When Hua Zhuyu returned to the peach grove, the peach trees in the forest were hung with various kinds of flower lanterns. Colorful lights intertwined, making the wooden house in the forest appear like a celestial palace fairyland. The table inside the wooden house was laden with all kinds of dishes, and wine fragrance wafted from the dragon-and-phoenix decorated wine pot.

Seeing Hua Zhuyu return, Nongyu hurried forward to greet her, saying with relief, “Miss, you’ve finally returned. Please have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself.”

Hua Zhuyu picked up the tea cup and took a sip, then said apologetically, “Nongyu, I must have frightened you badly when we were outside today.”

Nongyu smiled and said, “This servant wasn’t particularly concerned, but His Lordship was terribly worried. When this servant returned to report, His Lordship was cooking in the kitchen. Upon hearing this servant’s words, his face went pale, he set down the plate and went out. When this servant chased after him, His Lordship’s figure was nowhere to be seen. I’ve never seen His Lordship lose composure like that before.”

Hua Zhuyu’s gaze swept over the dishes on the table, and her heart felt as if warm currents were flowing through it, silently surging, endless and inexhaustible. So when he let her leave the palace to play today, it was to stay behind and prepare these wine and dishes. Ever since she had lived here, not only had he commanded the imperial kitchen to prepare various dishes, fruits and vegetables for her, but occasionally when he had free time, he would personally prepare dishes for her.

“Miss, in this servant’s opinion, His Lordship cherishes you to the bone!” Nongyu said while pushing her to the dressing table without argument. “Your hair bun is all disheveled. Let this servant dress your hair. His Lordship should be coming over shortly.” She loosened Hua Zhuyu’s black hair and then slowly combed it bit by bit with the comb, her fingers deftly arranging it on her head.

Nongyu’s hands were very skillful, styling it better than Hua Zhuyu could do herself. It moved like clouds rolling, appearing lively and nimble, yet simple and elegant. She took out a jade hairpin from the box and was about to pin it in Hua Zhuyu’s hair bun when the door was pushed open and Ji Fengli strode in quickly.

Seeing this, Nongyu put down the hairpin in her hand and quickly withdrew.

Ji Fengli slowly walked behind Hua Zhuyu, picked up the jade hairpin from the dressing table and inserted it into her hair bun. He leaned against the dressing table, smiling as he examined her.

Being watched by him made Hua Zhuyu’s heart beat violently. She slowly stood up, and the hem of her light red silk brocade dress instantly cascaded gracefully to the floor. She walked quickly toward the table, but unexpectedly, her feet stepped on the trailing skirt hem, and her entire body fell forward.

Ji Fengli shifted his feet and instantly moved in front of her, extending his arms to hold her in his embrace. Hua Zhuyu looked up in alarm and saw his pair of ink-wash phoenix eyes very close to her, so close she could see her own reflection in them.

“After all this time, you still haven’t gotten used to wearing skirts?” Ji Fengli’s lips curved upward. Hua Zhuyu pushed him away and turned to sit in a chair, asking clearly, “When did you know I was Hua Zhuyu?”

Ji Fengli followed her like a shadow and sat in a chair beside her, his gaze slightly condensed as he said carefully, “When you entered the palace.”

Hua Zhuyu couldn’t help but smile lightly. Ji Fengli was such a person – probably from the moment he knew she was a woman, he began to suspect she was Hua Zhuyu.

“Since you knew, why didn’t you tell me?” Hua Zhuyu couldn’t help asking.

“Bao’er, it’s not that I didn’t want to tell you.” Actually, it wasn’t that he didn’t want to tell her – he didn’t dare tell her. He was afraid she would remember that cup of poisoned wine, that divorce letter, and even more afraid she would leave him because of it.

“Back then, having me replace Wen Wan for the marriage alliance – was that your idea?” Actually, she had originally hoped she could forget these matters, but ultimately discovered she couldn’t forget, because she cared.

Ji Fengli shook his head. Soft light invisibly surrounded his body, gently brushing his handsome features and casting a serene halo. He lightly furrowed his brow, his expression carrying unresolvable melancholy as he looked at her quietly and said, “Bao’er, though I didn’t want Wan’er to go to her death, I would never harm innocent you. When I brought you to the residence that day, he summoned me to the palace. It was his imperial edict that suddenly ordered the substitution to you.”

