It wasn’t until Quan Heng’s carriage was completely out of sight that Wen Zheng stepped out from behind a wall nearby.
Unknowingly, his fists had clenched so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms.
How he longed to chase after her, to apply her medicine himself, and to bring her home like before.
But he was afraid—afraid that if he pushed too hard, got too close, he’d scare her off again. So all he could do was restrain himself.
Besides, his father had only given him three days.
Three days to bring back the head of General Zhenbei.
As long as that man remained at large, he could not feel at ease.
Taking a deep breath, he slipped away, changed into a servant’s outfit in a nearby house, and headed toward General Zhenbei’s manor.
***
Not long after, Quan Heng returned to the Yongning Marquis Estate.
As soon as she arrived at Mingyue Pavilion, Quan Rui hurried over anxiously. Seeing her pale complexion and the burns blistering her hands, she was heartbroken.
“Sister Heng, what happened to you? How did you get hurt like this?”
Quan Heng gave a bitter smile. Before she could speak, Ziyun, her maid, tearfully burst out, “That Noble Consort—she’s really no good! In this scorching weather, she made my lady stand under the sun for over an hour, and even forced her to carry boiling tea with her bare hands. If she failed, she threatened to punish Young Master harshly!”
At this, everyone in the pavilion gasped.
Just then, Zhao Qingrong also came into the courtyard. She comforted Quan Heng, applied medicine to her hands, and urged her to rest.
Quan Heng nodded. But when she thought of the palace, she spoke worriedly, “I wonder how Big Brother is doing now. The Ministry of Justice is known for its harsh interrogations… I just don’t know if his body can withstand it.”
Zhao Qingrong’s face also darkened.
“Your father is still at the palace, pleading for your brother. But since the Second Prince hasn’t woken yet and the Emperor is still furious, who knows how things will go.”
Seeing Quan Heng’s face turn even paler, Zhao Qingrong helped her back to bed, tucked her in, and gently said, “No matter what, even if the sky falls, your mother is here to hold it up. Don’t be afraid. Just sleep well for now.”
Quan Heng replied softly.
After being tormented like that today, she truly was exhausted. As soon as she closed her eyes, she fell into a deep sleep.
She didn’t wake until evening.
As soon as she sat up, Quan Rui rushed to the bedside. “Sister, you’re finally awake! Good news—the Second Prince woke up this afternoon. The imperial doctors said it’s nothing serious, just a scrape on his leg. Father and Big Brother have been released!”
Quan Heng finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“That’s good, that’s good.”
But Quan Rui’s face fell again, and she said quietly, “But… Big Brother was severely whipped while in the Ministry. When he came home, he was covered in injuries. Father and Mother were beside themselves with worry.”
Quan Heng’s heart tightened again. “Then I must go see him now.”
As she moved to get up, Quan Rui quickly pushed her back down. “Sister Heng, don’t rush. Big Brother fell asleep as soon as he got back and hasn’t woken up yet. It’s no use going now. You should rest first. Besides…”
She trailed off, her voice softening and her gaze becoming complicated.
Quan Heng’s heart skipped a beat. “Besides what? Did something else happen? Rui, don’t scare me!”
“No, no, nothing major!” Quan Rui waved her hands in a panic. “Nothing big… It’s just… the Xie family came to propose marriage. They brought twenty carriages of betrothal gifts. The gifts are still in Father and Mother’s courtyard.”
Quan Heng’s face froze.
Suddenly, Quan Rui felt guilty.
Originally, before Sister Heng returned to the manor, this marriage proposal had been meant for her.
The eldest son of the Xie family had been a good-for-nothing since childhood. She and he disliked each other deeply.
She used to fear that if she had to marry into that family, her life would be miserable.
When Quan Heng first returned, she had even gloated a little, thinking someone else could suffer in her place.
But now that they had become close, and Quan Heng had helped her see through Jiang Suifeng’s true colors, she couldn’t bear the thought of her good sister marrying into that family and being wronged for life.
She gritted her teeth and said, “Sister, if you truly don’t want to marry, we can refuse—no matter if it offends the Xie family or even the royal family. I won’t marry my whole life if I have to. I just can’t let you suffer this!”
Quan Heng looked at her in surprise. She hadn’t expected this. Since her return, Quan Rui had always been a pampered child, always fussing and crying for fear of losing their parents’ favor.
She never imagined Quan Rui could think of her this way.
A warmth bloomed in her heart. She pinched Quan Rui’s cheek. “Alright, it’s fine. If it’s for the family, I’ll marry.”
Tears welled in Quan Rui’s eyes as she tugged on her sleeve. “Then, Sister, why don’t we sneak to the main hall now and peek from behind the screen? That Xie family’s young master is already useless, and if his parents are hard to get along with too… then what will we do? If we take a look now, we’ll at least be prepared.”
Quan Heng nodded and got up to change into a different outfit.
What Quan Rui said wasn’t without reason. Even if she was destined to waste away the rest of her life in the Xie household, she still needed to find a method—she couldn’t just stand still and wait. Otherwise, once married off, she would be treated like a dough ball, kneaded however others pleased.
