Pang Xiao then reminded Xie Yue to keep an eye out for a suitable residence, and to let the prince know when one was located.
…..
The night passed by peacefully. The next day, a servant brought in a response when Li Helan was enjoying breakfast with the empress dowager.
The delighted princess put down her ivory chopsticks and opened the letter, wreathed in smiles. Her smile froze when she saw the characters on the paper, and she furiously kicked over an intricately decorated stool when she read it in full.
“What’s wrong, Lan’er? Who’s bullied you? Tell me, I’ll mete out justice on your behalf.”
The empress dowager pulled her beloved youngest daughter in for a hug and comfort when she saw how irate the princess was.
Li Helan wiped away tears sorrowfully. “Pang Zhixi refuses to attend my gathering and his response is so obviously perfunctory. The most important thing is that he even had someone else write the response! I know his handwriting and this isn’t it! He’s miserly with all of his words to me—he’s just looking down on me!”
The empress dowager asked about the situation in detail when she heard this, but her expression darkened after listening to Li Helan’s explanation.
“Lan’er, how could you possibly take the initiative to send an invitation to Pang Zhixi? You’re engaged and your prince consort will be the Marquis of Northern Stability! Even if you’re a vaunted princess, your future life will be tied with the marquis. What are you doing, sending an invitation to Pang? Aren’t you afraid of people misunderstanding you?”
“Misunderstanding? There’s nothing to misunderstand! Everyone beneath the heavens knows that I like Pang Zhixi, but so what? Royal brother wants me to marry Ji Lan, but I don’t like Ji Lan’s personality at all! I won’t possibly get along with him! Royal brother doesn’t care about me now that he’s the emperor!”
Li Helan sniffled, greatly aggrieved. She hugged the empress dowager’s arm and wept, her tears crashing onto the back of her mother’s hand.
The empress dowager doted on her youngest daughter, but she also knew full well that since the emperor had already issued and announced the imperial decree, there was no changing this matter.
Besides, the emperor had come to chat about Anyang’s marriage to the marquis, she felt that the marquis was a fine man as well.
And so she glowered as she rebuked, “Shut your mouth. This is all because I’ve spoiled you. You’ve spent so many years learning the rules, how do you not even understand that marriage is settled via the parents’ order and the matchmaker’s word?”
“Royal mother! How can you not think of your daughter at all? If it wasn’t for all of you often saying that I’m a perfect match with Pang Zhixi, and that I would be his wife when I grew up, how would I have all these thoughts about him? You were the ones who gave me all these ideas! I treated them as real and think only of him, that I would marry him when I grew up. But now? You negate the past with just a single word and want to blame everything on me! What crime have I committed??”
Li Helan felt these grievances from the bottom of her heart. She’d been keeping them in for a very long time, and only dared to wail loudly in front of her mother. She was no fool. Though she didn’t quite understand what her brother wanted to do, she knew that her marriage had a lot to do with important politics. There was no way to change it.
But the more she understood that it was impossible to change things, the more anxious she grew and the more discontent.
Pang Xiao had refused her invitation and ordered someone else to respond with a seemingly caring letter, but it was actually a reminder for her to stop leaving the house. It really did hurt her feelings and her pride.
When she thought of the high likelihood that she would have no chance with Pang Xiao in this life, Li Helan threw herself into her mother’s embrace and sobbed loudly.
“Eh? What’s this?” Li Qitian’s voice suddenly travelled in from outside the palace.
Li Helan’s bawling choked off in mid wail. She even hiccuped because she was too nervous.
“The emperor is here.” The empress dowager glared at the sniffling Li Helan and turned to Li Qitian with a smile. “Have you had breakfast?”
Li Qitian walked up to make his greetings with a smile. “We have. It’s a court holiday today, so I wanted to make use of the free time to visit my royal mother.” He turned to Li Helan. “Why is Lan’er crying so brokenheartedly? Who’s bullied you?”
Li Helan wanted to respond, “You!!”, but she would never be so impudent to Li Qitian. She shook her head silently.
