Fortunately, she was still unmarried and still had the inclination to speak contrarily, questioning him about why he hadn’t honored his promise that day.
Only then did Wanwan realize how timid and fearful she was. When he spoke, she wished she could find a hole to crawl into. Then after he finished speaking, his gaze lightly fell upon her face, making her even more embarrassed.
Because the Emperor had already bestowed the marriage, Tonghuan respectfully bowed to him, earning a fierce tug from Wanwan. Looking at her with puzzlement, she armed herself with all the pride of a princess and raised her head, saying: “What an extraordinary coincidence, I never expected to encounter you here. Did Your Highness come here specifically to wait for me?”
The light in his eyes dimmed slightly, and he neither answered yes nor no, only saying: “I received the imperial edict from the palace earlier. Your Highness must be aware of it as well?”
Wanwan’s face couldn’t help but redden. His words reminded her that they were now considered betrothed, and regardless of whether she acknowledged it, this matter was practically set in stone with no room for change. She felt suffocated with anger. Though she knew she shouldn’t take her displeasure out on him, she still harbored some resentment toward him.
Her face showed signs of weariness: “If Your Highness could properly manage his household, how could today’s absurd situation have come to pass?”
She absolutely refused to mention breaking her appointment at the city tower last time. His heart felt vaguely melancholy as he investigated the matter thoroughly, and indeed found that she had changed her mind.
Perhaps she looked down on him—only after becoming a coward did he seek to curry favor with the powerful. What was there to boast about? He himself felt indifferent about this matter, after all, it was all part of his own step-by-step planning. Now that his goal was achieved, he was filled with joy. But Her Highness the Grand Princess didn’t see it this way. Being forced into marriage under such embarrassing circumstances, she had been implicated and would have to endure gossip alongside him, making her self-esteem utterly unbearable.
He had brought her no glory for the time being and owed her an apology. Once she came to his side in the future, he could slowly make amends. Watching her face stiffen from the cold in the evening wind, he didn’t take her scolding to heart. Turning around and gesturing with his hand, he said: “It’s getting late. I’ll escort Your Highness back to the palace. If Your Highness doesn’t wish to speak with me today, we can wait until your anger subsides.” He looked back toward the Directorate of Ceremonial and said quietly: “I originally came to find Director Xiao, but unfortunately he hasn’t returned. If he were here, he probably wouldn’t let Your Highness walk in the cold wind…”
After receiving the edict, the first person he thought of was Xiao Duo—this was indeed ironic for him. The Princess was too young and had grown accustomed to relying heavily on him over the years. To remove him from her heart would require considerable effort. His current mood was tinged with sourness, resentful but not angry. The Princess was inexperienced and not at fault—the one at fault was that pretentious fake eunuch.
He had little contact with her, yet his understanding of her ran deeper than anyone else’s. She was the type who responded to gentleness rather than force—the more humble and submissive he became, the more likely she was to accept him.
She walked proudly ahead while he fell back slightly, glancing at her from time to time, each look bringing different feelings. Perhaps this was what it felt like to love someone—to be able to forgive without principles, finding her delightful and adorable even when she was utterly rude.
Because he followed beside her, Wanwan felt the helpless discomfort of having a thorn in her back. Today’s chance encounter was most likely not coincidental at all. Sometimes she couldn’t help but suspect that he always appeared at the right time and place, which seemed quite deliberate. But each time she saw him, these doubts disappeared and everything seemed natural again.
She glanced at him sidelong—elegant and tranquil, without a trace of impatience or rashness. This was his greatest characteristic, inexplicably commanding respect and submission. After this cold winter, she would marry him… marry him and spend her entire life with him… Wanwan looked toward the flowing clouds on the horizon, her emotions still in turmoil, a bitter taste beginning to form at the root of her tongue.
