Chapter 3: 第3章

Only this Murong Feng was almost an non-existent person.

Her mother, Lady Murong Qiu Wanyue, also came from a prestigious family. When Murong Feng was born, she was sent to live with her maternal grandparents—who resided in a place of beautiful scenery and mild climate—due to her frail constitution. It was only after Old Lady Qiu passed away from illness that she was brought back home, yet she was ignored by everyone due to her timid nature and lack of eloquence.

In truth, the Empress Dowager and the Empress had originally chosen the Fourth Miss, Murong Xue, who was not yet sixteen, for the Fourth Prince. However, Murong Qingliang could not bear to see his most beloved youngest daughter marry the Fourth Prince, whose reputation in court was the most scandalous. Using the excuse that his youngest daughter was still too young, he selected his third daughter, Murong Feng, whom he cared for the least.

He never expected that for the first time in her life, Murong Feng would defy her parents' wishes. She knelt for a long time before the ancestral hall, begging them not to marry her to the Fourth Prince, but she happened to encounter a heavy night rain. After being drenched by the cold rain all night, she fell into a coma for three days and three nights, and in the end, she failed to change the fact that she had to marry.

As for the Fourth Prince, his surname was Sima and his given name was Rui. He was the second son of the Empress and a full sibling to the eldest prince, Sima Zhe, yet they were polar opposites. While the eldest prince was just and temperate, this Fourth Prince was unrestrained and wild. People said he was lustful and heartless; he was never without women by his side, yet he had never been devoted to a single one.

As for why the Empress Dowager and the Empress chose a daughter from the Murong family for their second son, people speculated it was because the Fourth Miss of the Murong family possessed world-renowned beauty. But as to why they agreed to settle for the next best option, Murong Feng, people speculated it might have been due to the mediation of the Crown Princess, Murong Qian.

But as to the true reason, no one truly knew.

Bai Min learned all this from Chunliu's mouth. She also saw Murong Xue.

Although she had said that no one was allowed to visit her, she still could not stop Murong Xue from coming to see her. It seemed people had no immunity whatsoever to the celestial-like Fourth Miss of the Murong Estate, so Murong Xue appeared before Bai Min without any resistance.

Murong Xue was indeed very beautiful, so beautiful it took one's breath away. But Bai Min merely offered a silent thought of "as beautiful as a flower indeed" in her heart and left it at that. She felt Murong Xue was too exquisite and perfect, which actually made her lack character; she was like a flower carved from jade—no matter how much she resembled a real flower, she lacked the texture of life. Being beautiful without flaw actually caused her to lose her charm. Murong Xue was indeed beautiful; every movement and every smile could indeed topple cities and nations, but what did all that have to do with her, Bai Min?

"Third Sister." Murong Xue's voice was also soft and melodious, calling out gently like heavenly music.

Bai Min sighed softly. She was in no mood to entertain Murong Feng's biological sister, so she said lazily, "Chunliu, I am going to rest. Escort the Fourth Miss back for me."

"Third Sister." Murong Xue called out again. "I wish to speak with you, Sister."

Bai Min turned back with a smile. "I am leaving the estate early the day after tomorrow, so I truly have no mood for conversation right now. You should head back." Glancing at Chunliu, she said indifferently, "See the guest out."

She turned and walked away immediately.

Watching her leave, Murong Xue felt a vague sense of strangeness. This was nothing like her Third Sister of old. Her mother had told her that Third Sister had entered the palace to marry the Fourth Prince in her stead, and feeling guilty, she had come specifically to visit. Her mother had also told her that after Third Sister recovered from her illness, her personality had changed greatly, but she hadn't expected her to be this cold—even her eyes and brows held only a faint indifference, neither close nor distant.

