The next day was the first day of the Lunar New Year. During the New Year celebrations, there was no need to attend governmental affairs, making it the happiest time of the year.
In the morning, she dressed up beautifully. She wore a pink and white floral-patterned front-clasped blouse with a goose-yellow brocade skirt adorned with intricate embroidery. After applying a light layer of powder and dabbing on some rouge, she went to the front hall to exchange New Year’s greetings with everyone. Seeing her, they all felt that Lord Su had transformed into a completely different person, almost unrecognizable.
Su Xinghe naturally felt a sense of joy. Today was the day she had promised to return home. It had been more than ten years since she last visited, and she wondered if it would still be the way, she remembered. Although her family never worried about her, knowing that she lacked neither food nor clothing in the palace and that her career was going smoothly. New Year’s was still New Year’s. She had to dress festively, or else her mother would nag her again, complaining that she was too boyish, too tough since childhood, and always, in need of a good scolding.
After all, she was still a girl. No matter how well she navigated the political world, she still had a love for beauty, and a naturally soft, feminine side. Taking off her official robes and dressing in fine garments was the only bit of color in her otherwise unremarkable life.
Yinchen gave her the highest praise for her appearance, she looked like a celestial maiden. She admired the earrings and found them exquisite, then the necklace, which was just as lovely. Even the lip rouge Su Xinghe wore seemed extraordinarily beautiful, a shade that Yinchen knew she could never pull off as well.
“Was your outfit custom-made in the palace? How is it so finely crafted?” Yinchen tugged at her own persimmon-red brocade jacket. “This morning, I thought I looked stunning, enough to outshine everyone in the Eastern Palace. But now that I’ve seen you, I give up on that dream.”
Dequan, standing nearby, chimed in mischievously, “You’re still growing, miss. This is the most awkward stage for a young girl. Don’t worry, in a couple of years, you’ll blossom like a flower, fresh and radiant.”
Yinchen shot him a fierce glare. “Chief Eunuch, do you have some deep-seated grudge against me? You stab me in the heart every time we talk!”
Seeing that a quarrel was brewing, Su Xinghe quickly smoothed things over. “Today is the first day of the New Year, no getting upset!” She signaled for the servants to bring in the meal, then laughed, “The chief eunuch is just teasing you. Fifteen is a wonderful age. When you reach my age, you’ll understand what it’s like to fade with time. I’m already twenty-three, practically old.” She sighed as if lamenting the fleeting years.
Yinchen let out a snort of laughter. “You love to joke! If I could look as good as you at twenty-three, I’d wish to turn twenty-three tomorrow!”
Seeing Dequan leave with a look of disdain, Yinchen turned and wrapped her arms around Su Xinghe. “Sister Xinghe, you’re the best! You promised to eat with me alone, no backing out!”
Su Xinghe had no idea when she had become such a sought-after companion, everyone seemed to want a private meal with her. Yesterday it was the Crown Prince, and today it was Yinchen. She gently smoothed Yinchen’s bangs and said warmly, “I’m going home this afternoon. You need to behave while I’m gone, don’t throw tantrums, alright?”
Yinchen immediately sensed something was off. “How can you go home? Palace women aren’t allowed to return home for the holidays.”
Before she could finish, someone else picked up the conversation from the other side.
“If I say she can, then she can. Rules are made by people, after all.”
The Crown Prince didn’t step inside but stood beneath the eaves, looking at Su Xinghe through the window. Today, she looked stunning. That striking beauty, combined with last night’s kiss, made his heart race just thinking about it. He didn’t know what it felt like to be newly married, but whatever, and he was feeling now must be close to it. His wife, all dressed up, waiting for him to take her home to visit her family, it was an unfamiliar yet intoxicating sensation. For the first time, he felt truly needed by her. So even if the Su family was a den of wolves, he had no choice but to make this trip today.
Seeing the Crown Prince, Yinchen immediately straightened up and greeted him properly. However, she still couldn’t accept his disregard for tradition. “Since it’s like this, why don’t you grant me permission to go home for the festival too?”
