Every year, His Imperial Majesty had to lead all officials in tearfully begging the Empress Dowager to continue governing—this theatrical performance was staged annually.
Meanwhile, Tie Ci smiled as she left the hall. From afar, she saw Xiao Chang standing in the front hall’s courtyard. She stopped and carefully assessed him, feeling that judging purely by appearance, he could indeed be considered a tall, handsome, good man.
After all, he was chosen by the Xiao family as someone who could covet the imperial throne—having an ugly appearance would lose impression points immediately.
Xiao Chang hadn’t waited long when he heard Her Highness was coming out. His heart rejoiced, thinking the marriage had hope. He eagerly stepped forward to bow, but saw Tie Ci spread her arms wide from a distance, her laughter clear and bright: “Uncle! What wind brought you, such an honored guest, here!”
Xiao Chang’s breath of hot air was choked back into his stomach by this enthusiastic “Uncle,” causing earth-shaking coughing. Tie Ci immediately ordered tea and refreshments brought, surrounding him with earnest inquiries: “Uncle, what’s wrong? Can such gentle spring breezes cause you to catch cold? Ah, don’t say anything—I understand. At your age, with all that daily exertion, though you’ve been blessed with many children and grandchildren, your body is quite worn out. By the way, how is my eldest male cousin? How is my second male cousin? How is my third female cousin? The fourth…”
“Your Highness!” Xiao Chang finally found a gap in her words to squeeze in a sentence. “I’m of your generation! When you called me Uncle as a child, that was a mistake!”
“Oh?”
“Also, each of my children is younger than you…”
“I know, I know—the oldest is one year younger than me. We’re the same generation.”
“Your Highness…”
“Here’s a joke.” Tie Ci intimately grabbed his arm. “Old husband, young wife—a match made in heaven.”
Xiao Chang’s reasonably handsome face turned iron-blue and ghostly pale. He said nothing more, staring gloomily at Tie Ci. Tie Ci wore the standard Crown Princess smile of eight teeth in elegant dignity, even spreading her arms and turning around to let the Commander appreciate her proud, fine figure.
Xiao Chang’s eyes involuntarily fixed on her flexible, delicate waist.
Slender waist bound in plain silk—this was exactly that.
Before Tie Ci finished turning, she suddenly raised her leg. Her long leg appeared and disappeared like lightning—BANG!—kicking Xiao Chang squarely in the chest.
Caught off guard, Xiao Chang staggered back three steps, only stopping when he caught the threshold. Shocked and angry, he looked up at her.
But Tie Ci acted as if that vicious kick hadn’t come from her, smiling gently: “Uncle really isn’t what he used to be—completely spent now.”
She pointed affectionately at Xiao Chang: “I advise you—practice abstinence. Abstinence.”
“Your Highness!” Xiao Chang’s voice was cold. “Are you humiliating me?!”
“Yes. Do you like it?”
“…”
Tie Ci smiled, ordered someone to see him out, and started to turn around.
“Your Highness, you’re so hostile toward me because you think I’ve come to seize your throne.” The person behind her suddenly said hoarsely. “But have you considered that with my status and position in the Xiao family, with the Empress Dowager’s favor toward me, even if I don’t marry you, I could match with any powerful general’s daughter or feudal prince’s daughter and still have that opportunity? Why would I insist on pursuing you?!”
Tie Ci turned around, looked at him for a while, then said leisurely: “So I should thank you? Thank you for the honor of your interest?”
“Your Highness speaks too seriously.” Xiao Chang straightened his body and bowed neither humbly nor arrogantly. “Chang knows Your Highness’s concerns. I seek to form a marriage alliance with Your Highness, and from then on will gladly serve as your horse and groom, willing to be at your beck and call.”
“Oh! So you actually have a loyal heart, upright character, and sincere feelings!” Tie Ci was surprised. “But aren’t you afraid of disappointing the Empress Dowager and the Xiao family?”
“The Xiao family serves the nation wholeheartedly. This minister has admired Your Highness for years—how dare I covet Your Highness’s realm? The Empress Dowager works tirelessly day and night, laboring solely for the Iron Dynasty. Your Highness must not say such things and hurt the old lady’s heart!”
Tie Ci stared at him steadily. His face showed complete sincerity. After a long moment, Tie Ci crossed her arms and laughed.
Before Xiao Chang could react, she delivered her verdict: “Stupid, evil, and shameless.”
She walked leisurely back, her flowing robes stirring fallen petals, her straight long legs moving with elegant gait, each step creating clouds of mist.
“With my status and talent, is it your turn—a widower past his prime—to graciously come seeking marriage? Is your face the Ten Thousand Forest Sea or the Three Thousand Great Mountains? How can it be so enormous?”
“Your Highness humiliates me thus—have you considered the Empress Dowager and the Xiao family?”
Somehow Xiao Chang’s voice was suddenly close to her ear. Tie Ci turned and saw him pressed almost rudely close behind her.
She didn’t retreat, instead smiling and moving closer.
“One more saying for Uncle.”
“‘Greed for wealth brings comfort’s end, greed for power brings total exhaustion.'” Tie Ci was tall—standing before the average-height Xiao Chang, she was still slightly taller than him. So when she lowered her head close to Xiao Chang, his mind spun dizzily, with only those gleaming teeth, crimson lips, and jade-peak nose floating in his vision.
Such noble, gentle laughter—only up close could one feel the bitter cold within it.
“‘…Greed for beauty makes you a pure fool.'” Tie Ci whispered softly in Xiao Chang’s ear: “Are you a fool?”
Author’s Note:
Yesterday I forgot to thank the friends who came to collect, comment, and support on the very first day. I never serialize continuously—after rest periods of six months or more, readers easily get swept away by various new and old husbands. I thought that starting fresh meant surely few people initially, but I didn’t expect so many people had been waiting for me. What a pleasant surprise—this is exactly what I mean.
Among today’s friends who sent me cloaks and scepters, several are fans of over ten years—the handsome one who was a moderator of the Emperor Phoenix forum, Coffee who accompanied me through the most difficult times. Actually, at times like this, just poking your head out to say hello and let me know you’re still following my books makes me very satisfied. Some feelings don’t need too much expression—existence itself means more than anything.
Over these years, those who accompanied me have left one by one due to romance, marriage, children and other reasons. This is life’s inevitable pattern that no one can resist, so all friends still remaining here are my greatest fortune and blessing.
Also thanks to Bone who has worried about me these years, thanks to my generous and lovely Captain, and though relatively new but sincere in heart, Xuanxuan. Meeting in the martial world means we’re destined—I hope to have longer connections with all my friends.
Sentiment complete. Cuihua, bring double portions of eighteen——