The rules in the Dahui Palace were strict and rigid.
For the palace women, most of the time they were confined within these walls, rarely allowed to go out.
So, to be favored by the Emperor and able to follow him on a spring excursion to the countryside was naturally an exciting event.
Not to mention A wu, even Princess Dening was overjoyed.
Emperor Jingxi was busy with state affairs and rarely entered the inner palace, so Princess Dening seldom had the chance to speak with her father.
Now, being able to accompany him on an outing was something she never even dared to imagine before.
This made her look forward to it eagerly, preparing her dresses and jewelry early, carrying daily essentials, and even asking the Palace Ladies to hastily teach her a few poems and essays, just in case her father suddenly quizzed her.
Seeing Princess Dening so excited, Consort Kang sneered disdainfully, mocking from the side: “The Emperor is taking his beloved out to enjoy himself, and you’re just along for the ride. Right now, there’s no one else in his eyes but that treasure of his. You’re only there to keep him company!”
Princess Dening pouted at once, displeased: “Could you say less?”
What a mood killer.
She had been so happy, but after Consort Kang’s words, it felt like the truth had been slapped onto her, and her joy was instantly doused.
Consort Kang laughed coldly: “Your father punished you and demoted your Mother Consort. These are hard times for the two of us. How could you still expect to shine? He only humors you a little. Look at you, so naïve—really thinking the Emperor favors you? If he truly did, why would he have demoted me?”
Princess Dening was momentarily speechless.
She had learned her lesson—publicly questioning was a grave mistake, hence the punishment.
As for her mother’s demotion, there was nothing she could do; she had already begged and pleaded.
What else could she do?
Naturally, she hoped to go with her father on this outing, but her mother’s words made her heart ache.
Consort Kang went on: “He’s been completely bewitched by that little enchantress. Now he calls you along just to keep him company. When he has other children, what will you be then?”
Princess Dening’s face flushed red.
She threw aside the new dress in her hands and stormed back to her room in anger: “I’m not going! Fine, I’m not going!”
That night was naturally restless.
She couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning with her thoughts.
But the next day, when the Palace Ladies came to summon her and attendants from Fengtian Hall were dispatched, Princess Dening hesitated, then boarded the carriage.
After all, it was a rare chance to go out.
Who would want to give that up, especially when it was with her father?
This time, they did not go to Nanqiongzi in the southern part of the Imperial Capital, but rather to the northern outskirts, which were mountainous.
The water was fresh and clear, birds sang under the bright daylight, and willow catkins floated in the air—truly the most beautiful season.
At first, Princess Dening felt a heavy weight in her heart.
But as she looked at the travelers in the countryside—ordinary families with children all dressed in bright and lively colors, bustling with life—her mood lightened.
Her nature was simple and pure; she gradually started to enjoy herself: “I’m glad I came out!”
Halfway through the journey, a Palace Lady from Fengtian Hall approached, inviting Princess Dening to join the Emperor’s carriage, where Noble Consort Ning was also present.
Princess Dening hesitated briefly but went in.
To her surprise, her father was lounging lazily against the seat, a scroll of scriptures resting on his lap, his long fingers idly flipping through it.
Beside him, Noble Consort Ning was bored, idly playing with the leaf cards.
When Emperor Jingxi saw his daughter climb aboard, he didn’t look up but calmly said: “Dening, teach Noble Consort Ning how to play leaf cards. She’s no good at it.”
Princess Dening was surprised: “I didn’t expect Your Highness to not know how to play leaf cards.”
A wu heard this and said: “It’s just a leisure game. Who has to know it? I’ve always been focused on studying and didn’t have time for such pastimes!”
Hearing that, Princess Dening looked A wu up and down in astonishment.
She was so studious?
Emperor Jingxi raised an eyebrow, casting a subtle glance at his boastful consort.
She was truly bold to say such things without embarrassment.
He cleared his throat lightly: “Dening, just teach her then.”
Princess Dening did not dare to refuse: “Yes.”
She looked at A wu and reluctantly said, “I’ll only explain it once. Listen carefully. If you don’t remember, there’s nothing I can do.”
A wu replied confidently: “How could I forget?”
Princess Dening took the leaf cards and explained the rules—this was a ‘wenqian’ (small denomination), this was ‘baizi’ (hundred coins), that was ‘wanguan’ (ten thousand coins), and so on.
A wu liked the names and was eager to try, quickly understanding the rules.
The two of them began to play.
Princess Dening asked: “Wait, are we betting money? Did you bring any?”
A wu blinked in surprise: “Huh?”
Princess Dening said, “It’s no fun if you don’t bring money.”
A wu looked helplessly at Emperor Jingxi.
Why would she need to bring money?
Had anyone ever seen the Noble Consort carry silver?
At a signal from the Emperor, an attendant presented a red lacquered box filled with gleaming golden leaf tokens.
Princess Dening and A wu’s eyes lit up instantly.
Emperor Jingxi said: “Whoever wins, I will reward with a gold leaf.”
Both girls quickly agreed and began playing earnestly.
As a novice, A wu lost the first three rounds miserably and was nearly in tears.
Princess Dening proudly collected three gold leaves, twirling and admiring them in her hands: “They’re new, shiny gold, well-crafted. Look at these patterns—so lifelike!”
A wu cast a resentful glance at Emperor Jingxi; she wanted gold leaves too!
The Emperor ignored her, lazily leaning against the window, enjoying the scenery outside without a glance.
A wu cursed silently in her heart, wishing she could throw the leaf cards at him.