The Crown Prince firmly refused. “If palace servants come and go as they please, what happens if someone sneaks in something they shouldn’t? That would be a crime beyond redemption.”
“Then why is Su Xinghe allowed?”
Yinchen wasn’t just being difficult, she simply didn’t want Su Xinghe to leave. If she left, Yinchen would be alone again. Among all the people in the palace, she cared for no one but Su Xinghe. She had been looking forward to the spring holiday, but now that Su Xinghe was going home, she suddenly felt hopeless.
The Crown Prince, however, felt that Yinchen was overestimating herself by comparing her situation to Su Xinghe’s. The nature of their relationships was entirely different; how could they be placed on the same scale? He cast a cold glance at her and said indifferently, “Su Xinghe has me watching over her. I can rest assured.”
Yinchen knew she couldn’t win against the Crown Prince, and continuing to argue would be pointless. So, she turned to Su Xinghe and pleaded coquettishly, “Sister, take me with you! Let me celebrate the New Year at your house too, please?”
She shook Su Xinghe so hard that it felt like her bones might come loose. Su Xinghe had initially thought about discussing it with the Crown Prince, but when she turned around, he was already walking away. His attitude made it clear, he would never agree.
She could only smile helplessly at Yinchen. “You saw it yourself. It’s not that I don’t want to bring you along. Just focus on your duties, and when you’ve served your full ten years, you’ll be able to go home for the holidays too, just like me. Alright?”
Her tone was almost like coaxing a child, which only made Yinchen feel even more disappointed. She glanced at the table, where the dishes had already been set. Since she couldn’t go home with Su Xinghe, at least they could share a meal together, some form of consolation.
The Crown Prince, meanwhile, found Yinchen’s clinginess quite baffling. He kept wondering, what exactly was this female attendant’s role in the Eastern Palace? Was she just here to be a burden to Su Xinghe and distract her? He had been so wary of General Lou Yueting and Huo Yan, yet in the end, he now had to guard against Yinchen too.
Was Su Xinghe simply too lovable, or was he just incredibly unlucky?
And what kind of odd creature was this Shangguan Yin? Ever since he had thrown her off his bed, she had never shown the slightest interest in him again. At her age, shouldn’t a young girl be full of romantic fantasies? Yet somehow, her affections seemed to have strayed in the wrong direction, completely fixated on Su Xinghe instead.
“I think Shangguan Yin isn’t quite normal. From now on, keep your distance from her.” On the way back, the Crown Prince said this to Su Xinghe. “A proper young lady should be gazing affectionately at men, not staring at you with shining eyes. That’s just messed up.”
Su Xinghe thought he was talking nonsense. “Is there something wrong with your eyes? She just entered the palace not long ago, a new environment, and unfamiliar faces. She doesn’t fit in anywhere. She and I have similar ranks, so we can at least talk to each other. And now, in your version, it’s turned into this?”
The Crown Prince still found her presence unbearable. “Every time she acts coy, I get goosebumps all over. This isn’t the Shangguan family estate, it’s my Eastern Palace! I won’t have some androgynous freak lurking around here. Figure out a way to send her to Old Fourth.”
Su Xinghe was speechless at how quickly he changed his mind. She had indeed been considering transferring Yinchen to serve Prince Xin, but to kick her out just because she was close to Su Xinghe? That seemed a bit too much. Still, when the master gave an order, what room did she have to argue? She could only sigh and say, “I’ll arrange it later. But right now, it’s still the New Year. moving people around at this time wouldn’t look good. Can we wait until after the festival?”
The Crown Prince’s heart was like a willow branch in the March breeze, swaying back and forth, every thought revolving around her. When she asked can we, what reason did he have to say no?
They sat together in the carriage, shoulders touching, legs pressed close. The memory of last night’s tentative kiss lingered between them, making things a little awkward.
So… what exactly was their relationship now?
