Li Gu swept his gaze across the crowd, and spotted that one person among them in an instant.

This was Li Gu’s first time seeing the full splendor of Xie Yuzhang as a grown woman in formal adornment. Her waist was slender and graceful, her phoenix eyes alluring and lovely, and the emerald-green kingfisher inlay at her brow shimmered with shifting light — regal and magnificent. She had never been one to disappear into a crowd; wherever she went, she blazed.

His footstep paused for the briefest moment.

Wherever the Emperor walked, everyone around him sank into bows. Xie Yuzhang curtsied along with the others, and the Emperor inclined his head: “No need for formality.”

The Emperor was not addressing any one person in particular, so everyone felt the nod had been directed at themselves.

Xie Yuzhang straightened. Li Zhenzhen spoke to her first: “Yongning’s kingfisher inlay is truly lovely.”

Xie Yuzhang smiled and complimented her in return: “Your Ladyship’s complexion is simply glowing.”

Li Zhenzhen’s complexion took entirely after her father Li Ming — somewhat sallow — marking her at a glance as someone bred and raised in the northwest. Today she had applied rather a lot of powder and appeared a shade too pale.

Xie Yuzhang praised her complexion with an expression and tone that could not have been more natural. The young girls around them privately marveled; the matrons smiled outwardly while nodding inwardly.

Li Zhenzhen had a fair degree of self-awareness about her own looks, and laughed: “Getting on in years — powder is all I have to rely on.”

Everyone laughed.

Xie Yuzhang laughed too, but her gaze moved toward the small boy Li Gu held by the hand. That he personally held the Imperial First Prince’s hand in this sort of setting spoke to how deeply he cherished this child.

“This must be the First Prince?” she said admiringly. “What a sturdy and vigorous little one — brimming with vitality.”

In an age when young children so easily succumbed to illness, praising a child’s health was precisely the sort of thing that warmed a parent’s heart.

Li Gu said, “Qingque, greet Yongning Princess.”

Qingque said, “Hmm? Is she my older sister?”

Li Gu replied, “She is not. You have only two younger sisters and one younger brother. Yongning has rendered great service to the nation and has therefore been granted the title of Princess.”

“Ah, I see.” Qingque said, and bowed to Xie Yuzhang with quite a proper manner.

Xie Yuzhang returned a half-bow.

Despite his well-formed bow, he was still a young child at heart. Qingque noticed the kingfisher inlay at Xie Yuzhang’s brow shifting colors in the sunlight, and was consumed by curiosity. He pointed at it and declared: “Let me touch that.”

The firstborn son of the Emperor, and so doted upon — his speech had always been “I want” and “I shall,” never “may I.”

Li Gu said reproachfully, “Qingque, don’t make trouble.”

Qingque’s face fell at once. Noble Consort Xian Cui shot a glance at Xie Yuzhang.

Such was the complexity of dealings with the imperial family. Too distant, and one easily grew estranged; too close, and the boundary of reverence was breached.

Among the onlookers, there were those who couldn’t help hoping to see some amusement unfold. Zhang Fen, for instance, stood not far away, thoroughly delighted in her heart. She hoped the Imperial First Prince would actually reach out and touch it — young children’s hands had no fine control, and one good grab might very well pry the thing loose. Then all that would be left on Xie Yuzhang’s forehead would be a smear of dried adhesive. That would be hilarious.

Xie Yuzhang smiled and said, “Your Majesty, please don’t frighten the young prince.”

As she spoke, she lightly lifted her skirt and crouched down, then said to Qingque, “If His Young Highness wishes to touch it, he must be very careful — if it falls off, I shall cry.”

Qingque was astonished. “But you’re already a grown-up.”

Xie Yuzhang said, “I am a young woman, and young women all cry.”

Qingque said with great exasperation, “That’s true — my sisters cry too!”

“Young women are such a bother.” Qingque sighed helplessly. “I won’t touch it then.”

“Indeed so. Young women’s hairpins and jewelry are all terribly fussy.” Xie Yuzhang said, “His Young Highness is a boy — he should go play games of horse-riding and battle.”

Qingque cheered up at once. “Father often plays with me and Seventh Uncle, and Seventh Uncle always loses!”

The information contained in that one remark quietly startled several of the nearby matrons, and the gazes they turned toward Noble Consort Xian changed in character. Others looked toward Zhang Fen, envy flickering in their eyes. Zhang Fen smiled with composed dignity.

The Emperor gave a light cough and placed a hand on his eldest son’s head. “Come. I’m taking you to the front.”

