Before long, a junior palace attendant came to summon Cheng Shi and Madam Xiao, saying that General Wan and his wife had arrived, and the Emperor requested the Cheng couple to join them for a discussion. Following the attendant was a gracefully dressed young girl who smiled and reached for Shao Shang’s hand. "The elders have matters to discuss. The Empress has instructed me to take you to the front hall to wait."
Shao Shang glanced at the attendant who had delivered the message and saw him nod slightly before she dared to agree.
The girl had a dignified and gentle appearance. Holding Shao Shang’s hand as they walked, she said, "My name is Luo Jitong. My father is Luo Zhu, Colonel of the Long River. Thanks to the Empress’s kindness, I was chosen a few years ago as the Fifth Princess’s study companion. Young Lady Shao Shang, you may call me Jitong A-jie."
Shao Shang listened quietly and replied softly, "Jitong A-jie, I’m not very familiar with palace etiquette. I’m afraid I might embarrass myself at the banquet later. Could you tell me who will be attending tonight?"
Luo Jitong smiled reassuringly. "Don’t worry, younger sister. Tonight’s family banquet is small—only a few of the grown princes and princesses will be present."
After the earlier ordeal of ceremonial formalities, Shao Shang had already adopted a "what’s the worst that could happen" attitude. Life had taught her that blind faith in books was worse than having no books at all, and blind trust in people was worse than treating everyone as if they were already dead. One should never bare their heart to a stranger. If someone was genuinely kind, they would look out for her without her having to ask. But if they harbored ill intentions, misplaced trust could lead to disastrous misinformation.
Besides, wasn’t there a small army of palace maids trailing behind them? If push came to shove, she could always "faint." After all, she had barely eaten lunch at noon to maintain her melancholic demeanor, and the long walk followed by endless kowtowing had left her utterly drained. Combined with Director Xiao’s specially curated "mournful" outfit, she didn’t need a mirror to know she could convincingly play the part of someone on the verge of collapse.
Luo Jitong observed the unusually silent young Lady Cheng with great curiosity. She had received many noble young ladies in the Empress’s presence—some chattered incessantly to mask their nerves, while others were too terrified to breathe. None were like this one, who clearly knew nothing yet asked no questions.
The group soon arrived at the brightly lit front hall, where two long rows of dining tables had been set up. Most were already occupied by lavishly dressed royal descendants. Shao Shang glanced around and inwardly scoffed. What was the point of the Emperor and Empress being frugal? Just look at their children—the blinding pearls and jewels on their outfits could probably replace half the giant tallow candles in the hall, making the whole affair more eco-friendly!
Luo Jitong bowed first, then guided Shao Shang in greeting the others. In an instant, a flood of royal titles and names crashed into Shao Shang’s memory like an overfilled cake. But she wasn’t flustered—after all, when it came to cramming information, nothing beat the relentless drills of mandatory education!
Though she didn’t know how many children the Emperor had in total, only five princes and five princesses were present tonight. Among them, the Crown Prince was already familiar—his short beard still as amiable as Peppa Pig’s dad. Seated beside him was a composed, smiling noblewoman who must be the Crown Princess. The second, third, fourth, and fifth princes had no spouses with them—whether they were unmarried or simply saving space at the banquet, she couldn’t tell.The one with his chin held high was the Second Prince, who carried the air of a crown prince without actually being one. The one who looked particularly intimidating was the Third Prince, his face stern and his demeanor icy, as if everyone owed him two feather quilts. The Fourth Prince was also a familiar face and even gave Shao Shang a friendly smile. At first glance, the Fifth Prince seemed like a refined youth, but upon closer inspection, he resembled more of a ** youth.
For instance, when Shao Shang bowed before him, everyone else had nodded politely and moved on, but he alone remarked with a sneer, "Young Lady Cheng, your etiquette is lacking. A Ling, what is the punishment for improper conduct in the palace?"
Indeed, Lady Wang Ling, who seemed to be everywhere, was present today as well. Hearing this, she laughed loudly and said, "Your Highness, my little sister Shao Shang barely knew how to read since childhood. For her to manage this much today is already quite an achievement."
