Chapter 7

Dust from the road still clung to his brocade robe.

His bright clothes and proud bearing made him look like a wolf.

I covered my mouth and chuckled.

He immediately grew flustered.

When he sneaked a glance at my expression, he even straightened his back on purpose.

“With a life-saving debt like this, unless you ask for an imperial edict arranging our marriage, it'll be difficult for you to marry me as my principal wife.”

“Don't think you can use the imperial family's concern for reputation and honor to make Father bow his head.”

“Father may be in the Imperial Study, with plenty of time on his hands, but that doesn't mean you can walk in whenever you like.”

“And another thing: why are you deliberately wearing clothes in the same color as mine? Do you like me that much?”

“Get lost!”

Consort Lin shot him a look of disgust.

“She wants to become part of my family. She doesn't necessarily have to become your wife.”

“I can take another son by adoption. Plenty of men would be willing if you aren't.”

“Who said I didn't want her?”

Xiao Ce hurriedly cut her off.

He saw me and Consort Lin exchange a glance. His cheeks immediately reddened, and he stammered out an explanation.

“You… you hugged me and kissed me. If you married one of my brothers, how could I face anyone?”

“Besides, you took my jade pendant. Grandmother once said it was meant to be passed down to her future granddaughter-in-law. Now that you've taken it, you have to accept the responsibility.”

“It's not that I want to marry you. I'm only afraid it would damage your reputation.”

I drew out an “Oh,” deliberately prolonging it.

“So you only care about my reputation.”

“I thought…”

I raised a hand and pointed at the wound on his forehead.

My red lips came close to his ear, making his back tense up.

The corner of my mouth curved. My warm breath brushed his ear as I whispered each word for effect.

“Your Highness came to settle the score over your head bleeding?”

A gust of wind brushed my black hair across his nose.

His swagger vanished in an instant.

His whole face turned red, and he could barely get his words out.

Consort Lin burst into laughter.

“He really is useless. It seems only his mouth is hard.”

She covered her expression of disgust with a handkerchief and glanced toward Xiao Ce's lower half.

“Whether marrying him would be a blessing is still an open question.”

Xiao Ce's expression went rigid.

“Mother, you… you did that on purpose!”

“I'll ask Grandmother to judge this!”

He dashed away like the wind.

But he wasn't running toward the Empress Dowager's palace. He was going to the Imperial Study.

Consort Lin leaned close to me.

“He's going to ask for an imperial edict arranging your marriage. I'm certain. Your beauty has conquered him.”

**11**

That day, I returned to the Shen estate alone.

I had been lavishly rewarded, but there was no imperial edict arranging my marriage.

Shen Yuetang deliberately blocked the path I had to take and mocked me.

“A Jing said he won't marry anyone but me in this lifetime.”

“I know you admire him, but what a waste of effort.”

“The rewards you traded for saving the Third Prince will become part of my dowry. There's no marriage edict in sight. You nearly lost your life for nothing.”

Was she so eager to brag that Xie Jing'an was already hers?

Then I'd help her along.

“Elder Sister, you're mistaken. Consort Lin has already agreed. After my birthday, the imperial edict will be delivered to the Shen family.”

“You know me. I never fail to get what I want. This time will be no different.”

Shen Yuetang's smile froze.

Then she bit her lip, eyes reddening as she looked over my shoulder.

“A Jing, you heard her, didn't you?”

“She really did ask the Emperor for an imperial edict. What are we going to do?”

Xie Jing'an strode past me and wrapped his arms around Shen Yuetang, who looked ready to collapse.

“If she wants to marry me, she can see whether I agree.”

His brows were dark, and he looked down at me as if a thousand layers of snow lay in his eyes.

“Your words and your heart never match. You're scheming from beginning to end. The Xie family won't accept a wicked woman like you.”

“Yuetang and I were promised to each other long ago. Even if His Majesty issues an edict, he cannot force us apart.”

His lips curled into a cold smile.

“Shen Yuemian, this time you won't win.”

Shen Yuetang leaned into his arms, her voice breaking.

“But we don't have an engagement yet.”

Xie Jing'an lowered his eyes. The ice and snow melted away, and his gaze turned as gentle as a spring breeze.

“We will tomorrow.”

**12**

Xie Jing'an knelt in the ancestral hall and refused to rise. He even starved himself and threatened to die.

His mother had no choice but to force a smile and arrange his engagement to the Shen family.

The marriage contract paired Xie Jing'an's name with Shen Yuetang's.

At last, my stepmother looked pleased to have regained some face.

Their celebration was theirs.

So was the road to ruin.

I only went to sit for a while in my mother's old courtyard before getting up to leave.

But just outside the gate, I ran into Xie Jing'an.

Pear blossoms clung to his shoulders. He had clearly been waiting a long time.

He looked toward me.

The shower of blossoms between us seemed to divide not only the two of us, but both our lifetimes of love and hatred.

“This time, I really am going to marry her.”

“Stop scheming. I can promise you that after Yuetang gives birth to my legitimate heir, I'll bring you into the household as a favored concubine.”

Did he really think I loved him that much?

Was I that good an actress?

Had I fooled him for two whole lifetimes?

I couldn't help scoffing.

Xie Jing'an's brow twitched.

“What are you laughing at?”