Princess Anhui knitted her delicate brows slightly, her tone carrying a cool chill as she said:
“Today Anhui is hosting this temple fair with the thought of sharing the joyous festivities with the common people, not expecting that the Prince also takes pleasure in such lively events. And this is,”
Before Qin Duan could kowtow in respect, Xie Huaiqiang grasped his hand and replied:
“The Princess is benevolent and kindhearted, hosting this temple fair to such lively effect. This is my consort, Qin Duan. Today I brought him out specifically to relax and clear his mind, not expecting the fortunate encounter with the Princess.”
Upon hearing Xie Huaiqiang’s words, Qin Duan’s heart tightened violently, and a rare trace of panic surfaced across his calm, refined face.
How could Xie Huaiqiang introduce him in such a manner? That was a Princess, and there were so many common people down below the city gate tower.
However, following Xie Huaiqiang’s intent, he still performed a formal greeting toward Princess Anhui with the etiquette matching that of a prince consort.
“Princess.”
Anhui’s expression froze on her face as she echoed:
“Consort.”
Following that, her voice carried a trace of vexation accompanied by a mocking sneer:
“The Prince jests. For all these years, it has never been heard that the Prince had a wife or partner, let alone one who is…”
Xie Huaiqiang smiled faintly and said:
“Qin Duan and I formed a partnership as male spouses in our youth, and our daily life and living arrangements have been no different from a husband and wife. Over these years, following His Majesty on military campaigns north and south, I had no spare leisure, which is why the wedding ceremony has been delayed until now. However, now that the realm is settled, with His Majesty governing wisely and the country prosperous and the people at peace, I will naturally grant Duan’er a grand wedding as soon as possible, and at that time we will certainly invite the Princess to witness the ceremony.”
The smile frozen on Anhui’s face rivaled a stone sculpture. She nodded and said:
“Heh, then Anhui will congratulate Prince Ding and Young Master Qin in advance. Today this Princess is also fatigued, so I shall return to the palace first; the two of you may enjoy yourselves at leisure.”
“Farewell, Your Highness.”
Watching the retreating figure of Princess Anhui, who struggled somewhat to maintain her poised and graceful, meandering lotus stride as she hurried away down the city tower, supported by Manager Zhang.
A person as intelligent as Qin Duan naturally perceived from Princess Anhui’s recent reaction that she held feelings for Xie Huaiqiang unlike those she felt for others. His heart could not help feeling somewhat congested; however, he also saw clearly that Xie Huaiqiang had intentionally spoken those words right in front of Princess Anhui, leaving him momentarily at a loss.
At this moment, Xie Huaiqiang pulled him into an embrace and chuckled lightly:
“What are you thinking, my Prince Consort?”
Heat rushed to Qin Duan’s face, and he reproached:
“Still talking nonsense. Just now, why did you speak to the Princess that way? You… could you tell that the Princess fancies you?”
Xie Huaiqiang nodded and said:
“My Duan’er is truly perceptive, discovering it upon seeing the Princess just this once. Indeed, blame your husband for being too eye-catching. When Old Zhao was on duty in the palace, he heard palace attendants close to the Empress Dowager in Cining Palace mention that Princess Anhui intended to ask the Empress Dowager to bestow a marriage decree between the two of us.”
Hearing this, Qin Duan’s heart plummeted:
“A marriage decree? This.”
A Prince, a Princess, indeed a well-matched pair.
Qin Duan pressed his lips together, and an astringent, stifling ache permeated his chest. He walked forward on his own, descending the city gate tower, while Xie Huaiqiang reached out and grabbed only empty air.
“Duan’er, Duan’er, wait for me.”
Xie Huaiqiang curled his lips into a smile, quickened his pace to come before Qin Duan, blocking his path. He tilted his head with a beaming smile, leaning close right into Qin Duan’s field of vision.
“Duan’er, are you jealous?”
Qin Duan glanced at him and whipped his face away in a flash, his voice sounding muffled:
“No. Princess Anhui appears youthful and beautiful, dignified and well-mannered, truly a suitable candidate for a Princess Consort. Why did you still say those things just now, needlessly provoking her misunderstanding.”
