29. In dreams, I have yet to behold her as vividly as in a painting.

“Crown Princess, Crown Princess?” Xi Yue called out twice in succession.

“What is it?” Xu Guiyi took a deep breath.

“The Crown Prince just sent someone to summon you,” Xi Yue leaned in, her expression filled with concern.

“The Crown Prince is summoning me?” Xu Guiyi was so surprised that her voice rose considerably. Seeing this, Xi Yue quickly shot her a look, hinting that the Crown Prince’s attendants were waiting outside.

“Did they say what it’s about?” Xu Guiyi had a foreboding feeling, especially since that morning, the magpies had been calling under the palace eaves for half the day.

“They didn’t say.” Xi Yue shook her head, confusion written across her face.

“Then let’s go.” Xu Guiyi knew there was no point in overthinking it, so after tidying herself up a bit, she headed for Yonghui Pavilion.

“Your Highness, what about the painting…” Wasn’t she going to use it to earn the Crown Prince’s favor? Xi Yue glanced at the painting “Lone Moon Over Pingjiang,” her heart full of doubts.

Sure enough, Xu Guiyi paused, hesitated for a moment, and said, “Next month is His Highness’s birthday. I was just fretting about what gift to present him. Now that I have this painting, that’s one less worry.” In truth, she simply needed a suitable reason to give him the painting.

Xi Yue looked at the painting, then at her mistress, wanting to say more, but finally decided to follow her orders.

Leaving Chunhui Hall, crossing Rong Garden, and walking a short stretch of pebble path, they arrived at Yonghui Pavilion. Xi Yue waited outside as Xu Guiyi entered Fu Lanchen’s study alone. He was seated at his desk, reading memorials.

“Your humble wife greets Your Highness.” Xu Guiyi bowed low, the twin lotus gold hairpins on her head swaying gently, the icy jade earrings by her earlobes fluttering in the breeze, stirring an inexplicable sense of weightlessness in the heart.

Fu Lanchen paid her little mind, so she adjusted her hairpin with slender fingers and simply waited silently, quietly observing the Crown Prince’s mood. His hair was dark as ink, tied in a neat topknot and secured with a white jade coronet. He wore a lake-blue brocade robe embroidered with gold thread peony clusters. Though seated, his back was straight, his shoulders broad and chest expansive.

From Xu Guiyi’s angle, she could just make out his refined, handsome profile and flawless jawline. If only he would smile a little more, the world would gain another elegant and gentle-hearted gentleman.

The evening clouds faded at the horizon, the sky a pale, luminous blue.

By the time he finished reading, Xu Guiyi’s legs had already grown numb.

He glanced up at her, noting her lack of displeasure, and said indifferently, “The autumn hunt is approaching. A few days ago, the Western Regions sent a batch of fine horses. My mother said you should go and choose one you like.”

Xu Guiyi finally came back to herself, instinctively clenching her hands. “I thank Her Majesty for her kindness. For this autumn hunt, Concubine Cheng and Concubine Lu will also be attending. May they choose horses too?”

Fu Lanchen let out a cold laugh. “No wonder my mother always praises the Crown Princess for her virtue—not only is the Eastern Palace in perfect order under your management, but you’re always thinking of my other consorts.”

Xu Guiyi had no choice but to feign silence; she merely wanted some company.

“They each have a fine steed they’ve raised since childhood. Crown Princess, you’d better worry about yourself,” Fu Lanchen sneered.

Indeed, how could she forget? Cheng Hewei and Lu Zhirou both grew up in Guangling. Northern women were well-versed in riding and archery. No doubt, before their coming of age, they had already accompanied their fathers and brothers on hunts.

As for Xu Guiyi herself, she had grown up in Jiangdong, where horsemanship was not her strength.

“In the future, I will practice diligently, so as not to disgrace Your Highness,” she said quietly.

Fu Lanchen’s eyes were cold. “No need. Just see to pleasing my mother.”

To him, this Crown Princess was chosen by the Empress and had nothing to do with him—but such words were deeply wounding.

Xu Guiyi dug her fingernails into her wrist, using the pain to steady herself. “As daughter-in-law and wife, it is only right for me to please both my elders and my husband.” The unspoken meaning: if you weren’t my husband, who would bother with you?

“And defying your husband repeatedly—is that also only right?” There was a trace of anger in Fu Lanchen’s eyes.

“I dare not; I merely speak the truth,” Xu Guiyi replied coldly, her facade slipping.

Fu Lanchen, incensed, stood up and approached her, staring down at her—his first time looking at his wife for so long.

“Then how do you plan to win my favor? With your so-called honesty—or with those eyes of yours?” His words cut like poison.

“What does Your Highness mean by this? I am slow to understand,” Xu Guiyi answered, trembling.

“Are you truly ignorant, or did my mother forget to tell you?” Fu Lanchen pressed relentlessly.

“I truly do not know. Please, enlighten me,” Xu Guiyi replied, bowing deeply.

“Don’t pretend ignorance before me. Did my mother not teach you to use those eyes of yours to win my favor?” His gaze was bloodshot; he clearly minded this a great deal.

