Upon hearing the Crown Princess mention the candidates, the Crown Prince had already guessed a few possibilities. He asked with studied indifference: “Oh? What two candidates have caught your eye? You might as well say.”

The Crown Princess immediately brightened and smiled: “Speaking of them, Your Highness is actually familiar with both young ladies. One is the third daughter of the Duke of England’s household, Jiang Rongyue, and the other is my own niece from my maiden family, Su Ying.”

“Both of them grew up alongside A’Yao — childhood sweethearts with no secrets between them, each well acquainted with the other’s temperament. We know them both inside and out as well. No matter which one we bring home as our daughter-in-law, she would be perfectly suited to us.”

“Rongyue has a sweet, guileless, and adorably naive nature — very endearing. Ying’er is cultured and well-mannered, gifted in both talent and looks, and would make an excellent match for A’Yao. I won’t deceive Your Highness — I have been torn between the two myself and cannot decide which would be the better choice!”

The Crown Prince’s brow relaxed, and after a moment’s consideration he said: “Rongyue and Ying’er are both girls we watched grow up. They are indeed fine young women of virtue and talent alike. Deciding which one to take as a daughter-in-law is truly a difficult matter.”

“How about this — there is still some time yet, so let us observe the character of both a while longer. And let a few hints slip to A’Yao, to see which one he favors more.”

The Crown Princess immediately smiled and said: “In a few days, it will be Ying’er’s coming-of-age ceremony. I am to serve as her chief officiant at that time — why not have A’Yao accompany me on a visit to the Su family?”

She claimed to be undecided, yet it was plain as day she favored her own niece from her maiden household.

The Crown Prince did not expose the Crown Princess’s intent, and only said lightly: “Very well. In two months, Rongyue’s coming-of-age ceremony will also arrive. Remember to bring A’Yao to the Duke of England’s estate then.”

The Crown Princess’s smile faltered slightly, but she recovered swiftly and agreed with a gracious smile.

The Imperial Palace. Inside Lingbo Hall.

“Xinyun, go and make inquiries over at Zichen Palace — find out whether Imperial Physician Wei has any free time. If he is at leisure, please invite him to come to Lingbo Hall.”

A gentle and melodious female voice rang out from within the side chamber of Lingbo Hall.

The woman who spoke had a slender, graceful figure. She wore a light blue palace gown and kept her head bowed as she worked at her needlework. Her voice was unhurried, soft, and pleasant to the ear. As she spoke, she finally lifted her head.

Her willow-leaf brows were long and refined; her eyes were like the limpid clarity of autumn water; her nose was straight and her lips a vivid red; her skin was fair and fine as the finest porcelain, all of it setting off her clouds of ink-dark hair.

A single glance back and a hundred charms bloomed — all six palaces of powdered beauty paled beside her.

What a breathtaking, kingdom-toppling beauty she was!

This lady in her palace gown wore a serene expression, entirely without arrogance, speaking in soft and gentle tones.

The palace maid at her side, Xinyun, promptly accepted the order and departed: “Yes. This servant will go at once.”

After Xinyun left, the lady in the palace gown bowed her head again and carefully finished the final stitches on the needlework in her hands. She then examined it closely for a moment — what lay before her eyes turned out to be a pair of men’s cloth shoes. The embroidery was exquisite, and the soles had been made thick and sturdy.

The lady in the palace gown pressed her lips together and smiled softly.

At that very moment, Xinyun returned, beaming as she reported: “My Lady, Imperial Physician Wei happens to be free right now and has already arrived. He is presently waiting outside the hall.”

The lady’s eyes lit up. She rose gracefully: “Quickly, invite Imperial Physician Wei inside.”

Moments later, Imperial Physician Wei entered the side chamber.

He had still been wearing plain cloth garments when he visited the Crown Prince’s estate that morning, but upon returning to the palace, he naturally had to change back into the official robes of the Imperial Medical Bureau. In the Great Zhou dynasty, the color of official robes varied according to rank. Those of the third rank and above wore dark robes; those below the third rank wore dark green robes. This color was undeniably dignified, though it could not in truth be called particularly handsome. On those with darker complexions who wore it, it would make the face appear rather sallow.

