All was quiet. The lanterns under the eaves swayed slightly, and the shadows of the trees danced. Shen Mingzhuang nimbly climbed onto the roof and then silently hid there.
She figured that with Song Yi's abilities, he would definitely notice her if she got this close, so she didn't bother trying to find a way to alert him.
But when I lay on the roof, I heard some sounds that were not suitable for children.
The sound of crashing waves echoed in the room. Shen Mingzhuang couldn't help but sigh. It seemed he had come at the worst possible time.
No wonder Song Yi didn't notice her.
She recognized the voice as An Wanqing's and realized that this was Song Yi's courtyard.
She stayed on the rooftop for a while, the night breeze caressing her face. Sitting on the roof of the Duke of Wen's mansion, she could see far into the distance, where the lights of the houses, layer upon layer, were the only warm glow in the pitch-black night.
Shen Mingzhuang suddenly realized that this was the first time he had ever been alone since he came into this world. Just sitting quietly, looking at the houses in the distance, loneliness unexpectedly washed over him.
She has been in this world for six or seven years. Five years ago, she thought she would die and return to her own world, but things didn't go as planned. Five years later, she opened her eyes again and was still trapped here.
The thought made her feel a little lost. It seemed that deep down she really disliked being forced to stay here, so whenever she thought about it, she couldn't help but say that she was trapped here. It was because she had never regarded this place as her home or her final destination.
Thinking about all this, she couldn't help but think of her son.
Her relationship with Jiang Wang is no longer like it was in the book. She has given birth to a son for Jiang Wang, and now that the world is at peace, Jiang Wang has completely shed the label of tyrant and is now a truly good emperor who cares about the country and its people.
So what is the point of her staying here?
But then she thought, if she left this place, her son would be very sad without his mother.
What kind of life will her son, a character who never appears in the book, have in the future? And what role will she herself play in the future?
Shen Mingzhuang suddenly became very curious. The noise inside the house had stopped at some point, and only the sound of running water and a woman's alluring coquettish voice could be heard.
"Why is the young master always like this? My mother-in-law thinks there's something wrong with my health and says she'll have someone come and take a look at me, but I don't know why there's been no sign of anything happening..."
An Wanqing and Song Yi were leaning against the large bathtub. An Wanqing was acting coquettishly towards Song Yi with a shy tone. Her voice was gentle and tender like a young girl's. There was no trace of the cold and taciturn person that Shen Mingzhuang remembered!
Sure enough, even the most aloof woman will inevitably reveal her true nature in front of her closest confidante, and her outward appearance is merely for show.
She almost thought that Song Yi had really married a cold and beautiful woman!
“I told you this matter isn’t urgent. If Mother brings it up again, just say you know nothing about it and that it was all my idea.”
After Song Yi finished speaking, the gentleness on his face was gone. He pushed An Wanqing away and stepped out of the bathtub.
An Wanqing was stunned for a long time. When she heard her personal maid say that the young master had gone to the study, she couldn't hold back anymore. She splashed water with her hands and said angrily, "How could I marry such a two-faced person? He was so nice just now... but then he turned cold. In the end, he and I were just having an affair..."
An Wanqing was so angry that she realized she had said something wrong as soon as the words left her mouth. She quickly shut her mouth and splashed water a few times before her anger subsided.
She asked her maid Qiutong, "It's one thing that the wife of the Duke of Wei's heir hasn't conceived yet, but my husband and I are such a harmonious couple, why won't he allow me to have a child?"
Qiu Tong was startled upon hearing this and hurriedly said, "Madam, you can't say such things carelessly. If word gets out, people will criticize the young master. The young master must have his own difficulties. However, he treats you very well usually. Please be patient and wait a little longer."
Wait a minute? An Wanqing sighed. She had already waited for several years. How much longer did she have to wait?
At this moment, in the study, Song Yi looked at the person in front of him with a complicated expression, and it took him a long time to look away.
"How did you get here? Shouldn't you be in the Jiaofang Palace right now?"
Song Yi looked at the girl in front of him with a half-smile, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned.
"I'm here because I have something to ask you, otherwise I wouldn't have come to disturb your good time."
Shen Mingzhuang teased, then poured himself a cup of tea. "What are you planning to do by marrying the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Dingyuan?"
Time was precious, so she decided to keep it brief.
Song Yi was stunned, not expecting that she had come all this way just for this matter.
"What exactly do you want? You have so much military power in your hands, don't tell me it's just a coincidence?"
Song Yi recovered from his momentary surprise, lowered his eyelids, and reached out to dust off the hem of his purple brocade robe. "What, could it be that Jiang Wang is worried and specially sent you to test me?"
As he spoke, a slight smile played on his lips. "Then you can rest assured that I don't have such grand ambitions."
Shen Mingzhuang frowned slightly, while Song Yi couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Alright, enough chit-chat. I know what you mean, so I've answered you, haven't I?"
Is this kind of ambiguous answer considered an answer to her?
Thinking of the missing young prince, her dagger-like gaze swept over Song Yi once more.
"You saved my life, and I've said I owe you one. But if you try to fool me with that, don't blame me for being ruthless when we turn against each other in the future."
Song Yi's expression froze slightly. He hadn't even taken this to heart, but she still remembered it. Was that incident really that important to her back then?
“You don’t have to feel indebted to me. I didn’t do what I did back then entirely to save you.”
This time it was Shen Mingzhuang's turn to be stunned. Such a good opportunity, and he not only didn't seize it, but he also pushed it away?
"But I don't like owing people favors."
Shen Mingzhuang said coldly, "If you only want wealth and glory, I can discuss with Jiang Wang to try my best to satisfy you. But if you have rebellious intentions and insist on causing the people to suffer for your own selfish desires, then everyone should kill you."
This time, Song Yi gradually put away the playful expression on his face. He stared at Shen Mingzhuang, the face that had appeared in his dreams countless times. It was exactly the same as in his memory, flamboyantly beautiful, with every single strand of hair being more charming and alluring than the average person.
"Don't you think he's unsuitable to be the ruler of a country?"
He suddenly asked her, wanting to know why she was so devoted to following Jiang Wang.
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