Clearly they were no longer just childhood friends. But calling them lovers seemed like a stretch. Even though the Crown Prince had long since decided in his heart, Su Xinghe refused to acknowledge it, and there was nothing he could do about that.
Liking someone often meant silently enduring some grievances.
If he asked for too much, she might think he was clinging to her, what if it scared her and made her push him away? If he asked for too little, he feared she’d think he didn’t care enough.
Last night’s kiss had been nothing more than a fleeting moment of youthful impulse, an experiment in curiosity. He hadn’t yet truly considered spending a lifetime with her.
Heaven and earth be my witness, what a pitiful mess he had landed himself in. The Crown Prince clenched his fists tightly but kept his expression neutral as he casually asked, “The yamen has a three-day holiday. Today is the first day you still have two left. How do you plan to spend them?”
Su Xinghe replied, “Today, I’ll go home, catch up with my family, and set off firecrackers with my nephew. Tomorrow, I’ll probably go door to door delivering New Year’s greetings. The day after, I want to visit the Duke’s residence and check on that illegitimate son of Cao Zhan’s…”
She hadn’t even finished speaking when the Crown Prince’s voice shot up. “What? You’re going to Huo Yan’s residence? Su Xinghe, you still haven’t given up on him?!”
Su Xinghe faltered, thinking to herself. I never gave up in the first place, so how could I “still” not have given up?
Maybe others would say that after what happened between her and the Crown Prince, it would be shameless to still think about another man. But the truth was, she hadn’t let it go. If love were like a teacup, and the Crown Prince was the lid, then at least having a spare lid on hand seemed… reasonable. If the current lid broke, she couldn’t just leave the cup open and exposed, unable to return to the tea table, could she?
“Your Highness, let’s be reasonable. The Ministry of Military Control is in charge of handling criminals, and this boy is a loose end. I have to prevent Huo Yan from secretly sending him back to General Cao Zhan. The court placed General Cao Zhan and his wife under house arrest. If we let them raise a child under our noses, where would that leave the empire’s authority and the rule of law?”
She smiled ingratiatingly. “I’m thinking about the empire’s best interests, even on my days off! You should praise me at court, let all the officials know about my dedication and accomplishments.”
Then, she lowered her voice and muttered with clear discontent, “They call me a second-rank Jinyi Guard commander, but this world still belongs to men. Otherwise, why don’t they let me attend court sessions?”
There was really no way around this, throughout history, no woman had ever attended court. It might be unfair to her, but for the Crown Prince, this was the best outcome. The imperial court was full of talented young men, if they were all thrown in front of her, what if she got dazzled and started picking through them?
Besides, she would eventually have to return to the inner court. If she showed her face too much in public, he simply couldn’t tolerate it.
He brushed her off with a vague, “In the future…”
Her eyes lit up instantly.
The Crown Prince swallowed. “I’ll praise you more.”
Su Xinghe immediately deflated. She had thought he was about to promise to fight for her right to attend court. Annoyed, she turned her head to look out the window.
The Crown Prince nudged her with his shoulder. “Su Xinghe! Su Xinghe!”
Still sulking, she snapped, “What?”
He had originally wanted to tell her that once they got home, there was Cheng Zilu, and they could find something fun to do together. But seeing her, clearly displeased, he lost the courage to speak.
Silence filled the carriage. Only the soft, rhythmic sound of the wheels rolling over the ground could be heard.
Her hand rested lightly on her lap, the delicate jade-like fingers peeking out from the intricately embroidered sleeve cuffs. The Crown Prince’s heart pounded wildly.
Summoning his courage, he reached out, and took her hand, clasping her fingertips in his palm, ignoring her startled gaze.
When her stare became too intense, making him flustered, he snapped irritably, “You don’t act like a proper young lady at all. When a man grabs your hand, you’re supposed to be shy!”
After knowing each other for so long, how was she supposed to act shy?
Su Xinghe said, “You holding my hand like this really does make it feel like I’m being escorted home by my husband.”
