Chapter 24 (Revised) The engagement bracelet wasn't a gift from him...
"I'm sorry I'm late!"
Jiang Shuifu was stunned. As she turned around, a slow smile appeared on her lips, and her eyes sparkled with tears.
The man's back was straight and broad. The years had not bent his spine, but the dust from the road had stained his face and robes. He was covered in dust, and the corner of his clothes was torn. You could tell how anxious he was when he was whipping his horse.
He opened his arms, a smile spreading across his wind-chapped face. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes resembled the bark of an old tree, and his smile made the lines tremble.
"How could Father not be there for Fu'er's birthday?"
Jiang Shuifu was overjoyed. Her eyes instantly lit up with a bright smile, and she ran over to give him a big hug.
She knew that no matter how far away, her father would come to see her.
"Jiaojiao, if you are tired, Daddy welcomes you home anytime."
She didn't speak, nor did she nod, and no tears fell. She had grown up, and she should bear some consequences herself, instead of worrying her father.
.
After seeing her father off, Jiang Shuifu returned to her bedchamber to rest.
She changed out of the palace dress that Shen Jizhao had specially made for her, only to find that the dress underneath was still the one he had bought for her.
It's the one from the countryside.
Today was a special day, and she spent a long time getting ready, her eyes practically spinning from all the choices, before finally picking out a new dress that would make a statement.
But she still felt something was missing, so she simply layered the light gauze dress he had bought her underneath, which made her feel safe and warm.
The final effect was clearly visible: a blend of seriousness and playfulness, composure and gentleness, creating a unique style in the capital, which earned her praise from many people.
She glanced down and suddenly thought it was just so-so, old-fashioned and heavy, the material didn't fit her body well, and there was nothing to look at.
She began to untie her belt.
At this moment, the Peach Fairy entered carrying an exquisitely crafted little treasure chest.
"Your Highness, the Empress's gift has arrived! Would you like to take a look?"
Jiang Shuifu wanted to get a good night's sleep. After a few moments of silence, she nodded and said, "Open it. Keep it safe after you've read it."
Upon receiving the instruction, the peach immediately lifted the lid of the small treasure chest, revealing its contents to her naked eyes.
Jiang Shuifu's fingers, which were untying her belt, paused. Her crimson lips parted slightly in shock, exhaling a breath of cold air from her body. Her curled eyelashes were frozen stiff.
The peach, not understanding her meaning, assumed she really liked the gift, so she pushed it towards her so she could see it more clearly.
Jiang Shuifu leaned forward, her disbelieving eyes welling up with a thin, smooth mirror-like reflection, clearly magnifying the gift within.
A layer of fog quickly accumulated on the smooth mirror surface, then piled up into a circle, and finally fell onto the wet and cold floor tiles, splashing tiny water droplets and ruining her cherished peach-colored tulle dress.
The water droplets on the gauze skirt tore the gift to pieces, with one half of the droplet reflecting the true appearance of the gift.
This is a beautiful eight-petaled peach blossom beaded glass necklace, made from the same piece of material as the glass jade bracelet on her wrist. However, this piece of material is unique in the world. Even the vassal state is gone, so where could you find an identical piece of material?
Jiang Shuifu had a vague, unbearable premonition, as if the pampered young lady who had grown up was suddenly exposed as having a false identity. She immediately summoned the palace servants and asked for the record book. All the gifts that were put into the storehouse would be recorded in detail, including whose storehouse it was put into and when it was put into the storehouse.
She opened the booklet with trembling hands, and two large, conspicuous characters burst into her eyes: Empress!
In disbelief, she kept flipping through the pages, searching for Shen Jizhao's name. She had almost emptied the entire book, but there was still no trace of him.
With a forceful pull of her fingers, the thin book was torn in two, and the words "Empress" were separated by a great distance.
It turns out that the money went into the Empress's treasury, and it remained her treasury from beginning to end, never changing hands.
In other words, the bracelet three years ago was not a gift from him.
At that moment, a crack appeared in Jiang Shuifu's mind, and all the memories related to the bracelet rushed in and overwhelmed her in an instant, so dense and overwhelming that she could hardly breathe.
Shen Jizhao originally said:
"It's just a bracelet, you can just lose it. It's nothing more than a trinket, why are you looking for it?"
"What you cherish is nothing more than scrap metal to me!"
