Chapter 123: Seen by the Moonlight

Chapter 123: She Was Seen by the Bright Moon

The Second Prince was working up a sweat in the backyard, practicing martial arts, when a eunuch hurried in to report: "Your Highness, the Third Prince is here to see you!"

"Third Brother? What does he want?" The Second Prince frowned slightly, his face full of suspicion, and waved his hand. "Let him in."

Inside the inner hall, the two princes sat facing each other, the atmosphere subtle.

One was dressed in opulent brocade robes, his posture lazy and casual, his expression one of complete indifference; the other wore practical martial arts attire, looking spirited and radiating the energy and heroic bearing of a martial artist.

"Third Brother, if you have something to say, get to the point. I need to continue my training and truly have no leisure to sit here chatting and sipping tea with you!" said the Second Prince.

He had always been straightforward, disliking roundabout talk.

Xiao Xiuzhan picked up a celadon teacup, took a slow, elegant sip: "Second Brother is about to set out to fight for our Great Ye, to drive out the Nanyue invaders on the battlefield, which is indeed admirable. However, Second Brother cannot devote all your thoughts to military and state affairs. Your own lifelong happiness should not be neglected either."

"If you have something to say, Third Brother, speak directly."

The Second Prince tugged at his ear impatiently, clearly quite averse to this indirect way of speaking.

"In that case, I'll be frank. I came today to propose a match for Second Brother!" Xiao Xiuzhan set down the teacup, a meaningful smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"No need!" The Second Prince refused outright. "My heart already belongs to someone. I won't trouble Third Brother with this!"

"The one Second Brother favors is the daughter of Minister Zhang, Miss Zhang Yan, isn't it?"

Hearing this, the Second Prince's cheeks visibly flushed red, his eyes showing a hint of panic: "You... how do you know?"

Xiao Xiuzhan smiled mysteriously: "There's no need for Second Brother to inquire deeply into that. I came today precisely to act as a matchmaker for Second Brother and Miss Zhang, to facilitate this wonderful union!"

"Third Brother, I'm afraid you won't succeed with this match!" The Second Prince said with a bitter smile. "I have already expressed my feelings to Miss Zhang, but unfortunately, she doesn't feel the same way about me. Though I am a prince, I am unwilling to force someone against their will. In this life, I fear we are simply not destined to be together!"

"Why must Second Brother be so pessimistic? Matters of the heart can change in an instant; who can predict the final outcome?" Xiao Xiuzhan's smile was cunning, a barely perceptible glint flashing in his eyes. "How about I make a bet with Second Brother? Let's see if that Miss Zhang will be the one to propose marriage to Second Brother."

"A bet it is! I definitely won't lose to you!" The Second Prince boomed in agreement. "What do you want as the wager?"

Xiao Xiuzhan said word by word: "Ten thousand taels of gold!"

The Second Prince let out a hearty laugh upon hearing this: "That is indeed a tempting wager. But to be honest, Third Brother, even if you were to happen to win this bet, I might not be able to produce ten thousand taels of gold for you. Let's change the wager?"

"Second Brother may not be able to produce ten thousand taels of gold now, but once Second Brother successfully repels the Nanyue invaders and returns triumphant, the Emperor's rewards will surely far exceed ten thousand taels of gold! At that time, Second Brother need only allocate ten thousand taels from the imperial rewards and deliver it to me."

"Fine, as you wish!" The Second Prince readily agreed. "Anyway, you definitely won't win!"

Xiao Xiuzhan's smile deepened, its meaning unclear: "Second Brother, we shall see!"

After leaving the Second Prince's palace, Xiao Xiuzhan exited the palace and headed straight for Minister Zhang's residence.

Upon hearing of his visit, Minister Zhang was filled with trepidation.

He had no prior dealings with this Third Prince, nor were they of the same faction. Why would he suddenly come to see him today?

Though full of doubts, Minister Zhang suppressed his emotions, forced a respectful expression, and stepped forward to greet him: "This humble official pays his respects to Your Highness the Third Prince. May I ask what important matter brings Your Highness to my humble abode today?"

Xiao Xiuzhan stated his purpose directly: "This prince has heard that Minister Zhang's daughter, Zhang Yan, remains unmarried. I have come specifically to ask Minister Zhang for your daughter's hand."

