Imperial Brother was punished to kneel again today.

When Kangning told Consort Shu, she was peeling grapes for her to eat, telling her to go to Qianming Palace in an hour to deliver a plate of grapes, then take a detour to bring Imperial Brother back.

This was the Nth time Zhang Chenghan had been punished to kneel in the twelve years since Zhang Kangning was born.

Zhang Kangning made her familiar way to Qianming Palace, greeted the little eunuch at the door, and went in to find Father Emperor.

After placing the grapes on the table, she pinched her thigh hard and squeezed out a few tears, saying, “Imperial Brother is young and weak, and the noon sun is so harsh – what if he gets heatstroke?”

Seeing the Emperor didn’t move, Kangning ran over and hugged his thigh, continuing to wail, “Father Emperor, he’s my only brother. If something happens to him, I won’t want to live… won’t live happily anymore, wuu wuu wuu.” Kangning glimpsed Eunuch Quan making eye signals from the side and immediately changed her words.

“Today’s homework, copy thirty times as punishment.”

“Got it!”

Hearing Father Emperor relent, Kangning immediately bounced up, and before leaving, didn’t forget to steal two grapes from the table.

When Zhang Kangning went to pick up Zhang Chenghan, his little mouth was pressed tightly together, so serious that she seemed to see Father Emperor.

He looked like Father Emperor.

Mother Consort said Imperial Brother not only looked like Father Emperor, but also had the same temperament.

But Father Emperor didn’t like him.

No matter how excellently Imperial Brother performed, Father Emperor never smiled at him.

When she was little, she asked Mother Consort why Father Emperor didn’t like Imperial Brother.

Mother Consort said it was because of fear.

Fear that seeing Zhang Chenghan would always remind him of Empress Mother.

But at that time, Kangning couldn’t understand this reasoning.

Zhang Chenghan seemed quite affected by being punished to kneel. From when Kangning brought him back to Linglong Pavilion, he hadn’t spoken a word.

“It’s happened so many times, I’m used to it. Imperial Brother, you should get used to it, too.” Kangning lay on the mat in the courtyard, speaking to Zhang Chenghan intermittently, but he didn’t respond to her at all.

Sigh, this unlucky child.

Zhang Chenghan’s dejected mood lasted until the Ghost Festival.

The Ghost Festival evening banquet was all arranged by Consort Shu, but the Emperor would only show his face and leave, never staying even a quarter-hour longer.

Everyone only remembered that this day was the Ghost Festival, seeming to forget that this day was also Zhang Chenghan’s birthday.

Kangning didn’t dare remember either. When she was six, she secretly celebrated Zhang Chenghan’s birthday, but before the longevity noodles were even out of the pot, Father Emperor arrived with Mother Consort following anxiously behind.

That was the first time Kangning saw Father Emperor angry. She and Imperial Brother knelt for a day and night until their knees swelled.

Later, Zhang Chenghan’s grandfather, Old General Zhao, entered the palace, and only then did Father Emperor let them get up.

Mother Consort quietly told her there were only three things she couldn’t do.

First, she couldn’t mention Empress Mother.

Second, she couldn’t enter Fengqi Palace.

Third, she couldn’t celebrate the Crown Prince’s birthday.

Mother Consort said as long as she didn’t touch these three things, even if she turned the palace upside down, Father Emperor wouldn’t blame her.

But on this Ghost Festival day, Zhang Chenghan told Kangning he wanted to enter Fengqi Palace to take a look.

Zhang Kangning was so scared she couldn’t speak properly, pulling at Zhang Chenghan’s sleeve and shaking her head.

“Imperial Sister, I want to see Mother Empress.”

“Imperial Sister, I’ve never seen Mother Empress.”

This pitiful appearance was truly heartbreaking.

Zhang Kangning felt she must be crazy to actually agree to accompany him to secretly enter Fengqi Palace that night.

If Father Emperor found out about this, they’d be skinned alive.

Wuu wuu wuu.

On Ghost Festival day, most palace servants were serving in the banquet hall. The two of them struggled to move a ladder, and after much effort, finally snuck into Fengqi Palace.

This Fengqi Palace was really big. Kangning looked around in admiration as they walked.

“Crown Prince, Princess?”

It’s over.

Zhang Kangning turned around stiffly, wanting to die. They’d been discovered right after entering. “Aunt Zhirong…”

“Imperial Brother misses Mother Empress and just wanted to take a look.”

Aunt Zhirong looked at Zhang Chenghan silently for a long time, then sighed, “Come in.”

Mother Consort had asked Kangning if she remembered the Empress, saying she had even held her when she was little.

Kangning shook her head. From her earliest memories, Empress Mother had been taboo in the palace. Once, two little palace maids were discussing the Empress while cleaning, and Father Emperor happened to overhear them and had them beaten to death on the spot.

From then on, no one dared mention her anymore.

Kangning had always thought Father Emperor disliked the Empress, even hated her – hated her so much he didn’t want to hear her name or even look at her son.

So when Kangning saw the room full of portraits, she was truly shocked.

“Mother Empress…” Zhang Chenghan stared at a painting, transfixed.

Empress Mother was really beautiful.

Portraits hung throughout the entire room. The woman in the paintings was sometimes coquettish, sometimes pouting, sitting, or standing. Looking at them one by one, Kangning felt as if Empress Mother was standing right in front of her.

When Father Emperor arrived, Zhang Kangning was looking at Buddhist scriptures on the study desk. Before she could wonder why there would be Buddhist scriptures there, she was dragged out by two eunuchs.

This was the second time in six years that Zhang Kangning saw Father Emperor angry.

She was beaten thirty strokes, so painful she thought she would die, crying and telling Father Emperor she was wrong.

She was carried back by Mother Consort and fainted. When she woke up the next day, she heard that Zhang Chenghan had been beaten fifty strokes by Father Emperor and expelled from the palace.

She was so anxious that her tears kept falling, asking Mother Consort what to do. Mother Consort also shook her head.

Empress Mother was Father Emperor’s only taboo – no one could do anything about it.

She asked Mother Consort again why there were eight characters on the study desk in Fengqi Palace: “A gentleman’s word is his bond” – written in what looked like newly written decorative small script.

She got no answer.

She asked Mother Consort again if Imperial Brother would come back.

Mother Consort smiled and stroked her head, saying, of course, he would.

Kangning kept waiting in the palace.

Waiting until Zhang Chenghan’s birthday, she secretly made a bowl of longevity noodles to eat alone in her room.

