The Crown Grandson had finally settled on his choice for the Crown Grandson’s Consort.

For Ling Jingshu, this was, in its own way, good news. The Crown Grandson would soon be wed — surely he would no longer have his thoughts fixed on her.

But Su Ying’s situation was genuinely pitiable.

She and the Crown Grandson had grown up together as childhood companions, cousins from the same family. Her heart had long been set on him. The Crown Prince’s Consort was her own birth aunt, and had always shown her particular warmth and affection. Su Ying, who had been waiting all along to marry into the Crown Prince’s household, could not have imagined that she would lose to Jiang Rongyue.

Perhaps Ling Jingshu’s eyes had shown too plainly the sympathy she felt.

Su Ying’s smile turned a little bitter, and her voice dropped very low. “This has not yet been publicly announced — but after today, it will most likely be formally settled…”

Her voice trailed off, growing fainter and fainter until it was barely audible.

Two days ago, the Crown Prince’s Consort had discreetly sent someone to the Su household to quietly pass on this news.

For Su Ying, this had been like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky. For two days she had barely been able to eat a single grain of rice, worn down to a shadow of herself. Today, there was no avoiding it — she had forced herself to come and attend the ceremony at Duke Yingguo’s household.

Around them, the sounds of cheerful laughter rose and fell, while Jiang Rongyue shone with a brilliant, triumphant happiness — which only threw Su Ying’s own quiet desolation into sharper relief.

Ling Jingshu sighed without a sound. She reached over and gently took Su Ying’s hand, finding no easy words of comfort to offer.

A head stewardess walked in with a beaming smile, and called out clearly, “Third Miss, the Crown Prince’s Consort has arrived. The Madam has sent this servant to convey her instructions — she asks that the Third Miss and all the young ladies now proceed to the inner hall.”

Jiang Rongyue smiled and assented. Her bright eyes swept the room, and she called out in her crisp, lively voice, “Everyone, please follow me!”

The young women responded with smiles and began to follow.

Ling Jingshu deliberately slowed her steps and walked side by side with Su Ying. She said quietly, “Su Jiejie, please don’t grieve too deeply. Matters of the heart between men and women come down to a matter of fate. Perhaps you and he were simply not fated for each other.”

Yes — what good would it do not to resign herself?

The Su family had already produced one Crown Prince’s Consort. They had hoped to have a Crown Grandson’s Consort emerge from the family as well. But the Crown Grandson favored the Jiang family, and the Crown Prince’s heart also leaned toward Duke Yingguo’s household. The Crown Prince’s Consort alone had no power to change the tide.

Su Ying drew in a slow, deep breath, pressing every last trace of bitterness and unwillingness down to the depths of her heart. Then she looked at Ling Jingshu. “Ling Meimei, you have been comforting me all this time. But what about you — is there truly not even a small part of you that feels any regret?”

Ling Jingshu was caught off guard for a moment.

The Crown Grandson’s feelings for her — very few people knew of it. How had Su Ying come to know?

Su Ying realized, even as the words left her mouth, that she had said too much. She murmured with a touch of apology, “My aunt once mentioned it to me in passing. You can rest assured — I have never told anyone.”

If not for this low, turbulent state of mind, she would not have let it slip like this.

Ling Jingshu steadied herself and said quietly to Su Ying, “Su Jiejie, whether you believe it or not — I have never held even the smallest such thought. Not even for a moment.”

Su Ying gave her a look of complicated feeling and said no more.

The rites of a coming-of-age ceremony followed a standard sequence.

The Crown Prince’s Consort, her makeup immaculate and bearing graceful, presided with a smiling composure. Jiang Rongyue, usually so full of liveliness, was today remarkably calm and poised.

The Crown Prince and Crown Grandson had indeed come together to observe the ceremony. The Crown Grandson’s presence was one matter — but the Crown Prince had been living in seclusion in recent years, rarely leaving the residence. His appearance at Duke Yingguo’s household today caused an almost universal stir.

