Many years ago, the current Emperor was merely one small lord among many contending powers. His territory wasn’t the largest, his forces weren’t the most numerous, and initially he didn’t even debut in the center position. But he made extraordinary moves—in the second year after officially going solo, he proclaimed himself Emperor. By the end of that same year, he captured this current city, then established the national capital, perfected the legal system, organized the court… very quickly setting up a makeshift operation. Through years of careful management, grasping both construction and conquest with both hands, it gradually developed to its current scale of near-complete unification of the realm.

Shaoshang couldn’t help but express her admiration.

Take the current capital city, for example. Originally it was merely the fief of a certain prince from the previous dynasty. After the Emperor occupied it, to save expenses, he directly used the old royal palace as the imperial palace—what was now the Southern Palace. After all, the imperial family’s population wasn’t large, and the Southern Palace’s halls were quite spacious, so living quarters and court audiences were all together. It wasn’t until the year when the Wan and Cheng brothers came to pledge allegiance that the Emperor, seeing the national treasury gradually filling, began constructing the slightly larger Northern Palace complex.

Looking down at the entire massive rectangular palace city standing upright, the Northern Palace was above, the Southern Palace below—two square palace complexes, one large above and one small below, resembling an inverted character for “Lü.” The Northern and Southern Palaces were connected by elevated walkways. Surrounding this “Lü” character were many scattered individual palaces. Beyond that were tall towers and gardens, shrines and temples, administrative offices, and so forth.

The Empress’s residence, Changqiu Palace, was in the southwest corner of the Northern Palace.

First-generation imperial families were generally quite simple.

First, the Emperor’s parents died early, so there were no Grand Empress Dowagers or Dowager Consorts—the highest-ranking elder in the imperial family was currently the King of Ruyang in his semi-immortal state. Second, the Emperor’s one elder brother and one younger brother both died in battle. When the younger brother passed away, he was even without heirs, so they had to take one of the elder brother’s two sons to continue the younger brother’s lineage. Third, of the Emperor’s sisters, only one remained—the Grand Princess Imperial nearing sixty. She had one sharp-tongued young son, the student Huang Yang who had said at Ling Buyi’s residence that day that Shaoshang and Yuan Shen had a private meeting at the blacksmith shop.

Finally, the Emperor currently had only one Empress and two consorts—respectively the Empress Xuan, Consort Yue, and Beauty Xu. That’s all.

“That’s it?” Shaoshang still remembered her surprise when she first heard about this harem configuration. “Uncle Wan has more concubines than that.”

Ling Buyi asked in return: “And how many heirs does Young Master Wan have?”

Shaoshang sighed. This was the eternal pain of the Wan family.

“Your father has only your mother—how many children?”

The quality of the field doesn’t have to be great, it all depends on the plowing—Shaoshang had no choice but to change the topic: “Then how many princes does His Majesty have?”

The Emperor had eleven sons and five daughters in total. Aside from the Fifth Prince who was unexpectedly obtained by Beauty Xu, Empress Xuan and Consort Yue each bore five sons. But because one of Consort Yue’s sons died young before reaching the age for ranking, Consort Yue bore one more princess. Conclusion: Empress Xuan had five sons and two daughters, Consort Yue had four sons and three daughters—seven each.

Shaoshang: …This Emperor must be a Libra.

“Does Consort Yue receive much of His Majesty’s favor? Wouldn’t that be very disadvantageous for the Empress?” Even a girl who had never watched any palace intrigue novels or dramas could make this association.

But Ling Buyi showed an extremely indescribable expression: “…You’ll understand this later.”

However, Shaoshang had no time to concern herself with the Emperor’s consort relationships. She now needed to readjust her biological clock.

Every morning, Shaoshang had to rise and wash with the vigor of rushing to early study hall, then with the patience of catching a cross-city subway, take a carriage to the west-north gate of the palace city to enter the palace, walk south through the imperial gardens, and only then could she reach Changqiu Palace. To summarize: rise before five o’clock, half an hour to wash and eat, over an hour to reach the palace city, then walk quickly for thirty to forty minutes to arrive at her workplace.

In just two days, the Empress thoroughly understood how much learning Shaoshang possessed. Starting from the third day, the Empress began teaching Shaoshang various classics. Not like Madam Xiao making the girl memorize scroll by scroll, but systematically telling Shaoshang how many texts she should read through in total, divided into Confucian and Daoist classics, legal codes and customs, genealogies of noble houses, and even taboos and euphemisms.

The Empress loved literature and quiet. Each day around ten minutes before nine o’clock when Shaoshang arrived at Changqiu Palace, she had often already finished handling palace affairs and was either holding a scroll reading or practicing calligraphy. She had palace maids place a desk and writing materials beside her for Shaoshang, occasionally pointing out what a certain passage of classic scripture meant, or correcting Shaoshang’s calligraphy, and the morning would pass like this.

