Song Wei’s breath caught, and his gaze fixed on her face, "Wanwan, what happened?"

Wen Wan took a deep breath, turned back to look at him directly, "Yesterday the Western Marquis Mansion came to mourn, Jia came to me and said some things, and I think she made a lot of sense."

Song Wei’s eyes darkened a bit more, and he pressed his lips without speaking.

"She said something might be wrong for our family to keep having accidents. She suggested I go to Fahua Temple to see Master Xu Yun, but I know it’s because of your ill fate. I used to bring you luck, but this time, I failed to anticipate Jiaojiao’s death, which then led to mother-in-law’s passing, bringing such disaster to the family. It’s hard for me to bear."

Song Wei held her hand, "These aren’t your fault, and it’s not enough to lead to separation."

Wen Wan shook her head, "We must separate."

Seeing Song Wei frown, she said, "This morning, I went to Fahua Temple to meet Master Xu Yun and asked him about your fate. He said you are fated to face calamities, so I couldn’t predict them or help you avoid them."

After speaking, Wen Wan held Song Wei’s hand tightly, "Husband, I don’t want to see you suffer misfortune again and again. I just want you to live a safe and peaceful life."

"So, did you ask him to change my fate?" Song Wei closed his eyes, not wanting to face Wen Wan’s next words.

"Yes." Wen Wan nodded, seeing Song Wei’s displeased face, she quickly said, "But don’t worry, it doesn’t require my life, just..."

"Just what?"

"According to Master Xu Yun, you are a person born to face calamities. To achieve full virtue, you must help the new emperor unify the world. However, with mother gone, you must return to Ningzhou to observe propriety, and the emperor can no longer employ you. You cannot return to the court for three years."

Song Wei was still puzzled, "What does this have to do with separation?"

Wen Wan said, "Master Xu Yun finally gave me five words, ’Husband and wife are one.’ So I realized, since we are married, your fate is my fate. The court can’t use you, but it can use me. I am someone who can foresee the future. Once I have national interest at heart, national affairs become my affairs, and then I may be able to predict national fortunes, or even things that can help the new emperor unify the world. As long as we separate, I will have no ties to you and won’t accompany you back to Ningzhou to observe propriety. Then, I will find a way to get the emperor to employ me. If he decrees it before the officials, then my foresight might be tied to the whole world."

Hearing this, Wen Wan hesitated a bit, "But I’m just an ordinary woman and don’t understand the court’s dynamics, so I want you to help me. Once you reach Ningzhou, I will write to you frequently for advice, and you must respond to me."

Song Wei’s mind spun quickly, and as soon as Wen Wan finished speaking, he had figured everything out: Wanwan wants to use her foresight to completely change his fate, and to do so, she intends to become the first female official in the history of Chu Country to help the new emperor unify the world. However, since they are currently in deep mourning, the court can’t show favoritism, so they must separate.

Thinking of her innocent yet helpless look earlier, Song Wei couldn’t help but smile, "Do you know how many obstacles a woman entering the court would face?"

"I know." Wen Wan nodded.

"Do you also know how much criticism you’ll face for proposing separation right after I lost my birth mother?"

"I know." Wen Wan nodded again. As long as she can change his fate, she is willing to endure anything, even shortening her life.

Song Wei paused, "Since we have separated and are no longer a couple, why should I help you?"

Wen Wan originally wanted to nod reflexively but realized suddenly, shook her head, then grabbed his sleeve, "I know you understand me, you’re the one who loves me the most. Who will you help if not me?"

Song Wei couldn’t help but laugh quietly, then said softly, "I really can’t do anything about you."

Wen Wan rubbed her forehead against his chin, "Husband, wait for me three years. After three years, I’ll make you a normal person."

Song Wei looked at her silently for a long time.

"Husband?"

Suddenly, Song Wei pulled her into his embrace, his arms tight, his voice husky, "What did I do to deserve marrying you in this life?"

The embrace tugged at Wen Wan’s sore knees, "Hiss..."

"What’s wrong?" Song Wei looked down at her.

"My, my knees hurt." Now that the matter was out, Wen Wan didn’t hide it any longer.

Song Wei remembered wanting to massage them earlier but was avoided, and realized she was hurt, "How did it happen?"

"If I tell you, you mustn’t be angry."

"Tell me first."

Wen Wan lowered her gaze and whispered, "Master Xu Yun predicted I would seek him out, so he had a little monk waiting at the foot of the mountain to dissuade me. I knelt every three steps on the way up."

