Chapter 8

The Imperial Study was soon illuminated, and the imperial physician was summoned. Regardless of the lateness of the hour, no imperial physician dared to be negligent when called by the Emperor. Carrying his medicine chest, Physician Zhang hurried to the Imperial Study and knelt before the sovereign: "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

Physician Zhang pondered that this was already the second time the Emperor had summoned him since ascending the throne.

The young Emperor, possessing features as exquisite as a painting, sat draped in a black dragon robe embroidered with gold patterns. His posture was noble, his presence elegant yet piercing. His deep, dark eyes held a profound intensity as he gestured slightly. "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Physician Zhang methodically opened his medicine chest and retrieved his silver pulse-reading needles. As he prepared to examine the Emperor, he asked, "May I ask what is ailing Your Majesty?"

"I have dreamt of the same scene twice in one day. I wish to ask you, Physician Zhang, is it possible that I am being bewitched?" Qin Yu asked, his voice notably cold.

Having attained the throne, he naturally did not believe in ghosts or deities. It was impossible that this dream was telling him he shared a fated connection with the woman in his visions—that she was destined to be his future beloved. As an Emperor, Qin Yu could not, and would not, tether his heart to any woman.

Physician Zhang paused. He recalled the Emperor mentioning that dream before, though he had assumed it was merely the result of the exhaustion following the Emperor's early days of rule. Now, it seemed otherwise.

"Has Your Majesty had the same dream again?" Physician Zhang inquired. "Your subject believes it is still due to the fatigue of handling state affairs all day, which has led to poor rest at night. I shall write a prescription for Your Majesty." After speaking respectfully, he added tactfully, "There is another possibility, which people often call 'what one thinks of by day, one dreams of by night.' If one dwells on a certain matter during the day, one may think of it at night."

He felt it unlikely that the Emperor—who showed no interest in women and had never singled out any noble lady—was troubled by romantic matters. However, since the dream involved a "mysterious woman," perhaps she was the beloved the Emperor had yet to realize he cared for. If she truly were, the Emperor would likely have to bring her into the palace to stop this "daytime longing." Even without making inquiries, Physician Zhang knew the Empress Dowager at Cining Palace intended to bring Miss Youning from the Duke of Chu’s estate into the palace.

Qin Yu gave a mocking laugh. He had no passion for women; the idea that he was "thinking of something by day" was absurd. The Emperor gave a look to Eunuch Li: "Eunuch Li, take Physician Zhang to prepare the prescription."

"As you command, Your Majesty."

In the ink-black night, the Imperial Study returned to silence.

***

Because Xie Shu and Princess Shenghua had gone out in the afternoon, it was already dark by the time they finished their outing. The two young women parted ways, one returning to the Princess’s residence with her guards, the other to the Marquis of Zhongyi’s estate.

As soon as Xie Shu returned with her maid, she went to the main chamber to pay her respects to her mother. Lady Yun had not yet retired, waiting for her. Seeing her enter, she beckoned her over. "Shu'er, you've returned?"

"Mother." Xie Shu offered a graceful curtsy.

"You have been cooped up at home for days. Don’t you feel much better after getting out?" Lady Yun pulled her over to sit, affectionately tapping her forehead.

Ever since the Emperor ascended the throne, her daughter had been hiding away in her chambers, unwilling to move. She had even declined the poetry banquet held at Princess Shenghua’s residence. Lady Yun was genuinely worried she would grow stifled.

"Mother is always teasing me." Xie Shu’s eyes, clear and bright, looked up with a playful, delicate pout, her expression gentle and spirited.

"I am only concerned for you. You must be tired today; go back and rest. Another day, I have something to discuss with you." Lady Yun chuckled, unable to hide the tenderness in her gaze.

She had heard that evening that the palace might be planning to select concubines, though it remained unconfirmed. She intended to ask her daughter’s opinion; if she had no desire to enter the palace, they would need to arrange her marriage early.

Xie Shu did not press for details. "Then Mother should rest early as well."

Lady Yun nodded with a smile and signaled Nanny Lin, her personal attendant, to see her out.

When Nanny Lin returned, she smiled and said to Lady Yun, "With our young lady’s calm and poised temperament, she would be perfectly suited to be a consort in the palace."

The young lady was a refined daughter of the Marquis of Zhongyi’s house, yet she was not the type to be rigid or stuffy; her gentleness was infused with a lively charm that made her all the more captivating.

"That is not something to be said lightly. Neither I nor the Marquis hope for grand fortunes for Shu'er; we only wish for her to be happy every day," Lady Yun said, her smile fading as her expression turned serious.

"This old servant spoke out of turn." Nanny Lin inwardly chided herself for her loose tongue. The Madam and the Marquis doted on the third young lady; naturally, they would not want… Thinking of this, Nanny Lin quickly changed her tone. "Our eldest and second young masters are both incredibly capable. With them to protect the young lady, no one will ever let her suffer a grievance."

