Chapter 1: High Tang Clouds Disperse
Zhenzhen leaned forward, easily untying the Crown Prince’s leather belt and boldly removing his outer robe, tossing it to the ground. Then she stared at his white undergarment, probably realizing that removing this layer would truly mean seeing each other completely bare. Her movements hesitated slightly, and the gaze she directed toward his features was no longer as decisive and resolute as before, showing a hint of uncertainty.
In this matter, she was clearly still a pretentious novice. The Crown Prince suppressed his laughter, pressing down on her hand that was reaching for his undergarment’s sash, and gently instructed: “From now on, whatever you want to do, don’t use your hands.”
She withdrew her hand, thought for a moment, then suddenly lowered her head toward his sash. Her forehead inadvertently brushed against his shoulder, and her pearly teeth bit the end of the sash. Then she raised her head, gradually pulling the knot loose, her butterfly-like eyelashes lifting as well, revealing a pair of clear eyes that looked at him questioningly, as if asking: “Is this right?”
His heartstrings were plucked as gently as that loosened knot. She still gazed with innocent eyes, unaware of what divine inspiration this was, what sin it constituted. He took a deep breath secretly, feigning composure, and smiled to show approval. She joyfully continued undressing him, firmly remembering his teaching and never using her hands throughout. She seemed to treat this as a game with clear rules, proceeding with great enthusiasm, even forgetting her shyness. Feeling her breath brush across his skin like down feathers again and again, he couldn’t help but regret that his guidance had been too astute and concise, and that she had learned too quickly, putting his self-control to a severe test.
The clever girl was too good at drawing inferences, and following this principle, she began attempting the next step. Unable to bear it any longer, he turned over, positioning her beneath him, bringing everything back under his control.
The fragrant sachet was secretly unfastened, the silk sash gently parted. Outside the window, rain began to fall with a pattering sound. He cupped her in his hands, and his kisses fell like raindrops.
Ethereal smoke drifted from the bronze incense burner on the crane-legged table. Her starry eyes half-closed, her mind scattered with the wisps of smoke. She felt her body was like fluffy snow, and under the warm sun and gentle breeze he had become, gradually melting into a pool of spring water, soft and powerless, spreading gently in all directions.
At the crucial moment, he didn’t forget to politely ask for permission in her ear: “May I?”
She closed her eyes: “Mm…” giving a brief response, then immediately let out a soft cry at his swift action after receiving her consent, frantically grasping his arms in her panic.
He paused slightly, waiting for her to calm down before beginning to create waves.
Because he had been sufficiently gentle and patient beforehand, the pain wasn’t as severe as she had imagined. She tilted her head back, lightly biting her lower lip, feeling the ripples he created layer by layer.
Under her neck was a white porcelain pillow from Ding kiln with carved flower patterns. The jade hairpin on her loosening hair bun was half-falling. With each ripple, the jade hairpin lightly tapped against the porcelain pillow, producing ethereal sounds. Outside the room, wind and rain continued unabated. Rain fell on the jade steps, echoing the sound of the jade pillow inside, weaving together a light, elegant rhythm that went from slow to urgent.
The wet bamboo shadows swayed repeatedly across the latticed window. Moist air seeped through the window, and the light and shadow in the room became misty like heaven and earth. She gradually felt herself becoming like clouds and mist, losing bodily form, floating in the swaying red candlelight. In her daze, a page of old text drifted from the depths of memory – it was “The Rhapsody of Gaotang” that classmates had secretly passed around when she was young. Silently reciting its verses, she now understood their profound meaning: “At dawn she becomes morning clouds, at dusk she becomes flowing rain, dawn after dawn, dusk after dusk, beneath the terrace of the sun.”
When the clouds cleared and rain stopped outside the window, they too became quiet. He let her lie in his arms, and when their breathing had evened, he turned to look at her. He saw her lotus-like face still flushed, her whole body warm, covered in a thin layer of sweat. The pearl ornament on her brow showed signs of loosening, and her eyelashes were adorned with a layer of water drops – whether tears or sweat, he couldn’t tell. Finding this scene both pitiful and lovely, he couldn’t help but lower his head to kiss her eyelashes, catching a pleasant orange fragrance. After a brief investigation, he realized it came from the pearl ornament’s adhesive paste.
The fragrance was fresh like oranges yet sweet like honey. Steamed by her body temperature, the scent became even more intense, like candy, tempting him to keep drawing closer. He sniffed again and again at her brow, finally unable to resist kissing that pearl ornament. The ornament fell away, adhering to his lips, and when he pressed his lips together, it slipped into his mouth.
The adhesive paste was indeed sweet. He thought of the oranges Zhenzhen had cut for him earlier, letting the pearl ornament roll on his tongue tip while gazing at Zhenzhen nestled in his arms, drawing out countless threads of tenderness in his heart. When she looked up at him, he gently suggested: “Come back to my bedchamber with me?”
