I am the false princess. But this is no secret. My purpose was to protect the Crown Prince, to be a decoy for the true princess. The day the Prince ascended the throne, I went to offer my congratulations in secret. But I overheard the Queen say to him: "Aria has occupied that position for far too long. It's time for her to disappear, and for your sister to return." I clutched my gift tightly as I heard my noble, perfect brother reply, his voice clear and cold, "Of course. I will make the arrangements." That night, a great fire swept through my wing of the palace. While everyone else was fighting the flames, I slipped into a crowd of servants being granted leave and escaped. I never knew that the composed, dignified young emperor had stumbled through the chaos, running headfirst into the inferno to find me. 1 It was March in the capital city of Aurelia, the season of the Imperial Examinations. Scholars from across the entire Empire of Solara gathered here, hoping to walk the hallowed halls of power. Inside a modest inn, a tall, handsome young man burst into a room, his face alight with joy. "Aria, I passed! I passed! Tenth place! Tenth place!" I had just set down a bundle of folded clothes when Carson swept me into a fierce hug. This man, usually so reserved and proper, who spoke in carefully constructed sentences, was now acting like a child, clinging to me and refusing to let go. I laughed and patted his back. He finally came to his senses, releasing me abruptly and taking two steps back, stammering apologies. I covered my mouth to stifle my laughter, calling him a fool. He just blushed and couldn't meet my eyes. Three years ago, I escaped the palace. I was deceived by scoundrels and nearly sold into servitude. It was Carson who saved me and took me home. He had a mother with a bad leg, and their home was humble and poor. The first night I was there, he sat by my door until morning. Overwhelmed with guilt, I left him the only valuable I had—a silver bracelet—and slipped away. I didn't know how cruel the world outside could be. Without money, I was helpless. When I was falsely accused of theft and dragged before the local magistrate, Carson appeared again and saved me. He shielded me with his own, not-so-broad body, his scholar's dignity abandoned as he argued fiercely in my defense. It was then that I understood something for the first time. When the Queen and the Prince had watched me being punished in the palace, they had explained with cold faces that the royal family had a strict code of conduct. They couldn't lower themselves to squabble with a lesser concubine, so I would just have to endure it. But when you truly care for someone, you don't let them suffer. So this time, I didn't leave. I went home with him. To repay his kindness, I did what simple chores I could. A year ago, Carson's mother was on her deathbed. With her as our witness, we were married. But we never shared a bed. He had told me, "Aria, you must come from a noble family. Though I don't know what misfortune has befallen you to grant me the honor of marrying you, I dare not take advantage. When I pass the examinations, I swear I will give you a proper wedding, with all the traditional rites and a grand carriage. If I fail, I will still treat you as my own sister and find you a worthy husband." Others might have thought his words were empty promises, but not Carson. His gaze was honest, and he was a man of his word. For him, that spontaneous hug was already a great transgression. 2 Carson passing the examinations was a good thing. But a sense of unease settled deep within me. Not long after I faked my death and fled the palace three years ago, news spread that the "false princess" had usurped the true princess's place. That same year, the real princess, Princess Iris, was welcomed into the palace. When I heard the news, I was selling paintings with Carson in the market. It was only a fleeting moment of shock, and then I was doubled over with laughter, listening to Carson earnestly lecture a customer on the principles of art. But our peaceful days didn't last long. A public notice appeared, issued by the new Emperor, Alistair, seeking a missing person. In that instant, the world went dark around me. I had never imagined they would hunt me down so relentlessly. I was about to make an excuse to leave when Carson found me first. He told me he and his mother were moving back to his hometown, to the local academy, and asked if I would go with them. I couldn't have been more relieved. And so, I spent three years hiding in a remote town. It was only when Carson came to the capital for the examinations that I dared to venture out and breathe again. 3 Carson saw my anxiety, but he didn't know the truth. He thought it was just a young woman's worries. So one night, during the Lantern Festival, under a sky filled with glowing paper lanterns, he made a vow to me. "I, Carson, swear that in this life, I will never fail you." I smiled. "Even if I'm a wanted fugitive of the state? Even if I've committed terrible crimes? Even if… I've lied to you and deceived you?" Carson gripped my hand tightly. "If you are a fugitive, I will not harbor you, but I will never abandon you. I will stand with you. If you live, I live. If you die, I die." I hugged him, laughing and calling him a fool, but tears streamed down my face. Someone in the magnificent palace had once said something similar to me. But he had broken his promise. 