In just over two months, Ye Zhao felt the presence of someone who desired his success even more fervently than his own mother—Wei Xiyang, the Duke of Zhen. If one didn't know better, they might have thought Ye Zhao was his own son.
Ye Zhao’s response was a polite "no thank you." His current parents were perfectly fine. He suspected the man had misunderstood something, leading to such high expectations; the only possibility was the widely circulated rumors regarding the mysteries of his birth.
Ye Zhao had tried explaining many times to no avail. For reasons unknown, the Duke seemed convinced the rumors were true. Fortunately, with the New Year approaching, the academy went on break. Ye Zhao could finally take a temporary leave from Old General Wei’s "loving care." It was a true blessing.
However, this year's festivities were overshadowed. Word had spread that the Grand Princess was ill again. Imperial physicians from the palace had visited several times, but her condition remained uncertain.
On this day, the carriage from the Grand Princess’s manor appeared once more before the gates of the Ye residence.
Inside, Ye Zhao’s parents watched him as he focused solely on his meal. They exchanged looks before his father finally spoke. "Son, the carriage from the Grand Princess’s manor is still at the door."
"Oh," Ye Zhao responded indifferently.
"This is the second time they’ve come. Could there be something urgent?"
Father Ye noticed that although Ye Zhao looked calm while eating, he seemed inexplicably displeased. Someone had come yesterday as well, and Ye Zhao had turned them away directly.
Father Ye hesitated, then added, "Why don't we open the door and ask what they want?"
Ye Zhao had already drawn a clear line between himself and the Grand Princess’s manor; their affairs had nothing to do with him. Thus, he replied, "What business could our family possibly have with the Grand Princess?"
Finally, Mother Ye spoke. She sensed that something had happened between Ye Zhao and the manor that she wasn't privy to. "Ye Zhao, are you hiding something from Mother?"
Ye Zhao’s hand paused. "No."
A mother knows her son. Hearing his tone, she understood there was more to it, so she said no more.
After a moment, a voice suddenly called out from outside: "Xiyue requests an audience with Young Master Ye!"
Ye Zhao’s parents froze. They heard it again, confirming they hadn't misheard.
Who? Princess Xiyue!
"Son!" Mother Ye gasped in shock, hurrying with Father Ye to open the door.
Behind them, Ye Zhao set down his chopsticks, feeling quite puzzled. Why was she here? Recalling the recent rumors, a suspicion began to form in his mind.
In the snow, Princess Xiyue stood before the main gate of the Ye residence, draped in a snow-white fox-fur cloak. When the door opened but the person she sought did not appear, she pursed her lips and spoke again: "Xiyue requests an audience with Young Master Ye."
Ye Zhao walked from the hall to the gate. Seeing the figure standing in the snow, he asked flatly, "What do you want with me?"
Princess Xiyue’s voice was strained. "Grandmother is gravely ill. She wishes to see Lord Tianshu one last time. But in all the world, only Young Master Ye bears such a striking resemblance to him, so..."
"So you want me to impersonate him to fulfill the Grand Princess’s final wish," Ye Zhao finished for her. However, he added, "But the fake can never become the real. You know this well yourself."
Heaven be his witness, Ye Zhao meant this with utter sincerity and spoke no falsehood. Yet, for some reason, Princess Xiyue’s face turned pale.
In her heart, she instantly remembered: those were the exact words she had once said to Ye Zhao. Now, he had returned them to her, syllable for syllable.
What did he mean by this?
She looked up at Ye Zhao, her eyes filled with suspicion and doubt. Did he actually care about her past words and actions? Did he feel slighted and humiliated?
Utterly unaware that he had been labeled as "vengeful," Ye Zhao only saw Princess Xiyue hesitate for a moment before she seemed to reach a decision. She spoke, "Even if it is fake, Xiyue begs Young Master Ye to endure the hardship of acting the part once. Regardless of the outcome, Xiyue will be... eternally grateful."
With that, she slowly bowed her head and began to sink her knees toward the ground. Those present were startled by the gesture; her maid instinctively moved to support her. "Princess! What are you doing?! You mustn't!"
Father and Mother Ye also rushed to support her. By status, there was no reason for a Commandery Princess to kneel to the child of a subordinate official. If word of this got out, it would be disastrous!
Only Ye Zhao remained unmoved, watching with a cold eye.
