Chapter 25: He Doesn’t Want You

“More people have come outside, they’ve brought two carts of gifts!”

Xiaoman came running in a hurry, barely able to set down the tray in her hands. “Everyone’s so joyous, smiling from ear to ear, the madam looks radiant, the guests are pleased. So why does this maid feel… a little odd?”

The little maid looked bewildered and couldn’t tell what was wrong, but Tang Wanning smiled. “Because what looks like congratulations are actually mockery.”

And what were they mocking? Of course it’s the deposed Crown Prince himself.

What of youthful pride, or the army’s loyalty? The court examines whether a candidate’s features are intact when choosing officials, how much more so for a sovereign? He who had his legs ruined also lost forever the chance to take the next step.

The deposed Crown Prince’s leg injury carried a heavy narrative. At first it was a pretty positive one: a man who fought on the battlefield to defend the nation, naturally brave and skillful, both wise and courageous, like a deity descended. Even if he had minor wounds from time to time, they wouldn’t strike at his foundation. When the current emperor ascended, he was duly made heir apparent. But after the realm was pacified and he returned in triumph, everything changed.

Civil officials grew in power while military men had no battles to fight and had to lie low, so the court atmosphere slowly shifted. Then three years ago the witchcraft case stained the palace with blood and implicated many, including the Crown Prince. But because his military achievements were so great, people didn’t abandon him overnight. Yet barely a year later he became entangled in an escape by the remnants of that case. Perhaps to prove his innocence, he personally gave chase, only to blunder into a deadly place. In the end, his leg was broken and he was poisoned too.

With an untreated leg wound and his personal reputation seemingly stained, and with the borders now peaceful so the grand realm needed less military force, the Crown Prince’s removal became almost inevitable, a matter of course.

Once an heir is stripped of the crown position, his prospects sink steadily. The likely end was death, there were few exceptions. Not to mention the poison he bore—he probably won’t last a year. Any woman who married him entered as a widow-in-waiting. With such a husband, forget riches or anything like that. The man’s life was already cut short, how could there be happiness for years to come? Whoever compared themselves would feel superior. Why wouldn’t they offer insincere compliments that thinly veiled mockery?

Xiaoman was stunned for a moment, then big tears streamed down her face.

As her lady’s maid, she had been shocked and worried when she first heard of the bestowed marriage, but the ensuing bustle left her no time to sort her feelings. Now, struck to the chest, she was inconsolable. “Miss is a fine girl, beautiful and kind, orphaned at a young age and barely holding on until now. To finally have a chance at a considerate, loving husband, and the choice is… this? And all these people are mocking the whole arrangement? How are we supposed to live after this?”

Why does fate have to be so cruel! What right do they have!

Tang Wanning lightly tapped the little maid’s cheek with her slender finger. “What is there to fear?”

It’s certainly better than marrying the Second Prince and becoming blinded or losing a child.

The Second Prince didn’t truly love her, he only sought emotional solace. He didn’t care if it was her or Tang Wanlan. Either way, once that illusion is shattered, all solace ceases to be solace. The current tolerance and affection would later become mistakes and failures. He wouldn’t be able to endure it himself, and the situation would worsen.

If the deposed Crown Prince’s health was poor, so be it. If he’s to die, then die. Everyone dies in the end. The country didn’t have the culture of making the wife die together with her husband, so becoming a well-off widow with money to spare for food and drink didn’t sound so bad.

Widows were a vulnerable group, and doubly so as the deposed Crown Prince’s consort. If others didn’t treat her kindly, how would they display magnanimity? Her life would be useful in that way.

Tang Wanning considered casually and found the advantages alluring. “Your miss will be able to live well no matter where she ends up.”

She didn’t think the decision was rash. The word ‘love’ was a luxury to her. It would be very, very hard to obtain. She didn’t believe she had that luck and never expected it. She only needed to plan and control her own life, and that was enough.

Xiaoman looked over with red eyes, voice trembling with sobs. “It shouldn’t be like this… Miss deserves a good life, Miss is worthy!”

