Prince Duan reached out and embraced Consort Zhang, forcing a smile, but the smile was too bitter and desolate. "Good, I am fortunate to have my beloved consort."

Consort Zhang's face stiffened for a moment, but she quickly smiled even more shyly. With her makeup done, the thick powder covered the wrinkles that had appeared on her face recently, but it could not hide the deep crow's feet.

Holding Prince Duan's hand, she pressed him to sit in the main seat, filled a small jade cup, and personally presented it to him. "Your Highness, this is the spring wine that I buried under the osmanthus tree in the courtyard before I left the capital with you. Although it is autumn now, spring is still lingering, and the flowers and trees are lush. I wish Your Highness's great undertaking will be as lush as the flowers and trees in spring."

As the saying goes, what can dispel sorrow? Only wine. At this moment, Prince Duan only wanted to drink one cup, two cups, three cups, until he was drunk, hoping that everything could return to yesterday after he sobered up.

He took the jade cup, paused for a moment, then stared intently at his lips, his smile exceptionally dignified, as if his earlier shyness had never existed.

A woman who is too dignified will die.

Unaware of the danger, Prince Duan tilted his head back and drank the spring wine in the jade cup. As soon as the wine entered his mouth, he felt very sleepy. He only had time to glance at Consort Zhang before he lay down on the table and fell asleep.

Consort Zhang closed the door, took out a dagger from her bosom, and tears streamed down her face, quickly ruining her makeup. She was shrouded in unspeakable sorrow as she slowly walked to Prince Duan's side.

"Your Highness, do you still remember what you said back then? You said you would hold my hand and grow old with me, and that you would never betray me in this life. Wenxiu knows that Your Highness is a gentleman of your word, but you have been misled by villains. Your Highness, from now on, let me accompany you, for a lifetime. For a lifetime, Your Highness will only stay with me, like a pair of lovebirds. Your Highness, is that alright?"

Tears blurred her vision. Her right hand trembled as she gripped the dagger, crying uncontrollably. Tears dripped onto Prince Duan's feet. Consort Zhang fumbled around for a while, then clumsily slashed at Prince Duan's Achilles tendon with the dagger.

She wasn't quite sure where it was, but she had just asked the old doctor and learned that if that tendon was broken, the person wouldn't be able to walk.

“Your Highness, from now on we won’t go anywhere else. We’ll stay here in the manor. We’ll watch songs and dances in Baoxia Lane. You will compose poems, and I will grind the ink. I will embroider, and you will draw patterns. We’ll be a perfect couple. I know that you have me in your heart. I was just mistaken that day, but I haven’t misjudged you all these years. You will always be the gentleman I’m willing to marry no matter what. You are the god in my heart. I can’t live without you, and you will never leave me.”

As if she had cried all her tears, Prince Duan and her hands and clothes were covered in blood, yet she continued to move, talking incessantly, as if by saying so many words, Prince Duan's love for her had become stronger than gold.

When Emperor Mingde received the news, he remained silent on his throne. He had always known that the world of women was not simple, but this was the first time his heart had been clenched so hard.

Wang Jiyang, Qiu Tangshi, Yan Shiren, and others stood at the lower end with their hands at their sides. After a long while, Emperor Mingde said, "Prince Duan is demoted to Prince Duan of the Second Rank, and part of his fief is stripped away. He is now equal to a Prince of the Second Rank. Prince Duan of the Second Rank will be confined to his residence. Prince Duan of the Second Rank's heir will be summoned to the capital. Wang Qin and Minister Yan will handle this matter."

Wang Jiyang and Yan Shiren hurriedly stepped forward, bowed, and accepted the order, saying, "Your Majesty, we will certainly not fail in your command."

At this moment, Liang Yunsi rushed in, looking extremely flustered. However, seeing that several ministers were present, he did not speak. Emperor Mingde realized that he had something to report, so he waved his hand and said, "Go down."

Qiu Tang, seeing that there was nothing for him to do, wanted to volunteer, but upon meeting Wang Jiyang's gaze, he shut his mouth and followed him out. Once outside the Taihe Hall, they saw Peng Shouge, the commander of the Peng garrison, standing there like a wooden statue, clad in full military attire and exuding a chilling aura. The group nodded to each other, understanding dawning on them. No wonder the Prince of Duan's allies had severed ties so decisively; Peng Shouge had arrived, possibly with the Pengcheng army. "General Peng."

Peng Shouge seemed to be quite familiar with Wang Jiyang. After nodding to Qiu Tangshi and Yan Shiren, he patted Wang Jiyang's arm and said, "It's been a long time. You haven't changed at all, sir. I heard that Brother Wei escorted the Empress Dowager to Guanzhou. I wonder when he will return?"

"The Empress Dowager has safely arrived in Guanzhou and will naturally return. General Peng rarely comes to the capital, so why don't we have a drink together? This is Lord Qiutang Shiqiu, and this is Second Master Yan from Jiangnan, Lord Yan." Wang Jiyang introduced the people one by one. He was not good with words and spoke in a very formal manner.

Peng Shoujun had naturally heard of Qiu Chengshi and Yan Shiren, both of whom were very influential figures in the court. He had met Qiu Chengshi before, but he never spoke to people from aristocratic families. Now that Wang Jiyang had introduced them, he greeted him again.

Inside the Taihe Hall, Liang Yunsi leaned close to Emperor Mingde's ear and whispered, "Your Majesty, Lord Hu of the Jingzhao Prefecture has secretly reported that many people in Prince Yong's residence have contracted the plague. I had someone investigate, and the symptoms are somewhat similar to those that commonly appear in the palace. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

When Emperor Mingde heard the word "plague," his vermilion brush trembled. However, when he heard the word "palace," a cryptic smile appeared on his face. "Isolate those who have been infected with the plague. In previous years, fire was usually used to deal with such matters. You are in charge of this task."

Liang Yunsi's eyes remained calm. He lowered his head and said, "Yes."

The autumn wind was brisk and the rain was drizzling. Wei Ji wrapped herself in a fur coat and bought a manor in the suburbs of the capital. She had a few servants and planted two pots of Cymbidium goeringii in the courtyard, which were blooming happily.

"A gentle valley breeze blows, bringing shade and rain. This maiden is going home, and I see her off to the fields. I am Chu Yang. May I ask if you are Lady Wei?" Outside the gate, Chu Yang, dressed in pure white, stood in the wind. Although the scar on his face was somewhat ugly, it removed his feminine air and made him quite pleasing to the eye. It is evident that even a scar on the face cannot conceal the captivating beauty of a beautiful person.

Wei Ji looked up and saw a young man on the road and a beautiful woman by the water, gazing at each other from afar.