Xie Huaiqiang sighed, feeling that Qin Duan truly had not a shred of confidence in him.
“What I said to Princess Anhui just now was precisely what is in my heart. Duan’er, I wish to take you as my wife; anyone else, no matter who it is, will not do.”
These words flowed like sweet dew injected into his heart, rescuing Qin Duan’s mind from being fried in oil and roasted over a fire. The suffocating oppression in his chest also dissipated.
Lowering his head, his voice sounded youthful and bashful, just like back in their youth.
“You, doing this will make you mocked by all the civil and military officials and the people of the world.”
Where ever had there been the dignity of a Prince taking a male consort?
“If they love to laugh, let them laugh. In any case, they wouldn’t dare laugh in my presence.”
Xie Huaiqiang walked the streets with Qin Duan. Since everyone on the city tower had witnessed Prince Ding earlier, the moment they crossed paths with citizens now, the people began bowing in salute. Zhou Ji followed behind, shouting aloud to the populace:
“His Highness is strolling for leisure today; all commoners are exempt from paying respects!”
Xie Huaiqiang casually intercepted a passerby, who immediately trembled and prepared to kneel. Xie Huaiqiang stopped the person from kneeling and asked:
“Does my Prince Consort match well with me?”
The person glanced at Qin Duan, hurriedly lowered his gaze, and spoke directly:
“A match, a perfect match! The Prince and Prince Consort are exceedingly well-matched!”
Xie Huaiqiang said with satisfaction:
“Mn, go on then.”
Upon hearing he could leave, the man fled as if granted a great reprieve.
Afterwards, Xie Huaiqiang looked at Qin Duan and raised an eyebrow, wearing an expression that said “See?” which directly coaxed Qin Duan into shaking his head with a smile.
“You really are reckless. Scaring him like that, of course he would say that, he’s probably cursing Prince Ding as a pervert in his heart right now.”
Xie Huaiqiang remained unconcerned:
“Ha, let him curse away, as long as it doesn’t reach this Prince’s ears. Duan’er, you shouldn’t tire yourself out either; isn’t it enough just to listen to words that make you happy? Look at how he kept saying we were well-matched just now.”
With Xie Huaiqiang making such a fuss, Qin Duan’s mood relaxed considerably.
Noticing a juggler’s stall ahead surrounded by numerous people, he said:
“A-Zheng, look over there, what is that? It looks like something we’ve never seen before.”
Xie Huaiqiang looked in the direction Qin Duan pointed and saw an extraordinarily dark-skinned man riding atop a large bird, accompanied by a led horse. Yet this horse looked entirely unlike those of Daixing; Xie Huaiqiang had seen all manner of fine steeds and prized mounts, but had never encountered one patterned all over with black stripes, and found it novel for a moment. Behind them, Zhou Ji—who had always loved horses—also excitedly chimed in:
“Your Highness, this horse looks so peculiar; could it have been dyed?”
Xie Huaiqiang was likewise extremely curious:
“Come, let’s go take a look.”
As the three of them drew closer, they discovered that the man’s complexion wasn’t simply dark, but his facial features bore little resemblance to those of Central Plains or northern people. Blinking as he looked at the three imposing figures before him, the man hastily spoke:
“Would the honorable few like to ride this ostrich? Twenty copper coins, it runs extremely fast! And this one here—this is the only one of its kind in all of Daixing; I went to great effort to bring it over, guaranteed that even your Emperor has never seen it!”
Xie Huaiqiang narrowed his eyes:
“Impudent, what do you mean by ‘your Emperor’? What person are you, and where do you come from?”
Startled by Xie Huaiqiang’s aura, the man shuddered and hopped down from the ostrich.
“I am a Ceylonese; naturally I must refer to your Emperor that way.”
Xie Huaiqiang and the others were surprised. A Ceylonese, put that way, it indeed made sense; the man appeared dark-skinned, far darker than the people of Daixing, resembling someone from an overseas native tribe.
Qin Duan also nodded, having previously read the name of the Kingdom of Ceylon in a book titled Records of Ocean Travels. At the time, Ceylon had even paid tribute to the great Central Plains dynasty for a period, until later dynasties implemented maritime bans, severing ties between the two countries once more.
“How did you come here?”