Spring, Fourteenth Year of Yong’an, Great Liang.
The atmosphere inside the main hall of the Xiao Residence was unbearably tense.
Xiao Yuanshan sat in the seat of honor, with his legal wife, Madam Zhou, seated to his right. His eldest legitimate daughter, Xiao Shuwan, wore a pomegranate-red dress adorned with dazzling jewels, looking radiant and elegant.
Xiao Guiwan sat at the very end of the hall, dressed in a faded lotus-purple blouse with nothing more than a plain silver hairpin in her hair.
She was a concubine-born daughter. At gatherings like this, she was always seated last.
But today was different.
Three days ago, two imperial marriage decrees had arrived at the Xiao Residence simultaneously.
The first was from Prince Zhenbei, Mu Hanhe.
The second was from Prince Ning, Mu Hanzhao.
For reasons unknown, the two princes had seemingly challenged one another by both requesting a daughter of the Xiao family in marriage. Neither, however, had specified which daughter.
Finding the situation amusing, the Emperor issued another decree allowing the Xiao family to decide for themselves which two daughters would be matched, with the weddings to take place on an auspicious date.
To make things even more entertaining, His Majesty even permitted the Xiao daughters to decline altogether if they wished.
The moment the news spread, the entire capital erupted.
Prince Zhenbei, Mu Hanhe, was the empire’s greatest military hero. He commanded two hundred thousand troops and stood as the foremost general of the Great Liang court.
Prince Ning, Mu Hanzhao, though frail and chronically ill, was the legitimate son of the late emperor—a true prince of imperial blood.
For both of these exalted men to seek marriage with the Xiao family had left Xiao Yuanshan practically walking on air these past few days.
Now, the grand hall had fallen completely silent.
Every gaze rested on the bright yellow imperial decree.
The man delivering it was Eunuch Li, the Emperor’s chief attendant.
Standing proudly at the front, he drew out his shrill voice.
“…Prince Zhenbei Mu Hanhe and Prince Ning Mu Hanzhao are both young men of exceptional talent, well matched in age and status to the two daughters of the Xiao family. By imperial grace, the Xiao family shall determine their marriages themselves. The Xiao daughters may also decline if they so choose. Should matches be decided, the weddings shall be held on an auspicious day. Thus is the imperial will.”
Xiao Yuanshan led the entire family to kneel.
“Your servant humbly thanks Your Majesty for this boundless grace.”
After rolling up the decree, Eunuch Li smiled pleasantly.
“Lord Xiao, this servant will wait here. Once you’ve decided which young lady is to marry which prince, I’ll return to the palace to report.”
Xiao Yuanshan nodded repeatedly before turning toward his two daughters.
Xiao Shuwan had already risen.
Straightening her collar, she stepped into the center of the hall and gracefully knelt.
“Father, your daughter wishes to marry Prince Ning.”
Her voice was crisp and unwavering.
Xiao Yuanshan froze.
He had assumed his eldest daughter would choose Prince Zhenbei.
The prince wielded immense power, and marrying him meant becoming a princely consort—a position of incomparable prestige.
Prince Ning, while nobly born, had a body ravaged by illness. Even the imperial physicians had declared he would not live past thirty.
Who would willingly marry a dying man?
“Shuwan, have you thought this through?” Xiao Yuanshan asked with a frown.
She lifted her head, a barely perceptible smile flickering across her eyes.
“I have. Prince Ning possesses unmatched grace and bearing. I’ve admired His Highness for a long time.”
She spoke with complete confidence.
Because…
She had been reborn.
In her previous life, she had married Prince Zhenbei, Mu Hanhe.
On their wedding day, he was falsely accused of treason.
His entire household was stripped of their titles and exiled.
She had frozen to death before they even reached the place of banishment.
Just before dying, she heard someone mention that Xiao Guiwan had become the Empress, clothed in magnificent robes and enjoying boundless glory.
Only then did Xiao Shuwan understand.
Prince Ning had been the true Son of Heaven all along.
The sickly prince had not died.
Instead, he had ascended the throne.
And Xiao Guiwan…
The lowly concubine-born sister she had always despised…
Had become Empress.
In this life, she would never repeat the same mistake.
She wanted Prince Ning.
She wanted the throne beside him.
And Xiao Guiwan would never again stand above her.
Xiao Yuanshan was still hesitating when Xiao Shuwan added softly,
“Father, I’ve heard that although Prince Ning is frail, he has a gentle temperament and is an excellent match. As for Prince Zhenbei… I’m not worthy of someone like him.”
Her words were impeccable.
Xiao Yuanshan slowly nodded, about to speak, when Xiao Shuwan suddenly turned toward Xiao Guiwan, who sat quietly at the end of the hall.
“Father,” she said, raising her voice slightly, “my younger sister is already fifteen. It’s time to arrange her marriage as well. I happen to know of an excellent match I’d like to recommend.”
Xiao Guiwan, who had been calmly sipping tea, finally looked up.
With a gentle smile, Xiao Shuwan said,
“In Willow Tree Village outside the city lives a young man named Ye Daniu. He’s the only son in his family, both parents deceased. He owns three mu of farmland and two thatched cottages. He’s honest and hardworking—just the right match for my sister.”
