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As night fell, Nanjing had just ended its curfew during the national mourning period, and the streets were beginning to regain some of their liveliness. However, the Prince Wu's mansion remained eerily quiet, as if it were isolated from the world.

As usual, after serving Su Ning the bowl of thick, dark medicine, Zhao Ling'er watched him lie down in a daze before tiptoeing to the dressing table to remove her hairpins and jewelry.

The bronze mirror reflected a haggard yet still beautiful face. Five years of toil and anxiety had left faint traces at the corners of her eyes, and the once bright young girl now bore a hint of lingering worry.

She sighed softly, her delicate hand just touching the pearl hairpin in her hair, preparing to end this day that had repeated itself countless times.

Suddenly, a clear, soft voice called out from behind, "Ling'er."

The voice was clear and powerful, with a calmness she had never heard before, completely unlike that of a patient who had been bedridden for five years.

Zhao Ling'er froze, and the jade comb in her hand fell onto the dressing table with a "thud".

She turned around abruptly, her heart nearly leaping out of her chest.

In the flickering candlelight, she saw that her husband, who should have been asleep in bed, had actually sat up. His deep eyes shone like stars in the dim light as he gazed at her quietly.

"Your Highness... Your Highness?" Zhao Ling'er covered her mouth in disbelief.

Tears instantly filled her eyes, and her voice trembled.

The immense shock left her speechless for a moment, and she even wondered if she was hallucinating.

Su Ning lifted the heavy quilt and walked steadily to her.

For the first time in five years, he stood before this woman who had given her youth and was exhausted for him, completely sober and without any pretense.

"Thank you for your hard work these past five years." Su Ning's voice was low and full of apology.

He gently stroked her cheek, and the real warmth from his fingertips made Zhao Ling'er tremble all over, finally confirming that this was not a dream.

"Your Highness...are you really alright after being poisoned?" she asked anxiously, her eyes searching his face for signs of illness, only to find that the deathly pallor that had shrouded him for so many years was gone.

“My poison has long been cured.” Su Ning grasped her hand, which was slightly cool from excitement, and felt the thin calluses on her palm. A wave of pity welled up in his heart. “For the past five years, I have watched you toil for me every day, watched you single-handedly support this crumbling royal palace, watched you struggle to navigate the turmoil of the court, and watched you shield me from both open and hidden attacks…”

His voice was filled with deep remorse, as if every word weighed a ton: "Do you still remember how you looked when you first married into the Prince's mansion? Back then, your eyes and brows still held the vibrancy and radiance of a young girl, like a magnolia in its first bloom. Now you..."

His fingertips lightly touched the corner of her eye, where fine lines had already formed, marks etched by time and sorrow.

Zhao Ling'er's tears finally broke free and slid down her cheeks: "I am not suffering. As long as Your Highness can get better, I am willing to do anything, really..."

Her words were interrupted by a sob; the grievances, fears, and perseverance of the past five years seemed to find an outlet at this moment.

Su Ning stared at the face that looked so much like someone from her memory, and a complex and indescribable emotion welled up in her heart.

Memories from before his time travel intertwined with his observations and listening over the past five years, leading him to develop a genuine affection for his nominal wife that went far beyond responsibility and exploitation.

"Ling'er," he asked softly, wiping away her tears with his thumb, "do you know what has caused me the most pain these past five years?"

Zhao Ling'er raised her tearful eyes and shook her head blankly.

“It’s watching you work so hard for me every day, yet I can’t give you a real hug; it’s listening to you confide your troubles and bear the pressure at your bedside, yet I can’t give you a timely response or comfort; it’s feeling your warmth close to me, yet I can’t give you the tenderness and support you deserve.” Su Ning’s voice was filled with long-suppressed emotions. “Every time you secretly shed tears, every time you force a smile to deal with visitors, I see it all, and it hurts my heart.”

As Su Ning spoke, he gently pulled her into his arms.

This real, powerful, and unreserved embrace instantly shattered all of Zhao Ling'er's pretense of strength built up over the past five years.

She buried her face in Su Ning's strong, warm shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably, as if she wanted to cry out all her bitterness.

