“I am reluctant to part with Sister Wu.”

Song Wan clutched her handkerchief. Facing another parting within a single day added to her sorrow. But she knew that no matter how reluctant she was, she had no reason to forcibly keep Wu Xixiang in the Eastern Palace.

“This subject is also reluctant to part with Your Majesty the Empress.”

The two fell silent for a moment. Song Wan picked up the vermillion brush and personally wrote an imperial decree permitting Wu Xixiang to leave the palace.

“This has caused trouble for Your Majesty the Empress.”

This matter didn’t conform to protocol, yet Song Wan showed not the slightest hesitation.

Accepting the Empress’s decree, Wu Xixiang clutched it tightly, unable to speak for a long while. She had no attachments left in the capital. This departure would likely mean she would never return to the capital again.

After viewing the magnificent rivers and mountains of Dongning, she might go to her father’s ancestral land to see those beautiful scenes her father used to speak of. Or perhaps she would settle in some small village and peacefully live out her remaining years.

After repeatedly thanking Song Wan, Wu Xixiang finally left Changle Palace.

When Shen Qianyu left court, he saw Song Wan with a rather blank expression, lost in thought.

“Is Wan’er unwell?”

Song Wan shook her head. She had wanted to say it was nothing, but the words that came out were: “My heart truly does feel uncomfortable.”

“Why?”

Shen Qianyu’s brow furrowed tightly. He immediately grasped Song Wan’s wrist and carefully placed three fingers on it. Seeing his appearance, Song Wan smiled and withdrew her hand: “How is it that this subject didn’t know Your Majesty could also take pulses for diagnosis?”

“In the past, I learned some rudimentary skills from Uncle Yan.”

He was about to summon the imperial physician, but Song Wan interrupted him.

“This subject’s body is fine. This subject only feels that the palace has become increasingly desolate.”

“Aunt, Jinshu, and Sister Wu are all leaving the palace. I’m simply feeling somewhat sorrowful for a moment.”

Only upon hearing this did Shen Qianyu relax slightly. He gently coaxed: “Partings and reunions are quite ordinary. Moreover, whether it’s Aunt, Jinshu, or Consort Wu, they’re all heading toward better paths. Wan’er shouldn’t take it to heart.”

“Though Nanqing is far, Qianbai is the lord of that region. Aunt will be more at ease than remaining in the capital.”

“Jinshu leaving the palace to marry, bear children, and live an ordinary life—with her husband having unlimited prospects ahead—she’ll be much better off than serving as a maid in the palace.”

“As for Consort Wu…”

Shen Qianyu had no interest in the inner palace. Whether it was those from the former Eastern Palace or other women, he had no desire for intimacy with them. Those women in the rear palace, if not for their families, would be wasting their youth remaining in the palace. Leaving might not necessarily be a bad path for them.

“So Wan’er should be happy for them.”

Song Wan nodded, raising a faint smile.

How could Song Wan not understand these principles? It was simply that facing parting, she inevitably felt downcast.

“Your Majesty’s counsel is correct.”

Song Wan smiled gently. Shen Qianyu, however, grasped her hand: “Wan’er has never called me husband. When there are no others present, could Wan’er call me husband?”

“Husband.”

Shen Qianyu pursed his lips in a smile, his eyes full of delight.

Finally, Wan’er no longer constantly spoke of impropriety before him. Finally, he had gained Wan’er’s complete trust.

Dismissing everyone, Shen Qianyu picked up Song Wan and headed toward the phoenix couch carved with golden phoenixes and parasol trees.

“Your Majesty…”

Shen Qianyu placed her on the couch, then buried his head beside Song Wan’s neck: “You agreed to call me husband.”

Song Wan’s face reddened as she smiled helplessly: “Husband, we cannot.”

“Why not?”

The man let out a soft hum. His warm breath sprayed on Song Wan’s ear, causing her to continuously shrink back.

“Does Wan’er not miss me at all? I miss Wan’er terribly.”

The man lowered his voice, murmuring to himself: “Does Wan’er truly not miss your husband?”

“The sky is still bright…”

“Once the curtains are drawn, it will be dark.”

Song Wan felt helpless. Her tone softened by three measures and carried a few parts coaxing affection: “Husband is the ruler of the nation. Your every action and posture must…”

Before she could finish speaking, Shen Qianyu lowered his head and kissed her lips.

