Princess Changping’s temperament was unpredictable and her moods mercurial — her face changed faster than the pages of a book.

Just moments ago she had worn the look of someone about to drive a person out in cold silence, yet in the blink of an eye she was all smiles again.

Prince Yan was, after all, Princess Changping’s own full-blooded brother, and his temperament differed very little from hers. He quickly tossed aside the earlier confrontation and asked with languid curiosity: “Oh? What was so amusing at today’s banquet — go ahead and tell me.”

Princess Changping gave a vivid, animated account of the wager between Commandery Princess Fumin and Ling Jingshu.

When Prince Yan heard the name Ling Jingshu, his narrow phoenix eyes brightened for a moment, a glimmer of interest flashing within: “Imperial Elder Sister, the Ninth Young Miss Ling you speak of — is she the one who came from Dingzhou? Her great-uncle is the Ministry of Works Department Supervisor, the official of the Ling family.”

Princess Changping raised her brows in surprise: “How do you know? Can it be that you have met her before?”

Prince Yan’s eyes flickered, and he smiled slowly: “We had a brief encounter at the Dingxiang Restaurant some time ago.”

Princess Changping glanced sideways at Prince Yan, then suddenly let out a soft, teasing laugh: “Oh my! You only met her the once, yet she left such a deep impression on you. Surely you have not taken a fancy to her!”

“And if I have?” Prince Yan smiled with easy nonchalance. “I am a prince — young, handsome, and unwed. In what way am I not a suitable match for her? Take her into the household as a prince’s side consort, and it would hardly be a slight to her standing.”

“Nonsense!”

Princess Changping laughed and gave Prince Yan a sidelong look: “The Empress Mother is presently busy selecting a principal consort for you. At this critical juncture, stop making trouble. Getting entangled with the daughter of some good family now will do your reputation no favors. Even if you have your heart set on bringing a beauty into the household, you must at least wait until after your formal wedding.”

Prince Yan shrugged his shoulders with the air of someone entirely unconcerned: “My reputation has always been what it is. Getting entangled with women is nothing out of the ordinary, and the Empress Mother will not mind.”

Men being a little rakish — it truly was not considered much of a fault.

Though Prince Yan had not yet married, he had long been initiated into such matters. The beautiful palace maids in his household aside, the number of “close female companions” he had made acquaintance with at pleasure houses and flower boats was by no means small.

When Princess Changping thought of how she had to go about everything in secret and obscurity for the sake of keeping a single male favorite, and then looked at Prince Yan conducting his dissolute affairs with complete openness and not a care in the world, the jealousy and resentment welling up inside her was indescribable.

This world was truly unfair!

Why was it that a man could take three wives and four concubines and go around plucking flowers left and right? Yet when a woman grew lonely and sought a bit of company for amusement, it was considered a violation of wifely virtue?

Hmph!

She cared not a whit for any of it. She was the senior princess of Dazhou, of rank and station unrivaled. Following her heart and her desires — who could do anything about it? Never mind keeping a few male favorites; even if the man she set her sights on had a wife and children, she would still have her way!

Lost in her willful thoughts, Princess Changping stopped trying to persuade Prince Yan altogether. She simply said: “Whatever you intend to do, I cannot very well stop you. However, this Ling Jingshu has a good sense of propriety and pleasant manner. She will be a welcomed guest at my banquets in the future. If you encounter her at my manor, you had best rein yourself in.”

A good sense of propriety and pleasant manner?

Prince Yan raised an eyebrow instinctively at that description.

That day at the Dingxiang Restaurant when he had encountered Ling Jingshu, her comportment had shown not a single trace of propriety or pleasantness… Could the Ling Jingshu of Princess Changping’s account truly be the same person he had met?

Moreover, being the full-blooded siblings they were, he knew Princess Changping’s temperament very well. She was not an easy person to get along with. To earn a place in her good regard was no small feat.

What manner of young woman was this Ling Jingshu, exactly?

