Chapter 3: A Divided Heart
"Princess, what are you going to do?" Xiu asked, watching Princess Hua pace anxiously. "Did Father know I went to General Wang's mansion to break my engagement with his son? If not for that wretched girl..." Princess Hua's voice trailed off, disappointment heavy in her tone.
"Your Highness, why don't you go and meet His Majesty? Tell him you can't marry into the General Wang family," Xiu suggested, her eyes brightening with hope.
"That's a nice idea," Princess Hua replied, her determination rekindled.
"Your Majesty, Princess Hua is here to see you," the palace eunuch announced, bowing deeply.
"Let her in," the emperor replied, his voice steady.
"What brings you here, Princess Hua?" the emperor asked, glancing up from the court reports he had been reading.
"Father, I don't want to marry into the General Wang family," Princess Hua declared, her voice firm but trembling.
"How insolent!" the emperor roared, his anger palpable as he hurled the book in his hand across the room. Princess Hua dropped to her knees, bowing deeply, her heart racing.
The emperor sat back down, his expression softening slightly. "If you can't marry into the General Wang family, then you will marry Mr. Guo tomorrow," he stated, his voice final.
Princess Hua was left speechless. Marrying into the Wang family was a far better fate than being wed to Mr. Guo, a man in his sixties with four wives. "Thank you, Your Majesty," she managed to say, her heart heavy as she retreated to her chamber.
"Your Highness, you are back," Chen Xiu said, concern etched on her face as she observed the princess's distress.
"Your Highness, is something wrong?" Xiu asked, her voice gentle.
"Father said I should marry Mr. Guo," Princess Hua replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Mr. Guo? That man in his sixties with four wives?" Chen Xiu exclaimed, disbelief coloring her tone as she processed the news.
"Yes, he said tomorrow," Princess Hua confirmed, her eyes welling with tears.
"Tomorrow!" Chen Xiu echoed, her shock evident. "Your Highness, what will you do?"
"There is nothing I can do," Princess Hua said, her voice breaking as she burst into tears again. Chen Xiu gently tapped her back, trying to offer comfort.
"Why don't we tell Consort Ai?" Chen Xiu suggested, hopeful that the princess's mother could intervene.
"Mom can't do anything," Princess Hua replied, her despair palpable.
"The imperial edict is here," the eunuch announced, his voice cutting through the tension as he handed over the document. "Princess Hua has broken her engagement with the General Wang family and is to marry Mr. Guo tomorrow."
"Princess, are you really going to marry that old man?" Chen Xiu asked, concern etched on her face as she looked at her highness, who was now overwhelmed with emotion.