The next day, at the Wenhua Hall for lessons, Li Fuqiu arrived earlier than everyone else, as though he were deliberately waiting for someone.
Gao Yuexing followed behind the princess, and as soon as they entered, she saw him standing on the steps, holding a bow in his hand. A feathered arrow was nocked on the string, its tip aimed directly at the entrance.
Gao Yuexing knew there was no avoiding this.
The princess shouted angrily, “Third Brother!”
The guards swarmed over, but Li Fuqiu barked, “Get out of the way!”
Gao Yuexing met his ferocious gaze head-on.
Li Fuqiu curled his lips into a sneer. “Miss Gao, if I were to shoot and kill you here today, do you think Father would demand my life in return?”
The princess felt a chill spread through her limbs.
Her third brother seemed to grow crazier with each passing day. He might actually follow through on such a threat.
When Gao Yuexing remained silent, Li Fuqiu spoke to himself, “Father wouldn’t be willing to let me die, would he? Do you believe that?”
Gao Yuexing gazed at him calmly, thinking—whether His Majesty is willing or not, you won’t live past two years.
But how exactly he would meet his end was something no one knew.
Li Fuqiu asked, “Why aren’t you afraid?”
It wasn’t that Gao Yuexing wasn’t afraid; it was just that from a few steps away, she could see clearly that what he held was merely something molded from wax.
The princess stammered, “Third Brother, how dare you…”
Before she could finish her sentence, the arrow had already flown.
He dared.
The wax arrowhead didn’t pierce Gao Yuexing’s skull but shattered into fragments as it grazed her skin.
The princess let out a shriek and nearly collapsed. The palace maids attending her were too frightened to care for her, as they were even more panicked themselves.
The maids scrambled back in alarm, while the guards, though still rational, were at a loss about what to do.
Gao Yuexing touched her reddened forehead.
In the midst of the chaos, Li Fuqiu burst into laughter, his body shaking as he bent over, tears streaming from his eyes.
He tossed the bow and arrow to the ground in defeat, striding toward the exit. “I’m tired. I don’t want to study. I’m going home.”
The princess grabbed Gao Yuexing’s hand. “Are you alright?”
Gao Yuexing felt a dull ache in her head and suspected it was probably just red and swollen.
The princess pressed her cool hand against it. Still shaken, she muttered repeatedly, “Outrageous, simply outrageous…”
Grand Tutor Liu arrived belatedly, only to be met with a scene of utter chaos.
The Fifth Prince trailed not too far behind the tutor. Upon seeing them, he silently circled around to avoid getting involved.
After hearing the account of what had happened, Grand Tutor Liu’s face darkened. He announced that lessons for the day were canceled and swept off to the imperial study to report to the emperor.
Such a major incident happened outside Wenhua Hall, and with so many eyes watching, it couldn’t be hidden.
Consort Xian finally sensed that something was amiss. “You say that the young lady of the Gao family remained calm and completely unafraid at the time?”
Aunt Wei cautiously replied, “Your servant heard from those present that it was indeed so… even the princess was terrified.”
Suspicion rose in Consort Xian’s heart. “She’s just a six-year-old child.”
Aunt Wei said, “Your servant has long felt that this young lady of the Gao family has a deeply scheming mind. Placing her by the princess’s side—could it be dangerous? The two children live and eat together every day. Over time, their bond could grow unusually deep. If Miss Gao were to have ulterior motives, it would be impossible to guard against.”
Consort Xian was lost in thought for a long while, the silence in the grand hall so profound that a pin drop could be heard.
Aunt Wei tentatively asked, “Your Highness?”
Consort Xian responded with a soft “Hmm,” and said, “I understand your concerns.”
Aunt Wei asked, “What is Your Highness still deliberating over?”
Consort Xian’s perspective was more far-sighted. Through Gao Yuexing, she saw not merely a six-year-old child, but also her father and the family standing behind her.
“Gao Jing is the Minister of Justice, a key official in court. His daughter is not a mere servant. Even the royal family cannot summon or dismiss her at will. His Majesty has always upheld integrity and benevolence in governance, setting an example for the nation. As someone entrusted with the phoenix seal, how can I act recklessly?”
As a mere servant, Aunt Wei evidently could not grasp Consort Xian’s considerations.
Relying on years of favor from Consort Xian, she spoke boldly, “You are the ruler, and he is the subject. There is a distinction between ruler and subject. Is Your Highness overthinking this?”
Displeasure flashed in Consort Xian’s eyes. Before she could scold her, Aunt Wei quickly read her expression, knelt down, and repeatedly kowtowed in apology.
The Third Prince, Li Fuqiu, was becoming increasingly difficult to manage.
This had become a consensus among the people in the palace.
While Grand Tutor Liu was still in the emperor’s study lamenting in grief, Li Fuqiu, restless as ever, made a high-profile appearance at the gates of Chunhe Palace to request an audience with Consort Xian.
Consort Xian was already troubled. Seeing him only added to her worries, but she had no choice but to compose herself and maintain the demeanor of a noble stepmother. Softening her tone, she invited Li Fuqiu in and instructed, “The Third Prince seldom visits Chunhe Palace. Have the small kitchen prepare some refreshments.”
Li Fuqiu refused to sit. Standing in the center of the hall, he declared, “I am not here idly. I have a request to make of you, Honored Consort.”
Consort Xian, maintaining a kindly expression, replied, “Third Prince, speak your mind.”
“Honored Consort, you carefully selected a companion for my younger sister. I am immensely envious and wish for the same. Unfortunately, I have no mother to handle such trivial matters for me… I find Miss Gao quite endearing, so I shamelessly come to ask if you might part with her and grant her to me.”
