Pear blossoms shine against the white poplar trees.

"Your Majesty, Consort Virtue has brought Prince Chu to pay her respects," reported the chief palace maid of the Hall of Eternal Autumn, returning after sending Qiuhe out.

Xu Guiyi immediately set down her ornate gold chopsticks, dabbing the corner of her lips with a handkerchief. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Fu Lancheng across from her also putting down his eight-sided gold cup.

The Empress gathered her sleeves and announced in a clear voice, "Let them in." Xu Guiyi and Fu Lancheng rose at once, standing respectfully to the side.

In no time, Xu Guiyi saw Consort Cao leading a half-grown youth in from the hall’s entrance, her smile as radiant as a spring breeze.

Consort Cao was dressed today in a dark blue palace robe of thousand-leaf Sichuan brocade, her jet-black hair arranged in a trailing cloud chignon, adorned at the right temple with a golden hairpin shaped like clouds and flowers. Below hung a pair of cloisonné jade drop earrings, a necklace of eight treasures and red gold, and on her wrists, a pair of blue-and-white glass bead bracelets—each detail refined and distinctive.

Though Consort Virtue's beauty was not as dazzling as that of the Empress or Noble Consort Nangong, her bearing was as elegant as an orchid; her manner calm and gentle, her bright eyes full of kindness—altogether most approachable.

"Your servant pays her respects to Her Majesty," Consort Virtue curtsied gracefully, her etiquette impeccable. Fu Lancheng and Xu Guiyi both paid their respects to her as well, almost in unison.

"Your son pays his respects to Mother Empress," the youth behind Consort Virtue bowed, his voice clear and bright.

Xu Guiyi glanced sideways; this red-lipped, white-toothed boy with fine features must be Prince Chu. He wore a red gold jade coronet, a deep crimson silk robe embroidered with symbols of fortune, prosperity, and longevity, a gold-framed jade lotus ornament at his chest, and bright red soft lambskin boots with golden soles—a picture of youthful nobility.

The Empress beckoned to him warmly. "Come here, quickly, come to Mother."

Prince Chu looked at Consort Virtue, who smiled and gently nudged him forward. "Go on now," she coaxed.

Only then did he relax his expression and approach the Empress.

"It seems you've grown taller again, and you look so much healthier," the Empress said kindly, glancing at Consort Virtue with a smile. "All thanks to you, Consort Virtue."

Consort Virtue, humbled by the praise, immediately declined, "Prince Chu is blessed by His Majesty and Your Majesty’s protection. I dare not claim credit."

The Empress, knowing Consort Virtue to be always proper and never troublesome, did not press her. "Enough, enough, have a seat."

Consort Virtue then settled herself demurely at the Empress’s side.

"Xun'er, tell Mother, what have you been reading lately? Have you been obeying your tutor?" The Empress took Prince Chu’s small hand, asking fondly in a gentle voice.

Prince Chu glanced at Fu Lancheng and answered quietly, "I've been reading the Book of Rites."

"Oh? You've started on the classics of etiquette? That's wonderful," the Empress replied with a gentle smile.

"It was Fifth Brother who assigned it to me," he added, looking again at Fu Lancheng.

Fu Lancheng's expression softened, a rare sight. He beckoned with a gentle smile, "Little Eight, come here."

At this, Prince Chu's eyes sparkled with delight. He broke free from the Empress’s hand and darted into Fu Lancheng’s embrace.

Consort Virtue laughed and turned to the Empress, teasing, "This child has always been closest to his Fifth Brother..."

What followed, Xu Guiyi could no longer hear clearly. In her mind, the phrase "Little Eight, come here. Little Eight...come here...Little Eight..." echoed on and on.

Among the Emperor’s sons, the eighth in order—the one called "Little Eight"—should have been Fu Hong, son of the late Consort Shu. How could it be "Xun'er"?

A rush of blood surged through Xu Guiyi’s chest, her head spinning so that she could barely tell up from down.

"Crown Princess? Crown Princess?!" Through the haze, someone grasped her arm, pulling her back to awareness.

Xu Guiyi came to herself and looked up to see Fu Lancheng's slender, jade-like hand and the "Little Eight" in his arms.

"Crown Princess?" It was the Empress’s voice.

"Forgive me, Mother," Xu Guiyi replied sincerely, her tone clear and steady. "Seeing Prince Chu just now reminded me of my younger brother at home, who is about the same age. I was overcome with longing and momentarily lost in thought. I beg your pardon."

The Empress paused, but suspected nothing. "It is only natural for you to miss your family, being so far from home. How could I blame you?" she said kindly.

Consort Virtue chimed in warmly, "When I was young, I too grew up in Jiangdong—endless green mountains, vast blue waters, a most beautiful land. It’s no wonder the Crown Princess feels homesick, having only just arrived in Guangling. Even after more than thirty years away, I still long for it often."

Xu Guiyi forced a smile and turned to Prince Chu. "Prince Chu, you resemble His Majesty greatly."

Consort Virtue quickly prompted, "Xun'er, pay your respects to your sister-in-law, the Crown Princess."

Prince Chu, already a poised youth, responded promptly. He bowed to Xu Guiyi, "Fu Xun greets Sister-in-law, the Crown Princess."

So this was the Eighth Prince, Fu Xun.

Xu Guiyi clasped her hands together, steadying their slight tremble, her smile serene. "There’s no need for such formality, Eighth Brother. From now on, just call me Fifth Sister-in-law." She reached out and gently measured the width of Fu Xun's shoulders, her gaze soft.

"Fifth Sister-in-law." The clear, ringing salutation sent laughter rippling through the hall.

"Yes," Xu Guiyi replied with a smile.

