At the end of the hour of the Tiger, Yin Zhuli was already waiting at the Manor of Prince Fulu. Young Prince Shen was still performing his morning ablutions, so the manor’s advisor, He Jian, kept her company in the hall. Having been close with Shen Tingjiao since childhood, Yin Zhuli was well-acquainted with the man. The two sat sipping tea, engaging in idle conversation.
"The Consort Dowager has always been strict with the Ninth Prince. Regarding this visit to the palace, she may be somewhat displeased; I hope the Head of the Yin Family will not take it to heart." He Jian knew she was to be the future mistress of the manor, so his tone was neither servile nor overbearing, perfectly appropriate for his station.
Yin Zhuli blew the floating tea stalks away from the surface of her cup and took a shallow sip. Hearing this, she smiled faintly. "I fear it is not strictness, but rather..." She set down the cup and arched an eyebrow slightly. "Loathing, perhaps?"
He Jian’s smile froze on his face. After a long pause, he gave a light cough. "Head of the Yin Family, please watch your words. The Ninth Prince was carried for ten months and born of Consort Dowager He. Mother and son share a heart; how could there be loathing?"
Yin Zhuli looked up at him, her smile unreadable. "Is that not exactly what I should be asking you, Master He?"
He Jian choked on his words. He lowered his head to drink his tea and spoke no more.
Before long, Shen Tingjiao finished his preparations, and the carriage outside was ready. Shen Tingjiao entered the carriage first, followed by Yin Zhuli. Seeing him sitting with downcast eyes and a silent, tense expression, she couldn't help but find it strange. "Does Consort Dowager He eat people?"
Shen Tingjiao looked at her, bewildered. "How could she?"
Yin Zhuli chuckled. "Then what are you afraid of?"
Realizing she was teasing him, Shen Tingjiao said nothing more. He leaned sideways against a tiger-skin cushion in the carriage, lost in thought.
Outside, Tan Yue and the manor’s servant, Zhou Ping, drove the carriage together. Bored, Yin Zhuli had nothing to do but study the Prince for entertainment. Since there was a heater inside the carriage, he had removed his raccoon-fur cloak, wearing only a frost-colored brocade robe. As he leaned back, his sleeves spread out like crystalline snowflakes from beyond the heavens.
His features were naturally delicate. When he lowered his eyes, his long lashes cast faint shadows on his eyelids, making his light brows and straight nose appear even more prominent. Sensing Yin Zhuli’s gaze, he assumed she was merely bored and pointed to a small cabinet on the right. "There are books inside."
Yin Zhuli rummaged through the cabinet. She had expected to find something like *Illustrations of the Northern Zhao Harem*, but to her surprise, there were handwritten copies of military classics like the *Six Secret Teachings* and the *Three Strategies*.
She randomly pulled out a volume titled *Records of Extraordinary People of Great Xing*. The first page chronicled the military life of Great General Qu Tianji.
*Qu Tianji: Achieved total victory in over forty battles throughout his life. In the first year of the Qingping era, when the Emperor had just ascended the throne and the Great Xing regime was unstable, the Greater Yuezhi nation took the opportunity to mobilize three hundred thousand troops to the northwest, intending to attack Fucheng. At that time, Great General Qu Tianji was suppressing a rebellion downriver. Upon receiving the order, he merely commanded the soldiers of Fucheng to plant his commander’s banner atop the city walls. When the Yuezhi generals saw the banner, they withdrew their army without a word.*
The carriage traveled for about an hour before slowly coming to a halt. Shen Tingjiao looked up and saw her still staring at that same page, lost in silent contemplation. He reached out and patted her shoulder, saying generously, "If you like it, you may take the book."
Only then did Yin Zhuli snap back to her senses. She didn't stand on ceremony, offering a bright smile. "Many thanks."
When she stepped down from the carriage, she naturally handed the book to Tan Yue.
