Shen Xihe's expression was placid, the corners of her lips still holding a faint, elusive smile: "To know a person, do not rely on hearsay; to discern a person, do not readily believe."
Understanding someone should not depend on gossip, and judging someone should not involve easy trust.
She was certainly not as wretched as the rumors suggested, yet neither was she as gentle and kind as the Fifth Miss You perceived her to be.
"Your Highness the Crown Princess speaks words of gold and jade, and your words are most apt. Fifth Sister is forthright by nature and did not mean to offend. I beg Your Highness to pardon her offense." The Third Miss You rose and performed a rather clumsy wanfu bow to Shen Xihe.
Shen Xihe could tell that the Third Miss You was a woman of iron will, likely having never learned much in the way of feminine etiquette. At most, she had crammed in a hasty study before coming to the temporary palace for this audience.
"It is no great matter. Since you have come to pay your respects to me, it is only natural that you would inquire about my character. Arriving without preparation, if you were to inadvertently breach a taboo, it would inevitably cause displeasure. It was originally a gesture of goodwill." Shen Xihe was not so petty, nor did she find such behavior offensive.
The Third Miss You's expression relaxed, and she tugged her younger sister down to sit.
"Your Highness the Crown Princess is generous and virtuous, no wonder His Majesty has entrusted you with the management of the Imperial Harem. It is truly our good fortune." Suddenly, a soft, gentle voice offered flattery.
This was a plump and beautiful young lady, her skin like congealed cream and white jade, rounded and smooth like pearls. Dressed in a goose-yellow ruqun, her features were gentle, and her eyes sparkled brightly, strikingly reminiscent of a Haihuang plant Shen Xihe had admired not long ago—a plump beauty that was a delight to behold.
Shen Xihe knew she was An Zhengyi, the daughter of the Protector-General of the East. The Protector-General had many wives and concubines, with eight sons in total from both legitimate and illegitimate lines, but only this one daughter. Although she was born of a concubine, the entire household doted on her excessively.
An Zhengyi met Shen Xihe's gaze, revealing a mix of ingratiation and respect.
Shen Xihe maintained her composure and gave her a faint smile.
For some reason, she always felt that An Zhengyi held a peculiar obsequiousness toward her—a kind of attentiveness that was completely absent in the other young ladies. She and the An family seemed to have no prior connections whatsoever.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries with them, Shen Xihe dismissed them. As for An Zhengyi's relentless flattery, Shen Xihe did not take it to heart. Whatever her purpose was, it would reveal itself in time.
That evening, following the Emperor's instructions, Shen Xihe arranged a welcoming banquet, complete with some song and dance performances.
"First, the Turks invaded, then there was the assassination attempt at the Xiangguo Temple, and now the drought in Dengzhou has affected hundreds of miles." The Youning Emperor suddenly spoke in a grave tone. "Misfortunes have come one after another. I feel it is time to use a joyous occasion to counterbalance them."
After three rounds of drinks, the Emperor appeared to be in high spirits. No one knew if it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but many were curious about what joyous event the Emperor had in mind. To their surprise, the Youning Emperor publicly bestowed a marriage between Xiao Changying and You Wenjun.
You Wenjun seemed to have already known what was coming and did not act coy. She rose with her father and bowed to the Youning Emperor to express her gratitude.
Only Xiao Changying appeared to be completely in the dark, frozen in place by the Emperor's sudden decree.
Xiao Changqing also showed a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but he reacted swiftly. Smiling, he said to his rigid younger brother at the neighboring table, "Little Brother, are you too overjoyed to speak? Why not hurry and thank His Majesty?"
Xiao Changying then snapped back to reality. He instinctively wanted to glance at Shen Xihe, but as his neck barely twitched, reason restrained him. If he were to look at Shen Xihe at this moment, who could fail to discern his feelings? And how would others perceive his relationship with her?
What purpose would it serve other than to tarnish her reputation?Under the pretext of "warding off misfortune," His Majesty left him no room for refusal. Moreover, the betrothed was the legitimate eldest daughter of the You family. Fortunately, he had long intended to marry, but the sudden imperial decree without prior notice caught him off guard. He rose to his feet and said, "I thank Your Majesty for your grace."
