Chapter 3
I never expected to open my eyes again. I had returned to the day the Song estate was confiscated.
Hearing my sister’s “righteous” speech, Prince Chen gave the same scornful laugh as before, though anger darkened his eyes.
At last he looked at me and lifted my chin.
I knew he had come so everyone would believe he was a lecherous fool.
The Song family had been condemned for treason. Everyone else avoided us for fear of being implicated.
Yet on the very day our estate was seized, Prince Chen had deliberately staged the spectacle of a libertine prince sheltering a traitor’s daughter. It was outrageous enough for his purposes.
I lightly licked the fingers gripping my chin.
“I hear Your Highness likes to keep little golden canaries. I promise to be a very obedient bird.”
My soft lips and tongue brushed his palm. Xie Yu’s eyes darkened. I dared to rise, then pretended to lose my strength and sagged into his arms.
Just as I expected, he did not push me away.
Taking a seductive temptress into his arms outside a convicted traitor’s home made him look lustful enough as well.
Prince Chen had achieved his purpose.
Several spies watching from a distance hurried away to report to their masters.
They would naturally describe Prince Chen as absurd, debauched, and no threat at all.
My sister saw everything. She cursed me.
“Song Huaixin, have you forgotten everything I taught you? Begging for a man’s charity so you can survive—you truly are a pampered wife! I would rather die than behave like a brothel girl as you have today!”
After my rebirth, I finally understood. She had been tempted that day too, but she wanted to be a proper princess consort, not a concubine. She had coyly held back, never imagining Prince Chen would simply walk away.
The same was true now. Seeing me get ahead of her made her eyes burn with envy, yet she still wrapped herself in those grand, righteous words.
Accepting a man’s help made me a pampered wife. Without a man, I was nothing. On and on she went.
Ignoring her noise, I asked Xie Yu softly,
“Will Your Highness honor what you just said? Will you free the women of the Song family and spare them from the slave register?”
Xie Yu pinched the flesh at my waist. “Naturally, I must grant a beauty’s wish.
“The Song women may retain the status of commoners. They will not be sent north as slaves. I will speak to Father about it.”
The women of our family burst into joyful tears. No one wanted to become a slave or prostitute and suffer a life worse than death.
Even Song Huaiyu visibly relaxed.
Then I said, “There is no need to remove my eldest sister from the slave register.
“Your Highness heard her. My sister is fierce and independent and hates receiving help from men.
“I fear she would disdain Your Highness’s favor.
“Isn’t that right, Sister?”
She opened her mouth to protest. I cut her off.
“You were the one who said any woman supported by a man is a pampered wife. I would never force you to betray your principles.”
Xie Yu readily agreed.
“My beauty has considered the matter thoroughly. Then Song Huaiyu alone shall be exiled as a slave.”
Song Huaiyu panicked. Too proud to beg me, she complained to Grandmother, who had just risen after being pardoned.
“Grandmother, Second Sister is deliberately persecuting me!”
Grandmother snorted and kicked her away.
“You insulted the empress and ruined the entire family. How dare you accuse anyone else?
“You are the only member of the Song family who deserves to die!”