Chapter 99
1) Eldest Prince × Wei Yunjia
The Wei family received a guest - the newly appointed Jin Wang, the eldest prince Yue Ge.
[Prince of Jin" (晋王, Jìn wáng): a noble title in imperial China, with "Jin" referring to the ancient state/region of Jin.)
Yue Ge could be considered Wei Yunzhao’s ancient pen pal, though he had little connection with Jiang Lin.
However, his visit to the Wei family was not to see either of them, but rather Wei Yunjia. Yue Ge requested to speak with Wei Yunjia alone. Considering their betrothal, Wei Yunzhao agreed.
But the moment Yue Ge was led to meet Wei Yunjia, Jiang Lin immediately pulled Wei Yunzhao along to eavesdrop.
Seeing his wife so eager, Wei Yunzhao couldn’t bring himself to stop her and obediently let himself be dragged away.
Yue Ge and Wei Yunjia met in the courtyard of her residence, with maidservants waiting at a distance, far enough not to disturb their conversation.
Wei Yunjia curtsied. “Greetings, Your Highness Jin Wang.” She knew exactly why he had come - their arranged marriage.
Yue Ge gestured for her to rise. “No need for formalities, Miss Wei.”
They sat at a stone table, and Yue Ge spoke first. “Miss Wei, I’ve come today regarding our betrothal.”
Wei Yunjia nodded and poured tea for him. “Does Your Highness wish to annul it?”
Yue Ge studied her for a moment before replying. “My father once mentioned in his letters that you were exceptionally intelligent. Seeing you today, I find it to be true.”
“This betrothal was never our own wish. I won’t deceive you, while stationed at the border, I once saved a woman. I married her, but she later passed away from illness, leaving me with two children. I vowed never to remarry. To protect them from court intrigues, I kept their existence a secret, so even my father was unaware.”
“I deliberately concealed my late wife and children, not to slight you, but because marriage is a weighty matter. That’s why I wanted to explain in person. I hope you won’t hold it against me.” Yue Ge cupped his hands in apology.
Wei Yunjia shook her head slightly, smiling. “Your Highness need not apologize. Your first letter made it clear that you would annul the betrothal upon returning to the capital. I’ve always remembered.”
“Your willingness to explain speaks volumes of your respect for me. How could I resent you?”
“Thank you, Miss Wei. Rest assured, I will petition the Emperor to dissolve our betrothal. In the future, you will surely find a worthy husband to grow old with.”
“Then I shall take Your Highness’ kind words to heart.”
As Yue Ge prepared to leave, Wei Yunjia rose to see him out.
Just as he was about to exit the courtyard, she suddenly called out, “Your Highness Jin Wang.”
He turned, waiting.
“Does Your Highness refuse to remarry out of fear that you bring misfortune to your wives, harming them?”
Yue Ge smiled bitterly. “Perhaps fate has no such blessings in store for me. I'm content with my children.”
Wei Yunjia said, “Your Highness, such fears only hold power if you believe in them. My sister-in-law once said that fate isn't set in stone, that our determination and choices can overcome even the most daunting obstacles. Some things are mere coincidence, or even man-made. If Your Highness has done no wrong, you should not bear guilt.”
She curtsied again. “I, too, wish that one day Your Highness may find someone to share your life with, unburdened by baseless rumors.”
Yue Ge was momentarily stunned before chuckling softly. He had never heard such words before. The Wei family truly was interesting.
“Thank you!” he said loudly before striding away.
Perhaps one day he would meet a woman willing to love and stay with him, but that woman would not, and could not, be Miss Wei.
After leaving the Wei mansion, Yue Ge headed straight for the palace.
Meanwhile, the eavesdropping pair had a minor disagreement. Jiang Lin scolded Wei Yunzhao for being less clear-headed than a young girl. Yue Ge, the former eldest prince and now Jin Wang, had never intended to marry Wei Yunjia. Wei Yunzhao had been presumptuous.
In truth, Jiang Lin doubted Wei Yunjia would have wanted to marry him even if Yue Ge had been willing. Between them lay the death of her father. There was also a time when the Wei family’s sole remaining pillar was poisoned, lay bedridden. Those difficult days were surely etched in her memory.
Wei Yunzhao said, “I know. That’s why I didn’t want her to carry such burdens. If she and Jin Wang had fallen in love, only to be torn apart by past sins, she would have suffered all the same.”
He believed a young girl should be free to pursue happiness, to marry and bear children with the one she loved.
But Wei Yunjia was strong-willed, with her own convictions.
There was no right or wrong in this. Wei Yunzhao hoped she wouldn’t let hatred rob her of a good marriage, while Wei Yunjia remembered her father’s fate and felt no affection for the eldest prince.
As it stood, neither wished to marry the other, it was the best possible outcome.
The new Emperor, obliging his elder brother, swiftly issued an edict annulling the betrothal. From then on, each was free to marry another.
After receiving the decree, Wei Yunzhao spoke at length with Wei Yunjia. In the end, he agreed to let her choose her own future husband—or, if she wished never to marry, he would support her for life.
Wei Yunjia was deeply moved. Her brother’s survival was the greatest blessing for her and the Wei family - all thanks to her sister-in-law. Truly, her sister-in-law was the best.
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