Grand Princess Ningsi's manor was located in the aristocratic Yongchang District. Although it was built in the style of a Daoist temple, its courtyards were vast, with gardens, meandering streams, pavilions, and towers all meticulously constructed by skilled artisans from the palace. This was enough to show the Emperor's affection for his own sister.

Before the current Emperor ascended the throne, Princess Ningsi was betrothed by Emperor Suzong to Wang Biao, the third son of the aristocratic Wang Clan. However, the Princess's married life was not as she had wished. Wang Biao was a philanderer, and unable to bear the Princess's restraints, he often frequented brothels and even secretly kept songstresses outside, siring an illegitimate son. Princess Ningsi could not endure such a great humiliation and angrily submitted a memorial to Emperor Suzong requesting a divorce. However, Wang Biao's father, Minister Wang Boyu, went before Emperor Suzong to beg for forgiveness. Emperor Suzong, considerate of the old minister's face, only severely reprimanded the Wang Family but did not grant the divorce. The Princess was thus disheartened and fell ill for several months. From then on, she lived separately from Wang Biao, and a year later, she voluntarily became a Daoist priestess.

When the new Emperor ascended the throne, Princess Ningsi again submitted a memorial requesting a divorce to become a priestess. Wen Jingxing had long disapproved of the Wang Family's conduct, so he naturally sided with his own sister. Not only did he immediately grant her the divorce, he also ennobled her as Grand Princess Ningsi and ordered people to renovate her manor in Yongchang District, turning the residence into a Daoist temple for her to live in.

Grand Princess Ningsi had suffered for half her life. Once divorced, she was like a bird freed from its cage and began living a divine life, envying immortals rather than mandarin ducks. Wen Chan still remembered her appearance from her past life, but now it was an earlier time—the Grand Princess wore a precious lotus crown, was dressed in a feathered robe and a purple skirt, attired as a priestess. She wore no pearls or jade ornaments, yet she naturally possessed a graceful, elegant, and transcendent air.

Just as Wen Chan was about to curtsy, the Grand Princess came forward and took her by the arm, saying with a smile: “It has been three years since we last met, our Ah Tan has grown even more refined! Aunt has long wanted to invite you over for a chat, but it happened to coincide with the northern inspection tour, and then that incident occurred. Fearing you couldn't let it go, I've delayed until now.”

Wen Chan was led into the hall by the hand and attended to by a palace maid who removed her cloak. She replied with a smile: “It is my fault, I should have come to pay my respects to Aunt sooner. Instead, I have troubled Aunt to worry about me, I am truly ashamed.”

The hostess and guest each took their seats. Grand Princess Ningsi exchanged a few pleasantries with her, first asking about the Emperor's health, then speaking of the perilous experience at the temporary palace. Finally, she circuitously got to the main point: “Recently, your uncle, the Prince of Dan, has taken a liking to a new musical troupe. He has recommended them to me several times, praising them to the skies, saying they are quite skilled in famous songs, and that the poets and scholars of the Capital City all consider it an honor to have their new poems set to their music. As it happens, I was thinking of you coming over today, so I summoned them to the manor to entertain us. Let's appraise them together and see if they are truly as miraculous as he claims.”

Right now, rumors of the Princess's search for a husband were rampant. Grand Princess Ningsi's intention in inviting her over could be nothing other than to recommend a candidate for Prince Consort. Moreover, since she mentioned the Prince of Dan, it seemed the candidate was closer to the Prince of Dan and had used the Prince of Dan's connections to reach out to Grand Princess Ningsi.

Understanding the implied meaning, Wen Chan, having already come, had no reason to get upset and spoil the mood. She followed the Grand Princess's lead and said with a smile: “Uncle, the Prince of Dan, is well-versed in calligraphy, painting, and music, and Aunt has a refined taste for poetry and literature. You two are the experts. I am just listening for the fun of it; how could I distinguish between good and bad? I am merely feigning elegance.”

Grand Princess Ningsi laughed upon hearing this. Compared to the other young princesses who were still childish and only loved rare trinkets and fine silks, Princess Chiming was clearly much more mature in her conduct. The Grand Princess might have renounced the mortal world, but she wasn't truly ignorant of worldly affairs. Her favor and special treatment all came from the Emperor. The Emperor valued Princess Chiming and had put great effort into choosing a husband for her. As her aunt, she naturally had to keep up. If the Prince of Dan hadn't repeatedly assured her that his candidate was a sure thing, the Grand Princess would never have risked offending Wen Chan by arranging such a meeting.

