Chapter 4

Chapter 4

I never expected things to turn out exactly as she said.

However, retribution came a bit too quickly.

When the Eunuch from the Empress’s palace arrived at our door, my father and mother looked completely bewildered.

Upon hearing that the Empress wished to summon them to the palace to discuss the details of my engagement to the Crown Prince, they were scared senseless.

The palace also sent over a mountain of treasures: shimmering brocade from Gaochang, white sable furs from Boli, multifaceted glass mirrors from the Western Regions, pearl headdresses from the South Sea, and seasonal exotic fruits offered by tributary states.

I had never seen such fine things in my life!

Who said this was a bad match?

This engagement is absolutely wonderful!

The Eunuch helped steady their stiff bodies and offered his congratulations in a shrill voice. “The Crown Prince personally requested this imperial decree.”

“This humble servant offers his congratulations to Lord Xie and Lady Xie.”

When my parents’ eyes turned toward me in unison, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I turned tail and bolted.

My parents chased after me with brooms in hand. I ended up running back and forth along Xuanwu Street three times before they finally caught me.

To make matters worse, Liang Shuxue’s house was on that very same street. When she heard the commotion, she actually had her servants bring out a stool so she could sit and watch the whole thing while snacking.

Her expression was the definition of gloating.

Once my parents caught me, they grabbed me by the collar and tossed me into the carriage along with all the gifts from the palace.

“Xie Zhining, you’re really something!”

“Countless people in the imperial court have been eyeing the position of Crown Princess, yet you managed to snag it so easily. I never knew you had such talent!”

My mother, who was usually known for her dignified poise, completely disregarded her image as she scolded me.

I pursed my lips silently and tried my best to shrink into a corner of the carriage.

As their anger gradually subsided, it was replaced by blatant worry.

They said the Forbidden City was a place that devoured people whole, where schemes and deception played out every single day. They feared that someone with my simple nature-free-spirited and frank-was destined to struggle as a woman of the royal family.

I sighed along with them.

Even though I didn’t quite understand, seeing their faces full of sorrow made me feel like this wasn’t a good thing after all.

Once we reached the palace, I knelt on the ground with my parents and listened as they offered every possible excuse to decline.

Every sentence claimed I was unfit for such a heavy responsibility.

Seeing this, the Emperor and Empress had no choice but to say the matter of the engagement would be dropped for now.

However, they still let me keep all those wonderful gifts.

The Crown Prince’s family are truly good people!