Fang Chuning, feeling overly relaxed in front of his mother, let his guard down and inadvertently exposed himself. Fang Chuning awkwardly explained, "It’s not complete amnesia. After being poisoned, I regained some memories, but not the whole picture. What I just explained to Father was because Xie Jue had told me stories about when we were in Ningzhou. I roughly understood the situation there. When Mother talked to me about it, I also remembered what Ting Feng said. Some memories are returning bit by bit. For now, please don’t tell Father."

A mother knows her son best. Mrs. Fang could tell Fang Chuning was lying. She didn’t understand why he would lie about regaining his memory and why he wouldn’t tell his father. Nevertheless, she stood by her son’s side. Fang Chuning had narrowly escaped death—with the fire in Sannan and being poisoned in Pingnan County, just thinking about it made her heart ache. How could she bear to expose him, knowing what her son hoped for? So she remained silent, only offering him a gentle gaze.

"Alright, Mother won’t tell anyone. Stay home and take good care of your health. Don’t worry about anything else. No matter what happens, Mother will help you." Mrs. Fang promised gently, "Junjun is doing well in Mudan City. Once your matters are settled, you can go with Mother to visit her and see your little nephews."

"Alright!" Fang Chuning readily agreed. He also looked forward to it. Both Junjun and Dugu Jing were good-looking, so his little nephews must be as well. "Dugu Jing won’t be stationed in Sannan forever. In a few years, the Emperor will transfer him back. Mother, don’t worry, you and Junjun won’t be separated by a thousand miles forever."

"Is this what the Prince said?" Mrs. Fang was not familiar with state affairs nor had she spoken with the General. She worried that Dugu Jing would always be stationed in Sannan and that Junjun, as his wife, would also remain there, living apart from her. She hoped her daughter could get married in the Capital City so she could spend time with her grandchildren.

"The Emperor’s intentions are not hard to guess. Mother just wait and see."

"Alright, alright..." Mrs. Fang finally felt hope for the future. Fang Chuning also comforted his mother, hoping she would talk to Father to avoid deepening misunderstandings and rifts.

Fang Chuning did not want disagreements between him and his father to affect his parents’ relationship. Even though he knew they sometimes argued over the years, they also had periods of great harmony. Father was stationed in Jiangnan for years and rarely returned to the Capital. During more than two decades of marriage, Mother had tempered her temper and was no longer the domineering princess. Moreover, Father had distanced himself from the Li Family long ago, and their relationship had not deteriorated to an irreconcilable state. He even sensed that Father was actually quite afraid of Mother. When Father was home, he always listened to her, though he was taciturn and never uttered words of endearment. However, he was not the heartless person Mother thought he was.

Mrs. Fang had long lost patience for communicating with the General. She said blandly, "Forget it, my fate with him is over; saying more is useless, Tunan, don’t worry about the elders’ matters, you..."

She wanted to ask her son about Xie Jue but didn’t know how to broach the topic. If Fang Chuning liked a girl, she would have already inquired about the girl’s temperament, family background, and character, but now she held her tongue.

As a girl raised in the palace, Mrs. Fang possessed the education and standards of a princess. Once, her criteria for a daughter-in-law was a match in social standing, graciousness, capable of maintaining the household—a noble lady raised with the dignity of a distinguished family, exemplary in etiquette and conduct. At one time, Feng Shu met her criteria for her eldest daughter-in-law, and she even envied the Marchioness for having such a help in managing family affairs.

There was also Grandmaster Zhang’s granddaughters, whose temperaments were very commendable and appearances outstanding. As Fang Chuning grew older, Mrs. Fang became increasingly anxious. The most sought-after noble girls had begun arranging marriages after coming of age, and the marital status of both Fang Chuning and Junjun had always been her concern.

Later, Fang Lingjun married well. Despite appearing clumsy, Dugu Jing was actually wise and responsible, an excellent husband. Mrs. Fang felt half-relieved. Her daughter married late but married well, so she thought Fang Chuning’s marriage could also be postponed; perhaps the right time hadn’t arrived yet.

Unexpectedly, after all the waiting, what she faced was the scandal of Fang Chuning and Xie Jue.

Could Mrs. Fang accept it?

Of course not!

