Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Liu Yunchu clearly did not want to kill me.

So he gave in.

All he could do was stand silently off to one side and watch me do as I pleased.

I tended to the wound on my neck.

I had known how much force to use. It was only a minor injury. Even if I had left it alone, it would have bled for a while and stopped on its own.

Four more days passed. By then, I had raised sixteen graves-exactly half.

It was also on this day that my home welcomed its second uninvited guest.

Cao Cheng, the eldest legitimate son of the Cao family, one of the Three Great Families of the Capital.

Cao Cheng fanned the flames with Liu Yunchu. “Many thanks, Brother Liu. For such a heaven-sent achievement, you still waited for my Cao family to share in it.”

Liu Yunchu’s expression darkened until it looked as if water might drip from his face.

As I set up the steles and raised the graves, Cao Cheng came over and crouched down. He did not care in the slightest that the mud stained his splendid robes. Reaching out, he helped me pat down the mound.

I gave him the same refusal as before.

“This is my family’s private matter. It would be improper to have another do it in my place. If you wish to help, young master, you must marry me first.”

Cao Cheng’s eyes filled with laughter.

“Since ancient times, only the ruler chooses the minister; the minister does not refuse the ruler. If the princess commands it, this subject must obey.”

I smiled too, and did not refuse him again.

Cao Cheng was harder to deal with than Liu Yunchu. I probably would not be able to keep delaying any longer.

But this was enough.

Overnight, the remaining graves were all completed.

I delayed for one more day, saying that I wanted to carve my mother’s stele myself.

Liu Yunchu and Cao Cheng stood behind me, watching as I carved the words stroke by stroke: “Grave of My Beloved Mother, Tian Si’an.”

I buried the urn containing my mother’s ashes beneath the stele, then bowed three times before her grave.

The road ahead was treacherous, and whether I would live or die was hard to predict.

So Mother should stay here. There was no need for her to brave danger with me, nor to worry over me.

Even after I finished all of this, no one else came.

Liu Yunchu watched me finish in silence, then said, “You are indeed a princess.”

“Why?”

Both of them were quite surprised.

“Your Highness does not know?”

I looked even more surprised than they did.

“Why would I know? The ones saying I am a princess are you, are they not?”

After a long while, Cao Cheng gave Liu Yunchu a strange look and took the initiative to explain.

“It is a long story.”

“Eighteen years ago, His Majesty once became stranded among the common folk and was saved by a village physician. Over time, affection grew between them, and they pledged themselves to each other for life. That physician’s name was Tian Si’an.”

“May I ask Your Highness’s age?”

“Sixteen.”

“Then there is no mistake. Sixteen years ago, on the third day of the seventh month, His Majesty was escorted back to court. On the fourth day of the seventh month, His Majesty ascended the throne and made a daughter of the Liu Clan his empress. During the two years before that, His Majesty lived together with Lady Tian all along. Your Highness must be of the current emperor’s bloodline.”

“May I ask Your Highness’s birthday?”

I looked into Cao Cheng’s eyes. “The third day of the seventh month.”

Cao Cheng paused, then extended his hand to me.

“Your Highness, the carriages of my Cao Clan are smooth and comfortable. On this journey to the capital, might I have the honor of sharing one with Your Highness?”

Liu Yunchu’s expression was cold as he stepped in front of Cao Cheng.

“Eldest Young Master Cao has always been known for his romantic and unrestrained ways. The inside of his carriage may not be clean. My Liu Clan upholds a strict and upright family tradition. Please ride with me, Your Highness.”

I had a very good impression of Cao Cheng.

So I boarded Liu Yunchu’s carriage.