“It’s not helping me, it’s helping us.” Chu Heng smiled, personally poured a cup of water, and handed it to Daiyu. “Have a taste—it has floral essence added.”
Being watched constantly by the Empress Dowager made Chu Heng feel uneasy all over. He had seen Miss Lin’s attitude and conduct that day, and he believed she would be his ally.
Daiyu rubbed the rim of the cup and smiled. “We’re grasshoppers tied to the same rope. I remember what Your Highness said, but… I still have some misgivings. Please forgive me for being unable to agree.”
Hearing this, Chu Heng knew there was room to maneuver, so he continued, “What misgivings does Miss Lin have? You may as well speak frankly.”
Daiyu feigned hesitation for a moment before saying, “This matter may seem neither too big nor too small, but in the end it is deceiving the Empress Dowager. If it were exposed in the future, Your Highness is the Empress Dowager’s beloved son and would naturally be unscathed, but I… must still look out for myself. Your Highness, don’t you agree?”
Chu Heng nodded. “Yes, that makes sense.”
Daiyu inclined her head and smiled. “Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness.”
“But…” Chu Heng slowly finished his cup of water and then continued, “Miss Lin, if we allow the Empress Dowager to manipulate things like this, who knows what she might do next? If—”
Daiyu lifted her gaze to him, timely revealing a hint of hesitation in her eyes.
“The Empress Dowager…” Daiyu chose her words carefully. “With Your Highness speaking so bluntly, you would have me believe that the Empress Dowager lacks propriety and does not observe etiquette. That is rather… putting me in a difficult position.”
Chu Heng gestured between the two of them and asked in return, “Miss Lin, do you think the Empress Dowager is very measured and strictly observes rules and propriety?”
Daiyu fell silent.
After a moment, she looked up at Chu Heng and asked solemnly, “Your Highness already has an idea, doesn’t you?”
Chu Heng leisurely poured himself another cup of water. “I wouldn’t call it an idea. I’m simply thinking that, in our future interactions, you and I should make the Empress Dowager feel that her matchmaking has produced results. Once she is satisfied, she naturally won’t keep her eyes fixed on us anymore.”
This was worlds apart from what Daiyu had imagined; she nearly laughed out loud at Prince Duan’s naïveté.
“Your Highness…” Because she could not truly mock Prince Duan, Daiyu’s expression became somewhat odd. “What you propose doesn’t feel like dealing with the Empress Dowager—it feels more like actively catering to her.”
“There’s no helping it, Miss Lin.” Chu Heng narrowed his eyes and smiled lightly. “In the latter half of our lives, there will be plenty of occasions when you and I must act before others as a respectful, loving couple. For now, this is merely an advance rehearsal—gradually becoming proficient.”
Daiyu paused.
There was truth in that. No matter what lay beneath, appearances had to be maintained. Even prominent noble families were like this; the imperial family all the more so.
In the end, Chu Heng and Daiyu were husband and wife as good as set in stone.
Prince Duan was right. In the future, they would have to play the role of a harmonious couple who treated each other with respect. As long as they managed appearances outside, how things were within the residence would naturally be up to them.
Daiyu pondered this and nodded inwardly. Indeed, as long as the Empress Dowager did not keep her eyes fixed on them, they would gain a considerable degree of freedom.
“Oh, no—perhaps not the latter half of our lives, but…”
Just as Daiyu was about to agree, she suddenly heard Prince Duan speak again.
“One day, if I die, Miss Lin, no matter how happy you may be inside, you’ll still have to cry a little on the surface.” Chu Heng smiled calmly.
Observing his expression, Daiyu saw no sarcasm or teasing. Prince Duan spoke of his own life and death with such indifference—was he truly so unconcerned?
Prince Duan was gravely ill; the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were extremely anxious, believing without hesitation in prophecies and portents. Yet the person concerned mentioned death so lightly.
Once again, Daiyu marveled at how she truly could not understand the strange people of the imperial family.
From this, Daiyu thought that forming an alliance with Prince Duan was indeed a good idea. Since they were grasshoppers tied to the same rope, even if he did not tell her those secret matters, she would still be able to learn of various taboos and concerns.
Daiyu sighed softly and said, “If I am fortunate enough to live a few more days, I doubt I would be able to laugh either. Only if Your Highness lives can I live.”
Chu Heng raised an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t have thought Miss Lin to be someone so afraid of death.”
Daiyu shook her head. “It’s not fear of death, but a desire to live. For many people, life always comes with attachments. I am no exception. Does Your Highness have none?”
“Ah…” Chu Heng shook his head. “I have none.”
What about the Emperor and the Empress Dowager—don’t they count? Daiyu pressed her lips together and swallowed those words.
There was no need to rush.
Clearly, the inner circumstances were not something that could be asked about at this moment.
The carriage slowly entered the palace gates. Daiyu straightened her back slightly. “Regarding what Your Highness mentioned earlier—how exactly are we to do it? Is there a concrete plan?”
Chu Heng raised his index finger and whispered, “Shh. Not yet.”
Walls have ears.
Daiyu glanced at the guards outside the gauze window and silently noted this.
…
After paying respects to the Empress Dowager at Renshou Palace and resting briefly, the Empress Dowager ordered the departure. Besides Chu Heng and Daiyu, Yongkang also accompanied them.
Longhua Temple was far from the palace; even riding at full speed would take two hours. With the Empress Dowager’s grand procession, it would take more than half a day to arrive.
The Empress Dowager rode in the imperial carriage. Yongkang and Chu Heng, as per custom, each had their own carriages. By the Empress Dowager’s order, Daiyu continued to ride in Chu Heng’s carriage.
