Winter had arrived.

This was the first winter Luo Sheng spent at Prince Kaiyang’s manor.

Snow had been falling since morning, the fine snow particles drifting down, gradually covering everything in white.

Wei Han donned his cloak and kissed Luo Sheng’s cheek. “I’m heading out.”

“Take an umbrella and watch for slippery roads.” Luo Sheng raised her hand to adjust his ties, instructing him gently.

Wei Han nodded with a smile. “I know. I’ll come back as soon as I’m done with business. Let’s have pickled cabbage and pork hot pot tonight.”

“Good. The pickled cabbage Xiu Gu made some days ago should be ready to eat.”

Having received confirmation, Wei Han’s handsome features filled with smiles. He kissed Luo Sheng’s lips once more before striding out.

Luo Sheng walked to the window and watched the man in the ink-colored cloak depart, a smile unconsciously gracing her lips as well.

The snow outside grew heavier, transforming from fine particles into light goose-feather flakes dancing with the cold wind.

Luo Sheng had just prepared to leave the window when she saw that ink-colored figure, which had left her sight not long ago, returning.

Why had he come back?

Luo Sheng went out to meet him with puzzlement.

The door curtain was lifted, cold air rushing in.

Wei Han quickly lowered the curtain.

“Why did you come back?” Luo Sheng asked.

Wei Han looked at her and was silent for a moment. “Shi Yan has returned.”

Hearing this, Luo Sheng’s heart jumped, but she maintained her composure with great effort. “Have him come in. I’ll ask about the situation.”

Wei Han accompanied Luo Sheng to the western side room that had been arranged as a study.

Shi Yan waited there. Seeing the two, he immediately bowed in greeting.

“Did it go smoothly?” Luo Sheng asked.

Shi Yan smiled. “Following the diagram you drew, we found it very smoothly. The coffins have been brought back too…”

Luo Sheng was somewhat uneasy. “There are two coffins, right? Don’t mix them up.”

“Please rest assured, they absolutely cannot be mixed up. Everything was done according to your instructions.”

Only then did Luo Sheng reveal a smile. “You’ve worked hard.”

Shi Yan hastily shook his head. “Not hard at all, not hard. Being able to handle matters for the princess consort is this humble one’s honor.”

Wei Han shot him a glance.

Shi Yan’s heart clenched, and he quickly put away his smile.

“Take me to see them.”

Shi Yan was startled and couldn’t help but look at Wei Han.

“Do as the princess consort instructs,” Wei Han said flatly.

“Then please follow me.” Shi Yan set aside his curiosity and led Luo Sheng to see the coffins that had been brought back.

Two black-lacquered coffins sat in a small courtyard.

The eaves covered in white snow, the ground paved with blue bricks, the black-lacquered coffins—all made this small courtyard appear cold and solemn.

Luo Sheng walked over quickly, her gaze moving between the two coffins.

“Which one is Zhaohua’s?”

Shi Yan pointed to one of the coffins. “Inside this one.”

Luo Sheng reached out and gently touched the black-lacquered coffin.

The coffin that had traveled through wind and snow from Beihe to the capital was ice-cold.

Luo Sheng said in her heart: Zhaohua, you’ve finally come home.

After a long while, Luo Sheng instructed Hong Dou, “Go call Xiu Gu. Her sister has returned.”

Hong Dou ran to the small kitchen to fetch her. “Xiu Gu, the mistress says your sister has returned.”

Sister?

Xiu Yue was startled and followed Hong Dou to the small courtyard in confusion.

What met her eyes were those two black-lacquered coffins.

“Mistress—” Xiu Yue vaguely sensed something and looked toward Luo Sheng.

Luo Sheng smiled gently at Xiu Yue. “Having heard you speak of your story with Zhaohua, I had Sanfire go to Beihe to bring her back.”

Xiu Yue’s eyelashes trembled lightly as she pointed to the coffin near Luo Sheng and asked, “Is it… this one?”

Luo Sheng nodded gently.

Xiu Yue rushed over and wept bitterly while holding the coffin.

Luo Sheng watched silently, struggling hard to control her tears.

Xiu Yue had an open and legitimate identity and could cry freely, but she could not.

A hand rested on her shoulder, drawing her close.

Luo Sheng raised her eyes to look at Wei Han.

“If you feel distressed, then cry. Laughing when happy, crying when sad—these are natural human responses. They don’t necessarily need a reason.”

