The tall and magnificent Yongle Gate on the western side of the capital had witnessed the supreme glory of the Li Dynasty’s generals departing on distant campaigns and returning in triumph, and had also witnessed princesses departing beyond the frontier passes — solitary geese in the autumn rain, carried away by the western wind.

Today, in the early summer of the sixth month, when the capital’s trees and flowers were in full bloom, an unusual group of travelers arrived before this city gate.

Leading the procession on horseback was a young man, his waist straight and his back erect, dressed in ordinary blue garments. The only thing that subtly revealed his status was the belt at his waist, fastened with a jade and rhinoceros-horn pendant — not something an ordinary person could wear.

Behind him followed a dozen or so powerfully built riders, sitting tall and proud in their saddles. The group reached the city gate and stopped.

Large groups of people had been entering the city every day recently. The gate guard glanced over and was about to come forward for the routine inspection and questioning when he was suddenly called back by the garrison commander standing behind him.

This garrison commander had once suffered the embarrassment of failing to recognize Jiang Yi, and knew that the imperial city ran deep — all sorts of important figures were bound to be passing through these days. Although Shen Yang had issued orders saying everyone was to be treated equally, those were hollow words. If one truly offended someone who could not be openly provoked, one would be the one to suffer in the end. So these past few days, he had become exceptionally cautious, afraid of not recognizing someone important, and had specifically brought along a veteran soldier to stay by his side. The moment this group approached, the old soldier had leaned in and whispered the young man’s identity — he was none other than the fourth younger brother of the current emperor, His Highness Prince Qin. How could the commander dare to obstruct them? He hurried forward to pay his respects, then allowed them to pass.

Li Xuandu had Ye Xiao lead the men to settle in at the courier station first, while he himself went directly to Penglai Palace.

After his mother, the Que Consort, had passed away early, he had lived in Penglai Palace from the age of a few years until he turned fourteen, when he left the palace to establish his own princely residence. The palace guards of Penglai Palace were almost all old veterans — the roster had barely changed over the years. His face alone was his pass; the moment he stood outside the palace gate, he was immediately welcomed inside. He learned that the Grand Empress Dowager was in the water pavilion at Fanglin Garden and headed straight there without obstruction. When he was nearly there, he heard voices drifting from a stone gazebo beside the water some distance to the side — it was unmistakably Huaiwei’s voice, calling out moves in a chess game. He glanced over.

Sure enough, it was Huaiwei, playing chess with a young girl who looked like his niece Ningfu. But not far beyond the gazebo, hidden behind a cluster of flowers and trees, lurked a man with a broad, sturdy build, skulking about and peering at something. Following the direction the man was looking, Li Xuandu’s footsteps slowed imperceptibly.

By the water’s edge sat a young girl in blue robes with a crimson sash and peonies pinned in her hair, gazing at her own reflection in the water as if lost in contemplation of her own image. Though the distance was considerable and it was only a fleeting glance, and though the girl’s clothing and appearance were entirely different from before, Li Xuandu still recognized her at once.

It was actually the Pu Family granddaughter.

How she had come to appear in Penglai Palace was not difficult to guess.

Though Li Xuandu had been away, he was already well aware of the major events that had taken place in the capital during this time.

In the period when he had been rushing back to He Xi Jun in haste, Pu Youzhi’s case had been overturned and his name cleared, and his granddaughter had been summoned to the capital.

Having entered the capital, with her skill at winning over Huaiwei, it was perfectly natural — even expected — that she would seize the opportunity to make herself known before the Grand Empress Dowager. It would have been strange if she had not.

What he wondered was who this lurking man might be.

Since he could enter Penglai Palace, he must be a member of the imperial family.

From the age of sixteen until now — in the year of his late father’s passing, he had been hastily brought back from the Wuyou Palace where he had been confined for two full years, only to be sent off shortly after to keep vigil at the imperial tombs.

Three years later, on his second return to the capital, he had stayed only a few days before being dispatched to the border commanderies again.

In roughly eight years, he had returned to the capital only twice, each time in haste, arriving and departing swiftly. The younger generation had grown up; it was perfectly normal not to recognize them.

Broad and powerfully built…

Li Xuandu suddenly recalled — he looked rather like his nephew, Han Chijiao.

What on earth was this about?

A vague displeasure stirred in Li Xuandu’s heart. He could not help glancing over once more, and then caught sight of Female Official Chen coming out of the water pavilion ahead, her face full of delight. He composed himself, withdrew his gaze, and walked quickly toward her.

“Fourth Highness!”

The old female official called out joyfully, and tears fell from her eyes.

