Chapter 2 — Light as Down

The Empress’s gaze flickered, shifting toward me with a look of helpless sorrow. In her youth, she had been my mother’s closest confidante, and she had always showered me with genuine affection. Since the Crown Prince had spent many years abroad, rarely residing in the palace, I had been the one to visit her monthly to keep her company. Over time, she had come to treat me as if I were her own daughter. It was only six months ago, after my elder sister was finally found and brought back home, that my mother, fearing my sister would feel alienated or slighted, forbade me from continuing these palace visits.

The Crown Prince, the Crown Prince, you and Qing Xu were betrothed. Though it was a verbal agreement, it was nonetheless sanctioned by our parents and the decree of matchmakers. Now, you disregard traditional morality and insist on marrying her younger sister. Where does that leave Qing Xu? Are you not afraid of breaking her heart?

The Crown Prince knit his brows and turned to look at me. His eyes held not a trace of remorse, only resentment and dissatisfaction. He gave a cold, dismissive laugh, his voice sharp enough to draw blood.

She is merely blinded by power and status; what affection could she possibly hold for me? I have never even met the second Miss Su before—could she truly be so infatuated that she believes she must marry me? Mother, do you not find this entire situation ridiculous?

The Empress was trembling with fury. She surged to her feet, pointing a trembling finger directly at him.

Crown Prince, you…

Seeing the Empress falter as if she might collapse from the intensity of her rage, I rushed forward to steady her. To my surprise, this only deepened the Crown Prince’s disgust. He sneered, his tone dripping with mockery.

Second Miss Su, what is the point of this hypocritical display? No matter how you try to curry favor with the Empress, I will never marry you!

I withdrew my hand quietly. My fingers curled into tight fists, my nails digging deep into my palms until the skin turned a bruised, painful red. Yet, I felt no sting. There was only a crushing, suffocating weight in my chest that made it difficult to breathe. I met his cold, piercing eyes and spoke in a voice raspy with suppressed emotion.

Your Highness the Crown Prince, it seems you have misunderstood. If you do not wish to marry, I will not force you. The Empress has always treated me like her own child; I merely remember and cherish her kindness. I have no other intentions.

He clearly had not expected such a firm retort. Stunned as if I had struck him, his expression stiffened instantly, and he could only let out a cold, sharp huff.

That is best.

Seeing the tension escalate, my elder sister, not wanting to leave a negative impression on the Empress, carefully adopted the persona of a doting, loving sibling. She spoke with a gentle, honeyed voice:

Your Highness, I have stolen my sister’s betrothal; my heart is heavy with shame. Perhaps you could bestow upon her a different, prosperous union…

The Crown Prince smiled, clearly moved by her gentleness and virtue, before turning his gaze back to me with a casual air.

It was I who broke the engagement; the fault lies entirely with me. If you wish to blame someone, blame me. I will personally select a match for you, one of equal social standing. I will ensure you do not suffer any injustice.

He fell silent for a moment, deep in thought, before continuing.

Very well. I shall petition the Emperor to bestow a marriage upon you with Pei Zhiyan. Though I have wronged you, this match will certainly not leave you at a disadvantage. Pei Zhiyan is a man of exceptional talent, learned in both letters and arms; he is a fitting match for you.

Upon hearing the name Pei Zhiyan, my elder sister’s complexion turned deathly pale. She had long admired his brilliance. Before the imperial selection began, she had harbored a secret hope of marrying him, but whenever she arranged a meeting, he would always find ways to avoid her. Desperate, she had stepped back and entered the selection for the Crown Prince. Having met the Crown Prince and been struck by his peerless beauty, she had pushed her feelings for Pei Zhiyan aside. Yet, remembering them now, a seed of reluctance took root in her heart. She gripped her skirts tightly, the words she longed to scream trapped in her throat. She feared I would marry him, yet she feared even more that the Crown Prince would grow suspicious of her agitation. Ultimately, she swallowed her protests, curtsied with a trembling grace, and murmured in a strained voice:

I thank the Crown Prince for his concern for my sister.

My own face had drained of color. While Pei Zhiyan was indeed a man of extraordinary caliber, a true scion of heaven admired by all, I had encountered him once before. At the time, he seemed to hold a distinct distaste for me. Coupled with the fact that my sister had pestered him repeatedly in the past, I feared he would pour all his resentment toward her onto my head. After all, this marriage would be an imperial decree, not a union of his own volition. When I hesitated to answer, the Crown Prince’s face darkened, and he spoke in a low, dangerous tone:

Does even Pei Zhiyan fail to meet the standards of the second Miss Su? If so, I fear you shall never find a husband to your liking in this lifetime.

I dipped into a low curtsy, my heart heavy with resignation.

I thank the Crown Prince for the bestowal of marriage. I am deeply grateful.

He seemed genuinely shocked that I could accept such a fate with such composure. His expression grew even gloomier, and he flicked his sleeves and strode away. After everyone had departed, the Empress took my hands in hers, her eyes filled with heartache as she sighed.

It is that unfilial son who lacks the fortune to appreciate a good woman like you.

I fought back the sting of tears and shook my head slowly.

It cannot be blamed on the Crown Prince. It can only be said that we lacked the destiny to be together.

After returning to the manor, my parents discovered the news of the broken betrothal. They were incandescent with rage, their fingers jabbing at me as they unleashed a torrent of scolding.

All these years, it has been a waste of effort to raise you! To think you could not even hold onto a man! It is fortunate that Yue Yan has a bright future and has caught the Crown Prince’s eye; otherwise, we might have lost the position of Crown Princess entirely.