The Empress was by no means genuinely displeased with Li Jing at heart. Pei Huaiche was so certain of this only because he had both tasted the flavor of being truly cherished by the one on the throne, and witnessed what it looked like when that person merely wished to put on a show for others—a facade of hypocritical civility.
When he was born, the struggle for the position of heir among his elder imperial brothers was already raging fiercely.
His father, the late Emperor, was then past seventy. Perhaps knowing full well that he was advanced in years, and that even with heavy-handed suppression he could not stop the courtiers from placing their bets, each backing their own master and helping the princes fight each other to the death, he simply let them contend as they pleased. He reasoned that whoever could emerge from that slaughterhouse must possess sufficient means to secure the throne and would not disgrace the legacy of their ancestors.
But a sovereign was, after all, only human. Having reached an age meant for peaceful retirement, how could he not yearn for children and grandchildren gathered around his knees, for the comfort of family warmth?
It was precisely for this reason that his father, who in his later years had largely ceased to involve himself in state affairs, could not bear the loneliness. He favored his mother—a consort whose origins threatened no one and who harbored no ambition herself—and, in his old age, was blessed with a son: him. Thereafter, all the longing he held for blood kinship was poured entirely upon the two of them.
Pei Huaiche had an early memory. His very first recollection was of his white-haired and white-bearded father dismissing the palace attendants, personally taking his hand, and accompanying him—together with his mother—as he learned to walk.
When he grew tired from practicing, his father would lift him onto his knee and, over and over again, in a voice aged yet gentle, teach him to call out "Father" and "Mother."
When the Second Imperial Brother trampled over the flesh and blood of his other brothers to become the sole candidate for succession, his father saw that this son was ruthless by nature. Thus, when drafting the edict of abdication, he deliberately summoned several trusted elder ministers to bear witness, decreeing that the new Emperor must never again harm the lives of him and his mother, and must guarantee them a peaceful end.
His mother later told him that in his final days, his father could no longer remember many things, yet he still repeatedly held her hand and urged her: she need not raise their child to be exceptionally outstanding—just let him grow up safe and happy, and later secure for him a fiefdom far from the capital, where he might live out his days as a wealthy, idle prince.
In contrast, after his imperial brother ascended the throne, Pei Huaiche witnessed what it looked like when that man harbored deep wariness toward him yet was compelled to play the role of an elder brother like a father in public—a smile that never reached his eyes, every word of concern weighed with calculation.
In short, if the Empress truly detested Li Jing, then Li Jing—whose mind was perfectly sound—could never have stumbled his way to sixteen years of age while still retaining such a kind and innocent disposition. In his days at the palace, he would have suffered far more than mere superficial slights from the attendants; and after moving out to establish his own household, the Empress would never have turned a blind eye to his frankly improper words and deeds.
Therefore, Pei Huaiche concluded that if Cuihua befriended Li Jing and took the opportunity to give him a chance to display his strengths and distinguish himself, the Empress would most likely be pleased to see it come to pass.
At the very least, having regained a daughter she had once lost, she would think more highly of Cuihua for being utterly unafraid of gossip and willing to treat her younger brother with kindness.
However, he was, after all, no immortal sage capable of divination. He truly had not anticipated that the Step-Empress—rumored to be wholly devoted to Buddhism and uninvolved in any matters of court or harem—would also, because of this scene, come to harbor genuine goodwill toward Cuihua, turning a smile rarely seen in years toward this stepdaughter he had previously met only once.
At the banquet, the imperial relatives and assembled ministers, upon witnessing this, exchanged startled glances before their minds began racing.
Li Chan and Li Yuan likewise let their closeness to Cuihua show more openly, their smiles growing warmer as they conversed.
Seeing Li Jing walk with the others toward the equestrian competition grounds and take the reins from an attendant, Li Yuan quietly shifted her knee cushion a little closer to Cuihua's side.
Lowering her voice, she pointed out one by one those who would participate in the competition: "Last year's top three martial arts graduates are all here, along with the eldest young master of General Hu's household, the eldest young lady of Commander Chu's estate, and the second young master of Minister Xiao's residence…"
In short, all who willingly appeared on such an occasion today were masters of horsemanship and archery, each aiming to shine before the throne.
Cuihua listened, and could not help but secretly worry for Li Jing.
