THE MONTHS PASSED with a speed that threw me off kilter. It felt like yesterday when Chiqian and Yunjun had set off for the borderlands, and now they were about to return again in a matter of few weeks.
It had almost been two years since I'd initially arrived in Luoyang. The days were still exciting, but they'd lost the original rush that travelled through my body every time I travelled through the streets. I began thinking of Luoyang as home, rather than Henan.
My father and his wife and children had moved out of Shangguan Manor after a mere few weeks. They now resided on the outskirts of the city centre, in a small but cosy manor. I'd visited once, after Yunhua pointed out that it was probably appropriate. They had not even left a single room for me, and my step-mother had snidely remarked that if I intended on staying the night, I'd be relegated to one of the guest rooms.
I'd smiled, gifting my brother the gold bangle Grandmother had given me. A gold bangle that could likely purchase their entire manor and have left some more to spend.
She'd fallen quiet at the sight of that.
It was second nature now. The power being a relative of the Shangguan gave me, the power of being the fiance of a shizi. I didn't hesitate before ordering my servants around. Didn't hesitate before joining in on a group of high-bred young ladies that I would have quivered at the thought of speaking to two years prior.
Spring gave way to summer, to autumn and to winter. It was spring again when Chiqian and Yunjun were set to return, and in Shangguan Manor, preparations for Yunhua's wedding began afoot.
Her dowry had already been prepared long ago, and the day before her wedding it would all be carried over to the Eastern Palace. A hundred and fifty boxes in total, to be carried over. It would be an awe-inspiring sight. She'd have enough dowry to manage herself and an entire small family and live in relative luxury. Not to mention the money the Crown Prince himself had.
Word on the street was that Luo Xueying was to have a hundred and twenty boxes of dowry. Yunhua had let out a breath of relief at that. The imperial family was still putting her at a higher position, at a higher priority, and they would not let the Luos climb onto their hands so easily. Even if the two girls were still to enter the Eastern Palace on the same day.
My wedding was also kept in consideration, and we'd settled on a hundred. It would not do to have too little dowry, but with my father's lower status and Luo Xueying's rumoured a hundred and twenty, it didn't seem appropriate to exceed her number. Twenty-eight from my father. And despite all his faults, he'd never touched my mother's dowry, which naturally I now inherited. That was another sixty-four. And eight from my Grandmother, though that eight, I'd been informed, might be worth more than the twenty-eight my father had given me. That eight mostly consisted of properties. Manors and houses and shops in and outside of Luoyang.
Grandmother hadn't given me all of them, of course. She'd given some to Yunhua, and she'd give the rest to Yunjun and Yunxuan in the future. But my hundred boxes of dowry was more than enough to offer for me comfortably as well, and to get the respect of most people in Luoyang as well as the household of Prince Duan.
My uncle hadn't been spending much time in Shangguan Manor. Day in and day out he was summoned to the Imperial Palace to discuss details of the marriage with the Emperor. Yunhua, meanwhile, was busy making sure the embroideries and clothes for her wedding were all well prepared. I was busy with my own as well, so I offered her little aid.
Yunxuan occasionally came to visit me and give advice on how things ought to go. She was about to turn fifteen in a matter of months, not long after my wedding was set to happen, so she had much to do as well. There was far less of the older days when we'd gather together and chat for an entire afternoon.
Yunxuan sometimes seemed a bit upset, at the idea that we were all to be married off and that we'd leave her alone here with Tianjin, but she wouldn't remain in Shangguan Manor for long either.
After her coming-of-age, I doubted she'd remain unmarried long. She was a catch, even if she was only the daughter of a concubine. And that status also gave some lower-ranked nobles and officials a small chance at her hand in marriage, though I had no doubt that her standards were high. Yunxuan did not seek power like Yunhua, and with me and Yunhua both already marrying into the imperial family, it was unlikely Yunxuan would be married into a family that was too powerful as well.
A family like the Shangguans would always be carefully watched by the imperial family. We'd be allowed to develop, but not to become too powerful. We could not become a threat.
Chiqian and Yunjun returned a week before the wedding. We all went to the city walls to receive them again. The moment Yunjun had seen us, she'd leapt off her horse and ran to give us all a big hug.
