“Oh, so that’s what happened…” She nodded, a kind and motherly smile spreading across her face.
It hadn’t been easy, but the Crown Prince was finally growing up today. It truly hadn’t been easy. Men are different from women; they need to experience something like this before they can settle down and focus on achieving great things. She had been hoping for this for a long time, hoping he would find someone close to him, understand the weight of responsibility, and maintain some distance from her. Although royalty doesn’t confine themselves to just one partner, since this was a female attendant, different from the women who managed the bedchamber or the gates, she was certainly of noble birth and could very well become the future Crown Princess.
Dequan, however, smiled with a hint of sadness. To him, Lord Su was truly pitiful. She had been entangled with the master for over ten years, and yet she hadn’t even earned a proper title. The Crown Prince had not treated her kindly in this regard. At first, there was only her, so the details didn’t matter much. But now, another woman had arrived, officially recorded in the archives, unlike Lord Su’s previous casual involvement. Once things were settled, the newcomer would surely rise in status. Then what would become of Lord Su? He looked at her with a sense of regret. Outwardly, she seemed calm and composed, but who knows how much pain she was hiding inside? Now that the situation had come to this, even if the Crown Prince had previously said he didn’t want her, if a pure and proper maiden were placed on his bed, would he really refuse? Dequan’s body was half-crippled, but his heart still belonged to that of a man. Putting himself in the Crown Prince’s shoes, he thought it was unlikely to end well.
“Lord Su…” he lowered his voice, trying to offer some comfort, but found himself at a loss for words.
Su Xinghe waited a long time for him to speak again, but when he didn’t, she understood his meaning immediately.
What could be done? She needed to show some response, at least to protect the Crown Prince’s dignity. She let out a soft sigh, “Good news… It’s good news, really… Which noble family is that female attendant from? She must be one in a hundred to be worthy of our master.”
The attendants from the Imperial Household Department said, “She’s the daughter of the General of Cavalry, only fourteen this year. In most families, they treasure their sons as the sole heir for generations, but in her family, she’s the only daughter. The entire household dotes on her like she’s their heart and soul.”
Su Xinghe continued to nod and express approval, but inwardly she was calculating. General Shangguan Dao had military achievements, with four brothers: three holding positions in the military and one serving as the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy. A family of such status if they were drawn into the Crown Prince’s camp would be a significant boost to his power. Indeed, the emperor had put great thought into this. This move was clearly meant to reassure the Crown Prince. While the empress might be established, it would never shake the prince’s position. Sending Shangguan Dao’s daughter to be the Crown Prince’s lady-in-waiting showed the emperor’s intention to secure the Crown Prince’s future.
She was certainly worried about the growing power of the Eastern Palace, fearing it would become difficult to manage in the future. But to Dequan, her concerns seemed like a different, unspoken sorrow, a melancholy as fleeting as the last rays of sunset on the horizon, as mournful as the last patch of melting snow on the palace’s glazed tiles.
He sighed, “Our master doesn’t care about family status. His Highness values loyalty and sentiment and has always treated the elder statesmen with the greatest kindness.”
The two eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department finally sensed that something was amiss. They exchanged awkward glances and nervously murmured their agreement.
As for Su Xinghe, she had originally come to serve the Crown Prince as he retired for the night, but now it seemed her services wouldn’t be needed. She was happy to have a moment of leisure. Glancing toward the window, she said, “Let’s leave it at that then. You gentlemen have done enough. As for me, I’ll just head back now.”
Dequan tried to persuade her to stay. “Once things are wrapped up…”
“There’s no need for me to serve after it’s over. She’s a female attendant, and I’m a female minister. We hold the same rank.” With that, she smiled and turned to leave.
But just as she took a step, the hall doors opened, and out stepped a young girl, her face round and full like the bright moon, still looking rather innocent and immature.
