Jiang Hanyuan averted her gaze, breaking their eye contact. With a roll, she returned from his embrace to the couch.

“Has Your Highness returned?” She naturally sat up as well and greeted him.

During the day at the plum garden of the Worthy Prince’s residence, when he had just arrived, she must admit she had indeed felt anger for a moment.

Her anger was not because of the young Emperor’s rudeness toward her, but because of the disappointment it caused.

But by now, she had thought it through.

Since the Zhou dynasty, with kingdoms changing hands and dynasties alternating, how many chances were there to encounter a wise ruler? If all were sage kings, the Zhou Son of Heaven’s reign wouldn’t have lasted merely eight hundred years. It’s said that when a sage appears, the Yellow River runs clear, but she had also heard that the Yellow River running clear is a sight seen once in a thousand years. As a military general, defending against enemies and protecting borders, safeguarding defenseless common people and their homes, she would do her utmost—everything a military general could accomplish. As for the pinnacle of this imperial court, that was beyond her influence.

“Were you having a nightmare just now? I saw you…”

He looked at her, slowly withdrawing his hands, and asked.

“No! You saw wrong.” Jiang Hanyuan immediately replied.

He paused and changed the subject: “Are you thirsty?”

Jiang Hanyuan was indeed reminded by his question.

The room was still heated during the night, and she had consumed some wine. Waking from sleep, she did indeed feel parched.

She was about to get down from the couch, but he stopped her.

“No need to get up, just sit there. I’ll do it.”

After speaking, without waiting for her response, he turned to pour water for her.

Jiang Hanyuan didn’t want him to serve her tea at all, but since he had already gone, there was no need for her to go over and compete with him. She let it be and watched his retreating figure.

He returned with tea and handed her the cup. Jiang Hanyuan drank it. It was warm water, just right for drinking.

“Do you want more? I’ll pour more for you.” He took the cup she had emptied, smiling and considerately asking.

“That’s enough. Thank you. Your Highness should also go rest.”

Jiang Hanyuan pulled up her blanket and lay down, her back toward him.

After a moment, with her eyes closed, she spoke again: “Why hasn’t Your Highness gone to rest yet?”

Though she didn’t turn to look, she knew he hadn’t left and was still standing by her couch.

“About today’s events, I know everything. Thank you for helping His Majesty set his arm at the end. I’m very grateful.” His tone was quite sincere.

Jiang Hanyuan remained with her eyes closed, unmoving, still with her back to him, saying calmly: “He is the sovereign. As long as Your Highness doesn’t blame me for being too heavy-handed and injuring His Majesty, there’s no need to speak this way.”

“No, no, I mean this truly! Today in the plum garden, I told you I would give you a satisfactory explanation. After such an incident occurred, honestly speaking, I don’t know what would constitute a satisfactory explanation. The only thing I can do is try my best to make amends. His Majesty already knows his error—a great error! He promised me he would never commit such acts again, and he wishes to apologize to you in person, hoping you’ll forgive him.”

“That’s truly unnecessary. As long as His Majesty has given an account to you, Regent Prince, that’s sufficient. For me, once this matter is past, it’s past.”

Jiang Hanyuan didn’t say anything like “I dare not accept” with implied sarcasm. When she spoke these words, her tone was peaceful, and the words came from her sincere heart.

She estimated that after Shu Shenhui and the young Emperor returned to the palace, the two of them should have already had an exchange.

If that young and impetuous Emperor could truly learn some lessons from this, understanding in the future what could be done and what couldn’t be done, then she felt that today’s incident in the plum garden was a good thing.

Behind her, after a moment of silence, she heard the man speak again: “Thank you for your magnanimity. Not only His Majesty, but I too need to apologize to you.”

He was taking the blame upon himself again? Could this be his habit?

Jiang Hanyuan then remembered the scene on the road after leaving the palace the day after their wedding, when he had apologized to her on behalf of his family members. Finally unable to restrain herself, she opened her eyes and turned to look at him: “What are you apologizing to me for, Your Highness?”

“The late Emperor, on his deathbed, entrusted His Majesty to me with earnest instructions, yet I failed to properly educate His Majesty—this is my great dereliction of duty. Not only that, you are my Princess Consort, having just arrived in the capital where you’re unfamiliar with people and places. I should have looked after you more. Regarding today’s events, I was completely unaware beforehand, causing you to suffer such grievances. Regardless of other considerations, just from the perspective of being your husband, this is also my great fault. My apology to you is only proper.”

Jiang Hanyuan looked at him. He appeared truly pained and remorseful. She suddenly wondered whether this appearance was genuine or performed. She couldn’t help staring at him intently.

