A bit of daily life.
Shen Changyin cried?
Xie Yu tilted her head, eyes wide, watching the tears in Shen Changyin's eyes.
In elementary school, she had been roughhousing with classmates. When one suddenly fell onto a desk, shoulders trembling, a faint sob could be heard. She had panicked just like this.
Really crying?
The tear streaks hadn't dried yet. On Shen Changyin's face, they were like the first streams formed by melting snow in the mountains.
Xie Yu raised her hand to wipe them.
Shen Changyin suddenly stepped back. "Forget what happened today, Third Highness."
Xie Yu's hand hovered midair. Seeing the tears not wiped away, she thought, How am I supposed to forget this?
Can't you just let me wipe your tears?
Shen Changyin said, "I won't disturb your rest, Third Highness."
She turned and left the tent. Xie Yu sat on the bed, staring at the swaying tent flap after her, but her mind lingered on the crystal-clear tears.
After several minutes, cold sweat suddenly broke out on the back of her neck.
Shen Changyin said she could do it—maybe it was true. This woman, her skills were formidable.
—
The sudden mountain flood, combined with the Crown Princess's injuries, meant the spring hunt could no longer continue and was hastily ended.
The next day, Xie Yu's convoy returned to the capital.
Shen Changyin arranged padding in the carriage, allowing Xie Yu to lie down to minimize further injury from the journey.
Xie Yu lay flat while Shen Changyin sat beside her waist.
The Empress actively sent herbal medicine and imperial physicians, but both agreed to keep the herbs and send the physicians back.
Physician Zhang confirmed the medicine was fine and combined it with the prescription, giving it to Xie Yu along with her other medications.
However, the medicine caused some motion sickness. She could no longer read her storybook without feeling nauseous.
She could only lie there bored. She suddenly remembered the children in Tiger Horn Village, imprisoned in a basement with heavy tear stains. She asked Shen Changyin if there were any findings.
Shen Changyin set down her book. "They were all kidnapped at a young age. They don't remember anything before coming here. Their daily food, water, and clothing were sufficient. Every day they were forced to take a special medicine. Within half an hour, it made their eyes watery and sore. The caretakers would then intimidate or beat them to make them cry and collected their tears in jade bottles."
"Ordinary people would become numb after years of imprisonment and fear, finding it harder to cry. But these children, because of the medicine, could cry at any moment. They even demonstrated it for me."
A strand of Xie Yu's hair fell across her face, tickling her. She blew it aside, but it didn't move. "Why collect the children's tears? What use is that?"
Shen Changyin brushed the hair away. "What use is human blood?"
Xie Yu touched the spot Shen Changyin had just touched on her face.
"You mean these nobles in the capital—wanting to strengthen their bodies—can't just eat wild game?"
"They have to rely on these strange superstitious methods."
Shen Changyin picked up a strand of Xie Yu's hair, divided it into three sections, and began braiding it from the mid-lower portion.
"How do you know they haven't eaten it?"
"When people begin to pursue immortality, they start with simple things, exhausting everything they can do, then doing what they shouldn't, and they won't stop until the day they die."
Xie Yu said, "They just ate too much. Once my injuries heal, I'll investigate this case."
She yawned, feeling a bit bored. She had rested for too long these past days and couldn't sleep. She turned to Shen Changyin. "Read to me, please."
"Of course."
Shen Changyin's voice was soft and steady, neither fast nor slow: "In the beginning of chaos, before humans were born…"
Xie Yu slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Shen Changyin set the book down, tilted her head to look at Xie Yu's dark hair, then raised an eyebrow, took a small box of hair clips from a hidden compartment in the carriage, and plucked a strand of Xie Yu's hair.
Not long after, Xie Yu awoke. Shen Changyin had already disembarked. Feeling her hair, she discovered her head full of tiny braids.
"—Shen Changyin!"
—
That afternoon, Xie Yu and Shen Changyin returned to the palace.
Xie Yu was taken to her bedroom to rest and recover.
