Chapter 10 — The True Heiress Reads Fates

Dethrone the Empress and imprison the Crown Prince. Arrest the entire household of the Duke of Thua An and hand them over to the Three Judicial Offices for a joint trial.

The Crown Prince slumped heavily to the ground. The Empress shrieked, lunging frantically toward the vengeful spirit of A Dan, only to be violently hurled backward by a sudden, freezing gust of wind. Gazing at the shattered fragments of the ceramic urn lying before me, I felt the crushing boulder that had weighed so heavily upon my chest for years finally loosen just a fraction. Initially, I had intended to linger and watch the lively spectacle unfold, but Lin Nien firmly refused. When he scooped me up into his arms, I felt deeply aggrieved and protested:

Your Highness, I can still walk.

Shut your mouth, he commanded.

I was utterly stunned. This short-lived ghost of a prince actually dared to speak to me with such harshness. Just as I was about to retort, I noticed that the arm supporting me was trembling slightly. He lowered his gaze to look at me, and the edges of his eyes were faintly red. Instantly, all the words I had prepared vanished into thin air.

Following our return to the Marquis Manor, I fell into a deep, exhausted sleep for two full days. When I finally opened my eyes, the Marchioness was slumped over the bedside, fast asleep, with dark, bruised circles beneath her eyes. The Marquis sat in the outer chamber, speaking in hushed, grim tones as he ordered his subordinates to thoroughly investigate the dark deeds of the past. Shen Ming Dao was tending to the medicine stove; upon seeing that I had regained consciousness, her eyes turned red, and she nearly dropped the ceramic bowl from her trembling hands. I hurriedly spoke up:

Do not cry, the medicine is expensive.

She laughed through her tears:

You have been reduced to this state, yet you still only care about money.

Of course, I replied with utmost seriousness. I practically traded my life for this.

Once the Marchioness fully awakened, she pulled me into her arms and wept bitterly once more. This time, I did not pull away. Slowly, I raised my hand and gently patted her back. That single word rolled across the tip of my tongue before finally falling into place.

Mother, I am fine.

The Marchioness’s body stiffened momentarily, and then she wept even harder. Pretending not to notice her streaming tears, I lowered my head and stirred the dark medicinal broth:

Let it be known that calling you that does not incur a fee.

The Marchioness laughed and cried at the same time. Sitting beside us, Shen Ming Dao spoke in a soft, subdued voice:

Quy Di, I am sorry.

I turned my gaze toward her:

What is it this time?

She tightly clenched her handkerchief, her fingertips starkly white:

The day you first returned to the manor, when I knelt before you and offered to return our engagement, it was not entirely out of pure goodness. Back then, I was terrified—terrified that once you came back, I would have nothing left, and terrified that the Empress would genuinely force me to substitute my life for the Crown Prince. I thought that by giving the engagement back to you, perhaps I could escape my fate.

Tears spilled over her lashes:

I know how despicable I was.

I remained silent for a moment, then pushed a plate of candied plums from the bedside table toward her:

Would you like some?

Shen Ming Dao looked up, startled, and declined to take them. With a sigh, I popped one into my own mouth instead:

You will not eat? Then I will. If you cry for this long without replenishing your sugar, it is easy to shorten your lifespan.

A flicker of surprise crossed Shen Ming Dao’s features, and she finally broke into a genuine smile. I continued:

You certainly acted out of self-interest, but you never actually harmed me. Having selfish motives is nothing to be ashamed of; what is truly shameful are people like the Empress, who casually steal others' lives to prolong their own sons.

Shen Ming Dao stared at me in a daze. I added another thought:

Besides, had you truly married Lin Nien, you might not have survived it. That man climbs through windows in the middle of the night, speaks entirely in riddles, and possesses more hidden schemes than a lotus root has holes.

A soft, deliberate cough sounded from beyond the doorway. Turning my head, I saw Lin Nien standing in the threshold, his expression entirely gentle and composed.

So in Quy Di’s heart, I am viewed as such a person?

Maintaining a completely straight face, I replied:

Your Highness must have misheard.

Stepping into the room, Lin Nien extended a wooden box toward me. When I opened it, I found inside a stack of silver bank notes, numerous deed documents for land and shops, and an imperial decree. Glancing over the first two lines of the decree, I fell silent. An imperial decree of marriage.

Your Highness, I mentioned three thousand taels of silver, not the position of Third Prince’s Consort.

Lin Nien placed the imperial decree deliberately far away, as if fearing it might somehow scorch me:

The three thousand taels are at the bottom of the box. The title of Princess Consort is something I specifically requested.

I stared at him, and he returned my gaze. In the past, his smiles had always carried a casual, detached air, as though nothing in the world truly mattered to him, but right now, his expression was fiercely earnest.

Shen Quy Di, if you truly do not wish for this, I will petition His Majesty to rescind the decree. You may continue setting up your fortune-telling stall, you may travel far and wide with Master Tang, or you may remain here in the Marquis Manor as the second young miss. I will never force you.

And what about you? I asked.

Lin Nien lowered his gaze and chuckled softly:

I suppose I would grieve for a while.

How long is a while?

Perhaps three or five years, perhaps my entire life.

My heart softened abruptly. This man was truly cunning. He claimed he would not force me, yet he possessed such a face and spoke such words. I looked down at the gleaming golden scroll of the decree, then back up at him:

Your Highness, your hand is still resting on the decree.

Lin Nien paused, then smoothly withdrew his hand with an undisturbed expression:

I was merely afraid the wind might blow it away.

I could not help laughing. Amusement danced in his eyes as well, but he did not pressure me further. Pondering for a moment, I asked:

After I marry you, will I still be permitted to set up my street stall?

A faint light flickered in Lin Nien’s eyes:

You may.

May I still collect money?

You may.

May I hang a sign outside the gates of the Prince’s Manor?

What sort of sign?

I stated with absolute seriousness:

The Third Prince’s Consort divines with absolute accuracy, ten taels per reading, fair to both young and old alike.

Lin Nien laughed so hard his shoulders shook:

That is permissible as well.

He looked genuinely astonished:

You are agreeing to this?

I nodded in assent:

However, let it be understood in advance: should you ever change your heart in the future, I will draw a wretched peach blossom talisman for you, ensuring that you attract nothing but repulsive toads for the rest of your days.

He took my hand in his, speaking in a low, resonant voice:

That will never happen.

Gazing into his exceptionally handsome features, my fingers suddenly felt restless. Without thinking, I leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. Lin Nien froze entirely, and I froze right along with him. Only after the kiss was done did I suddenly remember that I possessed absolutely no experience in such matters.