The Crown Prince's heir should have been hers. Since childhood, she had mastered poetry, music, strategy, and the secrets of the imperial family, preparing herself to stand by his side. She was the only one worthy to support the Crown Prince's heir as he ascended to reign over the empire. What had Song Chuyi done to deserve such favor from the Crown Prince's heir?

  She clenched her fists tightly, crumpling the fine Shu brocade of her gown. If she didn't restrain herself, she would be unable to control the fury surging within her. She wanted to stand up and decre to everyone that Song Chuyi was indeed a "Heaven's Solitary Star" and that Grandmaster Zhang's pronouncement had clearly been influenced by the Crown Prince's heir, just to keep her from being sent to Japan.

  But she knew what the consequences would be. It was obvious whom people would believe between Grandmaster Zhang and herself. Besides, the retionship between Grandmaster Zhang and the Crown Prince's heir was subtly close. If she exposed this, wouldn't she just be harming the Crown Prince's heir, pcing him under scrutiny once more? She couldn't do that.

  As she was lost in thought, Ceremonial Officer Xie, who had stepped forward with a smile, was suddenly shoved aside, barely catching her bance with the help of a quick-thinking maid.

  The Ninth Princess burst out, her hair disheveled and her feet bare, scanning the room with bloodshot eyes. Her lower lip was bitten so hard it had started to bleed. In a hoarse voice, she demanded, "Where is Grandmaster Zhang? Where is Grandmaster Yuanhui?!"

  She grabbed Chen Mingyu and Han Yueheng by the wrists with surprising strength, ignoring Ceremonial Officer Xie's attempts to calm her, and repeated, "Where are Grandmaster Zhang and Grandmaster Yuanhui?! Bring them back—I want to question them again!"

  Han Yueheng, no better off than the Ninth Princess, had felt her fate sealed as soon as Grandmaster Zhang mentioned the Ninth Princess's "water-bound fate"—for it was common for noble companions to be sent along with princesses in marriage alliances. She felt like she was submerged in ice, with her entire body frozen. She could no longer cry, nor did she dare to. With a faint hint of tears, she shook her head at the Ninth Princess. "I don't know. The masters have likely gone to see His Majesty..."

  "I'm going to find Father!" The Ninth Princess lifted her skirt, stumbling as she attempted to run, but was caught by the head stewardess from Noble Consort Xian's pace, who held her tightly around the waist, rendering her unable to move.

  Noble Consort Xian finally gathered her composure. Seeing that the stewardess had restrained the Ninth Princess, she offered a slightly flustered apology to Ceremonial Officer Xie. "My child has been ill for so long that she's become a bit confused. Please don't take it to heart."

  She couldn't let the Ninth Princess see Emperor Jianzhang. When she had petitioned for Grandmaster Yuanhui's presence, she had cimed it was due to the Ninth Princess's troubled fate, asking him to find a noble dy with a compatible fortune to relieve the burden on her. If the Ninth Princess, out of sheer fury at Grandmaster Zhang's pronouncement, now ran to plead against the marriage... Emperor Jianzhang would only see the two of them as insincere troublemakers. The Ninth Princess's outcome might end up even worse than a marriage alliance—if she accepted her fate quietly, she would at least receive a substantial dowry and remain the model of a virtuous consort.

  Ceremonial Officer Xie smiled knowingly, nodding respectfully toward Noble Consort Xian. "The princess is unwell. It would be best to call the imperial physician promptly."

  By evening, word spread that Emperor Jianzhang had instructed the Ministry of Rites to begin preparations for the marriage alliance. Besides the Ninth Princess, two noble dies were selected to accompany her: Han Yueheng of the Marquis of Jinxiang's household and Shen Huiyi of Duke Ying's household, both of whom were granted the title of County Lady.

  The Ninth Princess, trapped like a caged beast, ran aimlessly, pulling at her hair in hysterics. Several times, Noble Consort Xian attempted to hold her, only to be pushed away each time.

  She trusted no one. Huddled in a corner, clutching her knees, she warily watched everyone in the hall. Even her usually loving mother seemed obscured, hidden behind a mask she could no longer recognize. Her mother had prevented her from seeing her father, taking away her st chance. She had believed that her mother's words would never be wrong, but her mother had deceived her, and even Grandmaster Yuanhui couldn't save her.

  Noble Consort Xian, shaking, held back tears that flowed freely as she cautiously approached the Ninth Princess, finally seizing the chance to hold her tightly as though comforting a wounded animal.

  "Little Ninth, it's Mother's fault..." She felt bitter resentment but knew there was no way out. A single refusal or plea on the Ninth Princess's behalf would brand them both as selfish in the eyes of Great Zhou's people and disloyal to the Emperor. Emperor Jianzhang would see them as petty and short-sighted.

  She couldn't afford to lose. She couldn't let herself and the Ninth Princess fall into such a terrible situation.

  The Ninth Princess remained silent for a long time, then suddenly began ughing—a sound like a cat scratching at a door in the night, eerie and unsettling.

  But Noble Consort Xian wasn't afraid. She only held her daughter closer, whispering with firm insistence, "Don't be afraid, Little Ninth. Even if you can't marry into the Shen family and must go through with the marriage alliance, Mother will ensure it's grand and befitting."

  A royal marriage—no matter how splendid, it would never change her fate. How could pomp and gifts ever repce her homend? Such grandeur would be as hollow as walking in fine clothes unseen.

  The Ninth Princess stopped ughing, wiped away her tears, and looked directly at Noble Consort Xian. "I'll go. But I refuse to let the Eleventh benefit. Even if I cast away something, I won't let it fall to her!"

  Noble Consort Xian nodded quickly. "Of course. Even I won't let her live so comfortably. She can dream if she thinks she'll marry into the Shen family!"

  (Transtor Xiaobai: The Shen family in Shangqiu, not the Shen family of Duke Ying)

  The Ninth Princess's eyes gleamed with an intense brightness, like the morning star shining overhead. She stared intently at Noble Consort Xian, her voice hoarse as she demanded, "And one more thing—I want to change my companions. If that's not possible, then give me an additional one. I won't go alone; I want Sixth Miss Song to accompany me."

  If she had to descend into hell, she would drag Song Chuyi with her. If her fate was miserable, Song Chuyi could forget about living peacefully as the noble young dy of the Marquis's residence.