The Crown Prince Traded Me for My Half-Sister

The Crown Prince insisted on breaking our engagement because of my half-sister. After the broken engagement, I was courted by a rough warrior. Though crude, the warrior treated me like a treasure. My half-sister was charming and moving, but the prince regretted it. But I had already been reborn. The wife he wanted to win back could never be found again in this lifetime.

All the matriarchs of noble families in the capital were whispering: "She grew up with the Crown Prince, yet in one morning he replaced his fiancée with her sister. She must have some unknown serious flaw that the prince discovered."

Overnight, I went from a noble lady admired by thousands to an object of suspicion. Yes, what was wrong with me? I was asking myself too.

My mother cried her eyes out: "Yi'er, you grew up with the Crown Prince as childhood sweethearts, only to have your fate stolen by a bastard daughter. Why? Why would the prince do this? Doesn't he know this would ruin you?"

I wanted to know too. Why would he do this?

I asked her: "Mother, is there something wrong with me that I don't know about?" My mother looked at me, then wailed louder: "What could possibly be wrong with you? You have looks, you have character. If anything's wrong, it's with that Crown Prince."

"No, the root of the problem is still your father."

She blamed my father for not being able to control his pants back then, creating that thing.

My father was at a loss: "It's the Crown Prince who doesn't want Zhiyi, insisting on Zhixin. Madam, he's the Crown Prince. I can't influence him."

My mother was so angry she scratched my father's face, then grabbed a knife, cursing my father: "If you had controlled your lower body, hadn't created that bastard daughter, how would my Yi'er end up in such a situation?"

My father ran around the courtyard begging for mercy: "Madam, Madam, calm down. I'll definitely find Yi'er another good husband."

My father and my mother were childhood sweethearts, deeply in love, promising each other a lifetime of one man, one woman. But once, after drinking, he confusedly slept with a serving maid. Afterward, he regretted it immensely, originally wanting to hide it from my mother. But the maid was found to be pregnant, and had to be made a concubine. Because of this, my mother and father almost divorced. Finally, my grandmother took charge, sending the concubine and half-sister to the estate, giving my father thirty strokes, and that was the end of it.

Who knew, more than ten years later. The half-sister from the estate and the Crown Prince fell in love.

My father said he regretted it immensely, that one mistake of his had not only hurt Madam's heart but also harmed his daughter.

My mother was furious with madness, insisting on divorcing her husband. My father begged bitterly, repenting every day. My mother was relentless, making trouble every day. Half a year later, my father was about to be driven mad.

At this time, my grandmother brought an old lady: "The Marquis's old matriarch wants to ask for Yi'er's hand in marriage for her grandson."

I was stunned. Lin Ze? Marquis Lin who had been fighting wars abroad for years? Nearly ten years older than me, a military general who had killed countless people? Why would he want to marry me? Especially when my reputation was at its worst? Thinking this, I asked.

The old matriarch examined me for a long time, then said solemnly: "Zhuang Zhiyi, daughter of the Prime Minister, raised according to Crown Princess standards since childhood, virtuous and dignified, intelligent and kind, truly a jewel among noble ladies."

"My grandson Lin Ze has always admired you, but hindered by your being already promised, had to retreat and offer blessings. Now that the lady is without engagement, Lin Ze immediately begged me to come, saying he absolutely couldn't let such a truly good lady be snatched away by others. No matter what, he must bring the unparalleled Zhuang Zhiyi into his family."

My face grew hot. Was that so? Since my broken engagement, no one had come to propose marriage. The old matriarrived, giving me such high praise?

I glanced at my mother. She looked excited. I understood her meaning, bowed to the old matriarch: "Thank you, Marquis and Old Matriarch, for your favor. Zhiyi is willing."

I became engaged to Marquis Lin.

The Queen was so angry she fainted. The Queen and my mother were good friends. She liked me and doted on me. The Crown Prince's actions nearly infuriated her to death. She had whipped him ten times, but it was useless. She always felt guilty toward me, planning to wait until the Crown Prince's infatuation with the half-sister passed, then bring me into the Eastern Palace, first granting me the position of secondary consort, and after I gave birth to a child, establish my son as Crown Prince. If the Crown Princess position couldn't be won, she would secure for me the positions of Queen and Empress Dowager. The Queen was indeed thoughtful toward me. But, she couldn't wait that long.

The old matriarch acted. Compared to the Queen's gradual approach, I chose the old matriarch's immediate rescue from the whirlpool.

I saw the old lady wave her hand, and carriage after carriage of betrothal gifts entered the Prime Minister's residence. One carriage, two carriages, three carriages... too many to count.

My mother rubbed her eyes, asking my father: "Did they move the entire Marquis residence here?"

My father gestured: "It seems more than that. Our residence occupies more land than the Marquis's, but look, ours is almost full."

Many people gathered around this spectacular sight. I heard the old matriarch's loud voice: "Let's see who dares compete with me for Yi'er!"

The next day, all of the capital was saying that the Marquis residence had offered their entire estate as bride price, successfully winning Prime Minister Zhuang's daughter Zhuang Zhiyi.

My reputation was unexpectedly reversed. The whole city said that Zhuang Zhiyi had great fortune. Even the Crown Princess didn't have such fortune!

On the day of the Crown Prince's grand wedding, besides the Crown Princess, three noble secondary consorts entered the Eastern Palace simultaneously, personally granted by the Queen. But entering the Marquis residence meant a lifetime of one man, one woman. Wasn't that better than marrying the Crown Prince?

My father, Prime Minister Zhuang, wiped the sweat from his forehead. Those were the Queen's words.

Regarding the old matriarch's proposal, my mother was satisfied. The Marquis family had proper family traditions. Starting from the old matriarch, for three generations, when the sons married, they never took concubines. They treated their wives with single-minded devotion. Family harmony, wise superiors and filial juniors—women marrying into the Marquis family was indeed a blessing.

My mother was also somewhat dissatisfied. The foreign enemies of these years were all repelled by Marquis family men leading armies. Now that the four seas were peaceful, the price was that the Marquis family had only one male member left.

