Admiration

Emperor Jinyuan had not expected Consort Wan to admit it so readily. For a moment, he could not react.

Beside her, the Crown Prince was frantic. He could not help tugging at Consort Wan's sleeve, hoping to remind her not to act rashly.

Imperial sister-in-law!! At a time like this, you can't keep staying silent!

In our previous life, it was precisely because you refused to explain anything that the foolish emperor believed the accusations and banished you to the Cold Palace in a fit of rage!

And after you were sent to the Cold Palace, someone accused Sun Wenxun of molesting children and deliberately running down an old man. In the end, the foolish emperor had him torn apart by five horses!

Crash-

Sun Wenxun's feet slipped, and he fell straight onto the floor!

He was a scholar. How could he possibly commit such depraved acts?

Someone must have framed him!

Right, the Crown Prince!

How am I supposed to tell my imperial sister-in-law that the Crown Prince is her biological son? She isn't alone anymore.

In our previous life, Imperial Sister-in-Law didn't know the truth about the Crown Prince's birth and lost all hope. That was why she wouldn't explain even when Consort Liu framed her, leading the foolish emperor to misunderstand her.

Imperial sister-in-law, even if you won't do it for yourself, think of the little Crown Prince, who's been all alone since childhood. He's just... so pitiful!

The Crown Prince was speechless. Well, thank you so very much!

Emperor Jinyuan was speechless. What do you mean, all alone? Am I not a person?

"Your Majesty, look! Sister Wan admitted it herself!"

Seeing Consort Wan tacitly admit it, Consort Liu immediately shouted as though afraid no one could hear her.

"Bringing scandal into the imperial harem is a grave crime! Consort Wan should be stripped of her rank and expelled from the palace!"

"Insolence!"

Emperor Jinyuan flew into a rage.

He stood and told Consort Liu, "It is not your place to tell me what to do!"

Consort Liu was unwilling to let this opportunity slip away.

"Does Your Majesty intend to shield Consort Wan?" she demanded. "Even the emperor is subject to the same punishment as a commoner when he breaks the law, let alone a mere Consort Wan!"

At that moment, she had only one thought: to make the charge of adultery against Consort Wan stick.

Seeing that Consort Wan herself had admitted it, Consort De stepped forward. "Your Majesty, since Consort Wan has confessed, the matter should be handled impartially. Otherwise, it will be difficult to convince everyone."

When the others saw Consort De step forward, they followed suit. "We beseech Your Majesty to handle this impartially and give us justice!"

If Emperor Jinyuan did not deal with Consort Wan fairly, others in the harem would follow her example, and peace would be impossible.

The Crown Prince was beside himself with anxiety. In a quiet voice, he called, "Mother!"

Consort Wan was close enough to hear him clearly. She turned and stared at him in a daze.

What... had the Crown Prince just said?

Looking at her, the Crown Prince silently mouthed the word again.

Tears suddenly streamed down her face.

She had heard him.

The Crown Prince had called her "Mother."

Consort Wan seemed to come to a decision.

She wiped away her tears.

She patted the Crown Prince, reassuring him not to worry.

Turning back to Emperor Jinyuan, she said, "Those manuscripts are indeed in my handwriting, but they were written before I became Crown Princess."

"You're lying!"

Panic flashed through Consort Liu's eyes when Consort Wan suddenly changed her story. "Your Majesty, you mustn't believe her!"

"Sister Liu, I haven't even finished speaking. What are you so anxious about?"

Consort Wan gave a soft laugh.

Her composure stood in stark contrast to Consort Liu's aggression.

A flicker of appreciation crossed Emperor Jinyuan's eyes.

She truly was worthy of being the woman he had chosen.

"Consort Liu, hold your tongue," he said. "Let her finish first!"

Consort Liu could only fall silent.

Consort Wan continued, "Back then, there was indeed someone I admired."

"Your Majesty, she-" Consort Liu began.

"Be quiet!" Emperor Jinyuan snapped.

He turned to Consort Wan, his voice softening slightly. "Go on."

He knew all this was in the past, but hearing Wanwan say with his own ears that she had once liked someone else still filled him with jealousy.

