“Your Highness.”
Rong Ke turned around and saw Xiao Jingduo standing at the entrance of the grand hall, gazing at her motionlessly. He looked travel-worn and dusty, as if he had just arrived in the capital and hadn’t had a chance to return home and freshen up.
“You’re back,” Rong Ke said with a faint smile. Since her father passed, she had barely smiled. “Much sooner than I expected. Was the journey smooth?”
Xiao Jingduo didn’t know how to respond. Rong Ke was smiling, yet his heart ached. After four years apart, she had grown taller and more striking in appearance—but Xiao Jingduo paid no attention to her beauty. What he noticed instead was how thin she had become.
How did she get so gaunt?
In his memory, Rong Ke was always confident and spirited, her brows lively and full of energy. But now, the color in her had faded—fragile and cold, almost blending into the snow outside the hall.
When she lost her grandfather, he hadn’t been by her side. Now, she had lost her father too—and once again, he hadn’t made it in time.
A flood of emotions surged in Xiao Jingduo’s chest. For a moment, it felt like he had countless things to say to Rong Ke, but the next moment, all those words vanished. In the end, all he could manage was a quiet, “Your Highness… my condolences.”
“You only just arrived in Chang’an today, didn’t you? And you came straight into the palace. You didn’t need to rush—taking a few days slower on the road wouldn’t have mattered.”
“Your Highness issued the order. I dared not delay.”
Rong Ke sighed. Though she said those words, seeing how seriously Xiao Jingduo treated her summons—rushing under the stars to return to Chang’an—did bring her a trace of comfort. Since he was here now, Rong Ke set aside her current work and led Xiao Jingduo toward the Eastern Hall, where she handled state affairs and met with ministers.
“I saw in the Ministry of War’s reports that you’ve made significant contributions these past few years in Jinjiang County, even fighting a few battles with Nanzhao. How is the situation in Nanzhao lately? How many troops are stationed at the border? And what of the original Five Zhaos?”
It had only been a little over ten days since her father passed. In an ordinary family, a girl at this time would be weeping day and night, comforted by loved ones. But she—she had to suppress her grief deeply and muster the strength to worry about court affairs.
Xiao Jingduo had lost his mother when he was ten. At the time, he felt like the sky had collapsed and didn’t speak to anyone for a long while. Rong Ke had been very close to the late emperor—her grief was surely no less than his. It was precisely because he understood how painful it was to lose a loved one that he felt so deeply for Rong Ke now.
He couldn’t hold back anymore and said, “Your Highness, you don’t have to push yourself like this. Please rest a bit more.”
Rong Ke had just sat down at the desk in the Eastern Hall. Hearing this, she raised her hand to pinch the space between her brows.
She was the regent princess. Countless eyes had been watching her during this time, all pressing her to take a stand—either to make achievements or to step down and yield the position to someone more “worthy.” Only Xiao Jingduo had said to her: You should rest a bit more.
But how could Rong Ke have that kind of time? She hadn’t even had time to properly mourn her father’s death. She quickly composed herself and said, “I’m fine.”
She was Princess Qianning. She was the only regent princess since the founding of the dynasty. She would fulfill the unfinished wishes of her father and bring peace and prosperity to this nation. How could she afford the luxury of weakness?
Rong Ke asked a few more questions about Nanzhao and Jiannan, then finally said to Xiao Jingduo: “You’ve done excellently these past four years. My father truly didn’t misjudge you. Go back and rest now—the official transfer order will be issued in a few days.”
Xiao Jingduo knew that saying anything more would be useless. Besides, as an external official, it was inappropriate for him to remain in the palace after dark. So, he could only withdraw reluctantly and say, “I obey, Your Highness.”
He took two steps back, but in the end, he couldn’t hold back. Staring into Rong Ke’s eyes, he said, “Your Highness, take things slowly. Everything will be all right. During this time… you must take care of your health.”
