The Double

Lord Suojing was waiting for Situ Jiuyue in the hall.

Situ Jiuyue walked over.

In truth, her surname was not originally Situ. It was merely an alias she had adopted years ago while wandering the martial world to evade pursuers. Over time, as the name accompanied her through the past, it became a habit. Now she had become "Princess September," yet at times, she would recall the days in Yanjing City when people called her "Physician Situ."

Suojing bowed to her: "Your subject Suojing pays respects to Your Highness."

"Sit," Situ Jiuyue said.

Her expression was indifferent, and Suojing felt a pang of melancholy as he observed her. The princess was strikingly beautiful, yet her temperament was truly unappealing. No wonder even the common folk feared her. He thanked Situ Jiuyue for granting him a seat and sat down, saying: "Your Highness... the preparations for the grand ceremony are complete."

Among the royal family, Situ Jiuyue was now the only remaining member. With the Emperor of Yan backing her, the realm naturally belonged to Situ Jiuyue. The coronation ceremony for the princess would establish Situ Jiuyue as the future ruler of Molan City.

Suojing was not one of the new king's retainers; on the contrary, he had long been suppressed by the new king. After Situ Jiuyue returned to the palace, she promoted Suojing. To maintain his position, Suojing had to firmly grasp Situ Jiuyue as his lifeline. Thus, in recent days, Suojing had been genuinely working hard for Situ Jiuyue.

"Good," Situ Jiuyue replied.

"These past few days, Minister Zong mentioned something to your subject... regarding Your Highness's selection of a consort."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Situ Jiuyue cast an icy glance at Suojing. Suojing was frightened into silence by her gaze and dared not continue.

Situ Jiuyue was the princess. During the coronation ceremony, a prince consort should be appointed. However, Situ Jiuyue remained unmarried, prompting the ministers below to begin urging her. After all, Situ Jiuyue was a woman, and Molan's history had no precedent of a female ruler. Even with the Emperor of Yan supporting her, the Imperial Guards would not remain in Molan forever. Ultimately, Situ Jiuyue would have to handle subsequent troubles herself.

Among all these troubles, this particular one was completely unavoidable. Even if Suojing didn't mention it now, others would bring it up later. If Situ Jiuyue continued to refuse selecting a prince consort and bearing heirs, the throne might have to be passed to someone else.

This was Molan's longstanding tradition, and Situ Jiuyue had to abide by the rules.

Seeing Situ Jiuyue remain silent, Suojing mustered his courage and asked: "Your Highness, if you delay making a decision, the outer palace may have to initiate the selection process."

Molan's selection process was similar to Northern Yan's imperial consort selection. However, choosing a man as prince consort would likely be unprecedented. In Molan's royal family, marriages for princes and princesses were typically arranged very early. Situ Jiuyue had encountered sudden changes in her childhood and later endured constant displacement, which was why her marriage had never been settled.

"If there's no other choice, proceed with the selection," Situ Jiuyue finally said.

Suojing was taken aback and couldn't help but look at Situ Jiuyue. He saw the cold-faced young woman reveal a faint, ambiguous smile as she said: "The so-called prince consort is merely a puppet. Since we must choose anyway, we might as well select someone obedient and easy to control. There's no need to inform me about these trivial matters. You handle it, Lord Suojing."The words "Lord Suo" she uttered sent a jolt through Suo Jing's heart.

Suo Jing couldn't fathom what was truly going through Situ Jiuyue's mind. This concerned her lifelong marriage—how could she be so indifferent? Ordinary young women would still harbor some expectations for the person who would share their bed for life. But listen to what Situ Jiuyue had just said—a puppet? Someone obedient and easy to control? If this were to reach the ears of Molan's citizens, who knew how much criticism Her Highness the Princess would face.

Suo Jing sighed, truly at a loss for what to do.

...

Amid the busy preparations for the grand ceremony, days passed one by one. Haitang noticed that Situ Jiuyue was growing increasingly aloof.

