Chapter 21: The Prince's Answer

The Prince of Beihai was a lean man with a plain face and a slight stoop.

He spoke like someone who did not often have to raise his voice.

He bowed to the Empress Dowager first, and then, to the surprise of the whole court, to Mingzhu.

"Princess," he said.

"May I ask you a question, here, in front of everyone, so that nothing is said behind a screen?"

"You may," said Mingzhu.

"Do you want this marriage?"

The hall went quiet.

Mingzhu looked at him for a long moment.

"No," she said.

"I am sorry. I did not want it from the day the Marquis read your name in this room."

"It is nothing to do with you. I have never met you."

"I thought so."

"Did you?"

"Three weeks ago, I received a letter from the Marquis."

"It said the princess was shy, and hesitant, and that a gentleman's gift to the right ears would help her to a happy decision."

"I sent the three thousand taels."

The Prince's mouth thinned.

"I was a fool. I thought I was buying a short road. I was buying a woman's fear."

A few ministers looked at their shoes.

"I rode south a day early because the letter troubled me."

"I had a notion to see her face before the Autumn Moon, and not on a wedding day."

He turned slightly.

"I have seen it now. I saw it when she walked in holding that young woman's hand."

Ruoxi felt her ears go hot.

"Your Majesty," the Prince said to the dais, "I withdraw the proposal."

"I withdraw it with no insult to Qiyun and no grievance against the princess."

"I ask that the second three thousand taels, which I never paid, be forgotten."

"I ask that the first three thousand be recovered from the Marquis's estate and given to the Censorate."

Keep reading free with an account. Start The Poison Taster Who Outlived the Princess's Dinners from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.