When Song Zhiluan left the residence, the streets were quiet as still water, with only a few flickering torches in the distance held by patrolling soldiers of the Golden Guard.
She had walked many such roads—more desolate, with colder night winds, where winter snow never fully cleared. Shop banners tangled in mountains of corpses and seas of blood, the blinding wind filled with faint cries for help.
Her sister, soft-hearted, rescued people from the rubble, but those saved snatched the food her sister had left for her.
That day, Song Zhiluan nearly starved to death.
When she woke, her mouth was stuffed with grass cakes. Her sister’s eyes were red, her thin arms clutching her tightly as if holding a rediscovered treasure. Song Zhiluan carefully cupped her sister’s hands and breathed warm air onto them, pretending not to see the man’s corpse or the blood on her face.
It was just an ordinary day in that year.
But every day of her life was bought with her sister’s sacrifice.
Clutching the red coral bead bracelet, Song Zhiluan said, "It’s a pity we came out too late, otherwise I could’ve bought you some steamed cakes from that shop, Zhinu. I remember you like them."
Zhinu looked at her eagerly. "Will you buy me some tomorrow, Your Highness?"
Yunu patted her head. "Shameless."
Song Zhiluan smiled faintly. "Yes! Whatever you want to eat, I’ll buy it. Yunu, your saddle and bridle are worn out too, aren’t they? Tomorrow, I’ll have someone buy new ones for you as well."
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Zhinu nestled against Song Zhiluan’s leg like a young swallow. "Don’t worry, Your Highness. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince promised to bring Princess Chaoyang back—he won’t break his word. She’ll return to the Imperial City soon."
Song Zhiluan’s smile faded slightly. Noticing both their gazes fixed on her, she paused, then said hoarsely, "You two are sisters, so it’s natural you understand each other, but how do you read my thoughts so clearly too?"
Zhinu puffed out her chest. "Because Zhinu is also Your Highness’s clam shell."
Auspicious Wedding.
Emperor Wuyang believed in tailoring education to each child’s talents. After Song Zhiluan became a princess, there was a period when she found the palace’s pipa music elegant and graceful, so she hired a tutor and studied through spring and summer. Sometimes, if she felt like painting, she would visit the Guozijian for guidance. But she never maintained interest in anything for long.
It seemed she could never commit to one thing.
Yet, this was already who-knew-how-many years she had liked Xie Yujin.
After becoming acquainted with Xie Yujin, she kept a little bird named Chirpy. Life in the military camp was too dull, and under her care, the bird grew plump and chirped all day long.
Xie Yujin found it annoying. He once dangled it by its tail, threatening to stew it.
She hurriedly rescued the bird and kept it safely in her room.
One day, the cage was open, and the bird was gone. She searched everywhere but couldn’t find it. When she went to Xie Yujin, she found him drinking bird soup.
She cried until she was gasping for breath.
Xie Yujin stiffened, awkwardly squatting before her to explain, "It’s too noisy. This isn’t Chirpy."
"I don’t believe you. It clearly is," she sobbed even harder, gathering her beloved pet’s remains before leaving resentfully. "Xie Yujin, I don’t want to be friends with you anymore."
For the next two days, Song Zhiluan didn’t see Xie Yujin. She carried the feathers with her and took the bones to a small hillside, intending to bury Chirpy.
Just as she started digging, a voice came from beside her:
"You can’t even tell a pigeon from a sparrow, Song Zhiluan. You’re hopeless."
Song Zhiluan turned around and saw Xie Yujin hooking a brand new cage with his finger—inside was Jiu Jiu.
Having wandered outside for two days, the bird looked as grimy as Xie Yujin himself, likely from crawling through some muddy ditch.
Overjoyed, she dropped her shovel. Realizing she had misjudged him, she stood on tiptoe to brush the weeds from his hair and said with slight awkwardness, "You… spent these two days searching for Jiu Jiu?"
Xie Yujin kept his head lowered until she finished, then straightened up. Fine scratches from grass blades marked his face as he raised an eyebrow: "Not that idle. I passed by the waterfall—this bird’s screeching was unmistakable. Caught it on my way to save you from sulking all day and ignoring calls."
"When did you ever call for me?" Song Zhiluan felt a pang of guilt.
Xie Yujin seemed to recall something unpleasant. Lifting the cage, he walked away while remarking coolly:
"You know perfectly well."
Six months into marriage, Song Zhiluan had initially put on a show of managing household affairs to placate the Xie family elders. But within months, her patience wore thin. After sending a few clever maids to the palace for training, she delegated oversight to Zhinu, only checking in occasionally—far more leisurely than before.
These days, Song Zhiluan seldom left the Princess Manor. Yet Xie Yujin often traveled on military inspections. She joined when possible; otherwise, she visited the palace to play with her younger sisters. The four-year-old fourth princess was particularly docile, always begging for hugs and kisses. Had their father permitted it, she would have loved to bring Ming Shan to the Guo Gong Fu for a few days.
