Because the weather was getting hotter, the palace carriage assigned today was similar to a light carriage, open on all four sides with only a roof covering the top. Shaoshang sat in the gently swaying carriage and looked far into the distance at the imposing, towering phoenix-shaped flying eaves of Changqiu Palace, unable to resist asking the young eunuch riding alongside the carriage.

“Eunuch Chen, I remember the first time I entered the palace with Father and Mother, we came in through the south palace gate and passed through many palace halls and gardens along the way—it took a full half hour. Today we’re arriving so quickly. Since there’s a shortcut, why didn’t we take it that day?”

The young eunuch surnamed Chen, seeing she was beautiful and innocent, having chatted and laughed with him pleasantly and unreservedly along the way, smiled and said: “When the palace normally summons officials’ family members to enter, naturally it must follow proper protocol. But now that Young Mistress is betrothed to Lord Ling, isn’t this half the Emperor’s new daughter-in-law? Family naturally can take shortcuts through the east and west palace gates… Oh my, we’ve arrived. Miss Cheng, please disembark. From here we must walk.”

Shaoshang recognized this palace lane leading to Changqiu Palace. Though called a lane, it was wide and straight—almost six lanes wide. She lifted her skirt and carefully allowed palace maids to help her down from the carriage, raising her head to look at the tall, dark blue palace walls on both sides, thinking: Perfect. All that’s missing is high-voltage barbed wire.

Eunuch Chen led the way in front, with palace maids and eunuchs on both sides like silent mime performers. Shaoshang walked in the middle of this vermillion and black procession, finding amusement in hardship by thinking: Even a cross-provincial wanted criminal wouldn’t get better treatment—this almost has the grandeur of an international extradition.

After walking only a few steps, Eunuch Chen suddenly stopped, then the entire procession stopped. Shaoshang looked through the gaps in the crowd and saw approaching from the opposite direction a tall woman surrounded by servants.

Eunuch Chen respectfully bowed his head and clasped his hands: “Greetings to Your Highness the Princess.”

The surrounding palace maids and eunuchs all knelt to pay respects. Shaoshang immediately fell into confusion—should she stand and bow like Eunuch Chen, or should she kneel and kowtow like those around her? Whatever, one can never be too courteous. She decided to perform the grander gesture and knelt down with the palace servants.

The princess ignored Eunuch Chen, holding her head high and proudly walking straight into the crowd. As she drew nearer, Shaoshang finally remembered—wasn’t this the princess who seemed to have a species barrier with her own prince consort? She vaguely recalled Luo Jitong introducing her as third in rank.

The Third Princess appeared to be in her twenties, with a graceful figure and beautiful features, though her eyes and brows were somewhat sharp, making her seem not very approachable. Today she wore a deep curved-hem robe made from a whole bolt of vermillion ramie silk satin. The long train extended behind her, its edges inlaid with golden five-colored brocade. Such precious fabric casually dragged on the ground, and as she walked, her bearing was elegant and graceful.

Seeing the Third Princess walking straight toward her with an unfriendly expression, Shaoshang felt somewhat flustered. She had originally thought the first to make things difficult for her would be that widowed commandery princess or the princess who kept wandering knights—she hadn’t expected it would be this already-married one. It seemed Ling Buyi’s radiation range was quite extensive.

The Third Princess walked up to her and bent down, using beautifully manicured fingers to lift her chin: “So you are Cheng Shaoshang. Indeed, your beauty is lovely and exceptionally extraordinary.”

Shaoshang’s chin hurt from being pinched. She cursed inwardly: What the hell are you pretending to be, acting like some whirlwind show-off? At the palace banquet that day, you stared at me for a full one hundred eighty seconds, and now you’re saying “so this is” and “so that is”!

Using fingers to lift someone’s chin was a very classic gesture of contempt. By slightly changing the angle of the lifted fingers and facial expression, it could also serve as a trademark gesture of a domineering CEO’s wicked and unrestrained arrogance. The only problem was that the height difference between the two parties couldn’t be too great. The Third Princess was already half a head taller than Shaoshang, and right now Shaoshang was kneeling very “respectfully,” so after lifting her chin for only a moment, the Third Princess inevitably developed a sore back and painful neck, and could only resentfully lower her fingers.

“Speak.” The Third Princess slowly circled Shaoshang, her gaze cold and critical. “How did you seduce Eleventh Brother?”

This question was extremely vicious. Shaoshang sighed inwardly—there was no help for it, she would have to suffer some physical punishment. Consider it career retraining as a juvenile delinquent. She only hoped it was true as Old Cheng had said, that the Emperor was very enthusiastic about this marriage.

