No one would have guessed that Her Highness was risking herself simply because she was “drawn to” that frail shizi. Ah Ye didn’t understand and was completely shaken—she drifted out of the room like a lost soul.
Feng Lezhen smiled as she watched Ah Ye’s stunned figure disappear beyond the door, then turned around to meet Qin Wan’s stern, scrutinizing gaze… Ah, she had almost forgotten—there was still one person not easily dealt with. Feng Lezhen cleared her throat and immediately put on a serious face.
“Your Highness has been acting more and more oddly since the Dragon Boat Festival,” Qin Wan said carefully. “I don’t understand it. But I know Your Highness must have your reasons. Today, I only want the truth.”
Feng Lezhen couldn’t hold back a smile. “Go ahead.”
“Why are you really going to Yingguan?” Qin Wan asked, looking into her eyes.
Feng Lezhen was silent for a long time before her lips curved slightly. “Military command.”
Qin Wan paused, then respectfully clasped her hands and bowed. “So that’s it.”
“Zhenbian Marquis’s whole family hates me. Aren’t you curious how I plan to bring him under my command?” Feng Lezhen asked in return.
Qin Wan replied with certainty, “Your Highness is wise. You must already have a plan.”
“Nope.”
“…Excuse me?”
“No plan. I’m just going to take it one step at a time,” Feng Lezhen said innocently.
—That kind of place full of wolves and tigers is not a place where you can ‘take it one step at a time’! Qin Wan took a deep breath, just about to scold her when Feng Lezhen quickly added, “Did the imperial edict for the fief mention a departure date?”
“No. His Majesty said Your Highness could decide. Once it’s decided, just submit a memorial.” Qin Wan held back her temper since they were finally discussing proper matters.
Feng Lezhen nodded. “Then let’s set it for ten days from now. Draft the memorial. Also, have some luggage packed. In five days, Ah Ye and I will travel light and head out first. You’ll stay and handle things here, then bring the others to join us in ten days.”
Qin Wan frowned. “Are you worried His Majesty will change his mind?”
“Not quite. But with how petty he is, the longer he broods, the angrier he gets. Who knows what else he’ll do to annoy me? Best to leave early. Once he hears I’m gone, he won’t bother you either,” Feng Lezhen said thoughtfully.
Qin Wan nodded and immediately went to prepare the luggage.
Within the capital, especially near the palace walls, news always traveled fast. The Eldest Princess Royal’s residence had received the decree less than half a day ago, and already word of the fiefdom had spread across the city, becoming the most talked-about topic among the people.
“What is the Emperor thinking? Of all places to grant, why Yingguan? Isn’t he afraid Zhenbian Marquis will retaliate against the Eldest Princess?”
“She was only nine when the shizi fell into the water. Just a clueless little girl! And the investigation said it was an accident. Would the marquis really hold that against a child?”
“Wouldn’t he? He practically wants her dead! Haven’t you seen how he submits a memorial denouncing her every time he comes back to the capital? Now she’s going to his territory—she’s as good as dead!”
While rumors stirred outside, the Eldest Princess Royal’s residence was a whirlwind of activity. Ironically, Feng Lezhen became the most idle person there. Occasionally, when too bored, she’d roll up her sleeves to help Ah Ye, only to be pushed right out of the room.
“If Your Highness really wants to help, go find somewhere quiet and don’t make a mess,” Ah Ye said, hands on her hips, her disdain clear.
Feng Lezhen rubbed her nose and really did go find a place to stay put.
“Just focus on your calligraphy. Don’t worry about me,” she said gently, sitting in the study of the side courtyard.
Chen Jinan was silent for a moment, then got up to pour her a pot of hot tea and brought over a plate of pastries before returning to his desk.
Just as he picked up his brush, Feng Lezhen asked, “Why aren’t you practicing in the garden today?”
Chen Jinan set the brush down. “The weather’s getting colder. The tutor said it’s better to study indoors.”
Feng Lezhen nodded.
Chen Jinan picked up the brush again.
“Why are you alone? Where’s your tutor?” she asked.
Chen Jinan lowered the brush and looked at her quietly. “Miss Ah Ye told him to go home.”
“Oh, right. Since we’re going to Yingguan, he likely wouldn’t want to come with us. Better to send him home early.” Feng Lezhen nodded.
We’re going to Yingguan. The heart Chen Jinan had held in suspense for two days finally settled at that moment. He lowered his eyes and picked up the brush again, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.
