A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City

The night breeze was gentle, and the streets were aglow with colorful lanterns. Prince Chen’s gaze swept over the cheerful crowd before settling on the young girl beside him. He reached out to smooth the fluttering silk sash behind her. "Shall I take you to try some yuanxiao?"

"Alright." Jiuzhu nodded with a smile, as if she always agreed with whatever he suggested.

"Your Highness," a guard from the Imperial Dragon Guard whispered, "we’ve inquired ahead. There’s a restaurant nearby known for its excellent yuanxiao."

They were concerned about the safety of ingredients from street vendors.

Jiuzhu reluctantly pulled her gaze away from the stalls and tugged at Prince Chen’s sleeve. "Then let’s go to that restaurant."

"Very well." Prince Chen took her hand and walked at a leisurely pace. Passing by the lantern shop that had earlier claimed its lanterns weren’t for sale, Jiuzhu noticed the one that had hung at the highest point was now gone.

"What’s wrong?" Prince Chen shook the lantern in his hand. "Isn’t this the one we bought here?"

"Your Highness is correct. It was indeed purchased here."

The shopkeeper, recognizing Jiuzhu standing beside Prince Chen, gave her an awkward smile.

Jiuzhu turned to Prince Chen and whispered, "When I asked earlier, the owner said it wasn’t for sale. How did you manage to buy it?"

Prince Chen smirked mysteriously. "Take a guess."

Jiuzhu thought for a moment. "Did you solve all their lantern riddles?"

Prince Chen chuckled and shook his head, leading her forward without answering.

"Your Highness," Jiuzhu pressed, her curiosity piqued. "Tell me, please."

"Money," Prince Chen replied, barely suppressing a laugh. "If you offer enough, even the most stubborn merchant will relent."

Jiuzhu: "..."

So it was such a straightforward method.

"But where did you get so much money?" Jiuzhu eyed him suspiciously. "Didn’t His Majesty forbid Her Majesty from giving you allowances?"

"Father did say Mother couldn’t subsidize me, but he never said he couldn’t." Prince Chen smirked. "This money came from him."

He didn’t tell Jiuzhu that he was already wealthy—perhaps because the way she earnestly saved money for him was too endearing.

"His Majesty is quite..." Jiuzhu glanced at the guards behind them. "...quite a man of his word."

Forbidding the mother from giving money to her child while secretly slipping him funds himself—wasn’t that the epitome of doting?

Fortunately, His Highness was an immortal child descended to earth, unspoiled despite such indulgence.

Prince Chen stifled a laugh. "Indeed. Father has always been resolute in his decisions."

A flower vendor stood by the roadside. Prince Chen tossed a handful of coins and bought a spring orchid, tucking it into Jiuzhu’s hair.

The small orchid was unassuming, but earlier, while strolling, he’d noticed many men buying similar trinkets for their companions.

"Ming little pig."

"Hmm?" Jiuzhu looked up.

"We’ve arrived at the restaurant." Prince Chen smiled at the phoenix lantern hanging by the entrance.

"Dragon and Phoenix Harmony, Five Blessings Arrive, Perfect Ten..." Jiuzhu read the poetic names of the yuanxiao on the menu. "They’ve put a lot of thought into these names."

"It’s the Lantern Festival—everything’s for good fortune." Prince Chen glanced up and spotted Prince Huai and Princess Huai seated on the second floor.

"Fifth Brother." Prince Huai leaned against the window, smiling. "Come join us."

Prince Chen turned to Jiuzhu. "Shall we?"

Jiuzhu nodded. "Since His Highness Prince Huai has invited, how could you refuse?"

Prince Chen laughed and led her upstairs.

Though the restaurant was bustling with yuanxiao enthusiasts, Prince Huai’s private room held only him and his wife.

Prince Chen stepped inside. "Elder Brother and Sister-in-law have chosen an excellent spot. The view here captures the festival’s splendor."

Jiuzhu curtsied, and Princess Huai gracefully acknowledged her with a smile.

"Fifth Brother, County Mistress Ming, please sit." Prince Huai gestured warmly. "The capital is vast, yet we’ve crossed paths. Fate must have brought us together."

A waiter brought steaming bowls of yuanxiao. "Esteemed guests, this is Dragon and Phoenix Harmony. Please enjoy."

"What makes it Dragon and Phoenix Harmony?" Jiuzhu asked curiously.

"The yuanxiao contains two fillings that complement each other—neither overpowering, leaving a lingering fragrance. Just like the harmony of dragon and phoenix," the waiter explained cheerfully. "May your love be as sweet as these dumplings."

"Well said." Prince Chen tossed him a silver ingot. "Bring us some more snacks."

"Right away! Thank you, noble guest!" The waiter bowed and closed the door behind him.

"Try the fillings. What flavors do you taste?" Prince Chen nudged the bowl toward Jiuzhu.

"Fruit filling." Jiuzhu took a bite, then scooped another. "Still fruit."

"Didn’t ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‍he say two fillings?" Prince Chen picked up his spoon and stole one from her bowl.

"What’s the taste?" Jiuzhu watched him intently.

Prince Chen set down the spoon and wiped his lips. "Peanut and sesame."

Prince Huai glanced at the untouched bowl beside Prince Chen. Was his own yuanxiao unworthy, or did he simply prefer stealing from Jiuzhu’s?

"Which filling do you prefer, Your Highness?" Jiuzhu asked.

"Neither stands out." Prince Chen finally remembered his own bowl and pulled it closer. "It’s just for the auspicious name. I’m not fond of sticky sweets usually."

But for the sake of "Dragon and Phoenix Harmony," he’d endure it.

