Chapter 3, Lingering Affections

The phrase "交情不一般" means that the relationship or friendship is extraordinary or special. In response, Wanwan asks, "How is it not ordinary?"

The Honglu Temple is responsible for matters related to court meetings, guests, and ceremonies of auspiciousness and inauspiciousness. An official of the sixth rank... She gently clenched her fist, "Wanwanshan lives deep within the palace and does not concern herself with external affairs. Why is my elder brother mentioning this person to me?"

The freshly written characters on the desk were pressed down with a paperweight, and a sudden gust of wind lifted the rice paper, producing a crisp sound. She turned over, lying with her back to the door, nearly noon, feeling drowsy. Today, she had no interest in singing; her limbs felt too heavy to lift. Xiao You quietly lowered the window and went to tidy up the brushes and ink on the desk, suddenly calling out, "Xiao Shaojian has arrived." Upon hearing this, she immediately propped herself up and sat up.

That young Master Xiao... has a rather special relationship with Lady Zhao. Previously, he assured you that he would keep your matters confidential, yet he turned around and sold you out to Lady Zhao. How can this be acceptable

Wanwan sighed, stood up, and thanked him: "Big brother, I have always been grateful for your concern for me, but I am still young and wish to serve my mother for a few more years, so as not to waste the care she has given me. Surrendering is not a difficult matter; it only takes a few months of preparation, and one can marry at any time. I am just afraid that others may not care for me as you do, and what will I do then?"

Wanwan's expression changed after hearing this, and she reproached her in a low voice: "Be careful with your words. It's one thing to talk nonsense in front of me, but if others hear you, will you still be able to live?" Xiaoyou was so frightened that she stuck out her tongue; she felt as if the sky had suddenly lowered, dark clouds were pressing down, and it was suffocating.

They were not speaking about the same matter. Wanwan, feeling dejected, turned her body and broke off a branch of the begonia to place in a vase. The girl followed closely behind, her voice as faint as a mosquito, buzzing in her ear: "Your Highness... Your Highness, I am feeling quite anxious and wish to have a word with you"

She knew she was on shaky ground, and her expression grew even dimmer as she twisted her fingers and said, "Minister, this matter is making me uncomfortable. What should I do?"

If one is kept in the dark, then going would simply mean going. Now that the truth is known, one certainly cannot be foolishly manipulated by others

As she stepped into the Dongnuan Pavilion, the Emperor was sitting by the southern window, leaning against the kang table, examining a set of Mongolian fire strikers. His gaunt profile was reflected in the glass, resembling a fleeting specter. Upon seeing her arrive, he set aside what he was holding, smiled, and gestured to the side, saying, "Please, have a seat"

The emperor sighed, coughed a few times before finally calming himself, and said: "It is not difficult for you, but you must also understand your responsibilities. There is an opportunity at hand; during the Dragon Boat Festival, a grand banquet will be held in the palace. The officials and princes from the vassal states have not been summoned to the capital for six or seven years. I have heard some rumors, and it is necessary to stretch their muscles and bones. I remember that when the late emperor was alive, he always took you to the banquets. This year, you will attend the banquet with the Empress Dowager, and it will be a good chance to see if there are any suitable candidates. " Suddenly recalling something, he emphasized to her, "You can consider anyone, but the barbarians from the South Garden are not acceptable. The princess of Murong shall not marry into the Yuwen clan, remember that?"

Wanwan was taken aback, "A marriage decree? To whom is it being granted?"

She tucked her hands and nodded earnestly: "I have taken note of the minister's words."

This situation is quite embarrassing. In the early days of the Great Ye, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs was merely an administrative office within the palace. However, subsequent emperors relied on it more and more, to the point where the powerful eunuchs now nearly rival the Prime Minister of the Cabinet. Although Wanwan is a girl, she has her own insights regarding political affairs. The founding emperor once issued a strict edict prohibiting eunuchs from interfering in politics, and there have been historical precedents to heed. Yet, the descendants have completely disregarded the words of their ancestors. Sometimes she thinks long-term, pondering how this nation and its affairs will ultimately conclude. Of course, if one must find someone among the eunuchs to share the emperor's burdens, then Xiao Duo would still be a good choice.

