Tao Chuyi kept screaming and struggling desperately, her voice hoarse but refusing to stop. Only after Nangong Yunshang coaxed her did she finally quiet down a little.
When the imperial physician tried to take her pulse, she started shrieking in terror again. Fortunately, Nangong Yunshang held her close, which allowed the physician to approach.
“Chuyi, be good. Let the physician take a look so we can treat you.”
Nangong Yunshang patted her back, soothing her for a long while.
Tao Chuyi buried herself in Nangong Yunshang’s embrace, extending only one arm for the physician to check. She wished she could vanish from sight. Her body trembled faintly, as if she were utterly terrified.
“How is he?”
Nangong Yunshang asked anxiously.
The old imperial physician furrowed his brow and shook his head. “This humble servant cannot diagnose why the Prince Consort has suddenly lost control. I can only speculate that the Prince Consort may have been stimulated, perhaps by seeing someone or something that drove him over the edge.”
Nangong Yunshang questioned everyone around, but no one knew what had triggered the Prince Consort.
“Physician, prescribe some calming medicine.”
The imperial physician nodded and withdrew with Yinghong to prepare the prescription.
After drinking a dose of the calming tonic, Tao Chuyi indeed settled down considerably. Drowsy and compliant, she lay on the couch and even recognized Nangong Yunshang.
“Sister, Sister, blood… It’s all blood.”
Nangong Yunshang sat beside her. “Where’s the blood?”
Tao Chuyi held up her hands. “On my hands. All blood.”
Nangong Yunshang quickly grasped her hands. “See? It’s gone now. Be good and sleep. I’ll stay right here with you.”
Tao Chuyi looked at her hands again. Sure enough, there was no blood—the warmth of her sister’s palms had chased it away.
Before long, she drifted into sleep. She rarely dreamed, but when she did, it was always of unfamiliar people whose faces she couldn’t make out clearly.
Tonight’s dream was a nightmare. Countless faceless figures surrounded her, iron chains dangling from their necks. Though human in form, they moved like livestock. Not far away, someone wielded a whip, lashing at them.
Suddenly, the whip-wielder charged toward her, and an endless sea of blood engulfed everything.
“This is your fate.”
Who?
“Your life’s mission.”
Who was speaking?
“Stop it!”
Tao Chuyi bolted upright, drenched in cold sweat, startling the person beside her.
“Chuyi.”
Nangong Yunshang pressed her forehead against Tao Chuyi’s. Thankfully, there was no fever.
“What happened? A nightmare?”
At those words, Tao Chuyi sniffled and leaned pitifully on her shoulder.
“Sister, I’m scared.”
“Don’t be afraid. Sister’s here.”
Nangong Yunshang shared the bed with her that night, holding her close for the first time of her own initiative.
She slept dreamlessly through the night. By morning, she was back to her usual carefree self, Tao Chuyi without a worry in the world.
To help her relax and forget her distress, Nangong Yunshang took her out. They wandered the streets and stopped at a teahouse to rest.
Tao Chuyi leaned out the window, peering at the bustling market below. The streets teemed with people, far livelier than usual. Travelers streamed in and out of the inns nonstop.
“Chuyi, be careful. Don’t fall.”
Nangong Yunshang beckoned her over, pulling her to her side.
Tao Chuyi pointed outside. “Why’s it so lively? So many people.”
Nangong Yunshang pinched her cheek. “The imperial examinations are approaching. Of course it’s busy.”
Spring brought scholars from all over to the Capital City for the exams—the time of year when inns overflowed with new faces and empty rooms became a rarity.
The teahouse brimmed with candidates too, clustered in groups reciting poetry and composing verses. They transformed the place’s everyday clamor into an air of scholarly refinement.
“I want to take the exams too.”
Tao Chuyi, ever one to stir up fun amid the excitement, raised her hands high and shouted.
Nangong Yunshang pressed her hands down. “What would you compete for? Top Scholar or Second Top Scholar?”
Tao Chuyi pondered seriously, then whispered in her ear, “Roast duck egg.”
Her innocent child’s words drew laughter from everyone inside and out.
“You must be hungry.”
Nangong Yunshang took her to eat, specially ordering roast duck eggs.
Hand in hand, the two strolled through the market, their servants trailing behind. As they passed a dance pavilion, they saw several scholarly young men arm-in-arm, heading inside with wine jugs in hand, carefree and bold.
Tao Chuyi started to follow, but Nangong Yunshang yanked her back.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Tao Chuyi pointed inside. “They have tasty pastries. Smells good.”
The group entered the dance pavilion anyway. Melodious music filled the air as dancers in red gauze and golden bells performed an exuberant Hu dance on stage, drawing wave after wave of cheers from the audience.
It was their first time at such a place. They claimed seats near the front and ordered the pastries Tao Chuyi had been craving.
Nangong Yunshang tapped her forehead with mock reproach. “You little glutton.”
Tao Chuyi ate happily, letting her pinch and prod her face as she pleased—she was clearly used to it by now.
The red-clad dancer bowed and stepped down. The music shifted to a ethereal, beautiful melody, and a barefooted woman in a pink gown and misty veil glided onto the stage, dancing gracefully to the tune.
The applause below grew even louder; clearly, this dancer was the favorite.
Yinghong, tasked with gathering information, returned to report. This was Letian Dance Pavilion’s star performer, Ming Qiuyue. Lords and young masters of the Capital City—and even ladies—flung gold away for a glimpse of her true face. She was all the rage.
