Chapter 72: My Name is Ze

Qin Yi paused for a moment after hearing this. Discussing things on the wedding night? That was not something he was inclined to do.

 

Still, Qin Yi looked at Chu Jinyao with interest, wanting to see what she had to say. So, he generously raised his hand and signaled, “Go ahead.”

 

Chu Jinyao, who had gathered all her courage, suddenly felt her momentum deflate. “I have prepared some food for you. Would you like to eat?”

 

Qin Yi’s expression darkened immediately, and he coldly replied, “No.”

 

Not interested? Chu Jinyao really couldn’t think of any other excuse. Qin Yi, seeing her hesitancy, raised an eyebrow and asked, “Anything else you want to say?”

 

Judging by her expression, she clearly had nothing else to add. Qin Yi reached out to place his arm around Chu Jinyao’s shoulder. But just as he was about to touch her, Chu Jinyao suddenly grabbed his arm, nobly and righteously shouting, “Wait a moment!”

 

Taking advantage of the fact that Qin Yi hadn’t moved yet, and while she still had the courage, Chu Jinyao quickly climbed onto the bed, kneeling with her knees together and her hands obediently placed on her lap. “Your Highness, there’s something I must tell you.”

 

Qin Yi was getting irritated. He glanced at the slowly burning dragon-phoenix wedding candles and said gloomily, “But I don’t want to hear it.”

 

“Your Highness, it’s really important.”

 

Qin Yi raised his hand to massage his temples, clearly trying to be patient. After a long sigh, he said, “Fine, go ahead.”

 

“Your Highness, do you… happen to have a twin brother?”

 

Qin Yi stared at her silently, and even Chu Jinyao knew how ridiculous her question was. Matters of the imperial family were no secret; how many princes and princesses the emperor had was well known throughout the capital. As the sole legitimate son of Empress Wenxiao, Qin Yi had no twin brother.

 

But Chu Jinyao had no other way to bring up what she wanted to discuss, so she steeled herself and continued, “Then, Your Highness, as a child, did you ever invite monks or perhaps worship any protective deities?”

 

Qin Yi gazed directly into her eyes and asked slowly, “What are you trying to say?”

 

Facing this moment, Chu Jinyao steeled her nerves. She knew that saying such things on her wedding night to a husband she barely knew was foolish. If she wasn’t careful, her husband might suspect her of infidelity and she could fall out of favor. However, Chu Jinyao had been pondering this for too long. She had begun to suspect back when she was at the Prince Huailing’s residence, but there hadn’t been a good opportunity to ask. Even if she asked, what difference would it make if the answer was yes or no?

 

Chu Jinyao had initially intended to bury this secret deep in her heart. She could remember Qi Ze alone, cherish his memory, and continue her marriage with mutual respect, like any proper aristocratic couple. However, tonight, seeing this face that resembled Qi Ze so much, she couldn’t help but lose her focus. She had to know the truth.

 

“Your Highness, you’ll likely find this shocking, but since you’re my husband, the man I’ll spend my life with, I believe you have the right to know this.” Chu Jinyao’s hands had been trembling earlier, but now they were steady. “Your Highness, when I was thirteen, I saw someone who looked exactly like you inside my personal jade pendant.”

 

As Chu Jinyao spoke, she instinctively reached for the jade pendant at her neckline. Even today, despite the significance of the occasion, she hadn’t removed it. It was still tied to her clothing, nestled against her heart.

 

But today, as she reached for it, she suddenly realized something was wrong. Qin Yi was sitting at the edge of the bed, his eyes fixed on her. Chu Jinyao realized there was no way she could unbutton her collar and take out her pendant in front of him.

 

“Your Highness?” Chu Jinyao awkwardly called out.

 

Qin Yi sighed and turned his head away. “Alright, I won’t look. Go ahead and take it out.”

 

In truth, Chu Jinyao didn’t feel the need to show it anymore. After all, she had already said everything; why would she fake it? The biggest issue was that loosening her collar and retrieving a pendant from underneath her clothing in front of Qin Yi felt highly inappropriate, especially since Qin Yi was right there.

 

Chu Jinyao carefully unfastened the pendant, making as little noise as possible. But even with her caution, she couldn’t avoid the soft rustling of her clothes. Sitting so close together, Chu Jinyao’s face turned red once again.

