Chapter 6
Edward Quan ·
15
The next day, back at the residence, I immediately went to the academy to find Bùi Tế.
They said he had left the day before.
Without luggage.
No one knew where.
Unease rose in me.
I sent people to search at once.
Somehow, the news reached the princess.
Hearing it, she rushed from the palace to look for him.
Things were still strained between us.
She was a little afraid of me.
I couldn’t be bothered with her either.
We searched separately.
A day passed without results.
My unease grew.
I felt I had forgotten something vital.
Someone like me.
Someone who had entered the book from the modern world.
Where would he go?
Alarm bells rang.
“Tell the crown prince.”
“Ask him to come to Bùi’s Spice Shop in the eastern outskirts.”
Sure enough, I found Bùi Tế in that abandoned shop.
Along with…
The princess, her clothes disheveled.
In the dark kitchen, he pinned her to the floor, about to force himself on her.
I kicked him away immediately.
He was stronger than I expected.
He lunged, caught my wrist, and pressed a cold blade to my throat.
My heart almost leaped into my mouth.
The princess screamed.
“What are you doing?”
His voice was dark and cold.
“You wouldn’t listen.”
“Come here.”
“Come, and I’ll let her go.”
Holding me, he slowly backed out of the house.
Stopped beside a dry well.
“Where do you mean to take Nguyên Giai?”
The blade pressed closer.
“Shut up!”
“I wouldn’t have bothered following this tedious plot if it weren’t for her.”
“I was so close.”
“You ruined everything!”
“You!”
Then he turned coaxing again.
“Giai Giai, come.”
“I’ll take you somewhere good.”
“Where no one knows us.”
I blurted:
“You want to take her to the modern world?”
He paused.
I seized the chance to shout:
“Nguyên Giai!”
“He won’t spare me!”
“Run!”
She still hesitated.
Suddenly, something cut through the air.
A hiss.
Bùi Tế cried out and collapsed behind me.
But as he fell, he dragged me with him.
We tumbled into the well.
What I hadn’t expected…
Was the prince jumping in after us.
The shaft was narrow and dark.
He almost landed on top of me.
Fortunately, it was an ordinary dry well.
No passage to the modern world.
Bùi Tế really had read himself stupid.
I struggled up and looked at the prince.
“Are you hurt?”
He didn’t answer.
Only wiped blood and dust from my face, then pulled me into his arms.
His hand was still trembling.
He seemed not yet over his fright.
I asked softly:
“Why did you jump?”
He buried his face against my neck.
His voice was low.
“Instinct.”
My heart stirred.
Bùi Tế had long since fainted from the arrow wound.
The princess and the others lowered ropes.
We were soon pulled out.
She still wanted someone to rescue Bùi Tế.
The prince snapped:
“Seal the well.”
“Say someone died below.”
Her eyes reddened.
“Brother, that’s too cruel.”
“He’ll starve.”
His patience vanished.
“If you have no brains, don’t speak.”
“One more word, and I’ll throw you down too.”
She shut her mouth.
16
He took me to the Eastern Palace.
As soon as we entered the room, I asked:
“When did you realize something was wrong with Bùi Tế?”
He sat.
“They had barely met before he encouraged Nguyên Giai with talk of bodily freedom and not being bound by propriety.”
“I should have killed him then.”
Before I could answer, he pulled me.
I fell into his lap.
“No more about him.”
His voice turned serious.
“Have you remembered what you said that night?”
Of course I hadn’t.
My guilty face must have made it obvious.
He looked tense.
Finally, he frowned and sighed helplessly.
“I’m about to choose a Crown Princess.”
I knew it.
The wretched man wanted my help choosing a wife again.
He continued:
“At the banquet, you begged to be my Crown Princess.”
“And I agreed.”
What?
“Impossible!”
Blushing furiously, I sprang from his lap.
“You misheard. Stop joking.”
However confused I had been, I couldn’t have said something so contrary to my heart.
He was much calmer.
He even straightened and patiently tried another approach.
“Khanh Khanh.”
“May I marry you as my Crown Princess?”
Every word was clear.
I cannot describe that feeling.
Countless fireworks exploded in my mind.
Dazzling.
Thunderous.
Looking at his composed face, I asked what mattered most.
“When did you begin to like me?”
