Chapter 20: Seeking Another Suitor

"My Lady, look over there!"

Magpie suddenly grew anxious, gripping Wen Changying’s arm to make her look across the way.

Amidst the shadows of the people and the glow of the lanterns, who else was standing behind Cheng Yu, accompanying her as she released her lantern, but Xie Genghe?

Hadn’t Bi Gui said he was busy with urgent matters? Was this "urgent matter" to accompany a head lady-in-waiting to release lanterns?

Wen Changying even saw Xie Genghe smile. It was not the feigned, gentle smile he wore for the world, but a genuine one that reached his eyes. The way he looked at the surface of the lake was exactly as he used to look at her in the past.

Wen Changying tried to curl her lips into a smile to tell Magpie she didn't care, but she found her face stiffened; she simply could not smile.

Magpie, on the other hand, ran down the bank in a huff and fished out the lantern she had just released.

"Forget it! I’d rather not pray for His Highness and you to reconcile, My Lady."

"You have suffered so much; I would rather pray that you escape this sea of bitterness soon and be reunited with the Young General!"

After muttering this, Magpie turned to see Wen Changying’s rigid expression and felt a pang of pity. She took out the final lantern, wrote a message on it, and then took Wen Changying’s hand. Together, they lowered the lantern into the lake.

"For this last one, I wish for you to find a better man, so the Crown Prince will have nowhere to turn for regret!"

Wen Changying opened her mouth but said nothing. She had met someone too dazzling in her youth; she feared she would never find a good husband again. Besides, after this ordeal, she no longer held any expectations for matters of the heart. She stood up and turned to leave. Magpie wiped her hands and hurried after her.

On the other side of the lake, when Xie Genghe regained his focus, he saw a familiar silhouette. He wanted to go find A-Ying, but remembering the friction between them of late, he held himself back.

"Oh dear, that one knocked over mine," Cheng Yu said with a wry smile. "It seems my wish to find a good partner is not meant to be. Your Highness, shall we return?"

Xie Genghe nodded. Just as he turned, his peripheral vision caught sight of the familiar handwriting on the lantern. In the past, Wen Changying had often sent Magpie to deliver things. Sometimes, Magpie would secretly slip in notes to teach Xie Genghe how to make his wife happy. He was all too familiar with it.

Xie Genghe drew Bi Gui’s sword and hooked the lantern toward him. Bi Gui understood immediately and carefully retrieved it. He kept his head bowed, not daring to look, but he could sense the chilling, heavy pressure emanating from Xie Genghe.

"Find a 'better man'?" Xie Genghe sneered, crushing the lantern, and then commanded, "Go, have people fish out every single lantern. The Moon Lake connects to the moat; look at how these lanterns have polluted the water!"

"Tell those outside: if a single lantern floats away, they can wait to be turned into human-skin lamps!"

Bi Gui shivered. Everyone said the Crown Prince was wise and gentle, but only those closest to him knew that when His Highness turned ruthless, he showed no mercy at all.

Cheng Yu stood by, wanting to speak but hesitating. Xie Genghe noticed her, and his expression grew even darker.

"Your Highness, I suspect this may not have been the Lady's own thought. Perhaps she is merely trying to provoke Your Highness into writing a letter of divorce?"

Xie Genghe gritted his teeth. "Then that is all the more reason not to grant her wish! Lady Cheng, I have no further need of you here; you need not follow any longer. There are plenty of trivial matters in the Eastern Palace—go attend to those."

Cheng Yu took her leave. Xie Genghe, still fuming, crushed the remains of the lantern over and over again. Only after a long while did he calm his heart. "To the study." He returned to being the diligent and gentle Crown Prince.

At Chengen Hall, Wen Changying, unaware that the lanterns had been salvaged, chatted briefly with Magpie before resting. Perhaps she missed A-Ye too much. In her dream, she entered a mountain shrouded in mist, littered with pieces of the Wen family armor and severed limbs. Her heart raced faster and faster. She screamed her brother's name in terror, but the echoes only grew louder, and there was no reply.

Suddenly, a face covered in blood and tears flashed before her. "Sister, it hurts... it hurts so much. Didn't Brother-in-law love me the most? Why did he send those people to kill me?"

"Sister, save me! I don't want to die out here all alone..."

Wen Changying woke up with a start, her forehead drenched in cold sweat. Magpie heard the commotion, ran in to wipe her brow, and lit the candles.

"My Lady, it is nearly the hour of the rabbit. Did you have a nightmare?"

Wen Changying nodded blankly. She swallowed hard and asked, "Has there been any news of A-Ye lately?"

Magpie shook her head. She had been trying to inquire on her mistress's behalf, but everyone seemed to avoid the topic of the Wen family. Magpie couldn't easily go to the front court to gather information, and she suspected the Crown Prince had specifically ordered that the Lady be kept in the dark.

"Find a chance to contact Mr. Duan and ask," Wen Changying said.

Magpie nodded. After serving Wen Changying as she washed and dressed, she went out. Wen Changying sat by the window for a long time. She did not wait for Magpie to return, but instead, Cheng Yu arrived to deliver snacks bestowed by the Empress Dowager to the various palaces.

Cheng Yu mentioned casually, "When I was busy with the Crown Prince regarding the Yao Mountain affair, I heard you crippled the hand of Chef Du?"

"It is a pity; his skill with sweets was unmatched. I cannot find another person who suits the Empress Dowager’s tastes so well."

Wen Changying asked sharply, "Yao Mountain? Did you go to capture A-Ye?"

No. The round trip could not be done in three days. Unless, at Yao Mountain, they had already sent people to escort someone back to the capital in advance.

Wen Changying grabbed Cheng Yu by the collar and demanded, "Don't bother with the pleasantries! Just tell me: has something happened at Yao Mountain?"

Cheng Yu appeared panicked, as if under duress. Wen Changying gripped her chin. "Speak!"

Just then, Magpie returned and rushed over to pull Wen Changying away. "My Lady, please, calm down. Lady Cheng is the Empress Dowager’s own niece; if something happens to her, even the Crown Prince cannot protect you."

Wen Changying did not care. She only wanted an answer. Cheng Yu, appearing terrified, knelt on the ground and trembled. "I don't know. Yao Mountain only sent back many pieces of armor and remains. My father has already dispatched people to the Wen family army to verify the identities."

"My Lady, the Young General is blessed by heaven; surely he will be fine."

Wen Changying seemed to lose all strength. She asked softly, "Why are there remains and armor?"

"Was the Golden Guard not ordered only to find people?"

Cheng Yu lowered her eyes, masking her malice. "I heard that the newly dispatched Fourth Young Master Song ordered the mountains to be bombed."

Song, the fourth son of the Song family. Song Qingyan had indeed mentioned that her fourth brother had left for Yao Mountain several days ago, not even staying in the capital for the New Year.

A flash of the dream crossed Wen Changying’s mind, and her throat burned with urgency. She pulled out a long whip and lashed it toward Cheng Yu.

"Get out!"

"You are spouting nonsense! What evidence do you have that A-Ye is dead? He is alive and well!"

Cheng Yu cried out in fear, "I never said the Young General would die! My Lady, please, calm down..."

Ignoring all etiquette, she scrambled to her feet, retreating while shouting, "Someone come quickly! Help! The Crown Princess has gone mad!"