Li Fei shot a fierce gre at Rong Fei, but there was no room for sulking before the Emperor—not at a time like this.

  Her heart was a tangle of emotions—jealous of Xian Fei, and jealous of the Empress.

  Even if Xian Fei was merely raising a sickly child, it still meant she got to see His Majesty every few days. As for the Empress, she was the Empress. Even if the Emperor disliked her, he would still give her face.

  People were always like this. In this moment, Li Fei was in no mood to reflect on her own favor.

  Near Fengyi Pace, the Emperor and Empress parted ways.

  Upon returning to the pace, Linshui remarked, “The Second Prince’s health is truly worsening. This servant remembers that years ago, the imperial physicians had said he would get better as he grew older. But now, after all these years, not only has he not improved, he seems even more fragile. It’s summer already—we’ll soon be pcing ice mounds in the pace again, and yet he’s still catching a cold. It rained st night, but it wasn’t even that chilly.”

  Wumian nodded. “Yes. His stomach is too delicate—he can’t withstand cold or heat. He’s truly hard to raise.”

  Anyone raising such a child, especially with today’s limited medicine, would struggle.

  The only reason the Second Prince was still alive was because he was born into the imperial family—dozens of attendants waited on him hand and foot. Whatever medicine he needed, whatever fine things were required, they could afford it.

  His Majesty did everything he could to support him. If the boy had been born to a poor family, he would likely not have survived.

  “Keep a close watch on Xu Liangyi. As for Li Liangyi’s child, I won’t concern myself. But nothing must happen to Xu Liangyi’s.” Wumian’s voice turned sharp.

  “Yes, this servant will keep a close eye on her,” Linshui replied.

  “Your Majesty.” Feixu stepped in at the door. “A message came from the residence. The Madam wishes to see you.”

  Wumian pressed her hand to her forehead. “Has something happened at home again?”

  “It’s probably still about the Fourth Young Master. That woman may be pregnant,” Linshui said.

  Wumian sighed. “Go send a message—tell Mother to come tomorrow. Bring Fourth Brother and that woman with her.”

  “Yes.” Feixu left to rey the instruction.

  Linshui hesitated. “If Your Majesty agrees to meet her... that would mean she’s truly become one of our own.”

  “She’s already pregnant—what else can be done? Let’s just hope Fourth Brother won’t regret it.” Wumian gave a cold ugh.

  Linshui let out a sigh but said no more. Things had already come this far. It was disgraceful, yes—but if he didn’t marry her, who knew what sort of scandal might come ter?

  The next morning, Madame Qian entered the pace, bringing along her fourth son and the young woman surnamed Su.

  Within Fengyi Pace, Wumian deliberately dressed to the nines today.

  After the three paid their respects, Wumian had someone help Madame Qian rise, but Zhao Dongshi and the Su woman remained kneeling.

  All the Zhao children from the main branch had inherited good looks, and her Fourth Brother was no exception—a fine and striking figure.

  But Wumian didn’t look at him first. She turned instead to the young woman.

  “How old are you?”

  “Replying to Your Majesty, this commoner is seventeen,” Su Shi replied.

  She had eyes that shimmered with emotion and a willow-thin frame—precisely the kind of fragile beauty men loved to protect.

  “Zhao Dongshi,” Wumian asked her younger brother, “have you truly decided to marry this woman?”

  “Elder Sister, I... Yue'er is already pregnant. In this life, I will only live with Yue'er. No matter how good another woman may be, I won’t take her. Fifth Brother is already betrothed to the Sun family.” Zhao Dongshi’s voice grew firmer as he spoke.

  Wumian let out a cold ugh.

  “What if you didn’t have Fifth Brother? What if he wasn’t willing? What if the Sun family wasn’t willing?”

  Zhao Dongshi opened his mouth to protest, but Wumian pced her teacup heavily on the table with a sharp cck, and he dared not speak further.

