In Liu Xiang’s eyes, the Regent Prince held noble position and great capability, but had always been generous toward those around him. He wasn’t someone who put on airs of superiority, not to mention the events at Huguo Temple last autumn. Since then, Liu Xiang held utterly devoted loyalty toward him.

Precisely because of this, just now seeing him lingering by the lakeside in the deep night, seemingly burdened with melancholy, he had responded to his questions about early matters concerning the young female lord. In their exchange, there had been a sense of heart-to-heart openness that made him momentarily relax and blurt out such words.

Now the atmosphere had suddenly changed.

Liu Xiang was greatly alarmed. As the words fell, he realized what had happened and immediately knelt.

On the day of Empress Dowager Lan’s birthday last autumn, not to mention the court upheaval that occurred later at Huguo Temple that he never anticipated, even if nothing had happened that day, he couldn’t let anyone know he had privately allowed someone entry out of personal sentiment, even if that person was his former master’s daughter whom he’d watched grow up and was certain harbored no ill intent.

Such behavior was a great taboo for his position. Unexpectedly, now, in a moment of relaxation and with comforting intent, he carelessly let slip half a hint and was immediately detected, facing such questioning.

Confronted by his suspicious master, Liu Xiang dared neither deny categorically nor reveal the hidden circumstances. He could only bow his head deeply, not daring to meet his gaze.

Seeing him like this, Shu Shenhui recalled his earlier words “the Princess should have married into the palace out of admiration for Your Highness originally” and became even more convinced there was deeper meaning.

Concerning her, without getting answers, how could he let it rest?

He looked at Liu Xiang kneeling with his head lowered. “Raise your head.”

His voice wasn’t loud and seemed without anger, but the authority in his words was overwhelming. Liu Xiang slowly raised his head, meeting the Regent Prince’s piercing gaze.

“Speak!”

Liu Xiang could no longer evade. Gritting his teeth, he could only recount how the female general had found him at Huguo Temple that day, requesting entry.

“…At that time, this subject had also heard news of Your Highness’s marriage proposal. This subject originally didn’t want to agree, but the Princess said she wanted to see Your Highness once. This subject saw that the Princess had entered the capital alone, travel-worn, thinking she came only for the marriage matter. A young woman’s feelings were pitiable, certainly harboring no ill intent. Constrained by personal sentiment, this subject was confused and had her disguise as this subject’s subordinate to enter. Later, when the temple had its incident and Your Highness eliminated traitors, this subject was overwhelmed and didn’t seek her out again. The Princess left on her own—”

In Liu Xiang’s thinking, the young female lord had traveled thousands of li alone to the capital just to see the Regent Prince once – these were her own words. Afterward, she returned to Yanmen and smoothly married over.

If she wasn’t satisfied, what was it?

The fault was only in speaking carelessly just now. He saw that under moonlight, the Regent Prince’s expression didn’t improve with his account but seemed to grow increasingly ugly, causing him to break out in cold sweat.

“Your Highness, forgive this offense! This subject knows that this subject’s actions that day were a gross dereliction of duty. Your Highness may dispose of this subject as you see fit – this subject willingly accepts punishment!”

After speaking, he kowtowed to the ground, not daring to straighten, waiting long but never hearing the Regent Prince speak. He slightly raised his head and saw him standing with eyes closed, face rigid and cold, his entire person seeming frozen, motionless.

Liu Xiang thought he was extremely angry and disappointed with himself for having such a reaction. His heart grew cold with waves of shame. He kowtowed again toward him, and without waiting for him to speak, removed his cap and placed it on the ground, saying dismally: “This subject has failed Your Highness’s trust. May Your Highness calm your anger! This subject accepts punishment—”

“Liu Xiang!”

Suddenly, a fierce call like gritted teeth rang in his ears, interrupting Liu Xiang’s words.

His whole body shook. Raising his head again, he saw the Regent Prince had opened his eyes with what seemed like fury, glaring at him.

“At Huguo Temple last autumn!” He heard him say with hatred.

“Good! Very good, Liu Xiang!” He seemed so angry that his voice trembled slightly. “The Princess came last autumn! You concealed this from me for so long?”

Liu Xiang was stunned.

He had thought the Regent Prince blamed him for privately letting someone in. How was it that from his current tone, he seemed angry that he hadn’t told him about this matter earlier?