I heard from Da Ban that the Emperor's health has improved a bit today. Looking at the elder brother's spirit, it seems there is no deficiency compared to before. She scrutinized him for a moment and said, "You are feeling comfortable now, right? If you have any headaches or fevers, you should have the imperial physician examine you properly. You cannot avoid taking medicine just because it is bitter."

Is it possible to ignore it? She is spinning in circles at the center of the earth, and if left there to sprout, perhaps one day a decree will come down. She wants to enter the Qianqing Palace to meet the Emperor, but it is not that it cannot be done; she is just afraid of alarming the Cining Palace afterwards. After much deliberation, she asked Xiao Duo for his opinion, but he merely shook his head and urged her to be patient, as her marriage is not something that can be settled with just a few words; there will be plenty of opportunities for her to speak.

"My lord, look, you have suddenly become quite popular." Xiao You spoke with a hint of bitter amusement, "The ladies in the palace are all trying to curry favor, hoping to bring you back to their families. However, I haven't heard of anyone from those two families who is particularly noteworthy, like mud pigs and mangy dogs, wanting to marry the master."

She straightened her chest and said, "Xiao You, look at me, how is my momentum?"

Within this deep palace, the eunuchs of the Palace of Ceremonial Affairs wield absolute power over life and death. The fate of the palace maids and inner servants rests solely on their words, which leaves everyone terrified, their faces ashen, as they prostrate themselves on the ground, repeatedly bowing their heads.

This court is truly a tangled mess, I had thought there would at least be some comforting aspects, but to my surprise, it is dark under the lamp, and the darkness extends endlessly, as deep as a well

The little servant leaned in close to her ear and said, "The young master serves the princess, and it is said that he has even served her on the embroidery bed..." With a face full of embarrassment, he shrugged and added, "You think about it."

Xiao Shaojian's expression remained unchanged from beginning to end as he calmly listened to her finish speaking, and then calmly told her: "Your Highness is the eldest princess, a descendant of the late emperor, and your status is extraordinarily noble. Within this palace, no one can force you to do anything against your will. You are now grown and have your own opinions. If anything makes you feel uncomfortable or even slightly displeased, there is no need to ponder it repeatedly; that is certainly not a good thing."

"It's nothing much, just that yesterday the imperial concubine spoke to me and mentioned the Minister of the Honglu Temple, Wen Yue..." The eunuch brought in tea, and the emperor paused his words, lifted the lid to scrape the tea leaves, and said in a lowered voice, "That Wen Yue is now exactly twenty years old, and it's rare to find someone so handsome and talented in music."

She is still quite childish, and even though she can be stubborn and unreasonable at times, the Emperor has never held it against her, always smiling and saying: "You are the eldest princess, who would dare to make you suffer? If the prince consort troubles you, come back to the palace and report it to me, I will punish him severely to vent your anger. However, joking aside, you should have some plans regarding your marriage; there is no need to rush into choosing someone immediately. You need to have a clear idea in your mind so that you won't be flustered in the future. At fourteen, you are neither too young nor too old. I originally intended to discuss this with the Empress Dowager, but I was afraid you might be unwilling, so I wanted to consult you first and see what you think."

She paused for a moment, stood up, and called for Chang Chen. Xiao Shaojian bowed to her and said, "Someone from the palace has come to report that Your Highness is unwell, and I have come specifically to check on you." His gaze swept over her, "Your Highness, do you feel any discomfort?"

Wanwan felt very nervous, awkwardly smoothing her forehead, "It's just that my head feels hot, and my throat is uncomfortable... I also feel weak and am breaking out in a cold sweat..."

