Chapter 28: Holding Hands

Chapter 28: Holding Hands

Because this marriage decree came so suddenly, Liu Yun, still in a daze, didn't even know when the eunuch delivering the decree had left. It wasn't until she saw the Yang family carrying away all the betrothal gifts and Brother Xiuyuan bowing in farewell that Liu Yun realized the most serious thing that had happened today.

The betrothal gifts had turned back halfway—those who didn't know what was going on would surely have plenty to talk about.

"...Brother Xiuyuan!"

Liu Yun lifted her skirts and ran over, her face couldn't hide the heavy guilt she felt.

She wanted to say something, but saw Yang Xiuyuan put on a strained smile and give a quick, half-hearted bow with his hands clasped. "Sister Yun need not see me off. I'll return first to report this matter to my parents. Let's call off the marriage between us."

With that, Yang Xiuyuan gave Liu Yun no chance to speak further, said his goodbyes to the Liu family politely and properly, and hurried away.

"Nephew, nephew~"

Liu Shiwen called out a few times, but to no avail, and ultimately couldn't call the departing figure back.

The family of three looked at the courtyard that had returned to emptiness, exchanging helpless glances.

Finally, the couple exchanged a glance, then turned to Liu Yun, who was still in a daze, flicked their sleeves, and huffed, "Come inside!"

With that, the couple led the way into the house, signaling Liu Yun to follow.

Seeing this, Liu Yun shuddered and followed meekly like a frightened quail.

Once inside, the couple sat upright at the head of the room like judges grilling a criminal, slamming the paperweight down on the desk and demanding, "Speak—what the hell is going on between you and the Crown Prince?!"

Liu Yun, already riddled with guilt for concealing the events of that night at Fahua Temple, her knees went weak from the guilt of what she'd caused. She dropped straight to her knees.

"It's all my fault—I was careless and brought this shame on the Yang family. Please punish me, Father and Mother!"

How was Liu Yun supposed to know that the Crown Prince, who'd been quiet for days, would pull something so sudden and unexpected?

Ever since leaving Tianqin Tower that day, the Crown Prince hadn't come looking for her again. Liu Yun figured she was just overthinking it—that the Crown Prince hadn't truly taken an interest in her.

But she couldn't have been more wrong.

Hearing this, the couple knew there was something more going on between their daughter and the Crown Prince, and immediately pressed her, "What exactly happened between you and the Crown Prince? Tell us at once!"

With her parents pressing her, Liu Yun spilled everything about her dealings with the Crown Prince, including that night at Fahua Temple.

When Liu Shiwen and Zhang Yuhua heard that part, they both sucked in a sharp breath.

"...So that's how it was."

After spilling all these private details, Liu Yun's face flushed, and she explained further, "Father and Mother know that I never wanted any involvement with the Crown Prince. Moreover, he never made any promises afterward, so I figured he was just messing around and paid it no mind, and planned to marry Brother Xiuyuan like we'd agreed."

"I never expected the Crown Prince to get an imperial decree—and of all days, today. If I'd known earlier, I never would've dared to agree to this engagement with the Yang family!"

Who could refuse an imperial decree? Not just her—nobody in all of Yanjing would dare.

After hearing their daughter's explanation, the couple was quiet for a moment before quickly making a decision.

"Come on, wife—let's go to the Yang house to apologize!"

Zhang Yuhua nodded seriously and hurried after her husband.

Seeing her parents walk right past her without a word, Liu Yun scrambled to her feet in a panic and ran after them.

"Father, Mother, wait for me—I'm coming too!"

While her parents apologized to Uncle Yang and Aunt Yang, she'd apologize to Brother Xiuyuan. That way, everyone would be covered.

As word of the marriage decree started spreading through the streets and mansions of Yanjing, Liu Yun arrived at the Yang house with her parents.

When the steward reported the Liu family's arrival, Yang Ze, his wife, and their son—who had just returned from the failed betrothal ceremony—were talking together, their faces couldn't hide how upset they were.

"Who'd you say is here?"

"It's Vice Minister Liu, master—the whole family of three is here."

The steward repeated himself, waiting for his master's say-so.

Yang Ze exchanged a long, silent look with his wife and son.

They'd talked through this marriage thoroughly and clearly—who could've imagined it would end up like this?