Lin Ze, Marquis Lin, though still in his prime, was already twenty-five. As soon as the wars ceased, the Emperor urgently transferred him back, wanting him to fulfill the important duty of reproduction. The Marquis family had to continue raising generals skilled in warfare for the nation.

My mother looked at my small frame, blinking repeatedly: "How about I arrange a few maids for you, to share the burden?"

She hated sharing a husband most, but thinking of Lin Ze's sturdy build... She wavered.

I quickly nodded. An important part of Crown Princess training was to have tolerance. The Eastern Palace's positions couldn't remain empty, and heirs were as important as the realm. I could tolerate others. Having others share the burden was life-saving. But my mother pursed her lips: "Never mind, we can't break the Marquis family's rules." She still couldn't get past her aversion. She held my hand, repeatedly urging: "Yi'er, practice more martial arts with the Marquis. Beg the Marquis to be more gentle."

By the end, her voice sounded mournful. I could only pretend to be strong, reassuring her: "Mother, I'll try to live long enough to see you and Father to the end."

My mother's tears fell: "I'll go find your grandmother. We won't marry!"

But she looked around at the courtyard full of guards, sighed, and went to prepare my dowry.

After learning I was promised to the Marquis family, the Crown Prince had asked to see me several times. My father firmly refused. The Crown Prince was persistent. One night he climbed over the courtyard wall. Begging my father to marry me as a secondary consort. He said he regretted it, that he couldn't let go of our feelings of over a decade.

My father was terrified, put on his shoes and ran into the palace, going straight to the Queen. The Queen, whip in hand, drove the Crown Prince away.

My mother cursed the Crown Prince viciously behind his back. But she still asked me: "The Crown Prince regrets it. Yi'er, should we give him another chance?" She said through gritted teeth, "Back then, I gave your father a chance too." "Yi'er, men can be allowed one mistake."

I shook my head: "The Crown Prince's character is not firm, he acts selfishly, not a good person."

My mother sighed: "Then it's Lin Ze. It's just a shame he's a military man, how would he know how to cherish people."

Lin Ze was incredibly determined. The old matriarch, after learning, urgently sent a message to Lin Ze. Lin Ze immediately sent five hundred guards back. Surrounding the Prime Minister's residence tightly. Not only could no one from outside enter, but those inside couldn't leave either.

Lin Ze made it clear: "Since Zhuang Zhiyi has been promised to me, in this life she will only be my wife." He even specially requested an imperial edict to protect his wife.

I looked at the group of tall, strong guards, trembling as I asked my father: "Lin Ze has never met me, yet he's set on me? Isn't this too rash?"

My father sighed: "Not strange. The men of the Marquis family are like this." "Yi'er, you are indeed fortunate."

Three months later, I nervously got into the bridal sedan. But was intercepted by the Crown Prince on the street. He was outside the sedan, begging me not to marry.

I sat inside the sedan, not surprised. When he insisted on breaking our engagement, I had expected this day. I didn't know how he had met my half-sister, but no matter what earth-shattering events had occurred, feelings established in such a short time could hardly withstand true trials. Even less could they endure the tests of real marriage. Liking was simple, just you and me, but marriage was every aspect of you and every aspect of me.

My half-sister grew up on the estate. Even if she had special charm that could confuse the Crown Prince for a time, once they became husband and wife, there would be frictions in every aspect. The tacit understanding that my half-sister and I had built over years, the Crown Prince would find it hard to experience again. And those were the foundation stones for long-lasting marital harmony.

Especially when passion faded and reason returned, the old friendship that had seeped into his bones would pull him back bit by bit. Making him realize what he had done? He had hurt the girl who had accompanied him for over a decade, and he had deep feelings for that girl. He would regret it, deeply regret it. And by then, it would be too late. Truly too late.

So, I patiently guided him: "Your Highness, we can't go back. You can't go back. Now you have a wife and secondary consorts. Wives and secondary consorts are connected to families. One change affects too many people, even affecting the stability of the realm. Such a Highness, burdened with romantic and karmic debts, I dare not want you. I can't go back either. The Marquis family used the power of their entire residence to propose, lifting me from the mire. I will carry this debt for a lifetime. Is such a me the one Your Highness wants back? Your Highness misses our past feelings, misses the me whose heart and eyes held only you. But now, we are no longer people of the past. We can only carry what we have now and move forward."

"Your Highness, life's road can turn back, but the road of marriage can only go forward." "I hope Your Highness can be understanding."

The Crown Prince outside the sedan was silent for a long time. Finally, the sedan bearers shouted to lift the sedan. Based on my understanding of him, after returning, he would regret even more. Hating himself, and hating my half-sister even more. Whoever made him lose me, he would hate. So, I didn't need to hate anymore. Because, it was no longer my business.

Right now, Lin Ze was my problem. I clenched my handkerchief.

Before marriage, he had come to the residence. My mother let me steal a glance, almost frightening me into fainting. Tall and strong, his frame could hold one and a half Crown Princes. Moreover, his skin was dark and rough, a stark contrast to the refined and fair Crown Prince.

I tried to tell myself, from now on I would only like the dark and strong.

After completing the ceremonies. Lin Ze and I faced each other. He asked me: "Did you marry me willingly?" "Yes." "Is there any regret?" "Yes." He raised his eyebrows. I said: "Not to hide from you, Marquis, I was engaged to the Crown Prince for over ten years, yet was cast aside by him. I know it wasn't that I wasn't good enough, but in my heart I still felt injustice, always wanting to find a reason."

"You want to know why he changed his mind?" "Yes." He said: "Is it because you still have feelings for him?" I shook my head: "No, I just want an answer."

Lin Ze thought for a moment: "If I said I would help you find this answer, could you promise me something?" He was willing to help me? His eyes were full of sincerity, not testing. I couldn't help but nod: "Good, what is it? Tell me."

His expression relaxed: "Put aside what the palace taught you about being a Crown Princess. Learn with me how to be a Lin family wife."