“Have you finished packing?” Feng Lezhen interrupted for the third time.
Chen Jinan’s hand paused mid-stroke, the tip of his brush dotting a small circle of ink on the paper—like a tiny mole stamped there.
“Yes, I have,” he replied.
Feng Lezhen looked surprised. “So fast?”
“I don’t have much to pack,” Chen Jinan said plainly.
Feng Lezhen nodded in understanding, then suddenly stared at him.
Chen Jinan’s gaze shifted slightly, uncertain. “What is Your Highness looking at?”
“I’m watching to see when you’ll start getting annoyed,” Feng Lezhen answered.
She’d already interrupted him multiple times, and yet he hadn’t shown a single sign of irritation. She couldn’t tell whether he was just slow or had an extremely good temper.
Chen Jinan looked puzzled. “Why would I be annoyed?”
…Forget it. Feng Lezhen touched her nose, suddenly losing interest. She was just about to let him get back to his calligraphy when Qin Wan came hurrying in from outside.
“Your Highness, why are you here?” she asked with a frown.
Feng Lezhen asked, “What happened?”
“A message from the palace,” Qin Wan replied.
Feng Lezhen raised her brows. “Feng Ji?”
“Feizhan.”
Feng Lezhen blinked, then told Chen Jinan to continue his writing, and followed Qin Wan out. Chen Jinan watched her leave until her figure disappeared from sight, then finally looked down at the small blot of ink on the paper.
“What did he say?” Feng Lezhen asked only after they exited the courtyard.
Qin Wan answered, “He asked when Your Highness plans to take him away.”
“Tell him on my behalf: once he’s packed, wait patiently. I’ll give him the exact time in the next few days,” Feng Lezhen said.
Qin Wan gave a quick nod and left, while Ah Ye came running over. “Your Highness, there’s a guest.”
At this hour? Feng Lezhen looked surprised and followed her into the main hall.
It was Miss Liang—Liang Yue’er.
“Greetings to Your Highness, the Eldest Princess,” Liang Yue’er bowed respectfully.
Feng Lezhen smiled. “What brings you here today, Miss Liang?”
“I heard Your Highness is leaving the capital, so I came to bid farewell,” Liang Yue’er said, presenting a bamboo basket. “Your Highness needs nothing, of course, but this is just a small token of appreciation from a humble girl.”
Feng Lezhen gave Ah Ye a look, and Ah Ye opened the basket to find two pairs of thick cotton boots and two pairs of padded gloves. The stitching was meticulous, and the lining soft and warm—it was clear they had been made with care.
“Yingguan is bitterly cold in winter. You’ll be leaving in autumn, so by the time you arrive, it’ll be just in time for winter. These may not be worth much, but they should help keep the wind out—I hope Your Highness won’t find them lacking,” Liang Yue’er said gently.
Feng Lezhen’s lips curved with warmth. “Miss Liang, your gift is truly to my liking. I thank you for your thoughtfulness.”
Seeing that the Eldest Princess accepted it, Liang Yue’er blushed slightly and said with some embarrassment, “I should be the one thanking Your Highness. If not for your decisive actions that day, ugly rumors might’ve spread… and I wouldn’t be able to show my face.”
She was referring to the moment when Feng Lezhen, to secure evidence, had all those involved in the incident detained. Though the real purpose had been to later use that leverage against Feng Ji, she’d ensured none of them would spread gossip—so this thanks wasn’t undeserved.
Feng Lezhen touched the soft gloves. “Did you make these yourself?”
“How could I dare let anyone else handle something meant for Your Highness?” Liang Yue’er said softly.
Feng Lezhen smiled. “How old are you this year?”
“Sixteen, Your Highness.”
Feng Lezhen nodded. “That’s the age for marriage talks. Has your father begun arranging anything?”
She wondered if, in this lifetime where the past had been rewritten, Liang Yue’er would still be engaged to Fu Zhixian.
“Father’s been thinking about it since last year,” Liang Yue’er answered, “but I’ve been wanting to stay home and care for my parents a few more years, so nothing’s been settled yet.”
“So, no suitable match yet,” Feng Lezhen said. If there had been, it would’ve been settled long ago.
Liang Yue’er smiled bashfully and didn’t deny it.
“I have something to say—would Miss Liang like to hear it?” Feng Lezhen asked suddenly.
Liang Yue’er paused. “Please, Your Highness.”
