Chapter 19: The Scoundrel Repents

The Princess Imperial cast a disdainful glance at Jiang Manxue, whose alluring eyes held a subtle yet chilling glint, causing her to shudder inwardly.

In such a brief span of time, she had already concocted such a ruthless scheme. More importantly, this woman was merciless and unfaithful, willing to use anyone as a mere tool, discarding them once they had served their purpose.

Neither she nor Fu Jinhe were to be underestimated—each harbored a venomous heart sharper than the other.

Ah Lan was still too naïve and innocent; how could she possibly outwit them?

“I must ensure absolute success,” the Princess Imperial declared, her voice heavy with oppressive authority.

As Jiang Manxue pledged her loyalty, she added, “The people of the Princess Imperial’s residence will obey your orders.”

Suddenly, Jiang Manxue’s enchanting eyes sparkled with a deadly resolve that sent chills down the spine.

Ignoring the pain of her grievous injuries, she rose from the couch, knelt on the floor, and said with pleasure, “Princess Imperial, rest assured, I will succeed or die trying.”

With the backing of the Princess Imperial’s household, she was like a tiger with wings. Fu Jinhe was doomed beyond salvation, certain to perish.

Even if, by some misfortune, the plan failed and was exposed, the consequences would fall heavily on Chu Changling alone, and she would bear no blame.

Night deepened.

The lanterns in the mansions of Chang’an City had long been extinguished. A solitary moon hung high in the vast sky, its silver light spilling over the branches, bringing a faint chill.

At the General Song’s residence.

Song Junyao wore a thin inner garment. His eyes were closed, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips.

In his dream.

A man and a woman ascended the Star-Gathering Pavilion hand in hand. They gazed at the stars and the bright moon so close as if one could reach out and touch them, smiling at one another.

He said to her, “Ahe, my heart belongs to you.”

“In this life, you shall be my wife, and I shall never fail you.”

The woman’s long eyebrows curved gracefully, her cheeks flushed with a delicate rosy hue. She nodded softly.

Suddenly, the scene shifted abruptly. An enchanting woman appeared out of nowhere.

At first sight, his heart stirred for this temptress, and an inexplicable heat surged within him.

She was graceful and skilled in dance, erudite and knowledgeable. She could recite timeless poetry that left listeners breathless and offer unique insights into court affairs.

Her charm was captivating, her speech frank and uninhibited. He was utterly captivated, his soul restless and distracted.

In comparison, his fiancée seemed dull and lifeless, rigid and uninteresting.

At first, when the temptress quarreled with his fiancée, he would strive to be fair and just, “upholding righteousness.” But over time, the balance in his heart tipped completely toward the temptress.

Whenever they clashed, he would indiscriminately scold his fiancée, and sometimes, even knowing the temptress was at fault, he would side with her.

He watched his fiancée weep bitterly, but instead of feeling any pity, he resented her for being overbearing and jealous, for stealing his fiancée’s place and obstructing his union with the temptress.

The scene shifted again.

Eventually, his fiancée ceased to shed tears for him. Her heart had died, leaving only endless disdain and hatred.

Her eyebrows cold and unyielding, her eyes colder than the midwinter snow, she said, “You have betrayed me, I cast you aside. We shall never meet again!”

In an instant, it felt as if an invisible blade was twisting in Song Junyao’s mind, tormenting him unbearably, drenched in sweat.

He awoke abruptly.

The wind whispered through the corridor; all was silent.

His eyes were desolate. He reached out to touch what felt like a hollow in his chest.

Before Ah Xue appeared, he and Fu Jinhe had truly loved each other.

How had he completely forgotten?

No one knew how much time passed.

Song Junyao rose barefoot from the couch, his thin lips pressed into a straight line.

A trace of regret stirred in his heart.

He had thought he did not care for Fu Jinhe at all, which was why he planned to break their engagement.

But seeing the Crown Prince’s special favor toward her, and knowing she shamelessly smiled at other men, he realized he still cared for her, just a little.

He could not let her go, watch her fall into another man’s arms—not even if that man was the exalted Crown Prince. She was his fiancée.

Song Junyao conceived a compromise.

