Chapter 4

They carried me back to my palace.

Perhaps Consort Chun was truly angry that I had soiled her new skirt.

I wasn’t even allowed a proper meal. The food delivered each day was either watery and meager or short of what I was owed.

While Xiao Zhaoming reviewed memorials, she kept him company at his desk.

Whenever she grew bored, she summoned me and repeated those disgusting things again and again.

Fortunately, the gu kept me in a drunken haze, barely aware of what was happening.

At last, I endured until the seventh day, when word came that he was making Consort Chun his empress.

Xiao Zhaoming summoned me again.

Consort Chun’s face glowed. She seemed to be in an excellent mood.

“Why are you still standing?” she asked with a smile. “From now on, you must kneel when you see me. Do you understand?”

But I didn’t want to kneel.

Xiao Zhaoming glanced at me.

He rose, walked over, and asked, “Why aren’t you kneeling?”

I couldn’t speak. My body felt cold, as cold as a corpse.

Please, let the gu take effect. I truly couldn’t bear—

“Has your broken brain forgotten how to kneel?”

“Teach her.”

Attendants came forward and pressed down on my shoulders.

“For how long?” Consort Chun asked sweetly.

“Until you’re satisfied,” Xiao Zhaoming said indulgently. “Happy now? Why quarrel with me on such a joyous day?”

The attendants pushed, and I fell to my knees.

The next moment, I couldn’t even hold myself upright. I collapsed onto the floor.

Then everything went dark.

I felt as though I had slept very deeply.

People made noise beside my ear, screaming and crying. Mercifully, it all fell silent at last.

When I woke again, I wasn’t in a coffin.

I was inside an extravagantly appointed carriage.

The seat beneath me was as large as a bed, spread with thick quilts.

Several luminous pearls the size of fists sat in one corner.

The horses were running fast, yet I scarcely felt a jolt.

Before me was Yushan’s face, so handsome it seemed almost otherworldly.

Only when he saw me wake did his tightly drawn brows ease.

“You’re awake at last, Your Highness.”

“Here, have some porridge. Slowly.”

I felt weak all over. He carefully helped me sit up, and I swallowed a spoonful of warm, sweet porridge in a daze.

Looking down, I saw a man’s outer robe draped around me.

Blue-black, with a little silver snake embroidered at the cuff. It was far too large for me.

Clearly, it was Yushan’s.

Beneath it I wore the white underclothes I had worn on the day I seemed to die.

After a little porridge, I asked in bewilderment, “Was I buried so poorly dressed?”

They hadn’t even given me an outer robe.

Yushan’s spoon paused.

“As you know, Your Highness…” His eyes narrowed. “That man Xiao has always been heartless.”

Remembering the past few days, I swallowed my nausea and nodded emphatically.

“Yes! You’re right.”

After forcing down half a bowl of porridge, I felt a little stronger and asked him,

“Where are we going now?”

Yushan tucked a soft cushion behind my back. “To my home.”

I stared.

“Why your home?”

My original plan had been to leave the capital and have Yushan set me down in some quiet, out-of-the-way town.

I would sell the gold hidden on my person, find somewhere to stay with the money, and decide what to do next.

At my question, he immediately looked dejected.

“I was so happy to have a chance to repay you for saving my life.”

“I replaced all the furniture and furnishings.”

“I even bathed every living creature in the house.”

“But I forgot how nobly born you are. How could I ask you to lower yourself…”

I hadn’t expected him to say that. I quickly waved my hands.

“That’s not what I meant. I only didn’t want to trouble you.”

A smile appeared on Yushan’s face at once.

“Wonderful. Then I’ll take you home.”