When all was said and done, it was actually because of our involvement. I briefly explained to Miaoyin about the imperial physician’s diagnosis at the Xie Chen banquet that I might be difficult to bear children and the entanglement with the Eastern Palace.
She also felt that the matter was suspicious and unlikely to be as simple as the Eastern Palace trying to steal a wife, with the empress assisting her son.
“Even if the empress indulges the Eastern Palace, wouldn’t His Majesty know about this?” Her words echoed my own doubts. “The current emperor is wise; how could he allow such a thing? It seems more like the entire royal family wants to tear us apart…”
Miaoyin’s reasoning was sound. Moreover, I recalled another layer of complexity. Years ago, when the Seventh Princess was infatuated with An Jin, the emperor had never agreed to their marriage. I had originally thought it was because the emperor had asked An Jin’s opinion and knew he was unwilling. Now, it seemed that wasn’t the case. If they were going to force a marriage eventually, why not grant the princess’s wish instead of arranging Xue Miaoyin, who had absolutely no connection to An Jin?
Was the entire royal family determined to tear us apart? How had our marriage provoked such heavenly anger and human resentment?
Miaoyin comforted me, saying this matter wouldn’t be so simple. An Jin was not someone who could be manipulated, and she would find ways to resolve this marriage. If all else failed, she could elope, absolutely refusing to marry An Jin and become this so-called Hehuang and Nüying.
Her expression was resolute, speaking such decisive words. My future sister-in-law’s optimism instantly brightened my mood, and I even politely greeted the Eastern Palace when encountering him on the way out.
The Eastern Palace was currently touring the garden with his concubines, holding Fei Wu in his arms. When he saw me, he merely nodded with a smile. I had thought that after his previous setback, he would be furious. Unexpectedly, he seemed unperturbed and even more restrained than before, even asking me to send regards to An Jin, as if he had never been the one who tried to steal my wife.
