Chapter 1 – Reunion

The fiery heat of July was fading, and the summer began to wane.

The soft, radiant morning light quietly bathed the vermilion palace walls, while the golden glazed tiles gleamed brilliantly.

“Have I treated you badly?”

The sudden question was tinged with a trace of laughter, light in tone, like the trill of a lark.

It was impossible to discern its true meaning.

“Of course not!”

The denial came out instantly, the young gentleman answering without even thinking.

Standing before him, Li Wu let out a faint laugh.

“Not badly?”

As her words fell, the smile at the corner of her lips deepened. Suddenly, she raised her hand and slapped the man before her across the face.

“If not, then why don’t you cherish me?”

A sweep of crimson robes flashed before his eyes, followed by a sharp, muffled smack.

The young man’s cheek burned, while Li Wu’s brows and eyes only showed cold beauty and indifference. “You truly do not know what’s good for you.”

She had treated him well, yet he dallied behind her back with other young ladies. Was that not the very definition of ingratitude?

Truthfully, she did not care much about such things.

She had only teased him on a whim some time ago; he had never really taken up space in her heart.

But if he lacked the sense to let go and instead chose to block her path, insisting on explanations, then he was simply bothersome.

Did he really expect her forgiveness? Another chance?

Drawing her hand back, Li Wu slowly straightened her sleeve. “From now on, you and I will have nothing more to do with each other. Whoever you wish to be close with has nothing to do with me. Do not appear before my eyes again.”

The young man lowered his head in shame. “Your Highness…”

Li Wu gave a cold laugh. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of another figure. Her gaze slipped past the man in front of her and fell on the one emerging from the palace gates.

A young man in a crimson official robe and court hat, tall and upright as a crane.

Amidst the palace’s gilded splendor, his brows were cool, his bearing aloof, exuding an air of detachment that quietly kept others a thousand miles away.

It was He Zhiyu.

Li Wu’s brows lifted ever so slightly as she clearly took in that familiar yet unfamiliar face.

It had been three years since she had left the capital—three years since she had last seen He Zhiyu.

Though she had already returned from the border some time ago, she had paid little attention to many things.

She had not expected to encounter him here.

Now, seeing him again, he had changed much from the man in her memory. At first glance, he even made her feel disoriented.

But his handsome face was even more striking than before.

Li Wu’s lips curved faintly. Even though she had been caught in such an unladylike act, her face showed not a hint of awkwardness at meeting an old lover by chance.

Her calm expression and gaze carried the air of one untouched, as if nothing had ever happened between them.

He Zhiyu had noticed her the moment he stepped out of the palace.

As always, she wore a flamboyant red dress. Her black hair flowed like a waterfall, her beauty dazzling, her face radiant like a blooming lotus or a drunk spring begonia.

No matter the place or time, she was always the most eye-catching presence, impossible to overlook.

He had also seen her strike the man just now.

When their eyes met—her alluring gaze curved with a teasing smile—He Zhiyu merely looked back indifferently.

Like her, his face bore none of the discomfort one might expect at encountering an old flame.

The young man standing before Li Wu, however, noticed her gaze and turned to look behind him. Seeing He Zhiyu, his expression immediately stiffened with embarrassment. Forcing himself to remain composed, he turned and saluted: “Master He.”

But the red handprint still visible on his cheek made him look slightly ridiculous.

He Zhiyu’s expression did not change. He politely returned the salute. “Young Master Ling.”

Then, turning to Li Wu, he saluted again, his tone cool and distant: “Your Highness, Princess.”

His expression was cold, his voice equally so.

Li Wu did not mind. She only smiled lightly, nodded casually in response, and accepted it.

The “Young Master Ling” he addressed was Ling Yue, son of the Minister of Revenue. By rank, his family was not low in status. But as he himself held no office, in front of Li Wu—the Princess of Pingyang—and He Zhiyu—a high-ranking official—he could hardly stand tall.

Still, what troubled him more was the awkwardness pressing down upon him.

Because he knew there had once been a romance between Princess Pingyang and Master He.

At the time, Master He had just earned first place in the imperial examination.

The princess’s pursuit of him had caused a great stir in the capital, and soon enough, he had succumbed to her charms.

For a while, the two had been inseparable, their relationship as sweet as honey.

But later, they had broken apart.

Not long after, the princess had left for the border, where she stayed for three whole years.

She had only recently returned.

Ling Yue, thinking on this, glanced quietly at Li Wu, then again at He Zhiyu. He was just about to speak a few polite words to ease the tension when Li Wu said coldly:

“Why haven’t you left yet? Must I invite you to dine?”

Ling Yue froze.

Li Wu laughed again, her eyes curving with charm. The beauty of her face took on an even more bewitching allure.

Before Ling Yue could respond, she had already walked toward the soft sedan waiting at the palace gates.

From beginning to end, she had not spoken a single word to He Zhiyu.

By the time Ling Yue came back to himself, he could only watch her departing figure.

He Zhiyu’s gaze also followed her back for a moment.

That graceful, alluring exterior hid a heart of cold steel.

He had learned that well, long ago.

Expressionless, He Zhiyu lowered his gaze.

Beneath his lashes, the heat that had momentarily flared in his eyes was swiftly extinguished.

After bidding Ling Yue a polite farewell, He Zhiyu left without lingering.

Left alone, Ling Yue finally raised a hand to his swollen cheek. His brows drooped, his head hung low, and he turned away in dejection.

