“Yang Deyi, have someone tidy up Qingliang Hall for Lady Huikang to reside in.” Liu Che flashed a smile at A’jiao. He had been forcing himself to stay upright for a long while, but now, waves of dizziness finally overcame him—he would wait until he had rested a bit before questioning A’jiao about those matters.
“As you command,” Yang Deyi replied, taking the order.
Suddenly, an inner attendant arrived to report that the Empress requested an audience.
“Grant her entry.” Liu Che braced himself and sat back down, gesturing for someone to move A’jiao to his side rather than leaving her displayed in the middle of the room.
“This concubine pays her respects to Your Majesty.” Wei Zifu entered the hall, just in time to see A’jiao shaking her little crippled leg as she sat down on a cushion. She wondered privately where this little girl had come from; she didn't look like Princess Run.
“Rise,” Liu Che said with a wave of his hand.
The palace attendants then paid their respects to Wei Zifu.
“What brings the Empress to Xuanshi Hall?”
“In response to Your Majesty, these are the protocols I have drafted for the Princess’s grand wedding. Please look them over.” Wei Zifu took the bamboo slips held by the attendant beside her and presented them on Liu Che’s desk.
Liu Che opened them, gave a casual glance, and set them aside. “The Empress may arrange it as she sees fit. If there is anything you are unsure of, go and ask my sister or Zhongqing directly.”
“Understood.” Seeing no one else in the hall besides the small child, Wei Zifu wondered where the young lady the attendants had reported was.
“Your Majesty, I heard that you brought a young lady back from outside the palace. I have brought several bolts of fabric from the storehouse to give to her, so she may have new clothes made.”
Liu Che’s eyes shifted, and he suddenly laughed. Turning to A’jiao, he said, “Go and pick the ones you like.” It seemed the Wei woman had misunderstood something!
A’jiao gave the fabrics a cursory glance and said lazily, “Only these few? I thought there would be more for me to choose from!” Hmph. Since Liu Che knew she carried a treasure now, he certainly wouldn't let her suffer any grievances.
Wei Zifu was stunned. Was the so-called "young lady" actually a child?!
She quickly checked the Emperor’s expression, but seeing his face remained neutral, she could only ask, “Your Majesty, which family does this young lady belong to? I have never seen her before.”
“Your brother sent her into the palace to be a study companion for Run’er. She is from... which family was it again?” Liu Che had no intention of making A’jiao’s identity public. After all, the fewer people who knew about the treasure she carried, the better. By extension, the fewer who knew of A’jiao’s rebirth, the better.
Yang Deyi reminded him, “Your Majesty, she is a girl from the natal family of the Great General’s late wife. By generation, she is the Great General’s grand-niece.”
From the Chen family... Wei Zifu did not know much about this sister-in-law, but from what her mother and sisters said, she didn't particularly like her.
However, seeing that the Emperor was in a good mood, she spoke tactfully. “So she is a relative. No wonder I haven't met her.” As she spoke, she slid a green jade bracelet off her wrist and handed it to Jinyu. “I didn't have time to prepare a proper gift. Let this bracelet serve as a meeting gift for the junior!”
Jinyu respectfully held it out before A’jiao’s eyes.
A’jiao turned her face away. “I don't want it. My aunt said that taking someone else’s jade jewelry will make one stick to their bad luck!” This was something Wei Yuan had actually said!
Wei Zifu’s expression changed instantly, but with the Emperor present, she could not lash out. No wonder her mother disliked the Chen family; they truly spoke without a shred of sense.
Liu Che glanced at A’jiao. Seeing the undisguised dislike on her chubby little face, he wasn't angry. “Fine, if she doesn't like it, then forget it. If the Empress has nothing else, she may return.” He couldn't afford to offend A’jiao right now!
Wei Zifu hesitated, wanting to say more, but ultimately withdrew.
Only then did Liu Che rise and walk toward the bedchamber. He instructed Guo Dun to carry A’jiao to Consort Xing’s Huicao Hall first, so she could get acquainted with Princess Run and the Fifth Prince. He also ordered Guo Dun to serve A’jiao personally.
A’jiao smiled and tugged at the corner of Liu Che’s robe. “I want a sedan chair.” Being carried over would be so uncomfortable, and she was still a cripple!
***
Consort Xing had just finished lunch with Liu Run and Liu Bo and was preparing to coax them into a nap. Suddenly, she heard a palace attendant report that Officer Guo, who served by the Emperor’s side, had arrived again.
Just a moment ago, Officer Guo had sent someone to fetch one of Run’er’s outfits; she had no idea what for.
As soon as the two children heard someone was coming, they lost all interest in sleeping and rushed toward the door. Liu Bo clapped his hands and laughed, “Did Imperial Father send something?”
Consort Xing followed them out, only to see Guo Dun entering the hall behind a sedan chair. Who was this?
Guo Dun paid his respects to Consort Xing, the Princess, and the Prince. He said with a smile, “This is the newly titled Lady Huikang, sent specifically by His Majesty to play with the Princess.” He lifted the curtain. “Lady Huikang is a child from the Great General’s manor. His Majesty is exceedingly fond of her and has kept her to live in the palace. His Majesty said she is of a similar age to Princess Run and wishes for them to play together.”
