Yan Shangxu loosely held Mu Wanyao, who had been crying and was now startled. She had held back for so long, but her uncontrollable sobs were heard by him… Wouldn’t he now know that she couldn’t leave him?

Mu Wanyao stiffened as the young lord held her back, wanting to flee from this place. However, she was overthinking.

While she remained rigid, hoping her embarrassing moment had never happened, Yan Shang merely opened his eyes briefly to look at her before closing them again. He leaned against the bedpost, his already loose collar pulling even wider with the movement, revealing the gauze bandages underneath clearly.

With his eyes closed and face pale, his black hair falling across his face, his hand stroked her back as if soothing a tense, arched cat: “Don’t cry, Yaoyao, I’m fine…”

As he finished speaking, his body suddenly slid down along the bedpost.

Fortunately, Mu Wanyao caught him in her panicked scramble, embracing him as he lost consciousness.

Feeling his cheeks burning hot, she stared at the gauze covering his forehead, noticing traces of red seeping through its edges. She panicked again: “Yan Shang? Yan Shang?”

Her tears fell easily once more, streaming down with each blink of her eyelashes.

A choking sensation gripped her throat.

Mu Wanyao called out anxiously with a hoarse voice. She thought her voice would surely be forceful, but fear made it tremble, quavering: “Where’s the physician? Where’s the Medical Director? Where’s the Imperial Physician? Anyone… can anyone come?!”

When Yan Shang was first brought back injured, the Ministry of Revenue had already requested the most skilled Medical Director from the Imperial Medical Office under the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to examine Young Lord Yan’s injuries. After the Medical Director bandaged Yan Shang, Mu Wanyao arrived, and shortly after, the Princess directly summoned an Imperial Physician from the Palace Medical Service.

After the Imperial Physician re-examined Yan Shang’s wounds, he reassured the Princess that the previous Medical Director had handled everything properly and that the Princess need not worry.

Mu Wanyao spoke with the Imperial Physician from behind the screen. Earlier, when the physician was re-bandaging Yan Shang, she had seen it too. The large patches of red burns on his shoulder and back were horrifying… She felt chilled to her core, yet couldn’t help feeling relieved it wasn’t his face that was injured.

If his face had been injured, it could have derailed his entire official career.

Mu Wanyao still worried: “After applying the medicine, will it heal well? If properly cared for, it won’t leave scars, right?”

The Imperial Physician: “That would require expensive medicines…”

Mu Wanyao glared back: Did she look like someone who couldn’t afford it?!

The Imperial Physician had intended to say that as a court official, Yan Shang’s injuries should at most be treated by the Imperial Medical Office personnel, not the Palace Medical Service that attended to princes and princesses. Moreover, the medical expenses should be paid by Second Young Master Yan himself.

However, seeing the Princess’s glaring eyes, the Imperial Physician immediately understood that Princess Danyang intended to pay for Young Master Yan’s treatment herself.

Mu Wanyao: “Use the best medicine! Use the kind you normally use for me! Whatever medicines are needed, use them without hesitation. If he’s left with scars later, I’ll hold you all accountable!”

The Imperial Physician, long accustomed to being threatened by these royal children, simply bowed and agreed.

The Imperial Physician only instructed: “The Second Young Master needs someone watching him while he sleeps at night, to prevent him from turning over carelessly. Whether it itches or hurts, he mustn’t touch it to avoid scratching the wounds.”

Mu Wanyao nodded, noting down many of the Imperial Physician’s instructions.

She frowned: “His temperature is very hot, does he have a fever?”

The Imperial Physician said: “This is indeed most dangerous. The burn is minor, but the fever is serious. Has Second Master Yan been too busy with official duties recently? His qi, blood, and energy are depleted, and now encountering this injury, the illness has suddenly become fierce. Your Highness must have someone watch over Second Master tonight to help reduce his fever… If not properly cared for and the fever continues, it would be normal even if the person burns away.”

Mu Wanyao was frightened, her face turning pale, and nodded repeatedly, promising to take good care. Then she refused to let the Imperial Physician return to the palace, insisting that he stay at the Yan residence tonight, just in case the Imperial Physician was needed urgently.