“If you want a peaceful, respectful marriage, don’t choose Fu Zhixian. But if you have greater ambitions, then he’s worth a try.” Considering the girl had put in genuine effort, Feng Lezhen didn’t mind offering a little advice.
Liang Yue’er looked confused. “But… Lord Fu is Your Highness’s betrothed. Why would I…”
Feng Lezhen gave a soft laugh and deftly changed the subject.
After seeing Liang Yue’er off, Shen Suifeng arrived. Though usually unruly, even he clasped his hands in greeting. “Your Highness, long time no see. How have you been?”
“It has been a while—what, two days?” Feng Lezhen raised an eyebrow. After Fu Zhixian left, she’d decided to let Shen Suifeng go with him to help care for him, saying he could return when Fu’s injury stabilized. But it had only been two days, and already he couldn’t sit still.
Shen Suifeng gave an awkward cough. “One day apart feels like three years. By that measure, it’s been six years since I’ve seen you.”
“Six years is quite a long time,” Feng Lezhen agreed.
Shen Suifeng continued probing. “When I was at the Fu residence, I heard the Emperor granted you a fief?”
“The edict arrived when you were still here at the residence. Why’d you only hear about it at Fu’s place?” Feng Lezhen asked with a hint of surprise.
Shen Suifeng pulled a tight smile. “Probably because I was busy taking care of Lord Fu and missed the grand occasion of receiving the decree. Congratulations, Your Highness—for becoming the first Eldest Princess in Great Qian to have a fief.”
“Congratulations to you too, Mr. Shen,” Feng Lezhen replied calmly and warmly.
Congratulations? And then what? Shen Suifeng saw she had nothing more to say, so he asked again, “When do you plan to set out, Your Highness?”
“Just within the next few days,” Feng Lezhen replied.
Shen Suifeng said, “Then I—”
“What about you?” Feng Lezhen played dumb.
Shen Suifeng fell silent, holding her gaze. Feng Lezhen tilted her head slightly, as if not understanding what he meant.
After a long standoff, Shen Suifeng spoke plainly: “Your Highness is going to Yingguan yourself—it’s not proper for me to remain here, is it?”
“Of course not. So you can go back and pack. On the day I leave, you can leave as well,” Feng Lezhen said directly.
She was so straightforward that Shen Suifeng hesitated. “Really?”
“Truly,” Feng Lezhen replied with a smile on her lips.
Shen Suifeng asked, “And the matter of the ancient texts…”
“Master Shen has helped me a great deal during this time, and I thank you for it,” Feng Lezhen said. Then, drawing out her tone slightly just as his heart tensed, she smiled again and continued, “As for the ancient texts… frankly, you collected them because of the epidemic outbreak in Western Jiang, right? I, as the Eldest Princess Royal of Great Qian, live off the people’s offerings—it is only right I do all I can to assist. Why talk of favors or debts?”
…This Eldest Princess Royal was acting like a whole new person. Shen Suifeng listened to her tactful and composed words and felt something was off, but her eyes were too sincere, leaving him no room for doubt. “If that’s so, then I’ll go pack.”
“Please,” Feng Lezhen gestured invitingly.
Shen Suifeng stepped back. “I’m really going now.”
“If you don’t go now, I might change my mind,” Feng Lezhen smiled.
Shen Suifeng turned and left.
“Your Highness, are you really going to let him go just like that?” Ah Ye, who had been silent all this time, finally couldn’t help asking.
Feng Lezhen replied, “Have someone keep an eye on him.”
“Yes!” Ah Ye whistled, and someone immediately leapt from the shadows. Ah Ye whispered a few words to them, and they disappeared at once.
Feng Lezhen said, “This batch of shadow guards is quite skilled.”
“Of course. I handpicked them,” Ah Ye said proudly.
Feng Lezhen chuckled and looked up at the pale sun in the sky.
“What are you looking at, Your Highness?”
“The sun over the capital,” Feng Lezhen squinted in the sunlight. “I’ve met quite a few people today—it’s only now that I truly feel I’m about to leave.”
Ah Ye stifled a laugh. “Your Highness doesn’t want to go anymore?”
“Not exactly. I just think… I should go say goodbye to someone,” Feng Lezhen replied.
Ah Ye paused, looking at her in confusion.
Half an hour later, the Eldest Princess Royal’s carriage stopped by the back gate of the Yu residence.
Inside the carriage, Ah Ye frowned as she watched Feng Lezhen calmly nibbling on pastries. “Lord Yu may not let us in.”
