"At your service, Your Highness." Xiaoxizi, the eunuch guarding the palace gates, called out loudly. He then dropped to his knees before the figure approaching the entrance and shouted, "Greetings, Princess." Xiaoxizi had been an orphan, sent into the imperial palace out of desperation to make a living. After entering the palace, the previous emperor had assigned him to the then-Crown Prince Wang Zhenggan, and he had grown up by the prince's side. When the prince ascended the throne, Xiaoxizi naturally became one of the emperor's closest confidants.
"Get up, Xiaoxizi. Is my brother inside?" Xiaoxizi climbed to his feet, lowered his head, and replied, "His Majesty is inside. I will go in and announce you right now—" Before he could finish speaking, he saw the figure stride right through the gates. She had barged into the hall without waiting for an announcement; if the emperor were to blame him for this, he would be in deep trouble. He quickly scrambled to follow her inside.
Walking into the Hall of State Affairs was Princess Qingyue, the current emperor's younger sister. Dressed entirely in white, Princess Qingyue looked like a bright, flawless moon, radiating a charming glow. Her skin was like snow, delicate and smooth, and her gaze was clear and gentle. Her smile was as warm as a spring breeze, making anyone feel incomparably comfortable and at ease. Princess Qingyue had a gentle and kind disposition; being around her was like bathing in moonlight and gentle breezes.
Princess Qingyue was named Wang Xueyue. When she was two years old, her birth mother passed away from illness, and the emperor arranged for her to be adopted by the reigning empress as her own mother. She had spent her childhood living alongside Wang Zhenggan. Princess Qingyue had loved reading since she was young and possessed vast knowledge. She excelled in the qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and on certain matters, the emperor even consulted her for advice. The emperor adored and cherished this younger sister deeply. Princess Qingyue's beauty and talent were renowned far and wide. Many sons of high-ranking court officials and even princes from neighboring countries were deeply enamored with Princess Qingyue and came to propose marriage, all of which the emperor rejected. This was because Emperor Zhengde knew that his sister suffered from a strange illness and had only until the age of twenty to live. He wanted her to make her own choices regarding marriage; as long as she was happy, that was all that mattered.
The emperor's brow relaxed, and he looked at the figure stepping through the hall doors with a smile. He spoke cheerfully, "Ah, my imperial sister has arrived. Coincidentally, I have a matter to discuss with you. Wait a moment, I'll have Xiaoxizi fetch the Grand Tutor and the Grand General."
Then, turning back to Xiaoxizi, who was still kneeling at the entrance, he said, "Alright, didn't I tell you? There's no need to announce my sister when she comes. This isn't your fault, so hurry and summon the Grand Tutor and the Grand General to enter the palace immediately. I have matters to discuss with them."
"Understood, I'm going right now," Xiaoxizi said, rising to his feet and running out through the front gates.
Princess Qingyue stepped forward and sat down on a brocade stool to the right. The emperor looked at his ethereal, fairy-like sister with fond affection, wondering which young man would ever catch her eye.
"Sister, do you have something on your mind? Speak, and your imperial brother will surely see it done for you."
"Imperial Brother, there is indeed a matter that requires you to step in. I wish to meet the new reverend guest of the Imperial Sword Sect and ask him a few questions." With that, she looked at the emperor with hopeful anticipation.
"Meet the reverend guest?" The emperor frowned slightly and muttered to himself. The court's reverend guests were not so easily seen; even the emperor was sometimes turned away at the door. If a reverend guest happened to be in seclusion, it might be impossible to see them for months. Of course, the emperor possessed an emergency contact talisman given by the reverend guest. With a single pinch, the reverend guest would sense it and rush over immediately. However, that talisman was reserved for emergencies and could not be used casually unless it was a matter of life and death for Zhao Country or the emperor himself. When the new reverend guest had first arrived in Zhao Country, he had met with the Empress Dowager. The emperor had stood to the side without participating in the conversation, only catching a distant glimpse. He had found the figure immensely mysterious, yet he dared not look too closely for fear of offending the reverend guest.
"There shouldn't be any problem, but I can't guarantee it for certain. How about I go with you tomorrow, Sister? What do you think?"
Princess Qingyue's eyes lit up. "That's wonderful, Imperial Brother! If you can go, it will be perfect. You have no idea—I submitted three visiting cards, but never received a single reply." Princess Qingyue's lower lip drooped slightly, making her look as though she had suffered the greatest injustice in the world, evoking an urge to protect her. "That's why I came to ask Imperial Brother to think of a way. With you there, there certainly won't be any problems." Princess Qingyue grew cheerful again.
Seeing his sister's happy expression, Wang Zhenggan felt a wave of joy in his heart as well. He said affectionately, "Very well, tomorrow your brother will make sure you get to meet the reverend guest. But don't leave just yet; take a look at this memorial first. Later, when the Grand Tutor and the Grand General arrive, we can discuss it together." With that, he handed the memorial from the dragon desk to his sister.