Chapter 5: Scheming to Find Someone for a Private Betrothal

Princess Chengping was the current Emperor’s biological younger sister. Deeply favored by His Majesty, she acted without any scruples. After her husband passed away, she kept several male concubines, living a carefree and unrestrained life, rising late every morning.

The sworn assassin who had escaped wanted to report to her in person but dared not disturb her, so he could only wait for her to awaken.

Thus, it was not until the hour of Si that the Eldest Princess learned of the assassination’s failure.

“Failed? How could this possibly fail?”

“Your Highness, please forgive me. Everything was going smoothly, but then two people appeared out of nowhere…”

“Enough. This Princess does not want to hear excuses. You can’t even handle such a small matter. What use are you?” The Eldest Princess’s long brows shot up. “Men, drag them away!”

The moment her words fell, attendants immediately came forward and dragged the disheveled man in black away.

“Your Highness, spare…” The man in black had only managed a few words before he was gagged, and no further sound was heard.

Witnessing this, the male concubine Dong Yun’s face turned pale. He pressed his lips together and, with a respectful and fawning air, began to pin the Eldest Princess’s hair. “Your Highness, please calm your anger. Don’t let it harm your health.”

“Truly a bunch of trash!” The Eldest Princess’s anger had not subsided.

Just as she spoke, a maidservant came to announce that the Princess of the Commandery had arrived.

“Let her in at once.” The Eldest Princess composed her furious expression and instructed her male concubine, “You may leave first.”

“Yes.” Dong Yun quickly rose and departed.

In the Princess Manor, who didn’t know the weight Princess Changle held in the Eldest Princess’s heart? It was no exaggeration to say she was the apple of her eye.

Upon seeing her only beloved daughter, a loving smile appeared on the Eldest Princess’s face. “Shan-shan, are you in a better mood now?”

Princess Changle Wen Shan’s appearance was the spitting image of her mother’s, but her temperament was vastly different—innocent and bright.

“Much better.” Wen Shan sat beside her mother, looking somewhat lost. “Mother, should I get a divorce?”

Seeing her daughter’s expression, the Eldest Princess’s heart ached, and her resentment toward the incompetent sworn assassins grew stronger.

On the surface, however, she maintained a loving demeanor. “Didn’t you insist on marrying no one but Gu Yuanchen? Why are you thinking of divorce now?”

“But I didn’t know he had a childhood sweetheart he was in love with,” Wen Shan bit her lip.

The Eldest Princess was unconcerned. “So what? You are Princess Changle, personally ennobled by His Majesty. As long as you like him, he is yours. Besides, if he truly had a sweetheart, why didn’t he marry her sooner? When His Majesty bestowed the marriage, why didn’t he refuse?”

“But…”

“No buts.” The Eldest Princess stroked her daughter’s head. “Shan-shan, have you forgotten? This is a marriage bestowed by His Majesty. How can it be so easily dissolved? Alright, don’t let your thoughts run wild anymore.”

“Mm.” Princess Changle nodded and said no more.

The Eldest Princess gently stroked her daughter’s hair, her eyes gradually turning cold.

Shan-shan only needed to live a happy life. As for the obstacles on the road to happiness, she, as her mother, would help clear them away.

She didn’t believe that a melon plucked by force couldn’t be sweet. As long as she could pluck it, it was hers.

The mother and daughter shared some intimate words, had lunch together, and then went to rest.

Not long after Princess Changle returned to her room, her matron informed her that the Heir Apparent Gu had arrived.

The Princess was slightly taken aback, thinking to herself: Could it be that he realized he wrongly accused me and has come to apologize and take me back?

But Gu Yuanchen’s first words were: “The assassins at the suburban estate last night, were they connected to you?”

—He had personally inspected the scene and the bodies. Other than Princess Chengping and her daughter, he could think of no other possibility.

“What?”

“Miss Su was assassinated last night and nearly lost her life. Was Your Highness aware of this matter?” Gu Yuanchen’s expression grew even colder.

Princess Changle’s heart went half-cold. “You suspect I ordered it? In your heart, am I truly that cruel and bloodthirsty?”

The matron at her side was filled with righteous indignation. “Heir Apparent, the Princess is deeply in love with you, but what about you? First, you wrongly accuse her of pushing someone into the water, and now you wrongly accuse her of hiring assassins. Why don’t you suspect that vixen of framing the Princess?”

Gu Yuanchen shook his head. “She is not a vixen, nor did she say it was the Princess’s doing. It was I who wanted to ask the Princess.”

Princess Changle felt even more wronged. “You…”

Just as the scene descended into chaos, Princess Chengping rushed over. After a brief understanding of the situation, she sneered, “My dear son-in-law, you look down on us too much. If it were truly our family’s doing, it would have been flawless. How could there be any possibility of failure?”

