After Qiu Xinran returned with Yuan Zhou, she worried for several days, but Xia Xiuyan never came to cause them any trouble. The two gradually put the matter behind them, reasoning that a dignified heir apparent surely wouldn’t go to great lengths over a few inconsequential words from two obscure minor officials.
As it turned out, Qiu Xinran was truly too young at that time. When she later recalled the kind of person Xia Xiuyan was, if she had to use two words to describe him, the first would be “temperamental” and the second would be “grudge-holding.” Moreover, this person generally didn’t deliberately seek revenge—he usually just settled scores with you in passing whenever he happened to encounter you later.
When the weather grew even hotter, the Emperor decided to relocate to Wanhe Palace to escape the summer heat. Qiu Xinran followed at the very end of the procession, departing in high spirits but unfortunately suffering heatstroke halfway through. By the time they reached the traveling palace, she could only lie in her room, unable to move.
In the evening, Yuan Zhou came to deliver medicine to her. Seeing his dejected expression, Qiu Xinran asked with concern, “What’s wrong with you?”
Yuan Zhou first shook his head, but after a while he said, “At tonight’s family banquet, His Majesty reprimanded the Second Prince for speaking disrespectfully of His Majesty at the academy. The Second Prince argued back a few times, advising His Majesty not to place blind faith in divination arts, lest he be misled by the slanderous words of petty people. His Majesty flew into a rage and punished the Second Prince by confining him to his room for reflection these next few days.”
Qiu Xinran blinked. “What does that have to do with you?”
Yuan Zhou said with a bitter expression, “After the Second Prince was punished, His Majesty’s anger still hadn’t subsided. Then Heir Xia said he himself had never carefully observed anyone perform calculations and was somewhat curious.”
“Mm,” Qiu Xinran said thoughtfully, “so you went?”
“With you absent, naturally only I could go.” Yuan Zhou sighed. “But I don’t know how to read fortunes for people at all.”
Divination methods encompassed a vast array of techniques. Even disciples from the same school and lineage all differed from one another—some excelled at calculations, some at feng shui, some at physiognomy. Someone like Qiu Xinran who had at least some proficiency in various branches, though to varying depths, was exceedingly rare. Moreover, she truly was exceptionally gifted in divination, something that couldn’t be attained through instruction alone.
The person half-reclining on the bed showed some sympathy on her face and couldn’t help but press further, “What happened next?”
“After entering the room, I had just paid my respects to the Emperor and hadn’t yet figured out what was happening when Heir Xia produced two birth date cards, saying he had a distant relative who had recently arranged a match with a family of appropriate status and wanted me to check the compatibility of their Eight Characters. Matching Eight Characters isn’t particularly difficult, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to look at it for him.”
Qiu Xinran frowned. “His family is in the northwest while he came to the capital alone. If relatives back home were getting married, it would be one thing for them to send him a letter, but why would they send him their birth date cards? This was obviously something he made up to toy with you.”
Yuan Zhou sighed. “You’re absolutely right, but how could I have thought of all that at the time? I just took them and looked, discovering that while the two people’s Eight Characters might bring some harm to the woman, it was still a good match overall, so I said the two people’s Eight Characters were compatible and they could be joined in marriage.”
Qiu Xinran, her small face pale, shook her head again. “Although when we read Eight Characters for people, we always think we’d rather demolish ten temples than ruin one marriage, and since perfect matches made in heaven are rare in this world, we always prefer to speak favorably. But since he was intent on making a fool of you today, answering like that most likely gave him leverage against you.”
“Exactly,” the youth said with deep regret. “After I finished speaking, he told me that those birth date cards were actually his parents’. Since everyone says this is a good match, it’s clear that the reason for Princess Mingyang’s death still lies with him. If the Princess hadn’t given birth to him, perhaps this marriage could have lasted long and happily.”
Qiu Xinran was dumbstruck upon hearing this. “How did he arrive at that conclusion…”
Yuan Zhou said in distress, “When the Empress Dowager heard this, she immediately broke down crying while clinging to him. The room descended into chaos, and it took everyone quite some effort to console her before she stopped. His Majesty was naturally very displeased as well and reprimanded me a few times before dismissing me.” As he spoke, he couldn’t help but look pitifully at the person on the bed and said miserably, “Senior Sister, do you think Heir Xia is holding a grudge against me because of what happened that day?”
