"Wanwan, what ordinary young man doesn't possess ambition and drive? I was born into the imperial family, showered with immense wealth from birth." Xiao Changtai spoke earnestly. "Since childhood, I knew the Crown Prince was fated to die young. This empire must eventually fall to one of the princes—why shouldn't it be me? In both civil governance and military prowess, I believe I'm second to none. How could I resign myself to being subordinate to others?"
"If you refuse to be subordinate, why didn't you tell me earlier?" Ye Wantang questioned, her eyes red-rimmed.
He was a prince. In ordinary families, when the legitimate heir is unable to inherit, all the other sons would exhaust every means to compete. Ye Wantang didn't blame him for his ambition. Nor did she have the right to demand that someone abandon grand aspirations for her sake.
If only he had told her earlier, allowing her to weigh the situation clearly. If she couldn't bear it, she could have withdrawn sooner.
"Wanwan, I adore you. I cannot live without you. I know you're naturally serene and content. I tried—I truly tried to let go for your sake—but I... I still couldn't resist the lure of power." Xiao Changtai gripped Ye Wantang's arms, his head drooping despondently. "Wanwan, I really tried my best. I've failed you."
Hearing the faint choke in his voice, Ye Wantang closed her eyes in anguish. Tears rolled down from beneath her long, curved eyelashes. It took a while before she could speak weakly, "Why have you come to me now?"
Xiao Changtai stiffened slightly. She should know his purpose clearly, yet she asked knowingly—this meant she had no intention of leaving with him. Suddenly lifting his head, his gaze locked tightly on her, "Wanwan, you... do you resent me now?"
Shaking her head gently, she replied with weary exhaustion, "I'm so tired, truly exhausted."
"Wanwan, give me one more chance, please? I've been stripped of my title. I no longer have any power to contend. All my former aspirations have been shattered. I saved some savings before. Leave with me, and we can truly wander the world, making anywhere our home. Just like when we used to travel and enjoy the landscapes together." Xiao Changtai pleaded humbly, his voice low and submissive.
Ye Wantang looked at his face, her mind filled with Shen Xihe's words. Her heart was torn in two—one half filled with love for him, making her want to nod in agreement; the other half heeding Shen Xihe's warnings and the lessons of past failures, urging her to harden her heart and sever ties with him completely.
The words on the tip of her tongue refused to come out. She never imagined there would come a day when she'd be so weak—too weak to utter a single decisive sentence.
"Wanwan, I have nothing left. Will you abandon me too?" Xiao Changtai was stung by the struggle in Ye Wantang's eyes. She was more resolute than he had anticipated, the rift between them deeper than he thought. Releasing her arms, he slowly stepped back. "Since even you don't want me, what is left in this world worth clinging to?"
As he spoke, he drew a dagger. A cold glint flashed before Ye Wantang's eyes. In the next instant, before she could cry out to stop him, crimson blood sprayed forth. Two drops splattered onto her cheeks. She froze for a moment before Xiao Changtai's body collapsed.
"Ah-Tai—"
Ye Wantang rushed forward but failed to catch Xiao Changtai. Both of them fell to the ground together. Xiao Changtai managed a weak smile but lost consciousness before he could utter another word.
Ye Wantang's loud cries alarmed the servants, throwing the Ye residence into chaos.
Xiao Changtai had stabbed himself in a vital spot. He had been merciless to himself, and he nearly didn't survive.When Xiao Changtai woke up and saw Ye Wantang slumped by the bedside, he knew he had won once again.
His thumb gently stroked her cheek. This time, he truly felt stripped of ambition, yet the enmity between him and Xiao Huayong still needed resolution. Anyone could ascend the throne—except Xiao Huayong.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t even be able to live openly.
“You’re awake? I’ll call the Doctor…”
“Wanwan…” Xiao Changtai grabbed Ye Wantang’s wrist, his face paling as the movement tugged at his wound.
“Don’t move recklessly. Your wound is deep—how could you be so foolish? Do you have no regard for your life?” Ye Wantang scolded, her heart aching, a glimmer of tears welling in her eyes.
Xiao Changtai grinned foolishly. “Wanwan, without you, life holds no meaning for me.”
Ye Wantang knew she was lost. The moment the Doctor said he might not survive, her world had turned dark. A day earlier, she had deeply understood those words herself.
Without you, life holds no meaning.
Tears traced paths down her cheeks. Xiao Changtai panicked, reaching to wipe them away. “Wanwan, don’t cry. It’s all my fault, my mistake.”
His worry, panic, and tenderness were unmistakably genuine, making Ye Wantang cry even harder. “Of course it’s your fault! It’s all your doing!”
Now, Ye Wantang wondered why he had to be so greedy—wanting her while still striving for the throne?
If he had single-mindedly pursued the throne, willing to sacrifice everything, taking a few concubines early to consolidate power, she could have completely given up on him.
She knew his feelings for her were real, and it was this sincerity that bound her tightly, making it impossible to break free.
“I’m sorry, please don’t cry…” Xiao Changtai could only repeat these words.
Ye Wantang wept for a long time, pouring out all the pain, struggle, and pent-up emotions of these days. Finally, her eyes red and swollen, she composed herself. “I’ll trust you one more time. Once you’ve recovered, we’ll leave.”
Xiao Changtai grew so agitated that he tore his wound open again, blood seeping out, forcing another call for the Doctor to stop the bleeding.
After the commotion subsided, Ye Wantang fixed her gaze on him, forbidding any further emotional turmoil. Xiao Changtai cautiously spoke, “Wanwan, we can’t wait until I’m fully healed. There are too many in the capital who wish me harm. Every day we stay increases the danger. We must leave as soon as possible. If I’m discovered at the Ye residence, it will implicate my Father-in-law and the entire Ye family.”
After all, he was implicated in the witchcraft case. If the Ye family sheltered him, their previous pardon based on ignorance would be void.
Though worried about Xiao Changtai, Ye Wantang couldn’t bear to bring disaster upon her family. “You need at least a few days to recover. We can relocate elsewhere.”
“We must move, and we must leave the capital—both as soon as possible,” Xiao Changtai insisted. “We need to seek help, or we’ll surely be exposed.”
“From whom?” Who would be willing to help them at such a time?
“Fifth Brother.” Xiao Changtai had already planned an escape route. He would never approach Xiao Changqing directly—unlike Xiao Changmin, Xiao Changqing was more cunning and never yielded to threats. “Wanwan, you have a token from Fifth Sister-in-law…”
Seeing Ye Wantang’s expression shift, Xiao Changtai quickly corrected himself, “My apologies, that was careless. Let’s think of another way.”Ye Wantang did not respond. She held in her hand a seal of Gu Qingzhi. Gu Qingzhi had schemed against the Fan family, and with her covert assistance, the charge of the Fan family harming the imperial heir was more easily substantiated. This seal was a favor left to her by Gu Qingzhi.
A retired great scholar owed a debt to Gu Qingzhi, who had transferred it to her. She kept it merely as a token of remembrance.
If she were to take this seal to seek Xiao Changqing’s help, Xiao Changqing would undoubtedly intervene for Gu Qingzhi’s sake.
Because it was one of Gu Qingzhi’s few remaining relics.
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