Chapter Four

Yuwen Che wore an expression of eager anticipation, as if he were watching a play unfold. To him, it made no difference whether Feng Xiaoli agreed or refused; he had nothing to lose. What delighted him most was witnessing the look of indignation on Yuwen Hao’s face. Having suffered Yuwen Hao’s oppression for so long, Yuwen Che’s dissatisfaction had been simmering for quite some time.

As Yuwen Che predicted, Yuwen Hao’s face darkened further, his mood souring with each passing moment. He had not expected Feng Xiaoli to refuse the Empress Yuanmin’s proposal without so much as a thought, showing them no respect whatsoever. He was truly furious. It ought to have been his prerogative to refuse, not Feng Xiaoli’s. It should have been he who cast her aside. How could the Crown Prince of a nation withstand such a loss of face?

Prince Chun, however, had not foreseen Feng Xiaoli’s response. Thinking back, he realized Feng Xiaoli had failed to recognize even him, perhaps feigning amnesia as Yuwen Che suggested. If so, how could she possibly recognize the Empress Yuanmin? Thus, her refusal seemed, to Prince Chun, entirely reasonable. Yet what troubled him most was what should be done next.

Of all those present, Empress Yuanmin appeared the most composed, as though she had anticipated Feng Xiaoli’s answer. At the very moment Feng Xiaoli uttered her refusal, the Empress immediately rebuked, “How dare you? Who are you to impersonate the legitimate daughter of Prince Chun’s household? Guards, seize her!”

Instantly, a host of imperial guards emerged from behind the Empress, surrounding Feng Xiaoli and cutting her off from the rest. Their swords drawn, they stood vigilant, ready to prevent any attempt at escape.

Prince Chun urgently called for the Empress to show mercy.

Empress Yuanmin arched an eyebrow, her gaze sharp and commanding. “Prince, I expect a reasonable explanation!”

At that moment, Yuwen Hao stepped forward, his voice unhurried: “In answer to Mother’s question, this woman was brought back by my younger brother from outside the palace. If you would permit, I propose we simply ask my brother and all will become clear.” Deliberately, Yuwen Hao’s eyes lingered on Yuwen Che.

At the same time, Yuwen Hao felt a measure of relief. So, this woman was only an impostor. If she publicly rejected the marriage, it was not he who was shamed but Prince Chun’s household.

If Feng Xiaoli’s earlier blunt refusal had merely amused the crowd, the Empress’s confirmation that she was an impostor made everyone draw a sharp breath. This woman, it seemed, was not the one they had been seeking.

Their gazes toward Feng Xiaoli turned cold and scornful.

Such a person, surely, was here only to grasp at wealth and status, to climb into the royal family’s embrace, to win the heart of an illustrious crown prince like Yuwen Hao.

Feng Xiaoli noted their expressions without comment.

Leisurely, she smoothed the folds of her red dress. If one looked closely, they would see the robe was made of costly red silk from Huaijing—fabric so luxurious only those of considerable status could afford it, and even in Huaijing, there was but a single bolt of such cloth.

With a graceful sweep of her sleeve, the creases at the front of her dress vanished. Only then did she look up, composed and unhurried, and say, “I don’t recall ever claiming to be the Prince’s daughter.”

Her voice was cool and detached, as devoid of warmth as the Empress’s own, though it carried a faint note of grievance and resignation.

Empress Yuanmin’s gaze was sharp as she demanded, “Who are you?”

Feng Xiaoli offered a respectful bow. “This morning, the Second Prince mistook me for Prince Chun’s daughter on the street and brought me here. I was well aware he had mistaken me for someone else, and I repeatedly explained my true identity, but he thought I was jesting. Thus, I could do nothing but follow him back and explain myself to you all. I did not expect no one here would believe me, and then, Your Majesty, you arrived.”

The Empress scrutinized Feng Xiaoli’s features. “Is your appearance the result of disguise?”

Feng Xiaoli paused, surprised by the question, remembering that her resemblance to the missing young woman had led to this confusion. She replied, “No, I was born with this face.”

Yuwen Hao sneered, speaking before the Empress could respond. “And who would believe that?” He strode toward Feng Xiaoli, the guards making way. He gripped her chin, inspecting it minutely for any sign of disguise, then examined her collarbone. To his astonishment, her appearance was genuine.

The Empress, for her part, did not intervene as Yuwen Hao examined Feng Xiaoli. Like him, she had not believed the girl, but now the truth was undeniable.

The Empress turned her gaze to Yuwen Che. “Second Prince, what do you think?”

Yuwen Che answered, “Mother, what she said is true. I saw her on the street, and believed her to be Ali. Mother, do not forget, in the past, whenever Ali wished to escape things she disliked, she would feign amnesia, only to recover once the matter was forgotten. However, as I see it, even in her feigned amnesia, Ali never failed to recognize Prince Chun, Father, or Mother. Thus, I suspect two possibilities: either Ali has a twin, or she truly has lost her memory.” Yuwen Che laid out his speculations plainly.

This mirrored the Empress’s own thoughts. “I am inclined to believe the second possibility.”

“Empress Yuanmin, you mean to say this young woman might be my daughter?” Prince Chun ventured cautiously.

The Empress nodded lightly. “It is only a possibility.”

“I have never suffered amnesia,” Feng Xiaoli replied, her expression growing grave. She had not expected matters to become so complicated. She had come only to explain herself, and even Empress Yuanmin had doubted her identity. By all rights, she should have been able to clear her name, but now the waters were so muddied, she could not extricate herself.

Empress Yuanmin gave Feng Xiaoli a slight, cold smile. “Now is not the time for you to speak, Ali.”

Though the words were spoken with a smile, the chill in them was unmistakable. Feng Xiaoli’s eyes flickered uneasily, not out of fear, but because she sensed something was amiss.

Yuwen Hao, surprisingly, spoke in Feng Xiaoli’s defense. “Mother, I believe she speaks the truth.”

“Oh? My son has taken a liking to Ali as well? Rest assured, once her identity is confirmed, I will see to it that she marries you.” Empress Yuanmin spoke as if it were a foregone conclusion that Feng Xiaoli was Prince Chun’s daughter.

With a symbolic gesture, the Empress brushed aside a stray lock of hair. “I recall that Ali bears a crescent-shaped birthmark upon her chest—”

At the Empress’s reminder, Prince Chun also recalled, “Indeed, my daughter had a clear crescent-shaped birthmark upon her chest.”

He turned to Feng Xiaoli. “Ali, do you—”

“I am willing.” If it could prove her identity, what harm was there in being examined? She knew well that her chest bore no such mark—after all these years, could her own eyes deceive her?

Yet, in just a moment, Feng Xiaoli would find herself utterly unable to smile.