When Fang Chuning went to Sannan with Xie Jue, she vaguely sensed that her son and Xie Jue were too close. She didn’t dare delve deeper, always feeling she was overthinking, especially considering nothing like this had ever happened in the Capital for years. Clan children followed rules, fearing deviation or any scandalous behavior that would turn them into a laughingstock, so no one dared create such a scandal. Thus, Mrs. Fang dared not imagine, assuming that their brotherly bond formed while fighting in Ningzhou was naturally closer, much like Fang Chuning’s friendship with Zhang Boju, with whom he often played music. Zhang Boju had even stayed at Fang Chuning’s courtyard after getting drunk several times, and Mrs. Fang never thought much of it. But during those days, she was sleepless, frequently pondering Fang Chuning’s gaze toward Xie Jue.

Liking someone is like sunshine on a clear day, impossible to hide.

No matter how well Fang Chuning tried to conceal it, hints emerged through layers of disguise. During that period, Mrs. Fang experienced frequent insomnia and anxiety, planning to talk seriously with her son after he returned from Sannan. She would never permit something like this to happen, but she was met with news of her son’s death and funeral.

Mrs. Fang aged ten years overnight; her hair turned white. Grieving, she pleaded to the heavens for her son’s return, giving up any personal desires, wishing only for his peace and safety, allowing him to pursue whatever he pleased, love whoever he wished. She didn’t want to coerce him anymore.

The heavens seemed to have heard her plea for her son’s rebirth. He narrowly escaped death, and she got what she longed for. Her mindset was no longer the same as it was before Fang Chuning went to Sannan.

She could only accept it calmly and continually persuade herself to understand.

She still couldn’t comprehend why.

Nor did she wish to ask; she chose to be like an ostrich, burying her head in the sand.

Fang Chuning also noticed his mother’s hesitation and knew she wanted to inquire about his affairs. He didn’t know where to start. He knelt and bowed deeply, "Mother, your son has let you down and failed your expectations. I’m sorry for disappointing you."

Mrs. Fang’s eyes reddened instantly.

Her son truly understood her deeply.

Mrs. Fang had always been strong-willed. Before her marriage, she was fiercely independent, accustomed to a life where everything went smoothly. Though the royal family was weak, they maintained all necessary dignity; her treatment as a princess never faltered. Yet, she hit a hard rock in her marriage, enduring pain for half her life. For many years, she tussled with the Li Family, enduring countless derisions from them toward her and Fang Chuning.

Because of the Li Family’s eldest daughter’s death, Lady Li cursed the Fang Family directly after Mrs. Fang punished their children, cursing them to be childless and predicting that Fang Chuning would become a wastrel, leading to the family’s decline.

The struggles between women often concerned their husbands or children.

With her husband not supporting her, her hopes rested on her children. Thus, she devoted herself to raising them, hoping they would excel—Fang Chuning and Fang Lingjun becoming paragons. She wished for Fang Chuning to elevate the family name, believing her children would outshine the Li family’s descendants.

As she hoped, Fang Chuning distinguished himself on the battlefield, repeatedly achieving remarkable feats without leaning on his father’s influence. Under Marquis Zhenbei, he had already become a fourth-rank general, alongside Xie Zhang as one of the youngest generals under the Marquis. Fang Chuning had witnessed his mother’s struggles with the Li Family since he was young and vowed to restore her dignity.

He succeeded!

His military achievements were unmatched by the Li family’s descendants combined. The Li family’s eldest son was indolent, indulged in extramarital affairs, duplicitous marriage, and held no real power in court. He was merely an ordinary aristocrat under family protection, incapable of rivalling Fang Chuning.

Times had changed, and Mrs. Fang finally felt vindicated. A child’s accomplishments were her greatest solace, and the Li family was forced to bow before her, alleviating decades of resentment.

However, the matter between Fang Chuning and Xie Jue became gossip fodder, with the Li family using it to mock and insult Mrs. Fang numerous times. As the rumor spread, she relived the early years of her marriage again, feeling pushed to the brink of a mental breakdown.

Thus, she fled the Capital City.

But for her son’s sake, she returned, knowing she would face continued rumors and slander, yet unwilling to let Fang Chuning alone withstand such daggers.

"Tunan, are you... resolute in your decision?"