“No.” She immediately refused. “I still need to go through your birthday banquet menu again. Tonight you’ve delayed me quite a bit, and I still need to rush back and finish it.”
He had to settle for second best: “Then I’ll go back with you. You do your work, and I’ll keep you company?”
“You should go back to your bedchamber first. You definitely wouldn’t behave yourself if you stayed by my side.” She remained unmoved, directly pointing out the consequences. Afraid he might be displeased, she added soothingly, “If I finish drafting your next month’s menu tomorrow night, I’ll allow you to come over.”
He asked with a smile: “Which is more important, me or your duties?”
“I’m currently the Food Management official,” she answered without hesitation. “Completing my duties is naturally more important, especially when Food Service Director Qin is away.”
He was helpless and had to abandon his attempt to continue spending the night with her. Spitting out the pearl ornament and letting it fall beneath the couch, he put on his undergarment, pulled down a cloak from the clothes rack to cover Zhenzhen completely, then called out to the two eunuchs who had been standing outside the door, instructing them to bring warm water.
The two eunuchs had long heard the commotion and knew the situation inside. They immediately responded loudly and soon each brought a basin of water with towels prepared. Opening the door, they entered and presented these before the couch, smiling as they bowed to the Crown Prince: “Congratulations, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince nodded with a smile. The two then turned slightly toward Zhenzhen and bowed: “Congratulations, Madam Wu.”
The pair tactfully changed how they addressed Zhenzhen. Zhenzhen showed no embarrassment or evasion, calmly responding: “Thank you. You’ll be rewarded tomorrow.”
The two showed their joy and repeatedly expressed thanks before retreating to the doorway. After going out, they didn’t forget to close the door.
The Crown Prince praised Zhenzhen’s magnanimity, saying: “I thought you would shyly hide behind me wrapped in the cloak.”
Zhenzhen rose calmly and put on her clothes, saying: “If I acted coy and hesitant, it would give them something to talk about. Tomorrow they would probably describe my embarrassed state to others with great animation. Better to handle it with composure. In the future, I’ll reward them when they deserve it, and punish them when they speak out of turn.”
They then cleansed themselves and dressed. Zhenzhen dressed herself first, then helped the Crown Prince fasten his leather belt and put on his silk cap. As the Crown Prince turned, he noticed a few spots of light red blood on the couch and couldn’t help but smile at Zhenzhen. Zhenzhen sensed his meaningful smile, turned to look, and immediately felt her face burn. She quickly took a towel to wipe away those traces, then threw the towel into the water. The Crown Prince laughingly pulled her into his arms, encircling her waist, and lightly pecked her lips. Zhenzhen suddenly noticed his lips were somewhat dark, and when she grasped his hand, it felt very cold. She immediately asked: “Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?”
The Crown Prince shook his head: “I’m fine. It’s probably just late and a bit cold.”
He walked forward a few steps, but Zhenzhen saw his steps were unsteady and hurried to support him, asking him to sit down and rest first. With Zhenzhen’s help, he walked toward the couch, but before reaching it, he felt the world spinning and collapsed onto the small footstool in front of the couch.
He closed his eyes and furrowed his brow, his face pale with a bluish tinge, beginning to gasp painfully. Zhenzhen was alarmed, rubbing his back to help him breathe while calling for the eunuchs outside, telling them to quickly summon the imperial physicians.
The two eunuchs rushed in upon hearing, and seeing the Crown Prince’s condition, they too were frightened. One immediately ran off to find imperial physicians, while the other quickly came over to help Zhenzhen lift the Crown Prince onto the couch.
The Crown Prince lay tossing and turning, his body trembling, in extreme pain. Soon he struggled to sit up halfway, leaning over the side of the couch to vomit, retching until there was nothing left to expel. After lying back down briefly, his whole body convulsed, then gradually fell into unconsciousness.
Zhenzhen wept, gripping his hand and repeatedly calling “Your Highness.” After a moment, he forced his eyes open and, trying to control his numb tongue, spoke to Zhenzhen in a weak, unclear voice: “Go… find… Yang… Zicheng…”
Zhenzhen nodded frantically but had no mind to do what he asked, because she discovered his pupils were dilating.
Thunder roared in her mind, as if a solid fortress had suddenly collapsed. Vaguely sensing an irreversible despair, she stopped crying and only held his hand in bewilderment, as if trying to lock away every trace of his life force with her hands, preventing his escape. Yet she could still feel his body temperature dropping moment by moment.
Her head began to ache, and the scene before her gradually became unsteady. Black spots of various sizes appeared in her vision, like black bubbles rising from the depths of an abyss, appearing one by one and then bursting.