"Your Highness...do you know? Every time the imperial physician shakes his head and says your condition is worsening, I wish I could suffer in your place...Every time someone in the court hints that we should prepare for your funeral or plots to seize the Prince's property, I dare not close my eyes all night, for fear that I will wake up and..." Her words were intermittent, but every word struck Su Ning's heart.

Su Ning tenderly stroked her hair, feeling the trembling of her thin shoulders: "From today onwards, everything will be different. I will never let you bear these storms alone again. I, Su Ning, hereby swear that from this day forward, I will protect you and ensure you suffer no more injustice."

He took her hand and led her to the bedside.

The bright red brocade quilt is embroidered with the mandarin ducks playing in the water pattern from our wedding five years ago. Although it looks a bit worn, it is still vibrant, as if reminding us of that time that was delayed by "illness".

"I've wronged you and neglected you these past five years." Su Ning's voice was slightly hoarse, his gaze fixed intently on her. "Tonight, let's complete the ceremony we didn't finish five years ago, shall we?"

Zhao Ling'er's cheeks flushed instantly, and she lowered her head shyly, even her ears turning pink. Her voice was barely audible: "But Your Highness, is your body really alright?"

Worry still habitually takes the lead.

Su Ning smiled slightly, but instead of answering directly, she bent down and blew out the candle on the bedside table.

In an instant, the room was shrouded in a hazy light, with only the cool moonlight quietly streaming in through the carved window lattice, spreading a layer of silver light on the floor and shrouding the two of them in an ambiguous veil.

In the moonlight, he gently untied her intricate sash, his movements tender yet firm:
"Tonight, I will let you see for yourself whether your husband has truly recovered."

Their clothes gradually fell away, and their skin touched.

For the first time in five years, they faced each other as their completely authentic selves, without illness as a barrier, and without pretense to maintain.

Zhao Ling'er awkwardly responded to Su Ning's kiss, her hands nervously gripping his shirt, her body trembling slightly from the unfamiliar yet anticipated intimacy.

"Don't be afraid," Su Ning whispered in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her neck. "Ling'er, look at me, feel me. From now on, I will always be by your side, whether in public or in private."

When the two finally crossed the final line...

Su Ning tenderly kissed away the tears at the corners of her eyes...

After an unknown amount of time, the passion subsided, and only the soft breathing of the two remained in the palace.

Zhao Ling'er nestled in Su Ning's warm and firm embrace, her fingers unconsciously drawing circles on his chest, her heart filled with an unprecedented sense of security and happiness.

"Your Highness," she spoke softly, with a hint of languor and worry, "what should we do next? Can we continue feigning illness?"

Su Ning toyed with a stray lock of her hair and pondered, "The situation has changed. The old man has passed away, and the new emperor has ascended the throne. It is a time of power transition and undercurrents. What we need to do next is to take advantage of the situation and find our own way out of this chaos."

"Will Emperor Jianwen give us this opportunity?" Zhao Ling'er raised her head, her eyes revealing a clear political consideration. "The ministers around him who advocate reducing the power of the princes are probably not going to tolerate any of them, especially someone as prominent as you."

"So we can't rely on them to give us opportunities; we have to fight for them and create them ourselves." Su Ning's lips curled into a confident smile. "Showing weakness, being patient, forming alliances... what we need to do is to place our own pieces outside of their uncle and nephew's game."

"Hmm." Zhao Ling'er seemed to understand, but chose to trust unconditionally. "I understand. Whatever decision Your Highness makes, I will stay by your side."

“So all these years, I have had to watch you bear everything alone.” Su Ning brought up the topic again, her guilt deepening. “Every day I watched you worry and work hard for me, watched you deal with various forces, watched you secretly shed tears in the middle of the night, licking your wounds alone… Ling’er, do you know how much my heart ached during those times? I almost couldn’t help but wake up several times and tell you the truth.”

Zhao Ling'er shook her head, reached out and stroked his angular face again, her eyes full of tenderness: "I really don't blame Your Highness. If it weren't for this, perhaps we would have already... As long as it brings us to today, and Your Highness is safe and sound, everything I did in the past was worth it."

At that moment, Suning was deeply moved by the woman's resilience and affection.

He held her soft, warm body tightly, as if wanting to meld her into his very bones, and whispered a solemn vow in her ear:

"When the time is right and the world is in motion, I will make you the most honored woman in the world and present you with all the beauty and glory of the world."

