4 Encounter
◎Dreams forcefully flooded her mind, much like the movements of the man on the bed.◎
The sky was bright.
A set of blue official robes lay folded beside the bed, pressing down on a strip of cloth used for binding the chest.
Gu Ningxi stood barefoot on the floor, without the intricate and luxurious silk carpets from her dreams. The chill that seeped through brought a measure of clarity.
She looked at herself in the mirror—her dark hair hung loosely, and her pale jade-colored sleeping robe was neatly tied.
Yet the woman in the dream was unmistakably her. As for the man on top of her…
The documents to be delivered to the Eastern Palace at the hour of Si today had already been sorted by Gu Ningxi. As the Crown Prince’s Attendant, she spent two or three days every ten days on duty at the Eastern Palace.
The weather had been fine for days. In front of the Eastern Palace study, Chief Steward Yao An smiled and said, “His Highness is still occupied with official matters. Please wait inside for a while, Lady Gu.”
Gu Ningxi took the documents from the attendant, nodding in acknowledgment.
Stepping into the study, she performed the customary greetings with proper decorum: “Your subject pays respects to Your Highness. May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings.”
Though Crown Prince Lu Heng did not look up, his tone was gentle: “Yuanle has arrived. Please take a seat.”
“Yes, thank you, Your Highness.”
Having visited this place many times, Gu Ningxi was no longer as reserved as before.
The current Crown Prince Lu Heng was the eldest son of His Majesty and Empress Yao, excelling in both civil and military affairs and deeply favored by his father. Having participated in court politics for years with almost no missteps, he was widely praised by court officials and was considered the impeccable Crown Prince of the Great Jin Dynasty.
Though his political achievements were outstanding, the Crown Prince had always remained in the capital, maintaining stability. His steadiness was usually commended, but at this moment, especially in the presence of Prince Zhao, who had returned in glory with illustrious military achievements, it seemed somewhat inadequate.
Both were sons of the empress, and some said Prince Zhao lost the position of Crown Prince only because of the order of seniority.
Yet others argued that although Prince Zhao was born into nobility, his birth mother, Empress Zhen, had passed away young. The one now presiding over the harem and serving as the mother of the nation was Empress Yao.
A prince without his birth mother was always at a disadvantage in the harem.
Moreover, Empress Yao and His Majesty were childhood sweethearts, sharing deep affection over the years. Empress Yao had two sons: the eldest was enfeoffed as Crown Prince, and the second, Lu Chen, ranked sixth, was enfeoffed as Prince Huai. Needless to say, the Crown Prince and Prince Huai, being brothers from the same mother, were closely united.
The matters Gu Ningxi reported today were not of great importance. As there were no errors or omissions, Lu Heng reviewed them and handed them over to his subordinates for implementation.
He said, “You look unwell. Are you feeling ill?”
Gu Ningxi quickly replied, “Thank you for Your Highness’s concern. Your subject is fine, only having slept a little late last night.”
Lu Heng nodded slightly: “Tomorrow is a day of rest. If there are no other official duties today, you may return to your residence early to rest.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Just then, the Eastern Palace steward came to report on the arrangements for the banquet, so Gu Ningxi took the opportunity to excuse herself.
A young eunuch escorted her out of the residence. Throughout the Eastern Palace, everyone performed their duties in an orderly manner. Prince Zhao had returned triumphantly, and His Majesty had arranged a welcoming banquet for him in the Taiji Hall. As the elder brother, the Crown Prince could not neglect propriety. Regardless of his inner thoughts, the small banquet at the Eastern Palace on the nineteenth day of the second month was meant to showcase brotherly affection and the dignity of the nation’s Crown Prince.
Although not many court officials were invited to the banquet, as the Crown Prince’s Attendant, Gu Ningxi was naturally expected to attend.
She sighed. Three years had passed, and everything had changed. Now serving under the Eastern Palace, she wondered what she could even say to him upon their long-awaited reunion.
To make matters worse, those unspeakable dreams had left her reluctant to encounter Prince Zhao any more than necessary.
…
The day of rest was marked by continuous rain. Unless necessary, officials naturally stayed within their residences.
Around mid-morning, the long-unoccupied private chamber on the third floor of Wangyun Teahouse finally welcomed its master. This chamber occupied half the entire floor, and from its windows, one could overlook the bustling streets below.
This teahouse was one of Prince Zhao’s private properties, managed exclusively by personnel from his estate.
“We pay our respects to Your Highness.”
Wei Fan and several colleagues performed a deep bow, their voices tinged with barely concealed excitement.
When His Highness was demoted and exiled from the capital years ago, his remaining loyalists in the capital, led by Wei Fan, had all gone into hiding.
