A Stolen Romance - Chapter 33

Chapter 33: No Tying It Even

A sudden yelp startled the little yellow dogs passing by, making them stop short and scamper away.

“You, you, how could you—” Shi Yuning took a full step back, frantically looking around. Thankfully, there were only a few stray dogs, and they had been scared off. Shi Yuning’s heart had also been startled by Xie Zhaoran’s sudden action.

The instigator was there, laughing triumphantly. “How could I what?” Xie Zhaoran asked, though she knew the answer. She tapped her rosy lips, her eyes crinkling upwards like willows in the spring breeze. “Last night, you were the one who stole a kiss from me first.” She laughed happily, the last syllable of her sentence swirling with a flirtatious hint.

Shi Yuning couldn’t believe that in broad daylight, under a clear sky, Xie Zhaoran would bring up the matter with no warning. Although she had been the first to make a move last night, the one who stole the kiss, still— Shi Yuning’s face turned red, and she jutted out her neck to defend herself. “You… you didn’t… kiss me back…?” The last few words were spoken in an increasingly quiet voice. Then, as if she had found her courage, she lifted her chin. “We’re even now!”

Xie Zhaoran had never heard of such a thing as “tying it even.” Looking at Shi Yuning’s face, as red as a ripe jujube, she chuckled softly. “We can’t call it even. Didn’t I just kiss you again?” Shi Yuning was speechless.

Seeing her conflicted expression, Xie Zhaoran’s smile deepened. She teased playfully, “What’s wrong, you silly goose? I’m the one with the broken arm and leg. You didn’t hurt your head, did you?”

Shi Yuning snapped back to reality. “You’re the one who hurt your head!” she added in her mind. Otherwise, why would you become so… bold?

Xie Zhaoran straightened her face and adopted a serious expression. “My mind is fine. I still remember a certain young lady stole a kiss from me last night and said she liked me.” Shi Yuning could now see that Xie Zhaoran was deliberately teasing her.

“Yes, it was me! I stole a kiss from you, but you also said you loved me. You said—” The words caught in Shi Yuning’s throat. Her face flushed crimson, and she felt too embarrassed to repeat what Xie Zhaoran had said last night.

“You said you loved me, you liked me, and you only liked me,” Xie Zhaoran said with a smile, completing her sentence.

Shi Yuning’s eyes widened as she stared at Xie Zhaoran. She had never realized how thick-skinned this person was. She could say such things without a change in her expression. But she looked so beautiful when she said it. Her eyes were bright, and her voice was enchanting. Those simple words were like ice on a hot summer day, making her heart feel utterly at ease. Shi Yuning suddenly broke into a wide smile. It wasn’t a dream. That’s so good.

Seeing Shi Yuning’s happy expression, Xie Zhaoran’s hand, which had been clutching the leg of the bench, relaxed slightly. She had been so nervous she almost broke the leg of the bench. The gentle morning breeze of summer blew by, making the leaves rustle softly. With her beloved laughing freely in the brilliant sunlight, the empty space in Xie Zhaoran’s heart felt suddenly and completely filled.

“I’m not talking to you anymore. I’m going to make breakfast.” Shi Yuning felt too shy under Xie Zhaoran’s gaze. Remembering that they hadn’t eaten yet, she quickly turned to go. After a couple of steps, she turned back. She reached out and helped Xie Zhaoran up, then took the bench from her hands. She placed it to the side and sat on it to test it. “The bench is fine, it’s very stable.” Shi Yuning stood up and pressed Xie Zhaoran to sit down. “You sit here and get some sun. I’ll go make breakfast.”

When Xie Zhaoran saw Shi Yuning turn back, she thought something was wrong. She didn’t expect it to be such a thoughtful gesture… “Okay,” Xie Zhaoran agreed, sitting quietly on the long bench and watching Shi Yuning enter the kitchen. From the courtyard, she could see the small kitchen with a large clay stove. A smile played on Xie Zhaoran’s lips as she watched the busy figure making a fire, washing pots, washing vegetables, and cooking—all in full swing.

