The Prince's Daily Face-Slapping - TPDFS 02

Two days later.

The snow-laden road at the base of Wanshou Mountain had finally been cleared, and Jiang Zhuo was the last to depart. Upon her return to the Jiang Mansion, the news of her rejection by the crown prince had already reached the Jiang family.

Jiang Zhuo is without parents.

The second branch consists solely of her and her younger brother, Jiang Huan.

Over the years, the two siblings had been nurtured by the matriarch. When Jiang Zhuo was still betrothed to the crown prince, the matriarch had shown her kindness and refrained from uttering harsh words.

This is unprecedented.

“You were still in your mother’s womb when this marriage was arranged. For seventeen years, everything has proceeded smoothly. How is it possible that, at such a critical juncture, you wish to call it off?” Jiang Zhuo had just returned from Wanshou Temple. Before she could step inside, the matriarch, having already heard the rumors, intercepted her at the door, “The Empress has always held you in high regard. Go to the palace and see her. Whatever the circumstances, bow your head, acknowledge your mistakes, and ensure that this marriage remains intact.”

Jiang Zhuo stood on the steps of the Jiang Mansion, the biting wind and snow striking her face, causing her youthful complexion, visible beneath her cloak, to flush a deep red.

Her sentiments regarding the marriage mirrored those of the matriarch.

She held it in high regard.

The matriarch appreciated the crown prince’s power, while Jiang Zhuo admired Chen Wen as an individual.

Despite their differing motivations, their objectives aligned.

Old Madam Jiang sought to have her curry favor with the crown prince, and she was willing to comply.

At the beginning of the month, medicinal meals were delivered, and by the month’s end, cakes followed suit.

In the two years since she turned fifteen, she had become a frequent visitor to the East Palace.

Half a month ago, the petition to Wanshou Temple had also originated with the matriarch, but they were subsequently stranded on the mountain by heavy snowfall.

It was then that she realized.

Forced endeavors yield no sweetness.

“I refuse to go,” she stood resolutely on the steps, raising her gaze to meet the matriarch’s.

Her once-vibrant eyes, now dulled, mirrored the cold, transparent winter landscape.

Jiang Zhuo possessed a remarkably pure appearance.

She was undeniably a beauty who would draw attention in any crowd.

In that moment, with her icy gaze, she appeared untainted by any impurities. Even the matriarch was momentarily taken aback, as if she were witnessing the second Madam Jiang of years past.

Yet, such beauty failed to captivate the crown prince.

Old Madam Jiang was momentarily at a loss.

While she remained in shock, Jiang Zhuo had already retreated into the house, locking herself away and refusing to see anyone.

The Jiang family was engulfed in turmoil. That night, the matriarch issued a stern ultimatum.

Either go to the palace to speak with the Empress and salvage the marriage, or retreat to the Shen family in Furong City to avoid the ensuing scandal should a divorce letter be issued.

“Prepare everything for the Fourth Miss. Tomorrow, whether she heads east or west, the choice is hers.”

To the east lies the Imperial Palace,

To the west, the Shen family in Furong City.

The journey from Jiangling to Furong City takes half a month. With the year drawing to a close, travel is scarce, and no one could guarantee that they would reach the Shen family safely amidst such heavy snowfall.

Jiang Zhuo heard voices outside, yet still, no one opened the door.

Leaning against the headboard, she listened to the wind rustling the bamboo outside the courtyard through the window. The candlelight in the room flickered gently.

Su Yun stood before her, her eyes already reddened from tears, “Miss, why don’t we go and appeal to the Empress? Even if it’s not regarding the marriage, you could simply ask her to persuade the old lady not to send you away at this time. Would that be acceptable?” She urged softly.

She had witnessed the entirety of the Wanshou Temple incident.

That night, His Highness had come to deliver medicine.

Yet, the young lady no longer required it.

What may have deepened the young lady’s despair was the hairpin that Miss Lin had shattered.

