Mu Wanyao followed the Emperor to this summer resort located in Fan Valley on the outskirts of Chang’an. Fan Valley lay at the foot of Mount Zhongnan, where nobles and imperial relatives all loved to seclude themselves and build private gardens. Naturally, the Emperor also had his private villa here. While the grand garden that the Crown Prince was lavishly building for the Emperor by collecting treasures from across the realm remained unfinished, this villa in Fan Valley was currently the Emperor’s favorite. Every year when the weather turned hot, the Emperor would come to stay here for two months.

This year, Mu Wanyao accompanied him. Although she came at the Crown Prince’s instruction to avoid Yan Shang, the lonely old Emperor’s mood improved greatly with the addition of a young daughter who looked extraordinarily like his late wife.

Fan Valley was indeed much cooler. While noble households in Chang’an used ice to stay cool, the fruits served in the mountain villa – plums, honeydew melons, and such – were only stored in underground cellars without being chilled with ice. Mu Wanyao preferred these fruits that weren’t too cold.

Mu Wanyao sat with the Emperor under a tent, playing a chess game called “Liubo.” Liubo was a game that used dice to determine piece movements and was quite popular among Wei Dynasty nobles.

As Mu Wanyao played against the old Emperor, her mind wandered chaotically. She thought about how she needed to stay close to her Imperial Father to probe his attitude toward the Crown Prince and work to add weight to the Crown Prince’s position. As a princess destined for a political marriage, Mu Wanyao had no choice in picking sides. Only the Crown Prince, as heir apparent, was her natural choice, so she had to help him wholeheartedly.

Once the Crown Prince ascended the throne and granted her a title like Princess Imperial, she might finally gain some freedom.

Then suddenly, Yan Shang crossed her mind, making her feel a moment of guilt. She thought that with her current attitude, someone as clever as Yan Shang should understand her meaning. After staying here for a month and returning to Chang’an, once both sides had cooled down, she could restore a normal ruler-subject relationship with him.

It was just that she currently found him irresistible… if she didn’t use distance to forcibly break things off, she feared she wouldn’t be able to let go of him.

And Yan Shang was someone who acted with such firm resolve – his marriage plans were completely different from hers. She was frightened by him and hoped to use her attitude to make her position clear to him.

Yan Shang… would understand, right?

But when Mu Wanyao thought of him, her heart was in turmoil. The thought of him re-establishing clear boundaries with her made her unwilling; thinking of his peaceful sleeping face that night when she sat hugging her knees, secretly watching him for so long… if only he were her brother.

She could let him be good to her without any guilt.

And wouldn’t have to worry about him leaving.

But now, three days had passed, and Yan Shang should have understood.

Would he be angry? Would he be sad?

Just thinking that someone like him might be sad made Mu Wanyao’s heartache like a knife was twisting in it, making her even more uneasy…

“When playing chess, Yaoyao, you’re very much like your mother,” the old Emperor said casually, pulling Mu Wanyao back to reality from her thoughts.

Mu Wanyao looked at the Emperor across from her.

The Wei Dynasty had open customs, with people from top to bottom all revering a spirit of heroic boldness. These open customs meant that even someone of the Emperor’s status, though the Son of Heaven, rarely wore the yellow dragon robe and didn’t display his imperial authority through clothing.

When the Emperor was healthier before, he often wore riding clothes, which led to court officials following the fashion of riding attire; in recent years as the Emperor’s health declined, he wore loose, casual long robes.

Looking from her side, Mu Wanyao saw the Emperor opposite her with graying temples and a thin face, wearing loose robes, his eyes showing languor as he played with the gaming pieces while smiling at her.

In that instant, she suddenly realized this man had truly grown old. Before, he had been decisive and never showed much expression; now, he would even smile at his young daughter.

Following the Emperor’s lead, Mu Wanyao asked, “How am I like Mother?”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes nostalgically and said, “An Nuan was different from other women. When playing chess with me, she never took back moves. Unlike other women who loved to retract their moves. She was especially focused when playing, never talking to me or liking me to disturb her. Such women with grand vision are rare nowadays.”

An Nuan was the late Empress’s maiden name.

Probably only the Emperor still dared to use the late Empress’s maiden name in all the realm.

Mu Wanyao thought to herself that she wasn’t like her mother. Her mother focused on chess, while she was just distracted thinking about other things.