She'd grown even wilder now. There was not an ounce of the usual Luoyang on her. But no one seemed to mind anymore. She'd done good this yearâshe'd been the lieutenant of the leading grand general when the outside tribes had launched an attack six months ago, and she'd shown exceptional leadership skills, having been the one to suggest the strategy that ultimately led to our victory.
She was a hero. No one would dare utter a word against her now, not publicly. In private, perhaps, they'd laugh about her and about how ridiculous they thought she was, but when had Yunjun cared about that?
Chiqian had rode to me. His parents had not come to receive him, and behind him rode Chang Xun. Chang Xun gave me a brief greeting before riding off, and I turned quizzically to Chiqian. "Mr Chang seems to be in a rush."
"His wife was pregnant when he left," Chiqian laughed. "She gave birth a few months ago, I've heard, to a healthy baby boy. He is most anxious to go see them immediately."
"Oh! I was not aware. I must prepare a gift and visit them sometime, then."
"It is alright, take your time." He lowered his head. "How have you been?"
We'd exchanged letters throughout these months. But letters were nothing compared to being in front of each other, face to face, speaking. I smiled. "I've been very well. Very busy."
"Understandable."
The wedding had been set in two months' time. I'd become a regular guest at the Prince Duan Manor in the past while. His parents liked me, and I liked them too, and they seemed rather lonely without Chiqian or Mr Chang there. It had been one of those visits that the wedding date had been set, and I'd ran everything through Grandmother.
Yunhua strolled over, and Chiqian gave a slight bow. "Miss Shangguan."
She curtsied. "Duan shizi."
"I hope you've been well?"
"Of course, sir. I hope you shall be attending the wedding feast."
"I would not miss it for the world, Miss Shangguan." Chiqian offered a smile. "Is my cousin not here today?"
"I'm afraid he is quite busy. Has my sister caused any trouble to you at the borderlands, Duan shizi? I hope not."
"Not at all," he replied smoothly, "in fact, she's made quite a name for herself. A hero she is now, I think. I wouldn't be surprised if the Emperor called for her in a few day's time, she has proven herself to be an excellent soldier and leader. I could not hold a candle to her."
"You are too kind."
"I speak only the truth."
They shared a few more polite words before Chiqian excused himself so that he could see his parents back home, and we turned to return with Yunjun still sharing anecdotes from her days on the borderlands as well. There'd been a young general, she told us, a few years older than her, who seemed to understand all her ideas. They were excellent friends now, though he had not been summoned back to Luoyang this time around and thus could not become known to us.
We all listened but eventually got bored. Yunjun sometimes talked a little too much. It was something Yunhua had pointed out to us, and Tianjin had wholeheartedly agreed, pointing to himself as the biggest victim to Yunjun's never-stopping mouth.
â
I HELPED SECURE Yunhua's hair as her maid put in the many hairpins and accessories. Besides me, Yunxuan smoothed out any wrinkles on Yunhua's bright red robes. Yunjun ran in and out, informing us of how much time we had left before the officials from the Imperial Palace would arrive with the marriage procession. Luo Xueying was to enter the Eastern Palace at the same time as Yunhua, though from the side door instead.
Yunhua's ceremony would occur first, and then Luo Xueying would be brought in for her ceremony with the Crown Prince. She was Side Consort, not a mere lower-ranked concubine. And after the ceremony was done, Luo Xueying would need to offer tea to Yunhua, who, as the main wife, would drink it to signalise that she'd accepted Luo Xueying as a concubine to her husband.
Yunhua would go to the Palace first, for the ceremony, and we'd travel to the Eastern Palace for the feast afterwards. The Luos would be present as well, but it did little to dim the excitement we all felt. No matter what happened, Yunhua was to become the Crown Princess Consort. Nothing would change that now.
As according to tradition, the bride was not allowed to attend the wedding feast. Yunhua would have to remain sat on her wedding bed until after the feast, when the Crown Prince came for their wedding night.
A smile had been plastered on Yunhua's face all morning. The manor was in festive spirits, with red and gold decked in every corner. Yunhua's courtyard had all sorts of calligraphy and other accessories hanging from the walls, and the gold was almost blinding as everyone moved around, busying themselves with the preparations.
We helped Yunhua into the phoenix coronet, the fengguan, a large golden accessory. It was heavy, but she didn't seem burdened as we fitted it onto her head. She was already in her xiapei, a stole that wrapped around the top of her aoqun, which was in red, yellow and green.
