Huang Yu glanced behind Guo Dun and said, "The Empress is inside with the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess, the Princess Eldest of Wei, the Imperial Granddaughter, the Imperial Grandson, and Liangdi Shi. I’m afraid they won't be free for a while!"
"This..." Guo Dun hesitated for a moment before turning back to A'jiao. "My Lady, Her Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince have come to visit the Emperor. It seems he is occupied at the moment."
A'jiao beckoned to Huang Yu, signaling him to come closer. Huang Yu glanced at his senior brother, Guo Dun, and trotted over. "What are your orders, My Lady?"
"Has Wei... has Great-Uncle arrived yet?" A'jiao asked.
Huang Yu realized she meant Wei Qing. "His Majesty has sent for the Grand Marshal, but he hasn't entered the palace yet."
A'jiao nodded. "Then have the attendants move the palanquin under the veranda. I'll play by myself for a bit! Call me when Great-Uncle arrives!" She finished with a wide, bright smile.
Guo Dun led the way as the palanquin was moved under the eaves. A'jiao looked at Yu Li. "Sister Yu Li, it wasn't easy for you to return to Xuanshi Hall. Why don't you go and chat with your friends?"
Yu Li was puzzled by the suggestion. A'jiao simply added, "Just go and have some fun, Sister. I want to be alone for a while."
Yu Li was different from Guo Dun. Guo Dun was an apprentice under Yang De-yi; he would stay by Liu Che’s side and likely never leave the palace his entire life. But a personal maid like Yu Li, serving the Emperor, would either be favored by Liu Che and kept as a consort, wait until she was of age to ask the Empress for her release, or be transferred to another palace as a managing matron.
If A'jiao was to be kept in the palace by Liu Che indefinitely, winning over Yu Li would be much easier than winning over Guo Dun. But truth be told, after many years in Longmen Palace, A'jiao felt her skills in managing palace servants had withered significantly.
Currently, she was completely in the dark within the palace, knowing nothing. This feeling made her very uncomfortable, as if her fate was no longer in her own hands. If only she could run into one of her former servants...
A'jiao shook her head, leaning against the pillow and closing her eyes.
"Jiao-jiao!"
A'jiao looked up in surprise at Wei Yuan. "Why are you here? Did you come looking for me?"
"Of course not, Auntie sent for me!" Wei Yuan knelt down and used a handkerchief to wipe A'jiao’s face. A red mark had been pressed into her cheek from leaning against the palanquin.
A'jiao’s gaze darkened. Wei Yuan currently had no official duties other than looking after her. Why would Wei Zifu be so eager to call her over? Could it be that she wanted to follow in the footsteps of Zang Er?
A'jiao subtly avoided Wei Yuan’s hand. "Then does Auntie know why she was summoned?"
Wei Yuan gave a silly giggle. "I don't know. Auntie must have a reason for calling me, right? Why aren't you going in? Didn't you say you had business with His Majesty?"
A'jiao sighed. "They said the Empress and the Crown Prince are inside, so I can't go in. Why can't I go in?" Unfortunately, Wei Yuan was no Wang Zhi!
"Oh dear, then why did Auntie call me? I'll wait too!" Wei Yuan squeezed into the palanquin, lowering her voice with a smile. "Jiao-jiao, scoot over a bit. I want to sit in the palanquin too. I've never sat in one bestowed by the Emperor before; I've only sat in the ones Auntie gave me!"
A'jiao also giggled. "Is there any difference?" There really wasn't.
"The meaning is different! This is a royal gift! Bestowed by the Emperor himself! I only know that back then, my father and Cousin Huo sat in one!" Wei Yuan hugged a pillow and leaned back.
"Auntie," A'jiao touched Wei Yuan’s face. Wei Yuan was indeed delicate and lovely. "Do you like my Second Uncle?" Her skin was like a peeled egg, smooth and soft.
Wei Yuan looked up at A'jiao, her face flushing instantly. "Oh, what does a child like you know!" Her voice grew shy. "Me? Of course I like him!" She covered her face with her handkerchief. Her husband was handsome, learned, and doted on her; her mother-in-law was lenient, and her eldest brother and sister-in-law looked after her. Wei Yuan felt that aside from wishing her husband's family were a bit more prominent, she had nothing else to ask for!
A'jiao laughed heartily, pulling Wei Yuan’s head close to give her a kiss. *Good girl, it wasn't in vain that the Chen family doted on her so much!* If Wei Yuan still harbored feelings for the Crown Prince, the Chen family would truly be sick with frustration. The main thing was that Second Uncle had coaxed Wei Yuan exceptionally well—though she didn't know if Second Uncle actually liked her!
