Si Huahuan slowly regained consciousness the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten.
She propped herself up to sit upright, her mind still somewhat hazy. She sat blankly for a moment before the throbbing pain of a hangover set in. She pressed hard against her temples and rubbed them vigorously, calling out in a dry, raspy voice, “Yao Huang, Wei Zi.”
The two maids lifted the curtain and stepped into the inner chamber. Seeing her poor complexion, Yao Huang said, “The hangover soup is still warming on the stove in the small kitchen. I will bring it to Your Highness immediately.”
Wei Zi first handed her a cup of water to moisten her throat. Huahuan then asked, “How did I get back here yesterday?”
She vaguely remembered playing those drinking games with that group of handsome young men and getting carried away, drinking a bit too much. The wine hadn’t tasted very strong at first, but the aftereffect had been powerful.
She had absolutely no memory of how she finally fell asleep or how she had returned to the palace.
It seemed someone had burst in, and then…
“Yesterday… did I do anything embarrassing?” she asked tentatively.
She had always cared deeply about her reputation and dignity. If she had done something shameful, where would she leave the face of Princess Kangle?
Wei Zi smiled awkwardly, her eyes darting about. “Not really.”
That meant she *had* done something. Huahuan’s heart tightened. She pressed her fingertips against her aching forehead. “Just speak plainly. Start from the moment someone broke in.”
Wei Zi looked slightly surprised. “Your Highness remembers that?”
“Remembers what?”
“Remembers that the Marquis of Ming’an arrived.”
Huahuan froze in place, lifting her gaze sharply. “What does he have to do with it?”
Well, it seemed she truly didn’t remember anything after that.
Wei Zi took a deep breath, as if bracing herself to plunge into cold water, and spoke rapidly all in one go. “Yesterday, the Marquis of Ming’an suddenly pushed open the door and entered. He declared he was rectifying conduct and ordered his men to take all the companions away. Your Highness stood up to argue with him, but then… then you slipped and fell, losing consciousness. Fortunately, the Marquis caught you in time and carried you back to the palace.”
Huahuan’s body stiffened, as if struck by a bolt of lightning. It took her a long moment to process the information flooding her mind. She asked woodenly, “H‑how… how did he bring me back?”
Wei Zi bit her lip, then held out her arms and demonstrated the posture of carrying someone horizontally against the chest. “He carried you like this… in his arms… all the way back.”
“AHHHHH!” Huahuan screamed, leaping barefoot off the bed and rushing toward the bathing chamber. “This Princess demands a bath!”
This was terrible luck!
In her previous life, he had held her in his arms only when she was dying. For him to do so this time… who knew what kind of misfortune awaited her now.
Wei Zi had long anticipated this reaction and followed her mistress’s pace calmly. “Very well, Your Highness. The water in the bath is already heated, and flower petals have been scattered in it.”
Huahuan sank completely into the bath, which was lined with warm jade. The steaming water, mixed with floating petals, rose over her shoulders. She thought for a long time before coming to a conclusion—
Xie Yun was not only born to be incompatible with her in every way, but he was also bad luck for her.
The first time she had met Xie Yun was twelve years ago, on a bright and sunny afternoon.
Even as a child, she had loved all things that sparkled—gorgeous gemstones and gold ornaments. At five years old, she had pestered the Empress until she was allowed to wear every ornament available, filling her small head with hairpins and jewelry. Her chubby little arms were also covered in jade bracelets and gold bangles, which jingled and chimed with every movement, making her feel incredibly delightful.
She was admiring her reflection proudly in the bronze mirror when Emperor Jiaping walked in, leading a young boy by the hand. He explained that this was the son of the General of Agile Cavalry, who had died fighting for the country. The Emperor had discussed with the Empress that from now on, the boy would reside within the palace.
She looked curiously at this beautiful little boy. When their eyes met, she saw nothing but mockery in his amber irises. He tried to suppress the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth by biting his lip, but failed.
The little princess immediately puffed out her cheeks in anger.
She knew that look in his eyes perfectly. The last time Princess Changning had laughed at her, she had worn exactly that expression!
She turned back to study her reflection again, covered head to toe in jewelry arranged without any order. It sparkled and shone; surely, it looked beautiful!
This boy was pretty enough, but he clearly had no eye for beauty. How dared he laugh at her, Princess Kangle!
