The Princess was summoned to the Phoenix Splendor Palace and didn’t return for a long time.
A maid sent to inquire reported that the Empress was keeping the Princess for lunch. So Shen Yuezhuang also stayed at the Longevity Palace for a meal and a nap.
When she woke from her dream, the gauze curtains were lowered, and the couch was dim. Liu Yun was propped on one arm, about to climb down from the bed. But she saw Shen Yuezhuang startle, her eyes snapping wide open.
Shen Yuezhuang stared at her for a long moment. Then she suddenly rolled over, tumbling right into Liu Yun’s arms and grabbing her arm.
Her heart was pounding. She curled herself into a ball, pressing her forehead against the inside of Liu Yun’s wrist. Then, abruptly and inexplicably, she asked, “Are you going to die?”
Her voice sounded pitiful, thick with the grogginess of just waking up. She held tightly to Liu Yun’s arm, her expression hidden from view.
Liu Yun paused, stopping her motion. She leaned over, resting her cheek against Shen Yuezhuang’s back.
The woman’s back was slender, like a young, verdant tree, lush and supple.
Liu Yun half-embraced her, patting her back gently.
“Did you have a bad dream?”
Shen Yuezhuang’s eyes were open beneath the curve of her arm, staring unblinking at the auspicious cloud pattern embroidered on the bedspread. She didn’t answer Liu Yun. She just asked again, “Are you going to die?”
Of course people die.
Sickness, old age, accidents, disasters. Everyone has to die. How could Liu Yun be an exception?
In the past, Liu Yun would have unceremoniously and bluntly shattered Shen Yuezhuang’s naive fantasies. She had never shied away from revealing the cruel truths of this world to the little pampered darling raised in silk and satin.
She had once maliciously looked forward to seeing the shadows fall over those bright, innocent eyes. She had maliciously shattered the beautiful, dreamlike world that the adults had woven for her. She had once hated Shen Yuezhuang’s overwhelming brightness. The light had illuminated her, but it also burned her.
But when that hatred unknowingly turned into hope, then into tenderness, she found herself drawn closer and closer to her.
This tenderness made the most articulate and argumentative of people turn clumsy. Liu Yun couldn’t even find the words to answer that simple question.
When she didn’t speak, Shen Yuezhuang poked her head out from beneath her arm. That slender, supple tree, relieved of its crushing weight, stretched its emerald crown towards the sky, shaking off the dew.
Without waiting for an answer, Shen Yuezhuang reached up and wrapped her arms around Liu Yun’s neck.
She pulled her down, pressing her close.
“I won’t let you die!”
Liu Yun was speechless.
She thought Shen Yuezhuang was still trapped in her nightmare. But the words made her feel a warm, settled comfort. She allowed herself to be pulled down, resting her weight on Shen Yuezhuang, letting her hold her in this close, tight embrace.
“Alright. I’ll listen to you.”
~~~
When Shen Yuezhuang and the Princess left the palace, the Princess was clearly in a bad mood.
Shen Yuezhuang didn’t know what the Empress had said to her, but it was impossible to ask about the medicine now.
With a heavy heart, Shen Yuezhuang returned home.
The only person who was happy and satisfied was the Old Marquis.
When he heard that the Princess was in a bad mood and had dropped Shen Yuezhuang off without even getting out of the carriage before heading straight back to the post house, he felt a secret thrill.
It looked like his plan was working! So, in the following days, as long as Shen Yuezhuang was accompanying the Princess to the palace, he didn’t stop her. Instead, he seemed eager for her to go. Every time he saw the two of them come out of the palace looking dejected, he would eat an extra half-bowl of rice for dinner!
Shen Yuezhuang was too preoccupied to notice her father’s changes.
The Empress had been summoning the Princess frequently. Shen Yuezhuang was entering the palace almost every day. But it wasn’t a pleasant task.
In the palace, you felt watched everywhere. You couldn’t even talk freely. And worst of all, the newly arrived Miss Yang came to visit the Empress almost every time the Princess did. And she would constantly be picking fights!