The hall was set up with beaded curtains and gauze screens. The aunt and niece sat behind the screen, attended by several maids dressed as Daoist acolytes, who were burning incense and brewing tea. After a short while, someone outside the hall announced their arrival. The Grand Princess raised her hand, and a group of musicians entered in single file, carrying their instruments. They bowed at the foot of the hall and said in unison: “We commoners kowtow before Your Highness, may Your Highness live a thousand years.”

“No need for ceremony, be seated.”

Wen Chan was looking down, sipping her tea. The Grand Princess saw the person first and couldn't help but clap her hands in admiration: “Oh, what a handsome young man!”

Wen Chan glanced up in confusion and nearly choked to death on her hot tea. Alas, her thirty years of composure, cultivated across two lifetimes, turned to dust with that single glance.

In the center of the hall, the musician in white, wide-sleeved robes, holding a zither, also raised his eyes to look over. Through the hazy gauze and the shimmer of the beads, their gazes met silently in mid-air.

There was a hint of visible weariness on his face, which, far from detracting from his natural, flower-like beauty, actually added a touch of pitiable charm. It made him look like a pear blossom, dewy and rain-kissed. His entire being, from the strands of his hair to the buckle of his belt, seemed to emit a soft, hazy glow.

That was her former Prince Consort, Pei Rusong, whom she had sent to the Northern Border in what was akin to exile, and whom she never saw again until his death.

Seeing an old acquaintance was like meeting after a lifetime apart.

It truly was a lifetime apart.

The moment Wen Chan recognized Pei Rusong, countless thoughts flashed through her mind. A premonition of crisis seared her reason, but an incredible and inopportune thought, like an impenetrable shield, firmly blocked out all other distractions, allowing her to remain seated, as still as a mountain, and continue to calmly gaze at Pei Rusong through the curtain.

Wen Chan thought to herself: ‘To send such a delicate beauty packing to the backwoods, I must have been truly impervious in my past life.’

Grand Princess Ningsi, with a knowing smile, asked softly: “Well? He's an absolute beauty, isn't he?”

Wen Chan: “...”

If Pei Rusong sang, played the zither, or recited poetry—if he performed anything at all—Wen Chan could have found some fault with him. But she couldn't, in good conscience, say that Pei Rusong's face wasn't handsome. After all, he was the Prince Consort she had personally chosen in her previous life. To deny him would be to deny her own taste.

“If his skill with the zither could match his looks,” Wen Chan said, raising her teacup to hide her mouth and conceal the slight mockery in her words, “I'm afraid we would have seen him at palace banquets years ago.”

Grand Princess Ningsi gave her a surprised look. “With looks like that, who cares if he plays the zither well or not? In the Imperial Music Academy, you can find a whole handful of people who play the zither brilliantly, but someone who looks like this is hard to find even with a lantern.”

“...”

Wen Chan put down her teacup and conceded with a compromise. “Play the music. Let him play. I'd like to see what kind of marvels he can produce.”

Pei Rusong was, after all, a young master from a great aristocratic family. Mastering the Six Arts was merely basic training for him. He played the part of a musician quite convincingly; his zither playing was perfectly in tune with the flute, xiao, and pipa. The first two pieces were well-known works by famous composers, popular in the city. The third piece became a personal showcase with an ulterior motive. At first, Grand Princess Ningsi listened with the detached interest of an observer, but as the music went on, she found herself drawn in by the sound, gradually becoming immersed. When the piece ended, she even raised her sleeve to dab the corner of her eye.

Wen Chan, under her fervent gaze, praised woodenly: “...Well sung, very moving.”

Grand Princess Ningsi feigned a slap at her. “Were you asleep? That last piece didn't have any lyrics.”

Wen Chan: “...”

How could she be in the mood to listen to music? Fate was hurtling in a completely unforeseen direction. Wen Chan dazedly felt like the heartless Chen Shimei being confronted by Qin Xianglian.

In her past life, she had forcibly taken him from another, breaking up a perfect couple. This sordid affair had been whispered about behind her back for half her life. In this life, she had finally shown some mercy and considered letting him go, yet Pei Rusong had taken the initiative to appear before her.

