The noblewomen in the next room whispered amongst themselves. “Yu Zhiyao of the Yu family isn’t having an easy time either. I heard the late emperor intended to take her into the palace. The Empress Dowager probably…”

“Hush! Is that something you can just talk about?!”

Eavesdropping, Zhong Lan and Lin Huang felt a peculiar mix of emotions.

Ji Changqing’s current identity was that of the late emperor’s niece, still within the five degrees of mourning. If the late emperor were still alive, wouldn’t it have led to a conflict between uncle and niece?

Thank goodness he’s dead! the two of them sighed in unison. Otherwise, he would have either been done in by Ji Changqing for fighting with his niece over a woman, done in by Yu Zhiyao for forcing her into the palace, or done in by the two of them working together.

Even though Ji Changqing and Yu Zhiyao had been apart for over a decade, and even though they had supposedly adhered to the principle that “the best ex is a dead ex” ever since their breakup, never contacting each other again and reportedly having other partners…

Somehow, they just had a feeling that the two were still deeply in love. It was a turbulent undercurrent hidden in the depths of their hearts.

Perhaps it was just their imagination. Maybe it was because their time together had been so passionate, so intimate, so perfectly matched, that when they broke up, no one could believe it.

The most damning evidence was from a gathering they once had. The recent online trend of getting back with an ex came up, and they jokingly asked everyone which ex they would choose to reconcile with.

When it was Ji Changqing’s turn, she fell silent for a long moment before finally saying faintly, “Yu Zhiyao.”

And now, these two were about to meet right here!

Zhong Lan and Lin Huang clutched their heads in agony. They wanted to watch, but they didn’t want to be present at the scene of the inevitable drama.

Hearing the sound of gongs clearing the way in the distance, the two of them abandoned their eavesdropping and squeezed over to the window, waiting for the procession to arrive.

Although the noblewomen were verbally pitying Ji Changqing, wondering how she would manage now that her father and brother were both dead, their bodies were honest as they crowded the window. It was hard to say whether they wanted to see her made a fool of or to admire her heroic bearing.

After all, taking command in a crisis and leading the army to a great victory over the barbarians—if she were a man, it would be hailed as the unparalleled achievement of a young prodigy.

First came rows of soldiers clearing the path, followed by pairs of riders advancing in formation, one column after another.

Then, a reddish-brown steed came into view, an exceptionally fine horse, trotting past with a steady clip-clop.

The noblewomen in the next room gasped in unison, then quickly covered their mouths, their faces flushing red, though they couldn’t bear to look away.

It was Ji Changqing, dressed in black ceremonial attire. Her features were clear and bright, a treasured sword hung at her waist, and her feet were clad in gold-threaded boots. Holding the reins, she rode her horse forward at a slow, deliberate pace.

This was no royal commandery princess; this was clearly a graceful young man.

Someone murmured, “Is she mad? How dare she wear men’s ceremonial attire?”

Someone next to her replied coolly, “She hasn’t overstepped the regulations. Why wouldn’t she dare?”

She held the same rank as a prince’s heir and was already in a high position. Now, she also wielded significant power. As long as she didn’t violate protocol or act presumptuously, what could others do?

But the act itself was worth pondering.

When the commandery princess had entered the capital two years ago, many had seen her. Seeing her again now, she was completely different. The proud and arrogant young lady of the past now stood as straight as an old pine, her composure as calm and unhurried as a sheathed blade.

By the time she passed, it wasn’t just the noblewomen who had a completely new impression of the Commandery Princess of the Zhenbei Royal Residence. The high-ranking officials observing in secret had also made their initial judgments.

This commandery princess, who had returned to the capital in men’s ceremonial attire and entered the palace for an audience, was not to be trifled with. She alone was enough to support the entire Zhenbei Royal Residence.

Ji Changqing truly lived up to her name. With her around, it seemed the Zhenbei Royal Residence would not be declining anytime soon.

Those who had been harboring certain ambitions saw her bearing and decided to suppress their thoughts for the time being.

Only after the long procession had slowly passed did everyone withdraw their gazes, a sense of wistful loss in the air.

The noblewomen silently wondered which of the young men in the imperial capital could possibly match the splendor Ji Changqing had just displayed.

In a private room in a tavern further ahead, closer to the palace walls, a noblewoman stood alone by the window. As Ji Changqing passed below on horseback like a graceful young man, the young woman’s gaze slid over her, seemingly casual, inch by inch, across her features, her eyes, her brows, her spirit and bearing.

