"Isn’t it because the Prince is backing me and the Governor is giving me full support? Otherwise, how would a mere woman like me have the courage to do such horrifying things?"

He Qia stroked his beard and smiled lightly.

"At the time, I also thought the Princess was very bold. Although it was risky, this move was indeed very effective. In this way, the entire Imperial Court of the Western Capital, from the eldest imperial princess to all the officials and relatives, were stuck with no more to say."

Pei Jue didn’t say anything, just quietly ate his meal.

He Qia glanced at him, then suddenly asked, "I heard His Majesty’s health is much improved. Is he going to be sent back to Xijing soon?"

Pei Jue hesitated for a moment.

Originally, he had planned to take Yuan Shangyi back to the capital.

But after arriving at Huaxi Village, seeing everything in Huaxi, and hearing what Feng Yun had said about her and Yuan Shangyi, he suddenly changed his mind.

"I will ask about His Majesty’s intentions."

He Qia narrowed his eyes, observing the demeanor of the two, and followed up with a laugh.

"Certainly, certainly. As subjects, we should prioritize the will of our sovereign."

Feng Yun’s lips curved slightly as she moved to serve dishes to Pei Jue.

"Try the sour soup mandarin fish from Yutangchun, it’s a new dish, Your Highness."

After being away for several months and returning to Andu, Pei Jue noticed significant changes.

Bustling streets, shops stood in rows; it quite resembled a major city.

He praised He Qia, "Governor He has the ability to govern."

He Qia repeatedly declined the praise, gesturing with his hands and laughing, "Actually, Andu owes its current state to the Princess’s policy suggestions: registering refugees and distributing farmland, exempting merchants from taxes, and those wartime decrees, which allowed Andu to recover and revitalize its people’s livelihoods. Second, the presence of the Northern Yong Army ensured there were no conflicts, maintaining stability and safety, which attracted many noble families and brought considerable wealth. Third, the Emperor came to Andu for recuperation; naturally, where even the Emperor comes garners even more attention..."

He burst into laughter again.

"Not to hide from you, Your Highness, I, for the sake of settling down, bought some land and houses. Now, they have all appreciated greatly in value. The land in Andu is worth so much now."

Back then, he bought them for a song.

Now, they’re worth their weight in gold.

He Qia couldn’t stop grinning, continuously thanking them.

However, both of them remained very silent.

Upon departing, Feng Yun with a smile, sought to understand He Qia’s thoughts.

"Last time, in jest, I mentioned wanting to play matchmaker for your son. Would the Governor be honored if I did so?"

Upon hearing this, He Qia got the hint.

His son went to Yutangchun all the time; what didn’t he understand?

He Qia gestured with his hands, "It would be a great honor, indeed."

"Then let’s settle on that. In a few days, I will come to discuss it."

"Certainly, certainly."

He Qia escorted the couple to the carriage.

Feng Yun gave Wen Hui a slight smile, stepped onto the footstool, and entered the carriage.

On the way back, Pei Jue asked her again.

"Are you really not coming back to Xijing with me?"

After a long period of contemplation, Feng Yun took hold of his hand.

"You know my wishes."

Pei Jue sighed, "As you wish."

"I’m sorry." Feng Yun adjusted her position, leaning against his shoulder, feeling a complex mixture of emotions.

The triumphant return of the Prince of Yonghuai, wielding power, his glory unmatched, now an even more influential figure in the Imperial Court of Xijing than before.

At this time, he needed a virtuous wife to manage his household, bear and raise children, take care of the affairs of the Royal Residence, and attend to his disabled father...

He needed such a Princess.

If it were in her previous life, Feng Yun would have gladly agreed, accompanied him back to the capital, trapped herself in that large estate, basking in the glory and riches brought by her husband, and slowly losing herself amidst the envy of countless women.

But now she was entirely lucid.

Not to mention whether her husband’s love could last...

The fact that she could no longer bear children for Pei Jue was enough to make the Prince of Yonghuai Residence not the place for her.

For a woman to have no offspring was a grave sin.

If it was so with common families, how much more so with the Pei Family?

Of course, this was the outcome of her own choices, and she had no regrets.

Decisive and action-oriented, she took life as it came, owing nothing.

She liked this kind of life, liked being the Village Chief’s wife of Huaxi Village, the head of Changmen Village, rather than a newlywed confined to the back house of the Prince of Yonghuai Residence.

But Pei Jue, as an esteemed minister, couldn’t stay in Andu forever, and was bound to live in Xijing.

In a world where ’the husband sings and the wife follows,’ a wife living separately from her husband was not permissible, even if Pei Jue didn’t blame her, she would be drowned in spittle.

Feng Yun rested quietly against Pei Jue, feeling a dull ache in a certain soft spot in her chest.

"General..."

She spoke calmly, "If there is a woman more suited to be the mistress of the Royal Residence than me, you can consider it. Whether it is legal separation or divorce, I won’t blame you."

Pei Jue looked at her intently, "And what about you?"

Feng Yun smiled lightly, "Then we couldn’t continue to play the role of lovebirds, could we?"

Pei Jue looked through the curtain toward the distant mountains, the lush grass on Jieqiu Mountain, all bursting with life.

"Let it be this way, it’s quite good," he said.