Shao Shang sat exhausted, leaning against the overturned table from their earlier scuffle, watching breathlessly as Huo Bu Yi bandaged her wounds. Layer after layer of cloth was neatly wrapped around her arm—the thick yet breathable fine linen a comforting off-white that made her skin appear pale with a bluish tinge. Huo Bu Yi hadn’t fared much better in the tussle either; his hair was disheveled, his face and neck scattered with faint red scratches, and the back of his left hand bore a shocking bite mark. Truth be told, they had roughhoused many times before, but never to the point of drawing blood like this.
Her gaze drifted downward, landing on a plain brocade pouch lying on the floor. She was very familiar with this kind of pouch—small in appearance but capable of holding many things. She had often seen Madam Xiao personally wash, dry, and iron fine linen bandages before rolling them tightly and stuffing them into such pouches along with high-quality wound ointments.
Those in the military were prone to injuries. Even if not on the battlefield, sparring in the martial arts field could easily lead to harm. People already knew it was unwise to wrap wounds with unclean materials, so warriors often carried these supplies with them.
Noticing her gaze, Huo Bu Yi smiled faintly. "You promised to make one for me, but never delivered."
Shao Shang snapped out of her daze. Seeing the bandaging nearly done, she said coldly, "That’s enough. I’m leaving."
Huo Bu Yi pressed a hand lightly on her shoulder. "I haven’t said what I need to say yet."
Frustrated, Shao Shang sneered, "Fine, go ahead. I’m listening." As if saying "I won’t listen, I won’t!" would make him let go—his light touch alone had rendered her immobile.
Huo Bu Yi knelt beside her and sighed softly. "Meeting you was something I never expected."
Those eight simple words brought instant tears to Shao Shang’s eyes. She turned her face away. "I believe that. Meeting you was my calamity, and meeting me was your misfortune."
"No. Meeting you was the best thing that happened to me since I was six." He didn’t look at her but instead gazed at the patch of light on the floor nearby—the faint sunlight filtering through the intricately carved window lattice, soft and radiant like the curve of her smiling eyes.
Shao Shang scoffed mockingly. "Oh, right. I even had to defend you to Your Majesty regarding the Huo family massacre."
Huo Bu Yi gave a wry smile. "You’re not wrong."
Realizing her slip, Shao Shang frowned in annoyance. "No, wait—you saved me first. At the very least, when Uncle Wan was ambushed in the forest pass, I’d have died if not for you."
They had only known each other for a few months, yet untangling their shared history felt like a lifetime of intertwined fates.
"Bearing deep-seated vengeance, I never planned to marry. For years, my only worry was how to decline Your Majesty’s persistent goodwill," Huo Bu Yi said, mirroring her posture as he leaned against the overturned table. "When I heard of your engagement to Lou Yao, I was relieved—otherwise, it would have been truly difficult. I actually admire Lou Yao. Though ordinary in talent, he is upright, honorable, and principled. But later, hearing you call me 'elder brother' so earnestly in his presence, I nearly wished to strangle him."
Shao Shang straightened up, emphasizing, "A Yao is a good man."
"Mm. That’s why he’s still alive and well. I even plan to attend your wedding banquet."
Recalling the past felt like revisiting a previous life. Shao Shang sighed softly.Once upon a time, she had been so eager to establish her own household, to prove her worth to Madam Xiao. Years had passed in the blink of an eye—Lou Yao and He Zhaojun were probably on their third child by now, yet here she was, still entangled with her ex-fiancé. Reality had a way of mocking her carefully laid plans, which always seemed to wither in the face of absurdity.
"I never meant to hurt you," Huo Bu Yi said. "Back then, when I received news about the remnants of the Huo family's old forces, I thought I could finally settle matters with the Ling clan. That's why I considered marrying you."
Shao Shang snapped, "Couldn't you have waited until after you'd dealt with Ling Yi before coming to me?"
"I couldn't wait," Huo Bu Yi lowered his gaze. "People are always like this—when they've longed for something for so long, if there's no hope at all, they might let it go. But the moment a glimmer appears, they become impatient."
Shao Shang felt as if she'd been cursed for eight lifetimes. She made to stand up. "Are you done? If you're finished, I'm leaving."
"One more thing..." Huo Bu Yi caught her hand and noticed traces of blood on her fingertips. Frowning, he said, "You never used to keep your nails long."
"How else am I supposed to apply flower dyes?" Shao Shang didn't even know why she was saying this.
"You never liked nail polish either," Huo Bu Yi pulled her to sit opposite him. Since weapons weren't allowed in the palace, he could only carefully clean her broken nails and apply medicinal powder to each fingertip.
Shao Shang let him tend to her hands. From this angle, his high nose bridge and thick lashes were strikingly clear. Suddenly irritated, she said, "If there's anything else, say it all at once. I can't stay away from the banquet for too long."
