However, it was only for a fleeting moment. Once they regained their senses, everyone bowed in unison.
As he drew closer, the Emperor’s eyes narrowed even further. Whether it was the swaying hairpins at her temples or her vibrant purple dress, she was dressed far more exquisitely than she had been at his birthday celebration a few days ago. Every detail revealed the importance she placed on today’s meeting.
When his gaze shifted to the mediocre-looking old man beside her, Wei Jingheng’s sword-like brows furrowed involuntarily, and an inexplicable emotion rose from the depths of his heart.
Only after seeing her frame tremble slightly did the Emperor finally let two words slip from his tightly pursed lips, causing the tense atmosphere to relax.
“At ease.”
Yu Yihe was finally able to stand straight, feeling slightly more relaxed. However, with the Emperor present, she still dared not let her guard down. She looked up slightly, her gaze happening to collide with the Emperor’s, who was dressed in casual navy blue robes.
“Why are you all gathered here?”
Wei Jingheng’s gaze swept between the two of them. His voice was flat, making it hard to discern any emotion, yet Yu Yihe felt an inexplicable sense of guilt. She lowered her eyelashes, not daring to look at him.
Seeing her head bowed in silence, his gaze fell upon the unremarkable man, and his lips thinned even more. How could someone with such a face even enter the imperial court as an official?
“Which department are you from? Why are you here?”
Zheng Langzhong had attained his position through his uncle’s influence and served in an unimportant department. He had only seen the Emperor a few times from a distance. Facing the Emperor directly now, his voice trembled involuntarily.
“This humble official is Zheng Youwei, the Langzhong of the Food Department under the Ministry of Rites. I am here to… meet with Miss Yu.”
His cowering state already displeased Wei Jingheng, and upon hearing the latter half of the sentence, the Emperor’s gaze turned several degrees colder.
Yu Yihe stole a glance and saw that icy look. Her heart filled with secret fear, and she scrambled to find a way to mend the situation. However, just as the thought crossed her mind, she heard the Emperor speak in a light, airy tone—
“I do not think they are a good match.”
Forget Qingshuang and the other servants involved; even Li Fuhai could not help but widen his eyes. Matters of compatibility between a man and a woman were usually only discussed by family. An outsider would typically not interfere in such personal matters.
Then again, the people were like the Emperor’s children, and he was the father of the nation. Even if he were to decree a marriage on the spot, no one would dare question him. Only those who knew the inner details could not help but let their thoughts wander.
Zheng Langzhong, however, was miserable. He immediately collapsed to his knees, his back shaking as he nodded in agreement. He wondered how he had offended the Emperor to receive such a remark. With those words spoken, he would never again dare to have any connection with the daughter of the Yu family.
Yu Yihe, meanwhile, instantly forgot her fear. To her, his words sounded like divine music, and the corners of her lips could not help but curl upward.
Glancing at the smile on her lips, the Emperor’s brow relaxed slightly. However, as if suddenly remembering something, a trace of awkwardness appeared on his face. Ignoring everyone else’s reaction, he tucked his hands behind his back and strolled away leisurely, as if he had truly just been passing by and happened to run into them.
After seeing the Emperor off, Zheng Langzhong, who had originally been moved by Yu Yihe’s beauty, scrambled to his feet. He didn’t even stop to brush off his sleeves or straighten his clothes before fleeing as fast as he could. He didn’t even say goodbye, nor did he dare to look at Yu Yihe again.
He was no fool. While he certainly liked beauties, his career was more important. As long as he kept his official post, why should he worry about not finding a beautiful wife?
Only the mistress and her maid were left in the apricot grove. Yu Yihe felt an immediate sense of relief. Once Zheng Langzhong’s figure had completely vanished, she no longer hid her feelings and laughed out loud.
Her joyful laughter echoed through the spring apricot grove like the song of a happy bird; anyone could hear the delight in it. The expression on Qingshuang’s face shifted from astonishment to joy, and she joined Yu Yihe in laughter.
They truly were not a good match. Looking at her mistress’s face—a face beautiful enough to make flowers bloom with a single smile—Qingshuang once again criticized the man named Zheng in her heart for wanting to “be an old cow eating tender grass.” Then, thinking of the impartial Emperor, her words were filled with praise.
“The Emperor is truly wise; he did not messily play matchmaker.”
Unaware of her mistress’s slight discomfort, she continued indignantly, “But Madam is truly muddled, actually sending you to meet such a person! It would be one thing if he were just old, but his appearance was also so…”
These words caused Yu Yihe’s joy to fade. She remembered the root cause of this situation and recalled Zheng Langzhong’s earlier words: “I’m afraid it will be difficult for your younger brother to take Zheng Shaofu as his teacher.”
Speaking of this brother, Yu Yihe had not seen him in three years. As the only son of Yu Shilang, he was naturally the most favored in the Yu family. While her elder sister and younger sister were more favored than she was, they still paled in comparison to her brother, Yu Zang.
This favor was not like the affection given to daughters; it was the kind of favor where the entire family’s resources were poured into his cultivation. For other children, it was enough to find a teacher who was a scholar or a provincial graduate. For Yu Zang’s early education, they had found an old student of the Guozijian. Needless to say, with a series of famous teachers, he was able to become a provincial graduate at the age of nineteen, considered a refined talent among the children of high-ranking officials in the capital.
Unfortunately, he failed the spring imperial examination the following year and was not listed on the Xingbang as a jinshi. Because of this, he left home to travel and study, all for the sake of being able to pluck the laurel from the Moon Palace next year.
Not only did he think this way, but the Yu family did as well. Therefore, her twenty-two-year-old brother remained unmarried, waiting only to be listed on the Xingbang so his parents could choose a bride from a prestigious family for him.
In all honesty, Yu Yihe did not have much contact with Yu Zang. He had been confined to the outer courtyard since childhood to study and spent very little time with his sisters. Most of the grievances Yu Yihe suffered had no direct connection to him, yet she knew that everything was related to him. He was the one who benefited behind the scenes.
Her parents looked out for him, her sisters protected his path, and even her second marriage was to be traded for an apprenticeship for him. How ridiculous. Just because he was a man, could he blatantly claim all the benefits?
She was no longer willing. Never again.
Qingshuang had been talking to herself for a long time before she noticed that her mistress’s face was as cold as still water. She froze; her mistress had always been gentle and was rarely seen angry.
“Qingshuang, I don’t want to endure it anymore.”
Her hand was gripped by her mistress, tightly. Qingshuang’s nose suddenly stung, and tears began to fall. She had seen all the grievances her mistress had suffered.
“Miss, then don’t endure it! Whatever you do, Qingshuang will support you!”
Feeling the strength of Qingshuang’s reciprocal grip on her hand, Yu Yihe’s eyes curved. As tears slid down, the corners of her mouth lifted higher and higher.
Fortunately, there were still two people in this world who cared for her wholeheartedly. For their sake, she could no longer allow herself to be meat on someone else’s chopping block.
Yu Yihe looked toward the path the Emperor had taken, her palm tightening inch by inch. Years of resentment, blame, and grievances, pushed by repeated favoritism, finally forced a sprout of ambition to grow.
Why should she be summoned and dismissed at will? Why should she be made to meet those ugly things for the sake of others? Was she born to be nothing more than a supporting character for someone else?
No, she was not willing! Never again!