Chapter 2, The Past

His elder brother Zhang Chang was appointed as the commander of the Jinyiwei during the Yongle period, having achieved military merits, which pleased the founding emperor.

Lady Pengcheng felt somewhat awkward, "Your Highness is still blaming the initial..."

"Mother has entered the palace today, is there something the matter?" The Crown Princess Zhang Yan gently parted her crimson lips, slowly adjusting her embroidered shoes, her expression revealing a hint of tranquility mixed with a touch of languor

Su Su listened, her furrowed brows relaxed momentarily, and she felt a sense of relief

Meanwhile, in the small Buddhist hall of the Eastern Palace of the capital of the Ming Dynasty, Jing Tianfu, the Crown Princess Zhang Yan was sincerely bowing before the Buddha altar. The Lady of Pengcheng, entering from outside the hall, signaled the palace maids to be silent and cautiously stood behind her daughter, quietly kneeling down.

Su Su seemed to be scolding, expressing her thoughts: "It is all your indulgence. You insist that your daughter will escape great misfortune and that everything is up to her. If you were to be stern and insist that she study with a serious face, I believe she would not dare to disobey!"

The crown princess nodded, and the two women walked out of the palace together. The garden was filled with exquisite stones and beautiful trees, with ancient elms and willows reflecting in the azure waves. A gentle breeze swept through, creating a very comfortable atmosphere

Sun Jingzhi smiled without speaking. After a while, the maid returned to the room holding a bowl of soup and said: "Returning to the young lady, the young miss is neither in the courtyard nor in the room."

At the back door of the Sun residence, ten-year-old Jizong and eight-year-old Ruowei quietly slipped out. Ruowei placed her hand on her chest and said, "Thank heaven and earth, we weren't discovered. Jizong, where shall we go to play today"

Ji Zong's face was filled with embarrassment. Ruo Wei, with her delicate face appearing somewhat angry yet not truly so, had her lively eyes flickering as she suddenly had an idea: "Forget it, it's still early today. Let's first go to Yunmen Mountain to see the Cloud Cave, and then on our way back, we can stop by Xu's shop to eat fried snail cakes." As she spoke, she clapped her hands, delighted with her own suggestion. Seeing her so happy, Ji Zong was also very pleased and repeatedly agreed, saying: "Alright, let's go!"

"Indeed, Second Brother," Zhang Chang also advised, "Although His Highness the Crown Prince may not possess striking features, he is kind-hearted and possesses wisdom. Such a Crown Prince is truly a blessing for the Ming Dynasty. This is a matter you should not bring up again in the future"

Sun Jingzhi was taken aback upon hearing this and immediately embraced his wife, saying: "Memory is not necessarily a good thing; if one forgets, then so be it. With Ruowei's intelligence, given time, she will eventually be able to pick up those skills and knowledge again."

The green grass sways gently, as Ruo Wei embraces the pipa under the tree, lightly waving her jade fingers. The sound of the strings suddenly rises, and in an instant, a clear and bright melody spreads to every corner of the courtyard. Inside the house, Su Su, who is playing with her young son Ji Ming, exchanges a smile with Sun Jing Zhi. Jing Zhi says: "Look, daughters are indeed better than their mothers. What were you so anxious about back then? You were afraid she would forget everything after losing her memory. But now, in my eyes, she is far better than before"

If Wei gazed at Jizong, her pair of lively eyes slightly moved, full of mischief, and she secretly delighted: My silly brother really thinks I have amnesia

Su Su, with pear blossoms and rain, wore a face full of sorrow: "If Wei wakes up, but has injured her mind, she will find that many people and events from the past have become completely forgotten!"

"Go, check if Jizong is in the study in the front yard?" Sun Jingzhi was well aware of his daughter's temperament; for her to spend such a beautiful spring day playing the pipa or copying calligraphy would be nothing short of torture. At this moment, she must have taken Jizong out to play.

Upon hearing these words, Zhang Sheng's face revealed anger, and he could not help but indignantly say: "At the beginning, my sister already had someone in her heart, but our father and mother insisted on sending her to the palace. With the appearance of the Crown Prince, how could he be worthy of my sister?"

As she pondered, a sense of beauty filled her heart, and she leaned back heavily, lying down on the bed, closing her eyes

At midnight, Sun Jingzhi and Dong Susu finally found themselves alone.

