After dinner, the early-summer breeze carried the clean scent of grass and trees as it brushed past the grape arbor, setting the vines rustling softly.
She tipped her head back and ate a lychee that Xia'an fed to her. Just as she was pondering what delicious thing to make next, Dongyi hurried in through the courtyard gate.
“Master,” Dongyi said as she came closer, her voice lowered and tinged with unease. “His Highness… has gone to Begonia Court.”
Shen Yanshui slowly waved the round fan in her hand and narrowed her eyes. After making a quiet sound of acknowledgment, she nodded. “I know.”
Ah, it seemed that after breaking through the barrier to the second rank of her supernatural ability, she could no longer count on the Crown Prince to “keep diligently at it.” She would have to rely on herself and cultivate every day, advancing through patient, painstaking effort.
After reclining in the chair for a while, she went to the back garden to check on her little peaches and strawberries. Only after some time did she turn and return to her room, bathe and change clothes, then settle her mind and begin cultivating.
The news that the Crown Prince had gone to Begonia Court was like a stone tossed into a lake already troubled by ripples, stirring up different reactions in every courtyard of the Eastern Palace.
Inside Fragrant Gathering Hall, the Crown Princess had just swallowed a bowl of bitter, foul-smelling medicine meant to protect her pregnancy. Hearing the report from below, she showed no emotion on her face and merely said quietly, “Give the order that the imperial physicians take Lady Wu’s pulse once each day to ensure her well-being. They are to come here and report to me once every half month.”
Matron Zhou hurriedly assented. “Rest assured, Your Highness. This old servant will send someone to give the order at once. With Your Highness’s generosity and kindness, His Highness and Her Majesty the Empress will surely see it and take it to heart.”
The Crown Princess pressed her lips together and said nothing.
* * *
Bright Moon Studio
Lady Chu was having a palace maid gently roll a jade roller over her cheeks.
Upon hearing the report, she knitted her brows slightly. “I know.”
Only after the maid withdrew did she slowly raise a hand and lightly caress her belly.
Lady Wu was sharp-tempered and fiercely competitive, with a flamboyant and outspoken manner. A woman like that was no cause for concern.
She would actually rather His Highness spread his favor around a little more evenly…
* * *
Wisteria Pavilion, however, presented an entirely different scene.
When Lady Song learned that the Crown Prince had gone to Begonia Court, the sour resentment she had held in for so long finally became impossible to suppress. She snatched up a half-finished embroidered sachet from beside her and hurled it to the floor.
“Every last one of them is a shameless seductress! All they know how to do is lure His Highness away!” Her chest heaved. “They only have this because they were lucky enough to conceive on their first try…”
She thought of how, ever since the new women selected in the palace had entered the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince had not set foot in her chambers even once. Her heart grew even more bitter and forlorn.
If only she could have such good fortune and conceive at once—even if it were a daughter.
Just look at Lady Wang. She had merely been a palace maid, yet after giving birth to a Little Commandery Princess, she might not be favored now, but whenever the palace received some new or rare trinket, His Highness always thought of the Little Commandery Princess. Naturally, Lady Wang received a share of the rewards as well.
In any given month, His Highness would also make time to visit the Little Commandery Princess once or twice…
She was in the midst of lamenting her own misfortune, twisting her handkerchief irritably, when another young palace maid hurried in and said in a low voice, “Master, His Highness… His Highness has left Begonia Court. He did not stay the night.”
Lady Song froze. Then, as though her pent-up resentment had suddenly found an outlet, most of the gloom in her heart dissipated at once.
She raised a hand to smooth her hair at the temples, unable to keep the corners of her lips from curving upward. Her whole body relaxed, and even her voice sounded lighter. “Really? His Highness didn’t stay?”
It made sense. Now that Lady Wu was pregnant, she naturally could no longer attend to His Highness the Crown Prince. And given Lady Wu’s temperament, she would never bring another woman in to share his favor.
“Yes. This servant saw it with her own eyes.”
Lady Song waved for the maid to leave, then began planning in her heart.
At present, the Crown Princess, Lady Chu, and Lady Wu were all pregnant. Lady Liu of Lianxin Court had been punished with confinement, while Lady Zhang was still ill and had yet to recover.
As for the others, they were either sickly or merely average in appearance. They had always kept a low profile, and Lady Song had never regarded them as any sort of threat.
Now, apart from herself, the only woman left in the Eastern Palace’s inner quarters was Lady Shen. Surely His Highness wouldn’t continue visiting only Lady Shen’s rooms. Could it be… that her turn was coming soon?
* * *
When the news reached Lianxin Court, Shen Yanshui had just finished circulating her qi through one small heavenly circuit. Upon hearing it, she merely raised her brows before continuing to meditate with her eyes closed, her heart entirely unmoved.