“He will,” Feng Lezhen said between bites, then took a sip of water. “He has too many questions he wants answered. If he misses today, there may be no next time.”
“Then eat less, Your Highness. It’s almost dinnertime. You’ll surely be invited to stay for supper once we’re in,” Ah Ye reminded her.
Feng Lezhen shook her head slightly. “Grandfather doesn’t really want to see me. Even if he lets me in, he may not feed me.”
Ah Ye sighed. “If Lord Yu is willing to let you in, it means he still cares. To elders, meals are a big deal. He won’t let you go hungry.”
“That’s not guaranteed.” Feng Lezhen finished her pastry, dusted her hands, and got off the carriage with Ah Ye.
The moment they stepped down, the back gate opened. Two maids, clearly nervous, led them inside.
Ever since Qing Wang was killed and Feng Ji ascended the throne, Feng Lezhen had never set foot in this residence again—not even once before her death. Now, returning once more, she found it far more worn than she remembered. The pond was unkempt, covered in fallen leaves. Moss grew between the cracks of the stone paths. Even her once-favorite swing set was now rusted.
“Lord Yu has had a hard life these past years,” Ah Ye sighed.
Back then, he had acted as the Eldest Princess’s blade, causing endless trouble for the now-reigning emperor. Only because the Yu family had deep roots, and he had distanced himself from her in time after Feng Ji took the throne, had he barely managed to keep his post as Right Chancellor. Though he held onto his title and honor, he was no longer trusted—these years were basically a soft exile. Even just looking at the dilapidated garden gave a glimpse of the reality.
Feng Lezhen curled her lips. “Still has to put on a show for others.”
Ah Ye was still caught in the melancholy of a fallen hero and didn’t quite catch her meaning. “…What?”
“The Yu family’s legacy spans a hundred years, and Grandfather has students all over the land. Even if he were demoted to a commoner, it wouldn’t be this pitiful. This is all an act to show Feng Ji, so he won’t be targeted,” Feng Lezhen said, striding confidently into the main hall.
Ah Ye stared blankly at her retreating figure, realizing she still had a long way to go.
Yu Shou had been waiting. When he saw Feng Lezhen enter, he only gave a cold snort. “What are you here for?”
“I’m heading to Yingguan, and I don’t know if I’ll make it back alive. So I came to bid farewell,” Feng Lezhen said, hands clasped in front of her. Though standing casually, her bearing was full of poise.
Yu Shou’s eyes deepened. “Knowing how dangerous it is, why still go?”
“The imperial edict is already issued. I don’t have a choice,” Feng Lezhen sighed.
Before the words finished leaving her mouth, Yu Shou slammed the table and stood up, his old face flushing with anger. “Don’t give me that act. If you hadn’t planned everything meticulously, would he have let you leave the capital so ‘willingly’?! Sending you to Yingguan is nothing more than revenge—he’s disgusted by your scheming and wants to make you suffer. And you agreed to go—why? If not to gain the support of Zhenbian Marquis, then for what?!”
“I caused his only son to fall into the water back then. He loathes me. How could he possibly support me?” Feng Lezhen countered.
Yu Shou sneered, “If you could give up easily, you wouldn’t be Feng Lezhen. But have you ever considered—things in this world don’t always go your way. One misstep, and it’s checkmate.”
Feng Lezhen fell silent, quietly gazing at him.
Her features bore the heroic air of the late emperor, while her eyes held a trace of the gentle, unspoken affection that had once belonged to the late empress. Facing those eyes, despite all his anger, Yu Shou couldn’t stop the softening of his heart.
“For the sake of my deceased daughter, if you say even once today that you won’t go, I’ll risk this old life of mine to make His Majesty withdraw the decree. Just say it now—you’re not going.”
His voice was stern, but his expression had already softened.
Feng Lezhen lowered her gaze with a small smile. After a pause, she spoke slowly: “Grandfather, do you know that Feng Ji has already developed the intent to kill me?”
Yu Shou froze for a moment but wasn’t surprised. “You’ve been obstructing him at every turn—he’d be strange not to bear a grudge. But you’re still his only blood relative left in this world. If you just settle down and stay out of court affairs, he’d likely let you live out your days in peace and honor.”
“But I’m not willing,” Feng Lezhen’s voice was gentle, yet left no room for doubt. “To abandon everything I’ve worked for all these years, to live cautiously with my tail tucked—I’d rather he just kill me outright.”