“If Your Highness cannot bear to leave the capital, I’ll bring Your Highness back after the grand ceremony,” he suddenly said. “This matter came suddenly, and I know Your Highness feels uneasy. It doesn’t matter—we can take things slowly. Before Your Highness accepts me, I will never be presumptuous. Please rest assured, Your Highness. I am indeed reaching above my station with Your Highness, so your reluctance is only natural. But please believe that Liang Shi’s sincere heart can be witnessed by heaven and earth. What I said to you that day at Tanzhe Temple contained not a single lie.”
What did he mean by “never be presumptuous”? Wanwan felt both ashamed and angry—all his tender affection struck her as having ulterior motives.
They were approaching Shunzhen Gate now, its deep archway leading to another world at the far end. She turned around with a cold smile: “Once I marry down to Nanyuan and enter your Yuwen family’s door, I’m afraid I’ll have no say in anything.”
He cupped his hands and bowed to her: “I am a prince of foreign surname. Before the Grand Princess, I should actually address myself as ‘your subject.’ The Grand Princess and this subject have the distinction of ruler and subject—this subject would never dare defy the Grand Princess.”
She said “good,” the word especially crisp and decisive: “Then please, Your Highness, stand before Shunzhen Gate and do not move a step without orders. I hope Your Highness will keep your word.”
Her tone was full of arrogance, her face still bearing the stubbornness that follows grievance. Even the most sensible girl, when pampered from childhood, will have moments of willfulness. Yet he showed no displeasure whatsoever, nodding and saying “very well,” then standing where she designated, facing the bitter cold wind with dignity.
Wanwan took two rough breaths and swept her sleeves as she entered Shunzhen Gate. She walked straight ahead, turned into the corridor, and never looked back once.
Tonghuan followed closely behind her: “Your Highness, this might not be appropriate.”
“What’s inappropriate about it? He himself acknowledged that he and I have the distinction of ruler and subject. If I tell him to stand, he must stand!” She entered Yude Palace and snapped irritably: “Don’t mention him again. I’m hungry—bring food.”
So the bedchamber resumed its routine. The Princess had fixed schedules for everything. After having some pastries and fruit, she reclined on the kang and began reading. She read for two full hours and actually completely forgot about the Prince of Nanyuan.
When the Emperor arrived with a face full of anger, he strode directly before her in the bedchamber and sternly demanded: “How could you be so unreasonable!”
Wanwan didn’t even get down from the kang to greet him, turning her face away: “How have I been unreasonable? Please enlighten me, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor’s sleeves flapped loudly as he waved them: “I just issued you an edict, and you immediately made things difficult for the Prince of Nanyuan. Isn’t this deliberately embarrassing me? On such a cold day, you made him stand outside Shunzhen Gate like a target. What will people think when they see this? Though you are the Grand Princess, he is still a prince after all. You’re fifteen years old now—don’t you understand even this basic principle? What am I to say about you!”
Only then did Wanwan remember that matter, and she couldn’t help but be startled. She hurriedly turned to look at Tonghuan, whose expression confirmed it—she still hadn’t given permission for him to leave.
Two hours—could someone from the south freeze to death in the north’s icy weather?
“He’s still there?”
The Emperor snorted: “I had people try to persuade him to leave, but he’s stubborn as a mule. His jaw was so frozen he could barely open it, yet he still said that without the Grand Princess’s order, he’d rather freeze to death than move.”
Because of his affair with Yin Ge, the Emperor just wanted to settle things quietly. Who knew this sister of his would cause such a commotion? He was truly displeased. Seeing her sitting dumbfounded on the kang, feeling she no longer had him in her eyes, he frowned: “I’ve been here for some time, yet you neither came to greet me nor paid respects. Where are your manners?”
His raised voice truly startled her. She was already dissatisfied with today’s edict, and now he came to her door to interrogate her. She couldn’t care less about his status anymore and kicked her leg, sending a cushion from the kang flying toward him.
