Compared to the refined splendor of the Wu dynasty palace, the royal city of Zhou felt even grander and more imposing. The halls were spaced widely apart, without the square, confining walls that enclosed other palaces. As the carriage rolled deeper into the complex, Meng Guqing peered out through the bamboo blinds at the maids and attendants passing by. No wonder, she thought, the people of Zhou seemed so bold and unrestrained; look at the place they lived in, it was an environment that bred wild blossoms, not docile ones.
When she first received Empress Xiao’s summons, Meng Guqing had been surprised, but soon accepted it. After all, she was Xiao Shuo’s mother, it was only a matter of time before they met. This timing, likely prompted by the medicine prescription, should mean the Empress had no ill intent. Whatever kind of person she was, she wouldn’t make things difficult for someone who had helped her.
And from what Meng Guqing had heard lately, Empress Xiao’s reputation was actually good. Several of her maids admired her deeply. Xiangyue and Chunyue even busied themselves preparing her clothes and accessories, afraid she might appear disrespectful in any way. Their concern was unnecessary, really, Meng Guqing had been an Empress for three years; no one knew palace etiquette better than she did.
More importantly, Empress Xiao must rely greatly on Xiao Shuo now that he had been restored as her son. As his wife, Meng Guqing was naturally on the same side. Who would make things hard for their own ally?
But Xiangyue and Chunyue saw it differently. “You’re a new bride meeting your mother-in-law for the first time,” they said. “A daughter-in-law should always be humble before her mother-in-law.” Meng Guqing hadn’t even considered that angle, but she smiled and said, “You two are thoughtful, but tomorrow, only one of you can accompany me into the palace. The other two spots I’m giving to Xiao Gu and Xiao Li.”
She hadn’t forgotten that the Wang sisters were still in the Zhou harem, women who even dared to torment Emperor Yuwen Tai’s concubines and sons. Their hands were stained with countless lives. Meng Guqing would never dare enter the palace alone. Luckily, with Xiao Gu and Xiao Li by her side, she would feel much safer.
When Xiangyue and Chunyue heard they couldn’t both go, they were disappointed but sensible. In the end, it was decided that Chunyue would accompany her, steady and dependable as she was, Meng Guqing trusted her most.
While Meng Guqing prepared calmly for her visit, Empress Xiao, deep in the inner palace, was far more troubled. Her life had been bitter beyond measure. To save her son’s life back then, she’d had no choice but to send him away at the age of five, trusting her elder brother and sister-in-law to raise him. But they too had been forced to send him to the Wu dynasty as a hostage. Learning that he had been taken as a political pawn had nearly broken her heart but there was nothing she could do except pray endlessly for his safety.
Her son had finally returned but their public reunion at the ancestral hall had not been their first meeting. The real first time had been when he had secretly entered the palace to see her. Her eyesight was poor; outwardly, she let the court believe she was completely blind, both to lower the Wang sisters’ guard and because, truthfully, she could barely see anyway. Her left eye saw only vague shadows; her right could make out rough shapes at best.
That night, when a tall, handsome figure emerged from the darkness, she had caught a fleeting, miraculous moment of clarity and recognized her long-lost son instantly. Tears had gushed from her eyes like a burst of water. She had imagined a thousand ways they might reunite, but none like this. Her son had been distant, unmoved by her weeping, not rushing forward to comfort her.
Did he resent her for sending him away? The thought tore at her heart. She had poured out her pain in a torrent, telling him how she had missed him so much she wept in her sleep, how every year on his birthday she sewed new clothes for him, imagining whether they would fit. She desperately wanted to make up for the lost years, to become close again as if they had never been apart.
She needed him, to help her wash away years of humiliation and reclaim her standing. And he, too, needed her, after all, she was still Princess of Fulan by birth, and still had one son with influence at court. Together, mother and son could crush the Wang sisters and the entire Wang clan.
But things hadn’t gone as she hoped. From the very first meeting, he had been detached, as if all her suffering had nothing to do with him, as if he were merely an observer to her grief. Disappointment cut deep. If her son couldn’t share in her pain, could he ever truly stand with her?
Still, it was only the beginning. There was time, time for them to learn each other again.
After the public recognition ceremony, Yuwen Shuo, now officially restored as a Zhou prince, had visited her twice. But each time, his manner remained cool and reserved. Empress Xiao saw it clearly: her son had lived among commoners too long. He had grown used to cold detachment, and even toward his own mother, he showed the same aloof temperament.
She’d had enough of being ignored and trampled on. She would use her son to become Empress Dowager, one who could influence the court. Empress Xiao no longer wanted to be cast aside by anyone. She wanted to be closer to her son, but the problem was that he was cold and distant. What could she do about that?
