Throughout history, scholars have often been unconventional, prone to uttering outrageous remarks and criticizing current affairs when in high spirits. The Crown Prince, pampered and exceptionally intelligent, skilled in poetry and prose, and haughty, was a constant source of anxiety for Kui Xu, who, ever since accepting this assignment, feared he might inadvertently offend the Crown Prince. Moreover, Kui Xu’s father, Nalan Mingzhu, sided with the First Prince; if anything were to happen to the Crown Prince in their household, they would be accused of harboring ulterior motives.
Kui Xu cautiously stayed by the Crown Prince’s side, telling everyone he was a distant cousin. Yinreng spoke little, mostly listening and observing. If a poem stood out, he would have it copied and the author’s name noted. Finally, at everyone’s insistence, he penned his own poem, neat and orderly, neither outstanding nor mediocre—he didn’t want to steal the limelight.
Kui Xu picked up his poem and pondered its profound meaning several times, thinking to himself, “As expected of the master’s personal cultivation, the eldest prince is far inferior to the crown prince’s talent.”
The poetry gathering ended, and the literati moved to the wine table. Drinking was also an elegant affair, involving reciting poems and playing drinking games. Yinreng was unwilling to participate in the frivolous and refined pursuits of the literati, but Kui Xu, as the host, naturally couldn’t avoid it. Yinreng waved his hand to reassure him and went to the garden. Kui Xu was anxious and pounding, but was stopped by a group of scholars, so he had to instruct his personal servant to attend to him.
The smaller banquet that followed was hosted by Kui Xu’s wife, Lady Geng. Lady Geng was the daughter of Geng Jizhong, the third son of Prince Jingnan Geng Jimao, and Princess Heshuo Roujia, the daughter of Prince Anjun Yue Le. After marrying Kui Xu, people in the capital customarily called her Gege (a title for a concubine).
The garden was divided into front and back sections; he couldn’t go to the back garden where the women gathered. Yinreng strolled around casually, feeling relaxed as he left the Forbidden City, with its overlapping palaces and golden roofs and red walls.
“Master,” Yuan Mu said, looking around, “this servant heard that Nalan Xingde once recited poems in his garden, and wrote down his new insights in the pavilion in the corridor.”
The servant sent by Kui Xu hurriedly stepped forward and said, “Yes, my master loved to write and paint. If it’s convenient for you, Your Excellency, this servant will lead you there.”
How could Yinreng miss Nalan Rongruo’s own handwriting? He pointed and said, “Lead the way.”
After turning through a covered corridor and walking a short distance along a cobblestone path, they indeed saw a hexagonal pavilion with several poems written in a flowing, elegant style on its two red pillars.
“The rain has stopped at Lishan, the night is half over, tears fall like rain, yet there is no resentment.” Yinreng murmured to himself, the poem was beautiful, but too melancholic, filled with sorrow, no wonder he died young. He wondered if his father, the Emperor, was saddened by his death. Yinreng naively believed that Kangxi and Nalan Rongruo really had an affair.
As Yinreng was appreciating the poem, he suddenly heard a woman’s voice and a little girl’s childish voice making a fuss.
Yinreng’s heart tightened, he raised his hand to the men following him to stop, and walked over. He hid behind a lush wisteria tree, peering through the dense foliage and blossoms.
As expected, it was Wen Xian and Xiao Liu, accompanied by a delicate woman with bright eyes. She wore a rose-purple silk embroidered cheongsam, and perhaps because she was not yet married, her hairstyle was simple, adorned only with coral and kingfisher feather hair ornaments. A pair of pearls hung from her translucent and delicate earlobes, making her elegant and pleasing to the eye. “This little girl is so cute and beautiful,” Yinreng thought to himself.
The three of them stood facing each other. Wen Xian glared at the woman blocking her way, her eyes wide with displeasure: “Why can’t I go to the front?”
Xi Ze felt helpless and innocent. She didn’t need to interfere, but these two young ladies were personally brought in by the princess, so they must be of high status. Moreover, she had run into them, and if anything went wrong, she might be implicated later. That’s why she appeared to dissuade them. Xi tried her best to appear gentle and kind, half-squatting down to explain to the two girls, “There’s a poetry gathering of men from the outer court ahead. If we go now, we might bump into them. Where are your personal maids, ladies?”
Wen Xian turned her head away without speaking. Xiao Liu glanced at her sister and whispered, “We’ve told the maids to leave. We’re going to find our second brother to play.”
Upon hearing Xiao Liu’s words, the Fifth Princess seemed to suddenly remember what she was going to do, and like a little bull, she shouted, “Yes, we’re going to find our second brother! Get out of my way!”
“No,” Xi Ze said quietly, “If something happens to you, and your family comes after me, what am I supposed to do?”
Wen Xian’s aura surged, and she looked down at her arrogantly with her chin raised, saying haughtily, “I wonder why you’re stopping me. That’s easy. I’ll explain that it has nothing to do with you. Just move aside.”
She thought things would be fine now, but the woman said quietly again, “Still no. What if you change your mind later?”
Wen Xian was furious and pointed at her angrily, “Do you know who I am? I am…”
Xi Ze interrupted her calmly, “I don’t know who you are, but no matter where you are, there has to be reason in this world. How about this, words are not enough, let’s put it in writing. You write a guarantee stating that whatever happens has nothing to do with me. Is that alright?”
Wen Xian thought about it and felt that it made sense. She was eager to get rid of this person, so she agreed.
“Since there’s no paper or pen here, would you like to come with me to borrow some from the Princess?”
Wen Xian thought this request was reasonable and agreed.
Mission accomplished, Xi Ze mentally gave a victory sign, stood up straight, and was about to lead the two little darlings to the Princess when she heard a soft, gentle laugh from behind the wisteria vines.
