It's over, it's all over—everything's soaked!

Palace—Chuxiu Palace—Yue’er’s Room

After dinner, the other young ladies went to stroll through the Imperial Garden, the only place where they might chance upon Xuanyuan Ren. Hui Yue’er and Qiqi did not join them, for neither harbored ambitions for imperial favor; naturally, they stayed in their room to study the palace regulations, seeking ways to leave the palace altogether.

Qiqi held the palace rulebook and remarked, “Princess Hanwu’s handwriting is truly elegant and refined. But why does it look so much like our prince’s?” They all knew that Princess Hanwu, before her distant marriage, had written a copy of the palace regulations for the Empress Dowager—a model of filial piety and familial respect. Yet Hui Yue’er was unlike the other girls; her daily life was filled with news from the martial world, not the affairs of aristocratic households. In truth, Qiqi should have recalled the details herself, but had simply forgotten for the moment.

Hui Yue’er took the book and examined it closely, asking curiously, “Princess Hanwu? Is she the emperor’s sister?” She knew it couldn’t be Xuanyuan Ren’s daughter; it could only be his sibling. Yet, even as a princess, she was sent off in a political marriage.

Qiqi stared at Hui Yue’er in amazement, “Sister Yue, you don’t know Princess Hanwu? She’s the talk of the capital!” Seeing Yue’er’s bewildered expression, Qiqi explained, “Two springs ago, there was that wedding that shook the whole city—don’t you remember? The music and dances from Chechi Kingdom, dozens of wagons of dowry… Sister Yue, are you really from the capital? How can you not know this?”

Yue’er thought back two years and suddenly understood, “I wasn’t in the capital that spring—I went south. You know, with the escort business, I’m often not home. Was the wedding really that lively?” In ancient times, there was Zhong Kui marrying off his sister; now, the emperor was sending his own sister in marriage. One could imagine the grandeur rivaling the emperor’s own nuptials.

Qiqi sighed with regret for Princess Hanwu, “The wedding was magnificent, but Princess Hanwu was quite pitiable. She’s the emperor’s full sister, pampered since childhood, yet suddenly had to marry far away to Chechi Kingdom. Oh, I remember—on the eve before the emperor decreed the marriage, she visited the Prince Jun’s mansion. But no one knows why she ran out of the Quiet Study in tears.” Qiqi was still young and didn’t understand, but surely it had something to do with Zhao Chengxian.

Yue’er didn’t dwell on it, but said to Qiqi, “Never mind that. What matters now is figuring out the palace rules!” Qiqi nodded with a smile. Yue’er searched for a long time, but found no regulation that would get them expelled from the palace; only punishments of execution or banishment to the Cold Palace.

Just then, Qiqi brought over a pot of tea to refresh Yue’er. Upon entering the room, she saw Yue’er slumped over the table, resting, so she set the teapot beside her and called out, “Sister Yue, if you’re sleepy, go to bed! Don’t stay up so late!” Yue’er awoke and reached out, accidentally knocking over the teapot. Fortunately, she wasn’t scalded, but Qiqi cried out, “Oh no, it’s all soaked! What do we do?” The tea had spilled right over the palace rulebook, blurring the writing. Yue’er rushed to rescue it, only to tear it in two in her panic. Holding the torn book, Yue’er was utterly desolate—what now? If anyone found out, both their lives would be ruined. Qiqi sobbed anxiously, “Sister Yue, what should we do? It’s all my fault—I shouldn’t have put the teapot there!” Regret came too late.

Yue’er comforted her, “It’s not your fault. If I hadn’t fallen asleep, this wouldn’t have happened. We just need to figure out a solution!” True to her worldly experience, she remained calm in the face of trouble. Suddenly, Yue’er remembered what Qiqi said about Princess Hanwu’s handwriting resembling Zhao Chengxian’s, and asked the frantic Qiqi, “Do you have a way to contact Prince Jun?” If Zhao Chengxian could copy the rulebook, their troubles would be solved.

Qiqi recalled Zhao Chengxian’s words from the day they entered the palace and nodded, “Quick, go to the Steward’s Hall and find someone named Xiaoxi…” Before Qiqi could finish, Yue’er pulled her out the door.

Ladies and gentlemen, young and old, all those in between—shower me with gold medals, red packets, and gifts! Spare nothing, let the storm rage even fiercer!