The Empress and Consort Virtue continued their conversation; Fu Xun pulled Fu Lancheng aside to ask about his studies. Xu Guiyi sat quietly, sometimes listening to the women’s talk, sometimes watching Fu Lancheng and Fu Xun.

Fu Lancheng sensed that Xu Guiyi was acting peculiarly that day, but he could not bring himself to ask. He merely observed his Crown Princess out of the corner of his eye.

On the way back to the Eastern Palace, Xu Guiyi and Fu Lancheng shared the same carriage as usual.

Watching Fu Lancheng’s handsome features, Xu Guiyi felt a flicker of discontent.

After a moment, she remarked, "Seeing Prince Chu today, I realized how much Your Highness resembles His Majesty."

Fu Lancheng was incredulous at her audacity in commenting on his looks. Instantly, he snapped, "How dare you look directly at my face?"

Such fleeting displays of anger, once one grew accustomed, lost their power to intimidate.

Xu Guiyi smiled lazily. "Your Highness is my husband. If a wife cannot look at her own husband, what harm is there in that?"

Fu Lancheng was momentarily lost for words and thundered, "I forbid you to look! You must not look!"

Xu Guiyi, emboldened, replied, "Very well, if Your Highness commands it, I shall not look. Still, it’s a pity—Heaven bestowed Your Highness with such peerless beauty, and forbidding others to see is truly a waste."

"Xu Guiyi!" Fu Lancheng roared again.

Xu Guiyi quickly lowered her head in a show of repentance. "Please, Your Highness, calm your anger. Your wife was at fault," though she felt not a shred of remorse.

Fu Lancheng snorted coldly. "Today I see you clearly at last. Before others, you’re always so gentle and proper, yet in private, you behave so wantonly?"

Xu Guiyi replied lightly, "Your Highness, honesty is a virtue. I have done nothing improper."

"You—!" He glared for a long moment, but all the once-formidable Fu Lancheng could manage was a single word.

"Stop the carriage," Fu Lancheng called out. The carriage halted abruptly.

Seeing he was about to disembark, Xu Guiyi quickly held him back. "Your Highness, bear with it a little longer. There is still a long way to go before we reach Jiaxu Palace."

Fu Lancheng lifted the curtain and glanced out, then let it fall heavily. He shot Xu Guiyi a glare and closed his eyes, ignoring her.

Xu Guiyi spread her hands innocently, then called to the driver, "Continue."

The driver, hearing the Crown Princess’s order, waited a moment. Receiving no objection from the Crown Prince, he snapped the reins and drove on.

When they reached Jiaxu Palace, Nurse Wu was waiting at the gate.

Seeing Fu Lancheng step down with a sullen face, she hurried to greet him with a deep bow.

Only after he had gone did she approach Xu Guiyi. "Crown Princess, Concubine Cheng has returned."

Xu Guiyi was surprised. "But isn’t Old Madam Cheng’s illness still unstable? Did the Empress request Concubine Cheng’s return?" She herself had voiced no opinion on the matter.

Nurse Wu leaned in and whispered, "I heard it was Concubine Cheng’s own decision. She’s already back at the Eastern Pavilion."

As Xu Guiyi walked toward Chunhui Hall, she reflected that she had many sisters at home. The Eastern Palace had only three consorts so far, but dealing with a husband’s concubines was nothing like living with one’s own sisters.

"Crown Princess, if I may ask," Nurse Wu ventured, "when His Highness left this morning, he looked so well. Why is he so... changed on his return?" She dared not ask Fu Lancheng directly, so she turned to Xu Guiyi.

Xu Guiyi thought for a moment. She could hardly say, "Your Crown Prince was angered by me."

"Today, in Mother’s hall, we saw Consort Virtue and Prince Chu. His Highness was testing Prince Chu’s studies, and the boy seems quite fond of His Highness."

Nurse Wu’s face cleared at this. "Crown Princess, you may not know—Prince Chu was raised by the Crown Prince since childhood. His Highness naturally pays close attention to his studies."

Xu Guiyi strolled slowly in the courtyard, unhurried to return inside. She smiled lightly, "Today was my first meeting with Prince Chu—such a handsome boy. He resembles the Crown Prince, but even more so His Majesty. As for his temperament... he’s rather like Consort Virtue—gentle and courteous."

Nurse Wu, following behind, paused slightly at these words.

Xu Guiyi, ever perceptive, asked, "What is it? Did I say something wrong?"

Nurse Wu looked up and, seeing she could not avoid it under Xu Guiyi’s keen gaze, confessed, "Prince Chu... is not Consort Virtue’s biological son."

Xu Guiyi stopped abruptly, enlightenment dawning. "So that’s how it is." She coughed softly, then murmured, "I did think today that Prince Chu bore little resemblance to Consort Virtue." Nurse Wu nodded, indicating they should speak further inside Chunhui Hall.

Once Xu Guiyi was seated, Nurse Wu dismissed the rest of the servants, leaving only Xi Yue.

Only then did Nurse Wu explain in detail: "Prince Chu’s birth mother was Consort Shu. When she passed away, the prince was not yet three. His Majesty entrusted him to the Empress for half a year, then chose Consort Virtue as his foster mother."

As the old story was laid bare, Xu Guiyi felt a long-buried wound inside her break open, bleeding anew.

"Then... when Consort Shu passed, she must have been very young?" Xu Guiyi heard herself ask.

Nurse Wu sighed. "Yes, Consort Shu died of illness before she was thirty—still in her prime."

Illness? Back then, Xu Yan had told her that Consort Shu had drunk the poison meant for "him" and paid with her life instead.

So "he" had to live well, or else, even in death, he would be ashamed before the ancestors of the Pei family...

Pear blossoms reflected against the white poplar—always the place of parting, of life and death.