In the capital, after repeated invitations from the emperor, Gao Jing finally agreed to grace the palace with his presence, accompanying the emperor for a game of chess and sharing a pot of tea.
This time, as Gao Jing entered the palace, he guessed that the emperor might still be interested in the letters from his family. Thus, he brought along two newly sent letters from Gao Yuexing.
Today, the emperor acted unusually. Seeing the letters in Gao Jing’s hand, he smiled and pointed to the ones beside him, saying, “I’ve got some as well.”
Gao Yuexing had prepared two identical copies of his family letter: one sent home and the other directly to the palace, bypassing anyone else’s hands.
The emperor remarked, “Daughters are truly considerate. Raise a son, and once he grows up and goes off, you won’t even see him look back.”
As they drank tea together, Gao Jing smiled and said, “Be content. A once-in-a-century martial star has landed on the soil of our Great Xu dynasty, and right into the courtyard of your Li family. Surely, you’re secretly rejoicing in your heart.”
These words struck a chord with the emperor.
The emperor held his hot tea and sighed wistfully, “I’ve never seen a child with his kind of talent. That’s the Xiaonan Pavilion, after all. For ten years, he showed no grievances or anger, no sorrow or joy. Sometimes, I watch him as he sleeps, and I can’t help but feel a little scared. He doesn’t seem like someone of this mortal world, as if he descended from the heavens and might return there at any moment…”
As fellow fathers, there are always fleeting moments of shared emotions over their children.
Lowering his head, Gao Jing said to the emperor, “There’s an old servant called Yagu by Prince Xiang’s side. She’s been serving him since he was a child. I’ve heard that Prince Xiang grew up rolling around in her arms, spoiled and coddled. Given the prince’s frail constitution in his youth, if Yagu had been even a bit less attentive, he wouldn’t have survived to this day. Though he’s now confined, he was raised with love.”
A young sapling newly planted in the soil, as long as it receives a little nourishment, can grow recklessly.
In an unusually gentle tone, Gao Jing comforted the emperor, “Your Majesty, don’t overthink it. Just look at how our little prince is traveling all over the place. Rest assured, he can’t bear to leave this land of resplendent mountains and rivers that shine like pearls.”
The emperor gazed out toward the sky beyond the imperial city, a smile forming on his face. “He’d better never leave.”
Li Fuxiang had deployed the Jinyiwei in the western borderlands.
Any activity involving the Jinyiwei could never escape the emperor’s notice.
As the emperor fiddled with the two letters in his hand, he mused, “Gao Yuexing’s letter mentioned that rascal enjoying himself in the Medicine Valley, reluctant to leave. How did he suddenly end up stirring things up in the western region?”
Gao Jing, sensing something amiss, asked, “Did Ah Xing mention Prince Xiang in his letter?”
The emperor retorted, “Why? Didn’t you read it?”
Gao Jing, who had two letters tucked into his sleeve, replied, “My Ah Xing only wrote about the beauty of spring and autumn in the Medicine Valley, how exquisite winter and summer are, and how captivating the place is.”
The emperor frowned, sensing something off, and reached out, saying, “Let me see your letter.”
Given the gravity of the matter, Gao Jing handed over his letter while simultaneously taking the emperor’s family letter and opening it. Upon reading, the contents spanned several detailed pages, unmistakably in Gao Yuexing’s handwriting.
The two family letters sent to the capital at the same time had entirely different contents.
The letter Gao Jing received made no mention of Li Fuxiang.
The letter the emperor received, however, was filled with updates on Li Fuxiang’s recent activities.
These were not identical letters sent simultaneously but two deliberately different letters written by Gao Yuexing.
The emperor read through his letter in its entirety but couldn’t immediately detect anything unusual. He tucked the letter back into its envelope and held it in his hand, pondering slowly.
Having read both letters, Gao Jing initially placed them back on the chessboard but couldn’t resist picking them up again for another thorough look.
The emperor fixed his gaze on him and asked, “In your view, is there anything unusual?”
Gao Jing replied, “The two letters are identical, with no names written on the envelopes. I heard from the courier official that both letters were placed in the same box. Ah Xing only gave verbal instructions, saying the one on top was to be delivered to the palace, while the one below was for the Gao residence.”
