Chapter 4
Edward Quan ·
The banquet began.
The prince of Hexi sat beside the princess.
They chatted happily.
Later, they discussed the crown prince choosing a wife, but I was watching Nguyên Giai so closely that I heard none of it.
The empress smiled with perfect composure.
She ordered wine poured for the princess and the prince of Hexi.
Only then did I notice…
It came from the same jar.
She had drugged his wine too!
As the unsuspecting princess raised her cup, I rushed forward and caught her hand.
“The wine smells lovely.”
“Might Your Highness grant me a cup?”
Nguyên Giai stared.
“Of course…”
I immediately took it and drained it.
The empress frowned.
“Whose daughter is this, behaving so rudely?”
Every eye turned to me.
I dropped to my knees and bowed.
I was about to apologize when heat burned through my throat.
My whole body flared.
The wine acted far too quickly.
The prince spoke calmly.
“Nhiếp Khanh Khanh, Vice Minister Nhiếp’s legitimate daughter.”
“She and Nguyên Giai are close.”
“It’s only a cup of wine, Mother. Why make so much of it?”
That stopped the empress’s rebuke.
I apologized, then excused myself for my discourtesy and hurried from the inner hall.
10
Within a few steps, I grew hotter.
My legs felt heavy.
I was miserable.
Fortunately, Tiểu Liên brought me to a deserted side hall.
Through my haze, I seemed to hear the prince’s displeased voice.
“What happened?”
“Send for an imperial physician!”
“My mistress told me not to let anyone see her in an undignified state.”
“This isn’t undignified,” he snapped.
“She’s clearly…”
“Your Highness…”
I interrupted, sounding drunk.
“No need for all that.”
“Just kiss me.”
I had gone mad.
Completely mad.
But my mind wasn’t obeying me.
I stumbled toward him and leaned weakly against him.
Looked up expectantly.
“Lend me a kiss.”
“I’ll repay you.”
He lowered his eyes.
A strange red tint touched their corners.
His throat moved.
He turned to Tiểu Liên.
“Guard the door.”
I rose on tiptoe, pursing my lips.
He blocked them with one long pale finger.
His mouth curved.
“A crown princess must undergo a physical examination before entering the Eastern Palace.”
“Don’t you want to be my Crown Princess?”
I nearly cried.
“What Crown Princess?”
“I don’t want that.”
“I only want you to kiss me.”
He bent closer, his voice coaxing beside my ear.
“But being Crown Princess is very good.”
“If you become Crown Princess…”
“You can have me.”
I looked up pitifully.
“All right.”
“I’ll do it.”
“Can you kiss me now?”
“Yes.”
He lifted my face.
Cool lips touched mine.
Like a traveler lost in a desert finally finding a clear spring.
I couldn’t bear to leave it.
Still, it wasn’t enough.
My hand moved unconsciously toward his belt.
He caught it.
“No farther.”
His voice was low and rough.
“Why?”
I sounded aggrieved.
He gathered me into his arms and gently stroked my hair, seeming to restrain something.
“Khanh Khanh.”
“Be good.”
“I won’t.”
“What’s between us…”
“Must wait for our wedding night.”
“Be good.”
“No.”
“I want it now.”
I began crying.
Crying and beating his chest.
Eventually, he held my chin and made me drink a mouthful of cold water.
That night, we did everything we should.
What we shouldn’t do, we still didn’t.
A chaotic night passed.
11
When I woke, it was already late afternoon the next day.
First, I checked whether the princess was safe.
“There’s been no word of trouble in the palace,” Tiểu Liên said.
“She should be at her residence now.”
I breathed out.
The plot really had changed.
“How did I get home last night?”
She suppressed a smile.
“His Highness carried you.”
“But don’t worry. He arranged everything discreetly. No one saw.”
I rubbed my forehead.
This was no time to think about romance.
“The examination results come out today, don’t they?”
In the original, Bùi Tế sought the princess immediately after learning he had passed, intending to ask the emperor and empress to grant their marriage.
I went straight to her residence.
But the guard said coldly:
“Her Highness isn’t receiving visitors today.”
Strange.
She had never refused to see me.
When the guards weren’t looking, I slipped inside.
At the courtyard entrance, I heard her arguing with Bùi Tế.
Apparently, the prince of Hexi had sent her several chests of rare spices.
Bùi Tế gripped her shoulders, his voice bitter.
“Nguyên Giai.”
“Do you regret it?”
“Have you fallen for that prince?”
She burst into tears.
“What are you saying?”
“Heaven and earth know my feelings for you.”
“Don’t accuse me unfairly.”
His grip tightened.
His voice was almost pleading.
“Then let’s ask His Majesty to grant our marriage at once.”
“I’ll give you miles of bridal finery, a phoenix crown and wedding veil.”
“I’ll make you the happiest woman in the world.”
“Let me go first!”
“Let go!”
“No!”
“We’re going now!”
I caught his wrist and pulled her behind me.
“What are you doing?”
“Release her.”
He looked at me, surprise turning to grief.
“Nhiếp Khanh Khanh.”
“You’re on the prince’s side.”
“You all look down on me.”
“You think I don’t deserve her.”
“Even now that I’ve become a jinshi, you still despise me.”
He was impossible.
“You’re imagining things,” I said sternly.
“I’ve never looked down on you.”
“Marriage is a serious matter. You can’t decide it so hastily.”
After a few words of reassurance, he finally left.
Before going, he gave the princess a look full of disappointment and pain.
I was about to comfort her.
Instead, she stepped back, her small face still troubled.
“You should go too.”
What on earth?