In her previous life, she had chosen to stay in the capital, waiting for the right moment. But in the end, the poisoned alcohol made her realize: once Feng Ji became emperor, he had the power to make his word law. With time, both officials and the people would grow accustomed to and even believe in such an incompetent ruler.
And no matter how carefully she plotted, she would only drift further and further from that throne. She had tested that path with her own life—it led nowhere. So in this life, she had to take a different road. Dangerous or not, a path of ten deaths and no life—how would one know unless they tried?
As for giving up… ever since she had sat on the late emperor’s lap, listening to the chime of ceremonial bells and watching the court officials kneel before them, she had never considered such a thing.
“I must go to Yingguan,” she said firmly, voice quiet but resolute.
Yu Shou’s face darkened.
“Grandfather, some people are fated to dig in the dirt their whole lives, never seeing the sky. Some are destined to wander, never finding a place to rest. And some are born to stand above all others, wielding power and authority. It’s all fate—no need for anyone to persuade anyone else.”
As she spoke, she knelt and bowed deeply to him. “I came today just to bid farewell to the only elder I have left in this world. Now that I’ve done so, it’s time I left. I hope you find peace and long life in the days ahead.”
With that, she turned and walked away. Yu Shou watched her fading figure, and in a daze, he seemed to see the little child just learning to walk, waddling toward him.
“If you hadn’t killed Qing Wang, you wouldn’t be in this situation today.”
His hoarse voice came from behind. Feng Lezhen paused, looked back—and saw how much older he truly had become.
“Qing Wang had no power base from his mother’s side. Unlike Feng Ji, if he ascended the throne, he would’ve been nothing but your puppet. Once he had a son, we would depose him, install the infant as emperor, and you would rule from behind the curtain as the true master of Great Qian. The Yu family would’ve basked in glory. All the support I gave you over the years would not have been in vain.”
Thinking back, Yu Shou still burned with frustration at her recklessness. “Everything was within reach—yet what did you do? You said that while you and Feng Ji could fight, the throne must never fall to outsiders. So you personally led people to kill Qing Wang, destroying everything we built and handing the throne to Feng Ji. And now? He’s forcing you out of the capital to some godforsaken frontier. You… you don’t regret it at all?”
The sky had darkened. A few dim candles lit the main hall. The wind outside flickered their glow, casting shadows across their faces.
After a long silence, Feng Lezhen let out a soft laugh. “No matter how fierce a fight in one’s own house, there’s no reason to let the neighbors profit from it. I’ve never thought killing Qing Wang was a mistake.”
“As for ruling from behind the curtain,” her eyes dimmed slightly, “if I want that position, I’ll obtain it fair and square. No matter how advantageous another path may be—it’s not the one I want.”
“You’re a woman!” Yu Shou exclaimed in anger.
Feng Lezhen was quiet for a moment, then smiled faintly. “Yes, I am a woman.”
She turned and left, leaving Yu Shou alone in the candlelit hall.
After a long while, a maid cautiously stepped in. “Master, shall I bring the meal now?”
“She’s gone. What meal is there to serve?” Yu Shou said coldly, staring at the empty doorway.
Feng Lezhen said nothing on the way back to the carriage. Ah Ye, stifling her thoughts the entire time, finally muttered once they were inside, “He really didn’t give us any dinner…”
Feng Lezhen chuckled. “Still thinking about food at a time like this?”
…It wasn’t about the food. Ah Ye pressed her lips together, about to say something when suddenly, someone stepped into the path of their speeding carriage.
“Your Highness! The Lord sent me with a message for you!”
A breathless voice came from outside. Feng Lezhen lifted the curtain and saw Yu Shou’s most trusted aide.
“Your Highness,” the aide greeted her with a respectful bow.
“What did my grandfather ask you to say?”
He glanced around, then lowered his voice. “He said, if Your Highness ever makes it back alive one day, he will sweep the mat and welcome you with all his strength.”
After he finished, he didn’t hear any reply. He looked up, only to meet Feng Lezhen’s calm gaze. She merely said, “I understand.”
That’s it? The aide was stunned. Did she not realize what that promise meant? A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, but the carriage had already pulled away, and he could no longer glimpse what the Eldest Princess was truly thinking.
After saying her farewell to her grandfather, Feng Lezhen withdrew from all public view and quietly awaited the day of her departure. The night before setting off, she returned to her main bedchamber.
