Shen Qianyu asked, “What is it?”

“It’s Song Yao.”

Song Wan casually handed Ming Xiang’s letter to Shen Qianyu. As he received it and began reading, when he saw that Madam Song had hastily arranged Song Yao’s marriage to the Qi family while Song Lan’an was still far away in Su River, his brows also furrowed tightly.

When he saw that she was now pondering the words “breaking off the engagement,” he was even more displeased.

“Absurd.”

Song Wan shook her head lightly. “Mother’s perspective is limited, and Song Yao has always been confined to the inner quarters. It’s ordinary for her to harbor such selfish thoughts.”

However, Shen Qianyu said, “Master Song’s mourning period hasn’t even passed, yet she’s already anxiously maneuvering and scheming up and down. It’s truly chilling.”

“She’s merely afraid that outsiders will learn of her engagement to the Qi household and wants to quickly rid herself of them. Wan’er is too kindhearted, making excuses about perspective for her. No matter how limited one’s perspective, no one conducts themselves this way during their father’s mourning period.”

Shen Qianyu knew of Song Yao and had no good impression of her. Now that she was mentioned, he had no kind words either.

Song Wan said, “The Qi family hasn’t produced anyone capable of upholding their household for many generations. This marriage will likely not be easily canceled.”

“If Song Yao insists on canceling it, it will certainly hurt the relationship between the two families.”

“You need not worry. After the national mourning, I’ll issue an edict bestowing this marriage upon the two of them, letting Song Yao marry into the Qi household with peace of mind. Why trouble yourself over her?”

That woman merely wanted an empty title—what did it matter if he gave it to her for the sake of Song Lan’an and the Song household?

Drawing the letter from Song Wan’s hand, Shen Qianyu casually set it aside. “Don’t bother with these useless matters.”

Taking Song Wan’s hand, Shen Qianyu began reading the memorials.

He had sustained many more injuries in the Battle of Su River. He simply never showed it ordinarily. Now, having sat for so long, Shen Qianyu felt his knees going numb, aching severely.

Not wishing to worry Song Wan, Shen Qianyu released her hand and gently rubbed his knees.

Seeing this, Song Wan retrieved a long strip of red velvet cloth from her vanity table and, bending slightly at the waist, patted Shen Qianyu’s leg.

“What are you doing?”

Song Wan smiled. “Does Your Highness think that just because you don’t speak of it, Wan’er can’t see your discomfort?”

Wrapping the red velvet cloth around Shen Qianyu’s knees, Song Wan spoke softly. “Inside this are medicines to soothe the muscles and promote circulation. There’s also an indigo blue one filled with coarse salt and cold-dispelling substances. If Your Highness’s knees normally ache, use this red one. If they’re uncomfortable on rainy days, use the indigo blue one.”

“Before using the one with coarse salt, have someone heat it up first.”

Shen Qianyu looked at Song Wan standing before him, her movements gentle and her expression tender, and inexplicably his ears turned red.

He didn’t know why, but even though the two of them had already become proper husband and wife, whenever Song Wan treated him tenderly, he couldn’t help feeling shy and excited in his heart.

Shen Qianyu grasped Song Wan’s hand. “I don’t want you to do these things.”

“Why not?”

Shen Qianyu said, “I can’t bear for you to be like this, even if it’s for me.”

The man’s neck was flushed red, his eyes overflowing with tender affection. His low, muttering appearance made Song Wan unable to help but laugh softly.

She sat beside Shen Qianyu, though her hands didn’t stop their movements, slowly and gently massaging his aching areas.

As Song Wan worked, she said with downcast eyes, “Didn’t Your Highness say you wanted to be an ordinary married couple with Wan’er? Wan’er feels that ordinary married couples are probably like this.”

“Ordinary married couples should have the husband doting on his wife more. I should dote on Wan’er more.”

Though he said this, Shen Qianyu was smiling so widely he couldn’t close his mouth.

Seeing him return to his usual foolish appearance, Song Wan smiled gently. “Husband and wife are one body, each fulfilling their duties. In this world, there’s no reason for only the husband to dote on the wife, nor for only the wife to dote on the husband.”

