She refused to marry.

"Your Majesty..."

A dozen or so men followed behind him, all in full armor, silent and still, each holding a sharp blade, poised for battle.

We are just waiting for Lord Fengchen to speak.

Su Wanwan's legs felt weak and her lips tightened.

The horse snorted and exhaled a puff of white vapor.

"I underestimated Miss Su's abilities..." Xiao Xuanjing's expression was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Su Wanwan heard the slight rise in his voice; she realized she probably couldn't avoid it today.

"Your Majesty, may I ask you a question?" Su Wanwan loosened her grip on the reins and pleaded.

"Whether the Crown Prince leaves or not, Prince Changxin will lead his troops south; it's only a matter of time. Prince Changxin will send troops..."

"Snapped!"

Xiao Xuanjing lashed out with his whip beside her.

Su Wanwan was so frightened that she stepped back.

"I...don't want to hear it..." Xiao Xuanjing tightened his grip on the reins, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

Su Wanwan's tears instantly streamed down her face.

Xiao Xuanjing suppressed his anger, watching her shoulders tremble and hearing faint sobs in his ears.

Jian Qingshan, standing beside him, whispered repeatedly, "My lord, the young master has already gone far. If we don't chase after him now... we won't be able to catch up."

"Let him go..."

Xiao Xuanjing dismounted and walked step by step to Su Wanwan. "Raise your head."

Su Wanwan looked up, her eyes red.

Xiao Xuanjing reached out and pinched her chin. "Miss Su, haven't I been too lenient with you?"

The woman blinked, and tears streamed down her face, dripping onto Xiao Xuanjing's palm, still scalding hot...

In the past, I would have killed her to prevent future troubles.

He felt a tightness in his chest; killing her would only make him feel worse.

Jian Qingshan stood at a distance, his hand on the hilt of his knife.

Why hasn't Your Majesty made a move yet?

No matter how outrageous Miss Su is, she cannot tolerate such absurdity.

Xiao Xuanjing shoved her forward and shook off her hand.

Su Wanwan stumbled and fell to the ground with a thud, tears welling up in her eyes from the pain.

"From this day forward, wherever we meet again, it will be Miss Su's death day!" Xiao Xuanjing mounted his horse.

"Aoyama, remember this!"

"Yes!" Jian Qingshan replied.

"Giddy up!" The horse's hooves kicked up dust, and a dozen or so guards followed silently as it galloped away.

Su Wanwan sat on the ground, watching the departing figures, her chest tightening, unable to breathe.

She clutched her chest, pressing on the painful spot.

Is it because of Lord Fengchen?

Su Wanwan got up and limped towards the Su residence.

This scared away the medicine's effects.

The emperor is angry...

She angered the emperor.

She will never see the king again.

Even after returning to Jinxiutang and lying in bed, my chest still ached faintly.

It wasn't that I was worried about being punished by the emperor, but rather that I felt something important in my heart had been destroyed.

at night.

She had another dream.

In her dream, Feng Chenjun led an army and died tragically on the battlefield. She sat on a rock, holding his body and weeping.

I suddenly woke up.

I touched my chest and frowned. Why would I have such a dream?

For several days in a row, she was plagued by nightmares.

In an attempt to dispel her nightmares, she went to Fragrant Hills and practiced vegetarianism and chanted Buddhist prayers for several days, but her condition did not improve.

I dream about Feng Chen Jun almost every night.

A month later, her leg injury had improved considerably, and the Spring Festival was approaching.

She stayed home to recover from her injuries, leaving the business to Qiu Shi to manage.

After Zhao Yu arrived, the atmosphere at home changed noticeably. The once quiet courtyard was now filled with noise.

Zhao Qiubai was good-natured and had a mild temper. When Zhao Yu was busy, he would teach his younger siblings. At a young age, he developed a mature personality.

Su Zhiyin studied with Zhao Qiubai every day.

Su Xian also began preparing for next year's imperial examination.

Second Aunt was still busy with Su Jinse's marriage. Jinse had high standards and didn't like any of the men she was asked to marry.

Su Jinning still enjoys riding horses as always. Having been in Beijing for half a year, he has already figured out all the places in the city.

On the winter solstice, Su Wanwan led a group of children in making dumplings.

Madam Wang walked in from outside. "Today is the Winter Solstice. Shouldn't we go to the Princess's residence to make some arrangements?"

Su Wanwan kneaded the dough. "Mother, Father hasn't gone out in a long time. Let Father go."

"Your father means that you should go and pay your respects to the Emperor while you're at it." Madam Wang said gently, pressing down on her hands as she kneaded the dough.

"Mother, I can't go, and I won't be able to go in the future. Let Father go instead." Su Wanwan continued kneading the dough.

"Why? Weren't you and the Emperor on very good terms before?" Wang asked, lowering her eyes.

"I...did something I did that I'm sorry for," Su Wanwan whispered.

Madam Wang frowned slightly. Could her daughter's words be related to the matter of the heir?

"You're not young anymore, you should have found someone a long time ago..."

Su Wanwan interrupted impatiently, "Mother, here we go again. I've already said, unless I'm willing myself, let's just forget about this... Is it possible that this huge Su mansion can't support an old maid?"

"Don't talk nonsense," Wang said, poking her head.

"Auntie, what is an old auntie?" Zhao Qiuyang asked from the side.

"It's just an old lady..." Su Wanwan chuckled softly.

"Then we can raise them, we can raise lots of old ladies... When Grandma becomes an old lady, we can raise her..." The childish voice spread through the courtyard.

"You should eat more so you can grow taller. You're always so playful, but you never seem to grow taller... You little monkey, you're so naughty!" Su Wanwan smeared some flour on his face.

Seeing that she had changed the subject, Wang did not ask any further questions.

At night, two large bowls of dumplings were laid out on the long table in the courtyard.

A dozen or so children sat on benches, not fighting or grabbing, waiting for her to serve them dumplings bowl by bowl.

Zhao Yu sat to the side, holding the youngest child in her arms, and blew on the dumplings in front of her. "Here, these are yours!"

Su Yaoyue sat to the side, "Be careful, it's hot... I'll do it..."

"Okay, you come here..." Zhao Yu handed her the spoon.

The doorman came in from outside, carrying a food box. "Second Miss, these dumplings from Linjianglou are for you."

Su Wanwan took it; it was a steaming hot dumpling, oozing with fresh flavor.

"Is there any news about the young master?" Su Wanwan took out the dumplings.

Zhao Yu shook her head. "It should be soon."

Su Wanwan sat down; she hadn't tasted the dumplings from Linjianglou in a long time.

He lowered his head and swallowed one.

She remembered how Lu Huai'an used to take her out to eat dumplings.

Since he left.

She never dared to leave the courtyard.

The words Feng Chenjun had said last time still echoed in her ears. He hadn't killed her that time, probably because he was afraid of the Crown Prince.

According to the original text, at this time, Prince Changxin had already gone south.

The fact that there is no movement in the court at present indicates that Prince Changxin is still holding back his troops.

She saved Lu Huai'an, and that caused such a big change.