Yan Shang wept. Mu Wanyao held him in bewilderment and heartache, shielding his tears. He trembled, gripping her hands. Through blurred vision, he traced her delicate jade-white fingers one by one. Tears fell from his lashes as he whispered, “Your fingers are intact.”

He hadn’t committed an irreversible mistake after all. Except for the dirt on her face and the dust splattered on her dress, she was completely unharmed.

Yan Shang embraced Mu Wanyao tightly once more—

War was an abyss, a quagmire. This abyss dragged everyone down, submerging them. Then mud covered their bodies, followed by a handful of yellow earth.

There was no war without sacrifice, no war without cruelty. People vainly attempted to prevent death in war with their meager strength. No matter how talented or capable you were, it was all futile.

Such was Yan Shang’s situation.

The Jiannan campaign was settled, with only a general left to guard and clear the battlefield. Upon returning to Guangzhou, Yan Shang needed just one day to make the exhausted Southern barbarian troops surrender at the city gates and capture King Ale.

King Ale refused to surrender and attempted suicide in the camp but was stopped by the Wei army who rushed in. Today, King Ale faced certain death, inevitably paying the price for this war. But he needed to be taken to Chang’an to apologize before everyone’s eyes.

He didn’t deserve to die in silence.

Now, only the Hexi battlefield remained unfinished. When Yan Shang left Jiannan, he had already sent several generals with half the cavalry to aid Hexi. Combined with the royal reinforcements that had saved Chang’an and the foreign troops that Wei Shu had requested from various nations, the Southern barbarian forces were trapped in Hexi, caught in an impossible situation.

Surrender was just a matter of time.

Yan Shang ordered the soldiers heading to Hexi to end the war within a month.

By the eighth month, Yan Shang wanted the war between Great Wei and the Southern barbarians completely settled. Great Wei had no interest in that barren Southern land and would implement loose-rein governance, supporting a new king whom Great Wei could trust. When the time came, they would select a suitable king from among the captives and appropriate people to negotiate with Great Wei.

Unknowingly, Yan Shang had taken control of all of Great Wei’s military and political affairs. This large-scale war had swiftly given him unprecedented authority in political and military matters. Especially after Minister Liu’s sacrifice and the imprisonment of the Minister of War, Yan Shang had effectively become the undisputed leader of Great Wei’s court.

His only weakness was that he wasn’t in the central government.

Wei Shu was there instead.

Countless people were waiting to see Yan Shang return to Chang’an and compete for power with Wei Shu.

These were matters for later.

Though it appeared Yan Shang’s official career was flourishing with great power in his grasp, Mu Wanyao knew that given the choice, he would rather give up all of this to bring back those who had died—

The war in Guangzhou was much easier for Yan Shang than for Jiannan, but after reuniting with him, Mu Wanyao was shocked by his poor condition. After coaxing him to sleep, she finally learned what had happened outside.

Guangzhou had been sealed off for half a year with no contact with the outside world. Only now did Mu Wanyao learn how many acquaintances had died.

Especially Minister Liu and Yang Si.

The deaths of these two must have been devastating blows to Yan Shang.

Late at night, as Yan Shang slept restlessly in his tent, Mu Wanyao lit some of the agarwood incense he always used. Only after seeing his furrowed brows relax did she leave the sleeping quarters.

After instructing the maids to watch over the Prince Consort, Mu Wanyao went to the study to inquire about the stories she had missed these past six months.

Sitting beside the desk, the Princess’s long dress swept the ground, her countenance beautiful and bearing steady.

The guard who had followed Yan Shang’s army took one look at this beautiful princess and his eyes reddened. If he felt such heartache, how much worse must it be for Yan Shang?

The guard choked up: “…When news of Third Brother’s death arrived, those despicable Southern barbarians kept telling us they had Your Highness. They even used a severed finger, claiming it was Your Highness’s, to deceive us. Second Brother was already in pain, and after that, he immediately coughed up blood.”

Mu Wanyao’s pupils constricted.

Her fingers curled, clutching the armrest tightly.

For a moment her mind went blank, her heart aching so much that she bent over, struggling to breathe.

