Chapter 20
At dusk, the sky was awash with vast swathes of sunset glow.
Yin Jiuyi steered the small boat through the lotus leaves. Sitting on the boat, surrounded by the fresh fragrance of lotus flowers, he said, “Those two are childish at heart and disturbed your betrothal viewing. On their behalf, I apologize to you.”
“It’s all right. I should thank Princess Consort and Concubine Consort for speaking up for me.”
Thinking of this, I added, “Your Highness left the Princess Consorts and me boating on the lake. Aren’t you afraid of gossip?”
He smiled, his expression open and calm. “Zhuzhu, if you’re not afraid, what is there for me to fear?”
He was handsome-who could refuse an invitation from a Beauty?
The little boat rocked gently and stopped deep among the lotus flowers, far from where people passed. A few pairs of mandarin ducks were startled, flapping away.
“Would you like some wine?” Yin Jiuyi handed me the wine pouch from his waist.
I took it and gulped down several mouthfuls.
Yin Jiuyi chuckled softly, then slowly lay down.
“You…” He looked up at the sky, as if wanting to ask something. In the end, he said nothing, only, “From this angle, you can see the veins on the underside of the lotus leaves. They’re beautiful. Would you like to try?”
Lying on the boat and gazing at the sky, it seemed so high and far away. The breeze brushed past, and after a sip of wine, tears streamed down my face.
Yin Jiuyi sighed, “This wine really is a bit too strong.”
“I don’t like lotus flowers,” I choked out.
“Mm, if you don’t like them, then don’t look.”
So we lay there quietly, watching the clouds at the edge of the sky.
After finishing the pouch of wine, I wiped my tears and touched my flushed cheeks. “Your Highness, thank you for today. Please take me back.”
Yin Jiuyi laughed softly, “All right.”
Amid the fragrance filling the lake, he steered the boat, taking me away from the depths of the lotus. As the boat moved, ripples spread out in circles.
When the boat reached the shore, I could vaguely see someone standing on the Unmoored Boat. The hem of his purple robe fluttered slightly in the evening breeze.
He walked toward us-it was Yin Jiuqing.
Yin Jiuqing caught me just in time as I staggered, and said to Yin Jiuyi, “My cousin hasn’t returned home for a while. Uncle happened to entrust her to me, so I came to check on her.”
I turned back and waved to Yin Jiuyi, “Goodbye, Your Highness.”
He waved back. I giggled and waved again.
Yin Jiuqing pushed me, none too gently, stuffing me into the carriage. With anger in his voice, he lowered it and said, “Didn’t you see the women beside Imperial Elder Brother? Everything I’ve told you, you haven’t taken to heart at all.”
Dizzy and muddled, his scolding made my face flush and tears fall.
I leaned closer to him, wrapped my arms around his neck, rubbing against him, tears streaming down my face as I pressed my cheek to his, full of grievances. “Crown Prince Brother, I don’t want to marry him, or him, or Li Rongchuan. He won’t let me go. He has a son, and he’s ugly, and the Maid bullies me. I don’t want this. You marry me…”
He seemed displeased, trying to pry me off, but I clung to his neck even tighter, even biting something, refusing to let go.
As I drifted off to sleep, I seemed to hear someone say “All right,” and something fell on my cheek, gently wiping away my tears.