The Road to Glory

Chapter 234: "Let's Get Married"...

Wen Yu sat on the stool before the rocking cradle, one finger still tightly grasped by A Li's delicate yet strong chubby hand. She remained silent, her serene eyes resembling a lake reflecting the cold moon.

Zhao Bai pressed her lips slightly tighter and said, "This is Pei Song's scheme."

In truth, after such rumors first emerged in Liang territory, Zhao Bai had ordered the Azure Guard to investigate the actual circumstances between Xiao Li and that courtesan.

Although she held numerous grievances against Xiao Li, since Wen Yu had chosen him, Zhao Bai regarded Xiao Li as Wen Yu's possession.

However, his various actions didn't resemble those of someone content with being a submissive favored minister. He had even repeatedly refused to return to Liang Camp. Witnessing Wen Yu endure the hardships of pregnancy to return to Chen Kingdom alone and face so many monsters and demons, Zhao Bai grew increasingly displeased with Xiao Li.

When news spread during Wen Yu's final pregnancy stages that Xiao Li had slaughtered twenty thousand of Pei Song's surrendered soldiers in a fit of rage over a courtesan, Zhao Bai was so furious she nearly took up her blade to seek him out in Liang territory.

Restrained by the instability in Chen Kingdom's court due to Wen Yu's suppression of aristocratic families and ministers, coupled with the inherent dangers of childbirth for women throughout history, Zhao Bai couldn't leave. She concealed the news to allow Wen Yu to deliver and recover in peace, while she first sent people to clarify the situation.

But the information the Azure Guard gathered only fueled Zhao Bai's anger further. That courtesan shared the same origins as Xiao Li from the Drunken Red Chamber, rumored to have a very close relationship. During Liang Camp's attack on Yongzhou under Pei Song's command, Xiao Army troops had even infiltrated the city specifically to retrieve that courtesan.

These "ironclad proofs" all indicated that Xiao Li's slaughter of twenty thousand surrendered soldiers in a fit of rage for her was true.

Hence, when Wen Yu later concealed A Li's identity with no intention of letting Xiao Li know, Zhao Bai viewed it as entirely justified.

This return to Liang territory was solely for rescuing Jiang Yichu and her daughter, with no plans for any interaction with Xiao Army. However, fate played its tricks—Jiang Yichu fell off a cliff, and Zhao Bai herself sustained severe injuries. Their prolonged stay in Luodu unexpectedly led her to discover the truth behind Xiao Li's slaughter of the twenty thousand surrendered soldiers.

Zhao Bai said, "Xiao Li slaughtering twenty thousand of Pei Song's surrendered soldiers for a courtesan has long been widespread knowledge in Liang territory. Yet during my stay in Luodu, I witnessed many storytellers in teahouses and taverns 'clarifying' this matter."

When Zhao Bai first heard of this, she personally went to a teahouse with her subordinates to listen. The storyteller slammed his gavel loudly, vividly narrating the controversial "slaughter of surrendered soldiers" battle:

"All spread that Lord Xiao of the Northern Border flew into a rage for a beauty, slaughtering twenty thousand of Pei Song's surrendered soldiers for a courtesan. It sounds like a tale of a hero cherishing a beauty, but no, no!"

Hearing he would tell something different from the rumors, the audience's curiosity was piqued, and they clamored for the storyteller to explain how it was "no."

The storyteller stroked his beard and said, "This matter traces back to the death of Marquis Shuobian and the tragic deaths of his children orchestrated by the Yu father and son. At that time, Yuan Fang, the great general of Wei Camp, withdrew troops to the Northern Border. The cities north of Guanzhong originally occupied were recaptured by Pei's army..."

Someone booed: "We want to hear about Lord Xiao slaughtering twenty thousand of Pei Song's surrendered soldiers. Why bring up these moldy old tales?"

The storyteller merely chuckled, "Patience, patience. Since this old man mentioned it, there must be a connection between the two."After the hall quieted down, the storyteller continued: "Then Lord Xiao captured that venomous strategist Yu, set up a cauldron beneath Weizhou city walls, and had him sliced and boiled alive. This finally forced the younger one to reveal his true form, clearing Lord Xiao's name from the false accusation of murdering the Wei siblings. Lord Xiao then led his army southward, cutting down gods who stood in his way and slaying buddhas who blocked his path..."

Suddenly he shifted his tone: "But do you gentlemen know what happened to those scattered Pei Army soldiers after Lord Xiao captured the cities?"

Someone below responded: "Deserters! Wouldn't they just become bandits somewhere?"

