Xie Yunhuai deeply despised the Xie surname. He hated Xie Ji and the self-serving Xie clan members.

Back then, if even one person had stood up to speak justly for his birth mother, she wouldn’t have died so unclear a death. It was only because Xie Ji could bring them benefits at the time – they didn’t care at all about the lives of Xie Yunhuai and his mother. Who knew that just ten years later, they would once again seek out Xie Yunhuai for their gain?

However, Shen Xihe had ultimately misjudged.

Ten days later, Xie Yunhuai acknowledged his ancestral lineage.

“What did you say?” Shen Xihe suspected she had misheard, looking toward Tianyuan.

“Your Highness, Doctor Qi… Young Master Xie has returned to the manor,” Tianyuan replied. “Today, the Duke of Xie submitted a memorial requesting the title of Heir Apparent.”

“How is this possible?” He despised the Xie surname, so how could he return and take the Xie name?

“Young Master Xie made three demands. Under pressure from the Xie clan members, the Duke of Xie met all of them. Young Master Xie then agreed to return, and his name has been added to the family registry.”

“Three demands?” Shen Xihe asked.

“It wasn’t announced publicly. No one knows what they were,” Tianyuan hadn’t been able to find out either. Only the Xie family heads were present, and the younger generation knew of the three demands.

Shen Xihe was displeased. She was confused by Xie Yunhuai’s return – based on her understanding of him, he shouldn’t have compromised for any reason to become a son of the Xie family.

But Xie Yunhuai had indeed returned to the Xie family. On the twentieth of the eleventh month, His Majesty granted Xie Yunhuai an audience. The next day, Xie Yunhuai was named Heir Apparent to the Duke of Xie.

At the end of the eleventh month, the Duke of Xie had an unfortunate fall and was said to be paralyzed. On the first day of the twelfth month, Xie Yunhuai became the Duke of Xie.

In just one month after his return, he had taken control of the entire Xie clan – or perhaps he had held them in his grasp all along, only now letting it surface.

He entered the palace to express his gratitude, and the Empress Dowager also granted him an audience. Since he was in the inner palace, Shen Xihe also followed the Empress Dowager’s lead in receiving him, sending people to prepare a gift as congratulations.

Shen Xihe sat in the warm pavilion, watching through the slightly opened window as he approached with billowing sleeves and steady steps.

It reminded her of that year at Ma Family Village, when he had suddenly appeared in plain clothes, with flowing black hair, his natural grace impossible to conceal.

Today he wore brocade robes with a jade belt, a golden crown binding his hair, and white fur draped over his shoulders. He had lost some of the free spirit of those days, gaining instead an air of authority.

He paused briefly at the doorway as if to dispel the cold air from his body, before removing his white fur and stepping inside.

“Greetings to Her Highness the Crown Princess,” he performed a proper and solemn bow, both humble and correct.

“Rise,” Shen Xihe said softly.

Xie Yunhuai stood, keeping his eyes lowered.

For a moment, one seemed to be quietly awaiting instruction while the other appeared lost in another world. The warm pavilion remained silent for a moment.

“Ruogu, why did you return?” Shen Xihe asked her puzzling question.

“I received a request, and am faithfully carrying it out,” Xie Yunhuai answered.

Shen Xihe fixed her gaze on him. So it was…

“You shouldn’t have come back,” Shen Xihe felt both apologetic and regretful.

This was a quagmire, a prison. She envied the once free-roaming Qi Yunhuai.

“Your Highness, this subject has lived half a life in freedom, traversing thousands of mountains and waters. I’ve grown somewhat tired,” Xie Yunhuai revealed a slight, composed smile.

Shen Xihe quietly studied him, and he maintained his composure, allowing her scrutiny.

After a long while, Shen Xihe began, “He…”

But she only got that far before breaking into a wry smile, not continuing her question.

He hadn’t left any message for her with Xie Yunhuai – he didn’t want to deceive her.

