Above all, the Emperor's favor is the most impossible to hope for.

The floods in Jiangdong were fierce and overwhelming. Xu Guiyi was worried for the common folk and for her family, so she made time to return to the Duke of Cheng'en’s residence.

The Duke, Xu Da, was speaking with his wife, Lady Xue, about his plans after the heir Xu Chengzhen inherited the title. He intended to retire to their old home in Lanzhou and enjoy his twilight years in peace.

Lady Xue teased him with a laugh, “You’re not even sixty and already thinking of retiring? Look at Grand Tutor Cao—over seventy and still diligently attending court.”

Xu Da sighed, “I often think, if only my second brother had been Father’s eldest son, perhaps our Xu family would have risen even higher with him at the helm.”

At these words, both Lady Xue and Lady Shen glanced at Xu Guiyi in unison.

Xu Guiyi couldn’t help but smile. “Father must be envious of Uncle—playing the qin, appreciating jade, and composing elegant verse.”

Lady Xue burst into hearty laughter, clapping her hands. “In that case, why don’t we all resign our posts together, return to Lanzhou, and retire as a family? Then there’ll be no need for envy at all.”

Xu Da’s face flushed with embarrassment. He scolded, “Nonsense! Never say such unfilial things!”

Xu Guiyi and Lady Shen stifled their laughter, hurriedly raising their teacups to hide their smiles.

After lunch, Lady Shen saw Xu Guiyi off to her carriage, remarking with a smile, “This year’s floods in Jiangdong are severe. Upon hearing the news, Father-in-law immediately prepared supplies and grain to be sent back to our old home in Lanzhou.”

Xu Guiyi frowned, her tone helpless. “Father has served as the prefect of Lanzhou for years, always rushing to the front whenever there’s a flood or drought. When government relief is slow, he fills the gap with our own grain and supplies, calling it a loan, yet I’ve never seen any of it returned. Grandmother has scolded him countless times, but it’s only Uncle who indulges him year after year.”

Lady Shen’s gaze was gentle. “Second Uncle is a good official. With him overseeing Lanzhou, the people are fortunate. As for us, being able to help a little here in Guangling brings us joy.”

Xu Guiyi sighed. “Let’s hope the floods subside soon, so the people suffer less.”

When Xu Guiyi returned to the Eastern Palace and entered Rongyuan, she happened upon the crown prince’s close attendant, Wei Yuan.

“Your humble servant greets the Crown Princess.”

Seeing he was alone, Xu Guiyi asked, puzzled, “Why are you here by yourself? Where is the Crown Prince?”

Wei Yuan stepped forward, replying solemnly, “Your Highness, His Majesty has just ordered the Crown Prince and the Commander of the Capital Guards to set out for Jiangdong at once to assist with flood relief. I’ve returned to pack His Highness’s baggage.”

This was all too sudden. Xu Guiyi quickly asked, “Why so abruptly? He’s leaving now?”

Wei Yuan answered, “At this morning’s court audience, the Crown Prince volunteered to go to Jiangdong and assist Prince Zhao with flood relief. After discussion, His Majesty and the ministers approved his request.”

No wonder Nanny Wu had said Fu Lancheng had risen at dawn and gone straight to the palace.

Though Xu Guiyi didn’t understand why Fu Lancheng’s temperament had changed so suddenly, she nonetheless ordered the attendants to pack the Crown Prince’s things at once, not daring to delay his departure.

She also instructed Wei Yuan, “You’ll be attending His Highness closely. Take good care of him, and leave no room for error.”

Wei Yuan replied at once, “That is my duty. Your Highness may rest assured.”

With Fu Lancheng dispatched to Jiangdong, the imperial court had sent out two princes, causing a stir throughout the capital and the bureaucracy.

The day after Fu Lancheng left the capital, Xu Guiyi, after much thought, took up her brush and wrote a letter home to her father, far away in Jiangdong.

She heard that Noble Consort Nangong had taken Princess Qi’s consort to the imperial Daoist temple outside the city to pray for the people of Jiangdong, while the Empress was organizing the families of officials at the Jiuhua Gate to collect donations for disaster relief—food and medicine for those in need.

Xu Guiyi ordered Cheng Hewei to gather up all unused items in the Eastern Palace, and she herself went to Jiuhua Gate to assist the Empress in recording every donation.

So, day after day, as they watched batch after batch of supplies sent off to Jiangdong, these women of the inner palace finally felt some measure of comfort.

Though they could not go to Jiangdong themselves, to contribute even a little was, in its way, to stand shoulder to shoulder with the men at the front.

Xu Guiyi organized all the records. The Empress was chatting with the other ladies when suddenly a loud voice rang out at the palace gates: “His Majesty arrives!”

Why had the Emperor suddenly come?

Having been busy all morning, everyone’s appearance was a little disheveled, so they hurried to fix themselves up. Xiyue quickly helped Xu Guiyi tidy her attire.

“Why is His Majesty here?” someone whispered amid the crowd.

Xu Guiyi hastily smoothed her hair and adjusted her hairpin. “All right, all right, you may go.”

Just as she finished, the door opened to reveal the golden dragon robe.

“Greetings to Your Majesty, may you be blessed with peace and fortune.” All the women present curtseyed with the Empress.

With their heads lowered, none could see the Emperor’s expression. Xu Guiyi only heard his calm, measured voice above her, “You may rise.”

The Empress stepped forward, smiling. “Your Majesty, what brings you here?”

The Emperor glanced around and smiled at her, “I heard that you were collecting donations at Jiuhua Palace Gate for the people of Jiangdong. I am very pleased.”

