Chapter 1: Greed and Equal Hands.

It was early autumn, and the osmanthus trees in the courtyard were in full bloom, clusters of golden flowers nestled among the green leaves, their fragrance lingering.

The magnificent Prince Qi’s Mansion was filled with a festive atmosphere. The eaves and pillars were adorned with crimson silk. In a corner of the palace, a loft was ingeniously set up with several dancers and musicians. The music echoed between the rockery and pond, echoing throughout the palace.

Maidens and servants hurriedly carried various utensils to the front courtyard. Despite the constant flow of people, the scene remained orderly, demonstrating the strict adherence to rules.

Traveling through the corridors, a graceful figure made its way to the inner courtyard. She walked slowly, her voice unhurried, as she instructed those around her, “Distribute the wedding money. The banquet has begun, and the wine should be served…”

She turned and said to the eunuch behind her, “Go remind Eunuch Xu not to let His Highness get drunk.”

The eunuch then left.

The woman wore a honey-colored, wide-sleeved, straight-leg gown embroidered with plain flowers and bamboo leaves. Her dark hair was beautifully tied up, simply adorned with a few ruby-gilded hairpins and a lotus flower hairpin tucked diagonally into her full bun, evoking a graceful and composed look.

Laughter filled the room, teasing the new bride.

“From now on, if any young man in the capital wants to be called ‘infatuated,’ he can’t surpass His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi.”

“How can the friendship of childhood sweethearts compare to that of innocent children? Take just now…”

A lady continued, “That’s right. A wife personally chosen for marriage is definitely different. Judging from the pomp and ceremony, the only comparable event was the Crown Prince’s wedding three years ago, right?”

“Oh! Stop laughing at me.”

Princess Yao Yuzhu of Qi pulled her handkerchief across her flushed cheeks, her eyes filled with shame.

Ming Yunzhi’s lips curled slightly. A moment later, even she had heard it—the Prince of Qi’s hands trembled with excitement as he ushered her out of the sedan chair, and all the guests in the room watched. Not to mention the moment he lifted the veil, the sturdy man wept, clutching Yao Yuzhu’s hand as he sobbed and promised to never let her down.

He looked as if he wished he could reveal his heart right there and then, so his newlywed wife could see it clearly.

Ming Yunzhi smiled and walked into the room. Seeing her approach, Yao Yuzhu hurriedly stood and saluted, “Crown Princess.”

The ladies turned around and saw that the newcomer had a delicate face, fair skin, and a slender figure. Not to mention her calm demeanor, just one look at her eyes, as bright as the moon, revealed her to be no ordinary person.

It wasn’t their first time meeting the Crown Princess, but they couldn’t help but marvel at her. Every time they saw her, it was like a celestial goddess had descended to earth, and it was hard to take their eyes off her.

Ming Yunzhi raised his hand and helped Yao Yuzhu up. “You’re marrying the Prince of Qi, and you’ll be part of our family from now on. Why are you so distant from me?”

She had a pair of soft, smiling eyes, bright almond-shaped. Yao Yuzhu bit her lip shyly and changed her tone to call her “Imperial Sister-in-law.” Yao Yuzhu: “I just heard from Nanny that today’s wedding is entirely up to the Emperor’s sister-in-law. You’ve worked so hard, sister-in-law.”

The Prince of Qi is the Empress’s only son, married to the beloved daughter of the Minister of Rites, a person of high status. From the construction and renovation of the Prince of Qi’s mansion to today’s wedding ceremony, everything was handled by Ming Yunzhi, and he deserves the hard work.

She nodded: “You two are deeply in love, and I’m just helping you make this a beautiful thing.”

Yao Yuzhu pursed her lips and smiled: “Yuzhu understands. Marriage and life don’t require deep affection. Being able to treat each other with respect and love like my brother and sister-in-law is better than anything else.”