Tears quickly welled up in her eyes.

So many had died in battle, his teacher was gone, her childhood friend was gone… She felt such pain just hearing about it. How much strength must Yan Shang have needed to endure all this time, to finally break down in tears upon seeing her?

For someone like him, unless the pain was unbearable, how could he become so choked with emotion?

Mu Wanyao closed her eyes and said in a trembling voice, “You may leave.”

She needed to calm down, needed to lick the wounds on her heart clean herself. She had to process all this before she could help Yan Shang recover.

In the past, it was always Yan Shang who comforted her.

Now, she had to be the one to support him and keep him from falling—

Yan Shang didn’t sleep well all night.

The nightmares that tormented him daily didn’t end even after returning to Mu Wanyao’s side.

He dreamed of too many corpses, too many clashing swords. He dreamed of his teacher, and of Yang Si kneeling on the ground covered in blood, letting countless arrows pierce his heart.

—Why couldn’t he save them?

“Creeak.”

The wooden door opened.

Mu Wanyao tiptoed in with her dress gathered, intending to check on Yan Shang. She found him sitting on the bed lost in thought, his long hair loose. Sunlight fell on him, making him appear incredibly thin.

He turned to look at her, the young man’s eyes still somewhat red, bloodshot from lack of sleep. Mu Wanyao froze for a moment.

She could tell he hadn’t slept well.

Mu Wanyao smiled brightly: “You’re awake? So early too. Perfect, let’s go have breakfast at your father’s house? Your sister-in-law made porridge today, and your father and brother both want to see you.”

She counted on her fingers the day’s tasks: “Many houses collapsed during the city battle, leaving many citizens homeless, and the grain you brought needs to be distributed too. The people are gathering at the government office, wanting to kowtow to us.

“We should meet all these people, shouldn’t we?”

When Yan Shang spoke, his voice was slightly hoarse: “Let’s skip it today.”

Mu Wanyao maintained her composure: “Then we’ll discuss it tomorrow. Get up first. I won’t go out today, I’ll stay home with you. We won’t do anything, just enjoy the sunshine and admire the flowers, how about that?”

Yan Shang’s dark eyes stared at her.

Mu Wanyao lowered her head: “The jade pendant… I did lose it. It wasn’t intentional, so please don’t be angry with me. Between us, losing a token of love isn’t important. I don’t believe in such things, our bond isn’t maintained by those items.

“I’ve already apologized to your father! And he’s forgiven me!”

Yan Shang studied her.

Back in familiar surroundings, his agitated emotions seemed to gradually calm. He began to return to his gentle self, speaking slowly: “I brought the jade pendant back for you. Haven’t you found it while going through my clothes?”

Mu Wanyao widened her eyes: “No, I haven’t.”

Yan Shang stared at her.

He couldn’t help but smile: “You’re lying.”

He said: “How could you not go through my things? In Your Highness’s eyes, my entire person belongs to Your Highness. After not seeing each other for a year, how could Your Highness not verify whether your possession still belongs to you? How could Your Highness rest easy without checking?”

Mu Wanyao: “…”

She complained: “You’re speaking so bluntly now, not giving me any face at all.”

Yan Shang: “Sorry, I’m a bit tired, don’t have the energy to mind such things.”

But Mu Wanyao smiled, pressing her lips together: “It’s alright, you know I love it when you get angry, love it when you don’t consider others’ feelings. I just love it when Second Brother Yan is willful.”

Yan Shang was stunned for a while, watching her stand prettily a few steps away, muttering many things to him. Though it went in one ear and out the other, she remained happy and cheerful, pacing before him. She was like a butterfly, absolutely magnificent. Though the war wasn’t over, though she now knew about those deaths, she could still hold herself together.

Yan Shang softly interrupted her words: “Your Highness is the bravest person I’ve ever met.”

Mu Wanyao paused and turned to look at him.

She saw him sitting on the bed, smiling as he reached out to her: “Yaoyao, come here.”

Seeing him so haggard and weak, face pale as snow, Mu Wanyao’s heart ached terribly. How could she still put on airs? She obediently walked over, thinking that according to Yan Shang’s habits, he would surely embrace her. He needed to hold her, to confirm she was alive, to confirm she existed.

