In late spring of the first year of Yongyou, the Emperor led court officials and palace relatives to the Southern Gardens for horseback riding, archery, and spring hunting.

Ta Zhu had waited a long time for this opportunity. In the afternoon, she slipped away from the crowd, rode her horse to an uninhabited slope, pulled out the bamboo whistle from her waist, and blew it gently.

After a moment, she looked up past the treetops and saw a brown eagle soaring toward her from the horizon.

But before the eagle could fly close, there was a flash of silver in the sky, and an iron arrow from an unknown source suddenly pierced the eagle’s abdomen.

The eagle frantically flapped its wings, trying to ascend higher and hide in the clouds, but another arrow appeared out of nowhere, striking directly into the eagle’s eye. The brown eagle fell to the ground like a broken thread.

Ta Zhu’s face turned deathly pale. She squeezed her horse’s flanks and rode anxiously toward where the eagle had fallen.

When she arrived, she saw Xiao Guo in black robes and a dark crown, sitting on horseback. On his back was a long bow, several feet longer than ordinary bows, gleaming with a cold metallic light.

He gazed at her with sharp eyes, as if he had been waiting for her.

Ta Zhu tumbled off her horse, crouched down to touch the brown eagle on the ground. Its feathers were soft, but its chest and abdomen were stiff—it was dead.

Tears rushed from her eyes:

“Why did you kill my eagle…”

This brown eagle had been with her since she was young, accompanying her for ten years.

Xiao Guo’s face was cold and severe, his black eyebrows furrowed.

He was filled with shock and fury, never having expected that Ha Ta Zhu could be so heartless.

He took a deep breath, tightly gripping the message tube he had taken from the eagle’s claws, and said, suppressing his anger:

“I’ve turned a blind eye to your sending messages via eagles several times, but if you are sending messages to Ha Dai, seeking to leave the palace and return north, I cannot allow it.”

He closed his eyes briefly, then asked:

“Would you abandon A’Yan too?”

Ta Zhu wiped her tears with the back of her hand and glared at him:

“A’Yan is already the Empress’s son!

I don’t want to stay in the palace anymore!

Since your promises are all empty words, why should I stay?”

Xiao Guo erupted in anger:

“Fine, fine, fine, Ha Ta Zhu. I’ve indeed been too indulgent with you. Since you can abandon A’Yan, you need not see him again from now on.”

Ta Zhu wanted nothing more than to leap up and slap him again, but Xiao Guo had already turned his horse around and galloped away.

From that day on, Ta Zhu could no longer enter Jian Xia Palace.

She could only go to the Imperial Garden to “accidentally encounter” Xiao Yan when he came out to play.

At the end of the first year of Yongyou, Consort Liu gave birth to a son, named Xiao Lü. Consort Liu was promoted to Noble Consort Liu.

Ta Zhu never spoke another kind word to Xiao Guo. Apart from the formal greeting of “May Your Majesty enjoy golden peace” during festivals, she acted as if there were no such person in the palace.

She did not want to see him, and Xiao Guo did not come looking for her.

She retreated to Ping Cui Palace to live out her days. She first planted a loquat tree, and later a cherry tree.

By the time the trees bore fruit, Xiao Yan had grown into a little boy who could run and jump, and who would secretly come to Ping Cui Palace to see her.

Ta Zhu wasn’t sure whether it was with the tacit approval of the Empress or the Emperor, but as Xiao Yan’s visits became more frequent, the palace servants no longer trembled with fear but became accustomed to it.

In the fourth year of Yongyou, at the beginning of the year, Xiao Guo executed two court officials, having them dismembered. The two were accused of forming factions, corruption, and selling titles. Along with their associates, a total of 1,600 people were executed. An additional 1,600 names were compiled into a registry of traitors, detailing their crimes for all officials to read.

During the Emperor’s birthday celebration in May of that year, Ta Zhu noticed that Xiao Guo, with the golden dragon on his body and jade pendants hanging from his crown, appeared particularly vigorous and confident.

In just a few short years, he had secured his position on the dragon throne.

She gave him only a cursory glance before turning her attention to the dishes on her table.

At such palace banquets, Ta Zhu always sat in a corner.

She had no title, yet lived alone in the largest palace in the western garden. She always loved to wear bright red robes, against palace regulations, yet no one criticized her.

Today she wore a wide-sleeved, cross-collared red dress without any patterns, with only a gold thread belt adorned with pearl rings at her waist. She sat silently in a corner of the hall, her bright eyes captivating, her figure graceful and beautiful.

Across the crowd, Xiao Guo could spot her at a glance.

Amidst the music of strings and bamboo instruments, after the officials had offered their congratulations, the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and the Third Prince entered the hall.

Ta Zhu watched intently as the three walked in from outside the hall.

Leading them was, naturally, the Crown Prince Xiao Heng.

Xiao Heng had grown into a gentle and refined young man, wearing a bright blue crown prince’s robe with dragon patterns. His every movement was as dignified as the wind beneath pine trees.

Everyone said the Crown Prince was intelligent, studious, and virtuous, with the Emperor placing great hopes in him.

