Chapter Eighty-Seven: How Could the Two Be Compared?

“I have already learned all of that! I even embroidered a sachet for you last time, didn’t I?” Feiyan said, sounding rather pleased with herself.

She had also embroidered one for Li Rui, but he had sent it back without ceremony, saying the thing was too girlish and did not suit him at all. It had made her so angry that she did not go looking for him for several days afterward. But that had only suited Li Rui’s wishes; he had enjoyed a few days of peace and quiet.

“How dare you say that? With handiwork like yours, and you still claim to have learned it well? No matter what, go back and study properly. In another month there will be the Imperial Selection, and they will also inspect the women’s needlework. You will practice diligently from now on.”

Fu Shijie nearly rolled his eyes. At the moment, the only thing on his mind was the selection. The last one had been missed; this year, it absolutely had to succeed. Otherwise, he would have no choice but to find another family and marry her off there.

Originally, the imperial harem held a selection once every three years, but three years ago the former empress had died, and the event had been suspended for one cycle. Fu Shijie had been keeping his eye on this year’s selection ever since. His daughter was already eighteen and still unmarried, all so that she might bring honor and glory to the Fu family.

“Father!” Feiyan cried in exasperation.

She was furious at what Fu Shijie had said. She did not want to go to any selection at all; she only wished to marry the man she loved. Ever since Feiyan had met Li Rui several years ago, she had fallen for him, but her father refused to listen and insisted only that she go to the palace.

“What is all this shouting for, girl?”

Fu Shijie was startled by her outburst. He had never seen her shout so loudly before. But there was no place here for her to decide anything.

“I’m not going to the selection! I like Brother Rui, and I’m going to marry him in the future. I don’t want to be some imperial consort or empress!”

Feiyan grew even louder and more unreasonable, flailing her arms as she threw a tantrum, trying to summon some forceful bearing to counter her father’s words.

But her father had no leisure to indulge her in this. He did not coax her gently; instead, he laid out his thoughts bluntly and plainly.

“How can a girl speak with such a shameless mouth? Let me tell you straight: Li Rui does not like you at all. And even if he did, I would still never let you become a prince’s wife. You are meant to serve the emperor and become an imperial consort. In time, you will rise to be empress. Your younger brother and your ancestors all depend on you, the elder sister, to pave the way. You must bring honor to the family and glorify our name!”

Fu Shijie reiterated the importance of the matter once more. In those days, the fates of children’s marriages were mostly decided by parental command and matchmakers’ words, yet Feiyan had been spoiled and indulged from a young age. How could she possibly be willing to accept this?

“Brother, Brother! He’s not even ten yet, and you’re already in such a hurry to pave his way. If I became a prince’s wife, couldn’t I also bring honor to the family and to my brother?”

Feiyan only wanted to find the man of her heart. And that man was a dragon among men, not some nobody from the marketplace. Why was her father so dead set against it? If she married the one she loved, shouldn’t her father be happy for her?

Besides, this younger brother, though indeed her own flesh and blood, had been born to her father in his later years and was cherished even more than she was. Feiyan knew he was hard-won and precious, but wasn’t this favoring him a bit too much? In her heart, she simply could not accept it.

“How can the two be compared? Children’s affairs are for their parents to decide. Stop daydreaming about becoming some prince’s wife and obediently prepare for the selection. Someone, send the young lady back to her room.”

Fu Shijie called loudly for the servants. He had made up his mind. When he was not at home, they had all indulged her too much; now that he was here, he would set an example and keep Feiyan in check.

On this matter, Fu Shijie remained fairly stubborn. The two grand secretaries had equal power, while he was merely the Minister of Rites, with the Minister of Personnel above him as well. If he did not hurry and secure a path for himself, sooner or later he would fall behind others.

“Hmph!”

Feiyan saw the righteous and unyielding look on her father’s face and knew that today she would not be going out. She could only snort angrily at Fu Shijie in deliberate defiance, then turn and, surrounded by the crowd, return to her own room to stew in silence.