…

In the palace, inside the Hall of Governance, Xiao Lijun’s face was as still as water as she listened to her personal guard report on the matters of the Duke of Xie and Marquis Shi. After hearing the report and learning about the two families’ different attitudes toward their daughters’ fall, she felt genuine sorrow for Xie Zhaoran.

Having been born into the royal family, she knew that there were no real emotions in a ruler’s family. A mother’s love and a son’s filial piety were luxuries. Since she had never held out hope, she was never too disappointed. But she remembered a time in her childhood when Xie Zhaoran had held many expectations for the Xie family. That year, Xie Zhaoran was about three, and she was five. For her birthday, the empress had personally made her a dress and wished her a happy birthday. She remembered Xie Zhaoran asking her with great confusion why the empress would personally make a dress when there was a bureau for making clothes in the palace. She had heard her governess say that it was a mother’s love for her child. Xiao Lijun, only vaguely understanding, repeated this to Xie Zhaoran. She would forever remember the lonely expression on Xie Zhaoran’s face when she heard it. She had said her mother had never made her anything.

Later, the empress found out and chastised Xiao Lijun for speaking carelessly. After that, before every one of Xie Zhaoran’s birthdays, the empress would send a letter to the Duke of Xie’s wife to remind her. Despite this, for many birthdays, only gold and silver ornaments were sent from the border, with the excuse that things were too busy there and she had no time to spare.

Xiao Lijun sighed, snapping out of her memories. Zhaoran’s birthday was next month, and now she didn’t even know where she was, or whether she was alive or dead. “You may leave. Continue to keep watch. Report back as soon as you have any news from Marquis Shi’s side.” Xiao Lijun waved her hand, sending the guard away, then called another person in for a report. “Reporting to the princess, our men did not find any trace of Prince Yu in Crane’s Call Temple. We have searched the nearby mountains as well, with no discovery.”

Xiao Lijun was not surprised by this news. Prince Yu wouldn’t be foolish enough to hide in such an obvious place. Yesterday, when the coffin was being transported to the imperial tomb, they had just arrived when they were met with assassins disguised as imperial guards, who kidnapped Prince Yu in broad daylight. Having spent many years on the border, Xiao Lijun could tell at a glance that their fighting skills were not those of the people of Daye, and their weapons were more like those commonly used in the small border kingdoms.

The thought of Prince Yu colluding with foreign enemies made Xiao Lijun’s chest feel tight. Not long ago, she herself was almost forced into a marriage alliance with them. Over the years, those barbarians from the north had repeatedly invaded their borders. For Prince Yu to be so foolish as to cooperate with them was tantamount to inviting a wolf into the house. So many people being able to sneak into the country must have been due to Prince Yu providing them with identities and a cover. “Is there anything unusual with King Qiwei?” Xiao Lijun asked. She suspected that her imperial uncle also had a hand in this. Prince Yu alone wouldn’t have been able to make such meticulous arrangements without her noticing.

“No, nothing unusual,” the subordinate replied with his head bowed.

Xiao Lijun narrowed her eyes, pondering what the other side’s next move would be. Prince Yu would definitely seek help, and there were only a few people who held military power. As she was thinking, hurried footsteps were heard from outside, growing closer. A young eunuch came in with his head bowed, reporting that the emperor had woken up and was asking for the princess. Xiao Lijun rose abruptly, told her subordinate to keep watching, and rushed to Emperor Hongjing’s bedchamber.

Emperor Hongjing’s face was as pale as paper, and his sunken eyes were dark. When he saw Xiao Lijun, he coughed and asked anxiously, “How is Zhaoran? Is there any news? Cough, cough, cough…“

Xiao Lijun hurried forward and helped the endlessly coughing emperor. “Your Majesty, please relax. I have already sent more men, and the Shi family is also searching with all their might.”

Emperor Hongjing’s eyes flashed with sorrow. “So, there’s still no news.”

