The room was filled with desolate silence, neither of us speaking for a long time.

Zhao Yanran slowly turned and got out of bed, kneeling before me. “Princess, can you truly not spare Ran Gege a chance at life? These past days, I always feel he’s on the verge of remembering something. If you just give him more time, perhaps he could find his way back to the right path?” Seeing I didn’t respond, she continued, “Could you truly bear to destroy everything before Xu Fang returns?”

I remained silent for a long while, picking up the scattered letters from the floor one by one, arranging them properly before looking at her. “Yanran, it’s not that I’m heartless. That day, I knew full well that my prince consort was pretending to rebel under imperial orders. If my father emperor hadn’t awakened, I alone couldn’t have changed anything. Now, let alone others—even I myself don’t know how many more peaceful days I could live if I lost the imperial favor and protection someday…”

Zhao Yanran frowned. She probably didn’t understand what I was saying at all. I stroked the letters—every word and sentence stuck in my throat like fishbones, yet they already seemed like a lifetime ago. “However… what you said isn’t wrong either. Since he was captured because of me, I should at least repay him this debt of gratitude…”

There are some things in this world where one shouldn’t ask whether they can be done, but rather ask oneself whether they should be done.

Seeing joy appear on Zhao Yanran’s face, I said, “But I have one condition.”

She froze.

I continued, “I will let Nie Ran leave Qing Prefecture. As for whether he can safely reunite with Nie Guang, that can only be left to fate. As for you, you must return to the capital with me. You cannot follow him on the road anymore.”

Zhao Yanran wanted to speak but stopped herself. I said, “If you cannot agree to my condition, I cannot let Nie Ran go either.”

She held back her tears and finally nodded gently.

The prison in Qing Prefecture was far inferior to the environment in the capital. Not only was it dim and cold with desolate atmosphere, but walking through the pitch-black corridor, one could even smell a musty odor.

I followed the jailer to the innermost cell and stopped before the prison room holding Nie Ran, ordering them to unlock it.

Behind me, the prefect said tremblingly, “Must we really escort him back to the capital immediately? Wouldn’t it be more prudent to wait until Lord Song arrives with the Central Army troops before setting out?”

I glanced at him sideways with a cold laugh. “Does the prefect perhaps distrust this princess?”

“This… this humble official wouldn’t dare…”

“This is the emperor’s sacred edict. The rebel accomplices are already on their way to rescue him. To avoid complications from delay, we must depart early. I’ve already notified Lord Song to meet us outside. The prefect need not worry.”

The prefect agreed and dared not question further.

I looked inside by the firelight. Nie Ran lay powerless on the stone bed due to the muscle-weakening powder, his chest and right leg bearing hastily bandaged arrow wounds that still seeped blood. His entire appearance looked as if he were at death’s door.

The iron chains of the cell door clanged loudly. Hearing the commotion, he slowly raised his head. Seeing me standing before him, his eyes showed slight surprise. I turned my head expressionlessly, signaling the jailer to help him out without delaying.

When our group emerged from the prison, the eastern sky was already faintly turning blue, the wind making the trees rustle—dawn was approaching.

The prefect looked around anxiously. Apart from the jailers and my few guards, there was no one else around. He was quite uneasy and asked me why Lord Song was nowhere to be seen. I also looked puzzled and said, “Perhaps he misheard the time I arranged to meet. The relay station isn’t far from here. How about this—prefect, quickly return to the yamen and have someone ride fast to contact Lord Song. Perhaps he’s already on his way…”

The prefect nodded repeatedly and walked away several steps, then hesitantly turned back, clearly still worried. I smiled slightly and said, “My guards are all masters of superior martial arts. They wouldn’t fail to guard even one weak and sickly man.”

Only then did the prefect feel reassured. After he had gone far, my guards efficiently knocked out the two jailers and took the keys to unlock the shackles binding Nie Ran.

Under the moonlight, Nie Ran’s features remained the same. I stepped forward to stand before him and said flatly, “Go. I imagine there are already accomplices of yours lying in wait in Qing Prefecture city. You naturally have ways to summon people to help you leave.”

