1. Joke

Is Xiuyuan going to marry Gao Ruyu?

The sky was overcast and dark, and the wind was a bit chilly, gently rustling the green bamboo outside the courtyard.

As Qi Gu gazed at the lush, straight bamboo in the courtyard, she thought of that person, who was also as elegant and tall as that person.

Hongyan brought a cloak and draped it over the eldest princess. "Princess, it's about to rain. Go back inside and rest for a while."

Honghu chimed in, "The princess is in a bad mood, probably because her husband hasn't come to the manor to rest for many days."

Qi Gu felt bitter inside. In the three months since she married Xiu Yuan, she had seen him less often than she had before they were married.

Although they were already married, Xiu Yuan lived in the Sima Mansion for most of the time, while the Princess Mansion seemed to be a temporary residence he visited occasionally.

This princess's residence, instead, became a cage that restricted her. Before marriage, she could shamelessly go to his residence to find him and "accidentally" meet him in the palace.

After they got married, they were husband and wife, and she had no reason to go to him. If he didn't come, she could only wait.

As a result, she became a laughing stock in the palace.

Raindrops began to fall, and a servant came from outside the courtyard. Honghu's face lit up with joy, thinking that her master was returning to the princess's residence tonight. "Is the master back?" she asked.

The servant who came to report lowered his head. "No, no, Your Highness, it is the Ninth Princess who has arrived."

Before Qi Gu could speak, a boisterous laugh came from behind the servant, "Hehehe!"

The Ninth Princess, carrying a pure white feather fan that covered half her face, gracefully approached without waiting for an announcement.

A pair of malicious eyes peeked out, their pupils darting over Qi Gu. "Elder sister, I heard that Xiu Yuan is busy with affairs and rarely returns to the princess's residence." Her eyes were full of schadenfreude. "You've lost weight in the three months since you married Xiu Yuan."

So they came here to see the joke. This Ninth Sister loves to see others suffer, especially those who stole her sweetheart.

Since being brought back by her father and mother, she has been ridiculed by her brothers and sisters for her vulgar behavior and lack of literacy.

Later, when the Ninth Princess discovered that she liked Sima Xiuyuan, she mocked her even more, saying, "Eldest sister, you are like a toad trying to eat swan meat. You are that ugly bastard, and Xiuyuan is the swan. What merit do you have? Even if Second Sister wanted to marry Xiuyuan, it wouldn't be her turn. How could you?"

Thinking of these past events, Qi Gu felt depressed. The joy she felt when she received the imperial decree to marry the woman had now turned into a bitter taste that was hard to swallow.

Perhaps it was her own insistence from the beginning. Someone like Sima Xiuyuan must have been unhappy to marry her.

She returned to the palace at the age of sixteen. For three years, she chased after Sima Xiuyuan. He allowed her to enter and leave his residence, he sent people to deliver umbrellas to her, and he punished the palace servants who mocked her behind her back. He thought that he still had some feelings for her.

However, on that day, when she confessed her feelings to him, he clearly told her, "I have no romantic feelings for the princess."

He always saw himself as just a princess, and he never overstepped the rules, but anything more would mean he had nothing left.

Qi Gu had already decided to give up, but unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager suddenly bestowed a marriage upon her and Sima Hong.

After receiving the imperial decree, she both cried and laughed. Her mother frowned deeply, saying, "I hope you won't regret it later." Seeing how blinded she was by the arranged marriage, she dismissed her with disdain.

Honghu looked triumphant. "Your Highness, now let's see who in the capital dares to laugh at you. You will become the Empress of the Sima family in the future, and everyone will respect you. Who will dare to say behind your back that you are a country bumpkin!"

The mature and prudent Hong Yan disagreed, saying, "Princess, Sima Langjun has always been so fond of you... How could he agree to this now? There must be other reasons behind it. Besides, you are a princess, and these people will gossip about you. There must be something fishy about this marriage."

"Hongyan, what do you mean by that? Does that mean those who mocked the eldest princess were not wrong, but the eldest princess was the one who was wrong?" Honghu shouted.

That's not what I meant...

Qi Gu felt a little relieved when she heard Hong Hu's words of defense. In this cold palace, there were not many people who could speak frankly to protect her, and even fewer who truly cared about her.

She was in a good mood today and said to the two of them, "Stop arguing. I am already content to marry Xiuyuan. To me, it is like finding a treasure unexpectedly. Besides, if Xiuyuan does not agree to marry me, Mother cannot force him."

At that time, her heart and mind were filled with Sima Xiuyuan. Just thinking about his handsome face made her heart pound.

Honghu said happily, "That's right. Without Sima Langjun's consent, even the Empress can't do anything about him."

Hongyan frowned. "Honghu, watch your words!"

Honghu realized she had spoken out of turn and shut her mouth, but she couldn't stand Hongyan the most.

She always wears a serious face, more proper than a princess, making all the others seem ungrateful.

Now that the princess is about to marry into the Sima family, and Sima Langjun is about to become the youngest Grand Minister of Works, his future is limitless, how can he not be happy?

But this wild goose, who considers herself the empress's person, always likes to pour cold water on things, which is really infuriating.

Fortunately, the princess favored him more than Hongyan, so Honghu rolled his eyes at Hongyan and ignored him.

She took the princess's hand and walked ahead, the two discussing the style and color of their wedding dresses.

Hongyan sighed deeply. Perhaps she was overthinking it. The Empress herself had personally bestowed the marriage, so what problems could there be?

Moreover, Sima Langjun is not only exceptionally capable, a fact that even the Empress relies on, but he is also remarkably handsome and has an extraordinary appearance.

