The one thing the palace wasn't short on was princesses.
The current Emperor had only one son, Pei Yan. All the children born after him were daughters.
Refusing to believe he was cursed, the Emperor expanded his Harem. Wave after wave of beauties were selected to join, but they all gave birth to one princess after another.
It was as if he were cursed. No matter what he tried, he couldn't produce another son.
There were those who took desperate measures, trying to switch a male infant into the palace, but all their attempts ended in failure.
Now, there were dozens of princesses in the palace!
Giving Mei Wanying the title of princess, then, wouldn't be difficult.
When necessary, they could even have Mei Wanying marry into an alliance for the Royal Family, solidifying Imperial Power.
The more Empress Gu thought about it, the better the idea seemed.
She looked at Pei Yan expectantly. If her son just nodded, she would set the plan in motion at once.
Pei Yan refused without a second thought.
"Don't ruin her."
Empress Gu was taken aback. "How would I be ruining her? To put it bluntly, her family is ruined. With the title of a princess, she at least wouldn't have to worry about finding a husband. And with the ethical constraints it would impose, the Crown Prince wouldn't dare make a move on her either."
Mei Wanying is beautiful; finding a husband won't be hard for her. The hard part is marrying into a prominent family!
She's a noblewoman who was raised in the lap of luxury. She would never be willing to marry beneath her station.
Otherwise, why would she be clinging so desperately to Ah Yan?
'This girl is ambitious. Only a man bewitched by her beauty would see her as some poor, helpless thing.'
Pei Yan still disagreed.
'What an utterly absurd suggestion!'
'An adopted daughter?'
'A princess?'
'Are those titles supposed to be so incredible?'
'Mei Wanying wouldn't give a damn about them.'
"She's too pure-hearted. She doesn't understand scheming and backstabbing. The title of princess wouldn't be an honor for her, it would be a death warrant. She's the last of the Mei family. How is this not ruining her?"
Once she becomes part of the Royal Family, she'll be dragged into political struggles whether she wants to be or not.
Most likely, she'd be used as a pawn in a marriage alliance to forge connections.
Mei Wanying is too guileless. She'd be eaten alive.
Pei Yan told himself that even though he didn't love Mei Wanying and would never marry her, the Mei family had raised him. 'I have a responsibility to secure her future.'
'I will decide what kind of family is suitable for her to marry into. I don't need anyone else interfering.'
Empress Gu studied Pei Yan's expression.
His stance was resolute.
He was dead set against her adopting Mei Wanying.
Empress Gu clicked her tongue. "This won't do, that won't do... Ah Yan, are you sure you don't have feelings for Mei Wanying?"
Pei Yan's reply was firm. "I see her as a sister."
"Fine," Empress Gu said, waving a dismissive hand. "Whatever you say. We'll do it your way."
'So he just wants to protect Mei Wanying, is that it?'
'In a few days, I'll summon her to the palace to learn etiquette.'
'That's a tremendous honor.'
'When Mei Wanying marries in the future, it'll be a great boost to her reputation.'
The mention of the Crown Prince had ruined his appetite. After a bit more conversation, Pei Yan was ready to leave the palace.
"Wait a moment."
Empress Gu gave the head Palace Maid a meaningful look, signaling her to bring the items over.
"You're not getting any younger. You should be thinking about getting married and having children."
A flicker of annoyance crossed Pei Yan's eyes. "We can discuss this another time."
"It's always 'another time'! When exactly do you plan on taking a wife?"
Having said her piece, Empress Gu was not about to let Pei Yan leave without looking at the list of names and their portraits.
"The women I've chosen for you are all proper ladies from prominent families. They will be able to manage your household perfectly and will not hold you back."
Pei Yan felt nothing.
He had never even considered marriage.
All he knew was that he wouldn't marry Mei Wanying. As for anyone else, he felt nothing special.
He had no desire to bring any woman home as his wife.
Empress Gu asked eagerly, "What kind of young woman do you like?"
