Chapter 5
Edward Quan ·
12
After I pressed repeatedly, she finally spoke.
“Khanh Khanh.”
“I always thought you were a good person.”
“I never imagined you’d been aiming to become Crown Princess all along.”
“I saw you embracing my brother beside the lake.”
“Yesterday, I came looking for you.”
“And saw him carrying you out.”
“You… you…”
Her face flushed.
Tears filled her eyes.
She couldn’t form a complete sentence.
Finally, she choked out:
“I never thought you were like that.”
“I won’t make pastries for you anymore.”
…
I was tired.
Never so tired.
Like raising an ungrateful little wolf.
My face cooled.
“Who told you these things?”
She started and looked away guiltily.
“Bùi Tế?”
“Or the empress?”
“Not Bùi Tế!” she protested immediately.
“He isn’t that sort of person.”
The old fox of an empress, then.
I laughed in anger.
“Nguyên Giai.”
“If I hadn’t drunk that wine for you, you would have been violated by now.”
“And you’re blaming me?”
She stared.
“Bùi Tế warned me not to drink the wine Mother gave me.”
“I never intended to.”
“I just didn’t expect you to rush over.”
“Wait…”
I stopped.
“You both knew there was something wrong with it?”
Understanding flashed through me.
Everything fell into place.
13
I intended to leave the palace and question Bùi Tế.
On the path, I overheard maids from some palace shirking their work and gossiping.
“Did you see Khương Lạc Bình, the Duke Who Guards the State’s legitimate daughter, at the banquet?”
“Yes. So poised and confident.”
“They say she’s the chosen Crown Princess. She and His Highness look perfect together.”
Khương Lạc Bình?
Why was that name familiar?
Then I remembered.
In the original, the empress used both her children as political tools.
She married the princess to the lord of Hexi and arranged for the crown prince to marry Khương Lạc Bình, her own family’s legitimate daughter.
Since he was only a supporting character, the book hadn’t described his romantic ending.
But he would most likely marry her. Two powerful people joining forces to create a prosperous age.
For a moment, I couldn’t name what I felt.
A tangled mess.
With a trace of sourness.
Distracted, I walked straight into a solid chest.
“Not watching where you’re going? What are you thinking about?”
The prince’s voice came from above.
I had no desire to tease him now.
No.
Never again.
Quite apart from the empress using our relationship to divide me from the princess, there was his status.
He would marry the duke’s daughter and become emperor.
I should keep a respectful distance.
I bowed properly and stepped aside.
“After you, Your Highness.”
He fell silent.
“Who upset you?”
Could I say his sister?
In the end, I didn’t.
“Very well. I’m leaving the palace too. I can take you partway.”
I immediately refused.
“I wouldn’t trouble Your Highness. My sedan chair is waiting outside.”
He left no room for refusal.
“No.”
“It isn’t.”
…
14
Soon, I sat in his carriage, curled into the farthest corner.
Fortunately, it was large.
His voice could have frozen someone.
“Why so far away? Afraid I’ll eat you?”
Reluctantly, I moved a little closer.
“Do you remember what you said yesterday?”
I vaguely remembered taking quite a few liberties with him last night.
Surely I hadn’t said anything outrageous?
Honestly, I answered:
“No.”
He looked displeased.
“You had better remember.”
I chose my words.
“If I said anything inappropriate, please consider it drunken talk and forget it.”
He acted as though he hadn’t heard.
Shifted position and came a little closer.
“Take your time remembering.”
“What if I can’t?”
He narrowed his eyes dangerously.
“I’ll be angry.”
“And… then?”
“Try it and see.”
Threatening me again.
I couldn’t help laughing.
“Will Your Highness really eat me?”
His throat moved.
His lips curved, his gaze deep and unreadable.
“Not impossible.”
He was smiling.
Yet a chill ran down my spine.
I racked my brains.
Something about “Crown Princess.”
Did he want me to help choose one?
What was there to choose?
It would be Khương Lạc Bình.
Certainly not me.
Why should I worry on his behalf?
The more I thought, the angrier I grew.
I glared at him.
He looked baffled.
Leaning closer, he asked seriously:
“Were you… dissatisfied last night?”
What a strange question.
As though I had done something to him.
Embarrassed and angry, I said:
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing happened between us.”
He gave a cold snort.
“I rather regret that nothing did.”
…
This conversation couldn’t continue.
Before I got down, he said:
“Come to me when you remember.”
I pretended to agree.
Privately, I thought: Not a chance.
Then he added:
“Forget it.”
“I’ll come to you in three days.”
…