Although Situ Jiuyue had never been particularly innocent or cheerful even back at the Duke's residence, she had always helped the Xue family whenever possible. Xue Zhao had once remarked that Situ Jiuyue was cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Yet now, after returning to Molan, it was as if the last trace of warmth in her had evaporated. From the inside out, she had truly become a heartless person.

The special selection process held specifically for Situ Jiuyue was gradually getting underway. Among Molan's officials, aside from Suo Jing, the rest were forced to support Situ Jiuyue under the pressure of the Hongxiao Emperor's authority, though inwardly they were far from convinced. Suo Jing alone found it difficult to counter the influence of the other officials. However, the selection process itself was also beginning to encounter problems.

Situ Jiuyue was beautiful in appearance, but unfortunately, she was ruthless and skilled in the use of poisons. Although she was a princess, even if someone were chosen as her prince consort, it was unlikely they would wield much power. Instead, they would likely be controlled by Situ Jiuyue, and if they happened to displease her in some way, they might even lose their lives.

As a result, among the noble families with decent reputations, the eligible young masters who learned of the selection in advance either had already been betrothed or were hastily engaged by their families in the past couple of days.

In the end, those left for the selection were either spoiled, incompetent, and promiscuous playboys or those from families that had fallen from their former glory, hoping to latch onto a princess for a free ride and take advantage of the situation to support their entire households.

In short, at a glance, all that remained were the dregs of society. Even if there were indeed the kind of obedient and easy-to-control candidates Situ Jiuyue had told Suo Jing she needed, they were inherently weak and timid. Far from being able to shoulder any responsibility, they seemed more like additional servants—and the lowliest kind at that. If Situ Jiuyue were to choose such a person as her prince consort, it would surely become a laughingstock, making her the most ridiculous princess in Molan's history.

Suo Jing was helpless. The decent young men, upon hearing it was for Situ Jiuyue, couldn't flee fast enough—why would they voluntarily nominate themselves for the selection? It was truly baffling. Situ Jiuyue wasn't bad-looking, so how had she ended up in a situation where no respectable family was willing to marry her?

Haitang was also growing increasingly anxious.

Situ Jiuyue herself, however, didn't seem to mind. She had seen the dregs of society presented to her and, surprisingly, wasn't angered. Instead, she seemed to have anticipated this outcome all along, wearing an expression that said, "Just as I expected."If a royal consort had to be chosen before the coronation ceremony, then Situ Jiuyue would have to make her decision during this period. Yet there was not a single reliable candidate in sight. Suo Jing could hardly bear to look at those men and discreetly inquired, asking Situ Jiuyue if any of them seemed acceptable. After pondering for a long while, Situ Jiuyue pointed to a young master from a civil official's family and said, "That one isn't too bad."

Suo Jing nearly fainted at the sight. That young man... did indeed seem passable—at least his background was neither too high nor too low, and he had no particularly bad habits. But he was utterly unremarkable. Whether in appearance, demeanor, talent, or temperament, he would vanish into a crowd. Could such a person really become the future royal consort of the Molan Princess? Suo Jing found it hard to accept.

"He looks obedient and timid—probably wouldn't do something like murder his wife," Situ Jiuyue remarked.

Murder his wife? Suo Jing's heart skipped a beat. What was this? Had the princess's criteria for choosing a consort been reduced to "as long as he doesn't harbor murderous intentions toward me"? Besides, who would kill their wife for no reason?

Situ Jiuyue suddenly smiled, as if recalling something. She knew what Suo Jing found strange, but was the idea of a husband killing his wife really that odd? At the very least, in the Xue family she knew, Xue Zhao's sister, Xue Fangfei, had died at the hands of her own husband. The bond between husband and wife could be the closest or the most distant. Couples who could grow old together were rare; most ended up as resentful pairs. She had no desire to become part of a resentful couple, nor did she hold any illusions about growing old together. If they could remain as polite strangers, that would be fine—at least they would coexist peacefully, with both body and mind unharmed.

