He Yue hurriedly shook her head, grasped her hand, and hastily explained, "I didn't, I didn't think that much. I was just thinking that the grudges were in the past, and she wasn't the culprit. There was no need to kill her anymore. I didn't mean to oppose you..."

The Eighth Prince's wife withdrew her hand, and He Yue's heart sank. Seeing her still indifferent expression, she couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Is my sister really not going to forgive her? Just because of Xia Ting?

Not only does He Yue believe Xia Ting is innocent, but according to her sister's personality, she must also know very well that Xia Ting is not the one to be hated and would not care about Xia Ting. So why is her sister so concerned now?

"I don't blame you for letting Xia Ting go. I'm just disappointed. I trusted you completely, but you went against me for the sake of the Thirteenth Prince. Now you're even hiding things from me for Xia Ting's sake. From now on, we're severing all ties. If we ever meet again, we'll be enemies. I won't hold back against the Thirteenth Prince!"

Heyue's heart clenched with pain. She gripped her sister's hand tightly, tears streaming down her face. "Sister, please don't do this to me. I really didn't mean to hide it from you. Please, I beg you..."

The Eighth Prince's wife turned her face away, refusing to look at her: "Thirteenth Prince's wife, please leave!"

Such a cold address instantly severed their past relationship, making them seem like strangers.

Heyue bit her lip, unwilling to give up, and wanted to say something more, but seeing the impatience on her face, she had no choice but to swallow her words and silently get off the carriage.

As the Eighth Prince's carriage slowly disappeared from sight, Heyue stood there for a long time, lost in thought, until the north wind blew against her cheeks, causing a sharp pain. Hailan called out to her worriedly, "Prince, are you alright?"

He Yue came to her senses, gave a sad smile, and realized that this sisterly bond was truly gone.

After returning to her room, Heyue chased the maid out and lay on the bed alone, crying her heart out under the covers. By noon, Hailan woke her up, her eyes swollen like walnuts.

Hailan and Chun Ya were heartbroken to see this: "What's wrong, Madam? Why are you crying like this? Did the Eighth Madam say something to you?"

The maids rarely saw their mistress cry. The last time she cried was on the grasslands, also because of the Eighth Prince's wife. What grudge did the Eighth Prince's wife have against the Prince's wife? Weren't they getting along well before? Why did things suddenly turn out like this?

Hailan harbored deep resentment towards the Eighth Prince's wife.

He Yue waved her hand and said it was nothing.

Hailan was furious. "It's swollen like this, how could it be alright?" Seeing her master's silent demeanor, she didn't press further.

Heyue let them apply hot water to her eyes and touch up her makeup. She ate lunch in a sullen mood and then had someone bring the child over.

Seeing the child's happy and carefree smile made me feel a little better.

※

Meanwhile, the Eighth Prince's wife returned to her residence and, feigning a headache, dismissed everyone. She then sat alone in her room all day, without even having lunch.

Several maids stood outside the door, looking worried.

"What's wrong with the Princess Consort? Did something unpleasant happen between her and the Thirteenth Princess Consort?" Liu Ye frowned and whispered to Liu Cheng.

Liu Cheng shook her head and sighed, "I don't know either. It's always hard to guess what the Princess Consort is thinking. Just now I saw that the Thirteenth Princess Consort looked very unwell, and her eyes were red. I guess they had a fight. It's a pity that the Princess Consort and the Thirteenth Princess Consort used to get along so well."

"Yes, I don't know what caused such a commotion." Liu Ye was full of questions.

“It’s rare to see the Princess Consort like this. It’s alarming. I think we should wait until the Master returns. He’ll surely find a way to make her happy,” Liu Cheng suggested.

Liu Ye nodded; there was no other way.

That evening, Prince Lian returned from the palace and went straight to the main courtyard. Upon hearing the maid's report, his brow furrowed and his face showed worry.

The maid, Liu Ye, hurried to the door and called out, "Madam, the master has returned to the manor."

A moment later, the door creaked open from the inside.

Liu Ye and Liu Cheng both breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the Fujin was standing safely behind the door.

Yinzhi's expression softened, and he stepped forward to take her hand: "Are you feeling unwell? I'll have someone fetch the imperial physician."

The Eighth Prince's wife shook her head, a smile appearing on her lips. She took Yinzhi's hand and led him into the room. After the maid made tea, she dismissed the maid.

Seeing the other person's worried expression, the Eighth Prince's wife shook her head: "I'm fine."

Yinzhi frowned, not believing her words: "Your face is so pale, and you still say you're fine? Are you still trying to hide it from me?"

The Eighth Prince's wife gave a bitter smile, lowered her head, and gently leaned on his shoulder, her voice low and tinged with sadness: "I'm just a little tired."

Yinzhi reached out and stroked her hair, gently comforting her, "I'll take care of everything. If you're tired, I'll be there for you."

"I went to see Heyue today," the Eighth Prince's wife said after hesitating for a long time.

Yinzhi paused in stroking her hair, then chuckled softly, "What? Did you two have a fight?"

The Eighth Prince's wife shook her head, closed her eyes, and deeply inhaled the familiar, elegant scent emanating from him: "I said a lot of harsh words, but seeing her like that, I really couldn't bear it. I wanted to tell her that those weren't my true feelings. How could I blame her? She's the one I love the most."

But I had no choice but to do it. We could never go back to the way things were. She had her life, and I had mine. We were from different camps.

I know that if one day in the future we find ourselves on opposite sides, she will definitely soften her heart. But I don't want her to hesitate and be caught in a dilemma because of me. Even if that day comes, I only hope that she can follow her heart and do what she wants.

I can only make her hate me, make her give up, so that she will wholeheartedly help her husband. Even if it makes our future path more difficult, I don't regret my decision. I want to compete fairly with her, and that's my pride.

Besides, I've already wronged her once. Without my knowledge, she almost died at my hands. I'm really scared, scared that I might really hurt her, scared that one day she might really be gone.

Now, although we can't go back to the past, we're still alive, and that's enough.

Yinzhi listened to her quietly, and even though he didn't understand some of what she was saying, he didn't ask any questions.

His wife kept many things from him, but he knew her heart; she always had his best interests at heart, so why should he care?

He lowered his head and kissed her temple, his gaze tender: "Do as you wish, and I will always be by your side."

The Eighth Prince's wife smiled with relief, tears welling in her eyes, and hugged his waist tightly: "Thank you, A-Si, thank you for being with me, thank you for understanding me."

※

When Thirteen returned and heard Hailan's report on what had happened during the day, his face turned so dark it was almost dripping with gloom.

However, when facing Heyue, Thirteen still restrained his anger and carefully looked at her face. Apart from her eyes still being slightly swollen, which was not noticeable unless you looked closely, she was fine.

As always, Heyue smiled and talked about the children, saying how fast they were growing up, and that Hongchang and Tongxuan could already stand up, looking every bit the loving mother.

Thirteen felt a pang of unease. Was she still not going to be honest with him?