Wei Fan maintained a facade of neutrality on the surface. Over the years, the Crown Prince’s faction had repeatedly attempted to recruit him. After failing to win him over, they occasionally resorted to pressure. Wei Fan paid it no mind—carrots and sticks were the Crown Prince’s usual methods of controlling subordinates.
“Rise, all of you.”
The seat of honor had long been reserved for Prince Zhao. Today, only his trusted confidants in the capital were present.
Xie Qian followed behind His Highness and took the first seat on the right, exchanging formal introductions with Wei Fan and the others. Though they had long known each other’s identities, this was their first proper meeting.
Of the three major generals of the Black Armor Army, only Xie Qian had accompanied His Highness back to the capital ahead of the others. The other two were separately clearing the battlefields in Henan and Hebei, ensuring that no opportunistic incompetents could unjustly claim credit for their victories.
The atmosphere in the chamber was one of joy. Even Wei Fan, who was never much of a drinker, downed two or three cups in succession.
He laughed, “We thought the war would drag on for years, but who could have imagined Your Highness would sweep through Zheng and Xia in a single campaign? When the victory report reached the court, His Majesty exclaimed ‘Excellent!’ three times in a row and immediately ordered the ancestral temple to be notified.”
Everyone present vividly recalled the scene in the court. Another added, “Though some people’s expressions, no matter how hard they tried to hide it, were far from pleasant.”
Xie Qian listened to every word, feeling immense satisfaction.
Lu Jing toyed with his wine cup. This jar of tribute wine from Puzhou indeed lived up to its reputation.
As they drank and chatted merrily, Xie Qian quickly grew familiar with his colleagues. With an excellent tolerance for alcohol and a bold smile, he remarked, “These major battles may look glorious, but following His Highness, I’ve suffered no small hardship.”
Prince Zhao always insisted on personally scouting the terrain before battles, and no one could dissuade him. Xie Qian had followed His Highness deep into enemy territory time and again, often surrounded and pursued by enemy forces, only to fight their way out.
Having pledged allegiance to Prince Zhao three years ago, Xie Qian had earned His Highness’s trust and was entrusted with important responsibilities. The bond forged through life-and-death experiences was profound.
Guards stood watch outside the door. Today’s gathering was not merely for celebration. Wei Fan had compiled a summary of major events in the capital over recent years for Prince Zhao to review at his leisure.
By afternoon, the clouds had cleared and the rain had ceased, leaving a refreshing breeze in the air.
“Who is that?”
The private chamber remained lively, but as soon as Prince Zhao spoke, everyone’s attention shifted instantly.
Xie Qian, with his keen eyesight, followed His Highness’s gaze and soon spotted a figure in blue among the crowd.
Gu Ningxi, a sixth-rank secretary in the Ministry of Works.
Though Xie Qian had only met him once, this Lord Gu’s character and appearance were hard to forget.
Amid the hurried pedestrians on the street, Gu Ningxi walked calmly and composedly, having just closed his umbrella. Leaning against the railing and gazing out, one couldn’t help but feel as though they were admiring a painting.
However, His Highness was inquiring about the gentleman beside Gu Ningxi. Xie Qian glanced over a few times and vaguely guessed that he, too, was a military man.
Wei Fan replied, “Your Highness, that is Lord Gu’s maternal cousin, the fifth-rank General of Ningyuan, Meng Ting. He is also a beloved disciple of General Sun.”
He briefly explained the background of the Gu and Meng families recognizing their kinship. Madam Meng’s maternal family was not prominent, but after General Meng distinguished himself with military achievements, he established the Meng family’s reputation and built a residence.
In the capital, influential families were as numerous as clouds, and during turbulent times, renowned generals emerged one after another. For this young general of the Meng family to stand out, he must have possessed considerable ability.
Wei Fan said, “When His Highness besieged Luoyang, a rebellion broke out among the Southern Liang nobility. Our dynasty’s main forces were all on the Central Plains battlefield, and we still had to allocate troops to guard against invasions from the Turks in the north. I heard it was General Meng who led a surprise force deep behind enemy lines, coordinating with the main army from within and without, quelling the rebellion in just three days.”
Old General Sun praised him highly and personally petitioned for his promotion upon returning to court.
Wei Fan smiled. “Of course, his military achievements cannot be compared to His Highness’s.”
This was not flattery but more like a sigh of admiration.
Xie Qian laughed heartily. “Whose military achievements could ever measure up to His Highness’s?”
Everyone in the private room laughed, the atmosphere relaxed and cheerful.
Wei Fan remarked, “In recent years, Lord Gu and General Meng have grown quite close. I wonder if General Meng has already pledged allegiance to the Eastern Palace.”
Lu Jing offered no comment, watching as the two of them walked into the tavern across the street, their familiarity evident in their conversation.
He drank the wine in his cup, suppressing the inexplicable displeasure that stirred within him.
