At Duke Ying's birthday banquet every seat was filled. A glance around revealed that officials of the fourth rank and above in the court were present in impressive numbers. Although the Emperor himself did not make an appearance, he had specially appointed the Crown Prince to convey his birthday wishes—thus bestowing ample honor on the occasion.
By the time Yao Sishan took her seat, several rounds of wine had already been consumed. Emboldened by the liquor, even colleagues who usually maintained a friendly rapport dared to launch a few jokes in public.
"Duke Ying looks positively radiant—one would think that something auspicious is on the horizon!"
"Certainly! I heard from Lord Chen of the Ministry of Rites that, under the Emperor's orders, an auspicious date is already being chosen."
"Tell me, might we be so fortunate as to enjoy a cup of the celebratory wedding wine shared by the young miss and the Crown Prince when that day comes?"
Yao Sishan raised her hand and gently massaged her temple.These old foxes—so shrewd at all times—suddenly start spouting nonsense once a bit of wine is involved, she thought, musing that she ought to find some way to make them shut up. Little did she know that she was not the only one unwilling to listen.
"Between me and Miss Yao, everything is perfectly proper. I do hope you all will watch your tongues and refrain from stirring up trouble," said Wei Mindé in a measured tone, the rising lilt at the end of his words carrying a hint of teasing. Yet his eyes—innate instruments as sharp as any blade—could, with a single glance, seem as though a knife were pressed against one's chest, leaving no one free to breathe.
At these words, Duke Ying—who had been merrily enjoying his wine—startled visibly and looked at him in disbelief. Could it be that the Crown Prince was hinting at objecting to the marriage?
The faces of those present varied, but none were as animated as Yao Sishan's. Her beautiful eyes widened; her small, oval face changed from pallor to red and then to a bluish hue, nearly causing her to faint on the spot."Wei Si, Wei Si…"Upon reflection, had there ever been a prominent family with the surname Wei in the capital? How had it not occurred to her that this must be an alias? And now—what a misfortune—it seemed she and her nominal brother-in-law had inadvertently witnessed her elder sister engaging in an illicit liaison!
Her vision went dark as all manner of punishments flashed through her mind, and cold sweat broke out in panic. Could the century-long glory of Duke Ying's mansion really be ruined by the actions of the two sisters?
"Everyone says that Miss Yao is adept at music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—a true paragon of refined ladyhood." At that moment his tone shifted abruptly:"If we were merely choosing an actress, that might be acceptable. But I have selected a Crown Princess whose character and talent are of a far higher order—you all, I'm sure, have your own standards by which to judge."Wei Mindé's words dripped with sarcasm; apart from Yao Sishan herself, the others remained none the wiser.
Torn by conflicting feelings yet driven by fierce sisterly protectiveness, Yao Sishan finally could not hold back and, against her better judgment, retorted, "Pardon my frankness, but though the Crown Prince is betrothed to my elder sister, the natural restraints between a man and a woman mean they have never truly been together—so how can you claim that my sister has behaved indecently? Your words are rather harsh, Your Highness."
"Isn't it that you, Second Miss, were asking this knowingly?" came the reply.
Swallowing her retort, her face flushed with shame, Yao Sishan paused before continuing, "For generations, the daughters of the Yao family have become empresses and consorts, renowned for their virtue and grace. I respectfully ask you, Your Highness, to choose your words carefully so as not to disappoint those who serve the realm."
"I have never in the slightest intended to belittle Duke Ying's mansion," he replied.
At that moment she suddenly lifted her head and found herself meeting his deep, penetrating eyes. Wei Mindé did not shy away; he returned her gaze steadily. His eyebrows—unlike the common sword-like brows of most men and reminiscent instead of those of Empress Su—curved like delicate crescents, and with a slight arch they exuded a captivating allure.
"Then it shall be you—on behalf of your elder sister," he said.
Yao Sishan blinked, her face full of hesitation. "What did you say?"
Duke Ying raised his thick brows in a dismissive arc. It was common knowledge how dearly he adored his two daughters—treating them as fragile treasures held so gently that he feared even the slightest mishap. No matter whom they married, he always felt it was too precious to let go. Yet the Crown Prince's cavalier attitude in choosing a spouse was truly disheartening.
Before Duke Ying could speak further, Mrs. Zhang hurried over, her steps urgent. "Reporting to you, Duke Ying—a grave matter has arisen! At this very moment, the eldest miss is being confined in the Buddhist hall by the old madam."Mrs. Zhang, well aware of her place, deliberately lowered her voice so that only he could hear.
Duke Ying's expression suddenly darkened. He thought to himself that his birthday celebration was turning out to be a complete disaster—with nothing going his way. Yet, saving face was paramount. He forced a smile and announced that an urgent matter now demanded his attention, so he could no longer attend to the banquet; he urged the guests to continue enjoying themselves as they departed.
Seeing the urgency of the situation, Yao Sishan had already guessed the gist of it. There was no way she could remain seated any longer. As soon as her father left, she promptly followed him out to the backyard.
"Second Miss," Mrs. Zhang said, half-blocking the doorway with a firm tone, "Duke Ying has commanded that no one shall enter without permission."No sooner had she finished speaking than a low, angry roar from a middle-aged man resounded from inside."I think you're confused! Who exactly instructed you to commit such a shameless act?" his voice, tinged with anger, came out hoarse."Daughter admits her mistake—and is willing to accept punishment…"
Duke Ying, seeing his eldest daughter kneeling with lowered eyes—her face slightly pale and showing no sign of remorse—grew even more incensed."You—do you really think I wouldn't dare punish you?"
