“You would be this kind-hearted?” Luo Ran was skeptical. Sensing something, he grabbed Dong Fang Ce’s collar and shouted, “Did you promise something to this demoness? You cannot betray Ling’er! Not even in death!”
“Let go! Let go!” Dong Fang Ce broke free from Luo Ran’s restraint and calmly took a letter from his chest. “When the madam wakes up, give her this. And don’t tell her about today. If she asks, say you saved her!”
“A divorce letter? Have you gone mad? You know how much shock Ling’er will receive! She would rather die than leave you! But you promised this demoness’s condition!”
Luo Ran was almost frantic. If not for Yan Ran and Yu Shan holding him back, the sword would have pierced Dong Fang Ce’s heart.
“Brother, stop! The Lord is doing this to save Ling’er! If anyone should die, it should be this demoness!” Yan Ran glared at Yi Qing behind Dong Fang Ce, gripping her sword hilt, ready to strike.
“This is between me and her. No outsiders needed!” Dong Fang Ce grabbed Yi Qing’s hand and walked towards the door. He paused, looking back at the person on the bed. “Take good care of her!” His tone was reluctant and attached, his heart aching.
“I’m sorry, madam! We promised eternal love, dreams forever, to be together! But now I must go back on my word! Take care of yourself, or I’ll never forgive myself!”
The rain fell mercilessly.
The moonlit night rose silently, illuminating the beautiful scenery of every household.
It was the second day, but the person on the bed was still asleep, seemingly unwilling to wake. The siblings in the room grew anxious.
“Big brother, what should we do? Ling’er hasn’t woken up!” Yan Ran held Ling’er’s cold hands and sobbed.
“Find Yu Shan! Check her pulse. Why doesn’t the spiritual object work? Why hasn’t she woken up?”
Luo Ran anxiously pulled Yu Shan out of the room.
“Senior brother, Yan Ran, don’t worry. Let me check!” Yu Shan said, masking her unease with a smile as she approached the bedside to check Linger’s pulse.
“How is it?” Yan Ran asked, feeling melancholy.
“Pulse is steady. Wait, a pregnancy pulse? The Lady is pregnant!” Yu Shan exclaimed, laughing in surprise.
“What? Impossible. If Ling’er is pregnant, the child should have died due to the deep poisoning. Yu Shan, could you have misread the pulse?” Yan Ran squatted down, unable to believe it.
“It is a pregnancy pulse! I wouldn’t misread it! The child’s safety may be due to Master’s spiritual medicine and this object!” Yu Shan replied confidently.
“But why didn’t you detect it earlier? Could this child have come out of nowhere?” Yan Ran began but quickly fell silent under Luo Ran and Yu Shan’s shocked gazes.
“It might be because the princess’s condition was weak, so the pregnancy pulse was faint. Now, the child is safe in her womb! I can even feel its intense movement!” Yu Shan smiled. How could she not be happy about this first good news in days?
“But why hasn’t she woken up yet?” He thought that once a spiritual object was placed on a patient, recovery would occur within a day. However, two days had passed, and she remained in a deep sleep. Could the spiritual object be fake?
“Perhaps it’s because of the prince!” Yu Shan sighed, placing Ling’er’s tea into the bedding. She looked at the siblings, then walked towards the door, seemingly wanting to speak.
“Yu Shan, what do you mean?” Luo Ran and his sister followed her out.
“Although the princess is asleep, she can still hear us. The prince’s divorce letter and Yi Qing’s departure may be why the princess doesn’t want to wake up!” Yu Shan recalled her master’s teachings, realizing their truth as a shudder passed through her.
“What should we do?” Luo Ran asked softly while gazing at the starry sky.
His unusual calmness puzzled Yan Ran and Yu Shan. Previously enraged, he now accepted the princess’s state.
“We can only leave it to fate!” Yu Shan said, her gaze lingering on Luo Ran’s face, her cheeks turning red at the sight of him.
Only Yan Ran, detached from the world, could see everything clearly but struggled to express it, hoping her brother would understand Yu Shan’s feelings.
“Brother Che!” A delicate voice floated into the study. Yi Qing, wearing a thin outer garment, walked in seductively.
“Yi Qing, is there something you need?” It had been two full days, and he wondered how Ling’er was doing. The thought made his face wrinkle.
“Brother Che, what’s wrong? Are you thinking about Lan Ling’er again?” Yi Qing’s seductive eyes missed nothing. She flicked her sleeve, sat on Dong Yang Che’s lap, and leaned her head on his chest, whispering: “Forget her! I can love you completely instead. Okay?”
“Yi Qing, I have something to do right now. Go back to your room and sleep!” His cool dim eyes showed his discomfort with her closeness.
“Brother Che, have you forgotten what you promised me?” Yi Qing persisted, her hands around his neck, looking seductive in her heavy makeup, hoping to spend the night in his arms and become his true princess.
“I’ve issued the divorce letter. Yi Qing, I hope you can find your true destination and not force things!” His words were light, reflecting his struggle to avoid hurting her—the girl he had always treated like a sister.
She is so happy!
Foolishly causing trouble, then being protected without knowing! I hope to be her, even if just for one day, I would die without regret! She retreated, trembling, with blood flowing and tears falling. The hatred cannot be harbored, the love cannot be embraced—is this the happiness bestowed by heaven? Brother Che, why am I not in your heart? Why did heaven make me fall in love with you? Does becoming a woman truly require pain?
The morning sunlight entered the room, filling it with colorful light on the snow-white walls, creating a beautiful visual. The sky was quiet.
“Brother!” An anxious voice interrupted the stillness.
“Yan’er, what’s wrong?” Having stayed up late watching the night sky, he wanted to sleep in but was startled awake by Yan’er’s scream. He quickly walked out barefoot, clothes not properly worn.
“Brother, look! Ling’er is gone!” Yan’er pointed at the empty bed, speaking anxiously.
“Perhaps Ling’er woke up early and went to the courtyard for a walk. After sleeping for several days, she would feel tired,” Luo Ran said calmly, smiling at Yan’er.
When I woke up, it was already the morning of the third day.
Small birds chirped in the trees, and a faint, elegant fragrance occasionally wafted by.
Looking around at the unfamiliar environment, my heart felt as calm as still water.
Getting out of bed, my body was unsteady and unable to support itself. I walked out the door and sat at the entrance. Before me was a stream, with golden carp swimming freely. The aquatic plants in the river swayed occasionally, releasing a fresh scent.
“You’re awake!” A strange yet familiar voice reached my ears, causing me to turn back.
“Your Highness?” I glanced sideways, my surprised gaze resting on him. It was the prince with whom I had once sworn brotherhood before Guan Gong. How did I end up in the prince’s residence?
“So you still recognize me! When you swore brotherhood with me last time, I never realized my sworn brother would look so charming dressed as a woman!” He sat beside her, laughing composedly.
“Your Highness is teasing me! Ling’er deceived the prince and hopes he will not blame her!” Her gaze shifted to the pool, an awkward smile coloring the atmosphere between them.
“You’re tired, have a good rest!” In a few days, she would be left alone, which really worried her. Moreover, with the unborn baby, how would she face the rumors? Her heart was swinging violently.
“Miss!” Xi’er walked out of the room, carrying some pastries, with a smile on her face.
“Xi’er, why aren’t you asleep yet?” She felt warmth in her heart. Yes, why should she be so sad? She still had Xi’er to rely on!