 

“Your Highness, here it is,” she said quietly, holding out the pendant.

 

For Qin Yi, seeing nothing only made his imagination run wild. The sound of Chu Jinyao’s subtle movements as she unfastened her collar and the soft rustling of fabric caused his Adam’s apple to bob involuntarily. He suddenly felt that the floor heating was too warm.

 

When Qin Yi turned to look, he saw Chu Jinyao, her cheeks flushed, one hand holding her collar in place while the other presented a translucent, otherworldly jade pendant. After the minor struggle of untying her pendant, her clothing had loosened, revealing a part of her shoulder.

 

Qin Yi felt more frustrated than ever. Why was he discussing such matters with her on their wedding night?

 

After a moment of waiting, Chu Jinyao noticed Qin Yi’s strange expression. He was looking at her with an odd, almost eerie gaze. Uneasy, she began to wonder if he was upset.

 

Could it be that the prince was angry?

 

Chu Jinyao discreetly glanced at Qin Yi, her eyes full of caution, like a cat testing its new owner. Qin Yi took a deep breath, reminding himself not to rush. If he didn’t clear up the concerns in her mind tonight, she might never fully open up.

 

Qin Yi took the pendant from her hand, skillfully twirling it between his fingers. Suddenly, he asked, “Why aren’t you using the cord I gave you?”

 

“It wasn’t pretty,” Chu Jinyao blurted out, quickly adding, “But I’ve kept it safe!”

 

“Didn’t you say that once your wish came true, you’d replace it with a pure gold cord?” Qin Yi spun the pendant in his hand, then glanced sideways at her, a teasing smile playing in his eyes. “Gold is too flashy. That’s why I gave you a different one, equally valuable.”

 

Chu Jinyao’s eyes widened in realization. Qin Yi looked at her and reached out to brush her hair gently. “My name is Qin Yi. ‘Yi,’ like the great rivers that nourish the land. It means to bring blessings to all living things. From now on, you can call me Qin Yi.”

 

Tears welled up in Chu Jinyao’s eyes. She remembered what Qi Ze had said the first time they met.

 

He had said, “My name is Qi Ze. You can call me Qi Ze.”

 

“Why are you crying?” Qin Yi sighed helplessly, moving closer to wrap an arm loosely around her shoulders. He wanted to pull her into a full embrace but refrained, worried he might scare her.

 

All the moments of the past three years flashed before Chu Jinyao’s eyes—being brought back to the marquis’s estate, Qi Ze’s departure, taking shelter with the crown prince at the Prince Huailing’s residence, and finally, the sudden imperial decree bestowing marriage.

 

It had always been him. Of course, it had to be him. Who else but Qi Ze would have rescued her from being forced into the position of a concubine and married her as his rightful wife?

 

“So it was you who instructed Manager Wei to send me gifts?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“And the shop in Taiyuan, run by Manager Wei—that was also yours? I always wondered why they handed me the shop so easily and gave me my monthly share without fail. That was you, wasn’t it?”

 

“Yes, it was me.”

 

“Was the involvement of the Jin Yi Wei during the Su family incident your doing as well?”

 

Qin Yi sighed, finally pulling her fully into his embrace. “Stop crying. I told you I wouldn’t let you suffer.”

 

While his words were gentle, in his mind, Qin Yi felt no qualms about taking liberties. Since she didn’t resist, he took the opportunity to place his hand comfortably on her back, savoring the feel of it.

 

Chu Jinyao clung to her knees, crying for a long time, releasing all the frustration and sorrow she had held in. She had thought she was completely alone, but someone had been watching over her, protecting her all along. Looking back, when Qi Ze had left, there had been a period when everything had gone unusually smoothly for her. She had thought it was divine providence, but heaven is far too busy to favor anyone so consistently.

 

There was no such thing as luck or ease; it had all been carefully arranged for her.

 

As Chu Jinyao finally calmed down and her mind cleared, she suddenly became very aware of the current situation.

 

When had he moved so close? What should she do now—move or stay still?

 

Awkward and unsure, Chu Jinyao continued to hide behind her knees, pretending to cry. Qin Yi, unable to endure her hesitation any longer, gently lifted her face from her knees. “Let me ask you: what day is it today?”

 

“December 8th.”

 

“What’s burning over there?”

