Prince Yibo was sitting alone in the residence assigned to him; he had not allowed anyone to see him, choosing instead to spend the entire day in solitude.
Eventually, he realized he needed a confidant. But who? Dao He or Xielin? In the end, he felt more at ease reaching out to Xielin, who had already been in Henan for two days before he go back.
Of all the food set before him, he could only stomach some pureed mixed fruits. At 8:00 PM, he finally gathered the strength to call Xielin.
Calmly and with trust, he explained everything that had been happening. After a long, thoughtful silence, Xielin finally said,
"Yibo, there is no other way or solution left except for you to accept this plan. You know full well that if things continue on their current path, anything could happen. I think you should give this a chance."
"But... Xielin, what about the King? He doesn't know anything about this, and he must not find out. It's all part of my mother's plan," Yibo said, voice low.
Xielin nodded thoughtfully.
"If he ever does find out, you and I both know he would never approve. Not in a million years."
Both of them fell silent again, and after a few minutes, Prince Yibo ended the call....still craving solitude.
The private residence was heavily restricted; no one entered without special permission.
Queen Zaiye sat in one of the armchairs, holding her phone. From her deep focus, it was clear the conversation was extremely important.
After she finished listening to her confidante, she exhaled slowly.
"The real challenge, Che, is finding a girl who will suit Yibo's temperament. You know better than anyone what he's like. Even Qiantang....you were the one I confided in about how things ended with her. I want everything to remain strictly confidential. I want this marriage to be a secret from the beginning until it ends. You know very well we are surrounded by enemies and rivals....every pair of eyes watching, just waiting for a mistake to ruin us and our progress."
Che fell silent for a moment, thinking carefully before replying.
"You're right, but honestly, I don't think finding a girl will be too difficult. We can find someone who fits perfectly without complications....someone whose family will agree, and the girl herself too..."
She paused, waiting for Queen Zaiye to respond, sensing her impatience.
"I'm listening, Che. If I understand you correctly, you're saying the girl should come from a humble, poor background?" Queen Zaiye asked.
"Exactly. But I'm thinking....what if instead of a girl... we gave him a boy?"
Queen Zaiye blinked, confused.
"I don't understand....what do you mean, a boy? How could he marry a boy when he's supposed to be the future king? I'm not against same-gender marriage, but still...I can not accept him being married to a man, he's Tianjin's future!"
"Calm down, my dear," Che interrupted. "You understand perfectly...you just don't want to admit it. Listen to me carefully. First of all, with a boy, there is no risk of accidental pregnancies...everyone knows a man cannot bear children. Problem solved. Secondly, you would be fulfilling Yibo's true wish for once in his life. Even if the marriage doesn't last forever, at least he would have known happiness. And we both know what he truly desires. Find a gentle, refined boy who matches Prince Yibo's nature," she finished, laughing softly.
Queen Zaiye laughed too, understanding her friend's point and finally agreeing to the idea.
"But where would we find such a boy, Che?"
"You have loyal people, Zaiye....people living among the commoners in Tianjin. I'm sure if you quietly send word among them, you will find the right one," Che replied, smiling.
Relief washed over Queen Zaiye's face. For the first time, she felt that the tangled web around her had begun to loosen.
"Thank you, my dear friend. This plan is perfect. We'll proceed quietly... I'll call you later."
"Alright, speak soon."
Queen Zaiye ended the call with a gentle smile on her lips.
Indeed, if they followed this plan, everything would proceed smoothly. Queen Zaiye stood, walking slowly around the private room, deep in thought about how best to organize every detail with wisdom, cunning, and complete secrecy...avoiding the prying eyes of all enemies. A part of her mind was already calculating who among her trusted contacts could be approached for such a delicate task...
The story has only just begun....stay tuned, readers!
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After three weeks in Henan, Prince Yibo returned to his studies, while Queen Zaiye packed up and traveled back to Tianjin.
It wasn't until she had rested well that she called a private, highly confidential meeting with her most trusted aides. She selected three individuals, including Ms. Bao, intending that if her initial efforts didn't yield results, she could secretly assign another group to continue the search.
