Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The first day I entered the palace, the weather was gloomy, threatening rain as if the sky was about to weep. The long palace alley stretched endlessly before my eyes, and the towering red walls seemed to have no bounds. Dressed in heavy ceremonial robes, with a gaudy gold headdress, I no longer knew how to step or where to look.

My husband reached into my long sleeve and clasped my hand. Only then did I realize my palm was already clammy with cold sweat.

The etiquette attendant hurriedly said, “That’s against the rules!”

I looked gratefully at my husband, wanting to tell him not to worry, that I wasn’t afraid.

But I saw Gong Jiqing sweep his long, narrow phoenix eyes over the palace attendant. His expression was indifferent, arrogant, and wild – ever since Grand Tutor Xuan began my lessons, I’ve discovered so many words that suit my husband.

Usually, when that look appears on his face, either Songqing or Songya is bound to get a beating. So the two siblings instinctively exchanged a glance, silently confirming that neither had done anything naughty today, and relaxed.

Then both turned to the palace attendant with expressions of malicious glee.

“Tell me, what is Xiaochun now?”

“She is Her Highness the Princess.”

“Not necessarily.” Gong Jiqing’s tone remained utterly flat. “Until she has been formally invested and undergone the ceremony, Xiaochun is not yet a princess. And so long as she is not a princess, she isn’t bound by the ‘palace rules’ that you, a surrendered slave of the fallen dynasty, so strictly adhere to. Today, our family enters the palace as a daughter visiting her birth father. We are a family – what rules are there?”

The attendant’s eyes widened, unable to understand how the princess’s crippled husband had suddenly become so sharp.

It had been over three months since we arrived in the capital. That father of mine, the emperor, settled our family in a residence outside the palace, ostensibly to teach us etiquette. But I knew in my heart he was afraid this peasant family of his would embarrass him.

After learning my husband was a cripple, the palace servants sent to instruct us didn’t even bother to hide their contempt. Not only did they teach the rules halfheartedly, they also forbade him from seeing me without the express permission of the matron of etiquette.

How could I accept that? From seventeen on, I’ve seen Gong Jiqing whenever I damn well pleased. No one could control that.

In less than ten days I threw a huge tantrum, saying if I couldn’t see my husband, whoever wanted to be a princess could have it. It scared the servants silly, and they rushed to the palace to tattle on me. Only then was Grand Tutor Xuan sent to give us lessons.

All that time, my husband never made a sound, so they all thought he was mild-mannered and easy to bully.

I didn’t like those palace people who kowtowed to me in public and mocked me behind my back, so I never warned them.

Truth is…

Gong Jiqing has a terrible temper!

He just looks gentle, that’s all!

Ah, but that’s nonsense. Who wouldn’t look gentle with a face that beautiful? If I had his looks, even while slaughtering a pig I’d look like a goddess descending from heaven, you know!