He clutched his chest wound, cold sweat beading on his temples, and asked hoarsely, “Why?”

I replied, “Yanran begged me to save you. She said if not for me, you wouldn’t have fallen to this state.”

His eyes flickered with an ambiguous light. “You… should know what the consequences of letting the tiger return to the mountain will be…”

I said, “I know.”

“Then you…”

I said, “I don’t like owing people favors. You once saved me, and I’m repaying you once. That’s all. Go.”

He was about to say something more when someone suddenly spoke: “I’m afraid he can’t leave even if he wants to!”

I was stunned. Clusters of torches blazed up, and in an instant, layers of soldiers surged from all directions to surround us. Song Langsheng slowly stepped out from the crowd, his long sword gleaming coldly in the light and shadow. He looked toward Nie Ran and said, “If the prefect hadn’t sent word ahead, you would have already escaped from Qing Prefecture…”

I glanced at the Qing Prefecture prefect cowering behind Song Langsheng, just beginning to regret my careless oversight, when I heard Song Langsheng give the order: “Men!”

“Wait!”

I raised my hand and stepped forward several paces until I was close to Song Langsheng. “Let him go.”

Song Langsheng’s expression was unclear in the dim light, but I could feel his deep anger. “Do you know what you’re doing right now…”

Of course I knew what I was doing.

But how could I explain this to you?

I clenched my fists and said, “You know he saved my life…”

Song Langsheng’s eyes held light colder than ice. “With great battle imminent, one man’s life or death concerns the safety of all people. It’s not something that can ignore the law just because he saved you. If he leaves and returns to the enemy camp, when it comes before the emperor, who could bear that responsibility!”

I said, “When it comes before father emperor, I will bear all the blame!”

Song Langsheng’s face immediately became extremely ugly. He laughed without humor, stepped back, and said, “Apprehend this fleeing rebel!”

After the soldiers received the order and were about to advance, I said angrily, “Who dares!”

Seeing the soldiers waver, I said, “You’ve all heard of my methods. Today, whoever dares to act before me, don’t blame me for showing no mercy!”

After all, Song Langsheng was newly appointed, and having previously served as an official in the Court of Judicial Review, now that father emperor had awakened and immediately entrusted him with great responsibility, his authority wasn’t fully established. Most importantly, these Central Army soldiers ultimately feared my status as regent princess. Under such pressure, they looked at each other, none daring to be the first to offend me.

I spoke this way only to make everyone see clearly that releasing Nie Ran was my fault alone, completely unrelated to my prince consort. But I hadn’t expected this threat would anger him even more. He raised his sword with a cold laugh: “I’d like to see what the princess intends to do to me if I execute this treasonous rebel on the spot!”

As soon as he finished speaking, his sword came with the force of wind and rain. I knew well that Nie Ran in his current state was no match for him. In desperation, I lunged forward, grasping the blade with my right hand and blocking in front of Nie Ran with my left arm, trying to stop this strike. Song Langsheng hadn’t anticipated this and hastily restrained his sword momentum, but the blade had already cut my palm. Blood flowed along my fingers and dripped to the ground. The pain made it almost impossible to maintain my grip. I groaned and said, “You cannot kill him.”

Song Langsheng looked down at my hand, no longer advancing an inch, nor daring to withdraw, afraid the blade would make the wound deeper. Grief and anger clouded his eyes, his voice carrying disappointed questioning: “You would actually do this for him…”

The way he looked at me made me very sad. After waiting so long for peace and joy, it was about to be destroyed by my own hands in an instant. I didn’t know how to explain and opened and closed my lips several times before saying, “Prince consort, I beg you, let him go. If he dies here, I fear I’ll never have peace of mind in this lifetime.”

Dawn light rose in the eastern sky, but it couldn’t add a trace of color to Song Langsheng’s pale face. After this standoff continued for a long while, he suddenly let out a low, hoarse laugh. “Fine, since the princess shows him such loyalty, I’ll fulfill your wishes…”

My heart turned cold. He said coldly, “Let go!”

