He didn’t know what great courage he had summoned to dare to take her hand, but she drew away. Though he had expected it, he still couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

Regarding this Grand Princess, his feelings had always been somewhat complex. The Yuwen clan held the status of feudal princes and wielded power over entire regions, but in the eyes of the Murong clan, they were ultimately just foreigners, servants. Even if imperial princesses married incompetent mediocrities, they would never lower themselves to the Yuwen clan. Grand Princess Hede—when she was still a princess, he had already noticed her. To say it was love at first sight would be too false. He felt gratitude toward her, but also ambition. Marrying a princess was another goal after he had completely brought the entire Jiangnan Circuit under his banner—a step-by-step encroachment, full of purpose. But regarding her personally, it couldn’t be said he wasn’t devoted.

Though he was far away in Jinling, he actually knew everything about her—from when she grew permanent teeth to when she came of age, he knew it all. His official duties were complex, but when he returned to his residence at night, the first thing he had to do was read the secret letters sent from the capital: “Today Master was displeased, today Master was very happy…” Over time, this became a habit, further strengthening his determination to bring her back to Nanyuan.

He had traveled throughout Daye’s territory—through mountains and rivers, with scenery as beautiful as paintings—yet the people’s livelihood was riddled with holes, something those nobles in their silk and jade couldn’t imagine. The imperial dynasty was decaying and needed fresh blood. In the foreseeable upheaval to come, at least protecting her was also a way of repaying her for saving him that year.

Her face showed alarm. A fifteen-year-old girl—mentioning marriage seemed like something from the next lifetime. His heart hung high with anxiety. “Does Your Highness not wish it? Do you feel Liang Shi is unworthy?”

She kept biting her lip, a row of white teeth scraping harshly across it, making her lip color even more fresh and pure. His heart was in chaos, and he hurriedly looked away. He had been with women before and even had sons, but facing her like this, he still couldn’t help feeling ashamed and flustered—he must be going mad.

She stammered, perhaps wanting to refuse but afraid of making him lose face, so she left herself some room: “I’m still young and won’t be promised to anyone for now.”

He slowly shook his head. “Your Highness is fifteen this year. Even Empress Rong’an has begun planning Your Highness’s marriage. Your Highness is no longer young.”

Wanwan felt dejected—she really wasn’t young anymore. When she worried about the country and people, she felt like an adult, but once marriage was mentioned, she’d rather be a child.

She looked at him timidly, shrinking half an inch under his return gaze, and viciously twisted the tassels on her pouch, planning to avoid this topic: “It’s too dangerous for Your Highness to be here. If word reaches the Empress Dowager’s ears, I’m afraid it will cause trouble. You should leave quickly.”

He stood tall, his shadow spread at her feet. “I begged Xiao Zhangyin, and he showed mercy by letting me in. The news won’t reach the Empress Dowager—please be at ease, Your Highness.”

Hearing it was Xiao Duo’s idea, Wanwan’s heart relaxed. He must know Prince Nanyuan’s intentions, and since even he approved, should she stop struggling?

She sighed softly: “That’s good then…”

He observed her expression. That Xiao Duo was her remedy—he hadn’t expected he’d need to use him as support to gain her trust. This truly made him, accustomed to commanding authority, feel helpless and dejected.

The Grand Princess admired Xiao Duo, but unfortunately, Xiao Duo had weaknesses in his hands. To some extent, he had sold her out for his own happiness and future. He relaxed his tightly clenched fist. Naturally, he felt uncomfortable about it, but no matter—after the princess’s heart gradually turned toward him, it wouldn’t be too late to slowly deal with Xiao Duo.

He straightened his clothing and raised his hands in salute again. “My sudden visit today to speak these words to Your Highness must be very surprising. Even I, thinking about it now, feel I was rash and have wronged Your Highness. I had no intention of offending Your Highness—it’s truly because my time in the capital is limited, and if I didn’t speak now, I feared it would be too late. Regarding Your Highness, if I said I had admired you ten years ago, that would be somewhat exaggerated, but when I saw Your Highness again at Xihua Gate last year, I’ve been unable to escape my dreams since then—this is the truth.”

