Inside, she raised her voice outside the princess's chamber:
"Princess Yaoye, please hurry! The Consort said that in three minutes, if you're not ready, you must make your own way to the Meitel residence!"
A sharp, almost childlike voice snapped back from inside:
"This Ye Chen is utterly cruel! Sister, don't marry him!"
However, another figure in the room — taller, more composed ..... remained silent.
Yaoye's icy, regal presence radiated from her even without her usual smile, and it was clear she would not be swayed by words alone.
Caught between loyalty and fear of offending the future emperor, the maid's task felt impossible.
Seeing no response, she tried again, this time softer, attempting to calm Ye Chen outside, but he was utterly unbothered:
"Time's up. Let's go."
At the exact moment the three-minute warning passed, the door opened.
A delicate figure appeared, accompanied by a petite thirteen-year-old princess, her small, refined features already carrying an air of innate nobility.
The little princess's purple sash highlighted her slender waist, making even her young age seem elegant and dignified.
Yet her expression was sour, lips pressed into a pout, clearly displeased.
By her side, Yaoye stood tall and imposing. Unlike typical brides, she wore not a red gown but a silver armor, her hair elegantly crowned, her sharp, commanding features giving her a warrior's aura.
From her early years, she had commanded parts of the imperial guard, even directing tens of thousands of troops.
Today's attire, far from incongruous, reinforced her extraordinary presence.
Ye Chen's eyes lingered on her cold yet alluring face, and he smiled faintly, signaling the entourage to stop.
"Princess… please mount the carriage."
The maid hesitated, noting Yaoye's unconventional outfit, but stepped aside to guide her.
Yaoye looked at Ye Chen with a flat expression, shaking her head softly:
"No need. Prepare the horses."
The young princess's voice piped up in protest:
"Sister, you're riding! Didn't you hear? Go prepare the horses!"
The maid bit her lip, unsure how to respond. Ye Chen, however, calmly instructed:
"Prepare the horses for them."
"Understood, Young Master!"
Two attendants quickly led two fine horses forward. Yaoye and the younger princess mounted, and the procession set off toward the Meitel residence, drawing the gaze of countless onlookers lining the streets.
On the horse, the little princess fidgeted, her bright eyes occasionally glancing at Ye Chen ahead, her lips murmuring incomprehensible words.
Yaoye, meanwhile, sat rigidly, her expression unreadable. Today, she would no longer be the supreme princess of the empire, but one of Ye Chen's brides.
This might be the last time she would present herself in armor before the capital's citizens.
Yet her heart was not on appearances ..... it was on the child growing within her, a secret whose origin she did not know.
"If this marriage exposes the child… then I must preserve my dignity.
After the ceremony, I will end my life in front of him."
Her cold gaze swept past Ye Chen, and her decision hardened. In her mind, this was the only way to protect both herself and the unborn child.
The procession reached the Meitel family swiftly. Before numerous witnesses, Ye Chen, Ya Fei, and Yaoye completed the wedding ceremony in a smooth, almost businesslike manner.
Night fell, and Ye Chen, slightly tipsy from the celebratory wine, was the first to enter Yaoye's room.
Yaoye's usual cold elegance now carried a hint of tension.
"Yue'er… after I'm gone, you must take care of yourself," she murmured, a whisper laced with finality.
Her hand reached into her Nalan ring, pulling out a sharp dagger, its gleam catching the lantern light. Without hesitation, she brought it to her own throat.
"W-what… she intends to kill herself?"
The blade's flash snapped Ye Chen fully awake, his drunken haze gone in an instant. With astonishing speed, he leapt forward, seizing the dagger with one hand.
Yaoye's blade pressed against him, yet it could not move further under his strength.
"Why… why are you stopping me? Let me die!" she cried, tears welling in her eyes, voice breaking.
Before her words even fully faded, a sharp slap echoed across the room, resounding with authority and finality.
Ye Chen's other hand had struck her cheek ..... a stark reminder of his unwavering presence and his refusal to let her carry out this act.
Unlock 600+ Chapters via My Patreon Collection
✨ Available in Shop Now
patreon.com/HeavenlyYinYang