Chapter 128: Human Hearts Are Fickle

That night, Shen Ning shared a large tent with Ji Yucang.

She had always been silent about her past, but tonight, lying on the bed, watching the flickering lights inside the tent, she rarely took the initiative to speak about the past: “When I was young, my brother, Han Rong, and I grew up together. We were like childhood sweethearts and had been innocent and close as children.”

Ji Yucang remained silent, feeling a twinge of jealousy for this childhood sweetheart relationship he had never been a part of.

But everything had passed.

Even the best of friendships, after experiencing a betrayal that cuts to the bone, would turn into hatred and disgust, as well as contempt and disdain born from seeing the other’s true nature.

Shen Ning lay with her hands behind her head. At this moment, with the enemy at the gates, mentioning the past seemed to bring a sense of relief, as if it were simply to pass the boring time and bid farewell to the past friendship.

She said indifferently: “My brother is only two years older than me. The friendship from growing up together always seemed particularly precious, so when I grew up, I willingly donned armor, fought on the battlefield, defended my home, and protected his empire.”

“I never thought my brother would be wary of me, plot against me, and I never suspected Han Rong would betray me, even harm me with his own hands.”

Perhaps a person’s most precious memories always remain in childhood.

Therefore, the wounds of childhood require a lifetime to heal.

And the happiness of childhood can be torn apart in an instant.

Ji Yucang lay with his head against hers: “People change. When they are young and ignorant, the feelings between childhood friends are indeed pure and precious, untainted by interests and without calculations. But when they grow up, many people change beyond recognition.”

Human hearts are inherently fickle.

Not only the feelings between men and women, but also the friendships between men, and the familial bonds between fathers, sons, and brothers, all change as people grow older.

“Human hearts are indeed fickle.” Shen Ning said softly, her tone indifferent yet tinged with confusion. “But I still can’t understand why my brother was so wary of me. Nan Dynasty has never been a country where women can hold power. My ability to go to war was already an exception. Even if I earned countless military achievements in seven years, it would not pose any threat to his empire. Why was he so wary of me?”

“Power is something that naturally makes people wary, regardless of gender.” Ji Yucang said calmly. “You may see yourself as a woman, posing no threat to his throne, but from his perspective, you, a princess, have broken precedents by leading troops into battle and have established illustrious military achievements as a woman. Upon your return, you held significant military power, and your authority had already surpassed the royal power. How could he rest easy?”

Shen Ning was silent: “So, throughout history, the path between monarchs and generals has always been the same…”

“Peace is established by generals, yet generals are not allowed to enjoy peace.”

When the country is in peril, generals don their armor without hesitation and take to the field. When the country is at peace, they are discarded like used tools, their fates sealed.

Even if it were not her, any other general would meet the same end.

Ji Yucang gazed at the large tent, his voice as indifferent as snow: “When I was young, there was also a child who would follow me around, calling me ‘Little Imperial Uncle’. The child was born into the royal family, with a good appearance and an air of nobility. Even though I did not like to be close to people, I could not bring myself to dislike him. If he had been born into an ordinary family, we would probably have been quite close as uncle and nephew.”

Unfortunately, they were both born into the royal family.

The most precious thing in the royal family is power, which people vie for and become suspicious of, resorting to any means necessary.

Therefore, he never got close to any of the princes.

Even when Ji Jin ascended to the throne and the former Emperor, father and son, plotted against him, he was not surprised in the least.

This is the destiny of those born into the royal family.

It’s just that some refuse to accept their fate.

Hearing Ji Yucang speak of his youth, Shen Ning felt a strange sensation in her heart. She turned to look at him, a hint of hesitation on her face: “Ji Yucang, I think Ji Jin’s gaze towards you is somewhat different.”

Ji Yucang was taken aback: “What do you mean?”

“On the night of our wedding, the two princesses caused a scene in the bridal chamber, attracting the attention of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.” Shen Ning said calmly. “The first time I saw the Emperor that night, I felt that his gaze towards you was unusual.”

Ji Yucang replied: “He has always wanted to surpass me. After becoming Emperor, he naturally resented being beneath me and was eager to take power, which is understandable. But being too impatient and impulsive…”

Before he could finish, meeting Shen Ning’s increasingly profound gaze, Ji Yucang’s voice caught, and his expression turned strange: “What is it?”

Shen Ning shook her head: “It’s nothing.”

She just felt that Ji Jin’s gaze towards Ji Yucang was far from that of a monarch looking at a powerful minister. It was not about wanting to surpass or purely being wary, it was more about an urgent desire to conquer—an unusually strong ambition to conquer.

It was just that this ambition and desire for conquest did not match his abilities, which is why he ultimately failed miserably.