The Cross-Dressing Legend Is Excessively Beautiful - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

“However, although your desire to be a ‘good father’ died an early death with me, you can still fulfill it through Lan’er.”

Song Ci looked thoughtful. “You want me to marry her off to the Fourth Prince, Jing Hezhou?” He knew that Song Xizhi and the Fourth Prince shared a deep private friendship. If Xizhi wanted to marry his sister to a friend so she could be looked after, it wasn’t beyond understanding.

“No,” Song Xizhi corrected him seriously. “The Crown Prince.”

Song Ci was somewhat surprised. “Oh?”

Currently, the situation in the imperial court was not entirely clear. Although the Crown Prince held the advantage of being the legitimate eldest son, the late Empress had passed away early, leaving him without powerful maternal relatives for support.

The Fourth Prince, while not the eldest or legitimate heir, was the son of a consort deeply favored by the Emperor. He was highly capable himself, having won several major battles, and enjoyed the Emperor’s affection.

Recently, Consort Chen had made several overtures to the Prime Minister’s manor, hoping for a marriage alliance with the Song family. Although Consort Chen’s motives were impure, the Fourth Prince himself was warm and cheerful, appeared to have no heart for the throne, and maintained an excellent relationship with the Crown Prince.

In truth, from the perspective of choosing a husband, the Fourth Prince was the superior candidate. Good personality, good family background, and a bright future. Though the Fourth Prince was a bit of a “romantic” playboy, in Song Ci’s eyes, that was a harmless flaw.

“I thought you would choose the Fourth Prince…” Song Ci pondered. “After all, the Crown Prince, he…”

Song Xizhi gave a cold laugh. “I know exactly what I am doing.” He understood Song Ci’s unspoken words. According to current intelligence, the Crown Prince likely harbored an extreme aversion to contact with women.

Inference from a man’s perspective: one couldn’t rule out the possibility of sexual impotence.

If this inference were true, doing this would be equivalent to pushing Song Xialan into a fiery pit. Thinking of his cute, elegant sister, Song Xizhi felt a surge of irritation.

The two stared at each other for a moment before Song Ci asked, “What does Lan’er think herself?”

To care about Song Xialan’s own thoughts at a time like this was the greatest display of consideration a cold-blooded man like Song Ci could manage.

Song Xizhi understood perfectly that Song Ci was hesitating. He sneered, “Lord Father, regardless of your feelings, the arrow is already on the string and must be fired. The Song family is the best candidate in His Majesty’s eyes to safeguard the Crown Prince’s path. Now that ‘that one’s’ health is declining daily, he won’t allow you to keep playing both sides.”

Song Xizhi took a small sip of water to moisten his dry lips. His own identity made it impossible for him to enter a marriage alliance. This marriage would inevitably fall upon Song Xialan’s shoulders.

Song Ci’s expression turned grim. “She is your sister, after all. Regardless of the circumstances, this idea should not have been proposed by you.”

“Furthermore, she admires and loves you so much.” Song Ci closed his eyes and let out a long, heavy sigh, a trace of sorrow appearing on his face. “I agree to your request. However, while Lan’er appears gentle and submissive, she is actually extreme and unyielding. Since you have betrayed her sincere heart, I fear she will hate you.”

“Xizhi, the human heart is the most unpredictable thing in the world. Whoever seeks to toy with hearts will eventually pay a heavy price… Take care of yourself… I have already tasted this bitterness… it is heartbreaking…” Song Ci turned and walked away.

Hearing Song Ci’s words, Song Xizhi replied loudly with a beaming smile, “Thank you for your concern, Lord Father. If Mother heard your words in the afterlife, I’m sure she would finally rest in peace.”

He spoke the word “Mother” with extreme weight and slowness, letting the syllables drop one by one, laden with chilling malice.

In the darkness, Song Ci’s body stiffened for a moment. His lips moved, but he could not utter a single word. The wind and snow grew heavier, blurring his vision and melting into his eyes.