Chapter 24: A Single Glimpse of the Princess, a Lifetime of Regret

Xiao Zhi stood where he was, stunned for a long moment.

He had miscalculated. Why on earth did he suggest Tianfuju? Was this supposed to be a date with a princess? Should he ask if she wanted to catch a movie after dinner?

Princess Changping—the late Emperor’s youngest daughter and his most cherished one. As for other details—her age, appearance, height, interests—Xiao Zhi knew absolutely nothing. He only knew that the Princess’s birth chart was notoriously inauspicious, which was exactly why she was so infamous.

When the late Emperor was alive, he had arranged a consort for her. According to royal custom, a "trial marriage" maid was usually sent to consummate the union to ensure the man’s virility. Unexpectedly, the groom had died in the bed during that trial. Two years later, the Princess was set to marry the son of a Marquis. Not long before the wedding, the young man’s prize horse suddenly panicked, throwing the new groom and leaving him paralyzed. From then on, rumors of the Princess being a "husband-killer" spread like wildfire, to the point where people blanched at the mere mention of her name.

The capital was divided into the East and West Markets. Since the nobility mostly resided in the east, the East Market was far more prosperous. Tianfuju occupied the most prime location in the East Market, boasting a grand storefront. If judged by the standards of a man who had tasted the "modern culinary miracles" of his previous life, the food here was mediocre at best—and calling it mediocre was being generous. Yet, in this era, such a flavor profile was considered quite good. Spices like cinnamon and star anise were also medicinal herbs; ordinary households could hardly afford such luxuries. Tianfuju was a top-tier establishment in the East Market, frequented by the wealthy and powerful. Perhaps they lacked a skilled chef or used the spices incorrectly, but the taste was, to put it mildly, indescribable.

Xiao Zhi couldn't help but think that since he now owned a few shops, he should find time to start a small business. Based on the experiences of his fellow "transmigrators," it shouldn't be difficult. He had the waiter open a private room and gave a few instructions to the manager before heading upstairs.

"Lord Xiao, greetings."

Xiao Zhi squinted at the man. The face was familiar, but he couldn't quite recall his name.

"Are you... Lord Wang?" Xiao Zhi guessed a surname at random. If he got it right, great; if not, it didn't matter.

"My surname is Zhai, Zhai Cuo, a clerk in the Ministry of Works." Zhai Cuo looked extremely awkward, though he dared not say much. A clerk in the Ministry of Works was a mere errand runner, a ninth-rank official—the lowest of the low.

Xiao Zhi slapped his thigh. "Right, right, right! Look at my memory, my apologies."

"Lord Zhai, what brings you here?"

"A fellow townsman of mine is in the capital to report on his duties, so we are meeting here," Zhai Cuo replied.

Xiao Zhi nodded and parted ways with Zhai Cuo to enter his reserved room. Outside Tianfuju, a small sedan chair arrived. The curtain was lifted, and a veiled woman stepped out, accompanied by the same palace maid who had intercepted Xiao Zhi earlier.

"Tongyuan, go and ask," Princess Changping commanded.

Tongyuan pulled the busy manager aside to inquire about the room Xiao Zhi had booked. Just then, Zhai Cuo, who was about to leave, caught sight of the Princess and dropped to his knees with a thud.

"Your Highness, greetings."

Princess Changping frowned slightly. She had hoped to keep her identity hidden, but this man was clearly lacking in tact. "That is enough. Go about your business."

Seeing that the Princess had no interest in him, Zhai Cuo didn't leave but instead watched from afar. He saw Tongyuan guide the Princess toward the private room Xiao Zhi had occupied.

Xiao Zhi had just poured himself a cup of tea and hadn't even taken a sip when the door was pushed open. He looked up to see an elfin-like maid and a woman of peerless elegance and a magnificent figure standing there.

"Princess, it is him," Tongyuan said softly.

The Princess nodded, slowly untied her veil, and offered a graceful curtsy to Xiao Zhi. Xiao Zhi was startled—he was the one who should be bowing to the Princess, not the other way around.

"It was rather presumptuous of me to come today," the Princess said. "Linghua only wished to thank you in person, Lord Xiao, for your act of salvation."

Xiao Zhi had never heard a voice so beautiful—crisp, yet soft and sweet. Nor had he ever seen a woman of such breathtaking grace. Having grown up in the lap of luxury, the Princess possessed a temperament and cultivation that surpassed ordinary people. But that delicate, elegant, and noble face—Xiao Zhi had lived two lifetimes and had never seen anyone whose beauty could rival hers. Her skin, in particular—even if he cranked up the beauty filters of his past life to the max, they wouldn't match this. It was delicate, perfect, and flawless; "translucent enough to break upon a touch" was an understatement. Jiang Zhu and Jiang Yun were beautiful, but compared to the Princess, they were merely passable.

Xiao Zhi couldn't have met every woman in the world, but he dared to say that Princess Changping was undoubtedly the most beautiful woman on earth. No wonder her horoscope was as hard as diamond, and even the King of the Northern Barbarians wanted to marry her. Xiao Zhi stared blankly at the Princess, forgetting to even return the greeting.

The Princess stood there calmly, long accustomed to the way men acted when they saw her for the first time.

"Lord Xiao?" Tongyuan pouted and reminded him in a low voice.

Xiao Zhi snapped out of his trance, his face flushing with embarrassment. He hurriedly gestured for the Princess to sit. Tongyuan, standing to the side, naturally picked up the teapot to refill the Princess’s cup.

The Princess motioned for Xiao Zhi to sit as well. "No need to be so formal. Although we have never met, I have long considered you a friend. You may call me Linghua."

Xiao Zhi sat down and cupped his hands. "Your Highness, greetings. Since this is our first meeting, may I ask when I saved you?"

The Princess had told him to use her given name, but Xiao Zhi would be a fool to actually do it.

"If it weren't for you, the wedding carriage of the Northern Barbarians would likely have already reached the capital."

With those words, Xiao Zhi understood. In history books, women were never treated as human beings, but as resources. To appease the enemy, princesses were sent away; the Northern Barbarians would kill the men but keep the women during their raids; and even in the annual tributes, young maidens were a standard item. Princesses were merely high-value resources, their marriages never their own to decide.

Xiao Zhi had been staring at her, but now he regained his composure, realizing his indiscretion. He kept his eyes lowered, staring at the tea set on the table. "Your Highness need not thank me; it was merely my duty."

"My Imperial Brother said that it was you who spoke those words—about neither paying tribute nor ceding land?"

Xiao Zhi nodded. "Only when our Great Chu stands tall can the people live in peace and contentment, and only then can the dynasty endure for generations."

"My brother said you were no ordinary man. It seems he was right." Princess Changping smiled, watching him intently.

"I am merely a common man with a bit of reckless courage," Xiao Zhi replied, trying to make small talk. What else could he say, alone in a room with her? If he were blunt, he would want to ask for her measurements or whether she preferred men who were handsome or strong. It was a shame such a woman would eventually be wasted on some pig. However, it seemed unlikely she would marry now; two failed engagements had already turned her into a "spinster" in her twenties. Furthermore, once one became a consort, they could no longer hold office. Simply put, marrying the Princess meant serving her for the rest of one’s life.

"I spoke with my brother before I came here. The court is in turmoil, and he hopes you will contribute more."

"I shall do my utmost," Xiao Zhi replied.

Sensing the perfunctory nature of his words, Princess Changping frowned slightly. She changed the subject. "What is your take on the current situation in Shandong and Jiangsu?"