The Crown Grandson stepped into Zichen Palace.

His features were handsome, his bearing full of noble distinction, and his face carried no superfluous expression. Compared with their first encounter, he now carried several more degrees of composure, and no longer radiated the cold, forbidding aura of “keep away” that had once surrounded him so readily.

His gaze passed over Ling Jingshu in a casual sweep — as though she were an unfamiliar stranger he had never before met.

Ling Jingshu felt no despondency or resentment. On the contrary, she felt a quiet, inward sense of relief.

That the Crown Grandson had put her entirely from his mind was the best possible outcome.

She had no ambition to captivate any man. Her great enmity had been avenged, and now she was married to Wei Yan. She wanted only what all the ordinary women of the world wanted — to live in loving harmony with her husband, in peace and tranquility.

“This subject, together with his new bride, pays respects to His Highness the Crown Grandson.” Wei Yan led Ling Jingshu forward and they bowed together in salute.

The Crown Grandson’s gaze paused for just a fraction of a moment on Ling Jingshu’s lovely face, then moved away with practiced composure: “Rise.”

His voice was perfectly calm, betraying not a trace of emotion.

What had once kept him tossing and turning — that unattainable longing — had all become the past. She was now Wei Yan’s wife, and had no connection whatsoever with him anymore.

Were he to continue dwelling on her, he would not only sink himself deeper and deeper, but would bring harm to her as well.

So let it be.

Each road has its own path, each bridge leads where it leads.

From this day forward, he was the Crown Grandson, and she was a subject’s wife. The two of them would have no further dealings.

Wei Yan offered his thanks and, as he raised his head, took in the Crown Grandson’s indifferent and composed expression in full — and quietly let out a breath of relief.

It appeared the Crown Grandson had truly let Ling Jingshu go entirely from his heart.

Those who achieve great things are without exception people of resolute and unyielding will.

The Crown Grandson was to be the heir to the throne, and in time the Son of Heaven of Dazhou. What filled his heart was the welfare of the common people and the great cause of the Dazhou realm — matters of romance and personal sentiment had never been the most important thing to him.

……

The Crown Grandson stepped forward two paces and asked with concern: “It has been two days since your grandson last came to the palace to look in on Imperial Grandfather. I wonder how Imperial Grandfather is feeling today?”

The same as ever.

Unable to move, no appetite, unable to eat. Taking medicine until he was nearly numb to it. He was merely prolonging his days by force, living one day at a time.

The Emperor let out a self-mocking twist of his lips: “Don’t worry — he won’t be dying just yet.”

Wei Empress could not bear to hear such dispiriting words, and immediately chided him: “What does Your Majesty mean by saying such things? Is it that Your Majesty finds your servant has not been caring well enough for the Emperor’s health?”

As she spoke, the rims of her eyes turned faintly red, and the glimmer of tears showed: “If Your Majesty continues to sink into such despondency, even the most skilled physicians would be unable to cure Your Majesty’s illness. Your servant has no one to rely on in the palace — if Your Majesty were to meet with some misfortune, your servant may as well have done with everything and simply go along with Your Majesty……”

She was choking with tears, unable to say another word.

This honest outpouring of emotion did move the Emperor.

He was immediately stirred, and reached out to take Wei Empress’s hand, saying softly in a soothing tone: “It is all my fault — I spoke carelessly and made you cry. From now on I won’t say such dispiriting things again; do stop weeping.”

Wei Empress then dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief, and managed to produce a smile: “It is your servant who is at fault for being so quick to tears. Yet Your Majesty, rather than reproaching your servant, speaks to me with such patient and kind words. Your servant truly does not know what fortunes of how many lifetimes she has cultivated, to have the honor of serving Your Majesty.”

By now the Emperor had already set aside that earlier moment of wistful melancholy and was engaged in warm, intimate conversation with Wei Empress.

……Everyone who witnessed this scene had long since grown accustomed to it, and with a shared glance, quietly averted their eyes.

A woman’s greatest weapon is not beauty or intelligence, but tenderness.

To capture a man’s heart with gentleness in his most vulnerable and helpless moment.