Xu Guiyi had no idea why he was so agitated and could only kneel weakly. “Your Highness, the Empress has never taught me such a thing. If my eyes remind you of someone from the past, I will no longer appear before you.” She forced back her tears, her voice icy.

“Enough! Is my departed one someone you are worthy to mention?” Fu Lanchen roared. To him, no one—not even Noble Consort Nangong, not the Empress, not Xu Guiyi—was worthy of mentioning her.

“I am certainly not worthy. But if Your Highness treats your lawful wife in such a manner merely because of a pair of similar eyes, I am truly innocent. After all, in this world, how many people and things resemble one another…” Xu Guiyi was so angry she lost her composure.

“What are you trying to say? What are you trying to say?!” Fu Lanchen’s phoenix eyes blazed with fury.

“Even without me, there would be someone else. If not my eyes, then perhaps a nose, a mouth, even a face—will Your Highness avoid them all?” Xu Guiyi straightened her spine, meeting his wrath head-on, refusing to yield.

“Hah! Xu Guiyi, you are bold indeed! Are you accusing me of refusing to face my affliction?” Fu Lanchen laughed coldly, but the chill deepened around him.

Xu Guiyi lifted her head to meet his gaze and said solemnly, “Yes.” Since he understood the phrase “refusing to face affliction,” why shouldn’t she help him open the wound and let the poison bleed out?

But she had underestimated the importance of that person in Fu Lanchen’s heart.

“Xu Guiyi, well done, very well! Guards!” Fu Lanchen slammed the table and shouted.

Wei Yuan and Xi Yue, having heard the argument, rushed inside.

“At your command, Your Highness,” Wei Yuan announced loudly, while Xi Yue hurried to kneel beside Xu Guiyi, though she had no idea why the Crown Prince was so furious.

Fu Lanchen turned his back, shoulders shaking with rage.

After a moment, he ordered, “The Crown Princess has spoken out of turn. She is to kneel by the stele at Cold Spring Court for two hours as punishment.”

“Your Highness, please, no…” Xu Guiyi had yet to react, but Xi Yue was already terrified, pleading desperately, “Your Highness, our Crown Princess has always been frail. If she kneels for two hours, she truly won’t be able to bear it. Please, have mercy and pardon her…”

Wei Yuan was moved by Xi Yue’s distress and hesitated as well.

“Thank you, Your Highness, for your grace.” Xu Guiyi stood up on her own and helped Xi Yue up. “Let’s go to Cold Spring Court.”

“Your Highness?” Xi Yue called tearfully, wanting to continue begging but was dragged away by Xu Guiyi.

“Your Highness, the Crown Princess is the mistress of the Eastern Palace…” Wei Yuan wanted to protest that such a punishment was too harsh, but fear made him falter.

“The master of the Eastern Palace is me,” Fu Lanchen’s gaze was as sharp as a knife, warning Wei Yuan that any more words on the Crown Princess’s behalf would be considered betrayal.

On the way to Cold Spring Court, Xu Guiyi twice ordered Xi Yue, “No more crying.” Xi Yue barely managed to hold back her tears.

But when she saw the stretch of pebble path by the stele, she began sobbing again, “Your Highness, this is all stone! If you kneel here for two hours, your knees will be ruined.”

Xu Guiyi glanced around, a cold sneer in her heart. Fu Lanchen truly was merciless. Did he dislike her so much?

Xi Yue watched as Xu Guiyi knelt on the stones and, after a moment’s hesitation, whispered, “Your Highness, let me fetch you a cushion. After all, His Highness never said you couldn’t use one.”

Xu Guiyi stroked Xi Yue’s head and smiled gently, “Silly girl.” This trick had been used in the Xu household back in Lanzhou—when Xu Luwei would skip her lessons, her father punished her by making her kneel in the ancestral hall, and Xu Guiyi would have Xi Yue sneak her a cushion.

She had always said the same thing to Xi Yue.

But the silly girl forgot: this was the Eastern Palace, not the Xu residence in Lanzhou.

Xu Yan had doted on his daughter and would never truly be harsh with her. But Fu Lanchen’s glare just now made it clear he would rather see Xu Guiyi die on her knees—how could he show mercy?

“Your Highness, I will kneel with you.” With that, Xi Yue knelt down beside her.

Xu Guiyi told her to stand. “If you kneel with me and both our knees are ruined, who will take care of us?”

Xi Yue reluctantly stood again, muttering, “The Crown Prince is truly heartless. Back home, Master and Madam wouldn’t let you suffer a single scratch.”

Xu Guiyi mocked, “He hasn’t laid a finger on me, has he?” He was only making her kneel on stones for two hours.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Xi Yue said, “Your Highness, the wind is strong here. I’ll fetch you a cloak.”

Cold Spring Court was a garden with a lake and artificial hills, cool in summer but chillier than elsewhere in autumn.

“Go ahead,” Xu Guiyi replied, just as she saw two people approaching.

“Your Highness, it’s Concubine Cheng. Why is she here?” Xi Yue wondered aloud.

Seeing Xu Guiyi kneeling, Cheng Hewei hurried over and squatted down beside her. “Crown Princess, I’m sorry I’m late.”