Shen Xihe: “Each imperial prince has their merits, all competing for marriage. Crown Prince, where lies your advantage?”
Xiao Huayong: “I possess no talents, merely blessed with frailty. When I become Emperor, if you find me bothersome, I can die early.”
Through the jade-green gauze windows gentle breezes wafted, while behind pearl curtains, the warm chamber filled with waves of fragrance.
“Do you hate me?”
The clear, sharp voice carried a hint of repression as it broke the room’s tranquility.
That tall, straight figure stood beside the window, turned sideways. The elegant octagonal candelabra cast light through its jade shade, mixing with moonlight that crept through the partially opened window, illuminating him as an immortal descended to earth, ethereal and distinguished.
This was the Fifth Prince of the Great Xing Dynasty, Prince Xin – Xiao Changqing, beloved by the Emperor.
Only curling fragrant smoke answered him as if he were alone speaking to himself in the chamber.
His hands, clasped behind his back, tightened then loosened repeatedly until he finally turned around, unable to contain himself any longer.
His complex gaze pierced through layers – a gauze screen, jade-pearl curtains, and the misty incense smoke from the censer – falling upon the figure seated behind the low table.
Her slender, delicate fingers held a gold-inlaid jade incense spoon, gently stirring within the Five Blessings white jade incense burner.
Round and round, neither hurried nor slow.
Always like this – no matter what earth-shattering events occurred, she could remain this unmoved, as steadfast as a mountain! This was his wife, the woman he deeply loved, his Princess Xin!
A woman he could never fully comprehend.
Angrily sweeping aside the pearl curtains, causing a cascade of jeweled sounds, he strode to her front, looming over her across the table: “Gu Qingzhi, do you hate me?”
Her lowered eyelids slowly fluttered as she finally raised her head. Those soul-stirring eyes, seemingly filled with the gleam of precious jade, gazed at him calmly as her voice, clear as striking ice, responded without ripple: “Why should I hate?”
Bang! His hands slammed onto the table before her, causing it to shake, revealing his tremendous force.
This action finally drew her attention. Her gaze, about to withdraw, returned to him, those eyes flashing with infinite grace as her hands stilled their movement.
His fingers gripped the pear-wood carved table, wrinkling the elaborate silk cloth spread across it. Xiao Changqing’s voice trembled with careful control: “At noon today, I supervised the execution of sixty-nine members of your Gu family, including your nephew not yet three years old!”
Speaking this, his heart inexplicably fluttered. He stared intently at her eyes, seeking to discover any trace of hatred, disgust, or even pain.
But he was disappointed. She remained as unruffled as ever, so peaceful it bordered on cold-blooded as if he spoke of matters completely irrelevant to her.
Three years. They had been married for three years.
Whether he pampered her to the heavens, displayed intimacy with other women before her, or even allowed concubines to disrespect her, she maintained this same ethereal detachment, as if she weren’t a person living in this world at all, viewing everyone and everything with complete indifference.
“Gu Qingzhi, you are heartless, your blood runs cold.” His voice seeped through clenched teeth, suppressing the anger blocking his chest.
She didn’t love him, not even slightly. Despite thousands praising him and tens of thousands pursuing him, he was nothing in her eyes.
He thought, since she wouldn’t love, then let her hate instead. At least he could see ripples stir in those breathtakingly beautiful eyes, but he was destined for disappointment.
He favored other women – she showed no jealousy! He took her cousin as a concubine – she shed no tears! Today he executed her entire family by imperial decree – she harbored no hatred!
“Your Highness, why go to such lengths.” Her cherry lips parted slightly as her hand resumed slowly stirring the incense, each movement refined enough to paint, “Strong ruler, weak subject; strong subject, weak ruler – it’s merely a game of power. The Gu family’s current fate comes from Father’s inferior skill. Having lost, we accept the stakes willingly, without complaint. What is there to hate?”
“Today, had the Gu family won, Your Highness would similarly become a prisoner, perhaps even losing your life. His Majesty would become a puppet emperor, watching his officials’ expressions to get through each day.” After a brief pause, she continued softly: “As for the Gu family members being implicated, they are not innocent.”
