Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The Queen's words were not without reason, and the Emperor shared the same thoughts. Indeed, it had always been this way; how could a junior decide on matters of a lifetime?
However, such sentiments could not be expressed here, nor in front of the Queen, for that would only add fuel to the fire and push things into a worse state.
That was a situation the Emperor absolutely did not wish to see.
Thus, the matter of the betrothal was set aside, and the celebration continued. Sovereign and Subject raised their cups and toasted one another, appearing harmonious.
At least, that was how it seemed on the surface.
In stark contrast to the lively banquet, the Imperial Garden felt particularly desolate. Liu Susu caught up with the Shangyang Princess, who was heartbroken and crying uncontrollably.
"Your Highness, blessings upon you!" Liu Susu approached and bowed, but received no response from the Shangyang Princess.
The princess was engulfed in the fury of being rejected for the first time in her life, especially by the one she had longed for. It felt as if her entire world had collapsed.
The palace maids continuously tried to comfort her, wiping away her tears, but it was of no use; the tears flowed like water from a broken pipe, unstoppable.
Liu Susu felt quite satisfied with this scene. The more sorrowful the Shangyang Princess became, the more effective her subsequent schemes of sowing discord would be.
"Your Highness, do you know why General Gu publicly rejected you in front of the officials?" Liu Susu glanced at the palace maid beside her. The maid shrank back slightly, afraid to disobey her, and handed over a handkerchief to Liu Susu.
Taking the handkerchief, Liu Susu wiped away the Shangyang Princess's tears. Soon it was soaked through, so she switched to another one.
As she cried, the Shangyang Princess shot Liu Susu a tear-filled glare. "Are you here to mock me? He made it very clear at the banquet that he has someone he cares for!"
Once Gu Bei's affections were mentioned, the Shangyang Princess's sorrow intensified even further, and her tears fell even faster.
Liu Susu thrived on her despair. "So, does the princess not want to know who General Gu's beloved truly is?"
"Huh?" The Shangyang Princess paused in her sobs and asked, "You know?"
She urged, "Sister Liu, please tell me, who is it?"
Liu Susu feigned a resolute demeanor. "Originally, this matter shouldn't involve someone like me. But since we’ve been good friends since childhood, how can I bear to see you treated this way?"
She glanced around as if afraid someone might overhear, though her voice remained steady. "General Gu has been enchanted by a courtesan outside and has been proclaiming that he will marry no one but her!"
"A courtesan?" The Shangyang Princess gasped. "How could he possibly know someone like that? Would the Gu Family allow a courtesan into their home?"
Liu Susu sighed. "Isn't that the truth? The Gu Family has a long history of loyalty and high status; every matriarch has been a lady of noble birth. Yet Gu Bei has become so infatuated with that woman that he disregards the reputation of the Gu Family and insists on marrying her!"
Though both wives and concubines served their husbands, their statuses were worlds apart. A wife held an equal standing with her husband, while a concubine was merely a plaything, often subject to mistreatment or even sold off.
In ancient times, marriages were typically arranged between families of equal standing. Occasionally, couples of unequal status would become the talk of the town.
The Shangyang Princess couldn't believe it. In her mind, Gu Bei should be a more composed and rational man; wasn't he a strategic general? Why would he make such a foolish decision to be captivated by a courtesan and even wish to marry her?
Anger surged within her. "He actually rejected my father's marriage proposal for a courtesan? I can't believe I've lost to such a lowly woman!"
Despite feeling heartbroken over Gu Bei's earlier displays of affection, the Shangyang Princess had always assumed his beloved was some noble lady from an esteemed family. She had even thought about meeting this woman to see what qualities could have captured Gu Bei's heart.
But she never expected that his beloved would be a courtesan with whom she would never have any connection.
In truth, Liu Susu had deliberately distorted the facts. In this era, while it was indeed scandalous for women to expose themselves in business, the term "courtesan" often referred specifically to those women who entertained guests in lavish establishments.
