My thoughts were clear, but somehow, the news of me refusing the Empress's arranged marriage spread.
Suddenly, all sorts of invitations poured into my home.
Some I could decline, but others I couldn't, so I had to attend the banquet with a scowl. To save A'Xiu the trouble of fixing my appearance, I wore men's clothing, only to be compared to my elder brother and utterly crushed.
My sisters all said that with the same face, my brother was elegant and graceful, while I was like a peasant girl, exuding a rustic charm, a complete waste of the fine fabrics I wore.
I shamelessly boasted, "Beauty is in the bone, not the skin. Although I'm a bit dark now, I have substance."
"What substance? Are you pregnant?"
"Bah, you're the one who's pregnant! I'm talking about my experiences sailing overseas for the past half year. Do you want to know what it's like beyond the sea?"
They were all sheltered girls whose furthest travels were to the manor or temples outside the capital. Tales of overseas adventures were naturally fascinating. As soon as I said this, their sharp tongues disappeared, and they all praised me to the skies.
Perhaps it was because I had read too many storybooks, but I narrated my stories so vividly that all the girls were entranced.
At the time, I found being at sea for too long boring, but now, even rowing and fishing seemed like fun, let alone all the foreigners with their different hair and skin colors.
Of course, the matter of refusing the marriage was also brought up frequently.
I brushed it off lightly, "Ah, what arranged marriage? It was just idle talk. Don't you think about my status? Am I worthy of being a prince's consort?"
"What about your status? The Empress has always shown great favor to your family. She must be thinking of old times."
"The Empress might cherish old times, but we can't overstep. Even if she returned our deeds of servitude, my parents are, at best, merchants."
"A merchant's daughter is not bad either. The Empress herself came from a merchant family, and the Emperor still dotes on her."
I slowly retorted, "Then you first need the husband-blessing fate that the Empress possesses."
Who could say otherwise? It was said that before marrying, the Emperor was merely a lowly son of a marquis's household, oppressed by his legitimate mother. To seek his future, he braved the dangers and went south, his official post being no more than a constable without rank. But after marrying the Empress, he rose steadily, eventually ascending to the dragon throne.
The Empress's reputation for blessing her husband's career has endured to this day.
Even now, some people take their birth charts to Quanshen Temple in Yangzhou to seek guidance from a renowned monk.
Unfortunately, the threshold of Quanshen Temple has been worn down by countless feet, yet no one has seen the eminent monk mentioned by the Emperor.
After a few banquets, the matter of refusing the marriage was finally put to rest. A'Xiu used the Empress's remedy to prepare a whitening cream for me. It felt cool and comfortable on my face, but I could only lie down, which was rather dull.
"A'Xiu, sing me a little tune."
"Miss, have you forgotten? I am tone-deaf."
A miscalculation.
"How much longer will it be?"
"I've just applied it. How about I read you a storybook? Shopkeeper You from the bookstore sent over a box yesterday, saying they were new releases from the past half year. You certainly haven't seen them while you were overseas."
I said listlessly, "But he doesn't know that these storybooks were chosen for my mother and the princess. Next time, before applying this, be sure to find Sister Yage from Lingyan Pavilion."
"That might not be possible. Sister Yage has found a good match and has been ransomed off to Jiangxi."
"Alright. Why doesn't my father appreciate beauty? We don't even have a singing girl at home."
"If Madam hears you say that, she'll definitely reward you with a beating of bamboo sticks."
"What are you talking about? Let this young master hear it too." Situ You entered my boudoir as if no one was there. It seems I need to lecture these subordinates.
Things are different now. I'm of age, and I need to avoid suspicion.
I closed my eyes and asked, "Has the Second Prince finished his treatise?"
"It's exhausted this young master! Three pieces in a row, my brain is drained. Let's go to East Street for a bowl of tofu pudding to replenish ourselves."
"No, I need to take care of my skin."
"It's okay, it's overcast today, and you won't get sunburned. I've been cooped up in the study for days and am itching to get out. After tofu pudding, let's go for a horse race in the outskirts."
I asked with confusion, "Second Prince, as fellow students at the Imperial Academy, my elder brother is so busy that he doesn't even come back on holidays. Why are you so leisurely?"
Situ You said, "I don't need to take the spring examinations, so I don't need to study diligently. Alas, my classmates have been working hard lately, while I have nothing to do. I finally arranged a game of ball, and my elder brother ruined it. This young master is truly having a hard time."
It's clearly me having a hard time.
I also want to go for a horse race, but rumors won't allow it, so I decisively refused him.
Situ You was probably surprised by my refusal, hesitated for a moment, then said, "What a shame. The Southern barbarians have just presented a new Ferghana horse. I was going to sneak it out today, but it seems I've made a wasted trip."
What?
A Ferghana horse, I must try it. But I still need to maintain some dignity. I raised my hands, "I can ride, but I won't race you."
Situ You sneered, "To surrender without a fight, you have no backbone, do you?"
"Second Prince, do you remember the meaning of 'winning without honor'?" Although my Zhaoye is also a fine steed, compared to the Ferghana horse, it's like comparing the sky to the earth.
"You can ride the Ferghana horse for fifteen minutes."
"An hour."
"Deal."
A'Xiu sighed from the side, "Miss, can't you just stay in your room honestly? Master had your measurements taken yesterday for custom tailoring. If this continues, autumn will pass, and you still won't have gotten your skin back."
A fair complexion hides a multitude of flaws. With my dark complexion, whatever I wear looks out of place.
So I told A'Xiu to inform the seamstress that I wouldn't be making any more women's clothes. For now, let's make two decent sets of men's attire. In the past six months at sea, I've grown taller, and my old clothes don't fit well. While at sea, for convenience, I wore more short outfits, not even long robes, which are really not suitable for going out.