Shen Yao was slightly taken aback, not quite understanding. “What did Your Highness say?”
“Since you’ve said you want to marry Ninth Uncle, there’s no need to keep clinging to me,” Xie Jingchu said. “Your persistent entanglement only disgusts me.”
Shen Yao was stunned again, realizing that Xie Jingchu had misunderstood something.
In her previous life, there had been many such moments. Shen Yao knew she needed to explain, but she was always afraid of explaining poorly, worried that Xie Jingchu would dislike her even more, so she could never bring herself to speak up.
But now, she no longer liked Xie Jingchu. What did it matter how he viewed her?
Therefore, she pursed her lips and said, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, I have no intention of clinging to you. At the palace family banquet that day, I made it perfectly clear to His Majesty that I have no feelings of admiration for Your Highness.”
Xie Jingchu raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? Then today, did you lose your way and end up here, just happening to run into me?”
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, today I was summoned to the palace by Her Majesty the Empress. If you don’t believe me, you should at least believe Nanny Xiang, shouldn’t you?”
Xie Jingchu paused and looked to the side.
Nanny Xiang offered an apologetic smile. “Your Highness the Crown Prince, Miss Shen… was indeed summoned by Her Majesty the Empress…”
She was an old servant by the Empress’s side, unlikely to have been bribed by Shen Yao to lie.
So, Shen Yao really hadn’t come here for him today?
Xie Jingchu frowned, feeling inexplicably irritated.
“I am about to marry Prince Jing. Her Majesty the Empress is overseeing the wedding arrangements and invited me to the palace today to choose a wedding date. If Your Highness still doesn’t believe me, why not go inside and ask Her Majesty the Empress yourself?”
After saying this, Shen Yao felt a wave of relief, her entire spirit refreshed and clear.
Xie Jingchu, however, felt inexplicably displeased. He stared straight at her and said, “Ninth Uncle is unconscious. The imperial physicians say he may never wake up in this lifetime. If you marry him, you’ll be a widow for the rest of your life.”
Shen Yao thought to herself, In my previous life, when I married you, wasn’t I also a widow until the day I died?
She remained neither humble nor arrogant, even smiling faintly as she replied, “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. But as I said that day, I have long admired Prince Jing. As long as I can stay by his side, whether he is awake or unconscious, I am willing.”
After hearing this, Xie Jingchu’s handsome face darkened.
Shen Yao called to Nanny Xiang, “Let’s go. We mustn’t keep Her Majesty the Empress waiting.”
Xie Jingchu remained where he was, watching her retreating figure. Suddenly, Shen Yao’s face flashed before his eyes—different from today’s aloofness. He vaguely saw Shen Yao, shy and timid, her voice soft as she said, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, I am so happy to marry you…”
But Shen Yao’s face soon rippled away like water, eventually disappearing without a trace.
An inexplicable, dull ache rose in Xie Jingchu’s chest, as if something immensely important was rapidly slipping away.
In the Changqiu Palace, the Empress had been waiting for a long time. As soon as she saw Shen Yao, she immediately put on a kind and benevolent smile, though the warmth was shallow and not entirely sincere.
She beckoned, “Yaoyao, you’ve finally arrived. Come, sit by my side.”
Shen Yao did not approach immediately. Instead, she first performed a respectful and proper bow. “Your humble servant greets Her Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless fortune and peace.”
The Empress continued to smile. “You child, always so polite—why did you come in alone?”
Shen Yao knew the Empress was asking why Xie Jingchu hadn’t come with her, but she feigned ignorance and replied wistfully, “Only I remain in the general’s household now. There is no one to accompany me.”
The Empress’s eyes flickered briefly before she spoke again with gentle warmth, “Very well, let us not dwell on sad matters. Come, take a look at these dates.”
Spread on the table before the Empress was a sheet of xuan paper bearing two dates:
The third day of the sixth month, and the nineteenth day of the tenth month.
The nineteenth day of the tenth month—that was the day Shen Yao and Xie Jingchu had married in her previous life.
It was said to have been an auspicious date, yet that day had brought torrential rain. The wedding procession had been drenched to the bone, and the entire ceremony had been a disheveled, miserable affair.
Later, people often whispered that Shen Yao was an ill-fated woman. Some even spread uglier rumors, claiming she would bring calamity upon the imperial family.
“In my view, the nineteenth day of the tenth month is the most favorable date. Why not choose that one?” the Empress suggested.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Shen Yao replied with a gentle smile. “But I feel the third day of the sixth month would be better.”
