Yu Yang

When I failed to latch on to my cool, aloof older cousin, I set my sights on his guard instead.

Every time my cousin and Princess Jianing discussed matters in the side hall, I dragged the guard into the hidden chamber and fooled around with him.

I even made him keep his eyes on the crack in the door at all times.

If the two people outside were standing, I insisted we do it standing; if they sat down, then I made us switch to sitting too!

His handsome face would turn black as the bottom of a pot, and the way he stared at me looked downright murderous.

“What are you looking at? Who told you your mouth could stay idle?”

In secret, I ordered that guard around to my heart’s content-and tormented him to my heart’s content too.

Until the imperial edict granting my cousin and the princess their marriage finally came down, and the last hope I had been clinging to died at last.

I was just about to pack my things and return to Jiangnan when my cousin grabbed my wrist, his restraint barely holding.

“This marriage was personally recommended by the Crown Prince. It can no longer be changed. Yangyang, wait a little longer. After I marry, I’ll take you as my concubine, all right?”

I pulled my hand back with a hint of disdain.

“I don’t want to be anyone’s concubine. I’m leaving. Can you give me your guard instead?”

But my cousin froze.

“Since when have I ever had a guard?”