Nanping watched from the side, envy in her eyes, but said nothing. She held the second prince briefly, then went to look at Qi’er who could now toddle around unsteadily. When it seemed time to leave, she glanced questioningly at Feng Ming: Do you want to stay longer?
Feng Ming was slightly displeased. He tucked a red envelope into the second prince’s swaddling clothes, then took her hand and made their farewells.
“Coming to the palace today was your suggestion,” walking along the palace path, Feng Ming said glumly. “Why do you keep watching my expression? Leave whenever you want to leave.”
Nanping smiled: “A married woman follows her husband, naturally I defer to you.”
But did she need to constantly watch his expressions like this? Feng Ming felt agitated. It had been almost two years, and Nanping still treated him with reverence and fear, handling everything considerately for him, which only intensified his guilt.
He still hadn’t consummated their marriage.
Originally, he had agreed with Yin Gezhi to preserve Nanping’s virtue so she could marry someone else later. But now two years had passed—who in Wei didn’t know that Nanping Princess’s consort was Feng Ming? Even if she was still pure, how could she marry anyone else?
Since she couldn’t marry another, shouldn’t he consummate their marriage?
Secretly glancing at her from the corner of his eye, Feng Ming hesitated for a long while before stopping and asking directly: “Would you like to have a child too?”
Her steps faltered as Nanping turned back to look at him in confusion: “What?”
Looking somewhat embarrassed, Feng Ming scratched the back of his head and looked away: “I mean, seeing how you held the baby, you seemed to really like children. You’ve been married to me for so long, but we’re not truly husband and wife, it’s rather wasteful. If you like children—”
Before he could finish, he saw Nanping’s face suddenly turn pale. Frightened, his heart tightened: “What’s wrong?”
Lowering her gaze, Nanping clutched her handkerchief and laughed softly: “I’ve always known what the General was thinking, knew from the moment I married in, so I didn’t make demands. I just wanted to be considerate to you, hoping you might grow more attached to me and not send me away so quickly.”
Her voice became choked toward the end, clutching the handkerchief tighter. Nanping licked her lips and smiled bitterly: “I didn’t expect it would only last two years.”
What was she talking about? Feng Ming was completely confused. Before he could react, the person before him stepped back half a step and said quite casually: “If the General no longer wishes to be with this princess, then let’s divorce. I’ll go speak with Brother about it.”
With that, she turned to walk back the way they came.
Bewildered, Feng Ming reached out to grab her: “Who said I don’t want to be with you?”
Nanping froze but didn’t turn around, her tone extraordinarily calm: “The General’s meaning just now, Nanping understands clearly. The General doesn’t want to waste Nanping’s time, Nanping understands.”
“What do you understand when I haven’t even finished speaking!” Feng Ming grew anxious and shouted: “Turn around!”
Her heart jumped, but Nanping’s neck remained stiff.
Seeing she wouldn’t turn, Feng Ming nodded and walked around to face her himself, cupping her face and shouting: “I meant to say, if you like children, let’s have one! Who the hell is talking about sending you away?!”
The tears in her eyes suddenly rolled down. Nanping stared blankly at the person before her, not reacting even as he squeezed her face like a bun.
What did he say? Let’s have one.
“Look at that shameless Yin Chenbi, having one every year. Aren’t you envious?” With a suspicious blush on his face, Feng Ming wiped her eyes while shouting: “I want them too, two in a year, we’ll catch up to them!”
Breaking into laughter through her tears, Nanping shook her head: “How can anyone have two children in a year?”
“They can! Twins!”
With that, Feng Ming pulled her into his embrace.
The warm breath made Nanping shiver. Her hands trembled as she tried to grip his clothes, but finally, she slowly reached out and firmly wrapped her arms around his waist.
Then she heard him say in a muffled voice: “I originally thought I would never be able to let go of Guan Qingyue.”
Feng Ming truly believed this. He had even planned to become a monk after Nanping found her place in life. But hearts are made of flesh—having a girl like Nanping by his side without complaints or regrets, wanting nothing but his wellbeing. When he was hungry she cooked for him, when he was cold she made his clothes, when he was bored she accompanied him to see the sights, and when he wanted to know how the Empress was doing, she would bring him to the palace to see.
If someone could do these things for a year, that would show deep and unwavering love. But to persist for two years, and show every intention of continuing—Feng Ming thought this person must be a fool!
Not just foolish, but stupid—never asking anything of him, not even learning to use his guilt to bind him. He was always smiling so gently, constantly hoping for his happiness.
How could he be worthy of such treatment?
“Earlier, Brother told me that if I hadn’t consummated with the General yet, he would have me meet the Prince of Qi,” leaning against his chest, Nanping laughed softly. “Now it seems I won’t need to go, right?”
Hmm? The Prince of Qi?
His chest tightened as Feng Ming narrowed his eyes in displeasure: “What did he mean by that?”
“Mm, probably that a marriage alliance between the two countries would be more beneficial for cooperation and mutual benefit.”
He released her. Feeling suddenly empty inside, Nanping looked up at him nervously: “General?”
“It’s nothing.” Taking off his cloak and draping it over her shoulders, Feng Ming clenched his fists: “I’m going to have a chat with His Majesty. Wait for me at the palace gate.”
With that, he strode purposefully toward Longxian Palace.
Clutching his cloak, Nanping stared blankly at his retreating figure until she saw him kick open the gates of Longxian Palace, then suddenly burst out laughing.
The straightforward General Feng—he still couldn’t beat her brother in a fight. Going over so aggressively, if he scared the young prince, he might end up being beaten by her brother instead.
She should go home and prepare some medicinal wine.
Walking along the stone path toward the palace exit, Nanping felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her heart, her entire being feeling lighter.
She knew Feng Ming wasn’t a heartless person, so she had insisted on gambling—betting on whether she could warm his heart. After two years, the result came late, but in the end, she hadn’t lost.
If it had been someone else, she might not have gambled at all. After all, why stick with someone who didn’t love you for so long? She could have had better choices. But it happened to be Feng Ming, happened to be this person who most moved her heart, and she happened to know he needed someone to save him.
Simply put, she liked him and believed he would be a good husband, and surely a good father in the future. If she lost this gamble, she would have at least accompanied him for two years. But if she won, she would have gained everything.
Princess Nanping, having won her bet, was in high spirits as she waited happily at the palace gate, awaiting the dawn of new days.
“I’m leaving,” Feng Ming said, his lip bruised from the fight.
In the past when leaving, he would say “I take my leave,” but today he spoke these three words, making Yin Gezhi raise his eyebrows slightly before narrowing his eyes.
“Go well, don’t look back.”
Feng Yue, holding the child, also reached out from behind the bed curtains and waved casually: “Goodbye.”
Goodbye.
Without looking at them again, Feng Ming wiped his lip and strode out through the palace gates.