Yunhua had always looked beautiful, but her wedding garments made her look absolutely stunning. She raised her eyes, glancing at me. "How long?"
"I'll go find Yunjun," I murmured in her ear. "They ought to be here soon."
I moved past the maids and arrived outside her main house. Yunjun stood at the gates of her courtyard, and I travelled across the small garden to reach her. "How long?"
"Five to ten minutes before Yunhua needs to start moving to the main house."
I nodded and turned back into the house, making my way to Yunhua. "Five minutes and I think we should get moving. We don't want to keep the imperial procession waiting too long." And Yunhua would have to see her father in ceremony and thank him for raising her before she could leave with the procession. That would take some more time too.
Yunhua didn't nod. She simply asked, "Is my coronet steady?"
"Everything is done, Miss," her maid replied. "You look beautiful."
"I know."
With our assistance she stood, staring at herself one more time in the mirror before turning. Yunxuan moved forward, smoothing her aoqun one more time.
"Let's go."
Someone handed Yunhua a beautifully silk-embroidered fan that she held before her face. The groom was not allowed to see the bride's face until that evening, when they would sleep together for the first time, and until then, Yunhua would either cover her face with the fan or wear a veil.
Yunhua gave the fan a small twirl before holding it before her chest. It was not necessary just yet.
We went to the main house of the Shangguan Manor, where Shangguan An was already waiting with Grandmother. While the rest of us stood to the side, Yunhua walked forward and went on her knees, thanking her father and Grandmother for raising them.
On the table between my uncle and Grandmother was a memorial tablet, taken from the family shrine, representing Yunhua's mother.
Yunhua presented a cup of tea to both her father, and then to her mother's memorial tablet. Her father drank it.
"You are a married woman now, Yunhua. You must aid the Crown Prince and do not cause any trouble for him. Serve him well and do not let your temper get the better of you."
"I shall remember your lessons, Father."
"Go, now. The procession is waiting."
Yunhua raised her fan, covering her face as she turned, slowly leaving the main house for the grand doors. We followed behind her, though only a few of her maids would accompany her now.
A sedan chair was waiting outside, bright red and carefully decorated in celebratory colours. The imperial procession was long, and occupied the entire street. Tianjin helped Yunhua onto the sedan chair, and the curtains closed, hiding her from our eyes. Tianjin flashed us a bright smile and leapt on his horse.
The procession continued, the sound of drums and cymbals still able to be heard even after the procession was long out of sight.
We stood there, at the doors, watching for a long time.
Yunxuan's voice was a mere whisper beside me. "And just like that, she is gone."
And just like that, she was gone.
â
"APPARENTLY," YUNXUAN TOLD me the next morning when she came by, "Young Lord Huo has been sick for the past few weeks. He hasn't left his estate at all. The elder Lord Huo and Lady Huo are deathly worried."
I paused my writing hand, glancing at her. "What sickness is it?"
"Nobody knows," Yunxuan replied with a slight shrug, sitting down opposite my desk. "They've already called for Palace Imperial Doctors, but Huo Murong refuses to see anyone."
"That is most strange. Perhaps we ought to visit him."
"We are not close to him, though. Yunhua is, but it would be very improper for her to visit him now, as the Crown Princess Consort. She and the Crown Prince have gone to the Imperial Palace this morning already to visit the Emperor and Empress."
"Any news about Luo Xueying?"
"Nothing much from what I've heard. The Luos have behaved themselves so far." Yunxuan paused. "It wouldn't be too much trouble, I think, as long as Luo Xueying does not give birth to a son before Yunhua."
"These kinds of things cannot be ensured," I murmured.
Yunxuan glanced at me. "Truly, Cousin, having spent so long here in Luoyang, I'd have thought you a little less naive by now."
Her words gave me pause, and turning to face her, I slowly placed down my brush pen. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Do you really think," Yunxuan murmured, her voice lowered, "Luo Xueying will have such a chance?"
Our eyes met, hers knowing, mine confused, until it finally clicked. "Medicine?"
"Just a bit of herbs, sprinkled in her incense. At least until Yunhua gives birth to a healthy boy, I think."
"My god." I rubbed my temple with my fingers. "Poor Miss Luo."
