46 All an Act

"Even if there is no love between us, when others are around, we must seem like the most affectionate couple in the kingdom." He played with my hair, curling a strand between his fingers and letting it fall back down. "Especially in front of Father Emperor and Mother Empress, we will have to be practically glued to one another."

By any measure, I wasn't against that thought. He was right. True love couldn't possibly exist in life, much less in the palace. A mutually respected relationship and partnership could much better withstand the test of time.

By being so direct, he had made it easier for me.

Instead of forcing myself to gradually love him and risking the chance of a broken heart, I could instead do as previously planned. I was here for an alliance, I reminded myself, but I still couldn't resist the temptation of teasing him back. After all, he just made it quite clear that we were equals in this marriage.

"Like this, Ying?" I rested my hand on his waist, drawing him even closer until his nose tip nearly scraped against my skin. Initial shock followed by a look of amusement soon followed.

To be quite honest, the reason I dared to be so bold around him alluded me. But perhaps it was the knowledge that we both wanted something from the other and that I was not completely at a disadvantage in this alliance.

I could feel the heat taking to my face and the gradual slurring of my words as that cup of rice wine took into effect. I shook my head from side to side, trying to clear my mind again.

"Are you not going to ask me why?" Perhaps it was my imagination, but his words slurred a bit together, and a rosy blush was newly added to his cheeks. "Or are you so smart that you've actually figured me all out?" He narrowed his eyes in slight anticipation.

From the few days I have been here, the emperor and empress's commitment to a sole marriage was easily apparent even to the dimmest of people. In fact, even at home, the empress's jealous tendencies and such were commonplace knowledge. There were even rumors that she forced the emperor to sign a contract saying that he would only have her.

Seeing me momentarily lost in thought, he waved his hands before my eyes childishly, as if to tell me to only pay attention to him. The candlelight flickered in the pools of his eyes, painting a portrait of a starry night. For a second, just a second only, I admit that I was lost in them, both unable and unwilling to advert my glance.

"So, you really figured it all—"

The words of the prophecy rang in my ears, wanting to break free.

"You want the throne." I finished for him, the words slipping away from the tip of my tongue.

What was I doing?

I was going to get all of Jiangling killed.

I surely went too far. I wished I could slap myself at that moment.

He looked at me, all of the playfulness wiped clean. "Don't say that ever again," he growled. An apparent edge of threat was laced in his words, and I couldn't help but feel a shiver run down my spine as goosebumps formed across my arms.

Thump! A dull thud sounded from outside, and we both froze, every muscle tensing up with fear. Perhaps it was a mistake, a product of alcohol and festivities. But then it turned quiet, eerily so that it almost seemed as if whoever was outside surely knew we were listening.

He suddenly pulled me behind him, one hand to the side as if to shield me from any intruder. His back towered above me, creating the illusion of a wall of safety.

Step by step, we inched toward the entrance of the tent, taking each step stealthily, our feet barely grazing the ground. Apart from our pounding heartbeats, it was silent.

The doorway was right there. He pulled back the curtains to reveal three young boys huddled by the side of the tent.

"Ree! I told you Second Brother would hear us!"

"You wanted to come!"

"You guys are standing so close together!" The oldest one exclaimed, and my face turned into a boiling crimson shade. In the heat of the moment, I forgot that my face was practically wedged into his back.

I tried pulling back, but he spun around and instead took me into an embrace, winding one arm around my waist. Looking up with a look of protest, I was instead met by a doting smile. So the act began now.

"Go head off now. There's nothing to hear here." He motioned to the distance, sending them off without a hint of anger or frustration that most people would display after being interrupted during their wedding night. He was met by a few looks of disappointment, but he responded with only poise and good-naturedness.

If there was an award for being the best actor, I don't know how many times he would have surely won it already.

Calmly, he returned back into the yurt, only to stop by the side to make sure that the boys were truly gone. Judging from his expression, they must have left and taken the advice of their elder brother.

"To answer your earlier question, no." He acted as if nothing had ever happened, picking up exactly where we had left off, even reverting to that ambiguous position we were in. "I see Father Emperor and Mother Empress worry about the Crown Prince's troubled marriage too often to want to add more to their sorrows."

The prophecy sounded by my ears again, looming around me as if a curse, stubbornly refusing to leave however much I tried to forget about it. You heard him. He said he only wanted to be a good son.

Yet, a shadow of doubt still lurked.

"I've always looked up to them. Their actions, their composure, their relationship. Everything." His eyes were clear, without a sense of murkiness, almost piercing straight through my muddled thoughts. Compounded with his expression, he seemed perfectly earnest. "Isn't it nice to dream of having someone and not part until white hair? Even if that means to wait for a love that was never there."

He paused before adding.

"No matter what, I can promise that you will be my only one."

Whether that was a part of his act or not, only time could tell.

"Now, tell me, other than for me to champion for Jiangling, what other demands does my pretty bride have?"