In a calm and careful manner, she explained in full detail what she needed, setting out the conditions and the type of boy she was seeking. Each listener remained silent, filled with hope and ambition, knowing that if they succeeded, their lives could change forever. They all understood how rare and prestigious such a connection would be. None of them left until each had personally assured Queen Zaiye that they would do everything in their power to find the perfect candidate.
Since Queen Zaiye had spoken to her, Ms. Bao had been deep in thought, analyzing who she could present to the Queen. She wanted to find someone from her own bloodline if possible, believing fully in the blessings and favor that would come from such an opportunity. After all, it wasn't every day one had the chance...no matter how secret or brief....to unite one's family with the royal bloodline of Tianjin. Even if the connection lasted for only a moment, it would still be etched as an honor in their family's history.
The next day, Ms. Bao did not go to the palace, as Queen Zaiye had granted everyone a week of leave to search thoroughly and return with good news.
Ms. Bao sat in the spacious courtyard of her home, folding clothes that Zhan had washed for her the day before. Thanks to Zhan, she no longer had to worry about chores; he handled all the laundry now, especially after his wages were raised.
It was Zhan's greeting that drew Ms. Bao's attention to the door, prompting her to smile warmly as always.
"Zhan, you're early today," she said kindly.
He offered a small smile and approached her mat, sitting down respectfully beside it. Even after nearly three years together, Zhan still carried himself like a guest in the house, never quite fully relaxed around Ms. Bao...despite her repeated scoldings about his stiffness.
"You're here earlier than usual. Why?" she asked again.
"I didn't go to school today," he replied.
"I see," she nodded. Zhan then gathered his strength and began working, despite clearly not feeling well. His body ached, which was why he had stayed home from school, but he forced himself to come work anyway. He couldn't afford a gap in his earnings. Ms. Bao, although kind, valued hard work and frugality.
Ms. Bao kept sneaking glances at Zhan as she folded clothes. His silence today was noticeable. But she knew even if she asked, he wouldn't tell her what was wrong. Zhan wasn't the type to open up easily about his troubles. Ms. Bao, however, being well-connected and perceptive, already suspected the cause...it likely had to do with his family's difficult situation.
She remained quietly observant as she watched Zhan hang clothes on the courtyard line. His bare skin gleamed....smooth, radiant....and for a moment, Ms. Bao found herself studying him more carefully. Almost as if he sensed her gaze, Zhan quickly pulled his shirt back down.
Still, Ms. Bao's mind was racing.
"This boy would be perfect," she thought to herself.
"If I present him to Queen Zaiye, he would be accepted without question. Aside from being a little thin...which, frankly, speaks more to his hardships than anything else...he has everything that would appeal to Prince Yibo."
By the time Zhan finished his chores and came to bid her goodbye, Ms. Bao had practically made her decision. She gave him nearly half of the food he had prepared and insisted he take it home to share with his siblings. Zhan accepted gratefully, knowing there might be little or nothing to eat at home. Even his father's new bride, once full of pride, now argued with his father over grocery money.
As Zhan left, he heard Su Luo calling out for him, but Zhan didn't stop. His mind was set on getting home. He prayed silently that he wouldn't run into his father....he had no energy left for lectures or chores.
Once home, he quickly gave the food to his siblings, then collapsed onto his mat. His younger siblings surrounded him, worried, asking what was wrong. With a forced smile, he reassured them that he was just tired and urged them to eat and rest quickly as well.
Ms. Bao spent nearly the whole night reflecting carefully on all the conditions and requirements Queen Zaiye had laid out for selecting the young man, and on Zhan's situation. No matter which way she analyzed it, Zhan perfectly matched the criteria, without a single flaw. By the end of the night, she decided she would start approaching Zhan about the matter. She believed it would be better if he knew everything upfront...and she was sure that no young man living under Zhan's harsh circumstances would turn down such a golden opportunity.
However, despite her intentions, she was forced to wait two more days before speaking to him, as Zhan had fallen ill and couldn't leave the house. Despite his love for both work and school, he had no choice but to rest, and it was his younger siblings who came to inform Ms. Bao that he was sick.
Zhan's condition worsened, and he became noticeably thinner.
Ms. Bao used this opportunity to send over plenty of cooked meals, enough for him and his younger siblings. This small gesture deeply touched Zhan's heart and helped ease the burden of his illness; at least he found comfort in knowing his siblings had food to eat.
