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Her words made him suddenly realize something, and he froze.

“I can’t ignore this. Strictly speaking, I brought this disaster upon myself, and I can’t just sit idly by,” Wanlan said calmly as she stood up and looked at him. “Zehua, I may be staying in the palace for quite some time this time. There’s something I need to make sure it doesn’t lead to further trouble.”

Zhao Defang lowered his eyes and asked in a low voice, "What if I don't allow you to go? There are some things that you can't change, especially things that have already been decided. To distort history... you might become a sinner for all time."

Wanlan was stunned, then chuckled at his words. She pulled him up from the bed and said with a smile, "I won't rewrite history. I just want to minimize the damage, or rather, the trouble, so that the attitude towards either side will change and the potential drawbacks in the future can be nipped in the bud."

“Besides—” she continued with a smile, “I think history can’t be changed just like that, but since I’m here, there must be something I can do. Maybe—I really can change some things that shouldn’t exist in an unchangeable ending.”

Zhao Defang looked at her silently, then suddenly reached out and hugged her tightly, asking softly, "Wanlan, you won't leave me, right? You'll come back to me after you've done what you need to do, right?"

"Of course!" She closed her eyes in his arms, smiling with boundless happiness. "Zehua, I am your wife! Husbands and wives are like birds in the same forest; I will never leave you, never!"

=== ...

Three updates a week, averaging 3,000 words per update.

Is this speed alright? *sweat*

That's all for this week~ Xianzi probably won't be home tomorrow~

So see you next week! Hehe~

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Chapter 59, Heartbroken and Sorrowful, Nowhere to Be Found (1)

In September of the ninth year of the Kaibao era, Dang Jin decisively defeated the Northern Han army at the walls of Taiyuan. The Northern Han ruler, Liu Jiyuan, urgently requested military assistance from the Liao court. The Liao emperor dispatched Yelü Sha, the Southern Chancellor, and Prince Ji, Tar, with troops to aid them. Thus, the Song Dynasty's northern expedition instantly transformed into a war with the Liao. Liu Jiyuan secured his support, and the Song army stalled its advance. Dang Jin ordered his army to retreat to the outskirts of Taiyuan and sent messengers back to the capital to report to the emperor on a solution. In mid-September, Emperor Taizu of Song ordered Dang Jin and his men to withdraw their troops, and the generals returned to the capital to discuss countermeasures.

Hearing that the failure of the Northern Expedition had brought an opportunity to Zhao Guangyi, Emperor Taizu of Song lifted the ban and summoned him to the palace to discuss countermeasures. Also entering the palace at the same time were Prince Yan, Zhao Dezhao, and Prince Qin, Zhao Defang.

Wanlan, confined to Qinlan Palace, could not go anywhere, and thus learned of this from the palace servants. She heard that the Emperor intended to personally lead the expedition, but this was strongly opposed and suppressed by the Prince of Jin. However, the Emperor also rejected Cao Bin, the Privy Councilor recommended by the Prince of Jin, leaving the Emperor uncertain about a unified strategy for the Northern Expedition.

Wanlan knew she had no say in matters of state. While she and Xu'er were confined to Qinlan Palace, weaving the silk ribbons they had brought back from Luoyang, she was also secretly inquiring about the eunuch named Wang Ji'en. However, for some reason, she had no news at all. The palace maids and eunuchs she asked all said they had never heard of this name.

How could I not have heard of him? Wang Ji'en must have been a real person to leave such an important mark on history. It's a pity she can't go anywhere. Not to mention the Empress, she can't even see Yuan Niang. She wonders if the Funing Palace has been completely sealed off.

Just when Wanlan was at her wit's end, Qinlan Palace welcomed an unexpected person: Princess Yongqing.

Princess Yongqing, still dressed in plain clothes, dismissed all the palace servants as soon as she entered Wanlan's bedchamber and closed the doors. She then pulled a bewildered Wanlan into the inner chamber and immediately said:

What are you doing?

Wanlan was stunned, confused, "Royal Sister..."

"You knew perfectly well that Defang had absolutely no interest in that position, so why did you still run back to the palace? You forced him to accept the challenge and fight against the Prince of Yan! Could it be that you are very interested in becoming the Empress? If you had known this would happen, you shouldn't have chosen Defang in the first place!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down and listen to what Wanlan has to say." Wanlan led her to sit on the soft couch and explained, "Your Majesty, you should know that this whole thing was planned by Father. He will not allow Zehua to escape. You think too highly of Wanlan. This time, even if Zehua doesn't want to fight, he has no choice."