The young Pei Rusong would never have deigned to pose as a zither master. Before he was chosen as Prince Consort, he might not even have known who Princess Chiming was. The one who would deliberately scheme to get close to her could only be...

“Summon that zither master forward.”

Pei Rusong walked closer and stopped outside the beaded curtain. He cast a seemingly unintentional glance in Wen Chan's direction.

Wen Chan turned her head slightly, avoiding his gaze.

“Brother Prince of Dan has a keen eye for talent. Your skill with the zither is indeed superb, like hearing the clear wind through the pines, truly a master's touch.” Grand Princess Ningsi, completely unaware of the undercurrent between the two, asked with great interest, “What is your name?”

Pei Rusong lowered his head submissively and said in a gentle voice: “Replying to Your Highness, this lowly one's surname is Cui, and my given name is Xuechen.”

Wen Chan snorted derisively. The name he chose was deliberate enough. Cui was Pei Rusong's mother's surname, and Xuechen was his courtesy name. Who was he trying to test by saying it like that?

The more Grand Princess Ningsi looked at him, the more pleasing to the eye she found him. She just didn't understand why Wen Chan didn't seem to be falling for his act. While inwardly wondering where the Prince of Dan got his confidence, she asked, “I was listening to that last piece; its style was quite different from the first two. Although it had no lyrics, it was deeply and delicately emotional, enough to move one to tears. What is the name of this piece, and who composed it?”

Pei Rusong said, “Replying to Your Highness, this piece is called 'Song of the Lone Goose'. It was composed by an old friend of this lowly one who was moved to write it.”

Wen Chan, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up and asked: “What is the meaning of 'lone goose'? Is it a goose separated from its flock?”

Pei Rusong said, “It is a goose that has lost its mate.”

Wen Chan: “Where is that old friend of yours now?”

Pei Rusong: “He has already passed away.”

Wen Chan: “How did he pass away?”

Pei Rusong said lightly: “His first wife died young. He lived on in a muddle for about a dozen years and died of illness.”

“No wonder the music was so desolate, every note so mournful. So it was composed in memory of his deceased wife.” Grand Princess Ningsi sighed. “Endless affection, it is a rare and fine piece indeed. I just wonder if, when he composed it, he was holding a new love in his arms.”

She had grown sick of men's pretentious displays of deep affection in the Wang Family. Although she could still be moved by the music, in her heart, she no longer believed in things like 'unchanging love until death'.

But Pei Rusong suddenly said out of the blue, “No.”

“Hm?”

This time, he made no effort to hide it. He gave Wen Chan a deep look, then quickly lowered his head and repeated softly, “No new love.”

Wen Chan: “...”

He looked a little aggrieved. Wen Chan's brow twitched imperceptibly. 'I'm not the one who said it,' she thought, 'so why are you getting upset with me?' However, she couldn't just watch him contradict the Grand Princess, so she had to take the initiative to resolve the situation. “Aunt, could you lend me a place so that I and... Young Master Cui can speak a few words alone?”

Grand Princess Ningsi's eyes suddenly lit up. She covered her mouth with her sleeve and teased with a mixture of surprise and laughter, “Oh my, has the sun risen from the west today?”

Wen Chan said humbly: “...Please see your good deed through to the end. Thank you, Aunt.”

The Grand Princess nodded and said: “In this manor of mine, only the scenery from Jinxian Pavilion is barely passable. Although it's built by the water, it has bright glass windows on three sides. If we have someone bring in a brazier, it will be both bright and warm. Let's arrange it there, what do you think?”

Princess Chiming was, after all, an unmarried young woman. If any gossip were to spread from today's banquet, it would be counterproductive. The Grand Princess arranged it this way, firstly, to choose a quiet place for her, and secondly, to prevent any accidents. Any disturbance in the waterside pavilion could be seen by the servants guarding outside.

Her thinking was thorough, so Wen Chan naturally had no reason to refuse. A moment later, using the excuse of changing her clothes, she left the banquet first.

A maid from the Princess Manor led her up to Jinxian Pavilion. Wen Chan leaned against the window and gazed out. She saw thin snow and broken ice floating on the lake's surface, which shimmered with golden ripples under the sunlight. The surrounding trees, woods, and rocks were all covered in white snow. A clear breeze blew past, creating countless points of glittering light, as if she had ascended to a celestial paradise.

Footsteps approached from behind, carrying a cool, snowy aura that brushed past her temples like a damp caress.

“It has been a long time, Your Highness.”