When it came to having someone stay to care for Yan Shang at night, Mu Wanyao stood in the corridor, looking at the rows of Yan household servants and attendants. She frowned, still resentful that some of them had earlier held white silk, frightening her into thinking Yan Shang had passed away.

How could such servants properly care for Yan Shang?

Mu Wanyao: “Have five people set up beds outside to take turns during the night. Inside, I’ll care for him, I don’t need you all.”

The servants were all shocked, and Xia Rong directly said: “Your Highness, how can this be? What if Your Highness falls ill from exhaustion?”

Mu Wanyao had always been physically delicate; a slight breeze from outside or an extra day of rain could easily confine her to bed. It was only because Mu Wanyao was a princess, carefully tended to, that she could be as healthy as she was now. How could someone of Mu Wanyao’s constitution take care of another sick person?

Xia Rong had gradually become bolder than before, more controlling, and even daring to contradict Mu Wanyao now. But Mu Wanyao ignored them, turning straight into the room to check on Yan Shang. Seeing the Princess like this, Xia Rong could only sigh and arrange for the maids to take care of the Princess.

For the next two consecutive nights, Mu Wanyao slept in Yan Shang’s quarters. Fortunately, their two households were too close, and the servants all came from the Princess’s residence, so no one knew of the Princess’s willful behavior.

Mu Wanyao held Yan Shang, caring for him attentively yet awkwardly.

She knew the servants would do better than her, but they wouldn’t be as devoted as she was.

She held him, pressing her forehead to his; when his temperature rose slightly, she became terrified, and when his body temperature turned cold, she grew anxious again. She held his hand, not daring to let him turn over in his sleep, fearing he would aggravate his wounds. She slept beside him, and even the slightest change in his breathing could startle her awake.

In Mu Wanyao’s eyes, Yan Shang wasn’t a powerful official from the court; he was just a fragile scholar.

She treated him with such care.

She asked for nothing in return; as long as he recovered, she would be at ease.

After two nights, Yan Shang’s fever finally broke, and only after the maids’ repeated kneeling and pleading did Mu Wanyao return to her residence to sleep. Even then, she still came over daily, watching over those caring for him.

The maids exchanged glances; before they had only thought the Princess somewhat liked the Second Young Master; now they realized just how much the Princess loved him—

Yan Shang had been half-asleep for two days.

Initially, he was awakened by Mu Wanyao’s crying and tears, staying conscious briefly before fainting again. During the following two days, although he remained in a state of unconsciousness, he vaguely felt Mu Wanyao’s constant presence beside him. Her presence surrounded him as she applied medicine and fed him porridge.

At night, she would hold him, sometimes doing nothing, sometimes quietly crying, softly calling him “Second Brother Yan.”

Yan Shang felt immense heartache, his heart as if soaked in bitter water, only wishing he could wake up sooner to stop her from worrying.

In his dreams, he always felt a dampness in the air, as if she was constantly crying. But she only cried, saying nothing. Those initial devastating words of “What will I do if you leave me” never appeared again.

Silent, indifferent. Yet still crying.

Why cry? Hadn’t she said she didn’t like crying anymore? Hadn’t she said she wouldn’t cry again? Hadn’t she said they were separated?

Then why still act this way?—

On the third day, Mu Wanyao sat routinely by Yan Shang’s bedside, lowering her head to give him medicine. After feeding him the medicine, when she was about to leave, her wrist was gently caught.

The grip was extremely light.

Mu Wanyao turned her head to see the person lying in bed, his appearance haggard, face pale, but with eyes open like autumn pools, gentle and clear, reaching out to hold her.

Mu Wanyao stiffened, lowering her head to meet his gaze.

Facing someone who had just regained consciousness, her response was too cold, merely looking down at him without even a glimmer of joy in her eyes.

Yan Shang hoarsely called: “Yaoyao…”

He had struggled to wake up just to say something to her, to tell her not to worry anymore. However, having just awakened, his voice was hoarse and he couldn’t speak. He could only manage a strained smile, hoping she would understand his expression.