She certainly did not wish to dampen her own spirits and boost others' confidence, but the fact was that Li Jing had only practiced for seven days of last-minute cramming, with her own husband as his instructor, relying entirely on his former experience as a mounted slave to pick up some skill in riding, archery, and martial arts.
She feared Li Jing would make a fool of himself before the crowd in his hasty debut. She feared even more that the Empress and the Step-Empress, who seemed to have only just begun warming to him, would see him completely outshone by the others, deem him a disgrace to the imperial dignity, and grow even colder toward him in the future.
Her gaze flitted anxiously across the tall, straight figures on the field, finally coming to rest on a man in fitted riding attire who was leading his horse to stand beside Li Jing.
That man had thick brows and tiger-like eyes, a wheat-colored complexion, and a high-bridged nose. Even amid a gathering of such heroic young men and women, he stood out as strikingly as a cold blade drawn from its sheath, carrying an inherent, arresting sharpness.
While others still regarded Li Jing with cautious wariness, he alone took the initiative to approach Li Jing's side—and even spoke a few words with him in an open, upright manner.
The seats were far apart, so they could hear the wind and the horses' neighing but not the conversation clearly. Cuihua asked Li Yuan curiously, "Fifth sister, who is that speaking with Third Brother? Neither Third Brother nor Xiaobi ever mentioned that he had any close acquaintances at court. He looks quite imposing."
Li Yuan followed her gaze and let out a "tsk": "No one would befriend him. That's Xiang Xiu, General Sang's second son-in-law. Of course he looks imposing—he was originally a fierce and accomplished general under Prince Xuan of Great Yuan. I imagine, like Second Sister, you've only heard bits and pieces before, without knowing how many absurd things that demonic seed has done."
Cuihua had grown up in the borderlands of Yuan since childhood. Even though she was now a princess of Liang, speaking of the homeland where she had lived for eighteen years still stirred a measure of nostalgia. She was momentarily taken aback, never expecting to encounter a "fellow countryman" here.
She sighed softly, "So he's one of Prince Xuan's former subordinates… No wonder. During those ten years when Prince Xuan served as regent, the people in our borderlands lived in the greatest peace. The soldiers stationed there were not only brave and skilled in battle, driving off bandits so they dared not invade, but also strictly disciplined—they never bullied the common folk under the banner of official authority."
Li Yuan nodded, clearly drawn into the conversation by Cuihua: "I've heard of that too. Shortly after Prince Xuan passed away, the young emperor of Yuan, fearing the power of his former subordinates, launched a massive purge with the full might of the nation. Even knowing that being discovered meant death, people in the borderlands of Yuan still risked their lives to shelter those fleeing soldiers and generals… It shows his troops truly won the people's hearts."
Cuihua looked once more at Xiang Xiu beside Li Jing, a complex expression rising in her eyes: "So General Xiang… also defected to General Sang, who guards the Liang border, when he had no other way out, and became a son-in-law of the Sang family?"
Li Yuan first nodded, then shook her head: "It wasn't exactly his own surrender. At the time, he intended to fight to the death with his remaining troops—since escape was impossible, he might as well swear to die in loyalty to Prince Xuan. But the odds were overwhelming, and the general leading the pursuit had once been demoted by Prince Xuan for embezzling military pay, so his grudge against Prince Xuan's faction ran deep, and he was determined to wipe them out completely. It was General Sang who, upon learning of this, treasured his talent and couldn't bear to see such a valiant commander fall at the hands of a base schemer. Only then did he report to the Empress Mother and personally lead troops to intercept the pursuers for him in the buffer zone between the two nations."
Cuihua murmured with feeling, "It sounds like a fine tale of heroes appreciating heroes. But didn't the Empress Mother and General Sang essentially openly harbor a traitor of Yuan? Weren't they afraid of harming the friendly relations between the two nations that had remained at peace for decades?"
Li Yuan, caught up in the excitement of the tale, spoke faster: "Why fear it? In the Empress Mother's words, without Prince Xuan and the loyal ministers and good generals he cultivated, that little emperor wouldn't have the strength to make trouble for us—he might even end up as the last ruler of a fallen Great Yuan. We simply make preparations in advance, so that if chaos breaks out on their side, it won't spill over and harm us, who share the same central plains region."