Luo Sheng’s tears fell.

Wei Han’s arm around her shoulder made his heart feel secure and steady.

That night in Beihe, when Luo’er had wept silently over Zhaohua’s body, he had embraced her.

That had been the first time he dared to embrace the girl he liked.

How fortunate he was that now he could embrace her anytime.

When she was sad, when she was joyful, at any time.

The day Zhaohua was buried was a clear day.

Luo Sheng didn’t have Wei Han accompany her. Only she and Xiu Yue stood before the newly raised grave for a long while.

Those who had come along were all sent far away, including Hong Dou and Kou’er.

Wind passed through the forest, lifting the hem of the plain-colored cloak.

Xiu Yue looked at Luo Sheng with reddened eyes. “Mistress, let’s go back.”

Sister Zhaohua had finally shed the identity of Consort Yu and left cold Beihe to guard her and the princess from the nearest place.

From now on, whenever she missed Sister Zhaohua, they could come see her anytime.

Come see her openly and honestly.

This was truly wonderful—something she had never dared imagine before. After a hundred years, she too would be buried here, guarding the princess together with Sister Zhaohua.

“Yes, let’s go back.”

Luo Sheng pulled her cloak tighter and walked forward.

Xiu Yue followed closely behind.

Hong Dou rolled her eyes and pulled Kou’er close to mutter quietly, “Miss treats Xiu Gu far too well. She even loves the house and its crow.”

Kou’er pressed her lips together. “Xiu Gu has excellent culinary skills and is also a good person. It’s perfectly normal for Miss to treat her well.”

Hmph, the position of first maidservant wasn’t hers anyway. Who held it made no difference.

Hong Dou was furious. “Kou’er, how can you turn your elbow outward?”

She and Kou’er had a friendship forged since childhood. How could she be unreliable at a critical moment?

Kou’er shot her a look. “What do you mean turning my elbow outward? Xiu Gu is one of our own. Oh my, I think Xiu Gu is making braised lamb tonight.”

“Really?” Hong Dou swallowed and immediately cast aside annoying matters like competing for the position of first maidservant to the back of her mind.

Luo Sheng had just returned to the manor when someone came to report, “Princess Consort, a letter has been sent from Liyuan.”

After Emperor Yong’an abdicated, he was renamed Prince Jing and moved into Liyuan with Noble Consort Xiao and the other consorts.

Luo Sheng was somewhat surprised to hear of a letter from Liyuan.

After reading the letter, she learned it was Noble Consort Xiao requesting her presence.

After a moment’s consideration, Luo Sheng decided to go see this old acquaintance.

In Liyuan, the flowers and trees were sparse and the grounds empty. Walking among them, faint sounds of weeping drifted into her ears on the wind.

Beneath her feet was thick accumulated snow that no one had swept away in time.

“Mistress, watch your step,” Kou’er reminded.

Hong Dou curled her lips. “You shouldn’t have come to such an inauspicious place.”

As they spoke, they arrived at Noble Consort Xiao’s residence.

The maidservant waiting outside lifted the door curtain.

Luo Sheng entered and saw a woman with faded coloring.

The once radiant Noble Consort Xiao was like a flower that had lost its moisture, becoming pale and fragile.

“Miss Luo has come.” Noble Consort Xiao stared at Luo Sheng for a moment before speaking.

Hong Dou raised her eyebrows in angry rebuke. “Our mistress is now a princess consort. Don’t call her carelessly.”

Facing the little maid’s rebuke, Noble Consort Xiao was unconcerned and only looked at Luo Sheng. “Miss Luo, could we speak alone?”

Luo Sheng pondered briefly, then instructed Hong Dou and Kou’er, “Wait outside.”

The two were somewhat uneasy. “Mistress—”

“Go. I know what I’m doing.”

Hearing Luo Sheng say this, the two silently withdrew.

Only Luo Sheng and Noble Consort Xiao remained in the room.

“Did Your Ladyship summon me for a matter?”

Noble Consort Xiao gave a self-mocking laugh. “At this point, why does Miss Luo still call me ‘Your Ladyship’?”

Luo Sheng said flatly, “At this point, Your Ladyship still calls me Miss Luo.”

Noble Consort Xiao faltered, her smile turning cold. “I summoned Miss Luo only because I have doubts I wish to clarify.”

“Please speak, Your Ladyship.”