Shao Shang straightened up, holding her head, and asked Luo Jitong with an innocent expression, "Jitong A-jie, was my bow improper? Then why didn’t Your Majesty and Her Majesty reprimand me?"
Luo Jitong smiled gently. "His Majesty and Her Majesty are benevolent. Your lapses in etiquette are not your fault, so naturally, they would not blame you." She then turned to the Fifth Prince and Wang Ling, adding, "Not only that, but His Majesty has repeatedly praised Young Lady Cheng for her righteousness and for sharing the burdens of the state."
The Fifth Prince and Wang Ling immediately fell silent. Shao Shang looked at Luo Jitong gratefully, and Luo Jitong returned her smile.
The First, Second, and Third Princesses were already married and had returned today with their variously tall, short, handsome, or plain husbands to make an appearance. Their demeanors were equally diverse. The Grand Princess treated her husband like a colleague—they ate, drank, and spoke in unison, yet exchanged not a single glance. The Third Princess treated her insignificant husband as air, keeping her head turned at a forty-five-degree angle away from him. Only the Second Princess and her husband behaved normally, whispering and laughing together while still engaging with their relatives. The Fourth and Fifth Princesses were yet unmarried—the former occasionally pursed her lips, while the latter carried herself with an air of aloof superiority.
Aside from them, the banquet also included Princess Yuchang, who had been widowed for several years. Luo Jitong mentioned she was the only granddaughter of the Emperor’s own uncle. These noble ladies, secure in their high status, barely acknowledged Shao Shang, giving her a slight nod before turning back to their conversations. Only the Second Princess greeted Shao Shang warmly with a few kind words and even gifted her the Golden Butterfly Pendant from her waist. Shao Shang accepted it with both hands and bowed in thanks.
After completing the round of bows, Shao Shang was utterly exhausted, barely able to catch her breath. Inwardly, she cursed the Emperor as a rotten old man with a festering forehead. I sacrificed my tender-skinned, sweet-hearted, naive fiancé for the sake of the nation and its people, yet I’ve seen no reward for it. Instead, I’m starving and bowing my head off, my blood sugar plummeting to the point of collapse. Is the Emperor trying to save on expenses by letting me drop dead here?!
According to the hierarchy of seating, Shao Shang was placed at the very last table on the left, with Lady Wang Ling just one seat ahead of her. Shao Shang glanced at Wang Ling and couldn’t help but laugh. Wang Ling stiffened her face, trying hard not to look back, but Shao Shang wasn’t about to let her off so easily after all the trouble she’d caused. Softly, she said, "A Ling Jie, if I hadn’t come today, would you have been the one at the very last seat?"
Wang Ling turned furiously. "How dare you mock me!"
"No, no, how could I?" Shao Shang waved her hands with a smile, continuing in a hushed tone, "This is an Imperial Feast. We are fortunate just to be here—every seat is a blessing from Heaven!"Third Princess was glaring at her consort with evident displeasure when the incessant chatter from Wang Ling and Cheng Shao Shang beside her grated on her nerves. She snapped irritably, "What are you two squawking about? Is this a place for idle chatter? A Ling, have you forgotten all the manners Mother Empress taught you after all these years? Lady Cheng, if you neglect propriety again, I'll have you thrown out!"
Wang Ling and Shao Shang immediately shrank back at this. Wang Ling managed to mumble an apology, relying on their blood relation, but Shao Shang detested such bullying behavior. Though she dared not confront it directly, her silent resentment only made her hungrier.
As the Emperor's arrival seemed delayed, Shao Shang secretly touched the Brocade Pouch at her waist where A Zhu had hidden two pieces of pastry. How could she find a secluded spot to eat them? With low blood sugar stifling even her imagination, after much deliberation she could only tell a palace maid behind her that she needed to relieve herself—forced by circumstance, she never imagined she'd have to sneak pastries in a privy. Truly, life was like a drama, and damn it all, a tragic one at that!
Walking under the corridor, Shao Shang leaned against a pillar while trying to slip on her Turned-Up Toe Shoes. Just as she managed one shoe and was lifting her foot for the other, the bored Fifth Princess suddenly had a mischievous idea. She whispered to Wang Ling with a smirk, "Watch this, A Ling. I'll get you some payback."
