However, beneath this warmth, undercurrents are surging.

That afternoon, An'an fell asleep. Shen Yuewei and Xiao Chengjing, enjoying a rare moment of leisure, sat at a stone table under the osmanthus tree, sipping tea. Osmanthus blossoms fell like rain, their fragrance intoxicating.

Xiao Chengjing gazed at Shen Yuewei's serene profile; she was looking down, fiddling with the osmanthus blossoms in her teacup, her expression peaceful and content. A strong longing surged within him, along with a decision he had already made.

“Wei’er,” he put down his teacup, his voice low and solemn, “the affairs in the capital have been settled. The Imperial Concubine has been executed, and the remaining followers have been eliminated. Father… has also acknowledged An’an’s identity. As for Mother…” He paused, a complex look flashing in his eyes, “Although she has her own considerations, she is not a cause for concern. It is time to bring you and An’an back to the capital.”

He reached out and grasped Shen Yuewei's hand, which was resting on the table. His palm was burning hot. "I will give you the grandest investiture ceremony and make An'an the most honored princess. The Eastern Palace may be large, but with you and An'an here, it feels like a home." His eyes were filled with undisguised affection and determination.

Shen Yuewei's hand stiffened slightly in his palm. She didn't pull it away immediately, but simply raised her head, calmly meeting his burning gaze, her eyes clear and firm.

“Your Highness,” she said calmly, yet with an undeniable force, “thank you for your kindness. But I do not wish to return to the capital, nor do I wish to enter the Eastern Palace.”

The tenderness on Xiao Chengjing's face froze instantly, and his eyes sharpened: "What did you say?"

“I said,” Shen Yuewei repeated clearly, “I want to stay in Jiangnan. To run ‘Jinwei Ji’ well, take good care of An’an, and live the life we ​​have now.”

"Why?!" Xiao Chengjing abruptly stood up, his voice filled with suppressed anger and confusion. "No matter how good Jiangnan is, how can it compare to the Eastern Palace? You are my woman, and An'an is my daughter! You should both be by my side, enjoying the most honorable status and protection! Could it be..." His eyes suddenly turned dangerous as he took a step closer, his expression a mixture of hurt and suspicion, "You've... found other attachments in Jiangnan? Is it that Scholar Li who often brings you sketchbooks? Or that young master Wang who always runs to 'Jinwei Ji'?"

Shen Yuewei was taken aback by his sudden jealousy and questioning, and then she was somewhat amused and exasperated. She withdrew her hand, stood up, and looked directly into his angry eyes with an open gaze: "What are you thinking, Your Highness? My relationship with Scholar Li and Young Master Wang is nothing more than ordinary business dealings and neighborly friendship, completely innocent. My staying in Jiangnan has nothing to do with them."

She walked to the osmanthus tree, looked up at the golden leaves, and said in a voice that carried a sense of clarity and relief after experiencing the vicissitudes of life: "I just... don't want to live that kind of rigid, treacherous life anymore."

She turned around and looked at Xiao Chengjing, her eyes filled with unprecedented seriousness and determination: "Your Highness, look here. 'Jinwei Ji' is my life's work, built from scratch. Every inch of the counter, every piece of fabric, bears my name. Here, I am Shen Yuewei, the owner of 'Jinwei Ji,' and An'an's mother. I breathe freely, and my steps are firm. I can earn money to support my family with my own abilities, make friends with like-minded people, and raise my daughter according to my own wishes."

“But if I return to the capital and enter those high walls of the Eastern Palace…” She gently shook her head, a bitter yet knowing smile appearing on her lips. “What am I? A concubine born to depend on His Highness? The birth mother of Princess An’an? Every move, every word, must be mindful of others’ moods, must be able to guess the Emperor’s intentions, and must abide by countless rules. Whom the Empress favors as the Crown Princess is her consideration, the need of the court. But what does that have to do with me? I just want to get as far away from those whirlpools as possible, as far away as possible.”

She walked to the cradle, gently stroking her daughter's sleeping face, her voice tender yet unwavering: "I just want An'an to grow up in a stable and free environment. She doesn't have to learn to read people's expressions from a young age, nor does she have to bear the shackles of being born out of wedlock or as the legitimate daughter. She can run in the sunshine like any other child, laughing when she wants to laugh and crying when she wants to cry. Instead of learning to hide her emotions and scheme against others as the first thing in that magnificent cage."

Shen Yuewei raised her head and looked at Xiao Chengjing again, her eyes clear as water, filled with unwavering determination: "Your Highness, I know you love An'an. I understand you want to give us the best. But for me, the best is not that lofty, empty title or that seemingly splendid but actually cold cage. The best is this land I earned with my own hands, the warm daughter in my arms, the gentle breeze and bright moon of Jiangnan, and the peace and freedom that my heart finds. So, please grant my request, Your Highness."

His words were clear, concise, and resounding. There was no resentment, no accusation, only a clear understanding of his own choices and a firm pursuit of his ideal life.

Xiao Chengjing stood frozen in place, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head. He looked into her calm yet incredibly determined eyes, and saw the heartfelt satisfaction and protectiveness in her eyes as she stroked her daughter. The anger, jealousy, and confusion in his chest transformed into immense loss, frustration, and... a faint sense of panic.

He was the crown prince, wielding the power of life and death, yet he couldn't use his power to keep the two people he most wanted to keep. The freedom and peace she described were things he had never experienced, nor could he truly give. His proud Eastern Palace, in her eyes, was nothing more than a cold, imprisoned cage?