A cool breeze slipped through flowing sleeves. It was already past the middle of the Hour of the Snake. The morning glow had only just begun to spread across the sky.
Within the Zhongcui Palace, everyone busied themselves beneath a veneer of peaceful silence. They moved lightly and quietly, making scarcely a sound. Only the wind circled beneath the upturned eaves of the pavilion, idly disturbing the perfectly still emerald pond, whose surface had frozen into a thin sheet of ice.
Consort Chun had risen early. After returning from paying her respects at Kunning Palace, she stood motionless before the lotus pond without saying a word.
The servants who had attended her for many years understood perfectly well that this was one of those moments when the wisest course of action was to pretend they did not exist. Better to keep silent than risk displeasing Her Highness. After all, preserving one’s life mattered most.
Only after a long while did Consort Chun finally move.
She removed a jade-green hairpin from her hair and, without the slightest trace of reluctance, placed it gently upon the frozen surface. Her gaze was cold, yet layered with emotions too complicated to decipher.
Beside her, Aunt Yu supported her arm, lowering her head even further.
Consort Chun merely let out a cold laugh before turning away as though nothing had happened. With graceful steps, she entered her chambers. After all the palace maids had withdrawn, she beckoned Aunt Yu closer and spoke in a low voice.
“Deliver a letter for me later. It must reach its destination as quickly as possible.”
“This servant understands.”
After all, this was hardly the first time she had carried out such an errand.
The beautiful consort finally exhaled softly before asking casually,
“What has my son been doing today? Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him for two days already.”
“Replying to Your Highness, His Majesty summoned the First Prince to the Hall of Mental Cultivation this morning to examine his policy essays. He should already be on his way back.”
A crack finally appeared in the complicated emotions filling Consort Chun’s eyes.
“Has there been any letter from Qinghe Commandery?”
“Not this month, Your Highness. But there’s no need to worry too much. Given Qinghe Commandery’s influence and standing…”
After Aunt Yu departed, Consort Chun remained alone in the palace.
Her expression gradually returned to its usual languid elegance. Before long, she reclined upon the cushioned couch and drifted back to sleep.
When she awoke, Aunt Yu had returned just in time.
“The letter has been safely delivered into that person’s hands. They replied that they will enter the palace to meet Your Highness in one hour.”
Consort Chun nodded in satisfaction.
“Help me up. Change my hair ornaments and see that I’m dressed and made up properly.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
By the Hour of the Monkey, Consort Chun had finished dressing.
Clad in a crimson gown, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
Not long after stepping outside, her gaze fell upon a flourishing red plum blossom growing beside the palace wall. Old memories stirred within her, and she instinctively reached out to pluck it.
It had been planted there years ago by order of Emperor Ren’an, the very year she had first entered his favor.
She alone in the entire imperial harem had received such an honor.
Years had passed since then.
The blossoms grew fuller and more brilliant with every season.
Yet she herself grew weaker by the day.
Fortunately, she still had a son and a daughter.
They had become her only hope in this mortal world.
Footsteps approached from behind.
Consort Chun paused, withdrew her hand, and spared the plum blossom from being picked.
“You’re here.”
She had always loved the depths of winter within the imperial palace.
…
At the same time, within the city of Lanling, maple leaves blazed like fire, painting the forests crimson.
One figure dressed in black and another in blue wandered through the bustling streets.
Since they were traveling on official business, they had deliberately kept a low profile after leaving the capital.
They dressed like ordinary children of wealthy families—respectable enough not to appear shabby, yet inconspicuous enough to avoid attracting attention. Even their travel documents had been forged.
Standing side by side, they looked every bit like an ordinary pair of siblings.
It was Pei Yunting’s first time leaving Yanjing.
Before setting out, she had reread the travel journal written by Master Cian countless times. She had even painstakingly copied every scenic destination worth visiting into a small notebook.
Throughout the journey, she tugged at Yan Huaijin’s sleeve, chatting endlessly.
Her peach blossom eyes sparkled with excitement at every unfamiliar sight beyond Yanjing.
She looked here.
She looked there.
She simply could not keep still.
Lanling was indeed vastly different from Yanjing.
Every now and then, Yan Huaijin glanced at her delighted expression.
His own hands were filled with the snacks she had purchased, while behind him, Zhan Zhao carried an armful of curious little trinkets.
He had lost count of how many times he had smiled.
His eyes were full of indulgence.
He thought to himself that their official business was not especially urgent.
