"She didn't send anyone."
Her entire body felt as if immersed in the fragrant brew of early spring flower wine.
New grass sprouted, filling the air with the fresh scent of damp earth.
Sparrows chirped incessantly, and rain-soaked branches hung low, their leaves drooping. A glistening droplet of water plopped onto the young girl's fair cheek.
A gentle breeze whispered by.
A scented handkerchief wiped away that drop of rain.
Song Zhiluan’s eyes snapped open, and she seized the owner of the handkerchief.
The dizzying sunlight nearly blinded her for a moment.
A canopy of lush greenery flooded her vision through half-opened eyes.
The breeze was mild, the sun warm, and tree shadows swayed gently.
A girl in a lotus-pink ruqun dress bent over, gazing down at her.
The girl seemed slightly startled. "Your Highness? What’s wrong?"
"Zhinu?"
Song Zhiluan’s heart trembled, and tears instantly overflowed. She crawled forward on the beauty couch and wrapped her arms tightly around Zhinu.
"Am I dreaming?"
Zhinu chuckled softly, her hand warm and gentle on Song Zhiluan’s shoulder. "It’s not a dream, Your Highness. You’ve been asleep until noon."
As Song Zhiluan embraced her, Zhinu noticed the tears in her eyes and patted her back soothingly. "What’s wrong, Your Highness? Did you have another nightmare? Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. Zhinu has been right here watching over you."
Song Zhiluan held Zhinu even tighter, her gaze cautiously scanning the surroundings.
Elegant pavilions with crimson eaves, carved railings and jade-like masonry, pear trees adorned with tender buds.
These jade-white pear blossoms, tributes from thousands of miles away, bloomed with unparalleled splendor.
In the entire Imperial City, only the palace and her Princess Manor had such trees.
The hazy sunlight strained her eyes as she stared upward for too long.
Yet, the warmth enveloping her was impossible to ignore.
She reached a hand to her chest. Just moments ago… hadn’t she been in Xu Yaochen’s private residence?
"Could it be… that I’ve become an immortal?"
She had once heard in operas that when mortals ascend to immortality, they are granted their own celestial abode. She had been away from the Princess Manor for so many years. If she hadn’t become an immortal, why would these trees appear smaller, yet lush and untouched by dust?
And her Zhinu—
Zhinu, who had died shielding her from an arrow.
"Your Highness drank too much yesterday and still hasn’t fully sobered up. Becoming an immortal? Are you saying you’ve wandered through the celestial realms like in those storybooks?" Zhinu couldn’t hold back her laughter.
Song Zhiluan observed the bustling servants and patrolling guards, gradually realizing something was amiss. "Drinking?"
Zhinu nodded. "Yes, Your Highness, don’t you remember? A few days ago, His Majesty summoned you to the palace, intending to arrange a marriage for you. You refused and went drinking at the tavern yesterday to drown your sorrows."
"Your Highness also said that upon waking, you had instructions for Yunu, telling her to come to the rear garden tomorrow at noon."
Song Zhiluan’s mind gradually cleared.
Goosebumps erupted all over her body, rising to her scalp.
Those words reminded her of events from long ago.
While Song Dingyuan was still alive, he had tacitly approved her marriage to Xu Yaochen. At that time, she had been stubborn, refusing to yield despite Song Dingyuan’s repeated attempts to persuade her. Song Huaizhang had promised to petition for her marriage, but who knew how long that would take?
Song Dingyuan’s patience was limited, and she grew anxious. After a night of heavy drinking, she ordered Yunu to infiltrate the tavern and kidnap Xie Yujin, bringing him to the Princess Manor.
If her memory served her right, Yunu should arrive soon with that item.
Noon had just arrived.
Yunu’s figure appeared at the moon gate. She held a jug of wine, her long eyebrows arching elegantly. Her usually calm and composed face softened visibly at the sight of them. "Your Highness is awake."
Zhinu said, "Why are you tempting Her Highness with another jar of wine? I noticed she hasn't even sobered up from last night's drinking, and besides… isn't this the medicinal wine I brewed? Why did you dig this out?"
Her slightly reproachful voice sounded like heavenly music to Song Zhiluan's ears.
As Yunu just stood still, Song Zhiluan rushed over and embraced her tightly, weeping with joy: "It matches, everything matches."
Though she didn't know the reason, she had actually returned to the past!
This was simply heaven giving her a chance to start over.
