Chapter 6 — The North Wind Knows My Heart

Perhaps he sensed a flicker of guilt, for he softened his tone and asked, "Is there anything else you desire as a gift? I shall bring it to you tomorrow without fail."

I shook my head immediately. "I want nothing at all."

Shen Yu’s expression darkened. "Are you angry with me?"

"It is merely a winter cloak," I replied calmly. "Are you truly so petty that you must compare yourself to the Ninth Princess?"

"What?" I blinked, genuinely confused, before answering with polite detachment, "You are overthinking things. There is no such matter."

His brow furrowed deeper. He recalled the last time he had taken a hairpiece originally intended for me upon my coming-of-age ceremony and gifted it to the Ninth Princess instead. I had wept for a long time then. Why now... did I seem so utterly indifferent? A nameless, gnawing anxiety took root in his heart. He stared intently into my eyes. "Zhu Wanyuan, what has come over you?"

What could have come over me? He loved the princess and doted upon her; by all accounts, he would one day become her consort. As for me, I had already severed our engagement. By all standards of propriety, it was only natural for him to favor the Ninth Princess and offer her the best of everything—even a winter cloak meant for me. If I were to hold a grudge, would that not make me seem unreasonable? Before I could articulate this, the Chief Eunuch Hai arrived to escort me away.

From afar, Shen Yu watched my retreating figure. I wore the golden pheasant headpiece and a deep blue ceremonial robe embroidered with gold threads. My slight frame carried a newfound solemnity, radiating the quiet dignity of the imperial house. Shen Yu’s face drained of color. His legs gave way, and he had to clutch a corridor pillar to remain standing.

"The Emperor... intends to invest Wanyuan as a princess?" he whispered, his voice trembling. "She is the one who must be wed to the Northern Frontier? It is her?"

His heart constricted as if torn asunder by unseen hands, a pain so sharp it left his mind a void. A moment later, he let out a frantic cry and lunged forward. "Zhu Wanyuan! Stop where you are! Do you hear me?"

Within the grand banquet hall, the guests were packed in layers upon layers. Standing at the far edge, I looked toward the center where a man sat clad in black robes embroidered with pythons. Was that truly the Prince of the Northern Frontier, Lu Xiao? Why did he seem so strangely familiar? I took two steps forward, wanting a better look, when Eunuch Hai whispered a gentle reminder: "Lady Official, we must wait for the Emperor’s summons."

I gathered my wits and stood still, obediently waiting. A voice rang out, proclaiming the decree: "The Prince of the Northern Frontier, Lu Xiao, is awarded ten thousand gold taels, a thousand acres of fertile land, and three districts of the Northern Frontier as his permanent fiefdom for his service in quelling the rebellion. The title of the Prince of the Northern Frontier shall be hereditary."

The hall erupted in murmurs. This was the highest honor a non-royal prince could hope to attain. Lu Xiao knelt to offer his gratitude, but he did not rise. "I wish to take all that the Emperor has bestowed and offer it as a betrothal gift," he declared. "I humbly request the hand of the Ninth Princess in marriage."

The Emperor smiled kindly. "The Ninth Princess is the child the Empress and I conceived in our later years. I cannot bear to see her marry so far away. Furthermore, she already has someone in her heart."

Lu Xiao looked up, startled. "The Princess... already has a beloved?"

"It is the absolute truth," the Emperor replied.

Lu Xiao fell silent for a long time, his eyes filled with a profound sense of loss. "I had not considered that possibility."

My heart gave a painful tug, and I felt a surge of pity. I was the one standing in for the Ninth Princess, meant to fulfill the desires of Shen Yu and the Princess. But for the Prince of the Northern Frontier—to be denied the woman he loved and then forced to marry a false princess like me—was that not a cruelty of a different sort? I bowed my head, wishing for the floor to swallow me whole.

"I have one more princess," the Emperor continued. "She would be a perfect match for you."

The court officials exchanged bewildered glances. "Is there not only the Ninth Princess?"

Lu Xiao’s voice turned icy. "Your Majesty, the one I seek is the Ninth Princess. If it is not her, then I..."

"Meet her before you speak," the Emperor signaled to Eunuch Hai.

Eunuch Hai led me forward. A wave of gasps rippled through the hall as people whispered, questioning whose daughter I was. I stopped and looked up, locking eyes with Lu Xiao. I gasped in astonishment. It was the young man in black from earlier! How could he be the Prince of the Northern Frontier? I had never met anyone so gentle; how could he be the legendary "God of Slaughter"?

Lu Xiao looked at me, a smile blooming in his eyes. "Mistaken... yet correct."

I frowned slightly, utterly baffled. Eunuch Hai gave a soft cough. "Lady Official, it is time to receive the decree."

I knelt hurriedly. "By the grace of the Heavens, the Emperor decrees: The second daughter of the House of Rongxiang, Miss Zhu Wanyuan, is hereby invested as Princess Yuning and betrothed to the Prince of the Northern Frontier..."

Lu Xiao knelt beside me, whispering my name. "Wanyuan... Wanyuan... a beautiful name."

My face burned with heat. Before I could respond, a commotion erupted outside. A hoarse voice screamed, "She is my betrothed! She belongs to me!"

When Lady Shen arrived, Shen Yu was already being pinned to the ground by guards. His eyes were bloodshot. "Wanyuan is my betrothed! We were engaged since childhood! By what right does the Emperor bestow her upon Lu Xiao? Is there no justice? Is there no law?"

Lady Shen, trembling with terror, lunged forward to cover his mouth. "Do you wish to die? Do not mention the marriage of Zhu Wanyuan to the Prince of the Northern Frontier. Even if the Emperor were to wipe out the entire Shen household, you are not to harbor a single complaint! Besides," she hissed through clenched teeth, "you have already broken your engagement with the second daughter of the Zhu family. It is of no concern to you whom she marries."

Shen Yu went rigid. "Broken the engagement?"

"The marriage tokens were returned to her yesterday," Lady Shen scoffed. "She took the initiative to break it. She clearly wishes to climb the social ladder. Why are you making a scene?"

"Impossible!" Shen Yu struggled, his voice cracking. "It is absolutely impossible! I must hear it from her own lips!"