The dark night sky held only a sparse scattering of stars.
Last time, on the Winter Solstice, the weather had been clear and bright. The Crown Prince had said that it might rain on the first day of the new year, but looking at the sky now, it was impossible to tell what tomorrow would bring. For tonight, at least, the weather was tolerable.
Beneath the eaves of the Lizheng Hall, red lanterns flickered, casting a dazzling glow on the gilded side gates. Su Xinghe stood at the entrance, waiting for a long time, yet the Crown Prince had not returned.
Laughter and merriment still filled the side hall, the lively voices echoing through the night. Only on New Year’s Eve could everyone feast and drink without restraint. On regular nights, those on duty had to be careful not to eat too much at dinner, lest they find themselves needing the latrine at midnight, bringing about unpleasant odors.
A faint creak of the door hinge sounded. Dequan stepped out from the side hall, his face flushed from the hotpot, fanning himself with his hand as he walked. Glancing back at the Lizheng Gate, he lowered his voice and said, “His Highness hasn’t returned yet. Lord Su, don’t wait at the door, it’s awfully cold.”
Su Xinghe said she wasn’t cold. “I had a couple of drinks earlier, so I’m still warm.”
Dequan tucked his hands into his sleeves and gazed into the distance alongside her. “Since the late Empress passed, this is the first New Year’s Eve with an Empress in the palace. Before, it was always Zuo Zhaoyi who attended the banquet with the Empress Dowager. But now, things have changed. I wonder what this new one is thinking.”
Talking about the harem’s affairs, Su Xinghe also felt that things were becoming more complicated. No matter how unsettled Zuo Zhaoyi was at the moment, she had no choice but to endure for now. What surprised Su Xinghe, however, was the Empress. This Empress Hui did not seem as obedient as she appeared on the surface. She had even arranged for a Changyu to take the fall for her, making it clear that she wasn’t satisfied with being a powerless figurehead.
Such ambition was something the Su family could appreciate. The Hui family had few members left with only a single brother, holding the rank of Qiduwei of the fifth rank. The Qiduwei served under the Yulin Southern Army, which had little direct connection to the Central Military Command, but Su Xinghai had already built ties. In the future, arranging a meeting between Qiduwei and Empress Hui, with a bit of guidance, would be like pouring enlightenment straight into her mind.
The Empress and Changyu were, at the core, just birds with clipped wings in the inner court. No matter how capable they were, without the support of powerful maternal relatives, their efforts would be in vain. At a time like this, having someone who could move freely within the imperial city to back them was an opportunity.
Su Xinghe gazed at the vast sky and sighed. When she had the time, she would have to visit the Central Palace partly to strengthen their ties, but more importantly, to take a look at Wen Changyu herself.
Her fingers instinctively rubbed the amber prayer beads. The smooth, warm texture of the amber quickly absorbed the heat from her palm. Right now, her mind was preoccupied with the Crown Prince, wondering if he would suffer any grievances.
Her worries were, in truth, unnecessary. Given his tactfulness and the new Empress’s forbearance, a grand banquet like this would never allow conflicts to surface. What truly concerned her was whether the Emperor, under the influence of pillow talk, would come up with some new schemes.
After all, Zuo Zhaoyi‘s well-worn arguments could never compare to the charm of a newcomer’s casual pout. Before the Su family reached an understanding with the new Empress, any influence the Central Palace exerted over the Emperor posed a serious risk.
She waited anxiously, glancing at the time, it should be about now. Could he have been pulled away by Prince Xin to Wude Hall? Just as she was making wild guesses, she spotted a young eunuch at the palace gate, leading the way with a horn-shaped lantern. Only then did she let out a breath of relief and hurriedly descended the Danbi steps to welcome him.
From afar, the Crown Prince had already seen her standing at the hall’s entrance. If he had returned and not found her there, he would have been displeased. But under the lantern’s glow, her graceful figure was clearly visible, constantly looking in his direction.
It was so cold at night, and frost had begun to form, yet she wasn’t even wearing a cloak. He grew worried, fearing she would catch a chill.
