The Backup

The choice of crown princess had been settled. After consulting Empress Dowager Pei, Emperor Chu Ming issued an imperial decree.

The decree read:

By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor hereby decrees:

The crown prince, Chu Yuheng, has now reached the age to marry and shall be matched with a virtuous lady. The Empress Dowager and I have heard that Xiao Wenshu, daughter of Duke An, is gentle, kind, respectful, and modest, with outstanding beauty and character. I hereby betroth you to the crown prince as his principal consort.

All ceremonies shall be jointly arranged by the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department, with an auspicious date chosen for the wedding.

After reading the decree, Eunuch Zhang handed it to Xiao Wenshu and said with a smile, "Your blessings are still to come, my lady."

Xiao Wenshu respectfully accepted the decree and replied gently, "Thank you for your kind wishes, Eunuch Zhang."

The maid Huaping hurried forward and slipped a bulging purse into Eunuch Zhang's hand, saying softly, "Please have some tea on us."

Eunuch Zhang felt the thickness of the purse, and his smile became all the more genuine. "Then it would be impolite of this servant to refuse."

Once the messengers had left, Duchess An held her daughter's hand and smiled. "Our Wenshu truly is blessed."

Duke An was beside himself with joy as well. "My dear, we must prepare Wenshu's dowry carefully. We must never let anyone look down on our daughter."

Madam Xiao chided him, "My lord, do you think I don't know that?"

Duke An rubbed his nose. "I'm only showing concern for our daughter."

Madam Xiao's eyes shifted as she deliberately said, "In that case, why not bring out your secret stash and add it to Wenshu's dowry?"

Duke An was instantly dumbfounded.

W-well... how did my wife know I had a secret stash?

Madam Xiao covered her mouth and chuckled. "Are you reluctant to part with it, my lord?"

Xiao Wenshu also looked at her father expectantly.

Under his wife's and daughter's gazes, Duke An could only grit his teeth. "Fine! All my private savings will go toward Wenshu's dowry!"

Everyone laughed at the sight of Duke An putting on a show of generosity despite his obvious stinginess.

Everyone at Duke An's Residence celebrated as though it were a festival. Duke Cheng'en's Residence, by contrast, was quite another story.

Duchess Cheng'en asked, "Why hasn't the imperial decree arrived yet?"

Everyone said the emperor had issued a decree naming the crown princess today, yet no eunuch had come to Duke Cheng'en's Residence.

Ning Qingyan, however, seemed utterly unconcerned. "I don't want to be crown princess anyway."

Duke Cheng'en said sternly, "Yan'er, don't talk nonsense. If your aunt hadn't become empress, where would our Ning family's glory all these years have come from?"

Madam Ning also urged her, "Exactly, Yan'er. You and the crown prince have been childhood sweethearts, and he has always looked on you with favor. We can't simply hand the position of crown princess to someone else!"

Ning Qingyan bit her lip resentfully. She wanted to say something, but ultimately held her tongue.

Just then, the servant sent to gather news returned.

Madam Ning hurriedly asked, "What did you find out? Are the messengers coming?"

The servant replied awkwardly in a low voice, "Madam, the decree went to... Duke An's Residence. It isn't coming to ours."

"What!"

In her shock, Madam Ning lost her grip on the teacup in her hand and dropped it.

Duke Cheng'en frowned. "Where is your decorum?"

When Ning Qingyan heard that Xiao Wenshu had actually become crown princess, she felt a bitter twinge.

Even if she did not love the crown prince, she knew that, barring anything unforeseen, the crown princess would become the future empress-the most exalted woman in the realm.

As noble young ladies equally gifted in talent and beauty and from families of comparable standing, she and Xiao Wenshu were known as the "Twin Beauties of the Capital" and had always been compared in every respect.

Ning Qingyan prided herself on having talent and beauty second to none, and unconsciously competed with Xiao Wenshu in secret.

In the past, she had always held a slight advantage. Since she and the crown prince were cousins as well, everyone had believed she would become crown princess.

