Sui Sui stepped out. Her maid, Xiao Yu, was waiting outside, dozing on the steps with her knees hugged.
Sui Sui nudged her awake, draped her cloak over the girl’s shoulders, and laughed: “Sleeping in the cold night wind—you’ll catch an illness.”
Xiao Yu rubbed her eyes. “Has His Highness and sister… finished?”
Sui Sui stifled a laugh and nodded. The two walked back through the corridor toward their courtyard. Passing the council hall, they saw two women standing inside the doorway.
One, dressed in a green jacket, was Madam Xia. She didn’t even glance at Sui Sui, but said to the other: “I told you—though our prince is young, playful like a spoiled son, he should still know what matters. An official from Chang’an is not someone to neglect! I watched His Highness grow up; he wasn’t like this before. But now, with this nine‑tailed fox spirit reborn, chaos rules, and men are led astray—”
Madam Xia had once served Li Chongjun’s mother. Though not her closest maid, after the consort’s death, she became part of the inheritance, and her status rose accordingly. The household servants rarely dared oppose her—but Sui Sui did.
She pried open Xiao Yu’s clenched hand, stepped forward, and asked: “Who are you cursing, old lady?”
Madam Xia sneered: “If not you, then a dog? A fine young lord ruined by a little slut’s tricks—shouldn’t I curse? Always using your charms to bewitch him, demanding gold and silver without shame. Do you even deserve fine jewelry?”
Sui Sui burst out laughing: “Whether I deserve it isn’t for you to decide. Even if you hold the treasury keys, you don’t rule it. The gold and silver inside aren’t yours. I just asked His Highness for a gold hairpin. If you dislike it, tell him to take it back. Scolding me proves nothing!”
Madam Xia trembled with rage. “Little painted face, don’t be smug! I may not run the household, but sooner or later, a proper princess consort will. If I cannot deal with you, she will. I’ve seen plenty of nameless girls like you in noble households—few end well!”
But Sui Sui was unconcerned. She pulled the frightened Xiao Yu along, yawned, and headed back to her own courtyard.
As for Li Chongjun’s future princess consort, Sui Sui had never thought about it. She never believed she would remain in the prince’s residence until that day.
Between her and Li Chongjun, it was nothing more than a tacitly agreed‑upon performance, like the operas she once sang on stage. The characters cried and laughed, but it was always someone else’s story. The gauze lanterns reddened her pale face, her head glittering with fake jewels.
No banquet lasts forever. This play too would end—perhaps tonight, perhaps tomorrow. Life was uncertain, and Sui Sui had long prepared to withdraw when the time came. All she wanted was to seize every chance to profit.
So rather than worry about the future, she cared more about the gold hairpin Li Chongjun had promised. She had waited half a month. At last, she received it. It was a delicate hairpin of carved golden leaves. She weighed it on a small scale—two full taels. Only then did she feel secure.
Sui Sui calculated her gains and immediately planned to leave the residence to visit her sick elder sister, Cui Qiao. She heard the maids say that the governor’s son had just sent word, inviting Li Chongjun out for some business. She wasn’t sure if he had gone yet. Instead of asking, she slipped out herself, checked who was on duty at the side gate, then crept to the main gate to listen.
Outside the gate was Li Chongjun’s study. Hiding behind the tall doors, she heard only the wind stirring the branches. She assumed he had already left. Just then, something tapped her shoulder. She turned to see a black wooden rod—thinking it was a servant teasing her.
She had once played martial roles on stage, skilled with swords and spears. Such tricks didn’t scare her. She grabbed the rod, spun around, and scolded: “Shameless brat, playing tricks on me—see if I don’t thrash you!”
But before she finished, she found herself face‑to‑face with Li Chongjun, his expression dark. His long black eyes were frightening enough when unsmiling; now, with brows raised, they were downright dangerous.
Sui Sui gasped, quickly letting go and hiding her hands behind her back. “Your Highness—it’s you—”
“What are you doing here?” His tone was sharp.
“I… I just received Your Highness’s gift, so I came to thank you…” She laughed weakly, making up excuses even she didn’t believe, then hurried to change the subject. Glancing at the rod in his hand, she said: “Oh, it’s a polo stick! Is Your Highness going to play polo with the governor’s son?”
Only then did she notice his attire: a blue satin robe patterned with flowers, shorter than usual, ending at the knees; black leather boots; narrow sleeves bound with wrist guards; a red band tied across his forehead. His dark hair against the red silk made his face—lips red, teeth white, eyes jet‑black—look strikingly handsome, though his expression was disdainful.
The tall parasol trees of late summer were oddly green, their shadows flickering across his robe in the cool breeze. Even his grim face seemed touched with youthful vigor.
Sui Sui stared, momentarily dazed.
In public, Li Chongjun was wild and unrestrained; in private, moody and unpredictable. Often, she forgot he was only twenty.
Without thinking, she blurted: “Your Highness… looks rather fine today.”
The words struck him. He froze, then glared at her as if insulted, and swept away. Outside, a servant had already brought his horse. Li Chongjun mounted, reins in hand, then suddenly turned back.
Sui Sui, waiting to see him leave, was still standing there. Their eyes met. She tilted her head curiously.
He stiffened, turned away at once, and spurred his horse out the gate.
“…Why is he angry again?” Sui Sui was baffled, but didn’t dwell on it. Once his entourage departed, she hurried back to her courtyard. She wrapped the gold hairpin in a bundle, changed into a plain dress, slipped out the side gate, and rented a donkey cart at a nearby inn.
On the cart, she pulled out a narrow‑sleeved riding outfit from her bundle, put on a felt cap, and disguised herself as a young tribesman. Then she headed straight for Xiaobaima Alley in the western part of the city.