CHAPTER 652: CHAPTER 632: IN A TIGHT SPOT

After the peace negotiations in Sannan, Xie Jue had little to do and did not enjoy socializing. He spent his days hiding away in the study, enjoying some peace and quiet. Ningzhou had been extremely hectic these past years, leaving him without much time to rest. Now, it felt like a revenge-fueled holiday, a leisurely time where his involvement extended only to the Empress’s wedding. The Rituals Bureau and Ministry of Rites had their procedures in place, and Xie Xun was assertive with his own decisions, so the royal marriage scarcely required Xie Jue’s attention, leaving him even more idle.

"Ting Feng, come, let’s have some late-night snacks together!"

Fang Chuning greeted him as though nothing had happened, casually inviting him to join for supper. The Hidden Guard had secretly informed him just moments ago that Xie Jue had little appetite during dinner, consuming only a bowl of pumpkin porridge. Fang Chuning cared deeply about all matters, big and small, concerning Xie Jue. He retrieved the Eight Treasures Duck from the food container and placed it on the warm tea table by the windows. The dish was still hot, supplemented by stir-fried cured pork and bamboo shoots and two fresh seasonal vegetable dishes. The aroma filled the entire room and awoke Xie Jue’s cravings. He had anticipated Fang Chuning bringing over Eight Treasures Duck, which explained why he had eaten so little at dinner.

When Xie Jue approached, Fang Chuning opened the window. The autumn breeze swept in, dispersing the stuffy air of the study. Wary that the food might cool too quickly, Fang Chuning adjusted the table stand, leaving the window half-open.

Fang Chuning himself had already eaten dinner but hadn’t satiated his hunger. At home, as long as his father was present, the dining atmosphere would be oppressive. Joining Xie Jue for the meal seemed a perfect opportunity to indulge.

"Today, when I entered the palace, Zhixu mentioned his upcoming marriage to Ayu. He casually mentioned that Mrs. Fang was actively looking at potential matches for you. Have any caught your eye?"

Xie Jue spoke as he elegantly consumed the tender, aromatic Eight Treasures Duck, not even lifting his eyelids. His tone, however, was colder than the late autumn winds.

Fang Chuning silently cursed Xie Xun a few times in his heart before offering his honest reply, "Yes, they’ve shown me some, but I’ve rejected them all."

"Who were the candidates?"

Fang Chuning hesitated for a moment before revealing the truth, "The Third Miss from the second branch of the Zhang Family."

Xie Jue was largely unfamiliar with the young women among the noble families of the capital. Besides Lin Yunong and Fengyu, his impressions of them were faint and indifferent. Even if he had encountered them, he might not recall who they were.

However, he was fully aware that a marriage between the Fang Family and the Zhang Family would indeed make for an excellent match.

Without uttering insincere words, Xie Jue refrained from commenting further upon learning the facts. Fang Chuning grew agitated and hurried to explain, "After the new year, when you head to Sannan as an envoy, I’ll accompany you."

"How long do you think you can avoid it?" Xie Jue asked calmly, raising his gaze to meet Fang Chuning’s anxious eyes. He was acutely aware that some things were prohibited. In Ningzhou, perhaps defiance was still possible; now, it was absolutely not. Besides, Xie Xun was the Emperor, and Xie Jue a Prince. Fang Chuning was the eldest son of an esteemed military marquis ranked as one of the finest. There was a clear line delineating what they could and could not do.

This was the unspoken reason behind their mutual agreement to bury everything after returning from Beiman. Neither had brought up the matter since.

Fang Chuning’s gaze grew murky, as if he were caught between two thorny paths, neither of which seemed passable. And even if he could force his way forward, it was unlikely the destination would bring what he desired. If any hint of their affair with Ting Feng were to be exposed, his father, fiercely protective of the family’s honor and dignity, would never tolerate even the whisper of a scandal. Just as disgrace might lead to a woman losing her virtue, his father would rather punish them harshly and expunge them entirely.

"We... shouldn’t continue this entanglement any further." Xie Jue delivered their future a quiet verdict, cutting off all hope. He wasn’t one to dread being swirled into the storm of public opinion with Fang Chuning—nor did he fear it. If they were to stand united, they could crush every barrier laid before them. But Xie Jue could see no light ahead. He couldn’t bear the thought of forcing Fang Chuning to choose between him and his family. In truth, he would not make his own choices between Xie Xun, Ruyi, and Fang Chuning either. This made him unwilling to witness Fang Chuning sink deeper into agony.

"Ting Feng, what are you saying?" Fang Chuning asked in a chilling tone. The repressed fury made his gaze almost terrifying. He had been calculating how to convince his parents, while Xie Jue abruptly closed the path they might have taken together.

"After returning from Beiman, we tacitly agreed to make this decision—it has gone unspoken, yet understood. So much has occurred over the years: families destroyed, lives lost, upheavals that overturn empires, changes of dynasty. We have endured pain, wrestled with contradictions and entanglement, and questioned our resolve. In the desert, there could never bloom a vibrant flower; those hopes are foolish. Now, after circling back and forth, we are merely back at the start." Xie Jue’s voice remained as composed as ever, though nobody could guess the amount of sleepless nights, the countless inner struggles, the pain akin to severing a limb that had brought him to this statement. "Anning, don’t torment yourself anymore."