The blazing summer sun shone brightly over the courtyard's scarlet pomegranate blossoms.
In the redwood main hall, Xie Yu's eyelashes were clumped together messily by tears.
Her chin rested on Shen Changyin's shoulder.
By her ear was the other woman's promise:
"I will never, ever, ever leave you."
Lies.
She sniffed softly. There was no such thing as forever in this world.
In early summer, hugging for too long quickly became hot.
Even Shen Changyin, who feared the cold, tried to pull away after just a few minutes.
Xie Yu immediately pressed her back, one hand holding the back of her neck.
Only hugged for a few minutes and already stopping.
Shen Changyin really was lying to her.
It wasn't until fine beads of sweat appeared on both of their foreheads that Xie Yu finally let go, pushing Shen Changyin slightly forward.
She blinked hard, clearing the tears from her vision, and said seriously,
"If I turned into a penguin, would you still like me?"
This was a life-or-death question. Shen Changyin thought for a moment, then cautiously asked, "What is a penguin?"
Xie Yu chose her words carefully. "A penguin is a kind of chicken that lives on snow and ice, but it can dive underwater to catch food."
"I see." Shen Changyin nodded, clearly having learned something new.
"If you turned into a penguin, I would buy you the best and freshest fish in the world."
"And if I turned into a little fish?" Xie Yu asked again.
"I would have an artisan make a small fish tank, put you inside it every day, and carry you with me."
Xie Yu looked dissatisfied. "Fish need enough space to move. Otherwise, they grow deformed and become depressed."
"I sincerely apologize," Shen Changyin said smoothly.
"I'll have an artisan build a tank large enough, plant small lotus flowers inside, and place it on a carriage so you can travel comfortably."
Xie Yu was barely satisfied and pressed on. "Then what if I turned into an insect?"
Shen Changyin hesitated. "What kind of insect?"
Xie Yu pursed her lips. "A spider."
Shen Changyin: "..."
She was afraid of insects—and especially terrified of spiders.
"Little Xie…"
She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was obvious.
Xie Yu squeezed out tears.
Large teardrops streamed down her cheeks in winding paths, like they cost nothing.
Shen Changyin said stiffly, "…I would let you perch on my shoulder and spin webs."
Satisfied, Xie Yu lifted her face. She was just about to wipe her tears when she remembered something she'd seen online before.
The whole "If I turned into a penguin, would you still love me?" The question had originally gone viral online. Many people used it to ask their parents and got very heartwarming answers.
Later, someone pointed out, "What's the point of asking about penguins? If you're brave, ask what happens if you turn gay."
Xie Yu blurted out instinctively, "Then what if I turned into a lesbian?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she saw Shen Changyin's puzzled expression and suddenly realized—
This world was already full of lesbians.
In that case, no problem at all. Being a lesbian was perfectly natural.
The tears were no longer needed. She wiped her face clean. Her hair was a mess from crying, and she pressed it down with her fingers.
Then Shen Changyin suddenly said, "What about you?"
"Huh?"
"You asked me so many questions. What about you—do you like me?"
Xie Yu's tear-reddened face carried a layer of tomato-pink blush. Her hand froze mid-motion as she pressed her hair down. Her eyes darted around, looking at the sky, the ground—
She didn't answer.
Shen Changyin sighed quietly and simply extended her hand.
"Come here. Let me fix your hair."
Xie Yu shuffled over, bent her knees into a horse stance, and let Shen Changyin arrange her hair.
After tying it up, Shen Changyin patted her shoulder.
"All done. What are you doing today? Want to come with me to the northern outskirts military camp?"
Xie Yu straightened up and waved her hands. "No. I have my own things to do."
"Then have fun," Shen Changyin said with a nod.
After seeing her off, Xie Yu returned alone to the study in the back courtyard and pulled out the sheet of paper that bore only four words: To Shen Changyin.
She spread it out.
Ground ink.
Lifted the brush.
Couldn't write.
Tidied the study.
Sat down again.
Still couldn't write.
Drank water. Ate pastries.
Crumbs fell onto the paper, leaving an oily stain.
Changed to a new sheet.
Still couldn't write.
The sun set. Night fell.
Shen Changyin returned from the northern outskirts and called her to eat.
After dinner, they took a walk in the courtyard.
She sat back down at the desk.
Still couldn't write.
She swore she wouldn't go to bed unless she finished writing.
She fell asleep sprawled across the desk.
She was woken in the night by the barking of Little Flower, that troublesome dog.
She discovered she'd drooled onto the paper.
