Chapter 4 — The Man Who Couldn't See My Face

Mother can see it clearly. Although you and Lenh Nghi have been betrothed since childhood, the one you have always truly loved is Thuong.

Now that you have successfully married Thuong, why must you still relentlessly chase after Lenh Nghi?

It was at this very moment that Hsu Yen Thanh finally understood why I had so readily agreed to that marriage. Even in the eyes of his own birth mother, he had always overwhelmingly favored Lenh Thuong. Madam Shen sighed deeply.

You feigned blindness for all those years, successfully deceiving Lenh Nghi. Wasn't it entirely so that you could proudly marry Thuong without facing criticism from outsiders?

Now that you have achieved your wish, please let Lenh Nghi go.

Over the years, she has suffered a great deal because of you.

Just look at this room. Nearly all of her garments and jewelry are the exact opposite of her elder sister's. She has sacrificed enough for you. It is high time you treated Thuong properly.

Now that Lenh Nghi has married the Prince Regent, it is already an exceptionally good match. With high rank and generous stipends, she will never know hardship for the rest of her days. You should be happy for her instead.

Hearing these words, Hsu Yen Thanh felt as though his heart were being pierced by knives. It was not as though he was unaware of the bitter suffering I had endured over the years. It was simply that he had grown far too accustomed to me revolving around him, becoming utterly confident that I would never leave his side.

Yet how ruthless and sinister is the Prince Regent? Who knows what dreadful things he might subject Lenh Nghi to? She certainly will not be able to endure it.

Madam Shen flicked her sleeve with a cold, disdainful scoff.

If she cannot endure it, do you suppose Thuong could?

Now that she has married away, it brings peace of mind to all of us. Sacrificing her alone in exchange for the tranquility of an entire great household is hardly a bad bargain.

Hsu Yen Thanh stood frozen in place. Throughout the years, he knew I was unloved within the family, and he also knew he was the only one who treated me with any kindness. Yet hearing these harsh realities spoken aloud now, the pain in his chest was agonizing. What on earth had he been doing all this time? When I finally awoke, the sun was already high in the sky. The maid Xiao Tao, seeing that I was stirring, hurried over to help me out of bed. Once I was steady, she turned toward the door and called out loudly:

The Princess has awakened!

More than ten maids stepped into the room in an orderly procession, carrying basins of water and delicate hand towels to assist me with my morning ablutions. I was quite startled by this grand and solemn display. Back at the Shen residence, I had only ever had a single personal maid to attend to me. Even after marrying Hsu Yen Thanh, at most I had gained one more servant. Xiao Tao narrowed her eyes, beaming with radiant delight.

The Prince gave strict instructions early this morning that absolutely no one was permitted to disturb the Princess's slumber.

They have all been waiting outside the door until the Princess woke up, saying it is proper protocol. The Prince truly cares for you deeply.

I sat before the bronze mirror, gazing at my own reflection as the events of yesterday flooded back into my mind. After we had bowed before the heavens and earth, he bypassed the banquet hall entirely, forgoing the guests to accompany me directly to the nuptial chamber. Under the guidance of the matron of honor, he lifted my veil and shared the cup of union wine with me. Once everyone else had retreated, he sat before me with a stern expression. In my past life, when I had served as a concubine to Hsu Yen Thanh, I had heard tales of his ruthless and thunderous methods. It was said that after I rejected his marriage proposal, he took another bride, only for that young lady to pass away less than half a month later. Trembling, I sat upon the edge of the bed, paralyzed by fear that he might discover my true identity and vent his wrath upon me. After a long silence, he finally spoke in an indifferent tone:

The Shen family is truly audacious, daring to pull off a bride-swap right before my very eyes.

His voice was low and carried a chilling frost, devoid of any discernible emotion. The moment I raised my head to meet his gaze, a wave of terror washed over me.

I beg the Prince to spare my life!

Lowering my voice and softening my tone, I bowed my head submissively, bracing myself for his fury. To my utter astonishment, however, he let out a soft chuckle.

Yet the Shen family certainly knows how to read the room. Knowing that I have no fondness for the likes of the eldest miss, they sent the second miss instead.

Hearing this, I stared at him in sheer disbelief. What did his words imply? He had not fancied my elder sister, but had set his sights on me all along? Noticing my silence, he continued:

What is the matter? Where has that boldness gone, the courage you had earlier today when you used my authority to stand your ground?

You are quite clever, even managing to figure out that Hsu Yen Thanh was feigning blindness. Now that it is me instead, why, are you unhappy?

Watching him speak with such an air of omniscience, a faint shiver of apprehension stirred within my heart. Earlier that day, I had used him to frighten my mother and to keep Hsu Yen Thanh at bay, and he had seen through it all. Yet I could not possibly tell him that it was not because I was exceptionally clever, but because I had lived and died once before.

Reporting to the Prince, this humble wife is exceedingly content.

My answer seemed to greatly please him. He pushed a plate of pastries from the table toward me:

Eat. You have gone the entire day without food, and if word gets out, people will accuse me of mistreating the Princess.

Judging by his demeanor, he was not entirely the cold-blooded monster the rumors made him out to be. I picked up a piece of peach blossom pastry and took a bite. Having just been reborn into this life once more, I truly had not eaten anything for a very long time. Yet it was only later that I would realize he had merely offered me a single piece of peach blossom pastry to bestow a fleeting taste of sweetness before the storm.