Wanwаn fеlt а dееp sense оf rеgret. Thоse she hаd trеаtеd with suсh sinсerity—whеther it was Liangshi or Lan Zhou—in thе еnd, no оne сhеrishеd hеr affесtiоn. Whеn it сamе to seizing the еmрire, thеy yieldеd not an inсh. So what did shе mеаn tо thеm? Whеn shе held the high роsition оf Рrinсess Rоyаl, thеy had nо сhoiсe but to engаge with her, cоnstrаinеd by hеr status. Oncе shе fеll from thе сlоuds intо thе mirе, she fеаred shе would bе left with nothing.
Аfterwаrd, shе rеfleсtеd саlmly. Coming tо the Southern Garden hаd indeed beеn a cоmplеtе mistakе. How utterly she had failed—she had treated everyone with kindness and tolerance, yet never won their hearts. For a family plotting rebellion, what kind of favor could ever compare to the glory of ruling the world?
She remembered how both Xiao Duo and Yin Lou had warned her back then. At the time, she had prided herself on her cleverness and hadn’t truly taken their words to heart. Now, looking back, it was too late for regrets. She turned her head to look at him lying beside her. If they reached a dead end, could she kill him and put an end to this catastrophe?
The thought made her heart tremble. She had loved him so deeply. Even if he seemed somewhat overshadowed by the empire, he still occupied eight or nine parts of her heart. Yet, sadly, she couldn’t hold onto him. Perhaps they were the same kind of people—I love you, but I love the empire more. Two people who refused to compromise together were nothing but a drawn-out tragedy.
His arm rested atop the quilt. Even in sleep, his hand remained tightly clenched, as if ready for battle at any moment. Filled with sorrow, she gazed at him for a long time before gently pulling the quilt over him. In his drowsiness, he asked, “Why aren’t you asleep yet?” Then, instinctively, he reached out and drew her into his embrace.
Wanwan’s nose tingled with emotion, and she forced herself not to let the tears fall. In truth, she still yearned for his warmth—one last time, just one last time.
She kissed his chin. “Liangshi, how fortunate I am to have married you…” The rest of the words stuck in her throat, swallowed back unspoken.
He didn’t know that the great ship in her heart had long since sunk. While he was busy outside, as long as she was safe at home, he had no worries and didn’t need to trouble himself too much.
Still driven by instinct, he lowered his head in his sleep, seeking her lips, and murmured, “That’s what I should say… What virtue do I possess to have married you?”
A tight embrace, as if it could last until the end of time. But Wanwan knew her battle had already begun. Everyone must pay the price for their choices. Since he had decided to rebel, he couldn’t blame her for disregarding their marital bond.
When that Tiger Tally had appeared last time, she should have investigated it thoroughly. Instead, she had been intimidated by his preemptive strike. It seemed this inexplicable power had not been obtained through proper means. She needed to find it and prevent the situation from worsening further.
She went to his study, rummaged through every drawer and cabinet, but found nothing. Then she turned her steps to the Princely Mansion.
Upon entering the mansion, the atmosphere seemed as usual. The Imperial Concubine warmly chatted with her about household matters, specifically Lanting’s marriage prospects.
How could she have the leisure to care about such things now? She replied perfunctorily, “E’nie, you decide. I haven’t had much contact with people and fear I might misjudge them. Or, like with Lan Zhou last time, we could compile a list and let him choose for himself.”The Imperial Concubine held up her spectacles and muttered, "The marriages of children and grandchildren are truly a headache..." She let out an "oh," then lifted her face and said, "I think you should stay here from now on. I'll have Liangshi come back later. I'll send someone to tell the cook to prepare a few good dishes—it'll be lively with the whole family together. The situation outside is chaotic, and I'm worried about you being alone at the Eldest Princess Residence."
Under normal circumstances, she would have been very grateful for the Imperial Concubine's thoughtfulness, but now things were different. It was hard to guarantee that her actions weren't meant to tightly control her.