This hairpin had been a cherished gift from her mother, the second wife of the Jiang family.

His Highness had not bothered to hear a single word of explanation, immediately concluding that she was the source of the trouble and consequently severing the engagement.

Although the young lady remained silent upon her return, Su Yun could discern from her demeanor towards the crown prince that she had no intention of salvaging the marriage.

Now, they refrained from seeking a marriage proposal, hoping only that the empress might persuade the old lady.

They wished for the young lady not to be sent to Furong City.

Jiang Zhuo did not respond, instead gazed at her, “What was I like before?”

Su Yun was taken aback.

“I admired the Crown Prince,” she added.

Without waiting for Su Yun’s response, she hugged her knees and murmured, “Very unappealing.”

“Since I am already disliked, how could I humiliate myself further? In the future, do not mention the prospect of entering the palace again,” Jiang Zhuo looked at her, eyes glistening with unshed tears.

In the past, she had relied on the 3mpress’ favor, which had drawn the ire of many. The empress, however, had held great affection for her.

After all, she was the mother of the crown prince.

How could Jiang Zhuo seek assistance regarding the affairs of her Jiang family?

Su Yun chose not to press her further.

After a moment of silence, she lowered her gaze and asked softly, “Miss, are you truly willing to give up?”

The young lady had harbored feelings for His Highness since childhood.

She had loved him for ten years.

The affection of her youth had intertwined with her admiration for him.

As she matured, her love evolved into something deeper.

Ten years of devotion, could it truly be dismissed so easily?

Jiang Zhuo was momentarily taken aback, her throat tightening once again. She remained silent for a long while.

“I am willing to.”

What was there to cling to?

The man she had adored for a decade was merely a figment of her imagination, a beautiful dream she had woven for herself.

So absorbed was she in this illusion that she was reluctant to awaken. But upon realizing his feelings for her, everything suddenly felt light and detached. He had emerged from the shadows she had constructed, and all her hopes had dimmed.

She buried her face in her arms, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders. In the soft light, her curled form appeared both fragile and desolate.

Su Yun watched, tears welling up anew, “Very well, we shall not seek assistance; we will depart for Furong City tomorrow.”

…

The scattered lights in the night sky remained unextinguished until midnight.

As Su Yun lifted the curtain, snowflakes flew toward her face. The snowfall that had ceased overnight had now resumed.

Jiang Zhuo followed suit and rose, but paused at the door to look back.

The smoke from the incense burner behind the beaded curtain was faint, and everything appeared as usual.

She turned and plunged into the snow, realizing that her departure today would likely mean waiting until spring of the following year to return.

She did not bid farewell to anyone.

She hesitated to visit Old Madam Jiang, fearing she would disappoint her grandmother.

She also refrained from going to the residence of the second young master, concerned that he would side with his own and create a scene with the grandmother.

However, upon reaching the gate, they discovered Aunt Wu and the second sister standing by the carriage, holding umbrellas.

When Aunt Wu noticed the bundle in Su Yun’s hand, her expression shifted, “My dear girl, have you thought this through?”

Jiang Zhuo nodded in response.

Aunt Wu, visibly anxious, paced before her, “Do you realize how old you are this year?”

She lowered her gaze.

How could she not be aware of her own age?

“Seventeen.”

The marriage contract had been in place since her birth, yet after seventeen years, she had still not married into the Eastern Palace.

She had not understood this before.

Now, however, it became clear: the crown prince did not wish to marry her.

Once the engagement was called off, her reputation—regardless of its standing—would not favor her current age.

This was Aunt Wu’s concern.

The daughter of the prime minister’s household would not be unable to marry, but when discussions resumed, her terms would be significantly diminished. Even if a suitable match was found, how could it compare to the Eastern Palace?