Ming Yunzhi just smiled and didn’t respond. The cheerful lady took up the conversation, praising the Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s harmonious and loving relationship, and praising the Prince of Qi and his wife’s youthful love.

After sitting and talking for a while, Ming Yunzhi found an excuse to leave and return to the palace first.

The maid Qing Wu spoke attentively, saying slowly, “Your Majesty looks a little tired.”

Ming Yunzhi sat in the carriage, closing her eyes for a short nap.

She was indeed tired. Ever since the Empress feigned illness three years ago and handed over all palace affairs to her, she hadn’t had a single day of leisure. Lately, it’s been even worse. Not only is the Prince of Qi’s wedding underway, but there’s also the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet in a few days, and the autumn hunt soon after. Every one of the palace’s stewards is a seasoned expert, and she can’t afford to slack off even a little.

“…See? His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi is welcoming his bride like he’s won a battle, so arrogant!”

The maidservant outside the carriage shared the wedding money and said excitedly, “That’s right. They say men don’t shed tears easily, but His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi just…”

Qing Wu frowned and lifted the curtain to scold, “You’re getting more and more ridiculous. How dare Your Royal Highness, the Prince of Q, I make up stories? Don’t let people laugh at the Eastern Palace for being so unruly.”

The maidservant fell silent and apologized. Ming Yunzhi waved his hand, saying, “Forget it. Today is such a happy day, let’s relax a little.”

“The Empress is just too kind. Everyone in the palace is taking advantage of her. They take advantage of the Empress’s good manners and are desperately trying to get a job in the Eastern Palace.”

Qing Wu curled her lips. “We only have two masters in the Eastern Palace. Why would we need so many people?”

Ming Yunzhi rubbed his head.

Just when Qingwu thought she was about to fall asleep, Ming Yunzhi whispered, “Perhaps in a few days, there will be a new master.”

“Your Majesty?”

Qingwu looked up in surprise, then a thought flashed through her mind, her tone tinged with anxiety. “In the election at the beginning of the year, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince didn’t choose anyone. Could it be…”

With her slender white fingertips, Ming Yunzhi lowered her eyes, observing the ornate patterns on the curtains.

A few days ago, the Empress summoned her to Changqiu Palace, hammering at every word.

In truth, Ming Yunzhi didn’t need to be alarmed. She understood better than anyone that the Crown Prince was not only her husband, but also the heir apparent to the throne.

“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince respects you and has treated you as an equal for three years, without a trace of rift. Why don’t you, Your Majesty…”

“Take care of them as equals.”

Ming Yunzhi silently pondered these words.

This was the second time she had heard someone describe her and the Crown Prince in this way today, and she truly couldn’t find a better word to describe them both.

Compared to the deep bond between the Prince of Qi and Yao Yuzhu, the relationship between her and the Crown Prince was like a fleeting wisp of smoke. Perhaps this is true of most couples in the world, where gratitude outweighs love. As long as they can work hand in hand and treat each other with respect, the absence of affection is fine.

Just witnessing such genuine warmth and sincerity with her own eyes was inevitably touching.

She remembered the sparkling eyes of the Prince of Qi when he mentioned Yao Yuzhu, and Yao Yuzhu’s blushing cheeks at the jokes, and a smile naturally graced her lips.

Unlike their childhood sweetheart relationship, Ming Yunzhi and the Crown Prince, though already engaged, were married after only a few encounters.

She still remembered the wedding day, a banquet even grander than today’s. She wore a phoenix crown and a veil and was shyly carried into the bridal sedan by her brother. Along the way, she listened to the cheers and laughter of the common people’s children, her heart filled with anticipation.

She had met the prince. He was a man of striking appearance, and few men in the world possessed such magnanimity. She had also heard that he possessed both civil and military prowess, a rare talent for governing the country. At such a young age, he had led troops in battle, repelling a massive Turkic army.

Ming Yunzhi sat in the sedan chair, her mind racing.

