Sea of No Return

Тhey had рlаnned it this waу, and in the еnd, thеу indееd сarried it оut.

Liangshi drew a circle аrоund the Рrincеss's Rеsidеnсe, соmрlеtеly sеaling her eаrs аnd bloсking her vision. She hаd no waу out, feаring thаt оnе dау nеws would suddenlу аrrive, sауing thе dynаsty hаd сhanged, thаt hеr muddle-hеaded seсond brother hаd finаllу aсted heroiсаllу, with the rulеr dуing fоr thе Stаtе Altаrs... Shе did not wаnt that. Тhe morе critiсаl thе situatiоn bесаme, the morе she wished she were а man. If only shе were а man, еvеn if she shеd blood on the battlefield, it would be a hundred times better than being raised like a bird for others to admire.

She summoned Jinshi. "There are layers of defenses outside the residence. If we need to send a message out, can it be done?"

Jinshi said it could. "I will deliver it myself. Even tigers have moments of drowsiness. If we travel at night, slipping past those Goshiha, there should be an eighty percent chance of success."

"But what if we are caught?"

"If caught, as long as nothing is found on me, out of respect for Your Highness, the Prince of Nanyuan will not do anything to me." Jinshi spoke with calm assurance, smiling at her in the end. "Please wait for my return, Your Highness. When the time comes, I will bring people to deal with those Goshiha and take you away from the Southern Garden."

Wanwan looked at his face; he had always been able to give her a sense of security. He was a reliable person, not one for many words, but steady in everything he did. The panic in Wanwan's expression gradually settled, and she nodded, saying, "After this is done, we will leave the Southern Garden... and never return."

The news of the Princess Royal's pregnancy soon reached the Princely Administration. There was no need to report it specifically; just a slight hint would naturally reach the ears of the Prince of Nanyuan. Wanwan waited quietly. If he cared for her, he would surely return. But the longer she waited, the more uncertain she felt. Leaning against the head of the bed, she murmured, "What if he doesn't believe it?"

Tong Huan urged her to remain calm. "Ever since the last miscarriage, haven’t you been longing for this day? Don’t worry, he would rather believe it’s true. Wait a little longer. It’s almost dark. Perhaps he was busy during the day, but once everything is settled, he will surely come."

Wanwan closed her eyes and sighed deeply. "We’re all acting, deceiving each other... What’s the point of going on like this? I thought I had found a good man, and even if he was scheming, I accepted it. I kept comforting myself, saying the Southern Garden is in a difficult situation, and he uses a bit of cunning to protect his Feudal Territory. I could tolerate it, as long as he treated me well. But I never expected his ambitions to grow so vast that I can no longer hold onto him..."

What could be done? It was simply each person’s fate. She felt her fortune was not as good as Yin Lou’s. Whether Yin Lou was truly dead or pretending, she did not have to face the embarrassment of a shattered nation. Unlike herself, holding it in her hands, unable to let go.

"Do you think the Eunuch Official and Yin Lou are together now?" Her gaze passed through the lattice window, resting on the swallows returning to their nests. "The Eunuch Official must have found Yin Lou. They are in a place no one can find, living a peaceful life, right?"

Tong Huan remained silent, seeing her lower her head to caress the two Heaven's Eye Stone pendants on her bracelet. She knew Wanwan must be reminiscing about the old days again.She still remembered that when the Princess Royal first fell in love, it was Xiao Duo she had liked. Unfortunately, the two of them walked different paths, destined never to have a future together. Tong Huan secretly felt it was a pity—if the Princess Royal could truly have relied on Xiao Duo, today’s situation would never have arisen. Whether Great Ye survived or perished, at least there would have been no conflict between them, sparing them the torment of such anguish. But fate had linked her with an ambitious Feudal Prince, and this chain of suffering was an unending torment.

She leaned down and tucked in the blanket for her. "Your Highness, let’s not think about others, only ourselves. You must take care of your health. It’s getting warmer now, but why are your hands still so cold? Who in this world cannot live without someone else? Even if we take a step back and ignore The Emperor and the Prince of Nanyuan, as Jinshi said, we could leave this place of trouble and find somewhere to hide away from the world. You’re still young. If this chapter is no good, we’ll start another. I refuse to believe Heaven is so unfair."

She only smiled in response. "Where could I go... My origins have roots. From Imperial Princess to Princess Royal, it sounds glorious, but you’ve seen it—the circle of my life is only this small." She traced a tiny circle in the air. "Dealing with palace consorts in the palace, listening to Brother when it came to marriage, the ups and downs after marriage all tied to my husband... Looking back now, my life has been truly dull. What’s so good about being a princess?"

Tong Huan teased her, "Then look at me. I’m not a princess; I’m just a girl from an ordinary family. I entered the palace at seven or eight, worked my way up from a little maid who dusted to a steward, and then came to serve you. Has my life been interesting? In truth, everyone is the same, each with their own sorrows. If you hadn’t encountered this, you would have been the most blessed person in the world..." As she spoke, she glanced sideways and suddenly lowered her voice. "He’s here."