As she stepped forward to greet him, the first thing he did was take her hand. The moment he touched it, he felt the icy coldness and frowned.
“Who told you to wait outside like this? What, you think you’re one of the ‘Deer and Crane of Eternal Spring’?”
The Deer and Crane of Eternal Spring were two massive stone carvings flanking the palace gate, standing there through wind and rain, utterly unaffected by the cold.
He never had a way with words. If only he had phrased it differently, something like, ‘Why are you standing out here? You’re making my heart ache’ then Su Xinghe would have been much more pleased.
She pulled her hand away. “As long as you’re warm, that’s all that matters. I’m just a stone. Stones don’t feel cold.”
Hearing the softened tone beneath her sharp words, the Crown Prince was secretly pleased. After all, she had been standing on the Danbi steps waiting for him. Even if she were a stone, she was a stone waiting for her husband to return.
His heart filled with warmth. He took her small hand once more, carefully rubbing it and breathing warm air over it as he murmured, “Let me warm you up.”
Su Xinghe chuckled. “How could I possibly deserve such praise from Your Highness? The hall is ready with food and wine. Have you eaten at Anren Hall yet?”
The Crown Prince replied that he had only had two pieces of pastry to tide him over. “I was saving my appetite to come back and eat with you.”
Hand in hand, they ascended the Danbi steps. Behind them, Dequan clicked his tongue in admiration just looking at how affectionate they were. A true young couple, through and through.
In the past, the female minister of the Eastern Palace had a strong presence, and for a while, he, as the chief eunuch, had been somewhat resentful of it. But looking at things now, not making trouble for her back then was probably the best decision of his life. No matter how she carried herself now, once the time came for heirs to be born, wouldn’t she have to advance in rank anyway?
With the Su family’s standing, as long as the Crown Prince petitioned for it, securing the title of Crown Princess was inevitable. Being loved by His Highness was everything. Dequan sniffed and thought, No matter how high the Shangguan family’s status is, if the Crown Prince doesn’t favor her, she’ll still be kicked out of bed just the same.
Holding his whisk and lifting the hem of his robe, Dequan took the side path up the Danbi steps. Standing at the side gate, he clapped his hands and ordered the freshly prepared dishes from the small kitchen at the back to be brought in.
The eunuchs carried in trays and plates in a neat line. The food tasters each took a small sample from the dishes as required. Once everything was checked, the Crown Prince waved his hand, signaling for everyone to withdraw.
A crescent-shaped table was set up in the front hall, with all the palace doors wide open. A brazier was placed nearby to keep the cold at bay.
Su Xinghe said, “From here, we can see the fireworks.”
The Crown Prince had never paid much attention to this sort of thing. He had always felt that the Four-Square City and the outside world were two separate realms. No matter where one stood within these palace walls, the mortal dust and bustling world beyond remained unseen unless one climbed to the heights of a corner tower.
Whether they could actually see the fireworks or not didn’t really matter. It was her little delight, and he was happy to go along with it.
They sat facing each other. A bronze pot, crafted in the shape of a dragon spitting pearls, was kept warm over the brazier. He picked it up and poured each of them a cup.
Given her incredible drinking capacity, he didn’t dare challenge her recklessly this time. Instead, he simply clinked his cup lightly against hers with a crisp ding and said, “Just a small drink. If I drink too much, I might lose control.”
Su Xinghe smiled at him, and in that smile, there was a glimmer of knowing mischief.
The Crown Prince felt slightly humiliated losing a drinking contest to a woman was a stain on his pride. Feeling dejected, he took a sip. The Hua Diao wine wasn’t too strong, especially with a bit of red sugar added, making it smooth and easy to drink. It restored a bit of his confidence.
He set his cup down and said, “Let’s stay up together tonight for the New Year. Tomorrow, I’ll go home with you. How about that?”
That was, of course, exactly what she wanted. She slapped her thigh and said, “It’s a deal!”
