Yеt after аll, а night аs husbаnd аnd wife creаtеs a bond thаt lasts a hundrеd dауs. Тhоugh shе claimеd there was no love, аnd оutwardlу she соuld арpеаr rеsоlutе, deеp in her heаrt shе still felt rеgret and pаin. Even in hеr dream just nоw, shе hаd bееn wееping, cаlling fоr him to turn bасk. Аs he hаd said, hоw diffiсult it was for twо рeоple to bе together, еnduring соuntless triаls through sepаrаtiоns and rеuniоns. Shе wаs nоt mаde оf stоne; shе had whоleheаrtedlу wishеd tо grow оld with him. It didn’t mаttеr if thеy had no сhildren—the title could bе passed tо Lan Zhou. In thе future, whеn hе retirеd, the two of them could find a place with clear waters and green mountains to live, fishing and tending flowers. How wonderful that would have been!
She had always been at the center of power, but in truth, she often grew weary of the intrigue and scheming. For instance, the series of upheavals after her eldest brother’s passing—how brutal the struggle for the throne had been. Even among kin it was so ruthless; how many would die in the transition of dynasties? One general’s success is built upon ten thousand bones. When he ascended to rule the world, those innocent soldiers and commoners would pay a terrible price for his rise. The decay of Great Ye—she had seen it long ago. She had hoped he would support her, or at least join her in doing something for the Murong Clan’s realm. Instead, he rebelled. That time he joined forces with Wang Ding, perhaps it wasn’t truly about preserving the State Altars, but simply about not wanting to share the world with others.
She gazed at him in the hazy light, asking belatedly, “You’ve killed so many people. When will it be my turn?”
He was taken aback by her words. “Why would you say that? How could I ever want to kill you?”
“No? Then where are the Imperial Guards who left my residence?”
He choked, unable to answer. After a long pause, he said, “Who told you? Yu Xixia or Jinshi?”
She slapped the bed board in anger. “Are you going to kill them too? These few are all I have left by my side. Must you wipe them all out?”
At first, fury blazed in his eyes, regretting that he had been too soft-hearted. But her sharp rebuke was like a towering wave, instantly dousing that spark.
He raised both hands, surrendering helplessly. “Let’s not talk about that anymore. You haven’t had dinner. I had them keep it warm on the stove. I’ll bring it in for you right away.”
As he turned to leave, she called out for him to come back. He immediately rushed to her bedside in a single stride. “I’m here. I just wanted to go out and tell them to prepare… If you have something to say, just speak. This time I’m prepared. Even if you curse me to the heavens, I won’t talk back.”
He even wore a smile, as if everything before had been nothing but a nightmare of hers. He was pretending to be at ease, trying to lull her, but she was not so foolish.
“I have no more expectations of you now. I only ask one thing: no matter what, do not touch the people around me again. They protect me wholeheartedly, like family to me. Killing them is the same as killing me.” She looked into his eyes, nearly pleading. “Promise me. Can you guarantee it?”He sighed, "I promise you, as long as they don’t act recklessly, I won’t lay a finger on them." The Silk-clad Guard who had returned to report earlier had to be killed—he had come to the capital to deliver a message. He had long been seething with hatred, and now that the guard dared to show his face again, who knew if he carried an imperial edict from The Emperor? Keeping him alive would only allow him to teach Wanwan how to collaborate from within. Since they had already broken ties, he didn’t want her to have any further connection with the capital. She was a daughter of the Murong Clan, but also a daughter-in-law of the Yuwen Clan. Was a brother who had brought ruin to the country more important than her husband?
But he didn’t dare explain in detail, only meekly agreeing, "Alright, alright... if you say don’t kill them, then I won’t. But we must first set three rules: you must remain safe and sound. If anything happens to you, it will be because they failed in their duty, and they will all have to pay with their lives."
Her face flushed with anger, "Are you threatening me with this? If that’s the case, then let them return to the capital to reunite with their families."