By comparison, Bai Min felt she actually preferred this version of Murong Feng—the one without a story, who had become one with her. If it were fate, perhaps she could let this Murong Feng live a free and easy life; after all, her soul had borrowed someone else's body. She remembered that the books she read while being Bai Min said that once one enters the palace, it is as deep as the sea, and serving a monarch is like serving a tiger. She had also watched many television dramas about the intrigues of the imperial palace; now that it was her turn, she would truly see how terrifying it was.

If what Chunliu said was true—that Murong Feng's parents had sacrificed the lifelong happiness of the daughter they didn't value to fulfill that of their other daughter—then it was natural to feel resentment. Although the soul was Bai Min's, she could not completely reject certain aspects of Murong Feng; the two of them were one, and she felt she was merely speaking the words that were in Murong Feng's heart.

Murong Feng was a quite intelligent woman. Bai Min had seen her needlework and her calligraphy; they were not ostentatious but possessed a clear and bright style, suggesting she was surely a woman of refined intellect and grace. After all, Old Lady Qiu was a lady of high standing and had applied great care in disciplining this granddaughter raised by her side.

It was just that Murong Feng was not good with words, had a dull personality, and was weak in handling affairs. This was likely related to her growing up under someone else's roof. Because Old Lady Qiu had grandchildren of a similar age, Chunliu said they would often bully her in secret, and with no one to turn to for help, she could only endure it, thus developing a character of constant yielding and avoiding conflict.

During these two days before leaving the estate to marry, Bai Min had Chunliu close the doors to all visitors. Aside from Murong Xue, no one was allowed to step a single inch into her boudoir. Ever since seeing Murong Feng's lukewarm dismissal of the Fourth Miss, Chunliu had not dared to let anyone appear before Bai Min again, including the Master and Madam.

Everything was ready; only the east wind was missing.

The Murong Estate had long since prepared a generous dowry for Murong Feng, partly for the sake of face, partly out of a sense of guilt toward this daughter, and partly because they had no choice but to make such a grand spectacle.

No one had known that the Third Miss of the Murong Estate had once knelt for a long time to refuse the marriage to the Fourth Prince. The common people in the city only knew that another daughter of the Murong Estate was getting married, and also to a Prince. Although this Prince had a poor reputation, for ordinary people, being able to marry into the imperial clan was something they wouldn't even dare to dream of.

Allowing the wedding lady to dress her, Bai Min kept her eyes closed, her expression as calm as still water, showing neither joy nor sorrow. She could only hear the sounds of wedding music, the thunderous drums, and the bustling crowds in her ears.

Lady Murong had instructed Chunliu and Chuntao to accompany her into the palace, leaving the decision of whether to stay or not to her own discretion.

The sedan chair made her feel drowsy; it swayed with a rhythmic and steady motion. She hadn't realized the distance from the Murong Estate to the Imperial Palace was so great; Bai Min estimated it would take about two hours to arrive. She couldn't be bothered to look out along the way; the wedding veil covered her face, which had been enhanced with rouge and powder. She leaned against the back of the seat inside the sedan to doze off. The wedding attire was so red it made her eyes dizzy, and the phoenix crown pressed against her temples, causing a faint ache.

Finally, they arrived. In a daze, she was helped down from the sedan. Following the lengthy rituals step by step, she felt like a puppet being manipulated, thinking only of finding a place to rest, drink some water, and eat something. She was truly exhausted, weary, thirsty, and hungry. Had she known, she should have had Chunliu prepare some food to hide on her person before boarding the sedan.

The groom extended his hand; it was fair and slender, and his nails were clean. But Bai Min felt an undisguised coldness and rejection, a repulsion that even the bright red wedding attire could not suppress. She mechanically placed her hand in his, feeling as if she had placed it on a block of ice. At that moment, she suddenly felt a sense of clarity, as if a chill had run from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.

There was no need to ask; Bai Min knew that this Fourth Prince had no welcome at all for Murong Feng's marriage. This was for the best; if he was heartless and she was indifferent, it would be just right for them to each mind their own business.