Chapter 7: His Highness Walks a Road of No Return

Page 1/3

Wen Changying abruptly halted, then turned and ran.
Behind her, Cheng Yu hurried after, accompanied by palace guards.
Before Xie Genghe could speak, Cheng Yu knelt swiftly and apologized.
“Your Highness, the Empress has disregarded her confinement and fled. I failed in my duties as her overseer. I humbly ask for your punishment.”
Xie Genghe stepped out from the shadows, calmly gazing at Cheng Yu.
“It’s alright. Lady Cheng, you may rest.”
Cheng Yu hesitated for a long moment, then suddenly spoke up, “Your Highness, the Empress was merely momentarily confused. Please do not be angry.”
“Do you expect me to plead on her behalf?”
Wen Changying ripped off her veil fiercely. “Xie Genghe, you refused to let me rest, abandoned me alone in the Palace of Favor, making it as hard as ascending the heavens just to see you, and now you blame me?”
Xie Genghe remained silent for a long while.
Cheng Yu spoke with pity, “Your Highness, the crown prince also has his burdens...”
“He alone in the entire realm has burdens so great that he wishes to harm his closest family by his side? Yet I am not even granted the right to know!”
Wen Changying’s curses spilled forth without restraint. “He refuses to explain himself, and you pretend to be some fierce protector?”
“Cheng Yu, did you dare not see me just now?”
Cheng Yu lowered her head in fear. “I truly did not recognize the Empress in disguise. Please punish me, Your Highness!”
“Then atone by taking your own life!” Wen Changying seemed to be fanning the flames.
Xie Genghe’s expression darkened with anger. “Enough!”
“It’s late. It’s normal that Lady Cheng could not see clearly. But you, Aying, what nonsense are you causing now?”
Wen Changying sneered, “I said before, if you don’t let me leave the palace with dignity, I will find a way without it.”
“If you hadn’t been caught today, perhaps tomorrow the palace would be whispering that the Crown Princess fled secretly, with a man—”
Before she finished, Xie Genghe yanked her over.
His dark phoenix eyes glinted, and his fingertips rubbed harshly over her lips as if warning her.
“You never truly intended to leave. Why destroy your own reputation for nothing?”
Wen Changying’s heart tightened sharply.
Just as she understood Xie Genghe, he understood her too.
She had trained in martial arts and wielded a long whip skillfully. If she truly wished to leave, she could have fought her way out.
The guards dared not truly harm her.
This poor disguise was merely to force Xie Genghe out.
“If you weren’t a coward, why would I have to do this?” Wen Changying lowered her gaze.
Xie Genghe frowned. “I only want you to calm down.”
“Aying, you press me step by step. If I don’t retreat, all that remains between us is endless strife.”
“Why should I be the one to retreat?” Wen Changying’s voice held a bitter laugh. “I just want a divorce.”
“You must make sacrifices to explain to the officials. Why can’t it be me?”
Wen Changying longed to be abandoned.
Longed for Xie Genghe to strike her hard, shattering her pitiful affection.
Shatter her insecurity, so utterly ingrained in her bones.
Xie Genghe stepped closer, his long arms wrapping around her waist, his gaze pitch black yet resolute.
“I never will.”
He seemed to be speaking to himself, repeating firmly,
“Never will.”
Wen Changying sniffled. “I want to see Zhuge Shi.”
Xie Genghe hesitated not at all. “What you need now is to recuperate. It’s best not to see anyone who might disturb your mind.”

