Chapter 9 – Just a Passing Acquaintance

A red sun slowly descended behind the towering palace walls.

Following orders, Chief Steward Pei escorted Ju Chen and Song Mi out of the palace. Upon returning to the Empress Dowager’s side, he promptly asked what kind of official position she intended to assign to Li Juchen.

The Empress Dowager closed her eyes and pressed her temples with her index finger. “Let her be a Dianji (Record Keeper).”

Pei nodded in agreement.

After a moment of reflection, the Empress Dowager opened her eyes and sighed, saying that the impression Ju Chen gave her felt different from the one in her writings.

Pei asked, “Did she not meet Your Majesty’s expectations?”

The Empress Dowager was silent for a beat. “I can’t say exactly. I just feel… she shouldn’t be this obedient.”

As soon as the words fell, she took the tea Pei handed her, smiled faintly as the foam floated on top, and added, “I don’t know whether it was her writing that gave me the illusion of rebellion… or if it’s her, herself, who’s giving me the illusion.”

---

On the imperial avenue, the snow had melted. The surrounding palaces layered and interlaced, yet the solemnity and chill of this Ninefold Palace complex remained undiminished.

Ju Chen and Song Mi walked side by side.

After a long silence, when Shoukang Palace had gradually faded into a blur in the distance, Song Mi suddenly asked,
“Do you want to enter the palace?”
“Do you want to become a court lady?”
“If not, I can let you go.”

He stopped walking and posed three consecutive questions. The setting sun cast a glow on his skin like polished jade. Even standing still for just a moment, he looked like a painting of grace and poise. But he didn’t mean to be admired—his brows furrowed slightly, a hint of sternness in his gaze.

Ju Chen stopped with him, staring into his serious eyes for a while, then curved her lips slightly. “I’ve never regretted becoming a court lady.”

“This path isn’t easy,” Song Mi said.

“I can feel that,” Ju Chen smiled, resigned yet defiant. “But if I’m not a court lady, then what? Obey my parents, go through a matchmaker, get married off to someone random? I don’t want that kind of life. I don’t want to rot in the inner chambers.”

Song Mi looked at her. A vision from their past life flashed through his mind: a woman over thirty, her beauty still just as radiant, wearing a purple robe draped over her shoulders, exuding the dignity of a seasoned official. She leaned drunkenly into his arms, one hand tugging at his collar, murmuring bitterly, “I won’t marry. I can’t be a woman of the inner court anymore.”

Ju Chen saw his silence and asked in return, “Then does Your Highness wish to enter the central court?”

Song Mi paused.

He had always known why people pushed him forward. He had always worked hard, but no one had ever asked whether he wanted to.

When he didn’t reply, Ju Chen followed up, “If your father’s family and your mother’s family were to come into conflict… which side would you help?”

After a short silence, Song Mi answered, “I’d help the country.”

In this whirlpool of power, everyone had their own agenda.

Some sought power. Some sought profit. Some sought reform. Some sought tradition. Some longed for glory. Some simply wanted peace.

And there must also be people who worked for the benefit of the people and felt compassion for the masses.

For Ju Chen and Song Mi, stepping once again onto the path they had taken in their previous life was simply their way of trying to achieve a better outcome—without changing their original intentions.

---

The Fifth Day of the Lunar New Year, Mount Li

As the red doors swung open, a warm breeze swept through the corridor. Even Ju Chen, who had seen many luxurious palaces in her previous life, couldn’t help but brighten at the sight.

This particular hot spring courtyard wasn’t especially ornate—not even a tenth as extravagant as the Ciyou Villa. But its geographic advantage surpassed anything even the most lavish mansions in Eastern Capital could offer.

The warm corridor wind caressed her ears, making it feel like she had stepped into the spring of March.

Within the courtyard, artificial hills and winding ponds seemed casually placed with no clear pattern, but with the surrounding mist and overlapping ridges, the place resembled a celestial realm. It was unseasonably warm, filled with lush greenery and blossoms of every hue, spring eternal.

Mount Li was full of hot springs—those at the foot of the mountain were open to the public, the mid-slope springs were vacation spots for nobles and officials, and the summit held the imperial palaces.

Thanks to the Empress Dowager’s favor, the Li family was granted their first-ever stay at the summit—and even received a top-grade courtyard.

As soon as Li Wuyou entered, he spotted a proud white crane standing beside the pool and rushed toward it gleefully.

The crane gave him a glance, flapped its wings, and soared into the air, teasing him as it stayed just out of reach. After a few failed jumps, the bird circled above Ju Chen’s head gracefully for a moment.

Ju Chen looked up, recalling a similar white figure she had seen at Prince Pengshan’s residence in her past life.

He must have arrived already.

So was this crane here to welcome her?

Li Wuyou noticed the crane circling Ju Chen and ran over. “Big Sister, do you know it?”

Ju Chen hesitated, then shook her head. “No.”

But just as she spoke, the white crane let out a sharp cry, as if snorting in disdain, then soared into the clouds and vanished.

