Chapter 66: I Once Loved Someone

Ji Yucang had never questioned General Fengyang’s death, nor had he deliberately investigated if there were any hidden truths behind it.

Three years ago, when he perished in the southern border, Ji Yucang was still in the harsh lands of the north, leading his soldiers to victory. At that time, the late Emperor had not yet passed away, and he was not concerned with court affairs.

Now, hearing Princess Pingyao’s remarks, he seemed to realize that if there was indeed something suspicious about General Fengyang’s death, it might have been a scheme orchestrated by the late Emperor. The specific details of this scheme would perhaps require further investigation.

“If General Fengyang is truly alive, would you still marry him?” Ji Yucang inquired.

Princess Pingyao shook her head, “No.”

Yan Qingchen was surprised, and Xie Tinglan was taken aback.

Aren’t women supposed to be sentimental?

Princess Pingyao noticed their expressions but chose not to explain further, quickly excusing herself.

While she did intend to investigate whether General Fengyang was still alive, it didn’t mean she would succumb to threats.

Three years could change many things.

Regardless of the Emperor’s truthfulness, his plans had gone awry.

A heavy silence lingered in the study.

After Princess Pingyao left, they weren’t particularly concerned about whether General Fengyang was alive or not. However, the Emperor’s use of this person to threaten the Princess, aiming to have the Regent’s consort killed, had undoubtedly angered Ji Yucang. No man could tolerate someone plotting to harm their wife, even if that person was the Emperor.

Xie Tinglan pondered, “Why does the Emperor harbor such intense animosity towards the Princess Consort?”

If it was mere wariness of the Regent, that would make sense, considering the threat the Regent’s presence posed to the Emperor’s authority.

However, the Princess Consort was just a woman. No matter how arrogant or disrespectful she may have been, it was only surface-level disrespect. In the Emperor’s current situation, a rational person wouldn’t harbor murderous intentions towards a woman.

If he held the power of life and death, he could have easily executed the Regent’s consort for great disrespect, rather than using the Princess as a tool. Moreover, at this point, he hadn’t completely monopolized the power of life and death, killing the Regent’s consort would only anger the Regent, making his future transition to sole rule even more difficult.

With Xie Tinglan’s understanding of the Emperor, despite his young age, he was not impulsive or thoughtless. How could he make such an incredible decision?

Ji Yucang’s expression was cold, a chilling intensity gleaming in his eyes. At this moment, his tolerance for the young Emperor reached its limit.

Thinking of Shen Ning, who had been focusing on developing antidotes these days, Ji Yucang’s heart stirred with unusual ripples, prompting him to leave.

The scent of herbs filled the pharmacy.

Shen Ning had been busy working alone in the pharmacy for a while. When she glanced up, she spotted Ji Yucang standing outside the window. She raised an eyebrow, “What are you doing standing here?”

“Just looking at you.”

“What’s so interesting about me?” Shen Ning tidied up, washed her hands, then opened the door to step out. “Do you have something to tell me?”

Ji Yucang said, “Take a walk with me.”

Shen Ning didn’t say anything, silently walking outside with him.

The two strolled to the back garden, where the scenery was serene with pavilions, rockeries, and babbling streams.

Ji Yucang’s voice seemed somewhat unreal, “I once loved someone.”

Shen Ning was taken aback, not expecting him to say this, and instinctively responded, “Shen Ning?”

“No.” Ji Yucang stepped onto the veranda, a hint of loneliness evident in his profile. “The person I loved was talented in both civil and martial skills, unrestrained and magnificent, noble and dazzling.”

Shen Ning’s eyes narrowed slightly, a strange thought uncontrollably arising in her mind. She hesitated before asking, “Was it a man or a woman?”

Ji Yucang’s mouth twitched slightly as he subtly turned to look at her, “Naturally, it was a woman.”

Shen Ning murmured in acknowledgment.

“She wasn’t from Yong Kingdom.”