"Sell your bracelet; you can get some money from it."
...
Even earlier, at her coming-of-age banquet, she had clearly told him many times that she hoped he would attend, but that day, just like today, she waited and waited, and her father was getting a little angry, but she still coaxed him to wait a little longer.
She had never felt that time was so long. She thought that if he came on such an important day, she would have the courage to keep chasing after him.
If he doesn't come, she will gradually lower her expectations of him. Although she likes him, life is long, and she will definitely meet another person who will reciprocate her passionate love.
That day, quite unexpectedly, although he didn't arrive, he presented her with a gift at the very last moment after the ceremony. She smiled so brightly that none of the colorful decorations in the entire mansion could compare to her smile.
Moreover, his gift was very valuable. His father said that the jade bracelet was made of special glass, and there was no other piece of such material in the world. The polishing and carving were even more laborious, and it had to be made a full month in advance. During this period, each completed process had to be presented to the master for inspection and communication.
Jiang Shuifu thought that Shen Jizhao valued the status of the Crown Prince. He was so busy, but if he was willing to spend a month on one person, it must mean that person was treated differently.
So, on a whim, she went to ask for a marriage decree.
On impulse, she married him.
On impulse, she waited for him to turn around and look at her, waiting for them to be in perfect harmony.
Looking back now, she realized that she had overlooked the most important point: Shen Jizhao didn't even attend the coming-of-age banquet, so how could he have given a gift!
To him, this bracelet was truly nothing more than a piece of junk!
She suddenly realized how foolish she had been; it turned out that everything had been a misunderstanding and a mistake from the very beginning.
What she cherished—the coming-of-age gift he gave her, their tokens of love, and her courage to enter the palace and request to become the Crown Princess—was all fake; it simply didn't exist!
It was my mother who delivered it on my behalf.
Jiang Shuifu couldn't even manage a bitter smile.
In a game of chess, one wrong move can lead to total defeat.
For Shen Jizhao, this marriage was a disaster. He clearly only felt impatience and dislike towards her, but because of her impulsive act, he married a woman he did not love. After the marriage, he naturally did not give her a good look.
But he could have refused.
As the most favored crown prince in the royal family, he would not be without the right to refuse.
He doesn't like her, so he won't marry her, he won't agree to it. No matter how powerful her father is, he can't surpass him.
Was he as impulsive as she was? If she didn't know him, she might actually think that way.
But he was Shen Jizhao, a prince who always followed the rules and regulations, never acted impulsively, and never allowed himself to make the slightest mistake.
His marriage to her was not impulsive; it was the best choice after careful consideration, several struggles, and weighing the pros and cons.
The origins of this marriage are both her fault and his fault.
Many rumors circulated that she used her father's power to secure the position of Crown Princess, but if she hadn't misunderstood, she would never have entered the palace.
It was all fate's cruel joke, and Jiang Shuifu blamed herself the most:
"Everything is wrong, but I... am the most wrong!"
He often said she was stupid and clumsy, and he was absolutely right. She was stupid and clumsy. Why did she abandon her dignity for three whole years just because of a bracelet?
Large tears streamed down her face, one after another. Her expression was numb, her eyes blank, and she slumped into a sandalwood chair next to the eight-petaled peach blossom beaded glass necklace.
The peach guessed why she was crying and felt very sorry for her. Her face turned red with anger, and with a stomp of her foot and red eyes, a strong figure rushed out:
"This servant will go find the Crown Prince!"
She couldn't stand it any longer. She wanted to ask the Crown Prince why he treated her young lady like this! What had her young lady done wrong! Except for falling for him!
Jiang Shuifu stopped her:
"Don't go. He's an outsider; he won't tolerate you. I'm not crying for him; I'm crying for myself, for not being worthy of him..."
She once said that she would be happy every day from now on, but she failed to do so today.
But she wasn't actually sad; she felt relieved. The process of relief is never easy.
But after tonight, she will throw away and erase all the three years of her youth and feelings that she has placed on him.
That night, Jiang Shuifu didn't want to cry, but tears unknowingly streamed down her face. She caught one drop in her palm, and immediately another appeared. Annoyed, she let the unbroken string of beads mock her rebelliously. Finally, she was so angry that her eyes turned red.
