Chapter 19: There Is No Longer Any Possibility Between Her and Xie Genghe

I don't know how much time had passed when Wen Changying heard footsteps so familiar they seemed etched into her very bones.

She gently wiped the sweat from Magpie’s brow, her voice calm and steady.

"Now that the performance with the Empress Dowager is over, tell me, Prince Xie, how much did you earn from this show?"

Xie Genghe pressed his lips together, avoiding the question.

"Magpie is ill, and you have no other palace attendants by your side. I will have Cheng Yu arrange a few more maids for you," Wen Changying said.

She looked up. "Do I dare to use them?"

Besides Magpie, which palace servant could truly be loyal to her?

It was almost laughable.

A stewardess in charge would have countless maids and subordinates around her.

Yet she, the mistress of the palace, had only one faithful companion—Magpie.

In the past, Wen Changying had enjoyed the lively atmosphere of the Cheng’en Hall.

But after being poisoned several times and having some secrets betrayed, she no longer trusted anyone else with her affairs.

So, apart from a few low-ranking maids who came regularly to sweep and clean, only Magpie remained by her side.

When the two had been neglected in the Eastern Palace before, there were many days when they fell ill and comforted each other.

Why had Xie Genghe suddenly developed a conscience now?

Perhaps he sensed that his superficial love could no longer soothe her.

Wen Changying’s low, hoarse laugh was full of irony.

"Xie Genghe, after spending three days carousing outside the palace with Cheng Yu, you return to see me and Magpie in such a sorry state. Are you pleased, or do you regret it?"

A struggle flickered in Xie Genghe’s eyes. "I have not broken my vow."

Worried Wen Changying might not believe him, he added, "Bi Gui has been attending me all along."

"That won't last long," Wen Changying said coldly, unwilling to discuss further.

Xie Genghe’s bitterness deepened. "Aying, do you not trust me at all?"

"May I ask, Your Highness, was it always like this between us?" Wen Changying looked up calmly, her eyes tinged with stubbornness.

Once, she had dared to steal the tiger tally of the Wen family army and hand it over to Xie Genghe to resolve troubles.

If not for Aye’s illness and the increasingly severe deceit that followed, she might have swallowed the poison from Xie Genghe’s hand without a blink.

But everything had long since changed.

To protect the Wen family, herself, and Aye, she had no choice but to act this way.

Xie Genghe was silent for a long time. "I understand."

With that, he left.

Soon after, the guards outside Cheng’en Hall withdrew.

"Your Highness has lifted the Empress Dowager’s house arrest," Bi Gui said as he entered with several maids.

"Please, do not be angry with His Highness anymore. These maids are personally selected by him, so you can use them without worry."

"If any of them cause trouble, I will personally take their heads and use them as stools," Bi Gui vowed.

Wen Changying said nothing.

Unable to guess her intentions, Bi Gui placed the maids in the outer hall, forbidding their entry without summons.

Xie Genghe even sent many gifts, but without exception, they were tossed outside.

The passing palace servants dared not pick them up.

Under cover of darkness, Bi Gui quietly cleared them away.

When Magpie woke in the night, the first thing she did was grasp Wen Changying’s hand.

"Your Highness!"

"Servant, if I can still see you even in the underworld, I must be losing my mind…"

Wen Changying wiped away tears and smiled, tapping her head gently.

"You’re lucky to have narrowly escaped the gates of hell. You mustn’t wander off again."

Magpie nodded. "I will guard Your Highness well."

As she spoke, she noticed palace maids working outside without guards.

Surprised, she asked, "Has Your Highness reconciled with His Highness?"

Wen Changying shook her head without a word.

Magpie dared not press further.

Seeing Cheng’en Hall bustling with activity again, she felt much relief.

At least now, Your Highness would not suffer so bitterly.

Was His Highness trying to win her favor?

Wen Changying quietly recovered with Magpie’s care.

Occasionally, they would stroll in the imperial gardens but kept their distance when spotting the concubines.

Yet, some reckless ones would still approach.

With no way to avoid them, Wen Changying would not let herself be taken advantage of.

After driving away three low-ranking beauties in anger, she finally had a few days of peace.

She also learned of changes in the Embroidery Workshop.

Consort Mei had ordered the workshop to hastily produce new palace garments, reserved exclusively for the lowest-ranking maids throughout the palace.

Magpie was furious.

"Your Highness, Consort Mei is clearly humiliating you! This is a slap in your face!"

Wen Changying asked lightly, "Then what do you see Cheng Yu wearing lately?"

Magpie’s face brightened.

Of course.

No wonder her lady showed no reaction.

She must have known in advance that Consort Mei would do this!

Cheng Yu flaunted the new embroidery workshop clothes daily, while those styles had already been demoted to the lowest maids.

Wasn’t she enraged to the point of distortion?

Magpie grew excited. "I will send someone to find out more!"

Wen Changying smiled and did not stop her.

After the festival, she no longer knew any news of Aye.

Nor whether Duan Tingbai had uncovered anything.

Magpie left eagerly and returned soon, full of indignation.

"I’ve found out!"

"Cheng Yu pretended to be magnanimous and gave those garments to the maids herself! How generous she is!"

Wen Changying was not surprised. "She always knows how to play the game."

But no matter what, this would surely leave a chip on Cheng Yu’s shoulder.

She might feign generosity outwardly, but secretly she would seek trouble with the Weiyang Palace.

Wen Changying cared little who would prevail in the end.

She would be leaving here soon anyway.

"By the way, Your Highness, tonight is the Lantern Festival. The palace grounds are lively. Though we cannot go out, His Highness has excused tonight’s duty. Many palace servants and consorts plan to release floating lanterns at Moon Lake."

"Shall we also go and release some, to pray for the young general’s well-being?"

Wen Changying felt tempted.

Moon Lake was where Duan Tingbai had jumped from before.

Its waters flowed out of the palace, merging with the moat.

She had once considered escaping by jumping into the lake but abandoned the idea due to the heavy guards outside.

"Very well."

Magpie hurried to prepare.

After dinner, as Magpie tidied up, she said, "I asked Lord Bi Gui. He said His Highness and the senior ministers are discussing affairs in the Imperial Study and will not come."

"Your Highness, you need not worry about meeting him."

Wen Changying frowned slightly but did not blame Magpie for her concern.

As the two arrived beside Moon Lake, they saw many floating lanterns on the water.

Some had been overturned by waves, others struggled to spin.

Magpie had already secured a spot.

Wen Changying knelt down, lit the lantern candles, and set them afloat.

"May Aye be safe and sound. May the Wen family’s honor endure forever."

They had prepared many, hoping one might be seen by Heaven.

One by one, they released them, losing track of time.

Before releasing each lantern, she made a wish.

She prayed for Wen Zaiye and Magpie, for Zhuge Shi and Duan Tingbai.

But never once for herself or Xie Genghe.

Magpie could not resist releasing one: "I wish Your Highness and Prince Xie would reconcile soon and live a long, happy life together."

Even if Wen Changying did not say it, Magpie knew her heart well.

They both tormented each other.

Though neither could let go, Your Highness still murmured the Prince’s name in her dreams at night.

Wen Changying’s eyelashes trembled.

She did not tell Magpie that there was no longer any possibility between her and Xie Genghe.