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“No,” Zhao Defang looked at the small desk opposite her and smiled slightly. “My elder brother often comes to see me and stays with me for a few days. Before Mother entered the palace, it was always my elder brother who took care of me and urged me to study and write.”

Wanlan paused for a moment, then fell silent.

Zehua is still struggling, isn't he? He doesn't want to fight for anything at all, but the situation leaves him no choice but to accept it. After all, he is a prince, and the youngest son whom Emperor Taizu of Song dotes on the most. Even if he doesn't want to fight, someone will force him to.

“My eldest brother is eight years older than me. I have always thought he was very capable and was proud of it, but I never thought of competing with him. My mother once told me that my father should have had four sons, but two of my older brothers died young. So my eldest brother and I should always support each other. I also cowardly thought that it was enough to have my capable eldest brother protecting everyone. As long as it was something my eldest brother wanted, I would not touch it.”

As Zhao Defang spoke, Wanlan kept her eyes downcast, staring at his hand resting on the couch. As soon as he finished speaking, she smiled and gently stroked his hand with both hands. Then she raised her eyes and looked at his profile thoughtfully.

"So you feel indebted to him regarding Princess Deqing?" Not only indebted, but he also avoided her initially because he knew about the affair between Princess Deqing and his elder brother.

“No, I don’t feel indebted.” Zhao Defang smiled gently as he squeezed her hand back, glancing at her thoughtful eyes. “I once told you that Xu’er was an accident because I knew from the beginning that the marriage with Princess Deqing was just a transaction. So I never thought that I could be a real husband and wife with her. I just didn’t expect that she would force me to stay on our wedding night, but then turn on me the next day and say that I forced her.”

Wanlan's eyes widened, something flashing through her mind for a fleeting moment, too quick to grasp, "Forced to stay on our wedding night... our wedding night..." Why did that scene seem to flash before her eyes? A woman in a red wedding dress grabbing the hand of her husband who was trying to leave the bridal chamber...

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Okay!

The female protagonist, who had forgotten the dreams she once had, finally started to remember them a little.

Speaking of which, the original plan was for Zehua to intercept Wanlan halfway through the journey.

But thinking about it, neither of them are the type to act impulsively without considering the consequences.

...Okay, they're a bit too rational. Maybe this relationship is just too bland because they're both so rational—lacking passion...==|||...(Is what they feel for each other love? *sweating profusely* I'm slamming my own thoughts to the ground—*lying down*)

Thank you to all my friends who support me!

I hope I won't get so bored that I fall asleep while watching this.

Sweat~

Chapter 58, Only Love Is Hard to Die (2)

"...Later, we gradually grew distant, until she gave birth to Xu'er, and her personality changed drastically—" Zhao Defang didn't notice her absent-mindedness and continued, chuckling, "At that time, I didn't know it was you. Although I was somewhat attracted to Wanlan, whose personality had changed drastically due to amnesia, I was mostly curious and doubtful." Little did she know that this curiosity would lead her deeper and deeper, until she was powerless to turn back, and... unwilling to turn back again.

“Because I approached you first, you said it wasn’t out of a sense of obligation, but rather that the Prince of Yan’s lingering affection for Princess Deqing left you unsure how to face him, which is why you avoided him in everything.” Wanlan looked at him quietly and continued softly, “But the current situation no longer allows you to run away. The Prince of Yan is closing in step by step, and the Prince of Jin has been unjustly placed under house arrest. If you don’t take action, you probably won’t even be considered a human being.” Rather, you’ll be a god. Faced with such infighting among family members, an ordinary person would absolutely not be able to remain indifferent. Zehua… was just a mortal, and a more soft-hearted and gentler person than most.

Zhao Defang shook his head and smiled bitterly, "But I really don't know what they want me to do. Do they really want me to speak to Father Emperor? Or do they want me to frame my elder brother so that the throne will naturally fall into my hands?"

“They didn’t want you to do things their way. They just knew you didn’t like to compete, so they forced you to do it,” Wanlan said, leaning against him with her arm around his, her gaze drifting unconsciously to the small desk opposite her. “They probably just thought you could do something unexpected.”

