“But what if… we lose the war…” As Noble Consort Ya opened her eyes, the red silk handkerchief in her palm slipped and fell.

Startled, Gong Xinyue immediately backed away and knelt down.

“Long live His Majesty! May the Feng Clan flourish forever!”

“Feng Qiongcang is not the true Feng Son.” Noble Consort Ya curled her lips into a cold smile. “He truly isn’t — Feng Li is. The real Feng Daughter is Feng Jiu’er.”

“Whoever gains the Feng Daughter gains the realm — I didn’t quite believe that saying before, but in truth, Feng Jiu’er has accomplished what no one else could.”

Noble Consort Ya let out a low laugh, then began to cough.

Gong Xinyue immediately stood and went to pat her back. “My lady, you mustn’t speak so recklessly! Lest it bring disaster upon you.”

“Do you think this Consort is still afraid of that now?” Noble Consort Ya’s smile turned bitter.

“My father has already had people investigate this matter thoroughly — Feng Qiongcang truly did murder the previous emperor to seize the throne back then. His rule has no legitimate claim!”

Gong Xinyue pressed her lips tightly shut, not daring to say a word.

Noble Consort Ya laughed coldly and continued, “At this moment, with enemy troops at the city gates, whether it’s Feng Qiongcang or Feng Jin, both of them are looking for an escape route.”

“And our Gao family, with tens of thousands of Gao family soldiers, are exactly Feng Jin’s escape route. If we lose the war, he…”

The carriage came to a stop, and Gong Xinyue reached out to cover Noble Consort Ya’s mouth, stopping her from continuing.

“Welcoming the Crown Princess!” came the voice of the matchmaker woman, Hongniang.

Gong Xinyue took a deep breath, shook her head, and carefully withdrew her hand.

She picked up the red handkerchief and helped support Noble Consort Ya down from the carriage.

Everything about the wedding was arranged exactly as Noble Consort Ya had requested, yet she grew increasingly unable to feel happy.

Late at night, the bright red doors of the bridal chamber were pushed open from outside, and Feng Jin, dressed in bright red ceremonial robes, strode in.

Through the thin gauze veil, Noble Consort Ya could still recognize at a glance — this was the man she had loved for so many years.

The moment she had longed for had finally arrived, yet she still couldn’t manage a smile.

Feng Jin had grown thinner, and his complexion no longer held its usual healthy glow, but he still wore a smile as he knelt on one knee beside the bed.

“My wife.” He gently lifted Noble Consort Ya’s hand, his expression full of tenderness.

Gong Xinyue came forward carrying a red tray and knelt beside the two of them. “Crown Prince, my lady, please drink the union wine.”

Feng Jin kissed Noble Consort Ya’s hand, then took a cup and placed it in her hand.

He took a cup for himself as well, raising his head to gaze affectionately at the bride on the bed.

“Ya’er, from today onward, you are my wife.”

Noble Consort Ya said nothing at all. She crossed arms with him and drank the wine down.

At that moment, her heart felt just as bitter as the wine.

“Wishing the Crown Prince and my lady a hundred years of happiness together, bound in harmony forever — this servant will take her leave now.”

Gong Xinyue lifted the tray, stepped back a few paces, then turned and left.

Feng Jin sat down on the bed and pulled Noble Consort Ya into his embrace.

“Ya’er, you’ve truly suffered these past days. From now on, I will do my best to be a proper husband to you.”

He pressed his lips together in a smile, released her, and lifted the red veil covering her face.

“Ya’er, you look so beautiful today!”

Just as Feng Jin leaned down to kiss Noble Consort Ya, the door of the bridal chamber was forcefully pushed open from outside.

“My lady, it’s terrible! There’s poison in the wine.” Gong Xinyue ran in and threw herself down at Noble Consort Ya’s feet.

“I’m sorry! My lady, I’m truly sorry! This is the antidote — please take it quickly, or it will be too late.”

Feng Jin snatched the antidote with one hand, stood up abruptly, and kicked Gong Xinyue away.

At the same time, the sounds of intense fighting erupted from outside.

“Are you a spy?” Feng Jin glared down at Gong Xinyue. “You’re Feng Jiu’er’s person, aren’t you?”