As she watched, the corners of her lips curved upward, and her originally cool expression gradually softened. She propped her chin on one hand, the other unconsciously toying with the tassel at her waist. Ji Changqing, ah, she thought. So, she looks even better in this kind of formal attire.

The procession reached the palace gates. The guards remained outside as Ji Changqing dismounted, unfastened her sword, and followed a eunuch through the palace, walking at a leisurely pace toward the Golden Throne Hall for her audience with the emperor.

The young emperor sat on a dragon throne so large it threatened to swallow him whole. He watched with wide, innocent eyes as Ji Changqing entered the hall step by step, gave a slight bow, and knelt on one knee. “Your subject greets Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager.”

The six-year-old emperor looked at her with curiosity. The people who surrounded him daily were mostly grumpy old men with long beards and stern faces. The rare sight of someone so pleasing to the eye sparked a little joy in his heart. In a milky voice, he said, “Big Sister, there is no need for such ceremony.”

Then came the Empress Dowager’s voice, clear and elegant, from behind the emperor. “Changqing, there is no need for such ceremony.”

She hadn’t called her “Commandery Princess.” The young emperor had called her “Big Sister,” and the Empress Dowager had used her given name.

Ji Changqing rose smoothly.

Several regents sat on either side, watching her in silence.

Ji Changqing casually bowed to them in greeting, and then—then she began to chat with the young emperor and the Empress Dowager as if they were family.

She truly treated it like a normal family visit, making small talk with the young matriarch, teasing her little brother, asking a bit about his studies, and then about his daily food and games.

The old ministers could finally no longer maintain their composure. We came to the palace at the crack of dawn to wait for you, only to listen to you make small talk?

“Commandery Princess, what is the current situation of the Jingbei army?” one of the regents asked in a gentle voice, prompted by a signal from the Grand Tutor.

Ji Changqing looked utterly astonished. “Doesn’t this lord know? It’s written clearly and plainly in every request for provisions!” She rattled off a string of numbers, the gist of which was that the army had suffered heavy casualties, the most recently allocated batch of supplies had probably already been used up, and she didn’t know if the second batch had arrived yet.

After her long speech, which subtly and not-so-subtly disparaged the old ministers, she feigned propriety. “Ah, I thought you esteemed lords, being experts in governance, would first be concerned with civil affairs. I didn’t expect your greatest worry would be for our soldiers.”

You don’t care about what you should, and you worry needlessly about what you shouldn’t. Thanks for nothing.

The old ministers, masters of self-control, maintained their pleasant expressions and continued to inquire in detail. Ji Changqing rattled off another string of numbers, constantly pleading poverty. She claimed that the common people of the city had joined in its defense, and that the row of houses near the city wall had been torn down for materials. Now the people were homeless and destitute; it was a miserable situation.

She hoped the esteemed lords would show compassion for the people and arrange for relief. Surely they couldn’t let the people who had risked their lives for the nation grow cold-hearted, could they?

The old foxes deflected her points without showing any change in expression.

Ji Changqing didn’t expect to win with words alone. As they talked, her smile faded.

Her expression turned solemn. “The barbarians attacked our borders in the seventh month. An urgent military report was sent to the capital at eight hundred li a day, yet it wasn’t until the end of the year that provisions were allocated. The military situation was urgent as fire, yet the provisions were delayed. How is this different from treason? I wonder if you esteemed lords have investigated this peculiarity?”

The Grand Tutor’s brow twitched. They had covered up the matter as mere dereliction of duty, but he hadn’t expected Ji Changqing to press the issue so relentlessly.

The old foxes sighed, citing the overwhelming number of tasks and the complexity of the transport process, suggesting that delays were to be expected.

Ji Changqing smiled, a smile that made the hearts of the old foxes jump.

“No matter. You esteemed lords are busy with state affairs and lack the energy; it’s understandable that you can’t attend to everything. But if you claim it was merely dereliction of duty or an oversight, I’m afraid none of the border armies would believe it. If the people under you are incompetent, our imperial clan has plenty of idle members. What do you esteemed lords think?”

She spoke lightly of placing members of the imperial clan in the Six Ministries to gain experience, then turned to the young emperor and the Empress Dowager. “This world belongs to our Ji family. The annual tax revenue, the grain stored in the granaries, the shipments to the capital—it is all accounted for. While we need not handle every detail ourselves, we should know where the money and grain of this vast court are being spent. It is also to find out if the officials below are corrupt.”

