The next morning, I swore I wouldn’t speak to him. But hunger got the better of me, and when he offered food, I edged closer only for him to steal another kiss.
Blushing, I shoved him away. “What’s wrong with you, kissing me first thing in the morning!”
He twirled a lock of my hair. “Thanks for the second lock.”
“When did I say you could have it?”
He kissed my cheek and stuffed a walnut pastry in my mouth before I could protest. “If someone can’t even smile properly, I’ll just have to kiss them again.”
I touched my burning ears. I didn’t know if I was smiling, but I was definitely blushing.
Liang Feng tucked my hair into his pouch. “Today we go to the temple. As Princess Consort, this is your first official outing. Think carefully about your third question on the way.”
He patted my head, and for the life of me, I couldn’t remember what Father’s third question was supposed to be.
It was a royal pilgrimage, with Liang Feng leading the procession. As a woman, I traveled separately, but halfway there, we were ambushed by a gang of bandits.
“Leave the beauty in the carriage and we’ll spare your lives!” one shouted.
“You want to rob me?” I scoffed.
“Such delicate skin come be our mountain bride!” another jeered.
“Yeah! Let’s all have a taste of her sweet lips!”
“Which gang are you from?” I demanded, hauling my gilded spear from the carriage. “If you want me to pour drinks, just say so. Call me ‘Grandpa’ and I’ll throw you a banquet at your hideout!”
With that, I hurled my spear.
The bandits were stunned. So were the guards.
“What are you waiting for?” I leapt from the carriage, spear in hand. “Charge!”
“Charge!” the guards echoed, chasing the bandits two miles down the road.
Soon, I had the bandit chief pinned under my boot, spear at his throat. “Who sent you?”
“We just wanted a girl ”
“Liar! There are no bandit dens in the capital’s outskirts. My brother surveys these roads daily no one knows the patrols better than me!”
Still, they refused to talk. I spotted the distant silhouette of Chao Yun Temple. “Tie them up and take them to the temple. The wounded can rest here. Once we’re ready, we’ll go to the Temple and see if they’ll talk in front of the Emperor!”
“Yes, Princess Consort!” the guards shouted, snapping me back to reality.
Right I was now the Princess Consort . What was I doing, dressed in a phoenix gown, spear in hand, barking orders like a general?
I quickly hid the spear and squeaked, “I’m just a general’s daughter with some training. Please don’t tell the Prince I’d lose my reputation…”
“Who could take your reputation?” the guards replied in unison.
I led the group to Chao Yun Temple, a quiet, remote place I’d only passed while riding. The abbot welcomed us, letting us rest and eyeing me with curiosity. “Princess Consort, you and this temple are quite connected.”
“I’ve never been here,” I replied.
“Prince Liang comes often.”
My heart skipped. “Why?”
He led me to the courtyard, pointing to an ancient camphor tree festooned with red prayer tags. “This tree is famous for granting love wishes. If someone likes another, they hang a token here. Prince Liang comes every ten days or so. After your wedding, he came to give thanks, saying his wish was granted and making a generous donation. Isn’t that a connection?”
The abbot left me staring at the tree. I picked up a rock and knocked down a tag. It read: Qiao Yulin.
I tried another. And another. Every tag bore my name.
“He prayed for me? He knew it was me? He… married me?” My heart ached, something deep inside beginning to break free.
I remembered how, after our falling out, I always avoided him. Whenever we met, we’d compete. At first, I lost every race. Then, one day, he started arriving a minute late. After that, he was always a minute behind.
I’d been so proud to finally beat him. I never wondered why.
Now I realized Chao Yun Temple was right by the racetrack. Every time, he’d detour here to write my name and hang it on the tree.
Qiao Yulin.
Qiao Yulin.
Qiao Yulin.
And I never once looked back.
“Princess Consort, why are you crying?” The abbot returned, startled.
I wiped my tears and stuffed my bulging pouch into his hands. “Here, take it.”
He looked confused. “Prince Liang already donated. Why are you giving more?”
“However much he gave, I’ll match it. I want to be equal to him.”
I didn’t wait for his reply. I slashed the carriage yoke with my sword, leapt onto my horse, and galloped up the mountain path one I’d run a thousand times, but never like this, with the spring wind at my back and my heart racing ahead.
I knew Liang Feng would be waiting for me at the end. I had so many questions, and he, clever as he was, would have all the answers.
I reached the Grand Xiangguo Temple and spotted the Emperor and Liang Feng sitting on the dais.
Liang Feng saw me and immediately stood up. I waved, grinning.
Suddenly, two people sprang out, tripping my horse with a rope. I tumbled to the ground, barely checking my horse’s injuries before Princess Mingzhu stormed over and dumped a basin of water over my head.
“You crazy woman!” I yelled.
She wasn’t done she yanked out all my hairpins in one go. My hair fell loose, and with a final flourish, she turned to the Emperor and Liang Feng. “Your Majesty, cousin he’s a man! He’s not the young lady of the Qiao family, he’s the heir! I’ve suspected for ages!”
I realized my makeup had run, my soaked clothes revealed my flat chest—my secret was out for all to see.
The Emperor grabbed a spyglass, peering at me. “Qiao Yulin, your sister was supposed to marry, not you! Do you know this is a crime against the throne? Punishable by death for your entire clan!”
Liang Feng rushed to my side, kneeling. “Your Majesty, this was my doing. I forced the marriage.”
“Oh?”
“I never liked the Qiao family’s eldest daughter, but I’ve admired the heir for years. Before the wedding, I told him if his sister married me, I’d treat her coldly. Out of love for his sister, he took her place.”
“That’s not true!” I protested.
“Tie him up and gag him!” the Emperor ordered. “Just hearing his voice gives me a headache. So, Liang Feng, you’re saying you forced the Qiao heir to marry you?”
“Yes.”
“How dare you! You’re my own brother, and you kidnap the Qiao heir? What will people say? The royal family will be a laughingstock!”
Liang Feng only bowed his head.
The Emperor’s voice grew cold. “You have two choices. First, send the Qiao heir home, apologize, and bring the Qiao daughter back to set things right. Treat her well, and I’ll pretend none of this happened.”
“And the second?”
“If you insist on this, then become a monk. The world has no place for such scandal, and I have no such brother.”
I spat out the gag. “Why is loving me so shameful? I’m perfectly fine!”
“Gag him again!” the Emperor groaned, rubbing his temples.
Liang Feng knelt before the throne, before the shadowed Buddha, and bowed deeply.
“I refuse to turn back. Even if I’m on the wrong path, I’ll keep going, no matter what.
Chapter 04
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