Yunu somewhat awkwardly held Song Zhiluan, suddenly feeling dampness on her shoulder. She immediately tightened her embrace: "Your Highness?"
"It's nothing," Song Zhiluan lifted her sleeve to wipe away tears, her eyes red as she said: "I'm just too happy."
"Yunu, Zhinu, I will definitely make sure you live with the utmost glory." Song Zhiluan smiled faintly, her voice choked with emotion, "More glorious than ever before."
And Eldest Sister too.
She would definitely ensure Eldest Sister returned safely to the Imperial City.
No matter who stood in her way.
If gods block her path, she'll slay gods; if buddhas block her path, she'll slay buddhas.
Zhinu enthusiastically responded: "If Your Highness says so, then it will surely come true!"
"Mm, give me the wine."
Zhinu had secretly snatched the wine from Yunu's hands earlier. Reluctantly, she said: "Your Highness, the medicinal wine I brew isn't for casual drinking. Although this jar doesn't have strong medicinal properties, compared to ordinary fruit wine, its aftereffects are powerful. If you get drunk, you won't wake up for two or three days."
Song Zhiluan said: "I'm not going to drink it."
A thought suddenly occurred to Zhinu, "Could it be that Your Highness wants Yunu to give this wine to someone else to drink?"
Song Zhiluan smiled and shook her head.
Zhinu handed the wine to Song Zhiluan.
Song Zhiluan looked at the jar of wine and murmured softly: "Let's temporarily call what happened there a dream. It was truly a heart-wrenching dream… In the dream, I vaguely remember giving this jar of wine to someone, and that was when it all began…"
She didn't finish her sentence.
Yunu continued: "Began what?"
"That was when I started down a wrong path."
Some images inexplicably flashed through Zhinu's mind, "Who was that person?"
Song Zhiluan paused, seemingly struggling to recall, "I can't remember either."
"But no matter who he is, he has nothing to do with me now."
Song Zhiluan pulled out the wooden stopper and poured the wine into the pond. The pool of shattered gold was broken, sparkling with ripples. Lotus leaves trembled slightly as several small fish swam happily among the broad leaves.
"I say, General Xie, usually I never see you touch alcohol. Today I came fully prepared to persuade you to drink, but you're drinking bowl after bowl, making me seem ignorant." Song Zhen clicked his tongue while looking at the sea bowl in front of him.
The young man sitting across from him appeared slightly tense. The noisy streets and clamoring drinkers made his demeanor seem even colder and more distant.
Song Zhen waited for a while but received no response. From next door, some young master shouted hoarsely: "Princess Linghuai actually picked five entertainers to enter her residence today, breaking all precedent! This young master thinks those people are quite ordinary-looking. Except for the one in red who's slightly more handsome than me, I don't know how she chose the others!"
"Perhaps Princess Linghuai has been in a good mood lately."
"In my opinion, it must be that Princess Linghuai and Minister Xu's son are about to announce their engagement. The princess probably wants to enjoy a few more carefree days before marrying."
"Come now, after Princess Linghuai marries, whatever she wishes to do, wouldn't His Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince both dote on her? Taking in a few entertainers is nothing—who would dare say a word against it?"
"Don't speak too soon. I've heard that Hanlin Scholar Xu and Princess Linghuai grew up together. Perhaps Scholar Xu truly can make her settle down."
The tavern owner passed by carrying a pot of wine, her smile coquettish as she looked at the crowd. "Exactly. I still remember the day Scholar Xu achieved the top rank in the imperial examinations, parading through the streets on horseback—what splendid elegance! Young, accomplished, and born into a prestigious family—how could such a man not stir a woman's heart?"
"…"
A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd. Everyone was immersed in the festive atmosphere of the New Year, their faces glowing with joy.
Song Zhen rested his arm on his knee, shaking his head with a laugh. "Expecting Xu Yaochen to keep an eye on Linghuai? That's truly the funniest joke I've heard today. He has always been obedient to her—a man who usually restrains himself to uphold propriety, yet around her, he casts all rules aside."
A faint trace of bewilderment flickered in Xie Yujin's eyes as he stared blankly at the pot of wine before him. "Why am I not drunk yet?"
