Chapter 26.26 Is the visitor the prince consort?

By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

My elder sister, Princess Ning'an, is gentle, virtuous, and intelligent, and has won my heart. I have heard that Liang Zhang, the second son of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, is both a scholar and a warrior, and has achieved the third-highest rank in the imperial examination. This young man is of noble character and possesses both talent and virtue, making him a suitable match for my elder sister. Therefore, I hereby bestow this marriage upon him.

"May the two of you choose an auspicious day to marry. May you live in harmony, respect each other, and enjoy lasting happiness. This is my decree!"

After the eunuch finished reading the imperial decree, Yuezhi remained kneeling on the ground, unable to recover from her shock.

She hadn't seen Pei Heng for a month, yet he had secretly decided on the husband without consulting her. It was an arranged marriage, with neither of them knowing. What if the other person didn't like her?

Although he was uneasy, the imperial decree stated that this young master of the Liang family was the third-ranked scholar in this year's imperial examination, and that his father was an official in the court and of good character. He thought that the young master was a trustworthy gentleman.

I wonder how he will react to the imperial decree of marriage. Does he know she is blind? Will he resent being so abruptly arranged to marry her...?

Yuezhi was both happy and nervous. After accepting the imperial decree, she had someone give the eunuch who delivered the decree a reward and then saw him out.

She was completely unfamiliar with the people and affairs of the capital, so she could only ask Huachun, "Do you know this second young master of the Liang family?"

Hua Chun shook her head. "This servant has never met the young master of the Liang family, but I have heard that Minister Liang of the Court of Judicial Review is very strict in managing his household and is an upright person. Even during the years when the late emperor suffered from headaches, he never found fault with Minister Liang. With such a head of the family, the young master of the Liang family must also be good."

Yuezhi wholeheartedly agreed, and since this man was the consort Pei Heng had personally chosen for her, he must be an exceptionally good person…

"Does the Liang family have any women?"

"Madam Liang is not in good health and has only given birth to two sons. The eldest son of the Liang family just got married this year, and there is also a young mistress in the mansion."

"Then you should go to the Liang family and send them an invitation, asking that young mistress to come and sit down for a chat with me tomorrow afternoon."

"Yes, this servant will go right away."

Since there were no elders in her family and Pei Heng couldn't prepare for her wedding in every detail, she had to make contact with the groom's family herself. The more she learned about them before the wedding, the less trouble she would have to deal with afterward.

With anticipation in her heart, Yuezhi slept soundly through the night.

The next morning, he bathed and changed his clothes, prepared a table of tea and snacks, and waited for the young mistress of the Liang family to come to visit.

"Yuezhi? Is it really you?"

He Zhiyan was led into the inner courtyard by her maid. Her eyes were drawn to the clear, green lake. She easily noticed the woman in pink sitting under the pavilion by the lake and exclaimed in surprise.

Inside the pavilion, Yuezhi looked in the direction of the sound and felt that the voice was familiar, but she couldn't remember who it was.

Seeing the strange look in her eyes, He Zhiyan quickly told her maid to step back outside the pavilion and came forward to take her hand. "It's me, He Zhiyan. By the way, you gave me this handkerchief before I got married. Do you still remember it?"

She pulled her hand and placed it on the handkerchief. The familiar embroidery and stitches reminded Yuezhi of how she poured her heart and soul into every piece of embroidery she made, and how she could easily recognize what she had embroidered.

"Zhiyan, you're the young mistress of the Liang family? I remember you married into my cousin's family in the capital, didn't you?"

“My cousin is Liang Xiu, Liang Zhang’s older brother.”

Yuezhi thought for a moment, then suddenly realized what she meant and was pleasantly surprised, "Then wouldn't we be sisters-in-law?"

“Yes.” He Zhiyan leaned against her and sat down. “You have no idea how boring my life has been since I married into the capital. I thought that there would be many rules to follow as a young lady at home, but I didn’t expect that there would be even more rules to follow in the capital after I got married. Occasionally when I go out to visit other people’s homes, I am ostracized because I am from Yanjing in the north.”

