Chapter 2

The ash tree in the yard turned green and then yellow, its leaves changing one after another. From her window, the dry bark of the ash tree was clearly visible. It was autumn now, and the yellowish leaves swayed in the autumn breeze, making a rhythmic, subtle rustling sound.

The autumn wind blew, bringing a slight chill. Yellow ash leaves fluttered down, blowing them onto her windowsill. Yang Ye subconsciously reached out and gently pinched the leaf, her fingertips touching the rough texture of the leaf.

"Go call the princess out!" The old prince put down the cup in his hand, and the cup touched the table with a very light sound. He instructed the maid beside him with an indifferent expression.

Sunlight streamed through the intricately carved window lattices, spilling into the spacious entrance hall of the palace. In the sunlight, the green bricks on the ground also took on a warm sheen.

Xue Shangyang shifted his posture, crossing his legs and quietly sitting in the slightly uncomfortable nanmu chair in the entrance hall. The sunlight streaming in just caught his eye. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze traversing the sun-filled front and into the distance. At his feet, a glossy tabby cat lazily sprawled on the ground, enjoying the warmth of the sun and occasionally licking its paws with its pink tongue.

Soon, light footsteps echoed from outside. Yang Ye, her skirt lifted slightly, entered gracefully from the side door. She wore a pale blue dress, overlaid with a long, azure gown. Her dress swayed with her steps, and each precise step was measured, showcasing the decorum and dignity of a lady from a noble family.

"Father," Yang Ye stood in the hallway and called softly.

She looked straight at her father who was sitting in the armchair in front of her. The chill in the hall was lingering in every inch of the air. Even though the sunlight outside had already filled the courtyard and countless warm lights fell into the hall, scattering them in patches, it still couldn't dispel the original chill here.

The chill was not just the temperature, but also a kind of oppression. It seemed that there were too many accumulated and lost years in this hall, and even the sun today could not warm it up.

Seeing his daughter approach, the old prince raised his eyes and carefully examined her from head to toe. His lips twitched, as if he was very satisfied with her appearance today.

The old prince raised his hand and introduced Xue Shangyang, who was sitting below him, "This is my daughter, childhood name Zhao Zhao, Zhao Zhao, and this is Xue Shangyang, Master Xue."

"Hello, Young Master Xue." Yang Ye turned and bowed slightly. Her gaze was downcast, not daring to look directly at Xue Shangyang. Her voice was soft and even, neither trying to be familiar nor being distant, maintaining the proper reserve and decorum expected of a lady from an aristocratic family.

Xue Shangyang's gaze had been fixed on Yang Ye since she entered. Although he was expectant, he remained restrained. He examined her carefully, and her shadow overlapped with the image of the girl who had crouched behind the window and peeped at him in his memory. However, compared to before, she was also a little more cautious and careful.

"You sit down too," the old prince ordered.

"Thank you, Father," Yang Ye nodded politely. She seemed to sense Xue Shangyang's gaze, but she didn't react, maintaining her dignity and decorum. She walked to the furthest-placed chair and gently sat down, hands folded on her knees, eyes downcast, seemingly maintaining a perfectly distant and unfamiliar air about her surroundings.

The old prince looked at his daughter's polite and measured manner, and smiled with satisfaction. He picked up the teacup that had just been placed beside him, blew gently on the steam rising from it, and took a sip of tea with satisfaction. The tea was fragrant and refreshing, with a sweet aftertaste, just like his cheerful mood at the moment, comfortable and joyful.

Those ignorant and uninformed common people outside gossip all day long, preaching about some ridiculous equality. Do they think that now that the emperor is gone, the old rules and regulations are no longer valid? They think that as long as they hold power, they can override the law. Such talk is simply absurd. Therefore, rules are everything, and etiquette is the foundation of life. How can they be destroyed or abolished because of a temporary period of turmoil?

"Father, why did you ask your daughter to come out?" Yang Ye asked softly. Puzzles began to grow in his heart. Normally, when a man from outside the family came to the house, the women in the family were not allowed to come out to meet him.

The old prince said slowly, "Zhao Zhao, do you know this Master Xue?"

"I don't know." Yang Ye shook his head slightly.

Xue Shangyang stared at Yang Ye, his gaze filled with inquiry and trance. The quiet and dignified woman before him was completely different from the playful, whimsical, and free-spirited figure he remembered. She lowered her head slightly, her smile still the same, but without the former boldness and flamboyance, replaced by a calmness that seemed to separate her from the outside world. What had she experienced during his years away, to have such a drastic change?