Chunping and the others, however, exchanged glances, their expressions visibly relaxing.
The following day, more news came from Haitang Court.
It was a gift from Her Majesty the Empress.
Silks and brocades, along with nourishing medicinal herbs, were sent in a steady stream. Lady Wu was suddenly the most talked-about woman in the palace. It was said that the severe morning sickness she had suffered from for so long had abruptly disappeared as well.
Lianxin Court remained as peaceful and carefree as ever.
After breakfast, Shen Yanshui summoned Quanfu and had him tell her about the storybooks he had recently found.
“Your Ladyship, this servant recently came across several more books. One of them tells the story of a female general from the previous dynasty. She joined the army in place of her elder brother, established great merits on the frontier, and was ultimately ennobled as a marquis.”
“Another is about a scholar from Jiangnan who, through a twist of fate, saw through the scheme of spies from a foreign state. He helped the authorities solve the case and was rewarded by the imperial court…”
Shen Yanshui listened with great interest and chose the first one. “Let’s hear the one about the female general. It sounds rather intriguing.”
“Yes.” Quanfu answered with a smile.
After listening for half an hour, Shen Yanshui called a halt. She glanced at Quanfu, then suddenly remembered something and summoned Chunping, Xia’an, Qiuru, Dongyi, and Quanshou as well.
She tested them on how far they had progressed with their reading and writing recently. If they could all recognize characters, they would be able to take turns telling her storybooks without stopping.
The results, however, were…
Chunping and Xia’an were the most diligent. They could now stumble through more than half of the Three Character Classic, and had learned to recognize over a hundred characters. Their progress was still painfully slow, though.
Qiuru came next, while Dongyi and Quanshou both looked troubled.
Dongyi wore an especially bitter expression. “Your Ladyship, all those characters look nearly identical. I remember them today, but by tomorrow morning they’re gone. My head feels like a bowl of paste…”
Quanshou scratched his head and added honestly, “This servant is the same. The moment I look at a book, my eyelids start drooping. It’s even more tiring than doing hard labor.”
Seeing that their mistress had fallen silent, everyone grew uneasy. Chunping hurriedly said, “It’s because we servants are slow-witted and have failed Your Ladyship’s painstaking efforts.”
Shen Yanshui was not angry. She merely said, “Bring me the books and copybooks you’ve been using. Let me have a look.”
Quanfu quickly brought over the Three Character Classic, the Hundred Family Surnames, and a copy of the Thousand Character Classic.
Shen Yanshui looked through the book and found plenty of problems. There was no punctuation, and no one explained the words. The students were expected to memorize everything by rote.
That was manageable for Chunping and Xia'an, who were eager to learn. For the likes of Dongyi and Quanshou, it was little better than reading a book written in heaven's own script.
After a moment's thought, she said, “Bring me some ink and a brush.”
She had Quanfu grind the ink and spread out a sheet of paper. Then, beside the opening words of the *Three Character Classic*—“At the beginning of life, human nature is good”—she neatly wrote a string of unusual symbols in small regular script.
“Master, what are those?” Chunping asked, leaning in curiously.
“They're symbols to help you learn the sounds and remember how to read the characters. I call them ‘pinyin,’” Shen Yanshui explained. “Each symbol stands for a particular sound. Once you've learned them, you can look at the pinyin beside a character and know how to pronounce it.”
She didn't expect them to grasp the idea at once. She simply added pinyin to the characters on the first few pages of the *Three Character Classic*, then wrote out the finals, initials, tones, and the like on a blank sheet of paper.
At first, the unfamiliar, winding symbols left everyone struggling to make sense of them.
But Shen Yanshui taught them patiently, starting with the simplest single finals and using familiar character sounds as examples.
After only a few days, the quicker learners—Quanfu, Chunping, and Xia'an—could sound out the annotated characters, albeit haltingly.
Even Dongyi, after practicing over and over, managed one day to read a whole passage on her own. She was so delighted she nearly leapt into the air.
“Master! Master! I read it! I can read!” She held up the page, her eyes shining with excitement. “Pinyin is wonderful! You’re so clever to have come up with something like this!”
Shen Yanshui smiled at their delight. “I didn’t come up with it. I once saw someone use a similar method to note down sounds. It seemed convenient, so I learned it. The credit isn’t mine.”
Great Yong had a system of sound-spelling, too. Shen Yanshui had learned it as a child, but although it followed a well-developed system, it was more complicated and harder to learn than pinyin.
Part of the reason she was teaching them to read was practical: she hoped the people around her could help with household tasks, keep things in better order, and make fewer mistakes.