Consort Xian regarded him with a faint smile. This was an outright lie. The Third Prince’s first companion had been personally selected by the emperor from the sons of loyal ministers. Yet, on the very day that boy entered the palace, Li Fuqiu, in full view of everyone, had unreasonably pushed him into the lotus pond. It had been the dead of winter, and the child, frail and delicate, had nearly lost his life after being bedridden for over half a month.
Gao Yuexing, young as she was, had a peculiar disposition, which only made Consort Xian more wary of her. Though she had intentions of removing Gao Yuexing from the princess’s side, she would not push a perfectly good girl into a pit of fire.
Consort Xian said gently, “What childish nonsense… Food and refreshments can be gifted, toys for amusement can be gifted, and even servants can be gifted. But Miss Gao is the daughter of a loyal and virtuous minister. She must not be lightly humiliated.”
Failing to achieve his goal, Li Fuqiu’s expression darkened.
At that moment, an attendant rushed in to report, “Your Highness, the emperor is furious and urgently summons the Third Prince for an audience.”
Li Fuqiu’s reckless actions earlier in the day had finally provoked the emperor’s ire.
Li Fuqiu’s face grew more sullen, and without another word, he turned and left.
Aunt Wei followed behind to see him off.
Li Fuqiu turned his head and glared at her.
Aunt Wei bent even lower, whispering near his ear, “Your Highness, please calm your anger. Our mistress is not indifferent to you. It’s just that this matter is far from simple… If the Third Prince truly desires this, it will ultimately require His Majesty’s approval.”
Li Fuqiu halted mid-step.
Aunt Wei stopped as well. “This is as far as I’ll accompany you, Your Highness.”
Gao Yuexing leaned against the doorway of a side hall, watching Li Fuqiu’s figure as he swept away with a flick of his robes. She could not yet foresee her future fate. Just as the day before, she seized the opportunity during the lax security of the afternoon to sneak once more to the wall of the Xiaonan Pavilion.
This time, just as she knocked on the bricks, before she could make any further move, the brick opening was actively pushed open from inside, much to her surprise and delight.
He still had that crabapple-patterned handkerchief tied around his wrist.
Gao Yuexing’s gaze softened, and she said, “Something must have happened between us before, but I can’t remember it. Is that right?”
Li Fuxiang gave no response.
His face was thin and angular, but not with the sharpness that carried aggression.
Gao Yuexing blinked and silently held his gaze for a moment before suddenly realizing the issue—
He almost never spoke.
And he never responded to anything she said.
A mix of disbelief and fear crawled up her spine, leaving her feeling alarmed.
It was clear.
He had been locked in the Xiaonan Pavilion for who knows how many years, isolated from the outside world. The only person taking care of him might have always been a mute servant woman.
What could a mute teach him?!
A storm of thoughts churned in Gao Yuexing’s mind, leaving her shaken but swiftly regaining her composure.
She used sign language, repeating her earlier words—“Something must have happened between us!”
Gao Yuexing had been clever since childhood.
Ever since her miraculous return to life, she had had enough time to ponder many things.
In her past life, the crabapple-patterned handkerchief that Prince Xiang cherished so dearly, never leaving his side, might have originated from her.
The imperial decree of marriage had been something Prince Xiang had actively sought.
Her love for Prince Xiang had not arisen out of thin air, nor was it due to love at first sight. Rather, it was a connection deeply etched into her bones during those unknowing years.
Sure enough, Li Fuxiang understood her sign language.
He skillfully signed back, asking, “Who are you?”
Gao Yuexing replied, “I am your wife.”
All the caution and calculation she had ever possessed were cast aside in front of him, as though she had torn off her mask to reveal her raw and vulnerable self, unflinching and fearless.
Li Fuxiang appeared utterly confused. In his understanding, he did not know what “wife” was. He merely assumed it to be an ordinary name or title.
He repeated in sign language, “Wife.”
Gao Yuexing lowered her head, covered her face, and laughed.
Li Fuxiang watched her laugh and, mimicking her, curved his eyes into a smile.
This time, Gao Yuexing didn’t come empty-handed.
She was prepared.
Her waist pouch was stuffed with snacks, bulging as she passed them through the brick opening to him.
For Li Fuxiang, these delicately crafted snacks were things he had never seen in his life.
Gao Yuexing gestured that he could eat them.
Li Fuxiang broke off a piece and placed it in his mouth. The soft, sweet flavor spread across his palate.
—“Thank you, wife,” he signed, his eyes lighting up with a newfound brilliance.
Gao Yuexing told him that she would return tomorrow.
Not just tomorrow.
From now on, every single day, she would be there for him.
—
That afternoon, Gao Yuexing snuck back to Chunhe Palace. The princess was still napping, and everything was quiet. Only Aunt Wei stood at the doorway with a hand warmer, and she caught Gao Yuexing red-handed.
“Where have you been?” Aunt Wei asked coldly.
“I didn’t want to sleep. I felt stifled, so I went to play in the garden.”
For some reason, every word Gao Yuexing spoke felt like a thorn in Aunt Wei’s heart. Gao Yuexing’s eyes, unlike those of ordinary children, were dark and seemingly clear, yet carried layers of complex emotions that instinctively made others uneasy.
Gao Yuexing brushed past her and entered the side hall. With a glance, she noticed that her belongings had been tampered with.
When she entered the palace, her luggage had been simple—just a few personal trinkets and seasonal clothing. Now, everything had been neatly packed and placed conspicuously in the open.
Gao Yuexing froze for a moment, puzzled by the meaning behind this.
Aunt Wei, with a veiled tone and a sarcastic edge, said, “…The masters in this palace are not all as kind and gentle as our mistress. When Miss Gao eventually moves elsewhere, you will naturally have the opportunity to reflect on what this servant says today.”