When the Empress Dowager was not present, Yongkang squeezed her eyes at Chu Heng and Daiyu.
Chu Heng said, “Yongkang, if your eyes are afflicted, go summon the imperial physician.”
Yongkang snorted angrily. “You’re the one with an eye problem!”
Chu Heng shrugged, his eyes bright and clear. Yongkang stamped her foot in frustration.
Daiyu smiled and said, “Princess, it’s getting late. Please board your carriage.”
Having been given an out, Yongkang nodded to Daiyu and then, supported by palace attendants, boarded her own carriage.
The relationship between Princess Yongkang and Prince Duan was certainly not bad, but it was not good in the conventional sense either. They were… strangely close.
Daiyu reflected that once they reached Longhua Temple, she might have many opportunities to interact with Princess Yongkang.
The journey was dull. The carriage was steady, but Daiyu knew she would get dizzy if she read, so she could not think of anything to pass the time. She looked toward Prince Duan, curious how he intended to while away the idle hours.
Chu Heng was leaning against a soft cushion, lost in thought. Daiyu looked more closely and realized his eyes were unfocused—he was simply spacing out, not thinking about anything.
So this was Prince Duan’s way of relieving boredom?
Truly… dull.
Thinking of what he had said earlier on the way into the palace—that he had nothing in this world to tie him down—someone like that would indeed find it difficult to be interesting.
He had grown up in luxury until the age of twenty. His elder brother and mother—two of the most exalted people in the world—both cherished him dearly. Although the former emperor had passed away, he still had a blood relative born of the same mother. How could he feel that living was dull?
Daiyu considered Prince Duan’s interactions with the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. They appeared harmonious, but if that were truly the case, Prince Duan would not have such a temperament. There must be secrets unknown to others.
Imperial secrets… As Daiyu thought this, she could not help but look at Prince Duan again.
This time, she did not know whether to laugh or cry—how had he fallen asleep?
Then Daiyu could not help but feel awkward. She and Prince Duan were not familiar. When there was conversation, it was manageable, as she had to focus on responding. Now Prince Duan had fallen asleep on his own, leaving Daiyu awake and feeling that time dragged endlessly.
It would be improper to stare at Prince Duan. The carriage was small, and even if she looked elsewhere, with a living person right there, Daiyu truly could not pretend he did not exist.
Perhaps she should think about poetry. There had been too many matters over the past month, and she had not composed any poems. This trip to Longhua Temple might inspire her… Prince Duan seemed to like dark colors—both times she had seen him, he was dressed in dark hues.
Daiyu: “…”
There was a living person right there. Daiyu was not blind; she truly could not ignore him.
Thinking that she would have to act out such scenes with Prince Duan for the rest of her life, Daiyu felt it was indeed possible that one day she would find life unbearable.
She turned these chaotic thoughts over again and again for who knew how long, when she suddenly felt the carriage come to a stop. The attendant accompanying the carriage was Zhao Qing. With the Empress Dowager’s permission, Daiyu had brought Zijuan and several other maids, along with two matrons, to attend her, but at this moment they were in a smaller carriage behind.
Zhao Qing said, “The Empress Dowager wishes to alight and take a walk.”
Daiyu was just about to respond when she heard a muffled “Mm.”
Turning her eyes, she saw Chu Heng covering his mouth as he yawned, a layer of moisture rising in his eyes. He stretched lazily and, still half-asleep, lay back down again. “Water.”
Daiyu glanced at the tea set on the small table and did not move.
Zhao Qing apologized, climbed into the carriage, wiped his hands, and attended to Chu Heng—washing his face and rinsing his mouth—then poured half a cup of water from the thermos and carefully presented it to his master with both hands. Afterward, he smiled at Daiyu and asked, “There’s tea prepared here. Would Miss Lin like some tea?”
Daiyu replied, “Just a cup of water will do.”
Zhao Qing then came over to attend to Daiyu, helping her wipe her hands. By this time, Chu Heng was fully awake. He blinked and then remembered that they were in the carriage to Longhua Temple, with another person seated beside him.
From this point on, until death, there would be this person in Chu Heng’s life.
His fiancée.
These words surfaced without reason. Chu Heng was momentarily stunned, then belatedly tasted a sense of unease.
He subconsciously sat up straight, adjusted his clothes, and then felt that he was being quite abnormal.
Fiancée or not, what was… the big deal?
Daiyu finished her water and said, “Your Highness, I’ll get down and walk for a bit.”
Chu Heng was still tangled in his thoughts and nodded instinctively.
Seeing that the matrons and maids were already waiting outside to attend their young lady, Zhao Qing did not follow her down. Instead, he leaned a bit closer to Chu Heng. “Is Your Highness tired? Would you like to get down and stretch your legs?”
Perhaps his mind was still unclear from just waking up… Chu Heng thought, I didn’t just learn today that she is my fiancée.
Right—
Chu Heng looked up, only to see that the carriage now held only himself and Zhao Qing.
He asked in confusion, “Where is Miss Lin?”
Zhao Qing: “…”
The master must be lost in his thoughts again, Zhao Qing muttered inwardly. Aloud, he answered, “Miss Lin just told Your Highness that she was getting down to take a walk.”
“Oh.” That was indeed the case. Chu Heng said slowly, “I’ll get down and walk as well.”
Chu Heng got out of the carriage with Zhao Qing’s support, looked around, and quickly found the person he was looking for.
Shadows of trees lay all around. Daiyu was enjoying the cool breeze on her face, as if it could blow away all the gloom in her heart.
Hearing the people beside her pay respects to Prince Duan, she unwillingly opened her eyes. “Your Highness.”
Chu Heng nodded to her and asked straight out, “What is your name?”
Daiyu: “…”