Zhao Chu rarely genuinely showed a hint of amusement.

However, this half-smile, half-sneer expression, when seen by Fang Linyuan, appeared as naked mockery.

"You..." Fang Linyuan's face changed slightly.

But Zhao Chu spoke first, cutting him off.

"I promise you," he said. "As long as you do what you're supposed to, your family, your clan, they don't need to worry."

Fang Linyuan heard this, but he didn't believe it.

"You've set up schemes for over a decade; your ambitions must be significant. If you can't even protect yourself, it's already fortunate enough not to drag my entire family down," he uttered.

These words sounded fresh to Zhao Chu's ears.

He acted decisively and meticulously, and those whom he had involved in his schemes were all wholeheartedly devoted to him. Even those coerced by him dared not show any disrespect.

It was the first time someone dared to question him so bluntly.

It was also the first time someone questioned him directly because he knew so little about himself, except for his true identity, which was almost a blank slate.

But Zhao Chu never liked to waste words on explanations with people. Hearing Fang Linyuan's words, he just smiled, lazily, as if effortlessly entrapping someone like a python.

"So, you better pray for my success, so you won't have to bury your entire family after my failure," he said, adding with a slow, deliberate tone as he looked at Fang Linyuan's resentful eyes, "After all, as a couple, we should be united in our efforts."

*

That night, Fang Linyuan barely rested in the outer chamber and left early the next morning.

On the third day at dawn, he waited punctually in front of the mansion's gates.

Even in the palace, there was a custom of returning after three days, a day for the princess to return to the palace to see the emperor and empress dowager. In order to demonstrate the deep bond between husband and wife, and to thank the emperor for the marriage, the consort would usually accompany the princess into the palace.

It was a thirty-minute carriage ride from the Marquis of Anping's residence to the palace. In the short days of winter, with long nights, it was just beginning to get light, and the lanterns in the hands of the guards illuminated the snow along the way.

"Why is the Marquis waiting here?" the coachman asked as Fang Linyuan stood aside, rubbing his hands due to the cold wind. "It's so cold; why not wait inside?"

If not here, then it would be in the Huaiyu Pavilion. Rather than facing Zhao Chu, Fang Linyuan preferred being frozen here.

Wrapped in a mink fur over his official robes, he replied, unperturbed, "No need."

The coachman nodded in understanding and praised, "The Marquis is strong and considerate of his wife."

Fang Linyuan raised an eyebrow stiffly, replying casually, "Is that so?"

The coachman naturally replied, "Of course! If the Marquis doesn't wait inside, it's because he's worried about the discomfort his wife might feel while dressing up!"

As he spoke, he looked at Fang Linyuan with admiration, and Fang Linyuan immediately understood the meaning in his eyes—

Thoughtful, even considering such details!

Fang Linyuan forced a smile, saying, "Yes."

As the two conversed, footsteps came from behind. Fang Linyuan turned and saw several servants holding lanterns, and a group of maids escorting Zhao Chu as they approached.

Today, Zhao Chu wore a long palace dress, adorned with a crown of pearls, with two golden phoenix hairpins inlaid with pearls shining under the lantern light.

More dazzling than the pearls was Zhao Chu's stunning face, though expressionless, a beauty beyond words.

Their eyes met briefly, and Fang Linyuan felt awkward, but he saw a hint of threat in Zhao Chu's eyes.

Fang Linyuan attempted to avoid his gaze but froze in place when he saw Zhao Chu's sinister gaze.

As Zhao Chu approached, Fang Linyuan gradually forced a slightly stiff but courteous smile.

As he reached Fang Linyuan, Zhao Chu bowed slightly, and Fang Linyuan took the opportunity to assist him as he boarded the carriage.

"Be careful, my lady," Fang Linyuan said with lowered eyes.

In the candlelight and snow, the couple looked as if they were in a painting.

It felt like acting with a puppet on stage, Fang Linyuan thought bitterly with his eyes lowered.