People began rushing in – eunuchs, palace ladies, multiple imperial physicians… More and more people came, but their appearance seemed to Zhenzhen only silent, blurred images, no longer distinguishable from one another. Her whole body was shaking, her consciousness scattering. Finally, she felt someone pulling her away from the Crown Prince’s side, and she immediately fell into boundless darkness.
Zhenzhen felt herself running in the dark night. The Crown Prince, dressed in white robes with sleeves fluttering, walked ahead of her. Though he walked calmly and unhurriedly, no matter how frantically she ran, she couldn’t catch up to him. She wanted to call out, asking him to wait, but her throat seemed locked by something – she opened her mouth but couldn’t make a sound. Her whole body felt drained, too weak even to cry out. She could only watch helplessly as he walked away, finally collapsing to the ground in exhaustion…
Someone seemed to lift her up, pouring liquid down her parched throat. She swallowed passively, mouthful by mouthful, gradually regaining consciousness.
She opened her eyes in bewilderment, finding herself in an extremely unfamiliar environment – a small room, cold and damp, with very simple furnishings, but the building itself seemed newly constructed.
“Sister has awakened!”
She heard a joyful exclamation and turned to see that the person supporting her was Xiang Li’er, now dressed in medical worker’s clothes, setting down a medicine bowl on the table.
Han Suwen in the room came over upon hearing, carefully examined Zhenzhen’s complexion, and said to Xiang Li’er: “I said long ago she would be fine and wouldn’t remain unconscious for long.”
Zhenzhen asked in confusion: “Where is this?”
“A small island in the middle of a lake in Jujing Garden,” Xiang Li’er said. “Some old men at the Hanlin Medical Academy are quite wicked. Unable to determine the cause of the Crown Prince’s illness themselves, they pushed the responsibility onto you, sister. The Emperor was even going to have you imprisoned, but fortunately Han Suwen had previously asked you to report those symptoms. When Guo Siqi took a look, he asked Han Suwen if you might be pregnant – the symptoms were very similar. Han Suwen immediately said yes, and Guo Siqi reported this to the Emperor. Only then did the Emperor have you sent here under house arrest rather than to prison.”
“Your Highness… how is His Highness now?” Zhenzhen gradually remembered what happened before she lost consciousness and immediately asked Xiang Li’er.
Xiang Li’er looked troubled, glancing at Han Suwen, who then stepped forward and said to Zhenzhen: “Today is the day of the Crown Prince’s lesser shrouding ceremony.”
The lesser shrouding ceremony was performed on the second day after death, involving bathing and dressing the deceased.
After hearing this, Zhenzhen didn’t weep but only stared blankly, that feeling of being chilled to the bone and about to collapse returning.
Xiang Li’er quickly embraced her, offering gentle comfort and asking her to moderate her grief.
“Wu Zhenzhen, listen to me.” Han Suwen rarely showed such a serious expression, speaking earnestly to her: “The situation is very grave now. The Crown Prince died suddenly, and the medical officials have carefully examined the dietary records but can’t find an obvious cause. Some people think it was because you gave the Crown Prince bass sashimi that day, which harmed his spleen and stomach, or perhaps the bass wasn’t properly cleaned, causing food poisoning. Others believe that since the Crown Prince had just recovered from a serious illness, you shouldn’t have been intimate with him, so… Either way, it appears to be your fault. Of course, I don’t think so. I know the Crown Prince’s physical condition well – these small matters wouldn’t cause death. I’ve already collected all of the Crown Prince’s vomit and will study it carefully to find the real cause of death. Because I reported to the Emperor that you might be pregnant, the Emperor won’t punish you for now, but the Hanlin Medical Academy will soon send other physicians to check your pulse – we probably can’t hide it for long. However, I’ll argue our case, saying that since you served the Crown Prince yesterday, conception at that time is not impossible, so we should wait at least another month before diagnosis. I’ll try to buy us a month, and during that time we’ll find another way…”
After speaking, Han Suwen sighed and continued: “Originally we could have asked the Second Prince for help, but because he urged the Crown Prince to eat bass sashimi at the lunch banquet, the Emperor has also confined him to his chambers. Some people are saying that since he’s always been on good terms with you, he might have planned this with you – after all, by order of succession, he would be next after the Crown Prince…”
Xiang Li’er quickly glared at him to stop him from continuing, then said to Zhenzhen: “But we can still find Yinqi, the Assistant Gentleman… With several people thinking together, there will surely be a way to save you.”
The two comforted Zhenzhen for a while longer, then Xiang Li’er took her leave, saying: “I gave some money to the palace ladies and eunuchs guarding you, sister, so they’d allow us to speak with you for a while, but they asked that we not stay too long. We must go back now. Sister, please take care of yourself and try to be more open-minded and pull yourself together. First, we can’t let the Crown Prince leave this world so mysteriously – sister must eventually uncover the truth. Second… what if sister truly carries the Crown Prince’s bloodline? So the urgent matter is to nurse your health and stay alive.”