Xiao Lijun consoled him, “No news is good news.” As long as they hadn’t found a body, there was a chance they were alive. “Now that Your Majesty is awake, I need you to issue an edict. We need to search the entire city for Prince Yu. The empress dowager is still in his hands.”

Emperor Hongjing suppressed the metallic taste of blood rising in his throat and gripped the hand of the eunuch Xiao Lin, who was serving him. “Go, bring the Imperial Seal.” Eunuch Xiao Lin held back his grief and agreed, calling an apprentice to support the emperor as he went to personally retrieve the Imperial Seal and Emperor Hongjing’s personal seal.

The chief eunuch stood by as Emperor Hongjing dictated the contents of two edicts. The first was to strip Prince Yu of his title and issue a nationwide manhunt, and the second was to appoint Princess Xiao Lijun as regent. After the Imperial Seal was stamped, Emperor Hongjing immediately had Eunuch Xiao Lin send the edicts out.

Xiao Lijun stood quietly by his side, her face showing hesitation. Emperor Hongjing understood her thoughts. He reached out and held her hand. “Royal Sister, I know you don’t want to take over while I’m still well. Cough, cough, cough…” Seeing that he was struggling to speak, Xiao Lijun advised, “Your Majesty, you should rest first.”

Emperor Hongjing shook his head. “Cough, cough… I know my own body. It’s better to arrange these matters while I’m still clear-headed. It will also give you a more legitimate foundation in the future, Sister.” He called himself “I” and called Xiao Lijun “sister,” just like a younger brother from an ordinary family talking to his sister.

Xiao Lijun’s heart ached. If her brother’s health had been better, he would have been a kind and benevolent emperor praised by all. “Sister understands your meaning, but you also know that I am a woman. That’s the biggest obstacle to legitimacy in the eyes of the court officials.”

Emperor Hongjing looked directly at Xiao Lijun. “Are you afraid, Royal Sister?”

Xiao Lijun shook her head, her eyes flashing with a firm resolve. “No. I want to make this a reality. Since there has been no one before, I will be the first! I will let all the people in the world see that a woman can also be an emperor.”

Emperor Hongjing’s eyes were filled with respect. “Zhaoran always said that you, Royal Sister, are the emperor Daye needs most right now. Her words have never been wrong.” The current state of Daye was difficult, both internally and externally. There were factional disputes in the court, and the scholars were lax while the warriors were playful, with no capable talent to be found. Outside, the barbarians at the border were a constant threat, invading year after year. Daye needed not only a kind and benevolent ruler but also a brilliant and wise monarch who could make plans and utilize talent. Xiao Lijun possessed all these qualities. When Zhaoran first proposed this bold idea, Crown Prince Hongjing could not accept it. The idea was too audacious. He originally agreed with the late emperor’s idea that the throne should be passed to Prince Yu after his death. But after observing him year after year, he realized that Prince Yu’s actions were truly unworthy of the throne. He had no talent and no benevolence. If he ascended the throne, tyranny would prevail, and the people would suffer. The hundred-year foundation of Daye would be destroyed in an instant. How could he face his ancestors then?

“Cough, cough… Sister, you will surely do a better job than I. Cough, cough… Zhaoran would not be wrong. Cough, cough…“

Mentioning Xie Zhaoran, the two fell silent. The cliff was so high; they knew in their hearts that hope was slim, but neither of them dared to think about that possibility. They were more willing to believe in a miracle, to believe that Xie Zhaoran had survived against all odds and was now somewhere waiting for them to rescue her.

The Xie Zhaoran that they were thinking about was languidly lying in Auntie Tian’s rocking chair, rubbing her belly and burping. She was experiencing the feeling of being completely stuffed. Shi Yuning stood to the side, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. The pot of congee she had cooked was meant to be cooled and eaten for lunch, but Xie Zhaoran had finished the entire pot in one sitting, along with the small side dishes.

So much for being a picky eater!

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