Shen Wan'er let out a sharp sigh of relief. "Zhixue, you must believe that everything I am doing is for your own good. You may not trust others, but you must trust me."
She pulled two banknotes from her sleeve and handed them over. "I am not exactly well-off myself, and I only have these one hundred taels, but for you and Ping'an, this will cover your expenses for a long time. Please, don't think it's too little—take it quickly!"
Xie Zhixue hesitated, but Shen Wan'er forced the money into her hand and smiled slightly. "The time is set for tomorrow night. The Emperor is hosting a family banquet at the palace, and the Crown Prince will certainly attend. It is the perfect opportunity."
"Don't worry, I will arrange everything. You only need to pack your things and bring Ping'an."
"Wan'er, thank you so much."
Xie Zhixue was moved beyond words. She reached out and hugged her friend. "If it weren't for you, I truly wouldn't know what to do."
"You are the best friend I have ever had. No matter where I go in the future, I will never forget you."
As Xie Zhixue held her, the corners of Shen Wan'er's mouth curled upward, though a cold, sharp light flickered in her eyes.
*What a fool!*
Even with a child, she was still a fool.
But it was precisely because Xie Zhixue was so foolish that she had provided such an easy opportunity. Once she was successfully sent away, Shen Wan'er would finally be at ease.
About a quarter of an hour later, Shen Wan'er emerged from the guest courtyard. The servants had finished gathering the items. After inspecting them, she nodded with satisfaction, ordered them to be taken back to the estate, and departed on her own.
No sooner had she stepped out of the Crown Prince's Estate and into her carriage than she urged Shaoyao, "Pass the word along: Xie Zhixue has taken the bait."
"Arrange for your people. Tomorrow night, as soon as she leaves the Capital, take her to Miaomiao Peak and make it look like an accidental fall from the cliff. Do you understand?"
Shaoyao nodded firmly. "Do not worry, Miss. I have always been efficient; there will be no mishaps." She bowed and set off to carry out the order.
Shen Wan'er leaned back in the carriage and let out a slow, heavy breath.
*Xie Zhixue, don't blame me. I have no choice. Who told you to stand in the way of me becoming the Crown Princess?*
*Even though you already have a child, the Crown Prince doesn't care; he still treats you so well. I cannot afford to let you stay.*
Shen Wan'er, too, was cornered. As the eldest legitimate daughter of the Zhenyuan Marquis Estate, every action she took was for the sake of her family. Her father’s influence had waned significantly, and his status was dropping year by year.
If the Zhenyuan Marquis Estate could marry into the Crown Prince's Estate, they would surely climb from the abyss back to the pinnacle. Even if Shen Wan'er were not destined to be Yuwenzhang's Crown Princess, even a position as a secondary consort would guarantee her status once Yuwenzhang ascended the throne. With one of their own in the inner palace and others in the imperial court, the family would finally be secure.
By dusk, Ping'an was clamoring for dumplings, so Xie Zhixue went to the kitchen to prepare them herself.
Ping'an loved dumplings, especially the pork and green onion variety. With Xie Zhixue’s secret seasoning and a few drops of sesame oil, the fragrance filled the room instantly—enough to make one’s mouth water at the very scent.
Yuwenzhang had not appeared for several days, which allowed Xie Zhixue to feel a bit more at ease as she busied herself in the kitchen.
She did not notice that Yuwenzhang had appeared at the kitchen doorway at some point, standing against the light, his gaze fixed intently on her slender back.
She was the only one in the kitchen. She busied herself adding firewood to the stove, lifting the lid to stir the pot, and moving to the table to knead dough and wrap dumplings. She was so occupied that she remained unaware of his presence behind her.
It wasn't until she had finished wrapping the dumplings and prepared to drop them into the pot that she caught a glimpse of Yuwenzhang out of the corner of her eye. She froze.
Regaining her composure, she hastily set down her work and bowed. "Your Highness, may you be well."
Xie Zhixue frowned slightly, filled with surprise. When had he arrived? No one had announced him, and she hadn't sensed him. How long had he been watching? Was he here to mooch a meal again?
Yuwenzhang did not tell her to rise, so she remained kneeling. The water in the pot was already boiling, bubbling vigorously.
Yuwenzhang stepped forward and leaned down slightly. A lock of his hair slid past his cheek and brushed against the nape of her neck, sending a shiver of sensation down her spine. Xie Zhixue turned slightly, her brows knit together.
"Don't move."
Yuwenzhang reached out and pressed down on her shoulder, pinning her in place.
Xie Zhixue stopped moving, though she darted a glance at him from the corner of her eye. "Why does Your Highness stare at me so? Is my face dirty?" She had flour all over her hands, so it was inevitable some had gotten on her face.
Yuwenzhang stared into her long, narrow fox-like eyes. Ripples stirred in his heart, like a spring breeze blowing across a lake—though the water remained chilly, it was suddenly unsettled.
He said nothing, only watching her quietly, his cold eyes focused solely on her.
*What a beautiful face; what a cruel heart.*
In the four years they had been apart, she had impatiently married another man and even borne a child. On that night when she had been forced to submit to him, she had been so helpless. He had even promised to come and propose. Why, why hadn't she been willing to wait a little longer?
He had written so many letters, sending tokens of affection in each one, yet they had all vanished like a stone cast into the sea, never to be heard from again. If she wanted to reject him, why couldn't she have been clear? Why did she have to marry another in silence, leaving him to wait in the dark like a fool for four years?
Upon seeing her again, there was a little brat by her side. That child reminded him every moment that she had shared a bed with another man. Every time he thought of it, he felt the urge to kill.
This woman... she made him feel both love and hate in equal measure.
Xie Zhixue looked at him with confusion and trepidation. She kept her body rigid, afraid to move or even rise to finish the dumplings. She felt as though Yuwenzhang was looking through her at someone else—someone he missed deeply, yet also despised. She didn't know who that person was, but she could clearly sense that he was treating her as a substitute.
Was this the true reason he kept her in the Crown Prince's Estate? The feeling of being a replacement was deeply unpleasant. However, she said nothing, offering only a faint smile before turning her head away. The brief moment of intimacy from four years ago was instantly shattered.
Yuwenzhang’s gaze hardened, the ripples in his eyes freezing over like a sudden return of winter frost.
"Your Highness, the water is boiling." Xie Zhixue mustered the courage to speak. "Since you are here, why not join me for a meal? I wonder if my cooking is to your liking?"
She wasn't trying to ingratiate herself; she simply wanted to change the subject before his brewing anger was unleashed upon her.
Yuwenzhang withdrew his gaze and gave a slight nod. Relieved, Xie Zhixue quickly offered her thanks and stood up.