Who mourns the world’s scant mercy and faith?

Xu Guiyi escorted Xu Zhouyan to the entrance of the Eastern Palace, where they saw an anxious eunuch from the Empress’s palace running toward them, his face pale and unsettled.

Xu Guiyi hurriedly asked, “What has happened?”

The young eunuch, upon seeing Xu Guiyi, immediately knelt and knocked his forehead to the ground, his voice trembling. “Your Highness, something terrible has occurred. His Highness… His Highness quarreled with His Majesty in the Palace of Supreme Tranquility. I heard His Majesty even resorted to violence. The Empress sent me to inform you…”

Xu Guiyi felt her mind reel with shock. What could possibly have caused the emperor and the crown prince to clash so fiercely again? Still reeling, she was pulled toward the carriage by Xu Zhouyan.

“Come, let’s quickly go to the palace and see what’s happened.” They walked swiftly, and Xu Zhouyan spoke just as quickly.

Inside the carriage, both sisters fell into an unusual silence. This sudden conflict left them utterly unable to guess at its cause.

Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they arrived outside the Palace of Supreme Tranquility—and surprisingly, saw King Jiancheng and King De, two imperial uncles of high standing.

Xu Guiyi grew even more anxious. For such exalted princes to wait outside the hall—what was unfolding within? Her worry grew frantic, and she was about to disregard protocol and rush inside when King De and King Jiancheng held her back.

“Your Highness, you mustn’t!” King Jiancheng’s deep voice held a trace of impatience, and King De’s gaze was equally grave.

Xu Zhouyan, anxious by nature, lowered her voice. “What on earth happened? How could His Majesty and the Crown Prince quarrel so suddenly?”

King Jiancheng gently moved Xu Guiyi’s arm toward Xu Zhouyan, signaling for his wife to restrain the crown princess and prevent her from advancing.

He explained, “Today His Majesty summoned us to discuss the marriage alliance between the Cao family and Shu’nan. All went smoothly at first. But then the Crown Prince arrived, and after a few words, he and His Majesty began to argue…”

“Do you know what the argument was about?” Xu Guiyi pressed.

King Jiancheng sighed in both exasperation and surprise. “Did the Crown Prince only learn today of Shu’nan’s intent to arrange a marriage alliance? From their conversation, it seemed he had only just been informed—and he was very much opposed to the match between Lady Cao and Prince Shu’nan.”

Xu Guiyi staggered back, and Xu Zhouyan quickly steadied her.

Clearly, this was unexpected for her as well. She looked stiffly at Xu Zhouyan. “I thought the Empress would have informed the Crown Prince. I didn’t expect…” She didn’t expect that neither the Emperor nor the Empress had said a word.

“The Crown Prince has been busy with state affairs these past two months. I never asked about court matters, so I didn’t know he was unaware of Cao’s impending marriage with Shu’nan.”

A match between a noble house and a vassal prince was not just a royal affair but crucial to political stability. Before the imperial edict was issued, only the Emperor, Empress, and a few princes knew; the Crown Princess herself had heard of it from the Empress. This time, Shu’nan’s grand arrival in the capital had sparked all sorts of speculation among the officials, but none knew which family’s daughter would be selected.

The Emperor had remained silent, thinking that since the Crown Prince was preoccupied with governance, learning of it a little later would do no harm. He never thought the Crown Prince would care about such “trivial” matters as marriage alliances, for he had never shown much interest in his own marriage. But the Empress—why had she said nothing? The Crown Prince had gone to pay his respects to her in the Palace of Eternal Autumn every day.

Xu Guiyi looked at Xu Zhouyan, her gaze filled with both sorrow and astonishment.

King Jiancheng continued, “After the argument, His Majesty ordered us both to leave…” He gestured at himself and King De, who nodded gravely.

“Though the Crown Prince is proud and unyielding, he is deeply sentimental. Remembering the misfortune of Princess Yongqing, he would never consent to Grand Tutor Cao’s granddaughter marrying far away into Shu’nan,” King De added.

So this was the reason? This was why the Empress had delayed telling Fu Lancheng! The Emperor might not know Fu Lancheng’s temperament, but the Empress did—she knew her son too well. She planned to wait until the edict was issued, when all was settled and unchangeable, and then she would gently counsel her son, helping him see the reality before him.

“Is it true His Majesty struck him?” Just as Xu Zhouyan asked, a crash of porcelain echoed from within, the sound of a large object—perhaps a Jingzhou blue-and-white vase.

Moments later, a fair-faced young attendant emerged, bowing deeply to those assembled. “His Majesty commands: King De, King Jiancheng, and Lady Jiancheng are to return to their residences. The Crown Princess is to enter.”

Xu Guiyi drew a deep breath. “I receive the edict.” She followed the attendant into the inner hall.

Xu Zhouyan’s gaze lingered with unwilling concern, but King Jiancheng forcibly led her away.

Upon entering, Xu Guiyi saw shards of porcelain scattered across the floor—of every color and shape. Kneeling before the imperial desk was Fu Lancheng, his back straight as a pine.

“Kneeling before Your Majesty, I pay my respects,” she intoned with solemn propriety.

