I am painfully aware of what the emperor thinks of me, yet his gaze pierces straight through to my soul, cold and merciless. Why can't he show a sliver of love, even the tiniest fragment, to me? The aching absence gnaws at my chest.
"So you are the ninth princess," my father declared, then assessed me. My facial features are what I would call lifeless and pale, as if I were a moving corpse.
"Has she received the decree? father asked, not directly to me but to the eunuch standing beside him.
"Yes, Your Majesty,"
I said immediately, showing him the decree that the eunuch had given me, and nodding in acknowledgment.
"There will be a royal banquet for your marriage, so you must attend. Zhen believes it will also be the last banquet you ever attend in your life."
My palm clenches into a fist because of what he said.
"Yanyu understands," I said, giving another low bow while waiting for his dismissal.
"My empress, you may take her now," I feel somewhat scared when I hear him address the empress.
The empress immediately stood up, and her maids and eunuchs followed her, then held my arm.
"This empress will take her leave." She bowed to me, and when the emperor gave his permission, the empress took me with her.
When we were already far from the main hall, she immediately shook my hand off, brushed the invisible dirt from her dress, and then looked at me with disgust.
"Follow me."
I just followed her instructions, and then a hand gripped mine.
It was Zi Yan; her complexion did not look very good. I simply smiled at her and shook my head to indicate that I was fine.
The empress of this kingdom is Mu Miren, who comes from a very proud family of the prime minister.
He fell in love with the emperor when he was only a crown prince, and she promised herself to monopolize the king. However, in the end, he married dozens of concubines for his harem, which caused this woman to become greedy and ruthless. That is what Zi Yan told me, which is why I am quite wary of her.
When we entered her courtyard, we stayed by the large pond for a few minutes. Then, she looked at me with condemnation.
"You know, it's quite refreshing to let one of his bastard children be given to the enemy country; you will suffer a tremendous fate." I already know what she thinks of me, but it feels quite strange to hear her say it herself.
"Listen, at the banquet, don't you even think about having a conversation with any of my children, because if you do, I'll kill the maid you treasure so much." My eyes immediately filled with hatred. What does Zi Yan have to do with this? She's innocent.
It is because I am going to the enemy as a concubine that they will also suspect me of being a spy. I don't fully understand the rules of this imperial family.
Yanyu understands.
For the time being, let's remain quiet.
À suivre...