Put aside the Crown Princess ways? But wasn't that what the old matriarch admired about me? I asked my question. Lin Ze said: "That was just the old matriarch's excuse."

I was even more confused: "Then why did you want to marry me? We don't know each other at all."

Lin Ze said: "In earlier years, entering the palace annually, I saw you every year. I and the old matriarch would sigh that the Prime Minister's daughter was truly lively and lovely." "But these past two years, when the old matriarch spoke of capital matters, what she found most regrettable was that Miss Zhuang Zhiyi, having followed the Crown Prince for so long, had lost all her spirit."

I was stunned. Dignity was foremost for a Crown Princess. He said: "I recalled you in my memory and felt heartache." "The old matriarch suggested marrying you back and raising you anew." "I was very happy to hear that."

So that was how it was. That night, he didn't consummate our marriage. I was actually nervous. He said: "Zhiyi, tonight let's just discuss how to build and maintain our relationship." "Good."

"There is a beauty, once seen never forgotten; a day without seeing her makes one miss her madly." He said: "Zhiyi, after returning and seeing you for the first time, I couldn't forget. Before marriage, I wanted to see you every day. Liking someone is like this—one day apart feels like three years."

My face reddened. "Once having seen the vast sea, other waters are trivial; except for the clouds of Wushan, no clouds are worthy of the name." He said: "Zhiyi, I have no past, only a future. My future has only you. You had the Crown Prince, I don't ask for the past, but I want to ask for the future. In the future, will you have only me, too?" "Mmm."

"Unless mountains lose their peaks, rivers dry up, winter thunders shake, summer snows fall, heaven and earth unite—only then would I dare to part with you!" He said: "Zhiyi, it's not easy for two people to meet, they must cherish each other, not just for a day, but cherish every day. The so-called 'holding your hand and growing old together'—we must be good for a lifetime."

"What if you meet a woman you like more? Be good to me, and be good to others too?" He said: "How can one heart be split in half? Once promised to you, I will stay away from all other women. This is necessary to maintain lasting feelings."

"Oh." "When flowers bloom, they should be plucked. Don't wait until the branches are bare to pluck empty branches." He said: "Zhiyi, two people in love will want physical contact. I love your beauty, and you should try to appreciate me too. Don't dislike me, alright?"

"I won't dislike you." My voice was like a mosquito's: "Because you're good-looking too."

In the darkness, he held my hand tightly. "Though without wings to fly together, our hearts share an understanding." He said: "Zhiyi, no matter what happens, we must speak out, so our hearts can always be together."

... We, as husband and wife, talked all night on our wedding night. He said: "Zhiyi, this is our first time really getting along. Let's start with dating."

Dating? He asked: "Zhiyi, what's your impression of me?" I answered: "You look like a military man on the outside, but inside you're sensitive and delicate. You know so many beautiful poems, more like a scholar." He revealed a smiling face: "Zhiyi, you truly surprise me."

The sky was beginning to lighten, but not as bright as the light in his eyes.

The next day, I thought the old matriarch would blame me. After all, I hadn't fulfilled a new wife's duties. Who knew, the old matriarch held my hand, asking with concern: "Yi'er, I heard you were ill for a while?" "Yes."

After the broken engagement, fire attacked my heart, and I immediately fell ill. My mother sought the imperial physicians, and after two months of treatment, I slowly recovered. This was also why my mother hated my father so much. She almost lost me.

The old matriarch, hearing this, looked pained, said: "Yi'er, remember, your health is always most important. Nothing else matters."

She glanced at Lin Ze: "Ze'er, from now on take Yi'er to practice martial arts." "Alright." Lin Ze happily accepted this task.

I didn't dare to refuse. I had long heard that both men and women of the Lin family were skilled in martial arts.

In the days that followed, I suffered greatly. Early in the morning, Lin Ze would drag me out to run. He ran with ease, but I couldn't catch my breath, couldn't move my legs. After finally running two laps around the lotus pond, I was almost out of breath. He handed me a water flask, telling me to drink slowly.

I wanted to beg for mercy. But Lin Ze asked me: "Zhiyi, do you know how to make a man regret to the core of his heart?" I looked to him for guidance. He knew about the Crown Prince blocking the sedan on our wedding day. He was sensitive. He knew I actually hated the Crown Prince.

He told me: "Then make him forever regret losing the girl in his memories, because he can never find her again in reality. The girl he loves has already become someone he can never accept."

Lin Ze had analyzed that the Crown Prince probably shifted his affection because he liked the feeling of being a hero. Because compared to me, my half-sister was more likely to arouse pity. But feelings supported by pity can't last long. He would soon miss true understanding. Then let him never again find that girl with whom he had such understanding. To love but be unable to have—this was the cruelest punishment for him.

I silently remembered Lin Ze's words. From that day, I practiced martial arts with extra motivation. The Marquis old matriarch arranged excellent dishes for every meal, each helping me build muscle. I felt dizzy looking at them, but it didn't stop me from shoveling them into my mouth. I had to eat, otherwise I couldn't run.

Three days later, we returned to my maiden home. My mother saw me and felt something was off, but couldn't say what. Of course it was off. Sweating buckets every day, I had no energy for makeup. If I weren't naturally beautiful even without makeup, I wouldn't have dared to see people.

My mother dragged me aside and asked: "How is it? Can you bear it?" I knew what she was asking and told her directly: "We haven't consummated the marriage."

"Why?" My mother was full of confusion. Afraid she would worry, I told her about my experiences these past few days. Her eyes went straight: "Is the Marquis family trying to train their daughter-in-law into a man?"

I thought about it, and indeed. She said: "No wonder the Marquis men all dote on their wives. This is a wife they trained with their own hands, of course they'll cherish."

But my legs were shaking. And my butt hurt too, Mother.