Mu Wanyao removed her hand from his grip and placed it behind her back.

She said indifferently: “I’m not here to take care of you. I’m just being a good neighbor, making a routine visit to a sick person. Because all the officials came, it would look bad if I didn’t come. Don’t read too much into it, it doesn’t mean anything.”

Yan Shang couldn’t speak, only staring at her blankly. She lowered her eyes, standing up from the bedside, her thick eyelashes hiding any emotion in her eyes.

It seemed his awakening had once again frozen their relationship.

Mu Wanyao said coldly: “Don’t call me ‘Yaoyao.’ We’ve already separated, Second Young Master Yan should mind his words and actions, don’t ruin my reputation. I’ve completed my sick visit, I won’t come again, take care of yourself.”

Yan Shang was stunned.

He struggled to sit up, trying to speak. But she had already turned and fled, not giving him a chance to say a word of retention. The next moment, servants from outside rushed in, excitedly attending to Second Young Master Yan, surrounding him.

Inside, the servants were bustling about with tears and laughter, going to fetch the physician. Outside the room, Mu Wanyao leaned against the wall, trying to calm her emotions.

She had already instructed the servants, both households’ servants, not to mention that she had cared for him for two days and nights.

She thought she must have performed well just now, acting out the scene of a former lover visiting the sick quite normally.

She was grateful she had run away quickly, otherwise, Yan Shang would have seen her ugly state with tears in her eyes, quietly crying again. She was grateful she had run fast enough, or she would have thrown herself into his arms, holding him while sobbing.

Thank goodness she ran quickly!

Otherwise, she wouldn’t want to leave for even a moment, wanting to stay by his bedside watching him every second.

But she couldn’t do this.

She was a bad woman, she had already been selfish for so long, enjoying Yan Shang’s goodness for so long. She couldn’t let herself sink any deeper… She had finally broken free from his influence, she couldn’t let herself fall into the same trap again!

To her, Yan Shang was like opium. She truly feared she would never be able to leave him, feared she would give up everything for him, becoming isolated and helpless… That was too frightening. It was like handing over her fate once again, tying her destiny to someone else’s.

She no longer wanted to surrender her fate.

Nor did she want to become a bad princess, making Yan Shang sacrifice his entire life for her.

She guarded her heart and her love, not letting anyone hurt her last shred of dignity—

Yet Mu Wanyao was distracted and absent-minded.

She somewhat regretted caring for Yan Shang.

During the previous month when she hadn’t seen Yan Shang, she truly felt she could endure it; but now, having seen him, she kept thinking of him. Every time she returned home, standing before the two opposing mansion gates, she couldn’t help but turn her head to look at the Yan family’s door.

If this continued, Mu Wanyao feared that one day she would mindlessly cross into the Yan residence, stand by Yan Shang’s bedside, and beg him to return.

She felt her life had become so meaningless.

No one followed her anymore, carefully considering her every word and action; no one used that clear, unhurried voice to tease her when she was cold-faced; no one merely endured the pain when she rushed over to hit them, never retaliating; no one turned bright red when she hugged and kissed them, only sighing and silently accepting it.

At night, Mu Wanyao sat in the third-floor tower of her residence, watching the lights of the mansion opposite.

These days, the lights in the study of the opposite mansion hadn’t been lit at night; only the bedroom lights remained on.

Mu Wanyao wondered if his wounds had improved.

Had he returned to the government office to work these past two days?

Had the official who pushed him into the lamp oil come to see him and apologize?

Mu Wanyao knew nothing and forced herself not to ask. Afraid that spilled water couldn’t be gathered up, afraid that once she started asking, she wouldn’t be able to stop.

She just sat in the darkness for long periods, watching the lights of the opposite mansion, watching that point of light in the thin mist. She could often sit like this all night until bedtime.