It wasn't just women who lost face when a betrothal fell through.

But the one who'd snatched away the Yang family's marriage was His Majesty himself—so they could only swallow it in silence.

But that didn't mean the Yang family was happy about it.

But the Liu family had come too fast—they barely had time to react.

Finally, Yang Xiuyuan sighed and said, "Father, please invite them in. You know what kind of man Uncle Liu is—let's hear him out."

"Besides, after this decree, the Liu family isn't what it used to be."

His son's words hit home with Yang Ze, and he signaled the steward to bring the guests in.

A moment later, a clatter of footsteps rushed in—voices arriving before the people themselves.

"Brother, our Liu family has wronged you!"

A booming cry came first, dripping with emotion.

Yang Ze and his wife, Madam Sun, were both taken aback, not sure whether to laugh.

Yang Ze signaled Yang Xiuyuan to step out first—the elders had matters to discuss among themselves.

Yang Xiuyuan obeyed and went out, where he saw the young lady standing gracefully outside.

The very one who, by a hair's breadth, would've been betrothed to him today—Sister Yun.

Yang Xiuyuan pressed his lips together and walked toward her.

Inside, Liu Shiwen was desperate to offer his apologies and explanations before losing this dear friend.

In eight years as an official in the capital, no friendship ran deeper than his with the Yang family.

"Brother, you must believe me—our Liu family never privately arranged a marriage with the Crown Prince, nor did we know anything about today's decree. This turn of events was utterly unexpected. Brother, please don't misunderstand me!"

Inside the room, emotions ran high; outside, feelings were equally stirred.

Seeing Brother Xiuyuan approaching, Liu Yun hurried forward as well, calling out, "Brother Xiuyuan..."

Before Yang Xiuyuan could speak, Liu Yun stumbled through an explanation.

Aside from the events of that night at Fahua Temple, which she was too ashamed to mention, she shared most of it, though not all.

"I truly knew nothing of today's betrothal decree, nor did I make any agreement with the Crown Prince. The person I've always wanted to marry is Brother Xiuyuan. I had no idea such a thing would happen today. Please don't be mad, Brother Xiuyuan, okay?"

She had never wronged anyone before, and this was a matter of face involving a betrothal gift—her guilt had already piled up into a mountain.

To say he wasn't bothered at all would be a lie. Yang Xiuyuan was only human, and having his betrothal so publicly humiliated, even by the imperial family, stirred up some resentment in him.

But seeing the Liu family rush over and hearing Sister Yun's remorseful explanation, especially the line "The person I've always wanted to marry is Brother Xiuyuan," Yang Xiuyuan found his mood considerably lightened.

He should have known—Sister Yun's heart was simple and innocent. How could she deliberately scheme with the Crown Prince to embarrass him?

Most likely, the Crown Prince had taken a liking to her and picked today specifically to throw his weight around.

His gut told him so.

"Sister Yun, don't worry. I don't blame you."

The young man's gentle words instantly calmed Liu Yun's anxious heart, but it only made her feel worse.

Such a gentle Brother Xiuyuan, and she couldn't marry him—instead, she had to marry a husband like the Crown Prince. The thought made Liu Yun miserable.

Somehow, things played out from there. Liu Yun and her parents were invited by Uncle Yang and Aunt Yang to stay for a meal. Not only that, but her father drank himself into a stupor with Uncle Yang, each one shouting louder than the other, making her mother and Aunt Yang frown in exasperation.

It seemed her father even got scolded by Uncle Yang a couple of times, but he just grinned and took it in stride, then went back to drinking like old brothers.

Seeing this, Liu Yun felt relieved.

Uncle Yang probably wasn't too mad at their family anymore, right?

After sipping some yogurt drink, Liu Yun cast one last reluctant glance at the man she should have been engaged to, her spirits low.

As night fell, her dead-drunk father was loaded into the carriage, and Liu Yun climbed into her own carriage. Before departing, Yang Xiuyuan stepped forward to bid her farewell, saying a few extra words.

"Since the situation is settled, Sister Yun, wait calmly for your wedding. From now on, I'll be your big brother."

Liu Yun said gloomily, "I'm so sorry about this, Brother Xiuyuan. I guess fate just wasn't on our side. I just hope you have a bright future ahead, find a good wife and live a smooth life."