Ju Chen: “…”

Li Wuyou, undeterred, started picking his room, hoping to get the largest and nicest hot spring. He was used to being first in line for all the best things at home.

But a palace maid stopped him gently and said, “By Her Majesty’s order, Lady Li Dianji is to enter first.”

The Empress Dowager’s reward was meant for the new group of female officials—naturally, the best room should go to Ju Chen.

Concubine Wu and Li Wanyu froze at the words. They had assumed that thanks to Li Ling’s favoring of Wuyou, they would stay in the best room along with him.

Now, with Ju Chen and Madam Wen already being led into the main residence, Li Wanyu could only pout and follow behind her stepmother and brother.

As she passed by the entrance, she peeked inside and saw the main residence’s hot spring—luxurious and spacious—stirring up waves of envy.

---

At the mountaintop, there was also a large indoor imperial cuju field (ancient Chinese football). The lawn was lush green, the atmosphere warm and pleasant.

Every holiday, nobles and royals would gather here for matches—exciting events with expensive stakes.

That very afternoon, an impromptu match took place.

After lunch, the spectator stands began to fill.

Song Mi and Lu Feng were warming up on the field when they suddenly heard a familiar crane’s cry from the sky.

Song Mi looked up instinctively, then turned to the spectator stand.

There she was—that familiar figure trailing behind a group of ladies, stepping into the viewing area.

Lu Feng followed his gaze, then teased, “Compared to everyone else, Li Juchen really stands out today. She even put on makeup—could it be she came to watch because the match is hosted by me?”

Before he could finish, Song Mi stepped in and stole the ball from beneath him.

Lu Feng cursed as he chased, “Song Zhengzhi, you’re playing dirty again!”

Song Mi didn’t even turn back. “If you’re not focused on the ball, why are you looking around?”

“Oh, and you can look but I can’t?”

—

In the stands—

Ju Chen had just sat down, blowing the steam off her tea, when the drums began to roll.

Laughter and chatter immediately fell silent as everyone’s eyes turned toward the two teams lining up. The match was about to start.

The Daliang cuju matches were timed—two teams of eleven, including a goalkeeper. Whoever scored the most within the time limit won.

Li Wanyu was normally reserved in public, but when she heard Prince Pengshan was playing, and saw other young women crowding the railing with flushed cheeks and dreamy eyes, she couldn’t help stepping forward too.

Holding her fan, she leaned forward, asking, “Which one is Prince Pengshan?”

A girl nearby pointed and replied in a melodic, slightly mocking tone, “The one who always looks like he’s just strolling.”

Though he looked leisurely, nearly all their team’s goals came from his final strike.

Knowing many were guarding against him, he never rushed, never tried to be first, and instead seized opportunities at just the right time.

Li Wanyu turned and was stunned. “Big Sister? Didn’t you say you weren’t coming to the match?”

Ju Chen paused and gave her a perfunctory smile.

She had said she wasn’t coming—after all, in her past life she’d hosted countless cuju games for foreign guests and had long grown numb to them.

But she’d just drifted off when Lu Yun shook her awake, saying her brother and Prince Pengshan were playing and invited her along.

Upon hearing Song Mi would be on the field, Ju Chen had leapt out of bed and carefully dressed before gracefully arriving.

Li Wanyu stared at Song Mi’s elegant form on the field—it was exactly the figure she’d seen under the Drum Tower the other day. She couldn’t help asking, “Big Sister, do you know Prince Pengshan?”

Ju Chen replied calmly, “Just a passing acquaintance. He’s close with Second Young Master Lu.”

She didn’t deny having seen him at the banquet that day, but didn’t give it more meaning either.

Li Wanyu had never heard of them having any connection before, so she quickly believed it. But staring at Ju Chen’s flawless face, now touched with makeup, she grew disheartened and bitter.

She already looked good, and now she had to add makeup too?

Truly, “Even the lotus can’t compare to a beauty’s blush; in the palace breeze, pearls and fragrance flow.”

Fearing she’d be overshadowed, Li Wanyu quickly stepped in front of Ju Chen to block her from view.

Ju Chen didn’t bother arguing over a few rays of sunlight—as long as it didn’t block her view of the match, she didn’t care.

The incense stick marking the third quarter was nearly burned through. Just then, Song Mi scored again. Cheers and drumbeats erupted, nearly deafening.

Li Wanyu clapped enthusiastically. Then she saw Song Mi select a prize and glance back at the stands—then walk toward the viewing platform.

All the young ladies froze, then rushed back to their seats, sitting properly, fearful of being seen jostling in the crowd—an unseemly breach of etiquette.

Ju Chen and Li Wanyu were no exception. They had just sat down when that tall figure strolled calmly toward their pavilion.

Li Wanyu’s gaze nearly met his. Her heart pounded wildly, her cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked down.

Song Mi stopped right in front of their pavilion.

And as he lifted the curtain to enter, he didn’t glance once at any of the ladies inside.