The princess regretted it.

Chapter 1: The Fall of Youth

In the inner courtyard of the Jinwuhou Mansion in the capital of the Great Jin Dynasty, the atmosphere was tense and solemn. The maids, all with serious expressions, busied themselves cautiously, as if facing a formidable enemy, not daring to make a single noise. The entire courtyard was filled with a tense atmosphere, leaving people feeling oppressive and uneasy.

Inside the room, the scene on the exquisitely carved rosewood bed was particularly eye-catching. Lying there was a middle-aged woman dressed in a moon-white brocade gown, the collar embroidered with an elegant pattern of bamboo leaves in silver thread. Her wispy white hair cascaded across the white jade porcelain pillow, striking her with its brilliance. A dark blue headband embroidered with two three-tailed golden phoenixes, a round oriental pearl nestled between them, highlighted her noble status.

She is the eldest princess of the Jin Dynasty - Princess Jin'an, and the current wife of the Marquis of Jinwu.

Princess Jin'an, the eldest daughter of the Jin Dynasty, was a royal concubine, doted on by countless patrons. She possessed stunning beauty and exceptional intelligence. However, at the age of twenty, she made an unexpected decision—she stubbornly married Wu Changfeng, the heir apparent of the Jin Dynasty.

This marriage was opposed by many people, including Princess Jin'an's father, the emperor's grandson Hongze, who was still alive at the time. However, Princess Jin'an remained unmoved and insisted on her choice. In the end, the emperor had to issue an imperial decree to grant the marriage to Jin'an.

Back then, Wu Changfeng wasn't as renowned for his military exploits as he is today, but he was still exceptionally handsome, tall, and slender. He was the dream of many prominent ladies in Kyoto. Unfortunately, Prince Wu and his cousin Liu Qianyi, childhood sweethearts, were deeply in love and had already been engaged. However, an imperial decree broke up the marriage.

On the day of her wedding, Princess Jin'an was incredibly beautiful, dressed in a gorgeous wedding gown and a phoenix crown. Her eyes revealed determination and happiness, as if she had already seen a bright future with Wu Changfeng. However, things did not go as planned...

Princess Jin'an now lay frail in bed, her face pale as a sheet. Her eyes, once glittering like stars, were now half-closed, a veil of deep fatigue and a touch of sadness hidden beneath. Her lips, a faint bluish hue, occasionally trembled with rapid, shallow breaths, like petals about to wither in spring. The skin on her cheeks, tormented by illness, had lost its former elasticity and luster. The fine lines around her eyes and forehead, from years of excessive worry and overwork, were unmistakable. Yet, the nobility and grace that emanated from her were undeniable. Her body trembled slightly, her upbringing leading her to suppress the pain and discomfort.

Beside the bed, Doctor Wang, dressed in the imperial hospital robes, was carefully diagnosing the princess's condition. His brows were furrowed in concentration, and his expression grew increasingly solemn.

Princess Jin'an's personal maid, Ziyun, stood by anxiously, her eyes filled with sadness and worry. From time to time, she gently wiped the sweat from the princess's forehead as she endured the discomfort, silently praying for her in her heart.

Princess Jin'an rolled her eyes weakly, staring quietly at the door. Still, the figure she'd been waiting for didn't appear. Seeing this, Ziyun felt a pang of bitterness in her heart. Suppressing her sadness, she whispered, "Your Highness, Donglai has gone to look for the Marquis. Perhaps the Marquis has official business to attend to and can't get away for the time being."

Princess Jin'an slowly withdrew her gaze. She lay quietly on the couch, her eyes lightly closed, a faint, mournful smile on her pale face. That smile seemed to express both helplessness and relief at fate, stirring pity in her heart. Jin'an knew that Wu Changfeng was now the emperor's right-hand man and confidant. And her most hypocritical brother, the Third Emperor, Changsun Wuwang, no longer held the same affection for her as before. It was all just a show.

After Imperial Physician Wang finished taking her pulse, he knelt in fear, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He didn't dare look up at her, but whispered, "Your Highness, please forgive me for speaking frankly, but your condition... is very serious."

She opened her eyes slightly, her gaze resting calmly on Doctor Wang. "How much longer will this be?" Her voice was so soft it was barely audible, yet it revealed a firmness and composure.

Doctor Wang didn't dare to tell the princess she was dying. He replied tremblingly, "Your Highness, I'm incompetent and cannot confirm the exact time. But...but you must remain optimistic. There may still be a glimmer of hope."

She sighed softly, a flicker of despair in her eyes. "Never mind. Life and death are determined by fate. I've long since become indifferent to it. It's just..." She turned her gaze to the window, as if reminiscing about something.

Doctor Wang lowered his head, not daring to speak. He knew that the princess had been confined to the imperial harem for the sake of that marquis, toiling away her entire life, and now that she was seriously ill, she must have many thoughts on her mind.

Princess Jin'an said nothing more, but waved her hand weakly, signaling Doctor Wang to leave. Doctor Wang bowed, strode briskly out of the inner room, and left the house under Ziyun's guidance.

The room fell silent, save for the faint, rapid breathing of Princess Jin'an. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating her pale complexion, the result of prolonged illness. She recalled her life's painstaking efforts, the days of toiling day and night for the prosperity of the Jinwu Marquisate, and the countless efforts she had made to win her husband's heart. She had given everything. The toil had prematurely withered her complexion, leaving her hair white at only forty.

However, she now realized that it was all in vain. Her actions had not impressed Wu Changfeng, and she had never truly won his heart. Wu Changfeng's heart had always been solely devoted to his delicate and pretentious cousin Liu Qianyi, who now bore him a son and a daughter.

A hint of self-mockery played at the corner of her mouth, her eyes revealed endless sadness and helplessness, and a tear slowly slid down her wrinkled cheek. She realized that her stubbornness had made her life a joke; all she had pursued was an unattainable fantasy, and this fantasy had made her lose too much.

Princess Jin'an's breathing gradually became weaker and her thoughts gradually became blurred.

At the last moment, she seemed to see her younger self, that girl full of vitality and longing; she seemed to see her father's helpless and distressed voice... She thought to herself that if she could do it again, she must cherish herself and the people who truly loved her, and never choose the path of Jin Wu Hou Wu Changfeng again.

She sighed softly, her eyelids growing heavier. As consciousness faded, a tall, hurried figure, radiating a menacing aura, appeared at the doorway. Who was it? Was it him? Jin An closed his eyes, filled with regret, and never opened them again. Thus, a generation of beauty passed away silently.