Love at First Sight, Chapter 50 I, Wen Xiu-jie, am willing to marry.

Wen Xiuji sat upright in her chair, her face glowing with shyness as she asked, “Father, why do you bring this up so suddenly? I still wish to stay by your side for a few more years.”

Her father, Wen Yiru, laughed heartily. “Ha! When a man grows up, he marries; when a woman comes of age, she must wed. You’re already sixteen—how could I keep you by my side forever?”

“Then, Father, has the wedding date been set?”

Wen Xiuji lowered her head, twisting her handkerchief anxiously. She could no longer care for propriety—she only hoped to marry into the Shangguan family as soon as possible.

“It’s settled for the twenty-sixth of this month. On that day, the Crown Prince’s household will send people to fetch you,” Wen Yiru replied, stroking his beard.

“What? The Crown Prince’s household? Father, what are you saying?” Wen Xiuji exclaimed in shock, her eyes wide.

Seeing her reaction, Wen Yiru was at a loss; he hadn’t expected such a strong response. “What is this attitude? Are you truly unwilling to marry into the Crown Prince’s household?” he demanded, rising to his feet.

“Father, I don’t want to marry him. Could you please withdraw the engagement? I don’t want to marry a prince!” She rushed to his side, clinging to his sleeve, pleading like a child.

Wen Yiru shook off her hand. “Nonsense! An imperial marriage isn’t something that can be broken at will. You’re spoiled, that’s what you are.”

“Father, you know very well that I love Brother Shangguan. Why must you betroth me to another?” Desperate, she began to cry softly.

“Don’t be ungrateful. Do you know what it means to marry the Crown Prince? If you win his favor, it will bring everlasting honor to our family.” He gazed at her sternly.

“I don’t care. I don’t care about anything. I only want Brother Shangguan,” she retorted stubbornly.

“Insolence!” With a sharp crack, Wen Yiru slapped her. “All my love for you has been wasted.”

Wen Xiuji stared at him in disbelief. The father who had cherished her since childhood had actually struck her. Tears streamed down her cheeks; she sobbed, wounded and aggrieved. “Father, how could you hit me?”

“Enough of this tantrum. Look at your younger sister—how obedient she was, agreeing to her engagement with the Zhang family without complaint,” Wen Yiru said, his voice softening as he saw her distress.

“Don’t speak to me of her. How was she obedient? If she hadn’t caused such a scene, would she be in the Third Prince’s household now?” Wen Xiuji’s eyes brimmed with tears.

“When she carried on in the market, she brought utter disgrace upon our family. How can you still think she’s a good example?” She questioned him, unwilling to yield.

Mention of that incident reignited Wen Yiru’s anger. Waving his hand, he ordered her away. “Enough! You are never to speak of this again. Go back to your room and behave yourself. Wait quietly for your wedding day.”

“Father…” Wen Xiuji cried out.

Wen Yiru glared at her impatiently. “Don’t make me confine you. Even if I have to tie you up, I’ll see you delivered to the Crown Prince’s household.”

At these words, Wen Xiuji’s face turned deathly pale. If her father could utter such threats, there was indeed no room for reversal.

She sank onto a stool, speechless, gazing blankly at her father. So this was the so-called fatherly love—only now did she see her true worth in his eyes after all these years.

She made no further pleas, not even a word, but returned to her room in a daze, her spirit lost.

“Ah…” She smashed everything in her room, unleashing her anguish at last.

Everyone in the rear courtyard heard her, but no one dared approach.

The next day, her mother came to persuade her.

“Jie’er, my darling child, don’t drive yourself mad,” Lady Wen called as soon as she entered, seeing the mess strewn across the floor and her daughter sitting in a stupor at the bed’s edge, refusing to rise.

“My daughter, listen to your father and marry as you’re told. The Crown Prince is of such exalted status; you ought to feel nothing but gratitude,” Lady Wen said, sitting beside her and smoothing her hair.

“Mother, do you mean to force me too?” Wen Xiuji gazed at her, expressionless. “You all know I love Brother Shangguan, yet you still insist I marry a stranger.”

“This is the fate of women. You’re still young and don’t understand—love is not important. Affection can be cultivated. And if the Crown Prince becomes heir apparent, he’ll be the future emperor,” Lady Wen said, her face alight with excitement.

“So what? Does that mean I’ll be empress?” Wen Xiuji replied scornfully.

“Don’t interrupt. Think of our family, think of your mother. Your father has been demoted, your brother is dull and unremarkable, and your eldest sister’s marriage is no better.” As she spoke, Lady Wen took Wen Xiuji’s hand, gently comforting her.

“You saw for yourself—Wen Yuezhe has already become an assistant general, and even that weakling Wen Yueqing has entered the Third Prince’s household and may be favored as a concubine. Tell me, are the legitimate children of our family no better than those bastards born of concubines?” Lady Wen’s face darkened, her words harsh. She had always been proud, unwilling to bow her head.

“Even if you cannot become empress, you could still be a consort, a noble consort, perhaps even the imperial noble consort. In time, you’ll thank your father. If not for his careful planning, his humility in pleading on your behalf, do you think the Crown Prince would have chosen to ally himself with our family?”

Wen Xiuji was touched by these words. Thinking carefully, she knew it was true. She began to weigh her options in her heart.

“Jie’er, your father and I are relying on you. If you can distinguish yourself in the Crown Prince’s household, the entire Wen family will prosper,” Lady Wen pleaded earnestly, tears falling as she spoke.

Seeing her mother, usually so strong, weeping like this, Wen Xiuji reached out to wipe her tears. At this moment, she understood.

“If this is my fate, then I will become the pride of the Wen family and trample all others beneath my feet,” she vowed silently.

Though her heart still longed for Shangguan Yinchun, she knew now was not the time for willfulness. If she truly angered the Crown Prince, the Wen family would be utterly ruined, and she would gain nothing in the end.

The scene from that day appeared again in her mind—Shangguan Yinchun’s cold and indifferent rejection. The pain of unrequited love felt suffocating.

“Mother, I understand. Tell Father that for the honor of the Wen family, I am willing to marry without complaint,” Wen Xiuji said resolutely, her mind made up.