048 Beauty and Hero

The news I received from Ping’er confirmed my suspicions beyond doubt. The reason Liu Yunmeng, usually so gentle and mild, confronted the Empress head-on in the Kunning Palace today was, in truth, because she had the Emperor’s instructions. This did not contradict my previous understanding of the Emperor. He allowed the two factions to contend as they pleased, intervening only when necessary. Yet he would never allow the power of the Gong family to permeate the three palaces and six courts unchecked. Gong Chuyue’s elevation to Empress may have been the result of the Emperor’s many considerations, but should Gong Wu’e become crown princess, that would be a threat the Emperor could not ignore. He could not permit Gong Wu’e to become the Crown Princess, yet he could not openly oppose it himself. As with the business with Eunuch He, he needed to act with absolute discretion.

The Emperor’s brilliance lay in his public rebuke of Zhang Bitong in Cuiwei Palace yesterday. That scolding made everyone believe the Emperor respected the Empress and her decisions. Yet, slipping unseen into Liu Yunmeng’s Zimeng Hall in the dead of night, he must have had a lengthy, private conversation with her, inspiring her behavior today.

From the beginning, the Emperor had reason to choose Liu Yunmeng. Han Feiyue was outside the palace at the time; even if her name were put forward, there was no guarantee of success. But now that Han Feiyue had returned, the situation took a turn. Liu Yunmeng was chosen because she had always been gentle and likable, never making enemies in the palace. With only the young Princess Xihe under her care, no one would suspect her of ulterior motives. By having her speak, much trouble could be avoided. Most importantly, Liu Yunmeng’s father was Liu Chengqi, the Emperor’s tutor; the Empress would have to show respect, and the Emperor would have grounds to protect Liu Yunmeng. Moreover, Minister Lin was well acquainted with Liu Chengqi and would never allow harm to come to Liu Yunmeng in the palace. For all these reasons, Liu Yunmeng was the most reliable choice.

Zhang Bitong, on the other hand, was entirely unsuitable. Her outburst only provided the Emperor with a perfect opportunity to play his part and keep himself above suspicion.

No matter how shrewd the Empress, no matter how displeased the Gong family, they would never guess this was all orchestrated by the Emperor. As for Han Feiyue, if my predictions were correct, she was without doubt to be the Crown Princess. With her noble lineage, no official would dare to object openly, and with the affection of both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, Han Feiyue’s becoming Crown Princess was the Emperor’s most reassuring choice.

Laying all this out, I could not help but admire the Emperor once more. Not only could he handle the court’s rival factions, but he managed palace affairs with equal finesse. If ever I found myself his enemy in the future, I feared—

Lost in thought along the way, I failed to notice someone ahead and walked straight into a solid chest.

Looking up, I saw Long Zhan gazing down at me with a half-smile. The sunlight slanted across his face, making him look exceptionally handsome from where I stood.

He glanced at me, then reached out and patted my head. Startled, I hastily stepped back and stammered in alarm, “Master Long, I wasn’t watching my way and bumped into you.”

“I was standing here on purpose, waiting for you to walk into me.”

“Huh?”

“Why are you coming from the Hall of Mental Cultivation?”

I had forgotten that Long Zhan was commander of the Imperial Guards, whose foremost duty was to protect the Emperor. It was only natural he would be here, and natural that he should question my presence.

“Ah, I—”

“Long Zhan!” I hadn’t finished when someone called out.

Turning, I saw Han Feiyue standing not far away, her crimson robes swirling gracefully in the breeze.

“So it’s Miss Feiyue,” Long Zhan turned to her.

Han Feiyue stepped closer. “Long Zhan, it’s been so long since I last saw you.”

“Yes, Miss Feiyue has been away for quite some time,” Long Zhan replied respectfully.

“This time I was away for ten months and nine days.”

Long Zhan nodded slightly.

“I brought you something.” Han Feiyue produced a wine pouch from behind her back. “I learned how to make this from a master. I made it myself, for you.”

Long Zhan did not reach for it. “Miss Feiyue, I do not drink.”

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Han Feiyue’s face, but she pressed on, “It’s for you, whether you drink or not. Take it.” She shoved the pouch into his hands.

Long Zhan had no choice but to accept it, stepping back to keep some distance between them. “Thank you, Miss Feiyue.”

“Long Zhan!” Han Feiyue stepped forward, calling his name loudly. “Why do you—”

Suddenly she noticed me.

I, standing awkwardly to the side, was torn—should I leave and interrupt them, or stay and listen to what did not concern me? Fortunately, Han Feiyue saw me, giving me a chance to excuse myself.

“You’re the little eunuch who serves Lady Tong.”

“Miss Feiyue has a good memory. I’m honored you remember me.” I bowed my head.

