Was there even a need for explanation?
The man before her stood solemn and unyielding, clearly waiting for an answer. Ye Jiao's short boots scuffed nervously against the ground, as though trying to bore a hole into it. She had always been the forthright and decisive kind—how had she now become so hesitant, so unsure of what to say?
"It's like this," she began at last, her tone grave. "Your Highness, if you think back carefully—three months ago, had we even met?"
Li Ce lowered his eyes and replied softly, "We had not."
Ye Jiao's eyes shimmered with mischief, coaxing gently. "Think again. Did you perhaps attend a Qiqiao banquet, where things between us suddenly... became unclear?" She pointed to herself. "Became tangled?"
Li Ce gazed at her, his eyes deep and unreadable. He took in her lively expression, her expressive gestures. The turning point had indeed been the Qiqiao banquet, but even before that, he had once conned her out of silver, stood with her through a nighttime report to the magistrate, and she had even once pinned him to a wall and stripped him clean. Perhaps it was he who had overthought everything.
Seeing his silence, Ye Jiao reached out and pulled his arm toward her, stuffing a ginseng root into his chest. Then, as if bidding farewell to a casual friend, she gave his shoulder a few friendly pats."You're not in the best of health. Take good care of yourself. If ever you need help scaling a wall or starting a brawl, just call on me."
She was well aware of her strengths and saw no shame in wielding them.
With that, Ye Jiao swiftly curtsied and turned to leave, almost in flight—only to be seized again by Li Ce.
His slender fingers gripped her arm tightly, as though she were the rope that had once descended into that ancient tomb, the lifeline that had saved him. The same overwhelming emotion surged through him now, but this time, the fear was laced with a desolate sense of loss.
"Last night..." Li Ce chose his words carefully, not wanting others to misunderstand her. "I thought something between us had changed."
Last night, she had romped on his back, whispered into his ear, confided her secrets to him. He knew she worried for her father far from home, that she longed for a lifelong companion, that she cherished her mother dearly, and feared their noble house being trampled. She had even wished she were born a man.
He had recited "The Bitterness of Daylight's Shortness." She answered with a verse from "Southern Garden."—"Why do men not gird their swords and reclaim the lost fifty states?"Both were poems by Li Changji, filled with boundless valor and unrestrained yearning. How could such intimacy, such affection, simply not count?
"Last night..." Ye Jiao gently pushed his hand away, her movement light as if afraid he might break. "I had too much to drink. Forgive me, Your Highness—my behavior when drunk leaves much to be desired."
The light in Li Ce's eyes dimmed. The brightness of recent days seemed to vanish, as though someone had extinguished them at midnight. His lips pressed into a thin line; with wounded pride, he gave a faint nod.
"If that is so, then I shall not see you off."
If he pressed further, he would only burden her.
Ye Jiao looked faintly surprised but instinctively turned at the same time as Li Ce. The afternoon sun filtered through the courtyard, warm and dappled. The crimson maples burned like clouds. Though they parted ways, they were like stars set upon separate orbits.
Li Ce's dark robes fluttered in the sunlight, trailing a long, drawn-out shadow. Ye Jiao's frost-colored shawl hung by her skirt, stiffened by the chilly breeze. Just like that—it was over.
She crossed the threshold into the corridor, wound past the waterside pavilion, and slipped through the carved floral gate. She walked fast, with haste, saying nothing, unmoved by the scenery. The steward who led the way sensed the tension and dared not speak.
Only after reaching the street and climbing into her carriage did Ye Jiao finally let her tears spill freely.
"What is wrong with me?" she muttered, frustrated as she wiped her face. "It was all just an act—so why am I crying?"
"Yes indeed..." Shui Wen pouted, sitting beside her in the carriage. Chin in hands, she sympathized with her mistress's pain. In her eyes, Prince Li Ce was gentle, intelligent, and always knew how to make her lady smile. Apart from his frail health, he had no real flaws. But then again, a weak body wouldn't do—what if he couldn't sire children?