Waiting until snow fell in the palace, lighting a red lantern at night to illuminate the snow until it sparkled like crystals – so beautiful.

The snow fell heavily, covering their ankles in one night. In the past, when Kangning was bored, she would drag Zhang Chenghan to watch the eunuchs sweep snow.

Today, she was all alone.

Hearing footsteps behind her, Kangning turned around in delight, “Imperial Brother!”

Standing not far behind her was a man in indigo robes, with a face like jade, gentle and refined.

Kangning felt that in that instant, her world was illuminated, like a brilliant flower blooming in ten thousand acres of flower fields, making everyone else she’d seen pale in comparison.

She could hear her heart beating very fast.

“Your subject Zhurong pays respects to Your Highness, the Princess.”

“R-rise.” Kangning choked on the wind and coughed a few times, waving her hand for him to rise. “This is the inner palace. How did you get here?”

“In response to Your Highness, this subject is entering the palace for the first time and somehow got lost.”

“You, take this lord to Dazheng Palace.” Kangning randomly pointed to a eunuch and was about to leave. After walking a few steps, she turned back. “I see you’re wearing so many layers. Give me that hand warmer – I’m cold.”

“…Yes.” Zhurong was stunned for a moment, then handed over the hand warmer.

Hiss, his hands were really cold.

After returning to the palace, she told Mother Consort about this. After hearing it, Mother Consort laughed until she was doubled over, saying this Zhurong had been bad with directions since childhood – he could get lost even in his own family’s courtyard. The doctor said there was probably something wrong with his brain.

“If his brain has problems, how did he become an official?”

Mother Consort tapped Kangning’s head. “He only has this one flaw of not knowing directions. The Zhu family’s legitimate son is a young genius – composing poetry at three, writing essays at five. At eleven, one policy essay made him famous throughout the realm. At fourteen, His Majesty sent him to Jiangnan to control floods. It’s been two years now. A few days ago, we heard the Jiangnan flood problem was solved, so he should be back to report on his mission.”

Hearing this, Kangning was full of admiration. The next day, when she went to pay respects at Qianming Palace and saw Zhurong, she felt like he was glowing.

After Kangning finished paying respects, she waited at the door, staring at Eunuch Quan until she finally waited for Zhurong to come out.

“Your Highness?”

“Mother Consort said to repay a drop of kindness with a spring of gratitude. Since you gave me your hand warmer yesterday, this Princess will escort you to the palace gate today.”

“There’s no need to trouble Your Highness. Eunuch An can escort this subject out.”

“He’s not familiar with this palace,” Kangning said immediately when she saw him refuse, her eyes scanning the people around. “None of them are familiar.”

Zhurong smiled helplessly and bowed. “I’m grateful for Your Highness’s trouble.”

Kangning felt for the first time that this imperial palace was too small – they reached the palace gate after walking such a short while.

“This Princess has never left the palace to see what’s outside.” Seeing Zhurong was about to leave, Kangning pouted and said, pinching her thigh again to squeeze out two tears. “I don’t even know what it’s like outside.”

Zhurong stopped walking, looked at Kangning for a while, and said, “That’s truly a pity.”

Then he turned and walked away.

????

“Zhurong! This Princess escorted you to the palace gate. As repayment, you should find an opportunity to take me out of the palace to play!” Kangning shouted. “My Mother Consort said to repay a drop of kindness with a spring of gratitude.”

When she could no longer see Zhurong’s figure, Kangning lifted her skirt and ran back. The palace maids and eunuchs behind her hadn’t even reacted yet. She ran back to Linglong Pavilion, so tired she was gasping for breath.

“Mother Consort, Mother Consort! Young Master Zhu is gentle as jade, accomplished from a young age, modest in character, and dignified in appearance. Is he good enough to be a prince consort? Good enough or not?”

“What’s this? Has our little Ning’er fallen for that Zhu boy?” Consort Shu raised an eyebrow, looking at the spilled ink.

“He’s handsome, has a nice voice, good temperament – everything about him is good.”

“But you need to know whether he likes you back.”

This sentence from Consort Shu stumped Kangning. Kangning buried her head in storybooks for several days, devising several plans she thought were perfect to test whether Zhurong liked her or not.

Step one: The storybooks said that girls could only be liked if they were pretty and talented.

So Kangning dressed herself beautifully every day, had someone bring a qin, and waited not far from Qianming Palace every day. As soon as she saw Zhurong appear, she would start playing.

She played until she was shivering from the cold, but he still ignored her.

Failed.

Step two: Create accidental situations for a hero-saves-beauty scenario. Feelings would warm up quickly, and if necessary, she could say, “This little woman is willing to repay with her body.”

So Kangning threw aside the qin and pretended to slip in front of Zhurong when he appeared.

Zhurong: “Your Highness, the snow melted three days ago.”

Kangning: “……”

Failed.

Step three: To capture a man’s heart, you must capture his stomach.

So Kangning went to the small kitchen every day to learn cooking, learning until the cooks were crying and begging her to stop tormenting them.

Failed.

Step four: Cultivate common interests and hobbies to have more topics to talk about.

So whenever Kangning saw Zhurong, she would start:

“When the golden wind and jade dew meet, they surpass countless encounters in the mortal world.”

“When the heart is empty, the way is also empty; when the wind is still, the forest is also still. When all the floating clouds are swept away, the moon naturally becomes bright, and within it are the shadows of mountains and rivers.”

Red beans grow in the southern lands. When spring comes, how many branches sprout? I hope you will gather them often – hey, hey hey, Zhurong don’t go! This thing most expresses lovesickness!”

Failed.

Step five, step six, step seven…

Zhurong stayed in the capital for a year, and Kangning chased after Zhurong for a year.

Spring went and autumn came, and it was winter with falling snow again.

It had been exactly one year since Kangning first saw Zhurong.

It had also been exactly one year since Zhang Chenghan left the imperial palace.

This winter was really cold, so cold that Kangning didn’t dare go out, and her plan to chase Zhurong had to be temporarily shelved.

This winter took away Old General Zhao, Zhang Chenghan’s grandfather.

The Emperor ordered him posthumously granted the title of First-Class Duke Dingguo.

Consort Shu told Kangning that Old General Zhao was the late Empress’s father. He had fought battles all his life and suffered many ailments. Since the late Empress died, his health had gotten even worse.

Now that Old General Zhao had also passed away, only Miss Zhao remained in the Zhao family.

Consort Shu received the Emperor’s permission to leave the palace to attend the funeral at the Zhao residence.