The women who sold smiles for a living were already at the bottom of society, easily trampled by anyone.
When the Shangyang Princess heard Liu Susu's description, she assumed that Ye Xiaohan was one of those women. The thought of being compared to such a person, and losing at that, filled her with rage.
It is important to understand that nobles valued their reputation above all else. For the sake of face, they would willingly sacrifice everything else. Moreover, the Shangyang Princess was a true gem, of noble status.
Liu Susu continued to fan the flames, saying, "Your Highness, please don't be too angry. Right now, General Gu only has eyes for that woman. If you offend her, General Gu will surely blame you."
The Shangyang Princess had not even considered this angle until Liu Susu deliberately drew her attention to it. What she wanted to see was Ye Xiaohan being suppressed by the Shangyang Princess.
Ye Xiaohan dared to offend the daughter of a chancellor; one could only wonder if she would dare to offend the entire royal family.
As expected, the pampered Shangyang Princess did not pick up on Liu Susu's malice and thought it was merely concern.
"I want to see what kind of terrible fate awaits someone who offends a tavern girl!" The Shangyang Princess laughed in anger. When her expression turned cold, she exuded a unique regal aura that commanded respect.
Liu Susu was caught off guard and felt a bit frightened. Having grown up in the palace due to her connection with Liu Consort, she was familiar with the princes and princesses there.
The Shangyang Princess was younger than her and usually carefree due to being favored. Thus, Liu Susu had always seen her as a gentle Your Highness.
She never expected that at such a young age, the Shangyang Princess would possess such determination; truly befitting of a royal princess.
For Liu Susu, the more difficult the Shangyang Princess became, the worse Ye Xiaohan's situation would be, which would only make her happier.
Watching the Shangyang Princess storm away in anger, Liu Susu couldn't help but reveal a smug smile behind her.
Oh Ye Xiaohan, let's see how you handle this. The Shangyang Princess is not alone; she has the Queen behind her, as well as the Emperor and the entire vast royal family.
How many people who have offended the royal family have had a good outcome?
If she weren't currently in the palace, Liu Susu would have laughed out loud, releasing the pent-up frustration of so many days. Fortunately, she hadn't completely lost her mind; in the end, she merely suppressed her joy and returned to the banquet, behaving just like everyone else until it concluded without a hitch.
Unaware of the impending storm, Ye Xiaohan felt quite content with life as she entered.
Gu Bei's identity issue had been resolved, allowing them to meet freely without having to hide or watch the clock. Business was back on track; although it was exhausting due to the busyness, seeing the silver flow in steadily made it all worthwhile.
Additionally, after Ye Xiaohan's efforts, Bai Rong'er’s condition was also improving significantly.
Previously, Ye Xiaohan had thought that Bai Rong'er was pretending to be sick even after her illness had supposedly healed. However, after treatment and careful observation, she realized that Bai Rong'er’s condition had not fully recovered.
In fact, when Bai Rong'er had stepped up to save people a few times before, she had been in a somewhat dazed state. She knew that Ye Xiaohan and the others were good people and that they needed saving; she also understood how to use martial arts. Yet, it felt as if she were being controlled by an unseen force rather than acting on her own initiative.
During those moments, a look of confusion would often cross her face. This situation had been occurring more frequently lately, which was a good sign—Bai Rong'er was gradually recalling past events.
To help Bai Rong'er recover better, Ye Xiaohan now insisted on taking her out for walks. There were simply too few people in the house; facing just a handful of individuals made it hard to find greater stimulation.
It was better to stroll through the streets, observe the passersby, and enjoy some snacks—who knows what might trigger a memory?
Now that Bai Rong'er's condition had stabilized significantly, aside from some things she still couldn't remember and occasional moments of confusion, she wouldn't suddenly lose her mind. Even going out posed no real problem anymore.
Comment 0 Comment Count