Rong Ke gave a small laugh. “I know. And yet here you are lecturing me.”
Xiao Jingduo exited the Liangyi Hall. In winter, the sky darkened early, and by now, palace lanterns had already been lit on both sides of the walkway. He turned around to glance back and saw the Eastern Hall brightly illuminated—it was clear that Rong Ke was still reading through memorials submitted by the Six Ministries.
She was already so thin, and yet she was still handling state affairs after dark. How could that be good? Xiao Jingduo frowned to himself. But as a subject and she the sovereign, no matter how concerned he was, he had no right to advise her. All he could do was leave Taiji Palace with a heart full of worry.
At this moment, he completely forgot how, back when he was serving as the magistrate of Jinjiang County, staying up late reading official documents was a common occurrence. If there was a heavy workload, working into the night wasn’t unusual at all.
But people always have double standards—for others and for themselves. And Xiao Jingduo was one of the most typical examples of this.
By the time he left the palace, it was already very late. When he returned to the marquis’ residence, it naturally provoked a wave of displeasure from his elders.
As soon as Xiao Jingduo stepped into Gaoshou Hall, he was greeted with a scolding:
“You’ve been away from home for four years, and your first act upon returning to the capital isn’t to pay respects to your elders? You even made us wait in vain!”
Xiao Ying’s expression was ashen; clearly, he was furious. At that moment, Xiao Jingduo had just entered, still carrying the chill of the winter air on his body. Hearing those words, he almost immediately wanted to turn around, lift the curtain, and leave again.
But after four years of official service, his temperament had matured considerably. Hearing this kind of rebuke, he simply paused for a moment, then let it go, pretending not to hear it at all.
The Old Madam had been overjoyed upon hearing that her eldest grandson—who had been sent away for four years—was returning. From the moment she received the news, she had been sitting in Gaoshou Hall waiting. Because she was waiting, the younger women—granddaughters and daughters-in-law—naturally had to accompany her. Yet as the sun began to set, Xiao Jingduo still had not appeared.
That afternoon, a servant who had gone to welcome him returned and reported that the young master had other urgent matters and would not return home just yet, telling the elders not to wait. After sitting the whole day, the Old Madam was then met with that message—of course it made her furious. When Xiao Ying came home and learned of it, his anger also flared.
What business could possibly be more important than returning home to pay respects to one’s elders? Xiao Jingduo was simply unfilial.
The Old Madam had originally been simmering with anger, but after hearing Xiao Ying harshly scold him, she felt a little better. Then, seeing her grandson—whom she hadn’t seen in four years—stand silently and straight-backed before her, her remaining anger also dissipated. Watching the standoff between father and son, she began to feel regret and quickly tried to smooth things over:
“All right, enough. He’s home now—let’s not say any more. Duo’er, you’ve been gone for four years. Have you suffered any hardships?”
“Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. I’ve been well.”
In truth, Xiao Jingduo didn’t even need to say it—the Old Madam could tell at a glance that he had fared well these past four years. When he left the capital, although he had just passed the imperial exam and was full of ambition, he still carried the youthful arrogance of someone his age. Even if he had been more mature than his peers, he had not escaped it entirely.
But now, standing before her again after four years, the Old Madam found she no longer dared to scold him as casually as she once did. In fact, there was even a faint sense of awe in her heart, as if the person standing before her was no longer simply her grandson…
He was no longer just a grandson—but a dignified, awe-inspiring court official beyond reach.
Over the years, the Old Madam had grown accustomed to a life of ease and status, used to playing the part of the titled matron of a marquis household. She no longer showed the clumsiness of her days as a village woman. But ultimately, she had lived far longer as a village woman than as an honored noble, and her ingrained fear of local officials was etched into her very bones. Now, seeing Xiao Jingduo in his pale green official robes standing before her, she was suddenly reminded of the terror she had once felt when meeting the county magistrate in her younger days.
