A Single Tie Of Long Hair Seals A Lifelong Commitment - Chapter 3.2

She was fighting fiercely with Zhai Ji, the enemy country’s second prince who had snuck across the border to ambush the diplomatic mission, determined to take the scoundrel’s life. Her hair was a mess, blood was spattered everywhere, and upon returning to the military camp, she was penalized with twenty military floggings and could not move while lying on the cot. Xie Yuan felt the fault lay with him for causing her to be punished, and feeling guilty, he specifically entered the tent to deliver medicine to her.

Chen Liangyu mistakenly thought the visitor was Chen Linjun and instructed him, “Elder Brother, go fetch me a cup of water.”

A cup of hot tea was gently placed on the low table beside the cot, along with the palace medical office’s gold trauma medicine.

Emperor Xuanyuan had three sons: Crown Prince Xie Yu, who was decisive and autocratic, and whose governance until now had shown a great propensity for setting things right, earning the respect and awe of the court officials; Prince Qi, Xie Xuan, who was well-read in classics and unparalleled in political essays, excelling in scholarship but also being highly competitive; and Prince Shen, Xie Yuan, who was inconspicuous, with no outstanding achievements, consistently modest and obedient, and disliked conflict.

From that encounter, Xie Yuan truly seemed modest and obedient, a person of good temperament.

Chen Yuanqing stirred the tea foam and asked her, “Have you set your sights on Prince Shen?”

The people in the Northern Frontier had a bold and unreserved local custom. Discussion of marriage and love was common, regardless of gender. Having been influenced by this, she was not particularly shy about the topic.

Chen Liangyu said, “Just a casual question.”

Chen Yuanqing, however, had already sensed the hidden meaning. “Since that is the case, I will inform His Majesty.” After a moment of thought, he added, “Prince Shen has a gentle nature. He is not competitive.”

Chen Liangyu replied, “There are no non-competitive people, Father, only people who cannot compete.”

Chen Yuanqing’s expression took on a different nuance upon hearing this, but he didn’t lecture her further. After a pause, he allowed her to have her way. “Follow your own mind.”

The next day at the court assembly, after the lengthy reports from the Six Ministries, the decrees for honors and rewards were formally announced.

Crown Prince Xie Yu stood below. His face was overcast, and he subtly glanced toward the dark shadow cast in the corner by the carved dragon, lacquered gold screen behind the throne in the Hall of Supreme Governance.

A delicate silhouette flashed there.

The side door of the Hall of Supreme Governance was opened, and Xie Wenjun slipped in, clinging to the wall’s shadow like a willow catkin. She buried herself in the heavy shadow behind the carved dragon screen of the Hall of Supreme Governance, hiding behind a corner pillar. Her gaze pierced through the moving gaps between the officials in their crimson-purple robes, falling upon a single figure in silver armor.

Chen Liangyu, being an exceptional recipient of a title, was placed last. After receiving the edict as usual, she did not rush to offer thanks and rise. “Your Majesty, your servant dares to be bold and would like to request one more favor from Your Majesty.”

Emperor Xuanyuan’s bead curtain, hanging from his ceremonial crown, obscured most of his expression. He was in a good mood and asked, “What favor do you wish to request from Us?”

Chen Liangyu immediately performed the full kowtow salute. “Your servant is enamored with His Royal Highness Prince Shen. I beg Your Majesty to bestow a marriage upon us.”

As soon as these words were uttered, the entire hall erupted in an uproar.

Upon hearing this, Xie Yuan suddenly raised his head to look at Chen Liangyu, his face filled with disbelief, before turning his gaze to the throne.

The smile on Emperor Xuanyuan’s lips froze. In contrast, the gloom on the Crown Prince’s face was swept away to reveal sunshine; the word ‘gratitude’ was written all over his face, impossible to conceal. Seeing this, Emperor Xuanyuan knew that he might want to force the match, but both parties were clearly unwilling.

Chen Liangyu was completely bewildered by the sudden clamor and the equally swift silence of the crowd. Before she could figure out the situation, her heavily wounded, still-recovering father rushed out like a bolt of lightning, knelt and kowtowed, begging for forgiveness. “My daughter has been disrespectful before the Throne. It is my lack of proper guidance. I beg Your Majesty for pardon.”

Chen Liangyu, not understanding the reason, followed Chen Yuanqing and performed another kowtow. When the situation seemed bad, it was always correct to apologize first; you couldn’t be faulted for too much courtesy.

