Year 12 of Yongle, September. Beijing.
The "Purple Overlord" had been staying in the Eastern Palace for three days, and its mood had finally improved.
Every day, I changed its food to something fresh, adjusted the humidity in its jar, and even went specifically to the Imperial Garden to dig up a few earthworms. After eating the earthworms, the Purple Overlord's antennae stood high; it circled three times inside the jar, and its chirp regained its strength and vigor.
"Alright," I said to the little eunuch who came to deliver the meal. "Go back and tell the Prince of Han that the cricket is cured. Next time, don't just leave it aside after a fight. Just like people, when they lose, they feel upset in their hearts. They need a couple of days to recover."
The little eunuch noted this down seriously, picked up the jar, and left.
Ruolan was nearby, tidying up the dried herbs, and casually remarked, "Miss, I heard someone in the kitchen this morning say that the Third Prince might come to the Eastern Palace in the next two days."
My hands paused for a moment. "The Third Prince? What for?"
"I don't know. They say he's coming to return a book." Ruolan lowered her voice. "But Eunuch Wang from the kitchen said that when the Third Prince comes to the Eastern Palace, it's never just to return a book. Every time he comes, he is here to look."
"Look at what?"
"At people." Ruolan's voice dropped even lower. "He looks at who has appeared in the Eastern Palace, who has disappeared, and who has changed. The Third Prince speaks little, but he sees everything."
I didn't speak, lowering my head to continue organizing the herbs. But my hands moved faster than usual, as if rushing against time.
That afternoon, when Zhu Zhanji came to the side room to see the Great General, I noticed his expression was different from usual.
It wasn't his usual warmth, nor was it his subtle mischief. Instead, it was a kind of—tense seriousness. His fingers unconsciously twisted the tassel of the jade pendant at his waist, round and round, until the tassel was almost unraveled.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Third Uncle is coming later." He sat down opposite me, his tone casual, but the twisting of the tassel didn't stop.
"What for?"
"He says he's coming to return a book." He paused. "And to take a look at the Great General."
Recalling Ruolan's words, my heart stirred slightly.
"Your Third Uncle... does he often come to the Eastern Palace just to 'look'?"
He glanced at me, seemingly surprised by my question. He was silent for a moment, then said, "When Third Uncle comes to the Eastern Palace, it is never just to look."
These words were exactly the same as what Ruolan had said.
"Then what is he here for?"
He didn't answer directly. He stood up, walked to the window, looked at the herbs drying in the courtyard, then at Huang Tuan's (the puppy's) small nest in the corner, and finally turned back to look at me.
"You don't need to do anything special. Just do what you normally do."
"What if I say the wrong thing?"
"You won't," he said, his tone very serious. "The way you speak is exactly what is missing in this palace."
He left. Reaching the door, he suddenly stopped and turned back to say one sentence: "Oh, right. If he asks you questions, just tell the truth."
"Tell the truth?"
"Mm. You don't need to mention your time abroad. For everything else—just tell the truth."
I watched his back disappear at the end of the corridor, feeling that the way he spoke today was somehow different from usual. Normally, his tone with me was loose and soft, like friends chatting. But today—there was an extra layer in his tone, like someone entrusting an important matter.
I picked up Huang Tuan from its nest, placed it on my knees, and gently stroked its head.
"Huang Tuan, don't you think today feels a bit unusual?"
Huang Tuan yawned and curled into a small ball on my knees.
When the Third Prince, Zhu Gaoxu, arrived, his entrance was much quieter than the Prince of Han's.
No entourage, no loud announcements, not even prior notice. It was just that Eunuch Li suddenly walked in from the courtyard gate, his steps slightly faster than usual, whispering, "The Third Highness is here," and then a man in his early thirties appeared at the courtyard entrance.
I was in the side room changing water for the Great General. Hearing the commotion outside, I looked up and glanced out.
The atmosphere in the courtyard had changed.
