Chapter 3 – Rejected Marriage Proposal: “You said you wanted to marry me. Does that still count?”

He wore a fierce python-patterned robe, standing against a backdrop of flourishing flowers. The sunlight fell upon his jet-black eyelashes, casting a murky, unreadable shadow in his eyes.

The crowd around surged forward, yet he remained still, standing exactly where he was, his gaze fixed deeply on her.

Shen Xingwan couldn’t fathom his thoughts, but she suddenly remembered his ruthlessness in the past. A mix of fear and shock welled up inside her, and her heart began to pound violently.

She lowered her eyes and turned her face away, suppressing her breathing, and shifted slightly, trying to slip past him and blend into the crowd.

The restless throng surged toward the lakeshore. Shen Xingwan stood at the very edge and was nearly knocked into the water.

The brocade-armored imperial guards leapt forward in a gust of wind, jumping into the lake to perform a rescue. The hilt of one of their embroidered Spring Blades nearly struck her face. She instinctively raised her hand to shield herself, but in the next second, she was pulled into a warm embrace.

The girl’s soft, boneless body collided with a firm chest. The golden embroidery of the python robe brushed her cheek, and she inhaled a cool, pine-like scent from his body.

Her heart skipped a beat, and her neck flushed red all the way to her ears. Shen Xingwan hurriedly broke free and, not daring to look back, quickly merged into the bustling crowd.

She calmed herself and looked toward the situation in the lake.

Tang Linger had already been rescued. Her hair was disheveled and clung messily to her cheeks. Two imperial guards were supporting her toward the shore.

Shen Xingwan frowned slightly and looked to the other side, where she saw the Third Prince also being rescued by the guards. The Empress Dowager was instructing him to change into dry clothes.

She felt puzzled. In her previous life, it was the Third Prince who had jumped in and struggled to swim over to save her. But now, though he had jumped in, he hadn’t personally saved Tang Linger?

As soon as Tang Linger reached the shore, she shook off the guards’ hands, stood unsteadily, and turned back with a look of grievance toward the Third Prince.

The Third Prince was being personally escorted by the Empress Dowager and didn’t even spare Tang Linger a glance.

Even Shen Xingwan was slightly dazed. If she hadn’t personally overheard their secret plot and known the inside story, she might’ve believed they had fallen into the water by accident and had nothing to do with each other.

The incident was ultimately dismissed as a result of slippery cobblestones along the lakeside. The Empress Dowager punished many workers, but since the banquet was in full swing, she didn’t want bloodshed, so no executions occurred. The matter was brushed aside.

The mood for flower-viewing and strolling was spoiled. The Empress Dowager immediately ordered a feast, and everyone sat down in turn.

Tang Linger had changed her clothes, redone her hair, and now stood beside Shen Xingwan, helping her pour tea and serve food.

Seeing her with her head lowered and red-rimmed eyes, Shen Xingwan guessed she had cried in secret. She reached out to pat her arm and gently comforted her, “Sorry for your suffering, sister. Since the Empress Dowager is still present, it wouldn’t be proper to excuse you just yet. Please endure a little longer.”

Tang Linger’s nose turned red, and she lowered her head even further. She muttered, “I wouldn’t dare.”

After several rounds of wine, the Empress Dowager finally got straight to the point. She exchanged a glance with the Third Prince, then turned and summoned Shen Xingwan with a warm smile.

Shen Xingwan calmly rose from her seat, walked over to the Empress Dowager, and bowed gracefully. “Your servant, Shen Xingwan, greets the Empress Dowager. May Your Majesty enjoy health and longevity.”

“Rise,” the Empress Dowager said kindly, lifting her hand slightly in a gesture. “Good child, come closer so I can take a better look at you.”

Shen Xingwan stood and stepped forward. The Empress Dowager studied her face carefully and nodded approvingly. “Truly a beauty—elegant but not seductive. Very good. Have you studied before?”

“Replying to Your Majesty, this servant was chosen from a young age to accompany Princess Guang’an in her studies. We listened to lectures together.”

The Empress Dowager continued to observe her in detail, appearing satisfied. She gently took her hand and said with warmth, “I find you quite a good match for Zilin. Just today, you and your maid even fell into the water together. What fate that is! Zilin, come toast your little sister.”

A sharp pang jabbed at Shen Xingwan’s heart. If that counted as fate, then it was undoubtedly a cursed one.

