Today Consort Chen wore a purple shirt with a crimson gauze outer robe, her long skirt trailing across the ground. When Yusang approached, she was brewing tea with a small red clay stove and purple clay teapot. The flower fragrance mingled with August osmanthus blooms floating through the grove, paired with such a beauty – truly a rare and wonderful scene in this world.

Seeing Yusang approach, Consort Chen didn’t bother with pleasantries, only smiled slightly and gestured for Yusang to sit across from her, saying slowly, “In a few more days, it will be the full moon Mid-Autumn Festival. I had been worried that this year’s chrysanthemums in the imperial garden wouldn’t be ready for the Mid-Autumn moonlit night, but unexpectedly, they all bloomed overnight yesterday. Does Princess Yan like chrysanthemums?”

“Chrysanthemums are elegant and refined – they’re quite nice.” Yusang sat down, somewhat unnaturally making conversation. She didn’t know why, but facing Consort Chen always made her feel uneasy – perhaps because she resembled herself too closely.

“Most of the chrysanthemums here I planted with my own hands, and this tea I also made myself. Princess Yan, please try it.” Consort Chen handed a small purple clay tea cup to Yusang. Yusang smiled to mask her stiffness, accepted the tea, but didn’t respond.

“I remember Prince Yan was very fond of chrysanthemums – chrysanthemum tea was his favorite. I wonder if his habits have changed over these years.” Consort Chen leisurely added another sentence to herself. Yusang’s teacup stopped halfway to her lips. Even though she didn’t understand the subtle scheming skills of palace women, she could still hear such obvious provocation.

“What does Your Highness mean by this?” Yusang looked at Consort Chen’s beautiful face full of smiles and spring-like satisfaction. Just as she was about to retaliate, a voice suddenly interrupted.

“Time is getting late. This prince needs to find Prince Yan, and Princess Yan should come along with this prince.” Zhao Yirong’s voice came from behind, and by the time he finished speaking, he had already reached the two women.

“Prince of Huainan is truly thoughtful.” Consort Chen spoke with laughter as she looked toward Zhao Yirong, her expression unchanged.

“Your Highness flatters me.” Zhao Yirong smiled in response, then looked toward Yusang. Yusang stood up, glanced at Consort Chen, and turned to leave without performing any courtesy.

Yusang was angry and didn’t bother giving Zhao Yirong a pleasant expression, walking quickly ahead by herself. Zhao Yirong followed behind and called to her once, but she didn’t respond. Zhao Yirong wasn’t someone who could tolerate being snubbed either. He reached out to grab her arm and turn her around, saying, “This prince kindly came to fetch you, yet you’re putting on airs with me. If it weren’t for Yan Qige’s sake…”

“If not for his sake, what would you do?” Yusang lifted her chin and interrupted with an irritated counter-question.

Seeing Yusang’s expression and complexion, Zhao Yirong understood she was sulking. He frowned slightly, then laughed, saying, “This prince was merely speaking. Look how pale with anger your face has become – those who don’t know might think this prince bullied you.”

“I trouble Your Highness to escort me out of the palace,” Yusang said in a heavy, sullen voice with half-lowered eyes.

“Out of the palace? I only promised Yan Qige to look after you. I’ll take you to find him now. If you want to leave the palace, go tell him yourself.”

“What do you mean?” Yusang was somewhat puzzled.

“Yesterday, before entering the palace, Yan Qige came to find me. He predicted he would be kept in the palace last night, so he had me promise to look after you for one night – you couldn’t return to the inn and had to find a way to stay in the palace.”

“Why was this?”

“You’re Princess Yan – how could you not know Yan Qige’s way of doing things? His reasoning is known only to himself. Outsiders cannot ask, and asking would be pointless.” Zhao Yirong spoke teasingly, then led the way forward.

Yusang followed Zhao Yirong, not speaking much along the way. They wound through several corridors and pavilions in the palace. The Zhao Yirong ahead stopped, and Yusang nearly collided with his back, but fortunately, Zhao Yirong caught her in time.

Yusang thanked him and looked up, then couldn’t help being slightly shocked at the palace hall ahead. This was the Buddhist hall she had visited in her dream last night, but now it appeared with red walls and green tiles, with sunlight shining brightly upon it, looking cheerful and vivid, completely lacking the penetrating cold she had seen in her dream.

Yusang stepped up the stairs wanting to get closer for a look, but Zhao Yirong grabbed her arm, saying, “This is the Empress Dowager’s former hall – outsiders are not permitted to enter. Just wait here.”

“What do you mean?” Yusang was surprised.

“Ten years ago, the Empress Dowager passed away here, so this place was sealed up. After the emperor ascended the throne, he ordered renovations here, converting this place into a Buddhist hall, but forbade anyone from approaching. Yan Qige was raised by the Empress Dowager, so he’s an exception. He’s inside paying respects now – we’ll just wait outside.”

Hearing these words, Yusang was both surprised and puzzled. From Yan Qige’s sudden revelation of his royal identity, to the later encounter with Consort Chen, to now with the Empress Dowager – the mysteries surrounding Yan Qige hadn’t decreased over time but had instead multiplied. Rather than rack her brains thinking, Yusang’s eyes rolled as she looked toward Zhao Yirong, putting on a smiling face and saying, “Your Highness surely knows many things I don’t. Why don’t you tell me everything so I can expand my knowledge?”

“You’re his princess consort – if you want to know, why don’t you ask him yourself?” Zhao Yirong raised his chin and teased Yusang.

“Didn’t Your Highness say you could tell at a glance that I’m not a real princess consort?”

“Oh my, now you’re admitting it quickly. Seeing how sincere you are, if you promise me one thing, I’ll tell you everything I know.”

“What thing?”

“If Yan Qige doesn’t want you in the future, you’ll come with me. Promise this and I’ll tell you everything.”

“Come with you after he doesn’t want me?” Yusang was amazed, then muttered with annoyance, “If Your Highness truly had such intentions, you should say to have me abandon Yan Qige for you. Coming with you after he doesn’t want me is truly uninspiring.”

“I won’t steal Yan Qige’s person – he would resent me for it. Moreover… I can predict that he will abandon you someday. When that time comes and you’re heartbroken and disheartened, I’ll appear to offer comfort – wouldn’t that more easily win a beauty’s heart?”

“You… you know how to scheme.” Yusang was both angry and amused, never having imagined there could be someone so shameless, yet so reasonably shameless.

“Not denying means agreeing. Then I’ll tell you about Yan Qige.” Zhao Yirong gestured to the side, patting the spot next to him to indicate Yusang should sit.

Yusang lifted her skirt and stepped over the railing to sit beside Zhao Yirong, quietly waiting for his next words.

“This matter could be considered a palace wonder. Twenty-five years ago, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, on the night of the full moon, strange phenomena appeared in the sky with great wind and rain, but the moon did not set and the stars did not dim. At that time, Consort Yan gave birth to Yan Qige, while the Empress Dowager gave birth to the current emperor. Consort Yan died from hemorrhaging at the time, so Yan Qige was entrusted to the then-Empress Dowager to be raised together with the emperor. They were born in the same year, month, and day. The court astrologer cast divinations that day, saying strange phenomena at birth indicated a heavenly dragon descending to the world – someone was destined to rule all under heaven.

Outsiders only knew they were born rivals who would inevitably compete for the throne, but they didn’t know Zhao Zhang was born with incomplete intelligence, foolish and simple like a child. Ten years ago, when the late emperor died, the Empress Dowager also followed the late emperor that same night. But on that very night, Zhao Zhang suddenly gained wisdom, becoming exceptionally shrewd and taking preemptive action to inherit the throne.”