The bedding had all been changed to fresh new linens. Every trace left by Fu Zhixian had been completely erased, yet as Feng Lezhen sat on the footstool by the bed, she still seemed to catch the scent of blood in the air.
It was already the middle of the night, but she had no sleepiness at all. Feng Lezhen simply went out into the courtyard to stargaze. The sky was clear, the stars faint against a bright moon—clearly, tomorrow would be good weather for travel. She stretched lazily and was about to find a place to sit when a light cloak gently draped over her shoulders.
She instinctively turned around. Upon seeing who it was, she smiled, “Why aren’t you resting yet?”
“Isn’t Your Highness the same?” Qin Wan retorted.
Feng Lezhen sighed. “Thinking about leaving the capital tomorrow makes it hard to sleep.”
“It’s normal. Leaving the place you’ve lived in your whole life, not knowing when you’ll return…” The night air was chilly; Qin Wan spoke as she helped guide her back indoors.
Feng Lezhen tugged at the corner of her lips. “And you? When you left Jiangnan years ago to follow me to the capital, were you also unable to sleep like I am now?”
“I couldn’t sleep either, but it was for a different reason,” Qin Wan replied, pouring her a cup of tea once they were inside. “I was too happy to sleep. Does Your Highness still remember why I followed you back then?”
Feng Lezhen paused, then chuckled softly, “It’s all in the past. Why bring it up again?”
“I was nearly assaulted by a local thug. After escaping, he spread rumors that I had relations with him. Even though my parents and in-laws knew the truth, they forced me to take my own life to ‘preserve family honor.’ I refused. They poisoned my food. If I hadn’t eaten so little that day, I’d probably have died then and there.” Qin Wan’s tone was calm, like she was recounting someone else’s story. Only when she looked at Feng Lezhen did warmth return to her face. “Luckily, I met Your Highness, and only then did I become the person I am today.”
Feng Lezhen hadn’t wanted to bring up these old matters, but seeing that Qin Wan didn’t seem to mind, she smiled and said, “Back then, I just thought you were pitiful and wanted to help you vent your anger. Who would’ve thought a gentle Jiangnan girl like you would actually say you wanted to kill that thug yourself?”
She had assumed Qin Wan was merely venting in rage—after all, a demure, proper woman who didn’t even dare to kill a chicken, how could she possibly dare kill a man larger and stronger than herself?
Yet Qin Wan had really done it.
When she had shown up at the inn covered in blood, Feng Lezhen had decided on the spot to bring her back to the capital. She hadn’t imagined so many years would pass since then.
“My family was heartless. I resented them at first. But after seeing the court and the empire at Your Highness’s side, I’ve come to feel grateful for their cruelty. Without it, I wouldn’t have the life I have now.”
Feng Lezhen glanced at her. “If you want to thank anyone, thank yourself. Thanking those who nearly got you killed—isn’t that a bit insane?”
Qin Wan laughed. “Your Highness is right to scold me.”
After chatting idly, Feng Lezhen finally began to feel drowsy. She yawned. “It’s getting late. Go rest. Tomorrow we still have—”
“Your Highness,” Qin Wan suddenly interrupted.
Feng Lezhen looked up in confusion, just in time to see Qin Wan kneel, hands clasped. “Your Highness, I cannot go to Yingguan with you.”
Feng Lezhen paused. “What do you mean?”
Qin Wan raised her head. “You are seeking a new path. I support you wholeheartedly. But the foundation in the capital must not be abandoned. I must stay and guard it. As long as there is someone in the Eldest Princess’s residence, our connections and ties in the capital won’t be severed. When Your Highness returns in the future, it won’t all be gone.”
Silence fell over the room.
Feng Lezhen stared into her resolute gaze and didn’t speak for a long time.
Finally, she broke the silence. “Without Ben Gong in the capital, things may be difficult for you.”
“If I were afraid, I wouldn’t have followed Your Highness here years ago,” Qin Wan smiled.
After another long silence, Feng Lezhen asked, “You’ve made up your mind?”
“I have,” Qin Wan replied.
“Then stay,” Feng Lezhen said gently.
Qin Wan smiled with relief. “Then I’ll take my leave and let Your Highness rest.”
She happily turned to leave, but at the door remembered something. She rushed back and placed something on the table. “Ah Ye found this while tidying the bed this afternoon. It didn’t look like something from the residence, so she gave it to me. I forgot about it until just now.”
Feng Lezhen took the item and realized it was a sachet—clearly washed many times, the embroidery threads nearly unraveled.