Gu Yuanchen frowned, momentarily unable to refute her.

“There are quite a few families in the capital capable of keeping sworn assassins. Who knows what kind of people she has offended?” Princess Chengping said coldly. “Without evidence, do not speak carelessly. Be careful, or this Princess will sue you for slander. Men, see the guest out!”

Without evidence and unable to get any answers, Gu Yuanchen did not linger and left directly.

Wen Shan could no longer hold back, throwing herself into her mother’s arms and sobbing.

The Eldest Princess sighed. “Forget it. Perhaps you two should just get a divorce after all.”

But Wen Shan hesitated. “But this marriage was bestowed by Uncle Emperor, how can we… Besides, Uncle will surely blame him.”

“Then we won’t divorce for now.” Seeing her reaction, the Eldest Princess understood. Her daughter was most likely still reluctant to let go.

However, judging from today, Gu Yuanchen’s feelings for that Miss Su were not shallow. A moment ago, she was still furious at the sworn assassins’ incompetence and wanted to strike again, but now she was somewhat glad that last night’s assassination had failed. If Miss Su had truly died, she feared an eternal rift would form between Shan-shan and Gu Yuanchen.

Hmm, perhaps letting her live and marry far away was more appropriate than killing her directly.

While comforting her daughter, the Eldest Princess mentally calculated suitable candidates. She had intended to request another imperial decree for a marriage, but unexpectedly, news came from the palace: the Empress Dowager had passed away.

The Empress Dowager had always been in robust health. Who would have thought that after her afternoon nap today, she would suddenly pass away.

The death of the Empress Dowager was a national tragedy. All those with an Imperial Order Title were required to enter the court and observe mourning according to their rank.

The Jing An Marquis Estate was no exception.

Old Madam Wen entered the court every day for the memorial rites and did not return to the estate until after the hour of Wei. The whole ordeal left the woman in her sixties quite exhausted. She simply half-reclined on the luohan bed to eat, letting two well-behaved young maids massage her legs.

After she finished her meal and the things were cleared away, the head maid, Jialan, approached and reported in a low voice, “Old Madam, Miss Su is here. She is waiting outside.”

“What is she here for?” Old Madam Wen frowned, the lines on her face deepening.

—It had been two or three days since Su Zhenyue was brought back to the Marquis Estate. The estate had strengthened its guards and dispatched several skilled hands to stand watch outside the West Wing Courtyard. There had been no new assassination attempts. Of course, there was also no follow-up on the assassination at the estate.

Jialan said softly, “Perhaps it’s an important matter? Miss Su has come several times, but Old Madam was always busy.”

“Let her in.”

Jialan acknowledged and walked quickly to the doorway. Lifting the cotton curtain, she looked at the young lady standing with her head bowed by the outer door. “Miss Su, the Old Madam summons you.” She then added in a low, cautionary tone, “The Old Madam has been quite tired these past few days.”

“Thank you, Sister Jialan.” Su Zhenyue smiled gently, her expression sincere, her voice sweet and pleasant.

She was born with a delicate beauty, her skin like porcelain, her figure slender and graceful. Even Jialan, who had seen much of the world, was momentarily dazed. She lowered her head to help lift the cotton curtain and followed her inside.

At this moment, Old Madam Wen was still leaning against the luohan bed, a string of prayer beads in her hand, her eyes slightly closed as she rested. Only upon hearing footsteps did she raise her eyes to look at Su Zhenyue.

The young lady before her was even thinner than the last time she had seen her, making her appear all the more ethereal and otherworldly, as if she did not belong to the mortal realm.

Old Madam Wen straightened her posture slightly. “I’ve been busy these past few days and haven’t been able to look after you. Are you feeling better?”

“Thank you for your concern, Old Madam. I am much better.”

“That’s good. If anything had truly happened to you, I wouldn’t know how to face your departed parents.”

“It is my fault for making Old Madam worry.”

After a few polite exchanges, Old Madam Wen picked up her teacup. “You, really. You were only at the estate for a few days and managed to make such a great enemy.”

The words were unduly harsh. Su Zhenyue almost blurted out, “That’s an injustice. If Old Madam will permit me to explain, I was quietly recuperating at the estate. How could I have made an enemy?”

Old Madam Wen’s expression stiffened almost imperceptibly. She sighed and, after a long moment, said, “Forget it. Let’s not speak of the past.”

—At the mention of “recuperating,” Old Madam Wen couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. She knew in her heart that Su Zhenyue had been wronged in this matter.