I numbly released my trembling hand, only then feeling the piercing pain in my palm and fingers. He threw down his sword and turned away, commanding everyone to follow him without looking back.

Nie Ran stumbled forward to examine my wound. I moved my hand away and said, “No need to trouble yourself. This place isn’t safe to linger. Hurry and leave before Song Langsheng changes his mind.” After saying this, I stepped forward. He suddenly grabbed my arm from behind and said slowly, “You wouldn’t go to such lengths just for a few words from Yanran…”

He asked, “Do you… have anything else you want to say to me?”

Xu Fang’s letter still lay in my chest pocket, and Zhao Yanran’s words “Xu Fang never disappeared, he’s always lived in Nie Ran’s heart” still echoed in my ears. I had thought I would have many things to say to him, but when he stood right before me, I didn’t know what else I could say.

That year, under moonlight, we made our promise: gentle and warm, Xu following He, wherever the wind blows is my direction.

Now, my heart had long been filled by another person. Xu Fang had returned, but He Feng had already gone far away.

I felt strangely grateful—grateful that he hadn’t recovered Xu Fang’s memories. This kind of parting wouldn’t be too cruel for him or for me.

I closed my eyes and said, “Nie Ran, take care on your journey. When we meet as enemies in battle someday, you need not show mercy anymore.”

Having said this, I broke free from him and strode quickly after Song Langsheng in the direction he had gone.

Xu Fang, this is the last thing I can do for you.

From now on, let’s never meet again.

——————————Second Update!!!——————————

On the journey back to the capital, Song Langsheng didn’t speak a single word to me.

I tried to initiate conversation with him, but he wouldn’t even respond, let alone glance at me.

I knew he was truly angry. That night after we returned, I was gasping and claiming my hand was about to be ruined and I was about to bleed to death, but he remained completely indifferent, focusing only on commanding his horse and ordering the troops to depart. In the end, I had to find a military doctor myself to tend the wound, grimacing in pain with no one to sympathize.

Of course, I couldn’t say what I did was entirely right. After all, it was something I wanted to do—a farewell to the past, letting go of entanglements, for the sake of a fresh start. But failing to gain his understanding left me feeling quite wronged.

Naturally, the other person who was downhearted throughout the journey was Zhao Yanran.

We two sat in the same carriage, each sighing mournfully, neither able to understand the other’s suffering.

She said, “Princess, sometimes I truly cannot see the path ahead, cannot see where I should go from here.”

I replied, “Yes.”

She asked me, “Will I ever meet someone who fancies me and to whom I can give my true affections?”

I said, “I don’t know.”

Yanran glanced at me sideways. “At times like this, shouldn’t you comfort me by saying ‘you will’?”

I smiled slightly. “Some things don’t become ours just because we’re willing to believe in them. However, if we’re unwilling to believe, we’ll certainly gain nothing.”

She nodded thoughtfully, then looked at me again. “Are you talking about me, or yourself?”

I was stunned for quite a while before coming to my senses and asked her, “What did you just ask me?”

She: “…”

Three days later, we returned to the capital and immediately received a summons from father emperor to enter the palace.

All the civil and military officials knelt in the golden hall, not daring to breathe loudly. Only when we entered the palace did we learn that Marquis Xia Yang, Nie Guang, had killed the Guiyang Military Commander and led troops in a night attack to seize Huguang. Claiming that the legitimate bloodline of the former Zhou emperor still existed in the world, he raised rebellion under the banner of “restoring the great Zhou.”

What made father emperor even more furious was that the captured rebel party member had escaped again, so Nie Guang now had no more restraints and had struck with this devastating surprise attack.

Father emperor was like a huge, aged eagle, glaring down menacingly at the mass of officials below.

As soon as Song Langsheng entered the hall, he knelt to accept punishment, saying it was all due to his poor guarding during the return journey that allowed Nie Ran to be rescued and escape.