But she had also thought of the palace rules in Great Yong: once palace maids turned twenty-five, they could leave the palace. The more characters they knew and the more sense they had, the more choices they would have later, whether they married or started a small business of their own. They would have more paths open to them, and more to rely on.
Seeing their mistress brush it off so lightly, and even credit “someone she had once met” for the clever method, the maids didn’t believe her.
They were sure their mistress was simply being modest and didn’t want to take credit.
Quanfu, in particular, thought to himself that he had spent years in the palace, often visited the library, and heard all sorts of curious things from his godfather, but he had never heard of a method of recording sounds called “pinyin.”
It was far quicker and clearer than the way they had learned before, memorizing every character one by one.
Shen Yanshui had no idea what was going through their minds. Once she saw they were getting the hang of it, she waved them all away. She wanted to go see her little strawberry.
*
In the study of Dunben Hall, Cui Yu had just finished reviewing several urgent memorials. He rubbed at his slightly throbbing temples.
Outside the window, the slanting rays of the setting sun cast the study in a warm golden glow.
He lifted the cup of milk tea at his side, still at just the right temperature, and took a sip. Then he asked, seemingly casually, “How has the Crown Princess been feeling lately?”
Zheng Yuande, standing attentively nearby, promptly bowed and replied, “In answer to Your Highness, both Matron Rong and Matron Zhou have said that Her Highness still needs to remain in bed and rest in order to stabilize the pregnancy. She takes her medicine every day, but... Her Highness’s morning sickness has remained rather severe these past two days, and she has little appetite.”
After a pause, he added, “It is said that the Crown Princess specifically instructed the imperial physicians to take Lady Wu’s pulse at Haitang Court each day as well, and to submit her medical record to Xiefang Hall.”
The Crown Princess had been more thorough and proper in her conduct this time than she had in the past.
Cui Yu’s hand paused slightly around his cup, and his gaze deepened.
Still, if she could fulfill the duties of a Crown Princess and safely bear a child, it would benefit both the Eastern Palace and the political situation at court.
His expression unchanged, he merely gave a quiet “Mm,” indicating that he understood.
He set down his teacup. His gaze rested on the shadows cast by the window lattice, and after a moment of silence, he asked in an even tone, “What has been happening at Lianxin Court these past few days?”
Zheng Yuande was faintly surprised, but did not dare delay. “In answer to Your Highness, this servant has had people keep watch. I have heard that Lady Shen has been... much as usual these past few days. She eats and rests at regular hours, with no particular changes. She still spends her time tending the flowers and fruit trees in her courtyard, or listening to storybooks that Quanfu has gathered to amuse her.”
After thinking it over, he added, “Only... I have heard that over the past two days, Lady Shen has been teaching the palace servants who attend her personally how to read.”
“It seems she has even devised some method called ‘pinyin.’ From time to time, people have heard the servants inside murmuring things like ‘ah, oh, eh’ to themselves. It is rather novel.”
“Teaching servants to read?” Cui Yu’s brow shifted slightly. “She certainly has time on her hands.”
Within the palace, rules were strict. In order to prevent servants from prying into confidential matters or passing messages in secret, lower-ranking palace servants had traditionally been forbidden to learn to read.
Even those favored attendants at their master’s side were permitted some literacy only as a special mark of grace and trust.
Zheng Yuande himself was rather puzzled. He did not know what Lady Shen could possibly be thinking.
Cui Yu said nothing further. One finger lightly tapped the smooth rosewood desk as he looked out at the deepening dusk beyond the window, seemingly lost in thought.
Seeing him remain silent, Zheng Yuande cautiously studied his expression before asking, “Your Highness, it will soon be time for dinner. Today... would you like to dine at Lianxin Court?”
These past few days, whether because of the restorative medicine prescribed by Imperial Physician Lu or because the demands of government affairs had worn him down, His Highness’s appetite seemed poorer than before. He had been eating less at every meal.
Yet Zheng Yuande had noticed that His Highness ate best whenever he dined with Lady Shen at Lianxin Court.
At those words, Cui Yu inexplicably recalled the disappointed look in her eyes that day. He fell silent for a moment.
“...No need. We will speak of it in a few days.” He needed a few more days to restore his strength and vigor.
Though Zheng Yuande had no idea what was going on, seeing His Highness’s expression remain calm and unreadable, he did not dare say anything more. He merely bowed and replied respectfully, “Yes. This servant will go at once and have the kitchen send the evening meal to Dunben Palace.”
Cui Yu gave a quiet hum. He picked up another memorial, his gaze settling on the words, though his thoughts gradually drifted elsewhere.
