Zhang Yinyue was someone who spent her days cooped up at home and rarely went out, so when she heard that Chen Baoxiang had come to visit again, she was overjoyed.

“Did you know Wanbao has released new designs?” She pulled her inside, beaming with delight. “They’re woven from the finest gold thread into purses — some with jade beads threaded through the middle, others with rubies.”

“There are two styles I find particularly novel, and I was just fretting over having no one to share my excitement with when you showed up.”

Chen Baoxiang stared in astonishment at the two gold-thread purses laid out on the table, her mouth nearly hanging open. “They’re this beautiful?”

“And there are two pleated skirts — have a look.”

“Heavens, you can tell at a glance these are the work of a master craftsman — nothing like the ready-made clothes hanging in the shops.”

Basking in the praise, Yinyue looped her arm through Chen Baoxiang’s. “I knew we were kindred spirits. Those insufferable men haven’t a single discerning eye among them — they just say everything I pick is vulgar.”

“Never mind them.” Chen Baoxiang waved dismissively, then grew a little worried. “These insufferable men you mention — surely you don’t mean…?”

Understanding her meaning, Zhang Yinyue waved for the servants to leave.

Once they were alone, she gave an exaggerated wink. “How could it possibly be that old wretch Cheng Huaili? Second Uncle entered the palace yesterday, bringing a memorial Second Elder Brother had written. The Emperor read it and specially bestowed his grace, permitting me to postpone the marriage until next year.”

“Now everything’s fine — I don’t need to rush preparing my wedding trousseau, and that old wretch won’t get to see my face.”

Chen Baoxiang let out a soft “ah,” at once delighted and puzzled. “But I heard people say the Emperor has no intention of dealing with Cheng Huaili?”

“That’s right, he doesn’t.” Yinyue sighed, resigned. “If Second Elder Brother hadn’t staked his health despite his injuries to plead on my behalf, I wouldn’t even have been granted this one year’s reprieve.”

“Zhang Zhixu?” Chen Baoxiang asked curiously. “What did he write that could move the Emperor to grant such a grace in the face of Cheng Huaili’s unreasonable wrangling?”

“I don’t know.” Zhang Yinyue shook her head. “Second Elder Brother is an extremely deep and calculating person — he mostly deals with the elders. When I go looking for him to play during festivals and holidays, he doesn’t even pay me any mind.”

To say nothing of letting her read an imperial memorial.

Chen Baoxiang couldn’t help but wonder: this man is so capable — if he were to file charges against Cheng Huaili, would the outcome be different?

It would not.

The Great Immortal answered her.

Chen Baoxiang was displeased: You haven’t even tried — how can you know it wouldn’t?

You don’t understand the current state of the court.

The succession of rulers in this generation of the Great Sheng dynasty had been conducted in a manner that was not entirely in accordance with propriety and custom.

The late Emperor had once designated the eldest imperial daughter as his heir. By rights, when the late Emperor fell gravely ill, it should have been she who ascended the throne — yet, as fate would have it, the eldest imperial daughter, having exhausted herself in grief caring for her father, fell gravely ill herself and even lapsed into a coma at one point.

With the court in internal turmoil and foreign powers seizing territory from without, the ministers had no alternative but to summon Prince Mao back from the frontier to take the throne.

But then, a mere month after Prince Mao’s enthronement, the Grand Princess suddenly recovered.

The situation became deeply awkward. The new Emperor had already gone through the full ceremonies and rituals of the ancestral hall — it was hardly proper to strip off the dragon robes now. Yet the Grand Princess had the Protector-General of the Realm shielding her from without and the senior statesmen of the Three Departments supporting her from within — and she was, after all, the rightful and legitimate heir.

The two sides had remained at an impasse ever since, with unending conflict throughout the court and beyond. The new Emperor had managed to cling to the throne only through Cheng Huaili’s backing.

In such circumstances, even if Cheng Huaili committed a capital offense, the new Emperor would go to the Jade Emperor himself to plead his case.

Many things are not judged solely on right and wrong — one must also account for timing, circumstance, and the alignment of people’s hearts.

Zhang Zhixu summarized for her: Unless the new Emperor’s position becomes so secure that he no longer needs Cheng Huaili — or has pressing reason to eliminate him — no matter how grave Cheng Huaili’s offenses, they will not be enough to bring a verdict against him.