Suo Jing wanted to say more, but seeing that Situ Jiuyue had no intention of continuing the conversation, he had no choice but to drop the matter. Just then, a palace attendant hurried in to report that the guards outside the palace had captured an assassin, but this assassin insisted on seeing the princess.

"This palace never lacks assassins," Suo Jing grumbled irritably. From what he knew, such incidents occurred every few days. Fortunately, this princess was formidable in her own right, or she would have died countless times by now.

"Refuse him. Execute him," Situ Jiuyue said dismissively.

The attendant hesitated and said, "Your Highness, this assassin... claims to have met you in Northern Yan. Though his identity is unclear, he is a cripple—the guards have verified it, and it's not a disguise. If he really is an assassin... a cripple... hardly seems like a threat. Could there be a mistake?"

Upon hearing this, Haitang and Situ Jiuyue both froze. Haitang exclaimed excitedly, "Young master! It must be the young master!"

Situ Jiuyue demanded sharply, "Where is he?"

Suo Jing had never seen Situ Jiuyue like this before. The attendant, startled, hurriedly replied, "He's in the garden in front of the Siyin Hall. The guards have detained him."

Situ Jiuyue turned and strode away, with Haitang quickly following. The attendant looked helplessly at Suo Jing, who was equally bewildered. Haitang had called that person "young master"? So it was a man? But why would Situ Jiuyue react so strongly? It seemed this person was extremely important to her.

Suo Jing made up his mind to go and see for himself—to find out just who this person was who could stir such emotions in the princess.Situ Jiuyue arrived at the garden in front of the Si Yin Hall. On the ground, a young man sat with two guards' sword tips pointed at him—it was none other than Xue Zhao.

Haitang cried out, "Young master!"

Xue Zhao followed the voice and, upon seeing Situ Jiuyue and Haitang, immediately broke into a smile. He said, "Miss Jiuyue, Haitang."

The surrounding guards and Suo Jing, who had followed behind, were greatly astonished. How could this young man address the princess as "Miss Jiuyue"? Even if Her Highness had concealed her identity while traveling in Northern Yan, by now, unless he was a fool, he should know her true status. Why would he still address her like this?

Situ Jiuyue angrily rebuked the guards, "What are you doing? Release him at once!"

The guards quickly sheathed their swords and bowed in apology. Haitang rushed over to help Xue Zhao up. His wheelchair had been tossed aside and lay overturned on the ground. Haitang settled him back into the wheelchair and asked, "Young master, when did you arrive? How did you come to Molan?"

When they had parted, Xue Zhao was still in Yanjing. The distance between Molan and Yanjing was no short journey. Had he... come alone?

Suo Jing had initially thought the young man was handsome and dignified, and was beginning to entertain some ideas, but when he saw Xue Zhao's wheelchair, he felt a wave of pity. So he truly was a cripple, and the kind who couldn't even walk. What a shame, what a shame.

Situ Jiuyue said, "Let's go inside to talk." She then addressed Suo Jing, "You may withdraw for now. I will summon you if there's anything."

Suo Jing retreated.

Situ Jiuyue brought Xue Zhao to her palace. After dismissing everyone, Haitang went to fetch tea. Situ Jiuyue sat at the table and asked Xue Zhao, "Why have you come? Where are the others?"

"I came alone, without anyone else," Xue Zhao replied with a smile.

His smile was as bright and open as ever. With him here, it seemed as if the gloom of recent days had dissipated in an instant.

"This is no place for you," Situ Jiuyue said after a long pause. "You're taking too great a risk, Xue Zhao."

The young man was momentarily taken aback, then gently shook his head and said earnestly, "I came for you."

Ali expressed great satisfaction: The pig we raised at home has finally learned to root up cabbages!

(End of Chapter)