Ta Zhu had seen him several times at palace banquets and felt that his eyes and brows resembled Xiao Guo’s, so she did not look at him for long.

Behind him followed two much shorter little figures, one in blue and one in green, walking side by side. They stopped at the steps, bowed together, and said:

Greetings to Imperial Father. Your sons wish Imperial Father a happy birthday.”

Xiao Guo smiled:

“Rise.”

After the two little ones stood up, Ta Zhu saw Xiao Lü in blue robes reach behind his back and secretly tug at the black silk belt of Xiao Yan in green robes.

Xiao Yan slightly furrowed his brow and inconspicuously moved away. His gaze swept around, looking toward where Ta Zhu sat in the corner, and he smiled somewhat shyly.

Ta Zhu immediately brightened her expression and smiled broadly at him. Xiao Yan blinked, then turned his attention back to Xiao Guo on the throne.

Xiao Lü looked toward her as well, surprisingly also smiling at her.

The two exquisitely beautiful little boys standing together bore some resemblance to each other.

Ta Zhu also beamed a smile at Xiao Lü.

Her feelings toward Xiao Lü were very complex. On one hand, she resented his existence, feeling that he constantly reminded her of her foolishness. On the other hand, she secretly felt grateful. Xiao Lü, pampered from birth and raised with indulgence, had a carefree nature, and Xiao Yan now had a playmate close to his age.

She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Just as she moved her gaze away, she noticed Xiao Heng turning slightly, also glancing at her.

His phoenix eyes were like cold stars, their light subtly shifting.

Ta Zhu did not understand his meaning and could only lower her head.

After the Emperor’s birthday celebration, Xiao Yan and Xiao Lü formally began their studies. Every day from the Hour of the Dragon (7-9 am) until the Hour of the Rooster (5-7 pm), their teachers lectured in the Taiji Hall.

Unable to visit Xiao Yan in Jian Xia Palace, Ta Zhu would go to the Imperial Garden every evening, waiting along the necessary route from Taiji Hall to Jian Xia Palace, to talk with Xiao Yan briefly, asking if his studies were difficult and other such trivial matters.

Until one day at the end of June, she waited and waited, but Xiao Yan did not appear.

The sunset had long faded, and only the sound of insects chirping remained in the Imperial Garden.

Ta Zhu asked a palace servant and learned that Xiao Yan had been punished by the Emperor because of a blue serpent kite. He had received fifteen strikes with a rod and was now lying in Taiji Hall, unable to get up.

Hearing this, she immediately rushed to Taiji Hall.

The guards outside Taiji Hall did not stop her. Ta Zhu charged straight into the hall.

As soon as she entered, she saw Xiao Yan lying on a soft couch in the middle of the hall, his face red, clearly having cried.

Xiao Guo stood beside the couch, asking coldly:

“Do you understand your mistake?”

Xiao Yan stubbornly kept his mouth shut and did not answer.

Ta Zhu frowned, stepped forward to push Xiao Guo aside, and knelt by the couch, pulling at Xiao Yan’s robes to examine his wounds.

“Does it still hurt?” she asked gently.

Xiao Yan turned his head, surprised to see her. His little face flushed even redder as he tightly held onto his robes, not letting go. Flustered, he said in his childish voice:

“It doesn’t hurt anymore. No need to look.”

Ta Zhu did not want to forcibly lift his pants, so she lovingly stroked his head and kissed his little face.

Xiao Guo ordered the servants:

“Since he is fine now, take the Second Prince back.”

A servant immediately came to carry Xiao Yan out of the hall.

Seeing this, Ta Zhu quickly moved to follow, but Xiao Guo called out coldly:

“Stop.”

Ta Zhu halted, turned around, and said unhappily:

“Why did you beat him?”

Xiao Guo swept his gaze around, and the servants in Taiji Hall all withdrew, closing the doors behind them.

Xiao Guo said calmly:

“He made a mistake and deserved punishment.”

Ta Zhu angrily retorted:

“How old is he? You gave him fifteen strikes. What if he was badly hurt?”

Xiao Guo suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist, but Ta Zhu pulled away.

Xiao Guo frowned and grabbed her wrist more firmly.

Unable to break free, Ta Zhu watched as Xiao Guo dragged her along the dim corridor of Taiji Hall toward the bedchamber.

“What are you doing?” she asked in alarm.

In the bedchamber, twelve ornate candles on bronze candelabras illuminated the room. A gold-carved dragon couch stood in the center, with yellow silk hanging from the canopy, adorned with jade rings that clinked in the night breeze.

Xiao Guo held her wrist tightly, removing his jade crown with his other hand and casually tossing it aside. He looked at her with furrowed brows:

“Your temper is far too great…”

Ta Zhu shook her arm but found she still couldn’t break free:

“Let go.”

Xiao Guo naturally refused.

“Why didn’t you come find me?”

He sneered, “You’d rather wait in the Imperial Garden every day than come to ask me?”

“That’s my choice,” Ta Zhu said through gritted teeth.

Xiao Guo saw her cheeks flushed with anger.

He sighed deeply:

“You think of A’Yan, but not of me at all?”

