Eternal Years - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The Commandery Princess Consort was a woman of her word. That very evening, she came to call in person, bringing with her the Imperial Edict of Betrothal.

As I knelt to receive the edict, my ears rang. Everything had gone far beyond what I had expected.

Besides the formal conferment, the court robes appropriate to my rank, and the patent of appointment, His Majesty had even granted me the title “Roujia.”

The Commandery Princess Consort personally helped me to my feet. Her eyes as she looked at me were filled with boundless affection, and her voice was soft as water.

“This title was something Yun’er personally entered the palace to request from the Emperor.”

“The Emperor was overjoyed and drafted the Imperial Edict of Betrothal without another word.” The Commandery Princess Consort took my hand. “On the eighth day of next month, the two of you shall be wed.”

“Is that not rather rushed?” My father, who had remained silent behind me all this while, finally spoke. “There are fewer than twenty days left. I fear the proper arrangements for a bride may be difficult to complete.”

“No matter, no matter. This date was set by His Majesty himself,” the Commandery Princess Consort said with a smile. “The wedding will be jointly handled by the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of Rites. Though time is tight, our Yao-niang will certainly not be wronged.”

Father abruptly closed his mouth.

I glanced at the radiant Commandery Princess Consort, then at the Imperial Eunuch Envoy behind her, who was smiling broadly, and for no reason at all, a thought flashed through my mind.

Why did this Heir to the Commandery Prince seem even more anxious about the marriage than I was?

Yet as I looked down at the heavy imperial edict in my hands, amid the jubilant atmosphere of that moment, I somehow understood the deeper meaning behind the Little Commandery Prince asking for a title on my behalf.

It was compensation, and a profound apology.

When the Little Commandery Prince had helped me up with his folding fan, the faint, austere bitterness of medicine about him seemed still to linger at the tip of my nose.

Like the man himself-distant, sharply bounded, carrying a quiet chill.

He could not give me the love of a husband, and so he could only offer me respect in advance.

But that was already very good. In this marriage, I was the one marrying above my station.

“I am not wronged.” I smiled and said softly to the Commandery Princess Consort, “It is this subject daughter’s good fortune.”

With the wedding date set, everyone in Shen Manor became busy preparing for my marriage. The Commandery Prince’s Estate treated the matter with the utmost importance, and the betrothal gifts sent after the auspicious divination were rich and lavish.

This marriage swiftly replaced the celebrated tale of Lord Lanxiang and the Top Scorer of the Imperial Examinations, becoming the newest subject of lively talk in the streets.

“The wedding is so near, yet the Little Commandery Prince has still been seeing patients at Anhe Hall these past few days,” Chunqing said, her tone somewhat downcast. “He does not look as if he is anticipating it at all.”

Anhe Hall was located on Ma Xing Street, where shops stood row upon row and all sorts of people mingled. I had never been there.

But both sides of that street were lined with clinics and apothecaries frequented by those in gold and purple. After the Little Commandery Prince underwent his capping ceremony, he did not pursue an official career, nor did he rely on the protection and privilege of his forebears. Instead, he opened a clinic there.

He treated the sick regardless of status or wealth, and personally sat in consultation almost every day. He was deeply loved by the common people.

An indescribable feeling of shame welled up in me. My hand paused for a moment in the act of turning a page, and I said,

“The Little Commandery Prince is a gentleman. Healing the sick and saving lives is only right and proper. How could he let the wedding date delay such a thing? You must not speak rashly of this again.”

“This servant spoke wrongly.” Chunqing was quick-witted and immediately bowed. “Miss, please do not take offense.”

“After I marry into the Commandery Prince’s Estate, things will not be as they are here at home.” I helped her up and said gently, “You must think thrice before speaking or acting.”

A gust of wind suddenly blew in from outside the window. Beyond it, bamboo leaves struck against one another, and the rustling breeze rapidly flipped through the pages of the book in my hands. With a snap, it closed, revealing the title on the cover:

Gynecological Internal Cases.

The pages had already yellowed and curled at the edges. I lowered my eyes and looked at it for a long while, then gently brushed my fingers over it. I could not stop the loneliness from showing between my brows.

“Miss, these past few days, the common people have sent quite a number of red-dyed eggs to Anhe Hall,” Chunqing hurriedly changed the subject. “I heard it even made the Little Commandery Prince lose his temper.”

I thought of the noble, cold, and stern Little Commandery Prince holding a folding fan that day, and asked with a smile, “He loses his temper too?”

“Why would he not?” Chunqing could not help wanting to laugh as soon as she mentioned it. “The common people quieted down for a few days and stopped sending red-dyed eggs. Then they changed to tying red silk ribbons on the century-old locust tree in front of Anhe Hall.”