Chapter Twenty: A Heavy Heart

Since Zhen'an had declined the invitation, the Empress Dowager lost interest in any further flower-viewing banquets. Age had wearied her, so she retired early to the palace to rest. The Empress, ever frail, could not endure the wind for long and soon followed suit. The remaining courtiers and noble ladies, seeing their principal hosts depart, dispersed as well.

Gu Li had intended to return to her garden for a midday nap, but her gaze drifted to the little boats floating on the nearby lake. On such a fine day, wouldn’t a boat ride be far more pleasant? Leading her retinue of palace maids toward the lakeside, she was joined by Zhen'an, who approached with a gentle smile. “Gu Li, let’s ride the boat together.”

Gu Li’s face remained cold and expressionless, but Zhen'an knew well that this was her way of consenting.

The two princesses walked to the water’s edge and, assisted by their attendants, boarded the boat. It was not large; after the princesses embarked, no one else could comfortably join them, so they instructed the maids to wait on shore while they rested aboard.

The maids had worried that the princesses might be at risk without attendants nearby, but hearing they only intended to sit and enjoy the scenery, they felt at ease waiting by the shore.

Zhen'an, delighting in the splendid view, grew spirited and instructed a maid to fetch the zither, wishing to play and sing a tune.

Gu Li knew her elder sister excelled at all the refined arts—music, chess, literature, painting—while she herself was hopelessly untalented in those pursuits. Perhaps due to her lively nature, she was far more interested in riding and archery, and was quite adept at dance, her sole accomplishment as a lady. But on this boat, while Zhen'an could play music, Gu Li had nowhere to display her dancing skills. She settled instead to listen to the melody and savor the scenery. The breeze caressed her face, and all was delightfully comfortable.

Yet it was not long before Gu Li’s attention was drawn to a tall, imposing figure not far away—the General of Chang'an, patrolling with his men.

Gu Li glanced at Zhen'an, absorbed in her music, and wondered if the melody was a secret signal for a rendezvous between the two. Had she unwittingly ruined their tryst?

But as she watched, the General of Chang'an walked straight ahead, eyes fixed forward. Though he heard the music and recognized Zhen'an, he did not linger. Was it possible he avoided looking too openly, lest it raise suspicion? It seemed she had indeed disturbed them.

She thought to herself: Zhen'an, who always kept her distance, suddenly wanted to join her on a boat—clearly, she was waiting for a clandestine meeting with her beloved.

Suddenly, the blue lake and azure sky before Gu Li seemed utterly dull. She propped her chin on her hand, leaning against the boat in a mood of deep gloom.

On the shore, the palace maids, freed for once from attending their mistresses, gathered together and chattered away.

“Hey, Jasmine,” a young maid asked expectantly, “I heard the Empress intends to arrange a marriage for Princess Danqing. Is it true?”

Jasmine, Princess Danqing’s personal maid, was notoriously tight-lipped. She glanced sideways and replied, “The affairs of the princess are not for you to meddle in. Don’t go around asking questions.”

The young maid laughed. “Even if you won’t say, I already know. I overheard Her Majesty say she wants to match Princess Danqing with Zhou Siyuan, the heir of the Duke of Dingguo.”

“Zhou Siyuan?”

The name instantly stirred amazement and envy among the other maids. “I hear Zhou Siyuan is truly handsome, refined, and has been studying at Tianming Mountain. He’s a real gentleman.”

“Of course! Who else could be worthy of our princess?”

“Yes, our princess is a rare beauty, noble and precious. Only a young man of outstanding birth, appearance, and character could ever hope to marry her—no ordinary man could dare dream of it.”

Unbeknownst to the maids, the General of Chang'an, leading his patrol, passed nearby and overheard their conversation. Lie Chang'an paused mid-step, his gaze involuntarily drawn to the youthful maiden seated at the bow of the boat.

She sat with her chin propped up, surrounded by the splendor of the garden, yet lost in sorrow. Her bright eyes were dulled by melancholy, but her charming face remained as radiant as ever. As the breeze stirred, the quiet beauty of her presence seeped gently and imperceptibly into his heart.

A thought stirred within him, but recalling the maids’ gossip, he forced himself to feign indifference, withdrawing his gaze as if nothing had happened. The wind passed, leaving no trace.