Sure enough, Yan Shang reached out to hold her, embracing her as she sat beside him.

Just as Mu Wanyao was feeling proud of her understanding of Yan Shang, she saw him lower his head and gently brush his finger across her collarbone, loosening her clothes.

Her skin was as smooth as snow, her curves majestic and glistening.

Springing forth.

Mu Wanyao froze.

This wasn’t something Yan Shang would do… he would never suddenly act like this.

But this time he did.

He carelessly removed her gauze and clothes, and while Mu Wanyao was still stunned and confused, he took her into his arms and lowered his head to kiss her.

Dawn had just broken, birds were chirping, and the room was already filled with the atmosphere of spring—

Yan Shang was somewhat indulgent, somewhat different from his usual self.

He had always been gentle before, always considering her feelings first. Only after she was comfortable would he think of himself. But this time was different, he seemed both absent-minded and completely focused.

He stared at her the whole time, but his dark eyes were completely hollow. Though a vibrant beauty was before his eyes, perhaps she hadn’t truly entered his heart.

Moreover, after a year apart, their first time was somewhat difficult and awkward.

Mu Wanyao endured it, trying her best to get into the right state quickly. Only if she relaxed would they both feel better. Physical contact between men and women was always the simplest way to bridge the gap between them. Their perspiration was their outlet for release, and all trivial matters could be vented this way, with good results.

When they finished once, the warm sun was gentle. Mu Wanyao leaned against his shoulder and bit him resentfully. Her beautiful features relaxed as she looked up at him, offering a smile.

He didn’t smile back.

His hand gathered her hair, watching the black strands slip through his fingers, and said, “Your hair is shorter.”

Mu Wanyao: “Is there such a big difference? I’m still beautiful, aren’t I?”

Yan Shang said softly: “I don’t like it.”

Mu Wanyao glared: “How dare you not like it!”

Yan Shang: “I still prefer your hair reaching your ankles, prefer the well-maintained length that hasn’t experienced any hardship.”

Mu Wanyao froze.

Yan Shang lowered his head, one hand cupping her cheek, the other cool hand brushing across her brow, eyes, and nose: “I love the pride in your features, love your fierce expression when you glare at people. I love your delicate skin, nurtured like snow, feeling as if it might melt in my palm when I hold it. Fearing you might melt away, I cherish you even more carefully. And so you become even softer, making it harder for me to let go.

“I love your mouth. So red, as if always wearing rouge. But actually, you were born with black eyes and red lips, naturally beautiful. Even without rouge, when you remove your makeup at night, your lips are still that red. Small and soft, when I kiss them, I feel like I’ve tasted the sweetest candy in the world.”

Mu Wanyao’s cheeks burned hot.

Her clothes were disheveled, her snow-white skin partially visible, both concealing and revealing. She meant to be alluring to seduce him, but his direct praise still made her shy.

Mu Wanyao covered her face and tried to hide from his embrace: “How can you suddenly say such sweet things…”

Yan Shang circled her waist and pulled her back: “Don’t go.”

Mu Wanyao complained: “I wasn’t going anywhere.”

He ignored her and lifted her. He stood, carrying her horizontally in his arms. Mu Wanyao thought his exhaustion was acting up and he was taking her to wash. But unexpectedly, he carried her out of the inner chamber and sat her on what was originally a flower stand.

He brushed away the black strands from her face and lowered his head to kiss her again.

Yan Shang said softly: “Once more.”

Mu Wanyao changed color in shock: “Again?!”

Lovemaking wasn’t always entirely pleasant, that sensation wavering between comfort and discomfort was unbearable. Daylight was originally forbidden, outside the inner chamber was forbidden, and doing it on the outer stand was forbidden.

But now everything was permitted.

Yan Shang used what Mu Wanyao had taught him to torment her.

He used this method to vent his emotions.

Bold and unrestrained, cold and intense.

At first Mu Wanyao enjoyed it, but later it became painful. His brows were furrowed, clearly he wasn’t very comfortable either. But his hands gripped her slender waist without letting go, as if obsessed. Mu Wanyao covered her mouth to endure, then buried her face in his shoulder whimpering, softly begging him to stop.