"This Mr. Xue came to me today and said that he wants to marry you." As soon as the old prince said this, it was like a stone thrown into the quiet water, causing ripples.

Yang Ye's eyes flickered, a hint of surprise flashing across them. Her body froze for a moment, but she quickly returned to normal, as if the abnormality had never occurred.

The old prince's eyes were burning. He stared at Yang Ye closely, as if waiting for her reaction. "Zhao Zhao, what do you think about this?"

"My daughter has never met Mr. Xue before, and I don't know what kind of person or behavior he is. My daughter only knows that marriage is a matter of life and death, and it is up to our parents to decide." Yang Ye's voice was steady, without any ups and downs.

"Okay." The old prince stood up with satisfaction, a happy smile on his face. He waved his hand, signaling Yang Ye to leave first.

After Yang Ye's figure completely disappeared from the entrance hall, the old prince's happy face gradually turned solemn. He sat down again and looked at Xue Shangyang with a scrutinizing attitude. He turned the jade ring on his thumb.

"Master Xue also heard it. My daughter said she had never seen you before."

"Although I have never met her, I am serious about wanting to win your daughter's heart." Xue Shangyang's voice was steady and firm, and he looked directly at the old prince.

The old prince snorted softly, and the jade ring on his hand turned faster.

The atmosphere in the lobby suddenly became solemn.

"Master Xue," the old prince said slowly, his voice low and tentative, "Why did you ask Zhao Zhao to marry you? Her family background, or her as a person? Or perhaps Master Xue has other ideas?"

Xue Shangyang's hands on his legs moved. He straightened the wrinkles on his suit, stood up, walked to the position directly in front of the old prince, bowed slightly, and saluted the old prince. His voice was clear and respectful, "Your Highness, I am asking to marry your daughter not because of her family background, nor for other reasons, but because of her as a person..."

The old prince looked at him and suddenly laughed. If it was for other reasons, he might have believed it to some extent, but this was the most ridiculous thing. "You have never seen her, what kind of person are you talking about? Master Xue, there are some things I don't want to say too clearly, but now, I have to say it."

The smile on the old prince's face instantly faded. His voice was low and calm, with an unquestionable majesty. "You should know that my Zhaozhao once discussed marriage with Aljiatai of the Hazir family. Although we didn't have a formal wedding ceremony, Zhaozhao did wear the wedding dress and ride in the sedan chair. If I hadn't forcefully stopped her, she would have been considered a member of the Hazir family even if she hadn't married Aljiatai. The fact that I'm still able to keep her in my mansion is simply because I despise Hazir's behavior, not because I've moved on. Zhaozhao's previous marriage brought infamy to my mansion, and even her own reputation was ruined long ago."

When he said this, his tone was filled with deep blame and disappointment. "Fortunately, Zhao Zhao is sensible. She has never stepped out of the palace in these years. But even so, the rumors outside have never stopped. Others say that my palace has no rules, accuse me of not raising my daughter well, and say that I indulged her and ruined the reputation of the palace. Master Xue, I have endured these words for many years. It was not until you came today that I wanted to say that Zhao Zhao is not worthy of you. You are knowledgeable and have a bright future. As for Zhao Zhao..."

The old prince closed his eyes, sighed silently and said, "She has no plans to marry again. She didn't use a white silk to end her life in her early years. Now, three incense sticks and an ancient lamp are enough for her to live for the rest of her life."

Xue Shangyang frowned when he heard this, and a hint of impatience flashed in his eyes. He was about to say something when the old prince raised his hand to interrupt him.

"Master Xue has seen great things, and now he has the support of nobles. His future is bright, so he naturally doesn't see us, the lowly people of the previous dynasty." The old prince said coldly, "Zhao Zhao is my daughter. I know her better than anyone else, but the world will not be lenient towards her just because she is my daughter. Since she was born in the palace, there are some things she can't hide from."

The old prince paused, staring straight at Xue Shangyang, and slowly uttered the last sentence, "Master Xue, it is better to choose someone else. Zhao Zhao does not deserve your favor."

Xue Shangyang raised his eyes and looked at the old prince seriously. His eyes were deep and complex, as if he was weighing and pondering the deeper meaning behind the old prince's words. After a moment's silence, he said, "Old Prince, you may think that I am being presumptuous by coming here today, but I have really been in love with your daughter for many years. What you said about the marriage proposal is of no consequence to me. What I want is her present and future. As for those rumors, Your Highness, the world has changed a lot now. People's thoughts have advanced, and their horizons have broadened. Such gossip will definitely not appear again."

