Wenren Lin, of late, no one knew what he was busy with. For several nights in succession, he had not come to the Eastern Palace to supervise “studies.”

Zhao Yen was occupied with preparing the various matters, great and small, for the Empress’s birthday banquet, and thus was only too glad to steal a bit of idleness. She locked away those two unfinished volumes in the drawer, casting them to the back of her mind.

Tomorrow’s troubles may be worried over tomorrow—wait until the day Wenren Lin remembers to check homework, then speak of it again.

In mid-June, the hall was tranquil. The slight coolness of the ice basin could not withstand the fierce midsummer heat.

Zhao Yen held two or three drafts of jade pendant patterns in her hands. Beneath her summer garment she was still bound by an airless chest wrap, and like a flatbread she rolled about on the bamboo mat. On the side table, carving knives and clamps were scattered in disorder; within the brocade box were arranged several pieces of jade material of excellent quality.

Liuying entered the hall with hands clasped, receiving from Li Fu the fan in her hand, and lightly fanned Zhao Yen to bring her coolness.

Li Fu, with good sense, withdrew, conveniently closing the hall door behind him.

“Is there news of Liu Baiwei?”

Knowing Liuying had serious business to report, Zhao Yen asked.

Liuying shook her head, speaking in a low voice: “It was Her Ladyship’s attendant Historian He who came. She said that yesterday the Old Commandery Prince of Yingchuan entered the capital with a concubine-born grandson, intending to seek His Majesty’s favor, to allow the little prince grandson to acknowledge his ancestors and return to the clan.”

“Commandery Prince of Yingchuan?”

Zhao Yen searched through the register of the imperial clan in her mind, and then recalled.

This Old Commandery Prince could barely be counted as Father Emperor’s paternal cousin. Now near seventy, beneath his knee he had only one sole son, and this son had died of illness more than ten years ago.

“I remember the Heir Apparent of Yingchuan died quite suddenly, and left no issue. From where then did this little prince grandson come?”

“It is said to be born of a woman outside, and only not long ago was acknowledged back.”

“And it happens to be at this very moment… From where was he picked up?”

“For the moment unknown. The Old Commandery Prince keeps the news tightly sealed.”

Zhao Yen thought for a moment, the corner of her lips lifting as she said: “Although the Commandery Prince of Yingchuan shares the same clan and surname with Father Emperor, after all, five generations have already passed. He merely enjoys an empty title, with no real power. One more little prince grandson will not bring any influence upon the Eastern Palace.”

Whereas that child in Xu Wan-yi’s belly, even before being born, had already stirred up the entire capital.

Liuying said: “Even so, this little prince grandson’s appearance is too coincidental, and he hastens to enter the palace. Her Ladyship worries that something strange lies within, and bade Your Highness be cautious.”

Zhao Yen nodded to show her understanding, then as though remembering something, from beneath her pillow drew out that lotus-patterned jade pendant Zhao Yan had left behind, and with her finger stroked the faint crack upon it.

“Let us choose this pattern.”

She straightened, rose from the couch, and went to sit behind the table, matching it against the jade materials in the brocade box, and selected a piece of consistent quality.

Zhao Yan had always loved lotus patterns. If, in his name, she were to carve it by her own hand and present it, Mother Empress should be pleased.

Zhao Yen thought, let it count as fulfilling filial piety on Zhao Yan’s behalf.

…

“Last winter the bitter cold was such that not only the rebels could not endure it, but outside the city who knows how many refugees froze to death. Who would have thought that upon entering summer it would be this scorching…”

In Chongwen Hall, Pei Sa rolled up his sleeves, baring both arms to cool off, his broken brows knotted together.

Zhao Yen fanned herself with a fan. Her garments were tightly wrapped, not to mention the chest bindings wound in layers, leaving her stifled, chest oppressed and breath short.

This weather was truly abnormal.

Just as she was thinking so, Li Fu entered from outside the hall, quietly requesting: “Your Highness, the little prince grandson of Yingchuan seeks audience.”

“Who?”

“The concubine-born grandson whom the Old Commandery Prince of Yingchuan has just acknowledged into the clan.”

Zhao Yen had never once met the Old Commandery Prince of Yingchuan, much less this little prince grandson, and could not help her astonishment: “For what reason does he seek audience with the Gu?”

Li Fu glanced around at the palace attendants serving tea and water in the hall, hesitated, and said: “Your Highness will know once you see him.”

Zhao Yen had not expected to come face to face with this little prince grandson so soon. What intention the other harbored—one look would make clear.

At this time, there was still a quarter of an hour before Wenren Lin’s martial lesson. She pondered for a moment, then ordered: “Have him wait in the rear hall.”

Zhao Yen crossed through the long corridor and walked toward the rear hall.

The doors of the chamber were half closed. Faintly could be seen a noble youth, clad in moon-white satin trimmed with gold, standing by the window, arms crossed over his chest. His high-tied ponytail swayed slightly with the tapping of his boot tip, as though he had grown somewhat impatient with the wait.