*
Living a quiet, peaceful life in Lianxin Court, Shen Yanshui had not left her residence for quite some time.
The weather was fine that day, with gentle winds and bright sunshine. The grape leaves in the courtyard gleamed a vivid green beneath the light.
Seeing her tending once again to the strawberries, peaches, and fennel growing in the garden, Chunping softly suggested, “Mistress, staying in the courtyard all the time must get rather stifling. I hear the peonies in the rear garden are in full bloom, and some of the late-blooming varieties of peony are looking especially splendid. Why not go out and take a little walk? Stretching your legs would do you good.”
Shen Yanshui thought it over. It was true that she had been neglecting exercise since entering the palace. With one joyous occasion after another taking place in the Eastern Palace, the atmosphere was quite pleasant. A breath of fresh air might do her good.
“You’re right.” She rose to her feet. “Find me something comfortable to wear.”
A short while later, Shen Yanshui had changed into a water-green riding outfit with narrow sleeves and a fitted waist. Her long hair was tied high with a matching ribbon, making her look fresh and spirited. Her peach-blossom eyes sparkled with eager anticipation.
Seeing her dressed like that, Chunping and the others could not help but brighten with admiration.
The Eastern Palace’s training ground was not a proper cuju field; it had no goal, or “wind-flowing eye.” It was merely a broad stretch of level ground.
But that presented no difficulty for Shen Yanshui. She took the leather ball from Quanfu, then divided Chunping, Xia'an, Quanfu, and Quanshou into two teams.
“We won’t set up a goal,” she announced. “We’ll play *baida* instead.”
She briefly explained the rules. “The main contest is over how many ways you can keep the ball aloft and how many times you can juggle it without letting it touch the ground. You may also pass it to one another, but the most important thing is keeping it in the air. In the end, the team that lasts the longest and displays the most tricks wins.”
*Baida*—literally “white strike”—was a form of cuju that focused not on shooting at a goal, but on individual skill and teamwork.
“Yes, Mistress.” Since their mistress so rarely showed such enthusiasm, the others naturally cooperated wholeheartedly.
As soon as the game began, Shen Yanshui quickly became the center of attention.
She seemed to possess an innate mastery over the ball. Sometimes she flicked it lightly with the tip of her foot; sometimes she bounced it off her knee; sometimes she nudged it with her shoulder. The leather ball seemed almost glued to her body, rising and falling in time with her light, graceful movements.
At one point, she performed a move called “Swallow Returning to Its Nest,” letting the ball fall behind her before hooking it back up with her heel. The motion was smooth and beautiful, brimming with lively grace.
At first, Chunping and Xia'an were somewhat restrained, but they gradually caught her energy and did their best to coordinate their passes.
For a time, the field rang with shouts and soft laughter as the ball traced graceful arcs through the air.
In the end, Shen Yanshui finished with a magnificent “Diagonal Flower.” Turning sideways, she used the outside of her foot to cushion the ball as it dropped from above, then kept it bouncing several more times before bringing the movement to a stop and gently pinning the ball beneath her foot. Fine beads of sweat had formed on her brow; her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright, and her smile radiant.
“Our mistress won!” Dongyi cheered, clapping her hands.
Just then, a languid voice came from nearby, deliberately affected and carrying a hint of mockery:
“Well, well. I wondered who was making such a commotion. So it’s Sister Shen.”
Lady Wu approached at an unhurried pace, surrounded by a retinue of palace attendants.
She was dressed with exceptional splendor today, her hair heaped with pearls and jade, her body clad in a brocade court gown. One hand supported her waist.
Though her lower abdomen was still perfectly flat, she had assumed every mannerism of a pregnant woman. In her other hand, she lightly waved a round fan embroidered on both sides with peonies.
Her gaze swept over Shen Yanshui—from her fitted riding attire, so unlike the customary dress of the palace ladies, to her flushed, perspiring cheeks, bare of powder and rouge—and a flicker of jealousy rose within her.
At last, her eyes settled on the tips of Shen Yanshui’s boots, flecked with bits of grass. With distaste, she raised her fan to lightly cover her nose.
“Sister Shen certainly has... a flair for being unconventional,” Lady Wu said, deliberately drawing out her words, her voice laced with mockery. “It is only a pity that His Highness has been occupied with state affairs of late. I fear he has no time to visit this garden and admire such a distinctive figure as yours. All your painstaking effort may well have been wasted.”
Every word was a barb, implying that Shen Yanshui had dressed in such improper attire merely to draw the Crown Prince’s attention—only for her calculations to come to nothing.
The moment Lady Wu spoke, Shen Yanshui’s smile faded. She kicked the ball to Quanfu beside her, smoothed her sleeves, and stepped forward a few paces. Keeping neither too close nor too far away, she gave a courteous bow.