Aunt Wu earnestly advised her, “The Empress has previously stated that she recognizes you as her daughter-in-law. While the Lin family’s cousin is also related to the Empress, she cannot overshadow the fact that you and the Crown Prince have a prior engagement. When you eventually marry into the Eastern Palace and become the Crown Princess, she will at best be a concubine beneath you. Why argue with her at this juncture?”

The Jiang family was aware of the rumors circulating.

Aunt Wu was also informed.

It was said that Jiang Zhuo had struck the crown prince’s cousin, leading the crown prince to protect his own and seek to dissolve the engagement.

Who would not be angered? Aunt Wu felt the same.

Yet, considering the long-term implications, she had to temper her frustration. After all, which family did not have multiple wives and concubines, especially one as significant as the crown prince’s?

“Listen to aunt: endure this insult for now, and then approach the Empress with a few tears. She will surely empathize with you.”

Aunt Wu endeavored to persuade her wholeheartedly, but Jiang Zhuo remained unmoved.

She lifted the oil-paper umbrella slightly, revealing her clear eyes, “Aunt once told me that things won through tears are often the least dependable.”

This simple statement halted Aunt Wu’s relentless entreaties.

She opened her mouth but ultimately refrained from further persuasion.

“Fourth sister.”

Jiang Ran stepped forward and embraced Jiang Zhuo. She understood how deeply Jiang Zhuo admired the crown prince.

Whenever they conversed, the crown prince was invariably the topic of discussion.

That kind of person who occupies your thoughts, in the end, she faced rejection.

After returning from Wanshou Temple, Jiang Zhuo secluded herself in her room. Despite several attempts to see her, she was unable to gain entry.

The words she had intended to use for persuasion evolved overnight.

“He is blind.”

As soon as the second girl finished speaking, Aunt Wu glanced around nervously, turned to Jiang Ran, and admonished her, “Why are you so careless with your words? That is the Crown Prince.”

Unfazed, Jiang Ran released Jiang Zhuo and replied with a suppressed smile, “See? Even Mother acknowledges that the blind man is the Crown Prince.”

“You little rascal,” Aunt Wu shot a disapproving glare at her.

Amidst the commotion, a faint smile finally graced Jiang Zhuo’s face, “Second sister, please take good care of Grandmother.”

Jiang Ran dismissed the need for concern, “There are plenty of people in the house; you need not worry. I anticipated your departure and prepared an additional carriage for you.”

Jiang Zhuo stepped over the threshold to observe the preparations. Not only was there an extra carriage, but Jiang Ran had also arranged for a cook.

“If you encounter heavy snow, it may take a month to arrive. Should there be no accommodations along the way, you cannot afford to go hungry. I ensured everything necessary was prepared for you last night,” Jiang Ran took her arm and guided her towards the carriage. “Furong City boasts excellent water and soil, along with handsome men and beautiful women. Perhaps sister will find a suitable husband there.”

Her words were intended to comfort Jiang Zhao.

Crown Prince Chen Wen, regardless of other considerations, was a man of exceptional talent, rare to find. Furthermore, beauty is subjective, and Jiang Zhuo had often extolled his virtues.

It would indeed be challenging to find anyone more handsome than him.

“Very well,” Jiang Zhuo acquiesced.

It was only after she boarded the carriage, the curtain drawn, and the wheels in motion, that Aunt Wu came to a realization.

She hurried after the carriage for a few paces and called out to Jiang Zhuo inside, “I have heard that your eldest sister has also returned to Furong City. If you find it uncomfortable at the Shen family, you may visit your eldest sister.”

“Alright.”

Jiang Zhuo brushed aside the curtain, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

I have no parents.

Yet, I am cherished within the Jiang family.

Who would not feel sympathy for her?

Her aunt can be considered a maternal figure.

After her parents passed away, her grandmother raised both her and her younger brother. How could one not empathize with her? She sought to compel herself through this method, albeit reluctantly.

She longed to journey to Furong City.