Which was exactly the point. Once they reached the Su family’s estate, she intended for them to see it this way, to let them misunderstand, to make them think she was physically in one camp but loyal to another.
But she hadn’t expected the thickheaded Crown Prince to actually, take it at face value. As soon as they arrived, he hopped out of the carriage, then, of all things gave her a proper, respectful bow.
“Many thanks for your grace, Your Highness. I have arrived home. You may return to the palace now.”
Did he really think he had nothing better to do than personally escort her on this trip?
Inside, the Su family had been alerted by the gatekeeper and rushed out, assuming it was just their daughter coming home for the holidays. But the moment they saw the Crown Prince’s carriage at the entrance, they all panicked.
Behind a curtain, Su Yujin bowed deeply. “Your Highness, I must apologize for not coming out to greet you sooner. Now that you’ve arrived at our humble home, please do us the honor of stepping inside.”
Madam Su kept throwing anxious glances at Su Xinghe, practically urging her, “Invite His Highness inside! What are you standing there for, child?”
With no choice, Su Xinghe shifted gears. “Would Your Highness care to come in for a while? Our humble home is modest, but please do not find it lacking.”
It wasn’t about disdain, after all, the Su family had once been prosperous. It was only due to a split among their ancestors that their power had scattered. But even now, if they ever needed to rally support, a single call would summon many.
In previous years, the Crown Prince had paid formal visits to various Grand Councilors’ homes during the New Year, and the Su family had been among them. But back then, he had only stopped at the gate to deliver his name card, never once had he graced them with his presence.
Today, however, with Su Xinghe in this den of wolves, not only was he going to sit down, but he was planning to stay.
The Crown Prince stepped down from the carriage, smiling. “I’m not here on behalf of the court today. No need for such formalities, Master Su, Madam Su.”
His eyes landed on his dear brother-in-law. Su Xinghai had dark circles under his eyes, evidence that he hadn’t been having a great time lately.
Seeing others suffer always puts the Crown Prince in a good mood. It was a bit unkind, but he couldn’t help himself. Smirking, he teased, ” Minister Su, you don’t look too well. Something troubling you lately?”
Su Xinghai was mortified, fumbling for words before awkwardly gesturing toward the entrance. “It’s cold out, Your Highness. Please, come inside.”
As the Crown Prince stepped through the doors, surrounded by attendants, the Eastern Palace guards swiftly encircled the Su residence, sealing it up like an iron fortress.
The Crown Prince, as the heir to the throne, was given a formal ceremonial welcome upon his arrival. The entire Su family, young and old, gathered in the main hall, kneeling in greeting. Seated at the head of the room, he carried himself with the demeanor of a gentleman, accepting the formalities before stepping forward to politely help Su Yujin and Madam Su to their feet.
Smiling, he said, “I came today to personally bring Su Xinghe home. I didn’t feel at ease letting her travel alone. Now that we’re inside, there’s no need for such formality, there are no outsiders here, after all.”
Su Yujin murmured his assent, but inwardly, he remained on guard. This Crown Prince was a deeply calculating man, unreadable on the surface. But just the sight of the Imperial Guards encircling the residence like a military blockade was enough to make his intentions suspect. He was making a public statement, letting the outside world see how closely he was associated with the Su family. His visit today was surely not without ulterior motives. In the imperial court, they had crossed swords countless times, and the Crown Prince had a way of resolving matters with a mere smile. This time was unlikely to be any different.
Madam Su, however, was still basking in the delight of having a prospective son-in-law in her home. She was a woman content with a simple life, without any scheming thoughts. No matter how much her husband and children wielded influence outside, whether they stirred storms or called the shots in the court, her world was limited to the comforts of home.
She found joy in playing with her grandchildren, and having done so for long enough, she now longed for more grandchildren to entertain her. From a political standpoint, the Crown Prince was certainly an adversary. But when it came to choosing a son-in-law, there was no better candidate.
Whatever chaos he stirred outside, inside this home, she was in charge. And that meant he would follow her rules.
