"Xihe." Xiao Changying abruptly rose to his feet. He took a step forward but could only watch helplessly as she departed without hesitation, a faint trace of melancholy swirling in his eyes. "Letting go may be just two simple words from others' lips, but only when bearing the weight oneself does one realize it's an immovable burden weighing a thousand pounds."
He didn't know when these feelings for her had begun. During their first meeting at the Ma Family Manor, he had been exhausted from being pursued, suspicious and wary of everyone—including her.
Later, she coldly and assertively told him that all his speculations were merely wishful thinking.
He had always been vengeful, with a volatile and domineering temperament. Under normal circumstances, he would have torn the person who stole his evidence to pieces to vent his anger. But with her, he never once thought of retaliation. He kept telling himself that her status was special and he had no solid proof. Later, he convinced himself to consider it repayment for her saving his life.
Time and again, he found countless excuses. Looking back now, it was simply because he couldn't bear to harm her in the slightest.
His elder brother said he had fallen for her. Unwilling to admit it, he avoided her, using some inexplicable stubbornness in a futile attempt to prove he hadn't been captivated. How could he possibly be smitten with such a cunning woman?
His elder brother, unable to stand by, created opportunities for him. Step by step, he came to see his own heart clearly, gradually drawn to her until he could no longer deceive himself. His elder brother offered to propose marriage on his behalf—if Shen Yungan and his father agreed, they would seek an imperial decree from His Majesty.
He had been expectant and joyful, but what awaited him was this outcome. Just as she had declared at the Ma Family Manor, she would not marry him. It wasn't a refusal for appearances or a ploy—she truly meant it.
Xiao Changying didn't understand what was wrong with him. He wanted to demand an explanation, but before he could, his maternal cousin, the Second Miss Rong, hearing of this from his mother, had viciously attacked her. This only pushed her further away.
In this regard, he realized he had lost to his elder brother, the Crown Prince. He used to think the Crown Prince was pitiful—frail, rumored to die young, isolated without clan or maternal relatives.
Today, however, he envied this elder brother immensely.
"Sister." Shen Yungan returned and, not seeing Shen Xihe, was about to rush into the food shop when he encountered her at the entrance. Glancing inside, he asked softly, "Are you alright?"
Previously, Shen Yungan hadn't thought Xiao Changying was a bad match, but after the incident with the Second Miss Rong today, he ruled him out. There were too many messy affairs; marrying him would likely bring even more trouble.
This was why Shen Yungan turned back to give Xiao Huayong some earnest advice, effectively acknowledging his sister's choice.
"I'm fine." Shen Xihe pressed her lips into a slight smile and returned to the carriage with Shen Yungan.
"It's my fault," Shen Yungan said with self-reproach. If he hadn't wanted to give Xiao Changqing and Xiao Changying a chance, today's incident wouldn't have occurred.
"My foolish elder brother, this isn't your fault." Shen Xihe chuckled lightly. Her brother was far from foolish—he might be a brilliant strategist on the battlefield, but he wasn't adept at navigating these convoluted social intricacies. "Prince Xin only hinted at this to you yesterday. Neither you nor I have expressed any stance, so how did the Second Miss Rong learn of it so soon?"
Shen Yungan realized she was right. It was all speculation—Prince Xin had inquired privately, so it was impossible he'd informed his uncle this early."Her maternal clan is impossible, but her mother is a possibility." Shen Xihe smiled faintly. "Noble Consort Rong has always treated me with warmth and consideration, yet never with the critical gaze of a mother-in-law. From the very beginning, she never allowed Prince Lie to marry me."
Noble Consort Rong didn't want Prince Lie to marry her, yet she couldn't alienate her son. Unable to openly oppose it, she could only use her maternal niece to achieve her goal.
"Noble Consort Rong is actually this kind of person who disregards family ties!" Shen Yungan was taken aback.
"There's a reason for this. Noble Consort Rong's current second sister-in-law isn't the original wife. The original wife of the Second Master Rong was once Noble Consort Rong's close childhood friend and left behind a son and a daughter. It's said that even before the original wife passed away, the Second Master Rong had already become involved with his current wife."
Some matters weren't appropriate for a young lady to explain too explicitly to her brother: "The Rong family wants to strengthen ties through marriage. Back then, Prince Xin married the young lady of the Gu family. Although she has now passed away, and the position of Consort of the Prince Xin is vacant, Prince Xin is not easy to control. So they want to marry their daughter to Prince Lie."
Prince Lie was brave and valiant,
but lacked cunning, being forthright and straightforward—a good choice for a son-in-law. "Is the only one in the Rong family qualified to be Prince Lie's consort this second young lady?" Shen Yungan sneered. "Therefore, this is Noble Consort Rong's plan to kill two birds with one stone."
She both cut off their designs on Prince Lie and prevented any Rong family young lady from marrying him.
"The Rong family is tied to Prince Xin and Prince Lie. Whether through marriage or not, they must scheme for them." Shen Xihe nodded. "Why would Noble Consort Rong waste a consort's title on the Rong family?"
Marrying a noble daughter from a civil or military official would add another asset to Prince Xin and Prince Lie.
"Youyou, you're right!" Shen Yungan now felt immensely relieved that Shen Xihe had her own ideas that day.
He and Father were, after all, men. What men think and what women think are vastly different. They only considered Prince Xin and Prince Lie themselves, completely overlooking Noble Consort Rong and Noble Consort Rong's daughter. In the future, his sister would have to interact with her in-laws.
With a mother-in-law like a smiling tiger, what kind of good days could she have?
The Crown Prince is a good choice. The Empress passed away early. In the future, when his sister marries into the Eastern Palace, she will be the Master of the Eastern Palace, entering through the main palace gate in a grand, eight-carried sedan chair. Even Noble Consort Rong and others wouldn't need her to pay respects.
As long as she was happy, she could even manage the Imperial Harem in her capacity as Crown Princess.
Shen Xihe smiled slightly, not explaining that she wasn't afraid of Noble Consort Rong. When Noble Consort Rong encountered her, she would only end up at a disadvantage.
As long as Shen Yungan abandoned the idea of having her marry Xiao Changying and leaned towards her side, he would surely do his utmost to persuade Father upon returning to the Northwest.
On the other side, Xiao Changying returned to his residence in low spirits. He went to Prince Xin's Residence and found that his brother indeed hadn't retired for the night. Not knowing how to pour out his sorrows, he sat gloomily to the side, downing cup after cup of chrysanthemum wine.
Xiao Changqing leaned against the pavilion's pillar, sitting sideways on the long bench with one foot bent and resting on it, his robe slipping down. He held an ocarina between his fingertips and played it. The melody was ancient and mellow, deep and stirring, which only made Xiao Changying's heart ache more.
After finishing the piece, Xiao Changqing gently wiped the ocarina with a plain white handkerchief. "Do you know why Mother intentionally let our second cousin know that you intended to seek the hand of Zhaoning County Princess?"
Xiao Changying's hand gripping the wine cup tightened.
"Because His Majesty dislikes it." Xiao Changqing wiped it very gently and carefully.
This was something he had shamelessly pestered his deceased wife to buy for him on a whim.
With a thud, the cup was slammed onto the table. Xiao Changying's face turned cold and somber, his eyes filled with struggle and pain."I've told you, in Mother's heart, Your Majesty comes first. For Your Majesty, she would abandon everything, including you and me." Xiao Changqing carefully wrapped the cleaned Ocarina with a clean cloth.
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