Afterwards, my days with Ye Lang were filled with delight.
We tasted all the world's delicacies, traveled to see beautiful sights by candlelight, and were always fascinated by each other's company, with endless stories to tell.
But two months before my coming-of-age ceremony, one night, I seemed to overhear something I shouldn't have.
It was an exceptionally sultry night, and I tossed and turned on the couch, unable to sleep. Thinking Ye Lang must be suffering from the heat as well, I decided to find him for some refreshing conversation.
But just as I stood outside his door, about to knock, I vaguely heard the Emperor's voice coming from within.
["The Crown Prince's most eligible heir, his fourth son, has passed away. The most likely candidates to succeed the throne of the Qi Dynasty are now the third prince, Xiao Jingheng, and the fifth prince, Xiao Jinglian. If we can get close to them and become their confidants, then when the Qi Dynasty has a new ruler, we will have someone by their side who can speak for Zhu Yin."]
I didn't fully understand these words, but Ye Lang seemed to comprehend them.
After a moment of silence in the room, he suddenly questioned the Emperor:
["So if we are to have a voice, it must be through someone close to them? Is Your Majesty suggesting sending a woman to the Qi Dynasty as an insider for Zhu Yin?"]
["Yes, I intend to send someone. But this woman must be someone we can trust, and possess considerable beauty. If she cannot be trusted, she may turn traitor, only adding to our troubles. And if she lacks beauty, she will not be able to bewitch their hearts."]
The Emperor sighed deeply at this point, then continued:
["I have decided to have Zhi Lan, who has never shown her face before, get close to the fifth prince, Xiao Jinglian."]
Upon hearing this, I was greatly alarmed.
Zhi Lan was the Emperor's most beloved young daughter, yet he was willing to send his own daughter to the enemy nation as a spy?
Ye Lang's reaction was much the same as mine:
["Little sister? She is only twelve years old, barely two years from her coming-of-age ceremony. How can Your Majesty bear to send her into the den of those villains as an insider? Would that not rob her of her entire life?"]
["In the face of national crisis, greater righteousness takes priority. My mind is made up, and Zhi Lan has no objections. Now we still lack one person to be installed by the third prince, Xiao Jingheng's side. And for this, I already have the perfect candidate in mind. Your attendant, Shang Yang, is beautiful, intelligent, and meticulous. Moreover, she is devoted to you, making her the ideal choice."]
Hearing these words, my heart almost skipped a beat!
Ye Lang was also unusually defiant towards the Emperor:
["Does Your Majesty realize what you are saying? Yang and I share true love. How could you make her do such a humiliating and demeaning thing?"]
'Slap'
Before Ye Lang could finish his objection, a loud slap rang out from the room,
Followed immediately by the Emperor's furious roar:
["Nonsense! You are the Crown Prince of Zhu Yin, you should be prepared to sacrifice everything for the people! Now I only ask that you sacrifice an insignificant orphan girl, yet you dare speak to me like this?"]
["Yang is not an orphan girl. As long as I live in this world, she will have someone to rely on!"]
Ye Lang abandoned his usual reverence for the Emperor with that retort, then asked in a daze:
["So Your Majesty never intended to allow our union from the beginning, and never planned for Yang to become my wife at all? This entire thing was just a ploy to find a suitable pawn to install by the Qi princes' sides?"]
["If that is how you wish to interpret it, I have no further comment."]
Upon hearing this, I became utterly terrified and hurried away, afraid the Emperor would discover me, afraid Ye Lang would see me, and unable to cope with the situation.
I do not know what else the Emperor said to Ye Lang afterwards, but from that day on, Ye Lang acted as if nothing had happened, never mentioning a word about going to the Qi Dynasty as a spy.
I understood Ye Lang's intentions - he would never betray me.
But after several days of contemplation, my attitude changed.
At first I wanted to remain ignorant and selfishly continue as we were, living happily ever after with Ye Lang.
But I truly did not wish to make things difficult for Ye Lang, and I genuinely wanted to contribute to my country's cause, to avenge my parents, and protect my loved ones.
I am a conflicted person, but also a determined one.
When I finally made my decision after much thought, I did not tell Ye Lang.
One month before my coming-of-age ceremony, Ye Lang personally cooked a meal for me, though his culinary skills were quite lacking. Still, I savored every bite.
Ye Lang said he was very nervous, as if a long-held dream was about to come true when he took me as his wife.
And wasn't I the same?
Only this dream might have to wait a little longer to be realized.
That night, after he fell into a deep sleep, I quietly went to seek out the Emperor.
I wanted to tell him that I was willing to go to the Qi Dynasty, willing to act as a spy by Xiao Jingheng's side. I was willing to do everything in my power for my country and for my love.
This is the responsibility that every Zhu Yin citizen bears from birth - my parents shouldered it, as did Ye Lang, and now I would too.
At the time, I was still young, reluctant to let go, and afraid.
I stood vacillating outside the Emperor's grand palace for a long while.
His palace was the most magnificent and towering structure in all of Zhu Yin.
Standing high up, I turned to gaze far into the distance, at the myriad twinkling lights of Zhu Yin city - those tiny, warm yellow flickers like the hue of sunflowers.
I thought, here lies my homeland, my love, my home.
I will eventually return safe and sound,
And see Zhu Yin blanketed in sunflowers once more.
[Author's Note: There's more bonus content, but I recently had surgery and am resting. Future updates will be on Tomato Novel and announced on my Weibo. Thanks for your support! Pen Heart ❤️]
