Chu Yuan was heartbroken and insisted on resting for a day at the post station. Ruan Ning, sensing his anxiety, laughed, saying, “I finally lost some weight and look more beautiful, and you want to fatten me up again! Let’s go quickly, it’s nothing.”
Without hesitation, Chu Yuan carried her into the room and laid her on the bed, softly saying, “Sleep well, eat well, and don’t lose any more weight.” Covered by a thick cotton quilt, her tension relaxed, and Ruan Ning quickly fell asleep. Meanwhile, Chu Yuan held her hand and lay beside her, not sleeping all night.
More than ten days later, they finally arrived in the capital city. Chu Xiang’s sedan chair was quietly waiting outside the city gate, just as when the three of them first met.
When Chu Yuan’s horse hooves sounded, Chu Xiang stepped out of the sedan chair, smiling at him: “A Yuan is back.” Chu Yuan jumped off the horse, urgently asking, “Where is His Majesty?”
“Father is seriously ill,” Chu Xiang replied, “I’ll take you to see him.”
Chu Yuan, less skilled in intrigue, took out the blood letter and said publicly, “Your Highness, I want to know the truth.”
“The truth is as you see,” Chu Xiang said, taking the blood letter calmly. “A Yuan, which side are you on?”
He admitted it. Chu Yuan was in a sorry state.
He had never experienced such a difficult moment in his life and was unable to choose either side.
While hesitating, he suddenly felt his heart go empty. Looking back, Ruan Ning, who was once sitting on the horse, was gone.
“A Yuan, I’m afraid you can’t decide, so I’ll borrow your wife for now,” Chu Xiang said, holding his hand. “Don’t worry, once I ascend the throne, you’ll see her again.”
Exhausted and in pain, Chu Yuan became furious, grabbing Chu Xiang’s throat and roaring, “How dare you touch her?!”
Chu Xiang was immediately choked, veins bulging. The attendants drew their weapons, pointing them at Chu Yuan. Chu Xiang weakly waved them off, then grasped Chu Yuan’s hand, his voice calm but intermittent: “A Yuan, you know me. I never harm what you love. I’ll give you freedom.”
Freedom… Chu Yuan blankly loosened his grip, lost in thought.
