Different Paths
The atmosphere in the Xu Mansion became more subtle after Xu Xianyue returned from Prince Jing's Mansion.
The expected rebuke didn't come immediately. Wang Shi and Xu Xianyun looked at her with eyes that, besides their usual disdain, were tinged with an indescribable fear and scrutiny. Prince Jing's brief, yet sharp, gaze that day was like an invisible thorn, piercing the hearts of some.
Xu Xianyue was content with the quiet, still nestling in her own little courtyard, as if all the turmoil in the outside world had nothing to do with her. Wan Cui wanted to say something several times, but in the end, she couldn't help herself.
"Miss, I heard... I heard that His Royal Highness Prince Jing seemed to... glance at you that day?" The little maidservant lowered her voice, with a bit of fear and secret excitement.
Xu Xianyue was sorting the newly bought silk. When she heard this, her fingers did not stop moving. She just said "hmm" lightly, and no emotion could be heard.
"Miss, you say...Is the prince..." Wan Cui's cheeks flushed slightly, and she was too embarrassed to say the rest of the words.
"No." Xu Xianyue interrupted her, his tone calm, "Don't think too much, it has nothing to do with us."
She knew full well that a man like Xie Wuqi couldn't harbor ordinary romantic feelings. His glance wasn't so much about her as it was about examining an "object" that piqued his interest, or perhaps... sensing something unusual. For example, her overly calm reaction, or the velvet flower that stood out from the crowd.
She didn't want to get into trouble, she just hoped that this storm would pass so that she could still find a chance to leave this place.
However, the tree wants to be still but the wind does not stop.
A few days later, a sudden imperial edict broke the apparent peace maintained by the Xu family and completely disrupted Xu Xianyue's plans.
The shrill voice of the eunuch delivering the imperial edict echoed in the not very spacious main hall of the Xu family. Every word was like thunder, frightening everyone in the Xu family to death.
"...I hereby grant you, Miss Xu, a gentle and kind nature, and prudent conduct, to marry Prince Jing Xie Wuqi as his princess, and choose an auspicious day for the wedding. I decree..."
Princess?!
Not a concubine, not a maid, but the principal wife!
Wang's legs gave way, and she nearly collapsed to the ground. Xu Xianyun held her tightly, and both mother and daughter's faces were completely drained of color, filled with disbelief, fear, and jealousy. Father Xu was even more stunned, his hands holding the imperial edict shaking like leaves in the wind.
Prince Jing's wife! This meant immense wealth and prosperity, but also... death that could come at any moment! The tragic fates of his two previous fiancées were still fresh in his mind!
Only Xu Xianyue, kneeling before the crowd, froze for a moment before slowly raising her head. Her face remained expressionless, though a hint of icy mockery flickered in the depths of her cold eyes.
Sure enough, it came.
There is no way around it.
"Your Majesty... accepts the decree and thanks you for your grace." Her voice was steady, without any joy or fear in it, as if what she received was not a marriage decree that would determine her fate, but an insignificant item.
The eunuch who delivered the imperial edict looked at her meaningfully, as if a little surprised by her calmness. After a few polite words, he returned to the palace to report.
As soon as the eunuch left, the main hall was in an uproar.
"How could it be her?! Why is it her?!" Xu Xianyun was the first to scream uncontrollably, pointing at Xu Xianyue, her eyes bloodshot. "She's just a concubine's daughter! Why would she be the Princess of Jing?! This must be a mistake!"
Wang Shi also recovered from her shock. Her face was ashen, her chest heaving violently. She looked at Xu Xianyue with a look that seemed to be filled with poison: "Bitch! You must have used some seductive tricks in the palace that day to seduce the prince!"
Father Xu was shocked and frightened. He looked at Xu Xianyue tremblingly, wanting to say something. In the end, he just sighed heavily and said dejectedly: "This... Is this a blessing or a curse..."
Faced with this chaotic scene, Xu Xianyue slowly stood up and even gently brushed away the non-existent dust on her skirt.
"Father, Mother, Sister," she began, her voice still calm, "The imperial decree has been issued and cannot be changed. If there is nothing else, I will return to my room first."
Her calmness was particularly striking at this moment.
"Stop!" Wang shouted, rushing to Xu Xianyue and raising her hand to slap her. "You jinx! Are you going to drag our whole family down with you to your grave?!"
Xu Xianyue raised her hand and precisely grasped Wang's wrist. Her force wasn't strong, but it carried a firm, unyielding determination. Wang struggled, unable to break free, and glared at her in shock and anger.
"Mother," Xu Xianyue looked at her, her eyes as clear as ice. "The imperial decree was issued by His Majesty. If you have any objections, why not go to the palace and ask His Majesty? As for burial..." The corners of her lips curled up slightly. "If something happens to me, the Xu family might be able to get some compensation. It's better than suffering like this."
She shook off Wang's hand, without even looking at them, and walked straight out of the main hall.
Behind him came Wang's angry crying and Xu Xianyun's hysterical screams.
Xu Xianyue turned a deaf ear.
Back in the deserted courtyard, Wan Cui had already heard the news. She was so frightened that her face turned pale, and tears welled up in her eyes: "Miss...what should I do? That's Prince Jing's Mansion! I heard that the prince..."
"What are you afraid of?" Xu Xianyue sat down by the window and picked up the white silk again. "It's just a change of place to live."
Her calmness infected Wan Cui. The little maid wiped her tears and forced herself to calm down: "Yes, wherever the young lady goes, I will go there!"