She bustled about, ordering more charcoal to be added, to the brazier and instructing the kitchen to prepare a grand feast to properly welcome this esteemed future son-in-law.
As far as she was concerned, the Crown Prince remaining exactly where he was, secure in his position as heir was ideal. If he ascended the throne without incident, Su Xinghe would become Empress, she and her husband could stay home to help raise the grandchildren, and Su Xinghai wouldn’t need to serve in the military anymore, he could settle into a comfortable civil post instead.
Unfortunately, not everyone thought the same way. They all had their own concerns.
The problem with power was that once someone had tasted it, their ambition only grew. Even those who found themselves trapped by circumstances were, at their core, unwilling to be content with the status quo. In the end, they all wanted the same thing, to control everything to claim the ultimate power over the empire.
Other than the ever-joyful Madam Su, the rest of the Su family was on edge. The Crown Prince noticed this but remained indifferent, he himself, was quite at ease.
His gaze landed on the two children in the nanny’s arms. They were close in age, one was the legitimate wife’s son, and the other was born to a recently promoted concubine.
By seniority, the Crown Prince figured he was their uncle. He gestured for the nannies to bring the children closer and casually played with them for a moment, before turning to Su Xinghe.
“Where’s the New Year’s money? Did you prepare any?”
Su Xinghe was momentarily stunned. She had been meticulous with everything outside the home but had completely forgotten about this detail for her own family.
Hurriedly, she said she would go wrap some now, but the Crown Prince waved her off. With a simple glance his attendant, Shangguan Yin, stepped forward and produced two red pouches styled like embroidered sachets. Inside each was a small gold and silver ingot.
Shangguan Yin tied the pouches to the children’s chest buttons and smiled.
“These are from His Highness for the young masters, may they grow up quickly, study well, earn great fame, and one day serve the imperial court as high officials.”
Su Xinghai’s wife expressed her gratitude profusely. The Crown Prince glanced at her, she was gentle and graceful, not as striking as Su Xinghe, but she carried herself with the refined charm of a well-read woman.
A master always thinks more carefully than a servant, so the servant should naturally feel ashamed for missing such a thing. Yet Su Xinghe looked completely at ease as if this was only natural between, her and the Crown Prince.
Madam Su observed this and was quite pleased. She instructed Su Xinghe, “Stay here and take good care of His Highness. Your sister-in-law and I will check on the kitchen.”
Su Xinghe smiled at the Crown Prince. “Let Father and Brother accompany His Highness for a chat. I’ll go help Mother.”
Saying this, she hooked her arm around her mother’s and walked out with her sister-in-law.
Finally, she could indulge in some affection. Clinging to her mother’s arm, she whined, “I missed you so much while I was away.”
Madam Su chuckled and turned to her daughter-in-law. “Listen to her! As if the Military Tribunal were thousands of miles away, and it takes three to five months just to visit home. Now she’s suddenly all sweet, who would believe her?”
Su Xinghai’s wife quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “The young lady is busy with her duties and after all, she serves inside the palace. It wouldn’t be appropriate for her to come home too often, there are eyes watching, both, openly and in secret. But today is New Year’s Day, and she’s come home with His Highness himself. What a great honor this is.”
Su Xinghe giggled. “Sister-in-law understands me best.”
This was actually; her first time meeting this sister-in-law, but since there was already a nephew in the family, she naturally felt a sense of closeness. That warm smile and casual embrace quickly bridged the gap between them. Just as she was about to speak, a timid voice called out from the kitchen.
“Madam, the stewed pork trotter was steamed too long, should we still serve it?”
Su Xinghe turned her head and saw a young woman standing shyly at the door. She wore a light apricot-colored front-clasped jacket, her hair neatly tied up. She had delicate features and a tall, slender frame.
Su Xinghai’s wife quickly waved her over, saying there was no need, for her to fuss over the kitchen matters. Instead, she gently nudged the woman toward Su Xinghe and introduced her, “This is someone I brought from my family. She’s now with your brother and recently gave birth to the second young master.”