Li Qitian caught sight of the letter out of the corner of his eye. He frowned. “Who’s writing to you?”
Horrified, Li Helan almost sprang into the air. She hastily tucked the letter away. “No one. Just some fun between girls. Does royal brother want to ask about the contents of even that?”
The emperor swept a probing glance across the envelope and then at the visibly nervous Li Qitian. He chuckled in the end. “As long as there’s nothing going on. You must tell Us if anyone’s bullying you. Remember, you’re my blood sister. I will protect you no matter what, understood?”
Chapter 323: Lying in Wait
Two more trails of tears trickled out of Li Helan’s eyes when she heard these words. She really wanted to grab Li Qitian’s hand and demand, “Do you mean that? Will you really protect me no matter what? If you actually want to protect me, then betroth me to Pang Zhixi!”
……
But she wasn’t a rash ditz in the end. Though she could be more arrogant in front of her mother, she still knew what the limits of propriety were when it came to Li Qitian.
The bonds between brother and sister could never be as before, once her brother had taken the throne. They were no ordinary brother and sister. He was the emperor, and she the subject-sister. To put it bluntly, her lifelong happiness depended on his favor. A single word from him could determine if she was happy or not, living or dead.
So as much dissatisfaction as she bore, the only thing she could do now was to grit her teeth and shove all those thoughts deep inside. When faced with Li Qitian, she could only be a docile, sensible younger sister.
“Royal brother, Lan’er knows. It’s just a small matter—no big deal. With royal brother’s favor, who would dare bully me?”
Li Qitian couldn’t help but pat Li Helan’s head when he heard this.
She was his only young sister, and he really had used her in this matter. Forget it, it was enough to confirm that Li Helan had reached out to Pang Xiao. He didn’t need to pursue that further. He couldn’t expect a girl like his sister to hold the same political views as him.
“Your royal sister-in-law made a set of hair accessories a few days ago. We feel that it looks quite beautiful and had her make a set for you too. Remember to wear it when it’s delivered. You’re the eldest princess, the purest of royalty. Don’t mistreat yourself out of desire to be thrifty. Even if the nation’s coffers aren’t deep at the moment, you still won’t go without.” He scratched her nose with tender emphasis.
Is he compensating me materialistically because he feels guilty?
Li Helan sighed to herself and curtsied with joy. “Many thanks to my royal brother and royal sister-in-law.”
“We’re all family here, there’s no need for thanks.” Li Helan’s smile was infectious, brightening Li Qitian’s mood. He turned to speak with the empress dowager.
The emperor was the empress dowager’s support, so she basically did everything he said. She would also respond accordingly to his mood. She was a smart woman, just like Li Helan, and fully aware of where her happiness stemmed from. Thus, there was never a conflict with Li Qitian, and mother and son had quite an amicable relationship.
The emperor had a very lovely conversation and left in high spirits.
The empress dowager dismissed all of her servants once he was fully out of the vicinity. She kept only Li Helan with her, and pulled her daughter close to murm
ur. “Lan’er, you need to be more broad-minded and let some things go. You already have all the happiness a woman can attain. Don’t be greedy. I don’t know why you’ve set your sights on Pang Zhixi, but you must realize that it's impossible for the two of you.
“It’s set in stone that you will marry the Marquis of Northern Stability. There’s absolutely nothing that can be done to change it. The marquis is also an unreservedly handsome man with stunning ability. You must be satisfied with what you have, understood?”
Li Helan stared at her mother without saying a word, slowly nodding her head after a long while.
The empress dowager could tell that her daughter hadn't taken her words to heart. The older woman sighed with resignation.
A mother knew her daughter best. The empress dowager was very right. When Li Helan returned to her side hall, she burrowed into the blankets and wept bitterly. After thoroughly venting her feelings, she ordered Hexiang, “Have them prepare the carriage. I’m going to wait in front of the Pang Manor. I don’t believe that Pang Zhixi won’t come out!”
“Your Highness!”