The storyteller said: "Exactly! You must understand that Pei Army soldiers were accustomed to looting wherever they fought - killing, burning, and pillaging had become their nature. After being defeated by Lord Xiao's forces, they fled to surrounding villages and immediately resumed massacring and plundering! When Lord Xiao learned of this, he was enraged and promptly led his troops to exterminate all those Pei Army deserters who had slaughtered villages."

Zhao Bai had already furrowed his brows upon hearing this, though he remained silent, listening as the storyteller went on: "How cunning was Pei Song? Seeing Lord Xiao capture city after city, with his Pei Army collapsing like scattered sand under attack from both north and south, he spread rumors among his troops that Lord Xiao would slaughter all Pei soldiers in every captured city. Hearing this, the defending Pei soldiers believed that fighting might let them survive while surrender meant certain death - wouldn't they fight with desperate courage to seek a way out?"

The storyteller slammed his gavel forcefully: "That battle where the courtesan died and Lord Xiao stormed the city was exactly like this! The defending Pei soldiers, fearing execution if captured after the city fell, fought Lord Xiao's forces with bloodshot eyes. When the city finally fell, corpses piled like mountains at the gates, leaving few Pei soldiers alive in the city!

"After this disastrous defeat, that villain Pei Song contemplated and decided to pin the reputation of killing surrendered soldiers on Lord Xiao. Though this made him appear brutal, the people had long hated the Pei Army, so merely killing surrendered soldiers wouldn't ruin Lord Xiao's reputation! So he devised another scheme, conflating the surrendered soldiers Lord Xiao had executed to protect civilians with those Pei soldiers who died defending the city. He publicly claimed that Lord Xiao had slaughtered twenty thousand surrendered Pei soldiers over a courtesan. Since ancient times, tales of heroes and beauties spread easily - once the reputation of 'toppling kingdoms for a beauty' was established, wouldn't the notoriety of 'lust clouding judgment' follow? What talented person would still pledge loyalty to such a warlord?"

Someone questioned: "According to you, that courtesan had nothing to do with Lord Xiao? If they were completely unrelated, why didn't Lord Xiao clarify matters, and why did he build her tomb in Dingzhou?"

The storyteller wasn't angered by the challenge, maintaining his good temper: "I imagine you all have this question. Don't rush, don't rush - let this old man explain point by point.

"First, regarding why Lord Xiao didn't publicly clarify: after that battle, thanks to that villain Pei Song's machinations, everyone knew about Lord Xiao supposedly slaughtering surrendered soldiers. Even if he clarified, could his defense overcome the spread of rumors? If Pei Song then counterattacked, accusing him of daring to act but not to admit it, wouldn't that make things worse? Moreover, Pei Song spread these rumors firstly to intimidate his own soldiers into fighting desperately, and secondly to damage Lord Xiao's reputation. So Lord Xiao deliberately did the opposite!"The storyteller slapped the wooden gavel again and rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, declaring: "When Xiao Jun later laid siege to the city, he proclaimed that those who opened the city gates and surrendered would be spared, but those who resisted would be slaughtered without exception once the city fell! With the fearsome reputation Pei Song had helped Xiao Jun establish, how could the besieged Pei Army not tremble in fear? Thus, when Xiao Jun led his forces southward, countless soldiers from the Pei Army surrendered, enabling the Xiao Army to advance unimpeded. While the Liang forces attacked Luodu from the south, the northern front was pushed all the way to the gates of Luodu."

The reasons given by the storyteller did not seem fabricated, and the fact that Pei Army officers had surrendered after being besieged lent credibility to his account. The audience buzzed with discussion, and the impatient ones urged, "Hurry up and tell us about the courtesan’s connection to Xiao Jun!"

The storyteller took a sip of tea before continuing, "To explain the courtesan’s relationship with Xiao Jun, we must start with his origins.

"As you all know, Xiao Jun is from Yongzhou, and his mother was also a courtesan. At eight years old, he killed someone to protect her, offending a local wealthy merchant. After seven years in prison, he was released and began working in a gambling house, collecting debts. But how did a young man from a humble background enter the gambling house? It was due to a chance encounter. During his imprisonment, he met someone who introduced him to the gambling house, and later, they even became sworn brothers.

"This person, as you might have guessed, is none other than Song Qin, now a general in the Xiao Army."

Those familiar with this history were not surprised and urged the storyteller to get to the main point, while those hearing it for the first time gasped in astonishment, marveling that Xiao Li, now the ruler of the Northern Border, had such a tragic past.

Amid the clamor, the storyteller went on, "As the saying goes, heroes age and beauties fade. When a once-celebrated courtesan declines, the brothel always promotes a new one, doesn’t it? This new courtesan, Mudan, had been cared for by Xiao Jun’s mother in the past. After rising to prominence, she in turn looked after Xiao’s mother. Grateful for this kindness, Xiao Jun has respected her as his own elder sister ever since. If anyone shared a romantic connection with the courtesan Mudan, it was actually his sworn brother, Song Qin."