As she spoke, Liu Yun felt like she was about to sniffle.

She should have had a gentle, proper husband like Brother Xiuyuan, but now it was all ruined.

The whole ride back, Liu Yun couldn't muster any energy. After a quick wash when she got home, she felt completely exhausted and fell asleep early.

Liu Shiwen, of course, was the first to pass out, dead drunk as he was. Zhang Yuhua got her husband cleaned up and then, worn out in body and mind, also turned in.

The whole Liu household was unusually quiet that night, except for the servants who whispered excitedly late into the night about their missus becoming the Crown Princess.

Elsewhere in Yanjing, reactions from the various official households were mixed.

Most officials who knew they had no shot at becoming the Crown Prince's father-in-law felt no disappointment, just stunned that the Crown Princess position had fallen to the modest Liu family, and feeling sorry for the Yang family, whose betrothal had been snatched away mid-stream.

But for those officials who had their eyes on the Crown Princess position and believed their families had strong claims, it was like a thunderbolt out of the blue.

In a young lady's chamber at Duke Wen's mansion, porcelain and teacups shattered all over the floor, along with a woman's tearful, furious words.

The commotion dragged on deep into the night, eventually drawing a scolding from her father, Duke Wen himself.

At the Qin residence, upon hearing that the Crown Princess position had gone to the Liu family, Qin Wan was surprised but secretly let out a sigh of relief.

No one knew that neither the title of Yanjing's top lady nor the race for the Crown Princess position had ever been what she wanted.

Now, she was finally free.

Finally, there was the General's Mansion, where the Li father and son marveled at the imperial decree.

"I told you! At Jin Ning's birthday banquet that day, I noticed the Crown Prince's gaze at that Liu girl wasn't innocent. Sure enough, I wasn't wrong, haha!"

As if he'd hit the jackpot, Li Yan chuckled.

His father, Grand General Li He, also laughed, saying, "The Crown Prince's move to snatch her away is quite a show. Who'd have thought he'd be so petty, picking the very day they were about to send betrothal gifts."

Li Yan disagreed, retorting, "Father, are you so sure the Crown Prince snatched her away, rather than the Liu girl and him being in love?"

Immediately, he got a smack on the back of his head, and his father scolded with a laugh, "Are you really that foolish? In all of Great Yan, if a girl learned the Crown Prince wanted to marry her, most would be overjoyed to wed him. Even without feelings, they wouldn't dare refuse. Do you think the Liu family is stupid—agreeing to the Crown Prince while also betrothing their daughter to a sixth-rank official's son?"

"Is the Liu family tired of living?"

"Any fool could figure out the Liu girl had no interest, and the Crown Prince had to force it."

Li He spoke with conviction, and Li Yan caught the deeper meaning, and the father-son pair laughed together.

...

Late at night, the crescent moon hung like a hook, and all was silent.

Having been through an ordeal, Liu Yun fell into another bizarre dream.

The setting was the Spring Chamber of Tianqin Tower, where she somehow found herself pressed onto the Crown Prince's usual soft couch.

His gaze was fierce, and he asked darkly why she hadn't waited for him.

In the dream, Liu Yun stammered without an answer, then heard the Crown Prince say he would punish her, and he bit her neck.

Liu Yun kept shouting things like "Don't eat me!"

When she woke, it was to Jin He's worried, anxious face.

"Milady, hurry and get up—the Crown Prince has come with betrothal gifts!"

"What!"

Like a thunderbolt, Liu Yun bolted up from bed, but ignoring her still-weak body fresh from deep sleep, she collapsed back down softly.

A cup of tea later, in her haste, Liu Yun hadn't even combed her hair properly. After a quick wash, she went to spy on the front courtyard.

Unbelievable—the decree had come just yesterday, and he was already sending betrothal gifts this morning.

Was he that desperate for a wife?

Liu Yun couldn't help but grumble inwardly.

"Milady, you don't know—the Crown Prince's betrothal gifts are so many they overflow the master's and mistress's courtyards, and he's requisitioned several more rooms just to fit them all. And the Crown Prince himself has come too."

Hearing this, Liu Yun paused mid-step, startled. "The Crown Prince is here?"

Jin He nodded eagerly, delighted for her mistress. "See, milady, the Crown Prince cares about you."