Liu Xiang stammered: “Your Highness… Your Highness, calm your anger… The reason this guilty subject dared not inform Your Highness was, first, this guilty subject knew it was wrong and feared questioning, and second, the Princess privately observing Your Highness before marriage – she certainly wouldn’t want others to know…”

The Regent Prince’s face seemed to turn iron-blue again.

Liu Xiang could say nothing more, prostrating to the ground again, his back cold all over. After a moment, he heard gradually receding hurried footsteps. Raising his body and turning his head, he saw that the Regent Prince had already headed toward the temporary palace. He strode up the mountain steps, hurrying past several night guards, his figure disappearing into the darkness.

To say that in Shu Shenhui’s twenty-some years from childhood to now, he had never experienced such shame, anger, and embarrassment as tonight would be no exaggeration.

He never dreamed that at Huguo Temple last autumn, besides the events of killing Prince Gao, bidding farewell to Wen Wan, and speaking with the young emperor, there had been another person hidden in the temple that day.

Since she came for him, she must have been near him that day, only she had hidden herself extremely well, and he hadn’t noticed.

Letting her see him eliminate Prince Gao didn’t matter. The problem was he later encountered Wen Wan and made a farewell with her.

She must have been hiding nearby then, too, seeing that scene and hearing all the words. Shu Shenhui was extremely certain of this.

When Liu Xiang knelt before him with a pained face begging forgiveness, he closed his eyes and recalled word by word what he had said that day to his teacher’s daughter, whom he felt he owed greatly. He was quite certain that for someone like Wen Wan with such sensitive understanding, she would comprehend the true meaning of those words he spoke in the gentlest, least hurtful way possible. The past could no longer be retained, and he was no longer the young Lord Anle. She would completely let go. As his teacher’s daughter, a woman of both talent and beauty, he had admired in youth, she deserved such treatment.

But to others listening, the situation at that time probably seemed like he was forced to part from someone he loved due to an arranged marriage…

Shu Shenhui truly had no energy left to deal with Liu Xiang. Suppressing the urge to kick him into the lake, he turned and left quickly. When climbing the mountain steps, his hands clenched into fists, his back alternating between cold and hot sweats as if suffering from malaria, his heart racing and breath short.

Only at this moment tonight did he understand why, after marriage, she had always maintained an attitude of actively facilitating and even matchmaking between him and Wen Wan; why, after marrying over, she had no intention of staying long-term and wouldn’t even take away the ceremonial sword.

He must explain everything clearly to her!

Write to her immediately, even if it requires the highest level eight-hundred-li urgent dispatch consuming enormous manpower. He had to make her understand that some things in this world, even if personally seen and heard, might not always be true. He couldn’t let her continue misunderstanding.

“Your Highness has returned? Many more memorials were delivered today! And a letter from His Majesty. This servant placed them all on Your Highness’s desk—”

Originally, according to the plan, the Regent Prince should have returned by evening. Who knew he still hadn’t returned until now? Zhang Bao was watching at the temporary palace entrance when he suddenly saw the Regent Prince appear. He hurried out to greet him while speaking, but saw him gazing ahead, passing by, hurrying up the palace steps, and inside.

Shu Shenhui went straight to the study, spread out letter paper, dipped his ink and wetted his brush, lifting it to begin writing. Having only written “My wife, seeing these words is like seeing me in person,” the brush stopped. He gazed at the candlelight, lost in thought.

Writing a letter… would it be useful?

Would she believe his explanations written in a letter?

Moreover, she should currently be fighting in the Eight Tribes. By his estimation, even if everything went smoothly, the earliest she could return would be several months later. And even if his letter could now be sent to Yanmen at the fastest speed, arriving in six or seven days, he couldn’t order it sent further to the battlefield.

At this tense moment when she was fully focused on warfare, how could he distract her with his matters?

Shu Shenhui slowly put down his brush.

Then… abandon everything here, while his people were still present, find an excuse to immediately detour to Yanmen and personally explain to her when she returned victorious?!

Since his father’s death, how many years had it been since he had done anything so willful and self-indulgent? When his imperial brother was alive, he trusted him extremely and relied on him everywhere. He was either handling court affairs or going to localities, rushing east and west for disaster relief and comforting the people. These years since the young emperor’s succession, he had been even more pressed by government affairs and documents without a moment’s rest.