While she was still pondering with no answer in sight, her son came to see her again, this time bringing several prescriptions, saying they were prepared by his wife. The Empress felt a faint pang of loss, her son had gotten married without even telling her but then she felt comforted. At least her new daughter-in-law cared about her health and her eyes enough to send medicine. After taking two doses, the years-long soreness in her eyes eased considerably. At the same time, she saw a glimmer of hope for connecting with her son.
Her eyes were poor, but her hearing had become unusually sharp because of it. She remembered clearly that day when her son mentioned his wife while handing over the prescriptions; though his tone was still indifferent as always, there was a gentleness in his words she didn’t miss. Since he clearly cared about his wife, wasn’t that a perfect way for her to approach him?
She immediately decided to summon Meng Guqing for an audience. Ever since the Empress’s seventh son had been found and turned out to be such a brilliant, extraordinary figure, the winds in the palace had shifted. No matter how favored the Wang sisters were with Yuwen Tai, the fact that they were childless remained their fatal weakness. Though Empress Xiao had been suppressed, now she held two trump cards, an undeniable reality. Palace staff were experts in reading the winds; besides, the Wang sisters were cruel, while Empress Xiao was gentle. Wasn’t it obvious which side was safer to support?
They didn’t dare show open favor toward her, but few now dared disobey her orders. So when Meng Guqing entered the palace, she was received by attendants and escorted all the way to the quarters where the Empress lived.
Though called a deposed Empress or at most Consort Xiao because of the Wang Empress’s jealousy, her life was poorer than that of a mere beauty. She lived in the most remote, decaying corner of Yong Lane. Fortunately, her second son, Prince Yuwen Fu, still cared for her, so life wasn’t unbearable, but their medical expenses drained what little they had.
The current residence had been granted only after Xiao Shuo was recognized and restored to the royal family. Fearing to offend him, the palace supervisor defied Empress Wang to move her here. It wasn’t luxurious or new, but at least bright and clean. Led by eunuchs, Meng Guqing entered and saw a frail lady leaning by the door, her unfocused eyes gazing blankly into space.
Her hearing and smell, however, were keen. As soon as Meng Guqing reached the steps, the woman smiled. “You must be Shuo’er’s wife? Please, no need for ceremony, come in and sit.” She told her attendant to help Meng Guqing.
Meng Guqing quickly declined the help, entered, and took her seat below the Empress. When she lifted her eyes slightly, she saw clearly that Xiao Shuo and his mother shared the same features, though the Empress’s were softer, worn deeper by time. Her eyes were indeed blind, covered by a misty film, red and inflamed at the corners. Meng Guqing took note, she already had a better remedy in mind.
The Empress, “looking” toward the air, spoke gently: “I heard you’re from the Wu kingdom, the daughter of Gaochang Wang? You and Shuo’er met there?”
At those words, Meng Guqing realized Xiao Shuo hadn’t told his mother the truth. Still, it couldn’t be hidden forever. Zhao Donglin didn’t yet know that Xiao Shuo was actually Yuwen Shuo. Once news spread that Zhou’s lost prince had been found and might inherit the throne, neighboring nations wouldn’t ignore it. Knowing Zhao Donglin’s vigilance, she suspected he would send envoys to question Zhou, perhaps even demand her return.
Regardless of what she herself thought, Xiao Shuo clearly had no intention of sending her back, no wonder he’d dragged her to that mountain shrine to marry her, sealing the union before Zhou’s recognition. That way, he could justify it politically. So, step by step, he had been planning all along, not as impulsive as she’d thought.
Since he’d kept the truth from his own mother, she couldn’t expose it either. Smiling, she said, “Yes, we met in Wu.” And said no more; the more one said, the more one risked.
The Empress knew more than she’d expected. “That child grew up among commoners; his ways are those of a man of the jianghu. I heard he abudcted you to Zhou by force, didn’t even tell your parents, and under his masters’ arrangement, you two were married?”
Meng Guqing blushed. He really hadn’t spared details when speaking to his mother. The Empress hadn’t softened her words either, using ‘abducted’ outright, meaning Xiao Shuo’s version was probably harsher still. But perhaps that was for the best: in his telling, she was the helpless victim. If anything were ever revealed, the blame wouldn’t fall on her. Thinking of that, warmth rose in her heart. She couldn’t help but defend him softly: “He treats me well.”
“If you two can truly live in harmony, I’ll be at peace. You’re luckier than I, I never knew how my life ended up like this.” The Empress’s eyes grew wet again.
Her eyes already needed care; tears would only worsen them, yet she seemed long past caring. Meng Guqing could only sigh inwardly. “Please don’t be sad, Your Highness. Better days are ahead. Everything is moving in a good direction now, isn’t it?”
