Chapter 1 — The Jade Robe and Old Dreams

Crown Prince Zhao Zhashe has a very peculiar penchant. His swords must come in pairs. His strategists must work in twos. Even his wife had to be a twin. That spring, the peach blossoms at South Mountain Temple were in full bloom. The moment he laid eyes upon the elder sister, Shen Qingge, he fell hopelessly in love at first sight. Then, turning his gaze toward me, a smile played upon his lips.

Looking identical to the tee. Should one ever be lost, the other remains.

Thus, my elder sister became the Crown Princess, while I was relegated to the position of secondary consort. Within the Eastern Palace, our husband withheld his affection, and resentment festered between sisters. We fought and struggled our entire lives. In the end, upon drawing our final breaths, not even a single soul was present to mourn or escort us to the grave. When I opened my eyes once more, I had returned to the very night my elder sister invited me to admire the blossoms. She smiled gently.

Qingci, tomorrow the peach blossoms at South Mountain Temple will be in full bloom. Let us go together.

I looked at her and replied calmly.

Elder sister, I shall not go anymore.

1

My sister’s smile froze instantly.

Why not? Just a few months ago, you were the one constantly begging to go.

I suddenly do not wish to go anymore.

She stared intently at me, as if trying to decipher some hidden meaning.

Qingci, are you hiding something from me?

Nothing at all.

I lowered my gaze to adjust my sleeves.

I am merely a little tired.

She fell silent for a brief moment.

Then I shall go by myself tomorrow.

She turned on her heel and departed, her footsteps fading slowly down the corridor. In my past life, my elder sister and I had gone to view the flowers together. To our unexpected fate, we encountered Crown Prince Zhao Zhashe. My sister and His Highness fell for each other at first glance. Seeing that my sister and I shared identical features, he also took me into the Eastern Palace, granting me the title of secondary consort. The following day, my sister visited the temple alone. Upon her return, her cheeks were flushed like peach blossoms, and her eyes brimmed with springtime longing. She whispered that she had met a man of noble birth. Though she omitted his name, I knew precisely who it pertained to. Three days later, the imperial decree bestowing marriage was delivered to the Shen estate. Just as in my past life, my sister was wed to Zhao Zhashe, ascending to the rank of Crown Princess.

2

According to custom, the Shen household was required to send an entourage to accompany the bride. My mother grasped my hand and said.

Qingci, your elder sister is being married off. You must go with her.

Despite my profound dread of repeating the tragedies of my previous life, I nodded.

Understood.

On the wedding day, I wore a veil across my face, standing faithfully by my sister’s side. She wore garments of the deepest crimson, gripping my hand so tightly that her palms were slick with perspiration.

Qingci, I am rather frightened.

Her voice trembled visibly.

Have no fear, elder sister. His Highness the Crown Prince will treat you with kindness.

She looked at me, her eyes rimmed with red.

Will you walk inside with me? Please?

Very well.

The bridal sedan chair arrived at the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince stood waiting at the threshold to welcome his bride. He assisted my sister down from the sedan, his gaze sweeping briefly over my form. He paused for a fraction of a second, but it vanished in a flash. Today was his grand wedding day, with distinguished guests filling every hall; he had no leisure to investigate further. During the banquet, I sat alone in a secluded corner, keeping my veil on throughout the entire affair. A guest approached to strike up a conversation.

And who might this young lady be?

The younger sister of the Crown Princess.

Wherefore the veil?

My humble visage possesses certain imperfections, and I fear startling the esteemed guests.

The man stepped back in awkward embarrassment and refrained from inquiring further. The Crown Prince glanced at me from afar once more, yet paid me no further heed.

3

The wedding banquet was boisterous and lively, illuminated by a sea of bright candles. Zhao Zhashe held my sister’s hand as they moved amongst the guests. The corners of his mouth curved upward in a smile, and his eyes shimmered with a bright luster. My sister flushed scarlet, following close by his side. In my past life, I too had stood watching them in this exact manner. The sole difference was that back then, I had stood right beside my sister. Once the banquet concluded and the guests departed in succession, I likewise turned and took my leave. Upon returning to my quarters, Chun’er hurried forward to greet me.

