Shu Shenhui stood stunned with a strange expression, frozen in place for a moment, then suddenly said he was returning to the mansion and strode out of Wenlin Pavilion.

He returned to the Prince’s mansion and asked the gatekeeper, who told him the Great He princess still hadn’t left. Going to Fanzhi Court, a maid said the Princess Consort had taken the princess to the training ground and hadn’t returned yet.

He went directly to the training ground. Lady Zhuang was waiting at the entrance with several maids carrying tea, fruits, towels, and other items. Seeing him appear, she hurried to greet him.

“The Princess Consort is still inside?” Shu Shenhui stopped and asked coolly.

Lady Zhuang nodded and explained: “The princess refuses to leave, saying she’s long admired the Princess Consort and won’t let go. She also said she practices riding and archery daily and wanted the Princess Consort to see how she’s progressed. So the Princess Consort brought her here.”

Lady Zhuang had lived half a lifetime and seen all manner of things in and out of the palace, but today’s events were truly a first. Speaking of it, her face showed complete helplessness.

Shu Shenhui made a sound of acknowledgment, dismissed all who had followed him, glanced ahead, and continued walking forward.

With no one around, his expression immediately darkened, his pace quickening. Soon reaching the archery range, indeed, two figures came into view ahead.

Dusk was deep, and darkness was approaching. By the last remaining daylight, he saw the Jiang family daughter standing behind a red-clothed girl, helping her draw the bow hand over hand. The carved bow was gradually drawn like a full moon. With a “whoosh,” the arrow flew out, striking a hundred-pace target opposite.

The red-clothed girl ran to the target, then let out joyful cheers, shouting “Hit the bullseye! Hit the bullseye!” while flying back like a bird to her side, nearly throwing herself into her arms.

“This is my first time hitting the bullseye at such a distance! Sister General, you’re amazing!” The girl clutched her arm, bouncing with excitement.

He saw her face full of doting smiles as she said, “Archery relies fundamentally on arm strength. Little sister, your arm strength is insufficient, but don’t force it. Practice technique more – with dedicated effort, you’ll eventually achieve hundred-pace precision.”

The girl nodded continuously, eyes bright and shining, face full of worship.

She looked at the sky, put away bow and arrows: “It’s late. We’re about done here – let’s return.”

The girl immediately rushed to help her pack: “Sister General, before coming to Chang’an this time, I truly never dreamed I could be so fortunate!”

“How so?” she asked casually.

The girl seemed to have her feelings stirred, her smile gradually fading as she stood still, head lowered.

She approached and asked gently: “What’s wrong?”

The girl slowly raised her head: “Sister General, I have a close friend I’ve played with since childhood – the daughter of the White Water tribe king. Just a few months ago, her father married her to another tribe’s king. The man was white-haired, old enough to be her grandfather. She was unwilling but had no choice. I went to my father, begging him to help her, but he wouldn’t interfere and forbade me from meddling. On her wedding day, I watched her cry as she was sent away. My heart ached. My father king, loves me and gives me the best of everything, but I know that someday he’ll marry me to whoever he thinks needs marrying. This is our fate…”

Shu Shenhui felt not a trace of sympathy, only watched as the Jiang woman stepped forward, embraced the girl, and gently patted her back as if comforting her.

The girl rested on her shoulder briefly, then quickly raised her head, wiped her eyes, showed a smile, and her tone became cheerful again.

“Now it’s wonderful! I never expected Father to suddenly promise me to the Regent Prince! From now on, I can be with Sister General! I could laugh in my dreams! Since the Regent Prince isn’t here, I won’t return tonight. I want to sleep with Sister General – is that alright?”

The girl tugged at her sleeve, acting coquettish again.

She seemed to ponder and didn’t refuse outright.

What was this? Did they think he was dead?

Shu Shenhui restrained himself repeatedly, truly unable to watch anymore. He felt the blood vessels in his forehead throbbing, about to reveal himself when he suddenly heard the princess ask again: “By the way, Sister General, do you know when The Regent Prince will return? I also want to ask him when he’ll give my father an answer about marrying me. Preferably while my father is here – these next few days, as quickly as possible, so I won’t have to return.”

Shu Shenhui was about to step forward when he suddenly heard these words. Startled, he retreated instead of advancing. Inadvertently, his foot stepped on a stone, making a slight sound.