Wanwan’s heart skipped a beat. Tong Huan pressed her hand, signaling her not to panic, and went to the door to greet the visitor.

"Your return is perfectly timed, Prince. I was just about to send someone to bring you the good news..."

He raised a hand, unusually amiable. "I already know. You may leave."

Having been out and about, he was inevitably covered in dust. After brushing it off under the eaves, he still dared not approach her bed, afraid of dirtying it. He stood only by the footrest and asked cautiously, "How are you feeling now? Still unwell?"

Wanwan looked at him with a bitter expression, unsure how to face him. Before his arrival, she had thought of countless ways to respond, but seeing him now, she felt none of them would work. He still wore the same delighted yet restrained expression he had five years ago when he first heard she had conceived, which pained her to see. She had deceived him and felt deeply guilty, but in the cycle of cause and effect, compared to his grand deception, her little trick was nothing.

She let out a soft sigh. "You won’t leave tonight, will you?"He finally allowed a smile to surface on his cheeks. "I won't leave. I'll stay home with you. In the past, we never kept servants overnight in our rooms. If you need anything, just call on me—I'm happy to do it. Tonight will be the same. They've worked hard these past days; let them have a full night's sleep. I'll watch over you."

Wanwan's heart was a tumult of mixed emotions. After a moment of silence, she asked softly, "You already know?"

He nodded repeatedly, watching her expression carefully. "This child has come at just the right time. We've waited so long, and finally, our wish has come true. Aren't you happy?" Seeing tears welling up in her eyes and falling like strings of pearls, he could think of nothing else. He stepped forward to wipe her tears, holding her in his arms to comfort her. "Wanwan, our bond isn't broken—it's been renewed. I know you care for the world, but now it's different. We have a child, and you must think of them. Five years ago, we lost one, and the heartbreak was unbearable. We can't let this one follow in their sibling's footsteps. Just focus on resting well and don't worry about anything outside. Give me some time, and I will surely restore a splendid realm for you."

Perhaps he said this to ease her mind, but to her ears, it sounded painfully sharp. She couldn't argue with him; she had to appear resigned. To bring up a nonexistent child was something she couldn't bring herself to do. Better to move quickly to the main point.

"You mentioned the other day that you were going on a campaign. Has the date been set? When?"

He hesitated slightly. "I leave tomorrow. I originally wanted to stay with you a few more days, but the orders have already been sent out. It wouldn't be right to change them now."

She nodded. "This parting will be a long one before we meet again. Even if I tried to keep you, I doubt I could. Go then... take care of yourself." With that, she tucked her robe and got out of bed, standing behind the Floor Screen to instruct Xiao You. "Prepare dinner. Have the cook make a couple of his specialties."

Xiao You answered from outside the window. Turning back, her expression remained calm. "I haven't been eating well lately, and it can't go on like this. You haven't eaten yet, have you? Let's eat together, as a farewell for you."

He agreed, helping her sit on the cloud-patterned couch, earnestly advising, "Being able to eat and drink is a blessing. Whether you have an appetite or not, what you eat becomes yours. If you nourish yourself, our child will be nourished too. I saw Dongli the other day—that boy was as frail as a sick kitten when he was born, but now he's thriving. If our child has a strong foundation, they'll surely surpass Dongli."

Mentioning Dongli brought a smile to her face. "An uncle younger than his nephew—it messes up the generations."

"What does that matter? My granduncle's grandson is twenty years older than me, and he still has to bow respectfully when he sees me. Besides, these are blood relatives. No matter where we are, we'll always be the elders."Setting aside national enmity and personal grudges, the two spoke with a long-lost sense of familiarity. Sitting across from each other under the lamplight, her gaze flowed like water, drifting over the corners of his eyes and the arch of his brows. It felt so familiar, as if nothing had ever changed. His features were not sharp-edged but rather gentle and handsome. She had always thought such men were sentimental, unwilling to let their loved ones suffer, but she had been mistaken. He and she were the same kind of people—once they set a goal, they would pursue it unwaveringly, even unto death. That was why they had drifted apart, walking opposite paths, unable to stay together in this lifetime. How tragic and sorrowful.

The food in the kitchen was soon ready, and Tong Huan and Xiao You carried in the kang table. Kang were not used in the south, but to accommodate her habits, one had been specially built under the southern window. It served as a place to sit during ordinary times and was also used in winter, as she was extremely sensitive to the cold.

She gestured for him to sit. On the table were several colorful platters of assorted dishes, along with seasonal river delicacies. She served him food, saying, "Let's not discuss state affairs today. Eat more. I dare not indulge too much, afraid that if something goes wrong, I'll regret it."

He reassured her it was fine. "Just avoid cold-natured foods like snails and crabs." As was his habit, he carefully removed the two pieces of meat from the fish belly, picked out the large bones, and placed them on her plate. "Eat, there are no bones to worry about."

Wanwan was practically helpless when it came to picking out fish bones. She only dared to eat the belly, as other parts easily got stuck in her throat. Every time, he took care of her like a child. Perhaps she would never find anyone in this lifetime who loved her more than he did. Yet why did this person, who was so perfect in the smallest details, make her struggle so deeply in matters of principle?