“It is already the fourth month now. Wouldn’t a wedding on the third day of the sixth month be too rushed?”
“It is somewhat rushed, but I wish to marry Prince Jing as soon as possible.” As she said this, Shen Yao allowed a perfectly timed expression of shyness to surface.
It was at this moment that Xie Jingchu entered the hall.
Hearing her words clearly, his footsteps faltered slightly, and he unconsciously gritted his teeth.
Was she really in such a hurry to marry?
“Jingchu, you’ve arrived as well.”
The Empress smiled. “Perfect timing. Yaoyao wishes to marry on the third day of the sixth month, but that date is far too early. It would be better to set it for October. Help me persuade her—since childhood, Yaoyao has always listened to you the most.”
Xie Jingchu glanced at Shen Yao, his voice cold and hard. “Since she is so eager to marry my ninth uncle, why should we spoil her plans? If we truly delay the wedding until October, she might even curse us behind our backs.”
His words were discourteous and sharp.
One might have expected Shen Yao to feel embarrassed or hurt, but instead, the corners of her eyes curved into a smile. “The Crown Prince speaks wisely. In that case, for the wedding on the third day of the sixth month, I hope Your Highness will honor us with your presence at the banquet?”
Xie Jingchu’s gaze grew increasingly dark and dangerous. He gave a slight, mocking twist of his lips and addressed the Empress, “Your son has matters to attend to and must take his leave.”
“Very well. Do not work too late—rest early.”
Xie Jingchu responded with a noncommittal hum before turning to leave.
Shen Yao also prepared to take her leave when the Empress suddenly remembered something. “Ah, yes, Yaoyao.”
Shen Yao looked over.
“As you know, Prince Jing remains unconscious. When the time comes, he will likely be unable to go to the general’s residence to fetch the bride himself. Someone else will have to be appointed in his place,” the Empress mused. “According to tradition, the person who substitutes for him in fetching the bride must be unmarried. I was thinking—perhaps we could have Jingchu do it?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Shen Yao shook her head. “The Crown Prince is occupied with many duties. I dare not trouble him. Your Majesty should select someone else from the imperial clan. The heir of Prince Rui would be suitable—he is unmarried, twenty years old, and has already come of age.”
If Xie Jingchu were to substitute for fetching the bride, he would undoubtedly find some way to mock her again.
The Empress nodded slightly. “That would be fine as well.”
On her way back to the general’s residence, Shen Yao recalled fragments of her childhood.
Shen Yao’s grandfather had been Xie Jingchu’s riding and archery instructor, often bringing Shen Yao along to the imperial palace. Thus, she and Xie Jingchu had indeed grown up together as childhood friends.
In the past, they had shared everything, always sneaking out of the palace together to play.
One year, the two encountered a runaway carriage on the street. Shen Yao pushed Xie Jingchu aside just in time, saving his life, but unfortunately, she herself was knocked down. Her left knee struck the ground heavily, leaving a large, dark bruise that made it impossible for her to walk.
At that time, Xie Jingchu was so anxious that sweat poured from his forehead. Clutching Shen Yao’s hand, he said, “I will take responsibility for you in the future!”
When did Xie Jingchu start distancing himself from her and growing to dislike her?
Shen Yao couldn’t remember.
In her previous life, she had often felt saddened by this, shedding many silent tears alone at night.
As a result, not only did the injury on her knee ache frequently, but her eyes also became blurry and cloudy. In poor lighting, she could no longer see things clearly.
Having been reborn, Shen Yao decided to take things more lightly.
There was no need to dwell on why Xie Jingchu had suddenly come to dislike her. In this world, apart from life and death, everything else was trivial.
The wedding date was approaching, and the palace, Jingwangfu, and the general’s residence were all bustling with preparations.
Xie Jingchu lived in Donggong, making it impossible for him to avoid the glaring sight of bright red decorations.
Feeling restless for several days in a row, Xie Jingchu decided to step out of his quarters to get some fresh air.
However, a guest arrived at Donggong—his cousin, Xie Changyou, the eldest legitimate son of his fourth uncle, Prince Rui.
Xie Jingchu met him in the study and casually asked, “What brings you to the palace?”
Xie Changyou replied cheerfully, “Isn’t it because Ninth Uncle is getting married? The Empress has decided to choose someone from our clan to represent Ninth Uncle and fetch the bride from the general’s residence.”