A meddlesome court official submitted a memorial to the Emperor, suggesting that Prince Xiang, being no longer young, should not continue living in the Qianqing Palace as it went against protocol. Since the Prince’s residence had already been completed, it would be proper for him to move in without delay.
The Emperor skimmed the memorial and casually tossed it to Xu Xiude.
Xu Xiude tacitly tucked the memorial into his sleeve, intending to leave it unissued.
The Emperor lost interest in reviewing memorials, set his vermilion brush on the inkstone, and said, “Xu Xiude.”
Xu Xiude replied, “This servant is here, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor asked, “In the boundless mountains and rivers outside the palace… whose hands do you think are most suitable to entrust them to?”
Unperturbed, Xu Xiude answered, “Your Majesty, the affairs of the world are unpredictable, and people are the same. What they are like today may not reflect their unchanged intentions in the future. You are in your prime; why not observe with patience a little longer?”
The Emperor nodded. “You make a valid point. It seems I lack the clarity you possess.”
Xu Xiude said, “Your Majesty, it is only because you are emotionally invested that your judgment is clouded.”
The Emperor sighed. “When the late Emperor passed away, he was tormented by pain, to the point that life was worse than death. On his sickbed, he held my hand, constantly lamenting how unsettled the state of the realm was and how reluctant he was to depart. Today, I finally understand how he felt.”
Xu Xiude found the Emperor’s words ominously unsettling, so he suggested, “Your Majesty, you must be tired of reviewing memorials. Why not visit the training grounds for a change? It seems our young prince has been more disciplined lately, staying out of mischief. He even invited the two young masters of the Zheng family over. I’ve heard the training grounds are quite lively.”
The Emperor felt tempted but had yet to fully decide. He only sighed, “The children are all grown now. How much longer can they stay around?”
Xu Xiude reassured him, “No matter what, the bond between father and son remains unbroken. The young prince is closest to you above all others.”
Though the Emperor understood the truth in his heart, some flattery—even self-deceptive—was still comforting to hear.
The twelve doors of the Qianqing Palace opened in succession, and the Emperor quietly headed for the training grounds without much fanfare.
The “liveliness” Xu Xiude had mentioned at the training grounds was, in fact, an understatement. A group of vigorous youths gathered there was more than lively—it was pure chaos.
The red clay on the training grounds had been freshly laid this year, and the area had been expanded significantly. The most noticeable change was the increased freedom in horse racing.
The rhythmic sound of galloping hooves.
The piercing sound of arrows cutting through the air.
And the sound of a girl’s laughter.
From afar, the Emperor spotted a peacock kite soaring into the sky from the direction of the training grounds. However, the kite was somewhat peculiar, with its beautiful tail feathers weighted down by numerous delicate embroidered balls.
The Emperor stopped in his tracks.
Two arrows shot out simultaneously with a faint stagger in their paths, each knocking down an embroidered ball.
General Zheng Yan’s vibrant and cheerful voice rang out like the blazing sun in a clear sky: “This move of mine is called ‘Twin Dragons Seeking the Moon.’ How’s that for skill?”
The princess, holding the kite string, glanced at Zheng Yan’s brash and flamboyant demeanor and thought he resembled a proud peacock more than anything.
As the Emperor approached, he saw the princess standing on a high stone platform. Zheng Yan, with a mighty bow slung over his shoulder, stood just a few steps below her. One looked down while the other looked up, conversing as their eyes met.
The Emperor, smiling faintly, seemed to be lost in thought and muttered with interest, “Peacock… embroidered ball…”
The one who understood the Emperor’s thoughts best in the entire palace was still Xu Xiude. He bowed with a smile and said, “The princess is as beautiful as a flower. I wonder who will have the great fortune in the future to be chosen by her, becoming the Emperor’s son-in-law.”
The Emperor glanced at him and said, “If someday you part ways with me and go manage a shop on your own, with your talent for saying the right things to the right people, you’d still live a flourishing life.”
Xu Xiude bent even lower at the waist, still smiling warmly, and replied, “Your Majesty jests. This servant’s future is destined to remain with Your Majesty.”
Li Fuxiang, however, was not so lively at the training grounds.