As Hua Zhuyu listened with furrowed brows, she noticed for the first time that Ji Fengli didn’t even call Emperor Yan “Father Emperor.” After all these years of assisting Emperor Yan in his role as Left Prime Minister, what exactly was it for?

“That cup of poisoned wine…” He paused, then continued, “was bestowed by him. I had Tang Yu examine it, and he said it would make one increasingly confused until finally becoming… a fool. So I switched the poisoned wine.”

Hearing this, Hua Zhuyu’s heart jumped in shock, and a chill slowly rose up her spine. So she had nearly become a fool.

“Bao’er, I hadn’t intended to harm you then, but I still ended up hurting you!” His deep voice carried thick regret and profound sorrow.

“Then when you saved Jin Se, was it purely to save Miss Hua, or did you see through my father Hua Mu’s scheme and turn the tables on him?” Hua Zhuyu asked with knitted brows.

Ji Fengli smiled bitterly, “Bao’er, I saw through his conspiracy and went to rescue her. After I brought Rong Si back, I thought this might be another trap, so I never brought her back to the residence. Later, when Wan’er was in Northern Dynasty and discovered that Xiao Yin had a long-lost sister, I realized she might be a Northern Dynasty princess.”

“So you had Wen Wan retrieve the pendant from Northern Dynasty and turned the tables, pretending to die on the execution ground?” Hua Zhuyu asked quietly, her clear voice mixed with a trace of pain. So he had already planned everything, yet she had grieved for so long. Thinking of those days when life was worse than death, she still felt lingering fear.

Ji Fengli noticed Hua Zhuyu’s body trembling slightly. His arms suddenly tightened, drawing her into his embrace where she fit as if she had always belonged there.

“Bao’er, do you still hate me?” he asked carefully.

Hua Zhuyu felt his body trembling continuously, his arms holding her tightening more and more, as if afraid she might suddenly escape. She said softly, “I did hate you, not just for the Hua family, but also for that divorce letter, that cup of poisoned wine. But on the execution ground, when I stabbed you seven times, when you stopped breathing in my arms and lost your warmth, in that instant I no longer hated you. At that moment, I was so grief-stricken I almost wanted to die.”

Ji Fengli was stunned, lowering his eyes to gaze at her unblinkingly. His eyes flashed with strange, heart-burning radiance. He extended his finger to lift her chin, whispering softly, “Really? Bao’er, say it again, please say it again.” Several parts cautious, several parts pleading, several parts humble.

Hua Zhuyu often heard Huangfu Wushuang speak to her in such a tone, but had never imagined that someone as proud as Ji Fengli would also use such a tone. Her heart was not unmoved. She smiled and said, “It’s true.” He had actually thought she still hated him. As soon as she finished speaking, his burning lips sealed hers, swallowing her next words.

The long, lingering kiss was sometimes gentle as water, sometimes desperately entangled, as if wanting to melt with her forever.

“Bao’er, when will you marry me? May I stay tonight?” After the kiss, he asked quietly in her ear.

Hua Zhuyu’s body immediately stiffened as the painful memories of that night instantly surfaced. “I… I have something…”

Ji Fengli felt her rigidity and pulled her body tighter, saying gently, “Bao’er, regarding your father Hua Mu’s matter, if possible, I will try to spare his life.” His voice was very soft, tender to the point of being cherishing. He reached out to toy with her long hair scattered across her forehead, smiling lightly, “You’re tired from being out all day today. Rest early. Our matter isn’t urgent – I’ll wait for you.”

Hua Zhuyu’s heart relaxed, and she breathed a small sigh of relief.

Ji Fengli saw this, his black eyes contracting slightly, a trace of deep darkness passing through them.

On the bookshelf in the study of Taoyuan Residence were neatly arranged various books, all sought out by people Ji Fengli had sent for Hua Zhuyu.

Hua Zhuyu reclined against the side of the sandalwood bookshelf that emanated a faint sandalwood fragrance, slowly flipping through “Southern Dynasty Landscape Records” in her hands. Just as she was reading intently, something fluttered down from between the pages. She hurriedly bent to pick it up – it was a piece of rice paper folded neatly. The mottled, aged color seemed to have been forgotten by time for a long while, and she didn’t know who had placed it in this book. She had originally intended to put the rice paper back unchanged, but through it she could see what appeared to be a drawing on the back, vaguely of a woman.

