“What?! Sanlang… San… Sanlang is… is missing?!” Yan Gui’s face drained of color.

There was a gathering taking place in the palace, and she and her son were expected to attend. But mindful of Princess Imperial An Ren’s temper, she had instructed the wet nurse and nanny to keep her son at as great a distance as possible, so as not to catch Princess Imperial An Ren’s eye. Princess Imperial An Ren may have seemed not quite right in the head, but she always managed to say the most vicious things.

Sanlang was just a few years old. To have the label “disrespectful to his elder brother” stuck on him — bring it up later and it becomes a flaw in one’s character. But not appearing at all would also invite criticism. Yan Gui had thought it over and over and ultimately brought her son with her. But then, in that one moment of inattention — she had just been saying a couple of words to Cairen Li — the child had vanished!

When Yan Gui went out to search, she found Su Zhe already reprimanding the wet nurse: “Keep a proper eye on His Highness. There are so many people here today — if he were to get a bump or a scratch, what would be done?”

The wet nurse and nanny were in the middle of apologizing.

Yan Gui hurried forward: “Sanlang!”

She scooped up her son, then said one word of thanks to Su Zhe.

Su Zhe said, “I didn’t really do anything. The gathering is over that way — won’t Baolin go over?”

“I’ll… I’ll go.”

Yan Gui said it with her mouth, but gave Su Zhe a curtsy and left with the nanny in a hurry. With only two children in the entire hall, they naturally drew every eye. Sanlang was the more alert of the two, spoke in ways people found endearing, and would sweetly call out “Father.” A clean, pleasant child who didn’t cry or fuss — the emperor naturally preferred him. Compared to the somewhat dull-witted elder prince, Sanlang seemed all the more delightful. And then another glance: the nanny was wiping the elder prince’s nose — the endless flow that never seemed to stop.

The emperor no longer looked at the elder prince, and instead held the younger child, entertaining him playfully.

Princess Imperial An Ren said, “Your Majesty, today is the good day for the ladies becoming Cairen. Instead of keeping them company, you ignore them and leave them standing there doing nothing? Now that you have them, do you not want any more children?”

Yan Gui’s heart clenched with even greater panic — and within that panic surged a great deal of fury! She bowed her head, took Sanlang, and said, “Your Majesty, Sanlang is due for his nap. This consort will take him to settle him.”

The emperor then released his hold.

Princess Imperial An Ren had always been like this, and everyone was fairly used to it. The emperor knew the inner palace would have to weather a few sharp words from Princess Imperial An Ren, but as long as it didn’t blow up into something big, he couldn’t be bothered to deal with it. The conferment ceremony for the consorts was today; he really should give the new ladies some attention. Yan Gui was charming, but it could not compare to the importance of a harmonious inner palace and an expanding family line; there genuinely were too few children.

After the banquet disbanded, Empress Dowager Mu invited Empress Luo to her palace to listen to music and play games, and dispatched people to see Princess Imperial An Ren and her daughter-in-law out of the palace. Taking Empress Luo’s hand as they walked, she spoke gently at length: “The court has so much on its mind — don’t let the inner palace trouble Medicine Master further. He likes quiet.”

Empress Luo was unwilling to offend anyone on either side and could only murmur her assent in a low voice.

Empress Dowager Mu sighed. This daughter-in-law had treated her well enough — it was just that… Empress Dowager Mu made an effort to say to Empress Luo, “You should also pay some attention to matters at court. When he comes home having encountered something difficult at court, you need to know how to take up the thread of conversation. You are always chatting about everyday family matters with the princesses — do you need Medicine Master to come back and arbitrate your domestic disputes for you?”

Empress Luo had no choice but to agree again, obediently. Just as Empress Dowager Mu was about to sigh again, she finally asked a question: “Has something happened at court?”

