Chapter 3
When we returned home,
our parents and brothers were waiting anxiously.
In our previous life, the empress’s marriage decree had arrived at the duke’s residence with us.
My sister and I carefully recounted what had happened at the palace.
Whenever Father and our eldest brother mentioned Xiao Yichi,
they shook their heads.
“The Sixth Prince has neither the Third Prince’s indifference to fame and fortune nor the Eighth Prince’s great ambition.”
“He’s indecisive and lets his feelings rule him. He’s unsuited to that position.”
I had heard those words in my previous life too.
Back then, I thought my father and brothers were simply prejudiced against Xiao Yichi.
A prince could only truly take up duties at court after marrying.
The Third Prince had no interest in affairs of state.
The emperor gave him an undemanding post.
Xiao Yichi had ambitions. Surely he would become crown prince one day.
But his ability could not match those ambitions.
He made one mistake after another.
Three times he lost his position as crown prince, and three times he regained it. Each time he was deposed, he raged in my courtyard.
The third time, he issued a vicious threat.
“The crown prince must be either me or my third brother. Tell Lord Song that if he doesn’t give me his full support, I’ll take everyone down with me!”
I went home in tears.
At the sight of me, Father and my brothers let out deep sighs.
Just then, His Majesty caught a chill and fell gravely ill.
Xiao Yichi was able to ascend the throne without further difficulty.
After his accession, mindful of the Duke of Zhenguo’s household,
he treated me even better. All the silks, satins, and gold and silver ornaments sent as tribute went to Fengyi Palace.
Only, he always sent two of everything.
I asked him with a smile, “Are you afraid I’ll damage them, so you’re giving me a spare?”
He carefully arranged jasmine in a vase without looking up.
“You can give some away as gifts. Your sister has always been good to you. Why not give her the other set?”
I thought he was being considerate of us both.
I was about to explain that my sister did not care for gold or silver, preferring jewels and jade.
But Xiao Yichi was already ordering someone to find the jewel box and send it to the Third Prince’s residence in my name.
A year after his accession, the court began pressing him to select women for his harem.
He refused to be moved.
Only after I gave birth to our eldest legitimate son did he order preparations for the selection.
He had shown me every possible honor.
Throughout that life, the emperor and empress lived in harmony. People called ours a beautiful marriage.
Until Xiao Yichi lay dying.
He summoned my sister to the palace.
“Yuehua, if you had chosen me back then, would my life have been as happy and peaceful as my third brother’s?”
Only then did I learn that he had always longed for her, and blamed me for the hardships of his life.
This time, there would be no hardships.
He need only live an idle life as a prince of the second rank.
Before the marriage decree arrived, word came that the Third Prince had invited my sister on a spring outing.
She called me into her courtyard.
Standing before the mirror, she asked which dress suited her best.
“Sister, you and the Third Prince love each other. He’ll think you beautiful whatever you wear.”
She blushed crimson.
Then she pounced on me, and we tussled playfully for a while.
On the day of the outing, just as we were about to leave, the empress’s decree arrived.
My sister’s wedding to the Third Prince was set for the ninth month. Mine to the Eighth Prince was set for the twelfth.
After giving thanks for the imperial favor, we climbed into the carriage and set off.
When we arrived, three figures some distance away turned to look at us.
Besides the Third and Eighth Princes, Xiao Yichi was there too.
My sister and I exchanged a glance, neither understanding why he was waiting here.
“What took you so long? Did something happen?”