Chapter 166 If It Were Possible

"Chuyue is a Princess of Shengqi, and her status is by no means lower than that of the Fifth Prince. This time, for the sake of the diplomatic relations between our two nations, she is accompanying the Fifth Prince to Houlan. Once there, she will be entirely without support, with only you, Fifth Prince, to lean upon. You once said that you fell in love with Chuyue at first sight and cherish her above all else. I trust that is true. I hope you will never fail her in the future, nor let her suffer any hardship or grievance. Otherwise, Shengqi will certainly not let the matter rest."

"Chuyue is a wonderful young woman and a friend for life. Today, I entrust her to you, Fifth Prince. I hope you will remember your own words."

Murong Ming's gaze swept over Shen Nanyuan, and then he nodded with a faint smile: "Naturally, County Princess, please rest assured. As long as I live, no one shall dare to harm Chuyue."

Pausing for a moment, he sighed softly, "I would never have expected the bond between the County Princess and Chuyue to be so profound."

Shen Nanyuan turned her head, looking at Meng Chuyue, who was completely intoxicated and fast asleep. Ignoring his remark, she merely said, "Take Chuyue back earlier so she can have a proper rest."

The hour was growing late, and the carriage came to a halt near the outer wall of the Prime Minister's estate. The Fifth Prince's martial arts were indeed formidable; even while holding Meng Chuyue in his arms, he easily vaulted over the outer wall and returned a short moment later.

They had not alerted anyone within the manor.

Only then did Shen Nanyuan feel her heart relax.

Standing before the carriage, Murong Ming said, "Tomorrow, the two young ladies must not be late."

He paused slightly. "Before leaving, Chuyue will surely want to see the two of you."

Shen Nanyuan nodded: "The Fifth Prince need not worry, we shall arrive on time."

As the night grew deeper, the room was already empty. Meng Chuyue sat up from her bed and walked over to the window. The familiar sights she had watched since childhood would likely become a luxury to even gaze upon in the future.

She sat upon the daybed by the window with a faint, lingering melancholy, and for a time, all sleepiness vanished.

The next day.

Shen Nanyuan arrived at the Jinghua Gate long in advance. Because the area was heavily guarded by troops, not many commoners were present.

Gao Xueluo climbed up, huffing and puffing, and upon seeing Shen Nanyuan, she said, "Yesterday, I sneaked out to drink wine and was caught by my father."

Shen Nanyuan's gaze shifted: "Did your uncle not punish you?"

"No," Gao Xueluo replied. "I told them I was keeping Chuyue company while she drank. They only sighed and said Chuyue is still so young to be leaving her homeland, praising her for being so sensible. They said if it were me, I would have cried, made a fuss, and thrown tantrums refusing to go."

She muttered under her breath, "Come to think of it, ever since Chuyue learned she was to be married off for an alliance, no matter how unwilling she was, she never made a scene, nor did she even shed a single tear. My father was right; she truly is sensible."

Shen Nanyuan smiled faintly.

This was likely due to the environment in which Meng Chuyue had lived since childhood.

With the legal wife and legitimate daughters pressing down upon her, she had no choice but to be sensible, relying solely on her own efforts to capture the Prime Minister's attention so her days would be somewhat easier.

Therefore, Meng Chuyue had always been the most mature among the three of them.

She knew that no amount of crying and wailing would change the outcome, so she might as well accept it with equanimity.

Shen Nanyuan's gaze fell below the city wall. Many people stood there, including the Prime Minister and Meng Chuyue's birth mother. Suddenly, her vision paused—Shen Sinian was actually there as well.

It so happened that it was his turn to be on duty at the Jinghua Gate today.

It was a strange coincidence that he should be here to bid farewell to Chuyue's marriage alliance.

She probably wanted to catch one last glimpse of Shen Sinian before leaving Shengqi.

Gao Xueluo's voice immediately rang out beside her: "They're coming."

A long procession marched out from the capital, numerous carriages laden with Meng Chuyue's dowry. The Prime Minister stood beneath the city wall, his eyes filled with tenderness as he watched the procession.

Murong Ming rode at the very front of the procession, but he dismounted his horse and walked over to the Prime Minister, appearing to speak with him. The procession halted, and only after the Fifth Prince remounted did the journey continue.

Sitting inside the carriage, Meng Chuyue tightly clenched her hands. Fortunately, the maid who had served her since childhood was allowed to accompany her to Houlan.

Pausing, she gently lifted the curtain to look outside. In her line of sight was the Prime Minister's face, filled with reluctance, his eye rims slightly damp. Right beside him, shockingly, was Shen Sinian clad in a full suit of armor.

Meng Chuyue froze instantly, but the armor he wore told her that today was his turn for duty at the Jinghua Gate.

An indescribable emotion surged through her entire being. Clenching her teeth, she met Shen Sinian's gaze. A moment later, her tightly closed fists suddenly relaxed, and she smiled calmly and faintly at him, nodding slightly.

Shen Sinian smiled and nodded back in acknowledgment.

Yet at that exact moment, just as Meng Chuyue prepared to lower the curtain, two loud voices suddenly rang out, so piercingly clear that she froze in place.

"Chuyue, we will definitely meet again!"

Everyone followed the direction of the voices and looked up at the city wall. Meng Chuyue did the same, and in her vision were Shen Nanyuan and Gao Xueluo, casting aside all decorum as they clung to the city wall and waved at her.

The tears Meng Chuyue had been holding back instantly broke free and fell.

She nodded frantically, sitting inside the carriage and waving back at them until they grew smaller and smaller in the distance, until she could no longer see them at all.

Reluctantly, Meng Chuyue lowered the curtain. Her maid handed her a handkerchief with a heart-wrenching expression: "My lady, do not be sad. Just as Miss Shen and Miss Gao said, you will definitely meet again in the future."

Meng Chuyue bit her lip with a bitter smile.

If only that were possible.

——

Returning to Zhaohua Courtyard, Shen Nanyuan felt a lingering emptiness in her heart.

A profound sense of desolation washed over her, making her sit in the room with a stinging sensation in the bridge of her nose.

With so many people at Jinghua Gate earlier, she hadn't noticed, but returning to Zhaohua Courtyard revealed a stillness so terrifying it made her want to weep with sorrow.

Qingrui sighed: "My lady, this servant will go out of the manor to buy some preserved plums for you."

Whenever Shen Nanyuan was in a bad mood, preserved plums were her favorite treat.

At the same time, she knew Shen Nanyuan wished to be alone for a while.

After Qingrui had been gone for a long time, Shen Nanyuan poured herself a cup of tea, drank it, and let out a sigh.

"Stop sighing."

A voice echoed from outside the door, causing Shen Nanyuan to pause and look up. Xiao Yan, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, walked in, dressed in black brocade robes and radiating nobility. "Weren't you just shouting to Miss Meng that you'll meet again?"

"So you will definitely meet again."

Shen Nanyuan asked in astonishment, "How did you know what I said to Chuyue... Were you there too?"

"Mm," Xiao Yan nodded. "Clearly today was not Captain Shen's day on duty, yet he rushed over. I wanted to see if he had some urgent business, and it turns out..."

He had wanted to see Meng Chuyue off.