If one could have a husband who was both handsome and considerate, coaxing them like this for a lifetime, one might accept it even if it were a pretense.
A'jiao mentally spat at herself twice, feeling a bit melancholy. If the Chen family truly prospered in the future, she hoped this Wei Yuan wouldn't become another Chen A'jiao!
"Has Lady Wei not arrived yet?" A'jiao suddenly heard a female voice outside.
Huang Yu replied, "Didn't Auntie Jin Yu see her? Lady Wei arrived just now!"
Hearing this, Wei Yuan quickly scrambled out of the palanquin. "Auntie Jin Yu, I'm here!"
Jin Yu chided gently, "Why didn't you announce yourself when you arrived, My Lady? You've kept Her Majesty waiting."
Wei Yuan lowered her head with a smile. "I heard the Crown Prince was inside and didn't think it proper to enter, so I waited out here."
Jin Yu opened her mouth slightly, speechless, but eventually said, "What is there to fear? We are all family. Please follow me inside, My Lady."
"Auntie!" A'jiao called out quickly, reaching out a hand from the palanquin.
Wei Yuan walked over and bent down to pick up A'jiao. Jin Yu tried to stop her.
Wei Yuan brushed Jin Yu’s hand aside. "This is the newly titled Lady Huikang; she also needs to see His Majesty!" With that, she carried A'jiao out.
Jin Yu tried to persuade her a few more times but couldn't move Wei Yuan, so she had no choice but to let A'jiao enter as well. A'jiao took the opportunity to wave at the attendants carrying the golden crane behind her, signaling them to follow.
Liu Che was somewhat surprised to see Wei Yuan carrying A'jiao inside. Wei Zifu had only mentioned having Wei Yuan come to pay her respects; why had Chen A'jiao come along? Wei Zifu was also displeased to see the child in Wei Yuan’s arms, thinking to herself that Wei Yuan was being thoughtless.
A'jiao turned her head to scan the room. Liu Che sat in the highest seat, holding a young boy of about two or three in his arms. Wei Zifu and a young man sat to his left and right—*Tsk tsk, this Crown Prince has soft features; he looks more like Wei Zifu. Not as handsome as Second Uncle!*
Below Wei Zifu sat a woman in plain clothes. Below Liu Ju sat a young woman in blue and another in green—likely the Crown Princess and Liangdi Shi. The woman in blue held a young girl, while the woman in green kept her eyes fixed on the child in Liu Che’s arms.
Wei Yuan performed a proper salutation. "This subject's wife greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy ten thousand blessings and golden peace. Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress, His Highness the Crown Prince, and Her Highness the Crown Princess."
Seeing Liu Che staring at A'jiao, Wei Yuan quickly explained, "Your Majesty, Lady Huikang has difficulty with her legs and cannot perform the full salutation. I hope Your Majesty will forgive her. Jiao-jiao, quickly greet His Majesty!"
A'jiao clung to Wei Yuan’s neck, burying her face in the crook of her shoulder.
Seeing others with their sons and daughters complete, she found it an eyesore! A'jiao felt herself missing her mother and grandmother.
*How useless!*
Seeing that A'jiao hadn't reacted, Wei Yuan felt a bit embarrassed. "Your Majesty, perhaps the child is shy before strangers and is afraid!"
Liu Ju looked up at his little cousin. He had heard she had been married for several years and had feared her beauty might have faded, but seeing her after many years, she was even more radiant. At this moment, with her cheeks flushed and her hair slightly disheveled, she was even more charming.
Liu Che gave a grunt of acknowledgment and told her to take a seat.
Attendants placed a mat next to Liu Qing. Wei Yuan carefully set A'jiao on the ground before sitting down herself.
Wei Zifu smiled. "Yuan-er entered the palace early this morning. I thought it wouldn't be right for her not to pay her respects to Your Majesty, so I had someone call her over just now. It so happens she and Qing-er haven't seen each other in a long time!"
Liu Qing laughed. "If I had known Sister Yuan was coming to the palace today, I would have waited for her yesterday!"
Wei Yuan smiled back. "How could I dare trouble the Princess? It makes me happy enough that the Princess remembers me!"
Liu Che listened to their chatter without interrupting, teasing his grandson while keeping an eye on A'jiao. Just now, several attendants had placed something beside her. Wei Yuan wouldn't have the nerve; it had to be Chen A'jiao stirring up trouble.
