Chapter 6

Chapter Six: Young Master Liang

When the pair of golden, delicately swaying hairpins approached Xie Shu, she immediately recognized them—they were the two strings of golden hairpins that Dongli had presented as tribute last year.

“These are…”

“Sister Shu, you must have recognized them. These hairpins are the ‘Cloud Tresses and Flowery Face’ golden hairpins that Dongli recently offered as tribute. I thought the peonies on them would suit you well, so I asked the emperor brother for them. Without hesitation, he gifted them to me, and I’ve hurried here to present them to you. Sister Shu, do you like them?” Princess Shenghua said eagerly.

In her previous life, Xie Shu, as the most favored consort in the imperial harem, had seen countless rare treasures, so these golden hairpins did not particularly astonish her. However, she did not want to disappoint Princess Shenghua’s kindness. She smiled gracefully and said, “Both hairpins are very beautiful. Thank you, Princess.”

“I’m glad you like them,” said Princess Shenghua, unable to wait to help Xie Shu put on the hairpins. Today, Xie Shu had styled her hair into the elegant Jinghong bun, which was already captivating. The addition of the hairpins made her appear even more exquisitely refined—radiant with a gentle warmth, truly a peerless beauty.

Princess Shenghua looked on with great satisfaction and nodded approvingly. In her opinion, Xie Shu’s beauty was unmatched among the young women of the capital; few could compare.

Soon, servants brought out an array of exquisite pastries. To Xie Shu’s surprise, there was a plate of begonia cakes. Whenever Princess Shenghua visited the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness’s residence, she found that the preparations there suited her taste perfectly. She reached out to pinch a piece of begonia cake.

“Sister Shu, you don’t know, at today’s poetry banquet, Sister You Ning had prepared a magnificent dance of the Rainbow Feathered Garments as a gift for the emperor brother, but he didn’t attend. Sister You Ning’s face turned dark. I think Mother is going to give up on matching her with the emperor brother.”

It was clear the emperor brother had no interest in Sister You Ning, yet Mother still hoped she would become empress. How could that be?

If Mother continued like this, the emperor brother would soon have no patience left.

“Perhaps later Lady Chu will enter the palace,” Xie Shu said softly, biting into a sweet-scented osmanthus cake, which she loved for its perfect balance of sweetness.

Princess Shenghua looked puzzled and asked, “Sister Shu, why do you think so?”

Xie Shu frowned slightly, feeling she had been too certain, then shifted her tone and smiled faintly, “I think Lady Chu comes from a prominent family, so naturally she would be suitable to become an imperial consort.”

“You Ning’s family background is indeed illustrious, but if the emperor brother doesn’t like her, no matter how much Mother arranges, it will be difficult for her to enter the palace.”

The emperor brother had a good temperament but was decisive; otherwise, You Ning would have been in the palace long ago.

Princess Shenghua ate a piece of begonia cake, then took a peony cake and whispered to Xie Shu, “Sister Shu, what kind of gentleman would you like to marry?”

Among young women, this question was inevitable. Xie Shu’s brows curved like delicate ink strokes as she pondered seriously for a moment before replying, “I want to marry a gentleman of refined bearing, gentle and caring.”

Ideally, the inner court should be peaceful, free from endless gossip and troubles she would have to resolve. Otherwise, like in her previous life, she would rather end everything once and for all.

Refined bearing...

Caring...

Princess Shenghua mentally reviewed all the young gentlemen in the capital and thought few could match Sister Shu. However, there was one who barely measured up in terms of family background and talent. She giggled and said straightforwardly, “Then Sister Shu must mean Young Master Liang from the Prime Minister’s residence. I remember he is renowned in the capital for being ‘gentle, refined, and exceptionally talented.’ Many noble young ladies dream of marrying him.”

Young Master Liang Heng, the third son of the Prime Minister, was the most refined gentleman in the capital. He was talented and courteous, and over half the noble daughters in the city wished to wed him.

That was why Princess Shenghua thought of him immediately—handsome, learned, and morally upright, a rare gem among the young gentlemen of the capital.

In his previous life, this refined gentleman had also become Minister of Rites but had never married. Xie Shu smiled faintly, “Young Master Liang is so outstanding; perhaps he already has someone he cherishes.”

“I won’t accept that,” said Princess Shenghua, giving her a playful glare. “Sister Shu, you are so beautiful and the foremost noble lady in our dynasty. You don’t have anyone you fancy yet?”

Xie Shu smiled without replying.

“Sister Shu, I’m serious. If you truly want to marry Young Master Liang someday, I’ll go to the palace and ask the emperor brother to grant you a marriage,” Princess Shenghua said, pouting when she saw Xie Shu’s disbelief.

Xie Shu replied, “Thank you for your kindness, Princess, but my marriage is ultimately up to Father and Mother. If I do marry, it will be to someone whom I love in return.”

Princess Shenghua agreed wholeheartedly. The person Sister Shu married must be someone she truly loved. She smiled brightly and said, “Then Sister Shu, choose carefully. When you do, I’ll be sure to keep a close watch for you.”

“Princess Xie,” Xie Shu said softly, a little helpless.

Princess Shenghua could not stay long at the residence. After talking with Xie Shu for half an hour, she asked if she wanted to go to the market. Her bright eyes made her intentions obvious.

