Chapter 10: Marriage, Part 1
“What is going on?”
Yu Qingyan looked up involuntarily when she heard Chu Yuheng speak.
No wonder the original Yu Qingyan was drawn to him—his features were like a painting. Truly, a delicate young emperor.
Consort Jing’s hair was disheveled, her face marked by several deep scratches from a cat, and her clothes torn in places. Upon seeing the emperor, she immediately knelt down.
“Your Majesty, I did not know you were coming. Please forgive me.”
“Look at you! What a mess you’ve made of yourself!”
Chu Yuheng’s deep gaze shifted from Consort Jing to Yu Qingyan, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.
“Your Majesty, this is not my doing. It was her!”
Yu Qingyan adjusted her expression and knelt before Chu Yuheng.
“Yu Qingyan, I pay my respects to Your Majesty.”
Chu Yuheng looked at the woman kneeling in the snow. To him, she was just a pawn, a piece to stabilize Yu Songnian. He had bestowed her upon the Prince of Leisure because the late Second Prince and the Prince of Leisure shared the same mother. This was to keep the Prince of Leisure in check.
Aside from that one glance in the snow at their first meeting, he had never truly looked at her.
“You explain—what happened here?”
“Your Majesty,” Yu Qingyan replied, “Consort Jing was simply scratched by her own cat.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes, that is all.”
“Then why did you run?”
Yu Qingyan looked up but did not meet the emperor’s eyes. “Cats are not as gentle as rabbits; naturally, one must keep their distance.”
Chu Yuheng was momentarily stunned, then suddenly crouched down to look at her face. “Do you not hate me?”
Yu Qingyan rolled her eyes silently—what a nuisance. Saying she did not hate him would be a lie; the hatred for the murder of her father and family ran deep. But to admit hatred openly was impossible—this man before her was the emperor.
“I do hate. But Yu Qingyan only hates her own miserable fate. Your Majesty,” she met his gaze, “when you married me, was it truly sincere?”
Hearing this, Chu Yuheng slowly stood. “Tomorrow is the wedding day. Xique, take the Princess of Leisure back to Zhenning Palace to prepare for the wedding.”
“Yes.”
Consort Jing was stunned. “Your Majesty! It was clearly her—”
“Changxi, summon the imperial physician to tend to Consort Jing’s facial wounds.”
Yu Qingyan followed Xique out of Phoenix Singing Palace, returning all the way to Zhenning Palace. Upon entering, Nurse Qin, who had previously taken her measurements, was already waiting.
“Please try on the wedding attire.”
“Bring it in.”
“Miss.”
Yu Qingyan glanced at Cui’er. Fortunately, the girl was not too dull and, after a few days of instruction, had come to understand something of her temperament.
Once dressed, Cui’er looked at Yu Qingyan with eyes full of admiration. “Miss, you are truly beautiful.”
Yu Qingyan looked at herself in the mirror—her brows unpainted yet elegant, her lips naturally red, a gentle smile playing on her face, her gaze enchanting. She bore a strong resemblance to her pre-transmigration self.
This was not Yu Qingyan’s first marriage, but it was a first for the Hawk. Yu Qingyan frowned; alas, her current strength was insufficient to escape! Even if she managed to flee, success was impossible.
Since she had come, she would make the best of it—and find a way to deal with the present emperor. Staying at the Prince of Leisure’s residence might be a good option.
The next day, dressed in bright red wedding clothes, under a crimson sedan chair, accompanied by two maids, Yu Qingyan arrived at the Prince of Leisure’s mansion.
Cui’er helped her down from the sedan. The red wedding veil covered her head, revealing only the ground before her eyes. There were no sounds of celebration, only quiet—broken occasionally by whispered gossip reaching her ears.
“Where is the Prince?” Cui’er finally could bear it no longer and asked aloud.