With Zhao Chu's skills, getting into a carriage was nothing. Did he really need to help him? With a perfunctory tug, he helped Zhao Chu into the carriage and swiftly entered himself, sitting on the other side.

Seeing his avoidance, Zhao Chu smiled faintly and turned his gaze away.

The carriage moved slowly, followed closely by the maids. They headed towards the magnificent palace at the end of the road.

*

When the carriage stopped outside Kaiyang Gate (NT: zeta gate, zeta is a star in the Big Dipper, now officially called Mizar), the sky outside the window was already bright.

The palace officials were already waiting at the gate. Seeing the carriage stop, they hurried forward, smiling, "His lordship, the Marquis of Anping, and the princess, please. His Majesty is currently in the Qingning Hall (NT: Hall of peaceful serenity) and has specially sent us to welcome the princess."

With a wave of his hand, an eunuch came forward to lift the curtain and set up a small stool for them to disembark.

The first to descend from the carriage was Fang Linyuan.

He was dressed in the imperial Qilin robe, draped in a sable fur, and the mud-gold Qilin patterns on his deep red robe shone brightly in the sunlight. Stepping down from the carriage, his coat fluttered lightly, lifting the snow on the ground.

(NT: qílín, 麒麟, is the mythical Chinese animal, it has a dragon like head with antlers, eyes with thick eyelashes, manes that always flow upward, and beards. It symbolises good luck and prosperity)

Unaware, he reached out and held the slender hand reaching out from the carriage.

With Fang Linyuan's support, Zhao Chu stepped down from the carriage.

The palace official smiled and glanced at the intertwined hands of the two. With a respectful bow, he said, "It's been many days since I last saw the Princess. Her Highness looks even better now." He chuckled.

Zhao Chu simply turned his gaze away, not responding.

Fang Linyuan scanned the expressions of the two and guessed most of the situation.

Zhao Chu was known for his aloofness in the palace, even those around the emperor did not dare to be impolite to him. Fang Linyuan recognized this palace official, surnamed Huang, as one of the emperor's attendants. At this moment, he wore a familiar expression, accustomed to Zhao Chu's indifference.

"Thank you, Master Huang, for accompanying us." Fang Linyuan spoke up on behalf of Zhao Chu.

Huang, the palace official, smiled upon hearing this. Leading the two towards the palace, he said with a smile, "It's my honour to serve the Marquis and the Princess. His Majesty has been concerned about the Princess. Seeing the affection between the Princess and the Marquis today, His Majesty can rest assured."

"The Emperor is kind-hearted," Fang Linyuan responded. "When I entered the palace the other day, I heard His Majesty cough twice. It must be the winter chill. Is he feeling better now?"

"Please rest assured, Marquis. His Majesty only thinks of national affairs and sometimes neglects his own health..."

As the two conversed happily, Zhao Chu, walking beside them, couldn't help but glance around with a hint of surprise.

Fang Linyuan's current controlled and tactful demeanour was somewhat unexpected, even to Zhao Chu. Even when he helped support him just now, his expression and attitude were gentle and proper, not revealing any clues even to an old fox like Huang Wei.

Zhao Chu lowered his eyes slightly, and his long, thick eyelashes easily concealed his scrutiny.

At that moment, he also noticed, while lowering his gaze, the hand that had been by his side and hidden within the sable coat.

It was curled up uncomfortably, twisting and turning like a girl who had dirtied her dress, feeling annoyed and embarrassed.

That was the hand that had been holding his just a while ago.

Zhao Chu lowered his eyes, and his lips curved slightly.

He still can't control his emotions. Lazy thoughts crossed his mind.

Fang Linyuan conversed with Huang Wei all the way, passing through the wide square in front of the palace gate and heading towards the direction of the Qingning Hall.

Just then, a young man in elegant attire followed by several attendants was walking towards the palace gate from the direction of the Wenhyi Hua (NT: Literary Flower) Hall, and he noticed them approaching.

The young man paused slightly, even his steps came to a halt.

