The Forbidden City, Beijing, China - June 5th, 1940

  The morning sun in Beijing produced an inviting warmth that Princess Changning found impossible to resist. She sat on a woven mat in one of the imperial gardens, positioned where sunlight fell unobstructed by the ornamental trees that provided shade elsewhere. The light illuminated her elaborate green summer robes, lighter silk than the heavier fabrics of cooler seasons, embroidered with subtle patterns of chrysanthemums that seemed to shimmer as she moved. The sun caught her hair, making the jade pins securing it gleam with reflected brilliance.

  Around her, the garden displayed all the careful design that characterized the Forbidden City's outdoor spaces. Light reflected off the upturned eaves of the covered walkways that bordered the garden on three sides, creating interesting patterns. Pools and ponds scattered throughout the space caught and held the sunlight, their surfaces occasionally disturbed by ornamental fish whose scales flashed gold and orange as they moved through the clear water.

  She was not alone in her enjoyment of the beautiful morning. Young Crown Prince Jia Hao, her youngest brother, had accompanied her to the garden and was currently engaged in the serious business of chasing butterflies. At ten years old, he possessed the boundless energy of childhood combined with the beginning awareness of his future responsibilities, a combination that made him both endearing and occasionally exasperating to his older siblings.

  Princess Changning's lady-in-waiting, Xinyi, also basked in the sunshine nearby, close enough to attend to any need. She watched over her patron with quiet attention.

  Princess Changning did nothing but sit and absorb the warmth, watching with amusement as her younger brother pursued his quarry. "Crown Prince, when will you catch that butterfly for me?" she called out, unable to suppress a giggle. "I am growing impatient waiting for this magnificent gift you promised."

  "Third Sister, I am trying my very best!" Young Crown Prince Jia Hao protested without pausing in his pursuit, his small hands raised toward the air as he tried to anticipate the butterflies' flight paths. "I will catch you the most beautiful butterfly in the entire world! Just you wait and see!"

  Laughter filled the air as he ran between flowering bushes, occasionally stumbling slightly but never losing his determination. The butterflies seemed to delight in evading him, fluttering just out of reach whenever his hands came close, moving from blossom to blossom with maddening unpredictability.

  The Crown Prince had always regarded Changning as his favorite sister. Among all the imperial children, she was the one he sought out time and again whenever he was permitted time away from his tutors and attendants.

  "Success!" Crown Prince Jia Hao suddenly exclaimed, his voice carrying triumph and joy in equal measure. He clasped both hands together and jumped excitedly, careful not to squeeze too hard and damage his prize. Then he ran toward Princess Changning, his face glowing with accomplishment.

  When he reached where she sat, Princess Changning raised both eyebrows in an expression of exaggerated curiosity, as if to say: Well? Show me what you've captured.

  Crown Prince Jia Hao slowly opened his cupped hands, revealing a cobalt blue butterfly with wings edged in brilliant gold. The creature's colors were extraordinary, the deep blue seeming almost iridescent in the sunlight, the gold markings creating patterns of surprising complexity. The butterfly struggled slightly, trying to regain its balance after being held captive.

  "It is even more beautiful than you promised," Princess Changning said softly, leaning forward to examine the creature more closely. Her shadow fell across it as she studied the intricate wing patterns, the delicate antennae, the perfect symmetry of its form, or what should have been perfect symmetry.

  As she looked more carefully, she noticed that one wing appeared slightly crumpled, damaged perhaps by the capture or by some earlier misfortune. The butterfly tried to flex its wings but made no attempt to fly, as though it understood the futility of the effort.

  "Third Sister, do you like it?" Crown Prince Jia Hao asked, his eyes pleading for acknowledgment of his achievement. His expression carried such earnest hope that Princess Changning felt her heart warm.

  She giggled at her little brother's anxious question and reached out to tap his forehead gently with one finger. "Of course I like it, my handsome Crown Prince."

  She leaned closer and kissed his forehead tenderly, feeling him beam with pleasure at the approval.

  Then, to his visible confusion, Princess Changning gently directed his hands upward toward the open air. The butterfly, sensing freedom, attempted to flutter its wings with renewed effort. After several tentative movements, it managed to lift itself from the Crown Prince's palm and take flight, though it was immediately visible to those watching that the damaged wing affected its trajectory, making its flight path uneven and uncertain.

  Crown Prince Jia Hao watched with puzzlement as the butterfly departed, clearly not understanding why his sister had released it. A thought seemed to occur to him, perhaps she didn't want to accept a broken, imperfect gift and his face immediately brightened with renewed determination.

  "Third Sister, I will catch you an even more beautiful one!" he declared enthusiastically, already scanning the garden for his next target. "One with perfect wings and even brighter colors!"