Whether her discernment was too shallow or his performance too sophisticated, after looking for a long while, she still couldn’t distinguish truth from pretense. Suddenly she felt somewhat amused, and once again, felt a bit sorry for this man before her.

As regent, the matters requiring his daily attention must be numerous. Regardless of whether this remorse was genuine or performed for her benefit, after handling court affairs and returning home, he still had to spend such mental effort dealing with her, thinking about it, it was indeed not easy.

“Enough, no need to say these things to me.”

She turned her face away, no longer looking at that countenance. After a pause, she said: “I’m no longer angry—truly, you can rest assured. If His Majesty can remember your words this time, today’s events would be beneficial.”

“That’s all.”

She didn’t want him to remain in front of her any longer. After speaking, she closed her eyes. Thinking he should leave now, unexpectedly, this person still wouldn’t go.

“What else do you have to attend to?”

Jiang Hanyuan had truly never encountered such an indecisive person. With him standing by the couch watching her like this, how could she sleep? She opened her eyes to look at him again, her tone already becoming impatient.

He seemed completely oblivious to her impatience. Seeing her open her eyes to look, that face which had been pained and remorseful moments before now showed a smile as he said: “I do have another idea. You’ve been in the capital for some time now, but I’ve always been busy and unable to accompany you. Even during those few days of wedding leave, when you went to deliver the message, I didn’t accompany you. I feel very guilty about this. Chen Lun and the Yongtai couple are going to Xianquan Palace tomorrow—it’s fifty or sixty li from the city. How about we go together as well?”

Jiang Hanyuan didn’t even think before starting to shake her head in refusal, but he had already rushed to say: “Don’t refuse yet. Listen to what I have to say. Besides the hot spring palace, the area is also adjacent to the Imperial Forest, and the stables are there too, housing some fine horses. I was thinking, since you don’t enjoy socializing with people, rather than sitting in the prince’s residence, it would be better to stay there briefly. When you have nothing to do, you can ride horses and hunt in the Imperial Forest. I won’t dare say it’s completely carefree, but it’s certainly more interesting than being cooped up in the prince’s residence all day.”

Jiang Hanyuan paused.

He observed her expression, seeing she seemed somewhat moved, and continued: “Rest assured, I won’t stay there! Tomorrow I’ll escort you there, and once we arrive, I’ll return, absolutely not bothering you! It’s also quiet there, without so many eyes watching. I think you should like it.”

She had to admit, his persuasion did have some appeal. Jiang Hanyuan calculated in her mind—if she lived there, riding horses during the day and being alone at night, not having to see him walking back and forth nearby, three months would pass quickly, and then she could leave.

“Alright,” she agreed readily. “However, you don’t need to escort me tomorrow. You attend to your affairs. I can go together with the Chen Lun couple.”

He refused: “That’s not appropriate. I should escort you. Tomorrow, there are no major or minor court sessions, just council meetings, which can be postponed without issue. We haven’t been married long—if I let you go alone and people see this, who knows what they’ll say. You know how the capital has many gossips who love to discuss others behind their backs.”

Jiang Hanyuan thought this made sense, too. Though she didn’t care how others discussed her behind her back, he should care about it.

“Very well.” She accommodated him then.

His face showed a smile again: “Good then. I have no other matters and won’t disturb you further. I’ll go tell Nanny Zhuang to make some preparations. You sleep.”

He withdrew, extinguished the lamp for her, and left. After a moment, he returned to his room and entered the inner chamber. Following some light rustling sounds of undressing, the room became completely quiet.

The next morning, both of them rose.

Zhuang Shi, having learned of today’s arrangements last night, was very pleased and sent two people ahead overnight to prepare the accommodations early. This morning, she had also prepared all the items to be taken out today—besides food, clothing, cosmetic cases, and such, even parasols and camp stools were included, everything complete. While she was busy in the room checking for omissions before departure, Jiang Hanyuan casually stuffed that calligraphy copybook in as well. She could take it along to practice writing in the evenings when there was nothing to do.

Zhuang Shi would naturally also accompany them to provide service. Once everything was packed, though it was supposedly a simple journey, not counting the attendants, just the items alone filled two carriages. The Regent Prince and Princess Consort shared one carriage, Zhuang Shi rode with two maids in another, and Guard Commander Wang Ren selected subordinates to ride alongside. Taking advantage of the early hour when there were few people on the streets, the convoy set out toward Longshou Bridge outside the East Gate, where they would meet up with the Chen Lun couple who had been notified, then travel together. The carriages proceeded at a leisurely pace, and after about two hours, they arrived at Xianquan Palace before noon.