Page 2/3

“Don’t give me those excuses!”
Wen Changying wiped fiercely at the corner of her eye. “You’re just giving yourself an excuse, hiding quietly in the shadows, watching me go mad with anxiety.”
She smiled mournfully.
Xie Genghe’s love for her was true, but only in times of calm.
Once their affairs were entangled, he always avoided confrontation.
Avoided until the problem was handled alone.
Avoided until the silence following her desperation.
Then he would return with a gentle face, coaxing and spoiling her, smoothing things over.
Yet everyone blamed her for being unruly and unreasonable.
Xie Genghe’s face darkened. “Aying, you’re no longer able to listen clearly.”
“I don’t want to argue with you. Return to the palace and obey.”
Wen Changying stepped back twice, drawing the long whip coiled at her waist.
“If you won’t let me leave with dignity, then I’ll break out no matter what.”
Just as Xie Genghe moved forward, Wen Changying cracked the whip sharply.
The snap echoed.
The whip’s tail struck Xie Genghe’s face.
A long red mark appeared, making him look somewhat disheveled.
“Your Highness!” Cheng Yu’s eyes reddened, her face anxious.
Wen Changying glanced at her, suppressing her discomfort.
“Today, I must see him.”
“Very well.” Xie Genghe stepped forward. “I will let you see him.”
“But Aying, what can you give me in return?”
His gaze burned, seeking a bargain.
“If you see him, can you behave properly within the palace, at least until after the festival?”
Wen Changying laughed.
Since when did Xie Genghe start bargaining with her?
Before, he always granted her every wish.
She lowered her eyes. “Fine.”
As she was about to put away the whip, Xie Genghe suddenly pulled on its tail.
Caught off guard, Wen Changying was drawn into his embrace.
Before she could protest, a blow struck the back of her head, and she lost consciousness.
“Your Highness? Didn’t you promise the Empress...”
Touched by Xie Genghe’s dark, profound gaze, Bi Gui’s voice grew faint.
The crown prince had deceived the Empress.
He watched as Xie Genghe carried Wen Changying horizontally toward the Palace of Favor.
Several lanterns along the corridor were extinguished by the wind.
In the dim half-light, Bi Gui seemed to see the prince walking a path of no return.
…
The magpie disguised as the Empress had been sitting motionless for a long time.
Suddenly hearing a noise, it looked up.
“Empr—”

Page 3/3

Xie Genghe glanced at her and placed the person gently on the bed.
“When she wakes, tell her I never make deals that lose me.”
“If she truly can behave until after the New Year, I will let her see Zhuge Shi.”
“This time, I mean what I say.”
The usually gentle crown prince emitted an intense, oppressive aura.
Until he left, the magpie could not regain composure.
The cold wind made her shiver as she hurried to cover Wen Changying with a thick blanket.
When the magpie stood, she noticed tears glistening at the Empress’s eyes.
She pressed her lips together and gently wiped them away.
When Wen Changying awoke and heard the magpie’s recounting, she understood everything.
She neither cried nor made a scene, only quietly gazing at a wintersweet blossom outside the window.
“The snow has been falling for so long.”
The magpie draped a cloak over Wen Changying’s shoulders.
Knowing words were useless now, she could only wait for the Empress to come to terms herself.
Fortunately, her Empress was never fragile, her resilience heart-wrenching.
The next day.
The snow had eased.
The magpie came to assist with dressing but found Wen Changying absent from the room.
Hurrying to the outer chamber, she saw Wen Changying pruning wintersweet branches in the courtyard and finally exhaled in relief.
“Your Highness? You climbed so high—what if you fall?”
Snow still clung to the branches as Wen Changying swayed slightly before pinching off a bud.
“I’ve lain too long; I need some movement.”
“Magpie, don’t underestimate me. I’m sure I have a talent for pruning too.”
The magpie fell silent.
The one who loved pruning most in the Eastern Palace was actually Lady Cheng.
Last year, the prince praised her twice, and the Empress had not forgotten.
Not to be outdone, the Empress had spent half a month pruning, cutting her hands several times in the process.
It had been a long time since the magpie saw her so determined about anything.
“Ah!”
A surprised voice came from the palace gate.
Cheng Yu hurried beneath the tree. “Your Highness, be careful not to fall.”
Wen Changying replied casually, “If I die from a fall, it’ll free a place for you. No need for you to covet entering the Palace of Favor and running around all day.”
Cheng Yu trembled, bowing and waiting for Wen Changying to come down.
“Your Highness, I came to discuss the festival arrangements with you.”
Wen Changying glanced at her. “The Empress Dowager entrusted you with full authority; why consult me?”
Cheng Yu said, “One must at least inform the Empress, and there are a few matters I wish to seek your advice on.”
The magpie handed Wen Changying a handkerchief to wipe her hands.
Wen Changying did not intend to return inside; she stood in the courtyard and said,
“All formalities and pretense.”