Wanwan had been delicately raised in the palace, and everyone spoke to her with extreme caution. She had no opportunity to contact the outside world, much less expect a man to pour out such feelings. Young girls had experienced too little after all—her ears turned red, spreading all the way down beneath her collar, standing there unable to advance or retreat.

He paused slightly, seeing she didn’t seem resistant, before finding courage to continue: “The situation in Nanyuan, Your Highness has probably heard about. The Yuwen clan cannot marry princesses—this is an imperial command left from many years ago. Liang Shi dares not violate it, but having met Your Highness, I feel unwilling to accept it. After much deliberation, I’ve decided to try. I…” He seemed to have some difficulty expressing himself, his gaze turning across her face before lowering his eyes again. “I had a concubine when I was fourteen and now have two sons, each from two secondary consorts. The Qi people have a custom of early marriage—children around one’s knees are considered a flourishing family business. But before Your Highness, this matter is probably a great deficiency. I dare not deceive Your Highness. Today I’m revealing my heart to Your Highness without meaning to force you—accepting or not is entirely up to Your Highness. Now if I wanted to remedy this, it’s truly too late. I can only promise Your Highness that if Your Highness condescends to accept, from now on Liang Shi will have only Your Highness alone. Those few secondary consorts can be given separate residences, and how to deal with them then will be entirely up to Your Highness.”

Actually, Wanwan lived in the palace and had seen too much of this. In the three palaces and six courts, except for the Empress, who wasn’t a concubine? Her father and brothers were all like him—this was a man’s era. To want a marriage completely pure was possible but truly too difficult. She had no obsession with his past. He looked at most twenty-three or twenty-four now, but if he had no heirs at this age, that vast territory of Nanyuan would probably become turbulent. She had seen Empress Zhang forcing smiles at her second brother’s dozen or so princes—he only had two, and she liked children, so this wasn’t difficult for her… Suddenly realizing she was actually reasoning through everything point by point, she felt both surprised and embarrassed.

Whether to agree or not, she couldn’t decide, but she knew one thing—like Xiao Duo, he was a steady and reliable person, and that was enough.

He watched her eagerly, as if his life and death hung on her single thought. Wanwan drew a breath and, after long hesitation, nodded: “Then I… will agree to you!”

His head buzzed: “Does Your Highness truly consent?”

She smiled shyly, her lip corners forming delicate dimples: “I’ll wait for you three months—no longer.”

He could feel his heart rolling and trembling in a cavity of hot blood. This sentence of hers excited him more than conquering Xiangchu. He smiled, his face showing the color of wind and clouds in motion: “Good, it’s settled then.”

Wanwan had thus dazedly promised herself to him. It seemed a bit hasty, but she didn’t feel regretful. Since she could remember, she had met him three times, and each time left a very good impression. Thinking carefully, perhaps sympathy was mixed in, but more than that, she was eager to escape Xiao Duo’s influence on her.

“When does Your Highness leave tomorrow?”

He said the si hour: “I must leave the capital’s boundaries before dark—this is the court’s rule.”

Wanwan thought for a moment: “Baoda Ward isn’t far from the Forbidden City. Tomorrow I’ll go up to the city tower to see Your Highness off.”

Even if they couldn’t meet face to face, seeing him off from afar would fulfill her intentions. Wanwan was truly an extremely serious person—since she was preparing to have entanglements with him, she had to act properly. She had read plays before where when men traveled far, women had to see them off. If she remained inactive, it would seem very unfair to him.

He left filled with joy, and she turned around to see the slanting sun falling inch by inch on the brownish-yellow temple walls, suddenly feeling desolate.

Tonghuan and Xiao You came over, and the two exchanged glances before hesitantly asking her: “Was that Prince Nanyuan just now?”

They had returned from making donations long ago, but seeing the Grand Princess talking with him under the jujube tree, they didn’t want to rashly interrupt. The temple’s mountain gate was already sealed—since he had broken in, he must have had his plans. Tonghuan helped her back to the corridor and said quietly: “Chasing all the way here—he probably had something important to tell Your Highness?”