However, one night, suddenly, the window of the bedroom in the opposite mansion opened, and a young lord stood at the window… Mu Wanyao was startled, falling from her rattan chair, crouching on the ground, and frantically calling out: “Put out the light! Put it out!”—

After Yan Shang could get out of bed, something occurred to him, and he pushed open the window to look at the opposite mansion. He had just noticed the tower’s light was on when, the next moment, the lantern went dark.

Standing at the window in his robes, Yan Shang paused, remembering how during his two days of illness, he had constantly felt her holding him and crying in his dreams. Those tears that had made him so distressed, he could vaguely feel them again.

Yan Shang stood still for a moment, then went out wearing his robes and carrying a lantern. Due to his injuries, he could only wear such loose robes to avoid touching his wounds. When Yan Shang went out with the lantern, Yunshu tried to stop him but failed.

Yunshu could only help carry the lantern, accompanying the Second Young Master out to knock on the neighboring mansion’s door.

After a while, the Princess’s doorkeeper apologetically came to open the door: “Second Young Master, our Princess doesn’t allow you to visit. Besides, it’s late now, our Princess has already retired.”

Yan Shang lowered his eyes, speaking softly: “I merely knocked on the door, and without even asking her, you already know she’s asleep?”

The servant’s face reddened at the lie.

Yan Shang naturally knew who had given these orders, and he just said: “I only want to speak a few words with her, is there no way to accommodate this?”

The servant: “Second Young Master… we have no choice.”

Yan Shang: “Very well.”

The Princess’s servant thought he would leave and was just feeling relieved when he saw the young lord at the gate lower his eyes and say quietly: “Then please tell Her Highness that I will stand here waiting for her tonight until she agrees to see me.”

The servant became anxious and hurried back to report.

After the doorkeeper left, Yunshu who had followed Yan Shang asked: “Second Young Master, will this allow us to see the Princess? After seeing the Princess and setting your mind at ease, will you return to rest?”

But Yan Shang said: “She won’t come to see me.”

Yunshu was stunned.

Yan Shang said helplessly: “When she hardens her heart, she’s like this. I’m just standing here for a while, she’ll think I’m threatening her and be even less likely to see me. If I weren’t injured, she’d probably directly send guards to drive me away.”

Yunshu: “…Then why are we standing here?”

Yan Shang said softly: “To make a statement.”

He lifted his face, looking at the Princess’s residence’s nameplate. He murmured: “I must see her.”—

Mu Wanyao had been feeling dead inside, so depressed she felt nearly dead, but these past two days since Yan Shang could go out, she had been annoyed to death by him.

To avoid him, she now had to sneak out through the back door of the Princess’s residence every day. Fang Tong had already clearly investigated Spring Lady’s matter and returned to Mu Wanyao’s side, but Mu Wanyao no longer had the heart to worry about Spring Lady.

Fang Tong helped Mu Wanyao leave, first scouting the situation at the Princess’s back door, then letting the veiled Princess quietly come out and quickly mount her horse to leave.

Fang Tong: “Your Highness, must we always avoid the main gate like this?”

Mu Wanyao: “What else can we do? Yan Shang is so clever, if he wants to meet us face to face, could we avoid it?”

Fang Tong: “But if we use the back door every day, won’t the Second Young Master guess that too?”

Mu Wanyao: “…”

She said vaguely: “Anyway, he’s just one person, we can avoid him one day at a time.”

Fang Tong: “Why is Your Highness so afraid of him? You’ve only separated from him, Your Highness doesn’t owe him anything, why are you so guilty?”

Mu Wanyao: “I’m afraid that with just one word from him, I won’t be able to resist reconciling! I’ll agree to marry him, agree to give up power, benefits, and ambition, all for him… I can’t give up these things. I can’t lose these things… He just had the misfortune of catching my eye, but he doesn’t love me that much either, I don’t want his kind-heartedness that’s like pity.”

Fang Tong couldn’t help speaking up for Yan Shang: “The Second Young Master is naturally a calm and composed person who never acts rashly. How does Your Highness know that the Second Young Master only feels pity and hasn’t truly made up his mind…”

Mu Wanyao said softly: “A heart that weighs pros and cons, I don’t care for that.”

