Chapter 34

Chapter 34

The days passed one by one. The once-bustling little courtyard was now mostly occupied by just my younger brother and me.

He and I continued to set up our stall and sell sesame cakes every day, and then the whole family would reunite in the evening.

I thought we could keep living like this forever, but gradually, even a commoner like me could sense that the winds of change were blowing through the imperial court.

Word was that the Emperor was terminally ill and didn’t have long to live. The infighting between the Crown Prince and the other princes had broken out into the open. Panic gripped the court, factional struggles were constant, and the Emperor was nearly provoked to death by the chaos.

It was at this moment that the Ninth Prince, who had been banished to a small border town, entered the Capital under the banner of “protecting the sovereign.”

Because the Crown Prince and the other princes had exhausted themselves fighting one another, the Ninth Prince took control of the Capital without lifting a finger.

Not long after the Ninth Prince entered the palace, the Emperor passed away. Holding the late Emperor’s final edict in hand, the Ninth Prince ascended the throne.

Today was the new Emperor’s coronation ceremony, a day of national celebration. My sesame cakes sold out quickly, and my brother and I were preparing to pack up the stall. For some reason, the cart tilted and nearly toppled over, only to be steadied by a soldier who reached out to catch it.

I hurried to thank him, but I froze when I heard the man’s voice.

“Lady, don’t you remember me?”

I looked at him closely. He was tall and sturdy with dark eyes-it was that young man.

“It’s you!”

“Thank you for your sesame cakes. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have made it this far, let alone joined the Ninth Prince’s ranks-well, I suppose I should call him His Majesty now.”

The young man’s name was Yan Heng. He was now a centurion. From now on, they would be stationed in the Capital, a position with a bright future.

I was truly happy for him. As we spoke on the street, many young women stole glances at him.

While Yan Heng wasn’t exceptionally handsome, he was gallant and strong.

I teased him, “It looks like you’ll be getting married and having children very soon.”

Yan Heng’s face turned red.

During dinner that evening, Cui Shao didn’t return, but Cui Zishu did. However, she kept her head down and ate in silence, unlike her usual self, where she would always share interesting stories from the painting workshop.

“Zishu, you…”

Before I could finish, Cui Zishu slammed her chopsticks down. “I’m full. I’m going back to my room!”

Yet, just as I was about to go to sleep that night, she knocked on my door. “Sister-in-law, open up. It’s my brother-no, it’s Zishu…”

I was baffled. She had been avoiding me all evening, and now she was looking for me.

A sudden wave of nervousness hit me. Could she have fallen for some young gentleman?

A few times, I had seen a young man dressed like a scholar walking her home. At the entrance of the alley, the two of them would exchange a few words before he left. If it really was him, how should I respond?

I thought back carefully. Although that young man dressed like a scholar, he wasn’t frail. He was polite and carried himself well; his appearance and temperament actually matched Cui Zishu quite nicely. I wondered if Cui Shao would agree. Was she asking me to be her advocate?

While my mind was racing with these thoughts, Zishu hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.

“I saw everything.”