Huo Bu Yi paused, then said, "Luo Jitong is not a good person. If she writes to you or says anything, don't believe her."
Shao Shang was startled. "What?!" She had only thought Luo Jitong had questionable character, but if Huo Bu Yi said someone was 'not good,' it must mean they'd done something truly terrible.
Huo Bu Yi looked up. "It wasn't Fifth Princess who killed the maid Chuntiao back then—it was Luo Jitong. Yes, she was also involved in framing you. I suspect the scheme to trap you was her idea. Fifth Princess isn't cunning enough for that."
Shao Shang's lips parted slightly.
"Also, her former husband, the seventh son of the Jia family—his death is connected to her too. In short, be careful around her."
Goosebumps rose on Shao Shang's skin. She couldn't help exclaiming, "If you knew all this, why were you planning to marry her?!"
Huo Bu Yi smiled faintly. "I never intended to marry her. I was just using her as a cover. Otherwise, how could Your Majesty and the Crown Prince have let me live peacefully at the border for these six years?"
"That makes sense," Shao Shang nodded, then suddenly stiffened. "Wait, no! A cover can't last forever. Even if you don't marry Luo Jitong, you'll have to marry someone eventually. Instead of wasting time with a woman of poor character, why not find a virtuous and kind—"
Meeting his calm, deep eyes, her heart trembled. "You're doing this on purpose. You have no intention of marrying at all. You... you're never going to marry, are you?" She guessed the reason but dared not speculate his true motive.
"You're insane! The Huo family is counting on you to continue the incense offering. If you dare stay alone forever, Your Majesty will skin you alive!" she hissed, too shocked to speak louder.
Huo Bu Yi laughed, his demeanor as serene as the mountains and rivers, utterly unconcerned.Shao Shang's eyes brimmed with tears as she gently persuaded, "Can't you just let it go? What's past is past. Let's each go our separate ways, start families, have children. Then in ten or twenty years, we can meet as old friends, laughing and chatting together—wouldn't that be wonderful?" If he were to remain alone and desolate his whole life, what was she to do? Just stand by and watch?
Huo Bu Yi pulled her slender frame into a tight embrace, murmuring against her, "I don't want to be old friends with you. I want us to be an old married couple."
Shao Shang felt his scorching breath wash over her as his warm head buried into the crook of her neck. The clean masculine scent surrounding her was mingled with the familiar aroma of medicinal herbs and the metallic tang of blood.
Silent tears fell as she hardened her heart and forcefully pushed him away. Standing straight, she said coldly, "Marry whoever you want—it has nothing to do with me! I've said all I needed to say. I'm leaving."
Huo Bu Yi grabbed her, dropping to one knee as he firmly encircled her slender waist, pleading, "Don't be so cruel. Six years ago, I wronged you. Others may not understand, but I do—you never trusted or relied on anyone, yet I forced you to accept me. And when you finally gave me your whole heart, ready to build a life together, I abandoned you..."
Tears fell again as the scab over her heart was torn open once more.
In her heart stood an impenetrable wall of ice, behind which she remained alone—no one could enter. Six years ago, Ling Buyi had shattered that wall with overwhelming force, promising they could warm each other. She had mustered every ounce of strength to believe him, and what had it brought her? She had resolved never to emerge from that wall again in this lifetime.
"I will never forgive you!" she spat through gritted teeth, tears streaming down her face. "Stop dreaming. The only reason I've survived this long is because I hardened my heart. I never forgive those who betray me—once disloyal, forever untrustworthy. You abandoned me six years ago—who's to say you won't do it again? I know everyone, even my own family, has been speaking up for you in their own way, but I refuse to give you what you want! I can live well without you. I'll never trust you again—never!"
Tears also fell from Huo Bu Yi's eyes as he begged humbly, "They're not speaking up for me—they're speaking up for us. Look at yourself in the mirror—the way you look at Yuan Shen is completely different from how you look at me. I'm not blind, and neither is anyone else."
Shao Shang wept uncontrollably, choking on her words: "I can live well without you. Yuan Shen and I will grow old together, sharing our lives..."
Huo Bu Yi said softly, "Yes, I deserve to be alone forever. You'll forget me eventually."
A lump formed in Shao Shang's throat.
Huo Bu Yi gazed up at her: "I never meant to hurt you. I've always wished for your happiness and peace. Back then, I even found a remote posting for you and Lou Yao—a place with beautiful scenery and simple, kind-hearted people. You could make bricks or brew wine to your heart's content, with no one to criticize you."
"For six years, I've had the same dream—that my parents, brothers, and sisters were all alive, that the massacre never happened. I came to your home to propose, you accepted, and we became husband and wife, overjoyed—"
Through her blurred vision, Shao Shang thought—if Huo Chong and his wife were still alive, if everyone were still alive, how wonderful that would be.Huo Bu Yi would undoubtedly be the most gallant and cheerful young man in the entire Capital City. They would meet again at the lantern festival, but this time, he would have no reservations and would approach her openly. And the moment she saw his face, she would surely swoon like a lovestruck fool.
