At dusk, inside the carriage returning to the manor.
Even the rumbling of the carriage wheels over the bluestone road could not drown out Qian Sijin’s endless chatter—
“Speaking of the Jing Prince, he’s truly shrouded in mystery. It’s said that the year he was born, the Empress Dowager, who was then still the Empress, dreamed of a falling star landing in her arms. Later, she gave birth to the Jing Prince, and the entire palace was filled with colorful clouds, withered trees bloomed, and the Imperial Astronomer declared it all a great omen.
As the Jing Prince grew, not only was he as fair and handsome as an immortal child, but also exceptionally intelligent— at three, he could recite the Thousand Character Classic, and by five, he spoke in elegant verses. People said he was the reincarnation of the Literary Star in Heaven. Even the late Emperor was deeply fond of this youngest son, declaring more than once, ‘This child most resembles me.’”
“At that time, some treacherous officials, seeing how much the late Emperor favored his youngest son, urged him to make the Jing Prince the Crown Prince. The late Emperor was swayed, but before he could act, the Marquis of Longxi, Zhou Haotian, colluded with the Rongdi, and together they stormed Changan.
The late Emperor, under the protection of the Imperial Forest Army, fled in haste, not even caring for the womenfolk of the harem. Empress Zhao, upon learning of the rebels entering the city and the Emperor fleeing to Sichuan, hurriedly took the young Crown Prince and the Jing Prince to pursue the imperial carriage, but then…”
“But then what?”
Yun Ran was listening intently, her ears perked high, even forgetting to eat the roasted melon seeds in her palm. “Third Sister-in-law, hurry and tell me, hurry!”
Her little sister-in-law was so eager that Qian Sijin preened, cleared her throat, and continued, “But as soon as they left the city, they were discovered by the Rongdi. The Rongdi hunted them everywhere. Thankfully, our Zheng Family uncle arrived just in time to save the Empress and the Crown Prince. But the Jing Prince, who was only six at the time, was unfortunately captured and fell into the hands of the Rongdi.”
Yun Ran gasped, “He was caught?”
Qian Sijin nodded, and with a sigh, said,
“Those Rongdi were ruthless. When they learned the Jing Prince was the late Emperor and Empress’s most beloved child, they tortured him in all sorts of ways to threaten the late Emperor. After the chaos of the Zhaode Rebellion was quelled, the late Emperor returned to Changan with the Empress and Crown Prince, but the Rongdi still refused to release the Jing Prince and took him back as a hostage.
He was gone for ten years. Only after the current Emperor ascended the throne and diligently governed, restoring the nation’s fortune, did they finally send envoys to bring the Jing Prince back from the Rongdi.”
“But after the Jing Prince returned, he was no longer the lively and clever child he once was. He became gloomy and withdrawn, and even raised all kinds of poisonous snakes and scorpions! It’s said that on the day he returned to the city, it rained for days in Changan, and several dikes in the capital’s outskirts were destroyed.
The Imperial Astronomer claimed the Jing Prince was a jinx star reborn, bringing endless misfortune. Back then, it was also because the late Emperor considered changing the Crown Prince, shaking the foundation of the nation and harming its fortune, that the Zhaode Rebellion broke out…”
Yun Ran let out another “Ah!” and asked, “But didn’t you just say he was a falling star in the Empress’s dream, with auspicious clouds all over the sky, the Literary Star descended? How did he become a jinx star?”
Qian Sijin was momentarily stumped: “This… cough, anyway, that’s what people say. Maybe… maybe he was just good at pretending before, but when it comes to matters of the nation’s fortune, his true nature showed.”
Yun Ran wrinkled her nose, half believing, half doubting.
“Oh, regardless of what’s true or false, it’s best to keep a respectful distance from the Jing Prince. Just think, what normal person would keep so many filthy rats in their manor, or spend all day with snakes, scorpions, and other poisonous creatures?”
Just mentioning it made Qian Sijin’s skin crawl. She rubbed her arms. “And those three Noble Ladies who died after being betrothed to him— each one was perfectly fine, but after being engaged to him, they died mysteriously. Isn’t that strange?”
When she heard about the Literary Star turning into a jinx star, Yun Ran thought it was just some “colleagues” making things up.
But when she heard about the Noble Ladies who died, Yun Ran couldn’t help but feel a bit wary—
After all, the former was all hearsay, but the latter she had seen for herself just yesterday.