“My respects, Lady Wu.”
Lady Lu, who stood at Lady Wu’s side, also returned Shen Yanshui’s greeting.
Shen Yanshui smiled at her, then looked up at Lady Wu. Seeing her surrounded by attendants and deliberately arching her waist, Shen Yanshui found the display rather amusing. Unwilling to waste words on her, she said, “If Lady Wu has no further business, then I shall take my leave.”
“Why the hurry?” Lady Wu was hardly about to let her off so easily. Her delicate brows lifted. “Sister Shen, you are quite skilled at cuju. Those few moves just now nearly dazzled my eyes. Why not... let me see some more?”
A malicious smile curled her lips. “I have heard that those of true skill can keep the ball from touching the ground for a very long time, even performing all manner of tricks in the process.”
“Things like ‘Dryland Fishing’ and ‘Moon Carried on Both Shoulders’... My knowledge is limited, so today would be a perfect opportunity. Why not demonstrate them for me, Sister Shen?”
“No need for too much. Just... keep the ball aloft one hundred times in succession, using every part of your body from head to toe, without letting it touch the ground. Then I will have truly had my eyes opened.”
This was blatant harassment.
To juggle the ball a hundred times with one’s entire body without allowing it to fall, even for someone accomplished at the freestyle game, would be an exhausting test of strength and concentration—let alone outdoors beneath the increasingly scorching sun.
Chunping and the others’ expressions changed at once.
Even Lady Lu, who had remained quiet all this while, showed a slight change of expression.
“Sister Wu is with child now. It would not be good for you to linger beneath the sun for so long. What if, through some mishap, you were hurt?” she said softly, concern evident in her face.
Lady Wu frowned and instinctively touched her still-flat abdomen. Yet when she saw Shen Yanshui looking at her with a smile, she felt unwilling to yield.
When word of her pregnancy had reached the Crown Prince, he had merely come to sit in her chambers briefly. Before they had exchanged more than a few words, he had left. Though he had bestowed many gifts upon her, thinking of how he had previously spent two consecutive nights at Lianxin Court only made her jealousy harder to contain.
“Little Sister Lu is right. I’m carrying a little imperial grandson, after all, so I can’t risk anything happening to me.” She lifted her chin slightly and looked at Shen Yanshui. “Then I’ll rest in that pavilion for now. When do you plan to begin, Sister?”
Lady Lu: “...”
Seeing her arrogant air, Dongyi was young and quick-tempered. Unable to hold back, she murmured, “Lady Wu is being far too unreasonable. The sun is so fierce—how can Her Ladyship be expected to endure it...?”
“Impudent!” Lady Wu’s face darkened as she turned her gaze on Dongyi. “What lowborn maid dares speak out of turn to me? Someone, slap her!”
A maid standing behind her immediately stepped forward, raising her hand to strike Dongyi across the face.
Dongyi went pale, startled by the sudden threat.
But the hand was caught firmly in midair.
At some point, Shen Yanshui had stepped in front of Dongyi, one hand gripping the maid’s wrist. A faint smile still touched her face, but her gaze had grown cool as she looked straight at Lady Wu. “Why get so angry, Sister Wu? She’s only a young maid who doesn’t know better and spoke out of turn.”
She tightened her grip ever so slightly. The maid felt a sharp pain in her wrist and took an involuntary step back.
Shen Yanshui released her and brushed at her palms as though dust had settled there. Her voice remained even. “Since you’d like to see some cuju tricks, Sister, I’ll do my best. My skills are only so-so, though, so I hope you won’t hold it against me if I make a mistake.”
“My lady...” Dongyi and the others grew anxious at once.
A flicker of satisfaction crossed Lady Wu’s eyes. She smoothed her hair at the temple. “I’m glad you’re willing, Sister. Then... please begin.”
In the study at Dunben Hall, Zheng Yuande’s soft report came from outside.
“Your Highness, Aunt Qing from Kunning Palace is here. She is waiting outside.”
Cui Yu’s brush paused ever so slightly. He looked up. “Show her in.”
Before long, Aunt Qing entered. She wore a deep green palace gown, her hair arranged with meticulous care. Her steps were steady and composed. She came forward and bowed deeply. “This servant pays her respects to Your Highness. May Your Highness enjoy peace and good health.”
“Rise.” Cui Yu’s voice was calm. “Aunt, has Mother sent you with some instruction?”
Aunt Qing straightened, smiling. “Your Highness, Her Majesty has nothing in particular to ask. It’s only that she has been feeling slightly unwell of late. Her appetite has been poor, and she has seemed rather low in spirits.”