She recalled the first time she saw him; his stunningly handsome face held her gaze for a full half-incense stick's time. Even after everyone had disappeared, she couldn't look away, her cheeks flushed.
Afterwards, she would deliberately run up to him and slyly express her feelings: "Your Highness, you're not married yet, are you? I'm not married either!"
She would chase after him, swooning: "Your Highness, has anyone ever told you that you're strange? Your nose is strangely high, your eyes are strangely bright, your mouth is strange..."
At this point, Shen Jizhao would often frown, instruct his subordinates to accept her belongings, and then quickly send her away.
After marriage, this impatience intensified. She would repeatedly miss him, wait for him to come home for meals, ignore his displeasure, and fantasize about a bright future.
Over the years, she experienced happiness, anticipation, and hope while with him. There were moments of chaos, blushing cheeks, and trembling bodies. He truly let her taste the full spectrum of love, but he also gave her endless indifference.
Jiang Shuifu recalled the past again and again. Memories are always fewer and fewer, until those memories she once thought were sweet gradually lost their color and luster. Until she began to slowly pick up the self she had once denied, the first ray of sunlight had already shone on the world.
Her eyes reopened, the turmoil of the previous night gone, replaced by tranquility.
Pan Tao pushed open the door and came in. Next to the dazzling eight-petaled peach blossom beaded glass necklace, a matching bracelet lay coldly.
Jiang Shuifu didn't even glance at it, and said lightly, "Take it away."
She doesn't want it if it's not hers.
The peaches moved swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, they were packed into a box and carried away, instantly making the space in the hall much larger.
Jiang Shuifu drew her eyebrows, using the most popular eyebrow makeup at the moment. She smiled gently, and the person in the mirror was more beautiful than the flowers, with a beautiful and elegant color.
The sun was shining brightly today, and she and Pan Tao were about to go out for a stroll when Jin Qing bumped into them just as they stepped out of the palace gate.
He bowed and was about to leave, but Jiang Shuifu's gaze fell on his hands, and she called him back:
"Stop."
Jinqing listened respectfully: "Your Highness, what are your orders?"
Jiang Shuifu looked at the red robe he was holding and asked him with her eyes what was going on.
Jinqing was somewhat confused, but she spoke the truth:
"Oh, Your Highness, this needs to be thrown away."
Jin Qing didn't know the origin of the dress, so he naturally couldn't understand why the plump maid in front of him was staring at him with such hatred. His chill ran down his spine under her gaze, and he mustered the courage to ask:
"Is there a problem? These clothes are torn!"
Pan Tao snatched the nightgown from him and rummaged through it. She found a very obvious tear, and her gaze toward him became even more vicious.
Jinqing straightened up and continued, "Moreover, the Crown Prince doesn't like this color."
The peaches almost bared their teeth at him when Jiang Shuifu suddenly blurted out:
"Give it to me."
Jinqing nodded.
Pan Tao held the nightgown made by Jiang Shuifu like a precious treasure, her eyes filled with both heartache and anger.
She had witnessed the Crown Princess making this dress. She had worked day and night, altering stitch after stitch, learning as she went. It took her a full month to finish, and it tore after only a few wears. How could she not be heartbroken?
But she was even angrier. The Crown Prince had no respect for other people's achievements. Even if it was made by his legal wife, he would just throw it away. He had no conscience!
After hesitating for a while, the peach still asked timidly:
"Your Highness, are we going to throw this nightgown away?"
We can't just leave it in front of us and get in our way, can we?
The Crown Princess can still make clothes from these if she wants, so let's just throw this set away. The owner of this set is really not worth it.
Pan Tao thought Jiang Shuifu would agree, after all, she didn't want the bracelet she had worn for several years.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Shuifu nodded: "Keep it, just put it somewhere."
This nightgown is woven from the finest silk thread. If it is not properly protected, even the slightest scratch could damage it. She had told him this many times before, but it seems he simply didn't pay attention.
Judging from its condition, the nightgown is still in perfect condition, without any signs of wear. He must have only worn it once, when she changed him into it while he was unconscious.
It's normal for Shen Jizhao to throw it away after it breaks, since he doesn't like it or want it. She has no objection.
However, it was wrong of him to throw it.
Once outside the palace gates, the world outside was vibrant and colorful. Jiang Shuifu found a teahouse to drink tea and admire the flowers.
She has come today on important business.
