Magnolias were delicate, fragile flowers.
As their season drew to a close, in just a few days’ time, the snow-white petals had scattered thickly across the ground.
That day, when Xue Yunyi pushed open the window, she saw the palace maids in the courtyard busy sweeping up the fallen blossoms and gathering them into bamboo baskets.
Another spring had passed.
She felt a pang of emotion and let out an involuntary sigh.
“Why is the Mistress troubled?” The young man knelt at her feet, massaging the acupoints on her legs.
“It’s nothing,” she replied. “I’m just marveling at how quickly the days fly by.”
Xue Yunyi turned back to him with a smile. But then a sudden tingling sensation shot through her leg. She froze for a moment, holding her breath uncertainly as she focused on the feeling.
It was coming from her leg, without a doubt.
With each press of the youth’s fingers, it surged over her like waves of the sea, rising and falling in rhythm.
She drew in a sharp, delighted breath. “Ah Lang, your medicine seems to be working.”
At her words, the youth’s eyes lit up. He tested by pressing a little harder and saw that she truly felt the ache. Overcome with excitement, he said, “This servant will try increasing the dosage tomorrow and add a few more herbs. In just a few days, Your Highness’s legs might fully regain their sensation.”
It was still a long way from standing and walking, but it was a promising start.
Xue Yunyi smiled and praised him. “Ah Lang is truly amazing.”
The youth blushed at the compliment and asked softly, “Then… could the Mistress give this servant a little reward?”
He had wanted her to stroke his head. He loved that—leaning against the Eldest Princess, feeling the gentle warmth of her palm ruffling his hair, inhaling the fragrance wafting from her sleeves. It was her scent, one he needed to etch into his memory.
But Xue Yunyi pondered for a moment before curving her lips in a mysterious smile. “I was planning to give it to you tomorrow. Since Ah Lang wants his reward now, though, I’ll give it to you early.”
Tomorrow…
Wu Lang quietly pursed his lips.
So the Eldest Princess hadn’t forgotten. Tomorrow was a special day—
The day when the thirty candies would be all eaten up.
A small spark of joy flickered in his heart. Following her directions, he went to the step bed and retrieved a pear blossom wood box from the drawer. It felt weighty in his hands.
Was this the thing she planned to use on him tomorrow?
He couldn’t help thinking so, and his cheeks flushed even deeper.
Xue Yunyi took the box from him and opened it right there in front of him. When Wu Lang saw what was inside, his expression flickered for an instant. He quickly lowered his eyes as his heart began to pound.
—Three jade phalluses, each of a different size.
He had known such objects would come into play eventually, but he couldn’t stop the dark, painful memories from slithering out of their hidden corners. They leered at him with grotesque, terrifying faces, shrieking silently.
Sweat beaded in his palms.
Xue Yunyi didn’t notice the youth’s unease. As she wiped the dust from the jade with a cloth, she said warmly, “This Palace made these by hand. I’m not sure which one will fit best. Would you like to try them?”
A few days earlier, she had sent Mo Ying to tidy the storeroom and had come across some old blocks of fine jade. It would be a waste to let such good material sit unused, and remembering her promise to Wu Lang, she had secretly crafted these in private.
She had made plenty of jade artifacts before, but this was her first time fashioning something like this. Fortunately, she had books to reference, and copying their designs wasn’t difficult. The challenge had been the sizing—after all, they were meant for Wu Lang, so they needed to be comfortable for him. A trial run was best. If none suited, she could have someone prepare a ready-made set for him to choose from.
Ever since childhood, Xue Yunyi had been studious and inquisitive. When faced with uncertainty, she always believed in testing things out to find the truth. For the moment, she saw nothing amiss in her suggestion.
Wu Lang’s face, however, turned scarlet in an instant.
The Eldest Princess had made these for him with her own hands—and now she wanted him to try them right away…
Did she want to watch him… perform?
He wondered uncertainly.
What other reason could there be?
So Wu Lang bit his lip and softly murmured his assent. He bowed his head and quickly untied his sash.
No matter what the Eldest Princess commanded, he would obey without question.
Only then did Xue Yunyi realize what was happening. In the bright light of day, the youth’s porcelain-pale skin was almost blinding. She hurriedly reached out to close the shutters and turned her face away, already regretting her thoughtless proposal.
The youth knelt on the floor, his features cold and impassive, his eyes devoid of emotion save for the subtle roll of his throat.
After a moment of silence, Xue Yunyi couldn’t hold back any longer. “Don’t you need any ointment?”
The jar of lubricant was right there in the box—the gentlest kind, selected by her personally.
At her words, the youth froze for a second before shaking his head. In a hoarse voice, he replied, “This servant… doesn’t need any.”
But wouldn’t it hurt?
Xue Yunyi longed to ask.
Seeing her hesitate, the youth paused before saying, “If the Mistress wants to watch, that’s fine too.”
His cold, dark eyes fixed straight on her as his slender fingers slipped between his lips, drawing forth more than enough.
The sight was… breathtakingly beautiful.
But—
“Has the drug’s effect not fully worn off? Should you take a few more medicated baths?”
Her gaze drifted over, and she asked softly.
Wu Lang’s movements halted abruptly. He squeezed his eyes shut in mortification as fine beads of sweat trailed down his neck.
He needed no such drug.
The mere thought of that jade having been held in Xue Yunyi’s palm, warmed by her touch…
He fell silent, determined not to reveal more of his shame. With the quickest speed he could manage, he tried each one in turn, then carefully cleaned them before returning them to the box.
“The Mistress can use whichever one she likes.”
To him, the pain would be the same either way. He only wanted her to be pleased.