He had once told the questioning young emperor that the imperial palace for him was not a cage but responsibility. Indeed, he believed this. For the young emperor destined to rule the palace in the future, it couldn’t be viewed as a cage either. As regent, he must lead by example, giving the young emperor proper guidance.

Yet in truth, wasn’t responsibility also a kind of constraint?

Now, at this very moment, cast aside all responsibilities placed on him and go to Yanmen to find her!

Shu Shenhui was so stimulated by this thought that his blood circulation accelerated throughout his body. His heart pounded incessantly, urging his feet – but could he do this?

He couldn’t sit still, leaping up to pace several steps in the temporary palace study, imagining the scene when she returned victorious and suddenly saw him standing before her. His blood boiled with excitement. He stepped toward the door, about to call someone to summon Liu Xiang to arrange matters, when suddenly his footsteps slowed.

He thought of something he had overlooked in his earlier shock.

Why had she privately and quietly entered the capital alone to see him?

Liu Xiang said she harbored a young woman’s feelings, so traveled thousands of li just to see him once – this reason might convince Liu Xiang himself, but Shu Shenhui didn’t believe it one bit.

He stopped, closed his eyes, and once again recalled his conversations with Wen Wan and later with the young emperor that day.

He had told Wen Wan of his ambition, established since age seventeen, to recover the northern gateway.

He had detailed to the young emperor the strategic considerations of seeking marriage with Jiang Zuowang’s daughter.

As he thought and thought, his originally boiling blood cooled and finally slowly returned to calmness.

He understood.

Prince Xian had said upon returning from Yanmen that she seemed to have disappeared for a period due to resisting the marriage. Now it appeared she had come to the capital. She originally shouldn’t have wanted to marry, but by coincidence, it should have been that day she learned of his purpose in marrying her. This likely matched her wishes, so she changed her mind. After returning, she cooperatively married into Chang’an and became his princess.

Understanding this deeper cause and effect, all the courage Shu Shenhui had felt from impulse vanished.

Even if he pursued her to explain about him and Wen Wan, or even if someone like Wen Wan had never existed at all, what use would it be for his current predicament?

From the beginning of their marriage, she had understood everything clearly and seen through him completely. Yet he knew nothing. All his various attempts to please her and maintain their relationship must have seemed like clumsy tricks in her eyes. Had she ever cared about him and Wen Wan? Not at all. The person in her heart was never him. Simply because they shared common aspirations, she calmly married over, fulfilling him out of righteousness. When their goal was achieved someday, with her free-spirited nature, this marriage would naturally not need to continue.

It would have been better not to know this! Knowing it brought him only shame, embarrassment, and extreme dejection.

Yet if he pretended nothing happened and suppressed it all, he felt unwilling. Extremely unwilling.

Should he go or not?

This latter half of the night, Shu Shenhui wavered between these two decisions, sitting in the study all night. Even when the candles on his desk burned out, he didn’t rise. Finally, he was awakened by knocking at his door. Opening his eyes, he was startled to find he had fallen asleep leaning back in his chair behind the desk.

Now, with birds chirping outside the window, dawn had broken.

He slowly sat up as last night’s various troubles flooded back into his mind. Rubbing his aching forehead, he called for someone to enter.

Zhang Bao pushed the door open, carefully peeking his head in and looking at him: “Your Highness, General Liu had this servant ask whether Your Highness departs according to plan today or postpones…”

Shu Shenhui suddenly remembered, rose, and walked to the window, looking out.

Below the foothills, banners fluttered, and formations were orderly. Dense crowds had already gathered – besides his accompanying officials for this journey, many officials had come to see him off, awaiting final audiences, and numerous gentry and prominent families from throughout the southeast.

These people had been enthusiastic donors, contributing real silver this time in considerable amounts.

Shu Shenhui closed his eyes, forcefully suppressing the restless melancholy rising in his heart, turned back, and saw the memorials delivered yesterday and the letter from the young emperor spread on his desk.

He returned, picked them up, first looking at the memorials. They all concerned the Eight Tribes’ warfare. Assisting Prince Xian and others had already helped the young emperor approve responses, sending them for his review. He flipped through them, set them down, then picked up the young emperor’s letter. Breaking the seal and reading it, his gaze shifted slightly, and his brow furrowed.

He hesitated no longer, quickly suppressing his private emotions, raising his head to order: “Change clothes! Depart according to plan – return to the capital immediately!”