It must be noted that while the Emperor’s intention to select a Crown Princess had been privately discussed with Chen Yuanqing, attentive officials were aware of it. All that was missing was the official decree.

Others believed that without a formal decree, all speculation was invalid and that the lack of an official match meant the matter was mere conjecture.

Left Chancellor Xun Xian secretly rejoiced.

He also had a daughter who was of marriageable age. In terms of suitability to be mistress of the Eastern Palace, he was confident that the daughter of the Xun family, raised in the inner chambers and cultivated for over a decade, was more suitable than the Chen family daughter, who had grown up wild in a desolate land.

Right Chancellor Zhang Diancheng squinted, looking left and right, his small mustache curling up at both ends, and commented, “Youth is truly wonderful—they have the audacity!”

Emperor Xuanyuan sat high on the platform, saying nothing. The cheerful atmosphere in the Hall of Supreme Governance instantly chilled. The entire scene solidified into the cold ice of the twelfth lunar month, and all officials held their tongues, each lost in their own thoughts.

No one noticed the subtle movement in the corner of the Hall of Supreme Governance—a shadow like a willow catkin wavered.

She looked up at that spot. In the dim light, Xie Wenjun’s pupils shone with startling brightness.

In the moment Chen Liangyu looked up, her gaze fell precisely into the depths of Xie Wenjun’s eyes.

Upon catching sight of Xie Wenjun, Chen Liangyu’s eyebrows rose, but she quickly lowered her gaze.

The inner and outer courts were separated, and although the Princess resided in the Eastern Palace, she should not trespass into the outer court. To prevent Xie Wenjun from being discovered and penalized with house arrest, Chen Liangyu gave no outward sign.

After a long while, the voice from the Imperial seat finally rang out, carrying its usual, emotionless authority. “We understand. Your merit in repelling the enemy is a service to the state. As for the matter you request, We shall deliberate upon it.”

The heavy palace doors were pushed open, and the officials filed out. The crimson-purple and dark-blue-robed ministers gathered in small groups of two or three, leaning in to whisper to each other.

Chen Liangyu inadvertently looked toward the corner pillar again.

The corner of the court dress she had glimpsed earlier was tucked deeper into the shadows. Xie Wenjun’s eyes were filled with astonishment and a kind of… brokenness that Chen Liangyu could not interpret.

Her gaze lingered on Xie Wenjun for only a brief moment. Then, with a solemn expression, she bowed to the direction where Xie Wenjun was hiding, giving a formal salute of a subordinate.

Xie Wenjun leaned against the cold pillar, her face taut.

The formal, immaculate courtesy had not the slightest pause or hesitation. After the salute, Chen Liangyu did not even straighten up to glance at Xie Wenjun’s reaction before turning decisively and leaving the hall.

And then, she was gone.

The vast, heart-stutteringly empty Hall of Supreme Governance was left with only a small silhouette forgotten in the dark shadow of the carved dragon screen.

Rong Jun, the Palace Guard Commander of the Eastern Palace, was ordered by the Crown Prince to escort Xie Wenjun back to the Eastern Palace. The inner servants of the Hall of Supreme Governance came to find her; she was still leaning by the corner pillar alone.

Her chin rested against the high collar of her robe, looking as if she were facing a difficult policy question posed by her Imperial Brother.

Difficult.

Troublesome and difficult to resolve.

Having stood in the darkness for a long time, she had mistakenly thought the sky outside had turned cloudy and grey. Outside the hall, the sky was bright, a sunny day. The mythical beast on the eave of the Meridian Gate held a cluster of silkworm-white clouds in its mouth.

Rong Jun instructed the two inner servants of the Hall of Supreme Governance who had found Xie Wenjun, “Princess Jiangning mistakenly entered the Outer Court today. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will naturally offer guidance. The two of you do not need to report this to His Majesty.”

“Yes, Commander Rong.”

Xie Wenjun gripped the sun-warmed wood grain of the railing, her gaze fixed on a person below the Meridian Gate.

Below the terrace, Chen Liangyu walked beside her father and brother, trailing behind the dispersing officials as they exited the palace through the passage of the Meridian Gate.

The tail of her crimson cloak hung down to her knees, highlighting the straight and long lines of Chen Liangyu’s back as it swung in an arc with her clean strides.

In the morning light, her shadow stretched long and obliquely, and Chen Liangyu did not look back.