Three times in succession.

The third time, it wouldn’t end, he couldn’t find release, and she suffered greatly, growing anxious with him. They moved from the inner chamber to the outer chamber, finally returning to the small couch behind the screen. It was stuffy and cramped, fortunately they were both so thin.

When it finally ended, Yan Shang’s hand still rested on Mu Wanyao’s waist and he fell back without a word. The bedding had been thrown to the floor, and Yan Shang fell onto the couch with a thud, his head hitting the wooden board.

Mu Wanyao was startled and quickly bent to check on him.

She saw that he had merely fallen asleep.

Mu Wanyao lowered her head, enduring the soreness as her fingers brushed over his peaceful brows and eyes, sweeping across the weariness on his face.

She gently kissed his lips and said softly: “So you also have times when you use desire to vent your emotions.

“So you also collapse after finishing… you also have the same emotions as other men.

“Second Brother Yan, I’m so happy you trust me this much. We’ll walk this path together.”—

The couple didn’t delay long in Guangzhou. After Yan Shang’s release at that time, Mu Wanyao could see him visibly improving day by day, beginning to return to his usual self. Once matters in Guangzhou were settled, they immediately returned to Chang’an to handle the aftermath of the war.

By this time, the Southern barbarians on the Hexi battlefield had finally surrendered.

At the end of the seventh month, all the officials in Chang’an were waiting for the Yan Shang couple to return to the capital and manage state affairs. The only remaining trouble in Chang’an was Liu Wenji, who had closed the palace gates and used the Northern Garrison troops to guard them against the Imperial Guard.

But even this confrontation was about to end.

The tide had turned, and nothing could change it.

In early August, the palace gates could barely be held, as the Northern Garrison troops couldn’t withstand those attacking the gates. Liu Wenji was thoroughly disgraced by the condemnation of everyone in Chang’an.

As the fires of war burned, one palace gate was broken open from the outside. When soldiers below came to report, Liu Wenji stood dazed by the imperial lake before a palace chamber. His hand holding the sword trembled as he gritted his teeth, thinking he couldn’t surrender. His voice was hoarse as he ordered people to continue blocking the palace gates when a commotion arose from behind.

A eunuch’s voice: “Your Majesty! Your Majesty! You cannot go!”

Liu Wenji turned to see it was Chunhua, who held the position of Noble Consort.

The eunuchs couldn’t stop Chunhua. When she saw Liu Wenji turn around, she rushed over and grabbed his sleeve. Her clothes were somewhat disheveled, clearly having run here in haste. Liu Wenji looked down at her, steadying his breath.

He gritted his teeth and said hoarsely: “What are you doing here? Go hide with the Empress Dowager and the other palace women… Even if the palace gates are breached, you are the late Emperor’s consorts. Those ministers all claim to be gentlemen, they won’t kill you palace women who I’ve held hostage.”

Chunhua gripped his sleeve tightly as if she hadn’t heard his words. She pressed a medicine bottle into his hand, speaking urgently: “I heard one palace gate has been breached, those people will soon storm in to kill you. You… you should quickly escape, don’t worry about all this…”

Liu Wenji said coldly: “People wanting to kill me are everywhere, where can I escape to?”

Chunhua: “This is the medicine I had the palace doctors prepare, it can make someone appear dead for twenty hours. I originally planned… originally planned… but you take this medicine! You use it!”

Liu Wenji stared blankly.

He looked down at the medicine bottle she had pressed into his hand. He raised his head to look at her spring-like features again and said softly: “What did you originally plan?”

Chunhua: “That’s not important… what’s important is that you live.”

Liu Wenji: “Everyone wants me dead.”

Chunhua said tearfully: “But you’ve been so good to me…”

Liu Wenji: “You abandoned your princess.”

Chunhua: “That I could be a consort in the palace for so long, that I could avoid being bullied despite not having His Majesty’s favor, that Yuer could grow up safely… it was all thanks to your care. I know you’ve always been looking after me. Though you speak harshly, you’ve always been good to me.”

She choked up: “I hope you can live. Just… stay away from all this. Stop doing evil.”

