Chapter 485 – Extra: Outliers

Chapter 485 - Extra: Outliers

After Xiao Jiu ascended the throne, he didn't rush to confer the title of Crown Princess upon anyone.

Among his sisters, there were no longer any legitimate princesses.

Xie Shi had been deposed as empress before her death; thus, the princesses she had given birth to could no longer be considered legitimate.

The status of a Crown Princess was equivalent to that of a prince, so it couldn't be bestowed casually. If there were no legitimate sisters, the princess's own character or her husband's capabilities would come into play.

Though not officially titled, it was evident that the most esteemed princess was the Second Princess, born to the noble Consort. Her high status wasn't solely due to her birth mother's position but also her relationship with Emperor Yuanzheng. Even her daughter was being raised in the imperial harem.

For various reasons, she was the most distinguished princess. Following her was Princess Yige, the Third Princess. She had been relatively favored by the previous emperor during his lifetime.

Princess Ten, being the youngest, still enjoyed some royal favor.

Yet, none of them had reached the status of a Grand Princess.

On the emperor's birthday, a grand banquet was held in the palace.

Naturally, all the princesses attended the celebration.

As the eldest, Princess One took the most prominent seat.

Ever since Madam Xie's incident, she aged rapidly.

Now, she seemed two generations older than His Majesty.

These years had been far from smooth sailing for Princess One.

Her husband, the prince consort, always kept a distance from her, though the Fan family didn't dare to mistreat her. However, this constant uneasiness led to a growing estrangement between them.

Thankfully, she still had her three children.

Ever since that year when she hoped that her mother would push for the Fifth Prince to be named the crown prince, it seemed as though she had been on the wrong path.

She kept making mistakes, regretting them, and then repeating them all over again.

That year, she regretted her actions against the Qin Prince. When her mother was laid to rest, she spoke to the Qin Prince alone for the last time. She knew he held resentment in his heart.

But...

She always believed that there was still plenty of time ahead.

There would be more opportunities.

Yet, several years passed just like that.

When her father passed away, she grieved and blamed herself for not entering the palace while he was still alive, to have a proper conversation with him, to confess her foolishness over the years.

Back then, she recalled her childhood, when her father and the imperial lineage were still sparse.

He had always been so affectionate with her, calling her Jiu'er. He would hold her in his arms and shower her with gifts.

In those days, she was the sole princess, the most esteemed one...

She wasn't oblivious to the numerous wrongs her mother had committed. But she was afraid.

For some of those mistakes, she had been the one instigating them.

Regret overwhelmed her, and the more she regretted, the more she concealed.

She rushed to aid her mother, but her efforts proved futile.

Was Father deeply disappointed?

And her brother too, surely?

She often thought that she should apologize and have an open-hearted conversation, to make amends.

Yet, as she waited, her father passed away.

At that time, she was overwhelmed with sorrow.

Yet, she still lacked the courage.

When Prince Qin left the capital, she hesitated for a long while. Eventually, she didn't go to see him off.

She thought, Prince Qin would return. She just needed to wait a little longer.

She also considered that her children were growing up, and her current situation wasn't ideal. She should avoid any entanglements with Prince Qin.

Prince Qin had once been a crown prince...

As she pondered this, she couldn't help but feel indifferent, but her own children always came first – she hadn't been particularly close to her younger brother since they were young...

When Prince Qin died, there was no chance she would go to Jiangnan.

Rumors spread throughout the capital – Prince Qin was involved with a man...

How humiliating?

But when the Crown Prince left and returned that December, during the palace banquet, he encountered the Eldest Princess.

Without knowing why, she chased after him to inquire about Prince Qin.

The Crown Prince stood by the crimson pillar outside Lingzhi Palace, smiling at her.

That smile sent shivers down her spine, making her feel exposed as if thrown out naked.

In that moment, shame urged her to flee immediately.