There was precedent: a gentleman marrying two wives—one as the principal wife and the other as a secondary wife—sharing happiness in harmony.

Fu Jinhe would remain his principal wife, while Ah Xue would be his secondary wife. The two women would have no cause for jealousy; though not sisters by blood, they would be as close as sisters.

He had already made his greatest concession and forgiven her for assaulting him like a wolf.

With such magnanimity in his heart, Song Junyao resolved to visit the Grand Tutor’s residence the next day and feign reconciliation with Fu Jinhe.

Surely, once her anger subsided, she would cease her tantrums.

As for Ah Xue’s status as secondary wife, that would take more effort; after all, she was jealous and intolerant.

...

The next morning.

Outside the Grand Tutor’s mansion.

Song Junyao stood upright, dressed in a dark teal long robe with a cross-collar. His features were handsome and sharply defined.

Before arriving, he bathed, changed, and groomed himself meticulously. He was confident in his appearance; otherwise, Fu Jinhe would not have been so infatuated with him.

Raising his voice, he declared, “Ahe, I have made mistakes and come to apologize.”

Publicly apologizing to her was a great gesture of respect. Upon hearing this, her psychological defenses likely crumbled, rekindling her love for him.

Before long, she would come to meet him, joyful and unrestrained.

As his words fell...

People in the long alley were stunned, looking at Song Junyao in disbelief.

Had the sun risen in the west?

Everyone in Chang’an knew that Fu Jinhe had always chased after the young General Song, who treated her with cold indifference. How could he now humbly come to apologize?

What wrong had Song Junyao committed to deserve Fu Jinhe’s forgiveness?

Time passed slowly.

More people gathered in the alley, recalling the events of the Princess Imperial’s flower-viewing banquet.

“Perhaps Song Junyao did not cherish Miss Fu before, but seeing her shine so brilliantly at the banquet and earn the Crown Prince’s special favor, he grew anxious?”

“I’d bet on it. People always regret too late after losing something precious—such pity, such anger.”

“If it weren’t for the marriage contract bestowed by the late emperor, I’d say the Crown Prince, with his noble bearing and gentlemanly manners, suits Miss Fu far better.”

Song Junyao’s handsome face darkened to its deepest gloom. His fingers clenched tightly inside his sleeves, knuckles cracking audibly.

Previously, people said he matched better with Ah Xue, that Fu Jinhe did not deserve him. Now, they claimed Fu Jinhe was better suited to the Crown Prince.

Besides their ranks, in what way was he inferior to the Crown Prince?

He glared at the tightly shut door. Fu Jinhe dared to treat him with disdain, yet he had humbled himself to apologize. She still refused to appear, allowing others to criticize him openly.

He would remember this incident, placing the blame squarely on her.

He had thought that once Fu Jinhe and Ah Xue both married into the general’s household, he could treat them impartially.

Now it seemed unnecessary—Ah Xue pleased him more.

News of Song Junyao’s apology quickly reached the Yingxing Pavilion.

Shang Xunhuan’s almond-shaped eyes brimmed with disdain and fury as she scolded Song Junyao, “Bah! A fickle, heartless scoundrel dares to set foot in the Grand Tutor’s mansion?”

“He must have felt coldness from Miss Fu and jealousy seeing the Crown Prince defend her. Truly despicable.”

She ordered a swift messenger to deliver a letter to the Eastern Palace, warning Xiao Xuanyin: Song Junyao was scheming to win back Miss Fu. The prince must remain vigilant and capture her heart quickly, leaving no chance for Song Junyao.

A quarter-hour later.

The letter reached Xiao Xuanyin. His brows tightened sternly, his complexion cold and pale. His robes fluttered like a divine breeze beneath the bright moon.

Yet his eyes simmered with a growing chill. The pressure around him dropped sharply, sending a shiver through all present.

He immediately set aside Eastern Palace affairs and left for the Grand Tutor’s residence.

His possessiveness raged unchecked, his desire and greed for her surged like a blazing tempest as he neared her, impossible to restrain.

He would use every means, exhaust every method, even risk his life to win Ahe’s heart. Then, to hold her close, soft and fragrant, to taste the sweetness of spring, to lose himself in passion.

No one else could touch Ahe—only he alone.