2. Marry another

◎Xiuyuan, I want to be with you forever◎

At night, the candlelight illuminated her thin face. The original Qi Gu was plump and beautiful, and in Lijia Village, her appearance was the most sought-after.

Farmers valued this plump figure, believing it not only made them fertile but also gave them great strength, making them excellent at farming.

Back in the capital, Chang'an, where women were considered beautiful when they were thin, she was often ridiculed for her plump figure.

At first, I didn't care, but later I heard from the Ninth Princess that Sima Hong also liked women with slender waists.

She then resolutely lost weight, thinking it was too slow, but after only three months of marriage, she was already one of the most slender women in the capital.

But she knew that even if she were slender, it wouldn't be what Xiu Yuan liked.

The steady sound of footsteps echoed outside the courtyard.

Qi Gu said with a self-deprecating laugh, "Could it be another sister who's rushing to see me make a fool of myself?"

Hongyan opened the door and was surprised to find that her husband had returned. She exclaimed happily, "Princess, it's my husband who's back!"

Qi Gu put on her shoes, ran to the door, and saw that it was indeed Sima Xiuyuan. Her face was filled with undisguised joy. "You, why are you back?"

Sima Xiu entered the house, saying, "Why can't I come back?"

Hongyan and Honghu left the house, and Qigu hurriedly stepped forward to ask him, "Have you had your evening meal? I'll have them prepare dinner for you."

"No need. I came today to tell you that I'm afraid I'll be staying in the palace for the next few days. Don't go out of the mansion and cause trouble unless necessary, understand?"

Qi Gu felt bitter inside. She had followed him for three years and married him three months ago, but he remained as indifferent to her as ever.

But she dared not ask, for she already knew the answer in her heart. Seeing the woman's silence, Sima Hong looked at her and asked, "What's wrong?"

Qi Gu looked up, pouting, "It's nothing, I know, I'm not going anywhere." In fact, since marrying him, she has rarely gone out except for entering and leaving the palace.

However, even if she doesn't go out, those people will still come to her door to humiliate her.

As Qi Gu stared at that incomparably handsome face, the anger in her heart dissipated.

She wanted to ask, "Do you really want to marry Gao Ruyu?" but then she thought that Ninth Sister must be lying to her.

"What do you want to say, the one you're hesitating to say?"

Looking into his deep eyes, Qi Gu suddenly couldn't ask anything. She hugged him tightly and said, "Xiu Yuan, I want to be with you forever."

He picked her up and placed her on the bed.

Qi Gu's face flushed slightly, and her heart was beating a little fast. Even at this moment, her handsome face remained completely expressionless.

She thought that a man like Xiuyuan was not materialistic, but on their wedding night, when she was honest with him, she discovered that she did not truly understand her husband.

He looked thin, but after his clothes were removed, his strong, muscular physique made her blush.

As he leaned closer, his sharp eyes were tinged with lust, throwing her off balance.

"Princess, what's the rush?" As she finished speaking, she felt a firm waist pressing against her soft spot beneath her.

She held onto his shoulders, the protruding bones hurting his hands, while the person on top of him continued to assault her. At the climax, she couldn't help but scream.

The man watched her lose control. Was she seeing things? He seemed to be enjoying the moment!

The usually aloof person now has intense eyes, no longer like the moon hanging high in the sky, but like a piece of cold jade within her reach, held in her hand.

She gripped the cold jade tightly, trying to warm it up, but it never did.

Thinking back to her wedding night, she believed she was the happiest woman in the world, having married the best man in the world, a man who wasn't entirely without affection for her.

But on the second day after their wedding night, he reverted to his previous indifferent self, remaining respectful but not affectionate towards her.

But Qi Gu was already content, becoming a "waiting-for-husband stone" in the princess's mansion, waiting for her husband to return.

Tonight, she finally welcomed her husband back. The night was enchanting, and the candlelight flickered ambiguously inside the house.

After removing her clothes, Qi Gu's body was as red as a shrimp, her eyes shimmering with tears.

The man avoided her intense gaze, did not meet her eyes, and had no intention of reciprocating her feelings; he went straight to the point.