He then said to Li Zhenzhen and the others, “See to the comfort of all the ladies.”

Li Zhenzhen and the rest curtsied their assent.

The Emperor said to everyone, “Be at ease. Enjoy yourselves today.” With that, he took the First Prince and left the imperial gardens to go meet with the officials at the front. The Imperial Noble Consort’s banquet was in the garden, while the Emperor was hosting his senior ministers at the front.

The Emperor’s extraordinary favor for the First Prince was plain for all to see. Everyone curtsied and bowed to see the Emperor off.

Zhang Fen maintained a radiant face before others, but in truth her heart was deeply downcast.

The Emperor had not yet established an Empress, which meant that originally, there had been no one more deserving of that position than herself. Yet even now, neither her grandfather nor her father could fathom what had happened — how the Empress’s position, so nearly in their grasp, had slipped away.

And as a result, she had been married off to that rough man Li Weifeng.

Li Weifeng had reached a position of immense power — but Zhang Fen coveted even greater heights, and having narrowly missed the Empress’s seat, she could find nothing pleasing in Li Weifeng no matter which way she looked at him.

Watching the Emperor as he departed now — he was truly magnificent, carrying about him an aura like the luminous glow of a dragon, shimmering with gold light. A pity that from beginning to end, he had not glanced at her once.

With the Emperor gone, everyone relaxed, and conversation picked up with the consorts of the rear palace.

All three Noble Consorts were being paid their share of attention. The Imperial Noble Consort had no sons, though her circumstances were well known to all. The First Prince born to Noble Consort Xian was greatly favored, but Noble Consort Shu had also recently given birth to a son — and both children were still young, their futures still uncertain. No one was in a rush to place their bets; it was better to remain on pleasant terms with all.

Among the three lesser consorts, two had given birth to princesses, and it had not been heard that the Emperor showed any particular favor toward them. Fewer people gathered around them — mainly those with personal ties to their families.

The gradations of rank and the warmth or coldness of human sentiment were on vivid display.

Of the three Noble Consorts, it was Li Zhenzhen who was surrounded like the moon among stars. With the Emperor viewing her as an elder sister, her position was as immovable as a mountain for as long as he reigned. Many sought to get close to Li Zhenzhen, but Li Zhenzhen kept hold of Yongning Princess and would not let her stray from her side.

The attentive matrons listened carefully, and beyond discerning that Yongning Princess and the Imperial Noble Consort had evidently been acquainted from before, they could make out nothing of particular significance.

Recalling the Emperor’s manner just now — when confronted with Yongning Princess’s remarkable beauty, he had not appeared to react with any special feeling.

The rear palace had only three Noble Consorts and three lesser consorts — strictly speaking, only five women in total. An Emperor of martial origins seemed to have little interest in the pleasures of women. Which, when one thought about it, made sense — the nation had only just been established, and there were still so many great matters awaiting him. Many Emperors of strict self-discipline had not begun to indulge such pleasures until well into middle age.

There was no rush.

But this Yongning Princess was no simple figure — she was genuinely skilled in all situations, graceful and adaptable in every direction. Just now, the Emperor had formally acknowledged her as someone who had “earned her title through merit,” and already the Imperial Noble Consort, Noble Consort Xian, and Noble Consort Shu were all chatting and laughing with her as though they were old friends.

As the sun climbed higher, the three Noble Consorts rose, and everyone followed them in to take their places at the banquet.

During the meal, Princess Hexi sat beside her mother and said, “Mother, I’ve already mentioned the matter of appreciating the qin to Yongning Princess — when should I go and invite her?”

Li Zhenzhen’s eyes flickered. “Don’t rush. I’ll arrange it.”

Princess Hexi nodded and sat beside her mother to attend to her needs. Everyone praised the Princess for her dutiful and gentle manner.

Compared to the previous year, this spring banquet was clearly more well-appointed. In the first two years, the new dynasty had still been unsettled, and many things had been makeshift, temporary, or improvised. Now, one could see with one’s own eyes how stable things had become. The imperial grandeur that should have been there had all come into its proper place.

Only Noble Consort Shu Deng stepped away from the banquet twice in the middle — unable to stop worrying about the Second Prince, who was only six months old. She went to check on him and then returned.

When the banquet was over, the spring gathering was still far from finished. The imperial gardens still had many events to come, and the young ladies from various families were to display their talents before the three Noble Consorts — qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, each according to her strengths.

