After the Ostracized Beauty Lost Heart - Chapter 3

According to the rules established by the ancestors, both princesses and princes must enter the palace to have an audience with the Emperor on the second day after their wedding to show filial piety.

On the night of the grand wedding, Xiao Qi and Yan Qushan parted on bad terms. Therefore, Xiao Qi had no intention of pretending they were a harmonious couple while entering the palace together. Above all else, the fact that Yan Qushan called out his younger brother’s name while they were intimate made Xiao Qi feel disgusted.

However, Yan Qushan was the sweetheart Xiao Qi had longed for since his first awakening of love. Those words felt like a knife carving into Xiao Qi’s heart.

Following the disgust came a sense of grievance. He tossed and turned for half the night, only falling asleep at the fifth watch. Without his command, the servants did not dare to wake him.

Xiao Qi did not wake until the hour of Si. As he moved upon the bed, his body felt sore and his legs ached. He could not help but frown and let out a soft hiss of pain. Hearing this, Aunt Du Ruo, who had been waiting outside, pushed the door open and entered.

“Your Highness,” she said as she stepped forward. “The hour is late. Allow me to bind your hair.”

Xiao Qi nodded and allowed her to help him sit before the vanity. As Du Ruo raised her hands to gather his hair, her sharp eyes noticed a bright red tooth mark on the back of his neck. It had already scabbed over, which proved how forcefully he had been bitten.

Du Ruo remained silent for a moment. She then called out loudly to the maid outside, “Zi Zhu!”

“I am here!”

“Go and fetch the high-collared, stone-blue silk robe with the cloud and floral pattern for His Highness.”

Hearing this, Xiao Qi looked up. “What kind of wonderful mark did that fellow leave on my body this time?”

Du Ruo saw the redness of his eyelids and the exhaustion on his face. She understood the situation clearly but simply smiled and said nothing.

“Where is Yan Qushan?”

“Master Yan saw that Your Highness was sleeping soundly and could not bear to wake you. He departed for the palace ahead of time.”

Xiao Qi gave a cold laugh. “Auntie, you are a veteran servant by my side. There is no need to pick out lies to coax me. We both know why he rushed into the palace so urgently. My younger brother is still being cared for within those palace walls.”

Du Ruo smiled. “Your Highness overestimates me. I would not dare to deceive you. Master Yan did come by earlier. He stood before your room for a long time before leaving.”

Xiao Qi’s expression shifted slightly. Du Ruo noticed this and continued. “In my opinion, Master Yan may still have you in his heart. Now that you are officially husband and wife, you will be together day and night. Are you afraid you cannot warm that heart eventually?”

She sighed. “Your Highness and Master Yan are both competitive and strong-willed people. There is nothing wrong with that, but in matters of love, someone must be the first to lower their head for the relationship to last.”

Xiao Qi snorted. “What kind of person is he to deserve my initiative in making amends?”

Du Ruo finished binding his hair but did not respond. She had watched the Second Prince grow up and knew his temperament best. She knew that although Xiao Qi spoke harshly, he had taken her words to heart.

She sighed inwardly. The Second Prince was just like his mother, Consort Lan, possessing a proud and unyielding nature. Unfortunately, such a temperament was the most prone to suffering grievances.

Sure enough, after Xiao Qi finished dressing, he called out to the servant Fang Hai before leaving. “Go to the storehouse and fetch that newly arrived cake of Huizhou ink.”

Du Ruo smiled at this. “Huizhou ink is precious and suits Master Yan’s excellent calligraphy perfectly. Your Highness is very thoughtful.”

Xiao Qi let out a disdainful grunt as if he did not care, yet the corners of his mouth curved upward slightly.

The group entered the palace and walked toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The Chief Eunuch, Li, who had been waiting at the door, moved forward flatteringly. “Oh, Second Prince! The Emperor has been waiting for you for a long time.”

Xiao Qi nodded and entered the hall alone. Eunuch Li closed the sandalwood doors carved with auspicious clouds. The fragrance of ambergris filled the room.

“This son pays respects to Imperial Father.”

The man dressed in bright yellow robes sitting on the high throne did not stop his writing. The ink flowed across the paper while the candle wax slowly dripped and solidified. In the presence of the Emperor, Xiao Qi did not dare to rise without permission despite the unbearable pain in his waist. He remained kneeling.

