, but last year she was punished and sent to the Northeastern Five Bureaus, so Wanwan no longer expected companionship. Tonghuan was a good person who took excellent care of her everywhere, but being too practical, she seemed unable to truly connect with her. Like her mother, Wanwan—regardless of her high status or age—had an unrestrained heart. Anyone who could be her friend couldn’t be too worldly. Coincidentally, just such a person appeared one day. Her name was Yin Luo, originally a court lady designated for Emperor Yuanzhen’s burial sacrifice. However, having already caught Second Brother’s eye, she fell from the white silk halfway through and didn’t die. Thus the talented lady became a dowager consort, was gilded in the imperial mausoleum, and after going in circles returned to the palace, living as neighbors with Old Consort Zhao and becoming a target for her venting.

Luan Palace was very close to Jiefeng Palace, with the rear hall directly against Jiefeng Palace’s wall. When Old Consort Zhao was displeased, she would loudly scold palace maids and eunuchs in her hall, audible from the front. After Wanwan became close friends with Yin Luo, she often came to appreciate Old Consort Zhao’s scolding skills. Holding her teacup, she worried for her: “How long can this continue? The palace values tranquility, yet this place is so raucous!”

“Old Consort Zhao belongs to the rat zodiac.” Yin Luo was very broad-minded. “Let her scold away. Later I’ll learn to play the reed pipe and play it at midnight to show her my prowess.”

Since she wouldn’t take abuse lying down, Wanwan felt relieved. Sitting and drinking pre-Qingming Longjing tea, she heard her sigh: “Actually Old Consort Zhao has it hard too. They say it’s providing for her, but really she’s eating others’ food. As for me, I used to be under her command, so taking a few rebukes isn’t much. But she doesn’t know—I don’t want things to be like this now either…”

Wanwan looked up at her: “You don’t want to follow His Majesty?”

She glanced outside: “I’m baring my heart to you—you can’t betray me.” Seeing her agreement, she lowered her voice: “I don’t like His Majesty. I don’t want to be his consort.”

Such straightforward people were truly rare. Not one woman in the palace dared to directly say she disliked the Emperor. Even those out of favor still had to pretend, let alone someone like her who was brought back through great schemes.

Was the Emperor likeable? Wanwan knew he wasn’t, so when she said this, she didn’t find anything wrong with it: “Do you have someone you like in your heart?”

Yin Luo’s eyes immediately brightened. Usually vivacious, she suddenly became quiet, pursing her lips with slight smile lines at her brow tips, looking incomparably graceful. But she slowly shook her head—even if she truly had someone she liked, she absolutely dared not admit it. She now bore the title of dowager consort but was actually the Emperor’s designated concubine. Having entered the palace, she couldn’t harbor any such thoughts.

But she disliked the Emperor—this Wanwan could see. When meeting privately with herself, she was lively and spirited, but when the Emperor came to visit, she claimed illness and appeared half-dead. When Wanwan occasionally discussed her with Tonghuan, Tonghuan also laughed: “This Dowager Consort Duan is truly quite interesting.”

A person’s name might also reflect their character. Something clearly invisible could condense into a tower, gather into a building—what a powerful force that must be. Yin Luo was such a powerful person. Her hometown was in Jiangnan, and she often spoke of southern customs and culture—green brick lanes and Qinhuai night songs. After rain, leaning against waterside railings and lowering bamboo baskets, fishermen would charge very little money and give you a plump big carp. Places with water produced outstanding people and spiritual lands; water bred tender beauty and also romantic charm.

“Hearing you speak like this makes me really want to see the south.” Wanwan used her round fan to cover half her face. “But I can’t leave the palace at will—I’m not like men.”

Yin Luo said: “If you want to leave the palace, you can only marry. Find a southern official and quietly follow him away from the capital—the Empress Dowager couldn’t control you then.” After speaking, she murmured again: “Marry anyone, just don’t marry Prince Nanyuan…”

When Wanwan suddenly heard her mention Prince Nanyuan, Xiao Duo’s face floated up in her mind: “The Yuwen clan cannot marry a princess—did you forget?”

“Where are there any fixed rules in this world? This time I accompanied the Factory Minister south and was entertained by Prince Nanyuan in Jinling. He mentioned you to me.” Yin Luo looked at her with obscure eyes.

Wanwan remembered the trouble she’d caused last year and her contact with Prince Nanyuan, but she felt she hadn’t revealed her identity then, so his inquiring about her seemed puzzling: “Mentioned me? I don’t know him.”

Tonghuan reminded from the side: “After so much time, Your Highness might have forgotten, but this servant remembers. Ten years ago this servant served at the princes’ grand banquet in Fengtian Hall. Prince Nanyuan was still the heir apparent then, at most twelve or thirteen years old, entering the palace with his father for the feast. Young children couldn’t sit still, so he left the great hall during the banquet and mistakenly entered Qianqing Palace, where the Brocade Guard caught him red-handed. Originally they would have reported it and awaited punishment, but Your Highness happened to encounter this when returning to the palace and felt it wasn’t anything serious, so you had them release him.”

After hearing Tonghuan’s account, her face still showed confusion. So they had dealings long ago, yet when she saw him last year, she had no impression at all.

“Then why did he mention me?” She felt embarrassed again, worried that she’d been recognized long ago while she was still putting on airs, looking like a fool in his eyes.

Yin Luo played with her Jianan wood bracelet, seeming to look down on Prince Nanyuan: “He inquired whether you were doing well in the palace and if you were betrothed. You’re of golden branches and jade leaves—how many people eagerly hope to marry a princess? Prince Nanyuan is also human and naturally wants to climb high—isn’t this obvious?”

