The Emperor’s Beloved Ugly Girl

2. The Poor Miss Duan

Translator: Iris Guo

A’Chou recognized the voice of Miss Duan Rulan, Duan Chenghong’s legal wife’s eldest daughter. She could tell that Miss Duan was indeed extremely sad and indignant, otherwise a lady from an aristocratic family like her would never had cried so rudely.

Ah, it seemed that A’Chou was not the only unlucky person.

A’Chou had heard that the deposed Crown Prince was carried out of the Court of the Imperial Clan, and he got mobility problems for being tortured in prison.

She also heard that it had been a bumpy journey from the Capital to NingGuTa for over three months. By the time they eventually arrived, the deposed Crown Prince had already become paralyzed. Some said that the Prince was maimed because of the freeze, while others said that he was beaten. As opinions varied, no unanimous conclusion could be drawn. After all, the Prince was completely ruined, both in terms of his body and future.

Imperial Concubine Zhao sighed a lot when she heard the news. In front of the Emperor, she was so sad that she couldn’t help weeping, saying that although he was no longer the Prince, she could not bear to know him suffering after all; further, it was a pity that the premature death of Prince’s legal wife left the disabled man no reliable help to look after him, which was indeed outrageous.

As long as Imperial Concubine Zhao reminded, the Emperor suddenly recalled the engagement between the deposed Crown Prince and Miss Duan Rulan. Since Miss Duan had become an adult, the emperor immediately ordered Duan Chenghong to send his daughter to NingGuTa, where the Prince stayed.

In the past few days, Duan Rulan had caused four or five scenes and cried herself half dead. Duan Chenghong did not have any patience to persuade her anymore and directly told the housekeeper to lock her up in the room. However, after all, Mrs. Duan felt sorry for her dear daughter, so she stayed with Duan Rulan these days in case she committed suicide for real.

Imaging Duan Rulan’s eyes, which must have become red and swollen like walnuts, A’Chou shook her head and sighed. She pushed open the firewood door and walked in. She was so exhausted that as soon as she got into the tattered quilt, she fell asleep dizzily.

Certainly, if A’Chou had known that she would be more unlucky tomorrow, she might not had slept so soundly.

In her room, Miss Duan Rulan was already out of breath crying. “Mom, you and dad can’t do this to me…” Her voice became so hoarse that no one could tell the usual sweetness in there. “That man is clearly a paralytic—I—I don’t want to marry a paralytic! Mom, I don’t want to go to NingGuTa. If I went there, I’m afraid I would never see you and dad again! Mom! You guys don’t push me anymore! ”

“Lan’er, there’s nothing we can do,” sobbed Mrs. Duan in tears, holding Duan Rulan in her arms. “It is an Imperial Edict, and we cannot disobey it! Besides, you do have an engagement with the deposed Crown Prince…You belong to him…”

“But that was before! He used to be the Crown Prince! Now—Now he is a half-dead paralytic!” Duan Rulan got worked up again, struck her chest, and glared at Mrs. Duan. She complained, “Mom, I have been instructed by you since I was a little girl. I learnt housekeeping skills and how to maintain the harmony in dad’s harem. I am an expert in lyre-playing, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I can also recite Women’s Commandment, Women’s Instructions, and Women’s Analects from the beginning to the end! I have been working so hard because you told me that one day I would become the Empress of our country, but now you and dad want me to marry an ordinary man and a cripple? No way! ”

“You don’t have a say!” said Mrs. Duan harshly with an unexpected cold face. She took out her handkerchief and wiped the tears off her face.