Cuihua listened intently: "The Empress Mother truly lives up to her title—she accurately predicted the situation back then. Now, just two years into the little emperor's reign, many parts of Yuan are already plagued by internal strife and external threats. Baodian probably heard it from the Empress Mother when she followed her. The people of Yuan are truly unfortunate—it would have been better if Prince Xuan had seized the throne."
Li Yuan curled her lip: "Exactly. And oddly enough, though Prince Xuan bore the name of a rebel, most of his subordinates were loyal and righteous men. I've heard that before he fell in love with the Sang family's second daughter, the Empress Mother repeatedly offered Xiang Xiu official posts, but he refused them all, saying he would not serve two masters. Yet, mindful of General Sang's kindness in saving his life and finding places for his soldiers, he was willing to remain under General Sang as a guest, serving with all his might…"
It had started because Cuihua asked, and Li Yuan merely added a few words, but being lively by nature, once she began sharing these gathered anecdotes, she found it hard to stop.
It wasn't until the drums at the far end of the equestrian field sounded, signaling the competition was about to begin, that she—just about to regale Cuihua with how the Sang family's second daughter had "taken Xiang Xiu by force"—was cut off by an annoyed Li Chan beside her, who was irritated by her chatter.
Li Yuan could only fall silent sheepishly, raising her cup for a sip of fruit wine while secretly darting a glance at Li Chan, inwardly grumbling that Li Chan must be jealous that she could offer Second Sister so many interesting topics—unlike her, who could only start conversations with flowery, sentimental verses. It was only because Second Sister had such a good temper that she patiently humored her even while wanting to fall asleep.
Cuihua noticed none of this. While her entire heart was fixed on Li Jing, the two younger sisters beside her were quietly competing over which of them she favored more.
Li Chan and Li Yuan glared at each other for a while, until they noticed the Empress Mother at the head of the banquet rise abruptly without warning. Only then did they both follow her gaze and turn their attention to the arena.
The next instant, shock flickered across both their eyes.
There in the field, the riders had all completed their first lap, and leading the pack was none other than their Third Imperial Brother—the one they had assumed would be lucky just to stay on his horse for the entire event.
Hooves kicked up clouds of dust, moving at such speed that those outside the arena could no longer make out the eerie red lotus pattern on the young man's face. All they could see was his crimson robes billowing wildly as he urged his fierce steed forward like an arrow loosed from a bow—a posture of one charging ahead on the battlefield.
Li Chan and Li Yuan had never been interested in martial arts or horseback archery since childhood, and the Empress had never cultivated them toward becoming all-round talents, nor forced them to delve into such pursuits.
But having grown up within the palace walls, they witnessed competitions of this sort every year and could naturally tell that Li Jing's seizure of the lead was by no means a deliberate concession from others due to his status as a prince. Rather, at some point unknown to them, he had genuinely trained himself into possessing remarkably impressive equestrian and archery skills.
The two were so startled that they forgot their earlier petty jealousies as young women. Seeing that everyone around them wore the same astonished expressions, and that only Cuihua let out a soft breath as if relieved, they both turned to look at her in unison.
Li Yuan blinked, then leaned in and asked in a low voice: "Second Sister, Third Brother's equestrian skills—surely you didn't teach him? Could it be that doing business in Yuan Country is so dangerous that even selling tofu requires you to be able to fight off bandits and mounted outlaws?"
Cuihua: "…"
She fell silent for a moment. She hadn't wanted to use the phrase "unaware of the hardships of common life" to describe a younger sister who bore no ill will, but Li Yuan's imagination regarding the livelihoods of ordinary people was truly far too vivid.
Not to mention horses—in Baishi Village, only one household could even afford a donkey. If one truly had to defeat mounted bandits in direct combat just to survive, then no one would have any way to make a living.
She was hesitating over whether to reveal that Li Jing had been taught by her husband, when Li Chan on the other side also snapped out of her shock and made an equally astonishing remark: "Could he really have found some martial arts manual? But even if such a miraculous book existed, it would have to be a fragmentary ancient text passed down for centuries. With his learning—barely enough to read vernacular novels—there's no way he could understand it. How hasn't he suffered a qi deviation…"
Cuihua: "…"
For someone who recognized fewer than ten characters, Li Chan's words were even harder to respond to than Li Yuan's.
Fortunately, they didn't press her for answers. She put on an appearance of being wholly absorbed in the competition with no attention to spare, and turned her gaze back to the arena.
