Chapter 2

I walked for a long time, finally reaching the top of the bell tower my Father Emperor had built for my mother.

My mother had loved my father deeply, loved him until her heart broke. She died in childbirth, but it was more than just that. My father loved her, but after she was gone, his harem was never empty.

And me? I had shackled Zhou Yanzhi with my so-called love for twenty years, only to end up destroying us both.

The wind pulled relentlessly at my skirts. I sat there alone until twilight enveloped the city.

Footsteps echoed behind me. Zhou Yanzhi saw me sitting on the dangerous ledge, and his face instantly turned pale.

“Your Highness! What are you doing!”

I met his gaze and smiled faintly. “Nothing. Just enjoying the view.”

From here, you could see the entire imperial city. For me, such opportunities were now numbered.

Zhou Yanzhi let out a breath of relief and strode over, his hand clamping down on my wrist. “Don’t make me worry. Don’t come up here alone again.”

His voice was filled with concern.

I remained silent. He was always like this. Even if he didn’t love me, he was good to me out of habit and a sense of duty. But what I craved was affection that came from the heart. If only he had looked at me more closely just then, he would have seen the hairpin tucked in my hair was the one sent as a betrothal gift from the Southern Kingdom.

But he didn’t notice.

Zhou Yanzhi held out a wooden box to me. “Your birthday gift.”

I looked at him. “My birthday is still some time away.”

“I was afraid I’d forget with all the official matters lately,” he explained. “I had it prepared early so you wouldn’t be angry with me.” Hearing his words, I didn’t reply.

He seemed to sense my unusual mood, his voice softening. “Huiyin, you and I are to be married. Since I am fulfilling your wish to marry you, I cannot simply ignore the Seventh Princess’s safety…”

Before he could finish, my heart sank.

“You should know what a tragic end the last princess sent for a political marriage met. I cannot let her walk that same path.”

Every word he spoke was filled with genuine emotion for her.

I suddenly wondered what his expression would be if he knew that the one marrying into the Southern Kingdom was me.

Zhou Yanzhi was still speaking gently. “The Seventh Princess is your only sister. From now on… try to give way to her in all things.”

My hand, hidden in my sleeve, clenched into a fist. A sharp pain bloomed in my chest.

Taking a deep breath, I replied, “Fine. I will give her everything.”

Including you. I’ll give you to her as well.