“What’s this? Is the tea here with this princess inferior to the Princess Consort’s tea? Do your household’s seats have ranks of high and low?”
Lin Zhaoyang was the legitimate daughter of the Empress of Great Jing, deeply favored and supremely noble. Especially with the character “Zhao” in her name — the current reign title was *Zhaoming*. It showed the Emperor’s affection. If she did not wish to give face, then no one could make her.
The attendant aunt was flustered, forcing a dry smile. “It was this servant’s slip of the tongue. Our Princess Consort only wished to speak with Miss Dou, since she had not seen her for many years.”
Dou Xueci rose. She understood roughly what the Princess Consort intended, though she doubted she would let it succeed. “Princess, this humble girl will go and return shortly.”
Lin Zhaoyang frowned in displeasure, but not at Dou Xueci — she glared at the attendant who had delivered the message.
As Dou Xueci stood and walked away, Lou Yuanduo was proudly holding the prize he had just won — a pair of finely crafted golden phoenix necklaces.
“This humble girl greets Princess Consort Pingnan.”
The Princess Consort’s features carried a certain sharpness, with a touch of heroic spirit. Her gaze softened as she looked at Dou Xueci, patting the seat beside her. “Come sit. It has been many years since I last saw you. Good child, how are you now?”
“Thank you for Your Ladyship’s concern. I am much recovered, only the injury to my hand remains — I can no longer wield a sword.” She looked at her wrist, where even now a faint scar remained.
The Princess Consort’s eyes filled with pity. She stroked Dou Xueci’s head like a kindly elder. “What a shame. Your swordsmanship was excellent before — even that boy Yuanduo was no match for you.”
Dou Xueci had great talent. Since childhood, she had trained under the Duke. By the age of eleven, she could defeat every child her age in the capital, like a little conqueror. But now she was quiet and gentle, with no trace of her former self. The Princess Consort felt a pang of sorrow for no reason.
She felt a pang of sympathy — after all, wasn’t she the same? The Princess Consort Pingnan also came from a family of generals.
“Go call Yuanduo over.” The Princess Consort suddenly furrowed her brow, then turned back to Dou Xueci. “You and your senior brother haven’t seen each other in so long. That boy Yuanduo has often thought of you these past three years.”
Dou Xueci gave a faint smile but did not reply.
Lou Yuanduo, truly? In her three years in Yongzhou, he hadn’t sent her a single letter.
After a while, the attendant returned, looking uneasy.
“Your Ladyship, the heir said he must deliver something first, and will come later.”
Dou Xueci’s smile grew more genuine. She understood — the Princess Consort had summoned her only to use their past bond to persuade Lou Yuanduo to give her the prize.
But how could the Princess Consort know? Her precious son, upon seeing Zhuang Wanqing, could not take a single step away. His eyes and heart were filled with her alone.
On the polo field, the spirited young man carried the golden phoenix necklaces like a treasure, and in full view of the crowd, placed them before Zhuang Wanqing.
The Princess Consort’s face darkened completely, her gaze on Zhuang Wanqing heavy with gloom.
Dou Xueci felt the air around her grow cold, like a storm about to break.
Just earlier, Zhuang Wanqing had drawn the Crown Prince and Lou Yuanduo to her defense. The commotion hadn’t even settled, and now Lou Yuanduo was adding fuel to the fire.
“Your Ladyship, the Princess is still waiting for me. I shall take my leave.”
The Princess Consort forced a smile. “Very well, go.”
Dou Xueci bowed and withdrew.
At that moment, Yuxuan returned and whispered at her side, “Miss, the Crown Prince’s poetry contest results are out. The champion is not Cousin. It’s Nanny Wan’s son, Master Kang.”
Dou Xueci smiled knowingly. Just as she expected, her milk‑brother Kang Xuan was truly a man of great talent. Back then, Dou Mingxiao falsely accused him and broke his leg — partly because of Dou Xueci, and partly out of jealousy for Kang Xuan’s talent.
The poetry contest Dou Mingxiao won was nothing more than flattery from others; he himself knew it well.
