Zhenchun knelt on the ground, carefully smoothing out the crimson brocade border. She ran her fingers over the fine, neat embroidery of auspicious clouds, unable to suppress her envy.
The capping ceremony for a girl's coming of age involved three additions and three bows. Before the ritual, the girl had to wear a plain black cloth garment symbolizing maidenhood, simple and unadorned. Tang Jiayu loved luxury; her everyday clothes were as bright and vivid as possible. This black cloth garment would obviously be worn only once, yet even so, its edges were trimmed with brocade embroidery, and any single pearl on it was enough to cover an ordinary family's expenses for a year.
To be born in troubled times and not have to flee for one's life was already a stroke of luck that countless people could only dream of—yet Tang Jiayu could still squander her wealth freely.
Watching Tang Jiayu calmly accept the treatment of being the center of attention, the resentment in Zhenchun's heart grew wildly. Why should she? Now the Fanzhen Military Governorates were strong and Chang'an was weak—even a true princess might not be able to live such a life. Tang Jiayu was merely a princess of a former emperor. Why should she?
Tang Jiayu had no time to pay attention to a maid's thoughts. She wore the air of a spoiled, empty-headed young lady, but her mind had long since left the coming-of-age banquet.
She was thinking about the future.
From Wei Chengjun and Wang Rong's conversation, she had learned that she was abandoned during Emperor Xizong's flight south, and that her birth mother was Consort Wang. It was Li Jichen who had brought her back to Hedong, covering up all traces, going so far as to fabricate a Tang residence from nothing and arrange for so many people to act around the clock—all so that she would believe she was Tang Jiayu, stay contentedly in the residence, not strive for anything, not go out, and certainly not dare to harbor any thought of resisting the Military Governor of Hedong.
No wonder Tang Jiayu felt that everything she did went smoothly, that everyone she met liked her—because this world revolved around her.
No one makes a losing deal. Li Jichen had poured so much money into her, which meant the return she could bring was far greater. What was he expecting?
After living through her previous life, Tang Jiayu no longer believed that she could be unconditionally favored by the world just because she was beautiful. Everything gained has its price. Tang Jiayu thought it over and over: what could not be replaced by any other woman was, first, her identity as Emperor Xizong's princess, and second, The Lingyun Chart.
Tang Jiayu had only learned before she died that she had actually seen The Lingyun Chart long ago. When she was twelve, Father Tang—who had always indulged her—suddenly hired a tutor, saying he wanted to teach her painting. Even though Tang Jiayu showed little interest, Father Tang insisted she learn.
The tutor had her copy all kinds of strange and exotic beasts, the same few over and over again, and with each one she painted, she also had to write down her reflections. It was unbearably boring. At first Tang Jiayu patiently studied, but later, when she saw Wang Rong on the street, her attention shifted entirely, and the lessons fizzled out.
After seeing the original Lingyun Chart, Tang Jiayu suddenly understood. Even during those lessons, she had felt that Father Tang and the tutor were somewhat strange. Now she understood: what the tutor had her paint was The Lingyun Chart, only broken into pieces, as if afraid she might learn the whole of it. The tutor had her write reflections after class, and Father Tang asked her every day what she had gained from the lessons—all in the hope that she would discover the method to decipher The Lingyun Chart and then tell them.
Yes, there was not a single character on The Lingyun Chart. Its background was auspicious clouds, and upon it were painted many exotic beasts. If not for the title "The Lingyun Chart" written at the beginning of the scroll, Tang Jiayu would have suspected it was a picture book to amuse children. No wonder Li Jichen had been unable to unlock the secret of The Lingyun Chart for years—it really was quite baffling.
Tang Jiayu did not know what The Lingyun Chart represented, but Wang Rong had said that whoever obtained The Lingyun Chart could obtain the world, and it had been placed in her swaddling clothes, which showed that The Lingyun Chart was certainly of great importance to the Qi imperial family. There was also Consort Wang's handwritten letter—this was not only a relic of her birth mother, but also the only item that could prove Tang Jiayu's identity.
Tang Jiayu could not possibly stay in Hedong waiting to die. She had to go to Chang'an, to seek her true kin. But relying on herself alone would not be enough. She also had to take away The Lingyun Chart and Consort Wang's letter, so that Chang'an would believe her and accept her.
However, Li Jichen was no fool. How could he possibly hand the original to her? Even more troublesome was Consort Wang's letter—she did not even know where it was kept.
Tang Jiayu was preoccupied with these thoughts, and her movements were slow. The maids did not dare urge her. A sound of jade shattering came, the pearl curtain was lifted, and Jiang Chan, without waiting to be announced, walked into the inner chamber with a stern face.
"Why is your dressing so slow? Have you forgotten what day today is? The guests outside have all arrived, yet you are nowhere to be seen. You will only make yourself a laughingstock."
Jiang Chan did not ask for the reason either. She came up and immediately berated Tang Jiayu. If it had been as usual, Tang Jiayu would certainly have admitted her fault. After all, Jiang Chan had delayed her own marriage to take care of her, and such kindness was no less than that of a half-mother.