She paused, then continued, “Curiously, after Her Majesty tasted the basket of grapes Your Highness sent over a few days ago, she found them refreshing and appetizing. For the next couple of days, she ate more than usual and seemed in better spirits. But once they were gone, her appetite returned to what it had been.”
At this, Cui Yu furrowed his brows. His voice grew a shade more serious. “Mother is unwell. Has the imperial physician examined her? What did he say?”
Aunt Qing hurriedly replied with a smile, “Yes, Your Highness. Her Majesty has her pulse checked every day. The physician says there’s nothing serious. She has simply been overworked lately, and with the summer heat arriving early this year, she’s suffering from the heat and a touch of indigestion, which has left her without much appetite.”
Cui Yu’s brow eased. He considered this for a moment before saying, “Those grapes... Lady Shen of Lotusheart Court grew them herself. She has some fruit trees in her courtyard, which she tends in her spare time.”
With that, he turned his head toward Zheng Yuande, who was standing respectfully nearby. “Go to Lianxin Court yourself.”
Zheng Yuande hurriedly bowed. “Yes, Your Highness. This servant will go at once.”
Aunt Qing was secretly astonished.
Those grapes had actually been grown and tended by Lady Shen herself?
About the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Zheng Yuande returned.
He was a fair and plump man to begin with, but after running all the way back, his face was covered in a fine sheen of sweat. His breathing was slightly labored, and though his steps were hurried, they also carried a hint of urgency.
Seeing him in such a state, Cui Yu knitted his brows. “What is it?”
Zheng Yuande quickly reported, “Your Highness, when this servant arrived, Lady Shen was not in Lianxin Court. After asking around, I learned that she had taken Chunping and the others to the Peony Terrace in the rear gardens to play cuju.”
He paused. A hesitant look crossed his face as he stole a glance at the Crown Prince’s expression and lowered his voice. “It’s just that... this servant sent someone to inquire, and apparently Lady Wu is sitting in the pavilion watching.”
Cui Yu’s eyes darkened slightly. “Lady Wu?”
Aunt Qing’s expression changed as well.
Lady Wu? Hadn’t she only just been diagnosed with a pregnancy?
The Empress was eagerly awaiting a grandchild. Now that there were successive pregnancies in the Eastern Palace, no one knew how delighted and comforted Her Majesty must be.
Since Lady Wu was with child, she ought to have remained in the palace to rest and protect the pregnancy. How had she ended up watching a game of cuju? What if she slipped or was struck and harmed the imperial heir? The consequences would be unimaginable.
Then Aunt Qing recalled the favored Lady Shen whom the Crown Prince had just mentioned...
Her thoughts came to a halt.
Cui Yu’s expression remained calm, revealing neither joy nor anger. His voice was cool and detached. “Go to the rear gardens.”
*
At the same time, in Xifang Hall.
The Crown Princess was reclining against the bed, being helped by Matron Zhou as she drank her pregnancy-nourishing medicine.
A palace maid stood respectfully below, quietly reporting the developments in the rear gardens.
“...Lady Wu had Lady Shen perform cuju tricks beneath the blazing sun. Lady Shen agreed, and she is now on the Peony Terrace.”
At those words, the Crown Princess’s hand paused slightly around the spoon. She then scooped up another spoonful of the medicine and slowly brought it to her lips.
After swallowing the bitter, unpleasant brew, the Crown Princess pinched her brows and lightly dabbed the corner of her mouth.
“Lady Wu truly has no patience. She can’t even sit still any longer.”
A trace of disdain swept across her features.
“Forget it,” she said coolly. “Let them be.”
*
The Peony Terrace in the rear gardens was where the secondary consorts of the Eastern Palace gathered for banquets and flower viewing.
Fine beads of sweat had already formed on Shen Yanshui’s forehead. Her cheeks were flushed with the healthy glow brought on by exercise and the sun, while her peach-blossom eyes shone brighter than ever.
She paid no attention to the expression on Lady Wu’s face in the pavilion.
If Lady Wu had not been pregnant, Shen Yanshui would not have minded confronting her directly. But if the other woman became agitated and stirred up trouble with her pregnancy, Shen Yanshui had no intention of taking the blame.
In any case, playing cuju was no difficult task for her. It was merely a chance to stretch her limbs.
Let alone keeping the ball aloft a hundred times without dropping it—even playing on this field for two hours would have been easy for her.
So she simply focused on the game and began to enjoy herself.
She took turns using her feet, knees, shoulders, and head to keep the ball in the air. Her movements were fluid and steady, and the ball seemed almost glued to her body as it rose and fell in a graceful, rhythmic dance.