Changed to yet another sheet.
Dawn arrived.
The sound of a bamboo broom sweeping the ground rustled outside the window.
Xie Yu put down her brush, stood up, and lifted the window blind by her desk.
Three or four maids were sweeping the courtyard. Little Flower ran circles around them, getting in the way.
A pomegranate blossom suddenly fell.
Old Jin hurried in through the courtyard gate carrying a stack of documents.
Xie Yu's gaze followed her until she heard the sound of Shen Changyin opening the main hall doors.
She turned and went to the hall.
Old Jin saw her. "The people from yesterday have all been detained at the Court of Justice. They all claim to be from the northwest."
"Our people personally checked as well. There's no connection to the southern region."
They hadn't expected to immediately confirm that the group came from the southern naval forces. No one in this world was that foolish. Their surface identities were certainly unrelated to the southern navy.
For something that would guarantee execution if caught, it would have to be carried out by the most loyal expendable agents.
And the Shen family had lived in the southern region for generations. In theory, any private agents they raised should have grown up there and carried those regional traits.
Not like this—where facial features, skin tone, accent, and clothing all pointed far more toward the northwest.
Xie Yu felt a bit disappointed, but her emotions remained calm. She nodded.
After seeing Old Jin off, Shen Changyin looked at her with concern.
"Why does your complexion look so bad? Did you sleep poorly last night?"
Didn't sleep.
Because I couldn't write your love letter.
Xie Yu paused. "I had nightmares."
"Go rest some more. I'll call you when breakfast is ready. There's still time before court," Shen Changyin said gently.
Xie Yu nodded and went back to sleep.
But sleep after staying up all night was less sleep than unconsciousness.
It was extremely hard to wake up.
Even after getting into the carriage, Xie Yu's eyes were still fighting each other.
She swayed dizzily and leaned her head onto Shen Changyin's shoulder.
With her eyes closed, she asked, "Shen Changyin, do you have any favorite poems or songs?"
Shen Changyin adjusted her arm so Xie Yu's head rested closer to her back—where there was more flesh and it was more comfortable.
"If I had to choose, perhaps Zhang Zhengyuan of the Third Former Dynasty, On Piled Mountains, which discusses how to carry out reform within an enormous and bloated bureaucratic system."
How was Xie Yu supposed to reference that to write a love letter?
"Another one. Something that isn't political."
"Senior Wu Chi's Song of Dwelling in the Fields."
Shen Changyin had taught her this one before. Xie Yu recalled its contents.
It was the kind of poem that aspired to shelter all scholars under heaven—a grand, idealistic declaration.
Completely unusable for a love letter.
She grew anxious.
"Another one. Not so grand. Something vulgar—scenery, emotions, anything."
Shen Changyin looked at her thoughtfully. "Then Envying the Mountain Fish."
Xie Yu hadn't learned this poem, but she secretly memorized the title, planning to copy it later.
Writing a love letter was like writing an essay—if you couldn't write, quoting famous works was always safe.
The carriage stopped before the palace gates.
Today was a minor court session. Not everyone attended, and there were few matters to discuss.
When Xie Yu and Shen Changyin entered the Hall of Diligent Governance, they found General Shen already there.
"Third Highness."
She smiled without warmth. "Thank you for your concern. After the imperial physician examined her yesterday, she said my daughter's facial wound has a high chance of leaving a scar."
Xie Yu froze in place. Her grip on Shen Changyin's hand tightened sharply.
Shen Changyin patted the space between her thumb and forefinger.
"It's fine."
"Hah. Of course Official Shen can say that so lightly," General Shen sneered.
"You're already married, so you don't care about appearances—but have you considered that my daughter is still unmarried?"
General Shen grew angrier.
"And why is my daughter still unmarried? Who took away her marriage prospects? Does Official Shen truly not know?"
Shen Changyin smiled faintly and did not answer.
She pulled Xie Yu over to stand in position.
A minor court session was not as strict as a grand one, so the two of them stood together.
"Are you okay?" Shen Changyin asked in a low voice.
It took Xie Yu a long while before she finally nodded.
Shen Changyin patted the top of her fluffy head.
"Little Xie, you can't be like this."
"If you're marrying someone as bad as me, you have to be prepared to stop being a good person."
Xie Yu squeezed her hand.
The empress arrived quickly. After announcing that officials could present matters, General Shen immediately stepped forward in indignation and explained everything that had happened yesterday.
She looked deeply worried, like the most anxious mother in the world.
"Your Majesty, my daughter is only twenty-one and still unmarried, yet her face is already scarred. How is she supposed to live the rest of her life?"
