Upon returning from Taiji Hall to the Eastern Palace, it was already deep into the night. As usual, Shen Qianyu first went to Laiyi Pavilion to check on Song Wan.

Normally, if he told Song Wan to rest early, Song Wan would obediently listen. Who would have thought that at this late hour, a candle still burned in her bedchamber?

Shen Qianyu was somewhat surprised. After thinking, he tiptoed inside.

Song Wan was leaning by the window in the candlelight, her long hair slightly loose, her gaze soft as she looked out the window. The two, one inside and one outside, gazed at each other for a long while.

After a long time, Shen Qianyu dismissed Ji Rong, braced himself on the windowsill, and jumped into the room.

Song Wan rose and said with a soft laugh: “Breaking through the window—what a petty thief.”

“How is this breaking through? Isn’t Wan’er waiting for me?”

Shen Qianyu didn’t know why, but suddenly recalled that day at the estate outside the city, when the two of them bid farewell under the moonlight.

The man raised his hand and gently tucked the long hair falling by Song Wan’s ear behind it, murmuring: “At that time, I didn’t know my heart had already been moved. Though I thought of you all day, I always used respecting you as my teacher as an excuse. Thinking back now, I must have been quite laughable.”

“I wonder how Wan’er saw me then?”

Song Wan lowered her eyes and thought, then after a moment, laughed.

“At that time, Your Highness called himself by Ji Rong’s name. Wan’er only felt this particular eunuch was truly quite strange.”

Remembering how Shen Qianyu had eaten crispy candy before her, Song Wan burst out laughing: “At that time, Your Highness seemed neither like someone from Dong Chang nor like the heir apparent of the Eastern Palace. In any case, he aroused suspicion yet was lively enough.”

In the past, when she looked at Lin Jiayue, though she wondered at the other’s ignorance of propriety, she also had to admit that once upon a time, she had envied that lively appearance.

“Does Your Highness find Wan’er dull?”

Shen Qianyu said: “What foolish words is Wan’er saying? In my heart, Wan’er couldn’t be more interesting. Whether Wan’er’s every smile or every movement, I can never see enough.”

Song Wan’s cheeks flushed red, her eyes showing shyness.

Shen Qianyu raised his hand to touch her small, rosy ear and said in a low voice: “That day when you parted with ‘Ji Rong,’ I wished Wan’er would meet a good man, but ultimately could not fulfill that wish.”

“Wan’er has already met a good man. Your Highness is Wan’er’s good man.”

Shen Qianyu’s eyes reddened slightly: “If I were not surnamed Shen, or had not been born into an imperial family, I would certainly be Wan’er’s good man.”

“This statement is mistaken.”

“Whether one is a good man has never been determined by status or position. Whether Your Highness is Crown Prince or beggar, you are Wan’er’s good man. Treating me with true heart makes you a good man.”

Song Wan smiled and embraced Shen Qianyu: “When will Your Highness depart for the campaign?”

“It should be the day after tomorrow.”

“Who will accompany you?”

“Military Commander Ming Chun and Lord Cui Chengdong from the Ministry of War.”

Song Wan remained silent, only her arms tightening more and more.

“If I…”

Shen Qianyu spoke haltingly, but before he could finish, Song Wan interrupted: “You will still be Wan’er’s good man.”

“People often speak of mutual respect and growing old together, but Wan’er feels that white hair comes easily while growing old together is difficult. From the moment Your Highness said you would first give your true heart to Wan’er to examine, Wan’er felt this true affection was enough.”

“Your Highness has ambitions and bears the burden of nation and family. Wan’er shares in this glory.”

Song Wan’s eyes grew hot. Though she had a thousand words, she could only forcibly hold them back, finally reducing them to a low phrase: “Righteousness comes first.”

Shen Qianyu only felt he had wronged Song Wan and momentarily could not speak.

Song Wan pressed close against his chest and murmured: “Will Your Highness rest at Laiyi Pavilion tonight?”