The Emperor, seeing her kneel beside Fu Lancheng, cast a sidelong glance at this young couple and grunted heavily. “You’re just in time, Crown Princess. Help me discipline this unfilial son!”

Only then did Xu Guiyi dare look at Fu Lancheng’s face—and was startled by the sight. Blood streamed from a wound the size of a thumbprint at his temple, staining his splendid robes.

Her heart ached. She hurriedly searched for her handkerchief, wishing to wipe away the blood, but Fu Lancheng coldly pushed her away.

Glancing at the floor, Xu Guiyi saw the bloodied shard: a fragment of a white jade cloud-patterned cup—the very cup the Emperor used for tea at his desk. In a fit of rage, the Emperor had hurled it at his son’s head. Though the wound was unintended, the blood had flowed for so long without a physician being called. It was clear how deep the Emperor’s resentment ran.

“Please, Your Majesty, calm your wrath. The Crown Prince is still young and has much to learn; he requires both Your Majesty’s and the Empress’s guidance. But he has already lost much blood today—I beg Your Majesty to summon the physician.” Her words were earnest as she bowed deeply.

The Emperor eyed Fu Lancheng’s injury coldly, reclining on his throne with obvious impatience. “Time and again, the Crown Prince defies me, and I have forgiven him out of fatherly affection for years. But today’s matter is intolerable. What is the status of Prince Shu’nan? What of the Cao family? As the heir, does he need me to teach him such simple priorities? So what if the Caos have served as Grand Tutors for generations? They are but ministers—why sacrifice Shu’nan’s goodwill for them?”

He spoke righteously, as if it were only natural.

That “mere minister,” in his dismissive tone, was about to offer his daughter for the sake of imperial stability, sending her far away to marry for the dynasty. Did the Emperor not know? He knew better than anyone. He simply saw it as a matter of course—subjects serve their sovereign, even unto sacrifice, and he felt it was only right.

But Xu Guiyi could not voice such truths. Fu Lancheng could, but she could not.

Kneeling straight and dignified, she spoke clearly: “The Cao family has served the throne for generations. The men are diligent scholars, the women virtuous and frugal. Their household is noble and their customs exemplary, all thanks to Your Majesty’s grace. It is right and proper for ministers to serve their lord—even unto death. And for the Cao family to be matched with the royal house of Shu’nan is a supreme honor.”

As she spoke, she bowed her head slightly, her face serene and sincere.

She could feel Fu Lancheng trembling beside her, but she chose to keep smiling, ignoring the murderous look in his eyes.

Perhaps their expressions were so starkly contrasted that the Emperor felt appeased at last. He said, “At least the Crown Princess understands propriety.”

Xu Guiyi offered a devout bow. “Your daughter-in-law thanks Your Majesty for the praise!”

“Very well. Hereafter, you must counsel the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace—help relieve my concerns. Yuanhe, escort the Crown Prince and Crown Princess to the Palace of Eternal Autumn and summon the physician.” The Emperor issued his orders.

“Your daughter-in-law thanks Your Majesty.” After her formal bows, Xu Guiyi moved to help Fu Lancheng rise. He resisted, but she insisted, and in the Emperor’s presence, Fu Lancheng, face ashen, did not protest further and allowed her to support him as they left.

The moment they stepped out of the Palace of Supreme Tranquility, Fu Lancheng wrenched himself free, so forcefully that Xu Guiyi nearly stumbled down the palace steps.

“Your Highness is already twenty-three, no longer a child. I believe you understand these matters perfectly—you simply refuse to accept them.” Xu Guiyi followed behind, her voice soft.

Fu Lancheng was seething, his eyes venomous. “And you, so calculating and self-serving, dare lecture me?”

Xu Guiyi smiled at her husband’s naivete. “In our marriage, Your Highness is lofty, I am shrewd. Is that not complementary—just right?”

“Enough!”

“But I won’t stop!”

Eunuch Yuanhe strode ahead, oblivious to their quarrel behind him.

“Xu Guiyi, do you wish to die?” How dare she contradict him like this? Fu Lancheng’s anger only made his wound bleed faster.

But Xu Guiyi replied coolly, “It is Your Highness who courts death, not I. If you disregard the lives of everyone in the Eastern Palace, then as Crown Princess and mistress of the palace, it falls to me to protect them.”

Fu Lancheng suddenly fell silent.

“You are the Crown Prince. No matter how you defy His Majesty, for the sake of the Empress and the imperial clan, he won’t kill you. But as for the servants of the Eastern Palace? The Cao family, illustrious as they are, counts for little in His Majesty’s eyes—those palace staff are but ants to him. If you err gravely, at worst you’ll be punished or confined. But those ‘ants’ will bear the brunt of his rage; they’ll die wretchedly, accused of failing to counsel their master.”

Her words left Fu Lancheng speechless. Born a legitimate prince, he had enjoyed twenty-three years of privilege and had never been spoken to so bluntly. Yet he could not refute her, for every word she said was true.

On the seventh day of the eleventh month, in the fourteenth year of Chengxiao’s reign, the Emperor decreed through King De that Lady Cao Ziyin be named Lady of Qinghe and bestowed in marriage to Murong Xun, Prince of Shu’nan. The wedding was to be held on an auspicious date.