Chapter 2: Entering the Palace

The carriage halted at the Divine Martial Gate. The soldiers guarding the entrance gave her a perfunctory salute upon seeing her.

“May I ask, Your Highness, do you have a pass to enter?”

Ever since she came of age and set up her own residence, and after being maliciously defamed by her rival, Princess Yunxiang, entering the imperial palace had become no easy matter.

This time, the imperial edict included a pass granting her entry.

Only after the soldiers saw the pass did they allow her through.

Cheng Xueyang felt a pang of bitterness; her title as princess was now merely nominal. Before long, she would be reduced to a mere pawn.

This was something she neither wished for nor would allow to happen.

Before that, she had to do something to turn the tide.

At this moment, her father, the emperor, was busy with state affairs, so Cheng Xueyang first went to the Empress Dowager’s Shoukang Palace.

Several concubines were just coming out—they had evidently just paid their respects to the Empress Dowager.

“Oh, isn’t this Princess Xuanyun, the Sixth Imperial Sister?”

Cheng Xueyang had intended to avoid them, but was promptly spotted by the sharp-eyed Princess Yunxiang, Cheng Liuyi.

Cheng Xueyang maintained her usual calm expression and gracefully stepped forward to greet them. “Greetings, Consort Xiang, Consort Xian.”

Then her gaze settled on Cheng Liuyi, who had been a spiteful little girl five years ago but had now blossomed into a beauty.

Only her eyes remained as vicious as ever.

“Liuyi, you haven’t seen your sister for many years. I’m sure you have much to discuss. You must keep her company well,” Consort Xiang said coldly, casting Cheng Xueyang a disdainful look before leaving with Consort Xian.

Cheng Liuyi smirked wickedly, as if the person before her was not her long-lost sister but a lamb finally trapped and ready to be slaughtered.

“Sixth Sister, it’s been a long time since you returned. You probably don’t even recognize your way home. Where are you headed? Since I know the way well, I’ll take you there.”

Her words were laced with innuendo, emphasizing that Cheng Xueyang was out of favor, abandoned outside the palace for five years without a single visit, while she, Cheng Liuyi, still enjoyed the emperor’s favor.

Consort Xiang’s favor was due solely to a natural fragrance she possessed, a trait Cheng Liuyi had inherited. Since her birth, Cheng Xueyang’s favor had steadily declined.

Cheng Liuyi had become the emperor’s favorite daughter, often praised before ministers for her innate fragrance, regarded as a divine blessing upon the Dalang Dynasty.

Cheng Liuyi grew arrogant and disdainful, scheming relentlessly until Cheng Xueyang was forced to leave the palace and set up her own household.

With many offspring, the emperor seldom saw Cheng Xueyang, who refused to lower her pride. Over time, their relationship grew more distant.

Now twenty-six, Cheng Xueyang was considered an older unmarried princess—a spinster among the royals—but had not been betrothed, largely thanks to Cheng Liuyi.

Cheng Liuyi feared that if Cheng Xueyang married well, she might overturn her fortunes.

This return to the capital was also stoked by Cheng Liuyi’s machinations.

Recently, the Khan of the tribal steppes had petitioned the emperor for a marriage alliance, wishing to marry a princess. Prince Wugexi had already arrived in the capital. Though no specific princess was named, the only eligible unmarried princess was Cheng Liuyi.

The steppe tribes bordered the Dalang Dynasty, known for their fierce customs and thriving animal husbandry. They had loyally defended the border, so the Khan’s request was difficult to refuse, lest public favor be lost. The emperor had decided to send a princess to cement the alliance.

Scarcity made these princesses precious, and Dalang was hardly short of them, with two more born this year.

In neighboring countries, many generals and noble families had princesses married off for political alliances; a marriage to the steppes was not unheard of.

Cheng Liuyi feared being sent there herself and thus pushed Cheng Xueyang forward as a scapegoat.

“Don’t we still have another unmarried princess? No one can rival her beauty!”

Cheng Liuyi’s hatred for Cheng Xueyang stemmed from this very beauty.

Though Cheng Liuyi had the fragrant gift and good looks, when people spoke of the most beautiful princess, only Cheng Xueyang’s name was mentioned. When Cheng Liuyi was brought up, all people said was “fragrant,” nothing more. Her jealousy was maddening.

Cheng Xueyang truly wished to ignore the younger girl’s provocations, but she could not avoid her persistent advances.

“I’m going to see the Grandmother Empress Dowager. If you want to come along, suit yourself.”

With that, Cheng Xueyang entered Kunning Palace.

The Grandmother Empress Dowager looked rosy and in good spirits. Cheng Xueyang knelt to pay her respects, and the Dowager smiled warmly, beckoning her to rise.

“You’ve returned, you’ve returned. That’s good,” she said, taking her hand affectionately. “Qingyi, don’t leave again this time.”

Qingyi was the eldest princess—a pitiable sister who had died on the battlefield—Cheng Xueyang’s elder sister by the same parents.

The Empress Dowager had always doted on Qingyi and refused to accept the tragic news, believing Qingyi was merely away and would return. Cheng Xueyang’s resemblance to Qingyi probably caused the confusion.

“Grandmother, she is not Sister Qingyi. She is Cheng Xueyang,” Cheng Liuyi spoke sharply as she entered.

The Empress Dowager’s expression changed. Narrowing her eyes, she scrutinized Cheng Xueyang before harshly pulling her hand away.

“You must leave. If not for your collusion, Qingyi would never have left the palace so easily—and never returned. I don’t want to see you.”

Cheng Xueyang lowered her head, staring silently at the empty hand.

Cheng Liuyi smirked triumphantly, then helped the Empress Dowager sit on the warm couch. The two chatted, completely ignoring Cheng Xueyang’s presence.

The Empress Dowager’s disdain was due to the eldest princess’s fate, so such treatment was to be expected. Cheng Xueyang had prepared herself mentally before coming.

Still, after five years away, she wished to visit the elder.

“Grandmother, Xueyang will take her leave now…”

As Cheng Xueyang prepared to depart for the next destination, a palace maid hurriedly entered carrying a paper bag containing Lee’s sesame cakes.

She paused, eyes fixed on the long-desired sesame cakes.

“Your Highness, these were just sent by the Prime Minister, still warm,” the maid announced loudly, leaving no doubt about the meaning.

Earlier this year, the old Prime Minister retired, succeeded by a new one. The Prime Minister in question was Gu Mo, the youngest prime minister in Dalang’s history.

He had truly risen step by step to the pinnacle of civil service, a testament to his dedication.

Cheng Liuyi took the cakes and coquettishly acted shy before the Empress Dowager.

“Oh, I just casually mentioned I wanted some of those cakes, and he sent them immediately. How embarrassing.”

The Empress Dowager smiled kindly.

“Prime Minister Gu is a fine young man. He remains unmarried. Though older than you by many years, a mature man is more caring.”

Cheng Xueyang nearly laughed aloud.

Gu Mo was thirty this year, four years older than her and a full generation older than Cheng Liuyi.

Indeed, maturity brings care—he even took the initiative to buy sesame cakes.

Cheng Xueyang left Shoukang Palace, while Cheng Liuyi chased after her, flaunting the sesame cakes.

“Cheng Xueyang, let me be honest with you. Soon, Father will decree a marriage. I will marry gloriously into the Prime Minister’s household.”

“Oh? Congratulations,” Cheng Xueyang replied with a pale expression, neither pleased nor angry, as if hearing something trivial and irrelevant.