Now that the choice of crown princess had been settled, those who had fawned over her were probably all rushing to curry favor with Xiao Wenshu, weren't they?

Ning Qingyan seethed with resentment. She could choose not to love the crown prince, but how could he choose someone else?

Duke Cheng'en dismissed the servant and mused aloud, "The choice of crown princess may have been His Majesty's decision, but that needn't matter."

He stroked his beard and told his daughter, "Yan'er, as long as you win the crown prince's affection, what does it matter if you become a secondary consort? Who can say what the future holds?"

Madam Ning twisted her handkerchief and protested resentfully, "But wouldn't that wrong our Yan'er?"

Duke Cheng'en was also deeply annoyed. He said impatiently, "The decree has already been issued, and the crown princess has been chosen. It's too late to say anything now!"

Ning Qingyan declared petulantly, "I refuse to be his concubine!"

Duke Cheng'en's expression darkened. "Yan'er, don't act on impulse. If you won't marry the crown prince, whom do you want to marry?"

Madam Ning chimed in, "Exactly! There is no better match in the entire realm! Yan'er, you really should spend more time growing close to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Ning Qingyan wanted to say that she wished to marry the Second Prince.

At the thought of the handsome, elegant man she had met that first time, Ning Qingyan's cheeks grew warm.

Later, as they talked of everything under the sun and came to regard each other as kindred spirits, she had given her whole heart to him.

But the Second Prince already had a principal consort, and even had a secondary consort and a daughter born of a concubine.

Although the Second Prince had once promised to divorce his principal consort and marry her, her parents clearly would not consider this a better match.

For a moment, Ning Qingyan could not make up her mind.

After finally dealing with her parents, Ning Qingyan returned to her boudoir and sat on an embroidered stool, gazing into the mirror in self-pity.

Looking at the ravishing beauty in the mirror, Ning Qingyan thought, Since Heaven gave me such beauty and talent, it must intend for me to have the finest things in this world!

With that thought, Ning Qingyan summoned her trusted maid Ziping and whispered, "Take this to Xiao Dezi and tell him I wish to see the Second Prince..."

With that, she handed Ziping a jade pendant.

Ziping took the pendant, lowered her head in assent, and left.

What Ning Qingyan had never expected was that the Second Prince would refuse to see her!

Ziping returned to Duke Cheng'en's Residence in embarrassment and said quietly, "My lady, Xiao Dezi took back the jade pendant. He also said... he said..."

Ning Qingyan demanded anxiously, "What else did he say?"

Ziping stammered, "There is still a vacancy for a secondary consort in the Second Prince's household. If you don't mind, my lady, the Second Prince is willing to take you as his secondary consort..."

Ning Qingyan was so furious that she smashed a cup on the spot!

Chu Yutao, you bastard!

I, Ning Qingyan, wouldn't even deign to become the crown prince's secondary consort, let alone a concubine to a mere Second Prince!

All their tender affection and vows sworn to the seas and mountains dissolved into bubbles in an instant.

Ning Qingyan bitterly regretted how she had let herself become so bewitched.

Just wait. I'll make you pay for this!

Inside the Heavenly Derivation Pavilion, Crown Prince Chu Yuheng held the Holy Maiden in his arms and refused to let go.

These days, whenever he had a moment to spare, he came running here to hold his little Siqing. Sometimes, Tu Qingchen could not even get a turn.

Chu Siqing practically bubbled with happiness in his arms.

[Big Brother Crown Prince is so handsome! I'm so happy, waaah-]

Tu Qingchen: [You lovestruck fool. You were calling me handsome before.]

Chu Siqing bestowed her favor equally: [You're handsome too. This Holy Maiden wants you all!]

Chu Yuheng/Tu Qingchen: ...

Just then, the eunuch Yang An presented a letter. "Your Highness, Miss Ning has sent you a letter."

Chu Yuheng had previously been very attentive to this cousin of his, so when the eunuch received Ning Qingyan's letter, he promptly brought it to the crown prince.

Chu Siqing and the system watched the drama unfold: [Did Ning Qingyan come looking for her backup after being humiliated by the man she loves?]