Several sweeping eunuchs had somehow retreated under the corridor, heads bowed, not daring to breathe loudly. Even Eunuch Li had stepped back two paces, standing at a distance—not too far to hear orders, but not too close to be in the way.
Zhu Zhanji walked out from the study to welcome him. His pace was neither fast nor slow, but every step was steady.
"Third Uncle."
"Mm." Zhu Gaoxu nodded.
He wore an indigo blue casual robe. His figure was slender, and his face bore some resemblance to Zhu Zhanji's, but colder. Not the rough coldness of the Prince of Han, but a—quiet coldness. Like a frozen lake in winter, hiding who knows what beneath the surface.
Behind him followed only one old eunuch, holding a sandalwood box. The eunuch kept his head low, his footsteps so light they were almost silent.
"I heard your Great General has recovered?" Zhu Gaoxu's gaze swept across the courtyard, finally landing in the direction of the small side room.
"It has. Does Third Uncle want to see it?"
"Let's see."
The two walked toward the small side room. Zhu Gaoxu's pace was steady, every step firm. His gaze swept from the east side of the courtyard to the west—the herb-drying rack, Huang Tuan's nest, the old jar replaced for the Great General. Each item received only a moment's pause, but I felt that one moment was enough.
I stood at the door of the side room, still holding the feather used to feed the Great General.
Zhu Zhanji stepped aside slightly: "Third Uncle, this is Miss Song, the Great General's doctor."
Zhu Gaoxu's gaze fell upon me.
That gaze wasn't scrutiny—scrutiny implies a purpose, a desire to get an answer. His gaze was more like looking at a painting, an artifact, an object that needed to be categorized. He wasn't in a hurry to draw conclusions; he just wanted to see clearly first.
I felt a moment of discomfort under his gaze. It felt like someone watching you from the dark, and you didn't know if they held a lamp.
But I didn't dodge.
"I am Song Yu'an, paying respects to the Third Prince." I bowed slightly.
He noticed I didn't kneel but said nothing, merely nodding.
"Where is the Great General?"
I pointed to the jar. He walked over and looked down. The Great General was crouched in the center of the jar, antennae held high, full of spirit. Sensing someone watching, it lifted its head and let out a crisp "Ji—".
"Not bad," he said. His voice was flat; one couldn't tell if it was praise or just a statement.
He watched for a while, then turned to me: "How did you cure it?"
I answered truthfully: "Inflammation of the right mandible. Changed the jar, adjusted the humidity, applied honeysuckle and dandelion juice for a few days."
"You are a doctor?"
"A veterinarian."
"A woman being a veterinarian is rare."
"In my hometown, there are many women veterinarians," I said. "In silkworm and mulberry families, women also have to inspect silkworms and livestock."
He nodded, his gaze lingering on my face for a moment.
"You are quite straightforward."
I didn't know how to respond, so I just smiled.
He asked no more. Turning, he walked out of the side room and stood in the courtyard for a while, glancing at the herb-drying rack, then at Huang Tuan's nest in the corner.
"You also keep a dog in the courtyard?"
"Picked it up. Behind the rear wall, abandoned by someone."
He looked at the palm-sized puppy, then at me. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly—not a smile, but an indescribable expression. As if he had seen something unexpected.
"You are quite kind-hearted," he said.
Then he left.
From entry to departure, it took less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea. But to me, that cup of tea felt longer than an entire day.
After Zhu Gaoxu left, the side room fell silent.
I stood by the window, watching the courtyard return to normal—the sweeping eunuchs emerged from under the corridor, and Eunuch Li's posture relaxed. Everything returned to how it usually was, as if nothing had happened.
But I knew in my heart that something had happened.
"Is your Third Uncle... always like this?" I asked Zhu Zhanji.
"Like what?"
"Just—speaking very little. The way he looks at people and things, it's like—" I searched for the right words, "—like he's recording everything. Memorizing every single detail."
He was silent for a moment.
"Third Uncle is indeed like that."