The Princess had to endure it for her own future. The Empress had to endure it for her position as the mother of the nation. But Shen Yuezhuang had no reason to endure, and she couldn’t!
Almost every time she entered the palace, Shen Yuezhuang would argue with the ‘quasi-Consort.’
The reason she was called ‘quasi-Consort’ was that although Miss Yang had been in the palace for a while, and everyone knew she was going to be named Consort, the Imperial Observatory had submitted a memorial saying that the celestial signs weren’t good, that there was a bad omen, and that it wasn’t good to hold any major ceremonies or celebrations. Otherwise, it would harm the main palace.
So, Miss Yang had neither the ceremonial robes nor the golden seal of a Consort. She lived in the Changle Hall, which was closest to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and her palace maids and eunuchs were at the Consort’s protocol. But she was forever wearing the casual clothes she had brought from Jinzhou.
But could the clothes and jewelry of an official’s daughter, no matter how luxurious, ever compare to the things that displayed status in the palace?
It’s often said that the more you lack something, the more you show off.
The daily routine of this ‘quasi-Consort’ was to deck herself out like a gilded statue and swagger around the six palaces!
Everyone, wary of her backing by Governor Yang and her pending Consort title, would avoid her whenever they saw her.
This only made her more arrogant!
At the Empress’s palace, Shen Yuezhuang often saw Miss Yang wandering in and out, not bowing, not greeting, just plopping herself down on a stool. She might as well have had the words “Your position will soon be mine!” written on her face.
If it were just bad manners, she could let it slide. With the blood of the Yang family’s tyranny running through her veins, it was no surprise. Shen Yuezhuang would just occasionally exchange a few sharp words with her.
But this woman clearly didn’t just want to be Empress. She wanted to be the sole ruler of the rear palace!
One day, she said someone had pushed her. The next day, she claimed someone had poisoned her food. The consorts of the six palaces were all victims of her schemes!
Even A Sang would have to salute her skill!
Once she learned that the Princess was about to enter the palace, this ‘quasi-Consort,’ who loved to stir up trouble, naturally didn’t let her off the hook. Mu Huaqiong tolerated it for a few days, playing the martyr. Then she changed her approach and began her “I’ve had enough! No more will I endure! I cannot stand this!” self-defense!
When it came to scheming, you had to give it to the people of Nanchu!
The Princess had a fight with the ‘quasi-Consort,’ then returned to the post house and took to her bed, too “ill” to get up. When the Empress later sent for her, she had Shen Yuezhuang go to the palace to deliver her reply.
Shen Yuezhuang went to the palace alone.
She reported on the Princess’s condition.
She conveyed the reason for the Princess’s “illness.”
She also expressed her warm greetings to the ‘quasi-Consort’s’ family.
Then the ‘quasi-Consort’ also became “ill.”
Shen Yuezhuang even paid a special visit to express her sympathy. She watched the ‘quasi-Consort’ lie on the couch with her hand over her face, white powder flaking off her face with every movement. Shen Yuezhuang kindly caught the flakes and put them back on her face.
The ‘quasi-Consort’ was furious, her face turning even rosier. “Bastard! Who do you think you are!”
Shen Yuezhuang blinked. “I’m Shen Yuezhuang!” She waved her hand in front of the ‘quasi-Consort’s’ face, then looked worriedly at the attendants behind her. “Has the ‘quasi-Consort’ been blinded by a fart? It seems she can’t see me!”
The ‘quasi-Consort’ was speechless.
So, the ‘quasi-Consort’ also began to be too “ill” to get out of bed. She spent her days sobbing behind her sleeve.
Then the Emperor announced his decision.
See! He had said it! It was a bad idea to hold a grand ceremony during these inauspicious days! It had harmed the main palace!
The Emperor made a big show of rewarding the Imperial Observatory. Then he was “forced” to postpone the Consort’s coronation ceremony again and again.
This postponement pushed it all the way to after the autumn hunt.
Finally, on a fine, crisp day, the continuous yellow banners in the city seemed to form a sea!
The Emperor, along with all the civil and military officials, the Empress, the Empress Dowager, and the now “recovered” Princess, set off in a grand procession for the Hengshan Hunting Grounds!