Yuezhi felt a sense of shared suffering with her, and lowered her eyes, "I am blind, so it is not appropriate for me to invite people to my home. I have never received invitations from other families. I suppose it is because of my lowly birth that I am not well-liked."

"Who would dare to dislike you?" He Zhiyan comforted her. "You have no idea how curious people outside are about you. The Emperor just appointed my second son as your consort yesterday, and this morning, people have been flocking to visit you so much that they've practically worn down the doorstep."

Yuezhi chuckled softly as she imagined the lively scene.

“My father-in-law said that the Emperor said you are not in good health and need to rest quietly. He told you not to let those people disturb you. Otherwise, the Princess’s residence would be bustling with visitors, and you would not have a moment of peace.”

He Zhiyan was telling the truth. After Yuezhi learned this, she felt much better and talked to her about serious matters.

"Zhiyan, I can't see what Young Master Liang looks like, nor do I know his temperament. I'm a little uneasy. Since you are his sister-in-law, why don't you tell me about his character and way of doing things?"

Upon hearing this, He Zhiyan gave a knowing look, took an object from her bosom, and placed it in her hand.

"What a coincidence! After the princess's residence sent me the invitation yesterday, Erlang also came to tell me about this matter. He was afraid that the arranged marriage might cause some discord between us, so he specifically asked me to bring this to you."

Yuezhi stroked the warm, smooth jade in her palm; it was a jade hairpin.

He said, "Jade is tough and resilient, just like my heart. I wish it could accompany you every day, knowing when you get up to do your hair and when you go to sleep at night."

"If I have the chance to meet the princess, I wonder if she would be willing... to let me put this hairpin on your finger, as a token, as a lifelong witness, I will cherish you and love you, and we will be husband and wife, of one heart and one destiny."

As Yuezhi listened to He Zhiyan's retelling, her face flushed red, as if the stranger was speaking to her in person. She shyly touched the jade hairpin in her hand again and again.

Seeing her face flushed like the evening glow, He Zhiyan, being an experienced woman, knew perfectly well what was going on and spoke gently.

“My second son is both literate and skilled in martial arts. Although he is not as accomplished as the Emperor in his youth, he is still a rare gentleman with a dignified appearance. The Emperor is willing to marry his beloved princess to him. He was flattered and promised in front of the whole family when he received the decree that he would respect and love you in the future and live up to the Emperor’s favor.”

Hearing these words warmed Yuezhi's heart. Before they even met, she was already cherished and loved by another person. A hairpin and a few words sent from him were enough to make her heart flutter.

She pursed her lips shyly, "He's never even met me before, why is he treating me with such care..."

“You are the Emperor’s sister, and the only princess in the capital. The Emperor’s decision to make Erlang your consort shows his high regard for Erlang and for our Liang family. The Emperor’s trust in his subjects is priceless. How could Erlang not cherish you?”

He Zhiyan happily took her hand. She had only been married for half a year, but she had already shed the childishness of a young lady from a noble family and gained the demeanor of a matriarch.

The fact that the betrothed prince consort and an old friend were family was enough to make Yuezhi happy for a long time.

She coughed lightly and got down to business with He Zhiyan: "The wedding date is not set... I would like to meet with Young Master Liang before the wedding. Would you be willing to play matchmaker for me?"

“Of course.” He Zhiyan smiled and agreed. “My second son is twenty-four this year, which is a good match for your age and personality. You’ll know I’m not just teasing you when you meet him.”

Yuezhi felt a sweet warmth in her heart. Her fingertips twirled the hairpin. The two of them set a date and place for their meeting, and her thoughts immediately drifted to the side of the prince consort.

Seeing her joy, He Zhiyan asked curiously, "When I left Yanjing, weren't you still waiting for your younger brother to return home? Only half a year has passed, how did you become Princess Ning'an?"

In the past, being down on her luck and fearing that the title of deposed crown prince would bring trouble, Yuezhi never revealed their identities to anyone.

Now that he could finally see the light of day, he was filled with pride and could finally speak of the past with a light heart, saying with emotion, "It was because our Emperor was so kind and righteous that he made me this princess."

She often thought that if Pei Heng had told Hua Qing the truth about the situation earlier, perhaps Hua Qing would have brought Wang Qiushi back to the capital with her, and now she would be enjoying the same status as a princess.

