Princess Consort Rong hurried out of Jiaofang Hall.
The snow had already stopped. The air was bitterly cold, the wind cutting to the bone. Thick snow blanketed the open ground outside the main hall, and each footstep sank deep, leaving a clear print behind.
Coming abruptly from the spring-like warmth of the main hall to the cold outside, the chill wind struck her suddenly, and Princess Consort Rong could not help but shiver.
Looking up, Princess Consort Rong immediately saw her daughter, Commandery Princess Fumin.
Commandery Princess Fumin’s pretty face was flushed red from the cold, her expression agitated and excited, still shouting endlessly that she wanted to enter Jiaofang Hall. Several palace maids had joined forces to hold her back, though none of them dared do anything more than that.
Commandery Princess Fumin’s shouting grew ever more shrill.
Princess Consort Rong strode forward quickly.
When Commandery Princess Fumin saw her, her shouting instantly died away, and she stammered out, “Mother…”
A sharp, crisp slap rang out, cutting off Commandery Princess Fumin’s voice.
Her cheek burned, five finger marks instantly rising upon it.
Commandery Princess Fumin was stunned by the slap, instinctively covering her left cheek with her hand, her eyes filled with wronged hurt. “What did your daughter do wrong? Mother, why did you hit me?”
“What did you do wrong?!” Princess Consort Rong’s expression darkened, her eyes filled with the fury of bitter disappointment. “Do you have any idea where this is? Do you know that inside this hall are not only Her Majesty the Empress and the palace consorts, but also every titled lady of third rank and above in the entire capital? Do you understand what crime it is to shout and scream here, offending Her Majesty?”
“I think you’ve truly lost your mind, as if you don’t even want to keep your own life!”
“Even if you don’t care about your own life, you ought to think of our Rong princely household. If you bring about such a disaster, your father and I will be dragged down along with you—”
These words struck like a basin of cold water poured over her head.
Commandery Princess Fumin, who had rushed to Jiaofang Hall on nothing but a surge of impulsive emotion, froze for a moment, her eyes quickly reddening. “Mother, I want to see Her Majesty. I want to beg her to spare me, not to make me marry off to the border. Mother, I don’t want to go somewhere so far away. I want to stay in the capital. I won’t marry at all…”
As she spoke, she wept, tears falling in heavy drops.
Watching Commandery Princess Fumin’s pitiful, weeping state, Princess Consort Rong’s heart twisted with both pain and grief. But at a moment like this, there was no room for her to soften.
If Fumin continued to cause a scene, Empress Xu would have every excuse to act against her!
“Fumin, go back to the residence first.” Princess Consort Rong’s voice softened, and she coaxed her gently. “Whatever it is, we’ll talk about it after I leave the palace and come home.”
Commandery Princess Fumin grabbed her mother’s hand, choking back sobs as she begged, “Mother, please, I beg you, take me into Jiaofang Hall. Let me go beg Her Majesty! Please, I’m begging you…”
Princess Consort Rong hardened her heart, wrenching her hand free, and scolded sharply, “Didn’t you hear what I just said? Go back this instant!”
Commandery Princess Fumin wept and pleaded for a long while, but Princess Consort Rong did not soften, instead instructing the matrons beside her, “You two, accompany the princess back to the residence. If anything at all goes wrong, I will hold you responsible!”
The matrons accepted the order with trembling fear.
Commandery Princess Fumin’s eyes were red from crying, but it did her no good—she was “escorted” away by the matrons all the same.
Princess Consort Rong watched her daughter’s retreating figure until it disappeared, a glimmer of tears flashing in her own eyes. Then she let out a long breath, turned, and went back into Jiaofang Hall.
…
“Princess, please stop crying. This is the imperial palace, with people coming and going everywhere. If someone sees you wiping your eyes like this the whole time, it won’t look good.” One matron stayed close behind Commandery Princess Fumin, earnestly trying to comfort her.
The other matron immediately joined in. “Yes, Princess. Whatever it is, we can discuss it once we’re back at the residence. Please don’t cry now…”
Commandery Princess Fumin’s crying had already quieted somewhat, but being consoled by the two of them only made her think of Empress Xu’s gentle appearance hiding a cruel heart, and then of how she was soon to be married off far away to the border. A fresh wave of grief overtook her, and she refused to walk any further, crouching down on the ground without any care for her appearance and weeping loudly.
The matrons and maids behind her: “…”
Commandery Princess Fumin’s crying was rather loud, carrying far into the distance, and soon drew the attention of palace maids and eunuchs nearby.
The maids all knew Commandery Princess Fumin’s temper and dared not say a word.
The two matrons exchanged a glance and forced themselves to step forward to console her.
But Commandery Princess Fumin was crying too bitterly to take in a single word, and the two matrons’ efforts went entirely to waste.
Just as the matrons were at a loss for what to do, one of them looked up and suddenly spotted a familiar figure approaching not far ahead, her eyes lighting up at once. “Princess, quickly, look—who is that coming this way?”
“Whoever it is has nothing to do with me!” Commandery Princess Fumin replied between sobs, but in the end she still glanced up.
A familiar, handsome face came into view.
It was Wei Yan!
Commandery Princess Fumin started in surprise, instinctively rising to her feet, hastily wiping her tears with her sleeve as she asked anxiously, “Is my hair messy? Are my eyes red and swollen?”
Although she and Wei Yan no longer had any chance of being together… still, in front of the man she had adored for so long, she could never bear to look unsightly.
The matron answered against her own better judgment, “Princess, your appearance is dignified and proper, nothing amiss at all.”
In truth, after crying and making a scene for so long, Commandery Princess Fumin’s hair was disheveled, her eyes were red and swollen, and her face was streaked with tears—she looked thoroughly bedraggled.
…
Seeing Commandery Princess Fumin’s figure from a distance, Wei Yan’s footsteps slowed slightly.
He had never held any fondness for Commandery Princess Fumin, only distaste. On any other day, he would certainly have steered far clear of her. But today’s circumstances were different.
After presiding over the Heaven-worship ceremony and the grand court assembly, the Emperor’s strength had failed him, and he had only barely managed to make his way back to his bedchamber. Wei Yan had been ordered to go and examine the Emperor, and there was truly no room to delay. Moreover, he had also learned something of Empress Xu’s plan to grant Commandery Princess Fumin a marriage.
Commandery Princess Fumin would no longer be a source of trouble for him!
With this thought, Wei Yan continued walking forward at an unhurried pace.
Commandery Princess Fumin’s bedraggled appearance soon came clearly into view.
Wei Yan acted as though he saw nothing amiss, his expression calm and indifferent as he cupped his hands in greeting. “This humble official greets Commandery Princess Fumin.”
Commandery Princess Fumin gazed somewhat hungrily at his familiar, handsome face, and thinking of her impending marriage, a wave of sorrow rose within her. She could not help but say in a low voice, “Wei Yan, there’s something I want to say to you.”
Wei Yan answered flatly, “This humble official is under His Majesty’s verbal order to go examine him, and has no leisure to chat with Commandery Princess Fumin. I beg the princess’s understanding—I must take my leave first.”
Commandery Princess Fumin watched helplessly as Wei Yan walked past her, and unable to accept it, she lifted her skirts and chased after him. “Wei Yan, wait. I’ll just say a few words to you, it won’t take long.”
The matrons exchanged glances with one another.
What were they to do now?
There was nothing to be done! Who could possibly persuade the princess otherwise? If she wanted to speak with Imperial Physician Wei, then so be it—in broad daylight, surely nothing too unseemly would happen.