Just as he finished speaking, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the courtyard. Wu Lang swiftly straightened his clothes and instinctively shrank closer to Xue Yunyi’s side.
“His Majesty has arrived!” It was Li Fuzhong’s voice.
Xue Yunyi frowned. The Emperor’s visits to her palace never brought good news. But since he was here, she had no choice but to receive him. After all, who was he but the Emperor?
She turned to him and gently ruffled Wu Lang’s hair. “Ah Lang, push This Palace out to greet Father Emperor.”
She knew he still feared facing others—the scrutinizing stares, the scolding, the bullying. The Emperor would make for excellent practice.
“Yes.”
Though hesitation flickered in his eyes, the youth obediently rose and pushed her toward the hall door.
The Emperor stormed in, his face dark with fury. Early that morning, he had received a letter from the spies he had dispatched to Lang Province. It reported that the dam and irrigation projects were progressing smoothly, and the people of Lang Province were praising the Eldest Princess to the skies. She had even spent a fortune to set up dozens of porridge stalls around the area. Every day, the starving disaster victims lined up in long queues before them, kowtowing to her in tearful gratitude. Some of the elders, faces streaked with tears, had even prayed to the heavens beneath the sun itself, begging the gods to let the Eldest Princess one day rule the Southern Frontier and bring blessings to all the people.
Excellent. Splendid.
He hadn’t realized that this daughter of his, forever bound to her wheelchair, had managed to extend her reach all the way to Lang Province.
Xue Yunyi pretended not to notice the anger blazing in the Emperor’s eyes. “This child greets Father Emperor,” she said calmly. “What brings Father Emperor here today? Has the Noble Consort recovered?”
The Emperor sneered. “You’re always scheming against me, and yet you still have the gall to ask about such things.”
Xue Yunyi feigned surprise. “Scheming? This child doesn’t understand what Father Emperor means. I’m simply doing what I ought to.”
“Good. Very good.” The Emperor nodded through gritted teeth. “I came today because there’s something I forgot to tell you. Half a month ago, your uncle sent a letter from Chilly Province, requesting permission to enter the capital and celebrate your Empress Mother’s birthday.”
Xue Yunyi straightened slightly in her seat.
The Emperor noted it and let out a light scoff. “Naturally, I refused. Chilly Province is a vital border stronghold. The Jiang Family has guarded it for me for many years—how could I let them leave so easily?”
Her eyes darkened, and she gripped the armrest without a sound. How laughable. She had still harbored a sliver of hope for the Emperor.
“Does Father Emperor even remember the Empress Mother’s birthday?” she asked, staring into his eyes, enunciating each word deliberately.
“Yuanruo is my principal wife. How could I forget her birthday? But she is gravely ill now. There’s no need for a birthday banquet—it might disturb her rest with all that music and noise.” The Emperor’s tone was icy. “Your Empress Mother has been plagued by illness for so long. She won’t be able to join you at the temple tomorrow for prayers and incense. You know what must be done—no need for me to instruct you.”
“No need for Father Emperor to trouble himself,” Xue Yunyi replied flatly.
What else could she do?
She would simply stay at Kaiyuan Temple for three days, as she had every year before—offering incense and prayers on behalf of the ailing Empress to ward off calamity. Only then could she avoid raising suspicions.
“You understand well enough.” With a cold sweep of his sleeve, the Emperor departed.
Xue Yunyi watched his retreating back, her gaze growing chillier by the moment. After a long while, she finally exhaled deeply. Composing herself, she turned to Wu Lang, who stood behind her, and asked softly, “Tomorrow, This Palace must go to Kaiyuan Temple to offer incense for the Empress Mother. I’ll be staying in the mountains for three days. Would Ah Lang like to come along?”
Kaiyuan Temple?
Wu Lang hesitated.
Of course he wanted to stay by the Eldest Princess’s side. But a temple was a place of pure Buddhist cultivation. Someone of his status shouldn’t intrude, lest he defile the Buddha.
Besides, it wasn’t like the palace. With her mobility issues, she already had enough to manage—adding him would only burden her further.
With that thought, Wu Lang murmured in a low voice, “This slave… this slave will stay in the palace and wait for Your Highness to return.”
Xue Yunyi considered it for a moment. “Very well.”
The temple was full of monks, and Wu Lang was shy around strangers by nature. She could already picture the youth trailing behind her with his head bowed, cautious and timid in every step. Staying in the palace would at least let him relax a little.
But still…
Xue Yunyi glanced at the Pear Blossom Wood Box nearby, then leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek.
“Be good and wait for This Palace to come back.”
The youth’s face flushed red, his voice submissive and husky.
“Yes.”
He would be good. He would wash himself until he was spotless, lay out the bedding neatly, and kneel properly by the canopy bed long before her return.
Xue Yunyi caressed his slightly feverish cheek, unable to resist pulling him into her arms for a little more indulgence before finally letting him go about his tasks.
“Your Highness, I’ve prepared everything you’ll need for the temple visit tomorrow. Please check if anything’s missing,” Mo Ying reported that evening. “But the weather outside doesn’t look good. I’m afraid it might rain…”
She peered out the window as she grumbled, “In past years at this time, the nights were so muggy no one could sleep. Rain? This year is truly strange.”
At her words, Xue Yunyi paused in her writing and looked up.
The half-scroll of scripture she had just copied lay on the rice paper before her, the ink still damp and bleeding through the thin sheet.
Outside the window stretched a gray sky heavy with brooding clouds. The wind bent the slender branches and rattled the shutters with a creaking groan, while the flowers and plants in the courtyard shivered in the gusts.
All at once, she felt a vague unease stirring within her—a sense that a storm was brewing.