When someone in the audience expressed doubt, the storyteller slammed the gavel emphatically and retorted, "If you think I’m spouting nonsense, then who do you think built the tomb for Mudan on Mudan Slope in Dingzhou? That’s all for today. If you wish to hear the story of how Mudan and Song Qin met, I’ll tell you about this star-crossed couple another day!"

As the storyteller stepped down, the crowd, still eager for more, grumbled in dissatisfaction, demanding that he continue. But someone in the crowd mentioned that the opera troupe had recently staged a new play, Bloodshed at the Peony Pavilion, which depicted how the courtesan Mudan and her fellow courtesans schemed to kill eleven Pei generals, ultimately meeting their demise. The play also detailed her complicated relationship with Song Qin. Those whose curiosity remained unsatisfied headed next door to the opera house.After Zhao Bai finished recounting the entire incident to Wen Yu, she continued, "I suspect there is a mastermind behind all the storytellers and theatrical performances throughout the city. Upon careful investigation, I found it was orchestrated by the strategist from the Xiao Army. I'm just unsure whether this was the Xiao Army's plan from the beginning, or if the strategist did it to help Xiao Li regain some public favor. However, after having people verify the clarifications being spread, I found they are not false. That General Song from the Xiao Army is indeed still in Dingzhou building a tomb for that courtesan."

She furrowed her brows slightly and asked, "Did that man Xiao launch a sudden attack on the royal court after leaving the pass to compete with you for the empire?"

Wen Yu allowed her index finger to remain tightly grasped by A Li, her calm face showing no emotion. Only when her long eyelashes lowered did she say, "No."

While Zhao Bai was still taken aback, she heard Wen Yu add, "Thank you, A Zhao."

Great Liang, Luodu.

As Zhang Huai walked through the courtyard with his aide carrying a stack of documents, he encountered Li Xun. Both nodded in greeting, appearing quite amicable.

Li Xun asked, "Have you been organizing the library collections these days, Master Zhang?"

Zhang Huai replied modestly, "Just contributing my meager efforts."

After their brief exchange and going their separate ways, the slight smile on Zhang Huai's face disappeared.

Noticing Zhang Huai's changed expression, the aide remarked, "We've been working hard in the city to clear our lord's name from the accusations of being blinded by beauty and cruelty, yet the Liang Camp people act as if they know nothing about it. I wonder what scheme they're plotting."

The Liang and Xiao armies had entered Luodu together. While Xiao Li and Fan Yuan were pursuing Pei Song's remaining forces, the rest of the troops remained stationed north and south of Luodu. No immediate division of the city had been made, with both sides agreeing not to harm the citizens in the slightest.

When Liang Camp's civil officials proposed entering the capital to organize library archives—to help Wen Yu convict Pei Song's faction upon her return to Liang territory—Zhang Huai used the pretext of assisting with library organization to enter the city as well.

When Wen Yu's edict conferring titles upon Xiao Li reached Luodu, Zhang Huai stalled by claiming that Xiao Li had led troops deep into the western frontier and was currently unavailable to respond to Liang Camp.

However, as he began clearing Xiao Li's tarnished reputation and winning public support, Liang Camp should logically be wary of them, guarding against Xiao Li potentially competing with Wen Yu later on.

Yet Liang Camp had taken no significant action so far, almost as if tacitly allowing them to clear Xiao Li's name. This made Zhang Huai uncertain whether they were genuinely that magnanimous and confident in their princess's victory, or if they had other plans in reserve.

Such speculation slightly irritated Zhang Huai. Hearing his aide's murmuring now, he tilted his head back slightly and chided, "What have I taught you?"

The aide quickly bowed his head. "My apologies for speaking out of turn."

Zhang Huai withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward, saying, "When soldiers approach, we deploy generals to block them; when floods come, we use earth to stem them. As strategists, we only need to ensure that whichever path our lord chooses, it remains smooth and unobstructed."

Chen Kingdom, Royal Court.

Sunlight streamed brightly, with sparrows chirping outside the window.

Warm rays filtered through the window screen onto the bed, casting a slender beam of light across Xiao Li's deep, sharp features.

Even in sleep, his brow remained tightly furrowed, as if he found no peace even in his dreams.Beneath the thin layer of eyelids, the eyeballs moved frequently, prompting a soft, plump little white hand nearby to reach out and touch them, accompanied by a tender and puzzled "ya" sound.

Xiao Li didn't know how long he had slept, nor whether it was due to the recent high fever or prolonged hunger, but as he hovered between wakefulness and slumber, his limbs still felt heavy.

