He fell in love at first sight.
But unlike his sister's dream, he didn't fall in love at first sight with the Princess of Huai'an. Instead, he fell for this unconventional girl who was disguised as a man.
They barely escaped the assassins' pursuit. It was already late, and the girl wanted to go home but wouldn't let him see her off.
Shen Du only went to Huaizhou to catch a glimpse of what the Princess of Huai'an looked like. Once he saw her, he would return to Meizhou, as helping the people of Meizhou escape the earthquake was the most important thing.
The girl walked a few steps away, then turned back and said, "I'll be going to Kyoto soon. Let's meet at Gokoku-ji Temple then."
One of them was unsure when he would arrive in the capital, and the other didn't know how long he would stay in Meizhou.
Thus, the agreement was made for Feng Liu to meet at Huguo Temple.
If they don't meet on the sixth day, then they'll meet on the sixteenth.
If we haven't met by the 16th, then we'll meet on the 26th.
After making the agreement, Shen Du went to Meizhou the next day, and stayed there for several days before rushing back to the capital.
He was eagerly anticipating seeing the girl, but on the day he returned to the capital, he received an imperial decree from the emperor bestowing a marriage upon him. It was like a bucket of cold water being poured over him from beginning to end, chilling him to the bone.
He knew the Emperor wouldn't bestow a marriage upon him without reason; it must have been arranged by his sister and brother-in-law. He knew they were doing it for his own good, but he had underestimated their concern for him. He hadn't fallen for the Prince of Huai'an as his sister had dreamt of, and he hadn't sent a letter by carrier pigeon to inform them—that was his oversight.
Xie Jingyan pleaded with the emperor to grant him a marriage, and then asked the emperor to rescind the imperial decree granting him the marriage, which angered the emperor, and he was beaten by the emperor.
Once the Emperor has issued a decree to grant the marriage, how could he possibly take it back?
On the appointed day, he went to Huguo Temple early in the morning and waited for the girl under the Bodhi tree.
She arrived after a quarter of an hour.
They gazed at each other from afar.
Having already arranged their own marriages, their steps toward each other were heavy with trepidation.
The lively and outgoing girl suddenly became calm and composed, as if she had changed her personality.
They had so much to talk about in Huaizhou, but after several days apart, they seemed to suddenly have nothing to say to each other.
The two faced the distant green mountains.
a long time.
They remain silent when they are quiet, but when they do speak, they are together again.
I'm engaged.
The two spoke in unison.
After that, there was another silence.
"Congratulations."
The two of them opened their mouths at the same time.
Looking at her reddened eyes, Chen Du asked, "Do you like him?"
With tears welling up in her eyes, the girl said, "He is both scholarly and martial, comes from a good family, and has a good character. I will like him."
After saying that, she asked with a smile, "And you, do you like her?"
Chen Du's nose tingled as he said, "She is exceptionally beautiful and talented, and proficient in everything from music and chess to calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs. I would like her too."
"When are you getting married?" Shen Du asked.
"next month."
"And you?"
"I'm also getting married next month."
Neither of them spoke again.
Finally, the girl couldn't bear it anymore and turned away.
He stood there in a daze for a while. When he rode away from Huguo Temple, he ran into Yun Qi who was also going to Huguo Temple. The servant couldn't stop Yun Qi and saw him as if he had seen a savior.
He was in a bad mood and had no desire to persuade Yun Qi, so he simply knocked him unconscious and took him back.
These days, the Marquis's mansion is busy preparing a wedding banquet for him, but he can't be happy at all. He and that girl have only met once in Huaizhou and spent only a few hours together, but she has already captured his heart and can't be driven away. The more he tries to forget her, the clearer the memory of the day they met in Huaizhou is, as if it were carved into his mind. The more he tries to forget, the clearer the memory becomes.
Yesterday was his wedding day. Even if he was unwilling in his heart, he had to pretend to be happy and welcome the Princess of Huai'an, whom the emperor had bestowed upon him, into his home.
But he couldn't go against his heart. He didn't want to face his wedding night with Princess Huai'an, so he chose to escape. At the wedding banquet, he accepted every toast offered to him, drinking himself to the point of vomiting three times. Finally, he was helped home drunk.
The servant was about to help him into the bridal chamber, but he got drunk and started yelling that he wanted to sleep in the study. The servant tried his best to push him into the bridal chamber, and just when he was about to succeed, Princess Huai'an said, "Help him to the study."
Upon receiving the order, the servant immediately changed from pushing to dragging, practically pulling him to the study.
He slept in the study overnight.
I woke up with a splitting headache from a hangover.
He could choose not to consummate his marriage with Princess Huai'an, but he could not refuse to accompany her to serve tea to the elders.
He was still wearing his wedding robes; his brocade robes were still inside the house. He had to go back to change. As he walked into the inner room, he happened to run into a girl coming out of her room.
That familiar face made him feel as if he were dreaming.
He saw her, and she saw him.
Chen Du took two quick steps and asked, "Why did you come out of my room?!"
Princess Huai'an looked at him, her voice trembling, "You... what are you doing at the Marquis of Pingyang's residence?!"
“I am the heir of the Marquis of Pingyang. If I am not here, where would I be?” Shen Du said.
“...I am Princess Huai’an.”
The two of them looked at each other.
They all looked like they'd been struck by lightning a hundred or eighty times.
The maids and servants in the courtyard were even more confused.
Why do I feel like the young master and his wife are both very familiar with each other and not very familiar with each other?
Only when they arrived did they realize how outrageous their lives had been these past few days.
They had no idea that the person they were about to marry was the one they had always longed for.
One spent his days weeping, the other drowned his sorrows in alcohol every night.
Shen Du pulled Princess Huai'an into the house and asked, "Why didn't you tell me that you are Princess Huai'an?"
Princess Huai'an blushed and said, "You don't know I am Princess Huai'an. You said to my face that you would fall in love with me at first sight and marry no one but me. I told you I am Princess Huai'an. How embarrassing..."
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