Stealing Fragrance Behind the Spring Wall

Yu Yi was only sixteen when she entered the prince's household as a secondary consort.

On her wedding night, when her veil was lifted,

her heavy makeup could not hide her youthful innocence,

and her layered skirts could not conceal her slight frame.

As they drank the nuptial wine, it was so sharp that she choked and spat half of it onto the heir's lapel.

The heir's gaze was helpless and indulgent, like a father's or elder brother's.

That night, he left and spent it in the principal consort's courtyard.

Yu Yi was not heartbroken. The heir and his principal consort were the sun and moon of the household;

she was no more than a tiny star.

Yu Yi lived in the western courtyard of the prince's household for five years.

The heir became a prince.

One spring day, when she was twenty-one, she flew a kite in the household grounds.

But the wind was too strong that day, and the string snapped.

The prince found her kite and looked at her with wonder.

But he didn't remember who she was.

So Yu Yi told him she was his secondary consort.

The prince's expression went from surprise, to delight, to satisfaction.

It was the look of a man gazing at a woman.

Yu Yi had lived in seclusion behind high walls, but she knew that look well.

Because someone had been visiting her night after night for a long time.

She had flown the kite intending to tell him

that she missed him and wanted to see him that night.

Yu Yi knew it was wrong, but thought the prince was easygoing and would probably let her.

She just didn't know whether the other man would.

Theme: Vines push free from between the bricks.