He always stuck close to Gao Yuexing. He disliked moving around, and Gao Yuexing disliked it even more, so the two of them sat apart from the crowd, secluded at the edge, eating watermelon. They ate the watermelon flesh themselves and fed the rinds to the horses.
The Emperor sighed, “It’s truly lively here. It’s time to start preparing for this year’s autumn hunt.”
Spring plowing, summer sowing, autumn hunting, winter trapping.
The royal hunts in spring and summer avoided excessive killing out of respect for the flourishing life of the season. Autumn and winter, in line with the natural order, were the proper times to demonstrate the nation’s might.
Xu Xiude responded with a “Yes.”
The Emperor turned slowly and said, “You have no children of your own, so you wouldn’t understand. What truly ages a person isn’t the years but their children…”
It had been over half a month since the Chen family case, and Gao Yuexing had been in the palace for the same period.
In these two weeks, the palace had been unusually quiet. However, Gao Yuexing had her own plans during this visit. The two palace attendants who had pushed her into the water back then had already met their end, but the mastermind behind them remained hidden in the shadows, without leaving the slightest trace.
What was owed had to be repaid, but there was no rush.
During her time in the palace, Gao Yuexing was cared for by none other than Fu Yun, her former attendant.
After Gao Yuexing left the palace previously, Fu Yun had stayed in Qianqing Palace for a while, serving Li Fuxiang inconspicuously. Later, she was transferred back to Jingmen Palace to resume her duties with her former mistress, Consort Hui.
This time, Consort Hui had specifically sent Fu Yun to serve Gao Yuexing again, explaining that she sympathized with Gao Yuexing entering the palace alone and wanted someone trustworthy by her side.
Indeed, no one was more suitable than Fu Yun.
While Gao Yuexing and Li Fuxiang were eating watermelon together, Fu Yun served nearby, keeping an appropriate distance. When she noticed that her mistress seemed satisfied, she immediately had someone bring clear water for them to wash their hands.
Gao Yuexing rolled up her wide sleeves and dried her hands with a handkerchief. She then asked Li Fuxiang, “Are you tired? Shall we head back?”
Li Fuxiang, understanding her intent, knew that the question of “Are you tired?” was not the main point; “Shall we head back?” was her true intention.
He turned in the direction they had come and led Gao Yuexing away.
Before leaving, Gao Yuexing glanced back at the training grounds. Princess Li Lanyao was chatting animatedly with Zheng Yan, while Zheng Yi was fiercely sparring with some skilled imperial guards.
Gao Yuexing sent a guard to inform the princess of her departure. From afar, the princess waved her hand, signaling that Gao Yuexing could do as she pleased.
It was now autumn, and no matter how often the fallen leaves in the garden were swept away, new ones always drifted down. As Gao Yuexing walked, she saw palace attendants running back and forth, tidying up the scattered leaves.
The atmosphere was both lively and tranquil, much like the swirling fallen leaves scattered by the wind.
Gao Yuexing casually caught a leaf that drifted down above her head, crumbled it in her palm, and scattered the fragments on the ground. A young palace attendant, perhaps only ten years old, ran up and stopped a short distance from her, staring in wide-eyed astonishment at the bits of leaf on the ground.
Gao Yuexing suddenly came to her senses and said softly, “I’m sorry.”
The little palace attendant, startled, immediately knelt down and kowtowed with a loud thud.
Gao Yuexing quickened her pace, walking far away before the young attendant dared to stand again.
In her distracted wandering, Gao Yuexing hadn’t paid attention to where she was going and had strayed onto an unfamiliar path. As she looked around to get her bearings, she suddenly caught a rich fragrance of osmanthus.
Osmanthus blooms were at their peak during the Mid-Autumn season, and now they were nearing the end of their flowering period.
Such a rich floral fragrance could not possibly come from just one or two scattered trees; it must be an entire grove.
Gao Yuexing curiously asked, “When did the palace plant osmanthus?”
Li Fuxiang had been by her side the entire time. Even when she took the wrong path, he didn’t correct her, as though it didn’t matter where they ended up as long as he was with her.
Hearing her question, Li Fuxiang replied, “Mifei Palace, the residence of Consort Wen.”
