Chu Zhixia had arrived early.

However, she rarely attended such banquets, so not many people recognized her.

She stood there, hearing people discuss her and Lu Hao. Her face, which had been filled with anticipation, slowly became calm.

“Elder sister.” Chu Rui also felt uncomfortable. “Big Brother Lu isn’t that kind of person.”

Empress Dowager Feng said indifferently: “Don’t worry, this marriage cannot escape.”

The Lu family was becoming increasingly powerful. No matter what, she had to secure this marriage alliance with the Lu family to pave the way for Rui’er.

Chu Zhixia lowered her head and followed the Empress Dowager to their seats.

One was a prince and the other a princess, so their seats were relatively forward.

As soon as the two appeared, they attracted much discussion.

“Is that Prince Zhuang? So thin, and his complexion is so pale. So he really is a sickly person.”

“The one beside him should be Princess Fukang, right? She’s really graceful and elegant. How old is she this year?”

“Twenty-one. Isn’t the Empress Dowager bringing her out? She’s getting older, so they must be arranging her marriage.”

“The Empress Dowager must have her eye on the Lu family’s eldest young master…”

“The two already have a marriage agreement…”

Not long after the palace banquet began, Empress Dowager Feng turned the conversation to marriage matters, saying with a smile: “I still remember when Hao’er was just this small and came to the palace, he especially liked Fukang, this younger sister. Lady Lu and I arranged a childhood betrothal for the two children back then…”

Before the Empress Dowager could finish her sentence, Lady Lu hastily stood up, sweating profusely: “Back then… back then it was all just joking words…”

“Joking words?” Empress Dowager Feng’s expression turned cold. “What, is the Lu family going back on their word?”

“Empress Dowager, please calm your anger.” The Emperor said coolly, “Only after exchanging horoscope documents can a marriage be formally arranged. How can verbal words count?”

Empress Dowager Feng raised her head and stared intently at the Emperor: “So this marriage is just gone?”

“It’s not that I’m preventing it, but the Lu family has already selected a marriage match for Lu Hao and has already exchanged horoscope documents.” The Emperor continued, “There are thousands upon thousands of good young men in the capital. The Empress Dowager may freely select a husband for Fukang. As long as both parties agree, I will immediately grant the marriage.”

The Empress Dowager gripped the handkerchief in her hand tightly.

Back when her son was still Crown Prince, Fukang was born with a golden key in her mouth and was the pearl of the Eastern Palace. When she was only one year old, many people wanted to arrange childhood betrothals.

After carefully selecting, she chose the Lu family at that time, when the Lu family was only third rank. She considered that the Lu family was a scholarly family with proper family values, and Fukang wouldn’t suffer if she married into them. Only then did she arrange the childhood betrothal for the two children.

Who could have imagined that twenty years later, the Lu family would show such a face?

Naturally, the Emperor was unwilling for Fukang to marry into the Lu family, fearing the Lu family would become Rui’er’s power base…

And any prominent family in the capital with status would probably be unwilling to be associated with the former Crown Prince’s children.

Fukang’s marriage was not so easy after all.

Countless thoughts flashed through the Empress Dowager’s mind…

At this moment, Chu Zhixia felt as if she had plunged into an ice cellar, her hands trembling uncontrollably.

Sitting here, she could clearly see Lu Hao seated beside Lord Lu…

When she and Lu Hao were betrothed, she was still young and didn’t remember much, but the Empress Dowager often summoned Lady Lu to bring Lu Hao into the palace to pay respects, so she came to know Lu Hao.

However, the good times didn’t last long. When her father passed away, she moved out of the Eastern Palace and never saw Lu Hao again.

Until one time when the Empress Dowager left the palace to worship Buddha, she encountered Lu Hao at the temple.

At that time, he was about fourteen or fifteen years old and quite tall. She saw him at first glance, and after learning his identity, her heart was filled with joy.

He went to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager had him take her to admire flowers. He also took her to fly kites. That was the first time she flew a kite. The wind was strong, and she was very happy.

In the days that followed, Lu Hao often accompanied Lady Lu to the palace to pay respects. The Empress Dowager would keep them to dine in the palace.

She knew that Lu Hao also had feelings for her.

Otherwise, he would never frequently come to Kangning Palace.

She also knew that the Lu family was willing to accept her.

Otherwise, Lady Lu would never come to the palace again and again to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.

But the good times didn’t last long again. The Lu family was transferred to Jiangnan. With this move, many years passed, and she and Lu Hao hadn’t seen each other for many years.

She was twenty-one years old.

Lu Hao was twenty-two years old.

Men and women of this age should have married, yet he had remained unmarried.

She had always believed he was waiting to return to the capital to marry her.

However, Lu Hao’s evasive gaze toward her was like a thunderbolt striking her head.

She knew that everything she had hoped for was gone.

“Elder sister.”

Chu Rui’s voice was somewhat hoarse.

He didn’t know what to do either and could only grip Chu Zhixia’s hand.

“Elder sister, you’re so cold. Let’s go back.”

His heart ached for her.

He ached for elder sister’s waiting, yet was powerless to help.

“Let’s… let’s go.”

Chu Zhixia stood up and followed Chu Rui out of the hall.

But she didn’t return. Instead, she stubbornly stood on a small path outside the hall, just standing there quietly. Chu Rui sighed.

He knew elder sister wanted an answer.

With heavy steps, he walked back into the great hall, went to Lu Hao’s side, and brought Lu Hao out.

“Big Brother Lu.” Chu Rui said softly, “Some things should be made clear.”

Having said this, he turned and left, leaving the space to the two of them.

“Zhixia…” Lu Hao’s voice was bitter. “It’s not that I’m heartless. For the sake of the Lu family, I have no choice.”

“No wonder you stopped corresponding with me these past two years. I thought you were busy with government affairs, thinking that once you finished being busy, once you returned to the capital, everything would be fine.” Chu Zhixia shed two streams of tears. “I only want to ask you one thing: were you once truly sincere about wanting to marry me as your wife?”

Lu Hao pressed his lips tightly: “Saying these things no longer has meaning.”

He paused, then continued, “Zhixia, His Majesty has already selected a marriage match for me—the eldest legitimate daughter of an important court minister. The marriage will be granted soon. You… need not wait for me anymore.”

Looking at the increasing tears on her face, he wanted very much to wipe them away for her.

But he knew he had already lost that qualification.

Previously, when the Lu family was only third rank, his marriage didn’t matter much.

But now—

The Lu family held significant power. His Majesty would absolutely not allow the Lu family to have any entanglement with the former Crown Prince.

If he dared to stubbornly insist on marrying Zhixia, then the entire Lu family clan would incur the Emperor’s suspicion. He would become the family’s sinner, would be betrayed by all, and the Lu family would also fall from the clouds into hell because of his romantic attachment…

“Zhixia, I’m sorry.”

Lu Hao turned around and walked away step by step.

Chu Zhixia’s tears simply couldn’t stop. She covered her lips, sobbing and crying. The more she cried, the more she couldn’t stop. All the grievances in her heart poured out in her tears.

At this moment, a young maiden’s voice sounded behind her: “What’s wrong with you?”

Hearing an outsider’s voice, she hastily wiped her tears and turned around, immediately stunned: “Miss Yun?”

The young maiden before her with exceptional beauty—she had only seen her once but remembered her. She was the number one beauty of the capital, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Yun family, who seemed to be only fourteen years old.

“It’s snowing again.” Yun Chu walked forward. “It’s very cold here. Let me escort the princess back.”