Shen Changyin finished other errands, washed her hands before entering the room. Her hands were slightly wet. "I've notified the Grand Tutor. Until your injuries recover, you don't need to attend lessons in the Eastern Palace."
Xie Yu's eyes lit up.
Shen Changyin: "However…"
Xie Yu's eyes quickly dimmed.
It was well-known that anything after a 'however' usually didn't matter.
"The Grand Tutor, impressed by your care for the people, has decided to personally teach you from tomorrow."
"She is the most respected scholar in the court. By personally instructing you, she demonstrates that she truly regards you as the next ruler. Congratulations, Third Highness."
Xie Yu felt no joy at all.
She slammed her head onto the pillow, staring at the ceiling, waving her hand in frustration.
Shen Changyin chuckled softly and left.
The next day, Xie Yu arranged for a wheelchair.
Even though the Grand Tutor understood her injuries, lying down for lessons was still awkward. The wheelchair was much better—it allowed her to be wheeled to the table for meals as well.
Once lessons began, Xie Yu quickly realized the Grand Tutor did not go easy on her because of her injuries. Seeing her as the future ruler, she became even stricter, determined to cultivate a "sage monarch for all eternity."
The sixty-something-year-old woman spoke passionately: "Our Third Highness is virtuous and loves her people. I will do my utmost to cultivate her into a sage ruler like Leizu or Hanba."
Xie Yu could do nothing. She couldn't even skip lessons now.
She could only sit in the wheelchair, suffering through lessons.
But the Grand Tutor adjusted her teaching to suit Xie Yu's level, teaching history as if to a three-year-old, by telling stories.
Stories? Xie Yu was finally willing to listen. If she weren't afraid of angering the Grand Tutor into a stroke, she might have even grabbed some sunflower seeds.
The Grand Tutor started with stories from the prehistoric era. Xie Yu could still recognize many familiar names.
"Nuwa, the mother goddess, created humans, repaired the heavens to save the people, and when her divine power was spent, returned to the heavens, leaving the human realm to Leizu."
"Leizu was born with extraordinary traits, capable of giving birth without a mate. She bore nine daughters, each overseeing agriculture, commerce, military, craft, and other domains. During her reign, she cultivated virtue, restored the population, and prioritized agriculture and sericulture. She is known in history as the Yuan Empress."
"Before Yuan Empress's death, she left the throne to her daughter Hanba, a military leader of great stature with arms like hammers, who commanded troops and unified the surrounding tribes. She is known in history as the Wu Empress."
…
Xie Yu listened, entranced, until class ended. Shen Changyin entered, and she reluctantly saw the Grand Tutor off.
The Grand Tutor said to Shen Changyin: "You are correct, Lady Shen. Our Third Highness truly is extraordinarily intelligent."
She felt embarrassed: "Although I previously handed over poetry lessons to you, Lady Shen, I shouldn't interfere. But for a ruler, poetry is too important. I still wish to follow Third Highness's learning progress."
Immersed in the story, Xie Yu suddenly lifted her head.
Shen Changyin nodded. "Naturally. I will personally instruct Third Highness this afternoon. You may inquire about her progress tomorrow."
The Grand Tutor departed, satisfied.
Shen Changyin watched her leave, then turned back and saw Xie Yu's eyes full of accusation.
She touched her nose. "Time to eat."
She pushed Xie Yu from the study into the main hall, stopping at the small table where they usually had meals.
The maid served their dishes. Xie Yu held her chopsticks and said to Shen Changyin, "I can tell you now—I definitely won't be able to learn poetry well. What will you tell the Grand Tutor tomorrow?"
Shen Changyin said lightly, "Say you're not learning well."
Xie Yu clenched her chopsticks tightly, mumbling, "How can you say that? If you say that, she'll criticize me, and maybe even come personally to teach me."
Shen Changyin rested her chin on her hand, looking at her. "Third Highness, do you want me to cover for you?"
Xie Yu nodded.