Kangning had never left the palace before, so she followed along this time.

Kangning had always thought that the Zhao residence, being a five-dynasty general’s mansion, should be that kind of serious and imposing place that made people want to keep their distance, or at least magnificent and grand like a wealthy family.

She never expected it to be so cold and desolate.

“This isn’t desolation,” Consort Shu seemed to see what Kangning was thinking and whispered, “it’s tranquility. Their whole family is tranquil.”

White ribbons hung everywhere at the entrance and inside. Zhao Ruohua came out in plain clothes to greet them, but Consort Shu stopped the formalities.

Kangning saw Mother Consort take something green from her sleeve and hand it to Aunt Zhao, and heard her say, “This is what Wan’er gave me before she died, saying that if only you remained in the family, I must give it to you. She wanted to write you a letter, but really couldn’t hold the brush anymore, so she could only have me bring a message.”

“She begged you to live a few more years, to help her see if His Majesty’s health is good, and whether he hates her for leaving him behind.” Mother Consort’s voice was a bit choked. Kangning gripped her sleeve tightly. “She wanted to beg you to persist a little longer, to help Chenghan find a good wife, not seeking wealth or power, just mutual affection without barriers. She begged you to finish these things, then go find her. She’ll be waiting for you there, waiting for you to tell her everything in detail.”

Before leaving the Zhao residence, Kangning looked back. Aunt Zhao knelt in the ancestral hall in plain clothes, her figure thin but upright.

Kangning felt that Aunt Zhao must be very sad. She could feel her sadness from thousands of miles away, as if this sadness spread from the capital to the frontier.

Like that green whistle, entrusted with too much heavy emotion, reluctant to let go, unable to throw away, unable to bear.

Kangning suddenly wanted to hug her and tell her not to be sad anymore.

But she didn’t dare, didn’t dare approach her. Kangning felt that sadness was contagious, and she was already infected and felt very sad.

“Commoner pays respects to Your Majesty, Consort.” As soon as they left the Zhao residence, they saw a middle-aged man in common clothes standing at the door.

“Ning’er, this is Mother Consort’s closest cousin. Call him Uncle.” Consort Shu gently reminded Kangning. Before Kangning could speak, the man said:

“Your Majesty flatters me. I was expelled from the Chen clan. How could I have the qualifications to be called the Princess’s uncle?”

“Cousin, since you came, why didn’t you go in?”

“She… wouldn’t want me to go in.”

Sitting in the carriage returning to the palace, Kangning asked Consort Shu if that uncle liked Aunt Zhao. Consort Shu asked how she could tell.

Kangning said it was his eyes – love in the eyes couldn’t be hidden.

“They were betrothed from childhood, childhood sweethearts, but fate played tricks. At that time, the Chen and Zhao families, one literary and one military, were both important officials in court. If they were betrothed, it would lead to accusations of forming cliques for personal gain by those with ulterior motives, forcing them to be unable to be together.”

One would rather leave the Chen family.

One couldn’t abandon the Zhao family.

So they missed each other. Once missed, it was for a lifetime.

Kangning didn’t quite understand. She felt that if people liked each other, they should be together, just like how she liked Zhurong now. If Zhurong also liked her, she would immediately run to Father Emperor and beg him to grant them marriage.

But she didn’t know Zhurong’s thoughts. But it didn’t matter – she could wait. When she knew, it wouldn’t be too late to make the request.

Having finally left the palace once, Kangning didn’t want to return to the palace so quickly. She begged Mother Consort to let her play outside for one night, throwing tantrums for a long time. Finally, Eunuch Quan came to deliver an oral decree ordering the Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review to accompany the Princess for a day of sightseeing.

Kangning almost loved Father Emperor to death. When she saw Zhurong at the palace gate, she couldn’t help but hug him directly. Kangning’s height only reached Zhurong’s chest. She looked up with bright eyes, “Zhurong, I can leave the palace to play!”

Consort Shu sighed in the carriage and ordered the bearers to start back to the palace.

Kangning found everything novel, pulling Zhurong’s hand and stopping frequently. Several times, she felt Zhurong wanted to let go of her hand, so she gripped it tighter.

Midnight.

Zhurong brought her to the Zhu residence to stay for the night. To be precise, it was Zhurong’s attendant who led them back to the Zhu residence.

Kangning’s likeable personality immediately won over Mother Zhu’s affection. Kangning felt her chances of winning over Zhurong had increased considerably.

Playing for one night wasn’t enough. Kangning dreamed of the sugar figurines and flower lanterns she saw that day.

She got up at dawn the next day, tiptoed into Zhurong’s room. Zhurong was handsome.

A gentleman like jade, gentle and unparalleled.

Kangning poked his face with her finger, softly.

Fair and clean, like a little steamed bun.

She wanted to kiss him…

Kangning turned her head away. No matter what, she was still a princess. Secretly kissing a man was simply scandalous!

But… no one was watching now, and he was asleep… once wouldn’t matter.

Just once, only once.

So Zhang Kangning kissed him and immediately ran out of the room, then quickly turned back to close the door. On the way, she knocked over a maid, scaring the maid into kneeling and kowtowing.

Zhang Kangning felt her face burning. She couldn’t bother with her and rushed to the front hall, where she met Mother Zhu, who was watering flowers. Mother Zhu smiled and asked why she got up so early, was gasping for breath with a red face – had something happened?

Because I secretly kissed your son.

Kangning felt that if she said this, Mother Consort would skin her alive.

“Because there are still matters in the palace, Mother Consort wants me to return early. I… I’ll leave first.”

“Someone, go call the young master to escort the Princess back to the palace.”

“No need!” Kangning hurriedly stopped her, then felt her reaction was too strange and tried to remedy it: “I mean, it’s so early, Lord Zhu should still be sleeping, so… don’t trouble him. I’ll go back myself… oh no, have a servant escort me back.”

Before Mother Zhu could speak, Kangning ran away, naturally missing Mother Zhu’s words: “Arong woke up long ago. He just made me a pot of tea.”

Back in the palace, Kangning shut herself up for ten whole days. When Consort Shu asked what was wrong, she wouldn’t speak. Finally, when Consort Shu lost patience and was about to beat her, she tearfully hugged her waist: “I like Zhurong so much that the whole imperial palace knows. If he doesn’t marry me, Father Emperor will be unhappy. But if he marries me but doesn’t like me, what if he wrongs me in the future, and I’m sad?”

Consort Shu was both amused and exasperated. How could anyone dare to do wrong to a princess? Did they not want to live?