Seeing the worried looks from the eunuchs behind the Emperor, Mu Wanyao’s heart skipped a beat, thinking that the Emperor’s frequent reminiscing about the late Empress was causing those around him to worry about his state of mind.

After throwing a gaming piece and making another move, Mu Wanyao said, “Never taking back moves is indeed a good style. It seems I should learn from Mother.”

The Emperor laughed wryly: “Why learn from her? Learn to be as cold-hearted as her, with a heart full of ice and snow? Learn to be like her…”

He showed signs of being lost in memories, but Mu Wanyao didn’t listen further.

Because she saw a maid’s figure appear outside the tent, anxiously glancing this way. That maid was one of those Mu Wanyao had brought with her. Mu Wanyao’s heart dropped, thinking something had happened, so she told the Emperor she needed to use the facilities and went out.

As soon as Mu Wanyao went out, the maid came over in panic to report: “Your Highness, Sister Chunhua seems to be dying… she’s about to die!”

Mu Wanyao’s mind went blank for a moment, then she said sternly: “Nonsense! Wasn’t she fine when I left? How could someone perfectly healthy suddenly be dying?”

The maid looked around, seeing the Emperor’s tent was solemn, with countless maids and eunuchs waiting.

The maid didn’t dare speak out loud, so she leaned close to Mu Wanyao’s ear and whispered some fragments very quietly: “Seems to be pregnant” “heavy bleeding” “barely breathing” “everyone’s crying in fear.”

Mu Wanyao’s expression turned grave and she immediately moved to go back. On the way, she remembered something and had the maid find the Emperor’s eunuch to request an old imperial physician to come along. She only said the princess wasn’t feeling well, nothing more needed to be said—

Mu Wanyao returned to her quarters and rushed straight into the maids’ room. Along the way, she had already heard the general situation from the maid, and now her mind was clear, having roughly guessed what had happened.

The maids didn’t dare make a sound, standing anxiously in the corridor as they watched Mu Wanyao push open the door. Around the bed curtains inside the room, many maids were kneeling, holding the hand of the woman in bed, and sobbing uncontrollably.

“Your Highness!” They turned around seeing Mu Wanyao entered.

Mu Wanyao was full of anger, furious that Chunhua wanted to abort without telling her.

Was she afraid she wouldn’t agree?

Or afraid of causing her trouble?

Mu Wanyao was filled with rage, but when she lifted the bed curtain and saw that pale woman covered in cold sweat lying under the covers, she was stunned and couldn’t say a single harsh word. Despite the maids’ shocked attempts to stop her, she yanked back the covers and saw the blood-stained bedding beneath… Mu Wanyao’s eyes instantly turned red.

She trembled as she said: “You’ve gone mad! You’ve gone mad! How could you take medicine so carelessly? How could you trust some village doctor? You… you… do you not want to live anymore!”

Chunhua was in terrible pain and barely conscious, her eyes blurry with tears, seeming to see Her Highness the Princess.

She reached out her trembling hand, desolate and terrified: “Your Highness, Chunhua can no longer serve you… Chunhua must go first…”

Mu Wanyao grabbed her wrist, her voice sharp: “I forbid it! I forbid it!”

Chunhua was barely breathing now, with many words that would never be said if not spoken now.

Covered in cold sweat, her face ashen, she trembled and choked out: “I know, I made the same choice Your Highness once made, I didn’t mean to hurt Your Highness’s heart… but I didn’t want this child. I have Young Master Liu, I don’t want to betray him. I don’t want to enter the prince’s manor, don’t want to be with someone I don’t like…

“I know my wish is too extravagant. If even Your Highness couldn’t achieve it, how could I? But I also dream, thinking I’m just a maid, I’m not that important… I just want to be with the man I love, marry him, have children… be with him forever.

“Even if poor, even if struggling. I’m not someone important like a princess, I don’t need to make any choices. I just needed to get rid of this child… Your Highness, Your Highness please don’t blame Young Master Liu. After I’m gone, please take care of him. I failed him, I wronged him. I know Your Highness doesn’t like him… but he’s not a bad person.”

The young woman curled up under the covers, still bleeding, her hand held by Mu Wanyao growing cold. Her beauty that everyone had once loved was now dim and haggard, with no trace of her former grace.

The other maids standing in the room all lowered their heads, either sobbing or silently crying.

Mu Wanyao sat on the couch, her hand trembling slightly.