“I’ve never seen anyone embroider a flower like this,” Qin Wan said as she watched her stare at it.
Feng Lezhen lowered her eyes. “It’s not a flower. It’s a peach.”
“A peach?” Qin Wan was surprised.
Feng Lezhen nodded. “Mm. A peach.”
Qin Wan had no words. After a moment, she quietly withdrew.
Feng Lezhen kept her gaze lowered. Her beautifully shaped fingers gently traced the faded peach over and over again before finally murmuring, “So ugly.”
Thus passed her last night in the capital, quietly and without fanfare.
The next morning, before dawn, Feizhan had already packed. Following the note Feng Lezhen had sent, he stood beneath the willow tree outside the Cold Palace, waiting for her to come and take him away from the place that had imprisoned him for so many years.
Morning dew was heavy in autumn. Standing under the tree, mist dampening his shoulders, he paid it no mind. His eyes remained fixed on the Cold Palace gate. The sun slowly rose. Feng Lezhen still had not come. The abandoned palace stood in silence—empty, not even a ghost in sight. He was growing impatient, but he also knew he had come two quarters of an hour early. Waiting a while longer wasn’t something he could blame on her.
Once the appointed time arrived, she would come. Feizhan suppressed his inexplicable restlessness and began counting the wormholes in the willow leaves to distract himself.
Just as he was about to count for the third time, his patience completely worn out, footsteps finally sounded behind him. In that instant, a smile filled Feizhan’s ash-blue eyes. “Your Highness seems to be la—”
Before he could finish, he turned around and met Feng Ji’s gaze.
“Prince Feizhan, who are you waiting for here?” Feng Ji asked with a dark expression.
By now, the sun was high in the sky and the autumn air was crisp. The carriage had already slipped out of the city and was galloping swiftly along the wide official road.
“You sent Li Tong back to the palace?” Feng Lezhen asked leisurely as she sat in the carriage.
“Sent him back half an hour ago,” Ah Ye replied, rubbing her nose. “Your Highness, I don’t understand—why send him back? Wouldn’t it be better to just kill him? That would’ve taken out one of the emperor’s strongest aides.”
Feng Lezhen smiled. “He may be a stumbling block for us, but to Feng Ji, he’s a loyal minister and capable general. Without me in the capital, if Li Tong doesn’t support him, Feng Ji will likely be torn apart by the court officials.”
She didn’t particularly care about Feng Ji’s life or death—what concerned her was the fate of Great Qian’s empire. Besides, with Li Tong and Fu Zhixian around, they could also keep Feng Ji from doing anything too stupid.
Ah Ye didn’t quite follow the logic, but she nodded vaguely and then asked curiously, “And what about Feizhan? Your Highness, didn’t you promise to take him with you? Why did you suddenly change your mind?”
“I didn’t change my mind at the last minute. Once the issue of the switched travel documents came up, Feng Ji would definitely investigate thoroughly. Someone has to take the blame—otherwise, it might implicate our other covert lines. And besides…” Feng Lezhen’s lips curved faintly, though her eyes held no smile, “he’s too clever. Even on his own in the imperial palace, he managed to build his own faction. If he returns to Tayuan, it’ll be like a dragon entering the sea—he will surely become a major threat to Great Qian.”
“One doesn’t allow others to sleep soundly beside their own bed.”
Ah Ye blinked in confusion. Just as she was about to ask more, the curtain of the carriage was abruptly pulled open, revealing Shen Suifeng’s half-smiling face. “Your Highness’s strategies are truly flawless—I’m impressed.”
“Just lessons learned from experience,” Feng Lezhen replied humbly.
Shen Suifeng climbed into the carriage. Ah Ye was about to scold him but was stopped by a glance from Feng Lezhen.
“Then, based on Your Highness’s experience, how should one deal with someone who breaks a promise?” Shen Suifeng asked as if sincerely seeking advice.
“Kill them,” Feng Lezhen replied.
“And if it’s Your Highness who breaks the promise?” he asked again.
“Then I should be killed too.”
“Then—”
“But I didn’t break my promise.” Feng Lezhen looked innocent.
Shen Suifeng gave a disbelieving laugh. “Your Highness said you would let me go.”
“What I said was: the day I leave, Mr. Shen will also leave,” Feng Lezhen explained.
Only then did Shen Suifeng realize the trap in her words. He narrowed his long eyes. “You also said my search for ancient texts was for the people, and that there was no need to speak of gratitude.”