It was not until an incense stick had finished burning that Emperor Jiande, Xiao Li, set aside his brush. However, his next action shocked everyone in the hall.

Emperor Jiande took the blue-and-white porcelain inkstone from his side and hurled it violently at Xiao Qi. The white porcelain struck Xiao Qi’s forehead heavily. A stream of crimson blood flowed down his jade-white face.

Xiao Qi prostrated himself before the Emperor. “Imperial Father, please appease your anger.”

Emperor Jiande was clearly enraged. “Because of your mother, I have always felt guilt toward you. Yan Qushan is indeed a talented man, and considering your stubbornness in wanting him, I granted your wish.”

“A prince marrying a subordinate and contenting himself to be beneath another. I have endured all of this. But that Yan Qushan has no feelings for you. Why must you shamelessly force yourself upon him?”

“Muddled! I see you are truly muddled!” the Emperor shouted. “A descendant of the Emperor has become a resentful husband who cannot obtain love. Now, those rumors have reached my ears! Do you know you have become the laughingstock of the capital because of this forced marriage?”

“No one met the bridal sedan yesterday, and this morning you both came to pay respects separately. How will others look at this? What will they say? Have you ever thought of that?”

Xiao Qi knelt in terror as the blood from his forehead dripped onto the white marble tiles. Looking at that face which so closely resembled his mother’s, the Emperor’s heart softened slightly.

He lowered his voice. “The past is the past. But now Yan Qushan is the top scholar I personally selected. He is a rare talent. I cannot easily reprimand him for such matters, lest the officials accuse me of favoring personal feelings over merit.”

The Emperor sighed. “Stand up.”

His anger had dissipated. Furthermore, he missed Consort Lan deeply after her death. Seeing Xiao Qi’s face made him unwilling to punish him further. “Speaking more is useless. As a member of the Imperial family, do not always indulge in personal romances.”

“Yes. This son thanks Imperial Father for the teaching.”

“You have reached the age of majority. I shall choose a day to crown you as a Prince of the First Rank.”

Xiao Qi bowed his head. “This son thanks Imperial Father for this grace.”

The Emperor was pleased by this obedient appearance. “Get up. Do not let your forehead hurt too much.”

“Lately, Yu Zhongqin has been urging me to appoint the new graduates. Most are simple to place, but regarding Yan Qushan, I am unsure what position to give him. Jinzhi, what are your thoughts?”

Jinzhi was Xiao Qi’s courtesy name. Being addressed so affectionately by the Emperor surprised him, but he quickly recovered. “This son does not dare to speak recklessly.”

Emperor Jiande glanced at him and smiled. “I know that among my sons, you are the most intelligent. You do not need to hide your brilliance before me.”

Despite these words, Xiao Qi still did not dare to speak freely. He gave a standard answer. “Historically, the top scholars enter the Hanlin Academy.”

To his surprise, the Emperor gave a cold laugh. “Currently, the court is dominated by Yu Zhongqin, let alone the Hanlin Academy. Would sending Yan Qushan there not simply be giving Yu Zhongqin another useful blade?”

Yu Zhongqin was the Grand Secretary of the Huagai Hall, the Head of the Cabinet, and the Minister of Personnel. He was a veteran of three reigns and the father of the current Empress. He held immense power, and the Emperor had long intended to suppress his influence.

Understanding this, Xiao Qi remained cautious. “The Emperor is wise. I believe you already have a decision in your heart.”

Emperor Jiande looked at him and smiled. “You are indeed clever. Since Yan Qushan has married into the family, he is my son-in-law. There is no need for him to slowly climb the ranks. The Censorate is still relatively clean; I shall appoint him as the Assistant Censor-in-Chief of the Left.”

This was a fourth-rank position that many people could not reach in a lifetime. For Yan Qushan to hold such a position upon entering the court spoke volumes of his future.

At this point, everything became clear to Xiao Qi. The Emperor did not want Yan Qushan to be Yu Zhongqin’s blade; he wanted him to be a blade in his own hand. The claim of “cherishing talent” was merely an excuse. Yan Qushan clearly knew he was of great use to the Emperor, which was why he was so fearless and dared to let Xiao Qi be humiliated.

The Emperor had nothing more to say and dismissed him. Once Xiao Qi left the hall and the scent of ambergris faded, his heart felt lighter.

