“Father, Mother.” Song Father and Song Mother had arrived as well. Song Yao transformed into an obedient daughter and greeted them.
Having been an official for decades and an official’s wife for just as long, Song Father and Song Mother valued propriety and maintained the facade of doting parents on the surface. They inevitably engaged in some perfunctory small talk.
Song Yao handled it with ease, letting their words go in one ear and out the other. A feigned smile remained plastered on her face throughout, leaving no room for criticism.
Fortunately, her neurotic parents’ primary aim was to curry favor with Nangong Yi through their solicitous inquiries. Their focus soon shifted, granting her some peace and quiet.
Calling them neurotic parents was not without reason—these two were truly unhinged.
Her worthless father was extremely patriarchal, while her worthless mother was hopelessly lovesick. The couple had four children, with their firstborn being a daughter.
After her elder sister was born, her worthless father immediately took a concubine. Perhaps because it was her first child, her worthless mother, though heartbroken at the time, still cherished her elder sister.
Later, when her second brother was born, her worthless father had a change of heart. Soon after, her third brother arrived, and her parents’ relationship reached its peak.
Their closeness quickly led to her conception, and unfortunately, she was born a girl.
From that day on, her worthless father never set foot in her worthless mother’s courtyard again and proceeded to take several more concubines.
Her worthless mother discarded her like garbage. Upon learning from the midwife that she was a girl, she refused to even look at her, let alone hold her.
From childhood to adulthood, she was neglected and ignored. For twenty years, she faced either cold indifference or deranged ramblings.
The most frequent refrains were: “You’re nothing but a debt collector! Why did you have to be a girl?”
“It’s all your fault—you ruined your mother! You’re a curse, destroying me and your father, destroying this family!”
“Why? Why couldn’t you have been a son?! If you were a boy, your father wouldn’t have brought all those shameless vixens into the household!”
In her younger years, whenever this happened, her elder sister and two brothers would shield her.
Though an adult at heart trapped in a child’s body, she would pretend to be innocent and clueless, hiding behind her siblings. She appeared frightened but watched her worthless mother’s hysterics with calm detachment.
Strictly speaking, she was raised by her elder sister, two brothers, and the wet nurses, nannies, and maids in the estate.
Toward her worthless parents, she felt no filial piety—only frequent murderous impulses.
What little tolerance she had was purely for the sake of her elder sister and brothers, the hardship of her worthless mother’s ten-month pregnancy, and the financial support provided by her worthless father.
Song Father: “Then this subject shall take his leave.” The Emperor and Empress were about to arrive, so Song Father and Song Mother kept their fawning over their son-in-law brief.
Once the two had left, Song Yao picked up an exquisite wine cup and took a small sip. Using her wide sleeve to cover her lips, she discreetly wiped the smile from her face.
“In the future, you don’t have to smile if you don’t want to.” The words whispered by her ear.
Song Yao glanced sideways, the surprise in her eyes fleeting. Once she processed his words, her red lips curved slightly. “But Your Highness, doing so would make this humble servant appear as a Crown Princess who disregards hierarchy and is both arrogant and impolite.”
Song Yao emphasized the term “Crown Princess.” This title granted her superior status but also represented the dignity of the imperial family. Superficial decorum was always necessary.
Nangong Yi extended his hand. Understanding his intention, Song Yao placed her hand in his palm, their fingers intertwining.
The man’s expression was indifferent, yet perhaps due to his long-standing high position, he exuded an aura of steady reliability befitting a ruler.
His usually inscrutable dark eyes, which made it impossible to discern his emotions, now clearly reflected her image.
“My wife need not cater to anyone’s whims.”
Song Yao was momentarily speechless. What did he mean? Was he explicitly telling her that she could live freely, even to the extent of borrowing his authority to throw her weight around?
…
A ready-made backing offered for free—why refuse it?