To Pei Heng, she was nothing more than a past love.

She was neither suited for officialdom nor for military service, and even her poor eyesight prevented her from securing a stable kingdom through marriage like other princesses.

Even so, he still kept his promise and found her a good husband, which made her very content.

Yuezhi recognized the vast chasm between herself and the new emperor, let go of her regrets, and focused all her attention on her future husband.

Unexpectedly, these words reached the ears of the new emperor in the Hall of Diligent Governance within half a day.

"I know you get up in the morning to do your hair and makeup, and I know you go to bed in the evening."

"I cherish you, I value you, we are of one heart and one destiny..."

Pei Heng let out a heavy sigh, put down the memorial he was reviewing, and the eunuch who had delivered the message was so startled that he hurriedly knelt down and dared not speak again.

"This boy is supposed to be a third-place scholar, yet he uses all his talent and literary skills on writing love poems for women. He's so self-important." He felt inexplicably angry. This was the person he had carefully selected, but now he couldn't stand him no matter what.

She secretly breathed a sigh of relief and then asked the young eunuch, "Did the princess reprimand him for his offensive words?"

The young eunuch replied, "According to Huachun, the princess likes him very much and has asked the young mistress of the Liang family to help arrange a meeting between her and Liang Zhang in a private room of a teahouse by the Xiang River on the night of the full moon."

Pei Heng put down his brush, his expression solemn.

"Nonsense! She's blind, and instead of resting at home, she's out having a secret rendezvous with someone?"

The emperor was furious, and the atmosphere in the Hall of Diligent Governance suddenly became heavy. Seeing this, the imperial eunuch Jinbao bowed and tried to persuade him.

"Your Majesty, you personally selected a consort for the princess so that she would have someone to take care of her and could live a peaceful and happy life. Now, although the princess and her consort are meeting in secret, it is against etiquette, but it fulfills the desire between a man and a woman. I think that after the princess sees her consort, she will be grateful for Your Majesty's kindness and her affection for you will be even deeper."

Jinbao's words were all reasonable, and Pei Heng heard them all, but the nameless anger in his heart did not dissipate. On the contrary, the thought that the two of them could not even wait for the wedding date and insisted on meeting in secret made him even angrier.

“My elder sister is not the kind of person who disregards the proper separation between men and women. I know that she has never dared to meet with men outside the family alone.”

He sighed, his brow furrowed, his thumb rubbing the ring restlessly, his heart aching with a tightness in his chest.

"It must have been Liang Zhang's sweet words that made her lose her composure. If my elder sister's eyes recover and she sees Liang Zhang with her own eyes, she will know that even the best man in the world is nothing more than this."

“Your Majesty’s insight is unique.” Jinbao followed up on his words and advised, “However… the princess is no longer a child, and Liang Tanhua was chosen by you. Since the marriage has been arranged, let them be. Why should Your Majesty worry about it anymore?”

Upon hearing this, Pei Heng propped himself up on his arm, rubbed his temples in distress, and squinted his eyes.

He didn't understand what he was angry about either.

He had promised Yuezhi a marriage long ago, and now it seems she really likes the husband he chose for her and can't wait to meet him.

But doesn't she miss him at all?

She used to have endless things to say to him, she would laugh and cry in front of him, worrying about whether he was well-fed and warmly clothed, his face was always reflected in her clear eyes, and there was always a place for him by her side. Even when he went to join the army, she cried for several days out of worry.

She once valued him so much, her heart was completely devoted to him, but now she shares some of the tenderness that was originally his with the physician and a lot with the prince consort. In the end, how much is left for him?

After waking up from that absurd dream, he forced himself not to see her, fearing that seeing her would stir up some unpleasant thoughts.

He had thought that time and distance would fade the unbearable memories of his dreams, but now it seemed that not only had they not faded, but they were making him think about them day and night, leaving him feeling desolate.

"Your Majesty, aren't you doing all this for the princess's sake...?"

Jinbao cautiously tried to persuade him, but Pei Heng sighed helplessly, knowing that he was too concerned about Yuezhi and the prince consort's affairs, and that his personal servants would inevitably notice something was amiss.

