If Qing's Moonlight Dwelling was tucked away on the back mountain, secluded and tranquil with only the occasional palace maid sweeping through, barely seeing a soul for half a month, then the liveliest spot in the palace had to be Fortune Palace, closest to Vermilion Pavilion and Vermilion Gate.
Fortune Palace was the residence granted to Ming's most cherished little princess, Li, positioned just to the right of Mei's chambers, a mere half-mile away. It sat beside the Imperial Way of Vermilion Gate, where Ming would pass daily on his way from his quarters to the Golden Throne Hall for morning court. Often, he'd stop by to check on her. Sometimes, after court, he'd visit again, hearing Li's clear recitation of texts or seeing her diligently studying at the side hall's entrance. He'd nod in approval and leave quietly.
If the mood struck him, he might test her knowledge. Li always answered fluently or responded with such sweet care that Ming's heart softened. No matter how foul his mood, her soft calls of "Father, Father" melted away his frustrations, leaving him content. His favor toward her was plain for all to see, an open secret even among the princes and other princesses.
Back when Ming was still Ren, his doting on Li was no less obvious. Beyond daily indulgences, her education stood out. While other imperial children were schooled under the Lesser Tutor's Office, Li alone had a team of renowned teachers. Many were distinguished figures or peers of Mei's own mentors, who, out of respect for their teacher and junior sister, poured their hearts into Li's upbringing.
The opulence of noble households might raise pampered canaries, but it couldn't forge a true phoenix born to soar. To Ming, Li's grace, talent, and refined demeanor were the ideal for his child. Among the rest of his children, none truly caught his eye.
Take the eldest and second princes, for instance. Grown men, yet none carried the aura of a dragon among men. Dressed in princely robes, they didn't look like heirs; clad in imperial garb, they'd never pass as emperors. That was Ming's judgment. In his heart, none of the grown princes were as promising as his newborn youngest son.
Ming adored Yu Fei's child, but if that boy had even half the aptitude and charm of Qing or Li, Ming would've been more than pleased. Though his bond with Mei had long frozen over, their relationship as cold as a winter's vault, Ming couldn't deny the elegance bred by the Su family's upbringing, rare and unmatched.
Ming's children, legitimate and otherwise, numbered ten, far fewer than the dozens of the previous emperor. Yet his favor toward Li and Qing was glaringly obvious, sparking ambitions in certain quarters. The most coveted vacant posts in the palace were serving Yu Fei or at Fortune Palace.
Some considered serving Qing, but she was ethereal, her gaze distant and icy. Moonlight Dwelling, perched atop the mountain, was no place for comfort. Palace maids would've lost their minds toiling there. Lately, Qing had only requested an old, weathered eunuch for chores, leaving maids and eunuchs puzzled but relieved. They whispered of her kindness, grateful to avoid the sweltering summers and freezing winters of the back mountain.
Li's Fortune Palace, however, was a magnet for maids with grand dreams and fluttering hearts. Girls from humble villages, clutching hopes of rising from sparrows to phoenixes, flocked there. In a place Ming frequented, they primped and preened, even those sweeping at Vermilion Gate spending their monthly wages on rouge and trinkets, hoping to catch his eye. One glance, one spark of interest, could lift them from lowly drudgery to a life of prestige overnight.
But today, Fortune Palace was oddly hushed. Eunuchs and maids moved with bowed heads, steps so light they made no sound, exchanging no words, only glances before returning to their tasks.
"Infuriating!"
After a long silence, a girl's exasperated cry broke the stillness, startling the eunuchs and maids, who ducked lower, hearts pounding. A few veteran nursemaids, long in Li's service, exchanged wary looks, unable to guess the cause.
Eventually, a bolder maid whispered to a better-informed companion, "What's wrong with the princess?"
"How would I know the affairs of our masters?" the other muttered, head low, voice barely audible. "She's been like this since returning from Clear Spring Palace a few days ago."
After meeting Marshal Jun at Clear Spring Palace, Li's mood had soured. Her usual bright, lively face had fallen, her lips pursed so tightly they could've held a bottle. Though Li was typically playful and kind, mischievous but measured, her status as the empire's most powerful princess meant her words could sway fates. Maids and eunuchs, skilled at reading moods, tiptoed around her, holding their breath, terrified of breaking a vase or trampling a flower and sparking her wrath.
Inside the side hall, a lavish chamber gleamed with red-lacquered beams adorned with gilded accents. Rows of whale-oil lamps cast golden light, reflecting off the polished floor. A group knelt silently, knees pressed to the cold tiles, foreheads touching the ground, not daring to breathe as Li's faintly angry voice echoed from within. They stayed motionless, dreading her ire.