But after a while, Fang Tong, riding on horseback, vaguely heard the Princess murmur: “He shouldn’t end his family line. He should have a better life.”

Fang Tong turned his head to look; the Princess rode her tall horse, her veil covering her ankles and skirt hem. That soft sentence seemed like his imagination as if it hadn’t been Mu Wanyao who spoke—

The Emperor saw Mu Wanyao in the palace.

Since last month when the Crown Prince had joked about arranging a marriage for Mu Wanyao, she had actively begun refusing the marriage arrangements from the Li and Wei families. However, while the Li family had sent three or four new letters in succession, recently the letters had stopped, and when Mu Wanyao tried to mobilize southern resources, she began to find she couldn’t.

The Li family had begun applying pressure.

The Emperor looked at his youngest daughter seated below, beautiful and delicate, yet he felt she was sad and troubled. The Emperor said mildly: “Is Yaoyao still thinking about her marriage?”

Mu Wanyao became alert.

Unable to guess the Emperor’s meaning for a long while, she slightly bowed her body, laying on the Emperor’s knee like a spoiled child: “Father Emperor, I don’t want to marry again, I want to stay with Father Emperor forever. Does Father Emperor want me to marry again so much?”

The Emperor’s hand stroked her black hair as she raised her eyes like black grapes from his knee, looking up charmingly, her autumn waves like water.

The Emperor’s expression momentarily became dazed, as if seeing his Nuan come back to life, and then he felt another wave of sadness.

The Emperor said slowly: “Whether Yaoyao wants to marry, and whom she wants to marry, We support whatever you choose. We now only hope you can live well, live more happily.”

Mu Wanyao was surprised, blankly raising her face. She had been acting but unexpectedly saw genuine love and pity in Father Emperor’s eyes… Why was he being so good to her now?

Emperor: “Is the Li family forcing you?”

Mu Wanyao didn’t know his meaning, so she dared not answer, and after a while said without smiling: “What is Father Emperor saying? Nothing of the sort.”

Emperor: “Does Yaoyao want Us to help you deal with the Li family?”

Mu Wanyao was shocked! Her first reaction wasn’t that the Emperor wanted to help her, but that the Emperor wanted to use this excuse to uproot the Li family completely. Without the Li family of Jinling, how could she establish herself in court?

Mu Wanyao: “No! I’ll handle it myself! Father Emperor’s health isn’t good, you should rest more… This small matter doesn’t need Father Emperor’s concern! Hasn’t Father Emperor not wanted to intervene these past two years? This time too, let me handle it myself. I can do it. If I can’t, then I’ll ask Father Emperor for help, wouldn’t Father Emperor help me then?”

The Emperor saw fear and wariness in his beloved daughter’s eyes.

He smiled self-mockingly.

His thin hand stroked her long hair, telling her not to worry.

The Emperor repeated: “We have said, We will no longer force you. Whether you plan to marry or truly don’t want to marry again… We will no longer force you. But Yaoyao, in one’s lifetime, finding someone you like isn’t easy. We also hope you can find happiness, don’t force yourself too much.”

Mu Wanyao remained silent for a long while.

She suspected the Emperor was subtly referring to Yan Shang.

After a while, Mu Wanyao said: “I want to go to Jinling.”

The Emperor’s hand stopped on top of her head.

Mu Wanyao looked up: “I want to go to Jinling to personally meet Great Uncle and the others. Didn’t Father agree that I could handle this myself? Will Father allow me?”

The Emperor said: “Yaoyao, Jinling is too far…”

Mu Wanyao lowered her eyes, saying somewhat sadly: “I know. Father Emperor, I don’t know if you can understand, but recently, I’ve been very unhappy, often in a daze. I feel if I stay in Chang’an any longer, I’ll make mistakes. I want to avoid someone, want to forget some things… I want to go to Jinling to clear my mind. I hope when I return, all this will be over.”

After a long while, the Emperor finally said: “You are Our most beloved daughter, how could We not agree?”

Mu Wanyao tearfully expressed her thanks, receiving permission to leave Chang’an for Jinling.