Ta Zhu paused, looking closer, and saw a hint of pitiful longing in his eyes.

She said harshly:

“Why should I think of you!”

Xiao Guo laughed softly:

“But I think of you, think of you until it hurts.”

Ta Zhu was stunned as she saw him shamelessly pull her hand toward the jade belt at his waist.

Her face immediately turned crimson. “You!”

She hurriedly tried to withdraw her hand, speaking incoherently, “You’re shameless!”

Xiao Guo seized the opportunity to embrace her waist, pressing her tightly against himself:

“Whether I’m shameless or not, you know best.”

Before he finished speaking, he reached out and snapped the gold chain and pearls at her waist. The gold foil pieces and gilt pearls were scattered across the floor with a clatter.

Ta Zhu cried out:

“Stop it!”

She pushed against him, saying angrily, “Why did you beat my son? Just for a Kite, you beat him like that!”

Xiao Guo roughly tore open her collar.

“Jade must be carved to become a treasure.”

He said with a laugh. “If I hadn’t beaten him, would you have come to see me?”

Ta Zhu scolded again:

“You’re shameless!”

Xiao Guo backed up several steps, still holding her, and pressed her onto the couch, saying:

“Shameless it is. In these two or three years, you’ve spoken fewer words to me than you have tonight.”

With that, he buried his face and kissed her lips.

Ta Zhu bit down hard, drawing blood from Xiao Guo’s lip.

The taste of blood immediately spread between their lips.

But Xiao Guo did not let go, his hands efficiently stripping them both bare.

Soon, the two were entangled together.

“I’ve missed you, missed you terribly…”

He whispered in Ta Zhu’s ear.

Ta Zhu said sarcastically:

“You never came to find me either.”

Xiao Guo laughed self-mockingly:

“How can you say I never sought you? The locked gate of Ping Cui Palace at night—I could draw it with my eyes closed.”

Ta Zhu was stunned for a moment. Xiao Guo said no more.

When Ta Zhu regained consciousness, the sky outside was still pitch black.

Xiao Guo was awake beside her, his eyes full of smiles as he held her and said:

“Give me a princess.”

Ta Zhu replied irritably:

“Your Majesty can have one with someone else.”

After speaking, she turned over.

Xiao Guo held her tighter, his hand teasing her again.

“I’ve made up my mind. I only want to have one with you.”

Ta Zhu held his hand:

“I can’t anymore. The doctor said I was injured when giving birth to Xiao Yan and can no longer bear children.”

Xiao Guo’s breath caught, but his arms suddenly tightened around her.

Ta Zhu felt as if her waist would break.

The chamber was silent. The candles still burned, and the fragrance of bamboo incense drifted from the purple gold censer.

Ta Zhu tried to push away the arm around her waist, but heard his voice trembling behind her:

“Do you…

regret it?”

Ta Zhu was silent for several breaths, then shook her head:

“No regrets.”

Xiao Guo held her tightly, kissing her hair again and again.

“Then you shall be my princess.”

* Early the next morning, Ta Zhu opened her eyes. Xiao Guo had already left for court.

She lay on the couch for a while before reaching out to lift the bed curtain. On the table in front of the couch was a change of clothes.

A palace maid approached the couch and bowed:

“Let this servant help the mistress bathe.”

After bathing, she pushed open the window and heard the sound of children reading aloud from the great hall.

Ta Zhu dared not stay longer and looked for another way out, hoping to return to Ping Cui Palace from the bedchamber.

The palace maid noticed her intentions and smiled:

“Please follow me, mistress. After leaving the bedchamber and going around the corridor, there is a side door.”

Ta Zhu nodded and followed her out the side door.

Walking outside Taiji Hall, she finally took a deep breath and quickened her pace toward the Imperial Garden.

Just as she turned past a palace gate, she came face to face with Xiao Heng.

Seeing her, Xiao Heng stopped in his tracks.

Ta Zhu stood still, smiled first, and after a moment, remembered she should curtsy, saying:

“Your Highness.”

Xiao Heng softly “hmmed” in acknowledgment, a slight smile appearing on his face as he continued past her.

After he had walked far enough, Ta Zhu stood up and continued toward Ping Cui Palace.

Xiao Heng walked a few steps, then turned back to look. The fiery red figure had already turned past the moon gate of the Imperial Garden’s stone path and was no longer visible.

Ha Ta Zhu.

He had first seen her on the day when his father returned from Danta. He had gone to welcome him, but when he saw Xiao Guo enter the city gate, a strange woman was riding beside him.

Sitting tall on horseback, proud and graceful, dressed in red like fire.

Later, he learned she was a woman from Danta, Xiao Yan’s birth mother, and his father’s Ta Zhu.

* Back at Ping Cui Palace, Ta Zhu’s mind was in chaos.

She didn’t want to dwell on whether she and Xiao Guo had reconciled.

However, Xiao Guo believed they had fully reconciled, as he came to Ping Cui Palace every few days, just like before.

Ta Zhu never mentioned Noble Consort Liu, Empress Gao, or anyone else in the harem.

She feared that bringing them up would only lead to disappointment.