She was enjoying tea in a private room, while the main hall below was bustling with people. Those who could come here were certainly not ordinary people; at the very least, they were distant relatives of some minor officials. Therefore, the teahouse had good security measures in place.
They are naturally knowledgeable and well-informed.
Jiang Shuifu had barely taken a few sips when someone screamed, "Look, is that the Crown Prince?"
This sound attracted the attention and stares of countless people.
The people in the hall quickly rushed to the windows and doors to search for the prince. One of the men asked a question:
"Where is it? Where is it? I can't see it!"
"They're right there, in front of the He residence, they're about to come out!"
"Which He family?"
At this moment, a richly dressed man, fanning himself with a folding fan, sneered:
"You don't even know the He family? It's the He family of He Beiqing, who went with the Crown Prince to destroy Tajiang!"
"The He family of Beijing is a century-old family that has stood the test of time through several dynasties, holding a superior position."
The man from before glanced at him and said, "You're so capable, do you know why the Crown Prince went to the He family?"
The noble man held his head high and proudly boasted about his intelligence: "Of course! As for why the Crown Prince went to the He family, there's quite a story behind it!"
Not only did the man secretly prick up his ears, but the people around him also became interested and gradually gathered around.
The elegant man cleared his throat, thoroughly enjoying the attention he was receiving. He then asked in suspense, "Haven't you noticed that there are three more people in the capital?"
People around him were about to rise up and give him a good beating. In the capital, people come and go, so it's normal for a few more or fewer people to come and go.
The elegantly dressed man shook his head, as if to say that this was not true, and then his three words enlightened everyone: "The He family!"
Everyone then realized that the Crown Prince had visited the He family the very next day after their return. The implication was clear: the He family was very important to the Crown Prince.
Their voices were so loud that Jiang Shuifu, who was leaning against the window, couldn't help but hear a few words even though she didn't want to. It made her tea taste a bit bitter. She put down her teacup and looked into the distance. Her destination was on the street.
The wealthy man downstairs was delighted to see the crowd's utterly bewildered expressions. He narrowed his eyes and deliberately dragged out his words:
"This is why the Crown Prince went to the He family, and you..."
Just then, the street outside suddenly became noisy and bustling. Jiang Shuifu glanced outside and saw that the women who had been playing outside had vanished in an instant, replaced by a prison cart.
Everyone went to watch the spectacle, and the wealthy man, realizing his words had been interrupted, began trying to assert his presence again.
"Does anyone know who this prisoner is?"
No one paid him any attention because Shen Jizhao came out. He stopped in front of the prison cart and said a few words. After that, the people escorting the cart changed to his own men.
The elegantly dressed man smiled, his voice rising slightly:
"It's quite rare to see the Crown Prince and the He family personally escorting prisoners, taking turns guarding them and putting them in jail!"
People around him turned around and looked at him with suspicion, wondering what kind of nonsense he could come up with.
The wealthy man was even more smug this time, practically shaking his fan until it snapped. Everyone's curiosity was piqued, but he lowered his voice, as if afraid of being overheard.
"Can't you all see something so obvious? The He family returned to the capital last night, and the Crown Prince and his men had planned this in advance, all with the aim of capturing this prisoner! So today, it's only natural that the Crown Prince would visit the He family! The He family has done the Crown Prince such a great favor, and in the future..."
The words were brief and to the point, and everyone involved in officialdom understood.
The crowd sighed in agreement, "We heard the He family has a son and a daughter; their future looks incredibly bright!"
"Yes, they've managed to climb up to the Crown Prince, so the continuation of their family's glory is no problem!"
"Hey, look, isn't that He Rushuang, the woman following a few steps behind the Crown Prince? She truly deserves to be called the First Talented Woman. She has such a refined air about her, and she's beautiful too! She's elegant and virtuous, and her talent is top-notch!"
"Yeah, yeah, you know what, the two of them walking one in front of the other actually look quite compatible..."
The peach-pouring motion paused, the teacup making a crisp, loud thud. She boomed:
"If you keep spouting nonsense, I'll have the authorities arrest you all!"
The gossipy girl wasn't afraid and retorted defiantly, "Where did I go wrong? The Crown Prince used to admire the He family girl. Now that she's back, the Crown Prince immediately rushed to her side. What else could this be but liking her? Even the Crown Princess can't stop him. You little girl, you're too arrogant!"