Huahuan pouted and let out a loud “Hmph!” She ran toward Emperor Jiaping, shaking her head so that all the pearls and pendants clattered loudly together. “Father, don’t I look lovely?”
Emperor Jiaping laughed heartily and lifted her up into his arms. He looked her over carefully from left to right with great seriousness, praising her as the most beautiful child in the entire capital.
Huahuan lifted her chin proudly and cast a triumphant glance toward the boy—a look meant especially for someone who clearly didn’t know how to appreciate beauty. But to her shock, he completely ignored her!
The little princess was utterly stunned. No one had ever dared treat her like that before!
She stamped her feet in fury, and from that day on, she remembered this arrogant, rude, and detestable boy.
That winter was exceptionally cold. Huahuan, wrapped in a thick fox‑fur coat and holding a hand‑warmer, leaned against the window sill, watching with longing eyes as several children played cuju in the courtyard below.
She had been born with a weak constitution and had been prone to illness since childhood. Emperor Jiaping cherished her deeply and never allowed her to participate in any activity that carried even a hint of danger. Therefore, she could only watch from afar as other children—royal relatives visiting the palace, or her own brothers and sisters—ran and played in the gardens.
During her watch, she noticed Xie Yun glance up toward her several times, pretending he wasn’t looking at all. She knew immediately he was plotting something bad.
As expected, while she was distracted, Xie Yun suddenly launched a surprise attack.
*Bang—*
She watched helplessly as the leather ball came flying straight at her. A sharp, blinding pain exploded across her forehead, the world went black before her eyes, and she lost consciousness.
From that moment onward, the feud between the two of them was sealed.
The water in the bath had gradually turned cool. Huahuan rose from the water, her long, wet hair clinging to her snow‑white back.
In the smooth, uneventful course of her life as Princess Kangle, Xie Yun was the only stumbling block she had ever encountered.
Was it true that one could never escape one’s destined misfortunes?
Reborn into this life, she had intended to stay far away from this nemesis of hers. She had never expected that, as if playing a cruel joke, fate would make him cling to her like a lingering ghost she could never shake off.
Huahuan scooped up a handful of water and splashed it onto her face. *Very well then… the future is long.*
She had finally returned to her youth. She would enjoy herself and live freely for a while first, and then slowly settle the score with him later.
Huahuan was wearing only a thin, plain silk nightgown, leaning lazily against a soft couch. Wei Zi held a snow‑white cloth in her hands, carefully wringing out her mistress’s long, damp hair strand by strand.
A faint scent of dragon’s blood incense drifted through the hall. Huahuan half‑closed her eyes in comfort, her fingers idly tapping or toying with a jade comb resting on the low table before her, all while planning exactly how to settle accounts with Xie Yun.
Suddenly, Yao Huang came rushing into the chamber like a gust of wind, her face full of urgency. “Your Highness…”
“Why all this hesitation and secrecy?” Huahuan asked indifferently. “Even if the sky were falling, it wouldn’t be you or I who had to hold it up. Speak plainly.”
“Earlier this morning, during the court assembly, a Censor submitted a memorial, openly impeaching Your Highness…”
The fingers that were playing with the jade comb stopped abruptly. “Impeaching me for what?”
Wei Zi lightened the movement of her hands, so that if her mistress were to jump up suddenly, she wouldn’t snag or pull the carefully tended hair.
“Somehow, news reached several Censors’ ears regarding Your Highness’s visit to the Plum Blossom Garden. These officials are accusing you, an unmarried princess, of openly visiting a house of companions in broad daylight, and even summoning ten young men at once. They claim this is conduct unbecoming of your status…”
*Snap.*
The jade comb slipped from her hand and crashed heavily onto the floor, breaking cleanly in two.
Huahuan sat bolt upright in one swift motion. Her wet hair slipped from Wei Zi’s grasp, flicking droplets of water across the room.
“These old fools!” Her eyes burned with fury. “Apart from being unable to come up with any proper solutions to matters of state, they spend every day watching other people’s private lives just to find fault. And now they dare to meddle in *my* business!”
Wei Zi hurriedly gathered up the long hair, which had already soaked through the thin silk of the nightgown, and draped it back over the backrest. She spoke softly in persuasion, “Your Highness, please wait until your hair is dry before going out. Take care not to catch a chill, or your chronic headaches will surely return.”
Huahuan leaned back against the couch, her chest heaving violently. “Which Censors were they?”
