This voice was so clear and deafening, echoing in her chest, lingering endlessly. She lowered her eyes slightly, her hands hidden in her sleeves, clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white, yet she felt no pain.

…Meng Tinghui, you are truly despicable.

You meticulously orchestrated this chaos, hoping the wave of impeachments against Gu Qin would grow ever stronger, yet now you pretend to be concerned about his reputation.

When you first entered the court, female officials throughout the court looked down on you. Only Shen Zhili was willing to befriend you, helping you greatly from the Ministry of Rites examination to entering the Hanlin Academy. For years, she has regarded you as her closest friend, even willing to share her innermost secrets with you—what tremendous trust! Yet you use her trust to manipulate her, forcing her to marry a man she doesn’t love!

You claim that Di Nian’s feelings for her are profound and that even if she doesn’t love him now, she will surely find happiness in the future. But what if she remains unhappy for the rest of her life? Wouldn’t you have committed an irredeemable sin?

You sacrifice friendship for political gain—where has your conscience gone? For the sake of your love, you willingly sacrifice another’s love. If someone were to betray you in the future, you would likely be beyond tears.

…Meng Tinghui, you are truly despicable!

Her internal organs felt as if they were being twisted together, constantly in pain.

Facing Shen Zhili, who was still deep in thought, she felt so distressed that she could barely breathe. For a moment, she even wanted to speak out, to reveal everything, to exchange it for peace of mind.

But having come halfway down this path, how could she retreat now?

Since Gu Qin had been willing to trade high positions to buy her heart and dignity, he couldn’t blame her for using such methods today to protect what she loved and desired.

In terms of high positions at court, whose hands were truly clean?

This was a battlefield without smiles, but life and death were very real.

She didn’t want to make any excuses for herself. What was done was done, and her purpose was clear. She was despicable, shameless, even contemptible to herself… but she had no other choice!

Otherwise, how could the ministers of the Secretariat believe she wouldn’t interfere with the selection of an Empress? How could Gu Qin let go of the matter? And how would Shen Zhili ever agree to marry Di Nian?

Not making things difficult for others meant making things difficult for herself.

That night on the imperial couch in Xihua Palace, he had said clearly: in this life, how could anyone remain unchanged?

But she didn’t know if he would still love and indulge her as before if he knew everything she had done.

“I…”

Shen Zhili’s voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

Meng Tinghui raised her head at the sound, her gaze questioning as she looked at Shen Zhili, waiting for her to continue.

Shen Zhili’s eyes were bright with moisture. She pressed her lips together as if having made a full determination, before finally saying, “I am willing to marry him.” She paused, her voice lowering, “…Is he at the mansion tonight to see my brother?”

Meng Tinghui nodded slightly, “When I entered the main hall earlier, I saw Commander Di conversing with several people, but I didn’t speak to him before coming here.”

Shen Zhili smoothed her skirt, rose from her seat, and looked in the mirror to adjust her hair. She then took a cloth, dampened it with water, and carefully wiped away the traces of tears on her face before turning to Meng Tinghui and saying, “I will go speak with him now.”

Meng Tinghui was stunned.

Although she knew Shen Zhili’s temperament was similar to her mother’s—straightforward and decisive—she hadn’t expected her to be so resolute in this matter.

Seeing that she wasn’t joking, Meng Tinghui hurriedly stood up and asked, “But isn’t this too hasty? Why not let me speak to Commander Di for you tomorrow?”

Shen Zhili shook her head, lowering her gaze, “There’s no need to wait until tomorrow. I’ll speak to him myself tonight to confirm his intentions. Besides, the sooner this is settled, the sooner the court can return to calm.”

Meng Tinghui knew she was singlemindedly trying to protect Gu Qin as soon as possible. Her heart grew heavy, but she said nothing more, only accompanying her out of the room and back to the main hall where the banquet was being held.

