"I like the sixth prince."
"I like the Empress."
Her Majesty had organized the draft with great fanfare, unusually allowing the candidates to choose their preferred imperial kin. For a moment, the candidates scrambled to name the ones they fancied, hoping Her Majesty would bestow her royal blessing upon them. When it was my turn, I spoke up, feigning hesitation.
"The one I fancy is somewhat unusual. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
These words instantly piqued the curiosity of everyone present.
The Empress said gently, "Go on, let us hear it. What is so different about him? If it is truly unsuitable, I will simply reject it."
I curtsied, swept my gaze toward Princess Yunyang sitting nearby, and smiled faintly.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. The one I have my eyes on is the young master of Princess Yunyang's manor."
The moment the words left my mouth, Commandery Princess Xiuhua beside me instantly flew into a rage.
"Lin Yaoyao, you shameless wench, how dare you say such a thing?"
Seeing Commandery Princess Xiuhua's furious reaction, I knew she had misunderstood, thinking I wanted to steal her beloved Master Xiao. Though he was the son of the Prince Consort by his late wife, he had been raised in the princess's manor since childhood, and everyone called him the eldest young master, Master Xiao.
Even Princess Yunyang looked astonished, clearly believing that I was after Master Xiao as well. However, the Empress did not know the inside story. She darkened her face and scolded her niece.
"Yuexi, you are being too insolent. A royal commandery princess shouting here like this is no different from a common shrew. You have utterly disgraced the royal family."
Realizing her blunder, Commandery Princess Xiuhua quickly knelt to beg for mercy.
"Yuexi forgot her manners. I beg Aunt to forgive me."
The Empress cast a cold glance at her. "Since you know you lost your manners, why don't you apologize to that lady at once?"
Commandery Princess Xiuhua was full of defiance, stubbornly refusing to bow her head to me, and wanting even less to let me marry Master Xiao. Not wanting to cause further trouble, I bowed and said, "Never mind. I cannot accept the commandery princess's apology."
"Hm. At least you are sensible."
Feigning ignorance of her smug expression, I blinked my big innocent eyes and looked at her. "But why is the commandery princess so angry? Could it be that you two have feelings for the second young master, Xiao Yu?"
As soon as these words were spoken, a dead silence fell over the main hall. Everyone's jaws dropped in shock. Who would have thought that the person I fancied was not the eldest young master, Xiao Lang, but actually the second young master, Xiao Yu?
Everyone present thought I had lost my mind. Commandery Princess Xiuhua's eyes widened like copper bells, her mouth moving faster than her brain.
"You—you're not joking, are you? Have you lost your mind?"
"It is absolutely true. I have feelings for the second young master, Xiao Yu."
Turning my gaze to the dumbfounded Princess Yunyang, who was also the biological mother of the second young master, I offered a gentle and charming smile.
"I hope Your Majesty and the grand princess will grant this wish."
At this, everyone's jaws nearly hit the floor. Some even gasped aloud.
Why were they so shocked? I knew the reason all too well. That second young master, Xiao Yu, was once a man of exceptional grace and talent. Possessing brilliant intellect since childhood, he had been a legendary prodigy famous throughout the capital. In terms of family background, looks, stature, or literary and martial talents, he was simply perfect without a single flaw.
Before the age of sixteen, Xiao Yu was the noble young master whom the entire capital looked up to. But after the age of sixteen, the name Xiao Yu became a taboo that everyone avoided like the plague. Only because he wrote a petition in blood to remonstrate, scolding his imperial grandfather, the Emperor, as a foolish tyrant. This incited the Emperor's wrath, and he was thrown directly into the imperial prison, never to rise again.
But in my eyes, what was there to fear about being in prison? It is actually better for a man to be in prison. The little calculator in my mind was clicking away. How wonderful it would be to be Xiao Yu's wife. The family is wealthy, and I would have plenty of leisure time. My mother-in-law, Princess Yunyang, also has a gentle temperament. When the time comes, I will give birth to an heir and run the household myself, and I won't even have to serve a husband.
Wouldn't this life be much better than being the male lead's pining wife, and even having to sacrifice my own maiden family for him? That kind of miserable fortune is best left for Commandery Princess Xiuhua to slowly enjoy.
The Empress was the first to snap back to her senses. She naturally had an impression of the child Xiao Yu. She used to greatly appreciate his talent, but ever since he was imprisoned for calling the Emperor a tyrant, his name had rarely been mentioned. Even Princess Yunyang kept silent and avoided the subject.
However, two years had passed since then, and the Emperor's attitude toward Xiao Yu hadn't worsened. He was just keeping him locked up, neither caring nor punishing him further, most likely out of consideration for their shared bloodline.
The Empress then turned to look at Yunyang. "Xiao Yu is your flesh and blood after all. What do you think of this matter?"
Princess Yunyang's heart pounded wildly. She dreamed of her son starting a family, but how could she dare make such a major decision so easily?
The Crown Prince, standing nearby, spoke up at the right moment to ease the tension.
"Royal sister, I see that Xiao Yu is no longer a child. It is rare to come across such a fine match, so there is no harm in them marrying."
As the Crown Prince, he was practically the deputy ruler and had spent years by the Emperor's side. So when it came to the Emperor's true feelings regarding Xiao Yu, he could guess them to some extent.
Hearing this, Princess Yunyang finally felt at ease. She looked at the Crown Prince with eyes full of gratitude.
The Empress could not help but sigh with emotion. "I didn't expect that the most pleasing beauty today would end up choosing that little devil, Xiao Yu. Once the marriage is decreed, there is no turning back. You must think this through clearly."
Without a moment's hesitation, I answered. "My mind is made up, Your Majesty. I will remain faithful to him for the rest of my life."
The Empress nodded slightly. "Very well, then. I shall grant your wish and betroth you to Xiao Yu."
With that, the matter was settled.
Only then did Princess Yunyang look closely at her future daughter-in-law, her eyes filled with scrutiny. Upon closer inspection, just as the Empress had said, she was indeed a beautiful young lady. The more she looked, the more pleased she became. Beaming with joy, she took my hand and said, "Good child, I thank you on behalf of that disappointing Xiao Yu."
I smiled warmly. "I also thank Your Highness for granting my wish."
Only Commandery Princess Xiuhua still wore a look as if she had seen a ghost, staring intently at me as if she was terrified I was playing some kind of trick.
That is right. Commandery Princess Xiuhua did not believe for a second that I truly wanted to marry a convict. She assumed I was just using a delaying tactic so I could continue my secret affair with her beloved Xiao Lang later. So her eyes darted around, and she turned to accuse me right in front of the Empress, insisting that I didn't care for Xiao Yu at all.
"It is solely to avoid the imperial match. This is the crime of deceiving the sovereign."
The Empress was taken aback upon hearing this. Although she did not entirely believe Commandery Princess Xiuhua's one-sided words, she did grow suspicious. She immediately decided to detain me and sent people to investigate thoroughly.
Princess Yunyang was originally about to lead me out of the palace, but she paused in her tracks at this development.