Perhaps this was a form of vanity. The Crown Prince’s status was noble, his looks more beautiful than most women, and he was quite charming. If a girl could make such a man completely devoted to her, it would likely feel more accomplished than gaining the admiration of other men. Of course, sayings like “rivers and mountains are easy to change, but nature is hard to move” would hardly be believed by young girls immersed in romantic fantasies.
What I worried about was the Crown Prince’s capricious nature – if my sister truly fell into his hands, she would surely suffer. The Crown Prince showed no respect to his concubines, treating them merely like slaves to be manipulated.
Someone who could elevate you to the heavens when happy and throw you to the ground when displeased was certainly not a good match.
Yet my younger sister once again displayed her stubborn, fearless attitude, researching and scheming ways to get close to the Crown Prince at home, eventually even seeking help from me and An Jin. Surprisingly, our mother did not object this time.
An Jin and I naturally turned a deaf ear, absolutely refusing to give her any opportunity to approach the Crown Prince. Finding no success with us, she went to Song Sitian to help her. Song Sitian’s older brother was a personal attendant of the Crown Prince, and he managed to arrange a meeting between my sister and the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince’s ambiguous attitude made my sister increasingly invested, and one day, while I was walking Yuan Xiang out, I encountered the Crown Prince Xia Zhiyuan’s carriage sending my sister home.
His complexion turned cold. “I haven’t provoked her; she came to me on her own.”
Indeed, a beauty with a serpent’s heart. I tried to compromise again. “My younger sister is young and naive. Please, Your Highness, spare her.”
“What, being my woman is suffering?” He frowned. “How can we talk about sparing her?”
“Your Highness!
” I said sternly, “My husband’s old grievances with Your Highness – if you have any anger, you can direct it at us as a couple. Involving family members is hardly an honorable act.”
“Old grievances?” Xia Zhiyuan pondered, “So that’s what he told you. Has my lady considered the matter I previously discussed?”
