The palace attendant reported softly: “Your Majesty, the Prince of Pingnan requests an audience!”

Zili set down the memorial he was reading. Tomorrow was the coronation ceremony, and there truly was so much to be reported — it must be difficult for the officials of the Ministry of Rites too. Previously, all the preparations had been focused wholeheartedly on the Crown Prince’s ascension; now that it was himself instead, all the dragon robes and the Empress’s garments had to be rushed and altered through the night. Fortunately his build was similar to the Crown Prince’s, or with only two days to prepare, they might have had to execute the tailors and still not finish in time.

He stretched his back — being king wasn’t so easy either. From the hour of the Rabbit to the hour of the Horse, he’d been cooped up in the study without moving. What business did Liu Jue have coming to see him? To report on Wind City’s defenses? Rushing to arrange his marriage to A’Luo? A mocking smile rose again at the corner of Zili’s mouth — I am king now, aren’t I? If you think you can marry A’Luo this easily, it won’t be so cheap! But aloud he said: “It’s already midday, isn’t it? Have the meal served — invite the Prince of Pingnan to dine together!”

Liu Jue entered the side hall and, by protocol, moved to perform the ceremonial bow to Zili. Zili caught him before he could kneel, his handsome face radiant as a spring breeze: “Yunzhi, there’s no need for such formality! It’s only the two of us brothers here — if you bow, it only makes things awkward between us.”

“This subject is overwhelmed with gratitude!” Liu Jue said, lowering his head.

Zili was very pleased — if only the spirited Prince of Pingnan who had once competed with him for A’Luo would show this attitude more often! He laughed heartily: “Tomorrow is the coronation ceremony — today, while we’re just brothers together, if you keep up this excessive courtesy, Zili, it only makes me uncomfortable!”

A smile rose on Liu Jue’s face, that ache surging up inside him once more; he forced it down and said with a smile: “Since that’s so, Yunzhi obeys.”

Zili grabbed his hand and pulled him down to sit. Simple but exquisite dishes were arranged on the table. A palace attendant stepped forward to pour wine. “You may leave — no need to attend us here,” Zili instructed.

“Yes!” The attendant bowed and withdrew, backing out of the side hall.

“This is more comfortable! Come, this is border-city wine — let’s you and I drink our fill as brothers!” Zili raised his cup and drained it in one gulp.

Liu Jue had things weighing on his mind and couldn’t feel any real pleasure, but his face betrayed nothing, and he likewise drained his cup. This wine was truly strong! From the moment it entered his throat it burned like fire straight to his heart. He thought of the wine A’Luo and his father had distilled together — smooth, mellow, with lasting strength. A trace of tenderness curled at the corner of his mouth.

Zili’s brow twitched, and he said with a half-smile: “Is Yunzhi thinking of A’Luo? Such an expression?”

Liu Jue caught himself at once, his thoughts racing swiftly, and laughed: “I was thinking of that night on the grasslands, when the two of us drank our fill of this very wine! Zili, your tolerance was no match for mine — Suxin Studio fell before I did!” His tone carried a touch of proud swagger. This kind of Liu Jue would put Zili more at ease.

“Ha ha, indeed! I haven’t forgotten that night on the grasslands either! How is A’Luo’s health?” Zili’s real intent was to remind Liu Jue of what he had once said.

“Yunzhi came for two reasons — one, to visit you, and the other is precisely about A’Luo.” Liu Jue’s voice sank low. It was time to make the decision. Heaven knew, looking at this table full of delicacies while thinking of A’Luo unable to take even water or rice — how could he bring himself to swallow any of it? Liu Jue rose, lifted the hem of his robe, and knelt down: “This subject, Liu Jue, has a matter to beg of Your Majesty.”

Zili hastily left his seat and helped him up: “Yunzhi, there’s no need for this! Whatever the matter, just speak.”

Liu Jue looked at Zili, his eyes full of anguish: “Zili, do you know — since A’Luo returned from the palace to the Chancellor’s residence, she has not woken once.”

