Plucking the Southern Branch

In the fifth year since I was sent to the Kingdom of Chao for a political marriage, my husband was defeated in battle, and I returned to the capital. My imperial brother sat on the Dragon Throne, with Qin Yao beside him. He looked a little awkward, unsure what to do with me, the princess who had been sent back. My childhood friend, Pei Yan, submitted a memorial asking that I be settled in some random residence. I neither cried nor made a fuss. I obediently went along with it. The Princess's Residence had long ceased to be mine. Pei Yan rubbed his nose. “I thought you'd throw a tantrum like you used to. Looks like living abroad has improved your temper.” I smiled. The wound in my heart seemed to ache faintly again. I wasn't angry. I'd simply grown used to it.