“Xiu Gu… was she your person all along?”

Luo Sheng smiled. “Xiu Gu has always been my cook.”

Noble Consort Xiao sneered. “Don’t play word games with me, Miss Luo. I mean you knew her identity all along, didn’t you?”

Luo Sheng nodded slightly.

“Then my giving birth to a daughter was also part of your plan?”

Luo Sheng was silent for a moment before saying, “I suppose so.”

“I knew it…” Noble Consort Xiao murmured.

After falling from the heights and experiencing the coldness of the world, she had instead calmed down. The more she thought, the more something seemed wrong.

When had things become like this?

It started with deposing the crown prince.

After deposing the crown prince, everything slid toward an uncontrollable abyss, ultimately leading to a change of dynasty and transfer of imperial power.

Besides the young emperor, the Luo family had benefited most.

And what had made His Majesty determined to depose the crown prince had been when she became pregnant.

The more Noble Consort Xiao thought, the more she hated. As her daughter’s condition grew worse, her hatred reached its peak, giving rise to an irresistible desire to see Luo Sheng.

“Don’t you think you’re despicable?” Noble Consort Xiao questioned with hatred.

Luo Sheng calmly countered, “Your Ladyship feared Xiu Gu would use medicinal food recipes to help other consorts bear children and forced her to drink ‘plum juice’—didn’t you think that was despicable?”

Noble Consort Xiao’s gaze burned intensely. “I’ve been wondering precisely this—why did Xiu Gu remain perfectly fine after drinking the plum juice?”

Luo Sheng smiled. “Good people receive good fortune.”

“What fine words—’good people receive good fortune’!” The previously calm Noble Consort Xiao suddenly grew agitated. “Then what about my daughter? What wrong did she commit? She was born with the status of princess, but now she’s fallen to being a caged bird without any freedom. When she falls ill, she can’t even see a physician and can only fend for herself. Tell me, what wrong did the child commit?”

Facing Noble Consort Xiao’s madness, Luo Sheng remained calm. “Yes, the child is innocent.”

How many besides Noble Consort Xiao’s child were innocent?

How many years ago, weren’t those infants carried by the prince’s manor guards as they fled also innocent?

“If Your Ladyship trusts me, I’ll request an imperial physician to examine the child.”

Noble Consort Xiao was startled and stared at Luo Sheng suspiciously.

Luo Sheng’s expression was frank. “The young princess’s arrival in this world has some connection with me. Naturally, I hope she grows up safely.”

“Truly?”

Luo Sheng smiled. “Does Your Ladyship think I have any need to deceive you?”

Noble Consort Xiao stared at her blankly and murmured, “As long as my daughter is well, then… let it all go…”

Originally, she had harbored thoughts of mutual destruction. Even if she couldn’t kill Luo Sheng, she would bite off a piece of her flesh and make her taste pain.

But Miss Luo said she would ensure her daughter grew up safely…

Thinking of this, Noble Consort Xiao’s tears streamed down.

“Why doesn’t Your Ladyship broaden your mind? Though Liyuan cannot compare to the imperial palace’s magnificent splendor, it also has far less strife. More importantly, you have a daughter of your own blood to accompany you. If you had to choose, would you be the exalted noble consort in the deep palace, or the gentle and loving mother in Liyuan?”

Noble Consort Xiao pressed her lips together and smiled bitterly. “Miss Luo has a silver tongue.”

Yet somehow, she had been persuaded.

Compared to being the exalted Noble Consort in the deep palace, of course she would rather be Rou’er’s mother.

The hostility between Noble Consort Xiao’s brows quietly dissipated.

Luo Sheng left Liyuan and soon dispatched imperial physicians to treat Noble Consort Xiao’s daughter.

The little girl had a weak constitution from being born prematurely and wasn’t suffering from any serious illness. With imperial physicians coming daily for consultations and those around her providing meticulous care, she quickly recovered.

However, when the physician came once more, Emperor Yong’an, who had abdicated to become Prince Jing, took a turn for the worse.

The physician struggled to keep Emperor Yong’an’s breath going, and news was quickly sent to the palace.

Receiving word, Luo Chen felt nothing but indifference.

He was clear about the truth of the abdication. Toward Emperor Yong’an, who was stained with his family’s blood, naturally he only had hatred, no affection.

Granting that person the title of Prince Jing had merely been to smoothly complete the transfer of imperial power with less bloodshed and conflict.