Besides this, Ta Zhu had completely forgotten about her chance encounter with Xiao Heng.

Until after autumn, when she discovered a nest of bird eggs in a large locust tree behind Ping Cui Palace in the western garden.

The nest of eggs lay in the low branches among the leaves. There were three eggs, and she was very familiar with their patterns and sizes.

Seeing that no one was around, Ta Zhu climbed the tree trunk without hesitation to retrieve the eggs.

“What are you doing?”

Hearing a voice, Ta Zhu was startled but steadily cradled the eggs as she climbed down from the tree.

She turned to look and saw it was Xiao Heng.

She feigned nonchalance:

“Nothing.”

Xiao Heng’s gaze fell on her hands, and he asked with a faint smile:

“Are those bird eggs?”

Ta Zhu didn’t answer but asked instead:

“Why has Your Highness come to the western garden?”

Xiao Heng replied:

“Imperial Father wants to build a Buddhist hall in the western garden and ordered me to come with several officials to survey the area.”

Ta Zhu nodded, looked around, and, not seeing the others yet, turned to leave. But she heard Xiao Heng ask slowly:

“Are they eagle eggs?”

Ta Zhu’s face registered surprise. Xiao Heng smiled again:

“Did I guess correctly?”

Ta Zhu looked up to examine his features. The youth was innocent, his phoenix eyes filled with clear, open laughter.

She asked in surprise:

“How did you know?”

Xiao Heng:

“I heard you were once a falconer, so I made this guess.”

Ta Zhu silently praised him for being intelligent and studious.

Xiao Heng stepped forward, coming closer.

“May I look more closely?

I’ve never seen eagle eggs before.”

Ta Zhu reluctantly held the eggs out a little further.

Xiao Heng observed the moonlight-white eagle eggs, which seemed several times larger than ordinary chicken, duck, or goose eggs.

“Are these from your eagle?”

Ta Zhu smiled and shook her head:

“My eagles are either dead or old.”

Xiao Heng saw that although her lips smiled, her eyes held no joy. He suddenly remembered the Day-Piercing long bow he had seen in Taiji Hall.

“Where did these eagle eggs come from?”

Ta Zhu smiled and simply said:

“Please don’t tell anyone about today, alright?”

Xiao Heng pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly:

“Alright.”

Ta Zhu secretly breathed a sigh of relief and was about to leave when Xiao Heng asked:

“Without an eagle, can these eggs still hatch?

What do eagles eat?”

Ta Zhu thought his curiosity stemmed from youthful interests, so she patiently answered:

“Without an eagle, I’ll find other ways. I might not be able to hatch all of them, but even one would be good.”

As she spoke, she smiled knowingly:

“Other eagles eat cattle, sheep, snakes, and mice, but my eagles, for some reason, always loved eating rabbits the most—the white rabbits from the grasslands. They never missed.”

After listening, Xiao Heng smiled faintly and asked:

“Do you like eagles very much?”

Ta Zhu smiled:

“Of course. All falconers love their eagles.”

“Why do you like eagles?” Xiao Heng hesitantly asked.

Ta Zhu had never thought about this question. After his prompting, she thought for a moment and answered:

“Eagles are intelligent, have excellent eyesight, and…”

She couldn’t help but smile, “Eagles are faithful and loyal.”

Xiao Heng nodded and smiled:

“I see.”

* The Buddhist hall in the western garden took several years to build. The once quiet western garden suddenly became livelier, with people coming and going.

In the seventh year of Yongyou, the Tan Yuan Hall in the western garden was finally completed.

After summer arrived, Xiao Guo once again led troops north to attack Danta.

This campaign was prolonged, and by winter, victory and defeat were still undecided.

In November, Xiao Yan suddenly fell ill in the palace. His illness was severe.

Ta Zhu could not stay day and night in Jian Xia Palace and was consumed with anxiety.

She pleaded with Empress Gao daily, but the Empress said that the Imperial Physicians had done everything possible yet remained helpless, leaving it to fate.

She struggled through until the end of the year, finally receiving news of Xiao Guo’s return to the capital.

On the day Xiao Guo returned to the palace, heavy snow fell from the sky. As soon as she heard the news, she ran frantically toward Taiji Hall.

The palace servants blocked her outside Taiji Hall:

“His Majesty has seen no one these past few days.”

Ta Zhu called out loudly from outside the hall:

“Xiao Hu, come out! A’Yan is dying—don’t you care at all!”

Unfortunately, the great doors of Taiji Hall remained tightly closed, not budging in the slightest.

Ta Zhu, still unwilling to believe it, tried to move forward but was blocked by two guards with halberds. During the struggle, she fell onto the snowy ground. Though she wasn’t hurt at all from the fall, she suddenly began crying, sobbing as she called out:

“Xiao Hu, come out!

Come out!”

The vermilion lacquered doors of Taiji Hall slowly opened. Ta Zhu’s eyes brightened, but she saw only Empress Gao, wrapped in white fur, stepping out slowly. She looked down at Ta Zhu in the snow with pity and said:

“Ta Zhu, go back. His Majesty will not see you.”