Her Miss was used to comfort and never suffered! She was grieving on her miss’s behalf!

Tang Wanning ruffled the little maid’s head and, for some reason, thought of the young man in the wheelchair at the Wang family banquet. That man was so prickly he’d have no friends, let alone a wife… It’s a shame. Both of them were disabled, in wheelchairs, but at least the deposed Crown Prince could have her. She wondered when he would meet a person he liked. What kind of girl would she be? Would she have wide, flickering eyes, a smile as bright as sunshine?

The world was a hard place. She hoped everyone could find happiness.

“Sister, what are you doing dawdling here?” Tang Wanlan came over, smiling sweetly as she looped her arm through Tang Wanning’s. “Quick, come with me to the front hall. So many people are waiting to see you!”

When they reached the front hall, there were not only colorful decorations and a crowd so packed it hurt the eyes, but also an overlapping tide of voices.

“Oh, so this is the future new princess consort! Come over so we can get a good look!”

“She really is beautiful, gosh! Lovely brows and pretty eyes, graceful and generous. The imperial family chooses well!”

“What incredible fengshui is hiding in the House of the Earl? A girl can be so beautiful? Such blessed luck!”

The madams vied to pull Tang Wanning forward and heap praise upon her, words flowing as if free. Their voices were heartfelt and earnest, except their eyes betrayed full pity, as if they were about to sigh.

Tang Wanning pretended not to understand, wearing an expression of “what are you talking about”. “Madams, you flatter me too much.”

Knowing the young girl was shy and would want to hide it, they didn’t bluntly state it. Instead they exchanged meaningful glances. Only one madam with thin brows and lips, dressed in a pale green gown, pressed on, “Come, let me ask you. You’ll soon have a husband. Are you happy?”

Tang Wanning recognized her: at the Wang family banquet this woman had stood behind the matriarch, Mrs. Wang, serving diligently. She was the wife of the eldest son, Madam Wu.

“Well…” she lowered her head in a demure act and quickly glanced at Madam Zhou. “Marriage is a major affair to be decided by elders and matchmakers. I, as the younger generation, dare not speak presumptuously.”

Madam Wu lifted the corner of her mouth and chuckled, “Look at you. If your aunt casually fixed you up with some poor lad, could you accept that? Not even a single cry?”

Tang Wanning replied solemnly, “My aunt has always cared for me. If she truly arranged such a gentleman, then he must have some extraordinary quality. I should not judge with a petty heart and focus only on wealth.”

Madam Wu was momentarily taken aback. “What about boundless riches? If your aunt dared to find you such prosperity, would you dare to take it?”

Tang Wanning looked up, neither humble nor arrogant. “If my aunt were to push for this union with all her might, she would only do so because she believes I’m worthy.”

Pah! What audacity!

But someone who could speak so plainly and endure so well was precisely the sort to be a household matriarch! A good wife brings prosperity for three generations. The madams gasped and looked envious. Such a fine girl, how could she be wasted on that cripple! They hadn’t even had the chance to act yet!

Madam Wu’s eyes tightened and she sneered sarcastically, “So much confidence? I’m afraid there’s already something arranged, you have it all worked out, don’t you? I’m just saying, the Earl’s house should tighten its rules and not let their daughters meet outside men.”

This sweeping accusation, of course, was something that Madam Zhou could not just let slide. The Earl’s house had more than just Tang Wanning as a daughter. Everyone remembered how Madam Zhou’s own daughter had advanced!

“Madam, calm yourself. Although there were some breaches of decorum at your household’s banquet, it’s not entirely your fault. Other families aren’t all like that either.” This referred to the scheme against the County Lady that Jiang Jingyan made a fuss about.

Madam Wu’s gaze shot up. “Countess, you needn’t excuse your niece. Someone actually saw her meeting with a man at my doorstep!”