“Well… I remember specifically Censor Shen and Censor Jing.” Yao Huang looked distressed. “I don’t know how it happened, but the news has spread incredibly fast. Right now, rumors regarding Your Highness are circulating everywhere throughout the capital…”
Huahuan narrowed her eyes dangerously.
It was all the fault of that jinx, Xie Yun! If he hadn’t meddled in her business and staged that ridiculous “conduct rectification” scene at the Plum Blossom Garden, how would those old men have ever found out?
Most likely, realizing that his tattling to her brother yesterday had achieved nothing, he had deliberately conspired with the Censors to plan this attack for the morning assembly, specifically to annoy and upset her.
She knew perfectly well she had done nothing wrong. But having people openly criticize her behavior was a terrible blow to her dignity.
Moreover, she deeply despised the act of sneaking around and telling tales behind people’s backs.
Just then, a young maid hurried into the room. After performing a curtsy, she didn’t dare lift her head and announced, “Your Highness, His Majesty summons you to the Zichen Hall.”
Huahuan closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “Tell him I received the message. I shall be there shortly.”
Waiting until her hair was mostly dry, she let Wei Zi arrange it simply into a loose bun. She changed her clothes and went toward the Zichen Palace without wearing any makeup or ornaments.
Since the Palace of Eternal Peace was not far from the Zichen Hall, she chose not to take the sedan chair. She deliberately took a detour to avoid the main path leading to her brother’s palace, determined not to run into that jinx.
It was truly a case of *when it rains, it pours*. Huahuan was certain this was simply not a lucky day for her to go out, for whom should she meet but Xie Yun—on a remote little path that hardly anyone ever used!
The moment the deep purple of an official robe came into view, Huahuan didn’t hesitate for a fraction of a second. She turned sharply on her heel, lifted her skirts, and hurried quickly in the opposite direction.
Xie Yun had exceptionally sharp hearing. He had detected the familiar rhythm of her footsteps the moment they appeared. He had just stepped forward to greet her when he saw that slender figure vanish like a startled bird, leaving behind nothing but a faint, lingering fragrance.
He stood thoughtfully looking at the corner where she had disappeared. After a brief pause, he turned around and went back the way he had come.
When Huahuan arrived at the Zichen Hall, all the palace servants had already been dismissed by Emperor Jiaping. She sat down calmly, deliberately composing herself to look well‑behaved and obedient. She sat perfectly straight on the chair, her large eyes blinking slowly as she stared at the Emperor without speaking.
Emperor Jiaping’s expression was somewhat grim, radiating the full majesty of a ruler. “You are aware, are you not, of the matter brought up against you in the court assembly earlier?”
Huahuan nodded. “I am.”
“And what do you have to say for yourself?”
“Nothing.”
Emperor Jiaping choked slightly, then steadied his voice. “Why did you suddenly go to that kind of place? Did Qingyang put you up to this?”
Huahuan answered with great loyalty and integrity. “It was not Second Sister’s teaching. I went of my own accord.”
Emperor Jiaping tried to keep his tone level and reasonable. “It is not as if there is a shortage of suitable men in the capital. Even if you were dissatisfied with the candidates I found for you last time, we could simply search among other noble families. But for you to go to… that place… it truly goes too far.”
Huahuan was unconvinced. “Why is it acceptable for men to seek pleasure and amusement, yet when a woman seeks companions, it is considered improper conduct?”
Emperor Jiaping said seriously, “I know you have always admired Qingyang. But Qingyang was deeply hurt by a man, and the men she keeps as companions were all recommended to her as men of good character and clean reputation. That is different. But you… how could you…?”
“I was also hurt by a man…” Huahuan muttered softly under her breath.
The Emperor’s hand froze in mid‑air. “Who? When did this happen?”
Huahuan pressed her lips together tightly and said nothing.
*In my previous life, Xie Yun shot an arrow straight through my heart. If that isn’t being hurt by a man, what is?*
Emperor Jiaping waited a long time for an answer, but realized she was talking nonsense with her eyes wide open and showed absolutely no sign of repentance. His expression darkened further. He turned his back to her and declared, “Until I grant permission otherwise, you are forbidden to step even one foot outside the palace gates!”
“Father!” Huahuan stood up abruptly, her eyes wide with disbelief and shock.
For seventeen years, had she ever been punished or reprimanded in the slightest? Her father had never even spoken a harsh word to her before!