Chapter 8 – “Among the Vast Waters, I Choose Only One Ladle”

As New Year’s Eve approached, the snow had just cleared and the sky turned bright.

Jifang Academy was already on break, but Ju Chen still woke up punctually at dawn each day. Not that she didn’t want to sleep in, but her habits from a past life were too deeply ingrained.

Now that she had no morning court to attend, she could only wander idly around the courtyard.

Faced with Mingluan’s terrified expression—like she’d seen a ghost—Ju Chen calmly explained, “What kind of proper lady wakes up only when the sun’s shining on her back?”

Mingluan quipped, “A proper lady? Not a wandering spirit?”

Ju Chen: “…”

On this day, Ju Chen once again rose early. She took her time—nearly two hours—carefully dressing and grooming herself before heading out to check the examination results posted at the Imperial Academy gates.

Mingluan was sweeping snow in the courtyard when the door opened from the inside. Looking up, she saw Ju Chen’s impeccable hair and makeup. Startled by her beauty, she couldn’t help asking in confusion, “You’re just going to see the results—why are you all dressed up?”

Ju Chen had no words to explain.

When someone was nameless and unknown, they could even streak down the street and people would just laugh and forget.

But once someone rose in rank, even appearing disheveled while looking at the imperial board could be written up by the Censorate in a memorial accusing them of disrespect and sloppiness.

So naturally, she regarded this occasion as more important than her own wedding.

As she passed the side courtyard on her way to the front gate, she heard sounds of smashing porcelain and loud weeping.

The little boy sobbed in Concubine Wu’s arms. Ju Chen didn’t bother asking what happened—she didn’t want them to think she was there to gloat.

Mingluan, however, was eager for gossip. She lingered a while and then caught up with Ju Chen, smiling brightly. “The heir has officially sent a letter refusing the marriage.”

At the last palace banquet, the heir, Song Yun, hadn’t taken a liking to any of the girls.

Not only that, he’d thrown a tantrum at the prince’s residence, declaring he didn’t want to marry, didn’t want to inherit the title, and instead wanted to retire to the countryside as a carefree poet.

The Dowager Princess was furious and placed him under house arrest for three months.

Aside from “The heir’s worries—we mere mortals can’t understand” becoming a trending topic in the capital, the other hot topic was none other than Prince Pengshan, Song Mi.

Outside the Imperial Academy gates, a group of young ladies stood beneath the list of newly selected palace officials, chatting and laughing—yet the topic never strayed from this rising star.

The massive corruption case in Taiyuan had been resolved by Song Mi in just half a year.

Over the past few years, Song Mi had become increasingly involved in court affairs, building an impressive record. This latest success only added to his acclaim.

It seemed the power dynamics in court were about to shift.

Some said that despite being only twenty-two years old, he was already an outstanding talent. Others believed he was asserting the strength of the Song royal line, as most of the people he brought down this time were allies of the Empress Dowager Cao.

And it was said he had recently rejected a marriage proposal at a palace banquet—right in front of the Empress Dowager—turning down the Prime Minister’s famously beautiful daughter.

“Even the Prime Minister’s daughter wasn’t good enough. What kind of woman could catch his eye?”

“They say when the Empress Dowager suggested the match, he simply replied, ‘Among the vast waters, I choose only one ladle.’ The moment he said that, the Prime Minister’s daughter’s eyes turned red.”

“She likes him too?”

“With looks, status, and ability like his—who in this capital doesn’t want to marry him?”

“But that one poetic rejection made it clear—if he married her, it would be settling, and he doesn’t want to settle.”

“What a line—‘Among the vast waters, I choose only one ladle.’”

For the girls who had been part of his matchmaking lineup, those words cut deeper than any sword.

But for the young women outside listening in, blushing and hearts pounding, his words were mesmerizing.

What he meant was clear: he would only ever marry one woman in his life.

They admired his caution—and were instantly drawn to it all the more.

As the girls continued their lively chatter, Xue Wan stood beside Ju Chen looking at the list. She couldn’t help but laugh and whispered, “Prince Pengshan is so extraordinary—only a celestial maiden could match him.”

Ju Chen suddenly turned, stared at her seriously, and pointed at herself. “Do you think I look like a celestial maiden?”

Xue Wan was stunned. “Wait… do you like him too?”

Ju Chen’s eyes curved into a smile. She said nothing.

She was always the most self-aware person. Xue Wan assumed her smile was just playful banter and turned her gaze back to the results. “Whether he marries or not—it has nothing to do with us.”

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End of the 15th year of Jiahe.

Snow blanketed the world in silver.

