FAIRNESS

As the servant girl accompanying Lin Wan knelt, her entire body trembled. When she heard the crown prince say “scram,” her whole body twitched from fear.

The crown prince had never been a man holding tender, protective feelings toward the fairer sex. He did not so much as glance at the pitiful appearance of the master and servant pair, disembarking from his sedan and rushing into Shoukang Palace.

As Lin Wan listened to her teeth chatter, she felt a deep agitation and fear. Fear that others would hear the sound of her fright, so much so that she did not know what to do after all of this.

Lin Wan truly could not understand why she had said such things to Hua Liuli. Did she envy her, feel inferior to her, or hate her?

Every now and then, people would pass by in front of her. Palace maids, court eunuchs, and even imperial physicians from the Imperial Academy of Medicine. Each of them passed through in a hurry; no one cast her a second glance. Despite this, Lin Wan was clear on the fact that they had all looked her from head to toe in their hearts. She didn’t dare to imagine what kind of disappointed expression her father would wear while looking at her after he had caught a whiff of the situation. Her mother would for certain don a pained and helpless expression, choking with sobs as she explained to Lin Wan that it wasn’t easy for her father, that it wasn’t easy for their household. That in their younger days, she and her father had scraped by. And that her father had strived hard to have what he had today.

Again and again, and again and again her mother had said this in the past.

Numb, she stared at the green stone path. Everything in the imperial palace was carefully selected for quality. Even the stone slabs had auspicious patterns engraved into them. Lin Wan stared at said patterns, countless thoughts swirling in her brain, yet, she also felt as though she had not thought of anything.

Now that things had come to this point, Lin Wan did not know who could help her, who could be her backing.

The ground was truly cold. Kneeling on it truly hurt her knees.

“Why are you kneeling here?”

A pair of shoes with four-taloned dragons came into view, stopping before her. Lin Wan lifted her head in a daze. And she caught sight of Prince Ying’s face.

“Grandmother doesn’t like punishing people. An imperial physician is already examining Commandery Princess Fushou’s pulse.” Prince Ying sighed. “Get up first. Go to Her Highness Consort Lin’s to rest.”

“Your Highness…”

A few of the palace maids and court eunuchs behind him helped Lin Wan to her feet. Her gaze fell upon the Prince Ying who wore an expression of indifference. Never had she imagined that at this moment, it would actually be the Prince Ying who disliked her that noticed her, the Lin Wan kneeling at the palace’s front doors.

“Consort-Mother’s personality is straightforward. It’s not very suitable if you return to Lincui Palace right now.” Prince Ying turned around and no longer looked at Lin Wan. “Consort Lin is your paternal aunt. You people haven’t spoken for many years. Surely there are many things you want to talk about together. Xiao Chenzi, escort Young Miss Lin to Consort Lin’s palace.”

A twitch of the lips. Lin Wan wanted to ask him if she would be punished, but she was too afraid to open her mouth.

“In the future, you’re on your own.” Prince Ying met her gaze. “This prince is a crude person. One would fear that the marriage between Young Miss Lin and this prince is not too fitting.”

“Are Your Highness’ words showing disdain toward this official’s daughter?” After hearing what Prince Ying had said, Lin Wan screamed and howled with anger in her heart, yet her expression remained exceptionally serene. Merely the corners of her lips trembled quite a bit. “Has Your Highness even considered this official’s daughter when saying such things?”

“Young Miss Lin, I am a First-Ranked prince. The eldest son of the current emperor,” said Prince Ying, looking at Lin Wan with a strange gaze. “Why should I give more consideration to other people?”

Lin Wan staggered.

“Young Miss Lin, this is the capital city. The imperial family.” Prince Ying clasped his hands behind his back. “No one would sacrifice their own benefit to defend someone else’s ego.”

And with that, he entered Shoukang Palace in large strides.

“Young Miss Lin,” said Prince Ying’s personal court eunuch, who was called Xiao Chenzi. He smiled as he went forward and bowed with his hands held in front of him. “This slave will escort your honored self to Her Highness Consort Lin’s resting palace.”

As Lin Wan took in the image of the smiling court eunuch before her, the ferociousness and ugliness in her heart burst out; she reached out and shoved him away. “Scram. I am the daughter of a court official. Even if I committed a wrong, a lowly slave like you has no right to jeer at me!”