Hua Zhuyu’s heart paused. She had seen Wen Wan’s portrait in Xiao Yin’s study. Was what was tucked in Ji Fengli’s book also a portrait of Wen Wan? A sour, astringent feeling gradually rose from her heart, and she couldn’t help but unfold the folded rice paper.

On the aged, yellowed rice paper was indeed painted a woman, but it wasn’t Wen Wan.

This was a woman of devastating beauty, wearing a bright red silk dress that had somewhat faded but remained charming. The woman had bright eyes and white teeth, her glances full of affection, and her smile at the corner of her lips was captivating. She sat on the railing by a lakeside with a sword strapped to her back, her entire appearance graceful yet heroic. The brushwork of this painting wasn’t superior, but the artist had obviously poured their entire heart into it, depicting the woman’s graceful bearing and spirit perfectly.

Who was this woman in the painting? Who had painted it?

Hua Zhuyu looked questioningly at the signature in the lower right corner of the scroll. There were two vigorous small characters “Jinhua,” and that bright red seal was actually the “Seal of Universal Peace” used when Emperor Yan of Southern Dynasty first ascended the throne.

Hua Zhuyu couldn’t help but be startled. This painting was obviously drawn by Emperor Yan himself. She didn’t know if Ji Fengli was aware of this painting – it should have been placed in this book by Emperor Yan.

Jinhua? Hua Zhuyu suddenly remembered that the palace where Ji Fengli now lived was called “Jinhua Palace.” This meant the woman in the painting should be Ji Fengli’s birth mother, Empress Xie. She examined the woman’s features more carefully and indeed found several points of resemblance to Ji Fengli in the eyebrows and eyes. So Empress Xie’s maiden name was Jinhua.

Hua Zhuyu didn’t know much about Empress Xie, only knowing that she had been Emperor Yan’s wife before he became emperor and had accompanied Emperor Yan through campaigns north and south. She silently gazed at Empress Xie in the painting, lamenting the tragic fate of beautiful women – such a beautiful woman had died of illness at such a young age.

“Princess Consort, Prince Nalan has come to visit,” Nongyu announced quietly at the doorway. No matter how she explained, Nongyu would only address her as Princess Consort, saying it was Ji Fengli’s special instruction.

Hua Zhuyu walked gracefully to the front hall where Nalan Xue was sitting on a bamboo couch with a smile. Seeing Hua Zhuyu emerge, he turned his head, his dark eyes like gems gazing at her for a long time before slowly saying, “Yuan Bao, if I had known that day you were such a beautiful woman, I would never have competed in martial arts with you.”

Hua Zhuyu smiled charmingly, “I never knew the young prince was someone who cherishes and protects women.”

“Naturally! To this prince, women are meant to be pampered and protected!” Nalan Xue laughed mischievously, then suddenly his expression became serious as he said quietly, “Yuan Bao, since you’ve decided to remain in the palace, to stay by His Lordship’s side, why won’t you agree to marry His Lordship? Do you know how many women are fighting and competing to marry His Lordship?”

Hua Zhuyu lowered her eyes, a cold smile playing at the corner of her lips, “Including Miss Wen, I suppose?”

“So you know. There’s something you might not know.” Nalan Xue brushed his clothing corner and leaned closer to ask quietly, “Do you know why His Lordship has delayed ascending the throne? Do you know that every day at court, the officials pressure him with the argument that the country cannot be without a ruler for a single day?”

Hua Zhuyu had also found this strange. After all his years of planning and paying so many prices, wasn’t it all for ascending to the highest position?

“Is it because of his father emperor? He and his father emperor should have some unresolved issues, otherwise his identity wouldn’t have remained unknown to his father emperor until now.” Hua Zhuyu said softly.

Nalan Xue looked at Hua Zhuyu as if looking at an idiot, then laughed after a long while, “His Lordship is doing it for you!”

“Me?” Hua Zhuyu was startled. What did she have to do with his throne?

“You know about Empress Xie, right?” Nalan Xue asked quietly.

Hua Zhuyu said softly, “Not much.” If not for seeing Empress Xie’s portrait just now, she wouldn’t even have known Empress Xie’s maiden name.

