The girl in the sapphire-blue jacket was Lin Wanqing, the eldest legitimate daughter of a Hanlin Academician. She was fifteen years old that year.
She stood beside the flowerbeds, gently waving the round silk fan in her hand. Her bearing was elegant and composed, and the smile on her face was perfectly measured.
Yet her eyes had been following Shi Youlan’s retreating figure the entire time.
Or rather, they had been following the person behind Shi Youlan.
Lin Wanqing took a letter from her sleeve. Four graceful characters were written on the envelope: “For Shi Huai.”
She clutched the letter and looked at it several times before slipping it back into her sleeve.
She had written this letter three times already, yet every version had seemed inadequate.
Either the wording was not precise enough, or the emotions were not sincere enough.
She was afraid Shi Huai would think her frivolous after reading it, yet she was also afraid he would find her dull.
What she feared most was that he might not read it at all…
Lin Wanqing drew a deep breath, forcing the unease in her chest back down, and once again put on that composed smile.
She turned and walked toward the flowerbeds. After taking two steps, she stopped and glanced back at Shen Yuetang and Fang Ruoyun.
The two were huddled together, speaking in voices so low they could barely be heard. The expressions on their faces were both rather odd.
The corners of Lin Wanqing’s lips lifted slightly before she turned around and continued forward.
She thought to herself:
Go on, fight. Fight until you’re both battered and bloody. Then, when the time comes, I’ll make my move. My chances of winning will be much better.
Deep among the flowerbeds, Princess Jinse stood beside a green peony with Shi Youlan, holding her hand.
The flower was in full bloom, its layers of petals lush and overlapping, its emerald-green color glistening beneath the sunlight.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Princess Jinse tilted her head toward Shi Youlan, a hint of anticipation in her eyes.
“It is. I’ve never seen a green peony before. It’s so beautiful.”
Shi Youlan was speaking from the heart. This truly was the most beautiful flower she had ever seen.
Princess Jinse smiled, reached out, and plucked the blossom that was in fullest bloom. She tucked it into Shi Youlan’s hair.
After stepping back two paces to take a look, she nodded. “Beautiful. You look good in everything.”
Shi Youlan raised a hand to touch the peony in her hair. The petals were cool and silky, their texture like the finest silk.
“Princess, you seem to be in a very good mood today.”
Princess Jinse nodded, unable to suppress the smile at the corners of her lips.
“Of course I am. After the flower-viewing gathering ends today, I’m going to the Imperial College. Third Brother said he recently wrote a new poem and wants me to give him my opinion.”
When Shi Youlan heard the words “Imperial College,” her heart skipped a beat.
“Are you going to the Imperial College to see His Highness the Third Prince’s poem?”
Princess Jinse was taken aback by the question, then laughed.
Her smile was as radiant as the sun overhead, so dazzling that Shi Youlan’s eyes hurt a little.
“Of course I’m going to read Third Brother’s poem. I might as well take a look at what everyone else has written while I’m there.”
Looking at the delight written all over the princess’s face, Shi Youlan felt that uneasy sensation rise within her once more.
She remembered Shi Huai saying, “The princess probably likes me a little.”
It was as though someone had reached into her heart and kneaded it, leaving it both sour and tender.
“Youlan, when your younger brother is at home, what does he like to do besides study?”
Princess Jinse’s voice pulled Shi Youlan back from her tangled thoughts.
Shi Youlan thought for a moment. “He likes practicing swordsmanship. Every morning, he practices in the courtyard for half an hour, no matter whether it’s windy or rainy.”
“Practicing swordsmanship?”
Princess Jinse’s eyes lit up. “He practices swordsmanship too? I thought he only studied.”
“He’s skilled in both the literary and martial arts. He says that when he gets tired of studying, he should move his limbs a little. It’s better than sitting still.”
Shi Youlan’s voice was somewhat subdued, and her fingers unconsciously rubbed the handle of her round fan.
Princess Jinse nodded. Her gaze fell on a peony blooming in the distance, as though she were pondering something.
“Youlan, has your younger brother ever told you what kind of girl he likes?”
The round fan nearly slipped from Shi Youlan’s hand. She hurriedly steadied her wrist and took a deep breath.
“N-no… He’s never said.”
Princess Jinse gave a quiet “Oh.”
A trace of disappointment colored her voice, but she quickly returned to her bright and cheerful expression.
“He’s still young. It’s only natural that he hasn’t thought about such things.”
Shi Youlan looked at the princess’s face, which seemed to say, “But I really want to know.” She wanted to say something, yet had no idea where to begin.
In the end, she merely nodded and continued walking with the princess.
A burst of footsteps came from behind. Shen Yuetang and Fang Ruoyun caught up with them.
Both girls wore smiles on their faces.
But on closer inspection, the gray smudge at the hem of Shen Yuetang’s skirt was still there.
There was also a fine crease on Fang Ruoyun’s sleeve, as though someone had tugged at it.
“Princess, the crabapple blossoms over there are especially beautiful. Would you like to go take a look?”
Shen Yuetang walked up beside the princess and naturally slipped her arm through the princess’s other arm.
Fang Ruoyun was unwilling to be outdone.
She went to Shi Youlan’s side, took her arm, and smiled sweetly enough to cloy.
“Sister Youlan, did you look at the embroidery pattern I sent you last time? Do you like it?”
Fang Ruoyun’s hold made Shi Youlan lean to the side. After steadying herself, she nodded.
“I did. It’s very pretty. I’m embroidering it now.”
The smile on Fang Ruoyun’s face deepened. She turned her head and glanced at Shen Yuetang, her eyes carrying a hint of triumph.
Shen Yuetang pretended not to notice and led the princess toward the crabapple blossoms.
Lin Wanqing followed at the very back, slowly waving her round fan, a faint smile on her face.
Her gaze moved from one person to the next as she silently assigned each of them a score.
Shen Yuetang was too impatient. Fang Ruoyun was too calculating. The princess was far too obvious. Shi Youlan was simply too clueless.
But then…
Princess Jinse stopped in front of the crabapple blossoms.
She reached out, snapped off the branch with the fullest blooms, turned around, and pushed it into Shi Youlan’s arms.
“Youlan, take this home and put it in a vase. These crabapple blossoms are beautiful; they’ll brighten your study for several days.”
Shi Youlan held the branch in her arms. Dew still clung to the petals, cool against her skin.
Fang Ruoyun reached out and touched the branch, her voice soft and sweet.
“The princess is so kind to Sister Youlan. This is the finest crabapple blossom in the imperial gardens.”
Princess Jinse smiled, then slipped her arm through Shi Youlan’s and led her farther inside.
Walking at the very back, Lin Wanqing slowly waved her round fan.
“Princess, I hear His Highness the Third Prince recently wrote a new poem that has been widely praised throughout the capital. I wonder if we might have the honor of hearing it?”
Princess Jinse turned to look at her, her eyes curving into a smile.
“Third Brother’s poem is indeed very good, but he didn’t come today.”
“What a pity.”
Lin Wanqing lowered her head slightly. For just an instant, the corners of her lips turned downward.
Fang Ruoyun leaned forward a little, excitement in her voice.
“I hear Young Master Shi recently wrote a poem as well. The instructors at the Imperial College have been full of praise for it.”