Seeing Song Wei silent, Wen Wan suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck in a coaxing manner, "Husband, as long as you are well, I can endure this little bit of pain."

Relocating to the beauty couch, Song Wei gently pulled up her trouser legs. Seeing the bruises and scrapes on her knees, his brows furrowed deeply. He fetched clean water to wash them again, then went inside to get medicine powder to apply.

As Song Wei leaned slightly to carefully bandage her, Wen Wan lightly poked his chest with her finger, "I didn’t hide it from you, so why are you so angry?"

Song Wei finished bandaging quickly, packed everything up, and turned to her, "If you’re willful again, don’t expect me to reply to a single letter."

Still blaming her for not telling him in advance.

Wen Wan smiled knowingly, "If you don’t reply, I’ll just keep writing, nonstop, until you’re annoyed. If that doesn’t work..." Wen Wan paused, "I’ll find someone new and send you a wedding invitation. Let’s see if you can hold back."

Song Wei returned after putting everything away and took a soft cushion for her to lean on.

Wen Wan leaned back, careful not to move her legs, and her playful mood suddenly turned serious, "Husband, please take the children with you. Since we have officially separated, I can’t take care of them, and with you not in the Capital, I’m uneasy leaving them with the household staff. They must accompany you back to Ningzhou."

Song Wei considered, "Jinbao is easy to manage, but Qi Bao might be a bit troublesome." The little girl clings to both parents, and without seeing her mother, she might throw a fit.

Wen Wan knew Qi Bao was still young, but she had no other options, "With Ah Yao there, have her help take care of her. Over time, she will get used to it."

"What about you?" Song Wei looked over, unable to hide his concern, "After the separation, you can’t stay in the Song Mansion. Where will you go?"

"I’ll go back to my family!" Wen Wan said, "My father is not around, and Changning Marquis Mansion is quiet. It’s a good chance to accompany my mother, and if not, there’s always the Lu Family. Although I’m not on their family register, Lu blood runs through my veins. My grandparents wouldn’t let me end up homeless."

The couple could talk about separation so freely and easily; it was the first time Wen Wan had seen such a thing in her life.

Thinking about it, she couldn’t help but laugh.

Song Wei said, "Actually, I don’t want you to stay in the Capital alone. It’s too dangerous."

"It’s just three years." Wen Wan repeated her earlier words, "Let’s wait for each other for three years. Can we get back together as husband and wife by then?"

...

The people from the Lu Family came to mourn in great numbers. Hearing that Wen Wan was unwell, Mrs. Xiao Liu took advantage of the old lady talking to the Eldest Princess to visit Qingteng Residence.

Wen Wan glanced at her flat belly and teased, "You are truly a radiant and charming beauty, much more vibrant than before."

Mrs. Xiao Liu had given birth to a healthy son for the Lu Family two months ago. However, due to the national mourning at the time, they didn’t dare hold a celebration for the third day, and the full-month feast was kept low-key.

Seeing Wen Wan lying straight on the couch, Mrs. Xiao Liu was both heartbroken and irritated, "Is this the time to be joking about?"

Wen Wan raised an eyebrow, "The things have already happened, can’t I just cry all day?"

"True, but..." Mrs. Xiao Liu sighed. She wasn’t very superstitious, but she knew having two consecutive funerals in the family was considered extremely unlucky, "Sister Wan, should we invite a Taoist priest for some rituals for the old lady?"

Wen Wan said, "I’ve already invited monks from Fahua Temple to conduct a water and land ceremony. They’ll arrive tomorrow, which is just as effective."

She knew what Mrs. Xiao Liu was worried about, the notion that the house might be haunted.

But Wen Wan understood better than anyone that it wasn’t any haunting but Song Wei’s decades-long ill fortune at work.

Whether Song Wei would bring harm to relatives was something Wen Wan couldn’t say for certain, but the family definitely couldn’t handle more tragedies.

"By the way, just now brother-in-law said you were unwell. What’s wrong?"

Mrs. Xiao Liu looked worried.

"What could it be?" Wen Wan didn’t mention her legs, "It’s my monthly visitor. These busy days have left me with stomach pain, so I’m just taking it easy."

"Then you should have a good rest." Mrs. Xiao Liu nodded, "Don’t worry about the outside matters, I’ll handle them."

Wen Wan’s mouth twitched. Why do these relatives, who should be guests, keep offering to handle affairs for her one after the other?