Wanwan’s face was flushed as she deflected: “He didn’t say anything—we just happened to meet.”

People who couldn’t lie—the more they tried to cover up, the more they confirmed it. Xiao You muttered: “If the Imperial Guards or Eastern Depot caught him, even as a feudal prince, he probably wouldn’t end well. This Prince Nanyuan is really bold, taking such great risks just to ‘happen to meet’ Your Highness.”

Wanwan quickly put on a stern expression to scold her: “Watch your words! Since you know he snuck in, don’t let anything slip later and give people something to use against him.”

She was already taking his side—this was truly unusual. Xiao You didn’t think deeply and just took the opportunity to tease her a few times, but Tonghuan was deeply worried, pacing by her bed all night.

Seeing her like this, Wanwan found it strange and asked through the bed curtains what was wrong. Tonghuan sat on the footstool, first shaking her head, then said dejectedly: “Does Your Highness still remember the late Emperor’s instructions last year?”

She was stunned. Last year, her big brother had spoken with her in the warm pavilion of Qianqing Palace. She hadn’t taken it seriously then, but thinking of it today was particularly alarming.

“The late Emperor said I could choose anyone, just not Prince Nanyuan. If I married into Jinling, he would lose his right arm, fearing Nanyuan would become too powerful for the court to control.” As Wanwan spoke, she felt cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. She had agreed to big brother then, and now that he was gone, she had immediately abandoned it. Suddenly remembering, she didn’t know what to do.

Tonghuan was greatly relieved—she wasn’t the type to disregard everything for romantic feelings. She tucked in the quilt corner for her and said gently: “Your Highness is not only His Majesty’s sister but also the Grand Princess of all under heaven. Since Emperor Qinzong left such final instructions, he must have had his reasons. If Your Highness doesn’t forget ancestral teachings, you’ll be worthy of the ancestral spirits in heaven. As for what Prince Nanyuan thinks, that’s his business—Your Highness needn’t feel guilty toward him. The one who’s wronged him is His Majesty, not Your Highness.”

Wanwan knew everything she said was reasonable, but she had momentarily forgotten herself earlier and had already agreed to him. To go back on it now—wouldn’t that be adding insult to injury?

She sat there dazed. That Buddha-blue handkerchief lay on the plain ivory painted desk not far away. Thinking of today’s meeting with him, she really couldn’t bear it.

“I promised to wait for him three months. Acting so arbitrarily—it was wrong…”

She was someone who couldn’t resist kind words—her ears had been soft for fifteen years and remained so now. Tonghuan said: “Not marrying for three months—we can manage that. The late Emperor’s funeral period isn’t over, so no one will force Your Highness to marry out.”

So she was still deceiving him, keeping him completely in the dark, only to turn around and refuse to acknowledge him in the end.

Wanwan leaned against the bed head, dispirited: “He leaves the capital tomorrow. I promised to go up to the city tower to see him off…”

Tonghuan was silent for a long while before saying: “Going up to the city tower, in full view of everyone—if word spreads, it would damage Your Highness’s reputation. In my opinion, Your Highness shouldn’t appear. We’re inside here, and no word can get out. As long as no one appears, Prince Nanyuan isn’t a fool—he’ll naturally understand.”

So he never managed to wait for her.

At the chen hour, he was already by the Tongzi River gazing across at the city. The gray walls connected with the sky, and he stared fixedly, examining every crenellation of the battlements back and forth, afraid of missing her. He waited until the end of the si hour without seeing her figure. The longer he waited, the more his heart sank—there must have been some incident. Either she couldn’t come, or yesterday’s words didn’t count.

Shucun controlled the horse reins and reported: “Master, it’s getting late—we should depart. The eldest young master sent word that there’s been a small problem with the Hunan Provincial Administration Commissioner, awaiting Master’s instructions.”

He resolutely turned his horse around, raised his whip, and charged into the wind and rain.