A month later, Lin Ze began teaching me horse stances. I found it inelegant, so he squatted in front of me. I had to squat down, and soon sweat poured down. Next, he taught me simple breathing techniques. When I could run without getting out of breath, he taught me simple fist and foot techniques. Three months later, I could finish a bowl of meat. The old matriarch saw this, her eyes lit up. Lin Ze's lit up too. Seeing them exchange glances, I wondered, what would they make me learn next? I secretly groaned inwardly. I was wearing simple clothes every day, where was the bit of a noble lady's appearance? I didn't want to become a manly woman. But! Lin Ze actually told me to uproot trees! Hugging the thick trunk of a tree, I cried my eyes out. I begged him to divorce me: "This consort cannot do it!"

Lin Ze ignored my pleading, dragging me to a newly planted sapling: "Start with this one." I wiped my nose. Hugging the trunk, I shook it several times, and it moved. My heart lifted, and using all my strength, I pulled the small tree out by its roots. Hugging the tree, I looked up to the sky and howled: "Oh Heavenly Father, I've become Lu Zhishen!" Crying and laughing at the same time.

My emotions became more and more freely expressed. The dignified composure of a Crown Princess was completely gone. The storybooks say the monk Lu Zhishen uprooted a weeping willow. When I read it, I laughed at his crudeness. Now I've joined the crude ranks.

In the days that followed, I officially entered tree-uprooting training. The Marquis residence had large areas planted with trees. I thought they were for beautification. Now I know, they were for training people.

Time flowed like sweat. Drip by drip, it passed. In the blink of an eye, it was the year-end palace banquet. The Marquis old matriarch brought Lin Ze and me to attend. Every year at this time, if the Emperor and Queen were in a good mood, they would select several families to perform. This year, the first selected was my half-sister. The Queen was never satisfied with her. The Crown Prince had been married for over a year, but none of the four women in his rear court were pregnant. The Queen blamed this on her. My half-sister performed a dance, her body stiff, limbs uncoordinated—clearly she hadn't practiced long. She danced with great effort, but harvested expressions that couldn't bear to watch. She hadn't received noble lady training on the estate, and mastering these noble skills couldn't be done in a short time.

My father's head drooped lower. My mother and I exchanged glances, our eyes full of schadenfreude. I sipped my tea, sighing inwardly. A year should be enough to practice something decent, right? How could she be so unthoughtful! I looked at my own palms, full of calluses. I wondered what the Crown Prince would do? Curiously, I glanced at him. He was staring at me. I quickly lowered my head. Lin Ze noticed my abnormality, held my hand, and whispered in my ear: "Don't be afraid."

I was a little afraid, both of the Crown Prince acting up and of the Queen acting up. The Queen waved her hand, displeased, and had the Crown Princess withdraw.

Next, General Shi's daughter was called. She began with a sword dance, full of heroic spirit. Many were stunned watching. I stared too—if it were me, how long would it take to practice like this? Lin Ze leaned to my ear again: "This isn't practical, we won't learn this." Oh. Understood.

The Queen glanced at the Emperor. The Emperor received the signal. Immediately announced, conferring Miss Shi as Crown Prince's secondary consort. General Shi's face filled with joy. The Crown Prince didn't object. Miss Shi thanked for the grace. My half-sister's face immediately lost all color, her body swaying again and again. My father's head hung even lower. Ai. I looked at the various dishes. Next should be the banquet. Previously I had no appetite, but now seeing everything, I wanted to eat it all.

The Queen spoke: "Zhiyi, you give a performance." Me? I was astonished. My father looked up, his eyes full of anxiety. He didn't like my half-sister, but she was still his daughter. He didn't want me to outshine her too badly. My mother also looked at me, her eyes lacking encouragement. I understood, no need to show off. Proficient in qin, chess, calligraphy, painting; skilled in song, dance, poetry, prose—I knew them all, but I wouldn't perform any.

I invited the Emperor, Queen, and all the ministers' family members to the courtyard, and in front of them, uprooted a tree as thick as a bowl. While they gasped, I uprooted another tree as thick as a girl's waist. Then, everyone present turned to stone.

My father and mother repeatedly rubbed their eyes. I bowed to the Emperor and Queen: "Your Majesties, forgive my rudeness, but this is the skill I am most proficient in now."

The two couldn't react. The Crown Prince walked to my side, wanting to take my hand. I shoved him away with one hand. He staggered, nearly falling, his eyes full of disbelief.

Lin Ze quickly supported him: "My wife is reckless. Please forgive her, Your Highness." I stood straight as a pine, without a trace of feminine softness. The Crown Prince ignored Lin Ze. He staggered to my face: "Zhiyi, how did you become like this?"

I grinned and said loudly: "Your Highness, I am Lin Ze's wife. They say when a woman marries, she follows her husband. He is a warrior, so marrying him, I naturally became a warrior's wife."

Under the watchful eyes of all, the Crown Prince was greatly shocked, nearly falling. Before, in front of him, I was well-behaved and gentle, handling matters with propriety. Now, I had become Lu Zhishen. He stared at me, unmoving for a long time.

Lin Ze said in my ear: "His heart is in turmoil. He wants to go back, but the past is forever gone." I curled the corners of my mouth.

After the banquet. My half-sister, in the name of the Crown Princess, invited me to the Eastern Palace. I glanced at Lin Ze, who signaled with his eyes for me to feel at ease. I went, still harboring a bit of confusion—why had the Crown Prince changed his mind? Perhaps she would give me the answer. Unexpectedly, she went straight to the point: "Sister, are you happy now? I'm receiving my retribution." "I stole the Crown Prince from you, but now he only wants to win you back." "Except around the time of our wedding, he visited us a few times, but after that, he never stayed with any of us. He's preserving his chastity for you."

Feeling hungry, I took an offering pear from her table and started eating. This pear was a gift from foreign envoys—ordinary families couldn't eat it. Only the imperial family had it. I took big bites, sweet and juicy—perfect for replenishing strength. My half-sister stared in shock: "Sister?" "What?" I put down the pear and asked her: "Can't I eat it?" Her voice trembled: "Sister, how can you be like this?" She stared at my hand. Pear juice was flowing down between my fingers. I wiped it on my clothes. I told her: "Sorry, my Lin Ze eats like this. I learned from him. Battle can strike at any moment, there's no time to spend on being particular about eating. Besides, after practicing martial arts all day, you're covered in sweat. If you don't eat like this, you have no strength."