Zhao Chu raised his eyes and saw the figure.

Qu Huajun, the second son of the Minister of Rites.

Zhao Chu frowned imperceptibly, his gaze showing undisguised annoyance.

This man was the companion reader of Prince Zhao Jin since childhood, selected to enter the palace from a young age, one of the attendants who grew up alongside Prince Zhao Jin.

Prince Zhao Jin and he had never gotten along since childhood, and this young man often found reasons to trouble him, with Qu Huajun serving as his accomplice on the side. As they grew older, this young man stopped instigating trouble directly but his eyes grew increasingly disdainful.

Five years ago, Qu Huajun cornered him in the Imperial Garden after a banquet.

"You have another year until you come of age, and then I will ask my father to plead with the Emperor to let me marry you." He blocked Zhao Chu's path, head held high, looking proud and triumphant.

Zhao Chu frowned but before he could speak, he heard the young man continue, "Don't worry, I won't mind if you're too tall, or if your mother is a discarded empress. But I don't like women who are too cold. From now on, you should learn to be gentle and obedient."

At that time, Zhao Chu glanced at him with a look of contempt and walked away.

As he passed by him, Zhao Chu deliberately brushed against him, sending him tumbling into the nearby flowerbed, covered in snow.

But unexpectedly, since then, this young man began to pester him endlessly, even interpreting his disgust as shyness.

It wasn't until his mother passed away, and he volunteered to observe mourning for three years, that Qu Huajun finally eased up.

Meeting his direct gaze, Zhao Chu felt a wave of nausea and lowered his eyes.

Beside him, Fang Linyuan also saw the figure.

Having been stationed at the border early on, he didn't recognize many of the nobles in the capital city, and naturally, he didn't recognize the distant figure either.

However, the gaze directed at him seemed somewhat hurt and resentful, like someone with a grudge.

The next moment, that person turned around, ignoring the attendants behind him, and strode towards them.

"Master Qu." The person approached, and Huang Wei, smiling, greeted him. "Master Qu, are you here to accompany His Highness the Third Prince for his studies again today?"

However, Qu Huajun remained silent, his eyes glaring directly at Fang Linyuan.

The surname... the Minister of Rites seemed to be surnamed Qu.

Before Fang Linyuan could speak, the man in front of him stared straight at him, sneering, "Marquis Anping returns victorious, bestowed with marriage by His Majesty. The streets are filled with tales of your romance with the princess. It truly fills us all with envy!"

Fang Linyuan was stunned.

The streets? The fact that he got married had actually become the talk of the town?

"What are they saying?" he asked nervously.

If they really spread rumours about them being a pair of divine lovers, then the day when Zhao Chu’s identity was revealed, he, Fang Linyuan, would be utterly humiliated!

However, Qu Huajun didn’t answer him but looked at him with even more resentment.

This guy, with a military background, still acts so arrogantly? Clearly he’s showing off that he’s married to the princess in front of me!

Qu Huajun quickly looked towards Zhao Chu.

Your Highness, can’t you see? This person is despicable, certainly not fit to be your spouse!

However, the beautiful, cold and detached eyes of the princess were quietly focused on the warrior.

The lotus that he hadn’t been able to pluck from the mountain peak for many years had fallen into someone else’s hands like this.

Qu Huajun was about to grind his teeth to pieces.

And Fang Linyuan, who hadn’t received an answer, suddenly came to his senses.

Seeing the hurtful gaze Qu Huajun directed at Zhao Chu, Fang Linyuan suddenly understood.

So it’s because of Zhao Chu. No wonder he looks at me like he wants to eat me.

There was a hint of sympathy in Fang Linyuan’s eyes.

Brother, sometimes not getting married to someone might not be a bad thing.

If you really married him, you might be even more hurt than you are today.

 

--

The author has something to say:

Fang Linyuan: Do not bring the White Moonlight home. I hope you'll never understand this sentence [Heartbreak]

 

Translator : DarNan