A month had passed. The once-wrinkled infant had grown fair and tender, without falling ill, and had safely made it through the most dangerous period.
"Abao... Abao... That's a good name." Something seemed to occur to Princess Xinping, and her expression turned distant for a moment. Looking at the little child the wet nurse carried over, at the fair, tender infant in his swaddling clothes, she smiled as she spoke.
On closer inspection, the child's features resembled Ye Buhui's somewhat, and Prince Dai's as well.
This was their child.
Just looking at him left Princess Xinping feeling a little stifled, unsure what to say.
What could she say? They were lawfully married. Wasn't it only natural for husband and wife to love each other? And since they loved each other, wasn't having a child equally natural?
The tightness in her chest and the waves of sorrow welling up left Princess Xinping in pain.
Her feelings were truly complicated at that moment. She even found herself thinking, Why was Ye Buhui the one who married Prince Dai?
Ye Buhui was only a village girl, while I am a golden branch and jade leaf of the imperial family. Yet in this, that village girl far surpassed me. Compared with her, I lost.
When Ye Buhui smiled at her, she even thought, Is she smiling at me on purpose?
Why could she, but not me? I am a princess of the realm. Why can't I marry the man I love?
No, I truly can't. Irritably, she suppressed the emotions that had just surged up.
I am Prince Dai's own aunt. Because of that relationship, even though I am a princess, even though I love him, we cannot be together.
No, it isn't merely that we cannot be together. I cannot even love him.