Then she darted over like a gust of wind and kicked away the second shoe just as Shao Shang was about to reach it. "Miss Cheng," she taunted smugly, "you're so quick with your tongue. Let's see how nimble your feet are."
A light rain had just passed, leaving the stone pavement damp. With only one shoe, Shao Shang had to either step on the wet ground or hop on one foot. The surrounding maids, intimidated by Fifth Princess, stood frozen, none daring to retrieve the shoe for her.
Shao Shang was furious. She wouldn't have minded hopping to get her shoe, but the humiliation was unbearable. Still, she wasn't a child anymore—she had endured the gossipy village women before, let alone this brat with her slanted eyes, scowling brows, and a forehead full of pimples! Just wait—one day, she'd settle this score!
Just as Shao Shang was about to swallow her anger—
"What is going on here?!" A stern, authoritative young man's voice suddenly cut through the scene.
Everyone looked up to see a tall, imposing figure striding toward them, silhouetted against a dark golden glow. Fifth Princess and Wang Ling both took a step back, while Shao Shang, startled, plopped down onto the corridor steps.
As the young man approached, they recognized him—it was Ling Buyi!
"Eleventh Master!" Fifth Princess's haughty demeanor vanished instantly, her voice brimming with delight.
Wang Ling stepped forward, her mouth opening in surprise before she hesitated, glancing warily at Fifth Princess.
Ling Buyi ignored them completely, walking straight toward Shao Shang. Along the way, he casually picked up the discarded Turned-Up Toe Shoe.
Shao Shang's heart pounded in terror, her mind screaming, Don't come over, don't come over! But against her wishes, Ling Buyi drew closer with each step. Fifth Princess and Wang Ling's eyes widened in shock, and even the surrounding maids exchanged stunned glances.Approaching Shao Shang, Ling Buyi bent down to grasp the girl's ankle. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, even Shao Shang's thick skin wasn't enough to withstand the scrutiny. She retracted her foot while forcing a dry laugh to ease the tension: "...Lord Ling, there's no need for such courtesy. I can put on my own shoes! Ah..."
To her surprise, Ling Buyi placed the shoe aside and instead grabbed the foot that was already properly shod, swiftly pulling off that shoe as well—Shao Shang was stunned, while the surrounding ladies gasped in shock. Fifth Princess and Wang Ling looked as if their eyes might pop out of their heads.
Ling Buyi then removed his boots and ascended the steps. With his broad shoulders and strong arms slightly tilted, he seized Shao Shang by the arm and lifted her up, pulling her along as he strode inside.
"Eleventh Master, you dare treat me as if I don't exist!" Fifth Princess finally regained her composure, her voice shrill with indignation.
Ling Buyi paused, as if noticing her only now, and replied coolly, "Ah, Your Highness. I was just about to report to the Empress that Old Madam Yue seems to have recovered from her illness. The Heir Apparent of the Marquis of Yue is returning from his ancestral home soon, so the wedding with Your Highness should take place shortly."
Fifth Princess's face turned deathly pale, her lips trembling. "You... is this all you have to say to me...?"
Ling Buyi thought for a moment and added, "One more thing. Since the wedding is imminent, I hope Your Highness will promptly clear out those..." He paused, a faint trace of mockery appearing on his handsome, pale face. "Those wandering swordsmen from your residence."
Fifth Princess flushed with humiliation and muttered, "It's only because you avoid me like the plague... I just needed some people to amuse myself with..."
Ignoring her, Ling Buyi continued pulling Shao Shang toward the hall.
Shao Shang could feel the daggers of four pairs of eyes boring into her back. True, she had wanted to settle scores with Fifth Princess, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly—this feud hadn't even had time to warm up! She stammered, "L-L-Lord Ling, p-please don't..." Even she, as dense as she could be, knew this was trouble. Casual conversations between them were one thing, but this was bound to attract unwanted attention!