Meeting Xiao Changqing’s dilated pupils, she saw her dignified figure reflected in his clear eyes: “They were born to the Gu family. When the Gu family wielded tremendous power, they enjoyed the glory and wealth their prominence brought them. Now that the Gu family has fallen, they naturally must bear the price of defeat together. In this world, who can receive benefits without paying any price?”
“I, as a Gu daughter, why should I hate?” She questioned him, her lips pink as cherry blossoms lifting slightly, “Why should I hate Your Highness? We are merely a marriage of equal status, a tremendous gamble staking life and fortune. If I weren’t surnamed Gu, if I weren’t the Gu family’s principal daughter, how would I qualify to marry Your Highness as principal wife? You see, this is the glory the Gu family brought – fortune is always sought in danger. Now only I remain of the Gu family. Please instruct me, Your Highness, how should these surviving fish be dealt with?”
Having lost power, wealth, and lives, she absolutely couldn’t lose the dignity of a great family, couldn’t lose the pride of a noble lady! The situation was already lost, defeat impossible to reverse. What use was hysteria and hatred now, except to waste energy and shatter her final dignity and cultivation?
Xiao Changqing stumbled back two steps, struck by her words. He couldn’t believe that even at this moment, she could remain so calm and rational.
She was so beautiful, as if untouched by mortal dust; yet so cold, as if lacking all human emotions.
How could such a woman exist in this world? And he was hopelessly, deeply infatuated with such a woman! Closing his eyes in anguish, Xiao Changqing turned away weakly: “You are Princess Xin, forever so. No one can change that.”
“What an unwise decision…” Gu Qingzhi laughed softly, “Your Highness aims to compete for that dragon throne in Mingzheng Hall. To defy His Majesty and oppose the officials at this time, just to protect a powerless Gu Qingzhi who has nothing but her appearance – it truly doesn’t match Your Highness’s usual wise judgment. If you persist, surely many loyal followers will distance themselves from Your Highness…”
“Gu Qingzhi!” Xiao Changqing roared, unable to contain his fury.
Gu Qingzhi fluttered her long lashes that gleamed with a dark light: “Your Highness should personally send me off with a cup of poison. His Majesty would surely be greatly pleased.”
Xiao Changqing whirled around, his bloodshot eyes like a wounded beast, fine blood vessels weaving a pattern of anguish, his lips curving into a bitter, self-mocking smile: “I know, from beginning to end you never wished to marry me, enduring three years of false intimacy for the Gu family’s sake. Now you eagerly seek death, wanting release.”
“Gu Qingzhi, don’t even think about it!”
[Reading Notes]
1. This is a fictional historical setting resembling the Tang and Song dynasties. Historical purists, please note.
2. The female protagonist is reborn – can be seen as Gu Qingzhi reborn as Shen Xihe, or Shen Xihe gaining Gu Qingzhi’s experiences through a cheat, growing up anew. The reborn protagonist is neither Gu Qingzhi nor Shen Xihe, but someone entirely new!
3. No misunderstandings, no third parties, no melodrama between main characters. A “three-no” product, strictly one-versus-one throughout. Both protagonists are purely historical figures – please don’t judge them by modern standards.
4. The female protagonist’s character is aloof. The male protagonist spends the first third pursuing marriage, the middle third pursuing her heart, final third achieving mutual love.
5. Both protagonists are highly intelligent and capable. This novel has many supporting characters. The author favors good looks – all are handsome men and beautiful women, at minimum extraordinary in bearing. All are intelligent, don’t all love the main characters, have both good and bad, and their loves.
6. The female protagonist’s skill is incense mixing, with an enhanced sense of smell as a special ability. Thus the alternate title is “Crown Princess Uses Her Sense of Smell to Expose Everyone’s True Identity”. Most incense descriptions are historically accurate, with some fictional ones serving the plot.
7. Different strokes for different folks. Your humble servant is tired of saying this, but will say once more: hostile and displeasing comments will be deleted!
8. Thanks for bug-catching, welcome pointing out logic and knowledge errors. No other discussion accepted, no accepting any pointing or guidance.
9-10… To be continued.