“Crown Prince, this game of one true love for a lifetime has gone on for over two years. It’s about time it ended.”
“If you want us both to be a pile of yellow earth after His Majesty passes away, then by all means, continue insisting on this!”
The Empress was truly incensed, or she wouldn’t have uttered such a treasonous curse against His Majesty.
It was simply that His Majesty doted on Liguifei far too much. If not for the fact that Liguifei’s son was still young, the position of Crown Prince might have already changed hands.
Five years ago, when Liguifei’s child had just turned one, His Majesty had already entertained the thought of deposing the Crown Prince.
At that time, Jiangzhou was in great turmoil, first with famine and then with floods. The people’s suffering was indescribable. The Crown Prince took the initiative to request to go and govern Jiangzhou, which was how he escaped His Majesty’s difficult position.
If not for the Crown Prince’s numerous achievements and flawless record over these past few years, he would have likely been forced to abdicate long ago.
The only unexpected thing was that on this trip, he had become so happy in Jiangzhou that he forgot to return, and when he did, he brought back a woman and a suckling baby.
That woman was the current Crown Princess.
Seeing that her son did not continue to refute her, the Empress knew he was somewhat moved and continued to persuade him, “The Liu family’s legitimate daughter, Liu Fuyin, is the daughter of the second-rank Shizhong. Her father is deeply trusted by His Majesty. If you marry her into the Eastern Palace, it will also help secure your position as Crown Prince.”
“Moreover, Liu Fuyin was originally the Crown Princess I chose for you. Her good name was known far and wide when she was but a budding maiden. The original plan was for her to marry you once she came of age. Now, it can be said that you have failed her and wasted several years of her life. It is time you married her into the Eastern Palace. Her character is pure and kind; she certainly won’t pose any threat to that precious Crown Princess of yours. You must treat her well after she marries into the palace.”
“You must know, if the Sixth Prince weren’t still so young, your father, the Emperor, would have certainly betrothed this Liu family daughter to him as his primary consort to build his influence,” the Empress added. Although she was reluctant to admit it, Liguifei and her son were indeed too favored. If the Crown Prince continued to indulge in love, refusing to contend or compete, she feared that even her position as Empress would be handed over to someone else!
A hint of viciousness flashed in the Empress’s eyes. The flower she was stroking fell to the ground, crushed to bits. Truly, finding true love in his later years—his relationship with that woman was more devoted than his with her, the Empress!
As the Crown Prince, how could Li Yu’an not understand all this? It was just that he had no choice now. Liguifei and her son had indeed been too presumptuous these past few years.
“This son will heed Mother Empress’s arrangements.”
“This Liu family daughter already had a verbal marriage agreement with you. After I report to His Majesty, I will select a few more women for you with top-notch family backgrounds and looks. Once you have support and a firm footing, it will also prevent others from coveting your position.”
Since he had agreed to marry this one, adding a few more made no difference. The Crown Prince did not object further. The Eastern Palace was large enough; it would just be a few more mouths to feed. He would give them nothing else.
In his heart, there was only… one person.
But from his perspective, this Liu Fuyin was not simple and kind at all. It was more like she was full of schemes!
The Empress, unaware of the Crown Prince’s thoughts, was also somewhat shocked. After all, she hadn’t expected him to agree so readily. She would have been content if he just married Liu Fuyin first, planning to persuade him about the others slowly over time.
“It is good that you are able to see reason. Mother is your birth mother; I would never harm you.”
When the imperial edict of betrothal arrived from the palace, Liu Fuyin was playing a game of Go with her father in the study.
“Shizhong, great news!”
A large procession of people arrived from the palace. The gatekeeper had just finished his report when a chorus of congratulations was heard. It was the eunuch sent from the palace to announce the decree.
Liu Jingchen was quite familiar with this person; he was the apprentice of the head eunuch who served His Majesty. For him to have gained His Majesty’s trust, he was naturally observant of all things and attentive to all people, and he usually showed some consideration for minor figures like these.
“Eunuch, I wonder what joyous occasion this is?”
“Shizhong need not worry. This is a joyous occasion of the highest order.”
Beaming, Liu Jingchen led his family to their feet to receive the edict. The servants in the room and courtyard knelt in a wide swath. Following this, the eunuch’s sharp, high-pitched voice rang out:
“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims:
The eldest daughter of Shizhong Liu Jingchen, Liu Fuyin, is of gentle heart and orchid spirit, from a family of strict discipline. Her virtue is natural, her words and bearing are exemplary. Possessing the grace of the Book of Odes and a reverent and cautious nature, she is specially bestowed as Liangdi to the Crown Prince. The wedding shall be held on the nineteenth day of the fifth month.①
By Imperial Command!”
As the announcing eunuch’s voice fell, Liu Fuyin received the edict with both hands and gave her thanks. With a glance from Liu Jingchen, a maidservant stepped forward and stuffed a heavy purse into the eunuch’s hand.
After sending the eunuch off, her mother, Lu Wanqing, was the first to let out a sigh of relief. “Yinyin’s marriage is finally settled. But in the end, she is only a Liangdi.”
Liu Jingchen frowned. “The fury of thunder and the dew of spring are all the grace of the sovereign. It is best not to speak such words carelessly.”
