“My elder sister is the most beloved eldest daughter of the Jiang family, while I am the neglected second daughter.”
“She is the renowned beauty of the capital, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Xiangfu, a model of noble ladies from prestigious families. I, on the other hand, am merely the crude girl raised in the wilderness, unworthy of mention.”
“She is the moon in the sky, I am the mud beneath the feet. I thought this would be my life forever.”
“Little did I expect that an Imperial Edict would completely alter the vastly different fates of her and me.”
“The new emperor was ruthless and merciless. My father, who doted on my elder sister, could not bear to see her suffer in the palace, so he brought me back from the wilderness.”
“But my elder sister fell in love with the new emperor, Ji Wuyuan, at a palace banquet and resolutely entered the palace in my stead, while I married the young Marquis Xiao, her childhood sweetheart, in her place.”
“After all, she was a pampered young lady raised in luxury. She thought that entering the palace would allow her to live happily with the one she loved. Yet the deep palace was a place that devoured people without leaving a trace. She was neglected, endured all kinds of hardships, and was eventually abandoned by her beloved and sent to the Cold Palace.”
“As for me, the young Marquis Xiao and I shared a deep affection, harmonious as zither and harp, like a perfect pair, admired by all.”
—Jiang Wantang.
…
Yongsheng Year Two, deep winter.
The Imperial Palace.
Vermilion walls and golden tiles were draped in silvery white, as if adorned with plain brocade. Flowers, grass, and trees had all lost their color, yet the palace was decorated with lanterns and streamers everywhere, warm light blending with the cold hues, creating a unique atmosphere.
Today was the birthday of the new emperor, Ji Wuyuan. Civil and military officials brought their families to the palace to offer their congratulations to the emperor.
At the banquet, Jiang Wantang glanced from afar at the noble man seated high on the platform, dressed in a black robe woven with golden dragon patterns.
The distance was too great to clearly see his features, but the man’s cold and arrogant aura, which seemed to look down upon all living beings, was impossible to ignore.
During the palace banquet, wine cups clinked, and laughter and chatter filled the air. Only he remained cold and aloof, as if detached from it all, exuding the majesty of an emperor.
Such a man, supreme and noble, yet also deadly…
This was the new emperor, Ji Wuyuan, for whom her elder sister Jiang Wanfu had fallen in love at first sight and resolutely entered the palace.
After just one glance, Jiang Wantang withdrew her gaze.
She lowered her eyes to the empty seat beside her, her expression deep and complex.
Then, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Jiang Wantang’s lips, tinged with an indescribable bitterness.
Her husband, the young Marquis Xiao of Pingyang Marquis Manor, Xiao Jingheng.
He had entered the palace with her but had disappeared shortly after.
Jiang Wantang did not need to think to know where he had gone.
Ever since her elder sister Jiang Wanfu was sent to the Cold Palace, Xiao Jingheng had behaved this way every time he entered the palace.
However, this time, even as the palace banquet was nearing its end, Xiao Jingheng had yet to appear.
As expected, he had likely sneaked off to the Cold Palace again.
With this thought, Jiang Wantang composed herself, stood up, and left the main hall, heading toward the Cold Palace.
Outside, heavy snow fell, and the sky was bitterly cold.
Braving the chill, Jiang Wantang had just reached the entrance of the Cold Palace when she heard the sound of a woman weeping inside…
“Brother Jingheng, won’t you take me away from here?”
“The Cold Palace is cold and damp. In such freezing weather, I can’t even get a warm meal. It’s no life for a person…”
“Brother Jingheng, I truly can’t bear it anymore. Please take me away.”
“If I stay here any longer, I’ll die!”
“…”
Immediately after, Jiang Wantang heard a familiar male voice speak.
“Fu’er, I will find a way to rescue you, just wait a little longer, alright?”
“There must be a way, Fu’er, don’t cry anymore. You know I can’t bear to see you cry…”
“I’ve already arranged everything inside and outside the palace; you won’t suffer…”
“Soon, I will come to take you out of the palace…”
“……”
The woman continued to weep uncontrollably, pleading to leave, while the man patiently soothed and comforted her with gentle words.
