Chapter 6: Encounter

“My Lady…” Cui'er lowered her head cautiously as she entered the sleeping quarters of Changxi Palace. Looking at Xue Ji, who was facing the mirror adjusting her makeup, she called out timidly, her words hesitating.

Upon her beautiful face, Xue Ji lifted her enchanting eyes and glanced at the submissive Cui'er through the bronze mirror. “What, has the Emperor not arrived yet?” Ever since the Empress passed away, the Emperor had not set foot in the inner palace to favor any concubines for two months. The Empress Dowager, concerned about the imperial succession, had designated that Consort Xue should attend to him tonight. Currently, she held the highest rank in the inner palace. Previously, the Emperor had been solely devoted to Gao Changge, so there were originally few concubines. Back then, she had been itching with jealousy toward Gao Changge, but now, she actually had to thank that woman; at least there were fewer women in the inner palace, and fewer people to compete with her for favor.

Speaking of which, Li Zhan's inner palace was truly sparse for a ruler, with Xue Ji being the only one with the rank of Consort. Below Xue Ji were several Noble Ladies like Yin Yu, who had received favor once or twice, and the rest were Beauties appointed merely to appease the court officials, most of whom had never even attended a night of service. Back then, Xue Ji had only obtained a few opportunities to be favored because Gao Changge's menstrual cycle made it unsuitable for her to attend to him; as for Yin Yu, she was the one Xue Ji had used to drive a wedge between Gao Changge and Li Zhan to get her onto the dragon bed.

“My Lady, Xiao Yu-zi, the eunuch by the Emperor's side, said that His Majesty feels fatigued tonight and has retired early... The Emperor sent word through Xiao Yu-zi saying that tonight, My Lady should just rest well...” Before Cui'er could finish her stammering, she was startled into kneeling in silence by the piercing sound of shattering porcelain.

A shadow cast over Xue Ji's beautiful face. She swept the powder boxes on the dressing table and the vase beside her to the floor, leaving a chaotic mess. She pulled the golden hairpins from her head and threw them aside, her voice filled with resentment. “What is the Emperor trying to do? That woman is already gone, gone! Yet the Emperor still pines for her, even going so far as to openly defy the Empress Dowager's wishes and slap my face like this! Ah! Gao Changge, why must you still compete with me even after you are dead? Why...”

While she was screaming hysterically in the sleeping quarters, Li Zhan had already changed into casual clothes and left the palace with Xiao Yu-zi and a guard.

“Your Majesty, this servant still feels it is inappropriate...” Dressed as a common servant, Xiao Yu-zi spoke up timidly even after they had exited the palace gates.

Perhaps because he had breathed fresh air after leaving the palace, a smile finally appeared on Li Zhan's face. He cast a faint glance at the timid and death-fearing Xiao Yu-zi, picked up the folding fan in his hand, and gave him a merciless tap on the head. “What did I just say? Once we leave the palace, you are to call me Young Master. Furthermore, if you utter one more unnecessary word, there will be no need for you to follow.” Having said that, he ignored the aggrieved Xiao Yu-zi, who was clutching his head, and walked straight toward the bustling night market with the Imperial Guard, Mo Yan.

Entering the crowded market, Li Zhan's simple yet noble casual attire lent him the aura of a young master from a great aristocratic family. His striking looks immediately drew the frequent gazes of many women. However, with the cold-faced guard Mo Yan holding a sword by his side, and his own serious demeanor, he inevitably made people hesitate to approach.

As they walked past a stall selling sugar figurines, a petite figure happened to bump into his chest. A fragrant scent filled his senses; the unique, fresh fragrance of a young girl was not unpleasant, but Li Zhan, who had always disliked people getting close to him, instinctively frowned. Just as he was about to react, the girl in his arms lifted her head. A pair of clear, beautiful phoenix eyes fell into Li Zhan's sight, causing a surge of emotion in his heart. The girl's face was partially covered by a plain gauze veil, and the faint features beneath it made one want to catch a glimpse. Those eyes actually gave him a sense of familiarity that felt as if they had crossed thousands of mountains and rivers.