 

Chu Jinyao followed his gaze and saw the wedding candles. Her face turned red as she replied, “The wedding candles.”

 

“Exactly.” Qin Yi lifted her chin slightly, forcing her to meet his gaze. “I’ve humored you all evening. You’ve laughed and cried. Aren’t you satisfied now? Don’t you think it’s time to listen to me?”

 

“There’s still something I don’t understand,” Chu Jinyao confessed honestly, their noses almost touching. “If it was you all along, weren’t you supposed to be at the border? How could you have appeared in my pendant? How could you be in two places at once?”

 

Qin Yi, growing impatient, pressed her head gently but firmly, pushing her backward onto the bed. Surprised, Chu Jinyao instinctively reached out to grab something. “Wait… I haven’t finished asking…”

 

“We’ll talk later.”

 

“No, I need to wash my face first—”

 

That night, they stayed up late, and the attendants waiting outside to bring water sighed quietly to themselves.

 

The crown prince’s wedding was a significant event for the entire court. In most ordinary households, the new bride could rest after the second day’s filial greetings. However, Chu Jinyao didn’t have that luxury. It felt as though she had just closed her eyes when a knock came at the door.

 

“Your Highness, Crown Princess, it’s time to get up.”

 

Still groggy with sleep, Chu Jinyao wondered why Linglong was waking her so early. It seemed like it wasn’t even light outside yet. Drowsily, she felt a slight shift in the mattress beside her and suddenly remembered where she was. She opened her eyes to find herself surrounded by a sea of red.

 

The sight of the red bed curtains embroidered with intricate dragon and phoenix patterns slowly brought Chu Jinyao back to her senses. She was no longer in her room—this was the Ciqing Palace.

 

Qin Yi had also been woken by the noise. He sat up, pulling on a robe before stepping outside and returning moments later. He had planned to wake Chu Jinyao himself, but when he lifted the curtain, she was already half sitting up.

 

“You’re awake? I was going to let you sleep a little longer.”

 

Chu Jinyao mumbled an acknowledgment, her voice still heavy with sleep. Though she was sitting up, she was far from alert. Rubbing her temples with cold fingertips to clear her head, she didn’t realize the state she was in. After a night of sleep, her inner robe had loosened, exposing a graceful neck and the barest hint of her shoulder. Supporting herself on one hand, her collarbone formed a delicate curve, her disheveled hair falling softly around her face. Draped in the red brocade quilt, she exuded a sleepy, languid beauty.

 

Qin Yi couldn’t help but sit back down on the bed. Since being named crown prince at the age of ten, he had never indulged in the luxury of sleeping in. But now, sitting at the edge of the bed, straightening the quilt over Chu Jinyao’s shoulders, he found himself unable to stop glancing at her half-exposed collarbone, unsure if he wanted to pull her clothes closed or open them further.

 

“If you’re still tired, why not sleep a little longer? Let them wait; it won’t hurt.”

 

Before Chu Jinyao could answer, her body instinctively responded. She shook her head and took a deep breath, preparing to rise. “No, I must get up. Today, we have to greet the emperor and empress. We cannot afford to be late.”

 

Slowly, she knelt and tried to extricate herself from the warm bedding. But as she moved, her collar slipped even lower, revealing more than a hint of cleavage. The cool air jolted her awake, and she quickly realized where Qin Yi’s gaze had been lingering. Blushing furiously, she clutched her collar and scolded him, “What are you doing?”

 

Qin Yi chuckled but said nothing, standing up and reminding her, “Hurry and get dressed. The formal attire is cumbersome, and there’s still a lot to do.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Chu Jinyao continued to hold her collar defensively. After a moment, Qin Yi asked, “Why aren’t you moving?”

 

Chu Jinyao, exasperated, replied, “How can I change clothes with you standing here?”

 

Last night, she had been too tired to care, and after her bath, she had fallen asleep in just her inner robe. In other words, she had nothing on underneath her thin silk robe. The wedding bed was large, and the chest with her new clothes was right on it. But with Qin Yi standing there, how could she possibly change?

 

“Why not?” Qin Yi replied. “The attendants have been waiting outside for a long time. Hurry up.”

 

As if to prove his point, the palace maids outside raised their voices. “Your Highness, Crown Princess, it’s time to rise!”

 

The senior maid added anxiously, “Crown Princess, are you up yet?”