The Crown Prince smiled elegantly. “No one is allowed to sleep before midnight.”
Staying up for the New Year’s vigil was an old tradition, something they did every year but this time, the company was different.
Su Xinghe agreed heartily and picked up two stuffed buns, placing them in his bowl. “Be careful when you bite if you happen to find a copper coin inside, that means you’re going to strike it rich.”
The thought of him striking it rich, did that mean the imperial treasury would finally be full? The moment he thought about the complicated state of government affairs, his cheerfulness faded. But then he looked at the person sitting across from him. No matter how troublesome court matters were, he had to put them aside for now and not waste this beautiful moment.
Noticing the change in his expression, Su Xinghe asked, “Was everything smooth at the banquet earlier, Your Highness?”
He said it went smoothly. “For now, there aren’t any signs of trouble, so of course, everything is going well.”
“And Her Majesty the Empress? Was she courteous to you?”
He chuckled. “How could she not be? She’s only just taken her position, and it was my recommendation that put her there. Even if she had complaints, she’d have to hold them back for now.” Then, he added with a hint of meaning, “But let me tell you whether it’s the tiger on the east mountain or the tiger on the west mountain, they both eat people. Keep your guard up, and you won’t go wrong.”
Su Xinghe nodded, but her mind was still turning over the matter of the Emperor favoring Zhonggong’s Changyu.
At first, she hadn’t mentioned it because she didn’t want to burden him. Then, selfishly, she thought it might leave the Su family a backup plan.
But now, even if she wanted to bring it up, she couldn’t find the best moment to report it had already passed. All she could do was swallow her words and wait until the situation unfolded before deciding what to do next.
Another round of drinks was exchanged. This time, Su Xinghe was the one urging him to drink, but the Crown Prince kept refusing.
“I can’t handle it. My drinking capacity is poor. I wouldn’t dare embarrass myself in front of you. I already learned my lesson last time. If I get drunk again, you’ll just have your way with me.”
She shot him a playful glare. “Nonsense! I even carried you down from the city wall. Do you know how much effort that took? And besides, I didn’t do anything to you afterward. I just took advantage of the chaos to give you a little tug… not like it was the first time. Childhood friends shouldn’t be so petty.”
That was true. General Lou Yueting had even let her see his bare backside once. As for himself… he wasn’t sure if she had actually taken a good look at his little chick back then.
She always teased him about it little chick, little chick, but he figured she must have only caught a quick, vague glimpse. Because if she had taken a proper look…
The Crown Prince was quite certain she wouldn’t be using the word little.
Honestly, she still wasn’t bold enough. The Crown Prince sipped his wine slowly, lost in thought.
The two of them were just this close to setting off sparks. They were of age now, the fruit was ripe just a flick of the finger and it should split open. And yet, here they were, still waiting!
Her brain was like a wooden fish he had to knock on it from time to time. But what if that wooden fish was solid inside? What if he really had to find a way to drill wood to make fire?
This girl… she was really testing his patience.
He swallowed another mouthful of wine, gathering his courage. “It’s true that childhood friends shouldn’t be petty, and I’ve never been petty with you. Otherwise, I would’ve made you take responsibility a long time ago.”
“Let’s put this out in the open now if there’s nothing between us, then fine, pull and tug all you want. I’ll brace myself and take it. But if there is something, then you have to be ready to leave everything behind and follow me. I’m not the kind of man who eats and doesn’t wipe his mouth. If you’re with me, then you’re mine. Got it?”
Su Xinghe stared at him. “You’re talking nonsense again.”
He boldly shook his head. “No! I mean every word. We’ve always been open with each other, but if one day we lose control… then just love me properly, okay?”
For some reason, when he said that, Su Xinghe suddenly felt like crying.
All these years of being teased, bullied, and tormented by him had never made her this upset.
It was clearly just a joke, yet her chest ached with a deep, sour sadness, her nose stinging with the threat of tears.
She sniffled, her eyes misted over with a thin veil of tears. Through that watery haze, his face appeared blurry.