Ling Buyi, tall and swift, reached the front hall in just a few strides. Upon his arrival, everyone from the Crown Prince down either stood up or turned their heads, calling out greetings—"Zisheng, you're here!" "Zisheng, you're late today—three cups of penalty wine for you!"
"Eleventh Master!" Fourth Princess also stood abruptly, unable to hide the joy in her eyes.
As Ling Buyi passed her, he paused briefly, bowing slightly. "I heard Your Highness's wedding with Marquis Xuan's heir has been scheduled. Allow me to offer my congratulations in advance!"
Fourth Princess was instantly silenced, collapsing back into her seat as if struck dead by a single blow.
Ling Buyi then turned to Princess Yuchang, who stood beside Fourth Princess, and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Princess."
"...Buyi..." The gentle and elegant Princess Yuchang looked lost in thought.
With just a few words, Ling Buyi led Shao Shang straight toward the seat at the head of the hall where the Crown Prince sat. Shao Shang was trembling with fear, knowing she absolutely couldn't let this continue. She planted her feet firmly and yanked her arm back. "Lord Ling, please reconsider! M-M-My seat is over there..."
Ling Buyi's eyes gleamed like stars as he gazed steadily at her. "Do you think I would harm you?"
"......" Shao Shang found herself drowning in those beautiful eyes and shook her head vigorously.
Ling Buyi smiled faintly and pulled her all the way to the seat just below the Crown Prince's, then pressed her down to sit beside him.Shao Shang was utterly numb, both physically and mentally. The royal relatives who had barely spared her a glance earlier were now all staring at her with probing eyes. Those who could conceal their emotions merely showed surprise, while those who couldn't held their mouths agape, whispering among themselves.
"...What's going on? Does Zisheng know this Cheng girl?" the Second Princess's consort murmured to the princess.
"I told you so! When she visited Zisheng's injury last time, I sensed something was off..." the Fourth Prince leaned in to whisper to the Third Prince.
"Eldest brother, did you know about this?" the Second Prince asked the Crown Prince with dissatisfaction.
At such a moment, how could the Fifth Prince miss his chance to perform? He eyed the girl shrinking beside Ling Buyi with an overtly lewd gaze and smirked maliciously, "Zisheng, I think this Cheng girl is quite suitable. How about letting me take her into my household—"
"Your Highness need not think about it," Ling Buyi said coldly, turning his gaze to the Fifth Prince. "She is already betrothed again."
"What?" the Fifth Prince exclaimed in shock. "Didn't she just break off her engagement with the Lou family today?"
"Precisely," Ling Buyi replied calmly. "Therefore, I can marry her now."
His words were like cold water splashed onto hot oil, instantly exploding the entire front hall. The room was filled with faces of disbelief, everyone utterly stunned. The Crown Prince was the first to leap to his feet, exclaiming, "What did you say?!"
"How is this possible?!" the Third Princess blurted out, her cold composure shattered.
Princess Yuchang stood there as if her soul had left her body, barely able to stay upright. Everyone, including Luo Jitong, was too shocked to speak for a long while.
Shao Shang nearly choked. Now she couldn't care less about any damned etiquette. She tugged hard at Ling Buyi's sleeve and pleaded in a low voice, "...L-L-Lord Ling... Please don't act rashly! Don't ruin your lifelong happiness just to stand up for me! I'm perfectly fine—you should know your limits when helping others!"
The Third Prince, overhearing this, couldn't help but snort.
Ling Buyi turned his head and shot him a cold glare. Just as he was about to retort, hurried footsteps and an authoritative yet delighted voice came from the side—"Zisheng, are those words true?!"
Seeing it was the Emperor, everyone quickly bowed in reverence.
The Emperor brushed past the attendants and strode forward, beaming at Ling Buyi. "Are the words you just spoke true?"
Ling Buyi raised his head and answered solemnly, "Your Majesty, they are true. I beseech Your Majesty to act as my elder and propose marriage to the Cheng family on my behalf."
The Emperor's face flushed with joy, and he repeatedly nodded. "Naturally, naturally! I shall certainly act for you! Haha, haha..." Normally reserved and restrained, the Emperor now laughed heartily, clearly overjoyed.