She truly did not know. From childhood, she had been protected by her imperial cousin, and though she wished to share his burdens, she was always treated as a child, with everything arranged for her by others. During the time in the Eastern Palace, things had been slightly more pressing; but once she was formally installed as empress, beyond bearing a son, there was nothing pressing to worry about. Princess Imperial An Ren might be sharp-tongued, but she was not harsh to her own granddaughter, only urging the empress to produce a crown prince. Princess Yongping felt sorry for her daughter and did not push her in this either, and had even arranged for the emperor’s first-born son to be adopted in her name.

Empress Luo had simply grown up this way, in gentle tranquility.

Empress Dowager Mu felt slightly heartened and said, “The two factions at court are fighting until their heads are broken and bleeding. With Chief Minister Zheng in mourning leave, Chief Minister Xian is about to launch a counter-offensive. And Zhù Third Young Master happens to be in command of troops in the field — at a time like this, how can one allow Chief Minister Xian to go too far? And then there are floods…”

A young emperor had no shortage of worries — factional struggles, war, natural disasters… and the carrying-on inside the palace — was that any way to behave?

Empress Luo asked again, “Then… what should I do?”

“Take care of Medicine Master.” Empress Dowager Mu sighed. She had largely given up hope of the empress producing children; others could produce them anyway, and it was really a matter of what to do about the first son… he really didn’t seem like crown prince material. Empress Dowager Mu also hoped the empress could remain steady and stable — what proper imperial family went around deposing an empress for sport?

“Yes.”

Empress Luo wasn’t quite sure how to care for this imperial cousin of hers, because it had always been the other way around — her cousin watching out for her. Besides, with the emperor now surrounded by beauties, did he need her care?

A faint, rueful smile crossed the young empress’s face.

But since Empress Dowager Mu had raised it, Empress Luo began thereafter to send people to inquire after the emperor’s diet and daily life, and to go meet him at the end of each day’s court session. Hearing the implied suggestion that Princess Imperial An Ren should visit the inner palace less frequently, she also sent gifts of walking canes and the like to Princess Imperial An Ren, encouraging her to rest in her own residence.

Empress Dowager Mu, seeing her gradually finding her footing, was quite pleased. But then, before court had even dismissed one afternoon, the emperor came storming back to the rear hall in a fury. He had previously been able to exchange a few words with Empress Luo, but today he said not a single word and instead declared: “There is nothing the matter. You rest. There is no need to wait for me every day. If you have time on your hands, do go and keep Mother company.” He had people escort Empress Luo away.

The emperor also ate his midday meal alone. After eating he tried to take an afternoon nap — and could not get up again. He, a young man in his prime, had fallen ill!

People get sick — it is the way of things. At first the palace was only ordinarily tense, but when he still had not improved two days later, after two days without attending court it was impossible to keep the secret, and every manner of talk spread through the court.

The entire inner palace was in a panic too. With Empress Dowager Mu and Empress Luo leading the way, everyone gathered to attend on him in the great hall. Empress Luo had no steady ideas of her own and could only send someone to summon her mother, Princess Yongping. Princess Yongping entered the palace and dragged in an inseparable shadow behind her — Princess Imperial An Ren.

Princess Imperial An Ren wasted no time in asking how the emperor had fallen ill. Eunuch Lan De said, “Accumulated overwork, followed by a surge of anger that struck the vital organs…”

“It’s these women who have bewitched His Majesty and ruined his health!” Princess Imperial An Ren declared.

Princess Yongping quickly stopped her: “Mother!”

The consorts were both humiliated and furious. Yan Gui’s face turned a deathly pale.

Empress Dowager Mu said, “If you want to quarrel, take it outside! There is no room here for those who stir up trouble! Attendants — the princess has grown senile. Please escort her to my quarters to rest!”

Princess Yongping quickly knelt to beg forgiveness, and Empress Luo also knelt. A whole floor of people kneeling. Empress Dowager Mu lowered her eyelids: “All of you, stop hovering here uselessly. Are any of you imperial physicians?”

She herself remained. Princess Imperial An Ren was truly escorted to the empress dowager’s quarters. Princess Yongping, however, pulled her daughter back to the Central Palace: “If we stay at his side with the empress dowager, it looks like we’re coercing her. Go back to yours.”

