Chapter 10, Where the Tall Trees Provide Shelter for the Vines

"I know you are reluctant to leave," he whispered in her ear, taking her icy fingers and pressing them against his chest, against an old scar. "This scar has never faded, and you have never forgotten me." Yun Huang trembled, unable to utter a word, only hearing his deep sigh, filled with a childlike satisfaction. "At least you still hold me in your heart; I am very happy, very happy..."

With a sharp sound, something extremely light and fine fell to the ground, and Empress Pei heard it. She was close enough to see the Grand Princess with her wide sleeves hanging low, a pale hand as white as jade casually resting beside the phoenix throne. The pearl embedded in the phoenix-eyed armrest had actually been pried off by her nail, and a bright red lacquer also broke off with it. Empress Pei was taken aback, feeling the pain of a broken nail, a sensation she was familiar with. However, the smile on the Grand Princess's face remained unchanged, as if she felt nothing at all. Empress Pei was taken aback, feeling the pain of a broken nail, a sensation she was familiar with. However, the smile on the Grand Princess's face remained unchanged, as if she felt nothing at all

A soft exclamation of "Ah" escaped from the lips of Consort Pei, drawing the attention of everyone from the Crown Princess to her. Observing her repeated lapses in decorum today, even Shao Huan couldn't help but furrow his brow slightly. Consort Pei, feeling her loss of composure, lowered her head in embarrassment, yet the intensity of her inner turmoil compelled her to glance up at the imperial throne. The Emperor's profile was faintly shrouded in the shadows cast by the palace lanterns, deep and inscrutable, revealing no hint of his emotions. The smile on the Crown Princess's lips not only remained but seemed to deepen gradually, resembling a midnight orchid slowly unfurling its petals.

Suddenly, she remembered that she too had no home; this deep palace and forbidden garden had become her home for a lifetime.

The sour and astringent taste surged up to the depths of my eyes time and again, too late to shed tears yet already dried up. Turning restlessly between the embroidered curtains and the brocade quilt, I grasped my own neck, yet could not even manage a sob; the sadness had solidified into ice within my chest. Yun Huang realized that she could no longer cry; for a moment, she felt constricted and suffocated, as if drowning in water, unable to grasp anything, unable to exhale a single breath.

What more can one desire? That which is not destined to be, that which should not exist in this world, she has already taken all of it.

There is nothing farther than the foreign lands of the North, and nothing more irrelevant than that foolish prince. He indeed dotes on her, and he has fulfilled her wishes. But why, despite the good intentions coming to fruition, does her heart remain desolate, as if a flood has swept across the world, leaving only a lifeless wasteland behind

Today's scene was meticulously planned by Shao Huan in advance, taking advantage of the opportunity presented by the Northern Qi's visit to strike first against the He family. The imperial physician has confirmed that the Empress has indeed given birth to an heir. The Southern Qin customarily designates the eldest legitimate son as the crown prince. Once this news spreads, the He family will hold a powerful trump card in their hands regarding the future crown prince, making it increasingly difficult to eliminate this external family influence.

This play is naturally staged for Duke Chen and the officials to observe. With the Empress pregnant, any condition of blood deficiency could jeopardize the fetus if not handled with care. It is entirely reasonable for Shaohuan to confine the Empress for quiet rest, ensuring that no one disturbs her. Duke Chen has ears and eyes everywhere, and the joyous news of the heir in the palace cannot be concealed; however, by the time he learns of it, the Empress will have already fallen under Shaohuan's control. If Duke Chen wishes to depose Shaohuan and use the Emperor to command the lords, he can only rely on the child in the Empress's womb. In the past, the He family went to great lengths to seek an heir. Now that their wish has been fulfilled, they must tread carefully, not daring to turn against him recklessly.

Midnight has passed, and the candles in the Xinyi Palace have been extinguished. The inner servants and palace maids quietly conceal themselves behind the heavy curtains, like the shadows of the towering phoenix trees in the night. Behind the embroidered doors, pearl curtains, and brocade screens, the deep inner chamber remains unlit, yet faint sounds can be heard within, resembling weeping yet not quite weeping, choking yet not quite choking. At this late hour, the sounds are particularly chilling to the bone.