In truth, he was stunned. He stood frozen, not having reacted in time, feeling a bit at a loss. *This... what should I do?*
Princess Xiyue glanced at him, gritted her teeth, and prepared to kneel fully.
At that moment, Ye Zhao suddenly let out a scoff. "What is the Princess doing? Begging on bended knee?"
He lightly tapped his folding fan against his other palm and said leisurely, "Are you asking me to go, or forcing me? If you are asking, there is no need. Have you forgotten? I said before that even if you begged me, I would not go. If you are forcing me, then Princess Xiyue may kneel now."
Having said his piece, he leaned against the doorframe with a calm expression, watching the crowd at the gate. Nearby, several people were already peeking out to see what the commotion was about.
He truly felt the pressure Princess Xiyue was placing on him with this act, and his temper flared, prompting such a reaction.
Princess Xiyue froze mid-motion and was forced to stand. The scene fell into a deadlock.
"Is Young Master Ye angry with me?"
"?"
Ye Zhao was first confused, then found her words nonsensical. She came to ask for help, and he hadn't even said no yet, but then she started kneeling—it was truly unnecessary. Furthermore, why would he be angry with her?
Ye Zhao didn't understand her meaning and replied calmly and honestly, "No, Princess Xiyue, you are overthinking. We are essentially strangers; why would I be angry with you?"
Princess Xiyue stared at him for a long time, her face full of doubt. Only then did she half-believe that he wasn't being sarcastic, but meant it literally. She was momentarily speechless, not knowing what to say.
Father and Mother Ye shot meaningful looks at Ye Zhao, but to no avail.
After a long silence, she closed her eyes and said, "I was wrong."
"I ask Young Master Ye to make this trip for the sake of my grandmother." Princess Xiyue was at her wit's end.
She was born noble and possessed great pride; she had likely never begged anyone like this in her life. Her heart was full of humility and helplessness, but today's situation was of her own making, and she could blame no one else.
Ye Zhao felt even more strongly that she had misunderstood something. He fell into silent thought over the matter and did not speak. To others, however, it looked as though he was standing there with a cold, indifferent gaze.
Father and Mother Ye hurried to his side, whispering persuasively. Ye Zhao listened to their words with exasperation. Without a word, he turned and walked back inside. Princess Xiyue panicked, the color draining from her face. "Young Master Ye!"
"I beg you to see my grandmother one last time!" Her voice trembled, her usual poise completely gone. She understood what that turn of his back represented.
Behind him, Father and Mother Ye chased after his figure, only to find that Ye Zhao was heading toward the back door. The two were instantly overjoyed, understanding his plan.
Almost as soon as Ye Zhao left the house, Father Ye went to the main gate to inform Princess Xiyue. "Zhao'er has already gone. You should head back quickly as well, Princess."
"Truly?" For a moment, she couldn't believe it.
Clearly, Ye Zhao hadn't shown any sign of agreeing just moments ago. How did he suddenly...?
Then, Princess Xiyue realized. He hadn't gone because she begged him; Ye Zhao had gone of his own accord. She could not move him with pleas.
Princess Xiyue understood this truth clearly. She gave a bitter smile. *Xiyue has been taught a lesson.*
"Thank you, Master Ye." She performed a formal salute. Father Ye waved his hands hurriedly, saying he didn't deserve such an honor.
Ye Zhao: *I just didn't want to leave through the front door, making it look like I was forced by Princess Xiyue. It felt gross. Can't a clever person just take a different path?*
*Argh!*
But obviously, no one understood his internal monologue.
Before long, Princess Xiyue rushed back to the Grand Princess’s manor and made all the necessary preparations, waiting only for Ye Zhao to arrive.
...
With a creak, the door behind her opened.
Princess Xiyue turned around and froze as she looked at the person who stepped out.
The world held Lord Tianshu in high esteem, piling countless beautiful words upon him. He was a legend of an era, an unbreakable myth. Today, they felt as if they were seeing that legendary figure... walking toward them.
The man wore a long black robe and walked with a steady, unhurried pace, his sleeves fluttering. His peerless face was sharply contoured, and the corners of his eyes and brows seemed carved by a blade, carrying an indelible chill. Between his brows was a single dot of vivid red, enchanting and striking. He looked like an immortal from the highest heavens, yet also like a supreme sovereign atop a golden dais, looking down upon all living things. His casual gaze swept over the people in the room, making them feel as if they had been suddenly frozen in place, unable to move.
