Chapter Sixty-Eight: His Princess

It was already past midnight; the waxing crescent moon had vanished, like a playful, arched brow lost in darkness.

After sharing a meal, Weishao Qianyu and Feng Jinye retired together, with Feng Jinye holding Qianyu as they drifted into slumber. Neither spoke of the troubles weighing on their hearts, as if by silent agreement. Qianyu knew that upon waking, she would have to face the cold edge of reality.

Yet now, the world was peaceful, the mountains and rivers untouched.

If someone were to ask Qianyu whether she had ever considered abandoning everything to seek a hidden paradise with Feng Jinye, to watch the sunrise in the morning and see the sunset at dusk, she would answer without hesitation—never.

Qianyu’s reply would be steadfast and unwavering. She and Feng Jinye shared the same hope for the future. She endured every hardship and pain, not because she was remarkably strong, but because she was determined to chase the life she desired.

Perhaps for nine out of ten, love ends in sorrow, but Qianyu was not among them.

Happiness, at times, comes with thorns; if you reach out, you may unwittingly pierce your fingers. It often lacks the brilliance imagined in youth, hiding its light beneath sharp armor, but if you find it, it will bathe you in its warmest glow.

Qianyu resembled a cactus—willful and prickly, yet under Feng Jinye’s gentle tolerance, her heart remained warm.

The early spring dawn broke with birds chattering incessantly outside Zhi Yu Tower.

Feng Jinye awakened first, smiling as he gazed at the person beside him, unable to resist planting gentle kisses on Qianyu’s lips.

Qianyu’s elegant brows furrowed, annoyed at being disturbed. She turned away, refusing to wake, showing no sign of stirring.

Feng Jinye recalled Qianyu’s frustration from the morning when she was brought back after the evening snowfall—her sleepless, irritable demeanor. He suddenly wanted to provoke her into a playful temper.

With that thought, he leaned closer, continuing his intermittent kisses.

Qianyu, now truly vexed, sleepily shoved Feng Jinye aside. Instinctively, she almost called for Qingxia, then remembered Feng Jinye’s presence and paused, lifting her eyelids to glance at him before turning over and resuming her sleep.

Feng Jinye watched her reaction, his eyes brimming with laughter that gradually shifted to something else.

He sighed, pulled Qianyu into his arms, closed his eyes, and prepared to rest a bit longer. Unexpectedly, the sudden embrace made Qianyu truly angry.

"Feng Jinye!" she snapped, her features tightly drawn, and bit his ear hard in frustration.

Feng Jinye hissed, drawing a sharp breath as a red bite mark appeared on his left ear.

Qianyu showed no mercy, knowing that only by biting his ears or fingers would she cause him pain.

Despite the lingering smile in Feng Jinye’s eyes, he coaxed her as he stroked her hair, "Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Let’s just hold each other and sleep a while longer."

Qianyu, genuinely tired, said nothing more, curling up in his arms and falling asleep once again. The fierce girl from moments before became as docile as a kitten.

By late morning, Qianyu finally woke. Feng Jinye sighed in relief, "I’ll return to Tingfeng Pavilion; you come later for breakfast, alright?"

Qianyu looked at him and nodded repeatedly.

Upon returning to Tingfeng Pavilion, Feng Jinye’s eyes immediately fell on the imperial edict lying on the desk, its golden script glaring. He quickly looked away, thinking perhaps the Empress Dowager deserved some discipline.

Just as he finished his morning routine, Ruanfu Chen and Yun Ming arrived together.

"Finally, we’ve found you. Chen and I came twice today and couldn’t locate the Prince of War," Yun Ming joked.

Ruanfu Chen glanced at Feng Jinye and smiled, "If I ask about Qianyu’s condition, will you challenge me to another duel?"

Feng Jinye frowned, recalling Qianyu’s words from the night before: "You may fight whoever you wish, but you must not get hurt—and you must win." His lips curled slightly, "Chu Jiu, bring a sword for Master Chen."

