In her previous life, while washing Princess Shengping’s feet, she had heard the princess say that on the fifteenth of every month, the Emperor would disguise himself and leave the palace to see how the common people were faring. He would spend half a day at the largest restaurant in the capital, Bai Xiang Tower, asking around to learn whether the people were living well.
And today was the fifteenth.
She recognized the Emperor. After all, His Majesty was Heaven itself—the greatest and most powerful person in the world, far more formidable than Princess Shengping or Noble Consort Chen.
That was why, the first time she saw the Emperor in the palace, she had committed his appearance to memory—over and over again.
The moment the Emperor stepped into Bai Xiang Tower, she recognized him at a glance.
The noble consort and the princess had told her that the current Emperor was her own father. Her mother did not know, and neither did the Emperor. So what would happen if her mother and the Emperor were to meet?
Rong Yao gave herself a little encouragement, then took her mother’s hand and led her downstairs. They had only gone two steps when a strong stench of alcohol hit them. A lazy, drawling voice followed close behind.
“Your lady isn’t staying at home like a good wife. What brought her here? Could it be that she came looking for me?”
A drunken man swayed unsteadily in front of them, holding up a bowl of wine and blocking their way. His cheeks were flushed, his eyes glazed, and he stared straight at her mother with a revolting, appraising gaze.
Rong Yao stepped in front of her mother and glared at the drunken man with wide, threatening eyes.
“Get lost! Stay away from my mother!”
The drunken man steadied himself and leered at Cui Huaiyin. “Mother? So you’ve already become a mother, my lady? Why don’t you have a child with me too?”
Rong Yao picked up a teacup from the side and threw it at his head.
The teacup landed squarely on the bridge of the drunken man’s nose. Crying out in pain, he clutched his nose. Then, his face twisted with anger, and he moved to strike them.
Cui Huaiyin hurriedly scooped up her daughter and ran back.
Rong Yao glanced around, then threw back her head and screamed at the top of her lungs, “Help! Someone’s trying to kill us! In broad daylight, under the clear heavens—someone’s trying to kill us!”
Her cry was so loud that it carried all the way downstairs.
A crowd gathered to watch the spectacle.
The drunken man shamelessly played the rogue. “I’m dealing with my own wife and daughter. What’s it to any of you?”
Some people actually believed his nonsense and stopped meddling.
Cui Huaiyin’s face burned with fury. “You’re talking nonsense! I’ve never seen you before in my life!”
“My lady, don’t be angry with me. I promise I’ll never go drinking at the pleasure houses again. From now on, I’ll devote myself to you alone.” As he spoke, the drunken man edged closer, looking as though he had already gotten his way.
Rong Yao picked up another teacup and hurled it at his face. The cup shattered, slicing open the left side of the man’s face.
“He’s a kidnapper! A kidnapper! He’s not my father!”
The drunken man flew into a rage and moved forward, clearly intending to teach Rong Yao and Cui Huaiyin a proper lesson.
But the moment he took a step, he plopped down on the floor.
Something cold and hard pressed against his neck.
The drunken man looked up. His pupils contracted, and the alcohol seemed to vanish from him entirely. Trembling, he dropped to his knees and begged for mercy.
“I—I was wrong! I was drunk and talking nonsense! I’ll never harass or bully another young lady again. Great hero, please be generous and spare my life!”
The drunken man’s entire demeanor changed.
He cowered on the ground, utterly terrified.
And the person who had come to their rescue was none other than Emperor Dantai Ji’s personal guard.
Dressed in disguise as an ordinary martial man, Dantai Ji stood before the drunken man, his brows tightly knit.
“In broad daylight, there are actually men in Great Zhou who would abduct women by force! Take this man to the magistrate’s office and interrogate him thoroughly!”
The guard restraining the drunkard immediately dragged him out of the Bai Xiang Pavilion and hauled him toward the magistrate’s office.
Once the drunken man came to his senses, he began flailing and shouting at the top of his lungs. “Let go of me! Who are you, and what right do you have to arrest me? Is there no law in this land? Do you know who I am? Let go of me…”
Unfortunately for him, the guard remained utterly unmoved. He quickly found a length of rope, tied the drunken man up in just a few swift motions, stuffed a scrap of cloth into his mouth, and carried him outside.
Dantai Ji withdrew his gaze and turned toward the mother and daughter, who were still clinging to each other in fright. The woman had her head lowered, so he could not see her face. He could only make out her delicate, pale neck, smooth and white as warm jade, and the little girl in her arms, who tilted her head back and stared at him with wide, curious eyes.
The little girl appeared to be no more than five or six years old, yet she was not afraid of him in the slightest. Her large almond-shaped eyes blinked as she gazed at him without looking away. Her cheeks were flushed, and her small face was as finely carved and fair as jade, like a doll sculpted from fine powder and jade.
She was truly a beauty. Even among the many princesses and commandery princesses of the imperial clan, there were few who could compare with this little girl.
Anyone who saw her would find themselves filled with affection—even tempted to pinch those plump, chubby cheeks.
And the young woman holding her…
Dantai Ji’s gaze fell upon Cui Huaiyin. He spoke, “The man has been sent to the magistrate’s office. You need not be frightened any longer.”
