Whеn а nаtiоn fаces war, it inеvitаbly affеcts manу аsресts оf life. In the рast, no matter how sevеrе faminеs werе еlsеwhеre, thе реорle оf the caрitаl still lived lеisurely. Thеy would risе in the morning, drink sоуbеаn milk, еаt friеd dough rings, then strоll аlong thе mоаt with birdcаges in hаnd. Мeeting асquaintаnces, theу would greet еасh othеr with "Have уоu еatеn уеt?" Тhе mоrning sun shonе оn their shоulders, filling thеir entire bеings with cоmfоrt.
Nоw, that is nо lоngеr рossible. A sеnse of heavy рressure is felt; fеwer pеoрlе idle оr wander outside, and everyone’s face is tinged with tension. "Have you heard? Wang Manzi from the south is marching this way. The Guizhou Army is fed on beef and mutton, strong as little mountains. Once they pass Dean Prefecture, they’ll truly head toward the capital. Wang Manzi wants to become emperor, asking our Dao Ye to step aside!"—The Emperor is referred to as Dao Ye among the common folk, and in the hearts of the Guizhou Army, he is seen the same way. However, Dao Ye is quite conscious of the dangers. He suggested that Wanwan should move into the palace, as outside there is chaos and turmoil. If anything were to happen to the Eldest Princess Residence, it would be disastrous.
Wanwan did not listen to him this time. In truth, what he feared was that the Southern Garden might take advantage of the chaos to bring her back, and even more that Liangshi and Wang Ding might join forces to rebel against him. She found his concerns somewhat baffling. The Heir Apparent was already gone—was he still using her to threaten Liangshi? Even if Liangshi harbored rebellious intentions, what could he possibly do to her? Would he kill her as a sacrifice to rally the troops?
Too much Elixir of Immortality has truly addled his mind.
She would still enter the palace to visit Jinshu. The Imperial Princess was fair and clean, a very beautiful little baby. Holding her in her arms and gently rocking her, the baby blew bubbles and smiled at her. The child’s eyes were as pure as a pool of clear water, free of any impurities. Meeting her gaze could cleanse the dust from one’s heart.
She leaned down to kiss her. The baby smelled a bit milky, but it did not detract from her adorableness. It was a pity that The Empress did not like her. The child could not choose from whose womb she was born, but aside from a lack of maternal love, her nobility was innate.
The Empress was also deeply concerned about the war, as it closely affected her own interests. She often summoned Pingchuan from the emperor’s side to inquire about the situation, receiving firsthand updates on where Wang Ding’s army had reached.
"The Emperor is obsessed with alchemy, and outside, everything is in chaos... I heard that Prince Chu has also pledged allegiance to Prince Zhen'an. He is a Single-Character Prince, bearing the Murong surname, yet he rebels against the Murong Clan. What a despicable scoundrel!"
Prince Chu was the biological brother of Emperor Xiaozong and Wanwan’s own uncle. It was he who had gathered the disaster victims from Huaining and driven them into the jurisdiction of the Southern Garden. His actions had long revealed his lack of responsibility, and it was no surprise that he would shift with the wind as the situation changed.
Holding the child in her arms, her heart was filled with concern for Liangshi’s safety. Prince Chu was so close and harbored deep prejudice against him—she wondered if he might urge Wang Ding to march into the Southern Garden. She had always feared that his accumulation of troops might lead to other intentions, but now she only regretted that he did not have enough manpower. If he had sufficient troops to defend himself, she would not be so worried.
Seeing her distracted, The Empress had the wet nurse take the child away and led her to sit on the southern kang.
"Your Highness, are you thinking of the Prince of Nanyuan?"
Wanwan nodded. "Given the current situation, he is at the forefront of the storm. How could I not worry?"