The Crown Prince said, "Our father is sentimental. I recall how deeply he once doted on Eldest Sister. Even as the legitimate son, Prince Qin's life was not as prosperous as Eldest Sister's. But Father gave her so much that she now possesses everything except a heart."

At that instant, the Eldest Princess felt utterly ashamed.

In her haste, she blurted out, "Am I not afraid of disgrace for being involved with another man?"

The Crown Prince, with his hands behind his back, sneered. "Is it more shameful to be entangled with a man, or to have no regard for parents, siblings, only caring about personal gain?"

With that, Prince Duan took his leave.

Princess Eldest was left standing alone for a long while.

Even when Fourth Princess approached, she merely paid a distant curtsy before detouring away.

She felt as if everyone despised her to the core, as if she were some filthy thing.

Now seated at the banquet, no one engaged her in conversation. Amidst their laughter and chatter about their own children, the First Princess remained silent.

Her sons didn't possess the talent to pass any prestigious examinations.

And it was futile to hope for the Emperor to grant them favorable appointments.

She was well aware that the Emperor loathed her in his heart.

He had never outright made things difficult for her; he simply... acted as though she didn't exist.

Yet in the absence of Her Highness, everyone else would remain unchanged, as if they were all the same without her.

No princess ever visited her residence. Not even during her grand feasts would any princess grace her with their presence.

Nor was she invited to the banquets of other princesses.

And as time went on, even the ladies from the households of court officials began to exclude her. Who would associate with someone discarded by the royal family?

During festive seasons, she was required to enter the palace, but... it felt as if she were an outsider.

Or perhaps, she truly was one, wasn't she?

Each and every time, it was an awkward affair.

At that moment, the Emperor was discussing the impending marriage of Princess San's child and the need for imperial betrothal gifts.

Yet, His Majesty never concerned himself with the well-being of the First Princess's offspring.

For their marriage, he showed no interest, nor would he bestow any imperial gift. It was simply out of the question.

The banquet dispersed, and it was already late into the night. She had no desire to return home, instead instructing the carriage to head towards the Qin Prince's residence.

It had been five years since the passing of the Qin Prince.

Though the estate had not yet been bestowed upon another, it was largely uninhabited, attended only by a few caretakers.

Sitting in the carriage under the moonlight, she gazed at the aged plaque, lost in thought.

She pondered if that single slap she had dealt her brother that year had severed all fraternal ties between them.

After much contemplation, she remained perplexed.

She acknowledged her wrongdoings, many of them, but still felt that the Qin Prince had been too heartless.

Over the years, she hadn't apologized, but neither had the Qin Prince sent her a single letter.

That was the nature of the First Princess.

One who admitted fault yet relentlessly sought faults in others.

Xiao Jiu wouldn't go so far as to wish her dead; he simply wouldn't allow her to live with dignity and splendor.

He didn't want to have anything to do with her, nor did he want anyone else to care for her.

Didn't she place great importance on her status as a legitimate princess? Well, let the whole world look down on her royal highness then.

After Elder Master Fan passed away, the family's influence had greatly diminished.

No one could protect anyone else.

Emperor Xiao Jiu was a magnanimous ruler but a petty son.

Having harmed his father, Sixth Prince would not be let off easily; were it not for Prince Duan, that person might have suffered until old age.

As for the First Princess, though her crimes didn't warrant death, any hope of regaining her former prestige was futile.

Xiao Jiu would never forget how his mother almost died in the northwest years ago.

He didn't hold grudges against Qin Wang simply because of the prince's frail health and innate kindness, which made it impossible for him to be involved in any sinister schemes.

With Princess Zhaoren being like this, she might as well live her life in this awkward manner. Carrying the title of a princess, she exists in an uncomfortable limbo. Even when she dies, the emperor wouldn't bestow her any honor.

"Has everyone left? I plan to arrange for Lord Qi to visit tomorrow, and then it should be my turn, Yun Li, right? Who knows, perhaps someone else might come to mind. In any case, it's almost over."