"I was just about to ask the same. You're really hiding your capacity—after a whole pot, your face isn't even flushed." Song Zhen, already drunk, chuckled merrily. "By the way, let me tell you, a few days ago, Linghuai was being unusually attentive to you. I thought she had truly taken a liking to you. Thankfully, she's finally calmed down these past couple of days. Otherwise, with one brother and one sister, I'd be in a difficult position."
Before he could finish, Song Zhen slumped over the table, dead drunk.
The night grew deeper.
Xie Yujin sat on the high platform, one leg propped up, taking occasional sips of wine.
The moonlight stretched his shadow long.
In Zhaoren Ward, the Princess Manor was adorned with lanterns and decorations, radiant and brilliant.
"Young master, have you thought it through? Once you sign this life-and-death contract, there's no turning back." In the dimly lit secret chamber, filled with a foul smell mixed with lime, the castrator raised his crescent-shaped blade, its cold gleam falling upon the youth's face, fresh as spring breeze and dew.
On the greasy table before them lay a thick stack of life-and-death contracts. From the castration room, screams echoed incessantly.
Even so, a long line still waited outside.
Yet, Yu Xinci showed no sign of unease, instead wearing a gentle smile that made the castrator uneasy. "Sir, it's signed. I trouble you to proceed."
"You, a young man in the prime of youth, handsome and talented, and having trained in the Pear Garden—you could rival even the dashing gentlemen in Princess Linghuai's manor. Why worry about finding work to support yourself? Once this cut is made, forget about seeking fortune in the palace—it's uncertain whether you'll remain human or become a ghost."
The castrator took the contract, briefly scanning the elegant handwriting, then frowned as if realizing something. "Are you from a base lineage?"
Yu Xinci: "Yes."
"Surely it's more than that—not just a base lineage, but the son of an official family reduced to such status?" The castrator's expression instantly changed. "Though descendants of disgraced officials aren't explicitly forbidden from serving as eunuchs, which department in the Inner Palace would dare take you? If anything goes wrong, it's a matter of losing heads. You'd better seek another path."
Only then did Yu Xinci's expression shift slightly, but he did not leave. Instead, he lifted the hem of his robe and knelt. "This humble one has nowhere to go. I beg you, sir, to make an exception and perform the cleansing. If I find a way forward in the future, I will never forget your kindness…"
"Go on, get out!" The castrator didn't even let him finish before shoving him out. "You're not the first descendant of a disgraced official to come here, nor will you be the last. Let's be clear – what's going through your minds isn't hard to guess at all. But I can't afford to bring trouble upon myself! Gratitude? The greatest favor you could do me right now is leave!"
The door slammed shut in Yu Xinci's face.
He clenched his fists in the shadows, sitting motionless for a long while before feeling for the single ear pearl in his sleeve. As the streets began filling with people and horses, Yu Xinci tucked away the ear pearl and disappeared into the impoverished alleyways.
Meanwhile, at the imperial training grounds, a guards general in soft armor was drilling soldiers on horseback, his expression severe. Outside a jewelry shop by the coastal city of Yuanzhou, a youth of seventeen or eighteen was inventorying accessories, his left hand flying across the abacus. In the vast desert, a group of fugitives had reached dead end when they stumbled upon the traveling King of Xiyi by Precious Spring…
…
Outside the manor of the imperial family's most favored princess stood a figure clad in plain white.
Zhinu collected the name card from the doorman: "Your Highness, Imperial Academician Xu has come. Will you see him?"
The propped window framed a small world of its own. On the writing desk sat a mortar and several pottery dishes holding separated pigments. Song Zhiluan, using a plum branch dipped in gold powder, was painting.
"Your Highness?"
Setting down the peach branch, Song Zhiluan said: "I will see him."
For the longest time, she had carried guilt in her heart regarding Xu Yaochen.
Aside from Yunu and Zhinu, only Xu Yaochen would build fires to ward off the cold for her. He had risked his life to save them, yet she had never found the chance to properly thank him.
"Honored guests, dawn approaches. Would you care for something to fill your stomachs?"
The waiter bowed slightly as he served sobering tea to two nobly-dressed youths in the elegant seats. "Our braised mandarin fish and jade tofu are unparalleled. The morning vegetables are freshly picked by farmers – refreshing and appetite-whetting."
Xie Yujin slowly lifted his eyelids.
The Imperial City lay prostrate beneath the dawn, veiled in thin mist. Leaning against the window frame, the bloodshot lines in his eyes were clearly visible.
Song Zhiluan had sent no one for him last night.