“Why are you here? This is not your place. Leave.”

“Yes, I’ll go at once.” I was just about to leave when Long Zhan called out, “Xiao Xiaozi!”

Why was he calling me now?

“We have unfinished business. Don’t go yet.” Then, turning to Han Feiyue, he said, “Miss Feiyue, if you have nothing further, I’ll take my leave—I have matters to attend to.”

“What business could you have with a little eunuch? Long Zhan, I’ve been gone so long, and now that you see me again you don’t even greet me? Don’t you want to know how I’ve been? Did you—miss me?”

So Han Feiyue already had someone in her heart. It was this young hero, Long Zhan.

A beauty loving a hero—how natural. With Han Feiyue’s temperament, it was no surprise she should fall for Long Zhan.

Han Feiyue was forthright and passionate, but for a young woman to ask such a question was still extremely difficult. I glanced at Long Zhan, wondering how he would respond.

He pressed his lips together, his expression cool and his voice even cooler. “You’re joking, Miss Feiyue. My sole concern is the safety of the capital. I dare not entertain other thoughts.”

“I don’t believe you. Is it because of my status that you must lie to me?”

“I am not lying. If you insist on saying so, I will not argue.”

“Long Zhan, do you know—” Han Feiyue shouted, but halfway through, she could not finish.

“I take my leave. Miss Feiyue, as you please,” Long Zhan said, sweeping his cloak and striding away.

After a few steps, without looking back, he said, “Xiao Xiaozi, aren’t you coming?”

Startled, I threw Han Feiyue a glance and hurried after him.

Long Zhan walked quickly, and I had to jog to keep up. He finally stopped by the lakeside, standing beside several large stones.

“If there’s nothing more, Master Long, I should return to Cuiwei Palace.”

“Forget everything you saw today.”

“What did I see today?” I asked.

Long Zhan turned to look at me, a hint of a smile on his handsome face. “Aren’t you curious about what’s between Han Feiyue and me?”

“Should I ask?”

He frowned. “Is it that you don’t want to ask, or that you don’t dare?”

“Neither. But if Master Long wishes to speak, I’m willing to listen—and afterward, I’ll remember nothing.”

“You think I’d tell you?” Long Zhan turned away.

“If you won’t, then I really will return to Cuiwei Palace.”

“Han Feiyue is my disciple.”

Just as I was about to leave, Long Zhan spoke again, so I paused. He continued, “When we held the martial arts exam, not only did the Sixth Prince sneak in in disguise, but she too dressed as a man and entered. She lost to me, and so the Emperor permitted her to study martial arts under me.”

From his tone, Long Zhan was well aware of Han Feiyue’s feelings.

“A young lady, so boldly confessing her heart to you, and you rejected her so coldly—isn’t that cruel?”

“You surely know what she left unsaid.”

Do you know? Do you know I may become Crown Princess?

I guessed this was what Han Feiyue was about to say. Whether she wished it or not, she knew very well that no matter how willful she was, she could never defy imperial power. If the Emperor decreed it, how could she resist? All the affection from the Emperor and Empress Dowager would mean nothing.

But why did she insist on speaking to Long Zhan today? What did she want to know?

“If you know this, perhaps all she wanted was to hear something from you. Shouldn’t you have—”

“Shouldn’t I what?” Long Zhan retorted. “Knowing she’s to be Crown Princess, should I give her hope? Do you know what a crime that would be?”

“But can you bear to disappoint such sincere feelings? Long Zhan, can’t you, just this once, be a man and admit your true emotions?” Perhaps out of sympathy and protectiveness for a young woman, I found myself uncharacteristically agitated.

“You say I am not a man?”

“Aren’t you? Do you truly not care for Miss Feiyue? I don’t believe it!” At such a tender age, feelings are always confused, love and longing natural.

He laughed quietly. “I’m returning. You’d better head back to Cuiwei Palace as well. Pretend I never said a word.”

“I understand.” I hurried ahead of him.

But the lakeshore was strewn with pebbles, and in my haste, I stumbled, twisting my ankle and nearly falling. Long Zhan reached out, catching me around the waist, his broad cloak enfolding me as I landed securely in his arms.

He spun us around and steadied himself, his gaze fixed on me, unwavering. His bright eyes seemed to bring a rare, clear warmth to the winter day.

Stunned, I did not push him away in time.

A sudden cry rang out.

Long Zhan looked sharply to the side and saw a young woman fleeing in panic.

I quickly extricated myself from his arms. “Who was that?”

“Go back. I’ll find out.”

“All right.”

Long Zhan’s figure pursued the fleeing woman with agile grace.

I stood there for a moment, uncertain who she was or what she had seen. I felt uneasy; there was nothing between Long Zhan and me, but in the palace, gossip could cut like a knife.