Chapter 5

I asked my brother to tell him to look after his health.

My brother blinked.

“I told him Yingying was working hard to be with him. The fool decided he ought to work himself to the bone too. Don't worry. I know what I'm doing.

“If he really died of exhaustion, wouldn't my sister cry herself to death? I couldn't bear to make Yingying cry.”

Later, Ji Yunqing visited the Cui household.

I was busy at the workshop and knew nothing of it.

Other maids told me Father and my brother had taken him into the study. They talked for four hours.

My heart pounded.

It seemed things had worked out.

After Xiaotao and I returned home, Mother came especially to find me.

She stroked my face, emotions I couldn't understand hidden in her eyes.

“Yingying, the Cui clan matters greatly. But as your mother, I love you more.

“A priceless treasure is easy to seek; a devoted husband is hard to find.

“Your father and I have discussed it. You've both worked so hard for this love. We have no reason to keep standing in your way.

“I've met Ji Yunqing once. He's a good boy.”

She paused.

“His family is indeed rather humbler. Fortunately, he's willing to marry into our household. Soon, I'll speak to the Empress about ending your betrothal.”

I stood stunned.

A warm breeze brushed my face. For a moment, I forgot how to react.

My parents had agreed?

I could be with Ji Yunqing?

Tears of joy filled my eyes. I hurried to remove the mandarin-duck bracelet the Empress had given me.

“Mother, please return this to Her Majesty for me.”

Li Yu still didn't know the Cui family intended to discuss ending his betrothal to Cui Wenying.

He was busy inviting Suzhou embroiderers to make the most beautiful wedding gown in the world.

Busy buying the strongest, most fragrant wine.

And the betrothal gifts.

He knew everything he said upset Yingying. But more gifts would surely make her happy.

The people around him laughed.

“Never mind how sharp-tongued the Sixth Prince is with Miss Cui. He truly likes her.”

“So many wonderful things. His Highness has put such thought into this.”

Rewarding those around him, Li Yu thought: never again.

That mouth of his had hurt Yingying countless times.

She didn't even want to smile at him anymore.

He resolved that after their marriage, he'd bind his mouth with cloth.

He wouldn't remove it until he could stop speaking cruelly in front of her.

Yet after all his preparations, the Empress told him the betrothal was over.

Why?

He trembled.

He was a prince, the Empress's own son. Even when granted a princely title, he'd receive the finest fief.

He'd only wanted to temper Yingying's disposition a little.

He hadn't fetched her in a downpour.

He'd said a few hurtful things.

Why had the marriage vanished?

His legs gave way. Only catching the table kept him from falling.

“Mother, why did the Cui family break the engagement?”

The Empress looked at him in disappointment. In the end, she couldn't bear to speak harshly.

“Yingying loves someone. It isn't you.”

“But only my family standing is worthy of hers!”

She sighed.

“Madam Cui has returned the bracelet. She said a suitable match matters, but however much it matters, her daughter matters more.

“A humbler family is no obstacle. The young man is willing to marry into their household. From now on, he'll be one of the Cui family.”

“Who?”

Her red lips parted.

“Ji Yunqing.”

The name struck him like thunder.

Of all people, the one he'd thought least possible.

He sought out Cui Wenying and asked her directly, “Why can't you give me another chance? I just don't speak pleasantly.

“I'll learn the right words. Once we're married, I can say them to you every day.”

Cui Wenying looked at him.

Much of her old resentment at having to marry him had faded.

“From twelve to seventeen, I've heard your unpleasant words for five years.

“If you suddenly said something kind, I'd have to wonder what insult was hidden inside it.

“It isn't as though I never waited for you.

“I did. During that downpour, if you'd come a little sooner, I'd have forgiven you.

“If you'd apologized then, I'd have forgiven you too.”

“I'll apologize now!” Li Yu said quickly.

She smiled faintly.

“Sixth Prince, I don't need your apology anymore.

“No one can stand in the same place waiting for you forever.”

Just then, Ji Yunqing arrived and took her hand.

Cui Wenying looked at him, her eyes full of affection.

At last, Li Yu believed he truly had no chance left.

Unwilling to accept it, he asked Ji Yunqing whether he felt no shame stealing a fellow student's betrothed.

Ji Yunqing smiled.

“You always said Yingying wasn't good enough. I thought you disliked her.

“As it happens, I like her. So I stole her away and spared you a nuisance.”

Li Yu was too angry to speak. He had only his own mouth to blame.

If he hadn't hurt her so often, he wouldn't have lost every chance.

After all, long before, Cui Wenying really had decided to accept her parents' arrangement.

To accept vermilion gates marrying vermilion gates, bamboo cottages marrying bamboo cottages.

Later, the Sixth Prince finally learned not to speak cruelly.

Unfortunately, he'd already lost the woman he wanted to marry.

Portraits of the capital's young ladies streamed into his residence.

None pleased him.

He no longer said they were no good. Only that they weren't right for him.

The Empress was relieved. This experience had finally cured his inability to speak kindly.

Ji Yunqing was good in every way, except for his fondness for sweets.

The doctor said his health wasn't strong. He mustn't eat too much sugar.

But how could he resist a craving? He hid a packet of sweet puffed rice and secretly nibbled some whenever he wanted.

He thought I hadn't noticed.

Hee-hee. I'd noticed long ago.

I replaced his usual puffed rice with a kind containing only a tiny bit of sugar.

He found it strange, forever wondering why it was becoming less sweet.

I was only thinking of his own good. If too much sugar made him ill, the medicine...

It really might be bitter enough to make his tongue fall off.

He certainly couldn't bear that.

In the third spring after our marriage, I gave birth to a daughter. We named her Cui Wu.

Yunqing's father came especially to visit, bringing vegetables and fruit he'd grown himself.

He looked well. When he saw his granddaughter, joy filled every corner of his face.

“Such a strong, sturdy child. She'll be blessed.

“But Yingying has had a hard time.”

Ji Yunqing and I took the opportunity to ask him to stay and live with us.

He declined, smiling at his son.

“You must live your days with your wife. I must live mine with mine.

“There is so much thunder in the mountains. Without me there, your mother will be afraid.”

Who you shared your life with truly did make a difference.

I arranged a carriage to take Yunqing's father home.

Some days with Ji Yunqing were busy. Others were leisurely.

On busy days, we barely stopped moving, gulping down hurried meals.

At leisure, we gathered pine blossoms to make wine, watched the spring waters, and brewed tea.

A life of quiet contentment.

[The End]