Prepared in advance, the Third Prince immediately stepped forward with a cup in hand, smiling brightly. “I’ve long heard of your good name, Sister Xingwan. Zilin toasts you.”

Shen Xingwan looked up and saw Wei Zilin standing confidently before her.

She had to admit, he truly had a handsome face. Even dressed in the simplest lake-blue prince’s robe, he stood out among all the princes.

His gentle eyes seemed filled with affection as he gazed at her, as if he were looking at the one he cherished most.

Shen Xingwan was nearly impressed by his acting.

If she hadn’t truly lived through a second life and known his past, she might’ve even developed feelings for him again.

But now, all she felt was disgust.

Without taking the wine cup offered by the maid, Shen Xingwan bowed gracefully. “Thank you for your favor, Third Prince, but I am of weak fortune and unworthy of such a blessing. This fine wine should be reserved for a more fortunate lady.”

A cup of wine granted by the Empress Dowager symbolized a match. Everyone knew that.

In her past life, because the Third Prince had risked his life to save her, Shen Xingwan had developed some affection for him and accepted that cup of wine.

But now, she regarded it as poison. Whoever wanted it could have it. She would never repeat the same mistake.

The Third Prince hadn’t expected her to reject him publicly. Still young, he couldn’t quite mask his embarrassment. His slender, defined fingers turned pale, nearly crushing the jade cup.

He pressed his lips together and looked toward the Empress Dowager with a frown.

The Empress Dowager was visibly surprised but quickly replaced her expression with a kindly smile. She began to gently persuade, “Girls can be shy and thin-skinned. Zilin is a good child. You two should spend more time together and get to know each other…”

Shen Xingwan didn’t argue. She only smiled slightly, bowed politely, and withdrew.

Of course, she wasn’t foolish enough to publicly contradict the Empress Dowager—that would be a capital offense. This Empress Dowager Zhang was notorious for her ruthlessness.

Ruthless…

Something like a thread began to surface and weave through Shen Xingwan’s mind.

Empress Dowager Zhang…

Consort Zhang…

The Third Prince…

Suddenly, it all clicked into place.

The Third Prince’s mother, Consort Zhang, was the Empress Dowager’s niece.

In the future struggle for the throne, the Empress Dowager would naturally support the prince from her maternal family.

For someone so ruthless, the Empress Dowager’s leniency today—dismissing such a major incident as a prince falling into the lake—was completely out of character.

There was only one possible explanation: the Empress Dowager was aware of and involved in this scheme.

It was like being doused in ice water in the dead of winter. Shen Xingwan’s back went cold.

She understood now—the Zhang family didn’t want her. They wanted the political power behind her family.

She returned to her seat, a bit despondent, no longer in the mood to enjoy the feast.

She looked around, searching for an excuse to leave early, but as her gaze passed over the men’s seats, she locked eyes with a burning gaze.

Prince Regent Yan Jinghuan sat idly at the head of the table, a faint smile playing on his lips as if in a good mood. When their eyes met, he raised his cup slightly to toast her. Without waiting for her to respond, he tilted his head back and drank on his own.

A crystal-clear drop of wine slid down his throat and disappeared beneath the tightly bound collar of his pale robe.

Shen Xingwan’s face flushed. She quickly looked away—only to find the Third Prince Wei Zilin still staring at her intently, brows furrowed, clearly trying to figure her out.

She turned her face away, unwilling to look at him. Turning back, she ordered Feiyun to prepare the carriage, but then caught sight of Tang Lin’er looking toward the men’s seats with a face full of grievance and anger.

It was easy to guess who she was looking at.

Shen Xingwan felt a slight headache coming on. She thought that she would have to help reconcile those two resentful lovers someday—let them become a pair of affectionate ghosts, never to be reincarnated.

Using the excuse of feeling unwell and fearing she had caught a chill, Shen Xingwan left the banquet early to return home.

Tang Lin’er, appearing a little lost and dazed, could only follow reluctantly and leave with her.

They had barely taken a few steps when Tang Lin’er suddenly complained of a headache from falling into the water and said she wanted to rest for a while before heading back. Shen Xingwan, naturally understanding her real intent to seek out the Third Prince, readily agreed and returned to the residence with Feiyun alone.

