The summer heat subsided, a cool breeze arose, and a light autumn rain fell. The sky was high and the air was crisp. However, neither the capital nor the border regions were at peace.
Three months ago, the Prince of Huailing led troops to support the border. The current emperor knew that the supplies were insufficient, but he still made all sorts of excuses and refused to allocate any grain or fodder.
Princess Qin Yi worked tirelessly day and night to gather the necessary supplies, but this also damaged her health, causing her to give birth to her child before the due date.
This child was born at a time when her parents were going through the most difficult times. She had a small face and almost didn't make it through several hardships, but she eventually survived and lived to be one year old.
"He Mian, Wen He Mian".
Qin Yi lowered her head, pressed her cheek against the child's, and murmured, hoping that she could live a long and healthy life, and grow up happily.
Emperor Shun had neglected state affairs for many years, and the barbarian tribes had been eyeing him covetously for a long time. Without the support of the court, Wen Chengyuan spent many years just pacifying the border.
Seven years later, when he returned to the capital in triumph, the baby in his swaddling clothes had grown into a well-behaved and obedient little girl, fair and lovely. She stood under the long corridor, holding a small hand warmer and looking over curiously.
Busy pacifying the border, he had to leave his family in the capital city where wolves and tigers roamed. After several years of separation, Wen Chengyuan had hardly had a chance to see his wife and daughter. At this moment, seeing them, his nose tingled and he almost shed tears.
"He Mian, would you like to go to the palace with your father?"
Wen Chengyuan didn't know how to get along with his daughter. When he spoke, he felt rushed and annoyed that he hadn't said anything affectionate first.
"OK."
However, Wen Hemian didn't care about that. Although she only remembered seeing her father a few times, her mother said that her father was a great hero who protected the border, and she should be proud of him.
Seeing that Wen Chengyuan seemed a little stunned, she took the initiative to step forward, took his hand, and called out "Father".
Wen Chengyuan sighed several times, looking silly, which made Qin Yi behind him shake her head.
This was a celebration banquet specially prepared for Wen Chengyuan, and the entire family of three was specifically requested to attend, as the royal family's face could not be lost.
The eunuch faction was rampant in the palace, causing chaos in the court. However, they only dared to be arrogant in front of civil officials. When facing a war god like Wen Chengyuan, who had come from the battlefield, they all had to give him some face.
Even so, it doesn't mean that the palace is a safe place for them. Even Wen Hemian has a hidden arrow in her sleeve, which can protect her if necessary.
In short, there are many intricacies involved.
The Wen family is mysterious and low-key. Despite having a close relationship with the founding ancestor, they never boast of their achievements and rarely get involved in court affairs. They are a model of self-preservation. If it weren't for the barbarian invasion of the border, they probably wouldn't have rashly gotten involved.
Wen Hemian disliked the palace banquet, disliked the emperor's treacherous smiles as he looked at her parents, and disliked the dirty looks the ministers gave her, as if they were waiting to sell her.
She was frail from a young age and had little contact with people in the capital. Her mother thought she didn't understand, but in fact she understood everything; she just didn't want to say it and worry them.
Little Wen Hemian thought so.
As the banquet began with toasts and drinks, Qin Yi, worried about bothering her with the smell, made an excuse to take her outside.
In early April, the night wind was chilly. Qin Yi pulled her cloak tighter and sighed, "I wonder when we'll be able to get out of this vortex."
The little girl smiled and shook her mother's hand, saying, "Mother, don't be unhappy."
Qin Yi smiled and shook her head. Just as she was about to pull her out, she suddenly saw a eunuch in front of the palace blocking a person. Judging from the figure, it looked like a woman. She was being dragged backward with her mouth covered, and she looked very miserable.
But this wasn't the only one suffering in the palace. Qin Yi, adhering to the principle of not wanting to meddle, pulled her daughter along, but Wen Hemian didn't move.
The little girl lowered her voice: "Mom, shall we go take a look?"
Her daughter looked soft and sweet, but Qin Yi had observed her and knew she was not someone who would easily soften her heart. She quickly made up her mind, took her hand, and asked with a frown, "What are you doing?"
The eunuchs naturally recognized Qin Yi. Although they were of low rank, they smiled obsequiously at the noblewoman: "Your Highness, she's just a concubine who escaped from the Cold Palace. We were worried that she would offend the noble ladies' eyes if she went in, so we were about to send her back."
With a flick of his eye, he signaled to his men to hurry up.
The woman looked disheveled, dressed in coarse cloth, but upon closer inspection, her appearance was quite good. Her mouth was covered, preventing her from speaking. Upon hearing these words, tears welled up in her eyes and she sobbed softly, filled with sorrow.
If she's a concubine confined to the cold palace, then things will be complicated.
Qin Yi lowered her eyes, exchanged a silent glance with her daughter, and sighed, "Fine, I happen to have nothing to do, so I'll take her back for you."
Before the eunuchs could say anything, they looked up and saw the guards following behind the princess silently draw their swords. A chill ran down their spines, and they trembled and kowtowed as they ran away.
The woman repeatedly expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness, thank you, Your Highness..."
"Don't thank me." Qin Yi's expression was calm; she wasn't a kind-hearted person. "If you want to thank someone, thank my daughter. Tell me, why did you go there?"
This wasn't a good place to talk, so the group moved to another spot. During their conversation, they learned that the woman's name was Jiang Wu, and that she and her child had recently been banished to the Cold Palace. Her release this time was purely out of necessity.
Jiang Wu covered her face bitterly: "My poor child, because of me, he fell ill and no doctor was willing to come and see him. If there were other options..."
In the harem, power struggles and cold-heartedness prevail. Even those with maternal families find it difficult to survive, let alone an orphan girl like Jiang Wu from the common people. Despite her arduous journey, she ultimately cannot escape this fate.
Wen Hemian said, "Mother, why don't we go take a look?"
Qin Yi didn't want to get involved in this palace intrigue, but having already made her move, it didn't matter whether she continued to interfere or not. Thinking back to when she was worried about her daughter, she finally relented and said, "We'll go with you."
Jiang Wu tried to hold back her tears, but she couldn't help but cry. Wen Hemian took a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her, saying, "Wipe your tears."
Jiang Wu said softly, "Thank you, Princess."
The Cold Palace was just a euphemism; it simply meant that the concubines were moved to a more remote palace. What Jiang Wu said was true. When they arrived, the child had a burning fever on his forehead. He was a tiny, huddled figure, curled up in the blankets, and looked terribly thin.
One of the bodyguards was a doctor. He gave Jiang Wu some pills he carried, instructing her to dissolve them in hot water and then feed them to the child.
Wen Hemian touched the child's hand, and a strange feeling suddenly arose in her heart. Even when Qin Yi led her away, she was still unable to come back to her senses for a long time.
Qin Yi asked her, "What is A-Mian thinking about?"
“I was thinking, he’s so pitiful,” Wen Hemian said in a low voice. “That lady is so pitiful too.”
“They are not the only pitiful people in the palace,” Qin Yi sighed. “We can help them once, but we may not be able to help them a second time. How they go about their lives in the future is up to them.”
"He Mian, it's good that you have good intentions, but if you don't have the ability to help yourself, don't let that good intention become the source of harm. It's always good to be vigilant."
Wen Hemian nodded thoughtfully, her small face full of seriousness.
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