The entire hall was stunned.
Xiao Yuanshan’s expression darkened.
“Shuwan! What nonsense are you talking about? No matter what, Guiwan is still a daughter of the Xiao family. How can she marry some country farmer?”
Unhurried, Xiao Shuwan replied,
“Father, I’m not joking. The imperial decree says our family may arrange the marriages ourselves. It never says Guiwan must marry a prince.”
She paused before continuing.
“But think about it. Guiwan was raised on our country estate since childhood. She’s uncultured, unfamiliar with etiquette, and barely knows how to read. If she enters a princely household, won’t she only disgrace the Xiao family? Should Prince Zhenbei take offense, could our family bear the consequences?”
Xiao Yuanshan opened his mouth but found no words.
She wasn’t wrong.
Although Xiao Guiwan was indeed his daughter, she had been sent away to the countryside when she was only three years old and had returned to the capital only last year.
Her manners were lacking, and her etiquette lessons were far from complete.
Such a girl entering a princely residence would surely become a laughingstock.
Seeing her father wavering, Xiao Shuwan pressed further.
“If Father feels he’s treating my sister unfairly, I’m willing to provide three thousand taels of silver as her dowry, along with two maidservants and twenty mu of fertile farmland. Though Ye Daniu is merely a farmer, he’s honest and dependable. My sister will never worry about food or clothing after marrying him. Surely that’s better than being ridiculed in a prince’s residence.”
After a brief pause, she lowered her voice.
“Besides, Father, you still have two other concubine-born daughters. They were raised in the capital, properly educated, and are both beautiful. Either of them could marry into a princely household. Why insist on sending Guiwan, who simply isn’t suited for such a place?”
Xiao Yuanshan’s heart stirred.
He did indeed have two younger concubine-born daughters who had been raised in the residence and excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
Madam Zhou seized the opportunity to speak.
“My lord, Shuwan is right. Guiwan truly doesn’t understand proper etiquette. If she marries into a princely household, I’m afraid she won’t serve His Highness well. It would be better to find her an honest family so she can live a peaceful life. That would be a blessing for her.”
Xiao Guiwan gently set down her teacup.
Finally, she spoke.
“Father.”
Her voice wasn’t loud, but it rang clearly through the hall.
“I am willing to marry Prince Zhenbei.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Xiao Shuwan’s face before she quickly recovered.
“Little Sister,” she said with a smile, “you don’t even know the rules of a princely household. Wouldn’t you only make yourself a laughingstock? I’m saying this for your own good.”
Looking at her sister’s smiling face, irritation welled up inside Xiao Guiwan.
She was about to refute her when Xiao Shuwan beat her to it.
“Father, I’ve already chosen Prince Ning. If my sister marries Prince Zhenbei as well, both daughters of the Xiao family would become princely consorts. People will inevitably accuse our family of currying favor with the powerful. Wouldn’t it better reflect our family’s integrity if my sister married a commoner instead?”
Xiao Yuanshan’s eyes lit up.
He had recently been criticized by the imperial censors for cultivating powerful connections.
If one daughter married an ordinary farmer, it would silence those accusations.
“Shuwan makes an excellent point.”
He made his decision without hesitation.
“Guiwan, you’ll follow your sister’s arrangement and marry into Willow Tree Village.”
Xiao Guiwan shot to her feet.
“Father—”
“Enough!”
Xiao Yuanshan slammed his palm against the table.
“This matter is settled. Your sister will marry Prince Ning. You will marry Ye Daniu of Willow Tree Village.”
Turning to Eunuch Li, he said,
“Eunuch Li, please return to the palace and report that the Xiao family’s eldest daughter, Xiao Shuwan, will marry Prince Ning. My second daughter, Xiao Guiwan, has been betrothed elsewhere. As for Prince Zhenbei… I ask that His Majesty choose another suitable bride.”
Eunuch Li glanced at Xiao Guiwan, sympathy flickering across his eyes.
But he said nothing.
He simply turned and left.
The corners of Xiao Shuwan’s lips curved upward.
Her eyes were filled with triumph.
In this lifetime…
Xiao Guiwan would never become Empress.
As for Prince Zhenbei—
She didn’t want him.
But neither would she allow Xiao Guiwan to have him.
At the thought of Mu Hanhe, hatred gnawed at her heart.
Such an extraordinary man had never once touched her.
Not even at the moment of death had he spared her a single affectionate glance.
The resentment still burned.
As for Xiao Guiwan…
She would marry that dirt-poor farmer and spend the rest of her life rotting in the mud.
Standing where she was, Xiao Guiwan felt her head buzzing.
It was as though something inside her mind was struggling to break free.
“Someone!”
Madam Zhou called out sharply.
“The Second Young Lady is tired. Escort her back to her room. Tomorrow, deliver the marriage contract to Willow Tree Village. The wedding will be held in three days—better to settle it quickly before anything changes.”
Two burly old servants immediately stepped forward, each grabbing one of Xiao Guiwan’s arms.
“Father!”
Xiao Guiwan struggled as she cried out one last time.
Xiao Yuanshan merely turned his face away.
He never looked at her again.