"Yunhuang, are you willing to leave home?" The Emperor finally spoke, his tone casual and light, laced with a smile, radiating warmth

On the night before, at the hour of Zi, the palace attendant received news that the Empress had suddenly fallen seriously ill. The Emperor dispatched imperial physicians and palace attendants to urgently enter the inner palace. The Empress, still in a deep sleep, was startled awake. The imperial physician diagnosed her with "blood deficiency," indicating that the stagnant blood within her body had not been removed, and new blood had not been generated, leading to a critical state of blood deficiency. The Emperor, filled with anxiety, vented his anger on the inner palace staff, punishing and demoting several palace maids and eunuchs. He assigned other suitable palace attendants to serve the Empress and ordered her to rest quietly in bed, prohibiting her from stepping out of the inner chamber.

He indeed heard her calling, slightly opened his eyes, as if he wanted to smile at her, but as his thin lips curled, it was only a splash of bright red that splattered onto the snow-white silk of Yunhuang's garment. A mouthful of fresh blood surged out with his violent cough, staining her hands and chest.

A woman as gentle as spring water, when her cherry lips part, the world is at her command. These eight characters seem to answer nothing, yet they appear to answer everything. Since there is no home, she calmly takes the world as her home, indifferent to gain or loss, and unconcerned with staying or leaving. The Northern Qi and Southern Qin hold no distinction for her, and from her indifference arises a sense of pride, within which lies a hidden spirit of grandeur.

The Princess Chang is admirable for not marrying for the sake of the Empress Dowager. Princess Yunhu looked at Yunhuang and sighed, then smiled again, saying, "By coincidence, there is also a very filial man who, in order to pray for his mother, stayed in a temple for three years." Yunhuang's mind raced, and upon seeing the calm expression of Prince Jin observing the situation, she suddenly understood everything. Indeed, she saw Yunhu's eyes flicker, and with a seemingly genuine smile, she said, "It's a pity that this time, Brother Crown Prince did not come. It is rare for the two of you to be so fated. If Princess Chang were to become my sister-in-law, it would truly be a match made in heaven!"

The words of Prince Jin were ambiguous, and Princess Yunhu would occasionally probe for clarity, yet Shaohuan was clearly aware of the situation but revealed nothing to her. Yunhuang had always been absorbed in her own world, showing no interest in worldly affairs, and the rulers and ministers of Beiqi were entirely irrelevant to her. At this moment, she vaguely sensed something but was at a loss as to its origins

The gaze of King Jin and Yun Huang met from a distance; in her eyes, there was hatred, sharp and bright like the edge of a blade, faintly exuding a murderous intent

Remaining utterly still, she listened as he laughed and asked, "Are you willing to leave home?" ... Home, leaving home; marrying, not marrying; willing, unwilling ... . ... When has she ever had the freedom to choose? Yunhuang raised a pair of bottomless black eyes, as if looking at Shaohuan, yet as if looking at no one at all, simply smiling, speaking each word deliberately, "The world is my home."

His voice grew weak and low, and his entire body leaned closer, as if he had fallen asleep. Yun Huang tried to break free, but unexpectedly, losing the support of her body, he fell down, his face already devoid of any color. Yun Huang was greatly alarmed and hurriedly supported him, only to feel that his body was heavy and his hands were completely cold.

The Princess of Yunhu is unaware that the noble Consort Ke has been ill for a long time, and the Grand Princess, devoted to filial piety, has been by her side, which has led to a delay in her marriage. Consort Pei seized the opportunity to interject, skillfully speaking in defense of Yunhuang, while the other virtuous consorts also praised the Grand Princess for her filial virtues

Prince Jin is absolutely right; a transcendent beauty should indeed be born in the North, as the gloom of the South may do injustice to such elegance. However, what Prince Jin does not understand is that the so-called "transcendent and independent" women exist only in the celestial mountains and jade pavilions. Yet she lives in the world of earthly desires, embodying the color of lotus, and exists amidst the slaughter and resentment of the Asuras

In Yunhuang's ears, it was a chilling cold—if she were to say she was reluctant, would he keep her, or was everything already calculated, just waiting for her to willingly take the bait? She had once pleaded with him to find an unrelated foreign minister to marry her off from afar, so that they could each accept their fate.