  He immediately took off running, now pursuing a red butterfly that danced among a bed of peonies. Princess Changning could only smile and watch as her younger brother renewed his hunt, his earlier capture already forgotten in the pursuit of something better.

  The bright blue sky brought with it a profound sense of calm and clarity today. The warmth of the sun invited relaxation in a way Princess Changning rarely experienced. She had never been someone who particularly enjoyed sitting in direct sunlight, she usually preferred the shaded pavilions and covered walkways that protected from the heat but today felt different, she thought. Today the warmth seemed beneficial rather than oppressive.

  "Crown Prince! Your Highness! You absolutely must not run around like this!"

  Three maids suddenly appeared, rushing across the garden toward Crown Prince Jia Hao with expressions of worry and concern. Their voices carried a note of near-panic that suggested they'd been searching for him and were relieved to have located him, however disheveled.

  "His Imperial Majesty would be very displeased if he saw you running wild, dirtying your clothes and behaving like a common child," one of the maids said as they surrounded him, immediately beginning to examine his robes for damage or disorder.

  Princess Changning watched the unfolding scene with barely suppressed amusement. Crown Prince Jia Hao protested by shaking his entire body, trying to evade their fussing hands as the maids began straightening his robes, smoothing wrinkles, and attempting to restore order to his appearance.

  "Why must you interrupt the Crown Prince now?" Princess Changning asked the servants with gentle authority. "I am quite certain he is not happy about leaving my company. We were having a pleasant time together."

  "I want to stay with Third Sister!" Jia Hao declared emphatically, his voice carrying genuine distress as the maids began to physically guide him away from the garden. His small hands reached toward his sister even as he was being led in the opposite direction.

  Princess Changning let out a small laugh, the sight of her younger brother struggling against the gentle but insistent clutches of the maids provided unexpected entertainment. "Your Highness, it is that His Imperial Majesty the Emperor has specifically requested that we bring the Crown Prince back to the palace chambers immediately," one of the maids explained nervously, bowing deeply as she spoke.

  Princess Changning's amusement faded slightly, replaced by mild puzzlement. "The Emperor has asked for the Crown Prince to return? But my brother has not even been here an hour. Surely His Majesty's business could wait a bit longer?"

  "Your Highness, it would seem that we are receiving important visitors today," the maid responded carefully. "His Imperial Majesty wishes the Crown Prince to be present when these guests arrive, to be introduced to them formally."

  Princess Changning pondered this information thoughtfully. Important visitors? Who could they be? It had been more than a month since the last time the Forbidden City had received any official visitors from the outside world, the wedding celebrations had concluded, the foreign delegations had departed, and palace life had returned to its normal rhythms. What would bring distinguished guests at this particular moment?

  She released a small sigh. If her father wished the Crown Prince in his presence, then the matter must indeed be significant. Although she would have preferred spending more time with her little brother, the situation appeared unavoidable.

  "Do you know who is visiting?" Princess Changning asked, her voice carrying quiet authority. "Can you tell me anything about these guests who require such immediate preparation?"

  "No, Your Highness, we do not know their identities," one of the maids admitted apologetically. "We were simply instructed to locate the Crown Prince and bring him to His Majesty immediately. I believe the visitors have not yet arrived at the palace. Whatever their business, it must be of considerable importance."

  This answer only deepened Princess Changning's curiosity. Who could be so significant that her father needed to present the Crown Prince as part of the reception? Such introductions were reserved for only the most crucial diplomatic encounters.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  "I will come back to visit your residence, Third Sister," Crown Prince Jia Hao said earnestly as he was guided away, one of the maids now holding his hand firmly. "Please wait for me. I will return as soon as Father releases me."

  Princess Changning smiled softly at her brother's words. She found him genuinely endearing, and she had never quite understood why she had become such a favorite of his among all his siblings. Perhaps it was simply that she gave him her full attention when they were together.

  She watched as he was reluctantly led away toward the residential quarters, his small figure gradually disappearing along the covered walkways. Things suddenly fell quiet in the garden again. The sun remained warm, but the atmosphere had cooled noticeably, the infectious energy of her younger brother's voice and laughter dissipated, leaving a peculiar emptiness in its wake.

  As Princess Changning prepared to rise, Xinyi also stood and approached her patron. "Your Highness, do you require anything? Would you like to return to your residence now?"

  Xinyi's voice carried subtle concern, she had learned to read her patron's moods with considerable accuracy over the years.

  "Yes, I was considering going back," Princess Changning replied. Then, noticing something in Xinyi's expression, she added thoughtfully, "But we have been here such a short time, and the morning is so beautiful. Would you like to sit and enjoy the gardens a bit longer, Xinyi?"

