The weather had been clear for several days, and the crops in the fields grew noticeably faster by the day.

The Grand Princess received vegetables from Huaxi Village every day and reciprocated by sending Feng Yun some tea and clothing; there were exchanges between them, leading to an extraordinary level of cordiality.

Outsiders were utterly baffled, having no clue what drama the two were enacting.

Under the sunshine, Huaxi Village was peaceful, with the farmers eagerly anticipating the season’s harvest.

In Taiping Garden, the Grand Princess sat before the west window, gazing at the glint of gold on the high wall, feeling as if her heart had sunk to the bottom of a valley.

Half an hour earlier, she had received a secret report from the Western Capital: The Young Emperor Tian Shou had left the palace in disguise, escorted by the Imperial Cavalry Division and the Beiyong Army on his journey...

The Grand Princess’s vision gradually blurred.

Yuan Shangyi had been frail since childhood, often retreating to Baima Temple, hence there weren’t many meetings between aunt and nephew, let alone much affection...

To be honest, she wasn’t particularly close to the Emperor of Xifeng either.

The Emperor of Xifeng was cunning and strategic; the Grand Princess didn’t like him, but she couldn’t deny that he was a formidable emperor with ruthless tactics. It was a pity he had a short life; had he lived a few decades longer, the state of Dajin might not be what it is today...

She let out another sigh.

"Mother." Puyang Yi came over quietly and draped a wind-gown over her shoulders.

"Do you really want to support Ayue to become emperor?"

Ayue was the son of the Prince of Zhuangxian.

He was born to the Grand Princess’s full brother.

The Grand Princess’s expression changed, glaring at her.

"Where did you hear such nonsense? Don’t speak recklessly."

Puyang Yi pursed her lips.

"There are no outsiders here, just us mother and daughter. Why must you hide the truth? All you’ve done was to pave the way for Ayue, wasn’t it?"

As she spoke, she lowered her eyelids and wrapped her arms around the Grand Princess’s arm.

"No wonder everyone says that the mother’s heart leans toward her natal family, that you would sacrifice everything for Ayue, even disregarding the lives of me and my two brothers..."

The Grand Princess turned sharply, staring at her.

"If you and your brothers had shown any ambition, I wouldn’t have had to struggle so..."

Puyang Yi rolled her eyes, "The lack of ambition is his problem, I certainly haven’t lacked..."

"Still have the nerve to say so?" The Grand Princess looked at her daughter and suddenly felt a wave of sorrow, "The lot of you, from childhood to adulthood, have caused so much trouble. If your mother wasn’t the Grand Princess, whether you would be alive today would still be uncertain."

Puyang Yi fell silent.

If her mother weren’t the Grand Princess, she couldn’t have acted that way... Recalling how she had smashed her ex-husband’s family possessions before setting them on fire and leaving, she indeed had been somewhat capricious, and she lowered her head.

"Daughter also wants to protect Mother."

At her coquettish tone, the Grand Princess’s heart softened.

"You’re so grown up, how can you still act like a child?"

With a deep sigh, the Grand Princess spoke with an indescribable bitterness, "Do you think I wish to do this? Circumstances have forced my hand. If I don’t take a stand, would Dajin still bear the Yuan name?"

She looked at Puyang Yi, her eyes filled with deep helplessness.

"Let’s not even mention the Yecheng Imperial Court. Li Zongxun, that old fox, is cunning beyond measure. Yuan Shuo calls me ’Imperial Aunt’, but we are only cousins; do you think he truly respects me?"

Puyang Yi nudged her arm.

"But Shangyi is your real nephew..."

"Hmph!" the Grand Princess retorted, "The Western Capital Dynasty oppresses the Royal Family, and the Empress Dowager is indecisive. Right now, Western Capital still bears the Yuan name, but who knows when they might switch to another surname..."

"Mother." Puyang Yi shook her arm and cajoled in a drawn-out voice, "You can’t think like that. Shangyi and Ayue are both your nephews. No matter who becomes Emperor, you’ll always be the most esteemed Grand Princess. Who would dare disrespect you..."

The Grand Princess remained stern-faced, ignoring her.

How could it be the same?

Only the son of her own brother could truly be called a nephew.

If it wasn’t a brother born from the same womb, there was inevitably a gap.

Seeing that her mother was unmoved, Puyang Yi coquettishly squinted her eyes again.

"Look at the Princess of Yonghuai. Doesn’t she come up with different reasons to send you vegetables and eggs every day, afraid that you won’t have the best? Isn’t that respectful enough?"

The Grand Princess looked at her daughter’s innocent expression and couldn’t help but get angry.

"Can’t you see what she’s plotting?"

Before she could finish, a servant’s voice came from outside the door.

"Grand Princess, someone from Huaxi Village has delivered vegetables."

The Grand Princess was very irritable today.

"Have them take it back! I don’t need it."

The servant replied, "Your Highness, the vegetables were personally delivered by the Princess of Yonghuai, who requests to see the Grand Princess."

The Grand Princess was taken aback.

After a moment of silence, looking at Puyang Yi who kept winking at her, she said,

"Please ask her to wait in the flower hall."

She had her maidservants help her change into a new set of clothes, stood in front of the bronze mirror to check herself, then frowned.

"Does this not look good?"

Puyang Yi said, "It’s pretty."

"No, this is too proper."

With that, the Grand Princess changed again.

A light-colored gauze dress with gold trim.

"Does this one seem a bit too casual?"

So she tried on another one.

A wide-sleeved brocade gown with golden embroidery.

"Gracious yet lacking in presence..."

Puyang Yi was dazzled.

"Mother..."