Seeing an illusory smile appear on Chunhua’s face as she mumbled: “Young Master Liu is so good, he’s always been so good to me. Last time I even discovered he wanted to marry me. I was going to be married, I didn’t want to wrong him… Young Master Liu, Young Master Liu… in the underworld, after a hundred years, when will we meet again?”

Mu Wanyao gripped her hand back: “Chunhua! Don’t be like this… you came with me from Wu Man, we made it through such difficult times together. Now things have gotten better, I can protect you all. Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you have to bear this alone?”

Mu Wanyao’s lips turned slightly white: “You’re just a maid! You’re only a maid!”

Amidst the crying, from outside came a guard’s loud call: “Your Highness, the Imperial Physician has arrived!”

Mu Wanyao immediately: “Quick, come in!”—

The Imperial Physician said Chunhua’s pregnancy was troubled, and now both mother and child’s lives were intertwined. If they hadn’t tried to save the pregnancy, Chunhua might have survived, but given the current level of bleeding… she might never be able to conceive again.

Inside the room, Chunhua had already fallen unconscious. Only Mu Wanyao could make the decision.

When she heard that Chunhua might never have children again if they didn’t save the pregnancy, it hit Mu Wanyao like a thunderbolt to the head, leaving her mind momentarily blank.

She couldn’t help but think back to that scene in Wu Man years ago, when all her maids knelt around her bed in the tent, crying as if their hearts would break.

Not saving the pregnancy meant never having children again.

Mu Wanyao had been forced into an impossible situation then, she had no choice. If she had died then, none of those around her would have survived in Wu Man. And she couldn’t have a child – if she had a child, with blood ties binding her, she would never have been able to leave Wu Man…

That was only two years ago, but now it felt like another lifetime.

She had no choice then, and no one could decide for her. But now, Chunhua did have a choice. Chunhua had her.

If she couldn’t protect herself, could she not even save her maid’s life?

Mu Wanyao said softly: “Physician Zhang, first do your best to save Chunhua’s life.”

She turned to Fangtong and ordered: “Ride at full speed, I need you to return from the Princess’s mansion within half an hour with the special pregnancy-protecting medicine I had made.”

Fangtong bowed solemnly, not wasting a single word before turning to leave.

Mu Wanyao stood at the door of the maids’ quarters, scolding the maids not to cry and ordering that nothing of what happened here should spread.

She stood alone for a long time, clutching her sleeve, thinking about why she had such medicine at the Princess’s mansion.

Thankfully, for whatever reason, even though pregnancy had nothing to do with her, she had always remembered her desperate situation back in Wu Man.

After returning to Chang’an, she had several Imperial Physicians work together to create this pregnancy-protecting medicine.

Perhaps Mu Wanyao would never need this medicine in her lifetime.

But Mu Wanyao had stubbornly insisted on having such medicine exist.

And now it seemed… perhaps Chunhua’s life could be saved by it—

In the Hongwen Academy, a book lay on the desk where Yan Shang sat.

He propped his forehead with his hand, a strand of hair brushing against his long, slightly curved fingers. He stared at the pages, but felt irritable and couldn’t focus for a long time.

After spacing out for quite a while, an official came in, greeted him, and said someone was looking for him outside.

Yan Shang closed the book and rose to go out. When he reached the outside of the academy, he saw that the person looking for him was Feng Xianyu.

In the Wei Dynasty’s official system, eighth and ninth-rank official robes were deep cyan. But because of Wei’s free-spirited customs, even the Emperor didn’t wear the yellow dragon robe, and officials usually didn’t wear their official robes even when attending court – they all wore casual clothes.

So when Feng Xianyu stood properly outside the Hongwen Academy waiting for Yan Shang in his deep cyan ninth-rank official robe, passersby had already turned their heads to look at him curiously several times. Feng Xianyu paid them no mind, only smiling when Yan Shang came out.

Feng Xianyu: “Suchen, how have you been?”

Yan Shang looked him up and down, putting aside his earlier chaotic thoughts and showing his usual warm, natural smile, sincerely congratulating him: “Brother Feng has finally achieved his wish. I can’t help but ask, how does it feel to wear this official robe?”

Though Feng Xianyu had finally become an official through the Princess Imperial’s influence, he was still secretly pleased. Coming to see Yan Shang wasn’t to show off, of course. Having known Yan Shang for so long, Feng Xianyu knew Yan Shang’s ambitions lay elsewhere.

Thus Yan Shang’s teasing naturally carried no other meaning.

Feng Xianyu was unusually embarrassed: “This official robe… well, it does feel quite nice.”