I have stated that unpleasant matters are not good matters; since there is aversion, one may simply choose to disregard them

The emperor may have initially approached it with some hesitation, but she easily countered his advances. Upon reflection, if this marriage were to proceed, it would indeed be unfair to the young lady, so he shook his head and said: "It was my miscalculation; very well, this matter will not be mentioned again"

Who did Your Highness say is a fool

He smiled at her and said, "Of course, it is for Your Highness."

At this point, she was at a loss for ideas. When the Empress called out to her outside the Cining Palace, Concubine Shao was not far away. Both she and Xiao You did not understand the Empress's intention in asking about her age, but Concubine Shao was already aware of it. Since the Empress was being indirect, she decided to take the opposite approach and directly request a decree, which would save much more time and effort than beating around the bush.

Xiao You said no, "They are a busy person, I heard from Wu Qi that the direction of the Si Li Jian is about to change, and Xiao Shao Jian is the most capable among the four who hold the pen, I believe he will definitely be able to take the position this time"

Wanwans had heard earlier that the Qiren of Nanyuan had red eyebrows and green eyes. Initially, they committed atrocities in the Qilian Mountains, and it was only when the Emperor Taizu personally led a campaign that those monsters were subdued. ... She is a princess of a great nation and naturally would not marry into a foreign tribe, yet the Emperor repeatedly issued orders, which piqued her curiosity ...

Xiao Shaojian raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "Listening to the symptoms, it seems the illness is quite serious." He turned to question the attendants outside, "The master is ill, why haven't you gone to the Imperial Hospital to summon the physician? With so many people present, what are they all doing?"

Wanwan stood under the flowering tree, lost in thought. She had devised a set of remarks for herself, in case the Emperor summoned her, so that she would be prepared. Xiao Duo was right; one should not be overly ambitious, nor should one demean oneself. Although she had lost her parents, her status remained. In the past, as a princess, she was no less than any prince.

Xiao You said: "The weather is still not warm enough now. Once summer arrives and we wear less, we will be able to see the momentum building up."

Xiao You pretended to be serious and tried to fool her, kneeling towards the door to pay his respects: "I pay my respects to Young Master Xiao."

Looking around, she saw no one in sight, and Xiao You burst into laughter, realizing that she had been tricked.

What kind of place is the Eastern Factory? Only those you say are good can serve as the governor there. Xiao You leaned forward to blow the dust off the lotus flower, tilted his head, and began to ponder again. On the other hand, if he can become the one in charge, it would be beneficial for us. After all, he has managed affairs in our palace, which is more considerate than others! If he supports you, in case the emperor overlooks you, at least he can look out for you.

Wanwan shyly touched her face and thought, "I just remembered that there are still two pages of scriptures left to copy, so I plan to get up and copy them." To salvage her dignity, she slowly got off the bed and moved to the back of the desk

However good the maternal family may be, there is no reason to stay for a lifetime. Moreover, in a broad sense, arranged marriages are a good thing; you may dislike the person who is trying to send you away by any means, but you have no reason to hate the act itself

The bond between the siblings is profound, and they do not become estranged simply because they were not born of the same mother. Before the late emperor passed away, he specifically summoned the crown prince to meet and entrusted her to him. Later, when the crown prince ascended the throne and became the supreme ruler, he secretly advised her that in the absence of outsiders, she need not observe the formalities of the ruler and his subjects.

Still unwilling to give up, he looked around and asked, "Has the factory official come by today?"

Wanwan smiled and paused before asking, "Elder brother, what is your command? Wanwan is at your service."

She felt dejected and disappointed with reality, but fortunately, the emperor's attitude provided her with some comfort. Despite the favored status of Consort Shao, her elder brother did not use her marriage as a favor; after much consideration, he still summoned her to the Qianqing Palace to inquire about her intentions in person

She is a young girl, and there are some matters that she should not concern herself with; if she hears them, she should treat them as if she has not heard. It is a pity, as she once greatly admired Xiao Duo's character, but now, it is indeed somewhat difficult to express her feelings.