"Your Highness, look." Jiuzhu pointed outside. The lantern-lit streets stretched like glittering rivers of light.

Prince Chen stood beside her as the night breeze tousled their hair.

"Isn’t it beautiful?"

"Yes." He glanced at her. "Very beautiful."

This night, this breeze, and her—this was the perfect Lantern Festival.

Prince Huai wondered if inviting his brother and County Mistress Ming had been a mistake.

"The higher you stand, the finer the view," Prince Huai mused as the waiter brought fruits and snacks. He dismissed the servant and continued, "But the winds are fiercer at the summit. Have you ever considered building a tower to command all such vistas?"

Prince Chen chuckled and returned to his seat. "Elder Brother jests. The entire realm belongs to Father. As his sons, what tower is forbidden to us? Why waste resources building anew?"

Prince Huai studied him. "True. Under Father’s shelter, no place is beyond our reach."

Below, a street vendor’s cry drifted up to Jiuzhu, who leaned on the windowsill, enthralled by the passersby.

Princess Huai observed the girl who’d returned to the capital less than a year ago and offered her a plate of cheese cakes. "County Mistress Ming, try these."

"Thank you, Princess." Jiuzhu accepted politely, nibbling without probing about palace affairs or seeking favor.

Princess Huai found it odd. Had Ming Jiuzhu never considered life after marrying into royalty? Even Sun Caiyao, before wedding the Fourth Prince, had subtly courted her goodwill. How could an outsider like Ming Jiuzhu, raised apart from her family, be so unconcerned?

"Open your mouth." Prince Chen picked up a piece of Jiuzhu's favorite pastry with his chopsticks and held it to her lips.

Jiuzhu ate the pastry without hesitation.

Princess Huai watched the intimate exchange between the two, lowering her gaze as she sipped her tea. In one's youth, having the favor of someone close by naturally made one fearless and unbothered by the world.

But men were fickle creatures.

She glanced at Prince Huai, pretending not to care about the concubines and side chambers in their mansion.

Though the courtyard of Zhangliu Palace was small, it housed only the prince and her. Here, she no longer had to wonder which woman’s quarters he had visited or torment herself over such thoughts.

Looking at the young girl before her, whose smile was pure and unguarded, Princess Huai felt a pang of pity. Women who married into the imperial family could not afford such naivety.

"Fifth Brother and County Mistress Ming’s wedding is approaching. As your elder brother, I wish the two of you a harmonious union, blessed with prosperity and happiness." Prince Huai raised his teacup. "When the time comes, you must drink a few more cups with me."

Prince Chen lifted his cup with a faint smile. "Drinking in moderation is best. As long as we’re happy."

"Had I known Fifth Brother would be accompanying County Mistress Ming, we should have arranged to stroll around together. The more, the merrier." Prince Huai smirked meaningfully. "In previous years, you never cared for such gatherings. I assumed County Mistress Ming would be with her family and didn’t think much of it. My oversight—I failed to consider your preferences."

Prince Chen raised an eyebrow, replying bluntly, "Elder Brother, you’re drinking tea today, yet you sound drunk."

Prince Huai: "…"

Was Yun Duqing truly oblivious to his overtures of goodwill, or was he feigning ignorance?

"Elder Brother and Sister-in-Law are spending the Lantern Festival together. How could I intrude?" Prince Chen chuckled lightly. "If you keep this up, Sister-in-Law might grow upset."

Prince Huai laughed heartily. "You exaggerate, Fifth Brother. Your sister-in-law is ever gracious—why would she mind such trivialities?"

"I have no wish to disturb you two, nor do I want others interrupting my time with my betrothed." Prince Chen set down his teacup. "We’ve finished the sweet dumplings. It’s time we took our leave."

You may not care about your wife’s feelings, but I must consider my fiancée’s thoughts.

"Fifth Brother." Princess Huai spoke gently. "The view upstairs is lovely. Let County Mistress Ming stay a while longer."

Prince Chen turned to Jiuzhu.

"I’ll follow Your Highness’s lead." Jiuzhu answered earnestly. "Where would you like to go next?"

"I’ll take you somewhere special." Prince Chen extended his hand. Jiuzhu placed hers in his and stood as he pulled her up. "Where are we going?"

"You’ll see when we get there." At the door, Prince Chen lazily nodded at Prince and Princess Huai. "Elder Brother, Sister-in-Law, farewell."

"Take care, Fifth Brother." As the sound of their footsteps faded down the stairs, Prince Huai’s smile cooled. "Who knows whom Yun Duqing takes after—slippery as an eel, impervious to persuasion."

"Your Highness." Princess Huai walked to the window, watching Prince Chen and Ming Jiuzhu step out of the tavern hand in hand, laughing as they disappeared into the bustling crowd. A faint smile touched her lips. "The bond between Fifth Brother and County Mistress Ming is truly heartwarming."

"Whether it’s heartwarming or not hardly matters." Prince Huai had no interest in the topic. "In a few years, it won’t stop other women from entering his household. You women fret over such trivialities too much."

He glanced at Prince Chen’s empty bowl of sweet dumplings. "Well, well. He actually finished a whole bowl. How rare."

He remembered when Yun Duqing was five—everyone at the table had eaten the festive dumplings, but the boy had stubbornly refused to touch his, claiming they were sticky and unpleasant.

Since then, without fail, Prince Chen’s bowl had always been filled with substitutes, never the traditional dumplings.

"It seems people really do change." Prince Huai followed his wife’s gaze out the window, seeing only the dense sea of pedestrians.

"Let’s return to the palace."

For some reason, it felt as though Fifth Brother’s words had grown increasingly enigmatic lately.