But to silence public discourse, some gesture was still necessary.

Luo Chen instructed a trusted eunuch to visit on his behalf and arranged for several imperial physicians to go.

Wei Han also received the news.

Wei Han walked into Liyuan and came before the critically ill Emperor Yong’an.

The once supremely imposing emperor now lay motionless on the bed, like a fish long out of water, faintly emitting a fishy stench.

Wretched, ugly, pitiful.

Everyone in the room bowed to Wei Han with fear and caution.

Since moving to Liyuan, only those dwelling within could truly understand the new emperor’s cold attitude toward this place. Because of this, facing Prince Kaiyang, who was quite valued by the new emperor, they could only feel awe.

Once Prince Jing died, whether these people could even survive might well depend on Prince Kaiyang speaking on their behalf.

Seeing Wei Han, Emperor Yong’an struggled to widen his eyes and stared fixedly at him.

Wei Han raised his eyebrows slightly.

So “Imperial Brother” was conscious.

“All of you withdraw for a moment. I’ll speak a few words with… Royal Brother.”

The cold voice rang out. The people in the room exchanged glances before tactfully withdrawing.

The room emptied, thick medicinal scent filling every corner.

Wei Han looked down at Emperor Yong’an from above and asked softly, “Actually, I’ve always wanted to ask—why did you send people to kill my parents? Why did I become the son of Noble Consort Shu?”

Hearing this, Emperor Yong’an couldn’t speak, his face trembling violently.

“I thought about it for many years but couldn’t understand.” Wei Han looked at him, his expression cold. “Until rumors spread among the people that you had listened to the National Preceptor’s words and killed all women born in the seventh month of the wuchen year at the hour of the rabbit to add fortune and longevity to Princess Chang Le. I suddenly had a guess—”

He paused and said flatly, “Regardless of what your true purpose was in listening to the National Preceptor and killing those women, in any case, you believed the National Preceptor’s words deeply. When you did this back then, was it also because of the National Preceptor?”

Emperor Yong’an’s eyes suddenly widened further.

He had always been conscious, and thus Wei Han’s words shocked and pained him.

So Wei Han remembered everything!

In the second year of his reign, his eldest son died young and the situation was turbulent. The National Preceptor divined the location of a military star who could help him stabilize the realm—it was Wei Han.

Naturally, he wanted to keep the military star close for careful instruction, training, and cultivation, while also giving him a naturally loyal identity.

At that time, Wei Han was four years old, and the foolish son of Noble Consort Shu, a consort of the late emperor, happened to also be four years old.

A younger brother more than thirty years his junior was simply the most suitable identity.

But despite all his calculations, he had never imagined Wei Han remembered what happened back then!

Seeing Emperor Yong’an’s reaction, Wei Han smiled. “It seems I guessed correctly. Then my killing the National Preceptor with one stroke that day didn’t wrong him.”

Emperor Yong’an’s eyes widened even more, his throat emitting an ugly wheezing sound.

Wei Han looked at him, his gaze cold. “The enmity of killing father and mother—I have never forgotten. Fortunately, heaven has justice. Your current state is the consequences of your own actions.”

Heaven had justice, giving him a good memory.

Wei Han strode outward.

Behind him came rough, urgent breathing sounds, but he never looked back.

Those who had withdrawn rushed in. The imperial physicians dispatched from the palace also arrived, crowding around Emperor Yong’an in a flurry of activity.

But after a bout of urgent gasping, Emperor Yong’an suddenly shuddered and stopped breathing with his eyes still open.

Wei Han had just returned to Prince Kaiyang’s manor when he received news of Emperor Yong’an’s death.

“Understood.” He responded coldly and lifted his foot toward the main courtyard.

Snow had fallen just the day before. Luo Sheng wore a green cloak and stood on the stone steps, smiling as she watched Hong Dou and Kou’er lead a group of little maids catching sparrows.

Wei Han walked to her side and took her hand.

“Prince Jing has died.”

“Is that so?” Luo Sheng’s tone was calm. She leaned closer to Wei Han and said softly, “I suppose heaven has justice.”

Heaven had justice, allowing her to be reborn from the ashes.

Wei Han held the person beside him tighter. “Yes, heaven has justice.”

Perhaps having caught a sparrow, the little maids’ bell-like laughter drifted over.

The two clasped hands with fingers intertwined, watching the excitement with relish.