Liu Wenji seemed not to hear her persuasion. She had delivered the medicine and wanted to leave, but Liu Wenji grabbed her wrist.

He looked at her with a twisted expression, smiling sinisterly: “You hope for a eunuch to live well!”

Chunhua’s face paled slightly, her heart stinging at his words “eunuch.”

Liu Wenji said darkly: “Looking after you was nothing but a trivial matter! What are you worth? I was never truly good to you! I tricked that useless emperor into writing a confession of guilt, establishing a new emperor. The new emperor was originally my plan to curry favor with the scholar faction, he was meant to help me please those people! So the new emperor is the Empress’s son! Not your son! It has nothing to do with you!

“I didn’t even give your son a future… what right do you have to say I was good to you? What makes you think I gave you my heart?”

Chunhua looked up at his gloomy features as his cold hand gripped her wrist painfully. He exposed their relationship in front of the eunuchs and soldiers, causing others to change expression and lower their heads, while Chunhua’s face turned pale.

Yet she remained gentle.

She insisted stubbornly: “I know what kind of person you are. Perhaps I was wrong, don’t mind it… what’s more important now is that you quickly escape.

“The Princess is coming back, Second Young Master Yan is coming back… when they return, you will surely die!”

She choked up: “I don’t want you to die.”

Liu Wenji stared at her blankly.

Suddenly in this moment he felt dejected, accepting that his cause was lost. From the corner of his eye he saw another general hurriedly coming to report something to him, and he was tired of this—always losing! Always being defeated by those who wanted to kill him. Why keep asking endlessly!

Liu Wenji suddenly grabbed Chunhua’s hand and dragged her along with him: “Come with me!”

Chunhua stumbled as Liu Wenji pushed her into a palace chamber. When she fell inside, she saw a room full of children standing up in shock, staring at her.

The palace gates closed behind them as Liu Wenji roared for everyone to go block the gates. He raised his sword and walked toward the children.

One of the children, around eight years old, stood up and walked toward the door, blurting out: “Mother Consort! Mother Consort, have you come to save us?”

Another boy with childish features, wearing modified dragon robes, vigilantly grabbed Chunhua’s son’s hand and pulled him back: “A’Yue, don’t go over there!”

This was the newly established young emperor.

The young emperor was the son of the former empress, now empress dowager, but what use was being emperor? Liu Wenji had imprisoned him and his many brothers and sisters; they were all effectively prisoners.

Liu Wenji approached these children with his sword raised.

The children backed away.

Chunhua stood up supporting herself on her knees, crying out in shock: “What are you doing?!”

Liu Wenji looked at these children cruelly.

He stared at the young emperor with numbness and viciousness. The young emperor retreated, all the children retreating together, as Liu Wenji raised his sword.

He muttered: “I originally planned to imprison you, hold you hostage, and finally use you to bargain for my life. As long as the young emperor was in my hands, those ministers would have no choice but to let me go! But Chunhua, you’re right, by now those ministers might not care anymore… especially Yan Shang.

“You see Yan Shang showing respect to the emperor, but he’s someone who holds no reverence for rulers! It’s precisely because he has no respect for rulers that he dared to marry a princess! If I tried to threaten him with the young emperor’s life to let me escape, he would never agree.

“You say I’ve been good to you, but I haven’t. I did it all for power, I only wanted power… but now I’m different. I’ve never done anything for you before, but now I’ll do one thing for you.

“If all these children die, if all the young emperors die, then your son can become emperor! You’ll become empress dowager, living in glory and wealth, enjoying it all in my place!”

Chunhua screamed: “You’re mad!”

Mu Yue cried in fear: “Don’t come any closer!”

The young emperor: “Guards, guards, protect us—”

The eunuchs and palace maids who cared for the princes and princesses rushed forward to protect the children, with Chunhua also rushing forward from behind. But Liu Wenji seemed to have already gone mad, and no one could stop him. He laughed maniacally, not understanding why Chunhua would try to stop him.

And those eunuchs Liu Wenji had brought in, terrified, helped him kill others.

That child called Mu Yue, though he was Chunhua’s son, placed himself in front of the young emperor to shield him.