But now, when Tang Jiayu thought of how Jiang Chan, in order to seek a future for her own daughter, had not hesitated to trick her out of Tang Manor, she could not help sneering inwardly. A servant who betrays her mistress—everyone may put her to death. Although Chun Xia Qiu Dong had all been spies sent by Li Jichen, Zhanqiu and Zhandong had sworn loyalty unto death to their master's house, and in her heart Tang Jiayu actually respected them. As for Jiang Chan, Zhenchun, and Zhexia, if they could betray Li Jichen, they could betray Tang Jiayu. They absolutely could not be given important use.
Tang Jiayu could give Jiang Chan dignity, and she could also take it back. Jiang Chan had ordered people about for too long, and she had probably long forgotten her own place.
After Jiang Chan finished reprimanding Tang Jiayu as usual, she inexplicably felt that the atmosphere in the room was not quite right. Tang Jiayu did not, as before, obediently admit her fault and crowd around with a playful smile to coax her into good humor. Instead, she sat leisurely before the mirror, carefully comparing the snail-shell black eyebrow pigment, as if Jiang Chan did not exist at all.
Zhanqiu and Zhandong, one holding the mirror and the other handing over items, looked entirely like they were at Tang Jiayu's disposal. Zhenchun and Zhexia glanced at Jiang Chan, lowered their eyes, and said nothing, silently watching the joke.
According to status in Tang Manor, Jiang Chan was a dowry matron, higher than the four maids Chun Xia Qiu Dong. But in terms of real rank, they constantly attended Tang Jiayu's side and were far more useful than Jiang Chan. Only Pang Cheng could press them down.
What did Jiang Chan amount to? Relying on being an old hand from the Governor's Manor, she came to Tang Manor on a mission yet put on the airs of an old madam everywhere. Zhenchun and Zhexia had long been unable to stand her.
Jiang Chan considered herself senior in qualifications, and Tang Jiayu had never embarrassed her, so she increasingly acted according to her own temper. But this time she stumbled. In front of a room full of maids, Jiang Chan was left hanging in place, her face alternating red and green, utterly unable to step down with dignity.
She realized that her words had overstepped, but she had grown used to having her way and could not lower herself to apologize. She could only stiffly try to patch things up for herself: "My lady, today is the coming-of-age ceremony. His Lordship has invited many distinguished guests to observe it. Making honored guests wait too long would be a breach of propriety."
"So Mother Jiang does know propriety." Tang Jiayu carefully traced her eyebrows and gave Jiang Chan a faint glance from the mirror. "I thought anyone at all could burst into my boudoir and shout."
She no longer called Jiang Chan "Auntie Jiang," and everyone in the room was aware of it. Jiang Chan's expression shifted repeatedly. She was resentful at being slighted by a young girl, but Tang Jiayu was an "important figure" whom the Military Governor personally concerned himself with. If she incurred Tang Jiayu's disgust and was driven out of the Tang residence, Jiang Chan would be finished.
Imprisoning a princess—even now, with imperial authority in decline—was still a capital offense. To avoid leaking information, anyone who left the Tang residence never appeared anywhere else again, and within the Tang residence, Tang Jiayu's likes and dislikes were heaven itself.
Over the years, Jiang Chan had secured considerable benefits for her family by carrying out secret tasks in the Tang residence. Even though she could not see her daughter for many years, she could still arrange for Jiang Guo to hold a leisurely and stable post at the Commissioner's Office, living comfortably. Once driven out, leaving aside where she herself would go, what would become of Jiang Guo?
A layer of sweat instantly seeped out on Jiang Chan's back. No longer caring about losing face, she immediately knelt and begged forgiveness: "This old servant has been impertinent. Please forgive me, madam."
Tang Jiayu set down the Snail-Shell Brow Powder, applied lip color for herself, lightly dusted on rouge, then took up a mirror and looked around, finally feeling satisfied. Only then did she seem to remember Jiang Chan. With an "Oh my," she walked over to Jiang Chan, like a naive and carefree little girl, and said innocently, "Auntie Jiang, why are you still kneeling here? I was busy with my makeup and forgot all about you."
Unfortunately, a young girl's thoughts are fickle. Before Jiang Chan could reply, Tang Jiayu had already thought of something new: "Which guests did Father invite? Has Young Lord Wang arrived?"
Zhenchun glanced at Jiang Chan with schadenfreude and replied, "Young Lord Wang sent his reply long ago, saying he will come to watch madam's coming-of-age ceremony."
"Then why didn't you say so earlier!" Tang Jiayu lifted her skirt and hurriedly ran outside, showing not the slightest poise or elegance. Chun Xia Qiu Dong rushed to follow. In an instant, only Jiang Chan remained in the room. Having been thoroughly cut off, Jiang Chan could only awkwardly pick herself up.
Jiang Chan was no longer quite certain. When Tang Jiayu had first come in and flown into that outburst, it had made her feel as though Tang Jiayu had changed. Now it seemed she had not changed after all—still frivolous and shallow, acting on every whim. Yet Jiang Chan felt an indescribable sense of frustration and humiliation.
