That morning, as Hongyi stood by the window arranging Wen Zhiyi’s hair, a gentle breeze drifted into the room.
A single pink blossom floated through the open lattice window, swaying lightly before settling atop Wen Zhiyi’s coiffure.
Hongyi’s eyes lit up.
“It’s a cherry blossom! Your Highness, the weeping cherry tree in our palace has finally bloomed!”
Looking into the bronze mirror, Wen Zhiyi caught sight of the delicate blossom resting in her hair and fell momentarily into a daze.
Life inside the palace passed slowly and quietly.
Before she had even realized it, the end of the third lunar month had already arrived.
The weeping cherry always bloomed later than the other cherry trees.
Only after every other blossom had withered did it begin to reveal its own magnificent display.
As if that first petal had led the way, more blossoms drifted through the window one after another.
Hongyi carefully selected a perfect flower and tucked it behind Wen Zhiyi’s ear with a smile.
“Though deep in the mountains spring may seem delayed, cherry blossoms still weigh every branch.”
Wen Zhiyi looked at her in surprise.
Hongyi was quick-witted and capable in almost every respect, but poetry had always been her greatest weakness.
When she had accompanied Wen Zhiyi in her lessons as a child, she used to struggle terribly with even the simplest verses.
Now she was casually quoting poetry.
Wen Zhiyi couldn’t resist teasing her.
“It seems I’ve neglected you lately. You’ve had so much free time that you’ve started reading poetry collections.”
She nodded approvingly.
“Not bad. You’re finally making progress.”
“Your Highness is making fun of me again!”
Hongyi let out a playful huff and turned her head away.
Yet a smile unconsciously spread across her lips, and a faint blush colored her cheeks.
Seeing the unmistakable look of a young woman in love, Wen Zhiyi found herself secretly amused.
Could this girl have fallen for one of the young scholars from the Imperial Academy?
Still, now wasn’t the time for romance.
If the Chancellor’s residence couldn’t survive this crisis, Hongyi, who had come from the Wen household, would inevitably be implicated as well.
At that point, worrying about finding a good husband would be the least of her concerns.
Quietly filing the matter away in her heart, Wen Zhiyi chose not to ask any questions.
Instead, she said,
“If I remember correctly, Lady Lu is rather fond of the weeping cherry tree.”
She smiled faintly.
“It’s a pity that when I kindly offered to give her this tree before, she refused my generosity.”
“Now that it’s in bloom, make a trip to Yuexian Palace.”
“Tell Lady Lu that I’d like to invite her to Luanming Palace to admire the blossoms, and while she’s here, we can have breakfast together.”
Hongyi stared at her in disbelief.
“Invite Lady Lu… to breakfast?”
Wen Zhiyi raised an eyebrow.
“Is there a problem?”
“A problem?”
Hongyi widened her eyes.
“The last time she insisted on eating here, Your Highness’s face stayed swollen for three whole days!”
She dramatically held up three fingers.
“Three days!”
“She finally stopped bothering us recently, so why are you inviting trouble back yourself?”
“Don’t worry.”
Wen Zhiyi laughed.
“I know exactly what I’m’m doing.”
“Now hurry along.”
Seeing that her mistress had already made up her mind, Hongyi could only pout before reluctantly carrying out the order.
Despite her reluctance, she never dared neglect Wen Zhiyi’s instructions.
About half an incense stick’s worth of time later, she returned with Lu Ningrou.
Breakfast had been laid out beneath the blooming weeping cherry tree.
Its graceful branches hung low enough to touch, every slender bough covered in blossoms that cascaded like silk ribbons.
Whenever the wind stirred, petals danced through the air like a gentle snowfall in spring.
Seated beneath the flowering tree, Wen Zhiyi smiled warmly as Lu Ningrou approached.
The smile was radiant and flawless.
It was almost as though every scheme and rivalry that had passed between them had scattered away with the falling blossoms, leaving nothing but fleeting memories.
Once Lu Ningrou had taken her seat, Wen Zhiyi immediately gestured for the palace servants to bring out the dish that had long been prepared.
Shredded Silver Pheasant with Snow Bird’s Nest.
“Though it’s only snow bird’s nest,” Wen Zhiyi said with a smile, “I’m sure it’s something Lady Lu enjoys often at Yuexian Palace. I only hope you won’t find today’s meal too plain.”
Lu Ningrou smiled politely.
“Your Highness jokes. Snow bird’s nest is a delicacy. Who could afford to eat it every day?”