“Congratulations to Ruogu on successfully inheriting the title,” Shen Xihe said, and Tianyuan brought forward the prepared gift.

Xie Yunhuai didn’t decline, accepting it with both hands and a bow: “Thank you for Your Highness’s gift.”

“The winter is bitter cold. Ruogu should return home early,” Shen Xihe had nothing else to say.

Since he had returned at Xiao Huayong’s request, then surely Xiao Huayong had made all necessary arrangements.

“This subject takes his leave.”

Xie Yunhuai carried the congratulatory gift and left the Eastern Palace. At the Vermillion Bird Gate, he boarded his carriage and sat crouched for a moment, resting his eyes. Then he lifted the curtain at the back of the carriage, looking through the mirror-sized window at the gradually receding, increasingly blurry palace in the heavily falling snow.

Why had he returned?

“My heart was in the mountains and waters until meeting you made me realize they were but floating clouds. In this battle, you are here, so I return.”

Now she needed him, so he had returned. When the one who could protect her came back, he could leave again as he had before.

More than one person had asked if he had feelings for her.

He had never denied it, nor had he confirmed it.

He had once thought that his vague admiration and appreciation were merely for her intelligence and talent.

Until the Xie clan members knelt before him begging him to return, and he found himself unable to follow his original plan of hurling harsh and humiliating words in their faces before leaving.

Those people laid out the benefits among the nobility and the intricate web of power behind it, trying to tempt him.

He admitted he had been tempted.

But not for power – rather, because at that moment he inexplicably thought of her image fighting alone with her young son.

Xiao Huayong couldn’t return for three to five years, and His Majesty couldn’t last another half year. She would inevitably have to oversee the ascension of her newborn child.

Among the imperial clans was Prince Yan, among the court officials were the forces Xiao Huayong had cultivated, and among the great families was Cui Jinbai.

But what of the nobility?

Zhao Zhenghao alone wasn’t enough.

A young emperor was also a signal that stirred people’s greed.

He had nodded as if possessed, and only after agreeing did he suddenly understand his own heart.

Since he wished her well, he would do his utmost to ensure her wellbeing.

Afterward, Shen Xihe didn’t see Xie Yunhuai again, nor did she see anyone else. With her due date approaching, even His Majesty and the Empress Dowager no longer came frequently to check on her.

On New Year’s Eve, the palace held a banquet, and Shen Xihe attended with her round, prominent belly.

Recently, palace gatherings had never been peaceful. Zhenzhu and the others were all on edge, deeply afraid something might happen to Shen Xihe.

While there were no accidents, halfway through the banquet, as music and dance filled the hall, Shen Xihe went into early labor.

It came so suddenly that she couldn’t return to the Eastern Palace, and gave birth right there in the Purple Dawn Hall where the banquet was being held.

His Majesty led the civil and military officials in waiting outside.

Ten months of pregnancy culminating in one morning of birth – it was truly a pain like having flesh torn and bones broken. Shen Xihe nearly fainted several times.

Fortunately, she had Zhenzhu’s daily care, and her body had been in excellent condition after taking the Bone-Removing Pill. The baby wasn’t large either.

Outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, on this snowy winter night, the heavens blazed crimson red, having gathered into a dazzling shade at some unknown time.

It drew everyone’s gaze upward. The unnatural red prompted His Majesty to summon the Imperial Astronomer for observation.

“Boom!”

Just then, a muffled thunderclap shook the heavens, startling everyone with its proximity, as if exploding beside their ears.

Immediately after, in the red night sky, a purple lightning bolt like a swimming dragon extended down from high above, before disappearing into the clouds moments later.

Everyone was shocked by the lightning they had just witnessed.

The doors of Purple Dawn Hall opened, and a female official emerged with joy on her face: “Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, Her Highness the Crown Princess has given birth to the little imperial grandson.”

The strange phenomena from moments ago floated unbidden through everyone’s minds, each person’s expression different.