Mother and daughter returned to the Central Palace. Princess Yongping immediately said, “If His Majesty still does not recover in a few more days… where is the eldest prince? Keep a close watch on the eldest prince.”

“Oh.”

On the other side, Yan Gui, like everyone else, departed with many a backward glance. Cairen Li invited her to sit in her quarters. Yan Gui managed a faint smile and went, child in arms. Arriving, she found Consort Zhao Jieyu was also there. Cairen Li stroked her belly and said, “Here in this palace right now, it is only the few of us whose situation is the same. Whether we’ve successfully given birth or haven’t — we’ve all been resented by the princess. Not to mention Sanlang…”

Yan Gui’s heart tightened.

Consort Zhao began to weep again: “Erlang left me; I am already as good as dead. She cannot stand the sight of me, so I will go join my son.”

Cairen Li said, “Sister, why such despondency? I only fear that someone will take advantage of His Majesty’s illness to bully us — I said nothing beyond that. Take care of your body; once His Majesty recovers, bear another son — is that not better than looking for death?”

Yan Gui suddenly added: “Quite right.” And then said nothing more.

When all was said and done, all of these women’s lives were tied to the emperor’s. Once the emperor fell ill, those with any real influence were the empress dowager and the empress — not any of them.

A dense, suffocating despair surged over her, nearly stopping her breath. Yan Gui rose and said, “It is time for Sanlang to sleep. I will take him back.”

What could she possibly work out with these two?

Yan Gui brought her son straight to the great hall. A eunuch moved to stop her. Yan Gui said, “I wish to request an audience with the empress dowager!” She then jiggled her son: “Call her Grandmother.”

In that moment, Sanlang drew more attention than she did. A childlike, innocent call was what got mother and son admitted into the hall. Empress Dowager Mu looked at them with deep, measuring eyes and asked, “Why have you come back?”

Yan Gui set her son down before Empress Dowager Mu and kowtowed: “Empress Dowager, this consort has received His Majesty’s great grace and has today’s standing only because of it. With His Majesty fallen ill, this consort’s heart is as though it is burning. This consort wishes to fast, beginning today. Whenever His Majesty recovers, this consort will resume eating. I beg the Empress Dowager to look after Sanlang. Sanlang — go with Grandmother for now.”

Empress Dowager Mu’s eyes glistened with moisture: “Good child.” She reached out and took Sanlang into her arms.

Yan Gui set up a small Buddhist altar in the side chamber next to the great hall, and each day drank only clear water and burned incense in prayer. On the fourth day, light-headed and dizzy from hunger, she heard that the emperor was beginning to improve. Yan Gui let out a long breath and, kneeling on her prayer mat, gave a proper, full kowtow to the bodhisattva.

…

The emperor had come back to life. And so she and her son lived on too. Every single one of the emperor’s “indispositions” was a crisis for her; she no longer wished to go on living like this!

Since Princess Imperial An Ren viewed her as a thorn in her side, hiding was no escape! What was so great about the eldest prince? How could he compare to her Sanlang?

Why could her son not be Crown Prince?

Yan Gui climbed up from the prayer mat, her steps unsteady, and went to the great hall. She did not press forward, only watched from a distance — watching the emperor, watching the bustling activity around him. The emperor took his medicine, soothed the empress dowager, and then inquired about matters that had occurred over the past few days. Court affairs were reported by Chen Meng.

Yan Gui saw Chen Meng and heard him say, “War is like water — it changes in ten thousand ways. Zhù Ying is a person with a clear head and a sound plan; Your Majesty need not be anxious.”

“I only fear that without news from her, the court is about to break into open fighting!”

“Your Majesty, please set your mind at ease…”

That person and Chief Minister Chen were also on good terms. Yan Gui thought: however difficult things were, she needed to have a proper conversation with her aunt and uncle — her uncle being this Chief Minister Chen’s own maternal uncle.