But that too was a matter of trial—how would you know unless you tried?
As Shui Wen's mind wandered down strange paths, Ye Jiao suddenly exclaimed, "Oh!"
She had figured it out.
She raised her head, flicked away her tears, and said, "I finally understand why I cried. We used to have an old servant in our household—never sold off despite his age, just stayed in the manor in retirement. Eventually, he reeked of urine. The physician said he couldn't control himself. He was incontinent."
Shui Wen looked puzzled. What did that have to do with crying?
"So I'm not sad," Ye Jiao concluded as she wiped her tears. "This is like that—it's not heartbreak. It's tear incontinence."
Tear incontinence? Was that even a real condition? Shui Wen immediately forgot all about Li Ce, already planning to inform the lady's mother—Miss needed a physician, urgently.
Back in the residence, Li Ce returned to find Li Jing pestering the young chess attendant.
"How did I lose? No—I clearly won!"
The boy stood firm. "Your Highness, you truly lost."
Li Jing threw a tantrum on the floor, kicking and rolling.
"I don't care! Ninth Brother, you're paying for this meal. Ever since you moved in, I've been bleeding silver! I've no coin left to host anyone!"
This younger brother was too cunning. Two decades guarding tombs, and somehow he'd learned masterful chess. Who knew he was no simpleton?
Li Ce entered the room with a weary face and tossed the ginseng at him.
"Pawn it. Buy the dinner."
Then he lay down, just like Li Jing, but not in lazy comfort—in utter exhaustion, unmoving, as though he'd lost all strength.
"Such a large ginseng!" Li Jing's eyes sparkled as he cradled it. "Ye Jiao gave you this? You lucky dog!"
Li Ce said nothing. He turned away.
Just as Li Jing reached the door, he was called back.
"You. Come back."
Li Ce tossed him a pouch of silver.
"Leave the ginseng."
Li Jing sulked. "Now you can't bear to part with it? Stingy!"
"Give it to me," Li Ce said, hand outstretched, his face cold as though they were strangers.
Li Jing stormed over and stuffed the ginseng into his arms, grumbling, "Fine, hug it tight. Pretend it's your wife."
He left without another word.
Li Ce stared up at the ceiling, dazed, speechless for a long while.
Ginseng couldn't be a wife.
The only thing that could become a wife by turning human... was a spinning top.
He couldn't understand how Ye Jiao had left so easily, or why he was suffering so.As though someone had pulled the bones from his body, leaving only a limp husk.As though wildfires had ravaged his world, leaving nothing but ash.Time crawled by—so slowly it felt like lying in a coffin.
He lay motionless until the shadows lengthened and the room darkened. Suddenly, he sat up.
His trembling servant, just setting down the evening meal, nearly dropped the dishes in fright.
"Qingfeng," Li Ce called, "I've remembered why!"
The dazed servant turned, chopsticks in hand, thinking the prince had gone mad from grief.
"Remembered what?"
"I like her. I've fallen for her."
Li Ce collapsed once more onto the mat, a smile breaking across his face—bitter, joyful, and utterly helpless.
"So this is what it feels like to like someone... it hurts so much."
Li Jing's invitations went out to thirteen brothers, but only six or seven arrived on time. The Second Prince, Jin Wang, had already departed the capital for his vigil and could not attend. Li Ce remained at home clutching his ginseng, unmoving. The Fourth Prince, newly titled, claimed illness and stayed in. Others sent servants with excuses, each more creative than the last.
Li Jing didn't mind—fewer guests meant less food.
But the guest of honor, Su Wang Li Long, was absent, and that bruised his pride.
He forced a smile, raised his cup, and said, "Su Wang must be overcome with emotion, afraid that if he saw us, he'd burst into tears. Let us then drink to his princely journey and wish him joy in his new post."