This would allow her to evade the aftermath of the annulled engagement and finally release herself from that individual.

As the carriage was about to leave the Jiang family’s alley, the second young master rushed out of the gate, sprinting until he caught up with Jiang Zhuo.

“Sister.”

Jiang Huan, now thirteen, had already matched her height. He stood before the carriage window, fists clenched, determination etched on his face.

“I will go to the palace for you and plead with the Crown Prince,” after declaring this, his chest rose and fell rapidly, his lips trembling as if he might cry at any moment.

His sister did not wish to go to the palace to beg.

He would go in her stead.

He would procure anything she desired.

Jiang Zhuo laughed heartily and reached out from the carriage to lightly touch his head, “Why should I plead with him? Even if I did, I wouldn’t want him.”

Observing Jiang Huan’s foolish expression, she chuckled, “Uncle wrote a letter recently indicating that grandmother is unwell, so I must go visit her.”//TN: Maternal grandmother//

After a moment of stunned silence, he regained his composure, “Sister, you truly…”

Jiang Zhuo nodded affirmatively, “Indeed.”

Jiang Huan remained skeptical.

She reassured him once more, “Rest assured, your sister genuinely no longer has feelings for him.”

When they were at the Wanshou Temple, Jiang Huan’s fever had subsided. Upon hearing Su Yun’s words, he had a strong urge to rush out in search of the crown prince, but Jiang Zhuo restrained him.

Though she claimed she had moved on, he noticed the redness in her eyes and understood that her words were largely a façade.

He felt a deep sense of self-loathing for his inability to support his sister.

The marriage had been decreed by the emperor.

Had their parents still been alive, how could the crown prince so easily speak of breaking the engagement? His sister would never have endured such humiliation.

Yet, as Jiang Huan looked at her again, he saw a look of relief on her face.

It appeared she had truly let go.

“When I return, I’ll bring you the dried tofu grandmother made,” Jiang Zhuo said with a smile, drawing the curtain down.

Only then did the sorrow in her heart surface in her eyes.

As the carriage turned a corner, Jiang Huan remained standing in the snow, lost in thought.

Nanny Zhang observed everything from the courtyard and later informed Old Madam Jiang, “She has left. The second young master pursued her, but he could not bring her back.”

Old Madam Jiang appeared despondent, “She is just like her mother—stubborn. When she loves something, she does so wholeheartedly. Yet, when she is hurt, she relinquishes it without hesitation.”

As a child, Jiang Zhuo had a fondness for bamboo and aspired to cultivate a bamboo grove at the courtyard gate.

She tended to the bamboo seedlings daily, replanting them only for them to perish once more. After two years of this, realizing that none had survived, she opted to plant red plum trees instead.

Later, it was Old Madam Jiang who discreetly had a few bamboo shoots buried by Nanny Zhang, resulting in the bamboo grove that now graced her home.

“If her parents were still alive, I would never impose such a decision upon her. However, she and her brother have been parentless since childhood. Who will they depend on in the future? Marrying the Crown Prince is the most advantageous path for her. The second wife was sworn sisters with the Empress before her death, and the Empress will treat her kindly. Once she establishes herself in the palace, the second young master will also have someone to rely on,” Old Madam Jiang spoke with fervor, her eyes glistening with moisture by the end.

“The memorial tablets have been in the ancestral hall for so many years, their names resounding yet cold to the touch. Whether this is worthwhile, you know best in your heart,” As her emotions surged, she referenced Jiang Zhuo’s deceased parents once more.

Nanny Zhang interjected, “But there’s still the old madam who cares for her.”

“How many more years can this old body of mine endure?”

After a moment of sorrow, Old Madam Jiang gradually composed herself and instructed Nanny Zhang, “Send a message to those along the way. Ensure that those responsible for caring for my Jiang family’s daughter do so diligently.”

It is wise to venture outside and avoid the limelight, so as not to feel stifled.