Chapter 3

Xie Chen found me on my twelfth day wandering the streets.

He was so beautiful, and so clean. Without a word, he took off his outer robe and wrapped it around me, then wiped my face with his handkerchief.

With tears still in my eyes, I simply stared at him.

“I’m the one who ran away.” It was all I could force out between sobs.

He had saved me, letting me survive with what innocence I still had. Whether he wanted to kill me or cut me to pieces, I would accept it.

But he only shook his head. “Don’t be afraid. You are my wife.”

And because of those words, he protected me for the rest of my life.

He settled me in a lavish palace, where I lived in peace, oblivious to the world outside. Whenever he came back, he brought me something delicious.

In truth, he was facing pressure from the Emperor and Empress, along with the ministers’ dissatisfaction with me as Crown Princess.

He had been Crown Prince since childhood, a man of impeccable virtue and refinement. This became the sole stain on his reputation.

Cui Wan was the one who exposed what he had been hiding.

Unable to stomach his protection of me, she privately arranged to meet him, claiming she had something to tell him about me.

When he returned, his face was ashen. He soothed me, then said he had matters to attend to in his study.

But he couldn’t hold out. At the door, he coughed up blood and collapsed.

Cui Wan had insulted me to his face. She said I was a woman any man could have, that a beggar had long since taken my innocence, and that everyone outside was saying the same thing.

She also said I had run away because I had already secretly pledged myself to a servant in our household.

Once Xie Chen collapsed, I had nowhere to hide from the endless rumors, the cruel looks or Their Majesties’ reproaches. Only then did I understand how hard he had fought to give me that peaceful life.

I thought these were dreams, yet caution kept me from telling anyone. I merely watched coldly to see whether reality would follow the same course. To my surprise, the dreams and reality eventually matched exactly.

Every night I woke from nightmares, until the day I gathered the courage to speak those words.

In this life, I would marry Xie Chen with my good name intact.

Let me be the one to face the hardships.

When I arrived at the Crown Prince’s residence, my bridal veil hid Xie Chen from me. But I could hear what people around us were saying about him. He must have looked wonderful.

Before I could think of anything else, his cold hand took mine and guided me through the gates. I tightened my grip. He seemed a little surprised, and leaned close to reassure me softly. “Don’t be afraid.”

My tears fell at once.

People all around us kept teasing.

“What are Your Highnesses whispering about? Let us hear too!”

“Exactly! We so rarely see His Highness smiling so happily. It’s your wedding day. Tell us and let us share the joy.”

…

Xie Chen chuckled and helped me up the steps before answering. “A secret.”

Everyone laughed good-naturedly. Beneath my veil, I bit my lip, terrified they would hear me cry.

By the time I was left alone, I had finally calmed down a little. I waited eagerly for Xie Chen. Instead, the servant who came to report to me was sweating with panic.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince has fainted in the front courtyard!”

On the way there, the servants explained. Since it was his wedding day, many guests had offered him toasts. Some people had tried to stop them, but Xie Chen had said that on such a happy occasion, everyone should enjoy themselves freely.

With that permission, and with the Emperor and Empress already gone, the guests had become even more unrestrained.

The imperial physician said the Crown Prince had not drunk a great deal, but he had always been frail and never touched wine. His body could hardly withstand so much all at once.

Still wearing my bridal makeup, I removed my cumbersome headdress and felt considerably less encumbered.

The people who saw me looked pleasantly surprised. I was, after all, very beautiful. Even Cui Wan couldn’t deny that.

That was why she had never liked me going out. She was afraid I would steal her thunder.