The sky hadn’t yet darkened. The sky was filled with brilliant hues of sunset, but the two had no heart to admire it. They only focused on heading toward the main courtyard.
Just as they entered the courtyard, the sight before them stunned them both.
It had to be said—the Xie family had spared no expense. The twenty dowry items were prepared with sincerity, not the slightest hint of perfunctory effort.
The two had only just reached the doorway, intending to take a look, when suddenly, Xie Fengyun inside spotted them first and rushed out hastily.
Seeing this, Quan Heng grew nervous and immediately turned to flee. Xie Fengyun quickly chased after her, stopping her at the entrance to the courtyard.
Quan Rui also wanted to run after them—she was afraid Xie Fengyun would bully Sister Heng—but as soon as she lifted her foot, she heard Quan Minghao’s voice from inside the room: “Rui’er, what are you doing at the door? Since you’re here, come in and greet the Xie family’s uncle and aunt.”
She knew her father was trying to create an opportunity for Sister and that Xie family’s good-for-nothing, and though she was unwilling, a command from her father couldn’t be disobeyed. All she could do was droop her head and enter the room listlessly.
Elsewhere, Quan Heng faced Xie Fengyun blocking her path, feeling a tangle of emotions.
Before she could say anything, Xie Fengyun spoke first. “Little Sister Heng’er, I know what you want to say. About that day—I don’t mind! Truly! If it were some other woman who was so defiled, I’d see her as a broken flower, a withered willow… but you’re different. From the moment I first saw you, I fell deeply in love. I don’t care about your past, really.”
Strangely, though his words were earnest, they made Quan Heng feel incredibly uncomfortable.
Especially when he said “broken flower, withered willow”—it made her stomach churn, even nauseous.
Seeing her frown, Xie Fengyun grew anxious and added quickly, “Little Sister Heng’er, don’t worry—I’m not like the Crown Prince. I won’t force you. I will treat you well in the future and never let you be harmed.”
Quan Heng curled her lips slightly, her heart full of mockery. “And what if the Crown Prince someday asks you to give me up? Will you still stand by this promise?”
Hearing this, Xie Fengyun hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded. “I will.”
Quan Heng let out a bitter smile. “And if keeping this promise means sacrificing the entire Xie family? Your relatives and friends—are you willing to abandon them all?”
Xie Fengyun fell silent.
He knew she wasn’t wrong. Judging by the Crown Prince’s behavior over the past twenty years, he really was capable of such things.
That man cared only for himself. Other people’s lives meant nothing to him. Whether someone lived or died depended entirely on his whim.
And from his recent interactions, Xie Fengyun sensed that the Crown Prince’s interest in Quan Heng likely wasn’t a passing whim. He was serious.
To snatch away something from someone so cruel and vicious… meant being prepared to pay with one’s life.
Seeing his silence, Quan Heng turned to leave.
Fortunately, in that dream, she had already seen the outcome of marrying Xie Fengyun. Otherwise, she might truly have seen him as a safe harbor from the Crown Prince—only to end up losing even more terribly.
As she began to walk away, Xie Fengyun looked at her back and gritted his teeth. “No matter what, Little Sister Heng, I truly like you. We are engaged. Why not marry me first? Whatever happens later… we’ll deal with it then. Is that alright?”
Quan Heng ignored him and walked away resolutely.
By then, the sky had darkened. Xie Fengyun stood alone at the courtyard gate, his eyes red.
***
When Quan Heng returned to her courtyard, Ziyun rushed to meet her, asking with concern, “Miss, how did the meeting with the Xie family go?”
Quan Heng shook her head and sighed, “Just as it is. Let’s take it one step at a time.”
Ziyun sighed as well and shook her head. “What a pity. If only that person had always stayed as ‘Young Master Shen,’ never returning to being the Crown Prince… then you and he could at least…”
Before she could finish, Quan Heng sharply interrupted, “Enough! This matter involves the royal family—you must be careful with your words!”
Seeing her mistress rarely lose her temper, Ziyun immediately covered her mouth and nodded.
Suddenly, she seemed to remember something. She pulled a letter from her sleeve and handed it over. “Miss, this letter just arrived from the gatehouse. It’s from the daughter of General Zhenbei—she invites you to meet her tonight at a teahouse in Zhaixing Tower.”
Quan Heng was surprised as she took the letter.
“The General’s daughter?”
After Yu Shuning saved her in the palace that day, her parents had taken her to the Yu family to offer thanks. Since then, she and Shuning had become somewhat closer.
But Shuning usually invited her out during the daytime. For her to request a meeting at night—it was unusual.
Yet after opening the letter and seeing the handwriting, it was indeed Shuning’s. The tone was sincere and urgent.
In the end, Quan Heng decided to go.
“Well, if she’s asking me to meet at night, it must be something urgent that must be said in person. Ziyun, go prepare a cloak for me. We’ll leave the house right away.”