Wanwan fidgeted slightly, "I knew that my elder brother is inclined towards me. I have taken your words to heart, and I would like to ask my elder brother for a favor: in the future, please do not force me to marry someone I do not admire. In case the Empress Mother is displeased, I ask my elder brother to be considerate on my behalf. I will be grateful to my elder brother for a lifetime."

"The old lady called for you to embroider, but you said you were feeling sleepy. Why is it that as soon as Xiao Shaojian is mentioned, you become lively?"

Wanwan raised her eyes, feeling immensely grateful for his few words. It is true that she is a princess, but having lost her mother at a young age, she has always been timid and accustomed to gauging others' expressions. Take him for instance; he is here to oversee her palace affairs, and originally, she is the master while he is the servant, so she should not be afraid of him at all. Yet, for some reason, she always harbors a sense of fear towards him, coupled with a certain dependence. Perhaps there are not many who genuinely treat her well, and when she encounters one, she finds it quite precious.

She made a sound and asked, "What happened?"

The spring scenery is just right, and her rattan couch is placed where she can see the begonia tree. A gentle breeze carries with it a faint fragrance, flowing through the intricately carved moon gate window, refreshing the heart and mind. She gazes up at the clouds drifting above the treetops, rarely feeling troubled. For instance, the queen's impulsive matchmaking obsession; when she first heard about it from Wu Qi, she was quite averse. However, after a night's sleep and having two lamb eye buns the next day, her mood suddenly became expansive. One encounters many setbacks in life; if one takes every little thing to heart, then life becomes unbearable.

This long princess is truly pitiable and lamentable. She was enraged and clenched her fists, saying: "I will not marry!"

Indeed, someone has entered from outside, lifting their robe. Wanwan turned her head to look; the visitor wore a black cap and a fragrant-colored embroidered robe adorned with flying fish. Even though their expression was indifferent, there was always a hint of a smile in their eyes

Wanwan has no other skills, but she knows how to feign illness. When the right day arrives, she sends someone to Kun Ning Palace at the last minute, claiming that she has caught a cold and is bedridden. Even if Empress Zhao is displeased, it does not matter to her since she cannot see it anyway

Wanwanshan could not hide the truth any longer and had to confess, "Your Excellency, please do not be angry. It was I who did not call for the imperial physician, because I am not ill at all." She lowered her head, her face flushed, "Because the Empress Zhao invited me to the Kun Ning Palace for refreshments the other day, I did not want to go, and it was difficult to decline, so I could only feign illness to take leave. If Your Excellency learns the truth, please do not tell Empress Zhao, as I fear offending her, and it would be awkward to meet her in the future."

The emperor's benevolence stems from his consideration for sibling affection, yet she cannot take this grace for granted. Even before the emperor, she still respectfully receives blessings and pays her respects. When the emperor grants her a seat, she humbly expresses her gratitude and then takes her seat.

Wanwan dipped her small brush in the inkstone for quite a while, "Actually, the factory workers are quite nice, they just have a bit of a fierce demeanor..."

Xiao Shao listened and smiled, "I am an internal official, Your Highness need not be so courteous to me." As he spoke, he waved his hand to dismiss the people in the corridor, and in a low voice said, "Your Highness only knows that Lady Zhao invited you for refreshments, but do you not know that Lady Shao is currently seeking the Emperor's permission for a marriage?"

She came prepared; although she did not explicitly state it, she made it clear by revealing the other person's official title as if it were a written endorsement. If one truly wishes to serve the sovereign, even a minor official of the sixth rank is too lofty a position to aspire to. In this dynasty, there has yet to be a precedent for a princess marrying so lowly.

Wanwan did not even raise her eyebrows, "I wrote to you for the first time, and if I write to you a second time, I would be a fool."

She does not know how to comfort others, the emperor found it amusing and said, "Do you think I am like you, afraid of bitter medicine? Rest assured, I am indeed much better today, even doing two sets of punches is not a problem."