"Cheng Qing, Cheng Qing..." the Emperor called out behind him. "Come forward quickly!"
Cheng Shi, who had been standing dumbstruck in the back, was nudged forward by a junior palace attendant, stumbling as he went.
The Emperor warmly clasped his arm. "Zisheng has been raised by me since he was less than ten years old, no different from my own son. Today, I shall temporarily act as his father and propose marriage to you on his behalf. What say you, Cheng Qing?!" Though phrased as a question, the Emperor's voice brimmed with emotion.
Madam Xiao grew anxious and tried to step forward, but several junior palace attendants subtly blocked her path. Meanwhile, old comrade Wan Songbai, seeing the situation, hurried over and grabbed his sworn brother, shaking him vigorously. "...This is a wonderful match, a wonderful match! What are you waiting for, dear brother? Hurry and agree!"Cheng Shi was so dizzy from being shaken by his sworn brother Niu Manli that when he looked up and met the Emperor's eager gaze, he found himself blurting out, "Your servant... Your servant is most willing... Such a fine match...!"
"Excellent!" the Emperor boomed, his wide sleeves fluttering like bat wings as he raised them high in satisfaction. "The marriage is settled!"
Ling Buyi bowed deeply to express his gratitude, then turned to salute the dazed Cheng Shi. The latter was so flustered by this proper courtesy that he didn't know what to do with himself.
The Crown Prince was the first to congratulate Ling Buyi, his joy evident, followed by several princes and princesses with their consorts...
Amidst the clamor, Madam Xiao finally managed to slip through the crowd to her husband's side: "Didn't we agree to wait at least two months?"
"His Majesty and Brother Wan were staring at me so intently—how could I refuse?" Cheng Shi was still reeling.
The Empress also approached slowly, whispering in the Emperor's ear: "Your Majesty, didn't you say we needed at least half a month?"
"Zisheng was staring at me so intently—how could I not grant his wish?" The Emperor beamed, his face glowing with happiness. "After all these years, that stubborn boy is finally willing to marry. If we wait another half month, we might miss this opportunity."
"This... this can't be... How could this...?" Shao Shang lay prostrate on the ground, her mind blank and body stiff.
Ling Buyi gently helped her up. She grabbed his sleeve in return and whispered urgently, "Don't... Lord Ling, if you have something to say, say it properly! How can you decide to marry at the drop of a hat? If you don't want to marry, then don't! Who says people must get married? These are outdated, ignorant notions! Being single is actually quite nice—peaceful and long-lived, happy and free!"
"You... don't want to marry me...?" Ling Buyi's eyes were desolate and cold.
Shao Shang immediately softened, her tone gentler: "It's... it's not that... It's just that this matter should be carefully considered." She didn't want to seem like she couldn't stand being single—there was really no need for such a seamless transition!
"I... I only broke off my engagement this morning!" she lamented.
"What does timing matter?" Ling Buyi smiled. "Your father has agreed to our marriage. Aren't you happy?"
Meeting his sincere gaze, Shao Shang found herself nodding unconsciously. Yet she felt the crux of the matter wasn't whether Old Man Cheng agreed or not.
Looking around, she saw the Fifth Princess and Wang Ling at the entrance, gnashing their teeth with murderous expressions. The Fourth Princess and Princess Yuchang, slumped in their seats, wore looks of resentment—women's thoughts were easy to guess, simply the frustration of seeing what they couldn't have.
But the princes, consorts, eunuchs, and palace maids were all eyeing her covertly or openly, weighing the implications of this marriage. Suddenly, Shao Shang felt lost, as if she had stepped into uncharted territory where nothing would be within her control from now on.
Author's Note:
Some readers joked earlier that once the female lead broke off her engagement, someone would camp outside the Cheng Residence overnight to propose. Hahaha, now I won't even give you the chance to camp—la la la la la!
This volume ends here. As usual, I'll take three days to organize my thoughts, meaning the next update will be on the 23rd at the usual time. Bye-bye!
I'm also confused about the "elevated walkways"—whether they were built in the air or close to the ground. The Qin and Han dynasties had different styles, so I'll look into it later.
OpenNovel