Shen Guiwu joined forces with Gu Chaonan and Yuwen Changqing to drive Wen Shoushan to Zhengzhou. News came that Wen Shoushan had fled south. Shen Guiwu wanted to pursue, but Gu Chaonan directly took him to the City God Temple in Zhengzhou. They caught him in one try and sent Wen Shoushan back to the capital. Over a hundred thousand remnant soldiers were powerless to turn the tide. Wen’s army, which had been arrogant for years, began discussing surrender.
On the road back to the capital, Yuwen Changqing couldn’t help thinking that the Emperor should now be enjoying the joy of reunion with Noble Consort Yan after years of separation, right? That shameless Emperor—before the situation had even stabilized, he rushed into the capital. By now he should have already embraced his wife and child.
However, when they returned to the capital—which was ten days after Gu Chaobei had entered the capital—the place Zhuiyun brought Yuwen Changqing to wasn’t the imperial palace, but the Gu residence.
The Gu family had left the capital with the Emperor back then. This residence had been empty for three years, with dust everywhere. But the north courtyard was very clean, already swept.
Gu Chaobei wasn’t wearing military uniform or dragon robes. He just wore the white embroidered robe from those years, sitting in the main room in a daze.
“Your Majesty?” Yuwen Changqing frowned at him. “Why would you be here?”
Zhuiyun muttered quietly in supplement, “It’s not coming here—he’s been here all along.”
Gu Chaobei lifted the corners of his mouth slightly, lowering his eyes without speaking.
He had rushed into the capital so urgently because he wanted to enter the imperial palace to see her. The explanation he owed her back then—now he could make up for it all. Three years—he didn’t know what his Yan’er had become. Would she keep blaming him? And his son should already be over three years old, and he hadn’t seen him yet…
His heart in chaotic turmoil, he had already reached the palace gates but didn’t dare take another step forward.
Light snow fell in the capital, making it especially quiet. Court officials were cleaning up corpses from the great battle in the city. At the palace gates, ministers constantly came and went. Everyone who saw him would run into the palace as if they’d seen a ghost, probably to report.
But the palace had no reaction at all. Yan’er didn’t come out to receive him, didn’t even send out a single word for him.
Still angry?
In these three years he had grown considerably. He knew what love was and knew the taste of longing. Now he should arrive in high spirits to reclaim the realm that belonged to him. But somehow, thinking that she was in that palace, he didn’t dare enter.
He chose to stay at the Gu residence, first resolving the remaining matters, then… then go see her.
“Imperial Brother is just this useless.” Princess Duanwen said with hands on hips. “So desperately seeking various princes’ assistance, nearly facing death several times on the battlefield—he should have seen every kind of grand scene by now, yet now he’s afraid to this extent.”
Princess Duanwen had accompanied the Emperor all the way here. After all, they were blood siblings. Duanwen still felt sorry for her Imperial Brother. Over such a long time, strategizing from command, even grain collection was done personally. Very little sleep time, only two or three hours each day, and often woken by nightmares.
In these three years, Imperial Brother hadn’t had a single woman by his side. With his romantic nature, many people had pushed all kinds of beauties on him. To be fair, there were quite a few prettier than Shen Guiyan.
Yet Imperial Brother hadn’t kept a single one. Every day he endlessly processed official documents, arranged military formations, organized grain supplies, and discussed state affairs with old ministers. He collapsed from illness several times. Duanwen could hardly bear to watch.
Now that they were here, what was there to dawdle about?
“This palace can’t watch anymore. If you won’t go, I will.” With a flick of her sleeve she was about to walk out, but Yuwen Changqing pulled her to the flower bed outside the door.
“Princess, don’t be impulsive.”
“How is this being impulsive?” Duanwen glared. “The way I see it, when Imperial Brother left the capital it was also unavoidable. Noble Consort Yan isn’t such an unreasonable person. What is there to fear?”
Yuwen Changqing laughed quietly. “The Princess doesn’t understand.”
You’re the one who doesn’t understand! Duanwen angrily shook him off and walked out. She should have married by now, but because of Imperial Brother’s three-year delay, now she could barely marry, spending every day in military uniform going in and out with Yuwen Changqing… Who was it that didn’t understand?
Leaving on horseback, heading straight for the imperial palace, the palace guards who saw her didn’t stop her. Duanwen rode directly into the palace court, grabbed a palace servant and asked, “Where is Noble Consort Yan?”
The palace servant trembled in fear, carefully examining her for a long time. Recognizing her as the Princess, they answered quietly, “In the Imperial Garden.”
Duanwen turned her horse and headed for the Imperial Garden.
Nothing in this palace had changed. It was still as prosperous as before, and some palace halls had even been renovated. Shen Guiyan had always enjoyed blessings in the deep palace. She had never seen Imperial Brother struck by two arrows, hanging between life and death, nor seen the scenes of corpses strewn across battlefields. She was the most fortunate. Why didn’t she take the initiative to receive Imperial Brother?
Duanwen harbored some resentment, even feeling Imperial Brother’s treatment was unfair.
However, when the horse stopped at the Imperial Garden entrance and she went in to see Shen Guiyan, the accusations she had prepared couldn’t come out at all.
