Тоng Huan аnd Хiао Yоu exchаngеd glancеs. While it was nаturаl fоr а sоn tо miss his mother, this sоn was a bit too old and hаd just bеcоme а fаthеr himsеlf—cеrtаin рrорrietiеs still needed tо bе obsеrved.
Xiaо You, aftеr all, knew thе insidе stоrу. Shе stерped fоrwаrd and саllеd out, "Мastеr, thе floor is соld. Plеase get uр! Kneeling likе this... it's just nоt рroрer."
Howеvеr, hеr words саrriеd littlе wеight, аnd he раid her nо mind. She turnеd to loоk at Тоng Нuan, gеsturing frаntiсаlly toward thе floor with a cutting motiоn, asking how to hаndle this. Tоng Huаn shоok hеr head, signaling her not to get involved, and then focused her gaze inward, quietly standing aside like a wooden post.
Wanwan had no choice but to smile and say, "Oh, this child! You're already an Ama yourself, yet you still act like this? I know missing me is just an excuse—you really miss home. When your Ama returns, I'll talk to him. I won't let you go to Xuzhou anymore; you can stay in Jinling to take care of the family."
He said nothing and did not loosen his grip, simultaneously despising himself for losing his senses while savoring the stolen moment of peace.
Her skirt carried a faint, delicate fragrance, just as he remembered. He had once been deeply attached to this scent. That time when he and Brother Ting fell into the water, she had cared for him day and night, and this fragrance had taken root in his memory. Whenever he caught a whiff of it, he would recall her face bathed in spring light. He couldn’t quite articulate what he felt for her—he simply wanted to be close. The more his Ama tried to stop him, the more he yearned. He had thought leaving this place of trouble would help, but it was useless. Suppressing it only made the longing stronger. Later, whenever he closed his eyes, he would see her—like a beam of light, impossible to ignore. He felt a princess should be just like that. He admired her; even if Great Ye were to fall, she would remain unshaken, and he would defend her with his entire life.
It was a pity he had been born eight years too late—no matter how hard he tried, he could never catch up. After being whipped by his Ama last time, he thought he could forget everything from the past. Yet, upon seeing her and hearing her voice, all his efforts crumbled in an instant. His self-control was utterly useless in her presence. All he could do was hide his selfish desires, masking his face with familial affection when emotions overwhelmed him, sneaking a little closer to her—at least that wouldn’t provoke her disgust. Like now, he was both anxious and savoring the moment, imagining what would happen if his Ama returned and caught them. What would happen... he didn’t know. At most, he would die—but he already had an heir, so death didn’t matter.
Kneeling before her, a thousand thoughts raced through his mind in an instant, none of which Wanwan could possibly know. She simply smiled helplessly, truly believing he hadn’t grown up yet—forced into fatherhood, but still unwilling and resentful.
She gently stroked his hair. "Good child, I know you’ve been holding your grievances inside, and they still haven’t been released. Are you still upset about your Ama beating you last time? What exactly happened that day? I asked your Ama, but he wouldn’t say. If you were wronged, you can tell your E’nie. Today is a joyous day—the little prince has been born. What are we to do with you like this?"
But he shook his head. "This son deserved the beating... not the slightest bit wronged. Ama was right to beat me, and he did well. If he had beaten me to death in one go, my sins would have been repaid."
Slowly, he lowered his head in a humble posture, pressing his forehead against the tip of her shoe. Wanwan truly couldn’t understand what was wrong with him. After thinking it over, she concluded that the child must have suffered outside but was too embarrassed to tell the family, so he was just acting out in front of her.She sighed; this kind of conflict between father and son was difficult for her to intervene in. She still remembered when her eldest brother had once talked back to their father and was hung under the Xuanyuan Mirror in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. Even when the Empress Dowager went to plead for mercy, she was kicked by their father. Especially now, since this child was not her own, there might be some untouchable secrets in his heart that he might not be willing to share with her.
But she couldn’t bear to see him so dejected. She bent down to support his arm and said gently, “Brother, today should be a happy day. Have you chosen a name for the little prince? The Junior Princess Consort must be eager to see you now. Let’s go and visit her.”
He remained prostrate for a long time, seemingly in no hurry to see his wife and son. Wanwan turned back with a worried expression to look at Tong Huan and Xiao You, but they could only offer helpless, strained blinks. Suddenly, she understood. “You have something to say to me, don’t you? Is it inconvenient with others present?” She immediately dismissed everyone around her. “Alright, everyone is gone now. There’s no need to hold back. Say whatever you want.”
Finally, he stood up, hanging his hands at his sides, and glanced at her sheepishly. “E’nie…”
She smiled and nodded. “Yes, go ahead.”
Under the lamplight, the young man looked exactly like a smaller version of Liangshi. The saying “a tiger father does not beget a dog son” was perfectly exemplified in the Yuwen Clan. Watching his hesitant demeanor, Wanwan realized he only behaved like a child when he was at home. So when he stammered and asked if she missed him, of course she nodded and said she did.
