Chapter 8 The Midnight Confession
I stepped out of the carriage and saw Zhao Yan standing not far away.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his voice low.
"Chu Bingzhi, did you say today that you wanted to borrow my seal?"
I nodded quickly.
The arrow wound had been worth it after all. He had come on his own to offer.
He glanced at me.
"You will leave at the end of the month."
I froze. "What?"
He was quiet for a moment before looking at me again.
"Bingzhi, I will arrange a wife for you. The seventeenth of this month is an auspicious day. After the wedding, take her and leave. Stay far from Chang'an."
I was already injured, and his words nearly made me faint on the spot.
"Must I marry?"
He nodded calmly.
"Yes. It must be done."
"Why?"
He did not answer for a long time. I watched him in silence.
Finally, he walked toward me until he stood right in front of me.
I stepped back twice.
When my waist nearly hit the carriage, he reached out to steady me.
His hand did not leave afterward.
He leaned close to my ear, voice low.
"Chu Bingzhi, you are clever. You must have noticed. Haven't you? I like you. I never wanted to marry Zhang Ruhua. How ridiculous. The Crown Prince of the dynasty has fallen for a man."
I was stunned.
His voice was hoarse. "Today, facing the arrow, I chose you over Zhang Ruhua. If the same happens again, I will do the same."
The night wind howled past us. My ears rang with his words.
My heart pounded wildly.
I had already tasted the bitter fruit in my past life.
At last he said,
"So you must marry."