"Lian, you wretched brute!"
Li stomped in fury, her flawless, jade-like face flushed with anger. Her delicate nose wrinkled, and her slender neck dipped as she panted. Beneath her ornate, regal purple gown, her chest, small, like budding lotuses, rose and fell sharply.
Yet even in her rage, that modest swell remained dainty. Glancing down, Li's frustration surged, a wave of defeat crashing over her.
Why is it so small?!
Lian's mocking sneer lingered in her mind: "A little girl, barely grown!" And those full, rounded breasts, swaying like water-filled pouches…
It wasn't just that barbaric woman. Even Qing, and their mother Mei, Li's hazy childhood memories conjured Mei's smooth, pale skin and those firm, voluptuous curves, brimming with a gentle allure. And her?
Li looked down again, studying herself. A surge of helpless rage welled up, mixed with regret. All these years, she hadn't cared about her figure, and now everyone else had blossomed so fully…
Hmph! Just wait, I'll grow too, bigger than ever!
With that thought, Li perched on a jade couch in the side hall, propping her lotus-white arm on a small table, her smooth, radiant face cradled in her palm. Her anger had ebbed, leaving her sulky but calmer, no longer fuming.
She wanted someone to talk to, to play with, to ease her gloom. Glancing up, she saw her lifelong attendants, nursemaids, and maids kneeling silently, none daring to offer a word of comfort, waiting out her tantrum.
Thankfully, Li's upbringing kept her from lashing out. Unlike some consorts who, spurned by Ming, turned cruel, punishing maids or smashing imperial porcelain, racking up repair bills, she didn't vent on others.
How dull.
Li scanned the room, an idea flickering. "Everyone, leave!" she called to the maids outside. "Hana, come in!"
Might as well go out and clear her head. The capital's bustle always soothed her frustrations, a habit since childhood.
"Yes, Your Highness!" The maids, relieved, bowed deeply and retreated like a receding tide. As they left, they cast pitying glances at the bewildered Hana.
Hana entered nervously, standing primly before Li, offering a deep bow. "Your Highness, what are your orders?"
"Come with me!" Li sprang up, heading to her chambers. She rummaged through her wardrobe, tossing aside lavish garments.
"Princess?" Hana faltered. She'd sneaked out with Li before, but each time felt terrifying. If caught, Li might face a scolding and confinement, but maids like Hana could lose their lives, or at least their skin.
"What's that?" Li snapped, shedding her ornate purple gown to reveal smooth, snowy skin. Her delicate collarbone and petite shoulders gleamed. A silk bellyband covered her budding chest, like small apples, and her flat, flawless abdomen. A glimpse revealed her slender waist, still carrying a hint of girlish youth yet budding with a young woman's grace.
Below, her rounded hips strained against silk undergarments, pink to mark her unwed status. Unlike Qing's moon-like curves or Mei's ripe, peach-like fullness, Li's hips were like crisp pears, youthful, just ripening. Her long legs, dazzlingly white, outshone even rare ivory, smooth as porcelain, with graceful calves curving like a painting's clouds.
Hana stared, awestruck. No matter how often she saw Li's beauty, it stunned her, flawless, divine, humbling her with a pang of inferiority.
"What are you gawking at? Help me!" Li's playful chide snapped Hana back. She reached for the silk wrap to bind Li's chest.
"Wait, no!" Li, raising her slender arm, stopped her, suddenly worried. "Don't bind it!"
What if it stunts me?
"But…" Hana hesitated, eyeing Li's small but noticeable chest under the bellyband. Dressing as a man, she'd stand out. "Princess, what man has a chest like that?"
"Oh… right!" Li, now in a scholar's robe, glanced down, blushing at the obvious mounds. She thought of soldiers saluting Ming, their muscular chests bulging, but her slim frame couldn't mimic that. "Hana, give me your clothes!"
"Huh?" Hana blinked, confused. "Don't you have plenty of clothes?"
"Dolt!" Li flicked Hana's forehead, making her reel. "Mine are too fancy, I'd be spotted instantly. Your clothes will make us look like maids on an errand. No one will suspect!"
"Oh! Clever, Princess!" So, they swapped into plain maid outfits and slipped out through a side gate with forged papers.
The imperial guards, though puzzled by one maid's striking aura, verified the documents, stamped with Li's seal and Qing's pass. Consorts often sent maids for rare items, approved by Vermilion Pavilion's Rui. Qing, as a cultivator, could come and go freely, her immortal arts bypassing gates. Li, borrowing her sister's token, often used it to sneak out.
Once past the guarded Imperial Way, Li strolled the streets, her grace shining even in plain garb. Hana trailed, their odd pairing drawing eyes. Seasoned nobles, recognizing palace attire, hesitated, coveting a palace maid was a crime, tantamount to insulting Ming, risking ruin.
