Chapter 118: Nanxing’s Story

“I will naturally treat the people well. There’s no need for others to remind me; I will do so of my own accord,” Shen Hezhi replied.

Nan Xing nodded upon hearing the answer. “If that is the case, then I will tell you everything. I hope you can help the Southern Yang Kingdom.”

Shen Hezhi nodded quietly, sitting calmly to the side. He wasn’t particularly interested in aiding the Southern Yang Kingdom, but he was very curious about what this suddenly appeared princess was about to reveal. Moreover, he had a strong premonition that what Nan Xing was about to say would shock him and seemed somehow connected to his wife.

Nan Xing began to speak…

Many years ago, the royal family of the Southern Yang Kingdom was embroiled in internal strife. Because of the Empress, she framed Nan An’s mother, the consort, leading to her downfall. Although the emperor favored the consort, his love for the kingdom outweighed everything else.

For the sake of the realm, the emperor resolutely decided to abandon the consort.

Despite this, the consort was still the emperor’s most beloved at the time. Though he was forced to send his dearest consort to her death, love still lingered. Knowing that she could not survive, the consort willingly presented herself to the emperor to end her life.

This voluntary act left the emperor with not only love but also deep guilt, so he doubled his care for her and for Nan An.

The emperor wanted to give them the best of everything, but Nan An was no longer a child; she understood everything clearly and harbored intense hatred toward the emperor.

No matter what the emperor gave them, it was worthless in their eyes.

Yet, despite their hatred, the emperor was still their father, and they longed for paternal love.

But all of this was shattered many years ago.

Out of jealousy, the Empress realized that the grown Nan Xing bore a striking resemblance to her mother, the consort. Her jealousy reignited, and she began to threaten the emperor, demanding that he kill Nan Xing.

Though the emperor wished to protect his daughter, the Empress’s family wielded immense power. He could not refuse her demands and had to comply.

But this time, it was his own daughter involved—blood is thicker than water. Though ruthless, he could not bring himself to harm his own child.

Thus, the best he could do was send his daughter away from the Southern Yang Kingdom.

Nan Xing understood the emperor could do no more, so she left to save her life.

The Empress was furious when she learned of Nan Xing’s departure, but since her agents found no trace of her, the matter was eventually forgotten.

After fleeing the kingdom, Nan Xing arrived at the Yan estate, though it was not her first destination.

Along the way, she met a wandering swordsman. They fell in love and had a child together. However, the Empress’s men were still hunting Nan Xing.

The swordsman, to protect her, lost contact with Nan Xing.

With no options left, the vulnerable woman sought shelter to protect her child and turned to Master Yan.

At that time, she still had considerable wealth, which she used to seek temporary refuge at the Yan estate.

Master Yan needed funds to advance his official position, and Nan Xing’s arrival was a boon. Thus, he suddenly married a young, beautiful woman.

Because his rank was modest then, few knew of the sudden marriage—only that Master Yan had taken a fancy to a woman and insisted on bringing her into the Yan family.

At first, only Master Yan knew of the arrangement between him and Nan Xing. Madam Yan vehemently opposed allowing such an unknown woman into their family.

But Master Yan defied all opposition and married Nan Xing.

Though furious, Madam Yan was powerless once her son had brought Nan Xing home.

Soon after, she discovered Nan Xing was pregnant. But Master Yan had married her less than half a month ago—how could she already be showing?

Madam Yan sought a chance to kill Nan Xing. She did not know the reasons behind the pregnancy, but Master Yan did. Due to their arrangement, he could not reveal the truth and could only protect Nan Xing as best he could.

Yet, he grew weary of living under Madam Yan’s control, constantly safeguarding a mysterious woman.

Gradually, he stopped intervening. Seeing her son’s indifference, Madam Yan grew ever more brazen.

Nan Xing knew that if she stayed, the old lady would eventually kill her. She decided to leave and sought out the swordsman, hoping to escape with him.

But after a passionate night, the swordsman told her he had not yet eliminated their enemies and that he had come only to confirm her whereabouts.

So Nan Xing stayed, planning to leave with him and their child once the threat was gone.

Shortly after returning to the Yan estate, Nan Xing discovered she was pregnant again.

She had never been intimate with Master Yan and knew this child was the swordsman’s.

She was happy, but Master Yan was not. When he married her, she was already expecting, and though their union was in name only, he could not accept his nominal wife bearing another man’s child.

However, Madam Yan, thinking her son finally had an heir, was less harsh toward Nan Xing.

At this point, Master Yan could no longer bear it and revealed everything to his mother.

Madam Yan was furious and resolved to kill Nan Xing, but she needed a pretext rather than outright murder.

When Nan Xing discovered this, she planned to leave with her child. But the swordsman arrived, gravely wounded, and gave her evidence of the Yan family bribing officials for promotion.

This was the last thing he could do for Nan Xing.

To spare her sorrow, he left without letting her see his death. To this day, Nan Xing refuses to believe he is gone.