Qi Gu was a new bride who had only been intimate with her husband a few times. She was overwhelmed by his strength and couldn't accept it. She had thought he was a gentle and kind person, but he was surprisingly strong. It's true that you can't judge a book by its cover.

She cried out, "Be gentler." Her voice was melodious and suggestive.

Her husband showed no pity, but instead, wave after wave of ripples spread, without ceasing.

Qi Gu couldn't take it anymore. Xiu Yuan's behavior today frightened her, as if he was deliberately trying to make her suffer.

"Xiuyuan, I feel unwell." Another wave of dizziness washed over her. The person on top of her, with eyes as cold as a spring, appeared as blurry and unreal as the moon in a downpour under the rising steam. She stared in disbelief.

She forgot the question she was going to ask him, and hugged his shoulders. They were both sweaty, and she thought, "Let it be."

She closed her eyes, not questioning why he never looked at her face or kissed her during sex.

She didn't even ask him why he agreed to the Empress Dowager's arranged marriage when she was about to give up.

They didn't even bother to ask him whether he really wanted to marry Gao Ruyu.

"Xiuyuan, I only want to be with you forever." She whispered, a shiver running down her body. "Ah~"

After the turmoil subsided, she closed her eyes and nestled tightly in his arms, thinking that as long as she could stay like this with him, that would be enough.

The next day was the day she went to the palace to pay her respects to her mother, and the two rode together in a carriage to the palace.

Upon arriving at Changyang Palace, she asked, "Are you going back to the Princess's residence tonight?"

Sima Hongdao said, "I will come to pick you up."

Qi Gu was satisfied and went to her mother's palace.

"May the Empress Dowager live a thousand years and enjoy boundless happiness."

"rise."

Empress Zhang noticed that although she had lost a lot of weight, her complexion was rosy, and asked, "Did you come with Sima Xiuyuan today?"

Qi Gu nodded happily. Although she had been living in the agony of waiting for the past three months, last night made her feel that she could continue to wait.

"You chose this path yourself, so don't regret it later."

Qi Gu straightened her back and said, "I will never regret it."

Empress Zhang sneered, "Alright, after you've paid your respects, you can leave the palace. There's one more thing I need to tell you. Sima Xiuyuan wants to marry the second daughter of the Gao family as a concubine. I've agreed to this. You should behave yourself and not cause any trouble."

Just moments ago, Qi Gu was beaming with happiness, but now, like a smooth jade plate falling to the ground and shattering into pieces with a bang, it was the sound of happiness being fragile.

"What does Mother mean?" Qi Gu questioned.

It turns out what Ninth Sister said was true; it's laughable that I was the last to know.

Empress Zhang knew this would be the outcome, and she scolded her sternly: "Look at you! Where is the dignity of a princess? You are nothing but a concubine. The Gao family are the founding ministers who fought alongside your father to establish the empire. This marriage is a matter of national importance. Your personal feelings are nothing compared to the fate of the nation!"

Qi Gu looked at her mother, "The affairs of the world? They probably concern your throne as Empress, your brother's position as Crown Prince, and the future of my nephew who is not yet a year old. It's a pity that they have nothing to do with my happiness, is that right, Mother!"

"Slap!" Empress Zhang's hand landed on her daughter's face. Her life had been so difficult, from an ordinary bride to a woman who followed her husband to fight in various battles, and then entered this Changyang Palace, fighting against countless women.

She was furious that she had given birth to such a politically naive and clueless daughter!

If she hadn't planned this, could she and her brother have enjoyed wealth and status? Could she have gotten Sima Xiuyuan to marry her?

If she isn't ruthless, the Guo mother and son will take her place, and then they won't have an easy time!

This fool is utterly stupid. He's arguing and making a scene over something that doesn't even exist—it's all so ridiculous.

"The Gao family's daughter won't be an eyesore in the Princess's residence. She'll live in the Sima residence and never appear before you again. What more could you want?"

Qi Gu knelt on the ground, tears soaking her clothes. No wonder she told her not to regret it; it turned out Xiu Yuan already knew. What did those three months matter then?

Her heart was breaking: "Mother, this is the second time you've abandoned me! I really want to ask you, is my younger brother the only child you have?!"

Empress Zhang pointed at her good-for-nothing daughter, looking at her utterly useless state, and was furious. "For the next month, you will stay at home and reflect on your mistakes. Do not come to the palace again."

