Chapter 5 — The Man Who Couldn't See My Face

I know not whence he drew such boundless strength, for he kept me in a relentless grip throughout the entire night. It was only when the pale fingers of dawn began to stretch across the sky that I finally drifted into an exhausted slumber. Little Peach, noticing the heavy languor in my limbs, could not help but tease me softly.

My lady, this time you have truly made the right choice, and you will never be wed amiss again.

Indeed, in this lifetime, I had finally escaped the fathomless sea of suffering that defined my past existence. The midday meal consisted entirely of dishes tailored to my deepest preferences. Little Peach whispered that before departing for the imperial court, Xiao Hang had personally instructed the household kitchens to prepare them. Even I knew not when he had so quietly committed all my humble likes and dislikes to memory.

My Princess, a most amusing tale drifted through the courtyards this very morning. Would you care to hear it?

Little Peach had been by my side since we were children. In my past life, when I struggled through the agonizing torment of a difficult labor, it was she who had run tirelessly to seek Xu Yanqing. After my tragic death, she chose to follow me into the quiet embrace of the grave. I shook my head with a helpless, bitter smile.

Speak then. If you hold it within, will you not burst from the sheer weight of your own silence?

She set down the delicate porcelain dishes while desperately trying to suppress her giggles.

This morning, Xu Yanqing arrived at the estate with a grand procession and two overflowing carriages of betrothal gifts, fully intending to welcome the second young lady into his home.

When he discovered that you had already married into the Prince Regent estate, his face turned the color of ash. They say he walked away utterly shattered, his eyes swollen and red. One can only wonder if he had been weeping.

And the most comical part of all is that the young master and the eldest young lady have yet to share a single intimate night as true husband and wife.

The chopsticks froze midway between the dish and my lips. I had never anticipated that in this present life, Xu Yanqing would still harbor the absurd fantasy of taking me as his concubine. Yet the timing had shifted, coming far sooner than before. In my former life, it was only long after I had sought my own death that he grudgingly condescended to make me a secondary wife. Now, rejecting such a fate, he had rushed eagerly to claim me, bringing a wedding entourage of such breathtaking extravagance. A cold smile touched my lips. How true it is that mankind remains forever unchanged, holding no appreciation for what is already within their grasp. I offered no further comment and silently finished my midday meal. Little Peach, perceiving my aversion to the name of Xu Yanqing, tactfully steered the conversation elsewhere. She began to chatter endlessly about the majestic architecture of the grand estate and how radiantly the crabapple blossoms were blooming within the inner gardens. Listening to her cheerful prattle, the heavy knot in my chest slowly began to loosen. After all, this was the opulent manor of the Prince Regent, far removed from the stifling confines of the Shen household or the desolate courtyard of the Xu family. Perhaps from this day forward, I would no longer be forced to wear the colors my elder sister despised, nor adorn myself with the heavy jewelry she dismissed as aging. I lowered my gaze to my bare wrists and only then remembered that the old wooden bracelet, which had accompanied me through so many lonely years, had been cast back to him yesterday. In this lifetime, I owed him nothing.

The afternoon sunlight cast a warm, golden glow across the flagstones, and Little Peach coaxed me out to wander through the gardens and admire the blossoms. No sooner had I crossed the threshold of my bedchamber than I collided squarely against a firm, unyielding chest. I knew not when Xiao Hang had returned. He was clad in a sweeping black robe embroidered with fierce python scales, carrying the faint, soothing scent of sandalwood. He lowered his gaze to study me intently.

Is the Princess already inspecting the vast domain and possessions of her husband?

Words failed me, and I stood rooted to the spot in utter confusion. Whenever he spoke in such a manner, my mind invariably went blank, leaving me devoid of any suitable reply. He reached out, gently capturing my slender wrist.

Why are you dressed so simply, not wearing a single ornament to adorn yourself?

Instinctively, my hand rose to touch my unadorned hair, and I murmured with a trace of embarrassment.

The marriage was arranged in such haste that I have not yet found the time to choose anything.

He frowned slightly, flicking his sleeve toward the retinue standing obediently behind him. Moments later, two maidservants emerged carrying three lacquered crimson chests, lining up respectfully before me. As the heavy lids were lifted, treasures I had never laid eyes upon in either of my two lifetimes were revealed. There were golden phoenix hairpins inlaid with luminous pearls, intricate white jade hanging ornaments, and delicate floral decals fashioned from southern sea coral. Every single piece was an extraordinary masterpiece of immense value. I stood paralyzed, blinking at Little Peach, entirely at a loss for how to react. Xiao Hang had already turned on his heel, striding toward the study as he left behind a single, casual command.

Choose whatever catches your eye and wear it. If none of these please you, I shall have the Imperial Household Department deliver several more imperial tributes tomorrow.

Little Peach stood behind me, covering her mouth as she suppressed a delighted giggle.

My Princess, the Prince treats you with such profound tenderness. It is clear how deeply he cherishes you in his heart.

As I stared down at the dazzling sea of jewels and gold, a strange, poignant ache welled up within my chest, impossible to put into words. In my past life, I had groveled in the dust, humbled beyond measure, simply for the meager crumbs of affection Xu Yanqing tossed my way. Yet now, in the hands of another man, mere days had passed before he laid before me all the extravagant luxuries I had never dared to dream of. The capricious turns of fate in this mortal world were truly absurd.

In the days that followed, I discovered that Xiao Hang was perpetually immersed in affairs of state. Long before the first light of dawn broke, he would depart for the imperial court, returning only deep into the velvet shadows of night. Yet, he was never once harsh enough to disturb my slumber, intentionally tempering his breathing so as not to rouse me. Little Peach, on the other hand, returned each day with a fresh harvest of gossip from the outside world, though the vast majority of tales revolved entirely around the fortunes of the Shen and Xu families.

They say that when the eldest young lady returned to her maternal home for the customary post-wedding visit, the young master did not accompany her at all. She was forced to return entirely alone.

Furthermore, it is rumored that these past few days, the young master has been drowning his sorrows in wine from dawn till dusk, refusing to listen to the pleas of anyone who tries to advise him.

I listened with total indifference, feeling far more confusion than anything else. Clearly, his heart belonged entirely to my sister, to the extent that he had even feigned blindness for her sake over the course of many years. To cast aside such profound devotion now and put on this tragic, heartbroken display—just who was he trying to perform for? Little Peach, realizing I held no interest in the matter, wisely let the subject drop.

It was not until the fifth day that Xu Yanqing finally managed to track me down to the estate. When Little Peach rushed breathlessly to my side to deliver the news, I was quietly tending to the blossoms in the serene expanse of the inner garden.