❝As everyone here may know... I've spend three nights with his highness wanting to get pregnant. I've waited and waited for pregnancy sickness or anything that could indicate that I am pregnant. After receiving no signs, I called for the imperial doctor to check more than five times and I wasn't pregnant so all I could think was that I was infertile so these past three days I've called for different doctors to check if I'm infertile or not... and all of them confirmed that there is nothing wrong with my body, I'm fertile.❞ Concubine Ki said, her forehead sweating and her voice shaking here and there as she saw the expressions on the guests faces as she continued to speak.

There was silence, everyone processing what concubine Ki said. Mu Jong was the only one panicked, but she tried to remain calm to not be suspicious.

❝Why did you told us all of this?❞ Empress Dowager asked, the point of concubine's Ki word flying over her head.

❝Are you saying something is wrong with me?❞ Zhang Wan asked getting the hints.

❝This one does not dare, your majesty. I just told the situation as it is. Please don't be mad at me.❞ Concubine Ki sat down and took a sip of tea as her throat was dry.

❝This can't be... maybe the doctors weren't good enough! There is no way the Emperor can't have kids. Besides, concubine Jong is pregnant with his child so something is wrong here.❞Empress Dowager said raising her voice.

❝Your majesty, one doctor may he wrong, but all of them? The only way to end this matter is to call for a doctor to check his highness.❞ Xu Yang said calm looking at Empress Dowager who tightened her grip on the tea cup.

❝Are you saying that I am infertile, Empress?❞ The Emperor asked in a low voice as he was filled with anxiety.

❝I'm not saying for certain, I couldn't know this, I'm just giving a suggestion on how to solve this matter.❞

❝If his highness is infertile, then how is concubine Jong pregnant?❞ concubine Xiao asked.

❝About that... I think everyone will like to listen to a special guest. Ji An, bring him in.❞ Xu Yang said looking at Ji An who bowed and left the room coming back with a man, Wei Zan.

Xu Yang sent Jiang Meng to find and convince Wei Zan to tell on Mu Jong and the man accepted after he saw gold in front of his eyes.

Seeing this, Mu Jong's face became as pale as the snow and her hands starts to tremble.
"What is he doing here? He wouldn't... right? I mean he can't! No, this can't be happening to me, no!" she thought as she gave death glares to Wei Zan who bowed and greeted everyone.

❝Who is this man?❞ Zhang Wan asked.

❝Wei Zan, tell them.❞ Xu Yang nodded her head.

❝I'm here to expose a secret I've been keeping for a while. As some people here may now, concu-❞

❝Your majesty, what is this stranger doing here? I thought it's a important gathering, why did you called a stranger? Is he perhaps someone close to you?❞ Mu Jong said trying to move everyone's attention from Wei Zan.

Xu Yang laughed.

❝It's too late for this, concubine Jong. If you interrupt again I will have to punish you. Continue.❞ Xu Yang said moving her attention back on Wei Zan.

Mu Jong didn't know what do to, if the secret is exposed she would get killed for sure. She was sweating and shaking. Zhang Wan noticed her reaction and attempt to change the subject and couldn't help but deeply frown and have an ugly expression.

❝As I was trying to say, concubine Jong has an affair with me. She was with me before becoming an Imperial Concubine and we didn't stopped seeing each other even after she became the Emperor's woman. The child she is carrying it's mine as well.❞

After he finished speaking a glass breaking could be heard.

❝Lies! Your majesty, he is lying! I don't know this man.❞Mu Jong said letting tears fall down her face.

❝This can't be... I can't believe it...❞ Empress Dowager said and fainted in that moment from all the news.

Zhang Wan was silent, but he was enraged.

❝How do I know you said the truth? And more important, why did you came to tell us?❞ The Emperor asked.

❝Your majesty is a smart man, you should suspect the concubine by now. The letter you found that day was from me, the initials WZ are mine, if you aren't convinced yet, you can ask about concubine's body as I know it very well. And after all, if it's proven your majesty is infertile it's clear that that child is mine and Mu Jong cheated on you the whole time. Wei Zan said not being afraid to look the Emperor in the eye and smirk at the part about Mu Jong's body.

Zhang Wan was clenching his fist.

❝Your highness, it's not true! I swear, this one loves you!❞ Mu Jong went on her knees at Zhang Wan's feet to beg for forgiveness.

❝Are you not afraid that I'll kill you? After all you've touched the Emperor's woman.❞ Zhang Wan said looking at Wei Zan.

❝The Empress guaranteed my safety and gave me a good deal of money and your majesty knows it's not my fault, I've never forced Mu Jong to do anything as I will never force myself into a woman, she did it deliberately.❞

❝I see. Leave then, I don't want to see you again, I can't guarantee your safety the next time we meet.❞ The Emperor said getting up.

Xu Yang watched everything from her seat. Mu Jong was shaking and sobbing on the ground, the other concubine's didn't dared to look up or say anything and Empress Dowager was carried in her room.

❝Throw Mu Jong in the dungeon! ❞Zhang Wan said his low voice ringing in everyone's ears as they flinched a little.

