At the time, Qi Junmu was still somewhat intimidated by Emperor Jing. Steeling himself despite the creeping dread, he replied: "Imperial Father, the palace has the finest imperial physicians and the best medicines. Wen Wan may be frail, but once she enters the palace, she can be properly nurtured back to health. Mother Consort is satisfied with her as well—how could she be displeased?"
Consort Shu also smiled and said to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, in this world, there are so many fine women that it's easy to lose one's bearings. But if Junmu likes her, then this consort likes her too."
As everyone carefully stole glances at the sovereign's expression, Emperor Jing suddenly spoke: "Are you truly so fond of her? Even if I share your mother's dissatisfaction with her?"
Emperor Jing's tone was light and airy, but the chill beneath it was plain to everyone—he was genuinely displeased with Wen Wan.
Consort Shu's face went rigid on the spot, her eyes filled with terror and panic. She gave Qi Junmu a slight shake of her head, trying to make him change his mind.
Qi Junmu was stubborn by nature and felt deeply wronged. In his view, both Qi Junyan and Qi Junyou's marriages had gone so smoothly, yet everything concerning his own had been nothing but trouble.
He clenched his jaw and deliberately ignored how dark Emperor Jing's expression had become. Looking at the Emperor, he said, "Imperial Father, this son is satisfied with her."
Consort Shu's face turned pale. No one in this palace dared to contradict Emperor Jing—not even those who shared his bed or his blood.
She was terrified that in a fit of rage, Emperor Jing might strip Qi Junmu of his rank and reduce him to a commoner—which would have been worse than death for her.
Emperor Jing stared at his hot-headed third son without any expression. Qi Junmu could see that he was displeased, but he did not change his words.
No one knew how much time passed. Without saying a word, Emperor Jing rose and left.
After seeing him off, Consort Shu's legs gave way beneath her.
In those days, the Empress Dowager was still cautious by nature. She looked at Qi Junmu as tears streamed down her face. She struck him twice on the arm and cried, "Why must you be such a worry to me? If you enrage your Imperial Father, how am I supposed to go on living in this palace?"
Consort Shu rarely lost her composure like this with Qi Junmu—she looked absolutely terrified. In the past, she had always pressed him to master his studies and perfect his manners, and that constant pressure had put a wall between them.
Qi Junmu had never imagined his marriage would involve such twists and turns. Seeing his mother like this, he felt a faint, inexplicable pleasure—it made him realize that she did care about him after all.
Qi Junmu soon calmed Consort Shu and said, "Mother, please don't be upset. Forget about Wanwan's health for a moment—the Wen family has already gotten positive hints from my uncles and is actively making preparations for this wedding. If we back out now, the Wen family will probably end up in a conflict with the Lin family, and we'd lose their support. As for the Wang family—yes, Imperial Father does have a teacher-student connection with them—but after all these years, do you really think Imperial Father is the kind of person who lets old ties sway his decisions?"
"The Wang family prides itself on being upright and aloof from the powerful. If a Wang daughter entered the palace and they insisted on maintaining that tradition, would that not put this son and Mother at a disadvantage? Besides, at such a critical moment, why did Mother suddenly think of the Wang family? Could it be that someone deliberately whispered something in Mother's ear to unsettle you?"
Consort Shu set aside her fear and carefully considered Qi Junmu's words. It was true—recently, she had often heard people say that the Wen family's daughter was frail and unsuited for childbearing.
And at some point, she had heard that Old Master Wang had visited Emperor Jing and earned his praise.
A thought stirred in Consort Shu's mind, and she turned her attention to the Wang family's daughter.
Now she realized that someone had deliberately orchestrated this—to exploit her unease and stir up even more chaos.
Once Consort Shu understood this, she grew calm.
Only then was Qi Junmu's engagement to Wen Wan finally confirmed. But the resentment still festered in Consort Shu's heart, never truly gone.