With a deft hook of her toe, the ball soared up behind her in a high arc and landed neatly on her outstretched arm. It rolled along her arm to her shoulder, then she tipped it with a turn of her head, sending it sailing into the air.
As it came down, she spun around and caught it on her back. The ball bounced off her spine, sprang neatly upward, and landed on her bent knee.
Chunping and the others watched, transfixed. Dongyi could barely keep from cheering.
In the pavilion, Lady Wu had at first been fanning herself, enjoying chilled fruit as she watched Shen Yanshui “serve her punishment” under the blazing sun, just as she had ordered. She had found it rather satisfying.
But the longer she watched, the more her smug expression stiffened.
Shen Yanshui didn’t look the least bit flustered or put out.
She moved with the lightness of a swallow, every motion flowing effortlessly. The ball seemed alive around her, darting up and down as she performed one trick after another.
What vexed Lady Wu most was Shen Yanshui’s focused, radiant expression. Her face, damp with sweat yet all the more full of life, seemed to glow in the sunlight.
Lady Wu couldn’t help clenching her teeth in silent envy.
Lady Lu, seated beside her, had meant to offer a word of advice. But seeing her expression, she thought better of it and kept quiet.
That was the scene Cui Yu and his party arrived to find.
Shen Yanshui sprang into the air, hooking the ball behind her with the tip of her toe. She turned lightly in midair as the ball spun rapidly at her foot, then pivoted with a crisp flourish and flicked it high overhead.
The sun was bright, its golden light spilling over her. As she spun, her flying hair and sleeves caught a hazy glow. Her eyes and brows brimmed with a vigorous, unrestrained vitality.
Cui Yu stopped short.
His gaze settled on the jade-green figure in the middle of the field.
Shen Yanshui was thoroughly caught up in the game when Dongyi’s startled greeting rang out from the sidelines.
“This servant pays her respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!”
Her movement paused. With a deft flick of her toe, she brought the falling ball to a steady stop beneath her foot, then turned and looked up.
Their eyes met.
A trace of laughter still lingered in her peach-blossom eyes, bright with the afterglow of exertion. Her wisps of hair were damp, her cheeks flushed, and her breath came a little fast. She seemed to radiate warmth and vitality.
Cui Yu saw the surprise in her eyes, followed at once by a smile that spread across them, clear and luminous. It struck him straight to the heart.
Something within him gave a gentle, almost teasing flutter.
“This concubine pays her respects to Your Highness.” Shen Yanshui released the ball beneath her foot and hurried over. She stopped a few paces away and curtsied with impeccable propriety.
Almost at the same moment, a quick, delicate clinking of jade ornaments came from the pavilion.
With the support of her attendants, Lady Wu hurried over. Her face had already taken on a tender, winsome look of delight. “Your Highness... What brings you here? This concubine pays her respects to Your Highness.”
As she spoke, she began to bend her knees, taking care to make her movements seem especially cautious on account of her pregnancy.
Lady Lu and the other palace attendants present bowed as well.
Cui Yu’s gaze fell on Shen Yanshui’s cheeks, flushed and beaded with sweat from the blazing sun. He stepped forward and took her by the arm. “You may rise.”
His hand met the warmth of her arm beneath her sleeve, still hot from exertion.
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Shen Yanshui rose with a smile.
Only then did Cui Yu turn to Lady Wu. His voice was even. “Rise. You are with child; there’s no need for such formalities. And you… what are you doing here?”
Seeing the Crown Prince personally help Lady Shen to her feet, Lady Wu felt a surge of jealousy.
Once she had straightened, she looked up at the Crown Prince’s peerless face, a blush rising to her cheeks. Her eyes softened as she said gently, “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. The weather is fine today, so I thought I’d come out for a stroll. The physician says it will do the imperial heir good as well. I happened to run into Sister Shen playing cuju… She’s very skilled. I found it rather entertaining and watched for a while.”
Shen Yanshui lowered her eyes, then glanced casually at the unfamiliar palace maid standing quietly behind the Crown Prince. She smiled but said nothing.
Dongyi, however, couldn’t help pursing her lips in a silent scoff.
“Is that so?” Cui Yu looked at Lady Wu, his tone as calm and cool as ever, giving no hint of what he was thinking.
A sudden unease stirred in Lady Wu’s heart.
Her smile faltered. “O-of course.”
Shen Yanshui lifted her gaze, her smile bright and untroubled. “Your Highness, I haven’t exercised in a long while. I never imagined I’d catch Sister’s eye. It’s an honor.”
Cui Yu gave her a brief glance, his eyes passing over her sun-reddened cheeks and the smile at her lips. He gave a cool, noncommittal “Mm.”