The hunting grounds were not far from the capital. They set out in the morning and arrived by evening.
When they arrived, Liu Lusheng had already cordoned off the hunting grounds with the Imperial Guard. The tents and supplies were all in order.
One tent each for the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the Emperor—that went without saying. As the guest, the Princess also had her own tent.
Shen Yuezhuang and Pei Shangyu had been sent to accompany the Princess. Since they were both female officials, they shared a tent.
A bit further off were the tents for the other officials and their female relatives.
Shen Yuezhuang’s father had stayed behind to oversee the capital’s defense. The Left Chancellor had also stayed behind to handle state affairs. The official hunt would officially begin the next day. Since everyone was tired from the day’s journey, after dinner, they all turned in early.
Pei Shangyu had already washed up. She saw Chun Rui helping Shen Yuezhuang into her riding attire. “Going out this late?”
Chun Rui was straightening Shen Yuezhuang’s clothes. “The Princess wants my mistress to teach her how to ride!”
Her face clearly showed her disapproval. She looked at Pei Shangyu for help. “She said it’s too crowded during the day. The evening is quiet, no one around, perfect for her to gallop!”
“Gallop?” Pei Shangyu stepped forward. “This is a hunting ground! Yes, the Imperial Guard has cleared it, but you can’t be sure there isn’t still some wild animal around! If something happens, no one is going to blame the Princess!”
“Relax, Sister Pei. I know what I’m doing!” Shen Yuezhuang let out a soft sigh. “The Princess has just been cooped up in the palace every day for the past few days, fighting with that woman. She’s frustrated. Don’t listen to Chun Rui. She won’t be galloping. Can she even get on a horse? That’ll be an achievement for tonight!”
“Besides, I asked my brother to come along. Don’t worry, nothing will happen.”
“Your brother? Shen Qingjue?” Pei Shangyu’s eyebrows shot up. She looked like someone who had just been told to commit suicide, and she was so angry she laughed. “His riding is worse than yours! You bring him along, and you expect me to feel better?!”
She frowned, looking at the large boxes behind Shen Yuezhuang. “Where did you hide him? Just make sure he doesn’t suffocate!”
But before Shen Yuezhuang could answer, the impatient Princess was already calling from outside. “Shen Yuezhuang! Are you ready yet? Should I come in?”
“Almost! Come on in and wait!” Then she turned to Pei Shangyu. “It’s not Shen Qingjue. It’s…”
Before she could finish, Mu Huaqiong had already lifted the tent flap halfway. But before she could enter, she heard a horse whinny behind her.
Liu Lusheng was on horseback. His white armor gleamed in the moonlight. He reined in his horse. The bright moon behind him cast its glow around his figure. He gave a distant salute to the Princess, then lowered his voice. “Shen… sister-in-law, we’re to the west of the hunting grounds!”
The stunned Princess’s gaze followed his towards the tent, but her feet didn’t move.
“Ah, got it!” Shen Yuezhuang also lowered her voice in reply.
“You brought Liu Lusheng too?!”
Pei Shangyu’s voice was almost a shriek. Even A Sang behind her looked like she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Shen Yuezhuang blinked. “Didn’t you say it was dangerous? Liu Lusheng is in charge of the Imperial Guard. I asked him to find us a place where the guards patrol at a distance, and bring him along too. Double the safety. What’s the problem?”
Pei Shangyu took a deep breath. She pinched her forehead and was helped back a few steps by A Sang.
“Fine. I have nothing more to say. May the heavens be with you!”
With Pei Shangyu’s good wishes, Shen Yuezhuang and the Princess snuck off to the west of the hunting grounds.
The moon was bright. The Imperial Guard could be seen patrolling in the distance. The grassland before them was wide and flat, almost boundless.
As soon as Liu Lusheng led them to the spot, he said he had urgent business and left. Shen Yuezhuang and the Princess stood there, looking at each other. The night wind carried a hint of the restless heat from the day.
Shen Yuezhuang gave a fake smile and spread her hands. “Princess, if I may ask, what is the most important thing for learning how to ride a horse?”