In these early years of the new dynasty, Xu Xiang frequently invited colleagues to the polo grounds outside the city. Northern aristocratic youths adored polo, and the sport quickly swept through court circles. Song Zhiluan had played a few times, but opponents always held back due to her status. Bored, she rarely participated.
This time, however, Xie Yujin was attending. Suddenly interested, Song Zhiluan decided to change into riding gear and accompany him.
As her maid applied makeup, Song Zhiluan shook her head at the mirror when lip rouge was offered: "Skip it. Too much lip rouge harms the body."
Though the maid was similar in age and well-acquainted with palace customs, she still flushed after a moment’s comprehension.
Zhinu approached with warm jade ornaments for Song Zhiluan, muttering, "If I were the consort, I wouldn’t need Your Highness to take initiative—I’d be unable to resist kissing you at sight."
Song Zhiluan remained unruffled. She quite enjoyed taking charge in such matters; Xie Yujin’s aloofness only spurred her on. But since Zhinu was two years younger, she merely hummed in response without elaboration.
Upon departure, Xie Yujin sat upright on his blue-maned horse while the household prepared a carriage for her—standard protocol for royal processions with elaborate pomp. Weary of the formality, Song Zhiluan dismissed the entourage and approached Xie Yujin: "I’m not taking the carriage. I want to ride."
Xie Yujin looked down: "Your Highness may summon a horse if you wish to ride."
She wagged a finger. "No. I want to share your horse."
"In public, Your Highness ought to maintain decorum."
With that, he showed no intention of letting her mount, tugging the reins to turn his horse.
"Decorum? Why don’t you enforce it at night?"
The attendants nearby immediately bowed their heads.
Xie Yujin cast a profound glance at her, his brow seemingly veiled in a chill, the words "hopeless" written all over his expression. His tall figure rode away on horseback.
Song Zhiluan beamed.
Yunu moved to block his path but was stopped. The young woman mounted her horse, leaning forward to stroke the horse's mane as she said with a laugh, "Dear horse, dear horse, thank you for carrying me. Your great general doesn't like me clinging to him in public. Let's wait until there are fewer people around, or if he truly gets angry, I'll have to find a way to coax him again. Don't you agree?"
Seeing that Song Zhiluan showed no sign of displeasure, Yunu and Zhinu also mounted their horses and followed. Several maids who knew how to ride gathered their belongings and departed as well.
Since galloping was forbidden in the bustling market, Song Zhiluan soon caught up with Xie Yujin. They rode for another half-hour before reaching the city gate.
Once outside the city walls, Song Zhiluan tugged on the reins, blocking Xie Yujin's path. Gazing at his expressionless face, she tentatively said, "There are far fewer people outside the city. I want to ride with you on the same horse."
Xie Yujin remained silent. Before he could react, Song Zhiluan leaped off her horse, grabbed the saddle, and swung herself up in one fluid motion.
She settled against his chest, feeling at ease. "Just like this, Xie Yujin. Keep an eye on me so I don't fall. I'm going to close my eyes and rest for a while."
Xie Yujin lowered his head slightly, his chin brushing against the top of Song Zhiluan's hair.
He raised his head, his tone flat, "If you're tired, ride in the carriage."
"You've been marching and fighting all these years—haven't you had enough of riding? Why won't you share a carriage with me?"
"…"
"Even if you don't say it, I can guess. You just don't want to be close to me." Song Zhiluan's voice suddenly grew very soft.
She rarely spoke in such a tone.
Xie Yujin's gaze focused, slowly shifting to her.
"Sometimes I truly don't understand what I've done to upset you. Why, since you entered the Imperial City and put on that official's uniform, have you grown more and more distant? It makes me feel as though everything from the past was just a dream of mine."
If only he would treat her well because of her status as a princess, like others did.
Song Zhiluan's despondency was brief, her smile returning quickly. "But it doesn't matter. We still have plenty of time."
Xie Yujin looked at her smiling face, as if nothing in this world could discourage her.
"Aren't you tired?" A light, masculine voice came from above.
Song Zhiluan raised an eyebrow in imitation of him, a teasing glint in her eyes, as if to say, "Well? And then?"
Then Song Zhiluan felt an arm wrap around her waist, pressing her against the solid chest behind her. Xie Yujin released the reins, guiding the horse with only one hand.
"Then sleep properly."
Song Zhiluan leaned her head back against his shoulder and teased, "Why are you holding me, Xie Yujin? Afraid I'll fall off if I fall asleep? Hmm?"
Xie Yujin's dark eyes lowered. As soon as the hand on her waist loosened two fingers, Song Zhiluan closed her eyes and declared earnestly, "I won't say another word. I'm asleep."
She pressed both hands over his, just to be safe.
His arm felt as if it were resting on a layer of soft cheese—smooth and tender, as though she might slip off the horse at any moment.
Xie Yujin pulled her closer against himself, frowning imperceptibly.
Song Zhiluan had become more troublesome than before.