“I am so sorry, Young Master! I was walking too fast just now and accidentally bumped into you. Please don't mind!” The girl blinked playfully, seemingly a bit dazzled by the handsome stranger before her, but her eyes held more of a clear, waveless quality. Her voice was like fine jade, crisp, gentle, and playful. Li Zhan could not describe the feeling in his heart; he only saw the girl turn lightly on her feet and walk past him toward the sugar figurine stall.

“How dare you—you—!” Seeing this young girl being so impolite, Xiao Yu-zi could not help but raise his voice and point at her back, but he was frightened into swallowing his next words by a warning look from Li Zhan. Strange, the Emperor was not angry, but was instead staring at this girl with such a strange look? It was a bit too strange...

The girl seemed unaware that someone was watching her. The hem of her long, water-blue silk skirt danced gently with her movements, like beautiful flowing water. She squinted her beautiful, clear eyes and said to the stall owner, “Um, I don't have enough money on me, but I really like this one, and this one, and that sugar figurine too. Uncle, could you please charge me a little less and sell them all to me?”

“Eh, little girl, with just this little bit of money, how can you buy so many sugar figurines? No, no!” Although the stall owner found it hard to be harsh toward such a charming young girl, he still waved his hand in disapproval.

Frustratedly tugging at her braid, the girl had her long, jet-black hair simply styled into small braids at the sides of her ears, with the rest of her hair flowing loose behind her, topped with a simple folk hairstyle. She was slender and asked persistently, “Boss, please be kind and sell them to me! How about I sing a song for you?”

“Heh—” Li Zhan suddenly let out a soft laugh upon hearing this, but then he grew somewhat somber. In his memory, that person seemed to have acted shamelessly like this too, back when he was merely a prince in the Cold Palace.

“Brother Zhan, if I sing a song for you, will you make a clay figurine for me, okay?” Ten-year-old Changge was still an innocent and lively little girl, and she had also acted spoiled and shamelessly just like this little girl before him.

Xiao Yu-zi and Mo Yan watched their master staring blankly at the girl's back, unsure of how to react. At that moment, a group of aggressive thugs suddenly approached...

“Yo, isn't this the little beauty we saw yesterday? What, you want to buy sugar figurines? I'll buy them all for you. How about you come home with big brother, little beauty?” The leader, a man in his thirties who looked like a profligate playboy, reached out his large hand and placed it on the girl's shoulder, his voice lewd.

The little girl was clearly unhappy to be touched by such a thug. She moved her feet to dodge his hand, her voice laced with anger, “Lei Bao, this is the capital, under the feet of the Emperor. Bullying a decent young lady, do you even care about the law?”

From Li Zhan's angle, he could just see the girl's eyes, which were shining with indignation, and he couldn't help but be stunned once again.

“Hahaha, the law? On this street, I am the law! Let me tell you, your useless old man has already been beaten to death by me! You'd better obediently follow me back to my manor! Haha, little lady, don't wear that veil, let brother take a good look at your face...” As he spoke, Lei Bao grabbed the wrist of the girl—who was stunned into silence by his words—and with a lewd grin, crudely tore off her veil.

“Hiss—” A chorus of sharp intakes of breath rang out. Mo Yan and Xiao Yu-zi were already shocked beyond belief, and Li Zhan's eyes widened even further, his breath catching in his throat.

What kind of face was it? Her brows were like distant mountains, her nose was delicate, and her lips were red. A cinnabar mole tear-drop under her right eye added an enchanting allure in the wind. With skin like ice and bones like jade, she was a beauty that could topple kingdoms. In the night, such a countenance made one feel as if they had encountered a fairy who had accidentally wandered into the mortal realm.

Li Zhan opened his mouth, feeling as if needles were pricking his throat. “Changge...”

Such a face—he had been able to see it every day. In this world, there was another person who possessed the exact same face, equally breathtaking and capable of toppling kingdoms.