“Your Highness, are you really that starved for love? Even if you want that too?”
He answered simply, “I do. You know, in this world, no one truly loves me. Only a childhood friend… maybe, just maybe, would hold onto some real feelings for me because we grew up together.”
But he had also said if she chose to follow him, she had to abandon her family, sever all ties, and become part of the harem.
Once she entered the palace, the Sù family would be nothing more than a thing of the past, a chapter closed for good.
And then what was the point of all her years of scheming in court?
Wasn’t it all for the sake of ensuring the Sù family had a way forward? Because of one wrong step his father had taken in the past, they had been forced onto this single, treacherous path. There was no turning back. She knew him too well. i
If the Crown Prince ascended the throne, he would never have allowed them to walk away unscathed.
Just like the carp spirit in old legends, if it wanted to become human, it had to shed its scales and endure excruciating pain.
She had even secretly planned that if one day his position became unstable, she would seize power herself, just to make sure,she could protect him.
But if things changed? If their roles were reversed? She wasn’t sure anymore.
Would an emperor really be able to tolerate a former ally, one who, had once harbored ambitions of taking control?
The wine burned as it went down, drowning her thoughts in bitter hopelessness. She rolled up her sleeves and clinked her cup against his.
“Bottoms up.”
He hesitated, gripping his cup. “You haven’t answered me yet.”
She thought about it for a moment. I’ll deal with it when the time comes.
She had always been someone who planned ahead, but now… she didn’t know why, she was starting to waver. She was becoming hesitant, uncertain, learning to take things one step at a time.
She could never be the kind of woman who nestled against a man like a delicate bird. Instead, she reached across the table and gave him a firm pat on the shoulder.
“Don’t worry. As long as things don’t come to that… I will be true to you.”
Whether she meant it or not, who could tell? Either way, in the end, she had dodged the question.
He couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.
If it weren’t for her, he would have long since dealt with the Sù family in one swift, decisive stroke.
A Grand Secretary, a Deputy Minister, of the Privy Council might take some effort, but toppling them wouldn’t be impossible.
But what about her?
If the Sù family fell, what would happen to her?
As the daughter of a criminal, she could forget about staying in the Eastern Palace, which was nothing but a fool’s dream.
She would be punished, likely executed.
Even if she somehow survived, she’d be stripped of her status, reduced to a mere servant, and forever separated from him.
If he cleared the path ahead, forging his way forward without her, then what was the point?
With no one left to walk beside him, what was the use of looking at the scenery?
She still wore the amber bracelet he had given her. He noticed it, and in that moment, he felt a sense of connection between them at the very least, they both had their hesitations, their moments of reluctance.
And that meant… there was still hope.
Suddenly, a long whistle pierced the night sky. Both of them, turned their heads just in time to see a golden streak soaring upward, cutting through the darkness. With a sharp crack, it burst into an explosion of brilliant colors, its radiant tendrils unfurling across the heavens, illuminating half the sky.
They shared a glance, then laughed.
A toast today was a good day. No need to dwell on unhappy thoughts.
The dishes had grown cold, and the plate of pastries was nearly empty. Neither of them had found the hidden copper coin as expected, the Eastern Palace’s royal kitchen remained as unreliable as ever.
The night air was still bitterly cold. Even with the brazier beside them, sitting in front of the grand hall left them shivering. The Crown Prince rubbed his arms and suggested,
“Let’s head inside. It’s warmer in there, away from the wind.”
Since they had finished eating, they had the dishes cleared away rinsed their mouths, and ran off to the western warm pavilion to continue their vigil for the New Year.
Dequan arranged for dried fruits and pastries to be brought in, setting them on the heated brick bed’s small table in the south. The two of them sat on either side, glancing at the time, midnight was just around the corner.
Pushing open the carved lattice window, they waited for the most spectacular moment of the city’s New Year’s celebrations. But time dripped away slowly, like the unreliable palace kitchen the water clock’s surface took its sweet time sinking to the mark.