 

Qin Yi gave Chu Jinyao a look that seemed to say, “See? I told you so,” and continued standing by the bed, his tone calm. “There are many people waiting outside. You don’t want them to see you like this, do you?”

 

Blushing even more, Chu Jinyao was both embarrassed and angry. Of course, Qin Yi knew what had happened last night, but now he was teasing her! In her childhood, she had done everything herself, so she wasn’t used to being served. Even after returning to the Marquis’ household, she had always dressed herself in her inner garments before letting her maids help her with the outer layers. Now, after last night, she was still adjusting to being served. How could she let herself be seen in such an improper state?

 

Time was running out. She still had to dress and apply makeup. Resigned, Chu Jinyao muttered in a low voice, her face burning with embarrassment, “Your Highness, I haven’t dressed properly underneath. Please step outside so I can change into my underclothes.”

 

Hearing this, Qin Yi’s expression remained neutral, but the tips of his ears turned red immediately. He turned his head and cleared his throat before stepping outside, silently reminding himself that his plans would not be thwarted for long.

 

Once Qin Yi had left, Chu Jinyao quickly lowered the bed curtains and hurriedly retrieved a new set of undergarments from the chest. Her fingers moved swiftly as she tied the fastenings. At first, she had been wary, but she soon realized that Qin Yi, despite his earlier teasing, was acting like a gentleman. If he left, he stayed out; he didn’t come back.

 

After securing her inner garments and putting on a clean white silk robe, the palace maids and senior attendants entered the room. While a large group went to assist Qin Yi, the palace attendants and Chu Jinyao’s own maids came to her side with washing and grooming tools.

 

Chu Jinyao quickly got out of bed to get dressed. Today, she would be meeting the emperor and empress, as well as other members of the royal family, so she had to wear her most formal attire—the crown princess’s ceremonial robes. After her delay with Qin Yi, Chu Jinyao hurried through her preparations, finishing just in time.

 

Skipping breakfast, she made her way out, her attire jingling with the sound of her various adornments. Qin Yi was already waiting outside. When Chu Jinyao turned the corner and saw him, she was momentarily stunned.

 

Yesterday, with her veil on, all she had seen of him was the hem of her own skirt. She knew Qin Yi had been dressed in red, but she hadn’t paid attention to the details.

 

Today, however, he was dressed in the ceremonial robes of the crown prince—the most prestigious attire in the empire, second only to the emperor’s. The robe was solemn black, embroidered with majestic dragons, with ancient patterns on the back and sleeves. His waist was wrapped in a red sash, and he wore matching red boots, with numerous jade ornaments and ribbons hanging around him. Qin Yi was tall and striking, with sharp, handsome features. The combination of his stern beauty and the bold black-and-red ensemble gave him an imposing presence.

 

As Qin Yi turned his head, the nine strands of pearls hanging from his crown swayed slightly.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

Chu Jinyao, still staring at him, said sincerely, “Your Highness looks regal and awe-inspiring, so much so that people can hardly bear to look directly at you.”

 

It was true. Since Qin Yi had emerged, everyone in the palace had lowered their heads, casting fearful glances at the floor, their bodies trembling slightly.

 

Only after seeing this ceremonial attire did Chu Jinyao truly grasp the untouchable nature of imperial authority.

 

Qin Yi had worn this attire many times for various ceremonies, so it didn’t hold much significance for him anymore. Unable to understand Chu Jinyao’s astonishment, he extended a hand toward her. “Let’s go. They’re already waiting for us at Qianqing Palace.”

 

There was no Empress Dowgar in the palace now, so Chu Jinyao was exempt from that part of the ceremony. All she had to do was accompany Qin Yi to Qianqing Palace to greet the emperor and empress, followed by meeting other members of the imperial family. The key part was greeting the emperor and empress. As the crown princess, Chu Jinyao’s rank was second only to the empress herself, so even when meeting the rest of the imperial family, she would be receiving their bows rather than bowing herself.

 

Though the morning ceremony was grand and solemn, it was essentially a royal version of a newlywed couple visiting their parents after the wedding. The only difference was that Qin Yi’s parents happened to be the emperor and empress.

 

Entering Qianqing Palace, Chu Jinyao saw that many attendants were already waiting outside. Following the eunuch’s lead, she and Qin Yi entered through the left gate and prepared to greet the emperor and the empress.