Hearing this, Shen Qianyu froze, somewhat uncertain of Song Wan’s meaning.

“Your Highness…”

“Why must you go this far?”

Song Wan pressed her lips together without speaking, but opened a pair of watery eyes and looked straight at Shen Qianyu. Though she knew this battle with Qin Rao would not be difficult, even so, no one could guarantee complete safety.

Shen Qianyu’s voice trembled. He stammered for a long while before asking with a red face if it was alright.

Song Wan’s eyes and brows showed her smile. She didn’t answer, only looked quietly at him.

“I… I’ll go wash up.”

In the bathhouse, aside from the occasional splashing of water, there was the drumming sound of Shen Qianyu’s pounding heart. He dampened a cloth and held it over his face for a long time, unable to reduce the heat in his cheeks. After washing thoroughly, he covered his chest and walked out of the bathhouse.

Just before entering the bedchamber, he even touched his nose slightly.

“Wan’er…”

Song Wan sat on the bed smiling gently. Seeing her, Shen Qianyu suddenly also smiled foolishly.

He moved forward and half-crouched on the ground, embracing Song Wan’s waist.

“Wan’er, I’m afraid.”

He feared being intimate with Song Wan would defile her, and also feared that if he went and never returned, he would delay her prime years.

He feared even more being embarrassed.

If by chance he went and never returned, wouldn’t Wan’er have to remember how he was today?

Shen Qianyu’s solitary muttering made Song Wan, who had originally been shy and held three parts fear of intimate matters, not know whether to laugh or cry. His disturbance actually swept away all her awkwardness and unease, leaving only a heart full of tender warmth.

“If Your Highness is afraid, then rest early.”

“…”

Shen Qianyu’s body stiffened as he raised his head with a red face.

He was originally handsome, but now his eyes held affection, washing away the calculation and scheming usually in them until they were clear and unstained, making him look rather like a child. He stared blankly at Song Wan, his eyes showing both pleading and struggle.

Both of them sported bright red faces, looking as if they had just walked off a theater stage.

With a soft laugh—it was unclear who laughed first—the next moment Song Wan was embraced at the waist by Shen Qianyu and carried into the bed curtains.

In the curtained bed, rouge dyed spring colors, the beauty’s coiffure partially undone.

The spring night ended, but affection remained long. Through one night, the two’s deep entanglement of love surpassed the ordinary.

The sky had already brightened. Song Wan still slept deeply while Shen Qianyu traced the features of the person in his arms with his fingertips, only feeling he could never like enough, never love enough.

He didn’t know what virtue or ability he possessed to have met a woman like Song Wan.

Until the sun was high, neither of them had risen. Heng Zhi and Heng Wu waited outside the room until Wan Xiao arrived.

“Has His Highness not yet risen?”

Heng Zhi nodded: “Should this servant go…”

“No need. Today I came to find Jinshu.”

Though Heng Zhi was surprised, she still summoned Jinshu and thoughtfully left to give the two a place to talk.

“Does the Director seek this servant for a matter?”

Jinshu opened her large eyes wide, her features carrying a faint smile. Seeing this, Wan Xiao smiled faintly: “Last time you mentioned seeking a husband. Do you know what Dong Chang does?”

Jinshu blinked in confusion. Wan Xiao said: “If you want to find him, I can help. Do you want to find him?”

“Naturally I do.”

“What will you do after finding him?”

Blinking, Jinshu lowered her eyes as if thinking. Wan Xiao waited silently without the slightest impatience.

After a moment, Jinshu said: “My father searched for them for a long time. Whether he is good or bad, I must tell Father to comfort his spirit in heaven.”

“Moreover, he and I have a marriage contract. If he is still alive, I must ask why he hasn’t come to find me all these years.”

“If he hasn’t married, we must wed. If he has married and had children, he must first annul the betrothal before I can marry another.”

Hearing this, Wan Xiao said indifferently: “What if he is dead?”