The man had become much thinner. Merely standing beneath the palace gate in his armor was enough to inspire fear in others.

Perhaps due to the prolonged killing on the battlefield, the aura of carnage about him had not yet dissipated. When he looked at Song Wan, his eyes still carried faint wariness. Only when she smiled faintly did the bloodthirsty color in Shen Qianyu’s eyes gradually fade, replaced by traces of tenderness.

Song Wan’s eyes reddened, and for a moment she didn’t know how to react.

Since his departure, eighteen months had passed. So much had happened during this time—though not quite two years, Song Wan felt as if she had traversed half a lifetime.

“I’m sorry…”

Shen Qianyu walked before Song Wan, his throat choked for a long time before he could with difficulty squeeze out these three abrupt words.

But Song Wan understood all his unspoken words.

She smiled gently and said, “This realm does not belong to Your Highness alone. I believe that whether it be Father, Old Minister Shang, or those soldiers and common people whose names we do not know, even Youjun…”

“None have ever resented Your Highness.”

“This consort has had water prepared for Your Highness. Please wash away the dust.”

Shen Qianyu nodded and entered Laiyi Pavilion.

As in the past, he dismissed all servants, leaving only Song Wan. After removing his full suit of armor, he lay on the beauty couch with his head pillowed on Song Wan’s legs, silent and wordless.

Song Wan gently stroked his withered, dry hair, her heart aching.

This battle had been won, yet no one felt the joy of victory.

Incorporating Nanqing into Dongning’s territory, Shen Qianyu’s name was sufficient to be remembered through the ages. Yet until now, he had not issued any edict to announce this matter to the people. Even those in the palace only learned of Dongning’s great victory when he was about to return to the capital.

Bit by bit gathering Shen Qianyu’s hair with her fingers, Song Wan’s eyes showed sorrow.

For the first time, Shen Qianyu faced away from Song Wan, not letting her see the expression on his face. But in just a moment, Song Wan felt wetness and cold penetrating her knees.

Her fingers paused slightly, and her eyes too reddened.

“Your Highness’s hair has grown long. Let Wan’er wash it for you.”

Shen Qianyu grasped her hand and covered his eyes with it, weeping silently.

Holding the comb in her hand, Song Wan gently and tenderly began combing Shen Qianyu’s hair. Only when the water temperature gradually cooled did he, at Song Wan’s urging, enter the bath barrel. But Shen Qianyu never released his grip on Song Wan’s hand.

“Wan’er will stay right here with Your Highness, going nowhere.”

Bringing over a wooden stool, Song Wan sat beside Shen Qianyu, gently tracing the man’s brows and eyes with her fingertips.

“Is the water temperature suitable?”

His body now bore countless new scars, yet Song Wan acted as if she didn’t see them, inquiring softly and gently. Shen Qianyu pulled her hand to his cheek and said in a low voice, “Just right.”

The man looked at Song Wan’s gently smiling eyes and couldn’t help but kiss her palm.

“How did Lu Youjun sustain fatal injuries and pass away? What happened in the palace that day?”

Shen Qianyu had worried for a long time but had never written to ask Song Wan. He knew she wouldn’t tell him, and that she wouldn’t let him worry about palace matters while on the frontier. Now that he had returned to the palace, he could finally ask.

Song Wan said softly, “That day, the late emperor issued an edict suspending court for ten days. Youjun and we went together to stop the late emperor and was severely injured by someone at his side.”

“The Lu family…”

Song Wan gently shook her head. “Not a single person in the Lu family treated Youjun well.”

The man pressed his lips together. There were other things he wanted to ask, but ultimately he didn’t voice them.

He knew Song Wan was like him—she never wished to speak of the suffering she had endured, just as he was unwilling to tell her of the dust, smoke, and white bones on the battlefield.

Pain was not worth commemorating, nor was it worth singing about, and there was no need to mention it repeatedly.

Pulling Song Wan’s hand, Shen Qianyu emerged from the bathing chamber.

