The current Emperor was in his prime, with a full harem and sixteen children. However, due to weak yang energy in Qi State, only three of these children were male: the legitimate eldest prince Xia Zhiyuan, the third prince Xia Zhichun born to a concubine, and the infant sixteenth prince Xia Zhili.
I had a past with the third prince Xia Zhichun, who once shared stories about life in the palace.
Although both princes were worlds apart, Xia Zhichun, whose mother was a palace maid, was marginalized in the palace. He hoped that upon coming of age and being granted a fiefdom, he could escape the palace’s contempt. Unexpectedly, he was sent to Xiliang as a hostage during a peace negotiation.
The Qi Kingdom values beauty, resulting in royal children often being quite attractive. Among them, the East Palace’s Xia Zhiyuan stood out, with a slightly feminine beauty that was striking. In contrast, Xia Zhichun, known for his calm demeanor, was less remarkable in appearance.
Sympathizing with Xia Zhichun, I found myself resenting the East Palace’s Xia Zhiyuan, who enjoyed both extraordinary beauty and high honor.
Xia Zhiyuan sat across from me, smiling radiantly. “It’s rare to meet again, my lady. Truly a matter of fate.”
I steadied myself and asked, “Your Highness, what important matter have you summoned me for?”
“It’s like this,” Xia Zhiyuan said, opening his fan. “I heard that my lady is concerned about her brother’s marriage prospects, so I came to see if I can assist.”
Was the East Palace merely bored or was my brother’s marriage becoming a matter of significant interest? I looked at him suspiciously and smiled wryly: “Your Highness’s concern for the people is truly admirable.”
He seemed to notice my doubts and waved his hand. “Please do not be suspicious, my lady. I have a request and came to meet you. If you agree, I will help resolve your concerns.”
“If Your Highness has a request, I will do my best,” I said politely, though my heart raced. He wanted something from me but chose this teahouse, avoiding An Manor and An Jin, suggesting a desire for secrecy. What could be so confidential that not even An Jin could know?
Her posture was straight, and her words were emotionless, revealing a cold demeanor. An Jin instructed me to wait until he returned.