“Young Miss Lin is correct.” The smile remained on Xiao Chenzi’s lips. “Sir Lin is a great official whom everyone reveres. This slave is simply a castrated slave. How could this slave be disrespectful to Young Miss Lin?”

At that moment, Lin Wan fell into a daze. Countless thoughts flooded her mind from all directions.

What should I do now?　　

What should I do?

Just as Prince Ying entered the inner chamber of Shoukang Palace, an imperial physician finished examining Hua Liuli’s pulse. The Hua Liuli in question reclined in her seat, her little cheeks still pale.

Noticing that she was preparing to get up and salute him, Prince Ying exempted her from doing so at once. Then he turned and saluted the empress dowager and the crown prince. “Grandmother, Grandson has come to apologize to your honored self and Commandery Princess Fushou.”

“She is your fiancée, not your princess consort. There’s no need for you to come and apologize.” The last of the empress dowager’s anger had yet to fade. She did not so much as glance at Consort Xian, who sat at the side. “It’s still uncertain whether or not she can become Princess Consort Ying.”

The expression of Consort Xian changed a hint, but she dared not utter a word.

“Imperial Grandmother, Grandson came today to talk about this matter.” In spite of there being imperial physicians and other people present, Prince Ying opened his mouth and said, “Grandson and Young Miss Lin have incompatible temperaments, and have no fate in becoming husband and wife. May Imperial Grandmother understand.”

Consort Xian could not help but blurt, “Hao’er, what are you saying?! This is a marriage your imperial father has decided upon. How could it be changed at will?”

“Consort Xian, we grandparent and grandson are talking. Do not interrupt.” The empress dowager shot a glance at her. “Would you be happy if, in the future, your daughter-in-law interrupts you when you’re speaking with your grandchild?”

Resentful, Consort Xian thought, If you two, grandparent and grandson, keep talking, soon I won’t even have a daughter-in-law. Then how could my daughter-in-law even interrupt me? Besides, am I even your daughter-in-law? I’m just the concubine of your son. The only person who dared to call herself your daughter-in-law has already had the grass above her tomb trimmed many times.　　　　　

Despite her resentfulness, Consort Xian felt terrified, too terrified to say anything. She cast a glance at the crown prince, hoping that he, who usually liked causing trouble, would toss out a couple words. Yet, who knew what was wrong with the crown prince, but he did not utter more than ten words since entering through the door. And his expression was oddly unsightly.

“Minghao, talk to Grandmother. What are your thoughts?” asked the empress dowager.

“Imperial Grandmother, Grandson wants to break off the engagement.” A pause. “Young Miss Lin should search for a more suitable husband.”

Translated by Sleepchaser at https://sleepchaser.wordpress.com/ If you read it anywhere else besides Sleepchaser’s wordpress, that copy was stolen.

“You should be aware that if the engagement is broken now, not only would it be bad for the Lin family, but it would also affect you. Lin Zhou is rather esteemed among the civil officials and the civilians love him. If this marriage is withdrawn, rumors and slanderous remarks would inevitably arise. Will you regret this?”

“Although the common people would chat about the broken engagement in their free time, they will forget about it after a while. As for the other civil officials, my marriage is none of their business. If they can’t accept it, then they should have their sons marry Young Miss Lin. Grandson would not care.”

“Nonsense,” said the empress dowager, both angry and happy. “This grieving one will discuss this matter with the emperor.”

“Thank you, Imperial Grandmother.” Prince Ying performed a deep salute to her, before turning and asking Hua Liuli, “How are you feeling, Commandery Princess?”

“This official’s daughter is alright.” Hesitating for a moment, she continued, “Marriage isn’t a trivial matter. If the slightly contradictory views between this official’s daughter and Young Miss Lin affects Your Highness and Young Miss Lin’s marriage, then this official’s daughter cannot escape censure. May Your Highness please carefully reconsider…”

“This matter has nothing to do with Commandery Princess,” replied Prince Ying. “This prince and Young Miss Lin weren’t too compatible in the first place. Even if this situation with Commandery Princess never happened, this prince would still want to break the engagement. Commandery Princess should not take it to heart.”

Hua Liuli had witnessed Prince Ying and Young Miss Lin interacting before. Indeed, they truly weren’t on the best of terms. As each other’s fiancée and fiancé, they did not get along as well and pleasantly as Hua Liuli and the crown prince did. And they didn’t even share a relationship.