The air outside was freezing. Shen Tingjiao wrapped himself in his light raccoon fur and stepped gracefully from the carriage, walking with Yin Zhuli toward Jiaoshu Palace. At that moment, Consort Dowager He was offering prayers in the Buddhist hall and had sent a maid to tell them to wait outside.
Shen Tingjiao was obedient, truly intending to wait before the hall. It was the height of winter, and the cold wind bit through to the bone. Waiting for a moment was one thing, but if she didn't come out for an hour, they would likely freeze into ice sculptures.
While Shen Tingjiao stood dutifully, Yin Zhuli took his hand. Finding it ice-cold, she turned to the maid. "We shall wait in the main hall of Jiaoshu Palace. Once the Consort Dowager has finished her prayers, you may come and inform us."
The head maid was stunned. In the past, the Ninth Prince would wait for one or two hours without a word of protest. This was unprecedented, and she found herself in a difficult position. "The Consort Dowager said that the Ninth Prince and the Head of the Yin Family should wait outside the Buddhist hall."
Yin Zhuli didn't make things hard for her. She suddenly turned and pulled Shen Tingjiao into her arms, her voice laced with feigned urgency. "Ninth Prince? What’s wrong? Ninth Prince!"
She shook Shen Tingjiao vigorously. He was dazed by the shaking and looked utterly confused, but she barked at the maid, "What are you standing there for? Go fetch the imperial physician, quickly!"
The maid was genuinely frightened and hurried off to find a physician. Yin Zhuli simply scooped Shen Tingjiao up in a horizontal carry. "Which way to the main hall of Jiaoshu Palace?"
Shen Tingjiao pointed the way, his heart still fluttering with trepidation. "Imperial Mother ordered us to wait at the door. Is it... is it really alright for us to do this?"
Yin Zhuli didn't answer. In the blink of an eye, they reached the main hall. The palace servants didn't recognize her, but they knew the Ninth Prince, so they immediately busied themselves with brewing tea and pouring water.
It was much warmer inside. Servants came forward to help them remove their outer furs, and a hint of color finally returned to Shen Tingjiao’s face. Yin Zhuli was not one for modesty; as soon as she sat down, she said to the maids, "Your Ninth Prince left home early today and hasn't had breakfast. Consort Dowager He is a devout Buddhist and likely won't be free for some time. Bring some sweets for the Ninth Prince to tide him over."
The maids looked at each other suspiciously. Yin Zhuli maintained her gentle smile, but her voice carried a weight of authority. "Does this request make things difficult for you?"
The maids quickly bowed. "No, My Lady."
A moment later, they indeed brought out preserved apples, Ruyi rolls, and the like. Shen Tingjiao and Yin Zhuli ate as they waited. A full hour passed before Consort Dowager He slowly entered from outside.
She was dressed in a Han-style "immortal-retaining" skirt, her hair styled in a "fallen-horse" bun. Because she had been praying, she wore no elaborate headpieces, only a single purple beaded flower tucked into her hair. She walked with the grace of a swaying lotus. Yin Zhuli finally understood why Shen Tingjiao looked the way he did.
This Consort Dowager He... when the late Emperor Shen Wanyan was alive, he must have doted on her immensely.
As she pondered this, Consort Dowager He approached. Yin Zhuli and Shen Tingjiao bowed together. "This commoner, Yin Zhuli, greets the Consort Dowager."
Consort Dowager He looked Shen Tingjiao up and down. After a long silence, she spoke coldly. "I heard from Cuizhu that your health is failing again?"
Shen Tingjiao showed none of the arrogance he displayed outside the palace. Prostrate on the ground, he answered respectfully, "Imperial Mother, your son has merely caught a slight chill. It is nothing serious."
Consort Dowager He did not tell him to rise. She only huffed coldly. "If it is nothing serious, you should have waited outside the Buddhist hall. Your mother was sincerely praying; how could you be so disrespectful to the Buddha?"
Shen Tingjiao remained respectful. "Imperial Mother’s lecture is just."