Yan Shang couldn’t help but laugh.

But he still advised: “Brother Feng is riding high on success, enjoying it for a couple of days is fine. But when other officials don’t wear their robes, Brother Feng dressed like this is too eye-catching, somewhat showy.”

Feng Xianyu said: “Indeed, you do prefer keeping a low profile. But your advice makes sense, I’ll just enjoy it for two days, then put it away tomorrow and won’t wear it carelessly anymore. Who knows what His Majesty is thinking, perfectly good official robes that no one wears, instead everyone seeks their style.”

Yan Shang smiled without speaking.

Feng Xianyu glanced at him, naturally knowing that Yan Shang never engaged in such ambiguous talk, which he admired.

Feng Xianyu walked to one side with Yan Shang and said with a smile: “Actually, I had no other reason to find you, it’s just that I’ve met some friends who are hosting a banquet in the North District tonight. Would you like to come along? I can introduce you to some people in official circles?”

Yan Shang hesitated for a moment.

But he still said it wasn’t necessary, saying he was busy with his studies lately, though he appreciated Feng Xianyu’s kind intention.

Feng Xianyu nodded, then quietly told Yan Shang that Princess Imperial was very unhappy lately because the Eastern Palace was asking for money too frequently. The Princess might explode at any moment, and while Feng Xianyu would try to stop her, he wanted Yan Shang to be mentally prepared.

Yan Shang nodded in thanks, planning to write about this matter in tonight’s memorial to the Princess.

As a household official, certain things should be reported to the Princess.

However… Yan Shang spaced out for a moment, thinking that Mu Wanyao probably wouldn’t even look at his memorials now.

Having said what he needed to, Feng Xianyu bowed to take his leave. But Yan Shang called out: “Brother Feng.”

Feng Xianyu turned back to see Yan Shang frowning, showing a somewhat conflicted expression.

Seeing Yan Shang’s conflicted expression for the first time, Feng Xianyu was quite surprised.

Feng Xianyu: “Is there something I can help with? Suchen, no need to overthink it, just speak directly. Given our friendship, even if I can’t help, I’ll be frank about it, so you needn’t feel troubled.”

Yan Shang sighed: “It’s not troubling… I just don’t know how to say it.”

He lowered his head, lost in thought for a while, making Feng Xianyu increasingly curious about what could trouble Yan Shang so much.

After a long while, Yan Shang spoke haltingly, slowly asking: “How does Brother Feng usually get along with the Princess Imperial?”

Feng Xianyu: “…”

If anyone else had asked this, Feng Xianyu would have suspected them of implying something improper about him and the Princess. But coming from Yan Shang, Feng Xianyu really couldn’t figure it out. Feng Xianyu asked strangely: “We just get along normally, what do you mean by this question?”

Yan Shang was silent for a moment.

Fighting his inner awkwardness, he vaguely asked again: “What do you mean by normally? When Brother Feng is with Her Highness, does she ever find you… inadequate?”

Feng Xianyu was more confused: “What do you mean by inadequate?”

Yan Shang: “…technically inadequate.”

Feng Xianyu: “…”

He was bewildered.

They looked at each other.

Silence and awkwardness spread between them.

Yan Shang suddenly averted his gaze, his expression somewhat stiff. He gave a self-mocking smile and tried to excuse himself: “I was just asking casually, Brother Feng need not think too much of it.”

He turned to leave, but Feng Xianyu quickly took two steps to catch up and stop him.

Feng Xianyu observed Yan Shang for a while, then said: “…Could you be referring to Princess Danyang?”

Yan Shang said nothing.

Feng Xianyu’s heart skipped a beat, finding this even more extraordinary. He had long suspected there was something between Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao, but when Yan Shang denied it before, Feng Xianyu thought he had been mistaken… but now it seemed he hadn’t been wrong at all.

After a moment of silence, Feng Xianyu said: “…Your future is bright, far better than mine. There are other paths, why must you get entangled with Princess Danyang?”

Yan Shang remained even more silent.

Feng Xianyu looked at him for a long time, increasingly unable to understand Yan Shang. He was so angry on Yan Shang’s behalf that his face turned blue: “And she complains that your technique is inadequate?”

Yan Shang looked away, saying: “It’s not that. I wasn’t talking about her. Just casual conversation, Brother Feng need not think too much of it.”

Feng Xianyu: “A man of principle shouldn’t ask me such questions, but should turn and walk away, never getting involved with such a woman again.”

