Chapter 5
Yujingzi’s eyes flickered and instantly reddened. His thin, crimson lips parted as if to speak, only to be interrupted by a herald’s cry behind him.
“Her Majesty has arrived!”
Delighted, I went to welcome my imperial mother.
I failed to notice the shattered look on the man’s face behind me.
The Empress of Sheng entered my estate in an informal black robe embroidered with dragons. She paused when she saw Yujingzi standing in the great hall.
“You’re still at the princess’s estate?”
I hurried to answer. “I will have Monk Yu escorted back at once—”
Before I could finish,
Yujingzi spoke first. “Yes, Your Majesty. This humble monk has been fortunate enough to lecture the princess on the sutras here.”
My imperial mother smiled as she stroked the jade thumb ring on her hand.
“It is good for you to spend more time together. In two days, Yuan’er will celebrate both her birthday and her coming of age. Please offer blessings for her and place the crown upon her head.”
Yujingzi nodded.
I frowned in confusion. “Since ancient times, Your Majesty has crowned every imperial prince upon his coming of age. This daughter should be no different… How could a monk like him be suitable?”
My imperial mother patted my shoulder.
“A monk’s blessing brings grace to all creation.”
“Yuan’er, when he crowns you, it will bear witness to the virtue of Heaven and Earth. You should be glad.”
I still did not understand.
How could a young monk tying on my crown bear witness to the virtue of heaven and earth?
My imperial mother took a sip of tea, then suddenly looked up. “Once you come of age, you ought to take a virtuous husband into your household. Yuan’er, is there anyone you favor?”
I considered the question seriously.
“Han Zishu is the third prince of the Southern Territories. Marrying him into our family would forge an alliance between our kingdoms.”
My imperial mother’s gaze swept over Yujingzi and me, her expression revealing neither joy nor anger. “We will discuss that another time.”
It seemed the hostage prince did not rank among her preferred consort candidates.
Before long, my imperial mother rose and departed.
I turned to Yujingzi. “I meant to release you today, but since Her Majesty wants you to crown me, you’ll remain until after the birthday banquet.”
“…Very well.”
Just then,
Han Zishu strode inside in a fitted riding outfit, smiling broadly. “There’s a night hunt at the western grounds tonight. Will the princess come with me?”
I took up my longbow. “Let’s go!”
Yujingzi stared after our departing figures, his lips pressed into a thin line.
The attendants saw that he still stood in the hall and muttered among themselves:
“In this world, the new always replaces the old. If one person rejects favor, another will gladly snatch it up.”
“Now that someone has taken it, he’s unwilling to let go. What a sanctimonious hypocrite.”
The man’s face turned deathly pale. He lowered his gaze to his flimsy garments; the sight seemed to mock him further. Clenching his sleeves, he hurried away.
At the night hunt,
I killed a stag, a fox, and four hares, taking first place.
Han Zishu applauded enthusiastically, his phoenix-shaped eyes narrowing with laughter. “Princess, what should I do if I’m falling in love with you? Why not take me?”
“I wouldn’t dare take a man before testing his wares.”
I gave him a meaningful look.
His whole body stiffened. He had clearly never been looked at that way in his life.
He would get used to it.
I had not expected him to adapt quite so quickly.
Only a few days later, he arrived with wine and knocked on my door.
“Princess, will you drink with me tonight?”
His loose collar hung open, revealing the defined muscles of his sun-browned chest. The wolf fang at his throat only made him look wilder and more brazen.
I snatched the wine and poured it into his mouth. “You didn’t put anything in this, did you?”
“I-I added an aphrodisiac.”
He coughed as I forced the wine down. It spilled from the corner of his mouth and soaked his already open collar, making for a tempting sight.
I raised a brow and released him.
“Afraid you don’t have what it takes to hold my heart?”
He dropped to his knees and inched toward me, still defiant even in that position.
“I’m afraid the princess won’t find me worthy.”
“The drug has already begun to work… Does the princess care to inspect the goods?”
Laughing, I kicked over the jar of pear-blossom wine.
I forced him to the floor and pulled him by the cord around his wolf fang, leading him like a dog.
“Is there any strength in that waist? Do you know how to lift it?”
Panting, he answered, “I… I do.”