The emperor said, “The letter mentioning Li Fuxiang was specifically addressed to me. There’s no problem with that.”
Gao Jing responded, “My daughter’s handling of this matter defies logic. There must be something peculiar.”
The emperor fell silent.
Gao Jing carefully ran his fingers over the pristine paper envelopes. When his fingers reached a certain spot, he suddenly stopped.
The emperor quickly asked, “What did you find?”
Gao Jing picked up both letters and examined them thoroughly. Afterward, he handed them back to the emperor and said, “Your Majesty, feel it for yourself.”
In the bottom-left corner of both envelopes, there was a spot that felt distinctly different from the rest.
The emperor ran his fingers over the spot, hesitating as he said, “Wax?”
It was just a small area.
The emperor waved his sleeve.
Gao Jing had already brought over a candle. He lit it and held the envelopes over the flame for a moment. Gradually, a transparent mark appeared in the bottom-left corner of each envelope.
It was wax.
But it wasn’t handwritten.
Handwriting wouldn’t be this delicate.
Gao Jing studied the gradually clearer mark for a moment and said, “It’s a seal.”
Gao Yuexing had gone to great lengths to carve two seals, dipped them in wax, and pressed them onto the envelopes, carefully erasing any traces to avoid detection.
Why?
Gao Jing presented one of the letters to the emperor and said, “The seal on this family letter reads: Humbly Wishing the Emperor’s Peace.”
The emperor pushed his own letter toward Gao Jing and said, “Take a look at this one yourself.”
The seal on that letter read: Respectfully Wishing Father’s Peace.
Gao Jing remarked, “Based on the seal markings, the letter I’m holding should have been meant for Your Majesty, while the one you received was prepared for me.”
The emperor said, “Ah Xing wrote about Li Fuxiang in the letter meant for you, while the one addressed to me mentions herself?”
Gao Jing sighed, “What if the real intent lies elsewhere? What if these two letters are just part of her probing scheme?”
The emperor pondered aloud, “A scheme… What significant matter could warrant her putting in so much effort?”
Gao Jing laid out the letters in a row, pointed to the identical envelopes, and asked, “Your Majesty, Ah Xing deliberately left the envelopes unsigned. If someone secretly opened both letters in the same box and resealed them, how would they determine which letter was meant for where?”
It was well known that Li Fuxiang was the emperor’s beloved son.
Naturally, any letter concerning Li Fuxiang would be destined for the palace.
Even if someone could swear they hadn’t mixed up the letters before opening them, after reading the contents, doubts would inevitably arise.
The emperor clenched his molars. “My capital is still filthy!”
—
Five days after the start of autumn.
Prince Xiang returned to the capital with his princess consort.
The two of them traveled without much fanfare, and their return was equally understated. Riding two horses, they entered the city gates at dawn, with few people on the streets. One rode ahead, and the other followed.
The gate guards rubbed their eyes vigorously, thinking they must be seeing things.
The two first returned to Prince Xiang’s residence to wash away the dust of their journey.
Gao Yuexing sat in front of the mirror.
Fu Yun stood behind her, combing her hair and smiling as she said, “The princess consort seems to have slimmed down a bit.”
Gao Yuexing replied, “You know the temperament of our prince. Going out with him for a round of chaos, how could I not lose weight?”
Fu Yun worked methodically. Gao Yuexing, who hadn’t kept up with her grooming while away, had stray hairs around her temples. Fu Yun used a small gold scissors to trim them all without causing the slightest discomfort.
Fu Yun remarked, “Since you’re tired, you should rest more in the capital. After all, you’re still young, Princess Consort. Taking proper care of your body and preparing for children is the most important thing.”
Gao Yuexing responded, “My mother and elder sister said the same to me.”
Fu Yun added, “Of course. But this isn’t something to rush. Recklessly conceiving a child would be like stepping through the gates of death. At the very least, you need to first nourish your vitality and blood.”
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Gao Yuexing noticed that the mental and physical strain from her time in the western border and the long journey had indeed left her less spirited than before. She thought to herself, This is just the beginning; the truly exciting part is yet to come.
