Chương 112: Royal Decree

Han Suyin's heart raced as she hurried through the dim corridors of the palace, her thoughts consumed by the news she had just received. The air felt thick with concern as she entered Princess Chuhua's chamber, her presence almost ethereal in the soft glow of the lanterns.

Suyin moved with a grace that belied the urgency of her mission, her silk robes whispering against the cold stone floor.

Inside, Princess Chuhua lay on her bed, her delicate features marred by the signs of pain. Suyin's fingers pressed them against the Princess's wrist, feeling the weak, uneven pulse beneath her skin.

The Princess's eyelids fluttered as if she were battling some unseen torment, her breath coming in shallow, pained gasps.

"Princess, how long have you been like this?" Suyin's voice was a soft murmur, a gentle breeze brushing through the tension-filled room.

Princess Chuhua's lips parted, and she shook her head weakly, her hands curling into fists as if she could squeeze the pain away.

"Two days ago," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Suyin's heart clenched with worry as she gently patted the Princess's chest, her touch meant to soothe, to comfort.

"Rest now, don't strain yourself any further," Suyin urged softly, her thoughts racing.

Was the medicine she had been administering losing its potency? Time was slipping through her fingers like sand, and she needed to speak with Qin Fuhua before the Princess's condition worsened. With delicate precision, Suyin began to arrange a selection of herbs, each chosen with care under the guidance of Teacher Zhou Lin.

The herbs were like tiny fragments of hope, their potential a fragile thread that could either heal or break. Suyin knew the risk she was taking; if the King discovered that she was the one tending to Princess Chuhua's health, the consequences could be dire.

Since her arrival at the palace, Suyin had used Qin Fuhua's influence to write the prescriptions in secret, disguising her role in the Princess's care. The safest route was through Teacher Zhou Lin, a trusted figure who could shield her from the King's suspicion.

As she handed the prescription to one of Teacher Zhou Lin's close students, she knew that each step she took was fraught with danger.

Bidding Princess Chuhua a quiet farewell, Suyin left the chamber, her heart heavy with the weight of responsibility. The courtyard doors creaked open as she stepped outside, her footsteps cautious on the path that led her away from the Princess's quarters.

Her gaze was fixed on the ground as she exited the courtyard, only to freeze in her tracks as she noticed a familiar figure waiting for her.

Qin Fuhua stood there, his presence commanding, yet there was a softness in his eyes that made her heart skip a beat.

"Ah," Suyin breathed, her surprise evident as she glanced around, noticing that he was alone. "Where's Weizhe? How did you find me?"

The atmosphere around them felt strange, almost surreal as if the world had narrowed to just the two of them.

Qin Fuhua closed the distance between them in a heartbeat, his strong arm encircling her waist with a possessiveness that sent a shiver down her spine. Suyin's cheeks flushed with sudden embarrassment, her thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind.

"Shh," Qin Fuhua whispered, his breath warm against her ear.

His gaze flickered to the corner, where he had sensed a shadow lurking, the subtle movement of someone watching them. Suyin followed his line of sight, her own nerves prickling with unease, but she saw nothing.

Reluctantly, Qin Fuhua released her, though he kept her hand firmly in his grasp as he guided her back to the Orange Blossom courtyard. The afternoon seemed to close in around them, the silence filled with unspoken words.

"What was that for?" Suyin managed to utter, her voice laced with lingering embarrassment. Qin Fuhua's response was a tender murmur, meant only for her ears.

"Ensuring you and others that you're the only woman I desire."

Unbeknownst to them, ZhengAn stood hidden in the shadows, her eyes narrowing with frustration. Her maid, who had witnessed the entire exchange, couldn't contain her bitterness.

"We must not let her win, Your Highness!" the servant hissed, her voice dripping with jealousy.

ZhengAn's heart burned with a new emotion, one that she had never felt before.

The sight of Qin Fuhua, even just his back, had ignited something dark within her. The seed of jealousy had been planted, and it was already beginning to take root, threatening to consume her every thought.

For the first time, ZhengAn had never met someone as handsome and assuring as Qin Fuhua. And at this moment, her mission and her own desire began to intertwine with each other.

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[A DAY LATER]

Suyin's mind was a storm of thoughts as she and Qin Fuhua discussed the dire condition of Princess Chuhua. The gravity of their mission weighed heavily on her heart; they needed to find the cure, hidden in a location that only the rose-shaped key could unlock.

Yet, their path was fraught with complications, and the looming threat of other pressing matters threatened to derail their plans. Her world tilted on its axis when the Emperor and Empress summoned her to the throne room.

The grandeur of the chamber felt oppressive, the high ceilings and ornate decorations a stark contrast to the tension coiling in her chest. The air was thick with the scent of incense, a fragrance that usually soothed her but now only heightened her anxiety.

"W-Wait. You mean, there's going to be a bridal contest?" Suyin's voice wavered, barely audible in the presence of such power.

Her pulse quickened, each beat echoing in her ears like the drum of war. The Emperor, regal and composed, nodded his head with an air of finality. His gaze was sharp, as though he could see through Suyin's very soul.

"If you heard the conversation I had with the Prince of Qin," the Emperor began, histone smooth and unwavering, "you should have noticed that it is his duty to marry a Princess, aligning with the traditions of their (the Zheng) clan."

The Empress, seated on her throne with an expression as unyielding as stone, spoke with the authority of one who was accustomed to being obeyed.