He vaguely recalled being trapped in an endless series of nightmares. Now, with his thoughts momentarily clear, he couldn't remember the specifics of the dreams, but the emotions from them lingered, causing his brow to furrow unconsciously.

Fortunately, the warmth of the sunlight slowly seeped into his limbs, casting a golden-orange glow before his eyes even in his sleep.

The gentle pressure on his eye sockets grew slightly stronger, and the soft "ya" sounds beside him became clearer.

When Xiao Li finally lifted his heavy eyelids, he saw light gauze drapes hanging to the floor in the distance, incense curling lazily from a beast-mouthed censer, and jet-black floor tiles polished to a mirror-like shine.

The place he found himself in seemed to be a palace chamber?

His consciousness fully cleared as his gaze swept over the nearby bed, taking in the embroidered bed curtains with intertwining vines. The air he breathed was clean but unfamiliar, carrying a faint hint of milkiness.

Where was the milky scent coming from?

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than he felt another soft touch on his cheek, followed by an extremely tender: "Ya?"

Xiao Li slowly turned his gaze and saw a tiny child lying on the pillow beside him.

The infant, whose age was indeterminable, was exquisitely fair and delicate, with short dark hair tied into two perky little tufts on top of its head. Noticing his gaze, the child let out another "ya," continuing to pat his cheek with a soft, chubby hand while grinning to reveal four tiny teeth barely visible as white specks.

Xiao Li's newly cleared mind suddenly grew muddled again.

It was as if he had lost all ability to think in that instant. Staring at the infant beside the pillow, he dared not touch it nor make any movement, simply gazing blankly as the child playfully patted his cheek from time to time. After a long while, he finally spoke in a hoarse voice: "Whose... child are you?"

As the words left his mouth, a burning ache already tinged his eyes.

He had awakened from the Water Prison to find himself lying here.

Though the infant was utterly childish, its features bore an uncanny resemblance to Wen Yu, and it wore a white jade longevity locket around its neck.

Xiao Li suddenly found it hard to breathe. He raised a hand to cover his eyes in discomposure, and despite his utmost restraint, faint sounds escaped his throat.

A Li, who had been happily playing, paused at this sight, pouted, and suddenly burst into loud wails.

When Wen Yu hurried over at the sound, she found Xiao Li half-sitting against the headboard, his eyes still reddened, holding A Li in an awkward, stiff manner as he clumsily attempted to comfort: "Don't... cry."

A Li cried even louder.

All of Xiao Li's attention was focused on the wailing child, so much so that he didn't notice Wen Yu's entrance until she approached the bedside. Looking at her, he uttered helplessly: "She... keeps crying."

Wen Yu remained silent, guiding his forearm to adjust its position: "Place your hand here, like this."

Then she gently patted A Li's back: "A Li, don't cry. Mother is here..."Little A Li, coaxed by her in this manner, gradually quieted her sobs.

Xiao Li watched the infant who had stopped crying and was now reaching out to him again with soft cooing sounds. Feeling the feather-light weight in his arms, soft as cotton, his throat tightened and his eyes began to burn with unshed tears once more, leaving him almost speechless.

After a long while, as if finally regaining his ability to form words, he looked at Wen Yu with red-rimmed eyes and asked, "Is this... our daughter?"

His question sounded less like an inquiry and more like an expression of disbelief.

Wen Yu, standing nearby, straightened A Li's collar and tucked the white jade pendant that had slipped out back inside her clothes. She said, "I named her Wen He, with the pet name A Li."

"A Li?" Xiao Li repeated the name slowly. When A Li reached out to touch his face, his rough, calloused hand gently enveloped her plump little hand.

As if some magical energy flowed from the pulse beating at her fingertips, spreading through his bloodstream to every limb, the burning sensation in his eyes intensified.

Xiao Li gazed at the innocent child in his arms, then looked back at Wen Yu. His reddened eyes resembled burning embers seen through water as he said with choked breath, "Thank you, A Yu."

A Li didn't understand why the person holding her had suddenly developed such red eyes again. She turned toward Wen Yu and made soft babbling sounds. Wen Yu simply gently stroked her head and said, "It's your father."

Those few words nearly made Xiao Li's eyes redden another degree.

A Li practically fell asleep under Xiao Li's unwavering gaze. She hadn't been this exhausted in a long time - no matter what she did, he never took his eyes off her.

Seeing such an attentive audience, she enthusiastically played with her collection of wood carvings and cloth dolls spread across the bed, eventually tiring herself out until she fell asleep.

Even after A Li fell asleep, Xiao Li remained by the rocking crib for a while longer, as if he couldn't get enough of watching her.

