Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Everyone knew that Ci’an Palace had gained a princess.

Word was that the princess had been lost among the common folk for many years, and that both the Empress Dowager and His Majesty the Emperor pitied her dearly.

The Empress Dowager went without saying.

When His Majesty the Emperor heard that his youngest sister, lost for so many years, had been found, he was overjoyed as well. The very next day, as soon as morning court ended, he hurried straight to Ci’an Palace.

Dressed in his dragon robe, he sat beside the desk without saying a word.

He looked at me. I looked at him.

Back when I used to deliver clothing in the palace, I had seen him before.

In the long, narrow palace corridor, I had stepped back three paces, lowered my head to the ground, and paid my respects with utmost deference.

At the time, all I saw was the corner of his dragon robe.

Now that I could look closely, his gentle brows and eyes were exactly like the Empress Dowager’s.

And the corners of his lips, which seemed to be smiling even when he was not, bore a faint resemblance to my own when I looked at my reflection in the water.

This was the ruler revered by all, imposing without even needing to show anger.

And now, by rights, I was supposed to call him Imperial Brother.

It was a very strange feeling.

I felt a little excited, and a little panicked.

But he curved his lips and said, “Now that my younger sister has been found, I am deeply comforted. It is time to announce this to the world and have her entered into the imperial genealogical register.”

The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement, and the gaze His Majesty the Emperor turned on me was tinged with pity.

The next day, he issued an imperial decree.

Not only did he proclaim my identity to the world, he also conferred upon me the title of Princess Protector of the State.

My bestowed title was Lingyi.

I had no idea what it meant.

All I knew was that on the day of the investiture, many more fine things were delivered.

Gold and jade, treasures I had never seen in ordinary days-I was already tired of looking at them. The only things that interested me were the imperial pastries.

Who knew how many times better they were than white jade cakes!

Good heavens, what miserable days had I been living before?

I was happy, and the Empress Dowager was happy too.

These past few days, no matter what I did, she said it was fine.

I accidentally picked up the basin for washing hands and drank from it. She said it was acceptable.

I wiped my feet with the towel meant for my face. She said that was no matter either.

It was as if everything I did had its own logic, and everything I did was right.

At that moment, I was finishing a plate of pastries in three bites, and she was smiling as she poured me tea.

Matron Li could no longer stand it. Her brows twisted into a knot with worry. “Empress Dowager, you mustn’t indulge the princess like this.”

The Empress Dowager smiled, completely unconcerned. “She’s only a child. What harm is there in letting her be a little willful? Just like the childhood name I gave her back then-I wanted her to live freely.”

I stopped mid-bite and asked through a mouthful of pastry, “What was my childhood name?”

“Ah Man.”

I thought about it. “The ‘man’ in steamed buns?”

The Empress Dowager froze, then laughed so hard she could hardly straighten up.

Only after a long while did she take a handkerchief and wipe my mouth, answering, “The ‘man’ in willful. My Ah Man should be willful if she wants to be. That is only right.”

Matron Li was both exasperated and amused.

She shook her head. “Empress Dowager, it is time to hire an instructor for the princess.”