Princess Yongqing snorted coldly, "In my opinion, if you refuse to enter the palace, the Prince of Yan will not find an opportunity, and Father will not have this plan. Defang can peacefully serve as the Guizhou Defense Commissioner, and no one can disturb him!"

"Royal sister..."

“If you hadn’t married Defang but Dezhao instead, none of this would have happened! You say you’re not important, but Defang clearly had no feelings for you before, so why has it turned out this way?” Princess Yongqing slammed her hand on the table and stood up. “I’d like to ask you, Princess Deqing, in this situation, who do you hope will win, hmm? Or does it really matter to you who wins? Because those two men are fighting for you!”

Wanlan was suddenly jolted. "Fighting for me?" Is that so? It shouldn't be, right? Isn't this an unavoidable struggle for those in the royal family? Isn't this history? Even without her, all of this could have arisen under another pretext, couldn't it?

"Isn't that right?" Princess Yongqing pressed closer, coldly observing her dazed expression. "Otherwise, why would Father Emperor confine you to the palace to keep those two in check? Wasn't the purpose to force them to fight with all their might without reservation?"

Wanlan was forced to retreat repeatedly until she bumped into the collapsed lamp stand. The oil lamp on the stand fell down without warning, breaking the tense air with a "crack".

Princess Yongqing snapped out of her daze, turned away with a flick of her sleeve, and went off to sulk alone.

With a livid face, Wanlan slowly straightened up, one hand supporting herself on the lamp stand and the other clutching her tight, aching chest. She murmured, "There was no winner between them..." In the end, Zhao Guangyi was the one who benefited, while the two princes who were originally chosen as heirs to the throne met with bad ends. She couldn't say these things out loud, but... there really was no winner between Zehua and the Prince of Yan.

"Elder sister, there are some things I don't know how to tell you, but believe me, I have never intended to hurt Zehua, never!"

Princess Yongqing suddenly turned around and stared at her. "Then, I want you to leave the palace with me right now, how about it?"

Wanlan stared back at her in astonishment, and whispered in disbelief, "I can't leave, and I can't leave. Since the Emperor has imprisoned me here, how could he possibly let me out so easily? Royal sister, I'll get you into trouble."

"Stop making excuses! Do you know the situation outside? The Northern Expedition failed, and Father has decided to lead the army personally, specifically requesting that the two brothers, Dezhao and Defang, accompany him! Dezhao is alright; he married many years ago and, although he has no experience on the battlefield, he is much more mature than Defang! Defang is only nineteen years old; he just got married this year. Do you want him to go to the battlefield and die?"

"impossible!"

Wanlan's face changed drastically, and she shook her head frantically in panic, "It's impossible! The Emperor has no chance to personally lead the expedition. He only has less than a month left..." The Northern Expedition led by Dang Jin and others was the last Northern Expedition during Emperor Taizu's lifetime. He only had less than a month left to live.

What will happen this month? Does the Emperor really intend to send Defang to the battlefield?

Impossible... It can't be! She absolutely won't let that happen...

Oh right... oh right...

Wang Ji'en!

Let's find Wang Ji'en first!

Panicked, Wanlan grabbed Princess Yongqing, ignoring her bewildered expression, and pleaded urgently, "Elder sister, can you help me find someone? Help me find a eunuch named Wang Ji'en, who serves the Emperor. Have you heard of him? Do you know him? I've asked all the maids and eunuchs in Qinlan Palace, and they all shook their heads at me. Why don't they know him? Isn't there such a person in the palace? There must be... there must be, right?"

Princess Yongqing stared in astonishment at her erratic behavior, remaining silent for a long time. She seemed genuinely worried about Defang, but who knew she wasn't worried about Dezhao? What did she want with Eunuch Wang? And… how did she know Eunuch Wang's full name? She shouldn't have had any contact with Eunuch Wang since losing her memory.

"What did you mean by 'only one month'? What do you know? What do you want with Eunuch Wang? I don't recall you having any dealings with him, and besides, you've lost your memory, so how would you know his name? Why are you suddenly in such a hurry to find him?"

Wanlan's eyes widened in surprise. "You know Wang Ji'en? Do you have a way to let me see him?"

Princess Yongqing frowned and carefully examined her, making sure she wasn't acting. Then she asked, "Lan'er, tell me, what do you know? And what do you want to do?"

"I will let you know these things later, Your Majesty. I want to see Eunuch Wang. Do you have a way?" Wanlan looked at her with hope, hoping that she could really help her.