She maintained a proper smile on her face and tactfully declined, "I'm not alone at that residence either. There are quite a few guards around me. If I come here and leave them behind, I wouldn't feel right. No matter how chaotic things get, the chaos won't reach our Southern Garden, so E'nie can rest assured! As for Brother Ting's marriage, Madam Zhou is also here. Ask for her opinion—perhaps she has a suitable candidate in mind."
The Imperial Concubine was drawn into this and began worrying over the wedding registry again. Wanwan seized the opportunity to slip away, passing through the drooping flower gate and heading toward the Tower of Profound Grace.
On the way, she encountered Madam Tala, who stepped forward and curtsied. "I just received the news and didn't have time to come out to greet you. Lately, I've been feeling unwell—sometimes better, sometimes worse—and haven't been able to pay my respects. I was also hoping to see the little prince. It's been a few days, and he must have grown quite a bit. Last time, you mentioned that a Red Bird needed its tongue twisted. I've been keeping it in mind, but if too much time passes, its tongue might stiffen, making it difficult to train."
Wanwan felt annoyed at the mention of birds and didn't want her to visit the residence again. She replied, "Those birds chirp noisily and disturb the Prince's rest, so we can't keep them at the residence. They've all been given away to others. You needn't worry about them anymore. If you're unwell, focus on recuperating. I don't visit often, so if you could fulfill my filial duties in front of the Imperial Concubine on my behalf, that would be better than serving me." With a smile, she passed by the courtyard.
She walked calmly, exuding an unflappable demeanor. Madam Tala watched her retreating figure and gritted her teeth in secret.
The birds were all given away—what a coincidence! Her maid lowered her voice and asked, "Do you think she heard that?"
Madam Tala narrowed her eyes slightly. The spring sunlight in March was dazzling. Whether she heard or not, who could say? That parrot had cost her several days of effort. If this move didn't work, it would be such a pity.
Her time at the Princess's Residence hadn't been in vain. She had familiarized herself with the faces of every attendant on duty, including the parrot outside the Prince's study.
People's appearances vary, and while birds' plumage differs, finding one that looked roughly the same wasn't difficult. As for that parrot, kept outside, it couldn't actually hear conversations inside the study. But what did that matter? As long as the source was right, who could clarify the reasons behind it?
It might be difficult for a person to substitute one for another, but with a bird, it was simple. The Eunuch who tended to the parrot in the study one day suddenly discovered the bird had died and panicked as if the sky had fallen. She "happened" to encounter him and kindly told him not to worry: "It's just a bird—how big of a deal is that?"
The Eunuch was in tears. "My life isn't as precious as that bird's. Now it's over—what am I going to do..."She said, "Here's what we'll do: quietly swap one out, and you take it inside. Remember, you can't tell anyone about this, otherwise if our master demands your life, even I won't be able to save you."
She had become a compassionate lady who rescued others from suffering, and the little eunuch, to save his own life, naturally kept his mouth shut. Thus, her parrot ended up perched on the golden-wire stand outside the study, soon making its way before the Princess Royal. A bird's beak is far more reliable than a human's mouth. This way, she could both turn them against each other and keep herself out of it—truly a plan that killed two birds with one stone.
But now, to say it had been given away... she thought it over again and again. It couldn't be, could it?
She let out a soft sigh. "That little creature talks the most. It's been two or three days already—how could it hold back? Let's wait a bit longer. Unless I've misjudged her. If she really suppresses this matter and continues playing her peaceful master, then she's nothing special... not even as good as us, just a plaything!"
Master and servant exchanged a knowing smile, then turned and slowly made their way back to their courtyard.