I was greatly alarmed, not expecting my prince consort to accept blame before me. Looking at father emperor’s expression, fearing he would transfer his anger to Song Langsheng, I hurriedly knelt beside him and said, “Father emperor, actually everything is unrelated to my prince consort. It was…”

A sharp pain at my waist—Song Langsheng inconspicuously pinched me and whispered harshly in my ear, “Say one more word and I’ll never speak to you again.”

I was stunned and didn’t know how to continue. Song Langsheng had already kowtowed to the ground, recounting a flawless account of how the prisoner escaped, taking all responsibility upon himself.

I stared at him in bewilderment. Even though he had a thousand unwillings in his heart, when I said I wanted to release the prisoner, he still did it. Even though he was angry and wouldn’t give me a pleasant look, in the end he was still afraid I would be harmed.

My nasal cavity filled with sourness, and I kowtowed heavily, only able to say that the rebel party was numerous, I had no way to prevent it, my prince consort had already done his utmost, begging father emperor for mercy, and so on.

At this time, Zhao Gengqian also knelt to plead for leniency. When he knelt, most of the civil and military officials followed suit. In the end, it became awkward for others to remain standing. To avoid offending the Chief Minister and the regent princess, they could only follow the crowd and kneel as well.

It was clear that father emperor was originally unwilling to punish my prince consort. After all, he was someone father emperor valued highly. Moreover, of all the armies sent to pursue Nie Ran, only Song Langsheng had succeeded in capturing him. Since the civil and military officials were all pleading for him, father emperor went along and sighed, saying he would follow military law and punish him with thirty military rod strikes as light punishment.

I thought the matter was concluded, but just as I was about to breathe a sigh of relief after father emperor said the first half, the second half mentioned deploying troops to suppress the rebels. The Capital Defense Commander Huo Chuan was appointed as General of the Southern Expedition, leading 300,000 troops with the Five Army Camps, Three Thousand Battalion, and Divine Engine Battalion as the main force. Song Langsheng was appointed as Cloud Banner General to accompany the army and redeem his merit through service.

As soon as father emperor finished speaking, everyone gasped. Even though Song Langsheng had achieved great merit in the previous rebellion in the capital, he had never fought a real battle and lacked commanding experience. How could he be directly appointed as a general and sent to war?

Seeing the ministers had considerable objections, father emperor asked sternly, “Just now, who told me that Lord Song was an indispensable talent? Who told me that Lord Song was familiar with enemy intelligence and should be retained for use?”

Everyone was speechless. It turned out father emperor had set a trap for the ministers after making such a big circle. Having just pleaded for Song Langsheng the moment before, how could they overturn their words the next moment? Wouldn’t that be using one’s own spear to attack one’s own shield?

The overall situation was decided; no more words were needed.

Due to the urgent battle situation that couldn’t be delayed, father emperor commanded the generals to organize their troops and prepare military supplies for immediate departure in two days.

I broke out in cold sweat.

After thirty rod strikes, he would certainly be badly bruised. Even the most elite warriors would need to be bedridden for at least ten days. How could he ride to war in two days?

While I was still hesitating, Song Langsheng had already respectfully kowtowed: “Your subject receives the decree.”

After court was dismissed, Song Langsheng was taken away for punishment. Anxious, I wanted to accompany him, but father emperor called me back, saying he had something to discuss with me privately.

As soon as I entered the imperial study, I knelt down and said, “Your daughter begs father emperor to show mercy. If my prince consort must truly go to war, receiving this rod punishment would be like having half his life carved away before even reaching the battlefield.”

Father emperor stroked his beard: “Do you think I don’t know what happened between you two in Qing Prefecture? If not for your insistence on releasing Nie Ran, why would your prince consort be implicated in this?”

My heart grew cold—apparently nothing could escape father emperor’s keen eyes. “Since father emperor knows the truth, then punish your daughter instead. Your daughter doesn’t need to go to battle, so let your daughter receive those thirty rod strikes.”

Father emperor shook his head and sighed: “Even though it was due to your obstruction, he still cannot escape responsibility. Since your prince consort is willing to take the blame for you, I can only fulfill his wish. Otherwise, how could I answer to the hundred officials?”