Entering the room and seeing everyone's reaction, Ye Zhao knew what to do. *I'll act according to this style!*
He maintained a face of noble, cold, and arrogant dominance. As he approached, the people guarding the Grand Princess’s bedside instinctively moved aside.
He came to the bed and slowly sat in the chair beside it, his posture elegant. In a voice neither light nor heavy, he called out, "Ning Meng."
He didn't know if the real Lord Tianshu called her that, but they were friends, so it was highly likely.
The Grand Princess, whose consciousness had been fading, slowly drifted back to clarity. In the dim light, she saw the person before her. Her lips trembled for a long time before she uttered a name: "Lord Shu."
Those who had been close to Tianshu in the past always addressed him this way. She asked, "Have you returned?"
She raised a trembling hand, as if wanting to touch Ye Zhao, unable to believe the person before her was real.
Ye Zhao took her hand and placed a pale yellow winter jasmine flower in her palm. He said softly, "Look, the plum blossoms have bloomed."
Ye Zhao’s avoidance of a direct answer caused the elderly woman to nearly shed tears.
The first time she met Tianshu was on a day when snow filled the sky. That year, her husband and son had just died. She had been standing under a yellow winter jasmine tree, her heart heavy with gloom. It was his words that changed her life.
Thereafter, while he was busy with the affairs of the state, she began to help him look after the inner court and manage the palace affairs so he would have no worries. The two had collaborated for five whole years until one day, Tianshu suddenly departed.
She asked in a trembling voice, "How have you been all these years?"
"I have been well."
"Some time ago, I saw Zhao-zhao..." The Grand Princess seemed to recall a beautiful image and smiled gently. "That child looks exactly like you..."
Ye Zhao paused, then couldn't help but say, "I have no children."
*Hmm?*
The Grand Princess’s expression faltered. Nearby, everyone in the room felt their hearts skip a beat, fearing the worst.
Ye Zhao glanced at the others' reactions and knew he shouldn't have said that. He immediately compensated, his voice turning deep and husky. "Ning Meng, you should know that I would not leave behind such a weakness."
Indeed, according to the various deeds of Tianshu that Ye Zhao had heard, this man was powerful and calculated everything perfectly; no one could best him. Such a person would find it hard to be moved by emotion and certainly wouldn't leave a weakness like an illegitimate son for himself.
The Grand Princess was silent for a moment before saying, "It was my mistake."
Immediately, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Those present looked at Ye Zhao. Pei Yunting and Xiyue, who had seen Ye Zhao before, were undoubtedly the most astonished. The change in Ye Zhao before and after was too great; it was as if he had become a completely different person.
The Grand Princess’s gaze fell upon the fan at Ye Zhao’s waist. She slowly revealed a smile of unknown meaning, then looked away and asked Ye Zhao, "Lord Shu, in the past, you used to smile whenever others mentioned Princess Ningmeng. What were you smiling at?"
She said, "I have thought about it for decades and still cannot understand."
Ye Zhao was stunned. Panic flared in his heart for a second, but his face remained as steady as a mountain. He murmured in confusion, "Princess Ningmeng?"
Instantly, the others watched Ye Zhao nervously, hoping he wouldn't blow his cover.
Ye Zhao lowered his eyes and murmured the name silently a few times. Suddenly, he let out a laugh. Grand Princess Ning Meng watched him, looking both helpless and puzzled. "You are smiling again..."
Ye Zhao slowly suppressed his smile, appearing to be in a good mood. The oppressive aura around him lightened considerably as he said, "Lemons are not sour."
The Grand Princess sighed weakly. "You say that again. I still don't understand what you mean..."
Not only did she not understand, but everyone present felt the same. They heard Ye Zhao speak slowly, "There is a fruit called a lemon. One taste makes a person shiver uncontrollably from the sourness. Look at you, you even bear the title of a princess among lemons; I fear you've become a lemon spirit."
A shallow smile played on his lips as he continued, "But I know you are not a lemon spirit princess who is just sour. You are Princess Ningmeng, who is sour on the outside but sweet on the inside."
After these words, the others held their breath in confusion and tension. After a long while, the no-longer-young Grand Princess managed to choke out: "...You truly know how to praise someone..."