"She knows what she signed up for," Yunxuan replied, picking up a small tiger figurine I had on the corner of my desk. "I wouldn't be surprised if the Luos have something prepared for Yunhua too, but the servants we sent with her are careful. They'll check every nook and cranny."
"Dear heavens."
"Do not be so surprised. It is no ordinary man they have married."
"Yunhua returns to visit the day after tomorrow," I pointed out. "The Crown Prince will be with her?"
"Of course. But the visit will be brief. Yunhua will not be allowed close connections with my father, I think, to prevent collusion." She placed the figurine back down, looking around. "I thought you would be more busy preparing for the ceremony and such."
"I have less to prepare for than Yunhua," I pointed out. "She's marrying the Crown Prince, I'm merely marrying the heir of a Prince. Besides, I can reuse a lot of things from her ceremony."
"I saw you speak with Duan shizi at the wedding feast last night. I'm quite jealous. You two are very close. Shall I seek a marriage, I will look for a relationship like that."
"We're good friends."
"So are the Crown Prince and Yunhua," Yunxuan pointed out, motioning for Yan'er to pour her a cup of tea. My maid did obediently, and refilled mine too. "Does not stop him from treating her like a tool."
"He has things to fight for."
"But he should still treat her with a little more respect sometimes. He and Yunhua have always seemed like polite acquaintances rather than close friends or future husband and wife. Look at the way Yunhua and Lord Huo behaved around each otherâin all honesty, that was what I thought Yunhua and the Crown Prince would be like when they married."
I thought about before, the way the Crown Prince treated her with perfect manners, but the way a layer of coolness had always covered his every move. None of it felt from his heart. Every move seemed calculated. Even before the engagement, every time they were around each other, neither seemed to be truly themselves. They were hiding pieces, showing the parts that would be pleasing to the other.
I didn't think Yunhua ever told Yunxuan what had happened that night with Lord Huo, so I kept my mouth shut regarding my inside knowledge as to why Yunhua and Lord Huo seemed so comfortable around each other, and why Lord Huo had suddenly fallen to a mysterious illness.
"Either way," I told her, "their marriage is not for us to discuss. Perhaps you ought to focus on your own."
"I cannot marry," Yunxuan pointed out, "until Yunjun does, technically speaking."
"I feel as if you ought to take in the likely chance she chooses not to marry yet. You can hardly let that prevent you from finding a match. You are not her."
"Oh, Yunjun will marry. Have you not heard the way she talks about that general friend of hers?"
"Oh yes, him. What is his name again?"
"Feng Cao," Yunxuan replied. "General Feng Cao. He is the son of the elder General Feng, who unfortunately passed sometime prior. Hence his presence on the battlefield now."
"You think she is infatuated with him?"
"I have never heard her speak so highly of any male in my life."
I frowned. "I've never heard anything about this young general."
"From what I've gathered, he's a polite young man of excellent manners. But his family's finances seem to be poor, and there's rumours that he keeps a mistress."
Blinking, I adjusted my position. "A mistress?"
"It is all rumours, of course. Have you ever heard of Kun Ying'er? The famous courtesan? I know we're not meant to know these things, but you must have heard of her once or twice."
"I have, she is quite famous."
"From what I've heard, Kun Ying'er is mistress to Feng Cao. Obviously he cannot take her as a concubine since he is yet unmarried, and besides she is a courtesan, so he keeps her as a waishi instead." A concubine was acceptable. They were legally recognised and normal to noblemen. But a mistress? Before marriage?
And such a beautiful one indeed, if all I'd heard was correct. Few highborn girls would be willing to marry a man like that.
My brows creased. "That would not be a good match for Yunjun at all, then."
"I do not think she cares. I mentioned this mistress to her once and she got quite angry and defensive."
"Oh dear."
"Let her be, I think," Yunxuan said mildly, waving one hand in the air. "She has always done things her own way. It will do not good to force her away from this path if she has set her mind to it."
"And has she? Set her mind to it?"
"I'm not sure yet."
"Perhaps we should ask her when the time comes. It still feels too early yet."
"That is true," Yunxuan agreed. "If we annoy her about it she'll just get angry at us. But I'll keep an eye out, just in case."
"You do that. Me, I have a marriage to prepare for."