She lowered her eyes and raised her chopsticks. The fish was tender and delicious, but to her, it tasted of endless bitterness. She choked slightly, feeling nauseous, but forced herself to swallow it down.

Seeing her expression, he straightened up and asked, "What's wrong? Do you need to vomit?"

She smiled self-deprecatingly. She wasn't actually pregnant—what was there to vomit?

She poured him wine, her heart trembling with fear. The wine had been drugged, and she was both afraid he would drink it and afraid he wouldn't. In the end, he raised the cup and drank it all in one go. A heavy weight lifted from her heart. It was done, and perhaps it was for the best—to move forward without looking back.

She urged him to drink more, and he mumbled something about dizziness, resting his head in his hands. She guessed the sedative was taking effect and stared at him blankly until he slumped over the table, motionless.

Time was of the essence. She immediately stood up and searched around his waist but found no Tiger Tally. Fortunately, she discovered a sheepskin scroll in his robe. Unrolling it, she saw it was indeed the Southern Army's marching map.

Everything had been prepared. She quickly placed a sheet of Chengxin Hall paper over it and traced the crimson arrows underneath with her eyebrow pencil. He truly was a master of troop deployment—such dispersed encampments and formations would be difficult to describe clearly without tracing them.

The candle flame on the desk flickered, and her heart pounded with tension. As she traced, she kept glancing at him. The sedative powder would take at least half an hour to wear off. Half an hour—that should be enough for their plans.She faithfully copied the map and tucked the sheepskin scroll back into his embrace. Chengxintang paper was very thin, tightly rolled up to no thicker than a chopstick. Wanwan handed the copy to Tong Huan, instructing her to deliver it immediately to Jinshi for handling. Tong Huan hurried to Jinshi’s duty room and repeatedly urged, “Be extremely careful—don’t let those Goshiha seize it.”

Jinshi was prepared. He wrapped the copy in another layer of paper, removed the candle from the lantern, and meticulously sealed the paper with wax. Tong Huan didn’t understand why he was doing this and was about to ask when he suddenly drew a dagger and made a cut on the inside of his left arm. Before the blood could gush forth, he embedded the paper roll into the wound, smiling as he said, “The map lives as long as I live; if the map is destroyed, I die.”

His action was entirely unexpected, and it abruptly evoked a sense of tragic heroism. Through tear-filled eyes, Tong Huan saw him hand over a needle and thread. “Trouble you, miss, to sew up the wound for me.”

How painful this must be! How could flesh and blood endure such a thing?

Tong Huan looked at him with sorrow and anxiety. Beads of sweat covered his forehead as he urged her to sew. “What Your Highness has entrusted, I will accomplish even at the cost of my life.”

Tong Huan knew he harbored feelings for the Princess Royal, but due to their difference in status, he had never dared to show them. For so many years, he had silently stood guard here, upholding the dignity of the Princess’s Residence even in her absence. When the Prince of Nanyuan had purged the Imperial Guards last time, Jinshi had gritted his teeth and stood firm, likely having anticipated this day long ago. So now, shedding a little blood was a form of devotion for him, willingly given.

Several Silk-clad Guards grew restless. “Let’s fight our way out with Your Highness—better than hiding like cowards.”

Fighting their way out was far from easy! Those Goshiha were elite troops, their skills no worse than the Silk-clad Guards. Moreover, they were numerous and powerful. With only eight of them, they would likely be wiped out before even stepping out the main gate.

Jinshi said, “It’s too risky. We are nothing—our lives are worthless—but what if Your Highness is frightened? It’s better for me to go alone, evade the hidden sentries, and slip out quietly. Once I return to the capital, I’ll mobilize men from the Thousand Household Commander’s office. When our forces are evenly matched, I’ll come back to rescue you.”

Tong Huan’s needle and thread moved through his flesh with each stitch, and she felt pain with every puncture. Fortunately, once she finished sewing, his bleeding gradually stopped. She wiped her sweat and helped him lower his sleeve.

He flexed his arm—as a martial arts practitioner, he could endure such an injury. Picking up his blade, he glanced at the others. “I entrust Your Highness to all of you. Protect her at all costs.”

Yu Xixia assured him not to worry. The remaining Silk-clad Guards watched him like lost children, and he gave them a comforting look before crouching low and slipping out under the cover of night.

Meanwhile, Wanwan kept her gaze fixed on Liangshi. The kang table had long been cleared away, replaced with bedding neatly arranged to cover him, as if he were being cared for properly. A long time passed before his eyelashes fluttered slightly and he slowly opened his eyes.

Rubbing his forehead, he asked what had happened. She forced herself to remain calm. “You must have been exhausted from the journey. You dozed off before even finishing your meal…” As she tucked the quilt around him, she whispered, “Go back to sleep. We have to continue our journey tomorrow.”

He hummed in response and turned onto his side. She did not lie down beside him but returned to her Step-out Bed instead. He clenched his fists tightly, his eyes in the shadows filled with sorrow and clarity.After all, it was still lacking; the heart's blood was spilled upon the ground, cast aside by her like worn-out shoes.