"Is he checking what has been added or removed from the courtyard?"
He glanced at me, not denying it.
"Then what did he see?"
"He saw that the courtyard has added a herb-drying rack, added a dog kennel, and added—" He paused, "—added you."
My fingers tightened slightly.
"Then what did he come for? Was it really just to return a book?"
He walked to the table and opened the sandalwood box left by the Third Prince. Inside was indeed a book, a hand-copied copy of the Ma Jing (Classic of Horses). But tucked inside the book was a slip of paper.
He pulled out the slip and glanced at it. There was only one line of text, the handwriting neat and slender:
"The Crown Prince has become quite interesting lately."
After reading it, he folded the paper and put it into his sleeve.
"What did he write?" I asked.
"Nothing much." He smiled. "Third Uncle said I've become quite interesting lately."
"Is that a compliment?"
"Probably," he said. "Third Uncle rarely compliments people. For him to say 'interesting' is already a high evaluation."
I felt this "interesting" wasn't a simple compliment. That person's gaze, his way of speaking, his composure while looking at everything in the courtyard—it all made me feel that there was something else hidden behind this "interesting."
"What does he mean by 'interesting'?"
He looked at me but didn't answer. He just smiled, closed the sandalwood box, and placed it on the corner of the desk.
"You don't need to overthink it. Third Uncle is just watching."
"Watching what?"
"Watching what has been added to the Eastern Palace," he said. "Seeing whether what has been added is good or bad."
I was silent for a moment, then suddenly said: "So, is he good or bad?"
He愣了一下 (paused), then laughed.
"The way you ask questions is really direct."
"Is that not allowed?"
"It's allowed," he said. "Third Uncle is—he's not bad. But he's not a good person either. He is a person who 'depends on the situation'."
"Depends on what situation?"
"On the political landscape. On interests. On—whether it's worth it."
I ran these words through my mind.
"Then he looked at me today. What was his conclusion?"
He looked at me, something indefinable in his eyes.
"The conclusion was—'Interesting'."
"What kind of conclusion is that?"
"That is already a very high evaluation," he said. "If Third Uncle had said 'not interesting', that would be cause for worry."
I didn't quite understand, but looking at his expression, I felt he was telling the truth.
"Then I'll go continue feeding the Great General."
"Go ahead."
I turned and walked away. After a few steps, I suddenly stopped.
"Zhu Zhanji."
"Mm?"
"This 'interesting' your Third Uncle mentioned—is it related to me?"
He froze.
"Why do you ask that?"
"Intuition," I said. "You knew he was coming before he arrived. When you came to tell me, your expression was different from usual. And you told me to 'tell the truth'—you were afraid I'd say the wrong thing, but you didn't want me to change my wording. Because you feel that the way I speak is exactly what is missing in this palace."
I paused.
"You are using me."
The courtyard fell silent for an instant.
His expression shifted from surprise to something complex.
"You think This Prince is using you?"
"Not 'using'." I thought for a moment. "It's—you let me be myself, because 'being myself' is useful to you. It was like this when your Second Uncle came, and it's like this now with your Third Uncle."
He was silent for a long time. Then he chuckled lightly. It wasn't his mischievous laugh, but a laugh of—being seen through, slightly helpless.
"Your ability to observe people is truly excellent."
"I am a veterinarian," I said. "Animals can't speak, so one can only observe. After observing for a long time, one becomes accurate with people too."
"Then what have you observed about me?"
I thought for a moment.
"In front of your Second Uncle, you are the 'obedient junior'. In front of your Third Uncle, you are the 'proper heir apparent'. In front of the Emperor, you are the 'clever grandson'. But in front of me—"
I paused.
"In front of me, what am I?"
"In front of me, sometimes you don't act like the Crown Prince."
"Like what then?"
"Like you're fifteen," I said. "Not the heir, not the successor. Just fifteen."
The courtyard was silent for a long time.
The wind blew, causing the herb-drying rack to sway gently. A few dry leaves drifted to the ground.