In the Great Yan Dynasty, on the day of betrothal, the groom may or may not show up; if he does, it's for one of two reasons.

First, the couple already has deep feelings for each other.

Second, the bride's family is high-ranking, and the groom has to put in maximum effort to show his sincerity.

For someone of the Crown Prince's status, there was really no need for him to show up in person.

Yet he came today, which caught the whole Liu family off guard.

Liu Shiwen and his wife were practically overwhelmed by the honor.

Liu Yun hid behind a rock formation, her long, loose black hair spilling down, making her delicate face look as clean as snow.

She stared blankly at the blinding red displays and the young lord standing in the middle of the endless pile of betrothal gifts, conversing with her parents.

He wore a crimson brocade robe, a tall crown, and a jade belt, his wide sleeves flowing elegantly—he stood out like a sore thumb.

Liu Yun was about to leave when the Crown Prince—with eyes as sharp as an eagle's—locked onto her hiding spot behind the rocks in an instant.

Even though she couldn't make out his expression, her gut told her she'd been spotted.

"Run, run!" Liu Yun panicked, spun around, and bolted back to her room, staying put like a good girl.

Thinking she could just wait out the betrothal party, Liu Yun dutifully hid indoors, refusing to set foot outside.

But external pressure forced her to step out again.

Her parents sent word for her to give the Crown Prince a tour of the house.

Liu Yun wanted to cuss.

Her parents were throwing her under the bus!

Reluctant as she was, Liu Yun didn't dare refuse. After getting dressed, she composed herself and headed to the front hall.

There, the Crown Prince sat there all relaxed. When she appeared, his phoenix-like eyes locked straight onto her.

Liu Yun's heart clenched under his gaze, and she didn't dare meet his eyes.

In the face of power, all rules go out the window, so even on betrothal day, Liu Yun was dragged in front of the Crown Prince.

As she greeted her parents, she shot them a resentful look.

They knew she was terrified of the Crown Prince, yet they still made her do this—how cruel.

Seeing the reproach in his daughter's eyes, Liu Shiwen groaned inwardly.

None of this was his idea.

The moment the gifts were set down and barely a few words were exchanged, that Crown Prince suddenly got it into his head to tour their modest home.

The couple had no objections, of course, and were about to lead the way themselves.

But the Crown Prince insisted their legs were bad and demanded someone else show him around.

It was their own denseness that they didn't catch on to his real intention.

Only when the Crown Prince grew impatient and asked if their daughter was available did they finally get it.

What else could they do? The marriage was decreed, the gifts were delivered—he was their son-in-law in name now, so there was no avoiding it.

Helplessly, Liu Shiwen went to fetch his daughter.

"Shanshan, give the Crown Prince a tour of our home," Liu Shiwen said with an awkward smile, earning a hidden glare from his daughter.

Escorting this big shot, Liu Yun was tense all over, moving stiff as a puppet.

She didn't dare look at him or think of what to say.

She tried to keep her distance, but he kept subtly closing in, his crimson sleeve brushing against hers.

Suddenly, Liu Yun felt something cover the back of her hand, like it was trying to grab it.

Instinctively, she yanked her hand behind her back, dodging the touch.

But then came the awkward moment.

The Crown Prince's hand hovered in mid-air, grabbing at nothing.

Clearly, he'd meant to take her hand, and she'd just coldly rejected him.

A long, suffocating silence.

His lips pressed together, his eyes deep and dark, his whole demeanor turning cold.

Liu Yun, pinned by those mesmerizing phoenix eyes, could barely breathe, wailing inside.

Unable to take his relentless death stare any longer, she gave in and reached out, taking the big hand still hovering in the air.

It was warm and dry, with rough calluses on his palm.

The friction sent a tingle through her hand.

Then, to gauge his reaction, she tilted her head up slightly, sneaking a glance she thought was subtle but was totally obvious.

It made Xiao Hang laugh out loud.

All his earlier gloom vanished, his chest swelling with warmth and a soft breeze.

He turned his hand over, wrapping her soft, doughy little hand in his, his fingers rubbing against hers.

"I heard your father call you by a nickname—what are those two characters?"

Author's note:

Here we go, here we go, an update!

Can't believe I wrote almost five thousand words after getting off work so late.