Having experienced Wang Wanzhen's false report about her pregnancy timeline, he easily guessed why Wen Yu had concealed A Li's true age from others. After all, when Wen Yu returned to Chen Kingdom last year, it was already March. If she didn't adjust the child's apparent age, it would essentially announce to everyone that A Li wasn't King Chen's biological child.

Wen Yu still had numerous government affairs to handle. While Xiao Li was watching over A Li's play, she had already returned to the main hall to review memorials.

When Xiao Li went to see her after A Li fell into deep sleep, Tong Que, who was attending in the hall, sensed they had matters to discuss. Making an excuse about preparing tea, she tactfully withdrew.

The great hall contained only Wen Yu sitting above reviewing memorials and Xiao Li standing below.

The sun cast slanting shadows as it descended in the west. Behind Wen Yu, the wide-open lattice windows framed young grains in the courtyard sporting newly formed ears, all gilded with pale gold light.

Xiao Li watched the graceful figure similarly bathed in the setting sun's rays, his Adam's apple moving slowly as he said, "You kept this from me so bitterly."

Wen Yu lifted her eyes slowly and said, "Given how Lord Xiao previously besieged the royal court, how could this princess know whether you were friend or foe?"

Xiao Li naturally knew that besieging the royal court was his fault to begin with. After capturing the court, driven by jealousy and rage, he had indeed committed many reckless acts. He couldn't expect Wen Yu to calmly explain everything under those circumstances.

After two silent breaths, he said, "Regarding the siege of the royal court, I will give you an explanation. But A Li is my daughter. I cannot let her acknowledge that coward King Chen as her father."

Wen Yu frowned. "Are you trying to take our daughter from me?"Xiao Li pressed his thin lips together and said, "I acknowledge that Chen State's interests are too deeply entangled with Great Liang for you to divorce King Chen and sever ties with Chen State. But if King Chen dies, and I pledge half of Great Liang's territory as dowry for our marriage, who would dare utter a single word of objection?"

After being whipped by him in the imperial prison, King Chen had been abducted by the Wolf Cavalry during their city exit, forced to serve as a human shield on horseback. By the time he was rescued, his courage had been utterly shattered, leaving him bedridden with illness. He still lay convalescing in Zhanghua Hall.

Realizing this was an indirect marriage ultimatum, Wen Yu took a fresh measure of the man standing below.

During these two days of rest, all traces of illness had vanished from him. The wounds on his wrists and neck from the iron shackles had scabbed over. Compared to the injuries he'd sustained on the battlefield, these minor abrasions were negligible, and he seemed to pay them no mind at all. His formidable physique exuded a beast-like intimidation even without deliberate exertion.

Wen Yu rested his fingertip against the vermilion brush and asked, "What if I refuse?"

Xiao Li's gaze held a flicker of hurt when he looked at her, but it was quickly masked by a forced stubbornness. "Haven't you always been the one who considers the bigger picture? Marry me, and I'll accept your previous imperial decree. You won't need to expend a single soldier to restore the Northern Border to Great Liang. Isn't that benefit enough?"

Wen Yu remained silent for a few breaths before saying, "Are you so certain about binding yourself to me? Have you truly thought it through? As things stand now, we can still part amicably. But if we stake the entire kingdom as our wager, it won't be so easy to come together or drift apart."

Xiao Li's stare carried not only concealed pain but almost a trace of ferocity. "That would be even better!"

Wen Yu fell silent again. After a moment, she asked, "Xiao Li, is this obsession you have with me because of the affection born from our meeting in Yong City and surviving life-and-death situations during our journey south?"

Her gaze drifted to the grain fields outside the window, as if momentarily lost in confusion. "But time changes many things. I am no longer the person you knew two years ago. So I'm giving you a choice again—please consider it carefully."

Xiao Li rarely swore, but now he burst out, "What fucking choice do I need!"

His eyes were so resolute they seemed capable of carving deep marks into whatever they beheld. "Every step I've taken on this path bears only two names."

"One is Pei Song, the other is Wen Yu."

His jaw tightened. "You think after two years apart, I might not understand you anymore? But do you know whether I haven't been watching you all this time?"

A brief look of astonishment flashed in Wen Yu's eyes, and strange emotions churned in her heart.

As if unwilling to let Xiao Li notice her turmoil, she continued gazing out the window.

Two years—not too long, yet not too short—had accustomed her to being Princess Han Yang, who never made mistakes, who rarely even showed anger.

Every word she spoke, every decision she made, had to be carefully weighed.

Her existence seemed solely for solving one crisis after another across this land—she no longer needed to live as a real, breathing person.

Wen Yu suppressed the faint discomfort stinging her eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "Aren't you afraid I might be ruthless, vicious, and stop at nothing?"