The Duke and Duchess of Yingguo’s faces were particularly radiant, their smiles never once faltering.

Su Ying and Ling Jingshu stood together in a corner. Su Ying’s gaze rested with a distant, tender ache on the Crown Grandson’s handsome, cold face. Her heart was breaking quietly inside.

He was so close by — and yet so impossibly far away.

The Crown Grandson seemed to sense something. His gaze swept the room, passing through the layers of people until it found Su Ying — their eyes touching briefly before his gaze shifted, and fell on the young woman standing at Su Ying’s side.

Those familiar brows and eyes. That composed, untroubled face. Their gaze met his for just a moment — and she remained perfectly at ease, without a trace of loss or dejection.

With her perceptiveness, she must have already guessed why he was here at Duke Yingguo’s household today.

He was about to take another woman as his wife — would she feel even the slightest sadness? No — she wouldn’t. She had never opened her heart to him, and had always done her best to avoid him. Learning that he was to wed, she would probably feel nothing but relief…

A sharp, fierce pain swept over him — rising from the depths of his heart and spreading to every last corner of his body.

It was as though a great stone had been pressed against his chest, leaving him unable to draw breath.

The Crown Grandson gripped his fist tightly, forcing himself to look away.

After the coming-of-age rite concluded, everyone moved to their seats for the banquet.

Su Ying was consumed by her thoughts and had no appetite at all.

Ling Jingshu, however, felt light and at ease, and her appetite was quite good. Unfortunately, she had not managed to fill her stomach before trouble found her.

Qiao Yun crept quietly to Ling Jingshu’s side and whispered something swiftly in her ear.

Ling Jingshu’s brow creased slightly, but she knew there was no refusing. She gave a quiet nod, made an excuse to leave the banquet early, and followed Qiao Yun without a word as she led the way to a separate room.

The Crown Grandson was already waiting for her in that room.

Qiao Yun closed the door crisply and took up a lookout position outside with Wang Tong.

Ling Jingshu and the Crown Grandson stood facing each other in the room.

The Crown Grandson’s deep, dark eyes were fixed on Ling Jingshu, his lips pressed into a thin, taut line.

“Greetings, Your Highness.” Ling Jingshu bowed. “May I ask what orders Your Highness has summoned me here to give?”

The Crown Grandson forced out a few rigid words. “Royal Father and Mother Consort accompanied me to Duke Yingguo’s household today not only to observe the rite, but to discuss with Duke Yingguo the matter of my marriage to Miss Jiang the Third. Barring anything unexpected, this marriage will be settled very soon. Royal Father will personally enter the palace to report the match to the Imperial Grandfather and Imperial Grandmother. Once the formal decree is issued from within the palace, it will become a settled matter.”

Ling Jingshu’s expression showed no sign of surprise. She replied without hesitation, “Miss Jiang the Third is outstanding in family background, talent, and character alike — she and Your Highness are a perfect match made by heaven. I offer my congratulations to Your Highness in advance.”

So that was her reaction.

The Crown Grandson’s body went stiff, a flash of self-mockery flickering in his eyes.

He wanted to turn and leave. And yet his feet refused to move.

That small, insistent voice deep in his heart grew louder and louder, surging relentlessly inside him.

Try once more. Whatever the outcome, he had to try one more time. Otherwise, how could he ever resign himself?

The Crown Grandson drew a deep breath, and for the first time in his life, set aside his pride and dignity. He said, in a low voice, “Ling Jingshu, there are only the two of us here. Stop wearing this false mask when you speak to me. Right now, I am simply a young man who is fond of you.”

“I know I have many faults. I am too proud. I cannot bring myself to humble my position. Even knowing that my heart is drawn to you, I cannot let go of the word ‘power.’ I am to marry Jiang Rongyue not because I have feelings for her, but in order to draw in Duke Yingguo’s household — to suppress Prince Yan.”

“But right now, I regret it.”

“I do not want to marry her. You are the person I care for. You are the only one I wish to take as my wife.”