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On the third day, Zhan mustered enough strength to resume his work. Even though he was still feeling weak, he dressed and stepped out, finding his father sitting in the courtyard. He greeted him quietly before moving on. As he left, he sighed deeply...his father had not even been able to offer him something as basic as a painkiller during his sickness. But he wasn't surprised; that was simply the life they lived.
"Oh, Zhan, you're strong enough to be out again?" Ms. Bao said warmly as soon as she saw him. Although there had never been any real problems between them, Zhan was still surprised by the extra attention and kindness she was showing him today.
"Yes, I'm feeling a bit stronger now, that's why I came," he replied politely.
"You should have rested a bit more," she chided gently.
"It's alright, Ms. Bao," he said.
"May you continue to recover quickly," she added sincerely.
"You did go to the clinic, didn't you?" she asked. Zhan just smiled without answering, and that silence told Ms. Bao all she needed to know. She sighed heavily, looking at him.
"Zhan," she said, "may you and your family be freed from this harsh life. May an opportunity come your way that lifts you and your siblings out of hardship. Work only as much as your body can manage, and may good fortune follow you. You're a child deserving of much better," she finished, her voice thick with emotion.
Her words touched Zhan's heart so deeply that he had to fight back tears. Quietly, he focused on his work, moving carefully so as not to strain himself.
As usual, once Zhan finished his chores, he prepared to leave. But this time, he found Ms. Bao sitting in her large sitting room, idly watching the television. Although it seemed like she was watching, her mind was busy figuring out how to bring up the real reason she had called him.
"Oh... You're done? Good, I wanted to settle your wages with you. And, there's something important we need to discuss," she said, sitting up and reaching for her handbag, which was never far from her side.
It felt almost like a miracle to Zhan; he hadn't expected to be paid so soon. In his mind, he thought maybe it would happen after another week or so.
Ms. Bao carefully counted out some money and handed it to him. Even before he took it, he could tell it was more than his regular pay. After accepting it, he quickly separated what he knew was his rightful amount and tried to return the excess to her.
But she shook her head. "No, Zhan, keep it all," she insisted.
He stared at the money in disbelief, his face full of confusion he couldn't hide. He looked up at her, searching her face for answers.
Ms. Bao just smiled warmly at him and adjusted herself on her seat. "This is nothing, Zhan," she said. "Soon, you'll be the one giving out money like this...or even greater amounts. Maybe before long, money like this will mean nothing to you but a chang. But for that to happen, your trust and willingness are crucial."
Zhan's mind felt like it had been sewn shut....he couldn't grasp what she was trying to say. He just sat there, staring at her blankly.
"Don't worry," Ms. Bao said, moving a little closer to him and gathering her thoughts. "Let me explain it clearly."
"Zhan," she began, "an extraordinary opportunity has presented itself. And from everything I know, there's no one more suited to it than you. This chance could change your life....and the lives of everyone you care about. You could leave behind this hardship and live a life of dignity and abundance. You and your siblings could thrive, even your father would benefit..."
She paused slightly, making sure Zhan was paying attention.
"Zhan... They are looking for someone to marry the Prince of Tianjin."
At that, Zhan's heart skipped a beat. He looked at Ms. Bao in shock before quickly glancing away, confusion flooding him. What does any of this have to do with me? he thought. This isn't my concern. How could this possibly involve me?
In a soft, careful voice, he said, "I hope they find someone worthy. I wish them happiness." He shifted as if preparing to leave.
But Ms. Bao quickly stopped him.
"No, Zhan, you don't understand. You are the one I'm considering," she said.
He turned to her with clear disbelief.
"Yes, Zhan," she said firmly. "No one is more suitable than you. You would marry Prince Yibo for the years he remains abroad studying. It would be a discreet arrangement known only to a few. It will be conducted quietly, in private, because, as you know, it's not easy for a future king to marry a man. Certain circumstances have forced the royal family to seek a loyal, discreet partner for him."
"The fortune you'll gain from this marriage will transform your life and the lives of your siblings. Even your father....and those you care for....will see the benefits. Even I believe my life will be healed, Zhan, through your success."
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