Yan Shang lowered his eyes without speaking, his shoulders slightly stiff.

Seeing him not respond, Feng Xianyu sighed inwardly. He said helplessly: “Then what do you want to do? Why not come with me to the banquet in the North District tonight, you can practice your technique?”

Yan Shang’s face reddened slightly as he waved his hands repeatedly in refusal.

He said: “Never mind, never mind, I was just talking casually, Brother Feng really shouldn’t think too much of it. I need to focus on my studies, I shouldn’t be concerned with such trivial matters. Please keep this between us.”

Feng Xianyu: “Ah, you…”

When he met Yan Shang’s clear black eyes looking back at him, all his words of advice were swallowed back, and he shook his head.

Matters of the heart – only the one drinking the water knows its temperature. How could others’ advice make any difference?

He just felt that someone like Yan Shang with such a promising future, why must he do this? Why must he get involved in the royal family’s mess?—

After parting with Feng Xianyu, Yan Shang sat in the Hongwen Academy for another hour. He forced himself to finish reading one article but knew that in his current state, it would be impossible to absorb anything more.

Since that was the case, there was no point in wasting time here.

Yan Shang packed up his books and left the academy, returning home early. He thought that after washing up and calming his mind, perhaps he could continue reading.

His servant Yunshu noticed that his master had been quiet all day, barely speaking, which was very different from his usual warm and friendly demeanor. Yunshu felt bitter on his master’s behalf.

That morning when the Second Young Master went to pay respects at the Princess’s mansion, Yunshu had also heard the answer he’d probed for.

That Princess had abandoned his Second Young Master!

Indeed, all Wei Dynasty princesses were this hateful! They would tease someone and then take no responsibility. His Second Young Master was of noble character, excellent in both looks and talent, personality and nature – what wasn’t good enough about him? How could the Princess humiliate him so?

Just as Yan Shang was about to enter his mansion, he heard rapid hoofbeats echoing in the alley.

He suddenly turned his head, his eyes briefly lighting up like sparks passing through them, looking toward the alley entrance.

But he had thought too much – the person riding at full gallop wasn’t who he’d hoped for, but rather Guard Fang.

Fang Tong didn’t have time to talk to anyone, dismounting and going straight into the mansion. Before the Princess’s household staff could process their confusion, and in the brief moment Yan Shang stood contemplating his own mansion’s entrance, Fang Tong had already emerged from the Princess’s mansion.

Fang Tong was drenched in sweat as he leaped back onto his horse.

Yan Shang knew if he didn’t speak now he’d lose his chance, so he cupped his hands: “Guard Fang.”

Fang Tong, mounted on his horse, looked down at Yan Shang but had no time for pleasantries, quickly saying: “Her Highness gave me a death order to return to Fan Valley within half an hour. No time to catch up, Second Young Master, please forgive me!”

Yan Shang’s heart sank as he asked: “Why such a hurry? Has something happened to Her Highness?”

Fang Tong hurriedly replied: “Her Highness is fine, she sent me back to fetch a pregnancy-protecting medicine.”

His words still echoing in the air, Fang Tong had already galloped out of the alley, leaving only hoofbeats and dust behind.

Yan Shang stood frozen in place.

He saw the guards and maids at the Princess’s mansion gate looking equally bewildered, whispering among themselves: “Pregnancy? Who needs pregnancy medicine?”

Their eyes all turned suspiciously toward Yan Shang standing at his mansion gate across the way.

Yan Shang: “…”

His face suddenly flushed red as he managed to say: “Her Highness and I are innocent.”

The Princess’s household staff said awkwardly: “Of course, of course.”

Though they thought to themselves, who knows?

Yan Shang was both angry and embarrassed, but couldn’t stop others’ speculative glances. He couldn’t explain to the Princess’s staff that although he and the Princess were close, they had always maintained propriety and had done nothing inappropriate.

However, Yan Shang had indeed stayed in the Princess’s chambers at night before.

Although Yan Shang knew he had stayed in the outer room and had never shared a bed with Mu Wanyao, the servants didn’t know that.

Yan Shang could only sweep his sleeves and turn to enter his mansion.

And Yunshu, following behind him, actually asked worriedly: “Young Master, is Her Highness ignoring you because… of pregnancy?”

Yan Shang sighed: “…Her Highness and I are truly innocent.”