Liu Wenji coaxed: “Mu Yue, don’t you want to be emperor, don’t you want to be above all others? Once they’re all dead, Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao will have no choice, and you can become emperor! To become emperor, you must be ruthless!”

He swung his sword, and a palace servant died at his feet, clutching his sleeve and refusing to let go. Liu Wenji swung again, and blood splattered onto his face.

Mu Yue desperately tried to hide the young emperor behind himself. Though the former empress disliked his mother’s weakness, he had grown up with the young emperor, and the two children had always been close.

He had previously felt resentful that his mother’s treatment in the palace wasn’t good enough, that his treatment as the eldest son wasn’t good enough. But he had never thought about letting his brother die, never thought about having all his brothers and sisters make way for him.

Mu Yue cried loudly: “You’re mad, you’re mad! Spare my brother! Spare my brother!”

Chunhua broke down: “Liu Wenji—”

But she was held back by the palace servants Liu Wenji had brought in, unable to move.

The palace chamber was in chaos, blood flowing like a river.

Just then, “BANG—” a tremendous noise rang out as the palace doors were smashed open from outside, crashing to the ground in a cloud of dust.

Liu Wenji, his face spattered with blood, turned to see a magnificent crowd standing at the palace entrance, each person solemn and stern.

At the front were the couple Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao, followed by Wei Shu, Minister Zhang, and then other court officials.

Behind them, soldiers carrying weapons rushed into the palace.

Seeing the corpses on the ground, their eyes bulged with rage: “Liu Wenji!”

Liu Wenji looked at Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao, laughing loudly: “You’ve returned— have you come to kill me? Just a little more, just a little more—”

He suddenly turned, pushing aside the dazed Mu Yue, trying to kill the young emperor. But from behind Yan Shang, a general threw a dagger, striking Liu Wenji’s raised arm.

A trembling old man, supported by someone, stepped forward and spoke with grief and anger: “Liu Wenji, you murdered the former emperor, and now you want to kill the young princes. Your evil deeds are countless, and you show no remorse!”

It was Cheng An.

Liu Wenji’s eyes grew even crazed as he swung his sword down.

Behind Liu Wenji, Mu Yue lunged forward again, hugging his leg and biting down.

Mu Yue cried: “You defiled my mother, and now you want to kill my brother! Minister Yan, Aunt, quickly kill him, kill him…”

Defiled.

At these words, not only did Liu Wenji freeze, but Chunhua also collapsed to the ground, her face pale.

Liu Wenji looked down at the small child clinging to his leg. Mu Yue looked up, his eyes full of hatred. Liu Wenji was dazed, thinking how he had done everything to make him emperor, why did he hate him?

Liu Wenji looked again at Cheng An, at the ministers, at Yan Shang, at Mu Wanyao.

They were cold and indifferent.

Their eyes all said he deserved death.

Liu Wenji staggered backward, supporting himself with his sword, refusing to fall as he shouted hoarsely: “What did I do wrong—”

Yan Shang interrupted: “You were completely wrong!”

Liu Wenji stared blankly.

He watched as Yan Shang walked toward him—

“You were wrong to murder the emperor and blame it on the former crown prince.

“You were wrong to collude with enemies and conspire with foreign powers! You and the former emperor caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of border soldiers, killed a prime minister, and killed countless loyal ministers… you brought Great Wei to decline and suffering.

“You were wrong to kill Luo Xiu, wrong from the very beginning with your evil intentions, wrong as you strayed further and became more vicious.”

Yan Shang spoke each word distinctly as he stepped forward.

His voice was emotional, his eyes even misting over. Then his tone changed as he said softly: “I was also wrong.”

He said: “I was wrong to notice early on that something wasn’t right with you, yet always wanted to give you chances, thinking you weren’t born evil, that you could still turn back. I was wrong to be soft-hearted toward you, wrong to… not kill you earlier!

“I should have killed you long ago! Should have ended all this long ago!”—

Liu Wenji stared blankly at Yan Shang.

