chapter 3

chapter 3

I forcibly brought my parents and sister out of the estate.

My parents were furious.

My sister was in tears.

I was so absorbed in my own thoughts that I collided straight into Zhao Ye.

I stumbled back half a step.

He rubbed his chest.

I hurriedly bent to salute him.

The gatekeeper ran over and introduced my parents one by one.

I said, “I will send them away right now.”

Zhao Ye said, “Let them stay. The more people there are, the more lively it is. The estate has not felt this lively in a long time.”

Before I could say anything, my parents knelt and thanked him for his grace.

My sister raised her face and smiled sweetly. “Thank you, brother-in-law.”

The corners of Zhao Ye’s mouth twitched, but he did not object.

My throat tightened, and panic rose in my heart.

They did not know that everyone in the estate called me Miss Li. No one had ever called me the prince’s wife or mistress, and Zhao Ye and I were not husband and wife.

That single “brother-in-law” from my sister made me uneasy to the core.

I had a huge fight with my parents.

“Three days. You can stay in the estate for at most three days, and then you must ask to leave.”

“Li Aqiao, how can you be so heartless? You won’t enjoy a life of wealth and ease, and you insist on living a hard life instead. Are you afraid your sister will steal your favor? What favor did you ever have to begin with?”

Cruel words between family members hurt the most when spoken aloud.

Every single sentence stabbed straight into my heart.

I looked at my sister.

“Do you think so too?”

My sister hesitated, blinking her big eyes.

“I will listen to Father and Mother.”

I let out a cold laugh, and my heart turned bitter.

When I left home, she had only been six years old, just a naive and lovely little girl.

She had always listened to me. She had chased the carriage that took me into the palace, and my mother had held her back while she cried as if her heart were being torn apart.

I remembered it.

I had once imagined what she would look like when she grew up: bright, charming, clever, and quick-witted.

But not like this. Never like this. Not someone so shallow, so calculating, with no sense at all.

I held down the anger in my heart and said word by word, seriously, “You should listen to the person in this room who has truly gone out into the world, not to hearsay. If Father and Mother really had foresight, they should have used the silver I sent home to make a fortune, not brought you here to flee disaster.”

My father was angered by my disobedience and wanted to strike me, just as he used to when I was young.

But I caught his wrist.

I said sharply, “Look, even you never treated me as the prince’s wife. You only thought you could stay in this estate by relying on my identity. But no one else is stupid.”

“I’m telling you plainly: this marriage decree was a joke. The Fifth Prince has never felt anything for me. Staying here will bring no good outcome.”

“If you still want me as your daughter, then leave in three days. I will leave here someday too, and then we can still have a day when we meet again.”

“Otherwise… nothing good will come of this.”

I did not want us to become people who met only to part again, or saw each other only in vain.

I left in a rage.

My father’s furious voice followed behind me.

“Rebellious! You’re truly rebellious! You just don’t have the ability to hold on to the Fifth Prince’s heart. Arao would never be like you!”

I turned around and looked back at him in silence.

I had always remembered the sight of my parents crying themselves to pieces when I was chosen as a palace maid and taken away in a carriage. Every time I remembered it, I felt a sting of sorrow.

But now I realized that some relatives only belong in dreams. If they truly appeared before you, that was the nightmare.
chapter 4

I forcefully brought my parents and sister out of the residence.

My parents were furious.

My sister was in tears.

I was full of thoughts and walking in silence when I bumped straight into Zhao Ye.

I took a half step back.

He rubbed his chest.

I hurriedly bent to salute him.

The gatekeeper trotted over and introduced my parents’ identities one by one.

I said, “I will send them away right now.”

Zhao Ye said, “Let them stay. More people means more liveliness. The residence has not felt this lively in a long time.”

Before I could say anything, my parents fell to their knees to thank him for his grace.

My sister lifted her face and smiled sweetly. “Thank you, brother-in-law.”

Zhao Ye’s lips moved slightly, but he did not correct her.

I, however, felt a knot in my throat and panic in my heart.

They did not know that everyone in the residence called me Miss Li. No one had ever called me the prince’s wife or mistress, and Zhao Ye and I were not husband and wife.

That single “brother-in-law” from my sister made my heart pound with unease.

I had a huge argument with my parents.

“Three days. You can stay in the residence for at most three days, and then you must leave on your own.”

“Li Aqiao, how can you be so heartless? You won’t enjoy the good life and insist on suffering instead. Are you afraid your sister will steal your favor? What favor did you ever have to begin with?”

Harsh words between family members always hurt the most.

Every sentence struck straight at my heart.

I looked at my sister.

“You think so too?”

My sister hesitated, her big eyes blinking.

“I listen to our parents.”

I let out a cold laugh, feeling bitter inside.

When I left home, she was only six, a sweet and innocent little girl.

She had been very obedient to me, running after the carriage when I entered the palace, only to be held back by our mother as she cried herself hoarse.

I remembered that.

I had imagined what she would be like when she grew up, pretty and bright, clever and quick-witted.

But never like this, ignorant and calculating.

I suppressed my anger and said word by word, seriously, “You should listen to the person who actually went out into the world, not to hearsay. If our parents really had any vision, they should have used the silver I sent home to make a fortune, not come fleeing here with you in tow.”

My father was enraged by my disobedience and wanted to hit me, just as he had when I was little.

But I caught his wrist.

I said sharply, “Look, even you do not take me for the prince’s wife, yet you think you can stay here by relying on my status. No one else is stupid.”

“I’m telling you clearly: this marriage was a joke. The Fifth Prince has never had any affection for me. Staying here will not end well.”

“If you still want me as your daughter, then leave in three days. I will leave too, and then we will have a day of reunion.”

“Otherwise… it will not end well.”

I did not want us to reach the point where reunion only meant parting again, and meeting each other would only be in vain.

I stormed off in anger.

My father’s furious voice rang out behind me.

“Outrageous, outrageous! Truly outrageous! You don’t have the ability to hold the Fifth Prince’s heart, but Arao would never be like you.”

I turned back and looked at him in silence.

I still remembered how he and Mother had cried themselves nearly to death when I was chosen as a maid and taken away by carriage. Every time I thought of it, my heart ached.

But now I understood that some relatives only belong in dreams. If they really appear before you, that is the nightmare.