The Husband I Hunted

Two months later, I became a bride.

Prince Ling had still been serving labor on the cold frontier when an imperial decree suddenly summoned him back to the capital.

On our wedding night, he lifted my veil.

His face carried years of frost.

His military glory had once eclipsed the emperor’s.

His victories became chains.

After years of border wind, the fire in his eyes had dimmed.

“Greetings, Princess.”

By rights, I should have bowed to him.

Prince Ling was the emperor’s younger brother.

The throne that ruled the world should once have been his.

I should have called him imperial uncle.

Instead, I returned the salute.

“Greetings, Consort Prince.”

I gave him the respect he had once possessed before his fall.

Long-lost dignity returned a flicker of light to his eyes.

That night, he did not touch me.

He said he was only a commoner now.

He feared staining the princess’s body.

I knew he feared me.

Feared I was the emperor’s daughter sent to end his life.

“It’s all right,” I said.

“I can wait.”

Then I left him alone.

He sat awake until dawn.

I spent my wedding night in the study.

By morning, news spread through the palace that Princess Jiao had been neglected on her wedding night.

Some laughed.

Some pitied me.

Some advised me to keep male favorites.

As expected, the emperor summoned us.

Prince Ling entered the palace again after many years.

Once, he had returned with victorious armies.

Sword at his side.

Proud in the imperial hall.

Everyone bowed and called him Your Highness.

Now, he wore plain robes.

All decoration removed.

He could only enter behind me.

Otherwise, he would not even have the right to see the emperor.

I saw his fists clench.

His head stayed low.

The hard labor of the frontier had covered the once-magnificent prince in wind and dust.

Those who had once begged him for mercy now watched with cold eyes.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

The emperor examined his discarded brother.

This was the man who had once led Great Sheng’s cavalry across every inch of borderland.

Arrogant before him.

Uncontrollable.

The emperor had known then that such a man could not be allowed to grow further.

“Imperial brother, have you been well?”

“All has been well. Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern.”

“Now that you have married Jiao, follow her and call me Father from now on.”

“From this day on, we are still family.”

Cruelty sharp enough to draw blood.

The throne that should have been Prince Ling’s sat before him.

The man who killed his confidants and stripped him of royal status now became his father-in-law.

But he had to endure.

“As commanded… Father.”

But I had never once called the emperor Father.

I was the judge of this game.

Because of me, their hatred would only grow.

“Jiao,” Mother once said, “do not fear. Even the fiercest beast can be trained.”

A falcon on the steppe takes years to tame.

Mother used the second half of her life to teach me how to tame beasts.

Now everything was ready.

All that remained was time.