He suddenly dropped his sword, his voice choking: “This is all your fault. I was so good to you, I always cared for you in the palace, but you never looked back at me. That day when the former crown prince rebelled, when the former Prince of Qin rebelled when Mi’s reinforcements were delayed… you still looked down on me, still wouldn’t treat me as a friend.”

He choked up: “You still didn’t trust me.”

Yan Shang closed his eyes.

Mu Wanyao’s face was slightly pale, her expression somewhat weary. But she held Yan Shang’s hand and turned to Liu Wenji: “Your crimes are heinous, yet in the end, you blame us for not being good enough to you. Has the whole world wronged you?”

She was different from Yan Shang.

She was always sharp and incisive: “Wrong is wrong, stop making so many excuses for yourself!”

Liu Wenji looked at her.

Liu Wenji nodded: “Killing the emperor, conspiring with foreign powers, leading the emperor to debauchery… what else, why don’t you continue? Your Highness? My crimes, why don’t you list them all?”

He laughed loudly: “Can’t say it, can you? Because you also had intentions, didn’t you? You also didn’t want your person… your person…!”

He suddenly lost his voice, standing there in a daze. Then he collapsed weakly, held from behind.

Everyone could see clearly, that a dagger stabbed into his heart from behind. He fell, his whole body convulsing, not wanting to look back.

And Chunhua, face covered in tears, embraced him.

She was completely broken, nearly mad herself. She mumbled dazedly: “You were also wrong to have relations with a palace consort.”

Liu Wenji fell into Chunhua’s embrace, his eyes losing focus as blood flowed from his chest. Chunhua’s tears fell on his face as she gripped the dagger, her own hands also bleeding. She then used that dagger to stab her own heart.

Mu Wanyao’s pupils contracted as she stepped forward: “Chunhua!”

Mu Yue screamed: “Mother!”

The always gentle Chunhua shouted for the first time: “No one come closer!”

She held Liu Wenji tightly in her arms and began to cry.

From the moment she entered the Prince of Jin’s residence, her life had been as if submerged in tears. She cried every day, forever crying. Her life held too much suffering, and she was too weak.

Love that couldn’t be loved, hate that couldn’t be hated.

Her son looked at her with strange eyes, the mistress looked at her with disgust, and the former master looked at her with disappointment.

It was all her fault, all because she wasn’t good enough.

Chunhua held Liu Wenji tightly in her arms, crying harder than she had ever cried before. She tremblingly stroked the blood on his chest, then said shakily: “Of all the thousands of wrongs, they were all my fault. If I hadn’t entered the prince’s residence initially… everything would have been different.

“Wenji, Wenji… I ruined you, I led you astray.

“A’Yue, I know you hate that I had relations with a eunuch, hate that I betrayed your father emperor. You didn’t tell your father emperor, didn’t tell the empress, I’m grateful to you… but Wenji wasn’t an ordinary eunuch. He was my lover, the person I loved most in this life… my only love! I had him before I entered your father’s residence, we never betrayed your father emperor.

“Your father emperor forced me, tore us apart. I only did this to give birth to you. If you want to blame someone, blame me, don’t blame Wenji.

“Your Highness… Your Highness… I’ve disappointed you, I know Wenji has done too many evil deeds, death isn’t enough punishment. I only beg that after we die, let us be together, alright? I don’t want… don’t want to be with the Prince of Jin, with the emperor anymore! I don’t want that anymore!”

She wept bitterly, holding Liu Wenji tightly. Liu Wenji stared blankly, the viciousness gradually fading from his eyes. Before death, he heard her heart’s voice, and he finally found some peace.

Liu Wenji thought, then… let it be this way.

He distantly recalled that winter day’s warm sun, that fleeting glimpse, her standing at the Yan residence, turning back to smile at him.

Tears welled in his eyes as he murmured: “May those who love each other never forget, strive to love Chunhua…”

His hand trembled as he reached up, wanting to touch her face one last time. She lowered her head to bury her face against him, her shoulders shaking.

May those who love each other never forget, and strive to love Chunhua.

Perhaps it was wrong from the very beginning.

Perhaps they should never have met—

A fire burned that palace, and when Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao left, dusk had fallen, and darkness covered heaven and earth.

But a new day would begin again.