Chapter 7

Chapter 7

I knelt on the ground, my forehead pressed against the floor. The icy coldness of the tiles helped clear my head.

Because of that, Emperor Father’s silence felt as loud as a beating drum in my ears.

After a long while, Emperor Father said, “We grant it.”

He used the royal ‘We’ with me, rather than calling himself ‘father.’

I should have understood long ago.

In the imperial family, the so-called bonds between father and daughter, or mother and daughter, can never outweigh the protocol between sovereign and subject.

I kowtowed to express my gratitude and slowly backed out of the room.

The moment I stepped across the threshold, Emperor Father’s voice rang out faintly behind me. “Nanping… do not resent your Imperial Mother.”

I paused for a moment before replying, “Yes!”

I moved into the Princess Manor and never went back.

If we do not meet, we can remain strangers.

If we do not meet, we cannot love each other.

If we do not meet, we can avoid hating each other.

By the turn of the year, I was seventeen.

Other princesses were already married with children by seventeen, yet I wasn’t even betrothed.

Imperial Mother seemed to have forgotten about the matter entirely. Instead, she was busy making arrangements for Zhao Duanhua’s engagement to Luo Chen.

The betrothal ceremony was grand. I didn’t go, choosing instead to hide away in the Princess Manor and drink.

However, some people simply refused to let me live in peace.

Li Chengze arrived at my door, bringing Li Cheng’en, Luo Chen, and Zhao Duanhua with him.

They invited me to have a drink.

Li Chengze said coldly, “Ever since you moved into the Princess Manor, your temperament has become increasingly eccentric. It’s as if you’re afraid people won’t notice the discord between us siblings. Today is the day of Duanhua and Luo Chen’s engagement. Everyone else has come to offer their blessings except you. Once you give Duanhua your blessing, I won’t bother coming here to argue with you anymore. From now on, Luo Chen is your brother-in-law. I hope you understand your place.”

This wasn’t a request for a blessing.

This was a show of force, a warning for me to stop pestering Luo Chen, and a move to back up Zhao Duanhua.

I said, “Get out! Whatever This Princess has thrown away, anyone who wants it can have it. Stop being an eyesore here.”

Li Chengze flew into a rage. “Are you looking for another beating?”

He raised his hand to strike.

A figure suddenly darted forward to stand in front of me-it was Xie Wuyang.

I pushed him aside and indignantly pulled the hairpin from my hair, facing Li Chengze without a hint of fear.

“Go ahead! You coward who only dares to lay a hand on women. If you touch a single hair on my head today, we’ll both go down together. Tomorrow, I will cause a scene at the Golden Luan Hall and slit my throat in front of Emperor Father. Let’s see if you can still keep your position as Crown Prince then.”

“You’re mad! You’re absolutely unreasonable!”

Yes, I was mad.

I had already become a demon on the day I severed my ties to my family.

I pointed at Li Chengze and roared, “You bunch of lowlifes, get out of here!”

The gold hairpin glittered under the sunlight.

Li Chengze was livid. He turned and stormed off.

Li Cheng’en gave Xie Wuyang a resentful kick before following him out.

Zhao Duanhua’s eyes grew red. “Sister, we meant no harm…”

Luo Chen sighed. “Nanping, you… you’ve disappointed me too much.”

“Get out!”

My brow throbbed with pain, and my temples were pulsing.

After they left, I personally wrote a line of large characters on a sheet of paper:

[NO ENTRY FOR THE CROWN PRINCE OR DOGS!]

“Have this posted on the front gate for This Princess. Let everyone see it.”