Having made up her mind, she slowly knelt upright and said: “May I ask Your Highness, what constitutes ‘seduction’?”

The Third Princess abruptly stopped and sneered: “What I say it is, it is! I tell you to answer, yet you dare to defy your superior!”

Shaoshang’s expression didn’t change at all. She said mildly: “Your Highness’s words are mistaken. If this young woman obediently answered Your Highness, it would be admitting to this matter of ‘seduction.’ For the sake of my family’s reputation, this young woman would rather endure Your Highness’s punishment.”

The Third Princess scolded coldly: “You lowly maid, you actually dare to defy and disrespect your superior! Someone, slap her mouth!”

Shaoshang quickly raised her head high, positioning herself and waiting for someone to strike her. But unexpectedly, Eunuch Chen suddenly called out loudly: “Wait a moment.”

The Third Princess turned back with a sinister expression: “You also dare to defy me?”

Eunuch Chen bowed neither humbly nor arrogantly: “Your Highness, please look carefully. The people this humble servant is escorting today are not from Changqiu Palace. Before leaving the palace, His Majesty specifically instructed this servant that before delivering Miss Cheng to Changqiu Palace, we should first bring her before the imperial presence—His Majesty has words to bestow. Your Highness, think carefully—do you really want Miss Cheng to face the Emperor with a slapped face?”

The Third Princess’s anger blazed: “Don’t try to frighten me with Father Emperor. What, as a noble princess, can I not punish a lowly maid without rank or title! Even if Father Emperor scolds me, today I will still strike this lowly maid! Someone…”

“Someone what! No one is to move!”—Suddenly a clear, bright female voice came from the corner of the lane, and immediately a group of palace servants surrounded an elegantly dressed woman approaching. Shaoshang quickly raised her eyes to identify her—it was precisely the Second Princess.

Eunuch Chen breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed again in salute. The surrounding palace maids, eunuchs, and Shaoshang all followed suit.

The Second Princess’s face and figure were very similar to the Third Princess’s, but her brow was gentle and the corners of her mouth often carried a slight smile, making her appear very approachable. Today she wore a high-waisted, form-fitting snow-blue dancing dress. Her attire was neat and simple, her hair styled in a high moon-gazing coiffure. Striding quickly into the wind like this, she seemed like a flying immortal.

She nodded slightly to Eunuch Chen, glanced at Shaoshang kneeling in the middle, then put on a stern face toward her own sister: “You were just punished by Father Emperor with a thirty percent reduction in your fief revenue. How have you become stubborn again? Haven’t been punished enough?!”

The Third Princess’s expression stiffened, then she sneered: “I’m the one Father Emperor likes least. Since that’s the case, even if I’m punished again, I’ll still act according to my own wishes!”

At these words, Shaoshang immediately felt deep sympathy—so even the Emperor’s daughter couldn’t do as she pleased. Then it was obviously much more reasonable for a mid-ranking military officer’s daughter to suffer setbacks.

The Second Princess stepped forward several paces, grabbed the Third Princess’s arm and pulled her aside a few steps, lowering her voice to scold: “You speak so boldly now, but later don’t come complaining that your expenses aren’t enough and come borrowing money from me! These past days, Mother Consort finally agreed to see you again—don’t cause more trouble!”

The Third Princess softened somewhat and said tearfully: “Second Sister, my heart is so bitter…”

“Bitter what bitter! You and your husband already have a son—what more do you want?” The Second Princess both scolded and persuaded. “Hurry up and give up this thought. Father Emperor reveres the Confucian rules and regulations—he won’t let you divorce and remarry at will! Besides, think about our uncle’s family—the one who was widowed. She may not have a husband anymore, but did she succeed in marrying Ling Buyi?!”

The Third Princess couldn’t help but let tears fall: “He, how can he be so heartless…”

The Second Princess had heard these words so many times over the years her ears had grown calluses. She said impatiently: “Are you ever going to stop? When Eleventh Brother was young, you didn’t look at him differently. Later when he grew up, became tall and strong, you developed designs on him—but he’s not obligated to comply with you! Enough, this isn’t a convenient place to talk. Come with me quickly!”

After saying this, the Second Princess pulled the Third Princess back, pushed her own sister toward the palace servants with a smile on her face, then helped Shaoshang up with both hands, smiling with some embarrassment: “Quickly rise. We’re almost family now—why perform such grand ceremonies? After seeing Sister Shaoshang that day, I asked Eleventh Brother for celebratory wine, but that brat pretended to be aloof with a cold face. Now I understand—it turns out Father Emperor fears sister is too young and wants to properly instruct her before the marriage.”