"Enough, enough, I won't ask anymore, let them be." He picked up his vermilion brush again and began to review the memorials.

He told himself: I can't think about her anymore.

Yuezhi wanted a harmonious marriage and a warm, peaceful life, while he only wanted her to be happy. He would do anything to make her happy.

He kept telling himself "don't think about her" every day, but he couldn't stop thinking about her while doing things, getting dressed, or even when he couldn't sleep. His mind was filled with her.

Pei Heng suspected that he had not been poisoned by the Thousand Threads Poison, but had swallowed a love curse. Someone as pure and innocent as Yue Zhi would never have cast a curse on him. He had fallen into it himself and could not get out no matter what.

After discussing important state affairs, the court officials withdrew.

He sat alone in the council chamber, watching the withered yellow leaves blown down by the autumn wind outside the window—it was already the full moon of the fifteenth day of the lunar month.

Tonight, Yuezhi will meet Liang Zhang.

What they did when they were alone must have been far more intimate than what she did with the physician…

"Your Majesty, the people from the Princess's residence have arrived."

The eunuch's report pulled him from his reverie, and he hurriedly asked, "Did my elder sister send someone to deliver a message to me?"

The young eunuch presented the food box with both hands. "The princess personally made some snacks for you. She asked if you had been working hard these days and if you remembered to wear warm clothes in the cold weather. She also sent several carts of gold and silver jewelry, saying that she had received many gifts from court officials and royal relatives in the past few days. The princess has no need for them and requests that these items be added to the national treasury."

"Since it is the Empress's wish, then record it and send it to the national treasury." Pei Heng stood up, took the food box from the eunuch's hand, and eagerly opened it.

There was a piece of red paper on the pastry, with slightly messy ink writing on it—

"I long to send a letter, but no wild geese fly by; only the lamplight by the window speaks of the sounds of autumn."

A smile appeared on his lips, and the complex emotions that had been weighing on his heart for the past few days were all forgotten, leaving only the joy of Yuezhi writing poems for him to express her longing.

“In the past, I only taught her to recite poems and essays, but I never thought that she could write poems on her own now. She has made great progress.”

Recalling the warm memories of his childhood bedtime lessons, his heart warmed. He picked up the pastries and placed them on the table, about to taste them, when he discovered a letter hidden under the pastry plate.

“Ah Heng, the Prince Consort is truly a man of great literary talent. He writes poems for me every day. When I hear people recite the poems he wrote for me, it feels as if I can write a couple of lines myself. The Prince Consort praised my writing, so I wrote a line for you, hoping that you will have warm clothes and plenty of food, and that everything will go smoothly for you.”

Pei Heng's smile gradually faded, and intense jealousy burned in his eyes.

It turns out it wasn't for him, but for the prince consort.

His memories in her heart, memories that belonged exclusively to him and Yuezhi, were overwritten by another man.

The pastry was delicately sweet, but he found it bitter. He had only wanted her to be happy, but when she found happiness with someone else, he felt no joy, only bitterness.

Seeing the joy overflowing in her words, Pei Heng smiled bitterly, gazing wryly out the window. Before his reason could return, he had already done what he instinctively wanted to do.

"Jinbao, help me change my clothes."

"Cheng Yuan, select a few capable guards to accompany me out of the palace."

*

As night falls, the Xiang River flows through the bluestone channel, and painted boats on the river play music and dance, creating a bright golden river in the dark night.

In Qingxin Teahouse, Yuezhi sat alone in a private room on the third floor, with one window half open, looking down at the flowing Xiang River.

For the first time in over a month, she left the mansion. All she could see was darkness and a faint, blurry, bright yellow river, but her ears were filled with a lively atmosphere: actors sang, vendors hawked their wares, and dancers moved to the music, their beaded necklaces jingling and colliding like shattered pearls falling onto a jade plate—it was a beautiful sound.

She took a deep breath; the air was filled with the delicate aroma of tea and the faint scent of perfume wafting from afar.

After losing her sight, her ability to distinguish human voices didn't improve much, but her nose became more sensitive, and she could make fruit wine, sweet wine, pastries and cakes in her spare time.