Jiang Hanyuan turned around, her gaze finding him.

Shu Shenhui knew she had detected him.

His expression was dark and stormy. Hands behind his back, he walked over with measured steps, unhurried, finally stopping before Jiang Hanyuan. His cold gaze swept over the princess still clutching her sleeve: “This must be the Great He princess? How did you bring her here? What kind of hospitality does my mansion show? If word spreads, people will think my mansion shows disrespect.”

Xiao Lin Hua was badly frightened.

This man, who suddenly appeared, was quite young with a pale face and handsome features, but his expression was terrifyingly dark. When his authoritative gaze swept over her, it was like being pierced by frost and sword. When he spoke, his tone was even more fierce, like a demon emerging from the ground. She had never encountered such a person. From his words, he seemed to be Great Wei’s Regent Prince. Both shocked and timid, she didn’t dare greet him properly, awkwardly released the general’s sleeve, quietly shifted her feet, slowly hid behind her, and remained silent.

Jiang Hanyuan glanced at Xiao Lin Hua, knowing the girl was frightened by him.

Never mind her – even Jiang Hanyuan herself felt bewildered. This was the first time seeing him show such an ugly expression, firing three questions in succession with a face full of reproach.

With an outsider present, she didn’t want to embarrass him, only saying: “Your Highness has returned? Your Highness seems to misunderstand. The princess came calling, and since she also knows riding and archery, I brought her here for some practice.” She then turned to the princess hiding behind her, smiling: “Don’t be afraid – this is The Regent Prince.”

Xiao Lin Hua reluctantly emerged from behind her and curtsied to the man. He watched coldly without expression. Xiao Lin Hua grew more terrified, glanced at the lady general beside her, barely mustered courage, and said in a mosquito-like voice: “If the Prince accepts my father’s proposal… I… I will certainly be a good secondary consort to the Prince in the future…”

Shu Shenhui’s gaze swept across Jiang Hanyuan’s face. She turned away without looking at him.

He called for someone. At some distance, having left everyone at the training ground entrance, no one responded.

“Someone come!” He suddenly raised his voice in a sharp call.

Xiao Lin Hua shuddered. Lady Zhuang and others heard this time, sensing anger in his voice, and hurried over.

“Escort the princess back to the guesthouse!” he said coldly. Lady Zhuang didn’t dare ask more, stepping forward: “Please follow me, Princess.”

Xiao Lin Hua looked at Jiang Hanyuan, eyes reddening with tears at the corners, about to cry. She didn’t dare say farewell, lowering her head to follow Lady Zhuang away.

Jiang Hanyuan couldn’t bear to watch. Under those staring eyes, she walked over, gently grasped the girl’s hand, and smiled: “Come, I’ll see you out.”

Xiao Lin Hua felt relieved, hurriedly nodding, staying close to her side. Not daring to look back, she fled the training ground like an escape. Finally feeling The Regent Prince could no longer see her, still shaken, she whispered: “Sister General, does the Prince dislike me… I… I’m somewhat afraid of him… I…”

She had wanted to say she didn’t want to be his secondary consort anymore, could she not be a consort and just follow her, but knowing this was improper, she swallowed the words.

Jiang Hanyuan only thought she was badly frightened and speaking incoherently, comforting again: “Don’t be afraid. He’s always like this. He’s a good person.”

But Xiao Lin Hua didn’t believe it, troubled as she was escorted from the Prince’s mansion, boarding her carriage in hasty retreat. Jiang Hanyuan watched the princess depart, turned back inside. Lady Zhuang said the Regent Prince was waiting in the room. She entered.

He wasn’t seated either, just standing beside the lamp table by the inner chamber bed, still wearing a dark expression. Seeing her arrive, he said nothing.

Jiang Hanyuan didn’t understand him.

This morning, the one who said he’d take a consort was him; tonight, the one inexplicably returning to lose his temper was also him.

The anger she’d been suppressing couldn’t be contained: “What do you mean? If not for the outsider present just now, see if I would pay you any attention!”

She didn’t want to see his face anymore. Having said this, she turned to leave.

“Stop!” Accompanied by a low shout, Shu Shenhui slowly paced, moving to block her path.

“I never knew you were so tender toward fragrant flowers and precious jade. I truly bow to your superiority.”

The anger in his expression had vanished, replaced by mockery.