Xiao Li's eyes were slightly red-rimmed, but his gaze never wavered. "Then I hope it's directed at me, not others."

He had expended tremendous effort to become the only noble who could stand as her equal.

Whether through sincerity or pretense, even if it meant scheming endlessly, even if it meant fighting to the death, in this game determining the fate of the realm, he only wished to be the one making the final moves with her.

The stinging in Wen Yu's eyes intensified. She took one last deep breath, about to speak, but before the words could form, Tong Que's announcement came from outside the hall: "Your Highness, someone from Lingxi Palace is here. They say the Empress Dowager wishes to see you."

After the Yan father and son were imprisoned, Wen Yu had also ordered Jiang San Guniang and her son detained. The Empress Dowager likely wanted to plead for Jiang San Guniang's sake.

During the Yan family's coup attempt, the Empress Dowager had shown some protectiveness toward A Li. Out of regard for that, meeting her once wouldn't hurt.

With her thoughts in disarray and the interrupted conversation impossible to resume, Wen Yu said to Xiao Li, "I'll go to Lingxi Palace first."

Then she strode out of the main hall alone.On the way to Lingxi Palace by palanquin, Tong Que noticed that Wen Yu had been lost in thought the entire journey. When they arrived outside Lingxi Palace, she had to call Wen Yu twice before the princess snapped out of her reverie and allowed herself to be assisted down from the palanquin.

Tong Que couldn't help but ask, "What is on Your Highness's mind?"

Wen Yu replied, "Nothing, just feeling somewhat weary."

Tong Que began to fuss: "You should have rested properly long ago. Please don't stay up late reviewing memorials tonight..."

Her chattering only ceased when they reached the Empress Dowager's Buddhist hall.

When Wen Yu saw the Empress Dowager again, she noticed more silver strands at her temples than during their last meeting—perhaps due to worries over her nieces.

The Empress Dowager gazed at Wen Yu, her words tinged with hesitation: "The crimes committed by the Yan family are too grave. This old one knows there are matters I have no right to beg of you. But Third Girl—Yu'er's own sister—nearly lost her life giving birth to that child..."

Wen Yu stood in the doorway's shifting light, her expression as impassive as the Guanyin statue enshrined in the hall: "This princess may spare Miss Jiang the Third's life. But as for the Yan heir—having been publicly declared the royal heir before all ministers—the Yan father and son left that child no path to survival. They have only themselves to blame."

The Empress Dowager fell silent. Though Wen Yu might spare a Yan infant still in swaddling clothes, once recognized as royal heir, the matter was no longer subject to the princess's mercy.

Hiding behind the hall, Miss Jiang the Third misinterpreted the Empress Dowager's silence as abandonment. Unable to contain herself, she stumbled out clutching her child and knelt before Wen Yu, tears streaming down her face: "Your Highness, I beg you—show mercy and spare this child's life! When the child was taken to the council hall that day, it was never my wish! Had I known Yan Zhen harbored such wolfish ambition, how would I have dared..."

Wen Yu remained silent, her face still expressionless, though her eyes seemed colder than before.

The Empress Dowager knew well her niece had committed grave offenses. That Wen Yu had shown leniency—not sending the Jiang family women to the pleasure quarters after confiscating their properties, but allowing them to serve in the palace—was already grounds for eternal gratitude.

Yet the girl had still secretly consorted with the deputy commander of the imperial guards, conceived a child, and created this disaster.

By palace regulations, she deserved execution by beating multiple times over!

Frustrated by her niece's foolishness, the Empress Dowager called her elderly maid and ordered: "Take Third Girl away."

The weeping Miss Jiang the Third was promptly led away by the maid.

Only then did the Empress Dowager address Wen Yu: "This old one spoiled Third Girl. You were right earlier—the Yan father and son left that child no path to survival. But what if both Third Girl and the child were to 'die' in the palace?"

Wen Yu still did not speak.

The Empress Dowager slid a brocade box toward her: "These are the title deed and keys to this old one's private vault, built beneath a manor in the suburbs. The treasures within are no less than what you confiscated from the Jiang family."

Wen Yu's eyebrows lifted slightly: "Your Majesty kept this final card hidden so long, yet now willingly offers it for your niece."

The Empress Dowager smiled bitterly, then confessed: "This old one initially hid the vault hoping to restore our fortunes someday. But after this past year, I have clearly seen how the wind blows.""Those parasitic vermin clinging to the bones have all been eradicated by you. You've established your own faction in the court, stabilized the Chen royal court, and quelled the Liang region conflicts. What means do I, this grieving mother, have left to contend with you? Moreover, confined as I am in this Lingxi Palace, every move I make is under your surveillance. Holding the deed and key to this private treasury is nothing but worthless paper and scrap metal to me. Better to hand them over to you in exchange for sparing the life of Third Girl's child."

