Hua Manman didn’t mention the outcome of the plea for reinforcements.
Everyone already knew the outcome. The Emperor had refused to dispatch troops, and Duke Zhen was even framed for treason.
Even though his name was later cleared, it was too late.
Duke Zhen and his one hundred thousand soldiers had been completely annihilated.
Princess Rouwan was stunned.
She murmured, "He never told me any of this."
She had never been to a battlefield, so she didn’t know the specifics of the situation there. Nor did she know what Li Ji had faced after returning to Shangjing.
At the time, she was completely consumed by grief over Duke Zhen’s death and couldn’t bring herself to care about anything else.
The thought of a young Li Ji having to face so many hardships alone made Hua Manman’s heart ache, and her tone grew heavy.
"You always blame Ji. You blame him for abandoning Duke Zhen and fleeing back here by himself.
But have you ever stopped to think?
When Ji was under immense pressure, desperately begging the Saint to send troops to rescue Duke Zhen, where were you?
Did you lift a finger to help him?"
Princess Rouwan’s hands tightened on her skirt, the color draining from her face.
She had always blamed Li Ji, believing he had abandoned Duke Zhen and fled back alone out of cowardice.
Over time, she even began to think of Li Ji as a jinx who had brought about Duke Zhen’s death.
Yet only now, in this very moment, did she realize that Li Ji had also done everything in his power to save Duke Zhen’s life.
She, on the other hand, had felt her world collapse the moment she heard Duke Zhen might have been killed. The thought of trying to save him had never even crossed her mind.
In that regard, she was nothing compared to Li Ji.
She suddenly recalled the last time Li Ji had rushed back to ask her if he was truly Duke Zhen’s biological son.
She hadn’t thought much of it then, but reflecting on it now, she feared that Li Ji had already known back then that he might be the Emperor’s son.
He had pleaded with his own biological father to send troops to rescue his adoptive father, only to be refused.
In a way, his birth father was an accomplice in his adoptive father’s death.
’What a devastating blow that must have been!’
’If I were in his shoes,’ she thought, ’I would feel as if the very blood in my veins was tainted with sin.’
’But what had she said to him then?’
She had told him—
"The greatest regret of my life is giving birth to you.
If it weren’t for you, the Lord Duke would not have died."
"Your birth father is the one who killed the Lord Duke.
If he hadn’t been so wary of the Lord Duke back then, if he hadn’t refused to send reinforcements to support him, the Lord Duke would not have met such a gruesome end, his body left un-whole!
You and your birth father are just alike—you’re both murderers!"
Every word a dagger to the heart.
Regret, guilt, and shame washed over her one after another, throwing Princess Rouwan’s emotions into turmoil.
Her vision went black, and she fainted.
Hua Manman was startled. She and the others quickly helped Princess Rouwan onto a daybed.
The household doctor rushed over moments later.
He said the Commandery Princess had fainted because she was overcome by a sudden, intense emotional shock that her body couldn’t handle.
Fortunately, it wasn’t serious. Princess Rouwan awoke after he administered acupuncture.
Hua Manman asked worriedly,
"How do you feel? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"
Hua Manman was deeply remorseful.
She had been so focused on resolving the misunderstanding between Princess Rouwan and Prince Zhao that she had forgotten Princess Rouwan was in poor health and couldn’t handle such a shock.
It was all her fault. Her words had been too harsh, and she had pushed Princess Rouwan too far.
With help from the servants, Princess Rouwan sat up.
She leaned against a soft pillow, her face pale and her expression exhausted.
"For all these years, I believed Li Ji abandoned the Lord Duke and fled back here out of cowardice. I could never let it go."
’If Manman hadn’t told me all this, I would still believe that to this day.’
Hua Manman sighed softly. "The truth is, Ji has been blaming himself for Duke Zhen’s death all this time. He often suffers from insomnia and can’t bring himself to trust anyone. The pain and pressure he’s endured all these years are no less than what you’ve gone through."
Princess Rouwan closed her eyes, murmuring softly.
"He should have told me this sooner..."
"It’s not too late!" Hua Manman said quickly. "If you’re willing, I can send for Prince Zhao right now. We can celebrate the festival as a proper family. If the Lord Duke’s spirit is watching from heaven, he would certainly be relieved to see it!"
Princess Rouwan said nothing.
Hua Manman ventured tentatively.
"If you don’t say no, I’ll take that as a yes!"
Princess Rouwan remained silent.
’That’s a yes, then!’
Overjoyed, Hua Manman leaped to her feet. "I’ll send someone to fetch Prince Zhao right now!"
Princess Rouwan frowned and chided, "Careful now! Don’t forget you’re carrying a child!"
Hua Manman patted her belly and giggled.
"If the baby knew his grandma and dad made up, he’d be jumping for joy just like me."
Princess Rouwan’s gaze fell on Hua Manman’s belly, her expression slowly growing complex.
When she found out she was pregnant, her first thoughts had been of fear and despair.
She hadn’t wanted the child. She had even thought of killing it.
But Duke Zhen’s tenderness had gradually soothed the wounds in her heart, allowing her to slowly forget her past humiliation. For a time, she had almost forgotten what she had endured.
It was during that period that she had truly and sincerely treated Li Ji as her own son, dutifully playing the part of a good mother.
That was likely the most carefree time in Li Ji’s life, and also the happiest time for Princess Rouwan.
After Duke Zhen’s death, that happy time was buried with him, and the mother-son bond between Princess Rouwan and Li Ji was completely shattered.
It would be impossible to say that Princess Rouwan felt nothing for Li Ji.
But those feelings were tangled with so many others: disgust, hatred, remorse, guilt, and more.
This jumble of emotions made it impossible for her to treat Li Ji as a normal mother would.
’Even now, how was she supposed to face Li Ji?’
「Inside the Prince Zhao Mansion.」
Li Ji had made up his mind.
Even if Manman laughed at him, even if Princess Rouwan cursed him.
He was still going to the Duke Zhen Country Mansion to bring his Princess Consort home!
’He didn’t want to spend the festival alone!’
’He wanted his wife, his child, and a warm bed to come home to!’
Li Ji changed into a set of fine clothes, wanting to look his best. Just as he was about to head out, he saw Gao Shan rushing toward him.
"Your Highness," Gao Shan reported, "Princess Consort Zhao has sent a messenger. She requests your presence at the Duke Zhen Country Mansion regarding a very important matter."
Li Ji’s heart clenched.
’What important matter could Manman possibly have for him at a time like this?’
’Could she have been wronged at the Duke Zhen Country Mansion?’
’It was entirely possible.’
’Princess Rouwan’s temper was foul and stubborn, and she never minced her words. Manman had probably been infuriated by her and sent for him as backup.’
Li Ji didn’t dare delay. He bolted from the Prince Zhao Mansion, leaped onto his horse, and galloped furiously toward the Duke Zhen Country Mansion!