Chapter Seven: A Woman's Heart Is as Unfathomable as the Ocean

Inside the medical hall—

“Didn’t you say Shadow broke his leg? Then why did the imperial physician say there was nothing wrong?” Rong Le’s face instantly darkened.

“Well, we were just so worried, so…” Rong Yu replied with an awkward smile.

“That’s right, that’s right,” Rong Xian quickly chimed in, nodding.

Rong Le massaged his throbbing temples, barely restraining his anger. “Still lying to me even now? I’m truly disappointed in you.”

The three exchanged glances, then lowered their heads, looking every bit as guilty as children caught misbehaving.

“Shadow, you explain what happened,” Rong Le called to Rong Ying, who was shrinking in the corner.

“Ah?” Startled at being named, Rong Ying looked helplessly at Rong Yu and Rong Xian, who both nodded silently, signaling him to speak. After all, offending their eldest brother was far scarier than offending Rong Jiu. If Rong Jiu got angry, a few treats and toys might appease her, but if Rong Le got angry, forgiveness might not come for months.

“Well, it’s like this…” As he spoke, Rong Ying kept a wary eye on Rong Le’s expression, carefully recounting everything.

“You’re all being utterly ridiculous!” Rong Le scolded, pointing at the three of them. “It’s one thing for our little sister to be reckless, but you helping her? She’s going to marry the third prince of Youzhou, not General Mo! If she develops feelings for General Mo, how are we supposed to explain to the king of Youzhou? General Mo is already keeping his distance from her, but you three are just making things worse!”

“Ninth Sister is just young and playful, she doesn’t understand feelings. I think you’re being too sensitive, brother,” Rong Yu muttered softly.

“Exactly… Brother, you’re right!” Rong Ying, who had been agreeing with Rong Yu, quickly changed his tune after seeing Rong Xian take another beating.

“Playful, you say? Since General Mo arrived, has there been a single day our little sister hasn’t gone to see him—bringing him flowers, food, and even practicing martial arts! It’s not like none of you know martial arts, but she ignores you and seeks out an outsider. Even if she has no such intentions now, we can’t let things develop further.” Rong Xian regarded the three with deep disappointment.

“Did you hear me clearly?”

The sudden increase in volume startled all three, who chorused, “We heard you.”

Meanwhile, in Rong Jiu’s chambers, Amu watched as Rong Jiu returned, clearly fuming, and was utterly perplexed. Just a while ago she was cheerful—what had happened to change her mood so quickly? Had someone bullied her?

“Princess, did someone bully you?” Amu hurried over to ask.

“Yes,” Rong Jiu nodded, cheeks puffed with anger.

“Who would dare bully my princess? Tell me, I’ll go teach them a lesson!” Amu rolled up her sleeves, ready for a fight. Rong Jiu couldn’t help but laugh.

“It’s that Mo Ningshu! He actually said I was fat—so infuriating! Amu, look, am I fat anywhere?” Rong Jiu spun around, lifting her skirt.

As a modern woman, Rong Jiu cared deeply about her figure. If anyone ever suggested she’d gained weight, she’d go all out dieting, restricting food and drink until the scale showed results. Even now, though inhabiting a fourteen-year-old girl’s body, she couldn’t bear to hear anyone call her fat.

“Don’t listen to him, Princess. You’re the slimmest and prettiest!”

“Haha, Amu, you always know how to say the right thing.” Rong Jiu’s mood lightened instantly, her anger gone.

“So, our most beautiful and gracious princess, are you still angry?” Amu asked with a smile.

“Not anymore. Why should I get worked up over a big pig’s trotter? Amu, how come I never realized you’re so good at flattery?” Rong Jiu grinned mischievously.

“Big pig? Flattery? What do those mean?” Amu asked, puzzled.

“Oh, never mind. You wouldn’t understand,” Rong Jiu waved her hand dismissively. These were modern expressions—a person from this era wouldn’t get them.

“Come on, Princess, tell me!” Amu shook Rong Jiu’s arm, curiosity shining in her eyes.

“No, I won’t.”

“Please?”

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“Nah-nah, I just won’t say it—what can you do about it?”

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll tickle you!” Amu wiggled her fingers, going for Rong Jiu’s waist.

“Ahaha… Amu, you… haha… I give in, I give in!” Rong Jiu pleaded as she tried to evade, her only real fear in life being tickling.

“Princess, General Mo requests an audience.” At that moment, a maid hurried in.

“Mo Ningshu? Could he be here to apologize?”

Rong Jiu’s lips curled upward, and she dashed out to the main hall, leaving Amu utterly dumbfounded.

Just now she was fuming, but now that he’s come, she’s all smiles? Amu thought, more confused than ever.

“Mo Ningshu—”

Inside, Mo Ningshu was pacing anxiously when he heard her voice and looked up. Soon, a tangerine-clad figure came running in.

Mo Ningshu, seeing Rong Jiu’s beaming face, furrowed his brow. She’d been angry just a moment ago—how could she change so quickly? Were all women this fickle?

“Princess,” Mo Ningshu greeted with a bow.

“Did you come to apologize to me?” Rong Jiu smiled.

“I did,” Mo Ningshu hesitated, then nodded.

“Then tell me—what did you do wrong?”

“Well…” Mo Ningshu opened his mouth but couldn’t say. Try as he might, he just didn’t know what he’d done wrong.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know!”