Mistress, are you quite well?

I am well.

I removed the veil from my face.

Merely fatigued.

I lay down upon the bed, closing my eyes as memories rushed back like a tidal wave. On our wedding night in the past life, my sister had been indisposed with her monthly courses. Consequently, Zhao Zhashe came to my chambers. He sat by the bedside, observing me. After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly furrowed his brow and asked with displeasure.

How strange. Why do your monthly courses not align with hers?

Before I could frame a reply, the imperial physician arrived the next day bearing a bowl of bitter medicine. He claimed it was a tonic to regulate the body. I drank it. Only later did I discover that the decoction had forcibly altered my cycle, aligning it precisely with my sister’s. Yet he remained entirely ignorant of the profound damage such interference inflicted upon my constitution, rendering it exceedingly difficult for me to conceive thereafter. When I finally managed to conceive after much arduous struggle, he declared.

Your elder sister has yet to conceive; you must wait for her.

A bowl of abortive medicine was placed before me. From that day until the moment of my death, I was never able to bear children again. He demanded that we be exact reflections of one another. Even such intimate matters were barred from any variance. Afterwards, every single possession had to be prepared in duplicate, identical in every detail. I favored azure gowns, whereas my sister preferred pink. He remarked.

The two of you are twins; wearing matching attire is far more pleasing.

Consequently, not a single azure garment remained within my chambers. All were pink, exact replicas of my sister’s wardrobe. I enjoyed spicy fare, while my sister preferred sweets. He stated.

Your palates ought to be identical as well.

Hence, the cook ceased preparing spicy dishes. The dining table perpetually offered only bowls of cloying, sugary soup. I consumed such meals for six entire years, until I could no longer discern what flavors I truly relished. I adored crape myrtle blossoms, while my sister favored begonias. He decreed.

Planting the same variety of flora befits sisters.

Therefore, all the crape myrtle in my courtyard was dug up and replaced with begonias. On one occasion, unable to contain myself any longer, I asked.

Your Highness, do you even know what I enjoy?

He paused in thought before breaking into a gentle laugh.

What you like is of no consequence. You are twins; as long as you remain identical, that is sufficient.

I reined in my wandering thoughts. Fortunately, I had been granted a second lease on life. Everything could begin anew.

4

On the day my sister returned to her maiden home for a visit, Zhao Zhashe accompanied her in person. A maidservant rushed over in a panic to report the news.

Mistress, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived. The master instructs you to go to the front hall to receive them.

At that moment, I was squatting in a corner of the courtyard playing with crickets, without even lifting my head.

I will not go.

Mistress...

His Highness the Crown Prince is no stranger to the Shen estate. Merely tell them I have gone out.

Using a blade of grass, I gently stroked the antennae of a cricket. The maidservant stood rooted to the spot, words hovering anxiously on her lips. Finally, she stamped her foot and turned away. I resumed my game. In my previous life, Zhao Zhashe had frequently reprimanded me for my demeanor, claiming I was far too spirited and lacked the sedate poise of my elder sister.

All day long you merely play about, what kind of propriety is this?

You and Qingge are twins; why is your disposition so vastly different?

Later on, he dismantled my swing and discarded the crickets I kept. He proclaimed.

Young ladies of noble families must carry themselves with the grace expected of noble families.

From that time onward, I grew increasingly silent, losing all taste for conversation. I spent my days sequestered behind closed doors, existing in a state of gloom and melancholy. Scarcely a few years passed before my youth withered and my life was cut short.

5

As Zhao Zhashe departed, he happened to pass by a secluded minor courtyard. Hearing the sound of laughter, he turned his gaze toward the source. A young woman stood upon a swing, her azure robes fluttering and her skirts billowing in the breeze. She urged her maidservant to push her higher and higher, her crisp laughter echoing through the air. He halted in his tracks, staring at that retreating figure with an inexplicable sense of familiarity, though he could not recall where he had seen her before.