The Empress also set aside a room in the side hall of her palace quarters for Shaoshang. Each day after the noon meal, she let the young girl rest briefly, then began gentlewoman education and etiquette instruction in the afternoon. First was ritual sacrifice, including prayers to ancestors, deities, and even mountains and rivers. The Empress even summoned two ritual officials to explain in detail to Shaoshang the sacrifices from the palace and imperial clan down to the houses of nobles and aristocrats—from differences in sacrificial offerings and victims to the meanings of prayers and prostrations—listening until Shaoshang’s eyes spiraled like mosquito coils.

Next came various wifely arts. For example, textile work, specifically divided into handling hemp and ramie, treating silk and cocoons, weaving cloth, braiding cords and ribbons, even cutting and sewing garments. She also had to learn basic cooking—making fermented beans and sauces, brewing vinegar and meat paste, preparing wine and drinks, and so on.

“…This subject thought that this subject would not need to personally labor at these tasks in the future.” After two days of painful learning, Shaoshang finally gathered courage to speak out.

The Empress smiled: “True, you won’t need to personally labor at these, but if you learn and master them, people will say you’re virtuous and accomplished.” As she said this, her usually template-perfect dignified face revealed a trace of mockery.

Shaoshang nodded woodenly. Virtuous—very good, very good.

Then there were games and diversions. Currently the most popular Liubo, gambling chess, pitch-pot, and the less popular Go, marble chess… At these times, the Empress would have Luo Jitong lead the young palace maids to play with Shaoshang.

And Shaoshang lost repeatedly, losing every bet. Even when guessing five out of six dice, she could precisely avoid all correct answers and pick the wrong one.

Luo Jitong laughed until she swayed from side to side, pointing at her: “All your luck must have been used on your marriage match!”

Shaoshang nearly vomited blood—Used my ass! My eighteen generations of ancestors’ lack of virtue are all buried in the ground and still throwing discus with their coffin lids, troubling the traffic police and wasting national resources!

“You being like this is quite good.” Luo Jitong’s expression showed melancholy. “I’m marrying far away to the northwest. When that time comes, keep the Empress company more often.”

Shaoshang grimaced. The Empress was a typical standard gentlewoman raised by high society. Even pruning branches and leaves from flowers, she could do it slowly for half a day. But she herself was a junior delinquent-in-training who valued swift gratification of grudges—if she said she’d smash beer bottles, she definitely wouldn’t throw soy sauce dishes. Now this was truly killing her.

“Doesn’t this subject need to learn household management?” she asked the Empress in a small voice.

But the Empress smiled with deep meaning: “You’re a girl with strong opinions. In the several days you’ve been in the palace, you never bring any extra items into the palace, nor do you take a single needle or thread from the palace out with you. When speaking with me, you weigh every word carefully. No matter how the palace maids invite you, you absolutely won’t wander the palace halls even half a step. After your noon rest, you fold your bedding more squarely than the white jade steps before the hall. Old Lady Zhai talked with you for half a day but couldn’t even find out where your second uncle is currently studying, yet you managed to learn all about her hometown—how many people remain, whether she’s married, what livelihood she pursues. Minor matters like household management—what’s there to worry about?”

Shaoshang was stunned. She hadn’t expected that the Empress, who appeared cool and aloof as if unconcerned about everything, actually noticed everything.

“This subject, I I…”

“No need to say more. A young girl having calculations in her heart is a good thing—better than Axi who has no sense and is all flustered and impetuous.” The Empress smiled faintly. “This way I can also rest assured in entrusting Zicheng to you.”

“Miss Wang, she she…” Shaoshang felt she had nowhere to hide.

“When she’s finished receiving her punishment, she’ll still need to enter the palace to express gratitude and apologize. I must preserve some dignity for her mother, but you don’t need to. Say whatever you want to say. If Axi can learn to understand things better from you, that would be a good thing.”

Shaoshang: …

As days passed, Shaoshang gradually learned more about palace affairs.

The Empress was an ice queen beauty who normally didn’t smile readily but was actually warm-hearted. Occasionally when young palace maids made mistakes, though her face showed severity, she would often let it pass lightly. Closest to her was Nanny Fu who had served her since childhood—palace people called her “Old Lady Zhai.”

Luo Jitong was nominally the Fifth Princess’s companion, but had long resided in Changqiu Palace accompanying the Empress. As for the Fifth Princess, since her betrothal was decided before the new year, her princess residence was completed several months ago. She now lived permanently at the princess residence, carefree and content.

Although everyone in Changqiu Palace treated her courteously, and even the “anticipated” Fifth Princess troublemaking never appeared, Shaoshang still felt her tender life had been harmed.

For over ten years she’d been a pragmatist educated in the new society. Later, she’d even chosen a science and engineering direction. From thinking patterns to life rhythm, she’d been trained to be swift and efficient, seeing and doing immediately. Even though she’d recently learned to play the bamboo flute and would face the courtyard at a forty-five degree angle letting her thoughts wander for a moment, that was only occasional.

