On the mountain path in the western outskirts of Ye City, two horses galloped one after the other, hooves clattering on the frozen trail.
The pounding hooves startled a few sparrows in the dry grass along the path, and they flapped away in a flurry.
On the lead chestnut horse, Princess Ming Zhao rode in a tight-sleeved crimson hu attire. Her hair was bound high at the back of her head with a matching ribbon, bouncing with the rhythm of the horse.
Behind her, Xie Xing rode in a black fitted outfit, holding the reins calmly, following at a steady pace.
They dismounted at the mountain top, walking their horses to a flat, large rock.
The view was expansive. Looking down, one could see the entirety of Ye City.
Dense rooftops, intersecting streets, the distant Imperial City, and the protective moat surrounding it.
The horses were tied to a nearby leafless tree. Princess Ming Zhao took a deep breath of the crisp mountain air.
Xie Xing walked to her side, gazing down at the city. His voice was gentle. “Princess, look. The city never sleeps.”
“Though it is midwinter, the streets are orderly, houses well-kept, and smoke rises from chimneys. The people’s lives seem stable enough.”
“Under His Majesty’s reign, it can indeed be considered a sign of a peaceful and prosperous state.”
Princess Ming Zhao followed his gesture but only smiled lightly, expression neutral. “Is that so?”
“Minister Xie, is what you see truly peace and prosperity?”
She turned to him, her eyes sharp and unguarded. “But we both know what lies beneath that stability.
In grand households, every night is filled with revelry. Wine flows freely. But who notices those huddled in leaky homes, frozen to death along the roads?”
“This peace is what some wish the world to see. They don’t care how rotten things are underneath, as long as the surface shines.”
Xie Xing’s smile faded slightly. He said nothing, simply observing her quietly, eyes deepening.
Some truths needed no words; both understood each other perfectly.
Princess Ming Zhao did not mind. She turned back toward Ye City, arms outstretched. “Still, to ride out like this and feel the open air is exhilarating!”
“In the western quarters of the Palace, I was suffocating from boredom!”
Xie Xing smiled. “It’s just a pity it’s winter. The vegetation is sparse, and there are few birds or beasts for you to hunt, so some amusement is lost.”
“Being able to come out at all is enough,” she waved him off, then suddenly remembered something. She looked at Xie Xing with curiosity.
“Minister Xie, tell me. How did you persuade Imperial Father to let me leave the Palace today? The other night I snuck out, and he was furious. The palace gates have been guarded like iron ever since.”
She knew Cui Weijin must have reported the incident.
[Even though that night, in the carriage, she had pleaded with him not to tell, that icy block of a man was as deep as the sea. Who knew what he thought?]
Imperial Father had not locked her away, only strengthened the guards and issued orders forbidding her to sneak out—a measure already giving her some face.
At Chengxin Hall earlier, her flirtatious and ambiguous words had carried a hint of mischief and revenge for Cui Weijin’s tattling.
Xie Xing remained calm and gentle. “Princess, rest assured. I have my methods.”
“I convinced His Majesty that your outing was not reckless, but beneficial to your mind and body.”
“Moreover…” He looked at Princess Ming Zhao. “With me accompanying you, your safety is ensured.”
Princess Ming Zhao raised an eyebrow, no longer beating around the bush. “Minister Xie, you specially invited me out today. Surely it isn’t merely to accompany me riding or sightseeing?”
“We have interacted a few times, so we understand each other’s temperaments. Speak plainly—what is it that you want?”
Xie Xing looked into her bright, clear eyes, clapped his hands lightly, and smiled. Appreciation shone in his gaze.
“As expected, the rumors outside are utterly ridiculous. Princess, you are exceptionally wise. How could you be illiterate as they claim?”
Princess Ming Zhao’s gaze returned to the massive, silent capital below. Her voice was cold, cutting.
“Throughout history, destroying a woman has been easy. Pour dirt on her, call her crazy or promiscuous. Truth or falsehood, who cares? When enough people say it, others believe she is as vile or loose as described.”
“Even if she desperately defends herself, to them she is just a jester. The more she protests, the darker her reputation becomes, and guilt is assumed.”
She turned back to Xie Xing, eyes steady. Her tone was solemn. “That is why I never justify myself.”
“They say I am mad—I will show them madness. They say I break rules—I will do what they deem unruly.”
“I am who I am. What they say has nothing to do with me. If they are sure I am unworthy, fine. Present proof.”
“If they cannot, then shut their mouths. As for whether others believe… let them. Gossip and refutation alike are a losing game, and I refuse to play.”
Xie Xing listened silently, then clapped his hands lightly, genuinely admiring her. “Princess, your courage and insight are extraordinary. You are not bound by worldly slanders. I truly respect that.”
Princess Ming Zhao waved him off. “Save the flattery.”
“Minister Xie, you still have not answered me. After all this trouble to bring me out today, what is your purpose?”
Xie Xing’s smile faded, replaced by a serious and solemn expression.
Standing face-to-face with Princess Ming Zhao, their robes fluttering in the mountain wind, he met her gaze.
“The reason I invited Princess to travel with me today… is simple.”
The wind at the mountain top seemed to quiet, as he said, “I… wish to request to marry Princess as my wife.”