Though it was called a joyous occasion, the family’s mood was not particularly high. When Liu Fuyin was a budding maiden, she had caught the Empress’s eye at a flower appreciation banquet. At that time, she was young and her heart was just beginning to stir. She, too, had feelings for the handsome and elegant Crown Prince. The Empress had mentioned making her the Crown Prince’s wife after she came of age. Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince returned from governing Jiangzhou with a wife in tow.
Thus, Liu Fuyin’s marriage was put on hold. She was, after all, the “Crown Princess” once verbally designated by the Empress. Although the marriage never came to be, she could no longer make her own decisions. This delay lasted another three years, and she was now eighteen.
Rumors in the capital all said that the Liu family’s daughter was deeply devoted and infatuated with the Crown Prince. Liu Fuyin heard these rumors but did not clarify them. Instead, she feigned the appearance of one deep in unrequited love. She was going to marry him eventually, so it was natural to lay the groundwork.
“Father, Mother, you need not worry. I am, after all, the legitimate daughter of the Shizhong His Majesty deeply trusts. The Crown Prince will not treat your daughter poorly.”
She offered this comfort, but who didn’t know that the current Crown Prince was devoted to the Crown Princess alone? If not for the need to obey the ancestral precept of continuing the royal line, he would likely have stayed by the Crown Princess’s side for a lifetime.
It was lamentable that a legitimate daughter of such a noble status was forced to become a Liangdi and ultimately met a tragic death.
Liu Fuyin was not from this world.
She was originally the daughter of a merchant so wealthy she could rival a nation. Living far from the imperial city, she had been happy and free. Unfortunately, the moment she appeared in public, she was fought over by the sons of aristocratic families.
No matter how rich her family was, they were still merchants, the lowest of the four social classes. And as their family had been merchants for generations, their children were forbidden from entering officialdom.
How could a merchant’s daughter contend with the sons of officials, or even sons of the imperial family? To obtain her, they even coerced her family. After winning her, they would laugh and remark that a merchant’s daughter reeked of copper coins and was unfit to be a wife.
Liu Fuyin dared not think back on those days. Merely because she resisted a little, her entire family was imprisoned overnight. What awaited her was endless defilement and torture.
She didn’t know whose child she had been carrying, nor by whom it had been brutally aborted. Her death, too, came upon a bed.
The moment her consciousness faded, her heart was filled with extreme hatred. But then, a voice suddenly appeared in her mind.
It said it was a System.
It told her that she only needed to travel to thousands of worlds, reverse the fates of innocent, ill-fated beauties like herself, marry the son of fortune, and become the matriarch. In return, she could be resurrected and promoted in her real world.
Although Liu Fuyin was somewhat terrified of this unseen, unknown entity, her hatred had long since overwhelmed everything else.
“Resurrected and promoted refers to?”
“As long as you complete all the missions, you can be reborn. Moreover, after completing each mission, you can receive a promotion. Whether it’s your family background or your destiny, it can all be changed. For example, you can change your family’s fate of death, and subsequently, you can even be promoted to an official’s daughter, a royal daughter, and so on.”
Knowing that Liu Fuyin was a pure ancient, the System considerately opened her personal panel for her to see:
【Host: Liu Fuyin】
【System: Matriarch System】
【Identity: Ill-fated beauty, a merchant’s daughter whose family was destroyed and who met a tragic end】
【Appearance: SSS】
【Wealth: S】
【Constitution: D】
【Skills: None】
【Points: 0】
【Evaluation: A short-lived ghost who is endlessly charming and wealthy enough to rival a nation but has no life to enjoy it.】
Liu Fuyin: …
Although there were some very new terms, Liu Fuyin roughly understood its meaning. This was a great benefactor who could help her save her entire family.
The System immediately threw cold water on her. “Don’t get happy too soon. If you fail the novice mission, you will be directly unbound and obliterated.”
Liu Fuyin gave a bitter smile. “It’s alright. This is already very good.”
She was already dead to begin with. Failure simply meant death again. No matter how she looked at it, it wasn’t a losing deal. Although she didn’t know what kind of being it was, she was very grateful.
The person and the system happily reached an agreement. The System was not one to be stingy. “Beginner’s Gift Pack has been distributed. Host, please check and receive~”
① The words of praise are referenced from “Text for the Enfeoffment of Su Dan’s Eldest Daughter as Crown Princess” and Baidu Wenku’s “Praise Words for Imperial Edicts of Betrothal.”
Ranks in the Eastern Palace:
Crown Princess
Two Liangdi, of the third rank proper;
Six Liangyuan, of the fourth rank proper;
Ten Chenghui, of the fifth rank proper;
Sixteen Zhaoxun, of the seventh rank proper;
Twenty-four Fengyi, of the ninth rank proper.
Only the Crown Princess and Liangdi can be recorded in the Royal Genealogy.
An additional note: This is not a sweet-romance palace-intrigue or family-intrigue novel. In some worlds, the male lead may not fall in love. Regardless of gender, anyone who wronged the original owner will be killed off by the female lead in the end. There will be those who genuinely fall in love with the female lead, but not many.