Chapter 8
Edward Quan ·
Xiao Yunlan had formally offered tea and become Father's disciple.
He was the only disciple Father ever accepted.
Even before becoming Grand Tutor, Father had students throughout the realm. Many senior ministers at court had studied under him.
Xiao Yunlan was a prince.
Their relationship had to remain secret, or it would affect the balance of power at court.
My parents had me late in life and doted on me from childhood.
After becoming Father's disciple, Xiao Yunlan had cared for me like his own little sister.
Even when the chastity mark appeared on my face, he never recoiled. He only grew more tender and protective.
I never knew that, over those years together, his feelings had quietly changed.
He told me only after helping me through the effects of the drug.
He had intended to ask for my hand as his princess consort once I came of age.
Before he could speak, however, he discovered that Du Cheng and I were in love.
He could only withdraw.
Later, after ascending the throne, he had continued to show particular favor to Du Cheng—the third-place graduate appointed by the late emperor, and my husband.
It was not until he helped me that day that he discovered I had remained a virgin through nearly three years of marriage.
He was both delighted and furious.
He wanted to take me away from that misery at once.
But I refused his help. I could not risk further complications then.
Father was still gravely ill. I did not want him worrying about me as well.
Xiao Yunlan had to abandon the idea.
Still, he promised that whenever I needed him, whatever I needed, he would help.
I remembered his eyes when he saw my unblemished face that day.
After the first astonishment came a pain he could not hide.
“Qingyue, you've suffered so much all these years…”
To say I felt nothing in that moment would be a lie.
Only then did I realize that, besides my parents, there was still someone who had never once despised me.
After Xiao Yunlan removed the chastity mark, the real mark on my face naturally disappeared.
I did not yet want anyone to know.
What everyone saw afterward was merely a disguise I painted myself.
The most laughable part was that no one noticed.
Not because my disguise was so clever.
Those who had seen the mark were repulsed by it, or hated it, or scorned it. None of them had ever wished to look closely at my face a second time.
4
Before long, Du Cheng and Liu Wanning's wedding day arrived.
I had no idea how much more property he had sold, but the wedding was remarkably lavish.
The guests looked at the bride and groom strangely.
When they looked at me, their eyes filled with pity.
Some outspoken officials went straight to Du Cheng and rebuked him.
They called him a scoundrel. Said he had wronged me, and wronged the Grand Tutor even more.
Then they stalked out in anger.
It was as though they had come solely to scold him to his face.
The Du family was furious.
But Liu Wanning's belly had grown too large. They had no alternative.
They could only pretend not to hear and grit their teeth through the ceremony.
Most people despised Du Cheng's conduct, but the wedding was still well attended.
Some came because of his office. Others came because the emperor valued him.
He was, after all, a genuine imperial favorite.
Dressed in brilliant red wedding robes, Du Cheng looked pleased to see I had not stayed away.
After the wedding bows were completed, Liu Wanning apparently decided to demonstrate how well she was loved by humiliating me in public.