Tang Wanning spoke up, “Madam, what do you mean by that? On the way back from seeing the County Lady off, I happened to run into someone. Isn’t it only proper to greet them? I do not know the Wang family’s rules, but I do not believe my conduct was improper. I did not disgrace myself nor the reputation of the Earl’s household. If necessary, Princess Ruihua can come out to adjudicate. If you have other evidence, feel free to produce it for confrontation!”

She refused to believe that a man in a wheelchair could be called a traitor, or that the simple act of him allowing her to use his wheelchair’s armrest as a support could be talked about in this manner!

Madam Wu was silenced.

At that moment, the older maid behind Madam Wu heard something from a servant, came over, and quietly reported it to Madam Wu.

“Pff—” Madam Wu couldn’t help herself and laughed aloud, looking at Tang Wanning as if at something ridiculous and filthy. “I thought she was blessed, a sparrow flown up to become a phoenix, but a sparrow is only a sparrow. How could she climb such a high branch?”

Everyone was stunned. What did she mean?

Madam Wu snorted, “All those flowery words as though it’s real. It turns out that the other party doesn’t want this at all. Prince Xiangyang resisted the imperial decree! Any family’s daughter could become princess consort but not you. He doesn’t care for someone like you at all!”

Tang Wanlan was shocked. “Wh-what? How could that be? My sister is virtuous, gentle, and beautiful. Prince Xiangyang certainly likes her!”

She was genuinely surprised, but others took it as her worrying for her sister. But there was no time for that now. They all hurriedly asked Madam Wu what exactly had happened.

Madam Wu took a breath, smoothed her hair, and smiled with composed restraint. “News from the palace isn’t so easily settled. There’s a good reason why the imperial edict hasn’t arrived at the Earl’s residence yet. The emperor did intend to issue it, but unexpectedly, last night Prince Xiangyang stormed the palace overnight to resist the decree! Bearing the name of disobedience and unfilial conduct, he told the emperor he couldn’t do it, that he didn’t like the Tang family daughter and would rather die than marry her, forcing the emperor to relent and allow him to pick a bride himself. Even if Prince Xiangyang could make his own choice, he certainly wouldn’t pick the girl from the Tang family.”

In the span of a few heartbeats, everything changed.

The flattery of before turned into awkwardness. The looks cast at Tang Wanning were full of pity.

The emperor bestowed the marriage, and yet the Prince dared to storm the palace and resist the edict? All because he did not want to marry Tang Wanning? What sort of courage did it take! How much did he hate that decree!

Madam Wu felt refreshed, narrowing her eyes at Tang Wanning as she drawled, “So much for that confidence just now. Didn’t expect to be slapped in the face like this, did you?”

Tang Wanning was surprised too, but for her the urgent matter was how to weather this. She dug her fingernails into her palm inside her sleeve but kept her face calm. “What? Madam just hinted I would soon have a husband. You were referring to Prince Xiangyang?”

A perfectly innocent look of “I didn’t know” was enough to get through this embarrassing moment.

“I had thought…that madam meant to introduce someone to me.”

Madam Wu paused.

Indeed, people watched their words carefully. From start to finish nobody uttered the words ‘Prince Xiangyang.’ This little vixen feigning ignorance… actually sounded logical? No no, it should have been her disgrace. But why did every sentence make Madam Wu feel awkward instead?

Madam Wu’s expression hardened. “Don’t pretend you don’t know. If you’ve lost face, you’ve lost face. I’m telling you, if you won’t give the circle face, don’t blame the circle for not giving you face. The road to wealth and status is closed to you!”

Tang Wanning knew the woman was hinting about the Wang family banquet, where she had indeed seen off Jiang Jingyan and the County Lady but had not spoken on behalf of the Wangs. “Why does madam assume that everyone would want the road to wealth? Madam’s own road to riches has been so smooth, did it make you very happy?”

Madam Wu came from a respectable background and had been envied among the capital’s young ladies, but after marrying into the Wang family she was shaped and squeezed by her mother-in-law and rarely had the chance to go out alone. Everyone in the circle knew this.

“You! Tsk, what good is your clever tongue here,” Madam Wu snapped in anger, as she spun around and turned to leave, “we’ll see about that!”