The servants half-believed him, but although Second Young Master Yan had a good temper, they couldn’t be too presumptuous and keep pressing him with questions. Yan Shang closed the door, shutting out the voices outside.

Back in his private quarters, after sitting down, Yan Shang’s thoughts began to wander.

Pregnancy medicine?

Who needed pregnancy medicine?

What had happened at the summer villa?

He trusted Mu Wanyao’s character, the pregnant person shouldn’t be her… but she had just abandoned him, so now he wasn’t very sure about her character anymore.

In any case, Yan Shang’s thoughts were also in chaos, countless threads tangled together, not knowing where to begin.

He couldn’t help but pick up his brush to write to Mu Wanyao, asking what exactly had happened there.

…Although he knew she might not even look at his letter, he still should ask—

After one night, both Chunhua and the child in her belly were saved.

Chunhua leaned against the bedpost weeping while being scolded by Mu Wanyao.

Mu Wanyao hated that Chunhua was so timid, not daring to tell her anything, yet trusting those folk medicines; she also hated that now things had reached this point, there was no room for turning back.

Mu Wanyao gritted her teeth: “Keep this child. I’ll find an estate, quietly raise this child there, let them stay far from all this, unknown to others. You can still be with your Young Master Liu, without anyone knowing.”

At this point, in her moment of grief, Chunhua was also confused.

She asked the Princess softly: “If I lost this pregnancy and could never have children again, would there be no man who could accept that?”

Mu Wanyao turned to look at her.

Mu Wanyao said quietly: “No one could accept it.”

Chunhua’s face suddenly turned pale, her fingers clutching the bedding beneath her. Tears clung to her eyelashes as she gathered her courage to ask: “Then Your Highness…”

Mu Wanyao said flatly: “I am different from you.”

She stood by the window, looking outside.

The summer day was bright, but this room alone was cool.

Mu Wanyao’s profile was cold as ice and snow as she repeated softly: “You are different from me… you don’t need to destroy yourself.”

No one spoke in the room. After a moment of silence, Mu Wanyao couldn’t bear the depressing atmosphere and was about to instruct Chunhua to rest well before going out when there was a knock at the door.

A maid said: “Your Highness, letters have arrived from the Princess’s mansion.”—

Probably the daily letters from her advisers.

Mu Wanyao had the maid bring in the letters.

Among the many letters, she saw Yan Shang’s name. Her fingertips trembled, her heart skipped a beat, then she immediately passed over this letter with an expressionless face, not opening it to look.

However, among the various letters, Mu Wanyao suddenly made an “oh?” sound, half-smiling: “How come there’s even a letter for you, Chunhua? There’s no name – could it be from Liu Wenji?”

She smiled lightly: “His letter comes quite timely.”

Chunhua’s face was pale, unable to even force a smile. The Princess tossed the letter over, and Chunhua waited a long while before reaching out with trembling hands to open it.

However, this letter wasn’t from Liu Wenji.

As Chunhua read the letter, her expression became somewhat dazed as she said shakily: “…Your Highness, my brother has sold me to Prince Jin! Saying I am Prince Jin’s concubine! Because my brother offended someone, people went to tear down their house, and they claimed I was Prince Jin’s concubine to protect themselves… this letter is from Prince Jin asking about me!”

Mu Wanyao: “…”

She snatched the letter and sat down, somewhat angry: “What exactly is going on?”—

Some local strongmen and bullies were trying to seize Chunhua’s brother and sister-in-law’s house and fields, saying they needed to requisition them for government use.

Chunhua’s brother’s family was very afraid. When they said their sister was a maid in Princess Danyang’s household, the other party sneered, not believing them.

It happened that Prince Jin was in that area supervising the Ministry of Works’ operations. Chunhua’s brother and sister-in-law, in desperation, sent Chunhua’s contract of servitude to Prince Jin’s mansion.

Prince Jin was puzzled and asked if Chunhua needed any help.

And because of this inquiry, Prince Jin’s wife had already been sent by Prince Jin to the summer villa, and everyone would surely meet soon to discuss what this was all about—

Mu Wanyao suppressed her anger: “Good-for-nothing people who ruin everything they touch!”

To sell their sister like this!

But who was using the government’s name to seize common people’s homes and fields?

Mu Wanyao: “…I’ll deal with Prince Jin’s wife first, and have an adviser inquire about what exactly is going on.”

Having an adviser represent her to make the trip… advisers, after all.

She deliberately passed over Yan Shang.

Thinking that he wasn’t necessary.