Imperial Physician Wei was an exception. He was tall and slender, with fair skin and a fine, clean-cut countenance, and he wore the dark green official robes. The result was unexpectedly and strikingly good-looking.

“Your servant Wei Yan pays respects to Lady Jieyu.” Imperial Physician Wei bowed in respectful salute.

The lady in the palace gown said with fond reproach: “There is no one else here — what is the point of all these formalities? Come quickly, sit down and talk.” Her tone was easy and intimate.

Imperial Physician Wei straightened up, and a relaxed smile appeared on his face: “Propriety must not be abandoned.”

“What propriety must not be abandoned.” The lady simply caught hold of his sleeve: “A bond of blood is more important than any etiquette. You are my own younger brother — must I observe so many formalities just to see my own brother?”

This lady in the palace gown was none other than Wei Jieyu — known throughout the palace as its foremost beauty — and she was also Imperial Physician Wei’s full elder sister.

When Wei Yan was with others, he was cool and courteous, as though wearing a perfect mask through which no joy, anger, love, or hatred could be glimpsed. But once inside Lingbo Hall, his whole person relaxed, and a thread of warmth glimmered in his eyes.

“A’Yan, I have been making you a pair of shoes these past days — try them on at once.” Wei Jieyu, like an eager child, held up the freshly finished cloth shoes for Wei Yan to see, her face full of delight.

Wei Jieyu had entered the palace at sixteen, and now fourteen full years had passed.

As one’s surroundings shift, so shifts one’s bearing; as one’s nurturing changes, so changes one’s person.

Having lived more than a decade in the most opulent and luxurious palace in all the realm, Wei Jieyu had long since cultivated an air of noble composure. She was utterly transformed from the girl of common birth who had once been filled with bewildered anxiety and timid unease. Yet in one thing she had remained unchanged from the very first to the very last: she was still the devoted elder sister who cherished him, her love for him as unwavering across all these years as it had ever been.

Gazing at that familiar, gentle smile, Wei Yan felt waves of warmth rise in his heart. He took the cloth shoes and smiled: “I have more than enough clothes and shoes already — you need not trouble yourself over me. Making shoes is both laborious and hard on the eyes. Please do not do it again in future.”

Wei Jieyu laughed and brushed this off: “I am idle and bored all day long, and I have never been fond of diversions like the zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting. Doing a bit of needlework to pass the time suits me perfectly.”

The life of a palace consort was far from the brilliant affair outsiders imagined. Aside from the one or two days of imperial attendance each month that kept her occupied, the rest of the long, dragging hours were spent in loneliness and silent endurance.

Wei Jieyu was by nature quiet and still. Each day, apart from paying her morning respects to Empress Xu, she almost never left Lingbo Hall and rarely had dealings with other consorts. It was fortunate she had Princess An’ya at her side, or the days would have been even harder to bear.

Wei Jieyu urged again: “Try them on right now.”

Wei Yan could not refuse her, so he had no choice but to change into the brand-new cloth shoes, took a few steps, then looked up and smiled: “My Lady’s craftsmanship is as fine as ever. Wearing shoes made by others can never compare to the comfort of those made by your own hands.”

Such a simple pair of words was enough to make Wei Jieyu break into a smile: “As long as they fit well.”

After he had changed back into his official boots, Wei Jieyu carefully wrapped the cloth shoes in a blue cloth and set them at Wei Yan’s side: “Take them with you when you leave.”

Wei Yan smiled and gave an affirming sound.

Wei Jieyu looked at her brother — his fine features full of vigor — and felt a surge of pride well up within her.

Thinking of how he was still unwed, Wei Jieyu could not help but sigh and raised the topic she brought up every time she saw Wei Yan these past few years: “A’Yan, when do you intend to marry? You are already twenty-four — do you mean to keep letting time slip by like this?”