Xiao Qingxue raised her hand and seized his wrist.
The touch seemed light as a feather, yet Pei Ziyan found himself unable to resist.
“Mingyue doesn’t understand the rules—you needn’t take offense at her,” Xiao Qingxue said coolly. “I haven’t yet congratulated you on winning the position of Crown Prince, so let me do so now. Since you’ve achieved your wish, my task is complete.”
Pei Ziyan stiffened, his pupils narrowing. “What do you mean?”
“I will not be your concubine. And the matter of divorce is not up for discussion.” Her gaze locked firmly on his, her voice calm to the extreme. “I am willing to request dismissal myself, to vacate the seat, so that you may marry the general’s daughter as you desire.”
The moment her words fell, the air around them froze.
Pei Ziyan’s cheek twitched as he struggled to rein in his emotions. “You’re truly determined to divorce me?”
Xiao Qingxue nodded. “Yes.”
“Absurd!” Pei Ziyan roared. “A woman who marries into the imperial clan has her name entered into the family register—how could there be any talk of divorce? Qingxue, if you mean to threaten me this way—”
“This isn’t a threat. It’s a notification.” Xiao Qingxue’s face showed no ripple of emotion, neither joy nor sorrow; her calmness unsettled him. “All it takes is one divorce letter. From then on, we are severed completely, no ties remaining.”
“Impossible.” His voice was cold as ice. “There has never been a precedent for divorce in the royal family. Abandon this notion.”
Xiao Qingxue gave a faint smile. “You will agree.”
“Unreasonable!” Pei Ziyan’s expression darkened as he turned and swept his sleeve angrily. “Utterly unreasonable!”
She watched his retreating back, her eyes chilled with disappointment.
Three years together—one year spent curing his poison, two years as husband and wife—and this was the first time they had quarreled. Or rather, the first time Pei Ziyan had lost his temper.
Xiao Qingxue lowered her gaze. Her emotions were surprisingly steady. Though there was sadness, though there was disappointment, there was no stabbing agony, no despair that life without him would be unbearable.
“Miss…” Mingyue bit her lip, looking at her anxiously.
Xiao Qingxue gave a soft laugh. “It’s fine.” She stepped up the stone stairs of the courtyard and crossed the threshold of the prince’s residence.
Returning to the East Wing where she had lived for two years, she first entered the pharmacy. Rows of shelves brimmed with rare medicinal herbs. She sighed lightly. These herbs were destined to go to waste. From today onward, they would lose all purpose. She would never set foot here again. Composing herself, she turned and walked out.
Summer had already passed; the leaves on the trees were beginning to fall one by one. In the courtyard, maids were sweeping the fallen leaves. Seeing her, they bowed respectfully.
“Miss, people’s hearts change,” Mingyue said, following close behind, her brows knitted in anger. “Back then, when you stayed up night and day to cure his poison, he swore he would never betray you for life. And now? How long has it been? A man’s promises are nothing but empty air—”
“Mingyue.” Xiao Qingxue tilted her head, looking at her with a touch of helplessness. “A young lady shouldn’t speak so crudely.”
Mingyue muttered angrily, “This servant just can’t swallow the injustice.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Xiao Qingxue reached out to pat her head. “Love isn’t the whole of life. I’ll simply take it as an experience… Fortunately, it was only three short years. I’m still young, with a long, bright future ahead. There’s no need to waste anger on one man.”
Mingyue bit her lip, gazing at her with sorrow. “Miss, are you truly not heartbroken?”
Xiao Qingxue thought carefully. “Of course there’s some sadness. After all, I did give him my whole heart. But more than sadness, I feel acceptance. Since it has already happened, grief won’t change anything. Better to withdraw early.”
Mingyue nodded. “Miss is right.”
“Enough, don’t dwell on it.” Xiao Qingxue gave a faint smile as she walked along the covered corridor toward the main hall. “You should be glad instead.”
Mingyue pouted. “I am glad you can let go, but still…”
But Pei Ziyan truly was despicable.
“All that he has now was given by me.” Xiao Qingxue’s voice was cool, as if stating something utterly ordinary. “Before I leave, I’ll take it all back.”
“Miss is formidable—just as it should be.” Mingyue snorted. “We can’t let that faithless man profit.”
They returned to the main chamber and stepped across the threshold.
Xiao Qingxue instructed Mingyue to start packing. “Take only what belongs to us. Leave everything that belongs to the prince’s household.”
“Yes.”
Xiao Qingxue walked to the desk, picked up a brush and paper, and wrote a letter. Once the ink had dried, she folded it neatly into an envelope. “Yinfeng.”
A shadow appeared out of nowhere, kneeling with head bowed, awaiting orders.
“Deliver this letter tonight.”
“Yes.” Yinfeng took the letter and departed.
Though she had resolved to let go, Xiao Qingxue had poured three years of effort into Pei Ziyan. Her mood was inevitably heavy. Standing by the window for a while, she finally ordered a maid to prepare hot water.
She intended to take a long bath to ease the weight of her unhappy thoughts.
The maids quickly set to work.
Soaking in a hot bath was a rare indulgence. Xiao Qingxue loosened her robes and stepped into the tub, her flawless, fair body gradually enveloped by the steaming water. Comfort seeped into her bones, as though it could wash away every trace of her heavy mood in an instant.
Mingyue put down the luggage she had been packing and came over to attend her.
Mingyue was loyal to the core, frank in nature, and saw no one in her eyes but her mistress. In the past, she had tolerated Pei Ziyan only because her lady favored him. Now, the mere thought of him filled her with disgust. In her eyes, all men were fickle and faithless—none worth trusting.
Oaths of eternal devotion were spoken lightly, tender words easily given. Yet when promises were broken, excuses flowed: this was unavoidable, that was helpless. In truth, it was nothing but weakness or heartlessness. Not one of them was a true man of honor. None deserved her lady’s continued devotion.
“My mother once told me that love between men and women is the most unreliable thing in the world, and warned me not to lose myself in it. At the time, I didn’t believe her. But now…” Xiao Qingxue leaned back against the tub, a faintly mocking smile on her lips. “She was a woman of experience. How could she not understand the flaws in men’s nature?”
Mingyue nodded vigorously. “As long as you don’t entangle yourself in romance, Miss, you can choose whomever you please. There are plenty of men—handsome ones, gentle ones, capable ones, tender ones… whatever you desire, you can have. There’s no need to cling to one tree and hang yourself there.”
Did Pei Ziyan truly believe her lady could not live without him? And to refuse divorce—what a laughable notion.