Princess Yuzhen

Perhaps it was my subconscious desire to avoid the people and events of the past that led me to leave the pavilion under the pretext of being busy with official matters before Li Zheng woke up.

Upon returning to the pavilion, I was utterly exhausted, and Guteng helped me to a seat in the main hall.

"Li Zheng’s condition is critical. You’ve already used the pills from your jade bottle to prepare his medicine; why didn’t you think to keep some back for yourself? That special envoy was eyeing my precious medicine like a thief. Fortunately, I was quick enough to snatch one pill away. Eat it, quickly."

"If one is missing, will it matter for Li Zheng?"

"He won’t die."

I swallowed the pill.

"Ziyun, you are too kind. How can you carry out your revenge if you are so governed by your emotions?"

"I have taken your words to heart, Brother. It won’t happen again." In private, I still called Guteng brother.

"There are more pills at the pavilion. I will return to the Great Desert to fetch some."

"There is no need to rush. Can’t you send someone else? Must you go yourself?"

"You..." Guteng gave my forehead a flick.

"Brother, why did you hit me?"

"Do you think just anyone can retrieve these secret medicinal treasures of the Great Desert royal family?"

"I apologize for the trouble, Brother. I have some things I would like you to take to the Great Desert for the Imperial Aunt."

"Very well."

In the five years since I went to the island, I had never managed to visit the Great Desert. However, thanks to the connections between the Twelve Killers and Guteng, I had kept up a steady correspondence with Aunt Yuzhen. I would always send some trinkets from the Central Plains, and she would always send gifts from the Great Desert for me, Zijun, and the baby.

Guteng left with the items without a moment’s delay.

Dongfang Qingyu came to find me, bringing the baby along.

"If you hadn't returned, the little one would have been in tears," Dongfang Qingyu said with a smile.

"That’s not true. I wasn't crying, I just missed Mother," the little one said, rubbing against me repeatedly.

"Are you tired? Shall Mother take you to sleep?"

"Okay."

I picked up the baby, but my legs felt unsteady, and Dongfang Qingyu caught me with swift, practiced hands.

"Shall I carry him?"

As Dongfang Qingyu reached out to take the child, the baby clung to me tightly.

"You’ve had a long day, too. I can manage."

Dongfang Qingyu remained behind me, fearing that I might fall or drop the baby, and only left once we were safely inside.

"Little one, have you been naughty just because Mother was away for one day?" I said, removing his outer robe, tucking him into bed, and pulling up the quilt.

"I wasn't naughty, I just... just... missed Mother..."

I climbed into bed and pulled him into my arms.

"You must remember that everyone has their own duties. There may come a day when Mother is so busy that we cannot see each other for a very, very long time. You must still live happily and wait for Mother to return."

"How long is a very, very long time?"

"It could be days, months, or even years. It is uncertain." And it could also be forever.

"I understand..."

Before long, his steady, rhythmic breathing filled the room.

Looking closely, my son had grown a little more; even his eyelashes seemed longer. Such a handsome little man. I kissed his cheek and finally drifted off to sleep myself.

Another day had passed, and I had lived through one more.

I woke before dawn. The scent of the fragrance on my body seemed to be fading, and I was finding it harder and harder to fall asleep.

News from the palace indicated that Li Zheng had woken up in the middle of the night. After taking the Tianshan snow lotus and the small lingzhi, he was out of danger. The Regent, Li Yexuan, was exceptionally joyful and, with a wave of his hand, declared that he would host a banquet for the Fantian Pavilion in a month’s time. He even sent a letter asking what official title I desired. I replied that he need only remember that he owed me a life and a promise. He replied, agreeing to those terms, but insisted that my attendance at the banquet was mandatory.

I felt that if I hadn't taken the precaution of wearing an extra layer of skin-like mask last time, my identity would have been exposed. Thus, I instructed my subordinates to craft a new one, which, unlike the previous version, would cover my eyes as well.

Half a month later, a letter arrived from Guteng stating that he would reach the Fantian Pavilion in three days, accompanied by Aunt Yuzhen. Upon receiving the news, I jumped up in excitement and ran outside.

"Younger Brother..." I reached the back mountain and saw Zijun practicing his swordplay. He stopped when he saw me.

"Sister, you were looking for me..."

He was covered in sweat, and I quickly reached for a handkerchief to wipe his brow.

"What is it, Sister? You seem so happy."

"Aunt is coming."

"Aunt?"

"Guteng’s mother, the Emperor’s younger sister, Princess Yuzhen."

"That is wonderful, Sister! Aunt is coming!"

"Yes, I must go and order the Fantian Pavilion to prepare to receive her with the highest honors."

Like me, Zijun had lost our parents six years ago. To have a relative return was a source of immense joy.

It was said that the current Great Desert King was Aunt’s own son, and she was now the Queen Mother of the Great Desert. The region had stabilized over the years, and the King was capable of holding his own. Since Guteng, the youngest son, had no interest in the throne, Aunt had decided to follow him to see us.

