Chapter 116: If She Were Still Here

Chapter 116: If She Were Still Here

Red candles flickered within lanterns, casting a joyous glow. Guests lingered in the distance, their voices of revelry still audible.

Yet, beneath this roof, silence reigned supreme, so quiet that even breaths could not be heard. Ye Jiangbai's face was as pale as paper, his eyes brimming with conflicting emotions—hatred and helplessness. In the end, he couldn't utter another word. He lifted his sleeve, revealing a small mud stain that fluttered to the ground, stirring up dust.

The Duke of State, who had always enjoyed privilege and comfort, rarely found himself in such a disheveled state. But it wasn't just his appearance that made him feel so humiliated; that was what infuriated him the most.

He turned to leave, yet hesitated, reluctant to part. However, stopping meant he couldn't bear to look into her eyes again.

How could a woman be so unreasonable? Did wanting to be with her mean he must abandon his grand ambitions? If she could let go of her current possessions, did she expect him to do the same?

For how many years had Feng Tingyun conspired alongside him, exhausting his every effort, even losing his fiancée to an assassination? Minister Yao's three sons served under him, two dying tragically, one losing both legs. There were also Ye Liang and Lin Mao... Each of these individuals staked their lives on following him. If he were to leave with her... How could he possibly leave them behind!

His hands clenched within his sleeves, numbing from the pressure. Ye Jiangbai shook his head, stepping back and heading towards the Moon Gate.

Chang Nian watched his retreating figure calmly, without sadness or attempts to detain him. It was simply what she had expected from Ye Jiangbai.

This was who he truly was.

With each deliberate step, he moved heavily, but didn't turn back. His tall figure soon vanished into the night, leaving only two lingering trails of his dragon's breath fragrance to float into her embrace carried by the wind.

Chang Nian curved her lips, withdrew her gaze, and calmly pushed open the door.

As the door closed, she approached Mu Shufang, who was sitting on the wedding bed. Kneeling down, she grabbed the corner of her dress and suddenly burst into tears.

Mu Shufang sat upright, allowing her to hold onto her dress. Peering at her from under the veil with a sideways glance, she asked, "Just now, I was about to praise Your Highness for your eloquence and decisiveness. Why are you crying now?"

All the maids and joy attendants in the room had been dismissed, so Chang Nian wept without restraint, tears and snot streaming down her face. "Decisive... as it may be, there are still... times when one must cry."

Mu Shufang found the situation both amusing and heartbreaking, gently patting her head. "What is there to cry about?"

"I..." With her eyes wide open, filled with tears, Chang Nian looked up at her pitifully and sniffled, "I shouldn't have... entertained those chaotic thoughts. He's that kind of person... He'll eventually become my enemy."

"But even if I know that, I can't control myself." Wiping her nose on Mu Shufang's skirt, Chang Nian sobbed, "How am I so weak?"

Her tiny, weeping form tugged at one's heartstrings. Mu Shufang reached out to pull her up and soothed her softly, "If emotions could be controlled, how would there still be people in this world saying 'love has always ended in regret'? Your Highness has done very well."

Hugging Mu Shufang's waist, Chang Nian choked back her sobs, drenching her with tears. She cried for a full incense stick's worth of time, yet still couldn't stop.

Mu Shufang gently patted her back, occasionally offering her a cup of tea to soothe her throat as she wept.

Ye Jiangbai, she knew him well – he was a man of immense ambition, and a clash with the royal family was inevitable. Seventh Prince was much more perceptive than she had imagined, recognizing the situation so early on. This would spare him considerable pain in the future.

In other people's weddings, newlyweds would inevitably be deeply affectionate. But in their case, this "couple" was quite unique – the groom had fallen asleep in the bride's arms while crying, his cheeks flushed, and his eyes swollen like walnuts. The bride had removed her veil and tenderly cared for him, even applying warm eggs to his eyes.

When Chang Nian woke up the next morning, her eyes were not too painful, only occasionally hiccupping.

"Is the Princess still upset?" Mu Shufang, with her hair elegantly styled, asked softly.

"Up... hic." A spasm in her chest caused another hiccup, interrupting her words.

Mu Shufang chuckled and brought her freshly made pastries from the kitchen: heart-shaped shortbreads and green bean cakes, fragrant and inviting.

Suddenly, Chang Nian realized that sadness was nothing compared to all the delicious foods and tasks awaiting her in the world. How could she wallow in sorrow? Swiftly finishing her breakfast, she changed clothes and led Mu Shufang to the palace to express their gratitude.

On their way to the palace, an elderly courtier guided them, engaging them in conversation and sighing, "Princess, be cautious today, the palace is not in its best state."

"What happened?"

The old palace maid looked around discreetly and whispered, "It seems like the Duke is in a foul mood. Today, when the Ministry of Justice inquired about the specific punishment for Prince Three, a group of ministers pleaded for mercy in the imperial study. The Duke silenced them with the phrase 'princes who break the law shall be treated the same as commoners.' Even His Majesty found it a bit too harsh, but the Duke insisted on sending Prince Three to Bianzhou. His Majesty is also somewhat displeased now."

Chang Nian pursed her lips and turned to Mu Shufang. "Should we pay our respects and then take our leave?"

Mu Shufang covered her mouth and chuckled softly. "Is Your Highness afraid?"

"…How can you say that? A gentleman avoids standing beneath a crumbling wall. Given the situation, it wouldn't be good if Father Emperor were to get caught up in the chaos."

Mu Shufang nodded, understandingly, and gazed at her meaningfully.

Feeling awkward, Chang Nian lowered her eyes and weakly held onto Mu Shufang's fingers. "I'm just timid and scared, but it would be embarrassing to admit it directly. It's better to express it tactfully."

"I understand," Mu Shufang replied playfully. As they approached the emperor, she bowed respectfully and said tactfully, "Your Highness is still recovering from weakness. Please allow your child to take leave first, Father Emperor."

Chang Nian's lips twitched.

Upon hearing this, the emperor put aside his anger for the moment and summoned Chang Nian alone to the imperial garden. He frowned and asked, "Your body hasn't fully recovered yet?"

"Replying to Father Emperor, your child... is doing reasonably well."

"Inadvisable, my dear. Your Second Imperial Brother already has a child of ten. You youngsters must hasten." With no one else around, the Emperor's face betrayed his weariness. "Your Third Brother is not capable enough for me to protect him. The Crown Prince is overly aggressive; when he ascends the throne, he will certainly cause you trouble. While I'm still here, you should bear a child so that I can bestow upon you the title of a prince, ensuring your security in your later years."

It seemed that parents, regardless of their family's status, always worried about their children. Chang Nian was deeply touched, bowing profoundly to the Emperor. "Thank you, Father!"

"You, my child, are more sensible and filial than your imperial brothers," the Emperor sighed. "I have wronged you these past years."

"Father's grace towards your son is greater than any mountain, and I have never felt mistreated," Chang Nian replied earnestly.

The Emperor sighed again, patting her shoulder and studying her features. Suddenly, he seemed lost in thought. "You don't resemble your mother, Concubine Qin, very much."

Chang Nian froze, looking up in confusion.

"That woman, Concubine Qin, had a strong and determined personality," the Emperor reminisced, his gaze growing distant. He seemed to be looking through her, speaking softly, "Such a beautiful person, yet she didn't understand that being too strong could lead to vulnerability. If she were still alive, perhaps the Empress position wouldn't belong to someone else."