The Old Madam secretly scolded herself for being so short-sighted. She was the mother of a marquis, and the person before her was her own grandson—what was there to fear? Once she had braced herself internally, she looked again at Xiao Jingduo with a much softer gaze.
“My boy truly is extraordinary. In just four years, your official air is already so commanding—more impressive than even the county magistrate back in our village.”
Well… he was a magistrate. Xiao Jingduo gave a faint, amused smile but didn’t bother explaining. He simply bowed and said, “Thank you for your praise, Grandmother.”
It wasn’t just the Old Madam—the other women in the room also felt a subtle pressure. The Second and Third Madams of the Xiao family kept polite smiles on their faces, but inwardly they were sighing. Truly, officials and commoners lived in different worlds. Xiao Jingduo had only been away for four years, yet the aura he carried was completely transformed. Now that he was transferred back to the capital, he would likely be promoted. Returning from a provincial post almost always meant advancement—it was hard to say how far he might rise in the future.
The Second and Third Madams each had sons and daughters. Seeing Xiao Jingduo today, they couldn’t help but feel bitter—Why couldn’t our sons have such a promising career?
While the two madams fretted over their husbands and sons, the unmarried girls of the household, raised in the inner chambers and unaware of the harshness of the world, had far simpler thoughts. A few of the Xiao family’s granddaughters peeked shyly at Xiao Jingduo, then turned their heads to whisper to their close cousins:
“So this is what Big Brother looks like? He’s even more handsome and heroic than that gentleman from the Wang family!”
Xiao Jingduo had been away from home for four years. As a man, there hadn’t been much urgency around arranging his marriage. But it wasn’t the same for the girls. Once the national mourning period for the late emperor ended, the older girls—such as First Miss Xiao Yufang and Second Miss Xiao Yuli—had already married. Xiao Yumang, the third daughter, had delayed her wedding so as not to overlap with her two elder sisters. But then the late emperor fell ill, and national mourning was declared—her plans had been pushed back again and again. Now, she was still unmarried and waiting at home, deeply regretting her earlier delay.
Aside from Xiao Yumang, who had grown up alongside Xiao Jingduo, the other girls were only just getting a clear impression of him today. They had been only five or six years old when he left the capital and remembered very little—certainly not a brother who rarely stayed home. But seeing him now, they were stunned to discover that their older brother was not only tall and refined, but truly handsome—no less attractive than the famed eligible bachelors they often talked about in private.
In fact, it wasn’t just “no less”—he was far superior. Xiao Jingduo was an official now, a magistrate who had governed a county for four years with unquestioned authority. The aura he carried was nothing like the pampered, idle young men of Chang’an who had never faced the real world.
The younger girls’ eyes sparkled, cheeks tinged red, as they pointed shyly at Xiao Jingduo and whispered among themselves. Xiao Jingduo noticed it all clearly—but he paid them no mind.
His world was now entirely different from that of these sheltered young ladies. He no longer had the patience for inner-courtyard gossip and schemes, let alone for a few young girls’ innocent curiosity.
The Old Madam was pleased, the aunts bitter, and the younger girls fascinated. Xiao Jingduo glanced over them once, then lost interest. In the end, his gaze returned to fall on Xiao Ying.
Strange, he thought. Today marks my return to the capital after years of service—where is Wu Junru? Even if their relationship was strained, as a stepmother from an aristocratic background, Wu Junru shouldn’t be absent entirely—not even showing her face?
Perhaps sensing Xiao Jingduo’s confusion, the Old Madam looked slightly awkward. She cleared her throat and said, “Your mother caught a bit of a chill these past few days. She’s resting in her rooms and couldn’t come to greet you.”
Coming down with a cold during the New Year? How convenient. Xiao Jingduo sneered inwardly and had no intention of pursuing it further. “I see. The Marchioness has worked hard.”
But he made no mention of visiting her while she was ill.