Seeing a little girl sitting in the sedan chair and hearing Guo Dun’s explanation, Consort Xing quickly smiled. “That is wonderful. Run’er and Bo’er were just saying they had no one to play with!” However, the sight of the imperially granted sedan chair truly shocked her. But then, remembering how much the Emperor had always valued the Wei family, she didn't find it too hard to accept.
“Suoyue, quickly help Lady Huikang out.” Consort Xing was also happy. The two children beside her were laughing constantly, especially Liu Bo, who was tugging at his older sister Liu Run.
Guo Dun cautioned, “Mistress Suoyue, please be careful. Lady Huikang has just injured her leg and cannot move it.”
Once A’jiao was carried down and brought into the hall, Consort Xing said to Guo Dun, “You have worked hard, Officer Guo. You should return and report your task completed! I will immediately have a side hall cleaned for Lady Huikang to reside in.” As she spoke, she had someone hand Guo Dun a handful of golden fruits. These were originally commissioned by the Emperor specifically for Liu Run and the others to play with—gold melted into the shape of fruits the size of a fingernail. They were quite pleasing to the eye, and later, they somehow became a common item used for rewards in the palace.
Guo Dun declined. “I appreciate your kindness, Consort, but His Majesty has commanded that I am to serve Lady Huikang from now on. I do not need to return to report. Furthermore, there is no need for you to prepare a room; His Majesty has already ordered Qingliang Hall to be tidied for Lady Huikang’s residence.”
Consort Xing was immensely surprised, but she still said gently, “In that case, I will not order the cleaning. As for this, please take it, Officer; consider it a token for your hard work.”
Guo Dun thanked her properly and accepted it.
Liu Bo squatted down to touch the splint on A’jiao’s leg. He looked up at Consort Xing and asked, “Mother, why is her leg hard, but Bo’er’s is soft?”
A’jiao caught the chubby little hand that was poking around her leg and said, “That’s because I’m hurt! There’s a splint tied to my leg, so it’s hard.” A’jiao lifted her skirt to show the little boy her leg.
“Oh, blow-blow!” Liu Bo blew on A’jiao’s leg, then started pulling her along to talk about her toys.
Liu Run stood to the side, watching A’jiao. After a long while, she broke into an innocent smile and asked, “What is your name? How old are you?”
A’jiao looked up at Liu Run and smiled. “I am called Jiaojiao’er. I am three years old. What about you?”
“I am Run’er, and I am also three. This is my younger brother Liu Bo, and he is three as well.”
Liu Bo jumped up happily. “Yay! We are all three!” He shouted as he began running in circles around everyone.
A’jiao feigned excitement and shouted along with him.
This Consort Xing seemed easy to get along with, and judging by the furnishings of Huicao Hall, she was likely quite favored.
The group of real and fake children soon began playing together. Liu Bo and Liu Run brought out all their toys to share with A’jiao.
*Wuwuwu...* It turned out playing with children was so exhausting!
In less than fifteen minutes, A’jiao was tired. She didn't remember much from her own childhood, and from the moment she had memories, she had never looked after children. After her rebirth, she was the eldest of the Chen family’s grandchildren, so she had never played with little kids like this.
Seeing A’jiao looking like she was about to cry from playing, Consort Xing squatted down and asked softly, “Jiaojiao’er, what’s wrong?”
“Jiaojiao is so sleepy. I want to go to sleep-sleep!” A’jiao said, rubbing her eyes.
Consort Xing thought it made sense; she had originally intended for the children to take a nap anyway. They had only played a bit longer because A’jiao arrived. Since the children were tired, she would coax them all to sleep!
“Mother, Run’er wants to sleep-sleep too!” Liu Run crawled over and hugged Consort Xing, nuzzling her.
“Then Bo’er wants to sleep-sleep too!” Although Liu Bo was still in high spirits, he wanted to stay consistent with his two little sisters.
“Alright, then we shall all go to sleep-sleep!”
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 清凉殿 | Qingliang Hall | "Cooling/Refreshing Hall," a residence in the palace. |
| 惠康君 | Lady Huikang | A'jiao's new title; "Hui" (Kind/Gracious) and "Kang" (Health). |
| 卫子夫 | Wei Zifu | The Empress, historical figure. |
| 宣室殿 | Xuanshi Hall | The main hall/residence of the Emperor. |
| 仲卿 | Zhongqing | Courtesy name of Wei Qing (the Great General). |
| 刑美人 | Consort Xing | "Meiren" is a rank for imperial concubines; often translated as Lady or Consort. |
| 惠草殿 | Huicao Hall | "Hall of Gracious Herbs," Consort Xing's residence. |
| 刘髆 | Liu Bo | The Fifth Prince, son of Liu Che. |
| 郭旽 | Guo Dun | An imperial attendant/officer. |
| 步辇 | Sedan chair | A hand-carried litter or palanquin used in the palace. |
| 金果子 | Golden fruits | Small gold nuggets shaped like fruit, used as toys or rewards. |
| 索月 | Suoyue | A palace maid serving Consort Xing. |
