Chapter 2 — The North Wind Knows My Heart

Little Mother did not expect it. After that single dance, she fell ill with a chill, and from that day on, she never truly recovered. I gazed up at the kite snagged high in the treetop, dangling like a lonely star suspended in the vast expanse of the sky. The Ninth Princess looked at me with eager eyes, while Father, gripped by anxiety, urged me on incessantly. I forced a smile, wrapped my arms around the rough trunk, and began to climb. Sharp branches tore at my face and hands, leaving angry red welts, but I felt no pain. If I could only retrieve the kite, Father would surely summon the imperial physician to treat Little Mother. Finally, when I brought it down, the Ninth Princess clutched the toy to her chest and beamed at me.

"You are a kind girl, thank you so much! This kite was crafted by my own mother; I could never bear to lose it."

Those around us showered her with praise. Father’s cold indifference finally thawed, and at last, a genuine smile graced his lips. I could only smile back, over and over. Little Mother finally had a glimmer of hope. Not long after, I was selected to enter the palace as a study companion to the Ninth Princess. She was seven that year; I was merely five. Before my departure, Little Mother’s eyes were swollen and red as she held me in a tight, desperate embrace.

"Wanyuan, you are the princess’s companion. Outside of the Emperor and the Empress, you are the person closest to her. You must take on the burdens of the princess as your own. If you do not... if you do not, then one day, you will never see your Little Mother again. Do you understand?"

At that age, I did not know what it meant to carry another’s burden. Yet, in my heart, I understood. If I did not bear it, neither I nor my mother would see a good ending. I nodded blankly, and the matron lifted me into the carriage. As time passed, the reality became clear. When the princess failed her lessons, I was punished by staying awake all night to transcribe books one hundred times. When she accidentally tripped and scraped her knee, I was forced to kneel in the bitter snow for an entire day. When the Eldest Prince scolded her until she wept, I was the one who received forty strikes across my palms. Therefore, whatever sorrow, mischief, or injury befell the princess, it was I who had to endure the consequences. In the end, I never saw Little Mother again. She passed away during that very winter. On the day of her funeral, I had just been whipped for another’s mistake. My hands were so swollen I could not even hold her spirit tablet; I could only bow my head and weep. Shen Yu knelt beside me, his own tears falling freely.

"Little Sister Wanyuan, my mother originally intended to betroth me to your elder sister. But your mother begged my father to change it to you, claiming that your father owed you a debt." He wiped his eyes, bewildered. "I do not understand this business of debts, but regardless, you will be my bride one day. I will look after you. Please, stop crying, won't you? It makes my heart ache."

I tilted my head, looking at him. "To which household do you belong, Brother?"

His lips curled into a gentle smile. "I am Shen Yu, the second son of the Marquis of Wuwei. You may call me Brother Yu from now on."

I jolted awake in my bed. "Brother Yu!"

Outside the window, thunder roared. The room was cold and empty. There was no Shen Yu—the man who would stand at the palace gates every Mid-Autumn festival, the man who would cry whenever he saw my tears. He was gone. Once, whenever he saw me punished for the Ninth Princess, he would roll up his sleeves and rage, "One day, I will enter that palace and settle the score with that troublemaker!"

Later, he did enter the palace, becoming a member of the Imperial Guard. The first time he went to confront the Ninth Princess, she threw a bronze arrow from a tossing game, striking him squarely on the forehead. She stood before him, head bowed, nervously twisting her skirts. "I am sorry, I am so sorry, I did not mean to hurt you. You may punish me however you wish, but please, do not tell the Emperor. He will take his anger out on Wanyuan."

Her eyelashes fluttered. A single tear fell onto his hand. His righteous fury evaporated instantly. He nodded, stunned, and muttered, "Your servant obeys, Princess."

From then on, he began to lecture me. "Jiu-Er is a treasure, cherished by the Emperor and Empress since birth. She is playful by nature, and you must watch over her carefully. She is young and naive; she is easily led astray. You must be vigilant. If anything concerns Jiu-Er, you must report it to me immediately. She must not suffer the slightest grievance."

I nodded repeatedly, then asked, "Brother Yu, when the Ninth Princess is wed, I shall finally leave the palace. Our marriage..."

He frowned slightly. "Let us speak of that later. Jiu-Er is only seventeen; she is far from being married." He scolded me then, "Why are you always so eager to leave the palace? Jiu-Er relies on you more than anyone. If she knew you felt this way, how sad she would be."

A sudden panic took hold of my heart. "Brother Yu... do you love the Ninth Princess?"

He watched her as she sat on the swing, her skirts dancing in the wind, his eyes full of adoration, his mouth curving into an unconscious smile. I stepped closer. "Brother Yu?"

He snapped out of it, pulling me into the shadows. "From now on, do not call me Brother Yu inside the palace. And keep your distance, lest others misunderstand."

Boom! A deafening crack of thunder shook the air. Rain poured down like a waterfall. The Emperor pursed his lips, his voice softening. "Tell me then, how shall I fulfill your request?"

I pressed my forehead to the cold stone floor. "The Prince of Northern Pacification only requested to wed a princess; he never specified that it must be the Ninth Princess. Since ancient times, our dynasty has held the precedent of conferring such titles. If you were to confer the title of princess upon me... it would not be impossible."

He pondered for a moment before his tone shifted. "But you and Shen Yu are already betrothed. If I agree, would I not be a tyrant who tears lovers apart?"

I answered without hesitation, "Your servant will annul the betrothal to Shen Yu."