She was from the Que people — sharp-minded and knowledgeable — and had entered the palace years ago as a female official accompanying the Que Consort. She had cared for Li Xuandu since he was small, and he respected her deeply. Seeing her tears, he drew close and said softly, “A’mu, you haven’t aged a single day in all these years! You are still the greatest beauty of Penglai Palace — even my imperial grandmother cannot surpass you.”

The old female official let out a soft laugh and wiped her tears, scolding him fondly: “Look how old you are now, and you’re still the same as when you were little — your tongue dipped in honey, always knowing how to charm people! Go in quickly. The Grand Empress Dowager may not say it aloud, but in her heart, she has missed you more than words can tell.”

Li Xuandu looked toward the entrance of the water pavilion.

In the mild afternoon breeze, a green curtain used to block the light swayed gently. Behind it, a faint thread of incense smoke drifted out and slowly dispersed — as quiet as the world he had woken to from afternoon naps when he was small.

He immediately strode up the wooden walkway and entered the water pavilion, walked to the front of an elderly white-haired woman seated on a brocade couch in the center, swept aside the hem of his robe with one hand, and sank to his knees before her.

Li Xuandu lifted his handsome face — one that had drawn fond affection since childhood — and said with a grin, “Imperial Grandmother, your Yuli’er has returned. Having made you miss me and worry for so many years — a capital offense!”

The Jiang Empress Dowager looked down at the face before her knees and remained still for a long while. The corners of her eyes slowly grew moist. Then she suddenly raised her hand and struck him lightly on the head, scolding in a low voice: “The older you get, the more outrageous you become. What kind of thing is that to say?”

Li Xuandu pretended to wince in pain, hissed through his teeth, rubbed his head, and laughed again: “Imperial Grandmother is as vigorous as ever. That slap stings even more than the lesson I got for climbing up to the roof ridge of Changsheng Hall when I was little and sliding down the tiles.”

He had been mischievous as a child, bold and daring by his late father’s favor — at seven or eight years old, he had climbed to the very roof of Changsheng Hall, where he resided, and sat astride the main ridge to look out at the world beyond, ignoring the palace servants who had knelt below begging him to come down. In the end, he slipped and fell. Fortunately, a young palace servant named Luo Bao rushed forward bravely and caught the prince, so Li Xuandu was unharmed, but Luo Bao suffered a broken arm. Afterward, the late Emperor Mingzong, though frightened, had scolded his young son — yet the heavy punishment fell upon the supposedly “negligent” palace servants. When Empress Dowager Jiang learned of this, she personally caned him herself, and only after that did he settle down and no longer dare to climb the palace rooftops.

These were childhood memories from so many years ago, now spoken aloud by the boy himself. Even Empress Dowager Jiang could not suppress a smile. She gazed at her grandson, who had been raised by her side since infancy. Seeing that his brows carried the dust of travel and that he had grown noticeably thinner than she remembered, she felt a sorrow she could not hold back. She raised her hand and lovingly stroked the spot on his head she had just struck, and the corners of her eyes reddened again.

This time, Li Xuandu did not try to be clever. He knelt obediently and let Empress Dowager Jiang stroke his head, saying softly: “Your grandson is well in all respects. Imperial Grandmother, please do not worry. Has Imperial Grandmother’s health been good these years?”

The Empress Dowager nodded. At that moment, the Princess Imperial came forward and said with a smile: “Fourth Brother has returned too. I see him looking even more spirited than before. Imperial Grandmother, your birthday celebration is now complete! Please do not be sad — you should be happy instead…”

As she spoke, she pressed her own handkerchief to the corners of her own eyes — whether from joy or sorrow was unclear — dabbing at tears herself.

Empress Dowager Jiang quickly composed herself from the emotions of seeing her grandson again, and released Li Xuandu. Only then did he rise from the floor, bow to the Princess Imperial, and call out “Imperial Elder Sister” with a smile.

The Princess Imperial lowered her handkerchief and was about to speak when a commotion suddenly broke out outside — someone was shouting for help, and by the sound of the voice, it seemed to be her own son. Startled, she rushed to the window and looked out.

Someone had fallen into the water beside the stone gazebo across the way and was thrashing about desperately, water splashing in all directions, cries for help ringing out.

The Princess Imperial let out a cry of alarm and rushed out in a panic, calling for help as she ran.

By the time she reached the water’s edge, the palace maids who had come running from the gazebo were already working together to haul Han Chijiao out of the water.

He sat on the ground looking like a drowned rat.

The Princess Imperial had only this one son, and had always doted on him excessively. The sight of him like this gave her a terrible fright. She rushed over and asked what had happened.