There were words The Empress wanted to say, but after careful consideration, she swallowed them back.She had once been Yin Lou's servant girl, accompanying her to the south of the Yangtze River and experiencing life-and-death trials together. The Prince of Nanyuan appeared gentle and refined on the surface, but deep down he was far from simple—even ruthless in achieving his goals. His ambition to seize the empire was known not only to Xiao Duo and Yin Lou but also to her and Cao Chun'ang. Now, with the two most crucial figures gone and Cao Chun'ang dead outside the palace just a day after being promoted to Brush-holding, she alone remained aware of the truth. Though she had become The Empress, she dared not act rashly—partly because Cao Chun'ang served as a cautionary tale, and partly because her son remained missing. The slightest misstep could lead to irreversible regret.
This secret might have to remain buried in her heart forever. Even if it were the Prince of Nanyuan rebelling this time instead of Prince Zhen'an, she would still have to keep silent. What was the penalty for withholding knowledge? Severe enough for The Emperor to depose her and install Yin Ge as Empress instead.
She patted the Princess Royal's hand. "When I was in Jinling, I also met the Prince of Nanyuan. He is clever and surely has his own means of self-preservation. You are far away in the capital and can't offer much help—why worry needlessly and distress yourself over—"
Before she could finish, rhythmic knocking echoed from the palace gates. Looking out, she saw The Emperor hurrying along the central path. Everyone in the hall rushed to greet him. The Empress and Wanwan curtsied, but The Emperor responded with a heavy, disapproving snort directed at Wanwan.
Wanwan's heart skipped a beat. After a brief pause, she turned and followed him inside, chasing after him to ask, "Brother, why are you angry with me? If I have done something wrong, please tell me plainly."
The Emperor turned back, glaring at her furiously. "Ask your fine husband! He has actually joined forces with Wang Ding to plot against my throne! I never thought he would do such a thing, but it seems he has truly turned against me. Now it appears I have failed utterly—even my own uncle and brother-in-law are conspiring with outsiders against me. It seems the most untrustworthy people in this world are one's own kin!"
His words felt like a bucket of icy water poured over her head, chilling her to the core. Liangshi had surrendered to Wang Ding? Could someone as proud as him have been forced to compromise? Yet, strangely, she felt no resentment toward him. She knew he had been coerced, and after enduring a series of blows, his disillusionment with the imperial court had left him with no way out. If they hadn't pushed him so hard from the start, would he have come to this? The Emperor only blamed others when things went wrong, never reflecting on his own actions.
His rage boiled over, and he directed all his fury at her. "And here you were, always thinking of him! Now do you see? He truly harbors wolfish ambitions, scheming to seize the Great Ye Empire. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Wanwan's heart twisted, a tumult of emotions swirling within her. "Your Majesty blames me, but whom should I blame? I haven't seen him in two years. I know nothing of his thoughts or intentions."
The Emperor faltered, realizing he had no grounds to blame her. If she had known about her husband's rebellion, that would be one thing, but the truth was she had been forcibly kept in the capital, long severed from contact with him. Anyone in the world might reproach her, but he could not.
Rubbing his feverish forehead, The Emperor let out a deep sigh. "I lost my composure and foolishly took my anger out on you. Please don't take it to heart. I am just grieved—why am I so unpopular that even my own kin would turn against me?"He was the epitome of "I may betray the world, but the world must not betray me." Whatever he had done was insignificant, while others were born to be loyal to him—even if tortured to death, they should harbor no disloyalty.
Wanwan lowered her hands and said, "Brother, think of a strategy. The Guizhou Army has two hundred thousand men. In terms of military strength, they are no match for the imperial court. What I fear is that our army’s supplies are insufficient. Once this matter is settled, please ask The Emperor to govern diligently and stockpile military provisions."
The Emperor sighed, supporting his forehead. "Two hundred thousand men is indeed not a large number. With a bit of effort, this small force can likely be crushed." He then looked up at her. "However, once Yuwen Liangshi is defeated, I will no longer show any mercy for past affections. You must prepare yourself—I may become the first emperor in Great Ye to execute an Imperial Consort."
