The servant shook his head: “I didn’t see that. When this servant entered, the heir had already finished writing. When I received it, Lady Ji also instructed me to be careful.”
Upon hearing this, Zheng Shi immediately frowned: “Lady Ji was also there?”
“Yes.” After hearing the servant’s affirmative answer, Zheng Shi’s cheek twitched slightly as she forced a smile: “I understand. Tell the heir that both the child and I are very pleased with this name.”
After waiting a while, estimating that the servant had left the courtyard, Zheng Shi violently swept the teacup beside her to the ground with a loud “crash.” The child, who had just been about to fall asleep, was suddenly startled awake and began crying loudly. No matter how the wet nurse tried to comfort her, she wouldn’t stop.
Seeing the child crying incessantly, Zheng Shi flew into a rage and scolded the month-old infant: “Cry, cry, cry! All you know how to do is cry all day long. What else can you do besides cry?!”
Since the child’s birth, Zheng Shi had always been loving and caring. This was the first time the wet nurse had seen her like this, and she was frightened into stunned silence while the child in her arms cried even louder.
Seeing things going wrong, Liu Ye quickly said to the wet nurse: “The young miss needs to sleep. Why don’t you quickly take her away?”
The wet nurse snapped back to reality, quickly agreed, and left with the child. After they departed, Liu Ye closed the door and said: “Miss, what has made you so angry?”
Zheng Shi threw the red paper in her hand to the ground, saying through gritted teeth: “See for yourself!”
Liu Ye bent down to pick up the red paper. After opening it, she said with complete surprise: “Ying’er?”
Zheng Shi laughed coldly: “You see it, don’t you? This is the name my husband chose for the child. This child is the first daughter of the Li family, the legitimate eldest daughter, yet he gave her the name of a feathered beast. Tell me, shouldn’t I be angry!”
Liu Ye also felt the name was inappropriate, but she didn’t dare further agitate Zheng Shi. She said tactfully: “This servant actually thinks the name is quite nice. Orioles have clear, melodious songs. Perhaps the young master hopes the young miss will have a voice as pleasant as an oriole’s.”
“Nice?” Zheng Shi laughed bitterly in her extreme anger, staring at her: “Since when did you learn to lie with your eyes wide open?” Before Liu Ye could speak, she continued excitedly: “Go ask around – which respectable family’s young lady or daughter of a noble house would be given such a name? If word gets out, won’t people laugh at us?” She then said coldly: “Ji Rong – it must have been her who encouraged my husband to choose such a name. When she failed to harm me last time, now she’s using the child’s name to spite me. That wretch!”
Liu Ye remained silent. Indeed, names like Ying’er and Yan’er were all beneath consideration – only illiterate commoners would carelessly choose such names for convenience. For the legitimate eldest daughter of the Tang King’s heir to have such a name… sigh, no wonder the miss was so angry.
After Zheng Shi’s anger subsided somewhat, Liu Ye tentatively said: “Perhaps… this servant could accompany you to see the heir and see if the name could be changed?”
Zheng Shi laughed coldly: “Is this your first day in the heir’s manor? When has he ever changed anything he’s said? Ying’er – this is the name my daughter will be called for her entire life! Ha… hahaha!” She laughed loudly, but tears kept falling from the corners of her eyes.
“Miss…” Liu Ye felt heartbroken watching this and wanted to offer comfort, but Zheng Shi interrupted her. She stopped laughing and wiped the tears from her eyes: “I’m fine. Ying’er – it’s a very pleasant name!”
Hearing her insincere words, Liu Ye felt even sadder: “The young miss has only just been born. It’s still a long time before she becomes sensible. We’ll think of solutions slowly. The young master is, after all, the young miss’s father and surely wants what’s best for her.”
