Chapter 332: His Willingness Is the Main Theme

“The moon on the grasslands seems larger than the one here,” she whispered to herself.

Moonlight, like water, fell upon her delicate face, different from the people of Da Jing, outlining the slight furrow in her brow.

The eyes of Emperor Jing once again appeared in her mind, as though they could pierce through the dignified facade she meticulously maintained and see through her inner garments.

When the Turkic delegation first met the young emperor, he made no effort to conceal the admiration and possessiveness in his eyes, scrutinizing as if appraising a fine steed for sale.

Princess Yujia involuntarily shivered, clutching the hem of her clothes. For some reason, she very much disliked the gaze of that Da Jing majesty.

At this moment, another figure quietly intruded into her thoughts—a face always wearing a bright smile, belonging to Tang Xiaotong.

She didn’t know why she thought of the little shopkeeper from Brocade Workshop at this moment.

Yet somehow… she just did.

She recalled listening to Tang Xiaotong tell stories about peddling goods in alleyways, and even savoring sweet almond tea together with him…

In those days, she was not Princess Yujia of the Turkic, just an ordinary foreign girl.

“Tang Xiaotong…”

She unconsciously uttered the name, and was startled by her own voice, hurriedly looking around.

The night wind sifted through the treetops, rustling as if mocking her moment of weakness.

“Princess, you should retire early tonight.”

The voice of the teaching matron came from behind, startling Princess Yujia almost off her stone bench.

She turned to see the old matron’s wrinkled face, looking particularly stern under the dim lantern light.

“Matron, I wish to gaze at the moon a while longer.”

Princess Yujia forced a smile, “In the legends of the grasslands, the moonlight on the eve of a marriage can bless the union with bliss.”

The matron sighed, the heavy palace attire rustling with her movement.

“Tomorrow at dawn you must rise to groom, by morning the bridal procession will enter the palace. If the princess rests too little and appears haggard, would that not discredit this fortuitous alliance between the two nations?”

Princess Yujia lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes casting two shadows on her face.

The matron’s words were like a sharp knife, slicing gradually at her heart already riddled with scars.

For half a month, this teaching matron, sent from the palace, had taught her the etiquette of Da Jing. How to walk, how to bow, even how to breathe…

Her proud skills of horseback archery on the grasslands here had become regarded as uncouth and barbaric.

“Matron, do you say…”

Princess Yujia suddenly lifted her head, with moonlight shimmering in her eyes.

“Do you say if I were not a princess, would life be more free?”

At her words, the matron’s face abruptly changed, anxiously inspecting her surroundings and whispering, “Princess, speak cautiously! If such treasonous words were heard by others…”

Watching the matron’s worried expression, Yujia suddenly felt incredibly weary.

She thought of the unfettered birds on the grasslands, of the fierce horse she tamed at fifteen, of the days chasing sunsets on horseback.

But now, she was like an eagle whose wings had been clipped, trapped in this gilded cage.

“The matron speaks rightly.” Princess Yujia stood up, her veil gown gently moving with the night wind, “I just… suddenly felt a bit cold.”

The old matron quickly approached to drape the prepared brocade cloak over her shoulders.

“It’s important to take care of your health, Princess. After tomorrow, you will be the noble consort of Da Jing, a fortune many yearn but never attain.”

Princess Yujia allowed the matron to fasten the cloak’s ties, her gaze drifting again towards the bright moon.

She recalled what Tang Xiaotong said last time at Brocade Workshop: “Your eyes hold the entire sky of the grasslands.” Yet now, this sky was being gradually obscured by palace walls.

“Let’s go.”

Princess Yujia whispered, her voice dispersed by the night wind, faintly audible.

The matron held the lantern ahead, leading the way, with Yujia following behind, each step feeling as if treading on cotton.

Moonlight stretched their shadows long, extending all the way to the corridor at the end of the courtyard.

Before stepping through the doorway, Princess Yujia glanced back at the sky one last time.

The bright moon remained full, coldly watching over this human scene of an impending political marriage…

Tonight was bound to be sleepless not just for Tang Xiaotong and Princess Yujia, but also for Emperor Jing in the imperial palace.

Dusk had fully set, the palace lanterns lit.

Emperor Jing sat alone behind the desk in the Imperial Study Room, the golden candlestick’s red candle already half-burned, the candle drippings layered like the lingering knots in his heart.