The third day of the third lunar month, Spring Outing Day.
As the morning mist receded, the pale golden warmth of the sun draped over the exquisite, fragrant courtyard below like a thin veil.
On the stamens of the spring apricots that had bloomed just a few days prior, the dew thinned under the morning light, soaking the petals. With a casual brush of the hand, the shaken droplets would splash onto the back of one’s hand.
They were piercingly cool.
One such person was a little maid responsible for sweeping. She giggled as she shook the cool droplets from her hand and sniffed the dew-kissed apricot blossoms, her eyes crinkling with a smile.
At the open door of the house, several maids in green skirts emerged carrying washing basins, having finished their morning attendance on the young mistress of the house.
The pale golden sunlight filtered through the lattice window, falling upon the soft, pinkish-white petals in a white porcelain vase. It cast a halo over the already delicate spring apricots, making the spring atmosphere feel warm and mellow.
Shifting the gaze, on a young girl’s delicate dressing table, a polished, clear bronze mirror was set into the yellow pearwood frame. It reflected the face of a girl who had just risen, yet to be adorned with makeup.
An oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and round almond eyes.
Beneath a pert, rounded nose was a pair of rosy, moist lips. The philtrum bead was small, and the lower lip was slightly plush.
Fairly speaking, her appearance could only be described as lovely; she did not stand out particularly in Yanjing, a city teeming with beauties as numerous as the clouds.
Only her skin, white as snow and glowing, might catch the eye a bit more under the sunlight.
Beyond that, there was nothing else.
“Today is the spring outing. Jin He, style my hair into something light and refreshing!”
Like her appearance, the girl’s voice was sweet and soft. Because she was full of excitement, it carried a hint of crispness that gladdened the heart of anyone who heard it.
Behind the girl, a maid in cyan clothing responded with a smile, “I understand. I shall style your hair into double buns today, and then how about pinning on that new apricot blossom hairpin you just got, my lady?”
“Mhm, mhm, mhm!”
Nothing could be more satisfying than that. Liu Yun nodded happily, her silken black hair swaying with her small head, accentuating her skin which was as white as snow and as lustrous as jade.
Jin He was skillful. She had learned the art of hairstyling and makeup since childhood. No matter what kind of bun it was, she could learn it after just a few glances. She was truly clever and deft.
In no time, the playful and neat double buns were finished. Jin He inserted a uniquely styled apricot blossom hairpin into her hair.
The body of the hairpin was made of warm, fine white jade, and the head was a spring apricot carved from hibiscus stone.
The pink stone was tender and warm, appearing translucent and dreamy under the sunlight. It was a beauty that no young girl could resist.
This was a new hairpin Liu Yun had recently commissioned. It had only been delivered by Baofu Pavilion at sunset yesterday, and Liu Yun had slept while clutching it all night.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at herself in the mirror. She happily touched the lustrous, translucent apricot blossom hairpin, cupping her face and looking left and right. The smile never left her face.
Once she had admired herself enough, Liu Yun sat up straight and said to Jin He, who was finishing her hair, “I’ll be playing outside today. The sun will be strong, and there’s bound to be sweat. Let’s skip the powder. Sister, just draw my eyebrows and apply some lip rouge for me.”
Unlike her more dignified and formal behavior in public, Liu Yun was much more affectionate with those close to her in private.
For instance, she would call Jin He and Yu He, who had served her since childhood, “Sister.”
Last year, Yu He had reached the appropriate age and found a suitor she liked. Liu Yun had provided her with a dowry and sent her off to be married.
Jin He didn’t have any gentleman she liked and didn’t wish to leave, so she stayed to continue her service.
Unlike the quiet and reserved Yu He, Jin He was cheerful and lively, loved to smile, and talked a bit more.
For example, upon hearing Liu Yun’s request, she said with a beaming smile, “Don’t worry, my lady, I know. Besides, your skin is so fair that it doesn’t matter if you don’t use powder.”
Indeed, if one had to pick a single trait, the only thing about Liu Yun that surpassed most people was her snow-white, dazzling skin.
At this moment, on those cheeks as white as snowy spirits, two clouds of rosy flush had appeared after a night of sound sleep.
It looked as if rouge had already been applied, saving Jin He the trouble of smearing and dabbing.
