051 Why Do You Stay By My Side

At the sound of someone calling from behind, both Han Feiyue and I turned around at the same time.

The newcomer was Gong Wuao.

Upon seeing Gong Wuao, Han Feiyue raised an eyebrow and asked, “What business do you have with me?”

“How dare you strike the Crown Prince’s cousin? Hurry and apologize to him.”

I wasn’t sure whether Han Feiyue knew Gong Wuao or not; I only saw Han Feiyue fold her arms and reply in a clear, unhurried voice, “And who might you be? Why should I apologize?”

“I am—I am Gong Wuao! You don’t even know me?”

“Oh!” Han Feiyue drew out the word, her tone casual. “So you’re the woman whom His Highness the Crown Prince rejected in front of everyone.”

“Who said he rejected me?”

“Didn’t he?”

“He did not, absolutely not! Hmph, how dare you hit the Crown Prince—do you know he’s the future emperor?”

Han Feiyue let out a cold laugh. “If he’s the future emperor and can’t even best a woman like me, isn’t that even more embarrassing?”

“You—you must be angry the Crown Prince wants to marry me, so you’re causing trouble. You’re truly hateful.”

“If hateful is what I am, so be it. The Crown Prince is all yours—I have no interest in him at all.”

“No interest?” A cold smile curled across Gong Wuao’s small face. “Of course you have no interest. You’re just the daughter of a dead general—what right do you have to compete with me? Even if the Empress Dowager favors you, you’re not of imperial blood. Why would the Crown Prince choose you over me?”

In a flash too quick for me to see, Han Feiyue raised her hand and slapped Gong Wuao. “Speak of the Crown Prince all you wish, but leave my family out of this. If you can’t respect your elders or the deceased, then I’ll discipline you in the Crown Prince’s stead.”

Gong Wuao clutched her face, tears brimming in her eyes, and shouted, “Han Feiyue, you dare hit me? Do you know who my father is—”

“I know perfectly well who your father is. You’re welcome to send him to find me. I, Han Feiyue, will be waiting.”

“Han Feiyue, I won’t let you get away with this!”

“Do as you please.”

“You—I'll fight you!” Gong Wuao lunged at Han Feiyue, ready to brawl.

“Enough!” A commanding voice rang out behind us. We immediately dropped to our knees—it was the Emperor, with Long Zhan at his side.

“Your Majesty—” At the sight of the Emperor, Gong Wuao rushed over, crying, “Your Majesty, you must seek justice for me! Han Feiyue just hit me—look what she did to my face! You must make this right! First she struck the Crown Prince, now me—she’s utterly lawless!”

The Emperor’s brow furrowed slightly as he looked at Han Feiyue. “Did you strike her?”

Han Feiyue arched a brow and answered directly, “I did. She was insolent.”

“What did you say?” the Emperor asked, turning to Gong Wuao.

“Your Majesty, I only approached her to discuss what happened—she struck the Crown Prince but refused to apologize and was completely unrepentant. I merely exchanged a few words with her, and she hit me,” Gong Wuao twisted the truth shamelessly.

But Han Feiyue, disdainful of explanations, shot her a cold glare. “Still lying in front of everyone? I’ll deal with you right now.”

Han Feiyue raised her hand again, and Gong Wuao, terrified, shielded her face. But before Han Feiyue could strike, Long Zhan swooped in and seized her wrist.

“You intend to stop me?”

“You’ve caused enough trouble for one day,” Long Zhan intoned, voice expressionless but his gaze brooking no defiance.

“Trouble? Is that what you think I’m doing?” Han Feiyue stared at Long Zhan, her eyes filled with too many emotions—hope, disappointment.

“Don’t be reckless before His Majesty,” Long Zhan said, attempting to release her hand.

“I won’t,” Han Feiyue retorted, and as Long Zhan let go, she swung her fist again. Long Zhan reached to restrain her, just as Han Feiyue spun and delivered a high kick.

“Your Majesty, look out!” Long Zhan called, stepping forward. His cloak billowed like an umbrella, sending snowflakes swirling. In a blink, he had circled Han Feiyue and pinned her arms crossed over her chest.

Han Feiyue tilted her head back, looking at Long Zhan. “Long Zhan, you lied to me.”

“I never lied to you.”

“I don’t believe you. You clearly—”

“If Miss Feiyue continues this way and harms His Majesty, it will be a grave crime,” Long Zhan interrupted swiftly. He seemed to know exactly what Han Feiyue was about to say.

Had she spoken those words before the Emperor, the outcome would be either fortunate or fatal. Long Zhan would never let Han Feiyue take such a risk.

He still cared for her.

Han Feiyue gazed at him and gave a self-mocking laugh.

“I’ll go see the Empress Dowager first. Long Zhan, restrain Feiyue and don’t let her make more trouble,” the Emperor commanded.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Long Zhan released her, bowed, and answered respectfully.

“Gong Wuao, go to Kunning Palace and find the Empress. No more disturbances.”

“But, Your Majesty—”

The Emperor’s voice grew stern. “If you continue, I’ll have Minister Gong take you home himself.”

“Yes, I won’t dare do it again,” Gong Wuao replied, finally bowing meekly.

Once the Emperor was some distance away, Gong Wuao shot Han Feiyue a venomous glare before leaving.

“Miss Feiyue, please return to Cining Palace,” Long Zhan said.

“Long Zhan, tell me honestly. If I truly marry the Crown Prince, will you not feel the least bit sad?”

