Volume One, Chapter 11: Could It Really Be... Sister?

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Just because of one sentence from him, she resolutely chose to leave. She was even willing to live in Cold Pool Hall, a place so dreaded that palace maids avoided it. She truly was remarkable. Zhao Ye’s emotions surged, his face shifting through a myriad of expressions. Fortunately, it was late, and fortunately, Xiang Zhu didn’t look up to witness his lapse. Today was the most humiliating day in eighteen years. Zhao Ye felt he had shamed his father, his mother, and his elder brother. Silence stretched between them. Xiang Zhu regretted not kneeling to reply earlier and still held the posture of a formal bow. Though she could endure, she feared catching a chill after bathing in the garden, so she had put on an extra layer. Her body was tense from holding the pose so long, sweat lightly breaking out. That bath had been in vain. Yet, since Zhao Ye hadn’t told her to rise, Xiang Zhu persisted. Mainly, she did not want to anger him further; she only wished to endure the night quickly and leave as soon as the palace gates unlocked at dawn. Noticing her persistence, Zhao Ye’s interest was piqued. He wondered how long she could hold out without being told she could rise—one cup of tea? Half an incense stick? Again, silence fell. Zhao Ye sat in the pavilion, slowly drinking two cups of tea. Xiang Zhu, struggling to maintain her stance, finally knelt fully, bowing low. “I do not know what wrong I have done to incur Your Highness’s displeasure. It is all my fault. Please punish me.” Relief flooded her aching back and thighs, and she sighed softly in comfort. Zhao Ye: … Quite clever. Letting her defuse the tension like this left him reluctant. More than that, he was trying hard to ignore, yet could not evade, a deep reluctance. He did not want Xiang Zhu to leave the Fragrant Pavilion. Yet, he had no reason to keep her, no reason to hold her back. He… Wait! Why did he have no reason?

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He did have a reason! Unconsciously playing with his teacup, Zhao Ye’s motion froze as his eyes brightly fixed on Xiang Zhu kneeling before him. “Then I shall punish you by having you serve me here.” “I see talent that needs to learn the rules. I entrust her to you; you teach her.” Without waiting for her response, Zhao Ye set down his teacup and rose to leave. Xiang Zhu was stunned, even forgetting to say “Farewell, Fourth Prince.” When she looked up, there was no trace of him. Rising from the ground, her expression was grave. Did the Fourth Prince forcibly keep her near because he thought she was playing hard to get? Perhaps the combined hibiscus incense was made by Shuang Yun, or maybe not — and even if it was, who had ordered Shuang Yun? Or was it that the Fourth Prince, unable to acknowledge what had happened last night, and seeing her decision to abandon the Fragrant Pavilion for Cold Pool Hall, had grown suspicious of her? Thus, he kept her close to observe and uncover the truth? Uneasy, Xiang Zhu hurried back until she saw her door wide open, hastening inside. “Shuang Ling? What are you doing in my room?” Seeing it was Shuang Ling, Xiang Zhu did not relax, though her curiosity deepened. Shuang Ling closed the door after ensuring no one was outside, then knelt before Xiang Zhu. “Sister Xiang Zhu, I know Yun’er has wronged you. I do not ask for your forgiveness for her, but if possible, I hope you might spare her life.” Xiang Zhu quickly helped Shuang Ling up. “Shuang Yun was merely jealous and saw me as a rival. There is nothing sordid between us.” Shuang Yun should not have easily entered the Fourth Prince’s chamber; whether the incense was changed before the prince’s return remained unknown. And the reason she entered to bring him the sobering soup was through Shuang Ling’s involvement, wasn’t it? It was possible the two sisters conspired together. Or perhaps Shuang Ling was not entirely ignorant. Maybe she sensed things and, not wanting Shuang Yun to keep making mistakes, chose someone to take the blame at the last moment. Regardless of the past, Xiang Zhu felt Shuang Ling must understand the truth well enough to come to her secretly, avoiding others. Shuang Ling rose with Xiang Zhu’s help, both clever enough to notice the other’s caution. After much thought, Shuang Ling felt something was amiss and came to probe, but gained nothing. “Your residence is too far from the prince’s. He asked me to arrange a new place for you.” “Since you’ve packed your things, I’ll help you move.” Shuang Ling spoke plainly. Seeing Shuang Ling genuinely moving her trunk, Xiang Zhu stopped her. “When did the prince say that?”

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“After you and the prince parted,” Shuang Ling looked intently at Xiang Zhu, “the prince is very special toward you. If you put in more effort, given time, he will surely give you a proper status.” A proper status—at worst, a concubine—not like Shuang Yun, who was only recalled when needed as a mere servant. “Sister Shuang Ling, there is no need to test me,” Xiang Zhu steadied her expression. “You know my age and what I have always sought. My heart remains unchanged. From now on, I will only do my duty and nothing more.” The new room Shuang Ling chose was next door. Originally, Shuang Yun should have had a separate room with a maid to serve her, but Zhao Ye had not mentioned this. Furthermore, with the commotion caused by Ouyang Yanwan, Empress Dowager did not want to embarrass her too much and only sent a jade hairpin as a token of appeasement. Shuang Ling noticed the unusual attitudes of the Empress Dowager and the Fourth Prince and thus did not warn Shuang Yun. Meanwhile, the Fourth Prince Zhao Ye sat in his study, flipping through a book. His gaze lingered on Xiang Zhu’s age, dazed. He had thought she was about his age, but she was six years older. Supporting his forehead with one hand, a smile crept to his lips uncontrollably as he murmured, “So… she is my elder sister?” After calming himself, Zhao Ye carefully studied the book again. It recorded everything known about Xiang Zhu since she entered the palace. There was so much that Eunuch Yuanbao had thoughtfully bound it into a volume for Zhao Ye’s convenience. “Xiang Zhu was sent to the palace before she was seven, her origins unknown. An orphan, she passed the palace maid selection from among commoners.” “In the palace, she served as…” The more Zhao Ye read, the heavier his expression grew, the ache in his heart spreading and deepening. She had suffered so much… So, she had planned to leave the palace when she reached the age to do so? No wonder she denied last night’s man was him and avoided him. His kindness and concern were burdens to her. The book detailed how Liang Cai and Xiang Zhu met and, after enduring countless hardships to finally establish themselves in the palace, how Xiang Zhu helped many palace maids. Liang Cai truly wished to repay her. Until today, Xiang Zhu and Liang Cai had no connection. It seemed when Xiang Zhu sought to transfer from the Fragrant Pavilion, Liang Cai volunteered to help, allowing them to meet. But what had he done? Out of jealousy, he forced the one who finally had a chance to repay her and sincerely wished to help Xiang Zhu to stay by his side, then found an excuse to have him beaten with a wooden board! Lost in chaotic thoughts, Zhao Ye suddenly recalled Xiang Zhu’s attitude and words, hurriedly rising and rushing outside.