“Father emperor…”

“Say no more,” father emperor said. “Xiangyi, this time you were truly too confused. If I punished you, you would probably feel even more at ease after receiving punishment. Only by having it fall on Song Langsheng will you understand just how great a disaster your actions could cause…”

My throat tightened, and I unconsciously bit my lip.

Actually, releasing Nie Ran was a gamble for me. Since Nie Guang’s rebellion was inevitable, whether Nie Ran was there or not couldn’t prevent the war. Nie Guang was cruel and cunning, while Nie Ran retained goodness in his heart. If Nie Guang obeyed Nie Ran, then releasing him might not necessarily be a bad thing for us.

But how could I explain these words clearly to father emperor?

As soon as I returned to the Princess Mansion, I summoned doctors from the Imperial Medical Academy early and had them wait with me for my prince consort’s return.

I didn’t know why thirty rod strikes took nearly half a day, but when soldiers from the military camp brought Song Langsheng back, the area from his thighs to above his knee joints was a bloody mess, with even fabric fragments beaten into his flesh.

Looking at the wounds on his body, I felt both heartache and regret. Unable to hold back my tears, I rushed forward to support him. “Prince consort…”

With that pale face, he said rather helplessly, “You invited so many doctors to our home—those who don’t know might think I have a terminal illness and am dying soon…” Seeing I was still focused on crying, he roughly pressed his sleeve against my eyes, but turned his head toward the doctors. “The princess is being foolish—I hope the gentlemen won’t laugh at us…”

Those doctors didn’t dare say anything, hastily agreeing with awkward smiles. “Lord Song is about to go to war. This old man will certainly use the best medicine to help you heal quickly…”

Although Song Langsheng was extremely reluctant about having a group of old men gather around to examine his buttocks, since they were guests, he couldn’t very well drive them away. He could only keep his eyes closed throughout and his head covered with the blanket, occasionally saying nonsense like: “That’s about enough. I feel like I’m not in pain anymore.”

After the doctors applied medicine for him, they instructed me: “This medicine must be changed every two hours. Does the Princess Mansion have anyone who knows how to change dressings? Should this old man stay to help the prince consort…”

“No need,” the prince consort immediately said from under the covers. “The Princess Mansion is full of capable people. Thank you for your trouble, gentlemen. Please go slowly.”

The old doctors smiled awkwardly at these words, picked up their medicine boxes and hurriedly left. I called servants to see them out, and soon only my prince consort and I remained in the room.

Song Langsheng lay motionless on the bed without making a sound.

I tiptoed to secure the door, then returned to the bedside feeling uneasy. I wanted to lift the bedding he was using to cover his head, but no matter how I pulled, I couldn’t move it. I knew he was still angry and probably didn’t want to talk to me right now. Normally I would have left him alone, but thinking that he would be going to the battlefield in two days, and not knowing how long this war would last or when we would see each other again, I couldn’t bear to leave his side for even a moment.

I sat quietly beside him, not speaking, not making noise. I don’t know how long passed before the person under the covers suddenly said, “Who gave you permission to cry for so long?”

I was startled and said “Ah”—”How did you know… I was crying?”

He snorted lightly and said nothing more.

I wiped my tears and said softly, “It’s all because of me that you had to endure the rod punishment…”

He snorted again. “Who’s angry about that?”

I was stunned, then understood his meaning—he was still angry about my releasing Nie Ran. I said, “I… I let him go really… only to repay him for saving my life…”

Seeing he didn’t respond, I continued, “When I went to Qing Prefecture, I wanted to bring Yanran back. I didn’t originally intend to save Nie Ran… Later, Yanran told me that Nie Ran had done many things for me that I didn’t know about, so…”

“So you were moved to tears,” Song Langsheng said in a muffled voice, “your feelings stirred, and you’d risk your life to save him.”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “If I had feelings for him, I would have run away with him. Why would I still shamelessly cling to you?”