But seeing her daughter was troubled by this matter, she pondered for a moment and said, “Probably not.”

“The storybooks all say so. The endings are all that the female lead dies before the male lead realizes his regret. Mother Consort, I’m still young. I don’t want to die yet.”

“Mm, that is a problem.” Consort Shu also frowned and said seriously, “Then Mother Consort will have Ning’er marry him a few years later, letting Ning’er live a few more years. How about that?”

Kangning hugged Consort Shu’s waist and thought for a while, then nodded – it seemed feasible.

“But what if he marries someone else before I marry him?”

“Then we’ll have His Majesty decree that he’s not allowed to marry anyone else.”

So that afternoon, Zhang Jingxing saw Zhang Kangning secretly pinch her thigh meat, squeeze out a few tears, and beg him to issue an edict forbidding Zhurong from marrying any woman other than herself.

“How much do you like Zhurong?” Zhang Jingxing asked in a deep voice.

“Very much, very much,” Kangning answered without hesitation, but saw that after Father Emperor heard her answer, his expression seemed somewhat moved, and in his eyes were tiny glimmers of light.

When Zhurong received His Majesty’s oral decree, his feelings were complicated. Eunuch Quan’s expression was also somewhat strange. How could there be an emperor who decreed that his subjects couldn’t marry any woman except the princess for five years?

Kangning, having obtained this decree, was so happy she couldn’t sleep well all night, thinking about her husband-chasing plan.

So began another two years of chaotic girl-chasing-boy, and Kangning gradually matured in her days of pursuing Zhurong, her temperament also becoming more tranquil.

“You, oh you, how are you becoming more and more like me?” Consort Shu’s slender finger tapped Kangning’s forehead. This child wasn’t as tranquil as the outside world said – all her little thoughts were hidden in her heart, exactly like her younger self.

“Because Ning’er is Mother Consort’s daughter.” Kangning affectionately nuzzled Consort Shu. In three more months, she would come of age.

She would ask Zhurong on that day whether he liked her or not, whether he would marry her or not.

In the warm spring of March, when the weather was getting warmer, the day Kangning had been longing for finally arrived.

After carefully selecting a peach-pink long dress that wasn’t allowed to be worn, Kangning reluctantly changed into five-layered ceremonial robes, begging Consort Shu to paint a peach blossom on her forehead.

“Mother Consort, what’s wrong?” Kangning called to Consort Shu, who was staring at her in a daze, thinking something was strange about herself today. She looked in the mirror. “It looks pretty good. Mother Consort, what are you looking at?”

“Nothing, just that a friend I once had also loved to paint flowers between her brows and at her heart.”

Kangning knew Mother Consort was talking about Empress Mother. She had seen it in the portraits in Fengqi Palace, but seeing that Mother Consort didn’t want to say more, she tactfully didn’t continue asking.

Kangning stood quietly outside Dikun Hall, waiting, listening to the ceremonial official’s voice. Supported by palace maids, she slowly walked into the hall. The inner court ladies had already arrived and stood with lowered heads on both sides.

There were only four or five people in total. Kangning heard that there used to be more than ten, but since the Empress’s death, those who hadn’t been favored were sent out of the palace, and the remaining ones were promoted and stayed in the palace.

Approaching the main position, Kangning knelt with both knees, folded her hands to her brow, and deeply kowtowed to the ground, then rose and kowtowed again – three kowtows.

Since there was no Empress, Kangning stepped on the white jade steps and slowly walked to Consort Shu standing beside the main position, then kowtowed again. Consort Shu arranged her hair and inserted the gilded glazed Eight Treasures hairpin, then helped her up to face the inner court ladies.

The ceremony was complete.

After returning to the palace, Kangning collapsed on the bed, closing her eyes and thinking of another excuse to find Zhurong.

“Your Highness…” A palace maid spoke softly. Kangning hummed, waiting for her to continue. “Please open your eyes.”

“What’s wrong?” Kangning opened her eyes at the sound and looked sideways in the direction the palace maid was indicating. “Zhang… Zhang Chenghan?!”

Kangning quickly got up and ran to Zhang Chenghan, standing at the door, looking incredulous. “When did you return? How have these years on the frontier been? Were you bullied? Why have you gotten so thin and dark?”

“I returned today, went to pay respects to Father Emperor, rushed here, but still missed your coming-of-age ceremony. I’ve been doing well these years, no one bullied me…” Zhang Chenghan looked at Kangning hugging him tightly. “Imperial Sister, it won’t look good if your makeup runs from crying.”

“I wasn’t crying.” Kangning buried her head in his clothes, her voice choked.

When Zhang Chenghan left the palace, he wasn’t even as tall as Kangning. Now he was more than a head taller than her. He was already thin, and now, when hugged, he was all bones.

Father Emperor was heartless. Zhang Chenghan’s health hadn’t been good since birth, yet he threw himself into the frontier for so many years. If Empress Mother were still alive, she would be angry.

After Zhang Chenghan returned, Kangning accompanied him every day. Wherever he went, Kangning followed, just like when they were small.

When Kangning and Zhang Chenghan went together to pay respects to Zhang Jingxing, Zhurong was also in Qianming Palace. Zhurong’s expression was somewhat grave, as if they were discussing some important matter. Kangning tactfully left.

Eunuch Quan uncharacteristically didn’t let her wait at the door this time. It was probably really a state matter that she couldn’t be allowed to hear.

After returning to the palace, Kangning asked Consort Shu if something had happened. Consort Shu frowned and said gently, “I heard it’s the Western Barbarian Nine-Tribe Alliance wanting to attack Great Qi.”

Again?

These Western Barbarians were dishonest. Seeing that Old General Zhao had died and the Zhao family army wasn’t as brave as before, they had the heart to invade again.

These days, the atmosphere in the palace was somewhat oppressive. Everyone was being careful, even Zhang Chenghan had a cold face. Kangning encountered Zhurong several times, and he was also frowning. Kangning stood at a distance, not daring to approach.

Zhurong actually came over on his initiative, paid his respects, and gently told her not to come to Qianming Palace recently. He also brought her plum blossom pastries from outside the palace.

Half a month later, one evening, Kangning was lying on the imperial concubine couch in the courtyard, boredly looking at the stars. Zhang Jingxing unexpectedly came to Linglong Pavilion.

Hearing the eunuch’s announcement, Kangning was so startled she fell to the ground, then quickly got up to pay respects.

Zhang Jingxing seemed to be in a good mood and even patted her head, telling her to rise.