A gust of cold wind swept in from the window. The Crown Prince blew out the candle and pulled out two blankets, tossing one to her. Wrapped up tightly, only their eyes were left peeking out. They were both about to turn twenty-three, yet somehow, doing something this childish still felt incredibly fun.
“Guess how many fireworks the front court will set off this year?”
Su Xinghe said, “Definitely thirty-six. It’s always been thirty-six.”
But the Crown Prince shook his head. “Let’s make a bet. I say fifty-eight. Loser gets kissed, okay?”
This guy is always up to no good, no matter the time or place. She shot him a glare. “Why would the winner get a kiss? Shouldn’t the loser be the one getting kissed?”
The Crown Prince grinned. “That works too.”
Su Xinghe’s mind turned to mush. Wait a minute, why did this feel like a trap?
Thinking carefully… no matter who won or lost, wasn’t the result the same?!
She tried to renegotiate. “I think there’s a problem with this bet…”
The Crown Prince tightened his blanket around himself. “Whoever backs out is a damn turtle.”
She was instantly speechless.
Through the hazy dimness, she looked at him. His eyes gleamed with excitement, burning brightly in the night.
No matter who won or lost, he was bound to take advantage of the situation. At first, Su Xinghe found him shameless, but then she thought about it. They’d known each other for so long, tangled together so many times, there was nothing to be embarrassed about.
So, she sat there solemnly, waiting for the result.
The moment midnight struck, firecrackers erupted across the city, and fireworks began to light up the skies above the Grand Avenue in front of Taiji Hall.
The imperial displays were far more elaborate than those of the common folk more intricate in design, more dazzling in color.
The vibrant lights in the sky dyed their blankets in a spectrum of colors. The fireworks in the palace lasted longer than those set off by commoners.
The two of them stared up earnestly, counting one, two, three… dedicated and determined.
By the time they reached thirty-seven, Su Xinghe had already lost all hope, looking utterly defeated. She muttered endlessly, “Wait, that can’t be right… thirty-eight, thirty-nine, forty-six, twenty-seven…” deliberately making a mess of the numbers.
But the Crown Prince was unfazed, counting each one with absolute certainty.
Seeing that she couldn’t throw him off, Su Xinghe decided to cheat and tugged at his blanket, but he didn’t budge.
As the fireworks began to die down, their intensity faded, yet his eyes only shone brighter.
“Fifty-five, fifty-six… fifty-seven…” With the final burst, he clutched onto the last shred of his luck and shouted, “Fifty-eight!”
Then, silence.
He leapt up. “Su Su Xinghe, tell me was I right or not?”
Su Xinghe sighed dramatically, grumbling, “Why the hell were there twenty-two extra bursts?”
The Crown Prince chuckled. “You forgot there’s a newly crowned Empress. Of course, the whole empire has to celebrate.”
No use dwelling on unpleasant things, it was time to pay up.
He crossed his arms. “So? Are you kissing me, or am I kissing you?”
Su Xinghe thought it over. I lost. You kiss me.”
“Didn’t expect you to be such an honorable person,” he mused. “Alright then drop the blanket and prepare for your punishment.”
But she clutched her blanket tightly, refusing to let go. The Crown Prince had to put in quite the effort just to pry her face out of the covers.
“A bet is a bet, don’t make me look down on you.”
She squeezed her eyes shut and shouted, “Go ahead and look down on me! I accept it!”
But even if he looked down on her, the kiss still had to happen. His philosophy was simple: kiss first, judge later. Meanwhile, she was practically terrified.
The Crown Prince had enough of her screeching like a frightened cat. He clamped a hand over her mouth and growled, “Are you trying to wake up the whole palace? Let them think I’ve conquered you in bed, defeated you in three hundred rounds?” That shut her up instantly.
Honestly, what was the big deal? It was just a kiss. It wasn’t like they hadn’t kissed before.
She took a deep breath, then resignedly leaned in. “Fine, go ahead.”
He didn’t waste the opportunity. Cupping her face, he went straight for her lips, without waiting for permission.