“You’ve never left home since you were little, and now you’re suddenly going to the army. How could I not worry? Are you used to it there now? In my opinion, it would be better to come back, even if it’s just to New River Mouth—it’s still closer than Xuzhou.”
She spoke softly and gently, her tone reserved, with the affection of a princess in her eyes. The closer he was to her, the more he felt that the last shred of his dignity could not sustain him. His eyes grew sore and faintly warm; how could he possibly put all his thoughts into words? Hearing her say she missed him felt like redemption, making his defeat not so complete.
He loved her but could not defile her. He took a step back, reverting to his respectful and obedient demeanor. “E’nie, don’t worry. Your son is in Xuzhou, under the care of Sixth Uncle, and everything is going smoothly. When I first joined the army, I could only lead fifty men, but now I command five hundred. I will learn my skills well and protect E’nie in the future. Please watch over me.”
Her gaze was like water, gently and slowly sweeping across his face. “Your Ama would also be pleased to see you succeed. Don’t think he’s too harsh on you; he does it for your own good. You’re still young and bound to make mistakes. Since he is your father, it’s his responsibility to guide you. Don’t resent him.”
She was trying her best to mediate, unwilling to let any rift grow between father and son. But she had no idea that everything had started because of her—all because she was too perfect.
He smiled, bowed slightly, and replied, “Yes.” Then he stepped aside a little and gestured with his hand. “E’nie, please go and see your grandson. I’ve given him a childhood name, Dongli. As for his formal name, I’ll have to trouble Ama to decide.”
He led the way with a lantern, guiding her into the Young Mistress’s birthing chamber.Yun Wan had just given birth and was already asleep. Wanwan, seeing she was well, went to look at the child. The little prince lay in the wet nurse's arms, his small face red and wrinkled, just like when Jinshu had first entered the palace—eyes closed, instinctively burrowing into the wet nurse's bosom.
She lowered her voice and asked Madam Tala, "Are the Young Mistress and the child both well?"
Madam Tala replied, "Thanks to Your Highness's blessings, all is well."
Wanwan took the Gold Lock and gently placed it on the little prince's swaddling clothes. "To bring Dongli fortune and blessings. He can wear it when he's older; he's too small now..." She extended a finger and lovingly touched his little face. "What a precious child." Turning to look at Lan Zhou, she added, "His eyes and brows are just like his Ama's."
Lan Zhou's face flushed red, then quickly turned somber. "Mother has already come to see them. It's late now; let me escort E'nie back."
Afraid of disturbing the mother and child, she agreed, treading softly as she withdrew from the Main Chamber.
The moonlight was bright in the sky, and the September night had grown chilly. Looking up into the distance, the clouds at the horizon were thin as gauze, drifting faintly as if a breath could scatter them. She tucked her hands into her sleeves and sighed, "Time passes so quickly. In just a few short years, I already have a grandson."
Walking beside her, he asked softly, "When E'nie first entered the household, did you dislike that Ama had a son?"
She thought for a moment and nodded. "Who would want their husband shared with another? If I could have chosen, perhaps I wouldn't have chosen your Ama... But now that things have come to this, I feel it's not so bad after all. In the future, the Southern Garden Palace will rely on you to uphold the family. Without you, your Ama and I would be worried."
He knew she was referring to her own lack of children. She was perfect in every way, except for this one shortcoming. While he felt sorry for her, he also secretly felt relieved. Once she had her own child, her heart might never remain as pure as it was now. Even if it was selfish of him, he couldn't hope for anything else—it would be best to remain her son forever, never changing.
Passing by the Lake of Graceful Charm, the lotus leaves had withered after the onset of winter, looking infinitely desolate under the moonlight. He suddenly said, "The campaign to pacify the Northern Frontier is difficult. The imperial court lacks the strength to handle it, and it seems they'll have to deploy the garrison troops from the Andong Guard. I intend to volunteer to join the expedition. We'll set off after the New Year, and by the time we reach Guangning Guard, the climate there should have warmed up. Then I can fully exert myself and thoroughly defeat those restless barbarians."
When Wanwan heard him speak of going to war, her steps faltered, and she nearly stumbled and fell. Quick to react, he turned to catch her, and she fell into his embrace.
To have such a moment in a lifetime, no matter how brief, would be enough to savor for a lifetime. As if bewitched, he held her. "E'nie, are you all right?"
She said she was fine. "I stepped on my skirt." Collecting herself, she suddenly realized how inappropriate it was and awkwardly pushed him away, smiling. "E'nie is getting old, and her legs aren't as nimble anymore. Luckily, you were here, or I would have taken another fall."
She deftly defused the situation, but he didn't know if she had glimpsed his irreverent thoughts. He began to regret intensely—why had he acted so slyly when he could have simply reached out to steady her?
Trembling with anxiety, he changed the subject. "If war breaks out, E'nie should return to the palace. That way, we can look out for each other."
She had the Imperial Guards and wasn't afraid no matter where she lived. It was just that, upon hearing of the impending war, she worried not only about him but also about Liangshi.New River Mouth was some distance from Nanjing, and Liangshi did not return to the estate until noon the next day. He first went to see his grandson, then came back and whispered to Wanwan, "I think this child looks a bit weak. He’s breathing so heavily—could he have been born from an ox?"