A maid-turned-concubine wasn’t exactly a dignified status, and naturally, she stood a step lower in front of the legitimate wife. As she bent her knees to salute Su Xinghe, Su Xinghe quickly reached out to support her, smiling, “What’s all this formality for? You’re my brother’s wife in all but name. I can’t accept such a grand gesture. Our family isn’t stuck in old traditions, and we don’t go by, those outdated customs. Come on, get up.”
They soon moved to the side chamber to chat, and the topic turned to Princess Xialing. Su Xinghai’s wife looked troubled. “Tell me, what am I supposed to do? She keeps coming over, and once she’s here, she’s like a great immovable Buddha, no one can get rid of her. If it were you an ordinary person, we’d have kicked her out long ago. But she’s a princess, and she’s shamelessly clinging on. Even your brother is helpless. Maybe I keep thinking we should just let her have her way, but there’s no precedent for a princess becoming a concubine. If she runs off crying to His Majesty and accuses our family of something, I’ll be branded a sinner for all eternity.”
Su Xinghe reassured her, “Don’t be afraid. You’re already married and technically you’re no longer tied to your maiden family. If she wants to cause trouble for your family, it’ll be in vain. Besides, women can only be divorced under the Seven Grounds for Dismissal, and you’ve done nothing wrong. You’ve given birth to children and upheld your duties as a wife. If she insists on forcing her way in then, just make her a concubine.”
Madam Su also sighed in frustration. “I’ve lived this long and I’ve never seen someone so shameless. It’s New Year’s Day today, and I don’t know why she hasn’t come. Maybe she saw the Eastern Palace guards outside and realized the Crown Prince was there so she turned back. You don’t know how much chaos she causes whenever she arrives and our house turns into completed turmoil. She may be a princess, but does she have no sense of shame at all?”
If she knew shame, she wouldn’t have entangled herself with both brothers in the first place. Su Xinghe had no solution, no one could intervene in this matter; it all depended on Su Xinghai’s ability to handle it himself.
The room full of women all looked thoroughly frustrated. Madam Su complained, “Why hasn’t anyone dealt with that woman? If she were my daughter, I’d be so enraged I’d come back to life just to scold her! Her mother doesn’t seem to have any authority over her anymore, but how is she still so brazen…” She suddenly thought of Su Xinghe and asked, “What about you and the Crown Prince? Hm? Last time, Princess Xialing mentioned it, she said you admitted it yourself. Is that true?”
Su Xinghe’s face turned beet red, and she hastily denied it, saying it was nothing more than a joke. Her sister-in-law, being perceptive, smoothed things over, “The young lady serves in the palace she has her own difficulties. After all, it’s the Crown Prince we’re talking about. Who would dare defy him?”
There was no way to explain, it clearly, now but let them believe it might actually, be beneficial in the long run. She had to consider the worst-case scenario, if the Crown Prince ever fell from power, simply relying on childhood friendship wouldn’t be enough to protect him. But if their relationship was seen as entangled beyond mere duty, she would have more leverage with her father and brother. Her man no one was going to harm him.
Everything was interconnected in ways one could never predict. And now that she hadn’t explicitly denied it, the Crown Prince was still here, showing no intention of returning to the palace even as night fell. What now?
Madam Su sighed, “Our home isn’t equipped with a room suitable for the Crown Prince to stay overnight…” She glanced at Su Xinghe and suggested, “Why not take him to your courtyard? We can’t just send him elsewhere and risk something happening.”
Su Xinghe hesitated, feeling trapped. “It’s best to persuade him to return to the palace.”
“Oh, don’t be like that.” Madam Su gave her a knowing look. “He finally came over, how could we drive him away? Let him stay. Just take him to your quarters. Everything there is fresh and clean, all new bedding. No need to refuse. I’ve been through this myself, I know how things work.” She waved dismissively, then decisively concluded, “The Crown Prince will sleep in your room tonight. That’s settled.”
