Li Shimin extended his trembling hands, placing them respectively on Zhangsun Shi and Yunyi’s abdomens. There… his flesh and blood were being nurtured. As a father, he should protect them, even if… this protection came with such heavy weight.

Thinking of this, Li Shimin finally made up his mind, gritting his teeth fiercely: “I promise you both – from now on… I will no longer retreat endlessly. I will surely protect you and the children!”

Hearing these words, Yunyi knew he was determined to fight for what he deserved. Her heart, which had been suspended in midair, could finally settle: “With Your Highness’s words, I can rest assured.”

Li Shimin nodded and took her hand: “But you’ll still have to endure some hardship for a while. When the time comes, I’ll have Father Emperor grant you amnesty.” He didn’t say “beg,” because he understood in his heart that for Li Yuan, who was bewitched by Li Jiancheng, begging would be useless.

Yunyi nodded: “As long as Your Highness recognizes the true faces of those people from now on, it doesn’t matter if I suffer some grievances. It’s just this child…”

She understood clearly that although Li Shimin was determined to rise up, he had fallen too far behind before. Catching up wouldn’t happen overnight. She and the child… would probably inevitably face separation.

Zhangsun Shi wiped her tears: “Don’t worry. I will definitely treat the child as my own flesh and blood, raising him well. When you return, you can be reunited as mother and son. During this time, if I find an opportunity, I’ll also bring him to see you.”

Yunyi said gratefully: “Thank you, Princess Consort.” She understood Zhangsun Shi’s character – though a woman, she was as good as her word. Since she had said this, she would certainly do it. She turned her gaze to Li Shimin: “Before I leave, I have one more request.”

“Just say it. I’ll definitely find a way to fulfill it.” Having received Li Shimin’s word, Yunyi said: “Jixiang was brutally killed for a careless word. Please help collect her body and bury her properly. In the future, during Qingming and Hanshi festivals, please have someone make offerings to her.”

Li Shimin nodded: “I understand. Don’t worry.” As he spoke, impatient urging came from outside again: “Please don’t make things difficult for us slaves, Your Highness.”

Li Shimin took a deep breath, suppressing his agitated emotions: “Let’s go out, or if they speak carelessly before Father Emperor, there will be trouble.”

Yunyi nodded. During this time, Ruyi had already packed all of Yunyi’s personal belongings and walked out with them.

Li Shimin bowed to the several displeased eunuchs: “I apologize for keeping you gentlemen waiting so long.”

“We wouldn’t dare.” The eunuch standing at the front gave a perfunctory smile and flicked his whisk: “After all this time, everything should be packed. Can we depart now?”

Li Shimin looked toward Yunyi, his heart filled with reluctance, but at this moment, all that reluctance could only be transformed into two words: “Naturally.”

The eunuch bowed slightly, walked to Yunyi’s side, and said coolly: “Let’s go. The carriage is waiting outside.”

Just as Yunyi was about to leave with them, Zhangsun Shi suddenly said: “Wait a moment. Lady Yang and I have known each other for some time. Going to Mingyue Convent this time, I’m afraid we’ll never meet again in the future. I was thinking of seeing her off partway. Please accommodate us, gentlemen.”

Wenlan, following Chu Yi’s earlier example, took out her money pouch and tried to stuff it into the eunuch’s hand, but this time, the eunuch wouldn’t accept it. He pulled a long face: “It’s not that this slave is unwilling to accommodate, but it truly goes against regulations. Just now, we slaves were already risking punishment from His Majesty. Please don’t make things difficult for us anymore, Princess Consort.”

“But…” Zhangsun Shi had only said two words when Li Shimin secretly grasped her hand and took over: “The gentleman is right. We were presumptuous. Please!”

Zhangsun Shi reluctantly swallowed the words on her lips, watching Yunyi leave with them with reluctant eyes. After they had disappeared from sight, she said: “Your Highness, why did you stop me from seeing her off?”

Li Shimin sighed: “You can see her off for a moment, but not for a lifetime. In the end, there must still be separation. Rather than fighting for this brief moment, it’s better to quickly think of ways to bring her back. Fortunately, Ruyi will accompany her on this journey.”

While they were sighing, the carriage wheels turned round after round, carrying Yunyi to Mingyue Convent. As soon as she stepped down from the carriage, the convent’s abbess, Jingkong, came out to greet her. She had already received word from the palace that a prince’s consort would come here for lay cultivation.

“Amitabha.” Jingkong chanted a Buddhist invocation, looking at Yunyi who descended from the carriage supported by Ruyi: “Is this Lady Yang?”

“That’s her.” The eunuch said in his thin voice: “His Majesty has decreed that from now on, she will practice lay cultivation in your Mingyue Convent. She must not step out even once, nor should you let outsiders see her, or you’ll be charged with defying imperial orders. Do you understand?”

Jingkong nodded repeatedly: “This humble nun understands. Please convey to His Majesty that this humble nun will certainly care for her according to the decree and dare not make any mistakes.”

“Mm.” The eunuch responded, then continued: “She is already six months pregnant. When she’s about to give birth, midwives and imperial physicians will be sent. If anything happens before then, you can also send someone to report, but…” The eunuch drew out his tone, glanced at Yunyi who stood to the side with downcast eyes, and said coolly: “No matter what happens, without His Majesty’s decree, she must not see anyone from outside Mingyue Convent, even if she’s dying. Remember this.”

“Please rest assured, gentleman. This humble nun will certainly remember.” Jingkong agreed repeatedly. Seeing that both the person and message had been delivered, the eunuch left by carriage, while Jingkong led Yunyi into the convent to settle her, giving her a side room that was quite peaceful, though very simple. Apart from necessary furniture, there were only Buddhist scriptures.

After Jingkong gave a few simple instructions, she left, leaving Yunyi and her companions to arrange things themselves. Once Jingkong was gone, Ruyi helped Yunyi sit in a chair: “Princess, you’ve been tired all day. Rest and sit for a while. This slave will tidy up the room.”

Yunyi nodded. While Ruyi organized the room, she casually picked up a Buddhist scripture from nearby to read. In this side room, the only abundance was Buddhist scriptures.

After reading for a while, Yunyi heard low sobbing. Looking up, she saw Ruyi crouching in a corner, holding a package of medicine and crying. She walked over: “What’s wrong?”

Ruyi raised her tear-stained face and said tearfully: “This slave… this slave misses Jixiang so much. When she was here, she was always responsible for the Princess’s pregnancy medicine. Every time before brewing it, she would soak the medicine in water for a while, saying that after soaking like this, the medicinal effects would be better. This morning, this slave still heard her explain it once, but now…” Speaking to this point, Ruyi was already crying inconsolably.

Yunyi embraced Ruyi with reddened eyes, saying hoarsely: “It was I who invited the wolf into the house and caused Jixiang’s death. This is all my fault.”

Ruyi gripped Yunyi’s sleeve tightly, shaking her head: “No, the one at fault is Jiang Caiping. The Princess kindly let her stay in the residence, but she colluded with Ji Rong and stabbed us in the back. This person repaid kindness with enmity – I will never forgive her, never!”