Chapter 4: Entering the Proposition

Wen Shu'an should not exist in her memories. She ought to abandon everything. This was, at present, the most important matter for her. Xuanyuan Juesi and all else could wait. If her mind remained in disarray, perhaps she would accomplish nothing at all. Yet whatever happened next, Si Nuosang was certain she could endure until the very end.

She gripped the stone tightly in her hand. The stone seemed a product of modern synthesis, not something from ancient times, yet she had encountered it in that place. Was it a coincidence, or someone's deliberate action? Si Nuosang wished to find the answer, but it seemed increasingly impossible. She carefully packed the stone away, then followed Fu'an forward.

Xuanyuan Juesi had completely vanished without a trace. In truth, Si Nuosang had never fully trusted him; something about him felt off. But she no longer had any room for choice. She understood this clearly. So she simply acted as circumstances dictated, hoping to quickly find the Fifth Princess Ye and obtain the silver. With it, she could live well in this ancient world. She would not need to worry about her livelihood.

Yet for now, there was no opportunity for contact. When would Xuanyuan Juesi finally allow her to investigate this matter and reveal all the details? For now, she would start with Fu'an.

“Eunuch Fu,” Si Nuosang called out cautiously.

“Princess Consort, is there something you need?” Fu'an looked at Si Nuosang, her friendliness making him feel somewhat awkward.

“I want to ask about the princess.”

“You should ask the Prince about such matters. I know nothing,” Fu'an replied.

“If you truly wish for me to leave sooner, you should tell me. Once I find the Fifth Princess Ye, I’ll leave at once. Then you won’t have to see me anymore,” Si Nuosang said with a smile. She understood well what this old eunuch was thinking. Once she grasped someone’s character, things became much easier.

“Will you really leave? You won’t cling to the Prince?”

“Don’t worry. I’m just after the money! I have no interest in your prince whatsoever, so you can rest assured.” Looking at Fu'an, she raised her hand as if swearing an oath.

Fu'an appraised Si Nuosang from head to toe. She didn’t seem the type to lie; she must truly be after the money. If that was the case, things would be much easier, for the Prince absolutely could not be involved with a woman of unknown origin, no matter her usefulness.

“Very well, Princess Consort, please sit.” He led her into the room and indicated she should sit, then took a seat himself.

“No need to call me Princess Consort. Those words feel strange to me,” she said, uneasy with the title.

“I must, I’m afraid. The Prince has ordered it. If word got out, the entire household could be in trouble. I cannot allow the Prince’s residence to fall into danger.”

“All right, all right, call me whatever you like,” she replied, seeing that arguing with someone like Fu'an would only be a waste of energy.

“But is this really the Prince’s residence?”

“No, it isn’t. It’s a house the Prince bought in secret. The real Prince’s mansion is under heavy surveillance. If you’re not ready, the Prince would never bring you there. You must learn many things here first, and I am responsible for teaching you etiquette,” Fu'an explained. He would teach her well, so there was no need to worry about those things. What truly concerned Si Nuosang was finding Fifth Princess Ye.

Why did the Fusang Princess disappear after arriving at the Xuanyuan Dynasty? So many questions had risen in her mind.

“Let’s start with the key points. How did the Fusang Princess go missing? Was anyone with her when she disappeared?”

Fu'an glanced at her. She was direct, but that did not hinder their communication.

“When the Fusang Princess entered the Xuanyuan Dynasty, she disappeared when she was only a day away from the capital. All her guards vanished as well, except for the chief guard, Wei Ming, who was found dead.”

Fu'an recounted everything he knew, and Si Nuosang pondered these details.

To disappear just before arrival—it was unbelievable. Why didn’t she escape earlier? If she did not want to marry, why flee only on the last day? It was odd, unless she was abducted. But if that were the case, why was only Wei Ming dead? Where were the others? Where did they go with the princess? She had no clues about this.

If she could easily find the answer, she wouldn’t need to impersonate Fifth Princess Ye.

“All right, what else do you know? Why must I be the one to take her place? Why not just tell me directly?”

“If things were that simple, it would be wonderful. If the Fusang Princess vanished, the Emperor would immediately blame the Prince for failing to carry out the marriage. The relationship between the Emperor and the Prince is poor, so the Emperor would seize the chance to weaken him. Now, the Emperor is already suspicious, since the princess has not appeared for two months. The Prince claimed she was ill and unable to meet him. Two days ago, the Emperor issued a death order: she must appear, or he will come to the residence himself.”

Fu'an spoke anxiously on behalf of the Prince. The princess had disappeared at the worst possible moment, giving the Emperor just the excuse he needed. The Fusang Kingdom dared not oppose the Xuanyuan Dynasty; the princess was sent for a political marriage. She was originally meant to marry the Emperor, but he had no interest in her and so handed her to Xuanyuan Juesi.

The arrogance of the Xuanyuan Dynasty was plain for all the smaller nations to see. Fu'an understood this well. If the princess died, the dynasty would simply compensate Fusang with material goods and the matter would be settled. Yet the Emperor would not let things go so easily. He had ascended the throne as Crown Prince, and within the royal family, factions and alliances abounded.

Xuanyuan Juesi was the Emperor’s direct adversary, so many matters were especially troublesome. Their enmity had long since eclipsed any brotherly affection.

Within the royal family, the pursuit of power knew no bounds, much like in many other cases.

“All right, it seems your Prince’s greatest enemy is the Emperor, isn’t it?” Si Nuosang finally understood. If she could find one reason, she could turn the threat aside. Fu'an did not object to her observation.

He was truly worried, recalling how the Prince, as a child in the palace, had once been showered with favor.