Palace servants served tea, and Kangning sat obediently to the side.

This was almost the first time Kangning had seen Zhang Jingxing set foot in the inner palace since her birth. If not for her and Imperial Brother’s existence, she would have suspected Father Emperor had some problem somewhere.

But she only thought these things to herself – she still wanted to live well.

The Father Emperor came this time to select consorts for Zhang Chenghan. Father Emperor told Mother Consort to pay more attention and discuss it together with Miss Zhao.

Mother Consort nodded in agreement, and Father Emperor left.

Kangning planned to tell Zhang Chenghan the next day, but she overslept. When she got up, she heard from the palace maids that Zhang Chenghan had a big fight with the Emperor and was punished to kneel.

Kangning: ????

This child hadn’t been seen for a few years, and his temper had grown quite a bit – he even dared to fight with Father Emperor.

Consort Shu stopped Kangning from going to Qianming Palace, telling her she couldn’t interfere in this matter.

The palace maids chattered away, and Kangning managed to understand the gist of it. They said it was because Zhang Chenghan learned that Father Emperor wanted to select a Crown Princess for him, so he went to question Father Emperor about why he would select consorts for him without asking, and that’s how the fight started.

During this, Zhang Chenghan also mentioned Empress Mother, so Father Emperor flew into a rage, expelled him, and punished him to kneel at the entrance of Fengqi Palace.

When Kangning went, Zhurong was also there. He was still in indigo robes with a jade-like figure. Kangning hid at a distance, not daring to approach. She waited a while, secretly peeping out until she saw Zhurong leave before going forward.

“Imperial Sister came to see me again.” Zhang Chenghan smiled slightly when he saw her. He used to not like smiling, just like Father Emperor, keeping a cold face all day without a single smile. But this time, when he returned, he had changed somewhat, gaining some vitality.

“Does that girl exist?”

“Yes.”

“Do you like her?”

“I like her.”

“How much do you like her?”

“Very much.”

“Then does she like you?”

“She likes me.”

Kangning looked at Zhang Chenghan for a long time, feeling that she must be a very likable girl who could make her brother’s eyes sparkle like stars when he spoke of her.

A few days later, Zhang Chenghan was appointed as commander-in-chief and sent to battle the Western Barbarians, with Zhurong as military strategist.

When Kangning heard this news, the troops were already preparing to leave. Father Emperor had done everything too suddenly – no one in the court had time to react before the matter was decided.

When Kangning got the news and ran to the city tower, she could only see their departing figures.

That person, even among ten thousand people, she could recognize him at a glance.

You must return safely.

Kangning watched from the city tower for a long time, until she could no longer see any figures, then she shifted her gaze and turned to see Mother Consort standing beside her.

Mother Consort told her that the Southern Kingdom had sent a letter saying the Second Prince had already set out to pay respects to His Majesty, and the Eastern Moon Kingdom also said their Third Prince would come.

Father Emperor refused them, citing urgent military affairs.

That made sense – with a great war imminent, how could Father Emperor have the mood to host banquets?

Consort Shu snorted coldly upon hearing this: “Never mind nine tribes – even ninety tribes could be wiped out in one fell swoop. His Majesty simply doesn’t want to see them.”

Consort Shu’s words proved true. Half a month later, good news came from the front – Zhang Chenghan had consecutively captured three Western Barbarian cities.

Five days later, when Kangning was picking peach blossoms with the palace maids to make peach blossom wine, someone came to report that Zhang Chenghan had captured five cities and presented His Majesty with a surrender letter personally written by the Western Barbarian Nine Tribes’ leaders.

But His Majesty didn’t even look at the surrender letter, instead turning to shoot down two birds, their heads a bloody mess.

Father Emperor was angry.

Although she didn’t know why Father Emperor was angry, Kangning could truly feel that Father Emperor was angry.

The Father Emperor ordered Zhurong to return to the capital within ten days.

He returned on the morning of the ninth day. As soon as he returned, he was summoned to Qianming Palace. Within an hour, Father Emperor had left.

Father Emperor’s departure shocked the entire court, and Mother Consort was also panicked.

Some elderly ministers fell ill at home for several days from anger over Father Emperor’s willful actions. Now the capital had neither Emperor nor Crown Prince – only Zhurong holding an Imperial Decree barely maintained order.

When Kangning listened to Eunuch Quan reading the Imperial Decree, she thought: if Zhurong colluded with military officials now, occupied the capital, and pursued His Majesty…

That was impossible. Zhurong would never do such a thing.

The Zhu family had originally been only fifth-rank minor officials. It was Father Emperor who gave him opportunities, appreciated his abilities, and allowed him to reach his current high position before even reaching adulthood. Zhurong would never have wolfish ambitions.

After Father Emperor left, Zhurong’s first act was to confine Consort Shu to her quarters.

When the Imperial Guards surrounded all of Linglong Pavilion, Kangning felt the world spinning, gripping the door frame tightly to keep herself from falling.

Kangning saw the sad light in Mother Consort’s eyes. That night, Mother Consort drank a lot of wine, shutting herself in her room and refusing to come out. When Kangning kicked open the door, wine jars were scattered all over the floor inside. Kangning had never seen Mother Consort like this.

Carrying Mother Consort to bed, she heard her murmuring: “Wan’er, he never trusted me.”

Kangning waited until noon the next day before Consort Shu woke up. After waking, she refused to discuss yesterday’s loss of composure.

When Kangning saw Zhurong that afternoon, she violently threw an inkstone at him, telling him to get out, her voice so loud it startled Consort Shu from her room.

Zhurong frowned and asked what was wrong.

Kangning sneered and slapped him across the face. Consort Shu pulled Kangning behind her, stared at her for a while, then had palace maids take her inside first.

After entering the room, Kangning sat hugging her knees in a corner. After a while, Consort Shu came in and crouched in front of her.

“Let Mother Consort guess – our Ning’er is like this because she thinks that Zhurong is ungrateful, taking advantage of the capital being without a master to attempt to usurp power.”

“Now he has the Imperial Decree and has confined the Consort – if he then allied with military officials to attack His Majesty and Chenghan from behind…”

“Mother Consort, don’t say anymore.” Kangning interrupted Consort Shu’s words, covering her ears, not wanting to hear.

“You,” Consort Shu flicked Kangning’s forehead hard, saying with mixed laughter and tears, “I told you to read fewer story books, but what’s in your head all day?”