Qi Gu wiped away her tears and stood up. She knew that no matter how much she cried, this decision was irreversible. She said nothing more and ran out of Chang Le Palace.

Hongyan followed behind her and advised, "Princess, Her Majesty the Empress is doing this for your own good and for the Crown Prince's good. Please don't misunderstand Her Majesty's good intentions."

Honghu, however, was unconvinced. "How can Your Highness side with outsiders? By letting the Gao family's daughter marry the gentleman, they'll be living happily ever after in the Sima residence. What will happen to the princess then?"

Thinking back to last night's pleasure, it turns out it was a sweet treat followed by a slap in the face.

Why bother? If he were in love with the Gao family girl, he could have just told her, and she wouldn't have disagreed. Why make it seem like an exchange, which is disgusting!

At the palace gate, Sima Hong's four-wheeled carriage was parked, and Hongyan and Honghu prepared to help Qigu mount the horse.

Qi Gu turned to Hong Yan and said, "Go and bring my carriage here."

“Princess, we can’t wait for the master any longer,” Honghu asked.

"No need."

Hongyan went to have someone drive the carriage, and the Second Princess walked over from not far away.

She once liked Xiuyuan very much and wanted her father to grant her a marriage, but later her father fell seriously ill and the empress took control of the government.

She and Xiuyuan missed each other by chance, and in the end, this country bumpkin got the peach. How could she not hold a grudge?

However, even if she married Sima Xiuyuan, Gao Ruyu of the Gao family was not someone to be trifled with.

"Oh dear, elder sister, what happened to your face?"

The Second Princess feigned concern, but actually wanted to rub salt into Qi Gu's wounds. "I heard that Xiu Yuan is going to marry Gao Ruyu, a girl from the Gao family, as his concubine. Tsk tsk tsk, they are a perfect match. This is probably our good mother's compensation to Xiu Yuan for marrying you. After all, Gao Ruyu is the daughter of Imperial Censor Gao. She has studied poetry and songs since childhood and is virtuous and gentle. I heard that Sima Gong initially favored this Miss Gao as the new matriarch of the Sima family. Who knew that Mother would insist on breaking up the couple? But now, it can be said that the lovers have finally become a couple."

"My second sister is not young anymore. If she can't get married soon, she may not even have a chance to become the third daughter of the Sima family!"

Hongyan finally had a carriage brought. Qi Gu boarded the carriage and felt a sense of satisfaction watching the Second Princess pointing at her but unable to speak.

When she first entered the palace, she was afraid that her words would be ridiculed because she couldn't speak the official language. So she didn't argue with them. Even if she could speak, she didn't have the eloquence to win an argument with them.

Later, she spoke fluent Mandarin, but she was afraid that if she couldn't help but recount her carefree behavior in the village, Sima Hong would see it and it would affect her image in his eyes.

Therefore, she always chose to swallow her anger, but unfortunately, her frequent concessions did not earn her their respect. Instead, they became even more smug.

“If the princess really intends to swallow her anger, there has never been a precedent of a prince consort openly marrying a concubine.” Honghu felt indignant on behalf of Qi Gu.

Hongyan advised, "Princess, Her Majesty the Empress must have her reasons. You must not become estranged from her."

Qi Gu looked at Hongyan. She knew that Hongyan was sent by her mother to monitor her and discipline her, so that she would abide by the duties of a princess and maintain the dignity of the royal family.

Royal dignity? She is the eldest princess born to the Empress, yet she has not been officially granted the title of Grand Princess, simply because her mother thinks she is unworthy.

She never dared to ask for these things, but her mother forced Xiuyuan to marry a woman from the Gao family, showing no regard for her dignity or her feelings.

"Hongyan, what are you worried about? With my status and abilities, what can I do? I'm afraid no princess in the whole world is as pathetic as me!" She knew she was taking her anger out on her, but wasn't her mother hurting her feelings by doing this?

The swan looked at the wild goose triumphantly, and the wild goose lowered its head and said nothing more.

[Author's Note]

Praise to myself for being so hardworking! [cheering emoji] Haha, hope everyone will save and comment, thank you! [shy emoji]