Chapter 6

For a moment, he came back to his senses. His eyes, moist as black gemstones, gazed fixedly at me.

A little while later, he buried his face in the hollow of my neck again and sighed with satisfaction. “Elder Sister Mingyue.”

I thought I had nothing to resent. At that moment, he knew it was me beside him.

After Zhou Hui finally fell into a deep sleep, I put my clothes back on and went outside.

Sanhu was waiting beyond the door. She handed me a bowl of pitch-black medicine.

It was a pregnancy-prevention decoction.

Without hesitation, I drank it all in one go.

Sanhu let out a breath of relief. “Her Highness once said you were a sensible person.”

She paused, then continued, “If something like this happens again, don’t forget to take the medicine. Don’t overstep your place. Miss Mingyue’s good fortune still lies ahead.”

In the days that followed, the incident of Zhou Hui being drugged with an aphrodisiac stirred up both the court and the harem. Noble Consort Shu and Duke An made a tremendous uproar.

The medicine had been brought in by a palace maid serving Noble Consort Shen, while the young eunuch who had led Zhou Hui into the harem implicated the Empress under torture.

The two sworn enemies, faced with Zhou Hui’s sudden rise, had chosen to join forces for the time being.

Duke An even revived the old case of the Fourth Prince in the Golden Hall, openly condemning brothers who turned against one another to seize the position of Crown Prince.

Noble Consort Shu’s elder brother, Minister Chen of the Ministry of Revenue, presented evidence that a cousin of the Empress had seized military farmland and falsified troop numbers to embezzle army provisions.

The Emperor flew into a rage. He ordered the Empress confined, publicly slapped Noble Consort Shen, and scolded the First and Second Princes so harshly that they could barely raise their heads when they came to plead their case.

When some fell from power, others were sure to rise.

Zhou Hui was formally named Prince Yu. Until his residence was completed, he would stay in the Eastern Palace.

It was a favor so astonishing that it left everyone stunned.

The character “Yu” meant radiant and brilliant—a world apart from the “Hui” in the name he had been given at birth.

The boy who had followed me since he was ten had finally left behind those dark days and stepped onto the road leading to the highest throne.

16

After moving to the Eastern Palace with Zhou Hui, I was finally able to send a letter home to Lingnan.

Two months later, a reply arrived.

Seven years had passed. My eldest and second elder brothers had both married and had children, making their living locally as teachers.

Until the Marquis’s household was cleared of its false charges, they still could not sit for the civil service examinations.

The letter mentioned that an old friend of Father’s had come to visit, hinting that there had been more to the case all those years ago—and that the circumstances of Father’s death were suspicious as well.

At the end was Grandmother’s handwriting: Mingyue, you have suffered all these years. If you can accomplish something great, you will be the Cheng family’s hero. If you cannot, then take good care to protect yourself.

Clutching the letter, I sat in a daze for a long time. The resentment I had carried when I first entered the palace had gradually faded.

There were still people in this world who loved me and relied on me. I also carried their hopes on my shoulders, so I had to keep moving forward.

17

Noble Consort Shu had once said that once someone entered the Eastern Palace, there was no reason for them to move out.

Sure enough, the Prince Yu residence on East Street took two years to build, and two years after that Zhou Hui won the struggle for the position of Crown Prince and was appointed heir.

On the day the imperial decree was announced throughout the land, Her Majesty the Empress publicly lost control. Pointing at Zhou Hui, she cursed, “A bastard born of a wine seller!”

She was dragged away.

Zhou Hui’s expression did not change. He accepted the Crown Prince’s seal and bowed properly in thanks.

The assembled civil and military officials congratulated him as one.

He was now only one step away from the throne.

After night fell, Zhou Hui came to my room.

The candlelight flickered. The gentleness he had worn during the day vanished completely, and he let all his excitement and agitation spill out without restraint. He demanded me again and again, until we were both utterly spent.

He made me open my eyes and look at him. The frail, helpless boy of years past now had sharply defined features, and the whole of him radiated the dignity of someone born to rule.

“Elder Sister, I did it.”

“From now on, you will be the most honored woman in all of Great Zhou.”

“You must stay by my side forever.”

For the past two years, I had managed all the affairs of the Eastern Palace’s inner quarters.

Though I had no formal title, I was the only woman by Zhou Hui’s side.

He gave me all the respect I could ask for. Whether they were servants in the Eastern Palace or advisers in the outer court, whenever they saw me, they respectfully called me “Aunt Mingyue.”

Seeing how steadily I handled things, Noble Consort Shu also let Zhou Hui arrange matters as he pleased.

Perhaps our meeting had been an unforeseen accident, but now I could only feel grateful for fate’s favor.

Hearing Zhou Hui’s solemn promise, warmth slowly rose in waves through my heart.

I fell asleep in his arms, never once wondering how long the word “forever” would last.

18

One afternoon, Noble Consort Shu summoned me to Jingren Palace for a chat.

She gently stroked the cat in her lap, her expression calm. “Hui’er told me a joke today.”

I did not understand what she meant and did not dare reply carelessly.

A smile tugged at Noble Consort Shu’s lips. “He asked me whether you could become the Crown Princess.”

I was startled. I immediately rose from my chair and knelt on the floor.

Zhou Hui was past eighteen, and I had also heard people in the palace say that the selection of the Crown Princess was about to begin.