“What an optimistic child. To tell you the truth, I haven’t spoken so freely with anyone in a long time. Would you stay in the palace a few days and keep me company?”
The invitation came too suddenly. To be honest, Meng Guqing found the Zhou palace far more terrifying than the Wu one, people here were fierce, unconstrained by rules, and life was cheap. Though she’d brought two maids, she hadn’t intended to stay. Still, since this was Xiao Shuo’s own mother, she couldn’t refuse too bluntly. “I promised His Highness I’d return by nightfall,” she said politely. “If I suddenly stay, he’ll worry. If you don’t mind, I’ll come again another day.”
When that “another day” might be, she couldn’t say. She had a strong hunch that clingy Xiao Shuo wouldn’t let her stay in the palace, not even to accompany his own mother. The thought embarrassed her a little, but she truly didn’t want to stay either. The Empress wasn’t surprised by her refusal; she hadn’t expected to succeed at once. If she invited her a few more times, one day Meng Guqing would surely agree and staying overnight would then seem natural.
Though the new daughter-in-law was a princess of Wu, she was now on Zhou’s soil. When her son eventually took the throne, whether she would be made Empress was still uncertain. No daughter-in-law could prosper without her mother-in-law’s favor. The Empress had waited for years, she could wait longer. So she let Meng Guqing leave.
On her way out of the imperial city, Meng Guqing was already thinking about how to tell Xiao Shuo that she didn’t want to live with the Empress. She knew he wouldn’t allow it, but it was natural for a daughter-in-law to serve her mother-in-law daily; women in this era had it much harder than modern wives. She almost regretted marrying in such haste.
As she was lost in thought, the carriage rolled out of the gates. On the wide avenue before the Meridian Gate stood a lone figure on the arched bridge. The summer evening breeze lifted his hair as his mist-dark eyes stared toward the palace. When he saw the carriage emerge, the tightness between his brows melted like thawing snow, revealing a soft light. He stepped forward, lifted the curtain, and said to the one inside, “Having so much fun you forgot to come home? You’ve been in there long enough.”
He’d actually come to fetch her. Meng Guqing shifted aside to make room. As he sat beside her, she smiled. “You’re usually out till after dark, I thought today would be the same. How long have you been waiting?”
“Not long,” he said, only about an hour.
“I wanted to leave earlier, but Royal Mother said she rarely gets to talk so pleasantly, so she kept me for dinner. She said she’s hardly left the capital since entering the palace, and wanted to hear about the Wu kingdom, so we chatted a bit longer.”
He gave a low hum, unreadable in tone. The carriage was pleasantly cool, ice basins sat beneath bamboo screens, sending up chilled air. A few drinks rested on a tray: green tea, sour plum juice, and other refreshments. Meng Guqing poured two cups, handed him one, and after he drained it, poured another. Casually, she said, “Royal Mother said she’s lonely in the palace. She asked me to stay and keep her company.”
His hand tightened on the cup. “And you agreed?”
“No.” She quickly reassured him, “I told her honestly I was afraid of your father’s consorts, especially the Wang sisters. I worried about running into them. You won’t make me go, will you?”
“If you don’t want to go, then don’t.” His expression eased.
“But what will we say? She seems so pitiful. She told me so many stories about your childhood. She really is lonely. I heard your elder brother’s wife visits her often, won’t it seem bad if I don’t?”
“Why do you care so much about my royal mother’s feelings?” he asked, tilting his head, as if suddenly realizing the key point.
“Because she’s your royal mother.” Meng Guqing saw no reason to hide it. She truly pitied the Empress because of him. “I don’t want her to dislike me. I want to get along with your family, isn’t that normal?”
“I don’t understand,” he said, though the grin tugging at his lips nearly reached his ears. He clearly did understand, he just wanted to hear her say it.
Meng Guqing’s face burned; she couldn’t go on. Still, his relaxed attitude gave her the answer she needed, he wouldn’t let her stay in the palace.
Unfortunately, after this meeting, the Wang Empress had also learned of her existence and was curious. She had now summoned Meng Guqing to meet her.
This time, Meng Guqing was truly dumbfounded. Why would the Wang Empress want to see her? To probe for leverage against Xiao Shuo? The thought panicked her for a moment, but she quickly calmed down. Xiao Shuo’s return and rise in court were facts no one could deny. However much the Wang sisters resented him, they wouldn’t dare strike openly. And she, as his consort, well, in this world, no man had only one woman. Even if they got rid of her, others would come. As long as Xiao Shuo remained powerful, so would she. To move against her now would gain the Wangs nothing but trouble.
At least she wouldn’t be dealt with harshly at their first meeting, maybe just a show of force? Thinking that way, it didn’t seem so scary. Besides, no matter how cruel the Wang sisters were, they were just two women with only eyes and mouths, not some supernatural beings. She was wary of their reputation, but that was only because Yuwen Tai indulged them. Without his favor and power, they were just two clawing but harmless women.
