Chapter 1

Gu Nanjin had loved Jun Mo for ten years. During those ten years, she had lost herself and lost her happiness. The only thing she had never lost was her love for him. But now, she no longer wanted to love him. She did not want to live the same miserable life she had endured in her previous life... “Miss, His Highness is here.” Cui Ping's voice brought Gu Nanjin back to her senses. She looked toward Jun Mo, who was about to reach the door, but unlike before, she did not instinctively curve her lips into a smile. Although she still could not suppress the joy that rose in her heart at the sight of him, she reminded herself to remain calm. The man standing before her was nothing more than her husband. Their marriage existed solely because of the imperial decree issued by the late Emperor. Since they were destined to be unable to grow old together in mutual affection, it was better to keep her true feelings hidden. Seeing that Gu Nanjin remained completely motionless, Cui Ping felt a trace of confusion. What was wrong? Whenever His Highness came over before, hadn't Miss always been overjoyed? Why was she acting like this today? Could this be a lingering effect of falling into the water? Should she have a physician come and examine her again? While Cui Ping's thoughts raced through countless possibilities, Jun Mo had already arrived in front of them. “I'm feeling unwell and was unable to personally welcome Your Highness. Please forgive me.” Gu Nanjin lowered her eyes, her expression and manner completely lacking the warmth she usually showed him. Jun Mo frowned slightly, but he did not voice his doubts. Instead, he turned and sat down not far from her. “I heard Yun Tan was by your side when you fell into the water?” Yun Tan? Just listen to how intimate that sounded. A trace of bitterness welled up in Gu Nanjin's heart. They had been married for a year, yet in her memories, he had always addressed her emotionlessly as “Princess Consort.” Even when they shared a bed, she had always been the only one who lost herself in passion. But none of that mattered anymore. Having lived another life, she no longer wanted to humbly beg for his affection. “Yes. Not only was Yun Tan by my side, she also pushed me into the water.” A flash of astonishment crossed Jun Mo's handsome, flawless face when he heard this. Gu Nanjin noticed it, but her expression remained as calm as still water. “There are no witnesses or evidence to prove what happened. His Highness would naturally find it difficult to believe me based solely on my word, but...” “But?” But what? Jun Mo wanted to hear what else she had to say. “Everything I said is the truth.” Gu Nanjin spoke each word clearly and firmly. In her previous life, she had always remembered that Yun Tan had once saved Jun Mo's life. Even though she knew Yun Tan had repeatedly schemed against her, she had continued to treat her with kindness and patience. As a result, she had suffered countless grievances. But now that she had been given a second chance at life, there was no way she would become that same woman who silently endured every humiliation! “The truth?” Jun Mo's face once again became as unreadable as ever, but there was a faint edge of restrained anger in his voice. Gu Nanjin understood him perfectly. After all, Yun Tan was the most perfect woman in his heart. Now, he probably believed that Gu Nanjin was deliberately slandering her, and perhaps he wished he could tear her to pieces. “I have no intention of using Your Highness's authority to seek justice for myself. I simply don't want the truth to be buried. As for how you choose to deal with this matter, that is entirely up to you. Besides, if Your Highness finds yourself in a difficult position, I can simply tell everyone that I fell into the water by accident.” “Then I suppose I should thank you for your magnanimity?” Jun Mo's voice was now completely devoid of emotion. Gu Nanjin's expression remained equally calm. “There is no need.” Jun Mo abruptly rose to his feet and stared coldly at Gu Nanjin. A bone-chilling aura radiated from him, and the atmosphere instantly froze to its breaking point. Cui Ping held her breath nervously, her heart filled with disbelief. For years, Miss had been in love with His Highness. She had finally married him, yet she had always been extremely cautious around him, afraid that even the slightest misstep might anger him. What had gotten into her today? It was one thing to deliberately provoke His Highness. But how could she deliberately offend the woman who held the most precious place in his heart? In the end, Jun Mo said nothing. He simply turned and walked out of the room. Judging by his heavy footsteps, he must have been