"Ever since I learned your true purpose for marrying me, I have given up hope. Maybe I was just delusional, thinking that I had really met the right person for me, thinking that you and I were truly in love. I didn't know what marrying you meant, but later I found out."
Ninth Prince's wife gently pushed Ninth Prince, who had just been holding her shoulders firmly, but was now easily pushed away.
"The endless struggle, the power struggles among the princes—I've gradually come to see these things since I married you. That's when my father became so crucial, and me? What am I? Just a pawn in your plan. My existence is ultimately nothing more than a stepping stone for you to pursue your own interests!"
Ninth Master was horrified upon hearing this. He cried out in his heart, "No, that's not true!"
But it felt like something was stuck in his throat, and he couldn't make a sound.
The Ninth Princess became more and more heartbroken as she spoke, tears streaming down her face. These were truths she had known all along, and now that she had spoken them so bluntly, they caused her such grief. She had thought she would remain as calm as she usually was when she was thinking things through.
The Ninth Prince's wife turned away to wipe her eyes, then turned back to stare coldly at her. "You want to hear my explanation? Can I hear your explanation first? What is the purpose of marrying me?"
"Did you ever like me even a little bit? If you did like me, why did you keep going out to see other women?"
Ninth Prince was unable to utter a single word when she pressed him like this. Facing Ninth Princess's sharp, knife-like gaze, she looked panicked and dared not meet her eyes. She suddenly turned around and walked to the door.
Ninth Princess stood by the table, staring blankly at his back.
Ninth Master listened at the door for a moment, then quickly stepped over the threshold and ran towards his own courtyard.
As soon as he left, Ninth Princess Consort could no longer hold on and sat down, leaning against the table, utterly exhausted.
Ninth Prince returned to the front yard like a gust of wind, sat on a stool, and the words of Ninth Princess still echoed in his ears, as if they could pierce his heart.
He saw that it was still the same pot of wine in front of him, picked it up, and poured it directly into his mouth.
The servant saw that he looked distraught and rushed in to drink. He didn't know what had happened, but he knew that he had just come from Ninth Prince's place and that he had probably quarreled with Ninth Prince.
The servant stood to one side, not daring to step forward to persuade him, only knowing that the Ninth Master had never been so sad before.
As Ninth Master drank, he suddenly burst into laughter, then let out a long sigh. She could see everything perfectly clearly, but she couldn't see that he liked her.
He had always liked her, but he never expected to hurt her feelings from the very beginning, yet he was completely unaware of it.
These days of being together have been spent in isolation, each keeping their hearts closed. He lives his carefree life, while she never speaks of her sadness. Since neither of them speaks, they cannot communicate, and as time goes on, they become even more reluctant to open up to each other.
Ninth Master never imagined that one day he and the woman he loved would become like this, needing to communicate in this way.
That night, he got completely drunk. When the servants came to persuade him to stop, he flew into a rage, threw them all out, and drank in his room all night.
Alcohol is indeed a good thing for numbing the nerves. After drinking, his mind is not so clear, and he can forget those unpleasant things from the past.
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