It had not bothered her much while Emperor Jing was alive—she had not thought too deeply about it. But after Emperor Jing passed away and Qi Junmu ascended the throne, Consort Shu became Empress Dowager. Life was comfortable, with no mountain pressing down upon her head, no need to constantly fear displeasing Emperor Jing and inviting reprimand.
She was the most honored woman under heaven. The Emperor was filial, the princesses attentive, and no one stopped her from saying or doing whatever she wished.
At first, the Empress Dowager was unaccustomed to it. But once she grew used to it, she never wanted to recall her former life again. Consequently, her feelings toward Wen Wan—whom the Emperor held so dear—grew sour. She became increasingly convinced that Wen Wan's constitution was unfit to bear children.
And Qi Junmu's repeated defenses of Wen Wan only made the Empress Dowager feel even more unsettled.
Fortunately, Wen Wan was clever. In daily life, she flattered the Empress Dowager, spoke and acted according to her wishes, and with the backing of both the Lin and Wen families, the Empress Dowager only occasionally made snide remarks without truly making things difficult for her.
Still, from time to time, these petty matters made her feel that Qi Junmu was not quite filial enough.
Some people in this world will chase after something with all their might and treat it like a priceless treasure—but once they get it without any real effort, they start to think it came too easily. When everyone around them bends over backward to give them whatever they wish for with just a look, that "treasure" quickly loses its value and becomes nothing worth holding onto.
After Qi Junmu was reborn, he had not dwelled on these past affairs. He thought he had forgotten them. But as he looked at the radiant Wen Wan in his arms, he realized that the memories were still remarkably vivid.
Wen Wan only ever yielded to him—her expression like that of a sacrificial offering, devoid of any true feeling.
But he no longer needed this false affection.
He slowly pushed the woman in his arms aside and made her stand apart. As Wen Wan looked at him in shock and bewilderment, he rose to his feet and said softly, "What does the Empress think she is doing?"
Wen Wan's face drained of all color. She trembled from head to toe, but not a single word came out.
Qi Junmu added, "Is the Empress seeking to see me today because of the Wen family?"
Perhaps having broken the ice, Wen Wan quickly recovered herself. She knelt on the ground and said, "I learned of the Wen family's troubles from my mother. My mother knows full well that she failed to discipline my younger brother strictly, and Your Majesty's punishment is only fitting."
In the previous life, when Wen Zhuo had gotten into trouble, she had spoken with the same lofty righteousness, and not long after, she dealt Qi Junmu a devastating blow by betraying him with another man.
"Since it is only fitting, then in the future, the Empress need not do such things for the Wen family's sake," Qi Junmu said flatly. "I am the Emperor, the master of all under heaven—not someone the Empress refuses to see when she has no need of me, but seeks out when she wants to advance the Wen family's interests."
He could not blame the current Wen Wan for what had happened in the previous life. But he was unwilling to touch her, and so he attributed everything that had happened tonight to the Wen family.
Qi Junmu left with barely contained fury. Wen Wan called out after him, her voice anxious and aggrieved, but Qi Junmu did not slow his pace even slightly. At the palace gate, he snapped at Ruan Jiqing, who had come to greet him, ordering everyone not to follow. He did not even take the imperial palanquin but walked off alone.
Ruan Jiqing paced frantically in place, helpless to do anything but watch the Emperor stalk away with a livid face.
Qi Junmu did not want to return to Qianhua Hall either. Every corner of the palace felt stifling, making it hard to breathe.
He shook off the throng of maids and eunuchs, wandering aimlessly until he found himself beside the rockery in the imperial garden.
After he had stood in the night wind for some time, Shen Nian arrived.
"Your Majesty, it is getting late. You still have the morning court session tomorrow. Allow this humble subject to escort you back to rest," Shen Nian said. He did not know what was on Qi Junmu's mind, but the expression on his face made it clear that it was nothing good—the Emperor had lost his composure.
Shen Nian valued his life and had no desire to learn too many of the Emperor's secrets. After another cold gust of wind blew past, he could not help but speak up.
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