The old prince sneered when he heard this, and his expression was complicated. "I hope that the world can be like what Master Xue hopes for."

After brushing off the non-existent dust and wrinkles on his body, he stood up and looked at Xue Shangyang. The royal blue Yunhe casual clothes and the ink-black suit on Xue Shangyang, the light and shadow in the hallway cut across each other, and time seemed to be divided into two completely different worlds.

Yang Ye thought about what getting married meant in that era for many years but still couldn't figure it out. Later, when her assistant came to ask her about marriage, she was confused and bewildered.

On the day she found out, she was woken up early by the nanny, even earlier than the day she and Algyat had married. Under a pitch-black sky, many candles were lit in the yard, their flickering flames trembling in the cold wind, illuminating the busy yet silent figures around them.

As the nanny dressed her, she muttered to herself the complicated etiquette of marrying a daughter. Yang Ye opened her still half-awake eyes and saw herself in the bronze mirror in front of her.

Her mother pushed the door open and came in, followed by several maids she had never seen before.

They were dressed in fashionable clothes, with tiered skirts and lace that flickered in the dim candlelight. The bright colors of the skirts didn't match the plain tunic she was wearing. They all carried a small wooden box in their hands.

"How is it?" Mother looked at her and asked the nanny who was dressing her.

"That's enough," Mammy said. She let down her straightened hair, lowered her head, and hunched her body as she retreated behind Mother.

She saw her mother appear in the bronze mirror, frowned slightly, and asked in confusion: "Mother, who are these people?"

"Mr. Xue asked someone to help you dress up," said my mother.

"Yeah," Yang Ye replied. He also had some doubts in his heart. He and Xue Shangyang had only met once. To be honest, his sudden proposal of marriage was enough to surprise Yang Ye, and today was another scene like this.

"Mr. Xue has studied abroad, and his ideas may be different from ours." Mother saw her concerns and explained.

"My daughter knows," Yang Ye whispered. Before she could think, the maids in Western-style dresses gathered around her, smiling but distant. They opened their wooden boxes, revealing a variety of makeup tools she had never seen before: a strangely shaped comb and various bottles and jars. One of the maids picked up the sieve beneath the box, dipped it into the cream in her hand, and gently applied it to Yang Ye's face. The cool touch made her shiver.

"What is this?" Yang Ye couldn't help but ask. The cream on her hands gave off a fragrance. The maids smiled but didn't answer. They just worked in an orderly manner.

The yard gradually became brighter. The corners that were originally shrouded in darkness revealed their original outlines under the caress of the morning light, and the lit candles were blown out one by one by the housekeeper.

"Princess, it's done," the maid called her and took away the wooden box placed in front of the bronze mirror.

Yang Ye opened her eyes. Her long hair was tied into a complicated curly Western bun. Her fair face was delicately made up, and her lipstick was a bit bright, which was very different from her usual style.

Yang Ye calmly looked at the maid who was dressing her, "Can you still wear that gown like this?"

"You should wear this one," the maid said. As if by magic, several people came over, holding a white, Western-style gauze dress. The skirt was so long that two or three maids held it together. It was embroidered with delicate lace and diamonds, and the collar and cuffs were inlaid with many small pearls.

She looked at the gauze dress and then at the nanny who was waiting to see her off. "Did Father agree?"

"The prince said everything should be done according to Master Xue's preferences."

"Then change it for me." Yang Ye stood up.

The maids deftly removed her flimsy undergarment and put a white gauze dress on her. They squatted down and gently adjusted the hem of her dress, letting every wrinkle fall naturally. Yang Ye glanced at her, her eyes somewhat blank. Only when everything was ready did she raise her head at the maid's gentle call and slowly gaze into the bronze mirror before her.

The self in the mirror, the pure white gauze dress on her body, the delicate gauze wrapped around her arms and neck. The moment she saw it clearly, her eyes suddenly widened, and there was a lot of surprise in her eyes. At that moment, she seemed to see a brand new self that she had never known before.

The maids pinned a piece of embroidered lace behind her head to match the hem of her skirt.

The bell in the corridor was blown by the morning breeze, and the crisp sound came in through the open window.

Amidst the crowd's support and congratulations, Yang Ye slowly walked out of the room.

The wedding procession was ready at the gate, and a Buick limousine adorned with flowers and ribbons was parked in front of the palace. Xue Shangyang, dressed in a sharp suit, stood by the car door, attracting the attention of the onlookers.