Heng Zhi and Heng Wu withdrew from the sleeping chamber and arranged for people to prepare hot water.

Unfortunately, that prepared water gradually grew cold, then was reheated several times before Shen Qianyu finally emerged from the sleeping chamber carrying Song Wan.

The Emperor and Empress both disliked having others attend them, especially when the two were together. When only the two remained in the bathing chamber, Shen Qianyu sat in the white jade pool holding Song Wan.

Song Wan’s face was red, her earlobes crimson as if blood would drip from them.

“Wan’er, call me husband again.”

“Wan’er…”

“Wan’er…”

Shen Qianyu held her in his embrace. No matter how Song Wan pushed him, he remained completely unmoved. Between his brows and eyes was complete satisfaction and joy. Watching him, Song Wan inexplicably felt three parts anger rising in her heart.

But she had always been of a gentle temperament. Unable to do anything about him, she could only close her eyes and let the man mutter embarrassing words in her ear.

The more Song Wan listened, the hotter her cheeks became. She couldn’t help but reach out and lightly pat his shoulder.

“Wan’er is hitting me.”

The man grinned broadly, smiling so much his eyebrows danced. Song Wan closed her eyes, unwilling to see his foolish appearance.

“Wan’er, hit me again. Hit me again…”

Song Wan had no choice but to extend one hand to cover the man’s lips, preventing him from speaking.

The two were inseparable every day, their marital affection deep. Shen Qianyu wished he could announce to the entire world his happiness and fulfillment. Ji Rong watched them daily and also couldn’t stop grinning. But when he returned to his palace duty room and saw Wan Xiao, he inevitably felt stifled inside.

These emotions of joy by day and sorrow by night tormented him beyond endurance. Finally unable to restrain himself, he found an opportunity to probe Wan Xiao’s feelings.

“After leaving the Eastern Palace, you moved here to sit. Why don’t you return to your Chief Eunuch’s residence outside the palace?”

“Not inclined to return.”

Wan Xiao reclined on a wooden chair, quite leisurely swinging the wine gourd in his hand, humming and singing who knows what.

Ji Rong sighed: “Come, we two brothers will have a drink.”

Pulling Wan Xiao up from the chair, Ji Rong had palace maids fetch wine cups. He also moved out a jar of Mandian Xiang from the room to drink under the moonlight.

Knowing Ji Rong was worried about him, Wan Xiao tossed roasted peanuts into his mouth and smiled: “You need not worry about me. It’s nothing of consequence.”

“If you don’t want me to worry, then don’t display this dejected appearance all day. Watching it makes one’s heart feel rather indignant.”

“What is there to be indignant about?”

Wan Xiao smiled faintly and drank the wine in his hand in one gulp.

“I only have cause for happiness. What would you be indignant about?”

It was he who wholeheartedly wished for that person’s wellbeing. Now he was seeing her becoming better and better. Naturally he only had cause for joy—how could he be indignant? Thinking that Jinshu would live an ordinary yet abundant life like common people in the future, he felt happy for that young woman, and also happy for Uncle Zhang’s family.

Ji Rong wanted to ask whether he was truly willing to just watch helplessly as his own wife married another man. But when the words reached his lips, Ji Rong felt he couldn’t ask.

Unwilling, reluctant—but what could be done? Could they possibly take wives?

Thinking of this, Ji Rong revealed a bitter smile. He raised his wine cup, the two clinked them together, and tilted their heads back to drain them.

“If you have time, go see her again.”

After Jinshu married in the future, it would be difficult to meet again.

After Ji Rong spoke, he watched Wan Xiao. Only after a long while, seeing Wan Xiao nod lightly, did he sigh.

The two drank until late at night, yet Wan Xiao had no sleepiness at all. The next day after finishing his shift, he sought out the residence Jinshu had in the capital. The residence Song Wan had prepared for Jinshu wasn’t particularly luxurious, but its location and orientation were excellent. Not far from the gate was the main street—a sense of tranquility amidst the bustle.

Wan Xiao stood at the gate of Jinshu’s residence, gazing at the main door for a long while without moving.

He had stood there for nearly half a shichen and was just beginning to feel he was being truly presumptuous. Just as he was preparing to leave, Jinshu happened to push open the door and walk out.

The young woman had just raised her head when she saw Wan Xiao in the distance.