Some reckless dandies considered mischief, but Li's disguised face, pocked and marred, quelled their ardor. Her delicate frame clashed with the grotesque mask, unnerving them.
"My disguise is flawless!" Li crowed. She knew her true beauty could draw trouble, even in men's clothes. A jade token tucked close ensured she could summon guards instantly. She wasn't naive about the world's dangers.
"But…" Hana patted her empty pockets, uneasy. "Princess, we brought no money. Is that okay?"
"Money?" Li's cheeks flushed, her heart skipping, a shy thought crossing her mind. She huffed, "Someone's coming."
Sure enough, a grand carriage bearing the Golden Yuan Merchant Guild's emblem rolled up. Wally, a rotund man with a greasy face, peered out, his fleshy cheeks squinting his eyes. "Isn't that…"
Seeing Li's maid outfit and false face, he paused, then grinned as she turned away. "…Miss Ginger?"
"Here to shop for your mistress?" Wally chuckled. "What a coincidence! No need to walk, hop in."
"Wally, you again?" Hana scratched her head, dazed by their "luck" in meeting this generous patron.
"Hmph!" Li, knowing full well there was no coincidence, boarded the carriage without a word.
Hana, oblivious, followed, marveling at the carriage's luxury, warmers, fruit trays, fine wine, plush cushions. Li, unfazed, began wiping off her disguise, Hana assisting.
Soon, Li's bare face glowed, pure and radiant, outshining nearly every woman without a touch of powder. Her features, delicate as fine porcelain, and clear eyes captivated Wally. His heart raced, throat bobbing, his groin stirring beneath layers of fat, a thick, radish-like bulge twitching.
"Hmph!" Li shot him a warning glare, catching his lustful look, though inwardly she felt a flicker of pride. See? I can turn heads too!
That brute Lian, mocking me!
Lost in thought, her face soured.
"Ahem!" Wally, reading her mood, cleared his throat, masking his desire. A shrewd merchant, he knew Li was off-kilter. "The circus has a new act…"
"Oh?" Li perked up, eyes bright. "What is it?"
"You'll see," Wally teased, grinning. "Spoiling it would ruin the fun."
"Let's go!" Li waved eagerly.
At the circus, a white lion roared, its massive frame prowling the stage, thrilling the crowd. Ella, a sultry trainer, cracked her whip, taming the beast into a docile cat. "Spray!" she commanded, and the lion spewed fire, igniting deafening cheers.
"Wow! It breathes fire!" Li, perched in a private box, clapped wildly, gripping the railing, her gloom fading.
"Not bad, eh, Princess?" Wally smirked beside her.
"Mm-hm!" Li beamed, her heart light. The palace stifled her, this was freedom.
Wally, noting her joy, turned to Hana, engrossed in the show. "Oh, Hana, the princess dropped something in the carriage. Could you check?"
"It's parked far…" Hana pouted, reluctant to miss the act. "Princess, did you lose something?"
"Did I?" Li frowned, about to deny it, when Wally mouthed "debt." She clenched her fist, cursing him silently, her gambling debts had let him buy this circus. "Oh… my mirror. Go look."
She couldn't let Hana know she owed Wally a fortune, or her princessly dignity would crumble. Palace gossip would reach Ming and Mei, humiliating her.
"Yes, Princess." Hana, unsuspecting, left reluctantly.
Wally locked the door behind her.
Li's face flushed, recalling their last encounter here. "What do you want, fatty?" she snapped, her voice trembling.
Wally grinned, his eyes lecherous. He stepped close, his bulging belly pressing against Li's hips. "Just watching, Princess."
"You…" His musky scent hit her, raw and masculine. She pushed against his heavy bulk, panting, her heart racing. Wally's heat overwhelmed her, her hips squirming.
"Let go! Want your clan gone?" she hissed.
"Worth dying for you," Wally murmured, his gaze fixed on her floral scent. Her struggling hips fueled his desire, his thick shaft growing hard, its tip wet and leaking, pushing out his trousers.
"Ah!" Li gasped, feeling a hot, stiff rod poke her hips through her dress.
"What is that?" she squeaked, pushing harder.
"It's too hot… get away!" Her cries didn't reach the crowd below.Wally leaned in, his rough tongue licking her neck, slick with saliva.
"Mmm…" Li shuddered, biting her lip, a moan slipping out. Her knees buckled, his bulk holding her up, her core growing slick with unwanted heat.
"Princess… I've missed you," Wally groaned, his rod pressing against her hips, probing further.
"Oh…" Li trembled, her eyes glazing, caught in innocent desire.