The competition consisted of three full laps around the field, so participants typically spent the first two laps testing and circling one another, only revealing their true capabilities on the final lap.
Li Jing and the wild colt ultimately lacked harmony between them—a subtle undercurrent of contention still existed between rider and horse. As they reached the final stretch of the last lap, with the others behind gradually closing in, he grew anxious and yanked hard on the reins to accelerate.
But in his haste, he lost control of his strength. A sharp "ripping" sound followed, and by the time he came to his senses, the reins had snapped clean in two under the combined force of his pulling and the colt's gnawing.
At the same moment, the colt beneath him seemed to have lost its temper from his tugging as well. It let out an angry neigh, rearing up on its hind legs as if to throw him off on the spot.
Li Jing, who had only hastily trained under Pei Huaiche for seven days, had never experienced such a crisis. In his panic, he suddenly saw a sturdy, powerful arm reaching out from beside him.
He grabbed hold of it desperately, like a drowning man clutching at driftwood. The next instant, he felt his body lighten, and amid a dizzying whirl, he found himself seated on the back of another fine steed.
Li Jing turned back in astonishment to see the young general named Xiang Xiu, having yielded his mount, immediately leap down from the horse. His movements were swift as lightning—in just a few motions, he subdued the startled colt, then grabbed its saddle and led it out of the track. All of it happened in the blink of an eye, executed with such fluid grace and efficiency that it left onlookers dumbfounded.
Before Li Jing could recover from his shock, he heard Xiang Xiu bark out a low command—"Mo Hu"—and the black horse beneath him surged forward at the signal, galloping at full speed toward the vermilion flag not far ahead. Left with no choice, Li Jing gripped the reins tightly and crouched low, crossing the finish line together with this unfamiliar steed.
Close behind him and the black horse, the others arrived one by one. Cuihua, who had been frozen in terror from the scene moments before, only now felt her breath return, her pale fingertips still trembling slightly.
She heard Li Yuan beside her sigh in admiration: "It seems Xiang Xiu had been holding back all along… No wonder he always stayed exactly one horse-length behind Third Brother. The moment the situation changed, he caught up instantly."
Li Chan also murmured in response: "He must have noticed that Mother Empress and Father Consort were delighted by Third Brother's participation. Besides, no one else could actually catch up to Third Brother anyway. As a surrendered general, showing off his skills on such an occasion is simply his way of proving to the military officers in attendance that he has what it takes to be entrusted with important duties by Mother Empress. Why would he steal Third Brother's thunder and spoil Mother Empress's and Father Consort's mood?"
The Empress, the Step-Empress, and everyone present could see this just as clearly. Naturally, the Empress ordered the attendants to prepare another set of prizes, which were awarded to both Li Jing and Xiang Xiu.
Li Jing neither considered this victory to be rightfully earned, nor was he unaccustomed to being out of favor with his mother the Empress. He simply assumed all the rewards were given because the Empress wanted an excuse to honor Cuihua, so without even glancing at what the brocade boxes contained, he had the attendants present them all to Cuihua.
Cuihua, however, had never cared much about the prize from the very start. Even now, she remained pale with tension, hurrying forward to look up at him, her voice tinged with lingering fear: "Were you hurt just now? You truly… frightened me to death."
As she spoke, she took out a silk handkerchief and gently wiped the fine sweat from his brow. Her movements were natural, and in her features—so strikingly similar to Li Jing's—was an unguarded concern that could not be concealed.
This very scene left Li Chan and Li Yuan, who had just been engaged in a silent rivalry over "which one Second Sister favored more," utterly dumbfounded.
What was going on here? Hadn't they been the ones to reunite with Second Sister first? Besides, compared to Li Jing's status as a "Natural Born Demon Pill," surely they were the more well-behaved and attentive ones—so why was it that Second Sister treated him with the greatest closeness of all?
Watching the four children's figures huddled together in laughter and play, the Empress—who had never imagined she would witness such a sight—smiled and turned to look at the Step-Empress at her side.
The latter failed to conceal the faint curve at the corner of her lips in time, and having been caught red-handed, shifted her gaze away with some discomfort.
After a long moment, the Step-Empress let out a barely audible sigh, her voice low and soft, as if in reflection, as if in wistfulness: "Both are daughters of you and that man… yet she and the Crown Princess are truly worlds apart."