“You’re the Emperor and I’m your slave. No wonder you want to send me away—you’re tired of me eating your food. This Yude Palace was bestowed upon me by Father. If your palace can’t accommodate everyone and you need me to make room, just say so directly instead of beating around the bush! My making things difficult for the Prince of Nanyuan also bothers you—you treat him better than you treat me. If you come to scold me again, I’ll go cry before Father and Mother at Fengxian Hall and never come out again!”
She had always been gentle and courteous, but now she was throwing a tantrum, addressing him as “you” and “me” while crying and talking. The Emperor was somewhat dumbfounded. Had she taken the wrong medicine, or was she so stimulated she’d gone mad? The Emperor dared not scold her further and quickly changed his tone to placate her: “Alright, alright. If you want him to stand there, he can stand until tomorrow for all I care. But remember, he’s your person now. If he dies, you, a Grand Princess, would gain the reputation of being a ‘widow before marriage.’ Would that sound good?” Seeing she was about to explode again, he frantically pressed down his winged crown and fled in panic.
Chong Mau came forward to attend him. The Emperor looked back at the southern window where the Grand Princess was still glaring at him fiercely through the glass. He swallowed hard: “Have Xiao Duo come persuade her. She doesn’t look well. Also, send an imperial physician to examine her. If we catch it early, perhaps there’s still hope.”
The Emperor left worriedly, while Wanwan cried angrily: “What kind of brother is he? He’s lost all human feeling yet still puts on airs before me!”
Xiao You stuck out her tongue: “In this entire palace, only you dare speak to His Majesty like that. Stop being angry for now—the Prince of Nanyuan is still standing in the wind. What if he dies?”
Reluctantly, she got down from the kang, muttering complaints: “Everyone’s forcing me. Life will be even more unbearable in the future.”
There was quite a distance from the bedchamber, and she could have just sent someone with a message, but she felt too embarrassed and had to go see for herself.
It was truly cold outside. The wind carried fine snow that stung her face. Even hiding under an umbrella, she was still freezing. If that Prince of Nanyuan didn’t know to take shelter, he was probably no different from a fool. She had always believed the Emperor was deceiving her and remained skeptical halfway there. But as she neared Shunzhen Gate and saw him standing there facing the wind through the wide-open gate, snow had already accumulated on his shoulders and hat. Even in such unfortunate circumstances, he didn’t appear bedraggled or pathetic.
Xiao You nudged her with her shoulder. She sighed: “Go tell him for me to return!” Then she muttered again: “Does the old Prince of Nanyuan only have this one son? Otherwise, why would he inherit the title?”
Actually, the previous Prince of Nanyuan had six sons and over ten daughters in total. That he was ultimately chosen naturally showed his exceptional qualities. From what she could see now, setting aside everything else, just this ability to endure humiliation was already impressive enough.
Xiao You received the order and was about to leave when Wanwan called “ah” and handed over her hand warmer, gesturing toward the person outside the gate.
She was fundamentally kind-hearted. Even when dissatisfied with many things, she wouldn’t be relentless when venting her frustrations. She watched Xiao You run to the gate and hand him the hand warmer. He stiffly cupped his hands toward her from afar—that single bow made her nose sting with emotion. She had gone too far, venting her anger on him without considering right from wrong. Upon reflection, it was truly inappropriate.
She lowered her umbrella to cover her eyes. Why did her heart feel so empty? He had said at Tanzhe Temple that he would request marriage from the Emperor at the winter solstice court assembly. She had agreed then, but later, simply because the Emperor wanted to trade her for his concubine, her favorable impression of him completely vanished—how unreasonable of her. He was truly a good person. Knowing she was deliberately making things difficult, he still bore it silently. She had never made things difficult for anyone in her life, but this time, acting on impulse, she regretted it more and more afterward.
Forget it—marrying anyone was still marriage. Let it be him! The person she liked belonged to someone else. Finding someone who liked her and was no less worthy than Xiao Duo—heaven hadn’t treated her unfairly.