I bent down, moved close to him, and lay beside him like he was doing, saying quietly, “That day when I thought Nie Ran was going to violate me, I was ready to die. Later when you found me and I returned to your side, at that moment I felt that even if the sky fell, I wouldn’t be afraid… Song Langsheng, my heart has long been completely filled with you. How could it possibly hold anyone else? Yes, I did like Xu Fang. Ever since Nie Ran appeared, I kept avoiding him. Even I didn’t know what I was avoiding until I learned the truth from Yanran. Only then did I understand—what she said wasn’t something I’d never considered. I was avoiding him because my heart already held you. Even when I still couldn’t remember who big brother was, I had fallen in love with you. Once I loved you, I could never respond to my feelings for Xu Fang again… That’s why I was so determined to save him. I didn’t want to always carry guilt and debt toward him. I wanted to completely let go of Xu Fang… Do you understand?”

He still said nothing.

I looked at my prince consort wrapped up like a dumpling and sighed gently. Just as I was about to go out and have someone prepare a meal, a hand suddenly emerged from the bedding and grasped my wrist. “Where are you going?”

It took me a while to recover. “I… seeing you ignore me…”

“Who’s ignoring you?” he said irritably. “Try talking after getting beaten and see if you still have the strength…”

“…Then, should I go find someone to change your medicine?”

He gripped my hand tighter. “Are you going to let the maids see me naked?”

“Well,” I said meekly, “couldn’t we have the mansion’s doctor take a look…”

He said, “What difference is there between men and women these days?”

Me: “…”

He poked half his head out from under the covers, revealing his beautiful eyes. “Besides you, I don’t want anyone else to see my… that place…”

I nodded. “That place… you mean your buttocks?”

He glared at me, his face suddenly turning red as a persimmon. He burrowed back under the blanket, but his hand wouldn’t let go. “I’m resting. Stay and lie with me. Don’t go anywhere.”

“…But if I lie down without covering up, I’ll catch cold…”

“Can’t you get under the covers yourself?”

“…Oh…”

“What are you laughing about?”

“…Nothing…”

Two days passed in a flash.

On the day of departure, Song Langsheng rose very early. Before dawn, he had already donned his armor and secured his traveling pack.

I sat on the bed edge, quietly gazing at him. Outside the window, the faint morning light fell silently, bathing him in radiance. I had never imagined that my eternally gentle and refined prince consort could look so heroically magnificent.

Song Langsheng, fearing I would catch cold, draped an outer robe over me. Seeing my gloomy expression, he asked, “Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

“What I’m thinking, you already know without me saying it.”

“Mm?”

“To me, what’s most important is your safety,” I gently embraced him. “To you, what’s most important is having no regrets in your heart.”

Song Langsheng stroked my head, and unexpectedly, he placed something around my neck. Looking down, I saw it was a white jade pendant shaped like a folding fan. On the fan’s surface was carved a bird lingering and circling before crabapple flowers, lifelike and vivid.

He said, “Big brother once promised little sister he would paint a fan for her, but after all these years never managed to give it to her. In the end, it was torn up by a domineering and unreasonable princess…”

He bent down with a smile in his eyes: “Promises must be kept. Since you don’t treasure things, how could I dare give you something made of paper again? Now I’m properly delivering this fan to you—don’t smash it in a fit of anger.”

I carefully cradled the jade fan, unable to suppress my smile. “Did you carve this? When did you carve it? Ah, ten days ago when you asked me to wait for you, was it to give me this?”

Song Langsheng smiled without answering.

Seeing him smile, I asked in bewilderment, “You’re not angry with me anymore?”

He nodded and said, “Unless… if when I return, you can still stand before me as well as you do now, perhaps I’ll stop being angry.”

I sniffled and forced myself not to cry anymore. “Mm-hmm, I’ll try to eat less so I don’t become too plump.”

He: “…”

When the army departed, I stood on the city tower gazing into the distance, quietly watching one person among the thousands of soldiers and horses. He looked back up at me and smiled, his eyes bright as stars.

As dawn rose, the sound of hoofbeats gradually faded. The high-flying banners became increasingly blurred until heaven and earth returned to silence once more.