Your Highness?

My sister called out to him.

Who is that person?

Following his gaze, my sister hesitated slightly before replying.

She is likely my younger sister. She has always favored eccentric amusements.

Is she like you?

He withdrew his gaze and suddenly posed the question. My sister fell silent for a fleeting second.

Our features bear a certain resemblance, though our dispositions are entirely different. My younger sister is much more lively and unrestrained.

She offered no further elaboration, unwilling to let him discover that another face identical to her own existed in this world.

6

Several days later, I went out for a stroll. The majority of women on the streets wore azure skirts and gowns. As I approached a pastry stall, the vendor caught sight of me and asked with a smile.

Is the young lady here to try her luck as well?

What luck?

His Highness the Crown Prince is presently seeking a secondary consort. Rumor has it that he dreamt of his future secondary consort wearing an azure dress and possessing an exceptionally spirited demeanor. Consequently, every maiden in the city has begun wearing blue.

The vendor chattered away while wrapping pastries. In the Crown Prince’s study, there hangs a painting entitled Azure and Crimson Beauties. The figure in crimson is the Crown Princess, while the one in azure lacks a face. Everyone surmises she must be someone else resting deep within His Highness’s heart. We are merely waiting to see which family’s daughter will be blessed with such fortune...

I glanced down at my own attire—a simple azure dress.

Is that so?

I smiled faintly.

I merely chose this attire at random.

In my past life, upon first entering the Eastern Palace, I too had worn azure. Yet he soon declared.

Blue makes you appear older and does not suit you. Pink is much more vibrant; you ought to be like Qingge and wear pink instead.

From then on, azure garments vanished from my sight. Now, however, he had dreamt of a woman in blue. Could it be that he too had been reborn? I accepted the pastries, paid the toll, and turned to leave. After walking a short distance, I overheard murmurs from the crowd behind me.

There goes another one wearing blue.

Truth be told, her silhouette truly resembles the woman in the painting.

What good is a resemblance? She is hardly the genuine person dwelling in His Highness’s heart.

7

To prevent any complications arising from prolonged delays, I proactively brought up the topic of marriage with my mother.

Mother, I have reached the age for marriage.

Mother set down her teacup and looked at me intently.

Qingci, do you already harbor someone in your heart?

There is no one.

I lowered my head, my fingertips lightly brushing the edge of my sleeve. I merely feel that I should plan for my own future.

Mother was silent for a brief moment.

What manner of man do you wish to find?

I pondered for a moment before answering.

He need not possess high birth or boundless wealth. So long as his character is upright and his heart holds room for me alone, that is enough.

Mother took my hand in hers.

Very well, Mother shall keep a lookout for you.

Three days later, Mother brought a portrait to my chambers.

Qingci, examine this gentleman. He is the son of an Academician in the Imperial Academy, surnamed Lu, with the given name Chu. He is three years your senior and yet unmarried. It is said his character is exceptionally upright, and he has never dallied with flowers or romantic escapades.

I accepted the portrait without offering an immediate reply. In my past life, I had heard mention of Lu Chu. That was during the third year following my entrance into the Eastern Palace. That year, floods plagued Jiang Nan, and the court issued a call for disaster relief donations. Lu Chu had contributed his entire accumulated stipend of many years, withholding not a single coin for himself. Although we had never met, the accounts I heard of him fostered a deep conviction that he was a man upon whom one could safely pin a lifetime of hopes.

Mother feels this young man is quite commendable.

Then let us arrange a meeting.

8

On the day of our meeting, I donned an azure dress. Lu Chu was seated on the second floor of a teahouse. Catching sight of me ascending the stairs, he immediately rose to his feet. Appearing rather nervous, he accidentally knocked over a teacup, then scrambled clumsily to catch it.

My apologies, my apologies, I... I am far too clumsy.

I smiled reassuringly.

It is of no consequence.

He looked at me, momentarily stunned, before the tips of his ears gradually flushed red. On that day, we conversed for a very long time.