My half-sister said slowly: "Sister, the Crown Prince wants to win you back." I bit down with even more enthusiasm. She became anxious: "Sister?" I raised my arm and threw the pear core into the courtyard grass. Wiped my mouth, and said: "That's the Crown Prince's business, or rather, your husband and wife's business. It has nothing to do with me."

"How can it not be your business? If Marquis Lin finds out, you two will surely have a rift." I thought for a moment and shook my head: "No, Lin Ze will only work with me to find solutions, not create distance with me." "As for me, I'm not an object to be thrown away when he wants and picked back when he wants." I flexed my muscular arm and said forcefully: "I can resist."

"But the Crown Prince truly regrets. He said if you agree, he will request an imperial edict to make you Crown Princess, and demote me to secondary consort." My half-sister was anxious, her face colorless. I looked at her—this was the first time I really looked at her. She looked quite good, with a truly moving and pitiable charm. "Did you come to warn me to guard against the Crown Prince? Or to ask me for advice?" She hesitated, then knelt before me: "Sister, please help me." I hesitated, then helped her up: "In this, you're more skilled than I am." I kindly reminded: "When I had the Crown Prince's childhood friendship and mutual affection, you could still snatch him away. Why not use the same methods now?"

My half-sister's face turned red to her ears: "Sister, I'm ashamed." "The Crown Prince said that at that time, he felt we were both the Prime Minister's daughters, same father but such different fates. You were high above, I was low in the dust. He felt I was truly pitiful. It was because of pity that he insisted on marrying and protecting me. But now he says, what I eat, wear, use, and live in is all better than yours. Because of me, you had to submit to a mere warrior. Now the truly pitiful one is you, not me."

Just like that? When the truth was revealed, I felt it was fucking incredible. A Crown Prince of a nation, just because of this, dramatically changed his heart? Suddenly I remembered the Crown Prince wasn't the Queen's biological son. His mother was a palace maid serving before the throne. That palace maid died in the Cold Palace after giving birth. He not only wanted to be a hero; this was the projection of his inner knot. Projecting his feelings for his mother onto my half-sister.

I thought for a moment, then said to my half-sister: "This isn't difficult. Find a way to make him feel that you are still the more pitiful one." "More pitiful?" she wondered. I rose to take my leave. Coming outside the Eastern Palace, I encountered a candied haws seller. I had always felt this too sweet, not quite liking it. But Lin Ze loved it. I couldn't help but take out money, wanting to bring back several skewers for him. Whenever there was something good, he would smile like a child. I loved seeing him like that. He told me that love should be expressed.

Love? I froze for a moment. Was I falling in love with Lin Ze? I took out my money. But before I could, someone grabbed my arm from the side. With one hand, I swung them to face me: "Where did this libertine come from?"

Seeing the fallen person, I was greatly startled, immediately softened my voice and said: "Aiya, how could it be Your Highness the Crown Prince? This consort was wrong. Please forgive me, Your Highness." The guards who had been hiding immediately rushed over to help him up.

The Crown Prince gritted his teeth and said to me: "Forgiveness is not difficult. Have a meal with me." I looked up at the sky—this time, what meal was this? But, eat then eat, since I had thrown him down. I went with him to Wangxiang Tower. This was the capital's most popular restaurant, open until hai hour daily. I ordered some light side dishes and a bowl of congee. I didn't order for the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince stared longingly, saying: "Zhiyi, order mine too." I touched my nose, embarrassed, and said: "Your Highness, what do you like to eat? I'll tell the waiter." The Crown Prince was shocked: "You don't remember what I like to eat anymore?"

I touched my head, embarrassed, and said: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, just say directly what you like to eat. Every day I practice martial arts, my mind is full of mantras, of energy circulation, of practice—I can't fit trivial matters in my mind anymore."

The Crown Prince's face darkened: "Zhiyi, how have you become like this?" "Your Highness, what have I become?" Lin Ze taught me to speak directly, not guess—guessing back and forth never leads to understanding.

The Crown Prince froze, and after a long while, came back to himself. "Zhiyi, how can you speak like this?" I picked up a peanut and put it in my mouth to chew. Lin Ze said this was the most fragrant way, and indeed it was fragrant. After swallowing, I put down my chopsticks. "Your Highness? Is there something wrong with how I speak?"

His eyes filled with anger: "You ask if there's something wrong? Your behavior is now crude, your speech blunt, your attitude careless—where is the bit of propriety a Crown Princess should have?" I curled my lips in scorn: "In the past, I was very much a Crown Princess. And what happened? Didn't Your Highness find fault with me and kick me away?" "Now I've married into the Lin family. Does Your Highness expect me to maintain Crown Princess airs in the Lin residence?"

The Crown Prince was stumped, the criticisms he was about to say all stuck in his throat. I picked up another peanut: "Your Highness, the day I married into the Lin residence was my last day being Zhuang Zhiyi. I had already made things clear to you that day. After that day, I am only a Lin family wife. Sorry, Lin family wives are crude, but not easily deceived."

"That day?" The Crown Prince recalled that day—until that day I was still thinking of him, hoping he wouldn't ruin himself over a momentary impulse. The me of that day was still the me in his memory. The me he regretted: gentle and proper, reasonable and understanding. Now, I turned away. Because I picked up the bowl and began gulping down the congee. This he really couldn't bear to watch: "Zhiyi, how have you become like this? How even Zhixin..."

"Does Your Highness want to say, how even I'm not as good as Zhuang Zhixin?" I put down the bowl: "Your Highness, I am indeed not as good as her." "When I was at my best in appearance and character, she crooked her finger and you followed her." "Your Highness, don't doubt it—I am indeed not as good as Zhuang Zhixin." "So, don't say you regret it anymore." "You have good judgment—early on you discovered my unworthiness, unworthy of entering the Eastern Palace."