She simply followed her usual routine, drawing crescent moon eyebrows for her mistress, applying a thin layer of vermilion lip rouge, and finally applying a Pearl Huadian. The transformation was complete.
Looking at the pretty young girl in the mirror, Jin He showed a satisfied smile.
In Jin He’s heart, her mistress was the most beautiful young lady in all of Yanjing.
Because she was going out for a spring outing, Liu Yun set aside her chest-high ruqun and chose a light, narrow-sleeved Banbi.
She wore a light yellow small-sleeved silk shirt, covered by a tender green collarless Banbi that looked like spring grass, and a lotus-pink waist-high skirt below.
Finally, she donned an apricot-pink silk Peibo.
Stepping out of Wuchun Courtyard, Liu Yun saw her mother coming over, stuffing a bunch of things for her to take along.
“Take all of these. Eat and drink if you get hungry or thirsty. Don’t let your health suffer for the sake of play. And these medicines—if you’re accidentally bitten by insects in the wild, apply them immediately.”
Zhang Yuhua held her daughter’s soft hand as she gave her instructions, her face full of maternal love and concern.
Among the items were several of Liu Yun’s favorite pastries and a lychee drink chilled with ice.
It was called a lychee drink, but it wasn’t actually made from real lychees.
Lychees were precious. Whether from Lingnan or Shu, transporting them to Yanjing was extremely difficult.
Consequently, the lychees sent every year with great effort were distributed by the Emperor to the imperial family and high-ranking nobles. A minor official of the fifth rank like the Liu family was not privileged enough to enjoy them.
It was only when she was fifteen that Liu Yun had the fortune to taste one at Princess Changyang’s birthday banquet, and she had never forgotten it.
The lychee drink was brewed from smoked plums, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and rock sugar. Although it contained no actual lychees, it managed to imitate the flavor quite well, and Liu Yun liked it very much.
Happily letting the maid behind her take the pastries, drinks, and the insect repellent medicine, Liu Yun said in a soft, sweet voice, “Thank you, Mother. I understand everything.”
Her mother was the gentlest and most amiable mother in the world. Liu Yun hoped that in her next life, the life after that, and for all eternity, she could be her mother’s daughter.
Zhang Yuhua stroked her daughter’s rabbit-like hair buns and smiled softly. “Alright, stay safe and enjoy your spring outing.”
Liu Yun hummed in agreement, bid her mother farewell, and stepped out of the house.
The Liu residence was located in Yong’an Ward in the south-central part of the Western City, separated from the bustling West Market by three wards. Although it wasn’t a prime location, the capital was large, and living there was not easy.
In order to have a decent residence in the land-scarce Yanjing, her father had spent eight hundred guan to purchase a two-entrance house. Her father, who had been a county magistrate for ten years, had spent more than half of his savings.
Therefore, the family had lived frugally for the first two years. Fortunately, the treatment for officials in the capital was better, and the Liu family soon established a foothold in Yanjing, becoming one of the many inconspicuous minor officials in the city.
Much like Liu Yun’s own status among the noble ladies of Yanjing.
Stepping out of the gate, Liu Yun used a footstool to board a small carriage, heading toward the banks of the Wei River outside the city with her servants and maids.
To maintain their social standing, after purchasing the house, her father had gritted his teeth and added two carriages.
One large and one small. The large one cost eighty guan, and the small one sixty.
The parents used the large one for travel, while Liu Yun and her younger brother used the small one.
As the carriage moved, the two lanterns hanging under the eaves, inscribed with the character “Liu,” began to sway rhythmically.
Although Yong’an Ward was far from the Imperial City, and her father worked hard every day rising early for the morning roll call, it was much closer if one wanted to leave Yanjing.
They only needed to cross the Xuanyi and Yongda wards to reach Xuanwu Avenue, which led to the suburbs.
In the thin clothing of the third month, it felt a bit stuffy inside the carriage. Liu Yun lifted the curtain from time to time to let in some air.
From a distance, she saw the broad and clean Xuanwu Avenue.
It was wide enough for ten carriages to travel side-by-side. Green willows were planted on both sides, their emerald silk-like branches swaying in the wind.