"What?" Minister Zhang thought he had misheard for a moment, his face full of astonishment. "Isn't Your Highness's marriage to Chancellor Jiang's daughter already imminent?"

"Indeed, Second Miss Jiang is this prince's rightfully wedded principal wife." Xiao Xiuzhan said lightly with a smile, his demeanor arrogant. "As for your daughter, naturally she must content herself with being a concubine!"

"This..." Minister Zhang suppressed the anger in his heart, his face flushing red. "Your Highness, this humble official has only this one daughter, cherished like a pearl in the palm since childhood. Although our Zhang family may not be among the highest nobility, we would never allow our daughter to become a concubine!"

"Is Minister Zhang refusing this prince?" Xiao Xiuzhan's face darkened, his tone carrying a hint of threat. "If this prince insists on taking her as a concubine, do you think your power can stop me? Minister Zhang, this prince advises you not to refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit! If you truly anger me, not only your daughter, but your entire Minister's residence will find it difficult to escape complete ruin!"

Having delivered this harsh warning, he strode away.

Minister Zhang was as if struck by lightning, collapsing to sit on the ground, muttering to himself: "What sin have we committed? How did our Zhang family provoke this Third Prince?"

As Zhang Yan entered the main hall, she saw her father slumped on the ground, looking dejected. Her heart skipped a beat, and she hurried forward to help him up: "Father, what's wrong? Have you encountered some difficult matter?"

"The Third Prince just came to our residence, and he... he actually declared he wants to take you as a concubine!" Minister Zhang found it hard to say the words.

"What?" Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan's face instantly turned deathly pale.

That Third Prince, Xiao Xiuzhan, was notorious for his philandering. Even before taking a principal wife, his household of concubines was already numerous. Rumors were also rife in the city about his improper private relations with the leading courtesan of Chunxiang Pavilion.

If she were to marry the Third Prince as a concubine, wouldn't her life be utterly ruined?

"No! I will go find the Seventh Prince immediately and beg him to find a way to help! No matter what, I cannot let you become the Third Prince's concubine!" Minister Zhang said agitatedly.

Zhang Yan quickly grabbed his arm: "Father, have you forgotten? Last time, when the Seventh Prince secretly instructed us to poison the Third Young Master Jiang, we failed to carry it out. How can we possibly ask him for another favor now? Moreover, the Seventh Prince and the Fourth Prince belong to the same faction. Currently, the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince are locked in a stalemate. If we rashly seek help from the Seventh Prince now, it would be tantamount to directly opposing the Third Prince, which would only anger him and bring greater disaster upon us!"

"Then what should we do?" Minister Zhang's face was full of sorrow. "I truly cannot bear to watch you jump into hell!"

"Father need not worry so. Your daughter has already made a decision and knows who to turn to for help." A flash of unconcealable bitterness appeared in Zhang Yan's eyes. "Please, Father, act on your daughter's behalf and arrange a meeting with the Second Prince. Your daughter has a few words she wishes to say to him personally."

"The Second Prince? Do you mean you want him to propose marriage to you, to take you as his wife?" Minister Zhang frowned deeply. "But haven't you long had someone else in your heart?"

A bitter smile appeared on Zhang Yan's face: "Now, if your daughter can preserve herself and protect the entire Zhang family, that is already no small feat. How can I still dare to hope for the one my heart desires? Moreover, even if I don't marry the Second Prince, that person might not necessarily marry me either."

He was the bright, lofty moon hanging high in the sky, radiant and dazzling, far beyond reach. And she was merely an ordinary woman momentarily dazzled by his brilliance. What virtue or ability did she possess to make that bright moon look upon her with special favor and bestow his affection?

Hearing this, Minister Zhang felt even more distressed, yet he was helpless: "Marrying the Second Prince is still better than becoming a concubine to that Third Prince. Yan'er, it's all because your father is incompetent. I've wronged you!"

Zhang Yan secretly shed tears: "It is Yan'er's own ill fate. I cannot blame Father!"

She couldn't help feeling somewhat jealous of Jiang Shuning, the only woman in the capital who could decide her own marriage.

If only she could be like her, favored by the Empress Dowager, possessing an imperial edict regarding her marriage.

Then she wouldn't have fallen into today's passive predicament.

Of course, her jealousy of Jiang Shuning wasn't only because she had an edict allowing her to decide her own marriage.

She was jealous because she could be seen by the moon she admired.