Chapter 5
Chapter 5
I was driven nearly to madness back then.
She was already married; why couldn’t she just let me go?
Once again, she arrived in her small sedan chair, flaunting her power. She truly refused to walk even a single step more than necessary.
She grinned, her teeth bared in a mocking smile.
“My mother has been titled Empress Dowager, and I am now the Grand Princess. Why don’t you just hurry up and die? Maybe in your next life, you’ll be born a man and see if you can become the Emperor.”
I didn’t argue with her that time.
Instead, I prostrated myself, kowtowing humbly before her. “If you want to kill me, then kill me. But please, can you spare my husband and my mother-in-law?”
Shiyi’s eyes widened, and she let out a startled laugh. “Feng Yun’an, what on earth are you saying?”
I kept my head lowered as far as it would go.
“My Imperial Brother doesn’t want me anymore… I… I only have them left.”
Shiyi seemed to find something incredibly hilarious; she couldn’t stop laughing.
“Who would have thought that the former Pearl of the Empire would bow her head and submit to me for the sake of such an unremarkable man?”
She changed her mind.
She decided not to kill me.
She sent people to monitor me, wanting to watch how I would sink into the depths of misery for the rest of my life.
Over the years, Shiyi lived a very good life.
The Emperor doted on her and her mother, her Prince Consort was attentive, and she had children. She had everything a princess who didn’t overstep her bounds ought to have.
Meanwhile, I spent my days revolving around the kitchen. My hands were covered in chilblains from washing clothes, and at night, I did needlework while accompanying Xie Canghuai as he studied.
Finally.
Four years ago, Xie Canghuai passed the imperial examinations and was appointed as the county magistrate of Sanyuan Yi.
On the day we were set to leave, the secret guard who had been monitoring me all those years appeared before me.
“Since you are heading to the borderlands, I will no longer be following you, Madam.”
Ah, Shiyi had finally grown bored.
From then on, I lived a plain yet happy life.
The story was finished.
Cui Tao found she could no longer eat. She lowered her head and murmured, “You… you really kowtowed to Princess Shiyi for the sake of Xie Canghuai?”
I looked over the account books and replied, “Yes. He saved my life, after all.”
“And that’s it?”
What did she mean, “that’s it”? Was my life worth so little?
I thought for a moment. “Why don’t you go back and report to the capital alone? Tell my Imperial Brother to work harder and have another son.”
Cui Tao was shocked. “Your Highness, you mustn’t say such things!”
“I like it here in Sanyuan.”
“What’s so good about it? He wants to take a concubine!”
I considered it again. “The people in the capital don’t want me back either.”
Cui Tao insisted, “But Xie Canghuai wants to take a concubine!”
These young noblewomen were always so fierce about such things.
“Since ancient times, when has a woman ever ruled as Emperor? Why should I give up my current life to go back and take such a risk?”
In an instant, her expression became very complicated. After a long silence, she whispered, “But… but Xie Canghuai wants to take a concubine…”
I narrowed my eyes and smiled. “Don’t make a fuss. We’re an old married couple; who cares about that?”
She was speechless.