Originally, he had planned to speak plainly with his future spouse beforehand. If she still wished to marry him despite his intentions, she could not blame him for his indifference.
Now, however, that was no longer possible. Still, the emperor’s favor was not something he had sought for himself. Given the current standing of the You family, unless they themselves desired this honor, why would they willingly step into this muddy water?
The emperor had many sons, and there were already rumors of the Crown Prince’s early demise. He and the You family were strangers, with no emotional ties to speak of. For the You family to marry into the imperial household at such a time, they must surely have their own motives.
They had already risen to become the foremost military power in the northeast, far removed from the intrigues of the imperial court, with wealth and status secure.
The Third Miss You was already seventeen. At that age, if she had any intentions of marriage, she would have been wed long ago...
With these thoughts, Xiao Changying felt little guilt in his heart. The path was chosen by others; he was merely the one selected. There was no reason for him to invest his heart in someone he had not chosen himself.
"Your Majesty, we have all brought our sons and daughters to the capital. You must not show favoritism," An Jingnan, the Protector-General of the Eastern Pacification, rose and spoke. This man had served as Youning Emperor’s guard in his youth and later followed the emperor in achieving great merits, rising to his current position. When the emperor was in high spirits, he often displayed a roguish demeanor.
Youning Emperor was not angered in the slightest. Pointing a finger playfully at him, he laughed and scolded, "When have I ever shortchanged you? Speak plainly. Which young man has caught your eye? I will surely grant you a marriage decree."
An Jingnan chuckled heartily and turned to An Zhengyi, saying, "My dear, why not seize this opportunity to ask His Majesty to decide for you? If you miss this chance, beware that His Majesty might go back on his word."
In the entire court, only An Jingnan dared to speak to Youning Emperor in such a manner. Strangely, the emperor appreciated his candor and never considered it insubordination.
An Zhengyi rose to her feet, visibly uneasy and nervous. She asked softly, "Your Majesty, may I truly ask you to arrange a marriage with whomever I admire?"
"Speak your mind first. If the affection is mutual, I will naturally grant my blessing," Youning Emperor replied gently.
An Zhengyi fell silent for a moment, as if mustering her courage. Then she stepped out from behind her table, approached the throne, and performed a formal kowtow to Youning Emperor. "Your Majesty, when I was young, I once met someone whom I considered peerless and divine. Since then, I have regarded all other men as mere mortals. Now that I have seen him again, my heart is captivated at first sight, and I cannot forget him. I know that this gentleman holds no affection for me. However, since Your Majesty has asked, I dare not deceive you. I must take this opportunity to confess my feelings. Regardless of the outcome, I will not regret having loved him."
Her resolute and almost desperate confession stirred curiosity among those present about the object of her admiration.
"A daughter of a military family, forthright and sincere," Youning Emperor praised her. "Speak freely. I will mediate on your behalf."
An Zhengyi, who had been keeping her head lowered, suddenly looked up. Her delicate features were like a painting, and her eyes shimmered with emotion. "Your Majesty, I admire the noble and majestic bearing of the Crown Prince."
Her words sent ripples through the hall, and the audience drew sharp breaths.
The Crown Prince was already married. An Zhengyi, though beloved, was a daughter of a concubine and thus not eligible to be the Crown Princess. However, she was more than qualified to become a secondary consort to the Crown Prince.
By speaking out, An Zhengyi had implicitly expressed her willingness to enter the Eastern Palace as a secondary consort.
In an instant, all eyes turned to the Crown Prince and his consort.Shen Xihe's expression remained composed, his gaze tranquil and undisturbed.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince suddenly broke into a violent coughing fit, his face etched with anxiety and panic, as if he had forgotten his surroundings entirely. Clutching Shen Xihe's sleeve, he stammered in a near-pleading tone, "I... I... have never... harbored any disloyalty..."
The crowd: ...
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