The night was deep, and the back residence of Duke An's Mansion quieted down. In Xiao Yunxi's chamber, the lamps that were already extinguished relit, and the curtains were pulled up, releasing the stuffy scent of osmanthus flowers.

Xiao Yunxi turned over, lying on the inside. In the height of summer, after a bout of exertion, her whole body was sticky with sweat, which was very uncomfortable.

Her cheeks were moist, and she breathed erratically with narrowed eyes, not wanting to move much, but she wasn't very tired either, speaking softly, "What happened to you? You're not quite yourself tonight?" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Chu Juan, having left the stage early, lay on the outside with a flushed face. She lay on her side, her beautiful eyes tightly fixed on Chen Mo's cheeks.

Chen Mo looked at Chu Juan and pulled her into his arms with his left hand, kissing her forehead.

The latter also enjoyed Chen Mo's affection, wrapping an arm around his neck, her already radiant cheeks turning a bit redder, thinking it was her turn again, leading him back to familiar territory of her own accord.

They both took a slight breath, especially Chu Juan, whose expressive eyes and brows overflowed with rhythm.

Chen Mo opened his mouth and still said, "Prince Huai led troops to raid Fengzhou, Deng Tian died in battle, and he chopped off Deng Tian's head and sent it to Xiangyang."

Upon hearing this, Chu Juan's mind buzzed, and even Xiao Yunxi beside her looked stunned before returning to normal.

After a brief moment of dumbfoundedness, Chu Juan didn't say a word, sat up, lowered her head, and voluntarily twisted her waist.

However, Chen Mo was lying flat, and from his angle, he could see that Chu Juan's expression was quite unpleasant.

A moment later, she stopped, slightly lifted her head, her eyes reddening, knowing what Chen Mo meant to convey, she bit her lip and said, "Can you... can you forgive him?"

"It wasn't just Deng Tian who died this time. The five thousand troops he took to reinforce Xing County were almost completely wiped out—those were five thousand lives. And Deng Tian's sacrifice suggests that the troops stationed at Luan Mountain County and Xing County are likely annihilated too; that's over ten thousand lives. How can you ask me to forgive him?" Chen Mo said.

"But he's my father," Chu Juan said, tears streaming down her face.

"Deng Tian was also the father of two children, and his wife is still waiting for him to return home. And those tens of thousands of soldiers who sacrificed, how many of them were fathers and sons? If I forgave Prince Huai, has Prince Huai ever shown them mercy?

Furthermore, Prince Huai's raid on Fengzhou suggests he's with King Chong and their group. They've come aggressively this time not just to reclaim Feng and Huai States. No, they're after my life.

If I lose, can he spare my life, or the lives of those in this mansion?" Chen Mo said.

Chu Juan said nothing, only her cries grew louder.

Xiao Yunxi, silent, took a handkerchief and wiped Chu Juan's tears.

Chen Mo continued, "Moreover, from beginning to end, it was Prince Huai who started this. I didn't provoke him, yet he raided my Qingzhou. When I headed north, he attacked Huai State again, provoking me time and again. Even then, I promised you I'd spare his life, but he still showed no remorse. How can such a person be forgiven?"

"Don't say any more," Xiao Yunxi said softly, as Chu Juan's sobs intensified.

Crying, Chu Juan repeatedly pounded Chen Mo's chest with her hands. "Then why did you tell me this, why did you have to let me know? Why not hide it from me, it would've been better if I didn't know. If I didn't know, I wouldn't have to face it, sob sob..."

Chen Mo didn't stop her outburst, saying, "Such a big event will spread sooner or later. You'd find out eventually. If I hid it from you, it would only cause you more pain."

Perhaps exhausted from crying, she lowered her body and buried her head into Chen Mo's embrace, softly sobbing.

Chen Mo opened his mouth but didn't say any comforting words.

He hadn't initially wanted to speak of it.

But it was a topic that couldn't be avoided; it had to be faced sooner or later.

After a long while, Chu Juan lifted her head, her eyes swollen red from crying, and choked out, "Husband, promise me."

"What?"

"You cannot personally take action. I don't want my man to be stained with..." She started crying again as she spoke.

Chen Mo: "..."

He understood what Chu Juan meant, but her approach was akin to covering the ears and stealing the bell.

After contemplating for a moment, Chen Mo said, "I promise you."

Chu Juan pressed her cheek against Chen Mo's chest, whispering, "I really wish this were all just a dream, waking up to find nothing happened."

"If this really were a dream, that would be wonderful," Chen Mo murmured.

...

But all of this was ultimately not a dream.

The following day, just as dawn broke.

Chen Mo was not fully awake yet when there was a knock on the door, not in the maid's voice, but Xia Zhining's: "Stop sleeping, get up, something's happened."

Hearing Xia Zhining's urgent voice, Chen Mo immediately snapped awake, sitting up abruptly, which also awoke Chu Juan, who had fallen asleep leaning on him, and Xiao Yunxi beside him.

Chu Juan's eyes were still tear-streaked, and when she first woke up, she was a bit dazed.

But it was Xiao Yunxi who, seeing Chen Mo's hurried state, helped him dress while asking, "Husband, what's the matter?"

"Zhi Ning says something's happened."

Leaving the room, Xia Zhining glanced inside and gave Chen Mo a cold look, but unusually didn't chide him. Instead, she said, "Something big happened. The Emperor issued a decree, removed you from office, stripped your title, and declared you a traitor. The news has spread everywhere."

Hearing this, Chen Mo furrowed his brow. He had already anticipated the loss of his position, saying, "The news has spread? How could it be so fast, when there wasn't even a whisper of it yesterday?"