I had wondered for ages.
I had only teased him a few times.
Had that impossible man actually fallen for me?
“Who said I like you?”
…
Outside, a breeze rustled the leaves.
The room grew quieter.
I watched him.
He looked away.
“How would I know?”
…
My lips curved.
All right.
Life with this stubborn man who would deny everything to his last breath…
Might not be bad.
He missed no change in my expression.
Made the decision for me.
“I’ll ask Father to grant the marriage shortly.”
“Isn’t that rather fast?”
He leaned back lazily.
“Life is short.”
“I won’t waste it on pointless guessing and waiting.”
Reasonable enough.
17
“Come here.”
I had only just leaned against him when the empress burst in.
Caught us in our “illicit affair.”
Behind her stood a spirited young woman in brilliant red.
Miss Khương.
“Wretch!”
“You dare seduce the crown prince!”
Shaking with rage, the empress ordered them to seize me.
“Let me see who dares.”
His face darkened.
He didn’t even stand.
Only tightened his arm around me.
“Mother.”
“If you behave, I can pretend you never drugged Nguyên Giai and the prince of Hexi.”
“Otherwise…”
He raised his eyes.
Cold light flashed in them.
His sovereign ruthlessness sent a shiver through the room.
“Try me.”
The empress trembled slightly and immediately softened.
“The Nhiếp family has shallow roots. They cannot help you.”
“You’ve met the duke’s daughter. So capable, so accomplished.”
“With her, you would be a tiger given wings.”
“As for Miss Nhiếp…”
“If you like her, marry both.”
“Have them enter on the same day. Wouldn’t that satisfy everyone?”
Miss Khương and I exchanged looks.
Saw the same disgust.
Seriously?
Was something wrong with her?
The prince laughed derisively.
“Capable?”
“Then why shouldn’t she become an official?”
The empress stared.
“Ancestral law forbids women to hold office.”
“Then change it.”
“What’s difficult about that?”
“Is marrying me the only path in the world?”
Miss Khương’s eyes lit up.
As though a new world had opened.
She stepped forward and bowed.
“I believe…”
“His Highness’s proposal is excellent.”
18
Later, Nguyên Trinh married me.
The princess married into Hexi.
Miss Khương became an official.
Later still…
Nguyên Trinh became emperor.
I became empress.
Miss Khương became the dynasty’s first female chief minister.
What the emperor hated most was the empress dowager urging him daily to choose consorts.
One decree settled it.
He sent her to Hexi to spend her retirement.
That day, I sat in the courtyard, eating snow-skin pastries and osmanthus cakes Nguyên Giai had sent.
Chief Minister Khương told me our “scheme” had succeeded.
“From next year, women of aristocratic families may sit the examinations and enter government.”
“His Majesty also intends to abolish the selection of consorts every three years.”
“For some peace and quiet.”
“Ha. Ha.”
My smile wasn’t a smile.
“Does he find me annoying?”
She picked up an osmanthus cake and raised an eyebrow.
“Men.”
“They talk tough, but they’re soft at heart.”
I rested my chin on my hand and smiled.
“Keep a few male favorites.”
“Broaden my horizons.”
“To tell you the truth…”
“I was considering it.”
“Preferably lively young men just come of age.”
“Who know how to say sweet things.”
Her expression changed.
She stopped.
The air cooled.
I looked up.
Nguyên Trinh had appeared behind me.
Imperial robes.
Keen eyes beneath strong brows.
Watching silently.
His deep, meaningful gaze was alarming.
I turned back.
The chief minister was long gone.
“Is my empress…”
“Dissatisfied with me?”
I swallowed.
“No…”
Suddenly, my body lifted.
He scooped me into his arms.
“Where are we going?”
“To eat.”
“But you just ate.”
He narrowed his eyes, his gaze resting openly on my face.
“I’m hungry.”
…
Sunlight fell through the window.
Cicadas called outside.
Blue incense smoke drifted lazily upward.
He set me down, sounding puzzled.
“Why have you grown plumper?”
What?
No woman could accept being called fat by a man.
Even if she had gained weight.
“You’re the fat one!”
I pushed him angrily.
He lightly pinched the softness at my waist, his voice lazy and satisfied.
“But…”
“I like it.”
(The End)