The Crown Princess also smiled. "It has been a long time, Lady Wei. You seem to look younger and younger."
Wei Zifu took Liu Qing’s hand. "Poor Yuan-er has suffered from a poor marriage..."
Hearing this, A'jiao immediately interrupted, "Grandpa Emperor, Jiao-jiao has a treasure from her room to show you!"
Wei Zifu was displeased; it had been many years since anyone dared to interrupt her! The Crown Prince was about to speak up and scold her!
But then they heard the Emperor speak: "What treasure?"
Wei Yuan was also stunned. She didn't remember Jiao-jiao bringing any treasure!
"Ta-da!" A'jiao pulled off the red cloth, revealing the golden crane. "Isn't it pretty!"
Everyone froze. Wasn't this the golden crane His Majesty kept in the Qingliang Hall? Wei Yuan’s face turned red. If she had known this little girl was going to do this, she never would have let her bring the crane!
Liu Che snorted coldly. "You take my things and then show them off in front of me?" *Chen A'jiao, are you here to pick a fight?!*
"Hmph! It's in my hands, so it's mine!" A'jiao slapped the golden crane hard.
Liu Che narrowed his eyes at the crane but saw nothing amiss. He had Yang De-yi take the Imperial Grandson, Liu Jin, down and ordered someone to bring A'jiao to the front.
The Crown Prince watched in astonishment as his usually stern father acted so familiarly with a child from who-knows-where. Although he knew about the face-reading incident at the Immortal-Seeking Pavilion yesterday, his father wouldn't get close to a child so easily.
A'jiao wasn't very happy sitting in Liu Che’s lap, so she lowered her voice and whispered into his ear, "Tell them to go play elsewhere. I have something to tell you."
Liu Che looked suspicious. "Don't cause trouble!" That said, he ruffled A'jiao’s hair twice—what was wrong with her maids, letting her hair get so messy? Was Chen A'jiao upset seeing the Wei family and the Crown Prince, so she came to cause a scene on purpose?
A'jiao was fuming.
"Then let me see the leaf!"
Liu Che also lowered his voice. "Haven't you already seen it? Is there a problem?"
"I want to see it again! I'm afraid something might happen!"
The hall was silent; no one dared interrupt the conversation between the Emperor and the little girl.
Liu Che looked up. "All of you, go to the side hall for now."
Wei Zifu was very surprised and looked at Wei Yuan, only to see Wei Yuan looking equally bewildered. She and Liu Ju exchanged a look and shook their heads.
Liu Ju patted Liu Jin’s back. Liu Jin broke free from Liangdi Shi’s hand and ran to Liu Che’s side. "Imperial Grandfather, Jin-er wants to stay with Imperial Grandfather a bit longer."
A'jiao felt a foot suddenly stomp onto her leg, and she instantly let out a howl. Her leg had already been broken by Wei Yuan; if this brat broke the other one, she would definitely have a falling out with Liu Che right then and there.
Liu Jin was startled, falling back onto his bottom and bursting into tears.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 皇女孙 | Imperial Granddaughter | Daughter of the Crown Prince. |
| 皇孙 | Imperial Grandson | Son of the Crown Prince. |
| 史良娣 | Liangdi Shi | A high-ranking consort of the Crown Prince; mother of Liu Jin. |
| 卫长公主 | Princess Eldest of Wei | Also known as Liu Qing; the eldest daughter of Liu Che and Wei Zifu. |
| 刘据 | Liu Ju | The Crown Prince of Han. |
| 刘进 | Liu Jin | The Imperial Grandson; son of Liu Ju. |
| 金玉 | Jin Yu | A maid serving Empress Wei Zifu. |
| 惠康君 | Lady Huikang | The title bestowed upon A'jiao in her current form. |
| 宣室殿 | Xuanshi Hall | The main audience hall of the Han palace. |
| 温室殿 | Wenshi Hall | "Warm Room Hall," one of the palace buildings. |
| 清凉殿 | Qingliang Hall | "Cooling Hall," one of the palace buildings. |
| 寻仙阁 | Immortal-Seeking Pavilion | An imperial department or building for those seeking immortality/occult arts. |
| 天通将军 | General Tiantong | The title of Chu Haiguang. |
| 覃良娣 | Liangdi Tan | A former consort of the Crown Prince. |
| 晟 | Sheng | The surname of the old immortal mentioned. |