"Don't say more." The Crown Prince really couldn't listen, interrupting me: "It's all Lin Ze's fault." I definitely wouldn't allow it. Words left unsaid could choke a person to death, like constipation. Lin Ze told me, regardless of what others think, what needs to be said must be said.

I said: "Your Highness, you can't blame my becoming like this on Lin Ze. Marrying him, I had to change myself, because when he dies, I must take his place." "The Crown Princess ways are useless to me as a Lin family wife."

The Crown Prince's expression grew more serious. He said: "I was narrow-minded. Zhiyi, I didn't know your days were so heavy. It's not too late to correct this now. I will immediately enter the palace to request an edict for your divorce, so you won't suffer anymore."

I raised my hand to stop him: "Your Highness, after entering the Lin family, though facing the possibility of life and death at any moment, as a Lin family wife, I don't have to share my husband with others, nor worry about him changing his heart. I'm quite satisfied."

The Crown Prince frowned: "You don't want to share your husband? You were raised with Crown Princess education." I spoke frankly: "That was the past. Now I'm receiving exclusive favor education. If I wanted to take a concubine for Lin Ze myself, that would violate the Marquis family's teachings and rules."

"Compared to being Crown Princess, I prefer being a Marquis family wife. Simple matters, few troubles, can live many more years." The Crown Prince was silent. After a long time, he said in a deep voice: "What if I dismiss my rear court and have only you for life?"

"Your Highness, are you trying to seduce your subject's wife?" Just as I was about to refuse, Lin Ze's cold voice came down from the second floor of Wangxiang Tower. Right, this was the Lin family's restaurant. After marriage, Lin Ze transferred it to my name. Now, my husband was here to back me up! I happily stood up and walked toward him.

The Crown Prince's face was black enough to drip ink: "What if I insist?"

"Then I can only report to the Emperor." Lin Ze's face was also black.

The Crown Prince didn't dare to force it in the end. Lin Ze brought me back to Lin residence. That night, I took the initiative to consummate our marriage with Lin Ze.

I thought he would be greedy for love. But he held me, saying: "Everything has a usage limit. A person's heart generally beats 2.7-3.9 billion times in a lifetime, breathes 700 million times, walks over 200 million steps, a man has sexual relations about a thousand times—excess damages lifespan."

I listened, confused: "Sexual relations also need frequency control?" He scraped my nose: "Look at how many emperors had long lives. The best doctors and chefs in the country were all summoned to the palace to serve him. Why were their lives short?" "Because they used that too much."

Lin Ze said: "My Zhiyi is truly clever. It depletes one's vital essence." He said affectionately: "In the future, we must save it too. While enjoying pleasure, we must also preserve our longevity."

My face turned completely red. He said: "To have a wife like you, what more could I ask for?" "A delicate wife?" I raised my thick, hard arm: "You call this a delicate wife?" He laughed: "A delicate wife doesn't refer to a delicate and weak woman. A delicate wife is a wife a man wants to hold in his heart and cherish."

"That's not right. A delicate wife should refer to a wife who relies on her man." I corrected, like my half-sister. He pulled me into his arms, holding me tighter: "Let's not discuss what a delicate wife is. Zhiyi, you must remember, living in this world, don't be hostile toward men. Truly strong women can not only take good care of themselves but can also use men to complete their dreams and make their lives more comfortable."

I sniffled: "But men are prone to changing their hearts and betraying." Lin Ze said: "Men aren't as smart as women. As long as women maintain reason and clarity, it's hard to deceive them." "You don't need to invest feelings in all men." "Discover the advantages of different men and use them for yourself." "What do you mean?" I thought we were discussing matters between us. Why was he suddenly talking about discovering different men's advantages? Seeing my anger, he held me down and started kissing. Before long, he had me dizzy with kisses.

But after that, he really started teaching me about people. I asked him: "Shouldn't we be learning martial arts? Why waste time on this?" He said: "Not every enemy stands naked opposite you, waiting for you to swing your blade." "More enemies will take various forms, lurking by your side. When you're foolish, they'll take your life." I shuddered. "If the mother is foolish, the child will certainly be foolish." "So the mother must maintain clarity, to raise the child to be clear."

I touched my belly. The little one had been living there for over three months. And my eyes became clearer and clearer.

This day, I returned to the Prime Minister's residence. My mother kept calling for me. I knew she had no real matter, but she repeatedly sent people to summon me. I had to go back. I was at a crucial period of intellectual growth. But my father was making a fuss about suicide. Several months without seeing him, his hair had turned completely white. Seeing me, he cried: "Yi'er, Father was wrong!" Wrong? Lin Ze said my father wasn't radical in his actions, considering things comprehensively. Such people rarely make mistakes. I looked toward my mother. My mother pointed to my father's pants—oh, his crotch. My father: "How could I have slept with that maid? How could I have created that bastard daughter? One wrong step, eternal regret."

It turned out my half-sister, fearing Miss Shi would enter the Eastern Palace and she would lose favor, had drugged the Crown Prince with strong medicine, injuring him. The Queen was furious, not only wanting to strip my half-sister of her Crown Princess position. If the Crown Prince couldn't be cured, she would also have my father's head.

The Emperor had relied on my father, usually favoring him, but this time, my half-sister had gone too far. My father had inescapable responsibility. He had acquiesced to the Queen. My father said: "Yi'er, go beg the old matriarch. She has influence with the Queen. Beg the Queen to forgive me."

I quickly looked at my mother. My mother wasn't panicked. My father was still begging: "Yi'er, help your father." I said: "Good, but I have a condition." "What?" My father became spirited. I said slowly: "You kill the concubine from the estate and the half-sister from the Eastern Palace!" "What?" My father was furious: "Zhuang Zhiyi, do you know what you're saying?"

I didn't really want to kill them, but needed this to test. Some things needed to be uncovered.

So, I said word by word: "Kill your bastard daughter and your concubine." My mother was astonished. She pulled my hand: "Yi'er, what's wrong?"

I looked at this mother of mine, seemingly clever but actually a true fool. I stepped back a few steps and found a chair to sit in. Looking at my father, I asked: "Stop pretending, Father. You've deceived my mother for a lifetime. Did you think you could deceive me too?"