Jiang Shuifu was stunned. So that's how they, as outsiders, were so certain about Shen Jizhao's preferences. As the person involved, she had to admit that there was some truth to it. It was just a pity that she hadn't understood it sooner.
Seeing that Pan Tao was about to continue arguing, Jiang Shuifu pulled her away from the teahouse.
The streets were still crowded. A prison van attracted most of the attention. No one knew what the prisoner's crime was, and they just kept throwing vegetable leaves and dirty water at him.
Jiang Shuifu found his night clothes somewhat familiar and stared at him for a long time. Pan Tao was beside her, pointing out the way, but there were too many people and Pan Tao soon got separated from her.
Her gaze lingered on him, but then, distracted, she was stepped on by someone behind her, causing the person behind her to fall, and then everyone else behind them was about to fall as well.
They rushed uncontrollably towards Jiang Shuifu in front of them. Jiang Shuifu's body couldn't withstand the force and she immediately fell forward. However, to avoid hitting the people in front of her, she fell in a secluded direction. There happened to be a large rock in that direction, and hitting it would be disastrous.
Just as she was about to smash her head, a pair of large hands suddenly appeared on her waist.
"careful!"
Jiang Shuifu was caught steadily. She should have breathed a sigh of relief, but her nerves suddenly tensed up. She was all too familiar with the feeling of those big hands.
She used to feel warmth and longed for his touch, but now she only felt uncomfortable and stifled by his restraint.
She shifted her waist restlessly. Things shouldn't be like this between them now; she didn't like it.
Before she could even ask him to let go, Shen Jizhao spoke first:
"Did the Crown Princess come to see me? Has the Crown Princess become impatient after not seeing me for even a day?"
Jiang Shuifu pretended not to hear him. Anyway, in their current position, they couldn't see each other's faces because there was someone between them.
She had nothing to say to him.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Shen Jizhao reminded her again:
"I'll tell you about yesterday when I get back. In the future, it's best to let me know before you go out, so that we don't encounter this situation again, which is very dangerous."
Jiang Shuifu had exhausted all her emotions yesterday. At this moment, she didn't want to waste a single bit of her energy on him, and she didn't want to listen to any of his rules.
At that moment, a clear and intelligent voice rang out from the crowd, "Ah!"
Jiang Shuifu didn't know who the voice belonged to, but she saw the owner of the voice: the woman following Shen Jizhao in front of the He family mansion, He Rushuang, the daughter of the He family.
He Rushuang was also pushed, her limbs helplessly being pushed and squeezed by the crowd, but she was lucky. As she was being squeezed, she was about to bump into Shen Jizhao. If he just reached out, he could save her.
Seeing He Rushuang getting closer and closer, only a few feet away from him, Jiang Shuifu took the opportunity to break free from Shen Jizhao's grasp, slipping away from his large hand.
The woman in Shen Jizhao's arms had disappeared. He frowned, worried about her safety. He had intended to go find her.
But to his surprise, the next second, another woman rushed into his arms. When he saw that it was He Rushuang, he didn't push her away.
Jiang Shuifu turned around and saw the scene unfold before her eyes, completely.
The man caught the woman steadily, holding her waist tightly. His eyes were filled with worry, and upon closer inspection, displeasure at her actions in putting him in this predicament. The woman, on the other hand, looked shy and demure, slowly placing her hands on the man's back...
Even outsiders would say they were deeply in love.
Jiang Shuifu didn't even bother to act like an outsider. She immediately withdrew her gaze, showing no sign of disappointment, and resolutely turned and left.
Yesterday she overheard what the people in the palace said, and today she saw the He family and the familiar prisoner. She was certain that Shen Jizhao's real purpose in celebrating her birthday was to deceive people, use a diversionary tactic, and capture the prisoner, who was the one who escaped from the last celebration banquet.
As for his cooperation with the He family, Shen Jizhao would not. He never doubted his own abilities. He let him escape last time, but this time he would personally bring him back. His dignity and authority cannot be challenged.
So, yesterday he simply went to greet the He family members, He Beiqing, He Daoge, and...
He Rushuang, the rumored sweetheart of his in Huxi, at her birthday banquet.
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Author's note: You can all guess what the important thing my daughter is going to do, hahaha.
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