…
On a rare day off when both had free time, Gu Ningxi and her cousin had important matters to discuss.
Now that the world had just stabilized, the court and the people were recuperating. Chang’an, as the capital of the Great Jin, was bound to see land prices rise steadily. This was the best time to buy property and land.
The Meng family had only moved to the capital two years ago, and their financial foundation was weak. Apart from their current residence, purchasing additional property or land would be difficult.
Although Gu Ningxi came from a marquis household, with all her clothing, food, and expenses covered by the family treasury, the disposable funds in her hands were limited. Fortunately, over the years of serving as an official, she had managed to save some of her salary.
However, no matter how much she saved, it likely wouldn’t keep up with the rising land prices. Gu Ningxi had already discussed with her cousin that if they pooled their salaries, buying a residence would be much easier. Meng Ting found this reasoning sound. As for their elders, the two tacitly agreed to keep it a secret, sparing them from further frugality.
Her grandmother and aunt had endured hardships for most of their lives; in the capital, they deserved to live comfortably. As for her mother, Gu Ningxi sighed. Life in a grand mansion was not as easy as it seemed. Her mother had no authority over household affairs, nor did she have a substantial dowry to rely on. If she didn’t carefully use her monthly allowance to manage things, the servants inside and outside the Qinlan Courtyard would grow even more negligent.
The two selected several streets and alleys, agreeing to first look at properties separately. Meng Ting handed the bank deposit certificate to Gu Ningxi, advising, “If I’m not in the capital and a suitable property becomes available, you can make the decision yourself.”
Gu Ningxi accepted it and nodded. “Alright.”
Meng Ting had to leave early the next day for the Western Hills military camp for a rotation, so he returned home earlier to pack.
Gu Ningxi smiled. “It hasn’t rained this evening. I’ll sit here a while longer.”
“Very well.”
Gu Ningxi watched her cousin leave. Indeed, she had no desire to return to the marquis household too early.
Back then, the Gu family was unwilling to involve themselves too early in court politics but couldn’t resist the opportunity to gain merit by supporting the future emperor. Thus, they sent her to assist the Crown Prince as a gesture of loyalty. This had already displeased the Eastern Palace. After the Crown Prince firmly secured his position as heir apparent, the Gu family hurriedly declared their allegiance to the Eastern Palace. While this seemed like a prudent move, they hadn’t anticipated that once Prince Zhao returned to the capital, the entire Gu family would be dragged into the struggle for the succession. Extricating themselves was no easy task, and they could only continue to follow the Crown Prince.
It was easy to imagine the current atmosphere in the Gu household. If not for her mother still being at home, Gu Ningxi would have long been unwilling to return more often than necessary.
After sitting with a pot of tea for the better part of the day, and seeing familiar food stalls begin to set up along the street, Gu Ningxi called the waiter over to settle the bill and rose to leave.
Her mother was very fond of the layered crispy cakes sold by street vendors. Gu Ningxi had heard her reminisce about them many times. When her mother first met her father, he had mentioned the flavors of his hometown, and she had never forgotten them.
Later, after her mother came to the capital, her father had indeed taken her to try them a few times. The aroma of the crispy cakes filled the streets and alleys, just like the beautiful memories, often inviting one to reminisce.
Even though her father had long forgotten such trivial matters, her mother still yearned for the taste of the crispy cakes. So, after Gu Ningxi grew up, she began bringing them back for her mother herself.
The crispy cakes still tasted the same. Since her mother loved them, why wait for anyone else?
…
Authentic layered crispy cakes were crisp but not crumbly, fragrant and perfectly savory—they had to be freshly fried to taste best.
The vendor remembered this regular customer and cheerfully fried the small round cakes.
Gu Ningxi waited nearby, her expression patient.
The sun set in the west, and the evening glow was splendid.
When she took the oil-paper package and went to look for her carriage, she found it was no longer in its original spot.
She glanced around and realized it was because Prince Zhao was passing through, and bystanders had cleared the way.
Gu Ningxi took a few steps back, her peripheral vision catching a glimpse of a black brocade robe embroidered with cloud patterns. Then, at eye level, she saw a pair of hands with distinct knuckles holding the reins.
Dreams forcefully flooded her mind, much like the actions of the man in the bed. In the dimly lit bedchamber with curtains drawn low, it was also such a pair of hands that gripped her waist, moving as they pleased.
In broad daylight, Gu Ningxi felt her ears grow warm. She pressed her lips tightly together, trying hard not to dwell on these untimely thoughts.
“Hmm?” Lu Jing, as if sensing something, tugged on the reins and looked back in her direction, his eyes carrying a hint of inquiry.
He looked down at her from his elevated position.
[Author’s Note]
The male lead still doesn’t know the female lead’s identity. Sometimes “she” is used for narrative convenience.