Chapter Thirty-Seven: Drifting Away from Me

Inside the carriage returning to the Prince Zhan’s Residence, Weishao Qianyu clutched in her palm the three letters she’d just obtained from Luo Yanqing, hidden in the folds of her sleeve. She had not yet opened them, but her mind was already in turmoil.

That day, Feng Jinye was absent from the residence. Summoned to the palace by the Empress Dowager due to the emperor’s illness, he had taken Leng Ling with him as well. Since Feng Jinye’s return to Yue Capital, more than half a year had passed, but this was the first time the Empress Dowager had summoned him alone to the palace. The court was abuzz with speculation and rumors.

When the carriage reached the gates near midnight, both Weishao Qianyu and Yun Ming alighted, just in time to encounter Feng Jinye, who was returning on horseback. Seeing the two descend, one after another, from the carriage, Feng Jinye’s refined brows furrowed again.

At the very instant Weishao Qianyu saw Feng Jinye, she averted her gaze and, as if she hadn’t seen him at all, headed straight back to Zhiyu Tower. Yun Ming, witnessing this, shook his head in resignation. Only after Feng Jinye had dismounted did he approach and ask, “You left the residence today?”

“To the palace,” Feng Jinye replied. Glancing at Yun Ming’s dark attire, which seemed somewhat unusual, he asked, “And you?”

Feng Jinye didn’t know that Yun Ming, who was supposedly ‘ill,’ had left the residence that day with Weishao Qianyu. “Yes, to break an engagement,” Yun Ming answered casually, his eyes hinting that they should continue inside.

Feng Jinye understood, handed his reins to Chu Jiu, and entered with Yun Ming, heading towards Tingfeng Pavilion.

Once seated, Yun Ming recounted the events at Drunken Jade Pavilion, following the version of the story Weishao Qianyu had provided. Feng Jinye was taken aback—was this coincidence or the Empress Dowager’s careful design?

“At the Lantern Festival banquet, the Empress Dowager intends to adopt you as her godson and warned me not to interfere,” Feng Jinye said, neither confirming nor denying the events at Drunken Jade Pavilion, before mentioning his audience at the palace. “I agreed.”

He did not say that the Empress Dowager knew Weishao Qianyu’s true identity, or that she intended to send her back to the General’s Manor.

Yun Ming didn’t care whether the Empress Dowager meant to adopt him. He hesitated over whether or not to reveal what happened at Shuiyue Pavilion and the matter of Luo Yanqing’s letters. In the end, Yun Ming sighed, saying, “Since things have come to this, we must make the best of it.”

“I won’t say more—you’ve been out for two hours without supper. I’m going to the Warm Chamber to eat,” he added, hinting that Weishao Qianyu hadn’t eaten and leaving it to Feng Jinye to decide whether to visit her.

Feng Jinye caught the meaning. Remembering Weishao Qianyu’s cold indifference earlier, he felt an inexplicable ache in his heart and immediately set off for Zhiyu Tower.

As soon as he entered, Weishao Qianyu, as if expecting him, asked, “You went to the palace today?”

The commotion at Drunken Jade Pavilion had left her disappointed that Feng Jinye hadn’t appeared, but seeing him return at night, she understood. He nodded slightly, responding with a single word, “Yes.”

“I thought the Prince Zhan no longer cared for his princess,” she said, her voice full of grievance.

Her words tightened something within him. Frowning, he asked, “Have you eaten?”

The irrelevance of his reply made tears spring to her eyes. Seeing her on the verge of crying, Feng Jinye blamed himself, stepped forward, and wrapped her in a gentle embrace, murmuring, “Blame me…”

“Blame me for failing to protect you,” he thought silently.

Weishao Qianyu’s tears, held back for so long, now burst forth like a broken dam as she wept uncontrollably in his arms. As Feng Jinye held her, he recalled what the Empress Dowager had said: “Jinye, you know it’s impossible between you and her. Why not let her return to the General’s Manor and restore its honor?”

He’d found the meeting with the Empress Dowager unsettling—she knew everything about him. That sentence, “You know it’s impossible between you and her,” struck him hard.

He finally understood why the Empress Dowager had always scorned Luo Yanqing. Someone had orchestrated everything—Luo Yanqing, with her “phoenix fate,” was just a pawn, perhaps pushed forward to draw attention.

Holding the weeping woman in his arms, Feng Jinye realized that though he drew ever closer to the truth, each step stripped away another layer of their defenses.

Lost in thought, he soon noticed she had quieted. Abruptly, Weishao Qianyu spoke: “There’s something I want to ask you.”

“Are you still investigating the assassin from Tingfeng Pavilion, the night of the fourth of the twelfth month?” Feng Jinye hadn’t expected her to bring this up and shook his head. “We only found that they came from Twilight Pavilion.”

She nodded, then, looking at him solemnly, said, “I want you to promise me one thing.”

He gazed into her still-reddened eyes, unable to refuse. “Yes, tell me.”