"Are you feeling sad?" He tightened his grip on her sharp chin, his voice laced with laughter, as if he were inflicting slow torture. "Did you not wish to leave me? When the opportunity arises for you to escape and soar away, why do I not see you overjoyed? What is the reason for your sorrow while hiding here..." Yun Huang opened her eyes, the moonlight outside filtering through the curtains, illuminating her pale face, so beautiful that she seemed not of this world, but rather like a spirit of the night. Shao Huan tightened his grip, pulling her up and holding her tightly in his embrace, willingly sinking into eternal oblivion for this enchanting spirit. The moonlight outside filtered through the curtains, illuminating her pale face, so beautiful that she seemed not of this world, but rather like a spirit of the night. Shao Huan tightened his grip, pulling her up and holding her tightly in his embrace, willingly sinking into eternal oblivion for this enchanting spirit.

Prince Jin quietly gazed at her, their eyes meeting, and Yun Huang did not shy away. Although it was their first encounter, he could see through her intentions, and she had no desire to conceal them. However, Princess Yunhu did not intend to let her off the hook; while her laughter with Concubine Pei was not yet finished, her pair of bright, dark eyes had already turned towards Yun Huang

Due to his old illness, Emperor Shaohuan was physically weak, and more than a year after ascending the throne, he still had no consort to bear him an heir. The lack of an heir is a significant issue for a ruler, which is quite detrimental to Shaohuan's consolidation of power. At this moment, the Empress's announcement of good news provided a considerable boost to Shaohuan. The arrival of the Northern Qi prince and princess was also timely; among the six palaces, the only one who held a prestigious position and could replace the Empress in a host capacity was Princess Ningguo. Consequently, the affairs of the six palaces would naturally be entrusted to the Princess. With this, the ownership of the phoenix-patterned jade table in the Golden Hall changed hands before all the officials, and the true mistress of the harem also shifted accordingly. By stepping on the tail of the old fox, Duke Chen, Shaohuan took the opportunity to remove another Grand Minister of Agriculture, further seizing the initiative.

Suddenly hearing him say, "In the north there is a beautiful person, who stands apart from the world," Yun Huang's heart momentarily stilled, and she inadvertently met the gaze of Prince Jin. In the apricot grove, his words were clearly pointed yet ambiguous—he spoke of the phoenix tree in the south and the beautiful tree in the north, intending to use trees as metaphors for people, and the phoenix as a metaphor for her, with his admiration evident in his words. Yet he had long since married a virtuous primary consort, so how could he seek to marry the Princess of Southern Qin

Amidst the astonishment of the crowd, the laughter of Shaohuan was heard, like a night breeze flowing through the curtains, warm and serene, "The princess is willing, but I am not willing."

At a glance, it seemed as if everyone was smiling. The princess was smiling, the emperor was smiling, and both Princess Yunhu and Prince Jin were also smiling. However, a slight sweat had formed in the palms of Concubine Pei, as she had never felt that a smile could be so terrifying. The guests at the banquet were all in high spirits, and decisions about coming or going were left to casual banter, as if no one cared; only she was the most restless person in this gathering.

Once a word is spoken, all four corners are astonished

The sound of bells and chimes, the flutter of feathered garments, the sweet nectar of jade... In this grand palace banquet, Consort Pei could no longer discern any flavor. She merely awaited the conclusion of the first round of festivities, the completion of the formalities, as the Grand Princess led the consorts and ladies in their departure from the table, followed by Princess Yunhu. Only after the removal of the jade throne and pearl curtains, and the dismissal of the harem, which had no authority in political matters, could this court banquet truly commence.

As for the Long Princess, despite being favored, she is merely the daughter of a deposed emperor. If she were to marry as the Crown Princess—setting aside the fact that the Crown Prince is foolish—there would be no injustice in that. ... In the imperial family, there have always been no siblings; what does deep brother-sister affection amount to? Even if it is about the country and beauty ... ... the country and beauty ... ... Concubine Pei bit her lip, not daring to think further. Even though this thought was already crystal clear, she would rather believe she was mistaken.

