Before they could think further, a middle-aged eunuch dressed in a dark blue eunuch's robe, with a fair complexion and no beard, walked in with an upright gait, flanked by two obsequious young eunuchs. His face wore the characteristic respectful smile of a palace servant, as if etched by a ruler, but his eyes were sharp as a hawk's, subtly scanning the small courtyard and its furnishings before finally settling on Shen Yuewei and the child in her arms.

"This servant, Wang Dehai, has come to pay my respects to Miss Shen and His Highness by order of Her Majesty the Empress." The eunuch's voice was not loud, but each word was clear, carrying the unique accent of the palace, which sounded particularly abrupt and cold in this quiet Jiangnan courtyard. He bowed slightly, and the young eunuch behind him immediately presented a vermilion lacquered tray covered with bright yellow brocade.

Her Majesty the Empress? Your Highness?

These words pierced Shen Yuewei's eardrums like ice picks. She instinctively tightened her grip on An'an, her knuckles turning white from the force. An'an whimpered uncomfortably.

"What are Your Majesty's orders?" Shen Yuewei forced herself to calm down, but her voice trembled slightly. She stood up, handed An'an to Chun Tao, and stood slightly in front of them, her gaze meeting that of the eunuch Wang.

A storm raged within her: How did the Empress know that she and her daughter were here? The only possibility... was it him! Xiao Chengjing! Besides him, who else could have found this place so precisely? In the end, he still wouldn't let An'an go? Was he going to forcibly take her and her daughter back to that golden cage, or... that terrible thought resurfaced, sending chills down her spine.

Wang Dehai seemed oblivious to Shen Yuewei's sudden pallor and the surprise and wariness in her eyes. His smile remained unchanged, even becoming more attentive. He stepped forward and gently lifted the bright yellow brocade on the tray.

In an instant, the room was filled with brilliance. On the tray lay a longevity lock made of pure gold and inlaid with rubies and sapphires, with three delicate little gold bells hanging from it; next to it were a pair of lustrous, translucent white jade bracelets, their texture delicate and warm, clearly palace treasures. Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, falling on the gold lock and jade bracelets, refracting a dazzling yet cold halo.

"Her Majesty the Empress is in good health and is very pleased to hear that the young prince is intelligent and healthy. Her Majesty says that the young prince is now a year and a half old, the most adorable age, and needs the most love and care from his family. Her Majesty, living deep within the palace, often thinks of her own flesh and blood, and cannot bear to think of the young prince being left out in the world." Wang Dehai's voice rose and fell, as if reciting a magnificent article, but his gaze seemed to casually sweep over An'an's tender little face. "Her Majesty has decreed that gold and jade be bestowed as a token of her benevolence. She also hopes that Miss Shen can understand Her Majesty's longing for her grandson and choose a day to bring the young prince back to the capital, so that Her Majesty can see this royal bloodline with her own eyes and share the joy of family life."

Every word was like a poisoned needle, piercing Shen Yuewei's heart.

Compassion and mercy? Sharing the joys of family life? What high-sounding reasons! But in that deep palace, was there ever any true warmth? The raging fire of her past life burned not only her life and her child's future, but also her last shred of illusory illusion about that imperial city!

An uncontrollable rage mixed with icy fear surged through Shen Yuewei's mind. She felt a chill run through her fingertips, as if her entire body were submerged in a freezing pool. It was him! It must be him! Xiao Chengjing! He had promised her time, allowing her and An'an to live peacefully in Jiangnan. He knew perfectly well what her deepest fears were! Yet, in the blink of an eye, he had revealed their hiding place to the Empress, even tacitly approving the Empress's use of this "favor" to force them back to the capital! What was he trying to do? Use An'an to control her? Or use them, mother and daughter, to balance the court? That so-called "blood ties"—how laughable they were before overwhelming power!

Wang Dehai was still making some polite remarks, but Shen Yuewei couldn't hear a single word. She only felt a buzzing in her ears, and the gleam of the gold and jade bracelet stung her eyes. To her, that cold gold and jade were nothing less than the beginnings of shackles, a death warrant!

"Your Majesty's kindness is beyond words, I am deeply grateful." Shen Yuewei's voice was dry and hoarse, each word seemingly forced out of her throat, carrying an undisguised stiffness and coldness. She slightly curtsied, performing a perfectly proper bow, her lowered eyelashes concealing the shock, anger, and despair surging in her eyes. "However, my daughter and I are of lowly status, and we dare not accept such a great favor, much less dare to rashly bring our young daughter to the capital, lest we disturb Your Majesty's presence, and also lest... the journey is long, and the child cannot withstand the bumpy ride."

She refused, politely but with unusual firmness.

Wang Dehai's smile faded slightly, a barely perceptible hint of coldness and surprise flashing in his eyes. He clearly hadn't expected this seemingly delicate merchant's daughter to dare so directly defy the Empress's "good intentions." He scrutinized Shen Yuewei with a deep gaze, his tone still respectful, yet carrying an undeniable air of pressure: "Miss Shen, you are mistaken. His Highness is of noble birth, of imperial blood; how can he consider himself 'lowly'? Her Majesty the Empress is kind-hearted; Miss, you should... reconsider. Jiangnan may be nice, but it can never compare to the wealth and comfort of the capital. Her Majesty is anxiously awaiting the arrival of His Highness, day and night."

日夜悬心？沈月薇心中冷笑。她只觉得一股寒意从脚底直窜头顶，五脏六腑都被怒火和恐惧灼烧着。萧承璟！好一个萧承璟！她强忍着几乎要喷薄而出的质问和斥骂，指甲深深掐进掌心，留下几道月牙形的血痕，才勉强维持住表面的平静。

“公公所言甚是。只是此事关系重大，民女……需得仔细思量，方能回复娘娘恩典。”她几乎用尽了全身力气，才维持住语调的平稳，再次屈膝，姿态放得更低，却透着一种不容动摇的倔强，“春桃，替我送公公。”

逐客之意，已十分明显。

王德海脸上的假笑彻底消失，他深深地看了沈月薇一眼，那目光如同毒蛇的信子，冰冷而黏腻。最终，他冷哼一声，拂袖转身，留下那句冰冷的“皇后娘娘静候佳音”，带着两个小内侍，如来时一般，踏着雨水离开了小院。