She rolled up her sleeves and rushed into the adjacent room, with Song Sitian close behind. I couldn’t stop them and could only watch as they bombarded the girl with praise about Big Brother. The result of this matchmaking was predictable. The girl was polite, subtly telling me she didn’t think Big Brother was suitable. Big Brother was taken home by Little Sister and Song Sitian for another round of matchmaking education, while I remained in the private room, calling the waiter to settle the bill.
In truth, Big Brother was a good man: kind, upright, filial, and with remarkable cooking skills. Unfortunately, in Yan Feng City, these qualities pale in comparison to good looks, witty conversation, abundant talent, or an impressive official position. In this vain crowd, Big Brother would probably never find his destined partner.
I sighed.
The waiter ran over, saying my bill had been settled. I assumed it was An Jin coming to take me home and was even slightly excited, but unexpectedly, a man in a vermilion robe and feathered crown entered behind the waiter—it was East Palace’s Xia Zhiyuan.
I hurriedly bowed. “Greet—” His fan handle stopped my motion. “No need for formalities, Madam An.”
The current Emperor was in his prime, with a full harem and sixteen children. However, perhaps due to the weak yang energy in Qi State, among these sixteen children, only three were male: the legitimate eldest prince Xia Zhiyuan, the third prince Xia Zhichun born to a concubine, and the still-infant sixteenth prince Xia Zhili.
I had a past with the third prince Xia Zhichun, who had once told me about life in the palace.
Xia Zhichun’s mother was originally just a palace maid, of low status, and consequently, he was marginalized in the palace. He had hoped that upon coming of age and being granted a fiefdom, he could escape the palace’s contempt. Unexpectedly, he was sent to Xiliang as a hostage during a peace negotiation.
Out of sympathy for Xia Zhichun, I involuntarily felt some resentment towards the East Palace’s Xia Zhiyuan, who was blessed with extraordinary beauty and enjoyed supreme honor.
Xia Zhiyuan sat across from me, giving a slight smile that almost dazzled my eyes with his celestial appearance. “It’s rare to meet again, my lady. Truly a matter of fate.”