After all, the Emperor was so young, and many families with daughters had ambitions of their own in their hearts.

As for those young women themselves — having caught a glimpse of the Emperor today, seeing him in his youth and authority, his complexion though somewhat dark holding a distinct and vigorous appeal — more than a few hearts had been quietly stirred.

Yet the Imperial Noble Consort showed no inclination to allow additions to the rear palace, and neither Noble Consort Xian nor Noble Consort Shu would be so unwise as to stir up trouble for themselves. This left many families able only to chafe in secret.

What they could not have known was that the reluctance did not lie with Li Zhenzhen. In fact, ever since Zhang Fen had failed in her bid for the Empress’s position, Li Zhenzhen had urged Li Gu many times on the matter of “filling the rear palace.” It was simply that each time, Li Gu had refused.

And then Xie Yuzhang had returned to Yunjing and been granted the title of Princess. One look had told Li Zhenzhen everything. After weighing the situation carefully, she had concluded that Xie Yuzhang would be very useful to her, and had hoped to bring her under her wing. What she had not anticipated was that this woman was as slippery as an eel — she had reached out to seize her, and found nothing to hold onto.

Then she would have to think of another approach.

After all, the tone and manner in which Li Gu had told her not to interfere with Xie Yuzhang was entirely unlike the tone he had used when previously refusing to fill the rear palace.

Men.

When the palace maid came to fetch Xie Yuzhang, Xie Yuzhang suspected nothing.

For one thing, the only man in this rear palace was Li Gu, and that man was thoroughly trustworthy. For another, Princess Hexi had already extended the invitation earlier — the young girl’s sincerity had been plainly visible.

Xie Yuzhang glanced over. Lin Fei at this moment also had company around her. Although their social circles overlapped to some degree, they were not entirely the same.

And most importantly of all — Lin Fei ought to be reclaiming the life’s path that belonged to a daughter of the Lin Family.

So Xie Yuzhang did not go to disturb her, but rose and followed the palace maid.

Halfway along the path, she asked, “Where are we going?”

The palace maid replied, “The Princess said the banquet was too noisy, so she selected the Feiyan Hall to try the qin.”

Xie Yuzhang said, “That place is indeed quiet.”

She continued following the maid. The path was correct — it truly led toward Feiyan Hall. As they went, the noise fell further and further behind, and all grew quieter.

Only when she arrived at Feiyan Hall did Xie Yuzhang narrow her eyes.

“Your Highness.” The palace maid bowed. “Your Highness, please enter.”

Xie Yuzhang stood at the threshold and did not move. “Is the Princess inside?”

The maid said with certainty, “The Princess is waiting for Your Highness.”

Xie Yuzhang said, “Then why can I not hear a single sound? Is the Princess in there alone?”

A flicker of panic crossed the maid’s brow, though she forced herself to remain steady. “Perhaps she is burning incense at the moment.”

Playing the qin paired with incense was entirely customary. Yet Xie Yuzhang no longer trusted this maid. Without a word, she turned and walked away.

The maid reacted quickly, darting around to block her path. She forced a smile. “Your Highness — where is Your Highness going? The Princess is waiting for you.”

Xie Yuzhang said coldly, “Move aside.”

The maid had been given strict orders and dared not let her leave. In her desperation, she actually reached out to grab Xie Yuzhang’s sleeve.

Xie Yuzhang said nothing. She lifted her skirt, and kicked the maid squarely in the abdomen, sending her crashing to the ground — for even back here in Yunjing, Xie Yuzhang stretched her limbs and practiced every day, and regularly rode and shot at the archery grounds of the Princess’s residence.

The maid had not expected it at all, and cried out.

The cry carried inside.

“Who is making that noise?”

A man’s voice rang out — utterly familiar. Who else could it be but Da Mu’s Emperor, Li Gu? Xie Yuzhang sighed and had no choice but to turn around.

The great doors of Feiyan Hall swung half open, and Li Gu stood at the top of the steps.

In the spring light, he wore an outer robe loosely over his shoulders, his snow-white inner garment hanging open at the chest, revealing a broad expanse of solid muscle. As his lapels swayed, the outline of his abdomen flickered in and out of view.

Li Gu pushed the door open and saw Xie Yuzhang turning in the spring breeze, her sleeves drifting, the kingfisher inlay at her brow alive with shifting light.

Li Gu’s gaze fell upon her face — more beautiful than the spring light itself — and stayed there, unable to move away.

His eyes were very bright, but at the corners, they carried the faintest flush of red.