“If you become the Crown Princess, it will be a great joy.”

Han Feiyue let out a bitter laugh. “A great joy? Everyone is happy—except me. Has anyone asked if I am happy, Long Zhan?”

She took a step toward him, agitated, but Long Zhan remained the cautious subject, stepping back.

“Long Zhan, I’m asking you—if I marry the Crown Prince, will you be happy?”

“I will be happy for you.”

Smack!

Han Feiyue slapped Long Zhan across the face, catching him off guard. “Long Zhan, you are a coward.”

With that, she ran ahead.

“Miss, your umbrella—” I called, trying to offer her the umbrella, but she shoved me aside, sending both me and the umbrella tumbling into the snow.

When I looked up, Long Zhan was reaching out his hand. “Get up quickly, the ground is cold.”

I didn’t take his hand, but struggled to my feet and asked, “Why didn’t you dodge?”

“If that slap relieved her anger, then I owe it to her.”

“Is it because you don’t love her, or because your rival is the Crown Prince that you treat her this way? Even a blind man could see how Miss Feiyue feels about you—”

Long Zhan interrupted me as well. “Her feelings for me were never meant to be.”

I was stunned. Long Zhan was truly inscrutable. How could anyone see through a man who hid his feelings so deeply?

“Here.” Long Zhan bent to pick up the umbrella and placed it over my head.

I accepted it.

“It’s too cold—take my—” I saw Long Zhan about to remove his cloak and quickly said, “Master Long, that’s not necessary. I’m only a lowly eunuch—if I walk around in such garments, it’ll only bring trouble. The umbrella is enough.”

His hands paused, then he let go. But his gaze suddenly froze. Following his line of sight, I turned and saw Han Feiyue standing not far away.

The swirling snowflakes fell at her feet, on her clothes, on her lashes. Her expression was frozen on her face.

I thought she would say something, but she only looked at Long Zhan for a moment, then turned and walked away.

She left a row of shallow footprints in the snow, her back looking so lonely and desolate.

“Aren’t you going to chase after her?” I wanted to say Han Feiyue must have misunderstood something, but remembered I was only a lowly eunuch—who was I to talk of misunderstandings?

“Let’s go back.” Long Zhan turned me around, pointing me toward the way home.

Was Long Zhan truly so heartless?

The next day, news spread that Han Feiyue would be made Crown Princess, while Gong Wuao would become the secondary consort. The wedding was set for the eighth day of the first month—barely twenty days away. Jiang Ye and Du Ruoqing’s wedding would follow on the sixteenth.

This decision silenced the Gong family—neither the Empress nor Minister Gong could object further.

When Zhang Bitong returned to Cuiwei Palace, she could not conceal her satisfaction. Reclining on the soft couch with a hand warmer, she asked me, “I heard Han Feiyue slapped Gong Wuao?”

I replied, “Yes. Miss Gong said something about General Han, so Miss Feiyue struck her.”

“The Emperor knows of this?”

“The Emperor was on his way to Cining Palace and happened upon the scene.”

“And what did he say?”

“He only told Miss Gong to return to Kunning Palace and not make another scene. If she caused more trouble, he’d have Minister Gong take her home.”

Zhang Bitong asked excitedly, “Is that truly what His Majesty said?”

I nodded. “I was there myself and heard it clearly.”

She smiled. “Excellent! The Emperor truly dotes on Han Feiyue. That slap to Gong Wuao’s face was as good as a slap to the Empress herself. Wonderful, truly wonderful. Once Han Feiyue becomes Crown Princess, let’s see if the Empress still acts so proud.”

“Allow me to offer my congratulations, Your Highness.”

“There’s little to be congratulated for. If Han Feiyue is to become Crown Princess, the greatest credit goes to Liu Yunmeng. I wonder if the Emperor is biased—when I mentioned it, he scolded me, but when Liu Yunmeng brought it up, everything went smoothly. Does he truly value her Princess Xihe more than my own Xuan’er?”

Yunqing said, “Your Highness, I believe the Emperor is actually protecting you.”

“Oh? How so?”

“If the Emperor had supported Your Highness, you would have inevitably clashed with the Empress, and if things went wrong, you would be the one to suffer. If things worked out, all would be well, but if they didn’t, you would offend many— not just the Empress, but also Miss Feiyue, and even the Empress Dowager. But by letting Consort Meng handle it, you have neither credit nor blame.”

Zhang Bitong was half-convinced. “Do you truly think the Emperor is so thoughtful?”

Yunqing replied, “The Emperor is a wise ruler, meticulous in all things. He may appear indifferent to palace affairs, but perhaps he sees more clearly than anyone. I believe he acts this way out of love for Your Highness.”

Comforted by Yunqing’s words, Zhang Bitong smiled. “You’re right, Yunqing. After all these years, I should trust in His Majesty’s affection. Yunqing, I know that Han Feiyue’s change of heart is partly due to your efforts—you spoke to her well.”

“I dare not claim credit. I only wanted to share Your Highness’s worries and do my small part.”

“I have always rewarded both merit and fault. Tell me, what reward would you like?”

Yunqing answered, “I seek no reward, Your Highness.”

Zhang Bitong looked up at Yunqing, adjusting the hair at her temple. “Sometimes I truly cannot understand you. You are clever beyond compare, yet you never seek credit, nor accept rewards from me. Why does someone like you remain by my side?”