Chapter 57: Marrying the Crown Princess

"Don't go!" Cui Xiwen embraced his waist from behind.

Li Tinghan's body stiffened, and he hastily pulled away her hands. "Don't be like this. In my heart, you have never changed. I will not abandon you, so there is no need for this."

Cui Xiwen froze, looking at him in disbelief. "Do you think I act this way simply out of fear that you might abandon me? Do you truly not understand my heart?"

Tearful and choked with sobs, Cui Xiwen accused, "You say that in your eyes, I am no different from the past, but apart from you, who else still treats me like a young lady of the Cui family?"

"Three years—more than a thousand days and nights. Aside from you, I haven't had a single person to speak with. If not for the hope that one day my father and mother's grievances will be redressed, I would rather have found a length of white silk and hanged myself, sparing myself from bringing shame upon the reputation of the Cui family's daughters here."

"Wuniang." Li Tinghan looked at her, his eyes carrying a hint of lingering guilt.

Cui Xiwen suddenly wiped away her tears and turned her face aside. "Why am I saying all this to Your Highness? This was never your fault. I simply feel that this road is too long, devoid of hope, and I am fast running out of patience to wait."

Cui Xiwen retrieved a jade *ruyi* from her vanity case. "I traded this for the money I saved from selling my embroidery. It is not made of fine material, but it represents my humble sentiment. Allow me to congratulate Your Highness on your joyous wedding."

Li Tinghan's gaze first fell upon the jade *ruyi*. True to her word, not only was the jade of inferior quality, but the carving was exceedingly crude.

Yet immediately afterward, Li Tinghan's eyes were inevitably drawn to her hands. Those delicate, slender hands that had once never touched rough work were now marred by thin calluses on the fingertips from incessant toil.

He frequently came here to look after Wuniang, but she steadfastly refused to accept his silver. Moreover, she had to care for her younger sister while maintaining the dignity of the Qinghe Cui clan, refusing to step out front to greet guests.

She could only perform simple sweeping in the back kitchen or embroider pieces in her spare time to sell outside. Even so, whenever she appeared before him, she always took care to present herself with dignity.

Only now, upon closer inspection, did Li Tinghan notice the unconcealable exhaustion etched across her face. He could not resist reaching out to gently stroke her cheek.

The prolonged silence, however, caused Cui Xiwen to harbor misunderstandings. She pushed the *ruyi* slightly closer to Li Tinghan. "Everything I have said today comes entirely from the sincerity of my heart. I only ask that Your Highness does not forget me; even after your marriage, please remember to come and visit me."

Li Tinghan grasped the jade *ruyi* with one hand while gathering her into his embrace with the other. "In my heart, you shall always be my wife."

Cui Xiwen broke into a tearful smile, then gently shook her head a moment later. "Having suffered such a great calamity and fallen into humble status, this concubine long ago dared not harbor any extravagant hopes of becoming Your Highness's wife. I only wish that one day, when Your Highness has the power to command, you might rescue me from this place. Even without any official title, I would be content merely to serve by Your Highness's side."

Li Tinghan let out a long sigh and pulled her tighter into his arms.

He clearly perceived that Wuniang had changed. She had lost her former pride and grown anxious and insecure, which only made Li Tinghan feel an even deeper tenderness toward her.

For some reason, Wuniang at this moment reminded him of Shen Tubai—the Shen Tubai who had first entered the Prince's Mansion.

Back then, she too had worn an expression of utter devotion, entirely dependent upon him. Yet looking back now, such posturing had seemed utterly false, though not entirely displeasing.

Ever since Lingzhou, Shen Tubai had never shown him that kind of demeanor again—perhaps because she herself realized how fake it looked. But Wuniang was different; Wuniang's feelings for him were entirely genuine.

The Emperor was growing increasingly gravely ill. While Li Tinghan felt deeply anxious, he also secretly anticipated the day of the Emperor's passing, when he would take full control. When that time came, he would undoubtedly bring Wuniang into the palace to compensate for the hardships she had endured over the past three years.

