Princess Consort of Pingyang froze, as if rooted to the spot.
The food in her chopsticks dropped back into her bowl with a splat.
The splashed broth stained her sleeve, but she didn't even notice.
Princess Consort of Pingyang stared blankly at her husband, thinking she was hearing things.
Did the Prince of Pingyang just speak to her?
And did he say "I'm sorry"?
Seeing his wife's reaction, the Prince of Pingyang lowered his eyes.
Just as Princess Consort of Pingyang thought she had misheard, the Prince of Pingyang spoke again.
"I have wronged you, Pingting!"
"Actually, you don't have to suffer alongside me."
"If you wish, I can give you a letter of divorce."
Clatter!
The chopsticks in Princess Consort of Pingyang's hand fell onto the table.
Her body trembled, and large tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Your Highness, did I do something wrong? Tell me, and I will change!"
"No, you have done very well. It is my fault!"
"I shouldn't be so selfish. You are still young. If you leave me, you can find someone better to spend the rest of your life with!"
Princess Consort of Pingyang suddenly threw herself in front of the Prince of Pingyang, wrapping her arms around his legs.
"Your Highness, ever since I entered the Prince of Pingyang's manor, I have been yours for life."
"Don't even think about driving me away! Alive, I am your person; dead, I am your ghost!"
A surge of sorrow washed over the Prince of Pingyang as she clung to his legs, burying her face against them and weeping bitterly.
The Prince of Pingyang was stunned for a long while.
Only then did he raise his hand to gently stroke Princess Consort of Pingyang's hair.
"Why put yourself through this, entangling yourself for a lifetime with a half-dead man like me?"
Princess Consort of Pingyang shook her head vigorously.
"No, from the first time I saw Your Highness, I knew that you were the right man for Pingting to spend her life with."
"To be able to hold hands with Your Highness is the happiest thing in my life."
"Every day feels like a dream to me, and I am terrified that one day I will wake up and Your Highness won't want me anymore."
"Your Highness, I beg you, please don't drive me away. Even if I can only see you every day, I will be content!"
It was the first time the Prince of Pingyang had heard his wife express her feelings like this.
Their marriage was suddenly bestowed by the Emperor after a drunken bout. After getting married, he and his wife treated each other with mutual respect.
Their marriage lacked the fiery passion described in poetry; it was as plain as water.
The Prince of Pingyang had always assumed that his wife had no feelings for him.
After he was injured in a fall, he only allowed Ling Feng to come near him.
He moved to the study to sleep alone, and even ate all three of his daily meals by himself.
He didn't want to face his wife, so that he could pretend to forget he still had the responsibilities of a man.
He subconsciously ignored his wife, thinking she would eventually be unable to bear it and ask for a divorce.
However, it had been over a year, and his wife had followed him from the capital to the barren lands of Xianyang.
Throughout the entire journey, he hadn't heard a single word of complaint from her.
Earlier, his wife's personal maid had tearfully complained, but in reality, every word was an accusation.
Accusing him of being an inadequate husband, and of failing in his duties!
Because of this, the Prince of Pingyang had finally thought things through.
Rather than letting his wife suffer by his side, it would be better to let go and give her a way out.
The Prince of Pingyang had finally managed to say the word "divorce," but he hadn't expected his wife to be so heartbroken.
"Silly girl!"
The Prince of Pingyang patted his wife's head.
Princess Consort of Pingyang rested her head on the Prince of Pingyang's lap.
"I am not silly! I know exactly what I want! Your Highness shouldn't even think about driving me away!"
The Prince of Pingyang let out a sigh.
"Get up, the floor is cold, and your health isn't good either!"
Princess Consort of Pingyang picked up her handkerchief, wiped her face clean, and finally stood up.
After crying her heart out, the pent-up emotions she had been suppressing for so long felt much lighter.
Ever since the Prince of Pingyang's fall, her father and mother had been writing letters to her, urging her to get a divorce.
But she had burned all of those letters.
She even wrote back to her parents, telling them to just pretend their daughter was dead.
Every day, she worried that the Prince of Pingyang would send her away.
Now that everything was out in the open between them, a burden had been lifted from her heart.
Anyway, she had made up her mind to stay with the Prince of Pingyang for the rest of her life!
Princess Consort of Pingyang's face flushed slightly. She had lost control of her emotions just now, and she wondered if the Prince of Pingyang would be displeased.
Princess Consort of Pingyang secretly peeked up at the Prince of Pingyang, only to meet his gaze directly.
Princess Consort of Pingyang's face instantly turned as red as a bright crimson cloth.
The Prince of Pingyang uncomfortably shifted his gaze away.
He was never one to show his emotions, and encountering such a situation left him even more unsure of how to react.
Princess Consort of Pingyang understood the Prince of Pingyang to some extent, so she called out toward the door.
Soon, someone came in and cleared away the bowls and chopsticks from the table.
A moment later, two cups of steaming hot tea were placed on the table.
"Your Highness, I had someone consult the fortune-teller, and the date three days from now is extremely auspicious."
"On that day, no matter what we do, everything will go smoothly and exactly as we wish!"
The Prince of Pingyang thought for a moment.
"Alright, let's set it for three days from now. I will have Ling Feng send out invitations to all the officials in Xianyang."
"When the time comes, we will host the banquet in the manor's garden."
Princess Consort of Pingyang nodded. "Alright, then all the female guests will be in the backyard, and I shall entertain them."
"And as for Duoduo, when should we have her move back?"
The Prince of Pingyang turned the jade thumb ring on his finger.
"First, have someone tidy up the east wing and see what needs to be added. You will have to work a little harder these next few days."
"She can move in after the family recognition banquet."
Princess Consort of Pingyang didn't quite understand why the Prince of Pingyang was doing this, but she didn't press the matter.
Anyway, a few days wouldn't make much of a difference.
"Then I will have a tailor come to the manor tomorrow to take her measurements and make a few sets of clothes for the child."
"I'll also order some jewelry for her. Actually, for jewelry, it's best to go look at the shop..."
As Princess Consort of Pingyang considered all these arrangements, her face lit up.
The Prince of Pingyang looked thoughtfully at Princess Consort of Pingyang.
"I have nothing scheduled for tomorrow, so I will accompany you two out."
"Ah?" Princess Consort of Pingyang had been mentally calculating whether she had forgotten anything.
Hearing the Prince of Pingyang's sudden words, her mind couldn't process them for a moment.
"I noticed that it has also been a long time since you bought any new jewelry for yourself."
"Tomorrow, you might as well pick out some for yourself too."
The Prince of Pingyang kept a straight face, but his words brought tears to Princess Consort of Pingyang's eyes.
"Why are you crying again?" The Prince of Pingyang furrowed his brows.
Princess Consort of Pingyang hurriedly wiped away her tears and revealed a smile.
"I am just happy! By the way, Your Highness, is it convenient for you to go out on a normal day?"
Princess Consort of Pingyang was aware of the rumors that the Prince of Pingyang had previously ordered Ling Feng to spread.
"They've already gone as far as poisoning my medicine. If I continue to hide like a turtle in its shell and refuse to leave the manor, wouldn't that be exactly what they want?"
"I am going to go out openly and proudly, to let those people see just how tough my life truly is!"
The Prince of Pingyang's eyes were filled with hostility.
"Your Highness, have you found out who poisoned you?"