4 Carson’s performance in the final palace examination was flawless. He placed fourth in the second rank of scholars. I could almost see his brilliant future unfolding before me. We could be assigned to a remote post, become local officials, and bring prosperity to the people. But who could have predicted it? Who could have predicted that at the celebratory banquet, Princess Iris would single out Carson to be her personal tutor? When Carson told me, I was so stunned that the hot wax from the candle I was holding nearly dripped onto my fingers. How could this be? I closed my eyes. Why couldn't I escape her? The Queen had never been favored by the late King. To protect the Crown Prince and her young daughter, I was secretly brought to the palace. From a young age, the Queen told me of her hardships. The Prince knew I wasn't his real sister and treated me with indifference. The Queen saw me only as a substitute. At the time, I didn't know my true identity. I only thought my brother was cold and my mother's life was difficult. So I did everything I could to please them. I took the blame for my brother's mistakes, became a pawn in my mother's courtly schemes. When my brother was in danger, I stepped forward and drank poisoned wine for him. That night, as the poison coursed through me, my brother held me tightly, begging me not to die. It was the first time I had ever seen such a vulnerable expression on his usually stoic face. It was then I realized he wasn't completely indifferent to me. The thought brought me so much joy that I could ignore the searing pain in my gut. Looking back now, I realize my brother was probably just afraid of losing such a useful tool. All the warmth he showed me afterward was likely just a way to ensure my loyalty. 5 The first day Carson returned from his new post, I waited for him at the door with a lantern. The deep green official's robe made him look as stately as a pine tree, a true gentleman. He took my hand and gave me a small box of peach blossom cakes from a famous shop in the south district. "Look what I brought you." The Imperial Palace was in the north district. The cakes were still warm. The craftsmanship of the common folk couldn't compare to the palace's, but I loved these cakes. Or rather, I loved the special consideration they represented. Carson loved to tell me about his day, about the things he saw in the palace. I loved having someone to talk to, so even though I knew the palace better than he did, I pretended to be fascinated. "The peach blossoms in the palace are in full bloom. I remember you love them most. If I get the chance, I'll take you to see them. There's a cat there, a calico, very proud, they say. But guess what? The moment it saw me today, it started rubbing against my legs. And, and…" Carson tirelessly tried to paint a picture of the palace for me, but he saw my face growing paler and paler. "Aria? What's wrong?" "You love peach blossoms. In the future, shall I fill your palace with them?" "This cat is filthy, Aria. Don't touch it." "Alright, if Aria is willing to beg me, I suppose I could help you hide this little creature." "Aria, when I ascend the throne, I will…" … Familiar words flooded my mind, finally dissolving into the cold, sharp blade of his final decree: "I will make the arrangements." I forced a stiff smile for Carson's concerned face. "It's nothing. I'm just a little tired." Carson watched me for a long moment, then suddenly pulled me into his arms. "Aria, you're not happy. You haven't really smiled since we came here. Give me some time. I'll ask the Emperor for a transfer to a remote post. If you don't like it here, we'll leave, okay?" I felt as if I drew strength from his words. I hugged him back tightly. "Carson. Carson." 6 On Carson's third day at his post, he was punished by the Queen Mother, forced to kneel at the palace gates. When I heard the news, I was frantic with worry, but I didn't dare step outside our home for fear of bringing him more trouble. When he finally limped through the door that evening, the tears I had been holding back finally fell. Carson saw them and panicked, rushing to wipe them away. "Aria, don't cry. I'm back, see? I'm fine. And look what I brought you! Cakes from Li's bakery." He comforted me, coaxing me gently, even though he was the one who was hurt. "Why did the Queen Mother punish you?" In my memory, the Queen Mother was not a woman prone to anger. She preferred to make people disappear quietly. At my question, Carson fell silent. He held me tightly and said, "Aria, I will not fail you. I will not fail you." The words made no sense. But they were explained the next day. Princess Iris had asked Emperor Alistair to grant her a marriage to Carson, and Carson had refused. "Your Majesty, I am already betrothed. My love for her is unwavering. I am grateful for the Princess's favor, but I dare not presume. I beg Your Majesty to forgive my impertinence. I am willing to accept a lifelong post in the provinces and never return to the capital, to appease the Princess's anger." This was a massive scandal. Everyone knew the princess had been wronged for years, her position usurped. Since her return, she had become the apple of the Queen Mother's eye, getting anything she desired. The enraged Queen Mother demanded Carson's immediate execution, but Princess Iris stopped her. One wanted to kill him, the other wanted to keep him. In the end, for the sake of stability, Alistair made a decision: my status would be demoted. Iris would be the wife, and I would be the concubine. Iris genuinely liked Carson, so even though royal consorts were not allowed to have concubines, she compromised. It seemed like a happy resolution for everyone. Except for Carson. His eyes were red with fury. And so, this newly minted scholar, after only three days in office, resigned. In the court, all royal consorts