The third day of the third month was an auspicious day.

The current Crown Prince married the Crown Princess at the main gate of Weiyang Palace, and all members of the Eastern Palace were required to attend the ceremony.

Children are quick to forget, and with Shen Tubai watching alongside her, A'ning was soon infected by the lively atmosphere of the scene, laughing with radiant joy.

Many onlookers who had intended to watch the spectacle promptly lost interest upon seeing this. Conversely, Lu Yuanshuang's expression was so ugly she could not conceal a shred of her feelings, looking as though she wanted to swallow the person dressed in wedding robes alive.

Shen Tubai watched from afar, merely feeling that the Crown Princess was indeed very young, looking completely childish and unfinished.

She had heard the girl was only fourteen this year, not yet having reached the hair-pinning ceremony. Shen Tubai felt an untimely sense of worry, but given her position, she kept it unsaid, growing only more restless inside.

Yet outwardly, she forced herself to maintain composure to avoid becoming a laughingstock.

The palace was lively as never before, but today was the Crown Prince's grand wedding, and as concubines of the Crown Prince, they were destined not to be the protagonists.

Thus, after viewing the ceremony, everyone tactfully returned to their respective quarters, awaiting the audience with the Crown Princess the following day. Not even Lu Yuanshuang was an exception.

"...Mother, the plum blossom cakes at the banquet were so delicious. If only I could eat them every day." A'ning tugged at Shen Tubai's sleeve, acting sweetly spoiled.

Shen Tubai amusement showed as she stroked the child's head. Pastries were difficult to digest, and to encourage A'ning to eat her proper meals, Shen Tubai had never allowed her to overindulge.

Today she had made an exception only out of fear that the child's mood might be affected. Now, looking at her, how could anyone tell she remembered a single thing about her father marrying a new bride?

Clearly, she had worried for nothing.

"In a few days, when the weather gets warmer, Mother will have them chill the plum blossom cakes for you to eat." Hearing A'ning speak thus, Shen Tubai herself felt a slight craving.

Consort Zhu seized the opportunity to lean close to A'ning. "Come to Consort Zhu's rooms. You won't even need to wait for summer—Consort Zhu will have them made for you every single day."

"Thank you, Consort Zhu." A'ning first flashed a sweet, beaming smile, but then shook her head. "However, plum blossom cakes are hard to digest. A'ning must exercise restraint and not eat too many."

"Oh dear, why is our A'ning so sensible?" Consort Zhu's heart melted completely at the sweet little childish voice, and she immediately pulled the child into her arms, showering her with fond caresses.

Shen Tubai chuckled as well, but even as she laughed, she felt a sharp, twisting pain in her lower abdomen, and her complexion instantly turned deathly pale.

"What's wrong with you?" Consort Zhu was the first to notice something was amiss. "Someone come quickly, go fetch an imperial physician!"

Shen Tubai hastily pressed down on Consort Zhu's hand and shook her head. "It's nothing, it's probably just my monthly cycle arriving."

Worried, A'ning hopped down from Consort Zhu's embrace and hugged her waist. Consort Zhu remained uneasy. "Your health is important; you must not force yourself."

Shen Tubai shook her head. Though the dull, dragging pain in her lower abdomen persisted, it had subsided significantly. "Look at what day it is today? The Crown Princess has just entered the gates, and if I make a grand fuss over summoning an imperial physician, anyone who doesn't know better will think I have some objection to the Crown Princess."

Consort Zhu still disagreed. "You cannot gamble with your own body. If something were to happen, it would be too late for regrets."

"The Crown Prince has always known your character; he certainly won't suspect you because of this."

Shen Tubai still shook her head. "Before I had A'ning, I frequently suffered from abdominal pain whenever my monthly cycle came. It's an old ailment, and I know my own body. At the very least, I must wait until things settle down on the Crown Princess's side before I can properly ask a physician to take a look."