Chapter 3

A little over a month after arriving in the capital, I had actually saved some silver from my small business. It was not much, but enough to carry the three of us through the harsh winter.

My brother no longer had to copy books until his eyes were bloodshot, and Mother could take on less embroidery.

That day, as usual, I set up my stall beside the woman who sold roasted taro.

I was easily embarrassed. When I first started selling, plenty of people had bullied me and forced down my prices. She was the one who stood up for me.

“Look at the size of you! Why do you keep picking on a little girl? If you’ve got the nerve, come and argue with me! Taking advantage of her because she’s young—haven’t you got sisters or daughters at home?”

She had a fierce tongue and a loud voice. A few words from her sent them scurrying.

Afterward, I bowed to thank her. She laughed heartily.

“I was shy too when I was young and first started selling to feed my family. Got pushed around plenty. Once, thank goodness, Her Highness the princess helped me out. You know, the way you bow really does look like a princess or a fine young lady!”

I froze. Looking at this brisk, forthright woman, I dimly recalled a face much like hers, only younger.

I had just married Shen Sui’an then. His thoughts were with the heroine, and he never had a pleasant look for me.

He was like a hedgehog. I wanted to hold him, but he curled into a ball and turned every spine toward me.

But I had not even liked him before we married!

The crown prince had told me that wolves surrounded his claim to the throne, and the empress dowager had always disliked our mother. Only by marrying into the Shen family, with its military power, could I protect his and Mother’s positions.

Before the wedding, I made a point of asking Shen Sui’an, “Tell me honestly, my lord. Are you still unable to forget your former love? If so, I will explain to my brother. Don’t worry. I will tell him that I am the one unwilling to marry you.”

Spring apricot blossoms covered his shoulders. The young man shot me an upward glance, handsome and insouciant.

I admit I was a little dazzled by his looks. He was, after all, the novel’s beautiful second male lead.

“Your Highness, I will be good only to my wife. I will keep her safe and give her honor and affection. As for my former love, that is all in the past.”

Shen Sui’an was a good actor. Unfortunately, once he lifted my bridal veil on our wedding day, he no longer cared to keep up the performance.

“I married you to put everyone’s minds at ease, Princess. From now on, let us treat one another with courteous respect.”

He turned and went to sleep in his study. Right up until my death, he never spent a night with me.

I was stubborn then. I believed that a gift of fruit would be repaid with precious jade: if I was good to someone, they would be good to me.

And the Shen household was so stifling that I often went wandering with my maid. Whenever I saw some little trinket, I would think of taking it back to Shen Sui’an.

Grass-woven crickets, bamboo cricket cages, little dough figurines of myself…

Looking back now, our roles were truly reversed. I did everything the man was supposed to do.

One day, I sat in my carriage with the curtain lifted, admiring the ancient streets, when I heard a girl crying.

“Sir, at that price I won’t even cover my costs! I’m the only one earning money at home. My father just broke his leg. Please don’t make things difficult for me!”

I called my maid over to ask what was happening. “Your Highness, some ruffian is bullying a young girl. He says he’s buying taro, but he might as well be robbing her!”

The girl’s sobs made my heart ache, so I sent a guard to help her.

Afterward, she insisted on seeing me to give her thanks. I lifted the curtain to find a little face covered in tears and snot, two taro roots cupped in her hands. I could not help laughing.

“Listen, little girl. You can’t do business like this. If people see you’re meek, they’ll bully you. You have to learn to be fierce.”

I reached out and took the taro, then told my maid to give her ten taels of silver.

She shook her head over and over in alarm. Unable to bear that pitiful look, I simply pushed the silver into her arms.

“If a princess is willing to pay ten taels for your taro, that means it’s worth ten taels. A devoted daughter is a rare thing. You can tell people Princess Fu’an praised your taro and was willing to pay ten taels for it!”

Ten years had passed like a dream. The timid little girl of those days could now protect me in return.

Only she did not recognize the old acquaintance before her.