Wanwan couldn’t help but laugh at his words. "What kind of grandfather says such things about his own grandson! His parents are only fourteen years old. When children give birth to children, it’s natural for the baby to be frail. Besides, he’s just been born—what can you tell at this stage? Even if he is weak, we can slowly nurse him back to health."
He had just changed his clothes and was standing before the mirror, turning to examine himself. She straightened his inner garment and led him to the desk, taking a wolf-hair brush from the brush stand and placing it in his hand. "Please, Grandfather, bestow a name. Think of a good one for our Dongli."
He seemed to have already made up his mind. Using a paperweight to smooth the cold-gold paper, he picked up the brush and wrote the character "Zhan." "‘Cold robes follow the orchid’s stillness, water and trees shine clear and bright.’ Let him be called Zhan."
Wanwan joyfully repeated the name twice, took the cold-gold paper, and went out to call a servant girl. "Take this to the eldest master’s courtyard. The little young master has a name now—Yuwen Zhan."
Life in the inner quarters was always so serene. Watching her stand beneath the eaves, with such a gentle and selfless demeanor, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion.
Returning from outside, covered in the dust of travel, seeing her would always tempt him to rest a while and indulge in his lazy tendencies. He longed for that comfort, but now, there was no time for delay. His subordinates were already waiting in the study. Holding the brush and ink, his heart burned with the flames of war. Some things were destined to happen, and at this critical juncture, like an arrow on the bowstring, they compelled him to strive forward. Lately, he had been busy, but his efforts had borne fruit—all pending issues had been resolved. Whether infantry, cavalry, or naval forces, the entire southern region had fallen into his hands. Now, everything was ready; all it would take was a slight nudge from someone in the imperial court, and the Southern Garden army could march north.
For an ambitious man, the empire was like a toy to a determined child—to obtain it, he would spare no cost.
He entered the study, where his generals saluted with a resounding sweep of their arrow sleeves. With the heroic determination of one marching to battle, he strode through the crowd, his gaze sweeping across each face. "Gentlemen, the Southern Garden has lain dormant for over two hundred years. Now, at last, it is our time to shine. The Nurgan Regional Military Commission has rebelled, and the imperial court is beset by internal and external troubles, already thrown into disarray. Yesterday, the Inner Cabinet issued an edict ordering the Andong Guard to deploy two hundred thousand troops to garrison Guangning Guard. The deployment of these two hundred thousand troops is entirely up to us."
On the sand table, layered mountains represented a scaled-down version of the empire. Pointing toward the location of Beijing, he began arranging his forces: "To engage the Sach River Guard, the Capital is a must-pass. While suppressing the rebellion in Nurgan, we cannot leave the capital untouched. The court has only allocated two hundred thousand troops, but along the line from Southern Garden to Andong Guard, we have five hundred thousand elite soldiers. When the time comes, we will pretend to obey the decree and mobilize all our forces. The troops can be divided into two routes: one to secure the borders, and the other to march straight into Beijing. I have already submitted a memorial to the court requesting to lead the campaign, though it remains uncertain whether The Emperor will approve. Regardless, once the arrow is released, there is no turning back. This northern expedition is inevitable. I ask you all to take the lead and lend me your strength. When the day comes that all under heaven bows in submission, I will share this empire with you."These words were spoken with soaring ambition. After years of biding his time, he would never speak lightly unless success was all but assured. His trusted aides, who had followed him for many years, had long awaited this day. His words were their command. Overwhelmed with joy, the men knelt in unison, their armor clinking as they clasped their fists and declared, "We are ready to lay down our lives at your command, Master."
To plot for the world was less a personal ambition than the long-cherished wish of his ancestors. The Qi People were a nation born on horseback, galloping across the land like soaring eagles, never willing to submit to constraints. Two hundred and sixty years ago, the emperor of the Central Plains had exhausted every effort to confine them, yet the indomitable spirit of the Qi People could not be extinguished. They still yearned for vast skies and dreamed of conquering all corners of the earth.
To serve as another's slave could never compare to reigning freely as a king—this was the creed of their forebears. Yet, once such a vast empire was established, toppling it became an immensely difficult task. With no hope in sight, there remained only one word: wait! And so, they waited for a full two hundred and sixty years. Now, the time was ripe. He knew it was time to act, for further delay would only lead to decay. This corrupt realm and its imperial court needed a fresh mind to govern. Many aspired to claim the throne, but he was merely the one who had endured the longest in solitude and weathered the harshest trials. Over the years, the Southern Garden had endured countless storms and upheavals, all of which he had gritted his teeth and endured. Only the matter of Wanwan's detention remained an unresolved grievance to this day. A gentleman's vengeance need not be rushed; ten years was not too long to wait. Now, with both timing and circumstances in his favor, he was determined to drag Murong Gaogong from his throne, tear out his heart, and offer it in sacrifice to the child who never had the chance to be born.
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