Two years ago, the Emperor would never have agreed to this journey to Jinling. Back then, the Emperor was wary of Mu Wanyao getting too close to the Li family… But now, the Emperor seemed to care less.

Mu Wanyao thought, could it be that his long illness had made him muddled, making him remember to love his youngest daughter?

She didn’t believe it.

But regardless, she was still enjoying many of the special privileges the Emperor now granted her—

Mu Wanyao chose her departure date from Chang’an very carefully.

After all, the main thing was to prevent Yan Shang from knowing.

She deliberately chose a day when Yan Shang had returned to work at the Ministry of Revenue and had court officials keep Yan Shang busy. While Yan Shang was overwhelmed with work, she would quietly leave, and he naturally wouldn’t know.

The Princess’s residence now kept many things from Yan Shang. Every evening when Yan Shang came to find the Princess, she wouldn’t see him, so he would leave. He didn’t know that just a wall away, the Princess’s servants were packing luggage, preparing to accompany the Princess to Jinling.

Recently, Yan Shang has been busy with work handover between the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works.

The earlier incident where he was burned by lamp oil was caused by an official from the Ministry of Works. When Prince Jin learned of this, he came with the Minister of Works to visit and apologize, bringing many precious medicines. When Yan Shang returned to the Ministry of Revenue, the officials above had him deal with the Ministry of Works, handling their year’s worth of funding requests.

The Ministry of Revenue wanted Yan Shang to cut half the expenses.

Having spent over a month in the Ministry of Revenue, Yan Shang knew quite a bit about its situation. He said softly: “The Ministry of Revenue isn’t that short of funds.”

The official instructing him gave him a look and smiled: “Second Young Master Yan, is this your first day as an official? Those outside ministries are insatiable; giving them half of what they ask is enough.”

Yan Shang: “The Ministry of Works this time is for dam construction, benefiting the people, advantageous for generations to come. Should this also be cut by half?”

The official said displeasedly: “When you become Vice Minister of Revenue, then worry about the arrangements above. These are all orders from superiors. If all the money is given out, who will pay our salaries? Who will build the dining hall that catches the breeze at noon? The monthly funds disbursed by the Ministry of Revenue are several times that of other ministries… Haven’t any of these passed through your hands?”

Yan Shang: “Yet the Ministry of Revenue always claims to have no money. This money, where exactly…”

The official interrupted: “Second Young Master Yan, are you trying to be some great upright official?”

Under the other’s threatening gaze, Yan Shang fell silent for a moment, softly saying “How could that be,” taking the work he was supposed to do and no longer continuing this topic. That official was still uneasy and specifically reported Yan Shang’s words and actions to the Crown Prince. After observing for several more days and seeing that Yan Shang only routinely discussed matters with the Ministry of Works without doing anything extra, they finally relaxed.

After several consecutive days, Yan Shang became dispirited.

His injuries hadn’t completely healed, and he worked each day without much enthusiasm, thinking of taking leave.

This morning, when Yan Shang was going to the Ministry of Revenue’s office, he encountered several palace eunuchs on the official road.

The leading eunuch had refined features, with small eunuchs following behind, heads lowered, carefully attending.

That eunuch looked this way, seeing Yan Shang, his pupils slightly contracted. Yan Shang saw him and recognized Liu Wenji, and his eyes also moved slightly.

He stopped on the official road.

Liu Wenji led two small eunuchs to stand before him, the two faced each other, standing silently for a moment. Liu Wenji bowed, lowering his eyes: “Greetings to this young lord.”

Yan Shang watched with a heavy heart.

However, he couldn’t acknowledge Liu Wenji. Whether for his official career or Liu Wenji’s position in the palace.

Yan Shang only said gently: “Are you all coming to work so early?”

Liu Wenji slightly strained his voice, trying his best not to let it become somewhat sharp like other eunuchs. He tried to act as usual, forcing himself to say calmly: “By Imperial order, going to inspect the Imperial Guard’s military parade.”

Yan Shang’s eyebrows moved slightly, thinking could the Emperor be planning to move Chang’an’s troops?