Zhao Ling'er gently covered his mouth, her eyes clear and firm: "I don't want any worldly honor, I only wish for Your Highness to be safe and happy, and to grow old with me, that would be the greatest happiness in the world."

The moonlight, like water, flowed quietly over the two people embracing each other.

This was the first time in five years that Zhao Ling'er had fallen asleep in her husband's real, warm, and strong embrace. A satisfied and happy smile graced her lips, and even her sleeping face appeared exceptionally peaceful.

After her breathing became even and deep, confirming that she was fast asleep, Su Ning quietly opened her eyes.

He quietly got up, carefully tucked the blanket around her, gazed at her for a moment, and then walked to the window.

Gazing at the bright moon in the night sky, his eyes were deep, and he murmured almost inaudibly to himself:

"The era of Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty has ended. Now it's my time to make my mark. Zhu Yunwen, Zhu Di... I've only just begun to play this game. Ling'er, just watch. All the suffering you've endured for me these past years, I will make you pay for it with interest, for you, for us. This vast land will eventually grovel at our feet."

……

The next morning, as the rising sun cast its golden rays through the window, Zhao Ling'er awoke in her husband's warm and comforting embrace.

Looking at Su Ning's sleeping profile so close to mine, and feeling his steady breathing, an unprecedented sense of peace filled my heart.

She couldn't help but lean forward and gently kiss his forehead.

All the grievances and hardships of the past five years have turned into sweet spring water at this moment, nourishing her once parched heart.

Su Ning, who remained conscious, felt the gentle touch on his forehead and secretly vowed once again: from now on, he would never let the woman in his arms suffer any more grievances, and he would definitely create a carefree world for her.

The power transition in the Ming Dynasty continued in an irreversible manner, with undercurrents surging beneath the surface.

But for this couple who have endured five years of hardship and are finally able to be honest with each other, their new era is just beginning, dawning with the first light of day.

……

The Eastern Palace. The crisp sound of the jade comb hitting the ground echoed in the room, like a harbinger of destruction.

Lady Lü stared blankly at the comb broken in two on the ground. It was a piece of Hetian jade that the late emperor had bestowed upon her when she was made the Crown Prince's successor wife, and it had been with her for nearly twenty years.

The mirror reflected a face that, though well-maintained, could not hide the marks of time; the fine lines at the corners of the eyes etched the humiliation and resentment of being imprisoned for so many years.

"What did you say? Say it again!" Her voice rose involuntarily, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

The palace maid Chun Tao, kneeling on the ground, lowered her head even further, her voice trembling: "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, it was... it was His Highness Prince Wu... He appeared at the funeral of Emperor Taizu, supported by two eunuchs, wearing mourning clothes, and kowtowed before the coffin."

Lady Lü slowly rose, her pale fingers gripping the edge of the dressing table tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"That little bastard, he can actually get up?" She enunciated each word clearly, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. "Didn't the imperial physician say he was bedridden? Didn't he say he was beyond medical help?"

Chuntao dared not answer, and buried her head even deeper.

Lady Lü took a deep breath, steadying her slightly trembling body: "Go and invite the Emperor over! Tell him I have important matters to discuss with him, immediately!"

"Yes! Queen Mother."

Half an hour later, Emperor Jianwen, Zhu Yunwen, dressed in plain clothes, stepped into the East Palace.

The young emperor, only twenty-one years old, looked exhausted from days of mourning and handling state affairs, his eyes bloodshot.

"Why is Your Majesty in such a hurry to see me?" His voice was gentle, yet carried a hint of barely perceptible aloofness.

Lady Lü dismissed everyone around her, grabbed her son's hand, her nails almost digging into his flesh: "Yunwen, do you know that Yunwen appeared at your imperial grandfather's funeral?"

Emperor Jianwen gently pulled his hand away from his mother's and rubbed his aching temples: "I know. My third brother came to the funeral despite being ill; his filial piety is rare. I have ordered the imperial physicians to take good care of him."

"Filial piety?" Lady Lü shrieked, her laughter particularly jarring in the empty hall. "My foolish son! Do you really think he went there to fulfill his filial duty? This is all for show, for all the officials! This is to tell everyone that Zhu Yunwen is still alive! He can still appear before them!"