Most importantly, she had highly skilled bodyguards by her side, that was the real reason she felt completely at ease. Xiao Shuo saw how restless she’d been pacing the room since receiving the palace decree, frowning one moment and determined the next. He finally couldn’t bear it and dragged her over, boldly saying, “If you don’t want to go, then don’t. Leave the rest to me.”
He wouldn’t even tolerate his own mother’s nonsense, let alone those two insignificant women. He’d issued an order to summon her, but he was still too soft-hearted and slow to act. Because of that, she always had to deal with those people herself. For a moment, Xiao Shuo’s sharpness burst forth, his killing intent chilling. Meng Guqing had already calmed herself and smiled, “I’m a bit afraid to meet them, especially since I don’t know what they plan. But after all, she is the Empress, once the order is issued, if I don’t go, the punishment won’t be light.”
“But you’re scared.” He was uneasy, suddenly realizing she didn’t have his reckless temper or overwhelming strength. Anyone wielding power would frighten her. He only just noticed.
“I’m a little scared, but it’s okay. They wouldn’t just harm me the moment they see me. I have to see what they’re plotting to prepare myself. I’m bringing Xiao Gu and Xiao Li — no worries there.”
Meng Guqing wasn’t one to cause trouble but wasn’t afraid of it either. She had some instinct to avoid conflict, but when she understood it was unavoidable, she faced it head-on. What she didn’t say was that besides Xiao Gu and Xiao Li giving her courage, her deepest confidence came from Xiao Shuo. To protect her feelings, he didn’t even give his own mother face, let alone the Wang sisters. She believed without reason that he wouldn’t abandon her, that was why she could go meet the Wang Empress with peace of mind.
In just a few days, she stepped into the palace again. This time, the route was ten times more exquisite than before, but Meng Guqing wasn’t in the mood to enjoy it. Xiao Gu beside her stared out the window intently, blinking not once. Curious, Meng Guqing asked, and Xiao Li, who was eating snacks, told her, “Don’t worry, Madam. Xiao Gu has a great memory; she remembers routes even after ten years if she’s been there before.”
Xiao Gu and Xiao Li truly deserved their names, out of all the maids, they loved to eat the most, constantly munching but never gaining weight. Xiangyue was curious and often asked their secret. Meng Guqing looked outside too; the surroundings grew increasingly luxurious, palace maids walking by adorned in gold and silver, perfectly groomed.
Her carriage stopped before a splendid, beautiful palace. Meng Guqing was led inside by two lines of palace maids and seated in a spacious pavilion surrounded by blooming lotus flowers. The light fragrance of lotus floated gently in the breeze, fresh and pleasant. Neatly arranged palace maids and eunuchs entered in order, laying exquisite food on the table and inviting her to eat. Meng Guqing had eaten beforehand, wasn’t hungry, and was determined not to touch palace food anyway.
After the preparations, the lead maid bowed and told her to wait a moment, the Empress would arrive soon. Meng Guqing nodded, watching her leave quietly. But she waited over an hour, repeatedly asking passing maids and eunuchs when the Empress would summon her. If she had no time, she could return another day. The answer was always the same: “Please be patient. The Empress will arrive soon.”
Was she just going to be left waiting like this? No real warning, not even a show of force? What exactly was the Wang Empress’s plan? Meng Guqing stood by the lotus pond, watching red carp swimming beneath the broad leaves, her brow furrowed deeply. Unbeknownst to her, her graceful figure was already noticed by a man who just entered. His cloudy eyes suddenly brightened with a strange glow. As he approached, she quickly pulled Xiao Gu and Xiao Li to kneel.
A man, lavishly dressed, freely entering the Empress’s palace, no need to guess who it was. Meng Guqing bowed deeply. “Your daughter-in-law greets His Majesty.”
She was Xiao Shuo’s wife. Though the wedding was simple and she had never met his parents, this was the proper address. She didn’t expect Yuwen Tai to personally step forward to help her up, only to be blocked by Xiao Gu and Xiao Li. Meng Guqing hurried to stand, “Thank you, Your Majesty. These two girls are from my countryside home and don’t know court etiquette.”
“No worries, no worries. So you really are Shuo’er’s wife? Truly a rare beauty.”
Was this how one praised a daughter-in-law? Meng Guqing felt uneasy and looked up at Yuwen Tai’s face, bloated from overindulgence, puffy eyelids, cloudy eyes, and suddenly a chill ran over her skin. His gaze was… indescribably disturbing, but she could tell there was interest there… the kind a man shows a woman.
God, how could this be? Meng Guqing was truly panicked and wished she could hide in a hole.