Was it aimed at Prince Qin or just routine deployment?

Yan Shang didn’t say much, exchanged bows with Liu Wenji, watching those eunuchs pass before him. Only after they had walked far did Yan Shang open his hand, looking at a rolled note in his palm—which Liu Wenji had secretly passed to him while bowing.

Yan Shang opened the note, which bore Liu Wenji’s handwriting: “Princess Danyang cannot bear children.”—

Yan Shang tore the note to pieces completely, leaving no trace.

He had long known that Mu Wanyao couldn’t bear children.

This wasn’t the value of Liu Wenji’s note. The true value of Liu Wenji’s note was—the Emperor knew about this.

Liu Wenji must have wanted to inform him earlier, but Yan Shang was previously in the Department of State Affairs, and Liu Wenji couldn’t see him at all. Then Yan Shang fell ill and rarely came to the office. Even if Liu Wenji tried every day to leave the palace and walk once on the official road in front of the Six Ministries, it would be very difficult to happen to meet Yan Shang.

So this note must have been something Liu Wenji had wanted to give to Yan Shang for a long time but only managed to deliver now.

And Yan Shang already knew about this matter.

Liu Wenji could only have learned this from the Emperor.

How did the Emperor come to know?

…Most likely, it was the Wuman King Meng Zaishi.

Yan Shang closed his eyes, thinking of that day in the palace when he saw the Emperor and Mu Wanyao sitting together drinking wine.

Though he was her father… she didn’t know that her father had long known everything.

Her elder brother schemed against her, her father watched coldly from the sidelines, and her lover hesitated at the first moment… Yan Shang’s eyelashes trembled, suddenly feeling somewhat ashamed—

Mu Wanyao climbed into the carriage, taking one last look at Chang’an, and one last look at the residence opposite the Princess’s mansion.

Xia Rong asked if there was anything else they hadn’t brought.

Mu Wanyao shook her head, sat in the carriage, and lowered the curtain.

Thus leaving Chang’an for Jinling—

At Prince Jin’s residence, Prince Jin was handling an agricultural matter in the suburbs, the Princess Consort had gone to the mountains to pray for children, and in the prince’s residence, the highest-ranking person remaining was Chunhua, who had been made Secondary Princess Consort after bearing the eldest son.

Chunhua heard that a court official sought an audience with Prince Jin, so she had someone say Prince Jin wasn’t in.

However, the messenger reported that this court official seemed very urgent and insisted on waiting at the residence for Prince Jin’s return, wanting to know exactly when Prince Jin would return.

Going back and forth with messages was inconvenient, so Chunhua tidied her appearance, had screens set up for separation, and went personally to speak with this court official—

In the main hall of Prince Jin’s residence, Chunhua was stunned to see Yan Shang.

Through the screen, Yan Shang bowed to her, surprising her.

For a moment, she couldn’t tell if Yan Shang had come to see Prince Jin, or if that was just an excuse and he had come to see her.

Because he said softly: “I want to know what exactly Her Highness experienced in Wuman. I want to know everything… I previously thought it wasn’t necessary to know so clearly, thinking there would always be a future, why always focus on the past.”

He stood with lowered eyes, appearing to Chunhua like cold moonlight in the sunlight, pale and dim.

Chunhua refused: “I cannot tell you. This is the Princess’s past, it has nothing to do with you, young lord.”

Yan Shang’s voice was extremely distressed: “But I’m about to have no future… I can only beg you to tell me everything.

“Why has she become like this today, why can’t she bear children? She told me she used to be very obedient, with a good temper; but why is her I know not like that? When she questioned me on South Mountain ‘Throughout history, must beauties only be taken by others?’ what was she thinking in her heart?

“I can’t avoid it anymore. I know she has locked herself away, I heard her crying constantly then, but when I woke up she wouldn’t admit it… Chunhua, I want to support her.”

He lifted his eyes slightly, seeming to have tears in them, making Chunhua who was preparing to leave stop in her tracks: “I want Mu Wanyao to be able to rely on me.”