This year, Song Mi solved the Taiyuan case, was promoted two ranks, donned the purple robe, and became the youngest prince with real power in the court.

That same year, Ju Chen passed the female official examination and was ranked first, entering the palace to serve the Empress Dowager.

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27th day of the twelfth month—the final day of court before the new year holiday.

That morning, the Empress Dowager finished her official duties and, before the start of spring’s appointments, decided to meet the newly selected female officials and offer them New Year blessings.

That afternoon, the nine palace gates opened wide.

The young women entered the palace in order.

Ju Chen gazed at the grand palace gates and ascended the jade steps. Turning her head to look back, memories from the past surged in her mind—so vivid they felt like a dream from the night before.

The Liang dynasty had been founded for a hundred years, and in the prosperous Xining era, a remarkable woman had risen—Cao Shu, now the Empress Dowager.

In the Tianxi era, Cao Shu became the Empress, frequently offering wise counsel and recommending capable officials. She helped the late emperor govern the nation and earned the people’s love. Eventually, she shared power with the emperor, becoming one of the Two Sages.

From then on, women’s status in the Liang dynasty soared to unprecedented heights.

It was in this era that Li Juchen, born of humble background, by a stroke of fate, was selected into the palace and became part of the Empress Dowager’s first group of trained female officials.

At this point, she was merely a low-ranking eighth-rank official.

But five years later, when the Empress Dowager dethroned the heir and took the throne as Empress in her own right, changing the reign title to Yuanzhi—

Ju Chen, as her most trusted aide, spread her wings and rose to the top, eventually becoming the first female Prime Minister of the Liang dynasty.

Those were the most brilliant years in Liang’s history, when women climbed to the highest ranks of government.

Unfortunately, like the bloom of a night flower, it was fleeting.

---

Shoukang Palace.

Warm braziers filled the halls with the gentle warmth of spring. The scent of fresh flowers drifted through the air.

Behind a beaded curtain, the Empress Dowager spoke gently, asking Ju Chen her name.

Ju Chen bowed low and answered truthfully. As she straightened up, her eyes glanced toward the Empress Dowager’s silhouette.

From a discarded consort to Empress Dowager and finally Empress Regnant—what a legendary life this woman had lived.

And yet, Ju Chen had never fully understood her.

Her kindness and tenderness, her ruthlessness and coldness—she remained an enigma.

At their first meeting, the Empress Dowager didn’t put on airs, nor give them any grand instructions. She was as warm as a long-lost elder, offering tea and fruit, asking them to come forward one by one and recite poetry for her.

Ju Chen lifted the beaded curtain slightly. Their eyes met.

The Empress Dowager saw her face and couldn’t help but smile and sigh softly, as if complimenting her beauty and the pleasure it brought.

Ju Chen sat down obediently. Looking at the Empress Dowager, she suddenly remembered how, in her past life, she’d argued with her during their first meeting.

Though the “argument” had merely been a mild protest—when the Empress Dowager had disapproved of a line in her poem, Ju Chen had simply said, “But I like it.”

The Empress Dowager had indeed been briefly stunned, but she hadn’t been angry. On the contrary, she had laughed heartily.

But once others learned of the incident, they all believed she was arrogant and disrespectful, looked at her with different eyes, and were unwilling to get close to her—afraid that one day, they too would be dragged down by her unruly and defiant ways.

This time, Ju Chen obediently recited a poem that the Empress Dowager favored.

The girl’s voice was clear and melodious, and the Empress Dowager watched her intently without looking away, smiling as she listened. When she finished, the Empress Dowager asked why she had chosen that particular poem.

Ju Chen replied gently, “Because it’s a very good poem.”

“Is it only because the poem is good?”

The Empress Dowager asked her directly whether she had looked into her preferences in advance.

In front of such a clever woman, too much pretense would only be counterproductive. Ju Chen answered sincerely—it was true.

Many had done their homework before entering the palace, learning about the Empress Dowager’s tastes, and she was well aware of it.

The Empress Dowager then asked, “But do you like the poem?”

Ju Chen replied, “Yes, I do.”

“Which line do you think is the best?”

Ju Chen named the most well-known line and shared her interpretation with just the right amount of personal reflection.

In the end, she cautiously asked, “May I ask, Your Majesty, what do you like about this poem?”

She had never truly understood why the Empress Dowager favored it.

In her previous life, it was always the Empress Dowager who saw through her thoughts. And she had always obeyed her, admired her, supported her.

But this time around, she found herself wanting to understand her.

The Empress Dowager clearly hadn’t expected the question. After a brief pause, she smiled and said, “I don’t know either.”