The Old Madam was embarrassed, but there was nothing she could do about Xiao Jingduo. Ever since Wu Junru had completely fallen out with Xiao Jingduo a few years ago, she had kept to herself, focusing solely on supervising her son’s studies and taking no part in household affairs. She no longer even interacted with her natal family. Today’s return of Xiao Jingduo to the capital for official reporting was a major event for the main branch of the family—but not for Wu Junru. That she didn’t wish to attend was within the Old Madam’s expectations, and that Xiao Jingduo had no intention of visiting her while she was “sick” was also unsurprising.
The Old Madam’s mouth felt bitter. In name, she was the grandmother and the most respected elder lady in the household, but in truth, she dared not offend her noble-born daughter-in-law, nor could she restrain her now-successful grandson who had passed the imperial exams. All she could do was watch these two spar with words under her nose—what a humiliating situation.
Moreover, although Wu Junru had lost favor, she had still given birth to a son and a daughter. For the sake of her fourth grandson, Xiao Jingye, the Old Madam was unwilling to make things too difficult for Wu Junru and even felt she had to hold Xiao Jingduo back from publicly embarrassing her. After all, Wu Junru was from an elite background, and with her personally overseeing Xiao Jingye’s education, who knew—perhaps he too could become a successful candidate like Xiao Jingduo one day. The Old Madam’s greatest wish was to have many children and a prosperous household. The thought of having two jinshi (successful candidates of the imperial exam) in one family was a great honor. So she didn’t want to see Xiao Jingduo make things difficult for Wu Junru, especially if it might affect her hopes for her fourth grandson.
Xiao Jingduo clearly detected the subtle favoritism in the Old Madam’s words, but he wasn’t surprised in the least. With cold sarcasm, he thought, My grandmother has always been the same—guided by benefit, not reason. She’ll always side with what’s advantageous, not what’s right.
The Old Madam was easy to appease, but Xiao Ying was another matter. He was still holding onto the grudge that Xiao Jingduo had not visited him first upon returning to the capital but had instead run off elsewhere. He gave a cold snort and asked, “You came back so late today—where exactly did you go?”
“Naturally, I went to the palace to have an audience with Her Highness,” Xiao Jingduo replied. “When an official returns from a provincial post, the most important duty is to report to the throne, to present one’s record of governance. Is there something wrong with that?”
Xiao Ying was momentarily silenced. Of course, in theory, that was entirely correct. But the emperor was a busy man—not every returning official had the opportunity to report directly. Most people would first return home, rest for a few days, then report to the Ministry of Personnel and await summons from the emperor or ministry. For Xiao Jingduo to immediately submit a request for an audience upon arrival—even in terms of etiquette and precedent—left Xiao Ying with no grounds to scold him. After all, loyalty to the monarch outweighed filial duty. And Xiao Ying didn’t have the nerve to argue with the emperor.
If this had happened when the late emperor was still alive, Xiao Ying wouldn’t have dared make a sound. But now, he scoffed dismissively: “Just a yellow-haired girl. What kind of ruler is she?”
Princess Qianning held the title of Regent. Until the emperor assumed personal rule, she effectively held imperial power and was rightfully accorded the semi-imperial respect of a sovereign. But like many elder officials, Xiao Ying privately looked down on her—seeing her as a young figurehead at best, and worse, a woman.
In the past, Xiao Ying had said many harsh things to Xiao Jingduo. Even the comment earlier today had been met by Xiao Jingduo with calm restraint, answering without joy or anger. But hearing Xiao Ying speak so dismissively of Rong Ke—this, he could not tolerate for even a moment. His temper flared instantly, and he said sharply:
“The late emperor entrusted her with the Regency on his deathbed. Her Highness the Princess is the rightful and legitimate Regent. As officials, we should be loyal to the ruler and carry on the concerns of the late sovereign. How can you dare slander the ruler behind her back!”
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