‘Ink, I thought about it for a long time and finally understood the meaning of your name. Mo Yi, black Yi, ant? Black ant? Yes, ants are black, so that’s the meaning of your name,’ Mei Kaiye laughed louder and louder, finally bursting into laughter, ‘Hahaha, ant! How unique, hahaha!’
‘Nonsense!’ Mo Yi covered her mouth, ‘No laughing.’
Mei Kaiye felt uncomfortable being covered and quickly nodded. Mo Yi confirmed multiple times before nodding, then she asked, ‘What does your name really mean?’
‘The ten Heavenly Stems, one is Jia, the other is Yi.’
‘Why aren’t you called Mo Jia then?’
‘Above the monarch, there are gods. Jia represents the gods, and Yi represents the emperor. Understand?’
‘Oh.’ Mei Kaiye felt a bit apologetic and said, ‘My name was given by my mother. It means tranquility, the last flower arriving, the plum blossoming that night.’ So she was called Mei Kaiye. The night the plum blossomed.
Days passed like this, peaceful yet interesting. Occasionally, Mo Yi would sneak out of the palace with her. When bored, they would tease the palace maids and eunuchs, provoke Sui Feng, and argue with Sui Xing.
‘Her Majesty the Empress Dowager requests the Emperor to come for dinner.’
‘Got it.’ Mo Yi waved his hand, letting him go. Mo Yi seemed to have forgotten about this until evening when Mei Kaiye reminded him.”
He turned to Mei Kaiye and said, “Gift, will you accompany me?”
“But I wasn’t even invited,” Mei Kaiye shrugged. “The Empress Dowager clearly knows I’m always with you, yet she didn’t mention me at all. Mo Yi, your mother is trying to intimidate me!”
“Don’t be so petty,” Mo Yi ruffled her hair. “Come on, it’ll be fun. I’m really curious about what expression that old lady will make.”
By the time of the meal, Mo Yi brought Mei Kaiye in late. The Empress Dowager sat alone at a large table of dishes, a beautiful woman who still retained her charm, with an elegant posture, light cloud-like hair bun, and a calm gaze.
“Mother.” Mo Yi’s voice was lazy.
“Greetings, Empress Dowager.” Mei Kaiye curtsied.