Mother! The Crown Princess stopped in her tracks and gazed steadily at her mother: "What happened in the past is no longer important. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is kind and gentle, treating me well. Now, with Ji'er and Yong'er by my side, I have no further desires!"

If Ruwei did this, it was merely to "skip school." Indeed, it was to "skip school." The Sun family hails from a scholarly lineage, and her mother is a well-known prodigy, so Ruwei has been subjected to rigorous training and cultivation since childhood, mastering the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and classical literature. However, behind this talent lies the daily grind and monotony. Thus, the playful little girl decided to play a joke on everyone, saying, "I fell into the water and hurt my head, I have become foolish, so please do not make me study this or practice that anymore"

Lady Pengcheng stepped out of the palace, boarded a carriage at the palace gate, and returned to her residence

Fortunately! Lady Peng Chengbo walked towards the residence, with Zhang Chang closely following her

What? Both husband and wife were taken aback, and Su Su couldn't help but change color: "This girl, has she run away again?"

If Wei merely muttered, "Don't make noise, let me be quiet for a while."

Hehe, is it again my fault? Sun Jingzhi took Jiming from Susu's hands, feeling that heaven truly favored him. The Jade Emperor Temple was indeed effective; since the last time he offered incense and made a wish, not only had his daughter turned danger into safety, but he had also been blessed with a young gentleman. It seems that in a few days, he should take his family to express gratitude.

Madam! The Lady of Pengcheng Bo smiled without changing her expression, holding her daughter's hand: "The flowers in the garden are blooming beautifully, why not go for a walk?"

Princess Zhang Yan, daughter of Zhang Qi, a native of Yongcheng, served as the deputy commander of the troops.

"Chang'er." The Lady of Pengcheng nodded slightly as she lowered her gaze

Lady Pengcheng smiled, as if casually surveying her surroundings. She noticed that the palace maids were following behind at a leisurely pace, yet seemed to maintain a certain distance. She then said: "In a few days, I will accompany your brother back to our hometown for a sacrificial ceremony. This round trip will take quite some time, and I will not be able to see the Empress for a while, which makes me feel somewhat uneasy. Therefore, before I depart, I have come to bid farewell to the Empress."

Zhang Sheng shook his head: "The Crown Prince is overweight and requires support on both sides while walking. How much suffering must someone like that endure in the boudoir, Yan'er!"

Lady Pengcheng nodded, her eyes filled with affection; however, propriety could not be neglected. She bowed deeply, only to be assisted up by the Crown Princess, who said, "In the Buddha Hall, Mother, please forgo the formalities!"

Zhang Sheng, my second elder brother, achieved merit by guarding Beijing as a gentleman when the founding ancestor raised his army. He was granted the title of Qianhu and served successively as an officer in the military command and as a deputy commander of the imperial guards.

Zhang Chang nodded in agreement

This statement strikes at the heart of the matter, causing not only Zhang Chang but also the couple of Peng Chengbo to sigh softly.

"Are you referring to the female workers in knitting?" Sun Jingzhi raised her eyebrows slightly and smiled gently, saying, "If Ruowei were here, she would be indifferent; otherwise, with her intelligence, how could she be troubled by such a small silver needle? Studying acupuncture and pharmacology so passionately, unafraid of hardship, personally tasting hundreds of herbs, is this not more difficult than embroidery?"

Su Su covered her lips and smiled: "Indeed, if Wei has gone through this ordeal, it is as if she has become a different person. You say she has forgotten her childhood memories, starting anew, yet within less than two years, she has regained all her poetry, literature, and skills in music and chess, and is much stronger than before. It is just that there is a slight imperfection in her beauty." Su Su paused slightly, feeling a sense of regret.

Sun Jingzhi realized that he had misspoken. At this moment, he did not want his wife to know about Yao Guangxiao's feelings for their daughter, so he quickly tried to cover it up: "My dear, you are overthinking it. There is nothing to worry about. We are living in seclusion here, and everything from the past has nothing to do with us. I just think that for a young girl, it is better to be obedient. If Wei was too bold in the past, after this ordeal, if she can be more gentle and cautious, it will also ease our minds."

Meanwhile, in the adjacent courtyard, the little Ruowei rested her chin on her hand, staring blankly: "I feel so dizzy, all I remember is wrestling with someone by the lake, and I can't recall anything else..."

