I Never Loved the Prince

Chapter 4

This was my first time entering the Golden Luan Hall.

Following the Crown Prince’s restoration, he was holding an audience in the great hall today to bestow rewards for merit.

Anyone who had assisted His Highness during his time in exile was to be handsomely rewarded.

The Emperor had been gravely ill for a long time and had long since handed over the affairs of state to the Crown Prince. Bestowing titles, promoting ranks, granting vast tracts of fertile land, or gifting gold, silver, and jewels-all of it was now merely a matter of a single word from him.

The Crown Prince and Consort Wei sat together on the high dais, their majesty so daunting that one could not look at them directly.

I kept my eyes lowered, waiting for the master of ceremonies to call my name. The rewards given to those before me were often of such staggering wealth that it was shocking to hear.

I don’t know how much time passed before the shrill voice of a Eunuch rang out: “Wei Fu, step forward-”

My heart skipped a beat. I stepped forward and knelt on the polished floor.

Before I could even speak, Consort Wei spoke up, her voice carrying a distinct note of warning: “Ah Fu, you were originally nothing more than my maidservant. You were lucky enough to take my place and accompany His Highness for a time; that was already a blessing from the heavens. You must remember your station and not covet things you have no right to.”

I had heard the whispers earlier.

Though everyone disparaged me for my lowly birth, they had all heard that I had been devoted to His Highness to the point of risking my life. They all expected me to beg for the position of a Liangdi.

The Eunuch began to recite the things I had done for the Crown Prince:

“In the beginning of the Tenth Year of Tianyuan, the Crown Prince was poisoned and blinded; Wei Fu served as his staff.”

“In the spring of that same year, in Youzhou, Wei Fu tested poisons for the Crown Prince and nearly died.”

“In late spring, while besieged by bandits during their exile, Wei Fu cut herself to feed her blood to the Crown Prince.”

With every sentence read, the surrounding area grew quieter, and Consort Wei’s expression grew uglier.

Toward the end, even the Eunuch’s voice began to tremble.

The Crown Prince interrupted him, saying coldly, “That is enough. Wei Fu, what do you want?”

His tone made it sound as if I could even become the Crown Princess if I so desired.

His Highness had always assumed I would want a formal title.

Even though this past was a humiliation to him.

I took a breath and performed a deep kowtow, my voice soft yet firm: “I ask Your Highness to grant a marriage between your subject’s daughter and General Shen.”

I didn’t want to be the Crown Princess, and I didn’t want gold or silver. I wanted General Shen.

The surroundings felt as if a bolt of lightning had suddenly struck! Everyone was struck with utter consternation.

A sudden clatter rang out from above. I looked up to see the young, brooding Crown Prince had actually snapped the dragon head off the armrest of the Dragon Throne with his bare hands.

I pulled a tattered marriage certificate from my sleeve and looked straight at His Highness without backing down an inch. My face was covered in tears as I struck my head heavily against the ground once more:

“In consideration of my past humble assistance, I beg Your Highness to grant a marriage between me and General Shen, Shen Zhao.”

The Crown Prince’s eyes looked ready to burst, and blood flowed unceasingly from his hand.

In this instant, he finally understood.

I had traveled three thousand miles for another man.

I had been good to His Highness for the sake of someone else.

From beginning to end, I had never loved him.

The atmosphere in the hall was as taut as a bowstring. Only Consort Wei’s clenched hand relaxed as she let out an ambiguous laugh. “General Shen sacrificed his life for the sovereign long ago. Ah Fu is of lowly status; marrying a dead man is not out of the question. Your Highness, why not fulfill their wish?”

As soon as her voice trailed off, the Crown Prince snapped his head around and glared at her.

That look was terrifying. Consort Wei’s face turned pale with fright, and she dared not speak again.

The Crown Prince turned back to look at me. Blood dripped from his hand onto the floor, his expression icy as if he couldn’t feel the pain.

I waited a long time before I received his answer.

The Crown Prince said:

“General Shen was of noble birth. You are a mere maidservant-how could you be worthy?”