He evaded the question somewhat shamelessly, "If they leave, who will serve you? It’s better to keep them here, unless you’d prefer to return to the Princely Mansion. Would you like that?"
She didn’t insist on sending him away, which gave him hope. Seeing her silent, he knew she had acquiesced. Fortunately, there was still something that could restrain her—as long as she remained safe, it was his greatest assurance.
He turned and called for the soup to be brought in, intending to feed her himself. When he offered the silver spoon to her, she stubbornly turned her face away. Holding the covered bowl, he murmured, "The physician said that although you are physically weak, your condition in the Gynecological Department has improved greatly compared to before. You could conceive at any time. So you must take good care of yourself—not for my sake, but for the sake of our future child. Don’t you want a child? Our own child?"
And then what? The legitimate rule of two dynasties, promising to pass the throne to him—would that create a harmonious state where the Yuwen and Murong Clans each held half? Was that it?
Or perhaps, in his eyes, everything was already perfect, but she didn’t see it that way. She no longer longed for a child as she once did. If she were to have one now, it would only become a means for him to rightfully seize power. Such a child, she would rather not have.
He probably thought that by being obstinate and unreasonable, he could win her back, but he was greatly underestimating her. The two armies had already clashed. She didn’t know how the battle was progressing at the front, but she knew that the common people were struggling on the brink of life and death every day. If she urged him to stop, he wouldn’t listen. What else could she do? She was already powerless, and in the end, she would simply live or die with Great Ye.
But she refused to give up. Suddenly, she lowered herself and grabbed his arm, "Can we leave all this strife behind? Don’t concern yourself with the war at the front anymore. Let’s abandon worldly affairs and go somewhere else together. We’ll find a good place and live our small lives in peace and harmony..." She tightly grasped his hand, tears streaming down her face amidst her sobs, "Liangshi, I’m begging you. I don’t want us to become enemies as husband and wife. It wasn’t easy for us to be together, and we should both cherish that. But now, with your sudden betrayal, where does that leave me? Before you raised your army, why didn’t you think of me? Didn’t you know this would put me in an impossible position?"He knew well, and indeed he had hesitated, fearing to break her heart, and had even considered giving up. Yet the unfolding of events was not something he alone could control. So many generals had sworn oaths together, and he carried the aspirations of their fathers upon his shoulders—he could not simply lay them down. The life she described stirred longing within him, but he bore too heavy a burden, often weary and disheartened. But not now. Countless men fought on the battlefield ahead—his brothers, his sons, his soldiers... If he were to leave, they would have no retreat and would fight to the death.
He said, "If you desire such a life, once the war ends, I will take you away. Even if the throne changes hands, even if I am no longer The Emperor, as long as I am with you, what does it matter?"
The light in her eyes gradually dimmed. He still refused to relent, unwilling to abandon the foundation of the Murong Clan.
She released his hand and slumped against the bedpost, a sharp pain searing through her chest, twisting and tearing as if to rend her apart. Lowering her gaze, she said softly, "We are both trying to persuade the other, but it seems neither will succeed. You have your convictions, and I have my limits. I was foolish to think I could sway you... I understand—you bear the weight of three hundred thousand lives, while I carry the legacy of two hundred and sixty years of our ancestors. We are evenly matched, not for lack of love, but by the whims of fate. We can only blame heaven."
He would have preferred her to rage at him, not to be so calm and detached. The colder her composure, the greater the possibility of a final severance.
A tremor of fear crept into his voice, as if sensing impending disaster, and he whispered, "You are well-versed in the teachings of sages. Throughout history, the rise and fall of dynasties is commonplace. You can judge the merits of ancient figures with profound righteousness, yet when it comes to yourself, why are you so obstinate?"