As soon as he raised his eyes, he saw Yang Ye being supported out by the nanny. When he saw her dressed, Xue Shangyang's eyes were filled with surprise and joy.

"You look beautiful today," Xue Shangyang walked forward and whispered to Yang Ye.

Yang Ye nodded in response.

Xue Shangyang helped her into the car, and the Buick started slowly. Her father and mother stood in front of the palace gate. She looked out the window at the streets and alleys outside the car, which were both familiar and unfamiliar. They seemed to have changed a lot, but it also felt like nothing had changed.

The wind made her eyes feel a little swollen and painful. She blinked hard, trying to suppress the inexplicable feeling in her heart. She turned to look at Xue Shangyang who was sitting next to her.

Today was a particularly pleasant, sunny day. Warm sunlight streamed into the Buick's cabin this morning. It cast a faint halo around Xue Shangyang's face, adding a touch of warmth to his otherwise hard features. His nose was high, and his eyelashes cast a soft shadow across his eyelids. The car jolted, and the light and shadow swayed with it. Yang Ye watched him quietly, suddenly remembering the line he'd read in a poem: "Your glance back makes me think of you day and night."

Xue Shangyang noticed her gaze and asked with a smile, "What's wrong?"

She tugged at her knees, trying to keep her voice calm. "Why do you want to marry me?"

Xue Shangyang was obviously stunned, his eyes flickered, he lowered his head to adjust his sleeves, and replied with a smile, "No reason, I like you"

Her gaze was fixed on Xue Shangyang's slightly lowered profile. The tips of his ears were slightly red. Yang Ye was confused and silent for a long time, as if she was also trying to determine the truth of his words. After a moment, she asked softly, "Should I believe it?"

Xue Shangyang raised his head, and he looked at Yang Ye with a gentle smile and a firm tone, "Of course you can believe it."

Yang Ye had a blank expression on his face, "We've only met twice"

Xue Shangyang's eyes did not move away, but stared at her more intently, "Do you believe in love at first sight? I don't need to deliberately meet many times, just one look, and I will be moved by you."

His passionate eyes seemed to penetrate Yang Ye's eyes and into her heart. Under this blazing gaze, Yang Ye's heartbeat suddenly accelerated, but she subconsciously blinked her eyes, and the alienation on her cold face became even more pronounced. "Master Xue must have said this to many people..."

Xue Shangyang's expression turned serious, and he answered seriously, "I only told you..."

Yang Ye didn't respond immediately, but just smiled softly and turned her eyes to the window, as if she didn't intend to continue the topic. Her silence made Xue Shangyang feel strange, so he asked, "You don't believe it?"

Yang Ye still didn't look at him, but said calmly, "Mr. Xue, feelings are not something that can be believed with just a few words. Love at first sight may exist, but to me, it is more like an impulse, not true love."

Xue Shangyang's eyes darkened, and he stared at Yang Ye's profile. "It seems that I was too impatient."

Blinded by the sunlight reflected from outside, she turned around and looked ahead with blurry eyes. "Master Xue, we don't understand each other. Perhaps you are just confused by a momentary feeling."

Seeing her so lost and disappointed, Xue Shangyang suddenly smiled, "Maybe, but I know very well that my feelings for you are not just a momentary impulse."

"My father told me that Master Xue came back from studying abroad. He's different from a vulgar person like me who just hides at home and knows nothing." Yang Ye paused, lowered her head, and chuckled, "I'm not Master Xue's soulmate, but I'm still grateful for his help. If Master Xue finds a true soulmate in the future, I will definitely treat her sincerely."

After hearing what she said, Xue Shangyang laughed inexplicably, "Do you want me to marry another one?"

Yang Ye's voice was flat, revealing the influence of traditional ethics and morals. "It's common sense for a man to have three wives and four concubines."

"Other people may have three wives and four concubines, but I will only marry you." Xue Shangyang's voice was extremely firm, as if he was declaring something.

Yang Ye pulled the gauze skirt tightly on her legs, her knuckles turned white from the force, and the fine sand rubbed against her palms, but it still couldn't stop the panic in her heart.

From the moment she heard Xue Shangyang's words, or perhaps even from the moment she got into the Buick, Yang Ye felt that the man beside her might be the key to her escape from the past. His every word, every action, every gesture was shrouded in a different kind of light. The distant cry, a trance, was the illusion she had always longed for but could never reach: freedom.