The attendants from the Imperial Household Department panicked, and the old nursemaids waiting in the side hall rushed over in a hurry. Looking at the time, it didn’t seem like things had gone as expected. They pulled at her anxiously, asking, “My lady, what’s going on here?”
The young lady-in-waiting, still quite immature, pulled a face somewhere between laughing and crying. “The Crown Prince said he recognizes the door.”
Oh… Everyone suddenly felt awkward. Dequan couldn’t help but cover his mouth to stifle his laughter. He glanced at the female minister and said, “Lord Su, it seems we’ll need you to step in personally.”
Su Xinghe, already overwhelmed by her thoughts, cursed inwardly, realizing she had fallen into someone’s trap again. *”Recognizes the door”?* How could a Crown Prince say something so shameless?
The young lady-in-waiting finally noticed Su Xinghe in the crowd. Despite her noble birth, the girl knew her manners well. She stepped forward and greeted Su Xinghe with a respectful bow. “You must be Lord Su. I’ve heard about you even at home. You’re truly amazing. I want to be just like you and hold a position in the Outer Court someday. I only arrived today, and I don’t know any of the palace rules yet. If I make any mistakes, please guide me. And if I slip up in any small way, I beg for your care and protection.”
Su Xinghe didn’t quite know how to respond to her. The girl was so young, and yet they were equals in rank… She returned the courtesy, saying, “Lady Shangguan, you’re too kind. From now on, we’re on the same side. Whatever happens, we’ll look out for each other.”
The young lady-in-waiting smiled, revealing her sharp little canine teeth, which made her look incredibly cute. “My name is Shangguan Yin. My given name is Yin Chen, like that rough, weedy plant that grows in the fields, called ‘mouse’s claw.’”
Everyone chuckled at her introduction. Su Xinghe had never encountered a girl like her before. She must have been excessively pampered at home, for even outside the family, she spoke without restraint or much thought. Su Xinghe knew the meaning behind her name *Yinchen* was a hardy plant that survived through the winter and sprouted again from old roots in the spring, hence the name. Looking at her, eight years her junior and still at such a carefree age how wonderful!
Su Xinghe bent slightly and said, “My name is Su Xinghe. Lady Shangguan, you can just call me Su Xinghe.”
Yinchen clapped her hands in delight. “I love your name! From now on, I’ll call you Sister Su Xinghe…” She was mid-sentence when a cough came from inside the hall. Startled, she stuck out her tongue. “I almost forgot! The Crown Prince said to have you go in and attend to him. I’ll head back to my quarters, and we can talk more tomorrow.”
The young lady-in-waiting was led away by several nursemaids, and the corridor outside the hall quickly became empty again. One of the eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department, holding the record book, stammered awkwardly, “What should we do about this? Should we record an empty entry?”
Dequan chuckled coldly. “Record it however it should be recorded. The Crown Prince wasn’t interested in anything we can do about that, right?”
Su Xinghe paid no attention to their chatter. She lifted the cotton curtain and stepped into the hall.
The inner bedchamber was draped with layers of brocade curtains, brightly lit by lamps. The Crown Prince, appearing quite at ease, was dressed in simple undergarments, sitting on the couch reading a book. Su Xinghe called out, “Your Highness,” but suddenly felt awkward. The chamber was filled with the scent of *Hehuan* incense, a fragrance used during bedtime, its smoke curling delicately from the golden incense burner intricately carved with pavilions and terraces. In the lamplight, he possessed an almost surreal beauty, difficult to fully grasp.
The crisp sound of the page turning echoed softly as the Crown Prince read leisurely, neither hurried nor slow. Su Xinghe stood there, unsure of what to do. This was a first for her. Before, whether their interactions were serious and formal as master and servant or more relaxed and playful, they had always been comfortable with each other. Whatever they said or did never felt awkward. But today, with the nature of the situation inescapable, it was like a sudden epiphany “growing up” was a glaring concept now etched in her mind, creating a wide chasm between them, one that could not be easily crossed. Even the way she stood now was farther away from him than usual, as if both were consciously keeping their distance, each mindful of their respective roles.