"I’ll give you fifteen minutes without making a move," Feng Jinye declared, full of wild confidence.

Ruanfu Chen shivered at his words, "Ha, using your best sword and giving me fifteen minutes?"

"No choice. Qianyu insists I win every fight," Feng Jinye said.

Hearing this, Ruanfu Chen and Yun Ming were tempted to turn and leave.

Yun Ming, too weary to watch yet another duel—after so many years, they were old enough to be fathers—said, "Enough, how is Qianyu?"

Feng Jinye hadn’t asked Qianyu about her abduction by Meiji the previous night. "We’ll wait until she arrives," he replied.

Soon, Qianyu appeared at Tingfeng Pavilion, standing outside and observing the three men inside with a sense of nostalgia.

"It’s been a long time since you three gathered together," she remarked suddenly.

"Heh, didn’t you say yesterday I was Ruanfu Xi? Has my younger brother ever joined you all?" Ruanfu Chen retorted with a smile.

Qianyu shot him a glare, "You’re just too much, you know?"

Ruanfu Chen grinned, "You’re quick to burn bridges, you know?"

Without responding, Qianyu quietly walked to Feng Jinye’s side, tugging at his sleeve like a child seeking protection.

Yun Ming held his forehead and said, "Chu Jiu, help expedite the repairs at Yun Prince’s Manor. I’d like to move soon!"

"Let’s get to serious matters," Qianyu said with a smile, sitting down properly.

"Meiji abducted me likely to prevent my return to the General’s Mansion. She didn’t harm me; her purpose achieved, she knocked me out and sent me back," Qianyu explained.

"What happened at the Weishao house yesterday?" she asked.

"There was an imperial marriage edict. Someone pretended to be you and received it, but was killed by Jinye’s sword. The edict was brought back," Yun Ming replied succinctly.

"Any clues about the antidote?" Qianyu turned to Ruanfu Chen.

He shook his head, "Nothing yet. I examined Yun Ming yesterday. The antidote I gave you before contains some rare ingredients. If I search carefully, perhaps I can formulate an antidote for Yun Ming—but it will take time."

The atmosphere grew tense. Qianyu nodded and looked to Feng Jinye, "What’s the plan now?"

The urgent issues were rumors of the Prince of War killing the Weishao family’s legitimate daughter, and the imperial edict Feng Jinye had brought back.

His face darkened, "What were your intentions?"

"I..." Qianyu recalled how she had argued with Feng Jinye about hiring an assassin at Zhi Yu Tower, but suddenly realized something was off. "How did Ruanfu Chen return?"

Unfazed, Ruanfu Chen replied, "He went to Mū’ài Pavilion to hire an assassin, to have the Prince of War killed within twelve hours. Meiji intercepted your request, so I intercepted his."

Qianyu, exasperated, said, "No wonder it was so easy for me to leave the mansion yesterday, and you didn’t stubbornly follow!"

Feng Jinye was speechless, glaring at Ruanfu Chen.

"My plan was to accept the edict, exchange it for the antidote, and wait for you to rescue me," Qianyu explained to Feng Jinye.

She turned and glared at Ruanfu Chen, "I thought since you infiltrated Mū’ài Pavilion, you could search for the antidote and, perhaps, cooperate with me in future rescue attempts."

"Absurd!" Ruanfu Chen laughed in fury, his anger erupting.

"You think Mū’ài Pavilion is a child’s game? I spent months searching for Qingxuan inside and found nothing!"

"You think your antidote was stolen by me? You were poisoned in Xiyan Kingdom, and I recognized the toxins, allowing me to suppress them!"

"When you destroyed the Poison Palace, I studied the remnants. Every assassin in Mū’ài Pavilion must regularly ingest poison and antidote. I discovered two herbs used in your antidote within their formulas—that’s why you survived!"

His anger was palpable.

"Keep a close eye on your madwoman!" he snapped at Feng Jinye, then stormed out.

With his departure, Tingfeng Pavilion fell into an eerie silence.