Zili’s expression changed: “What happened? Could it be that Wang Yanhui—”

“I could not understand it myself. Mere exhaustion should not leave her unconscious this long. I consulted every renowned physician and diviner, and finally someone said she had been poisoned by the Lost Soul Jade Luring Incense. This poison has only two cures — one is to be sent to the Xia Kingdom in the southwest for treatment by the royal secret method; the other is to enter the Imperial Mausoleum’s ice spring and be cured by soaking in it. The journey to Xia Kingdom is far, and it’s said that the royal secret method is known only to the Xia King himself — whether he would be willing is uncertain. A’Luo would not survive long enough to reach Xia Kingdom before her life slipped away. So, for now, our only recourse is the ice spring.” Liu Jue recounted the situation calmly, a mocking smile touching the corner of his mouth. “To think that Wang Yanhui, even in death, would still try to make you and me turn on each other over A’Luo!”

The Lost Soul Jade Luring Incense? A’Luo had actually been poisoned with the Lost Soul Jade Luring Incense? Shock and questions surged through Zili’s mind at once. When had this Wang Yanhui gotten her hands on this secret medicine of the Xia royal family? The method for producing this secret medicine had already been lost; the Xia royal family treasured it like a rare jewel, said to possess no more than four doses in total. And to cure this poison required the blood of the Xia Kingdom’s Holy Maiden as the medicinal guide — the Holy Maiden, Lady Mingyue, was the Xia Queen herself; obtaining her blood was no simple matter! Even if the Xia King and Queen Mingyue were willing to help, the distance from Ning Kingdom to Xia Kingdom… A’Luo could not wait that long. Wang Yanhui had calculated precisely that only the ice spring would work. But — the ice spring? His heart raced wildly. If A’Luo became his consort, everything would become simple.

Zili forced back the surge of joy in his heart, then thought of Wang Yanhui’s true intentions — she wanted him and Liu Jue to turn against each other? Zili’s expression turned stern: “How could Zili possibly take a subject’s wife by force! Yunzhi thinks too little of me!”

“Yunzhi will go to the Chancellor’s residence to call off the engagement. As long as A’Luo’s life can be saved, I believe Zili will treat her extremely well too.” Liu Jue answered without hesitation.

That way — that way, no one could say he had taken a subject’s wife by force. That way, A’Luo could rightfully become his consort. This thought spun in Zili’s mind; he forced down that surge of joy, his face grave as still water, turning away so Liu Jue wouldn’t see the smile hidden in his eyes.

“Would Zili really watch her grow more haggard by the day? Watch her die in front of his eyes in five days?” Liu Jue pressed. He thought sorrowfully — what attitude must he still show, to make Zili feel at ease enough to go save A’Luo?

Zili blurted out: “How could I watch her die before my eyes? It’s only that, Yunzhi — if A’Luo’s heart belongs to you, how could I bear to separate the two of you?”

Liu Jue thought, so this is what it means to be an emperor — every last scruple must be swept clean away. He laughed loudly, the laughter carrying boundless desolation: “I have pursued A’Luo with all my heart, and yet she has never so much as glanced at me favorably. Whether her heart truly belongs to you or to me — Yunzhi truly does not know!”

Having said this, his chest tightened. A’Luo, if your heart holds no place for me, would you be happier under Zili’s care? A’Luo, forgive me! Forgive me for erasing your true feelings entirely! Let’s just say… let’s just say you truly don’t love me! He stopped his laughter: “Today, watching A’Luo for so long, I kept thinking — she knew you before she knew me. I was simply too proud, too unwilling to admit defeat. When she fled our betrothal, I only thought — the more you run, the more I will marry you. In Linnan City, it was she who stumbled upon me by chance and I who caught her, that’s all. Returning to Wind City, it was I who drugged her and forced her back — she never wanted to return, never wanted to go back to the Chancellor’s residence, and never wanted, never wanted to marry me!”

Zili was silent for a long while, memories of every moment with A’Luo surging up once more in his heart.

A’Luo had once said: “I’m so lucky to have met you — I thought I wouldn’t know any good men here.”

