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After Being Abandoned by the Empress, I Became a Winner
墨書 Inktalez
Prologue
My fiancée has returned from the battlefield, bringing back a man dressed in a crimson long robe. He rode in from the city gate, flamboyant and striking, resembling a red streak of sunlight rising on the horizon.
"So this is the man the princess likes," he said, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow at me, his emotions unreadable.
Ning Sheng could only glance at him helplessly. "It's just a joke; it shouldn't be taken seriously."
What a fine joke that shouldn't be taken seriously.
I waited for her for three years, only to receive this line.
1
Ning Sheng returned from the border, and upon hearing this, I rushed to Princess Mansion to find her, only to be told that she and Mr.Xiu Yan had gone to the Hunting Ground.
I hurried to the Hunting Ground and saw the two of them riding horses, chasing after a fleeing fawn.
Their laughter was bright and cheerful, instantly reminding me of the first time I met Ning Sheng.
They shared an unspoken bond, creating an atmosphere that others couldn't penetrate, occasionally exchanging smiles.
The fleeing fawn jumped in front of me, and with a swift sound, a long sword pinned it in place. Blood quickly spread across the ground; before it could struggle, it fell silent.
I stood there staring at the fawn, and when I looked up, I met Ning Sheng's gaze. "Chi Miao."
Ning Sheng looked at me in surprise before dismounting her horse.
"What are you doing here?" She instinctively glanced at the man beside her.
I looked at the person beside her and trembled as I shouted, "Who is he?"
I had imagined many scenarios of our reunion. I would ask her how she had been over the years, if she had been hurt... or tell her that I had missed her so much, or perhaps cry my heart out. But I never expected it to be like this, questioning her about the man who appeared beside her.
But it shouldn't have been like this. As the words fell, my eyes filled with tears.
Yet Ning Sheng did not comfort me as she had before, wiping my tears away. She just looked at me coldly and said, "His name is Xiu Yan. I saved him at the border."
After a pause, she added, "It's been three years; many things change."
Yes, it has been three years.
I wiped my tears and raised my eyes to carefully look at the man in front of me, feeling a sense of grievance that was almost overwhelming. She had lost a lot of weight and darkened considerably; there was a small scar on her brow about the length of a pinky finger. Her entire demeanor had become cold and sharp; years of battle had transformed her from the bright and radiant girl she once was.
I whispered in grievance, "But I waited for you for three years."
She stood in front of me, yet I felt she was incredibly far away. I desperately wanted to break this atmosphere and hurriedly reached out to grab the hem of her clothes. "Ning Sheng, you forgot what you said..."
Ning Sheng looked up but did not meet my gaze; she simply told the servant beside her, "Take Mr.Chi back."
My words caught in my throat; I didn't know how to express myself. It was clearly her who said that when she returned, she would marry me; it was clearly her who said that my eyes were as bright as a deer's and that she couldn't bear to see me cry; it was clearly...
Yes, all of that was just clearly... but time had passed, and her feelings had changed.
I turned back three times as I walked away, seeing them talking. That Mr.Xiu Yan glared at her angrily while my princess smiled and leaned closer, playfully flicking his forehead.
So intimate yet so piercingly painful. My heart suddenly throbbed with intense pain; the scorching sun nearly made me faint as waves of agony washed over me. Just as I was about to lose consciousness, I heard the servant's exclamation.
"Miao Miao..."
In the next moment, I fell into an embrace filled with the scent of bamboo, a familiar aroma that enveloped me completely.
I reached out and tightly grasped her sleeve, saying, "Shengsheng, don't leave me," before I fainted.
My sister often said that one shouldn't throw themselves into danger recklessly.
In her younger years, she had a crush on a Son, even going so far as to break off a childhood engagement for him. She devoted herself wholeheartedly to this Son, showing more care for him than anyone else, except for me.
My mother said she was too consumed by love to accomplish anything, but my sister didn't care. She even secretly gave away the family heirloom jade pendant to that Son.
After my father gave her a good beating, she remained unrepentant. Then Son took her things and turned around to marry another Consort.
For this, she went to that person's house to ask for a meeting but was thrown out.
Then she felt the deepest sorrow and accepted the family's arrangements, accepting the engagement that had been set since childhood. It was only in the past two years that things began to change. Later, when that Son's Consort fell into hard times and sought a divorce, he came looking for my sister again. After all, my sister had genuinely liked him when she was young and had given so much. She didn't say anything harsh but also ignored him completely.
She said one must have some self-respect; one cannot just rush back to clean up someone else's mess when they return.
I thought she was right. My mother was frustrated with both of us. When Ning Sheng went off to war, I disregarded the marriage arranged by my family in order to wait for her. It escalated to the point where I even threatened to become a monk and live out my life in solitude with only a lamp and Buddha for company.
My mother held her chest and wiped away her tears.
I was stubborn and insisted, "No one but Shengsheng will do."
They were at a loss with me. Now that Ning Sheng had returned, they could finally breathe a sigh of relief. My mother hurriedly sent my Wedding invitation to the Princess Mansion.
I realized this matter on the second day at noon. That day, I had collapsed and remained unconscious for a long time, lost in a haze of many dreams.
When I woke up, I saw my sister and my mother by the bedside, their eyes red-rimmed. Chunxia helped me sit up, her gaze filled with concern.
"The Third Princess has returned your Wedding invitation," my mother spoke, struggling to get the words out.
It took me a while to understand the meaning of her words, and I looked at Chunxia.
She shook her head and quietly said, "Last night, the lady personally went to deliver the Wedding invitation, wanting to discuss the marriage between the young master and the princess."
After hesitating for a moment, she added, "The Wedding invitation was returned this morning."
I was stunned for a moment, then my eyes turned red again as I looked at my sister.
My sister's worried gaze met mine as she comforted me with a look, mouthing, "It's okay, don't worry."
My mother had been an official for many years, known for her integrity and uprightness. Yet now, for my sake, her dignity had been trampled upon like this.
I got out of bed and disregarded everyone's calls as I ran out of the residence, heading straight towards the Princess Mansion. I knocked on the door for a long time but no one answered; the servants only said, "The princess is not here. Mr.Chi, please return."
Unwilling to give up, I squatted on the steps behind a stone lion. Passersby glanced at me casually. It wasn't until nightfall that Ning Sheng finally arrived late, holding Mr.Xiu's hand.
I stood up from behind the stone lion; perhaps I had squatted too long because as soon as I stood up, I felt dizzy.
She looked at me, momentarily taken aback, and squinted as she asked, "What are you doing here?"
I lowered my gaze to their intertwined hands. "Is he the one you like?"
The dashing Son beside her tilted his head and glanced at me, then smiled. "Quite exquisite."
Ning Sheng helplessly shot him a glance, a hint of a smile crossing her face, her tone carrying a touch of indulgence. "Don't mess around."
She turned to me again. "Is there anything else?"
Her words sent a chill through me, and I looked at her, asking, "Did you withdraw my Wedding invitation?"
She looked at me and then nodded. "Yes."
I nodded back, wanting to ask something more, but I opened my mouth, straightened my back, and looked into Ning Sheng's eyes.
I simply said, "Third Princess, today's matter was an intrusion on my part; it won't happen again in the future."
As I turned to leave, the man behind me grabbed my hand. He was very handsome, dressed in red, like a vibrant patch of Rhododendron.
He patted my head, smiled at me, and then said, "What a refined and beautiful young man you are."
In that instant, I felt no animosity toward him.
"Thank you," I replied softly.
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