The biting cold wind and snow blew from all directions. Ta Zhu was at a loss:

“Why?”

Empress Gao gently shook her head and said slowly:

“A’Yan’s illness is beyond cure. Both His Majesty and I are heartbroken.”

She fixed her gaze on the distraught Ta Zhu, a cold light flashing in her eyes:

“During this northern expedition, His Majesty captured Ha Dai and imprisoned him in the southern desert camp. This is a matter of state importance, not something that can be swayed by trivial romantic feelings. You should go back.”

Ta Zhu felt as if she had been struck heavily in the chest. She had not known about Ha Dai’s capture at all.

This was another disaster on top of calamity. Her heart felt as though it had shattered into pieces, and her face suddenly turned deathly pale:

“Xiao Guo captured Ha Dai?”

She lowered her eyes for a moment, then suddenly glared at Empress Gao:

“You’re lying to me!

Let Xiao Guo come out and tell me himself!”

“How dare you!

How dare you directly speak the Emperor’s name!”

Empress Gao shouted coldly, “Guards, slap her face.”

Four strong female servants came out in a line. Two grabbed Ta Zhu’s arms, while another held her head.

With two loud slaps, Ta Zhu received two hard strikes across her face.

Her cheeks were already numb from the wind and snow, so she didn’t mind. She only looked up at the eight carved window frames of Taiji Hall.

“Xiao Guo!” she called out again.

“Slap her!” Empress Gao commanded.

Ta Zhu endured several more slaps, but Xiao Guo never came out to see her.

The next day, news spread that the Emperor had issued a decree appointing Crown Prince Heng as regent, with authority equal to an imperial edict.

Ta Zhu was already in despair, but clinging to one last hope, she sent someone to the Eastern Palace with a message, begging Xiao Heng for an audience.

Xiao Heng had already come of age. As the Crown Prince and son of Empress Gao, she did not expect that he would truly be willing to see her.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Heng did grant her an audience.

As soon as she stepped into the Eastern Palace, Ta Zhu’s cheeks flushed red. She knelt and bowed deeply:

“I beg Your Highness to save my son.”

Xiao Heng wore a tall jade crown in his hair and bright yellow imperial robes with dragon patterns. His face had long since lost its youthful innocence. He looked down at her for a long time before finally responding with:

“Very well.”

He stepped closer, extending his hand as if to pull her sleeve and help her up:

“In a few days, I will have Second Brother sent to Cang Prefecture to recover.”

Ta Zhu avoided his hand and bowed deeply again:

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

She then rose to leave.

“Ta Zhu,” Xiao Heng called after her.

Ta Zhu’s heart skipped a beat. Xiao Heng had never called her “Ta Zhu” before. She stood in place as Xiao Heng walked over to her. His gaze slid across her face, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, his eyes revealing a hint of reluctance.

Ta Zhu looked away, but then saw him suddenly extend his hand, offering a piece of white jade:

“I happened to come across this. Please accept it.”

Ta Zhu lowered her eyes to see a water-like luster on the jade pendant in his palm, pure white and flawless, in the shape of a rabbit.

She dared not accept it:

“I cannot accept rewards without merit. Your Highness should take it back.”

Xiao Heng suddenly smiled:

“I thought flying eagles loved white rabbits the most. This jade is merely a trinket, not a valuable object.”

Ta Zhu was startled by his words. She raised her head to gaze at his phoenix eyes, vaguely reminiscent of someone familiar. While she was in a daze, Xiao Heng had already placed the jade pendant in her palm.

The jade pendant felt ice-cold to the touch. Ta Zhu suddenly came to her senses, but the strange feeling in her heart grew stronger.

“You may leave now,” Xiao Heng said coldly.

Ta Zhu walked anxiously toward the Eastern Palace gate for a few steps, then turned back to say:

“Your Highness’s great kindness today, Ta Zhu will never forget.

If there is ever an opportunity in the future, I will certainly repay you.”

Xiao Heng merely smiled without responding.

Three days later, Xiao Yan was sent to Cang Prefecture to recover. Before leaving, he visited her at Ping Cui Palace.

His little face had grown so thin that his cheekbones protruded. Ta Zhu dared not cry and only smiled:

“Get well and come back. Perhaps by then, the cherries will be ripe, and I’ll pick some for you to eat.”

Xiao Yan nodded, not crying either.

She realized that at some point, Xiao Yan had stopped crying altogether.

Spring of the eighth year of Yongyou.

News came that Xiao Yan had finally recovered from his illness and would return from Cang Prefecture after summer.

Half of the burden weighing on Ta Zhu’s heart was lifted.

She sat quietly in Ping Cui Palace when she saw a young eunuch dressed in blue clothes with a black sash walking in from outside.

He had slender eyes and a face full of smiles. Bowing, he said:

“Eunuch Gao greets the mistress.”

Ta Zhu did not recognize him and asked:

“Why have you come here?”

Eunuch Gao smiled and replied:

“His Majesty has ordered this servant to attend to the Second Prince from now on. I came specifically to inform the mistress and to deliver a message from His Majesty that he will visit Ping Cui Palace tonight to see you.”