“Lady Wu, since you are with child, return to your chambers and rest. And Lady Shen…” He looked at Shen Yanshui. “Come with me.”
Shen Yanshui paused. Seeing that he had already turned and walked away, she hurriedly bowed to Lady Wu, whose expression had darkened, then quickly followed after him.
Lady Wu stood frozen, watching the Crown Prince leave with Shen Yanshui without sparing her another glance. Her hand clenched tightly around the handkerchief in her sleeve.
“Lady Wu,” Lady Lu said softly, “the sun is strong. Shall we head back as well?”
Lady Wu abruptly came to her senses. Her chest heaved as she watched Shen Yanshui’s retreating figure. Then she turned and glared at Lady Lu. “How considerate you are of yourself, Lady Lu!” With that, she let her attendants support her and turned away in a fury.
Lady Lu had been publicly snubbed so mercilessly that her face turned an ugly mix of green and white.
After a long moment, a maid beside her murmured, “My lady, Lady Wu is far too domineering and unreasonable. Even if she wins His Highness’s favor, behaving like this won’t serve her for long.” Nor would she ever share any of that favor with their mistress.
Lady Lu said nothing. She drew a deep breath and gazed toward the direction Lady Wu had gone, her eyes shadowed with thought. At last, she said quietly, “Let’s go.”
She had no favor and little standing. If she hoped to secure a place for herself in the Eastern Palace, she could only rely on someone else’s child.
*
At Lianxin Court, after learning Aunt Qing’s identity and why she had come, Shen Yanshui picked the last few bunches of grapes she had and gave them to her.
With a smile, she said, “Auntie, these are things I’ve tended in the courtyard in my spare time. The strawberries and peaches have only ripened in the past couple of days. They may not look as fine as the delicacies offered to the palace, but they’re a small token of my regard. If Her Majesty the Empress doesn’t mind, please take them to her so she can enjoy a taste of fresh fruit.”
When Chunping came out carrying the bamboo basket, Aunt Qing’s gaze fell on the basket, brimming with fresh fruit.
The strawberries were plump and rosy; every peach was round and pink, all of them lovely to look at.
Her Majesty had always liked fresh fruit and sweet treats. But summer heat made her lose her appetite, and the imperial physicians had cautioned her against eating too much chilled food. These freshly picked fruits were just the thing.
Aunt Qing had meant to decline out of courtesy, but at the sight of the basket’s tempting bounty, she smiled and said, “How thoughtful of you, Lady Shen. Her Majesty will surely be pleased when she sees these.”
She accepted the basket, then curtsied to Cui Yu. “Your Highness, I’ll return to Kunning Palace and report to Her Majesty.”
Cui Yu nodded.
Shen Yanshui smiled warmly. “Take care, Auntie. Chunping, please see Aunt Qing out.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Only after seeing her off did Shen Yanshui turn to the Crown Prince, who had settled onto the daybed.
He wore a moon-white brocade robe. His features were as finely drawn as a painting, his handsome face arresting. Yet his bearing was cold, as crisp and austere as pine beneath fresh snow.
His fingers were long and elegant, the knuckles sharply defined. He leafed through her storybook at an unhurried pace, faint veins showing beneath the skin on the back of his hand. She couldn’t help stealing a few extra glances.
“Your Highness, I…” She was about to say she would excuse herself to bathe and change when he looked up at her and said, his voice cool, “Everyone out.”
The servants in the room immediately fell silent and withdrew.
Shen Yanshui looked puzzled. “Your Highness?”
Cui Yu raised his eyes to her. “Is there nothing you want to tell me?”
Shen Yanshui froze for a moment. Then, with a sudden, coy glance at him, she put on a demure, affected air. “There is~ But if I tell you, Your Highness mustn’t be angry.”
Cui Yu shot her a sidelong look, his expression composed. “Let’s hear it.”
Shen Yanshui stepped closer, her lovely peach-blossom eyes curving as she blinked at him. “One day apart feels like three autumns. I’ve missed Your Highness terribly~ Now that I’ve seen you today, I’m so happy.”
“…”
The corner of Cui Yu’s mouth twitched. His hand tightened around the book before he could stop himself, creasing the once-smooth edge of the page.
After a moment, he rebuked her coolly, “Don’t talk nonsense.”
Shen Yanshui glanced at him, smiling. “I’m not talking nonsense.” As she spoke, she took his hand and pressed it to her chest, like a lovesick beauty clutching at her heart. “If you don’t believe me, feel my heartbeat. Isn’t it pounding away?”
Cui Yu’s palm suddenly met the softness of her breast. His gaze darkened, and his voice dropped. “You’re bold as brass with me, yet so willing to yield to others?”
Shen Yanshui was momentarily taken aback.