Xu Xianyue glanced at her without saying a word. The soft touch of silk on her fingertips slowly calmed her chaotic mind.
This marriage was tinged with strangeness. A man like Xie Wuqi would never ask for an imperial decree to make the daughter of a minor official, a woman with no connections, his principal wife simply because they had met once. There must be some reason behind this, unknown to her. Was it the Emperor's will? Or did Xie Wuqi have other motives?
Whatever the reason, she was in it.
Breaking off the engagement is a dead end, disobeying the order is a dead end, and marrying her will also lead to unknown dangers ahead.
But, sitting and waiting for death has never been Xu Xianyue's style.
Since she couldn't avoid it, she could only face it head-on. At least, the world of Prince Jing's Mansion might give her more room to maneuver than the backyard of the Xu Mansion. And her skills might also be the only way for her to find a glimmer of hope in this desperate situation.
In the days that followed, the Xu family bustled with preparations for this unexpected marriage, yet the atmosphere was as oppressive as a funeral. Wedding attire, betrothal gifts, ceremonials... everything was carried out according to plan, yet no one seemed to be in the least bit joyful.
Xu Xianyue remained the same, spending most of her time in her room crafting velvet flowers. Her technique became increasingly refined, and her designs became more elaborate and complex. She even began experimenting with using different silk threads and mixing simple plant dyes, attempting to recreate more of her past life's techniques.
During this time, Xu Xianyun and Wang had come to cause trouble several times, using harsh words and even secretly withholding her expenses. Xu Xianyue ignored them all, and when she grew really annoyed, she brought up her status as "Princess Jing." Although she didn't say it explicitly, her calm gaze was enough to make the mother and daughter hesitate and leave in anger.
The wedding is set for a month later.
Time flies.
On the day of the wedding, the ceremonial procession sent by Prince Jing's palace was orderly and cold, exuding a solemn and official air. There was none of the usual bustle and excitement of a prince's wedding, and the crowds of onlookers were few and far between, their eyes mostly filled with pity and curiosity.
Xu Xianyue, dressed in the heavy and complicated auspicious attire of a princess and crowned with a magnificent phoenix crown, completed all the tedious rituals, supported by her bridesmaid. The veil obscured her vision; she could only hear her own steady breathing and heartbeat, and the oppressive silence around her.
During the wedding ceremony, she could feel the powerful presence beside her. Even through the veil, she could smell the bitter aroma of medicine and a chilling chill on his body. He didn't move at all, even his breathing was barely audible, as if he were a lifeless sculpture.
After the ceremony, the bride is escorted to the bridal chamber.
The so-called bridal chamber was located in the east wing of Jinglan Courtyard, the main courtyard of Prince Jing's mansion. While spacious and luxurious, the furnishings were extremely cold and stark, dominated by dark and black colors. It exuded a masculine simplicity and majesty, lacking much of the festive atmosphere of a newlywed.
The maids retreated quietly, leaving Xu Xianyue sitting alone beside the bed covered with a bright red quilt.
She sat quietly for a moment, then raised her hand and lifted the heavy veil on her own.
The flickering candlelight filled the room, casting a shadowy gloom. The air was thick with the scent of medicine, even stronger than at the flower viewing banquet.
Her eyes swept across the room, finally landing on a large armchair covered with white tiger skin in front of the window.
There was a person sitting on the chair.
It was Prince Jing, Xie Wuqi.
He was still dressed in his dark casual attire, having not changed into his wedding attire. His black hair was untied, cascading freely over his shoulders, making his face appear even paler. He rested his forehead on one hand, his eyes closed, his thick lashes casting a faint shadow beneath his lids. His other hand rested casually on the armrest, his knuckles long and slender, yet a sickly green hue lingered.
He looked like he was asleep, but Xu Xianyue could sense that beneath that seemingly calm exterior, there was a surging, dangerous aura lurking within him, like a volcano poised to erupt at any moment.
Xu Xianyue didn't panic, nor did she say a word. She just quietly looked at him, the man who had become her husband in name only.
He was indeed extremely handsome, but he was also... terminally ill and filled with a strong sense of malice.
Suddenly, Xie Wuqi's fingers on the armrest twitched imperceptibly. His brows furrowed in a frown, and a fine layer of cold sweat oozed from his forehead. His breathing became rapid, and a suppressed, low wheeze like a trapped animal emanated from his throat.
He seemed to be in great pain.
Xu Xianyue's eyes flickered slightly. She noticed that the frequency of his fingertips twitching and the rhythm of his disordered breathing vaguely matched a certain pattern.
Almost subconsciously, her eyes fell on a half-finished velvet flower that had slipped out of her sleeve pocket during her movement. It was a lotus pod made of light green silk, childish in form, yet full of vitality.
As if possessed by a magic spell, she gently picked up the tiny velvet lotus pod, moved her fingertips slightly, and imitated the unique rhythm that helped her calm her mind when she was filigree. Very lightly, she plucked the tip of the copper wire on the lotus pod, which was as thin as a hair and was used to simulate the lotus seeds.
A faint, almost inaudible vibration sound quietly spread in the silent room.
At this moment——
Xie Wuqi suddenly opened his eyes!
In those phoenix eyes, there was no longer the dead silence and scrutiny of the day of the flower-viewing banquet. Instead, they were filled with scarlet bloodshot, surging with almost crazy violence and pain, shooting straight at Xu Xianyue!
Like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, full of murderous intent!
"What did you do?"
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