His temper was indeed rather great. Zhao Yen, imitating the Crown Prince’s demeanor, spoke gently: “I heard you sought the Gu…”

The youth, hearing the voice, turned his head. Zhao Yen’s words broke off mid-sentence.

As their gazes met, the gentleness she had feigned instantly collapsed. For a long moment, her eyes widened: “How is it you!?”

The little prince grandson of Yingchuan… no—Liu Baiwei lowered the arms crossed over his chest. All his irritability and impatience vanished in the instant he beheld Zhao Yen.

He lifted his chin slightly, his long brows habitually raising, and said with unrestrained pride: “I told you, I would return to find Your Highness.”

In the shade of the palace wall not far away, a jet-black, green-eyed crow arched its back in a lazy stretch, then with elegant steps threaded through the crisscrossing branches. Afterwards it leapt aloft, stepping upon the winglike eaves, and flipped into the balustrade, familiarly rubbing against that pair of long, upright official boots.

“Is that so. That surname Liu has indeed chosen to return.”

Wenren Lin sat in a chair, drawing from the small pouch at his side a piece of dried meat to feed the black cat. His countenance, against the sunlight, revealed not the slightest ripple.

“Truly a lingering fox spirit that refuses to disperse. With a change of skin, he has transformed into the little prince grandson of Yingchuan.”

Zhang Cang glared toward the corridor behind Chongwen Hall, indignant: “Why does not Lord use some means to have his identity as little prince grandson abolished? After all, having wandered in exile for so many years, who knows whether he is genuine or false?”

Wenren Lin stroked the black cat’s fur, casting a sidelong glance at Zhang Cang: “Clever.”

Zhang Cang grinned: “But of course…”

Sensing his master’s gaze grow heavier, Zhang Cang’s smile froze. Sheepishly lowering his head, he said: “This subordinate has overstepped, again teaching Lord how to act.”

He admitted fault swiftly, yet his thoughts did not turn swiftly.

In former times, when Liu Baiwei disguised himself as a woman and clung close to the little Crown Prince, Lord could not tolerate a grain of sand in his eyes. Even at the risk of offending the little Crown Prince, he had contrived to make that surname Liu feign death and depart. Why now, instead, did he not appear anxious?

Zhang Cang pondered, then suddenly thought of something, dawning with realization: “This subordinate understands! That fox, since he has been acknowledged back as a little prince grandson, then with the Crown Prince he is of the same clan and the same surname. By the rites and laws of this dynasty, persons of the same clan and surname, even if separated by seventeen or eighteen generations, cannot be together!”

As expected, Lord is truly brilliant! Without raising a single soldier or blade, he has thoroughly severed that male fox spirit’s designs!

Zhang Cang was filled with admiration, prostrating in spirit.

While he surged with mountains and seas, Wenren Lin remained tranquil.

He wiped his hands clean with a kerchief, lowered his gaze, and turned his frost-white, slender palms, suddenly desiring to stroke something softer, more delicate.

Thus she turned and descended the stairs, heading toward Chongwen Hall.

Beneath the corridor, Zhao Yen and Liu Baiwei stood shoulder to shoulder, listening to the tinkling sound of the eaves-bells.

“The old man went to the Taiji Hall to face His Majesty. Likely he will have to wait a while, so I slipped away on my own to come here.”

Liu Baiwei had changed into brocade of cloud satin; the gold and white colors set off his red lips and white teeth, full of youthful spirit, wholly different from when he had disguised himself as a woman or played the scholar.

He gave a hum: “The lamps of the Mingde Hall must remain lit, yet I had no wish to wait like a secluded wife with resentment, craning my neck for word of Your Highness. I could only resort to this.”

Zhao Yen truly took quite a while before she could accept what was before her eyes.

“What is the truth of this matter?”

She did not know where to begin her questioning. “Are you not surnamed Liu?”

Liu Baiwei seemed unable to open his mouth; after moving his lips, he finally admitted frankly: “Liu is my mother’s surname.”

The Heir of the Commandery Prince of Yingchuan was the Old Commandery Prince’s only son. In that place he held sway with a single hand; whichever beauty caught his eye, with but a word he could take away a maiden’s chastity.

That maiden was the daughter of a private tutor. Born with beauty as refined and graceful as an orchid, she suffered such calamity for no reason. The Heir, sated and pleased, patted his rear and left, turning around to marry a noble daughter of equal station, not giving the Liu family girl even the name of concubine. The Tutor Liu was so angered he coughed blood and died.

Liu Baiwei sneered: Such bully’s conduct would seem hackneyed even in a storybook, yet the laughable thing was—it had truly occurred, a nightmare in reality.

The Liu family girl sold off the household to depend upon relatives, desperately gave birth to her son, and thought thus to live out her ruined life. Who would have known that the Heir of Yingchuan, guilty of many evils, would reap retribution, suddenly struck with illness and dying?

The commandery prince’s household was left without an heir. Once the Old Commandery Prince departed this world, the court would reclaim the title and stipend of the Commandery Prince of Yingchuan.

Royal parasites—how could they abandon such fat flesh already in their grasp?

Only then did the Heir’s wife recall that her husband had left behind an illegitimate child in the outer world.