The arrangements for the marriage alliance to Japan were temporarily settled. The chosen candidates were decided; now, they only had to wait for the Imperial Astronomers to select an auspicious date and for the Ministry of Rites to complete the princess's marriage rituals and formalities.

  But Shen Huiyi couldn't find any joy in this. She felt as though her life had become like a drifting water lily, at any moment subject to the whims of waves that could carry her to unknown pces, until she eventually rotted and sank to the bottom. What kind of pce was Japan? She'd heard that even their fine silks and satins had to be smuggled in by pirates, with their daimyo constantly embroiled in battles. This great daimyo, who had only recently managed to stabilize his position, was requesting a marriage alliance with Great Zhou merely to borrow its power and strengthen his hold on Japan in his bid to unify the country, wasn't he?

  Even if she could endure the hardships awaiting her, what would it matter? Being a companion to the Ninth Princess—a votile royal—would be unbearable. It was likely she would lose half her life to the princess's whims. In a foreign nd, who knew how she'd be tormented? Every misfortune would likely become an excuse for the princess to vent her anger on her. Shen Huiyi deeply regretted the decision to push her way into becoming the Ninth Princess's companion, urging Lady He to rely on Grand Dowager Consort Zhuang to secure the role.

  She had cried herself hoarse, yet Lady He hadn't even had time to comfort her—she was too busy dealing with the mess left by their future daughter-in-w, Tong Shao. Thanks to her, Duke Ying's residence had not only offended the Marquis of Changning and the Cui family during the chrysanthemum banquet, but even Old Lady Chen had left with a sour face.

  Shen Huiyi sobbed uncontrolbly until finally, her exhausted sister-in-w, Lady Yang, and her elder sister, Shen Huixin, came to see her.

  Shen Huixin sighed, pulling Shen Huiyi into a comforting embrace. "There's no point in being so upset. You can see the state of things at home now. Maybe it's better to marry early and leave this chaos behind..." She gnced at Lady He and Lady Yang, who looked utterly worn down. "Just look at what Mother and Sister-in-w have been through. Even Grandmother fell ill from all the turmoil."

  Lady Yang, skilled in diplomacy and adept at handling Lady He as though she were her own mother, was treated well by her. Shen Huixin and Shen Huiyi had a close retionship with her as a result. Seeing Lady Yang's weary face and the fresh red scratches on her neck, Shen Huiyi froze, forgetting her tears and grasping Shen Huixin's arm. "What happened? Has she not even married in yet, and she's already daring to y hands on Sister-in-w?"

  Tears welled up in Lady Yang's eyes as she hurriedly wiped them away with a handkerchief. "This is nothing. It's Mother who's really worn down—running around apologizing everywhere and tending to our future 'aunt,' almost to the point of spitting blood..."

  Furious, Shen Huiyi gripped Shen Huixin's hand, her voice trembling with anger. "Is this how the Marquis of Wuning's family raises daughters? At the chrysanthemum banquet, she first insulted Sixth Miss Song, then offended Cousin Mingyu and Yueheng. And we can't even scold her for it?"

  Shen Huixin, massaging her brow in exhaustion, patted Shen Huiyi's shoulder. "That's why you should try to stay calm. If you keep causing a scene, Mother really won't be able to take it. Why do you think I'm still here days after my own marriage, rather than back home with my husband? It's all because she's so impossible to please, and now you're a county dy on top of everything."

  Lady Yang nodded, "Yes, Huiyi, being titled as a county dy and soon to be sent as a companion actually saves you from this mess. Otherwise, who knows how she might bring her chaos to you as well? She and her family are just troublemakers; once you get entangled with them, there's no escape."

  Shen Huiyi, resting against her pillow, pressed her lips together and finally stopped crying. Her sister and sister-in-w were right. Even her usually formidable father avoided this woman, and her mother, sister-in-w, and older sister were powerless to handle her. As an unmarried young dy, if not for this marriage alliance, she'd likely just be treated as an easy target.

  With a steely resolve, Shen Huiyi got up, clenched her fists, and stormed outside. "I'm going to ask her myself if she has a problem with the emperor's decree conferring my title as a county dy—because I don't understand why she's so hellbent on causing such a scene!"

  While Shen Huiyi managed to regain some composure after venting her frustrations, Han Yueheng felt true despair. For the first time, she clung to Lady Fan's legs, sobbing uncontrolbly. "Mother, please save me! Please beg Aunt—beg her to help me. I don't want to go to Japan. Who knows what kind of pce it is..."

  Lady Fan felt a sharp ache in her throat, lifting a trembling hand to stroke her daughter's hair. Her lips quivered as she looked at her daughter's delicate face, but she couldn't say a single word.

  Beg? What face did she have left with Consort Fan? And it wasn't as if she was unaware of how many Ministry of Rites officials were under Zhou Weiqi's influence. If Consort Fan had even the slightest concern for Han Yueheng, she could have simply asked the Crown Prince to bring it up to the Empress, who would hardly refuse such a small favor.

  But Consort Fan had done nothing of the sort. Instead, she'd summoned Han Yueheng to the pace beforehand, giving her a lecture about duty, essentially coaxing her into going to Japan willingly. She had known all along what was coming.

  Lady Fan closed her eyes, feeling a wrenching pain in her chest. Sometimes, she truly wondered why her own sister treated her worse than an enemy. It wasn't enough to torment her; now she wanted her children to pay with their lives, using them as pawns in her schemes.

  Her children were the only reason she clung to this life, her single attachment in the world. Consort Fan was pushing her toward death... no, she shook with fear, remembering that st time when she'd been rescued, only to face more despair. Her pupils dited as she stifled a wretched ugh.

  Consort Fan wouldn't let her die. If she did, her children would suffer even more. She couldn't die... she couldn't...

  In an unusual show of resolve, she held her daughter's shoulders and helped her to her feet, speaking in a dry, determined tone. "I'll find a way..."

  Han Yueheng looked at her in shock, her eyes widening. She had expected her mother's usual coldness, especially since even her beloved aunt had urged her to go.

  Her heart softened as she threw herself into Lady Fan's arms, feeling for the first time that her mother truly was her mother.

  The maid standing nearby maintained a respectful silence, as though she hadn't witnessed any of this. Later, after Han Yueheng was settled, she quietly sent a message to the outer courtyard.