A’Luo had said: “Your eyes are so bright, like stars in the sky…”

Zili’s eyes softened. A’Luo, smiling sweetly at him, her eyes wide as she pleaded with him. The two of them riding horses on the grassland together, watching the stars… He preferred to believe A’Luo did not want to marry Liu Jue. He knew Liu Jue’s pride — the kind of pride that could hardly tolerate a woman refusing him — and yet, slowly, Liu Jue had fallen in love with A’Luo, loved her beyond all reason. But did A’Luo truly love him? Zili’s heart was a tangle of mixed feelings — admiration for the depth of Liu Jue’s love, yet also half-believing A’Luo did hold him in her heart. He closed his eyes. Would those clear, bright eyes never open again?

He turned abruptly: “Yunzhi, you won’t blame me?”

“How could I blame you? This is ancestral law — if A’Luo cannot become your consort, even if she wakes, she faces only death! I want her to live. Living matters more than anything else.” Liu Jue said sincerely. A smile suddenly bloomed across his face, and Zili was momentarily stunned — Liu Jue really was extraordinarily handsome. “What man of great ambition need worry about lacking a wife! A’Luo’s life, however, is only one!”

Both men knew perfectly well that the other deeply loved A’Luo. Liu Jue had settled her status first — once Zili ascended the throne, he could hardly snatch A’Luo away from Liu Jue’s hands; that would not befit a wise ruler. He could obstruct, could act in secret, but would always be in the wrong. Yet now, Liu Jue himself had delivered A’Luo before him, begging him to take her as consort and save her life. This was a gift from heaven! The engagement broken, no rites of matrimony to bind them — he could obtain her through perfectly proper means. Whether or not Liu Jue’s affection for A’Luo was genuine, he too would lose her in the end. And afterward, he would treat her well, dote on her, protect her, make A’Luo fall in love with him.

Once Zili had thought it through, joy finally showed on his face: “Yunzhi, you know my feelings for A’Luo run deep as well — I will surely not fail her!”

Liu Jue’s heart ached beyond words, and he said with a faint smile: “Yunzhi understands!”

Back at Tang Garden in the Chancellor’s residence, in A’Luo’s chamber, Liu Jue gazed steadily at A’Luo, still deep in slumber. Tonight, I must send you to Zili. Afterward — afterward, if you’re unwilling, I… Liu Jue smiled bitterly. Can I really take you and flee? Let Father bear the crime of indulging his son in abducting an imperial consort, suffer endless scorn and contempt from the world? Let his lifetime of good reputation be destroyed at my own hands? How furious would Zili be? I would have betrayed him after leading him on for nothing! He would hate me — any man would hate me! He might even use this as a pretext to weaken the princely house to secure his own throne! Could we truly escape? Where would we even flee to? Would Zili let us go… And yet, to leave you trapped in this palace you despise, confined to that small world for the rest of your life — how could I bear that either!

Zili had agreed to save A’Luo. Several times, the words about drawing ice spring water and enduring the Dragon Whip punishment rose to his lips, but he could not bring himself to say them. How could he ask Zili to make such a sacrifice for his and A’Luo’s happiness! Zili was the King of Ning — he could not be made to endure such flogging, to suffer agony every year on the day of heavy snow! Besides, to save the woman he loved this way, only to have her wake and marry someone else — Liu Jue stopped his thoughts, lifted A’Luo into his arms, and walked toward the door: “Go tell the Chancellor — this prince is taking A’Luo for treatment, tell him not to worry.”

Leaving the Chancellor’s residence, Liu Ying followed at a distance. Liu Jue rode his horse, holding A’Luo close, straight to the eastern outskirts, stopping by the stream. A gentle spring breeze blew, sunlight warm upon them. He held her carefully: “A’Luo, last time I brought you out here to play, we were ambushed. This time, no one will disturb us. Shall we just sit and look at the scenery?”

Spring grass stretched lush and green like a verdant carpet spread across the earth. New green shoots on the branches were dense and vibrant, buds like flower buds about to bloom, seeming almost like a tree already bursting into radiant blossom. The stream ran clear, with fish occasionally glimpsed swimming by.

“A’Luo, this place really is beautiful — so peaceful and natural. Let me tell you, when I was little, my master had me go catch fish, but not with a net or a spear — you had to submerge yourself in the water, swim alongside the fish, gradually blend into the water, then reach out your hand, and the fish wouldn’t flee. Then you’d use internal energy to draw them in. It was great fun.” Liu Jue softly told A’Luo stories from his past.