"The Princess of Zheng was kind enough to suggest a contest between you and her. She mentioned that this was a tradition in her culture—whoever proves to be the best bride will win the right to be wed to the Prince."

Suyin felt the ground slip away beneath her feet. The words washed over her like a tidal wave, leaving her breathless and struggling to comprehend. She bit her lips, the sharp taste of iron grounding her in the surreal reality she found herself in.

Compete with a Princess?

The notion was absurd, yet here she was, caught in a web of political intrigue that threatened to tear her world apart. She knew all too well that she lacked the noble lineage of a Princess.

Her past, her very identity, was shrouded in secrecy—kept hidden from the people of Qin for her own protection. Yet now, she was being thrust into a challenge that seemed designed to highlight her every vulnerability. The thought of it made her stomach churn, but there was no room for refusal.

"With the Empress' order, there's no say in this," the Emperor's voice cut through her thoughts, blunt and absolute. "You have no choice but to comply under royal command."

A bitter taste filled Suyin's mouth as she swallowed her rising frustration. She wanted to curse, to rage against the unfairness of it all, but to do so would be to seal her fate.

Instead, she forced herself to bow low, her movements stiff with barely contained emotion. "Long live the Emperor and Empress!" Suyin declared, her voice steady despite the turmoil within.

She could neither agree nor disagree, trapped as she was in a web of duty and expectation. As she straightened, her heart ached with the knowledge that her future was no longer her own. The weight of the royal decree pressed down on her, and though she had no choice but to obey, a fire ignited within her—a resolve to face whatever lay ahead with courage.

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To say that Suyin would be an etiquette woman was an understatement.

Perhaps in the past, she had been the epitome of grace and propriety, but that was a different time, a different Suyin.

The woman she was now could not stand idle in the face of injustice and the demand for fairness. The thought of competing against a Princess she had never met, under the guise of some bridal contest, was nothing short of absurd to her.

In the privacy of her chambers, Suyin's frustration bubbled over, her usual composure giving way to frantic energy. She was intelligent, resourceful, and capable, but the etiquette of this era was a far cry from what she knew.

The customs and traditions of this time, especially those of the Zheng clan, were a mystery to her.

The prospect of navigating this bridal competition without understanding its nuances was daunting.

Suyin needed assistance—and she needed it quickly. Her thoughts spun in a chaotic whirlwind as she grumbled to herself, pacing the length of her chambers. What would be required in this competition? What did the Zheng clan value in a bride? The questions gnawed at her, feeding her anxiety. A soft knock at the door went unnoticed in her state of agitation. It wasn't until the door slid open that Suyin turned, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Qin Fuhua enter.

His presence was both a comfort and a reminder of the stakes. Suyin immediately straightened herself, her disheveled appearance betraying the turmoil she felt inside. Qin Fuhua approached with his hands behind his back, his expression calm and measured as he took a seat.

"Is there anything that I can help with?" he asked, his voice gentle. Suyin sulked, turning her head away, unable to mask her distress. "Battling against a Princess is what's wrong," she muttered, the frustration clear in her tone.

Qin Fuhua's eyes softened with understanding.

"Did my Father—the Emperor—explain what we spoke about? Does it bother you?"

Suyin let out a heavy sigh, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. "Under the royal decree, the Princess of the Zheng clan is challenging me to a bridal competition for you." She looked at him, her voice tinged with jealousy and insecurity.

To her dismay, a small smile played on Qin Fuhua's lips.

"Why are you smiling? Are you excited to see me fight for you?" Suyin asked, incredulous.

She knew in her heart that Qin Fuhua's affections were solely for her, but a lingering doubt gnawed at her—what if this Princess was more capable, more fitting for him?

Qin Fuhua's smile widened just slightly, his eyes brimming with affection as he leaned closer.

"In this world where I had hidden my heart away, only you paved its way into mine." His voice was soft, the words like a caress.

As he spoke, he reached out to gently tuck a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. "I know about the situation and have spoken to the Emperor, but there is nothing I can do to change it."

For a moment, the room fell into a comfortable silence, the weight of their unspoken fears hanging in the air.

Then, in a voice that was both tender and resolute, Qin Fuhua broke the quiet.

"If it ever becomes too much, we can leave this all behind. We could run away, and live quietly in the countryside. I could be Tienzheng or Qin Fuhua—whoever you want me to be."

Suyin met his gaze, seeing the deep affection and earnest longing reflected in his eyes.

The offer to escape was tempting, but she knew that running would bring more pain than relief. It would wound him and hurt his honor, and she couldn't bear to be the cause of that. Suyin sighed softly, shaking her head as she made her decision.

"No. I'll do this," she said, her voice firm with determination. "I know that I am capable as your woman to take on this competition. And I know that you will be the pillar of my support."

As she spoke, the resolve in her heart solidified. She would face whatever challenges lay ahead, not just for herself, but for the man she loved. In that moment, Suyin knew that she would fight not just for Qin Fuhua's hand, but for the life they had envisioned together—a life worth every struggle.

SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO
Aeriesu

Hello my dear readers!

Thank you as always for reading and supporting this novel! There's going to be some little competition and fire within this arc, and I hope you look forward to it! Suyin's turn to finally taste vinegar XD I hope that you all are doing well and I hope that you all are staying healthy and safe! I had to go on a break from writing because I needed to focus on studying but I'm finally back! I'll see you in the next chapters!

With Love,

Ai.Su.

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