“Mother Consort is lying again.” The small prince sat in a wooden wheelchair, looking unhappily at the woman before him. “Didn’t you say Father Emperor would return soon? I still haven’t seen him.”
Shen Guiyan crouched before the wooden wheelchair, gently stroking his head, smiling without speaking, her eyes full of bright things. With a slight blink, all those sparkling things fell.
Duanwen’s anger dissipated. She watched with some surprise as Shen Guiyan stood up, pushing the wheelchair. The small prince—wasn’t he just at the age for running and jumping? Why was he so quiet?
“Princess.”
Just as she was about to step forward, her sleeve was grabbed. Duanwen turned her head and saw Baoshan.
Baoshan’s eyes were red, full of wariness. “If the Princess has something to say, speak with this servant first. Don’t disturb Master. If she were to see someone, the first person she’d want to see definitely wouldn’t be Your Highness.”
Duanwen frowned, following Baoshan to another palace corridor. She said in a low voice, “Since she wants to see Imperial Brother, why, knowing Imperial Brother is in the capital, does she hide in the imperial palace without a word?”
Baoshan pressed her lips together, her tone somewhat harsh. “His Majesty has already reached the capital. Then why doesn’t he directly enter the palace to see Master?”
“He is the Emperor.” Duanwen pressed her lips together, her heart also somewhat guilty.
“Emperors are also men.” Baoshan gritted her teeth. “Back then, leaving Master in the imperial palace without a sound, not even managing a word. Master gave birth to the prince alone. Wen Shoushan forcibly took him and established him as young sovereign. Before even finishing her postpartum month, she had to attend various ceremonies, holding the prince like an offering on a platform. Her body wasn’t properly recovered, leaving a whole body of ailments. Does His Majesty know?”
Duanwen was stunned.
“In the palace for three years, wanting to defend this capital for His Majesty, Master didn’t want any face. A dignified Noble Consort personally went outside the palace each time to speak with ministers, cursed as unchaste and unclean, a fox demon bringing ruin to the state. Finally able to manage government power, yet several times nearly lost her life to assassination. Does His Majesty know?”
Baoshan choked up. “The prince was born disabled, unable to walk. Master thought the prince’s legs could be cured and sought all the precious medicinal materials under heaven, failing countless times yet still smiling to encourage the prince, saying when he grows up it will be fine. When the prince cries, she must still smile. When everyone is helpless, she must still stabilize people’s hearts. So many years—Master’s words have become fewer and fewer. This servant hasn’t seen her smile sincerely anymore. Does His Majesty know any of this?”
Duanwen opened her mouth, somewhat at a loss. Baoshan collapsed sitting on the ground crying, not caring that tears and snot flowed all over her face. “Master is also very weak, very much needing protection. But all these years, when waking crying at night His Majesty wasn’t there, when attacked by court ministers His Majesty wasn’t there, when endlessly worried about the prince His Majesty also wasn’t there. Waiting and hoping, finally His Majesty returned—why, why can’t His Majesty enter the palace to find Master?”
Just because of the Emperor’s laughable pride? Or fear that Master resented and blamed him?
Duanwen’s eyes reddened. Flustered, she pulled Baoshan up. “You… don’t cry anymore. This palace will go tie up Imperial Brother and bring him in, have him apologize to Noble Consort Yan. Is that good?”
Baoshan bit her hand, tears falling continuously. Duanwen was so agitated she couldn’t stay another moment. She immediately left the palace and returned to the Gu residence.
Gu Chaobei was still in the room in a daze. Duanwen without a word threw one end of a rope to Yuwen Changqing, went in and tied the Emperor up tightly, threw him on Zhuiyun’s back and said, “Into the palace!”
Zhuiyun was very surprised—not surprised at Princess Duanwen’s decision, but that Princess Duanwen, usually like a female warrior, was actually crying with her nose red, looking pitifully wretched.
“I…” Gu Chaobei frowned, somewhat uneasily wanting to struggle free. “I still…”
Still wasn’t prepared.
Duanwen didn’t care about all that. She brought a carriage, threw the Emperor inside and ran toward the palace. Sitting beside the Emperor, she tied the ropes on him even tighter while shedding tears.
“Imperial Brother, if I were Noble Consort Yan, I might not have forgiven you long ago.” She said.
Gu Chaobei’s whole body stiffened.
“But she is Shen Guiyan, the person you yourself chose. Since you went through so much hardship to return, then having returned, go properly apologize. Even if you have to be shameless, you cannot abandon your wife and child!”
The Emperor actually wasn’t that afraid—he just needed someone to push him.
However, looking down at his own clothing, then at the oil stains on the clothes, the Emperor struggled violently.
Yuwen Changqing was also in the carriage. Duanwen cried out, “Hold him down!” Yuwen Changqing very dutifully pressed the Emperor so he couldn’t move.
Light snow fell again. Shen Guiyan sent the prince back to the palace hall, changed him into warmer clothes, then planned to go to the imperial study.
Not having been careful during her postpartum month, now her hands and feet easily ached and got cold. Wearing palace shoes walking on wet ground, in a moment of inattention, she slipped.
“Your Ladyship, careful!” A palace servant behind her called out, hurrying forward to support her.
Warm hands grasped her wrist. With force, she was pulled into a warm embrace. Shen Guiyan stood frozen. Before her eyes were only the flying specks of snow.