Li Fuxiang had already changed into fresh clothes and came over to check on how Gao Yuexing was doing.
Lifting the curtain, he entered the room, and Fu Yun immediately fell silent.
Li Fuxiang leaned against her side, observing Gao Yuexing through the dressing mirror.
A few days ago, whether in the western border or on the journey back, Gao Yuexing’s travel attire had masked any signs of her thinning frame.
But now, back in the capital, her red and gold embroidered dress and the weight of her hairpins and crown emphasized the pallor of her delicate face.
Li Fuxiang stared at her intently without speaking for a long time.
As Gao Yuexing applied makeup, she glanced at him briefly and asked, “Do you have something you want to say to me?”
Li Fuxiang lowered his eyes. Knowing full well that he was being a nuisance, he stubbornly squeezed over and rested his head on Gao Yuexing’s shoulder. His presence made Fu Yun feel constrained, but she couldn’t say anything.
His voice murmured near Gao Yuexing’s ear, “Once I’m ready, I’ll head west again and take care of that flea-ridden mess once and for all. At the very least, it’ll secure decades of peace and happiness for us. After that, we won’t have to worry about anything—we can just have fun.”
Gao Yuexing smiled faintly. “Alright.”
Fu Yun shook her head and smiled helplessly.
Gao Yuexing lifted her gaze. “Sister Fu Yun, what are you thinking?”
Seeing that she was asked, Fu Yun didn’t hold back and said frankly, “In the past, when our dynasty’s soldiers set out on campaigns, all you’d hear were the sound of hooves and the cries of their families. I’ve never seen anyone like you, Princess Consort, so cheerfully sending her husband off to war.”
Gao Yuexing, full of indulgence, said, “Of course, I must be happy. He absolutely won’t let me go with him. If he saw me cry and it unsettled his mind, what would we do then?”
Li Fuxiang smiled and rubbed against her affectionately.
Gao Yuexing arranged to first enter the palace today to pay her respects to the emperor. After leaving the palace, she would visit the Gao family to see her parents.
They had returned early, and by the time they calculated the hours, the emperor had not yet finished court.
Gao Yuexing lifted the hem of her intricate robe and, holding Li Fuxiang’s hand, walked to the doorway. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks. As if struck by a sudden thought, she turned back and asked Fu Yun, “By the way, when you reached the age to leave the palace and came to serve in the prince’s residence, you’ve been by my side ever since. You’ve said before that there’s no one left in your hometown. But do you still have anything or anyone you hold dear, anyone you miss, or deceased relatives for whom I could set up an offering?”
Fu Yun, caught off guard by the unexpected question, froze for a long moment before replying, “Princess Consort… this servant thanks you for your kindness. It’s just that, after so many years away from home, some things have long passed. Please allow this servant some time to think it over carefully.”
Gao Yuexing nodded and left with Li Fuxiang, boarding the carriage together.
On the road, Gao Yuexing twisted the handkerchief in her palm, alternately tightening and loosening her grip.
Li Fuxiang asked, “What are you thinking about?”
Hearing his voice, Gao Yuexing’s grip suddenly slackened, and faint green veins appeared on the back of her hand.
Li Fuxiang straightened his posture and asked with more seriousness, “What exactly are you thinking about?”
The dangling ornaments on Gao Yuexing’s hairpin swayed gently. She turned her head, leaning close to Li Fuxiang’s face, and solemnly asked, “Your Highness, do you have anyone trustworthy at your side?”
Li Fuxiang was momentarily stunned by her question, blinking in silence.
Gao Yuexing answered her own question, “Yagu.”
Li Fuxiang couldn’t figure out what she was planning.
Gao Yuexing nodded to herself in a daze and muttered, “Yes, Yagu. Only Yagu. Lend her to me. Our lives, everything we have, can only be entrusted to her.”
Li Fuxiang grabbed her shoulder tightly with one arm. “Ah Xing!”
With his other hand, he reached out to check her forehead.
To his surprise, her forehead was even colder than his hand.
Gao Yuexing blinked, her calm eyes fixed on him. “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”