When the guests saw Shen Zhili enter with Meng Tinghui, they all turned to look, jokingly remarking that Master Meng truly had influence—Master Meng had just arrived, and even the unwell young lady of the Shen household had come out.

Meng Tinghui casually picked up a wine cup, smiling as she walked into a group of people. She bowed in all four directions, apologizing for her late arrival, and conversed briefly with several young people who sought to speak with her. From the corner of her eye, she saw Shen Zhishu turn away, and she lowered her gaze, slightly pressing her lips together.

Shen Zhishu stood beside the hall curtain, watching as Shen Zhili walked directly toward Di Nian, not knowing what she intended to do, his brow furrowing slightly.

Shen Zhili walked up to Di Nian’s table before stopping.

Di Nian quickly set down his agate wine cup and stood up, offering her a smile, but unsure of her mood, he dared not be too forward.

Shen Zhili turned slightly and said in a low voice, “I have something to ask you. Would you come with me?”

Di Nian nodded eagerly, turning so hastily that he knocked over cups on the table without realizing it. He followed closely behind her, ducking under the curtain and out to a small hall outside.

Shen Zhili stood firm, raising her eyes to look at him steadily, and asked, “Are you willing to marry me?”

Although there was no one around, the laughter and conversation from the main hall still reached their ears, bustling and noisy. She didn’t care if anyone might pass by or eavesdrop; she asked directly.

Di Nian was taken aback for a moment but quickly nodded firmly.

She bit her lip lightly and asked again, “Are you willing to marry me right away?”

This time Di Nian didn’t hesitate, nodding firmly again, though his gaze revealed slight confusion, as if not understanding why she would suddenly ask such things.

Shen Zhili lowered her brows, “Then choose a date, draft a memorial to the Emperor, and let’s proceed with our marriage.”

Di Nian looked down at her and finally spoke, “Was it Master Meng who persuaded you?”

Shen Zhili thought for a moment and nodded, “In a way, yes.”

Di Nian couldn’t suppress the upward curve of his lips, but his eyes remained serious as he asked, “Have you thought this through clearly? Not for any other reason, but to marry me!”

She nodded without hesitation.

Di Nian slightly raised his arm, wanting to grasp her hand hanging at her side, but she subtly avoided his touch.

She didn’t look at him, only saying softly, “Even knowing that the current discussions at court aren’t all false accusations, you still don’t mind?”

Di Nian’s arm remained suspended in mid-air, his fingers trembling slightly, yet he still nodded firmly and said, “I don’t mind.”

“Why?” Shen Zhili glanced up at him.

His lips moved, as if not knowing how to begin, and after a while he said, “…Because I don’t mind.”

Hearing this, her expression changed slightly. She stood before him for a long time before reaching out to lightly touch his fingertips. She whispered, “Thank you.”

But Di Nian grasped her hand, turning his palm to hold hers tightly, saying urgently, “Trust me, I will never let you suffer any grievance, not for a lifetime!”

Shen Zhili turned her head slightly away, saying nothing more.

Although her attitude toward him remained distant, he was already overjoyed. She said she would marry him; she was truly willing to marry him!

From the first moment he saw her at sixteen until now, he had loved her for eight years, thought of her for eight years. She was the only woman he had ever wanted to marry.

Even knowing that her heart belonged to another, he had never thought of giving up.

Back in the Western Gardens of the old capital, his mother had told him that if he ever met someone he truly loved, he must tell her, must persist, or else he would regret it for a lifetime, never at peace even in death.

He had once thought that if a lifetime of persistence could earn her heartfelt love for just a moment, it would be worth it.

But now heaven had been so kind to him—he had only persisted for eight years, and she was willing to marry him!

He didn’t care who she had liked before, nor how many years that person had occupied her heart. After all, he had met her later than that person, hadn’t he?

At this moment, he believed more strongly than ever that as long as he continued to persist without giving up, she would one day come to love him just as she had loved that other person.