She refused to marry.

"How could that be? The young master is surrounded by many experts. Even if he were to search, it wouldn't be my turn... Your Majesty is overthinking it..." Su Wanwan lowered her head to drink her medicine, trying to hide her guilty conscience.

Feng Chenjun went out to digest his food and took her for two hours, exploring every corner of the East Garden.

Su Wanwan suddenly felt like a fool; Feng Chenjun's actions had clearly told her that.

The Crown Prince is not in the East Garden.

If she doesn't come tomorrow, wouldn't that be too obvious?

Moreover, Yuan Zijin said that it was done by Fengchen Jun, so it's highly likely that it was, although it might not be in the East Garden.

Imagine if the crown prince, as the protagonist, were to die like this; who knows how the subsequent plot would fall apart.

"Your Majesty, I am tired and will not go any further." Su Wanwan leaned against the rock.

"There are no sedan chairs here." Xiao Xuanjing crossed his arms and looked back at her.

Su Wanwan got up, wrapped her clothes tighter, and continued to move.

The two returned to the courtyard, each with their own thoughts.

Lord Fengchen needed to rest, and she was also tired, so she left the East Garden and prepared to leave the mansion.

Just as she reached the corridor, someone suddenly grabbed her clothes. Su Wanwan turned her head and saw Xie Yunzhou.

"Xie Yunzhou? What are you still doing in the East Garden?" Su Wanwan was shocked. Hadn't she already implicated Xie Yunzhou?

"The Crown Prince is imprisoned in the dungeon, and the key is in the hands of Lord Fengchen. I cannot approach His Majesty recently, so I'm counting on you, Miss Su." Xie Yunzhou finished speaking and disappeared down the corridor.

What can she do?

The emperor is becoming increasingly indifferent; what excuse does she have left to get close to him?

With worries weighing on her mind, she left the princess's residence.

As the saying goes, things will work themselves out when you reach the bridge.

When winter came, the business in my hands had doubled again, but the final payments were all delivered to Feng Chenjun.

Using this as an excuse, she brought the account book to Feng Chenjun's door to reconcile the accounts.

"Your Majesty, as you can see, most of the final payment is in your hands. The money I have is just enough for working capital. With next spring approaching, I'd like to expand my business a bit more. What do you think?"

Su Wanwan placed her plan in front of Feng Chenjun.

Xiao Xuanjing glanced at it twice. "The idea is good, but the risk is too high. I won't allow it."

"Why?" Su Wanwan frowned.

"Grain prices have already risen, and people are now saving money and won't have any major expenses." Xiao Xuanjing closed the book.

"I'm not just selling to ordinary people, but mostly to wealthy families in the capital. How could I not sell them?" Su Wanwan said.

"This year, the Crown Prince is choosing a consort, so those goods were able to be sold. This autumn harvest was a complete failure for the people, taxes have increased, and the wealthy in the capital are tightening their belts. Next year will be even more difficult..."

Su Wanwan scratched her head. "What will next year be like?"

"Next year is a year of war, and things will be even more difficult," Xiao Xuanjing said in a low voice.

"War? Does Your Majesty know about it?" Su Wanwan raised her eyes.

He's going to war, which means it will be even harder for him to see the emperor again.

"With the Crown Prince missing, Prince Changxin might directly rebel, which would surely lead to widespread suffering." Xiao Xuanjing turned his jade thumb ring, his gaze lost in thought.

Su Wanwan remained silent, looking at the still-alive Feng Chenjun before her, feeling an indescribable sadness in her heart.

"Miss Su, you can check the accounts in the manor these next few days. Next year, find a security escort agency and stop using the Princess's name to transport goods. The Crown Prince will find out sooner or later, which will be detrimental to you." Xiao Xuanjing pointed to the bookshelf next to him. "The account books are over there, and they have already been organized. The banknotes are in the box."

"Oh." Su Wanwan didn't say anything more.

*

That night, Su Wanwan fell asleep and dreamt that she was searching for someone on the battlefield. When someone asked her who she was looking for, she blurted out, "Feng Chenjun."

The word "Feng Chenjun" woke her up.

She touched her chest, feeling lost and dejected.

She couldn't sleep that night.

Thinking of the future desolation of Dongyuan, she felt inexplicably sad.

If we want to spare Fengchen's life, perhaps the only way is to find the Crown Prince as soon as possible and ask him for help; maybe then he will be spared.

The next day, she dressed herself up nicely and went to the East Garden.

Feng Chenjun, standing on the Broken Cloud Terrace, noticed her dark circles and jokingly asked, "Why do you look so haggard? Did a ledger keep Miss Su up all night?"

Su Wanwan sniffed. "Last night, I had a dream and couldn't sleep at all."

"What did you dream about?" Xiao Xuanjing asked, drawing his bow.

"I dreamt that I was searching for my lord on the battlefield. I searched all night and couldn't sleep..." Su Wanwan said sadly.

"Whoosh!" The arrow flew out and hit the bullseye.

Su Wanwan looked dejected. "Your Majesty, can we not go?"

"Even if I am unwilling, the Crown Prince will defy all opposition and force me to send troops." Xiao Xuanjing took out another arrow.

Su Wanwan sighed deeply.

Xiao Xuanjing initially thought she was a habitual liar, but seeing her with dark circles under her eyes and a forlorn expression, she looked truly pitiful.

He pulled her into his arms, placed his hand on hers, and aimed at the bullseye, saying, "I will definitely come back."

Su Wanwan didn't speak; her hand was hurting from being squeezed so tightly.

"Can Your Majesty feign illness and not go?" Su Wanwan glanced sideways. "Or get married, whatever excuse you can use to avoid going."

"No excuses," Feng Chenjun said in a low voice, "Look at the bullseye!"

"Whoosh!"

Hit the bullseye again.

"Want to try it?" Xiao Xuanjing placed the bow and arrow in her hand.

Su Wanwan tried it, but it didn't budge.

"You are neither good at singing and dancing, nor at playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting, and you can't even ride a horse or shoot an arrow. How did Su Tailing raise you?" Xiao Xuanjing asked helplessly as he gave her a new bow and arrow.

"I know how to coax people," Su Wanwan said sweetly.

Xiao Xuanjing pulled her into his arms again, his chest pressed against her back, and she could feel his body temperature through her clothes, warm and comforting.

"Put your hands here." His voice came from above.

Feng Chenjun placed his hand on the back of her hand, his slender fingers weaving between her fingers as he drew back the bowstring.

Su Wanwan's breathing became erratic.

"Look at the bullseye."

"Let it go," he said.

She released her grip, and the arrow flew off at an angle.

A guard came in from outside and presented a bunch of keys to Feng Chenjun. "Your Majesty, the charcoal has been delivered, and the people have already rested."

"Okay." Xiao Xuanjing took the key.

Su Wanwan's face remained calm, but her heart was already pounding wildly.

This should be the set of keys.

How can she get her hands on it?

Today, when Feng Chenjun taught her archery, all she could think about was how to get the key.

An hour later, Su Wanwan was exhausted, but Feng Chenjun persisted until she made a gesture.

"Your Majesty, I don't want to learn anymore," Su Wanwan said coquettishly as she put down her bow and arrow.

Xiao Xuanjing loosened his grip on her arms. "If you don't learn, how will you defend yourself in the future? Pick it up."

Su Wanwan turned around, looked up at Feng Chenjun, and thought, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

So she tiptoed and gently pecked the emperor's cheek.

"This humble woman does not want to learn..."

The platform above the clouds fell silent instantly.