"He shall not marry anyone but me?"
Had Situ Yao gone mad? How could he say such a thing to my mother?
Seeing my expression, my mother was also taken aback, "You didn't know about this beforehand?"
How was I supposed to know?
"Mother, to be frank, His Highness the Crown Prince did indeed say he would come to propose. But I have always remembered your and Father's teachings. Our family has received great favor from the Emperor and Empress; we must be grateful and not overstep our bounds. I have never once harbored ambitions for the position of Crown Princess."
As I finished speaking, I quickly extended four fingers, about to make an oath, but my mother almost broke them.
"You silly girl, why make an oath out of nowhere? Is this what I'm here to hear? Let me ask you, if His Highness the Crown Prince truly wishes to marry you, are you willing?"
My mind was a complete mess. After a long pause, I finally managed, "Mother, this is too sudden. I don't know what to do for the moment."
"His Highness the Crown Prince is always meticulous and a man of his word. If he has come to me directly, he must have made up his mind." My mother sighed. "Go back and think it over carefully. Whether you want to marry him or not, give me an answer soon."
"Mother, what if I don't want to marry him?"
"Then what can be done? In this day and age, if a man is not satisfied with his wife, he can seek comfort from his concubines, but a woman cannot. I cannot bear to see you marry a man you dislike and then cuckold the Crown Prince after marriage. I can only swallow my pride and speak with His Highness the Crown Prince."
Thank goodness I hadn't been drinking tea, or I would have spat it out on her face.
My mother took my hand, "Don't worry, the Crown Prince is not unreasonable. If all else fails, I can still beg Her Majesty the Empress! But my dear, facing a man like His Highness the Crown Prince, have you truly never been moved?"
I couldn't answer.
My mother's gaze grew increasingly gentle, and she lightly patted the back of my hand. "My dear, marriage is a lifelong major event for a woman. Don't rush to a conclusion. The Crown Prince is indeed outstanding, but in his position, his future household will surely not be just you alone. Once one enters the imperial palace, it's like descending into a deep sea. You, my child, have disliked being constrained since you were little and love the mountains and rivers outside. I fear you would find it difficult to adapt to life within."
"So Mother, are you hoping I agree or not agree?"
My mother managed a wry smile. "Honestly, Mother doesn't know. I fear you missing out on the person you love, but I also fear you ruining the rest of your life by loving the wrong person. So my dear, you must think it through clearly, understand? It's fine to take your time, as this is the most important decision of your life."
I nodded earnestly, feeling that my mother's figure had grown taller than before.
If other families knew their daughter had caught the Crown Prince's eye, they would be overjoyed and scheming about marrying off their daughter. But my mother's thoughts were all about my lifelong happiness.
I had initially thought her first reaction would be about my low status and how it would implicate the Crown Prince if I became Crown Princess.
But she didn't mention it at all, her entire heart and mind filled with concern for my future.
I hugged her tightly, "Mother, thank you."
"Silly girl, why be polite with Mother? However, we must also show our stance. Starting today, let's not attend those banquets anymore. We've already met enough eligible young men these past few days. Alas, you tell me, with so many talented young men in the capital, why can't I find even one decent enough? Otherwise, I would have married you off long ago, and there would be no such thing as His Highness the Crown Prince!"
Me: ...
After this, my mother indeed stopped arranging blind dates for me and let me rest at home peacefully for two days.
Then Situ Yao came to find me again. This time, he brought me a gift: a burly man with a thick beard, who looked somewhat familiar. I looked closely and then remembered, this was the henchman who had tied me up and taken me to the Mountain God Temple in Mei City.
It seemed he hadn't had a good time lately; he was so thin I almost didn't recognize him.
I was a bit confused, "What is the meaning of this, Your Highness the Crown Prince?"