The more Yun Shang observed Wei Yao’s attitude, the clearer it became that this was likely how the entire An Duke household regarded her. The fact that they had come to confront her directly—perhaps they had discovered something from the past.
Today was the Mid-Autumn Festival. Yun Shang, with Ah Du in tow, planned to go outside the palace for a bit of leisure. Being cooped up in the palace all the time was dull. Before leaving, the two of them donned masks, covering their faces completely.
Their appearances were far too striking; if they were recognized while outside, crowds would gather, making it impossible to enjoy themselves.
Just like the day they first arrived in the capital, Yun Shang was still excitedly exploring, while Ah Du remained worried, never leaving her side.
Whenever Ah Du felt overwhelmed by hatred, simply seeing Yun Shang by his side made that hatred seem trivial.
Those people—what did they matter? Wasn’t having Yun Shang with him enough for a lifetime?
Yun Shang acted as if she hadn’t noticed the people following them, deliberately leading Ah Du deeper into a secluded alley. Ah Du sensed something was off but continued to follow her.
Suddenly, Yun Shang looked back at him and gave a signal. The two simultaneously smelled an unusually strong fragrance and pretended to faint, collapsing to the ground.
The An Duke, both anxious and expectant, waited for Ah Du to regain consciousness. Had he known how useful this child would be, he would have raised him by his side. How had he been so blind back then, seduced by a beautiful servant, and caused his wife years of resentment?
“Your Grace, what is happening? Just now, walking down the alley, I noticed a strange scent and then suddenly fainted—what happened?”
Yun Shang pretended to have just woken up, rubbing her forehead in feigned confusion.
Ah Du remained calm, his eyes coldly fixed on the ground, sensing that the An Duke was watching him closely.
“Perhaps the Heavenly Maiden herself felt unwell,” the An Duke casually replied, dismissing Yun Shang. His real focus was Ah Du.
“Why do you look at my brother this way, Your Grace? Do you know him? Or is there some past I don’t know about?” Yun Shang raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
At this point, there was no need to hide anything. Her deliberate provocations toward Wei Yao in the palace had been designed to send news back to the An Duke household.
Now, having discovered the truth, he still had the audacity to show up, attempting to reclaim Ah Du—this useful son. If the Heavenly Maiden and Grand Tutor hadn’t appeared in front of him under their current identities, he probably wouldn’t have even remembered having this child.
“This matter has nothing to do with the Heavenly Maiden. It concerns me and the Grand Tutor,” the An Duke said, showing no respect toward Yun Shang, only disdain. He didn’t understand what his lost son had to do with this woman. And even if he did, what did it matter to him?
“You have no right to speak to my sister this way. I don’t know what you want to say to me. But seeing how you treat my sister makes me unhappy and dissatisfied. Therefore, I have nothing to say to you.”
Ah Du’s voice was cold, his eyes revealing raw hatred and disgust.
He could not tolerate anyone treating Yun Shang poorly—even the emperor could provoke his vengeful thoughts. And this An Duke—who did he think he was? Pretending to be a father? Pathetic.
“The events of your childhood were my fault. I investigated everything thoroughly. I just could not betray my promise to your mother. You must understand that no father would fail to love his child. My desire to make amends comes late, but the guilt weighs on me heavily.”
The An Duke’s expression changed to one of apparent grief and remorse. Of course, he felt guilty—for not having killed the mother and child outright back then. Now that the child had grown and returned, if he could not be of use… he might become a real threat.
As someone the emperor trusted, the Heavenly Maiden and Grand Tutor could subtly influence the court. The An Duke’s family could be finished with a few well-placed words.
“If I were not the emperor’s trusted Grand Tutor today, would you still consider me your child? Would you regret it?”
With Yun Shang by his side for so many years, Ah Du was no longer as stubborn as in his original world. He could see some things clearly now.
“You speak wrongly, child. I have regretted the past for many years. If I can make amends, I am willing to give everything—just accept me as your father.”
The An Duke’s face softened with a show of paternal affection, as if he truly loved Ah Du. In truth, they had not seen each other for over twenty years. Sending the child away had severed all fatherly ties.
“Your Grace, why act in front of me? Ah Du calls me sister, so he is my brother. What does that have to do with you? You believe that, because of our identities as the Heavenly Maiden and Grand Tutor, you can influence him with a few words? That you can easily coax Ah Du back?”
Yun Shang stepped forward, placing herself between Ah Du and the An Duke, unwilling to let him disgust her brother.
In the end, the meeting ended in discord. Yun Shang wanted to make one thing clear: they were not children who could be easily manipulated. No one could erase past mistakes with mere words—especially when the life of Ah Du’s biological mother had been at stake.
The palace’s political landscape shifted constantly. The emperor was aging, the princes had grown, and the struggle for succession remained an endless game.
Every prince could sense that the emperor truly trusted the Heavenly Maiden and Grand Tutor. With a few well-chosen words, they could potentially sway his heart.