Gao Yuexing found the name unfamiliar. “Consort Wen?”
She immediately recalled the scandal her eldest sister had once mentioned.
Li Fuxiang had once brought a courtesan, originally destined for the imperial music bureau, into the palace and presented her to the Emperor. To everyone’s surprise, the Emperor allowed the woman to stay in the palace and even conferred upon her the title of “Consort.”
In her previous life, Gao Yuexing did not remember such a figure in the palace. Since this person had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, it was likely she carried an element of unpredictability.
Gao Yuexing felt like taking a look.
Li Fuxiang said, “Let me take you. Consort Wen’s osmanthus wine is one of the palace’s finest. We can ask for some to taste.”
His words carried a tone of familiarity.
Gao Yuexing raised an eyebrow. “You seem quite familiar with her?”
Li Fuxiang made a nonchalant sound and said, “Not really, we’ve only met a few times.”
Gao Yuexing shrugged. “It’s not surprising that you know her well—after all, you were the one who brought her into the palace. But how come I’ve never heard of her causing any stir in the palace?”
As they spoke, they emerged from the garden. Like a sudden turn revealing a bright vista, before Mifei Palace came into view, a grove of blooming osmanthus trees greeted them.
Mifei Palace lay concealed behind the meticulously arranged osmanthus grove.
Gao Yuexing marveled as she stepped forward. The moment she entered the grove’s stone path, she spotted a figure standing at the entrance of Mifei Palace, half-shrouded by the dancing shadows of the flowers. Gao Yuexing squinted and exclaimed, “Huh?”
She almost thought she was mistaken. She rubbed her eyes with a handkerchief and looked again. The person smiled faintly at her and spoke. “Little Prince, Miss Gao.”
It was none other than Xu Xiude, the man who rarely left the Emperor’s side.
Seeing him guarding the outer gate, Gao Yuexing couldn’t help but wonder—where was the Emperor?
Li Fuxiang, standing behind her, leaned close and whispered in her ear, “See, didn’t I say there would be some activity here…?”
Gao Yuexing took a few steps back.
Xu Xiude addressed them politely. “If the two of you wish to visit Consort Wen, might I suggest another day?”
Gao Yuexing was about to nod, but Li Fuxiang interjected, “I know. They’re in there… engaging in broad daylight debauchery, right? I won’t disturb them. I’ll just head to the cellar to fetch some osmanthus wine.”
Gao Yuexing: “…………”
For once, Xu Xiude’s face, which usually remained calm even if the sky were falling, showed a rare expression of shock. “Little Prince, where did you learn such outrageous talk? You absolutely mustn’t speak nonsense!”
Gao Yuexing didn’t know what to say for a moment. Her Little Prince, when it came to matters between men and women, was far too blunt—so much so that it was enough to drive people mad.
She tugged on Li Fuxiang’s sleeve and, taking advantage of Xu Xiude’s inattention, slipped into Mifei Palace along the edge. She whispered sternly, “How could you say something like that?”
Li Fuxiang replied, “The book said so.”
Gao Yuexing’s ears immediately perked up. “What kind of book are you reading?”
Li Fuxiang said, “The kind you secretly buy.”
Gao Yuexing dared not ask more for fear of getting so furious she’d pass out.
After a brief silence, she sighed and said, “You’re not allowed to say such improper things anymore.”
Li Fuxiang retorted, “If it’s written in a book, why can’t I say it?”
Gao Yuexing was momentarily at a loss for words. Her righteous indignation simmered as she tried to form a response. Finally, she said, “Those books were secretly bought. Are you really unaware of how inappropriate they are?”
Li Fuxiang finally fell silent.
Gao Yuexing felt a wave of relief wash over her. “Where did you hide the books? When we get back, I’m burning all of them!”
Li Fuxiang replied, “In the Wen Yuan Library.”
Gao Yuexing almost stumbled again.
The Wen Yuan Library housed the royal family’s collection of books accumulated over nearly a century. The Emperor often visited to browse, and scholars with imperial authorization frequently entered to borrow books.
Gao Yuexing sighed repeatedly, marveling, “You’re truly bold…”