"Why are you crying?" A cold voice suddenly sounded outside the low-hanging curtain, and a tall figure was faintly reflected on the drapery. It was unclear when he had arrived or how long he had been standing outside the curtain, having witnessed all her struggles and distress.

How can one be at peace? The sight of Princess Yunhu frequently showing goodwill is clearly a beautiful woman's scheme. However, unexpectedly, the situation has taken a turn; Northern Qi genuinely intends to form a marriage alliance, having set its sights on the most esteemed Princess of Southern Qin, proposing her to marry the widely known foolish Crown Prince. At first glance, this seems absurd, but upon closer reflection, despite the Crown Prince of Northern Qi being foolish, he is ultimately the heir to the throne. If the Princess were to become the Crown Princess, she would be the future mother of the Northern Qi nation. Currently, Northern Qi dominates the region, its national strength growing, while Southern Qin has endured internal strife. At the beginning of the Emperor's reign, the foundation was unstable, and within the court, Duke Chen has formed factions and monopolized power. If a marriage alliance with Northern Qi can be achieved, it would naturally be a good thing.

Here, she twists and turns, yet it is merely a fleeting moment. The Cloud Lake Princess's words, a blend of truth and falsehood, still serve to test the intentions of Southern Qin. The Eldest Princess, however, merely lowers her gaze and smiles gently, her expression dignified and graceful, with her thick eyelashes casting deep shadows like a fan.

Yunhuang knew that there were hidden meanings in her words. The mention of the phrase "years of youth" seemed to be a careless slip of the tongue, yet it struck at the heart of the matter—women in the Southern Dynasties were considered of marriageable age at fifteen. Given Yunhuang's age, she should have been married by now, but her marriage had been delayed in the lonely mornings and evenings of Xinyi Palace. Now, at the age of twenty, she remained unmarried, already labeled as an "old maid" by common folk.

Seeing Consort Pei lost in thought and speechless, Princess Yunhu's smile appeared somewhat awkward, prompting her to glance back at Princess Chang. Earlier, Princess Chang of Ningguo had introduced the consorts of the harem to Princess Yunhu, who exchanged greetings in turn. When it came to the virtuous Consort Pei, the princess scrutinized her closely, admiring her bejeweled and splendid attire, which was truly breathtaking. However, at that moment, Consort Pei was in a state of confusion and did not respond at all to the words of the Northern Qi princess. This was indeed a significant breach of etiquette, causing not only Princess Yunhu to feel embarrassed but also surprising the surrounding consorts. Unexpectedly, Princess Chang smiled gently and said softly, "The virtuous consort is perhaps a bit tipsy from the wine." Consort Pei reacted quickly, instinctively touching her forehead, and timidly bowed her head towards the two princesses, saying, "I have drunk a few more cups than I should have, causing the princess to laugh at me, and I am truly terrified." Princess Yunhu chuckled, saying, "What a charming and languid beauty, virtuous consort, please do not stand on ceremony." When Consort Pei raised her head, she blinked her beautiful eyes, curiously observing her. Although the Northern Qi princess's behavior was somewhat abrupt, it exuded the innocence of a girl from the northern regions. Princess Chang introduced the two of them, playfully stating that Consort Pei was exceptionally skilled in music and that her beauty and talent surpassed all in the harem. Such praise from Princess Chang indeed gave Consort Pei a sense of honor. In the past, Consort Pei also enjoyed hearing flattering words, but at this moment, the praise sounded different in her ears. She could only smile, appearing shy and lowering her head, yet the bitterness in her heart surged forth, and bowing deeply was not enough to suppress the bitterness in her throat.

Shao Huan and Yun Huang exchanged glances, and the two of them smiled in unison, which eased the awkwardness in the room. The King of Jin also laughed heartily, seemingly a bit tipsy, "Princess, please do not take offense. This girl Yun Hu has always been a bit mad; she clearly longs for marriage herself but uses others as a pretext." It was rare to see Yun Hu blush, as she quickly shot a glance at Shao Huan and retorted to the King of Jin, "Fifth Brother, you are bullying me again. I am speaking up for the Princess; you men have no idea how fleeting youth and knowledge are!"