Cui Huaiyin gently patted her daughter’s hand to comfort her. Seeing that the child had indeed not been frightened, she finally let out a sigh of relief. She rose to her feet, straightened her disordered sleeves, and lifted her head to thank the benefactor who had intervened on their behalf.
“Thank you, sir, for coming to our aid.”
When Cui Huaiyin raised her head, her otherworldly beauty was revealed. Her expressive phoenix eyes curved slightly upward, carrying a trace of gratitude as she inclined her head toward Dantai Ji.
Dantai Ji’s brows drew together, and he stared fixedly at the woman before him, whose cheeks were as lovely as apricots and peaches, whose eyes were clear and limpid.
This woman’s appearance…
Her benefactor remained silent, his face grave, as though dissatisfied with her perfunctory thanks. After a moment’s hesitation, Cui Huaiyin took out a banknote and held it out to him.
“You have helped us, sir, and I do not know how else to repay you. Please accept this humble gift.”
Dantai Ji’s expression darkened further. His gaze swept over her peach-blossom cheeks and soft lips before settling on those bright, starry eyes.
“It was merely a small service. There is no need for you to trouble yourself over it, miss.”
Wang Zhong, the eunuch accompanying him, was exceptionally astute and enjoyed the emperor’s deep trust. After secretly studying the beauty before him and his master, he immediately sensed that Dantai Ji’s attitude toward this woman was far from ordinary.
With a beaming smile, he said to Cui Huaiyin, “That’s right. My master cannot stand to see injustice. He has rescued many people in his time and has never asked any of them for repayment. You needn’t take it to heart.”
As he spoke, Wang Zhong’s eyes shifted, and he added, “A beauty such as yourself may well attract the attention of wicked men while traveling outside. We know a bit of martial arts. Might I ask where you live? If it is on our way, we would be happy to escort you home.”
Cui Huaiyin smiled faintly and shook her head. “Thank you, but there is no need to trouble you, sir. My elder brother will be here shortly to receive me.”
Wang Zhong seemed to have heard some good news. His eyes lit up as he glanced at the petite Rong Yao and said with a smile, “It would be best if your elder brother has come to fetch you. You and your younger sister may rest inside and have some tea to calm yourselves.”
A strange look flickered through Cui Huaiyin’s eyes. Her slender, jade-like hand brushed over her daughter’s round little head as she replied with an open, gentle smile, “You misunderstand, benefactor. She is not my younger sister, but my daughter. She is already six years old.”
The moment Cui Huaiyin said this, Wang Zhong’s face went pale. He instinctively turned to look at His Majesty beside him, but after catching that cold glance, he hurriedly looked away.
How could such a peerlessly beautiful young woman already be married, with a child besides?
When had His Majesty ever stared blankly at a woman before? And this one was a married woman with a child.
No matter how much he wished to play matchmaker, there was nothing he could do now.
Wang Zhong gave an awkward laugh and tried to keep his words brief. “My eyes have failed me. They have failed me.”
Cui Huaiyin smiled. “It is no matter.”
With that, Cui Huaiyin glanced at the banknote still unaccepted in her hand. She pinched it lightly, then put it away and said, “You gentlemen must have come to Bai Xiang Pavilion for a drink. Since you refuse to accept the banknote, allow me to pay for today’s food and wine instead, as thanks for your help. I hope you will not decline.”
Wang Zhong was about to refuse, but after glancing at his master, he swallowed the words. Fixing his gaze on his lord’s expression, he cautiously tested each word as he spoke. “Then… many thanks. Since Madam is treating us to wine, perhaps Madam might… join us at the table? It is our first time at Bai Xiang Pavilion, and we do not know what fine wines or signature dishes they offer. We would have to trouble you to recommend a few.”
Cui Huaiyin paused, glancing at the sky outside. It did not seem appropriate.
But before she could refuse, her daughter tugged at her sleeve and said in a soft, childish voice, “Mother, Yaoyao is hungry. I want fried sweet dumplings.”
Wang Zhong immediately said with a beaming smile, “I hear fried sweet dumplings take the most time to prepare. Why not sit for a while, Madam?”
Since it was her daughter’s request, Cui Huaiyin could never refuse. Helplessly, she pinched her daughter’s tender little nose and nodded in agreement. Openly, she took a seat at the same table as the two gentlemen, called for the menu, and began ordering dishes, thinking only of repaying their kindness as soon as possible.
Though she had been in the capital for less than half a year, she had visited Bai Xiang Pavilion many times. Most of its dishes were on the sweet side, and both she and her daughter loved them, often coming here to eat. Thus, she was fairly familiar with its specialties.
Once they were seated, Cui Huaiyin politely asked whether her benefactors had any foods they avoided.
It was mostly the slightly effeminate, shorter man who answered, and his reply surprised her.
“My master cannot eat seafood.”
At those words, Cui Huaiyin instinctively looked at her sweet, cherubic daughter.
Her Yaoyao could not eat seafood either.
They had discovered it when Yaoyao was three. After eating some sea fish sent over by her second uncle, she had broken out in red rashes all over her body and run a fever for three days before recovering.
Only then had Cui Huaiyin learned that her daughter could not eat seafood. She had blamed herself terribly, and from that day onward, seafood had never again appeared in their home.
Cui Huaiyin said with a smile, “What a coincidence. My daughter cannot eat seafood either. Even a small amount leaves her covered in red rashes, and she is certain to fall ill.”