"Because I am ordinary, never able to attain enlightenment in an instant. I praise Emperor Taizong of Tang for his governance, yet I despise him for slaughtering his own brothers. A person's merits and faults are left for posterity to judge. Whether you are remembered as a hero of troubled times or a treacherous rebel depends entirely on the stroke of another's pen. With luck, you might earn a mixed legacy, but if I stand by your side, I will be condemned by scholars until my dying day... I cannot bear the thought of being scorned after death. I have lived with integrity all my life and cannot endure that."
She fell silent, no longer speaking, her body and soul forming an impenetrable shell he could not breach.
He sank almost to the dust, pleading, "Wanwan, have you forgotten all the affection we once shared?"
She turned her head away, her cold profile like icicles hanging from eaves in deep winter, untouchable.
Grief-stricken and lost, he stood there helplessly for a long while. She turned her back to him, refusing to look his way. He sighed softly, "I will depart on campaign in two days. I fear Master Cheng may not see you again."
She closed her eyes, and even though she did not wish to cry, tears streamed down freely, soaking the mandarin duck pillow.
To march to war, to attack her Brother—what could she say? Words would likely be futile, so it was better to let it be.
Footsteps lingered for a moment before finally fading away. Only then did she allow herself to weep freely. Her body had always been frail, and after such profound sorrow and anger, her limbs trembled, drained of all strength. She thought it would not be long now—this fragile frame of hers likely could not endure much longer.The wet nurse came again, holding Dongli with a worried expression. "Your Highness, please look at the young master. He’s been so upset these past two days that he refuses to eat, and he’s visibly lost weight."
Wanwan, sitting in an armchair, looked up belatedly. "What’s wrong?"
"Probably feeling down inside," the wet nurse said with a frown. "How could the young master know about the things his grandfather and Ama are doing outside? The mistress is angry, but she shouldn’t take it out on him. Even though you don’t hit or scold him, the young master is clever. You usually dote on him so much, but suddenly you treat him coldly—how could he not be hurt?"
Wanwan was slightly taken aback. She stood up to look at the child and indeed saw he had grown thinner, his eyes appearing even larger than before. When he saw her, his lips quivered, as if about to cry. She quickly comforted him, and he reached out, wanting her to hold him. She hesitated, turning to Tong Huan and saying, "Maybe we should send him back to the prince’s residence."
Tong Huan disagreed. "If we send him back, they’ll laugh at us. Let’s keep the child here—at least we’ll have something to hold onto."
Could Dongli really be used as a hostage? She smiled bitterly, taking him into her arms and tapping his little nose. "Such a tiny little one… will you remember your mistress in the future?"
The child, just over six months old, could already drink a little rice porridge. When a small silver spoon half-filled with porridge approached, his big, dark eyes fixed on it. He opened his mouth even before it reached him, clearly hungry.
Ah, such an adorable little bundle was a cure for all ailments. She rocked him gently, comforting him. After all, she had raised him herself—how innocent he was, to be caught in the crossfire of anger.
But while a child could be forgiven, adults were another matter. Madam Tala came, inexplicably full of self-reproach. "That wretched Lan Zhou—Your Highness treated him so well, yet he did such a thing. Isn’t it heartbreaking? You haven’t been to the prince’s residence, and the old lady misses you, but she’s afraid you resent her and feels too ashamed to see you. I’ve mustered my courage, hoping you won’t turn me away. I’ve been with Your Highness for so long—you know my temperament. I bear no ill will at all; I only hope for harmony in the family… How have you been lately? If you have anything on your mind, you can tell me. I’ll do my best to listen and offer some comfort."
Wanwan now saw no one as truly good. Out of consideration for Madam Tala’s recent service to her, she didn’t drive her away—that was already showing great kindness.
Her expression remained calm, but her attitude was distant. "I’m fine, no need to worry about me. There’s no need for comforting words either—I’ve heard enough of them."