Shaoshang stood up accordingly, thinking privately: You sisters are quite interesting—one seems to have no brain, the other seems to have two. But she still said nothing, only respectfully bowed again.

The Second Princess, seeing her childlike and pitiful, respectful and gentle (an illusion), smiled and patted her hand, then turned to catch the Third Princess who was trying to leave: “Where are you going?”

The Third Princess forcefully shook off her sister’s grip: “I’m going to see Mother Consort.”

“That’s wonderful—I’m also going to see Mother Consort. Let’s go together.”

“…I want to first pay respects to the Empress.”

“Sister speaks reasonably. Upon entering the palace, one should naturally first pay respects to the Empress. Meeting is fate itself—let’s still go together.”

“I won’t cause any more trouble—I can walk by myself!”

“Actually, Elder Sister fears she herself will cause trouble. With younger sister watching from the side, Elder Sister can relax.”

Third Princess: …

Shaoshang lowered her head to suppress a smile. She suddenly felt the Second Princess was a very interesting person and couldn’t help secretly raising her head to glance at her. But this hasty glance was caught by the Second Princess. The Second Princess paused, seeing the girl quickly lower her head again to appear obedient, but in that brief instant she had only felt the smile was innocent, lively and charming—she turned back to look at her sister who wore all her emotions on her face, and couldn’t help shaking her head.

Eunuch Chen, seeing the trouble resolved, quickly ordered the palace maids and eunuchs to rise and continue walking. The Second Princess also tightly gripped the Third Princess, heading in another direction. But at this moment, another group of people came from around the lane corner, with Ling Buyi at their head.

This place was already the northern palace forbidden area. Ling Buyi couldn’t ride horses or drive carriages, and his guards couldn’t wear full armor or heavy weapons. However, these dozen or so personal guards all wore light-colored fitted robes and sashes, with light swords and short blades at their waists. Following closely beside Ling Buyi in lockstep, whether in their vigilant postures or walking pace, all were solemn, quiet, uniform and identical.

This procession walked straight forward so quietly that the palace maids, eunuchs, and princess attendants on Shaoshang’s side all seemed to freeze in place as if under a spell. The Third Princess, seeing Ling Buyi, showed both surprise and joy on her face. The Second Princess, however, thought today’s matter might not end well, and sighing, noticed that Shaoshang in front kept her head lowered with even some trepidation, which struck her as very strange.

Ling Buyi had by now walked close. Eunuch Chen clasped his hands and smiled: “Why has Eleventh Brother come? His Majesty was still mentioning you this morning.” Ling Buyi also clasped his hands in return. When he raised his head, Eunuch Chen exclaimed in surprise: “Oh my… Eleventh Brother, what happened to your face?”

Everyone looked and saw that Ling Buyi today wore a black straight-hem long robe with black silk binding his hair. However, on his fair face were several blood-red scratches, and within the deep black collar, snow-white bandages were faintly visible.

The Third Princess immediately cried out in alarm and was about to rush forward, but was firmly held back by the Second Princess. The Second Princess called out loudly: “Eleventh Brother, where have you been misbehaving again!”

Ling Buyi smiled: “It’s nothing. Just the night before last, I was careless while riding and fell from the horse.”

Shaoshang had already been uneasy, not knowing how to face this fiancé who had just been “broken up with.” Now hearing the words “the night before last,” she became even more alarmed and suspicious. Just as she was planning to cup her face and cry out with concern a few times, Ling Buyi walked to her side and glared at her coldly, saying in a low voice: “You don’t speak first!” Shaoshang immediately closed her open mouth, muttering as she lowered her head.

Ling Buyi, ignoring the nearly hundred pairs of eyes watching all around, reached out and grasped her soft, delicate right hand, pulling her behind himself to shield her. Seeing this blatantly protective posture, the Third Princess’s eyes turned red, tears welling up in her eyes. Just as she was about to speak, the Second Princess quickly spoke ahead of her, smiling: “This is truly extraordinary news. Since childhood, your horsemanship has been excellent—you could somersault and leap on horseback with your eyes closed. How did you slip up now!”

Ling Buyi seemed to respect the Second Princess greatly and said amiably: “His Majesty already reprimanded me earlier, saying I shouldn’t have ridden recklessly after drinking, not knowing life from death.”

Hearing this, Shaoshang uneasily lowered her head and twisted her right hand. Her small palm was firmly gripped by the slightly cool large hand, completely unable to move.