 

This was the first time Chu Jinyao had ever met the emperor in person. Being in the presence of the emperor was an incredibly sacred occasion, so much so that during the imperial examinations, it was said that they had to prepare heart-relief medicine just in case a candidate fainted from the shock of seeing the emperor. Chu Jinyao had expected to feel awestruck, but as she stood before the emperor, her reverence was somewhat tempered by the knowledge that this awe-inspiring man was Qin Yi’s father.

 

In Qin Yi’s world, the emperor was neither a good father nor a good ruler.

 

Following Qin Yi’s lead, Chu Jinyao bowed deeply to the emperor four times, then received a tray of jujubes and chestnuts from a nearby servant and presented it to the emperor with her head respectfully lowered. The emperor, of course, did not take it himself; a eunuch stepped forward to accept it on his behalf.

 

The same process was repeated for the empress, though the tray contained different offerings. While commoners offered tea to their parents, members of the royal family presented symbolic fruits like jujubes and chestnuts instead.

 

After the formal bows, it was customary for the emperor and empress to offer their words of advice. Because the emperor didn’t have the best reputation among the people, Chu Jinyao had expected to see a corpulent, lethargic, and typically “foolish” monarch. To her surprise, the emperor was of medium build, not overweight for his age, and had a fair, slightly round face that gave him an unexpectedly amiable appearance. He looked thoughtfully at the newlywed couple and said, “Now that you’re married, it’s good. From now on, the two of you should live harmoniously together.”

 

Then, turning to Qin Yi, the emperor said, “You’ve got a bad temper, and because of your status, no one has dared to say anything about it all these years. But now that you’re married, you mustn’t lose your temper with the crown princess. You should treat her well.”

 

Then, addressing Chu Jinyao, he added, “If he ever goes too far, you can come to me and tell me.”

 

Chu Jinyao was stunned. She had expected the royal family to give her some kind of intimidating speech, but instead, the emperor was being extraordinarily kind to her. Bowing her head, she quickly responded, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

 

Qin Yi, standing nearby, let out a quiet, disdainful snort. Although the sound was soft, Chu Jinyao, standing so close, couldn’t help but hear it. She nudged Qin Yi subtly with her elbow.

 

Given the occasion, Qin Yi knew better than to argue with the emperor. However, he hadn’t planned to acknowledge his father’s words either. After all, what right did a man who had driven his first wife to her death have to give Qin Yi advice on how to treat his own spouse?

 

But when Qin Yi felt the gentle nudge from Chu Jinyao’s sleeve, he relented for her sake. He gave a small nod, an extremely rare gesture of compliance to the emperor.

 

Chu Jinyao’s subtle action went unnoticed by most, but not by Empress Xiao Qi, who was watching closely. She mentally noted it and then smiled at the couple, saying, “It feels so comforting to see the crown prince married. The two of you are a perfect match, a union made in heaven. I hope you’ll take good care of each other and never disappoint the emperor.”

 

Chu Jinyao once again bowed deeply, accepting the empress’s words.

 

While the emperor may have been an ineffectual ruler, he was unusually lenient with women. This was fortunate for the ladies of the royal household, including his daughters-in-law. With the emperor present, the empress couldn’t be too harsh either, so after offering a few more kind words, they were dismissed. Despite her surprise, Chu Jinyao found herself thinking that, in a way, this was exactly what she had expected.

 

The emperor’s indulgence toward women was a boon for the royal household, but it posed a problem for the empire as a whole.

 

Next, Chu Jinyao followed Qin Yi to another palace where they were introduced to other senior members of the imperial family. Three of the emperor’s daughters, two of his other sons, and various other relatives were all present, each coming forward to greet Chu Jinyao.

 

The lengthy process of introductions and formal greetings was exhausting, especially since Chu Jinyao hadn’t fully recovered from the wedding festivities the night before. By the time they returned to Ciqing Palace, she was utterly fatigued. Her first order of business was to remove the heavy crown from her head.

 

Rubbing her sore neck, she turned to Linglong and muttered, “I always thought crowns looked so beautiful, but after wearing one, I’ve realized how unbearable it is.”

 

But this time, instead of receiving a comforting response from Linglong, a warm hand suddenly reached out from behind her and gently pressed against her aching neck. “Tired?”