After two months back in the palace without seeing her, Xiao Guo was finally willing to visit.

She looked Eunuch Gao up and down, nodded slightly, and said solemnly:

“I’ll trouble Eunuch Gao in the future.”

Eunuch Gao smiled again:

“It’s my duty. This servant will take his leave now.”

Ta Zhu waited in Ping Cui Palace until nightfall, when the stars filled the sky. Then Xiao Guo arrived.

“His Majesty arrives!” came the loud announcement.

She hurried to meet him at the palace gate, curtsying:

“Greetings to Your Majesty.”

Xiao Guo helped her up, his voice tinged with a smile:

“What’s this all about today?”

Ta Zhu looked up at him and saw his pale face. He had grown much thinner, and his imperial robes hung loosely on his frame.

Her doubts were resolved:

“Your Majesty has been ill?”

Xiao Guo took her hand and led her into the hall to sit down:

“I was indeed injured and needed several months to recover before I was well again.”

Ta Zhu’s eyes grew moist. She blinked:

“I understand now.

Your Majesty didn’t deliberately avoid seeing me.”

Xiao Guo touched her cheek, where the red marks had long since faded.

“I heard you were beaten?”

Ta Zhu shook her head:

“It was nothing.

Thankfully, A’Yan is well now.”

Xiao Guo lifted her into his arms and lay down on the couch, watching as her tears fell like pearls.

He wiped away her tears with his fingertips:

“I have already punished the palace servants from that day, avenging you. If that’s not enough, I can punish them further.”

Ta Zhu silently embraced his waist, her warm tears flowing down his neck into his collar.

Xiao Guo sighed:

“What are you crying for?”

He was silent for a moment, then realized, “Is it for Ha Dai?”

Ta Zhu looked up, staring at him without blinking:

“Can Your Majesty not release my brother?”

Xiao Guo sighed:

“I cannot.”

Ta Zhu closed her eyes in despair:

“I beg Your Majesty, please spare Ha Dai, please?”

Xiao Guo gently stroked her long hair, tucking a loose strand behind her ear:

“And you? Have you ever thought of sparing me?”

Ta Zhu’s body stiffened, her heartbeat stopping for an instant as she heard Xiao Guo ask coldly:

“Where did you get the eagle to send messages?

Was it from Ha Dai?”

Ta Zhu bit her lip tightly and did not answer.

Xiao Guo laughed once:

“I have never hidden anything from you. And you? You transmitted military secrets to Ha Dai. Was it for his self-preservation?”

He laughed loudly again:

“Ha Ta Zhu, you are far too naive. He used it for self-preservation once, and knowing your messages were reliable, the second time would have been his opportunity for achievement. With that intelligence, he could have reversed the situation. I fell into an ambush and nearly died…

Have you never considered any of this?”

Ta Zhu trembled all over, unable to utter a single word.

Xiao Guo covered his face with his hand:

“Ha Ta Zhu, after all these years together, you…

You have truly disappointed me.”

Ta Zhu felt a sharp pain in her chest, as if her heart, already full of wounds, had finally been crushed to pieces.

She took a deep breath: “And Your Majesty…”

She closed her eyes briefly, “Does Your Majesty not understand my disappointment? Does Your Majesty think I have not been disappointed?”

She pushed Xiao Guo away and dried her tears.

“Your Majesty is busy with affairs of state and grand ambitions. I, a foreigner, remaining in this palace, have long been superfluous. Why not let me go back? From now on, we part ways, each returning to our path.”

Xiao Guo laughed loudly twice:

“Ha Ta Zhu, your thinking is too beautiful.”

His face was as cold as frost as he said lightly and slowly, “You cannot go anywhere.”

Ta Zhu was confined to Ping Cui Palace.

Over the next six years, Xiao Guo led armies to attack Danta four times, winning victory after victory.

Danta paid tribute each year. At the slightest sign of disloyalty, there would be another campaign.

In the fifteenth year of Yongyou, Xiao Yan was sent by the Emperor to the southern desert camp.

Ta Zhu learned of this from Xiao Heng.

Although confined to Ping Cui Palace, she still had to attend various palace feasts and banquets when she could not refuse.

After the Crown Prince came of age, Empress Gao held increasingly more banquets in the palace—polo matches, flower appreciation banquets, moon-viewing banquets, and many others.

Noble ladies from the capital were all honored guests.

Ta Zhu watched the polo match with boredom. Ever since Xiao Yan had moved out of the palace to establish his princely residence, she had lost interest in palace banquets.

She silently yawned, instinctively sensing a gaze following her. Each time she looked back, she saw everyone as usual, with nothing out of the ordinary.

She thought she might be overthinking.

Just past noon, the sun grew hotter. After watching the polo match for a while, she turned to leave for Ping Cui Palace.

Halfway through the Imperial Garden, a familiar male voice stopped her:

“Ta Zhu.”

Ta Zhu halted her steps and turned her head to see Xiao Heng approaching.

“Your Highness,” she said.

Xiao Heng smiled, like a spring breeze:

“Leaving already?”

Ta Zhu replied politely:

“I only came to accompany others. After midday, I feel somewhat dizzy and need to rest in my chamber.”