Jiang Hanyuan glanced at him: “Are you drunk again, Your Highness? Don’t forget what you said this morning. What’s wrong with the Xiao family girl? Your tantrum is quite ungraceful.”

As if he hadn’t heard, his expression unmoved, he continued studying her for a moment, then said in a cold, quiet voice: “I see you’re quite happy?”

“Your Highness is mistaken.”

He continued staring at her. After another moment of silence, he suddenly said: “Starting tomorrow, no more contact with her. If she comes again, say you’re not here!”

Hearing his increasingly unreasonable words, Jiang Hanyuan didn’t want to argue further and stepped away. Unexpectedly, he grabbed her wrist and yanked hard. Unprepared, she was pulled back, stumbling toward him face-to-face. Her cheek brushed against the stiff, starched round collar of his court robes, scraping painfully, finally pressing against the side of his neck and face.

The man’s skin was cool, but his breath on her face was hot. This cool-mixed-with-hot sensation seemed alive, quickly spreading along their touching skin, racing down her neck, and diving into her clothing collar. Only then did she realize she had fallen full against his chest, their bodies pressed together.

She stiffened, feeling the skin across her chest under her clothing seem to break out in fine bumps. Her heartbeat quickened slightly. Fearing he’d notice, she hurriedly leaned back, trying to break free. But he seemed determined not to let go, his hand quite strong. Unable to escape immediately, thus they both remained silent – one trying to break away, one not releasing, struggling until their feet tangled and they knocked into the lamp table.

With a crash, the floor-standing silver candlestick couldn’t bear the force and toppled over entirely, the lit candles extinguished. The inner chamber suddenly darkened.

Darkness seemed to heighten physical sensation. Now she felt his body had changed. He seemed to realize this too, slowly stopping, but his arms around her waist and body still didn’t fully release. They remained motionless in this sudden darkness. The man’s breathing beside her was unusually rough, seeming to strike her ear and face with each breath. Suddenly, she felt his face pressing toward her.

“This morning I was angry because of you – do you truly not know?”

In the darkness, accompanied by warm breath, he brought his lips to her ear. His familiar voice, somewhat hoarse, also sounded softly in her ear.

Her heart pounded against Jiang Hanyuan’s chest.

What did his words mean? What did he mean by he was angry because of her?

“What do you mean?” She really couldn’t help herself, blurting out the question in a low voice, breathing unsteadily.

“Forget it – pretend I said nothing!”

“You think I’m what kind of person? That I’d marry whoever comes along?” In the darkness, she heard him snort coldly again.

Jiang Hanyuan felt quite at a loss. She seemed to understand his words yet felt more confused than ever.

She didn’t understand how a person could be so moody.

Just as she felt several degrees bewildered, a knock sounded outside, followed by Lady Zhuang’s somewhat hesitant voice: “Your Highness? Princess Consort?”

Probably the earlier crash of the lamp stand had been quite loud, alerting those outside.

Jiang Hanyuan didn’t speak, nor did he respond.

“Your Highness, Princess Consort? Did something happen?”

Lady Zhuang waited briefly. Hearing no response and not knowing the situation inside, fearing some other accident, she knocked again, her voice rising: “Your Highness, Princess Consort? Did something happen?”

“Let go quickly.” He still held her waist without releasing. Jiang Hanyuan couldn’t worry about anything else, gritting her teeth and commanding in a low voice.

He moved slightly, slowly releasing his hands, finally letting her go.

Jiang Hanyuan steadied herself, called out that nothing was wrong, then crouched down, feeling around until she found the fallen lighter on the ground by her feet, relighting a lamp. Stealing a glance, she saw he had already turned away, then quickly entered the bathing room.

She roughly guessed what he was doing. Pretending ignorance, naturally not letting Lady Zhuang and others enter, she righted the overturned lamp stand herself and relit the lamps one by one. Moments later, hearing footsteps behind her, she turned around.

He emerged, his expression returned to normal, speaking in a somewhat cool tone: “I returned tonight to inform you – in a few days the imperial palace training ground will hold the Six Armies Spring Competition. Following past custom, besides His Majesty, the Empress Dowager and others will also attend to cheer the armies. You’ll accompany them.”

He walked toward the exit: “I have other business – I’ll stay in the palace tonight. Rest yourself.”

Under Jiang Hanyuan’s gaze, he left the room, arriving suddenly, departing just as suddenly.