❝Yes!❞ the guards said and took the screaming woman.

❝You will regret this, Xu Yang! You useless bitch! I already won! Your husband loved me since the start while not even sparing you a second glance!❞

❝Cut her tongue off.❞ Zhang Wan added before stopping in front of Xu Yang and grabbed her hand slowly. ❝Come.❞

❝Where?❞ Xu Yang asked confused.

The Emperor didn't responded and only dragged Xu Yang to his chambers. After entering the room he exhaled loud.

❝Why is this happening to me?❞ he asked with a shaking voice and turned to look at Xu Yang.

Her big eyes looked at him with confusion and blinked slowly.

❝I don't have an answer for this, your majesty. ❞

❝Is it punishment? Is this your way of punishing me?❞ he asked looking in her eyes searching for an answer.

❝Me?❞ I couldn't have done all this myself.

❝I know.❞

Zhang Wan sat on his bed and hugged Xu Yang's body as she was still standing up.

❝Perhaps this is divine punishment.An Emperor who can't produce heir?What a joke I've become.❞ Zhang Wan mumbled.

He buried his face in Xu Yang's stomach and inhaled her smell which calmed him down. Xu Yang's body was stiff.

❝Please relax your body, Empress. I know you don't feel comfortable around me... but please, this once, forget about your hate for me.❞ Zhang Wan pleaded and looked up at her hoping she would agree.

Xu Yang looked back at him in silence and sighed in defeat as she relaxed her body. Zhang Wan pulled her to sit down on his bed as he places his head on her lap like a child.

❝What would you do in my place?❞ he asked as he closed his eyes.

❝There's nothing you can do beside seeing a doctor to confirm the truth and move on from this. Taking an orphan and raising it as your own is the best you can do.❞

Zhang Wan listened to her voice who didn't show much emotion, it sounded more like she spoke about the weather. He felt his heart sting again.

❝I will take that in consideration. But that's not my only problem, it's also you.❞

Xu Yang didn't said anything waiting for Zhang Wan to continue his idea.

❝This world works in strange ways... When you loved me I was too stupid to give you a change and I treated you cold making you lose your feelings for me and now that you did, I fell in love with you and yet you hate me. The hateful looks you give me, your cold tone, the divorce you asked for... my heart hurts. I was foolish and fell for that shameless woman and look where did that got me. I regret not seeing how amazing you are and loving you when I had the chance.❞ Zhang Wan spoke in a quiet voice trying to hold back tears, but failing.

Xu Yang was taken back by his confession and didn't know how to respond. She would have been so happy to hear these words in her past, but now she felt nothing.

❝Will you listen to a story, your highness?❞ Xu Yang asked after minutes of silence.

Zhang Wan nodded his head.

❝There once was a princess who fell in love with the prince of another country. She asked her father multiple times to arrange a marriage between her and the man, and finally her plans succeeded. They got married, but the prince wasn't happy with this because he was in love with a childhood friend so he treated the princess poorly. She tried to ignore the poor treatment and continues to try to get his attention, but failed everything as the prince only gave his heart to his loved one. In the end, the prince's lover accused the princess of trying to harm the prince and she got sentenced to death by her own husband who didn't even bother to investigate or listen to her pleads. She, who lived miserably in her own marriage, was executed soon, but the gods decided to give her a change to be happy and she woke up again realizing she turned back in time and could change her tragic fate. ❞

Xu Yang felt nostalgic as she told her story.

❝Did the princess found her happy ending?❞ The Emperor who listened quietly asked.

❝I don't know, I didn't finished reading the story. ❞

❝Me and this prince are similar, don't you think? The poor princess is similar to you, and the lover is Mu Jong...Is this story made up by you, Empress?❞

Zhang Wan asked getting up from her lap and looking into her eyes.

❝Who knows.❞ Xu Yang said looking nostalgic.

❝But unlike the story you didn't died... I wouldn't accuse you for something without proof, Xu Yang.❞ Zhang Wen said touching her cheek with his hand.

Xu Yang smiled bitterly.

❞You did.❞ she said looking him in the eyes with empty eyes as she recalled the event of her past life.

❝The poison incident... that was a foolish mistake. But I haven't harmed you for it... no...you're referring to something else, aren't you?❞Zhang Wan stopped  talking as a thought hit him. ❝It can't be true, right? Going back in time...❞

❝But it is. ❞

Zhang Wan froze seeing the serious expression on Xu Yang's face.

❝It is? Then you died and went back in time? I killed you without proof? I let my foolishness kill an innocent human...this can't be... ❞Zhang Wan said in disbelief.

❝You should rest, it's late. Excuse me, your highness. ❞

❝I'm sorry! I don't have any excuse, but if it's true that I killed you like that, I'm sorry. I know this won't erase the pain you must have felt, but I'm truly sorry, Yang'er. ❞Zhang Wan said holding her hand.

❝I'll leave first. ❞

Xu Yang left without saying anything else. She felt somehow relieved after telling the story about her past life and a part of her was happy hearing the apology she deserved, but it was too late to change anything.