Would the thick powder the palace ladies had applied to her face frighten him?

Would the heavy phoenix crown weigh her head down? What if she fell?

The prince had only met her a few times; did he still remember her?

Would he…like her?

Even after she stepped out of the sedan chair and held his hand, her heart still lingered.

Amidst the pounding of her heart, she nervously bowed to heaven and earth and entered the bridal chamber. Her fingernails, stained with Impatiens juice, dug into her palms, her breathing becoming ever so light.

The prince was a respectful and solemn person; no one dared to disturb the bridal chamber. Silence reigned in her ears. She waited for who knows how long, until her waist ached from sitting, before the Crown Prince finally returned.

He lifted her veil.

Ming Yunzhi’s eyes were dazzled by the candlelight, her face thick with makeup. She knew her smile was stiff and must have been unsightly.

But the Crown Prince, her husband, was truly handsome. The few times she had seen him before, he had never looked as handsome as he did today in his wedding gown. She tilted her head back, taking in his smooth jawline, his… cold eyes.

Ming Yunzhi suddenly regained some clarity.

It was like someone floating in the air, finally hitting an invisible wall. It hurt, but it was destined to fall to the ground.

…

She breathed softly.

She knew better than anyone. From the beginning, she knew the Crown Prince had little affection for her. As the Crown Princess, she was supposed to manage the affairs of the Eastern Palace for him, freeing him from the tedious tasks of government, providing him with children, and caring for his concubines.

Three years into her marriage, she remained childless, and the Eastern Palace had no concubines. Logically, she should have been sensible and tactful, arranging matters for her husband long ago.

However, the Crown Prince never mentioned the issue of an heir, so she feigned ignorance, unwisely maintaining the status quo.

This kind of life was finally about to end.

Back at the Eastern Palace, Ming Yunzhi had hangover soup prepared. He reluctantly ate a small portion of dinner, persuaded by the servants to drink the soup, and then bathed and changed clothes early.

Qingwu, too, was concerned about what had just been said. As Ming Yunzhi’s bride price, she naturally didn’t want another woman to bear a child before him.

By the flickering candlelight, Ming Yunzhi flipped through the account books, chatting idly with her.

“Why don’t you ask Madam to find a common doctor to examine the Empress?”

The Madam Qingwu referred to was Ming Yunzhi’s mother, Lady Bai. “The imperial physicians in the palace are all good-looking, I’m afraid they can’t diagnose anything.”

“I’ve already taken a lot of bitter medicine since the beginning of the year, and you’re still bothering me?”

Ming Yunzhi had a good temper, rarely showing anger with the maids and eunuchs. She remained unperturbed by this: “Children are all about fate. Until fate arrives, further diagnosis is useless.”

Beyond fate, Ming Yunzhi bitterly reflected that conceiving a child wasn’t something she could accomplish alone.

Except on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, the Crown Prince was busy and rarely visited her. Often, she wondered if her husband was unnaturally celibate. But whenever he came, he wouldn’t let her go until he’d made a scene, and Ming Yunzhi began to doubt her assumptions.

Qingwu gently massaged her legs and sighed.

People say, “After three years in the housekeeping business, even cats and dogs are disliked.” But in the years Ming Yunzhi had been in charge of palace affairs, few had complained about her. Her reputation for virtue spread far and wide, earning praise and respect from all.

My daughter was good in every way, but she simply didn’t know how to compete or fight.

Ming Yunzhi closed the account book, not reading a single word.

If she hadn’t seen how much the Prince of Qi loved and cherished Yao Yuzhu, she might not have harbored such greed. To desire something you don’t deserve is greed. Today’s greed shouldn’t bother her anymore. She knew her position and how to conduct herself.

She had clearly understood all this three years ago.

After midnight, as the incense in the censer was about to burn out, a maid opened the curtains and entered, interrupting Ming Yunzhi’s trance.

“Your Highness has returned!”