After the court matters were spoken of, Chen Meng stepped back. Empress Dowager Mu then told her son about a few things that had happened in the palace over those days. The emperor lifted his eyes and saw Yan Gui, who hurried over, stumbling slightly as she went. The emperor patted her back: “You’ve suffered.”

Yan Gui gave a soft cry: “As long as Your Majesty is well.”

Empress Dowager Mu said, “All is well now — don’t be like this again. Have something to eat, and go see Sanlang. He has missed you greatly these past few days.”

“Yes.”

Yan Gui ate, went to see her son — her son had fared perfectly well in the empress dowager’s care. That evening, the family of three shared dinner in the great hall. The emperor, seeing his son, was in an even better mood, and laughingly asked, “Have you grown taller? What new poem have you learned to recite?”

The small child looked carefully at Yan Gui. Yan Gui shook her head slightly. Sanlang also shook his head: “I can’t. Elder Brother can’t, and neither can I.”

The emperor’s expression darkened. He asked, “Is this something the Central Palace said?”

Yan Gui quickly said, “It was not Her Majesty the Empress. It was this consort who did not want to provoke the princess. Her Majesty has never demeaned anyone. But after all, she and the princess are one family, while this consort and Sanlang are outsiders. Closeness cannot be wedged apart by those not close. How could this consort demand that Her Majesty place this consort and Sanlang ahead of her own grandmother? Sanlang is the princess’s junior generation; he should also let his elder be pleased.”

The emperor said coldly, “She is still in the palace? Hao Dafang! Summon Yao Zhen! Ask him — just how is he running the Capital Prefecture?! Princess Imperial An Ren seizes common people’s property by force and runs roughshod through the streets, and he doesn’t dare look into it? If he cannot do this job, I’ll replace him with someone upright and incorruptible!”

Hao Dafang hunched his neck and ran off.

Yan Gui quickly said in a soft voice, “Your Majesty, please — this consort has served you just these moments, and now you are going to investigate the princess because of it… this…”

“This has nothing to do with you. I have my own reasons.”

“Yes.”

The emperor bowed his head and spoke with his son again. Very soon the little boy began showing off his newly learned characters — he knew “safe” and he knew “well,” and with his forefinger traced them slowly across his father’s palm. The palm tickled, and the emperor’s heart filled with warmth. He was just about to laugh and say something when he noticed the character being written was “safe” — and he was suddenly plunged into melancholy. Safe… Are the four borders safe?

What on earth was Zhù Ying doing? Was the fighting ever going to happen?!!!

…

At Zhù Ying’s camp, she was in the process of marshaling her troops.

Even if she could afford to wait, Kun Da Chi could not — they would have to come to blows eventually. Kun Da Chi had expected that after humiliating Chen Fang, the other side would make some kind of move. He had not anticipated that they would be so unruffled.

He sent out small units to harass the front, and the response was still Young General Leng leading troops to beat them back. Aside from the troops under Young General Leng’s command seeming to have been refreshed with new soldiers, nothing else had changed. After each repulsion, Young General Leng did not pursue or counterattack.

After this happened several times, Kun Da Chi’s side could no longer sit still. His subordinate tribes all clamored for war — they, too, were nearly spent.

On this side, Kun Da Chi was marshaling; on the other side, Zhù Ying naturally had to respond in kind.

For the first engagement, she kept to conventional tactics: however many columns they sent, an equal number responded from this side. As for flanking from the rear and the like — one had to first make contact, see the actual capabilities on both sides, and only then decide whether there was the capital to “seek victory through unconventional means.”

Zhù Ying moved the secretariat forward, then convened the commanders for a discussion: three columns — Leng, He, and Ye — with herself positioned in the center slightly to the rear, coordinating.

But she would be the one to call the roll.

A platform was erected in the drill ground. Zhù Ying mounted it, and soldiers with loud voices and clear speech relayed her words through the three armies:

“Are you full?”

“Full!”

“Can you trust what I say?”

“We can!”

“Good — get ready, and follow your generals into battle!”

“Yes!”