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Empress Qi glanced at Aunt Gui in the copper mirror and spoke softly, "The Emperor dislikes my interference in the Crown Prince's marriage. I shall not meddle anymore. Abandon the idea of the Crown Prince marrying a Qi family maiden, Aunt. If I insist on arranging such a union despite the Crown Prince having his heart set on someone else, I would only be fostering enmity with him."

Aunt Gui felt a tinge of regret but acknowledged that Empress Qi was correct.

After a moment, she seemed to recall something and added, "Crown Prince and Princess Xiao have grown up together since childhood. The Princess is also His Highness's sister. If they maintain a good relationship, it would benefit Your Majesty as well."

In other words, she suggested that Wen Xi should interact more with Prince Changjin.

Empress Qi understood that Aunt Gui merely wished for their alliance with Prince Changjin to strengthen, thus wanting to utilize Wen Xi's friendship with him to establish a rapport with the Eastern Palace.

However...

Empress Qi sighed. "Let's wait until the child recovers before discussing this further. For now, they shouldn't meet."

While the Crown Prince had no romantic feelings for Wen Xi, the same could not be said for her. It was not the right time for them to meet.

At least, they should wait until the child learns that the Crown Prince already has a beloved, and any hopes are dashed.

Upon the child's awakening, she would find an opportunity to inform her about the Crown Prince's visit to Qilin East Street to propose. Better to endure short-term pain than prolonged suffering. Although she couldn't reclaim her birth family's identity, she couldn't allow herself to entertain such unconventional infatuations due to their lack of blood ties in public perception.

Empress Qi feared the most that she would end up like Xiao Fu, utterly obsessed with a man she could never love.

Empress Qi closed her eyes and let out a long sigh in her heart.

This world was never short of gossipers and busybodies. Within half a day, the news that the Crown Prince intended to marry Rong Shu spread throughout the capital city like wildfire.

On her way back to Minglu Yard, Yingyue and Ying Que glanced at her repeatedly, seemingly wanting to speak but holding back.

Rong Shu understood their concerns and smiled gently. "Rest assured, the Crown Prince doesn't hold any grudge against me."

"Then... is His Highness not going to take Miss as his bride?" Yingyue's tone carried a hint of disappointment. "His Highness chose today to announce this to lend support to Miss."

The Shen family was wealthy, and many would seize the chance to target them once the Rong family fell. Gu Changjin's visit today indeed discouraged such intentions from others.

But Gu Changjin's motives were not limited to that. After today's events, who else in Great Yin would dare to ask for her hand in marriage?

Who would dare to compete with the Crown Prince for a person?

Whether others sought to marry her or not was of little concern to Rong Shu. In the end, she had no intention of marrying again.

As for Yingyue's question...

Rong Shu lowered her gaze to the cloak covering her knees, recalling the man's unwavering determination.

"In Qingheng Courtyard, he gently brushed snow off the brim of my hat and said in a deep voice, 'Even if I'm not granted your hand in marriage today, Rong Shu, I won't let you go.' He continued, 'I know it's despicable of me, but I can't bear to see you marry someone else. I'd be consumed by jealousy, going mad with it.'

"He paused and then added, 'I'm willing to wait. Rong Zhaozhao waited for three years for Gu Yunzhi, and Gu Yunzhi is also willing to wait for her that long. In these three years, you're free to go to Da Tong. But after three years, you can no longer refuse me.'"

A three-year pact was likely his greatest compromise.

"Lady, does this mean you'll return to the capital in three years to marry the crown prince?" Lian couldn't resist asking quietly.

Her general had feelings for Miss Rong as well. She had hoped that while Miss Rong was in Da Tong, her general might have a chance. But now, did Miss Rong plan on returning to the capital in three years to fulfill their pact?

Rong Shu spoke softly, "In three years, His Highness the Crown Prince might no longer have feelings for me. There are plenty of talented and beautiful ladies in the capital; the Emperor and Empress will surely arrange a match from a noble family for him. After all, the Crown Prince isn't young anymore."

Besides, she hadn't agreed to his three-year pact.

After Gu Changjin made that proposal, she didn't respond.

After her evening bath, Yingyue and Ying Que came to help her dry her hair.

Ying Que glanced at her and hesitantly asked, "Miss, do you... not like Prince Consort?"

Rong Shu picked up a bamboo incense warmer.

Covered with a sheer veil, the faint glow of charcoal embers could barely be seen through the thin fabric.

Gently placing her hand on the warmer, Rong Shu spoke softly, "Whether I like him or not is irrelevant."

Ying Que opened her mouth, wanting to inquire further, but was sharply pinched on the waist by Yingyue. She hissed in pain and, upon catching Yingyue's warning look, suddenly realized her mistake.

If Miss didn't like someone, she would say so straightforwardly.

Just now, she hadn't said she disliked him; only that it didn't matter whether she did or not.

Ying Que obediently closed her mouth.

Rong Shu's gaze remained fixed on the ember stars within the incense warmer, and she didn't notice the subtle exchange between the two maids. Once her hair was dried, she dismissed them, not asking them to stay and keep watch overnight.

After a day of exertion, everyone was exhausted.

When Yingyue and Ying Que left, Rong Shu extinguished the lamp. Just as she was about to lower the bed curtains, she caught a glimpse of a faint light through the open window pane.

That window faced the old plum grove.

Rong Shu hung the curtains back on their copper hooks and slipped into a pair of butterfly-shaped slippers. She tiptoed to the window, gently pushing it open. She saw a row of wooden cages adorned with lanterns swaying in the wind, their dim yellow light flickering amidst the snowfall, like a beacon hidden in the snowy night.

From her distance, Rong Shu couldn't discern the tiny ice creatures inside.

In the past, when the small wooden cage was hung beneath the wutong tree, its proximity allowed her to see the adorable little ice beasts clearly every time she opened the window.

When Gu Changjin returned from Yang State Prefecture in his previous life, he had been unconscious for a while. Upon awakening, he hurriedly entered the palace.

On that day when he returned from the palace, she had noticed several tiny scabbed-over wounds on his fingertips.

She held his hand and asked, "How did your fingers get hurt, my lord?"

"An old injury," he replied casually, not pulling his hand away but allowing her to hold it, changing the subject. "Chang Ji mentioned that someone sent you a small ice sculpture. Do you like it?"