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A mother knows her daughter best.

Her thoughts were instantly seen through by the Empress Dowager.

“Alas, Ge’er, it’s not that I do not care for Mu Yan, but Yingxue and Yihan’s feelings for each other are strong. Moreover, they are already married; the deed is done. Why cause unnecessary trouble? I will have Ru Lie annul the betrothal between Mu Yan and Yingxue, as if it never existed. You and Ru Lie should take your time to carefully choose another partner for Mu Yan.”

The Empress Dowager held Qin Ge’s hand, her voice earnest and heartfelt, “I know you have no children of your own and have always treated Mu Yan as if he were your birth son, but his marriage is ultimately not something we can control.”

In her tone was a note of compromise. In the past, when Shen Yu impersonated Su Yingxue, she wanted to decide Qin Muyan’s marital affairs, only to nearly make a grave mistake.

Only then did she truly understand that, despite their high positions, not everything is under the control of people who seem to be omnipotent.

In the end, they are only mortals with flesh and blood, subject to birth, aging, sickness, and death, happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy. They are not the deities who control life and death.

Qin Ge’s smile was bitter at the corners of her mouth, “Your daughter acknowledges this, but feels sorry for Mu Yan.”

Thinking of how Qin Muyan had spent the past few days languishing in the prince’s mansion, Qin Ge felt heartbroken. She had not been able to give her child the best, what he most desired.

It was a failure on her part as a mother.

The next day, Su Yingxue took her leave from the Empress Dowager; in the Funing Palace, the Empress Dowager’s eyes rimmed red, fighting back tears as she held Su Yingxue’s hand, speechless and choked up.

Su Yingxue also felt reluctant to part, “Grandmother, rest assured. After the Great Cheng Dynasty stabilizes, I will return to visit you with Your Highness.”

“Good… good, I know, I will be waiting for you.”

Even after just one night, the Empress Dowager seemed to have aged considerably, her hair whiter.

Su Yingxue wasn’t sure if it was her own illusion, but the Empress Dowager seemed ill.

But when she had administered the antidote for the sleeping draught that day, she had not observed any unusual symptoms in her physical condition.

These past days, she had intended to re-examine and take her pulse, but the Empress Dowager said that the court physicians were taking care of her and that there was no need to trouble anyone, so Su Yingxue did not insist.

At this moment, she wanted to take the Empress Dowager’s pulse.

However, the Empress Dowager steadied herself with Qin Ge’s hand, diverting the attention, “Ge’er, where is Mu Yan? As her cousin, how can he not come to see Yingxue off when she is about to leave?”

Qin Rulie frowned, quite puzzled, “Indeed, in these past days, I have not seen him attend court properly. I wonder what he has been doing in the mansion.”

Anxious they might see through any ruse, Qin Ge quickly said: “Your Majesty, Mother, Mu Yan has been training troops in the military camp these past days and is quite exhausted. Recently, he has been at home contemplating military strategies, in case of emergency. Thus, he neglected Yingxue, and it is truly regrettable.”

With an apologetic look towards Su Yingxue, Qin Ge said, “Yingxue, your cousin has been busy and unable to see you off. As your aunt, I apologize on his behalf. All the travel provisions I prepared for you have been given to your people. Take care on your journey.”

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Aunt,” said Su Yingxue with polite gratitude. Yet, she noticed numerous gaps in Qin Ge’s words.

During a chat with Qin Rulie a few days ago, he mentioned not having seen Qin Muyan for a month, with no sign of him even at the army camp, leaving his whereabouts unknown.

With Qin Ge making excuses, it seemed that Qin Muyan was not having an easy time in the mansion.

But wasn’t she the cause of it all?