The Second Princess smiled and scolded a few more times, then Ling Buyi turned and said courteously: “The eunuch has worked hard—leaving the palace before dawn to welcome my wife. Zicheng here thanks you greatly. His Majesty is currently in the rear hall of the Secretariat. I’ll personally escort my wife there myself, so we won’t trouble Eunuch Chen.”

Hearing the words “my wife,” the surrounding palace maids and eunuchs couldn’t help looking at Shaoshang behind Ling Buyi, some with smiles, some whispering quietly. The Third Princess had been gazing joyfully at Ling Buyi like a sunflower, but hearing these two words, she immediately deflated by half. The Second Princess could only sigh in a posture as if picking up sunflower seeds from the ground.

Shaoshang stood sideways behind him, as if sheltered by a tall, upright mountain ridge—both safe and oppressive. The mountain was there, immovable and unavoidable. Both restraint and protection—she could only accept them.

Eunuch Chen beamed: “Eleventh Brother, you overwhelm this servant. Serving His Majesty is a duty we should fulfill.” He looked at Ling Buyi and Shaoshang with eyes full of “understanding.” “This works too—then please Eleventh Brother… uh, do as you please… this servant will steal some leisure.” Afterward, he bowed to take leave of the two princesses, taking along the palace maids and eunuchs he had brought.

With a rustle, the crowd decreased by a third. Ling Buyi turned back to face the two princesses, restraining his smile: “I have words to say to Your Highnesses. Please dismiss your attendants.” At the same time, he waved his hand in signal, and his personal guards swiftly retreated like a silent tide.

The Second Princess had been prepared in her heart and also told her attendants to move far away. Thus, only the four of them remained in this palace lane.

Ling Buyi drew the girl out from behind him and asked: “What did the Third Princess say to you just now?” Shaoshang knew she shouldn’t tattle and was about to gloss over it with a few words when Ling Buyi continued: “Did she call you ‘lowly maid,’ say you seduced me, and even want to slap your mouth? Good, I know it all—it must have been so.”

Shaoshang: …

The Second Princess was both amused and exasperated: “Before you arrived, Eleventh Brother, Sister Shaoshang could still say a few words. Once you came, she doesn’t need to say a single word. Your temperament is really too domineering.”

Ling Buyi lowered his lashes and said mildly: “Second Princess, you needn’t deflect for the Third Princess. What I have to say, I will say regardless.”

The Second Princess smiled bitterly and shook her head: “You, oh you…”

The Third Princess had been maintaining a stern face. Now she suddenly shouted: “Elder Sister, you needn’t block for me. He’s been sharp-tongued and heartless since childhood—let him say whatever he wants! Do I fear him…”

Ling Buyi took a large step forward. Shaoshang, being pulled along, stumbled forward three steps. The Third Princess opposite, shocked by his imposing manner, retreated two steps in panic. Only the Second Princess remained in place, continuing to smile bitterly and shake her head.

“People in the capital all say the Third Princess is dissolute and arrogant…” Ling Buyi slowly began, “but I know that’s not so.”

The Third Princess’s face first turned deathly pale, but hearing the latter half of the sentence, it was like clouds parting to reveal the sun, and wild joy arose in her heart.

“—Your Highness is merely passionate and doesn’t know how to conceal it.” Ling Buyi continued. The Third Princess suddenly plunged into an icy abyss.

The Second Princess looked at her sister’s bewildered, rapidly changing expression, her heart full of pity.

Actually, there were many noble ladies from prestigious families who were dissolute. In the past, princesses keeping male favorites wasn’t anything rare—it’s just that others would maintain appearances properly. Unlike her sister, who frequently held banquets and widely invited handsome literary scholars and wandering knights to flirt and be intimate with, but in terms of actually doing anything truly scandalous, she might not have.

Ling Buyi said: “Your Highness is three years older than me. We grew up together in His Majesty’s presence. How could I not know about Your Highness’s several romantic attachments in youth? I also know Your Highness is unhappy in your marriage.”

The Third Princess trembled her lips: “…You, you’ve helped cover for me many times before.”

The Second Princess sighed: “Outsiders don’t know Eleventh Brother’s temperament, but don’t we family members know? He’s cold on the outside but warm-hearted—just like our own blood brother. That year when you had difficult labor in the middle of the night, it was still he who knocked on the palace gates overnight and had Father Emperor bestow imperial physicians. Have you forgotten all this?!”