  “Have you considered the Zhao family’s position? Or do you think that just because I’m the Empress, the Zhao family has nothing to worry about?” she asked coldly. “Lord Sun of the Sun family holds a post at the Ministry of Appointments. Though his cn has declined, and his descendants are unimpressive, he’s known for being reclusive and proud. Do you understand what offending him would mean for the Zhao family? Have you thought about the next generation of the Zhao cn?”

  “But I don’t like that Sun woman. I only like Yue'er!” Zhao Dongshi’s voice trembled slightly, but his conviction remained.

  “Oh? You love her?” Wumian let out another sharp ugh. “Miss Su—if your presence brings camity upon the Zhao family, would you still remain steadfast?”

  Su Shi whispered timidly, “This commoner... I do not know...”

  Her eyes were rimmed red, clearly on the verge of tears.

  “Elder Sister, if you have something to say, say it to me. Yue'er is timid—please don’t frighten her,” Zhao Dongshi said, crawling a few steps forward to shield Su Shi with his body.

  Wumian ughed coldly. “How touching. You ignore your entire family and treasure a woman with no morals.”

  “Yue'er isn’t like that! She’s a good woman! How could you say she has no morals!” Zhao Dongshi shouted in defiance.

  “No?” Wumian narrowed her eyes. “If that’s the case, then why did she sleep with you outside of marriage and become pregnant in secret?”

  She stood and spped Zhao Dongshi hard across the face.

  Madame Qian stood in shock but said nothing. After a moment, she quietly sat back down.

  “I... I... Your Majesty the Empress, I didn’t mean to...” Su Shi sobbed, shaking her head in desperation, looking utterly wronged and pitiful.

  Zhao Dongshi’s heart ached terribly. He turned back and pulled Su Shi into his arms. “If you want to scold someone, scold me. If you want to hit someone, hit me. I’ll take all the bme.”

  Wumian let out a soft ugh. “There’s no need.”

  She returned to her seat. “Since your love is so steadfast and unshakable, then I shall grant you your wish. You may be wed immediately.”

  Madame Qian stood again, armed. “Your Majesty!” She clearly had no desire to see this Su woman enter their household.

  “Mother, remain calm.” Wumian raised a hand, silencing her. “The two of them already have a child. This marriage cannot be deyed.”

  At her words, Zhao Dongshi’s face lit up. “Elder Sister still loves me best.”

  Su Shi also looked visibly relieved.

  “But since you care so little for the family,” Wumian continued, her tone now cool and sharp, “and are willing to stand against all of us for the sake of this woman, disregarding the Zhao household’s fate entirely, then I presume you won’t be needing the family’s protection in the future either, will you? Miss Su, your retionship with my brother is one born of love, is it not?”

  Su Shi quickly nodded. “Yes. This commoner and the Fourth Young Master were simply... overcome by emotion. I know it was wrong, but... I truly had no control...”

  “In that case,” Wumian said, fixing her gaze upon her, “you wouldn’t mind if he were poor, would you?”

  Su Shi flinched slightly, but nodded with determination. “No, I would never mind.”

  “How wonderful,” Wumian said, her voice calm but cutting. “Lovers should be united, after all. You two may leave the pace now—your wedding will be arranged at once. But from now on, you won’t be living in the Zhao estate. You’ll be moving out.”

  “Elder Sister?” Zhao Dongshi froze, stunned.

  “Someone, escort the Fourth Young Master and Miss Su out of the pace. Mother, there’s no need to worry—I still have more to say to you.”

  Madame Qian was entirely bewildered, but in the end, what her daughter said was w.

  Once the young couple had been escorted away, Madame Qian finally asked, “What is the meaning of this?”

  “That foolish child,” Wumian replied coldly. “Even if we had to hold our noses and accept this Su girl, do you really think we should let him have exactly what he wants? Let him go, let him enjoy a few good years outside the family. Without the Zhao name behind him, what can a spoiled, idle young master like him possibly achieve?”

  When life eventually turned into nothing but a daily mess and hardship, he would come to understand the cost of his choices. And if, after all that, he still didn’t regret it—well, Wumian might actually look at him with new respect.

  It wasn’t that she was cruel or unwilling to bless a so-called “true love.” But what kind of love was it that allowed a man to forsake morality and cast aside his family?