Han Chijiao was still somewhat shaken, gasping and panting.

What had happened was this: he had been hiding behind the tree branches, staring at the Pu Family granddaughter in a mesmerized daze, so absorbed that he had not noticed the movement behind him. Pu Zhu had just heard a palace servant call out that Li Xuandu was arriving and grew a bit nervous, wanting to hurry back to the stone gazebo. She had started to rise to her feet.

Han Chijiao saw that she was about to leave and could not help stepping forward to close the distance — but to his surprise, Huaiwei suddenly charged at him from behind, demanding to know what he was up to.

At that moment, Han Chijiao’s eyes and heart were entirely filled with the graceful young lady of the Pu Family. He was caught off guard by Huaiwei’s sudden charge and was startled. Stumbling back a few steps, he tried to think of an excuse to explain himself — and then, just as Pu Zhu had once done before him, he missed his footing and plunged entirely into the water. That was the cause of all this commotion.

By now, Empress Dowager Jiang and Li Xuandu had also come over.

The Empress Dowager, worried, quickly ordered someone to summon the Imperial Physician.

“What happened to you? How did you just fall into the water?” asked the Princess Imperial, wiping the water from her son’s face.

“I only asked my great-nephew one question — what did he think he was doing — and he jumped in himself!”

Huaiwei immediately leapt forward to explain, his face full of confusion.

Han Chijiao looked over at the young lady of the Pu Family. His mouth opened.

If he tried to argue and said it was Huaiwei who had startled him, Huaiwei would likely say that he had been trying to court the young lady of the Pu Family.

If that happened and his mother took a dislike to the young lady, how could he ever hope to marry her?

Thoughts spun rapidly in his mind. Han Chijiao simply acknowledged it, nodded, and said: “The weather was too hot. I just wanted to go for a swim and forgot I can’t.”

The Princess Imperial was simultaneously angry and worried.

Around them stood a dozen or so palace maids watching, and among them a beautiful young woman in a ceremonial robe whom the Princess Imperial had not seen before. Looking at the flower patterns and rank of the ceremonial robe, she identified it as that of a pavilion mistress. She immediately thought of the Pu Family granddaughter who had been frequently mentioned among the capital’s noble ladies recently — this must be her. Feeling even more mortified, she supported her son as he stood and went off first to change his clothes.

Pu Zhu was also rather bewildered. She had not seen how Han Chijiao had fallen into the water at all. One moment she heard Huaiwei shout “What do you think you’re doing?” and then there was a splash behind her; she turned around and found him already in the water.

Although this explanation was somewhat implausible, since he had admitted it himself, perhaps that was indeed how it happened?

Li Xuandu had also come, and was standing directly opposite her.

She had not expected to encounter him at Penglai Palace today — he had just arrived back in the capital. Not wanting to draw his attention, she took advantage of Han Chijiao attracting everyone else’s notice and unobtrusively retreated behind the palace maids, keeping her head down and staying still. Only when the Princess Imperial had helped her son up and they had left did she raise her eyes — and met two gazes directed straight at her.

Li Xuandu fixed his gaze on the Pu Family granddaughter hiding behind the palace maids, then took hold of the Empress Dowager’s arm and headed back.

Pu Zhu’s heart gave a small jolt. She stared at the retreating figure ahead of her, and a sudden frustration and grievance rose in her chest.

Earlier, she had readily admitted to luring his nephew Li Chengyu — and indeed, that had been the truth.

But as for this nephew of his — she had not the slightest interest in him, and would have preferred never to have crossed paths with him at all.

This man had been the cause of an accident befalling Huaiwei in her previous life, and in this life he was bound to be a bringer of misfortune too. Nothing good ever came from running into him.

Yet Li Xuandu had looked at her like that. What was that supposed to mean?

Pu Zhu’s heart was unsettled, and she also felt a vague sense of foreboding.

She pressed down the unease that had taken hold of her, lingered a little longer, and waited for the Imperial Physician to arrive and examine Han Chijiao. When he was pronounced unharmed and the Princess Imperial had hurried off with her son, she followed Huaiwei back to Empress Dowager Jiang’s side, explained that she did not wish to impose further, and said she ought to return to the palace exit and go home.

Li Xuandu was right beside the Empress Dowager. He had apparently been saying something that was making her laugh. When Pu Zhu entered and bade farewell, the Empress Dowager nodded: “Very well. I have things to attend to here today, so I will not keep you. Come again to visit another day.”

Pu Zhu kept her eyes lowered, not looking at Li Xuandu. She respectfully agreed, knelt in a bow of farewell, rose, and with her head bowed, withdrew.