Lady Yun’s expression softened.

The spring evening breeze was warm and refreshing. In the Plum Blossom Garden, after bathing, Xie Shu donned a white silk undergarment, draped in a purple cloud-brocade cloak with tassels. As it was still early, she continued her calligraphy practice. Mei'er ground the ink beside her while servants brought in pastries and tea. Looking at her lady’s plum-blossom script, Mei'er praised, "Young Lady’s calligraphy is truly improving more and more. A woman of such beauty and talent—it is no wonder the suitors have worn down our threshold."

It was true; since the young lady came of age last year, the suitors coming to the Marquis’s estate had been endless. But the young lady had no interest, and the Marquis and Madam were reluctant to see her married off so soon, which was why her marriage remained unsettled.

Xie Shu’s brush paused, and she looked at her with a helpless smile. "Mei'er, you are talking too much today."

Mei'er knew her lady wasn't angry. She pouted and whispered, "This servant isn't wrong. There are so many suitors every day, but it’s only because you haven't found anyone you like. If you did, you would be married by now."

In the inner chambers, such topics were unavoidable. Thinking of the daytime, Mei'er wondered if her lady liked Young Master Liang… "Does the Young Lady like the Third Young Master Liang?"

Liang Heng, the youngest son of the Chancellor’s estate.

In her past life, Xie Shu knew Liang Heng was a man of great ability and a loyal official; otherwise, he would not have been so highly valued by the Emperor. Hearing Mei'er’s question, Xie Shu’s eyelashes fluttered as she shook her head. "If you are speaking of romantic love, I do not."

"But didn't you say today..." Mei'er was curious.

Xie Shu gave a cunning smile, her eyes shimmering with a gentle, moving light. "Third Young Master Liang is an excellent gentleman. I was not wrong."

Mei'er couldn't help but laugh. Her lady was always like this—no matter what she did or said, it was always unexpected.

Mei'er added, "The Young Lady is right. I just feel that since Young Master Liang is the most outstanding gentleman in the capital, if you are to marry someone, you might as well marry the best."

Xie Shu found it amusing and returned to her calligraphy. The strokes became noticeably more haphazard, so she set down the vermilion brush and rested her chin on her hand, looking at the full moon and the swaying branches outside. In her past life, when the imperial decree was first issued, she had been lost, never imagining she would be entangled with the imperial family. But once the decree was sealed, her mother had come to persuade her: "Shu'er, you are the cherished third daughter of our house, the capital’s foremost noble lady. You must marry someone; you might as well marry the best. How many women in this city wish to be the Crown Princess?"

Later, Xie Shu entered the palace as a Crown Princess consort. Because she was the only one in the Eastern Palace, her life was not as difficult as she had imagined. Then, a year later, the late Emperor passed away, and the Crown Prince, Qin Yu, ascended the throne. The day after his coronation, Xie Shu was named Noble Consort, holding the phoenix seal, her prestige unrivaled.

Xie Shu touched her snow-white cheek, stopping her thoughts. Why was she thinking of those things again?

Seeing her lady remain silent, Mei'er was confused. "Does the Young Lady think this servant is wrong?"

"Mei'er, what you said makes perfect sense, but marriage must depend on mutual affection." Xie Shu smiled, her beauty clear and moving.

Mei'er was thoughtful. She had seen the way Young Master Liang looked at her lady today; perhaps he liked her.

===

At that moment, in the Imperial Study.

The bright candlelight illuminated the room. The Emperor was reviewing memorials when Eunuch Li entered with a medicine bowl. "Your Majesty, this is the medicine Physician Zhang prescribed."

Qin Yu merely glanced at it before downing the decoction in one go. An attendant quickly handed him a clean handkerchief. Just as Eunuch Li was about to remove the tray, he heard the Emperor ask in a leisurely tone, "Princess Shenghua held a poetry banquet today. Why did the Third Miss Xie not attend?"

Eunuch Li was startled to his core. Why was the Emperor suddenly so concerned about the Third Miss Xie?

His mind raced. He remembered that the banquet had invited all the noble ladies of the capital. Since the Third Miss was close to the Princess, she should have gone. But he and the Emperor had met the Third Miss in the study of the Eldest Young Master Xie; she truly had not gone.

Eunuch Li answered tentatively, "This old servant is not quite sure. I presume the Third Miss Xie was feeling unwell."

It was a casual remark, as he had only heard of the Third Miss’s fame but had never actually met her.

Qin Yu curled his lips, noncommittal.

With the Emperor silent, Eunuch Li and the others could only wait by the side. After an unknown amount of time, the Emperor suddenly spoke: "If Shenghua enters the palace again, ask her to come to the Imperial Study."

Eunuch Li could no longer maintain his composure. Could it be that the Emperor wanted to meet the Third Miss Xie through Princess Shenghua...