After a brief moment of contemplation, Song Yao’s eyes reddened at the corners, adopting the pitiable look of someone who had endured immense hardship and finally tasted relief. Moved, she said, “This humble servant understands. Thank you, Your Highness.”
Nangong Yi’s gaze lingered on the woman’s reddened eyes, but before he could do anything, the announcement echoed from outside the hall once more—the Emperor and Empress had arrived, accompanied by other consorts and palace ladies.
Everyone rose and bowed in reverence.
“Hahaha, excellent, excellent! My esteemed ministers, rise!” The Emperor’s laughter was hearty. After seating himself with the Empress and consorts, he gestured for all to sit.
He exchanged a glance with the elderly eunuch beside him, who understood immediately. With a sweep of his horsetail whisk, the eunuch stepped forward and proclaimed loudly, “Announcing the entry of the Mobei Prince, Princess, and their envoys!”
Under the watchful eyes of the assembly, the Mobei delegation entered the hall.
Over a dozen people filed in, with the Mobei prince and princess at the center, adorned in exotic attire embellished with agate and gemstones. Regardless of gender, each was tall and robust, especially the men, who stood as solid and imposing as small mountains.
“Greetings to the Great Emperor!” Their voices boomed like thunder, startling those of a more timid disposition.
What followed was a series of formal diplomatic exchanges, which held little interest for Song Yao. After discreetly observing the Mobei delegation for some time, she withdrew her gaze, her peripheral vision shifting to the man beside her.
She suddenly grew curious: during Nangong Yi’s four years stationed at the northern border, how had he led his troops to repel Mobei and strike such fear into them that they no longer dared to harass the southern frontiers?
After all, in terms of physique alone, the people of Mobei held a natural advantage.
Soon, the banquet officially commenced. The melodies of strings and pipes filled the air, and graceful dancers twirled at the center of the hall. Amid the revelry and harmonious music, the guests raised their glasses in toast and conversation.
As the Crown Prince, Nangong Yi had no respite from drinking. Whether it was court officials or the Mobei delegates, all came to his seat to offer toasts as a sign of respect.
“What were you thinking about earlier?”
Song Yao: “Hmm?” She hadn’t expected Nangong Yi to find a moment to speak with her amid his busy schedule. Glancing at his stern profile, a mischievous impulse stirred within her.
Facing forward, she returned a smile to the official’s wife who had toasted her, then hid her lips behind her wide sleeve. Without taking a sip of wine, she uttered words that were startlingly bold.
“I was thinking about how exceptionally fierce Your Highness is.”
The remark carried a double meaning, and sure enough, Nangong Yi turned to look at her.
Amusement brimmed in Song Yao’s eyes. Suppressing a laugh, she added the second half of her sentence: “To think you could defeat the towering warriors of Mobei.”
Nangong Yi chuckled, the cold severity of his handsome features softening noticeably. His prominent Adam’s apple bobbed as he downed a cup of strong liquor.
“Furen, you flatter me.”
That single word—”Furen”—left Song Yao utterly flustered.
A strange, tingling sensation prickled at her heart. She averted her gaze swiftly and took a sip of wine, four words surfacing in her mind: The allure of a captivating man.
After three rounds of drinks, serious matters were broached.
Bateer, the Mobei Prince, rose to his feet and broached the topic of a marriage alliance.
“Great Emperor, this is my sister, Jiya. If your nation is willing, our kingdom proposes a marriage alliance. Through this union, we hope to secure lasting peace and an end to war between our two lands.”
Jiya was tall and strikingly beautiful, possessing an exotic charm distinct from the women of the Central Plains.
Standing beside her elder brother with her head lowered, she gave no indication of whether she was willing or not. Yet upon closer observation, one could discern her aversion and distaste for the political marriage.
Indeed, what woman would willingly leave her familiar homeland to travel a thousand miles away and marry a man she had never met?
While political marriage might be beneficial for two nations, it was not necessarily so for those directly involved.