Xianquan Palace was located within the Forbidden Garden. The Forbidden Garden bordered the Wei River to the south and had mountains to the northwest, stretching continuously for three hundred li, containing dozens of large and small detached palaces and over ten artificially excavated lakes and pools. This Xianquan Detached Palace was built by Emperor Wu for Imperial Consort Wu Yue. Not only was the architecture magnificent and the decoration splendid, but to ease the consort’s homesickness, small bridges, flowing water, weeping willows, and artificial hills were specially constructed within the palace gardens, making it look like the Jiangnan region. It was the most distinctive among all the detached palaces. Naturally, the scenery in this vicinity was also different from that around the imperial city.

Though the season hadn’t yet emerged from winter’s cold and remnant snow could still be seen on distant mountain peaks, by the waterside facing the sun, the ice was gradually melting, and reed shoots sprouting green could even be faintly seen beneath the ice—quite delightful.

The carriage convoy stopped outside the detached palace. Officials inside the palace led people who had been waiting early along both sides of the carriage path. Seeing them arrive, they came forward to pay respects, then, under Zhuang Shi’s direction, busily unloaded luggage and carried it into the palace.

Shu Shenhui stood by the roadside and glanced at Jiang Hanyuan.

She had gotten out of the carriage and was immediately linked arm-in-arm by Princess Yongtai. The Princess pointed out the surrounding scenery to her, speaking intimately.

Chen Lun, seeing him standing motionless, walked over: “Your Highness, why aren’t you going?”

Shu Shenhui withdrew his gaze and smiled: “There are still matters at court. I only came to escort the Princess Consort today. I’ll return now. Since the Princess Consort is new here, please trouble you and your wife to look after her for a few days and help her become familiar with the various locations in the area.”

Princess Yongtai had returned home after yesterday’s birthday banquet with nothing but “female general sister, female general sister” on her lips, absolutely adoring her. Hearing last night that she would also come today, she was even more delighted.

Since the Regent Prince had spoken thus, Chen Lun naturally wouldn’t say anything else. Looking at his wife and the Princess Consort chatting intimately, he nodded in agreement. Unexpectedly, the Princess heard this, turned around, released Jiang Hanyuan, and immediately walked over, saying: “Sanlang, what are you saying? How can you leave? It’s rare to get out, and if my Prince Consort and I, an old married couple, are tired of looking at each other, that’s one thing, but you two are newlyweds—how can you abandon the Princess Consort here alone? What kind of behavior is this? No matter how many court affairs there are, I don’t believe that without you for two or three days, the world would stop turning! What are all those court officials for? Is the court paying their salaries for nothing?”

She rattled off this speech, and Chen Lun didn’t dare stop her, only secretly tugging at her sleeve. But the Princess ignored him. Seeing someone leading a horse over, apparently prepared for the Regent Prince’s return to the city, she went over and ordered the horse to be led back.

Shu Shenhui showed a troubled expression and glanced at Jiang Hanyuan nearby. She had turned her face away and was gazing toward the distant mountains and forests, as if she hadn’t heard the commotion here. He hesitated, his eyes watching her back, and said slowly: “Then shall I stay one day before returning?”

“We’ll discuss it later—anyway, you’re not leaving right now!”

Chen Lun, observing up to this point, could somewhat see that the Regent Prince’s intention to leave wasn’t firm.

He knew the Regent Prince—if he truly had urgent matters and couldn’t stay, never mind one Princess sister, even ten couldn’t keep him. Following his gaze to where the Princess Consort was still admiring the scenery, completely unaware of the situation here, he suddenly remembered recent rumors about the Regent Prince being henpecked.

Could it be that the Princess Consort looked down on him and didn’t want him to stay, making this his helpless gesture? He hurriedly added his voice to the persuasion: “Your Highness, I think the Princess speaks reasonably! The Princess Consort is naturally magnanimous, fearing to delay Your Highness’s affairs and willing to let Your Highness return to court. But if Your Highness can stay, it would be better to remain. I also haven’t had the opportunity to ride and hunt with Your Highness for a long time. If we could travel together today, it would be exactly what I desire.”

With his wife forcefully detaining him and he earnestly persuading, the Regent Prince couldn’t refuse and had no choice but to walk to the Princess Consort’s side, saying in a low voice: “How about… I’ll stay today and accompany you for the day?”

Jiang Hanyuan finished viewing the distant scenery and turned back.

His eyes were gazing at her intently.

“Your Highness may do as you please, whatever is convenient. I don’t mind.”