Chapter 3
Jiang Mingyue stayed away for several nights. My father and Madam Jiang knew perfectly well what had happened.
Yet they could not believe the daughter they had indulged for so many years would disgrace the family this way.
The chancellor’s residence was in chaos. My father suppressed the rumors outside.
He would say only that Jiang Mingyue had gone traveling. No one was permitted to mention an elopement.
He and Madam Jiang had a terrible quarrel. He even struck her.
“A woman who runs off with a man can only be his concubine! What a fine daughter you’ve raised!”
By then, I had almost recovered from my grave illness.
The truth could not stay hidden forever. News that Jiang Mingyue had “left the capital to travel” before her wedding reached the empress.
Furious, the empress ordered painters to produce portraits of the unmarried daughters of officials in the capital. She would choose the crown prince a new bride, one who was dignified and knew how to behave.
It had been a while since I last saw him.
Li Mingzhao looked much more haggard.
When he learned there was still no word of Jiang Mingyue, disappointment clouded his eyes.
My father noticed that my portrait was not among the candidates. He knew the empress had turned against the Jiang family.
He began to panic.
Then he studied my face, which bore so strong a resemblance to Mother’s, and suddenly breathed easier.
“Beauty is the only thing your mother left you. Make good use of it.”
I lowered my head obediently and agreed.
Once again, my father brought me up to Li Mingzhao.
This time, Li Mingzhao nodded wearily and agreed to meet me.
Unlike before, my father ordered the servants to dress me in all my finery.
I was delivered to Li Mingzhao like a gift, for him to keep or discard as he pleased.
At the sight of me, he seemed briefly dazed, but there was no affection in his gaze.
After a long silence, he spoke coldly.
“Promise that you will surrender your place as crown princess when your sister returns, and I will marry you.
“You needn’t worry. You will remain my secondary consort.”
I shook my head and said something outrageously improper.
“I agree, Your Highness. But when the time comes, would you allow me to leave the Eastern Palace?
“There is someone I love, and somewhere I wish to go.”
He let out a breath, his guard dropping.
“That would be excellent.”
When the empress learned he had chosen me, she did not make things difficult. Instead, she smiled, removed the eastern-pearl earrings from her own ears, and gave them to me.
“I feel rather more at ease knowing it will be you.”
Li Mingzhao came to collect me. Seeing the earrings I wore, he frowned.
“Those belong to Mingyue. You are merely keeping them for her. Don’t start entertaining ideas you have no right to.”
Neither meek nor defiant, I answered,
“I would not dare refuse a gift from Her Majesty.
“Others may consider you beyond their reach, Your Highness. To me, you are merely a partner in an arrangement.
“You don’t want me. I don’t want you either.”
His face flushed with anger. He gave a few cold laughs, swept his sleeves back, and left.
I walked in the opposite direction.
I did not stop. I did not look back.
After only a few steps, Li Mingzhao rode back, swept me onto his horse, and held me against him as we rode together.
He spoke through clenched teeth.
“Jiang Chan, aren’t you something! Do you realize even your sister wouldn’t dare speak to me like that?”
He was so furious that he forgot his princely self-address, gu, and used an ordinary “I.”