Never in her wildest thoughts did Yun Shu imagine that a mere idle bit of gossip could end up involving her directly.
In that moment, even the stack of silver notes in her hands lost their appeal.
"Where did you hear that from?" she asked, stunned.
Yun Shu's eyes widened. "Why was I not informed I was to be matched for marriage?"
"You didn't know?" Yun Chuhuan looked equally astonished. "It was Mother Consort's instruction. She said that Eldest Brother, the Crown Prince, will soon be nineteen after the new year. It's high time he had a proper princess consort.
Third Brother, Fourth Brother, and you, Fifth Sister, are all nearing the age of marriage too. This is the perfect opportunity to arrange viewing sessions for everyone."
He continued, "A few days ago, when my Consort Mother went to greet the Empress Mother, Her Majesty specifically brought this up. She even instructed the consorts to inform their natal families to prepare any suitable young candidates to make an appearance."
"…And when is she planning this grand selection?" Yun Shu asked, her tone dry.
"The Wanshou Festival, of course!" Yun Chuhuan replied as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Before the banquet that night. Aren't the younger generation and elders always separated before the main feast?"
Yun Shu fell silent.
She remembered well how the Empress had threatened her with the matter of marriage when trying to draw her into her camp.
At the time, Imperial Father had stepped in to deliver a warning on her behalf. Though Yun Shu never expected the Empress to back down so easily, the speed of this new move still caught her off guard.
Where did the Empress find the courage to so openly defy Imperial Father's warning?
Flipping through the catalog of similar dramas she had read in novels, Yun Shu recalled how such setups often culminated in scandalous exposés or sudden schemes to ruin reputations.
Once Yun Chuhuan left, she grew increasingly anxious. Glancing around to ensure no one was nearby, she called out, "You all, come out right now!"
…
Hidden in the shadows, the four shadow guards exchanged glances. They weren't quite sure if Yun Shu was addressing them directly.
But then she clapped her hands sharply and declared, "This Princess summons the Four Guardians! Where are the shadow guards?!"
The four shadow guards emerged without a word, heads lowered, waiting for orders.
"You all…" Yun Shu paused, but before addressing the serious matter at hand, she couldn't resist asking, "What are your names again?"
"May Your Highness bestow names upon us!"
All four had been specially selected from the Dragon Shadow Guard by Emperor Xuanwu himself. Their previous identities were nothing more than numbers in the Dragon Shadow Guard's ranks. Now that they served at Yun Shu's side, they needed new names fitting their current role.
This, however, proved difficult for Yun Shu.
She had always been terrible at naming things. Even something as trivial as picking a username for a social account used to take her hours of agonizing thought.
Now she had to name four men?
"If you were assigned by Father Emperor to protect me, then your names must inspire a sense of security," she said with great seriousness.
After a few moments of consideration, she gave out names from left to right.
"Wukong, Qing Tian, Ares… and you…" Her eyes finally landed on the shadow guard who had forced her to take bitter medicine for three straight days.
She narrowed her gaze.
"Ku," she said coldly. "You'll be Ah Ku."
"We thank Your Highness for the names."
Their expressions remained impassive, even Ah Ku's, as though the names were merely designations and nothing more.
Yun Shu had hoped to provoke some reaction with her mischievous naming, but to her disappointment, none came. She pouted faintly, but didn't dwell on it. Her expression quickly turned solemn again.
"This Princess suspects that during the Wanshou Festival, someone may attempt to cause harm. Therefore, you may not remain hidden in the shadows like you are now, waiting until someone raises a blade before intervening.
You must stay vigilant at all times. Watch my food, ensure it is not tampered with. And if anyone dares plot against me… or worse, tries to seduce me, you must stop them immediately."
The previously composed shadow guards blinked, confusion flickering for the first time in their usually steady gazes.
They had been trained since childhood under the harshest conditions. Emotions were liabilities, and sentiment was unnecessary.
But now, they found themselves facing an entirely unfamiliar dilemma.
Plotting against her they understood.
Seduction?
They did not.
Never had they encountered a mission directive they could not comprehend.
Ah Ku, usually the most stoic of the four, hesitated slightly. "Your Highness, how shall we identify those who intend to harm or seduce you?"
"Well…" Yun Shu found herself at a loss for words.
Surely anyone with a hint of awareness could recognize the look of a showy peacock courting attention?
But how was she supposed to describe it?
She searched for the right words.
"If a man of suitable age to become this Princess's consort deliberately tries to approach me… if he tries to flatter me, offer flowers, show off for no reason, force a conversation, or tries to make physical contact…
Or if he dares stage some hero-saving-beauty farce… all of that counts.
If that happens, just sabotage them. Don't let them succeed."
"Yes, Your Highness."
This time, her instructions were clear and concrete.
All four guards nodded crisply, fully prepared to carry out her wishes.
＊
A few days later, the Wanshou Festival arrived.
Yun Shu swapped her usual outer robes for a brilliant red fox-fur cloak.
Using the excuse that Fengyang Palace was located in a remote corner and that her pace was slow, she managed to delay her arrival until the very last moment. Only then did she saunter into the Imperial Garden.
By then, the sons and daughters of all the noble families and ministers had already arrived. They stood together in small groups, smiling and chatting with elegant restraint.
The Third Prince flitted about like a butterfly in bloom, conversing effortlessly with everyone he passed. Laughter and delight followed in his wake.
In stark contrast, the Fourth Prince stood stiffly near the lake, expression grim. His personality was famously rigid and dull, as severe as any elder present.
Despite his lofty status, only a few were willing to approach him.
The Crown Prince and the pardoned First Prince had yet to appear.
As for Yun Chuhuan…
Yun Shu scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of him.
Just then, a bright, easygoing voice sounded from behind her, tinged with familiarity.
"Why does Fifth Princess stand alone? Have you yet to find company?
"If not, why not walk with us for a while?"
"Eldest Prince?" Yun Shu turned to see who had spoken.
Upon recognizing him, she offered a polite nod. "I thank the Eldest Prince for the kind offer. However, my friend may still be waiting elsewhere. It would be improper of me to delay her."
===
阿 (Ā)
This is a common prefix used in Chinese to form nicknames or to make a name more colloquial, affectionate, or informal.
It's often placed in front of a syllable from the person's name, or in this case, in front of a meaningful word.
Think of it like "Ah-" or "Little" in tone. Examples: 阿花 (Ah Hua), 阿强 (Ah Qiang), 阿福 (Ah Fu).
However, the tone depends heavily on context—阿 doesn't always mean affection. When paired with a negative or harsh word, it can sound mocking, distant, or ironic.
苦 (Kǔ)
Means "bitterness," "suffering," or "pain."
Given the context that this shadow guard forced her to take bitter medicine for three days, she decide to name them with Ah Ku.
The other names like Wukong (悟空, "Awakened to Emptiness"), Qing Tian (晴天, "Clear Sky"), or Ares (阿瑞斯, Greek god of war), all have powerful, lofty, or mythological connotations. It clear that Yun Shu still 'resent' about that event.