“My lady, what are you thinking?” Seeing her silent, Qing Hao asked cautiously.
If she were thinking of killing Xie Meiying, Qing Hao had some ideas.
He Fangting sighed softly: “I was thinking of my grandfather and grandmother.”
Since their passing, there had been no one left in the world who truly cherished her. She still had Yu’er and Ying’er, but it was not the same.
Her marriage to Jiang Zhixiu had been carefully arranged by her grandparents.
Grandfather had said: great clans feared her royal blood. Even if she forced her way into one, her life would not be smooth. Better to marry into a poor but promising family: the emperor would be reassured, and her in-laws would not bully her.
With her dowry, she could slowly cultivate her husband’s household. After some years, when the emperor grew old and no longer held grudges, her husband’s family would rise to prominence, and she would be a respected mistress—no less than any other county princess.
They had chosen Jiang Zhixiu because of his talent and bright future, his scholarly pride and stubborn character. Without support, he would not last long in officialdom. She could be that support, and together they would thrive.
Of course, appearance was also considered. Jiang Zhixiu was tall and handsome, a figure like jade. Even her exacting grandfather thought him worthy of his granddaughter.
Grandmother had said: the way Jiang Zhixiu looked at He Fangting was bright, love at first sight. With such a bond at the start, they could endure the long years ahead.
They had foreseen everything. Only, hearts change—and Jiang Zhixiu’s change came far too soon.
Back at Chunming Court, Nanny Kong heard from Qing Hao what had happened at Songrong Hall. She cursed the Jiang family’s heartlessness, then wiped her eyes and choked: “Ah, how fate toys with us! Fang girl, you should have been the most honored county princess in Great Zhao…”
He Fangting stopped her: “Nanny, never speak such words again.”
Nanny Kong realized her mistake: “I won’t, I won’t.”
He Fangting sent her off to rest, smiling faintly to herself. Yes—had things gone as expected, her life would be far better than now.
Her mother, Princess Fuzhuang, had been the twin sister of the late Crown Prince, both children of the former emperor and empress. If the Crown Prince had ascended smoothly, Princess Fuzhuang’s status would have risen, and He Fangting’s as well.
But accidents are accidents precisely because they cannot be foreseen.
In the late years of the former emperor, gravely ill, the Second Prince allied with the Fourth Prince against the Crown Prince. Somehow, both princes died. The emperor believed the Crown Prince was responsible, and in fury, imprisoned him.
The Crown Prince, long cherished by his parents, could not bear such treatment. On the courtyard wall, he wrote in blood the word “Wronged, then set fire to the rear palace and perished with his wives and concubines.
The Empress, upon hearing the news, died instantly.
The Emperor spat blood in grief and ordered a thorough investigation. It was then discovered that the Crown Prince had indeed been innocent—the Second and Fourth Princes had been murdered by the Fifth Prince. The Emperor immediately commanded the Fifth Prince’s execution, avenging his three sons.
Thus, only the Seventh Prince, born of Consort Su, remained.
The Emperor named him Crown Prince, and shortly thereafter, he passed away.
Within mere days, Princess Fuzhuang lost her brother and both parents. Overcome with despair, she suspected the Seventh Prince’s involvement and questioned him bitterly.
The Seventh Prince—now the new emperor—always acted humbly and fearfully, making it seem as though Princess Fuzhuang was unreasonable. He even showered her with favors, sending endless rewards to her palace.
Ministers praised the new emperor’s generosity, but discerning eyes knew he disliked Princess Fuzhuang.
Some time later, Prince Zhenbei entered the capital by imperial command. At first sight, he fell in love with Princess Fuzhuang and publicly sought her hand. She refused, causing a scandal in the Golden Hall, humiliating both the emperor and the prince.
The emperor, enraged, quarreled with her, accusing her of selfishness and disregard for the realm. Prince Zhenbei left that very night, declaring he would never again seek a royal bride.
After this, the emperor’s dislike of Princess Fuzhuang became open. He ignored her marriage prospects, leaving her to fend for herself. No one in the capital dared marry her. Only when Marquis Changning returned from the western frontier did he petition to have his third son wed her. With little choice, Princess Fuzhuang married into the He family. She lived in melancholy, plagued by illness, and died young.
With her death, the grievances of the previous generation seemed to dissipate. The emperor did not suppress the He family, nor did he punish He Fangting, daughter of Princess Fuzhuang. Before her marriage, he even broke precedent by granting her the title of County Princess and bestowing a dowry.
By custom, a princess’s daughter could only be titled County Lady; only daughters of princes or kings could be County Princesses. The emperor’s gesture was meant to show he bore no grudge against Princess Fuzhuang’s line. Yet the title he gave her was Shun’an—which could mean “peace through harmony,” but also “peace through submission.”
The court was full of sharp minds. From such subtleties, they saw the emperor’s true dislike. Thus, He Fangting’s marriage prospects were neither high nor low, leaving the He elders troubled.
Jiang Zhixiu’s appearance solved that dilemma.
In some ways, He Fangting was grateful to him and to the Jiang family. When they overstepped, she often chose to laugh it off and forgive.
But dual marriage—this she could never forgive.