Shen Changyin frowned slightly. "The sages did say: concealing faults for a loved one is a virtue. Hiding your partner's misdeeds for their sake is an act of morality."
Xie Yu's eyes lit up with hope. "Yes, yes! Just tell the Grand Tutor I'm learning very well, say I'm exceptionally gifted."
Shen Changyin: "But Third Highness, are you truly my partner?"
Xie Yu leaned back slightly, wary. "You're bad."
They finished lunch with the bad person. Afterwards, the maid brought each of them a large bowl of herbal medicine.
The strong bitterness filled the air. Both women fell silent.
Bitter in the morning, bitter at night—it was all bitter. Xie Yu drank hers in one go and burped, satisfied.
Shen Changyin struggled to swallow, leaving the last bit in her bowl untouched.
At that moment, a voice came from outside. A guard greeted: "Physician Zhang!"
The physician had arrived!
Shen Changyin glanced at her remaining medicine, then got up and went to the courtyard to greet her. "What brings you here?"
Physician Zhang said cheerfully, "Nothing special, just checking if you've taken your medicine. Did you take the midday dose?"
Shen Changyin: "We've finished it all."
"That's good. You must never leave any behind. The residue at the bottom is the most bitter, but also the most potent."
Xie Yu glanced at Shen Changyin's bowl.
The conversation continued outside.
Physician Zhang asked, "Is the Crown Princess inside? I'll check on her too."
Shen Changyin: "She's resting. Don't disturb her."
Physician Zhang said casually, "No worries. I walk lightly."
She strode in, and Shen Changyin had no choice but to follow. Inside, she looked at her own bowl and was surprised—the leftover medicine was gone. She also noticed Xie Yu watching her.
They exchanged a glance.
Physician Zhang looked at the two clean bowls still smelling of herbs and nodded, satisfied, preparing to wheel Xie Yu to the bedroom for a check.
Xie Yu, sitting in her wheelchair, silently mouthed at Shen Changyin: "You owe me."
Shen Changyin stood with a hand on her forehead.
From that day on, they made a mischievous agreement.
Whenever the physician checked if the patients had taken their medicine properly, Xie Yu helped Shen Changyin drink hers.
Shen Changyin, as the poetry teacher, disregarded all professional ethics, broke all norms, betrothed herself to her student, and in front of the Grand Tutor, hid the student's true level, exaggerating how well Xie Yu was learning.
—
One day at lunch, Shen Changyin sighed lightly.
Xie Yu was picking fish bones. "What's wrong?"
Shen Changyin: "Third Highness, Physician Zhang's surprise checks are occasional, but the Grand Tutor asks me about you every day."
Xie Yu looked up. "So?"
Shen Changyin: "I've made a losing deal."
Xie Yu replied instinctively, "Then what must I do for you not to lose?"
Just as the words left her mouth, a flash of light seemed to cross her mind. She immediately made a stop gesture. "Don't answer!"
She said seriously: "I don't want to know."
Shen Changyin's words were blocked, and she wasn't angry—just smiled lightly. "What do you think I would say?"
"I don't know. But it must have something to do with romance."
Xie Yu tensed her face. "I won't like you. Forget it. Once three years pass, we'll divorce."
Shen Changyin: "Then this afternoon, Third Highness, will you go with me to try on clothes? You should have new garments made, and you can also select fabrics and patterns for your wedding attire."
Xie Yu: "I just said I won't—"
Shen Changyin: "I know. This isn't an invitation between lovers."
"I am aware of your feelings, Third Highness. From today, I will no longer try in vain to win your affection."
"But trying on clothes isn't flirtatious. If done openly, friends can go together. If the Third Highness is so unwilling, perhaps you are the one harboring secret feelings?"
Xie Yu felt that familiar danger signal again.
It often appeared when she first met Shen Changyin but had diminished over time due to Shen Changyin's gradual, gentle influence. Now her instincts warned her again.
Shen Changyin said she would no longer pursue her, yet her heart ached and fluttered, uneasy.
She stared at Shen Changyin for a moment. "Fine, I'll go."
—
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