The princess has loved him for many years, and now that she has gotten her wish, she shouldn't say those things at such a moment.

That day, as soon as Qi Gu left the palace, she went straight to the Sima residence. She had been there countless times and knew the place well.

The gatekeeper, however, was irritated when he saw him. "Your Highness, I'm sorry, but our master has business to attend to today, so you cannot enter the residence."

Honghu scolded, "How dare you! Our princess and Sima Langjun are about to get married. They used to be allowed to enter the Sima residence, so why can't they now!"

That gatekeeper was no pushover either. The Sima family was far more powerful in the Jin Dynasty than a princess who was not favored and had not yet been granted the title of Grand Princess.

He bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Please forgive us, Your Highness, but our master is indeed not receiving guests today." His expression was not particularly respectful.

But to everyone's surprise, just as he finished speaking, Sima Hong's four-horse carriage came to a steady stop at the gate of the mansion. When Qi Gu saw it, her eyes lit up.

The person before me was dressed in moon-white robes, with a blue belt around her waist and a jade pendant with cloud-patterned qilin on each side. Her graceful figure and stunningly beautiful face illuminated the dim sky.

Qi Gu thought that just looking at this face every day would make her eat two more bowls of rice and sleep more soundly.

She tugged at Sima Hong's sleeve, asking expectantly, "Xiuyuan, you should know by now, we're going to..."

Sima Hong looked at the princess with expectant eyes. He had indeed agreed to the marriage, but hadn't the Empress explained the details to her?

He said to her, "Princess, please come with me."

Reaching the door, he gave the gatekeeper a cold look: "Go and collect your twenty strokes of the cane."

The gatekeeper knelt on the ground, not daring to object, and said, "Yes."

Qi Gu felt as sweet as if she had eaten honey; Xiu Yuan might have some feelings for her.

The two entered the Sima residence, with Honghu following behind. He gave the gatekeeper, who had been looking down on them, a gloating expression.

The Sima Mansion was a residence bestowed by the emperor and was originally the residence of Zhang Yi, a famous minister of the previous dynasty.

The founding emperor of the previous dynasty highly valued Zhang Yi, and did not care that the mansion he was granted exceeded the prescribed size, saying, "Yi's great talent cannot be contained in this house." This established a reputation for harmonious relations between the emperor and his minister.

The emperor and empress bestowed this mansion upon the Sima family, naturally hoping to establish a good reputation as a ruler and his subject.

In Qi Gu's opinion, Xiu Yuan's talent was no less than Zhang Yi's, and he was indeed worthy of the title.

Standing beside her beloved, Qi Gu was overjoyed. "Xiuyuan, I have been in love with you ever since I was brought back to the palace five years ago." Her face flushed. "Don't worry, after I marry you, I will listen to you in everything. I will not keep male concubines like my other sisters. If you don't want to live in the princess's mansion, we can live in the main Sima mansion. In the future, I will manage the inner quarters, have children, and never let you have any worries."

Sima Hong was slightly puzzled, "Does the princess really agree?"

Qi Gu was of course willing. "Of course I'm willing, and I think you're willing too, Xiu Yuan, otherwise the Empress would not have granted the marriage, right?" Qi Gu asked cautiously.

“Princess, I’m glad you’re willing.” Sima Hong said calmly. “After the marriage, you will still live in the Princess’s residence. It will be convenient for me to run errands at the Sima’s residence. I will return to the Princess’s residence to keep you company when I’m done. Please understand everything else.”

Upon hearing this, Qi Gu had no reason to refuse. She happily assumed that Xiu Yuan was planning their future after marriage.

He must still have some feelings for me, right? All these years I've followed him and tried so hard to pursue him, he must have noticed it.

At that time, Qi Gu did not know that everything in the world can be worked for, except for love, which cannot be worked for, especially with a man like Sima Xiuyuan.

Three months after marrying Xiuyuan, she was filled with joy. However, just as her ninth sister said, after getting what she wanted, she did not live the life she had imagined.

Xiuyuan was always busy, either discussing matters with his mother in the palace or handling affairs of the Sima family at the Sima residence.

"Eldest sister, even if you go to great lengths to marry Xiuyuan, what good will it do? You may have his body, but you will never have his heart!" The Ninth Princess covered her mouth with her fan, and a soft chuckle came from behind the fan.

This ninth sister is like a crowing hen, always clucking and chattering everywhere. She has a really mean mouth, and I'm used to it.

"Ninth Sister has become quite plump, which means you must be having a good time in the palace. I heard that Madam Zhao is preparing to choose a husband for you. I have prepared some crystal pork knuckle and steamed sea bass. Why don't you stay and have a meal with your elder sister?"

"How dare you call me fat!" The Ninth Princess was most concerned about her figure. "Hmph, who wants to eat with you? You idiot, still thinking about food. Gao Ruyu is going to marry Sima Xiuyuan soon. I won't laugh at you; you're pathetic too..."

The Ninth Princess mocked this and then left gracefully.

But what she said made Qi Gu uneasy. Was what she said true? Was Xiu Yuan going to marry Gao Ruyu?

[Author's Note]

I've started a new story! I'm nervous, and I've revised it countless times. Sometimes I think it's okay, sometimes I think it's rubbish. I've gone back and forth between these feelings, but I've decided to start writing immediately while my creative energy is high! Please add it to your favorites and leave comments! Thank you! [Heart emoji]

For those of you waiting for your stories to grow, you can check out my newly completed novel next door, "Stop, That's My Child" [shy].