Chu Yaoyao didn't understand. She asked her uncle why he couldn't marry the woman he loved just because their countries stood between them. If that lady couldn't come to him, couldn't he go to her?
Her uncle said they had both chosen something more important and had more important responsibilities. Those things outweighed romantic love. When she grew up, she would understand.
Her uncle asked her to keep his secret.
She agreed.
So when she shared the story with her gossip-loving mother, she began with, "I have a friend, and my friend has an eldest uncle..."
To her surprise, her mother, who normally loved gossip, fell right off her stool and landed on her backside after hearing it.
Later.
For some reason, her honorary grandmother never arranged another matchmaking meeting for her eldest uncle. She would only occasionally sigh over how fate toyed with people.
Several more years passed.
Chu Yaoyao grew into a young woman.
Once she could handle things on her own, her irresponsible parents dumped her and went off touring the mountains and rivers.
But her parents weren't the only irresponsible ones. Brother Ye's parents ran off too, her second uncle and aunt abandoned her younger cousin, her Princess cousin and her husband slipped away, and after passing the throne to her Crown Prince cousin, her imperial uncle also, also, also ran off.
They said the world belonged to the young in the end. They were old, and it was time to enjoy themselves.
Hah! They just wanted time alone as couples and were looking for excuses!
Her newly enthroned cousin and his Empress were deeply in love.
Her cousin's wife said that her mother deserved the most credit for their happy, fulfilling relationship.
In the elders' eyes, her mother was always the unreliable one.
But