Pei Yan pressed his lips together. "Anyone who isn't like Mei Wanying."
Empress Gu's expression was complex. "Besides Mei Wanying, what other young ladies do you even know?"
'Why does he keep bringing up Mei Wanying? It's as if she's the only girl in his world...'
Pei Yan searched his mind.
He came up empty.
"Men and women should keep their distance," he said.
'Why would I go out of my way to associate with young women?'
'One Mei Wanying is more than enough for me to handle.'
'If I actually got involved with another woman, Mei Wanying would surely throw an endless tantrum.'
Pei Yan couldn't be bothered to waste energy placating her, so he simply avoided doing anything that would set her off.
All for the sake of some peace and quiet.
"No wonder you're so stubborn and clueless," Empress Gu said.
She ordered the attendants to unroll the portraits one by one.
Since this was a selection for a principal wife, family background was the top priority. Most of the women in the portraits were plain-looking. The few who did stand out could only be described as comely.
A devastating beauty like Mei Wanying was one of a kind in the Capital City.
True beauties were rare, after all.
Empress Gu had already screened the candidates, weeding out anyone too plain.
Everyone appreciates beauty, after all.
She didn't want to shortchange her own son too much.
Pei Yan's mind wasn't on it. He didn't spare a single glance for what the women in the portraits looked like.
Nor did he have any interest in looking.
The mere thought of another woman in his mansion—one who might chatter and fuss endlessly like Mei Wanying—made him feel irritated.
Any desire to marry vanished completely.
"We can discuss this after I return to the Capital City."
Empress Gu was not so easily fooled. "As long as you remain unmarried, Mei Wanying will continue to pester you. Don't you want her to finally give up?"
That successfully made Pei Yan pause.
Empress Gu struck while the iron was hot. "Mei Wanying has completed her three years of mourning. If she still wants to marry you, she'll pull out all the stops. You, of all people, should know how persistent she can be."
Pei Yan hesitated.
That day at the Mei Mansion, Mei Wanying had said she no longer loved him and wouldn't pester him again.
But today, she had sent someone to find him, saying she was ill.
'Is she playing hard to get?'
'It's entirely possible.'
'On the anniversary of General Mei's death, Mei Wanying had been so dependent on him, craving his comfort.'
'To turn on him in the blink of an eye like that... it must have been an act.'
Pei Yan's jaw tightened. "Whatever tricks she has up her sleeve, let her try them. You think I'm afraid of her?"
Empress Gu was speechless. "..."
'Was that what I meant?'
"Let's not talk about her. Hurry up and see which of these young women catches your eye. In a few days, I'll host a flower-viewing party and arrange for you to meet them."
Empress Gu cajoled, "It's not a betrothal, let alone a wedding. There's no harm in just looking. Nothing will be decided that quickly."
Pei Yan glanced at the sun through the wide-open window.
'If I don't get this fresh fish to her soon, Mei Wanying won't get to eat it today.'
'She's just pretending to be sick, right?'
'I'll have the cook prepare a fish feast. Let's see how long she can keep up the act with her favorite food right in front of her!'
Without looking at the portraits, Pei Yan pointed randomly at one.
'Just as my mother said, it's not a betrothal. I have no intention of attending the flower-viewing party anyway, so it's not like I'll ever meet the woman in the portrait.'
'As long as she stops nagging me, that's all that matters.'
"I have urgent business to attend to. I'm leaving."
"Ah Yan..."
Empress Gu called after him, but he was already gone.
"Where is he off to in such a rush?"
Her trusted Palace Maid replied uncertainly, "Could he be going to the Mei family to deliver the fresh fish?"
Empress Gu shook her head. "I truly can't figure him out."
The Palace Maid nodded. Who could argue with that?
"His Highness clearly cares for Miss Mei, yet he refuses to take her as his own."
"It's so contradictory!"
Watching Pei Yan's retreating figure, Empress Gu felt a wave of sadness wash over her. "I've missed too much of his life. Now, when I want to make it up to him, I can't even begin to understand what's on his mind."