When the Crown Prince was in casual repose, his appearance was always relaxed, unlike his usual formal and meticulously dressed self. His hair was loosely gathered, and after some movement, a few strands had fallen loose, draping against his cheeks, making his features appear remarkably gentle. He said nothing, simply engrossed in his book. Su Xinghe, having nothing to do, could only look at him. But as she kept watching, she noticed a smile slowly appear on his face, his lips curling upward into a beautiful arc.
What book could he be reading that made him so happy? Just as Su Xinghe was wondering, she heard him speak: “Are you staring like a fool? This Crown Prince is indeed as poetic and picturesque as they say.” Startled, she quickly averted her gaze, feeling slightly embarrassed, and didn’t respond to his teasing.
Fortunately, he didn’t continue to push the joke this time. Leaning his head on one hand and absentmindedly stroking the pages of the book with the other, he asked casually, “Is the investigation of the Princess’s residence case almost ready?”
Su Xinghe replied, “We’ve arranged for a kitchen worker to be the one exposed during tomorrow’s trial with the Twelve Offices. He will name the person responsible. As for Consort Gao Zhiya’s movements, we’ve already tracked them. Once he’s apprehended and brought to trial, someone from his close circle will step forward to testify against him.”
The Crown Prince nodded. “What about the evidence?”
“The officials will send someone to search his residence at the right moment. They’ll find as much aconite and Red-Crested Crane poison as they need.”
The Crown Prince exhaled deeply. A woman managing things with such meticulous precision, just like a man it was rare to see. Whether or not the case was concluded tomorrow wasn’t the point; the key was making sure news reached the emperor’s ears. The bigger the scandal, the better his chances. Things might get messy, but for him, the messier, the greater his advantage.
Closing the book, he raised a hand to scratch his head. “Comb my hair for me,” he said, standing up and walking over to the bronze mirror.
Su Xinghe responded with an “Of course,” then moved to assist him. She found a comb in the drawer and carefully untied his hair, gently combing it. He seemed to enjoy the process, closing his eyes and sighing. “If I had really gone through with it earlier, what would you have thought?”
Su Xinghe’s hands paused for a moment. What would she have thought? She hadn’t really considered it. But saying she hadn’t felt anything might just be another trap for her.
“What does Your Highness hope I would think?” she asked cautiously, continuing to comb his hair while watching him closely.
He opened his eyes slightly, gazing at her with a half-lidded look. “Jealous, most likely. Heartbroken, thinking I’m no longer just yours.”
She nearly choked on her own saliva, realizing that her master’s talent for talking nonsense had reached new heights. When had he ever belonged to her? He had always been the one giving orders while she merely bowed and complied. If there had ever been a relationship between them, it was one where she was nothing more than a servant, laboring under his command.
She forced a stiff smile. “It’s not that serious. I’m happy for you.”
But he just scoffed, “Why the forced smile? I know what’s in your heart.” The Crown Prince’s low voice carried a sense of melancholy, as though he was trying to move both himself and her. “Two people are just right, three are too crowded… Just the two of us getting through life together would pass quickly. I can’t bear the thought of you being neglected and feeling wronged. You’re mine. It’s fine if I tease or scold you, but I won’t let anyone else treat you unfairly.”
His tone was half-serious, half-dreamlike. Although Su Xinghe was both frustrated and moved by his words, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of emotion.
As the peachwood comb glided through his silk-like hair, she finally managed a more genuine, though still strained, smile. “Please don’t say that, Your Highness. No one dares to mistreat me. Even if you marry a Crown Princess someday, I’ll continue doing my duties, and no one would dare harm me.”
He looked at her with a blank expression, then nodded slowly, almost deflated. “True. Anyone who messes with you would probably find themselves overthrown.”
