Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Hanzhang Hall was so silent one could have heard a pin drop. The people kneeling across the floor were careful even with the sound of their breathing.

The Third Prince lifted his head and looked on anxiously, terrified that his father might dash his daughter to death on the spot.

The hem of the National Preceptor’s robes was still dusted with snow from the Kunlun Mountains, his white hair spilling over his shoulders like moonlight. He watched with indifferent eyes, showing not the slightest pity for the infant whose life he had ruined with a single sentence.

For a long while, the emperor said nothing. He only stared at the newborn in his arms. The baby slept quietly. If he had the mind to, he could crush her skull with one hand.

Everyone was waiting for his decision, secretly trying to guess His Majesty’s thoughts.

Would he kill the child first? Exile her to some desolate place and forbid her from ever returning to court? Or imprison her, denying her any chance to kill him?

But none of those options were foolproof.

Just then, the infant in his arms opened her eyes. Her pupils were like two pieces of pure, flawless black jade, and also like an endless night.

He saw nothing in them. No reverence for kin, no hunger for power, no struggling grief over her own fate.

And so His Majesty sighed and called to his son. “Take her back. She hasn’t seen her mother yet.”

The Third Prince scrambled up in a sorry state, nearly stepping on the hem of his robe and falling on the steps. He took his daughter’s swaddling clothes in steady hands, then backed away a few paces. “Imperial Father, what about after that?”

“After that, you must learn to be a good father.”

The Right Chancellor asked, “Your Majesty, is that all?”

His Majesty turned to the National Preceptor. “Can you calculate the length of my life?”

The National Preceptor shook his head and said only that the will of Heaven was difficult to divine. His Majesty nodded. “Then raise her as an ordinary child.”

The Third Prince kowtowed several more times, until blood seeped from his forehead. A palace attendant came to report that the Consort of the Third Prince had awakened and wished to see the child, and he hurriedly rose and ran out.

His Majesty shook his head helplessly and ordered someone to summon an imperial physician to examine His Third Highness.

All of this was told to me by others. Though my parents hid it from me again and again, I still learned of my fate when I was five years old.

I thought it was utter nonsense. I was my imperial grandfather’s youngest granddaughter, and he treated me very well. Among all the imperial grandchildren of this generation, I was the only one he had personally named.

I had no reason at all to kill him. Sitting on a swing and dangling my feet, I said the National Preceptor must have made a mistake.

The auntie who looked after me was badly frightened and said I mustn’t speak that way. She was an old servant of the palace and had witnessed many of the National Preceptor’s prophecies, every one of them fulfilled. The National Preceptor had lived nearly three hundred years and was half a step from ascension; not one of his divinations had ever been wrong.

Although I did not believe it, I began going out less often, if only for some peace and quiet.

A few days later, there were many dishes prepared at dinner. Father and Mother were in excellent spirits and told me we were going to Tanzhou.

I did not know what sort of place Tanzhou was, but the first thing I asked was why we had to go there.

Father said Tanzhou was his fief, and we would live there from now on. When the time came, he could take Mother and me west to Shu and east down to Jiangnan. We would wander among mountains and rivers and live freely for the rest of our lives, no longer trapped beneath a square patch of sky because of a single sentence.

Listening to Father, the corners of my mouth gradually lifted too. I asked Mother when we would leave. Mother stroked my head and said we would leave at the end of the month. By the time we arrived, we would be just in time to eat lychees from Lingnan.

The day before our departure, my parents brought me into the palace to bid farewell to my imperial grandfather. Holding one of their hands in each of mine, I stood in Hanzhang Hall.

“Your son has brought his wife and daughter to bid Father farewell.”

Imperial Grandfather smiled warmly and raised a hand for me to come over. I looked at my parents, and the two of them nodded, letting go of my hands.

I walked to Imperial Grandfather’s side. He stroked my head with affection and took out a piece of hazelnut pastry, placing it in my hand.

“Has everything been packed?”

Father nodded. “Yes. We have come today to bid Father farewell.”

He and Mother knelt and performed a great bow before Imperial Grandfather. “Once your son leaves, I fear we will find it difficult to meet again. In the future, I will no longer be able to serve you at your bedside. I have failed to repay Father’s kindness in raising me.”

Imperial Grandfather shook his head. “I do not blame you. Seeing you grown into the responsible man you are now, your mother and I are both very pleased.”

I was still holding half a piece of hazelnut pastry I had broken off, intending to give it to Imperial Grandfather once he finished speaking. He stuffed that half into my mouth instead and stroked my head. “Lingyi is a good child. She should not have her whole life confined by a single sentence.” Then he sighed again. “It’s only a pity I couldn’t give you a better fief.”

“Tanzhou is already very good.”

After that, they exchanged a few more words. The father told his son to write often; the son told his father to take care of his health.

I called to him, “Grandfather.”

He lowered his head to look at me, as kind and gentle as ever.

“Aren’t you afraid of that prophecy?”

Father and Mother cried out my name in alarm. The chief palace eunuch at the side also hastily said that the young commandery princess must not speak recklessly. Only Imperial Grandfather had no reaction.

He smiled. “No one is unafraid of death. I am the same. Lingyi, do you believe that prophecy?”

I nodded, then shook my head. “Grandfather is the best person under Heaven. I would never do such a thing. But everyone says the National Preceptor has never been wrong, and I…”

Imperial Grandfather rose from the carved dragon sandalwood chair and crouched down before me, his broad palms resting on my shoulders. “Then you must grow up well. The two of us will watch together and see what happens.”

When we left, I looked back at the palace gates. The red walls towered high, the golden roof tiles shone brilliantly, and the sky overhead was forever a perfect square.

I would never have to look at this square patch of sky again.