Xiao Heng frowned slightly:

“Have you seen the Imperial Physician?”

Ta Zhu laughed once:

“It’s nothing serious. After a short nap, the dizziness will pass.”

Xiao Heng nodded slightly, but then said:

“I heard the Second Prince is to be sent by Imperial Father to the southern desert camp.”

Ta Zhu asked in alarm:

“When will he depart?”

Xiao Heng:

“It should be in a day or two.

Xiao Yan will surely ask Imperial Father to let him see you.”

Ta Zhu felt anxious:

“I hope I can see him.”

But Xiao Heng smiled:

“You certainly will.”

Xiao Heng always seemed so refined and elegant, his voice like a warm, gentle breeze.

His appearance had not changed over the years. Everyone in the palace said that Crown Prince Heng was like a jade tree or an orchid, like the bright moon cradled in one’s arms.

Ta Zhu was silent for a moment, then spoke:

“Your Highness has already come of age. I’ve heard the Empress has been concerned about selecting a crown princess. Your Highness should make a decision soon to ease the Empress’s mind.”

She smiled again, “This way, you won’t need to keep inviting people to accompany you, and can be more at leisure.”

Xiao Heng’s expression remained unchanged as he continued to smile:

“Well said.”

Ta Zhu took her leave and turned toward Ping Cui Palace.

Xiao Heng stood in place, his fists tightly clenched inside his sleeves, his knuckles making a slight sound.

Suddenly, there was a faint noise from nearby.

“Who’s there?” he demanded in a low voice.

A woman in rouge-colored garments emerged from behind a rock garden. Seeing him, her cheeks flushed red, and she said in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz:

“Lady Bai pays respects to Your Highness.”

Xiao Heng’s face wore a smile:

“Your polo skills are excellent. This afternoon’s competition will surely win you first prize.”

She looked surprised and lowered her head:

“Your Highness flatters me.”

Xiao Heng laughed softly and walked to her side:

“Come, join me at the banquet.”

As Xiao Heng had said, Ta Zhu saw Xiao Yan at Ping Cui Palace before he left for the southern desert camp.

She gave him her eagle-scented pearl bracelet.

This was also the last time she saw Xiao Yan.

* In the eighteenth year of Yongyou, Xiao Guo personally led an army in an expedition, appointing Xiao Yan as his deputy general. They fought to the outskirts of Danta’s royal capital.

In February, amid flying snow, two consecutive months of blizzards blocked them outside the royal capital.

The plateau was a frozen wasteland, all white, devoid of any signs of life.

The cavalry could not find enough fodder, forcing the Great Mu army to retreat southward and defend the southern desert.

They had planned to head north again in summer, but in the capital, the Crown Prince’s tutor, Zhao Jie, died suddenly one night, causing an uproar among the officials.

Xiao Guo returned to the capital.

The autumn sun shone on the cherry tree, turning the yellowing leaves orange-red. No one bothered to sweep the fallen leaves on the ground.

Ta Zhu knew she was likely dying.

She appeared no different than before, but the dizziness in her head continued day after day without ceasing.

She had no heart to consider what was happening to her, who had harmed her, when they had done so, or why.

Or perhaps, after living out her days behind multiple palace walls, she had long since lost the will to live.

When Xiao Guo came with an ashen face and fury, she felt a surge of relief at the prospect of release.

His jade crown was somewhat disheveled, and there was a touch of frost at his temples, but his features were increasingly sharp, the imposing dignity of an emperor.

Ta Zhu silently looked at him.

Xiao Guo was provoked by her silence. He threw the letter in his hand onto her chest and shouted in rage:

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

Xiao Heng had slaughtered Zhao Jie’s entire family to conceal the infatuation he had harbored since his youth, his uncontrollable feelings.

He couldn’t help but think in detail:

“In the eighth year of Yongyou, when Xiao Heng sent Xiao Yan to Cang Prefecture, was it for you?”

The more he thought, the more his heart burned in agony. “Could it be that since then, you and he have been secretly connected?”

Ta Zhu calmly brushed aside the letter that had slid from her body, not bothering to look at it.

She didn’t want to argue, only remained silent.

Her cold silence completely infuriated Xiao Guo.

He spoke without thinking:

“Ha Ta Zhu, you foreigner, you have always been so shameless, ignorant of propriety and morality!”

Ta Zhu coldly met his fierce, red phoenix eyes and sneered:

“Ignorant?

Of course I’m ignorant. If I had understood earlier, I would never have been with you!”

Xiao Guo felt as if his insides were burning, the veins on his forehead standing out:

“You…

You…”

But he could not utter any more vicious words.

Ta Zhu slowly said:

“If I had understood earlier, I would not have willfully abandoned my family and country for you…

I do have one or two matters for which I owe you, but I never had any impropriety with Xiao Heng. But Xiao Guo, have you treated me properly?”

Xiao Guo was furious and tried to grab her wrist, but Ta Zhu evaded him and suddenly took up her red jade silver knife from the table.

Drawing the blade from its sheath with a clear ring, Xiao Guo was immediately alarmed:

“How dare you!