Nalan Xue knitted his brows and spoke eloquently, “This starts with your previous dynasty, the Mo Kingdom. Back then, the ruler of Mo Kingdom was weak, and regional princes everywhere led troops in uprising. The people were instantly plunged into dire straits. The Thunder Cavalry led by the current Grand Emperor Yan and the Wind and Cloud Cavalry led by Empress Xie were the two most influential armies at that time. Later, Emperor Yan and Empress Xie developed mutual affection and became husband and wife. Their armies merged into one, and their strength increased greatly. Other rebel forces gradually submitted, the ranks grew larger and larger, and after several years, they finally overthrew the previous Mo Kingdom.”

Hua Zhuyu had never expected that the Wind and Cloud Cavalry was actually Empress Xie’s army. This meant that half of Southern Dynasty’s territory was conquered by Empress Xie. However, in the many historical records she had read, the accounts of Empress Xie only mentioned that she was Emperor Yan’s first wife who died of illness a year after entering the palace, with almost no records of her achievements.

“So Empress Xie was also a heroine among women,” Hua Zhuyu said with raised eyebrows.

“Yes, and because Empress Xie campaigned for years, Fengli was born on the battlefield and grew up on the battlefield. By age five, he could draw a bow and shoot arrows to kill enemies,” Nalan Xue said with amazement.

Hua Zhuyu was shocked. She had always thought that going to battle at over ten years old was already cruel enough. She hadn’t expected that Ji Fengli’s childhood was spent on battlefields. What a tragic thing this was for a child.

“Unfortunately, Empress Xie’s beauty was ill-fated. When she knew her time was running short, she secretly moved her Wind and Cloud Cavalry to our Yue Kingdom because Empress Xie had once saved our Yue Kingdom. After Fengli turned ten, he came to our Yue Kingdom twice yearly to train troops. That’s when I became acquainted with him. He told me that before his mother died, she knew that after her death, his days wouldn’t be easy. So she entrusted Physician Wen to save and protect him in the future, promising that when Fengli became emperor, Wen Wan would become empress.”

Hearing the last sentence, Hua Zhuyu’s heart suddenly sank. So Nalan Xue had gone in such a large circle, from the former Mo Kingdom to Empress Xie, just to tell her that Empress Xie had promised Wen Wan would become empress.

How unexpected – prophecy becomes reality.

Back then, she had made “World’s Greatest Fortune-teller” say that Wen Wan had the fate of a phoenix, but unexpectedly it turned out to be true. No wonder Wen Wan had said so confidently that day that Ji Fengli would definitely marry her. It turned out this was Empress Xie’s dying command.

These days, he had pampered her in every way, making her forget that he would ultimately become emperor, while she was the daughter of a traitor. Between her and him lay thousands of mountains and rivers.

She walked slowly to the qin platform where the famous qin “Qinglian” that Ji Fengli had sent was placed – she had played it in the Left Prime Minister’s residence before. She extended her finger and casually plucked the strings. The qin notes drifted chaotically and without pattern, just like her current heart. The March sunlight shone gently through the window lattice onto her body, warming her body but unable to warm her heart.

She plucked the strings and smiled coldly, “Miss Wen has done so much for him – she should indeed become empress.”

This cold, indifferent, uninvolved attitude finally angered Nalan Xue. He said angrily, “Yuan Bao, I see you’re also a smart woman, but you’re a heartless woman. If Fengli had feelings for Wen Wan, he probably would have married her as his wife long ago – where would there be room for you? Wen Wan did do much for him. He rescued Wen Wan from Northern Dynasty, and Wen Wan secretly entered the palace and presented the Northern Dynasty princess’s pendant to Huangfu Wushuang, allowing Fengli’s plan to be better implemented. She also discovered that the Grand Emperor was being controlled by someone. But she did these things not because Fengli required it. I heard Lan Bing mention that for a long time, he had been deliberately avoiding her kindness to him because he didn’t want to owe her too much. Now, for you, he doesn’t even want the throne. He actually wanted to marry you before ascending the throne so that you could naturally become empress afterward. Now that your identity as Hua Mu’s daughter has been exposed, he could only claim you’re pregnant to be able to marry you quickly. But why do you still refuse him? When court officials requested to examine your pulse, he forcefully suppressed these officials’ demands.”

The qin strings trembled slightly under her fingers, just like Hua Zhuyu’s heartstrings trembling.

“Enough. I’ve said all I have to say. I also believe you truly care for him, which is why I’m telling you these things. Originally, I wanted to see you two married before returning to my country, but now it seems impossible. I must return to my country tomorrow.”