This wasn’t like last time drunken and reckless, like a careless bite of fruit without tasting its sweetness. This time, he meant it. A real, solid, deliberate kiss.
The Crown Prince closed his eyes, feeling her soft breath. Her lips were warm, tender just as he had imagined. The moment they touched, it was searing, bone-deep.
And he realized there was a difference.
This wasn’t just a peck, some careless smack of lips.
That was a “smack.”
This was a kiss.
At the very, first moment of the new year, he kissed the person he liked.
Surely, this was better luck than biting into a dumpling with a hidden coin.
At the very least, his love life was off to a good start which meant he could be even bolder in his shamelessness from now on.
A woman’s taste was exactly as he imagined, sweet and intoxicating. A single kiss wasn’t enough. It was addictive.
He was utterly lost in it. Meanwhile, a dazed Su Xinghe finally seemed to snap back to reality, her body starting to stir, with resistance.
But emboldened by the alcohol, he tightened his arms around her, trapping her in his embrace.
He had waited too long, suffering years of one-sided longing.
And tonight he planned to make up for all of it.
So what if the Crown Prince kissed a woman?
Hell, even if he slept with her, so what?
At first, Su Xinghe felt deeply embarrassed. But seeing how focused and absorbed he was, she didn’t have the heart to resist too fiercely; she didn’t want to ruin his mood.
After all, matters of physical enlightenment were traditionally the responsibility of palace female officials. As the female Minister of Rites, she wasn’t much nobler than those in charge of the Crown Prince’s bedding and chambers. If he needed her, she was supposed to offer herself, there was no room for hesitation.
He treated this like a new discovery, his breath hot and heavy, his mind drowning in desire.
For him to choose her as the subject of his experiment it was, in a way, an honor. She ought to be grateful for his favor.
To be fair, he was handsome, his figure tall and lean, his status beyond comparison.
To kiss someone like him, it wasn’t humiliating.
Since it was both of their first times, using each other as practice didn’t seem like a bad idea.
Completely immersed, he pressed in step by step, and she yielded with soft compliance.
At some point, her arms had wrapped around his waist, a slight squeeze, and he took it as an invitation to push further.
Lips and teeth entwined, kissing was far more interesting than she had imagined.
They used to share food reluctantly, both disgusted by the idea of each other’s saliva.
Now?
That concern was long gone; they were closer than close, every freckle was a flower in his eyes.
The Crown Prince felt like he could kiss her for a whole year.
It took all his willpower not to throw her onto the bed.
But this feeling was utterly addictive.
His legs trembled, his breath ragged if this went on, he was going to lose control.
He cupped her face, finally forcing himself to pull away, and asked, “Fun, isn’t it?”
She let out a soft hum, her legs weak, leaning into his arms.
Gripping her hand tightly, he took a few heavy breaths and murmured, “If I’d known it was this fun, I wouldn’t have waited until today.”
He smoothed her hair this time, the gesture was filled with tenderness.
At first, he had only meant to win the bet and trick her into a kiss but she, the fool, had reversed it herself.
Now, things have changed.
Friends since childhood?
Who kisses their childhood friend like this?
Tightly holding her, his voice carried a hint of tears, “Su Xinghe, my nose feels sore.”
Su Xinghe blinked away her own tears. “Me too.”
“So… Do you want to try the next step?” He hesitated for a moment, then admitted, “If you’re willing, we could just… get it over with.”
If they did, it would still be half-baked, not fully done.
Just one kiss was that really a reason to take it all the way?
She shook her head. “Not tonight. Do you really want to?”
Of course, he did.
But if she wasn’t willing, he wasn’t the type to force things.
So, he simply smiled, indulgent, understanding “Not tonight, then. Next time. But when we do, we should at least give it a try, alright?”
Su Xinghe didn’t bother pretending to be shy.
“Alright.”
And just like that something between them had shifted.
They couldn’t quite put it into words, but it was heavy, like a stone pressing down on their chests making it hard to breathe.
