The Seventh Prince, dressed in mourning clothes, knelt before Minister Chen and his wife, kowtowing several times. “Grandfather, Grandmother, now that Mother is gone, I will fulfill my filial duties to you in her place. I won’t let Mother down.”

Madam Chen lifted her head and looked at her grandson before her, whose appearance strongly resembled her daughter. Seeing his reddened eyes and sorrowful expression, she couldn’t help but feel her heartache. She pulled the Seventh Prince into her embrace, “My poor grandson.”

The mourners around them sighed in sympathy. One of them patted the Seventh Prince’s shoulder comfortingly, “The dead cannot return to life. Your Highness, please try to control your grief.”

The Seventh Prince raised his head and exchanged glances with Wei Rufeng. Wei Rufeng’s face showed perfectly measured sympathy and condolence. Without saying anything more, he turned and walked to the Chen family’s main hall to converse with others.

The woman accompanying Wei Rufeng, though dressed in plain clothes, exuded an unmistakable air of nobility. Her beautiful face was full of pride—it was Zhuang Yushan. By now, everyone knew she had become Wei Rufeng’s most favored concubine, with a notably high status in the Wei Prince Manor and particularly cherished by Wei Rufeng.

“My Lord,” she asked puzzledly, “why hasn’t Prince Xuanqing come to pay his respects?”

At these words, the entire hall fell silent. Recent palace rumors suggested that Noble Consort Chen’s alleged affair was a frame-up by Fu Yunxi. Now that Noble Consort Chen had taken her own life, Fu Yunxi had become the focus of everyone’s attention. If he came, facing someone he had indirectly caused the death of would be inappropriate. If he didn’t come, it would seem like an admission of guilt. At this point, either choice would be wrong, yet Wei Rufeng’s concubine had coincidentally brought it up.

Wei Rufeng smiled and said soothingly, “Perhaps the Prince and Princess were delayed by some matter and couldn’t make it.” These words sparked even more speculation. As fellow court officials, the Seventh Prince’s matter was significant, and Prince Xuanqing, being the Seventh Prince’s royal uncle, should naturally come to pay his respects. Wei Rufeng’s suggestion that they were delayed reminded people of the rumored conflict between Noble Consort Chen and Princess Xuanqing. Could it be that Prince Xuanqing truly felt too guilty to come?

“Prince Xuanqing arrives…” As if on cue, a servant’s announcement rang out. Everyone looked up to see Prince Xuanqing striding in, his expression cold and emanating a faint chill. The announcement gradually faded away.

Wei Rufeng hadn’t expected him to come like this. After composing himself, he stepped forward with a smile, “Your Highness has come to pay respects, but why didn’t you bring the Princess?” Not seeing Han Yan, Wei Rufeng couldn’t tell if he felt disappointed or relieved. He didn’t want to see her standing beside Fu Yunxi, yet he wanted to see her. Between love and hate, Wei Rufeng couldn’t clarify his feelings. His only clear emotion toward the man before him was jealousy and resentment.

Seeing this, Zhuang Yushan smiled cleverly and said, “Yes, why isn’t Fourth Sister here? I was hoping to chat with her. When I returned to the Zhuang Manor the other day, I didn’t see her at all.”

These words implied that Han Yan hadn’t been staying at the Zhuang Manor for a long time. Where else could she be staying but at Prince Xuanqing’s Manor? For an unmarried woman, even with a marriage agreement, living in her future husband’s home was improper. The mourners began to form their speculations. Zhuang Yushan’s smile appeared genuine, but her gaze was as sharp as a blade.

Fu Yunxi merely smiled faintly, “The Princess caught a cold in the palace recently. Concerned about her health, I specifically brought her to the Xuanqing Prince Manor.” He gave Wei Rufeng a meaningful look and continued, “A funeral is a place where one can easily be affected by negative energy. Those who are ill should not attend.”

Everyone suddenly understood why Princess Xuanqing hadn’t come. So Prince Xuanqing was this thoughtful, showing that the couple’s relationship was indeed excellent. Previously, some had said the Princess wasn’t worthy of the Prince, but now it seemed the Prince truly cared for the Princess.

Zhuang Yushan was seething with anger. Fu Yunxi’s words had put her in an awkward position. He avoided bringing Han Yan because he considered it inauspicious, while Wei Rufeng had brought her here. She had intended to humiliate Han Yan about not being favored, but now it appeared that Wei Rufeng simply didn’t care enough about her well-being to consider such things.

Wei Rufeng’s expression froze slightly. He knew about Han Yan being drugged with aphrodisiac that night. Originally, if things had gone according to plan between him and Han Yan, today’s situation wouldn’t have occurred. But later he learned that Han Yan had been rescued by Fu Yunxi. At the time, his heart was filled with pain, knowing that the aphrodisiac’s effects were strong and could only be countered through intimate relations. Han Yan had been taken to the Xuanqing Prince Manor, so naturally Fu Yunxi must have helped her overcome the drug’s effects. Thinking that these two had already become intimate as husband and wife, he was tortured with pain and wanted to cut Fu Yunxi into a thousand pieces. Later, when the Empress Dowager tried to harm Han Yan by verifying her virginity, he heard from his palace spies that Han Yan was still a virgin. His feelings were mixed—happy that Han Yan was still pure, yet frustrated at missing an opportunity to strike at Fu Yunxi. Now hearing Fu Yunxi say that Han Yan was left at the manor, he felt confused, wondering about her current condition. Though the aphrodisiac had been neutralized, it must have taken a toll on her health.

The Seventh Prince stood up at this moment and bowed to Fu Yunxi, “Royal Uncle.” He called out just once before choking up, bowing deeply, and remaining down.

Fu Yunxi asked, “What are you doing?”

The Seventh Prince shook his head, “I heard earlier that Mother had some conflict with you. Now that Mother is gone, I, as her son, wish to apologize to you on her behalf.”

The Seventh Prince had always been filial and well-mannered. Now, having lost his mother at such a young age, it was touching that he could still be so sensible.

Fu Yunxi didn’t reach out to help him up and didn’t even look at him. After a long while, he coldly said, “No need, it was merely hearsay.”

The Seventh Prince, having been rebuffed, remained silent. He lifted his robes, preparing to kneel before Fu Yunxi, “Royal Uncle’s words show that you haven’t forgiven Mother. I can only kowtow to you on Mother’s behalf.”

For a prince to kneel before a mere prince consort was something others found difficult to watch, but given Prince Xuanqing’s immense power at court, no one dared to offend him. They could only sigh inwardly. Just then, an indignant voice rang out, “Your Highness may hold high rank and power, but you shouldn’t bully a child like this. The Seventh Prince is still of dragon blood—why must you push him so hard?”

Everyone turned to look. The speaker was Madam Chen. Having lost her daughter in her old age, her pain was beyond words, and her hair had turned significantly white overnight. Upon seeing Madam Chen, the Seventh Prince called out, “Grandmother…” unable to say more.

The sight of grandmother and grandson embracing and weeping together made those unaware of the full situation feel that Fu Yunxi was indeed bullying them with his power. Zhuang Yushan spoke delicately, “Ah, now that Her Highness has passed away, leaving behind this elderly woman and child to suffer—it’s truly heartbreaking. Why doesn’t Your Highness show some empathy for their urgent situation and feel their pain?”

Wei Rufeng also shook his head and sighed, “Indeed, right now the Seventh Prince is overwhelmed with grief. Who could truly understand the bitterness in his heart?”