Glancing at the seated and silent crown prince, Hua Liuli felt somewhat worried. He did not appear to be in a good mood. Did something happen?

Since her son opposed her opinion in front of outsiders, Consort Xian felt a bit unhappy. She rose to her feet and said to the empress dowager, “Since Commandery Princess is already fine, this concubine ought to take one’s leave.”

The empress dowager nodded. “You are dismissed.”

Seeing his consort-mother rush to leave, Prince Ying found an excuse to follow after her.

Once all the outsiders were gone, a sigh escaped the empress dowager’s lips. “This grieving one invited you into the palace so that you could play and be happy. Never had this grieving one expected something like this to occur.”

“May Your Majesty the empress dowager be at ease. This official’s daughter will not take to heart those slanderous rumors.” Hua Liuli rose to her feet and took a seat by the empress dowager’s side. “Is your honored self trying to drive away this official’s daughter with these words?”

“How could this grieving one bear to do that? Even if the crown prince is driven out, this grieving one would not do this to you. Just live in my palace and set your mind at ease. If anyone dares to gossip, then this grieving one will help you vent out your anger.”

The crown prince, who sat at the side, was speechless.

The empress dowager was in on her years. After so much excitement, her body couldn’t take it anymore. After Hua Liuli persuaded her for a while, the empress dowager returned to her resting quarters, reassured.

By the time Hua Liuli had returned to the main chamber after escorting the empress dowager, the crown had yet to leave. They had already gone boating on a lake together and shared culinary delicacies there, so their interactions had become more natural.

Hua Liuli made her way before him. Reached out and waved a hand in front of him. “Your Highness, what are you thinking about?”

“I’m thinking about how to take revenge for you.” The crown prince reached out and held onto the wrist of Hua Liuli’s waving hand, letting go of it in a flash. “You are someone I invited to the imperial palace. If other people bully you, they are disrespecting me. As the crown prince, I cannot accept disrespect.”

“Your Highness, just let me deal with this matter, a dispute between little girls. If your honored self gets involved, it would be terrible for you if news of it spreads.” Hua Liuli knew that the crown prince regarded her as his own people, and wanted to help her vent her anger. But if he actually did this, and more people learned of it, then some imperial censors would definitely stomp about and criticize him.

“I was the devil incarnate in my youth. If I change after other people say a few words, then what kind of crown prince would I be?” Light laughter spilled from the crown prince’s lips. “People should always take responsibility for what they say. Otherwise, other people would think our imperial family condones what Lin Wan said.”

Comprehension struck Hua Liuli at once. The crown prince was telling her the imperial family’s position and approach in a tactful manner. She picked up the teacup sitting on the table, presenting it with both hands in front of him. “It’s precisely because this official’s daughter trusts Your Highness that this official’s daughter feels unwilling to let Your Highness get involved. If it’s a matter that this official’s daughter can settle myself, why should this official’s daughter allow Your Highness to be implicated? It’s not worth it and unnecessary. What kind of person is Your Highness? For what reason should your honored self allow a lowly person to affect your reputation?”

“But if Commandery Princess takes action, wouldn’t that affect your reputation as well?”

“It’s because this official’s daughter is a vindictful and vile person who holds grudges. As for a thing like reputation, this official’s daughter doesn’t care about it.” Hua Liuli placed the teacup in the crown prince’s hands. “It’s not like this official’s daughter will take their sons as my husband. Let those people talk. What does that have to do with me?”

“You won’t take their sons as your husband. Don’t tell me you’d take their daughters as your wife?” The crown prince took a sip of tea.

“Your Highness, this official’s daughter likes men,” replied Hua Liuli, his words amusing her into a smile. “Don’t worry, Your Highness. Since young, this official’s daughter disliked eating many things due to having a picky mouth. Not to mention, this official’s daughter dislikes eating losses.”

“Commandery Princess and I are alike. Not only do I dislike eating losses, but I dislike having the people important to me eat losses as well.” The crown prince set the teacup down on the table. Softly, he grasped a strand of Hua Liuli’s hair, pulling it down. “Go and rest first. I know what to do.” Following that, he turned around and left in large strides.

Hua Liuli brushed back that strand of hair. She turned her head, taking in the crown prince’s retreating figure.

The people important to him?　　

Like me?　　

The crown prince really has a strong code of brotherhood.