Qianyu’s experience with Meiji taught her that if Meiji truly wished to kill her, it would have been effortless. Not everyone would spare her just because she was Weishao Qianyu; there was no guarantee someone in Mū’ài Pavilion wouldn’t want her dead.

She also chided herself for underestimating how treacherous people could be, especially in a place like Mū’ài Pavilion.

Feng Jinye, stunned by Ruanfu Chen’s words, noticed Qianyu’s self-reproach and broke the silence, shifting the topic to Yun Ming, "What about you?"

Yun Ming shook his head and sighed, "The emperor has only a month left. Eleven days have already passed. I feared you’d send Qianyu back—it would be cruel—so I went instead."

"Acting on your own!" Feng Jinye scolded.

"Don’t you see something wrong with that edict?" Yun Ming pointed to the document on the desk.

Qianyu walked over and opened it, "Did you write this?"

Yun Ming nodded. He’d personally obtained the edict from his imperial cousin, pressing the jade seal into place.

Qianyu noticed the edict bore similarities to the one for the marriage of Lu Qianyu and Feng Jinye.

She chuckled, "Are you trying to imitate the Duke’s Mansion, letting me claim a legitimate sister to marry you for the antidote?"

Feng Jinye paused, recalling that yesterday’s edict didn’t mention Qianyu’s name—he’d been too anxious to notice.

Qianyu suddenly realized, "Did you seek out Lu Yanran?"

Coincidentally, on the day Consort Liu visited, Lu Yanran came to the Prince of War’s residence.

Yun Ming neither confirmed nor denied whether he’d promised Lu Yanran anything. If he ascended the throne, he’d make her empress, never have children, and Lin Rui would become a remarkable figure.

"If you dare harm anyone from the Lu family, you won’t live long either," Qianyu said calmly.

Yun Ming clicked his tongue, "Aren’t you also from the Lu family?"

He ignored Qianyu’s reaction and asked Feng Jinye, "What’s the plan?"

"Restore Qianyu’s identity," Feng Jinye declared solemnly, daring anyone in the Prince of War’s residence to challenge him.

Indeed, there was no longer any reason to conceal the truth. Feng Jinye was determined to let the world know that Weishao Qianyu was his Princess of War.

"But the marriage edict for the Lu family—wasn’t Lu Qianyu deceiving the emperor?" Yun Ming asked.

"Who says it’s a deception?" Qianyu raised her brow, "I am Lu Qianyu, and I am Weishao Qianyu."

Yun Ming remained confused, "But dual identities aren’t allowed in Liyue Kingdom!"

Qianyu laughed, "Let me teach you what it means to strike first."

She exchanged a knowing smile with Feng Jinye.

"Weishao family will accept this edict. I’ll acknowledge Xue Chun as my legitimate sister," Qianyu announced, already forming a plan, instinctively searching for Ye Shiyi’s figure.

Hidden in the shadows, Ye Shiyi understood Qianyu’s intent—to marry Xue Chun to Prince Yun.

Yun Ming, uncertain of her plan, nodded in agreement, but heard Qianyu mutter, "I don’t know what’s happening between you, Qingxuan, and Ruanfu, but for now, we must deal with the matters at hand."

Just days ago, they’d discussed Xue Chun’s wedding, but today the decision was made. Qianyu felt a deep reluctance.

"If Xue Chun stays by your side, you must treat her well. She’s a simple girl, concerned only with money and her lady. I hope, when all is done, you can return her unharmed," Qianyu said, trusting Yun Ming.

He nodded. "There’s still another problem."

Qianyu and Feng Jinye exchanged glances—they knew what it was: Yun Ming’s imperial cousin—should they save him or not, and if so, how?

The three fell silent.

Ruanfu Chen, face grim, returned and broke the silence, "The emperor has been poisoned for years. Even with an antidote, he might not survive."

He’d listened to Yun Ming explain the situation yesterday and found it odd. After much thought, he clarified, "The Empress Dowager is strange."

"She resents me for destroying the Poison Palace—her hope was shattered. I understand her hatred," Qianyu said.