No Crown, Just Freedom

I met Xiao Yan on the Bridge of Naihe after my death. He was a prince in his lifetime, and I was his princess. Everyone said he was a gentleman, and our marriage was full of love and harmony. I used to believe that too. Go on, go on. Don't block the way. Sir, I'm waiting for someone. Please give me some time. Waiting for someone? Who? My true love of this life. I waited for him for ten years, and I watched him for ten years. You've come, you've finally come. Without you, I've been living like a walking corpse. Every day was torment. I am also a prince. I thought I would never see you again. If I can stay with you after death, even if I never reincarnate for ten thousand lives, I would be happy. What if Su Wu Ning is waiting for you in the underworld? Don't mention her. I endured her all my life and was wronged all my life. This time, I won't endure her anymore. I'll just pretend I don't know her. Qian Qian, the gentleman, treating each other with respect, was just suppressing his hatred for me. Can't you let me have some peace of mind? He hated me, but I... treated him like a treasure all my life. If there's another life, I will never marry him again. I was reborn, back to when I was fifteen. Wu Ning, you grew up with the Prince Duan and had an engagement promise, why are you now refusing to marry him? Your Majesty, the Prince Duan has no romantic feelings for me. He is kindhearted and a gentleman. He probably couldn't bear the longterm friendship with me, so he reluctantly agreed. But I am not a shameless woman, I don't want to be forced into marriage. It's better to just call it off. Each of us can find happiness. The Emperor, you are both wellbehaved and understanding children. If it wasn't for necessity, Wu Ning wouldn't have come to ask us, so let it be. Alright, in my previous life, I came to the palace today to request the imperial decree of marriage. I didn't expect that after being reborn, it would start from here. Maybe this is what heaven intended. This time, I won't look back.

I've followed Xiao Yan down this road countless times in my past life. Wherever Xiao Yan went, whether it was big or small matters, I was always there. He respected me enough to always ask for my opinion on everything. Princess, look at how nice the sun is. The whole capital has composed a tune saying that getting married should be to Prince Duan, and everyone envies you and the prince, who are like a celestial couple. You two will surely be a model of harmony and happiness. A model? Well, it depends on whose model it is. Princess, what do you mean by that? Oh, nothing. Honestly, I have no complaints about him. He was a good husband and father in his lifetime. As for who he's waiting for at the River of Forgetfulness after death, who am I to interfere? However, in this life, I don't want to marry him again. Living a quiet life once is enough; I have things I want to accomplish. As for him, I'll just let him find his true love. Princess, I see you're here. The prince is looking for me. The princess came to the palace today to visit the empress. But is it something important? When Xiao Yan spoke to me in my past life, he also used this tone, with a distant gaze and words full of suspicion. What was she suspicious of? Was she afraid I would beg your aunt to arrange a marriage? My mother made red bean cakes and asked me to deliver them to the empress. Then that's fine. How come in my past life I couldn't see these things? If the prince has nothing else to say, Wanying will return first. Wanying, you're still young, there's no need to rush into marriage. In the next one or two years, a woman's life is nowhere as comfortable as under her parents' roof. That's a very eloquent speech. If it weren't for living another life, who could tell that it was meant to dissuade me from having any intentions towards him? It's truly the prince's deep intention, and Wanying understands. It's good that you understand, Lu Hua, take your time, make sure to protect the princess thoroughly. Princess, Prince Duan really treats you well, he will surely be a perfect match. A perfect match? Maybe in my past life, but in this life, I don't want to be his wife anymore.

Wannin, what did you just say? You’ve broken off your engagement with Prince Duan. How can you change your mind so easily, child? If I’m not marrying him, then I’m not. In my opinion, Prince Duan is a very calculating man. Our Wannin is far too innocent—she’ll never be able to handle him. At twelve, you already vowed to become his consort. Just days ago, you were still embroidering mandarin ducks on a pillow—so why the sudden change of heart? Mother. I’m not marrying him. I want to head west to the Northwest and find my little aunt. Our family has three childrenFather is the eldest son, and my elder aunt is the second daughter—gentle and serene. By sixteen, she had already become the current Empress. As for my little aunt, she’s always been quiet and unassuming; since she was seven or eight, she’s lived in the Northwest with her grandfather. Later, she married a fellow officer and settled there permanently. In my previous life, she wrote me letters every month. She described the snow beyond the frontier as jade forests swirling and silver blossoms adorning jeweled trees, and the summer up north as fierce winds sweeping through grasslands, stretching endlessly under a vast expanse of blue. Every day, she would ride her horse along the border, galloping across the wilds. If only I could spend even a brief spell living such a carefree life—I’d have no regrets, even if it meant death. Your Highness, I want to go to the Northwest to see my little aunt. The journey is long and perilous. You’re going alone—far too dangerous. And besides, I’m swamped with official duties. I simply don’t have time to accompany you. Alas, in my last life, no matter how many times I tried to mention it, he always stopped me. By the time I died, I still hadn’t seen the beauty of the Northwest. But this time around, nothing will stand in my way.