Kangning looked up at Consort Shu in confusion: “But… but he did send troops to surround Linglong Pavilion… and Mother Consort yesterday…”

“The Imperial Guards only follow the Emperor’s orders. How could he command them?” Consort Shu’s tone softened seeing Kangning’s pitiful appearance. “Mother Consort scared you yesterday, didn’t she?”

No… no.

She had wronged him?

But… but she had just slapped him.

Thinking of this, Kangning cried even harder: “Mo… Mother Consort, Kangning was wrong… in the future… I’ll never read story books again.”

That day, Kangning cried in Consort Shu’s arms until she nearly fainted.

Thirty days later, Zhang Jingxing and Zhang Chenghan returned.

After returning, Zhang Chenghan summoned all the Imperial Physicians to Qianming Palace. The palace gates were tightly closed, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving at will.

Kangning only knew that after Father Emperor reached the western frontier, he directly led troops in a surprise attack on the Western Barbarian Nine Tribes, beheading the tribal chief that same day. In thirteen days, he had exterminated nine tribes.

From then on, only the non-allied Xilu tribe remained on the western frontier.

Five days later, the gates of Qianming Palace opened. Everyone left the imperial palace calmly as if nothing had happened. When Kangning followed Consort Shu to pay respects, the Emperor was practicing calligraphy.

Seeing them arrive, Zhang Jingxing surprisingly asked Kangning why she had gotten thinner.

Kangning secretly observed Father Emperor – he showed no signs of illness or discomfort. Remembering the Imperial Physician’s words that His Majesty was fine, just tired from the journey and would recover after resting a few days, she felt reassured.

Father Emperor said the Crown Princess position had been decided – the legitimate youngest daughter of the Yulin Chen family, named Huawan, was twelve years old.

The Yulin Chen family – Kangning thought for a moment. That was a branch of Mother Consort’s maternal family, reportedly extremely wealthy and highly regarded in the frontier regions.

Within three days, Kangning met this little girl. A tiny person in a peach-pink dress following behind Zhang Chenghan, looking left and right, seemingly curious about everything.

As they approached, the girl became more proper, gracefully bowing to them with a voice as pleasant as an oriole’s song.

Kangning saw what seemed to be tears in Father Emperor’s eyes as he gazed at Chen Huawan for a long time without speaking, as if seeing another person through her.

Father Emperor said that when she came of age, she would become Crown Princess.

By calculation, she was still Consort Shu’s niece and would stay at Linglong Pavilion for these three years to be well cared for.

Finally, Father Emperor added, “If you want to go home, go back and visit.”

Afterward, Linglong Pavilion gained an oriole-like little girl. Kangning was extremely fond of her, playing with her daily and taking her to every corner of the palace.

Several times, they encountered Zhang Chenghan and Zhurong. Chen Huawan would happily go forward to greet them while Kangning just stood to the side, smiling without speaking.

After several months like this, during this year’s New Year, the Eastern Moon Kingdom and Southern Kingdom sent princes to pay tribute.

Consort Shu and Kangning sat in the upper seats, with officials in lower positions. Behind screens, Kangning occasionally looked down, not forgetting to tell Chen Huawan how beautiful the dancing girls’ moves were.

Chen Huawan nodded with a smile, holding plum blossom pastries and eating continuously.

Not pointing out that the dancing girls weren’t in the direction she was looking.

During the banquet, the Southern Kingdom’s Second Prince presented tribute gifts. After delivering congratulatory words, he changed the subject and directly expressed his desire to marry a princess of this noble country.

This shocked Chen Huawan so much that the plum blossom pastry got stuck in her throat. Kangning quickly helped her breathe easier. She asked Kangning if she knew that prince. Kangning shook her head.

Chen Huawan frowned gravely: “How can someone seek marriage without knowing the person? Only with mutual affection can people be together.”

“You also think that two people can only be together with mutual affection?”

“Of course.”

“What if one person loves another, but that person has never been moved – what then?”

This question seemed to stump Chen Huawan. She thought for a long time before saying, “Then make that person fall in love with you, then be together.”

“But what if they never fall in love?”

“Then stop being stubborn. You can’t hang yourself from one tree.”

Kangning nodded, unconsciously glancing at the stage below.

The ministers’ seats were arranged by rank. He was First Rank Grand Secretariat President, in the second position…

That person sat steadily without the slightest wavering. No wonder the palace maids always said Lord Zhu was gentle and refined, calm and composed – they’d never seen him flustered. It seemed nothing was a problem for Lord Zhu. He didn’t get angry, didn’t get anxious, didn’t get excited.

Kangning didn’t know how she got through that entire evening. She kept thinking about all these years – from that first sight of Zhurong in the heavy snow, there had been no one else in her eyes.

She had always felt that, being a princess, and the only princess of Great Qi at that, her status naturally made her worthy of him.

Having received instruction from female officials since childhood and being taught by the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor, she might not be learned in all things, but she was well-read and talented enough to match him.

Her appearance could also match his…

Never having punished palace servants, her gentle nature also matched his…

Kangning had always thought she could marry him.

But she was wrong.

That day, when Mother Consort crouched before her, asking if she wanted to marry Zhurong – even if it meant sacrificing all his career prospects and abandoning all his ambitions – would she still marry him?

She thought all afternoon and finally understood Mother Consort’s meaning.

The Zhu family had fought their way to success through Zhurong alone. He was a rare genius, with his ambitions and aspirations, his own grand and passionate patriotism. A young talent with the world’s attention on him – his policy essays praised throughout the nation, flood control earning people’s gratitude, capable of governing the country in peace and commanding troops in war.

Such a person, if he were to marry her, would certainly have to abandon all his grand plans, forsake the world’s expectations, and confine himself to the capital with the hollow title of Prince Consort.

Everyone would flatter him because of his Prince Consort status, and the world would condemn him as a small-minded person greedy for wealth.

If she continued to pursue him openly, telling everyone without disguise that she admired him, willfully having Father Emperor decree that he couldn’t marry for five years – how could he advance?

Her vigorous three years had only moved her in the end.

So that night, having understood everything, Kangning cried in Consort Shu’s arms until she nearly fainted.

After that night, she avoided Zhurong from then on.

The next day, Kangning developed a fever.

It came fiercely – she got up and ate breakfast, then collapsed shortly after, frightening Consort Shu into quickly summoning the Imperial Physician.

Kangning was deliriously ill, constantly remembering that she couldn’t be with Zhurong anymore. Her heart ached terribly, tears streaming down as she gripped Consort Shu’s sleeve tightly, shaking her head and saying she didn’t want to marry Zhurong, that she didn’t like him at all.