---

Li Wu’s soft sedan carried her to Linhua Hall to meet Li Shen.

The incident outside the palace gates had not touched her mood in the slightest.

Three years ago, her full brother Li Shen had ascended the throne as the new emperor. She had been granted the title of Princess of Pingyang and bestowed a princess’s residence.

Today, she entered the palace because Emperor Jiahe, Li Shen, had summoned her.

On the way to Linhua Hall, Li Wu thought idly of her chance encounter with He Zhiyu.

Since she had returned to the capital, their meeting had been inevitable. Whether sooner or later, in what manner, made little difference to her.

Still, after so many years, that incomparably handsome face was as pleasing to the eye as ever.

Especially with him clad in crimson official robes…

Casually, she asked, “Where does He Zhiyu serve now?”

A eunuch outside the sedan, Chen Fang, answered with a smile: “In reply to Your Highness, Master He now serves in the Court of Judicial Review as the Vice Minister.”

“Master He solved several old unsolved cases shortly after taking office. Everyone praises his skill and capability.”

Li Wu considered the position of Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, then laughed. “It is true that three years ago, he topped the imperial exam and was chosen as the Zhuangyuan by the Emperor. But in just two or three years, hasn’t his rise been a little too fast?”

“Your Highness, you have been away from the capital these years, so you may not know,” the eunuch explained in detail. “Two years ago, Marquis Xuanping acknowledged Master He as his long-lost legitimate son. His name was entered into the He family genealogy, so it cannot be false.

“After that, Marquis Xuanping submitted a memorial requesting that Master He be granted the title of heir to the marquisate.

“Thus, Master He is not only the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review but also the heir of the Marquis of Xuanping—his status is truly extraordinary.”

Having explained He Zhiyu’s background, the eunuch went on, “In recent years, many matchmakers have tried to arrange marriages for him, but Master He has never agreed. To this day, he remains unmarried, without even a betrothal. I’ve even heard young ladies of the capital call him the snow on the high peaks, the moon in the clouds—lofty and untouchable.”

Li Wu had been back only a short while, her days filled with busyness.

This was the first time she had heard these stories.

Thinking back, when she had first met He Zhiyu three years ago, he had been only eighteen, carrying the youthful pride of a young scholar.

Even in simple, clean robes, he had been as graceful as pine and bamboo, with eyes bright and clear. So different from the unfathomable depths she saw in his eyes now.

Of course—he had lived through much since then.

But “snow on the high peaks, moon in the clouds”… someone so exalted and untouchable had once fallen into her hands. In the eyes of others, did that not make his past with her a blemish on his perfection?

Li Wu laughed to herself at the thought.

“With such a capable son, how could the He family not wish to claim him?”

“Indeed, Your Highness is right,” the eunuch flattered, then added, “A gentleman like Master He is rare. He even once saved the Emperor’s life, so His Majesty values him greatly.”

“Saved the Emperor’s life?”

Li Wu frowned, lifting the curtain slightly. “What happened? Did my brother face danger?”

The eunuch quickly reassured her: “Only a few petty villains, they did not harm His Majesty at all. They were all captured on the spot, Your Highness need not worry.”

Then he explained further.

In short, three years ago during the winter hunt, the new emperor Li Shen had been ambushed.

At that time, He Zhiyu was by his side and took an arrow in his place. That was the “merit of saving the Emperor’s life.”

It was because of this that the emperor valued He Zhiyu even more.

Thus, when Marquis Xuanping recognized He Zhiyu and requested the heir’s title for him, it had gone smoothly.

Now, as Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, He Zhiyu was tacitly acknowledged by the court as the emperor’s favored minister—different from other officials.

Hardly anyone dared openly belittle this young man.

Having understood the matter, Li Wu felt reassured.

As they chatted idly, the sedan arrived outside Linhua Hall. Supported by the eunuch’s hand, she stepped down and entered the hall alone.

---

When Li Wu entered, Emperor Jiahe, Li Shen, was reviewing memorials.

Hearing the chief eunuch announce her arrival, he set down his vermilion brush, dismissed the servants, and smiled as he watched her approach.

“Greetings, Royal Brother.”

Li Wu curtsied. After rising, she smiled and asked, “Why did Royal Brother summon me so urgently?”

Li Shen was three years older than her.

The siblings had always been close, and he cherished his younger sister dearly.

“Look at this first.”

He gestured to an item placed at the corner of the dragon desk.

Li Wu picked it up and unfolded it.

It was a state letter—one from Tatars, a small neighboring country of Great Jin.

Scanning its contents quickly, Li Wu raised her brows. “The Tatars want a marriage alliance with Great Jin?”

“Yes,” Li Shen nodded.

He rose, pacing with his hands clasped behind his back. “The Tatars have long been at odds with us. Every autumn and winter, their people raid our borders, stealing wealth and grain, leaving the frontier folk in constant fear.

“If we can make peace through this alliance, the people at the borders may finally live in safety.”

Having lived at the frontier for years, Li Wu knew this situation well.

The Tatars were sly—always striking swiftly and retreating, difficult to pursue. Worse, their leaders openly sheltered the raiders.

If Great Jin and the Tatars could truly maintain peace through marriage, life for the frontier folk would indeed be far more secure.

But…

“What you wish to say to me, Brother, is not only this, is it?”

She lifted her gaze toward Li Shen. “So the one who is to marry into the Tatars… is me?”

“They have specifically asked for you.”

Li Shen corrected her.