WBSGVS Chapter 208 V2

Sima Chang cherished his sister. How could he bear to let her get involved with someone like that?

But things were different now. If he didn’t start making sacrifices, he’d be left with no power. Especially since this whole mess had started because of her, she’d have to pay something back.

He made up his mind and grabbed Sima Qinghe’s hand tightly.

She flinched, startled. “Third Brother, what are you doing?!”

“Qinghe, I’m begging you—help me one last time!” he said through gritted teeth.

Qinghe had a terrible feeling. She immediately shook her head, tears welling up. “I can’t help you, Third Brother. Father wouldn’t listen to me anyway. Let’s just give up. Once you’re made a prince, you can go to your fiefdom and still live like royalty.”

Ever since the day she’d watched her sixth sister force their father into a corner in public, Qinghe had lost all will to keep fighting.

The pressure had crushed her, and she deeply regretted her past arrogance, thinking she could control others’ lives. At first, she’d pinned her hopes on Sima Chang becoming emperor. Then she wouldn’t have to live in fear of Qingli.

But now even her brother couldn’t pull it off. It was time to surrender. All they could hope for was mercy.

As for Qinghe’s own future…

She’d already made plans. Yi Han had military merits. If the Yi family gave their blessing, she could marry into it. Her father was still in good health, with at least another ten years ahead—she had no real reason to worry.

Later, she and Yi Han could be assigned elsewhere, far from the capital and out of Qingli’s sight.

But at this point, Sima Chang had no intention of backing down. He had already sacrificed too much. Giving up now meant all his effort was for nothing—and worse, it meant he’d be at someone else’s mercy.

Sima Qinghe had never personally experienced the fear of being threatened by Qingli, but Sima Chang had.

He was certain that she wasn’t the kind of person who would suddenly grow a conscience and spare them out of kindness.

So when Sima Qinghe resisted, he growled, “Wake up. We don’t have any way out anymore! She knows it was we who worked together to shove her into that arranged marriage with Chu. Do you think she stayed in the Cold Palace all those years because she couldn’t get out? We never once asked her what she wanted—we just dragged her out, begged for an imperial decree for her marriage, and forced her to show her strength in front of everyone. She had no choice but to climb her way to where she is now. And you think after all that, if we just surrender, she’ll smile and let us go?”

His words sent a jolt through Sima Qinghe. She didn’t want to admit it, but ever since she realized what Qingli was truly capable of, she knew the years in the Cold Palace weren’t about being trapped—they were about waiting.

But they were out of cards to play. Sima Chang’s plan was obvious, and she wanted no part of it. Tearfully, she said, “Third Brother, let’s just try surrendering. Let’s beg her to spare our lives.”

Sima Chang hadn’t expected her to still refuse at this point. His face darkened as he let her go.

Qinghe thought he was backing down. Relieved, she stumbled backward, hastily straightened her dress, wiped her face, and turned to run.

She needed to get far away from here.

She would never come back!

But she’d barely taken two steps when his cold voice stopped her in her tracks.

“Consort Wan earned Father’s favor because she was kind and gentle. But what if he found out that she was involved in harming the children of Lady Ru and Concubine Qi back then? What would he think then?”

Qinghe froze where she stood. She turned back in disbelief. “Third Brother! Mother has always treated you like her own. How could you do this to her?!”

Sima Chang sneered, “It was a mutual arrangement. Don’t act like she sacrificed so much. She had no son, and I had no mother—how else would we be connected?”

Qinghe stared at him in shock. “You think that way?!”

His expression softened again. “But you’re different, Qinghe. I truly care for you. I wouldn’t ask this of you unless I had no other choice. But now we’ve run out of options—I need your help.”

“If you’re willing to get engaged to Luo Liang, the Minister of War’s son, and get me the palace’s defense map, then once I become emperor, you’ll be the most honored woman in Jin. Even my empress won’t outrank you. And I’ll treat Consort Wan as if she were my mother.”

Qinghe shivered from the cold, though it was September, it felt like the dead of winter to her.

The man in front of her was now someone she didn’t even recognize. But he had her completely under his control.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

Sima Chang gently stepped forward to support her. “Don’t worry. It’s just an engagement, not a real marriage. I’ll have everything handled before then. Yi Han will still be your prince consort…”

“Wuuu…” Qinghe couldn’t hold it in anymore. She broke into sobs.

She hadn’t needed to go through all of this. Yi Han would have been her prince consort!

Now, all of a sudden, she regretted everything—why had she ever entangled herself with so many men? If only Luo Liang hadn’t liked her!

Seeing her no longer resisting, Sima Chang’s tone grew even gentler. “In that case, will you come out of the palace with your brother and meet Luo Liang? Remember—you have to make him obsessed with you.”

Qinghe cried even harder.

She felt like nothing more than a pawn in Sima Chang’s quest for the throne.

—

Three days later, the Minister of War formally proposed marriage to the Emperor, asking for the hand of Princess Leqin. Sima Heng was stunned and immediately refused. Just two days earlier, he’d heard that Sima Qinghe was in love with Yi Han.

The two kids were clearly in love. Yi Han may have done something he disapproved of, but at least the man had won battles and earned military honors. That Luo Liang, on the other hand, was a well-known playboy. Who would want him?

The Luo family had anticipated this. The Minister of War, red in the face, gently hinted that his son and Princess Leqin had already been intimate. If the marriage didn’t go through, it would harm the princess’s reputation.

They came again later, this time with Luo Liang in tow, solemnly promising that he would cherish and love Princess Leqin after the wedding.

Sima Heng refused twice. The first time was outright; the second time, after hearing of the “intimacy,” he nearly ordered Luo Liang punished—but was stopped by Sima Chang. By the third time, watching Luo Liang’s persistence, Sima Heng softened, touched by what seemed to be sincere devotion. He issued the decree, approving the marriage.

When Qinghe heard the marriage had been arranged, her spirit broke—she fell ill.

Consort Wan, knowing the truth, also fell sick in solidarity. Who would’ve thought the child she’d once saved would grow into such a heartless traitor?

Beyond the two of them, Yi Han—who had done everything for Qinghe—was so furious and devastated he nearly broke through the guards posted by his family to rush to her side. At the last second, his parents stopped him, dragged him back, gave him a beating, and locked him in the ancestral hall.

As for another would-be suitor, Fu Cheng had already been taken away from the capital by his parents. He had no idea what was going on.

No matter how many people objected, the marriage was now set. The alliance between Sima Chang and Luo Liang was sealed.

With the map in hand, Sima Chang immediately gave the order. His agents began to move.

A month later, Sima Chang discovered that the Prince Regent was secretly mobilizing troops. He’d been watching him closely. As soon as he had proof, he started moving his forces and sent the information straight to the Grand Preceptor’s residence.