held official positions. This act was an undeniable declaration of his heart. "I do not consent to Aria being a concubine. I wish to resign from my post and return home. I beseech Your Majesty to grant my request." I don't know which of his words moved the cold Emperor, but he slowly spoke. "Your wife's name is Aria?" "Yes." Alistair was silent for a long time. Finally, he said, "I do not wish to separate a fated pair. Since you are unwilling, I will not force the matter. Let it be dropped." And so, this major crisis was resolved peacefully. When Carson told me, he was still marveling. "I was thinking at the time, if the Emperor really forced me to marry the princess, I would either resign or spill my blood in the throne room. I could never betray you. Fortunately, His Majesty is a wise ruler. He spared my life and saved us both. I will serve him loyally for the rest of my days to repay his kindness." But when I heard Alistair ask my name, my heart had seized. Hearing Carson talk of spilling his blood in court, I forgot everything else. "You'd spill your blood in the throne room? You… you… if you did that, I'd follow you to the grave just to yell at you." Carson saw how angry I was and took my hand. "Aria, don't be angry. I was wrong. But Aria, the court is a dangerous place. I might leave this world before you. I don't believe a woman should remain a widow. Don't follow me in death. If you find someone you like, you can remarry. The rest of your life is too long. I'm afraid of you being lonely." In the lamplight, Carson's gaze was sincere and bright. I cried, a hiccup escaping me. "You fool. Where in this world could I ever find another fool like you?" 7 The matter of the marriage was dropped, but I had a feeling that, given the Queen Mother's temperament, she wouldn't let us off so easily. Sure enough, a few days later, an invitation came from the palace, asking me to attend a flower-viewing party. Carson was only a minor official. As his wife, how could I possibly be worthy of such an event? Besides, I would never dare set foot in the palace again. So I claimed illness. To make it convincing, I rubbed my face with mugwort, causing red blotches to appear all over my skin. That was enough to fool the royal physician. But at the same time, rumors spread that I was hideously ugly. My preference for staying at home became "proof" that I was ashamed to be seen. When Carson heard, he cupped my face in his hands. "They are all fools. My Aria is the most beautiful girl in the world." I was about to tease him for being so glib, but he placed a solemn kiss on my forehead. "Aria, will you marry me? Properly? I've saved enough for a grand carriage and a magnificent procession." His eyes crinkled with a smile. It was infectious. And so, I heard myself say, "Yes." 8 Carson went to the palace to request leave for our wedding, but he didn't come back. As I stood at the door with a lantern, a small sedan chair was carried up. A thin, reedy voice called out. I knew instantly it was someone from the palace. "Lady Carson, your husband is drunk in the palace. You are requested to come and fetch him." I covered my face in fear. "My husband never drinks to excess. Why would he suddenly be drunk?" The eunuch let out a strange laugh. "That, this servant wouldn't know. I only know that if you do not go, your husband will not be coming back." As he spoke, he revealed a jade pendant. It was Carson's. I gripped the lantern, my body frozen. It seemed like a long time passed, or maybe no time at all. I heard myself say, "Let's go." I couldn't let him lose his career, lose his life, for my sake. The one who wanted to see me wasn't the Queen Mother. It was Iris. The beautiful princess had an air of naive innocence. When she saw me, she was very disappointed. She didn't recognize me, the person who had lived her life for sixteen years. "You really are plain. I don't know what my dear Carson sees in you. Well, dispose of her cleanly. Have someone return the pendant secretly. Don't let Carson know." I was gagged and dragged out of the hall. "What do we do with her? It's not easy to get out of the palace now." "Then deal with her in the palace. This place is vast enough to hide one more body." "The Rose Garden is deserted. Dump her there." Hearing this, my eyes widened. The Rose Garden. That was the name of my old quarters. Why, after all this, was I back where I started? "But… aren't we forbidden from entering there?" "That's what makes it the perfect place to handle this." "Stop dawdling. Let's go." I was jostled along the path until the sweet scent of peach blossoms filled the air. "We're here." "Quick, quick, just drown her and bury her. Get it over with." The next second, water engulfed me. The will to live made me struggle. The eunuch seemed inexperienced at this, and I managed to break free. "Who's there?" A familiar voice made me freeze, and I was pushed back under. "What is His Majesty doing here?" "It's fine, it's fine. He'll leave soon. Just hold her down and it'll be fine." In that moment, I hesitated between crying for help and staying silent. Until: "Your Majesty, I have gathered the finest peach blossoms. Thank you for your generosity." Those words struck me like a thunderbolt. An overwhelming sense of injustice surged through me. I couldn't think anymore. I fought my way to the surface. "Husband, save me!" Alistair's body went rigid. He turned around in disbelief. I scrambled past him and threw myself into Carson's arms. "Husband, save me!" Before Carson's comforting words could come, a hoarse voice cut through the air. "Aria? Is that you?"
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