furious. Cui Ping frowned tightly. “Miss, how could you say those things to His Highness?” “Do you think I shouldn't have?” Gu Nanjin's gaze drifted toward the stool where Jun Mo had been sitting. In the past, nothing mattered more to her than Jun Mo's thoughts. Knowing how grateful he was to Yun Tan for saving his life, she had tolerated Yun Tan again and again, regardless of what she did. Little did she know that every concession she made only encouraged Yun Tan to become more ruthless. After experiencing the agony of her previous life, she would never make the same mistake again! Even if Jun Mo became angry with her, she would no longer indulge Yun Tan! That night, Jun Mo should have stayed at Jiangxue Pavilion, yet he never appeared. Cui Ping glanced toward the door countless times. When midnight had already passed, uneasiness crept into her voice. “It is already midnight. It seems His Highness really is angry.” His Highness and Miss had never shared a deep relationship to begin with. If he was now unwilling even to stay the night, Miss would surely have an even harder time surviving in this residence in the future. “It's fine. If he doesn't come, we'll just go to sleep ourselves.” As Gu Nanjin spoke, she actually climbed straight into bed without hesitation. Cui Ping panicked. “Miss, you're really not going to wait? What if His Highness was delayed by something? Perhaps we should send someone over to take a look?” “No need.” Gu Nanjin had already pulled the covers over herself, her bright, star-like eyes closing. Cui Ping had no choice but to extinguish the lamps and leave. However, she still instructed someone to wait outside, hoping that His Highness might come after all. At the same time. His attendant, Su Yuan, reported the situation at Jiangxue Pavilion to Jun Mo. “She has gone to sleep?” Jun Mo set down his brush, a faint, unreadable light flickering in his deep eyes. He did not visit Jiangxue Pavilion often. His visits were fixed at four times a month, and no matter how late it was, she would always patiently wait for him. Yet today, she had actually gone to sleep on her own? Could there really be something more to the incident at the pond? “Su Yuan, investigate what happened at Lotus Garden.” Jun Mo's voice remained as calm as an ancient, undisturbed well. Lotus Garden was where Gu Nanjin had fallen into the water. Su Yuan froze for a moment before solemnly nodding. “Yes, Your Highness.” After he withdrew, Jun Mo picked up his brush again. Yet as he stared at the documents spread across his desk, he remained unable to write a single word for a long time. The next morning. Gu Nanjin went about her usual routine. Cui Ping stood beside her with dark circles beneath her eyes, her heart heavy with worry. The relationship between Miss and His Highness could not afford for Miss to deliberately distance herself from him. Moreover, there was still Yun Tan in the residence, watching for an opportunity. If Yun Tan took advantage of this moment to get closer to His Highness, Miss's situation would only become more difficult. Thinking of this, after Gu Nanjin finished her meal, Cui Ping eagerly picked up the small basket of embroidery supplies nearby. “Miss, the sachet you embroidered for His Highness is only a few stitches away from being finished. Why don't you hurry and finish it? You can take it with you when we go to pay our respects to the Princess Dowager later.” His Highness was a filial son. Whenever he was at the residence, he would visit Welcoming Pine Hall every day to pay his respects to the Princess Dowager. “The sachet...” Gu Nanjin glanced at it. Back then, in order to win Jun Mo's affection, she had put an enormous amount of effort into every detail of the sachet, from its color and fabric to the silk thread she used. But now, looking at it again, she felt nothing but deep resistance. In her previous life, when she had happily presented the sachet to Jun Mo, Yun Tan happened to be there as well. Just because Yun Tan made a few remarks, he had immediately given away the item she had painstakingly sewn. He had never known how much courage it had taken her to pick up a needle and thread and make it for him. And Yun Tan's intentions had never been about the sachet itself. It had taken less than a day before that very sachet appeared in a bucket of slops. Since it was destined never to be cherished, Gu Nanjin decided there was no point wasting her effort on it. “Throw it away.” Cui Ping stared blankly at Gu Nanjin. It took her a long moment to recover before she cautiously asked, “Miss, are you still angry with His Highness because of Miss Yun?” The way she said it made it sound as though Gu Nanjin were simply being unreasonable.