“I didn’t.”
“Then why are you now using our prior agreement to force me to accompany you?” Shen Suifeng pressed.
Feng Lezhen answered, “Mr. Shen, you yourself said it was an agreement.”
Shen Suifeng: “…”
“An agreement is an agreement. Gratitude is gratitude. Gratitude can be set aside—but an agreement must be honored. Don’t you agree, Mr. Shen?” Feng Lezhen smiled sweetly.
Shen Suifeng stared at her for a long time, then suddenly chuckled. “Your Highness didn’t need to go to such lengths. The Shen family has been merchants for generations. Our first ancestral rule is to never meddle in politics. Even if you keep me here, it changes nothing. Besides, I’m no longer part of the Shen family. I’m just a wandering doctor—Shen Suifeng.”
Ah Ye didn’t understand what he meant. Her first reaction was to look at Feng Lezhen.
Feng Lezhen remained calm and even looked intrigued. “When did you realize I knew your identity?”
“You didn’t seem like someone who would go to such trouble for an ordinary doctor.” Yet she had.
Feng Lezhen chuckled. “So that’s it.”
“What identity? What are you two talking about?” Ah Ye couldn’t help but ask.
Feng Lezhen generously explained, “This gentleman is the second son of the Shen family of Nanhe—Shen Suifeng.”
Ah Ye gasped. “The Shen family of Nanhe? The richest merchant family in Great Qian?”
“You flatter me, Miss Ah Ye. It’s all just small business,” Shen Suifeng replied lightly.
Ah Ye swallowed hard. Now she finally understood why Her Highness didn’t pray to the heavens for a golden baby during their trip to Hongshan Temple—the golden baby was right beside her!
“How did Your Highness guess Mr. Shen’s identity?” she asked curiously. Shen Suifeng also turned to look, clearly interested.
Feng Lezhen calmly replied, “Though Mr. Shen’s attire is simple, the fabric is of the finest quality. The jade pendant on your waist is worth a fortune, yet you treat it casually. It’s clear you were raised with such luxuries.”
“Maybe I just earn too much from my practice, so I don’t think it’s a big deal?” Shen Suifeng countered.
Feng Lezhen smiled. “Wealth acquired from birth is not quite the same as that gained later in life.”
Shen Suifeng gave a cryptic smile. “Is that so.”
“From the capital to Yingguan, we’ll pass through Xijiang. You protect me along the way, and I’ll help resolve the epidemic. Isn’t that a mutually beneficial arrangement?” Feng Lezhen personally poured a cup of tea and handed it to him, clearly offering him an olive branch. “As for other matters, until the final moment comes, who’s to say what might happen?”
Shen Suifeng glanced at the teacup in her hand. “Don’t get too pleased with yourself, Your Highness—lest joy turns to sorrow.”
With that, he left to sit with Chen Jinan again.
“How insolent!” Ah Ye fumed. But when she turned and saw Feng Lezhen looking calm and composed, she frowned. “Your Highness, aren’t you even a little angry?”
“Every time I look at him, it’s like I see a walking pile of money. Would you get mad at money?” Feng Lezhen asked back.
Ah Ye: “…” Honestly, no.
After a brief silence, she decided to ignore her mistress’s money-minded remark. “Your Highness really figured out his identity just from his clothing and demeanor?”
“Not at all,” Feng Lezhen denied outright. “A few years ago, I met his older brother once. They share some resemblance. After three cups of alcohol, he started complaining about his wayward younger brother, who actually removed his own name from the Shen family genealogy just to pursue medicine.”
Ah Ye: “……” That truth didn’t sound wise at all.
She sighed and was about to say something when a rush of wind suddenly came from behind the carriage, followed by the chaotic pounding of hooves. Ah Ye quickly shielded Feng Lezhen and used an arrow to lift the rear curtain and peek out. Her expression darkened.
“Your Highness, what did Mr. Shen say earlier?” she asked.
Feng Lezhen replied, “He told me not to be too pleased with myself—lest joy turn to sorrow.”
“Well, here comes the sorrow,” Ah Ye said quietly as she looked at the oncoming cavalry.
Feng Lezhen was speechless for a moment. Just as she was about to rise and look, she faintly heard a familiar jingling sound.
Jingle-jingle, jingle-jingle…
Suddenly, a memory surged forth—of that youth who had accompanied her in the Cold Palace for more than half a year.
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