Because the more one loses, the deeper the hatred. For Madam Zhou and Madam Chen, one had a useless son who only knew how to eat and sleep foolishly, while the other hadn't even blossomed yet, still a maiden in body. Their gains and losses were nothing compared to hers. And her? She had raised a fine son, only to have him snatched away. She had raised a grandson, only to have him snatched away as well. Now, though she had returned to the prince's mansion, what about the past three years when they were exiled to the estate in Songjiang Prefecture? Were those days easy? She didn't hate the prince—men, after all, when they get a young and beautiful wife, they treat her like a treasure, afraid she might melt, and obey her every word. All the resentment naturally pointed toward her; someone had to bear the anger. She herself had no worries—she had Lan Zhou. No matter what, blood ties cannot be severed. Even if he adored this Your Highness immensely, in the end, she couldn't compare to his birth mother. The Princess Royal didn't even have an heir—what use was a man's affection? Once the throne changed hands, she would be nothing. Letting her know early was for her own good. Best if she worked herself to death in one go, then everyone would be free.
When women hate women, it truly is a gnashing of teeth, a fight to the death.
What the parrot said wasn't important, nor was where it learned it. What mattered was that it spoke the truth, so people's energy would be entirely redirected to the major issues, and no one would care about the details.
Wanwan entered Liangshi's study and searched through the drawer where she had previously discovered the Tiger Tally, but found nothing. Expanding her search to the entire study still yielded no results. She began to worry—had the Tiger Tally already been put to use, deployed to mobilize the armies in the southeast?
She looked at Tong Huan with sorrow. "What should I do? I've always been too comfortable, living in peace without considering danger, which led to today's predicament. Had I known this, it would have been better not to return to the Southern Garden. I'd rather have died in the capital than live on here in disgrace."
Tong Huan was deeply alarmed and tried to comfort her repeatedly. "You mustn't think that way. Things aren't that bad yet. At least the message has been sent out. The Emperor knows the situation here and can immediately mobilize the Imperial Guard around the Capital Region to intercept the Andong Guard's army. The capital is still safe."Her eyes shimmered with tears as she pressed a hand to her chest and asked, "What about my Liangshi? Must he die? After this, will there be no more Southern Garden? Is that it?"
Tong Huan remained silent. No matter which side emerged victorious, the defeated would pay with their lives—such was the nature of war. She understood this well, yet she could not bear to lose her brother, nor could she bear to lose her husband. This agonizing dilemma would leave anyone torn.
Tong Huan’s meaning was simply to protect herself. "You have done all you could. What happens next is no longer for you to concern yourself with."
She smiled bitterly. "The victor becomes king, the loser a bandit. You are not me; you cannot understand my predicament."
With the Tiger Tally still missing, they could not linger long at the Southern Garden Palace. She returned to Big Hat Lane, where her wet nurse was already waiting on the steps.
"With such a strong wind, why have you brought the young master outside?" she frowned in reproach. "What if he catches a chill? Would that be any laughing matter?"
The wet nurse wore a helpless expression. "Your Highness, please forgive me. It’s just that the little master was making such a fuss—nothing could soothe him. For a child so young to be so attached to a person is truly rare." As she spoke, she held the child forward. "Take a look. Your mother has returned; now you can rest easy, can’t you?"
Dongli indeed smiled, revealing his toothless gums, drooling as he giggled.
Wanwan gazed at that endearing little face and rolled up a handkerchief to wipe the corner of his mouth. She had intended to hold him, but thoughts of past grievances and resentments drained her of all enthusiasm. Softly, she said, "Take him inside. It’s getting dark; don’t linger outside."
The wet nurse carried the child inside, and Wanwan could even hear Dongli’s stubborn cries... She could no longer bring herself to reach out to anyone from the Yuwen Clan. She had once doted so deeply on Lan Zhou, yet in the end, had it not all come down to Weapons of War for the sake of the realm? It was all false—the flesh of others could never truly become one’s own. She should have understood this long ago.
As she emerged from the sedan hall, she looked up and saw Jinshi not far away, watching her with deep concern. She felt a flicker of gratitude that, as she slowly lost everything one by one, at least she still had them by her side.
She paused and smiled, unsure of what to say. He approached, hesitating for a moment before speaking. "Your Highness, please take care of yourself. No matter what, we are here to protect you."
