Chapter 8 — Light as Down

As soon as my mother opened her mouth, her voice choked with sobs. "Qing Xu, how could you speak to your elder sister in such a manner? She is your own flesh and blood. You have angered her so deeply that she has not touched a morsel of food for days, and she has withered away to skin and bones..."

My father slammed his hand onto the table, his face flushing with fury. "Kneel! Apologize to your elder sister this instant!"

I remained standing, motionless. "What have I done wrong?" I asked, my voice steady and calm.

"Your elder sister is now a member of the Crown Prince's household," my father roared, his gray beard trembling with rage. "You went out of your way to denounce the Crown Prince. How is she supposed to hold her head high in the Eastern Palace now? Are you intentionally trying to ruin her?" He pointed a shaking finger at me. "Go to her quarters and kneel until she forgives you. Do not dare stand up until she says the word!"

Watching the two people before me, I felt only a profound sense of irony. From the moment my elder sister returned to the capital, they had always forced me to concede. They forced me to retreat, to surrender everything that was mine. I had given up my quarters, I had surrendered my parents' affection, and I had even yielded the position of Crown Princess. Now, even the simple act of seeking justice for my own husband was framed as an attempt to destroy my sister.

"I will not kneel," I said quietly.

The main hall fell into a sudden, suffocating silence. My mother’s eyes widened, as if she could not believe I dared to openly defy them.

"From this day forward, I am no longer a daughter of the Duke of An's household," I declared. I pulled a pre-written letter of severance from my sleeve and placed it neatly on the table. "In three days, Bui Tri Yen and I will depart for Jiangnan to take up his new post. From this day onward, across mountains and rivers, I shall have no further connection to the Duke's estate. Please, just consider that you never gave birth to this daughter."

My mother shrieked and lunged at me, intending to strike, but she was intercepted by Bui Tri Yen’s guards. My father cursed me as an unfilial wretch and a cold-hearted viper, but I ignored his vitriol. I simply turned on my heel and walked out of the hall, departing through the grand gates that had held me for over a decade.

Outside, the sky was clear and the sun was brilliant. Bui Tri Yen was leaning against our carriage, waiting for me. As soon as he saw me, he smiled and held out his hand. I placed mine in his palm, and the warmth of his touch chased away the chill of the hall. From now on, whether through wind, rain, frost, or snow, I would no longer have to bear the burden alone.

Jiangnan was beautiful. Every day, when Bui Tri Yen returned from the magistrate's office, he would stop at the market to buy me a bag of osmanthus cakes. He would always personally verify that they contained no ingredients that would trigger my allergies before handing them to me with a gentle smile. We lived in Jiangnan for three years.

In the spring of the third year, news arrived from the capital. The Crown Prince had been released from house arrest and had officially married my elder sister. Yet, she remained only a concubine. The primary consort was the daughter of the Grand Tutor—dignified, composed, and virtuous. My sister's days in the Eastern Palace were far from pleasant; the primary consort constantly overshadowed her, and even the Crown Prince grew cold, often avoiding her chambers for weeks at a time. She sent letters weeping of her hardships, the ink blurred by her tears, but I merely glanced at them before setting them aside.

Later, I heard that the primary consort had become pregnant, and my sister had resorted to desperate measures. She attempted to slip safflower—a substance used to induce miscarriage—into the consort’s tonic, only to be caught in the act. The Crown Prince was livid and ordered her cast into the dungeon. Not a single soul stood up to plead for her. The Duke’s household submitted petitions for mercy, but the Emperor flatly rejected them. The charge was "attempting to harm the royal lineage." Half a month later, word came from the prison that she had died of an illness.

That night, Bui Tri Yen sat with me in the courtyard for a long time. The moon was large and round, casting a soft, silvery glow over the apricot blossoms. He did not say a word, simply pulling my head gently to rest against his shoulder.

Three years later, the Emperor passed away, and the Crown Prince ascended the throne. On the day of the coronation, Bui Tri Yen and I returned to the capital to attend the ceremony. The new Emperor sat upon the high throne, his gaze piercing through the crowd until it landed on me. He was much thinner than he had been years ago, and his brow was etched with deep exhaustion.

After the ceremony, Bui Tri Yen went to meet with old friends, leaving me to rest in a pavilion within the Imperial Garden. I did not realize when the new Emperor had approached until he stopped just a few steps away. I stood and performed a bow. "I pay my respects to Your Majesty."

"There is no need for such formality," he said, waving a hand. He fell into a long silence before suddenly speaking: "I have yet to appoint an Empress."

I looked up at him.

"That throne... I have kept it empty," he murmured. "If one day, you should regret—"

"Your Majesty," I gently interrupted, my voice calm. "My husband and I are in perfect harmony. I have never felt a moment's regret."

His gaze darkened for a brief second, but a forced smile lingered on his lips. "I suppose so. Bui Tri Yen treats you very well. I know this."

We stood in silence for a time. A breeze swept through the pavilion, causing the golden threads of his dragon robes to flutter. Eventually, he was the one to turn and leave first. His back remained straight, his boots embroidered with dragon patterns stepping firmly onto the blue stone path. Step by step, he walked away until his figure faded from sight.

I slowly turned my gaze away. In the distance, Bui Tri Yen was waiting, watching me with a smile. The bright sunlight illuminated his face. I lifted the hem of my skirt and walked toward him, one slow step at a time.

The End.