FBC -Chapter 303 Tying the Heart

After finally reaching the palace, Zhao Luoxuan was about to get up when Duan Yu reached out his hand.

She hesitated for a moment, then obediently placed her hand in his large, warm palm.

Duan Yu’s hand was soft, completely different from Qi Jun’s.

Zhao Luoxuan felt her face inexplicably flush, and as her feet landed on the ground, she wobbled slightly.

With a long arm, Duan Yu steadied her body.

“Princess, be careful.”

His gentle words echoed in her ears, and only then did Zhao Luoxuan realize she was almost in his embrace, the two of them lingering intimately.

She wanted to quickly straighten up and push him away, but the arm around her waist was too strong; she couldn’t move.

Resigned, she let his strength guide her, slowly moving closer with him.

Consort Yu, leading a group of concubines at the palace gate to greet them, was shocked at their intimate display.

Consort Yu was the one most often at Duan Yu’s side, so she knew that normally, he and Zhao Luoxuan only maintained the appearance of a couple.

But now, the emotions in their eyes were clearly different from before.

Her inner alarm bells rang immediately.

Quickly adjusting her composure, Consort Yu greeted them with a coquettish smile, bowing gracefully as she spoke softly:

“Your Highness and the Princess have returned so late; the journey must have been tiring.”

The other concubines also bowed, their eyes fixed on Duan Yu’s hand resting on Zhao Luoxuan’s waist.

Though Duan Yu usually maintained a facade of affection with the princess, he had never been this intimate before.

Clearly, this princess could not be underestimated.

Zhao Luoxuan grit her teeth and endured dozens of envious and jealous gazes as she returned to her room. Duan Yu only told her to rest early before leaving.

She finally exhaled in secret.

The maid, curious, helped her remove her makeup and carefully asked, “Princess, on the carriage with His Highness…”

“Nothing happened.”

Zhao Luoxuan interrupted, her mind in a whirl.

The maid quickly fell silent.

The women who had accompanied Zhao Luoxuan from being a self-demoted princess to Junzhou, along with her nanny, were all loyal to her.

But in their eyes, a princess should have the status of a queen consort.

Having navigated the palace for over a decade, they understood the rules of survival for women in the royal court.

If the princess and His Highness remained merely a superficial couple, eventually, as the concubines bore more children, the king might pay less attention to her dignity.

During the journey back to Dali, they had all noticed the unusual sounds from the carriage. Though it was humiliating, they also knew that for a woman to remain chaste while married, something was amiss—and in their hearts, they were glad the two could become a true couple.

Zhao Luoxuan’s mind was in chaos as she went to sleep.

The next morning, she woke late.

“His Highness came to see the Princess early today.”

The maids happily assisted her with her morning routine.

“Did he say anything?”

The maids exchanged a glance and whispered, “His Highness said he will come tonight.”

Zhao Luoxuan stiffened.

The discomfort she had felt in the carriage last night hit her like lightning.

One maid quietly asked, “Princess… don’t want him to come?”

Zhao Luoxuan quickly regained her composure: “Have the royal kitchen prepare some dishes His Highness likes, and warm the peach blossom wine I brought.”

The maids were delighted.

“Yes, Princess.”

After finishing her morning routine, Zhao Luoxuan, still wearing a simple plain skirt, walked to the Buddhist hall on the west side of her courtyard.

Pushing open the door, the room, filled with the warm glow of red candles, welcomed her.

Qi Jun’s memorial tablet stood neatly on the altar.

Tears immediately streamed down Zhao Luoxuan’s face.

She silently lit three incense sticks, knelt on the mat, and bowed deeply three times.

“Qi Jun, we were fated but not meant to be. Our marital bond ends here today.”

She then slowly prostrated herself, overwhelmed with grief and heartache.

She could no longer hold back her sobs.

The maids outside the door were heartbroken, but afraid someone would intrude and witness the princess in distress, they hurriedly walked toward the courtyard gate.