My father froze, his face darkening: "Zhiyi, what are you saying?" I said slowly: "Father, admit you like the concubine, admit you care about Zhuang Zhixin. Is that so hard?" My mother was full of confusion: "Yi'er, what are you saying? How could your father possibly like that one from the estate? How could he care about Zhuang Zhixin? Your father is only responsible toward them, how could there be feelings?"

I stared at my father. My father pressed his lips. Every time he felt guilty, he would shut his mouth. Regardless of his reaction, I raised my first finger: "First, the medicine Zhuang Zhixin gave the Crown Prince is a forbidden drug. Lin Ze wanted to find some for a long time but couldn't. How could a woman with no foundation in the Eastern Palace obtain it?"

My mother asked my father: "Yes, how did she get it?" I answered: "She has a powerful father who cares about her." My father said nothing. My mother looked at me, her eyes dimming.

I raised my second finger: "Second, Zhuang Zhixin grew up on the estate, had never even met the Crown Prince. How did she know the Crown Prince would pass by the estate on his southern inspection tour? And she happened to faint on his inevitable path?"

My mother was incredulous, asking my father: "You arranged it?" My father pressed his lips even tighter.

I raised my third finger: "Third, how did Zhuang Zhixin know the Crown Prince's mother was a palace maid, and that he would feel more empathy for her loneliness on the estate?"

I raised my fourth finger: "Zhuang Zhixin never left the estate. How did she know what medicine to use to bewitch the Crown Prince?"

I looked at my mother, raising my fifth finger: "Zhuang Zhixin stole my fate. Father said he would find me another good husband. But besides pretending guilt, being chased and beaten by you, he did nothing. He is the Prime Minister, I am his legitimate daughter. If he said one word, men seeking connections would come to propose marriage. What did he do? He did nothing. The one who saved me from the fire was the Lin family. Now that Zhuang Zhixin has caused trouble, he makes a scene about suicide, forcing you to intervene repeatedly."

My mother was stunned. I stared at her, raising my sixth finger: "The concubine wasn't arranged by you. Why was she the only one who could serve by Father's side?"

My mother suddenly understood. She looked at my father, her eyes full of anger: "You answer!" She demanded an answer from him.

My father stopped pretending, saying coldly: "Zhuang Zhiyi, must you be so ruthless? Since childhood, you had your mother protecting you, your grandmother protecting you. After marriage, you have the entire Lin family protecting you. What does my sister have? She only has me as her father. If I don't think for her, how can she live? Don't forget, she is also my daughter."

He was saying this to me, but also to my mother. My mother's face was full of disbelief: "So everything Zhiyi said is true? You really like that woman and her daughter?"

My father flicked his sleeve, roaring at my mother: "She is also my woman! She also gave birth to my daughter!" Hearing this, my mother's eyes nearly split: "So you? You've been deceiving me all this time!" "You said it was just a mistake, but actually you've kept them in your heart all along? Cared for them? Planned for them? Even willing to harm my Yi'er?"

My father snorted: "Yi'er's matter isn't my fault. It was your jealousy, your inability to tolerate her, that made the Crown Prince unable to stand it and took action."

My mother's body swayed, pointing at my father: "You, you..." My father, enraged: "Me what? I wasn't wrong enough!"

My mother no longer looked at my father. Turning to me, she pleaded softly: "Yi'er, can Mother come with you? Mother wants to go to Lin residence." My father became anxious: "Go to Lin residence? This is your home." "To accommodate your feelings, I've already arranged them on the estate. What more do you want?"

My mother only looked at me. I nodded solemnly.

My mother followed me back to Lin residence. She said she wanted to divorce my father. I didn't know how to handle this. Lin Ze held my hand: "Zhiyi." I turned to him, my eyes full of confusion: "Lin Ze, why did my father, having my mother, still not feel satisfied? Why sleep with a maid?"

Lin Ze said: "Zhiyi, I don't know. The complexity of the human heart is truly hard to imagine. But I know, people like your father are not few. Those more complicated than your father are more numerous."

"Will my father regret it?" "Most will, because his feelings for your mother are deep. When your mother leaves him, he should start chasing back." "Like the Crown Prince?" "Similar."

"Why can't they be faithful from beginning to end?" Lin Ze scratched his head: "In the Lin family, children are trained from childhood to be focused—focused on studies, focused on martial arts, focused on killing enemies, focused on their wives. I don't know why they can't be focused. Is it because they never received such training?"

"Yes."

The old matriarch walked over. My mother followed behind her. The old matriarch said: "Yi'er, your mother says she wants to learn how to uproot weeping willows too. You teach her the key points." "Mother?" Her complexion had improved greatly. Only after spending half a day with the old matriarch. My mother said: "Yi'er, the Lin family nurtures people." Lin Ze agreed, saying: "Only with military power can one gain political power." "Women without some real skills cannot tame restless men." The old matriarch corrected: "Your mother-in-law is learning for herself, not to tame men." My mother nodded: "Yes, I want to strengthen my body, and beat Prime Minister Zhuang into a dog." Oh, alright.

Just as Lin Ze had predicted. My father regretted it. Truly regretted it. He came to Lin residence several times, begging my mother to return. My mother wouldn't see him. My father begged the Emperor. The Emperor summoned Lin Ze for questioning. As soon as Lin Ze left, the old matriarch went to find the Queen. The Queen heard that I and the Crown Prince's fate was cut short due to my father's scheming. She ran to the Imperial Study with her hair down, wanting to fight my father to the death. The Emperor was terrified, never daring to help my father again.

Out of guilt, he tried every way to coax the Queen. The Queen ignored him. My grandmother learned of it, beat my father, and personally came to fetch my mother. My mother still wouldn't see her.

Three months later, seeing my mother hadn't wavered at all. The Emperor personally issued the divorce edict. From then on, my mother and father separated.

Lin Ze and I went to the Prime Minister's residence, moving all my dowry to Lin residence, into my private treasury. My father no longer had the toughness of that day. He followed sheepishly behind me and Lin Ze. Grandmother was beside him, trying to mediate. Lin Ze and I said nothing.