Some officials at the minor court session had already heard about yesterday's incident; others had not. At this critical moment, discussion erupted all at once.
Soon, someone stepped forward.
"This official believes General Shen is right."
"Shen Liuzhen was originally betrothed to the crown princess since childhood. Later, Official Shen was unaware of this and mistakenly became betrothed to the crown princess, causing the marriage fates to be misplaced."
"Now Shen Liuzhen risked her life to save the crown princess, perfectly matching the saying of a heaven-made match."
"Meanwhile, after the crown princess married Official Shen, she was first assassinated, then nearly died in a mountain flood—both brushes with death. This proves the two are fated to clash, and forcing them together invites divine punishment."
"This official believes that the roots should now be set right—cancel the marriage between the crown princess and Official Shen, and let Shen Liuzhen fulfill the duty of crown consort."
Xie Yu stared wide-eyed at this unfamiliar official.
Was this person insane?
It was also the first time Shen Changyin looked directly at her. Her eyes were dark like a deep pool, and Xie Yu felt the hand holding hers turn frighteningly cold.
Seeing the two of them look over, the official showed no fear at all. She cupped her hands and said,
"Your Highnesses, this official does not know how deep your feelings are, but both of you are pillars of the nation. Being together only brings danger to each other."
"This official believes that private affection cannot outweigh national duty. You both bear the burden of the state—please separate, so that your precious bodies are not harmed."
What kind of logical loop was this? How could someone with a normal body temperature say something so brainless?
Xie Yu was speechless.
Shen Changyin suddenly laughed.
"Spreading heretical words and disturbing the imperial mind—do you know your crime?"
The official lifted her chin proudly.
"What crime does this official have?"
Shen Changyin raised her hand, then gently pressed it downward.
Half of the palace guards in the Hall of Diligent Governance instantly drew their long blades.
One cold flash after another reflected off the faces of everyone present.
The official's face went pale at once.
The empress's and General Shen's expressions grew extremely dark.
Even Xie Yu had not expected that within the palace guards—an organization always considered the empress's private force—half were actually under Shen Changyin's control.
Wasn't that equivalent to a blade hanging over the empress's head day and night?
Xie Yu stared at the empress's hands and neck as veins bulged out, waiting for her to explode in rage.
Instead, the empress forcibly calmed herself and said stiffly,
"Enough. She merely drank some wine before court and spoke without clarity. Why label her with spreading heresy?"
"Disrespect before the throne—twenty lashes will suffice."
Her response was quick. At least she saved that official's life with twenty lashes.
Only then did Shen Changyin reluctantly seem satisfied. She gestured again, and the blades were sheathed one after another.
The empress quickly wrapped up the dispute.
"General Shen, I have many medicinal herbs in my private stores. Open them to you—take whatever might help your daughter's scar."
"I'm tired. The court is dismissed. Crown princess, come with me."
Calling her?
Xie Yu blinked and nodded to Shen Changyin.
She followed the empress .
All the way to the empress's study. In the outer room, more than ten Daoist priests were still kneeling, incense smoke curling up in the corner as before.
She entered the inner study. The empress was already seated and gestured when she arrived.
Immediately, someone dressed as an imperial physician rushed forward, grabbed Xie Yu's hand, and began taking her pulse.
Xie Yu instinctively wanted to strike back, but recognizing the physician's uniform, she forcibly held herself back.
The empress said,
"We've been so focused on that little Shen that we forgot—you were also in danger yesterday. Let the physician take a look."
Xie Yu endured it and carefully examined the physician, but the more she looked, the more wrong it felt.
The complexion was too pale, completely bloodless. Fingernails were left long—nothing like someone who constantly took pulses and handled medicine should have.
Before she could question it, the physician stepped back, nodding to the empress before leaving.
Xie Yu noted this detail in her heart.
The empress seemed very satisfied with that nod and returned one herself. Then she turned to Xie Yu and spoke gently,
"That official in the hall earlier truly went too far."
That at least sounded human. Xie Yu waited quietly.
"Trying to replace Shen Changyin is nothing but delusional."
The second sentence was also human.
"So I've decided to compromise. Let that little Shen marry you as a secondary wife. Go back and persuade Shen Changyin properly."
Xie Yu's eyes widened.
The empress said,
"Why are you looking at me like that? She's a well-born young lady from a distinguished family and was injured for your sake. You can't make her a concubine."
"Secondary wife it is. The wedding will be this month."
Xie Yu finally knew how she should react.
She laughed.
—
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