Han Yan turned to glare at him. How could he misinterpret others’ words so casually? She stiffly replied: “Your Highness thinks too much.”
After a long silence between them, Fu Yun Xi finally spoke: “Yesterday’s assassin was from Xi Rong.”
Han Yan was startled: “Xi Rong?” No wonder that man hadn’t looked like someone from the Central Plains. But with Xi Rong and the Great Song Dynasty being mortal enemies, how dare he attempt to assassinate the Emperor alone? Thinking about how she had saved his life last night, she felt uneasy.
Looking at Fu Yun Xi again, she realized he must know what happened last night, including her help in the assassin’s escape. Seeing his cold expression, Han Yan worried he might think she was in league with the assassin. After some thought, she decided to explain to Fu Yun Xi: “I didn’t know he was from Xi Rong. He held a knife to my throat. If I hadn’t helped him, he would have harmed me. That’s why…”
“Where did he hide?” Fu Yun Xi interrupted before she could finish.
Han Yan hadn’t expected this question and didn’t know how to answer.
“Your room?” Fu Yun Xi raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a subtle hint of danger.
Han Yan blinked and nodded.
Before she could speak, she felt warmth on her lips, that handsome face filling her vision. Seeing her dumbfounded expression, Fu Yun Xi pulled back slightly, his voice carrying a warning: “You are this Prince’s Princess Consort!”
Han Yan pushed him away, shocked at his sudden kiss. Yet she saw his expression had softened somewhat as he set down what he was holding and left with a sweep of his sleeves.
After Fu Yun Xi left, Han Yan went over and found several jars of scar-removing ointment. A warmth rose in her heart as she recalled his unexpected kiss, her cheeks growing hot.
Suddenly understanding, no wonder he had been so unusual today, in such a bad mood. She had thought he suspected her of deliberately helping the assassin, but now she realized he was displeased about her sharing a room with the assassin. This man was so petty! But… Han Yan clutched the medicine bottles: “Was he… jealous?”
Meanwhile, Fu Yun Xi headed to the palace after leaving the Zhuang mansion. The Empress Dowager had summoned him, so he couldn’t stay too long at the Zhuang residence.
In Cai Feng Palace.
The Empress Dowager reclined on her ruyi couch, with two palace maids in court dress kneeling to massage her legs. Noble Consort Chen sat beside her, conversing when a eunuch announced: “Prince Xuan Qing has arrived…”
Fu Yun Xi entered the hall, half-kneeling with a deep voice: “Son greets Mother.”
“Rise,” the Empress Dowager beckoned to him. “Yun Xi, it’s been days since I’ve seen you.”
Fu Yun Xi’s eyes were deep: “Son has been unfilial, making Mother worry.” Though his words were proper, his tone carried no trace of concern.
Noble Consort Chen sat properly with a lowered head to the side, though her lips curved in an ambiguous smile.
“Yun Xi, I hear you’re to marry the Zhuang family’s daughter,” the Empress Dowager said, narrowing her eyes while slowly sipping her tea.
“Yes.” Fu Yun Xi didn’t want to dwell on this topic, his answer was brief.
“I had originally thought to match the Zhuang girl with the Crown Prince of Prince Wei, but you beat him to it.” She observed Fu Yun Xi’s expression as she spoke. Not seeing the reaction she wanted, Fu Yun Xi replied: “The Emperor has already matched the Right Minister’s daughter with Prince Wei’s heir. Surely that will be a happy union.”
“Heh,” the Empress Dowager seemed to find something amusing. “Wasn’t that match arranged at your request to the Emperor?”
Fu Yun Xi responded: “Son merely saw that Lady Li held sincere feelings for the Crown Prince.”
Having hit a dead end, the Empress Dowager decided to stop beating around the bush: “Why do you want to marry the Zhuang family’s Fourth Young Lady?”
“Miss Zhuang’s talent and reputation are widely known. Son admires her greatly. Mother, how is that for a reason?” he replied.
The Empress Dowager turned to Noble Consort Chen instead of looking at him: “I’m too old to understand talk of admiration. Noble Consort Chen, why don’t you tell us what kind of person this Fourth Miss Zhuang is?”
Noble Consort Chen respectfully answered: “Fourth Young Lady Zhuang has had a hard life. She lost her mother last year, receives no love from her father, and is even bullied by the concubines in her household. She’s quite pitiful.”
While appearing to sympathize with Han Yan, these words emphasized her lack of status – even as a legitimate daughter, she wasn’t favored in her household. Such a girl seemed unsuitable as Prince Xuan Qing’s Princess Consort.
Sure enough, the Empress Dowager sighed upon hearing this: “If she’s had such a difficult life, Yun Xi must treat her well.” Then she changed tack: “However, having suffered since childhood, she might find the duties after marriage overwhelming. I should appoint several secondary consorts and concubines to assist Miss Zhuang. That would be good.”
Fu Yun Xi replied coolly: “Mother may not know, but the son has already sworn before the entire court that he will marry only Miss Zhuang in this lifetime.”
“What?” The Empress Dowager was shocked. “This won’t do! There’s never been such a custom – royal family members taking only one primary consort. Continuing the bloodline is your responsibility. How can you act so impulsively? I don’t agree.”
“Mother,” Noble Consort Chen spoke softly. “Fourth Young Lady Zhuang proposed this herself. When Prince Wei and his son came to propose, she stated that whoever married her could only take her as a wife in this lifetime. That’s what discouraged Prince Wei.”
The Empress Dowager’s eyes widened in anger: “Such a jealous woman! A woman should be tolerant and generous, following the three obediences and four virtues to be a good woman. How dare she make such an absurd demand! After she marries, who knows what she’ll do! Yun Xi, I forbid you to marry such a woman. Break off the engagement immediately!”
“Mother jests,” Fu Yun Xi remained unperturbed. “This marriage was approved by the Emperor before all civil and military officials. How could it be changed? Even today, she is destined to be the Princess Consort of my Xuan Qing Princedom.”
Noble Consort Chen giggled behind her hand: “No wonder they say the Prince is such a gentleman. If you want to please Mother, isn’t it simple? Just write her a letter of divorce, and the engagement won’t count. The Emperor only granted the marriage; he didn’t forbid divorce.”
The Empress Dowager nodded with satisfaction: “Exactly. Yun Xi, write a divorce letter immediately. There are plenty of good young ladies in the capital. I’ll arrange another good match for you.”
“May I ask Mother, what crime has Miss Zhuang committed that I should divorce her?” Fu Yun Xi raised an eyebrow.
“She has committed one of the seven grounds for divorce – jealousy!” The Empress Dowager’s eyes flashed with malice. “How can we accept such a jealous woman!”
“If you’re referring to her condition that I marry only her in this lifetime as jealousy, I’m afraid that won’t work,” Fu Yun Xi said slowly. “Because I willingly choose to devote myself to her alone.”