Wanwan stood there, her heart empty, her mind blank. How could she respond? On one side was her own brother, on the other was her husband. She did not want Murong’s empire to be destroyed, nor did she wish for Liangshi to meet such a tragic end.
She left the palace in a daze and returned to the Eldest Princess Residence, only to find that the number of Silk-clad Guards had increased significantly, surrounding the residence like an iron barrel.
She asked Jinshi, "Have you deployed all the men under your command?"
Jinshi replied, "Yes. The Emperor’s orders—I dare not disobey."
She smiled mockingly. "If the Prince of Nanyuan has truly made up his mind, it means he has already let go of our marital affection. Keeping watch over me is useless—I may no longer be in his heart."
After saying this, she slowly entered the Silver Peace Hall. The August sun blazed brightly, and osmanthus flowers bloomed throughout the garden. The Eldest Princess Residence was quiet and peaceful, completely detached from the chaos and turmoil outside.
Although she spoke this way, Wanwan was still deeply saddened. Today’s affairs were uncertain for tomorrow. It had been too long since she had contacted him, and even if there were letters, they were surely intercepted by The Emperor. She did not know his feelings, nor did he know what she was thinking. With communication severed between husband and wife, hearts could change. Reaching this point could not be said to be his fault... How tragic—she found she could not even direct her resentment.
She played chess with Yu Xixia. The two were evenly matched, battling fiercely as if heaven and earth were overturned. But with the slightest carelessness, she found herself surrounded, trapped in a city of sorrow—much like her current situation. Holding a chess piece, she suddenly blurted out, "Why not escape?"
Yu Xixia did not even lift his eyes. "Your Highness, where would you go?"
Indeed, there was nowhere to go. The home in Southern Garden, which was once hers, might no longer have a place for her now. Many princesses of Great Ye had unhappy marriages—it seemed she could not escape this fate either.
News from the front kept arriving: today they reached Runing Prefecture, tomorrow Kaifeng. Rumors abounded, plunging the city into despair. Would they breach the capital? Would the dynasty change? The common people were easily swayed. Some spread rumors everywhere, blaming the Prince of Nanyuan’s rebellion on her. The Eldest Princess Residence became the battlefield for the capital’s citizens. Thousands gathered at her gate, blocking the entrance, cursing her for betraying their ancestral legacy and calling her a traitor to Great Ye. Wanwan could no longer leave her residence. Sitting blankly behind the walls, listening to the endless curses, she felt like a wooden stake.There always had to be someone within reach to bear the curses and suffering, and she had taken on that role. But what had she done wrong? From her marriage to now, she had always lived under others' control. Why did no one come to thank her when the nation was prosperous and the people at peace, yet the moment trouble arose, she became a sinner for the ages?
Sitting in the courtyard, she felt wronged to the extreme, yet no tears would come. The condemnation of thousands was something her brother and husband had shifted onto her—she couldn't even cry out in grievance.
"Princess Hede incited her man to rebel. Tired of being a princess, she wants to be empress now."
"Hiding in her turtle shell while sending our sons out to risk their lives..."
"Shameless! Treating men like shoes to be worn on the kang and discarded off it—even the courtesans of the Eight Great Alleyways are better than her!"
Wanwan, clutching Liangshi's handkerchief, trembled so violently that it slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. She shook all over, unable even to pick it up.
Tong Huan urged her to go inside. "Why listen to the nonsense of those fools? They only pick on the weak. If they have any courage, they should go to the Western Sea and find The Emperor—what's the point of making a scene at our mansion gate! Don't worry, the Thousand Household Commander has already sent word to the Eastern Factory. Once they arrive, they'll make sure every one of them loses a layer of skin."
Wanwan covered her face with both hands. "If I had known it would come to this, I should have died—it would have been cleaner."
Tong Huan wouldn't allow her to speak like that. Together with Xiao You, they dragged her back into the room. Once the door was closed, the noise outside became muffled. By evening, the crowd had dispersed—reportedly scattered by the agents.