Xi Ze was startled and shouted towards the source, “Who’s there, daring to eavesdrop!”
Before she finished speaking, a young man leisurely emerged from behind the wisteria blossoms. He wore a blue satin robe adorned with colorful clouds, a jeweled belt cinching his waist, from which hung a gourd-shaped pouch with a blue-edged, moon-white border, adorned with a sparkling blue tourmaline clasp. A faint smile played on his handsome face as he stopped, casually brushing away the fallen petals that had somehow landed on his shoulder.
Xi Ze was momentarily stunned.
The Fifth and Sixth Princesses were overjoyed to see Yinreng and quickly stood beside him. The Fifth Princess pouted and said, “Second Brother, where have you been? Wenxian has been looking for you everywhere.”
“I have my own business to attend to,” Yinreng reassured her slightly, then cupped his hands to Xi Ze and said loudly, “Thank you for taking care of my sister earlier, Miss. May I ask your name and how I should address you?” The young man had a gentle smile, red lips and white teeth, bright eyes and delicate eyebrows, and a graceful figure like a tall, upright bamboo.
Xi Ze frowned. Hua Yin, seeing this, came to her senses and stepped forward, scolding, “Where did this lecher come from? How dare you ask my young lady’s name?”
Yinreng was taken aback, then remembered that in ancient times, a woman’s name was not to be known to anyone other than her family and husband. He changed the subject apologetically, saying, “How presumptuous. May I ask where your residence is? I’ll send someone to express my gratitude another day.”
Looking at this rather handsome and youthful-looking man, how could he be so frivolous? Either he was a transmigrator like her, ignorant of etiquette, or a self-important hypocrite and lecher. Xi Ze glanced at him indifferently and said, “It was no trouble at all. Hua Yin, let’s go.”
With that, the two left immediately without lingering.
Yinreng smiled slightly, unconcerned, and turned to the eunuchs who hurried up, saying, “Go inside and find the princess’s nannies, then bid farewell to the princess. Tell her I will present a small gift another day to thank her for her care of the princesses.”
“Yes, sir.” The two eunuchs obeyed and left.
Seeing that he had made all the arrangements, the Fifth Princess grabbed the Sixth Princess’s hand and tugged at his sleeve, saying aggrievedly, “Crown Prince, you lied to me! It’s not fun outside the palace at all. I accept that Wenxian was naughty and that you lied to me, but Little Six is so cute and well-behaved! How could you lie to her?”
The two-year-old Sixth Princess couldn’t quite understand such a long sentence. She blinked blankly, trying to decipher it; it was probably a compliment.
Yinreng sighed and called over several eunuchs behind him, saying, “Take ten guards and accompany the princess to play in the streets. Remember, don’t cause trouble, don’t hold grudges, and take good care of the princess.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The Fifth Princess jumped up and down happily, then led the still bewildered Sixth Princess away.
No one in the Aisin Gioro family was easily fooled. After everyone had left, Yinreng said to Yuanmu, the only one remaining behind him, “Let’s go too.”
That evening, Mingzhu heard that the Crown Prince had thoroughly explored his residence that day, and was both shocked and furious. He berated Kuixu, “Fool, why didn’t you tell me?”
Kuixu replied helplessly, “My master forbade me to speak out.”
Mingzhu was speechless. She clenched her fists behind her back, paced back and forth in the hall, and then clenched her fists, saying, “No, I’ll find a way to make the First Prince also explore Suo’etu’s entire residence.”
Kuixu turned his head away without speaking. This was probably what a legendary nemesis was like.
Xize was also feeling unwell that day. As soon as she returned to her residence, Dongguer sent someone to find her. Xize hurriedly changed into some casual clothes and had her nanny lead her to the main courtyard.
Dongguer ordered a maid to serve a cup of hot tea. Once Xize had caught her breath, she asked, “What did you see or hear at the Nalan residence today?”
Xize thought for a moment, then hesitated before replying, “Nothing different. Just drinking tea, admiring flowers, or composing poems. Oh, but there seemed to be an unusually large number of people. It seemed like all the twelve- or thirteen-year-old girls in the capital were there.”
Dongguer’s eyes flickered slightly, and she gave a soft, meaningful “Oh.” She paused for a moment, then asked, “Did you see anyone unusual? Perhaps someone exceptionally noble, a lady I’ve never seen before?”
Xize thought for a moment, then slowly shook her head. “No, but there were two young girls, personally led by the princess. She was extremely affectionate towards them, yet subtly respectful.”
Dongguer muttered to herself in surprise, “That’s strange.”
Seeing this, Xize couldn’t help but ask, “Mother, is something amiss?”
Dongguer said to Xize with a serious expression, “The grand selection will take place next spring. In addition to the concubines to be added to the harem, the selection will also include the wives of princes, dukes, and beizi. The selected girls must not only be of good character and appearance, but also virtuous and capable in managing a household. Therefore, a few glances during the grand selection will not be enough. In previous years, some members of the imperial family and nobles have been entrusted to come and take a look first. Yesterday, the Nalan family suddenly sent an invitation. I thought…”
When the grand selection was mentioned, Xize fell silent, his face somber. Seeing this, Dongguer gently stroked her soft hair and said softly, “Our family is destined for a difficult selection process. Since that’s the case, why not relax? The Earl’s mansion is already extremely wealthy. Father and Mother don’t need you to enter the palace to serve and gain favor to further enhance our fortune. Even if you have to leave, it’s fine. Just one thing: you must maintain your dignity and not tarnish the family’s reputation.”
Xi Ze lowered her head, staring blankly at her bright, glossy nails adorned with balsam flowers, and after a long while, nodded heavily.
Back in her room, Xi Ze dismissed the servants and sighed heavily in front of the bronze mirror. Wow, this evil feudal society!