"I will not allow you to suffer any more grievances," Shao Huan said to her, "Even if we cannot be together in the name of husband and wife, I will make you the true master of this harem." This was all he could bestow upon her, a power more tangible than a title. In comparison to the name of husband and wife, and the love between men and women, the drifting and unsupported Princess of Ningguo clearly needed power more. As for Yun Huang, the Princess of Qingping who grew up in the lonely Xinyi Palace, no one ever cared about what she needed, and it seemed she had never had any desires.

"Shaohuan!" Yunhuang exclaimed softly, cradling him in her arms, reaching out to caress his thin cheek, "Wake up, Shaohuan!"

Your Majesty must be very fond of the Long Princess! The Princess of Yunhu spoke with such audacity that it was shocking, and as soon as she opened her mouth, she touched upon a taboo, causing even Shaohuan to darken his expression. Yunhuang raised an eyebrow at her and smiled, asking how she came to that conclusion. The Princess of Yunhu blinked and smiled, saying, "Isn't it customary for women of the Southern Dynasty to marry by the age of fifteen? The Long Princess has yet to marry, and I wonder how many talented young men have wasted their longing. If it weren't for Your Majesty's reluctance, who could possibly stop you from marrying?"

It turned out to be merely a test; the Northern Qi was testing, and the Emperor was also testing... Lady Pei vaguely contemplated, but could not fathom further, who was testing whom, and what was being revealed, which was beyond her imagination. Looking at the flawless smile of the Princess, and thinking of the broken half of the coral, she felt a deeper chill in her spine, as if the splendor before her was shrouded in a layer of gray. Lady Pei turned her head to look outside the curtain, searching aimlessly for her brother's location, suddenly feeling a shiver, wishing to return home with her brother immediately. Looking at the flawless smile of the Princess, and thinking of the broken half of the coral, she felt a deeper chill in her spine, as if the splendor before her was shrouded in a layer of gray. Lady Pei turned her head to look outside the curtain, searching aimlessly for her brother's location, suddenly feeling a shiver, wishing to return home with her brother immediately

Yun Huang was taken aback and laughed; it turned out that the Northern Qi had indeed come with the intention of a marriage alliance. However, the Northern beauty mentioned by the Prince of Jin was not himself, but rather the Northern Qi Crown Prince, who was rumored to have long been foolish.

Yun Huang closed his eyes in despair, not wanting to see that figure any longer. Yet, a wisp of the fragrance of the杜若 flower drew near. He lifted the curtain and leaned down, turning her face towards him, forcing their faces very close together, the refreshing bitterness of the fragrance seeming to blend with her breath.

"Your Majesty is truly fortunate," Princess Yunhu turned to smile at Shaohuan and King Jin, who were conversing. "Women of the Southern Dynasties seem to have emerged from the water, each one deserving of affection. In the past, I thought the concubines in Fifth Brother's residence were the most beautiful in the world, but today, upon seeing the Grand Princess and the Virtuous Consort, I realize that Fifth Brother is quite a common man." King Jin nearly choked on his drink, staring at Princess Yunhu with a mix of laughter and exasperation. Everyone laughed, and the Grand Princess covered her lips with her sleeve, her gaze drifting past Shaohuan. "In the past, I thought the concubines in Fifth Brother's residence were the most beautiful in the world, but today, upon seeing the Grand Princess and the Virtuous Consort, I realize that Fifth Brother is quite a common man." King Jin nearly choked on his drink, staring at Princess Yunhu with a mix of laughter and exasperation. Everyone laughed, and the Grand Princess covered her lips with her sleeve, her gaze drifting past Shaohuan. Shaohuan coughed lightly, his fist against his lips, saying, "The beauties of the North and South each have their own charm. I have read ancient poetry that speaks of a beauty in the North, who stands apart from the world, and I too yearn for her in my heart."

The careless smile of Prince Jin had not yet faded, and in an instant, his expression changed, a glint of cold light flashed in his eyes