The Li family's daughter truly was unfit to be a wife. Even raised merely as a merchant's daughter, she still revealed a spoiled, willful, frivolous, and dissolute nature, exactly like those absurd princesses! And for a woman like this, the young master of the Biao family still had to humble himself to please her—truly, heaven has no eyes!
When Tang Jiayu heard that Wang Rong was present, she immediately ran impatiently toward the front hall, looking utterly infatuated. But after leaving the maids' line of sight, the smile in Tang Jiayu's eyes cooled bit by bit.
Something was wrong. In the Tang residence, she was the only real person; the so-called guests were all soldiers in disguise, merely putting on a show. What difference did it make when the performance began? Why would Jiang Chan come to hurry her?
Could it be that someone whose time was very precious had arrived? Tang Jiayu was the lord of heaven in the Tang residence—who could possibly be more important than Tang Jiayu?
Tang Jiayu was preoccupied with her thoughts and did not pay attention to the path. Without realizing it, she ran too hard and ended up in the front courtyard. Turning past the covered corridor, she caught sight of two men standing beneath the eaves without any warning—one solemn and tense, the other casual and coldly sharp—apparently in the middle of a discussion.
Hearing footsteps, they too looked toward Tang Jiayu. Wei Chengjun instinctively showed surprise and wariness, but remembering that he was now Jiang Jun, he forced out an indulgent smile: "Cousin."
Tang Jiayu paid him no mind at all. Her entire attention was fixed on the other youth.
He looked a bit slimmer than he had under the city gate that night, but his frame had already grown into its full height, making him appear especially tall and slender. His features were very handsome—sword-like brows slanting upward toward his temples, phoenix eyes dark and bright—and his demeanor was consistently aloof, cold, and languid. Even in drab gray clothes, his brilliance was undiminished.
He greatly resembled the fine horses he raised—proud and spirited, vigorous and beautiful, arrogant yet unexpectedly not off-putting, making one feel only that he had been born this way.
Such a distinctive bearing—Tang Jiayu could not possibly mistake him.
Li Zhaoji.
So they had already met when he was fifteen. Why did Tang Jiayu have no impression of it in her previous life?
Oh, at that time she had been single-mindedly focused on not embarrassing her father on the big day. Following Jiang Chan's guidance, she had dutifully completed the ceremonies—when would she ever have done something like running wildly through the front courtyard? Tang Jiayu had probably been staring blankly for too long, because Li Zhaoji slightly raised an eyebrow, revealing a look of inquiry.
Not good—he was getting suspicious. Tang Jiayu was startled by the young man's sharpness, but then she remembered: she was just a beautiful, brainless young lady. What did she have to fear? So Tang Jiayu walked openly up to Wei Chengjun, brazenly swept her gaze over Li Zhaoji, and asked, "Cousin, what are you doing here! Who is this?"
Li Zhaoji narrowed his eyes. Clearly, no one had ever dared to size him up like that. Wei Chengjun grew nervous and instinctively stepped in front of Li Zhaoji, saying, "He is… a traveling merchant, has some business dealings with Uncle. He was passing through today, so he came to observe the ceremony."
"Oh." Tang Jiayu nodded, glanced at Li Zhaoji again, and broke into a radiant smile. "So a new guest. Poor hospitality on my part—I've failed in my duties as host. May I ask how to address our honored guest?"
Tang Jiayu stared at Li Zhaoji with a beaming smile. Li Zhaoji showed no expression, his eyes like cold stars, returning her gaze with indifference.
Obviously, expecting the proud Young Lord of Hedong to bow and flatter her just because she was a princess was impossible.
Wei Chengjun frowned. What was this troublesome vase up to now? He nearly forgot—Tang Jiayu loved a pretty face. Last year she had just provoked Wang Rong; now surely she hadn't taken a fancy to Li Zhaoji too?
Alarm bells rang in Wei Chengjun's mind. Fortunately, Chun Xia Qiu Dong came chasing after them. When the maidservants saw Tang Jiayu standing with Wei Chengjun and Li Zhaoji, and the atmosphere between Tang Jiayu and Li Zhaoji was somewhat off, their hearts lurched.
These three—one was a princess, one a young general, one a Young Lord—not a single one could be offended. Zhenchun hurried forward, curtsied, then unobtrusively pulled Tang Jiayu away: "My lady, the coming-of-age ceremony is about to begin. The Lord and Young Master Wang are waiting."
Only then did Tang Jiayu come to her senses: "I nearly forgot—Brother Xingyu is here too. Cousin, I'll come find you both later!"
Her bright eyes were lovely, her gaze flowing like ripples, like a peony inviting bees and butterflies. Apart from her decent looks, one truly could not find a single redeeming quality. But as she turned away, her shimmering gaze swept past—faintly, indistinctly—and Li Zhaoji caught a glimpse of killing intent within it.
Killing intent? Li Zhaoji raised an eyebrow, suspecting he had seen an illusion.
He had originally planned to leave, but in that moment he suddenly changed his mind and decided to stay and observe the ceremony. He wanted to see whether this woman was truly foolish or only pretending to be.