  "Your Highness, I would genuinely appreciate more time in the sunshine, but it is perfectly fine if you wish to return immediately," Xinyi answered.

  "In that case, we can remain for a while longer," Princess Changning decided with a warm smile. "Come, let us sit together and enjoy this peaceful morning."

  Xinyi moved to sit near a carefully cultivated patch of osmanthus flowers, their small white blossoms releasing subtle fragrance into the air. Princess Changning joined her, settling gracefully with her legs folded to the side on a bed of soft grass. They positioned themselves facing a small pond where water lilies and lotuses bloomed in profusion, their broad leaves providing platforms for dragonflies and the occasional frog. To their right, perhaps twenty meters distant, stood the covered walkway that crossed over the pond's far end, leading directly into the private chambers of the Emperor himself.

  "Your Highness, are you not scheduled for music lessons today?" Xinyi asked after a comfortable silence. "I believe Dowager Wen must be expecting you at some point."

  "No, not today," Princess Changning replied, adjusting her position slightly to avoid a pebble beneath the grass. "Dowager Wen instructed me to practice the tune 'Flowing Water' independently for one month. I have been working to master it in private during my evening hours."

  Princess Changning had been playing the guqin, the seven stringed zither since she was eight years old. By all accounts, she had become a refined and accomplished player, her performances characterized by technical precision and genuine emotional depth.

  "Your Highness, I would venture to say you have already mastered the guqin," Xinyi said earnestly. "I heard you playing 'Flowing Water' two evenings ago when I was attending to duties near your residence. The music was extraordinary, so beautiful it made me pause in my work to simply listen."

  Princess Changning released a small laugh, feeling her cheeks begin to warm at the flattery. "Xinyi, I genuinely do not think I am a master of the instrument. That is far too generous an assessment. I only know how to play it with some competence. Dowager Wen has taught me everything I know, so she is certainly the superior musician. I still have much to learn and perfect before I could claim any real mastery."

  "Your Highness, from everything I have observed, I would say you have already achieved perfection," Xinyi insisted, turning to look directly at the Princess. "I may not know how to play the guqin myself, but I can certainly recognize exceptional skill when I hear it. Everyone who hears you play always stops whatever they are doing to listen. That speaks to something beyond more than just competence."

  Princess Changning's eyes widened slightly, her eyebrows rising in genuine surprise. "Really? Xinyi, you flatter me far too much."

  "I am not merely flattering you, Your Highness," Xinyi said with sincerity. "All the servants and officials who have heard you play speak about your performances with genuine admiration. I think you must have heard some of this praise yourself?"

  Princess Changning offered a slight smile. "I have heard some compliments, yes. But I simply do not believe I am a master of the instrument, Xinyi. I may be able to play it adequately, but I am far from perfect. Even with 'Flowing Water', there are certain passages where I sometimes miss notes or the timing isn't quite right. One cannot claim mastery without achieving genuine perfection."

  "That is absolutely not true, Your Highness," Xinyi protested gently. "I would gladly accept you as my teacher if I were learning the guqin, and I am quite certain that sentiment is shared by everyone who has heard you play."

  Princess Changning could only produce a small, nervous laugh at this assertion. "Do you truly want to learn the guqin, Xinyi?" she asked, turning to gaze directly into her companion's eyes with interest.

  Nervousness became immediately apparent on Xinyi's face. She shook her head quickly, her hands moving in unconscious gestures of denial. "No, no, Your Highness! I have never played the guqin and I completely lack the refinement and natural talent you possess. Attempting to learn would also be an inexcusable waste of your valuable time and attention."

  Her gaze shifted toward the pond as she spoke, as though unable to meet the Princess's eyes while declining such a generous offer.

  "Not at all, Xinyi," Princess Changning said thoughtfully, rising from her seated position. "You do not need to possess extraordinary talent to learn a musical instrument. How would you even know whether you have talent if you never attempt it?"

  She walked to a nearby osmanthus tree and broke off a small branch, watching as the delicate leaves and tiny white flowers fell into the pond's still water, creating expanding ripples that distorted the reflections of clouds overhead.

  "Your Highness..." Xinyi began to respond when sudden footsteps and voices emerged from the direction of the covered walkway to their right.

  Princess Changning was still observing the ripples spreading across the water's surface when movement caught her peripheral vision. She turned her head to see a group of perhaps eight people walking along the covered walkway, the structure that crossed the pond and led directly to the Emperor's private chambers.

  Five of the figures wore the distinctive robes of palace officials, the elaborate court dress that signified their positions within the imperial bureaucracy, their rank visible in the subtle variations of color and embroidery pattern. But the other three were clearly foreign guests. Western, to be precise, and their appearance was striking against the traditional Chinese architecture surrounding them.