“Imperial Elder Sister, you said earlier that you kept the poem and painting that the Ninth Young Miss made — could you have someone bring it for me to admire?” Prince Yan put forward the request rather unexpectedly.

Princess Changping was a little surprised but did not refuse: “Very well, I will have someone bring it now.”

Rooted in the muddy depths yet unsullied by the mire, White stems buried in the earth, unknown to all. Alive and vivid amid the crystalline green, Without waiting for the wind to come, fragrance fills the pond.

Prince Yan finished admiring the lotus painting, and his gaze came to rest on those few lines of verse. An expression of subtle and quiet emotion crossed his face, and for a long while he did not speak.

Speaking one’s aspirations through poetry!

Using the lotus flower’s noble character as a metaphor — concealing within it the poet’s own strength and unsullied purity of spirit. The final line in particular was the crowning touch, and spoke volumes of the poet’s talent and the quiet, unspoken pride held within.

That fleeting glimpse of her on the day in question had not actually left too deep an impression on him.

As an imperial prince who had grown up within the palace from birth, he had seen beautiful women of every description. After being initiated into such matters at the age of fourteen, there had never been a shortage of beauties within reach.

Ling Jingshu was indeed a rarely encountered beauty, and so he had been moved by a passing fancy and given her a calling card for Prince Yan’s manor. Such things were commonplace for Prince Yan.

If she had come calling of her own accord, Prince Yan would not have turned away a beauty who delivered herself to his doorstep. If she had held to her pride and composure and never come, that too was of no consequence. Could it be that Prince Yan, a true prince, would lack for companionship and amusement?

That Ling Jingshu had not shown herself since — that had been entirely within his expectations. There were far too many diversions and entertainments on his side to keep him occupied, and he had little spare thought to devote to a beautiful young woman he had met only once.

Just when he was on the verge of forgetting this young woman, he had, unexpectedly, heard word of her here at Princess Changping’s manor.

Even more unexpected — merely gazing at the poem and painting she had made with her own hands, he felt his heart and spirit swaying and stirring, unable to compose himself for a long while.

This strange and unfamiliar feeling — he had never experienced it once in his life…

Princess Changping watched as Prince Yan stared with a rare and fixed gaze, inwardly finding it quietly amusing. She teased him deliberately: “Hey! Why have you been in a daze this whole time? Surely you have not actually had your heart stirred just by looking at this poem and painting?”

Prince Yan — who was usually so unbridled and unguarded in speech — displayed, uncharacteristically, a trace of the awkwardness of a boy of his years: “What stirring of the heart — Imperial Elder Sister, please don’t talk nonsense.”

Oh my!

This boy’s face was actually faintly flushing!

He looked just like a clumsy young lad experiencing the first tender stirrings of love!

In all these years as siblings, she had never once seen Prince Yan look like this.

Unable to contain herself, Princess Changping broke into a melodious, delighted laugh: “So it really is a stirring of the heart. Oh my, how utterly amusing! One meeting in person, combined with today’s look at her poem and painting, and spring has blossomed in your heart. A’Qi, you have truly opened your Imperial Elder Sister’s eyes wide today.”

Laughing as she spoke, tears were nearly rolling from her eyes.

Prince Yan grew a little mortified and indignant, glaring at Princess Changping: “Imperial Elder Sister!”

One more word and he would truly be angry!

Princess Changping forced herself to hold back her laughter and raised both hands in surrender: “All right, all right — I’ll stop laughing at you, is that satisfactory?”

Prince Yan gave a light snort and declared in a tone that brooked no argument: “I am taking this poem and painting with me.”

Princess Changping’s eyes were full of laughter, though she feigned astonishment on her face: “And why is that? This painting was clearly kept by me — on what grounds do you take it away?”

Prince Yan snorted again, giving full expression to his overbearing and unreasonable side: “No particular grounds — I am simply taking it.”

Princess Changping’s stomach was nearly aching from suppressed laughter; she put on an expression of helpless resignation: “Very well — consider me afraid of you. Take it if you want.”