Unexpectedly, a tall, slender figure suddenly appeared.

The maids were startled, nearly calling out, and quickly knelt again.

“Your Highness.”

Duan Yu raised his arm in greeting. The maid who had intended to enter and inform her froze.

He approached the door and heard the soft cries from within, as well as Zhao Luoxuan’s words to Qi Jun.

“As a princess of Dali, I share the same duty of political alliance and peace. Qi Jun, I know your heart is with Liang. If I had remained lost in longing for you without action, you would surely despise me.”

“Today, I bow to you, and from this day on, I am the Queen Consort of Dali, the wife of Duan Yu. Qi Jun, please forgive me.”

Duan Yu felt a sudden emptiness in his heart, an emotion he couldn’t explain.

He pushed open the door and entered.

It was his first time inside.

Previously, he didn’t care; all he wanted was Zhao Luoxuan’s influence in Bianjing and the southern border.

But at some point, he had started to feel uneasy.

Seeing Zhao Luoxuan in a white dress, kneeling before her late husband’s tablet and crying, his heart clenched painfully.

Zhao Luoxuan suddenly turned and, seeing Duan Yu, was so frightened her face went pale. She quickly stood.

“Your Highness…”

Duan Yu walked straight forward. Zhao Luoxuan, worried he might be angry and afraid she might damage the shrine, knelt quickly in front of him.

This kneel was not on the mat; her delicate knees hit the stone floor heavily, painfully striking Duan Yu’s heart.

He looked down at her twisted, pained expression but said nothing.

Ignoring the pain in her knees, Zhao Luoxuan hurriedly said, “Your Highness, I have come to bid Qi Jun farewell.”

Duan Yu reached out and pulled her up.

Her heart raced, but the next moment, her eyes widened as she watched Duan Yu light three incense sticks, bow three times before Qi Jun’s memorial tablet, and place the incense in the censer.

He stepped back, gazing at the tablet.

“General Qi, I have always admired you. You are brave and skilled in battle, feared even by Dali’s top generals. I should have paid my respects sooner. I am fortunate to have married Princess Shuhe; I believe we share the same vision.”

Zhao Luoxuan’s heart was stirred as she looked at his sincere expression in shock.

“General Qi dedicated himself to protecting the country, aligning with Princess Shuhe and my own wishes.”

Duan Yu held Zhao Luoxuan’s hand, gazing deeply into her eyes: “If you were aware, I am certain you would approve of me taking care of Xuanyuan.”

“Xuanyuan?”

Zhao Luoxuan stared at him, stunned.

It was the first time he had called her that so affectionately.

“Xuanyuan, do you believe Qi Jun would bless us?”

Her eyes were red, emotions swirling as he looked at her with his unfathomable gaze.

She slowly nodded: “My heart is aligned with His Highness. Today, I came to apologize to my late husband. From now on, I am your legitimate wife, Your Highness, with no other identity.”

Duan Yu slowly smiled, a gentle expression from before returning.

“Thank you, Princess.”

Hand in hand, they left the Buddhist hall, the maids overjoyed.

Zhao Luoxuan instructed: “Just keep the hall clean daily. I will come to offer incense on the first and fifteenth of each month.”

The maids hurriedly responded, “Yes, Princess.”

As Zhao Luoxuan followed Duan Yu out of the screen door, she looked at him sideways: “Your Highness, weren’t you supposed to come tonight? Why are you here now?”

Duan Yu pulled her closer, holding her hand: “I just wanted to see you. I have affairs to attend to later. Tonight, we will dine together, then plan how to handle the situation in Bianjing.”

Zhao Luoxuan nodded: “Very well. I have already prepared the wine and dishes for Your Highness.”

Duan Yu smiled deeply and whispered in her ear as he leaned closer: “I like the peach blossom wine you brought from Junzhou. I wonder if it tastes as good as I hope.”

Zhao Luoxuan blushed slightly from his warm breath: “Of course, Your Highness may enjoy it as you wish.”