The Wedding Night He Never Came

Chen Ruoxi sat alone in the wedding chamber, dressed in a heavy red wedding robe, quietly waiting for the crown prince who never came.

Time passed slowly… yet the door never opened.

Suddenly, the silence broke.

Creak—

The door opened, and a maid stepped inside.

“Your Highness… please forgive me for saying this,” she said softly, lowering her head. “The Crown Prince has ordered that you stay in the Cold Palace… He does not wish to see you.”

Chen Ruoxi lowered her head. Her small hands clenched into fists as tears gathered in her eyes.

“W-why does the Crown Prince… h-hate me…?” her voice trembled. “What did I do w-wrong…?”

The maid’s heart ached at the sight.

She had been with Chen Ruoxi since she was three years old. She knew her better than anyone—kind, gentle, and pure. Even as the daughter of a great general, she had never been arrogant. She treated everyone with warmth and sincerity.

Seeing her like this… broke her heart.

The maid stepped forward and gently hugged her.

“Shh… it’s alright. Don’t cry,” she whispered softly. “My little princess is strong.”

Chen Ruoxi looked up at her with teary eyes.

“Yan’er… y-you’re so n-nice to me…”

Yan’er’s chest tightened. She quickly wiped away her tears and carefully picked her up.

“Come,” she said gently. “We have to go to the Cold Palace. I’ll stay there with you.”

Chen Ruoxi’s eyes widened in surprise.

“R-really…? Yan’er will live with me?”

Yan’er nodded.

At once, Chen Ruoxi smiled brightly, wrapping her arms around Yan’er’s neck and burying her face into her shoulder.

“Yay… Yan’er will stay w-with me… I’m happy…”

When they arrived at the Cold Palace, the sight was heartbreaking.

Dust covered every surface. Spider webs hung in corners. The air felt cold and lifeless.

Yan’er’s eyes turned red again.

How could they let a child live in such a place?

She clenched her fists, anger rising in her heart.

But then—

She felt a small hand gently wiping her tears.

Chen Ruoxi looked at her and smiled softly.

“Don’t cry… Yan’er… we c-can clean it together…”

Her innocent voice made Yan’er’s heart ache even more.

“…Alright,” Yan’er whispered.

Together, they began cleaning.

With her tiny hands, Chen Ruoxi helped as much as she could. After several hours, the palace—though still simple—became clean and livable.

That night, Yan’er carefully tucked Chen Ruoxi into bed.

The little girl soon fell asleep, her breathing soft and peaceful.

Yan’er sat beside her, gently stroking her hair.

“She’s only six years old…” she murmured, her voice trembling. “Yet she was forced to marry…”

Her eyes filled with tears again.

After a while, Yan’er lay down beside her, staying close—protecting her in the quiet, lonely night.

Meanwhile, in the Crown Prince’s private study—

A loud crash echoed.

The wine bottle shattered against the wall.

“I can’t believe this…” he muttered coldly. “They forced me to marry a child.”

His fist slammed onto the table.

“They knew I love someone else… and yet they still did this.”

His jaw tightened, anger and frustration burning in his eyes.

A knock sounded at the door.

A servant entered and bowed deeply.

“Y-Your Highness… you s-shouldn’t treat the Crown Princess like this… She is still a child. If the Emperor finds out, he will be furious…”

The Crown Prince’s expression turned icy.

“He forced this marriage,” he said coldly. “Now what happens between me and my wife is none of your concern.”

The servant flinched but gathered courage to speak again.

“But Your Highness… she is General Chen’s daughter. He is loyal to the Emperor and holds great military power. If he learns of this, he will not stay silent. He loves his daughter dearly…”

“Enough.”

The Crown Prince cut him off sharply.

“Go and summon Princess Leng Yue.”

The servant left with a heavy heart.

Soon, he arrived at Han Yue Pavilion.

Leng Yue’s maid, Qiao Yun, greeted him with a faint, knowing smile.

“What brings Eunuch Gao Ming here?”

Suppressing his displeasure, he replied, “The Crown Prince requests the presence of Princess Leng Yue.”

The maid let out a soft, mocking laugh.

“How amusing… Even after marriage, His Highness still remembers our princess.”

The eunuch’s expression darkened, but he said nothing.

Not long after, Leng Yue appeared.

She walked gracefully toward the Crown Prince’s study.

Inside the room, she stood at a distance, her expression cold and distant.

“So… Your Highness finally remembered me.”

The Crown Prince looked at her calmly.

“What is it?”

Leng Yue lowered her gaze, her voice trembling slightly.

“Is that all you have to say… after everything?”

He frowned and stepped closer.

“Speak clearly.”

Her eyes reddened, tears forming as she looked up at him.

“You promised me… that I would be the one by your side… that you would marry me.”

A tear slid down her cheek.

“But instead… you married someone else… a child.”

Her voice broke.

“Were your words to me… meaningless?”

The Crown Prince’s expression softened

slightly.

“No… it’s not like that,” he said firmly. “Father forced me into this marriage. I never wanted it… I swear, you are the only one I love.”

Leng Yue slowly lifted her gaze.

“R-really…? You’re not lying to me?”

“I would never lie to you.”

He paused briefly before continuing,

“Tomorrow, I will visit her family and meet my parents. I will speak to my father… and find a way to arrange our marriage.”

Leng Yue lowered her head.

“…I will trust you this time, Your Highness.”

For a brief moment, a faint smile appeared on her lips—

then disappeared as if it had never been there.

The candlelight flickered softly, shadows dancing across the walls.

Outside, the night grew colder.

And far away, in the silent Cold Palace…

A small girl slept peacefully, her face calm and unaware.

Unaware—

That she had already become the center of a quiet storm.

And that from this moment on…

her fate would begin to change.

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