My father was in a miserable state. The Queen hated my father. But the one who hated my father most was the Crown Prince. He sent a divorce letter, sending Zhuang Zhixin back to the estate. He also warned my father to retire early. My father was intimidated. Only now did he realize that not controlling his lower body would lead to such disaster.

Grandmother cursed and beat him whenever she saw him. The ones harmed most terribly were Zhuang Zhixin and her mother. Originally, as the Prime Minister's bastard daughter, she could have married a minor official. With my father's and my status, she could have been ensured a peaceful life. But because of my father's selfishness, mother and daughter would now truly grow old alone on the estate.

My father begged that after his death, I could look after that mother and daughter. He said: "Yi'er, it was Father's fault after all."

I didn't agree: "Father, caring for them is harming my mother. Between your mother and them, I naturally choose my mother." My father pleaded softly: "Not them, but to fulfill my responsibility for you." I still didn't agree: "No difference. Between you and Mother, I choose Mother."

Seeing I couldn't be persuaded, he looked at Lin Ze: "Son-in-law Lin, please..." Lin Ze waved his hand: "Do you want to reenact the Crown Prince's tragedy with me? I'm not the Crown Prince. My heart holds only Zhiyi. What kind of person she is has nothing to do with me."

My father was speechless, choked with emotion. The Crown Prince, learning of this, smashed teacups all over the floor. My father complained behind his back: "It was all him who gave Zhuang Zhiyi courage and brains, otherwise how could my family be ruined!"

His family was broken! And people had indeed died! After my half-sister was divorced, unable to forget the Crown Prince, she was depressed day after day, and soon died. The concubine lost her only daughter and soon followed her.

Grandmother learned of it and sighed. I went to see her, and she said: "This was all the evil your father created."

I was curious: "My father clearly loved my mother deeply then, and promised her one man, one woman for life. Why did he still have feelings for the concubine?"

But my grandmother found it not strange at all: "This matter of one man, one woman for life. Your mother was serious, but your father didn't take it seriously. He thought after coaxing women and having children, they would become devoted." "Never taking this matter seriously." "He didn't particularly like that maid either, just found her pleasing to the eye, and she was low-status. He used her to test your mother. If your mother had accepted it, he would have grandly taken a concubine. He didn't expect your mother to be serious, insisting on divorce. Only then did he become afraid." "But he wasn't afraid enough, still holding侥幸, ultimately harming everyone."

Speaking of this, my grandmother looked up at me: "Your Lin Ze, you must watch carefully. Men are all the same." "Only in death do they become honest."

Just then, Lin Ze walked over. I hadn't answered, but he continued: "Grandmother, not all men are the same! You can't pour wrong ideas into Zhiyi, making her anxious!" The old matriarch also came over, striking her cane loudly: "Sister, you can't say that. Men also grow from children. As long as they're taught well, they won't turn bad when they grow up." "Honesty and focus are taught, trained." "As long as family education is in place, men won't be fickle when they grow up."

Grandmother opened and closed her mouth, unable to voice disagreement. The fact was, all of the old matriarch's children, without exception, were free of my father's problems. One could be a coincidence, but all not being so showed the problem. On the battlefield, they focused solely on killing enemies; off the battlefield, they focused solely on their families. Though they all died in battle, each had reached the position of general, facing countless temptations. But not one betrayed their wife.

The Queen, hearing of this, fell into reflection. The Crown Prince beat his chest in regret.

Soon, General Shi's daughter entered the Eastern Palace, rising from secondary consort to Crown Princess. She was upright and impartial. The Crown Prince was very afraid of her. He found another chance to intercept me, his eyes full of hope.

I said to him: "Your Highness, when marrying a wife, one marries virtue. When you married Zhuang Zhixin, you were trapped in love affairs every day, thinking whether you liked this one or that one. After deciding you liked me, you spent every day thinking how to win me back, without a bit of Crown Prince demeanor." "Now that you've married Miss Shi, you've started focusing on governing the nation." "What does this show? It shows this time you married correctly." "General Shi's family has excellent family education."

"But Zhiyi, I don't love her, and I can't feel loved on her part either." I waved my hand dismissively: "Enough, enough. You're a Crown Prince, what love are you talking about? You call yourself 'Gu'—do you know what 'Gu' means? It means lonely man, lone person." "You occupy a high position, what you should carry is the common people of the world. What you should love is all the people of this world."

The light in the Crown Prince's eyes completely extinguished.

Epilogue

I gave birth to a daughter. My mother was delighted: "Zhiyi, she looks exactly like you when you were little, carved like jade and polished like pearl." My daughter's nickname was Zhima. Lin Ze arranged a teacher for her and taught her personally. She didn't like martial arts, only loved reading. Her mouth was especially sharp. By age seven, no one in the entire residence could out-debate her. After her, I never became pregnant again. My mother was worried, saying: "Lin Ze won't secretly keep an outside woman because he wants a son, will he?"

My daughter heard this and retorted: "Grandmother, you're talking about other people's fathers. That couldn't be my father." My mother was astonished: "You trust your father that much?" My daughter replied with surprise: "Naturally, don't you know the difference between fathers? The difference is in intelligence. Those with enough intelligence are like my father; those without enough intelligence are like other fathers. Their difference is that those with enough intelligence are mature and won't make mistakes that those without intelligence make."

My mother was stunned. She looked at me and asked: "Did your father change his heart because he wasn't smart enough?" I said nothing. My father reached the position of Prime Minister—how could he not be smart enough? He simply lacked virtue. But, I would rather let Lin Ze's theory spread everywhere. I heard that now in the capital, men who swear to marry with one man, one woman, dare not look at women other than their wives, afraid of being labeled as not smart enough, thereby affecting their careers.

The Crown Prince had already ascended the throne. Lin Ze said: "There has never been a more dedicated emperor than him." He sighed, "Ah, men—when their hearts are without love, they naturally become gods."

I heard this and smiled.