The Third Princess no longer had her earlier arrogant appearance and said in a low voice: “I haven’t forgotten.”

“And so, today you repay this by humiliating my wife?!” Ling Buyi questioned coldly.

The Third Princess said tearfully: “That’s not it. How could I want to humiliate you? It’s just that I heard this Cheng Shaoshang is crude and cunning, coquettish and crafty. I don’t want you to…”

Ling Buyi coldly interrupted: “The princess herself misjudged one man after another, and today presumes to instruct me on how to judge people! I know much of what’s said about the princess outside is untrue, yet the princess uses outside rumors to question my fiancée!”

The Third Princess was immediately at a loss for words, stammering a few sounds, then looked at the handsome young man full of hope, saying bashfully: “Fine, even if it’s my fault, I’ll apologize to Miss Cheng right now. But, Eleventh Brother, I’ve remembered in my heart all the kindness you’ve shown me since childhood. When I was young, I didn’t know how to judge people, didn’t understand what makes a good husband. Now I…”  Her face flushed, her feelings of confession overflowing.

Shaoshang thought with contempt: Fool.

“Your Highness, please stop.” Ling Buyi said coldly. “Words that would disgrace the imperial family’s honor, Your Highness had better not speak aloud.”

The Third Princess still refused to give up. The Second Princess, embarrassed, glanced at Shaoshang who was shielded by Ling Buyi with only a corner of her dress visible, and scolded beyond endurance: “Do you have any shame at all? You’ve thrown all honor and dignity into the Eastern Sea! You now have a husband and son and cannot divorce and remarry—what more do you want? Do you want Eleventh Brother to become your lover?!”

The Third Princess was struck speechless. Since childhood she had no schemes. In such circumstances, she didn’t know what should happen between her and Ling Buyi in the future—she only knew that if her heart liked someone, she must be close and intimate with them.

“Second Sister thinks too much.” Ling Buyi said mockingly. “The Third Princess never considers how others might feel, nor cares about consequences or disasters. She only knows what makes herself happy. What she loves is not me, but herself.”

At this point, his palm tightened slightly with force. Shaoshang immediately felt pain and pleadingly patted and stroked his arm with her other hand. Whether it worked or not, Ling Buyi slowly loosened his palm again.

Shaoshang cursed inwardly: You know what I love most is also myself—why do you still cling to me and won’t let go!

“Third Princess, the past is past, but today I must speak plainly…” Ling Buyi looked directly at her. The Second Princess glanced at her sister and nodded lightly to him.

Ling Buyi said coldly: “Your Highness, stop deceiving yourself. I’ve helped you many times, covered for you—whether it was for you or for His Majesty, you know clearly in your heart. His Majesty is benevolent and raised me to adulthood. He labors over state affairs, working tirelessly day and night, yet his daughter only knows romantic love and completely disregards his dignity, repeatedly causing trouble—I’ve long been disgusted to the extreme!”

“You, you…” The Third Princess’s heart felt like breaking. She was originally a passionate and straightforward person—now it was like having someone cut out bloody wounds and then pour salt into them.

The Second Princess sighed. Only such unsparing words could sever her sister’s thoughts and prevent her from being used by others to do wrong again.

The Third Princess swayed as if about to fall, her face deathly pale as she supported herself against the Second Princess, forcing herself to say: “I understand everything now. You needn’t say more. I’m not so shameless. You say I was rash toward Cheng Shaoshang—fine, fine, then I’ll consider everything I heard to be wrong. I only hope you won’t regret it in the future…”

“Third Princess.” Ling Buyi stood ramrod straight, his expression calm, his eyes cold and stern. “I’m twenty-one years old this year. From childhood to now, how many times has His Majesty been concerned about my marriage—Your Highnesses know best. But it wasn’t until I met Shaoshang several months ago that I developed thoughts of marriage. Besides her, there is no one else.”

These words were spoken with absolute certainty. Both princesses were stunned.

After a moment, the Second Princess’s eyes showed gratified meaning. The Third Princess was despondent, closing her eyes and turning away.

Shaoshang stood sideways with her head lowered, one hand still held by Ling Buyi, the other hand resting on his strong, powerful arm. The muscles beneath her palm were long and warm. Sunlight crossed over the high palace walls, scattering like broken gold all over the ground, also falling on the girl, adorning her smoky jade-green garment until it seemed lush with branches and leaves, flower buds slightly blooming.

The dark blue palace floor tiles were mottled and worn. Thus no one noticed that on the tiles beside the girl’s toes fell two drops of dark black.

Shaoshang lightly stepped on them, covering them up.