And today, in her previous life, this polo gathering was also secretly a meeting where the Crown Prince sought to recruit talented scholars. At that time, Zou Yunjian won the championship. His background was poor, his name obscure in the capital. Some young noblemen, displeased that he had outshone them, secretly ambushed him to teach him a lesson.
Unexpectedly, they encountered Zhuang Wanqing strolling with the Crown Prince. Even when harassed, Zou Yunjian did not bend his spine in the slightest. He reasoned calmly and eloquently, leaving those young men who tried to humiliate him utterly ashamed.
The Crown Prince admired his integrity and scholarly bearing, and thus grew fond of him. They drank together, speaking from poetry and literature to matters of livelihood, and the Crown Prince valued him more and more.
The following year, Zou Yunjian ranked third in the imperial examinations, becoming a trusted aide of the Crown Prince.
With both the Duke’s household and the Crown Prince behind him, his rise was smooth and swift.
Until…
Dou Xueci stopped her thoughts there. In this life, with her as the obstacle, Zou Yunjian would not have such an easy path.
Returning to sit again beside Princess Langhuan, Dou Xueci kept her eyes on Zhuang Wanqing. When she saw her rise and leave, Dou Xueci also found an excuse to slip away.
“Where is Zhanqi?” Dou Xueci asked.
“He’s already blended into the Crown Prince’s poetry gathering. He also told this servant to inform you — Zou Yuanjin deliberately provoked several young noblemen today.”
Dou Xueci raised her brows slightly. So perhaps in her past life, those men troubling Zou Yunjian had been part of his own scheme. Indeed — how convenient it was that the Crown Prince happened upon it.
The polo gathering was held at one of the Pingnan Prince’s estates, with gardens for guests to enjoy. In winter, vast groves of red plum trees bloomed there. Though snow weighed down the branches, from afar they still looked like clouds of fire.
Dou Xueci followed Zhuang Wanqing at a measured distance until she saw her meet with the Crown Prince.
She couldn’t hear what the two were saying; she only saw Zhuang Wanqing crying again, like a weeping doll. The Crown Prince, from his initial indifference, gradually showed tenderness in his eyes.
Indeed, men always fall for this act — born with cheap bones.
“Miss, there’s movement ahead,” Yuxuan whispered. As a shadow guard, her hearing was exceptionally sharp.
Dou Xueci hid behind a rockery, watching as Zhuang Wanqing and the Crown Prince also stopped in their tracks.
Both groups turned their eyes toward the same place — Zou Yunjian and seven or eight young noblemen.
“Look at yourself, thinking a couple of sour poems could win the Crown Prince’s favor. You’re still no better than a servant. Since you’re all in the Duke’s household, why didn’t you learn properly from Kang Xuan?”
Kang Xuan had not been well known before, but after accusing Dou Mingxiao, he gained some fame. Especially among poor scholars, he was admired. They saw him as unafraid of power, a model for all who studied.
But Kang Xuan’s background was plain to see. Though Nanny Wan’s family had long been freed from servitude, the past was not easily erased. In the eyes of noble families, he was still a servant. Unless fate truly favored him, allowing him to leap like a carp into the dragon’s gate.
At this moment, Zou Yunjian had fallen to the ground, shoved by the servant of one of those arrogant young men.
Again, they brought up Kang Xuan, and Zou Yunjian grew irritated, feeling the day was slipping out of his control. First, Kang Xuan had stolen the championship, and now these nobles were more troublesome than expected.
“Young Master Kang’s poetry is outstanding, with the elegance of a clear breeze. Naturally, I admire him. But you hurl insults, even raise fists — is this not what *The Rat* condemns: ‘A man without propriety, why not die swiftly’? Even if I knew the Crown Prince was coming, I would never stoop to flattery! And besides, I did not know!”
Listening secretly from the shadows, Lin Heyi’s eyes showed admiration. Even in disadvantage, Zou Yunjian remained neither servile nor arrogant, and did not fawn upon authority. He truly carried the bearing of a scholar‑official.