In the Emperor’s eyes, no one at present could surpass Wei Empress in importance.

Wei Empress had no powerful family backing her. Her only younger brother was serving as an imperial physician within the palace, and she had given birth to only one princess. She posed essentially no threat whatsoever to the Crown Prince or the Crown Grandson.

And so both sides had long since formed a tacit alliance, and the palace had maintained an unusually peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.

Ling Jingshu and Wei Yan had finished paying their respects and ought by rights to have withdrawn. But seeing the Emperor and Wei Empress so deeply affectionate and absorbed in each other, it was inconvenient to interrupt them and speak just then, so they had no choice but to remain and look on.

After a moment, the Emperor at last remembered that the Crown Grandson was still waiting to one side, and looked over at him: “A’Yao, you came to the palace today specifically to see me — I don’t suppose it is only to pay your respects. Is there something important you need to report?”

With the Emperor now seriously ill, it was not appropriate to burden him with exhausting worries. All the routine matters of the court were decided by the Crown Prince. Only something of exceptional importance would be reported to the Emperor for his personal resolution.

The Crown Grandson clasped his hands and replied in a measured tone: “Yes. Your grandson does indeed have something important to report — it concerns Prince An.”

Prince An?

Upon hearing that name, the Emperor’s smile vanished completely from his face, and he turned cold in an instant: “That unfilial wretch — is he not being held in the Court of the Imperial Clan? What trouble is he stirring up now?”

At the mere mention of Prince An, one could not help but think of Prince Yan as well, and consequently recall the wretched affair of two sons conspiring together to assassinate their own father and elder brother. It would have been strange indeed if the Emperor’s mood were not foul.

The Crown Grandson was not in the least intimidated by the Emperor’s anger, and continued his report with steady composure: “Prince An has fallen ill. For two full days he has taken not a drop of water. The physicians within the Court of the Imperial Clan examined him but were unable to determine the exact cause of his illness. Medicine was prescribed, and Prince An took it, but there was no improvement. Those guarding Prince An did not dare to be negligent and reported the matter to the Glorious Prince. The Glorious Prince did not raise the matter in court, but informed the Crown Prince and your grandson privately. After careful consideration, your grandson felt it was best to bring this matter before Imperial Grandfather.”

Prince An, however unworthy, was still an imperial prince of Dazhou — the Emperor’s own blood son. If he were simply allowed to die in the Court of the Imperial Clan in obscure and unexplained circumstances, the Glorious Prince could not escape responsibility.

The shrewd Glorious Prince was unwilling to bear even a shadow of blame, and quietly brought the matter to light through proper channels.

The Emperor said nothing more, but the furrow of his brow had silently deepened.

As had long been apparent, despite his anger, the Emperor had never truly intended Prince An to die. As for his attitude toward Prince Yan, it remained even more vague and inconclusive.

He had grown old — not only addled, but confused as well, no longer able to distinguish what truly mattered.

A flash of something passed through the Crown Grandson’s eyes, and he took the initiative to speak: “It might be best to send a few imperial physicians of superior skill to the Court of the Imperial Clan to treat Prince An’s illness first, and then determine what is to be done afterward.”

The Emperor hesitated for a moment, and at last gave a nod of agreement.

After a long silence, he raised the matter of Prince Yan: “How fares Prince Yan within the Court of the Imperial Clan?”

This was the first time since Prince Yan had been confined to the Court of the Imperial Clan that the Emperor had asked after his condition.

Ling Jingshu instinctively strained to listen.

She heard the Crown Grandson reply: “Your grandson paid a visit to the Court of the Imperial Clan just a few days ago. Prince Yan, confined within it, has been unexpectedly well-behaved — he does not shout or rage, does not cause any disturbance, and is exceedingly quiet.”

It was difficult to imagine that a man so headstrong and unruly, so accustomed to doing as he pleased, could still maintain such composure after enduring so crushing a blow.

When one thought on it carefully, such depth of character was truly chilling.

That Prince Yan had been able to ascend to the dragon throne in his previous life was no accident. It was also fortunate that in this life so many things had changed — Prince Yan’s schemes had been exposed, and he had become a prisoner with no hope of reversal.