She refused to marry.

Lost in thought, a voice came from outside the door, "It's terrible, it's terrible!!"

Su Xian walked in.

"Sister Wan, guess what?!"

"What's wrong?" Su Wanwan put down her spoon.

Su Xian walked to her side, took a spoon, and scooped dumplings from her bowl.

"His Majesty issued a decree today, ordering Prince Fengchen to lead 50,000 troops to confront Prince Changxin's 300,000 troops..."

"When? It's almost Chinese New Year, would Prince Changxin be heading south at this time?" Su Wanwan looked up.

"I heard that as soon as the Crown Prince arrived in the northern border, Prince Changxin immediately led his troops south. The northern prefectures did not resist at all. As long as Prince Changxin did not kill anyone, they simply passed through the cities."

"Fifty thousand against three hundred thousand, it's clearly suicide." Su Xian swallowed a dumpling.

"I heard that the court is in an uproar. Everyone can see that this is a trap set for Prince Fengchen. The imperial edict has been issued, and His Majesty has no choice but to accept it."

Su Wanwan's heart sank. She lowered her head and stirred the dumpling soup in her bowl. "Prince Changxin has held military power for many years, and the court has been unable to do anything about it. Now, sending Prince Fengchen is an attempt to make both sides suffer losses."

"It's more than just a lose-lose situation," Su Xian mumbled, swallowing a dumpling. "They're using Prince Changxin's knife to eliminate Prince Fengchen directly."

Su Wanwan put down her spoon, feeling irritated.

"Is the information guaranteed to be accurate?" Zhao Yu asked.

"Absolutely true." Su Xian turned to look at Su Wanwan. "Sister Wanwan, who do you hope will win?"

"The Crown Prince is keeping a close eye on things now... It's not a good thing for either of us to win or lose..." Su Wanwan pushed the dumplings in front of him. "You eat them, I don't have an appetite."

"Really not going to eat? This is from Linjianglou..."

"I'm not eating anymore..." Su Wanwan said as she walked away.

Su Yaoyue winked at Su Xian, "Why are you bringing up the very thing you don't want to talk about? Haven't you noticed that Second Sister's expression hasn't been right lately?"

"Something's wrong with her. She's eating well, sleeping well... and getting rounder and rounder..."

Su Yaoyue tapped Su Xian on the head with a large spoon, "What do you know about Second Sister's worries!"

Su Wanwan returned to Jinxiu Hall, sat at the table, and her mind kept replaying the image of Feng Chenjun.

This feeling suffocated her.

She originally thought that as long as she stayed away from Fengchenjun, she could wait for the Crown Prince to take the position of the Eastern Palace.

But when I heard the news, my heart still clenched painfully.

This feeling left her feeling frustrated and powerless.

It's like standing on the shore, watching someone walk into the abyss, and you don't even have the right to shout.

The world is just missing one more Feng Chenjun.

Is it necessary to be so sad?

Su Wanwan comforted herself.

He buried himself in the accounts, after all, with twelve more people in the family, the expenses were considerable.

Before we knew it, New Year's Eve arrived, and every household was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations.

Zhao Yu gave her children a holiday, making the Su family even more lively.

Su's father stood at the door, looking at the lively family in the yard, and a rare smile appeared on his face.

Zhao Yu was busy hanging lanterns, while Su Yaoyue led her younger siblings in cutting paper-cuts for the windows.

Su Xian somehow got hold of several strings of firecrackers and set them off in the yard, while Su Jinning chased him all over the yard.

Zhao and Su Jinse waited at the door for their third uncle to return.

Su Wanwan sat on the veranda, holding a hand warmer in her hands.

"Second sister, what are you daydreaming about?" Su Yaoyue came over.

"I was just a little tired from collecting debts," Su Wanwan said with a forced smile.

Su Yaoyue held up a large red "Fu" character (福, meaning good fortune), "Second Sister, look, is it well cut?"

"I cut one out for you too." Su Yaoyue handed it to her.

On New Year's Eve, the whole family sits around the table to stay up all night.

Su Hongxuan rarely drank two glasses of wine, his face flushed. He talked about his past when he was young, while his mother laughed and teased him from the side.

The children were scrambling for their New Year's money.

Su Wanwan sat in the corner, holding a copper coin in her hand, her fingertips repeatedly rubbing the patterns on it.

The excitement is theirs.

She always felt empty inside.

All I can see in my mind is Feng Chenjun's face.

For the past two months, her mind has been controlled as if someone were manipulating it; he's on her mind day and night.

The clock struck midnight, and firecrackers crackled.

Su Wanwan got up with the others and went into the courtyard to watch the fireworks.

The fireworks reflected in her eyes, lit up briefly, and then went out.

That night, she had another dream. In her dream, she shamelessly held Feng Chenjun's hand and went to watch fireworks.

During the first month of the lunar calendar, the Su family visited relatives and friends, welcoming and seeing off guests.

Su's father took Su Xian to the Princess's residence to pay New Year's respects, but Su Wanwan claimed to be ill and did not go.

He only left a message for Lord Fengchen: if he were to go to war, he should prepare provisions.

When she returned, Su's father told her that he had not seen Feng Chenjun.

On the Lantern Festival, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the capital city is ablaze with lanterns.

Su Wanwan was dragged out the door by Su Yaoyue.

The streets were bustling with activity, with people guessing riddles, selling candied hawthorns, and performing dragon dances—it was incredibly lively.

Su Wanwan was sitting by the roadside eating snacks when someone suddenly spoke up next to her.

"His Majesty has gone to war..."

The pastries in her hand suddenly lost their appeal, and she followed the crowd toward the main road.

Along the official road, the procession, with its banners fluttering in the wind, stretched far into the distance, the silvery figure in the distance dazzlingly bright.

I wanted to go up and join in the fun, but then I remembered what Feng Chenjun had said.

"It seems like nothing good ever comes from whenever I see Miss Su."

She hoped the emperor would return, and turned back into the teahouse.

Over the next three months, she used her father's past connections to transport goods from Jiangnan.

They set up new shops.

That day, Su Wanwan held an account book in her hands and stood in front of the counter collecting the final payment.

"Manager Wang, the final payment you promised should be settled now; it's been delayed again and again," Su Wanwan said with a smile.

Shopkeeper Wang, with two walnuts twirling in his hand, sat in his chair and slowly glanced at her.

"Manager Jin, business has been really slow lately. I haven't sold that batch of goods yet."

Su Wanwan tilted her head slightly. "Manager Wang, this batch of goods has already sold out. If you don't settle the payment, how will you do business in the future?"

Shopkeeper Wang paused in his walnut-picking motion, then said confidently, "Let's not beat around the bush."

Everyone in the capital knows that the eldest princess is currently confined to her residence.

Lord Fengchen has already set out on his campaign, and it is said that he will not return.

If I pay the remaining balance, and then there are problems later, who will I go to for my money?

Su Wanwan's heart tightened. The eldest princess was imprisoned. Had the crown prince already begun to take action?

Back at the manor, she rushed to her father's study, "Father, when did the Princess become imprisoned?"

Su Hongxuan looked worried. "You've come at the right time. I was just about to discuss this with you."

"What is it?" Su Wanwan stepped forward with a serious expression.

"Today, those in court who frequently associated with the Princess have all been taken away. Although the Su family has long since withdrawn from court and is insignificant, their past connections still exist, and the Crown Prince will certainly not let us go. Therefore, why don't you return to Suzhou first?"

"Has it really come to this?" Su Wanwan lowered her eyes.

Su Hongxuan frowned and said in a low voice, "News has come from the Northern Border about Lord Fengchen. Do you want to hear it?"