“Don’t bother persuading me otherwise! He pretends he’s not home when I visit. He fobs me off with an excuse when I send him an invitation. When will I be able to see him if I don’t lay in wait for him at his front door?”
“But, you’re the purest of royalty. You…”
“Don’t mention that again!” Li Helan finally exploded in fury. “It’s because I’m royalty that my happiness and future can’t be tied to the one I like! If I don’t even have the option to fight for what I want, then I’d rather not be royalty at all!”
Hexiang seemed to have been hollered into submission. She stood there dumbly, unable to react.
“Well?! Go have the servants prepare the carriage!”
“Under, understood.” Color had drained from Hexiang’s face and she quickly took her leave after a curtsey. She breathed out in relief once outside the palace, stopping for a quick word with an unassuming eunuch outside the Palace of Serene Piety, before going on her way.
…..
“Your Highness, why don’t you tell Miss Qin first and bring her with you to look at the manor?” asked Xie Yue with a smile.
Pang Xiao shook his head, adjusted his leather coat, and picked up a horse whip with a smile. “I’ll go take a look first. If even I don’t like it, then there’s no need for her to go look. But with Sir Xie in charge of things, I’m confident that the manor is suitable.”
"It was perfect timing that a family wants to move away from the capital. They haven’t decided if they want to sell yet. We can take a look first, and then talk it over with them then if Your Highness thinks it’s a good fit.”
Pang Xiao nodded, had the servants ready the horses, and left on horseback with Huzi and Xie Yue. But they’d just trotted through the doors when a window curtain lifted in a carriage parked on a street corner.
Li Helan was clad in an exquisite white leather coat, her pale face wrapped by a fur collar. It highlighted her red lips and white teeth. Bashfulness and plaintive complaints brimmed in her eyes, while the sentiments between her brows seemed as deep as the fathomless see. One could nigh well drown in them.
“Your Highness, the days are so cold, aren’t you still recovering? Where are you going on horseback and in the snow?”
Li Helan alighted from the carriage, unable to put up a haughty act in front of Pang Xiao. She spoke gently and with a smile, but the notes of complaint deepened in her tone.
On horseback, Pang Xiao had been prepared to ignore her. But she was the eldest princess after all, with the lofty status to boot. She’d already stepped down, so it’d be inappropriate if he remained sitting in his superior position.
The prince jumped down gracefully and fully observed all the courtesies with his bow. “So it’s the eldest princess. You know the days are cold as well, so why aren’t you resting in the palace? Why have you braved the snow to come here?”
“Why? How would you possibly not know?! Royal brother has betrothed me to Ji Lan! I’m going to marry Ji Lan! What are you going to do about that?!”
The interrogative tone made it seem like Pang Xiao had abandoned her, discarding her by the side of the road.
Pang Xiao arched a brow with a smile. “Yes, I do know of this. I naturally need to prepare a hefty gift for such a wonderful occasion.”
“You!” Li Helan had thought that the man she dreamed of night and day would have similar feelings for her, that it was also unbearable for him too. Who would’ve thought that when she threw the problem to him, he’d only say that he would prepare gifts for her!
Tears flooded out of her eyes; the many days of suffering made her no longer able to control herself. She choked back sobs as she demanded, “Just what do you mean by this, why are you avoiding me?! What about our past together?! How would you possibly not know the feelings I've had for you all these years??”
Pang Xiao’s brow knit together.
At the same time, in another street corner, Ji Zeyu was fully taking in the sight of Li Helan sobbing in front of his sworn brother. Someone had secretly told him that something very important would happen in front of the Pang Manor today, and he’d rushed here out of worry.
Chapter 324: An Unavoidable Plot
Pang Xiao’s senses were on high alert and stretched in all directions. He felt eyes converge on him and Li Helan. It was clear as day that someone was watching their every move and action.
His mind furiously racing through possible observer identities, he bowed respectfully to Li Helan and asserted solemnly, “Please conduct yourself with dignity, Your Highness.”