During her month in Luoyang Palace, she gradually came to understand Emperor Taizu's thoughts. Regardless of Zhao Dezhao's purpose, Emperor Taizu's indifference was, in a sense, tacit approval. In other words, Emperor Taizu approved of all of Zhao Dezhao's actions against Zehua. Thus, it is clear that Emperor Taizu wanted to see just how capable his usually indifferent little prince really was.

However, Emperor Taizu of Song inadvertently learned of the secret between Prince Jin and the Empress, and began to suspect the reasons and ulterior motives behind Prince Jin's support for Zehua. At this moment, he thought of her.

Princess Deqing, Jiao Wanlan, was the Empress's most beloved adopted daughter and the former lover of Prince Yan, Zhao Dezhao. Most importantly, she was the wife of Prince Qin, Zhao Defang. After losing her memory, her relationship with Prince Qin grew closer and closer until they became inseparable. Under these circumstances, by taking her hostage, all three parties could be restrained at the same time. Emperor Taizu of Song could then retreat behind the scenes and watch how the three uncles and nephews would put on their show of vying for power.

It seems that the legendary "Axe Sound and Candle Shadow" probably originated from this, but what exactly happened that night?

"Zehua, what do you plan to do?"

"There's nothing we can do."

Wanlan was taken aback, and looked up at him. "What do you mean?"

"Remain calm and observe," Zhao Defang smiled faintly. "Since Father has agreed that I don't have to return to Guizhou for the time being, I will stay in the capital and see what they want to do. Father shouldn't do anything to you by summoning you to the palace. As long as you are safe and sound, I will stay in the Prince of Qin's residence... Respond to all changes with constancy."

"I'm afraid they won't allow you to do nothing." Now that they've orchestrated Zehua's return to the capital, how could they possibly let her go? This time, the Emperor moved her from Luoyang Palace to the capital's palace, probably because Zehua already knew her whereabouts and the reason she was kidnapped. So the Emperor openly took her away from Zehua, which was a clear and blatant act of coercion.

“Wanlan, last time you said…” He paused, then continued with difficulty under her questioning gaze, “You said last time that you came from another time and space, and that everything that happens here would be clearly known in your world. What did you mean by that?”

Wanlan was startled. She hadn't expected Zehua to suddenly confront this issue, because he had never cared about her past before. Just as he himself said, as long as he knew she was by his side and wouldn't leave, it didn't matter where she came from.

She took a deep breath and forced a smile. "To put it simply, it's like when you go and read the history books of previous or even earlier dynasties, you still know a lot about the major events that happened in those long-vanished dynasties."

A sharp pain shot through her hands, and Wanlan reflexively frowned, speechless as she looked at his shocked expression.

"You...you mean you come from another dynasty in the future?"

"……almost."

Zhao Defang slowly exhaled, releasing her hand. "So, in other words, the Great Song Dynasty will eventually—"

“That’s only natural,” Wanlan said earnestly, taking his hand in hers again, which made him look down at her. “Times change. Just like when we reach a certain height, we have to discard many things from the past. No dynasty can last as long as heaven and earth. Do you understand, Zehua?”

"I understand." Zhao Defang smiled bitterly. Knowing the outcome was so painful. Knowing how things would turn out, yet knowing that he was powerless to change it.

"Wanlan".

"Um?"

"So you know how this all ended, right?"

Wanlan remained silent for a long time. Just when Zhao Defang thought she wouldn't answer because she didn't know, she spoke up, "I know the ending, but I don't know the process, so I can't tell you what to do. I don't even know if my arrival will affect the ending."

Zhao Defang shook her head slightly. "I don't want you to tell me what to do. I just want to know if I'm included in the ending you know?"

"I understand... What do you want to do?"

Zhao Defang looked out the window and replied calmly, "Consider whether to have Lord Xue send you to the palace."

Wanlan was completely stunned. "You... do you want to put Lord Xue in an unjust position? He trusted you, that's why he let you bring me out. If I don't go back, how do you expect him to explain to the Emperor?"

"I don't care about all that!" He suddenly turned around and glared at her, gripping her shoulders tightly with both hands. "I don't want the position of crown prince. Whoever wants it can have it! It's their business if they want to force me. Whether I do it or not is my freedom! As long as you stay safely by my side, I will no longer be coerced by them!"

Wanlan remained motionless as he rocked her, quietly asking in return, "Can you also ignore the Imperial Uncle? Can you also ignore the Prince of Yan? Aren't you worried about their fate?"