What are you doing? Put it down!”

Ta Zhu said in self-abandonment:

“Xiao Guo, which of your promises have you kept? You neither loved me single-heartedly nor kept your word to treat me well. You killed my eagle and imprisoned me here.

All these years, for your great undertakings, how many of my people have you killed? Blood-washing Danta, how many innocent people have died…”

Her eyes grew warm, but she couldn’t shed a single tear.

Xiao Guo saw her desolate expression and moved swiftly to seize the silver knife from her hand.

Ta Zhu raised her hand to avoid him, suddenly smiling:

“Anyway, I’m about to die. There’s no rush.”

Xiao Guo was terrified. Without further thought, he lunged forward and grabbed her wrist firmly, taking the silver knife from her hand.

Ta Zhu suddenly grabbed his wrist and threw herself forward. Xiao Guo’s hand turned, and the silver knife fell to the ground.

He had barely had time to breathe a sigh of relief when he saw Ta Zhu collapse lifelessly.

He hurriedly knelt on the ground, holding her waist:

“Ta Zhu!”

With the last of her strength depleted, Ta Zhu thought that she was indeed dying.

Xiao Guo examined her body up and down but found no wounds.

His heart suddenly sank, and he anxiously stroked her face:

“What’s wrong with you?

Ta Zhu!”

Ta Zhu’s ears rang, and the dizziness in her head would not stop. So this was what it felt like when the oil in a lamp was exhausted…

“Someone come!

Where is everyone?

All of you get in here!”

Xiao Guo shouted, “Summon the Imperial Physician!

Find the Medical Minister!”

Ta Zhu’s eyelids were heavy. Using her very last strength, her fingers clutched tightly at the front of his robe.

The golden dragon patterns on his imperial robe were stern and majestic.

“Xiao Hu…”

She suddenly smiled, “Xiao Hu…

I…

I regret it…”

Xiao Guo had been Emperor for more than a decade, making decisive killings and waging wars north and south. He had thought himself impervious to weapons, but these heart-piercing words made him feel as if thousands of arrows had pierced his heart, causing him unbearable pain.

He frantically touched her face:

“Ta Zhu…

Ta Zhu…”

Ta Zhu’s eyes slowly closed, and the body in his hands suddenly went limp.

He pressed his face against her cheek but could not detect the slightest breath.

“Ta Zhu…” he called softly.

People from the Imperial Medical Bureau rushed in from outside.

Xiao Guo held Ta Zhu and would not let go. He watched as the Medical Minister examined her for a long while, sweat pouring from his temples, before stammering:

“This humble servant…

This humble servant is useless…”

“Get out, all of you get out!”

Ping Cui Palace fell into complete silence.

Xiao Guo brushed aside the loose hair from her forehead, tucking it behind her ear. Her cheeks still retained some warmth, as if she were merely asleep.

“I…

I have only ever truly loved you alone, but I was still wrong…

Perhaps I was wrong from the moment you entered the palace. In the end, I couldn’t protect you, couldn’t treat you well, and instead grew distant from you…”

Teardrops fell on her face, and Xiao Guo gently wiped them away.

“I never intended to kill Ha Dai. In the seventh year of Yongyou, I only needed to capture him, needed to subdue him…

Later…

Later, he could have served A’Yan.

A’Yan…

Could have…

But you are now leaving me forever…

I…”

Xiao Guo breathed slowly and silently, “Danta…

If I completely subdue Danta, you and I would no longer be different. Perhaps, from then on, we could be a loving couple, with you wholeheartedly with me, never again leaving my heart…”

The Emperor’s tears soaked his collar, but there was no one left to hear his words.

He rose and lifted Ta Zhu in his arms. The gold chains and pearl strings at her waist clinked softly against each other.

The servants of Taiji Hall watched in fear as the Emperor carried Ta Zhu’s body slowly into the hall.

The servants were all kneeling on the ground:

“We implore Your Majesty to cherish the imperial body.”

Xiao Guo sat high on the throne, his expression indifferent, and said unhurriedly:

“Execute all the servants of Ping Cui Palace by arrow.”

The hall fell silent, and only his voice was heard:

“Present a cup of wine to Jian Xia Palace.”

The servants knocked their heads on the ground with loud thuds:

“Your Majesty, please reconsider!

Your Majesty, please reconsider!”

“Empress Gao, who has overseen the six palaces, has fallen ill from exhaustion. Her condition is beyond cure. Today, she has finally passed away.”

The lead servant knew the imperial will was decided and rose to carry out the order.

Xiao Guo lowered his gaze to look once more at Ta Zhu in his arms:

“Tomorrow, summon Crown Prince Xiao Heng and Second Prince Xiao Yan to Taiji Hall for an audience.”

In the autumn of the eighteenth year of Yongyou, Emperor Zhongzong Xiao Guo died in Taiji Hall.

Crown Prince Xiao Heng ascended the throne as Emperor, reigning for just over two months.

Xiao Yan led his army, washing the palace in blood, shooting Xiao Heng dead by the Qi River. He then ascended the throne as Emperor and changed the era name to Yonghe.