Wanwan had grown accustomed to hearing such things over the years. It seemed all men in Daye made marrying a princess their life goal, which she found boring. That Prince Nanyuan had left her quite amazed, but thinking carefully, he always overlapped with Xiao Duo. Aside from that golden ring in his eyes that she found unforgettable, everything else was merely like wind passing without trace.

Falling in love with someone in youth was truly too profound. Xiao Duo was like a landscape, a tree full of blossoms—fine to admire from afar, but not to be touched. Her feelings couldn’t be spoken aloud, nor had she revealed half a sentence to Yin Luo. Conversely, she gradually discovered Yin Luo’s unspeakable secret. She and Xiao Duo seemed to have an unusual friendship—no concrete evidence, just glimpsed from daily details. If it were someone else, they’d probably consider it a shocking secret and want to spread it everywhere, but Wanwan found it quite normal. Xiao Duo was an excellent person—if she liked him, naturally others would too. She was very happy to find a friend with similar views, and because of this, became even closer to Yin Luo.

Yin Luo was mysterious all day yet lived quite freely. Women who entered the palace, especially those the Emperor had long desired, had no reason not to serve in his bed. One day she finally stayed overnight, and when Wanwan went to see her the next day, her eyes were red and she kept calling “Tongyun.” Tongyun was her palace maid who sighed upon hearing her call: “Master, what’s so terrible? It’s just serving in bed—what are you doing?”

This unwilling imperial favor was quite a blow to Yin Luo. For a while Wanwan saw her always melancholy, and before long she fell ill. The capital was stirred up by fox demon rumors, causing widespread panic. The newly established Western Depot handled affairs ineffectively. The Emperor had originally intended to gradually sideline the Eastern Depot, but because this matter was difficult to resolve, he reinstated Xiao Duo and summoned him back to the capital.

When he returned, Wanwan was unaware. That day she still went to visit Luan Palace and only returned near evening. Walking in the corridor, she saw Xiao Duo’s adopted son Cao Chun’ang from afar, bouncing up to bow: “Greetings to Your Highness the Grand Princess.”

Wanwan was overjoyed: “The Factory Minister has returned?”

Cao Chun’ang confirmed: “He entered the palace first, and the Empress Dowager summoned him immediately. He’s speaking with her in Cining Palace right now!”

“How long has he been there?”

Cao Chun’ang calculated: “About two tea periods. The Empress Dowager entrusts everything to adoptive father, as Your Highness knows. He’ll probably be delayed a while longer. If Your Highness has any matters, please instruct this servant—this servant will relay the message to adoptive father.”

Wanwan shook her head: “Nothing urgent. There’s still time before the gates are locked—I was just about to walk in the garden. Go about your business.”

Cao Chun’ang acknowledged, bowed respectfully, and headed toward the Eastern Depot.

At summer’s end, the sun had set and red clouds spread across the sky, extending from the western horizon all the way up to create evenly mottled patterns overhead. She lingered outside Longzong Gate—this was where Cining Palace and West First Long Street intersected. If he was going to the Eastern Depot, he would definitely pass through here. They hadn’t seen each other for three months, and she actually missed him a bit. Human feelings were truly ever-changing. Initially she had been disgusted by the unclear rumors between him and Old Consort Zhao, but as time passed, this minor flaw became insignificant.

She clutched her handkerchief, her heart anxious yet full of anticipation. Finally seeing someone emerge from Cining Gate, she lifted her skirt and hurried forward two steps, but upon seeing him actually felt somewhat embarrassed.

He called “Your Highness,” his figure appearing much thinner in the twilight. She bashfully tucked her sleeves, tiny flowers blooming at her lips: “Managing silk affairs and supervising shipping—the Factory Minister has worked hard during this time.”

He smiled lightly: “These are all within this minister’s duties—I dare not speak of hardship. Rather, Your Highness appears much more refined than before.”

She blushed: “Always failing to grow up—wouldn’t that invite ridicule? Was everything well during your southern journey? Did everything go smoothly?”

He nodded: “Just that the affairs were difficult to handle, with too many interests involved, which took considerable effort.” As he spoke, he studied her: “Returning to the palace, this minister heard rumors about Your Highness’s marriage. Old Consort Zhao’s matchmaking addiction has flared up again—I heard she recommended Censor Zhao’s son?”

Wanwan hummed agreement: “She did mention it to me.”

He frowned: “The former Emperor’s passing was only half a year ago—Old Consort Zhao is being rather hasty. This minister will only advise Your Highness one thing: Daye princesses have the right to choose their consorts. Marriage is a lifetime matter—please consider carefully, Your Highness, and don’t be rash.”

This suggested that the perfect man Old Consort Zhao described had already been investigated by him. Since he advised her to think carefully, the man was apparently quite unsatisfactory. Wanwan’s heart settled as she breathed a long sigh of relief. Without him in the palace, the Forbidden City was like lacking a backbone. Now that he’d returned, everything had hope again.

She changed to a lighter, more playful tone: “What did the Empress Dowager want with you?”

He escorted her back to Yude Palace, speaking as they walked: “His Majesty’s ascension comes at a time of rising rumors. Fraternal succession differs from father-to-son inheritance—everything lacks something. Fearing the princes might cause trouble, even officials stationed in outer territories haven’t been summoned to the capital yet. Now that the realm is peaceful, the Empress Dowager intends to grandly host the Mid-Autumn banquet, combining grace with authority to establish His Majesty’s prestige before these princes. This minister is preparing for this event and will be busy during this period. The things I brought back for Your Highness are still at my residence—I’ll have subordinates deliver them later.”

He had traveled so far from south to north yet still brought her gifts—at least proving he remembered her. At this moment, anything she said seemed superfluous. Wanwan lowered her head, a shallow smile blooming on her face.