If he found out who it was...

Consort Wan pressed her lips together and stole a glance at Xiao Yu.

Only then did she answer, "The man I admired was not Lord Sun here, but the man who was then-"

"The General of Zhennan..."

Crash-

Xiao Yu fell straight out of his wheelchair.

"Master, are you all right?" Qinggeng hurriedly helped him up.

"I'm fine."

Xiao Yu climbed up. "Still alive and kicking!"

I came to watch the drama, only for it to land on my own doorstep...

Who knew Dad was so charming back then? Even my imperial sister-in-law fell for him!

The foolish emperor was already wary of Dad, and now even the woman he likes turns out to have admired Dad...

Oh, what a headache...

Consort Wan hurried to salvage the situation. "At the time, Southern Zhao was running rampant, constantly harassing the people of the Southern Border. They burned, killed, plundered, and brutalized people. There was no evil they wouldn't commit."

"The General of Zhennan acted decisively, leading just over five hundred of his personal troops straight into the enemy camp and destroying their headquarters. Only then did Southern Zhao retreat overnight..."

"What woman wouldn't admire such a brave, skilled hero who fought for his country and its people?"

"I was only an ordinary woman myself. Wasn't it perfectly natural for me to admire the General of Zhennan?"

Seeing Emperor Jinyuan's face darken further and further, she hastily changed tack. "After the General of Zhennan married, I put those feelings behind me completely."

"From beginning to end, it was nothing more than my own unrequited affection. Besides, the General of Zhennan had already given his heart to someone else."

"If Consort Liu hadn't brought it up, I would have forgotten all about this old story."

Only after hearing that did Emperor Jinyuan's expression ease a little.

At last, he understood why he had always disliked the Prince of Zhennan...

Rivals in love saw red when they met.

No wonder everything about the Prince of Zhennan had always rubbed him the wrong way.

Learning that Consort Wan had never liked him at all struck Sun Wenxun like a thunderbolt. His face went pale.

After hearing my imperial sister-in-law's words, Lord Sun should finally give up, shouldn't he?

For the sake of this youthful Admiration, the once high-spirited Top Scholar, upon learning that my Imperial Sister-in-Law had become Crown Princess,

never recovered from the blow and volunteered to serve as an ineffectual County Magistrate in some remote region...

If he hadn't fallen for Imperial Sister-in-Law, he should have had a bright future, rising to prime minister and devoting himself to the people until his dying breath...

There's nothing wrong with liking someone. The mistake is letting yourself stop moving forward.

If he can find himself again, there's no reason he can't make a fresh start.

After all, the road is right beneath your feet. It only depends on whether you're willing to take a step.

As Xiao Yu's thoughts rambled on, Sun Wenxun gradually came to his senses.

A graceful, virtuous lady was a fitting match for a gentleman.

There was nothing wrong with his affection for Wanwan.

His mistake was failing to turn that beautiful feeling into the strength to move forward.

"Lies! Lies! It's all lies!"

Consort Liu refused to believe that Consort Wan felt absolutely nothing for Sun Wenxun.

She turned to Emperor Jinyuan. "Your Majesty, don't let Consort Wan deceive you! She-"

"Your Majesty, I have something to report," Sun Wenxun said, stepping forward.

Had he not heard that Xiao boy's thoughts, Emperor Jinyuan would not even have bothered with this man named Sun.

But now, Emperor Jinyuan felt a little sympathy for him.

"Speak," he said.

"Your Majesty, although Her Ladyship Consort Wan and I grew up together, our feelings have always remained within the bounds of propriety."

Sun Wenxun continued, "Her Ladyship has only ever treated me as an elder brother, and I have never dared overstep in the slightest. I beseech Your Majesty to examine the matter carefully. Do not let others sow discord and cause you to misunderstand Her Ladyship."

"Sun Wenxun!!"

Seeing even the "witness" she had brought side with Consort Wan, Consort Liu was so furious that her entire face twisted.

Why?

Why did everyone like Consort Wan and help her?

No one, not a single person, ever saw her or spoke a word on her behalf...

Why did Heaven treat her so unfairly?

Why!!