Zheng Shi raised her hand: “You needn’t comfort me. He’s already been bewitched by Ji Rong to the point of confusion. How would he remember the child and me?” She then smiled bitterly: “Clearly I am the legitimate first wife, yet I’ve been forced to this point by a mere concubine. It’s truly pathetic.”
Liu Ye quickly said: “The young master is only temporarily enchanted by her. Sooner or later he’ll return to your side, miss. Isn’t there a saying: ‘Keep the clouds at bay to see the bright moon’?”
“Keep the clouds at bay to see the bright moon…” Zheng Shi repeated this several times, then smiled bitterly: “I’m afraid I won’t live to see that day.”
Liu Ye heard the sadness and despair in her words and, fearing she might become fixated on dark thoughts, quickly said: “You certainly will see that day, miss. Please don’t think such thoughts. Ji Rong is like a night-blooming cereus – how can she compete with you, a peony among flowers? Just watch – she’ll soon wither and lose favor.”
Zheng Shi shook her head: “From when she first followed my husband until now, it’s been a full five years. If she’s a night-blooming cereus, she’s been blooming far too long.”
Liu Ye sadly called out: “Miss…”
Zheng Shi wiped away the remaining tears on her face and interrupted: “Don’t worry, I’m fine. The more she wants me to suffer, the less I’ll satisfy her wishes. I’ll remember today’s incident well and repay it double in the future.”
Soon, the news that Zheng Shi’s daughter had been named Ying’er spread throughout the heir’s manor. The various concubines mocked her while looking down on Zheng Shi even more.
As for Zheng Shi herself, she paid no attention to any of this, staying secluded and focusing on raising her two children.
On April 29th, one month after the originally scheduled wedding date, Yunyi formally married Li Shimin. After the previous three failed imperial marriage arrangements, both Ruyi and Jixiang were nervous, but fortunately this time there were no further incidents – everything went smoothly.
Although Yang You was no longer alive, all the preparations he had made for Yunyi remained. On her wedding day, red wedding decorations filled Chang’an’s main street, stretching for ten li. Every ten paces stood a palace maid holding an incense burner burning plum blossom fragrance. The fragrance enveloped the entire city of Chang’an that day. It could be said to be extremely luxurious. The people of Chang’an lined the streets, peering through layers of red curtains, eager to catch a glimpse of the current princess.
Stepping over the saddle, walking on red felt, performing the marriage ceremony – after these elaborate rituals, Yunyi, wearing a phoenix crown weighing more than ten catties, was escorted to the bridal chamber.
As for Li Shimin, after accompanying the guests through the banquet, he entered the room with the scent of wine about him. The wedding attendant handed him the steelyard rod to lift Yunyi’s red veil, then offered the nuptial wine. The two drank from crossed cups while the attendant spoke various auspicious words.
After the wedding attendant and Ruyi and the others had withdrawn, Li Shimin gazed steadily at Yunyi. Feeling embarrassed under his gaze, she lowered her head and said softly: “Why are you staring like that? Don’t you recognize me?”
“I don’t recognize you.” Li Shimin’s words made Yunyi look up in surprise. Seeing the laughter in his eyes, she realized he was joking with her. Her face flushed pink as she turned away deliberately: “Not serious at all.”
Li Shimin took her slender hand and smiled: “I’m not joking with you. You’re so radiant and captivating today that if you weren’t sitting right here beside me, I’d truly think a celestial fairy had descended to earth.” He then lowered his head to plant a deep kiss on the back of Yunyi’s hand, saying tenderly: “We’re finally together.”
Hearing these words, Yunyi was filled with emotion. Five years ago in Honghua Commandery, they had faced each other with weapons drawn, each seeking to take the other’s life. At that time, no one could have imagined they would end up together. The unpredictable nature of worldly affairs was absolutely true, but… she was very happy about it.
Being able to marry Li Shimin, she had no regrets in this life.
That night, under the red silk canopy, spring was deep and profound. The two people who had been entangled since the ninth year of the Daye era finally came together on this night, five years later…