Substitute
She was Jiang Mingwei’s substitute, an imitation of the Prince of Jin’s first love.
——
In the third year of the Suihe Era, the Western Han Dynasty, summer.
The Jiang Manor was veiled by dense trees and enshrouded in their green shadows that obscured its cloister, and consequently, the people that walked through it.
Mu Mingtang was dressed in soft blue and fine silver clothing. The two people outside were engrossed in their conversation and did not notice her. Furthermore, her attire was light in color and helped her blend in with the mottled shadows of the surrounding greenery.
However, Mu Mingtang knew that the real reason the usually vigilant Prince of Jin had completely let his guard down was due this reunion with his first love. In his elation, he became careless and thus failed to notice Mu Mingtang.
“I’m sorry for what I did, Brother Ji… I believed in the lies of the barbarians, misunderstood you, and even ran away from home. I am overjoyed that you’ve been doing well. Otherwise, I would…!”
The woman in white was suddenly overtaken by sadness and began to sob. Her face was free of makeup, and her dress was modest. At first glance, her countenance wasn’t particularly captivating, but her beauty was the type that became increasingly prominent the more one looked at her.
When her eyes filled with tears that stubbornly refused to fall, anyone would feel distressed for her. Naturally, Xie Xuanji was no exception. He couldn’t stop himself from stepping closer to her. Although he wanted to hold her, he was afraid it would startle her and thus refrained from doing so.
“It’s alright, Mingwei. Nothing matters more to me than your return. It has been a year, but everything is still the same. The position of the Princess of Jin has always been reserved for you, and only you.”
At this, the woman, “Mingwei,” finally burst into tears. “But… Brother Ji, I am no longer worthy of you. I was deceived by those barbarians and committed such evil acts! I even suspected your love for me and ran away from our wedding! Over the past year, I spent a lot of time thinking about these horrible things, and the more I thought about them, the more afraid I was to come back.”
“Although I was kidnapped by the barbarians, it was due to my own ignorance. I cannot blame anyone but myself. Seeing that you are well and safe is already for me; I don’t dare expect more. I heard that you’re engaged now. That’s good. I’m sure she will take good care of you in my place.”
“No, Mingwei.” Xie Xuanji appeared to be panicking. He took another step forward until his body was almost touching hers. He looked down and forced her to meet his deep gaze.
“I’ve said before that I would always be waiting for you to come back and take you as my princess. However, since the imperial edict was announced, we could not defy it. Thus, Uncle Jiang adopted a daughter from outside to act as your substitute. The fake will always be the fake, and the real will always be the real. Now that you’re back, what need do we still have for the fake? The position of the Princess of Jin has always belonged to you, Jiang Mingwei.”
“But I was kidnapped by the barbarians, and my whereabouts were unknown for a year. Her purity is one of the most important virtues for the women who marry into the imperial family,” she said, her expression turning into one of shame as she lowered her head, revealing her slender neck. “Although I am still pure, who would believe me? If you took me as your princess, you would be ridiculed.”
Contrary to her dejectedness, Xie Xuanji was thrilled when he heard her words. He had always been a calm and gentle man, but at this moment, he couldn’t help but laugh out loud and almost couldn’t stop himself from embracing her.
“Wonderful, that’s wonderful! Mingwei, do you know how happy those words have made me? You didn’t become the woman of another man. Your body is still pure! Don’t worry, I will ensure that no one but you, me, and Uncle and Madam Jiang will know. If an outsider asks, you can say that you were recuperating outside. As for my emperor-father and empress-mother, I will talk to them myself. There will be no issues.”
Jiang Mingwei’s cheeks blossomed with a pink hue as he finished speaking. After a moment, she seemed to have thought of something, causing her face to pale, and she gently pushed him away.
“Brother Ji, I am touched by your feelings, truly, but I am no longer worthy of you. Your future princess is someone else. She is more clever than me, more filial than me, and she wouldn’t make my parents angry like I did. After mother and father adopted her, they must feel closer to her and think that she’s more suitable to be their daughter. Now that the engagement has changed, it is only right for me to walk away. My presence would only delay your marriage and annoy the second young miss.”
“What are you saying, Mingwei?” Xue Xuanji refuted coldly and without hesitation. “I have never held feelings for her, and I’ve always regarded her as your substitute. Uncle and Madam Jiang are of the same mind. If it weren’t for her looks that slightly resemble yours, a lowly refugee like her would never have been able to enter the doors of the Jiang family. She should feel grateful for the year of luxury she enjoyed here. If she forgets her place and dares to target you, however, I would not show her any mercy.”