Her name truly suited her, like an immortal descended from the moon.
Nangong Yunshang noticed Tao Chuyi staring at the stage. “What do you think? Pretty?”
Tao Chuyi shook her head. “Not pretty.”
No one was prettier than Sister.
At that moment, a young man suddenly stood and hurled pearls onto the stage, sparking an uproar.
“Qiuyue! Qiuyue, I adore you! Qiuyue!”
Some in the crowd joined the jeering, others squabbled out of jealousy—a most vulgar display.
Nangong Yunshang disliked the scene and looked away.
“Sister, I’m full.”
Tao Chuyi tugged her sleeve.
They had only come in for the pastries anyway. Now that Tao Chuyi had eaten her fill, they left without lingering.
Sure enough, the air outside felt fresher.
“The exams start tomorrow, and these young lords still have the gall to carouse here.”
Yinghong disapproved too. If the likes of them passed, the court would be even more unstable.
“Never mind them. Let’s head back to the estate.”
With that, Nangong Yunshang helped Tao Chuyi into the carriage first.
But as soon as Tao Chuyi hopped in, she turned and offered a hand to steady Nangong Yunshang.
Nangong Yunshang paused, then placed her hand in Tao Chuyi’s.
The carriage rumbled along. Tao Chuyi sat quietly, hugging her doll and playing. Nangong Yunshang watched her from the side.
“This servant has heard that the Second Princess is selecting a Prince Consort.”
Yinghong relayed all the latest gossip; her sources were always reliable.
Nangong Yunshang propped her chin on one hand, indifferent. “Oh? Who’d she pick?”
“This servant heard it’s from this round of exams—likely one of the top three.”
Nangong Yunshang cared little who took the top spots or became the Second Prince Consort. As long as they stayed out of her way, it was all the same to her.
Tao Chuyi, having overheard something, chimed in. “Second Bad Egg’s recruiting a duck egg as Prince Consort?”
Nangong Yunshang couldn’t help laughing, pressing down on her head. “What have you been listening to?”
“I’m way better than any duck egg.”
Tao Chuyi lifted her chin proudly. “At least I don’t stink.”
Nangong Yunshang poked her cheek playfully. “Yes, my Prince Consort is the best. No duck egg or chicken egg can compare.”
The imperial examinations proceeded smoothly, and an imperial decree ensured all arrangements deferred to them.
Finally, the day of the rankings arrived—joy for some, sorrow for others.
Tao Chuyi dragged Nangong Yunshang out early to watch the Top Scholar’s parade.
“You really want to see the Top Scholar that badly?”
Nangong Yunshang had no interest, coming only for her sake.
Tao Chuyi nodded obediently. “I heard Yinghong say the Tanhua Scholar is Second Bad Egg’s pick for Prince Consort.”
The Palace Examination’s top three were hot commodities for factions everywhere. But the Tanhua was legendary every year: a dashing youth handsome as Pan An, beloved especially by women.
The parade arrived. The three rode tall horses, beaming with pride. The Tanhua Scholar came third.
Tao Chuyi craned her neck over the crowd, but her excitement deflated in an instant.
“What is it?”
Nangong Yunshang asked, puzzled. This one had been so eager to come, and now she sulked.
Tao Chuyi pointed at the Tanhua Scholar. “That drunkard.”
Nangong Yunshang looked—it was the embarrassing fool from the dance pavilion who had tossed pearls at the stage that day.
This guy made Tanhua Scholar?
Inquiries revealed he was surnamed Cao, nephew to Minister Cao of the Ministry of Rites. He was already betrothed to the Second Princess.
Nangong Yunshang watched the parade recede into the distance and smiled.
“Looks like Second Sister’s in for some drama.”
“Qiuyue!”
Tao Chuyi blurted whatever came to mind. She couldn’t fathom how the man chasing Qiuyue had transformed into a Prince Consort.
Nangong Yunshang teased her. “You still remember Qiuyue, huh? Come on, let’s go see this Qiuyue lady ourselves.”
When they visited again, they learned Qiuyue had been redeemed and vanished—who knew where. Rumors swirled that some prominent figure had hidden her away as a secret lover.
Meanwhile, news spread that the Second Princess had chosen the Tanhua Scholar as her Prince Consort, with the wedding set just seven days hence. The selection surprised no one, but the haste fueled speculation.
“In this servant’s view, it might be a shotgun wedding.”
Yinghong shook her head. “The world’s morals are declining.”
Nangong Yunshang sipped her tea gracefully from the cup.
“Shotgun or not, it has nothing to do with us. We’ll just attend the wedding feast in seven days.”
“Is there good food?”
Tao Chuyi scampered over. “I want roast whole lamb!”
Nangong Yunshang let out a sigh. Somehow, wherever there was food, this girl always turned up too.
“There’s more! There’s roast suckling pig too!”
“I like that!”
Tao Chuyi spun around in delight. For the first time, she felt that Second Bad Egg’s marriage might actually be a good thing.
Yinghong pondered the question. “But Your Highness, what should we send as a wedding gift?”
Nangong Yunshang shot her a meaningful glance. “Go to the storeroom and grab something at random. It doesn’t need to be top quality.”
“This servant understands.”
To Tao Chuyi, a wedding meant a feast. She eagerly awaited that day. Her father would surely attend as well. Then she could sit with her sister and father, without a care for that pesky Second Princess.
She was going to eat the Second Princess Mansion into ruin!