Fang Hai, waiting at the door, was startled to see the injury on Xiao Qi’s forehead. “Your Highness,” he whispered.

Xiao Qi raised a hand. “It is no great matter.”

The power struggle was suffocating. Xiao Qi walked toward the nearby Imperial Garden. “The peach blossoms are in full bloom. Let us go and clear our minds.”

The peach blossoms in the palace were the finest. When the spring wind blew, the delicate petals fell like rain. It was a beautiful sight.

It was indeed a beautiful sight.

Under the peach trees, two people stood talking and laughing in the spring breeze. Their expressions were soft, like melting spring snow. Anyone who saw them would think they were an enviable couple.

Those two people were Yan Qushan and Xiao Yue.

Fang Hai felt a sense of dread. Xiao Qi had arrived with swollen eyes and a heavy heart. Anyone could guess the wedding night had been a disaster. He had just started to calm down, and now he was faced with this scene. It was like adding oil to a fire.

He looked cautiously at Xiao Qi. The Prince’s face was deathly pale and his lips trembled. He was clearly consumed by rage.

Fang Hai cursed the Fourth Prince’s timing in his heart but spoke softly. “Perhaps these blossoms are not so interesting after all. Your Highness, shall we return to the manor?”

Xiao Qi nodded woodenly and turned to leave. However, a clear male voice called out from behind. “Second Brother!”

It was Xiao Yue.

Xiao Yue wore his usual light smile. “What a coincidence. Has Second Brother come to enjoy the flowers as well?”

Yan Qushan had not noticed Xiao Qi at first. Hearing Xiao Yue speak, his expression changed. He looked at the beautiful man who was as radiant as a peony and noticed the wound on his forehead. His eyes darkened instantly as he stepped forward.

He raised his hand to touch the unhealed scar, a dark storm brewing in his gaze. “How did this happen? Did the Emperor,” he started.

Xiao Qi mocked him with a laugh and heartlessly slapped Yan Qushan’s hand away. “What right do you have to ask? What does my business have to do with you?”

These words were piercing. The faint traces of concern in Yan Qushan’s eyes vanished, replaced by a cold chill.

Xiao Qi did not care how he felt. He was disgusted and furious. He turned and walked away, leaving only his silhouette behind.

Fang Hai did not know what to do. He was still carrying the Huizhou ink his master had ordered him to prepare that morning. It felt heavy in his arms. He finally decided to thrust the item into Yan Qushan’s arms, saying it was a gift from the Prince, and then hurried away.

Yan Qushan had not expected such an object. Or rather, he never expected that someone with Xiao Qi’s temperament would still show such a soft gesture after being so insulted. For a moment, he was stunned. After a brief pause, he hurried in the direction Xiao Qi had gone.

Not far away, Xiao Yue watched everything with cold eyes. Once they were gone, he dropped his fragile act.

A maid beside him asked, “Your Highness has no interest in Master Yan. Why do you always show him such favor?”

Xiao Yue did not answer directly. Instead, he gave a thoughtful smile. “Yan Qushan is quite successful now. A child of a mistress born into the servant class has somehow become the top scholar. It is quite strange.”

He then added mockingly, “The Imperial family is heartless, yet my Second Brother is willing to go this far for him. However, his temper has not changed one bit.”

“Consort Lan was the same way back then,” the maid whispered.

Xiao Yue smiled. “Exactly. Their looks, their temper, and their nature are all cast from the same mold. Consort Lan was also a fool for love.”

The matter regarding Consort Lan had always been a thorn in the Emperor’s side. Xiao Yue knew that the subject could not be mentioned again. He pulled his outer robe tighter and walked toward the Empress’s palace.

On the other side, Xiao Qi was almost running. He ran alone and aimlessly until he was exhausted. He leaned against a jade railing, his strength completely spent.

The grievances and resentment of the past two days finally poured out. As the wind blew, his body shook like a willow leaf in the storm. When he raised his head, his surroundings felt very familiar.

After a long moment, he realized he was at the Tianning Temple outside the palace.

This was the place where he and Yan Qushan had first met.

The world said that Xiao Qi had snatched another’s love, that he was arrogant and shameless. But who knew that he was the one who met and knew Yan Qushan first?

During those years when they depended on each other in the lonely palace, he truly believed that they loved each other.

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