Since the new emperor ascended the throne, several elder brothers had been so busy they were seldom seen. Xie Shu herself often dreamt of scenes from her previous life, sleeping poorly at night and feeling listless during the day, so she rarely went out.

Now, hearing Princess Shenghua mention leaving the residence, Xie Shu also wanted to go out. She smiled lightly and said, “Princess Shenghua commands, I dare not disobey.”

“I don’t want to bother with Sister Shu anymore,” Princess Shenghua joked, blushing and shyly looking away. Soon, she laughed and said, “Then, Sister Shu, you lead the way.”

Xie Shu’s appearance was exquisitely gentle and enchanting, her aura elegant and refined. Standing still, she naturally drew the gaze of passersby, so she always wore a white veil when going out.

When the third young lady and Princess Shenghua prepared to leave, the servants quickly reported to the eldest young master in the study. Knowing their sister’s true nature, Xie Huaiyu was not surprised. He only instructed the guards to protect them well and to report back immediately if anything urgent occurred.

Since the emperor’s enthronement, the capital had become increasingly peaceful.

Every time Princess Shenghua and Xie Shu went out, they would visit the Changting Pavilion to listen to storytellers. The last storyteller spoke of the newly appointed Vice Minister of Rites and the intrigues among his wives and concubines. This time, the topic shifted to the current emperor, with praise for his outstanding ability, surpassing even the late sovereign—a ruler of great promise.

“But the emperor’s harem is empty. If any young lady in the capital were to enter the palace as consort, it would surely make others envious. I guess the most likely candidates are the third young lady of the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness’s residence, or the daughter of the Duke of Chu.”

The audience on the first floor became excited and urged the storyteller to speak more about the Marquis’s third young lady. Princess Shenghua glanced quietly at Sister Shu and whispered, “Sister Shu, it seems the city knows about you.”

Xie Shu’s face flushed with unease. In her past life, without the late emperor’s decree, she would never have entered the palace, and in this life, even less so. “Princess, perhaps we should leave. I’ll invite you to a tasting house for a small drink.”

Princess Shenghua understood her embarrassment and smiled, nodding. The two descended from the second floor. As they neared the first floor, a man dressed in a moonlit-hued robe, graceful and poised, happened to be ascending. He hurried forward, and Xie Shu accidentally bumped into him.

Mei’er quickly stepped forward to support her lady. The man stopped abruptly, his gentle expression shifting to concern as he anxiously asked, “Miss, are you alright?”

Hearing that familiar voice, Xie Shu looked up and met the man’s worried gaze with a moment of surprise. “Young Master Liang.”

It was not so much that Xie Shu was startled, but rather that in her previous life, Liang Heng had been the emperor’s right hand. Several times when she visited the Imperial Study, she had encountered him. Because she alone enjoyed the emperor’s favor, many officials were displeased, and memorials of censure came one after another. Liang Heng was one of the few who spoke up for her.

Liang Heng paused in his fan-twirling, his face showing great surprise. Though the young lady before him wore a veil, her extraordinary beauty was unmistakable—surely a noble daughter, though he did not recognize her. Recovering his refined smile, he asked, “Do you know me, Miss?”

Princess Shenghua, following behind Xie Shu, stuck out her tongue playfully. What a coincidence! They had spoken of Young Master Liang an hour ago at the Marquis’s residence, and now here he was. Could it be that Sister Shu and Young Master Liang were truly fated?

Princess Shenghua’s eyes gleamed as she raised an eyebrow and stepped forward. “Young Master Liang, this is my Sister Shu, the third young lady of the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness’s residence.”

Liang Heng had indeed never met the Marquis’s third young lady, but he had met Princess Shenghua before. Upon hearing her introduction, he closed his fan and bowed to her.

“Please, no need,” Princess Shenghua quickly waved her sleeve, signaling him not to bow.

Understanding their wish to remain discreet, Liang Heng straightened and smiled at Xie Shu, saying, “I didn’t expect you to be Miss Xie, my apologies.”

The Marquis’s third young lady, Xie Shu, was renowned for her beauty and talent as the “foremost noble lady of the capital.” Liang Heng had long heard of her but had never seen her before today. Even though he could glimpse only a fraction of her face behind the veil, her resemblance to a celestial maiden was clear. What surprised him most was that she knew him and called him by name, though he had no memory of meeting her.

“Greetings, Young Master Liang,” Xie Shu responded, having quickly gathered herself. She had never met Liang Heng in this life, so how could he recognize her? She smiled lightly and said, “My father has mentioned you several times, praising your elegance and promise.”

Clearly, this was a white lie to cover her uncertainty.

Just as Liang Heng was about to inquire further, his attendant whispered urgently, “Young Master, the time is nearly upon us.”

A noble guest waited upstairs for the young master. He never kept anyone waiting, so why today, upon seeing a beauty, could he not move?

Reminded of his duties, Liang Heng hurriedly excused himself to Princess Shenghua and Xie Shu. “Princess, Miss Xie, I have urgent matters and must leave. Please forgive me.”

“Farewell, Young Master Liang,” Princess Shenghua nodded understandingly. It seemed the Prime Minister’s son also enjoyed listening to storytellers.

As Liang Heng hurried up to the second floor, he glanced back once more at Xie Shu.

Unbeknownst to them, this moment was witnessed by another person’s eyes.