Emperor Jianwen frowned: "Mother, you are overthinking it. My third brother is terminally ill, and the imperial physicians all say he doesn't have much time left. His attendance at the funeral today was just a last gasp. I saw with my own eyes that his face was deathly pale, and he needed two people to support him to walk. He almost fainted when he kowtowed."

"A final burst of energy before death?" Lady Lü paced excitedly in the hall, her wide sleeves fluttering with her movements. "Yunwen, have you forgotten the lesson of that year? Everyone thought he was on the verge of death, but what happened? Not only did he survive, he also caused a severe financial crisis for the Ming Dynasty!"

Emperor Jianwen's expression turned slightly annoyed: "That's just a hundred-year-old ginseng keeping him alive. Besides, most of the properties of the Prince of Wu's mansion have now been taken over by the royal family, and my third brother did not resist, which shows that he has accepted his fate."

Lady Lü suddenly stopped in front of her son, staring intently into his eyes: "Then what did your imperial grandfather instruct you before he died? He clearly told you to cut off Yunhuo's ginseng supply, why didn't you do so?"

Emperor Jianwen turned his face away awkwardly, his voice lowering slightly: "Grandfather is delirious from illness. My third brother is, after all, my own brother, of the same Zhu family bloodline. How could I do such a thing as killing my own flesh and blood?"

"Fratricide?" Madam Lü trembled with rage, her voice suddenly rising. "You treat him as a brother, but has he ever treated you as an elder brother? Have you forgotten how he opposed you in court? Have you forgotten how his new policies won people's hearts? Have you forgotten how the Chang family resigned at a crucial moment? Do you really think he has nothing left?"

A barrage of questions made Emperor Jianwen's face turn ugly. He turned around abruptly: "Mother! Why bring up these old matters? I am now the Emperor, and my third brother is just a patient clinging to life. Why must we drive him to such a dead end?"

Suddenly, Lady Lü knelt down, tears streaming down her face, and pleaded, "Yunwen! I'm begging you! While you still hold power, quickly issue an edict to execute Yunhu! Otherwise, he will surely become a great threat! Your uncles, the Prince of Yan, the Prince of Ning, and the Prince of Zhou, aren't they all eyeing you covetously? If any of them join forces with Yunhu, will you still be able to sit secure on the throne?"

Emperor Jianwen quickly helped his mother up, his voice filled with suppressed anger: "Mother! Are you trying to make me bear the infamy of murdering my brother? How will future generations write about me? 'Emperor Jianwen ascended the throne and immediately poisoned his younger brother'? How can I face the people of the world? How can I face the ancestors of the Zhu family?"

"The people of the world?" Lady Lü smiled sadly, tears streaming down her cheeks. "My foolish son, when your throne is in jeopardy, who in the world will pity you? History is written by the victors! Which of your uncles is any good? And with Yun Tong, this scourge, don't you know that there are still many old ministers in the court secretly supporting him?"

"Enough!" Emperor Jianwen finally lost his temper, flicking his sleeves. "Mother, I will spare you this matter because you have been confined for many years and have been harboring resentment. But do not mention the matter of ordering my third brother's death again! I have my own plans!"

Seeing his mother's despairing expression, he softened his tone slightly: "Don't worry, I have made arrangements for my third brother. I have already increased the number of imperial physicians to watch over him day and night, so he can't cause any trouble. You should rest well in the Eastern Palace and don't need to worry too much about the affairs of the court."

Lady Lü collapsed to the ground, her magnificent palace attire spreading out like a withered flower.

She murmured to herself, "Yunwen, you will regret this. You and your father are both too kind-hearted. In the royal family, kindness is the greatest weakness..."

Emperor Jianwen took one last look at his mother, his eyes filled with complex emotions, before finally turning away.

The moment he stepped out of the Eastern Palace, he heard Lady Lü's piercing cries behind him:

"Zhu Yunwen! If you don't kill him, you will die at his hands one day!"

……

On his way back to Jinshen Hall, Emperor Jianwen was in a heavy mood.

The Forbidden City was silent under the cover of night, with only the occasional sound of patrolling guards breaking the silence.

The personal eunuch, Wang Jinghong, carefully observed the emperor's expression and asked softly, "Your Majesty, should we strengthen surveillance of the Prince of Wu's residence?"