She sounded helpless, yet also somewhat embarrassed.
A trace of laughter escaped Ye Zhao’s lips. Their conversation seemed like that of friends who hadn't seen each other in years; the interaction was so natural that it left the onlookers stunned. They hadn't expected Ye Zhao’s nonsensical answer to pass without the Grand Princess noticing anything wrong.
A smile remained on the Grand Princess’s face, but the gray pallor of death could not be hidden. She had always looked stern, and after two months of suffering from illness, she appeared even more skeletal—certainly not what one would call "kindly." Yet the emotion in her eyes was tender and filled with reminiscence.
After a long time, she reached out and grabbed the corner of Ye Zhao’s robe, her gaze persistent. She asked, "Lord Shu, I want to know... why did you leave back then?"
Her expression held a trace of unease. "Was it... because... you were worried about my Wei Imperial Family..."
She stopped halfway, but her meaning was not hard to guess.
His achievements had overshadowed the monarch, let alone the monumental feat of single-handedly supporting the rebirth of the Wei Kingdom. This suspicion had circled in her mind for years, and today, she finally spoke it aloud.
The people in the room unconsciously held their breath. This was a difficult question to answer, especially since the person here wasn't the real one.
Princess Xiyue looked at Ye Zhao, then glanced at the Crown Prince and Prince Rong, who were also watching him. Everyone present waited for Ye Zhao’s response.
Ye Zhao looked up, his gaze falling on the window. His face was entirely calm. "When the affinity begins, we gather; when it ends, we part. Ning Meng, you are overthinking."
Ye Zhao’s answer wasn't entirely unexpected. Since he wasn't the real Lord Tianshu, he naturally couldn't say anything disrespectful to the imperial family. But looking at Ye Zhao’s expression, everyone was still stunned.
How to put it? It felt as if the real Lord Tianshu’s answer would have been exactly like this...
Hearing Ye Zhao’s words, the Grand Princess visibly seemed to have settled a matter of the heart. Her expression rapidly faded. Her voice dropped low. "Lord Shu, in the next life... can we meet again?"
Ye Zhao stood up, looking down as the elderly woman slowly closed her eyes. "...What if we meet again?"
He had intended to say "we will," but the words turned into a question as they reached his lips.
The person on the bed gave no further response. The people by the bedside realized what had happened and knelt one after another.
As Ye Zhao turned to leave, a voice as faint as a mosquito's hum came from behind him. "To continue... following... you..."
With that, her breath ceased.
Ye Zhao’s footsteps came to a sudden halt. He did not look back, unsure of what he felt, only sensing a jolt in his heart.
The Prince of Yong'an, who was keeping watch at the foot of the bed, sensed something. He called out softly, "Mother?"
There was no answer.
The middle-aged Prince of Yong'an reached out with trembling fingers to check the Grand Princess’s breath. The next moment, he collapsed to the floor, wailing loudly. "Mother!"
That cry was like a signal; the room was instantly filled with the sound of weeping.
Outside, someone called out in a long, drawn-out voice: "The Grand Princess has passed!"
The news flew out from the Grand Princess’s manor, spreading all the way to every corner of Tianshangjing.
Before long, the funeral bells tolled from the palace, their sound echoing over the capital.
The Grand Princess of the Wei Kingdom had thus passed away.
She was eighty-three years old.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 镇国公 | Duke of Zhen | A high-ranking noble title, literally "Duke who Guards the State." |
| 卫西扬 | Wei Xiyang | The name of the Duke of Zhen. |
| 曦月郡主 | Princess Xiyue | A Commandery Princess (Junzhu). |
| 天枢 | Tianshu | Lord Tianshu. Also the name of the first star of the Big Dipper. |
| 宁朦 | Ning Meng | The personal name of the Grand Princess. |
| 柠檬 | Lemon | A pun on the Grand Princess's name Ning Meng. |
| 永安郡王 | Prince of Yong'an | A Commandery Prince (Junwang), son of the Grand Princess. |
| 天上京 | Tianshangjing | The capital city, literally "Heavenly Capital." |
| 殁 | Passed / Deceased | A formal term for the death of a high-ranking person. |
Enjoying the story? Rate this novel:
Once, I Was a Legend | Chapter 19 | A Legendary Farewell | Novela.app | Novela.app
