“Princess Ruihua has requested your presence. Would you like me to accompany you to her quarters?” asked Lotus.
I squinted at her, bewildered.
“The wife of the third prince,” Lily clarified. She appeared less talkative than Lotus, but more observant. “The third prince has the ear of the General Counsel—she could be a helpful ally.”
This sounded like the last thing I wished to do. But, breathing out a sigh, I said, “Please show me the way.”
Princess Ruihua’s quarters lay at the far end of the Resting Cloud Pavilion, beyond the nine-turn bridge that my rooms overlooked. In the jade-green waters below, brightly colored koi darted beneath lily pads. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of mung bean soup, mingling with the crisp scent of fading autumn.
“Oh no,” muttered Lotus, as another party approached ours up ahead. They paused for us at the end of the nine-turn bridge, which was too narrow to allow more than one group to pass at a time.
The lady at the end of the bridge was accompanied by an entourage of half a dozen. Though my own head ached with the weight of my accessories, this lady wore twice the amount of jewelry I did and held her head as regally as a heron surveying her land. Her hair was twisted and looped in the style of twin butterflies, and her headpiece was made of lapis lazuli, which accentuated her large glittering eyes.
“That is Princess Li Yi Fan, the wife of the crown prince,” Lotus whispered to me. “Her courtesy name is Yifeng.”
Princess Yifeng nodded at me, so I inclined my head in return. At this, her eyes narrowed like an attack dog’s and I knew I had somehow done wrong. Xiuying had tried to teach me proper palace etiquette, but her knowledge only went so far.
Princess Yifeng’s voice was as sweet as honey. “And this must be…”
“Hai Meilin, Your Highness.”
“Hai Meilin.” She repeated my name as if wringing out a wet rag, leaving no syllable unspent. “Newly freed from the dungeons, I see. And where are you off to in such a hurry?”
“Princess Ruihua has requested my presence, Your Highness.”
“Ruihua must suspect wedding vows to be imminent. How thrilled you must be.”
I did not know what to say, so I said nothing.
“Well, I would certainly like to be the first to congratulate you,” said Princess Yifeng. “Let me offer you an early wedding gift, so that I may share in your happiness.”
“Oh,” I said, startled. “That’s quite all right.”
“I insist.”
“There’s really no need…” I began, but my words were ignored. Princess Yifeng jerked her head at her lady-in-waiting, who passed forward a giant basket of white leilu plums, which were only in season at the tail end of autumn. The fruit was rare and unconventional as a wedding gift, as they were pure white in color, but I was not one to uphold custom.
“Please accept this humble token of my congratulations,” said Princess Yifeng.
The hesitation on my face must have shown, for her expressionturned insidious. “It is an insult to refuse a gift, Lady Hai,” she reminded me. “I hope you are not attempting to demonstrate your true feelings toward—”
“No!” I grasped the basket, which was so heavy it made me lurch forward clumsily. “Thank you for the gift, Your Highness.”
“I hope the fruit will be found satisfactory.”
“I will enjoy it most gratefully,” I said as Lotus took the basket from me.
“Just you? And will you not share your windfall with Princess Ruihua? She has always mentioned her fondness for leilu plums, especially at this time of the year.”
“I—yes, of course,” I said, flustered. “I will offer her some when I visit.”
“Very good,” said Princess Yifeng. “I’m so glad to welcome you into the inner palace.”
Shaken, I bowed once more as Princess Yifeng stepped onto the nine-turn bridge, heading in the opposite direction.
Arriving at Princess Ruihua’s quarters, I stepped over the high threshold and bowed deeply, determined not to commit another social gaffe.
Princess Ruihua rose to meet me, lifting her skirts so that they did not trail on the floor. She was dressed in crimson red robes, which seemed to catch and hold the lantern light. Beneath her stunning attire and ornate jewelry, she was not particularly beautiful, though upon further reflection, I found this did not matter. With her tasteful cosmetics and brilliant attire, she gave the appearance of beauty.