The Empress Dowager continued, "Rest assured, after the news of Third Girl and her child's 'demise' spreads, I shall ensure they leave the royal court forever, living in obscurity under changed identities. The Yan faction has been completely purged and can no longer stir up trouble."

Wen Yu did not accept the brocade box the Empress Dowager pushed toward her, stating instead, "The former Jin dynasty fell over a century ago, yet Wei Qishan, in his quest to restore Jin loyalists, managed to produce a princess from the fallen kingdom. Where there is intent, how can we claim no trouble will arise?"

The Empress Dowager understood Wen Yu feared that interested parties might seek out Lady Jiang Third and her child.

The child had been publicly acknowledged by King Chen before all court officials in the council hall. Should anyone locate the mother and child in the future and claim the boy as King Chen's bloodline, sparing him today would be planting a tremendous hidden danger for tomorrow.

After locking eyes with Wen Yu for a long moment, she hardened her heart and declared, "There shall never be a nine-fingered emperor. The child Third Girl bore happens to have nine fingers."

A flicker of surprise crossed Wen Yu's eyes, while Tong Que standing beside her started visibly.

The Empress Dowager summoned the old matron who had earlier escorted Lady Jiang Third out and ordered, "Remove the child's extra finger."

Shortly after the matron withdrew, Lady Jiang Third's heart-wrenching screams echoed from outside: "What are you doing? Release my child! Aunt! How can you be so cruel!"

Soon after, an infant's piercing cries resounded through Lingxi Palace, though they were quickly muffled.

Within moments, the matron returned carrying the wailing swaddled boy, showing Wen Yu and the Empress Dowager the hand missing the excised finger. "Your Highness," she reported, "the child was born with only four fingers on this hand."

With matters having reached this point, there was nothing left to discuss.

After closing her eyes for two breaths, Wen Yu said, "His Majesty has been bedridden for so long. Let it be announced publicly that he followed alchemists' advice to use his own child's blood as medicine, causing the infant to succumb to illness."

Hearing Wen Yu suddenly mention King Chen, and recalling his involvement in the palace coup, the Empress Dowager feared he wouldn't be spared easily. Despite her disappointment in him, he remained her own son. She slowly asked, "How do you intend to deal with His Majesty?"

King Chen's absurd behavior had long eroded his reputation among both commoners and officials. The Empress Dowager had no objection to Wen Yu's proposal that Lady Jiang's child "die" from being used as medicine for King Chen. But if Wen Yu planned to eliminate King Chen as well...

Meeting the Empress Dowager's gaze with calm, dark eyes, Wen Yu said, "Precisely as Your Highness suspects. His Majesty has been bedridden for so long, and even using his own child's blood as medicine proved ineffective. Wouldn't a 'death from illness' seem perfectly natural?"

Since ascending the throne, King Chen had scarcely attended court properly, his absurd behavior continuing unabated.

Court officials had long privately placed their hopes in the next monarch.

Thus whether King Chen lived or died would scarcely cause a ripple in the court.She lowered her gaze: "The palace is desolate. If the Empress Dowager wishes to go to Chan Mountain for quiet cultivation, I can find a secluded mountain temple to send Her Highness to. After the King 'dies of illness,' should he reappear before others, it would be deemed as someone pretending to be a ghost and should be executed on the spot."

Her meaning was unmistakably clear—she could cease confining the Empress Dowager and her son within the palace, sending them instead to a quiet place under guard to live out their remaining years in peace. To the outside world, it would be declared that King Chen had died of illness. But if King Chen failed to appreciate this mercy and still sought to cause trouble, then he could blame no one but himself.

The Empress Dowager, having once ruled from behind the curtain for a period, quickly grasped Wen Yu's intentions upon recalling Xiao Li's actions after capturing the royal court. Her lips trembled several times as she said, "Are you conspiring with that jackal from your Liang land's Northern Border?"

Wen Yu did not answer directly, instead stating, "In the past, the Empress Dowager took charge, requesting my hand from the late emperor on behalf of King Chen, all to borrow troops to resolve Chen's internal and external crises and secure the throne. Later, the Empress Dowager fulfilled the agreement by having King Chen marry me, also to seize the opportunity to re-enter the pass and return to Liang land, evading the encroachment of Western Mausoleum. Since my arrival in Chen, I have never felt I wronged the people of Chen in any way. Rectifying the court, reducing corvée and taxes, and strictly investigating corrupt officials were all to restore clean governance to the people of Chen. Now that Western Mausoleum has invaded, Great Liang has also provided substantial support."