Inside, this devoted yet sorrowful pair were none other than her husband, Xiao Jingheng, and her elder sister, Jiang Wanfu.
Their mutual affection was evident, and anyone who heard them would sigh with admiration: childhood sweethearts, deeply in love since youth.
Outside the Cold Palace, the maid Xiuzhu supported Jiang Wantang, her face pale with anger, unable to hold back any longer. “Miss, the young marquis is going too far!”
“Shall I go in and drag that shameless pair out?”
Jiang Wantang merely shook her head with a faint smile and said calmly, “Let’s go.”
“We’ll wait for him at the palace gates first.”
After all, the new emperor showed no interest in women and cared little for any of the consorts in the rear palace.
Thus, mistress and maid supported each other as they made their way toward the palace gates.
A cold wind swept through, and Jiang Wantang tightened her snow-white fox fur cloak, gazing quietly at the snowflakes drifting down from the sky. Suddenly, she recalled the words Xiao Jingheng had spoken with utmost sincerity that morning before she left, holding her hand: “To share the snow together, to grow old side by side.”
How laughable it was that, in that moment, she had actually believed him.
Two families united in marriage, a hall bound by vows, a blessed union forever sealed, a match deemed equal…
A blessed union… forever sealed?
With these thoughts, Jiang Wantang let out a light laugh, her smile tinged with unmistakable self-mockery.
Everyone said she was fortunate—the young marquis Xiao Jingheng was virtuous and chaste, with no concubines in his household, doting on her alone. The two were deeply devoted, a perfect match.
Yet only she knew that his virtue and chastity were genuine;
His doting and protection were also genuine;
But their marital affection was false.
In his heart lay his white moonlight, Jiang Wanfu, whom he had loved obsessively for years, yearning for her but unable to have her.
Marrying her was merely a matter of circumstances, a reluctant compromise…
Indeed, this marriage of hers should have belonged to her elder sister, Jiang Wanfu. It was only because Jiang Wanfu did not want it that it fell to her instead.
……
Two years ago, the new emperor, Ji Wuyuan, ascended the throne, changing the era name to “Yongsheng.”
Rumors said this new emperor had no interest in women and never set foot in the rear palace.
Yet, just ten months ago, he suddenly issued an edict to hold a grand Selection Ceremony, and on a lavish scale.
Under the pretext of “enriching the rear palace and expanding the royal lineage.”
However, for this grand selection, the daughters of high-ranking court officials were all included in the roster, and naturally, the legitimate daughter of the Xiangfu Jiang family was among them.
The requirement was for a legitimate daughter, yet it was not explicitly stated which one.
Her father, Chancellor Jiang, had one legitimate son and three legitimate daughters. Among them, the eldest legitimate son, Jiang Huaizhou, and the eldest daughter, Jiang Wanfu, were from his beloved first wife, while she and her younger sister, Jiang Wanhe, were born to his second wife, Lady Qin.
Her father cherished his eldest daughter the most, pampering and doting on her, and naturally did not wish for her to enter the palace and suffer hardships.
He had long planned a life of wealth and stability for his legitimate eldest daughter, arranging her engagement to Xiao Jingheng.
The young marquis of Pingyang Marquisate, Xiao Jingheng, came from an excellent family, possessed outstanding looks, and was considered one of the finest young men in the capital, admired by countless noble ladies. Moreover, he shared a childhood bond with Jiang Wanfu.
Marrying him would naturally bring glory, wealth, and a lifetime free from worries.
As for her younger sister, Jiang Wanhe, she had not yet reached the age for the Coming-of-Age Ceremony.
A sudden Imperial Edict for selecting concubines left him perplexed.
If not reminded by the old steward of the mansion, he would have forgotten the existence of his second daughter Jiang Wantang, whom he had abandoned in a rural estate since childhood.
Thus, she was brought back to Xiangfu as the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family to participate in the palace selection.
Despite all his efforts for Jiang Wanfu, fate did not comply.
Jiang Wanfu had fallen in love with the new emperor Ji Wuyuan at a palace banquet and entered the palace without hesitation;
While she, in place of Jiang Wanfu, married Xiao, the young marquis.