Yao Sishan's steps faltered. In her memory, her elder sister had always been as delicate as an exquisite porcelain doll—unable to withstand even a slight reprimand, prone to inconsolable tears at the first sign of distress. But today, she appeared far more composed.
"You are an unfilial daughter; please, Father, take care of yourself—do not let your anger harm your health."
Then Duke Ying picked up a broom and began striking Yao Sisou's hunched back—five, six blows in rapid succession before he finally ceased."Do you know why I am angry? Rou'er, have you ever thought that if the Third Prince should refuse to marry you, what would you do? Your entire life would be ruined!""It won't be so—Mindé would never reject me," Yao Sisou mumbled to herself as she rose unsteadily, her expression dazed. In her stumbling, she accidentally knocked over a nearby vase. A loud crash resounded, especially clearly from outside.
Yao Sishan could not help but speak sternly, "Aunt Zhang, if you continue to obstruct me, I shall force my way through."Mrs. Zhang hesitated for a long moment—thinking that Second Miss was usually decisive and might be able to reason with her—before finally relenting, "Miss, please take care of yourself."
However, when Yao Sishan, after much effort, finally stepped into the room, she was met with this scene:Her elder sister, Yao Sisou, clutched her father's trouser legs with both hands and wailed, "Father, listen to me! The Crown Prince is no human being—I absolutely cannot marry him; otherwise, I'll surely lose my life!"Yao Sishan's steps faltered as she could not fathom her sister's outburst. For as long as she could remember, she had always been proud of this arranged marriage. In the past, even a brief exchange of two or three words with the Crown Prince—arranged through the intercession of the Empress—had been enough to keep her awake with delight. Clearly, her sister had once been quite pleased with her prospective husband. So why was she acting so uncharacteristically now?
After a moment's thought, Yao Sishan recalled that man's rakish smile and his devil-may-care air, and her heart sank. Was it now still possible to renege on the engagement?
Duke Ying roared sharply, "What nonsense are you spouting in front of your own sister?!"At these words, Yao Sisou not only failed to restrain herself but burst into even more heart-rending sobs.Having been granted a second chance at life, she knew all too well that Wei Mindé—a man with a refined exterior who was, in truth, more despicable than any beast—was no one to be trifled with.Duke Ying, as a cadet branch of the imperial family, had enjoyed the Emperor's grace for three generations. Even while Yao Sisou was still in her mother's womb, she had been blessed by the Emperor and Empress and named a candidate for the future Crown Princess with but a word. She herself had worked diligently throughout her early life, studying propriety and the arts without a single day's slack, setting an example for women of her age.But after she entered the Eastern Palace as a bride—with all the hopes and bashful dreams that a new wife carries—she discovered that not only was her husband utterly indifferent to her, he downright despised her. Though she was the Crown Princess in title, she was forbidden from meddling in the household affairs; even trivial matters such as changing maidservants required prior approval. Her life was more stifling than that of an unacknowledged concubine.
Then misfortune struck again. In the twelfth year of Jianzhao, the Crown Prince suffered an accident—falling from his horse and losing his sight. Wei Mindé, now with only one eye, underwent a dramatic change in temperament. His temper grew increasingly violent and ruthless; any minister who dared disagree with him was swiftly removed by any means necessary. So severe were his methods that not one civil or military official dared to speak out in opposition.
On the eve of his coronation, the two quarreled bitterly over the matter of crowning the new Empress. Yao Sisou, having reached her limit, blurted out, "With that half-damaged appearance of yours, who else but a fool like me would be willing to become Empress?"Little did she know that this very taunt would soon make her one of the souls destined to be struck down by her husband.Even now, the memory still sent shivers down Yao Sisou's spine. Having barely scraped by with her life, she vowed to protect it fiercely—and to one day make that man taste the searing pain of a sword through his heart.
"Father," Yao Sishan knelt in a formal bow, "please, calm your anger."Duke Ying's face softened a little, yet his anger was undiminished as he replied, "You need not plead on her behalf!"
Pondering her words carefully, Yao Sishan began slowly, "I truly meant to speak on my elder sister's behalf—not only for her sake but also for the good of the entire household."After all, how could a father not be aware of his daughter's little thoughts?Waving his hand dismissively, he asked bluntly, "I ask but one thing: Is marrying the Crown Prince truly what you desire?"Yao Sishan was momentarily stunned; all the words she had rehearsed were caught in her throat. After a long pause, she finally answered, "My elder sister already has a beloved man in her heart, and as for me—whichever man I marry is still marriage."Duke Ying fell silent; the fine lines at the corners of his eyes drooped, as though a tinge of sorrow had crept in. "Moreover," he added, "the other party is the current heir apparent—the dream lover of women throughout the realm."A sweet smile then played on her lips, her eyes sparkling as she said, "Father, you once declared that only the very best men in this world are worthy of your daughter—how could the Crown Prince not be among them?"For a moment, Duke Ying was choked by her words and, after a pause, found himself inclined to agree.But he sighed deeply. This lively girl, destined one day to become the Empress in Fengyi Palace for a hundred years of reign, was simply not the type to be confined within the deep palace. Alas, it was only in this way that the Yao family's future could be safeguarded.He nodded slightly, bowed his head, and in an unreadable tone said, "It's late now; both of you, please go back and rest."
Yao Sishan knew in her heart that her father must be feeling terribly dejected. Yet, just as he turned to leave, she quickly spun around, taking a few steps to wrap her arms around his waist in an affectionate, teasing tone, "This marriage of a daughter cannot be let slip away like spilled water."Seeing her mischievous look, Duke Ying's furrowed brows relaxed considerably. With a light flick of his hand to her forehead he said, "Of course! My Yao daughters must never be humiliated. Should that fellow dare bully you, even if I were to lose my title, I would never let you suffer an ounce of injustice!"