Her gaze was calm yet resolute: "Everything hoped for in the alliance between Chen and Great Liang, I have accomplished. The Empress Dowager and Minister Jiang lost to me in the political struggle, and I feel no guilt toward the Empress Dowager or the Jiang Family. The reason I agreed to meet today is because the Empress Dowager previously showed some protective intent toward my daughter. Thus, even though the Empress Dowager has pleaded to such an extent, I am willing to spare the life of the Third Jiang Young Lady's child.

"I have not wronged the Chen court, the Chen royal family, or even the people of Chen in the slightest. Does the Empress Dowager understand this?"

It was precisely because the Empress Dowager understood this that she could not utter another word.

It was their Chen that first employed deceitful tactics to arrange the marriage.

If one were to truly debate right and wrong, in this mess of a situation, how could it ever be clarified?

But in political struggles, losing was losing, and indeed, as Wen Yu had said, she had been extremely harsh toward Chen's corrupt officials but had never wronged the people of Chen.

That was why, after the royal court was besieged and news spread that the court had captured Wen Yu to offer surrender, the people of Chen across the land were so enraged that some even rose in rebellion, attempting to storm the royal court to offer aid.

The Empress Dowager's silver strands at her temples were conspicuous, as if she had aged ten years in an instant. She said, "You have indeed gone much farther than I ever imagined. The rivers and mountains of Chen, I now entrust entirely to you."

Wen Yu spoke no further.

When leaving Lingxi Palace, likely due to having handled too many political affairs that day, Wen Yu felt exceptionally weary.

Tong Que noticed the fatigue on her face and remained silent throughout the journey.

Upon returning to Zhaohua Palace, even before entering the main hall, the sound of chaos could be heard inside.

Wen Yu and Tong Que exchanged a glance, both their eyes showing a trace of puzzlement. Pushing open the hall doors, they saw a row of palace attendants craning their necks by the side, while Aunt Yang, who had arrived at some unknown time, stood with Xiao Li beside the large bed. The small blankets and bedding in the crib had all been thrown to the floor, and a pile of freshly changed diapers lay stacked at the foot of the bed.

Aunt Yang, looking at the man who resembled a fearsome deity, said with a trembling heart, "Let me change the child..."Xiao Li held a freshly cut cloth in one hand while trying to restrain his flailing daughter with the other, yet afraid of hurting her with too much force, his movements were stiff and awkward. In Yang Baolin’s eyes, his imposing presence was more than just intimidating. Yet when he turned to face her, he spoke with unexpected humility: "It’s fine, just tell me what to do."

Yang Baolin felt as if two of her three souls had fled in fright. Trembling, she continued to guide him: "Just... place the cloth underneath..."

A Li lay on the bed, facing outward, and immediately spotted Wen Yu standing outside the door. She waved her little hands excitedly, babbling, "Ah-ya!"

Following A Li’s gaze, Xiao Li noticed Wen Yu standing outside with Tong Que. Feeling somewhat embarrassed at his incompetence in changing a diaper, he straightened up slightly and said with discomfort, "You’re back?"

Wen Yu, lost in thought, responded softly with an "Mm," then turned to Yang Baolin. "Aunt, you’ve come?"

Yang Baolin smiled. "I came to see Li Li."

She had long learned from Yang Baolin who A Li’s biological father was. Upon arriving today and seeing Xiao Li in Wen Yu’s palace, she immediately guessed his identity.

Now that Wen Yu had returned, she assumed the two had matters to discuss. After changing A Li’s diaper and noticing the child yawn, she chuckled and coaxed, "Li Li’s sleepy, isn’t she?"

The palace maids had already fetched fresh bedding and remade the cradle. Yang Baolin placed A Li inside, intending to help lull the child to sleep before leaving. She gently rocked the cradle while humming, "Sleep now, my good baby. Li Li, spots and all, leaps over the southern hills..."

Upon hearing this lullaby, Xiao Li’s expression shifted strangely. "This nursery rhyme..."

Yang Baolin explained cheerfully, "The first time Li Li heard this rhyme, she stopped crying. That’s why the princess chose it as her nickname."

Xiao Li fell silent, his gaze fixed on Wen Yu. The faint redness welling in his eyes was concealed by the deepening twilight, but the heavy emotions within remained unmistakable.

Wen Yu avoided his gaze, sitting by the cradle and gently patting the gradually dozing A Li.

Yang Baolin sensed the strained atmosphere between them after her remark but couldn’t pinpoint what had caused it. Once A Li was fully asleep, she forced an awkward laugh and took her leave.

The palace attendants tactfully withdrew, leaving only Xiao Li and Wen Yu in the hall.

Xiao Li spoke with difficulty, "You..."

Wen Yu said, "Let’s get married."