Chapter 5
Without Xiao Yichi, the outing became enjoyable for the four of us.
In my previous life, I had paid little attention to Xiao Shengjing.
I had only heard a few things about him from Xiao Yichi and the empress.
The empress was always worrying because he would not take a principal wife.
“Ying’er, perhaps my eighth son doesn’t like well-bred young ladies? I could even accept a girl from the countryside. I’m only afraid that…”
She trailed off.
I listened quietly.
I had met Xiao Shengjing a few times.
Before my marriage, my parents and I had discussed which prince to choose.
After considering them all, they settled on the Eighth Prince for me.
Curious to see what my future husband looked like,
I had gone with my sister to ‘happen upon’ Xiao Shengjing in the street a few times.
Yet every time, his gaze somehow found me through the crowd.
After seeing him twice, I refused to go again.
I found him a little frightening.
His eyes seemed able to see straight into a person’s heart.
Later, after marrying, I stayed at Xiao Yichi’s side.
I often saw Xiao Shengjing when we paid our respects to the empress.
In both lives, he had struck me as cold and aloof, his presence keeping everyone at a distance.
Only now, getting to know him, did I realize
how deceptive appearances could be.
“Second Miss Song?”
At the sound of his voice, I looked up.
A waterfall came into view.
Joy stirred in my heart.
The scene before me matched the painting.
“Is this the place you painted, Your Highness?”
I turned to him with a smile.
Our eyes met.
He seemed to form a painting of his own with the mountains and water behind him.
“Yes. I often come here to clear my mind.”
There was a hint of a smile in his eyes too. His ears reddened, and he looked away first.
I was intrigued.
Before I could speak, he started toward the foot of the waterfall.
“There’s a wonderful spot down below, Second Miss Song. Shall we go and look?”
“I’d love to.”
I followed his steps, keeping an even distance of two paces behind him.
Suddenly, I remembered walking with Xiao Yichi.
From prince to crown prince, from crown prince to emperor.
No matter how his status changed, he always walked farther and farther ahead of me.
At my investiture as empress, we were supposed to walk together to the platform where we would offer prayers.
By the time he strode up to it, I was only halfway there.
He looked at me impatiently.
“Must you walk so slowly? So the officials and their wives have to bow to you a little longer?”
My eyes reddened with hurt.
The jeweled hair ornaments and heavy ceremonial robes weighed me down. I could not take a single quick step.
As I slowed now, Xiao Shengjing slowed too.
“Second Miss Song, are you feeling unwell?”
His face came close. He gently wiped my cheeks with a handkerchief.
Only then did I realize my face was already wet with tears.
An overwhelming sense of hurt swept over me.
At home, I was the youngest daughter, with eight older brothers and two younger ones.
My sister doted on me too.
I had been cherished almost beyond anyone else in the capital, treated as someone truly special.
That was why Xiao Yichi’s phoenixes had moved me so deeply on the day of the banquet.
I thought he longed for the same happy marriage I did.
But a life had to be lived, day after day.
And the longer I lived it, the more clearly I saw that I had been wrong.
If only I had not chosen Xiao Yichi that day,
I would never have suffered so much after marrying.
I flung myself into Xiao Shengjing’s arms.
My tears would not stop.
“Xiao Shengjing.”
He stiffened, then his large hand gently patted my back.
“I’m here. I’m always here.”