One Life, One Incarnation, Beautiful Bones

18

Insert Chapter 1.2 - Beautiful Bones (2)

Late into the night, she wrote a letter, pleading to her mother to break off her betrothal.

Mother sent a letter in reply. Not a single word mentioned breaking the betrothal, and instead, what she spoke of was some of the rumors that were circulating among the ordinary people.

A rumor amongst the common folk was that Xiao Nanchen Prince and the crown princess had illicit relations, paying no heed to their relationship as teacher and disciple and disregarding ethics and social order[1]. A rumor amongst the common folk was that Xiao Nanchen Prince had intentions of raising an army to change the ruling surname and declaring his sovereignty. Another rumor amongst the common folk was that the Cui family of Qinghe had already joined with Xiao Nanchen Prince's manor, offering up both its beautiful daughter and the world for the purpose of being granted a division of the land so that the family clan would be made a line of kings.

My child, guard your words and your actions. The entire family line in Qinghe is held in your hands.

She folded the letter, removed the glass cover protecting the candle of the lamp, and placed the letter in the flame until it had completely burned away.

Imperial edicts from the palace expressing goodwill were frequently received, and the crown prince, as the heir apparent to the throne, personally visited the manor and sought to appease Xiao Nanchen Prince. The lord and his ministers were so harmonious in their relationship, as if to proclaim to the world that the rumors were strictly rumors and that the relationship between the imperial household, the line of the Nanchen Prince, and the Cui family of Qinghe was close, strong, and unshakable.

On her seventeenth birthday, by her mother's orders, she was to leave Xiao Nanchen Prince's Manor and this city, Chang'an that she had lived in for ten years, yet had never once seen the bustling of its streets and marketplace.

That day was also a brilliantly sunny day.

It was a seldom seen time when Teacher was in the manor with no matters to attend to, and he was sitting and leaning back in the bamboo chair in the study. When she entered to bid her farewell, sunlight was shining in through the window, casting blotchy shadows upon him and causing him to be partly in the light, partly in the dark. His eyes were clear like water as he raised his head and quietly gazed right at her.

Eleven very carefully and properly paid the ceremonial respect of a disciple to her teacher, kneeling down on both knees and pressing her forehead against the bluestone slabs of the floor. "One who is teacher for one day is regarded as father for a lifetime[2]." Her bow was to bid farewell to these ten years of his loving kindness, raising and teaching her.

"The empress dowager has issued a decree that I adopt you as my daughter. Eleven, would you be willing to have this pass?"

She rose back to her feet and very gently shook her head.

That bow from a moment ago had already concluded their relationship as teacher and disciple. She did not want to still have anything binding her to him after she stepped out of the prince's manor.

He gave a small smile. "Then this prince[3] shall, for this once, defy the decree."

Eleven walked up before him, and leaning up against the side of the bamboo chair, she bent her knees slightly. She looked carefully at him. There was a touch of weariness between his brows. Unconsciously, she reached out her hand, wanting to touch his face.