As soon as they entered the mansion gates, they heard the crisp sound of laughter, like silver bells ringing. A little girl was running wildly with a pinwheel in her hand, as if she had found a great treasure. She looked back repeatedly while running and ended up crashing straight into Shen Xingwan.

The girl hit her hard, the pinwheel flew out of her hand and fell to the ground, and her body staggered as if she were about to fall. Shen Xingwan quickly reached out and caught her, steadying the tiny figure.

Feiyun stepped forward and lifted the little girl by the collar, about to speak, when a plainly dressed woman came running over from not far away. She dropped to her knees in a panic and pleaded repeatedly, “Little Lingdang didn’t know better and ran ahead, bumping into the young miss. It’s all my fault for not watching her properly. Miss, please…”

Shen Xingwan raised her hand to stop the woman from speaking. She crouched down and gently stroked the little girl’s flushed cheeks.

They were warm—clearly, the child had been running hard and was panting, full of life and energy.

Shen Xingwan felt a sting at the tip of her nose and couldn’t help but hug her. This was the little girl who had been hacked to death in her past life—the cook’s youngest daughter.

The image of her being slain overlapped with the vibrant, living child before her now. Shen Xingwan pressed her cheek against the girl’s tender chest, listening to her slightly rapid heartbeat, and her vision gradually blurred with tears.

“Did she hurt you, Miss?” The cook was beside herself with worry, clasping her hands and bowing repeatedly. “I’m so sorry, Miss, I’m sorry, I… I…”

Shen Xingwan picked up the pinwheel from the ground, dusted it off, and placed it back into the little girl’s hands. She smiled and said, “Go on and play. Later, ask your mother to make you some sweet milk custard, alright?”

Little Lingdang’s face lit up, though she grew a bit shy and glanced timidly at the cook. “Go on,” Shen Xingwan encouraged.

She stood quietly in the courtyard, watching the cook—full of gratitude—lead Little Lingdang away.

Wiping the warm tears from her cheeks, Shen Xingwan composed her expression and turned to head to her mother’s courtyard.

“Mother!”

Crossing the covered corridor, Shen Xingwan’s steps quickened. From afar, she saw her mother sitting with her head lowered, embroidering something by the flower-patterned window. She couldn’t help but call out softly, then rushed forward a few steps, pushed the door open, and threw herself into her mother’s arms.

The Prime Minister’s wife was startled and leaned to the side, quickly raising her hands that still held her needle and thread. “My child! Be careful, you might prick yourself.”

The Prime Minister, sitting nearby reading a book, watched them with tender eyes but kept his face stern. “You’re getting more and more unruly.”

Shen Xingwan couldn’t hold back her tears anymore. She pulled away and knelt solemnly on the floor, bowing three times with loud thuds.

“Your daughter greets her parents and thanks you for raising me.” In this life, I will never fail you!

Madam Shen was shocked and quickly stepped down from her couch to pull her up, taking out a handkerchief to wipe her tears. “What’s wrong? You were perfectly fine—why are you crying like this? Did someone bully you? Tell Mother, no one is allowed to treat you that way.”

Shen Xingwan was choking with sobs, shaking her head while clinging tightly to her mother.

Madam Shen’s heart ached terribly. She cast a glance at the Prime Minister and said, “You’ve been too strict again. Look at how you’ve wronged our child.”

The Prime Minister was speechless, awkwardly lowering his eyes and flipping to the next page of his book.

Just as Shen Xingwan helped her mother back to her seat, a servant came running from outside to report, “Reporting to Master—someone from the palace has arrived. It’s Chief Steward Guo. He says he has an imperial decree to deliver.”

The Prime Minister’s expression grew serious, and he immediately stood up. “Quickly invite him in.”

He and Madam Shen hurried to change into their official robes, and along with the entire household, stepped outside to kneel and receive the decree.

Chief Steward Guo, the emperor’s head eunuch, put on a smile as soon as he saw the Prime Minister. His voice was high-pitched, “Congratulations, Prime Minister Shen. Come, receive the decree.”

The Prime Minister led the others to kneel as Steward Guo slowly unfolded the bright yellow imperial edict.

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: The daughter of Prime Minister Shen Zishan is virtuous and prudent, diligent and obedient, gentle and pure, kind and well-mannered, skilled in domestic affairs, and of commendable character. She is hereby granted the title of Principal Consort to the Third Prince Wei Zilin. So decrees the Emperor.”

