The next day, the sky was a clear blue, and the air after the rain felt exceptionally fresh. In the courtyard, the grass grew deep green, and moss traced the stone steps. Outside the southern window, the tender bamboo shoots, invigorated by the rain, shot up even faster, seeming to grow half a person’s height overnight.
Xun Changqing had tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. When she rose from bed, dark circles shadowed her eyes. The Pingnan Prince’s Consort pressed her with questions, and only then did she explain that the bed at the temple had been uncomfortable. With classes at the Imperial Academy that day, she certainly couldn’t attend, so she sent a servant to inform her teacher and request leave.
Whenever the Ning’an County Princess entered the capital, she always visited the Capital Mountain Temple first before proceeding to the Imperial Capital to pay respects to the Emperor. This had become routine.
But this time was different—they did not stay in the palace but lodged at the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion instead.
After returning, Xun Changqing attended the Imperial Academy daily. The Consort had mentioned the matter of taking a master, and she hadn’t refused. Staying in the Imperial Capital wasn’t the best strategy right now. Moreover, with the Empress and the Shao Family watching the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion every day, trouble was bound to arise. No matter how low-key they acted, unexpected complications were likely.
These past few days, the Consort had been busy with preparations for the apprenticeship ceremony and hadn’t had time to speak with Xun Changqing. In fact, upon careful calculation, it had been several days since they’d properly seen each other.
The Pingnan Prince’s Mansion had few household matters, and the Consort usually had little to do. Most of her time was spent trailing behind Xun Changqing—a habit by now. Xun Changqing returned early from school that day and ran into Yuan Man, who was visiting.
The Consort sat there reviewing the account books, while Yuan Man chattered endlessly on her own. Just as Xun Changqing entered, the Consort finished with the books. Not having seen the child today, she felt a deep longing.
With no outsiders around, Xun Changqing dashed forward and burrowed into the Consort’s embrace. Yuan Man, who had been sitting idly by, couldn’t help but pout and tease, “Little Young Master, you’re almost eight years old, yet you act like you’re eight months old. So clingy—how will you ever find a wife?”
With her mother consort there as backup, Xun Changqing turned and shot her a glance, laughing. “Sister Yuan is so fierce—who would dare marry her?”
She struck at the snake’s vital point. Sure enough, Yuan Man’s face changed. She lunged forward to grab her, but the Consort blocked her, chuckling. “A-Man, she’s eight, and you’re not also eight, are you? Do you still need to enter the palace tomorrow?”
Without an imperial decree, Yuan Man couldn’t enter the palace freely, but the Pingnan Prince’s Consort could come and go from the Rear Palace at will. Yuan Man had come today to beg her to go in, easing her lovesick pangs.
Moreover, the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion’s little young master was holding an apprenticeship ceremony in the residence. The Consort had invited only a few people to observe, and Xun Yisu was one of them. The Consort planned to invite her from the palace tomorrow, but Yuan Man had somehow gotten wind of it and insisted on tagging along, begging shamelessly.
“I’ll go to the palace, definitely. I’m off duty tomorrow,” Yuan Man immediately withdrew her hand, temporarily sparing Xun Changqing.
But nestled in the Consort’s arms, Xun Changqing’s thoughts drifted elsewhere. In the midst of the banter, she suddenly recalled that in her previous life, Yuan Man seemed never to have married. She had a falling out with Commander Yuan, left home, and departed the capital. Xun Changqing never learned where she went before her own death.
Why hadn’t she married? That day in the tavern, she had sensed Yuan Man seemed to like women. For such a rebellious soul, marriage would be difficult. The Yuan Family’s main branch had only this legitimate daughter. If Xun Yiran wanted to win over the Imperial Guards’ Commander Yuan Qingming, he had to marry his daughter Yuan Man—that way, he could confidently await the Emperor’s passing and his ascension.
Though there was the pearl-like crown prince before and the Wood Deity-like figure after, the other two princes struggled to catch the Emperor’s eye. But Third Prince Xun Yishu had the Gu Liang Clan as his maternal family, the same clan as the Great Empress Dowager’s own. That clan had set the precedent for a woman ascending the throne. She later abdicated, passing the throne to the Previous Emperor. The Gu Liang Clan’s influence was not to be underestimated—it was a force building steadily.
Only Fourth Prince Xun Yixu’s mother came from a scholarly family, with roots too shallow to compare to his two elder brothers. He was negligible.
Though Great Qi had the precedent of a Female Emperor—and the Previous Emperor had once been one—it was out of necessity due to no male heirs. Over thirty years into this dynasty, female officials had gradually withdrawn from court. A princess succeeding as emperor was impossible.
Yet with no crown prince established, there was no guarantee the other two princes harbored no imperial ambitions. Marrying Yuan Man was Xun Yiran’s shortcut. But he hadn’t married her—no, it was Yuan Man who didn’t want to marry.
Who was the woman her heart truly yearned for? Seeing her today, that person had to be in the palace. Perhaps a palace maid? Or, aiming higher, one of the princesses. At this thought, Xun Changqing looked up, her gaze sincere with admiration. She had actually fallen for the Emperor’s daughter.
There were only two unmarried princesses: Fifth Princess Xun Yisu and Sixth Princess Xun Yisheng. The Fifth Princess had just reached marriageable age last year, her wedding unsettled. The Sixth Princess was only ten, two years older than Xun Changqing—impossible for mutual affection with Yuan Man.
It had to be Fifth Princess Xun Yisu!
After Yuan Man left, Xun Changqing feigned ignorance and asked the Consort, “Mother Consort, what are you going to the palace for tomorrow?”
Just a child’s curiosity, the Consort thought, unaware how quickly her mind turned. She told her, “Tomorrow, I’m going to the palace to invite the Fifth Princess to your apprenticeship ceremony.”
As expected, it was Xun Yisu. Xun Changqing’s mind grew even more chaotic. She tilted her head, unable to recall what had become of Xun Yisu in her previous life. Far away on Lingyun(Lingyun) Mountain, she had paid no attention to Imperial Capital affairs. How could she remember something like that amid life and death?
Things were different now. Thrust into the imperial family, she needed to stay vigilant. Matters in the Imperial Capital often pulled at one thread and moved the whole body.
What gave Yuan Man a headache was that the next day, the Pingnan Prince’s Consort was delayed and couldn’t enter the palace. Upon arriving at the mansion that morning, Yuan Man heard the bad news and wilted like a frostbitten flower bud.
Xun Changqing rose early to head to the Imperial Academy and encountered her at the gate. Yesterday, she had been high-spirited, as carefree as a spring breeze. After just one night, how had she changed so drastically?