She could even make a rough guess as to the mastermind behind this “assassination.” But the Gu family could not openly make an enemy of the Eldest Princess for Su Zhenyue’s sake. Moreover, there was no evidence. The most they could do was bring her back to the estate, strengthen her protection, and simultaneously make the Gu family’s stance clear.

Su Zhenyue studied the Old Madam’s expression and shyly stated her purpose. “I have come this time to ask a favor of Old Madam.”

“What is it?”

“I wish to ask Old Madam to arrange a marriage for me,” the young lady’s voice grew softer.

Old Madam Wen was startled. In fact, when the imperial decree for the marriage had first arrived, she had thought of the same thing. But at that time, Gu Yuanchen was resisting the arranged marriage, and she didn’t dare push him too hard, afraid her grandson would impulsively elope with Su Zhenyue. Thus, she had only quietly sent Su Zhenyue to the estate and used both hard and soft tactics to persuade her grandson to accept the marriage.

At the time, Old Madam Wen had thought that once her grandson and the Princess’s relationship stabilized after their marriage, she would bring Su Zhenyue back and select a good match for her, which would also count as compensation to the Su family.

She just hadn’t expected plans to be upended by change.

Now, hearing Su Zhenyue bring it up herself, Old Madam Wen felt a mix of emotions. “It was my oversight. A young lady of your age should indeed find a good family. How about this: once the national mourning period is over, I will definitely choose a good husband for you and send you off to be married in grand style.”

“Old Madam…” Su Zhenyue couldn’t help but show her disappointment. If she really waited until after the national mourning period, and an imperial decree for her marriage came down, how could she possibly refuse?

“What? You don’t want to get married?” Old Madam Wen’s face fell.

“It’s not that I don’t want to, but it will be more than three months until the national mourning period is over. Could it be a little sooner?”

Su Zhenyue pondered. Since the Eldest Princess was worried that her existence would affect her daughter and son-in-law’s relationship, if she took the initiative to distance herself early on, could she escape her predetermined fate?

Surely the Eldest Princess wouldn’t still be worried after she was already married, to the point of insisting she marry that tyrant Yuan Ye, right?

Hearing this, Old Madam Wen’s expression softened slightly. “You’re speaking nonsense again. This dynasty governs with filial piety. How can there be any marriages during a national mourning period?”

“I know that. But can’t we arrange a private betrothal?”

Old Madam Wen smiled, a rare hint of affection showing. “An ordinary family might be able to do so privately. But the Gu family holds a noble title and is right under the Emperor’s nose, with so many eyes watching. It’s better to be cautious. In any case, it’s only a hundred days or so. You should focus on recuperating and not let your thoughts run wild. We’ll talk about it after the national mourning period.”

“But, the Eldest Princess’s side…”

Having entered the court for rites before dawn, Old Madam Wen’s face was now etched with fatigue. She was too tired to deal with people any longer, and besides, some things couldn’t be said plainly. She simply waved a hand, cutting her off. “Alright, you may leave. I’m tired.”

“Yes.” Su Zhenyue had no choice but to curtsy and take her leave.

For the past few days, she had been contemplating how to change her fate. The first thing to avoid was being married off to the Shu Region.

She had considered leaving this place but quickly dismissed the idea. She didn’t know if the Eldest Princess would suddenly attempt another assassination. Moreover, these were not peaceful times; a war would break out in a few years. She was a weak woman with no strength to even truss a chicken and had rarely been outside. Unless it was a last resort, she didn’t want to leave secretly and fend for herself.

The best solution was to arrange a marriage in advance, but it just so happened to be a period of national mourning.

According to her dream, on the third day after the national mourning period ended, she was betrothed by imperial decree to Yuan Ye of the Shu Region. In just a few short days, where would she find the time to meet someone and get engaged?

—Unless a private agreement was made early on, using the time difference to sign a marriage certificate. They would marry as soon as the national mourning period ended. It would be best to let Princess Chengping know about this, to confirm that she was no longer a threat. Only then might she avoid the decreed marriage.

At this thought, Su Zhenyue couldn’t help but furrow her brows: in less than a hundred days, where could she find someone willing to pledge his life to her?

There were a few unmarried young masters of suitable age in the Jing An Marquis Estate, but since she wanted to distance herself from all this, how could she get involved with them?

After leaving Chunhui Hall, Su Zhenyue was still lost in thought. She had only taken a few steps when she ran into someone.

He had a tall and straight posture, a handsome and dashing appearance, and a hint of languid casualness in his expression.

It was Shen Ji.

Su Zhenyue’s heart jolted, and a thought suddenly surfaced in her mind: just a moment ago, she was worrying about a candidate. Isn’t this a ready-made one right here?

Author’s Note:

Mwah, mwah [Panda Head] [Heart] [Orange Heart] [Blue Heart] [Red Heart] [Green Heart]