"Because you are filial, righteous, and generous. Rember? When we first t, you escorted to my relatives’ house."
"The mountain roads were difficult to traverse, and I told you not to accompany , but you secretly followed. You endured the pain of your shoes tearing as you escorted for fifty miles."
Prince Kang was stunned: "You knew all along?"
Princess Consort Kang chuckled: "Of course I knew, soone was always hissing in pain behind , how could I not notice? I just pretended not to expose you."
"Do you still rember? On the day we set our wedding date, your family brought all their valuables to trade for a cow, as a betrothal gift to my family."
"In front of my parents, you held my hand tightly and said: Hui Niang, I will never disappoint you in my lifeti."
Prince Kang lowered his head in sha.
Tears trickled down Princess Consort Kang’s face.
It’s strange how people are sotis—despite the hardships of the past, in retrospect, it seems like a golden mory.
Princess Consort Kang, nad Li Huiniang, was half the daughter of a minor landlord’s family when she married Bai Nanjing.
Her parents, having only her as a daughter, were also open-minded. Seeing that Li Huiniang truly liked Prince Kang, they agreed to the marriage.
They also subsidized their finances, just so that their days could be sowhat better.
After marriage, Princess Consort Kang served her parents-in-law wholeheartedly and diligently.
Though she ca from a relatively good background, being from one of the wealthiest households in the village,
she carried no airs, got along well with her older sister-in-law, Princess Rui, and was hardworking, never lazy.
Later, when Li Huiniang’s parents passed away early, she treated everyone in the Bai Family as her own family.
Following Prince Kang, the Princess Consort experienced many hardships.
During that ti, Grandpa Bai borrowed a lot of money from Old Master Su.
To repay the silver together, Li Huiniang worked tirelessly day and night on embroidery.
By day she nursed the children, and by night, under an oil lamp, she embroidered mandarin ducks without stopping.
Early the next morning, Prince Kang would take these to the market to sell.
It was during this ti she developed a chronic headache.
But true effort brings rewards, and the Bai Family’s days beca better and better.
The second son, Bai Xilie, was a man of luck, ambition, and aspirations.
Princess Consort Kang gazed at the candlelight, smiling through her tears: "I rember when Second Brother finally claid the throne."
"You were so thrilled that you ran ho barefoot, spun around, and told that we were now Imperial Relatives, not rebels, and wouldn’t suffer anymore."
"But later I realized that the real hardship wasn’t about money or lack of a place to live."
"But rather, it was that the person beside , his heart was no longer with ; it was that my husband could comfortably sleep while holding another woman."
"The promise you made to never disappoint seed like yesterday’s cloud, already gone."
With her lashes lowering, Princess Consort Kang’s tears rolled down.
"Nan Jing, I bore you five children, although the youngest didn’t survive, I poured all my love and energy into each of them."
"I’ve worked tirelessly for most of my life for you."
She reached out her hand, touching the face of the sobbing Prince Kang.
"This ti, you should let go, agree to the separation, and no longer confine , right?"
"There’s still a long life ahead, we both need to look forward."
...
Uncertain of how much ti passed, the door was pulled open from the inside.
Prince Kang erged, appearing lost and heartbroken.
His eyes were bloodshot red, as if he had lost his soul.
Bai Zhi’er hurried forward, glanced at him, then lifted her skirt and entered the house.
"Third Aunt, are you okay?" She saw Princess Consort Kang’s tear-swollen eyes.
Princess Consort Kang smiled faintly: "I’m fine."
Prince Kang’s voice ca from outside—
"Tomorrow, I will request a separation contract from the Ministry of Rites; Hui Niang, I promise you, this ti, as you wish..."
After he finished, he walked away like a wandering spirit.
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