With a warning in her tone, she said, “If you’re ever attacked, don’t let an assassin within ten steps of you.”

Her request made Feng Jinye smile faintly, finding it inexplicable. Why bring this up now?

“Today, I learned from Luo Yanqing how my father was killed,” she continued quietly, though he could see the hatred in her eyes.

“It was a group of men in black who set the fire, then used Luo Yanqing to lure my father into the flames.” The calmer she sounded, the more it hurt him.

Once again—it was men in black, the fire. Twelve years ago, it had been Weishao Qianyu’s mother; two years ago, her father. It seemed the Weishao family had always been the target.

Holding her tighter, Feng Jinye felt both pained and guilty. Earlier, seeing her return with Yun Ming, he’d felt annoyed, unaware of the grief she bore. She must have waited for him at Drunken Jade Pavilion, but he’d been at the palace.

He tightened his embrace, the Empress Dowager’s words echoing in his mind, yet he had no idea how to let go.

“Did the Empress Dowager say anything to you today?” Weishao Qianyu hadn’t forgotten she was a suspect.

“She intends to adopt Yun Ming as her godson and told me not to interfere,” he replied, his eyes flickering. “I agreed.”

Weishao Qianyu didn’t press for details when he said no more.

Outside, Qingxia entered with freshly made chicken congee, set it down, and withdrew. Weishao Qianyu knew Qingxia’s fussing was meant to ensure she’d eat, especially with Feng Jinye present.

“I’m hungry. Eat with me,” she said with a faint smile, aware her maids worried for her.

The dead are gone; the living must go on. She understood this, but the emotions she’d suppressed had frightened Qingxia and the others when they finally erupted.

After she’d finished eating, Feng Jinye left for Tingfeng Pavilion. In the Warm Chamber, he pulled Yun Ming up by the arm, fixing him with a stern gaze, demanding the truth.

Yun Ming, having just sat down, shook off Feng Jinye’s grip and wrapped himself in his cloak. Glancing at the two added braziers, he chuckled. “Though we’re the same age, I have seven years more memory than you—of course I know a bit more.”

“How did you get Luo Yanqing to tell the truth?” Feng Jinye cut to the chase.

“I don’t really know. Your princess gave Luo Yanqing some drug, said my voice wouldn’t alert her, and had me coax the truth out of her. In her muddled state, she confessed everything.” Yun Ming drew his cloak tighter, looking like a man under interrogation.

“There’s such a drug?” Feng Jinye had never heard of it.

Yun Ming nodded but said no more. Instead, he asked weakly, “Did you two quarrel again?”

Feng Jinye hesitated before nodding, realizing something else had happened that day, enough to drive a wedge between him and Weishao Qianyu.

Yun Ming’s face darkened, his usual elegance gone. “Honestly, I don’t know what to say to you.”

“If she questions you, just tell her the letter wasn’t yours! She’s upset today and you should indulge her, not quarrel!” Yun Ming sighed, exasperated by their fate.

He hadn’t finished venting before Feng Jinye asked, “What letter?”

Yun Ming realized he’d been tricked. “You… you…” After a long pause, he spat out, “Bad company corrupts.”

“Luo Yanqing claimed she received your letter, that you ordered her to say Weishao Qianyu died in the fire at Shuiyue Pavilion, and that you were in league with the men in black!” Unable to hide it, Yun Ming confessed.

“The letter must be a forgery!” Feng Jinye exclaimed, so agitated he crushed his teacup in his hand.

He seethed inwardly—he would not tolerate Luo Yanqing any longer!

Without waiting for Yun Ming to say more, Feng Jinye strode out of the Warm Chamber, returning to the main residence of Tingfeng Pavilion.

Restless, he wondered why Weishao Qianyu hadn’t confronted him—did she trust him, or had she already found him guilty?

Weishao Qianyu, too, lay awake that night. Of the three letters, two were forged by Luo Yanqing, but the last was identical to Feng Jinye’s handwriting.

She turned the questions in her mind: who held such enmity toward her family? Why was Feng Jinye entangled in all this, even tracing back to the previous generation? Why would he stop her from investigating the sword identical to Cangyuan, or the truth behind her mother’s death? What was he hiding?

The next morning, Feng Jinye went to Zhiyu Tower, only to be told, “Her Highness has left the residence.”

In the days that followed, Weishao Qianyu kept herself busy, leaving early and returning late. Feng Jinye visited her quarters several times, but never saw her.

Finally, on the night of the fourteenth, he waited outside Zhiyu Tower. Only at the end of the hour did he see her return.

From afar, Weishao Qianyu saw a tall figure leaning against the moon-gate.

For a moment, seeing her approach, Feng Jinye was at a loss. For days he’d wanted to see her, but now, he didn’t know what to say.

He stood there as she walked by in silence, heading for the courtyard. At last, Feng Jinye caught her by the arm. “Tomorrow night, at the palace banquet, I’ll wait for you outside the residence.”

She paused, then replied, “Alright.”

Hearing her agree, Feng Jinye pulled her into his arms.