The eighth year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty

The Crown Princess Zhang Yan silently recited the Buddha's name. After completing her prayers, she stood up and saw her mother, breaking into a smile: "Mother, you have come?"

Is the Empress well? Zhang Chang already understood in his heart

Su Su detected the underlying meaning in Sun Jingzhi's words and raised her eyes to gaze at him: "Bringing trouble upon oneself? Could it be that—"

Upon entering the room, it happened that the second son, Zhang Sheng, was also present. Lady Pengcheng sat in the center, receiving the hot tea served by the maid. After taking a sip, she raised her eyes to look at her two sons: "You are both now serving in the court. Although it is said that our Zhang family, with you and your father holding official positions, relies on your respective merits earned through life and death, it is to some extent also a benefit derived from Yan'er. If she had not married into the palace, our Zhang residence would not enjoy the glory and stability we have today. The former loyal subjects who followed the Emperor from Yanjing to start the uprising are now few in number. You two must be cautious in all matters, not only for the sake of our Zhang family, but also because every detail could implicate Yan'er and the Crown Prince. We must not be careless."

After Zong Hanhans smiled, he scratched his head and said, "Where else can I go? You have already traveled all over this small Zou Ping."

Ji Zong obediently closed his mouth, sitting quietly by the bed, watching Ruo Wei. He felt both joy and fear in his heart. The joy came from the fact that his younger sister, who had grown up with him and had been cherished and cared for in every way, had finally awakened. The fear stemmed from the realization that his sister now seemed like a different person. Previously, she was delicate, lively, and playful, heavily reliant on him. But now, it was hard to pinpoint what had changed; it was as if she had grown up overnight, exuding an indescribable authority that made him dare not disobey.

If Wei stretched out his hand and tapped Jizong on the head: "Brother, how could you not think this through earlier? After finally sneaking out, you don't even know where to go. It's truly frustrating!"

Just as she was about to speak, Su Su instructed the maid beside her, "Go and serve this bowl of rock candy lotus seed soup to the young lady." After saying this, she smiled helplessly at Sun Jingzhi and said, "Look, she just played for a while and then stopped again. If only she could focus a bit more, her skills would have surpassed mine long ago"

Sun Jizong wore a concerned expression, mixed with deep self-reproach: "It is all my fault, brother. I should not have taken you to play by the lake, nor should I have let you wrestle with them. If I hadn't, you wouldn't have fallen into the water, and you wouldn't have ended up like this!"

As Ruowei lay in bed, she recalled the fear and coldness of plunging alone to the bottom of the lake. In that moment, she deeply experienced an unprecedented sense of loneliness and helplessness, and it was in that instant that she grew, understanding that in life, some things must ultimately be faced alone. After enduring the unexpected trial of life and death, the small Ruowei gained a unique calmness and composure. Thus, when facing the thorny journey that would last for decades in the future, she was able to remain calm and resilient.

Madam Pengcheng's expression changed repeatedly, and a trace of barely perceptible compassion appeared on her face. In the end, she nodded and said: "In that case, very good"

Although Wei was very happy inside, she carefully concealed this secret joy. After falling into the water and getting injured, she hurt her head, experiencing severe pain all over her body. Her mother tormented her for several days with needles and medicine before she finally recovered. Aside from the initial dizziness and nausea, she gradually returned to her normal state, yet she insisted on telling everyone that she had lost her memory and could not remember anything.

Su Su: "What you say is absolutely correct. Perhaps in the past I was too harsh on her, which is why she wishes to forget. From now on, I will let her handle everything, and I will no longer force her to learn this or memorize that."

Jizong was taken aback and quickly asked with concern: "Sister, what is wrong? Are you feeling unwell again?"

Outside the residence, I happened to encounter the eldest son returning home on horseback, Zhang Chang, the commander of the Jinyiwei.

I have always been well here! The crown princess has a faint expression on her face

Sun Jingzhi smiled faintly: "In the past, she was always fearless, unaware of the dangers and uncertainties of the world. This time, while playing by the lake, she nearly lost her life. I hope this serves as a lesson for her to be more cautious and composed, so as to avoid bringing trouble upon herself in the future"

Note

Zhang Chang stepped forward to support Lady Pengcheng: "Mother, have you entered the palace?"

"Sheng Er!" Peng Chengbo Zhang Qi entered from outside the house and, upon hearing this, was immediately filled with rage: "Such nonsense can be spoken so recklessly?"