The Empress Dowager’s face showed a hint of alarm. What was she trying to do? Where did she get this confidence…?

But Ji Changqing didn’t press the matter further. Instead, she inquired about the funeral arrangements for the Zhenbei Royal Residence, asking how the Ministry of Rites had planned them. She stated that after the funeral, she intended to observe a three-year period of mourning.

The audience in the Golden Throne Hall was not long. They exchanged a few verbal spars, each side probing the other.

The old foxes were well-versed in this game. Fine words were useless; what mattered was how well you got things done.

What did a few verbal jabs, accusations, and sarcastic remarks amount to?

As long as their core interests remained untouched, the powerful men had a remarkable capacity for turning the other cheek.

The Empress Dowager and the emperor kept Ji Changqing, a member of their own family, in the palace for a meal. The high-ranking officials went to the Grand Secretariat to continue handling government affairs, while Ji Changqing, in her role as “Big Sister,” was tasked with playing with the little boy.

Because everyone’s energy today was focused on dealing with Ji Changqing, the young emperor had been let off the hook. His lessons were canceled, and he had most of the day to play. Ji Changqing looked down at the little emperor, who barely reached her waist. His chubby little face was held in a taut expression as he took small, deliberate steps with his short legs, his little hands clasped behind his back. He was very conscious of his image.

Ji Changqing felt a bit sorry for him. He wasn’t even old enough for primary school, yet he already had to study and work at the same time.

It sounded tragic when a poor child had to grow up fast, but when a child of a wealthy and noble family had to do so, their very life was at risk.

It was clear the young emperor was an inexperienced country bumpkin whose life consisted of little more than practicing calligraphy, reviewing texts, and perhaps playing with a nine-linked ring puzzle. Ji Changqing decided to teach him some of life’s little pleasures.

Under the Empress Dowager’s hesitant gaze, she played kickball with the little country bumpkin, lofting the ball high and sending it to a spot where he could just reach it with a little run. He ran back and forth until he was covered in sweat, giggling with delight.

She picked up the exhausted little boy and handed him to the nursemaids, telling them to help him wipe off his sweat and change his clothes. Then, Ji Changqing walked over to the Empress Dowager and sat down. “He’s still young. People grow up little by little, and things get done bit by bit. With the imperial clan here, we can watch over things for ten years. In ten years, His Majesty will be old enough to rule in his own right, won’t he?”

The young Empress Dowager’s heart, which had always been suspended in mid-air, slowly settled. Thinking of the current state of the Zhenbei Royal Residence, which was also being held up by Ji Changqing alone, she felt a sense of kinship, as if they were fellow travelers in misfortune.

“In that case, the Zhenbei Royal Residence has always been a model for the imperial clan. From now on, I will have to entrust matters to you, Commandery Princess.”

Ji Changqing gave a slight nod.

Both parties were in a pleasant mood. It was always easy to talk to intelligent people.

That evening, a banquet was to be held in the palace to welcome the commandery princess and to celebrate her victory. Members of the imperial clan and all court officials of the third rank and above would be in attendance. Normally, Ji Changqing would have stayed in the palace for the day to rest before the evening’s feast. Unexpectedly, after the midday meal, she took her leave.

Her reason was ready-made: the royal residence was full of the old and the weak. Just before she left, she had gained a new half-brother, and there were still two pregnant women about to give birth. Therefore, she had escorted the coffins to the capital alone and had to kneel, offer incense, and chant scriptures for the deceased in the morning and evening.

After her figure disappeared through the palace gates, the young Empress Dowager stroked the little emperor’s head. “Does my son like this big sister?”

The little emperor nodded. “Big Sister is very nice.”

She played with him, told him stories, didn’t scold him, and was good-looking.

Children were very direct in their appreciation of beauty.

“Then, how about we let her temporarily manage the Zhenbei Royal Residence and have her guard Jingbei on my son’s behalf?”

The little emperor was reluctant, but he knew he couldn’t always do as he pleased. He looked up with his chubby face and asked, “Can’t we have Big Sister stay in the capital with us?”

“The emperor is still young. Your big sister will guard the realm for you first. When you grow up and take it back, you can have her stay in the capital then,” the Empress Dowager answered patiently, her gaze deep and far-reaching.

She was their best choice at the moment.