The Prince of Pingyang fiddled with the jade thumb ring on his hand.
"Imperial Father has delayed appointing a Crown Prince for so long that the struggles between my brothers have finally broken out into the open," he said. "Even in my current state—unable to even stand, long stripped of the qualifications to contest for that throne—they still persist in planting so many spies within my manor."
"The Second Prince even went through the great trouble of delivering that child right to me. Had I shown even a flicker of affection for her back then, she would likely be dead by now."
"What? How is that possible?" The Princess of Pingyang’s heart tightened. "She is but a child; she poses no threat to them. Why would they go to such lengths?" She couldn't wrap her mind around it.
A cold, mocking smile played on the Prince’s lips. "Why? Simply because the daughter of the Song family carries the reputation of being a 'Lucky Star.' Magistrate Song is preening with pride, oblivious to the fact that he lacks the power to protect his own child. Such hollow titles are nothing more than death warrants."
"But... wasn't it said that Duo-duo’s elder sister is the Lucky Star?" the Princess asked, her face filled with bewilderment. "And hasn't the Song Matriarch already taken Song Shuyu to seek refuge with the Second Prince? I remember what Lu-dou said... could the rumors really be wrong?"
"The Second Prince is a man of exceptional paranoia," the Prince replied, his voice laced with ferocity. "Born of the same womb, two flowers on a single stalk—who is to say which is a blessing and which is a curse? His nature is to rather kill a thousand innocents than let one threat slip through his fingers."
"When Duo-duo first entered the manor and accidents befell me one after another, the spies the Second Prince planted reported it immediately. He learned that I had ordered the child to be a servant to keep her away from me. Fearing her 'bad luck' wasn't affecting me enough, he had someone whisper in Imperial Father’s ear, which prompted the Imperial Decree."
"I then had people spread the rumor in the capital that Song Shuyu was the true Lucky Star. Worried that others might snatch her away, the Second Prince struck first, urging Imperial Father to issue a decree formalizing Song Shuyu’s status as his adopted daughter."
The Princess finally saw the light. "No wonder when the palace messengers arrived that day, they mentioned having to go to Fengcheng. They were going to announce that decree as well."
The Prince nodded. "I wasn't entirely certain that day, but my plants at the Second Prince’s side reported back that Imperial Father had indeed issued the order."
"But, my Lord, if Song Shuyu is a Lucky Star, why didn't you try to take her back? You must have let the decree pass just to push the boat along with the current, right?" she guessed.
The Prince gave her a look of approval. "Since the Second Prince wants a Lucky Star so badly, I decided to fulfill his wish. Isn't that a win-win situation?" He looked at his wife. "I have followed Imperial Father through battles since I was a boy. I have seen too much of life and death; I have never believed in 'Lucky' or 'Calamity' stars. I only believe that destiny is forged by human effort."
"Furthermore, she is just a small child. How could she possibly determine someone's life or death? It was all mere coincidence, yet they shifted the blame onto a child. It is utterly shameless; the child is entirely innocent."
"Then... when your strategist suggested it back then, you didn't actually believe him?" The Princess left the rest unsaid—if he hadn't believed it, he wouldn't have brought Duo-duo back.
The Prince smiled faintly. "That strategist was one of the Second Prince’s men." Seeing his wife’s shock, he continued, "The moment he was sent here, Ling Feng and the others dug up his entire history. I kept him around only to see what the Second Prince was trying to dig up. Thanks to him, I had the opportunity to root out every other spy planted by the other factions."
"I went to the Song manor initially because I wanted to understand why the Second Prince’s man would make such a suggestion. So, I went."
"And if you had seen Song Shuyu instead when you went?" the Princess asked, pondering the alternative.
"The Matriarch's personal maid was also the Second Prince’s plant," the Prince explained. "Therefore, the only person who would have been allowed to see me was Duo-duo."
The Princess gasped in realization. "The maid you killed?"
The Prince nodded. "The Second Prince thinks everything I do is within his grasp. He could never imagine that everything he does is within mine. However, he will never guess that there are always variables in life beyond our control." He smiled derisively.
The Princess fell silent. Some of this she knew, but much of it was unheard of. She realized now that the Prince’s previous treatment of Duo-duo was a means of protection. She had almost distanced herself from the girl because of the "Calamity Star" reputation. She recalled that while the Prince didn't object to Duo-duo being a maid, he had Nanny Li teach her etiquette. He had even personally taught her to read. These were all signs of his affection.
"My Lord, I feel you are very fond of that child," the Princess said with a smile, reaching out to massage his shoulders.
The Prince stroked his jade ring, his gaze fixed on the empty space in the courtyard. "The child is good. She reminds me inexplicably of myself when I was young. To have a father, yet no love. To work so hard, yet still be cast aside. To be of the same blood, yet never receive equal affection."
"We are all just chess pieces in our father’s hand," his voice turned chilling in the darkness. "When we are no longer useful, that is the day we die."
The Princess shuddered and stopped her movements. The Prince turned his wheelchair to face her.
"I will ask you this one last time. In this struggle for the throne, I have no path left to retreat. It will only become more dangerous from here. If you choose to stay with me, I will do my utmost to keep you safe. But there are variables in everything; I cannot guarantee perfection. If you do not wish to take this risk, I will write a letter of divorce immediately and have you sent back to your family tomorrow."
He stared directly into her eyes. "Think carefully. I do not wish to turn my back to someone who wavers."
The Princess reflected for a moment. "I have made up my mind. From the first moment I saw you, I made a vow. In this life, I shall share your bed in life and your grave in death. I will never leave you."
She looked at him bravely. After a long silence, a smile slowly bloomed on the Prince’s face.