Chen Baoxiang’s face went a little pale.

“What’s wrong, Elder Sister?” Yinyue tilted her head and asked. “Is this glass bead bracelet not pretty?”

“It’s lovely.” Chen Baoxiang snapped back to attention and forced a smile. “I was only thinking about what you’ll do a year from now.”

“Pah, let’s drink the wine of today while we have it — what does next year matter?” Zhang Yinyue tapped her lightly on the forehead. “You’re just like my Second Elder Brother — always thinking so far ahead. I only concern myself with the present. Today there’s fine clothes, tomorrow fine jewelry — and if I die the day after, so what?”

Chen Baoxiang felt a sudden clearing of her mind at these words. “You know, you’re right!”

Zhang Yinyue was in high spirits and dragged out two large chests. “Come sun-dry these with me.”

It took four or five people to carry a single chest. Chen Baoxiang assumed they must be filled with books.

Then the lid was opened, and she nearly went blind.

“Gold?!”

“Gold, yes.” Zhang Yinyue took the gold ingots out one by one and arranged them on the ground. “My mother’s funeral savings for me — I never touch them ordinarily, but when the sun is good I bring them out for an airing.”

Gold was scarce in the Great Sheng dynasty and considered extremely precious elsewhere, yet here at the Zhang household, Chen Baoxiang watched the young woman before her lay out ingots across the ground as casually as one might set out salted vegetables to dry — then wave at her with cheerful enthusiasm. “Come help, Elder Sister!”

“Elder Sister would very much like to help.” Chen Baoxiang gripped her own hands to keep them still. “But Elder Sister is afraid of miscounting them for you.”

Zhang Yinyue laughed, picked up a gold-thread purse, opened it, and tucked two ingots inside. “A gift for you~”

Chen Baoxiang dropped to her knees on the spot with a thud.

“A — a gift? For me?”

“Please don’t bow so grandly, Elder Sister.” She laughed. “If Second Elder Brother were to find out, he’d likely scold me.”

So she was treating Chen Baoxiang as something of a sister-in-law — returning the favor accordingly.

Chen Baoxiang took the purse in trembling hands, feeling simultaneously that she had not earned it and inwardly cheering with wild abandon: Being Zhang Zhixu’s woman is pretty great!

Zhang Zhixu himself pressed a hand to his forehead in silence.

He didn’t quite understand why his rather difficult-to-get-along-with cousin had taken such a liking to Chen Baoxiang, nor did he understand how Chen Baoxiang had become “his woman” without having exchanged so much as a single word with his actual self.

Still, Chen Baoxiang was exceedingly happy at this moment — her heart felt as though it had been filled with honeyed water, swaying and chiming like a bell.

He gave a soft snort, closed his eyes, and decided he was too lazy to correct anyone.

The two of them were busy counting gold ingots when someone behind them suddenly offered a bow. “Aunt.”

Chen Baoxiang turned. “Oh — Young Master Zhang?”

Zhang Xilai caught sight of her and also bowed. “Miss Chen.”

The Zhang Yinyue who had been so carefree just moments ago suddenly straightened, smoothing the hem of her skirt and adjusting the hairpin on her head with one hand, then said with a pout: “What have you been busy with lately? You always come back at this hour.”

Zhang Xilai bowed his head lower. “I was previously occupied with matters of the prison. Today I received a transfer order — I’m to go assist at Little Uncle’s Bureau of Works.”

“Oh — then have some pastries. The kitchen just made them.”

“No need, I still have official business to attend to at the study.” He bowed deeply. “Your nephew will take his leave.”

Chen Baoxiang crouched in the middle, looking from Zhang Yinyue to Zhang Xilai.

Zhang Xilai left without a backward glance. Yinyue visibly deflated, gave the hem of her skirt a small kick, and picked up a gold ingot to toss back into the chest.

Chen Baoxiang was a little curious. “Young Master Zhang is actually around the same age as you — why does he call you Aunt and Zhang Zhixu Little Uncle?”

“Elder Sister doesn’t know.” Yinyue poked at a gold ingot with her head bowed. “He isn’t of the Zhang family by blood — he was found by my eldest brother in a stream south of the city.”