Shen Ning instinctively murmured again, then belatedly turned to face Ji Yucang, gazing at his dignified and stern face. “Not from Yong Kingdom?”

“No.” Ji Yucang’s voice was steady, but a hint of sorrow leaked through, “She already passed away.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Ning involuntarily halted her steps, the peculiar thought intensifying in her mind.

A foreigner, a woman, talented in both civil and martial skills, noble and dazzling?

She turned to him, “Who are you talking about?”

“Her name was Yan Jiuli.”

Shen Ning: “…” her identity before reincarnation.

Although Shen Ning had some vague guesses after Ji Yucang mentioned those descriptors, she was still somewhat surprised by this answer.

She had never met Ji Yucang before.

Moreover, Nan Dynasty and Yong Kingdom had limited interactions. While merchants may expand business ventures across different countries, since Shen Ning’s memory began, Nan Dynasty and Yong Kingdom had always maintained a distant relationship.

How could Ji Yucang have fallen for her?

Ji Yucang looked at her. “Do you know her?”

Shen Ning came back to reality, her tone unusually hesitant. “Do you think I should know her, or shouldn’t I?”

Ji Yucang reached out to ruffle her hair. “Originally, you shouldn’t have known her. After all, as a lady of the Shen family, secluded and sheltered, how could you possibly know a princess?”

Shen Ning smiled faintly. “But?”

“But you excel in medicine, possess talents in both civil and martial skills. These are not typical skills for a legitimate daughter of the Shen family. So, if you knew Yan Jiuli, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

After a moment of silence, Shen Ning asked calmly, “How did you end up falling for her? Was it mutual admiration or a case of ‘meeting too late’?”

“It was love at first sight, a deep connection, realizing her loss and desolation after she got married, feeling regret and pain upon hearing of her death.” Ji Yucang’s expression turned stern, a hint of ruthlessness in his voice. “It was a loathing and hatred towards her enemies, a desire to avenge, a determination to bring her back at any cost.”

Shen Ning was taken aback, staring at him in disbelief.

Ji Yucang stopped walking, gazing steadily at her. “Are you very surprised?”

“Indeed, I am surprised.” Shen Ning nodded. “A man like you, unexpectedly falling head over heels for a woman at first sight.”

Ji Yucang pursed his lips, remaining silent for a while before saying, “Emotions, in matters of the heart, have never made sense.”

“Perhaps you’ve misunderstood something.” Shen Ning remarked calmly. “The Regent may simply admire her courage on the battlefield, her ability to defend her home and country like a man. However, the Regent may not truly understand her character. If he did, perhaps his feelings wouldn’t be as strong.”

“What about her character?”

“She was shallow and foolish, easily swayed by others, causing harm to herself and to others. She placed too much trust in the sweet words of men, reaping the consequences of her own actions, leading to a tragic end.”

Ji Yucang’s lips tightened, a shadow passing over his eyes. “Was the end truly tragic?”

“Very tragic.”

Ji Yucang asked, “If those who harmed her were dealt with harshly, would it ease her lingering resentment?”

Shen Ning remained silent, her gaze fixed on the artificial mountain outside, her heart in turmoil, unable to find peace.

Did Ji Yucang know something?

If he adored Yan Jiuli so much, why did he rush to marry “Shen Ning”?

Did he speak those words to her knowing the truth about her rebirth and takeover of another’s life?

But how could he possibly know?

On the third day when he mentioned Nan Dynasty proposing an alliance with Yong Kingdom and his desire to take a side consort, Shen Ning only now realized—did he know her true identity back then?

Or perhaps, from the day she became Shen Ning, did Ji Yucang already know?

But how could that be possible?

Furrowing her brows, Shen Ning couldn’t comprehend the situation. Ji Yucang was undoubtedly a formidable warrior of Yong Kingdom, but he was just an ordinary mortal, not a sorcerer with extraordinary powers and knowledge.

How did he come to know?