“This person truly has such deep schemes,” Qiu Xinran sighed sincerely. “Is he really General Xia’s biological son?”
“…”
Xia Xiuyan had no idea how this newly arrived young Daoist was badmouthing him behind his back. If he had known, he would certainly have added this to her tab as well.
Li Hanfeng did notice that Xia Xiuyan had been in good spirits since that day, even his complexion looking much improved. “Your illness really does require more walks outside the palace. The climate in these mountains is pleasant—most suitable for recuperating.”
Xia Xiuyan neither agreed nor disagreed, though this place, while a traveling palace, was indeed more comfortable than staying in the main palace. The two walked together toward the academy. Even though they were now outside the palace, their studies could not be neglected.
The Second Prince had been ordered by His Majesty to remain in his room for reflection these past few days. Today his confinement was finally lifted. When he entered the room and saw everyone present, he couldn’t help but snort coldly and stride back to his seat. He was convinced that whoever had reported what he said here to His Majesty must be someone in this room, though he lacked proof. Normally everyone would have gone up to express concern, but His Majesty was coming this afternoon to inspect the princes’ studies, so the atmosphere in the academy was more solemn than usual, and no one had time to pay him any attention.
The most relaxed people in this room were probably the princely heirs like Xia Xiuyan and Zhou Xianyi, and among these people, Xia Xiuyan appeared the most idle.
Halfway through the afternoon lesson, Emperor Xuande indeed arrived. All the teachers and students in the academy came out to receive him, and for a moment, the usually empty schoolroom became crowded.
Emperor Xuande sat in the seat of honor and tested several princes. Perhaps because they had been away from the palace these past two days and neglected their studies, none of them answered particularly well. His Majesty was clearly dissatisfied, and when the several princes sat down, their expressions showed some dejection. His Majesty then tested several other heirs. Xia Xiuyan was called after Zhou Xianyi. Hearing Zhou Xianyi stutter even more severely due to extreme nervousness, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Seeing Zhou Xianyi’s forehead covered in sweat, Emperor Xuande couldn’t bear to be harsh with him. After asking a few questions, he had him sit down and called on Xia Xiuyan instead. Following the performance of the previous princes, Xia Xiuyan deliberately got a few answers wrong as well, performing neither particularly well nor poorly before sitting down.
With the students performing poorly, the teachers also lost face, and for a time the atmosphere in the academy was quite heavy. His Majesty was stroking his brow and about to say something when the Ninth Princess stood up unhappily and said, “Why does Father Emperor only ask my brothers and not me? I studied my books for a long time last night too.”
Princess Qinghe, Li Hanyuan, was only ten years old at the time. Born exquisitely beautiful and very endearing, though still young, she often sat in on her brothers’ lessons at the academy. Emperor Xuande usually doted on her greatly, so seeing her stand up looking aggrieved, he immediately smiled. He called her to his side and asked her several relatively simple questions from the texts. The Ninth Princess indeed answered them all correctly. Emperor Xuande placed her on his lap and praised her, “Your several brothers aren’t as clever and quick-witted as our Little Ninth.”
The Ninth Princess said honestly, “It’s not all because Little Ninth is clever. Many things were taught to me by my teachers, Mother Consort, and Xinran.”
Emperor Xuande asked in puzzlement, “You’re referring to the Bureau of Astronomy official I recently appointed?”
The Ninth Princess nodded. “Xinran has been helping Mother Consort copy scriptures recently. If the teacher is going to quiz us the next day, she secretly teaches me.”
“My Bureau of Astronomy official actually has this skill as well.” Emperor Xuande turned to look at Bai Jingming standing to the side. “Speaking of which, I haven’t seen her for several days. Did she come along on this trip?”
Bai Jingming taught the princes at the academy once every five days and could be considered half a teacher there. He stepped forward and replied, “Some time ago, Your Majesty permitted her to help the Empress copy scriptures, so she came along this time as well.”
Emperor Xuande vaguely recalled there had been such a matter and nodded. “Summon her here. I want to ask her how she’s been teaching my little princess.”