When the reading was finished, the chief eunuch walked up to Shen Xingwan and held the decree above her head. “Miss Shen, please accept the edict.”

Shen Xingwan rose and said clearly, “I beg His Majesty’s forgiveness. I cannot accept the decree.”

“What?!”

Chief Steward Guo frowned and repeated, “Miss Shen, please accept the edict.”

Shen Xingwan glanced around at the shocked crowd.

“I beg your pardon, I cannot accept the decree.”

“Prime Minister Shen?” Chief Steward Guo clenched his teeth.

The Prime Minister looked toward Shen Xingwan and was about to speak when she knelt again and bowed. “This humble daughter has made up her mind. I beg His Majesty to rescind the order.”

“You—!”

Chief Steward Guo turned red with anger, then laughed bitterly. “Very well, very well.” He turned to the Prime Minister. “You’ve truly raised a remarkable daughter. I shall return to the palace and report this.”

“Eunuch Guo!” The Prime Minister got up to try and stop him, but the eunuch quickened his pace and stormed off.

Madam Shen immediately felt faint and nearly collapsed. Shen Xingwan rushed to support her before she could fall.

The servants began whispering nervously, and some, already frightened, began to cry softly.

“Ah! Do you know what you’ve done?! Refusing an imperial edict is a crime of treason—it implicates the entire clan! Are you not aware?!” the Prime Minister roared, stomping his foot. “Prepare my horse! I must go to the palace to confess!”

Shen Xingwan released her mother and told Feiyun to escort her to rest, dismissing the others. She stepped forward and grabbed her father’s sleeve.

“Please don’t be angry, Father. I had my reasons.”

She hurriedly explained, “At today’s flower appreciation banquet in Cheng Garden, I already made it clear to the Empress Dowager that I refused her match with the Third Prince. I had barely returned home before the decree arrived—it’s clear she’s set on forcing our Shen family’s hand to support the Third Prince!”

Gripping her father’s sleeve tightly, she pleaded, “I truly don’t want our family caught in political faction struggles. The Third Prince is not a good man, and the Empress Dowager is ruthless. If we align with his faction, our family will be in grave danger.”

The Prime Minister was silent for a long time before gently patting her shoulder, deeply moved. “I never expected such insight from you. My little girl has grown up.”

“But families like ours… we’re already beyond control,” he sighed. “The Shen family has deep roots throughout the court. Our power shines too brightly—if the Emperor cannot use us, he will destroy us.”

He gripped her shoulders tightly. “You’re still young and only see the risks of joining a faction. But defying the imperial edict means execution.”

“Father, I…” Shen Xingwan panicked. She suddenly regretted acting so impulsively earlier. When she saw the marriage decree, memories of her past life surged forward and she had refused without thinking.

The Prime Minister sighed and comforted her. “Go take care of your mother. She frightens easily. I will go to the palace now to resign. I’ll also resign your brother’s military position and return his command. Perhaps then the Emperor will let us retire to the countryside in peace.”

“Father!”

Shen Xingwan felt as though her heart were being sliced apart.

She knew her father was the most honest and upright Prime Minister, loyal to the nation with all his ambitions devoted to serving the country. Her brother was a young general who had fought for years to earn his rank, guarding the borders and repelling enemy forces many times.

Must their careers and dreams be destroyed again because of her?

For proud men like her father and brother, being forced into retirement in the countryside was no different than death.

She couldn’t let that happen!

Clenching her fists, Shen Xingwan’s mind raced. What could she do? How could she change the current situation?

Suddenly, a figure appeared in her mind.

Her heart stirred. Without thinking further, she grabbed her father’s red-maned horse, tightened the reins, and leapt into the saddle. Squeezing the horse’s sides with her legs, she galloped out of the gates.

Ignoring the startled cries and attempts to stop her from behind, Shen Xingwan struck the whip down hard, speeding forward like the wind.

She rode fast and relentlessly. By the time she reached the front of an elegant mansion, her hair was slightly undone, and she appeared rather disheveled.

Her hands were pulled red from gripping too tightly; she could barely hold onto the reins and nearly fell off the horse.

With great effort, she steadied herself, but her legs were weak and trembling. She stumbled forward and grabbed the lion-head copper ring, banging loudly on the mansion door.

“Yan Jinghuan, you said you wanted to marry me. Does that still count?”