After a while, she cried again, saying she didn’t want to marry that Second Prince – he wasn’t as handsome as Zhurong, and Ning’er wouldn’t marry him.

Consort Shu soothed her gently, lovingly wiping away her tears.

What a little crybaby.

After Kangning recovered, the two countries’ princes had already left, no longer mentioning marriage.

Kangning continued as before, occasionally leading Chen Huawan to pay respects to Father Emperor and playing with the palace maids when free.

She rarely had opportunities to see Zhang Chenghan, though – he was increasingly busy. Each time she went to see Zhang Jingxing, she would see him reviewing memorials beside the throne.

Days passed like this. When snow fell in the palace, Kangning bundled up Chen Huawan tightly and took her to watch the eunuchs sweep snow. She made a snowball, her hands cold, then mischievously put her hands on Chen Huawan’s neck, making her gasp from the cold.

The two started playing around like this. Kangning formed a snowball and threw it at Chen Huawan. From the corner of her eye, she saw an indigo figure standing not far away.

“Your subject Zhurong pays respects to Your Highness, the Princess.”

Everything seemed to return to that winter four years ago – she turned and saw him in indigo robes with features like a painting, standing quietly there, bowing to her.

“Has Lord Zhu gotten lost again?” Kangning looked away, casually pointing to a eunuch to have him escort Zhurong away.

“Your Highness told this subject that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of gratitude. This subject has not yet repaid the kindness of Your Highness escorting me from the palace four years ago.”

“Your Highness slapped this subject that day. This subject has puzzled me endlessly, wondering where I offended Your Highness.” Zhurong paused, lowered his head with a smile, and continued: “So this subject is willing to use his entire life to exchange for Your Highness’s forgiveness. Would Your Highness give this subject this opportunity?”

Snow began falling from the sky as if on cue, the dancing snowflakes falling between them. Kangning stood frozen in place, looking at him. After a long time, she finally spoke: “Do you know that saying these words means your career prospects, your ambitions, your wealth and honor – all of it will be gone? I’m not someone who must marry you. You needn’t compromise yourself by saying these things to me.”

“But this subject will marry no one but Your Highness.” Zhurong walked to Kangning’s front, lowered his head to look directly into her eyes, his gaze gentle yet firm, and said slowly: “This subject Zhurong, courtesy name Shanghe, First Rank Grand Marshal, both parents living, no siblings, of good character, now wishes to marry Your Highness as wife, to be united in matrimony, never to deceive or betray, to cherish for life.”

Kangning was stunned for a long time. Only when her forehead was flicked did she come back to her senses, meeting Zhurong’s smiling eyes: “Oh… oh, you’ve been promoted again. So quickly.”

“Will Your Highness marry this subject?” Zhurong persisted.

“Such matters must be discussed with Father Emperor and Mother Consort. I can’t decide… ???” Kangning stared in shock at the bright Imperial Decree in Zhurong’s hands. “This… this isn’t a marriage decree, is it?”

Seeing Zhurong nod, Kangning became anxious: “Then what about your career? You don’t want it anymore? What about your grand ambitions?”

“In this peaceful and prosperous age, what grand ambitions could I have?”

Kangning: ?????

“I never intended to be an official. When I was young, I read many essays about governing the country and felt passionate, thinking I’d write one too. After writing it, I didn’t want it anymore, but my cousin took it and used it as homework. That’s how the world came to know of it.”

Kangning: ?????

“His Majesty said he’d reward five hundred taels of gold for curing the Jiangnan floods, so I went. When I returned, he only gave three hundred taels. I didn’t dare say anything. Will Your Highness make up the remaining two hundred taels for me?”

Kangning: ?????

“Then… then why did you work so hard to get promoted? And even went to be a military strategist.”

“Such a sure-win battle would have rewards upon return. The Crown Prince is young, so His Majesty sent me to watch over him.”

Zhurong avoided Kangning’s first question. He wouldn’t tell Kangning that the day he walked lost through the imperial palace, she suddenly appeared in his sight, so small, with such a brilliant smile, that he became entranced watching from behind.

But he was only a Tongzhou Prefect then, of lowly status, knowing he was unworthy of her. All along his path, when the Emperor asked what rewards he wanted, he always said promotion.

That kiss she placed on his lips that day made him blush for an entire day. When he opened his eyes, he could only see a pink figure fleeing in panic.

That day, he resolved to marry her.

It took him four and a half years to reach the position of Grand Marshal, finally having the status to seek marriage to a princess. Today, he was granted the title of Grand Marshal and requested the Emperor to exchange all his official positions for the status of Prince Consort.

He knelt in Qianming Palace for an hour before gaining the Emperor’s permission.

That moment of joy – how he wanted to share it with her.

Red beans grow in southern lands. When spring comes, how many branches sprout? I hope you will gather them often – this thing most expresses lovesickness.” When she recited this to him, if he hadn’t left quickly, he really couldn’t have restrained himself from taking her in his arms.

How could a dignified princess publicly recite love poetry to a man?

But the smile at the corners of his mouth couldn’t be hidden.

Ordinarily, it shouldn’t be his place to tell her, but seeing her at first glance, he could no longer restrain himself. Only he knew how much willpower it took to stop himself from embracing her. Only he knew that when he spoke those words to her, his heart was pounding violently in his chest, as if it would jump out.

Kangning remained in a daze until she returned to the palace and received the Imperial Decree. Her wish of so many years was fulfilled so quickly?

“Your Majesty Consort, isn’t she acting like a fool?”

“I think so – foolish with joy.”

“Would Lord Zhu agree to marry a fool?”

“The Imperial Decree is already issued. He can’t go back on it.”

“Why do you look so happy?”

“After raising this cabbage for so many years, finally, a pig has come to eat it. How can I not be happy?”

Kangning couldn’t bear listening anymore: “Chen Yiyi, Chen Huawan, do you two think I’m deaf?!”

Then Kangning was dragged by the ear by Consort Shu for a thorough scolding.

The Princess’s grand wedding was magnificent. Zhang Jingxing granted Kangning a Princess Mansion with specifications much grander than previous princesses.

On their wedding night, Kangning grabbed Zhurong’s lapels and threatened him not to go back on his word, not to take concubines, not to go to places like brothels.

Zhurong smiled and kissed the corner of her mouth, his voice gentle enough to melt hearts: “This subject obeys.”

After marriage, Kangning still frequently ran to the palace to see Mother Consort, Chen Huawan, and Zhang Chenghan.