“Conduct myself with dignity?” Despair finally descended when Li Helan noted Pang Xiao’s attitude. She tilted her head to look dumbly at him, tears streaming down with her words. “All these years, my only wish was to marry you when I grew up. If you had no feelings for me, why didn’t you refuse when my royal mother and brother joked about us?
“If you’d refused early on, would I have been shameless and clingy in return? You gave me hope so that all of my fantasies of adulthood were about you, but now you cower and shrink back! Pang Zhixi, are you a man or not?!”
“You yourself say it was a joke, Your Highness. So why take jokes seriously? Besides, this one has never had any interactions with Your Highness. We are not familiar with each other, so please choose your words wisely.”
Pang Xiao took a few steps back with a frown, his left hand tucked behind his back. Huzi surreptitiously traced the word ‘northern’ onto his master’s palm.
The person observing them from the shadows was Ji Zeyu!
It was impossible that he’d passed by coincidentally. Someone must’ve purposefully sent him a message!
The Princess of Anyang was engaged to Ji Zeyu and their wedding would be held soon. Even if Ji Zeyu had no feelings for Anyang, no man would feel good about his soon-to-be wife entangled with another man. Especially when the other man was his good friend.
Out of the current crop of Great Zhou generals, Pang Xiao dominated the south while Ji Zeyu held the north.
If they were close-knit with a tight relationship, it would be the quick work of a partnership between them to arrange for a coup. How would the emperor tolerate the two of them being brothers? Thus, there was no end of provocation and attempts to destroy their relationship.
Pang Xiao could understand why the emperor was doing all this, but he couldn’t accept or forgive such actions.
He gnashed his teeth so hard they ground on each other. It appeared that the very first of Anyang’s visits had represented him and Ji Zeyu unknowingly setting foot into a trap—a death trap with no way out!
Ji Zeyu couldn’t possibly defy imperial orders and refuse the marriage. Anyang would be his wife. But what hot-blooded man would permit his wife to have someone else in her heart?
By this point, Pang Xiao understood that no matter what he did, it would be the wrong move. Anything he did would cause
a misunderstanding. Such was the sophistication of the emperor’s plot. Even though both brothers might have a very clear understanding of the matter, they would be forced to misunderstand each other and wear away at their relationship.
But was he, Pang Xiao, an easy target to be trampled however others would?
Though a misunderstanding was sure to develop, he wasn’t going to just take this lying down! If he was going to come out worse for the wear, he would make this a grand spectacle. Everyone would know that he’d gotten the short end of the stick!
When his thoughts travelled here, Pang Xiao’s tone took on a hard edge.
“Has the princess caught a cold and is sprouting all this nonsense because of a fever? If Your Highness is sick, you should see an imperial doctor. You shouldn’t be out and about like this.”
“What are you talking about?! I’m not sick! This isn’t nonsense! Pang Zhixi! Just admit that you're not man enough to own up, why are you blaming everything on me?? I’m sick? Hah! I’m very clear headed right now, the most I’ve ever been!”
“To be completely clear headed yet also a shrieking shrew in the street means you didn’t learn your manners properly. His Majesty is busy with the nation’s affairs, and Her Majesty preoccupied with keeping the imperial harem in order. It seems that’s affected Your Highness’ education. As His Majesty’s foster brother, I am half an older brother to you. Your Highness cannot continue to act out like this. It’s an affront to the rules of the home and disgrace to imperial dignity.”
Pang Xiao’s expression darkened and he gave orders to Hexiang and the other palace servants behind Li Helan. “Help the princess back into the carriage. This prince will personally escort the princess to see His Majesty!”
“How, how dare you say I have no manners!”
“And do you actually have any manners?” Pang Xiao sneered. “I’ve never seen a daughter of the blood completely disregard her future husband’s dignity and waylay someone in the streets to create a scene! You might not care about your self-worth, but His Majesty cares about imperial dignity and third brother has his considerations of face! Your Highness, please get in the carriage. Don't make me say harsher words!”
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