A’Luo leaned obediently against his chest, listening as though enraptured, her face veiled in a faint glow under the sunlight. Her eyes were closed, as if waiting to hear him continue the story. “Well now, you actually fell asleep listening — is my storytelling really that soporific?” Liu Jue pouted in complaint.

A trace of a smile lingered faintly at the corner of A’Luo’s mouth, as if she were laughing at him. Liu Jue sighed: “Sleep then, as long as you enjoyed listening.” His fingers combed through her loose hair, and he kissed the smile on her lips: “Actually, I never realized before how beautiful you’d become — apart from your eyes, your face was so small it was practically nonexistent, ugly little thing, hmph! Now I know — you were hiding it on purpose, weren’t you? I don’t know where a child so young got such ideas, knowing to hide yourself away… A’Luo, was it because you didn’t feel safe? Ah, I’ve promised you twice now that I would protect you for life… and yet, now I’m about to send you into the palace… send you to Zili… The palace isn’t like the Chancellor’s residence — how will you ever climb over such high palace walls?…”

Liu Jue slowly fell silent, his heart aching bitterly. Palace consorts could not casually see outside officials — afterward, afterward, what would he do? He looked toward the distance; the sun had already sunk halfway behind the mountains. His eyes grew hot, and he buried his face in A’Luo’s dark hair. Choking, he said: “I don’t know what to do, A’Luo. I want to wait until you wake and take you and flee, but how — tell me, how do we escape?”

Liu Ying stood twenty zhang away; the fragmented words by the stream drifted to his ears on the wind. He gripped his sword so tightly the veins on the back of his hand bulged. He glanced at the sky, then walked slowly to Liu Jue’s side: “My lord, it’s almost time. Let’s wake the young lady first.”

“Liu Ying, I want to officiate your marriage to Xiao Yu,” Liu Jue said softly.

Liu Ying started, a flush of red crossing his face, but he firmly refused: “At a time like this, how could Liu Ying possibly… Xiao Yu wouldn’t agree either.”

“Seeing a pair of true lovers finally united — A’Luo would surely be happy too. I don’t want, and don’t wish, to see separation. It’s not that I’m fulfilling your wish — it’s you two fulfilling mine,” Liu Jue said slowly.

“Thank you, my lord, for your blessing! Let’s discuss it once the young lady wakes.” Liu Ying bowed his head, hot tears streaming down.

Liu Jue lowered his head. A’Luo was still sleeping soundly. He kissed her gently near her hair: “A’Luo, we… will you suddenly remember today, someday in the future? Or will you think it was only a dream… From now on, when I see you, it will be through layer upon layer of pearl curtains, a person deep within the palace walls. A’Luo, will you answer me? Just once?”

A’Luo’s eyelashes trembled slightly. Liu Jue started, crying out: “A’Luo! You’re awake, aren’t you?” But no matter how he shook her and called out, the person in his arms remained motionless. The evening breeze blew, strands of hair drifting, eyelashes seeming to quiver faintly. Liu Jue, devastated, muttered: “So it was only the wind, deceiving me!” His handsome face twisted, as if in tears.

The sun could not bear to watch him, burying its face behind the mountains, leaving only a streak of orange mixed with resplendent violet at the horizon. Liu Jue slowly stood, carrying A’Luo, and leapt onto his horse, giving a soft command as he galloped toward the city.

A light sedan chair had already been waiting outside the palace gate, several palace attendants standing ready. Liu Jue carefully placed A’Luo into the sedan, looked at her once more, then hardened his heart, turned, and lowered the curtain.

“His Majesty asks the Prince of Pingnan to rest assured — this servant will now carry the young lady into the palace,” the attendant said respectfully.

Liu Jue gave a low grunt of acknowledgment. The attendant called softly: “Lift the sedan!” Two strong eunuchs carried A’Luo swiftly through the palace gates. Liu Jue sat on his horse, watching reluctantly for a moment, then turned his horse’s head: “Let’s go!”

Liu Ying silently followed him, riding back to the princely residence.