It didn’t sound like a compliment. Su Xinghe considered his words, then struggled to defend herself, “That’s not right. The Crown Princess will be our mistress. I wouldn’t dare go against her, that would be improper.”
“But what if she knows about us and sees you as a threat? How would you deal with that?”
At the root of it all was the reputation that had formed around them, false as it might be, future resentment from the Princess would be inevitable. She thought about it and realized it was a serious issue. Tentatively, she suggested, “If Your Highness truly cares for me, why not let me leave the palace? As long as I’m not constantly in her sight, the Crown Princess wouldn’t hate me as much. I’d still serve you, but I’d work outside the palace. It would be the same, wouldn’t it?”
The Crown Prince seemed to agree, “It would be best to let you marry someone else and have a child. That way, the Crown Princess would completely cut ties with you. Even if she wanted to hate you, it would be impossible, right?”
Su Xinghe nodded halfway but stopped when he shot her an angry glare. “What’s wrong?”
The Crown Prince, filled with resentment, thought how cold-hearted she could be at times. He had been trying to maintain their bond, nurturing their friendship and dreaming of a beautiful future together. Yet she seemed more focused on another childhood friend, Lou Yueting, who hadn’t settled down yet. She wanted to escape the palace to pair off with him and have children.
His passionate feelings felt wasted, like pouring blood on sand. The Crown Prince looked at her heavily, “Your reputation is already so tarnished. How can you still entertain those thoughts? Can’t you just stay in the Eastern Palace until you die?”
Now it was her turn to be shocked. “I’ve never cared about my reputation! You want me to stay in the Eastern Palace until I die? That’s going too far.”
What did “going too far” mean? The Crown Prince, frustrated, stood up, towering over her by a head. “If you marry someone, what will happen to my face? Will people stab me in the back? The service house has sent someone to your bed already. I could easily send them away. Why are you still thinking about someone outside?”
Su Xinghe felt utterly speechless. She gestured with the comb in her hand. “You… that’s fortunate, isn’t it? Isn’t that how things are supposed to work? You talk about ‘recognizing doors’… but you haven’t even entered any doors! It’s ridiculous to claim you don’t know people.”
In fact, it was she who was being ridiculous, fabricating an imaginary scenario with such vivid detail. If it weren’t for his status, she would have already rolled up her sleeves and fought him.
The Crown Prince frowned deeply, breathing heavily with anger. Seeing the situation was worsening, Su Xinghe withdrew her neck and lowered her head, fiddling nervously with the comb in her hands, too afraid to say another word.
Finally, the Crown Prince sighed, “That child is too young; I don’t have that kind of preference.”
Su Xinghe felt relieved upon hearing that. “Then what age do you like? I can help you find someone; it’s not difficult to get whatever you want.”
He looked at her with genuine helplessness, his gaze lingering on her. “I prefer someone a bit older, someone who knows how to care for others.”
Oh, she finally understood. Losing his mother at a young age had indeed affected him psychologically. It was somewhat pitiful this most esteemed person in the world lacked a sense of security deep down. He sought an older companion who could understand warmth and coldness, hoping to heal the wounds from his childhood.
As a childhood friend, she empathized with him and gently urged him to sit back on the stool. “Don’t worry, my lord. Once the matter with the Princess’s residence is settled, I’ll go find someone for you. How about someone under twenty-five? Of course, if you think twenty-five isn’t enough, I can also find someone thirty. I’m just afraid that I might be a little lacking in raising children… Let’s prepare a couple of younger options as well, just in case something changes; it’s better to have someone on hand so you won’t be caught off guard.”
She had taken on the role of a matchmaker, and the Crown Prince felt his teeth itching with annoyance. How could he phrase this so that this thick-headed girl would finally understand? He didn’t mind being straightforward with her, but the issue was that she wouldn’t accept it, and he was worried it would make future interactions awkward. Now, she was calculating whom to find as a wet nurse for him. If he didn’t give her a reality check, she might genuinely forget he was a man.