  Two of the Western visitors appeared to be in full military dress, deep blue uniforms adorned with gold braiding, shoulder boards indicating considerable rank, caps that suggested naval service. These were clearly military men of substantial age and seniority. The third foreigner meanwhile, wore a well-tailored formal diplomatic attire.

  The party moved with purpose along the walkway, focused on their destination and their upcoming audience with the Emperor. They didn't notice the Princess and her servant sitting quietly in the garden below, their attention was entirely absorbed by whatever business had brought them to the Forbidden City.

  These must be the guests the maids mentioned, Princess Changning thought, studying the group with undisguised curiosity. Foreign guests? From where? What nation would send military officers to meet with Father at this particular moment? And why would such a meeting require the Crown Prince's presence?

  "It must be the visitors the other maids were speaking of, Your Highness," Xinyi said softly, also watching the party disappear into the covered walkway's far end.

  "Yes, I believe so," Princess Changning agreed, her gaze remaining fixed on where the group had vanished. "I wonder what country they represent. They appear to be senior officers based on their uniforms. But I cannot identify their specific nation from this distance."

  "Your Highness, we have not received Western visitors to the palace in over a month, not since the wedding concluded and all the foreign delegations departed," Xinyi observed, a note of tension entering her voice. "Whatever brings them here must be of extreme significance if the Crown Prince himself was summoned to be present."

  Princess Changning felt a flutter of unease in her chest, nothing specific, just a general sense that something important was occurring. "It would certainly seem so, Xinyi. Come, let us return to my residence now. Considering His Imperial Majesty is hosting important visitors, I think it would be more appropriate to withdraw and maintain proper protocol. We should not be wandering the gardens when state business is being conducted."

  "Yes, Your Highness," Xinyi replied slowly to her patron's decision.

  Princess Changning cast one final glance toward the covered walkway where the mysterious visitors had disappeared, then turned and made her way back toward her own residential quarters, Xinyi following a few places behind at a respectful distance.

  Once they reached the Princess's residence, Xinyi excused herself to prepare tea while Princess Changning moved to her favorite position by the window.

  This particular window overlooked a small private courtyard planted with bamboo and flowering plum trees. It was here that she often practiced calligraphy, finding the view conducive to the meditative state of the art. She retrieved her brushes, ink stone, and paper, settling into the familiar ritual of grinding the ink stick against the stone with a few drops of water, watching the liquid gradually darken to the perfect consistency.

  She would practice her calligraphy and attempt to forget about the questions surrounding those foreign visitors and the nature of their business with her father. The disciplined movements of brush on paper would clear her mind, restore equilibrium, help her stop wondering about things that were not her concern.

  Two hours passed as Princess Changning worked through various classical texts, practicing the flowing movements that created elegant characters on rice paper. She focused particularly on passages from the Analects, finding their philosophical wisdom oddly comforting today.

  After completing a piece she was particularly satisfied with, the characters balanced and harmonious, the ink distribution creating subtle variations in tone, she set it aside to dry and considered taking a brief nap. It was already past two o'clock in the afternoon, and there was nothing urgent requiring her attention. The mysterious visitors presumably remained in audience with the Emperor, which could continue for hours depending on the nature of their business.

  A short rest might be beneficial, she thought, moving toward her bed with its elaborate silk coverings and carved wooden frame.

  Just as she was preparing to lie down, a sharp knock sounded at her door.

  "Your Highness!" Xinyi's voice carried urgency. "The Emperor has summoned you! You must come immediately!"

  Princess Changning froze, her hand still reaching toward the bed. A summons from the Emperor? Now, while those foreign visitors remained in the palace? This was highly unusual. What could Father possibly want that required her immediate presence?

  She moved quickly to the door, pulling it open to find Xinyi's face flushed with a combination of excitement and anxiety.

  "The Emperor sent a eunuch with an official summons," Xinyi explained breathlessly. "You are to proceed to His Majesty's audience chamber at once. They said it concerns matters of highest importance."

  Princess Changning felt her pulse quicken. Whatever was happening, it clearly involved more than just a routine diplomatic courtesy. The presence of Western naval officers, the Crown Prince's summons, and now her own unexpected call to audience, all these pieces suggested something significant was unfolding.

  "Help me prepare appropriate robes," she said to Xinyi, already moving toward her wardrobe. "If the Emperor requires my presence before foreign guests, I need to change my robes. Quickly now, we must not keep His Majesty waiting."

  As Xinyi rushed to retrieve the elaborate robes required for such an occasion, Princess Changning felt a strange mixture of curiosity and apprehension settle in her chest. Something was coming, She just had no idea what it might be.

  Thank you for reading another chapter of Kylian and Changning's journey! <3