In the thirty-ninth year of Jinghui, Kangning gave birth to a little daughter named Zhiyao.

In the forty-first year of Jinghui spring, Zhiyao ran into Fengqi Palace. When Kangning went to find her, she saw the back courtyard had groves of osmanthus trees with lush green leaves.

That same summer, Dekun Palace caught fire, and the wind direction changed dramatically, affecting Fengqi Palace. The Emperor abandoned the morning court to send people to fight the fire, burning down the entire palace.

The Emperor fell ill and never recovered.

When Kangning entered the palace, the Emperor sat on the imperial concubine couch in Fengqi Palace’s back courtyard, holding two wooden boxes in his arms with a plate of osmanthus pastries beside him, silently looking at the burned tree branches. Seeing her arrival, he showed no reaction.

After a while, Zhang Chenghan also came. Zhang Jingxing finally showed some response, looking at him and smiling. Kangning suddenly realized Father Emperor had aged – his temples already had white hair, and his voice was somewhat hoarse: “I’m going to find your mother, empress. I treated you badly these years – she must be angry with me.”

“Wan’er… I miss you so much.”

Kangning knelt on the ground, listening to Eunuch Quan beside her call out with a trembling voice: “His Majesty has passed away.”

Kangning picked up the wooden box. The patterns on the box had long been worn smooth from handling. Inside was a lock of hair tied with red string and a yellowed marriage compatibility document.

“United in matrimony, protecting your lasting peace. A gentleman’s word is his bond.”

A gentleman’s word is his bond.

Kangning remembered that year during the Ghost Festival when she saw the room full of Empress portraits in Fengqi Palace, the study piled with boxes of Buddhist scriptures in decorative small script, the paper on the desk covered with these eight characters.

At the time, she didn’t understand why Father Emperor, whose calligraphy was so beautiful, would imitate someone else’s writing, and even asked Mother Empress who wrote those eight characters.

That was a promise to someone – a genuine, devoutly cherished promise.

Kangning had always thought Father Emperor was emotionless. In all her years, she could count on one hand the times she’d seen Father Emperor smile. But Mother Consort said Father Emperor’s smile was extremely beautiful – his eyes would sparkle like stars, and when he looked at Empress Mother, he was as gentle as if treating the world’s greatest treasure.

But later, the stars in Father Emperor’s eyes fell, and from then on, he rarely smiled.

He had poured all his feelings into Empress Mother, using all his strength to love her. This love was given completely to one person – no one else could ever share even a portion.

After Father Emperor’s death, Mother Consort calmly presided over the funeral. Zhang Chenghan inherited the throne and changed the reign name to Desheng.

He named Yulin Chen family’s legitimate youngest daughter Chen Huawan as Empress, with the investiture ceremony to be held after three years of national mourning.

Consort Shu became Dowager Consort, and Kangning changed from Princess to Princess Imperial.

In the second year of Desheng summer, the Empress gave birth to a legitimate son, named Zhan.

After Miss Zhao visited the palace to see the First Prince, she returned home and took poison to end her life. Before dying, she put on the light orange dress from her maiden days with a green whistle around her neck.

When Kangning visited Mother Consort in the palace, she also brought the letter Aunt Zhao had asked her to deliver to Mother Consort that day.

Before Mother Consort even opened the letter, her eyes reddened, saying this letter shouldn’t be read by her.

Kangning knew Aunt Zhao wanted to give the letter to Uncle Chen, whom they’d met at the Zhao residence gate that day, but Uncle Chen had taken Aunt Zhao’s body to the lakeside in the suburbs for burial on the day she died, and had also taken poison to end his own life.

The sorrowful atmosphere gradually dispersed with New Year’s joy. On New Year’s night, Kangning and the Empress gave birth simultaneously, both to daughters.

The Second Princess was named Ernian, and the young county lady was named Zhijin.

In the sixth year of Desheng, the Empress gave birth to the Third Prince, named Xun.

In the eighth year of Desheng, Kangning gave birth to a young county prince named Zeyi.

In the thirteenth year of Desheng spring, on Dowager Consort Shu’s fiftieth birthday, Kangning brought her three children to the palace to celebrate.

After a day of noise, the six children were tired and fell asleep before dark, leaving Kangning, Zhurong, the Emperor, and Empress to accompany Dowager Consort Shu.

As the five chatted and laughed, a palace maid served a plate of osmanthus pastries. Dowager Consort Shu picked up a piece and handed it to the Empress, saying with a smile: “Wan’er, quickly eat – your favorite osmanthus pastries. While His Majesty isn’t here, hurry and eat more.”

Chen Huawan was stunned for a moment, then took the osmanthus pastry and nodded with a smile.

Kangning was in tears beside them.

A few days later, Dowager Consort Shu fell seriously ill. The Imperial Physician said she had lost the will to live.

Kangning stayed by Dowager Consort Shu’s side daily. She was sometimes lucid, sometimes confused. When confused, she would mistake the Emperor and Empress for the late Emperor and late Empress, talking to them, telling them to get along well and not fight, to be together forever.

Before her death, Dowager Consort Shu was quite lucid, holding Kangning’s hand and looking at her tenderly: “You’re the mother of three children now – why do you still love crying so much?”

Kangning cried and begged her not to leave, often unable to speak. Zhurong held her silently.

Dowager Consort Shu told Kangning that her crying now looked exactly like the late Empress’s when the Grand Empress Dowager passed away.

The late Empress also had a crying nature – that day, she cried for an hour because pulling at her wound hurt.

“Zhao Wan’er was always good at pretending to be foolish. How could she be crying from pain? She was crying because she couldn’t see her elder sister when she woke up, so she used this excuse to cry.”

She thought she had fooled everyone, but she hadn’t fooled a single person. When Dowager Consort Shu said this with a smile, her eyes held deep heartache.

Dowager Consort Shu told Kangning many things about the late Empress and late Emperor.

Finally, her voice gradually grew softer and took on a crying tone.

“I know Wan’er promoted my rank to compensate for the child I lost, and sent you to my side. How could I compete with such a kind person for the late Emperor?”

“My Chen family served loyally, but His Majesty was suspicious of – suspicious of me for a lifetime, never trusting me.”

Dowager Consort Shu stared out the window for a long time, smiling silently as if seeing some beautiful scene.

“That day, he came amid the peach blossoms and everyone’s greetings, furiously beating to death all the palace servants. I thought he was doing it for me, but that was just what I thought.”

“I did love him… always loved him.”

Kangning sobbed uncontrollably in Zhurong’s arms.