In the capital city of Kyoto, at the former residence of the Ning family,
Under the clear afternoon sun, Ning Wanshuang sat on the warm seat in her chamber, propping up her chin and eagerly gazing towards the towering structure in the east of the city.
That building, adorned with glazed tiles, appeared as a tiny speck in her eyes,
But she recognized it as the Chaoyang Palace, the place where the emperor resided.
"Ying Xiang, what do you think the emperor is doing right now?"
"Miss! You've mentioned the emperor again!"
Ying Xiang quickly made a hushing gesture to Ning Wanshuang, lowering her voice. "Master has informed the court that you have an undisclosed illness, preventing you from serving in the palace. He also forbade you from mentioning the emperor at home. If he hears you speaking like this, he will be displeased."
"Hmph, what does it matter if Father is displeased?" Ning Wanshuang retorted, displeased. "I'm tired of his worn-out excuses. Why isn't it a good outcome to marry into the imperial family? If it's not good, why do noblewomen from prestigious families throughout the land compete to enter the palace? Besides, I'm not seeking wealth and status by entering the palace. The emperor genuinely likes me!"
She held Ying Xiang's hand, her eyes sparkling. "You saw it that day too, didn't you? Among all those distinguished young ladies, the emperor only spoke to me. I don't understand why Father won't let me marry the emperor."
Ying Xiang tried to persuade her. "The position of empress has already been set, so if you enter the palace now, you can only be a concubine. Master doesn't want you to suffer such grievances."
"That's not true," Ning Wanshuang pouted and shook her head. "Wasn't Mother also Father's concubine back then? The legitimate daughter of the Nanyuan Duke admired Father and begged the late emperor to arrange a marriage. But Father refused and insisted on taking Mother as his wife. When the late emperor forbade it, Father first took Mother as a concubine. And later, he never married again, forcing the late emperor to acknowledge Mother's status as his legal wife. Mother didn't feel wronged at that time, so why should I feel wronged?"
Ying Xiang said, "But the situation is different now..."
"What's different?" Ning Wanshuang argued. "It's still about mutual affection and genuine liking. What's different just because he is the emperor?"
Unable to persuade her, Ying Xiang changed the subject. "Let me prepare some food for you secretly. Master won't know."
"I won't eat!" Ning Wanshuang stubbornly declared. "I said I would starve myself, and if Father won't let me marry the emperor, then I won't eat for the rest of my life!"
-"Wan'er~"
Ning Xiuqi, the eldest son of the Ning family, called from the courtyard,
At first, Ning Wanshuang couldn't help but smile, but soon her expression turned serious as she ignored him.
"Wan'er? Are you still angry?"
Ning Xiuqi walked over with a playful smile, deliberately pulling her hair bun. "Turn around and see what your brother has brought for you."
"What is it?" Ning Wanshuang turned around coquettishly and saw Ning Xiuqi hiding something behind his back. She playfully demanded, "Show me!"
She snatched a roll of golden silk embroidered with a dragon pattern from Ning Xiuqi's hand,
As she unfolded it, she realized it was an imperial edict.
It was the imperial edict summoning her to the palace as a consort!
Ning Wanshuang couldn't contain her excitement. "This... the Emperor has accepted me as his concubine? The Emperor truly accepted me as his concubine! But... didn't Father oppose me marrying into the imperial family?"
"Your father may object, but he can't bear to see you behaving like this."
A mocking voice filled with sarcasm came from behind Ning Xiuqi.
Shortly after, Ning Bochuan entered with a stern face, taking broad strides.
He put on a serious act, his hands behind his back. "You're my only daughter. With all your crying, tantrums, and hunger strikes, how do you expect me to focus on the battlefield?"
He reached out and lightly tapped Ning Wanshuang's forehead with his knuckles.
"You... you've lost weight because of this matter. I just can't understand. Is the palace really that wonderful?"
Ning Wanshuang covered her forehead and mischievously stuck out her tongue at Ning Bochuan. Then, she affectionately hooked her arm through his and leaned against his shoulder.
"What's so good about the palace? It's full of rules, not as free as home. But..."
She suddenly raised her gaze, her face youthful and full of hope, as she looked in the direction of the imperial city.
"There, the person I like is there."
Ning Bochuan sighed helplessly. "You're already of marriageable age, yet you speak such words in front of your father and brothers without shame. But the Emperor truly likes you. Look, as soon as you enter the palace, you'll be the highest-ranked concubine. It shows how much the Emperor treasures you."
"That's right!" Ning Wanshuang proudly lifted her chin at her father and brothers. "But what I care about is not the status. Mother was also a concubine when she married Father, but later, Father didn't take another wife. The late Emperor even agreed to promote Mother to an official wife. It shows that we have each other in our hearts and don't mind the titles of wife and concubine."
"Alright, alright, why do you have so many concerns?"
Lady Ning, wearing an apron, approached with a smile on her face. "My little darling~ Now that your father has agreed, will you finally eat? Your father and brother will be going to the front lines tomorrow. If you don't eat this farewell meal, there will be few opportunities for the family to gather once you enter the palace."
"Ah? Are they leaving again?" Ning Wanshuang clung to her father and brother, acting spoiled. "Father and brother, when will you come back?"
"They will be back soon."
"Father and brother, you must come back early. And brother, don't forget that you promised to buy me a magnolia hairpin! The Emperor likes that flower, and I like it too!"
Ning Xiuqi indulgently ruffled Ning Wanshuang's head and laughed heartily.
"Of course."
---
"Empress? Empress?"
Familiar voices called out near her ears, urging Empress Chen to slowly lift her heavy eyelids.
She saw herself still lying in her familiar chamber, with everything arranged just as before.
But the maid accompanying her had changed from Ying Xiang to Liu Yue.
"Empress, you've finally awakened!"
Liu Yue's eyes were red as she helped Empress Chen sit up and lean against the headboard.
"Empress, you had a high fever and remained unconscious for five days. I was so worried..."
Empress Chen felt a wave of dizziness in her head.
As he furrowed his brows, Ning Xiuqi caught sight of a xiānyí flower hairpin resting on the bedside table. He picked it up and clenched it in his hand, asking,
"What is this...?"
Liu Yue cried and replied, "It's an item found on Young Master's person... The Imperial Executioner sent it, returning it to Your Ladyship."
Ning Xiuqi's mind was wholly preoccupied with thoughts of defending the country on the battlefield, and at the age of twenty-three, he had yet to marry, his memory failing him.
He had once promised to give a gift to the Imperial Consort Chen, and after five years had passed, it finally landed in her hands.
Imperial Consort Chen tightly grasped the hairpin,
The sharp tip of the hairpin pierced her delicate palm,
As if it had also pierced her heart.
"Brother... Father..."
