Chapter Nineteen: Discovery

Li Youwei was puzzled.

"If this were a matter of the imperial court, you could easily seek out my younger brothers. Everyone knows how much my father the Emperor favors these fine silks and embroideries; any prince could grant you an official post. Why come to me?"

Since ancient times, women have been forbidden from interfering in politics. Even though Li Youwei’s erudition far surpassed that of her brothers, and even that of her own brother, the Crown Prince, she was strictly prohibited from discussing court affairs.

The young man before her did not seem to be seeking redress for a grievance, nor did he appear to be plotting revenge. Why, then, did he seek an audience with the Emperor through her?

"The Princess is overthinking," Wen Zhiyan said, bowing to explain. "This commoner has no interest in officialdom. I merely admire the Emperor and have never had the chance to meet him; a glimpse from afar would be enough."

"Then why through me?"

Li Youwei was even more confused. She was a woman, and he was a man; what excuse could she possibly have to bring a man to see her father the Emperor?

"I have heard that the Princess possesses a bodhisattva’s heart. Such a small wish, surely the Princess would not have the heart to refuse me."

"A small wish? For a man without status to seek an audience with the Holy One—this is hardly a small wish."

Li Youwei grew more curious. Just then, Caoqing could no longer hold back: "Hey, you aren't using this as an excuse to get close to our Princess, are you?"

Wen Zhiyan’s face flushed red.

Caoqing grew more certain: "Princess, this man is aiming for you! He was afraid you wouldn't take a liking to him, so he used the fine embroideries to catch your attention, then used the excuse of seeing the Emperor to pique your curiosity. In reality, he just wants to spend more time with you, talk to you, and make you fall for him!"

Li Youwei looked at Wen Zhiyan with a complex expression. "Is it as my maid says? Are you trying to get close to me?"

"Princess, please forgive me!"

Wen Zhiyan knelt, burying his face deep.

"It is this commoner who, like a toad lusting after a swan, has grown fond of the Princess and wishes to speak with you more... I naturally knew that the Holy One cannot be seen by just anyone, so I used that as an excuse, all for the sake of having more time to be with the Princess."

"This... you should have just said so earlier."

Li Youwei could not help but act coy. She struggled to restrain the smile on her face, finally smoothing her lips after a moment.

Because she was a princess, very few men dared to express their affection or interest in her, fearing they might say the wrong thing in her presence. Li Youwei had never revealed this, but in her heart, she truly envied the daughters of common families, who could receive the favor of young men their age. Unlike her, no man truly dared to love her.

Wen Zhiyan looked up, his expression earnest. "This commoner did not dare to overstep..."

"What is there to fear? I won't eat you. Rise." Her voice carried a hint of coquetry.

She pulled Wen Zhiyan up to sit and asked, "What is your name?"

***

"This commoner is named Yan Zhi, Wen Yanzhi."

"So, it is Master Wen."

Li Youwei examined him carefully, involuntarily comparing him to Song Baiqing.

He was not as tall as Song Baiqing, nor did he carry himself with the same upright stature. His shoulders seemed a bit narrower...

But this pretty little face was truly something; it was better than Song Baiqing’s, and his calligraphy was superior, too. His family background seemed unremarkable, and he held no rank...

Never mind. They wouldn't be truly married anyway; she could just keep him in the back courtyard of the Princess’s mansion.

And so, Wen Zhiyan was brought back to the Princess’s mansion by Li Youwei.

***

Hearing this, the three men present were somewhat shocked, especially Chang Wei, who almost doubted his own ears.

"You—it is one thing to deceive men by acting as a woman, but you can also deceive women by acting as a man?"

Li Youwei sneered, "She wasn't intentionally deceiving me like that. She was just too impatient. She blurted out that she wanted to see the Emperor, but didn't have a good reason to justify it. Fearing I would see through her, she just followed the lead of my maid."

"The Princess is very clever."

Wen Zhiyan nodded. "It is true that I was too impatient at the time. However, the Princess has done a truly impressive job hiding things from the outside world. I inquired about so much regarding the Princess, yet not a single report mentioned that you were lustful."

"You, shut up!"

Stung by the truth, Li Youwei flew into a rage from embarrassment.

"I am already a 'living corpse' with no dignity left to lose. Princess, please continue—what happened next?"

***

The night Wen Zhiyan was brought back, the Grand Princess Li Youwei brought a pot of wine.

The two sat in the courtyard, drinking and reciting poetry, the atmosphere incredibly lively. Wen Zhiyan restrained herself, barely drinking, letting the wine spill into the ground from her sleeve, while Li Youwei drank quite a lot.

As the alcohol went to her head, Li Youwei’s speech became somewhat improper.

"Princess, you are drunk."

"I am not drunk. You don't really think you don't know why I let you move in, do you?"

Li Youwei took Wen Zhiyan’s hand and placed it over her own heartbeat. "Feel it. I don't believe you feel nothing."

"Princess..."

"Everyone in the courtyard has been sent away. It is very quiet here; only the two of us."

Li Youwei opened her robes, her slender body dazzlingly white under the moonlight.

She leaned into the crook of Wen Zhiyan’s neck to do something, but Wen Zhiyan used the edge of her hand to strike Li Youwei, knocking her unconscious.

When Li Youwei woke the next day, Wen Zhiyan was already sitting at the desk practicing calligraphy. Li Youwei looked down and saw she was completely unclothed.

Did something happen last night? Li Youwei couldn't quite remember, but her body felt relaxed.

"Is the Princess awake?"

Only then did Li Youwei look closely at Wen Zhiyan, feeling that there was something different about this person compared to the one she had met the day before.

"You..."

Li Youwei watched Wen Zhiyan, who had let her hair down, and a suspicion rose from the depths of her heart, leaving her cold from head to toe.

"Wen Yanzhi... no, you are a woman. Who on earth are you?"

"The Princess need not care who this commoner is, nor does the Princess need to care whether I am a man or a woman. You only need to know that I can give you what you want."

Wen Zhiyan leaned in close, pinning Li Youwei back onto the couch as she prepared to rise.

"The Princess fell asleep so quickly yesterday; you must not have felt it properly."

It was only when her mind went blank that Li Youwei understood what she meant.

After they finished breakfast, Li Youwei did not know how to deal with this person.

She was a woman, and now she held her secret... She had no romantic feelings for women, even if she could bring her pleasure.

Perhaps it would be best to end it now...

"Princess, I lied to you. I did not tell you my true purpose yesterday. I truly admire you—I admire your talent, and I know your heart is vast; you would never be content to be trapped in this small Princess’s mansion."

"You dare call this a 'small Princess’s mansion'?"

"The Holy One is gravely ill, the Crown Prince has died in an accident, and the princes are fighting for the throne. Princess, no matter who ascends, it will be of no benefit to your situation."