On such an important day as the first day of the new year, the Empress was dressed less splendidly than Yang Guifei.
Her expression was indifferent, unconcerned, as she said to Wen Lier and the other two: “You three, come before the Empress Dowager and let Her Majesty see you.”
Wen Lier and the other two had been personally selected by the Empress for the Crown Prince, but the Empress Dowager hadn’t seen them yet.
Wen Lier, Lin Fujia, and Yang Ni Shan hurriedly bowed their heads and stepped forward.
The Empress Dowager’s gaze swept over the three of them, finally settling on Wen Lier.
She wore a beige Pear Blossom Overcoat, an apricot-colored Pleated Skirt, her hair styled in a Fallen Horse Bun adorned with a Pear Blossom Hairpin, as beautiful as a mountain Pear Blossom Sprite.
Yet she lacked Yang Guifei’s affectation, her eyes clear and bright.
The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction and asked her name.
Wen Lier curtsied, replying obediently: “Your Majesty, this humble one is named Wen Lier.”
“Wen Lier?”
Like the Crown Prince before her, the Empress Dowager repeated the name, then chuckled softly.
“No wonder she’s so fond of pear blossoms.”
Wen Lier smiled sheepishly.
She truly loved pear blossoms, and many of her collected items were related to them.
Finding her pleasing, the Empress Dowager spoke a few more words with her.
Only then did she turn to Lin Fujia and Yang Ni Shan standing nearby.
She similarly asked their names and what they usually enjoyed doing.
They answered one by one.
“Since you’ve entered the palace, you must serve the Crown Prince and Crown Princess well, understand?”
The three hurriedly assented.
The Empress Dowager then bestowed gifts upon them.
After paying their New Year respects, there was nothing more for them to do.
Their status was too low to remain like the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, staying to share breakfast with the Empress Dowager and others.
On the way back, Yang Ni Shan couldn’t contain her anger.
“Woke up so early, and didn’t even get a sip of water!”
Zhou Momo was terrified by her outburst, this reckless mistress of hers.
She stepped forward to whisper advice: “Mistress, outside, remember to watch your words and actions, don’t give anyone cause to fault the Eastern Palace.”
Yang Ni Shan snorted: “I’m hungry and thirsty now, can’t I even say that?!”
Wen Lier and Lin Fujia silently distanced themselves from her, not wanting to be implicated.
“Hmph!”
Yang Ni Shan shot them a cold glare and strode ahead.
Zhou Momo, looking pained, hurried after her.
Wen Lier shook her head, feeling Yang Ni Shan had been spoiled by her family.
This was the imperial palace, yet she spoke without restraint; if she didn’t change, it was very dangerous.
Back at Yaohua Hall, Qing Mei helped Wen Lier remove her cloak, while Qing Zhu poured her tea.
Mama Qin opened the sandalwood box bestowed by the Empress Dowager.
Wen Lier’s eyes instantly lit up.
It was a genuine Butterfly Gold Hairpin, seemingly quite valuable.
For their rank, this gift was quite generous.
When the palace maid brought breakfast, Wen Lier instructed Mama Qin to put the Butterfly Gold Hairpin away safely. Losing an item bestowed by the Empress Dowager could cost one’s head.
This New Year passed rather uneventfully for Wen Lier.
After the Lantern Festival, a heavy rain fell, the snow stopped, and the weather gradually warmed.
One evening, just after dinner, a eunuch from Yuqing Hall came to Yaohua Hall to announce.
Wen Lier was to prepare herself; she would be serving the Crown Prince tonight.
Mama Qin was overjoyed; after so long, the Crown Prince had finally remembered her mistress again.
As usual, she gave Wen Lier a thorough scrubbing from head to toe and reminded her once again to follow the same methods as her first night serving in the bedchamber, as the Crown Prince preferred it.
Wen Lier let the words go in one ear and out the other, completely ignoring her advice.
When she arrived at Yuqing Hall, the Crown Prince was reading this time.
The bedchamber was heated with charcoal, making it extremely warm.
As soon as Wen Lier entered, she felt herself growing rather hot.
Yan Shixu glanced at Wen Lier’s heavily bundled figure with some confusion.
“Is it truly that cold outside?”
Wen Lier blushed slightly and removed her furry cloak herself.
“This humble one has always been sensitive to cold since childhood. When winter comes, my hands and feet turn icy, so I tend to wear more layers than others.”
Yan Shixu thought to himself that this was certainly more than just “some” extra layers.
“Come sit here.” He patted the spot beside him.
Wen Lier slowly walked over to his side and secretly glanced at the book in his hand.
Dull political essays – this kind of reading material had never been able to hold her attention.
Yan Shixu looked up at her and asked, “It’s still early now. What time do you usually sleep?”
Wen Lier replied, “Around Xu hour.”
“Hmm… that’s not too early.”
“Yes, if the weather isn’t too cold, this humble one usually does something before sleeping.”
“What do you do?”
“Recently I’ve been studying chess manuals.”
Yan Shixu raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“Chess manuals? Xiangqi?”
“Weiqi.”
Hearing this, Yan Shixu became interested.
He put down the political essays in his hand, walked to a row of cabinets, and brought out a weiqi set.
“Care for a game?”
Wen Lier nodded happily. “That would be wonderful.”
Sister Lin hadn’t been willing to play chess with her recently, and Qing Zhu and Qing Mei didn’t know how to play. She had been reduced to playing against herself.
Seeing her quickly take the seat opposite him with some urgency, as if afraid he might change his mind, Yan Shixu smiled.
He methodically moved the memorials on the desk aside and set up the chess board.
Wen Lier watched as he set up the board and curiously reached out to touch it.
It was quite different from the one she used.
Why was it so golden? Could it be made of gold? That would be too extravagant.
Seeing the complete astonishment in her eyes, Yan Shixu couldn’t help but chuckle.
This Wen Fengyi practically wore all her thoughts on her face.
He explained, “This is made of golden nanmu wood with a layer of gold lacquer on the surface.”
Wen Lier thought to herself that golden nanmu was still extremely luxurious.
She reached for the chess pieces, which were made of warm jade and didn’t feel cold to the touch at all.
Wen Lier placed her white stone at the very corner of the intersecting grid lines on the board, then stared intently at the black stone in Yan Shixu’s hand with an extremely serious expression.
Yan Shixu had originally intended to ask how many years she had been studying chess and who she usually played with.
Seeing her so serious, he also straightened his expression and began playing with her.
However…
After three games, Yan Shixu couldn’t prevent the slight twitch at the corner of his eye.
Despite her imposing demeanor, Wen Lier turned out to be a terrible chess player.
She lost every game, and lost in exactly the same way each time.
Faced with such poor chess skills, Yan Shixu originally didn’t want to continue playing. But seeing that Wen Lier had already determinedly picked up her white stone again, he didn’t want to spoil her enjoyment and could only continue playing with her.
In the subsequent games, Yan Shixu barely focused on the chess at all, spending most of the time watching her instead.
Wen Lier was truly serious about the game, her facial expressions constantly changing along with her moves.
All her thoughts were written plainly on her face, making them easy to guess.
Seeing her deeply regretting a move she had just made, looking as though she desperately wanted to take it back yet forcing herself to resist the urge.
Yan Shixu’s eyes brimmed with amusement, and he began to play this round with genuine focus.
He carefully maneuvered the pieces, attempting to subtly let her win.
Then, Yan Shixu realized that when playing against her, he had to do the opposite.
No matter how hard he tried to let her win, she simply couldn’t seize victory, causing the game to stretch on longer than any before, and in turn, making it all the more challenging.