Chapter 14

Chapter 14

For many days afterward, I could not sleep.

I heard that Cheng Su had gone to the frontier and was serving under Cao Shun’s command.

This was different from my dream; in the dream, he had been in a different army.

It was only after he left that I realized I truly had many questions I hadn’t asked him. How was he able to foresee my intentions? Why did he coordinate with me so perfectly? And why did it have to be me?

We had only met for the first time since he rejected the marriage proposal.

He truly had no reason to be so devoted to me that he would risk life and death.

However, I would never know the answers to any of this.

I heard from the frontier reports that Cheng Su had taken the initiative to lead troops in an ambush against the Rong State. It was a brilliant opening victory, forcing the aggressive Rong State-who had come to pillage grain and people-to become cautious.

When the good news arrived, Father Emperor was overjoyed and sent a continuous stream of rewards to the frontier.

I was happy too, because this was once again different from the dream. How wonderful!

Following that, battles broke out frequently, with both wins and losses.

The Rong State was ambitious, but this time, neither Cao Shun nor Cheng Su allowed them to succeed.

By spring, the Rong State had retreated, and the frontier was stable.

But Cheng Su did not return…

Feeling idle and bored, I left the palace in plain clothes for an incognito visit. I happened to stumble upon the sordid affairs of several officials. Acting out of a sense of justice, I took action and successfully had them dismissed from their posts.

Slowly, the imperial court seemed to be becoming more honest and upright.

Father Emperor praised me, and Mother Empress commended me.

Yet, I simply couldn’t bring myself to be happy…

In the blink of an eye, it was September, and the wedding day for Li Chun and Cao Mingyu was approaching.

A few days before the wedding, Cao Mingyu asked to meet me outside the palace. After thinking it over, I refused.

I didn’t actually have much of a relationship with her, and I knew Li Chun was not a good man.

Going to congratulate her would seem hypocritical.

Not congratulating her would seem rude.

Whatever I did would be wrong, so it was better not to go at all.

Unexpectedly, the day before the grand wedding, Cao Mingyu submitted a memorial to Father Emperor, requesting to call off the engagement.

This was a slap in the face to the imperial family, especially since things had already reached this stage: the entire country knew the First Prince was getting married. Countless noble and powerful families had cleared their schedules for this wedding, and numerous wealthy merchants had come from all directions to present rare treasures for her to choose from.

And now, this was the result…

Not only could Li Chun not afford to lose such face, but Father Emperor and Mother Empress could afford to lose it even less.

Cao Mingyu and her brother were taken into custody and confined to their residence that same day, while a decree of reprimand was sent by express courier to Cao Shun at the frontier.

Mother Empress rubbed her throbbing head, a cold glint in her eyes.

“Go and question Cao Mingyu for me. Does she truly think the court has no way to deal with her!”

Mother Empress was enraged.

No matter how unworthy Li Chun was, he was still the son of a concubine.

She had always been lenient; though she disliked Consort Chen, she had never mistreated Li Chun.

She, like Father Emperor, had expected him to shoulder great responsibilities. If a future emperor was held in such contempt, where was the imperial dignity? This was something no one could tolerate.

I went to see Cao Mingyu.

At that moment, she was drinking.

Her clothes were simple and unadorned; she had grown thin and looked haggard, a sight that inspired pity.

I let out a long sigh. I didn’t criticize her too harshly; instead, I picked up a cup of wine from the table and drained it in one gulp.

The spicy liquid burned my throat, and I couldn’t help but cough.

Cao Mingyu laughed, then she cried.

Two lines of tears rolled blankly down from the corners of her eyes.

I waited quietly for her to finish crying before sighing, “Why bother? Is the wealth and status of the imperial family not good enough?”

Perhaps she had been suppressed for too long and desperately needed an outlet, for she bared her heart without any concealment.

“What use is the wealth and status of the imperial family, no matter how good it is? How much can I eat, drink, or use? If the person is no good, what use is it if everything else is perfect?”

“Li Chun was clearly supposed to marry me, yet he would rather go out with his two side-consorts than spare a single glance for me, his primary wife.”

“A cold palace, a lonely moon, and a single lamp-that would be my life from now on.”

“But is Li Chun worth such a sacrifice from me?”

“We are both human, so why are you so lucky?”

“Before Cheng Su left the capital, I specifically chased him for thirty miles just to see him once. I asked him why it had to be you. What was so good about marrying you? If he married you, he could only have you and no one else.”

“But do you know how Cheng Su answered me? He said that in this life, having the best one is enough. Why would he need so many?”

“Li Fuyun, why can he go to such lengths for you? Why you?”

Her words carried a deep-seated hatred for me.

I was even more shocked by Cheng Su’s words. I didn’t understand. Why was he so deeply in love with me? Why?

Feeling she had said too much, Cao Mingyu picked up the wine jar with a cold face and began drinking frantically. Drunkenly, she handed me a jar as well.

“Drink this jar of wine, and the grievances between us will be cleared.”

I looked at the jar of wine but did not take it.

The grievances between us could never be cleared. Cao Shun had to be eliminated. She would surely hate me in the future. How could the grievances be cleared?

I stood up and said calmly, “Even so, this is no reason for you to break the engagement.”

“For the sake of your own romance, are you disregarding your parents and kin?”

“I have said before, some things may be good, but one must see if they have the fortune to enjoy them. If one forces it, there is a price to pay.”

Cao Mingyu looked at me and said nothing.

I sighed softly. “Think it over carefully.”

I turned to leave when I suddenly felt a gust of wind by my ear. A sharp pain struck the back of my head, and my vision went black as I fainted.