Perhaps Madam Xiao would find him too brash, and Old Man Cheng might think him presumptuous, but given the illustrious status of the Huo family, she would eventually marry into it. When they had children of their own, she would tell everyone that it was actually the cabbage that made the first move.
Huo Bu Yi's eyes were red, his long lashes glistening with tears as he grasped her hands and pressed them to his cheeks. "Don't be so cruel to me," he pleaded. "I beg you, don't treat me with such cruelty."
Shao Shang could no longer maintain her cold facade. She wept like a child, tears and snot streaming down her face, utterly devoid of dignity. Today, she had been thoroughly defeated, powerless to resist.
Suddenly, a clamor of voices erupted outside, as if a crowd was approaching. Leading the way was the Third Princess's drunken laughter—"Qu Lingjun left in such a hurry! She didn't even try the chilled sweet chestnuts from Mother Empress's palace. And Cheng Shaoshang—who knows where she ran off to?"
The Second Princess replied, "Lingjun is with child. She's not like you, stuffing herself and playing around without rest. Shaoshang probably returned to the Palace of Eternal Peace. I’ve heard Empress Dowager Xuan’s health has been worsening lately."
The Princess Consort of Ruyang suggested, "The spring scenery is lovely today. Why don’t we set up a feast in the rear garden? The breeze will help sober us up."
The Third Princess giggled. "The scenery is beautiful, but the mosquitoes are dreadful. This palace hall is much better—we can remove the partitions on three sides and still enjoy the breeze and the view."
"Oh? Since when has Third Imperial Sister become so thoughtful?" someone teased.
"Shut up! No respect for your elders!"
The women burst into laughter.
Both Huo and Cheng were still dazed from their tears when, in the blink of an eye, the sliding doors of the hall were thrown open. Inside and outside, eyes met in shock. There stood Shao Shang, rigid as a board, while Huo Bu Yi knelt on one knee before her. Both bore tear-streaked faces, their clothes speckled with blood. The low table and its scattered contents lay in disarray across the floor.
The women gasped collectively at the unexpected scene.
A heavy silence followed. As the highest-ranking noblewoman present, the Princess Consort of Ruyang felt obliged to break it. "Ah... you... you're here too. What a coincidence..."
Her words only deepened the awkwardness. The hall fell silent again before murmurs and stifled giggles rose among the crowd.
The women wondered—had these two been meeting in secret? But given the chaotic scene, the bloodstains, and the wreckage, it looked more like a brawl. Then again, with one standing and the other kneeling, was this a desperate plea? But would a proud and powerful young minister like Huo Bu Yi ever kneel to beg? This puzzle was beyond them.
Shao Shang’s mind buzzed with panic. She stood frozen, utterly at a loss.
Huo Bu Yi, however, rose slowly with perfect composure, shielding the girl behind him. His cold gaze swept over the women. His protective stance instantly silenced the whispers outside—these were noblewomen, not common gossips, and they knew when to hold their tongues.
The Second Princess let out a soft sigh and stepped forward. "Zisheng," she said gently, "we’ve had too much to drink today and came here to sober up."Huo Bu Yi's expression softened, and he suddenly said something inexplicable: "...Second Princess, do you remember that year in the palace alley when you, me, Shao Shang, and Third Princess all met?"
Third Princess recalled the incident.
She scratched her ear and rolled her eyes. She had long forgotten that embarrassing past—why was Huo Bu Yi bringing it up now? Honestly!
Second Princess said, "I remember. That was Shao Shang's first day attending lessons under Consort Xuan's guidance."
Shao Shang remembered too. Back then, it had been the same—Third Princess had tried to pick a fight with her, and he had shielded her behind him, standing tall and unyielding like a mountain, blocking all storms.
Huo Bu Yi's expression turned cold and solemn. "Before we parted that day, the last words I spoke—does Second Princess still recall them?"
Second Princess gazed at him quietly, then smiled. "...I remember. Rest assured."
She turned to the gathered noblewomen, her gaze both dignified and gentle. "Zisheng and Shao Shang haven't seen each other in many years, so they naturally have much to discuss. I hope what you witnessed today won't give rise to gossip outside."
Clever people needed no further explanation—they understood immediately. The noblewomen realized that if they spread rumors, they would not only make an enemy of Huo Bu Yi but also of the Emperor's most favored Second Princess. Thus, they all laughed awkwardly, feigning ignorance.
Shao Shang slowly clenched her fists. She remembered everything now—the last words Huo Bu Yi had said to the two princesses that day: "It wasn't until I met her that I ever considered marriage. There is no one else but her."
Author's note: Ahhh, daily updates are exhausting—rubs lower back.
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