Chapter 18 The Princess’s Decree
The next day, Xie Chengzong prepared to sever the tendons in my hand himself.
Every servant in the household was ordered to watch.
No one dared speak for me.
Shen Wanrong stood far back, hand over her mouth, pretending to be frightened. Her eyes glittered with excitement.
Xie Yunting stood beside her, gaze cold as ice.
“Yaohua,” he said, “swear you’ll give up the Women’s Examination, and you might suffer less.”
I pressed my lips together and said nothing.
“Stubborn fool.”
He stopped talking and handed Xie Chengzong the willow-leaf blade from the tray.
The steel glinted—cold as their hearts.
Just as Xie Chengzong raised the knife, someone arrived from the princess’s household.
Private punishment, after all, could not be seen by outsiders.
Xie Chengzong quickly hid everything and put on a surprised expression as he welcomed the messenger.
“By order of the Long Princess: The Women’s Examination concerns the foundation of the state. To ensure fairness, Xie Yaohua of the Xie family is specially summoned to the Yinghua Hall for the examination. There must be no delay.”
Everyone froze.
Xie Chengzong recovered first, frowning. “Why would Her Highness suddenly summon her to Yinghua Hall?”
The messenger was the princess’s trusted attendant and showed no arrogance before the marquis.
“This Women’s Examination is unprecedented,” he explained. “Her Highness is deeply invested and personally selected talented young women of suitable age.”
“This decree is not for Xie Yaohua alone. I still have other households to visit.”
Xie Chengzong’s brow furrowed tighter. “Her Highness flatters her. My daughter has no real talent.”
“She only knows a few trifles unfit for public display. Please inform Her Highness that Xie Yaohua knows her own limitations and declines to participate.”
The messenger smiled faintly and looked only at me. “What do you say, Miss Xie?”
I opened my mouth, but before I could speak, Xie Chengzong barked, “If you have any self-awareness, you will refuse at once. Otherwise, do not blame me for being merciless.”
I laughed coldly.
Was there even a shred of affection left between us?
Under his barely concealed fury, I bowed deeply and said clearly, “Yaohua accepts the decree.”