Yi Yi slept long and deeply, not sitting up until the sun was high in the sky.
“Oh no!” She patted her head in dismay. “How did I eat it all?”
She had planned to spread that meal out over five whole days!
Her big eyes darted around the room, but Jiang Wantang was nowhere to be seen.
“Where’s Mummy?” she asked Qinghe.
Qinghe had just finished preparing water for her bath and now lifted the little girl out of bed to wash and dress her. “Her Ladyship has gone to see His Majesty.”
She had left early that morning, looking rather unsettled.
Qinghe lifted Yi Yi higher in her arms and was surprised by how heavy the child felt she had put on even more weight in just one day.
“Mummy went to play with Daddy… why didn’t she wake me?” Yi Yi’s expression turned into a pout of hurt grievance.
Qinghe bit back a laugh, not daring to say that the little princess had slept like a log. Instead, she comforted her: “Her Ladyship gave special orders that as soon as you woke, I was to bring you straight to the Purple Star Palace.”
In truth, Jiang Wantang had given no such instruction but Qinghe thought it only right. Now that His Majesty finally had an heir, the bond between father and daughter ought to be nurtured well.
Reassured, Yi Yi cheered up at once. As soon as she was dressed, she hurried off eagerly toward the Purple Star Palace.
Inside the Purple Star Palace
“Your Majesty, Consort Xi requests an audience.”
Dongfang Mo paused, looking slightly puzzled.
Ever since this woman had entered the palace, she had done her best to avoid him. For her to seek him out on her own today was most unusual.
He waved a hand. “Let her in.”
Jiang Wantang stepped into the room.
She wore a long gown of pale white, tied at the waist with a soft green ribbon. Her makeup was light and simple, yet it could not hide her striking beauty.
She looked less like an imperial consort and more like a skilled healer from some apothecary though a healer with a face as cold as ice.
She walked forward, bowed stiffly, and spoke formally: “Your servant greets Your Majesty. May you enjoy long life and peace.”
Dongfang Mo set down the memorial he was reading and leaned back in his chair. “What brings you here?”
He could only imagine it was something to do with that little troublemaker otherwise, he could think of no other reason she would come to see him. And clearly, she was not here to exchange pleasantries.
Sure enough, Jiang Wantang took a deep breath. “Forgive my boldness, Your Majesty.” She lifted her head and met his gaze directly. “The day we returned to the palace, Yi Yi swallowed a Gu worm. How could you keep such a dangerous matter from me?”
Yi Yi was her daughter, born in secret without Dongfang Mo’s knowledge but she had never regretted it.
Without Yi Yi, she would have perished long ago…
Dongfang Mo was the Emperor, with many consorts and many more children to come. But Yi Yi was her one and only.
Nothing mattered more than her daughter’s safety.
She had hoped that once back in the palace, Yi Yi would be safe and protected. Instead, danger seemed to follow her at every turn.
Tears welled in her eyes as she sank to her knees. “Your Majesty, I beg you fulfill your duty as a father.”
Dongfang Mo stood and walked over to her. “Stand up.”
“I admit, I did not handle this well. When I learned she was unharmed, I thought there was no need to alarm you.”
He paused, then told her exactly what Bai Ningbing had discovered during his examination.
“I swear I will take full responsibility as her father.” He spoke with complete seriousness, looking straight into her eyes.
A true man stands by his word and more so, an Emperor’s promise is unbreakable.
Jiang Wantang fell silent, surprised by his frank and solemn response.
She had come prepared for a difficult confrontation, even ready to risk his anger and punishment just to demand answers for her daughter’s sake. Now that the weight of worry was lifted, she felt almost dazed.
“Mummy! Daddy! Why didn’t you wait for me?”
It was Yi Yi’s voice.
Seeing her daughter arrive, Jiang Wantang knelt down and opened her arms.
The little girl trotted over and threw herself into her mother’s embrace. “Mummy, Yi Yi missed you so much!”
Even after being spanked twice the night before, she still clung to her mother with all her heart.
Jiang Wantang’s heart melted completely she could never resist her daughter’s sweet ways.
“Daddy, Yi Yi missed you too!” Yi Yi turned around and ran to hug Dongfang Mo as well, determined to share her affection equally.
Dongfang Mo copied Jiang Wantang and knelt to return the hug.
Eunuch Li stood by, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. The Emperor’s image as a loving father was growing brighter by the moment!
Do not look where you ought not… do not see what you ought not… he reminded himself, then discreetly withdrew and sent for the morning meal from the kitchen.
After breakfast, Jiang Wantang took Yi Yi out to play, while Dongfang Mo headed for the Imperial Study.
Inside the Imperial Study
“Red Hawk.”
Dongfang Mo spoke softly. The air shifted, and a figure stepped out from the shadows. “Your Majesty, how may I serve you?”
Red Hawk was Dongfang Mo’s most trusted hidden guard, and one of the greatest martial artists in the entire realm.
The missions given to him were always of the highest importance.
But today…
“Go outside the palace gates and look for books on raising and caring for children.”
Red Hawk blinked in confusion. “Your Majesty… do you wish me to eliminate the children of some official?”
Surely he had misinterpreted the order.
Dongfang Mo sighed silently. “That is all. And make sure no word of this leaks out.”
Red Hawk said no more, though still utterly bewildered, before vanishing again.
Outside the Palace
The capital was bustling with activity these days.
With the great state banquet approaching, envoys from every nation were arriving in droves. The inns and guest houses were all filled to capacity.
Among them, the envoys from the Southern Tribes stood out clearly dressed in robes of deep blue and purple, adorned with many silver ornaments that jingled softly with every step they took.
“They look so beautiful,” some of the people of Great Xia murmured in admiration.
One of the Southern envoys heard them and sneered in disdain. “These people of Great Xia know nothing of true beauty.”
He spoke in his own tongue, so no one around him understood.
“Before long, Great Xia will become our vassal state. This is how we shall avenge our defeat ten years ago.” He patted the bundle at his side, his meaning clear.
“Yes, and when that day comes, all the fairest women of this land shall belong to us.”
While the envoys arrived, a rumor also began to spread through the city.
It was said that Emperor Jing, who had been without an heir for six years, had finally welcomed a daughter but the child was willful, spoiled, and arrogant. Just a few days earlier, it was claimed, she had abused her father’s favor and driven one of the imperial consorts to her death.
Many officials, upon hearing this, grew indignant. They declared they would speak out and protest such injustice.
With only one daughter in the entire harem, the line of succession was far from secure. What the realm truly needed was a prince to inherit the throne.
The Day of the State Banquet
Yi Yi was woken early and carried out by Qinghe to be dressed and styled.
Since it was a grand occasion, she was given a far more formal outfit than usual.
Dongfang Mo had ordered it specially made: a long gown of rich crimson silk woven with threads of gold, patterned with drifting clouds. The hem shimmered with hidden golden streaks that glinted with every step she took.
Over this, she wore a short cape of apricot yellow, which made her delicate little face look even more adorable.
Yi Yi let Jiang Wantang hold her hand, standing still and obedient but her eyes darted everywhere, curious about everything around her.
“Yi Yi, there will be many people today. Do not run off on your own. If anything happens, come straight to Mummy, do you understand?”
Yi Yi nodded solemnly, promising to behave.
They soon reached the great banquet hall. Jiang Wantang led Yi Yi to the section reserved for consorts and found a quiet corner to sit, waiting for the ceremony to begin.