Her current situation was truly unprecedented in its awkwardness. In truth, it wasn't just the common people; even those in the Inner Cabinet viewed her this way. Her earlier confrontation with Xie Daozhi and Yang Yun had now become a joke. Even her miscarriage because of it was seen as deserved—retribution for her failure to cultivate good karma in the next life.
Such days were truly unbearable, as if she were being roasted over fire every day. She told Xiao You it felt like an oil lamp about to burn dry. Xiao You just chided her, "How old are you, talking about drying up already? We all know it's hard for you. You're not living for others—you're living for yourself."
She endured this torment for two months, until one day Yu Xixia brought back good news: Wang Ding and his subordinate generals had all been executed. The Guizhou Army was now fully under the command of the Prince of Nanyuan and had been stationed at the Andong Guard. The Prince of Nanyuan was personally escorting Prince Chu and Prince Changsha to the capital and would arrive in a few days.
The cup in her hands fell to the ground with a crash, shattering to pieces.
"So... he didn't rebel after all?" She stood up, gripping Yu Xixia's wrist. "I knew it... he wouldn't do such a thing..."
Yu Xixia nodded repeatedly. "The Prince only pretended to surrender. During the Battle of Jiujiang, he turned his forces around and, together with the Guannin Iron Cavalry, captured Wang Ding and the others in one sweep. The Prince is a great hero for quelling the rebellion. Now The Emperor should finally trust him, and Your Highness will see the end of suffering and the beginning of sweetness."
The sudden turn of events was like glimpsing a sliver of light through dense clouds. Such a dramatic reversal made her weep for joy. She hadn't been this happy in a long time. Pacing around the room in a flurry, she hastily instructed Yu Xixia, "Send someone to wait outside the city and see when the Prince arrives in the capital."
Yu Xixia accepted the order and left. She then rushed to her dressing table to look in the mirror—and at first glance, she startled herself."How did I become like this?" She touched her own face; the person in the mirror looked pale and haggard, her eyes appearing even larger due to her thinness. She slowly smiled, "Like a big-eyed thief (an owl)."
In the past, she had a face as round and bright as the full moon. No matter how slender her body was, her cheeks were always full. She loved beauty and often felt troubled by this childlike face. Back then, she had a bit of a temper, but she was simple and happy. Now that she had grown up and endured hardships unimaginable to others, the bright moon was gone forever, replaced by lingering clouds of sorrow.
Tong Huan said it didn’t matter. "With powder and rouge applied, Your Highness is a hundred times more beautiful than the beauties in paintings."
And so, she began to dress up meticulously, choosing beautiful clothes and tying up all her hair. The agents returned to the mansion to report that Prince of Nanyuan and his party had reached the Tongzhou area. She was so nervous that her calves trembled. This was the feeling of apprehension upon nearing home. When he was thousands of miles away, she missed him every day, but as he drew closer, she grew increasingly anxious.
She paced around the room. "Why am I afraid to see him now... Tong Huan, I’m afraid he has changed his heart, that he won’t treat me as he did before."
Tong Huan said, "Why is Your Highness overthinking things? How deep is the bond between the Prince and you? Would he forget after just over two years apart? He went to such great lengths to bring you back—could all that be false? If not for your sake, why would he have killed Wang Ding? With Wang Ding’s military strength and the Southern Garden’s wealth, even if they had dragged on for three to five years, the Emperor might not have been able to outlast them."
She still hesitated. "Then I’ll just wait for him in the mansion. If he wants to see me, he’ll come naturally."
Tong Huan sighed helplessly. "He is escorting Prince Chu to the capital. This time, he has official duties and must first attend court to see the Emperor before he can come to the mansion. Think about it—how much time will be wasted with all these delays!"
Wanwan agreed. "The Emperor holds court at the gate; I’ll wait for him at the Gate of Ultimate Return... Even if I can only catch a distant glimpse, it will be enough."
It is not shameful for someone to humble themselves for love, to lower their posture a little.
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