Listening to their conversation below, Xia Xiuyan’s mind had already grown suspicious. The face of that disheveled young Daoist boy from beneath the artificial mountain that day floated before his eyes. He couldn’t help but tap Li Hanfeng beside him and ask in a low voice, “That day you mentioned the newly arrived young Daoist—are they male or female?”
Li Hanfeng glanced at Emperor Xuande seated at the head of the room and was about to answer when a female Daoist entered from outside. She wore a snow-blue Daoist robe with her hair bound up with a wooden hairpin. Though she appeared only thirteen or fourteen years old, she was tall. She had a pair of passionate peach blossom eyes that carried some youthful spirit—at first glance, one could tell she had a clever countenance.
“There, that’s her,” Li Hanfeng indicated.
Xia Xiuyan said nothing, but his gaze darkened. He watched as the young Daoist walked before His Majesty and performed a proper bow. Emperor Xuande asked, “Little Ninth says you’ve been copying scriptures at the Empress’s residence these past days and also teaching Little Ninth to read?”
Before Emperor Xuande, Qiu Xinran was quite well-behaved. She first looked blank for a moment, as if remembering something, then hastily replied, “Your Majesty honors me too much. How could this subject teach the Ninth Princess? It’s just that the words and phrases in the texts are difficult, and having copied many ancient scriptures, this subject merely helps recognize them.”
Hearing her say this, Emperor Xuande nodded. “Little Ninth is still young. I always thought she only came to sit in at the academy to be close to her brothers. I never expected she would actually put in this effort—truly commendable.” The slight displeasure from before was also dispelled by this clever and adorable young daughter. Before leaving, he only admonished everyone in the academy to apply themselves diligently and didn’t scold them much more.
Once Emperor Xuande left and the teachers had seen His Majesty out, only a room full of students remained. Li Hanfeng hadn’t yet had time to breathe a sigh of relief when he heard Li Hanyi’s voice, undisguised in its contempt, ring out in the room: “So you’re that young Daoist who confounds Father Emperor with deceptive words?”
Everyone in the room turned around to see the young woman smile and cup her hands toward the other party. “This humble one is Qiu Xinran of the Nine Schools of Divination. I’ve met the Second Prince.”
Li Hanyi frowned. “You know who I am?”
“I don’t.”
“Then how do you know I’m who I am?”
“I heard that the Second Prince’s confinement for reflection these past two days had some connection to me, so I made a guess.”
Li Hanyi had expected her to say something flattering, but she actually honestly gave this reason instead, which somewhat surprised him. By nature arrogant and domineering, he most disliked roundabout approaches. This young Daoist’s honest answer didn’t make him averse to her, but he still maintained his haughty air as he asked, “You do have some cleverness. Have you thought about what you’d do if you guessed wrong?”
Qiu Xinran smiled with narrowed eyes. “I wouldn’t guess wrong.”
This statement piqued Li Hanyi’s interest. “You’re that confident?”
“This is precisely the kind of small cleverness I rely on to make a living.” Qiu Xinran answered matter-of-factly. Li Hanyi sneered, “Since you have this ability, why don’t you guess again who everyone else in this room is? If you can’t guess correctly, don’t blame me for smashing your rice bowl and reporting you to Father Emperor for the crime of deceiving the sovereign.”
Hearing him say this, the others in the room also became interested. Everyone in this room had heard about how she read fortunes for His Majesty. Though their attitudes toward this matter varied, they were all somewhat curious and now wanted to see what skills she actually possessed.
Qiu Xinran’s gaze swept around the room in a circle, and she showed some difficulty. “The Second Prince is making things rather difficult.”
“What, you don’t have this ability?”
“I don’t even know clearly who all is in this room—how could I guess out of thin air?”
The Third Prince, Li Hanling, said with a laugh, “That’s simple. I’ll have someone fetch a roster from the teachers for you.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Qiu Xinran said slowly. “Why not have the Ninth Princess first tell me who’s in this room, then have me guess.”
Besides the study companions, there were nearly twenty people in this room. Li Hanyi scoffed lightly and said readily, “Fine. If you can guess them all correctly, I’ll acknowledge you have some skill, and I won’t hold the previous matter against you.”
Qiu Xinran blinked and smiled. “It’s a deal.”