Seeing her little sister-in-law lost in thought with drooping eyelids, Qian Sijin thought she still didn’t believe in such things, and was about to share more frightening rumors about the Jing Prince when her eldest sister-in-law, Li Wanrong, spoke up: “Enough, little sister has just returned to Changan, don’t scare her.”
Her voice was as gentle and calm as ever, yet carried an undeniable authority.
Qian Sijin obediently closed her mouth.
“Don’t be afraid, little sister.”
Li Wanrong looked at Yun Ran, her voice softening. “Half of what your third sister-in-law said is true, the other half is exaggerated. You don’t need to believe it all.”
Catching Qian Sijin’s disgruntled look out of the corner of her eye, Li Wanrong added, “But she’s right about one thing: from now on, it’s best to keep a respectful distance from the Jing Prince and everything related to the Jing Prince’s Manor.”
Qian Sijin chimed in, “Exactly, exactly, we can’t afford to offend him, but we can avoid him.”
Seeing the sincerity and care on both her sisters-in-law’s faces, Yun Ran felt a warm glow in her heart.
“I understand.”
She lifted her face and smiled at them, her eyes curving. “I’ll listen to you both. If anything comes up about the Jing Prince’s Manor, I’ll stay far, far away!”
Their little sister was so obedient and sensible that Li Wanrong and Qian Sijin both let out a relieved breath.
–
Half an hour later, the carriage rolled into Xuanhua Ward, where the Marquis of Changxin Manor was located, bathed in the crimson glow of dusk.
Just then, a purple-curtained carriage passed by. Qian Sijin lifted the curtain for a look and paused in surprise. “That carriage looks rather grand?”
She’d only been married into the Marquis’s Mansion for a year and wasn’t yet familiar with the standards of noble families’ carriages.
Since she’d asked, only Li Wanrong in the carriage could answer.
Li Wanrong lifted her eyelids slightly, her gaze passing over the dazzling jewels in Qian Sijin’s hair to glance outside. Her expression immediately grew serious. “That’s a carriage from the palace.”
“From the palace?”
Qian Sijin was surprised. “It’s not coming to our manor, is it?”
Li Wanrong pursed her lips, unable to be certain— after all, they weren’t the only residents of Xuanhua Ward.
But she had a faint premonition and glanced over at her little sister-in-law.
Yun Ran, who was just pondering what dishes the kitchen would prepare tonight: “…?”
Why was her eldest sister-in-law looking at her?
She’d only arrived in Changan yesterday and didn’t know anyone from the palace— surely it couldn’t be for her.
Yet, a stick of incense later, when she saw the main hall’s round table piled high with bright gifts and Zheng Shi greeted them with a beaming smile: “You’re back just in time! Ranran, come over and have a look— these are all gifts from Her Majesty the Empress for you!”
Yun Ran: “…”
It really was for her.
On the journey from Yangzhou back to the capital, Yun Ran learned that her mother was the current Empress’s own second aunt, and she herself, overnight, had become the daughter of a Marquis’s Mansion and the Empress’s little cousin.
When she first learned of this family connection, Yun Ran was surprised, but it didn’t feel real.
To her, the Marquis’s Mansion, the imperial family, the great clans— all seemed like moon reflected in water or flowers in the mist, always separated by a veil she could never lift.
Even now that she was back, she didn’t feel much different as the Marquis’s daughter, other than eating and living better and dressing more luxuriously—
But such things didn’t mean much to a Daoist like her. After traveling all this way to Changan, what she cared about most was reuniting with her family after years apart.
Her parents’ kindness, her brothers’ and sisters-in-law’s attentive care—these brought her more joy than any mansion, fine clothes, or delicacies.
As for the pile of dazzling, golden palace-made jewelry before her, she only glanced at it before whispering to Zheng Shi, “Mother, this is too much. We’re just ordinary relatives, how can we accept so many gifts from the Empress?”
Besides, isn’t it said that once you enter the palace, it’s as deep as the sea?
She’d only arrived in Changan yesterday afternoon, and today the Empress had already sent gifts. The palace didn’t seem so deep after all.
Zheng Shi couldn’t help but laugh. “I am, after all, Her Majesty’s own aunt, and you are her cousin. Besides, the fact that I traveled all the way to Yangzhou to find you must have spread through Changan by now. Now that you’re back, it’s only natural for her to show some affection to her family and honor me as her aunt.”
“So that’s how it is.”
Yun Ran nodded. Looking at the table full of lavish gifts, she smiled. “The Empress Cousin is really too generous— so extravagant right from the start. If I ever get the chance to meet her, I must thank her properly.”