“In the long days ahead, we must support each other so as not to feel exhausted and weary.”

Shen Qianyu pressed his lips together, as if forcibly suppressing his smile to keep from losing composure. He gently raised his hand to touch Song Wan’s cheek. Even though the two of them were merely sitting quietly together, Shen Qianyu felt secure in his heart.

During the national mourning period, the two could not share a bed. After finishing his work, Shen Qianyu returned to the Crown Prince’s bedchamber accompanied by Ji Rong.

Wan Xiao was still lying on the reclining chair in the courtyard. Seeing Shen Qianyu enter, he was about to rise but was stopped by him.

“Rest.”

In the Battle of Su River, Wan Xiao had risked his life to protect him several times, which was why he could return to the capital in one piece. Shen Qianyu had thought his own injuries were severe, but never imagined that Wan Xiao, who seemed fine at Su River, would fall gravely ill upon returning to the capital.

“Do you feel any better?”

Wan Xiao said, “This subordinate is much better.”

Shen Qianyu told him to return to his room and rest properly. Ji Rong, however, approached his side and murmured, “The person you asked me to find—I found him.”

Wan Xiao was silent for a moment and didn’t respond.

“If you’ve changed your mind, I’ll just find him some comfortable position and send him away.”

“Why would I change my mind?”

Wan Xiao sat up and looked at Ji Rong with an indifferent expression. “What’s his character like? Does he have any bad habits or illnesses?”

“None.”

“What does he look like?”

“Tall and sturdy build, handsome features.”

Wan Xiao lowered his eyes. After a long while, he said, “I’ll meet him tomorrow.”

“As long as you’ve thought it through.”

With that, Ji Rong patted his shoulder and also turned to leave.

Early the next morning, Wan Xiao left the Eastern Palace to meet the man.

The man was indeed as Ji Rong had described. Apart from being somewhat taciturn, there was nothing else amiss. He casually asked a few probing questions. Seeing that the other party could recite family matters backward and forward and could recount three to five anecdotes from Jinshu’s childhood, he felt reassured.

When his family met with disaster, Jinshu had still been quite young and probably wouldn’t recognize him. Now that this man appeared, she likely wouldn’t become suspicious either.

Taking out a white jade pendant carved with a rabbit from his bosom, Wan Xiao held it in his palm and went to find Jinshu in the palace.

“Supervisor Wan.”

Two years had passed, and Jinshu had grown even more delicate and refined. In the past, the young girl had still had a somewhat naive manner in her speech and actions, but now she appeared much more composed. It seemed she had matured considerably during her two years in the palace.

Raising his hand, he tossed the round jade pendant out. Jinshu instinctively caught it in her hands.

Wan Xiao smiled and asked, “Do you recognize it?”

Holding the jade pendant in her hands and examining it repeatedly, before long Jinshu let out a soft gasp.

“Supervisor Wan, you found my husband?”

“Yes, I found him.”

Jinshu’s eyes reddened as she clutched the jade pendant and murmured, “Is he well?”

“Very well.”

“Why didn’t he come looking for me all these years?”

“He did search, but couldn’t find you.”

“What about his clan members?”

“They’ve all passed away.”

Jinshu wiped her tears. “Then he must have had a very difficult time these years. I still had Miss and Sister Luanjian by my side, but he had nothing at all.”

Wan Xiao lowered his eyes and chuckled softly. “He had some brothers and friends. Though he suffered some hardships, what man hasn’t gone through such things?”

“As long as he still has his life, that’s already very good.”

For some reason, after Wan Xiao said these words, they inexplicably touched Jinshu’s heart. The tears she had been holding back for so long could no longer be contained and suddenly fell.

“Then has he taken a wife and started a family?”

Wan Xiao smiled gently. “No, he’s been waiting for you.”

The young girl raised her hand to wipe away her tears and slowly broke into a radiant smile. “Then where is he now? I want to see him.”

“If he’s still willing to marry me, after the national mourning ends, I’ll leave the palace to marry him.”