“Prince Nalan is returning to his country?” Only then did Hua Zhuyu react, asking softly.

“Correct. Farewell! Until we meet again!” Nalan Xue bowed and took his leave.

Hua Zhuyu sat before the qin table, her slender hands gently plucking the Qinglian qin, playing the piece “Weak Water” that Ji Fengli had composed.

At dusk it began to rain. The rushing curtain of rain rolled with icy wind, covering heaven and earth. This was the first rain of spring, yet it didn’t seem like spring rain.

Inside the Hall of Diligent Government, lights blazed brightly. Light seeping through window cracks illuminated the vermillion railings of the front corridor, creating an inexplicably solemn atmosphere. Outside the hall, not only were eunuchs from the Palace Secretariat waiting, but large numbers of Wind and Cloud Cavalry were responsible for guarding, adding several measures of tension to the quiet night.

Ji Fengli wore court robes and leaned back in his chair, his tall frame hidden behind the dragon desk, his handsome face showing no expression. These days, he had been busy handling government affairs and reviewing memorials. But now, regarding the memorials piled on the dragon desk, he had no mood to look at them. He was Prince Regent, responsible to the millions of common people of Southern Dynasty, and had to shoulder the heavy burden of the country and its foundation. Now, with state affairs before him, he couldn’t be lazy or negligent, but he still had no heart to look. Because he could already guess what eight or nine out of ten of those memorials were saying.

“Beauty brings disaster to the country, daughter of a traitor.”

He only wanted to marry the woman he loved, yet so many people jumped out to obstruct him. What use was being such a ruler?

“This subject requests His Lordship to reconsider,” Lan Bing, who had become Southern Dynasty’s Prime Minister, bowed.

Ji Fengli’s fingertips tapped the table surface intermittently, his lips bearing a light smile, but his eyes held intimidating coldness. “Lan Bing, since becoming Prime Minister, you’ve become much more pedantic than before. Given Yuan Bao’s character, this king doesn’t believe she would assist her father in treason.”

Lan Bing pondered, “What His Lordship says is absolutely correct. Given Yuan Bao’s character, she indeed wouldn’t. But please don’t forget, His Lordship, what identity Hua Mu holds.”

Ji Fengli’s refined eyebrows slightly furrowed as he rose and paced a few steps lightly, his steady footsteps making no sound on the ground.

“Your Lordship, Lord Tong has something to report,” an attendant outside said carefully.

The door opened and Tong Shou strode in quickly, kneeling and bowing, “Your Lordship, urgent report from West River Moon.”

Lan Bing stepped forward to receive the urgent report and presented it. Ji Fengli took the urgent report and quickly scanned it. The color instantly drained from his face. His heart immediately surged with shocking waves that couldn’t calm for a long time. Surprise, disbelief, and pain struck in turns.

“Your Lordship, what happened?” Lan Bing and Tong Shou asked worriedly. They had never seen His Lordship show such a shocked expression.

Ji Fengli shook his head, averting his gaze, saying lightly, “Nothing important. You may withdraw.”

Tong Shou and Lan Bing exchanged glances and quickly withdrew.

Ji Fengli lowered his head, staring at the urgent report in his hands. His eyes were black as eternal night, with sparks like fierce flames burning within, as if wanting to burn the two characters “princess” to ashes.

The Hall of Diligent Government immediately became completely quiet, with only the sound of pattering rain outside, growing more urgent, endless, as if it would never stop raining.

After a long time, he slowly threw the urgent report into the brazier and strode out quickly. The attendant waiting at the door saw him emerge and hurriedly brought an umbrella to shield him from the rain. But Ji Fengli coldly ordered, “No need. You needn’t follow this king tonight either!”

Before the young eunuch could react, he had already rushed into the rain and mist, his fluttering robes bringing up a wind colder than the cool rain. He walked all the way to the lakeside in front of Taoyuan Residence before stopping, standing by the lake with his hands clasped behind his back. The increasingly dense raindrops fell on the lake surface, splashing circle after circle of ripples. Scattered flower petals spun continuously with the lake’s ripples, as if unable to find their destination. Ji Fengli stood by the lakeside, a trace of extremely faint smile at the corner of his mouth, seemingly a bitter smile, faintly containing painful bitterness. “Bao’er, is this the reason you remain by my side? Just how many more things are you hiding from me?” These short words seemed to exhaust all his strength – not a question, but a lament of pain pushed to the extreme.