Yun Ran just said this casually. In her limited experience as a little Daoist from the mountains, the Empress Dowager, Emperor, and Empress were like immortals in the clouds— people a commoner like her could never hope to meet.
She didn’t expect that as soon as she finished, Zheng Shi smiled, “That’s the bond of maternal kin— generation after generation. Her Majesty probably wants to meet her little cousin too, so she specially added your name to the invitation for the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet.”
She took an invitation from her sleeve. “Look. On the fifteenth of the eighth month this year, you’ll be able to enter the palace with your father and me, and thank Her Majesty in person.”
“Enter… enter the palace?”
Yun Ran stared at the exquisite invitation with gold leaf on the cover, feeling dizzy.
She was going to the palace!?
The very Imperial Palace the storytellers spoke of, “where treasures of the world gather, the roof is covered in gold, the bricks are of white jade, resplendent and magnificent, like a heavenly palace”?
Not only would she enter the palace, but she’d meet the Empress— maybe even the Emperor and Empress Dowager!
Yun Ran’s mouth went dry, her heart thumping wildly.
Zheng Shi saw her dazed look and grew worried, her smile fading. “Ranran, what’s wrong?”
“N-no, nothing…”
Yun Ran snapped back to herself, her fair cheeks flushing red, but her eyes were brimming with excitement and anticipation. “I just never thought I’d be able to enter the Imperial Palace and see the Empress in this lifetime!”
Master, Senior Sister, I’ve made it!
Zheng Shi couldn’t help but laugh, but then felt a pang of sorrow.
If Ranran hadn’t gone missing, she’d have visited the palace many times over the years— how could she now be so overwhelmed and delighted by this?
Thinking of this, Zheng Shi also felt a twinge of worry—
Her daughter’s excitement was adorable and pitiful in her eyes, but in the eyes of others, they might mock her for her rural background and lack of worldly experience.
Being laughed at was one thing, but the palace banquet would be filled with nobles and high officials— if she lost her manners or offended someone, that would be terrible.
Seeing that her mother, who had just been smiling, now looked so serious and worried, Yun Ran tugged at her sleeve. “Mother?”
Zheng Shi came back to herself and forced a smile. “It’s nothing, I was just thinking about some household affairs.”
After a pause, “You must be tired after going out with your sisters-in-law today. Go back to your courtyard, wash up and rest a bit. I’ll have someone call you when dinner is ready.”
After spending half the day out in the summer heat, Yun Ran did feel a bit worn out.
She bade farewell to Zheng Shi and her two sisters-in-law, then left with her maid and the pile of gifts.
Once her little sister-in-law was gone, Li Wanrong and Qian Sijin also prepared to leave.
But Zheng Shi said, “Jin-niang, you go ahead. Wan-niang, stay for a moment.”
Qian Sijin didn’t think much of it, assuming her mother-in-law wanted to discuss household matters with the eldest daughter-in-law. She curtsied. “Daughter-in-law takes her leave.”
Li Wanrong happened to have something to report as well and quietly stood to the side.
When Qian Sijin had left, Zheng Shi called Li Wanrong closer and shared her worries about the palace banquet.
In the end, she looked at her outstanding eldest daughter-in-law with trust. “It’s already late July, and there’s less than a month until the Mid-Autumn Festival. Wan-niang, I’ll have to trouble you to spend more effort teaching Ranran the proper etiquette.”
“Mother, you flatter me.”
Li Wanrong bowed respectfully. “Ranran is our own little sister. Teaching her is the duty of the eldest daughter-in-law— it’s no trouble at all. Besides, she’s clever and sensible, and I enjoy her company.”
Zheng Shi felt a great weight lift off her shoulders at these words, her brows relaxing as she smiled. “Dalang Jun was lucky to marry a wife like you—it’s a blessing for our whole family.”
Li Wanrong smiled modestly.
She’d been married into the Marquis’s Mansion for five years. Except for the unexpected addition of a rather unruly third sister-in-law last year, she was very content with everything about her husband’s family.
“Oh, there’s one more thing I should mention to Mother.”
Li Wanrong’s expression grew serious as she recounted the minor incident at the Western Market earlier that day.
It wasn’t a big deal, but since it involved the Jing Prince, it was better to be cautious.
Zheng Shi had always appreciated her eldest daughter-in-law’s steady nature.
After listening, she nodded. “I understand. I’ll mention it to your father-in-law and have someone keep an eye on the Jing Prince’s Manor for the next few days. It should be nothing to worry about.”
The two women chatted a bit more, and only after the servants came to report that the Marquis and Dalang Jun had returned did they finally go their separate ways.