But she was no longer a newcomer now. She knew these seemingly boring studies were all necessary, but suddenly adapting to this slow life, sitting and watching the sunlight outside project shadows under the corridor that slowly changed shape and angle—she was nearly depressed.

They say the deep palace is lonely, as if time dragged its feet, the sun and moon scattered their radiance. The Emperor had endless state affairs. Even when the Emperor frequently came to see the Empress, the deep palace remained lonely. Shaoshang began to understand where Ling Buyi’s cool, severe, profound air came from. Growing up in this kind of place from childhood, it was indeed easy to develop psychological issues.

“…When can we get married?” Shaoshang sat in the open-sided carriage, chin propped on her elbow. The evening breeze was refreshing and cool, but couldn’t blow away the irritation in her heart.

Ling Buyi rode quietly beside her carriage, occasionally looking inside: “Either year-end or early next year.”

“Is His Majesty that uneasy about me marrying you?” Shaoshang felt even her speech had slowed.

Ling Buyi looked at the girl’s confused gaze and said quietly: “Heaven and earth are the furnace, all things are copper; yin and yang are the charcoal, creation is the craftsman…”

“I know this one!” Shaoshang’s eyes lit up, as if raising her hand and being called on by the teacher to answer. “It’s Jia Yi’s ‘Ode to the Peng Bird.’ This is the Empress’s favorite piece—she reads two lines every day.” Indeed, this slow torture wasn’t suffered in vain. Look at her—she’d switched from science to liberal arts alive and kicking.

Ling Buyi said: “When I was young in the palace, I was also uncomfortable. Her Majesty would recite this piece for me to hear. Shaoshang, most of what you’re learning, I’ve also learned. I didn’t become His Majesty’s ‘Eleventh Brother’ the moment I entered the palace. One must have talents that the world can respect to be worthy of the title of His Majesty’s adopted son.”

Shaoshang said quietly: “…Aren’t you going to say anything to comfort me?” These days she’d heard plenty from palace maids about Ling Buyi’s stories.

Ling Buyi looked at her gently: “Even if you married Lou Yao, you’d still have to pass this hurdle. If you married into the Lou family without learning anything, would there truly be no troubles? When will you change this habit of loving to avoid things? Under heaven, any matter—as long as you face it head-on, there are few that are truly difficult.”

Shaoshang sighed: “Lord Ling, you’re my future husband, not a teacher.”

Ling Buyi suppressed a laugh: “Just endure a few more months. Once you’re at my residence, you can do as you please. There won’t be a houseful of in-laws and sisters-in-law for you to deal with—at least that’s better than the Lou family.”

Shaoshang stared blankly at the tall young man on horseback. The breeze blew gently, stirring his plain-colored straight-hem robe—cold, severe, upright.

She looked around. Seeing they’d already reached the deserted lane entrance of her home, she reached out to pull the hem of the young man’s long robe. When Ling Buyi bent down, she leaned to his ear and said softly: “Don’t you want to kiss me?”

Ling Buyi’s expression paused. Seeing the girl’s lips red as vermillion, her cheeks young and delicate, his heart stirred and he immediately moved to kiss her. But Shaoshang suddenly leaned back into the carriage and sat properly upright: “I suddenly recalled the Empress’s teachings—women should be dignified and self-controlled, not frivolous.” Yet her face clearly wrote ‘If I’m not happy, I won’t let you be happy either.’

Seeing her mischievous expression, Ling Buyi smiled lightly and didn’t quibble with her. When the carriage arrived at the Cheng residence entrance and he personally helped the girl down from the carriage, he suddenly said: “Can I stay at your house tonight?”

Shaoshang stumbled and nearly fell at her own doorstep. Her face reddened as she said quietly: “What nonsense are you talking!”

Ling Buyi smiled: “I mean, stay with your brothers.”

“That’s inappropriate.” Shaoshang’s expression was very serious. “Even if you stay with my brothers, it won’t stop people outside from gossiping.”

Ling Buyi raised an eyebrow: “We’re already engaged. What does it matter if we sleep together?”

This time Shaoshang didn’t blush but asked in surprise: “Really? Really no problem? I don’t quite understand—can unmarried couples do this nowadays?” More open than her era—she was actually a little excited.

“False.” Ling Buyi suddenly put on a stern face, though his usually cold eyes were full of laughter.

Shaoshang immediately lost interest and said mildly: “In that case, Lord Ling should return. Look, the sky’s already darkening.”

Ling Buyi looked at her pretentious manner, originally wanting to laugh, but suddenly sighed: “Ultimately, it’s because you’ve been too idle in the palace these days. Haven’t you noticed anything amiss?”

Shaoshang tensed: “What did I do wrong? I think I’ve been very careful in the palace.” This terrifying palace—she wished she could count every step she took. Had she already made a mistake?!

Ling Buyi pityingly touched her hair: “It’s nothing serious. His Majesty will probably scold you a few words, but it may not necessarily be a bad thing.”