Just as Liu Yun’s carriage was about to exit the ward road, an instant before the horse’s front hooves could step onto the bluestone pavement of Xuanwu Avenue, a crisp sound of bells rang out, accompanied by the steady, heavy sound of marching peculiar to an army.
“It’s the Crown Prince’s procession!”
Someone said, and the carriages emerging from the ward roads on both sides suddenly stopped.
Not only that, the carriages that had already exited earlier and were ahead also hurried to pull over to the side, clearing the wide road.
Liu Yun’s carriage naturally stopped at the mouth of the ward road, quietly waiting for the heir to the Eastern Palace to pass first.
Quietly lifting the curtain, Liu Yun noticed that many daughters of Yanjing’s official families were present.
Daughters of the Secretaries of the Left and Right, the Censor-in-Chief, the Secretariat Director, as well as various dukes and marquises—there were too many to count in the moment.
But the most eye-catching was the Golden Carriage guarded by the Jinwu Guard in the center.
That was the highest-specification carriage for an heir apparent, normally used only for the investiture of a prince, the marriage of a primary consort, or attendance at a Grand Court Assembly.
But today…
Try as she might, Liu Yun couldn’t think of any major event today that would warrant the use of the Crown Prince’s Golden Carriage.
While they were waiting, the Crown Prince’s Golden Carriage suddenly stopped as well, no longer moving forward.
As a result, no family’s carriage dared to race ahead of the Crown Prince. They all remained stationary, looking toward the Crown Prince’s side in confusion.
After a short while, a small eunuch ran out from among the Jinwu Guards. He bowed with clasped hands toward the carriages in all directions and said, “His Highness says to let the ladies proceed first.”
Upon hearing this, everyone showed expressions of astonishment.
Since when did the Crown Prince have such a humble and polite temperament?
The sun must have truly risen from the west!
Despite their confusion, the carriages resumed their normal state, going where they needed to go.
Liu Yun, however, hesitated for a moment.
She was currently stuck right at the mouth of the ward road. Should she move forward or back?
Seeing that the Jinwu Guards remained motionless and waiting, Liu Yun decided to be bold for once.
“Let’s go.”
She gave the order to the driver, dropped the curtain, and leaned against Jin He, giggling. “I never expected there would be a day when I could walk ahead of the Crown Prince~”
Jin He smiled and replied, “My lady has certainly experienced it this time.”
Xuanwu Avenue was broad and long. After traveling for nearly the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, the city gate was still a distant blur. Just as Liu Yun was about to sigh about how slow it was, she heard a commotion behind her.
It seemed a group of people was galloping toward them, the horse hooves sounding frantic.
At this moment, this was undoubtedly strange. Liu Yun wanted to see who was so bold as to act so wildly in front of the Crown Prince, so she lifted the carriage curtain.
At that very instant, a horse’s head as black as ink suddenly lunged into her vision, adding a heavy stroke of ink to the beautiful spring day.
Then came the horse’s body, glossy and black under the sunlight.
Of course, the most eye-catching thing was the person on the horse’s back.
A purple-gold crown, red tassels, a youth in a purple robe and jade belt—he was noble, elegant, and peerlessly handsome.
Perhaps sensing the gaze of Liu Yun’s eyes, even though it was just a brief moment on the galloping steed, the other party looked over with precision.
His phoenix eyes held authority, his gaze was sharp, and he carried an arrogance that looked down on everyone. Those were eyes that radiated control and aggression.
That one look made Liu Yun’s heart stop. She hurriedly pulled her head back in.
It scared her to death. Had she known, she wouldn’t have tried to watch the excitement.
Although her father was only a minor official of the fifth rank, Liu Yun had seen the Crown Prince at various banquets.
It was just that this time it was too close; she couldn’t handle it.
Her personality was soft and kind, and she liked to associate with people of similar temperament. She most feared those with sharp, piercing personalities.
Crown Prince Xiao Heng was the most extreme example of the latter.
Arrogant and prideful, with a sharp disposition, the young heir apparent, steeped in the power of the imperial family, exuded high-and-mighty authority in every gesture.
He brooked no argument and no provocation.
Liu Yun instinctively feared such a person.
That one look took her a long time to recover from, and it wasn’t until she arrived at the Wei River and saw Zhenzhen that she finally felt better.