Her lips trembled, and she could not find the words. After choking back tears for a long while, she finally said, "Thousand Household Commander, when you look at me now, do I seem pitiful and laughable?"
She was referring to those years at the Eldest Princess Residence in the capital, when he had watched her defend the Southern Garden and witnessed her heartbreak over being separated from her husband. Who could have known that such abundant affection would end in emptiness? She felt she had lost face, unable to bear the shame, her eyes darting away, too embarrassed to meet his gaze.
But what did it matter? She was simply overthinking things. Jinshi said, "What I see is Your Highness’s pure heart. I do not find you pitiful or laughable; rather, I find you admirable and worthy of respect. However, I have one thing to say to Your Highness in person. Your current situation is unsafe. If the Prince of Nanyuan were to harbor murderous intentions, how would you protect yourself? My meaning is this: we will escort you away from here. This is a den of thieves. If Your Highness remains, I fear the dangers will far outweigh the benefits."
Yes, her life was at stake. Once she lost her usefulness, who knew what might befall her next.
But she could not leave. The whereabouts of the Tiger Tally remained unknown, and she had to find a way to locate it. And then there was Liangshi... Even if she could flee Jinling, she could never escape his shadow.She shook her head, "Let's wait a little longer." In her heart, she yearned for it—there had been no confrontation yet, and there was still room for maneuver. If only he could pull back from the brink, change his plans to quell the Nu'ergan War, and keep it hidden from the imperial court, she could let bygones be bygones.
Jinshi knew he couldn't persuade her; she hadn't given up hope entirely and would never leave. He clasped his hands and bowed to her, "I will follow Your Highness's orders. As long as you give the word, we will risk our lives to ensure your safe retreat."
She smiled and nodded, "I must thank Brother for at least placing you by my side. That you stayed with me during my most difficult times is my good fortune."
Holding back tears, she retreated to the backyard, afraid that if she lingered any longer, Liangshi would return. Yet he had been absent for several nights in a row, and Wanwan gradually grew uneasy, sensing that when he reappeared, it would likely cause a great upheaval.
And so it was. Five days later, he entered her bedchamber, not with loud arguments, but sitting in an armchair, his eyes filled with gloom as he gazed at her. After a long while, he finally said, "Wanwan, you already know everything, don't you?"
Wanwan's heart leaped violently. She stood straight and unyielding.
"I don't understand what you mean. Know what?"
He fell silent, then a smile gradually rose like a tide, "I never expected the problem to come from you. You sent someone to the capital to report that I harbor rebellious intentions and plan to seize the empire." The smile slowly faded, his face turning ashen as he nodded nervously, "That's fine... that's fine... Sooner or later, it would have come out. With the lies exposed, neither of us needs to pretend anymore."
Wanwan also felt a sense of relief. With love gone, only naked hatred remained.
She said, "Prince of Nanyuan, you truly have the ambition of a wolf. The Late Emperor was not mistaken about you. You repeatedly assured me, swearing to remain loyal to the imperial court, yet when the nation faced crisis, you turned your spear, claiming to support the emperor while actually plotting rebellion. You have truly disappointed me."
She no longer called him by his name but used his official title, and he vaguely felt a sense of dread. Yet he still had confidence that her anger was only temporary—once she accepted it, she would return to his side.
The Emperor, now on guard, swiftly mobilized the garrison to build high walls along the Stone Village line. It was nothing, just a bit of trouble. They were already so close to the capital; the imperial court's struggles were futile. Of course, without her betrayal, things would have been much simpler, but he didn't blame her. He couldn't, because he had wronged her first. Let her vent her anger and make one final contribution to the Great Ye empire, so that in the future, she would have no regrets.
He extended his hand to her, "Wanwan, no matter who ends up ruling this empire, my feelings for you will never change. Look at this broken State Altars, the people displaced and starving. You are such a kind-hearted person—how can you not think of the suffering masses?"
She laughed. He actually still hoped she would join him in his treachery to seize the empire of her maternal family. This man was not only detestable but truly deserved to die!
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