Madam Tala let out an "oh," looking somewhat disappointed. Then she added, "Husbands and wives shouldn’t hold grudges overnight. Please try to understand the prince as well—this matter… it’s just hard to explain. I’ve heard they’ve already advanced to Zhending Prefecture, making significant progress. Honestly, men like this are truly heartless. They don’t consider the Emperor in the capital, nor do they consider Your Highness…"
Tong Huan cut her off. "Secondary Consort, please don’t add fuel to the fire. Regardless of who’s right or wrong, this is a matter between husband and wife—what business do outsiders have interfering? There’s one thing you said right: the eldest young master’s actions are truly disheartening. We thought that since he was raised by our mistress, the two were as close as mother and son, and he would have learned at least a little integrity. Who would have thought he’d turn around and kick up a fuss, becoming nothing but an ingrate in others’ eyes. Alright, you should go back now. There’s no point lingering here—later, if someone accuses you of colluding with the enemy, you won’t be able to explain yourself to the prince."Madam Tala, having been rebuffed twice, felt annoyed but soon let it go. This one was like a grasshopper in late autumn—it wouldn’t be hopping around for much longer. If she wanted to indulge in empty talk, let her. It wouldn’t put any meat on her bones anyway.
She left the inner gate in a huff and spotted Jinshi, the Thousand Household Commander of the Silk-clad Guard, standing by the doorstone. Her gaze swept over his face briefly, but she said nothing, turning away and striding off.
Wanwan returned to her room and unrolled the map. She had initially thought Stone Village could hold out for a month or two, but it had fallen in just a few days. Great Ye had enjoyed over two centuries of peace, and its soldiers had grown lazy as maggots—they didn’t even know how to fire firearms. How could they compare to the well-trained Qi People? With no capable generals in the imperial court, they could only hunker down and take the beating.
She located Zhending Prefecture and pointed despondently. “Ahead is Hejian Prefecture, and beyond that, Baoding. Once Tianjin Garrison falls, they can march straight to Beijing… What’s happening in the capital? The Emperor should have come to his senses by now, shouldn’t he?” Tears welled in her eyes. “Our ancestors’ legacy is about to be destroyed by him. If he were here, I’d give him a good thrashing. This fool, he’s lost all sense of humanity, ruining a fine kingdom like this. Could it truly be that our fate has run out, that the dragon vein has been severed?”
Yu Xixia glanced at Tong Huan and stepped forward. “Your Highness should focus on the immediate matter at hand. The Prince of Nanyuan will join the army the day after tomorrow. Once he reaches the front lines, the situation will become critical. If we can find a way to obtain the Tiger Tally, we might still buy some time for the imperial court. This is what I think: while we’re anxious here, does The Emperor even know that the Left Tally is in the Prince of Nanyuan’s possession? If even he is unaware, and some eunuch around him has been bribed to steal the Right Tally, then Great Ye is truly finished.”
Yes, this living deity who only recognized the Supreme Lord Lao—did he even understand the importance of the Tiger Tally?
Wanwan pondered for a long while. “We can’t just sit and wait for death. There’s more than one route from Zhending Prefecture to Tianjin Garrison. If he bypasses Baoding and attacks the capital from the northwest, without garrison troops on guard, how many rounds of fierce assault could the city withstand?”
Everyone around her watched her eagerly. She gritted her teeth. “Tomorrow night, we must find a way to bring him back. Tell him I’m gravely ill, on the verge of death. He’ll surely stay until he sets off directly, without returning to the yamen midway. Then he’ll carry the Tiger Tally and the Deployment Map with him. If we can’t get the Tiger Tally, at least we can make a copy of the Deployment Map.”
Xiao You said, “Feigning death is too difficult. Why not pretend to be pregnant? If he hears this good news at such a time, he’ll likely be so overjoyed he’ll forget everything. We can prepare a packet of sedative powder, knock him out, and send the items out overnight. How does that sound?”
Now, with no way out, the simplest and quickest method would be to poison him outright, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Pretending to be pregnant—how wicked. She wasn’t entirely willing in her heart. Still, it was a clever trick. Even if he grew suspicious, a sliver of hope would linger in his mind. That moment of hesitation might just give her an opening—it wasn’t impossible.
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