But with no other choice, she buckled down and continued playing with Dening.
Fortunately, her luck improved, winning some rounds as well.
Until one critical round, the last card was played—a ‘million-guan’ (one million coin) big card.
Life and death hinged on this move.
She met Princess Dening’s eyes calmly and laid down her leaf card slowly: “I play eight million guan. Do you accept?”
In this game, players could bluff, and the other had to judge from the expression whether it was true.
If the challenger accepted without doubt, they lost.
If they doubted and were right, they won; if wrong, they lost everything.
Princess Dening stared into A wu’s clear, innocent eyes, which were full of sincerity.
Was she lying, or did she really have this eight million guan card?
Should she challenge?
The two young ladies fell silent, locking eyes in tense standoff.
Emperor Jingxi sensed the unusual atmosphere and looked up from his scripture to observe them.
Experienced as he was, he immediately saw through the innocent girls’ game but said nothing, watching with mild interest.
His glance startled the two locked in battle.
Princess Dening turned toward him, biting her lip, her eyes pleading silently.
A wu gave the Emperor a surprised look, then a wary and slightly threatening one.
Emperor Jingxi propped his chin with his knuckles and leisurely said, “I don’t know how to play leaf cards, nothing at all.”
A wu snorted: “Liar!”
Princess Dening did not dare say so, out of respect for her father, though she agreed with A wu.
“Liar!”
The Emperor smiled gently, his eyes bright and soft: “Just fooling the little dog.”
A wu shot him a pitiful glare.
Watching this, Princess Dening was secretly amazed.
She realized how casually affectionate A wu and her father’s exchanges were.
She knew she could never have that kind of relationship with the Emperor.
The two girls ignored the Emperor again and resumed their standoff.
Finally, Princess Dening gritted her teeth: “You’re lying! You don’t have the eight million guan card!”
A wu looked into her eyes: “But I’m not lying!”
She said it so earnestly that Princess Dening immediately disbelieved her—it was too theatrical!
So she bluntly said: “Fine, then let’s bet big. If you have it, I’ll give you all my gold leaves. If you don’t?”
A wu became resolute: “You can have anything you want!”
Princess Dening agreed: “Okay!”
They seemed ready to bet their lives and fortunes on this.
At last, they agreed to reveal the card.
Princess Dening eagerly flipped it over, and in that instant, she was filled with regret.
It really was the eight million guan card!
She couldn’t believe it: “You weren’t lying? Why didn’t you lie?”
A wu replied: “Why should I? I told the truth, but you didn’t believe me!”
Princess Dening ground her teeth: “Playing leaf cards is all about lying!”
A wu laughed: “But I don’t want to lie to you. I can win without cheating!”
Princess Dening was stunned, frustrated, and utterly angry.
***
When they arrived at the countryside outing estate, Princess Dening still wasn’t satisfied.
She wanted to play another round and dragged A wu to continue, but A wu refused.
She was happy winning and didn’t want to lose now.
She told Princess Dening to play with the Palace Ladies, but the Princess was unwilling—no one dared beat her.
A wu then pushed Princess Dening back to Emperor Jingxi.
The Princess scoffed: “Father won’t play with me!”
A wu was at a loss and began to throw a tantrum—she wasn’t playing anymore.
So the two of them tugged and pulled until they rested at the estate.
The estate was actually a Waterside Pavilion cottage, surrounded on three sides by water, standing by the window with a full view of the sparkling water and mountains.
Small boats drifted gently on the water, and lush greenery lined both banks.
Princess Dening and A wu felt refreshed and peaceful.
They stopped their quarrels and settled down quietly.
A wu and Emperor Jingxi stayed in the main hall of the back courtyard; Princess Dening stayed in a side hall, a little distance from the Emperor’s main hall but connected by covered corridors.
It had just begun to rain, and outside the window the spring rain was soft and misty.
Looking out, everything was freshly green, shrouded in the mist.
The three of them had lunch while listening to the chirping of birds and the occasional splash of oars—a delightfully different atmosphere.
The meal was rustic and hearty, made from fresh wild game, accompanied by newly imported southern tea, which left a fragrant aftertaste.
Emperor Jingxi said, “After the meal, if the rain stops, we can row boats or catch some crickets to play with. The crickets here are a fine breed.”
Princess Dening’s eyes sparkled: “Really?”
In the Dahui Imperial Household, playing with crickets was usually forbidden because the ancestors believed it was a frivolous pastime that could lead to obsession and great waste.
Emperor Jingxi gave his daughter a level look: “Just a taste, don’t get addicted.”
Princess Dening nodded quickly: “Yes, yes, I understand.”
After lunch, the rain did stop.
Princess Dening was full of energy, eager to catch crickets, and wanted to drag A wu along for a competition.
Emperor Jingxi forbade it: “She is pregnant now. The ground outside is slippery. What if she falls?”
Princess Dening glanced at A wu’s slightly swollen belly and agreed.
A wu felt a bit bored: “Then what am I supposed to do? I can’t just stay locked indoors all day.”
Emperor Jingxi coaxed gently: “Let’s walk in the courtyard first to aid digestion, then take a nap. After resting, I’ll accompany you to enjoy the greenery and row boats.”
A wu pouted unhappily: “Alright.”
Princess Dening watched and felt a mix of sympathy and envy.
She thought A wu was somewhat pitiful being so closely guarded by the Emperor, but… she had never seen the Emperor speak to anyone so softly and tenderly before.
Her father’s mind was always on state affairs, and even when disciplining his children, it was strictly about their studies or archery.
He never meddled in the minute details.
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