Emperor Jianwen pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "No need. Just send a few more imperial physicians to treat him. After all, he is my own brother."

"But what about the Empress Dowager..."

"The Empress Dowager is just overthinking because she's been confined for too long," Emperor Jianwen said dismissively, as if trying to convince himself. "What trouble can a dying man cause? Besides, the imperial physicians check his pulse every day and say that his five internal organs are failing and he won't live much longer."

Wang Jinghong bowed his head and agreed, saying no more.

……

However, what Emperor Jianwen did not know was that the scene inside the Prince of Wu's mansion was completely different at this moment.

Su Ning was sitting leisurely in his study, sipping a cup of tea.

Where is the look of someone who was terminally ill during the day?

The lean and capable-looking Afu bowed and reported: "Master, as expected, Lady Lü asked Emperor Jianwen to order your execution."

Su Ning chuckled lightly, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes: "This 'Empress Dowager' is more sensible than her son. How will Emperor Jianwen respond?"

"Emperor Jianwen refused, and even said he would send more imperial physicians to treat you."

“Just as I thought.” Su Ning stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the bright moon in the night sky. “Indecisive and concerned with empty reputation, that’s Zhu Yunwen. He would rather raise a tiger to cause trouble than bear the infamy of killing his brother.”

Standing to the side, Zhao Ling'er approached with concern: "Your Highness, now that the Empress Dowager has become suspicious, shouldn't we be even more careful?"

“No need.” Su Ning put his arm around his wife’s shoulder, his tone relaxed. “The more careful we are, the more suspicious we become. Let the imperial physicians come and see for themselves. It will be a good opportunity for them to confirm that I am ‘terminally ill’.”

He turned to Afu and instructed, "Notify Wang Jin to have his men spread the word in the palace that the Prince of Wu's attendance at the late emperor's funeral was a last gasp of life, and that he is now critically ill and may not survive the next three to five days."

"Yes, sir." Afu accepted the order and quietly withdrew.

Zhao Ling'er nestled in her husband's arms and whispered, "I'm still worried... The Lü family has been operating in the palace for many years. Although they are under house arrest, it's hard to guarantee they don't have any backup plans."

Su Ning stroked her hair, his gaze deep: "Of course she has a backup plan. But right now, the person she hates most isn't me, but those who restrict her freedom. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Ling'er, you must remember, in this deep palace, there are no eternal enemies, nor eternal friends."

……

That night, the Imperial Medical Academy indeed sent two more imperial physicians to examine the patient.

Su Ning lay on the bed, circulating her inner energy to adjust her pulse until it was barely perceptible. Her face was as pale as paper, and her breathing was so weak that it was almost imperceptible.

"How is it?" Zhao Ling'er asked, feigning anxiety and with tears in her eyes.

The two imperial physicians exchanged a glance and shook their heads: "Your Highness, please forgive us, but His Highness's pulse is disordered, his five internal organs are failing, and he is deficient in both qi and blood. I'm afraid... he will pass away in the next few days."

"Waaaaah... How could this happen? Didn't the prince recover?"

"Alas! Your Highness, that was merely a final burst of energy before death."

When the news reached the palace, Emperor Jianwen breathed a sigh of relief, but the restrictions placed on Lady Lü became even stricter...

More guards were deployed, and even daily meals were subject to strict inspection.

Inside the Eastern Palace, Lady Lü listened to her trusted maid's report and gave a bitter laugh: "What a fine 'critically ill' act! I'd like to see how long this 'dying person' can keep up this act!"

She gazed towards the direction of the Prince of Wu's residence, her eyes filled with venom: "Yunhu, even if I can't do anything to you, I will never let you get away with this! You think you've already won? No, this game has only just begun..."

She beckoned Chuntao over and whispered a few instructions to her.

Chun Tao's expression changed, but she still accepted the order and left.

This undercurrent of competition has only just begun.

The indecisive Jianwen Emperor was unaware that his momentary mercy was sowing the seeds of future disaster.

Everyone in the deep palace is like a chess piece on a chessboard, each with their own untold schemes.

As night deepened, the red walls and yellow tiles of the Forbidden City appeared particularly solemn and desolate under the moonlight.

...(End of chapter)