“In truth, I don’t understand, Princess. That’s why I came to ask you.”

“You really don’t know what you did wrong!” Rong Jiu stamped her foot in frustration.

“Please, enlighten me, Princess. I promise to change in the future.”

“You said I was fat! Don’t you know that you must never call a girl fat?”

“But, I never said that,” Mo Ningshu replied, genuinely baffled. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t recall ever calling her fat.

“You… you… You’ll be the death of me!” Rong Jiu cried, running off in anger.

Mo Ningshu watched her go, utterly at a loss. Women truly were mysterious creatures, he thought. He’d always known avoiding women was the safest choice—but to end up with such a troublesome one felt like a stroke of bad luck! Or maybe… not? Only time would tell what fortune or misfortune awaited.

“Princess, why are you upset again?” Amu asked, watching Rong Jiu vent her frustration on a window-side flower.

Ever since her amnesia, the princess had grown more and more peculiar—not only saying strange things Amu couldn’t understand, but becoming much more spirited. Amu clearly remembered that Rong Jiu had never been so lively before.

“That blockhead Mo Ningshu! He comes to apologize but doesn’t even know what he did wrong.”

“Oh, Princess, is that worth getting upset over? Maybe he just hasn’t realized yet. When he figures it out, he’ll come and apologize again. After all, he did come of his own accord this time.”

“You’re right. Why am I bothering with such a blockhead? I should act aloof and let him come to me.”

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“That’s the spirit! Wait—what does ‘blockhead’ mean, though?” Amu’s head was spinning; she just couldn’t keep up with the princess’s odd expressions.

“Cough, cough—it means someone who’s clueless and slow-witted,” Rong Jiu explained.

“Oh. But Princess, where did you learn all these things? I’ve never heard you talk like this before.”

“Oh, that’s… a secret. Yes, a secret.” Rong Jiu scratched her head in embarrassment. She couldn’t exactly say they were modern slang.

But even by the day of her arranged marriage, Mo Ningshu still hadn’t come to apologize. In fact, he had tried a few times, but her brothers had always turned him away with the excuse that Rong Jiu didn’t want to see him.

“Princess, hurry and change into your wedding dress—the hour is nearly here!” Amu rushed in with the gown, only to find her princess sitting there lost in thought. “Princess, what’s wrong? Are you having second thoughts?”

“Amu, I suddenly don’t want to leave,” Rong Jiu replied, sorrow clouding her face.

“I know, Princess. But there’s nothing to be done. Don’t worry, I’ll always be by your side.” Amu set down the dress, taking Rong Jiu’s hand with heartfelt sincerity.

“Thank you, Amu.”

“If you want to thank me, then hurry and put on your wedding dress. The King and Queen want to speak with you.” As she spoke, Amu helped Rong Jiu to her feet and began dressing her.

“Amu, why do you think Mo Ningshu never came to see me?” Rong Jiu asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice. She couldn’t explain the peculiar feeling she had toward him.

“Why bother worrying about him, Princess? Just treat him as a petty man and don’t let it trouble you. Remember, you’re going to be a princess consort. When the time comes, you can teach him a lesson however you like!”

“You’re right! I’m marrying the handsome and dashing Third Prince. What’s so special about that blockhead Mo Ningshu anyway?” Rong Jiu thought to herself.

“What are you thinking about that makes you so happy, Jiu’er?” Rong An, supported by a maid, walked over. Even with a touch of rouge on her cheeks, she couldn’t hide the signs of illness.

“Sister, why are you here? You’re not well yet—you should be resting.” Rong Jiu hurried forward to support her. She’d long since regarded Rong An as her own sister, and seeing her struggle through illness just to see her off made her heart ache.

“What are you saying? How could I not come to see my little sister off on her wedding day? Look at you, Jiu’er, you’ve grown up.” Rong An stroked her hand, tears streaming down her face. She knew that once her sister left, they would never meet again.

“Sister!” Rong Jiu buried herself in Rong An’s arms, biting her lip to keep from crying.

“There, there, it’s getting late. Let me do your hair. Here in Xining, if there’s an elder sister, she should style her younger sister’s hair for her wedding.”

Through the mirror, Rong Jiu watched Rong An kneeling behind her, frail and haggard, and her heart twisted with pain.

If only she could return, she thought. She wanted to take Rong An to the modern world, where medicine was so advanced—she was sure her sister could be cured. But she knew it was impossible. In this era, a princess married off to another land would likely never return.

“Why are you crying?” Rong An gently wiped away her tears. “Crying before a wedding is unlucky, you know.”

“I just can’t bear to leave you all,” Rong Jiu choked out.

For one who has long been lonely, a taste of warmth makes letting go all the more painful. So it was for Rong Jiu.

“Silly girl, what’s there to be so sad about? Every woman must marry someday; you’re just going a bit sooner than most.” Rong An comforted her through her own pain. “Come now, look how beautiful you are today. Go out with a smile and let everyone see—if you cry, people will laugh.”

“That’s right, Princess—you look so lovely today. You should be smiling,” Amu added.

Rong Jiu managed to compose herself and forced a smile.

Since she was here, she might as well make the best of it. No one could accompany her forever; in life, you meet many, but none can be there from beginning to end. In the end, one must grow independent.

And so, this was the first step into a new life.