“This is your first pregnancy, so being careful is always good.” Yunyi’s words gained Li Shimin’s agreement: “The Princess is absolutely right. You’re now carrying two lives, so you must be more careful and attentive in everything than before.”

Zhangsun Shi was both amused and exasperated by their words: “I’m clearly the one who’s pregnant, yet why do you two seem more nervous than me? Especially the Princess – on one hand having people sweep all the snow inside and outside Muhua Pavilion, saying you’re afraid I’ll slip, while on the other hand not allowing me to get out of bed. How contradictory.”

Li Shimin and Yunyi both smiled at her words, with the latter saying: “So will you listen or not?”

“Listen, listen, listen.” Zhangsun Shi joked: “If I said I wouldn’t listen, wouldn’t I be afraid of you talking my ears off until they grew calluses?” In her heart, she understood that Yunyi’s nervous care was all for her benefit, and she was always grateful. Her earlier words were merely playful banter between them.

After their laughter subsided, Zhangsun Shi remembered something she had heard before and quickly asked: “Husband, are you alright? Were you injured?”

Li Shimin fell silent for a moment and said: “You heard about it too?”

Zhangsun Shi nodded: “Some days ago, news came from Luoyang, and your wife heard some of it.” She continued worriedly: “Husband, you…”

Before she could continue, Li Shimin interrupted: “I’m fine. I just went to see Father, and he didn’t blame me too much. Don’t worry.”

After Zhangsun Shi nodded, he said: “You’ve just taken medicine, so rest for a while. I’ll come see you again later.”

“Mm.” Zhangsun Shi was indeed somewhat tired. Since becoming pregnant, she had become particularly drowsy, always feeling like she couldn’t get enough sleep. After tucking in the corners of her blanket, Li Shimin walked out together with Yunyi.

By this time, all the snow in the courtyard had been swept clean and neatly piled on both sides. Some playful servants had used the accumulated snow to build a large rabbit in the corner, creating a post-snow scene.

Walking on the ground with not a trace of remaining snow, Li Shimin said: “Thank you for taking care of Wugou for me.”

Yunyi smiled slightly: “I’m not caring for her for your thanks, but because… she deserves my kindness.”

“I know.” Saying this, Li Shimin suddenly said: “I’m sorry.”

Yunyi asked puzzledly: “Why apologize out of nowhere?”

Li Shimin looked at the floating clouds covering the sunlight at the horizon and sighed softly: “Before leaving, I promised you I would try to rescue Empress Xiao from Yuwen Huaji’s hands, but in the end… I failed to do so. I didn’t even see Empress Xiao once.”

Yunyi was silent for a moment, then said: “I know you did your best. No one could have anticipated that the Luoyang side would recruit Li Mi and use him to deal with Yuwen Huaji. Being able to preserve most of your forces and withdraw from the situation was already remarkable.” After a pause, she continued: “Where did Yuwen Huaji go?”

“According to news from scouts, Yuwen Huaji took his remaining twenty thousand soldiers and retreated to Wei County.” Hearing Li Shimin’s words, Yunyi remained silent. She wanted to send troops to Wei County to rescue the Xiao clan, but with her status, she had no authority to deploy troops or command generals. Moreover, she didn’t want to always put Li Shimin in difficult positions.

At this moment, her fingers were enveloped by a warm palm, and Li Shimin’s consistently gentle voice reached her ears: “Give me a little more time. I will definitely rescue Empress Xiao for you.”

Seeing how much he cared for her, Yunyi’s heart warmed, and she looked up: “Thank you.”

Li Shimin smiled warmly and said: “By the way, this past month, have you been comfortable living in the palace? Has Princess Xin’an made things difficult for you?”

Yunyi shook her head: “It would be strange if she didn’t make things difficult for me. Some time ago, building one greenhouse in her own palace wasn’t enough – she even coaxed His Majesty into planning to build another one in the Western Garden. I vetoed it, and she hasn’t shown me a pleasant face these past few days.” Mentioning this, she remembered something: “Is there any news of Old Zhang?”

Li Shimin turned his gaze to Duan Zhihong, who said: “Reporting to the Princess, this past month, your subordinate has investigated repeatedly but found no news of Old Zhang. He hasn’t returned home either – it’s as if he vanished into thin air.”

Yunyi said softly: “Strange. He merely failed to follow Second Young Master’s instructions to escort Xin’an to Taiyuan. At most, he would just need to return the money he received. Why would he need to hide so thoroughly that he won’t even see his family?”

Li Shimin’s eyes narrowed: “Perhaps… it’s not that he wants to hide, but that he cannot return.”

“How could that be? Could someone be imprisoning him?” Before she finished speaking, Yunyi’s expression suddenly changed as she stared at Li Shimin: “You mean… he’s already dead?”

Li Shimin said gravely: “I can’t be certain, but it’s the most reasonable explanation.”

Yunyi pondered for a moment and shook her head repeatedly: “That’s impossible. Fourth Sister is different from me – she never learned martial arts. How could she alone kill Old Zhang, unless… someone helped her!”

Li Shimin shared the same thoughts, but regarding who helped Xin’an and why they would help her, he knew nothing. He could only say: “I’ll try to investigate this matter. Be extremely careful in the palace yourself.”

“I know.” Yunyi glanced at the sky: “It’s getting late. I should return.”

“I’ll escort you back.” Facing Li Shimin’s words, Yunyi smiled and shook her head: “No need. Stay here and accompany Second Young Madam. However many days you were away, she worried for just as many days. Especially after hearing news of the defeat at Luoyang, she worried even more. Otherwise, she wouldn’t need to lie in bed all day to stabilize the pregnancy.”

“Alright.” Saying this, Li Shimin asked with a half-smile: “What about you? Did you worry about me?”

“No.” Under Li Shimin’s barely concealed disappointed gaze, Yunyi smiled and said: “Because I knew you would definitely keep your promise and return safely.”

Li Shimin’s face brightened with a smile again as he gently traced her straight nose bridge: “You – when did you start liking to speak in halves? I thought you didn’t even care whether I lived or died.”

Yunyi gazed at him quietly, her eyes clear as autumn water clearly reflecting Li Shimin’s image: “From the moment you said you would marry me, I made a vow: In this life, if you live, I live; if you die, I die. As long as heaven and earth exist, I will never break this oath.”

Her words deeply moved Li Shimin. Gold is easy to obtain, but true feelings are hard to find. He tightly grasped Yunyi’s hand and said hoarsely: “Thank you for being willing to follow me in life and death. Li Shimin will never fail you in this lifetime!”

Yunyi smiled sweetly, her bright eyes curved like crescent moons: “Good, I’ll remember that. If you ever betray me in the future, I will never forgive you!” As they spoke, the two had reached the mansion’s entrance. Yunyi glanced at the carriage waiting outside and said: “Alright, go back now.”

“I’ll wait until you board the carriage before leaving.” Under Li Shimin’s insistence, Yunyi had to board the carriage first. Only after the carriage had disappeared from sight did Li Shimin turn back toward the mansion. He had only taken a few steps when he heard an unfamiliar voice behind him: “Is this the Tang Prince’s mansion?”