Having just returned to court today, though there were many matters to attend to, Shen Qianyu didn’t wish to see anyone. He only wanted to rest properly before facing everything else.

Allowing Song Wan to gently dry his hair, Shen Qianyu lay on her bed and quietly fell asleep.

The man’s sleeping manner was extremely restless. He would furrow his brows at times and murmur in low tones at others. Song Wan’s heart softened as she grasped his hand and lay fully clothed beside him. The two rested until the moon rose high, and only then did Shen Qianyu wake wearily.

He had not slept so deeply in a very long time. Upon first waking, he even felt a sense of dazed bewilderment.

Song Wan, eyes closed, reached out her hands and placed them on his cheeks. Only then did Shen Qianyu recover some awareness and become fully conscious.

“I had Wan Xiao compile a register of all those who went to Su River to defect, as well as all the fallen soldiers whose names could be identified in the army. Tomorrow I will announce to the people the names of all those Dongning lost in this campaign.”

“But the national treasury is now empty, and I cannot provide compensation silver. In the future, when we have recuperated, I will certainly make up this silver.”

Song Wan nodded gently, looking at Shen Qianyu with eyes full of tenderness.

“Since Your Highness mentions this, Wan’er has something to report.”

“Earlier, when the court’s military funds were depleted, Wan’er took it upon herself to send all the silver from Your Highness’s private treasury.”

She opened her eyes wide, with a trace of nervousness in them. Shen Qianyu let out a soft laugh. He was just about to say she had done right when, before he could speak, he remembered there were also others’ assets in that private treasury.

His momentary hesitation caused Song Wan to blink uneasily. Shen Qianyu drew her into his embrace and said gently, “That private treasury contained items I was temporarily keeping for a friend, but it’s no matter.”

“He is no longer here. What Wan’er did was not wrong.”

“Even if he were here, he would agree with what Wan’er did.”

Song Wan, seeing what seemed like regret in his eyes, spoke no more of other matters.

After resting, Shen Qianyu rose to handle official business. Though he had not yet held the enthronement ceremony, the imperial seal had long been in his hands.

Shen Qianyu took out paper and brush, writing down one by one the arrangements that needed to be made following his return to court. Only then did he embrace Song Wan and sleep fully clothed until daybreak.

Early the next morning, he first went to see Song Yuning.

In Changxin Palace, Song Yuning was just about to rise and pay her respects when Shen Qianyu stopped her. “Aunt need not be overly courteous. I’ve come today because there is a matter to discuss.”

“Please speak, Your Highness.”

Shen Qianbai stood behind Song Yuning. His face still bore the silver mask, but from those eyes one could glimpse his resolute nature and bearing. Shen Qianyu’s gaze fell upon his face, causing Song Yuning to furrow her brows slightly.

“Aunt need not worry. I am not the type to cross the river and tear down the bridge.”

“Through the Su River campaign, Your Highness has matured considerably.”

Song Yuning smiled softly, recalling the time years ago when Shen Qianyu had come to Changxin Palace to seek an audience with her.

“Aunt flatters me.”

When his words ended, Shen Qianyu continued, “I have come today for the matter of Nanqing.”

Though he had now conquered Nanqing, without someone trustworthy stationed there, he could not feel at ease. And in the court, only Qianbai had the appropriate status and could be entrusted with his very life.

If possible, he wished to temporarily assign Nanqing to Qianbai as a fief.

As soon as the words “Nanqing” were spoken, both Song Yuning and Shen Qianbai understood his intention. Song Yuning lowered her eyes slightly and turned to look at Shen Qianbai.

“This subject is willing.”

Shen Qianbai nodded slowly, accepting the matter.

Song Yuning pressed her lips together slightly, suppressing the ache in her eyes. On one hand, she felt gratified that her child had grown and could stand on his own, but on the other, she anguished that in the future he would likely have to leave his homeland, and for the rest of her life it would be difficult to see Wan’er and Song Fu again.