Since she was so happy, then wherever she wished to go and whatever she wished to do, he would simply let her have her way.
Yet during the brief moment he became distracted, Pei Yunting had already slipped away once again.
Even Yin’er had failed to keep up with her.
Yan Huaijin sighed helplessly.
Carrying an armful of food, he struggled through the crowd in search of that familiar figure dressed in pale blue.
Meanwhile, Pei Yunting had just bought a vegetable pancake.
According to the vendor, Lanling’s vegetable pancakes were unlike any others.
The vegetables and batter were fried together in oil until the outside became golden and crispy, leaving a fragrant aftertaste loved by young and old alike.
After hearing such praise, how could she resist?
Naturally, she had to buy one herself and see whether it truly tasted as wonderful as the vendor claimed.
Just as she was about to head toward the next stall, someone suddenly called out.
“Miss! The young lady in blue! Please wait!”
She turned around.
The streets of Lanling were packed shoulder to shoulder with people. She had run so far ahead that neither Yan Huaijin nor Yin’er had managed to catch up.
Following the voice, she finally spotted its owner.
The caller was the proprietor of a shabby little fortune-telling stall.
The booth itself was crude and haphazardly arranged.
Only two people sat there, and the pair looked utterly out of place.
One wore a threadbare Daoist robe that had clearly been patched and worn for many years.
Holding only a folding fan, the Daoist’s eyes shone with unmistakable shrewdness.
When he saw her turn around, they lit up even brighter.
The other…
Judging by his attire, he resembled the young master of a great noble family.
He wore luxurious embroidered robes, exuding an ethereal grace that made him seem fit only to be admired from afar.
Though not as breathtakingly handsome as Yan Huaijin, his features were perfectly proportioned and remarkably elegant.
His bearing was refined and detached, as radiant as peach blossoms in full bloom.
The two of them sitting together in the marketplace telling fortunes was already strange enough.
Yet even after the Daoist suddenly called out to a passing young lady, the noble-looking man acted as though he had seen nothing, never sparing her so much as a glance.
The Daoist quickly raised his voice to stop her from leaving.
“Miss, this humble priest finds your physiognomy most extraordinary. Would you care to let me read your fortune? The price is quite reasonable—only five taels of silver.”
Pei Yunting remained unmoved.
“And why should I believe you? How do I know you’re not some wandering swindler who specializes in deceiving young girls like me?”
“Simple enough.”
The Daoist carefully studied her face before speaking.
“Miss, you’re already past fifteen years of age. Your family is quite wealthy, and you should have a pair of twin siblings—a brother and a sister. Am I correct?”
“Oh?”
Her interest was finally piqued.
She stepped two paces closer.
“If that’s the case, then I’m willing to hear more. What exactly can you tell me?”
“Just listen.”
“You were born into an extraordinary family, and your destiny is one of exceptional nobility. Were you born a man, you would surely become one of the highest-ranking officials in the empire.”
He paused before continuing solemnly.
“At present, your life proceeds smoothly. However, I foresee that before long you will encounter the first great tribulation of your life.”
“It is a calamity of love and desire.”
“Hmm… I dare not say more. Heavenly secrets must not be revealed.”
“You and the young master traveling with you should both exercise caution.”
“Do not fall into someone else’s trap.”
Pei Yunting had originally believed none of it.
But after hearing him accurately identify her elder brother Pei Changfeng and elder sister Pei Yaosheng as twins—and correctly deduce that she was traveling with a young man—she found herself believing perhaps thirty percent of what he said.
Seeing that she wished to ask more questions, the Daoist merely smiled mysteriously.
“I’ve already said it—Heaven’s secrets cannot be disclosed.”
“Just remember what I’ve told you.”
“If fate allows…”
“We shall meet again.”
…
After Pei Yunting departed, the shabby Daoist weighed the silver in his hand before breaking into a broad grin.
“Ah! Meeting someone destined today means I can close up shop early.”
The man beside him cast him an indifferent glance.
“Swindling young girls again?”
“The affairs of us Daoists cannot be called swindling.”
“I never deceive young ladies.”
“Besides, it won’t be long before we meet that girl again.”
“Well? Care to make a wager?”
“Twenty taels of silver.”
“Really?”
“By then she’ll have forgotten you completely.”
“Or perhaps…”
“It’ll turn out quite differently.”
“You old Daoist…”
“Always pretending to be mysterious.”
The two continued chatting and laughing.
As for what happened afterward…
That is a story for another time.