Seven days have passed since they began exchanging letters, and one can sense from the words that he is a kind, honest, and courteous gentleman.

She was a little nervous when we met today.

Feeling shy and anxious, she couldn't sit still, so she stood up, holding onto the table, and let the night breeze blowing in from the window cool her feverish cheeks.

On the banks of the Xiang River, out of her sight, Liang Zhang, dressed in a bamboo-green autumn outfit, his eyes shining, rushed to the teahouse. Before he could even step inside, he was stopped by two men who led him to a private room on the second floor.

Upon seeing the young man sitting in the private room, Liang Zhang hurriedly knelt down and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, this humble subject greets you. May Your Majesty be well."

The young man had deep-set eyes and a cold demeanor. In front of the man who was several years older than him, he was like a fierce tiger. With just a slight glance, he made Liang Zhang tremble with fear.

"I saw that your father was a rare and steady minister in the court, and you also had some talent, which is why I married my beloved elder sister to you. However, you are very restless. You couldn't even wait a few days and tricked the princess out of the palace to meet with you in secret."

"Your subject dares not," Liang Zhang prostrated himself on the ground, offering no further explanation.

Seeing that he was pragmatic, Pei Heng did not punish him severely. "The princess's eyes are injured and she should not go out. Considering that you are not familiar with the princess's condition, I will let it go this time. If there is a next time, I will not be lenient."

"Your subject acknowledges his crime and will never repeat it in the future." It was already October, and the weather was getting cooler, but Liang Zhang was sweating profusely with nervousness in front of the emperor's unyielding presence.

"If someone asks you, do you know how to answer?"

"I will not say more."

Pei Heng narrowed his eyes. This person was truly rare in his tact; he couldn't find fault with him. He waved his hand and told the guards to let the man go.

With the private room empty, Cheng Yuan leaned down and asked, "Now that Young Master Liang has left, should we inform the princess and escort her back to her residence as soon as possible?"

Pei Heng should have said so, but remained silent for a long time.

Seeing this, Cheng Yuan stopped asking questions and respectfully stepped aside, watching him stand up from his seat, straighten his clothes, push open the door and walk out of the private room, heading upstairs.

Climbing those few steps felt like ascending to heaven. Pei Heng's mind was in turmoil, filled with countless emotions: regret, jealousy, resentment, longing... all swirling together, driving him to her side.

It's been so long since I've seen her.

He must be missing Yuezhi too much to be having these wild thoughts. Whenever he sees her, all his unease and restlessness subside.

He just needed to look at her one more time to accept it, to accept that she was leaving him and going to someone else.

Hua Chun stood guard outside the door. When she saw that the person who came was the new emperor, she silently stepped aside.

Pei Heng stood in front of the door, his heart pounding, unsure whether it was from the lingering poison in his body or from the person behind the door.

He was uneasy and restless... He pushed open the door and saw a beautiful figure by the window, looking out. The candlelight illuminated her delicate and gentle face. The night breeze blew her hair and lifted the hem of her skirt. She was exactly the same person he had seen when he opened the door on countless quiet afternoons in his memory.

Like a butterfly fluttering in, it will fly towards him, land in his palm, bring him a garden full of spring colors, and protect his proud and fragile nature. It is a butterfly that belongs only to him.

One glance was enough to touch the softest spot in his heart.

Yuezhi, whom he had been longing for, was completely unaware of what had just happened. Hearing the door open, she turned around and looked at him, a faint blush rising on her cheeks, and a gentle smile appearing in her clear eyes.

"Is the visitor the prince consort?" the voice asked softly.

Pei Heng's throat went hoarse instantly, his eyes burning.

The night was enchanting, and countless voices clashed violently around him. As he slowly approached, the deepest voice in his heart overflowed from his throat.

"yes."

Pei Heng's eyes were dark as he gazed intently at her. He raised his hand and took hers, his fingers threading through her delicate fingers. Their palms intertwined, and all other noises disappeared from his ears.

He gazed at her blushing face, at her flustered, shy eyes, and gripped her hand even tighter.

"These past few days, I have been thinking of you and wanting to see you. Today I am finally able to see you. It is truly the greatest blessing of my life."

Yuezhi blinked helplessly, her ears turning bright red.