Zijun once asked me why our cousins were so much older than us if Aunt was the Emperor’s sister. I knew that our mother’s health had been delicate, and it was only after many years of marriage that she had given birth to me. In the royal family, bloodlines are paramount, and for those years, our parents had borne immense pressure.

Only upon raising a child of my own did I truly understand the grace of parents. In countless nights, I missed the love my mother had given me and regretted my own coldness in the past, wondering how much she had worried in silence.

Since returning from Maple Leaf City, Zijun had stopped wearing a mask, but I continued to wear a new one. This life of never showing my true face was truly difficult to bear.

The three days passed in a flash.

Holding the baby in one hand and Zijun in the other, I stood at the gates of the Fantian Pavilion, gazing into the distance.

The Twelve Killers, the Four Envoys, Dongfang Qingyu, Afu, and Aling—everyone was present. I was waiting, and so were they.

"Why the rush? Didn't they say they wouldn't arrive until noon?"

"They should be here soon."

Before the words were out, I saw Guteng helping a middle-aged woman up the path. It had to be our aunt. At one glance, I could see the resemblance to our father.

I hurried forward, Zijun close behind, and Dongfang Qingyu followed with the baby.

When I saw Aunt, I was momentarily struck dumb. I held her hands, unable to take my eyes off her, until my brother called out, "Aunt!"

Aunt’s eyes were glistening with tears.

"Do not forget that you are the Pavilion Master now. What kind of behavior is this, weeping like this? Let us go inside first."

"Yes." My voice was choked with emotion.

In the main hall of the Fantian Pavilion, Dongfang Qingyu took the baby outside to wait, leaving only Zijun, Guteng, Aunt, and me.

With two thuds, Zijun and I knelt on the ground.

"Imperial Aunt..."

"Imperial Aunt..."

"Why are you kneeling? Stand up, both of you."

Aunt helped me up, and Guteng helped Zijun.

"You are Ziyun, and you are Zijun. Zijun looks so much like your father. Ziyun, why do you wear a mask?"

"I shall remove it for you to see, Aunt."

As the mask slowly came off, I saw the shock in her eyes.

"Shuyuan..." Aunt gasped.

"Imperial Aunt, I am Ziyun. Mother is no longer with us..."

My mother’s given name was Jiang Shuyuan. Her beauty was renowned throughout the world, but she had chosen my father and entered the deep, sea-like palace to be his companion.

"You look so, so much like her."

"Imperial Aunt, when I saved my brother and ran back to the palace, I found Father and Mother in her chambers. Father had already passed, and Mother took her own life before my eyes..."

For all these years, no matter how much Guteng or Zijun had asked, I had never spoken of the events of the palace coup. Yet, the moment I saw my aunt, the words poured out.

"It has been so hard on you, child." Aunt hugged me, and I wept on her shoulder...

"Mother, why are you crying..." The baby appeared at my side, tugging at my sleeve. I looked up and saw Dongfang Qingyu standing nearby as well—when had he come in?

Seeing me remain silent, the baby’s lips trembled, and he began to cry...

"Hush, little one, Mother isn't crying anymore..." I crouched down, and his little hands wiped the tears from my face.

"Mother, don't cry, you are beautiful."

"Come, this is your Great Aunt. Do you remember? She is the one who always sends you gifts. From now on, she will be your grandmother..."

"Grandmother..."

The milky, childish voice made Aunt dry her own tears.

"His name is Huangfu Mufeng, is it not? What a fine, handsome boy."

The baby’s presence lightened the atmosphere, and his innocent laughter echoed throughout the Fantian Pavilion.

"Sister... I am sorry you have suffered so much..." Zijun said, taking my hand.

"What suffering? I am your sister."

In the evening, Aunt summoned Zijun and me, ordering the Twelve Killers to guard the perimeter.

"Aunt, is there something you wish to discuss?"

"Ziyun, you were older than Zijun at the time of the coup. Do you remember the state of the Jiang family in the court?"

"The Jiang family remained in the court, though my maternal grandfather had already retired. Now, Uncle Jiang Qi serves as a Censor."

"Do you remember what the relationship was like between your mother and the Jiang family when she was still alive?"

Zijun thought for a moment. "I remember that Mother rarely took us to visit Grandfather’s home."

"I remember the same. Aunt, I have never understood. Even if Mother was not close to the Jiang family, she was still their kin. How could they allow the Murong family to seize the throne of my father’s empire and treat my brother and me with such indifference?"

"That is exactly it. Shuyuan was not truly a daughter of the Jiang family."

"What?" Zijun and I were stunned.

"Shuyuan, both of you, and even Mufeng—it is evident from your appearance, is it not? Your beauty is extraordinary. When your father first took a liking to Shuyuan and wished to marry her, the head of the Jiang family came to the palace specifically to inform him that she was not his biological daughter, but an adopted one. As for where she truly came from, he did not know. However, your father insisted on marrying her regardless."

So that was it...