Chapter Two: The Western Conquest Prince’s Mansion

Page (1/3)

Ye Qingyan’s eyes darkened as she looked at the man kneeling on the ground, a bitter ache welling up inside her. Yet, she finally spoke.

“Go back. Even if not for them, do it for your grandmother.”

“My grandmother is already in her nineties. Though long-lived, her health is not what it used to be. It’s been three years since she last saw you, and she misses you dearly.”

Hearing this, Lin Qian straightened his posture. The indifferent light in his eyes flickered briefly.

“Xiao Qian is the family’s precious child, the beloved heart of grandmother!”

The elderly woman’s earnest words seemed like they were spoken just yesterday, lingering in his mind.

In these three years, serving as a slave in the Imperial Horse Department and eking out a living in the stables, he had come to see many things with detachment.

He had let go of the long-standing bonds of the Prince of the West’s residence, the wealth and splendor he once possessed, and the moments beneath the red dust and moonlight with Ye Qingyan. The only thing he could not let go was his grandmother, who regarded him as her everything and cherished him dearly.

Now, Ye Qingyan’s sudden words left him with no real reason to refuse. He missed that kind-hearted old woman deeply.

“Alright.”

Lin Qian nodded, no longer resisting the return to the Prince of the West’s mansion.

Watching Lin Qian, who had once preferred punishment over returning, now willing to go back just from Ye Qingyan’s few words, Sun Feiyan snorted coldly.

“Truly a perfect match with a betrothal already arranged!”

“When we speak, it’s no use. But when he speaks, he rushes back like a loyal dog.”

“What a pity for these three years. If it weren’t for those years in the Imperial Horse Department, perhaps they would have been married by now!”

Hearing this, Lin Qian spoke again.

“Miss Sun jokes. The one betrothed to Princess Anning is the heir of the Prince of the West, not me, Lin Qian.”

“All that once was was but a fleeting dream.”

“Now, I am merely a servant and dare not entertain such thoughts.”

“You…”

The three present fell silent for a moment at his words.

“I wonder, now that I return to the Prince of the West’s mansion, is there a place for me in the carriage?”

“There is.”

Sun Feiyan’s face stiffened somewhat, then she pointed toward their carriage path.

“Thank you, Miss Sun!”

With these words, Lin Qian turned and prepared to board the carriage.

“This is a robe I made for you. Wear it to keep warm in the cold.”

Ye Qingyan took a brocade robe from the carriage’s packages and handed it to Lin Qian as he climbed in.

Sun Feng watched this scene, his eyes already bloodshot, but he remained silent.

Lin Qian glanced at Ye Qingyan.

“Your servant thanks Princess Anning.”

Page (2/3)

After receiving the robe, Lin Qian boarded the carriage.

Though Lin Qian was on the carriage, their task at the Imperial Horse Department was complete. In the blink of an eye, the two carriages separated and sped off.

Along the way, Lin Qian gazed out at the snowy landscape. Upon first arriving at the Imperial Horse Department, he had yearned deeply for the road home. But as time passed, that eager longing had long since faded.

Three years had passed. Today, as he returned to the Prince of the West’s mansion to offer one last smile to his grandmother, his final ties to the mansion would be severed.

The snow sparkled faintly, and the weary horse jolted along without a word.

After about half an hour, the carriage passed through the bustling city and finally stopped.

The three alighted, facing a grand plaque engraved in clerical script with the words “Prince of the West’s Mansion.”

Lin Qian felt both familiar and distant upon seeing it.

Just then, a woman who had been waiting behind the gates hurried forward.

Ignoring Sun Feiyan and Sun Feng standing ahead, she rushed directly to Lin Qian.

“My son, my son!”

The woman was none other than the Lady of the Prince of the West’s mansion, the mistress of the estate, and the mother Lin Qian had recognized for eighteen years — Li Hongfang.

“Your servant pays respects to the Lady of the Prince!”

Lin Qian bowed deeply, showing great respect.

Li Hongfang was momentarily stunned by his words, disbelief and pain filling her eyes.

“My son, what nonsense are you speaking?”

“You are my grandson from the Sun family, not a servant. No one in all of Da Qian would dare call you that.”

“Three years in the Imperial Horse Department, you suffered greatly!”

Ignoring the horse manure smell clinging to Lin Qian, Li Hongfang embraced him and wept.

This scene moved many of the servants deeply.

Had it not been for those three years in the Imperial Horse Department, perhaps even Lin Qian himself would have held the woman and cried, pouring out his longing.

Yet, the grandson of the Sun family spent those three years without a single visit.

Did the Lady of the Prince’s mansion not even send a single piece of clothing for him to change?

No words were exchanged for three years. Now, sending someone to invite him back, and then embracing him in tears.

Such abnormality surely hinted at something amiss.

But none of that mattered anymore. Aside from his grandmother, there was no one in this mansion he cared about.

“Madam, I will go see grandmother first!”

“Three years in the Imperial Horse Department, I miss grandmother deeply!”

Lin Qian said calmly and politely.

His words ruffled Sun Feiyan’s mood beside him.

Page (3/3)

“Lin Qian, what kind of attitude is that?”

“This is our mother. During your three years at the Imperial Horse Department, mother often missed you, crying until her eyes were swollen many times.”

“And what kind of face did you show for that?”

“The Prince of the West’s mansion is a family of generals. Many men have fought on the battlefield and died for the nation. You only suffered three years in the Imperial Horse Department — what kind of hardship is that?”

“Apologize to mother immediately, or I will not spare you today!”

Hearing this, Lin Qian raised his head and looked at Sun Feiyan.

Sun Feiyan seemed to have forgotten that he too once shed blood and sweat on the battlefield without complaint.

The hardships of those three years in the Imperial Horse Department, near death many times, meant nothing to him.

It was not resentment or grievance — only clarity.

Lin Qian did not explain, nor did he want to. At this moment, all he desired was to see his grandmother.

“Madam, it is my fault. I have made you sad.”

“May I go see grandmother now?”

Lin Qian’s face was full of apology.

“You…”

Though Lin Qian apologized, the words still sounded distant and unfamiliar.

Sun Feiyan grew angry, but in the next moment, Li Hongfang stopped her.

“If Xiao Qian wishes to see grandmother, then let him go first.”

“Thank you, madam!”

Lin Qian bowed once more, then relied on his memory to head toward the Hanyi Pavilion.

Half an hour after Lin Qian’s departure, outside the Prince of the West’s mansion, another carriage, originally at the Imperial Horse Department, stopped at the gate.

The next moment, Ye Qingyan stepped down from the carriage holding a package.

Upon arrival, seeing the Sun family members, she asked, “Where is Sun Qian?”

Sun Feiyan, already in a bad mood, replied sarcastically, “Princess Anning, the former heir has returned, and your heart is stirred?”

“Remember, your betrothal is to Sun Feng, not Sun Qian!”

Ye Qingyan was momentarily stunned, then looked at Sun Feiyan.

“I know that. I only wanted to return something to him.”

“Save it. He won’t want your things.”

“Your robe is still in the carriage; he hasn’t even worn it!”

“He blames us for abandoning him back then. But you, the proud Princess Anning, daughter of the Northern King — aren’t you the same?”