The Empress was especially respectful. “As the mother of the nation, I merely do my modest part for the people. It is not worth mentioning.”

The Emperor’s gentle face softened as he took her hand. “You’ve worked hard.”

The Empress suppressed a smile and replied solemnly, “It is no hardship—sharing Your Majesty’s burdens brings me joy.”

At midday in May, the sun was scorching.

Xu Guiyi and the other ladies stood beneath its glare, listening to the Emperor and Empress’s back-and-forth, none daring to interrupt their “elegant exchange.”

At last, the Emperor remembered the rest of them. Maintaining his imperial composure, he addressed them gently, “You have all worked hard. On behalf of the people of Jiangdong, I thank you for your good deeds.”

At the Emperor’s words, the ladies hastened to reply, “It is our duty, Your Majesty—we do not dare call it hard work.”

After Xu Guiyi finished her curtsy, she heard her own name.

“Crown Princess, you have also worked hard assisting the Empress with relief efforts these days.”

Xu Guiyi answered respectfully, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. It has been no hardship.”

The Emperor nodded, then left with the Empress for Changqiu Palace. Halfway there, he especially called back for the Crown Princess to accompany them.

Thus, under the burning gaze of Princess Zhao, Xu Guiyi followed them.

In Changqiu Palace, the chief palace maid Siqi said respectfully, “I shall fetch hot tea.” She glanced at the Empress, then slipped out quickly.

Her words reminded the Empress that it was nearly lunchtime, so she invited the Emperor to stay for a meal. “Your Majesty, please remain and dine in my palace today.”

The Emperor agreed, and the Empress led Siqi to the small kitchen to personally prepare the meal for him.

Xu Guiyi hurried to rise. “Allow me to accompany Mother Empress.”

The Empress laughed. “You stay and keep your father-in-law company. The kitchen is small—one person is enough.”

Xu Guiyi bowed. “Yes, Mother.” She stood aside, waiting for the Emperor to address her.

Truthfully, after nearly a year of marriage to the Crown Prince, this was her first time speaking alone with her imperial father-in-law.

The Emperor praised the tea for being at just the right temperature; Xu Guiyi remarked that the weather was pleasant.

He admired the blooming roses in the imperial garden; she noted the refreshing breeze beneath the eaves.

At last the Emperor said, “Last year you copied the ‘Nanhua Classic’ for Grand Empress Dowager Mu and placed it in the Jinglin Hall. I went to see it myself—it’s quite good, far more pleasing than the Crown Prince’s handwriting. It seems Xu Yan took great care in teaching you.”

Xu Guiyi replied quickly, “My calligraphy is clumsy—I must have amused Your Majesty.”

But the Emperor only smiled. “Did you know, when I was young, your grandfather was my first Grand Tutor? My calligraphy comes from his own hand.”

Xu Guiyi suddenly recalled that the Emperor’s calligraphy was indeed renowned.

“My grandmother often says that Your Majesty was gifted from youth, with unrivaled skill in calligraphy.”

The Emperor’s gaze softened. “When I was a boy, Grand Tutor Xu would press me to study and practice. I was always trying to skip lessons. So many years have passed—Grand Tutor Xu has been gone for so long now.”

“How has your grandmother fared in Lanzhou these years?” The Emperor’s sudden question caught Xu Guiyi off guard.

“Thanks to Your Majesty’s blessing, my grandmother is well—her health is sound. She sometimes reminisces about Your Majesty’s youth, and every time she prays at the temple, she asks for Your Majesty’s good health.”

The Emperor seemed very pleased, his face full of smiles. “That’s good, that’s good. They always praise my calligraphy, but your father’s is truly exceptional.”

Xu Guiyi had meant to demur, but the Emperor interrupted her, “No need for modesty. I could tell from your scripture copying that Xu Yan taught you himself.”

Soon the lunch was served—half the dishes were the Emperor’s favorites. The tea was his beloved Junshan Silver Needle, the pastries his preferred locust flower cakes, even the painted tableware depicted his favorite winter snowscapes.

Over a month later, the last official reports from Jiangdong finally arrived.

The floods there had been subdued. Prince Zhao returned to report to the capital, but the Crown Prince, Fu Lancheng, was ordered by imperial decree to remain in Hongzhou to observe the people’s recovery.

That day, Crown Princess Pei Xu Guiyi was dining with the Empress when they received the news. They looked at each other in silence.

Meanwhile, in the Noble Consort’s palace, Prince Qi and his consort had also come to pay their respects, but the three of them sat before a full table without touching a single dish.

Prince Qi and his wife listened as Noble Consort Nangong spoke at length about the Emperor’s favoritism—she went on for a full quarter of an hour, with no sign of stopping.

Princess Qi dared not show any emotion, but Prince Qi, hungry after all the talk, finally interjected, “Mother, I’m hungry. For a whole month, I’ve helped Father handle the Jiangdong reports—one after another, I’m exhausted and starving. I just want to eat properly.”

Only then did the consort notice her son’s gaunt face and feel a pang of pity. “Eat, eat. I only worry for you both, working so hard every day. And yet, your father… never mind, never mind, it’s just our fate. Eat, my son.”

Before, the Crown Prince had never concerned himself with governance or the people’s welfare.

But on this journey to Jiangdong, he shared the people’s hardships, devoted himself to their needs—a perfect chance for Fu Lancheng to win their hearts.

His Majesty was very pleased.

Yet imperial favor is always a matter of shifting tides—one rises, another must fall.