After calming the situation, the empress dowager ordered the newlyweds to the bridal chamber. What should have been a joyous occasion was overshadowed by Long Hanxie’s words.
In the bridal chamber, Long Hanxie knocked over the wine and overturned the palace maids’ harmony wine. “Scram, all of you get out!” he shouted. The palace maids fled in fright.
Xu Qiu’er looked at the elderly palace lady Liu and said, “Nurse, you’ve been tired all day. Please go rest.” Nurse Liu looked at Xu Qiu’er with concern.
Xu Qiu’er stood up and sent the nurse to the door of the bridal chamber. “Nurse, please rest. If you don’t leave, the crown prince might blame me.”
Long Hanxie approached and grabbed Xu Qiu’er’s neck. “You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”
Xu Qiu’er struggled but couldn’t push him away. Meeting his fiery gaze, she asked, “What is the crown prince talking about?”
She gasped for air, thinking that he might as well kill her because she vowed never to let him have a good day. Long Hanxie tightened his grip.
“Do you think I wouldn’t dare kill you?”
He slapped Xu Qiu’er, sending her crashing into a chair, where her forehead bled. She stood up and calmly said, “Do you want the child in Xu Qing’er’s belly to be born safely?”
Long Hanxie’s eyes turned bloodshot as he lunged at her, shouting, “You’re crazy! I’ll kill you!” Xu Qiu’er pushed him away with all her strength, leaving him glaring at her in disbelief. She then picked up a wine cup from the wedding table, broke it, and cut herself under his astonished gaze.
“You…” Long Hanxie started to rise, wanting to take the shards from her hand.
Hearing approaching footsteps, Qiu’er smiled, then kneeled and hugged his legs, all while pretending to cry.
“Crown Prince, I was wrong. Please, if you’re willing, I’ll tell the empress dowager to let my sister enter the palace.”
Long Hanxie could hardly believe what she was saying. As he tried to push her away, the door was suddenly forced open. The empress dowager, supported by Nurse Liu, saw Long Hanxie holding fragments, his actions clear.
Looking at Xu Qiu’er’s face, Long Hanxie finally understood. What a Xu Qiu’er; I truly underestimated you.
The empress dowager stepped forward and struck Long Hanxie. “Is this how a crown prince spends his wedding night? I’ve truly learned something today.”
Qiu’er strategically sobbed, knowing silence would be more effective. Long Hanxie thought, just watch how I’ll destroy you.
Xu Qiu’er suppressed all her hatred. She dared not look up, fearing her anger would burst out. The play hadn’t even begun; how could it end so quickly?
Long Hanxie knelt and slapped himself with seven-tenths of his strength, the sound echoing through the room, startling the empress dowager. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. Your grandson was confused and will never do this again.”
Xu Qiu’er raised her eyes, meeting Long Hanxie’s gaze, and quickly tried to comfort the empress dowager. Seeing her grandson submit, the empress dowager didn’t want to embarrass him further. After a few words and his assurance, she left.
After the empress dowager left, Long Hanxie stood up calmly, his legs numb from kneeling. He closed the door and sat down, carefully examining Xu Qiu’er. After a moment, he coldly laughed:
“Playing games? Fine, I’ll play along. Xu Qiu’er, don’t you know that person is my grandmother? If something happened, she wouldn’t protect you.”
Reminded by Long Hanxie, Xu Qiu’er’s heart trembled, but her expression remained unchanged. Long Hanxie seemed energized and no longer angry. He smiled at Xu Qiu’er and said, “You entered the palace to destroy me? Xu Qiu’er, don’t be naive. The empress dowager might not like my taking concubines, but this crown prince’s position is something I worked hard for. She won’t abolish me because of your tricks.”
Xu Qiu’er coldly snorted, “Is that so?”
He smiled, revealing a hint of coldness, “Xu Qiu’er, let’s make a bet. Come and see if I can bring Qing’er into the palace.”
“Paying respects to the Empress.”
“Rise.” The Empress looked at the woman before her, wondering what Han Jie saw in Xu Qing’er. In terms of looks, Xu Qing’er was no match for Xu Qiu’er. She thought that a woman was just kept around for entertainment, and the less intelligent, the better.
After withdrawing from the Kunning Palace, Xu Qing’er wandered alone in the back garden.
She imagined herself draped in colorful silk, wearing a golden hairpin, stroking her belly with a hint of smugness.
“What are you thinking about, so oblivious to everything around you?” an intimate voice whispered in her ear.
Xu Qing’er was about to respond with a smile but remembered the Empress’s words. She maintained distance and coldly replied, “What brings the young prince to stroll in the garden?”
The newcomer raised his eyebrows and pulled Xu Qing’er close. “When did we become so distant?”
His words struck her. Biting her lip, she pushed him away. “From now on, the young prince and Qing’er cannot be like this anymore.”
The young prince let out a low “Oh?”
Xu Qing’er looked at him with tearful eyes. “Does the prince not know? Qing’er is carrying the Crown Prince’s child.”
The man’s face changed, and he gripped Xu Qing’er’s hand tightly. “Are you playing me?” His demeanor was tense.
Xu Qing’er, though scared, couldn’t back down. She forced a smile. “The Crown Prince’s wife, Xu Qiu’er, is my sister.”
Hao Li looked at her gloomily and interrupted, “What does this have to do with the Crown Prince’s wife?” Would a sister want her sister to have a relationship with her husband?
He didn’t care about Xu Qing’er; to him, women were interchangeable. But now she was making a fool of him. Even if it were the Crown Prince or the Emperor, he would show no respect.
Xu Qing’er’s tears flowed as she held Hao Li’s hand, saying, “Hao Li, forgive me. I had no choice. She is my sister, and I could only do this much for her. If I hadn’t drunk that cup of wine… I would not have betrayed you.”
Hao Li caught the key words. “What wine?”
Xu Qing’er sat on the ground, crying, “Qiu’er put drugs in my wine. That’s why I was with the Crown Prince…”
Hao Li narrowed his eyes, making her heart race. “You’re saying your sister set you up to be with the Crown Prince?”
Xu Qing’er nodded.
Hao Li pushed her away. “Are you joking? What benefit would Xu Qiu’er have in doing this?”
Xu Qing’er trembled. “Don’t you know that Qiu’er and the Crown Prince don’t have a good relationship? She hopes I can bear a child for him and let her raise it. Don’t you believe me?”
Hao Li looked at her with disdain and pushed her away. “Since you’re pregnant, take good care of yourself.” He turned and left.
Xu Qing’er glared at his retreating back, her eyes flashing with a vicious light.
My sister has prepared a great gift for you. I hope you appreciate it.
Xu Qiu’er forced herself to pay respects to the Old Buddha, feeling increasingly unwell and drowsy.
“The Crown Prince’s wife has come to pay her respects,” she announced.
The Old Buddha’s cheerful voice sounded energetic: “Quick, quick, have Qiu’er come in.”
Qiu’er knelt down, her head dizzy. She closed her eyes and swayed before feeling slightly better. “Qiu’er pays respects to the Old Buddha.”
Noticing Qiu’er’s pale face, the Old Buddha said, “Qiu’er, come here to your grandmother.”
Qiu’er obediently walked over, allowing the Old Buddha to hold her hand. The Old Buddha sighed, wondering why the Crown Prince and Qiu’er were not getting along. She thought Qiu’er was such a good girl and hoped she could be happy with the Crown Prince. If not, a woman didn’t necessarily need a man’s love to live. The Old Buddha remembered her own past and how similar she had been to Qiu’er.