She clung to the Grand Princess’s arm, and said with a smile, "Lady Yun is indeed beautiful, but she isn’t terrifying enough to panic you this way. When she reaches your age, who knows, she might not look as good as you..."

Last time Feng Yun visited Taiping Garden, she truly dazzled all the noble women present. The Grand Princess didn’t say much, but she envied her a great deal in her heart, always feeling that her own presence was diminished by her...

Puyang Yi guessed her mother’s thoughts and signaled with her eyes for the maids to stop bringing clothes.

"This set is very good, with a delicate waistband and elegant cloud pattern, refined yet not lacking in splendor. Besides, the Princess of Yonghuai isn’t a man. She doesn’t care what Mother wears."

The Grand Princess looked at her daughter, then at herself, and sighed deeply.

"I have grown old."

-

Today, Feng Yun was dressed extraordinarily plainly. She wore no silk or satin, nor did she wear any hairpins or fake buns. She was clean and neat, dressed as a common village woman, no different.

However...

When the Grand Princess, resplendent with jewels, walked into the flower hall, the overwhelming aura she intended to display suddenly deflated.

Feng Yun’s smile was too beautiful.

Her lashes were long and slightly curved upwards, her eyes bright and gleaming, gently bending into a lovely arc. With plain clothes showing charm, and without hairpins revealing grace, she shone like a ray of sunlight cast over a high wall. Next to her, others were simply eclipsed...

Feng Yun rose to greet her, "This consort has seen the Grand Princess."

The Grand Princess casually circled around and sat down leisurely in the seat of honor.

"The Princess of Yonghuai may be seated."

Such a formal meeting was clearly not to Puyang Yi’s liking. She coquettishly approached the Grand Princess before moving towards Feng Yun.

"You came and didn’t look for me, but sought out my mother. You have never taken me to heart..."

Her words made it sound as though she and Feng Yun were close friends who could freely complain to each other.

But they obviously were not...

Feng Yun could not brush off her courtesy. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

She knew Puyang Yi’s thoughts.

She went with the flow.

"What do you think I brought the produce for? The Grand Princess doesn’t like these rustic common things. It’s because you like them, isn’t it?"

Puyang Yi’s eyes were misty as if absorbing every word, and she stepped forward to give Feng Yun a big hug.

"Lady Yun, you are too kind, always thinking of my preferences..."

She then turned back to the Grand Princess.

"Mother, last time it was clearly the Crown Prince who was at fault. They were the ones who offended Lady Yun first. Besides, it wasn’t Lady Yun who drew blood, it was the Crown Prince of Yunchuan. Why should the blame be placed on Lady Yun’s head?"

The Grand Princess was exceedingly embarrassed.

She glared at Puyang Yi several times, but as if she could not understand, Puyang Yi acted spoiled and foolish, bringing her conflict with Feng Yun directly to the table, making it hard for her to step down...

"Pingyuan must not be reckless."

The Grand Princess gave her a warning glance and smilingly said to Feng Yun:

"I have already apologized to the Princess for your brother’s actions, and she, being generous, has forgiven him. Let’s not speak of past events."

Puyang Yi smiled.

"Then that’s truly wonderful..."

"Pingyuan, you may leave," said the Grand Princess, unable to tolerate her further. With her troublesome daughter around, her mind wasn’t clear.

"I have important matters to discuss with the Princess."

The Grand Princess’s face became stern, and Puyang Yi didn’t dare disobey further. She responded with proper decorum, bowed, then turned back to make a face at Feng Yun.

"I’ll come look for you later to play."

Feng Yun smiled faintly, "I shall await you."

Once Puyang Yi left and the door was closed, the flower hall became exceptionally solemn.

For a long while, only the clear sound of tea utensils could be heard.

Neither of them spoke.

Seeing Feng Yun able to keep her composure, the Grand Princess felt a slight sinking in her heart. She lowered her gaze to pour tea, taking a shallow sip.

"The Princess doesn’t visit the Three Treasures Hall without good reason. Speak plainly."

Feng Yun smiled lightly: "Your Highness sent so many things to the estate. I have come today to express my gratitude."

The Grand Princess’s lips curved coldly, "Really? I thought the Princess had other things to say. Doing such big things behind the scenes, inciting the Emperor to leave Xijing. Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?"

"The Grand Princess has my apologies," said Feng Yun as she stood up and gave a respectful bow to the Grand Princess.

"Firstly, it was a command from the Empress Dowager, and I dared not defy it. Secondly, I believe the Emperor’s health is poor, and he needs a quiet place to recuperate. Xijing has many spies and agents from the Yecheng Imperial Court; it’s uncertain what they might do, which could be detrimental to the Emperor’s growth. Thirdly..."

She looked up, smiling at the Grand Princess,

"With the Grand Princess, the maternal aunt, stationed in Andu, which marauder would dare behave recklessly? Therefore, Andu is indeed the best place for His Majesty to recuperate."

The Grand Princess silently observed her.

This woman had a way with words.

With just a few sentences, she had maneuvered her into a corner...

She said, "The Princess has quite the silver tongue. Is it not that whatever you say, goes?"

"Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness," Feng Yun replied, catching her gaze and smiling as she bowed again. She then declared, "Please, Your Highness, take charge and summon the officials of Xinzhou to travel a hundred miles out of the city to welcome His Majesty’s arrival."

The Grand Princess’s expression changed in an instant.

Such a well-planned move.

This woman, having carried out such a rebellious act, actually wanted her to take charge of it. Not only was she pulling her onto the same boat, but she also intended to pin the blame on her?

And yet she couldn’t refuse.

If the Emperor was coming to Andu, how could she not welcome His Majesty’s arrival?