Only then did Consort Dowager He turn her gaze toward Yin Zhuli. She toyed with the black prayer beads in her hand, her expression still haughty. "So you are that Yin Zhuli of merchant stock?"
Yin Zhuli’s voice was neither servile nor overbearing. "I am indeed."
Consort Dowager He huffed again. "The Royal Family has many rules, unlike you common merchants. Once you enter the royal gates, you must restrain your former ill habits."
Yin Zhuli remained kneeling, but she couldn't help but rub her nose. "In response to the Consort Dowager: my family has even more rules. My mother’s strictness exceeds even yours; I would not dare indulge in any ill habits."
Consort Dowager He was incensed. "Did this Palace grant you permission to speak? Is this how the Yin family teaches its daughters?"
Yin Zhuli smiled faintly instead. "The Yin family’s way of teaching daughters certainly cannot compare to the Qu family’s."
Consort Dowager He was startled. Her anger vanished instantly, replaced by a cold detachment. "You may both rise."
Yin Zhuli stood up and helped Shen Tingjiao up as well. Consort Dowager He took a seat in the hall, and Yin Zhuli seated herself below her without being asked. A maid hurried to serve tea. Consort Dowager He scrutinized Yin Zhuli once more. Yin Zhuli hadn't dressed up specifically for the palace visit; she wore a bamboo-green robe made of "Rosy Cloud Brocade" from the City of Wealth’s Jinxiu Silk Shop. A silk ribbon cinched her waist, and her long hair was tied high with another ribbon, devoid of ornaments save for two locks of hair framing her face like flowing water.
Under the Consort Dowager’s probing gaze, she showed no unease, only meeting her eyes calmly. After a long while, Consort Dowager He finally coughed. "That will be all for today. Jiao’er, if you act so recklessly again, I will not forgive you!"
Sensing that Yin Zhuli had noticed something amiss and unsure of her intent in mentioning the Qu family, the Consort Dowager’s voice took on a hint of maternal affection. "The two of you must be tired. You may go."
Yin Zhuli bowed respectfully. The servants brought their furs, and the two left Jiaoshu Palace together. Only then did Shen Tingjiao relax. "Imperial Mother is a bit strict; don't mind her."
Yin Zhuli studied him for a moment. A light snow had begun to fall. His face was slightly flushed from the cold wind, but his eyes were as bright as pearls. Yin Zhuli smiled and reached out to brush a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "Since she is your mother, I naturally won't hold it against her." She looked around the palace; in the dead of winter, the vegetation was withered. Great Xing’s national strength was not what it once was, so there were no silk flowers or jade trees to decorate the grounds. Loud noises were forbidden, making the surroundings feel exceptionally desolate.
She took Shen Tingjiao’s hand as they walked along the bluestone path. Feeling the warmth of her hand, he didn't pull away. Away from Jiaoshu Palace, his high spirits returned. "Zhuli, let’s go drink!"
Yin Zhuli nodded. "To Guangling Pavilion. We can find Yaoqin to play some music for us."
As the two hurried away, Eunuch Huang approached with a paper umbrella, his voice high-pitched. "Your Majesty? Your Majesty? It’s snowing. Let us return to the palace, lest you catch a cold."
Shen Tingyao nodded and turned back quickly. As they left the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the young attendant behind him was utterly confused. "Eunuch, what was His Majesty looking at just now? He seemed so entranced."
Eunuch Huang told him a story. "Once, there was a long table. At one end sat a chicken leg, and at the other sat a mutton leg. Tell me, which should the person standing before the table choose?"
The young attendant answered without hesitation, "The mutton leg, of course."
Eunuch Huang nodded. "But after the person took the mutton leg, he discovered that the chicken leg had been snatched away by a dog." He smiled thinly at the attendant. "Even though he has the mutton leg in hand, looking at the dog eating the chicken leg still makes him feel a bit... uncomfortable. That is all."
The young attendant listened, only half-understanding.
Even Eunuch Huang did not realize that this chicken leg was actually a mutton leg in disguise...
***