The two women chatted pleasantly throughout breakfast, appearing every bit the gracious hostess and honored guest.
After the meal, the servants cleared away the table.
Wen Zhiyi personally accompanied Lu Ningrou on a leisurely stroll beneath the cherry blossoms to aid digestion.
Her gaze fell upon Lu Ningrou’s slightly rounded belly.
A meaningful smile appeared on her face.
“Your pregnancy has now entered its fourth month.”
She glanced toward the older woman following behind Lu Ningrou.
“It seems Aunt Liufang has taken excellent care of you.”
Aunt Liufang bowed modestly.
“Your Highness flatters this servant. I’ve merely fulfilled my duties.”
“But as the saying goes,” Wen Zhiyi continued, “when Heaven reveals unusual signs, extraordinary people are born.”
She looked at Lu Ningrou’s stomach.
“This child will surely accomplish great things in the future.”
“Then I’ll gladly accept Your Highness’s blessing.”
Lu Ningrou gently stroked her abdomen, her eyes full of the warmth of an expectant mother.
“Aunt Liufang…”
She smiled faintly.
“I’m feeling a little tired.”
“I’ll have someone bring over a chair immediately.”
With remarkable tact, Aunt Liufang quietly withdrew several steps.
She left enough distance for the two women to speak privately while remaining close enough to intervene should anything happen to Lu Ningrou.
Once no one else remained nearby, the smile on Lu Ningrou’s face faded slightly.
“I wonder…”
She looked directly at Wen Zhiyi.
“…what Your Highness truly invited me here for this morning.”
Wen Zhiyi still wore the same pleasant smile.
But this time, she stopped beating around the bush.
“I want to return to the Chancellor’s residence.”
She met Lu Ningrou’s eyes.
“So I’ll need Lady Lu to whisper a few words into His Majesty’s ear.”
“But Chancellor Wen is currently imprisoned in the Imperial Prison.”
Lu Ningrou frowned.
“His Majesty already allowed you to send him clothes and other necessities a few days ago.”
“What reason could you possibly have for returning to the Chancellor’s residence now?”
“My father is the only one who’s been imprisoned.”
“The rest of the family is still confined inside the residence.”
“Your family?”
Lu Ningrou looked doubtful.
“You mean your younger half-brother?”
“As far as I know, the two of you were never particularly close.”
She shook her head.
“Besides, this concerns state affairs.”
“Even if I did speak on your behalf, His Majesty might not agree.”
“We may not have been close,” Wen Zhiyi replied with a sorrowful expression, “but blood is still thicker than water.”
“As his second elder sister, how could I not worry about him?”
She even lifted a handkerchief and pretended to wipe tears from eyes that were perfectly dry.
“Lady Lu said this concerns state affairs.”
She smiled innocently.
“I disagree.”
“After all, everyone here witnessed it.”
She continued in a perfectly earnest tone.
“Lady Lu, overcome with emotion during her pregnancy after seeing how deeply I care for my younger brother, was moved to compassion.”
“So she pleaded with His Majesty to show mercy and allow us siblings one final meeting.”
She placed a hand lightly over Lu Ningrou’s stomach.
“Consider it an act of kindness that will earn blessings for the child you’re carrying.”
Her shamelessness was so breathtaking that Lu Ningrou was left speechless for quite some time.
Eventually, she managed to force out a reply.
“…Why should I help you?”
Wen Zhiyi lowered her gaze to Lu Ningrou’s gently rounded abdomen.
“You’ve spent these past months constantly worrying about your pregnancy.”
“It must have been exhausting.”
Lu Ningrou regarded her warily but remained silent.
Wen Zhiyi continued calmly.
“His Majesty hasn’t officially issued the decree yet.”
“But with the evidence of treason so overwhelming, the confiscation of the Wen family’s property is only a matter of time.”
She slowly raised her eyes.
“Selfishly, I’d still like to preserve at least one branch of the Wen bloodline.”
“Which is why I must return to the Chancellor’s residence and make arrangements while there’s still time.”
Their eyes met.
There was not the slightest trace of hesitation in Wen Zhiyi’s gaze.
Only the unwavering resolve of someone prepared to die.
“When that day comes…”
“I’ll merely be the daughter of a convicted traitor.”
She smiled.
“If the kind-hearted Lady Lu visits me out of sympathy, only to have the grief-stricken and half-mad me accidentally collide with you and cause you to miscarry…”
She paused.
“Wouldn’t that seem perfectly reasonable?”
“What do you think, Lady Lu?”