She wasn’t brushing it off—it was an honest answer.

Ju Chen nodded in understanding. After a moment’s thought, she said apologetically, “Then I was foolish to ask. Liking something is a simple feeling—it doesn’t always need a reason.”

That line struck a chord with the Empress Dowager. Though still smiling on the outside, she suddenly found it odd—this child was still so young, yet somehow gave off a sense of familiarity, like an old acquaintance.

The Empress Dowager reached out and handed her a piece of pastry, which Ju Chen respectfully received and ate slowly.

A while later, there was a sound at the entrance.

Someone entered gracefully, with steady and unhurried steps.

Ju Chen lifted her beautiful eyes and, from a distance, saw him lifting the beaded curtain. Surrounded by the fragrance of flowers, she was instantly transported back to a childhood memory in the princess’s residence—of playing hide-and-seek and unexpectedly encountering him.

That day, crabapple petals had filled the entire garden.

He had been sitting on a tree branch that extended over the waterside pavilion, fishing. Upon hearing the rustle of her falling into a bush while hiding, he had suddenly parted the thick foliage and looked over at her.

At that moment, the setting sun was dipping below the roof’s edge. The sunset’s glow fell on his wind-blown wide sleeves, casting a radiant silhouette that made him look like a figure bathed in divine light.

Ju Chen had seen her share of handsome men.

Back at the princess’s residence, Lin Zongbai and Yuan Zheng, the stars of the private academy—one scholarly, one martial—could cause entire streets to erupt with screaming girls whenever they appeared.

But from Song Mi, she had, for the first time, understood the kind of beauty a man could have that was dazzling yet unreachable.

Song Mi bowed to the Empress Dowager and took a seat across from Ju Chen.

The Empress Dowager glanced at the sky outside and asked, “Finished with your duties?”

Song Mi nodded.

She studied him—his expression no longer as dark and weary as it had been while investigating the case, likely having finally gotten some good sleep.

With concern, the Empress Dowager said, “Pei Duzhi told me you didn’t eat anything all morning. Have you eaten?”

“Just did,” Song Mi replied, giving Ju Chen a brief glance before turning back to ask what they were talking about.

The Empress Dowager mentioned the poetry, and the conversation gradually became three-way.

Ju Chen asked casually, “What kind of poetry does the Prince like?”

Song Mi thought for a moment and then quoted effortlessly, “The bright moon wakes me, illuminating my heart full of frost and snow, as mighty rivers surge on.”

Ju Chen froze. It was the very poem she had loved in her previous life.

She couldn’t help but feel a spark of joy in her heart. So they did share some similar tastes. She had always thought they were destined to be enemies.

The Empress Dowager smiled and asked, “Why that poem?”

Song Mi replied with a grin, “No reason. I just like it.”

The Empress Dowager turned to glance at Ju Chen and smiled, “She said the same thing just now. You young people really do think alike.”

Song Mi’s gaze swept past Ju Chen, and he paused for a moment. In truth, that line was something he had heard recently in a dream—spoken by her.

The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow and asked if he had any plans for the New Year break. “Will you be traveling again this year?”

Song Mi said, “Not sure yet.”

She then turned to ask Ju Chen the same.

Ju Chen replied, “I’ll probably stay home and read.”

Song Mi looked surprised. “Didn’t your family say they were going to Mount Li?”

Ju Chen was taken aback.

The Empress Dowager asked, “How do you know that?”

Song Mi replied casually, “I heard it from Lu Yun last time.”

He and Lu Er had always been close. It wasn’t unusual to bump into Lu Yun, who studied at Jifang Academy with Ju Chen.

The Empress Dowager chuckled, “I was thinking of going too. Do you young ladies enjoy hot springs?”

Ju Chen answered truthfully, “A lot of the girls at Jifang Academy love them.”

The Empress Dowager laughed. “It’s been so long since I had a chat with young girls.”

Hearing this, Song Mi made a suggestion: “Then why not grant them a favor—let the newly appointed female officials bring their families to Mount Li after the New Year and keep you company?”

The Empress Dowager’s eyes lit up. She thought the idea was excellent and approved it on the spot.

Ju Chen was still stunned when Song Mi turned to her and said, “Aren’t you going to thank Her Majesty?”

Ju Chen quickly dropped to the floor and bowed deeply.

The Empress Dowager smiled at her, then looked at Song Mi with hopeful eyes. “Why don’t you stay in the capital this year and go to Mount Li with me?”

Song Mi hesitated for a moment. His gaze brushed ever so slightly over Ju Chen. “Alright.”