He stood there. Sunlight fell through the gaps in the eaves, illuminating half of his face. His expression shifted from surprise to something soft—not warm, not mischievous, not tense seriousness, but a kind of unguarded softness that rarely appeared on his face.
"Only you," he said.
His voice was so light I almost missed it.
"What?"
"Only in front of you," he looked at me, "is This Prince fifteen."
After saying this, he turned and walked away. His steps were faster than usual, as if afraid I would see more.
I stood in place, watching his back disappear at the end of the corridor.
The wind blew again, and the herb-drying rack swayed once more.
Ruolan popped out from the corner, whispering, "Miss, what His Highness just said—"
"He said 'Only you'," I interrupted her, my voice much softer than usual. "It means I'm the only one who isn't afraid of him."
Ruolan looked at my red ear tips and wisely didn't expose me.
That night, I lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
Huang Tuan curled up beside my neck, a small, warm ball.
I took the lip balm out of my sleeve pocket and clenched it in my palm. Then I touched the copper coin and clenched that too.
"Only you," I whispered once. Then I said it again in the Wuxi dialect: "Zhi You Ni."
I buried my face in the pillow, feeling my heartbeat acting abnormally.
On the windowsill, the kumquat pot sat quietly. The soil inside was still moist; Ruolan had watered it in the evening.
Outside the window, footsteps seemed to pass by, very light, pausing briefly near the side room.
I didn't hear them. I had already pulled the quilt over my head, wrapping myself into a ball.
In another room, Zhu Zhanji sat at his desk, a sheet of paper spread out before him.
The paper was covered in writing. On the left was "Second Uncle," on the right "Third Uncle," and in the middle were the three characters "Song Yu'an." Next to "Second Uncle," he had drawn a circle and written "Open/Bright" (Ming). Next to "Third Uncle," he had also drawn a circle and written "Hidden/Dark" (An). The three characters "Song Yu'an" were circled separately, with a "?" written beside them.
He looked at it for a while, folded the paper, and stuffed it into the very back of the drawer.
"Li Quan."
"This servant is here."
"Today, besides returning the book, what else did Third Uncle do?"
"Replying to Your Highness, the Third Highness just stood in the courtyard for a while, looked at Miss Song's drying herbs, looked at that puppy, and then left."
"Did he say anything else to Miss Song?"
"No. He only asked a few questions about treating the illness."
He was silent for a moment.
"Put away the set of probe tubes and water basins that Third Uncle sent."
"Will Your Highness not give them to Miss Song to use?"
"Not yet," he paused. "Things sent by Third Uncle have too clear an origin; using them feels uncomfortable."
Eunuch Li acknowledged and was about to withdraw when he called him back.
"Li Quan."
"This servant is here."
"Who do you think Third Uncle came to see today?"
Eunuch Li hesitated: "This servant dares not say."
"Speak."
"The Third Highness...恐怕 (probably) came to see Miss Song."
He didn't respond. He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the moon outside. The moon was round and bright. Just as round and bright as last night.
"This Prince knows."
"Your Highness, should we—"
"No need," he said. "Third Uncle is just looking. He won't do anything."
"How does Your Highness know?"
He was silent for a long time.
"Because he wrote 'Interesting'," he said, his voice very light. "When Third Uncle says 'Interesting', it means he is still observing. He wouldn't make a move on someone he is still watching."
He paused, then added: "And—"
"And?"
"And what she said today was correct."
Eunuch Li didn't quite understand: "What words?"
He didn't answer. Looking at the moon outside the window, the corner of his mouth curved upward slightly.
"Third Uncle said This Prince has become quite interesting lately," he said. "She said that in front of her, This Prince is fifteen."
He chuckled lightly.
"What they both said is correct."
Eunuch Li stood at the door, watching His Highness's rare, unguarded smile, and suddenly felt—
Tonight's moon seemed a bit brighter than last night's.
(End of Chapter 5)